Solstice Scar (B) - subtier 3-4 Core (Inactive)

Game Master Cwethan

We are stronger together, let's get these Elders heads straightened out! Lannior suggests.

He nods in agreement with the ranger.

Seeing the team dashing ahead in a reckless manner, Khellek sighs and stops his words of advice. "Not that anyone listens to me anyway. The younger generation."

Apollyanna stomps over to Leena.

"Are we calling our attacks?"

"Well yeah! It makes them sound cool, and stuff." Apollyanna says nervously prodding her index fingers together. "And how can I execute a 'Rainbow Double Moon Heartache' alone? I mean that would just be a 'Rainbow Moon Heartache' right? It sort of looks dumb if I say 'together', and 'double', and I'm the only one flourishing my weapon and shouting like that."

"I can tell community isn't one of your domains...." she grumbles.

Then Apollyanna makes a funny face and says: "'Desna, may these souls be laid to rest.' I mean where's the style in that?"

*sigh* I wish Prisim were here....

There there kid. It'll be alright.

Oh, shut up!

"I don't remember ANYTHING about that in the Torchbearing!"

"I agree Mr Llarm. Let us meet with the leaders and join our forces to theirs. Cooperation is a core tenet of the society after all."

"I'd rather fight the undead all night long, than dry my mouth out just speaking, but I'm in the minority today, I'll be where the group needs me."
The ulfen archer agrees to meet with the elders along the rest of the Pathfinders.

Are we ready? he inquires.

Medda, accompanied by the re-congealed Anok, surge ahead of you with a team of Kellid warriors back to the large encampment. Random sounds of battle drift to you from various directions. While the Kellid warriors split up to head towards them, Medda and Anok make a beeline for a large tent near the centre of the encampment, where presumably the other elders are located. You follow along, and enter shortly after her.

The thick hide walls of this large tent muffle the sounds of battle outside. Iron spikes pin down an enormous map in the center of the tent. Wooden carvings of warriors and monsters lie strewn about the map, marking the location of fighting warriors and the encroaching undead.

Even though she was only ahead of you by a few minutes, Medda is already arguing intently with two other Kellids, one a tall and massive man, the other an elderly but still hale-looking woman.

Medda is looking more worked up that you've encountered thus far. You’re asking us to abandon our sacred duty after all these years! A Kellid warrior stands by their word or they are nothing!

Aye, I’d have us abandon this lunacy! Another man proclaims as you enter. He is a towering man, standing a head taller than most men. He is broad-shouldered and sturdily built, wearing the cloak of dire polar bear. The many scars on his body suggest a life of physical conflict and perseverance. His physical presence dominated the tent as he paces back and forth. You were too late in returning the dagger! You were not here when the hordes of undead broke through from the portal! But it is not too late to retreat before our tribe is exterminated! We have dutifully served this dagger's spirit for hundreds of years but it is time to leave. Before the Twinhorn tribe is no more!”
Medda appears deeply shaken by this argument and mutters under her breath, Is the situation so dire?

In the midst of the conflict between Medda and the towering man, it would be easy to miss that there is a fourth person in this room. An old woman with plenty of scars of her own, is calmly listening to the arguments while she fletches arrows. She has to bring the arrows close to her face as she fletches, but her ears are turned towards the conversation. You almost miss her at first with her small size and quiet demeanor. But as you study her longer, her tranquil nature is commanding in its own right. With tanned and wrinkled skin, white hair cut short, and a weathered longbow by her side, there is an intense focus about the old woman, and the other two leaders keep darting glances her way, as if waiting for her to weigh in.

Then the old woman looks up with clouded eyes at the tent flap opening where you are gathered. Squinting at the sun in her face, she asks with a soft but steady voice, Are you the warriors that Medda told us about? If so, I am pleased to meet you, and hear your wisdom. I am Jala the Patient. This bear in human form is Kragr Bloodhand. You already know Medda. She pauses to finish the arrow at hand. Speak. I would hear what you have to say.

Each of you can go ahead and make a check to either make your case or try to get a sense of what arguments will be most persuasive - feel free to aid another if you don't feel confident in a given skill!

MEDDA SPIRITBEARER, female human spiritualist
Influence Skills: Knowledge(Religion), Perform(Oratory)
Discovery Skills: Knowledge(Religion), Sense Motive

KRAGR BLOODHAND, middle-aged male human
Influence Skills: Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate
Discovery Skills: Knowledge(Local), Sense Motive

JALA THE PATIENT, venerable female human ranger
Influence Skills: Knowledge(Nature or Religion), Profession (Soldier)
Discovery Skills: Knowledge(Nature), Sense Motive

Khellek clears his throat, directing his words to Medda. "Your warriors are strong! You have faced this foe hundreds of times over the years. Why now would you step back, putting to shame the work and the blood that your ancestors have shed. More than that, it is your responsibility to them and your gods to carry out this holy duty."

Will take ten for 24 if he can. Otherwise...
religion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

"This situation is not that dire!" Leena interjects. "The Twinhorn tribe has great warriors like yourself and Medda. And even more, you aren't alone! We have brought many Pathfinders versed in battle and spellcraft. Many of our adventures have brought us against the restless dead. With our numbers, together we can persevere!"

Diplomacy to Kragr: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Persevere indeed we can and not only for us, but also for this land. Lannior looks toward Jala. This land that has sustained the tribe so long, the undead are bent on causing destruction, it only stands to reason they will ravage all we see around us. The beauty of the nature the plants the animals, those that sustain you will be destroyed.

Know Nature Influence check on Jala: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Apologies Khellek, but I'm going to rule that while there are undead besieging the outside camp, you are unable to take-10 on these skill checks.

Fair call. Roll on level 5! Khellek stares daggers out the edge of the tent at the undead who are rampaging close by and interrupting his elegant speech.

The tongue-tied warrior is wondering why couldn't they just kill the undead interrumpting Khellek's speech...

Sense Motive, Discovery, Jala: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

I've got absolutely nothing to contribute on social encounters =( EDIT: Looking at the dice, I may have done a good? xD

Chock watches as Jala patiently listens to the Pathfinders' arguments. Though her eyes are cloudy, it is clear that she weighs and judges each word. However, her judgment seems to be most to the merits of an argument, rather than any sort of elegant delivery.

You suspect that Jala prefers to hear reasoned arguments and dislikes impassioned pleas that depend on emotional manipulation.

Holding off on responses to the influence checks til tomorrow or until everyone posts in case of Aid Anothers

***OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT***

The air fills with the sound of Kellid battle cries as dozens of Twinhorn warriors join the fight.

@Table GMs: The “Twinhorn Allies” condition on page 20 is in effect.

Apollyanna rises, clears her throat, and opens her mouth to speak when-

***OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT***

The air fills with the sound of Kellid battle cries as dozens of Twinhorn warriors join the fight.

It's a shame that now no one will ever hear your idea for building a giant wooden rocking horse for us to all hide in.

Oh, shut up.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 diplomacy TO Kragar
It makes more sense to offer a stand here.The might of the armies in addition to the magic which you and we wield would be helpful in stopping this horde of evil.

Though some of the Twinhorn warriors have joined the fray, their leadership remains unconvinced.

Medda appears stirred by Khellek's exhortation, but is not yet lending her full voice to your other arguments Vildeis demands sacrifice, but sacrifice for a purpose. If a battle is lost, sometimes the sacrifice can be recognizing it.

Kragr is rather less impressed by Leena's argument than Daereon's, Numbers are great, but when your enemies replenish theirs by killing your warriors, numbers can get you killed!

Lannior's point that it is not only the Twinhorns who are under threat is well taken by Jala, But I must weight my reponsability to the Fellowship against what I would wish for the rest of the world. I will not sacrifice them wholesale.

Go ahead and make another attempt. Apollyanna, you can make two

was his roll high enough to make a difference though?

Yep, but since he's not fully convinced, his response focuses on his disagreement. Do feel free to check the spoiler for the Elders' current status

Khellek, seeing his words are having an effect tries to reason with mer further.

oratory: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"The tradition of the Twinhorns is your birthright and your guiding light. Who are the Twinhorns? For millennia you have been the guardians of the world against darkness. Every battle has casualties, and they are to me mourned. But to surrender at the first sign of an obstacle is not a sacrifice, it is cowardice! The Twinhorns are known for their courage, tenacity and sacrifice wrought in blood. Let this year be their crowning achievement!"

Gahh, my rolling!

They are right. To forsake our oaths would destroy us as surely as these monstrosities could ever do.

We must fight!

Medda's fiery oratory will be reducing the DCs of further checks to influence Jala or Kragr.

Lannior looks to Kragr as he makes his argument. What are you saying you would run from the undead, as if the combined might of the Pathfinder and Twinhorns can't handle the undead. If not now, when we are at our strongest then when? After they have chased use down, once more of them have poured from the rift! No now is the time Kragr!

Intimidate Influence check on Kragr: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

diplomacy v Kragr: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

"So we all hide inside the wooden horse, until...."

knowledge (religion) v Jala: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"Horses are sacred right? If not we could build a big wooden badger, or- or maybe a stoat, and then...." she looks between small, quiet Jala and huge, loud Kragr.

Diplomacy on Kragr: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"Look, I know Apollyanna SOUNDS silly, but..."

"Oh! Oh! A COW! You know, Twinhorns."

If only I had a palm, thinks the mask, looking down, and rocking gently back and forth.

Kragr shakes his head weakly at Lannior's exhortation, clearly straining to think of a way to deny him, but listening to Apollyanna and Leena's nonsense, clearly sets him off on another path. A red flush begins to spread from the back of Kragr's neck. Is this a game to you? You ask my people to die for this nonsense!

Medda steps in to calm Kragr down, Focus on the bravery they have displayed. Focus on how they don't let that one plan things.

Despite this, clearly believing that the gods somehow must be involved if only in providing odd voices for Apollyanna to listen to, Jala seems... less bothered at least by the Paladin's... plan.

Though you seem to be close to convincing Jala at least, time is a factor. You can't simply sit here until the undead overrun the camp!
Okay guys, this is your last set of attempts. Chock and Daereon may make two checks

Some people shouldn't do diplomacy, lol

With a sigh at how this is going the sorcerer continues
Not everyone is as respectful of the sacred traditions of others. However, that should not be held against them. They may just need the example of warriors born he says
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 diplomacy

Lannior decides it may be easier to get Jala on board and then perhaps Kragr will agree.

Wise one, Lannior looks to Jala. The balance of nature is a delicate thing. It doesn't take much to disturb it. Each element in its proper place with us at the top of the food chain. If the undead are not put in check, we are no longer at the top and the whole system below us falls apart.

Know Nature Influence for Jala: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Seeing that Lannior has made a good argument with Jala, Khellek tries his hand with Kragor.

I'll use aid another on Daeron, as Khellek finds the man a little imposing

"Mighty Kragar, this is your hour. Your warriors are fighting outside. Your blood burns to avenge the fallen blood of your comrades. Now is not the time for caution, but for action"
diplomacy(aid): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"And we'll be backing you up the whole way!"

Diplomacy(Aid): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Can we use the aid token skill check on Kragr or as an aid another on him?

Sadly Kragr is quite unconvinced by displays of knowledge, though it could've worked for Jala.

Pah! An example paid for my my warriors' blood, no doubt!

Jala cuts through his bluster with a quiet cough. That may be, but if so, it is a need that must be met.
I am quite convinced. Well Bloodhand, will you follow the will of the Elders with the same grace Medda would have shown?

Kragr nods, clearly in an ill humor, and Jala refocuses her gaze on you all.

Then let us redden the snow together.

Okay guys, repel the invaders in the camp, or stem the tide at the portal itself?

SPLIT THE PARTY!

Apollyanna falls back on wisdom.

coin flip: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Repel camp invaders!

"For once Ms Sukino I find myself in agreement with your tactical assessment." states the scholar. "Heading off before our base of operation is secured would seem folly. Of course the Taldan phalanx used such a tactic as a deception back in ..."

After hearing the sounds of battle getting closer and thinking this talking is apparently dealt with Chock takes a deep breath before stating "If the exchange of words is over, Jala the Patient, how would you like to exchange some arrows with the invaders? The sooner they fall, the sooner we can get the Twinhorn's dagger to wherever it needs to be."

A small smile flashes across Jala's face so quickly it seemed nearly imaginary, My time will be better spent in gathering warriors to better aid your Society. A Twinhorn is much bigger and more destructive than an arrow after all.

Outside, a few creatures have already broken through the perimeter! A pair of human-shaped masses of some sort of sticky rope or cloth lurch jerkily towards the main tent, while from other sides, seemingly empty suits of armor march forward with deadly intent!

Your next successful ranged or melee attack will do an extra 2d8 points of damage to represent the aid of the Twinhorns. In addition the target will be treated as being flanked until the beginning of your next turn.
Bold May go!
Lannior
Armor
Apollyanna
Daereon
Khellek
Chock
Leena
Goo People

Lannior thinks he has a clear enough shot on the yellowish tinted armor creature, then a twinhorn attacks it from behind to aid the fight. He fires an arrow at the armor.

Darkwood Composite Longbow + flank v yellow: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 2 = 16
damage + twinhorn: 1d8 + 3 + 2d8 ⇒ (2) + 3 + (2, 6) = 13

knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"Those look like full-torsoed, free-floating, echoplasmic apparitions."

"And those appear to be haunted armor. Pretty standard if you don't go with skeletons. Skeletons are classic though. It is hard to go wrong with skeletons."

How resistant?

Just +2 Channel Resistance
Oh, and Lannior, the flanking effect begins when you hit it,
also sadly doesn't add to ranged attack rolls without a special ability that would allow it.

Lannior's arrow clatters off the armor as it steamrolls forward, bringing its sword down at Apollyanna in a mighty chop!

Longsword: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 - 1 = 26
Slashing: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9
Confirm: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 = 27
Extra damage: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

Your next successful ranged or melee attack will do an extra 2d8 points of damage to represent the aid of the Twinhorns. In addition the target will be treated as being flanked until the beginning of your next turn.
Bold May go!
Lannior
Armor
Apollyanna -14
Daereon
Khellek
Chock
Leena
Goo People

The sorcerer will once again cast bless to aid his allies.

"Gosh they move fast!" Leena exclaims. "Polly! Be healed with...Butterfly Love...Kisses?" Leena channels positive energy into her touch, passing it to staunch the bloody wound.

CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 1) + 3 = 12

Converting Sound Burst.

Khellek eyes up the creatures with obvious interest
religion #1: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
religion #2: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
Interested in immunities, defences and if high enough, special attacks

"Remember friends, when surrounded by insurmountable odds, a shield wall may only delay the inevitable. But attacking may enable even a small force to break the spirit of their oppressors"

And move action to load Bessie