GM Endless Forms' PFS The Harrowing (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

"Thank you for your time and token, your majesty. We will be on our way. "

Fendahl bows and leaves the structure with Kirrah.

Done with Marzalee the Weaver, you head across the Harrowed Realm towards Smith's Caldera, the home of the Ticktock Man.

This lone, steep volcano rises from the Briar without the warning normally provided by foothills. Piles of copper and stone run through it at bizarre angles, as though they were buttresses struggling to hold the mountain upright, while a large stairway cuts up one side, leading to a stout, blocky structure near the peak.

An outdoor work area stands near the top of the stairs leading up to the entrance, complete with anvils, water troughs, worktables, and bubbling pools of magma.

Three round-bodied humanoids with hair and manes of fire work at the forge but notice you as you approach within 100 feet of their workspace. They begin hurling scurrilous insults at you from above.

Once the steep volcano in sight, Tolgarov cast heroism and see invisibility on him.

autosuccess on perception Hearing the sound of stones rumbling toward them, Tolgarov said

They try to throw stones and rocks at us ! before casting another spell on himself fly

How long did it take us to reach this site? For spell durations....

Following Tolgarovs lead, Fendahl casts airwalk on Kirrah, and climbs aboard her back, climbing to get a better view.

Ace curses at the sound of the stones and rips open his shirt. He mutters some words under his breath as the giant tattoo of the elements begins to writhe and wrap around the hand pressed against his chest. The fire turns to smoke and the water evaporates as a blast of wind rushes over the party and Ace's skin begins to turn to earth and his body begins to twist and turn before Ace moves under the ground.

Elemental Body I - Earth Elemental

Several hours of travel.

Soon enough, the stones turn into a rock slide heading down the mountain towards you!

You are in the slide zone of an avalanche!

damage: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 1) = 4
DC 15 Ref to avoid damage; if you fail the Ref save you are buried in the debris

Seriously? Now a rock slide?

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Ooof!

Did Tolgarov had time to fly away ? if not :
Ref. DC15: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 - 1 = 26

Likewise, Fendahl and Kirrah will be airborn. If reflexes needed...

Fendahl reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Kirrah reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Fletch Reflex save (DC 15): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
Romulus Reflex save (DC 15): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

@Tolgarov: yes, you could've flown up after casting your spell last 'round'.

It has not been 1 minute yet. We're still on what can be considered round 3 of the interchange.

The mountainside becomes even more treacherous as the rock slide turns into a full avalanche!

Those who are not yet buried or flying are in the bury zone:
damage: 8d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 5, 2, 4, 3, 6) = 24
DC 15 Ref save for half damage. No matter what the save you are buried.

@EF Can Tolgarov cast wall of force to prevent the full avalanche ?

Str: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Seeing Hawkwren and Maldoc stuck in the rocks and then buried, Fendahl will command Kirrah to descend to the closest and start digging them out.

Assuming we can dig to them, str 23 large lion - (5x heavy load limit = 9000 lbs)

"Kirrah, dig them out!

Fendahl will watch for any of the fort occupants initiating further attacks and draws his bow.

@Tolgarov: Great idea!

Flying through the air and seeing that the worst is to come, Tolgarov quickly creates a force barrier to stop the avalanche and save his companions below. The azers further up the mountain boo his efforts and Fendahl and Kirrah quickly unbury those who were caught in the rock slide.

With disaster averted, you can continue ascending the mount; the azers run and hide as you near. They clearly don't want to fight. The stout, blocky structure near the peak turns out to be a tavern called The Thirsty Break, which is fitting as it is adjacent to the outdoor forge the azers were working in.

This giant-scale public house shows signs of wear, and a layer of dust covers the lone table and bar. Two sets of double doors in the souteast corner lead out of the room.

There are a half-dozen more azers here but they are too drunk to do much when you enter. They struggle to fill the oversized chairs and table around which they sit.

The cyclops bartender, however, acknowledges you. "The Caldera is strictly giants only. You'll have to leave."

Int/Wis DC8: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 2 = 17

In this case, why these non-giant creatures are here good fellow ?

asked Tolgarov showing the Azers.

Hawk shakes the dust from himself after being dug out from the rubble. Getting out a wand, he heals himself, as the party ascends the mountain.

2d8 + 2 ⇒ (2, 7) + 2 = 11

Warily watching the room, Hawk waits for a response to Tolgarov's assertion.

Maldoc, not being in any better mood after being buried under rocks, comments under his breath, And anyway, we didn't come all the way up here to sample your swill.

Ace floats through the earth and feels the rumbling above. His new form is interesting to him. He pops his head out and sees that Tolgarov has stopped an avalanche as he heads to the bar.

---

"My good man! Even giants, such as yourselves, can appreciate some good music. Allow us to partake of your food and drink and I will woo your women the glory of the giants." entices Ace.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24

So if we made the initial save, we still make a second save and are still buried regardless of result? Does Evasion apply to the damage?

@Fletch: Yes and yes.

In this case, why these non-giant creatures are here good fellow ?

The cyclops grumbles something to himself and admits, "You can become an honorary giant by purchasing a one-day membership for 1000 gp. Otherwise non-giants must wait outside."

Fendahl catches himself before he calls the Cyclops a common thief.

"Hrrmm, we will need to discuss your terms.
But before we decide on the membership and the fee,
is there a person within known as the Ticktock man?
Perhaps we can settle our business if you can request him come outside?

But, we are giant in disguise ! Cursed in this form by the Nightpeddler !

Bluff: 1d20 + 16 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 2 - 1 = 18

"Arrows cost less than membership," Fletch observes to no one in particular.

The cyclops rolls his eye at Tolgarov and says. "If you're not going to pay, get out. The Ticktock Man won't be going anywhere, least of all coming out here to talk to strangers. Are you gonna pay or not?"

Ace, seeing his friend's aggression, takes his customary 50' berth even if this places him outside the inn. If outside the inn, he will wait by the door.

"Hrrmm, we will discuss outside then."

Fendahl will bow and step outside the inn, to converse with the party.

Fletch follows the others out, calling Romulus to heel.

You can't be considering paying up? Maldoc will say as the party regroups outside.

Once outside...

"No, I have no intention of paying one copper to that thug. But we have an arrangement that we discuss or prepare before we engage with the folk from this land. As far as we know, this cyclops does not have a token but knows where the ticktockman resides.
He might be useful to us alive. Or if we agree, we take him out quickly and proceed to our ticktockman.
While we are on the subject, do we have any intention of negotiating with the ticktockman or engage immediately? . "

Gameplan?

How many are in there? A cyclops and a few azers?

Assuming we are all outside.

"I will not pay to talk to ticktock man. If we refuse and attempt to force past the cyclops we may have to incapacitate him and the Azer. Although he looks to be the only threat. Not sure if the ticktock man will negotiate once we are past"

I don't see anywhere else to get the information we need. I guess we'll have to get it out of him or those drunks.

I agree.

You barge back in to the tavern and move to assault the cyclops and although he tosses a large giant-sized beer mug at you, he is smart enough to recognize that you are far too strong an opponent for him. "Alright! Alright! You can pass, free of charge! No need to destroy this place or myself over it!"

Beyond, you find another smithy with a massive sinkhole taking up the southeastern half of the workshop, leading to a blazing hot chamber beneath. More astonishing, however, is the massive stone head poking through it, attached to a far larger body below. "Gods damn it!" the head rages and you note that below the neck the body does not move. The paralyzed (petrified?) fire giant rages, turning his head back and forth to see who has entered his chamber. "Come to gloat, eh? Or join the war, the genocide, the oppression of all giant kind? Well?"

Forgot to check the Deck earlier. Looks like the publican might have come in handy. Edit: And the Avalanche!

Hawkren quickly skims through the Harrow deck, and tosses down the Forge.

"Well that ain't what I expected," said Fletch.

"Seriously, what are you doing in there? And where's the Ticktock man?"

There's quite a few cards that could be played at this location.

The Publican: the cyclops (had you actually fought him) would have suffered a -2 on all attacks with his beer mugs.

The Avalanche: +2 bonus on Reflex saves to avoid damage in the rock slide's bury or slide zones.

The Forge: +2 to Perception and Survival while in this location.

---

"The Ticktock Man? That no-good s~!@-eating bastard? Well, he's further in toying with the mechanisms of the Realm as usual! And he got me good and stuck here, that's what I'm doing! All for digging and coming up here in what I found out too late was his workshop!"

Hmmm, I wonder if the Brass Dwarf was the azers. Need to loom at the deck again

Coulda used that +2 to Reflex, hehe.

Further in, is he? We'll see about toying with him. Maldoc then decides its time to heal himself CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9.

Maybe we ougtha help this guy out? That looks uncomfortable.

"What were you digging for?"

"Well one of the mechanisms of the Realm broke down, a lower cavern network where I used to live, and I was moving up to find a new home! I was unlucky enough to cross the Ticktock Man's home I guess."

"So you are on good terms with the Ticktock man then?

"NO!" the giant shouts back in anger. "You think I'd be on good terms with a t@$$ who petrified me like this?"

"Then you'll be pleased to know we're not his biggest fans, either," said Fletch. "Is there anything you can tell us that might be useful when we confront him?"

The ranger had no intention of releasing the evil giant just yet.

Tolgarov stay quiet during the conversation.

"Confront him? Well good f#%@ing luck! He's quite a talkative f#&+er though. Quite obsessed with mechanics, the little guy is. 'Bout half your height, though I can feel the stone and iron in him! Not a dwarf though, no, there's something strange about him!"

"Hrrmm, yes then. We will go visit him. This way, is it?

Fendahl does not like the giant for some reason, and figures he will still be here when we conclude our business with the Ticktock man.

BTW - how long have we been in the city for spell duration purposes...since the rockslide