Of Kings and Commoners - Kingmaker AP

Game Master RPGGGM

"Something is fighting the trolls elsewhere, and I think the wolves are dead.
What is going on??"

"I'd say if I knew!" Illthir whined. Worried and confused she tried to push down those feelings and help the girl, taking over from Balzeros whom I didn't notice asking me for Illthir's position sorry!. "Come on! Break!"

Str: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11

Oh well, Durgan and Illthir were the only reasonable options for the enlarge, guess it won't happen.
Having one spell remaining, Alia takes aim and stabs at the chain once more, but only crashes against the rock as the others pull on it.
Once more.
Careful, she pierces one of the chain links and pushes through.

Damage: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 2) + 8 = 12 Miss
20% Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 14
Damage: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 4) + 8 = 16
20% Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 77
spellcombat, casting Frostbite. 4 charges remain.

Was there any damage previous to that hit? A normal 'vanilla' chain has 10 Hardness and 5 HP and should have snapped already - so trying to figure out if this Chain is somehow treated to have higher than usual hardness(no damage so far, only a scratch now), or is just thicker and has more HP(quite a bit of damage before, quite a bit more now.)

Oh well, Durgan and Illthir were the only reasonable options for the enlarge, guess it won't happen.

I don't know why you would think that I would have the wand. Enlarge Person isn't on my list and I don't have UMD.

Alia of the Blade wrote:

Oh well, Durgan and Illthir were the only reasonable options for the enlarge, guess it won't happen.

I don't know why you would think that I would have the wand. Enlarge Person isn't on my list and I don't have UMD.

Did not check if you have UMD. It was mostly on an exclusion-basis. Balzeros and Fergus are "new" to the party, handing them the wand on our first day of travel seems unreasonable. Zokon is a spell-less ranger. That leaves you, Illthir and Serena. The latter is as of now only a minor caster. And I know I don't have it. So Illthir and you were options. I figured you liked access to buffs and pre-buffing, so may have UMD to pick up some low-level personal spells not on your list eventually. I did not go and check in your character sheet, I just figured if the two of you do not have it, then none of the others will and we'll sort out who has the wand at a later point. It was just a side-point/explanation of "Oh, guess I do act now because what I thought would happen did not."

The chain snaps under Alia's black sword.

What's everyone left doing?

Conditions Dark lighting, and forest terrain

Party Conditions bless, and obscuring mist!

Round 10! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Durgan -2 hp
__ Erevenywg
__ Zokon
__ Balzeros
__ Serena -4 hp
__ Alia
__ Illthir -1 hp
__ Fergus
__ Argentov Lind

Map updated.

Fergus is reading his spellbook.

"YES!" Balzeros cheers, for the first time tonight, his face lights up with joy. Fumbling through the fog, he takes the girls hand and starts to move out of the fog. Can't be too much further this way!

"Let's go!" he urges the others. Durgan wants to hold the line, that's fine, gives us plenty of time to get to safety!
________
If people and the girl seem keen on moving now that she is free, he'll take the rest of his movement/actions (about 30ft) to make for the exit!

"Balzeros, be wary - Serena sensed evil within the fog! It could be the girl. Let Serena check.

"Well done! Lets go." Zokon follows looking out for danger

Per: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

"The healing Fergus provided would explain evil on her, we'll have to risk it and try again in a minute if she is still worried about it!" Balzeros explains quickly.
________
Spellcraft vs Fergus' Infernal Healing, DC 16: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
It didn't make sense to roll it at the time, but based on what is going on in the discussion, I assumed it would be ok to make the roll to identify the spell now. Obviously, scratch this if the GM disagrees!

"Yes! Well done! Now where's the other one?" Illthir tries to look around while speaking, barely succeeding with that feat of multitasking.

Serena follows the trail of the evil, still trying to pinpoint it.

Fergus glances up from his book before looking back down and following after. He says as he goes.

Aye, the spell can have that effect. It is only temporary though.

Serena follows the trail of the evil, still trying to pinpoint it.

It's coming from the girl she is pure, unadulterated, faint evil.

It didn't make sense to roll it at the time, but based on what is going on in the discussion, I assumed it would be ok to make the roll to identify the spell now. Obviously, scratch this if the GM disagrees!

It's fine. Balzeros was close enough at the time to perceive the spell being cast.

Have folks moved?

Conditions Dark lighting, and forest terrain

Party Conditions bless, and obscuring mist!

Round 11! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Durgan -2 hp
__ Erevenywg
__ Zokon
__ Balzeros
__ Serena -4 hp
__ Alia
__ Illthir -1 hp
__ Fergus
__ Argentov Lind

Map updated.

With nobody trying to physically stop him, Balzeros continues to head for the only known path out of this bowl of troll and winter wolf soup.

"We have a boat, it is safe there," he whispers to the girl as they run along.

"Ramita, scout the trail ahead!" he whispers into his robes. A leafy form flutters out and races on ahead.
________
Double move! Ramita will follow the trail they took here, about 100ft ahead. If she sends fear back to Balzeros, he will assume he and the girl need to hide.

"Ok now can we go? follow all."

Zokon has his light on, he'll move ahead as well scouting out the route, only 20 or so feet ahead

"Let's stop on the high ground and discuss.
Lind is a dragon, fighting the trolls.
And we won't know where to take the girl if she doesn't speak.
We should help Lind."

Durgan doesn't know the first part for certain, but he's fairly confident.

He will take a single move towards the high ground and use Total Defense.

Alia retrieves her bow, then quickly follows directly next to Zokon, forcing her attention away from the girl and back to the perimeter.
"Argentov told us to leave. And seemed to have little interest in getting involved with us. But all the same, we need to decide what to do, so lets talk. But first, to the high ground."

Zokon listens to Alia intently

"So we shall leave, if your correct he's able to handle himself." Zokon keeps going

"That may not be true, Zokon. Dragons are not invincible."
Durgan will continue along to the high ground.

"They are powerful and aloof creatures. If you mean to befriend this one, it could certainly be a powerful ally - Argentov seemed curious enough in us when we first met, unlike many wyrms - if he is one at all. But we know too little right now - blindly rushing after him against his advice may do him a disservice...Balzeros, could your friend scout where Durgan suspects Battle? We'll want to know how many, how close, regardless of our further steps..."

"I absolutely agree, Alia, we need to know more. I do not suggest charging in blindly.
If there is in fact an army of trolls invading, as Lind claimed, then even a dragon may be in danger. Or at least unable to contain them all if they scatter."

Does Durgan know anything about Silver Dragons in general?
Arcana: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
With the weirdness of Knowledge DCs based on CR, he might know a bit about Very Young Silver Dragons but nothing about Juvenile Silver Dragons. Mostly wondering about general tendencies of personality. What do they usually value or care about?

"He's a what now?!" lllthir cries out far too loud for the chilly night. The skald isn't sure how to process this information as she collects her gear - all of it - and then tries to jank the other chain just to see if there was actually someone or something attached to it. Because if there was they'd certainly appreciate someone cutting those links too ...

That is a large assumption, we have no real evidence that he was a dragon. And even if he is, and even if he does have any interest in us or Brevoy, I highly doubt the best way to go about befriending one is to completely disregard what he told us. And if indeed, some army of trolls has poured down from the north, what will we do? We have not the information to assume so much, the safest course of action is to return to the boat. If Argentov has any real interest in us, or this girl, I very much assume he will find us. And I am hesitant to take this girl into another combat anyway. Fergus does his best to keep up with the group as he continues reading his spellbook.

"I do not intend to take the girl into a combat.
I am not trying to befriend Argentov.
I do not intend to pursue the 'safest' course of action, but rather the best.
I am trying to deal with the situation as best as I can understand it, and that means getting more information."

How long would it take to get to the boat via a Fly spell?

With fly you can 60'/move (light or no armor; no running though) and you have to move about a half mile (2640') = about 22 rounds with a double move each round (+/- for actual distance, and time to elevate and descend). The spell lasts a minute/CL.

Durgan knows the basics about dragons. What he knows about silver dragons in particular comes from his experiences in the World Wound, as the fortified crusader city of Kenabres had a silver dragon protector named Terendelev. Terendelev serves the city's Iomedaean leadership as a soldier and enforcer, patrolling the city with a group of like-minded paladins. Durgan probably doesn't know her exact age, (and may have never met her) but she is thought to be very old, is certainly very powerful, and of gargantuan size. Basically, she was the paladin's ideal: honorable, brave, stalwart. Even if Durgan has never visited Kenabres he would have heard of her. That said there are probably a good dozen, or so silver dragons involved in the Crusade, and the scuttlebutt about them all paints a similar picture.

The party retreats up the forest path.

I'm gonna call it two rounds worth of time that passes. Everybody is somewhere in that southwestern quadrant of the map at this point if all they do is move. Folks can stop or move from here.

Zokon stops moving to converse

"If someone can scout out the what is happening that would be great, but the darkness and potential of trolls killing us, does not make me eager to send anyone on foot out there. Do we have a way to fly and see? If not my opinion is that the dark makes it too dangerous, definitely too dangerous for me. The object of scouting is not to be seen and that doesn't work when using a light. Is anyone else versed in scouting and can see in this?"

"Ramita can check quickly," Balzeros offers. Empathing urgency to Ramita, she flutters back to him.

"Scout the sounds, stay safe!" he orders and she dutifully flutters off into the night.

"I can fly, can see in the dark, am well protected against the trolls' attacks, and can heal myself if injured. I would be even better if Invisible."

At 80'/round double move in heavy armor, and 50 rounds duration, Durgan could fly 1500' there and 2500' back (if you have kept moving while he is scouting). I doubt they are 1500' away.

Durgan casts Fly.
"Anyone who can make me invisible, please do so. With Ramita to report back, I can help Argentov if it looks like he needs it and if it looks like my aid would make a difference. Hopefully through healing or providing a distraction."

"Yes! Perfect, Ramita always gets a little nervous when she goes it alone," Balzeros shares, although considering the relationship between master and familiar, who is to say which of the pair is the one that gets nervous? The worry-lines on his face tell the truth.

"Just wave her off if you decide to split and she'll come find me!"
________
With our Armored Division flying invisibly through the sky (who said tanks can't fly?!), Balzeros will push for us to head to the boat after casting pass without trace.

Durgan tries to explain himself before departing.

"If scouts of a troll army have kidnapped a girl, the salient point is not that a girl has been kidnapped. It is that there is a troll army within Brevoy able to act with such impunity. That is the paramount concern.
If my guess about Argentov is correct, and if he is at all like others of his kin, then if he needs help I must give it, whether he wants it or not. Not to become his friend, but for the good of the world.
I will scout, and if necessary I will send Ramita back and intervene myself. I am no fool, and there is much I can do while remaining invisible.
I had hoped that you would all wait here to possibly aid, but I see that too many are now in favor of making for the boat. So be it. But I also see that I fit Zokon's request for a scout almost perfectly.
Wait for me ten minutes if you can, no more. If I miss you, then I will try to find you in Forest's Edge."

"Sounds reasonable to me, we shall wait for you, may the coins fall your way my friend."

"That armor will slow your speed using flight. Do you wish for us to carry it back with us?"
You'd have 60 feet speed with fly - I'd hope you won't need AC, even if you remain invisible and e.g. cure Argentov or something. Just checking, as it would increase your operational range and reduce the time needed to go there and back. But if we end up in a fight soon after your return, it would be detrimental...your call, I guess.
"There, the last vestiges of arcane power I wield, for today...", Alia grips her Estoc strongly as she touches Durgan, making him vanish from sight.
"It should last about as long as your flight. Make good use of it, and don't take too many risks. The troll army in this part of Brevoy is a concern, and one we will help tackle, if only to keep the friends and relatives people have here safe - but Avalons Leaders must remain safe in Brevoys interest, as well."
Invisibility for Durgan.

"It's a hard decision, Alia. Speed or protection. But I can't spare the time to remove the armor. If Lind is winning, the trolls will scatter soon and some may come this way so you need to move. And if he is losing, I must get there soon to help him.
Good luck."

I am assuming the battle is not 1500' away, because Durgan could hear it and it wasn't that long between when the chain broke and when the battle started.
We'll see.

So Durgan, and Ramita head northward. While the rest of the party heads south. Was anyone doing anything else during the prep-rounds? Ramita flies pretty fast how and Durgan is invisible. Any thought to how are they are going to communicate/coordinate?

I don't think we can coordinate easily. Durgan will shout if he needs to.

Didn't consider the invisibility. Ramita has scent, she could follow the Dwarf by smell. If combat breaks out, Ramita will gtfo anyways, otherwise she'll follow him while he flies around. If she loses his trail, she'll just make her way back to the boat.

"If you are going to yell, let's make sure you yell properly." Illthir reaches for a scroll and then flails her free hand until she can find Durgan and place her palm on well hopefully not right in his face. Something. A quick spell and she bestows the power of Clarion Call upon him for 10 min. "Just don't talk to yourself with this on ok?"

If you want to yell and since I had the scroll :D Also note - it is "can speak in a booming voice" not *have* to do it :)

Fine with heading to the boat!

For those on the path back to the boat, it quickly gives way to trackless forest.

If the party aside from Durgan, and Ramita try to stay together they will be traveling at a speed of 20' through difficult terrain.

Meanwhile Durgan, and Ramita head off to see what all the noise is about.

I'll need perception checks to make sure you are heading in the right direction, as the local cliffs make for a lot of echoes.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Durgan takes off towards the sounds of battle, ascending at an angle.

He looks to stay within 60' of the ground so his Darkvision can see targets on the ground, but if he can get above the tree canopy at that height, so much the better.

Not so much a battle (at least anymore), it looks more like a landslide, a landslide with a log of ice trolls clambering about.

Durgan and Ramita's map updated

Durgan will watch the scene for half a minute or so, to gauge if there are any more trolls stirring under the rubble.
Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Then he will head back to catch up with the party.

He expects that if Argentov has settled matters here, the dragon is likely well beyond the range of Durgan's darkvision.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Meanwhile, in the forest.

The party finds itself in a maze of highland terrain. Huge stone tors, steep inclines, thorn bushes, briars, stands of trees block their rapid exit worse still--**OWOOOOO!!**

Welcome to everyone's favorite rule subset CHASES! The goal of this chase is of course to outrun your numerous pursuers.

Where the Heck am I? Survival DC 19.

and/or
Woodland Lore Knowledge (nature) DC 22.
==========================================
This particular challenge needs only one PC to succeed at the task for all the characters to pass through. Any overachieving however will provide circumstance bonuses to later challenges for the whole party.

Chase Theme ♬

Party map updated

[dice=Perception]1d20+10

Zokon hears the giant white wolves coming for them.

A chase! :D

Still grappling with the stress of the moment, Balzeros' mind races through everything he knows about forests and nighttime activities of creatures. Howling wolves and dim light don't seem to be helping him either, his face going a little pale at this turn of events.
________
Survival, DC 19: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17 Only one aid and we don't become wolf chow! :D
What is the unit of time for a chase? Balzeros has some spells prepped that might prove useful, but do they forgo skill checks/prevent movement? Tangent: Honestly GM, between Flo and Balzeros, I've two characters that always fail at their main schtick (with very few exceptions). I've a knowledge focused PFS character that flubs creature ID's aaaalll the time. It's super disappointing and seems to only happen when I make a character dedicated to a certain skill. Most of my generalists outperform my specialists in their specializations because dice. *headdesk*

I know the feeling, hence I try to take 10 whenever possible--this is not one of those times of course, but you get where I'm going. Just remove the random and settle for the mediocre, I always say. ;)

Anyone aiding? Abetting? Making their own roll?