Down the Verdant Path...new PbP GM (Inactive)

Game Master R. Sweet

Sorry, were those knowledge spoilers only for Herbert? Or may I look at the Planes one?

Wow. Just Wow. I'm crafting my next post. Herbert is RIGHT THERE, so I figure he's got first shot at it. Of course, as he lives in Cali, and may/may not take him a bit to get here. If you make the appropriate roll, yes, you or any other make attempt to look at information.

Aſter another mile or so of travel through increasingly tropical conditions, your group arrives at Deepstead, a long-abandoned elven settlement whose only remaining structure is a low stone well. The riotous jumble of ferns and fungi gives way to a glade with a low stone well at its heart. Wet, warbling sobs escape from a small gray figure slumped against the mossy bricks.

The gnome appears bleached of all color see next slide — even her gaudy costume and intricate tattoos seem incongruously bland and ashen. Her tears flash briefly with iridescent rainbows as they fall. As if half-waking from a dismal dream, the gnome looks skyward and cries

A love so close, so far! I’d give all and more for a drop of crimson or a dab of teal!

My first thought was Rainbow Bright lost to Murky and Lurky.

"Errr, hello? Sorry to disturb you, but do you know anything about what's going on here?"

You caught me red-handed. *sniff* Red!

It must be First World weather oozing through. It’s probably strange on the other side, too. Here it’ll get forever greener, I warrant. I hope you like sunburn. Oh, I miss sunburn! Such a lovely tone.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Herbert easily identifies the Toads with his close inspection moments earlier "The "Toads" were Fey creatures of the First World. Ohh and whats this?" Herbie leans down and grabs a small sample of the mucus left behind by the Toad. "Jamila! Ashasar will be most pleased with this Sample!" he secrets the little vial away in into pouches at his side.

"Onward?" the little Leshy trudges off after the group huffing and puffing trying to keep up.

At the Gnome devoid of color

Herbie approaches the Gnome of no color he extends out a hand after blankly staring at the Gnome. "Greetings! The Names Herbert, friends call me Herbie. I do not think I caught your name." The strange viney smile hopefully does not friten the gnome he continues "Now not to be a thorn in your side HA! are you ok? You seem to be leaking color from your eyes, is that natural?"

Azure, as I'm sitting here, I'm blue but of a different hue without my palate. But it's nearby, just on t'other side. In my greyest hour, I'd welcome knights of any color. Maybe you?

Azure looks despondent but hopeful at you Bernie.

Koani watches the strangely colored gnome quietly from a short distance.

Earlier

"Yip?"

Having spotted something shiny, Blanca wanders over and nudges at the floppy hat with her nose.

Pretty!

Then she looks over at the others.

"Yipyipyip!"

Earlier

Her attention drawn by Blanca's yipping, Minna wanders over to see what's been found.

"Whatcha find, little snowflake? Pretty rocks?" she muses, picking up the hat. "Ooh, maybe I'll string them together into a bracelet or something later," she remarks.

Minna actually does have Craft: Jewelry as a skill :)
________

Present

"On...on the other side of what?" Minna asks, looking around. "There's just the well. Unless you mean on the other side of the trees from where we came?"

Narissiel watches the gnome with curiosity--at least until she mentions the First World... Suddenly serious again, Narissiel approaches the gnome.

"You mentioned First World weather, and earlier we saw creatures from the First World. Is there a portal nearby? And your..." she hesitates, trying to work out this strange little gnome's logic. "Palette..? Is on the other side?"

If the gnome confirms Narissiel's on the right track, she asks a follow up question:
"I worry over the mess such a portal would cause to both out worlds. What do you know of it?"

If the gnome indicates Narissiel's totally wrong, she instead asks:
"I'm afraid I'm confused. How are the First World weather and creatures getting here? And what is your palette?"

Azure wipes prismatic tear from her cheek.

There’s a hole here, indicating the well to the many-splendored First World. I confess my heartbreak tore it open. You see, long back, one of the Eldest caught me borrowing a bauble or two, and knowing I’m nothing without my indigo and verdigris, he plucked them right out of me and stuffed them into a bindle bag! Now it’s ever so close, but I’m too yellow to cross!

yellow, how I miss yellow

"So...we just hop on over and bring back your uh...colors or whatever, and that might be enough to close the gap?" Minna asks, looking thoughtful. "Sounds like a good idea as any to me," she shrugs with a devil-may-care attitude.

"Is there anything we need to watch out for on the other side?"

I peeped thru once, but the wild hunt nearly spotted me. They first caught me, back before, and beat me black and blue. Now they guard the Bramble Bank, in the Heartgrove, where my palate hangs. Be wary of those wily ones from the moment you cross thru!

If it was yearning for my colors that made it be, then as long as I'm bleached, it's sure to stay. Ah, what does it matter? I'll fade to nothing in a day or two.

To cross over, you need to make an offering. Something you're not too terribly attached too. Merely a trifle.

[From Disney's Alladin]
Gotta keep
One jump ahead of the breadline
One swing ahead of the sword
I steal only what I can't afford
(That's Everything!)
One jump ahead of the lawmen
That's all, and that's no joke
These guys don't appreciate I'm broke
Riffraff!
Street rat!
Soundrel!
Take that!
[/end lyrics]

Koani holds out her sunrod. "Do I drop it into the well?"

Narissiel nods. "Very well."

She pulls out her journal and approaches the well.

Putting it inside if that's what she's supposed to do with it.

Before you go, let us settle our bets. offers Jamila. You are likely to need items won or lost more than gold.

I can look, but it'll be ~90 minutes or so. Also, don't jump in just yet. There more information I need to give you. Lots of typing. Better on desktop than on pocket computer. Do decide on your offering.

Herbert, looks like you get the scroll of elemental speech, and Minna, you get the tangleburn bag.

Azure instructs, Please nothing as distasteful as Cold Iron. To cross over, you must first jump into the Deepstead well, holding your trifle, and spin three times widdershins.

Looking over into the well, you see the water swirling with specks of green, orange, and icy blue.

To come back, just do the same thing, but backwards.

To successfully make the crossing requires a DC 18 Swim check. Failure means you stay with Azure, Fabin, and Jamila in the material plane, delaying your arrival into the first world by 1 round per attempt.

Once you succeed at the check, your offering is gone, and you appear in the boxed area of the next map.

Swim: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

With a glance at the others she says, "Our objects should return to us when we return to the Material Plane."

Narissiel steps up to the well and regards the swirling colours with surprising distaste. Then she jumps into the well with her journal in hand and spins three times counterclockwise.

Surprisingly, Narissiel gets wet, but doesn't go anywhere.

Windershins! Windershins!

I'm going to bed. Please keep track of when you pop up in the First World. PLAYERS: you will be going into combat. I'd rather not run it off cell, and I should get home around 10:30-ish pm tomorrow night.

And I need to know if anyone is going to PaizoCon over Memorial Day weekend. I can put a hold on game if need be.

Koani climbs in, and turns. Although she feels silly, she knows this is what needs to be done.

swim: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
swim: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
swim: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
swim: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
swim: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
swim: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
swim: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Uggh, I guess Koani's out of the first fight, because that's success on the 8th attempt. Let me know if I need to offer an item and roll swim checks for Blarg.

Swim: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Swim: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Swim: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Swim: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

That took her five tries.

Minna thinks for a moment and then pulls out the hat of shiny rocks that Blanca had spotted earlier. "Hey, why not, right? Besides, they're pretty - fey like pretty things, I've been told," she grins.

When her turn comes, she grips Blanca tightly under one arm and the hat-o-rocks in the other and leaps into the well.

"Wheeeeee!"

Swim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

"Um, wait...widdershins, right?"

Swim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"Argh, I can't tell which way I'm going!"

Swim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

"Work, dammit!"

Swim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

And that finally seems to do the trick as Minna feels a strange swooping sensation in her stomach before she's rather roughly deposited on her feet...somewhere.
________

Okay, so Minna should arrive on Round 4.

Looks like I'm missing Herbie, Ayla, and Quon.

"I have to swim? I tend to soak in the water and can sometimes be rather buoyant and float along its surface. But I will give it a try." and with that lady statement Herbie books into the well.

Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"This is rather fun! I think i know what one of those water lilies that bob up and down in ponds fell like."

Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"Well there is a time and place for everything."

Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

"Oh come on. This is ridiculous."

Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Herbie just sputters as he triesto get the water ot if his mouth.

Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17 O.o by one seriously!
Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Swim Check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

Alright finally 8 tries later

Ayla pats the little Bleachling on the shoulder before kneeling to look her in the eye. "No Cry. Ayla Tough! Ayla find Color!" With a wide grin, Ayla pulls a dagger off her belt, before clenching it between her teeth and diving in.
Swim DC18: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 Woo Hoo! First Try!

Ayla, Quickly popping out the other side, Suddenly realizes how alone that she is...

Quon takes one of his scrolls of comprehend languages and nods to the strange gnome "We will try to bring your colors back"

He then jumps into the well and is tossed out directly. After several tries he stays away...

Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9
Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12
Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7
Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18
Arriving in round 6

As you try and try again, the group eventually manages to cross over, in the following order.

Round 1
Round 2
Round 3
Round 4
Minna
Narissiel
Round 5
Round 6
Quon
Round 7
Koani
Round 8
Herbie

Until Minna and Narissiel pop up, nothing will happen.

As you travel thru the water, you have a sense that the seasons change very quickly. Blink and you'll miss Summer. You are amid clouds of pollen one moment and a stinging blizzard the next.

When your head clears the other side, you find yourself at a picturesque lake and its sylvan surroundings have been flash frozen. Radiant flowers hang from nearby boughs, encased in a rime of frost. Just above the tree line, frozen birds float suspended in mid-takeoff. On the ground near the lakeshore, a small campfire burns without heat or motion, even its flames sheathed in ice.

Climbing out of the frigid pool shouldn't be to difficult (DC 15 Climb).

The initiative rolls are:
Ayla Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Herbie Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Koani Init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Minna Init: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Quoan Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Narissiel: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Daisag: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

So, what we have is a bit complicated.

raw order:
Herbie
Ayla
Koani
Narissiel
me
Minna
Quon

effective order:
Round 1
Minna
Narissiel
Your opponents

Round 2
stuff

Round 3
Quon, the amphibian, looking none the worse for wear, surfaces.

Round 4
Koani pops up

Round 5
Herbie the potted plant bobs to the surface.

So here we go:

ROUND 1

Minna, you clear warm water as you surface into the woods
Narissiel, you sputter icy water as you surface.

Actually, I think Ayla made her swim check on the first try :)

Dammit! I told you that was complicated. Give me few.

****UPDATED***** order: Can someone please check this, make sure I've not forgotten anything again?
Round 1
Ayla surfaces
Your opponents

Round 2
Ayla
Opponents

Round 3
Ayla
Opponents

Round 4
Ayla
Narissiel surfaces
Minna surfaces
Foes

Round 5
Ayla
Narisiel
Mina
Foes

Round 6
Ayla
Narisiel
Mina
Foes
Quon, the amphibian, looking none the worse for wear, surfaces.

Round 7
Ayla
Koani pops up
Narisiel
Mina
Foes
Quon

Round 8
Herbie, the potted plant, bobs to the surface.
Ayla
Koani pops up
Narisiel
Mina
Foes
Quon

Ayla, would you like to get started?

Sure! I guess there is a... bad guy on the other side of the well?

Easily climbing up the well, Ayla takes a moment to focus on being a bit more agile and looks over at the 'Foe' in the corner. "Ayla Tough! No mess with Ayla! You take color?"

Assumed Move to climb the well (I have a climb speed and a Bonus of +14, so I make it?) Move to activate Martial Flexibility (Dodge) Ready to go for Round 2?

Yep, you're good.

An arrow comes flying at Ayla as she crawls out of the warm water.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 for attack: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The arrow plunks into the shore of the pool.

Round 2
Ayla
Opponents
Ayla, it's just you and me until Round 4.

Ayla. It wasn't until I went into the maps that I realized token was placed incorrectly, in corner. He's in the trees where I currently have him. Free movement to crawl out of the tepid pool on the other side of you wish.

Easy enough! I... have had a Realization that is Beautiful!
Ayla yells, "No Start Trouble! Ayla Finish Trouble!" before dashing over to the archer, and following through with a massive haymaker!

Piranha Punch!: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 - 1 = 11
Uhhhh. If this is just me, I'm not taking my chances. I'll use my Reroll!
Piranha Punch!: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 1 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 - 1 + 4 = 17
Piranha Damage!: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8

Alternatively, if he is In an Actual Tree, I'll start climbing (Climb Speed of 20 feet, Don't lose my Dex to AC while climbing, and I'll try to Fast Climb?)
Fast Climb Check (DC+5): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

Ayla rushes to the tree, and seeing the archer is 10' up, climbs the tree to reach her.

Unfortunately, Ayla, you missed the two porcupines.

Arcger attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
dmg: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

tail slap #1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
dmg: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

tail slap #2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
dmg: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

facepalm. How do I change dice? I'm rolling for CRAP!

Round 3
Ayla
Opponents

next round Narissiel and Minna will pop up...that is if Ayla hasn't taken care of things by then.

Ayla, finally next to the Troublesome Archer, bites and punches and kicks and headbutts. "NO HURT AYLA" THUD
Brawler's Flurry!: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 1 - 2 = 20 Piranha Damage!: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

"AYLA HURT YOU"
Final Flurry!: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 1 - 2 = 10 Piranha Damage!: 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

Ayla's fury hits the treed Varana, but her final flurry misses.

You're in my face, let's see if this does the trick.

The Varana grabs a special arrow from her prehensile tail, stabs at Ayla and...

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Finally!

damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Ayla, you're getting drowsy. Save DC 12 or you're taking a nap.

Round 4

Ayla
Narissiel pops up, climb check DC 15 please
Minna pops up, climb check DC 15 please
Foes

Forgot the tail slaps

Acrobatics to avoid AoOs.

Acro #1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
tail slap #1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 A swing and a miss.

Ayla, take your AoO please

Acro #2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
tail slap #2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

As Narissiel is ejected from the well, she looks around int confusion, dizzy from so much spinning. She tries to climb up out of the water.

Climb: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Narissiel manages to pull her carcass out of the well. In looking around, she sees Ayla up in a tree. Is she taking a nap waiting for the rest of the party? Is she looking for nuts? The suspense builds...