[Outpost I] GM Abraham's Ancients' Anguish (Inactive)

Game Master Abraham Z.

"Hm, fine. The desert is nothing to trifle with." Sard follows his allies to the hills.

A little nervous Enora opens up to the group: " To be honest, as a Scarab Sage, I am slightly edgy due to the dangers and the potential wisdom that lies ahead. And the sheer number of very experienced Pathfinders here shows that this could be suicide mission for someone that has not reached your level of expertise. I hope you do not mind that I stay farther in the back. If you believe I should take a specific action then please say so." and her view lingers especially on the other Scarab Sages Ali and Sard.

Ali nods I will do my best to protect you. That is what Shelyn would have me do. he inclines his head and taps Enora, Sajan and Shel.

I am using Phylactery of the Good Shepherd to cast status on the three of them. It also allows me to do a ranged lay on hands as a swift on them a single time.

Looking at Elora, Yanndu telepathically says, ***...open your mind fully to me, and I'll be able to tell you how to help us...***

Include your spell list in your alias profile and we'll be able to provide suggestions.

@Ali Salujah: Very kind of Ali and probably also very in-character but Enora is just an iconic pregen so it is not that important that she survives. ;-) Other characters might need that LoH in an emergency. I am just trying to play her a little timid.

@Yanndu: Thanks for the suggestion! I updated the profile with the pregen information.

@Enora: you should cast false life on yourself and use one charge from your wand of mage armor before we reach the hills; for false life, the Concentration check is DC 20 if galloping but if you slow it down to a trot it goes down to DC 15; Enora has Concentration +12 so that shouldn't be a problem.

GM Abraham wrote:

You may ask for 5 pieces of information, chosen from the list here

AC, Saves, Speed, Special Attacks, Feats

For a typical Girtablilu: 22 AC (touch is worst); saves (in descending order) Reflex, Will, Fort; speed 50’; special attacks: grab, constrict, poison; Feats: dodge, imp Init, lightning reflexes, mobility, vital strike

You and Sajan also happen to be the lowest levels and we will probably need your actions...

You're more than welcome to look the level 7 Sajan pregen sheet and give suggestions. I want to point out that I am in no way a new player, especially not to monks (they are my main class of expertise), I just didn't have a character in range for his adventure that wasn't already on another PbP game.

Thanks a lot guys! Feels good to see we are acting as a team and in each other’s interest! ;-) I am new to PFS and think it is a great experience - especially in PbP . ;-)

Enora follows Yanndu’s advice. Slower pace of the camel to cast false life.
Conc: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
false life: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

7 hour duration

In general, please try to conduct "table talk" (i.e. out of character discussion about the game, as opposed to in character discussion of what you are doing, saying, etc.) in the discussion tab, so that the gameplay tab is mainly devoted to the actual story of what is happening. This is not a rigid rule, however, and I'm not going to be fussy when the two categories inevitably bleed into each other from time to time.

As already mentioned, a storm is gathering. A whistling wind and darkening sky herald the arrival of the storm, but fortunately, Ali's keen senses note the subtle shifts in the air pressure and, aided by Shel and Yanndu, the group is able to get a head start on their dash towards the hills.

Startled by the eclipsed sun and rising winds, the PCs’ mounts start acting up and attempt to throw off their riders.

I need either an Intimidate or a Handle Animal check from each PC.

You are now in a variation of a "chase" - except you are the ones being chased (by the storm). For each obstacle, you can attempt either of the checks provided or use an ability (such as casting a spell). Unlike in a normal chase, you will all remain together, and lower rolls have the chance to aid higher ones, so go ahead and make an attempt even if you think one of your comrades has rolled higher than you.

Handle animal 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Shel rugs on the reigns of her pony, doing her best to keep it heading in the general direction of the hills.

"Try to throw me again, you foul creature, and I shall make boots from your hide!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23 +2 if my camel is somehow an agent of Torch :P

"An animal is supposed to follow orders ... do not throw off a little light halfling lady!" Enora hisses.

intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Intimidate: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Yanndu throws his cloak opened wide, revealing a small kobold that had been clutching to his back there the whole time.

"Nighttail, take the reins will you? I have some casting to do and this beast is being impossible!"

Scalefriend Boon: Nighttail owes you favors and does one of the following - Handle Animal +7 or Survival +10 or Bluff +9 or resist energy (CL 1st, Concentratrion +2); box 1 of 3 checked: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Ali reigns in his mount and tries to yell at it.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Easy girl....easy. Nothing to be too scared of

Oh boy, good thing Sajan has neither of those skills. Can I just get off of my camel since I walk at the same speed?

handle animal if I can't just abandon the camel: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

At first it appears as if the party is going to be stymied by their relative lack of experience with animals, but the sudden and timely appearance of a friendly kobold saves the day and the group is able to continue on at the same pace. The storm continues to give chase...

Suddenly, a huge swarm of locusts flees from the approaching storm, massing in front of the PCs and madly attacking anything that crosses their path. The sheer volume of the swarm threatens to delay the PCs as the storm moves ever closer! Do you want to charge through the swarm (Give me a Bull Rush attempt)? Or attack the locusts (Give me a melee attack)? Or do something else (Alternatively, you may use a spell or other ability if you think it might be helpful)?

„Do you think a fireball would help?“ Enora says loudly to the group and grips her staff to prepare the spell.

Yanndu pulls out his wand of gust of wind and points at the swarm. He speaks the ancient words, hoping he remembers them.

Use Magic Device DC 20: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

Fireball and gust of wind both sound useful.

Sajan does the best he can do and attempts to dive headlong into the swarm.

Bull Rush: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Sard releases a cone of flame from his hands, hoping to clear a path (burning hands).

burning hands: 5d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 4, 3) = 10

Shem flashes a magical kukri at the swarm, trying to distract if nothing else.

Attack 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20

Ali decides to try and bum rush the locusts!

Bull Rush: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Enora uses her wooden staff to gather magical energy and sends a burning ball into the swarm that explodes and sets the air in fire.

fireball: 8d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 6, 1, 6, 4, 6) = 36

Staff of embers has 6 of 10 charges left.

Them are some good rolls there, Enora! that ought to blast a hole in the locust swarm! :)

The group swats at the locusts but finds that there are so many of them, and they are so small, that it is very difficult to keep them out of the nooks and crannies of their armor and other delicate spots. Sard burns many of them to a satisfyingly crunchy state - if you had more time and some chocolate they could undoubtedly be made into a very nice snack - and Yanndu opens up a gusty corridor for the group to flee through, but still, there are so many of the locusts, always there are more and more and even more, locusts upon locusts... The storm seems to be getting noticeably closer, until Enora pulls out her staff and blasts an enormous hole in the swarm. The surviving insects momentarily fall silent, whether in contemplation of their fallen comrades, or in awe at their good fortune to still be alive, it is difficult to say, and in this gap the group is able to quickly slip past the locusts and continue on their way, the storm still behind them, but coming on strong...

Now, a precarious path up a hillside offers a chance to duck out of the sandstorm’s way. Can you manage to get the mounts and pack animals up the difficult path in time? You can attempt to ride the animals up the path (Give me a Ride check) or use your knowledge to identify the best way forward (Give me a Knowledge (Geography) check). Alternatively, you may use a spell or other ability if you think it might be helpful.

Knowledge Geography: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

Edit: Not sure if we also need Ride, but if you do, here it is --> Ride: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Enora tries to push the mount to speed up ...
Ride: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

... and at the same time checks for the best route up the hill!
kn(geography): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Just to clarify, as with a typical chase, you choose one (and only one) skill to try. I'll take the K:Geog checks for Yanndu and Noral, since those are your two highest bonuses, but for everyone else, please just post 1 skill check (or alternatively, an ability of some kind if it seems relevant).

Sard attempts to navigate the path from the back of his mount.

Ride (Dex): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Know. Geography 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Shel tried to use her knowledge of the area so that she could find a shortcut to get to cover before the storm hits.

Man, I really picked the wrong pregen it seems lol.

Sajan attempts his best to direct his animal into the desired direction.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

...and the animal doesn't seem to care in the slightest

Enora and Yanndu both seem to know quite a bit about the general geography of such terrain and, together with a few choice observations from Shel, this enables the group to quickly find their way up the escarpment.

Just as it looks like the PCs are about to get out of the sandstorm’s path, it suddenly changes direction. This is no ordinary sandstorm! Stealth or Sense Motive. Alternatively, you may use a spell or other ability if you think it might be helpful.

Now, what do we have here...

Sense Motive, Burst of Insight: 1d20 + 16 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 16 + 4 = 29

Enora is trying to be stealthy ...

stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

What in the world is this thing?

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Ali tries to reason out the best way to approach the storm, to try and outwit it!

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25

Stealth 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37

Shel sees a large rock and makes directly for it, hoping to get behind it and lose the strange storm.

Finally something Sajan has some points in.

Sajan attempts to utilize his stealthy abilities.

"Like a grain of sand
Blending with the storm of sand
Pathfinders vanish"

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Shel and Sajan lead the group into clefts in the rock that seem to - at least momentarily - hide them from the storm. It is most peculiar to see a sandstorm struggle to find its way forward, but such is the stealthiness of the group that, even accompanied by a passel of pack camels, somehow the storm seems momentarily diverted as it seeks them. Meanwhile, both Yanndu and Ali sense that not only is this no ordinary storm, but that it is almost as if some malevolent consciousness lurks behind, or perhaps beyond, it.

Almost as if the storm itself has grown angry, suddenly lightning bolts strike the ground, spraying the area with rocky shrapnel, forcing the stealthy pathfinders to leap out of the way (Acrobatics) or perhaps use their fundamental knowledge of magic to intuitively discern where the lightning bolts may fall (Spellcraft). Alternatively, you may use a spell or other ability if you think it might be helpful.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32

Yanndu reaches far back in his memories to recall his training with a druid more than 14 decades ago. He telepathically imparts his secrets to the others:

***...one, two, three, four: five steps to the right...one, two, three: ten steps forward...***

spellc: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21
She starts to look at the storm and priedicts where the lightning will strike.

Before most of the group even has had a chance to attempt to dance out of the way of the lightning bolts, Yanndu and Noral's quick knowledge of magic - somehow - gives them all just the added edge they need to stay out of the way of the bolts. Even the camels - until now slow and doddering - somehow manage to dodge the rocky shrapnel that sprays the area.

Perhaps angered by the failure of the lightning storm, the sky itself now turns dark red, and a downpour of sticky, corrosive blood begins, drenching the hapless adventurers in a foul rain. Some of you may be hardy enough to withstand such a loathsome shower (Fortitude save) while others may possess the sheer strength of self-control to simply bide time until the sickening rain passes (Will save). Alternatively, you may use a spell or other ability if you think it might be helpful.

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
She starts to resist.

Yanndu compartmentalize his mind to sequester away the anger he feels at the humiliation imposed by this remote wizard.

...this fool will pay...whoever he or she is...serenity now...wrath later...

Will Save, Burst of Insight: 1d20 + 13 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 4 = 33

Assuming the chase is over:
After the rain, he removes the offending liquid from his robes via several castings of prestidigitation, and offer the same to the others.

Sajan performs a few breathing exercises and mentally prepares himself. This ritual is short and quickly culminates in the focus of Sajan's Ki into his body.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 plus immune to disease.

Fort save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Ali steels himself for the storm!

Fort Save: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34