IC IX

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys looks about helplessly as Lanny indicates the trail is lost; he isn't terribly good with tracking or navigating.

So he does what he knows best and indicates he will keep a lookout while the others determine a plan of action.

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"We have provisions for the remainder of today and tomorrow, so let us see what we can do today to find the creature and if we have nothing at the end of the day we decide if we go back or if we are able to continue by harvesting the provisions provided by nature. If the beast has ran all the way here I think it most likely was trying to reach its lair to lick its wounds. Let us do a thorough search of this area, perhaps the creature's den is not far."

[thirdkingdom]

The party is on the boundaries of hex 58.17 and 59.17. Hunting is certainly allowed. And there is every chance of picking up the Beast's tracks again by continuing to search. Just let me know if you want to search the you are currently in some more or continue heading east into the mountains.

[Grognardsw]

Innana the Fighter:

That is fine I guess. Even at my sickened and weak state I have just a little less Hp than Bregalad without his armor. Lol.

Will Aquar's normal First Aid now work on Innana?

[thirdkingdom]

Innana the Fighter:

That is fine I guess. Even at my sickened and weak state I have just a little less Hp than Bregalad without his armor. Lol.

Will Aquar's normal First Aid now work on Innana?

Aquar finds it extremely difficult -- nay, impossible -- to treat an invisible patient.

I thought I had mentioned it earlier, but at this point Innana is actually unable to regain hp through rest.

[frobozz]

Lanny the Elf

Lanny nods at Drudsa.

"I agree, we should try to pick up the trail again by starting our crawl again from this spot. It had been heading east for the mountains for the past hour before we lost its trail, I believe we should continue heading in that direction. We might actually have more rations that I first believed on the mules, although we can certainly look for some opportunities to hunt wile we are crawling along..."

Lanny pauses, looking back in the direction of the lumber camps.

"My only other concern is Jaceo... I wish we could warn the lumber camps about him... Yet, our primary objective is the Great Cat, and I think we should pursue it while it is still wounded..."

Lanny favors continuing the hex crawl eastward into the mountains (moving into hex 59.17 or 59.16, whichever is closer).

I suppose, in order to avoid the food issue if we want to continue on into the mountains, we could assume that the mules were carrying the week's worth of rations provided by the lumber camps in addition to the week's worth of rations that each one of us was already carrying (2 weeks worth of rations for 9 persons weighs 1260cn, and these 2 mules can carry a total combined load of 6000cn and still move at 30'). That said, Lanny is not opposed to supplementing his trail mix with a little fresh meat while they pursue the Great Cat.

I thought I had mentioned it earlier, but at this point Innana is actually unable to regain hp through rest.

Oops, sorry. Innana, I guess you only have 4 hp then.

[Alethan]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys is perfectly fine with continuing the search for the great cat.

"We need to start thinking about a good plan of attack when we find it, though. I don't believe a bold frontal attack will work to our advantage..."

[Finglas]

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys is perfectly fine with continuing the search for the great cat.

"We need to start thinking about a good plan of attack when we find it, though. I don't believe a bold frontal attack will work to our advantage..."

Bregalad the elf

"Yes, Rhys. A good plan is what we will need. But not even a good plan will work, if our two warriors have not regained their full strength -- and I do not see how that can happen in less than one week. If we fight the great lion before that time, then we will surely fall."

"Let us return to the logging camp, report to Josiah what has taken place, and then hunt again when Innana and Thordin are fully healed. Let the cat lick its wounds, for now."

In games such as this one, it is exciting to know that we will have some encounters that are not winnable. I think this was one of them. And trying to fight the cat again, in our current condition, seems foolhardy to the elf. With just a little more time, though, we may possess the advantage we will need to defeat this giant. I am thinking specifically of the following:

1. In a week's time, Thordin and Innana will be close to full health.

2. Since leaving Threshold, Innana has been practicing (under the tutelage of Thordin) to improve in her proficiency in the sword. If she succeeds in becoming skilled at it, not only will her AC improve by 2, she will also have the chance to deflect one of the cat's attacks per round. (Thordin's tactic to deflect the cat's bite, which was 2d8 in damage, was brilliant!)

3. For our next encounter with the cat, Bregalad would be willing to loan his armor to Thordin or Innana.

4. If Lanny and Bregalad could learn Mirror Image from Drudsa, we may actually serve as adequate backups for Thordin and Innana. If needed, it would give the fighters a chance to withdraw from battle for a timely heal, while the elves present the cat with 4-8 targets! Before he can learn this spell, however, Bregalad will need to return to the logging camp, so that he can regain his spell scribing materials.

5. And Bregalad still thinks Invisibility may play an important role in our group's strategy. This whole time, it has felt to the elf that we were the prey, not the hunters. It seems that the cat was watching us, stalking us, and waiting for the right time to attack. Choosing to approach us at night, when most of us were unarmored, was the perfect time for it!

Hearing that Innana is not feeling even the slightest bit better has Bregalad gravely concerned. He thinks back to the time when the party aided the water fairy. There may have been something about that encounter that could help the warrioress now.....

"Inanna. The nymph who had given us the Faery Stone..... she was bound to the water. When we first saw her, she was close to dying, for her spring was polluted with filth. But after her pool was cleansed, she quickly began to heal, and her body and mind soon became as clear as her beloved water. You, Innana, remind me of her, even before you were saved by her Faerie Stone -- a creature wild and beautiful, yet also dangerous, in love with fresh water, drawn to it, healed by it."

[thirdkingdom]

So it looks like there are three proposals: spend the rest of the day searching then making a decision, continuing on and heading back to the camp. Can we get some votes on this, OOC, and attempt a decision by the end of the weekend?
As to the extra rations, I am torn. I cannot find an entry listing what the mules are carrying . On the other hand, you guys did state you were transferring your carried goods to the mules.

[Alethan]

Knowing how much provisions we have will be a deciding factor, no?

[zebediah]

Drudsa the dabbler

"Bregalad has made a very good point. Although I am eager to press on the pursuit to take advantage of the wounds we have inflicted on the beast it is clear that our main first line warriors are not in their best condition. If we fight the creature its deadly attacks will most likely wipe us out in a couple of rounds if we are not able to take it down quickly... So indeed, I will also support our retreat to the logging camp. Let us focus on recovering, preparing and protecting the loggers. If the beast doesn't attack us during that time we can plan our next strike."

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

Rhys the Traveler

Rhys is perfectly fine with continuing the search for the great cat.

"We need to start thinking about a good plan of attack when we find it, though. I don't believe a bold frontal attack will work to our advantage..."

Bregalad the elf

"Yes, Rhys. A good plan is what we will need. But not even a good plan will work, if our two warriors have not regained their full strength -- and I do not see how that can happen in less than one week. If we fight the great lion before that time, then we will surely fall."

"Let us return to the logging camp, report to Josiah what has taken place, and then hunt again when Innana and Thordin are fully healed. Let the cat lick its wounds, for now."

In games such as this one, it is exciting to know that we will have some encounters that are not winnable. I think this was one of them. And trying to fight the cat again, in our current condition, seems foolhardy to the elf. With just a little more time, though, we may possess the advantage we will need to defeat this giant. I am thinking specifically of the following:

1. In a week's time, Thordin and Innana will be close to full health.

2. Since leaving Threshold, Innana has been practicing (under the tutelage of Thordin) to improve in her proficiency in the sword. If she succeeds in becoming skilled at it, not only will her AC improve by 2, she will also have the chance to deflect one of the cat's attacks per round. (Thordin's tactic to deflect the cat's bite, which was 2d8 in damage, was brilliant!)

3. For our next encounter with the cat, Bregalad would be willing to loan his armor to Thordin or Innana.

4. If Lanny and Bregalad could learn Mirror Image from Drudsa, we may actually serve as adequate backups for Thordin and Innana. If needed, it would give the fighters a chance to withdraw from battle for a timely heal, while the elves present the cat with 4-8 targets! Before he can learn this spell, however, Bregalad will need to return to the logging camp, so that he can regain his spell scribing materials.

5. And Bregalad still thinks Invisibility may play an important role in our group's strategy. This whole time, it has felt to the elf that we were the prey, not the hunters. It seems that the cat was watching us, stalking us, and waiting for the right time to attack. Choosing to approach us at night, when most of us were unarmored, was the perfect time for it!

Hearing that Innana is not feeling even the slightest bit better has Bregalad gravely concerned. He thinks back to the time when the party aided the water fairy. There may have been something about that encounter that could help the warrioress now.....

"Inanna. The nymph who had given us the Faery Stone..... she was bound to the water. When we first saw her, she was close to dying, for her spring was polluted with filth. But after her pool was cleansed, she quickly began to heal, and her body and mind soon became as clear as her beloved water. You, Innana, remind me of her, even before you were saved by her Faerie Stone -- a creature wild and beautiful, yet also dangerous, in love with fresh water, drawn to it, healed by it."

Innana listens to what Bregalad has to say while she practices her light step walk, pacing back and forth across the camp site, smiling when everyone was still talking to the place she last spoke. Innana does not want to give up the hunt. It is not in her to give up when there is a good chance they may make a surprise attack. "Is there some water near by that I may soak in?" Innana watches her comrades turn to face her new position. "If the water indeed heals my body, I would like to vote to press forward, and attack this feline and the changeling".

[frobozz]

Lanny the Elf

Lanny nods in agreement with the others.

"Then let us return to the logging camps. It will give us the opportunity to inform Josiah about the doppleganger while we rest and recover. We may not need to spend a full week there, perhaps just two or three days. We can spend this time in training and study so that the advantage will shift to our favor when we meet the Great Cat once again... Innana, the logging camps are right on Lake Windrush, you may wish to spend a couple of days treating yourself to its waters... Just be aware of the prying eyes of the loggers as you do so..."

Lanny indicates that he is ready to turn around and head back to the logging camps.

[thirdkingdom]

After a brief, tactical analysis the adventurers decide to return to the camps to rest, recuperate and resupply. They are able to make journey a little over four miles, slowly descending from the steeper slopes to more gentle, majestic hills crested with virgin forest.

Flaurmont 14, AC 1000

The companions are unmolested during the night. Guided by Lanny, they make their way westwards until they intersect the Duke's road just south of the first logging camp shortly after noon. It is but a two-hour's walk to reach the main camp, where they are greeted with excitement and questions: "You are alive!" "But where is Jaceo?" "Yeah, and that red-haired vixen you traveled with?"

[frobozz]

Lanny the Elf

Lanny arrives back in camp a little worn out from the long hike. He tries to deflect some of the more prying questions (especially those about Jaceo), not wanting to start a panic at the camp.

"We are all well... including the red-haired warrioress" Lanny says correctingly.

"Jaceo went off on his own trail, we are currently looking for him... If you see him, please let us know, or let Josiah know. We will be heading back up into the mountains in the next few days to continue our search... right now we need to rest and resupply."

Lanny will be ready to speak to Josiah once the group has settled in.

[Grognardsw]

Aquar, cleric

"And a mighty cat it was! Bigger than a cabin, fangs as long as swords, claws like daggers!" tells Aquar that day, spinning tales of heroism to preaching opportunity. "Attack in the night it did! Our heroes' swords repelled the feline, but not before she bloodied us. The blessings of Procan were with us indeed...let me tell you how faith in Him can bring new meaning to your life..."

Safely in camp, the sailor priest of Procan will bring his divine healings on Innana. He will replenish ration supplies for the next trip out.

CLW and three cure orisons on Innana.

[frobozz]

Lanny the Elf

LOL Grog

Ok, so, by my count, between Aquar and Semele:

Flaurmont 13 (yesterday)
2 CLW, 1 CMW on Innana (this assumes both Aquar and Semele prepared their normal repertoire of spells yesterday morning in preparation for fighting the beast)

Flaurmont 14 (today)
2 CLW, 5 CMW on Innana (this assumes both Aquar and Semele prepared all healing spells this morning)

[Finglas]

Bregalad the elf

Bregalad spends some time listening to the devout bard's tales. Recalling the doppleganger took a deep gash upon its thigh from Thordin's blade, the elf keeps his eyes open for any person whose leg may be bandaged or bleeding.

After the group has spoken to Josiah, Bregalad will spend the majority of his time researching spells. First, scribing Analyse into his spell book, and then attempting to learn Mirror Image.

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

Innana smells the logging camp before she even reaches it. It was a mixture of cut wood, fire, and....a stench she cannot place. As the group enters the camp Innana is still flanking the group to the right, even though she is invisible, her protectiveness of her friends never fades.

As she enters the camp she is able to witness the loggers unabated sneers, and glares.....and that stench. .. Innana's stomach tightens like a stone, and her heart starts to pound. "Innana leans in to Drudsa, and whispers in his ear, Drudsa, I do not trust this place. Something is wrong. Please warn Lanny who is near you.

Innana steps lightly next to Thordin,Thordin, it is your comrad, Innana. "My kitty instincts say we are walking into a pack of wolves."

[Innana]

Innana the Fighter:

Stays on high alert. One of the things that kept her chin up during the long march back to camp was that she would be able to Soak in the lake, naked. Now she will just walk into the lake with her armor on and dunk her head for a moment to see if the water will help heal her body.

Innana sits on a nearby log to dry off where nobody is paying attention to the moving and dripping water from the lake. This place seems so crowded. She looks around the camp. Her comrades don't seem to notice anything different. Perhaps she is just going mad?

Innana dries off in the warmth of the sun. Still in deep thought, Innana walks over to Thordin to see if he would like to sword play. She is tired of being invisible. Innana wonders if things might get better if she is visible.