DM Beckett's "The Night Marches of Kalkamedes" PbP PFS Game Day Event Game (Inactive)

Game Master Beckett

Beginning on Oct 5th - Jan 4th, we are having an official Pathfinder Society Play by Post Game Day. Info about the event can be found HERE. I am going to be running The Night Marches of Kalkamedes, a later humorous bit of mystery and babysitting in a bit of an epic scenario, in it's own way.

I'm opening up a recruitment thread for that game, (and also to hopefully plug other games). If you are interested, you will need to first register through the event's site, located HERE, which is free. The Game itself will be held on these Paizo boards, and utilize Google Drive (drawings) for interactive maps.

Feel free to post here, but it is on a first come, first serve basis according to who reserves a virtual "seat" through the Warhorn site.

So far, my list on Warhorn shows:
1.) Tim C. -> Inquisitor 2
2.) Jesse R. -> Fighter 2
3.) Daniel . -> Bard 2
4.) N. N. -> Cleric 1
5.) Jimmy J. -> Fighter 1
6.) Chris G. -> Inquisitor 1

So, I just wanted to introduce myself a bit, and explain what to expect, and what I hope for from this game. I am a US soldier, and I first begun to play PbP while on deployment, unable to find anyone to play PF with otherwise. I have basically started from scratch, and each game I run, I try to improve. So feel free to PM me any concerns, suggestions, tips, or criticisms you may have once we being.

I enjoy adding a little bit extra personalization if people are into it, but I can skip that if not. I am looking 1+ daily, with occasional exceptions. I also understand that the weekends and holidays will be slow. Real life comes first.

You do not have to follow this method, though it will help to speed things up. Use bolded text for in-character dialogue. Italics for inner thoughts, actions, or whispering, though reasonably attempt to make the context clearly show the intent. Spoilers for either passing "secret DM notes", to have minor, relevant discussion with someone else that probably will not be long enough for the discussion thread.

An example: Seeing the end was coming, the warrior set aside all of the unimportant baggage weighing down his mind and soul. "Time to step up or go home", he thought. Raising his weapon, "For Absalom!", then charged at the oncoming horde.

I'll charge to X and attack with my mace.

I'll primarily being using Google Drive for the maps, and using the pictures you pick for your character's avatar as your "mini". You will not need to sign up for anything in order to see the maps. Once we arrive at the point where it will be used, I'll post a link, and everyone with the link will be able to edit it and move their characters. However, because Google Drive continually saves, once you move, you can not reset. So just be careful before you actually make changes.

Please feel free to ask any questions or for clarification as we go.

"The voice in the sky that comes from the swirly yellow globe has great wisdom."

'Though it is at times capricious and demanding'

"Please allow me to introduce myself, my name is Angruf. I've recently returned from some... shenanigans... in the Blakros Museum, and haven't quote sorted out all my effects yet. As soon as I can find a trouser press and a steel comb for my beard I'll be somewhat more presentable."

Angruf is just cleaning up 'Mists of Mwangi', and I haven't updated my character sheet with the outcomes from that adventure yet. Certainly before 10/5, however, I'll have him all straight!

Thats perfectly fine. This one follows right after that scenario and you should recognize more than a few things. :)

Checking in, just finding this thread. Looking forward to this.

I am Thoril the Slayer and I am ready to get my next kill He is a halfling Titan Mauler. My internet here is screwy so i will update him the rest of way so you can see everything asap

Here's the Inquisitor 1. Well, he's a Bard at the moment, but he's got a retrain ready to go once his current scenario (Silent Tide) ends. I hope for it to wrap up by the 5th, but I will have a backup character ready if it hasn't.

I've signed up for this game. Cleric 1 (Varisian Pilgrim)

We still have a few days, and I'm cool if we sort of hold back a little bit before jumping in until you are ready, if everyone else is.

Some GM questions:

1. Can I use the Bit of Luck domain power on myself?

2. Do you allow Take 10 and Take 20 on all skills except those which explicitly say you can't?

3. How are you doing Init and posting? First come first serve, or are you preserving init order?

Looking forward to the game.

I'm signed up for Voices in the Void as well, which I noticed you are also running. The GM and most/all of the other players in Slachagok's current scenario are all participating in and trying to finish before Gameday, so he should be free by the 5th.

I'm less confident that my VitV character (Summoner 1) will have wrapped up his scenario too. So, I will probably be bringing in a backup character, which I will roll up by Wednesday or so. If the Gameday setup allows us to start before the 5th, and everyone else is on board with that, I'd be fine with bumping Slachagok over to VotV, and bringing the backup in here so we wouldn't need to wait around.

Some GM questions:

1. Can I use the Bit of Luck domain power on myself?

You can use it on yourself, however, it, like most Domain Powers pretty weak to do so most of the time. It is a Standard Action and last until the end of your turn only, which cuts out a lot of benefits for actually using the ability. It's stupid as heck, but Paizo did that. In a home game, I would have no issue with it lasting until the end of your next turn, but in PFS I have to go by the book. So on yourself, it is really only going to help if you ready an action or something, knowing something is coming.

2. Do you allow Take 10 and Take 20 on all skills except those which explicitly say you can't?

Yes, I allow them, and sometimes encourage them. Sometimes, just to speed things up, I will assume that NPC's are taking 10. If you are not sure, feel free to say something like "If I can, I'll just take 10 (for a 24), or <dice roll>."

3. How are you doing Init and posting? First come first serve, or are you preserving init order?

Looking forward to the game.

I will roll Init for everyone when the time has come, (and if you initiate a combat, I will also let you assume a Surprise round if it seems plausible). From there, to speed up combat, I will break everyone into Groups, and I will call for everyone in a group to go. I will still go by the actual init, and will allow some freedom to re-declare your actions or switch it. Occasionally, if it seems like a really obvious choice, I might just switch it a little for you, (and say "hey, is this cool, if not let me know and we can retcon it a bit", but it will always be reasonable).

I am looking for somewhere around daily posting, with 1-3 being great. I will be fairly active on the weekends, myself, but most of the time I notice that that is when the games die down until Sunday night. I do however, understand that that might not be possible, and also that life happens. If you know that you might not be able to post for a day or so, let me know. I'd also like from everyone, once we kind of get started, to give me a fairly generic action you would like for me (or other players) to take for you if you vanish for a little while and we need to move on. Something like "I Aid Another, trying to give the nearest character with the least H an AC bump", or "I want to try to attack as much as I can", to "I sit back and try to heal". Now, one thing I do want to point out is that I WILL NOT use any of your resources (spells, potions, scrolls, etc. . .) for you UNLESS it is basically going to be a life or death thing right then.

Incase people didn't realize, PFS has (or is supposed to anyway) the new Season 5 style Secondary Conditions PDF which is as of today now the only legal method to get the extra PP for a scenario. basically, each scenario has a primary goal (the mission) and a secondary one (which is sort of like doing the mission the best you can). Faction missions are no longer allowed.

I am perfectly fine with questions, and I am also perfectly fine with people reasonably bringing up that I might have done something wrong. I will listen to your side, and even other player's opinions, again reasonably, and make a call. I do ask that do so in the Discussion forums, (just calling it out in the game forum, but explaining it in detail in the Discussion). You may also PM me, or Email me at DarthBeckett@Gmail.com if you want it to be private.

It all sounds good.

I actually don't intend to uss BoL on myself (which is why I went with Varisian Pilgrim), but was just curious if it was allowed per RAW.

Here's the Inquisitor 1. Well, he's a Bard at the moment, but he's got a retrain ready to go once his current scenario (Silent Tide) ends. I hope for it to wrap up by the 5th, but I will have a backup character ready if it hasn't.

Not liking the bard class?

Checking in! Greetings everyone!

Slachagok wrote:

Here's the Inquisitor 1. Well, he's a Bard at the moment, but he's got a retrain ready to go once his current scenario (Silent Tide) ends. I hope for it to wrap up by the 5th, but I will have a backup character ready if it hasn't.

Not liking the bard class?

I love the class, but it wasn't right for this character. I had built him up around the Detective archetype. All well and good, until the day it occurred to me that a melee-focused, Abadar-worshiping Detective really just wants to be an Inquisitor.

Yes, I can see that if worshiping Abadar is central to the theme. I tried playing Lem, the pre-gen bard and I can't say it was that much fun. I want to like bards, but Bard song isn't that great and the spells are somewhat lackluster. Sleep,Command, and Daze can be helpful at low levels, but how do you cast spells if you're playing an instrument to maintain Bard Song? I think Silent Image is probably one of the most useful spells, but few people take it or use it creatively.

I do like the idea of Inquisitors. Unfortunately, the table variation on Monster Knowledge checks is horrendous and I've seen situations where a player beat the DC by like 10 and the GM basically gave us the subtype info and told us that the creature had spells and a "variety of ranged and physical attacks." Really? Paizo needs to provide a lot more guidance on what is given by K. Checks on monsters. The refusal of GMs to relate info like AC, Hit Dice, Movement speed, etc, really neuters the value of k. skills. Consider that if I have two monsters X, and Y. If you succeed on knowledge checks for both, you'll have no idea which monster is going to be tougher to kill. You'd think a K check would tell you that a dragon has more hit dice than a kobold, but GMs have not been given any help in how to reveal that info without feeling like it's metagame.

I had a funny situation in a recent game along those lines: my Alchemist rolls a 23 on DC 17 Kn. (Arcana) to identify an imp, but doesn't 'remember' that imps are immune to fire damage, and I had forgotten OOC. I'm sure I could have come up with a way to justify using his bow instead of a bomb, but it at least made a nice RP moment.

OK, so I was wanting to start a new thread for the Gameplay, and instead it ported this (the recruitment) over as the Gameplay, and disassociate the other two. I'm going to post the intro, BUT, please do not post here until the 5th, because that is when the game officially begins. You can however, now post in the Discussion Thread.

Scene 1, The Night Marches of Kalkamedes

Life in the Society is often interesting, (usually in the Tian sense of the word), with it’s agents and allies such as yourself coming and going on missions with little warning. Though a minor group, it has some measure of influence across this and many other worlds. Called to adventure once, you are summoned from throughout the world to the virgin lands of Varisia, requested by one of it’s Venture Captains, Sheila Heidmarch. However, unlike in normal circumstances, you are not asked to meet her at her home, which also serves as the areas Lodge, but instead a small rural home on the outskirts. Finally finding the place, a small home in the middle of nowhere along a dirt road that seems to rarely see use, Sheila waits in a humble rocking chair on the porch. Smiling that you have all arrived, she waves you to come inside. “I thank you for coming on such sort notice. I must apologize, this is a little out of the ordinary. But he chooses to live in the shadows of the Fenwell mountains, and here is where you are needed.”

Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch glances out a window as the last wisps of twilight fade over the Fenwall Mountains. Turning from the sight, she runs her hand along the rustic cabin’s wall and stands beside an occupied wooden bed before addressing you.
“This,” the venture captain says, gesturing to the man thrashing around violently, straining against the bonds that lash him securely to the bed, “is our colleague, Kalkamedes. Every night for several weeks now, he has fallen into a deep slumber and tried to sleepwalk right out of his cottage. If not restrained, he marches straight north, eventually falling off a cliff or into a bog as if trying to get himself killed in an attempt to reach an unknown goal.” As though he were expressing disagreement, the man tied to the bed suddenly begins pumping his limbs even harder, the violent spasms threatening to smash the bed into splinters.

“There are those who have recently criticized the Pathfinders for our indifference to the plight of our fellow field agents. It’s time to show that’s not true. I want you to help Kalkamedes, whether he wants it or not. Several of our best spellcasters have attempted an extensive list of magical cures, but whatever sleepwalking curse or effect he’s under tenaciously resists our efforts. All we can do is keep him safe.”

Heidmarch pats him with a degree of professional affection, and Kalkamedes rewards her by trying to swat her with his head.

“Kalkamedes’s friends are at their wits’ end, so we are going to attempt the only thing that we have not tried: we’re going to let him go tonight. That’s where you come in. I want you to follow him and keep him safe and in one piece. Let him get to wherever his addled brain thinks he needs to go so badly. Maybe, just maybe, if he gets there, you can find a way to help him. Maybe you can determine who or what did this to him and find a way to undo it.” Heidmarch pulls out a serrated knife. “Now before I cut him free, does anyone have any questions or last minute preparations?”

So, when I do these, that means if your character is able, roll the associated checks, and if you beat the DC, read the hidden spoiler. It speeds things up, but also relies on the honor system. Also, from here on out, please post in this thread "in character" only.

The game is now open. Jump in and enjoy.

know(local): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"It would be our honor to safeguard and seek relief for such an honored fellow Pathfinder."

"Do you know if Kalkamedes will resist bindings, if we should apply ropes in the event he should fall?"

"Is Kalkamedes distractable or enchantable when pursuing his course? Can these types of magics be used to cause him to pause?"

[IMG]http://i1163.photobucket.com/albums/q544/humorm/LasLajas_zpsfac234be.jpg[/IMG]

It's funny, though Las Lajas had adopted the Varisian style for worshiping Sinashakti, he was completey unfamiliar with Varisia. As a Native Outsider, there were many things he was unfamiliar with. But with shortbow in hand, Las had decided to carry the joy of his deity with him as he traveled. The Aasimar's titanium hear and iridescent eyes gave the cleric a rather intriguing look.

This was Las' first mission for the Society. He hadn't even had time to visit Absalom and go through the initiation. Neverheless, his mind turned to the interesting puzzle before the group. The idea of letting Kalkimedes run amok seemed ill-conceived, but the cleric could offer no other plan. Las decided he would focuse on enabling others.

"Safe journeys to all, I am Las Lajas, a Varisian pilgrim and cleric of Sinashakti. Kalkimedes reminds me of myself, in his journey through this part of the Great Beyond."

Kn, Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Kargen looks over when Angruf calls him an 'honored Pathfinder'. Maybe he was famous before, but he's in a bad spot now. The former military man stands in a relaxed, but still attentive posture.

"Will he resist our efforts to guide him or try to evade us? How can we know where he's planning to go if he tries to walk off a cliff again?"

"As long as he doesn't try to obscure his tracks, I should be able to follow his trail, but if he's so entranced, then we might just be able to walk right behind him."

"As you can see, when he is in this state, he attacks anyone that tries to prevent him from going to, well, wherever he is trying to go. We have tried to leave him bound here, but so far have totally failed to find whatever it is he is looking for", placing a gentle hand on the man's forehead, which causes him to shift and struggle a bit more.

"Although we know he marches north, we haven’t been able to find anything that sheds any light on the situation. For this to work, we’ll need Kalkamedes to be our guide and show us exactly where he’s trying to
go. That’s why you have to get the job done before dawn. Once he wakes up, he remembers nothing and becomes downright useless as a guide.”

"Please help him. He,. . . Pathfinders deserve better than this."

Any more questions? I'm going to wait until I hear from everyone before we move on any more. And if you made the checks, don't forget to spread the knowledge. :)

Dressed in fashionable Taldane men's attire with a pair of short swords on her hips, this woman is short, and confident in bearing. Brown eyes and slightly dark skin suggests some Qadiran blood in her ancestry.

Knowledge: Local 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"I will be glad to help. One thing; I recall that Kalkamedes used to be a Paladin. Do you know anything about this or why he gave up his vows so suddenly? And might this have something to do with his research into the Runelords and the heroes who opposed them? I heard that is why he relocated to Varisia." she asks.

Las wasn't the smartest guy in the world, but his experience with travel did provide him insights every now and then.

"If we are going to have to follow him, then I will recommend we put a heavy backpack on him so that we can more easily track him. We might also trie a rope to him so that we can keep him in one place should we need time to inviestigate. I worry that if encounter trouble, he may continue on without us."

From underneath the half orc a halfling comes forward nodding his had head in agreement "yes a rope sounds like a good idea"

-Posted with Wayfinder

"I will be glad to help. One thing; I recall that Kalkamedes used to be a Paladin. Do you know anything about this or why he gave up his vows so suddenly? " she asks.

Looking down on her patient with sadness, "I'm not sure anyone really knows that answer to that besides the man himself. We know that it wasn't too long after he found his sword, but there was nothing I can think of, and he did not speak of it, even to me." Sheila stops for a moment, looking around like something just occurred to her. "Curious, now that I think of it, I'm not entirely sure where he kept his adventuring gear. . .", as he is mostly naked, wearing a simple night gown and bindings.

"And might this have something to do with his research into the Runelords and the heroes who opposed them? I heard that is why he relocated to Varisia."

"If you had more time, I would say to head back to the Lodge, a library, or even to ask around, but this must be done now. I'm sorry, you do not even have time to prepare or even restudy you spells. Look at him! I don’t think he can take much more of this, so I need you to get out there tonight. One way or another, we’re going to settle this, and cure him of his affliction.", leaving you a bit unsure exactly what that last bit was supposed to mean.

"wait before w cut him loose"

Thoril will take a quick look for the mans armor in the house

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

-Posted with Wayfinder

Anyone else helping?

"One more thing. Important. What do we do if he turns on us? Either because of this enchantment or whatever. Do we...do we kill him?"

"Kill him?" Yanbrel scoffs. "Why so eager?"

The half-elf tilts his head toward the small brown owl resting on his left shoulder. The bird and witch both stare silently at Kargen.

"No, Goody doesn't like your idea," he concludes after a moment. "Tie him up again, or knock him out, cripple him maybe. He always snaps out of it eventually, as our captain as said."

Yanbrel puts his hands on his side and walks around in a tight circle, examining the room. The owl's body rotates around with his keeper, but the creature's head remains staring fixedly at the inquisitor.

"His sword, you said?" he asks Heidmarch. "Where did he get it? This man ought not to have weapons."

Searching the lodge for any of Kalkamedes' gear.

Yanbrel, Perception: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 2 = 12 +3 in shadows/darkness
Goody, Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Moll leans against the porch and pulls a pipe and a pouch of tobacco from her belt. She uses her flint to light it after filling the bowl and tamping the tobacco down. Soon a stream of smoke is issuing from her mouth and nostrils as some of the others search the cottage.

"Can we get him a coat or something? Looks like he'll catch cold out in the night like that." she says.

"One more thing. Important. What do we do if he turns on us? Either because of this enchantment or whatever. Do we...do we kill him?"

That's awesome. :)

Sheila's jaw drops at the idea, and she stands up and interposes herself between Kargen and Kalkamedes as a reflexive action, "Are you, . . simple? No. No you can not kill him. He is a sick man. “Do what you must, but go easy on him. Remember the point of this is to help him! He will not "turn on you". He may simply walk past you if unrestrained, or might attempt to strike you with his fists if you try to prevent him from reaching what I hope is the source of his madness, but even if you put a weapon in his hands, he can't use it while sleepwalking. He is harmless and defenseless."

Searching the house, the wardrobe in Kalkamedes’s bedchamber contains his outdoor clothing (an explorer’s outfit) and a pair of strong boots. A drawer in the end table next to Kalkamedes’s bed contains a series of unfinished charts mapping the Fenwall Mountains.

Oddly, within the stove, you find the remains of a crumpled and burned charcoal SKETCH depicting a squat fortress under a full moon enshrouded by clouds. It seems it was crumpled and tossed in there recently, and you think he might have done so in his waking moments, perhaps in a futile attempt to rid him of the shadow of the haunting memory he can't recall, but still feels. However, you also see a secret compartment within the stove, which opens to reveal a solid metal chest, with a few thing inside. Sadly, it's locked.

Thoril will smash it with his earth breaker till it opens

-Posted with Wayfinder

Angruf aids the others in searching the house for the man's effects.
perception - aid another: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Angruf also assembles a harness from rope, to allow several dozen yards of 'lead' behind the harness. "If he goes over a cliff, we may be able t catch him. If he disappears into a concealed turning, we should be better able to follow him. "

"Has someone got some persistent source of light - an ioun torch, an everburning torch, or something similar? We could afix such a thing to him, the better to track his movements."

The witch grins a smile which stops halfway up his face. "I have the appropriate device."

After a few moments of rummaging, Yanbrel produces a bowl-like piece of metal from his pack. A leather strap hands down over the mouth, and narrow spike protrudes from the other side.

"Simply stick a candle here," he indicates the spike, "and strap it to the subject's head." He turns the item over in his hands contemplatively. "In a pinch, trepanation been known to cure such madness."

A short screech expresses Goody's approval.

Helmet candle. Unclear if candle included.

Kargen holds up his hands. "I meant no offense. But a skilled and trained Pathfinder, a Paladin no less, can be deadly. We're talking about him being enchanted, and we're possibly going to get between him and what he's seeking. Even unarmed, he can hurt us. I had to ask."

He goes to look at what the others have found in the stove. He shows the picture to the Captain. "Do you recognize this?" He casts a simple spell and examines the chest.

Cast Detect Magic and examine the chest.

Las also decides to investigate the chest.

Detect Magic + Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

To Heidmarch's utter astonishment (in the worst way), the chest bursts open as she holds up a key dangling around Kalkamedes's neck. "You are all simple. How did you make it past the Grand Lodge?"

Within is a now 2 busted potions, (one had been in a normal flask while the other had been in a mithral one, whose design would allow it to double as both a dagger and a caltrop), a strange longsword, it seems both exceptionally sharp and light, a piece that would be fit for a king, if it didn't have a massive crack running down the blade. There are also a pair of bracers (of Armor +1), and mud stained cloak (or Resistance +1).

The Sword of Kalkamedes

If there are no objections i think Moll Cutpurse should have the bracers of armor. If no one objects i would like the cloak.

"If this is all then we still need to find him some clothes"

Thoril will go to a dresser and grab something to cover the man

"Quiet steps after nightfall," he replies to Sheila Heidmarch.

The witch has busied himself affixing the candle helmet to the recalcitrant Kalkamedes. He slips the leather thong beneath his chin and yanks on the free end, securing the device atop the Pathfinder's head.

"Pass me any more fugue scribblings," Yanbrel calls to Thoril without turning his head. "I like the details in the moon."

No objections. Perception to loot the house of candles.

Yanbrel: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8
Goody: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

When Thoril smashes the box, Las shakes his head and takes the cloak from the halfling.

"So let me get this straight, you smash the box without asking anyone if they have a key, break two of the potions that could have helped anyone of us, and then you think you are entitled to what ever is inside? Next time you want to use the earth breaker, try knocking some sense into your own head. I'll wear the cloak and let that be a lesson to you."

@GM without Detect Magic and a successful Spellcraft how do people know what the magic items are? Just giving out the info undermines the value of having my put 1 of my 2 skill points in Spellcraft.

After a pause, Las' annoyance subsides and he regards the sword,

"This weapon has a transmutation magic about it. I suspect there is some deception at work, but I'm still learning the many mysteries of magic."

Moll rolls her eyes. "Thoril, let the grown-ups take care of things from now on. If there's something to hit later, we'll let you know." she says.

"What's all that then? A fine sword it is." she says, observing the contents of the chest. "And that sketch? Can anyone make head or tails of it?" she asks.

Las does his best to suppress a smirk at Moll's comment.

"Seems like a place that's been on Kalkimedes' mind and he might have drawn it? Anyone with any knowledge of the area, does this place look familiar?"

Being a young halfling and night quite as smart for someone his age, Thoril looks down and skuffs his feet on the floor "Yes mam." he replys with the look of knowing he did something wrong.

Scattershot skill checks to recognize drawing.

Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Knowledge (Geography), untrained: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Its nothing youve ever seen before and Sheila likewise claims to have no knowledge, but says ""it may be, or at least related to the "Black Edifice" he sometimes mentions. We have asked scholars and none can answer."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Having completed trussing Kalkamedes with some safety harnassing, he casts a mournful gaze at the destroyed box and potions. Angruf asks, "May I inspect the papers, please?"

Angruf carefully reviews the sketch, and the incomplete maps. He attempts to find some commonalities, or some potential vantage from which the depicted landscape might be evident. He also wracks his brain to determine if he knows anything of the architecture or symbology of the structure makes sense.

knowledge(engineering): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
knowledge(geography): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
knowledge(history): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
knowledge(nobility): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

"Perhaps someone with a greater command of maps and geography might try to find a correspondence between the maps and the picture?"