After a quick meal, you begin your journey into the mountains. The pass climbs ever steeper, and before long it it time to rest again for the night.
Nearby you spy a covered wagon half buried in the snow.
Investigation of the wagon uncovers three frozen humans who have obviously succumbed to cold exposure. These explorers foolishly attempted to cross the mountain pass during the cold season and paid with their lives. Fortunately the weather is not as cold now, but during the night the temperature still drops below 40 degrees Fahrenheit for 4 hours (1 a.m.
to 5 a.m.).
The wagon looks like it can fit 5 Medium sized creatures inside, and with the sides and cover still intact, it could provide some protection against the icy wind.
You also see a wood-burning stove with enough fuel to last through the night. The three humans are all wearing cold-weather outfits.
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"May the Eternal Empress stand watch on your journey to the Lady of Graves. May your families remember your honor and your love. May you find the peace you sought in this life, in the just rewards of the next." Yoshima says quietly standing over the bodies.
He turns to the wizard.
"Do you know any spells that would allow us to restore dignity to these who have gone before?"
No threats are in evidence, and the area looks like a safe and secure campsite.
You lay down to sleep, and before long the chill in the air grows quite noticeable.
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Walter, wearing his fancy new cold weather outfit, decides that a fire in these conditions would be fine.
The immediate area is without traffic so we should be as safe as...well, hopefully better off than these poor folk
Also Walter will pray to Abadar to allow him to 'detect magic' among the wagon area and he will pray for 'sift' to remove some snow and such to aid his search. And--of course--pray for 'Guidance' in his search!
You pass a chilly night, but make it through only a bit worse for wear. Walter searches the wagon and surrounding area with his detect magic, but uncovers nothing.
You continue on your journey. As the pass winds around a large mountain, you spot a light glinting from a ledge some 50 feet above your current location.
A small statue of a woman complete with a nearby shrine rests on the ledge.
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Walter points up to the shrine, muttering a prayer (Guidance)
I am not certain, but I think that is probably a shrine to Desna? She is the Goddess of Traveler's, although my own--Abadar--also guides those of us who travel.
He bows to the shrine, but continues his course--to stay on the path!
It would be unwise to deviate from our purpose
The path comes no closer, getting a better look will require climbing. Walter and Muteki are able to tell that the figure is not a god or any particularly religious person at all. Sambar does not remember anything about this person being a famous local either. Perhaps a closer look, with a different sort of knowledge is needed?
As the group reaches the ledge, they get a better look at the statue. It is carved in the figure of a woman. She appears to be an adventurer of some sort, and if the statue is of any indication, she may be of noble birth. The glinting light seen from the path is the sun’s reflection off a number of coins and gems in the shrine’s offering bowl.
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Walter stands about 10' away from the shrine.
I will examine this bowl without disturbing its sanctity. Allow me a moment.
He pulls out his symbol to Abadar, praying for insight (detect magic)
He then, after a few seconds (18), he prays again, asking for assistance in combing the bowl:
School divination; Level bard 0, inquisitor 0
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S
EFFECT
Range 30 ft.
Area one 10-ft. cube
Duration instantaneous
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance
DESCRIPTION
You examine an area at range as if you were searching for fine details with the Perception skill. Make a Perception check with a -5 penalty, modified as normal for conditions. No penalty is applied for distance. Apply the result against the DC for any hidden features, such as secret doors, traps, or hidden treasure. You must be able to see the area you are attempting to search, and you only find details that can be perceived with sight or touch. Sift detects only objects and features, not actual creatures.
Walter then asks for 'Guidance' as he searching the bowl visually.
The bowl has a faint magical aura, but nothing inside other than ordinary water and the coins totaling nearly 600 GP in value.
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Walter holds his longspear in front of him.
I am certain that we do NOT need to disturb this sacred shrine, unless to also give alms. I am blessed by Abadar, but if any here choose to offer benevolence to this person, then so be it!
Walter prays to Abadar for his 'Guidance'...
Walter stands vigilant, watching their surroundings.
Walter's gaze pierces the surrounding area, detecting no threats. When Sambar tosses his coins in a feeling of warmth washes over him for a moment.
The party proceeds down out of the mountain and camps for the night at the base. The next day, you proceed further north into a dense bog. Thick blobs of fog dance in between large tickets as the foul stench of swamp gas pollutes the air. Several exotic species of vines twist along the vapor-shrouded path, creating an ethereal seeming tangle. At random intervals, a splash of fetid water sounds in the distance, signaling the presence of frogs or other bog creatures. You spend another night camped in the bog.
In the morning you press onward, and the thick rolling fog begins to disperse, allowing you to see where you step. Despite the increased visibility, this area of the swamp is difficult terrain, as the muck and vegetation thicken further.
A large log rests across a dirt path, standing five feet tall. A moldering wood door covers one of the hollow ends of the log, and a makeshift mud chimney emits a thin wisp of blue smoke. From behind the crude house come the sound of someone humming an off-key tune.
Johann shouts his greeting. He looks more closely at the house, and sees that while it resembles a fey dwelling in some respects, it houses a different kind of creature altogether.
A figure leaps onto the top of the log! It's a small figure with a scaly hide and dog-like snout. Johann recognizes it as a kobold.
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Yoshima bows low and motions for Johann to interpret. He then stands and raises both hands high to demonstrate he conceals no weapon.
"Oh great and honorable dragon-kin, we are simple travelers seeking passage through this mountain pass on our way to the sea. We mean you nor your children any harm and I swear an oath to you now before the sun and sky, that if you allow us to pass unmolested, not one leaf, not one flower shall be harmed in your loveliest of gardens."
Diplomacy (most likely aid another since Johann would have to translate)
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Walter looks over the kobold, thinking of its strengths and weaknesses.
Better watch out for treachery...they're not exactly know to be friendly to visitors
As Yoshima begins his oratory, Walter also will 'aid' him in his endeavor.
Be at ease good Kobold. We have no design on you or yours. We seek only a peaceful journey to the yonder shores.
As he speaks, Walter also is looking around for any...surprises that may be unwanted.
The kobold is unconvinced. She shouts in poor Common "Liars! Intruders!"
She casts Entangle
You see a large crocodile at the end of her log home rise out of the bog.
Initiative;
The kobold casts shillelagh and jumps down to the front of the entangled area, with the crocodile taking a place by her side.
Next Up: Muteki, Walter, Samber, Johann!
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Walter activates his Travel domain power
He then moves 20' down and 2 across to put him within 10' of the Kobold and granting him 20% concealment (CRB p.197).
Walter then prays to Abadar, pointing a finger at the Kobold, lonspear kept readied.
In the name of Abadar, I 'Command' you to drop your weapon!
He also activates his judgment as a swift action:
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You can ready a standard action, a move action, a swift action, or a free action. To do so, specify the action you will take and the conditions under which you will take it. Then, anytime before your next action, you may take the readied action in response to that condition. The action occurs just before the action that triggers it. If the triggered action is part of another character's activities, you interrupt the other character. Assuming he is still capable of doing so, he continues his actions once you complete your readied action. Your initiative result changes. For the rest of the encounter, your initiative result is the count on which you took the readied action, and you act immediately ahead of the character whose action triggered your readied action.
You can take a 5-foot step as part of your readied action, but only if you don't otherwise move any distance during the round.
Initiative Consequences of Readying
Your initiative result becomes the count on which you took the readied action. If you come to your next action and have not yet performed your readied action, you don't get to take the readied action (though you can ready the same action again). If you take your readied action in the next round, before your regular turn comes up, your initiative count rises to that new point in the order of battle, and you do not get your regular action that round.
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Reflex Save
The paladin grimaces at the woman's decision. This his face hardens in his resolve. He calls on his Goddess silently to help him strike down his foe and charges.
As he comes into range he raises his blade high and brings it down with righteous fury.
Attack Subtract two from the final total if the Kobold is not evil.
Damage, if I hit Subtract 1 if the Kobold is not evil.
My AC against the Kobold remains 17 due to my Deflection Bonus. Against the Croc, I'm at 15.
Muteki rushes forward, and strikes a blow against the reptilian spellcaster, casuing a grievous wound to open up in her side.
Sambar is entangled, and as he moves forward, he loses concentration on his spell.
Johann quaffs his extract.
Walter steps up and directs his command at the kobold.
She is undaunted!
Round One is over.
Round Two:
She swings her club at Mutkei while her crocodile bites at him.
The kobold's club misses, but the croc bites down hard on Muteki's leg, injuring it severely.
Ok, Muteki, Walter, Sambar, Johann! Walter and Johann, please roll your Reflex save again.