The Rod of Seven Parts: Kauai Team OOC

[Ambrus]

I leveled up Maelicent by adding a third level of ranger. I rolled 6 for his hit points.

Edit: CB, I've been meaning to ask; did you expect Mael's reaction when you were planning the forest's blockade? Did you expect him to simply follow the path the trees opened up for him? Just curious what your expectations were.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

I didn't expect that specific reaction, no. I didn't necessarily expect that Maelicent would go down the path cut for him by the trees, which is why I tried to provide descriptive text enough to illuminate options for other things he could do. I put it at maybe 25% odds that he would go down the path, 25% odds that he'd force-cut his way through the forest north back to the cave and 50% odds that he'd do something else that I hadn't anticipated.

 

[Ambrus]

No trees were anywhere near him (other than the normal forest array) when he woke.

I don't really understand what you mean. What exactly is "normal" in this enchanted forest? How far away from Mael were the closest trees? How much of the surrounding forest had been devastated by fire? Are there remains of burnt trees in the clearing? Where is the clearing on the map? Are there any clues hinting as to how the goblin avoided being caught up in the blaze? What was the path back to the cave like? How are the surviving trees reacting to him?

Edit: Also, Mael might not try returning to the crag as soon as he awakens. Entering the forest once more without fire at hand and in his weakened state seems very risky. He'd probably be better off remaining where he is, improvising some shelter and waiting for morning.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

What I more meant was boom, there you go, you're not dead and you're back at the cave.

Inside the Old Forest, there is a distinct air in the wood when the trees animate. Things are noticeably more electric, alive, even to the onlooker. When the trees are not awake, the forest reverts to a more palpably drowsy feel. When Maelicent woke, the mallorn was nothing but a burnt out stump with a ring of wet smoking grass 50 feet around it. Maelicent was outside that ring of burnt underfoliage. He could reasonably surmise that either the oak tossed him there, someone else moved him, or that he has magical power(s) that saved him. He certainly wasn't where he last remembered being. Since you took a level in ranger for 3rd level and are on your way to spellcasting ability at 4th level ranger, you might elect to have him decide that he now has magic in him. The closest tree would not have been far from Mal when he woke. Other than the 50 foot diameter burnt area of the mallorn, the rest of the forest is normally arrayed with a smattering of trees of all sizes pretty much everywhere. The oak is nowhere in sight. The fir tree must have made it a ways west, judging by the smoke in the direction. The forest has rearranged itself since the fir lit on fire and took off, making it hard for Maelicent to judge how much of the wood might have burned to the west. The surviving trees don't move or otherwise react to the goblin; certainly, they do not open a path for him as they did earlier.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Edit: Also, Mael might not try returning to the crag as soon as he awakens. Entering the forest once more without fire at hand and in his weakened state seems very risky. He'd probably be better off remaining where he is, improvising some shelter and waiting for morning.

If that's what he needs to do, do it. I can amend my last post to reflect this. As long as you get it up within the next two to three hours. After that, I'll be gone.

 

[Ambrus]

I hadn't realized that the forest wasn't always animated. I figured the opening-up you'd described was simply how the trees always acted when they weren't acting to oppose travelers. Since there's no way to know what set them off last time then Mael will wait till he's regained his strength and the rain has died down so that the can defend himself against the next wanton forest attack. I'll try to type something up soon to that effect.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

The section of forest on the citadel map marked "Old Wood" is the area of the grounds where the trees are often animated. It's not a constant, but it is frequent. Likewise, the rest of the grounds have woods that behave queerly at times, though not with the frequency attributed to the Old Wood.

Thanks for posting a speedy reply this morning. I edited to reflect Mal having sheltered overnight against the mallorn. Having done that, we should now all be on the same page. While it may be tempting to have Mal go exploring to see the extent of the damage done by the rampaging fir, I would prefer if Mal went back to the cave first so that we don't wind up on two disparate timelines any longer than we've already indulged ourselves.

 

[Ambrus]

Well, is there any chance of Mael making a detour to go see if the skeletal rats left any al'miraj meat before heading back? A simple yes/no response is sufficient here; I can then detail his arrival at the cave.

If I don't hear back from you please have a good trip back to the mainland. I know you're going for a solemn event; my thoughts go with you.

 

[CanadienneBacon]

Yes, he can fetch some meat from the al-mi'raj bodies. One was eaten, one is missing, but a third al-mi'raj was left and is rain-sodden. One skeletal dire rat body is laying, "dead," in the clearing when Maelicent gets there. Its head has been ripped off. No, there is no meat on the dead rat.

I was asked to deliver the eulogy. I'm mentally crafting what I will say. I've decided to bring the episcopal Book of Common Prayer that my grandmother owned but gave to me for my christmas present about seven years ago, along with the St. Christopher's medallion my grandfather got when he left for WWII as a navy pilot that I found tucked into the back of the book as props for the eulogy I deliver.

 

[Ambrus]

I had performed a few scripture readings at my grandfather's funeral.

Speaking about the various events he lived through during his lifetime, such as his service in the navy, sounds like a good idea to me. Having lived through the better part of the 20th century and the begining of the 21st century, I'm certain he witnessed more change then most other generations could have imagined in years past; the Great Depression, WW2, the space race, the lunar landing, the cold war, the electronic revolution... The list of "first evers" goes on and on.

Whatever it is you say, I'm certain he'd be pleased with it. We can all only hope to be remembered fondly when we pass.