Oiur |
Oiur watches the sausage disappear and Kahru's adam's apple bob. "Can't travel on an empty stomach, but otherwise," they heft their earth breaker, arms outstretched, and lay it across their shoulderblades, "I'm ready!"
Serpentine lines of dark metal inlay glint on the weapon's head as Oiur makes their way towards the sausage vendor.
Jamila - GM Doug |
As the group meanders to the South Gate, Kokoyuki, Kahru and Eugressia somehow find themselves strolling along behind the others along with Jamila, just beyond earshot.
As I mentioned, Ashasar sent me here. While I am happy to sing the virtues of the Concordance to new Pathfinders, there's more at stake.
Now that our our faction is settling in on this plane, Ashasar craves knowledge about the elements that form this world’s atmosphere.
Jamila turns to Eugressia. Do you empathize with this quest for knowledge, Eugressia? As a janni, I am quite at home here on the Material Plane. Ashasar claims that to other natives of the Elemental Planes, the seasons themselves are a symphony of mystery. Are they mysterious to you as well? Do you also wish to learn more?
She pauses, recollecting her thoughts after this digression. Sublime as these seasons may be, a strange region of misplaced summertime promises insight for us — especially if a planar portal is involved.
Ashasar wishes you to recover items pertaining to the four seasons. He’s very hands-on and he prefers physical evidence to mere theories — I tend to agree. After all, the harmony this of cool Autumn breeze and this warm morning light on our faces, and the smell of honey and sausages, is something that can't quite be captured in a book.
I digress. This mission is a chance for you to impress Ashasar. She turns once again to Eugressia. Perhaps it is also an opportunity for you to — how did you say it? — to "get used to the Material Plane."
After answering any questions, she walks ahead and rejoins the group.
This isn't super secret stuff, but Jamila doesn't feel the need to broadcast missions either.
GM Doug H |
As with the AP, if two PCs want to move on we'll go ahead and do that.
Oiur seems to be ready. For now, the group is still in Bellis. You have your faction missions and guides who will take you to where you need to go.
Eugressia Biogon |
"Of course, Jamila. I owe a great deal to the Concordance, and perhaps these items will aid him with his important plans. As the Material Plain, I have started to grow fond of it. I just can't gt the hang of boats!"
Kahru Kuun |
"Druids, rift, whatever it is, it doesn't seem to be happening in town. Let's hit the road." Kahru shifts back into human form and hoists his earthbreaker.
I'm ready.
Oiur |
Oiur and Kahru louiter while the others talk.
"Oh hahd ooh eht ah ame ahlbear, erniwihs?," the skald says around a mouthful of street food. They bend down to offer Nokka a sausage morsel.
GM Doug H |
1/6
You depart Bellis by the South Gate — the forest is blissfully quiet — or would be, if not for the constant bickering about RIFTS and DRUIDS.
Eventually, the group pauses in a pastoral glade; Falbin admires a patch of lavender while Jamila sets the rainbow bird aloft and watches it soar above the treetops.
Falbin - GM Doug |
2/6
A rustling; Falbin's face pokes out the top of a thick lavender bush.
Jamila! HEY! Jamila! HEY!
When he has her attention he jumps out from the bush, jabbing a twig here and there to punctuate his sentences.
I know you're the gambling type! Don't deny it! You had a deadline with your boss, but plane shifted here to Bellis! Irresponsible! Reckless! Genius!
His eyes cunningly narrow. How about you put your money where your theory is? I'll bet you a hundred-fifty gold the Briar Henge Druids are responsible for our out-of-time summertime! How about it?
Precise arrival to your desired location via Planeshift is nigh impossible: the spell places you anywhere between 5 and 500 miles from your intended destination. If Jamilla did travel here today via Planeshift, she took a big (and probably unnecessary) risk.
Falbin - GM Doug |
4/6
Falbin does a little dance, kicking up clods of dirt. Now it's getting interesting! All we had before was a boring out-of-time summer time in the forest! HA-HA! He turns to your group. What about you, Pathfinders? Care to make it interesting? You are thinking beings, are you not? You must have postulations as well.
He points the a lavender stem at each of you in turn. However, if any of you are so witless to believe the cause of this seasonal phenomenon is a Rift… well… I am so confident in my assertion that I will put up a Tangleburn Bag against a paltry fifty gold. I do not wish to take money from fools, but they must be taught a lesson nevertheless!
Now the trap is baited! HA-HA!
He looks at the owlbear and coldborn. Kahru? Do you and Nokka not smell those dirty druid feet? Wager with us against Jamila!
Jamila - GM Doug |
5/6
Jamila blinks. Hmmm? I drifted away for a moment there, a strange droning noise that went on and on. She pauses to think. If you side with The Concordance, then you only need ante the same. I'm sure you have theories, and you should be willing to back them up with a little risk.
A scroll of Elemental Speech to the Pathfinder who can prove me wrong — else, pay me fifty gold.
GM Doug H |
6/6
You can wager 50GP (or an item of that value); if you win, you get an item worth 150GP. If you lose, the NPC will take your gold.
Please let me know if you are taking a bet, and on which side.
You don't have to bet, either.
Kahru Kuun |
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Oiur and Kahru louiter while the others talk.
"Oh hahd ooh eht ah ame ahlbear, erniwihs?," the skald says around a mouthful of street food. They bend down to offer Nokka a sausage morsel.
"When my clan cleared the little buggers out of a cave in some nearby hills, there was this egg, sitting in a pile of filthy rags. Who knows what they had planned for it, or even how they got the thing. Anyway, when I picked it up it started to move and crack, and what do you know but here's a baby owlbear in my hands! I mean, I wasn't going to just leave her there, so she came back with me to camp, and she's been with me ever since." As Kahru tells his story, he leans down and scratches Nokka behind the ears, causing her to lean into him, almost knocking the big man over. "Easy there, girl."
Oiur |
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Oiur is agog. "Did you really plane shift here? That's... huh." They grin.
"Well, if The Concordance is that bold, I guess that means I should be, too!"
They detach a belt pouch and bounce it on their palm, coins clinking inside. "Fifty it is! Talking to elementals is way more exciting than burning glue."
Kokoyuki |
"I'll take that bet!" Kokoyuki offers up his fifty gold. "Rifts it is!"
GM Doug H |
Oiur, if you are trying to win the scroll then you are siding with Falbin. Is that correct?
Kahru Kuun |
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He looks at the owlbear and coldborn. Kahru? Do you and Nokka not smell those dirty druid feet? Wager with us against Jamila!
"Hm. This does seem like just the sort of weird thing they would do. Fine, I'll take your bet Jamila. 50gp against your scroll."
Oiur |
Whoops, misread—yes, I'm siding with Jamila!
Eugressia Biogon |
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I seem to be short on gold, but I can't let him insult the Concordance!
"And I'll wager this potion of cure light wounds that Jamila is right."
GM Doug H |
1/2
Wagers in place, you move on.
About halfway to where you think the verdant zone begins, the chilly autumn wind becomes a balmy breeze. Once-bare trees suddenly flourish with riotous growth. It's getting difficult to walk in places, due to thick undergrowth.
Falbin - GM Doug |
2/2
Hold a moment!
Falbin runs over to a spiky growth and begins gleefully harvesting it — root and all. Yerba Mate! He scuttles to another bush, trailing clods of soil. Cat's Claw! A rambling vine: Suma!
Terrible! He happily stuffs the plants into his backpack. Woe! He skips across the clearing to collect another plant. It's expanding! It may never stop! The world may end! HA-HA! He darts about stuffing plants into his bag — which now trails a steady stream of fine jungle dirt.
Based on what you know about the original location, the zone's rate of expansion is three-quarters of a mile per 72 hours.
The vines underfoot closely resemble an augmented version of entangle, a favorite spell among druids.
Oiur |
Taking 10 on Knowledge (planes) and Spellcraft for 16 each!
Oiur furrows their brow, muttering and scratching numbers in the dirt while Falbin flits about like a horticulturalist hummingbird.
"So, seasonal changes, original location... typical maturation, glad I thumbed through those Green Faith treatises... alright... whoa!" Their eyes go wide at the calculations. "If this checks out, things're growing at about three-fourths of a mile every three days!"
They look to Falbin, expecting a quip, but notice something strange. "Uh, Falbin? Maybe... maybe step off the vines? They look... druid-y."
Falbin - GM Doug |
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Uh, Falbin? Maybe... maybe step off the vines? They look... druid-y.
HA-HA! The Briar Henge Druids love that spell! It's almost a druid trope! He grins. What do you think, Jamila? The Druids are responsible for this tragedy! Point for Falbin! He does a twirl, but steps on something thorny.
YOWW!
Jamila - GM Doug |
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A half-league mile per 72 hours, you say? She contemplates. According to Boffo the Maddening's Treatise on the Fey Fey (yes… he was a gnome), this rate is consistent with other recorded examples of "blooms" surrounding rifts to the First World.
She raises her left index finger. Point to Jamila.
The bird on her shoulder makes a noise, much like a quiet chuckle. Falbin pretends not to hear and hops about.
GM Doug H |
A short time later, the forest darkens and the air drips with moisture. Shaggy mushrooms sprout — some as tall as Kahru. The soil here is muddy and gray, a stark contrast to the surrounding area. Pools of water dot the landscape; Falbin dips a long stick into one and discovers it's about six feet deep.
Sitting on a small island ahead are two giant, psychadelic frogs — their iridescent skin coruscates in fractals of indigo, orange, violet, lemon, vermillion.
A bright orange corkscrew-shaped tongue darts out from the left one's mouth; it gulps down a large pink dragonfly who gleefully titters as it's consumed.
The two are rhythmically croaking back and forth; and both are now staring at your group.
We are now on a map. Please arrange your tokens behind the yellow line. Squares with mushrooms in them are difficult terrain. The water is up to 6' deep.
They are having a conversation in some froggy language.
These are First World Giant Frogs.
They are medium-sized animals (fey).
Kahru Kuun |
Knowledge(nature): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
"Weird. Are frogs usually like this?"
GM Doug H |
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Weird. Are frogs usually like this?
Eugressia Biogon |
Planes: Take 10 for 20
Arcana: Take 10 for 20
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 9 + 1 to discern lies
Nature: Take 10 for 18
"Giant frogs. Fey creatures."
GM Doug H |
Eugressia's conclusions about druids and planar rifts corroborate Oiur's.
Oiur |
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"I know what you're going to say, Falbin."
Oiur mimics the gnome's open, energetic grumpiness, hopping from one foot to the other, emphatically jabbing a finger towards the frogs.
"Druids! Transformed druids! That dragonfly is clearly part of this ridiculous charade!" They modulate their rushed falsetto so that it doesn't extend too far past the group.
"No offense meant," they say to Falbin with a wink. "But Eugressia's right—First World frogs. Rifts, not druids." They smile and raise two fingers towards Jamila.
I can know one Thing about ye olde frogges, right? Any idea how we could placate/bypass them?
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Falbin - GM Doug |
Well… let's do the science after we take care of more pragmatic issues… such as not getting eaten by frogs!
Your take 10 on Knowledge Local makes you recall that Briar Henge druids often employ giant-sized versions of animals—these frogs are also evidence in Falbin’s favor.
You don't have to tell anyone this, but they will get opportunities to roll and analyze the situation after this encounter is resolved.
Kokoyuki |
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
"Who can understand the nature of giant frogs?"
Oiur |
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Don'tsaydruidsdon'tsaydruidsdon'tsaydruids.
GM Doug H |
I can know one Thing about ye olde frogges, right? Any idea how we could placate/bypass them?
The DC for 1 question is 16+5=21. These are weird frogs with a template.
However because you rolled well: Golarion's native Giant Frogs are predatory, and can grab prey and pull them in with their long tongues. They also like to swallow stuff. Being Fey, these might use different tactics than the "normal" Giant Frogs you know so well.
Oiur has a nascent idea on the tip of their tongue due to the sense motive check, but it hasn't quite crystalized.
GM Doug H |
As you consider the ontology of psychedelic frogs in a toadstool forest, their croaks become frenetic — they leap forward to attack!
Jamila steps forward; Falbin mutters something incomprehensible about "timely fungus research" and ducks behind a the spotted cap of a fallen pink mushroom.
Eugressia: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Jamila: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Kahru: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Kokoyuki: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Oiur: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Ribbit: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Oiur
Kokoyuki
Eugressia
Kahru
Jamila
Ribbit
The whole party may act!
Oiur |
"We might not have a moment, but I'll try!
Oiur unslings their earth breaker and takes a few steps forward. Grey mud splatters onto their armor when they plant the weapon's head in the marsh; at the same time, a deep bass tone swells from their throat, and a dark, glossy bar grows in the damp air. It floats suspended just before the red 2 giant frog, blocking its path, plain against the creature's riotous skin.
Casting solid note! Frog needs to hit AC 12 or CMD 5 to make it go away and move past.
GM Doug H |
I added a solid note icon on the map. Feel free to reposition it if I got it wrong.
Kahru Kuun, Coldborn |
Kahru grips his earthbreaker, his knuckles going white as his form becomes bestial, his jaws growing long and powerful. "Grr. Fine, talk to them, then I smash them. Nokka, defend!"
Handle animal, companion, training harness, owlbear: 1d20 + 4 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 4 + 2 - 2 = 28
Standard action to change shape, gaining a bite attack, free action to handle Nokka.
Eugressia Biogon |
Eugressia frowns, knowing what the giant frogs could do to them, but she trusts Jamila.
Eugressia delays.
GM Doug H |
Both frogs shoot their tongues out at Oiur's solid note, trying to see if it's edible.
They quickly yoink their tongues back and hop around the note, croaking back and forth.
Jamila - GM Doug |
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With a feel for the rudimentary rhythm of the conversation, Jamila begins translating in real time. She uses two voices: one falsetto, the other baratone.
Pfffphht! This song is grimy!
Pfffphht! This song is slimy!
Oh Da: I want to eat a squirming roach!
No: first we have a healthy meal to poach.
But Da, I want to feel that thorax spurt!
First lets eat those humanoids, then dessert.
But Da, they seem to me quite underripe!
They look organic: a health-food archetype.
But da, these people fill me with disgust!
And wholesome meals keep little frogs robust.
But Da, they seem to hold us in contempt!
If fey find trouble, we simply resurrect.
It seems father and son duet, and the son doesn't want to eat his "vegetables."
GM Doug H |
Whole party is up!
Kahru Kuun, Coldborn |
Kahru looks to Jamila as she translates, then back at the frogs. "Well, let's not keep them waiting then! Nokka, flank!"
Handle Animal, companion, harness, owlbear: 1d20 + 4 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 4 + 2 - 2 = 27
Kahru then moves into a position where Nokka can flank with him and attacks with his earth breaker.
Adamantine Earth Breaker, Power Attack, flank: 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 1 + 2 = 16
Damage, Power Attack: 2d6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 6) + 6 + 3 = 21
Nokka |
Mrrmmmmnnn!
Nokka begins to drool as she runs into a flanking position.
bite, flank: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4