Expedition: Foxy Rides Northwest - 22 July 2021

[Marullus]

Foxy makes sure that the troops, Renvell and Tocun, respond in kindness to the usually gruff giants, especially so after receiving healing virtue. Foxy will share that she knows of a cleric of nature who walks the earth like a 'shaman in badger form' and that if they travel to the watchtower they may find refuge and help in times of need. Did the shaman giantess use any kind of holy symbol? Did she give a name at all?

The one you met here says she is called Gruuumlidda. She does not give a name for the tribal Shaman, referring to her only by title. She has no noticeable holy symbol as such.

They are curious of a badger-cleric. They try to remember directions to the tower, but it is a considerable distance.

She asks specifically about the Red Robe travellers and the frequency of their passing. Can the giants confirm if the RR live in any ruins which are located close to the centre of this blight? Or is it the kobolds and their temple which is in the centre of this aura. Is it spreading each season or a one time cataclysmic effect which taints the land.

Foxy is able to communicate her descriptions of the Red Robes well enough to confirm that the "humans with wagons and dogs" that pass east and west on the road match. This means that they do not travel into the blight, but along the road at its edge going further west.

The kobold site is in the mountains, so south of where you are now. The blight is centered in the plains to the north.

The giants say that the blight is a constant (not seasonal), but has worsened significantly in the last month or two.

Foxy also thinks that the bonfire on the spur may be seen from a long distance away in the undulating plains. So she says that if they come to some danger and need aid then to build a bonfire at the very tip and she will answer their call if she is able. It might be that such beacons become focus points for racial alliances in the future. As for camping, their home might be the opposite way we intend to travel. She asks for directions or landmarks anyway to the place so that when she returns to this area she may pay her respects. (with a view to recruiting future giant help in securing the borders from dangers).

Foxy CHA (9) [3d6] = 8

They consider, but then decide to provide directions, should Foxy return. It is a difficult way (for short legs) a few miles deeper into the mountain spur.

With their skilled hands could they build a rock igloo for us to stay in tonight? Foxy friendly status vs charisma roll [2d6] = 7 she asks, smiling sweetly.

The giants do not have the time to build you a little house right now.

Do you remain on the ledge or go back down to the hills? Back up towards the road (plains?)

She says that she will scout the 'blighted' lands for a day if the grass and water is free of pestilences and then turn northwards. In another moon she may come back this way.

They look worried for her and wish her luck. Then they depart.

[Stirling]

To camp tonight I want to find a spot undercover, no midnight flying predators. Also a spot which gives a view of both the road below and the land towards the blight and Zhint. No fires, don't want to attract attention, but will have a couple of oil soaked fires ready to start if we need a protective edge.

[Marullus]

(Subtract three flasks of oil for the preventative fire-soaking prep. Post how many you still have.)

You find a sheltered overhang, prepare two fires and douse them with oil, and set a watch to allow each to get some rest. The night mountain air is dark and cold and Foxy sits awake for the midnight watch as Renvell and Tocen get some rest.

She is surprised as one of the horses whinnies in alarm - which in turn startles the four white, furry shapes she sees outlined in the night. The four creatures stumbled into the camp itself, near where you stored your packs (15' away). They are the size of men, but covered in white fur with a loping, hunched-shouldered gait; they give ape-like hoots in the night and pound their chests threateningly at the horses.

(Both sides gape in surprise, then you can both act on round one. )

Date: 1:22am, 24 July 2021
Light: None (-4 to hit)
Distance Travelled: None today
Injuries: Tocen's horse (minor wound), Foxy (Superficial wound)

Who's awake? (F R T) [1d3] = 1
surprise: Us: [1d6] = 1 them [1d6] = 2

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

Glad she catches the apes before they rampage around us. She is still in her armour, otherwise she would be just cloaked after her watch ended.

Apes, big strong, long arms. Volatile and territorial? I think acting prudently the best option.

Foxy draws her sword, triggering the blade to ignite and she touches one of the campfires to flare up.

"Slowly untie the horses and lead them downhill Renvell. Tocun drag the three saddle bags away but avert your eyes from facial contact. Let the alpha males think they have out macho'd us. We can rest further downhill, along the cobbled road."

Foxy will use the campfire and her sword to ward the apes away this round.

[Marullus]

Morale [2d6] = 9

The sudden flaring of the sword, then the oil-soaked fire, is enough to impress the albino apes. As the light flares brightly, they shriek and shield their eyes with their hairy arms, turning and fleeing back into the night.

Date: 1:23am, 24 July 2021
Light: None (-4 to hit)
Distance Travelled: None today
Injuries: Tocen's horse (minor wound), Foxy (Superficial wound)

[Stirling]

Okay well if they flee the area and don't stay hooting around we can leave unmolested and resettle on the cobbles below. Always the thought do we stay and trust they won't return stronger or camp anew in another uncertain place.

With the troops dressed and obeying orders, moving location this time seems right.

I have adjusted inventory, I took everything from my store at the inn and shared it out between the troopers, losing some stuff with Sephanne. The present inventory is in my sheet notes section minus 7 days rations.

After breakfast we use the daylight to scout towards the blight. I want to be 'in & out' ideally in one day, hoping not to risk a night in a spooky haunted place of undead.

[Stirling]

Should have asked Gruuuumilda how far to the city on the western road.

[Marullus]

Gruuuumilda indicated that the humans with the red robes go further than she can see, over the horizon.

Foxy relocates her troops down the mountainside, camping back down in the foothills until after dawn. The morning arrives uneventfully and they pack up and begin riding north.

Within about three hours you are beyond the foothills and into the rolling plains. You are within the blight, but it is centered off to your northwest. You are riding north through the yellowed grasses, some shriveled and some swollen and leaking what looks like pus. Thorns and brambles are more common than elsewhere but your horses pick their footing at a reasonable walk and you continue forward.

You have sufficient sight-line to see movement ahead, directly in your path, about 130' away. They look like people, but naked and shriveled. Nine of them, half walking but more unevenly lurching towards you.



Date: 10:30am, 24 July 2021
Light: Daylight
Distance Travelled: ~5 miles
Injuries: Tocen's horse (minor wound), Foxy (Superficial wound)

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

stares at the sight of the blight crawlers. They don't look ghoulish, more from the description she thinks of grave zombies. Who knows? She doesn't want to get too close or encircled."Steady your bows, take aim, At one hundred paces ... fire."Foxy signals to the troops to snipe at the leading three crawlers, hoping as much to take them down as to assess the skills of the bowmen under her charge.


Foxy: Shortbow normal range: [1d20+2] = 20+2 = 22 arrow damage: [1d6] = 5
Renvell shortbow [1d20+2] = 19+2 = 21 damage [1d6] = 4
Tocun Shortbow [1d20+1] = 14+1 = 15 damage [1d6] = 3

"Good shooting men, withdraw beyond those bramble hedges." Foxy attacks the group and with the distance between them (unless these guys super sprint) I anticipate we can put a similar distance between us. I want to take down another three and then close to melee on the condition that having checked the area we do not find other corps of corpses (see what I did there!) also ambling towards us.

Foxy: Shortbow normal range: [1d20+2] = 7+2 = 9 arrow damage: [1d6] = 6 if the 5th level fighter attack twice bonus is also for range as well as melee.

[Marullus]

Yes, Foxy can shoot twice. Please include your THAC0 values.

Foxy's first shot is an expert example to her riders, piercing straight through the head and dropping the shambling human form to the ground (Critical hit, 10hp). Tocen (-4) and Renvell (-3) both shoot well, embedding their arrows in the bodies of the next two figures, but neither seems to react to the pain of the blow. They continue shambling towards you relentlessly. Foxy fires a second shot at the one wounded by Tocen, felling it as well (-6).

Having closed to 100', their shots are sound, but they find themselves now falling back, which the riding horses dislike, engaging in a repeated wheeling motion where Foxy's warhorse is able to move backwards more smoothly due to its dressage training. The forms are closing at about the same speed as Foxy's warhorse (movement 120) - while the fleeter riding horses could easily leave this foe behind, Foxy suspects their relentless pursuit would dog on her own heels.

Date: 10:31am, 24 July 2021
Light: Daylight
Distance Travelled: ~5 miles
Injuries: Tocen's horse (minor wound), Foxy (Superficial wound)

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

"Tough f*%kers!"she whispers as the crawlers march relentlessly forward. Their speedy lurching and apparent reluctance to lie down and die annoys her. I will go with a further round of sniping shots at a longer distance. The maximum range for short-bows is 150'ft so we will withdraw to that range, fire off at another couple of targets and then as the crawlers close we have enough distance to charge into them with lances if that is okay. I don't think extending any constant 'fire and run' will work long term and to push on through the blight we need to take down these critters. But it will be close as they are hardier than they seem. Foxy picks a new target, the troops aim at the one with an arrow sticking in its chest.


Foxy: Shortbow long range: [1d20+1] = 1+1 = 2 arrow damage: [1d6] = 6
Foxy: Shortbow long range: [1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7 arrow damage: [1d6] = 5

Tocun Shortbow [1d20+1] = 15+1 = 16 damage [1d6] = 4
Renvell shortbow thaco 19 long range [1d20+1] = 7+1 = 8 damage [1d6] = 4

"One round of fire at full range ... helms down ... lances up, charge."

any bonus to charging, I thought we had a +4 bonus but no horse attacked allowed?

Foxy Lance charge attack [1d20] = 5 medium lance [2d6] = 10
Renvell lance charge [1d20+2] = 1+2 = 3 [1d6+2] = 6+2 = 8
Tocun lance charge [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13 damage [1d6+1] = 6+1 = 7

after a good first round it doesn't look as good the following ones. Foxy fumbling at archery and another fumbles the charge. At least by my reckoning Tocun hits twice.

[Marullus]

Mounted combat posted last week: viewtopic.php?f=353&t=5669&start=20#p345478
No +4 to hit. You get that bonus against a fleeing opponent, not when charging.

Foxy directs another volley - her own bowstring snaps, however, preventing her second shot and rendering her bow temporarily useless. (critical fumble) Tocen's second shot at the wounded figure drops it twitching to the earth, though. (-4)

"Helms down ... lances up, charge." Foxy leads the lancers forward towards the remaining six gaunt figures. Her own lance comes in high and she misses her target, the figure launching itself at her mount and savaging the horse's flank with its powerful jaw (-7). Tocen comes in at speed and hits one of the smaller figures with tremendous force (-14) -- his lance punches through its torso and then splits it upwards as he follows through, revealing that its form is a dessicated husk of dried flesh filled with rotted grey innards. Renvell's luck is not so good -- he charges towards the middle of the pack, where the figures grab his lance and bear him to the ground (critical fumble). His horse is then set upon by the foes, a savage bite taking a chunk of flesh out of its neck (-5). The horse screams in fear and panic and flees at a full gallop, heading for the horizon.

Date: 10:33am, 24 July 2021
Light: Daylight
Distance Travelled: ~5 miles
Injuries: Foxy's horse (moderate wound), Renvell's horse (moderate wound, fleeing), Tocen's horse (minor wound), Foxy (Superficial wound)

[1d20] = 7 [1d20] = 4 [1d20] = 4 [1d20] = 19 [1d20] = 13
Targeting [1d6] = 4 [1d6] = 5 [damage [1d8] = 7 [1d8] = 2
Renvell's Horse Morale [2d6] = 11

[Stirling]

Tocun longsword [1d20+1] = 14+1 = 15 damage [1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8

: Renvell longsword (Thaco 19) [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5 [1d8+2] = 4+2 = 6

Foxy melee: Scimitar:[1d20+1] = 8+1 = 9damage:[1d8+1] = 5+1 = 6 fire dmage [1d4] = 4 Foxy Thaco is 16

Foxy melee: Scimitar:[1d20+1] = 6+1 = 7damage:[1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8 fire dmage [1d4] = 3

Foxy O'Hare

Hacks and slashes trying not to be a victim of her own impulsive nature.We encircle the prone Renvell, concentrating on the zombies who would overbearing him. Tocun displays his skill with blade and Foxy just hits on the first swipe.

[Stirling]

Continuing the melee ...
Foxy melee: Scimitar:[1d20+1] = 17+1 = 18damage:[1d8+1] = 2+1 = 3 fire dmage [1d4] = 2

: Foxy melee: Scimitar:[1d20+1] = 2+1 = 3damage:[1d8+1] = 8+1 = 9 fire dmage [1d4] = 3

Galavan attacks [1d20] = 9 hoof damage [1d6] = 4 [1d6] = 6

Renvell longsword (Thaco 19) [1d20+2] = 12+2 = 14 [1d8+2] = 1+2 = 3

Tocun longsword [1d20+1] = 16+1 = 17 damage [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2


Was waiting for your next actions for the zombies, if we are still in the fight ( estimating our first charge and melee slays three of them) we should continue.

Foxy at the front of the line with the troopers assisting each other.

[Marullus]

Ooops... Forgot it was on me. I'll get back to this.

[Marullus]

Tocen and Foxy try to peel away the swarming desiccated bodies from Renvell and with some success. Tocen lands a mighty blow (-8) which cleaves his foe down through the shoulder and most of the ribs; it doesn't fall, however, or react with any pain to the near-cleaving. It snarls noiselessly and turns to try and grapple at Tocen as he sits in his saddle. Foxy's flaming blade cuts into the next body -- its dry, paper-like flesh igniting from the intense heat (-6, -4). It turns to pursue Foxy, but eventually collapses into ash as the flames consume it. Renvell swings wildly, keeping the other three at bay but unable to free himself of them.

Unnerved by the cleaved creature clambering at him, Tocen is caught off guard. His hip and leg are shredded by its long black fingernails and he is almost pulled from the horse (-5), but he brings his own sword around and finally fells the creature with his blow. (-2) Renvell lands a blow on one of his foes (-3), while Foxy slices and immolates another (-3, -2)... proving that flamethrowers are not good weapon, as the creature is now on fire and still trying to embrace Renvell with hits outstretched arms.

(Melee Round 4! Three creatures still standing, two of them injured)

Date: 10:34am, 24 July 2021
Light: Daylight
Distance Travelled: ~5 miles
Injuries: Tocen (Grievous wound), Renvell (moderate wound), Foxy's horse (moderate wound), Renvell's horse (moderate wound, fleeing), Tocen's horse (minor wound), Foxy (Superficial wound)

Melee Round 2:
initiative: us [1d6] = 6 them [1d6] = 1
F [1d20] = 9 T [1d20] = 6 R [1d20] = 5 [1d20] = 1
Chaos. No hits.

Melee Round 3:
initiative: us [1d6] = 1 them [1d6] = 2
F [1d20] = 16 T [1d20] = 14 R [1d20] = 13 [1d20] = 8
Damage: Tocen [1d8] = 5 Renvell [1d8] = 3

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

The valiant trio cut and thrust among the fiery zombies. Foxy aims to attack and stab the zombies which are engaged with the troops, steering Galavan if he can attack to also rear ferociously upon one of them.


Galavan attacks [1d20] = 11 hoof damage [1d6] = 4 [1d6] = 6
Foxy melee: Scimitar:[1d20+1] = 18+1 = 19damage:[1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8 fire dmage [1d4] = 3
Foxy melee: Scimitar:[1d20+1] = 14+1 = 15damage:[1d8+1] = 7+1 = 8 fire dmage [1d4] = 2

The troops fend off their opponents.

Tocun longsword [1d20+1] = 12+1 = 13 damage [1d8+1] = 1+1 = 2
Renvell longsword (Thaco 19) [1d20+2] = 3+2 = 5 [1d8+2] = 4+2 = 6

[Marullus]

With Renvell already struggling against his multiple foes and now startled by one of them being alight like a torch, the battle takes a fateful turn. He falls back and stumbles, the creatures overbearing him in his weakness, ripping and clawing into his chest, rendering open his chest cavity and abdomen and spilling his intestines onto the ground (-7, -2).

Foxy's deft reactions have her in the melee as soon as he falls -- her mighty blows fell two of the creatures, one on either side, while Galavan's hooves pound the last one into the earth. (-10, -11, -10) Tocen, heavily wounded himself, leaps down and begins the difficult process of stabilizing his fallen companion - intestines shoved back in and bound with shreds of his own cloak, Renvell is pale and on the brink of death. Any movement will certainly kill him. His horse stands skittishly in the plains, a speck in the distance east-northeast.

Renvell is at -7hp. See the rules on death and dying. Particularly...

If they are at negative hit points, they must first be stabilized by resting overnight before they can risk being moved. (Moving them anyway does 1d2 hp damage per turn.) After that, they cannot safely be moved by being carried directly, but they can be borne by a stretcher, litter or wagon. However, doing so inflicts 1d2 points of damage per day of travel in this fashion.

If a character reaches -10 hp, they can no longer be stabilized and they die.

Date: 10:35am, 24 July 2021
Light: Daylight
Distance Travelled: ~5 miles
Injuries: Renvell (dying, unconscious), Tocen (Grievous wound), Foxy's horse (moderate wound), Renvell's horse (moderate wound, fleeing), Tocen's horse (minor wound), Foxy (Superficial wound)

initiative: us [1d6] = 3 them [1d6] = 4
F [1d20] = 1 G [1d20] = 19 [1d20] = 18
Damage: Renvell [1d8] = 2 [1d8] = 7

[Stirling]

Foxy O'Hare

Grevious indeed and possibly an expected outcome from charging in to challenge the numerous foes.

Tocen is sent on his horse to rein in the other skittish mount. In the meanwhile Foxy does her best to triage Renvell. Taking woven strands of horsehair and a darning needle she intricately cross stitches the open wound. She waits for the return of Tocen and assessing the needs decides that obviously a litter to move and shelter are vital objectives.

Searching the bodies and looking at the area what can she see. Tangles of vines make strong ropes, fallen trees?

Did these zombies just by chance amble across our path or did we stumble upon a lair of ruin of sorts?

[Marullus]

Tocen is able to calm and retrieve Renvell's wounded horse, eventually getting its halter and leading it back to the group. Foxy circles the area, finding no signs of nearby ruin or graveyard. The shuffling, dragging tracks of these creatures extend relentlessly from the northwest, towards the center of the blight.

There is sufficient dry and brittle grass and gorse to burn and keep a fire through the night, the plains more yellowed thatch than green summer growth anyway. There's little to make a proper litter, but among your collective gear you suspect you could make a sling carriable between two mounts which will be the most stable and comfortable for your wounded companion... as long as you can make it to morning.

Date: 111:30am, 24 July 2021
Light: Daylight
Distance Travelled: ~5 miles
Injuries: Renvell (dying, unconscious), Tocen (Grievous wound), Foxy's horse (moderate wound), Renvell's horse (moderate wound, fleeing), Tocen's horse (minor wound), Foxy (Superficial wound)

search [1d6] = 4