PFS: #6-12: Scions of the Sky Key, Part 1: On Sharrowsmith's Trail (Inactive)

Game Master R D

Remember, you can make knowledge checks untrained for a maximum possible result of "10."

Not to be outdone by the gunslinger Sir Dydimus scurries up a tree too.
Accelerated Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Knowledge: Nature: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Cornelia giggles at Sir Dydimus' silly idea of catapulting him across the ravine. She smiles and allows the others to climb the trees. She instead keeps a wary eye out for enemies...

Oh, and by the way I do have a grappling hook if we decided we need to climb down. The halfling calls from the canopy.

Dydimus' voice echoes though the ravine...

LOL! ;-P

Hotspur tries to think about the trees while she climbs...

Knowledge Nature, untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Looking around, the party sees that there's no other way across. You'll have to climb down one side of the ravine, then up the other.

Or catapult, don't forget the catapult.

Sir Dydimus secure his rope to a tree on this end of the ravine and then climbs down.
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
At the bottom he takes the end of someone else rope and tries to climbs up the other side.
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
One up the other side he secures the rope to a tree and lets the others climb up.

Ethendril removes his armor to climb, as well. He thanks Sir Dydimus and then uses the rope to cross.

Are we just climbing down, or trying to get across? Does it appear that the ravine leads anywhere at the bottom? I should be able to take 10 to use the rope once my armor is removed.

Hotspur takes up a position to cover her comrades as they climb. If she sees anyone pop out and make hostile gestures, she will take a shot at them.

Awaiting confirmation/agreement from the party about how, exactly, you intend to get to the other side of the ravine. :-)

Sir Dydimus doesn't wait for the party to decide he just starts climbing.

OK. You're climbing down the side of the ravine?

Yup!

"If Sir Dydimus can get down and up the other side, we might be able to anchor the other end up the rope to a tree on the opposite edge of the ravine. Then we will need to still swing above the chasm, but we won't all need to climb up the other side."

"Regardless, I will cover Sir Dydimus with my musket while he works. I'll come across last because I think my weapon has the longest range."

The far side of the ravine is sixty feet away. That's a very high DC to swing...

Once Dydimus reaches the bottom, Ethendril yells down. "Does it go anywhere, or do we just need to cross?"

Still wondering if the ravine goes anywhere or is just an obstacle to cross.

Once the halfling makes it safely down, Ethendril climbs down to assist him. Take 10

YES IT GOES THAT WAY AND THAT WAY The halfling yells, pointing in opposite directions.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

On the way down, Sir Dydmius comes in contact with a tree root that has a strong, spicy odor. You can literally smell him way down at the bottom of the ravine.

Its Blackroot! My mother raised me on Blackroot! Puts hair on your chest!

Apologies, my last post got garbled. I was thinking that we could anchor the rope to across the chasm and the do a hand-over-hand pull across sort of thing. We would need to set up a harness so we don't drop off. Like one of those adventure zip lines but with less zip -- if that makes sense.

Olga has a climb + 4, so if she takes 10 she can get 14. Will that help her down the ravine?

No worries. :-) Zip-lining across the ravine is cool. Will require an engineering or craft check. As always, I'm happy to work with the party if you have an alternate set of skills that you wish to apply creatively. :-D

Olga, where do you want to climb? Down or across the zip line?

I'll follow Hotspur across her zip-line. Olga looks down a bit tentatively, but eager to show she's fearless.

That sure is high.

OK. What skills do you want to use to make the zip-line?

Also, Dydimus needs to successfully climb the far side of the ravine.

I don't think any of us have either engineering or a craft that would fit the bill. The closest rope-related skill among us seems to be escape artist -- so we could tie ourselves to a tree but that doesn't get us across the ravine. Unless someone else can think of a skill set I'm missing that ould help with the zipline, we might just need to have Sir Dydimus climb up the other side and lower another rope. I believe that we have enough rope to leave one hanging down on each side -- in case we need to come back this way in a hurry.

Again, I'm happy to work with your sets of skills creatively. A combination of an INT check from one player and a DEX check from another with an aid another action from the third could represent you guys calling upon your field experience to make the zipline harness...

Ethendril continues climbing after Dydimus, and will scale the other side as well.

taking 10 for 14 total

Dydimus scurries up the other side of the ravine. He then secures the rope to a strong looking tree.
Use your belts to slide across! He calls.

Climb take 10 for a 15.
He'll Aid in making the zip like with a dex check
Dex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 or not :(

The oils from the tree roots, on their own, don't smell. But, when they come in contact with Ethendril's skin (or any leather items, such as gloves, belts, boots, backpacks, etc.) react to give off a powerful, spicy odor.

The party can smell both Dydimus and Ethendril from very far away.

Hotspur tries to help too...

I'll give the Dex check a shot as well.

Zipline Dex check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Ha! We are terrible!

After a couple of aborted attempts to zip across the ravine, the party decides to take twenty. Eventually, Cornelia, Hotspur, and Olga zip across. It's easy to target their landing--even with their eyes closed. They can smell their companions from a long way off.

Cornelia blinks at the overpowering scent coming from Ethendril and Sir Dydimus. "Oh my! This cannot work on our favor... our quarry will be able to smell us before we even see them!" She pulls a handkerchief and covers her nose. "Does anyone have magic that might be able to remove the odor?"

I'm thinking perhaps Prestidigiation?

A brief examination (perhaps even some trial and error) indicates that prestidigitation would be insufficient. It's clear that the tree oils chemically reacted with skin and leather. (There's no danger to the characters; they just have a powerful smell.)

It would take a really good washing (like you do when a dog gets sprayed by a skunk). But, you're already behind--trying to catch up to the team of Aspis agents. Taking time out for that kind of washing could be a delay...

Ethendril frowns.

"I have a feeling this will not be to our benefit over the next few days. In the meantime, let's keep going and stay away from more roots."

"A man shall be judged for his smell by those downwind, but to the rest of the world 'tis his honesty that's the thing -- Thomas Hurte, Uncommon Sense," quotes Hotspur. "I vote we rush on. Whatever further olfactory challenges lay ahead, it is better to reach 'em quick."

I like it. Dydimus says proudly smelling himself.

OK. You continue on...

Fallen trees, rocky streams, hanging vines, and other obstacles litter the jungle, making travel through this area just as difficult despite the sparser foliage. After several hundred feet, the terrain gives way to a natural trail running through the middle of the ravine. In most places the trail is a mere five feet wide, though it widens to fifteen or even twenty feet in some areas. The ravine walls and the distant canopy still block out most of the natural light along the path.

Where the path narrows again, a humanoid corpse—one hand stuck in its vest as though desperately trying to reach for something—lies sprawled in the dirt next to a thick, thorny plant. Countless biting ants swarm over the corpse, making its features difficult to discern.

Gross. I wonder what they were reaching for? Sir Dydimus says, slowly moving forward ready to poke the corps with a stick.

"Hmmmmm," mumbles Hotspur with a thoughtful look on her face. "How do we disperse the swarm without damaging the evidence? What if we poured water from a waterskin down over the corpse? But would that be enough? And which of us wants to get that close?"

She looks up in surprise to see Sir Dydimus prodding the corpse with a stick. "Oh dear."

You beat me by seconds, Dydimus! lol

"Oh my. What a terrible final fate." She looks around the area, very suspiciously at the thorny plant, but also to see if any of large any hills are in the area.

Suddenly she spots Dydimus poking the corpse with a stick. "Dydimus no!" She quickly grabs a flask of alchemist fire from her bandolier. Ready to throw should the ants take interest in them...

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

"This will not end well," Ethendril says from several paces back as Dydimus prods around the ants with a stick.

Initiatives:
Cornelia: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Dydimus: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Ethendril: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Hotspur: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Olga: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Ant Swarm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

LOL! :-)

The party is up! Then the swarm.

Silly halfling.

Cornelia gasps as the swarm suddenly turns on the group and begins moving towards them! She quickly throws her alchemical weapon onto the swarm of ants, careful to avoid the body and her comrades! She then moves as far away from the swarm as she can...

Alchemist Fire!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Burn! (Damage): 1d6 ⇒ 5

Tossing alchemist fire to avoid the corpse and friends! Then moving 30' back.

"Go easy on them! They are just honest workers who have been misled by an absolute monarch!"

Hotspur looks for a log with which she might thump the masses of insect proletariat.

Cool! I've never been attacked by ants before! Laughs Dydimus as he takes a step back and tosses an alchemist fire into the swarm.
How do you feel about arcane striking with a slash weapon?
Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

How do you feel about arcane striking with a slash weapon?

You can use the Arcane Strike feat with whatever weapon you like. Seems to me that splash weapons are fair game. :-)

Cornelia and Dydimus make very short work of the swarm. Combat over!

Ethendril nods at the efficiency of his companions.

"That was fast! Now, let us see what this poor chap is reaching for. Perhaps it will give us a clue as to his identity. Might it be one of the Aspis agents?"

The paladin moves to search the corpse.

Hotspur finds a stick and raising it triumphantly returns to the scene of the melee.
"Fear not! With this tree branch of liberation I'll --"
Seeing that the swarm has been disposed of in her absence, Hotspur nonchalantly drops the "tree branch of liberation" and joins Ethendril in examining the body.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Here use my poking stick.