# 5-19: The Horn of Aroden, with GM Pendrak (Inactive)

Game Master Pendrak

From the ground, Dante begins to bleed and his wounds, wounds of battle past and present open up on his otherwise dead and unliving body, the miracle of his holy selection evident to all.

Cover me Lander, this bird will strike me again but with your assistance perhaps we can parry its blow!

Standard Action, Stigmata (as Inspire Courage) +2

Dante raises his shield as he attemptsnto stand.

Glorne's attack pummels one of the birds with frost.

The bird that attacked Dante is looking around, blinking, confused. It appears to be blinded. The other bird seems to be able to see okay, but both are covered in a fine golden dust.

"Red" is blinded, blue is not. Nei-lung, Graxzos, and Maanyatha are up.

soo...did I learn anything extra with my Knowledge check?

No, what was in the spoiler is pretty much all there is to know about them. The only thing of note really is their charging trip attack, which we've seen in action.

Handle Animal 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 to try and calm the blue one down.

Maanyatha tries to calm the giant bird, but her arm movements and noises seem to infuriate it even further. It lets out a terrifying *SQUANK* and rears it's small head around angrily.

Unfortunately Handle Animal only works in a situation like this if the animal is domesticated or trained (it must know a trick). Wild Empathy would be more the thing for this situation.

Graxzos and Nei-lung can act.

Nei-lung grimaces as the bird's sharp beak slashes into him. Realizing he is at a huge disadvantage, he tries to stand up, Move action, provokes then tumbles back away from the bird, trying to avoid its menacing beak move back 15', acrobatics to avoid AOO, hopefully higher than a 1 this time!
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

They don't have Combat Reflexes, but the Acrobatics check was enough to do it anyway.

The terror bird rips into Nei-lung's leg as he stands, blood spurting out as it does, but the suli manages to then tumble backwards out of harm's way.

Nei-lung takes 8 points of damage. Graxzos can act.

Going to go ahead and bot Graxzos, as I haven't seen a post from him since Friday. Figure he'd probably just pop over and take a shot with his pistol.

Graxzos steps over, drawing his pistol, and fires a shot at one of the terror birds, but it goes over the bird's head. Lander moves up to support Dante, swinging his dueling sword about to distract the creature.

One of the terror birds attacks Maanyatha, and manages to slash her with a talon. The other avian monstrosity blindly flails at Dante, unable to land a blow.

Maanyatha takes 6 points of damage. Dante gains a +2 to his next attack thanks to Lander's aid another action. Wadi, Glorne, Dante, Nei-lung, Maanyatha, and Graxzos can act.

Wadi raises his arm and sends a series of glowing red missiles into the Terror bird that can still see.

Cast Magic Missile at the Blue Terror bird. It takes 3d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 3) = 7 force damage.

Glorne raises his hands, the cool, pale mist around him rises in intensity, then a beam of pure cold leaves his right palm towards one of the birds....

Applying Point-Blank and Precise Shot feats

[dice=ranged Touch attack vs. "Blue"]1d20+5+1[/dice]
[dice=possible Cold damage vs. "Blue"]2d6+2+1[/dice]

"Cool it ya big overgrown chicken."

Wadi and Glorne continue the assault on the terror birds, and the one that can still see is looking worse for the wear.

Dante, Nei-lung, Maanyatha, and Graxzos can act.

Dante strikes true with his Gandasa.

Thank you for the assist, Prince

+1 Silversheen Gandasa + Stigmata + Aid: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 2 + 9 = 302d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 + 2 = 11

Nei-lung chants an incantation while running the palms of his hands down each forearm. "Changtu bashe".Cast longarm. Reach increases by 5 feet. Suddenly, his arms magically grow longer, giving him a very strange look, indeed. He moves up closer in anticipation of unleashing monkish fury against the fowl beast.

I forgot that the other terror bird get's another save.

But it failed anyway.

Off balance from the ranged pummeling it received, the terror bird overextends it's neck, leaving itself open to Dante's powerful downward blow. He nearly decapitates the beast, and it goes down bleeding, leaving only it's blinded compatriot.

"Well struck, Dante!" shouts Lander, excited and mirthful with battle.

Maanyatha and Graxzos can act.

Thank you for the bot (and good call)! Been busy.

Graxzos curses as his shot goes wide. Hurrying around the side of the bridge in a bid to avoid hitting his friends, he rams an alchemical cartridge home in his gun and fires again!

Not sure if the bird gets cover from where I am, but hopefully it's a little better than being behind my friends...

Attack blue! (stigmata, rage): 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 12 vs. touch for 1d8 ⇒ 6

The blinded bird is unable to dodge Graxzos' shot, and feathers fly as the pistol cartridge strikes.

Maanyatha may act.

Should be 8 damage because Stigmata applies to damage as well as to hit

Would she get an AoO with her naginata as the bird came at her?

Just in case she does
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Regular attack
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I keep forgetting the Stigmata.

No attack of opportunity, as they have reach too.

Maanyatha slices the giant bird with her naginata, doing some solid damage. The battle seems to be in your favor.

The remaining axe beak shakes its head and the dust clears from its eyes. It lets out a loud SQUAAANK and tries to tear into Dante again. Thrice it attacks, and three times Dante dodges. Emboldened by this, Lander moves forward and tries to attack, but the terror bird bites into his arm with its beak, and Lander's attack comes to nothing.

Wadi, Glorne, Dante, Nei-lung, Graxzos, and Maanyatha can act.

Dante bucks up the heir and continues to press the assault on the Axe beak.

+1 Gandasa + Stigmata: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 = 302d4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 + 2 = 8

Wadi, seeing the battle has turned in the party's favor, decides to conserve his resources and sends a glowing band of feiry energy at the lone terror bird.

Use Elemental Ray targeting terror bird. Ranged Touch, into melee: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 4 = 14; damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Glorne raises his hands, the cool, pale mist around him rises in intensity, then a beam of pure cold leaves his right palm towards one of the birds....

Applying Point-Blank and Precise Shot feats and Stigmata

ranged Touch attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 24
possible Cold damage: 2d6 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 9

Seeing the first axebeak crumple beneath the rest of the party's onslaught, Nei-lung shifts forward 5-foot step at attacks the remaining bird.
1st unarmed strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
2nd unarmed strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Dante, Wadi, Glorne, and Nei-lung all deliver hits, and the creature goes down in a heap of feathers and frost. The danger has once more passed.

Searching around, the group discovers why the avians were so aggressive. Several very valuable terror eggs rest in a nest atop the rise to the north. There are three eggs, each of which could sell for 1500 gold pieces.

Despite taking a pretty bad injury, Lander is excited to have participated.

"Oh, what a fight! We work so well together Dante! And the rest of you as well. What a team! You're making me rethink returning to Silverhall. The seven of us could clear Brevoy... no, the entire north of brigands and monsters!"

He also seems extremely fascinated with the axe beak eggs that were found.

"Amazing. I bet I could get one of these to hatch, and train it from a hatchling. I could have the most fearsome mount in Brevoy. Can I have one?"

Wadi auto-succeeds on the Sense Motive check.

Wadi sighs as he realizes the Society could use the eggs far more than Lander could. Speaking carefully he replies, "Actually Lander I am not sure that is a good idea as it takes a serious commitment of time and effort to bond with it. I don't know if you will have the time to do that. Best to make sure these eggs are used by those who can use them for the proper reasons!"

Lander shrugs. "Perhaps you're right. Probably would molt all over the castle too, feathers everywhere... No, you're right. You Pathfinders may keep them, I'm sure you'll find use for them. Interesting day, though."

Graxzos snorts. ”Interestin’ indeed! Birds ain’t bandits, lad, and yeh’d do well t’remmeber that. Good swing yeh got there, though.” He reloads his pistol with normal shot as he clambers back to the bridge.

"Let us heal our injured party members before we press on. Lander, hold still, please, this will be a little cold, but you will feel better."

Using Kinetic Healing on Lander. I will be taking the 1 point of burn (4 non-leathal).
kinetic healer(sp): save: none SR: yes 1 pt. burn to self or target to heal = blast damage

The pale, cool mist around Glorne rises and intensifies, then flows from Glorne's hand to briefly cover Lander.

Kinetic Healer vs. Lander: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3) + 2 = 11

"Is anyone else hurt?"

Lander shivers at Glorne's touch. "Thank you, comrade. If we press on, we can be in Silverhall by sunset. Let us go."

And so you go.

After a few hours of traveling down the road, through rolling hills and scattered, temperate forests, you arrive at Silverhall, on the banks of the Azwera River. As you approach the holdfast, you can see Lady Saronna Lebeda waiting on the parapet, and by the time you cross the drawbridge and enter through the portcullis she is waiting for you in the yard.

"Lander!" she shouts, relieved, "I'm so glad to have you home."

Lander smiles, and bows to his mother, but she runs forward and hugs him.

"I'm glad to be back, lady mother. It was quite an experience, and I learned much from these bold Pathfinders."

Dame Saronna turns to the group.

"My thanks to you Pathfinders for bringing my son home to me. I look forward to hearing the tale of all your adventures."

She gestures to a servant, and takes a cloth bundle from him. She opens the cloth, revealing an old, iron warhorn. Some inscription runs along it's length in a strange language.

"The Horn of Aroden," she says, "As promised. I hope your society puts it to good use."

Lander steps over, and hands Dante a small sack as well.

"A few more gifts for my friends in the society," he says, with a smile and a nod.

"You are most kind, M'Lady." says Glorne, bowing deeply.

Dante nods in congratulations Naturally, we were always fated to succeed. If you have need of us again Lander, let us know

Wadi also gives her a bow , "You are most kind and generous, MiLady."

He looks over the items in the bag, murmuring a cantrip and scanning each one in return.

Spellcraft (ring: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Spellcraft (boots): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Spellcraft (amulet): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Wadi identifies the ring as a ring of swimming. He knows the other items are magical as well, but cannot identify them.

"There is something we still need to address. Please prepare yourself."... says Glorne as he removes the severed head and marked weapons from his backpack..."This lady was leading the bandit group that had captured your son. She was a werewolf. The weapons the bandits and her where using all have this symbol on them. I think you might recognize who makes these weapons. We believe that he might be behind the increase in bandit activity."

”Pretty sure ‘e must be,” Grax growls. ”Or at least ‘e knows more’n ‘e’s sayin’. ‘E were a real prick when we went to talk to ‘im.”

Dame Saronna raises an eyebrow as the werewolf's head is produced. She then looks at the weapons, carefully examining the sigil on the hilt.

"I'm afraid I have no idea whose mark this is. We have many blacksmiths in our lands, and there are even more in Brevoy as a whole. Is this meant to be significant to me? Further, some man's mark on a weapon is far from enough evidence to prove that he had anything to do with bandits wielding the weapons. They could have been bought legitimately, stolen, anything," says Saronna.

"It's Marek's mark, mother. The blacksmith in town who was training me in swordplay. But he can't have had anything to do with the bandits," Lander adds, "He and I are friends, and the bandits didn't exactly treat me like a friend of a friend."

The pair look back to the PCs for an explanation, or more evidence.

Wadi auto-succeeds in the Sense Motive check.

Wadi looks Lander in the eye, clearly reading the man's body language, before he continues, "Lander, now is not the time to be holding anything back. A Lord is expected to be forthright and honest especially to his family! Please tell her everything!"

"I... What they say is true. Marek was aiding the bandits. I heard some of them talking while I was captured, and..." he reaches into his tunic, producing a piece of paper, "I found this in the tent I was being held in. Dante must have missed it somehow, and I concealed it because I wasn't sure what it meant at the time, and then later I didn't want to believe that Marek was a criminal. Marek was helping the bandits, but he had nothing to do with my kidnapping. I will testify to that, and this note confirms what I say is true. The bandit we captured and turned into the guards when we first got back to town can probably corroborate the whole thing."

He opens it up and shows it to the gathered Pathfinders so that they can read it first, before giving it over to his mother.

"Be lenient with old Marek. Spare him his life at least."

Dame Saronna scowls. "For your sake, I will." She seems to be holding back her words for a private conversation with her son.

She turns to her guard captain, "Take a dozen men and bring me Marek Bogdan, alive and unharmed, if possible."

"Again, you have my gratitude Pathfinders. You are welcome in Silverhall any time," says Saronna.

Lander looks at the Pathfinders, especially Dante, "I'm sorry I wasn't as honest about things as I should have been. I wasn't in a very good mood. I hope you return soon. I am in need of good friends, it would seem," says Lander.

"In fact, I am in need of a new tutor in swordplay. Dante, can you stay?"

Other than any endgame rollplay, this is the end. Thank you for playing, it was fun. You guys earned both prestige points (I was kind of concerned at the end that you weren't going to bring up Marek), and full gold. I believe I still need a day job decision from Wadi, but then I can get everyone their chronicle sheets.

This is only my 2nd PbP PFS game I've GM'd, so I'm open to any reviews of my work, constructive criticism, or tips that anyone has now that we are at the conclusion.

This was fun! Thank you for running it. You did a good job

Agreed! I think you did quite well. :)