Intro is in Absalom, should you decide for some prefacing.
Additionally, anyone with easy access to Citadel of Flame / Seeker of Secrets (or reliable memories of said products,) does Dennel Hamshanks have a definitive race? A brief search only showed he existed definitely in the first one, and possibly in the second since that's my go-to for esoteric VC knowledge.
AC17(21* Shield Spell)/Touch14/Flatfoot15/CMD 19 |Init +2| | HP 12/[30] | Fort:+7 ;Ref:+2 ;Wil+3|Percept +6/Sense Motive +5|Magus Pool 3/[3] Male Minkai Human Samurai (sword Saint)/1 (Order of the Dragon) / Bladebound Magus 2 Favoured Class
Kyoshiro, recently returned from his last and possibly final mission on behalf of the Lantern lodge checks his mundane, though new, Katana in his room. The blade seemed satisfactory and so he dressed in his adventuring gear and packed in preparation for his meeting at the Grand Lodge.
He walks slowly into the designated meeting room, hoping to see a familiar face.
HP 67/67; AC 24, T18, FF16; F+7, R+11, W+5; CMD 24; Perc+14; Init +7
A tall lanky man with dark hair and complexion sits in the meeting room, his chair tilted back and his feet up on the table. He wears a dark shirt and pants with a long black duster and black hat on his head. Strapped to his chest is a pistol, somewhat battered but made well. He smells of smoke and powder and a perpetually wicked grin rests easy on his face. He watches the others as they filter in, nodding in greeting.
A small, attractive woman walks in. At first glance she looks to be Tian, but at second glance she seems to be much more. Setting her shield aside, emblazoned with a spiral design, she sits on the floor, pulls out a pair of glass orbs and begins to deftly roll them through her hands.
Primal Fire Sorceress 5 (HP 50/37) | AC 13 (16 MA) Touch 12 FF 11 | Saves F +5 R +4 W +5
Chelsea is a tall, thin woman wearing flame patterned violet and scarlet robes. She carries only a small pouch and a simple dagger and a few wands on her belt. Her hair is stark white with red tips that fall just short of her shoulders, framing a pair fiery irises.
Still have some shopping to do as well.
Chelsea enters the briefing room and takes a seat, quickly glancing at all the pathfinders in the room, familiar and new.
In a few minutes, a hulking man-sized humanoid in full-plate (complete with helmet) strides into the silent meeting room deep inside the Pathfinder Lodge in Absalom, his black mane flowing through his helmet behind him and his enormous axe clanking against his thigh. The man scans the room. "You lot?" Hamshanks spat. "Well, maybe you’ll surprise me."
"Your boat leaves in an hour, so I’ll be brief. One of the Society’s contacts in Andoran sent us an interesting little nugget this morning. A druid named Hemzel swept into Augustana’s Civic Library last week, demanding his right of research. Our contact learned that Hemzel acquired a lorestone from somewhere in the Verduran Forest. Heard of such a thing?" Hamshanks pauses, then spits out more briefing again, as if he was almost waiting for a response.
"Of course not. Heard of druids, at least? And their crazy stone circles? Well thank Gorum for that. Lorestones are somehow connected to them—supposedly they can bestow you with all of the knowledge of the druids. We’d like to know how, so we want that stone and you’re going to get it for us." He paces around the meeting table, examining everyone.
"Unfortunately, the Society is not a friend to Hemzel. He’s the self-declared 'protector of the Verduran Forest' inside Andoran’s borders and some of our more eager explorers have angered him and his little band of gnomes. He’s sworn a blood feud with the Pathfinders." He stops pacing and looks each Pathfinder directly in the eye to emphasize his tone.
"Break out your skills of persuasion and get me that lorestone. Do what you need to—sweep the floors or plant some trees for the old codger. Something nice—let him know we’re there to study and not to slash and burn." He begins to pace again. "You have one hour until your boat leaves. Any questions?"
Please let me know if you didn't get a faction mission, or if you don't entirely get the mission for the new-season guys. Old season guys get mission verbaim, so, yeah.
The figure (presumably) looks back. "... Gnomes. Gnomes with animals."
AC 16 / T12 / FF14 | HP 28/[28] | F+5 R+6 W+4 (+2 vs fear, +1 vs enchant) | Perc +10 (+2 urban areas) Init +2 (+2 urban areas) Half-Orc Ranger 3
Just as Hamshanks finishes saying, Gnomes with animals, a muscular and well-armed half-orc crashes into the room, panting. He is dressed simply, though his green felt hat looks a bit out of place, and his boots appear to be made of some reptile's skin. A longbow roughly the size of a maple sapling lies across his back.
The walking suit of armor's helmet follows the dog as it yaps around. "You'd best hope your little puppy's friends here can save your ass when tardiness becomes the least of your problems. I don't repeat myself, grunt." He makes a final quip as he exits and sighs at the door after passing the half-orc. "Now I have better things to do than play maid dispatcher for a bunch of kids. Get to it, agents."
AC 16 / T12 / FF14 | HP 28/[28] | F+5 R+6 W+4 (+2 vs fear, +1 vs enchant) | Perc +10 (+2 urban areas) Init +2 (+2 urban areas) Half-Orc Ranger 3
Once the VC is out the door, Harboth jerks a thumb in his direction.
Nice guy, eh? More like a tin can with an attitude, if you ask me. He greets his once and future colleagues warmly, then says, I hear we're off to Andoran. Is that right?
HP 67/67; AC 24, T18, FF16; F+7, R+11, W+5; CMD 24; Perc+14; Init +7
"Aye, Andoran to make friends with a druid and get a lorestone. Nice dog. And our friendly VC is really cuddly when you get to know him. I bet he's always the big spoon." Jeb stretches and then scratches Grits behind the ears.
AC17(21* Shield Spell)/Touch14/Flatfoot15/CMD 19 |Init +2| | HP 12/[30] | Fort:+7 ;Ref:+2 ;Wil+3|Percept +6/Sense Motive +5|Magus Pool 3/[3] Male Minkai Human Samurai (sword Saint)/1 (Order of the Dragon) / Bladebound Magus 2 Favoured Class
The Tien warrior bows slightly to each of his previous companions then stoops slightly and waves the dog over to give him a pat.
I too do not understand the idiom, Kyoshiro says in accented but passable common.
1 hour leaves us little time - does anyone need anything?
-50gp for a standard katana - I'll remind you later to put it on the chronicle
Primal Fire Sorceress 5 (HP 50/37) | AC 13 (16 MA) Touch 12 FF 11 | Saves F +5 R +4 W +5
Chelsea gives a small smirk with look of comprehension to Jeb, then responds to Kyoshiro.
"Not particularly. Ready to move out when all of you are. I'll try not to torch any gnomes, but I can't promise anything."
HP 67/67; AC 24, T18, FF16; F+7, R+11, W+5; CMD 24; Perc+14; Init +7
Jeb smiles back at Chelsea. "Nevermind, kids. I'll give ya a demonstration of the idiom later. I think I'm good t'go. Got my iron and my gear. Let's go to the forest and meet the little people."
AC 16 / T12 / FF14 | HP 28/[28] | F+5 R+6 W+4 (+2 vs fear, +1 vs enchant) | Perc +10 (+2 urban areas) Init +2 (+2 urban areas) Half-Orc Ranger 3
Harboth stops at his faction lodge, then returns to the group's meeting point. He is playing with a wayfinder, turning it over and studying it like a child with a new Rubik's cube.
Grits barks and nips him as they meet the rest of the party.
AC17(21* Shield Spell)/Touch14/Flatfoot15/CMD 19 |Init +2| | HP 12/[30] | Fort:+7 ;Ref:+2 ;Wil+3|Percept +6/Sense Motive +5|Magus Pool 3/[3] Male Minkai Human Samurai (sword Saint)/1 (Order of the Dragon) / Bladebound Magus 2 Favoured Class
Kyoshiro flashes Harboth his own Jade Wayfinder and smiles.
Jeb, if you could get a hotbar set up, I'd be grateful; I am quite dependent on those for mobile-phone-based posts.
What the enigmatic Venture-Captain failed to mention were the brambles, boulders, and biting insects of the Verduran Forest, which turned the journey into an arduous three-day scramble of detours, torn clothes, and near falls.
As the sun sets on the third day of travel in the Verduran Forest, the welcome sight of a puffing chimney—Hemzel’s home, according to the map—reveals itself atop a hill.
Smoke rises lazily from a chimney set atop a small, round wooden hut just over a steep hillside covered in thick vines and brambles. It is a short run from where your current location, though more pressing matters arise as a squeaky, male voice yelps out in glee. "Too late! Too late for Hemzel!" a high voice cackles from behind the hut. "Gire, finish them!"
A log shatters releasing a staggering number of rats, which move towards the party! A soft (though just as squeaky as the male's) voice yelps out from the sky. "Oh, uh, yes, boss! You manfolk best prepare for your, um, impending bloody, um, doom! Yes! The rats will eat your eyes, and, um, then you won't be able to see! You'd best run!"
Since this is an weird corner case, I will actively call for a Sense Motive for this situation (though do not expect me to call for them should people decide to lie to you. Not sure if this has come up in this group, but I'm laissez-faire on the subject of Sense Motives and knowledge checks. Roll them yourselves if you want to judge people and/or ask knowledges if you don't know what you want to roll.)
Bazresh curses as he realizes he has nothing to deal with swarms. He circles around avoiding the swarm, toward Harboth. Flexing his wrist, a wand appears in his hand. He taps Harboth with the wand.
You may think that this "Gire" is herself horrified by the violence she describes. A few quick words (read: Standard Action) may be able to sway her, should you point out the right things. A Sense Motive on you NEXT action is possible for more concrete information, should you desire it. Please feel free to portray this difference in Diplomacy to allies for their benefit, you want.
Jeb readies his pewpew stick!
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Baz pokes Harboth with a healy stick!
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The female voice squeaks out again. "Oh, where is that-- Ah! Yes! Fear the powers of nature! I bring forth a beast that, um, will, uh, tear your limbs asunder and, um, I will plant them in the ground! Like trees, uh, of, of victory!"
As she speaks, a small fuzzy ball rolls across the ground and unfurls into a single bat! It flies at Harboth and attempts to bite him as well! It provokes for Harboth, if he has combat reflexes and a weapon on-hand!
You would know that, while therapeutic, swarms of Diminutive creatures (like this) are immune to weapon damage. Though the bat is a single creature. Would you like to murder that bat instead? Also, the -1 damage is actually just 1 nonlethal damage, not a lethal damage. In short, what it does is "if your nonlethal damage total equals your total health, you go unconscious." Also, NL damage heals back with lethal damage, so your first point of healing will heal both that 1 point of nonlethal AND 1 point of lethal.
AC 16 / T12 / FF14 | HP 28/[28] | F+5 R+6 W+4 (+2 vs fear, +1 vs enchant) | Perc +10 (+2 urban areas) Init +2 (+2 urban areas) Half-Orc Ranger 3
Man, I thought a rat swarm was only Tiny! I would prefer to murder the bat, in that case. Also, just for kicks here's a couple of knowledge(nature) rolls for the rats and the bat:
You're right in all cases. Curse you, waking up at 5:30! *shakes fist* Confused the two, since I had to re-jigger the existence of a "bat" from the bat swarm. Rat swarm damage it is. Doesn't disperse the pack, though.
One piece on the Rat Swarm.
Four pieces on this Bat.
Primal Fire Sorceress 5 (HP 50/37) | AC 13 (16 MA) Touch 12 FF 11 | Saves F +5 R +4 W +5
Sense Motive 1d20 ⇒ 16
Chelsea waits for enough people to move away from the rats to ensure a clear shot before setting them all on fire with a shout and a wave of her hand.
"من ارائه این جوندگان به شعله"
AC17(21* Shield Spell)/Touch14/Flatfoot15/CMD 19 |Init +2| | HP 12/[30] | Fort:+7 ;Ref:+2 ;Wil+3|Percept +6/Sense Motive +5|Magus Pool 3/[3] Male Minkai Human Samurai (sword Saint)/1 (Order of the Dragon) / Bladebound Magus 2 Favoured Class
Sense Motive + 5 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Fort Save + 7 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Kyoshiro shouts in rage and then draws his Katana as he races out of the area of the swarm and 30 feet up the road, trying to find the source of the voices.
The Rat Swarm: Disease (Ex) Filth fever: Swarm—injury; save Fort DC 12; onset 1d3 days; frequency 1/day; effect 1d3 Dex damage and 1d3 Con damage; cure 2 consecutive saves. The save DC is Constitution-based.
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The Bat: Attacks Bite +3 (because I forgot to add any size bonuses), 1d2-3 (as per the natural attack chart for a diminuitive Bite attack) Would bleed on a sucessful crit, like the swarm automatically does.
Vulnerabilities: Incredibly low health (none)
Resistances: Just a regular bat (none)
Hobbies: Being summoned, long walks on the beach, biting half-orcs, making Pizza.
Kyo, for when your turn comes around, perception results:
You can't pinpoint the area, but you do hear what sounds to be a very large set of cicada-like wings buzzing around 20 feet in the air.
Preview-o-vision! wrote:
Chelsea burns rats!
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Harboth hacks away at the rats!
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Opal
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Grits eats rats, but not enough to do sufficent damage! A miss.
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Kyo moves up and listens!
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Jeb (was readying, though his action does not go off by the time his turn comes back around)
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I'm incredibly tempted to see if Opal tries the diplomacy route instead of auto-delay, because it very well could change things drastically. He just doesn't have his whole sheet in a work-accessible link, or the skill in his hotbar.
AC17(21* Shield Spell)/Touch14/Flatfoot15/CMD 19 |Init +2| | HP 12/[30] | Fort:+7 ;Ref:+2 ;Wil+3|Percept +6/Sense Motive +5|Magus Pool 3/[3] Male Minkai Human Samurai (sword Saint)/1 (Order of the Dragon) / Bladebound Magus 2 Favoured Class
Something is flying up there!, Kyoshiro stops, spins and surveys the sky above the party, eyes darting here and there.
If you are Gire, then we've come to talk not to fight.
Chelsea delays, anticipating the thought of burning rats!
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Harboth hacks away at the rats!
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Opal chucks an acid flask at the swarms, acid-ing her allies! They soar through a number of rats, failing to break on any of them! Miss, even excluding the in-melee penalty. Diretion clockwise:1d8 ⇒ 3 Swarm 1, 2, Kyo:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 91d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
A number of rats use other rats as rat-shields against the acid! What jerks! Also, Kyo gets splashed by surprise acid!
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Grits eats rats, but not enough to do sufficient damage! A miss.
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Kyo moves out of the swarm and focuses his senses!
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Chelsea re-enters init, flaming the rats en-masse!
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Jeb tries to talk down the flying beetle!
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Baz does as well!
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The female voice continues, pausing for only a moment. "Th-that's just what the boss sa-said you'd say! You'll rip my legs off and cook them, but on-only over my dead body! You're, uh, you're gonna get no-legged first! You'll be, uh, delicious!"You guys may want to think about the Aid-Another action for diplomancy with those rolls...
1d100 ⇒ 36
Another ball rolls for a moment on the path ahead, as if it were thrown from some invisible source. It unfurls into another rat! It attempts to bite Kyo, though its tiny size forces it to get so close it provokes an AoO!
Primal Fire Sorceress 5 (HP 50/37) | AC 13 (16 MA) Touch 12 FF 11 | Saves F +5 R +4 W +5
Casting Burning Hands on the rats again when I have a clear shot.
Chelsea continues sending the large gout of flame over the rats.
Burning Hands 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 = 6 (DC:16)
