OoC: How far away are they?

Hanalee tears after the girls at full speed--after she gets several feet, she jerks to a stop, then her body pulls herself forward. She winces as her legs involuntarily begin to dash forward, and soon she is running again.

"Hey!" she shouts after them. "Wait--I think--something's--"

Bright Feather & Caden

Neither of you are currently possessed to run down the mountain, or chase someone who is. You are free to pursue instinctively, as the past 12 seconds was a flurry of heated words, attitude, and confusion. However, if you found Karnath & Hanalee's actions surprising, you are free to respond to each other about what the hell just happened.

Caden is a little worse for wear from running full tilt up mountain, but could probably be back up and jogging in another 6 seconds (another round) after this one.

Quote from: Marleycat;787658OoC: How far away are they?

As for how far, they just started -- however it is full on sprint. Yet how do I represent that with RAW? Currently there's no real answer to that. I'm going to talk GM shop for a bit, looking behind the screen if you will and getting where I am coming from.

So let me show you how I got here: Mathematically they are both 30'/round, so RAW Minute Fast movement rate (Jog) is only x1.3 Speed. As per RAW, they vacillate on the meaning of "walk," apparently also adding "short bursts of energetic movement," as noted here:

QuoteSpeed
Every character and monster has a speed, which is the distance in feet that the character or monster can walk in 1 round. This number assumes short bursts of energetic movement in the midst of a life-threatening situation. (Basic 5e .pdf Aug 2014, p 63, col. 2.)

Therefore those energetic bursts accommodate for battle, but it's still pretty much walking. So I "mathed" it. 1 round = 6 seconds = 30 feet. So let's divide 1 mile and find out how many minutes it takes to walk a mile! 5280 feet/30 feet per round = 176 rounds. 176 rounds * 6 seconds per round = 1056 seconds. 1056 seconds/60 seconds per minute = 17.6 minutes.

Looking up the statistical healthy average, it's just over, but could account for the retired and elderly averaged in. Essentially a little over 3 miles per hour (or under over 4 miles per hour). Which if you note your Travel Pace in .pdf RAW is a little off, Normal is 3 miles/hour & Fast is 4 miles/hour, but still workable. That means the "Fast" pace in there is not much more over a walk; it's more of a Jog if anything.

Makes sense for longer rates of travel. However, there's still no sprinting in there. Even accounting for Difficult Terrain (a stretch... lots of grave markers? stone and brush?) cutting the move rate by 1/2, it still does not do justice to the idea of a sprint. So I went back to the up to x5 rate, with STR & CON checks, from 2e. This way an unsustainable sprint can occur. Hopefully by the new DMG we'll get new WotC ideas on this.

So, as I plugged it into the Dice Room, you can all see what happened. Everyone gets up to 2x fine for free, it's 3x+ per step that gets harder. Currently Karnath is going 3x Spd and Hanalee is going 4x Spd, or 90' and 120' this round. Given you all started around 1/3 deep inside the graveyard, that should leave them just about 3/4 across the graveyard from the Main Trail. (Graveyard roughly 230' long. 6' per body, 4' per aisle pathway.)[/COLOR]
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Karnath & Hanalee

Quote from: dragoner;787644Karni does what? I don't know. Runs off.

Very honest, like a response from shock. Stunned, you let your body run off in this surreal state of 3rd person removed perspective from yourself.

Let me know when you try to wrestle back control from the soul that wants to warn its brother.

Quote from: Mr. Kent;787672Hanalee tears after the girls at full speed--after she gets several feet, she jerks to a stop, then her body pulls herself forward. She winces as her legs involuntarily begin to dash forward, and soon she is running again.

Signs of an internal struggle, creating a good enough delay to not immediately catch up to, and knock down, Karnath this round. Instead of 120' this round you run an equivalent 90' and she's just out of reach.

{So close! If I push myself I know I can reach her and knock her down! And then I'll show them all who's the best!}

Quote from: Mr. Kent;787672"Hey!" she shouts after them. "Wait--I think--something's--"

{She's getting away, you loser!}

Jerking back against your delay, you continue running off involuntarily again. This guy has some serious aggression issues!

"You better run! I won't let you off so easily this time!"

Karni will try to regain control.

Bright Feather jumps up and down waving her arms...Hey!!! Over here! Fight those spirits....pulls out her bow and nocks an arrow. Listen to me spirits let my friends go before I make their bodies unsuitable for your games....

OOC: I shall assume that unless otherwise stated, you'll either stand there waiting or repeat your last action.

What I have so far:

Alric - patiently waiting for Caden & friends to help him with poor ol' Mal!
Caden - while winded trying to communicate to the rest of the 'heroic party' the current emergency with Alric's buddy pet Mal.
Bright Feather - Intimidate possessing spirits to let them go (by roleplay), on penalty of bodily attack.
Karnath - Resisting possession (by roll). Appeal to reason, horse sense, or persuasion? Or bully by argument, willpower, or presence?
Hanalee - Resisting possession (by roleplay), trying to jerk body to a halt.
Aynsley - decide which tavern to have a delicious lunch!

Last chance to change anything!

Sprinting Hanalee & Karnath both seem like they are herky-jerky, as if there's a struggle inside, a challenge to threaten or make obey. And more so due to sprinting away rapidly towards the stony area where the woman was found and the sharp slope downward occurs. There is an outside chance they might listen to Bright Feather, but outside of this round it will only be harder.

Caden (along with Hanalee and Alric) knows that 40% grade is dangerous to regular movement, and especially sprinting. If there's any self-preservation, the fear of that slope would make them slow down there at least. That's coming up another 200'+ distant from where those two currently are. That might give another chance to catch up to them and stop this horror.

And then there's always a chance Alric might end up being (albeit confused) interference at the next level terrace...


OOC: I thought a snow of 5e will o' wisps in this graveyard would have been utter TPK booby trap, and not make complete sense, setting wise this close to town. These creatures are toned down heavily. That said, this is easily one of the most dangerous immediate areas you can reach. I hope I have been communicating that ahead of time without everyone feeling sandbagged.

Do your best! :cheerleader:

I need Karnath to roll and tell me how she is trying to wrest control back.

She goes, "Out, out, foul demon!" Karni:  1D20 =>   6

OOC: I am assuming sheer willpower on the part of Karnath (which would be a nice +4). But the dice gods are fickle and cruel of late.

Caden

Off they go, the two of them, faster'n you've seen them ever run. It's so weird, so unlike them. And to take Bright Feather's word they are possessed by ill spirits — which is a whole lot better than taking solely her action to account, drawing aim at her friends with a bow. What the hell has been going on here?

Better now, catching your breath, you can fully voice your concerns for Alric and his animal pal Mal.
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Bright Feather

You thought that threat would make most sane people stop, but you haven't been in the business of bullying people into submission, so it's hard to tell. They both continue running, you'd swear almost heedlessly except for the subtle jerky motions you notice in both of them as not being their normal stride. I guess there was a use to witnessing them run before...

They have been in long range (currently at 90', your S. Bow short range is at 80'), and now they will rapidly speed out of it. At this rate they'll be out of range in 3 rounds. Might have to move with them to keep this threat up, or risk missing a lot (which is tempting in and of itself, as your friends are still inside).
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Hanalee

{She doesn't mean it. She won't shoot me. Besides, I'm like the wind! Faster than anyone's aim!}

You try to jerk control away, physically juking to one side or the other in an attempt to stumble. For the most part it works, stalling out your run another time to merely match Karnath's speed. Sorta afraid what will happen if you catch up to her while in this weird state.

"Out, out, foul demon!" you hear from Karnath ahead of you, as she continues to barrel on.

{Yeah, right. I won't get out of your sight so easily, just because you call me names. Typical bullies, I'll show you! Get over here!}

Weird, that doesn't make total sense. Should be "begone, foul demon!" or "away, foul demon!" Wait... maybe that wasn't addressed to me? Wonder if Karnath is having a similar frightening experience.
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Karnath

That command from a priestess should make the foul fiend flinch at the very least! ...

{What! There's a foul demon on our tail? Oh my god! Run faster, I must reach my brother! I must warn him, there's even demons here!}

... frustrating. I might have to approach this spirit with either more force or another way.
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Alric

You faintly hear a commotion above at the higher terrace. Hopefully that's your friends coming to help!
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Aynsley

Ground squirrels and pine nuts in many places. Sounds pretty good. But the mountain ram at Geraldine's sounds like a feast. Hmmm, what am I in the mood for?

Bright Feather shoots her Shortbow in an attempt to overshoot them if possible and starts to move after them to keep in range...I'm warning you spirits I am not going to let you have them for your evil games...

OOC: I have no idea what roll would be required for an on purpose overshot.

Slowly rubbing down Mal's fur. "they're coming pal, They're coming"

Just gotta have faith.

ooc: approach it another way?

Quote from: Marleycat;788279Bright Feather shoots her Shortbow in an attempt to overshoot them if possible and starts to move after them to keep in range...I'm warning you spirits I am not going to let you have them for your evil games...

OOC: I have no idea what roll would be required for an on purpose overshot.

No need to roll, you're just shooting for max distance for effect, not aim!

I will use it as an Intimidate modifier to show you mean business, since you are interested in intimidating them again.

Quote from: dragoner;788285ooc: approach it another way?

Basically, behind the screen, I am asking you whether you force or persuade the possessor, and through which stat (skill). You can try to cast it out again through straight up Wis check, as that's your best mod. But stats can be used more than one way. Just as WIS can be used for raw willpower commands, it could be used for intuition and empathy. Similar for other stats, you can probe where this spirit is most vulnerable — you share the same headspace now.

As an acolyte you have likely dealt with, or heard of, challenges while "Appeasing the Dead." Spirits may be reasoned, lured, bullied, cajoled, tricked, etc. as each are their own distinct personality with distinct desires. Exorcisms however are more involved, and you are definitely at a disadvantaged since you are being possessed yourself.

As to "why the fuck the GM ganked my character and de-protagonized me," it is part of the setting that people tend to avoid (Easterner) graveyards, especially around important lunar phases, because weird shit happens. You may deem it superstition, however, especially for those of you who are not locals. By taking 10 minutes to do a ritual inside that land, especially closer to the new moon (or was it full, have to double check previous IC thread), folklore feels you exposed yourself to continuous probing for weaknesses by these cyclical creatures. Tis would be something Hanalee at the very least would know (possibly Alric & Bright Feather, too, though both are from outsider cultures).

People, let me know what you do next![/COLOR]

Now having caught some of his wind back Caden will do his best to draw the attention of the others to Mals plight. If he can't convince them fairly quickly he will begin to make his way back to Alric and bring him up to speed on the mess going on up hill.

while stroking Mal will keep his ears out to listen for his arriving mates.

Rolled a 9 + 4 for perception of 13, Not likely to know what is going on