As Varian suggests climbing a peak, Signifer Karva responds, "You can march in whatever configuration you see fit but you will all stick with the group and we will follow the route I have already set out through the mountains. Make whatever preparations you need and then we head out."
DC 15 Survival:
You note some large black clouds on the horizon and determine that a large storm will likely hit within the next 24 hours.
Half-Elf Monk (Unchained) Lvl 10 HP 78/94 | AC 33 FF 29 Touch 25 CMD 40 Init+3| Saves Fort+11, Reflex+12, Will+11| Per +21, SenMot +19| Spd 60' Effects Active: Panther Style, Mage Armor, Barkskin, Darkvision, Death Ward, Prot Evil Tracked Resources: Ki Power 6/11, Stunning Fist 10/11
As they get underway Evad draws a wand of mage armor and taps himself.
UMD take 10 for 20.
Survival:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Evad looks at the sky and frowns. Moving up to the Signifer.
It seems Gozreh does not blow fair for us after all, look there on the horizon at those clouds. It would seem to suggest a big storm. We would be wise to have a plan for its arrival.
Gridger looks up at the sky as Evad frowns and speaks loudly. "It would be best if we take shelter before the storm arrives, do we know of any possible stops along the way?" directing his questions towards the hellknights.
It seems Gozreh does not blow fair for us after all, look there on the horizon at those clouds. It would seem to suggest a big storm. We would be wise to have a plan for its arrival.
Signifer Karva nods. "Thank you, soldier. I noticed it as well and I ask that you help us track its progress but I think we should push forward." With that, the group continues to move through the mountains under Karva's guidance.
This area is marked by strange deformations. Large boulders and rocky outcroppings droop and sag on the side of the mountain, as if they were made of putty instead of stone. Moreover, the trees are twisted and warped into loathsome shapes. Each tree is covered with wooden growths shaped like writhing tentacles, grasping claws, and toothy mouths. The ground squishes underfoot and thousands of earthworms wriggle atop the soil.
Signifer Karva is greatly disturbed by the change in terrain and sees this as a sign of chaos. She orders a brief halt to investigate. As the expedition explores the warped terrain, clumps of earthworms wriggle up from the ground and crawl all over anyone who stands still for long.
DC 22 Knowledge (arcana):
You discern that these
deformations were caused by soften earth and stone and warp wood spells.
DC 15 Knowledge (nature):
You notice that the worms covering the ground are behaving unnaturally. Vermin and insects are sometimes drawn to the surface at the call of unwholesome magic, or perhaps because they fear something even worse below ground.
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
You can't aid knowledge checks unless you have a class ability or the feat that allows you so. Just did a quick run through Arianna of your character and don't think your character can.
Gridger also stops in his tracks and follows Arianna's lead drawing his greatsword. "Can anyone enlighten us as to what does this mean?" His feet firm on the ground but careful to avoid any of the worms and continuously moves himself if a worm crawls on him. He maintains a straight face and does not flinch in the face of all this, trying to exemplify courage as the great warriors would.
"What's with these worms? They shouldn't be up here. Maybe something magical scared them out." Cirri casts detect magic and focuses on the terrain. "Soften earth and stone, warp wood...someone shaped these trees and rocks. I think we're right on top of something real bad."
Cirri grabs her wand of shield And applies it if she has the chance.
Varian will keep moving to avoid being climbed on by earthworms, but if that isn't enough,
just in case:
he'll cast levitate and tie a rope to his belt... "If someone will take the other end of this, just pull me along with you til I can land again. Thanks."
The party starts preparing for something bad and the Hellknights likewise moving into a fighting formation at a command from Signifer Karva. After a tense moment, a Hellknight named Aspexia asks, "Signifier Karva, all of the magic I'm reading are only remnants... it's come and gone, whatever it is."
Karva nods and puts her Hellknights back in marching formation. "Let's keep moving then, and quickly before whatever it was comes back."
The expedition continues forward through the twisted terrain for one more hour before the wind begins to pick up. Shortly afterword, a howling rainstorm sweeps down on the party.
Signifer Karva orders her Hellknights to use the mount spell to create a pony for Rufeo so that he doesn't slow the expedition (if he doesn't ride Ki'ala). A woman named Rulla comes over to Rufeo and casts a quick spell to summon a mount for him. The expedition continues onward for another hour.
A steep scree of gravel and shifting rocks covers the only path up the mountain ahead. The stones are slick with rain and a howling wind rips through the mountain pass, drowning out all other noise. At the bottom of the scree is a morass of mud and wet earth, while at the top is a flat rock shelf.
Yelling through the storm, Signifer Karva calls for a halt to examine the slope.
DC 25 Knowledge (nature) or Survival:
You quickly identify that attempting to climb the scree would likely trigger a rockslide.
Karva shakes her head. "I understand the risks but there's no defensible camping sites down here at the bottom of this. If you think a rock slide is imminent, I suggest you find a solution because I think a rock slide is less of a threat than being undefended down here in this weather. We need to get up that slope one way or another."
You can convince her otherwise with a Diplomacy check or come up with some way to get to the top while avoiding a rock slide.
Half-Elf Monk (Unchained) Lvl 10 HP 78/94 | AC 33 FF 29 Touch 25 CMD 40 Init+3| Saves Fort+11, Reflex+12, Will+11| Per +21, SenMot +19| Spd 60' Effects Active: Panther Style, Mage Armor, Barkskin, Darkvision, Death Ward, Prot Evil Tracked Resources: Ki Power 6/11, Stunning Fist 10/11
Evad doesn't have any great ideas to stop the possible rock slide; but does suggest...
Move up the slope one at a time; tie a rope to each person; if the rocks do slide, we'll have a way to find anyone who gets buried. The rocks will hurt you but suffocating under them will kill you.
It's not a great plan, but it's all he can come up with. He looks skyward and smiles at Gozreh's great blessing, as it falls in his face.
Male NG Halfling Druid 11 | HP 80/80 | AC 22 T 13 FF 20 | CMB +12, CMD 23 | F: +12, R: +5, W: +13 | Init: +2 | Perc: +21, SM: +12 | Speed 30ft | Wild Shape: 5/5 11 hours | Spells: See Stat Block | Active conditions: Barkskin (110 minutes)
"We could always do it on purpose. We move the company back a few hundred feet, I can focus myself into an elemental of earth and set it off. In that state, it will not harm me." He considers his own words for a second and then nods to him self..."Yes, that should work"
"I'm agreeable to that, making safe the path by causing destruction. Sounds fair." Gridger nods in approval of rufeo's plan. "If need, I could climb first, I might not be good in climbing but I'm quite strong. Will have to remove my armor you though as it restricts me." Gridger waves his arms showing limited mobility.
"If Rufeo's plan doesn't work as intended, I can stone shape it all into a solid path... depends on how big it is though... " He examines the path forward to determine how many castings it would take to make the path passable.
Cirri's Familiar | Spells -/6/5/4/2 | Arcane Pool 11/11 | Flight Hex minutes 10/10 | GM Folio Reroll +2 | HP 86/86 | AC 21, T 12, FF 20 | Saves 11/6/8 | CMD 23 (25 vs trip) | Perception +7 | Init +1 | Female Human Magus 10 | Alignment NG |Ward not set
Knowledge(Nature):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
"Oh yeah, we gotta be careful! You don't want to cause a rockslide." Cirri looks up at the cliff. "I wish I could help out. Turning into an elemental is pretty advanced!"
When Rufeo approaches the cliff, Cirri plants her quarterstaff into the ground. "Gales of the world, guide me through the air!" Her hair erupts into a pair of feather-like wings.
Cirri will use her Flight Hex to fly with a +8 Fly bonus at speed 60. She can use this for up to 5 minutes.
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
"I can hold a rope at the bottom to hold it if people want to try climbing. I'm all for trying to bring down the hill while we aren't near it." she moves back from the cliff.
Rufeo decides to put his patron's gifts to work and turn into an earth elemental. Rufeo's rocky body glides through the stones and, near the top, he starts kicking loose rocks about to purposefully cause the rockslide. Everyone is far enough away that no one is hurt and then you are able to take your time and climb the slope...
Unfortunately, as the path narrows and you turn a corner between two boulders, you come face-to-face with a large group of hideous animals twisted with fungal growths, extra appendages, and strange mutations skittering forward through the thunderous rainstorm. A menagerie of mountain beasts gathers round—goats, hawks, mountain lions, and giant rats, each covered with a sickly infestation. Crashes of lightning reveal that behind these smaller beasts, larger horrors approach through the rainy haze. Signifer Karva wastes no time, “Hellknights! Form ranks!” she calls through the storm. “Pathfinders, stay behind the line and reinforce us. I’m counting on you to deal with anything that breaks through the front line!”
You notice several odd creatures among the infested animals:
On the creatures:
DC 12 Knowledge (planes):
You think that these are ccythnigot qlippoth. As qlippoth, cold iron or lawful weapons are needed to damage them fully. They are resistant to acid, electricity, and fire and are immune to cold.
Cirri's Familiar | Spells -/6/5/4/2 | Arcane Pool 11/11 | Flight Hex minutes 10/10 | GM Folio Reroll +2 | HP 86/86 | AC 21, T 12, FF 20 | Saves 11/6/8 | CMD 23 (25 vs trip) | Perception +7 | Init +1 | Female Human Magus 10 | Alignment NG |Ward not set
Cirri claps as Rufeo does his thing. "Go, Rufeo!"
Once they climb up the cliff, Cirri notices the creatures approach.
Knowledge(Planes):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
"Wait...void aligned... unstable form... ccythnigot qlippoth!" Cirri squawks. "Use cold iron or lawful weapons to hurt them fully. Don't bother with cold, they're immune. They resist acid, fire and electricity too."
Cirri checks her spellbook. "Which means I've lost a lot of options." Cirri flips to a page. "I can make one of you really big, though. Who wants it?" Cirri begins to focus and concentrate.
Cirri will cast Enlarge Person. Who wants it? First one to reply gets it!
Gridger grits his teeth as he is force to be held back in what is suppose to be a fight. But he listens to orders as he knows the sensitivity of the situation and holds himself back from breaking through the front lines.
He draws his sword, stands at angle that provides him agile movement as he is ready to strike anything that comes near to his path,
5 foot step, move action to draw, and standard action to ready attack.
Ready Action:
+1 Greatsword,Combat Expertise, Swordplay style:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26 damage:2d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 4) + 12 = 17 Str mod is 2*str for a two handed fighter, and +3 AC(+2 dodge, +1 shield) -> 22 if I make the attack. Swordplay style negates the -2 attack penalty on my first attack
I practice a fighting style that I like to maintain high AC. So Gridger doesn't ask for enlarge as he knows it makes him more open to attacks. It's a roleplay thing~
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
I'll take the enlarge person. Edit: After re reading the enhancement bonus rules, I'll skip the oil. It won't get me more damage.
After she hears Cirri give the information about the monsters she says, "I'll take the spell, and there goes my frost sword. I guess my old one will have to do." She pulls it from her bag, and replaces the Frost sword.
Ok, sorry to leave you in such a tight place! Let's get on with the action!
The party listens to the orders from the Hellknights and stays back, prepping for a fight with uncounted animals infected with some unknown ailment. As the Hellknights single out a few qlippoth mixed in the horde and destroy them easily with some well-cast spells, your spirits begin to pick up.
However, you soon realize that the sickened animals and wimpy outsiders are not the true threat here: among the sickened beasts are two infested chimera with a green dragon’s heads looking down at you from the top of the slope, having just crested the rise. Though their transformations are not complete, the chimeras have twisted flesh and extra limbs.
Signifer Karva calls back to you, "Asmodeus' bloody balls! Are you alive back there, Pathfinders? We'll hold off the rest of the horde, just take out those things and keep them off us!"
As the chimeras clamber down the slope and start attacking the Hellknights, several of the qlippoth the Hellknights have not defeated yet do something to the ground to turn the already wet earth beneath you into thick mud. "S$#@!" Signifier Aspexia yells out. "We'll kill them soon enough, don't worry!"
DC 10 Reflex saving throw or be caught in the mud for 1d2 rounds and be unable to move, attack, or cast spells.
Cirri's Familiar | Spells -/6/5/4/2 | Arcane Pool 11/11 | Flight Hex minutes 10/10 | GM Folio Reroll +2 | HP 86/86 | AC 21, T 12, FF 20 | Saves 11/6/8 | CMD 23 (25 vs trip) | Perception +7 | Init +1 | Female Human Magus 10 | Alignment NG |Ward not set
"Oh, such language..." Cirri barely notices the ground sinking beneath her as she completes her spell.
Reflex:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 "Okay Ariana, grow big!"You are enlarged!
"Wow, it's like a mix of...um..."Knowledge(Arcana):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13"Okay, I'm not sure."
Varian takes a step forward and creates a lucerne hammer. He readies for the approach of the creatures. He will attack any enemy that enters his threat range.
Half-Elf Monk (Unchained) Lvl 10 HP 78/94 | AC 33 FF 29 Touch 25 CMD 40 Init+3| Saves Fort+11, Reflex+12, Will+11| Per +21, SenMot +19| Spd 60' Effects Active: Panther Style, Mage Armor, Barkskin, Darkvision, Death Ward, Prot Evil Tracked Resources: Ki Power 6/11, Stunning Fist 10/11
Slight edit - originally posted an attack on Ki'lalas, didn't realize that was him..oops. None of the rolls changed.
Blessing of Frevor - Gain a +2 bonus on attack rolls and a +2 dodge bonus to AC and Reflex saves. AC is 35
Reflex:1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 2 = 30
Evad focuses his ki and his fist begin to crackle with electricity. swift ki pt. - Elemental Fury (last 4 rounds).
Evad rushes around the battlefield like a stalking panther between the 2 chimeras.
Path in yellow (E was starting point), Panther Sytle, Panther Claw (AOOs as free action), Panther Parry (Retaliatory unarmed strikes resolved before the triggering attacks. If retaliatory deals damage opponent takes -2 penalty on attack and damage rolls with the triggering AOO).
So I get a free punch in response to each AOO up to 5
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
Blessing of Fervor: AC25 Reflex:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Thanks Cirri She manages to avoid the mud. I hope these things don't like Cold Iron or I'm going to regret not keeping the other sword. Ariana wades into battle heading toward the closest chimera. She swings with a powerful attack.
The mud unphases Gridger as he steps out beyond the ranks to help the struggling hellknights. He moves towards the creature that no one has paid attention to. But he fumbles with his weapon, causing the attack to miss very embarrassingly.
One of the chimeras snaps at Evad as he rushes by.
AoO on Evad: bite:1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 - 2 = 27 damage:2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 = 10 plus a DC 15 Fortitude saving throw or become infested by the creature’s otherworldly spores.
[spoiler=spores]A creature suffering from these spores is entangled, and can attempt a new DC 15 Fortitude saving throw in later rounds as a standard action to rip the tendrils free and escape the entangled condition.
chimera Fort:1d20 ⇒ 7
Evad then lands in front of the other chimera and puts his elbow into the creature's gut, leaving it feeling sickened! Ariana then moves behind the creature and puts a deep gash in its back leg.
Gridger, Rufeo, and Ki'ala try to take on the other chimera but none are successful in hitting it.
The chimeras then let loose matches blasts of sickly green acid at the party...
acid #1:6d8 ⇒ (6, 4, 2, 5, 1, 8) = 26 DC 17 Reflex half; hits Gridger, Rufeo, and Evad
acid #2:6d8 ⇒ (7, 4, 7, 3, 4, 7) = 32 DC 17 Reflex half; hits Gridger, Rufeo, and Evad
Two of the Hellknights let out screams as the acid soaks into their skin. "Keep those beasts under control, I said!" Karva shouts out as her Hellknights continue to keep the other creatures and outsiders away.
Cirri's Familiar | Spells -/6/5/4/2 | Arcane Pool 11/11 | Flight Hex minutes 10/10 | GM Folio Reroll +2 | HP 86/86 | AC 21, T 12, FF 20 | Saves 11/6/8 | CMD 23 (25 vs trip) | Perception +7 | Init +1 | Female Human Magus 10 | Alignment NG |Ward not set
Cirri applies her wand of shield, and a barrier forms over her. She decides to fly towards the mishmash with the blue serpent tail, landing about 10 feet above the creature.
Acrobatics, Derring Do:1d20 + 5 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 5 + (3) = 27
With a gust of wind, Cirri controls her approach to avoid making herself an easy target.
Once she's in position, she keeps her staff ready to parry the first attack that comes her way.
Standard Action: Wand of Shield.
Move Action: Fly.
Swift Action: Arcane Strike.
Blessing of Fervor: +2 Attack/AC/Reflex rolls
Spending 1 Arcana Pool Point for Derring Do (same as Swashbuckler's ability.) I will spend another point for Opportune Parry and Riposte.
You would think an Oread has acid resistance... Blessing of Fervor: +2 Attack/AC/Reflex rolls reflex:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 reflex:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Dmg taken 29. wow! AC is still 24, 5 foot step front and standard action to attack[ooc]
"AHHHH, it burns!" Gridger wipes the acid off his face, showing a little bit of anger, but trying to hold his calm. He strikes the beast again, attempting to take it down.
[ooc]I'm not sure about this, but swordplay style negates the -2 penalty for the first roll for combat expertise, does crit count as a second roll? or still the first roll? I've assumed first roll. Else there should be another -2 on the crit attack roll.
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
I think the crit confirmation is still considered part of the first roll.
Cirri flies past the dragon-headed monster and gets behind it just as Gridger digs his greatsword deep into its side!
Meanwhile Evad connects with two punches and breaks a few ribs on the other chimera. Joining rank with the Hellknights, Varian then assists Evad by delivering the killing blow to the infected creature!
Ariana then advances across the muddy battlefield and, with Rufeo's help, the two quickly kill the second chimera.
Looking around, you see a few of the Hellknights delivering more magical rays at the creatures coming over the slope and before you know it, the horde has been entirely demolished.
Out of combat!
The cythnigot attack deeply troubles Signifer Karva, who states matter-of-factly, "The presence of so many qlippoths is a sign that the corruption of this region runs deep. Get the expedition to the top of the slope and make camp to rest and prepare for the battles ahead."
A small shrine to Gozreh rests at the top of the slope here. The eruption of cythnigots from the mountainside disturbed the unstable ground, revealing a hidden cache beneath the shrine. The cache contains a collection of ancient jugs filled with 25 pale moonstones worth 100 gp each. Among the moonstones is an air elemental gem and a clear spindle ioun stone.
