Putting the 'role' back in role-playing games since 2002.
Donate to Codex
Good Old Games
  • Welcome to rpgcodex.net, a site dedicated to discussing computer based role-playing games in a free and open fashion. We're less strict than other forums, but please refer to the rules.

    "This message is awaiting moderator approval": All new users must pass through our moderation queue before they will be able to post normally. Until your account has "passed" your posts will only be visible to yourself (and moderators) until they are approved. Give us a week to get around to approving / deleting / ignoring your mundane opinion on crap before hassling us about it. Once you have passed the moderation period (think of it as a test), you will be able to post normally, just like all the other retards.

Choose your path to greatness, obscurity or death. A multiple choice LP

Hoodoo

Arcane
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
7,140
1) but run to a tree and climb it, that way it cant get us and we can see what it does. Grab an insignia as well if we can.
 

Curufinwe

Learned
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
271
Location
Italy
1) but run to a tree and climb it, that way it cant get us and we can see what it does. Grab an insignia as well if we can.

Er. 15 meters long. 2 meters wide. Centipede. How exactly can't it get to us on a tree? :hmmm:
 

Hoodoo

Arcane
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
7,140
It would at least have a hard time. It would have to plow through roots and branches and then our axe. Plus were not even sure its noticed us yet.

Or we could run to the river were we will get wet and cold and likely be just as vulnerable as fish in a barrel or run pell mell into the woods and see nothing.
 

Charlie_Brown

Novice
Joined
May 27, 2012
Messages
15
Question, would it be feasible for our hero to move from tree to tree in the forest? Rather than walking on the ground.
 

Vernydar

Learned
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
579
Location
Italy
The forest has trees big enough, and also close enough for that. But Kyoss has average dexterity, and no climbing skill. It would be a rather.. daunting proposition
 

newcomer

Learned
Joined
May 23, 2012
Messages
919
The forest has trees big enough, and also close enough for that. But Kyoss has average dexterity, and no climbing skill. It would be a rather.. daunting proposition

Quite interesting, let's train Kyoss to be a monkey, worst case scenario would only be a few broken bones and a centipede suddenly appearing from ground where he was supposed to fall on :)
 

Monty

Arcane
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Messages
1,582
Location
Grognardia
I'll go with 1 as well.

Our hiding, fleeing and panicking abilities must be improving all the time! (about right for a 16 yr old on his first venture out from his village)
 

Zwist

Learned
Joined
Jun 6, 2012
Messages
236
Protip: Centipedes are rather adept climbers. We are probably not. Playing Tarzan will get us killed.
 

Esquilax

Arcane
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
4,833
If we had something, like a stone (or a severed head) that we could roll along the grass to maybe confuse the centipede for just a brief moment that would give us enough time to escape, it would be ideal. But I can't think of any clever tricks, so hauling ass is pretty much all we can do.
 

Vernydar

Learned
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
579
Location
Italy
Ok, so run to the river, after taking an insigna. Then, use it to lose the centipede (and the smell) and go towards Bitak. Maybe staying parallel to the cart path, but you'll get another chance to think about the route at the end of this update.
This update will contain a test on another mechanism I want to put in the game. As usual, if it does not work well feel free to suggest things, and I will change it.

16 – Meetings at midnight

You can't stay here any longer. You have no idea how long you will still be safe. The centipede is underground right now, that's probably the best you can hope for. Quickly you come out from under the corpses, trying to move as little as possible. Then, you rip off one of the sleeves of a soldier, and start running towards the river. You think that is your best bet.

After a few seconds, you feel a rumbling noise coming from behind you. You do not stop and keep running. You dash past the plaza, down what is left of a small road. The burning houses disorient you a little, but you remember the general direction. At last, you see the river. With a burst of speed, you reach it and start to wade cross it quickly. The water is quite deep here and so you're not very fast. You use the opportunity to throw a glance behind you.

The monstrous centipede is on the shore, but is making no move to cross. Still, you do not slow down. You quickly reach the other bank, and dive into the forest. You keep running for some more minutes, then you turn east. Slowing down, you still keep jogging east for about a hour. Then, totally exhausted, you stop and rest a bit.

It is early afternoon before you're rested enough to move again. You decide to use the rest of the day to make absolutely sure those people and the centipede can't find you. This means, making sure they can't follow your smell. You go south a bit and reach the river. You proceed to bathe meticulously, and then you start walking east while staying in the river where the water is shallow. It's tiring and uncomfortable, but you remember your father telling you that water is effective to make sure dogs lose your smell.

After a couple of hours in the river you think you have covered about 5 kilometers. You leave the river and find a small clearing near the north bank which seems a nice place to rest for the night. Tomorrow you will decide which path you should take to reach Bitak.

You are near the north riverbank, about half a day's march east of Qoor

Quickly you fall asleep. But suddenly, you wake up. You look around, and considering it's very dark you think you must be close to midnight. The only light comes from a thin moon. You think you heard a noise... You get up immediately and draw your sword, your mind going immediately to the horsemen, or maybe to the centipede. What comes out of the woods instead is a bear.

The bear is not big, and in fact it seems very thin, even emaciated. And it seems very hungry, and you are the dinner it has in mind. You look around, but you see nothing in the small clearing you could use. Around you, there's just the dark forest, and the river about 500 meters south. But you remember your father telling you that bears are quite fast...

GM's important note(
This is your first combat situation. Here is the system I have in mind. When a combat is possible, I will write a semi-open choice. You should choose either how to try to avoid combat, or what general strategy you want to use. This is the strategy for the entire combat, and the outcome will then be decided by your foe, your skills, your equipment. Unless in particular, story-critical combats or huge battlefields, a combat will be just one update.
So, choose the strategy, or propose one, or decide how to try to avoid combat. As usual, ask questions if you want.)

How will you face the bear? (semi open-choice)
1) Stay firm and try to kill him with your sword, using the superior reach.
2) You think you are more agile than the bear. Circle it and kill it slowly, staying out of his reach.
3) Approach the bear, take the initiative and overwhelm him with a series of fast strikes.
4) Try to fool him by pretending to flee, then turn around and catch it unaware.
5) Try to hit him in the legs, and flee once he's slowed down (you may lose some gear...)
6) Other. Make a proposal, put a number on it.


Also, this question is for me, for planning purposes.
Which road will you take after this, supposing the combat goes well (if not I'll write something else)
A) As said before. Go back south, get close to the cart path, travel towards Bitak staying parallel to the cart path, but out of sight from it.
B) Other. Look at the map, make a proposal.
 

TOME

Cuckmaster General
Joined
May 25, 2012
Messages
1,820
How far away are our rations? And is there anything a bear could eat?
 

Stygian Lurker

Liturgist
Joined
Jan 28, 2011
Messages
577
I vote:
4) Because it is the only choice that (kinda) uses our above average intelligence, since we are trying to trick the bear.
A) Sounds reasonable enough. If someone gives a better suggestion, i might change this one.

Also a question for Vernydar: Can we somehow use animal handling skill in this encounter?
 

Vernydar

Learned
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
579
Location
Italy
How far away are our rations? And is there anything a bear could eat?

The rations are in the backpack, at arms length. But, it is uncertain whether you have enough time to take them out of it. You think so, but it's not certain. Also, they are mainly cheese, some dried meat, a few vegetables that last long (i,e.carrots, potatoes). The bear would like them. But there is of course no guarantee the bear would prefer to eat both the rations AND Kyoss. You could though try to empty the backpack with a kick, if you think it's a good idea.

Also a question for Vernydar: Can we somehow use animal handling skill in this encounter?
Kyoss thinks the answer is: likely not.
While animal handling does include ways to appear less threatening, and how to feed animals, you have experience with domesticated animals. Mainly sheep and dogs. In a pinch you could try with wolves, but bears are exotic enough that Kyoss has no clear idea on how to approach it. It's a case of simple lack of experience.

I'm not saying it won't work, Kyoss just think it is unlikely to work. Of course, only I know for sure.
 

Esquilax

Arcane
Joined
Dec 7, 2010
Messages
4,833
Stygian Lurker: I disagree, 4) has more to do with how quick, coordinated and agile you are. You have to be pretty fast to run away, then turn completely around and deliver a strike just in time before it catches up and starts to maul you.

I think our best bet is 1). We are composed, so we'll stay disciplined, and our sword has just enough reach to compensate for our mediocre speed.

Still going to have to come back to that second choice, however.
 

Monty

Arcane
Joined
Mar 24, 2012
Messages
1,582
Location
Grognardia
7) Try to tame the bear

Ha - we missed our opportunity for centipede cavalry too.

Think I'll also go with 1A.
2 is an appealing choice but doesn't seem to fit our attributes so best not to rely on our speed and agility.
 

Hoodoo

Arcane
Joined
Jun 5, 2009
Messages
7,140
Long reach or not, if that bear gets a good swipe or tackles us we will be probably done for.

3) for me. Do as much damage as possible and then avoid it while it dies.
 

Curufinwe

Learned
Joined
Apr 7, 2012
Messages
271
Location
Italy
1)

For me as well. With a caveat: we have superior reach if we do stabby moves, not slashy. Stabby moves on a bear's front won't hurt him too much, so I think we should aim at scaring it away more than killing it. If we overextend ourselves it takes just a swipe to end the LP.

Oh, and A)
 

Vernydar

Learned
Joined
May 6, 2012
Messages
579
Location
Italy
Very well, many votes for 1A

17 – Of Bears and Forests

You decide to face the bear standing firm and using your reach advantage. After all, you do not want to try your strength against the bear. You immediately realize that apart from the poor condition of the bear, you have another advantage. The bear clearly is not familiar with humans. It does look at the sword warily, but is not particularly scared of it.

You put this to good use the first time it approaches you. With a sudden thrust you hit the bear's eye, making it roar in pain as blood oozes copiously from the wound. The bear seems confused, and advances clumsily. You use the opportunity to hit hard one of the frontal paws, and then retreat a couple of steps. The bear roars, threatens you, and then quite mad with pain charges at you. Thanks to the wounds it's not very fast though. You sidestep and run the bear through, then moves away and wait for it to die of blood loss. You do not want to risk being hit after all.

After it's all over, you take a few deep breaths and think how lucky you have been. You could have surely paid dearly for your first encounter with a bear. You move a bit, and try to sleep some more. In the morning, you try to see if there's some parts of the bear you may cook, but decide against it. The bear seems quite sick now that you look at it in the morning light, you certainly do not want to risk catching something.

You decide to travle to Bitak by flanking the cart path, while staying out of sight. That way you do not risk getting lost and at the same time you should be able to avoid encountering those horsemen once again. You go back south to the cart path. You decide to travel a bit south of the cart path, in order to stay as far from the mountains as possible.

You travel east, inside the forest, for ten days. Luckily you meet no other monster, human or dangerous animal. Not that you're particularly unhappy about this, after all you already had a lot more adventures than you planned to have before reaching Bitak. Bitak was supposed to be the start of your journey into the world, but instead you learned that even close to your home there Can be dangerous places and encounters. As the second month of spring begins, you finally reach Bitak. Ironically, you're also officially an adult now. Just yesterday you turned 16...

During your journey to Bitak, you had quite a few experiences. But in particular, you improved your ability to survive in the forests. And also, you practiced quite a lot your orienteering skills.You did have to use your other abilities, but these two have definitely improved.
(You have improved your skills: Orienteering 3 (below average), Survival in the woods 5 (above average)

As you reach Bitak, you are quite impressed. Though only a big village, it seems huge to you and it's circled by a tall wood wall. Also, there's a wide space cleared from trees around it, and some impressive fields. Your parents did tell you of course that this is just a small village compared to what lies ahead of you, but you have always lived in the woods. You're not accustomed to so much open space! As you approach the village gates, you notice that there's guards on the walls. Quite a few guards in fact. Wait, is that even normal?

As you realize that this is clearly not normal, you see a patrol coming toward you from the gates. They have hard faces, and their weapons in hand, ready to be used. The... captain you suppose looks at you up and down, while you try to appear not threatening and keep your hands far from your weapons. After all, the patrol has surrounded you and they seem very ready to kill you if need be.

Then, in a cold, unfriendly voice the captain talks:
"Who are you? Where do you come from? Quite young, aren't you... Also, you WILL tell me in detail what you saw on the road, and if you encountered something strange."

What are you going to say about yourself? (semi open choice)
1) Say your name and that you are from Tulik
2) Say your full name, the name of your parents, and that you are from Tulik
3) Use a false name, but say you are from Tulik
4) Other. Make a proposal and put a number on it.

And what are you going to say about the journey? (semi-open choice)
A) Say everything that happened to you
B) Say everything that happened to you except from the ruins north of Qoor with the disease/sudden deaths
C) Say everything except what you saw at Qoor
D) Make up a story, do not talk of the strange things you saw
E) Other. Make a proposal and put a letter on it
 

As an Amazon Associate, rpgcodex.net earns from qualifying purchases.
Back
Top Bottom