IC I

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

"It seems some creature has broken out of the caves... and this fine, powdery rust is similar in composition to the piles of rust I saw in the room to the west of the statue room... but no apparent sign of the emissaries."

Lanny looks up to the evening skies.

"We don't have much time before nightfall. We should have a look around the area to see if there are any other paths leading into this valley. The emissaries could potentially arrive here from any direction. As to the tracks... we might follow them for a bit to see if the creature is still close by. If we will be camping outdoors, then we will not want this creature disturbing our sleep..."

Which direction do the tracks lead?

[Makofan]

Grey Jake says "I don't like this strange monster roaming about. I volunteer to lead a party to try to track it down right now"

[Bouv]

Grey Jake says "I don't like this strange monster roaming about. I volunteer to lead a party to try to track it down right now"

Tratiln will volunteer to go with Grey Jake if he wishes. "I was thinking the same, who knows when it will come back. But let's not go too far looking for it."

Tratiln will leave his shovel behind if others feel they need to use it.

[rremedio]

Meagnor, the Elf

Meagnor checks the powder, worried about its origins.

May I make Arcane Lore and Nature Lore checks to check if Meagnor knows about any monster/animal capable to "dissolve" the spikes? He will volunteer to go with the searching party carrying a fired torch (or suggest that someone carries one, in case he is required to stay behind) just in case we are facing a monster that could make our metal weapon useless.

[thirdkingdom]

Meagnor is unaware of any beast capable of doing such a thing. The tracks appear to be at least a day, if not more, older. Lanny takes a closer look at the trail, both from the higher vantage point of the hill and from down in the valley. While there does appear to be a path of sorts leading west from the grove of trees it is rocky and does not appear to be easily navigated. One would want to rely on mule or donkey, or perhaps goat, to transport any great weight or burden. It is likely that, if a group were intent on transporting the chest, they would travel the way the party has been.

So, for how long and how far are you willing to try and track the beast? By the way, Meagnor tanked those rolls!

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny returns from his patrol of the area.

"This grove of trees still remains an excellent hiding place from which to spring an ambush and cast spells, while the hill to the south of the grove provides a good view of the valley and surrounding areas, which should allow us to see the enemies approaching from a distance. Perhaps we can find a secluded campsite to the west of the grove, behind the cover of the hills, where we can tether our horses while we are camped so that they will not seen by anyone entering the valley from the south. There is a small rocky path over there, to the west."

Lanny advises the group pursuing the creature to not go too far.

"If it has left the valley, best to let it go. I'm sure we'll be forming watches while we sleep, so that we can watch for it should it return..."

A couple of questions: What is the distance from the grove to the central cave entrance? And whhat is the general visibility on top of the hill (the one to the south of the grove)? And lastly, how far away from the caves is that shepherd's hut, and how far is it off the main trail? (I had originally thought that the hut was several miles away from the caves...)

[thirdkingdom]

Tratiln recollects that the abandoned hut is virtually invisible to those travelling east to west -- at least until one has gone a significant distance past it -- and that it is at the head of a sizeable valley. Perhaps not as hospitable as the grove and spring before the group, but potentially well suited to an ambush. The lack of anything more substantial than a goat or deer trail between the caves and the hut suggest that it is likely the emissaries will pass by the same route as the companions have.

[Luis]

Saul, in anticipation of trouble, puts on his leather armor one piece at a time like any other man, the only difference is that when he does so he does it still thinking about his awkward introduction to Meagnor.

He even forgot the pride he had in his precious new toys and when he thinks his new party member is looking he starts humming something that would sound really good with a lute and cowbell accompaniment.

[Bouv]

Tratiln begins to think out loud, "I wonder if it would be possible for some of us to set up an ambush at the old hut and follow Elywn's men to the cave and have them surrounded? Or if we were all down there, we'd cut off their only escape route. Either run into the caves or face us...."

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny nods at Tratiln's words.

"The hut is close enough to the trail to be within range of our spells. We could camp there and wait for the emissaries, then hit them with all of our spellpower and missile fire before charging in to finish off the others."

Lanny thinks a little more, trying to visualize the area around the hut.

"There is a hilly area just to the south of the hut that we could use to give us advance warning of the approaching emissaries. It would also give us a good view of the valley in front of the caves, in case there is any activity there. We could keep our horses tethered behind that hill and out of sight of those approaching from the east."

Lanny is good with the entire party being stationed in or around the hut, with lookouts stationed atop the hill immediately to the south of the hut.

[rremedio]

Meagnor, the Elf agrees with Tratiln and Lanny: "the hut is too far away from the caves for us to split, I suggest that we all stay close to the hut. And if we can use the hills to watch approaching enemies, we shouldn't miss the chance".

[sulldawga]

Marodin, the Cleric, is ok with the plan to camp out at the hut.

Was there any response on my attempt to get the herbalist to brew me a Potion of Giant Strength?

[thirdkingdom]

A guard order is established and rudimentary plans for an ambush hashed out. Night falls, and passes uneventfully. The cloud cover continues into the new day, but with little sign for rain.

Thaumont 8, AC 1000

Random encounter at night (1 on 1d6): (1d6=3). No.
Weather: (1d20=17, 1d20=4, 1d20=17)Cloudy. No precipitation.

Can I get an idea of how you guys are going to watch, who will be positioned where, etc. zebediah, if you would like Drudsa to spend the day in study he can, but keep in mind that means he will not be able to react immediately to a threat. He needs another six hours of study before I start rolling for the chance to learn the spell.

[zebediah]

A guard order is established and rudimentary plans for an ambush hashed out. Night falls, and passes uneventfully. The cloud cover continues into the new day, but with little sign for rain.

Thaumont 8, AC 1000

Random encounter at night (1 on 1d6): (1d6=3). No.
Weather: (1d20=17, 1d20=4, 1d20=17)Cloudy. No precipitation.

Can I get an idea of how you guys are going to watch, who will be positioned where, etc. zebediah, if you would like Drudsa to spend the day in study he can, but keep in mind that means he will not be able to react immediately to a threat. He needs another six hours of study before I start rolling for the chance to learn the spell.

Drudsa the dabbler will spend as much time as he can studying. While he can assist with watch duties he is probably not the most skilled for that role and learning another spell quicker should increase overall party effectiveness.

[Bouv]

Tratiln will maintain watch during the day when he's on duty by hunking down by/covered up by a bush to remain hidden from plain sight and will have his sleep spell ready to go if he sees signs of Elwyn's men. When he is on night watch, he will keep all lights out in order to use his heatvision most effectively, again, hiding down by a bush.

"We should do well to reduce any fires we have for not only could someone see them but the odor of them will travel as well. I know we might have to suffer some cold meals this way but I think it would be for the best in regards to our ambush."

When not on watch, Tratiln will sharpen some sticks with his knife roughly 3''-4'' inches in length and set them off to the side. He doesn't want to dig any ditches for fear the noise will alert Elwyn's men and they might notice freshly dug soil.

[Makofan]

if Grey Jake can get a group of four, he is willing to spend an hour or so tracking the beast

[rremedio]

Meagnor, the Elf tries to find a spot to stay when he's not watching, so he can fire some arrows before entering melee when the enemies arrive.

is there any trees around? Meagnor can help searching for the beast near the hut, but he's against going too far or staying in the path so the enemy can see the group

[thirdkingdom]

The few trees that are around are small and stunted, the grove of cottonwoods being, as far as can be seen, the exception rather than the rule. There is certainly enough wood for a fire, and for Tratiln's sharpened stakes, but not much more than that.

I'm going to try and do this more often, at least in terms of landscape and possibly for other stuff as well, but here is an image that captures, fairly closely, what the environs are like. You guys need to be thinking "Riders of the Purple Sage" or "Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid":

[frobozz]

Lanny the elf

Lanny suggests a guard rotation during the daytime hours composed of non-spellcasters (although Jake and Saul would be the best choices for a simple rotatation because they can move silently) who can keep watch on the trail from a hidden position on the hilltop to the south of the hut that has optimal visibility. If a caravan is spotted approaching in the distance, the guard should return to the hut with the news, and the party should gather in or around the hut (assuming that the caravan would not be able to see them at all until they pass by the hut, due to the curvature of the path) and then hit them with spells and firepower before charging.

Lanny also suggests that if 1 or 2 party members wanted to pass the time by digging a shallow pit (nothing fancy) much further ahead on the trail, then that might help to prevent some of their caravan from escaping ahead after our initial assault, especially if any of them are on horseback.

[Bouv]

Lanny the elf

Lanny suggests a guard rotation during the daytime hours composed of non-spellcasters (although Jake and Saul would be the best choices for a simple rotatation because they can move silently) who can keep watch on the trail from a hidden position on the hilltop to the south of the hut that has optimal visibility. If a caravan is spotted approaching in the distance, the guard should return to the hut with the news, and the party should gather in or around the hut (assuming that the caravan would not be able to see them at all until they pass by the hut, due to the curvature of the path) and then hit them with spells and firepower before charging.

Lanny also suggests that if 1 or 2 party members wanted to pass the time by digging a shallow pit (nothing fancy) much further ahead on the trail, then that might help to prevent some of their caravan from escaping ahead after our initial assault, especially if any of them are on horseback.

Tratiln doesn't mind the pit idea, "However, we need to be cautious as they could show up anytime now and we wouldn't want a few of our members away digging. Plus, the noise could potientally warn them of something going on. I'd almost wager if someone could set up some sort of swing trap, swinning down the spike poles to hit them or swing in from behind to prevent them from leaving, with a wall of spikes in the path now."