Granta's Evergreen Arc #3 (Inactive)

Game Master Granta

Please make sure to delete your dot-post, so that they don't clutter up the thread.

The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: “Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig’s Paunch one hour before dawn.”

The Pig’s Paunch is a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents of human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food. In the center of the room, surrounded by inebriates sleeping off their revelries, a familiar elven man stands high upon top of a large round table.

“Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat!” With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder. “Can you believe it? It all started here years ago—well, over four hundred of them at least. Under this very roof the Pathfinder Society was born.

“But today! Today you will begin your Confirmation! Master Farabellus, Master Zey, and I all agree you each have shown your worth and dedication to the Society, so there’s no better time to see if you can handle becoming full field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix,” he says as he motions for an excitable halfling woman to approach. She wears a large backpack and carries all manner of tools, pouches, and scroll cases around her waist. Shaine continues, saying, “Janira here will be going with you on your Confirmation. She was one of my brightest pupils and will no doubt be an invaluable resource on your journey, for she discovered the caves you are about to explore during her own Confirmation.”

Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillmen.”

Master Shaine hops to his feet. “Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well.” With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while humming to himself.

Following Shane's example, a small gnome climbs up on a table and sits atop it to listen to the Master speak.

"Is there some reason we wouldn't come back alive?" the gnome asks of Kreighton Shane's final remark. He seems more curious than nervous.

Knowledge (geography), max 10: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Kyun eyes the eccentric elf nervously, clearly more fond of Master Farabellus' hands-on approach than Shane's meandering ways. He holds his tongue, though, and gives Janari a relieved smile.

"Gillmen under the the Kortos Mounts, eh? That does sure sound like a mystery worth unraveling. Oh! Where are my manners..."

He shakes the halfling's hand before continuing.

"I'm Kyun, and I'm here to to provide any delicate touches we might need; quite literally, if it comes to that."

With proper etiquette dealt with, he ponders Master Shane's breifing for a moment.

"Do we know what the gillmen might be up to in the caves?"

"Hullo... 'm Crowe..." is all the muscular fellow says to his fellow Pathfinders. He stands resolute with arms crossed over his chest, and says nothing else for now. If he has questions, he shows no sign of it.

"Hi Janira! Always great to meet a fellow practitioner of the audible arts! I'm Daffy."

Daffy noodles around on his hurdy-gurdy without turning the crank, subconsciously pulling on the keys as he considers the task at hand.

Knowledge (history): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Knowledge (geography): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"I'm new to this isle, and haven't had a chance to do much exploring yet. Are gillmen unusual around here?"

"Allow me to introduce myself, as well", the gnome says, and stands up on top of the table where he was sitting. "My name is Salagadoola Menchickaboola, wizard of renown! I'm sure you've all heard of me. No? No matter."

"And this young lady", he indicates a skunk on the floor next to his table, "is my friend, Rosey. She may look like a skunk, but don't let that fool you. She's actually a halfling who had a horrible polymorph accident. We're hoping my involvement in the Pathfinder Society will help me find a way to change her back. In the mean time, she's pretty good to have around in a fight. You'd be amazed what her stink glands can scare away. I've even seen her chase away a ghoul once."

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

A tall nagaji with blue markings over her eyes nods respectful to Kreighton Shaine, then introduces herself to Janira, then to the rest of the party. She speaks Common well, though with a slight hiss.

"Hello. I am sssso pleased to meet you all. I hope to prove myself worthy of the Pathfinder Society. My name is Suna Shima, and I am here on behalf of Nagajor. May Nalvinati bless our mission. Are there any preparations we should make?"

untrained Knowledge (geography): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18 for a max of 10.

Janira listens patiently to each would-be-Pathfinder in turn before answering. "Not if we all cooperate, Salagadoola. That's why we're going together as a group!

"Most definitely Suna. Most definitely."

Janira pulls out a large leather-bound journal and opens it on the table. “Before we set out, we should all get to know each other and review our plan. After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success are cooperation and preparation! I’ll go first!

“Now, tell me all about all of yourselves!”

Daffy jumps up to his feet. "Sure, I'll get us started! Daffy's my name and music's my game. Until recently, I was just a humble busker down near the docks in Sothis." Daffy pats his hurdy-gurdy affectionately. "After hours of playing down by the water, I figured out how to make the water dance along with me. Boy was that great! Dancing water sure does draw a crowd! Even better was when I could get a little kid (like my niece) to dance along. That would really draw them in!" Here he pauses for a moment with a smile on his face. "Anyway, one day in the spur of the moment, I tried (unsuccessfully) to use a puddle nearby to trip a fleeing pickpocket as I was playing. I couldn't tell you why I did it, but I liked the feeling of trying to help people, and anyway my brother's been telling me for years to get a job, so here I am!" He ends with a grin and a mock bow, then sits down with a flourish and resumes noodling around silently on the keys of his hurdy-gurdy.

"I'm Crowe. I kill things." He has an thick accent of the horse clans.

Since Salagadoola already introduced himself (and his skunk companion) before Janira asked, I'm intentionally staying silent for now.

Sensing that Janira wants a bit more detail than she's given so far, Suna expands on her introduction.

"I come from the city of Zom Kullan, in Nagajor. My family is devoted to the naga goddess, Nalinivati, and she has blessed me with a position in the Royal Guard. However, I received a very important mission from the Queen, First Mother Vassath Shethagri herself!

I am well trained in fighting, but Nalinivati has also blessed me with useful magic. I am sure I can prove myself to be an asset to the Society."

Also, I was really sleepy posting last night and misspelled my deity's name. Eek!

Kyun shrugs noncommittally.

"I hail from Kalsgard in the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, though my father made the trek over the Crown of the World from Tian Xia, or so my mother claims. I got involved with a gang in the Jade Quarter, but that didn't end well... Long story short, I ended up in Absalom where the society saw the value of my gang related skills, so here I am, ready to undergo my confirmation."

"That's an incredible tale, Daffy. I can't wait to see you make water dance!

"That is wonderful, wonderful news, Suna! I so hope this alliance comes to pass!" Janira claps her hands and gifts everyone with a smile big enough for Suna's face. “On to the details of the mission at hand. . .

“The caves we’ll be travelling to lie under the base of the Kortos Mounts. We’ll need to spend every minute of daylight possible to reach the caves by foot, crossing over the Cairnlands, taking the paths to Diobel, and finally making our way through the wilderness. With any luck we won’t run into any of the local inhabitants. Once in the caves, we’ll need to work together to explore and determine whether any gillman are present or have been recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves’ significance, too.”

"What kind of creatures are these local inhabitants we're hoping not to run into?"

"Oh, I'm sure it's just the usual outdoor threats. Lions, tigers, bears..."

"There's always the chance we may run into bandits along the way, and there are dozens of kinds of predators in that forest. That's why we should always be as prepared as possible.

“Now, before we head out, if there aren’t any more questions, we should take a moment to go through your gear and make sure nothing important gets left out. Come on now, don't be shy. Everybody just dump your packs out on the table and let's take inventory!”

"Err...ok. But some of my stuff is on my mule outside." He thinks for a second. "Like rope, grappling hook, rations, waterskins, bedroll... all the heavier stuff."

The gnome starts pulling various stuff out of a backpack, including candles, scrolls, earplugs, wands, acid flasks, a pair of spring loaded wrist sheathes that he forgot to load and attach to his arms, and several more items.

"Oh yeah! I was supposed to put some scrolls in these and put them on my arms!"

He puts the two spring loaded sheathes on his arms, under his clothing, with a scroll of Expeditious Retreat in one, and a scroll of Obscuring Mist in the other.

FYI for those who missed it. The PFS Campaign Clarification document this week finally settled that age old debate. Apparently, scrolls and potions ARE legal in wrist sheathes, per PFS management.

There is a loud clanking of metal as Suna unloads all of her gear, mostly weapons, onto the table. She is very careful with her watercolor paints and sketchbook.

"Oh no, I forgot to pack rope!"

Daffy starts dumping out his backpack, which looks well made, well used, and a little overloaded. He pulls out things like camping gear, some chalk, some trail rations, while muttering about forgetting to buy rope. You can also see a bandolier across his chest with a couple of flasks of acid. The perceptive among you see a spring loaded wrist sheath poking out of his sleeve with what looks like an arrow loaded into it.

"Speaking of gear, any of you strapping folks got room for a few extra things? I think my backpack's gonna burst, and the weight of it's 'bout to tip me over backwards." I'm at medium encumberance. Anyone have a few pounds of extra carrying capacity?

"Certainly. My armor weighs me down anyway; I don't mind carrying a few things."

"Thanks Suna, mighty kind of you." Daffy hands his bedroll over to the oracle.

"Am I missing anything important and light, Janira?"

"You all look well prepared! I just know your confirmation will go perfectly!"

----------

Maps

Round 1
Effects inspire courage +1

• GM -
  
• Janira -
  
• Salagadoola -
  
• Daffy - 3 damage, nauseated?
  
• Spark -
  
• Kyun - 3 damage, nauseated?
  
• Suna -

As the party progresses deeper into the forest, the trees towering overhead begin to shield most of what remains of the day’s sun and the vegetation beneath grows denser. Janira pauses a moment and pulls out an intricate silver compass emblazoned with the Pathfinder Society logo: the Glyph of the Open Road. “I received this wayfinder when I successfully completed my Confirmation. Should we be successful on our journey, you will get your own as well.”

She flips open the device and holds it in front of her; the initials J. L. are engraved into the inside of the device’s lid. After studying the compass inside for a moment, she remarks, “We’re on the right path. We need to keep heading northwest past those large rocks up ahead.”

But before you can start moving again, a large tree falls to the forest floor, startling all sorts of creatures. In their fear, some start to attack your party. The snakes rush forward before anybody can react, and start crawling over Daffy and Kyun, biting them.

Thankfully, Janira reacts quickly, and starts a rousing speech. “Let us remember the sacrifice of the fabled Yasmin bint Faroud, favored of the Ten, who gave her life distracting Zythrustianax, draconic scourge of the Society, so dozens of junior agents could survive. Her act of benevolence is the epitome of cooperation within the Society.”

Everybody is up.

@Daffy & Kyun: DC 12 Fort to avoid being distracted.

knowledge nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"Ooh. That's a lot of snakes. I've never seen that many snakes. That's very interesting", the little gnome comments, obviously interested, but unafraid.

"Good thing that type isn't venomous. You warrior types can beat them off with blunt weapons or throwing splashy stuff, but put the blades away."

Since it's a swarm, Rosey won't use her usual readied action that applies to all combats of using her stink spray against any enemy that gets within 10 feet of us.

Salagadoola pulls out an acid flask, and moves to where he can get a clear shot at the swarm with less allies in the way. That's two move actions. Rosey moves with him. Presumably, so does his pack mule.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"Snakes! Why'd it have to be snakes?"

Kyun takes a step back, draws his mace and pummels the slithering mass.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Dice: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Fort Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

"Ow, gettoff gettoff gettoff!"

Daffy stumbles back out of the swarm, brushing off snakes, and begins heaving.

If I remember swarm rules, the nausea subsides when I move out of the swarm right? So next turn I would no longer be nauseated?

"Aw, the little darlings! Too bad they're being so aggressive; they remind me of home. Nothing else to be done about it, I suppose."

Suna will pull out her heavy flail, step up next to Janira, and attack.

Heavy flail, attack, with inspire courage: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 1 = 17
Heavy flail, damage, with inspire courage: 1d10 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

@Daffy: Correct, the distraction only lasts 1 round. Even if you stayed in the swarm, you would get a new save each turn.

Maps

Round 1
Effects inspire courage +1

• GM - 13 damage
  
• Janira -
  
• Salagadoola -
  
• Daffy - 3 damage
  
• Crowe -
  
• Kyun - 3 damage
  
• Suna -

Salagadoola perfroms well under pressure, moving toward the enemy and quickly guiding his allies' actions. Daffy retches uncontrollably, managing only to back away from the swarm. Kyun fares better against the thousands of tiny bites, and manages to hurt the snakes back. Suna's blow strikes even harder, splattering snake guts all over herself and the ninja.

Crowe is up. If he hasn't posted in 8-10 hours, somebody please bot his turn.

sorry for my absence of late.. been sick and have a sick family member as well... it's all been a bit overwhelming.

Crowe steps up to the swarm of snakes and swings his earthbreaker.

to hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
dmg if hits: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 = 12

@Crowe: No worries. Hopefully everyone is feeling better now :-)

Crowe's hammer turns most of the remaining snakes into an icky paste, and scares away the rest.

Janira quickly pipes up in her excitement, ”Congratulations! You all worked together well. See how much stronger you are as a team when everybody cooperates?”

Several hours pass uneventfully, but then you start running into problems: first a recent landslide that blocks the trail, then a shortcut overgrown since a month ago. ”I’m afraid we’ll need to find a different path. If we don’t get there by dusk, we may have to wait a whole month for another chance! Is anybody well trained at tracking or navigating the wilderness?”

You’ll have to perform a forced march unless someone successfully rolls Survival.

Kyun puts his wholly lacking survivalist skills to the test.

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 16

"Oh, I didn't get to throw my acid flask. I was curious what it would like when it splashed on the snakes."

When we look for a different path, the gnome tries to point things out to whoever's leading, in the hopes of assisting their survival skills.

Survival Aid Another (untrained wisdom 10 check): 1d20 ⇒ 12

"Ooh, look over there. How about this way? What about climbing that tree to get a better view?"

Crowe puts his survival skills to the test and searches for another path.

survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

"Hey, uh, Janira? Any advice on how to heal snake bite wounds? These sting somethin' fierce."

Suna looks around the unfamiliar terrain, trying to find the path, and feeling slightly homesick for Nagajor.

Survival: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8

"Daffy, Kyun, do you require healing?"

"The snakes did nibble quite a bit. I could use some healing."

"Hmm. I have some scrolls that can heal those wounds, but not everyone like the side effects. it sometimes feels a little... evil. Of course, that's only if there's not another way to deal with this readily available."

"Go right ahead Salagadoola. I'm not a preachy type."

"No, no!" Janira shouts, "Let me take care of those wounds for you." With a couple quick spells, she heals everybody's injuries.

After a short search, Crowe finds an old, dried out stream bed that quickly takes you higher into the mounts, and from there it is an easy task to backtrack downhill.

----------

The dense forest opens to a wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead. “Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines,” Janira says with a broad smile as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal a narrow crack in the cliff’s surface. “This is where I saw the gillmen enter.”

As she motions toward the aperture, the surrounding woods come alive with the sound of small animals fleeing some unseen danger and a large creature crashing through the undergrowth. The halfling worriedly remarks, “Quick, take cover before whatever it is spots us!” As if she’d summoned the creature with her words, a massive horned monstrosity emerges from the trees. Standing eight feet tall on a pair of cloven hooves and wielding a tremendous axe, the bull-headed creature roars with unbridled anger when it spots you.

Wisely assessing that a minotaur is beyond her charges’ capabilities, Janira screams, “A minotaur! There’s little chance we can stand against it. Take this bag,” she continues, pulling off her backpack, “and head deeper into the caves. Finish your mission. I’ll lead it away from the caves, lose it in the forest, and join you as soon as I can. Now go! GO!” She heaves her backpack into the cave, casts a spell, and darts off toward the minotaur before turning to lure it away.

The minotaur is far enough away that everybody has 1 round to flee or buff up.

Crowe's first impulse is to rage and charge the minotaur, but Janira's words do have an impact... "Are you sure you can elude it, little one? If not, I will gladly slay it for you." he says with more bravado than he can probably support. He pauses just long enough for a response from Janira and a reaction from the rest of the party. He's brave, but perhaps not stupid enough to take on a minotaur single-handed.... yet.

"Thanks, Janira, that feels much better" Daffy says, as Janira's healing magic closes the dozens of tiny wounds left by the snakes.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Seeing the Minotaur and hearing Janira's command, Daffy immediately begins moving toward the cave. "Aw shoot, I heard about these things. They're tough! I think we better go in like she says!"

Suna gasps a little at the creature in front of them. "We should do as our leader says; we should run!" I sure hope the halfling has some tricks up her sleeve. That creature looks powerful!

knowledge nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

"Oh! I've never seen a minotaur before. Do you think it'll try to gore somebody?" Salagadoola begins, then realizes how dangerous the situation really is. "Look out, Janira! Don't let it charge you!"

Seeing everyone else obeying Janira's orders, the gnome and his skunk familiar follow the others into the cave.

Crowe sighs and follows, backing into the cave, keeping an eye on the minotaur and Janira as he does so... "Be careful little missy... RUN!"

Kyun legs it into the cave as well.

The caves are damp and slippery, and usually about 7 feet wide and high. Some tunnels are tighter or more spacious though. The walls are covered with patches of blue-green luminescent fungi that provide dim light.

Petroglyphs periodically decorate the walls, mostly with marine animals and spiraling shapes. The deeper you travel, the more of these wall paintings that you find.

Once you divide up Janira's items, I'll put a list in the campaign tab for reference.

Before moving on, Salagadoola starts digging around in Janira's bag, spilling most of its contents on the cave floor.

"There's some interesting stuff in here. Can anyone else use the wand of Burning Hands and scroll of Mage Armor, or should I take them?"

He holds the wand of CLW up to Daffy and Suna. "One of you should probably hold on to this."

If nobody objects, I'll use the Mage Armor scroll immediately on myself. Otherwise, I already have a wand of it, so I'll tap myself with that. Either way, this seems like a good time to put on my armor, before heading deeper into the cave.