Rhoswen Faerondalan |
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Rhoswen is surprised to find herself suspicious of the mayor's claim that Elias Kyle had skipped town.
"Thank you for the hospitality. Hopefully we can find Elias Kyle and be sure that this whole matter is straightened out."
Rhoswen waits until the Pathfinders are left alone before sharing her suspicions.
Vasily Petrescu - PFS |
SM: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Vasily seconds Rhoswen's feelings. The tell was there again, the man looking down for brief second when he was speaking. Seemed friendly, seemed helpful, but there was something...off.
"So Kyle spent the night at your place, and when you saw him off the next morning, he had the coffer and was headed back to Magnimar, is that what you are saying?" asks Vasily playing along with the story. "I guess we will be heading out oruselves, after tonight's festival that is. We can reach an arrangement on the back-taxes, and look forward to your hospitality tonight."
Once the group finishes questioning the Mayor, and Rhoswen speaks up, Vasily agrees whole-heartedly. "That Mayor is in on some funny business with Kyle. He may have stayed there, and while it seems possible for Kyle to bolt with the money, the Mayor was lying about that part. Why? Unless they did something with him?"
EndlessForms |
"Wouldn't say I've got a source," the mayor answers, "but it's a small town and everyone talks, you know?"
Rhoswen Faerondalan |
So, of course we didn't say any of that stuff in front of the mayor, right?
Rhoswen reaches out to shake the mayor's hand. "Thank you again for your hospitality. Would you mind if we asked around about our missing tax-collector? We promise not to be a nuisance."
EndlessForms |
Yeah, I understood it as an aside, that's fine.
The Mayor responds, "Absolutely not, I would not mind at all. Assuredly you will not be as big of a disruption as Kyle was...."
A large field has been fenced off, creating an area where tents, benches, and tables have been set out for today's festival and celebration.
The Founders' Festival begins in just an hour and two local familiars are shouldering the responsibility of setting things up this month. Some villagers drag tables from barns, while others set up small pavilions, picnic quilts, and even a makeshift stage on the festival grounds to the north. Unlit piles of wood for bonfires stand around the field's perimeter, and an open space in the center is cleared and ringed with benches for the festival's games and competitions.
When you arrive, everyone-including the Mayor-seems a bit too busy to chat with you. As the deeds are finished and the festival time approaches, however, many people begin to enjoy the activities that are being set up, which include everything from what they call the Dreamer's Leap to betting on Raven Fights.
You can participate in some of the activities:
Dreamer's Leap: Villagers take turns leaping over a bonfire's flames in what is explained as a purification ritual.
Falling Stars: The town's smith produces an aged wooden box containing six old, rusty starknives. He explains with reverence their significance as weapons carried by the village's founder, Iola Kriegler. Contestants throw them at bales 20, 60, and 100 feet away with the most sticks winning the contest.
Raven Fights: Several nicely carved wooden cages are wheeled into the central competition area, each containing finely bred raven specimens. When a villager removes the canvas covers, the ravens will begin cawing aggressively and eventually loosed to fight each other in a tournament-style competition. The eight ravens competing this month are Clawfoot, Foolscap, Greediguts, Grizzle, Snaphaunce, Soot, Vinegar Tom, and Wormwort-all prime fighting birds and all eager to have at each other.
Three-Legged Race: Pairs of runners have their adjacent legs bound together with rope, and must run a 150-foot race against other similarly bound contestants to compete for bragging rights.
Greased Pig: After the raven fights, there will be a central competition where three contestants compete at a time to catch a greased pig and pin it to the ground.
The Founders' Feast will follow these afternoon activities.
Rhoswen Faerondalan |
Rhoswen signs herself up for the Falling Stars competition. "I've got a pretty good arm - think I could do pretty well."
She also wanders over to the Dreamer's Leap. "If I could find a place to change out of this bulky breastplate, this could be fun too."
Caith Skullcrusher |
Caith looks from his own stubby legs to Vasily's much, much longer legs and raises an eyebrow
"Doesn't seam like a good idea laddy to hitch me legs to yours. I'll try to my legs at somethin' else"
Greased pig sounds fun
EndlessForms |
Greased Pig will come in a little bit; that's sort of the grand finale before the feast.
Those participating in the three-legged race line up along one end of the field and prepare for the awkward run across!
Vitor and Vasily: For each round, you can move at half speed with no skill check but full speed requires a DC 10 Acrobatics check. With a DC 15 you can move at double speed. (You have to choose before you roll which one you are attempting.) However, if you fail either check by 5 or more, you both fall prone and have to spend an additional move action getting up. The field is 150 feet long.
Rhoswen: The bales have AC 12 and you have six starknives, two for each bale at 20, 60, and 100 feet. Remember to account for range penalties on the 60 and 100 foot bales and nonproficiency penalties if you are not proficient.
Dreamer's Leap: If anyone takes their turn at this, you note that early on it is mostly young boys and older men leaping over the small growing fire but they step aside as it grows larger to allow the older boys and healthy villagers to take over. They encourage you to try it out. The fire is 10 feet in diameter with 3-foot-high flames; you have to make a DC 12 Acrobatics to clear it. You are allowed a 10-foot running start. Failure by 4 or less means you take 1 point of fire damage; failure by 5 or more means you land prone in the fire, take 1d6 fire damage, and you receive a sympathetic clap as you are pulled from the fire. Those who make it across receive a hearty cheer for being blessed by the flames.
Celfwyn the Blind |
Celfwyn refuses to join in the festivities, but watches on as he studies his formula book. At times it seems he is more keen on watching the locals than the texts, but he catches himself people watching and returns to stoic exclusion.
Rhoswen Faerondalan |
Rhoswen steps up to the line and carefully lines up her first two throws of the starknifes.
20 ft. Target: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
20 ft. Target: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Her first throw is a little shaky, but manages to hit the mark. Her second throw is much more confident.
She steps over to longer range targets and again throws her starknifes.
60 ft. Target: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 7 - 4 = 11
60 ft. Target: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 4 = 22
Her first throw misses! But Rhoswen shakes it off and throws confidently with her second throw at the further target.
Finally, the elf steps up for the long shot. She takes a deep breath...
100 ft. Target: 1d20 + 7 - 8 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 8 = 2
100 ft. Target: 1d20 + 7 - 8 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 8 = 19
Another miss! But another hit!
So, 4/6 - not too bad.
Rhoswen Faerondalan |
After throwing the starknifes, Rhoswen goes behind a building and emerges a couple of minutes later wearing a simple tunic and carrying her breastplate. She sets it down next to Celfwyn. "Keep an eye on this for me, would you?"
She sets herself up 10 feet from the roaring bonfire. Suddenly, she runs forward and leaps...
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
...over the bonfire, landing solidly on her feet. After offering the crowd a slight curtsy, she gathers her armor back up and puts it back on.
Variel Arivae |
Variel does not join the games and wanders around the festivities talking with the locals.
Gather information on Elias Kyle and on the mayor
Diplom Kyle: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Diplom Mayor: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Vasily Petrescu - PFS |
DC 15 Acrobatics for Double Speed: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Dropping his backpack and crossbow to the ground, Vasily gets his leg bound with Vitor. Telling the man they should get out to an early lead, Vasily takes off at full speed, keeping his balance, and helping Vitor along.
Vasily's move speed without his gear is 30' so double speed puts them out 60' in the first round.
EndlessForms |
1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 1 - 4 = 12
1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 1 - 4 = 15
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 1 - 4 - 4 = 12
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 4 - 4 = -5
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 8 ⇒ (4) + 1 - 4 - 8 = -7
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 8 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 4 - 8 = -9
1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 4 = -2
1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 1 - 4 = 16
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 4 - 4 = -5
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 4 - 4 = -6
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 8 ⇒ (11) + 1 - 4 - 8 = 0
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 8 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 4 - 8 = -10
1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 1 - 4 = 17
1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 1 - 4 = -1
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 1 - 4 - 4 = -3
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 1 - 4 - 4 = 13
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 8 ⇒ (11) + 1 - 4 - 8 = 0
1d20 + 1 - 4 - 8 ⇒ (15) + 1 - 4 - 8 = 4
Three villagers step up to challenge Rhoswen at throwing the starknives. The first contestant, a young boy with a good arm, lands three that stick in the bales. The other two are middle-aged men who only manage to stick two of them. Clearly none of them are familiar with the art of starknife throwing and Rhoswen is declared the winner!
We'll see how Vitor does on his three-legged race and then we can move to the greased pig competition.
EndlessForms |
In an impressive display of coordination, Vitor and Vasily run down the field and blow away the other contestants! The party seems to have won over some favor with the locals, who are really starting to warm up to the newcomers.
After the last raven fight ends, the villagers quickly erect a low fence of timbers around the central competition green while a pair of brawny villagers bring a squealing, sickly-looking pig into the enclosure. To the cheers of a growing crowd, the men slather the increasingly agitated pig liberally in slippery grease before tying the end of the rope around its neck to a post.
The villagers are eager to see you, the newcomers, enter the competition. The rules are simple: three contestants enter the ring and the pig is released from its rope. The contestants scramble to be the first to catch the pig and pin it to the ground.
Celfwyn the Blind |
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Know Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
-Posted with Wayfinder
Celfwyn the Blind |
Celfwyn cocks his head as he observes the proceedings. Looking at the pig being brought out, he waves the group closer a moment to speak in hushed tones.
"I don't know much about local traditions, but I know something is off when I see it. That pig is in a bad shape, either sick or poisoned. Be cautious that you do not catch whatever it is that it carries."
-Posted with Wayfinder
EndlessForms |
Any three people want to volunteer for the first round? If fewer than three volunteer there are villagers who will gladly join you.
Rhoswen Faerondalan |
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 12
"You've got better eyes than I do, Celfwyn. I wasn't planning on chasing around a greased up swine, and if you say the pig is sick or poisoned, well - that just seals the deal for me." Rhoswen crosses her arms and looks sidelong at the men preparing the pig.
EndlessForms |
@Variel: nothing of use, everyone was preoccupied with the festival activities.
Sounds like Caith is in, I'll wait for the others' responses before moving on to the event in case they want to join.
Vasily Petrescu - PFS |
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Know Nature: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Not seeing anything wrong with the pig himself, and puffed up from his (and Vitor's) success on the race, Vasily ducks under the top rail and enters the pig ring.
"Really, how hard could this be?" he asks aloud
EndlessForms |
Ok! Time to catch a greased pig!
Every round you can use a move action to get to the pig and a standard action to try to grab it. Other contestants can try to break the grapple to release the pig. If you still have the pig grappled when your turn comes back up, you can try to pin it. First one to pin the pig wins the contest!
vasily: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
vitor: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
caith: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14
You can post in any order you want but for the purposes of who grabbed it first if you both succeed and/or if you can break someone else's grapple, the order is as follows:
Pig wrasslin'!
1. Vitor
2. Caith
3. Vasily
4. Pig
Let's catch some greased pig!"
Caith Skullcrusher |
Caith moves over to the pig on his stubby little legs, placing them solidly in the mud and tries to grab hold of the pig (wrestling it away from anyone who might be holding on to it already)
Grapple: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 (I don't have improved grapple, so the attempt might provoke? CMD=16 in case it comes up)
EndlessForms |
The pig won't take AoO.
Vitor barely grabs ahold of the pig but Caith quickly moves up and grabs it out of the sworldlord's hands!
Vasily can try to grab it!
EndlessForms |
Ok, let's keep this going:
Vasily is unable to grab the pig, which tries to wriggle from Caith's hands:
Escape: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
The pig breaks free!
Ok, you guys can keep trying to catch it!
Vasily Petrescu - PFS |
Sorry for my unexcused absence. Had a long weekend including playoff baseball in Kansas City for the first time in 3 decades. Should be back to normal now.
Vasily, frustrated by his first miss attempt, tries to cut off the pig's escape angles allowing Vitor a better grasp at the slippery porcine.
CMB to Aid Vitor's Grapple: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Caith Skullcrusher |
Caith looks down at his empty hands then rears his head and growls as he dives after the pig
"Come back 'ere you!"
Grapple attempt: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
..but most likely ends up diving face first into some mud
EndlessForms |
The party is able to grab ahold of the pig but some of the grease seems to be working off it it in the process....
Keep trying!