Quest for Perfection Part I: The Edge of Heaven (Inactive)

Game Master Warped

Noorzad holds his ground, knowing better than to advance when the outdoorsperson says 'hold'.

"If there's a yeti in that fissure, then I'm afraid it's in our way."

He pulls an arrow from his quiver and contemplates it. "I could throw some light on one of these and shoot it into the cave, I suppose, if we wanted to try to flush anything out..."

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Gorn draws his axe reflextively, listening to Zeprhi and Dagat. He begins moving his shield into position as well.

"What kind of critter is a Yeti? And what do all ye tall folks see out there."

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

"This could be the result of something wrong with the water in the spring," says Berosius.

Hyeon-ae rises early, practicing various stances and flowing movements with her blade in the open area beside the firepit in the morning breezes. Before her breakfast, she takes care of Jin, brushing the burs from his fur and checking his horseshoes for sustained damage after he kicked the wall during the earlier battle with the snow leopard. She rides her horse up the mountainside where possible, although will dismount to lead him where the passage becomes narrow or precarious.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Though unable to see the bones Dagat spoke of, Hyeon-ae trusts the weathered Sing's words, and she silently draws her bow and knocks an arrow into position. "The lit arrow sounds like a good idea, Noorzad-ssi," she agrees with a nod. "Best to not get caught by danger in a narrow tunnel."

Frozen solid by indecision (or maybe fear?), the group stands at the opening of the overhand, nervous to venture forth.

@Zephri - The knowledge check for a yeti would be nature.

"Someone do something or else let's just walk in and get this done," Zephri says, checking Bethany is ready and loaded.

Noorzad nods and smiles, advancing so he can fire the lit arrow into the cave opening ahead of the procession.

twang!: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

"I'll bring up the back," Hyeon-ae says, watching Noorzad's arrow sail into the narrow crevasse. "It may take some coaxing for me to get Jin into the cave, is all..."

Once the rest have disappeared within, she dismounts and begins to gently nudge the horse forward, whispering in his ears and gently stroking his mane to encourage him onwards. Then she slowly leads Jin by the bridle inside. Take 10 on Handle Animal to get Jin to "heel" so that he enters the cave tunnel.

Jin has Narrow Frame, so squeezing isn't as bad for him.

The arrow goes sailing high and into the large crack, forty feet up the wall. It's still difficult to see what's in the crack from this far down, however.

Opened up the side cut view to better illustrate what's going on.

@Hyeon-ae - The problem here is that the crack is 40' above ground, and is only big enough for an adult human to get through. Going to need to be pretty creative to get Jin up and through there!

"Welp, anybody have rope? Best climber can head up and secure it. I'm not much of a climber, how about the rest of you? Can't see us getting your horse up Ryu."

Ooh, I didn't realise that it was 40 feet up. Sorry.

The tunnel size isn't a problem--Jin can squeeze through it as it's half his width (squeezing rules)--but getting him up 40 feet is going to be...difficult.

I have rope--would it be possible to tie it around his midsection and have everyone work together to lift him up?

Poor horse is gonna be traumatised after this.

I've got yer rope right here. Unfortunately, Ah'mma not so good in all this gear. Without me armor, Ah'm right nimble as a halfling. Anyone mind if Ah go up with just me shield and axe, haulin' the rope behind me, and then just tie me gear together? Someone Gimme a hand wit me armor, Ah canna' climb in this.

I'll roll the dice just to make sure the concerted idea is this. He will need a hand getting out of his armor. He'll take his axe, shield, and potions with him (light load), buckling everything else and securing it at the end of the rope, which will lie slack on the ground until he is up at the top and can bring it up to himself. He'll drop the rope back down once he has his stuff and can watch for the group and to make sure the rope is stable.

climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

While the others discuss the large crack, Dagat turns her attention to the water. Brow furrowed, she picks up a pebble and throws it in to the spring with enough force to make a large splash, and watches what happens as the water ripples.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Gorn is able to make it 10' up by free climbing, his gear laying at the bottom of the wall tied to a rope to be pulled up later. As he climbs, Dagat throws a pebble into the water, causing a large splash and causing the water at Noorzad's feet to ripple.

The ripples slowly subside, dragging most eyes to the disturbance. However, the keen eyed Dagat, surely expecting something, and Zephri, ever on the lookout, both notice a slender, shiny vine drop from the chimney with such grace and speed!

Zephri and Dagat may act in the surprise round. Zephri goes first, then the vine, then Dagat, but you may post beforehand if you wish, your action just will not happen until after the vine's action. After that, we head to normal initiative.

Group 1
Berosius
Zephri
Noorzad
Hyeon-ae
Gorn

Critters
Silvery Vine [Full Health]

Group 2
Dagat

Spinning to the vine and raising Bethany Zephri steps towards it and fires his bullet ripping into the silvery vine's flesh!

Bit puzzled by the map, please remove 1 to hit and damage if not within 30ft.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 Damage: 1d12 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Gorn continues his climb After the surprise round.

climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Keep that thing away from me. Ah'm going to get up there and flush out our problem!

@Zephri - That's understandable. To the right, you see the top down. The entire area you're currently in is below the overhanging rock shelf forming a large cave. The dark, shaded area by Gorn and Noorzad is water, the edge of which is marked by the dotted line. The dotted circular line marks the chimney at the top of the cave, out of which the thin tendril is coming from.

Off to the right, you'll see a side cut area, looking at it from the side. This is in relation to the wall Gorn is climbing up (which you can see him up 10' after his initial check. Noorzad moved up to 20' from the wall and fired an arrow into the cave at the top of the wall that Gorn is climbing up to. You can also see the chimney above Noorzad which the tendril is coming out of. Hope that helps!

Zephri quickly fires at the thin silvery vine, hitting it perfectly. However, his bullet ricochets off, slamming into the wall on the far side.

Sticky Vine against Touch AC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

The sticky filament finds its intended target of juicy Noorzad and attaches firmly to his chest.

Dagat is now up in the surprise round and then we enter normal initiative.

Gonna slightly jump the gun and post since I'll be afk til evening tomorrow...

With a cry of alarm, Noorzad stumbles backward, dropping his bow and scrambling to pull a dagger with which he can swipe at the hostile liana.

Attack roll attempting to cut vine: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Zephri takes Bethany in one hand and steps forward yanking his chakram from his belt and flinging it at the vine. But his throw is clumsy and flies wide of the vine.

Chakram: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Dagat moves near the western wall of the cave to get a clear shot, drawing her bow on the way.

@Noorzad - You need to confirm your critical and roll damage. I'd do it for you, but you don't have any of your stats/gear on your profile page.

Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Fall Damage (10'): 1d6 ⇒ 1

Gorn turns to shout to the others, but in the process loses his grip on the rocks and falls the short distance he climbed. Meanwhile, Zephri throws a warning shot with his chakram. The vine seems to take no notice, however.

The rest of Group 1 is up

Group 1
Berosius
Zephri
Noorzad
Hyeon-ae
Gorn [11/12 HP]

Critters
Silvery Vine [Full Health]

Group 2
Dagat

Gorn will make the attempt to climb up the wall again. He stands up and starts climbing again.

climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

With a murmured command to Jin for the horse to stay still, Hyeon-ae grabs her bow and begins a cautious approach towards the silvery vine. She sets an arrow in her longbow, ready to fire in case of trouble.

Tell Jin to defend (free action; I have a +9 to handle him so I can't fail) and double move while drawing my bow.

Dangit to both - not used to this confirming stuff :)

roll to confirm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
dagger damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Gorn, you're about a round ahead of everyone right now.

Noorzad is able to cut most of the way through the sticky tendril that seems to be stuck to his chest. However, it continues to pull on him all the same.

Hyeon-ae moves cautiously forward, bow drawn, leaving Jin behind to cover the groups rear.

Gorn still clings 10' up from the ground, feet scrabbling for purchase, looking as if he will continue to climb upwards. And next round he will! Unless he decides to change his action.

The air is still as everyone ponders what plan Berosius might come up with to save his fellow Pathfinders. It seems... almost... as if time has stopped...

Group 1
Berosius

Critters
Silvery Vine [Just a sliver!]

Group 2
Zephri
Noorzad
Hyeon-ae
Gorn
Dagat

Critter will act on Tuesday if Berosius doesn't respond by then. Then the party will be up.

Folks, please reflect your damage somewhere easy to find. I suggest the class/level line, but something -in each post- would also be fine. I need to know your damage at a glance to effectively heal you.

Berosius hustles forward, slashing at the vine with his longspear to try to free Noorzad.

longspear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 221d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Longspear's are piercing only, just in case that was more than description.

What should have been a solid thrust against the vine turns Berosius' spear harmlessly to the side.

Vine's CMB: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

With a start, Noorzad loses his balance and is suddenly pulled 10' into the air, dangling precariously from the vine that is now pulling him up into the chimney.

As he is pulled up, Gorn continues climbing the wall, staying ten feet ahead of him.

It is now the party's turn. Gorn's action this turn is to climb another 10' unless he would like to change that. Everyone else is now up.

Group 1
Zephri
Noorzad
Hyeon-ae
Dagat
Berosius

Critters
Silvery Vine [Just a sliver!]

Group 2
Gorn

Hyeon-ae jogs right underneath Noorzad, trying to see past the Kelish man to wherever this silvery vine is attached to.

If I can see a 'source' of some sort, I will shoot it.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 +1 if within 30 feet, -4 if Noorzad gives it soft cover

Otherwise, I'll try to jump up and grab Noorzad's leg!

Acrobatics, maybe?: 1d20 + 3 - 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 - 3 = 13

Cursing Zephri moves over and retrieves his chakram.

Gorn will continue climbing. He's planning a rescue operation one way or another.

From her new angle, Hyeon-ae manages to spot a man-sized, crab-like monstrosity clinging tenaciously to the rough stone, its enormous pincers held out menacingly before it as a single tendril droops from it's open maw, dragging Noorzad ever closer.

Introducing the third and final cut view! The middle one is a view of the chimney area, and what Hyeon-ae is looking at right now.

She unleashes an arrow at the beast, but it's wide and bounces harmlessly off the overhanging rock face. Zephri moves over to his fallen chakram, wishing he had brought more with him, and retrieves it.

Group 1
Noorzad
Dagat
Berosius

Critters
Silvery Vine [Just a sliver!]

Group 2
Gorn
Hyeon-ae
Zephri

The crab thingy will go again on Wednesday.

I want to be sure I understand. My longspear made a solid hit, but did no damage, correct?

As Zephri said, correct. Both were hits, but did no damage. The only damage it's taken so far was from the dagger.

Dagat joins Hyeon-ae, coming up next to her and shooting the source as well.

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage (Piercing): 1d8 ⇒ 3

Noorzad is cutting at the vine with the dagger in one hand, and trying to grip above the cut with the other - hopefully to control or slow his fall should he be successful in hacking through.

Dagger: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Damage (Slashing) if it hits: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Berosius drops his longspear, pulls out his dagger and slashes at the vine.

Dagger: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Gah! I can't win!

Dagat runs up to Hyeon-ae, firing an arrow into the chimney. Unfortunately the arrow meets nothing more than the rocky overhang. Noorzad grasps the sticky vine above the cut with his free hand, slashing at the already tenuous cut and is able to free his chest from the vine. And then drops 10' to the ground, landing prone on the ground beneath.

Noorzad's Falling Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Probably because it has decided that Noorzad is too much of a problem to actually bring up, a thin tendril shoots from the crab-like creature at Dagat, the other tastier looking morsel.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Dancing to avoid the tendril, it just is barely able to grab her by the shoulder. As the tendril lands, Berosius slashes at it with his dagger, but the tendril seems too thin to land a solid hit.

CMB vs Dagat's CMD 16: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

With a sudden yank, Dagat now loses her balance and is pulled 10 feet into the air, drawing her closer to the crab-like creature above. Is that thing actually salivating?

Party
Gorn
Hyeon-ae
Zephri
Noorzad [6/12 HP]
Dagat
Berosius

Critters
Crab-Like Critter

The party's up! Crabby will go again on Thursday unless everyone posts their actions before then. Or it dies. Whichever comes first.

Following everyone's gaze Zephri drops his chakram and moves into position for the best angle he can get loading an alchemical cartridge and firing.

Vs Normal AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Damage: 1d12 ⇒ 5

I'm climbin' I'm climbin' lads. Ah'll be there to swat this monster or be eaten soon.

Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"Just so long as you know those are not equally good options!," Zephri calls up.

Bow Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 Probably minus cover penalties.
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Hyeon-ae frowns at the angle making this a difficult shot, but nevertheless tries once more to fire an arrow at the strange crab-like creature. She sighs in disgust, stepping away from the hole and shaking her head. "Maybe it would be easier to let it drag you to it and then kill it," she mutters.

Gorn scales another 10', while both Zephri's and Hyeon-ae's shots go wild, each smashing into the rocky overhang.

Group 1
Noorzad [6/12 HP]
Dagat
Berosius

Critters
Crab-Like Critter

Group 2
Gorn
Hyeon-ae
Zephri

Dagat whirls in the air, dropping her bow and struggling with the vine.

Hearing Heyon-ae's comment, she replies, "I take no chances, but perhaps I can drag it to ME instead."

She takes hold of the vine and attempts to pull on it despite her unfavorable position.

Not sure what kind of maneuver. Drag?

CMB: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

She snarls when she can't seem to generate much force.

Frustrated, Berosius drops his dagger alongside his longspear, then draws and loads his light crossbow.

Scuffed and grumpy, Noorzad scrambles for his previously-discarded bow and starts nocking an arrow.

"How ungentlemanly of the beast not to present itself for a proper thrashing!"

Does Gorn reach the top ledge if this roll is successful? Yes, I realize I'm ahead, but I need to make sure I don't slow us down in the morning/next post.

Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Dagat pulls on the silvery tendril, hoping to yank it from its perch, but to no avail. Meanwhile, Berosius and Noorzad both load their respective ranged weapons.

CMB: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Struggling, it makes it more difficult for the large crab-like monstrosity to pull Dagat up, but it manages to pull her up another 10'.

Continuing to keep ahead of his fishing buddies, Gorn is able to fully scale the wall and now stands atop it, holding onto a rope with his gear at the bottom. Will he start to haul up his gear? Will he leave the party? Everyone waits with bated breath to see what he does. Or perhaps they take their actions since their up. We'll have to wait and see!

Rest of the party is up. Critter will move again Friday afternoon unless everyone posts before then.

Group 1
Noorzad [6/12 HP]
Dagat
Berosius
Hyeon-ae
Zephri

Critters
Crab-Like Critter

Group 2
Gorn

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Starting to get frustrated with the ridiculousness of this situation, Hyeon-ae forces herself to take a deep breath before aiming another arrow up the vertical chute. As the arrow flies unerringly towards her target, she realises--belatedly, in a particularly disjointed sense--that perhaps getting the creature to drop Dagat now that she was tangling twenty feet in the air was perhaps not the smartest of ideas...