Dien's Entombed with the Pharaohs (Inactive)

Game Master dien

Sure, I'll grant you a reflex save to try and snag them on your way up!

Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Like lightning, the nimble brown fingers of Javi dart out towards his tools, hooking into the metal ring that holds delicate wires and picks. Not leaving those behind! They jingle on he fingers as he flies upwards.

And alas, it's more than a ten-foot horizontal jump.

...and Javi takes a moment to scan the grounds. From this side of the estate, it's no more than thirty feet to the gleaming wall of the ankh-shaped building-- which conveniently blocks a direct line of sight to the house. As long as you don't dally and risk someone on the street seeing you against the pale dun stone of the wall, it should be child's play to make it...

More like thirty feet. So you're on top of a twenty-foot tall building at the moment, which is thirty horizontal feet away from a ten-foot tall perimeter wall. You certainly can try leaping the thirty-foot gap, but that's a DC 30. As for visibility: Lyrian's still invisible, there's most of a building between you and the new figures, and you're probably not directly visible to the street guards either. Right now, you're fairly sure you can act without being seen.

"Haul ass," says Lyrian. "I'm right behind you."

Javi pockets his tools as he takes a little joy-ride up, giving the eight white-robed warriors a helpless shrug and wink. He carefully scrambles up over the lip of the skylight, barking a laugh at Lyrian.

”Now that’s an idea. I’m beginning to really like you, Pathfinder.” He winks, ”Though don’t tell that to Rosalia. I can’t imagine why, but I don't think she likes me.”

He quickly coils the rope and grappling hook over his shoulder as he gauges the distance between the roofline and the wall. ”That’s gotta be 30 feet. You really think you can make that?” he asks, looking with surprise at where he thinks Lyrian is standing. Annoyance flashes quickly on his tiny features. ”Bah! Don’t answer that.”

He dry-rubs his hands together quickly, getting his footing and picking his path for the jump, letting the distractions of the moment fade to oblivion as he focuses on the task at hand… attempting to fly over a wall 30 feet in front of him.

He explodes forward…

Acrobatics DC 30: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19; Waa-waa-waaaaaaaaaa…

… Javi misses his footing on the last step, sending himself hurtling forward at a dangerously low trajectory.

what are the chances that us having a 10 foot elevation advantage from the wall-top gives me a +11 bonus to my attempt? :D

"Not a chance," says Lyrian, who casts feather fall and leaps off the building, then sprints for the wall.

The myriad emotions Rook is sending her way - ranging from relief to absolute terror as Javi leaps from the wall - is causing Rosalia some consternation. She can't figure out what the heck is going on at all, and it's most likely showing on her face. "W-Well then, dear, we'd best head off back that way then! Come along now!"

Bluff: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Reaching up on her tiptoes, she whispers in Heldar's ear, "I think we should run. Now."

Meanwhile, the cat realises that he should have picked the spellcaster's shoulder to ride. Damn mundane plebians.

Heldar's face turns stern as he nods at Rosalia - "Lead the way!" - he urges.

Just to clarify, Rosalia and Heldar are going away (following guard's directions) or going towards Shaggar, Javi, & Lyrian?

***

Javi prepares for a feat of marvelous acrobatics. He intends to fly like his namesake, buzz easily over the low barrier of walls...! Alas... gravity is a harsh mistress.

He gets some impressive air all the same, but he does not stick the landing.

Falling damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Javi's foot slides on that last step he takes to vault himself into space... and he lands less than gracefully, ten feet shy of the wall he'd meant to vault over. And by 'less than gracefully', we mean he lands on his face.

Lyrian is a much more graceful, but invisible, descender, drifting to the dirt like a ghost.

The well-dressed Osirian man strides towards the gate, towards the guard trying to get his attention, and barks a short order to his armed servant which sends his servant into a run towards the ankh building.

Both the guards turn to look at Heldar and Rosalia leaving dust behind them, blinking; a bit slow to react, they nonetheless grip their spears and start after them.

"Hold, outlanders! Master Sem-Thet has questions to you!" the formerly-amiable guard yells.

---
Actions that round/current locations:

Lyrian: standard to cast feather fall, free to drop, moves 30 to base of perimeter wall.

Javi: move to jump, free to faceplant all you want, move to stand, 10 feet away from base of perimeter wall.

Crook Bearer: moves 60 in direction of gate. He is still over 200 feet away from ankh building.

Armed Servant: moves 120 in direction of ankh building. He is 110 feet away from ankh building, but will likely reach it the next round.

Rosalia & Heldar: Runnin'! But where?
Guard 1 & 2: chasing Rosalia and Heldar.

Anyone, go!

(Oh, and Shaggar, you can likely hear the WHUMP of a halfling landing on his face in the dirt. Let me know you're still with us!)

With only 1 damage taken, I think I can take a little creative license here. :D

In mid-fall, Javi splays his arms and legs wide for a heart-beat, then—with a surprising amount of practiced precision—throws himself into a spinning tuck just before impact… turning what was looking like a spectacular face-plant into more of a rough, bouncing tumble against the ground. (Being an expert jumper and tumbler generally means you’re an well-practiced faller as well. :D )

Even as he scampers to his feet and moves towards the wall, he uncoils the rope and—with an urgency borne of what he assumes is the estate-owner’s commands—spins the grappling hook twice over-head and throws it for the wall-top.

5’ step towards the wall, Move to draw the grappling hook/rope, Standard to throw it.
Grappling Throw: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Sheesh... this is turning into a comedy of errors over here. Nothing like a clutch player, right?

Dien, I believe we were movig towards Shaggar, Javi, & Lyrian :D

EDIT: Heldar will hold his action until he sees what Rosalia opts to do.

Shaggar's ears perk up at the halfling-sized whump. Sticking to his hiding spot, he pulls out a fine spider-silk rope, tosses three coils over the wall, and readies himself to yank it back over.

MOVE: Pull rope
STAND: Toss rope

Lyrian tosses up his own grappling hook.

Lingering Performance means his Archaelogist's Luck is still active.

Grappling Hook: 1d20 + 4 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 4 + 3 = 12

Looks like we'll be sharing a cell, Javi.

I think we should run away from them, as a distraction of sorts.

Rosalia grabs Heldar's hand and makes a run for it.

"Rook is still pretty freaked out," she says hurriedly. "I don't know what's going on down their end, but I don't think it's good at all. Let's keep them watching us and not them."

Rosalia glances behind the two of them at the following guards.

"Let me try this..."

With a snap of her fingers and a disgusting squelch from god-knows-where, a splatter of thick grimy mud coats the ground before their pursuers.

Casting grease on the guards' area - DC 14 Reflex or fall prone. Like dropping a banana peel in Mario Kart...

Glad we haven't lost you, Shaggar! As are your teammates...

1: 1d20 ⇒ 17
2: 1d20 ⇒ 19

....sometimes, the Mario Kart guys dodge really well! Man, I coulda used those rolls for my PCs in other games...

Despite the sudden eruption of grease at their feet, and some slipping and sliding, somehow neither guard falls, even as they comically clutch at each other to keep from toppling over.

(In Osiriani) 'Idiots! They must be in league with the thieves! After them!' yells the estate owner, rushing to the gate to open it.

Meanwhile, Lyrian and Javi are apparently getting a bunch of pre-emptive tomb-cursing bad luck out of the way: they throw their grappling hooks at the exact same moment. The two hooks arc through the air-- bounce into each other-- and drop in a tangle of rope atop the wall. You guys couldn't do that again if you tried.

Fortunately, Shaggar knows how to throw a rope. Or better yet, Shaggar knows when to throw a rope, so as not to tangle it with yours. The Shaggarvator is back in business! All aboard!

The armed servant reaches the building...

Perceiving the brouhaha just around the corner, at the wall?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Apparently, no. He cries out in Osiriani, back towards his master:

"Sir! I can hear them inside the building still! We have them!" and begins unlocking the heavy door.

A few seconds later, the wall team can hear the Osiriani equivalent of "....what the f%&~?" as the servant looks in to see a room full of ancient Osiriani warriors milling around, woefully lacking direction and life purpose.

In the next handful of seconds, Javi and Lyrian are able to grab the rope, and use that and Shaggar's mighty assistance to clamber over the wall unnoticed. By the time the red-faced Crook Bearer reaches the building to investigate his servant's shouted claims of there being eight well-armed warriors inside, they are nothing but ghosts on the desert wind...

As for Rosalia and Heldar... despite the guards' astonishing ability to remain upright through a sudden oil slick springing at their feet, it appears that neither of them are very eager to give serious pursuit to spell-casters. The guards make a good show of chasing and waving their spears and yelling, but the Pathfinders notice that they're managing to keep ahead of the two guardsmen, even Heldar in his heavier armor. They lose the guards at the edge of the district, or perhaps the guards lose them...

Moving things along since the appearance of the Osiriani warriors definitely caused a distraction that would, I think, have enabled you guys to escape fairly easily. Lyrian proposed that if the team got separated, they would meet at the wadi outside of town. Is everyone headed there now, or did anyone have last minute purchases they wished to make in the city? Of course, the faces of Rosalia and Heldar, at least, have now been seen by city guardsmen...

I made my purchases before so let's get the wadi out of town... er get TO the wadi out of town. :P

While there are some purchases that would have been nice, becoming scarce is probably smart. Plus, this may be the first time we're out ahead of the competition.
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I'm not exactly the most experienced dungeon-delver, but do we think Heldar's equipped to handle the different attacks undead and the like can throw at us? Poisons? Ability drain, etc?Curses?

Once over the wall (and likely visible soon after), Lyrian lopes along beside Javi, ready to blow town and meet up at the agreed-upon wadi that evening. He makes haste to do so.

While there are some purchases that would have been nice, becoming scarce is probably smart. Plus, this may be the first time we're out ahead of the competition.

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I'm not exactly the most experienced dungeon-delver, but do we think Heldar's equipped to handle the different attacks undead and the like can throw at us? Poisons? Ability drain, etc?Curses?

Well... I have never... You doubt my abilities, oh ye of small stature?! "Do not mistake me for some conjuror of cheap tricks!"

But seriously. There is not much more to add to Heldar's arsenal - at least with his current funds. Restoration is in his spell list, though I have no immediate way to deal with poison or curses except for the much disconsidered Paragon Surge - if this use is a no go, then I can simply trade it off for another spell.

In any case, maybe only Heldar and Rosalia are compromised within city walls, I think you boys can go shopping :D

We'll write you a shopping list. :) Maybe just a couple of scrolls of Remove Disease/Neutralise Poison would be enough.

"Good thing I never want to come back to this godsforsaken awful place," Rosalia says between pants once she and Heldar manage to shake their tail, grimacing. "Let's get back to that... woddy or whatever it is." She wisely pulls her hood over her head, even despite the heat, knowing that her Northern self stands out like a sore thumb here...

If nothing else, Rosalia and Heldar are making their way straight to the wadi. :P I'll fast forward to that, but if Javi or Lyrian want to make some last-minute purchases, you can assume you stopped by the bazaar and did that on your way out of town...

The sun is past its zenith, and it is mid-fternoon, by the time the dusty Pathfinders (and honorary Pathfinders) regroup at their agreed-upon rendezvous.

In slight contrast to the original plan, Javi has both the masks in his possession, now. (Look, he wasn't expecting ghost scorpions.) To the naked eye they are fairly indistinguishable, but a cursory glance by Rosalia, Heldar, or Lyrian while using the ever-useful cantrip to detect magic shows that one of the two masks is almost overpoweringly enchanted.

The mask radiates a very strong aura of conjuration. In appearance, the mask appears to be the stylized face of a beautiful woman, frozen in the serenity of death, crafted out of beaten gold. Fifty-six feathers, dyed red and black, form an elaborate headdress for the mask-- the feathers look to be originally from a hieracosphinx. The silk strap of the mask, which Javi had cut, dangles limply in the still, desert air.

A string of hieroglyph-esque symbols circle the outer rim of the mask, but a quick glance reveals they are four specific symbols, repeated over and over. Lyrian is able to shed some light on those-- he pulls out a scrap of papyrus from his pack, comparing the symbols on the mask to symbols scrawled on the unrolled piece of reed-paper.

The four runic symbols are the personal cartouches of each of the Four Pharaohs: these are the runes that Raegos was so panicked over the possibility of seeing all four. However, on the mask, they are harmless-- these runes are not circled, and it is in their encircled, final form that they are, according to Raegos, so very deadly.

(The Rune of Subjugation) - the Rune of the Fiend Pharaoh

(The Rune of the Desert) - The Rune of the Cerulean Pharaoh

(The Rune of Fealty) - The Rune of the Radiant Pharaoh

(The Rune of Reckoning) - The Rune of the Pharaoh of Numbers

(In the other table's game, Lyrian had gotten descriptions of each of the runes; I feel it's only fair to let him carry that knowledge over to here. Perhaps the Mithral Scarab gave it to him, or perhaps he dug it up on his own in a musty tome.)

The air is hot and sweltering around you. Circumstances seem to have forced your group towards the overland route. It is more or less the hottest part of the day, right now. A thin trickle of water darkens the sand at the bottom of the wadi gorge, and a few scraggly desert trees form a thin offering of shade. Will you set out now, in hopes of putting distance between yourself and Sothis, and both legal and illegal pursuit...? Or will you wait until the shadows lengthen?

Heldar stares directly into the sun, shielding his eyes after a few seconds and turning to the others with a smile - "What now my friends?"

I suddenly get the feeling we may need a Wand of Endure Elements :D

”Well,” Javi says, looking around in the heat then back at the two masks, ”I’d say we should beat a hot trail straight towards the tomb, but I only have the gear on my back.”

He shrugged, ”Moving fast sounded good, but I have no idea what we’re up against… and i haven’t done much deep desert surviving. I have my clothes, my pack, one waterskin, and exactly zero food.” He pauses before smiling with a small shrug, ”Well, and my rakish good looks, for what that’s worth.”

It's not a bad call, but I also hate to lose time. Word will get out of the heist, and your descriptions will surely be mixed in with it... meaning our opponents will likely know our destination. I'd love to head out now if we think we can manage it. Though Javi isn't really outfitted for deep desert travel.

Why don't we take the time to set a shopping list, have you Lyrian gou back into town to get what we need [you are the perfect choice to barter for some nice prices :D], while we wait outside, in the shade preferably? ;)

Shaggar looks at the outlanders with a small measure of sympathy as they stare upon the rolling, blank canvas of flame-kissed sand. The trek won't be easy... and their heat-trapping clothes wouldn't make it any easier. The gnoll drops the large bag he's been hauling around since the morning and pulls it open. He looks to his companions, "Excuse me - sadah and sayyidah - you are dressed to die in the desert. I have gotten you better clothing - to your sizes, I think. You can wear them over your armor if you wish." He hands out loose-fitting robes and head coverings, appropriately sized for Javi, Heldar, and Rosalia. He bobs his head at Lyrian and hands him a large robe and keffiyeh, "Unfortunately, I had to get these in a hurry, so they may be a bit large for you."

You guys are now decked out in http://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment---final/goods-and-services/containers-bags-boxes-more#TOC-Outfit-Hot-Weather: with the lovely Fort Save benefits against heat.

From the bag, the gnoll pulls six wineskins brimming with water and distributes them. "I have food as well but I'll carry that. The water, you keep close to you at all times. In the desert, water is life." He closes up the now considerably smaller bag and stuffs it into his pack. "It would be best to travel at night, but I think we need to put distance between ourselves and any pursuit. When you are ready, we will go." The gnoll lowers a pair of smoked desert goggles over his red eyes, loops his keffiyeh over his elongated neck and head, slaps the hyena lovingly and moves to the edge of the wadi to watch for approaching pursuit, plot their course, and wait for the team.

Perception 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 2 = 30 in Deserts
Survival (plotting course) 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 19 in Deserts, w/ compass

Javi - knock off another 8 GP from your cash for Lyrian's outfit. ;P I'm good for it.

Dien - how do you want to run us obscuring our path for the next few hours in case we are followed?

Grrr... Here is that link with the right tag: Hot Weather Clothes

Javi - knock off another 8 GP from your cash for Lyrian's outfit. ;P I'm good for it.

Done. :)

Javi holds up the clothes in front of him before stripping off a few pieces of unnecessary clothing and donning the robes. They seem to fit as well (or as poorly) as what he was wearing before, but at least they’re climate-appropriate.

As he stows his old clothes, shuffling the gear in his pack to make sure it all fits comfortably, his face scrunches up in thought.

Does Javi know any place that is close to their current location (or pretty close to being on the path that Shaggar is plotting) where they can pick up a couple of camels? Towns? Homesteads? Frequently-used merchant paths?
Knowledge: Local: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

And Heldar, with the new clothes (and especially if we can pick up some camels), do you still want to try to have Javi and Lyrian go pick up a few last-mnute supplies? Or are you good to attempt our crossing and tomb-raiding?

Lyrian is surprised. "My thanks, gentlemen. This will make things easier." He strips and changes into the hot weather clothes.

"I say we head out immediately. For once we appear to be ahead of the competition. But they will come after us. Of that I have no doubt."

Lyrian is surprised. "My thanks, gentlemen. This will make things easier." He strips and changes into the hot weather clothes.

"Agreed. Shaggar, what other surprises you got in that bag? Any camels? My feet are tired."

Shaggar looks at the outlanders with a small measure of sympathy as they stare upon the rolling, blank canvas of flame-kissed sand. The trek won't be easy... and their heat-trapping clothes wouldn't make it any easier. The gnoll drops the large bag he's been hauling around since the morning and pulls it open. He looks to his companions, "Excuse me - sadah and sayyidah - you are dressed to die in the desert. I have gotten you better clothing - to your sizes, I think. You can wear them over your armor if you wish." He hands out loose-fitting robes and head coverings, appropriately sized for Javi, Heldar, and Rosalia. He bobs his head at Lyrian and hands him a large robe and keffiyeh, "Unfortunately, I had to get these in a hurry, so they may be a bit large for you."

[/ooc]

From the bag, the gnoll pulls six wineskins brimming with water and distributes them. "I have food as well but I'll carry that. The water, you keep close to you at all times. In the desert, water is life." He closes up the now considerably smaller bag and stuffs it into his pack. "It would be best to travel at night, but I think we need to put distance between ourselves and any pursuit. When you are ready, we will go." The gnoll lowers a pair of smoked desert goggles over his red eyes, loops his keffiyeh over his elongated neck and head, slaps the hyena lovingly and moves to the edge of the wadi to watch for approaching pursuit, plot their course, and wait for the team.

"Master Blackmaw..." - Heldar comments with a smile, as he looks at the implements provided by Shaggar - "You surprise me again and again with your resourcefulness and forward thinking" - he bows to the huge gnoll - "Thank you for this, as it will dramatically improve our chances of surviving this sweltering heat"

He listents intently to the recommendations, and adds - "Fortunately, creating water is something I can do with ease, and as many times as we may possiby need, if it ever becomes necessary"

And Heldar, with the new clothes (and especially if we can pick up some camels), do you still want to try to have Javi and Lyrian go pick up a few last-mnute supplies? Or are you good to attempt our crossing and tomb-raiding?

I believe so Javi. I don't know which additional preparations I could go through for the time being, so I guess I am good to go.

Before I forget, is anyone interested in doing Spellcraft checks on the mask? You have several days travel to the pyramids, so it doesn't have to be done right now, but juuust asking.

Shaggar's foresight and preparedness come as a pleasant surprise to his fellow agents. The gnoll breaks out the gear he had wisely purchased in advance, getting the team as ready for deep desert travel as it's possible to make them, when half of them are outlanders from the cooler north.

By the most direct route, the party is 50 miles away from the site of the pyramids. Shaggar confers with Javi over a few points of interest...

-Camels: You're only 3 miles out of Sothis, and there are still travelers and travel routes nearby. Most relevant to Javi's way of thinking, many travelers cut out from Sothis due east to the Ruins of Tumen, especially adventurers such as yourself, as well as the people who make a living off supplying adventurers. The road between Sothis and Tumen passes perhaps a half-mile from the wadi where you currently are planning, and you could always go to the road and try your luck waiting for a caravan of camel-riding souls who might be persuaded to give them up with the right incentive... Camels would significantly decrease your overland travel time.

-Armor: As long as you're on foot, traipsing in the hot sun while wearing multiple pounds of metal will be a bad (and slowing) thing. Heldar especially cannot keep up the on-foot pace of the others as long as he wears his armor, and he is likelier to tire in the sweltering air. Since Heldar's base speed is 20 ft due to his breastplate, that drops the by-foot overland speed of the group from 24 miles a day to 16 (as a base speed, not counting slowness from terrain, which essentially halves it again). Heldar can certainly take it off, if he wishes. The same applies for anyone else slowed by their armor, if I missed your character having it.

-The Underdunes vs the Long Way vs the Water:
REGIONAL MAP
COMPARATIVE TRAVEL TIMES

Shaggar knows that the straightest way is directly over the treacherous Underdunes, which are known to bury many travelers alive in their fierce storms and treacherous shifting sands. It's also the quickest way, if you do not get lost. On the map, I've indicated it as the red route. Civilization and further supplies will be non-existent on this route.

The green route adds some time to your travel, but it avoids the dangers of the Underdunes and passes closer to the river-- meaning towns, fishermen, people. Places to resupply, get camels, food and water. Safer, but longer.

The blue route would be the original plan to go by the water. While I think you guys have pretty definitely tabled that one, as it contains a high risk of discovery, I leave it there for comparison and an option-- you might try cutting back to the river and getting passage from a fishing village, and trust that the news of the theft hasn't spread that far from Sothis.

-The Heat: Aside from the impact on travel times, wearing armor (of any sort) will impact your saves against the hot weather, when you are traveling in daylight hours. For those needing a refresher, the heat rules are here.

-Pursuit: The ground in the immediate region of Sothis is overall flat, even with the occasional wadi gorge. Visibility is very good. Shaggar sees no signs of pursuit over the open land between here and Sothis... but conversely, they will also stand out as travelers when they break the cover of the wadi. Trying to stick to similar gorges for at least a few miles is feasible, if tedious, work. As far as tracks go...

What's the wind like? Higher is windier: 1d100 ⇒ 18

...the air is fairly still, with only the occasional fitful breeze to stir the hot desert. Your collective tracks show up in the sand. The terrain here is not rocky enough to disguise them. Rigging some sort of brush or trailing cloak to further cover your tracks miiiight be feasible, but it's sort of difficult to sweep a path of sand clean enough that it looks just like the rest of the sand next to it. And, of course, there is the matter of your collective scents, unless you have some way to mask that.

WELL that was a long post. TL;DR. Okay, so here is what I need from the party now:

-Red Route, or Green Route? (Or Blue Route?)

-Detouring to try and obtain camels?

-Traveling with armor on as a default, or no?

-For the next few miles, are you intending to stick to the gorges/what cover is possible, or are you booking it across the open ground?

If I missed any relevant questions or rolls you made, feel free to bring them back up.

Dien - heat-wise, are we at the 90 degree or 110 degree level?

After consideration, Shaggar recommends the longer course that parallels the river (Green Route) and suggests the team stick to gorges and wadis for the better part of the first day - to throw off any pursuit. He rings a claw off Heldar's breast-plate. "Sayyid, you may want to take this off unless roasting alive is something you wish to experience."

The gnoll examines a handful of sand, thinking. "Camels would ease the journey... but waiting for a willing seller here is not wise. If we take the trail by the river, we will likely find a village with camels along the way."

For the moment, Shaggar will keep his armor on, unless the temp is above 110. My saves vs heat are quite good and I'd rather be armored until we've escaped any immediate pursuit.

So my capsule opinion:
1. We start walking the green route.
2. We try to throw off any pursuit by sticking to gorges for a day.
3. We try to obtain camels along the green route. So we'll be slow to start and then pick up speed.
4. I recommend that armor comes off, except for Shaggar for this first day, but that is up to ya'll.

Spellcraft (on the mask along the trail) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

I think Stormraven’s suggestion is good. Good chance of being able to pick up camels, only lose a day of travel verses going the red route, but avoids (hopefully) most of the danger.
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And just for clarity, the clothes Shaggar bought for us will improve those checks vs. the heat, right? Javi will still likely go without armor if we have to hoof it (depending on the heat levels), but I want to make sure I know what i’m rolling with.

Secondarily, would a Knowledge: Geography check tell us if there are any villages where we could get some camels on that green route? Would the DC be below 10? Or do we need someone trained in it make the attempt? That would definitely be good to know.

Javi nods along with Shaggar as he settles his equipment for the journey, even copying the gnoll’s decision to keep his armor for the time being.

And Javi will toss any information he has on magic as the team travels (an AA attempt)
Spellcraft DC 10: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Yeah, the clothing's +2 will help with your saves vs heat. I can also help you with a Survival check BUT it won't stack with the clothing bonus and they are both +2s. However, if you are staying still, my survival roll bonus to you will rise to a +4, overriding the bonus from the clothing... Hopefully that wasn't too confusing. Basically, if we get into 110 degree heat, we'll need to stay still and I'll try to give you guys a +4 bonus through Survival and if I fail, you'll get the clothing +2 instead.

Dien stated there were camels along the green route... I think she said that as a result of your K:Local roll before.

Hmmm... but that means not moving, which seems self-defeating. If Javi seems to be getting overwhelmed by the heat, he'll strip out of his armor and rely on the clothes for protection. If we're just getting hammered by the heat, we can stop and have Shaggar protect us at that point. Sound good?

If we are on the go, the clothing essentially mirrors my ability to give you guys a +2 bonus without slowing us down - so that's good for us moving around in 90 degree weather. If we get hit with 110 degrees, we can't keep moving regardless. That's an escalating heat save every 15 minutes. We'll be dead if we try to move in that heat. At that point, we hunker down, try to stay cool, and wait for night to move on.

We're on the same page, Javi. We keep moving and only use my +4 survival bonus if things get really ugly. At some point, we may want to move at night and rest during the day... but right now we want to make tracks.

As always, you're on the ball, man. :)

"I agree. Near the river and get some camels," says Lyrian. "Water and a Wayfinder wouldn't hurt, either."

He'll check out the mask en route.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Not bad, but just in case, he tries when he's feeling a bit luckier.

Spellcraft, with Archaeologist's Luck: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 3 = 25

There ya go.

The gnoll gives a toothy snarl (grin) at the mention of a Wayfinder. He pulls out a busted, old, mundane compass. "This is my Wayfinder."

Hottest part of the day right now, that 2-4 in the afternoon stretch. You get the 110! You're so lucky. If you guys wait an hour-ish, it will drop to 90s-- but if you're trying to get that initial hour's lead, it'll be the 15-minute saves, ayup.

Sounds like a route has been agreed upon; Heldar and Rosalia, ping in on armor things when you can.

And yes, there are camels along the green route-- you could reach the river before nightfall, and where there is river in Egypt Osirion, there is life, and thence camels-- I'll make up a specific fishin' village once you guys near it. ;)

Will address Spellcraft on the mask in my next update.

Javi's still willing to risk the heat to try to make tracks at this point... even in the heat of the day. A little too close to the location of our heist (especially considering how it went down), and the chance to improve on our lead. Unless the Pathfinders (or Shaggar) change their minds, just let me know how many checks to make.

I think Heldar's best option for the time being is to drop the armour. But I have a doubt - if moving about on a camel, what are the drawbacks of the armour?

Once you're on a camel, the drawbacks to movement speed are gone-- because you're using the camel's base movement speed, not your own. By the rules, the heat penalties for armor would still apply.

We can try moving out immediately. The disadvantage there is we are talking about 4 escalating fort saves in the first hour DC:15 to DC:18 and then our hourly saves start at DC:19. Not sure how many saves we have before sunset. We might be down a fair amount of non-lethal if things go poorly. I'm OK with those odds. Are you guys?

Mostly correct, Heldar. One thing-

Shaggar's survival bonus can't stack with the clothing bonus, as he brought up, alas. So as long as you're moving, the best you can get from either clothing or Shaggar's survival is a +2.

I think you have the rest of it correct, though.

Sounds like Shaggar and Javi both favor taking the risk to get a lead; Heldar says wait. Lyrian, I think you favored setting out now, but confirm if you can, and Rosalia?

I was recalling the DC:15 as the time as well (15 minutes) instead of 10. So we are talking 6 saves in the first hour. Dien already stated we are an hour away from the cooler temps so we don't need to worry about 6 saves for the second hour. There will be just one save in that second hour... having said that, we are talking about a DC:21 at the beginning of that second hour instead of a DC:15 if we wait. As I said, I'm willing to risk it - but my fort saves vs heat are really good. And then we have the rest of the day (however many hours that is) with more escalating saves. But I'm not advocating making the run in the heat. I am neutral on the choice, hence the reason I asked if people want to risk it. I'll go with the majority vote.
I suppose the good news in either case, is that any pursuit is likely under the same constraints... unless the CrookBearer has loaded up on Endure Elements.

Rosalia decides to stay quiet and obedient, already sweating up a storm from the upcoming crazy-level heat and loathing every minute of it. She ducks behind a pile of rocks in the wadi to change into the cooler gear; it's a bit long in the leg, but it works well enough. Her armour's off, too, mostly because touching it gave her a minor branding.

I think we should risk the heat saves.

1) We need to get a head start, and for sure the people behind us are going to stop during that kind of temperature.
2) The saves to begin with are not all that bad, so if we start to become fatigued and so forth we'll still be able to cross some ground at least.
3) The heatstroke condition ends when you get rid of the nonlethal damage, as I read it. Heldar could heal us up if we fail a save and we could continue on relatively unaffected.

Side note: if Rosalia conjures an unseen servant to constantly fan her, would that give me a bonus on Fort saves? Heeey? :P

Sounds like there's more voices for "let's risk it" than not. I'll get a post up later today.

And while you get points for clever attempt... no, on Unseen Servant. ;)

Shaggar leads the group into the scorching desert, moving from gorge to gorge, wadi to wadi, and (where possible) shade to shade.

Hatyah presses on after her pack-leader, tireless moving and watching for trouble.

Shaggar Survival (to assist Hatyah) 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 2 = 24 Deserts - success