Venture to the Messenger

[DM Bob]

Enemy's Slumber, 5th of Dominary - Sun Rise

Current Locations: Kreen Empire, Nirik

There is a positive vibe throughout the city. Restocked stores to the brim, the buzz of insects gathering the morning dew...

Seven Tohr-Kreen including J'lact assemble in full hunting gear. Click are clacked, Klacks are klicked. It is a little more than 22 miles to the fallen sky-nut, so you venture out (unless there's anything you wish to do, buff or prep prior to said excursion).

The day is warm, humid and cloudier than usual. The wind is decently strong out of due North. The pack is planning on taking a road or beaten path through the savannah three-quarters of the way before heading to the crash site. Flying insects are seen heading into the wind this morning. You feel this is a daily ritual of sorts, as the source of water was mention to be there.

[Attilius]

HurK asks J'lact if wants him in the front or back of the column, then moves to that position with 'fruit cart'...

[AthasianLaborer]

Ande would wake, do her daily devotions for spells and then cast Sacred Guardian on both J'lact and Quila; followed by Iron Vigil on herself.  (Yes, down 2 1st and 1 2nd from the gate but they're all long-term spells with great utility).

"Chat'cho, may I bother you to pray for our collective Unfailing Endurance?" Ande asks deferentially.  (I may have missed if it had been cast, but do remember mentioning it)

Afterwards, Ande would resume duties as forward observer.

[Niachi]

In any spare time before departure, Niachi sits with Chat'cho as she teaches the basics between Thri and Tohr.
When all are gathered, he's strapped with all his gear and as happy as you've seen him.

"Ready! Front or rear guard."

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

(OOC Question first: are all seven tohr-kreen from the j’ez variety? And has J’Lact indicated anything as to the composition? Hunters, masters of the Way, etc.)

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

After waking up and meditating (to replenish spells and to focus my thoughts), Quila keeps sitting cross-legged and fills a bowl with some water.
Out of her pack she takes her Fang of Knowing and contacts the sentience of Snarf while she puts the fang in the water and sets it spinning afloat in the bowl.
I tap into my nexus and concentrate, calling forth my own powers in addition to Snarf's, to initiate Power Manipulation (OOC: Can you do that with an empowered item's powers?). I ask Snarf the directions (I want to use Know Direction and get it maintained for a day if possible) and for any information regarding our whereabouts (using Know Location, who knows what information Snarf can provide?).

[OOC: I rolled for Power Manipulation and the powers. You judge what applies. Roll 13 on 14 for Power Manipulation. Roll 15 on 20 for Know Direction, so with PM that's powerscore giving me a compass for 1 day. Then another 8 on 14 for Power Manipulation for Know Location, and that is being rolled 14 on 20 for a Power Score result giving me the most precise description/info on my whereabouts.]

After her ritual querying of the Fang of Knowing she takes it out of the bowl, dries it and puts it back. She drinks the water in the bowl.
Stretching out when she stands up, she packs her gear and takes the war crodlu she rode into Nirik for the trip to the Messenger.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- In the morning, she wakes up earlier, goes to the entrance of the camp give and looks for any fresh mobat tracks, nearby where these ended last time, and listens for any unusual signs.

After that, she organises her belongings, fresh and replenished.
- "I'm going at the front too" - says as she gets to the lead side of the moving party without awaiting a confirmation, or lack of, of any sort

[OOC: Successful tracking, rolled 5 out of 11 without other modifiers by terrain. Detect Noise successful]

[Deleted]

Chat'cho finds no reason not to cast the Unfailing Endurance spell, and does as she's asked, blessing the group with it.

[DM Bob]

The composition of J'lact's team includes himself, four warriors (Klik'l, V'kyl, L'kriq & Rik-Rak), a scout (Kakyl) and a shaman of Earth (Lik-Vyr). They are all J'ez Tohr-Kreen.

You are not near, nor will be passing the mobat circle, unless you decide to take the route through the grasses. Your call as a party.

As for marching order, you may position yourselves as you see fit, the J'ez will operate as they do independently with the scout ahead, J'lact at the front and the four warriors spread wide in twos behind him and the shaman playing rear guard. So feel free to give a marching order. Post something and once we get a seconded agreement, we can set it.

I see no reason why you can't use the psionic meditations in regards to the empowered items. Quila knows exactly where she's facing at any one time. You know that you are in the hunting lands of Nirik-Tor, west of New Kurn by around 782 miles and lower in elevation of the Tablelands by about 1000 feet.

Are these blessings also used on the tohr-kreen? And after asking this, is there something you'd want to do now that I've brought it up?

[Deleted]

Chat'cho has to cast it a second time to affect the Tohr'Kreen, but she happily does so if they'll let her.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Eslyk marches at the back once she's aware of not getting closer to the mobat tracks, neither of any other new.
She's happy been nearby Lik-Vyr, the J'ez shaman. She will look at them - "Hi, I'm not sure if you understand me but" - she points to herself - "I'm Eslyk. Nice to meet you"

[OOC: Am I aware of any interesting fact between Halflings and Tri-kreens in general? Are they seen in similar manner as they see Elves?]

[Deleted]

Chat'cho watches the interaction between the halfling and the shaman with some interest, but stays well back--she doesn't want to butt into this conversation.

[AthasianLaborer]

Ande will cast Know Customs targeting Kakyl (putting her down 1 3rd level spell) while Chat'cho is casting Unfailing Endurance a second time.

After casting (and without interrupting Chat'cho's casting), Ande would approach Kakyl <Thri-Kreen> "I am called Ande, I am the scout of my clutch, may your eyes see if mine might miss, please allow me to speak over you" and awaits their consent prior to casting Sacred Guardian on them (if they consent).  If they don't, no fuss.

She'll then check her gear, making sure her harnesses are secure with darts and quivers in place; component pouches full and ready before keeping within 'spotted' range (per visibility rules) of the ground and roughly over Kakyl while on expedition.

[Attilius]

Aug 24, 2023 0:39:08 GMT -12 @arkinneas said:

Chat'cho finds no reason not to cast the Unfailing Endurance spell, and does as she's asked, blessing the group with it.

HurK respectively declines the spell "My thanks but give mine to our new Tohr friends"

Aug 24, 2023 3:30:24 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

...J'lact at the front and the four warriors spread wide in twos behind him and the shaman playing rear guard...

HurK w/ inix takes the starboard side of the column with the 2 warriors

Aug 24, 2023 3:30:24 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

You are not near, nor will be passing the mobat circle, unless you decide to take the route through the grasses. Your call as a party.

[My vote is to stay on the path and not go through the grasses]

[Niachi]

Niachi asks for details about the Endurance spell, accepts with a nod. He asks Chat’cho in his best Thri Kreen:

“You know I am also a mage and certainly no defiler (registering disgust with his hands) But our escorts may not know the difference. As my casting is linked to the Black, what can we do to communicate to them that I have combat and detection spells, and that I am to be trusted? Maybe I could hold a plant so as I cast, they see it will not be harmed?”

His true Neutral alignment will register with no deception in his intentions, if anyone is scanning for this.