[PFS/DMK] 4-19 Night March of Kalkamedes (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

Marra comments "What about the flask we found labeled 'swim'? perhaps Kalkamedes collected these items to be used for the trip.

It's a slow affair dragging the sleepwalker around the bog, having to be pulled back whenever he attempts to move into the standing pool of water again. The party struggles in the mud and brackish water, sliding and skidding along. Slow, but effective: after some time, Kalkamedes is on the other side of the pool, and shambles on, none the wiser.

Kalkamedes’s path winds westward into a steep mountain pass that climbs several hundred feet. The surface levels out only to terminate fifty feet ahead with a precipitous drop into a thirty-foot wide canyon.

A voice can be heard from the direction of Kawrock: You are looking after my friend well.

Radnor and Nuzzle glance about, the summoner still holding the rope like a leash, "You see anything Nuzz? Trust him?" Radnor whispers before bellowing, "I hope so, we hope we can take care of our own. Who might you be, and why are you not showing yourself? If you are truly a friend to Kalkamedes here we should be allies..."

Nuzzle Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Radnor Perception: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 2 = 6
Radnor Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Nuzzle Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Kawrock will stop as strange voices come from him that are not his own are highly unusual. He will then look around for the source as Radnor tries to reason with it.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

But I am showing myself! the voice speaks, giving the adventurers another chance to spot the source. Kawrock quickly finds that it's the sleepwalking Pathfinder's broken blade that is talking to them.

I am an ally of Kalkamedes, allow me to introduce myself. I am the Gaminuecron, forged by the dwarves of Riddleport's Gas Forges.

Meanwhile, Kalkamedes shambles on towards the cliff's edge. A friend of my friend is my friend. But be quick, before he falls off that edge!

Radnor beams, "Talking sword awesome! Pleased to meet you Gaminuecron, don't worry I've got him! Now how should we get over this canyon? If we can find a place where its twenty five feet across I can summon Nuzzle on the other side and throw him a rope, but I don't know how we would get Kalkamedes across."

Nuzzle moves in front of the sleep walker and Radnor hauls on the rope reeling him in.

Wide eyed Marra exclaims "Wow a real taking sword." as she scrambles to help pull on the rope to stop Kalkamedes.

The halfing continues "Well Gaminuecron, do you know where Kalkamedes is going? and why?"

Lars looks a little pale when he realizes the sword is talking. He can be rather superstitious.

Still, he helps haul on the rope to keep Kalkamedes from walking over the side!

"Could we lower him and then lift him up the other side? I've got a rope too. If we could get close enough for you to summon Nuzzle to the far side, he could hold a rope for us to climb up that way, maybe?

This I know not. the sword speaks Me and my companion ventured near a black edifice before he contracted his current condition. Since I do not know the way to this place, our only hope is to let him find his way back.

Lowering the sleepwalker into the canyon should not be a problem, as long as multiple adventurers are holding him. He may get some scrapes and bruises, though.

Still helping with the rope, Marra ask "Gaminuecron, any idea what the liquid is in the dried gourd we found with you? Also, how did you get that crack?"

Belka looks at the sword with a mix of curiosity and suspicion. She has obviously never seen a talking sword.

"Lowering and lifting him up on the other side seems to be the best solution. If Nuzzle cannot be summoned to the far side to hold us a rope, I can try to climb up. I have a grappling hook."

My ally keeps a healing potion in that one. As for my own tale, it is a sad one. The game smiths crafted me as a blade of legend, the Gaminuecron, when a flaw appeared early in the forging process. Unable to salvage me, I was discarded, and passed from one warrior to the next. 'Gamin the misforged' they called me, as they tossed me aside. My ally has not provided me this fate, and has kept me as his trusted companion at his side.

Marra does what she can to help lower Kalkamedea. Still talking to Gaminuecron, "That is a sad story, but one with a happy ending for you found Kalkamedea.

While working, the halfling looks around for any thing that might help the cross the gap.
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Kawrock would have drawn the sword to make speaking to it less awkward. "Your tale makes me sad, my people have a great fondness for swords. While you may not be the best for combat, you are still a talking sword and it would be foolish to discard you. As a friend of Kalkamedes feel free to aid us in any way you can. We do not know this area well so if you have been out here before any prior knowledge will be most helpful. Also would you prefer I have you drawn like I do now or would you like to be stowed on my belt."

How considerate of you to ask. I was forged for battle, unsheathed is how I fare best, though I am no stranger of the reality of being worn on a belt. Draw me when you need me, and feel safe in the knowledge that I am at your side when you don't. That's the way of the sword.

The canyon is 30 feet wide, and about 70 feet deep. There is very little here that spans this distance.

I don't know the area too well the sword continues I will tell you when I recognise something.

"It seems that we'll need two ropes to reach the canyon floor. Why don't we lower two of our group down first? They can restrain Kalkamedes while the rest join us. The last person should be our best climber. This person would then climb the far side and help several to the top. From there it would be fairly simple to lift him."

"I should probably be either the climber or one to hold Kalkamedes. If I remove my armor I am a fairly strong climber."

Looking down over the edge, Marra looks doubtful "long way down and back up. Might be easer to use Belka's grappling hook to throw across from here. Then if we have enough rope tie a safety line on whoever is crossing."

The halfling looks to see if there is good spot for hooking on the far side of the gap.
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Belka doesn't seem that thrilled about Marra's proposition. "We could always throw a rope and cross the canyon from here but then how would we get Kalkamedes across ? A sleepwalker on a safety line 70 feet above the ground is quite hazardous."

"The lower and lift up solution is preferable in my view, admittedly longer but much safer."

Marra sighs, looking up at Belka "I'm not taking about trying to walk a tightrope, more like hand over hand. Kalkamedes would probably have to be tied and carried. The real problem is getting a rope to the other side, from here we could throw a grappling hook 50 feet, but I don't think we can throw one up 70+ feet from the bottom. So someone is likely have to climb up the 70ft."

The halfling looks to the summoner, "Randnor, could you summon anything that could fly us over?"

It shouldn't be too hard to fasten a rope on the other side of the canyon, there's plenty of sturdy trees over there.

Kalkamedes stumbles against the force of the rope, not making any ground. Similarly, the adventurers seem stumped by the canyon. Do you have a plan yet? Lower, then raise?

(not sure it make a lot of difference which way.

If we have enough rope then throw a grappling hook and get it attached on the far side then lower everyone and climb backup. Making sure all the ropes have knots for easy climbing.

What rolls do we need to make?)

Sounds like a plan. If I understand correctly, you're going to lower Kalkamedes 70 ft into the canyon by rope, then pull him up again after someone climbed to the other side? You'll need 70 feet of rope to lower Kalkamedes, and then some more knotted rope to go up the other side. Do you have 150 feet of rope in total? And a grappling hook?

I'll need climb checks for whoever is going to climb up the canyon on the other side, unless a rope is already fastened (in that case you can make it with taking 10)

I have 50' of rope, and we have the 50' rope already tied to him. Belka's got a grappling hook. So we only need another length or two of rope to make this work.

(I suggest we throw a grappleing hook with rope to the other side from this side so, we don't have have someone climb up to set the rope. a few ranged throws with no downside vs about 7 climb checks that could result in a fall.)

Marra doesn't have any rope. (newbe adventure)

So if there are trees on both sides could we cut one down to cover the span?

that would definitely work

Kawrock looks at Gaminuecron "I'm going to have to put you on my belt as I do not think you would like to be used to cut down a tree." Placing the sword on this belt Kawrock draws his nodachi and selects an appropriately sized tree and cuts it to fall across the canyon. He then moves across the fallen tree cutting any branches that might be in way until he reaches the other side.

Druids cutting down trees. Does my corrupting influence ever end?

With a pang of guilt and a cracking of wood, the mighty tree comes down, ending fifty spring of growth. From acorn, to sapling, to tall tree to footbridge for a random passer-by, such is the cycle of nature. Kalkamedes effortlessly sleepwalks over the fallen tree.

Somewhat further down the road, great bands of stars sweep across the cloudless night sky, illuminating a series of game trails that chase through the mountain shrubs and berry bushes. Marra, still walking ahead of Kalkamedes (I assume) hears a series of growls coming from the forest. A bear roars in displeasure, trying to scare away the bard.

Marra stops, letting the others know about the bear if they didn't already hear it.

Casting Dancing lights {link} the bard sends one faintly glowing, vaguely humanoid shape down the trail ahead of her.

Kawrock has a different view on trees as a fire domain druid. While he cares about the forest as a whole. A single tree is just kindling to him. Also he would have drawn Gaminuecron after he was done making the bridge.

Edit: Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

The dancing light only enrages the bear more, growling at first, then lunging at it. Kawrock spots a small bear cub behind the larger bear.

Kawrock, if you want you can try an animal empathy roll to interact with the bear.

"Looks like a mama bear and it's cub, might want to back off while I try to calm her down."

handle animal: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

Kawrock approaches the bear, but his presence only seems to aggravate the mother bear further. It looks like she's close to popping a vein - she'll probably anyone that comes close. Kalkamedes - restrained by his rope (I assume) seems intent to sleepwalk right by the mother bear.

"Try and pull him around and I will do my best to keep her calm."

Another HA as they try and take Kalkamedes around: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Did I mention Kawrock has the same philosophy for bears that he does for trees?

Being able to see and be seen by the mother bear, Marra starts to speak and move in rhythmic faction in an attempt to fascinate the mother bear.

(Bardic Performance to fascinate {link} DC11 will save)

The halfling tells the other "If this works don't draw weapons or make any threatening actions, just move pass. I'll only be able to hold her attention for a short time at most.

Will save: 1d20 ⇒ 10

The bear stares fascinatedly at Marra's dancing. Dancing. Bears. It still is wary of the adventurers, but at least it doesn't try to maul them. Yet.

Lars grabs hold of Kalkamedes and drags him along the path, as far from the bear as possible, and as quickly as he can. It seems some of the others are assisting him.

I hope it's OK to speak for any of you guys who were helping with the rope!

Marra maintains the bardic performance for the bear as she moves with the group, until all the group is far enough past the bear.

(DM, How many rounds of bardic performance does Marra use up?)

Kawrock will slowly move around the bear with the group.

Radnor and Nuzzle follow along the summoner obviously glad they have a way to bypass the bear without bloodshed.

Sorry for the scarcity of posts, getting drowned in hours at work, should be back to a more normal schedule again now.

Marra, you'd only have to fascinate, and then move in such a way that didn't threaten the bear. Two rounds should be fine.

Over the course of another two hours, the rough, mountainous scrubland gradually flattens and gives way to thicker copses of trees sustained by a series of chilly, narrow streams. Kalkamedes’s trail meanders northward.

Map here

Kalkamedes wanders down the path, in a southeasternly direction.

Belka goes past the bear, looking at it with suspicion, hand on her spear, ready to draw the weapon if the animal has an aggressive reaction.

She then takes turn holding the rope if needed.

Ah, I managed to not include the description of you moving past the bear.

The adventurers guide the sleepwalking pathfinder past the bear in a wide arc, while Marra keeps the creature distracted by an enchanting dance. Once out of range, she quickly follows, leaving the woodland creature in peace.

Over the course of another two hours, the rough, mountainous scrubland gradually flattens and gives way to thicker copses of trees sustained by a series of chilly, narrow streams. Kalkamedes’s trail meanders northward.

Map here

Kalkamedes wanders down the path, in a southeasternly direction.

Glade not to have fought, Marra gives a quick bow to the bear after completing her performance and at a safe distance "A captive audience is always appreciated!"

Yawning from the late night, Marra glances at the trail ahead wondering how much further Kalkamedes' sleepwalk will take them.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

The rope clamped firmly in his left hand, longspear in his right Radnor gives Kalkamedes enough freedom to move, but ensures he keeps the sleepwalker close. Nuzzle moves ahead with Marra scanning for dangers.

Marra hears something rustling in the forest - sounds like someone's there...

Map indicates the origin of the sounds with a star

Stopping Marra, draws her scimitar motioning to the rest of the group where she heard the noise, speaking clearly "Who's there? Show yourself!"

if allowed Marra use total defense

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Kawrock will try and spot what and where it is.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Belka slowly draws one of her spear and tries to see what or who is hiding in the trees.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 10

With the group drawing close to the junction, Marra's call causes a whole six bandits to jump forward. The Gorgon's Privateers, lassie! And were in it for your money!

Can everybody see the map?

The bandits struggle a bit to emerge from the bushes, and only Radnor and Nuzzle are slower to react.

Lars
Kawrock
Belka
Marra
---
Bandits
---
Radnor
Nuzzle