CORE The Confirmation T1 (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

Auriferous smiles at seeing the cave entrance.

"At last. I'm going to be picking thorns out of my armour for weeks."

Taking out her axe she looks for a conveniently straight and large enough tree that could be cut down.

Dolgrym, too, grins at the sight of the entrance. "Aha! Is this it, Janira?" Taking a glance into the sky, the dwarven druid adds. "And none too soon, by the looks of it. Think we made it in time to catch sight of the gillmen?"

"You're a dwarf? You must be good with an axe, give us a hand here." suggests Auriferous.

"You could even pick the tree if you like, no sense in felling a good one if there is an old one that will serve."

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 andwielding 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.

Nemrok thanks his comrades for their abilities to lead them in the right place.

----------

What's going on ?! Said a little confused Nemrok who looked at the creature Janira called a Minotaur.

But at the tone of alarm the voice of Janira had, he executed her orders, taking her bag and going in the caves.

I hope this creature will not chase after us.

Hmm... Seems like a poor decision to set yourself as the rabbit hopping to escape the fox... { sigh } But it is her choice...
.
With barely a pause, Hadanka rushes into the cave entrance.

The dwarven druid lumbers into the cave at the order, with the roc a moment behind. "May nature shield her and protect her. Brave little leader, she is to us." Dolgrym mutters as he surveys what is inside the entrance.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Tessara's first reaction when she sees the minotaur is to draw her sword and defends her life to her best ability. But, the halfling is quicker to react and, after a slight hesitation, she also squeezes into the cave.

Galton sees the wisdom in Janira's plan, and goes into the cave entrance, and picks up Janira's pack.

Auriferous hesitates for a moment.

"But..."

But, desire as she might to protect the little halfling, following orders was something she had been taught from a young age. Reluctantly Auriferous heads into the cave.

This cave system stretches deep below the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, though most of it is accessible only through a narrow keyhole tunnel. All of the tunnels in this area are between 3 and 10 feet wide and vary equally in height, though most are a comfortable 7 or more feet wide in each dimension. The caves are damp. Water dripping from stalactites and the distant rushing of underground streams creates an eerie backdrop as you explore. The caves’ walls are patterned with blue-geen luminescent fungi that provide dim light.

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.

Taking out a rope from his backpack, Galton says "Here, Auriferous, hold onto this end of the rope, while I climb down to see what is at the bottom of the pit."

Assuming Auriferous does hold the rope...

Galton will climb down (climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12) and retrieve the bundle of cloth. Then, he will climb up the other side of the pit (climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13), so there is a rope for everyone to climb up with on the other side.

Auriferous wraps the rope around her and takes a solid stance on the ground, finding some footholds on the damp floor.

I take it I didn't have time to get some tree branches?

She will continue to hold the rope for everyone else who wants to climb down.

While his comrade looked in the pit, Nemrok began to look into Janira's bag.

May be they could use some of her tools to do their mission...

Thinking of it he asked

Hey guys ! Did you find any tracks of Gillmen here ?

Hadanka looks for sings of passge. survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
.
Then Watches for trouble. perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Dolgrym mimics the ranger, carefully looking about before descending into the pit. Gogar, meanwhile, merely lets out a quiet "Squaw," before taking a flighted hop over to the other side of the pit, where he turns back and watches the group curiously.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

The minotaur is gone, you can go back and get some tree branches if you like.

Galton has no problem to retrieve the bundle of clothes from down the pit. Once on the other side of the pit, around a corner he finds a long, 3-foot-wide wooden plank that rests against the cave’s wall. The bundle of clothes is actually a cloak.

Hádanka and Dolgrym can tell that the pit is not natural. It was created at least one year ago. On the floor they see foot prints of gilmen, they are not old.

Nemrok, if you will check out the wands, scrolls, and potions we can decide how to divide them up. Personally, I'd like the tanglefoot bag if nothing else.

Auriferous sighs.

"I suppose Janira would have wanted us to use this stuff. Let us hope we don't need it. "

She takes the lead, once the rummaging through the rucksack finishes and heads down the corridor.

"This plank is three feet wide. Is it long enough to go over the pit?"

While his comrades look to find a solution to cross the pit, Nemrok cast read magic on each of the scroll then detect magic to determine the magical property of the different magical items.

But except for one potion he wasn't able to determine any of magical properties of the objects.

Dolgrym waits patiently as the party busies themselves about the cave.

Looks like everyone has things under control. Dolgrym will keep an eye out on this side, while his bird hangs out on the other side waiting.

... She takes the lead, ...

If you don't mind, I will take the lead about 20ft in front of the rest of the group. I'm moderately sneaky.

You can know what a potion is by smelling it if you want Hádanka

Said, a little sorry, Nemrok who was unable to determine with success most of the potions and wand.

I think you can also try to identify the potions by tasting it (Perception)

Galton puts the plank across the pit and it is long enough to let everybody cross.

Ah I didn't realize that, I think I have the highest perception at +9, so I will check them.
GM, Nemrock also used read magic on the scrolls. He did get one of the potions, and might have gotten one of the wands.
perception to taste/smell potion 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
perception to taste/smell potion 2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
perception to taste/smell potion 3: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
perception to taste/smell potion 4: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Well I probably got 1 and 3. Dolgrym, you have the next highest perception, you want to try 2 and 4?

As Hadanka works through the potions, Dolgrym takes the time to help with those the elven guide struggles with.

Perception Potion 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Perception Potion 4: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

"If you have [u]quite[/u] finished with looting our guide's equipment..." sighs the paladin.

Looking down the dark passage, she takes her time, stopping to fill in a sketch book with a rough map of where the group has travelled so far. Near the entrance she even draws a small pit.

If the potions prove to be healing ones, Tessara will take one. She then draws her sword and crosses over the pit, walking on the plank.

Hadanka quietly counters while crossing the pit on the plank, Auriferous, we are not looting the body of a fallen ally. Our boss specifically told us to go on ahead and make use of these materials. that isn't really possible if we don't know what they are. It seemed a poor tactic to me, but I have to assume my more experienced boss knows what she is doing and can survive dealing with that ugly thing.
.
Ok GM, we should know the scrolls.
If potion 4 is a CL 1, we know all the potions.
If wand 1 is a CL 1 we know that one.
Wand 2 would be a crap shoot to activate with, but I suppose we could take that chance if necessary.

"The guide has spoken wisely!" Satisfied with their examinations of the gear left behind by the fearless leader, Dorgrym checks the plank to make sure it can handle him surely before crossing over.

"There is Prudent use of things, and unseemly relish at acquisition. They are two different things." utters Ms Stick-in-the-mud.

Still, the words seem to sooth her and she too crosses the plank.

Janira's scrolls, wands and potions are the following:
1 potion of barkskin
2 potions of cure light wounds CL3
1 potion of feather step
1 potion of vanish
1 scroll of entangle
1 scroll of gust of wind
1 scroll of identify
1 scroll of mage armor CL 6
1 scroll of obscuring mist
1 wand of burning hands (CL3, 4 charges)
1 wand of cure light wounds (CL 3, 8 charges)

The party crosses the pit without further incident.

Oleander looks at the pile, and then reluctantly picks up the potion of barkskin.

"My faith should be enough, but practical steps are also to be encouraged." she admits, tapping her armour.

Yes, I think these should help. Hadanka takes the tanglefoot bag, thunderstone, and the potion of vanish.
.
Dolgrym and Nemrok should split up the wands and scrolls the rest of us can't use.
.
I will scout ahead. If there is a split, I will make a chalk mark on the path I do NOT take. Then he quietly leads off down the tunnel.
stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
.
and apparently walks into the wall he didn't notice and causing a clattering rock fall {sigh} the dice demons hate me

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. Deciphering the images and writing is difficult because of their eroded state. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls.

Nemrok took the wand of burning hands, the scrolls of mage armor, identify, obscuring mist and gust of wind.

Then followed his comrades until they went into a large cavern with old carved reliefs.

At last ! the first sign of civilisation ! May be it's some sort of worship place for the gillmen ? And these old reliefs are what they were doing in their old days ?

As an historian Nemrok began to studies the reliefs.

Let me some times to studies these old carvings

Know. History (take 10): 10 + 7 = 17

Dolgrym picks up the remainder of Janira's gear and stows them away before moving on.

Scroll of entangle, Potion of feather step, 2 x Potion of CLW CL3, Wand of CLW CL3 8 charges

a vial of acid, two alchemist's fire, a bottle of holy water, a smoke stick

Dolgrym looks about with his untrained eyes and studies the carvings with wonder.

Memrok recognizes the carvings as a version of "History and Future of Humanity", the principle holy text of Aroden. The carvings focus on parables that feature Aroden’s 12 guises, only four of them can be deciphered.

Memrok is able to decipher one of the writings:
The Fisherman:
The Fisherman is depicted hauling in an enormous catch of small fish to take back to Absalom, illustrating Aroden’s declaration that a great host of creatures could accomplish a great task, whether that be taming the wilds or feeding a nation.

He also thinks that these carvings might represent an earlier version of "History and Future of Humanity".

Hadanka moves into the room working his way around to the left.
First checking for anything that might be a threat. If nothing, he will see if the carvings mean anything to him.
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
knowledge nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
knowledge dungeoneering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

That's quite interesting ! An earlier version of the "History and Future of Humanity"... quite a finding.

Nemrok, forgetting the others, began to scribe in his book what he saw

one of the tenet of the Pathfinder Society, is report. I think THIS is what we must report.

Auriferous takes out her sketch book and starts to copy down the drawings.

"Fascinating..." She says as she tries to decipher some more.

know(religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Hadanka and Auriferous are able to decipher two more parts of the picture:

The Hunter is depicted slaying a giant serpentine creature and then parading a trophy through the city streets — a sign to all humanity that the wilds are safe to inhabit once the monsters are slain.

The Soldier is depicted bearing a lantern through the streets of a city, following the dead god’s prophecy that the vigilant shall carry light to the darkest corners of the world to banish the shadows.

Auriferous notes the stories in her diary before going to examine the blue torches.

"Anyone else notice these?"

Looking at the blue torches Nemrok cast detect magic and looked at the reliefs as well as the torches with his enhanced vision.

The torches are everburning torches.

Nothing to worry comrades ! It's juste simple everburning torches.

Said Nemrok

They must have been let by the Gillmen, as a mark of their passage... May be we must cross through it to know why they come here, in the middle of nowhere !

Enlightened by his peers of the significance of the carvings, Dolgrym takes the time to revisit the deciphered ones. "Oho! Indeed! Amazing, what people are capable of, especially when in response to the revered."

The druid nods as he plods along, with Gogar hopping lightly behind.

"Squaw."

Hadanka moves to the far side of the room. Looking into and listening at the wide tunnel on the far side.
perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Putting away her book, Auriferous takes one of the torches and heads down the passage way, giving Hadanka space to scout ahead if he wants to.