The search - part 2

[tomcat]

Search for Ruithel

1) Each part will involve each PC needing to roll a Hunting test, Travel test, and an Explore test (TN by region of Upper Vales). If you add another test in to add to story, that is fine with me, but these three tests will drive the search.

2) Hunting tests will work two-fold. Each PC will roll against the TN and must succeed to provide any benefit, BUT the aggregate of everyone's rolls will also apply. I do this because I want more than one player throwing a Feat die - the more Feat die, the more opportunity for grand successes and potential threats.

3) The aggregate of the Hunting rolls must exceed 45+ score. This secures that the companions are on the right path towards Ruithel and thus move the party 1 step closer to her rescue. She is a number of steps away known only to me, of course.  

4) If a PC also achieves the area TN on the Hunting test, you will gain 1 additional step closer (2 steps for great success; 3 steps for extraordinary)

5) An result has a negative effect by reducing the progression towards Ruithel by 2 steps and determines a hazard or encounter.

6) If the aggregate of the Hunting roll is less than 48, the company might be moving closer, but not necessarily on the right path. An encounter, hazard, or other narrative will occur.

7) Each group Hunting roll is considered a day's worth of searching and traveling. A Travel test is required against the TN of the region the PC's are within. A failed test will increase the PC's individual fatigue and an can produce a hazard.

8) Finally, an Explore test is needed for each PC, again with a TN based on the region. If successful, the PC has made themselves a comfortable camp to get solid rest each night.

9) If successful, END is restored at the normal rate (based on wounded or non-) and the PC loses 1 level of Fatigue for that night's sleep.

10) If failed, neither END or FATIGUE is restored.

PREVIOUS RESULTS

• moved 2 steps closer to the goal

• Arbogast, Bandy and Grimbeorn gain a level of Fatigue (2 points)

• Arbogast and Rorin gain the only comfort out of their rest and reduce their Fatigue by one level (2 points)

[tomcat]

ROLLS

TN 16 hunting by PC

Arbogast 2d 1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 2d6 : 2, 5, total 7

Bandy 0d 1d12 : 9, total 9

Esgalwen 1d 1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 1d6 : 2, total 2

Grimbeorn 3d 1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 3d6 : 6, 1, 1, total 8

Rorin 0d 1d12 : 6, total 6

TN 16 travel by PC

Arbogast 2d 1d12 : 6, total 6
Rolled 2d6 : 1, 3, total 4

Bandy 2d 1d12 : 4, total 4
Rolled 2d6 : 5, 2, total 7

Esgalwen 3d 1d12 : 5, total 5
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 5, 6, total 16

Grimbeorn 3d 1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 3d6 : 5, 1, 1, total 7

Rorin 3d 1d12 : 11, total 11
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 5, 5, total 11

TN 16 explore by PC

Arbogast 3d 1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 3d6 : 3, 6, 5, total 14

Bandy 2d 1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 2d6 : 1, 3, total 4

Esgalwen 2d 1d12 : 1, total 1
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 3, total 7

Grimbeorn 0d 1d12 : 11, total 11

Rorin 2d 1d12 : 9, total 9
Rolled 2d6 : 4, 2, total 6

[tomcat]

Holy crap! That was not a good day along the Greylin!  

RESULTS

• the party makes 1 step forward progression towards their goal.  TOTAL progression is 3 steps.

• Arbogast, Bandy, Grimbeorn, and Rorin all gain 1 level of Fatigue (2 points); plus 2 x

• Arbogast gains rest for the night and removes 1 level of Fatige (2 points)

PC sheets  

[tomcat]

Give me a little time to determine what I want to do with the two 's 

I am off tomorrow and for the weekend, so I want to have fun with this.

[GandalfOfBorg]

  It's been foretold I will kill you all and fulfill my namesake.

[tomcat]

I just had a post ready to go and my daughter came in in a crying fit, climbed into my lap and her foot hit my PC reset button!

 

I lost everything! Will start again shortly after I get her to bed.

[tomcat]

The day was spent along the Greylin River.

It had to be the Greylin, right? Grimbeorn wondered at the rushing water in front of him. It was too small to be Anduin the Great, the offspring of the two northern rivers. If this were the Greylin, then the confluence would be south. There would be no fording the river beyond that but was it south or did they need to go further north? The orcs were said to range the northern vales from Gundabad east, so surely there was a place to cross.

The Beorning was in pain and his mind questioned his thoughts. The wounds he had sustained had shown no improvement over the last two day's march and Grimbeorn was slowly regressing to his quiet self. He grunted in answer to any question posed to him, or gave a curt word. Anger was growing at their inability to move forward on this damned foolish quest. For certain the Elf would be dead...wouldn't she? If not now, then soon?

The white water raged within its bed. Rocks peaked above the grey surface, but only caused the stir to be greater. It was cold, too. The kind of cold that would sap the strength of great man, even if he was able to fight the current. They needed to decide, but the hunter was becoming lost within the clouds behind his eyes - clouds of doubt and pain.

Above them, Magrac flew and kept watch for any threats that might appear. The raven's eyes were keen, but it could not see a vantage for crossing. After long inner debate and counsel within the group, they made their direction north.

The terrain was rocky and coarse, rising in steps of stone only to fall on the other side in sheer drops, which caused them to have to back track and find new paths. Once back at the water, they would be blocked by eddies and pools where the currents eroded the stone into dangerous bowls that sucked and splashed with whirlpools.

Rough vegetation and trees clung to the cold, bare stone, with grasping roots, and were also impediments to their forward travel. The Company would at times have to make wide tracks around these thickets, as there was no way to go through, and find their way back to the water.

The worst of it was the Thistletyne which grew within the groves of plants. The hard, sharp thorns of the plant hid amongst the other leaves and would reach out to grab and snag at pant, tunic, or flesh. Bandy had experienced the barbs directly and remembered the searing pain of the poison that irritated the flesh. Now each companion showed reddened scrapes and cuts along hands, arms, and even face where the thistles had pricked.

When at last the day was coming to an end, they sought about for a good clearing that would provide comfort for rest, but defense if threatened. Rorin gathered dry kindling so as to strike a fire for their camp. He found a hole that had been dug into the stony ground and filled it with dried leaves and sticks. From his pack he pulled out a small box that contained a tinder. The Dwarf set fire to the kindling and it crackled to life.

As if in reply, drops of rain began to fall from above. Magrac swooped down to land on Rorin's shoulder, "RAAINN! RAAIINN!"

Hearts fell as the soft drops gathered into a greater amount and the fire hissed to smoke. The night would be long, wet, and cold.

[tomcat]

More to come...getting on Xbox for a few

[Telcontar]

The Hobbit was getting quiet and depressed, he knew he was slowing the party down. The times in which the large son of Beorn would have to pick him up grew more and more. Often was to lift him out of or over some obstacle, but on occasion he knew the giant of a man picked him up so that he could make better time and faster over the easier parts. His short legs and the great pace the part kept took its toll. On the first day Bandy tried to give the food to the big folk and make a cheery camp. The Elf bread helped and he tried to scrounge things so that they also felt more physically full. The bread nourished you and tasted good, but it did not give satisfaction of a full stomach.

On the second day the Hobbit fell asleep at one point while Grimbeorn carried him out of and over a great fissure along the side of the river that the party crossed. The great man had to shake him awake even after he had set him down. The rain that came later made the close of the day worse than even the travel had been.

"I am slowing you all down. We Hobbits were not meant for great treks at such speeds when time is short. Perhaps it would be best to leave me behind."

[tomcat]

  I guess should reiterate to you all - you may spend hope as you desire. If one of your test could be a success for the group, you may spend the point.

I will adjust the results as needed.

I say this because I think Arbogast could bump his Hunt to a success for this round.

[Eclecticon]

But it's my Hooooooooooope...

Alright, fine.  Hope spent. 

[tomcat]

You don't need to, Paul. I just wanted to remind you all that Hope is a tool that can be used in the dice rolls.

[Eclecticon]

Without a fire to stare at, and with the familiar pains of hunger gnawing at him, Arbogast quietly despairs.  At least there is precious little conversation about the campsite to disturb his introspection.  There is, however, the persistent drip-drip of water at a spot just above his ear.  

Grumpily, he looks upwards to find its source, and is rewarded by another drop in his eye.  Wiping the water from his face, he sees droplets hanging from what he takes at first to be a delicate strand of web.  When he swats it down, though, it does not break but comes away cleanly in his hand.  On closer inspection, the strand is, though fine, a dark brown hair.  

Elven hair.  

Suddenly, the Fire-watcher finds his heart pounding with renewed excitement.  "My friends," he says, showing them what he has found, "do not despair.  Our quarry came this way before us, and we have their scent yet!"

[tomcat]

Okay - I am assuming everyone has reviewed the current round's rolls and determined the value in using a Hope point - whether it would add a significant change to the round's events.

I am calling for the following for the two 's:

The Look Out position will need to make a TN 16 Awareness check to forestall Despair. I have Bandy as that PC on the sheets. If this is not correct, please post here between you all and reorganize the party's positions in the Company as needed.

The second will require all companions to make a TN 16 Corruption test to stave off Misery.

I have updated the results above to reflect Arbogast's Hunting roll.

Here are the two Hazard roll sets:

Bandy awareness
TN 16 awareness 2d

1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 2d6 : 5, 2, total 7

Companions' corruption
TN 16 wisdom by PC

Arbogast 4d 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 4d6 : 1, 3, 5, 4, total 13

Bandy 4d 1d12 : 3, total 3
Rolled 4d6 : 2, 2, 4, 2, total 10

Esgalwen 4d 1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 4d6 : 5, 4, 3, 5, total 17

Grimbeorn 5d 1d12 : 2, total 2
Rolled 5d6 : 6, 2, 2, 3, 2, total 15

Rorin 3d 1d12 : 8, total 8
Rolled 3d6 : 1, 6, 2, total 9

[tomcat]

RESULTS

• Bandy fails his Awareness test and loses 1 point of Hope due to Despair. Even if you spend a Hope to overcome, you are still losing a Hope point, so this is I think your narrative/dialogue post kind of reflects this well, Tom.  

• Arbogast and Bandy both fail corruption tests. Let me know if you are spending a Hope point to overcome the needed result. If so, update your PC sheets accordingly. If not, you both gain 1 temporary shadow point that stems from the oppressive nature of the land that just seems to be working against you - as if you are being watched. You are also temporarily Miserable.

Also - I just went back through the two rounds and updated PC sheets on test successes for those that had not.