GM Ladile & the Pathfinder Society Present: Down the Verdant Path (High Tier) (Inactive)

Game Master Lady Ladile

Round 3

While Trophie and the newly-arrived Xavilon continue trying to reason with Dasaig, Auberon casually shuffles forward another step or two as he whistles a jaunty tune.

"Ooh, listen to you, making demands," Dasaig laughs at Trophie. "And this new tall drink of water, too! What a shame, what a shame it is that I can't have brave, reliable hunting partners like you three," she sighs. Then, she shrugs and raises her bow once more.

"Oh well, orders are order, I suppose. 'Fraid you all gotta die - but nothing personal, alright? Come babies, time to kill!" she cries.

Just as Dasaig's 'hounds' begin uttering strange, barking cries, Flynn suddenly comes splashing up from the hole in the lake!

Round 4

Flynn
Xavilon
Auberon
============
Dashing
Hounds
============
Trophies

Active Conditions: None

Flynn, Xavilon and Auberon are UP!

[url=https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1Hsv9XGsvPzNleFjSLYvCponDrrbWSUVyhmqucgRByNM/mobilepresent?slide=id.g3c07874724_0_32]Current Map[/url
____________

Flynn, you'll need to make a DC 15 Climb to get out of the water first but you *are* on the scene now!

Climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Flynn practically launches out of the water. The cold quickly forgotten as he surveys the scene, he locks eyes with the monkey fey

"Come to me!"
He says while he draws his sword

Flynn casts Command (the approach option) while using his once a day eastern mysteries trait.
Will save 18
Approach: On its turn, the subject moves toward you as quickly and directly as possible for 1 round. The creature may do nothing but move during its turn, and it provokes attacks of opportunity for this movement as normal.

You didn't specify but I'm assuming you're targeting the strange monkey-woman up in the tree ;)

Flynn comes shooting out of the water with all the grace of a dolphin, nimbly landing on his feet on the nearby ice. Though unsure of what was going on, it's not hard to determine that the monkey-woman up in the trees is trouble - what with the bow being pointed at his companions and all. Calling upon his knowledge of the arcane arts practiced by ancient societies of the east, he draws his sword and beckons Dasaig to approach...

...and she does! Looking a bit dazed, she climbs the 10 feet down to the ground and then steps out onto the ice and slowly approaches Flynn.
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Round 4

Flynn
Xavilon
Auberon
============
Dashing
Hounds
============
Trophie

Active Conditions: Ice = Difficult Terrain

Xavilon and Auberon are UP!

Current Map

Perfect!

Xavilon, drawing his katana, approaches the monkey-woman wearily, thanking Flynn's good decision.

+1 Katana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 for Slashing: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Xavilon decides to take full advantage of the approaching Dasaig, moving up to meet her and swinging his katana in a broad arc at the monkey-woman's abdomen! The sword cuts flesh, splattering blood on the frozen ground and eliciting a yelp of pain from Dasaig...but for some strange reason, it doesn't seem to do quite as much damage as the Professional would've expected.

Tapping into the Power of the Dragon, Auberon charges across the ice as though it were a grassy lawn instead of a slippery hazard, bee-lining directly towards Dasaig! Sunlight glitters off of his sansetsukon as he brings it down...

Auberon vs. Dasaig (Sansetsukon; Charge, Dragon Style): 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 = 32
Damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Crit!?: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 = 33
Damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

...and even with whatever strange defenses the monkey-woman has, Auberon's blow very nearly eviscerates her! With a pained gasp she quickly withdraws away from her two attackers, scrambling back up into her tree perch.

"Z-Zorn! Thorn! Get them!"

The two porcupine-hounds obey their master's call, trundling forward and attempting to slap the attackers with their heavy, quill-filled tails! Auberon easily dodges the blow meant for him but Xavilon is not quite as lucky, catching a painful slap of quills to the calf.

Purple vs. Auberon (Tail Slap): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Orange vs. Xavilon (Tail Slap): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13
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Round 4/Round 5

Flynn
Xavilon (-13)
Auberon
============
Dasaig (-29)
Hounds
============
Trophie

Active Conditions: Ice = Difficult Terrain

Trophie, Flynn, Xavilon and Auberon are UP!

Current Map
____________

Hopefully I got Auberon's mechanics correct; only marginally familiar with monk stuff so I had to look some things up.

Flynn focuses on the porcupine hound to his left, as he approaches

Knowledge: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

and he attacks

+1 greatsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 152d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 = 11

had to edit due to using the wrong parenthesis by accident originally

Trophie centers herself with a deep breath as she draws a wooden stake.[ooc]

A pack, eh? Let's try this!

[Ooc] Swift, enter Startoss Style. Move, martial flexibility for Startoss Comet.Standard, attack with Startoss Comet

Attacks Dasaig: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 for Piercing: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Attacks Purple Hound: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 for Piercing: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

2nd attack only happens if the first is a hit.

Xavilon frowns behind the mask, looking at the creature that landed such a blow on him. He takes a quick but important pause, staring at the porcupine creature and attacks with everything he's got. After the attack, he draws his wakizashi.

+1 Katana, ST: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22 for Slashing: 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 = 12

Move to study target, Standard to attack, Free to draw (thanks to quick draw.

Flynn tries to figure out what exactly the porcupine-beasts are even as he steps up and slashes at the Orange one, slicing a large gash into its flank! He knows that they're moderately resistant to cold and electrical effects and that they also bear a small resistance to magical effects as well. The other major note about them is their spiny quills, which will stick in the flesh of attackers using natural attacks, unarmed strikes, and light or one-handed melee weapons.

Trophie attempts to fling a wooden stake at Purple, who is up in Auberon's grill, but it's challenging to hit the mark with an ally in the way and the stake clatters off the trunk of a nearby tree.

I double-checked but I don't think the penalty for throwing into melee was factored into your attack; accounting for the penalty makes it a miss.

Meanwhile, Xavilon studies Orange very carefully for just a moment before striking back and cutting him down! And Auberon, already up in Purple's grill, attacks the beast with a flurry of sword strikes!

Auberon vs. Purple (Sansetsukon; FoB): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Auberon vs. Purple (Sansetsukon; FoB): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

After the second sword strike, Purple also gives a whine and collapses to the ground, still.

"Hmph! Death is just a setback here!" Dasaig cries as she takes aim with bow and fires a shot at Auberon...

Dasaig vs. Auberon (Comp. Longbow): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Damage (Non-Lethal): 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10

Crit!?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Damage (Non-Lethal): 4d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 5, 1, 4) + 6 = 22

Auberon Will (DC 11): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23

...which slams into the tiefling with force, bursting in a cloud of magical energy. Auberon feels the brief pull of the Sandman towards the realm of dreams but easily shakes off the effect. And he realizes that while the arrow packed a helluva punch, he's sore and bruised instead of bleeding.
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Round 5/Round 6

Flynn
Xavilon (-13)
Auberon (-32 Nonlethal)
============
Dasaig (-29, 10 feet up)
============
Trophie

Active Conditions: Ice = Difficult Terrain

Trophie, Flynn, Xavilon and Auberon are UP!

Current Map

I double-checked but I don't think the penalty for throwing into melee was factored into your attack; accounting for the penalty makes it a miss.

It should be factored in. When using Startoss Comet, the second attack is at full BAB (+12), so I rolled it as +8. Sorry if it wasn't clear from the way I wrote it up. The range penalty is accounted into my attack on Dasaig, but not the melee penalty, since at the time I don't think Dasaig was in combat with anyone. Did I hit Dasaig? At any rate, If Dasaig is still up I will full attack.

Trophie quickly draws and flicks two stakes at Dasaig.

Brawler's Flurry Attack 1 vs. Dasaig: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 for Piercing: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Brawler's Flurry Attack 2 vs. Dasaig: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 for Piercing: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Attack Bonus: +10 (Brawler's Flurry), -2 for range.

Okay, I see it now! I’m afraid that you didn’t hit Dasaig last round, buuuuut....

Frustrated, Trophie narrows her eyes and flings another stake at Dasaig. This one misses as well, just sailing over the monkey-woman’s head and eliciting a laugh.

”Is that the best you can do? You throw like my grandm-urk!”

Fortunately, Trophie’s aim with the second stake is much better and Dasaig slowly topples from her tree perch. ”Man...now they’re all going to laugh at me....” she groans before expiring. After a few moments, her body and those of her two hounds fade away to nothingness.

And after a few moments more, both Meligaster and Pai finally pop up out of the water behind you.

Combat Over!

Does her weapon also disappear?

Xavilon goes over towards Pai and Megalister to help them up the cold water.

"Wow, tough fight. Anyone can use this?" he says, drawing a wand.

"It cures wounds."

Flynn quietly checks in with his comrades, giving a pat on the back or an encouraging word where he feels it is needed as he moves to lend a hand with Pai and Megalister if needed.

In response to Xav, he puts out his hand for the wand and begins healing Xav up.

Auberon pulls his own wand and asks Flynn for his expertise as well.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Xavilon nods, thanking Flynn.

CLW (2 charges): 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (8, 5) + 2 = 15

As Trophie retrieves her throwing stakes, she looks back at her companions and asks:

"What were those things? And, 'Death is just a setback here!' What do you suppose they meant by that?"

Am I present for this, or still stuck in the pipes between worlds?

@Pai - Nope, as mentioned above you and Meligaster are now on the scene as well. The pair of you pop up through the hole in the ice and the others help you out - and they also seem to have just concluded a battle with something or something.

@Xavilon - Actually no, I'll say that her bow and other gear remains where she fell.
____________

You're initially uncertain of what Dasaig might've meant by her words - 'death is just a setback' - but you've got a few moments to think it over as you all are reunited and set about mending what few wounds you took during the battle.

Xavilon notes that Dasaig's gear was left behind upon her death and a few minutes of perusal reveals that she carried the following items: a +1 Composite Longbow (+2 Str), a Potion of Cure Moderate Wounds, a Potion of Jump, a suit of +1 Studded Leather Armor, a dagger, 60 regular arrows, and a single Sleep Arrow.

In spite of the noise of the battle, the frozen lake and the nearby frozen shore remain eerily quiet. You know that you need to find the Heartgrove, for that should be where Azure's colors are being kept. Hopefully it's somewhere close by...

From up in the tree, Dasaig cocks her head to one side. "Hmm...fearless you are..." she muses. "It's too bad you aren't a member of the hunt instead of that tosser Ronronne - he's as much of a rat on the inside as he is on the outside!"

Auberon shares with the group what the creature said above. "She seems to have been part of the hunt. And perhaps this Ronronne she mentioned is the leader? A rat creature of some kind? Let us look for tracks that we might follow to the grove."

Take 10 on perception for 21 looking for tracks

Xavilon patched and healed, nods.

"Indeed, Auberon. Tracks seems the most obvious way to avoid losing ourselves looking for the heartgrove. Oh and for the loot, I have no use in any of these." he says, as he begins to search the frozen ground for tracks as well.

Survival?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Flynn begins taking in his surroundings

Knowl(Nat0: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

and feels as though there is something important tickling his brain, but he just can't quite grasp it.

Following Auberon's advice, he turns his attention to any potential tracks

Survival(track): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Nature 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"I'm also not sure what to make of this."

Pai turns to Trophie and says, "One of the frog creatures said something similar on the other side. Something to the effect of 'We don't die here'. I thought maybe it was bravado on his part. But perhaps these fey believe they're defying mortality somehow."

Pai joins his comrades in looking for tracks. Survival 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

Though still a bit puzzled over just what Dasaig might've meant, there's little else to do but pick up and continue onward - hopefully toward the Heartgrove. Working together it's not an issue at all for you to pick up strange-looking footprints in the snow that surely must've belonged to Dasaig, leading away from the lake and further into the forest. Shouldering your packs you set off after them, weapons in hand.

As you follow the tracks away from the lake you eventually cross out of the frozen area that you were in, the forest around you suddenly taking on a rather summery feel - the temperature soars and the leaves on the trees shine a brilliant emerald green. Then you blink and it's the very essence of spring, with thick clouds of pollen in the air as flowers rocket up out of the ground in an explosion of color. Blink again and it's now fall, the flowers largely withered away and leaves of red, yellow, and gold, swirl through the crisp, cool air. Again and it's as if you never left the frozen lake; a thick, white blanket of snow covers all that you can see. Over and over again the seasons shift and change before your very eyes, never truly following a pattern but only the whims of chance. For all of you, citizens of the Material, it's very disorienting and rather unnerving to see such rapid changes over and over but the other First World natives that you might happen to see or pass don't even bat an eye.

Your journey through the forests of the Whirlwood is thankfully uneventful (aside from the ever-changing seasons) and you eventually find yourselves standing at the entrance to a beautiful grove. No matter the season, the air above this grove dances with multicolored sparks that orbit slowly around a massive mound of prickly vegetation and mulch. A cluster of gnarled, leafless trees rises from the heap. Instead of bearing fruit, the trees bear fat, round bindle bags, each tied closed with silvery rope. Five extinguished campfires dot the grove, each positioned near the mouth of a separate trail.
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Current Map!

Well, this looks a bit ominous, but I think all we can do is start checking the bindle bags and be alert. Do any of you see another way forward?

Auberon, you often see clearly where others may not. What do you think?

Xavilon looks around quickly.

"Yeah, I don't like the look of this. It might be a trap. We should be careful opening these bags, the first world inhabitants are known for their... unique sense of humour."

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Auberon will examine the closest campfire, and then get a bit closer to the mound to examine the bindle bags and surrounding mound. Before doing either, he'll concentrate, and his skin will begin to writhe, taking on a bark-like character. ki pt for barkskin

fire perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

mound perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Flynn follows with Auberon, sword drawn

Trophie examines the bindle bags hanging from the trees.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Hmm...Now, what would a bag full of colors look like? These other bags might be interesting too.

"The bags could contain something useful, but I suppose, as Xavilon said, they're just as likely to contain something malicious or silly, like a frog's eyebrows or a flower's sense of humor."

Trophie's joke elicits a smile from the stoic Pai. He moves cautiously to follow his companions, senses alert for signs of danger.

Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Cautious, much of the group begins to slowly advance further into the clearing. Auberon bolsters his defenses and then takes the opportunity to examine one of the extinguished campfires and can easily determine that it's relatively fresh - maybe only a day or two old at most.

Auberon, Flynn, and Trophie all approach the leafless trees where the bindle bags hang, looking for signs of which one might belong to Azure. All in all, roughly a dozen bags hang from the trees at a height of about 10 feet off the ground. Three of them stand out as particularly distinctive: one that drips with bright, multicolored liquid, one that you can occasionally hear muffled, indistinct words coming from, and another that is covered in reddish-gray fur and making growling sounds.

As you draw closer, you spot something else among the leafless trees that looks like a plant with four spidery stalks, long green tendrils, and an inverted bell-shaped cap.

Current Map!

Does it seem to have noticed us or is it minding its own business?

Xavilon follows the group cautiously. When he sees the creature, he takes a moment to study it.

Study target

Nature 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

"Be careful! That's a carnivorous plant!"

Nature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

That it is, and be careful, it ...

Flynn would like to know its special attacks please

It's difficult to tell if the basidirond is aware of your presence or not; while it isn't making any attempts to approach or grab at anything it's always possible that there are other senses that it relies on besides mere sight or sound. Flynn knows that the tendrils of a basidirond are covered with a number of tiny spores that can potentially take root within the skin and particularly the lungs of anything struck by one. They're also capable of releasing a cloud of spores over a short distance that act as potent hallucinogens.

Hallucination Cloud - DC 16 Fort save or suffer from hallucinations as long as they remain in the cloud + 1d4 rounds after leaving the cloud.

Spores (Disease) - DC 16 Fort; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds, effect of 1d2 Con damage, cure 1 save.

KnNature: 1d6d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"Shall we skirt this danger, or do we need to examine the bag that is leaking colors?"

Flynn pulls out his antiplague and drinks it.

I think we need to check that leaking bag

Flynn begins heading towards the bag
but he is not storming ahead, if others ask him to slow down or wait, he does

I agree. I'll support you if you want to go for it, Flynn.

"Pai, do you have any magics that might render this creature harmless from a distance?"

Trophie slips a stake into her hand:

Go for it, Flynn. I'll cover you.

She slips up within 20 feet of the plant creature.

Let's see how this goes

Flynn casts a spell and heads toward the bag dripping colors

Flynn casts Shield of faith - +2 deflection bonus to AC for 5 minutes

I'm afraid I don't. Plants are hard to incapacitate without resorting to violence. I can call upon the spirits to aid us if that becomes necessary though.

Pai focuses his mind on the lore regarding basidironds to help anticipate attacks and weaknesses. Activates Monstrous Insight (1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20) for a +2 to AC and attacks against the basidirond (self-only)

With little else to do but approach - the bindle bags are right there and one of them is the ticket to putting an end to all of this nonsense - several of you gird yourselves with magic and get ready as Flynn volunteers to try and retrieve the bag of dripping colors. As he steps into the raised area of leafless trees, the basidirond begins to move! Fortunately, no one is surprised by this.

Round 1

Xavilon
Flynn (Shield of Faith)
Auberon
Trophie
Meligaster
Pai (Monstrous Insight)
============
Basidirond

Active Conditions: None

Everyone is UP!

Current Map!

Trophie darts in front of a the closest tree and let's fly with a flurry of attacks.

Five-Foot Step; Swift: Enter Startoss Style; Full attack.

Brawler's Flurry 1: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 2 = 13 for Piercing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Brawler's Flurry 2: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 2 = 27 for Piercing: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Having been ready for trouble, Trophie springs into action and sends more wooden stakes flying towards the man-eating plant! While the first stake clatters harmless off one of the scrawny, leafless trees, the other buries itself into one of the basidirond's tendrils...but doesn't seem to do as much damage as one might've expected?
____________

Round 1

Xavilon
Flynn (Shield of Faith)
Auberon
Trophie
Meligaster
Pai (Monstrous Insight)
============
Basidirond (-3)

Active Conditions: None

Xavilon, Flynn, Auberon, Meligaster and Pai are UP!

Current Map!

Xavilon moves quickly, dashing towards the leafless trees.

With only his katana in hand, he strikes with all his strengths.

+1 Katana, ST: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 = 26 for Slashing: 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9 and Sneak attack?: 1d6 ⇒ 1

After his attack, he draws his wakizashi.

Pai advances around the edge of the mound and casts a spells (burning hands), releasing a gout of searing flame upon the basidirond.

3d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1) = 4 DC 15 Reflex for half.

Flynn swiftly focuses his his holy might plant beasts such as this basidirond and arcs in to flank and attack

bane is up for the appropriate type - I'm assuming my past knowledge check would have told me that automatically

+1 bane greatsword: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 2 = 154d6 + 9 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 6) + 9 = 28
the additional +2 is for flanking

apparently I need to focus more on my proofreading for these posts

Auberon picks his way through the strange cluster of trees, trying not to get in Trophie's throwing lanes. He'll take a big swing with his sansetsukon.

attk: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
dmg: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

just fyi, sansetsukon is a bludegeoning weapon - aka a 3-section staff