Seeing the enemy run away, Tamarie is conflicted. "They could be a problem to others, but we won't be able to do much in this storm. Let's seek shelter before we get stuck out here, maybe the storm will finish them off."
"It won't help anyone if we froze to dead here. In our way back we can track them. Let's follow before the weather catch out with us."
let them die in the cold and the wet Felixus says. Better than us dying trying to find their lair
"If we don't hunt them down, they'll just prey on a less well-armed party next time," said Agramayne.
Hearing her stalwart companion speak of giving chase and then listening as the others responded, Achlys added quietly,
"Let the storm have them. Now, shelter."
Achlys wiped her bastard sword clean of the blood and innards of the half-goblin she had killed and then cast her eyes, scanning for suitable shelter to see through the storm (cave etc? and if none can be found, she will attempt to construct some temporary shelter).
==================
As predicted by Achlys the climate soon worsen, the sleet rapidly turn to snow as the wind intensifies. Achlys can't find any natural shelter.
You build an improvised shelter using some woods and then wait. After half an hour the temperature have dropped drastically and the wind hurl snow directly at your shelter.
Unfortunately, the wind is too strong, your improvised shelter start to crumble leaving you exposed to the cold winds and the snow. There is no sign that the storm will lower its intensity.
Jal seems to handle the sleet and wind very well. He tries to find another shelter.
If he finds nothing he starts building a new one, trying to make it sturdier.
Her ruggged build may be enough to fight off wounds, but the cold gets to Tamarie very quickly. Having a hard time sleeping, she stays up, only to hear the faint sound of howling wolves. "Guys! Tamarie wakes those who are managing to sleep in these conditions. "I just heard a couple wolves in the distance. I don't know how far they leave from their shelter, but in a storm I can't imagine it's very far."
[occ]is the dc 19? If so [/ooc]
Wolves? In this storm? Most unusual Felixus says perhaps they will eat those abominations
If useful Felixus will cast mage hand to brace and build the new shelter
Achlys had not heard the wolves, mentioned by Tamarie, as her mind had been occupied in trying to keep their temporary shelter from falling under the force of the wind. Unfortunately, the wind proved too strong.
Watching as Jal attempted to construct another with Felixus' aid, Achlys moved closer (glad for her poncho and cold weather gear, still the cold had a bite) to lend a third set of hands to the task.
Tamarie tries to help reconstruct the shelter, seeing that a wild goose chase for a wolve's shelter may not be worth the risk, but only gets in the way. "I'm not much of a outdoors-woman," she says shivering. "I'll just stay out of your way and leave it to you guys. You seem to know what you're doing."
Not being much of a woodsman, Agramayne just tries to help where he can, but mostly winds up in the way.
Tammarie seems to be the more affected by the weather. While waiting for the others to build anew the improvised shelter the biting cold chilled her fingers into clumsy numbness, cold seeped into her boots and spread painfully throughout his feet as if it were her bare feet on the pristine snow. Her lips turned a more blueish hue and his teeth chattered like a pneumatic drill.
Finally is done and everyone of you have a small refuge in there, the climate improves and the teamwork of Achlys and Jal you even enjoy of a small fire, for a time it was good
But Alas, mother nature is not on your side today. With renewed strength the storm hits again. A powerful blast of wind collapse the shelter, extinguish your fire and hit your faces, flurrying into your eyes blinding you for a moment.
There are still several hours for nightfall, but with no sign that the storm will stop, if the night reach you in the middle of a storm it would be a sure death.
I suggest we make with haste back to Swallowfield. It is a mere 3 hours away, the road is clear, safe, and we will be advancing away from the storm. Better than waiting here in the cold
Jal sees Tamarie and nods...
"Yes, I don't think we can do other thing."
He stands next to the Half Elf Paladin and helps her to her feet.
"Please let me help you on the way."
Tamarie thanks Jal for his kindness. "Thank you for the offer, but you need it more than I do. The last thing we need is both of us to get sick." She fights off the bitter cold winds. "Moving would probably help, and by the looks of it, no matter how hard we try, we won't be able to keep a shelter up."
"We could see if those wolves have a cave or other kind of shelter nearby," Tamarie suggests hopefully.
"I am loathe to retreat," said Agramayne, "For it was the Inheritor who bid me hither. Yet I do not know but that it might have been simply to travel with this group and lend it my sword arm, for her will is not clear in my mind. I counsel that we move forward, but will abide the judgment of the group."
"I am loathe to retreat, as well. We have come all this way, it would be advisable to continue forward, not draw back."
Achlys observed the cold-affected Half-Elf Tamarie being assisted by Jal and noted her suggestion of the wolf caves and nodded. "Aye the caves would do to pass the worst of the storm, yet we would have to kill the creatures within to take their cave for our own. Maybe we could use these fallen trees and huddling together..." Achlys' voice trailed off as she considered the various options.
"If we don't go back, then we must make for the abbey. Lay on me, Tamarie, and let's press on! With Darlen's help we will make it."
If we are looking for shelter there were several fallen trees a little while back, I would guess that crouching in there would shield us from the worst of the storm? It would also be defensivable against any vermin. If vermin went to such effort to lay a trap we may as well try to make clay from poo.
"The trees will do, I suppose. They are close and we wouldn't have to worry about them falling apart like a makeshift shelter would," Tamarie inputs. "In all honesty, I don't care what we do, but I'm a bit chilled and would like to find something quickly."
Agramayne looked at Achlys. "The logs are acceptable," he opined. "It's not retreating and it might permit all to survive. Can you make something of them?"
Though he was her protector, the big man relied on Achlys's woodcraft in such situations.
Ok, You use the half-golin improvised barricade as a shelter.
Jal gets 4 torches out from his backpack, as well as his flint and steel, and tries to improvise a small fire from it.
Turning to Agramayne, "Aye, we can make something of them. If any would like to assist, the work will be completed more swiftly and will hopefully withstand the force of the wind."
Achlys once more began to work on the shelter, this time using the fallen logs the half-goblins used as barricades to provide a sturdier base for the shelter.
She pulled her mess kit from her pack and used the tin plate within to help move the moist/wet earth and make larger "burrows" beneath the fallen logs for the group to huddle within, side by side, to keep each other warm.
As Jal had done before her, Achlys removed her flint and steel from her pack and then collected the drier twigs and branches near the base of the fallen trees. Sheltering the small wood pyre, she struck the flint and steel, hoping the wood would catch alight and thus provide them with some heat.
If his assistance will be a hindrance in the creation of a shelter he will get out his bedroll and huddle with any other less than useful individual.
Tamarie will attempt to help despite her lack of practice and stiff fingers.
Somehow, she manages to be a help, handing Achlys whatever tools she needs.
The storm reduce it strenght., you can adequate the fallen trees to shelter you, the half-goblins already did most of the work. However, the space is very limited, you can only fit crouched (prone mechanically).
I will say that if you maintain the fire you only need to make 2 checks to avoid the non lethal damage in the night, However the DC is 17 since it is colder (But with a +4 from survival, +4 from the shelter, and +5 if you have the cold weather outfit). A torch only last for an hour, so the fire have to be renewed every hour, lighting it is not a problem since you can take 20 but somebody have to do it.
Do you make watch or something?
Achlys thanked those who aided her in setting up shelter.
The inquisitor was able to shake the worst of the chill from the lower night-time temperature. She was glad for the poncho atop the thick/warmer clothing for it kept her dry from any rainfall which bypassed the shelter. Her minor wound ached from time to time.
"I will take first watch, unless another has the preference. Each of us should take turns, during watch, to keep the firing lit during the course of the night if we are to survive."
Her voice was low as she spoke and looked out into the cold, wet darkness from their makeshift log shelter. She tended to the fire when the flame began to diminish.
The rain and darkness were making it hard to see.
We would be 2 hours short, unless anyone else have torches
Casting her gaze to her stalwart travelling companion, Agramayne, she enquired quietly of the Iomedaean paladin, "Gram, do you not carry torches with you? We need more if we are to maintain this fire."
I can offer my sunrod, which will give us half an hour of the needed time. Can any of us see in the dark and keep watch with darkvision?
"Always!" replied Agramayne to Achlys, smiling broadly. The big man had the knack of making anyone with whom he spoke feel as though they were the most important person in his life.
"A torch is a useful tool you can also use to light your way or set things on fire. You should never leave home without several!"
He nodded to Felixus. "I have sunrods, too, but they're not as good at keeping you warm, which I think is probably more important here than vision."
Agramayne withdrew several torches from his pack and handed them to the watch. "I have tinder, too. And flint and steel. Also candles, rope and twine. I never go anywhere without them."
"Do you know how many uses there are for candles? Everyone should have a few with them."
Jal thanks Agramayne and gets 2 of his torches.
some of us didn't train with weights and swords, and now struggle with our pack packs without fitting in possibly useful items Felixus mutters causticLy. At least we'll have funeral candles on hand for when we don't make it
Agramayne was known to her and his easy disposition. That Felixus seemed to take issue with the paladin's words was an unfamiliar occurrence as people generally took well to Gram.
In the familiar quiet manner, Achlys responded to the bard, "Felixus, no slight was intended to you or another by Agramayne's words. We will not require those funeral candles just yet. Keep the faith. Together, with the gods' favour, we shall prevail."
Although the night is cold, really cold, you find in the fallen trees and the improvised fire a way to not succumb to the inclemencies of weather.
You take turns to sleep and
Okay couple of rolls then, knowledge nature (I assume it's nature, if it's not, then there are the same pluses for my other knowledges)
In the interest of speeding things up:
If I can recall a mating/gathering call of this type of wolf I will cast ghost sound it so it sounds like it is coming several miles from the east.
If not, if I think they will be easily distracted I will cast mage hand to jerk the tail of a wolf. I'm hoping this will cause them to think something is behind them and turn to try and chase it into the woods.
If not, if my knowledge indicates that they are the type of creature to be easily frightened I will perform an intimidate check in an effort to scare them away. I'll use ghost sound to produce a thunderclap roar for effect.
If my knowledge indicates none of these I'm going to gibber like a little child, use mage hand to slap the largest fighter (hopefully there is one between and the wolf) away, and ready my bow to let an arrow fire at the first one that moves aggressively.
Have a gander through that list and pick whichever one fits best with my knowledge roll.