[PFS_Aerondor] 06-08 The Segang Expedition [Tier 1-5] PbP Gameday 4 (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

Velinov grabs his backpack and slings it over his shoulder as he runs towards the count's tent.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Audyn gets up from out of his bedroll, still wearing his leathers, and quickly tugs his rapier from the belt laying nearby. "What was that?"

The team quickly descend on the counts tent, just behind Baron Rudyahm.

The interior of this spacious canvas tent is richly decorated with portable darkwood and silver furnishings. Torn mosquito netting hangs above the bed, and a mirror, basin, and various shaving implements lie scattered on the ground. A black leather boot lies on the floor next to the crumpled remains of a large black spider.

"What the Devil happened here?" roars the Baron.

Count Matsanda is lying on his bed, clutching his bare right foot in pain.

"Something in the boot bit me - a spider I think. I fell back onto the bed in surprise. My god, Bomande, what if it’s poisonous? I could lose the foot! You brought some antitoxin, didn’t you? Fetch it quickly!” he says in a fearful voice.

Unfazed, the baron replies, “Ah, bit of luck then. The spiders of Segang aren’t dangerous, not like the scorpions. It’ll probably smart for a bit, that’s all. Next time, check your damn boots!”

The Count doesn't look very reassured and it looks like an argument is brewing...

Heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"We have antitoxin, but fortunately there are no signs of poisoning. I will bandage the foot and you will be fine at the end of the day."

"Are you sure?" asks the count. However over the next few minutes nothing seems to fall of.

"Told the boy he'd be okay" snarls the Baron. "He needs to Harden Up!" He gives Myrd a sharp nod of approval.

As the Baron leaves, count Matsanda sighs and gestures the pathfinders closer. "I'd really like to impress the old man today, but you see, I'm not much of a hunter." he admits. "In fact, I've never really been hunting before! Is ther any help or advice you can give me?"

Okay, you can be inventive as you like here, although there are some precanned suggestions in the scenario. Assuming of course that you want to help the Count.

"I'd say a nice trophy would do the trick, my friend. Bring down a fierce specimen and you'll win his admiration for sure."

"We could go hunting with you and embellish the story of your accomplishments to the Baron. If we have a trophy to go with that it would only improve the story"

Bluff to the Baron: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
"You should have seen the count in action, he was so skillful in the hunt as if he was born in these environments!"

"Well, damn. ...I'll go get dressed then. 'scuse me.", says Parker. Going back through the camp, he goes back to his tent, and shakes his boots vigorously before putting them on.

Going back to the baron, he hears the ideas. "Well. I don' reckon you're a fierce hunter, and I doubt we can turn ya in one in a day. What's the other things ya excel as? You don' gotta be a hunter to be a worthy man in his eyes, 's what I'm sayin'!"

"Ahh, hunting. Since we're on the lookout for big game, it's best to lure the target into a dangerous location. Then leave it with the option of either hurting itself trying to overcome an obstacle, or try to escape and end up right into us, who will be waiting for it. While I imagine we cannot do a herd jump in here, we can do an impromptu version where I become the obstacle and chase our quarry into your sights.", the tengu conveying a sense of expertise in this subject.

Okay, so we are on the first days hunt, Myrd is going to help embellish the story of the hunt with the Baron, good choice. The rest of you need to pick a skill or special ability that you want to use to try and help him (or you could just hang with the baron and laze on top of the elephant :-)

Audyn uses his skill with words to help weave a proper tale, extolling the Count's cleverness and heroism during the hunt when the party returns.

Perform (oratory): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Let me know if the application of any other social skills would help in this endeavor.

knowledge nature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Attempting to advise on the local fauna to know what sport is in the area, what they prey on, etc.

"I can also assist in providing us cover and maybe even bait. I can use my magic to create desirable prey within range in an attempt to lure a target near us in addition to covering our whereabouts."

Iron Feathers will try to scare prey into the Count's firing position.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

-Posted with Wayfinder

What an effort the pathfinder team makes!

The Count bags an impressively sized Sloth bear, which is enough to raise the eyebrows of the Baron - and by the tales told he saved the group from various horrible fates such as quicksand and wasps nests.

The count is suitably grateful and a tired team camps down for the night, happy to have been a help.

On the morning of the third day, the smell of wood smoke fills the camp as porters busy themselves tending various cooking fires. Outside the camp, the jungle is alive with the sounds of monkeys, birds, and chirping insects. Food is the meaty part of the sloth bear that the Count shot the previous day, and its aroma is mouthwatering.

Not just for the hunting team. A large group of monkeys gather at the edge of the camp. They squawk and chatter, over turning containers and making a bit of nuisance of themselves.

Looking around, the pathfinders notice the porters acting reverentially toward the monkeys and offering them prayers and bits of food. The Baron however storms out of his tent.
"Get rid of those proto-Charau-ka!" he orders you.

Agreeing with the Baron, at least while in his presence, Audyn gathers a group of the porters and whispers to them in a hushed tone. "First of all, allow me to apologize for the Barron's words. It's a simple misunderstanding, of course. You're no doubt already aware of how city-folk like him fail to understand your deep connection with these special creatures. Perhaps you should collect a suitable offering to the monkeys and leave it some distance from the camp, out in the jungle where they'd be more comfortable eating it. My companions and I would be more than willing to escort you and provide for your protection."

Diplomacy to influence their attitudes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Diplomacy to suggest a course of action: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Parker nods and smiles at the porters. "What the nice gentleman said, folks." Tapping his foot, his smile sets people at ease. "See, folks, we don' mind them monkeys, not at all. But they're causin' a ruckus, and His Lordship ain't much a fan o' other cultural peculiarities, if you know what I'm sayin'." He opens a basket, pulls out a cheap-looking metal plate, shined to perfection, then hangs it in front of a monkey's face, before tossing it far away into the vines. "But I'd get onto it, pronto, as them Cheliaxians say."

Aid Another to Audyn, I auto-pass.

Seeing that Audyn and Parker are working on the monkeys Myrd walks towards the Baron while casting a minor spell Enhanced Diplomacy "My associates are working on it as you see. Shall we break our fast with some meat and tea?"

Diplomacy to get the Baron at ease: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 2 = 29

The porters won't feed the monkeys them selves, but will provide some food for you to do so.

Pick one person to make a handle animal roll (and with the food, feel free to add +2) the others can aid if they want. You might want to discuss in the Discussion thread about who should do the main roll though.

The baron seems slightly calmed by Mryd, but it is only a matter of time before he does something drastic. He really does't like monkeys - must be some war story behind it, but that is a question for later.

Mylitta isn't the most experienced with animals, but she gives it her best attempt, using soothing words and calming gestures to encourage a closer relationship.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15

One monkey grabs the food, the others just seem to want more.

The Baron roars. "Get RID of them, don't feed the little pests"

And takes a swing at one of the monkey's with the butt of his rifle.

The monkey's screach and retreat into a massed huddle, the level of chattering and anger evident to all. The porters seem to have vanished.

Not quite good enough on the handle animal check sorry, you have one round to prepare. Something bad is happening.

D'oh! I just realized you can do Handle Animal untrained; just can't use it training without ranks in it. Too late to aid GM?

Iron and Velinov can;

Myrd and George were doing other things.

Clutch Handle Animal Aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 = 5

Bah, not even close :p

Iron Feathers tries to follow the lead, but his caws seem to be ineffective to the simian ears.

handle animal: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Velinov helps distract the monekys. Between them the pathfinders manage to get the monkeys back into the forest without the baron needing to take a hand in the proceedings.

"Well, after that, I think a we might do some more hunting this morning" suggests the baron.

"Back by midday though, and then we'll head off."

Are you going to stick with the baron, or with the count for the mornings hunt, or just hang around the camp and try to keep the monkeys away?

"That does not sound good!"

Myrd opens his jade wayfinder and passes his hand over it before tucking it away again.

Guidance on self

Audyn accompanies the Baron on the morning hunt, but doesn't try to actually kill any creatures, as he's no good with a bow and doubts any jungle animals would agree to duel him with a rapier.

Instead, he focuses on buttering the Baron up, trying to improve his opinion of the Count.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

"Damn monkeys...", mutters Parker. Staying in the camp, he's busy chasing away the monkeys from invading and pillaging the supplies.
Handle Animal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

After an hour or so of strenuous running around, he sits down and pours himself a drink.

Iron Feathers will continue to help the Count with his hunt, hoping to train him to be a better hunter and make a man out of him yet.

Alternate version for funny anime inclined. DBZ Abridged version!

Intimidate prey to the Count again: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

random: 1d20 ⇒ 6
The morning passes moderately enjoyably, although no really memorable beasts are bagged.

After the midday meal, the camp is packed up and the group mounts up (for Parker) or walks (the rest) and continues along the trail.

It has obviously been used before, and is roughly 15' wide - easily big enough for the elephants that come up and down it.

Suddenly the elephant trumpets in distress! It starts stamping about wildly, threatening to shake off the howdah, the Baron, the Count, the driver and Parker!

A quick look shows the team that a nest of cobra's seem to have been disturbed by your travels. The porters rush forward to try and drive off the snake!

The mahout falls from the elephant, leaving it out of control. While further down the trail a very large snake slithers forward, presumably to protect her young - with a lot of porters in the way

"Help me control this elephant" shouts out the Count
"Protect the porters from that giant snake!" shouts out the Baron.

Okay, Parker, up on the Elephant can try a ride check to get it under control if he wants. Those who want to help calm the elephant can use handle animal. Both checks will be very difficult with all those baby snakes around. Of course there is a large snake that you could also try to tackle...

Status, bold may post:
Audyn
Mylitta
Velinov
Myrd
Parker
Iron Feathers
Snakes

Iron Feathers moves up to the large snake immediately, arming himself with a bladed polearm. "Get away, I'll attract its attention!", he yells to the porters.

Double move up

Audyn draws his rapier as he steps toward the baby snakes, hoping to scare them off with a sudden and flashy display of ringing steel.

Dazzling Display
Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Assuming the snakes are 1 HD or less and have a +1 Wisdom modifier, that makes them shaken for 4 rounds (1 for making the DC, +2 for beating it by 10, and +1 for the Memorable trait).

"Someone try to calm the elephant down. I'll see what I can do about keeping the snakes away!" yells Velinov as he starts to pull pieces of brightly colored fleece from his pouch and summoning his will. "Creans ventum!"

Almost instantaneously, what looks like a gust of wind starts to pick up, kicking up the dirt and debris high into the air, creating thick clouds of billowing brown and earthen dust walls.

Velinov casts Silent Image to create an opaque wall of dust high enough to block line of site between the elephant and the snakes. I'll mark the map with lines for placement.

Myrd has no experience whatsoever with elephants (or animals in general) and decides he is better of conjuring help. He starts casting a spell

Summon Monster 1

Parker's pleasant and somewhat lazy journey is spontaneously interrupted by a rearing elephant and a loud trumpet. "Aw, hell naw!", he says, as he sees the large number of snakes on the ground. "Keep calm, ya damn pachyderm!", he says, grabbing the elephant's ears in an attempt to calm down the animal.

Ride: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Well, shucks.

"I ain't used ta damn elephants!", he shouts from the top. "The animals I use disappear in an hour or two! And they're horses!", he says, grasping for life. "If I got a firin' platform, I can nail that snake 'tween the eyes!"

The snakes are obscure, but the elephant is still paniced, throwing itself around. Of course the massive snake on the path in front of it may have something to do with that.

But you get +4 on any ride or handle animal checks as the small snakes are obscured from it for the moment

Parker ties to pay at being a mahout, but without any success.

The giant snake surges forward toward Iron Feathers
attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
And he feels the horrible poison enter his system...his heart starts to slow.

will for small snakes: 2d20 ⇒ (12, 20) = 32
One of the small snakes slithers toward iron feathers as well, keen for meal.
attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Status, bold may post:
Audyn
Mylitta
Velinov
Myrd
Parker
Iron Feathers: 9 damage, Fort DC17 save vs poison
Snakling 1 : shaken & obscured
Snakeling 2: obscured
Big snake:

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Iron Feathers grits his beak as he resists the poison; instead he gets angry, dropping his weapon to savagely rend the snake with beak and claw!

Free action to rage; 4 temp HP from rage now

Raging bite @ snake: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26
Damage on hit: 1d3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6
Raging claw @ snake: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 = 14
Damage on hit: 1d3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8
Raging claw @ snake: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22
Damage on hit: 1d3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Audyn lunges forward to protect the others from snake nearest them. "Promise me none of you plan on eating these things."

Rapier attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Rapier damage: 1d5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Iron feathers goes feral on the snake. The battle is ferocious with both sides bleeding heavily, but both continuing to fight none the less.

First claw missed

Audyn squewers the scared little snake. It slithers down his rapier, looking quite fierce, but quite dead.

Status, bold may post:
Audyn
Mylitta
Velinov
Myrd
Parker
Iron Feathers: 9 damage,
Snakling 1 dead
Snakeling 2: obscured
Big snake: 14 damage

Parker attempts once more to wrest control of the terrified elephant. "Git behavin', ya damn beast!", he shouts, pulling the ears once more.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 4 = 25 Finally. -2 if Ride is required. The elephant stops flailing around wildly. "Thank you!" Staring over the illusory wall, Not sure I can do that, but there would be at least 5 to 10 feet between elephant line of sight and Parker line of sight. Parker pulls aims his hand at the massive snake.

Snowball, touch: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 - 4 = 19
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 1) = 12
Confirm: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 2) = 6
Fortitude DC: 16 or staggered

A sharp icicle launches from the sorcerer's hand, piercing the snake's hide. The man puts his fingers in front of his mouth and blows, icy wind flowing from his mouth.

Velinov will continue to concentrate on his spell to keep the elephant calm.

He will drop the southern wall though since there are no more snakes coming from that direction...

Parker manages to get the elephant under control. Somehow.

But that is the full round, no time for a snowball unfortunately. You can use those rolls next round if you want to though. Did you remember -4 for cover and -4 for firing into melee?

Mylitta, upon seeing her friends engage the large snake, immediately launches into a song, attempting to inspire courage on her allies.

+1 Inspire Courage guys!

Don't suppose the inspire courage added to Iron feathers makes a good difference on the low claw? :P

Myrd summons an eagle behind the big snake

Bite Attack, bard, flank: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 25
Damage, Bard: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Claw Attack, bard, flank: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 10
Damage, Bard: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Claw Attack, bard, flank: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 8
Damage, Bard: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

and follows up with casting grease under the giant cobra DC 15

Mylitta inspires the group.
Wouldn't make a difference for Iron Feathers missed attack, but adding extra damage retrospectively

A giant eagle appears, ripping into the big snake. It really is a bird vs snake battle.

I'm not sure what effect the Grease spell would have on a snake. It is already on the ground. I guess if it tries to move away it would have to make a reflex roll or be unable to move.

The giant snake turns on the eagle and strikes at it
attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 + fort DC 17, but it probably doesn't matter. The bird vanishes in a flutter of feathers that never end up hitting the ground.

Behind Iron Feathers the other small snake continues to try and have its first snack of the day.

attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
damage: 1d2 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1
It gets its little teeth into him, and he again feels the rush of adrenalin as poison is pumped into his damaged system.
Only DC9 fort save required this time. Iron Feathers actually gets an AOO on it as well as it has to enter his square due to its size.

Status, bold may post:
Audyn
Mylitta
Velinov
Myrd
Parker
Iron Feathers: 9 damage, 1 point NL; Fort DC9 save required; AOO on small snake
Snakling 1 dead
Snakeling 2: obscured
Big snake: 18 damage

The same rolls would lead to 11 on the confirm, and 20 damage in total, 13 if it doesn't confirm.

"Woah! That snake ain't a pushover, is it?", says Parker, after the elephant levels. "Now, where was I?", standing up on the elephant's head, and leveling his hand at the big snake. A cold snapping sound is heard, and a massive ice shard appears in the snake's lower body. "Say 'cheese', reptile!"

Dancing around the elephant with a grace unbecoming of the jungle, Audyn closes in on the next snake.

Rapier attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Rapier damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

A snowball flashes forward and encases the large snake in ice. It doesn't appear to be a threat any more. The little one...well that might be another story.

Audyn however isn't keen on that tale and slices the last snake in half.

"Well done controlling the elephant" says Count Matsanda.

"Great job slicing that slice up!" counters Baron Rydahm.

"Which could only be completed once the Elephant was back under control" points out the Count..

The bickering continues throughout the afternoon.

After a few hours, the trail crosses a stream.

"This is the stream that I and my friends followed when the tiger ambushed me five years ago. Here is where we must leave the trail behind and find the tiger's territory."

Count Matsanda looks somewhat disheartened.

"The elephant won't fit up there..." he points out.

Another prolonged session between the father and son-in-law happens, and results in the Count taking the elephant and porters down the main trail.

"There is a lodge for hunting half a days travel down that way. He'll be more comfortable down there.." says the Baron, seemingly unfazed by the count's departure.

After following the stream for an hour the group reaches a small clearing.

The jungle opens up into a wide grassy clearing bisected by a shallow, burbling stream. In the center of the clearing lies the partially eaten carcass of a gaur. Its throat has been torn open, and the grass all around the dead bison is covered in dried, sticky blood.

Survival, guidance: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

Myrd takes his wayfinder in hand and activates it Guidance

"Hmmm, does anyone have a clue how long ago that animal was killed? The predator might still be in the vicinity."

Myrd looks around, trying to spot anything in the undergrowth.

Perception, guidance: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28