PFS 03-13 - The Quest for Perfection III (Defenders of Nesting Swallow, Tier 1-5) (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

Bernard once more reloads his crossbow and fires at Yellow, while Cormac tries to smash into it.

Bernard: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d8 ⇒ 8
Cormac, DC 13 will to frighten: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 121d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 51d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 251d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

critical confirmation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 111d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Here but waiting to see what others are doing first.

Well Kraww, it's your turn then enemies turn. I helped Turak navigate, Ishinkga will take over for me You saw what Bernard/Cormac did and I'm gonna magic missile them on my next turn.

In theory Ishingka and Tûrak (round 2) go before Kraww (round 3), then enemies' turn. I think Ishingka and Tûrak will continue to steer the boat, but I need rolls for that before continuing with the turn order.

Bernard shoots a bolt at the rider in front of Cormac whil Cormac attacks him in melee. The bolt goes wide and hits the grass, but Cormac's second attempt hits the man.
Will DC13: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

Round 2 & 3
Kraww
Bernard
Cormac
-----------
Rider green frightened 3R -3HP
Rider pink
Rider yellow frightened -5HP
-----------
Serpentfang total defense
-----------
Leader blue
Rider red
-----------
Ishingka
Tûrak total defense

I think the turns out of order has thrown me off. Turak has steered twice, Ishinkga intimidated one turn then shot a sling 2nd turn which would put Kraww up to start round 3 unless I'm missing like a suprise round or something.

Yes, there was a surprise round where everybody but Serpentfang could act ;) Serpentfangs Perception roll was too low. I won't mix the turns in the future, but for now it's Ishingka and Tûrak for turn 2 and Kraww for turn 3, followed by the riders (round 3).

Ah ok haha no wonder I missed that lol Mr. Fang was in lala land, happens quite a bit ;)

Still watching, waiting, anticipating. ;)

Ishingka snarls and half-orcs the tiller.

Strength: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

"I'm about ready to swim over there and eat them," she says murderously.

"Ok, I'll have to do this alone", thinks Tûrak, while still steer the boat and tries to protect himself from the incoming arrows.

Move action: steer the boat.
Kn. Nature DC 20: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Standard action: total defense to add +4 to AC.

@GM Baerlie, how far we are from the island? How many success I'll have to reach to get there?

comp longbow v blue (long range): 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 2 = 15 damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Kraww fires and then turns and blows really hard in the direction of the sails.

Ishingka and Tûrak continue to drive the boat carefully along the shore. you are about 60 ft. away from the shore, one round should be enough to reach it.

Kraww shoots an arrow at the group's leader, but the arrow hits the saddle.

While two riders flee from the fight the one with the pink saddle shoots an arrow at Cormac.
Shortbow vs. Cormac: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Round 3
Kraww
Bernard
Cormac
-----------
Rider green frightened 2R -3HP
Rider pink
Rider yellow frightened -5HP
-----------
Serpentfang total defense
-----------
Leader blue
Rider red
-----------
Ishingka
Tûrak total defense

ego: 1d6 ⇒ 6Serpentfang, with a flick of the wrist and a twirl, sends two magic missiles soaring towards pink rider. Magic Missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 = 5

Cormac pull back! Bernard shouts and the spirit goes incorporeal and begins to run on his turn.

Serpentfang sends two magic missiles towards the rider with the pink saddle. Bernard tells Cormac to stop fighting and the spirit goes incorporeal.

The riders which are not fleeing shoot arrows at 2d5 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 Bernard and Ishingka, but miss.
blue vs. Bernard: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 2 - 2 = 15
red vs. Ishingka: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 2 - 2 = 13

Round 3
Kraww
Bernard
Cormac
-----------
Rider green frightened 2R -3HP
Rider pink -5HP
Rider yellow frightened -5HP
-----------
Serpentfang
-----------
Leader blue
Rider red
-----------
Ishingka
Tûrak total defense

Ishingka snarls at another nomad.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"Getting closer! Then I'm gonna EAT you!" she growls.

She then takes Total Defense as well...intimidatingly.

"Let's go, buddies, let's kick some asses!", cries Tûrak, while anchors the boat in the island's coast.

Move action: steer the boat.

Kn. Nature DC 20: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Another move action: leap off the boat!

Kraww grimly fires again. Using the rail for cover between shots.

comp longbow v blue: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 - 2 = 22 damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Bernard once more levels a shot at one of the riders, the Pink one.

Bernard Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 81d8 ⇒ 1

Wihle Tûrak steers the boat to the shore and leaps off Ishingka intimidates another rider. Kraww lands a hit with an arrow while Bernard's bolt misses. You can see that the leader is badly hurt, but he does not stop pushing his horse harder and harder. "Get them!" he shouts.

While the two riders continue to flee the one with the pink saddle drops his bow and draws his scimitar while getting off the horse.

Round 3
Kraww
Bernard
Cormac
-----------
Rider green frightened 1R -3HP
Rider pink -5HP
Rider yellow -5HP
-----------
Serpentfang
-----------
Leader blue -12HP
Rider red shaken 3R
-----------
Ishingka
Tûrak

Land ho!!! Serpentfang shouts, then with a hop and a skip sends two more missiles barreling towards the leader. Magic Missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 2 = 6

Serpentfang gets off the boat and fures a magic missile towards the leader which drops him. The remaining riders turn around and beat their horses to get away as fast as possible.

combat over

Tûrak approaches to the fallen leader's body and checks what he was carrying.

if necessary... (EDIT: I hope not.)

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Once this is done, the alchemist says surly to the others: "We have no more time to waste here, let's just follow the map coordinates and go away to Nesting Swallow"

Perc: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Ishingka nudges the leader with a boot. "Nice shooting, Serpentfang," she says. She grins, showing her tusks. "I'm better at short distances. Aye, let's see what he's got and get back to navigating."

Well let's do it... Bernard trudges towards his spirit and taps him with a wand Curelight Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

and then tried to get back in the boat to man the rigging.

Huh? Oh, yes thank you Ishinkga yes indeed, anchor's away Captain!. It still is like a game to the optimist halfling, he continues to talk of his adventures on boats and of his friends, this time for ten straight minutes. You aren't even sure if he took a breath. Lucky for you he tries to climb to the Crow's nest. Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Near the riders you find a horn lamellar, a composite shortbows (+2 Str) with 40 arrows, scimitars, a lamellar cuirass, and a shortbow with arrows.

The Jhemulit camp is a half-day’s travel downriver from the Kogendu Basin. Several horses and goats contentedly graze about the wide grassy plain on either side of the river, but the fields look as though they have been recently flooded. A half-dozen yurts, drenched from a recent storm, dot the northern shoreline, smoke curling from their rounded roofs. Two small shrines sits a few yards east of the camp, surrounded by wildflowers. The runoff from the Wall of Heaven ensures that this area never experiences drought, but like much of Shaguang it is caught in the mountains’ rain shadow, and thus water is relatively sparse the farther one travels from the Tuunma.

Serpentfang spots a short, middle-aged Tian-La man with graying hair and a scraggly beard sitting at the river bank. Once you are closer the man watches your ship approaching from around a bend in the river and waves you ashore on the northern bank of the Tuunma.

There Captain! The old man is signaling us to anchor near shore!!! Land ho! Serpentfang climbs down from his post, and prepares to port. Climb: 3d20 ⇒ (5, 4, 16) = 25. ego: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"Captain?", Tûrak looks to the halfling, a bit confused.

"Perhaps that man is Ogokai, or someone sent by him to give us the incense, as Amara Li told", commented the half-orc.

The alchemist anchors the ship next from which the man had signaled, peering around in order to avoid any unexpected ambush.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

While Tûrak lands the boat at the river bank the old man approaches you.

"Welcome, my name is Ogokai! Are you the Pathfinders Amara Li sent?" he asks.

Tûrak looks around, but the area seems to be calm. No ambush in sight.

Bernard gives a curt bow and makes a gesture with his middle finger to his temple and speaks Yes, it is a pleasure to meet you - I take the arrangements we made still hold?

Ishingka shuffles her boots behind Bernard. "I trust you are well, Master Ogokai. We have what you're looking for."

Ogokai ignores Bernard's question for now and asks you to follow him to his camp. Once at the camp he starts to talk.

"We have mixed the incense, but I am afraid we cannot give it to you. As soon as we placed the herbs in the crates the Gokan woman left, a terrible storm fell upon us. Many of our horses and goats were scared away by the thunder, and one man was struck by lightning. It is clear — the Sky Spirits are displeased we would give the sacred gifts of the land to outsiders. You may take back the hides the Gokan woman traded us, but you may not take the incense. All I can offer you is a shelter for the night and as much food and drinks as you want."

Knowledge (religion - Sky Spirits?): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

"But Amara Li has already paid you." Kraww protests.

Ego: 1d6 ⇒ 2 Mr. Fang nods in agreement with Kraww. Yes, you've been paid, what do you mean sky gods? Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 18

"This story is poorly told, you'd better start opening the nozzle..."

Turak throws over Ogokai an unfriendly look.

"As I said, you may take the payment back to your leader. But we can't give you the incense." Ogokai answers.

"The Sky Spirits work in mysterious ways, but they are found mostly in this western region of Shaguang, near the Wall of Heaven. They occasionally fly overhead, and we know to fear them, for in our ancestors’ tales they have caused the ruin of many tribes. I ask you to respect our belief, we live in harmony with this land and the Sky Spirits are a part of it."

Kraww confirms this information.

Tûrak thinks the story is not a lie, it's true. The fields look as they have been recently flooded and the tribe's horses and goats gaze the wide grassy plain.

You may also try a diplomatic or intimidating way to get the incense.

Kraww confirms this information.

But it is obvious he does not like it. He gets his beak in the man's face.

"Listen here you little *WARK!* We didn't come all the way here through *KAW* and *WARK* just so you could *KAW KAW WARK* us! Understand?"

intimidation: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 Yes, I would hate for our friend here to be turned loose on what's supposed to be our ally. You should probably give us that incense as was promised.

Craft (alchemy): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

"Well, stay with your damned spirits", grumbles Tûrak.

"It seems that those herbs grow in some abundance here, buddies", he tolds the other members of the party, "I think in a few hours we can collect the required plants and I can mix the herbs into the proper incense in another few hours. We don't need the aid of this fool", says grimly the half-orc.

"Give the gold back to us and get out of our view. I don't like untrustly men and you are one of those slag", the alchemist seems very angry with Ogokai and prepares to start a fight if he doesn't leave.

"Oh for the love of Sinashakti..." Ishingka rolls her eyes at her companions. "Look. Ogokai. Why don't we go talk to these Sky Spirits. Can we go talk to them? Maybe we can change their minds."

"We never got gold! We got hides! We are not as greedy as you are. We have no use for gold. We live in piece along with the nature. We take only what we need. And let me remind you that you are in our camp. Take the hides and leave our territory! You seem to be a bunch of people who only think about themselves, you don't care if the Sky Spirits ruin our tribe. Out of sight, out of mind." Ogokai answers, now also angry. The guards see that you are insulting the old man and prepare to defend him.

"I appreciate your pieceful approach, but it's too late. I'm not going to change my mind. Do whatever you want, but leave us alone!" he answers to Ishingka.

This is the place where they live, they are not going to leave everything behind. Basically there were four different opportunities to get the incense: intimidate, diplomacy, steal it during the night or create your own (thanks to the alchemist). Kraww's intimidate roll was not high enough, even if I take Serpentfang's aid roll for intimidate it's too low. ;)

Bernard puffs up his chest and looks down at Ogokai with menace he whispers to himself Forgive me Cormac, I know you would not approve... He brings his hand to his whip and steps forward refusing the hides.

Let me be absolutely and positively clear. The Society needs this incense. it is of the Utmost importance. I am a worshipper of Zon-Kuthon and while I would NEVER invoke his name and the methods of my church on a non-believer...you have me desperately considering it. You made a deal with us. You will honor it. There is no room for negotiations or your lesser deities here

Intimidation: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

When Bernhard makes another insult against Ogokai the warriors attempt to attack, but Ogokai raises his hand. "Stop this, I don't want more harm to my people. Just take the incense and leave. Now! The crate is over there! Maybe I can convince the Sky Spirits to have mercy with us. I will remember not to make any business with the Pathfinders again, furhter I will warn the other tribes about the Pathfinders' ignorance." Ogokai says and points at a small crate near one of the yurts.

You were so close to loose your second PP :D

Bernard spits on the ground and takes the crate.

And I will warn others not to treat with your unreliable tribe. May the destroyer find you... let's go

Ishingka shrugs at the old man, then does a double take and turns to Bernard. "Zon-Kuthon, really? Doesn't he pull out fingernails and such for fun? I mean, true, they do that in Belkzen, but it's different." She trudges back to the boat. "I was looking forward to a meal, maybe some handsome horsemen..."

Bernard grimaces a bit at being confront Revealed a bit too much there, eh?

The scarred half-orc holy man gets a bitter grin on his face It's a long story - Cormac was once a member of the Bellflower network that I accidentally killed during worship. I have taken it upon myself to travel the world doing the work he might have as a means of penance for my clumsiness...I don't talk about it much but the fear people have for my lord makes him worth invoking at times...sorry about your dinner and fleshy delights though. My bad there. You're stuck with this ugly mistake instead.

You get back to the Laughing Crow and continue your journey. You reach an old outpost at the end of their final day’s travel along the border of Shaguang.

Clumps of green lichen cling to the links of an iron chain that spans the river a few inches above the water, the chain holding several vertical, bobbing logs in place. On the north shore, the chain is bolted to a squat stone block half-buried in the ground. To the south, the chain attaches to a large metal crank handle mounted to a ruined stone wall. A short wooden dock stretches from the front of the stone wall out to the middle of the slow-flowing river. An outpost once stood here marking the border between Shaguang and Kaoling.

The checkpoint is overseen by an officious bureaucrat and his three guards, who motion for the ship to stop and dock.

Pleased with his previous attempts at diplomacy Kraww takes it upon himself to greet the man from the junk's bow. Since we don't have a crow's nest. *Sigh*

"What do you want! WARK." He croaks a little too loudly.

"Your cargo is subject to Lingshen’s tariffs. We must assess the value of whatever goods you’re carrying in order to properly tax them. the man answers.