Shifty PFS Group Alpha (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

"We could line our bedrolls as well. I'm sure we'd not regret the trade. I doubt we'd have any interest in hauling the body along with us, no?" Kishara looks to Grim to see if he is satisfied with his examination of the creature and the others for confirmation of her words.

The Centaur seems thrilled about the trade and wishes you a great journey.

**

Once the party settles back in for the night there are no further disturbances. The next days’ travel is marked by a slow upward climb into the foothills and by evening the group has made into the mountain pass.

There is a slow but steady wind that continually bites as it blows across the rocks lightly powdered with snow and frost, and you know after the sun goes down that it will get very crisp. As the day draws to a close the party spies a covered wagon, half-buried in the snow.

Being careful and deliberate, you investigate the wagon; it is large to hold five people and although the wagon in no longer road worthy it would produce enough spare firewood to allow for a fire throughout the night. Nearby, three frozen corpses are also located; although the bodies have little of value – you suppose their lack of proper equipment was the cause of their demise – killed by cold as they sat around a small woodstove, which although would have provided warmth, was clearly not suited to the task on its own.

Same watch order?
Anyone have cold weather gear?
Survival checks might also be appropriate :)

Kishara puts on both sets of clothing she carries including the heavy wool coat and the weather treated cloak as the temperature begins to drop, but still she begins to shiver when they discover the bodies, less from the physical cold but more from contemplation of the long night ahead. She is much subdued and thoughtful rather than her usual playful self. She huddles near Tikrit or Grimaldus, happy for the added warmth and comfort with the bodies of the poor travelers so close by and near to her thoughts.

Survival(untrained): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Yes to Cold weather outfit and same watch works for me.

Nice roll!

Kishara can tell that the night ahead will be bitterly cold, and to that end determines that dwelling in the wagon will be advantageous, as will be the use of the stove. She manages to fashion the found pelts into a suitable cold weather outfit.

Her roll also provides everyone a +2 to fort save from cold weather... hint hint

Yes, Grim purchased a cold weather outfit and cleats for the snow/ice before leaving on this quest. Same watch rotation works for me, too.

All afternoon Grimaldus reflects on his cold-weather training at the academy - and how much he detested it. The cold seeping into your very bones, sapping your strength and will. When they find the wagon his outlook improves visibly, knowing an enclosed camp with a heat source will likely be the difference between the corpses they've found and making it to the morning. The pelts will provide additional insulation for the wagon and serve to keep more heat in. Breathing now becomes his greatest concern - Grimaldus insists upon small openings to the outside air at low points of the wagon.

Survival(untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 19
Fort save: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 = 8

Tikrit oils his feathers with his Wing Oil and dons his Cold Weather Outfit before helping to gather firewood. "Good thing you have a Dragon with you. He can breathe fire to keep you all warm." he says.

Survival (Untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"It's always better to be prepared," as Yhen dons her cold weather outfit

Fort Save: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 2 = 11

+2 from Kish, I don't know the bonus of a cold weather outfit.

"Unlike these guys that froze to death, can't blame them, I would prefer to freeze to death than eaten by a big cat,"

Yhen would prefer to sleep near the stove.

Spells Prepared:
Lvl 0 - Daze, Guidance, Spark
Lvl 1 - Ear Piercing Scream, Command

Kishara offers the makeshift outfit made from the fur pelts to Haemish, "I'm no seamstress, but it should help keep you warm. And look! It matches your fashion sense!"

As she resumes her spot next to Tikrit, she blushes slightly as she says "No point being shy either, we're all friends here, yes?" Her violet eyes cut from one friend to the next, expecting a barb as she makes no bones about snuggling under Tikrit's protective wing.

And what of the bodies?

You wrote "...although the bodies have little of value..." so we assumed we searched them and found little of value. If we misread it, then please assume that Grim will always search bodies for intelligence and other items of use to the party. His attitude is that they are dead and no longer need whatever trinkets they may be carrying, so he has no reservations looting bodies in the open. Oh, and thanks to Kish's research, add another +5 to my Fort roll since I have a cold weather outfit, too. Only a 13, but still 5 better than before!

Grim wraps a blanket around his armor before sitting with the rest of his friends. If that doesn't help he will remove the armor to prevent chilling anyone else. "At the academy, we had cold weather training to prepare us for combat in weather such as this. I remember one exercise...we were on a small ship in the bay during late winter. The ice had mostly melted but the water was still colder than a witch's..." Grim stops mid-sentence, glances at Yhen, and practically chokes while turning a pleasant tomato color... "ummm...well...it was really cold water. Anyways, our drill was to practice plugging holes in the hull of the vessel under simulated combat. So there my squad was, stripped to our waists and barefooted, shoving wooden plugs, wedges, and oakum into cracks and holes while the frigid water is pouring in, and running through close-quarters combat drills. The fog from our body heat was so thick you couldn't see farther than the other side of this wagon! But the water...brrrr...water that cold actually burns your skin before it locks your muscles and you can no longer move. And the beatings we were getting from the combat drills actually helped to keep the blood flowing to our fingers and toes! Well, let's hope we don't have to use any of my training tonight..."

Dunno, was more worried about leaving dead bodies laying about that might start walking around at night, not a very paranoid lot are you? :p

Manhandling the bodies away, there is enough clothing about on them to fashion up more cold weather gear (3 suits effectively), which caters for the whole party...

Through the night, the harsh weather really turns on a show, and the wee hours prove particularly nasty before the sun arises to chase away the frost and begin thawing you all out. It was remarkably unpleasant.

Glad to be away from the frosty heights, your days travel sees you pressing on towards the swamps, but as the pass winds around a large mountain, you spot a light glinting from a ledge some 50 feet above your current location, perhaps a reflection?

Tikrit brushes frost off his feathers in the morning and checks on Kishara. "Are you alright?" he asks with concern. "You were shivering quite hard in the darkest part of the night."

I'm a little confused as to the damage and the amount of time that has passed... Do we need healing? Kish has 8 goodberries (if they aren't gone bad now...)

In harsh weather the damage checks are hourly, and environmental checks (can) get worse each hour. In severe cold its every 10 minutes, extreme its every minute. They are nasty nasty stuff. The idea in First steps is really to point out how nasty they can be. There's a particular low level scenario where it slammed a party I was with worse than any of the monsters we encountered. Reign of Winter also plays hardball with weather... on the upside, the damage is non-lethal unless it takes you to 0 then changes.

The goodberries prove to be excellent, each one berry removing all the signs of cold exposure.

Well, it did take me to zero... hence the concern!
Morning, still in camp:
Kishara's skin is too pale and her lips tinged with blue by the time the sun rises. Through chattering teeth, she says "M-m-my p-people w-w-were m-made for w-w-warmer cl-climes, y-yes?" and offers a weak smile for her worried friend. She directs him to where she stored the goodberries and her condition improves visibly after her quick breakfast.
"I shall have to send a thank you gift to the Centaurs when we return, these are amazing!"

On the road:
Kishara makes a show of stretching, trying not to look obvious as she peers up at the flash of light, trying to discern what it is.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"Anyone else see that glint up in the mountainside? Anyone up for a little climbing exercise this morning?" Grim looks at the slope to determine if he has a good chance to climb it. If he thinks the odds are good, he will remove his armor (don't want the penalties!) and tie one end of his silk rope around his waist. Although he doesn't have pitons, he will look for any natural formation he might be able to use (a protrusion that he would climb across so the rope goes from one side to the other - that way if he falls the hope is he falls on one side while the rope stays on the other with his friends holding it below and stop him from falling the entire way)

Climbin'!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Allowing others to chime in. Killing it for time too guys, have heaps, but lets keep this momentum - really good!

Watching carefully, Kishara notes that the glinting light stays fairly static and she detects no movement.

Grimaldus manages to wrangle his way up there, leaving a rope behind him for others to make an easier trip up. On the height above, a small statue of a woman complete with a nearby shrine rests on the ledge. The glinting light seen from the path is the sun’s reflection off a number of coins and gems in the shrine’s offering bowl.

know:hist or know:local

Grim will find a suitable anchor point to tie the rope, then calls down to the others, "Hey, there's a shrine up here - complete with offerings! You should come see it - and the view is amazing! Anybody know of the legends or history of the area? I wonder who this shrine is for?"

As he waits, Grim examines the coins and gems without actually touching them (Don't want a curse just yet!!), and the shrine itself, for any other information. Is there another way up here? A concealed entrance perhaps, or a hidden path to allow well-wishers or worshippers easier acccess than rock climbing?

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

"Well, we can't all have an insulating layer of fine feathers to keep us warm. Just so long as the Centaurs' magic keeps you from harm." Tikrit says to Kishara.

Later that day, "I'm always up for viewing the local sights!" he says and climbs the rope to the shrine. "My, how interesting! I'm afraid my knowledge is restrained to matters arcane or... sword-related." he says as he looks the shrine over. "And you're right about the view! Perhaps we should get into business together and bring tourists up here! We'd make a killing... on selling their belongings when they died of exposure." he says with a wink. "Well, if people come all the way up here to leave an offering, she must be important. I'll keep that tradition going!" he finishes, dropping a gold coin into the bowl.

How much HP does Kishara have?

"Hey tin man what do you see up there?" says Yhen as she sat down under a cover, feeling lazy to go up the cliff. "I'm not up for an exercise, so just tell me what you see and I might know it."

If Grim shares what he sees: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

"You are one cruel man err bird mister magus. It's like asking me to go have dinner with you and you killing me to sell my stuff. From a business mindset it does make sense, low cost, potentially high gains haha"

Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Kishara attempts the climb, but finds that her strength is still eluding her as she fails to make progress and slides down plopping onto her behind with a huff, embarrassed again. She stands and dusts herself off, avoiding the other's eyes as she wanders up the road to scout ahead.

Sorry for the absence, been a couple of busy days.

Haemish stays seated on Lady, letting others do the climbing. "I canna stand jumping round on boulders and such. I'll just keep an eye out doon here." With his lance in hand, Haemish peruses the countryside around them. Perception for Haemish: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 Perception for Lady: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Grimaldus and Tikrit survey the path ahead from their vantage point, and the swam can clearly be seen in the distance. It has the slight haze of a fog laden bog, and they struggle to feign excitement about its potential pleasures.
Tikrit feels a surge of warmth rushing through his body after donating, and feels more positive about what the day might bring.

**

Thick blobs of fog dance in between large tickets as the foul stench of swamp gas pollutes the air. Several exotic species of vines twist along the vapor-shrouded path, creating an ethereal seeming tangle. At random intervals, a splash of fetid water sounds in the distance, signaling the presence of frogs or other bog creatures. Thousands of leeches infest the swamp’s pools, and anytime one of you falls into a shallow bog, time is wasted removing the persistent parasites, generating black humour and significant irritation on the party.

As you all progress through the bog, the thick rolling fog begins to disperse, allowing you to see where you step. Despite the increased visibility, this area of the swamp is difficult under foot, as the muck and vegetation thicken further.

MAP

Ahead of you, a large log rests across a dirt path, standing five feet tall. A moldering wood door covers one of the hollow ends of the log, and a makeshift mud chimney emits a thin wisp of blue smoke. From behind the crude house comes the sound of someone humming an off-key tune.

"A charming lodge for our tourism business!" Tikrit comments, scanning the area for signs of danger.

Perception 1d20 ⇒ 7

FYI, Haemish generally rides Lady unless, so they'd take up the same square.

The halfling is still complaining about the last parasite he picked off his leg, "Didye see the size of that wee beastie? It was bigger than me hand! What do they eat when they can't get halflings!"

He perks up when he hears the kenku squawk and sits up in his saddle, taking a look around and strapping on his shield.
Haemish Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Lady Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Grim scans the area, too. If no one perceives any danger, he will call out to the resident of the log and wait for a reply. "Hello the house!"

Grim walks with his greatsword strapped to his back (like usual) but now carries the longspear in his hand. He stands in a ready stance with the butt of the spear on the ground by his feet, ready to be set against a charge or raised in both hands to attack as needed.

"Don't you just love swampy areas, they're full of beautiful things." says Yhen in a very sarcastic manner.

"I'll stay here at the back,"

Perception (Yhen): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Perception (Familiar): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Anybody got a talking donkey handy? =)Waiting for Shrek to come around the log-house!!

That would be really funny if Haemish decided to ride on a donkey instead of a wolf ha!

That would be really funny if Haemish decided to ride on a donkey instead of a wolf ha!

Just have to start saving up for a hat of disguise for Lady.

Kishara's face seems permanently frozen in an expression of disgust since entering the swamp, her nose wrinkled against the rank smells of the bog. She frequently tucks her nose into the neck of her shirt, seeking relief from the stench. Her mood is low indeed, and as Grim hails the home, she pulls her bow and slips into the shadows, expecting nothing good to dwell in such a foul place.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Would there be cover at Q3? Hard to tell from an aerial perspective, also is the area at S12 a pond? Having trouble telling if brown or green areas are land or water.

Would there be cover at Q3? Hard to tell from an aerial perspective, also is the area at S12 a pond? Having trouble telling if brown or green areas are land or water.

Not so much cover, but certainly concealment. Brown is the dirt path, green is the swampy terrain. So S12 is more an island.

Kishara slips quietly into the foliage as Grimaldus calls out. The music stops all of a sudden, as do most of the sounds in the swamp. After a few moments pause and wonder whether there will be a response, a small person climbs on top of the log and starts yipping and yelling in your direction, waving a club about in a threatening manner.

Draconic

Strange Kobold

Yhen turns to the group,
"First, that kobold is not our welcoming party. Second, it is pretty pissed at us."

Yhen explains the language that the creature is yelling is Draconic and it seems the creature is concerned about its 'babies', its 'preciouses', and generally inferring a messy outcome should the party encroach upon its log.

"Hmm, so it's either we go this way, but that would be deviating away from the path the Orc gave us, or ran straight through and this kobold will be pretty pissed at us."

Haemish looks a bit uncomfortable, "Now I dinna like kobilds any more than the rest of you, but killing their wee bairns seems a bit cruel. Mayhaps we can make our way 'roond some other way?"

Tikrit draws his Katana and waits for the negotiations to finish. "I'm also in favour of going around if we can't negotiate passage." he says.

"Yhen - can you persuade the little beast we merely wish to pass through and will leave it in peace if it causes no problems for us? I think it understands the havoc we can cause it if not. BUT...do you trust it? Or do you think it is misleading us about what is in the log?"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 4 = 24 (+4 for size difference!)

Yhen finds that her reply seems to consist of threats the kobold might carry out with its club and an insistence the party go away.

Grimaldus steps forward menacingly and puts on a bit of a show, the response is the strange creature dropping back out of sight behind the log. Silence once again descends.

Haemish pads up on Lady's back and pats the fighter on his shoulder. "Good job, Grim! I think they understood you even though you don't speak Kobold."

Kishara will continue to stay on guard, keeping an arrow knocked and a wary eye on the log house as the party passes by it until it is out of view behind them.
"Hopefully we can pass by without encountering whatever that thing calls its babies..."

Next actions? Advance, wait, circle? How close?

"I'm pretty sure that doesn't mean a yes, right Grim? Anyway let's proceed, I don't want to sleep in a moist and weird smelling swamp."

We'll proceed warily around the house, keeping a 10-15' distance if possible, and proceed on our way. I don't think anyone has a burning desire to kill the critter and loot the shack...

"Or maybe I shall command it to be my pet, so it can take care of my raptor when I get busy." says Yhen. The party notices Yhen spacing out a little bit with a weird, mischievous look on her face. "It's ok, I won't do what you guys are thinking... not until this mission is over!" jokes Yhen as her party is ready to stop her in her tracks.

Last comments before kicking forward... 10-15 feet isn't far either :p

Can't wait for improved familiar, I wish witches get a voodoo doll that works like an eidolon or something.

I guess we're not out of danger yet, then? How about we proceed down the path that goes south off the page @ M? That will keep us 15' feet away from the log-house and we wouldn't delay ourselves by making an effort to circle farther around.

Kishara will hide @ K9 and "cover" the log-house with her drawn bow, motioning to the others to pass by as she keeps watch.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 Well, she thinks she's hiding... lol!

Updating in a few hours!

At this stage the conversation is push due west and skirt 10-15' around the log, or push south and take a much wider detour. Decisions decisions... :p

Vote due west - shortest course. Skirt house, but be prepared for trouble...