[Carrie] Chapter 5: Chasing the Slavers

[Erynn]

Knowledge(Local) to try to use Eveleen's knowledge of the area to narrow down the possible routes and destinations of the Caravan and perhaps take a shortcut.

[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+13 : 17 + 13, total 30[/blockquote]

As requested,  Survival.
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 20 + 7, total 27[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 3 + 7, total 10[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 19 + 7, total 26[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 13 + 7, total 20[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 3 + 7, total 10[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 14 + 7, total 21[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 6 + 7, total 13[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 4 + 7, total 11[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 9 + 7, total 16[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 5 + 7, total 12[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 8 + 7, total 15[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 13 + 7, total 20[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 20 + 7, total 27[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 6 + 7, total 13[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 12 + 7, total 19[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 10 + 7, total 17[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 20 + 7, total 27[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 8 + 7, total 15[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 17 + 7, total 24[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 5 + 7, total 12[/blockquote]

Carrie will hustle for two hours and march straight through the next eight.

Con Checks.

[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 17 + 6, total 23[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 3 + 6, total 9[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 14 + 6, total 20[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 9 + 6, total 15[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 18 + 6, total 24[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 1 + 6, total 7[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 9 + 6, total 15[/blockquote]
[blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 17 + 6, total 23[/blockquote]

Throughout the journey, Carrie will be keeping an eye out for unfriendly wildlife. The last thing she's interested in is another boar attack.

Perception: [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 20 + 7, total 27[/blockquote]

[Throndir]

[okay]Carrie T. Cook
The Chosen of a God
Level 28

Condition: Injured, Drowsy

HP: 38/66
MP: 22/56
STR: 21
DEX: 24
CON: 23
INT: 29
WIS: 9
CHA: 13
MAG: 21

Blessings: Quick Learner, Mana Sensitivity, Translate All, Personal Status, Magic Reflect, Program
[/okay]
[okay]Focus on Quick Learner
Gain 5 times more Experience than normal.

Focus on Mana Sensitivity
Ability to see magical glows, runes, and movement of mana.

Focus on Translate Languages
Ability to understand all spoken languages.

Focus on Personal Status
Ability to pull up the Status screen.

Focus on Magic Reflect
???

Focus on Program
Be able to program objects.
[/okay]
Focusing on the titles, brought up a list of titles you had earned. You began going through them.

[okay]
Focus on Summoned Hero
You are a summoned hero.

Focus on From Another World
You are from another world.

Focus on Sergeant
You are a sergeant.

Focus on Metallum Slayer
You slayed a metallum.

Focus on Magicless
You have the Magic Reflect blessing.

Focus on Programmer
You have the Programmer blessing.

Focus on One Who Knows Status
You have used Status.

Focus on Chef
You can cook well.

Focus on Appreciated
You are appreciated by someone.

Focus on Spellcaster
You can cast spells.

Focus on Divine Elementalist
You are adept at divine elemental magicka.

Focus on Able to be Healed
???

Focus on Delayed Reflector
???

Focus on Touched Reflector
???

Focus on Efficient Programmer
Using Program uses up half the mana.

Focus on Efficient Reflector
???

Focus on Memory Shared
You shared memories with someone.

Focus on Adopted Family
You have an adopted family.

Focus on The Chosen of a God
You are chosen by a god.

Focus on Survivalist
You can survive well.
[/okay]
[info]Knowledge (geography)
To your direct north, from Eveleen's memories, you know there to be a larger forest called the Kelso forest, once home to Lizardfolk and centaur. When the shifting had happened, most of the forest was left behind. However, there weren't direct roads heading into the forest, and move of them would split either to the northwest or the northeast. Towards the east was the Lochnager swamps, while towards the west were the Wolfen plains, home primarily to the wolfmen tribes but also other beastfolk tribes. The fact that the tunnels to the north were the ones that were used, also told you that it had to either be Kelso forest, or a path northwards, through the town of Melrose. Using this knowledge you were more able to easily predict the direction of the tracks.[/info]

OODM: You have 8 hours of travel per day, before needing to do Forced March checks. Things are slightly tweaked, but I'm using your rolls above. Here's the info.

4 hour headstart for target(s). Assuming they are on horses at 50 ft. base move. 8 hours of travel = 40 miles (or 3 hexes).

Walking: 3 miles per hour on normal terrain
Walking with Tracking: 1.5 miles per hour on normal terrain
Hustle: 6 miles per hour on normal terrain
Hustle with Tracking: 3 miles per hour on normal terrain

Travel Log
Starting at 6 AM...
3 hours: Lamia Tunnels to northern edge of Thura Forest.
1 hour: Hustle with Tracking (Rolls: 27, 27, 10), 1 nonlethal damage taken. +3 miles. Total miles: 3.
1 hour: Hustle with Tracking (Rolls: 26, 20, 10), 2 nonlethal damage taken. Total nonlethal: 3. +3 miles. Total miles: 6.
1 hour: Walking with tracking (Rolls: 21). +1.5 miles. Total miles 6.5.
1 hour: Walking with tracking (Rolls: 13, 11). +1.5 miles. Total miles 8.
1 hour: Walking with tracking (Rolls: 16). +1.5 miles. Total miles 9.5.

Forced Marching starts at 2 PM.
1 hour: Forced March (Roll: 23, DC 12). Walking with tracking (Rolls: 12, 15). +1.5 miles. Total miles: 11.
1 hour: Forced March (Roll: 9, DC 14). Walking with tracking (Rolls: 20). +1.5 miles. Total miles: 12.5. 5 nonlethal damage taken. Total nonlethal: 8
1 hour: Forced March (Roll: 20, DC 16). Walking with tracking (Rolls: 27, 13). +1.5 miles. Total miles: 14.
1 hour: Forced March (Roll: 15, DC 18). Walking with tracking (Rolls: 19). +1.5 miles. Total miles: 15.5. 3 nonlethal damage taken. Total nonlethal: 11
1 hour: Forced March (Roll: 24, DC 20). Walking with tracking (Rolls: 17, 27). +1.5 miles. Total miles: 17.
1 hour: Forced March (Roll: 7, DC 22). Walking with tracking (Rolls: 15). +1.5 miles. Total miles: 18.5. 6 nonlethal damage taken. Total nonlethal: 17
1 hour: Forced March (Roll: 15, DC 24). Walking with tracking (Rolls: 24, 12). +1.5 miles. Total miles: 20. 2 nonlethal damage taken. Total nonlethal: 19

Plains north of Thura Forest
Around 4 PM

During your tracking, you randomly gained a new title.

[okay]You have gained a new title [Survivalist]
You have gained +1 skill points[/okay]
The plains northwards was primarily tall grasses ranging from 1 foot in height all the way to around 3 or 4 ft. The were breaks every once in awhile, spanning into longer fields of brown colored shrubbery. That said, it reminded you of a Savannah, though, the temperature was much colder, and the grasses themselves were larger than those in your own world's Savannah. There was a general lifelessness, much of the grasses looked dead, or at least, weren't quite healthy. Five hours into the journey, you started to feel tired, but you forced yourself to continue marching.

You kept your eyes alert, and it was then that you spotted a crouching large cat creature, reminiscent of a cheetah, lying in wait about 20 ft in front of you. It had a golden coat spotted with black and it blended with its surrounding quite well. Though some of its facial markings were different, it looked very much like a cheetah of your own world. From the way it crouched low and kept quiet, you realized it had been planning to surprise you, another few more feet, it probably would have. Luckily, you managed to see it in time.

Initiative requested. Also feel free to roll Knowledge (nature). State what blocks of information you'd want, but I'll default to Defense info usually.

[Erynn]

Knowledge(Nature): [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+13 : 1 + 13, total 14[/blockquote]
Prioritizing offense, defense, special in that order.

Initiative: [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 4 + 7, total 11[/blockquote]

[Throndir]

[info]Knowledge (nature): 14
Even though it looked slightly different from a cheetah with the different markings. You definitely knew that this was perhaps this world's version of a cheetah. With the weather being relatively chilly however, it was indeed strange seeing it in a place with weather like this. That said, the surrounding environment was just as out of place in terms of the weather.

This is a CR 2 Cheetah.[/info]

The cheetah was still crouched down, eyeing you as it's muscles tensed to spring.

Carrie to take turn.

Initiative: Carrie, Cheetah

[Erynn]

As Carrie plods on wearily, her foot freezes in midair for the second time in one day. Suddenly alert once more, her eyes catch a twitching shape in the tall grass, preparing to pounce. It was as if Carrie had stepped straight from the familiar forest and into the tale of the man-eaters of Tsavo. The only difference being that the danger present wasn't a lion, but a cheetah. Carrie knew that if it came right down to it, it was possible, though unlikely that a person could outrun a lion. Carrie knew that there was simply no way in hell a cheetah could be outrun on foot, so she doesn't bother considering flight. Instead, Carrie retrieves a flare from a vest pocket and ignites it. She presents the bright, intense flame toward the big cat, seeking to ward it off with the one thing every animal fears: Fire.

Carrie makes a point of staring the big cat in the eyes as she backs away slowly and presents the flare, while she also pulls out an old favorite exercise from boot camp. While its primary purpose is to mentally prepare recruits, Carrie realizes that it also has an application here. With a deep breath, Carrie demonstrates to the cheetah the war face, bellowing at the big cat as loud as she can and contorting her own face into an expression that conveys universally a single message.

'I'll kill you before you can kill me'

Carrie was simultaneously attempting to end this encounter without harm to herself, but also without making any noise that could be heard any real distance away. She had already had to fire off her rifle once today. She really didn't want to have to do so a second time. Hopefully, the combination of flare, eye contact, and loud vocalization would be sufficient to convince the creature that Carrie was a much more dangerous target than it had initially thought, perhaps even a predator herself that wouldn't go down easily if attacked.

Intimidate: [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+6 : 11 + 6, total 17[/blockquote]

[Throndir]

The cheetah jumped back and let out a growl as the flare brightened up. Its ears were turned back, then flattened them as it cautiously kept it's distance from you. It's eyes staring almost hesitantly and fearfully at the flare. It wasn't outright going to attack, but it wasn't fleeing either. It had taken a few steps back. However, it continued to growl low and maintain distance.

[spoiler=Combat Log]Round 1
Carrie move action flare, attempts to intimidate as a standard action
Cheetah move action 10 ft. away.
Round 2
Carrie to take turn.[/spoiler]

[Erynn]

Carrie immediately became concerned when the cheetah didn't withdraw despite being presented with the flare. Clearly, the predator was determined, and Carrie surmised that the creature was likely starving, given the obvious climactic mismatch between the weather and the terrain. It impressed Carrie that a cheetah had somehow managed to survive this long in a temperate zone, but it was clearly struggling if it thought hunting people was a good idea.

Another thought then occurred to Carrie as she and the cheetah stared each other down. Hunting people wasn't normal for animals. It was a learned behavior. Instantly, Carrie began to wonder where this cheetah had learned that human beings were easy prey. She also realized in that same instant that conventional big cat defense wasn't going to work against an animal that actually saw her as potential prey. The flare, she realized, was the only thing that had stopped this creature from pouncing on her, and the only thing keeping it at bay. Carrie decided to change tactics.

"Program, condition: now, statement: drop elevation forty feet, save.", was the immediate utterance from Carrie while selecting the ground beneath the cheetah. Carrie's intent was to suddenly entrap the big cat within a space low enough that it couldn't leap out, with completely vertical walls that it couldn't climb. Hopefully, the creature would learn an important lesson about messing around with people: High risk, low reward. Carrie would stick around briefly, pistol in hand now, to be sure that the impromptu trap was effective. If it was, she would extinguish the flare in the dirt and replace the cap, saving the rest of its burn time, and moving on. If not, Carrie would be waiting at the top of the pit to shoot at the creature should it make a successful escape.

[Throndir]

The moment you used your ability, you felt yourself get sleepy, but at that same instant, the cheetah fell straight into the hole after a surprised yelp.

[spoiler=OODM]If you have other plans for the cheetah feel free to state it, but moving the scene on for brevity.[/spoiler]

Location: New World - Melrose Village
Date: Day 3 - 9 PM

Following the tracks, you continued to push yourself onwards. All in all, you traveled 15 hours just this day. Your MP had recovered a bit more as well through the journey, though your wounds from the giant boar earlier that day still continued to be sore.

Up ahead, you see the sight of civilization once again. There was a small quaint village, and though the tracks merged with others on the highway, you were still able to follow them. After all, with three wagons one after the other, along with 12 horses, the evidence of the tracks was hard to miss.

State any potential preparations before heading to the village.

[Erynn]

As Carrie approached civilization at the end of a very long day's march, she comes to a disheartening realization. The group that she was pursuing were all mounted, and making a great deal more forward progress than she was. Carrie had hoped to catch up to her quarry by now, but they were clearly still far ahead. It became obvious to Carrie that she wasn't going to be able to catch Synithise' captors without assistance

Carrie stops before entering the village and takes a good look around to ensure that nobody is present before speaking while selecting the atmosphere. "Program, condition: Now, Statement: Convey my words to Eveleen Dunn."

Carrie then creates an additional line of code reversing the targets, then saves the program. She begins speaking regardless of whether or not Eveleen can reply. If the Dullahan and bat folk haven't found her by now, they clearly haven't found the trail that Carrie had left behind her and were in dire need of operational intelligence.

"Eveleen, this is Carrie. If you're able, please reply as soon as possible.", begins the young hero, "Synithise's sister sold her out to take over the priestesses. She had a group escort her and about half the inhabitants of the tunnels to the northern edge of the forest via the exit tunnels where the tracks left behind tell me they were loaded into two out of three wagons. The wagons are drawn by twelve horses total and are traveling at a pace that indicates that nobody is dismounted. I can't catch up on foot and I'm barely able to keep pace while tracking them. I've been able to track the Caravan to Melrose, but I've exhausted myself doing so. Unless there's someone in town who will put me up for the night, I'm going to camp a short distance off in the plains. Either that or try to sneak into someone's barn..."

Carrie then makes a point of simply waiting for a reply for several minutes, hoping that Eveleen is in a position to answer.

[Throndir]

Location: New World - Melrose Village
Date: Day 3 - 9 PM

"Carrie?" It was Eveleen's voice. But she spoke again before confirming. "Look for a dullahan, by name of Donovan. He resides in the eastern outskirts of Melrose. Misophe has claimed an old right of our kingdom where the military head assumes control of any kingdom institution, including that of the Lamia Priestesses. Misuse is punishable by the crown, but we have no crown to speak of. Find mistress Synthise, and bring her back."

Eveleen's voice cut off

[Erynn]

As Eveleen's voice was heard, Carrie was relieved to be able to make contact with someone that could potentially vector aid in her direction. What followed instead left Carrie with the understanding that Eveleen wasn't in a position to speak freely, much less render much assistance. She took her cue from Eveleen's sudden silence and whispers, "Understood. Program, modify, Condition 1:As mutually desired. Condition 2: As mutually desired Condition 3: Immediately prior to program expiration Statement: Duplicate Program. Save."

Carrie then focuses her attention on the task at hand, no longer speaking to Eveleen, and mutters to herself, "Well, so much for staying away from the flashy stuff."

Carrie then creates another program from scratch, selecting the ground itself as the object to be programmed. "Program: Condition:Now Statement: Bog down the caravan bearing the lamia priestesses in exile. Condition: The above caravan is bogged down. Statement: Bind the above caravan in rock. Condition: Any individual disembarks the above caravan. Statement: Bind the individual in rock. Condition: Has bound the caravan or a disembarked individual. Statement: Drag all bound objects and persons to me Condition: Immediately prior to program expiration Statement: Duplicate program. Condition: When desired Statement: Delete program. Save

Carrie then heads off toward the eastern outskirts of Melrose to look for the Dullahan specified, keeping away from any lights that could reveal her presence, as well as make clear to observers that she's not from this world. She attempts to sense mana as she does so, much like Synithise had taught her to within herself but trying to apply the method externally now. Carrie's reasoning is that a Dullahan probably has a larger reserve of mana than most.

Stealth: [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+10 : 12 + 10, total 22[/blockquote]

Perception: [blockquote]Rolled 1d20+7 : 1 + 7, total 8[/blockquote]

[Throndir]

Using your ability, you felt a lot more drained. You are now sleepy.

[info]Stealth: 22
You manage to go about the village without alarming anyone. No one noticed your passing at all.

Perception: 8
Although you were able to sense mana, it took you quite awhile until you finally found a source of mana that seemed to be fairly strong at the outskirts of the village.[/info]


Location: New World - Melrose Village
Date: Day 3 - 11 PM


There was a lone shack, with an attached covered stable. But it was inside the home that you felt the amount of mana, much more, than the other villagers. That shack was about 120 ft. away.

[Erynn]

As Carrie searched through the outskirts of Melrose, walking the border between consciousness and unconsciousness, a serene sense of comfort began to set in as if she were in some way one with the shadows that surrounded her. The trip to her destination felt a great deal like gliding through the environment as if on a cushion of air.

Both mental and physical exhaustion had finally set in fully, leaving the pain in her left arm and side the only thing keeping Carrie awake. It had been some time since she had felt such exhaustion, the last instance having occurred somewhere in a middle eastern desert. Carrie knew that if she was to remain undetected, she would need to find her way into shelter quickly. Thankfully, her destination was now near. The injured hero approached cautiously, keeping an eye out for any unwelcome attention, and proceeded to knock on the door.

"Hopefully this Donovan isn't too irritated....", Carrie mutters to herself, now leaning against the small building for support.

[Throndir]

Location: New World - Melrose Village
Date: Day 3 - 11 PM

Walking up to the home, you noticed that surprisingly it was well-kept. Though it was far from the village, even in just the moonlight you were able to see that the lawn was neatly trimmed, the pathway to the house was well-maintained, and the shack itself looked fairly decent. It wasn't at all what the stories of earth could have described what a dullahan's home was like. The covered stable was an attachment to the shack, almost doubling the size of the building with just it alone. There was a huff, reminiscent of a sound coming from a horse from somewhere in there.

When you finished knocking on the door, there was a shuffle inside, along with a booming voice from deep within.

"Who's there?"

[Erynn]

"A friend in need.", came the calm, even reply from Carrie, "My name is Carrie. Eveleen tells me you can be counted on in a pinch."

The booming voice told Carrie that the individual within wasn't asleep when she had knocked despite the late hour. Normally someone who had been woken up would sound groggy. Carrie wondered then if Dullahan even needed to sleep, but had her train of thought cut short by the sudden sensation of nearly nodding off herself before she willed her eyes back open.

Carrie was eager to get some rest, but there was no telling what it was going to take to convince the individual within that she wasn't hostile.