[pnpgm] Game Update #30 - File #167 - A Whilf of DAnger
Scott Adams
longshotgm at comcast.net
Sat Aug 20 06:17:26 CEST 2022
Sex.....Character Name...Player..................Type....Not es.....
Male...Klorgar..........Tobie.Bonahoom...Tracker...Human,..........
Female.Varo Mineholder..Bess.Hadley......Merchant..Human...........
Male...Razgor...........Wout.Broere......Guard.....Human...........
Male...Rocky............Alex.Koponen.....Hunter....Dwarf...........
Male...Mournath.........Gilbert.Isla...............................
Male...Veren.Nor.Tarek..Npc..............Employer..Human...........
Male...Jaren............Npc..............Bodyguard.Human...........
Male...Marusk...........Npc..............Guide.....Human...........
Male...Juno.Solace......Ford.............Tracker...Human...........
Game Web Site – http:/nrgcomputers.com/RQ/rq.htm (case matters)
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Game Update #30 sequence (file #167)
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Admin: None.
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[Recap]
From Varo: [Re: Actions]
Varo, seeing that the excitement
is now over, continues on to
(If there are, she will again
raise the alarm, calling only loud enough that
their group will hear, & she will remain near the horses.)
If she does not detect any more
danger, she returns to the camp’s central area,
helps search the bodies & around/under the trees
they had been in, for any items of value (are
runners’ bows/ arrows useful to her & others?).
[I looked up Runners in the 2nd ed. Copy of
book (Thank you, Scott!). Are these creatures
familiar to Varo or not? If not, she will ask
about them among the others to learn more about
them. Varo wants to know about various dangers in
the world since she has become a trader & will often be on the roads.]
GM: Ack.
From Mournath: [Re Actions]
[action] Mournath wants to check
over the gear and bodies very completely. This
doesn't seem like a simple raid for profit.
Mournath wants to see if among the gear they are
carrying, there are any notes or missives giving
instructions to these bandits. Failing that, any
common item carried (sigil, necklace, marks of some sort).
[Aloud] - This doesn't feel like a
simple opportunistic raid. This
[If this line of questioning doesn't
seem fruitful, Mournath will check on the horses
to make sure none were injured and retrieve any
arrows that he might be able to.]
GM: Ack.
From Rocky: [Re: Actions[
Looking at the corpse Rocky nods
and says "Ah, Runners. Lesser
GM: Ack
From Bess: [Re: comment]
[I like the responses from
everyone great ideas! - but - LOL - I now have to
look up if Varo might have tree-climbing skills - ROFL.]
GM: Ack.
From Rocky: [Re: Runners]
Rocky is heard to mutter "In
Dwarfen militia weze taught ta raise the alarm
when guarding on watch and enemies come.."
GM: Ack. Added super late so not added to body below.
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[New Stuff]
[Wildday, Fertility week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]
[Time: 5:26 am]
Varo, seeing that the excitement is
now over, continues on to check that the horses
are safe & secure. She's mildly disappointed to
have missed the opportunity to attack that
creature she'd seen in the tree, but Klorgar's attack had been impressive!
“Great shots, Klorgar!” she says as
she passes by to check on the horses. She reaches
the horses, who seem to still be attached to the
lines, then casts another Detect Enemy spell to
be sure there are no other entities about. She's
very aware that the great trees can effectively
hide others like those Runners, so feels the
necessity of repeating the spell.
But the spell finds no other enemy
that at this particular time is willing to
endanger the party. Course they could just be out
of range several hundred feet away out of the spell range.
She also offers to cast a healing
spell on Jaren: “Jaren, would you like me to cast
a Healing Spell on that wound?”
Varo then gets on with the remainder
of their night's routine, listening &
contributing to a report about this attack,
searching for the enemies' camp, if required on
her part & then - whether taking a watch, or if
having already done hers, going back to get what sleep she can.
Mournath speaks up, “This doesn't
feel like a simple opportunistic raid. This feels
very...contrived. Look carefully upon them my
companions, do any of these men look familiar?”
[dumping any common items or papers he might have
found] “Do any of these items have meaning to any of you?”
Looking at the corpse Rocky nods and
says "Ah, Runners. Lesser Elves that live on
trees. Might be worth one a you climbing up ta
look fer dear stuff ta loot. Any a yous good at tracking ta dere home tree?"
Rocky goes back, puts down his shield
and sling, recocks his arbalest, and goes back to
sleep waiting for his turn at watch.
Marusk yawns as he walks up
wrapped in a blanket, he leans over the one
sniper with a intact head. He hears Rocky and
nods. “I've heard of these buggers. There is a
famous Prax militia of some 40 men that entered a
forest and soon men were disappearing. A third
gone by time they realized it was these warriors.
I've heard though they do have some honor but are
the unspoken side of the elf family. They do live
in trees and use that thing there to swing from
tree to tree if they are able to.” He points to
the whipstaff. “I've heard some can uncurl as
much as 12 feet...” he picks the staff pup. “I
heard some use barbs or wood solid hooks or even
some sticky stuff from trees to attach to the
limbs. But unsure how they release the grip
unless its some elf trick.” He stands
up. “Finding their camp is probably
futile. They could've traveled tree by tree for
miles. Tracking them in trees would be difficult
and if found a ground trail it might drop off as they climb the trees.”
Varen nods, “I agree. Dawn is
probably an hour or two away it'd be difficult to
track at night. This is probably some hunting
party.” He points to one sniper's belt that has
some small rabbit pelts on it. “But Mournath has
a point. They probably underestimated our
strength. The sentries did a good job and stopped
that threat fast. If their skill was better they
could've take 4-5 of us out before we woke.”
Varo checks the horses and finds them
all well still asleep. One is wagging hits tail
and another is breathing a bit hard from a raspy
mild lung tickle. Those things are common so they are in good shape.
As the party studies the Runners they
see smaller to diminutive elves that seem to be
very agile looking. Looking at their bare feet
it clear they spend most of their lives in the
tree. While their feet are hard they are also
soft heels showing little ground travel. Maybe
they would not even go on land unless they were
desperate or in need of something.
So horses would be of little use to
them. So that makes party wonder what they were
here for? Maybe to just scare the party out of
their forest? To guard the forest or to kill the
group for interfering in the sacred forest?
Later in afternoon, Marusks remembers
more details on the Praxian fiasco where only 2
survived. In this case a horde of screaming
runners attacked. That would cause disruptions
and one to question morale if the trees started
to scream and then fire arrows at them But this
group of 3 choose to be silent?
Body wise they seem to be pretty
average compared to the average human. They do
not have super high ability in any area even
their dexterity. But their agility seems to
along with their skills and gear be better than
humans. They do not wear armor but a thick
natural foliage that seems to cover strategic
places. It is as if the hide of trees protect
them from most dangers even as they wear it like
a hodge podge of leaves, wood, bark and broken
limbs. They have no clothing but a light fur seems to cover their bodies.
The whipstick or whipstaff is a long
but durable wooden piece that could be a cane in
human society. At the other end is the coiled
plant fiber with some bits of animal leather
whip. In its 'normal' state it seems to wrap its
whip part around the top and hook around a small
set of hooks at top. It is clear sniper 2 tried
to bind Klorgar and yank him up or hang him up by
garrotte style methods. This is probably their
chief form of travel in trees like monkeys who
use vines. For areas where trees are so far apart
maybe they glide like those flying squires do
that haw a flap/wing between arms and
body. Those these elves have none of that. The
actual item seems to be less effective as a
weapon but on same scale as a dagger or human whip.
Upon searching the stunted elves not
much is found. With 3 quivers 58 arrows are
found and Mournath and Klorgar replace any lost
from that supply. Three whipsticks and 3 elf
bows. It might be a good item to use but
learning to use this staff/whip as a human might
be a uphill battle to learn. The bows are at one
point nicely made but looks like well used so
quality diminished. Of the 3 elves only 2 Clacks
and 2 lunars are found in a small leather
pouch. There are signs of a hemp rope like belt
that has signs of recent use. Probably pelts or
animals. Other than that they seem very natural
down to earth beings with nothing else. Marusks
suspects food and water may be nearby but based
on low amount of valuable items finding this
stash would be futile. Varen agrees but says
that if a search is done be done by daylight or miss the trip out.
Of the party aside from Marusk and
Rocky only Juno and Varo seem to possibly have
lore knowledge. But in this case Varo does not
recognize them and once Juno finally wakes up
long after battle, doesn't recognize the Runners.
[Time: 6:14 am]
As daylight arrives the camp has been
mostly broken up for some time. Juno is teased
for action but all in good jest. Jaren checks
his wound and sees it almost fully healed. The
party moves out back toward the north east.
--------
[Godsday, Fertility week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]
Nothing occurs today that is of any
note. Jaren is now fully healed and most have healed magical power back.
--------
[Freezeday, Stasis week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]
A new week for the Orlanthi calender
brings a refreshing cool morning on the forest
glades as the party continues on their trip.
--------
[Waterday, Fertility week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]
[Time: 5:22 am]
Varo and Jaren are on sentry duty. A
rare event to have Jaren to do such as he seems
to be excluded from most chores being a personal bodyguard for Varen.
Mournath wakes up to relieve
himself. He spots Jaren and moves in that
general direction to have possible backup. Just
as he finishes he notices a snake crawling from a
bush nearby. He draws his broadsword and goes to
chop it. But realizes this is a pure green
snake. He realizes the snake is harmless and the
snake curls around the sword. Examining the
sleek snake Mournath moves a bit away and lets it
slide off his sword and slither away into the dark grass.
[Time: Afternoon]
The gods must be watching as the
party finds a nice stream to drink, bath and
replenish supplies on this waterday.
--------
[Clayday, Fertility week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]
[Time: mid day]
The party sits in a small clearing
for lunch The day before Razgar shot a rabbit so fresh meat is served.
For last couple days Maruska has been
quiet aside from directions given based on the
terrain he has been on. The guide keeps glancing over at Vern.
“So you did not want to take a boat
up the coast as it'd be far faster?” Marusks asks.
Veren shakes his head, “sea can be
quite dangerous and little way to escape.”
“So still a bit confused. You said
your home was taken over and you need us to help
clear it?” Verne nods. “Why not hire from a
local village? If I know your area there are several up there.”
Vern replies, “they are not as
skilled as city folks like yourselves.”
The guide nods, “So you say you were that far south for?”
“Mainly I was checking on a group of
farms to the west of the city. As an investment
and to create a supply run up north on a regular basis.”
“So farmers were to travel hundreds
and hundreds of miles to give your manor food?” The guide looks skeptical.
Veren smiles, “you got me. I was
considering that but I heard rumors of heavy
metal deposits under the land. I was considering
buying the farms. But they refused. So went to city and had my accident.”
“Ahh...the accident. So you were
attacked by bandits and you fell down a cliff
side and lost your memory?” Veren nods saying, “a lot of my memory”.
Maruska continues, “So Jaren found
you and helped you thus why you hired
him?” Veren nods. “So you got robbed but had
money after selling some items you owned.”
Veren nods, “I had papers proving I
owned some high priced jewels and a rare Praxian
scepter once owned by a brave leader. That is
how I got most of the cash for to hire you
all. But at my place I have far more money.”
Maruska nods and chews some rabbit
leg looking at others to see if anyone cared to chime in their own questions.
--------
[Windday, Fertility week, Storm Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]
Oddly there is not much wind at all
this day that proves to be uneventful.
--------
[Fireday , Fertility week, Storm
Season, 1625, Genertela, Glorantha]
[Time: 8:17 pm]
Couple hours ago party made camp in
this scenic landscape. To the right or east are
rolling hills that lead to a small mountain scape
of browns as not tall enough for snow. The
mountains are several miles east. To the north
is a wide forest about 2 miles to the north. To
the south about a mile is another large forest
the party exited from. In some situations
camping in a forest is safer but can also force
restrictive movements. Maruska explained they'll
head north and not east as the mountains are
known for rock slides and loose ground making
travel unsafe. Now the party sits on a small
plain a mile or so wide. To the west about a
mile away is a valley down the slope of the cliff
edge. From this angle the party can see foggy
mists of the forest below in the valley.
In the forest to the south several
bears and at least 1 jack o bear was heard so its
figured to be safer outside the forest. Maruska
warns the forest to north has been known to have
some elves but party can avoid them with
care. So staying in this small plain is relatively safer.
Everyone is awake and fully armed and
armored. Tents setup and campfire is
roaring. There is a full moon making visibility
maybe a good half mile and a mile for those with
night vision. So a open plain makes good sentry
stations. As the horses are combed and checked
for sores a wolf band can be heard in the hills
far to the east. Howling at the moon but likely to avoid the party.
Since everyone is milling about there
is technically no official sentries. But half
keep watch and half clean gear and weapons around the campfire.
Suddenly a large flock of bats exit
and pass over the camp but that is not so
rare. Five minutes later though various assorted
birds also fly over ad to the west of party.
A few minutes later Jaren spots 3
deer running fast from the south forest across
the plains toward the north forest.
Maruska spots them, “at full
trot. We could ride out and take one but they seem skittish.”
Then it seems the crickets o the plains and edge of forest in the
seem to quiet all at once. The party stands as this is definitely creepy.
Then the party hears a faint rumble
that seems to get louder and louder. It seems to
go on for almost a full minute. Then forms
emerge from the forest. Good no forest
giants! As the party watch 3 forms emerge....then 6...then 10 more.
People begin to grab weapons and
ensure all side weapons on their belt.
Then the rumble is definite from
animals in the sound and maybe its just cattle
or There must be 6-7 dozen forms just outside
the forest. Then the smell hits the camp as the
campfire flickers from the wind. Definitely
animal stink. Maybe it is just migrating buffalo.
Worst case they stampede and kill the tents.
But then Rocky grunts and recognizes these forms and smells.
Jaren draws a sword clearly also sensing great danger.
Maruska sighs, 'This is bad....very
bad...” He looks at the camp and the
tents. They could flee to the forest to the
north. Maybe? He shakes his head and faces
south. “Tusk riders. The glint of their
gear shines and it is clearly Tusks they
ride. We could flee but Tusks could out pace us
eventually they are fast lumbering beasts. Hate
to say it but we may have to stand our ground or some of us could go north?”
Jaren nods, “yes Varen lets go there
and leave a few here. Your safety is top priority.”
Varen shakes his head, “We might make
it on horses but I despise those beasts! I have
heard of these creatures. They are fierce. But
maybe we can defend this spot. I doubt we could talk our away out of this.”
It is clear Varen may be out of his
element here. He is considering fleeing to the north forest.
GM: Actions? Comments?
Next Update: In a week or so...
GM: So 8 rounds or 96 seconds a rather
long combat. Enemy might've had a edge if not
for the disabling of all 3 sniper legs. That is
one thing about RQ that makes it harder to do
combat long term. Once a limb is disabled
chances are it's all over. I posted the Wake Up
Chance formula I use and it ranged from 4-11%.
Oddly Juno had 11% yet bad rolls to wake up. Even
after the yelling x3. :) Odds of 2 headshots
twice in a row are 1 out of 400! I think in this
entire adventure only 1 other head hit was done?
Everyone is at 100% POW and health. This could
be a very dangerous situation. One issue with RQ
is monsters have no NF Number Found. After 4
random rolls this large group was formed. I
don't like tpk situations so I'll handle this the
best I can. Its not a sure thing of tpk. Since
plenty of notice and all are awake (that was
random) that will help you guys. If it was 5am
it might've been worse. So you guys need to use
every thing to your ability skills, runes, spells
and such. I will not do a update next week to
give you guys time to plan. My vacations start
in sept so will have more down time for rest of
year. I have a lot of logistics to deal with but
will give some details below. I will do a
generic map later but its not gonna help at this
point. Who knows maybe you'll come up with a plan to avoid any combat????
GM: 190 Miles out – personal note for me. To be updated.
GM: Notes -
Rocky - -1 Sling bullet
Mournath - +5% Bow
Mournath - +5% Listen
Klorgar - +5% Listen
Klorgar - +5% Bow
GM: Logistics
Enemy group – 60-80. Those who see
well can tell at least 20% are small so could be offspring?
West – 20 degree decline moving down
in a cliff fashion overlooking a forest valley. Cliff edge – half a mile.
East – rolling Foothills – mountains a
couple miles away. Hills are a 20-30 degree incline.
North – Forest from cliff to hills. About 1.3-1.5 miles away.
South – Forest a few hundred feet from
cliff to hills. (So a small open area is on its
left side by cliff). Is about 1.5 miles away in most places from camp.
Keep in mind most spells are 80 meters
(240 feet) most good bows are 200 (600 feet).
Animals might be 4-6 speed. 12-18 feet per round.
Walking for those without horses can move 24 feet per round.
Some math may be figured out. But you
have the data to figure out encounter chances and
when they get close by doing the math.
Update is large so will stop for
now. Was going to do a bit more math but you
have the data. Everyone has heard of tusk
raiders and most on planet hate them.
So ran the math it may take 30+ min
for enemy to arrive if at slow pace. BTW camp is
barren. No trees to hide from or rocks just a
few low bushes maybe waist high.
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