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Round 3
Fey Allies
All PCs and companion creatures gain a single-use benefit they can use during Part 4. As a free action on its turn, a creature can use its benefit to gain either damage reduction equal to half the table’s APL or cold resistance equal to the table’s APL until the end of that encounter. Each PC and companion creature can select a different benefit.
Skye(4,Blessed)
Rallas(4,Blessed)
Kitajo(12,Blessed)
Shivalier(4,Blessed)
Malik(12,Blessed)
Green(22,Twilight)
Xuan Fung(4,Blessed)
Rallas' attack fails to connect to the kobold!
Can anyone stop this little menace?!
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"Okay, guys...", Malik breathes out heavily, and looks at the dragon in the pit.
"I have two questions. First - How do we decapitate that thing?" He looks around the party for anyone with ideas, and looks back at the dragon once more.
"Second - who will carry that head? I like mine where it currently is, thank you very much."
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"Well done, friends." Skye congratulates the team. "Anybody need healing?
He digs around in his deep pockets for his pipe and pouch of Shoanti Special Blend No. 7. Unstopping his waterskin, he pours a little water into the receptacle, then lights it and takes a long pull. Eyes closed, he holds his breath a few moments, then exhales a slow, hazy plume of blue-grey smoke, punctuated with a lazy, wavering smoke ring. Smiling, he offers the pipe to his friends.
Pulling out a dagger, he offers, "I can help field dress the dragon." He looks around, "We should probably search this place, too."
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With the dragons defeated and their kobolds fleeing, the Pathfinders assemble in the deep cave. With her phantom Anok in tow, Medda approaches the frozen column and brushes away the outer layer of frost. Frozen within the column is a dwarven woman in steel armor, her body torn as if by immense claws. With her hand pressed against the ice, Medda pleads. “Ivvora, I have found you. Now what? Vildeis said to find you and that you would help me, but how can we help you in this state?”
“You look to me when you should look to the evil that stalks our homeland. It is not I who needs help,” declares a voice that is both sweet as music and powerful as a thunderstorm. The frost melts away from the column, revealing dozens of clear facets that dribble melt water as if from open wounds. The image of a wounded angelic figure reflects in each facet, simultaneously warming the chamber and judging all that the angel sees. “As you can see, I serve Vildeis more directly than before.” The images look to Anok. “I see you took your oath seriously, Anok. I was wrong to have doubted your conviction. How are our people?”
The red phantom’s hue turns rosier as he looks to Medda and responds, “You would be proud.”
With a nod, the angel addresses everyone at once. “Then why do you seek me?”
“Eshimka has returned,” Medda announces. “We fought off the horror once, but it shall return at the next solstice.”
The angel’s eyes flare with righteous fire. “Then you will need a weapon to defeat it, as I had. Vildeis granted me the blade that I gave your people, but only after I thought I had given everything to vanquish my greatest foe. Even now I can sense evil has returned to that land, far to the south in a forest where the Whispering Tyrant’s legions once ruled. Show our patron Vildeis the same dedication that I did, and I shall ask that she equip you in the same way.” With that, the angelic images fade from the melting column.
Medda addresses the gathered Pathfinders. “I believe I know the forests Ivvora mentioned. You have already done so much, Pathfinders, but I invite you to help more. After I give Ivvora the burial she deserves, I will set forth with all who are able and willing for the Fangwood.”
The long journey south from the slopes of the Tusk Mountains to the edge of Fangwood took several weeks, during which many of the Twinhorns and Pathfinders exchanged ancestral stories and tales of daring adventures to pass the time on the relatively uneventful trek. By the time the Fangwood rises ahead in the brisk morning air, both groups are eager to confront whatever lies ahead.
Medda addresses the crowd gathered before her. “South of here lies a battlefield where the paladin Ivvora risked her life in a daring ploy to help her battalion defeat an undead horde. For her selflessness, Ivvora earned a token of Vildeis’s favor: the dagger she used to deal a terrible blow to Eshimka! For all the crusaders’ heroism, I can sense an undead taint lingered here, and that stretch of the Fangwood has expanded in the centuries since to absorb it. It is now our turn to earn Vildeis’s blessing, risking ourselves to end this threat so that in turn we might slay Eshimka once and for all.
“The terrain favors small groups over larger formations, so we shall divide into smaller groups to navigate the forest and identify the corruption’s heart. May Ivvora’s example guide us to victory!” With that, Medda and her phantom Anok turn and enter the Fangwood, followed by Pathfinder and Twinhorn teams that fan out behind her.
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You approach the beginning of the forest after Medda's speech. Brambles grow wild throughout the edge of the wood where a thick canopy of trees begins to filter out sunlight, turning day into night. The overgrown plant life forbids easy access deeper into the forest and fills the air with the sickly-sweet smell of decay.
Acrobatics, Climb, Handle Animal, Knowledge (Nature), Survival.
Wild Empathy.
Add +4 to your roll.
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Malik successfully navigates through.
The party manages to either clear their way through or trek the overgrowth and forest with minimal issues.
The forest floor is blanketed with eerie dark flowers that paint the otherwise lightless woods with their purple incandescence. Disorienting paths cut through the trees, forward-facing paths seem to lead back to where they started, and retracing one’s steps leads to unfamiliar terrain. Glowing eyes glare hungrily from within the impenetrable thickets where the vines slowly curl around anyone who gets too close.
Eyes that faintly glow purple gaze from the forest and look squarely onto the party...
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Round 1
Hazard: The local plant life seems to have a mind of its own and responses to intruders with displeasure. Any creature that ends its turn within 5 feet of the thickets must succeed at an Average Reflex save or become entangled. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, succeeding with an Average Escape Artist check or DC 13 Strength check. Alternatively, a creature can free itself by dealing an amount of slashing damage to the plants equal to 3+APL. This effect is treated as a plant for the purpose of class features such as resist nature’s lure, and the plants ignore anyone benefiting from fire shield or a similar effect that automatically burns or withers them. Likewise, any area of effect that specifically harms plants (e.g. blight or diminish plants) or deals at least 3×APL points of fire damage or negative energy damage disables the grasping plants in that area for the duration of the encounter.
Table APL: 5
Skye(0,Fine)
Malik(0,Fine)
Rallas(0,Fine)
Shivalier(0,Fine)
Purple Beast(0,Fine)
Black Beast(0,Fine)
Xuan Fung(0,Fine)
Kitajo(0,Fine)
Hodags. Spikes cover the body of this vaguely reptilian creature. Its fearsome face features dagger-sharp teeth and glowing red eyes.
Sorry everyone but going to cluster the monsters together to help save time. I am Gming two specials at a local convention, and that will be taking my weekend. I will attempt to post later tonight.
Also due to the perception checks, the Monsters start at a distance of 30ft.
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Rallas rushes at the creature to his right and tries to dodge the vines.
As Rallas moves up to the vines, he realizes that in spite of his efforts to try to dodge them, the vines seem to want him.
Consequences: Rallas becomes entangled, and can only break free from the vines by using one of the following:
DC 15 Escape Artist
Dc 13 Strength
Deal 15 Points of Slashing Damage to the Vines
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Round 1
Hazard: The local plant life seems to have a mind of its own and responses to intruders with displeasure. Any creature that ends its turn within 5 feet of the thickets must succeed at an Average Reflex save or become entangled. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, succeeding with an Average Escape Artist check or DC 13 Strength check. Alternatively, a creature can free itself by dealing an amount of slashing damage to the plants equal to 3+APL. This effect is treated as a plant for the purpose of class features such as resist nature’s lure, and the plants ignore anyone benefiting from fire shield or a similar effect that automatically burns or withers them. Likewise, any area of effect that specifically harms plants (e.g. blight or diminish plants) or deals at least 3×APL points of fire damage or negative energy damage disables the grasping plants in that area for the duration of the encounter.
Table APL: 5
Skye(0,Fine)
Malik(0,Fine)
Rallas(0,Fine)
Shivalier(0,Fine)
Purple Beast(6,Fine)
Black Beast(40,Bloodied)
Xuan Fung(0,Fine)
Kitajo(0,Fine)
Hodags. Spikes cover the body of this vaguely reptilian creature. Its fearsome face features dagger-sharp teeth and glowing red eyes.
The beasts then make their challenge roar, and charge out of the brush and foliage. They have large lizard bodies that are imposing, but are also covered in purple spores that show signs of infection.
As they make their charge out, the bold adventurers use their advantage of awareness to make shots against the beasts. The one coming near the Kineticists and Monk takes a powerful blast from Malik. Infuriated, the creatures bellows its roar as it . The foliage seems to not be affecting its speed or rage.
The Beasts charges, and takes a chomp out of Malik!
The beast then whips his head with Malik and tosses his into the air!
The second beast then steps close to Rallas!
Rallas gets a bite, claw, and a tail slap!
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Round 1/2
Hazard: The local plant life seems to have a mind of its own and responses to intruders with displeasure. Any creature that ends its turn within 5 feet of the thickets must succeed at an Average Reflex save or become entangled. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, succeeding with an Average Escape Artist check or DC 13 Strength check. Alternatively, a creature can free itself by dealing an amount of slashing damage to the plants equal to 3+APL. This effect is treated as a plant for the purpose of class features such as resist nature’s lure, and the plants ignore anyone benefiting from fire shield or a similar effect that automatically burns or withers them. Likewise, any area of effect that specifically harms plants (e.g. blight or diminish plants) or deals at least 3×APL points of fire damage or negative energy damage disables the grasping plants in that area for the duration of the encounter.
Table APL: 5
Skye(0,Fine)
Malik(9,Fine, 10ft Fall)
Rallas(23,Fine)
Shivalier(0,Fine)
Purple Beast(6,Fine)
Black Beast(40,Bloodied)
Xuan Fung(0,Fine)
Kitajo(0,Fine)
Hodags. Spikes cover the body of this vaguely reptilian creature. Its fearsome face features dagger-sharp teeth and glowing red eyes.
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Malik grunts as the beast lobs him into the air, and falls on his back, gasping for breath. Without standing up, he looks at the creature that attacked him, extends one of his hands in its direction, and - while holding his ribcage with the other hand - hurls a torrent of elemental matter at the attacker.
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Combat Over
Hazard: The local plant life seems to have a mind of its own and responses to intruders with displeasure. Any creature that ends its turn within 5 feet of the thickets must succeed at an Average Reflex save or become entangled. Entangled creatures can attempt to break free as a move action, succeeding with an Average Escape Artist check or DC 13 Strength check. Alternatively, a creature can free itself by dealing an amount of slashing damage to the plants equal to 3+APL. This effect is treated as a plant for the purpose of class features such as resist nature’s lure, and the plants ignore anyone benefiting from fire shield or a similar effect that automatically burns or withers them. Likewise, any area of effect that specifically harms plants (e.g. blight or diminish plants) or deals at least 3×APL points of fire damage or negative energy damage disables the grasping plants in that area for the duration of the encounter.
Table APL: 5
Skye(0,Fine)
Malik(15,Fine)
Rallas(23,Fine)
Shivalier(0,Fine)
Purple Beast(72,Dead)
Black Beast(77,Dead)
Xuan Fung(0,Fine)
Kitajo(0,Fine)
Hodags. Spikes cover the body of this vaguely reptilian creature. Its fearsome face features dagger-sharp teeth and glowing red eyes.
After the beasts make their ambushes, Kitajo makes quick work of the beast of black by pummeling it into submission.
After Kitajo knocks the thing out cold, the rest of the party redirects their blasts at the one hidden in the trees, and confirm solid hits with each shot and attack.
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Unhindered by the beasts of blight, the Pathfinders make their way through the forest to continue their search. The blighted plants seem to cover the area in full earnest, but eventually the forest opens to a small clearing that is free of the dark flowers that seem to permeate the rest of the landscape. A ring of tall grey trees circles the clearing, their branches reaching toward each other to form a ceiling of black leaves.
A chorus of whispering voices echoes within the clearing as countless faces form out of tree bark only to meld back in, flowing from tree to tree. Three of the faces remain in place and speak out in unison.
“Who wanders these forlorn paths?"
"Do you seek to join us?"
"Join us!”
From the trees comes a face full of laughter and glee, a face of disgruntled anger and hatred, and lastly a face of calm evaluation. They circle the Pathfinders, wondering just what it is these newcomers have come to do.
As the PCs interact with the spirits, each PC can study one face and its behavior to learn about its personality and which strategies might be most effective against it. With some roleplay the PCs can attempt a Sense Motive check to try to learn about a single spirit. If the PC’s check meets the Average check DC, she learns that spirit’s dislikes. If her check also meets the Hard DC, she also learns the spirit’s likes.
With the small talk aside, the spirits are eager to hear why they should assist the PCs. Each PC can make her pitch to one spirit—either independently or by using the aid another action—each of which requires one successful check to persuade (except if there are 6 or more PCs, in which case one spirit is especially stubborn and requires a second success). More than one PC can try to persuade a particular spirit, though after two failed checks, that spirit fades back into the trees.
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Fung lets himself drift down to the ground, but float a few inches off as he studies the spirit faces. [i]My master spoke of just fey spirits who inhabits plants..."[/b]
"Uh, hello, spirits of... uh the trees." Turning to one particular one, he continues. "We apologise if we are disturbing your rest. We seek an ancient battlefield within these forests."
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Skye peers at the calm tree-spirit face. "If by 'join you' you mean to die one day and enter the spirit world myself, then my answer is yes, I hope to join the spirits of my ancestors."
The shaman raises hand, "But if you mean join you today, then I'll have to decline. We are trying to aid Medda and the Twinhorn Following defeat an evil menace, threatening this part of the world just as it did in the time of Ivorra. Our task is not yet complete."
"What say you, spirit? Are you friend or foe? Will you aid or hinder us?"
Sova the spirit animal observes the calm face-in-the-tree, as Skye speaks to it. "Hoot."
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Rallas ponders a moment as he manipulates his wayfinder. He studies the gleeful spirit before speaking in Sylvan.
[b[Greetings, spirit of the woods. I am Rallas. My friends and I are Pathfinders. I sm sure you have heard of our organization..We are here assisting the Twinhorns and the Fey monarchs, Quiselle and Vallahk. We have been dealing with a scourge if kobolds and their dragon patron, smiting the beast just a while ago. We did not anticipate meeting those of your stature here....[/b]
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As Kitajo whispers his observations, the kitsune begins to get an idea...
"They're not showing their true colours! It's like a game of opposites! If that's the case for all of them, then let's try this..." he thinks to himself.
Turning to the calm face, he leans in close with his pistol in hand, waving it in front of the face as he whispers in a low, menacing voice.
"Hey bub, I don't know why you're looking so calm when there's an undead taint spreading through this forest, but I can tell that you ain't exactly able to put the hurt on the source of it. Now us, we got the ability to bring the hurt and then some. That guy over there, shoots lightning like he's a walking storm-cloud, and that one over there breaks trees like your's with this kicks - for practice! And me, I got a few caps I wanna pop into something. So here's how it's gonna work. You can show us you're helpful and tell us where the source of the blight is, and we can bring those hurty stuff to the blighter and try to end this, or you can piss us off by being unhelpful, in which case I can't guarantee we won't vent our frustrations on you. Your choice."