[[He could do that, but see the comment I made above about the line for this tunnel terminating at the shrine and not the river.]]

[[ He's not worried about getting to the river, he's worried about getting out of the current location (and finding the trapper). Can you describe the Shrine of Oannes? I'm hoping outdoor shrine, not a closed-in underground temple like this building. ]]

Make an Arcana check for the first question about the See the Arcane side-effect.

Arcana: 12

[[The tunnel is about a metre high and about the same width.]]

Given they came this way, do their footprints lead into the tunnel, or elsewhere? I asked about footprints back in #890 . As above, primary interest is in following group (and trapper). The sphere has been leading him, so he continues to follow. I think you said the sphere is *in* the tunnel, so that's where he heads unless he saw their footprint leading up the stairs, or down the other path, or the sphere leaves the tunnel. ]]

[[ Just realized I may have misunderstood this: "Brand is just outside the entrance to the tunnel"...I assume small tunnel, not the one he came up, correct? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[He could do that, but see the comment I made above about the line for this tunnel terminating at the shrine and not the river.]]

[[ He's not worried about getting to the river, he's worried about getting out of the current location (and finding the trapper). Can you describe the Shrine of Oannes? I'm hoping outdoor shrine, not a closed-in underground temple like this building. ]]

[[Brand has never been there and has never had much to do with Oannes. Make a Religion check.]]

Make an Arcana check for the first question about the See the Arcane side-effect.

Arcana: 12

[[Brand doesn't know the answer to the question you asked about the Invisibility spell. You can make another roll for experience.]]

[[The tunnel is about a metre high and about the same width.]]

Given they came this way, do their footprints lead into the tunnel, or elsewhere? I asked about footprints back in #890 . As above, primary interest is in following group (and trapper). The sphere has been leading him, so he continues to follow. I think you said the sphere is *in* the tunnel, so that's where he heads unless he saw their footprint leading up the stairs, or down the other path, or the sphere leaves the tunnel. ]]

[[There were signs that people had walked on the ice rim, but any signs that anyone entered the small tunnel have been washed away by the water flowing out of it. The sphere is currently visible just inside the tunnel.]]

[[And that's it for the night. It's been a long and busy day for me. Ciao.]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Just realized I may have misunderstood this: "Brand is just outside the entrance to the tunnel"...I assume small tunnel, not the one he came up, correct? ]]

[[Correct. The one the water is flowing out of, not the one the water is flowing down into.]]

[[ Added 15 XP from perception fail; though I fear it may be moot soon! ]]

Arcana: 12

[[Brand doesn't know the answer to the question you asked about the Invisibility spell. You can make another roll for experience.]]

Arcana XP: 22

[[ He's not worried about getting to the river, he's worried about getting out of the current location (and finding the trapper). Can you describe the Shrine of Oannes? I'm hoping outdoor shrine, not a closed-in underground temple like this building. ]]

[[Brand has never been there and has never had much to do with Oannes. Make a Religion check.]]

Religion: 4

Brand heads into the tunnel, following Tinkerbell. [[ What does he see in the water and as he hurries down the tunnel? ]]

[[ Have taken the liberty of adding 5 more XP for Arcana (not a proficiency), and doing an XP roll for religion below:]]

Religion XP: 16

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Added 15 XP from perception fail; though I fear it may be moot soon! ]]

[[I had already added the 15 points for the failed Perception check, so I have removed the 15 you added.]]

[[ Have taken the liberty of adding 5 more XP for Arcana (not a proficiency), and doing an XP roll for religion below:]]

Religion XP: 10

[[Noted the added 5. I have also added another 5 points for the failed Religion check.]]

[[However, I suspect only one of us should be modifying your experience points to avoid double dipping as with the failed Perception check above. I think it should be me as that means I can add points for other things (such as encounters) when I think it warranted. However, if you think I've forgotten something, please remind me.]]

Brand heads into the tunnel, following Tinkerbell. [[ What does he see in the water and as he hurries down the tunnel? ]]

Brand's Combat Turn 1: Brand lets his feet touch the rim of the cistern and ducks into the tunnel. The water flowing at his feet and the low height of the tunnel makes this Difficult Terrain (his movement is now halved and rounding is always down for Difficult Terrain). The sphere has not moved yet and so he cannot follow it. What he sees in the water hasn't changed. He still has 10' more movement, an action, and a bonus action (if he has any that apply). It is still his turn. 

[[I had already added the 15 points for the failed Perception check, so I have removed the 15 you added.]]

I disagree. He has been at 975 literally for days (edit: of course, THAT may have been in error); I bumped him to 990; there was no evidence you had added 15, and no comment in the  forum. Searching these forums is almost useless, so I will do that later.

In the larger context, one person, or if two then always with a forum comment.I also think that when it is added, a comment be made in the forums with a new total; there is no logging (that I can see) in the web site, which for something as fundamentally import is totally bizarre.

[[ What does he see up ahead? You've never actually described the tunnel, just the water and smoke he could see from across the room.

Can he take a bonus Dash then take his main action ? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[I had already added the 15 points for the failed Perception check, so I have removed the 15 you added.]]

I disagree. He has been at 975 literally for days (edit: of course, THAT may have been in error); I bumped him to 990; there was no evidence you had added 15, and no comment in the  forum. Searching these forums is almost useless, so I will do that later.

In the larger context, one person, or if two then always with a forum comment.I also think that when it is added, a comment be made in the forums with a new total; there is no logging (that I can see) in the web site, which for something as fundamentally import is totally bizarre.

[[You might be right. Maybe it was Andrew I added the points for. I have added the 15 points back. This is probably a good indication that it should be mainly you who manages Brand's experience points and that any changes should be noted in the forum with the new number of experience points. Having said then, do you agree that Brand now has 1,000 experience points?]]

1000 is where I think it should be, assuming the 975 was correct. Happy to make changes in future. Also very happy if after I make an xp roll I don't add xp until you explicitly say '15 Xp Awared' or whatever. That way we have a searchable item too.

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ What does he see up ahead? You've never actually described the tunnel, just the water and smoke he could see from across the room.

[[The smoke is not thick, but it obscures vision. The sides of the tunnel are tiled at the entrance, but once more turns to brick a little way in. The floor is crete with a channel moulded in to concentrate the water in the centre. If you want Brand to make another Perception check looking up the tunnel, it will burn what he has left of his normal movement, though see below.]]

Can he take a bonus Dash then take his main action ? ]]

[[Yes. Cunning Action for a rogue is a bonus action and he can use it to move 15' up the tunnel before doing his normal action.]]

[[Have to go out for an hour or so. Back after lunch.]]

[[ Perception check looking up the tunnel, it will burn what he has left of his normal movement. ]]

[[ Can he keep moving and go with passive perception? He's not gonna stop and look around, just look as he keeps moving. At the end of his move, or during if he notes something problematic, let me know what he has seen so far, and what he has seen up ahead.

He's also sneaking...

And for clarity, I'm not actively trapfinding here, I'm assuming existing traps have been set off or visibly dismantled, or marked by the trapper.

What I'm interested in is corridor direction and changes, bodies or rooms ahead. Body parts on ground. How many rats....the kind of stuff he would likely see by looking ahead and getting closer, and especially active magical effects.

Also trying to get as much smoke and distance between Brand and seeker; hoping the poor visibility will also work in his favour, since the seeker was at extreme range of See the Arcane at the start of the round. Hence why he will try to be quiet/sneak as well. Depending on what he sees up ahead, he may turn around, or hide, or dash another 15' etc.

Edit: just realised, he could see Brand so brand could see his aura when he glanced that way ... Any info? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[ Perception check looking up the tunnel, it will burn what he has left of his normal movement. ]]

[[ Can he keep moving and go with passive perception? He's not gonna stop and look around, just look as he keeps moving. At the end of his move, or during if he notes something problematic, let me know what he has seen so far, and what he has seen up ahead.

[[Okay. Relying on passive Perception allows Brand to cover the full 25' of what was left of his move plus his bonus action Dash.]]

He's also sneaking...

[[However, I am not going to allow a Stealth check because he is moving faster than normal and this is all happening in the six seconds of a combat round.]]

And for clarity, I'm not actively trapfinding here, I'm assuming existing traps have been set off or visibly dismantled, or marked by the trapper.

[[Which would have slowed Brand down even more, though he still gets his passive investigation check.]]

What I'm interested in is corridor direction and changes, bodies or rooms ahead. Body parts on ground. How many rats....the kind of stuff he would likely see by looking ahead and getting closer, and especially active magical effects.

Also trying to get as much smoke and distance between Brand and seeker; hoping the poor visibility will also work in his favour, since the seeker was at extreme range of See the Arcane at the start of the round. Hence why he will try to be quiet/sneak as well. Depending on what he sees up ahead, he may turn around, or hide, or dash another 15' etc.

Edit: just realised, he could see Brand so brand could see his aura when he glanced that way ... Any info? ]]

[[Yes. Brand glimpsed an aura of magic particles around the Seeker's head (i.e., he is an innate sorcerer), the other man did not have any magical aura.]]

In a crouch, Brand quickly moves up the tunnel, the foul-smelling smoke causing his eyes to blink and his breath to catch. He is about 25' into the tunnel when he becomes aware of a faintly flickering, orange illumination coming from the right-hand side of the tunnel up ahead. The source of the illumination is currently beyond the range of his Darkvision, which is halved because of the obscuring smoke (i.e., it is more than 30' away).

[[Make a Constitution check against a DC of 8 to avoid being further disadvantaged by the smoke.]]

[[And, believe it or not, Brand still has his action.]]

[[Make a Constitution check against a DC of 8 to avoid being further disadvantaged by the smoke.]]

Con Check: 14

Just for reference, I did say earlier that his Bandana is over his nose and mouth, so hopefully that is helping...

In terms of movement, if I am reading correctly, he can take a second Dash action as his main action...is that right? (this is the link I am using as a basis for the statement).

And, as I understand it he could also put away the levitate stone as a free action...is that also correct?

[[ Shared reality check: This is a stright tunnel, no dips, bends or roof inlets, and no branches so far? ]]

 [[ Lol. For amusement: (from reddit)...though I pity such a rogue (or monk) when they need to turn a corner. It actually makes some of the excesses in DDO look tame.

I just realised something:

• Wood elves have a base walking speed of 35 feet
• Rogues get the Cunning Action ability at level 2, which grants a bonus action to Dash.
• With the variant Feats rule, the Mobile feat (adds 10 to movement) is available at level 4.
• The spell Haste is available for wizards at level 5, which doubles movement and gives an extra action that can be used to Dash. Longstrider is available as well, which increases speed by 10 feet.
• Transmutation wizards get Transmuter's Stone, which can increase speed by another 10 feet.
• Boots of Speed double walking speed.

So, with a level 5 party with a wood elf rogue with boots of speed, the Mobile feat and the Transmuter's Stone, and a wizard with haste, if the wizard cast haste and longstrider on the rogue, and the rogue activated the boots of speed, and on his next turn used his action to Dash, his Cunning Action to Dash, and a Haste action to Dash, with a movement of ((35 + 30) x 2) x 2, the rogue could hypothetically move 1040 feet on his turn. If each round is 6 seconds, the rogue is moving ~118.18 miles per hour.

Holy mother of god.

Edit: I've been told monks are faster. They are. ... ~215.90 mph

FWIW, I'd suggest that the two doublings should not both apply, so perhaps 60mph; which may be reasonable since a normal person can run at 25mph....so Haste and some other stuff this is probably OK.
Sad thing is, its actually the movment and they still have an action!]]

[[And, believe it or not, Brand still has his action.]]

[[  Thank Venuss for initiative, though I would MUCH prefer if Tinkerbell had gone first!

I'm hoping that the Seeker is going to get distracted by Tinkerbell, and *maybe* believe it is what he saw...unless he knows exactly what it is, in which case I'm hoping she can do something to him....

Do I have the ability to declare a Reaction option as well? Edit: from what I can read, no. The only possible reaction he could now have are opportunity attacks...which seem unlikely. Is that how you see it? ]]

Quote from AlaricBrand >>

[[Make a Constitution check against a DC of 8 to avoid being further disadvantaged by the smoke.]]

Con Check: 20

Just for reference, I did say earlier that his Bandana is over his nose and mouth, so hopefully that is helping...

[[Correct. It was more the eyes that I was concerned about.]]

In terms of movement, if I am reading correctly, he can take a second Dash action as his main action...is that right? (this is the link I am using as a basis for the statement).

[[Correct. His normal Action can be a Dash.]]

And, as I understand it he could also put away the levitate stone as a free action...is that also correct?

[[That depends on when he put the bandana over his mouth and nose, because that would have been his free action. I went looking and couldn't find when he did that, but we will presume he did it before combat was initiated. Regarding putting the stone away, I'm a bit leery about this because he has the stones in his gloves (which means he needs two hands to put one stone away). Tentatively, I will say 'yes', though in certain situations I might make you make a Dexterity(Sleight of Hand) check. However, taking out another stone or a weapon in the same turn would definitely be classed as an action.]]

[[ Shared reality check: This is a stright tunnel, no dips, bends or roof inlets, and no branches so far? ]]

[[Correct. So far.]]

[[Is Brand going to Dash as his action (i.e., move another 15' along the tunnel)? No hurry. I will be working on something on and off for the afternoon.]

That depends on when he put the bandana over his mouth and nose, because that would have been his free action.

[[ That was done ages ago, but I agree I can't find it. He did it (I thought, still looking) before he went into the tunnels...I was expecting it to stink, and unsure when he might need to become visible, so wanted to remain less recognizable.

His SOE, specified for this mission does say: Bandana equivalent to cover lower face (obscure his appearance and reduce stink of sever)

Which is strongly suggestive that he would have put it on around the time he entered the sewer, if not before.

Tentatively, I will say 'yes', though in certain situations I might make you make a Dexterity(Sleight of Hand) check. However, taking out another stone or a weapon in the same turn would definitely be classed as an action.]]

Sounds fine; main reason I want to put it away is so that he can draw something when he needs to...of course, I have no idea what he will need. The whole movement vs drawing/sheathing thing is pretty silly; I get the purity and simplicity of the rules...but ISTM drawing a weapon should just reduce your movement by 10% or something, and if you've already moved, then it's -2 to attack and damage. Not complaining about your decision, but it's one of the very few criticisms I have of the RAW. That, and maybe the fact I get to do my whole move before anyone else. That also seems a bit silly; though it clearly comes with a price and Opportunity Attacks cover the most egregious possible abuses.

[[Is Brand going to Dash as his action (i.e., move another 15' along the tunnel)? No hurry. I will be working on something on and off for the afternoon.]

Yep. Gulp.]]

With one final glance behind, Brand presses on up the corridor, alert for sights and sounds, and clues as to what has gone on. [[ He will pause if something untoward makes him reconsider his plan...though my preference is to get as far in as possible]]