EM - [PFS] Baby It's Cold Outside (Inactive)

Game Master Evil Minion

Post 1,0001

lol, one to many zeroes.

Tchak hugs Phoebee back... then casts detect magic on the chest, because now he's curious...

"Well, at least we get to stay here in the city for this one," Nella muses. "Do we have any idea where to start looking for this Skagni fellow or will we just have to ask around and hope for the best?"

Tchak will detect no magical emanations from the chest.

Jones gets up and orders Tchak a bowl of soup and a drink for himself, and sets it in front of him. "Welcome back! You missed the fun escorting goblins and being ferried by a troll."

"escorting goblins and ferried by a troll? fascinating.. you'll have to tell me more about this adventure of yours. And the box does not detect as magic... so either it is warded, or it isn't magical.. just sayin'."

Masym gives Wei Tchak a long look. "I hope that is the extent of your curiosity concerning the box. I am more concerned with who wants it, and what is inside. As for staying in the city here," he turns his attention to Nella now. "I would just as soon be done with this place. I had enough people give me dagger-stares while I was about purchasing my armor." He shakes his head in disgust. "I may need to cover my back with a steel plate now!"

Masym purchased a suit of +1 studded leather to wear and sold his existing armor.

"No kidding...the cold is bad enough but the staring and whispers are starting to get a little old," Nella sighs. "I got the same sort of thing when I bought my new pack yesterday."

Nella will drop 2k for a Handy Haversack and sell her old MW backpack for half (25g). Hallelujah I'm down to light encumberance now!

I'll update Jones tonight. He should be ready to go tomorrow.

"Yeah, I got the looks too. I just assumed the looks were because of my looks. Foreigners tend to get harsh looks sometimes." He smiles at Nella and adds "But I don't know why they would give you bad looks. Maybe they're not used to seeing someone quite as stunning as you." Then he blushes at being quite so forward and tries to recover. "I mean, you're a foreigner too, but you look better at it than I do. But Tchak," he says turning to the tengu, "it doesn't sound too hard for us to deliver this. You said the Pathfinders you were with didn't know the Skagni guy? Did you ask anyone else yet?"

"Nope, this has been my first stop since arriving in town, and I spotted you folk. I haven't had time to ask around."

Do feathers keep you any warmer that us wearing clothes? she asks the birdman.

"I don't think so... I've been been bitterly cold of late... Most of us feathered folk are descended from birds... who usually fly south for the winter to avoid the cold."

False! False! Ravens dont fly south for the winter. she says with a smile.

OK then!

FYI: in general temperatures here are going to be much like in Irrisen, cold in the day, colder at night. During the day, as long as folks are wearing their cold-weather gear, I'm not going to worry too much about it, at night though, long exposure will be an issue.

Being late, and cold, the Pathfinders rest for the evening to start their next task on a new day (much to Tchak's relief, who has not seen a bed, or a roof even, for almost two weeks).

Also, how are you going to deal with the chest? As mentioned, its a bit awkward in size, and weighs 100 lbs.... though the makeshift sled Tchak put together reduces the encumbrance on it by half.

The next morning, the innkeeper will signal Jones aside. Apprently his friend's, friends', friend came through, and he relays some directions towards what is supposedly Rognvald Skagni home, on the outskirts of the city, on the far side of town. He also mentions that there was some incident there a week or so back, though the chain of information was not any more specific than that.

The directions he gives you are from a local's perspective, so following them proves a little more challenging than you would like. Eventually, however, you manage to make your way to the quiet neighborhood where Skagni is supposed to live.

Unfortunately, the incident the innkeeper's information hinted at becomes immediately obvious once you get there. Where the directions indicate Skagni's house should be, stands only the charred husk of a burnt-out building. Soot-covered timbers sticking up out of the snow like blackened fingers.

Bits of burnt timber and ruined furniture lie scattered about, but if anything remained after the fire, it seems to have been picked over and looted. Though most of the walls are blackened with soot, a patch along the former front of the residence still shows relatively clean, white walls.

Smeared across those white walls, written in reddish-brown letters four feet tall, are the words, "Pathfinders go home."

Can we buy a wagon and mule to carry the chest? That's only 23gp for the pair.

Jones immediately draws his bow at the sight of the burnt house, "That's not good." Jones looks around for any immediate danger.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Masym nods grimly. "While these locals do not like Pathfinders as a whole, this smells more like an act by those who are seeking the chest." He drops lower to the ground, looking for any recent tracks in and around the house.

Survival (track): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"Oh, definitely not good... I wonder if Skagni was hopefully out at the time and survived... maybe we could start by asking around the neighborhood? See if there were any witnesses?"

Masym will be able to ascertain that the fire happened almost two weeks ago. He will note all sorts of tracks around the burned out home, some new, some old, though much has been covered over by recent snowfalls. It looks the locals came in and picked over the remains pretty well in the intervening two weeks. He will not be able to find any specific tracks that stand out however.

Looking around, Jones will note nothing out of the ordinary (beyond the burned home). The entire area is right on the edge of town in a sparse neighborhood of scattered stone and timber homes with small copses of trees and snow-covered bushes sprinkled between.

The streets are currently quiet and deserted of traffic.

This is not a good thing that is taking place. I think we need to keep our wits about us and our eyes looking around.

Oh, and for the record, its not that the locals don't like pathfinders... they just don't like foreigners =) The Pathfinder part is usually irrelevant.

Auto-success on the Heal check since Nella has a +9 modifier.

"That's...blood that's written in," Nella says, looking a little ill as she studies the writing. "Can't tell what kind of blood though, but I hope it's not human..."

"I do hope that Skagni got away unharmed. Masym, you didn't find any tracks? Any idea where they went?"

When Nella announces that the writing is written in blood Malusha grows a little pale. "That is just awful," he says. "I hope it wasn't Skagni's blood."

Jones will enter the burnt building, carefully, bow still in hand and look around for some sort of clue to who might have done this.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

The Pathfinders go about searching the remains of Skagni's home for any sign of what might have happened or what Rognvald's fate might be.

You slowly but surely make your way through what remains, when suddenly you hear a voice call out something in Skald, and suddenly figures are rushing at you from a small copse of trees just across the nearby dirt road about fifty feet to the north.

Axes whirling through the air are the first sign of their intentions.

Most of the weapons fly way wide of their marks, given the distance, but one catches Wei Tchak unawares, and strikes him with a meaty thunk. (5 damage to Wei Tchak)

Charging towards the house, you see four rough-looking ulfen men, wearing chain and wielding hand axes and shields. One of them seems to be in charge, as he shouts commands at the others pointing towards you, though none of you understand what he's saying. He also seems to be slightly better armored.

-- Round 1 ----------------------------

Phoebee, Nella, Malusha
blue, red
Wei Tchak (-5), Masym
pink, green
Jones

They give a map, then say the guys start 50' north of it... so had to kind of cut and paste some extra terrain on the top =) Was a DC 25 to notice them... Jones came close... twice =)

I just kind of randomly placed everyone, as you explored about.

Bold can go!

If I were to cast grease on the square with the red guy, it is a 10' radius, would it get all 3 of them, he and the two closest to him?

grease is a 10' square (5' radius)

What Tchak said... the best you'll manage is 2 of of them

"Oh boy. Here come some more bad guys." Malusha says with more than a little bit of nervousness. "Guess I'll get a chance to use this." he pulls out a new wand that he picked up in town a couple days ago. He activates it and casts mage armor on himself.

Was that a move and a standard or just a standard?

Mage armor is not on your spell list (is it?), so you would not be able to activate it at all without a Use Magic Device skill check.
Would be a standard otherwise, plus the action to retrieve it.

Also, the armor you're wearing would make the spell moot, the two bonuses would not stack.

I will do the red guy and the one on his left.

She begins singing her slippy shoes song.
Slippy shoes, slippy shoes, trying to stay upright
Slippy shoes, slippy shoes, always hard to keep.
Guess this one will be out of the fiiigght

A grease spell covers a solid surface with a layer of slippery grease. Any creature in the area when the spell is cast must make a successful Reflex save or fall. A creature can walk within or through the area of grease at half normal speed with a DC 10 Acrobatics check. Failure means it can't move that round (and must then make a Reflex save or fall), while failure by 5 or more means it falls (see the Acrobatics skill for details). Creatures that do not move on their turn do not need to make this check and are not considered flat-footed.

Phoebee, you will need to get within 25' to cast that there.
ie: you'd have to move forward 20'

I made a template, just place it where you want it to be within range.

Uhg. Didn't notice the non-stacking thing. Guess I should have gone for a shield wand instead. But that's ok. Live and learn. And since I don't have any UMD ranks, looks like I can't do that yet either. I'll roll with it though. Mistakes are what make things interesting (and sometimes fun).

Malusha actually only tries to cast mage armor on himself. After shaking the stick around few a couple seconds he realizes that its not going to work. He's going to have to get some training in order to do this!

Potions might be better

Moved up and used the template.

Phoebee steps forward singing her slippery song, and one of the ulfen attackers suddenly slips and falls with a startled cry. The leader, in the back, starts to slide as well, but manages to keep his feet.

Tchak moves to protect Phoebee as he draws his weapon and casts shield on himself. "Don't take too many risks, dear Phoebee... don't want you getting hurt."

The half-elf will laugh at the work her slippy shoe song does.

Its not quite Wei Tchak's turn yet!

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"Watch it Phoebee, they've got their eye on you!" Nella calls in warning as she pulls out one of her many wands and waves it in an arc.

Nella will draw and use her wand of Bless. Charges remaining (44).

Note: Wei Tchak moved a bit early, so these guys are reacting to where you previously were =)

One of the ruffians moves forward, surprisingly walking right past Phoebee to instead attack Masym behind her.

Their leader, carefully moves out of the greased area, and flings an axe at Wei Tchak, again ignoring the closer bard.

Both attacks miss wildly, however.

-- Round 1 ----------------------------

Phoebee, Nella, Malusha
blue, red
Wei Tchak (-5), Masym <----- we are here!
pink, green
Jones

Group Buffs: Bless (+1 to hit)

Bold can go!

"Phoebee! Get yer fool ass back here!" Masym yells at the elven bard even as he readies to attack the Ulfen warrior who advanced upon him. Still he does fix the Ulfen leader in his mind.

Round 1:
5' step on map.
Move: Use Studied Target on Red Ulfen leader.
Attack: Shortspear: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
.
Status: Studied Target on Red Ulfen.

Wei Tchak casts shield and draws his sword, tells Phoebee to move back so he can protect her... wall is in the way for his movement from where he is now

Masym stabs the nearest ulfen man, scoring a strike across the man's chest. Wei Tchak casts a buff, and draws his sword calling for Phoebee to move back.

One of the remaining attackers, skirts past Phoebee and moves to attack Masym with his companion. The other stands up in the greasy patch left by Phoebee's spell, and tries to move carefully out of it... but has no luck and slips and falls once more.

-- Round 1 ----------------------------
Jones <----- we are here!

-- Round 2 ----------------------------
Phoebee, Nella, Malusha
blue (-6), red
Wei Tchak (-5), Masym
pink, green
Jones

Group Buffs: Bless (+1 to hit)

Bold can go!

The half-elf will draw her sword and begin an inspirational diddy.

We shall overcome these cretins, We shall over come them, yes, yes, we shall

Jones focuses a bit and gains Deadly Aim. Move Action for Martial Flexibility.

He takes a 5' step and fires at blue.
Comp Longbow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 - 1 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 11

Nella moves forward, mindful to keep the nearby chest close and in sight just in case. Seeing two of the four men attempting to maneuver Masym between them, she calls upon Shelyn's blessing to shield the warrior from harm.

Nella moves to her current position and uses Blessing of the Faithful on Masym; add +2 to his AC until Nella's next turn!

Malusha pulls out his crossbow and slids a bolt into it. He doesn't have a clear shot at any of the men yet. He watches Nella to his left and sees her cast a protection spell on Masym. "Good idea Nella, we need to keep our fighters healthy."

When he spots Phoebee up in the middle of the conflict he gasps and joins in the chorus of everyone else shouting at her. "Phoebee! You need to move out of the way!"

Move action to wield crossbow, move action to load.

Jones fires at the nearest attacker, but the man manages to get his shield up at the last moment and deflect the shot.

Phoebee, unconcerned about her position, despite her companions protests, starts up an inspiring tune whilst drawing her sword.

Malusha too, pulls out a weapon, although in his case a crossbow, as Nella calls on Shelyn to protect Masym from those that would attack him.

And attack them they do, as one of them steps around to flank with his friend and chops away with his axe, though Masym is able to deflect the blows without harm.

The apparent leader of the group, calls out some more instructions in Skald, as he moves closer, drawing another axe and flinging it at Tchak. But the tengu is able to easily dodge the incoming weapon that lodges in the burnt timbers behind him.

-- Round 2 ----------------------------
Phoebee, Nella, Malusha
blue (-6), red
Wei Tchak (-5), Masym <--- We are here!
pink, green
Jones

Group Buffs: Bless (+1 to hit), Inspire Courage (+1 to hit, +1 damage)

Bold can go!