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“Welcome to Varisia, welcome to the city of Magnimar, welcome to the Pathfinder Lodge of Heidmarch Manor, but most importantly, welcome to my home.” Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch greets you in her low, breathy voice, finishing with a warm smile.
“Varisia is a land of ancient wonders and exciting possibilities,” she continues, “and I’ve found it most helpful to keep a team of Pathfinders on call at the lodge at all times, should anything of interest to the Society come up unexpectedly. This assignment is only temporary. We’ll rotate in a new team to take your places in a few weeks, but rest assured, there’s plenty of potential for you to make a name for yourselves as Pathfinders here.
“I’ve arranged for you to stay in Bakrakhan House, one of our guest cottages, for the duration of your stay here. It’s currently unoccupied, so you’ll have the place to yourselves. You’re on duty starting tomorrow morning, so take some time to settle in, wrap up any unfinished business you have in the city today, and should the Society have need of you, I’ll contact you directly.
“Ebrylis, if you could show them the way, please,” Sheila says as she turns and departs.
A half-elf guardsman steps forward. “This way, please,” Ebrylis says. “Bakrakhan House is the last house on the end. I’m sure you’ll want to unpack, set up your bunks, and so on. Dinner’s at sunset in the manor’s dining room. Look for me at the gate if you need anything else. I’ll leave you to it.” With that, Ebrylis strolls back down the path.
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A tall, lanky man follows the guardsman to Bakrakhan House. As he sets his gear next to his assigned bunk, one can hear the muffled tinkling of glass bottles and flasks knocking together. He removes the goggles from his eyes and they hang around his neck. Though a young man, his face is lined with fine wrinkles - making him appear quite older than he is.
At dinner, he eats with a voracious appetite. Between mouthfuls of roasted vegetables, he states to nobody in particular, "It's nice to get out of Absalom. Not sure I've uh, been to Varisia before."
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After the long journey by sea, Makena is relieved to find out they will have some time to rest. She gives Sheila a sincere smile and thanks her hospitality.
"That's very kind of you, Venture-Captain Heidmarch. It's been a long journey all the way from Cassomir, and I appreciate the downtime to get ready for our next mission. Come the morning, I'll be as good as new!"
She takes a slight bow as Sheila leaves the room, and then follows Ebrylis to Bakrakhan House. As they walk down the streets, she starts a conversation with the guardsman. "So... it is my first time in Magnimar. What's the city like, Ebrylis?"
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"Grleetings?", the native inflection of the Tian Xia people precedes a venerable human stepping into the room. The man has seen better days, his skin is gaunt, taunt and dark, much like the skewered grilled lizard he's snacking on. Grey robes of monastic traditions states his general neutrality on philosophical matters.
He flicks the remains of the garlic treat away; rests his cane and straw hat against the wall introduces himself to the Captain, Frunobulax and Makena. "I am Mu Ping. Rleporting foh duty." (Either someone needed a quota filled at the recruiting station or his application was misdirected from the Napfinders.)
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A gnome wearing a large floppy hat over violet-tinged hair and a two-tone blue beard speaks up. I understand that Varisia and its fine city Magnimar is a fascinating place. I've haven't had time to truly explore it myself either, Makena. Remembering his manners, Oh, my name is Bizzle, Bizzle Goodwager. Glad to meet all of you!
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Makena notices the small gnome by her side as Bizzle unexpectedly answers her question. She extends her right hand to the gnome and says "Well, it's a pleasure to meet you, Bizzle. If tomorrow goes anything like it uses to when we are on a mission, I am afraid we won't be seeing much of the city - well, at least not the tourist attractions, anyway." She winks at the gnome amicably.
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Before Dinner when unpacking ...
"Call me Al". Announced the tall Shoanti warrior as he placed his pack on his bed. "Aelfward Bloodyhanded is just too much of a mouthful to speak in a hurry". The bald headed, heavily tattooed , and scarred man suddenly grins and reaches into his pack pulling out some dice with one hand and a slim leather book with the other. "Anyone up for a game, or perhaps a discussion of pre-exodus Elvish poetry ?"
Later at Dinner ...
"I've been in this city before, not for very long tough. My friends and I got talked into doing a favor for a friend of a friend. You see this tax collector went missing out in the middle of nowhere ..."
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"I told you his taste like yeti testicle!" Shu scowls at Mu and points to a reptile on a stick he holds. Short even by the standards of his race, the old Tien gnome wears a simple hooded hanfu made from a material of the deepest black that contrasts strikingly with his white beard. His eyes are oddly mismatched with one slightly larger than the other.
"Look! Even Pu think it awful!" A white-furred monkey sits on Shu's head like a monkey-faced hat. Also holding one of Mu's "snacks", it paws desperately at its tongue with its free hand.
Turning to the others in the group, Shu gives a terse introduction.
"I am Shu, great wizard, etc. etc."
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Bizzle accepts the gesture of a handshake from Mekana. A shame that we do not have the time for a tour of the city. Maybe after our business is completed we'll have the chance.
Seeing the tattooed man pull out some dice, Speaking of chance, I'd love a game, Al! Especially a dice game. Perhaps after dinner we can get together? What a wonderful idea! Bizzle looks very interested in having some evening entertainment. I do hope there will be time.
The party settles in at the Bakrakhan House. Bakrakhan House is a cozy stone cottage with a slate-shingled roof and stained glass windows depicting colorful Varisian designs. The ground floor consists of a den centered around a wide stone hearth, a small kitchen with a side dining area, and an exterior sun porch. The second-story loft contains private sleeping quarters for up to eight people.
You are welcomed to leave your gear upstairs and spend the rest of the day exploring the wonderful city of Magnimar.
By the way, there's an aasimar paladin of Falayna with you. She's just chillin' all nice and relaxin' all cool in the background .
As the party heads back to the Bakrakhan House that night to clean up before dinner, you are all surprised to find a small goblin rummaging through a wardrobe in your sleeping quarters!
. . . While a character's actual speed doesn't directly affect how often he moves between cards, it does affect how quickly he navigates obstacles. For each 10 feet slower than the chase's baseline speed a character moves, he suffers a cumulative -2 penalty on any check made to navigate obstacles. Likewise, for every 10 feet faster than the baseline speed he moves, he gains a cumulative +2 bonus on these checks. Significant mobility advantages over the baseline speed type (such as flight) grant an additional +10 bonus on checks made to avoid obstacles, simulating the character's use of enhanced movement to bypass obstacles entirely. Used properly, extremely powerful effects (such as teleportation) allow a character to instantly move forward a number of cards (use each card's distance to determine ranges).
Using a base assumption of 30-foot cards, it takes a move action to move through a single card. When a character exits from a card, he must choose one of that card's two obstacles to face as a standard action before moving to the next card. Success means the character moves to the next card, while failure means the character must face the obstacle again on the next round. Instead of exiting a card, a character can choose to take another action not directly related to navigating the chase's course, such as casting a spell or drawing a weapon.
A character who wants to attempt to move three cards during his turn can do so by taking a full-round action. That character must overcome both obstacles on the card he is leaving. In this case, if a character fails either obstacles check by 5 or less, he only moves one card forward and his turn ends. If a character fails either obstacles check by more than 5, he cannot move at all that turn. A character unfortunate enough to fail two obstacle checks in a turn becomes mired in his current square (he might have fallen from a ledge, gotten a foot stuck amid roots, or got caught in a crowd, for example). A character who is mired must spend another full-round action becoming unmired and effectively loses his next turn in the chase. In some cases, becoming mired might impart additional penalties (such as falling damage).
A character can also choose to make a ranged attack or cast a spell during his turn in a chase. If the action is a full-round action, he can't move at all. Use the number of cards and their established distances to determine ranges as necessary. The terrain where the chase takes place might provide the target partial or even full cover or concealment, as you wish. A character can only choose to make melee attacks against targets that are on the same card.
The young female goblin with bluishgray skin and bits of bone jewelry standing in the bedroom lets out a squeak and leaps through the window with startling agility!
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Outside the House
No obstacles - from here you can go to the Manor Outer Wall
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House Downstairs
No obstacles - from here you can go to either Outside the House or House Upstairs
Ennoia, Old Shu, Al, Bizzle, Makena, Mu Ping, and Fruno
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House Upstairs
Drop, Tumble, and Roll (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Scramble Down the Wall (Climb DC 20)
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Manor Outer Wall
Squeeze Through a Break (Escape Artist DC 15)
or
Up and Over (Climb DC 15)
Ekkie!
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Busy Street
Shove People Aside (CMB DC 13)
or
Out of My Way! (Intimidate DC 12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rearing Horse
Dart Between Its Legs (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Grab the Reins (Ride DC 20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
City Watch Patrol
Blend in With Passersby (Steal DC 15)
or
Fast-Talk the Sergeant (Bluff DC 12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nighstoil Alley
Squeeze Down the Drainpipe (Escape Artist DC 20)
or
Force Open Corroded Grate (Strength DC 15)
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Sewers
Finish Line (no obstacles)
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Makena reacts quickly to the goblin's presence. Worried about the creature's presence and curious to find out what it is doing at Bakrakhan House, she tries to bring the little pest down with minimum fuss: she stretches out the palm of her hand before her lips, whispers a drowsy lullaby and blows its soft notes out the window, in the goblin's direction.
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Ennoia quickly bows, blushing profously as she understands she's late to report. Apparently she's just returned from another mission, for it looks like she's traveled a long way to come here.
The aasimar's a lithe young woman who looks dedicated to her cause. Her looks are otherworldly. Long blond hair flowing on her shoulders, with golden locks. Magnificent golden eyes ornate her pretty face - if she didn't neglect her appearance so much, that is.
Ennoia of the Silver Crusade. I'm happy to make your acquaintance.
Ekkie quickly averts her eyes from Makena's spell while Fruno heads back down the stairs and burst out the front door.
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Outside the House
No obstacles - from here you can go to the Manor Outer Wall
Fruno
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House Downstairs
No obstacles - from here you can go to either Outside the House or House Upstairs
Ennoia, Old Shu, Al, Bizzle, Makena, Mu Ping
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House Upstairs
Drop, Tumble, and Roll (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Scramble Down the Wall (Climb DC 20)
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Manor Outer Wall
Squeeze Through a Break (Escape Artist DC 15)
or
Up and Over (Climb DC 15)
Ekkie!
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Busy Street
Shove People Aside (CMB DC 13)
or
Out of My Way! (Intimidate DC 12)
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Rearing Horse
Dart Between Its Legs (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Grab the Reins (Ride DC 20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
City Watch Patrol
Blend in With Passersby (Steal DC 15)
or
Fast-Talk the Sergeant (Bluff DC 12)
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Nighstoil Alley
Squeeze Down the Drainpipe (Escape Artist DC 20)
or
Force Open Corroded Grate (Strength DC 15)
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Sewers
Finish Line (no obstacles)
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Al: you can use one action to move Outside the House and the second action to the Manor Outer Wall (no checks because those cards have to obstacles) but then you are out of actions (can't trip yet this round). Or you can use one action to move into House Upstairs (no obstacles) and then use your climb check to climb down the wall as your second action, again landing in the Manor Outer Wall but out of actions and unable to trip this round.
Either way you end up in the Manor Outer Wall with no actions left. But you're closer to Ekkie!
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Outside the House
No obstacles - from here you can go to the Manor Outer Wall
Fruno
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House Downstairs
No obstacles - from here you can go to either Outside the House or House Upstairs
Ennoia, Bizzle, Makena, Mu Ping
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House Upstairs
Drop, Tumble, and Roll (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Scramble Down the Wall (Climb DC 20)
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Manor Outer Wall
Squeeze Through a Break (Escape Artist DC 15)
or
Up and Over (Climb DC 15)
Al, Old Shu, Ekkie!
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Busy Street
Shove People Aside (CMB DC 13)
or
Out of My Way! (Intimidate DC 12)
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Rearing Horse
Dart Between Its Legs (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Grab the Reins (Ride DC 20)
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City Watch Patrol
Blend in With Passersby (Steal DC 15)
or
Fast-Talk the Sergeant (Bluff DC 12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nighstoil Alley
Squeeze Down the Drainpipe (Escape Artist DC 20)
or
Force Open Corroded Grate (Strength DC 15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sewers
Finish Line (no obstacles)
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School conjuration (creation); Level bard 2, sorcerer/wizard 2
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (ground mica)
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Area creatures and objects within 10-ft.-radius spread
Duration 1 round/level
Save Will DC 15 negates (blinding only); SR no
A cloud of golden particles covers everyone and everything in the area, causing creatures to become blinded and visibly outlining invisible things for the duration of the spell. All within the area are covered by the dust, which cannot be removed and continues to sparkle until it fades. Each round at the end of their turn blinded creatures may attempt new saving throws to end the blindness effect.
Any creature covered by the dust takes a –40 penalty on Stealth checks.
Bizzle hurriedly makes his back outside to meet the goblin at the Outer Wall. Ennoia, meanwhile, runs upstairs to spot the goblin from the window above.
Ennoia covers Ekkie in glitter and blinds the poor goblin!
Ekkie will nonetheless try to squeeze through a break in the wall.
Ekkie stumbles against the wall, unable to see. She is not able to squeeze through the wall but is able to knock the glitter from her eyes in the process!
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Outside the House
No obstacles - from here you can go to the Manor Outer Wall
Fruno
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House Downstairs
No obstacles - from here you can go to either Outside the House or House Upstairs
Makena, Mu Ping
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House Upstairs
Drop, Tumble, and Roll (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Scramble Down the Wall (Climb DC 20)
Ennoia
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Manor Outer Wall
Squeeze Through a Break (Escape Artist DC 15)
or
Up and Over (Climb DC 15)
Al, Old Shu, Bizzle, Ekkie!
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Busy Street
Shove People Aside (CMB DC 13)
or
Out of My Way! (Intimidate DC 12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rearing Horse
Dart Between Its Legs (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Grab the Reins (Ride DC 20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
City Watch Patrol
Blend in With Passersby (Steal DC 15)
or
Fast-Talk the Sergeant (Bluff DC 12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nighstoil Alley
Squeeze Down the Drainpipe (Escape Artist DC 20)
or
Force Open Corroded Grate (Strength DC 15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sewers
Finish Line (no obstacles)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Old Shu throws a stick at the goblin but it does not hit her. Fruno yells at the glitter-encrusted frightened goblin and spots tears welling up in her small red eyes. Mu Ping moves outside by the wall near the goblin and is followed close behind by Makena. Bizzle casts a spell.
Ekkie is unaffected by the spell.
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Outside the House
No obstacles - from here you can go to the Manor Outer Wall
Fruno
----------------------------------------------------------------------
House Downstairs
No obstacles - from here you can go to either Outside the House or House Upstairs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
House Upstairs
Drop, Tumble, and Roll (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Scramble Down the Wall (Climb DC 20)
Ennoia
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Manor Outer Wall
Squeeze Through a Break (Escape Artist DC 15)
or
Up and Over (Climb DC 15)
Al, Old Shu, Bizzle, Mu Ping, Makena, Ekkie!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Busy Street
Shove People Aside (CMB DC 13)
or
Out of My Way! (Intimidate DC 12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rearing Horse
Dart Between Its Legs (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Grab the Reins (Ride DC 20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
City Watch Patrol
Blend in With Passersby (Steal DC 15)
or
Fast-Talk the Sergeant (Bluff DC 12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nighstoil Alley
Squeeze Down the Drainpipe (Escape Artist DC 20)
or
Force Open Corroded Grate (Strength DC 15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sewers
Finish Line (no obstacles)
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The little goblin evades Al's trip attempt, although he does knock a small clear gem from her shoe.
Ennoia struggles to get herself out of the window, being a little hesitant to jump from so great a height.
With her sight back, Ekkie tries to squeeze through the wall once again.
Ekkie manages to find a small hole in the wall that she slips through. The street is crowded, however, and she is having trouble pushing past the larger people.
Ekkie: demoralized
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Outside the House
No obstacles - from here you can go to the Manor Outer Wall
Fruno
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House Downstairs
No obstacles - from here you can go to either Outside the House or House Upstairs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
House Upstairs
Drop, Tumble, and Roll (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Scramble Down the Wall (Climb DC 20)
Ennoia
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Manor Outer Wall
Squeeze Through a Break (Escape Artist DC 15)
or
Up and Over (Climb DC 15)
Al, Old Shu, Bizzle, Mu Ping, Makena
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Busy Street
Shove People Aside (CMB DC 13)
or
Out of My Way! (Intimidate DC 12)
Ekkie!
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Rearing Horse
Dart Between Its Legs (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Grab the Reins (Ride DC 20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
City Watch Patrol
Blend in With Passersby (Steal DC 15)
or
Fast-Talk the Sergeant (Bluff DC 12)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nighstoil Alley
Squeeze Down the Drainpipe (Escape Artist DC 20)
or
Force Open Corroded Grate (Strength DC 15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sewers
Finish Line (no obstacles)
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[Occ] I think Mu Ping and Fruno go before I do, but I'll be away from the net for around six hours and I didn't want people to have to wait [/occ]
Al attempts to go over the wall
and either attempts the wall again or attempts to trip Ekkie! if his fist climb check works and Mu Ping hasn't grappled her.
Makena finds a shortcut and tries to cut the goblin off. Shu squeezes through the wall after the goblin. Ennoia decides that it's time to catch up to the party and joins Old Shu in the crowded street. Mu Ping follows in Makena's footsteps through the shortcut to cut off the goblin. Al climbs up over the wall leaving Bizzle behind and then trips the poor little goblin in front of a crowd of people. How embarrassing!
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Outside the House
No obstacles - from here you can go to the Manor Outer Wall
Fruno
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House Downstairs
No obstacles - from here you can go to either Outside the House or House Upstairs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
House Upstairs
Drop, Tumble, and Roll (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Scramble Down the Wall (Climb DC 20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Manor Outer Wall
Squeeze Through a Break (Escape Artist DC 15)
or
Up and Over (Climb DC 15)
Bizzle
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Busy Street
Shove People Aside (CMB DC 13)
or
Out of My Way! (Intimidate DC 12)
Al, Ennoia, Old Shu, Ekkie!
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Rearing Horse
Dart Between Its Legs (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Grab the Reins (Ride DC 20)
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City Watch Patrol
Blend in With Passersby (Steal DC 15)
or
Fast-Talk the Sergeant (Bluff DC 12)
Makena, Mu Ping
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nighstoil Alley
Squeeze Down the Drainpipe (Escape Artist DC 20)
or
Force Open Corroded Grate (Strength DC 15)
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Sewers
Finish Line (no obstacles)
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Bizzle struggles to keep up with his companions as he can't find the right way to slip through the wall. Fruno climbs over the wall and out into the street.
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Outside the House
No obstacles - from here you can go to the Manor Outer Wall
----------------------------------------------------------------------
House Downstairs
No obstacles - from here you can go to either Outside the House or House Upstairs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
House Upstairs
Drop, Tumble, and Roll (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Scramble Down the Wall (Climb DC 20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Manor Outer Wall
Squeeze Through a Break (Escape Artist DC 15)
or
Up and Over (Climb DC 15)
Bizzle
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Busy Street
Shove People Aside (CMB DC 13)
or
Out of My Way! (Intimidate DC 12)
Fruno, Al, Ennoia, Old Shu, Ekkie!
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Rearing Horse
Dart Between Its Legs (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Grab the Reins (Ride DC 20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
City Watch Patrol
Blend in With Passersby (Steal DC 15)
or
Fast-Talk the Sergeant (Bluff DC 12)
Makena, Mu Ping
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Nighstoil Alley
Squeeze Down the Drainpipe (Escape Artist DC 20)
or
Force Open Corroded Grate (Strength DC 15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sewers
Finish Line (no obstacles)
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Fruno is unable to grab ahold of the goblin. Ekkie then stands up and tries to push through the crowd again.
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Outside the House
No obstacles - from here you can go to the Manor Outer Wall
----------------------------------------------------------------------
House Downstairs
No obstacles - from here you can go to either Outside the House or House Upstairs
----------------------------------------------------------------------
House Upstairs
Drop, Tumble, and Roll (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Scramble Down the Wall (Climb DC 20)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Manor Outer Wall
Squeeze Through a Break (Escape Artist DC 15)
or
Up and Over (Climb DC 15)
Bizzle
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Busy Street
Shove People Aside (CMB DC 13)
or
Out of My Way! (Intimidate DC 12)
Fruno, Al, Ennoia, Old Shu
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Rearing Horse
Dart Between Its Legs (Acrobatics DC 15)
or
Grab the Reins (Ride DC 20)
Ekkie!
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City Watch Patrol
Blend in With Passersby (Steal DC 15)
or
Fast-Talk the Sergeant (Bluff DC 12)
Makena, Mu Ping
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Nighstoil Alley
Squeeze Down the Drainpipe (Escape Artist DC 20)
or
Force Open Corroded Grate (Strength DC 15)
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Sewers
Finish Line (no obstacles)
----------------------------------------------------------------------