Thank you for your aid Sir Dalard. These supplies will likely come in handy. As she looks through the supplies, Melisande casts Read Magic and looks over the scrolls. As an aside to the group: These two are scrolls of Remove Disease. Should we use one of them on Jessup before we go, or hold them in reserve and use one on him if we don't need them in the field?
When we depart:
What? Leeches, eh? We should take them off and save them. You never know when you need to draw blood for one reason or another.
Melisande reaches into her pack and pulls out a small jar. I've finished with this one anyway, but the jars are often useful. Fort:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Remove 2 leeches and place them in her jar.
Fort:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Remove 2 leeches and place them in her jar and close the lid, then will take out her dagger and poke a couple small holes in the top before putting it away, taking out her wand of Infernal Healing and using a charge to heal herself.
Locke notices the pendant but, it could be any fancy pendant to them.
At current time, Locke crouches down, carefully plucking the leeches off their legs, which lack any hair, before rolling back down the legs of their trousers.
Must invest in salt layers on boots, if they crawl all the way up my boots. :P
Nodding towards Dalard, he says “Eagle Knight, I’ve heard good things about that group. Are you still on active duty?”
At Melisandre’s question, Kegan says “If we think he can hold out until we get back I would say wait. We have treated him, at this point there is a chance the fever will break.” He does look towards Locke who did the treatment for his advice on it.
——
When the others find leeches in them, Kegan checks himself. He finds four of them.
Fort:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Stepping away from the rest of you, he gets out a flask of alchemist fire and pours it on himself. The fire does no damage at all to him.
Fire damage:1d6 ⇒ 4
The description is unclear to me. Does that do enough to crisp all of the creatures? Kegan has Resist Fire 5 so he wouldn’t be hurt.
Picking up the fried remains of one of the leeches, he comments “I doubt these are useful any more.”
Realizing that he hasn’t done so yet, he then gets out his wand and uses it.
Use Magic Device:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17 Use Magic Device:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 Lucky Number:1d20 ⇒ 8
Nodding towards Dalard, he says “Eagle Knight, I’ve heard good things about that group. Are you still on active duty?”
Dalard looks quizzical for a moment, then looks down at the pendant. "Ah, that. Found it on the floor of Bloodknuckle's tavern a few weeks ago. Looked nice, so I took it. Do you want it?"
Sense Motive (DC 18):
Dalard seems to not be telling the truth about this for some reason, and appears to not want to disclose his association with the Eagle Knights. His story seems plausible enough that you would need more evidence to actual get the fact behind this thread of thought.
Congratulations, you found the Andoran faction mission...sort of! Rather, you found half of it. Mayhaps you might encounter the rest later...
Kegan wrote:
The description is unclear to me. Does that do enough to crisp all of the creatures? Kegan has Resist Fire 5 so he wouldn’t be hurt.
Area effect damage is enough to get all at once, so this is fine.
NG M Occultist 6 - HP 45/45 - AC 19+4, T 11, FF 18+4 - F+9, R+5, W+7 (+2 vs Ench, +1 vs P,D & [Fire]) - Init: +1 - Perc +13 (LLV), SM +7 - Spell Slots: (1) 1/5, (2) 3/4, Mental Focus: (Trans) 3/6, (Abj) 1/4, (Div) 2/4, (Ill) 2/2 Active Conditions: Shield
Aryxis grimaces a little as he pulls the leeches off his legs. He checks the rest of the team to see if they need a hand while casting a shrewd eye at Dalard. He raises an eyebrow and coughs pointedly after his pronouncement that he doesn’t know what the pendant is. However he is willing to let the matter drop for the time being...
Fort vs Leeches:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22Pull 2 leeches off Fort vs Leeches:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21Pull last leech off plus can help someone else if need be
After the group gets past and deals with the leeches, the path continues for about a mile and a half when it comes to the edge of a shallow bog whose waters rise above the muck...covering the tracks entirely. A patchy film of sickly colored, rubbery fungus floats upon the surface. Near the water’s edge, three moss-covered planks hang cockeyed from a rotten wooden post.
Perception (DC 10):
You notice that there is a straight swath through the floating layer of fungus in the bog in front of you, indicating that someone (or something) relatively recently moved through this area.
Knowledge Nature (DC 11):
You recognize the floating layer of fungus as a local species of shrieker called a 'bog screamer.' The species of fungus will typically emit a loud, piercing sound (e.g. 'screaming') when disturbed. This local variant will also emit a cloud of foul smelling spores that could potentially induce nausea in those who inhale it.
Now for the next challenge! How would the group like to proceed?
[HP: 63/63, AC 20/14/14, F+8/R+11/W+5, CMB +6, CMD 20, Perc. +12, Init +4, Bombs 12/12, Temp HP 0/0]
Auto-pass Kn nature check.
"Huh, would you look at that. This is a sub-species of the shrieker fungus, a bog screamer. If disturbed, it will scream like there is no tomorrow. They also emit a nauseating spore."
Anyone see a way to avoid zat? I would rather not have everything for miles around know we are here.
While there appears to be terrain that is devoid of the fungus, the trail does not appreciably pick up within visible distance, making likelihood high of losing the way to the caves.
Locke wrote:
Kn. Nature to know any measures that prevent the shrieker from sounding alarms?
Means that hide oneself from plants (e.g. hide from plants or similar effects) would do the trick. Avoiding disturbing the fungus or touching it would also prevent it from making noise. Finally, dealing enough area of effect damage before it could react would be an alternative solution.
I don't have any way to circumvent this morass, unfortunately. Perhaps we should send someone or something in to lure it into attacking and kill it from a distance? Spring the trap to our benefit.
Strapping all things secure, "An alternative, i can carry each of you across. But Roshi is too heavy for me."
If you would like to exercise this option and figure out a way to address the Roshi situation, you will be able to bypass the bog screamers. The patch of screamer fungus only appears large enough to fly over with at least 80 feet of movement (the current map is only representative if combat is needed).
Kegan wrote:
Kegan quickly looks around, then asks “Any idea what that would be?”
Perception (Kegan):
Kegan notices there appear to be odd bumps, almost initially just appearing a normal clumps of bog screamer fungus, that seem pointedly out of place now that he is specifically scrutinizing them. He can't quite tell what is hiding beneath, but it is likely that something is concealed from view underneath the surface.
Knowledge Nature (Locke):
You recall that a wide variety of fungal and plant creatures tend to inhabit mossy marshes like this, not just limited to the regional bog screamer. Violet fungi typically co-exist with bog screamers, serving as the plant muscle to attack intruders for the screamers when they are disturbed. Beyond this, your knowledge on this subject is too broad to bring up anything particularly specific for your circumstance with out additional information to narrow things down.
M Ifrit CG Swashbuckler 6 | 52/52 HP| AC 26 Tch 15 Fl 21| CMB +7 CMD 21 | F +5 R +10 W +3 Resist Fire 5 | Init +5 | Perc +9 Darkvision | Speed 60, fly 90 | Panache 4/4 | CL 1/4 | Reroll 0/1 | Lucky Number 17 | Active Conditions: Longarm, Shield, Haste
With a sigh, Kegan says “Well if no one else has one, guess we could feed Roshi my potion of flight. I only have one, so I really hope I will not need it later.”
Does anyone else have a solution? Not sure that it is worth 2 PP to avoid this fight.
The group floats across the marsh, landing past the bog onto solid ground beyond it. They continue onwards for another hour or so before reaching their final destination. Poking up from the murk in front of a crumbling foundation of cobbles, a cracked and faded sign swings upon a moss-covered post. It reads "Barrel-Aging Caves." Within the foundation a pile of debris clogs a 5-foot indent in the ground that looks like an old stairwell. A few feet away, a muddy corpse lies face down in the murk.
Perception DC 12 (Corpse):
The body appears riddled with claw and teeth marks, very similar to those on Jessup's body. You can assume that this individual was killed by ghouls, though you don't spot any in the immediate vicinity.
Perception DC 12 (Stairwell):
You note that the debris clogging the stairwell can be cleared out with enough work, taking approximately 1d4 ⇒ 4 minutes worth of work.
Perception DC 20 (Stairwell):
You note that the debris clogging the stairwell can be cleared out with enough work, taking approximately 4 minutes minutes worth of work. Additionally, with your keen eyes you notice that there appears to be much more precarious debris piled up that meets the eye. You come to the conclusion that the debris in the stairwell is actually a trap that will dump those nearby down the stairwell along with more rocks, objects, and even a corpse you notice pinned beneath the rubble.
[HP: 63/63, AC 20/14/14, F+8/R+11/W+5, CMB +6, CMD 20, Perc. +12, Init +4, Bombs 12/12, Temp HP 0/0]
Take 10 for spoilers.
Heal to determine infection?:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
If the corpse does show sign of the fever, Locke advices to chop off the head.
Locke traces much of the debris as a whole, and when Kegan mentions the short time needed to clear it.
"It would not, no. However, you see that particular set of rocks over there, and those on the right?", *points*, "It looks less like a natural collapse than a set up. This thing was most likely a trap."
*notices another corpse stuck*
"Something that unfortunate did not see."
Body was chewed by ghouls, so will probably rise as one sooner than later. I'm not sure how long that normally takes? Kn(Religion):1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
The stairs look like a previously triggered trap, and there is another behind it. Please stay back while I take a look.
Melisande moves up to see if the rubble in the stairs can be stabilized.
[HP: 63/63, AC 20/14/14, F+8/R+11/W+5, CMB +6, CMD 20, Perc. +12, Init +4, Bombs 12/12, Temp HP 0/0]
Thank you. :)
Locke looks at the others.
"Does one of you have a hand axe or sword on you to remove the head of the corpse? The brain cap as well, just to make sure the severed head itself does not become a problem."
I have only a dagger. Perhaps we should burn the body? Seems more respectful anyway. Some people get upset about mutilating corpses, even when they could be rising as undead. I don't know how much time we have, they generally rise before the following midnight.
She turns back to the trap. Let me try again, I think I've almost got it.Disable Device:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Melisande and Aryxis find a way to excavate the collapse such that it is shored up enough to not collapse in the process. They also quickly learn the body pinned in the rubble is actually...alive! The body starts thrashing around as they move the rubble, but the piled rocks are too stable for it to escape and reach them.
With the previously made checks, it is obvious that the "body" is a ghoul pinned in the rubble. Because it is essentially helpless, a coup de grace or similar action will be enough to get rid of it if desired.
The opening descends into the caves. A sour smell of death leaks through a large, murky limestone cave. Thick shadows splay from the rough, natural columns bracing its low, curved ceiling. Dark waters flood the caves and everywhere rotten casks bob slowly, as slow drips from the ceiling smack the surface with eerie dissonance. The quagmire is waste deep, possible deeper. Deeper in, a cage-like fence of iron divides the caves. In the center of the fence, a barred door hangs bent, partially torn from its hinges. Three humanoid forms, unnaturally moving around the caves in a predatory fashion, look up sharply as the rubble is cleared near the entrance of the cave; their eyes glowing red with hunger as they orient on the Pathfinders!
The water on the map is about 4 feet deep on the deepest part, 2 feet deep for the second gradient.
M Ifrit CG Swashbuckler 6 | 52/52 HP| AC 26 Tch 15 Fl 21| CMB +7 CMD 21 | F +5 R +10 W +3 Resist Fire 5 | Init +5 | Perc +9 Darkvision | Speed 60, fly 90 | Panache 4/4 | CL 1/4 | Reroll 0/1 | Lucky Number 17 | Active Conditions: Longarm, Shield, Haste
Seeing how deep the water is, Kegan asks “Since you can easily fly, do you want to take the lead Locke?”
Am I right to think the deep water would count as deep bog? 4 squares of movement walking, or you swim? Small characters are forced to swim. How is movement handled through the shallower water?
