Meeting the Tribunal

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"No harm in passing a message if something goes wrong, though," adds Coden. "We might still be able to come up with a helpful idea."

[DM Bob]

Ande steps, nay flies through the mental portal. The sun is still setting to her west in this end of twilight. Grasses, unlike any she's every seen blanket the ground beneath her. The scale of it is insane. To the north and west, far into the distance, it seems that the earth changes darker. Before that, a giant rut of earth is seen heading north to north-east. At the end, half a giant almond shaped thing is seen sticking out of the dirt. It looks like a gigantic wooden nut from here, and looking directly at it causes your head to ache lightly. How much is above the earth? It's hard to tell. But it's easily twenty miles out from Ande's current position as it gets darker. To the far east, a gigantic cloudy rise obscures your vision to where the Tablelands must lie.

Due west, there seems to be a break in the grasses, mounds of something are seen. Perhaps the city of tohr-kreen you had discussed before with the Presider. That being said, there is evidence of insect life... giant bloated flying insects buzz lazily about, kreen are seen circling the almond Messenger warily as well. A few large beetle things - similar to those that are animated by the Sorcerer Kings and Queens lumber about like Tatooine dewbacks.

You best not tarry here long, as the light fades and the insects might see you - for better or worse.

[Attilius]

Aug 9, 2023 10:25:57 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

You best not tarry here long, as the light fades and the insects might see you - for better or worse.

[Deleted]

Chat'cho whistles meekly, playing with an ice cube in the third of her four arms. "I can su*ly a *ortal oxh mmy own, should we discoxher a need xhor one."

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila relays whatever verbal and other cues she gets from the Mindlink and Environment blip.
She asks the Tribunal “Would you have me inspect one of the features from more up close with Clairvoyance? The nut shaped edifice or shall I go for the obvious and zoom towards the likely impact crater of the Messenger?”

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- The Halfling gets closer to HurK - "I might be able to gather some information from that rock if I get a sample of the item.." - then she moves back, slurping the condensed air outside the mug where the nearly melted transparent rock is wandering inside

[Attilius]

Aug 9, 2023 12:02:04 GMT -12 Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP] said:

- The Halfling gets closer to HurK - "I might be able to gather some information from that rock if I get a sample of the item.." - then she moves back, slurping the condensed air outside the mug where the nearly melted transparent rock is wandering inside

The large psion looks down at the halfling, then her mug, and back to the halfling with a smirk. "They call it ICE. it's what happens to water when it gets reall REALLY cold..."
He says as he pulls a cube out of his own mug, lays it in his open palm then uses molecular agitation on it to melt it quickly in his flat hand. "See? Turns to water when not... cold." he cups his hand and loudly slurps up the cool water

[AthasianLaborer]

Aug 9, 2023 10:25:57 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Ande steps, nay flies through the mental portal. The sun is still setting to her west in this end of twilight. Grasses, unlike any she's every seen blanket the ground beneath her. The scale of it is insane. To the north and west, far into the distance, it seems that the earth changes darker. Before that, a giant rut of earth is seen heading north to north-east. At the end, half a giant almond shaped thing is seen sticking out of the dirt. It looks like a gigantic wooden nut from here, and looking directly at it causes your head to ache lightly. How much is above the earth? It's hard to tell. But it's easily twenty miles out from Ande's current position as it gets darker. To the far east, a gigantic cloudy rise obscures your vision to where the Tablelands must lie.

Due west, there seems to be a break in the grasses, mounds of something are seen. Perhaps the city of tohr-kreen you had discussed before with the Presider. That being said, there is evidence of insect life... giant bloated flying insects buzz lazily about, kreen are seen circling the almond Messenger warily as well. A few large beetle things - similar to those that are animated by the Sorcerer Kings and Queens lumber about like Tatooine dewbacks.

You best not tarry here long, as the light fades and the insects might see you - for better or worse.

Are the flyers on the horizon towards the mounds?  Do they appear to be at, above or below Ande's altitude?

Regardless, so long as they're not within immediate missile range, Ande will begin travelling at her fly speed of 36, climbing at 30 degrees due west.

Revised PHB pg 157 gives optional rules for Jogging and Running. 

If allowed, Ande will Jog to climb and then soar while resting.  This would allow her to climb 720 yards per round for 17 rounds (a total of 21200 feet of climb across 36 720 feet of westward travel) before needing to rest.  Would she lose altitude when resting or just plateau?

If she can't 'Jog' then it'll take her 34 minutes to cover the same distance.

She has Sensitivity to Observation, just so you're aware (though IDK if Quila would interfere with that or not since I am already aware of her observation and in fact consenting to it).

If anything observes her she'll be doubly cautious, if she sees anything approaching her, she'll let them get as close as Extreme Range with a Longbow (meaning if she thinks they could exchange fire in the next moment or so) but then she'll use teleport to put some more western horizon between them (oh, nice cloud that puts an extra 1000 yards between us). 

She's running low in the PSP tank so it'll need to be short range stuff unless she can recoup.  Walking gets you 3/hour, does Flying count for Ande?  There's spells like Augment Psionics but they're all locked behind a particular priesthood (a Duergar goddess).

I am open to suggestions, though Ande is planning on staying aloft and in the area as well as she can until the day passes.

Edit: Ande will fly due east in a 50 degree climb rather than due west.  If she's pursued by stronger flyers than she, she'll use Dimension Walk to 21 miles of western horizon between her and them.  She'd quip that "Chat'cho never said she could fly, you need to see this before I get a closer look west Quila" just before the Dimension Walk fails (rolled a 19 needing 18 or less).  So here's hoping they're not stronger flyers.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila does commando-style functional Mindlink with Ande to make sure Ande also knows what Quila and the homefront are up to.
So Ande knows that Quila is now not observing, just linked for the moment. She relays that Ande must tell her when it’s useful to use the Sight again.

[Attilius]

Aug 9, 2023 11:37:59 GMT -12 @arkinneas said:

Chat'cho whistles meekly, playing with an ice cube in the third of her four arms. "I can su*ly a *ortal oxh mmy own, should we discoxher a need xhor one."

upon hearing the kreen speak he hurriedly runs out towards their sleeping quarters while yelling "Get your gear ready, just in case he needs our help..."

------

HurK grabs his massive pack and weapons then hustles back to the meeting chamber.

[Niachi]

Niachi attended Tribunal clean and spiffy, all his gear strapped and ready. He visibly savors the manifestation of water from his cup. Reminds him of casting his favorite spell.

He translates Chat'Cho's comment: 

"I can supply a portal of my own, should we discover a need for one."

He calmly waits for new information.

[DM Bob]

The other flying bugs look like this.

The most important detail is their size. At first glace they seemed smaller, perhaps a trick of the light, distance and your preconceived notions of insect mass. They are likely closer to 12-15' in length. Even as it darkens you can make out at least a dozen in the air... but luckily without and cohesion or swarming. Two seem to notice you and climb to match your speed. In fact, they seem to be gaining on you. Currently they are 41 feet or so distant and perhaps 20 feet lower in altitude. They have a bluish shine to their carapace and shiny, shimmery wings.

[AthasianLaborer]

Ande pings Quila with a slight note of panic "Look, look now, before I go!" and she makes a second attempt at Dimension Walk (rolls 18 needing an 18; PS == +2 to Wisdom Check to Navigate) Navigation Check Succeeds (rolled a 14 needing a 19 or less) and costs 12 PSPs (8 Initial+4 Maintainence for the first Turn of travel) bringing 33 to 21.  She manifests the portal between her and the bug and charges through it being careful to pull up a little on entry (want to maintain altitude if not gain a little) and head due west through the inky grey for 1 Turn.

"Have everyone one standby, I might exit on top of it, it was about 20 miles west and I am going to exit about 21 miles west of where I was so let's hope my guess was accurate otherwise, I will be real up close and personal."  Ande will activate Danger Sense prior to exiting (and depending on the result may linger for another Turn in the inky grey while our forces gather) Danger Sense Fails.

I will wait for input from others before exiting.  If nothing else, we'd get a Turn of discussion prior to Ande commenting "Huh, that failed"

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Eslyk urges to grab her belongings and drinks the remaining of her beverage in one sit after hearing HurK - "I'm ready for anything!" - she gets closer to the group

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Sort of obvious but Quila keeps describing everything that Ande tells her.
Upon any danger, her Sacred Guardian cleric spell will also give her a 'view' what's happening, so I take it this is the case at the moment.
I will also describe the creatures to the group. "Does anyone know what those large flying bugs are?"

Aug 9, 2023 16:39:08 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

Ande pings Quila with a slight note of panic "Look, look now, before I go!"

Upon Ande's panicked communications Quila again uses Power Manipulation / Environment to get a full minute 360 multisensor so she exactly knows what's up. [Rolled 16 needed 15 or lower for PM, so fail. Rolled 6 needed 18 or lower for Environment, success. Again only an instantaneous blip. A 2nd attempt gives me 14 on PM and now a 20 on Environment. This is not a blessed combination it would seem.]
She pings back to the fellow templar: "Ande I am checking in with the Sight, stay calm, I will ask the rest for input and help."

Aug 9, 2023 16:39:08 GMT -12 AthasianLaborer said:

"Have everyone one standby, I might exit on top of it, it was about 20 miles west and I am going to exit about 21 miles west of where I was so let's hope my guess was accurate otherwise, I will be real up close and personal."  Ande will activate Danger Sense prior to exiting (and depending on the result may linger for another Turn in the inky grey while our forces gather) Danger Sense Fails.

I will wait for input from others before exiting.  If nothing else, we'd get a Turn of discussion prior to Ande commenting "Huh, that failed"

"It seems Ande is making a run for it as she is being chased by the bugs. She tries to portal away closer to the Messenger. She failed to manifest. Oh." Quila relays with a rising anxious tilt in her voice to those present.
She then takes a serious look around making eye contact with all, swallows down her feeling of fear for Ande, before she continues in a calm voice, "Any great plans how to help our feathery friend? She let me know she's up for any input we might have."

[PSP accounting: how many rounds are we in for Mindlink, @bob? I was at 90, down 8x2=16 for two PM/Environment combos, which brings me to 74 PSP. Another 2 rounds of Mindlink brings me down to 58.]