PFS No Response from Deepmar (Inactive)

Game Master Nefreet

Ha! Ninja'd me by 12 seconds.

Grimdoc will point to the man and shrug.

"Poor chap looks lost.

Grimdoc will start walking towards the wanderer. At 40' away (if not stopped sooner or preempted by others actions) he will call out.

"Hail and well met, friend. Come tell us your story."

After your first 20ft he catches sight of you heading towards him.

After your next 20ft he freezes and lets out a surprised "Gah!"

When you continue further he drops the badger, two-hands his spear, and takes off running in the opposite direction.

He's screaming nonsensically at the top of his lungs.

"He seemed nice." Marcel says, watching the man run off into the distance.

Calistan taps Grimdoc on the shoulder and points to his own ears with a quizzical look.

What would you guys like to do? Your options are:

1) Chase after him.
2) Track him.
3) Continue to the penal colony.
4) Go somewhere else.
5) <insert idea here>

He may have info which we could use... .

Grimdoc starts after the man...
"Hey there. Wait. We are here to help. What's your name again? Are you from the colony? ."

If he thinks an extra burst of speed will help, he will expeditious retreat after him.

If your base speed is 20ft (I don't see it in your header) you'll need Expeditious Retreat to catch up. He's Human, and unimpeded, so his base speed is 30ft (120ft running). The spell would put you 20ft faster (200ft running; unless you're in heavy armor, which would put you at 150ft running). You'd catch up in...

Starting distance between you and he: 110ft
He runs 120ft, you cast and move 50ft: 180ft
He runs 120ft, you run 200ft: 100ft difference.
He runs 120ft, you run 200ft: 20ft difference.

...3 rounds, but you'd be alone with him for a few rounds until your party caught up.

I'm heading to bed early tonight. I'll wait for a couple more people to post and I'll update tomorrow afternoon.

As everyone begins to chase after the man, Calistan frustratedly follows as he cannot read anyone's lips to figure out what the man said or what is going on.

Hindered by the armor that keeps him safe, Calistan quickly falls behind the rest of the party, especially once Grimdoc puts on the after-burners.

Grimdoc will hustle expeditiously in his heavy armor while trying to catch the fleeing man.
He is assuming his party will keep up (or arrive shortly behind him). He waves his arm to Cal to follow.

To no one in particular...

Hah - see if you can flee this old dwarf will ya? Hufff...huff...I am faster than I look...hufff...
and do not even ask about my cat-like agility!
HAHHA...huff...pufff ...HAHH."

Samuel equally gives chase, clearly slowed by his armor and selection of weapons.

"Get after him Grim, but be safe about it!"

I tried uploading the image for this map this morning and Google Slides kept asking if I had permission. I've never encountered that before. I'm heading out the door for work, but will probably have time to update in 8-9 hours. I'll just use a generic map if I have to.

Starting distance apart: 110ft
Every round the Human runs 120ft

ROUND 1:
Grimdoc casts and moves 50ft (now 180ft behind)
Calistan runs 60ft (now 170ft behind)
Samuel and Marcèl run 120ft (maintaining 110ft behind)

ROUND 2:
Grimdoc runs 150ft (now 150ft behind)
Calistan runs 60ft (now 230ft behind)

ROUND 3:
Grimdoc runs 150ft (now 120ft behind)
Calistan runs 60ft (now 290ft behind)
* Calistan's Life Link is severed from the party

ROUND 4:
Grimdoc runs 150ft (now 90ft behind)
Calistan runs 60ft (now 350ft behind)

ROUND 5:
Grimdoc runs 150ft (now 60ft behind)
Calistan runs 60ft (now 410ft behind)

ROUND 6:
Grimdoc runs 150ft (now 30ft behind)
Calistan runs 60ft (now 470ft behind)

ROUND 7: Map is uploaded and linked in header.

The man whirls around as Grimdoc reaches within 30ft. You've reached a barren wasteland of an area that has been made muddy from the rains (black areas are difficult terrain)

Up close you can see he is rail thin, disheveled, and reeks terribly. He wears a stone dagger at his hip, ragged leather armor, a pouch bursting with weeds, and a spear that is dripping with some black substance.

He screams, "Yaa an't gern tik meh aliv, bonte hintrs!"

ROUND 7 (BOLD may post!)
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Marcèl, Grimdoc, Blue Eyes, Samuel

Grimdoc huffs and puffs and stops to call out to the man st 30'

What? We ain't no bounty hunters gaffer! We be Pathfinders here to help ya. We have a healer if you gots diseases...not sure we can do much fer the smell or fleas though. Right guys? Um guys?

Grim keeps his lucern in one hand but ready to swing if attacked. He swiftly says a prayer to call upon Erastil's judgement of protection (+3 saves this round) and waits for the man's reaction.

I get the feeling I am going to regret this...

"Yaa an't gern laya fingr onma flees neetha!"

ROUND 7 (BOLD may post!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Grimdoc (readied), Marcèl, Blue Eyes, Samuel

Calistan watches the group easily outpace him and the heavily armored man puffs along silently, growing more tired with each step.

Just one more level and you can cast Blessing of Fervor!

I know! Excitement! Also, roleplaying a mute/deaf person is very hard sometimes.

You know, I just realized something. Shouldn't your Initiative modifier be -10 instead of -5? You're not proficient in Heavy Armor. My Dual-Cursed Life Oracle has something like a -6 for the same reason.

I only noticed what you were wearing just now while trying to figure out everyone's movement speeds.

I don't think so. "A character who is wearing armor with which he is not proficient applies its armor check penalty to attack rolls and to all skill checks that involve moving." Initiative checks aren't skill checks or attack rolls, so you wouldn't apply the ACP to it, unless you mean something else.

Where is that quote from?

This thread has a different quote.

I can't recall where I first read it myself. Makes me wonder which version is the most up to date.

We can keep it -5 for this game. Might be good to research for sure going forward. My Oracle wants to go last in combat! Lol

I found that quote here. Under the Armor Proficiency, Light text.

Nice. Completely different from another section of the same book.

Add that to the long list of possible table variation out there =\

Marcel runs closer, closing the gap between him and the dwarf.

The Human narrows his blue eyes at the Dwarf, seeing him readying to swing.

"Lesse howdat der fonce futwrk sav'ya frm dis!"

He advances 10ft forward and throws his spear at Grimdoc.

Thrown Spear: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Fort DC 13 or take: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Con damage

He hoots and hollers as the spear finds purchase, and seems oblivious to the fact that he is currently unarmed...

ROUND 7 (BOLD may post!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Grimdoc, Marcèl, Blue Eyes, Samuel

...then, after Samuel...

ROUND 8 (BOLD may post!)
-------------------------------------------------------------------
Grimdoc, Marcèl, Blue Eyes, Samuel

"Ow-- Hey, what are you nuts old man? What are you trying to do? Poison me? ."

Fort , hero, hardy: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 + 2 = 22

Samuel continues a tactical advance, keen to support his allies but careful not to leave himself vulnerable for any kind of unsprung trap.

Double move forward.

The man's excited look fades as Grimdoc seems unaffected by the blow.

"Grrdam it! Fan, keep der drn shper, yaa stel an't gern tik meh aliv!"

It looks like he's about to run for it again.

ROUND 8 (BOLD may post!)
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Grimdoc, Marcèl, Blue Eyes, Samuel

The mute man huffs and puffs pretty hard as he finally sees Grimdoc get lanced by what appears to be some sort of javelin as he crests the hill.

He grimaces as he bends over, hands on knees, trying to catch his breath. After a few seconds, he starts his slow jog again, baking under the sun in the full plate.

Grimdoc , knowing he cannot catch the man again, will move up within 10' and try to trip him.

"Oh no you don't ."

switching judgement to attack. Do not have improved trip so if miss I guess will
Have chance to counter trip? .

+1 lucern Trip, judgement : 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 1 + 3 = 26 vs CMD

With Grimdoc moving to trip the man, Marcèl charges into him, hoping to subdue him.

+1 Answering Aldori;Charge;Nonlethal: 1d20 + 17 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 17 + 2 - 4 = 351d8 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
confirm: 1d20 + 17 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 17 + 2 - 4 = 311d8 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

The Human falls HARD and is subsequently IMPALED by Marcèl. Threatened by two opponents, and prone, and practically bloodied, he holds up his hands in surrender. (total defense)

"Gah! Aiight! Aight! I giv! I GIV!"

He starts weeping, and curls up into a fetal position.

COMBAT OVER

Grim lowers his weapon and gives the man a cross look.

"Now that's better. Let's start with who you are. I ain't exactly fond of having no spears chucked at me. ."

The man looks surprised at the question. He somewhat lowers his hands, and some of the sobbing stops.

"Ya men, ya drn't kna h'am? Ya an't bin hnt'n me?"

He looks back and forth between the two men. When Samuel joins the rest of the group, the man sits up. When Calistan joins, the man's tears have mostly stopped.

"Uh... nam's Tammarak. H'r you?"

As the five of you catch your breath you notice that this muddy field may be a huge source of the mosquitoes you've been bothered by. Your sweat seems to attract them all the more vociferously.

Each of you are painfully bitten by (and subsequently smack away) a # of mosquitoes as you talk to Tammarak...

Calistan: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Grimdoc: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Marcèl: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Samuel: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Tammarak: 1d4 ⇒ 2

"Blasted bugs! They're enough to drive someone mad! ."

Grimdoc says as he tries to slap them...then realizing this man may have been some sort of escaped convict.

"How long have you been out here? And do you know anything about what happened at the colony? ."

Tammarak twitches.

"Tha cl'ny... Ya, iv'n out 'ere a gud whil... Tha cl'ny..."

His bright blue eyes light up.

"By Asmo'dus, tha cl'ny! An't nubdy ther! I'ma freem'n! Ha! Haha! Hahahaha!!"

He stands up, brushing himself off (though he's still quite dirty). He looks relieved, and for the first time, he smiles.

"Ya, gav'm tha slip cpl yers'go dur'n a cav'n. Bin hid'n since. An if'n ye an't bonty hunt'rs, then I'msa freem'n! Haha!"

And then his smile fades.

"Ya gotta git'ma off'n this i'lnd! It's cursed! Shadows wa'k tha nite! All tha min'rs ternta darkness! Ya cun onla go out durin tha day! Pleez, ya gotta helpma!"

He steps up to Grimdoc, grabbing your shirt front. His bright blue eyes look wild and full of fright.

"ok ok slow down partner. No we ain't bounty hunters. We will help you. But first we gotta figure out what's happening and then we can sets things right. ."

"We will help you."

At the sound of those words he lets out another hoot and his smile returns.

"But first we gotta figure out what's happening and then we can sets things right."

"Aight, far trade. I thnk it'sa bin... two... ya, two yers since I fecked ma deth. Ya, two yers..."

He's counting on his fingers and tapping at the air as he does so.

"Men they had'mat was Fleg'thon. I 'erd tha cav'n tha covr'd ma escap was caused bah sum big 'ol aps. Gess'n I owe'm, eh? Heh, heh."

"Diz, Arabus, and Avrnus an't bin mend'n yers. An't nuth'n goin' on der but sealed up holes. Cows bin grazin'er, but they'll up an' died bout munth'go. Sam time cl'ny went silent..."

"An't a sole bin movin' round on da roads. I was juz feelin' safe'nuff when I ran across ya lot. Gave me'a scar, ya did. Heh. Roads pretta safe'n, espeshly from them wulfs an' aps. They dun't go near da roads. Probly usta menners goin' back'n forth."

"Bout few days'go, tho, I seen sumthin. Tracks. Bare'fut. Headin' back to tha cl'ny. Onda road. I thot it be them spirits o' tha dead, so I an't goin' back ther. Not if'n my life dep'nds on't."

His gaze drifts over to the mountains in the north.

"Rather get eaten by that ther dragon up'n them hills than ma sole taken inda night..."

Well, thats quite a tale. Sounds like we need to find where those tracks originated. Which mines were most recently active?

tracks survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

"Nah dat der rain lest nite probly warshed away dem tracks. An' b'sides, it wun't 'round this road. West road."

Tammarak stretches and swats away a few mosquitoes. Absentmindedly he grins as he looks at one that got squashed in his hand.

"Heh. Nat as bad as dem wit yeller wings."

"Mens? Yaa, an't more'n two probly workin. Well, an't none of'm bin workin fer tha lest munth. Heh. Gah! An' dem minin dogs. Tha ones wit ate legs. They bin roamin' 'round tha woods lately. Awful nasty. Besta clim a tree if'n ya come across one o' dem."

"But tha lest two they're diggin' in were Stygia an' Caina. Talk was dat after them two they're gonna close down tha whole i'land, unless they found sumthin real gud."

"Stygia o'er der in tha far west. Caina up der in tha far north. Always did worr' that dem der dragon gonna fly down an' burn us all aliv. Ne'er did. Rumor was he's more a trickster, but I an't takin' ma chances."

You hear gurgling sounds coming from his midsection.

"Say... Men if I go get ma badger? I bin diggin' 'im out fer a gud couple days... an' I'm mighty hangry..."

He smacks another mosquito on the back of his neck.

Let me know if you can't follow any of his gibberish =)

I may need a translator for some of it. Seems like 3 mines inactive. Dis, Avernus, Erberus? And Stygia and Caina were last. Not sure how far the barefoot tracks were from where we are now, but that was Grimdoc's roll to try and trace those back to source. Can he tell if they were ape tracks or something else? Not sure what dragon he was talking about - but I am hoping that is the mind-disease hallucinating. :-)

The tracks aren't on the road that you're on now, he saw them northwest of the colony, leading towards the colony. Barefoot human-sized tracks, that by now have been washed away.

He's talking about a dragon somewhere in the mountains to the north. There was also an icon of a winged lizard on the wall map you found in the Captain's quarters.

Only Stygia and Caina were recently active, and he didn't work at either. The whole mining operation would have likely dried up if nothing more was found at either site, which implies that these mines might go rather deep.

Samuel catches up and listens intently to the strangers, try to make out which he is saying through the mispronounced language. Growing more frustated with the local insects, he seems keen to get a move on.

"I suggest we head to the west, the quicker the better."

*pant pant*

Calistan huffs up to the party and bends over, nearly toppling from exhaustion. His breathing is labored as he waves you on, knowing that you are deciding on your next course of action.

*pant*

Looking at the island overview map, you're pretty much right where the word "Avernus" is at the moment. Following the road south and west will place you at the colony by nightfall. Going straight west is an option, but would take you through the forest and would likely be a longer journey than just sticking to the road. I assume you're sticking to the road?

Tammarak's eyes go wild as you start back on your trek.

"Ay now, I an't gunna go wit'ya back der. An't turnin' ta shadow, so siree. If'n ya dun't mend, I'ma wait by tha beach. I'll keep an' eye out fer ya."

If nobody stops him he starts heading in the direction of his dropped badger.

Not sure we have much more we can get from him. I would say we stick to the roads. Question is whether to head back to colony or one of the mines to the north. Stygia or Caina

"Well, we gotta finds the source of this and the other miners, so if you ain't coming with us to the colony or to the mines, then you wait on the beach.
When we call, you come to us and don't make us chase you next time, got it? You ain't off the hook yet."

Grimdoc looks to the others and points north or south and shrugs to Cal, assuming the mute was able to follow some of the conversation. Grim is leaning towards the mines, but if we need supplies, is fine going back.

"Oh yaa, an' dun't git run over by none o' them rogue mining machines....!"