Test of Tar Kuata (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

While Adowyn refuses to take part in the lesson the rest of the group practices and at the end of the lesson three of you are able to pass the test. Although Dexter tried to put the blindfold on his face in a way he can peek through a tiny gap between the blindfold and his beak.

"Well done, Pathfinders." the monk says, but he does not understand why Adowyn did not want to take part in the lesson.

The fourth trial takes place by the waterfall to the west of the village, and the walk through the Down Valley attracts the attention of curious bystanders. Under the assumption that Aeotsep is about to test a group of aspirants, several dozen people take a brief break from their work to observe the trial.

A trail ascends 40 feet to a mountain ledge, where a series of wooden posts overlooks the waterfall’s plunge pool. Aeotsep hops atop one of the posts and instructs you to do the same and stand immobile for 1 hour. Though at face value this seems to be a test of balance, the trial is actually designed to test resilience and resoluteness.

Maintaining one’s balance for 20 minutes requires a successful DC 10 Acrobatics check, you must succeed at three consecutive checks in order to last the hour without falling. The DC increases by 5 for each subsequent check unless you succeed at a DC 13 Fortitude or Will save before attempting the Acrobatics check.

How many of my allies would I be able to have adjacent to me on the posts? I want to switch my bonus Teamwork feat to Shake It Off for extra bonuses on the saves.

(...) the monk says, but he does not understand why Adowyn did not want to take part in the lesson

Well, he asks for A volunteer, not for volunteers... ("I need a volunteer for this lesson." he says.). Indeed, Adowyn who did not understand why so many have volunteered if only one was needed. :P

Adowyn leaves Leryn back and climbs atop of another wooden post, and tries to maintain herself there, as asked by Aeotsep.

Acrobatics DC 10 #1: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 1 = 16

Acrobatics DC 10 #2: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 1 = 16

Acrobatics DC 10 #3: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 1 = 6

DC 13 Fortitude: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Acrobatics DC 10 #4: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 1 = 22

I think it was a misunderstanding, "It's your turn now." was adressed to everybody not just Dexter after the presentation :P Nevermind, more than half succeeded.

I think it was a misunderstanding, "It's your turn now." was adressed to everybody not just Dexter after the presentation :P Nevermind, more than half succeeded.

Wow, I think I misunderstood, so. Sorry. :/

DC 10 Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
DC 15 Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
DC 20 Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Julian does fine for the first forty minutes, but then falls off the wooden post and into the water.

Unless Dexter's teamwork feat can help me out? :O

Teamwork feat only works for me, sorry. I'll assume I can be in between 2 allies, for a +2. Taking my armor off for this.

Dexter contemplates the power of Friendship, and draws strength from his allies.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Will: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 2 = 19
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

But at the half-hour mark, he sneezes and goes tumbling into the water.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Pierre lays down armor and shield and gets on the post.

Acro, DC 10 #1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Will save, DC 13: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Acro, DC 10 #2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

The first twenty minutes aren't too hard for the man as his strong mind won't let him down, never gonna give him up.
However after a little moment, he feels his knees weaken, and he gives up.

Dexter grumbles something about this test being rigged, and for the second time, has to fight down the urge to slaughter all of the witnesses to his shame.

Acrobatics DC 10 #5: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 1 = 9

DC 13 Fortitude: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Acrobatics DC 10 #6: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 1 = 11

Acrobatics DC 10 #7: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 1 = 21

Acrobatics DC 10 #8: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 1 = 15

160 minutes after the beginning, Adowyn finally was able to finish the test.

Acrobatics DC 10: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Fortitude DC 13: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Acrobatics DC 10: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
Fortitude DC 13: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Acrobatics DC 15: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Zahir nimbly jumps atop one of the posts and stays perfectly still during one hour without difficulties.

Oh, we can try multiple times?

Fort save DC 13 for Acro #6: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Fort save DC 13 for Acro #7: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Fort save DC 13 for Acro #8: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

With this, the DC for the acrobatics check #7 was 15, so, Adowyn hits it, even failing in the Fort check.

Oh, we can try multiple times?

I think yes. From what I understood, the PC have to stay there for 1 hour, regardless the time they will spend to do this.

In that case...

Dexter wipes off his pole before beginning again.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Will: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 2 = 17
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Will: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

...and effortlessly remains in place this time.

I failed at the first check, so I think most of that time's already spent... :S

You take the test and sooner or later everybody drops from the posts. Aeotsep is impressed and takes you to the next place. He leads you back into the monastery and to a hidden trail.

"Many years after he began to teach students in these mountains, Narmek Tar Kuata challenged the air spirits for mastery of the winds. They attempted to tear him from the peak, but he struck the mountain and caused a great pillar of stone to rise high into the sky. Acknowledging Narmek Tar Kuata’s superiority, the air spirits granted him the respect he had earned, and have served the monastery ever since. The spire, as we call it, still stands as a reminder of our alliance with these spirits, and our founder’s remains reside in a reliquary at its top."

Aeotsep steps out from the covered path and into daylight, where a impossibly tall stone pillar rises from the mountainside.

"Climbing to the top symbolizes the metaphysical ascent that Narmek Tar Kuata realized. This climb is your next trial. Climbing the spire is much like walking the same path that led Narmek Tar Kuata to enlightenment, and sometimes one of the monastery’s students — including one in recent memory — attains a level of mastery and wisdom that could have rivaled the founder’s."

This requires three successful DC 15 Climb checks. If a PC fails a check by 5 or more, he falls and fails the test. No retrys.

Dexter leaves his armor off, and begins the climb.

Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

After making good progress, he almost loses his grip. He takes a moment to catch his breath, then begins again.

Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

...and surges to the top with renewed vigor!

Once again, Pierre leaves his armor and shield and tries to climb up although he's not quite sure about it. He surprisingly succeeds the first few feet up but eventually falls.

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19
Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

As Dexter, Adowyn leaves her armor off and starts to climb.

Climb #1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Climb #2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Climb #3: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Climb #4: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

She almost falls along the way, pauses briefly and continues until the end.

Julian also takes his armor off and starts climbing.

Climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

He falls down after a while and sighs as he dons his armor again.

You start to climb the pillar and Dexter and Adowyn make it to the top. Julian already grips the final hold before he looses the grip and drops, Pierre drops somewhere in the middle and Zahir is not even able to get off the ground. Before hitting the ground Pierre and Julian are cought by invisible creatures and taken up to the platform. Also Zahir is taken up, together with your gear. Itephta already awaits you at the top.

"Welcome to your last test, Pathfinders — one I personally requested and insisted on observing," Itephta says without taking his eyes off the wooden case in his hands. The young monk opens the lid, gracefully plucks a wand from inside, and hands the empty box to Aeotsep. Itephta points the wand at the spire, and in a matter of seconds, the narrow summit expands into a broad platform, like an unfolding mushroom.

"Irori teaches that inner peace and knowledge are key, but one must be able to defend his values in trial by arms," he explains as the Garundi woman alights on the platform. "I ask that you spar with the monastery’s champion, Aramaya. Please make it an honorable fight, for the great Tar Kuata watches us today."

Aeotsep’s idea of an honorable fight prohibits dealing lethal damage, and he opens his bag to reveal an array of wooden weapons except firearms.

To Dexter and Adowyn he offers a masterwork version of the weapon or one lesser merciful metamagic rod.

Leryn gets close to Adowyn.

The hunter looks to Aeotsep and Itephta, before choose her weapon, "may he...?", she asks, implying if her beloved companion could join the "test".

Come on, doing nonlethal damage is against my religion!

Anyway, so I can get a masterwork wooden version of any weapon? How does it affect crit stats? Still the -4 for nonlethal?

So is it just me and Adowyn against the monk? What about her animal companion? Any pre-buffing allowed?

Dexter dons his armor, and sizes up the monk.

Go ahead and use Studied Target on Aramaya, and switch my teamwork feat back to Precise Strike.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Everybody may fight, but everybody else gets a non-mwk version of the wooden weapon (your choice). Aramaya is a level 8 opponent. Dexter and Adowyn receive a masterwork wooden version of any weapon (because you made it to the top unaided).

I think it's the same crit stats as the normal version, and still -4 for nonlethal. Pre buffing is allowed, also the animal companions are allowed to fight. The monk fights with a merciful longspear and she also buffs before the combat.

"Yes, your companion is a part of you. He may join."

Taking a mwk Elven Curved Blade. Just before the fight starts, I'll cast Defending Bone, Shield of Faith, and Divine Favor from a wand.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Pierre can help with the buffs and healing, but that's "all". :)

Pierre smiles and touches lightly Julian's shoulder. "May Iomedae guide your defenses, friend."

Shield of Faith on Julian, +2 deflection bonus to AC.

At the beginning of the combat, he'll bless the party as well. And I guess our opponent isn't evil, so "bless weapon and prot (evil)" are useless.

Can we take two weapons instead of one?

Zahir takes a wooden short sword (or two, depending of your answer) and swings it to test it. Just before the combat begins, he casts two spells on himself.

I cast divine favor and shield of faith

Julian searches the pile of non-masterwork wooden weapons for a wooden katana.

"This brings me back. I used to practice with a wooden sword when I was younger."

He nods at Pierre. "Thanks!"

Crossed my standard AC out in my stat line and wrote my current AC next to it.

If you can use both weapons at the same time, it's fine. But taking a bow and a sword is not allowed. No, the monk isn't evil :D And please put your token to the place where you want to start the fight.

some rules: if you are pushed off the spire, you are defeated and can't rejoin the battle

Round 1
Aramaya
-----
Adowyn
Dexter
Julian
Pierre
Zahir

My position is good.

Where is Leryn? :o

I take two short swords then, my position is ok

My position is ok too, let's see what she has in the guts :)

Pre-battle buffs: Adowyn casts aspect of the falcon & gravity bow and gives a potion of mage armor to Leryn.

With a mwk wooden (?) arrows and/or composite longbow in hands, she and Leryn are prepared to fight.

"Let's do it".

I assume they will provide blunt arrows, which allow you to take a -4 to deal non-lethal with a bow.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Oops, forgot the companion, sorry! He also gets a lift up to the platform, of course! Blunt arrows + mwk composite longbow (which is real I suppose as the arrows are already blunt).

Aramaya holds her longspear in both hands and waits for the first opponent who wants to test her.
Ready attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + (2) + 6 = 14 NL

Round 1
Aramaya
-----
Adowyn
Dexter
Julian
Pierre
Zahir

Pierre brandishes his wand.

"May Iomedae straighten you all!"

Casting Bless! Please don't forget it :)

Dexter criticizes Aramaya's caution with biting words, then runs to circle behind her and prepare a strike, even as her spear pricks him.

Swift action for Litany of Sloth, so she can't take AoOs this round. Move action behind her, and ready an attack for when someone moves into flanking. I take the readied action, but my Defending Bone absorbs some of the damage. Can't get sneak attack when attacking for non-lethal like this, but I do get Precise Strike from the flank.

but the monk gets a will save against Litany of Sloth if I got the spell description correctly
Will: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 2 = 17 although not sure if that's enough

She went to the "arena" with her wolf-friend.

Then she look to Aramaya, that enters in a strategic stance to hit back those who try to strike her.

She look to the old priest and hears him praying to his god.

The tengu is making movements that she can't understand.

"Well..." and she simply says "Leryn, go!" and fires two arrows at the monk.

So... non-lethal dmg (-4); rapid shot (-2); PbS (+1); Bless (+1); BaB (+3); Dex (+5); aspect of the falcon (+1); mwk (+1); total of +6 to hit.

First shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 122d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2) + 1 = 7
Second shot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 232d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 5) + 1 = 7

Leryn atk (non-lethal bite) + bless.

bite: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 1 = 221d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
trip, if hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Then, Adowyn makes a 5-foot step.

@%&!, it got errata'd! Yeah, it requires a save now, and that beats it. So take your AoO.

You would have ruined my tactics if I hadn't made the save :D The Aoos are her advantage ;)

Swords in hands, Zahir moves towards Aramaya. Clicking his heels together to activate the magic of his boots (free action), he tries to avoid being hit by the monk's longspear before striking.

Acrobatics check to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 13 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 13 + 5 = 37
Atk shortsword (nonlethal, divine favor, bless): 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 4 + 2 + 1 = 15
Damage (nonlethal, divine favor): 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7

If I successfully avoid an AoO, I gain a +1 bonus on attack roll (Daredevil Boots)

Julian half-circles Aramaya so he ends up in flanking position with Zahir. Once he's taken position Julian swings the wooden katana at the monk.

Wooden Katana, Flanking: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17 NL Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Aramaya tries to use her chance to hit Dexter while he tries to move past her, but is not able to hit him.
Aoo vs. Dexter: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Adowyn shoots two arrows at the monk while Leryn tries to bite her. The first arrow goes wide, but the second hits. Leryn's teeth leave bruises on the monk's leg.

she has a range weapon so tries to Aoo Leryn, she has combat reflexes
Aoo vs. Leryn: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Now flanking with Leryn, Dexter releases his attack and hits the monk on the chest.

Zahir moves past the monk like a daredevil and attacks her with his sword. Also Julian moves into a flanking position, but is not able to hit Aramaya.

Aramaya moves past Zahir and Dexter and tries to push Dexter closer to the edge.
Gliding Steps (spending 1 ki point to avoid Aoos), Pushing Assault to push Dexter on a successful hit
Aramay vs. Dexter: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 11 - 4 = 16 or maybe not

Round 2
Aramaya -27HP
-----
Adowyn
Dexter
Julian
Pierre
Zahir

Dexter steps in and takes another swing, but it goes wide.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 11
Damage: 1d10 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 9

Pierre moves towards the monk, unsheathing his longsword. He arrives in Zahir's back and casts guidance, tapping lightly his shoulder.

Zahir: +1 on your next d20 roll :)

Zahir clicks his heels together again, this time to dismiss the magic of the boots, takes a step to the right and quickly swings at the monk with both swords.

Atk shortsword (nonlethal, divine favor, bless, guidance): 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 4 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 25
Damage (nonlethal, divine favor): 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9
Atk shortsword (nonlethal, divine favor, bless): 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 4 + 2 + 1 = 25
Damage (nonlethal, divine favor): 1d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10