GM Tarondor's Kingmaker Campaign

Game Master Tarondor

"They can talk - usually its to lure people into traps so they can eat them." Aristu incants a spell, then touches Mikhail.

Cast Fly on Mikhail.

Piotr protects himself with a simple spell.

Cast Mage Armor on self

Waiting on Alister.

Alister casts Fly on Kern. "Manticores are deadly when they can shoot those quills from afar. I think you two might need to get in closer to bring them down."

Cast Fly on Kern

Well then. Battle is joined.

1. Fly
2. Tail Strike Kern.
3. Tail Strike Kern & Piotr.

1d5 ⇒ 3
2d5 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8

Double Spike v. Kern, 2 range increments: 1d20 + 16 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 16 - 2 = 151d12 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Single Spike v. Kern, 2 range increments: 1d20 + 16 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 16 - 2 - 5 = 221d12 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Single Spike v. Piotr, 2 range increments: 1d20 + 16 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 16 - 2 - 5 = 101d12 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

A hail of razor-sharp spikes rains down around Kernithar and Piotr, but the two manage to deflect, dodge and shield themselves from harm.

STATUS
Alister - 96/96 hp
Aristu - 72/72 hp,
Kernithar - 102/102 hp, Fly
Mikhail - 112/112 hp, Fly
Piotr - 80/80 hp, Mage armor
Manticore

Everyone, go!

Aristu continues his incantations. He gestures at Mikhail - infusing the warrior with fey energies. Then he turns to face the manticore and pulls out a wand.

(1&2)Cast Haste on Mikhail. (3)Interact with Heightened wand of manifold missiles.

Mikhail releases a bolt and then drops his crossbow. He then launches himself through the air drawing his blade as he reaches the manticores side.

Shoot, draw, stride, stride. I do not think you can draw while moving in Pathfinder 2e. If I can then I stow the crossbow and draw on the move. If not I leave it back by the group.

Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

Crossbow Damage: 2d10 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6

I do not think you can draw while moving in Pathfinder 2e.[/ooc]

You're right. No free draw during a move.

Mikhail's crossbow bolt sails just over the monster's wing and disappears.

Alister, Kernithar, Piotr, go!

Free Demoralize vs Will DC: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19

When the manticore spots them, Alister shouts loudly. "Take it down!" He climbs the slope and then weaves a spell to bring the manticore's worse nightmare upon it.

Phantasmal Killer (Will DC 26): 8d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 4, 3, 5, 3, 4, 2) = 31
I just rolled the damage for the failure condition. If it succeeds, we can call it half of that. If it crit fails, then I need a Fort save DC 26. It's also likely frightened to some degree.

Kern flies up and around the beast.

"Over here beast!"
He shouts to distract the creature from Mikhail, giving him a hunter's edge.

Stride x2 to flank (90ft movement), Warden's Boon to Mikhail (enjoy the reduced hasted map next turn).

Manticore Will save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

The manticore rears back, as if in terror of something unseen!

STATUS
Alister - 96/96 hp
Aristu - 72/72 hp,
Kernithar - 102/102 hp, Fly
Mikhail - 112/112 hp, Fly, Warden's Boon
Piotr - 80/80 hp, Mage armor
Manticore - 31 damage, Frightened 2

Piotr, go!

Thinking that there may be more than one manticore, Piotr summons a swarm of ravens to protect his companions and himself. Th eflock circles overhead, ready to intercept any other manticores.

Cast Summon Animal (4th lvl) - Raven Swarm

Good call, Piotr. Your ravens immediately swarm towards the second manticore that is just about to become visible over the ridge! Tell me what they do!

The flock of ravens dives towards the flying manticore, swarming around it.

Swarming Beaks (piercing, DC 20 basic reflex or blinded for 1d4 rds): 1d8 ⇒ 4

Will Save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30 Critical Success

Manticore A 1) Fly.
Manticore A 2) Claw.
Manticore A 3) Bite.

Manticore B 1) Fly.
Manticore B 2) Claw.
Manticore B 3) Bite.

Manticore A Bite v. Kern: 1d20 + 19 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 19 - 2 = 212d8 + 10 ⇒ (6, 8) + 10 = 24
Manticore A Claw v. Mikhail: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 15 - 2 = 332d6 + 10 ⇒ (2, 5) + 10 = 17

Manticore B Bite v. Ravens: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 282d8 + 10 ⇒ (3, 6) + 10 = 19
Manticore B Claw v. Ravens: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 342d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 5) + 10 = 19

The cornered manticore roars its defiance and attacks the petty humanoids around it. Its powerful claw slashes Mikhail across the left breast, leaving an aching bruise and a trickle of blood.

Its mate devastates the cloud of ravens around it, crushing and swatting them from the sky, but still they persist.

STATUS
Alister - 96/96 hp
Aristu - 72/72 hp,
Kernithar - 102/102 hp, Fly
Mikhail - 78/112 hp, Fly, Warden's Boon
Piotr - 80/80 hp, Mage armor
Raven Swarm (AC 19) - 2/30 hp
Manticore A - 31 damage, Frightened 2
Manticore B -

Everyone, go!
Fliers, I remind you that flying requires spending an action to fly or else you plummet.

Alister continues rallying his companions. "Now! While we have it surrounded!" He draws his bow and fires at the manticore.

Performance DC24: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

Attack (IC): 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 15 + 1 = 25
Damage (IC): 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 3) + 1 = 10

Actions:
1. Casting Inspire Courage (60 foot radius) + Lingering Performance (fails)
2. Draw Bow
3. Fire on Manticore A

With a flourish, Aristu activates his wand and launches 6 bright white bolts at the manticore fighting Mikhail & Kern.

(1&2&3)Use wand to cast Magic Missile(H+2) at Manticore A.

Force damage: 6d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 4, 1, 2, 3, 3) + 6 = 21

"Keep it surrounded, Mikhail!" Kern shouts as he flies to keep up with the Manticore.

He slashes upward as he keeps pace with the creature.

Elven Curved Blade (1): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29Damage: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 2 = 7

Warden's Boon (for next round), Fly, Strike

Mikhail flies after the manticore with magical speed, slashing and thrusting with his greatsword.

+1 Cold Iron Striking Greatsword (1): 1d20 + 4 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 14 + 1 = 32
Damage: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (11, 8) + 4 + 3 = 26
+1 Cold Iron Striking Greatsword (2): 1d20 + 4 + 14 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 14 + 1 - 3 = 31
Damage: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (8, 6) + 4 + 3 = 21
+1 Cold Iron Striking Greatsword (3): 1d20 + 4 + 14 + 1 - 6 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 14 + 1 - 6 = 29
Damage: 2d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 11) + 4 + 3 = 19

Hasted Fly, Strike x3 w/ Flurry Edge against flanked and frightened manticore

Alister, Aristu, Kernithar and Mikhail cut the manticore from the sky. It plunges to the stony hill and crashes into ruin.

The other manticore turns and runs in terror.

It's now 120 feet away from the spot shown on the map.

Everyone go! Or was that enough?

Kernithar sniffs the air for the musk of fleeing beast and waits for his companions.
"We should track it back to it's nest. I've got it's scent."

Hunt Prey (plus knowledge check Arcana(U) +3; Nature(T) +13; Occult(T) +13; Religion(T) +13; Society(U) +3), Ready a Fly Action

You can also just see it.

Would I not be able to Hunt Prey it? If not, I could fly up to 90ft closer in that turn instead.

Yes. You can see it, so you can use Hunt Prey.

"Kern, see if you can keep it in sight, but don't engage. The rest of us may be slower." Alister yells from down below.

Do the three spellcasters want to cast Fly spells and head after it?

We just wandered in and murder-hobo'ed this nice manticore couple!

"Let's follow it back to it's nest, first. It might be well hidden and, besides, the prospector told us that is close to the potential mine," says Piotr.

He begins preparations to cast Fly.

Likewise, Alister casts Fly on himself and lifts off, heading after Kern.

Aristu says, "I'll stick to the ground." He casts a quick spell to increease his speed and follows Kern.

Cast Fleet Step.

Aristu's current Speed is 60'

In the interests of keeping us moving...

You track the second manticore back to her lair and have a brief battle there, killing her. In the rocky overhang that serves as her lair you find the bones of many animals as well as those of at least one human.

You manage to recover thirty quills from the two manticores.

The next day you find the rocks mentioned by Clockmort Domblevoster and a series of caves. You realize that none of you knows how to recognize tin-bearing ore, but believe that this must be the place the gnome described. If he was right, this could be a valuable addition to the realm.

Now what?

"Shall we check in with our centaur 'friends' before we go find these cyclops ruins?" Kern asks as he slowly roasts a rabbit over the fire.

"We're already here in the Tors. We might as well look around for the ruins rather than go back to the centaurs and then return." Alister sniffs at the rabbit, suddenly missing little Anya and how she would pout when rabbits needed to be cooked.

Piotr keeps an eye on Corb, who is clearly too interested in the rabbit even though his familiar had already claimed the entrails.

"Let us make good use of our time. We can scout the area between here and the centaur camp."

"Agreed. If we can find any sign of the dragon that was here it might be important as well." Mikhail says.

Why don't you give me a hex-by-hex line of exploration?

Well ... let's detour around the thunderbird nest. Piotr doesn't want to take the chance that they are like crows or ravens and remember human faces for a long, long time.

As he waits for a taste of rabbit, Aristu plays on his fife, trying to find a tune to complement the wind whistling through the stony peaks.

How about 1126 -> 1127 -> 1128 ?

Works for me.

Works for me too.

For two weeks Our Heroes trek through a trackless wilderness of stone amid high mountains, narrow valleys and windswept hillsides. Ancient forests of fir and pine cling to the lower skirts of the tors and here and there little pools and ponds give water, but otherwise this area at the far southern edge of your writ contains no points of interest.

Now where?

Worth noting that you've been gone from both Stagfell and the Nomen camp for more than a month. You need to rule and you may make another Diplomacy check with the Nomen.

I think we hit Stagfell and check in and then turn and go back to visit the Nomen and see if there is more we can do there after turning in the quills.

Concur. Home before Away.

"Time to head home for a bit. I think we've been gone long enough."

Got any way to get home other than back the way you came?

We should take a slightly different route back and explore as we go. So 1027, 1026, 0926, 0925, 0924, 0923, 0922, 0921, 0820, 0720, 0719. Most of that is outside the kingdom currently.

"I agree with Mikhail. And, if we scout more bordering land, we'll be better prepared to defend ourselves." Kern comments.

"I am getting concerned about not monitoring the kingdom's finances," says Piotr.

"BUt I agree with your route."

Alister nods. "I'm concerned about getting home too, but the route does seem good. Let's hope we don't run into any trouble."

A long trek over trackless mountains along the northeastern face of the Tors of Levenies. In a remote valley far from any habitation (1027), you spy a cave mouth partway up a nearby mountain. It looks to be half a day's climb away from your line of march. Shorter if you fly, of course.

"Piotr, what does Corb see at that cave mouth?"
Kern says as he points up toward the opening.

"If it's a dragon we're keeping an eye out for, a cave isn't something we should pass up."

Piotr summons his familiar so that he can make the request.

"Corb, we are interested in that cave up there. Can you examine it for us?"

"Yes, pretend to be a simple raven, not the majestic beast that you really are. I suppose that, yes, you can land to check out any carrion. But, think about it ... why would it be untouched by wild ravens?"

The pair banter back and forth before the raven flies up to scout.