Since Xilyrah has guard duty with Narstin and Sarith, she's going to start engaging in a little conversation (with the goal of DM inspiration for the dark secret). Sarith hates Xilyrah so she's going to ease into talking to Narstin. How do you want that conducted, @Kerrec? I went back through the early instructions but wanted to touch base again. Should it all be via private messages in character?

At the beginning of the module, I suggested two different game mechanics to encourage roleplay:

• You can gain DM inspiration by pointing out to me that you acted in accordance with your bonds, traits and flaws.  I ruled that you had to go through the whole list once before gaining DM inspiration for the same one again.  Here's the table I've been using to keep track:

• I asked each of you to create a very personal secret.  I came up with a convoluted system to track 'influence' and declared once you had enough of it, you could start asking yes/no questions to figure out what your companion's secret is.  If you guessed it, you would be awarded a free feat.

I get the impression that after trying it the first time, you all balked at the complexity, the time it would take or the amount of work involved to advance.  If you all still want a reward for role playing, I'd be willing to revisit the concept and try to streamline it into something reasonable.

I think the DM-granted inspiration system is a good one. It's straightforward, relatively easy to manage, and an effective nudge toward acting in character. Regarding the second mechanic, I think I've brushed it aside because (1) it's complex and (2) I've not seen anyone else giving it a go. 

Meanwhile, Buppido is following us...

Narstin rolled the perception check, but the watch shift is Sarith, Xilyrah and Narstin.  The others helped Narstin with the roll.  So for expediency's sake, either of the three can act.

Quote from Jack_Joke >>

Meanwhile, Buppido is following us...

 With Buppido's crap Survival skills, he will die of thirst pretty soon, if he is following the party instead of heading to the closet habitation.

Ok, if I played Buppido like an NPC the same way we are doing in your party and rolled survival and encounters, he probably would die pretty quick.  But he has a backstory that the module presents as an option and it never explains how Buppido gets from point A to point B if not part of the party.  For the sake of interesting storytelling, I'm pretty sure the intent is to hand waive that stuff aside so he's there when the story calls for him to show up.

So, don't count on him dying of thirst or starvation.  You'll have to deal with him, ignore him or avoid him at your discretion.

That being said, if there is an opportunity for him to steal supplies, I would implement that much realism at least.  But I'm being fair.. he has to perceive you and beat your perception when he sneaks.  Which is not the case here, he did neither.  He's not sneaking for crap and he has no clue exactly where you are.

Oh, I agree about Buppido. But if he were to gain a level of exhaustion for some reason, that makes it much easier for the party to catch him during his shenanigans. :-)

Quote from Kerrec >>

At the beginning of the module, I suggested two different game mechanics to encourage roleplay:

• You can gain DM inspiration by pointing out to me that you acted in accordance with your bonds, traits and flaws.  I ruled that you had to go through the whole list once before gaining DM inspiration for the same one again.  Here's the table I've been using to keep track:

• I asked each of you to create a very personal secret.  I came up with a convoluted system to track 'influence' and declared once you had enough of it, you could start asking yes/no questions to figure out what your companion's secret is.  If you guessed it, you would be awarded a free feat.

I get the impression that after trying it the first time, you all balked at the complexity, the time it would take or the amount of work involved to advance.  If you all still want a reward for role playing, I'd be willing to revisit the concept and try to streamline it into something reasonable.

I'm not married to the idea. And I apologize for not catching the posts where the balking took place, I didn't mean for you to have to re-post all of that again. There's a ****ton of posts out there. We don't need to pursue it. I'm cool with using the straightforward DM inspiration.

(Asking the party) Are we at the point where Good characters can strike down the sneaking Buppido and still sleep soundly?

I'm willing to have Beegred give chase, but not to bring him back alive and be an anchor on the party. If killing the wretch feels wrong, then we shouldn't chase.

The only thing Tozer is willing to chase is a cheeseburger and a pint of ale. 

I think Xilyrah is the only one who would sleep just fine if she did Buppido in. We don't need to chase.

Beegred is yes-no.  Tozer is no.  Xilyrah is no.

With a no from Narstin, we move on.  Otherwise Beegred will have to make up his mind.

"No" is fine. Hopefully the 1-round chase (and Hunter's Mark) will be enough to keep the derro away for the rest of the night, or longer.

Just be sure to let me know when the time comes to actively put Buppido out of our misery.

Day 12 travel:

• Illumination, 1-3 = light, 4-6 = dark: 3 
• Passage width, 1-2 = single file, 3-4 = two abreast, 5-6 = wide open: 6 
• Danger watch: 
  • Valthana: Helps Xilyrah 
  • Xilyrah: 10 
  • Beegred passive: 14 
• Encounter roll: 9 
• If Terrain: 6 
• If Creature: 5 

Day 11 long rest ends without further interruption.  Day 12 travel is uneventful.  

Before I proceed, need to know what Burfeth will forage for: food or water?

Note: you start Day 12 with 1/2 pound of day 11 food and 3 gallons of water in water skins.

Food.  He came through last time, and that will be the critical item with Narstin's spell as a safety net for water.

• Navigation: Sarith w/help from Stool vs DC 10: 9 
• Foraging for water: 
  • Derendil:  16 
  • Eldeth: 7 
  • Jimjar: 5 
• Foraging for food: 
  • Beegred: 17 (doubled) 
  • Tozer: 24 
  • Narstin: 25 
  • Burfeth: 1 

Day 12 results:

Navigation success.  +6 miles (now at 62 miles from Velkinvelve)

Foraging results:

• Derendil: nothing
• Eldeth: 8 gallons
• Jimjar: 2 gallons
• Beegred: 2 pounds ( 4 pounds)
• Tozer: 1 pound
• Narstin: 4 pounds
• Burfeth: 1 pound

Started with 3 gallons, plus another 10 gallons, leaves 2.5 gallons left over in water skins.

Started with 1/2 pound of food, plus 10 pounds, leaves no food left over and just enough for everyone.

Day 12 Guard duty during long rest: 

• Shift 1 
  • Sarith -> Stealth roll: 17 , Perception roll: Helping 
  • Narstin -> Stealth roll: 16, Perception roll: 18 
  • Xilyrah -> Stealth roll: 20, Perception roll: Helping 
• Shift 2 
  • Derendil -> Stealth roll: 20, Perception roll: Helping 
  • Tozer -> Stealth roll: 3, Perception roll: 23 
• Shift 3 
  • Jimjar -> Stealth roll: 22, Perception roll: Helping 
  • Eldeth -> Stealth roll: 17, Perception roll: 20 
• Shift 4 
  • Valthana -> Stealth roll: 7, Perception roll: Helping 
  • Stool -> Stealth roll: 5, Perception roll: Helping 
  • Beegred -> Stealth roll: 12, Perception roll: 22 
   

Random Encounter: 

• Roll for encounter: 2 
• Roll for shift, if encounter: 1 
• Roll for creature: 9 
• 15, 14

Wow... I'm starting to wonder how Buppido survives...

Quote from Kerrec >>

Started with 1/2 pound of food, plus 10 pounds, leaves no food left over and just enough for everyone.

You are juggling a lot of numbers. I double-checked, and the party started day 11 with 1/2 pound of food, and ended with 16 pounds. So they should be ending day 12 with 10 pounds left over (throwing away the unused day 11 food).

Quote from Kerrec >>

The party starts the day with 1/2 pound of food and ends with 26.5 pounds.  The party is left with 16 pounds of day 11 food.