Yes, you can take as many short rests and use as many encounter powers as you want before heading out. You can even use daily powers and then go take another extended rest if you want, although Applethorpe may well be building up his defenses AS WE SPEAK.
(Also, while discussing strategy and stuff, I'm not going to hold you to spending resources as soon as you say "I do this" - other people have a chance to give suggestions and change your mind. In combat it's a different story...)
As Tristan tries to stretch out his soreness before going to the gate to meet the others, he suddenly remembers Lauto's opinion on violence without the intent of death. Rrrg, stupid Tonk. This lip is going to take forever to heal.
After he arrives at the gate, the elf waits patiently for the others. Once Dextyr arrives, he asks, "You said something yesterday about healing us - I think now would be a good time. That rest didn't do me any good, and I doubt it helped the rest of you either ... Lauto doesn't like it when people commit violence without trying to kill." Tristan ends with a grimace as he tries to stretch out his still-sore muscles, apparently to painful results.
OOC
Think I can get some healing over here before we start, Dan? We need to squeeze the most possible hit points out of every single healing surge we've got, boys and girls. No spending a surge for your normal surge value unless you have to!
On that note, I think we should take as much time as we need for Dex to use majestic word on whoever needs to spend surges, and use Song of Rest as much as possible. No sense starting with less resources than we need to.
Edit: I totally agree on guerilla tactics and focus-fire, Dan. Blade may not like it, but we need to do whatever we can to get through this alive ... When we're ready to go, I suggest that Tristan, Mikara, or Tonk (or two, or all three) go ahead to scout - see what we're up against, then we can make a plan. All three have high Stealth and Perception. Blade can keep an eye out for any baddies trying to sneak up on him and Dex while the rest of us are away - +11 Perception. Sound good?
Tristan Moonblade - Male Elf Avenger (Dayna) 1 Passive Perception: 21, Passive Insight: 14; Low-light vision AC:17, Fort:13, Reflex:15, Will:15 -- Speed:7 HP:9/28, Bloodied:14, Surge Value:7, Surges Left:9/9
Action Points: 1, Second Wind: available Powers Bond of Pursuit, Overwhelming Strike Angelic Alacrity, Channel Divinity, Elven Accuracy, Oath of Enmity Oath of the Final Duel Group Awareness: All non-elf allies within 5 squares of Raiyek gain a +1 bonus to Perception.
So, doing a quick check, Tonk and Mikara can both heal to full hp by spending a surge with the song of rest bonus. And Blade isn't going to spend a surge for 4hp.
Dex is borderline - just spending a surge normal (with song of rest) he's down 1 hp. He could use a majestic word to get to full. Tristan could really use a majestic word right now - surge + song of rest + majestic word = 15 hp, leaving him only down 4. I'd recommend taking the short rest to get the majestic word back, though, so we're looking at 10 mins of resting before we get going.
Does that sound good to everyone? (I think Song of Rest is going to be my favorite thing in this adventure )
"Yes it would appear that we are not in Lautos favor this morning" Dextyr replies. "My jaw hasn't ached this bad since the night I spent with those two..." Dextyr cuts the sentence short thinking that perhaps his lewd comments may not be appreciated by the others, but he cannot seem to contain a huge grin at that thought.
"Anyway, yes, healing. Once everyone arrives we can take a short break to get focused for the upcoming day and I have the perfect melody to play to get us in the right frame of mind."
OOC
I'm not sure if I can use Song of Rest and Majestic Word together and stack their benifits, although it would sure be nice if I could.
I agree with the scouting ahead plan. Dex is not much for stealth yet (untill my next multiclass feat that is).
The rules are a little ambiguous. I had always read it that it counted for any surges spent after a short rest listening to the song, but you could also interpret it as only applying to surges spent as a result of taking the rest.
In any case, thank you I guess I don't have to go cast a vote in the "Make JNC stop being a jerk" proposal ... yet
OK so when everyone arrives we can take a short rest and Dex can use his song of rest and 2 majestic words. The 2 Majestic words will go to Tristan and Dex.
With that we would leave us with Blade not using any surges and down 4 hit points (25), Tristan using 1 surge and being down 4 hit points (24), and Dextyr, Mikara and Tonk all using 1 surge each and being at full hit points.
I definately think we should wait the 10 minutes for Dex to regain Magectic Word.
I was under the impression that we were going to rest so that we had cover of night for our activities.
In the distance, you hear Tonk engaged in a boisterous, but one-sided conversation in the Giant language, punctuated by the occasional "Oh, Mama!" and "Ha, Papa!"
He rounds the corner of a nearby building. You can see he holds a small doll made of sticks, mud, and hair. He speaks to the doll. The doll speaks back in a tiny, tinny voice--sometimes male, sometimes female.
Tonk sees the group and waves.
"Okay! Got to go! Bye-bye!" he says to the doll and puts it away.
"The forest was unkind. Though well rested in mind, my slumber left me sore no different than before.
Your song, o bard I find restoring."
If not for that, I'd find it boring.
Mikara snickers to herself...
OOC:
Mikara spends a healing surge and takes advantage of the song's bonus.
I agree that Tristan, Tonk, and I should scout ahead. As for Mikara's role, I think that guarilla tactics are her specialty. In fact I'm thinking that she could serve as a cross-fire agent, by circling around to 'flank' the enemy from a distance. Tactics like this could divide the enemey quite nicely.
It seems that Tonk and I form the group's ranged capability.
My proposed tactics are as follows:
Mikara's first blows will be the deadliest (action point hunter's quarry and daily's). This will thin the enemy and get their attenion, allowing Tristan and Blade to establish attack a weakened and distracted enemy.
From there, Mikara's attacks will compliment the fight, making the Tristan and Blade's melee attacks more deadly.
Because she has little effectiveness in melee, she'll have to rely on her mobility to keep free of the fray.
What Tonk does is up to Ken, but I would suggest starting out by aiding Mikara's opening attack with a coordinated strike. From there, his mace would come in handy for helping Tristan and Blade.
Sorry, I just automatically equated "extended rest" = "good night's sleep".
The same strange sense of time you were having at the Temple of Lauto seems to be persisting, because after you get a good night's sleep and meet again in the morning, you discover it's almost sundown!
"Whoa! Is much weird! First is day. Next is night. Order is okay, but how long it last is much short! Big city is much, much strange!"
Tonk rummages in his duffel bag.
"Okay. While I sleep in dumpster, I have idea. I realize I not know name of anyone. So, I make the name tag! Look!"
He points at a crumpled, stained piece of paper pinned to his jacket. It says, "Tonk".
"Now, I have name tag for each of you. I have charcoal if you need for to write."
Tonk passes out torn pieces of paper, about the size of your palm. Each has dubious stains, perhaps once used to strain coffee or wrap meat. The odor is faint.
"Okay! Once put name, we make the Kill Buddy. Who want to be my Kill Buddy?"
"Whoa! Is much weird! First is day. Next is night. Order is okay, but how long it last is much short! Big city is much, much strange!"
Tonk rummages in his duffel bag.
"Okay. While I sleep in dumpster, I have idea. I realize I not know name of anyone. So, I make the name tag! Look!"
He points at a crumpled, stained piece of paper pinned to his jacket. It says, "Tonk".
"Now, I have name tag for each of you. I have charcoal if you need for to write."
Tonk passes out torn pieces of paper, about the size of your palm. Each has dubious stains, perhaps once used to strain coffee or wrap meat. The odor is faint.
"Okay! Once put name, we make the Kill Buddy. Who want to be my Kill Buddy?"
Dextyr takes the peice of paper and charcoal from Tonk and writes his name on it in Allarian and then fastenes it to his cloak.
"My appoligies Tonk, I had thought we had made proper introductions. My name is Dextyr M'rgan."
Dextyr pauses for a moment, not sure how to word what he wants to say next, but then seeming ot find the right phrase continues.
"So Tonk, I am curious, please tell me, what is involved in becoming a kill buddy?"
Tonk's eyes widen in surprise. "You no know Kill Buddy? I do Kill Buddy since I little baby. I thought everybody know Kill Buddy!"
"Okay, I tell you!"
"Is like Pool Buddy, but instead of swim, kill people."
"Kill Buddy is team of two. Kill Buddy always work together, like the salt and the pepper. The two Kill Buddy choose one bad guy and beat bad guy to death or knock out, whatever you want. When finish, Kill Buddy pick new bad guy and get him, too. Is very good! One Kill Buddy go around front of bad guy. Other Kill Buddy go around back of bad guy. Then both jump on bad guy, like a bum on biscuit. Boom! Boom! Boom! Go through bad guy fast."
"Now, I know is three of us..." Tonk holds up five fingers. "...so is weird man out. To fix, we maybe make two Kill Buddy team with long-range shoot bad guy person or we maybe make one Kill Buddy team of two buddy and one Kill Buddy team of five..." Tonk holds up three fingers. "...buddy."
"When fight with Kill Buddy, always make sure for to call bad guy, so everyone know who you choose. Is much important for to talk. If know hand sign, is even better!"
"By the way, you make pretty hand write! Like girl!"
Tonk's Wish List
First: A magical mace that does a LOOOOOOOOAD of damage! Not one of those flaming or frost-type weapons. They don't do anything special when they hit. I'd like something that has a constant, cool property and mega-high crits or some way of sucking hit points off opponents.
Second: Magical leather armor. I'd like something that increases his HP, helps him heal, or permits him to re-use expended powers.
Third: Magical dagger. Why? Because when he throws it, it comes back. If the dagger is poisonous or inflicts a condition or does something nasty, that would be very cool.
Finally: Bag of Holding. He's carrying over 90 pounds of gear.
Last edited by KenHood; 8th July 2009 at 04:28 AM..
Mikara's head jerks up from the arrowhead she's been hoaning
KILL BUDDY!!??
I don't like the sound of that.
"I'm called Mikara Li Mesadh."
Mikara takes the paper, but doesn't pin it on. She examines the charcoal sadly.
OOC:
I'm OK with the time warps, just as long as we don't suddenly look up and find ourselves back at the Hanged Man talking about our adventure, being at a loss for words.
I'm a little impatient to get things started, and I imagine that Joe is too.
"Tonk, Tristan, to me."
She motions them to come closer.
"I think it's time we set off on down the East Road.
We should go softly. If we make too much chatter we'll be discovered.
Beware of sentries. Be quick, and show them no mercy. They would reveal us.
Once our quarry's seen, we'll send report to Dextyr as well as to Blade."
"You don't have to stay at a distance. Just for the first strike. Then move in and smash when you're enemy is weakened. It's always easier to kill an enemy that is already seeing stars in front of thier eyes."
The time warps are just me fixing things when I make a mistake. Just a slightly more fun way to say, " Pretend I wrote evening instead of morning up there." Hopefully there won't be any more...
If the rest of you want to post wishlists, that'd be pretty cool.
And whenever you're ready to start out, let me know.
Blade rounds the final corner just as Tonk asks who he is. "I am Blade," the deva announces. "I had thought you would remember, Punch Brother."
Apparently Blade's exceptional hearing has kept him up to date, despite not being present for the beginning of the discussion. "I would be honored to be your Kill Buddy, Tonk. May Maros bless us with glorious battle!" Though his face is fairly impassive, he fingers his axe in anticipation.
OOC
Yeah, Blade's still here
Also: Perception (1d20+11=16) for keeping watch while the scouts are out and about. Crappy roll ... I guess Blade's too preoccupied with the imminent battle or something.
)
I guess I don't have to go cast a vote in the "Make JNC stop being a jerk" proposal ... yet 
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