Adventure:-- LPNN (Manzanita Judging)

[two]

(OOC: Dude, unnecessary pessimism? Look, we lost our only rage, leaving the barbarian fatigued, all my PsP (especially wasted are the buffs that I still had up for several rounds if we had pursued), all your 1st-level spells except one, and all Vargo's 1st-level spells except one. They lost two(?) hit points and a group of useless rats that were basically just a distraction. If they attack again with us in this state, waiting for us to go back to sleep and set up watch, first of all we could be dead before we all wake up: two crossbow shots from surprise, on average, will defeat anyone but Raz or Ogrin, and now that they know who the casters are, on average they should be able to easily have Almacye and Vargo both knocked out the first round after the surprise round, which could be before anyone can react if they win initiative. And second, even if we do wake up, we're in deep trouble... let's not forget their DR 10/silver, which means that only the fatigued barbarian or a very lucky Ogrin sneak attack can hurt them at all except on a critical. Unless the rats get some really terrible rolls, I'm not seeing us surviving another surprise crossbow ambush in this state. Particularly, I ran several such sample combats assuming the wererats are level 1 human warriors--the easiest kind around, and in all of them, we all died, though one of the times we knocked out one of the wererats thanks to a lucky x3 critical from Raz)

Refer to http://www.enworld.org/showpost.php?p=2340292&postcount=149, particularly Hallidor's actions, for a partial correction to an incorrect assumption (you are making).

In other words, not all lycanthropes are natural.

 

[two]

"I, too, think chasing them is a bad idea. We should find a defensible position, do without the fire for the night, and try to avoid them as much as possible."

Vargo puts his survival skills to the test, looking for a small outcropping of sorts, or even better an abandoned cave, something that the group can hide under. He also does his best to conceal the tracks of the party, instructing them to lay down false trails, etc.

(Survival +10, Knowledge (Nature) +9)

{Let me know Vargo how you want to proceed. Your current camping location has already been described; the road/track you were travelling runs next to it. Ahead, more light forest, reclaimed farmland, gently rolling hills, occasional scrubby terrain (to judge by the last 20 miles).

As for caves, outcroppings, etc. You didn't notice any while travelilng to your current location. Let me know if you and your wolf and anyone else wishes to leave the present campsite to investigate the land surrounding -- and also the lighting source you will be using, how you will in general proceed, etc.}

 

[Vargo]

"How about this: We look for a place in a natural defilade - some kind of valley or knoll. Those of us without night vision set up in the defilade, and start a fire. Those of us who can see at night in the dark set up watch posts at a reasonable distance from the fire, for the purpose of setting an ambush for our ambushers. I can tell Huln to guard one of you, and his nose will warn you if somebody is about to sneak up on you unawares. Ideally, we would want a valley with one obvious entrance that could be watched and then cut off so that the attackers wouldn't get away. I'm willing to go looking for one now, but we've got to move quickly, because we don't know how soon the wererats will be back, and I need some support. The only downside of this plan is that those of us who are the bait can't easily get away either. Who is with me?"

 

[Rystil Arden]

"We agree. This sounds like a reasonable possibility, as caution and tactics will be required now if we hope to survive."

 

[Bront]

"That sounds like a good plan. I am willing to offer myself as bait if need be as well. I can sleep in my armor, and have my weapons ready at the first sign of trouble." Juliana hopes she can make up to her companions in some way her failure in combat earlier.

 

[Rae ArdGaoth]

Rasereit's chest swells up when Almayce comments on his constitution and valor. "Bah! 'Twas nothin' at all! Them rat-thingers ran off when they saw me mighty self comin' fer 'em! Haharr, Ah don' think they'll be payin' us a visit, thanks t'me, nah sir!" His face is still flush from the battle, and he is panting heavily. Suddenly his bravodo ceases and he leans over, hands on his knees, and wheezes. "Oy... that eh... took it outta me, though... Think Ah... Ah might sit down a spell... Aye....." He nearly collapses to the ground. Soon, though, he crawls over to his pack and takes out his new, still untested, armor. Reverently, he shines it a little with his shirt and then puts his normal, day outfit on. Still wheezing, the dwarf says, "If them ratties come back 'ere, they'll be soon wishin' they didn't, Ah can promise ye that..."

OOC: Correct me if I'm wrong, but is there actually any kind of mechanical penalty for a character who hasn't gotten a full 8 hours of rest? (Besides spellcasters, of course) Because finishing this night's rest won't restore Razh's rage (I do know that nightly activites count against the next day) so is there any reason for him to sleep?

 

[Xael]

OOC: Correct me if I'm wrong, but is there actually any kind of mechanical penalty for a character who hasn't gotten a full 8 hours of rest? (Besides spellcasters, of course) Because finishing this night's rest won't restore Razh's rage (I do know that nightly activites count against the next day) so is there any reason for him to sleep?

OOC: By the rules, no.

 

[Xael]

"I we can find a place like that, then I'm fine with the plan.", Almayce comments to Vargo's suggestion. "If we don't find a place like that, we can just sleep in the dark with Rasereit and your wolf in the watch."

OOC: Bah, if they're only afflicted Lycanthropes, we have nothing to worry about. Almayce has torches and candles, should we need them.

 

[rln]

"Agreed? Let's move."

OOC: Lot's of metagaming above, please try to fit such stuff into in-game posts if possible (and clarify with an OOC if needed).

OOC2: I will be out travelling all monday (daytrip to New York), will check in if possible during the day.

 

[Xael]

OOC: Lot's of metagaming above, please try to fit such stuff into in-game posts if possible (and clarify with an OOC if needed).

OOC: Well, from Almayces perspective, we're fighting two slightly annoying, somewhat incompetent rat-men with 4 against 1 odds. He's not very worried. And I really doubt much any of that meta-knowledge comes into play.