HT Alias/Player Character Name Type Status/Notes Sex -- ----------------------------------------------------------------- R1.John Haight...........Arawn.............Druid .Normal/Alfar Ma ??.Chris Wells...........Ben'dar...........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma R4.Tom Corckett..........Caladan...........Wizard Normal/Human Ma W2.Marcel Liberty........Chion.............Sailor..Normal/Human Ma W3.Ryan Torres...........Farseeker.........Warrior.Normal/Human Ma --.Tobie Bonahoom........Fremea............Sidh....Normal/Faerry Fe R2.Mark Murtha...........Kell..............Trader..Normal/Human..Ma R1.David Sanders.........Kiet.Sunan........Acrobat Normal/Human Ma R4.J H Hooten............Raban.Usherwood...Bard....Normal/Human..Ma W2.Robert Maxwell........Strie'bog.........Bard....Normal/Human..Ma W4.Wout Broere...........Unali.............Ninja...Normal/Human Fe R1 John.Stowman..........Will..............Hunter..Normal/Human..Ma R4.Alex Koponen..........Z'leyra...........Healer..Normal/Human Fe R1 NPC...................Zhou Kiwat........Noble...Normal/Human..Ma Animals: Corona [Eagle] Z'leyra, Tef'wo (Horse) Ben'dar, Game Web Site - http://www.furvert.net/longshotgm/pbem/index.htm Public posts/actions to pnpgm@abroere.xs4all.nl (mailing list) Private emails (not public actions) to longshotgm@netzero.com Game Update #151 in sequence (file #1054) ---------------------------------------------------------------- Admin Notes: None. ----------------------------------------------------------------- [Recap] From Z'leyra: [Re: Actions] Z'leyra suggests "Let us continue without using magic until... Till then she plans to continue making wooden fighting daggers in her spare time. She will be using her survival skills to help make sure that the party isn't ambushed. She wil also try to make sure that she gets enough sleep. (Starting a major combat without being rested is not conducive to winning.) GM: Ack. Will consider that woodcarving or the related skill you have. Will note it below but won't be able to figure out the effect till later (ie how many made, skill change as I have to research the time to build rules and such again). From Kiet: [Re: Actions] I gotta say that was one of the funniest posts I have ever seen.....Giddyap! LOL!!! [Re: Will]'s post] -------- Kiet will decline using the spell for now. He sensed uneasiness from the rest of his companions, and had some himself. He was asking for input from the group over the usefullness of casting it, but heard little. GM: Ack. Its a bad time for input. At least 4 have gone on vacation recently so have been distracted. From Kell: [Re: Actions] Ha'Kell has been normal over the last three days for the... ----- Ha'Kell looks to Caladan with his piercing blue eyes, "Good... [More to come. Out of time for this right now.] GM: Ack. ----------------------------------------------------------------- [New Stuff] [Augado 7th, 1634TH] [Location: Middle Katai Plains] [ Mountains west of Pamau] [Time: 8:12pm] Tonight around camp while some continue their Vong attack and defense skills, the party talks more on the use of magic. Everyone knows how Kiet feels about the magic. Most see magic as a need not as a must do every day. Need for the situation but not a must do everyday to become the greatest ever. Especially in this land where magic is so forbidden it is more dangerous than in other lands. Zhou nods, "I'm new to this whole saving the world thing. I don't know how long it normally might take to rid the world of a strange creature race and their base. So I hope the trip back up to the Lands yields a quick attack on the Vong so you can move out of Katai safely without a big chase." Z'leyra suggests "Let us continue without using magic until we are less than a day from initiating combat if we choose. Then let Chion or Will fetch our magic items. Then, if the Katai military sends a force they will hopefully be too late to stop us and may even be in time to help." Ha'Kell has been normal over the last three days for the half-elf, meaning talkative and friendly with anyone who wants to chat. Squirt is a favorite topic he brings up and anyone listening notices he misses the little furry critter with red eyes. This is the longest that Squirt has been apart since he was born, and he can be somewhat mischeieous with anyone but Kell. Maybe the people watching him still have a house, hopefully. That night in camp, preparing for combat practice Kell opens one of his packs on one of his pack horses. Taking out a long item, he carefully unwraps it, revealing a somewhat plain looking but well worn large sword. A bastard sword some know, whilst some just see a bigger sword than usual. He carefully places the wrapping back on the pack horse and begins to clean and oil it. Once it shines to his satisfaction, he straps the sword onto his back then joins in the combat practice. As the practice progresses people can tell he's better with the larger sword than any of his other weapons, even his favorite spears and tulwar. During a break he says, "A good friend taught me how to use this and gave it to me back at home. It's old and plain looking, but he knows its long history and thought I should have it. I wish he were here now. He might even be a near match for Farseeker!" grinning at the big man; wondering how that fight may progress were it to ever happen. As practice starts again Kell finishes with "I save this for special occasions. This is one of them." Brandishing it and practicing both single handed with his shield, and two handed usage of the weapon. Farseeker grins and extends his hand to request the sword but Kell notices he doesn't ask. Kell isn't used to this custom but he knows that most warriors love to inspect other people's gear. As the women say boys and their toys. Kell shrugs slightly and hands the sword to Farseeker. Farseeker nods and waves the sword back and forth to feel its weight and balance. He moves the sword around in his hand to see both sides of the blade and then examines the hilt. "A fine blade. Most Ba'ru craftsman are highly skilled. I tend to prefer these heavy weapons as you know. Light things like tiny sticks you call daggers are too fragile for me. Give me a nice decent thick blade for cutting a person in half." After he waves it back and forth a few more times he hands it back to the half-elf. Most have seen Farseeker use his Great Sword in just about every fight. But some have seen him occasionally use his Battle and Throwing axes. Recently in the carnival action he used his Throwing axe at least once. His sword even has a broadsword and he has been known to use lance and pikes. Caladan mentions the idea of taking down a Vong Flyer. Ha'Kell looks to Caladan with his piercing blue eyes, "Good idea. I can summon a variety of things that may work, including Air Elementals and Jinn, but I don't know any spells strong enough to directly do that. Perhaps my Whirlwind, but I doubt it's strong enough. Maybe if we merely point them into the ground, they'll drive themselves down and crash?" Taking a drink of wine and a nibble of food, "I was planning to summon two, maybe three, Living Earth Elementals. They should be both a great distraction and a great frontal assault. The way I account balances, each of them will occupy several Vong. And attract the bugs, hopefully, that will just either burrow into earth or bounce off them. Those bugs I don't think can impact living earth. Being nearly pure magic I bet the Vong go nearly berserk after them, leaving us more free." "Whilst we don't have two hundred lancers," glancing at Kiet, "they will help tremendously. Have you seen what one can do, let alone two or three?" Caladan nods, "I don't know about those elemntal things. But it could work or backfire. Those living earths might think the Vong have some new animal from their Shapers and feel confident in their attacks to us?" -------------------------------- [Augado 8th, 1634TH] [Location: Middle Katai Plains] [ Mountains west of Pamau] [Time: 11:49am] Zhou suggests going to the farm for a quick intelligence gathering operation and maybe some food. Unali: "Seems like a plan. Let's ride to the farm and see who is living here so far away from normal roads. Although we should watch out, because I wouldn't be surprised if the Vong came by here as well. And even if they did not, someone so far out from the city might not give us the warmest welcome." A few minutes later, the small group separates from the main group and heads down the slope. The others take a slightly different direction toward a more secluded light wooded area. The mountain is medium sized and there are about 4 other mountains around the small valley where this farm is. Up till now the terrain has been brown mostly with light vegetation. But once the small group rides down cautiously the green colors begin to splay out in full glory. It looks like there are many bushes of berries of various kinds. Many of the bushes seem to be plucked already but some berries or what might be grapes remain. Below some couple hundred feet below is a sprawling farm. A large field about the size of a medium to large farm is seen. It looks to be tracked and plowed. On the other side of the farm are a large thicket of trees that lead through the winding square looking mini valley. From this distance and with Fremea's report this is the only homestead in the valley it seems. Unali knows in a Empire this size land is a hard to obtain thing for most commoners. Much of the population is known to seek sheltered rural areas far away from cities for their land. This farm seems to be such a place. Unali knows also these secluded lands could see generations of people live and die here without even knowing how the other half - the Empire lives or dies. These places seem to be self sufficient and thus the farmers do not to visit a place like Pamau. Farseeker points to the left maybe half a mile away from the plowed field looks to be what might be a small stream or creek. It is hard to see clearly but the glare from what must be water glints through the trees. On the right side or east side of the valley were a couple of structures. A large brown barn is seen a bit south of the main house. The main house is a single story plain home that looks to have maybe a half dozen rooms from the size of it. Around the farm in various places are small animals from chickens to a cow in the grass to a bunch of penned in pigs. A brown dog chases another dog in the grass. But at this point there are no people seen. Zhou, Unali, Farseeker and Will ride down to the bottom of the slope and head toward the buildings. From this side they slowly creep up first to the barn from the rear. Not wanting to scare people Zhou decides the group should walk since it might be less threatening. As the group walks along the side of the barn a noise is heard from inside. A few moments later it is heard again but from the thick wood it is hard to tell. AS the group gets to the front of the barn they hear a voice. "...stop you filthy beast! It hurts!" Unali draws her daggers by reflex and Farseeker places hand on sword. Zhou waves for calmness and the group approaches the large barn door. The female voice speaks again, "you shouldn't do this! The pain..move-" Unali and Farseeker rips the door open and lunges in to see what vile Vong torture is being done. But that's when a sound comes floating forward. "Moooooo!" The group stops in mild shock as they see two cows and a small girl about 20 feet away. The girl is about 12 or 13 and sitting on some stool. She is dressed in drabby clothing and her right hand is on the cow's utter trying to milk it into a wooden bucket. Her left hand is on the cow's rear right leg and trying to budge it. There is another cow behind her but this one has its rear toward the girl and its large tail keeps whipping her head. It soon becomes clear the cow's weight is on the poor girls foot and hurting her. "What? Who?" The girl tries to stand but soon realizes her foot is still caught and she falls toward the back of the cow she was fondling. Unali sheathes her dagger. Farseeker rushes over and pushes the cow away but it takes a few large grunts from the stubborn overweight cow to finally move. Suddenly from behind the group a male voice is heard. "Stop right there!" The group turns or peers from inside the barn to see a older adult male with slight graying hair maybe in his late 40s or early 50s. He stands only 5 foot 5 and is typical Katai farm body stock and frame. He is holding a large pitchfork. From inside Farseeker notices the pitchfork and mumbles in Marentian. "Scary. Farmer with pitchfork. Should we surrender now?" It is clear his sarcasm is in play. But he speaks from experience with so many farmers in the past and their encounters. Farseeker can even recall that one time with Trembyl and those two farm girls the hay loft. A foot chase, torn clothing and three holes in the illusionist's behind made it clear to avoid such encounters in the future. Zhou speaks, "we are sorry to alarm you. We are on a hunting trip and found this quaint valley. We seek to parlay and to meet new friends." The farmer frowns, "we don't take kindly to strangers here." Zhou nods to Will, "my guide says this area had great deer and we wanted to see if this was your land in the area." He waves a hand to indicate not just the valley but the area as a whole. "We seek permission to continue or if not we will leave the area. We didn't mean to intrude." The girl hops out of the barn on her sore foot and whispers to her dad about being helped. The farmer watches the group and notices the large blade on Farseeker's belt. "That blade ain't for hunting." "My guard only. My wife here needs protection from all the foul men in the cities...the dirty cities." He adds the word dirty in an attempt to gleam some kinship. "This farm is mine but the valley and area is not. You may hunt if you wish just don't over hunt." The farmer lowers his pointy tool and wipes his forehead with a dirty hand. "We will not. In fact we only need a rabbit or two just for our small group here." Zhou bows in thanks not wanting to show his noble title as it would intimidate the man but he clearly still shows a role of higher status than a common farmer. Soon the farmer through simple Katai hospitality is forced to invite the group in for lunch. The wife a small women herself is finishing a meal that looks to be a mix of vegetable soup, bread and a small chunk of what must have been a rabbit or some other small animal. The meat isn't enough so the party feigns more interest in the soup so not to take away from the family. Soon the group begins to talk. Zhou learns the family has lived here for four generations and only visits Pamau maybe once a year. Unali suspects they don't even pay taxes and so gets away with that like so many others in rural areas. The Girl asks many questions of the outside world mainly of Pamau and what all is going on. Unali tries to answer her questions but has a hard time keeping up with the questions. Her mother finally stops the girl from nagging Unali. Once the meal is over, Zhou sits back and scans the small quaint home. "A good life you have here. I am from a far land and it is bustle and hustle." With a bit of a suspicious look the farmer nods, "we try. We don't keep up with the hubbub of the city nor care to. That life is not ours." "Have you noticed any...strange things in the area lately?" Zhou asks without preface which makes Unali cringe slightly. "Like what?" The mother asks as she draws her arms around her chest in possible confusion or fear? "?Strange animals or things in the sky. We were riding a day ago and this large thing was in the sky. It almost looked like a flying boulder!" He laughs to show his disbelief in such things. The mother quickly grabs the dish and places them in the small wooden sink. "No." The farmer says. He scans the group once more. "We stick to our own here. We have no such time for heretic nonsense or new city wonders." Zhou nods and realizes the man must think the Flyer is some magic thing or a new city device? So they must not be aware of the Vong. He then asks. "Have you heard of a mountain called Rising Mount? How about a place called Shun Needles?" Farseeker glances to Zhou in confusion. But Zhou knows what he is doing by asking about a rock formation called the needles he heard others talk about in the tavern. It seems to be spires of rock some 50-70 feet up and only about 10 feet wide as if fingers or smoke stacks. Of course it happens to be a few hundred miles away but the farmers may not know this. "the needles are far away from here. Never seen them. Rising Mount? Never heard the term. We stick to ourselves here." The farmer repeats. Zhou asks Unali to pull the marked map of the area where the Brain was noted. Zhou splays it on the table and indicates the general area which is still a day or two away. "We seek this area since we hear of a mine in the area I wish to help buy to give some locals jobs. Do you know of any special places or mountains in this area?" The man shakes his head and pushes the map away. "I don't read that nonsense. The nearest mine is a silver mine maybe 150 miles from here. If you heard of a mine closer they might have sold you a bald fox." Bald fox? Zhou considers that then realizes he means a good find but likely a waste of the fur for other things. Zhou soon realizes the man like the vast majority in the Empire must not be educated or can't even read. Zhou looks to the others to see if they have anything to add? Actions? Comments? Next Update...Monday.... GM: Was going to a bit more but last minute invite to see a movie with friend so got home late. Monday we'll leave the farm and head a day ahead from this point. Final deadline for below approaching. GM: Skill training - [4 days - Aug 6-9th] [Deadline: 2/18 - Midnight EST] Ben'dar - [None - Now Npc] Chion - [None - Now Npc] Strie'bog - [None - Now Npc] Arawn - [Sword-10 Points +1 EL] Caladan - [Mountain Survival - 6 Points - +1 EL] Farseeker - [Katai Language - Maxed, Donaran R&W - 6 points] Kiet - [Horsemanship - 8 points - Learning still] Unali - [HtH-2 points, Mountain Survival-6 points] Will - [Tulwar-8 points - Still learning] Zhou - [Sword training - 8 points] Fremea - [Herbalist - 8 points - +2 EL] Z'leyra - [Woodcarving - Full days] Raban - [Horsemanship-10 points] Kell -* None listed GM: Magic/Energy/Health Status - By Aug 10th unless magic used Energy Mana Health Arawn - 100% 100% 100% Ben'dar - 100% -- 100% Caladan - 100% 100% 100% Chion - 100% 100% 100% Farseeker - 100% -- 100% Kell - 100% 100% 100% Kiet - 100% 100% 100% Strie'bog - 100% 100% 100% Unali - 100% -- 100% Will - 100% 100% 100% Zhou - 100% -- 100% Fremea - 100% 100% 100% Z'leyra - Raban - * If Blank I have to figure it out this weekend and it could change with spells one may cast. Will update the above for next update. GM: Travel estimate - Party speed : 21 MR due to slowest horse. Total distance to go: 98 miles Augado 6th - 7:30am-7:30pm - 21 miles Augado 7th - 6:00am-7:30pm - 24 miles Augado 8th - 6:00am-7:30pm - 24 miles Augado 9th - 6:00am-7:30pm - 24 miles Augado 10th - 6:00am-c9:00am- 5 miles [estimated]