Beginners Arc Table A (Inactive)

Game Master Awenydd83

Dolvin: Yes, you do. As long as a skill is not noted to be "Trained Only", even if you have no ranks, just add the corresponding stat mod and make the roll. The only problems arise when the skill is a "Trained Skill".

Janira: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
Calephe: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Tellerin leads the party with help from Janira and Dolvin, but they quickly ascertain that leading this party is more like herding cats.. cats that can't seem to find the litterbox, nonetheless. Finally, just as the suns rays slant down towards the horizon, the dense forest opens to a wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead. “Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines,” Janira says with a broad smile as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal a narrow crack in the cliff’s surface. “This is where I saw the gillmen enter.”

As she motions toward the aperture, the surrounding woods come alive with the sound of small animals fleeing some unseen danger and a large creature crashing through the undergrowth.

The halfling worriedly remarks, “Quick, take cover before whatever it is spots us!” As if she’d summoned the creature with her words, a massive horned monstrosity emerges from the trees. Standing eight feet tall on a pair of cloven hooves and wielding a tremendous axe, the bull-headed creature roars with unbridled anger when it spots the group.

Wisely assessing that a minotaur is beyond her charges’ capabilities, Janira screams, “A minotaur! There’s little chance we can stand against it. Take this bag,” she continues, pulling off her backpack, “and head deeper into the caves. Finish your mission. I’ll lead it away from the caves, lose it in the forest, and join you as soon as I can. Now go! GO!” She heaves her backpack into the cave, casts a spell, and darts off toward the minotaur before turning to lure it away, calling out in another language. The minotaur hears this, and gives a mighty roar of anger before charging at the little Halfling. You may not be able to understand what was said, but you certainly are able to discern the tone of the taunt.

Calephe reaches out to help her fellow Pathfinders rise after their healing. "Good work there. Though it was a close one."

She looks around for a path when Janira suggests they look for one. It's almost there, but she can't quite put her finger on where it might be. She decides to stay far away from Hskoro, as he swings away a underbrush, and trees. She's sure the path isn't in that direction. He's going to dull his weapon doing that.

Calephe is stunned when Janira throws the bag into the cave, and takes a minotaur on herself. "Should we follow her or do what she said and continue or mission? She is the more experienced Pathfinder." Calephe decides to follow orders and slips into the cave, and picks up the backpack. She opens it to check the contents.

"Gods - what the hell is that? A minotaur?" Still sore from the thrashing he took at the "hands" of the hippogriffs, Rashid wastes no time follwing Calephe into the cave. Rashid holds the vines open slightly to expedite the other adventurers' entrance into the cave, rapier drawn.

Fighting the urge to attack the minotaur, his training kicks in and he follows orders. "She told us to continue the mission and we shall." He heads into the cave hoping the little Halfling survives.

Tellerin's eyes widen when he spots the minotaur. "Wait! Janira! What about you?" Tellerin calls out as the halfling begins her efforts to lure the minotaur away from the group.

Tellerin dives into the cave past Rashid and quickly looks around to confirm that no one decided to go with Janira instead. "I hope she knows what she's doing. That thing looked really dangerous. You're right though Calephe, she's the one with the experience so we can only trust she knows how to deal with it."

"As for us, we were really relying on her against those hippogriffs, so we better hope there isn't another minotaur hiding in here somewhere."

Tellerin wipes sweat off his forehead and looks around the cave to get his bearings. He scoops a pebble off the ground and rubs it against his tattoos for a moment before it bursts into light. "Everyone alright? Lets get in deeper as soon as we can, just in case it loses interest and comes back to sniff around"

Casting Light on a pebble

"Thanks for the light, Tellerine - let us take a look before we move further in."

-----------------
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Dolvin follows the group into opening glancing back at the gnome fighting a minotaur and smiles the size difference. "that little one knows what she's doing she'll be alright" he thinks to himself as he allows the vines to close behind him. As his eyes adjust he sees that everyone made it in safely. He stoops to look for the tracks of the Gillmen that were supposedly usong this cave tonight to see if he can discern how many their may be.

Survival : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

After attempting to assess the situation he sees Janira's bag laying on the ground.

"maybe there is something in here to aid us in our search, " just as he is about to go through it to see he remembers something that his mother had taught him long ago and for a moment is transported back to a different time. " no matter what the others said about me, you always loved me" his hand instinctively went up and touched the iron butterfly hanging on his neck.

Snapping out of his day dream he turns to Calephe "maybe you should check, a woman I knew long ago told me never to rifle through a woman's bag" he exclaims handing her the bag.

"As for the rest of us maybe it might behoove us to change the order in which we march. I have no fear of the beasts that may be in here with us, but I'd rather have a strong warrior up front. In case we encounter any danger."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Rashid shudders a bit when Dolvin mentions women's bags - "Yeah, I learned the hard way: when ma said that she'd give me a copper, that definitely meant to bring her pouch to her, not to go through it..."

"I would think Hskoro and Calephe should take the lead - I can be right behind them." Rashid wonders if the party thinks he might be a coward. He also looks for any sign of the gillmen.

---------------
Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Please make sure that your tokens on the front slide of the maps link are where you would like to be in the marching order.

The team heeds Janira's wisdom.. with some qualms about her safety, and dives into the tunnel while she disappears into the brush followed closely by the enraged beast. The entrance of the tunnel is dark, but a little ways in, a dim glow can be seen. The tunnel is variable; as narrow as 3 feet in places, and as wide as 10 in others. Water trickles down the walls, leaving the floor damp and somewhat slick while echoes of dripping water reverberate around the stone walls. About 20 feet in, you find the dim glow to be radiating from a curious fungi on the walls. These illuminate curious petroglyphs depicting marine animals or spiral shapes. Sparse at first, as your exploration takes you deeper into the tunnels and small caverns of the complex, they slowly begin to grow more numerous.

Hskoro looks through Janira's bag while commenting to the others. "We should check to see if anything will be useful in Janira's bag and grab what we think we can use."

Hskoro will grab one of the Potions of CLW and the Potion of Feather Step. Feather Step will be useful for an armored individual like Hskoro.

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Hskoro bends down to the ground and has his tongue taste the air, "A Gillman was here recently. I can taste him, no more than a day ago."

Dolvin looks down at the muddy floor. "Yes and there appears to have been some other activity more recently. Look a large group passed through here not long ago," Dolvin says pointing to some other footprints. "you see how close together these are appears to be halfling tracks. Or maybe even gnomish. And these here," pointing to the tracks closest to him, "look as if they were made by a... dwarf." he trails off on the last word realizing that the tracks he had "discovered" were those made by himself and his companions. If his hat weren't pulled so low he would appear visibly reddened.

"Never mind that let me see that bag. What's in here. Aha, a vial of holy water that will do nicely" he says pulling the stopper out of the vial and gingerly pouring it into his mace. "I'd also like a few of these other potions and can be the bearer of that wand of cure, if it is fine with you all ".

-Posted with Wayfinder

Lol Dolvin, I didn't read the Survival spoiler so you had me believing you on the tracks. At least up until the Dwarf comment

Tellerin peeks into Janira's bag and his face takes on a worried cast. "These tools would have helped her a lot against that minotaur, but she gave them up to us instead. I hope that was the right choice... either way I think we'll owe her dearly after this."

Tellerin picks out a Wand of Burning Hands and keeps it out in one hand. "Not quite like my own fire, but it'll make sure I don't get quite as worn out from my magic. Dolvin, if you can use that healing wand we'll be counting on you." Tellerin clasps the dwarf on the shoulder, reaching up to do so "You've had our backs so far"

"I'll hold on to these two scrolls as well, just in case we need their magic." Tellerin takes the Scrolls of Gust of Wind and Identify and stows them in accessible spots in his pack.

With the pack's items distributed, Tellerin turns back to the group. "This cave is a lot larger than I thought it'd be. If we wander around in here, those gillmen could easily come in and out again with us never crossing paths. Hskoro, do you think you can track their paths to wherever they're gathering in here?"
"And Dolvin, if you see those dwarf and gnome tracks you mentioned again... well, we'll think about what that means later." Are we not the first Pathfinders to come this way? Or are these gillmen coming here to meet someone?

While he ponders the implications of Dolvin's discovery, Tellerin's gaze falls upon the murals. With a start, he fishes about in his pack for his journal, ink and pen. "I almost forgot, what with all the fighting and Janira having to distract that minotaur. We're to report on what we find here, so I'll try to get a copy of these murals."

(If there is time while his allies are still dividing things or planning) Tellerin traces out a few of the images in the mural while jotting down a couple of notes about how many there are.

The narrow tunnel twists and turns for several hundred feet before slowly opening to a wider passage. A large hole spans the cave’s width and stretches ten feet down the path. At the bottom of the pit lies a small bundle of cloth. The walls of this pit are smooth, and the corners rounded.

1d6 ⇒ 1

Rashid takes the thunderstone from Janira's bag. While Dolvin is muttering about the tracks he sees, Rashid unfortunately finds himself nodding along with the dwarf's explanation until they both realize they had no idea what they were looking at.

Rashid stops to peer into the pit, holding a torch out. "All I can see is a bundle of cloth down there. I guess we have to climb down and back up the other side, somehow."

-------------
Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Hskoro moves down the tunnel, his armor or scales sometimes scraping against the wall as he traverses the twists and turns until they enter the larger chamber.

He moves up to the edge of the pit and looks down. "That won't be easy to climb down or up."

Hskoro glances around to see if there is another way to bypass the pit.
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Dolvin peers into the hole.

Survival : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"hmmm, that is a big hole" he says and turns to rummage through his pack before producing a grappling hook and a length of rope. "A dwarf is always prepared for a climb, though I must admit I haven't done any recently. Maybe one of you might have an idea on how we could use these. "

-Posted with Wayfinder

"I don't know about you folks, but I'm sure I could jump over this hole." Of course, Rashid won't try until he's sure he won't be alone on the other side...still a little nervous after his last encounter.

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

"Looks like someone made this hole on purpose, but it was probably a while ago. Maybe even a year ago. How do the gillmen get past this point? Do they just jump every time? It looks a little far..." Tellerin eyes the hole and the distance to the other side with significant skepticism.

"Whatever we decide, we can at least climb down to see what that bundle is. Here, I'm the lightest, so I'll do it. If a couple of you could lower me down on Dolvin's rope it should be safe enough"

Is there a place on the other side of the pit that you could get a grappling hook securely connected?

If the party agrees for Tellerin to go down:
Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Calephe looks at the hole in the ground. She nods in agreement with Tellerin's assessment of the age. "Yes at least a year ago. I wonder if the gillmen made it to keep people out." She suddenly looks at the gnome with a gleam in her eye. "I have a friend who's a gnome. She spends a lot of time being tossed across cracks like this by her friends. Might be a new experience for you." She winks and laughs only half joking.

"I have a couple of pitons. We could pound one into the ground on this side and attach the rope. That will help with the descent, it's the climbing out that is the issue. What do we attach to?"

As the group discusses how to get down into the pit, Rashid starts to walk back a bit, seeing if he can get a good running start to jump over the pit. "I really think I can make it - give me a piton, and I'll hammer it in over there and attach a rope for Tellerin if he goes down."

Rashid backs up, exhales, and starts his run. "Here goes nothing!"

Rashid flies over the pit, landing on the other side safely. "See - that was easy!" If the floor allows, I'll hammer in a piton with my mace after looking around a bit. Rashid also checks his immediate surroundings.
------------
Acrobatics DC10: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

The appearance of the pit seems to have completely stumped our intrepid adventurers for a moment. Hskoro looks around for alternative routes, but is unable to see anything useful. Soon, Dolvin pulls out a rope and grapple, and secures the line after tying knots in the rope for handholds. Tellerin scrambles down to investigate, holding the bundle up to reveal a very will made cloak.

Couple of notes here for yall. As for the grapple, you can set the grapple and climb down, and the grapple can be thrown from the bottom of the pit to the other side, but there is nothing on the other side to secure a lateral throw from one side of the pit to the other.

Tellerin: Just a heads up for the future! When you are climbing with a rope, always state that you are going to tie knots in the rope to help you climb. This is the difference between a DC 5 (knotted) climb check and a DC 15 (Unknotted) check. In this case, it saved you from 2d6 falling damage.

"Rashid do you see any way for us to cross over there? We can all try to jump," she glances quickly at the dwarf, "but it might not end well for all of us."

@GM I'm well aware of the Climb DCs, and as a result I asked the party to lower me down rather than trying to climb. In the past, I've considered this a Climb DC0 action, though now that I'm looking I see that particular DC was something we made up to fill in a gap in the rules, rather than an actual rule. Do you require a climb roll for that?

As he's going down, Tellerin hears Calephe's joke and calls back up "Just wait until we come across a whole pack of those minotaurs and you'll see how much fun it is to get tossed across deadly gaps by people much bigger than you. Then I'll be able to tell the tale of the Amazing Flying Calephe!" Tellerin delivers his last line with a vocal flourish and then a chuckle.

Tellerin spots Rashid cover the gap with ease above him. He covers his head to protect against any loose pebbles coming down and then calls up "How does it look over there Rashid? If you can't find something to anchor us, maybe you can tie the rope around yourself and brace against something further along the tunnel?"

Tellerin picks up the cloak and examines it. Out of curiosity he also focuses on it and casts Detect Magic.

In case it turns out to be magical Tellerin will try to determine its properties:
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

After stowing the cloak, Tellerin takes a quick look around to see if there is anything down here that he missed. Why is there a hole here? If anything, it would block the gillmen as well as it blocks us.
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

If there is nothing else of interest in the pit: Tellerin grabs the rope with both hands and feet. "OK, when you're ready, pull me back up! It looks like there was some kind of cloak down here. Dolvin, maybe it belongs to the owner of those dwarf tracks you saw?"

I misread and misinterpreted. My apologies! I was just trying to help. As far as the rules for that lowering/ raising a weight by rope, it should be a strength check for the party based on your weight, but normally I hand wave that because its almost guaranteed to succeed, so why waste time in PbP?

Tellerin holds the cloak up and examines it, casting a spell to detect magical auras. As soon as it lights up under his eyes, he recognizes it as a Cloak of Resistance +1. He looks about the pit one last time, but sees nothing of interest before being hauled back up to the top.

"Humpf," mumbles the dwarf at the mention of the tracks he mistook for another adventuring party. "I'll never live that down will I?"

"Well you sure flew through the air didn't you, I don't think these legs would get me all the way across if I tried that jump. Do you by chance have another rope on you over there?" he calls to the bandit that astonishingly leaped over the pit.

Rashid stifles a laugh at Tellerin's little joke about Dolvin. What am I laughing at? I got dropped by those monsters...useless...well, I made it to the other side of the pit, didn't I.

"Yep - I have a rope. If I can't hammer this piton in, maybe I can haul up Tellerin by myself...else, perhaps Calephe or Hskoro can jump over, and then we'll have plenty of strength to pull up the small folk." Rashid brandishes his torch to look further down the passage away from the pit.

Hskoro judges the distances and shakes his head sideways. "No. I am like a mountain. Can a mountain jump? Cannot make that distance."

Looks like we need to know if we can secure the rope via a piton before anything else. Also, can we take 10 on our acrobatics to jump this pit? IIRC there is some GM variation on if this situation constitutes "immediate danger".

Tellerin gets back on to his own feet on the non-Rashid side of the pit. With a grateful smile towards Dolvin, he disentangles himself from the rope and announces "Before we go on, that bundle at the bottom of the pit was actually a magic cloak, one designed to protect the user from all manner of things. Though I suppose it won't help against hippogriff talons, minotaur axes, and most physical harm. Whoever needs better resistance against magic should take it for now. Or, Hskoro, since you're usually in the lead maybe you should wear it."

Tellerin passes the cloak off to whoever decides to wear it.

"Unfortunately the magic won't protect you from falling into this pit if you miss your jump."

Jump: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Calephe takes a few steps back. She runs forward and leaps across the gap. "Here to help if the piton doesn't work." She looks around.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

"Well with the two of you over there I'm sure you'll have the strength to haul us up. I know I'm not as lean as I used to be but I shouldn't be to heavy. Hskoro, if you would be so kind as to lower me into the pit?"

Once at the bottom Dolvin walks to the other side and looks up. He cups his hands around his mouth and calls up. "Would you mind throwing that rope of yours down here and helping me out?"

Climb: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (18) - 3 = 15
Climb: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (13) - 3 = 10

In my opinion, taking ten (or 20) is only applicable if the penalty for not making the DC causes no immediate harm or damage. This is based on the line "When your character is not in immediate danger or distracted". In this case, missing the jump would entail falling damage, so no taking 10.

Due to my sleep/work schedule as opposed to your posting schedules, let me back us up a little bit. My apologies.

Who decided to take the cloak?

Rashid brandishes his torch, looking around the area before trrying to set the rope. Just a short ways down the tunnel, he finds a board laying on the floor, neatly angled up against the wall. The board is about 15' long, and two feet wide.. more than enough to provide easy transport over the pit. After dragging it back and laying it out, the rest of the party easily traverses the pit and continues down the tunnel.

The tunnels continue on, leading deeper beneath the Kortos Mounts until they eventually open into a large cavern. What must have once been beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls.
GM: 5d12 ⇒ (1, 4, 4, 3, 12) = 24
If choosing Linguistics, you receive a +2 per language if you know Aquan and/or Azlanti.

"Just what I was hoping to find - here, we can use this board to cross the pit. And it will be easier for Janira to find us." When the party reaches the large cavern, Rashid gazes at the reliefs and inscriptions. "These must have significance, but it is beyond me, for sure." Rashid looks around the cavern as the rest of his group examine the carvings.

------------
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Tellerin crosses the well-placed board and comments "I guess now we know how the gillmen get past this pit. The fact that the board was stored on the far side might mean that they've already come in and pulled the board along behind them! Keep on the lookout, they might be anywhere ahead of us." We haven't seen any yet though. I'm starting to get a little jumpy. What else could be in here?

When the party arrives at the large cavern, Tellerin gives out a low whistle. "This place must have been really beautiful once, shame its all worn out. I agree with you Rashid. There must have been some reason to go to all this effort to make these murals and etchings. No idea what they are though. Anyone else know?" Tellerin takes out his ink pen and journal and starts sketching out some of the reliefs and inscriptions, as best as he can.

"Let me take a look at those," Dolvin pushes his way to the front and looks up at the carvings.

Knowledge (religion) : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Linguistics : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Climb: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (15) - 3 = 12
Climb: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (12) - 3 = 9
Climb: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (17) - 3 = 14

Hskoro slowly climbs down into the pit using the rope. Upon reaching the bottom he looks around and moves to rejoin the group, gladly accepting the cloak to wear while on this mission.

When the rope is ready to ascend on the otherside, Hskoro attempts to climb it but his grip slightly slips. He licks his hands to provide some more grip and attempts to climb again. This time with more success.

Upon reaching the otherside of the pit, he takes the lead position again while the others look at the drawings in the cave wall. Letting them decipher it instead of making a fool of himself.

Calephe takes a look at the reliefs. She shrugs a little realizing they could be significant, but has no idea what that might be. "Looks like pretty pictures dulled with time to me." Noticing Tellerin pulling out his paper and pen shed decides to do the same thing and starts at the opposite end of the room from him.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

I'll go ahead and allow it, Dolvin!

While studying the friezes, Dolvin is able to recognize all four of the carvings that are still intact enough to be understandable. The friezes all seem to be visual representations from The History and Future of Humanity, Arodens holy text. The problem is that they are subtly different from modern day versions, leading to the thought that these may very much predate known worship of Aroden. As such, these friezes may be showing early ways to honor or pay homage to the various aspects of Aroden.

The first frieze depicts Aroden as The Artist painting murals upon the walls of Absalom with beautiful colors so that it may awe all who visit.

The second frieze that he sees depicts Aroden as The Farmer plowing four lines in a field before the walls of Absalom. This is retelling Arodens prophecy that humankind would prepare the rocky earth for planting, and over generations wear the pebbles down to fertile soil.

The third carving represents Aroden as The Craftsman, making shoes, pots, jewelry, and other movable goods, referencing Aroden's delight at seeing his people express their ingenuity in creating new products from raw materials.

Finally, The Thief is depicted stealing a gem frrom a shop while whispering a prayer, an allusion to a passage saying that larceny- although illegal- is a form of praise, for anything worth stealing is also worthy of praise for its craftsmanship.

Dolvin: You get the feeling that these friezes once were used to teach supplicants the different ways they may worship, although this room itself holds more of a feeling of discussion and learning than it does the feeling of a shrine or place of worship.

When everyone is ready to move on (And don't forget Janira's earlier admonishment to take copious notes!):

The party eventually leaves the room with the carvings, and proceeds to the south through a small neck into the next chamber. The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead, matched by a number of stalagmites reaching upwards for their counterparts. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west. The chambers ceiling is almost lost in shadow 20 feet above your heads.

Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey. Strikingly accurate and beautiful, the diorama has the air of a long used but even longer forgotten shrine and alter. It is obvious from the trinkets that many have paid homage at this site.

Within the pool of water, a person sits with his back to you. The person does not react in any way to your entrance to the cavern.

Rashid looks on in amazement as Dolvin relates the meanings of the friezes and their ties to the god Aroden. Never heard of this deity - a god who encourages thievery, perhaps? Interesting... Rashid makes a sketch of the thief imagery. "Glad you're with us, Dolvin - a historical place...I wonder how long it's been forgotten. I have made a sketch of the frieze over there, with the thief. I am surprised that such a crime is seemingly smiled upon by a god with other more wholesome traits."

When everyone is done oohing-and-ahhing over the friezes (and finishes their sketches and notes), he moves southwards with the group into the next chamber. While he is looking at the diorama, Rashid stops, pointing at the lone figure in the pool of water. "A nice depiction of Absalom - there's the Starstone Cathedral...shhh...look!" Does Rashid notice anything about this person?

----------------
Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

"Dolvin, you seem to know a lot about Aroden! More than me at least. Maybe once we're done with our confirmation you'd be able to tell me what tales you know of him. From what you've said, it seems like there might be interesting stories to tell." Tellerin finishes up his transcriptions and adds in a few written comments based on what Dolvin relayed. He stows his journal and writing supplies and springs to his feet. "We went looking for gillmen but we found some real history! I'm sure the Society will be happy to learn about all this" Tellerin waves his hands all around him.

"I wonder if there are any more murals in better shape than these? Maybe some relating an ancient, forgotten legend?" Tellerin's eyes gleam with anticipation and he moves on with a skip in his step once his allies are ready. "Maybe we'll find evidence of 'Aroden's Dark Secret His Followers Don't Want You To Know!'. Wouldn't that be something to write about for the Society!"

Kn: Other (untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Still full of energy when the group reaches the massive cavern, Tellerin gives out a gasp when he takes in the diorama. "You're right Rashid! I think..." Tellerin cuts off at Rashid's admonition and quickly notices the person in the pool of water.

Tellerin switches to a low whisper "How is there someone here? I thought other than the gillmen, we're the first to explore this cavern in a long time"

Two questions: There are nearby torches! Have we seen these anywhere else or is this the first chamber with them? Also, what does the person look like?

"This is why I joined the Society, I have traveled throughout this land, but never have I seen the like of this," Dolvin thinks to himself as he analyzes the carvings.

"I wonder what it must have been like gathered in this chamber discussing Aroden. Fascinating," he says to no one in particular, his gruff tone replaced with one of wonder.

As they enter the chamber Dolvin is taken aback by the intricate diorama.

"Who would have thought that we would find such beautiful stonework in this cave. These carvings rival that of the great dwarven craftsmen.
And what a beautiful depiction of Absolm, I do believe you are correct Rashid, the Starstone Cathedral is unmistakable."
Knowledge (Religion) : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Seeing the man crouched Dolvin readies his crossbow and takes a defensive stance. His head swiveling from side to side, his years of working with the caravan has left if on high alert for ambushes and the like.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Hskoro does look at the images on the wall and listens to the others, but most of this stuff does not truly interest him but he does take out his paper to write down some notes as ordered to do so.
----

As they entered the room with the pool, he is momentarily awed by the beauty of the room until he sees the lone figure. He takes his axe in hand and approaches him slowly before giving him a slight shove in the back to bring his attention to him. Ready to strike the figure down if he shows any hostility.

Calephe follows the Rashid into the larger chamber. She's more interested in making sure the centipedes don't get anywhere close to her than examining the diorama. When she sees the party stop suddenly she notices the man sitting in the water. She moves around to the right to get a better look.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Rashid tails (no pun intended) Hskoro as he approaches the mysterious figure, rapier drawn.

Tellerin winces as Hskoro and Rashid approach the figure with weapons brandished. I hope coming in armed isn't a mistake...

Seeing his allies ready themselves for combat leads Tellerin to move to the side to maintain a clear view of the figure.

Tellerin: Up until now, the only light source has been that of the glowing fungus on the walls. As for what the person looks like as they are sitting in the water, all you can see is the back of the head and neck..more to come!

As the party moves into the room, the man in the water makes no movement to acknowledge you.. until Hskoro and Rashid approach the edge of the water. The moment that Hskoro disturbs the water with his foot, the man turns and stands in one smooth motion. Looking at him from the front, you can clearly see the three gills on either side of his neck as he turns a deep scowl upon Hskoro and Rashid. "Put your weapons away!!" the man (or gillman you see) orders. "This is no place for rude and uncouth intruders. Leave immediately!"
His casts his eyes over the group, beginning and ending with Hskoro.. his eyes narrow dangerously at the Nagaji.
"I see this is not the first time you have come here.. take your ill-gotten spoils and leave! Have you not done enough damage to my people with your murderous ways?"

Map updated. I forgot to do that for the last room, and have placed you as close as I could to your statements!

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

Hskoro hisses, "Kill. I haven't wetted my weapons with any blood today except a hippogriff earlier. As for my weapon, I might put it away if you tell us who you are and what you are doing here."

Rashid reacts with a start when the gillman stands and addresses Hskoro and him. "We mean no harm - we are merely explorers." Rashid hesitates to mention the Pathfinder Society. "Have we found something of yours?" Rashid points to Hskoro's new cloak, which is of the same material and cut as the robe folded near the gillman. Rashid sheathes his rapier to demonstrate he means no ill will, but remains ready to defend Hskoro and himself.

----------------
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12

"Hskoro, it looks like this fellow here may help us learn more about these caverns. Maybe put your axe away so we can talk to him as friends?

Tellerin turns to the gillman(?) and tries a reassuring expression "As my friend here says, we're explorers. We are here to learn more about this place and the history behind it. If we have caused some slight or offense it wasn't intended."

Tellerin waves in Hskoro's direction "This cloak we found discarded, at the bottom of a deep pit on our way into this cavern. If it belonged to one of your fellows, we did not see him or her."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

I will need some diplomacy checks as well please.

The gillman can be seen turning his head back and forth between you, looking not at your eyes, but rather at your mouths. He grows somewhat calmer as Rashid sheathes his weapon, but keeps an angry glare on Hskoro. "You are the invaders.. wearing the cloak of a slain pilgrim to these waters. You are trespassing in a holy place with naked steel. Begone before I remove you."

"If he was slain then I doubt he will be needing a cloak" Dolvin keeps his morbid musings to himself and peers at the Gillman confronting them. He stows his crossbow before taking a step forward to address the man.

"A holy site you say? That would explain the beautiful carvings of Aroden as we walked in. We mean to ill unto this place, we are merely here to explore and learn."

Diplomacy : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

"I am saddened to hear that the previous owner of this cloak was slain, what evils reside in these caves would do such a thing to a pilgram? Perhaps we might be able to rid you of such a foul pest."
Dolvin adds noticing the Gillmans eyes wandering to the cloak and regretting his earlier thought on the dead not needing their cloaks.
-Posted with Wayfinder