Male Human Pistolero 1 / Rogue 1 / Preacher 3 (HP: 40/40 | AC:22 (24 vs evil creatures) T:15 FF:18 | CMB:+3 CMD:17 | Saves F:+7 R:+9 W:+6 (+2 bonus for all vs evil creatures) | Init:+10 | Per:+12 | Speed 30ft) 5.2
Sorry GM, still kinda new to pbp. Have uploaded all my relevant info.
Was previously wondering how do people keep track of all the stats and inventory. Learning something new everyday.
Ravenor fires his pistol at the bug. Although the bullet doesn't seem to do much against it, the added grit that Ravener put towards the shot appears to have killed it.
Janira looks most impressed by the group." My you were able to take care of that no problem. We must however pack up and move on in order to reach the caves by dusk. I strongly believes that if we don’t reach the caves tonight, any gillmen who are present may leave before they arrive."
As the group continues to travel through the wilderness, the group find trails blocked by fallen objects, shortcuts overgrown, and other paths. You work on finding your way without distractions.
Please give me a survival check if you have the skills
Putting his blade back into its holster, Ziggy looks about and finds a trail heading further into the mountains. "I think this may be where we need to go Miss Janira."
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.
Gilli lunges for the pack and lifts it, standing just inside the shadows of the cave, waiting for the others to join him. "I hope she's gonna be okay."
Male Wayang Aerokineticist 4 | 34/39 HP {8 NL}; AC 18(T:15/ F:15) F+8/R+7/W+1 ; Init +5; Perception +9 (darkvision 60 ft.) | 20% (or better) miss chance from physical ranged attacks
"She better lead it away. The thought of being stuck in a cave with a minotaur is less that appealing. Let's get a move on." Wisp walks up to the cave. "Perhaps I should take a look?" Disappearing into the shadows, the wayang skulks into the cave. About 40' or so.
Male Human Pistolero 1 / Rogue 1 / Preacher 3 (HP: 40/40 | AC:22 (24 vs evil creatures) T:15 FF:18 | CMB:+3 CMD:17 | Saves F:+7 R:+9 W:+6 (+2 bonus for all vs evil creatures) | Init:+10 | Per:+12 | Speed 30ft) 5.2
Gillii wrote:
Ravenor, with 18 dex and reactionary trait, shouldn't your init be +6, not +4?
Good spot Gillii, just spotted the mistake and fixed it. Thanks. =)
Ravenor is clearly torn between going to Janira's aid, and staying together with the group. He hesitates for a moment before deciding to trust in Janira's abilities and tears himself away to join the others at the cave.
Upon reaching the mouth of the cave, Ravenor hears Wisp's callous words and with stares with cold disapproval as he disappears into the caves. "Boy needs to learn some respect." Ravenor mutters to himself as he pats through his vest to fish out an ellipsoid stone. He releases the stone and it hovers around his head, emitting a light akin to a torch. Ravenor turns to the others "Let's go."
Male Dwarf Cleric 1 | AC 20/12/16 | HP 10/10 | F +5, R +4, W +6 (+3 vs. poison, spells, and SLAs) | CMB +0, CMD 12 (+4 vs Bull Rush and Trip) | Init +2 | Perc +8
"If she says so, I suppose," Constantine shrugs, following the others. "She seems a good agent, she'll be okay."
Already, however, the dwarf's eyes are scouting the cavern for new threats.
Water dripping from stalactites and the distant rushing of underground streams creates an eerie backdrop as you explore. The caves’ walls are patterned with blue-green luminescent fungi that provide dim light. Petroglyphs—most depicting marine animals or spiral shapes—periodically decorate the tunnels’ walls, becoming increasingly frequent the deeper you move into the caves. The rough surface of the carvings provides a natural platform for the fungi, causing it to grow thicker and making the carvings glow slightly brighter than their surroundings.
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.
Knowledge (dungeoneering) or Survival check DC 10:
the hole in the ground is artificial
Knowledge (dungeoneering) or Survival check DC 15:
Once safely inside the cave, Ziggy pulls out a torch and lights it after a couple of tries with his flint and steel. Holding up the torch, and crawling towards the edge, the human looks down and nods towards the others. "This pit, it isn't natural, but it's also not new. Seems to be about a year old. I can easily climb down and grab the cloth though. Just need to hook my grappling hook on something, and someone bold my torch."
Wedging the grappling hook and tying his rope in knots (50 ft knotted), he climbs down and takes the rags at the bottom of the shaft before returning to every one.
Survival:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Climb: take 10 on knotted rope:10 + 4 = 14
Female Human Chaokineticist 1 | HP 15/15 (0) | Burn 0 | AC 15, T 13 , FF 12 | F +6, R +5, W +3 | Init +3 | Perc +5 | Soul Drinker 1/1
"Gravity is a simple thing to influence, once you understand the nature of the Void" The dust at Aoife's feet begins to float a few inches of the ground as she leaps across the pit, nearly hovering as she loosens the bonds of gravity.
Basic Chaokinesis to get a +4 bonus to Acrobatics checks to jump. Anyone else that wants it can have it too. Acrobatics:10 + 11 = 21
Male Dwarf Cleric 1 | AC 20/12/16 | HP 10/10 | F +5, R +4, W +6 (+3 vs. poison, spells, and SLAs) | CMB +0, CMD 12 (+4 vs Bull Rush and Trip) | Init +2 | Perc +8
"Thank you, that would be welcome." Constantine does his best to imitate the movement, as, a bit unnerved, he floats over the pit despite his scale mail.
Male Human Pistolero 1 / Rogue 1 / Preacher 3 (HP: 40/40 | AC:22 (24 vs evil creatures) T:15 FF:18 | CMB:+3 CMD:17 | Saves F:+7 R:+9 W:+6 (+2 bonus for all vs evil creatures) | Init:+10 | Per:+12 | Speed 30ft) 5.2
As Ravenor walks with the others further into the cave, he takes in the petroglyphs, occasionally running his fingers through some of the carvings. These carvings...wonder who took the time to carve these shapes into the wall. Can't have been easy. And the fungi...is it merely a happy coincidence or did someone cultivate it?
Upon reaching the pit, whilst Ziggy descends down the pit to retrieve the bundle of cloth, Ravenor takes a few steps back and makes a running jump across it, aided by Aoife's manipulation of gravity.
Acrobatics:1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 4 = 25
Upon landing, he nods his thanks to Aoife and takes in his surroundings "If the gillmen were using this cave, there must have been an easier way for them to cross that pit. I'll look around."
With all the skills of the new Pathfinders that they are, the group easily maneuvers over through and around the pit. Ziggy explored the bottom, and takes the cloth with him. On the other side of the pit, around a corner, Ravener finds a sturdy plank that looks like it has been used before to cross the pit.
The tunnels continue on, leading deeper beneath the Kortos Mounts until they eventually open into a large cavern. What must have once been beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls. The carvings here are different in style from the petroglyphs found elsewhere in the caves. Only four of these parables are still decipherable.
Knowledge (history or religion) or Linguistics check is needed to understand one carved section. Alternatively, Appraise or Perception may be made as well with a –2 penalty.
not sure I understand - you said there were 4 sections and it would take a knowledge roll to understand one of them... do I then roll 4 times, once for each section, or just once for all 4?
Ziggy, keeping his torch out studies the carvings in the flickering light. Fingers tracing the images and muttering to himself his eyes widen slightly before he props up the torch and sets down his backpack. Ruffling through the contents, the man pulls out the paper that Janira had given the group, and starts to take notes of the site.
I think the above 20 Linguistics may hold key to something. Yay smart fighters!
Male Dwarf Cleric 1 | AC 20/12/16 | HP 10/10 | F +5, R +4, W +6 (+3 vs. poison, spells, and SLAs) | CMB +0, CMD 12 (+4 vs Bull Rush and Trip) | Init +2 | Perc +8
Constantine thinks back to what he has learned at temple.
Male Human Pistolero 1 / Rogue 1 / Preacher 3 (HP: 40/40 | AC:22 (24 vs evil creatures) T:15 FF:18 | CMB:+3 CMD:17 | Saves F:+7 R:+9 W:+6 (+2 bonus for all vs evil creatures) | Init:+10 | Per:+12 | Speed 30ft) 5.2
Ravenor fails to recall any historical lore regarding the 1st carving. He stares at it hoping to glean some insight before turning his attention to the other 3 carvings.
1st carving perception:1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 2 = 11
Okay so this is my interpretation. Everyone can roll once for every skill check, but not for every picture. For those of you have have rolled four times, I'm going to take your first roll. I'll update this section a little later. I should have been more clear at the beginning, but you guys are doing great!
Ziggy appears to have a sense from his significant studies on linguistics that he recognizes, and easily interprets all four of the Carvings. Wisp also seems to understand the first one, and Gilli the fourth one.
GM rolls:
4d12 ⇒ (8, 3, 7, 2) = 20
Carving #1:
The Beggar is depicted kneeling with an alms bowl raised high, representing Aroden espousing humility in all, lest they forget their shared humanity.
Carving #2:
The Craftsman is depicted creating shoes, pots, jewelry, and other moveable goods, referencing Arden’s delight at seeing his people express their ingenuity in creating new products from raw materials.
Carving #3:
The Merchant is depicted weighing and trading coins of different sizes, a reference to the holy text’s proverb that peace brings trade and prosperity to all people.
Carving #4:
The Scholar is depicted writing on a piece of parchment and then reading from it to passersby, just as Arden was said to smile on those who recorded history and other knowledge to share it with others.
Male Wayang Aerokineticist 4 | 34/39 HP {8 NL}; AC 18(T:15/ F:15) F+8/R+7/W+1 ; Init +5; Perception +9 (darkvision 60 ft.) | 20% (or better) miss chance from physical ranged attacks
"Well, this is definitely a find. Anyone mind if I take a rubbing?" Without really waiting, the wayang takes off his backpack and begins to remove some equipment.
As the group continues to move through the cavern, the soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west. Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama,
and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.
Here the cavern’s ceiling stretches 20 feet overhead and is crowded by dozens of stalactites, some measuring 10 feet long from base to tip. Despite the impressive geology, the cave’s focus is the sloping, 15-foot-deep pool and its tiny city.
Kneeling in the water is a lone gillmam.
Please feel free to make a Knowledge (engineering, geography, history, local, or religion) check
Male Human Pistolero 1 / Rogue 1 / Preacher 3 (HP: 40/40 | AC:22 (24 vs evil creatures) T:15 FF:18 | CMB:+3 CMD:17 | Saves F:+7 R:+9 W:+6 (+2 bonus for all vs evil creatures) | Init:+10 | Per:+12 | Speed 30ft) 5.2
Ravenor looks around the cavern, taking in the miniature city and trinkets.
Knowledge History:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
He then calls out in greeting to the kneeling gillman "Ho there, stranger. We mean you no harm and are merely exploring the caves." Diplomacy:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
"Hello, cousin," Gillii says without knowing if the gillmen are actually in any way related to undines. "My friend here is right, we have come to explore and learn only... please don't be afraid. We mean you no harm... Can you tell me what this model city is please? I'm afraid I don't recognize it's function."
he will repeat Ravenor's words in Aquan, as well as his own if the Gillman looks uncomprehending.
Male Dwarf Cleric 1 | AC 20/12/16 | HP 10/10 | F +5, R +4, W +6 (+3 vs. poison, spells, and SLAs) | CMB +0, CMD 12 (+4 vs Bull Rush and Trip) | Init +2 | Perc +8
His compatriots having said what he would have, Constantine takes the time to further write his letter and look about at the strange place and its implications.
Sorry about my lack of posts. I've been hit with a bug that's had me in bed for the past few days.
Knowledge Local:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Ziggy looks at the cavern while explaining his finds with the carvings, "The carvings, they seem to be ancient telling stories of Aroden, specifically The Beggar, The Craftsman, The Merchant, and The Scholar. The verbiage seems to be a bit different than what may be taught as well, as I don't fully understand the words being used. I think I have the gist of each story though. The Beggar is depicted kneeling with an alms bowl raised high, representing Aroden espousing humility in all, lest they forget their shared humanity. The Craftsman is depicted creating shoes, pots, jewelry, and other moveable goods, referencing Arden’s delight at seeing his people express their ingenuity in creating new products from raw materials. The Merchant is depicted weighing and trading coins of different sizes, a reference to the holy text’s proverb that peace brings trade and prosperity to all people. The Scholar is depicted writing on a piece of parchment and then reading from it to passersby, just as Arden was said to smile on those who recorded history and other knowledge to share it with others." As he explains, he notices the creature in the pool in front of the group, and keeps a hand ready on his dagger.
Even from this distance, you are able to identify the diorama as an intricately detailed model of Absalo. The gillman is sitting at the edge of the water facing the small city, and does not notice you. Both Ravenor, and Gillii call out to the stranger, but he doesn't seem to respond at all. It's almost as if he can't hear you.
Male Human Pistolero 1 / Rogue 1 / Preacher 3 (HP: 40/40 | AC:22 (24 vs evil creatures) T:15 FF:18 | CMB:+3 CMD:17 | Saves F:+7 R:+9 W:+6 (+2 bonus for all vs evil creatures) | Init:+10 | Per:+12 | Speed 30ft) 5.2
Ravenor nods his thanks to Ziggy as Ziggy elaborates on the carvings "I wonder what is the significance of those carvings and the miniature city...mayhaps there is a link between the two..." Ravenor murmurs to himself. He whispers to the others "The gillman appears to not have heard us. Should we be intruding on his meditations?"
Ravener and Wisp seem interested in the gillman. The notice that he is looking intently at the miniature its, and seems to be either gathering his thoughts, or prayer. What you do notice is that he does not seem to even know that you are there.
Male Human Pistolero 1 / Rogue 1 / Preacher 3 (HP: 40/40 | AC:22 (24 vs evil creatures) T:15 FF:18 | CMB:+3 CMD:17 | Saves F:+7 R:+9 W:+6 (+2 bonus for all vs evil creatures) | Init:+10 | Per:+12 | Speed 30ft) 5.2
Ravenor walks right up to the front of the gillman with his palms outward to show he is unarmed.
"Well met, traveller. My friends and I are merely exploring these caves and mean you no harm."
Ravenor approaches the gillman. As he gets close enough to the creature, the gillman appears to stare at Ravener's lips as he is talking. He looks at the rest of the party quietly taking them in. Ravenor watching the gillman notices that in assessing the rest of the party, the hillman's eyes seem to linger a little longer on Ziggy than the rest of the party.
