GM Debug's PbP Gameday 7: PFS-RPG 09-14 Down the Verdant Path (Inactive)

Game Master DebugAMP

"Oh! Interesting!" He smiles and nods causing his hat to flop around wildly. "Portals are for going through."

Korad nods with appreciation toward Bobby. "Wise one he is. I have yet to encounter a portal myself, but I can't say what mysteries we would find on the other end?"

"But I am up to the challenge of finding out!"

Jeb scratches his beard in thought. "Other planes, hey? I've never been on another plane."

Falbin looks at Jamila, nods, then looks back. "The weather phenominon is a 6 mile hike south of Bellis. Presuming we stick to the well-trodden hunting trails I'd expect it to take... ohh..." He ponders this a moment, then states "...about 2 hours. We'll leave at once!"

Jamila smiles toward Jeb. "Well, if missions such as these are of interest to you, the Concordance is looking to increase its presence within the Pathfinder Society."

“Ashasar wanted to be here in person,” says Jamila, watching as her colorful pet bird circles overhead, “but his new duties as liaison to the Pathfinder Society find him full of cares. Still, he sent me in particular, partly to sing the virtues of the Concordance to new Pathfinders—and I’d treasure your help with that chore, to be sure."

“But there’s more at stake here. Now that the Concordance is settling in on Golarion, Ashasar craves knowledge about the elemental forces that form this world’s atmosphere. To those native to the Elemental Planes, the seasons that are so familiar to you are a symphony of mysteries. This strange region of Falbin’s, with its bizarre weather, promises insight for us, especially if a planar portal is involved."

“This mission is a chance to impress Ashasar,” she confides, her gold eyes glittering. “Anything you can recover pertaining to the four seasons would please him immensely. He’s very hands-on; he prefers physical evidence to mere theories.”

"That, I can agree on. I always have a better appreciation for the things I can grasp with my two hands." He says as he holds up his two well worked hands. "Since we are in town, do you mind if I purchase some containers before setting out? I don't know what we will be gathering, but he might prefer a planter to a handful of dirt."

"Absolutely. Another hour won't cause summer to leap into fall now will it?"

You can find any item here with cost of 1500gp or less.

"Well, my experience says that a little time shouldn't hurt, but this whole thing is a mystery. Very exciting! I will not take long though."

Korad will shop for a few containers and random tools.

Purchasing a pair of glass bottles, a shovel, a winter blanket, and a bucket.

Flaviass smiles, already well prepared for the expedition.

Fuzzzy smiles and nods. "Yes, yes! The seasons! Magnificent. Planes, concordance? Hmmm..." Fuzzzy mutters for a while.

Suddenly he notices the others and smiles brightly. "Oh! Hello, there! Have we met? I can't seem to recall..."

When the others begin to move out, Bobby swoops in front of Fuzzzy's face.

"Hoooo!"

"With them?"

Fuzzzy smiles brightly and catches up to the others on their way out of town.

"Wait for me! My owl says I should go with you."

---

On the trip Fuzzzy watches the woods with a bright smile.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

Bobby watches Fuzzzy while they travel, but he also tries to keep an eye on the woods in case of danger.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Watergreen nods at the others Pathfinders. "Jamila is right. The Concordance is a wonderful faction! You should all join it."

When she hears about Ashasar's interest in the seasons, Watergreen smiles. "Oh, the seasons are wonderful miracle. Finding evidence will be lovely. It's like a scavenger hunt."

She gives Lilith, her little frog, a kiss on its tiny head. She is ready to go.

“The Concordance, hey?” Jeb scratches at his beard. “Well Jamila, I reckon I’d like to hear more about the Concordance and all. Yup. Reckon I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

“Why that sounds mighty fine Korad. I could use another sack.”

Jeb purchases another sack.

As you are about 2 miles out from Bellis, Falbin and Jamila rekindle their debate about the verdant zone's origins.

Falbin smirks and puts his hands on his hips. "Well Jamila... if you're so sure that those blasted druids have nothing to do with this, how bout you put some coin behind it?"

Jamila glowers at him.

Falbin chuckles. "Yeah... didn't think so. Not so certain now are ye?"

Jamila shakes her head and sighs. "I am quite willing to accept a wager, but I merely think this is foolish."

Falbin raises an eyebrow. "Really huh? 150 in gold coin says it's the druids. Put some coin where your mouth is!"

Jamila produces a large tournaline gem. "This should match your coin."

Falbin, looking shocked and excited turns to the assembled party. "How bout you guys? Wanna stake a wager?"

Flavias resists the urge to lecture his companions on the vices of gambling and merely remains politely silent on the matter.

Strapping his bags for the trip ahead Korad thinks on the suggestion. "You wish us to guess who is behind this?"

"I will guess that the druids aren't responsible. From what I hear, they a bit more violent and already pressing the attack. Still, I am not confident enough to put coin down. We have come because this is mystery, right? I'll hold my coin for another time."

Angrboda and Eniac share a prolonged sidelong glance toward each other...

*Phhhhhhup!*

...until Eniac suddenly regurgitates a vibrant purple sea-snail shell.

Angrboda picks it up, fishes from somewhere out of her rags a sizable peridot and a chess bishop carved from snowflake jasper, and holds them together in her hand toward Falbin.

"Seven score, ten guilders more, and then four," She offers as her wager. "On the stake that there is more at work here than a supposed grove of weeds, or that those weeds now grow on otherwise-poisoned roots."

Watergreen fishes around in her pocket. "What fun! I have... six copper!" She hands the little coins to Jamila. "Not much, I know, but I believe that portals are the cause."

Her frog climbs it's way across her cheek. "Isn't that right, Lilith?"

The frog licks it's eyeball, then nods its head once.

Fuzzzy smiles. "I bet on nothing!"

He looks at Bobby. "What are we betting on?" he asks quietly.

Bobby shakes his head back and forth. "Hoooo..."

Falbin looks at Angrboda with a confused look on his face. "I always wondered why Taldane is so common when you folk add lots 'o words so that nobody can tell what you mean. So... if I ken what you're sayin... more fancy rocks worth a 154 in gold coin, and another 6 in copper coin staked against my claim?"

He fumbles through his pack and pulls out a small pouch. "I'll put a Tangleburn bag up against fifty. Or if you up your wager a bit I'll toss a potion into the pot." He shows off a potion bottle labeled "Disease-be-gone" "Whaddya say?"

Jamila smiles, "Quite sure of yourself are you Falbin? Good odds you're giving them."

"I reckon we'll see soon enough." Jeb states with a grin, but does does not make a wager.

Watergreen smiles. "I have... twelve gold I can add, but certainly not fifty. Would you accept twelve as a wager against you Falbin?"

Watergreen looks at Angrbodas gems. "That looks beautiful..." Her eyes twinkle.

Fuzzzy smiles and nods as they walk. He's already forgotten what they're wagering on.

"You can pool your coin all ye'd like. All going to me in the end... hehe!"

For 50 gp wagered he'll put up a Tangleburn bag. For 250 he'll put up a Tangleburn bag and a potion of Remove Disease. If you pool your money to make a bet with someone you'll just have to determine how to split your winnings or losses at the end. Either way, he's content that he got at least 1 taker, so you can iron out your bet details later. For now let's get this moving forward before the boards crash again.

After everyone shows their bets and shakes hands, Jamila chimes in. "Well, now that we've all placed our... friendly wagers... we've got work to do. You should all take care to look for any clues as to the source of these disturbances. We will avoid interfering... we would not wish to... lead the witness as they say."

So... what sort of details do you wish to search for?

Jeb will observe the local plants to see what he can learn.
Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"Let me know if I go to far. It is hard for me to weigh something without disturbing it."

Ivok tries to examine the area for local fauna looking for any details he record for later comparison.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

He is also looking for any fruits, vegetables, or seeds growing out in the wild that he might compare to the goods he normally sees in trade.

Profession (merchant): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Fuzzzy wanders around with a big smile. He looks for anything interesting or out of the ordinary. Every once in a while Bobby hoots at him to remind him what he's doing.

"What is THIS!" he exclaims. "Oh. What a lovely leaf."

"What is THIS! he exclaims. "Oh. What a lovely rock."

"What if THIS! he exclaims. "Oh. What a lovely carrot."

He smiles proudly and eats the carrot.

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

"Hooooot!"

"Quite right! I'm looking for BIGGER! BOLDER! STRANGER!!"

Watergreen looks around at the flowers that they pass by. If she finds any strange ones that shouldn't be growing here, she plucks one, sniffs it, and puts it in her bag. If she passes by any water she dives (or splashes) in it to test the temperature.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Swim: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Jeb, poking around in the local vegetation along with Korad, notices several large humanoid footprints in the mud. Falbin quickly comments, "See? See!? Druids I tell you! The shapechanging druids of Briar Henge! Telltale signs for sure!"

Jamila shrugs. "Possibly... worth noting... but if I may hazard a guess, our elderly friend here is not looking up to the sky for no reason."

Fuzzzy, having been prodded in the right direction by his trusty owl, notices a very strange cloud formation spiraling unnaturally to the south... a phenomenon which often occurs near planar disturbances. Falbin grimaces.

"Very well... one for and one against... we must keep searching."

The hike continues... and the landscape begins to change rather dramatically as you are 2 miles south of Bellis. Falbin seems a bit surprised. "This is even closer to Bellis than I expected... this is growing rapidly!"

Jamila raises an eyebrow. "Oh really? Just how quickly? And what is causing the growths? You aren't going to tell me that a small lot of druids is overgrowing the entire countryside are you?"

If you wish to search for signs of Druidic interferance, you can attempt an Arcana or Spellcraft check. If you wish to search for indications of extra-planar contamination, Knowledge (planes or geography) would work. Each of you may attempt 1 skill check, or aid 1 ally.

Korad offers his assistance in determining the cause but separating the planar events from the magic just confused him.

Untrained Knowledge to Aid (if an option): 1d20 ⇒ 1

Flavias looks for interference from druids.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Watergreen looks to see if there are signs of extra-planar contamination! I will try to aid if someone else is doing it to. Otherwise I will lead. I am untrained so I cannot get higher than a ten.

Knowledge Geography (to aid if anyone else can do it): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

But she is not very helpful!

Fuzzzy looks around for more planar disturbances!

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Jeb scratches his beard. "Yup, I reckon this is weird..."

He has nothing useful to add.

Flavius inspects the rapidly growing roots and notes that they seem to share similarities to the entangle spell, a favorite spell among druids.

Fuzzzy on the other hand is able to calculate the rate of the verdant zone's expansion. Jamila seems quite happy with his estimate. "See Falbin, this rate is consistent with recorded examples of blooms surrounding rifts to the First World!"

Falbin shakes his head. "Sure looks like druids casting an augmented version of entangle to me..."

As the hike continues, they both eventually concede that the other's observation is valid... mostly because they are more interested in the sight up ahead. A clearing gives way to what seems to be a forest of shaggy mushrooms, sprouting up to 5 feet tall! The soil here is gray, a stark contrast to the normal brown soil in the surrounding area. A few pools of water dot the landscape, each roughly 6 feet deep.

As you begin to inspect though, you get the feeling you are being watched... as a pair of rather large frogs slowly take positions around the party... and lunge in to attack!

Falbin, having little combat experience, ducks into some tall mushrooms and hides, while Jamila stands her ground with the party.

Knowledge (Nature or Planes) can be used to identify them

Round 1:
Flavias
Jamila
Red Frog
Korad
Fuzzzy and Bobby
Angrboda and Eniac
Jeb
Watergreen
Blue Frog

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Taken aback by the appearance of these amphibians of unusual size Korad has a hard time getting a read on the situation.

sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Flavias notes out loud "These creatures seem intelligent, or at least can communicate."

He stares down the blue frog before drawing his bow and firing off a cold iron arrow.

longbow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + (4) + 2 = 16

Blue also gets -2 on will saves. (If it's immune to mind-affecting then no penality and my arrow does 6 less damage).

Jamila acts quickly. "They communicate?" She casts a quick spell, then listens for a moment and groans.

"They want to eat you..."

She makes a few croaking and ribbeting sounds then turns back to you.

"I told them you taste awful... they don't seem to be thrilled but they're still quite hungry..."

Flavias looses his arrow, dropping one in a single shot, and the other leaps forward, weaving through the mushrooms for a meal. Mushrooms are difficult terrain and provide cover.

Bite vs Watergreen: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

It bites down hard on Watergreen, latching onto her arm and slowly snakes it's tongue around her wrist.

Round 1:
Flavias
Jamila
Red Frog
Korad
Fuzzzy and Bobby
Angrboda and Eniac
Jeb
Watergreen (-4, Grappled)

"You should listen to her! My friends are not food!"

Korad focuses down the movement of himself, the frog and the earth and and rushes his body into the beast.

Bull Rush vs Red Frog CMD: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 = 17

Move action: Martial Flexibility to learn Improved Bull Rush, 5 ft step, bull rush red frog.

Korad's quick thinking prevents the frog from making a meal of Watergreen as it is shoved backward and off of the Elf.

Round 1:
Flavias
Jamila
Red Frog
Korad
Fuzzzy and Bobby
Angrboda and Eniac
Jeb
Watergreen (-4)

"Oh, my. This is really not a good idea!" Watergreen tells the frog. Her fingers suddenly form sprout sharp point claws and the skin from her fingertips up to her elbows turns a slippery, spotty green. Free action to make my shifter claws. Watergreen slashes at the frog with her claws!

Claw Attack 1: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 2 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Claw Attack 2: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 2 = 19
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

That has a -2 on her attacks for being grappled in the roll.

Oh! yay! Confirming my critical hit!
Confirming Claw 1: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 2 = 14
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

My sister Watergreen says she didn't realize she was not grappled anymore because of Korad. She would have moved and just attacked once then. And her attack rolls are two higher than they came out as.

Bobby hoots and lands on Fuzzzy's shoulder. then he points with his wing at the frog.

He casts guidance on Fuzzzy.

Fuzzzy looks at Bobby. "Oh, really?"

He points at the red frog. "You there! That's not very nice! Bad frog!"

Fuzzzy looks at the longsword at his side and draws it. "This is a nice sword! I must be a fierce knight!"

He throws his longsword at the red frog. Hand of the apprentice.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 22 (Guidance, Point-blank Shot, and a penalty for firing into melee).
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10

After his sword stabs the frog it flies right back to his hand. As he catches it he smiles. "I knew it!"

Fuzzzy looks very proud of himself.