[pnpgm] Game Update #155 - File #1078 - Party enters forest
Scott Adams
longshotgm at netzero.com
Mon Mar 7 20:51:37 CET 2011
HT Alias/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex
-- -----------------------------------------------------------------
R1.John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma
??.Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma
R4.Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard Normal/Human Ma
W2.Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma
W3.Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma
--.Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry Fe
R2.Mark Murtha...........Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human..Ma
R1.David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human Ma
R4.J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
W2.Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard....Normal/Human..Ma
W4.Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe
R1 John.Stowman..........Will..............Hunter..Normal/Human..Ma
R4.Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe
R1 NPC...................Zhou Kiwat........Noble...Normal/Human..Ma
Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Tef'wo (Horse) Ben'dar,
Game Web Site - http://www.furvert.net/longshotgm/pbem/index.htm
Public posts/actions to pnpgm at abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list)
Private emails (not public actions) to longshotgm at netzero.com
Game Update #155 in sequence (file #1078)
----------------------------------------------------------------
Admin Notes: None.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[Recap]
From Kell: [Re: Actions]
[I liked the update. Good description. Nice how the Rising
Mount fits both descriptively and literally. Now to crack it
open!]
Ha'Kell waits patiently for someone else to say something. To
say anything or point the way down, or give an opinion. [Waiting
nd waiting... two days and nothing? wowsa! :) ] Seconds pass,
feeling like days in this exposed death-trap. When no one else
gives an opinion the half-elf can't contain himself.
"We need to head down now. This pass into the valley is....
Assuming we safely reach the forest, Kell will use his hiding
abilities as much as possible. He is also using his elven senses
to look for mana nulls, listening and watching for flyers and the
dog-like creatures. Getting into a big brawl right starting
here is very low on his list.
GM: Ack. Folks have been out of town and busy. It takes time
to form a plan.
From Kiet: [Re: Actions]
During the storm Kiet was seriously contemplating a spell, but
decided against it. A sky knowlege spell during such a storm
might have yielded some great truths, but the drain on Kiet's
meager resources would have been substantial. Plus, there might
have been some negative effect if it had been detected. If you
call being discovered and killed a negative effect.
besides...after all his disapproval of the magic used, it would
have looked bad.
Kiet leans over to Kell and says "That's exactly why I...
GM: Ack.
From Will: [Re: Actions]
OOC: I was hoping Unali was going to say something.
Will quits his musing on the sketch of the dead Vong and
wondering if the weakness in there armor is something he could
exploit and returns to the task at hand. "Sounds as close to...
OOC: Scott does just traveling in the mountains count towards
mountain survival? After looking at my character sheet I see
that not having mountain survival was a glaring omission.
GM: Ack. Just moving in mountains no. If you avoided ambushes
and had to hunt or such then maybe. There are some skills
I do give partial points like over months or weeks language
points for basically hearing it. But you would need to
actually learn/train in the survival skill to get points. Sorry.
From Kell: [Re: Actions]
OOC: I was too. Waiting for Unali, or an older party member,
to speak up. But the posting deadline was looming, so Kell
jumped on it. That's something he'll do.
Maybe we should just use Cloud Walking and go straight to the
top? :)
GM: Ack. Wout travels a great deal so can't respond as fast as
those who read email at work daily even if they shouldn't :)
From Will: [Re: Actions]
Will: "Cloud Walking hmmm... I was thinking about establishing
a link with a sending spell so that if I am scouting I would have
a way to send a message. I think Z'leyra had said that she was
open to the idea. She along with Caladan would probably also be
one of the least likely to get hurt and therefore better able to
relay messages and come to the rescue.
GM: Ack. No ending " so wasn't sure this was a OOC comment or
dialogue. Sorry.
From Unali: [Re: Actions]
OOC: Bit busy to respond till now.
Why do I get the feeling there is a heli-pad up there?
Unali: "That is were we are headed for sure. Let's make...
GM: Ack.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
[New Stuff]
[Augado 10th, 1634TH]
[Location: Middle Katai Plains]
[ Mountains west of Pamau]
[Time: 9:18am]
At the top of the hill the party watches the valley through
the medium sized sheets of drizzle. Lightning remains to
the east and north a bit but in the immediate area it seems to
be decreasing as the summer storm passes quickly.
Kiet had considered using a spell during the storm since
the spell might've revealed some good information. The
storm gods seem to be active this hour so might've answered
faster. But his inner struggle to use magic and not to use
magic ends with no spell cast.
Now on the hill the party watches the small hill of a tiny
mountain. It might not be even an official mountain to some
cartographers. It almost looks like a giant stone barrel
rising from the ground. Caladan makes mention of climbing it
could be rough.
Kiet leans over to Kell and says "That's exactly why I learned
how to fly..." Both men laugh at the little joke.
Kiet doesn't like the idea of just waltzing down to the base of
the little mountain. Besides the fact the location of the Vong is
still not yet known, the idea of marching in a direct route to our
enemy just seems suicidal. Kiet speaks up, "Um, I don't mean to
be rude, but might there be a way to get to the mountain on the
back side of it? I mean, if they are expecting us, they are
probably expecting us from nearly along this path we have taken.
Meeting this enemy head on seems to me to be not the wisest
course. But, then, I am not a military man." Kiet thinks about
that for a second and says "Well, not anymore, anyway."
As Arawn tries to confirm this is the right valley with the
strange bowl-map bugs several wiggle in their saddles in
tense but excited nervousness. For several long moments no one
says a word as folks study the terrain. Unali and Fremea try
to scan the area with their spyglasses.
Finally Kell speaks up, "We need to head down now. This pass
into the valley is completely exposed; a deathtrap. Let's move
down. Fremea, can you scout down there a bit? Will, you too, you
know woods well and are dressed for it. Don't get too far from
each other. Farseeker, take point in case of an ambush. Raban,
can you go forward too? Ben'dar, can you cover the rear? With
Z'Leyra and Kiet to watch also? The rest of us stay in the
middle, but don't group too close. Any possible flyers could
hit a group. If you think you're better at the front or rear,
take that position. Zhou, stay near Kiet."
"Once we're down off this pass and in cover we can formulate a
better plan, and possibly find some entrance or find if we have
to climb that mountainside." Kell enjoys his hat especially
these times as the rain pretty much keeps away from his eyes.
Will quits his musing on the sketch of the dead Vong and
wondering if the weakness in there armor is something he could
exploit and returns to the task at hand. "Sounds as close to a
plan as I have ever heard from this group. I'm better in the
forest than on the mountain so lets move." Will is feeling a
bit exposed up here as well.
Unali nod, "That is were we are headed for sure. Let's make
sure we get down in the woods quickly, before the storm blows
over. We can hide down there and scout to see if there are any
openings at ground level. Otherwise we have to jump up there
without being noticed."
"Spreading out seems a good idea. Let's go. We can make plans
once we are hidden in those woods."
Arawn stares at the mountain-hill that has to be the Rising
Mount. In his mind it has to be it. The description and the
visions he has read and seen. it is almost natural to figure
out Vong would use a natural possible living structure as a base
rather than some stone castle that is dead to their technology.
His mind races to thoughts of what could lie in this valley,
around it or inside the mountain. Then he hears mention of the
long dead volcano there and the ash rich soil. Could this be
a focus for their growing things?
Tef'wo snorts a few times at the rain as it makes his
jeweled collar slip and slide chaffing a bit of his skin.
He doesn't get bothered by rain or thunder much but this
storm seems to especially irritate him for some reason. Ben'dar
pats the powerful horse to calm him down. The Zen'dan warrior
listens to Kell issue orders and wonders when there was a revolt.
Caladan feels the firesnake squirm inside his leather jerkin.
He prefers to hide and stay warm from the rain. Caladan has
a odd memory but he can't recall it. He struggles in his deep
thoughts as he tries to recall it. After his death and then
rebirth by Cetric some of his own muscle memory and mental
memories faded. He isn't sure it is the resurrection consequences
or something else. During the battle on Clima he had that vision
of those red eyes and he thought it was just exhaustion after
the long grueling battle. Then he was reported to have said
after he woke up from his own death seeing more red eyes as
if monster or being was talking to him. It is unclear to
him what he is trying to figure out. But he hopes someday he
will and when needed.
Chion wipes his forehead clearing as much water from his
face as he can. Being a sailor he is used to rain and working
in it at all times of the day. But on a horse like this beast
the smell can be a bit daunting. Chion has also heard of this
valley and as the party moves toward the forest he explains what
version he has heard. It seems a decade before the volcano
erupted long ago an army was chasing a warlord who went against
the Emperor. They chased them to this valley with his wife,
kids and 50 or so other warriors who survived a long and harsh
campaign against them. The army decided to burn the forest
down and close the passes. As a result the people were all
killed by the fire. But they were not alone. Two sisters were
there in the forest that day. They were killed by the fire
as well. Their father who was a wizard was so distraught he
used dark rituals to trap their souls in the valley. He
would curse the valley to strangers to beset them with problems
and dangers. Some report sightings of ghosts in the form of the
daughters here. But most figure it to be legend. Once these
dark rites were done the wizard sent a dark avenger to hunt
down the army general and kill him. Chion finally says to
his point of valley it is called the Valley of Fire for
many reasons.
From atop of the hill Farseeker shifts back and forth in his
saddle. He sighs heavily and grumbles under his breath. "A
mountain. Why a mountain? Couldn't they just be in the
open? Last time we visited a mountain like this we lost a
fellow ally. Lost a flying scout." He glances toward Z'leyra
"Had a shadow beast have fun with us and kill our prisoners.
Then we also gained a new member." He finally glances at Ben'dar.
"Mountains aren't fun. All that tons of rock overhead ready
to fall on you at any minute..."
Fremea watches from the ground with her magical spyglass.
The fog, rain and light eludes the full view of the mountain.
But at first glance there doesn't seem to be any case or
strange things. She knows she will have to get a bit closer
and wait till the rain and cloud-bank-fog to clear away before
she gets a perfect view. She glances to the sky and sees the
lightning still flash knowing it might be dangerous for her
to go flying but also knows it would make her a good target.
Kell begins to scan the valley with his senses as he gets
closer looking for mana holes but at this point only sees the
normal hues of mana signatures in the form of the trees. As
he rides he wonders how his family is doing back home. A odd
thing to consider at this time. But they say when close to
death one things of home.
Kiet rides but has to dismount so not to fall in this muddy
slope. It isn't too steep only about a 30 degree angle but
with his new found riding skill he doesn't take the chance.
While he jokes with Kell about flying he knows that doing
such a thing could be very risky to his body since death
would be a bad possible consequence.
Raban also dismounts not wanting to break the spine of his
horse at this angle. He hears the acrobat and trader speak
of flying and knows he could also fly to the top. Heck
he could fly hard enough and knock some of the rock face
out but hopefully they'll find a way in before that has to
happen.
Unali is surprised to be here in this place at her stage
of life. There were stories of this place around the
city for a long time. It is one of those legends that
is commonplace just like the story of great army battles or
great Purges by the nobility. By the crow, or by Fremea,
she is only a few hundred miles away from her own city. She
knows if this is the Vong's staging point they could hit
Pamau, Shantou easy and then go from there. She can't
allow that to happen.
Zhou grumbles in low murmurs to himself. He hates this
rain and prefers to be in a nice warm house reading a book
rather than in this weather. Even with his cloak it seems
to get all in him from his underwear to his gloves. It
makes him miserable. Then as he rides closer to the trees
he notices apples and begins to crave apples.
The party moves toward the forest line some 1,000 feet
from the top of the hill. They notice the forest is rich
in trees that seem to be well aged. There are numerous
tall mountain style pines that span a hundred feet easy and
some may go a bit higher. Many of the trees are apple
trees with apples still hanging down ready for picking. Some
seem to have been plundered by locals or animals. But the
plucked trees are few and it seems clear these trees have
not been handled in some time. That could indicate more
local villages have failed to survive the Vong appearance.
The tree canopy soon becomes thick for a normal mountain
forest but not as thick as a jungle. While the canopy may
get as high as 100 feet it typically is no more than 50
feet in most places. There are gaps where one can see the
sky but for the most part it is blocked making the rain
seem to stop and give the party a quick break.
From atop the hill the forest is greatest on the west
side of the central Rising Mount. It is thin on the south
side where the party is going. In fact it is only 400-500
feet long before it hits the clearing. So the party moves
a bit north west to get into the thicker part of the forest.
From the hilltop it is clear around the Rising Mount there
is a large open area around 1,000-1,200 feet around the
Rising Mount where no forest is seen. Either the trees have
not grown there or the soil is not as rich. It is not sure
which may be the case.
As Will and others scout the area for possible traps they
soon realize Vong traps might not be so easy to spot.
The apples are red and seem to be medium sized. The trees
do have wildlife with birds and squirrels being the most
numerous form. If there are larger animals like deer they
are not seen at this point.
A sigh of relief is given by the party when they arrive
deep inside the forest. From the current location no one can
see the Rising Mount but Fremea sneaks to the canopy to get
a bird's eye view.
Everyone dismounts and prepares to make further plans.
[Time: 9:24am]
Actions? Comments?
Next Update...Friday...
GM: Character sheets sent for final battle ....
These include minor edits to show gear now on person
rather than DL.
Player Sent
Will Yes Ben'dar Yes
Farseeker Yes Arawn Yes
Raban Yes Chion Yes
Fremea Yes Kell Yes
Kiet Yes Strie'bog Yes
Unali Yes Z'leyra Yes
Zhou No Need Caladan No need
GM: All sheets sent with updated info. I know I have 2 emails
on possible character issues. Will tackle that this week.
If problems sent all inquiries to Bertha in the Complaint
Department. She handles all issues and will make demerit
marks against the Dwarves who handle such things. OF
course some secret demerit mark amount the dwarves have
been known to come after those who complain. What they
do off duty I don't care as long as I don't get sued. Bertha
is a Sucubus so she can take sucky deals.
GM: Generic map of area in rough form.
/I\ = North
1 Row = Half a mile [around 2640 feet]
1 Column = Almost 1/10th mile [Around 410 feet each column]
4 Miles by 4 miles
1 2 3 4 5
12345678901234567890123456789012345678901234567890
____________________________________________________
I %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% I A
I %%%%%%%%%%%%% % %%%% 7 I B
I6 %%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%% %%%%% 4 I C
I %%%%%%%%%%%%% X %%%%%%%%%%% I D
I %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%% i E
I5 %%%%%%%%%%P%% %%%%%%%%%%%%%%% I F
I %%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%%% I G
I 3 2 1 I H
----------------------------------------------------
X = Rising Mount [D24] - 1,000 feet high, 1,000 feet wide
1 = Mountain [H37] - 10,000 feet high
2 = Mountain [H22] - 8,700 feet high
3 = Mountain [H9 ] - 5,600 feet high
4 = Mountain [C42] - 8,000 feet high
5 = Mountain [F1 ] - 6,900 feet high
6 = Mountain [C1 ] - 6,400 feet high
7 = Mountain [b32] - 8,450 feet high
% = Forested area major tree area
P = Party place [F18] Forest ground
Party is now about 2,000 odd feet to the Rising
Mount inside the forest. Can move deeper if needed.
Party is about 500 feet from edge of clearing at this
point.
All heights are estimates.
GM: A short update and this is how they will go for awhile.
There will be no deadlines. So if you guys want to form
plans go for it. I'll not rush you guys into things. I
need time to finish some details. So get some ideas going
and the leadership can decide on them or be voted on.
More information about the pnpgm
mailing list