Gridger, please move your miniature on the board. And yes, you'll get that bonus since Haldoc acts in the same init block as you and thus threatens too.
Noted on the knowledge bit. First time I'm playing a knowledgeable character, so suggestions are welcomed! Otherwise, by default, it would be (1)special defences, (2)special attacks, and (3)special movement.
Hikari mutters a silent prayer of thanks to Shizuru for her blessings. He steps up to the nearest hippogriff, and chops down on it with his katana.
Hikari can't recall anything particularly noteworthy about these magical beasts, save for the obvious: they are quite apt at flying, and will attack their enemies with beak and claws if given the chance.
However, that will never come to pass for the first of them. After dodging Gringer's flanking strike, the creature doesn't see Hikari's katana slicing through the air in a near-perfect arc. The blade delves deep into the hippogriff's back, and severs its spine, ending the creature's life instantly.
Male Half-Elf Unchained Barbarian (Invulnerable Rager) [2.0] | HP 25/25 | AC 16 [14] T 12 FF 14 | Init +4 | Perc +11 | F +5 R +2 W +1 (all +2 vs Enchantments) | CMB +7 CMD 19 | Acro +5 (+9 for jump) Climb +7 Survival +6 Swim +7 SM +1 Rage Rounds 11/11, DR 2 vs non-lethal attacks, DR 1 vs all others
Haldoc, intrigued by his new form, scowls as the enemy grazes his arm. How DARE you draw blood! Haldoc then flies into a rage and attacks the creature!
Please don't move the map. If you do it by mistake, please cancel the move with a Ctrl+Z. Thanks.
Fahr aims and shoot a precise arrows, drawing blood from the hippogriff. Haldoc then unleashes the full potential of his fury, striking a mighty blow that leaves the beast dying on the ground.
End combat.
Janira stops her long-winded narrative as the last of the flying predators is no more. She enthusiastically congratulates you. "Well done, young ones! I see much promise in you as you acted within the intent of the third duty of the Pathfinder. It is good to be able to witness this." says Janira with a happy smile. "Is any of you hurt? How fare you, Haldoc?"
Feel free to respond / interact.
Janira then urges you to move further: "Let's depart at once, we need to reach the caves by dusk to try and see if gillmen enter the cave."
As the group continues to travel through the wilderness, you find trails blocked by fallen objects, shortcuts overgrown, and other minor delays that may cost you some time.
I'll need Survival checks to avoid being slowed in your progression towards the caves, please.
"I've seem to have escaped injury" mutters Gridger as he retrieves his belongings that he drop earlier. While back on the road, he seems distracted, lost in thought. That was a disappointing performance, I need to become better!
Hikari takes stock of the battle as the adrenaline settles down. He looks at his companions, and recaps how the team worked together to put down the threat swiftly. Perhaps this is a worthy group to be part of after all.
For the first time since you've met him, Hikari turns to his party and offers a brief but warm smile, together with a slight bow. "I am indeed honored to be part of such an efficient and effective team."
Some time later...
Much as Hikari attempts to maintain his poise, the trek though the wilderness was tough-going, the terrain and vegetation unfamiliar. Soon, his robes was plastered to his skin, wet with perspiration.
Male LG Human Divine Marksman Ranger/1 - HP 10/10 AC 18/T:15/FF:13 - Perception: +6 - Fort: +2, Ref: +7, Will: +0 - CMB: +1, CMD 16 - Speed 30 ft. - Init. +5
Fahr nods at the comments of efficiency and effectiveness. "Yes, we may yet honor Erastil's ideals of community." He keeps his bow out for the rest of the journey, only stowing it temporarily when necessary to circumvent obstacles.
Male Half-Elf Unchained Barbarian (Invulnerable Rager) [2.0] | HP 25/25 | AC 16 [14] T 12 FF 14 | Init +4 | Perc +11 | F +5 R +2 W +1 (all +2 vs Enchantments) | CMB +7 CMD 19 | Acro +5 (+9 for jump) Climb +7 Survival +6 Swim +7 SM +1 Rage Rounds 11/11, DR 2 vs non-lethal attacks, DR 1 vs all others
Haldoc calms down but needs a moment to recover from the short but effective use of his rage. Nah, I'm a tough guy. A good night of rest is all I need. I can wait until then. Haldoc examines himself further after shrinking back down to normal size. I could get used to that.
Led by Yakari and Grand Aigle, the group finds its way in the forest without trouble as the child's cunning prevents the various overgrown paths and obstacles. The dense forest opens to a wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead.
"Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines," Janira says with a broad smile as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal a narrow crack in the cliff’s surface. "This is where I saw the gillmen enter." As she motions toward the aperture, the surrounding woods come alive with the sound of small animals fleeing some unseen danger and a large creature crashing through the undergrowth.
The halfling worriedly remarks, "Quick, take cover before whatever it is spots us!" As if she’d summoned the creature with her words, a massive horned monstrosity emerges from the trees. Standing eight feet tall on a pair of cloven hooves and wielding a tremendous axe, the bull-headed creature roars with unbridled anger when it spots the group. Wisely assessing that a minotaur is beyond her charges’ capabilities, Janira screams "A minotaur! There’s little chance we can stand against it. Take this bag," she continues, pulling off her backpack, "and head deeper into the caves. Finish your mission. I’ll lead it away from the caves, lose it in the forest, and join you as soon as I can. Now go! GO!" She heaves her backpack into the cave, casts a spell, and darts off toward the minotaur before turning to lure it away.
Human (Shoanti) Bad Boy 2 | Grand Aigle | HP: 21/21| AC: 16 | T: 12 | FF: 14 | CMD: 17 | Fort: +6 | Ref: +6 | Will: +3 | Init: +2 | Perc: +7 | Sense Motive: +6 | Speed 30 ft.
Tracked resources:
Martial Flexibility: 4/4
"Oh, my! Let's rush into the caves! We're no match for you! Well... maybe we're only matches for you, whatever lights your fire!" spits back Yakari at the minotaur, not losing his sense of humour despite the events.
He runs before the party, his roc at his side, and takes Janira's backpack on way. He looks over his shoulder and shouts at the party. "DO NOT LINGER HERE! WE'RE MEANT TO REPORT, EXPLORE AND COOPERATE! FOLLOW ME!"
And survive! I'm too young to die at the hands of a bovine abomination!
Male Human (Mwangi) Wizard (Transmuter) 1 | HP 8/8 | AC: 13 T: 13 FF: 10 CMD: 12 | F+1 R+3 W+2 | Init +6 | Perception +0 |
Yeska's mouth hangs open as Yakari bounds onward. Aroden help us. No strategy, no leadership. He takes out his cold iron dagger, holds it to his side, and follows.
Once out of harms way, Gridger retrieves the lantern from his backpack and lights it. He makes his way through the narrow cracks after Fahr, thinking to himself, hmm, it's as if they were hiding the entrance.
"Yeska, I sure hope you put one of them magic rocks on Yakari" he shouts to the front of the line.
Male Half-Elf Unchained Barbarian (Invulnerable Rager) [2.0] | HP 25/25 | AC 16 [14] T 12 FF 14 | Init +4 | Perc +11 | F +5 R +2 W +1 (all +2 vs Enchantments) | CMB +7 CMD 19 | Acro +5 (+9 for jump) Climb +7 Survival +6 Swim +7 SM +1 Rage Rounds 11/11, DR 2 vs non-lethal attacks, DR 1 vs all others
Haldoc considers chasing after the enemy but sees all of his allies race for the cave instead. Listen to your elders, Haldoc. Do not take matters into your own hands. Haldoc then goes into the cave as well.
With the appearance of the minotaur, Hikari moves to draw his katana but he hesitates upon the instructions of Janira. Much as he yearns to step into the fray to support the halfling, he would not defy a direct command from his superiors. Instead, he turns towards the caves, urging the rest of the team to enter first. "Go, go! I'll hold the rear!"
Once into the cave, barely taking time to catch his breath, Hikari moves to the front. With the darkness of the cave pressing in, he mutters a soft prayer to Shizuru, and suddenly, the medallion hanging from his neck burst into brilliant light.
"I am uncertain what dangers may lie in this caverns. Allow me to guard the front, except at times when others are needed to scout ahead." He then turns to Yakari. "But perhaps we might wish to check through Janira's bag first? There would likely be useful supplies.
Gridger positions himself at the rear of the party, illuminating the shadows behind them with his rusted lantern. Nothing should surprise us now. His free hand grips the handle of his sword as he anticipates an unforeseen threat in cold dark cave.
The hulking minotaur runs after your haflling mentor, enraged by some particularly well-chosen piques about the beast's ascendency being holy in far Vudra. Both Janira and her pursuer quickly disappear in the bushes, leaving you an opportunity to enter the cave.
Your guide left you a backpack filled to the brink with useful items, which are carefully labeled are cleverly-organized within the container.
Contents of Janira's bag:
potion of barkskin, potions of cure light wounds (2), potion of feather step, potion of vanish, scroll of entangle, scroll of gust of wind, scroll of identify, scroll of mage armor (CL 6), scroll of obscuring mist, wand of burning hands (CL 3rd, 4 charges), wand of cure light wounds (CL 3rd, 8 charges), acid, alchemist’s fire (2), holy water, smokestick, tanglefoot bag, thunderstone, antitoxin, sunrods (2)
Assuming we do go through the contents, should we divide them up? Might make more sense if we could easily retrieve the items from our own bags than all scramble to the one bag. I have UMD + 3, so if I'm lucky I may be able to activate the wands.
Male Human (Mwangi) Wizard (Transmuter) 1 | HP 8/8 | AC: 13 T: 13 FF: 10 CMD: 12 | F+1 R+3 W+2 | Init +6 | Perception +0 |
If we can spare any scrolls from immediate use, I'd quite like to add them to my spellbook. Beyond that, I have very little carry capacity and have no UMD. I could probably make use of the potion of vanish, though.
Just a point of rules about spell scribing. It's handled at the start or at the end of the scenario. The interesting thing is that you can use the scrolls during the adventure, and then you can scribe them into your spellbook (provided they appear on the Chronicle Sheet) at the scenario regardless of whether you used them or not.
Last thing, you're more than welcome to do the sharing of the backpack's content IC instead of OOC, it's way more fun and interesting.
I've created a google sheet to track party loot, as per this link.
Loot Comments:
Please correct me if I'm wrong on any of the below.
1. For the benefit of those who are new, we can't carry over items to future scenarios. (You have to buy them at the end of the scenario.) So just feel free to expend them during this one. :) No need to hoard.
2. The following items can only be used by Yeska in the party, so I suggest to be carried by him: scroll of gust of wind, scroll of identify, scroll of mage armor (CL 6), scroll of obscuring mist, wand of burning hands (CL 3rd, 4 charges). Yeska, you might want to cast the scroll of mage armor now - it would last 6 hours. Certainly, others with good UMD might wish to hold on to them instead, though.
3. Only Hikari can use the wand of cure light wounds (CL 3rd, 8 charges) without UMD, so he'll hold on to that.
4. potion of barkskin, potions of cure light wounds (2): Suggest the frontline fighters hold onto to this. Hikari won't claim though. He's got good AC already, and he's got the wand of CLW already.
5. potion of feather step: Suggest someone who currently has good mobility already (i.e. not Hikari), and probably heavy hitter. To quickly get to somewhere quickly if the rest are hampered by difficult terrain.
6. potion of vanish: Not certain of the utility of this as it last only 1 round. I think the rogue can't even use this to set up a sneak attack, cos it takes one action to drink the potion? (I could be wrong.) Probably most useful thus for someone to retreat.
7. scroll on entangle: I think no one can use this without UMD. Fahr doesn't have spellcasting levels yet.
8. sunrods: Those without personal light sources.
9. all the alchemical items: Would suggest those without alchemist fire to have one, in case of swarm attacks. For the rest, suggest non-frontline fighters with good Dex to take them so that you have more options. (Instead of the frontline fighters like Hikari who would just walk up and start hacking away!)
Hikari pulls the wand of cure light wounds from Janira's bag, and declares, "If there are no objections, allow me to hold on to this on the party's behalf, to be used on anyone with healing needs. Otherwise, I have little need for the rest, so please use them to your best advantage."
With that he steps back, and keeps watch of the surroundings while the rest of the party goes through the items.
This would be good, this probably useful, I'd probably should hold on to this just in case...
Gridger starts to put some of the contents into his bag without feigns ignorance as the rest of the party gives him some odd stares.
Wish I'd remembered that sleight of hand trick right now, just hope no one says anything.
Male Half-Elf Unchained Barbarian (Invulnerable Rager) [2.0] | HP 25/25 | AC 16 [14] T 12 FF 14 | Init +4 | Perc +11 | F +5 R +2 W +1 (all +2 vs Enchantments) | CMB +7 CMD 19 | Acro +5 (+9 for jump) Climb +7 Survival +6 Swim +7 SM +1 Rage Rounds 11/11, DR 2 vs non-lethal attacks, DR 1 vs all others
That barkskin potion could come in handy for me at a later time. The rest of it you can do what you like.
Hikari has cast light already. :) (Think Grdger also lit his lantern.) He'll take the front to light the way, except when the party wants to send someone ahead to scout.
Hesitant towards any form of confrontation against his allies, Gridger unwillingly passes the potion of barkskin to Haldoc. He then brings himself to move forward with the rest while swiping an alchemist fire out of the somewhat empty haversack.
Bambang gathers up the remaining items into his backpack. "I'll carry these. Let me know if you have need of them as we progress."
Turning to face down the passageway, he utters a prayer to Shizuru under his breath to grant protection to Janira for her brave deeds, and to call blessings on the party. With that done, he proceeds down the passage with his katana drawn, leading the way.
Male Half-Elf Unchained Barbarian (Invulnerable Rager) [2.0] | HP 25/25 | AC 16 [14] T 12 FF 14 | Init +4 | Perc +11 | F +5 R +2 W +1 (all +2 vs Enchantments) | CMB +7 CMD 19 | Acro +5 (+9 for jump) Climb +7 Survival +6 Swim +7 SM +1 Rage Rounds 11/11, DR 2 vs non-lethal attacks, DR 1 vs all others
Haldoc will go near the front so he can react to any danger lurking in the caves.
Very good idea to create that loot doc! I've added a link in the campaign header.
As you enter the cave, the narrow tunnel twists and turns for several hundred feet before slowly opening to a wider passage. A large hole spans the cave’s width and stretches ten feet down the path. At the bottom of the pit lies a small bundle of cloth. The tunnel here is 10 feet wide and 10 feet tall with a ceiling mostly devoid of stalactites.
Knowledge (Dungeoneering) or Survival DC 10:
You determine that the hole in the ground is artificial.
Human (Shoanti) Bad Boy 2 | Grand Aigle | HP: 21/21| AC: 16 | T: 12 | FF: 14 | CMD: 17 | Fort: +6 | Ref: +6 | Will: +3 | Init: +2 | Perc: +7 | Sense Motive: +6 | Speed 30 ft.
Tracked resources:
Martial Flexibility: 4/4
Survival:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Yakari, used to traps and survival, immediately notices some unusual things about the hole. "It's artificial. And a year old, I say. Who wants to go down and take a look at that bundle of cloth?"
Hikari nods at Yakari's assessment of the hole, and he ponders on the purpose of it. Perhaps to delay escape?
Pushing the thought aside for now, he turns to regard Yakari briefly, before suggesting, "Would your avian companion, Grand Aigle, be able to fly down to retrieve it?
Handle Animal rules reference - The DC to "push" an animal, i.e. to ask him to do something he isn't trained for (in this case, Fetch), is 25. The DC 15 related to the Fetch trick is the DC associated with teaching that trick to your animal companion.
Grand Aigle blinks at Yakari but doesn't move, not understanding what he's asked to do.
That being said, since retries are allowed and there's no penalty for failure, you could take 20 if you wished to take the time (i.e. the time necessary to accomplish the action twenty times).
Yakari sits in front of Grand Aigle and takes a great deal of time to patiently explain what he expects of his totem. While the roc doesn't seem to understand at first, the young boy grabs a pebble from the ground, presents it to Grand Aigle, and tosses it away for the roc to fetch. In time, the avian gets the pebble, and eventually the bundle of cloth, which turns out to be a cloak of some kind.
Just to make sure we're clear: the path doesn't end with the 10 feet pit, it continues on the other side. The pit is 20 feet deep.
Male Human (Mwangi) Wizard (Transmuter) 1 | HP 8/8 | AC: 13 T: 13 FF: 10 CMD: 12 | F+1 R+3 W+2 | Init +6 | Perception +0 |
"I'll take a look." Yeska orients himself toward the cloak and focuses a few moments. After an awkward length of time, he slowly turns in a circle. His face wrinkles up as he turns to face the party.
Using detect magic. After reaching the full three rounds, I'm going to slowly turn to have the cone cover 360 degrees from the party's location.
Male Half-Elf Unchained Barbarian (Invulnerable Rager) [2.0] | HP 25/25 | AC 16 [14] T 12 FF 14 | Init +4 | Perc +11 | F +5 R +2 W +1 (all +2 vs Enchantments) | CMB +7 CMD 19 | Acro +5 (+9 for jump) Climb +7 Survival +6 Swim +7 SM +1 Rage Rounds 11/11, DR 2 vs non-lethal attacks, DR 1 vs all others
The next task is to get across the pit. If its man-made, perhaps there is a plank or something else we can use to act as a bridge nearby? Haldoc looks around for just such a thing.
