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Idril hangs the amber pendant around her neck, tucking into the folds of her shabby dress. "It is a guidestone. Useful."

She gives the others a conspiratorial look. "We don't need to mention this find to Sax or the others—they'll only want a cut.

"I like this skill of yours, priest, to pry secret from unliving material. Let us try it on the key, tomorrow. And in the meantime, let us all keep our eyes out for a likely keyhole."

She pats the stones of the wall affectionately. "A profitable little interlude, yes?"

Arngeir nods

"Agreed. No talk. Useful skill, not always work, but ways of making more chance. Dagger may tell us useful things too. Choose what ask with care."

He pauses for a moment, thinking

"Who knows when building fall? Larani and priests, good warriors. "

Algrim merely nods his agreement.

Arngeir

"Good! Now we make sure ready for orcs when they come."

Arngeir is interested in how the caravan has set itself out for the night.

As the trio looks over the hidden cache of goods the afternoon moves along into evening. As they move back towards the makeshift camp the caravan has set up they walk along a low wall, about 3 to 4 feet tall. Algrim spots a black-eared forest deer (average buck) on the other side of the wall, about 25 yards (16 hexes, short range for your crossbow) away. it is browsing dropped apples under a wild apple tree and hasn't spotted you yet. Arngeir and Idril spot the deer at the same time and all 3 of you come to a stop without spooking the deer.

The forest deer is the smallest deer on Harn, weighting about 50 pounds. You are far enough out of the Kingdom proper and there is no one around to enforce the King's law so a poaching charge is very unlikely here and it would make for an excellent dinner of fresh venison.

If Algrim decides to try and take a shot it is short range for your crossbow (no penalty) against an ignore defense as it doesn't know you are there and is to close to jump the string (hear the string snap and jump out of the way of the shot before it reaches him). Your EML would be 102-15 (physical penalty) = 87. You can also try for a frontal shot at -10 EML and you could use an action to brace your crossbow on the stone wall and gain a +10 to EML, but bracing the shot would allow the deer an Awareness check vs a Stealth check by you. That is in the deers favor so I would pass and just take a frontal shot (EML 77 is still pretty good and if you hit it is more likely to be lethal) if you are going to try and take a shot. If shooting; declare action (shoot normal, shoot frontal shot, brace and shoot normal, or brace and shoot frontal shot). If shooting without bracing roll [1d100] crossbow [1d100] hit location [_3d6] impact, if bracing first roll the same but add [1d100] stealth.

If Arngeir decides to try and throw his shorkana it is long range for you (-40 penalty) against an ignore defense as it doesn't know you are there. Your EML would be 90-40 (range)-35 (physical penalty) = 15, if you do it is the same set of rolls as Algrim's. Note you can call frontal shot as well but it would put you at only 5% EML.

If Idril decides to try and throw her javelin it is medium range for you (-20 penalty) against an ignore defense as it doesn't know you are there. Your EML would be 65-20 (range)-10 (physical penalty) = 35, if you do it is the same set of rolls as Algrim's. Note you can call frontal shot as well but it would put you at only 25% EML.

Arngeir Orlygsson: Inj (none), FL 3, BL 0, PP 80, Uni Pen (3/-15), Phy Pen (7/-35), Move 3, Spc: Carrying backpack
Algrim Tirion: Inj (none), FL 0, BL 0, PP 17, Uni Pen (0), Phy Pen (3/-15), Move 10, Spc: Carrying backpack
Idril Nagfly: Inj (none), FL 1, BL 0, PP 75, Uni Pen (1/-5), Phy Pen (3/-15), Move 6, Spc: Backpack on Cart, Physician ML now 53. Sensitivity ML now 31
All backpacks currently by the carts.

Algrim holds a finger up to shush the others points towards the deer and takes up his crossbow bracing to steady his shot aimed more towards the front of the deer in the "killzone" near the heart and other vital organs.

[1d100]=63 attack [1d100]=10 defense [1d100]=30 hit location [_4d6]=(5+5+5+1)=16 damage

Non-Combat Skill Roll [1d100]=29

Nice rolling. MS for the Stealth roll. MS for the Crossbow roll. 10 for the location roll, taken off the Bestiary entry for Forest Deer results in a Neck shot. I sniped the combat chart to show you how the hit is figured. PDF of the combat charts are free in the resources post. Attacker MS vs Defender Ignore is an M*2, which stands for Missile strike Missile impact +2d6. So taking your first 2 d6 rolls it is 8 (crossbow) + 5+5=18. -1 for the Forest Deer's protection value (PV) against point attacks = 17 impact. From the Combat Chart a 17 impact vs neck is a K5 upside down triangle. The upside down triangle is an amputation roll but only applies to a Edge attack so not here. The K5 indicates it is a Kill roll, the victim must roll 5d6 and get equal or less than their Endurance or they die instantly. An average Forest Deer has a 9 Endurance.

Forest deer K5 roll vs 9 End [5d6]=14

Dead instantly. If it had made the Kill roll, it would have a G5 injury to the neck and would need to make a 5d6 Shock roll to remain conscious. G5's are also bleeders loosing 1 BL per round (10 seconds), he would bleed out in about 90 seconds. A G4 would have been slower, 1 BL per minute so about 9 minutes. Obviously some great rolling by GreyWolfVT but it also shows that HM is much more lethal than other RPG's, an ignore defense should never be voluntarily taken as this is exactly how it would play out against a character getting sniped by someone with a crossbow they don't know is there.

Combat chart snip. Algrim braces his crossbow, aims and fires. The bolt covers the distance before the deer knows what is happening and hits perfectly at the base of the neck, dropping the deer in its tracks. Now the work begins.

Anyone with Cooking, Hidework or Survival can help. Cooking and Hidework get +25 EML to butcher the deer. The individual with the highest score after the EML bonus if any rolls with +Skill SI for each individual helping. So only 1 roll for butchering. CS will get you 30 lbs edibles, MS 25 lbs, MF 20 lbs, CF 15 lbs. In this case it is Idril (cooking 65+25=90, +6 from each Algrim and Arngeir if they choose to help. Keeping in mind the max EML is always 95).


Arngeir Orlygsson: Inj (none), FL 3, BL 0, PP 80, Uni Pen (3/-15), Phy Pen (7/-35), Move 3, Spc: Carrying backpack
Algrim Tirion: Inj (none), FL 0, BL 0, PP 17, Uni Pen (0), Phy Pen (3/-15), Move 10, Spc: Carrying backpack
Idril Nagfly: Inj (none), FL 1, BL 0, PP 75, Uni Pen (1/-5), Phy Pen (3/-15), Move 6, Spc: Backpack on Cart, Physician ML now 53. Sensitivity ML now 31
All backpacks currently by the carts.

Arngeir decides to take an opportunity to rest, so that he is at his best to defend the caravan later.

Idril nods at Algrim. "Good meal for the caravan, tonight. Make Sax pay you for the meat. I'll dress and butcher the animal. Take your knife, you make the cuts."

Deer butchery [1d100]=24

Algrim winks and smiles "Yup fortune favors the hunt today. Nah payment not desired just helpin' provide a good meal for everyone." he then goes to help gut and skin the deer.

Survival Non-Combat Skill Roll [1d100]=79

Idril and Algrim butcher the deer, laying the 25 lbs or so of edibles on the inside of the freshly skinned hide to form a bundle for easier carrying. Meanwhile Arngeir rests and watches the two at work. Once complete they take up their bundle and head back to the caravan camp as it is starting to get dark.

When they arrive with the meat Idril sets about cooking up a feast for everyone, Sax praises the three of you and thanks you for sharing. He breaks out the small beer once more and everyone seems to be enjoying themselves. The teamsters and guards rotate a watchman on the highest remaining stone wall that camp is set up against (about 14 feet high and 2 to 3 feet thick). There is good protection here with partial stone walls protecting 3 sides of the camp. By the time the meal is ready, Arngeir is recovered from his exhausting mental work.

Anything you want to discuss with each other, someone in the caravan?
Will you take a watch? If so where and when?
Anything else you would like to do?
Right before bed might be a good time to use any psionic talents as you will be sleeping after.

Arngeir Orlygsson: Inj (none), FL 0, BL 0, PP 80, Uni Pen (0/0), Phy Pen (4/-20), Move 3, Spc: Carrying backpack
Algrim Tirion: Inj (none), FL 0, BL 0, PP 17, Uni Pen (0), Phy Pen (3/-15), Move 10, Spc: Carrying backpack
Idril Nagfly: Inj (none), FL 1, BL 0, PP 75, Uni Pen (1/-5), Phy Pen (3/-15), Move 6, Spc: Backpack on Cart, Physician ML now 53. Sensitivity ML now 31
All backpacks currently by the carts.

Arngeir is enjoying his food

He gestures around

"Is good spot for defence. Caravan has, what, 6 men to guard. Will also guard too. High spot good for seeing, also good be shot with arrow. Do orcs use bow? How they fight? Watch in pairs, another elsewhere to be sure?"

One of the guards responds to Arngeir. "Some use bows, but they are pretty short and not the most powerful of bows. Slings and javelins, often just fire hardened sticks are more common and more dangerous then their bows. The problem is they are sneaky critters and see in the dark really well so it is hard to spot them before they launch an attack. Idril saved us the other night, or it would have been much worse. The Baron's patrols usually keep this section of the trail pretty clear of threats. But stuff happens, that is why guards like us get hired."

Arngeir

The Ivinian looks thoughtful.

"If orc see good in dark and we not then high spot not good in dark, target for orcs. I think while eat."

Guard, "I agree, but am not too worried about an attack here from the Foulspawn. possible but I have never heard of one. The Pagaelin tribesman scare me more and a good vantage point gives an advantage against them as they don't see any better than we do."

Algrim offers to take up watch with the guards using his crossbow "Eh I like ta shoot orcs with me crossbow. Hows that there deer fellas?" he asks having had his fill already. "Should save some an dry it, makes fer good jerky."

After seeing that everyone is fed, Idril turns to bed, having no more interest in taking a watch than she has in letting the guards cook.

Would any of her psionics or incantations be of obvious benefit before she goes to sleep?

You make it through the night with no issues or strange happenings.

The injured/infected guard gets an infection roll. Did either of you want to help him by trying to boost his Endurance, Strength, and/or Stamina to improve his chances? He is currently at 13x4+5=57

Arngeir Orlygsson: Inj (none), FL 0, BL 0, PP 80, Uni Pen (0/0), Phy Pen (4/-20), Move 3, Spc: Carrying backpack
Algrim Tirion: Inj (none), FL 0, BL 0, PP 17, Uni Pen (0), Phy Pen (3/-15), Move 10, Spc: Carrying backpack
Idril Nagfly: Inj (none), FL 0, BL 0, PP 75, Uni Pen (0/0), Phy Pen (3/-15), Move 6, Spc: Backpack on Cart, Physician ML now 53. Sensitivity ML now 31
All backpacks currently by the carts.

Arngeir watches silently while Idril examines the patent, afterwards touches the man on the shoulder

Over breakfast he will ask when the Abbey was abandoned and also ask Sax his plans for the caravan.