Trunau is truly a town on the frontier. The frontier between the world of Humans, Elves, Dwarfs and the like and the world of Orcs and Giants. It will take a brave and hardy group of adventurers to defend Trunau and the region from what is about to come.
HP 112 Base AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18, Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+13 sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. awesome blow, 28 vs. sunder) Human 5 resistance fire Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5, +8 init, +7 Perception
He has told us what is behind us. But what was he guarding? What else is in this valley? Does he know anything about the temple we found?.... I have to learn to speak Giant one of these days.
Wizard 10 (evoker) HP 67 // AC 18 T 14 FF 18 (+4 vs giants) // init +2 // Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8 (+2 vs spells, spell like effects) // perception +11 spellcraft +19
current active :
mage armour +4, shield
Force missiles per day 9/9
leira, lass, he attacked us. Of course he be talkative now, his life depends on it. Don't get all misty eyed about it.
Anga gestures with her pick.
if ye let him go, so be it.
The party will watch the Stone Giant until he move out of sight to the east.
The Adventure Path did not say why the Stone Giants were guarding the bridge. Quite frankly, there is not a good strategic reason for them to be doing so. I guess they could be guarding the approach to the Shrine. But guarding the Cathedral should have been more important. So much for the strategy of Stone Giants. On another note, Stone Giants are Neutral aligned normally. I always play Neutrals as generally ambivalent. They go with the flow, trying to not upset the balance of things. The flow was life instead of death for this Stone Giant. You will not see him again.
The party then heads out toward the shrine. You quickly come across a wide creek running generally east to west. The valley follows the stream in both directions. Which way do you go? Ulfgard will notice that the path is more worn toward the east. So the party heads east.
After a couple of hours, the ground grows soft and muddy in this branch of the valley; initially dotted with small pools of mucky water, it transforms into a murky, fetid-smelling bog after a few hundred yards. Only a few patches of solid earth poke from the ominous, glassy black water, held together by knotted clumps of sedge grass and wild rye. Deep within the swamp, an unusual arrangement of curiously shaped, lichen-encrusted boulders juts from the waters, forming a widely spaced pattern that appears deliberate.
Moving forward through the bog will be slow and dirty. Giants have little trouble with the bogs. But medium and smaller sized creatures will need to treat every step as difficult terrain. What does the party do?
Leira observes with an ambivalent feeling how the Giant leaves "Thank you friends. I share your hate for them, but we are better than them, aren't we?"
---------------------
Once on face of the bog, Leira checks the distance trying to assess how long it might take to cross it "I can make a couple of us to fly and enlarge the rest so we have an easier time here. There is no definitely other solution I can come upon..."
The young girl helps the others scout the area for an alternative path to the Shrine.
Survival (aid):1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7
HP 112 Base AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18, Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+13 sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. awesome blow, 28 vs. sunder) Human 5 resistance fire Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5, +8 init, +7 Perception
After the giant leave Kaos takes a closer look at that midsize rode we found with Detect Magic.
perception:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Earlier, Kaos sees a dirty brown and gray robe that indeed radiates magic. He notices that at the chest and the back of each shoulder it is decorated with a gem-like eye pattern.
Leira is unable to find a path through the bog. However, Ulfgard finds a little more stable ground. He leads the party through the muck toward the lichen encrusted boulders.
Coming up out of the muck in front of Ulfgard is a mud covered creature. This occurs a good eighty feet before the party reaches the boulders.
Everyone must roll new perception checks. This roll will determine how many of these creatures you will notice. Everyone sees the one in front of Ulfgard. A DC15 Perception check will allow you to notice three creatures. A DC18 Perception check will allow you to not a fourth creature. A DC20 Perception check will allow you to notice a fifth creature. And a DC22 Perception will allow you to notice all six of the creatures to start.
There is not a surprise round as the creature takes time to rise out of the muck.
Round One
New Bog map up. The ground is more stable in spots, but still requires extra effort to move. Treat every square as difficult terrain. Everyone but Anga can react before the creatures. But Anga, please go ahead with your Round One actions. Thanks!
Perception:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 K. nature/dungeon:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16+3 if K. arcana is used to identify them instead
"We are surrounded!" shouts Leira as she spots the six strange creatures "But what are them?"
She loses no time and casts a scorching ray to profit the initiative while they are still flatfooted. She tries to weaken the sixth one, but otherwise shots at the first if it is the only one without cover.
Scorching ray+PB (touch, flatfooted):1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 = 18 Fire damage+PB+sneak attack:4d6 + 1 + 3d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 6, 6) + 1 + (5, 5, 6) = 36
HP 112 Base AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18, Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+13 sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. awesome blow, 28 vs. sunder) Human 5 resistance fire Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5, +8 init, +7 Perception
perception:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 I always liked playing in the mud as a kid. Spell failure:1d100 ⇒ 13
Kaos will cast Shield them to within five of one of the creatures while assuming is more draconic appearance.
Wizard 10 (evoker) HP 67 // AC 18 T 14 FF 18 (+4 vs giants) // init +2 // Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8 (+2 vs spells, spell like effects) // perception +11 spellcraft +19
Leira notices six creatures rising out of the mud. The sixth one has partial cover from the more solid land. But the second one rises out of the muck in clear view. The Rogue Arcanist blasts this second one with a pair of Scorching Rays. It howls in pain from the burning attack.
Ulfgard notices all of the creatures.
(The perception roll occurs before the Round, so Ulfgard can also take a Round One set of actions.)
Ragnir's Perception:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Ragnir become a Deadly Juggernaut when he sees multiple creatures around him.
Droja's Perception:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Droja notices everything, "Great. This keeps getting better."
The Half-Orc Oracle begins to weave a spell to bring in a little help for the situation.
Kaos will notice the closest ones. He then brings up a Shield.
Haskyll also notices them all. He says a Prayer. Always a good thing to do. He then readies Heartspit.
The first muddy creature notices Haskyll. He sees the Dwarf's Scale Mail, but shakes off its effect. Hunger is motivating this creature more. It attacks Ulfgard.
I believe it gets a claw into Ulfgard for 5 points of damage.
The second muddy creature has already had enough. It retreats into the muddy bog. Frog and insects are plenty for it.
The third muddy creature moves up next to the first. It too notices Haskyll, but this one becomes tentative in its attacks. It feels a sense of doom coming over it. As a result, its attack misses the Dwarf Ranger Barbarian.
The fourth, fifth, and sixth muddy creatures advance on the party.
Anga only notices the first muddy creature at first. She brings up a Shield as she sees more of the muddy creatures rising out of the muck and toward the party.
Wizard 10 (evoker) HP 67 // AC 18 T 14 FF 18 (+4 vs giants) // init +2 // Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8 (+2 vs spells, spell like effects) // perception +11 spellcraft +19
Wizard 10 (evoker) HP 67 // AC 18 T 14 FF 18 (+4 vs giants) // init +2 // Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8 (+2 vs spells, spell like effects) // perception +11 spellcraft +19
HP 112 Base AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18, Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+13 sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. awesome blow, 28 vs. sunder) Human 5 resistance fire Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5, +8 init, +7 Perception
Kaos trudge through the mud towards the muddy creature and then try to remove its head.
Head Removal w/ axe:1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 1 = 192d8 + 15 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8, 2) + 15 + 1 + 1 = 27 AC26 +4shield +1prayer, att +1prayer, damage +1prayer +1sharpening Scabbard
Wizard 10 (evoker) HP 67 // AC 18 T 14 FF 18 (+4 vs giants) // init +2 // Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8 (+2 vs spells, spell like effects) // perception +11 spellcraft +19
current active :
mage armour +4, shield
Force missiles per day 9/9
scrags, the're scrags! Water trolls!
giant type, +4 to AC for dwarves. Current AC is 25
Thanks Anga for the reminder. Dwarves get the +4 AC from Scrags. The Scrag missed Ulfgard in the previous round.
Round One Finish
Ulfgard takes a step and attacks the sixth Scrag. He pounds the muddy creature with Agrimmosh.
Round Two
Leira, with a magically charged arrow, fires her bow. The bristling shaft sticks deep into the fourth Scrag.
Ulfgard flips his shield in place and continues to work on the sixth Scrag. The Dwarf Ranger Barbarian pounds, pounds, and bashes the Scrag until it fall over.
Ragnir moves to engage the first and third Scrags.
Both Scrags attack the Dwarf Warpriest as he approaches. But they missed the well armored Dwarf.
(The Scrag rolled an 18 and missed. These six should be easy work for the party.)
The fifth Scrag moves up and sees Haskyll's Scale Mail. It becomes fearful of the situation as it attacks the Dwarf Warpriest. But the creature still manages to bite into Ragnir, though not critically.
HP 112 Base AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18, Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+13 sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. awesome blow, 28 vs. sunder) Human 5 resistance fire Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5, +8 init, +7 Perception
Kaos will try to move graceful past the trolls gaurd.
Acrobatics:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
But will get his foot stuck in the mud a leave himself open to an attack.
He will then try to hack at the 3rd troll with his oversized axe.
Large Axe:1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 1 = 232d8 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (7, 1) + 15 + 1 = 24
Wizard 10 (evoker) HP 67 // AC 18 T 14 FF 18 (+4 vs giants) // init +2 // Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8 (+2 vs spells, spell like effects) // perception +11 spellcraft +19
current active :
mage armour +4, shield
Force missiles per day 9/9
Anga picks a close, fresh one and blasts it.
scorching ray 1:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 touch attack
HP 126/126 Ini+1 Sp30" Ac 22 T11 FF19 F11 R7 W 4 +3MSSL Per+14
Ranger (Divine Tracker) 10
Ulfgard moves forward, shield held high AOO from the troll
and bashes happily bashes the one with the three ugly warts.
Attack:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 312d6 + 17 ⇒ (1, 3) + 17 = 21
Sorry wasn't on, Still haven't replaced my monitor the cats broke, doing this at work. Sigh, another Crappy roll :(.
Prayer 78/80, SOF 79/80 +3 Deflect AC for me
Leira pierces the held Scrag with a magically infused arrow.
Ulfgard approaches the Scrag with three large ugly warts. The wart-filled Scrag tries to bite the Dwarf Ranger Barbarian as he approaches, but Ulfgard ducks under the bite attempt. The mighty Dwarf brings Agrimmosh down hard on the wart-filled Scrag.
Ragnir boldly moves forward into the muck to attack the Scrags. Two Scrags try to sink their teeth into the Dwarf Warpriest. One was blocked by the other. And the other was unable to penetrate Ragnir's armor.
The mule becomes unruly. Droja turns and with an unusual touch of kindness calms the beast.
Kaos tries to make a graceful move toward the third Scrag, but gets a foot stuck in the muck. He was able to bring Gorum's Thorn down hard on the third Scrag. It falls unconscious.
(As the fourth one is still up. Haskyll would have gone after it.)
Haskyll takes a step into the muck and thrusts Heartspit into the held Scrags chest. Though barely piercing the creature, it does great internal damage.
The first Scrag ignores the Fire Elemental, takes a step back, and gives all its attention to the Dwarf Warpriest. But none of the creatures attacks were able to penetrate the well-armored Dwarf.
HP 112 Base AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18, Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+13 sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. awesome blow, 28 vs. sunder) Human 5 resistance fire Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5, +8 init, +7 Perception
Seeing that things are well in hand. Kaos will remove the head of one of the fallen Scrags in front of him.
Large Axe:6d8 + 45 + 3 ⇒ (5, 1, 3, 3, 3, 6) + 45 + 3 = 69
Wizard 10 (evoker) HP 67 // AC 18 T 14 FF 18 (+4 vs giants) // init +2 // Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8 (+2 vs spells, spell like effects) // perception +11 spellcraft +19
Wizard 10 (evoker) HP 67 // AC 18 T 14 FF 18 (+4 vs giants) // init +2 // Fort +6, Ref +5, Will +8 (+2 vs spells, spell like effects) // perception +11 spellcraft +19
current active :
mage armour +4, shield
Force missiles per day 9/9
Anga will strike at the nearest standing scrag
magic missile:4d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 1) + 8 = 17
If they are down, she will instead empty a flask of alchemist fire on one.
HP 112 Base AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18, Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+13 sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. awesome blow, 28 vs. sunder) Human 5 resistance fire Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5, +8 init, +7 Perception
Thank Ignan. Detect magic and look around. Check the bodies.
perception:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
HP 112 Base AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18, Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+13 sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. awesome blow, 28 vs. sunder) Human 5 resistance fire Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5, +8 init, +7 Perception
Once the immediate area is secured he'll pull out the cloak and try to identify what it does.
Spellcraft:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
HP 112 Base AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 18, Base Atk +7; CMB +12 (+13 sunder); CMD 27 (29 vs. awesome blow, 28 vs. sunder) Human 5 resistance fire Fort +11, Ref +4, Will +5, +8 init, +7 Perception
Well look here this is interesting. I'd imagine Leira or Ulfgard could make good use of this.
"Oh! That is interesting! Do you mean we can move through the walls? That can really help me scout ahead invisible" Leira seems amused by the item found, but she is open for any other to take it too.
"The trolls had learned the hard way I guess. We can now continue to the Shrine, what do you think?"
Leira will help scout through the bog and towards the shrine.
Perception (+1 vs traps):1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
Leira will notice a small timber raft strung together with sinew and reed tied up to one of the burial markers. Leira can tell that this was owned by the Scrags. It holds a rotten crate that contains a few humanoid bones, the bones and feathers of several large swamp birds, a jar containing a pungent ointment, and seven pieces of jade (worth 100 gp each).
Afterwards, the party continues along this bog filled valley. By later afternoon the valley draws to a close, the swamp grasses begin to thicken and the waters begin to take on a ruddy tinge as the sediments shift from the black silty earth of the lowlands to the iron-rich clay of the mountain soil. Just beyond the bog, near the far end of the canyon, rises an ancient brick structure. A shallow stone channel extends from an arch in the building’s cracked and weathered
facade, from which flows a sluggish stream of ruddy mud. A broad stone patio surrounds the channel, with doors on either side leading into the building.
Leira will not find any traps on the large stone doors. The doors are not locked, but they seemed to be wedged shut.
