GM Chadius's Solstice Scar C (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

Climb DC18: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Dark seems to be able to traverse the thick forest and avoid getting too close to potentially dangerous plants.

Climb DC18: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Covadil also manages to nagivate his way through the thick forest, avoiding getting affected by the cloying foliage.

Atronia, not too sure of her ability to climb like her fellow adventurers, given the cumbersome armor she wears, looks carefully at the plants around her, trying to avoid ones that have thorns or venom, and to avoid tripping on the roots of plants that grow their roots along the surface.

K Nature DC18: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Sadly, her knowledge of local plants only comes from word-of-mouth, as she as never been in the fangwood, and so she fails to notice one such plants.

Fort save DC 13: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

The thorns draw blood, but Atronia suffers no more ill effects. She wipes away the blood beading on the scratch and keeps walking through the forest, now aware of the plant she has to watch out for.

Taarik tries his best to hold up!

Acrobatics : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Reflex DC 11 : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

And at the end he is able to dodge the thorns.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"We can take this trail, some small herbivore also has used it."

Through knowledge of animals, survival instinct, and the plain ability to climb, most of you make it out of the bushes unscathed. Atronia receives a minor scratch, but nothing a strip of cloth won't heal.

The forest floor is blanketed with eerie dark flowers that paint the otherwise lightless woods with their purple incandescence. Disorienting paths cut through the trees, forward-facing paths seem to lead back to where they started, and retracing one’s steps leads to unfamiliar terrain. Glowing eyes glare hungrily from within the impenetrable thickets where the vines slowly curl around anyone who gets too close.

Two elks emerge from the forest, their eyes glow a faint purple. The dark flowers found throughout the forest grow all over their body. The plants lash out at you as the animals turn feral!

If you need to escape, you can flee through the edges of the map.

Crossing a thickets cost 4 squares of movement (or 6 diagonally.)

If you stop your turn within 5 feet of the thickets, make a DC 11 Reflex Save or you are entangled. This is a plant-based hazard, so Resist Nature’s Lure will help. You can spend a move action to make a DC 15 Escape Artist or DC 13 Strength check. You can also deal 4 slashing damage to snap the vines.

Round 1
Tormond
Taarik
Schnyder
Eagle
Atronia
Covadil
Enemy

You are able to get your bearings before the elks are ready!

I assume slide 13? Can you move it to position 1 if that is indeed the appropriate slide?

Warry of the thickets Eagle draws her mace and moves closer to the elk, staying away from the underbrush. If the elk would attack her she is ready!

Readied attack if someone attacks her or an adjacent ally: 1d20 + 6d6d1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + (3, 3, 5, 2, 3, 3, 6, 3, 3, 2, 6, 1, 2, 5, 1, 2, 3) + 1 = 57

"This is not natural!"

I moved you all to Slide 1. Bah, I knew I forgot something.

Atronia holds her sword at the ready, stepping forward as she eyes the creatures. "Are the fey toying with us now? Those are some strange elks." She tries to remember if she has ever heard of similar creatures.

5-foot step, ready an attack if they attack one of us (with the dice below) and trying to identify the elks. All possibly relevant knowledge checks are at +2 for me, so I'll leave it unspecified down here.

Knowledge: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
readied attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 5) + 6 = 16

"It's as if there is some strange force in this forest somehow corrupting these creatures." Covadil doesn't really know what is going on but prepares to defend himself and his companions if either of the beasts move in to attack.

Ready an attack for any creature that moves in to attack anyone.
Greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (3, 2) + 9 = 14

Taarik moves starts casting a summoning spell and brings the creature into the flanking position.

Spending an arcane reservoir point. 4/5 remaining. Standard action summon - 1 minute duration.

* * *

The summoned celestial eagle attacks with its smite.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Bite damage, smite: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

Talon 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Talon damage, smite: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

Talon 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Talon damage, smite : 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Dark moves up to stand beside Restless Eagle, and holds his blade ready for the assault that seems to come for them.

1 is Eagle, 2 is Atronia, 3 is Tormond: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Gore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Atronia tries to attack the elk as it comes running from the thorny shrubs, but it turns to the side to avoid her blade. Its antlers tear into Tormond.

Gore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Hoof 1: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Hoof 2: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Meanwhile, the other elk remains in the bushes, fighting Taariik's celestial eagle. The thicket sees to reach up at the eagle.
Taariik's eagle needs to make a DC 11 Reflex Save or risk getting entangled.

Round 2
Tormond (7 damage, Can take round 1 actions)
Taarik (Summoned eagle needs to make a DC 11 Reflex Save)
Schnyder
Eagle
Atronia
Covadil
Enemy

If you need to escape, you can flee through the edges of the map.

Crossing a thickets cost 4 squares of movement (or 6 diagonally.)

If you stop your turn within 5 feet of the thickets, make a DC 11 Reflex Save or you are entangled. This is a plant-based hazard, so Resist Nature’s Lure will help. You can spend a move action to make a DC 15 Escape Artist or DC 13 Strength check. You can also deal 4 slashing damage to snap the vines.

Tormond and his bear friend try to break out of the tangles.

Str: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Str: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

His bear friend tries again.

Str: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Tormond tries to cut the tangles from around Brutus.

attack with axe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

- -

Tormond will then ready an attack from creatures near him.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

and Brutus will move out of the vines.

Covadil steps forward and strikes at the seemingly possessed elk with his sword.

Mwk Greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 5) + 9 = 16

Taarik eagle Reflex save : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Entangled.

Eagle steps south and attempts to distract the elk by attacking it

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Covadil finishes off the elk with a single swing of his blade.
Taariik's summoned eagle is unable to escape and is held in place by the vines.

Round 2
Tormond (7 damage)
Taarik (Summoned eagle is entangled)
Schnyder
Eagle
Atronia
Covadil
Enemy

If you need to escape, you can flee through the edges of the map.

Crossing a thickets cost 4 squares of movement (or 6 diagonally.)

If you stop your turn within 5 feet of the thickets, make a DC 11 Reflex Save or you are entangled. This is a plant-based hazard, so Resist Nature’s Lure will help. You can spend a move action to make a DC 15 Escape Artist or DC 13 Strength check. You can also deal 4 slashing damage to snap the vines.

With the closest elk down, Dark moves closer to the second elk but without getting to close to the plants.

He points his finger at the elk and sends a ray of frost toward it.

Ray of Frost (Range Touch): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Concealment 50%? (Low Miss): 1d100 ⇒ 91
Cold Damage +HotS: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Move: 15'
Standard: Spell

Taarik sees his entangled eagle and decides to just summon a new eagle. He starts casting a summoning spell and the entangled eagle vanishes. In its place another celestial eagle appears.

Spending an arcane reservoir point. 3/5 remaining. Standard action summon - 1 minute duration. Summoned creatures with arcane reservoir vanish if this ability is used again before the old spell ends.

* * *

The newly summoned celestial eagle attacks with its smite.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Bite damage, smite: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Talon 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Talon damage, smite: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Talon 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Talon damage, smite : 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

* * *

Reflex save eagle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Atronia tightens her grip on her weapon and gets ready for another attack if the elks come closer again.

readied attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 6) + 6 = 15

Frustrated that the eagle he was going to trample disappeared, the elk comes racing out of the woods at Atronia. Her aim is true, and with one swing she fells the beast.

Combat over. Tormond took 7 damage.

The forest opens to a small clearing that is free of the dark flowers that seem to permeate the rest of the landscape. A ring of tall grey trees circles the clearing, their branches reaching toward each other to form a ceiling of black leaves. A chorus of whispering voices echoes within the clearing as countless faces form out of tree bark only to meld back in, flowing from tree to tree. Three of the faces remain in place and speak out in unison. “Who wanders these forlorn paths? Do you seek to join us? Join us!”

You notice how many faces are here, and how little they pay attention to you. Your time is limited, and each of you only have enough time to Observe and Present a case to one face.
Each PC must choose a single Face to communicate with. Make a Sense Motive check to observe the face’s likes and dislikes, and then make any skill check you think is applicable.

Top Face

”What are you doing here!” The mouth screams. ”Keep talking and I’ll steal your soul!”
Make a Sense Motive check.

Right Face
”I don’t mean to bark, but I decided to grow my roots and plant myself here!” The face laughs. ”Don’t leaf just yet, stay a while and get in the grove!”
Make a Sense Motive check.

Left Face
”I understand you wish to change things, but what’s done is done.” Its gaze remains stoic. ”Be at peace.”
Make a Sense Motive check.

Converse with the Grove of Faces.
Rules are on this post.

Covadil
Atronia
Taarik
Tormond
Schnyder
Eagle

Tormond brushes himself off.

Does anyone have any healing?"

- - -

Tormond studies the faces.

"Surely this place is touched by the fey"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

"The face on the left respects power. We need to show it how are are dealing with Mother Bloodleaf!" He holds up his axe for show. "I will use this to destroy any damaged trees. Curse to the blight"

Converse with the Grove of Faces. As a reminder, you have to choose ONE face and then make ONE set of skill checks.
Rules are on this post.

Tormond, can you give me an Intimidate check?

Covadil
Atronia
Taarik
Tormond (Left Face)
Schnyder
Eagle

Hearing what Tormond said about the left face, he tries to read it himself. But fails to pick up on anything.
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 13

But trusting Tormond's senses, he confronts the left face.

Dark snorts at the Left Face. "You do not know who you talk to. I am the Dark that brings Blight to all those that oppose me. If something stands in my way, friend of foe, they shall be destroyed for that is what I Will and so it is."

Intimidation: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Sense Motive Top Face: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
Sense Motive Right Face: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18
Sense Motive Left Face: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

Taarik sees the faces and immediately grasps what most of them seek!

"Listen everybody, this is the impression that I have! Try to follow my guidance ..." Taarik says to you all.

GM, is it ok if the others read the spoilers?

Taariik, you can only choose one face to interact with, so you can only make 1 Sense Motive check. If it's good enough, you can then read the spoilers to the party.

Then it is the top face to be fair with 15.

"Beware, the top face dislikes intimidation or a show of strength!"
Taarik says silently.

So he approaches the top face and starts his speech.

"We are the Pathfinders who seek to explore this world and try to learn how to mend wounds! We are the Pathfinders who will cooperate with you to bring both our advantages together to win! And we will report our joint successes to the following generations who will still be able to greatness of this place!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Picking the right face
sense motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

"I have no idea what this face wants to tell us"

Note that even if you fail the Sense Motive check, you can try to make a check, anyway.

Taariik looks at the face on top of the tree trunk. "Do you... do you really think you can win? And protect us?" it seems to calm down.

Meanwhile, the Left Face laughs. "So then, great Dark... Schnyder! Show us your might."

Converse with the Grove of Faces. If you fail the Sense Motive check, then you should make a skill check anyway.

The Top and Left Faces seem to be placated, with only the Right Face remaining. Restless Eagle seems bewildered and annoyed by its constant jokes and puns.

Rules are on this post.

Covadil
Atronia
Taarik
Tormond
Schnyder
Eagle

Sense Motive Right Face: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Not really gaining any insight into what the Right Face's real motives are, Covadil can't help but notice that the face likes to use a good pun whenever it can. Not being much of a comedian himself, however, the sombre half-elf thinks of another way he may be able to appeal to the face.

"Friend, you seem to like playing with words in clever ways. Do you know many languages? I know a few. I'd be happy to share with you some words from different tongues that can be used to describe the forest or that can be twisted to produce similar puns as you've so expertly done in Common!"

Linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Intrigued by its humour and play on words, Atronia pays close attention to the right face.

Sense motive: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2

Despite not truly knowing what hides behind the humorous comments, she attempts to exchange a few witty comments with the face.

perform (comedy): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Tormond frowns at the left face.

Intimidate: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

The rightmost face entertains Atronia's jokes, but it seems like she isn't able to start a serious discussion with it.

Covadil switches to cold hard facts and engages it in wordplay, offering translations in different languages and noting their similarities. He eventually navigates it to talking about guiding you and it agrees.

The left most face seems impressed with Tormond's frown. "Make sure you scowl like that as you cut down the blight."

That's all 3 faces satisfied.

Eventually the faces begin paying direct attention to you. They begin to cluster in one direction. ”We will lead you forward, where you need to go. Mostly.”

A few hours pass. The spirits mostly guide you in the right direction, with one of the three faces you spoke to taking control, chastising another face for leading you astray and correcting course.

The spirits suddenly freeze in place as a burly middle-aged man with the ears and legs of a goat steps out from behind a tree. ”More of the Mother Bloodleaf’s minions! I will call the very moon to crush you! I will hurl you into the nearest volcano where you will burn to ash! Do not try to trick me with claims that you are trying to stop the blight, I see through your lies, like-” The creature begins laughing as his charade collapses. He leans against a tree to catch his breath.

Then he grins and waves his hand. “Ho there, adventurers! I got bored waiting, so I think we should have some fun! Don’t worry, this won’t take long. I wouldn’t want you to miss the main event, and I plan to have a front-row seat. Oh, where are my manners? The name’s Grimpfkin. So, what do you say? Do you choose to test your speed or might?”

You can choose to take the Test of Speed, or the Test of Might. You can also proceed and ignore his challenge.

"My might is greater than my speed. So if we must be tested, then might it should be." He looks to the others to see how they wish to be tested.

” Testing my might!! Yes, that we can do!!“

"I will stand with my friends and show our might!"

Eagle takes a good long look at the creature detect evil

Schnyder, Tormond and Taariik all want the test of might. Restless Eagle detects no evil within the creature, although he is grinning. "Like what you see, my dear? Normally I'd love to stay and chat with a lovely lady like you, but I'm pretty busy today."

"Oh, and you all need to choose the same challenge: Speed or Might." He turns to Covadil and Atronia. "So, how about you two?"

"Might is fine with me too. Do you allow the use of magical enhancements in your challenge? I'd hate to just assume and be accused of cheating." Covadil agrees with the rest of the group, happy to go with either if he can use his occult powers.

"Well, Test of Might it is!" Grimpfkin pulls out a mug of ale from... somewhere... and takes a swig. He winks at Restless Eagle. "Sorry, but that's democracy for ya. If you finish this challenge quickly, maybe you can also try the Test of Speed? But for now, follow me."

Grimpfkin turns to lead you deeper into the woods. After about 5 minutes of travel, you reach a clearing surrounded by both towering trees and 8-foot-tall mushrooms. Toward the center looms a menacing shape, and he whispers to you, “Go ahead, I’m sure that great heroes like you will be fine.”

The thickets here are difficult terrain.

A green-skinned humanoid, ten feet tall, grunts as he sees you. His withered skin shakes in the wind.

The creature howls and then climbs up the tree as fast as it can run. It gets 10 feet up and takes a defensive posture.

Round 1
Enemy (10 feet above the ground)
Taarik
Schnyder
Covadil
Tormond
Eagle
Atronia