Expedition Day 4 - Year of the Desert's Fury of the 190th King's Age (Free Year 11)

Shallow Cave - Unnamed Canyon near the top the Ringing Mountains

The companions once again break camp after eating the rest of the roast. They were a bit lighter not carrying the food but everyone looked towards the hunters for their next meal. They were doing fine as far as water was concerned as Tak had told them that in his homeland he could find fresh water aplenty. The rocky canyons still sprouted vegetation even at this high altitude as beaches of soil washed down from the mountains, were watered by the frequent flashfloods and served quite well as grazing land for the animals that fed in these peaks. The halfling explained that there were a few mountain goat herds that served to feed the many hunting cats and birds of prey that prowled the mountains.

Mendi, the elf peddler, nears Ayrus trying to complete the conversation that last night had started. "As you can collect from what I told, I've been travelling a lot those years. I've walked and ran on most trading routes around Tyr. I've seen Nibenay's decadence and Gulg's trees, I've seen aggressive Urik, I've visited a countless number of trading outpost... Yes, I'm interested in the vast of Athas, for I was born a trader and still like to barter with other people. I told you I was in Nibeany recently (a frowwn appears on the elf's brow)... that city is... oppressive, to say the least. But I've spoken enough... you are a motley crew indeed, as Elric said, and I'm curious to hear about you ! I've only heard rumours about the contest, for instance, but I'm sure it is a rich source of stories...", Mendi's voice falls, waiting for an answer.

Aryus listens intently with interest as Mendi describes the places across the Tablelands that he has visited. Most of the places Aryus has never heard of before, except of course Urik.

"I've lost a friend to aggressive Urik once. A foul breeze fell upon that citiy." Aryus pauses for a moment before continuing.

"Before that, I came from a land north of your homes. The Silt Sea there is harsher than the south. The winds hotter than the greatest scorch all from a vast gorge of crimson lava. The mountains are taller, its breezes cooler. The oasises deeper, its water cooler. I came from this land to explore the south, where a concept known as civilization supposedly exists. From what you say there are cities here, unfortunately I'm not sure how civilized they are exactly."

The mountain starts to shake once again as it did yesterday and everyone looks up towards the peaks and seeks some sort of cover. A bit of rock and debris and lots of sand and dust pour from the peaks around you but not nearly as much as yesterday. The companions resume their trek wanting nothing more than to be out of the mountains as soon as possible while Ptellac murmurs something about the Earth Mother being angry still.

The sky to the west turns black as night as roiling clouds gather among the mountains peaks. Sharp cracks of lighting fill these clouds, and the sound of deafening thunder rumbles from the distance. The group continues on, fearful of being caught in the open should a Tyr storm strike. The twisting path through the canyon opens into a wider depression between the razor-sharp pinnacles around the companions. The path leads on to a high ledge. To continue on this direction, the heroes will have to climb the ledge and the jumble of rocks beyond. This way had clearly ended abruptly and a new must be found. This way would be dangerous for the companions never mind the traders and caravans that had to come through this path.

After the warlock noted the dead end on his map, Ayrus spotted movement on one side at the bottom of the ledge. The companions carefully went closer and saw them. Sitting at the foot of the ledge were two thri-kreens. Apparently, they had also come to this dead end but for some reason had remained here. They had no weapons visibly and did not look much different than what Chit did. Their sandy exoskeleton was unadorned but their abdomen contrasted greatly with Chit's. While Chit's looked strong and, some may even say, swollen, theirs was somewhat deflated with the chitin plates covering it almost touching each other. The large insectmen appeared agitated, shaking and were staring blankly ahead as they huddled upon the ground.

The forests of his home only a mere few hours away, Tak’ was jubilant. While certainly he could not return to his village just yet it would be good to feel the humidity on his face and hear the wind whistling through the trees. There would be danger in the forests, just as in the mountains and on the sandy wastes, but at least it was a danger Tak’ had grown up with.

Then, abruptly, the canyon ended. Smiling wryly at his unfettered optimism, Tak’ realized that backtracking to find a new way through the mountains may stymie his hopes for a day.

Then Aryus spotted the insectmen. They appeared more beset with starvation than sickness, but for two such natural hunters to fall this way? There was something amiss. Drawing deep on his Will Tak’ let it
fill him and his instincts, heightening feelings and senses, and the hairs on the back of his neck bristled.

Tak’ communicates to Chit-Zik with a small hand signal. The warning is simple, ‘Danger’. Tak’ lets his spear fall to the ground as he cautiously walks to the edge of the canyon and slips off his bow, a metal-tipped arrow resting on the string.

Koreth grasps his spear as he sees the two kreen. His sense of danger had been nagging him ever since they had started climbing the Ringing mountains, call it paranoia if you will. His eyes dart around, seeking
out any sign of danger. Carefully kneeling near the edge, Koreth looks down at the kreen.

"You seem to be in a spot friends," he says, not knowing if the kreen will understand him "do you need some help?" He watches their reaction to his words....

Gaigin loosens draws his axe and rests it's haft on his shoulder, regretting the loss of his long spear once again. If this was a fight, he'd have to get in close, within reach of those claws. Eyeing the two 'Kreens suspiciously, Gaigin turns his head slight, speaking to Chit.

"Try to communicate with them, though I doubt if it'll do much good. Be careful, though. No reason I can think of they'd be here, unless they're charmed, or worse. Real 'Kreens would have moved on, and those two don't look too healthy. If they're water-addled, tell them we can give them some. If they react strangely in any way, don't take any risks. Maybe they're old and were left behind...but then, maybe they're dead and were left behind by some sorcerer to fight, I've seen as much before. I don't like the look of 'em in any case.

The fighter twists the haft of his axe nonchalantly, the other hand held ready to lower his battle-mask at the first sign of trouble.

At the sight of the two kreens, Mendi visibly blanches, and mumbles something in elven under his breath. He fetches his crossbow and cranks it, outwardly calm but panic very near the surface. "Perhaps we should avoid them entirely, he says. We could bypass them, leave them alone... You are obviously battered with those rocks that toppled on you. This is not wise, those beasts are killers!

Koreth laughs and looks towards Mendi, "You're just afraid they'll make a light snack out of you!" he chuckles and continues "but in the shape they're in, I doubt they could fight their way out of a knapsack. Don't worrry elf, they'll not nibble your ears today."

Elric looks down toward the kreens. Visibly shaken he flexes his fingers and glances toward Mendi, "Well I hope these kreens will forgot their normal nibbling as our friend Chit does." Forcing a small grin Elric concentrates on the kreens below him.

Listening to all his companions, knowing what he does, and careful breakdown of the situation leave Chit-Zik dumbfounded. "They.. are...not.... well." he says slowly. Caring nothing about dangers involved, Chit-Zik moves to within about 15' of the other kreen and looks at them carefully. After a closer look, he positions himself before their glassy stare. And speaks to them in his own tongue.

Chit-Zik said to the other kreen: "I am Chit-Zik. This is my pack. Are you well?" The kreens break their trance in a sudden flurry of slashing claws towards the two heroes which were closest, Koreth, the noble fighter and Chit-Zik.

Taken totally off guard, Chit-Zik instinctively jumps back a few feet, then pulls his gythka attempting to protect his comrades. Chit's hard carapace shields him from some of the blows but two of the four claws still rip into the hero's chitin. The crazed kreen goes in for a bite with his slavering jaws. Chit was ready for him and caught the head with a sideswipe of his gythka scoring a solid hit. A gut-wrenching noise was issued from the kreen as part of his jaw is torn from his face.

The largest one of the mantis warriors jumps on Koreth. The noble warrior, although wary of the attack, still finds himself with a four-armed, 11-foot long mantis warrior with sharp deadly claws. The warrior brings up his bone bastard sword to no avail. The first two claws swing downwards and slash the warrior's neck and shoulder while the two other claws leave red marks on his torso. The crazed kreen brings in his head, its jaws dripping vile, yellow venom, for a devastating bite. The jaws connect on the warrior's shoulder and his terror stricken face betrays the excruciating pain felt as the venom enters his system. The warrior suddenly spasms and his knees buckle under him; he falls down in a convulsing heap.

Your actions…

OUT OF CHARACTER

HEALTH STATUS

Remember the scale:

Healthy (H) 100% hitpoints remaining

Slightly Wounded (SiW) 75% to 100% hitpoints remaining

Wounded (W) 50% to 75% hitpoints remaining

Seriously Wounded (SeW) 25% to 50% hitpoints remaining

Mortally Wounded (MW) 0% to 25% hitpoints remaining

Koreth (W) Kreen 1 (H)

out of action (paralized)

Elric (SiW)

Ayrus (H)

Chit (W) Kreen 2 (SiW)

Tak (W)

Gaigin (SiW)

Ptellac (SiW)

Mendi (H)

Alright, please give me 2 rounds of actions. Use your normal IF THEN actions with a couple of options and describe your actions well as you are used to. Vincent, try and do something similar to the other players.

HIT POINT RECOVERY

While talking to Rive about his game I started thinking about making a radical change to my AD&D game and would like your opinion on it. I was never too happy with the hit point recovery system. According to rules, a PC recovers 1 hp per day of rest without any consideration on the total amount of hit point. So you get situation like a midlevel PC needs to rest for like a month and a 0 level NPC rests for a week and he is all healed up. A Cure Light Wounds spell does more to a 0 level human and does almost nothing to a high level character.

Here is my attempted fix: Everyone recovers 10% of total hitpoints per 8 hour rest and 25% of total hit points per 24 hour rest.

Cure Light Wounds heal up to 20% of total hit points.

Cure Serious Wounds heal up to 50% of total hit points.

Cure Critical Wounds heal up to 75% of total hit points.

Adjust magical items (potions, etc.) similarly as per spell.

What is your take on this? Have you played with anything similar?

Do the percentages seem OK?

Questions, comments, and suggestions please.

L8r,

Fabian