The Beginning of All Things (Inactive)

Game Master Terquem

Marcus, curses as he fails, in the worst of ways at trying to get through the hole. He tries again t give aid to those in the burning home.

swim: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 2 = 17

Day 8, MacNorra House (Gymnaga Settlement), late afternoon

In the cold water of the swift flowing river, Marcus clings to the wall, keeping his head above water. He can feel the opening in the wall below the water line with his feet.

When Dieredon is ready again, Marcus drops his head below the water, and feels for the opening. He reaches for Dieredon’s outstretched hand to pull him toward the hole. Dieredon kicks against the current and pushes toward the opening, but the two men collide instead, and surface once again on the outside of the wall. This time, Marcus has a hand on Dieredon’s shirt and the two are at least next to the wall.

Inside the building Poseus lunges in the water after the infants who are being swept toward the north wall. He reaches the first, a young Gymnaga no older than two, and with a a swift sweep of his arm, drags the child through the water until the infant is nestled on Poseus’ back, and then the small child wraps its arms around Poseus’ neck tightly. With a couple of pumps of his long tail Poseus reaches the other infant, this one cannot be even one year old, and is incapable of understanding what must be done to be saved. Poseus gathers the infant in the crook of one arm, and swims toward the place in the wall where he remembers the hole that he came in was.

Alomar heads south, along the stone wall that is the bank of the river, while Calex heads north.

It is Alomar who finds a long narrow boat made from carved and shaped wood with a hull fashioned from stretched deer skins. The boat is nine feet long and about three feet wide at the widest point. It might hold four adults.

Calex goes only as far as he knows it is reasonable before he turns around, once he is sure there are no boats the way he has gone. When he stops, and turns to go back, he might spot something across the river.

Calex can make a Perception Skill Check, here, the DC for spotting the “body” of the Halfling on the other side of the river is 14
Caoraan, Alomar, Calex?

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
"Alomar! I think I see someone across here!"

With a deep breath, Caorann flies inside.

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

If she can reach the man, she will try to use a Mage hand and her own power to try to keep his head above water.

Overcome with a sense of urgency and a desire to do the right thing, Caoraan swoops down out of the sky toward the small hole in the wall. As she approaches she suddenly feels a strong pull on her body and she realizes that a powerful draft is being created by the fire of the roof sucking in turbulent air through the hole.

She is a strong and agile flier, but the swirling dense air is challenging to even her expert skills.

Caoraan, please review your Fly Skill for me, is it really a +17? This is an opportunity for you to make a significant Fly Skill Check, the DC to get through the hole (it is big enough, but the air flow though it is dense and contorted) is 20. Failure by less than 4, means you get trapped in the swirling air for all of round 2, but failure by 5 or more means you hit the inside of the wall on your way through and take d6 nonlethal damage

Alomar runs back to Calex after he has spotted the boat. He looks in the direction that Calex is pointing to. "I know, it is a halfling corpse. We need to go there later, but first we need to attend to the living who can still use our help. I have found a small boat, can you try and paddle out to the others? I am afraid I am not well build for boating and such.

Poseus swims back and through the hole as quickly as he can.
Swim check, take 10: 10 + 11 = 21

When Poseus reaches the outside with the two kids he'll come up and look for any of his comrades for assistance. If he sees Dieredon and Marcus close he calls out to them.

"Dieredon! Marcus! Can you bring these children to safety?!"

If this spends both his move actions, he'll wait for next round, if he has a move action left he'll waste no time to head back in and save Finnos.

Dieredon, upon seeing Poseus surface, and hearing his call, he swims to the Gymnaga.

Here Poseus! Let Marcus and I take them. Rescue more!

Swim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Yup. +17 is right. 1 rank + 3 class skill + 5 dex +4 good maneuverability, +4 from being tiny.

Fly: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

obviously, I need more complex flying challenges, or maybe force you to wear a blindfold for theatrical reasons

I had forgotten to impose penalties for swim checks while carrying the infants, so I’ll have to let that go

Day 8, MacNorra House

Caoraan darts though the swirling currents, twisting an arm here, a dip of a wing there, and then she is inside of the building just in time to see a young man with a long serpentine tail carrying two small children as he glides under the surface of the water and disappears. Looking around the interior of the building she squints her eyes against the thick wet smoke, and feels the heat of the flames above her head.

Caoraan, please make a Perception Skill check to spot the tail of the old man still holding onto the pier in the center of the building. The DC is 20

Poseus surfaces just a few feet from Dieredon and Marcus.

Dieredon treads water and reaches out for the children while he assures Poseus that he can handle the children

Dieredon and Marcus will need to succeed on a Combat Maneuver, versus a CMD of 10, to wrestle the infants away from Poseus (they cling to him tenaciously). Then it is a -5 modifier to your Swim Skill Check to stay above water and move ten feet toward the shore, the DC is 10

Round three starts now, with Poseus on the outside, Marcus and Dieredon trying to save the children, Caoraan getting a bearing on her surroundings (She will need to make a Fortitude Save this round, DC 15, if she fails she can only have on standard or one move action this round, the DC for Round 4 for her will be 16 if she fails and if that happens she will fall out of the sky into the water. Calex and Alomar can see the Halfling body, and Alomar has alerted Calex to the presence of a Boat 120 feet to the south of where they are standing now.

Riku stands helplessly near the edge of the water waiting watching poses and marcus.
Are they injured?

Riku can see that there are small children in the water clinging to Poseus and that Marcus and Dieredon are struggling to help get the children to let go of Poseus

Meanwhile, Riku can make a Perception Check

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

cmb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
swim: 1d20 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 1 - 5 = 3

Marcus watches as Poseus resurfaces near him. He reaches for one of the children Dietedon has clinging to him. He is hesitant to leave the one that saved him, but with some reassurance and coaling the boy leaves Dieredon and clings hard to Marcus. Unfortunately, the boy has a death grip around Marcus' arms, preventing him from treading water and he starts to sink.

"O I don't have time for this, there's an old Gymnaga drowning inside. Help him in my stead." Poseus quickly grabs a hold of the child as he sees Marcus almost drown under the weight.

"I'll bring them to shore. Hurry!"

Swim check -5 for each child: 1d20 + 11 - 10 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 10 = 20 Poseus tries to reach the shore the following round and give them over to the care of Calex and Alomar.

Dieredon attempts grabs hold of the children.

CMB: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Then he swims to shore with the children.

swim: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 5 = 14

Go get more, Poseus!

Fortitude: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Caorann manages to keep her head, shrugging off the heat and focusing in on the gymnaga.

Moving over close to its head, she conjures a hand of force, in preparation to aid him back to the surface.

I guess I still have to help Dieredon, I believe each child gives you a -5 to Swim and you can't make that check. When Posesus sees Marcus unable to hold one, he'll take that one and swims with that one to shore.

Calex nods to Alomar, and says "I don't claim to be any kind of expert but it's not that far out. I should be able to manage." He goes back to where Alomar located the boat, and prepares to launch off into the water, hoping to get the craft close enough to the others that the injured can be loaded safely and taken back to the riverbank.
Using the Survival skill to pilot the boat:
Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Oh fer..!>shakes head< Nice roll. :/

"May the water elementals guide your hand on the river." Alomar intones as he places his hand on Calex's shoulder

Guidance, so now you rolled a 7 ;-)

Day 8, MacNorra House (Gymnaga Settlement), late afternoon

the moments pass by so slowly, as if time itself where a bucket overfilled with the urgency of all the things happening at one. Each small event is a critical junction, a slight misplaced hand, a press of the foot to hard in one direction, a swirl of smoke and steam, all these things happen and each has a significance that must be accounted for

Riku is trying to keep his eyes and ears on everything, he looks this way, and then that way, but when he turns again he is too late to warn anyone. He watches in horror as the flaming timbers of the roof of the structure in the middle of the river begin to collapse.

Marcus takes a child away from Poseus, but the weight drags the inexperienced swimmer down.

Poseuse reaches for Marcus and is able to bring the child back into his own arms just as Dieredon takes the second child from his back.

Dieredon Kicks his legs hard and this lifts his upper body out of the river for a moment. When he has his balance, Dieredon leans on his side in the river, and kicking with both legs, while stroking with one free hand, he makes progress toward the river bank with the younger child held above the water, its tail wrapped tightly around Dieredon’s slim waist.

Marcus coughs and slaps at the water with his hands to keep his head up as Poseus powers passed Dieredon toward the bank of the river.

Meanwhile…

Caorann can feel the moist hot air all around her, but she is not overcome. She isn’t sure what is going on, and begins to think that there is no one here

Was it all some kind of trick. Caoraan knows a thing or two about tricks, but this would be a mean spirited one to say the least

Then suddenly she sees a human form bob up in the current, a man, no wait, it is another of the long serpentine tailed folk. He is an old man, from the waist up, and he appears unconscious. The way his arms are moved by the water are a clear sign of that, but the man’s tail is wrapped around a pillar supporting a short wooden pier in the center of the west wall.

Caoraan flies closer, and when she sees a few small bubbles escape the old man’s lips, she knows what must be done and begins casting a simple spell. With a minor gesture of her hand, and relying on the man’s natural buoyancy in the water, Caoraan is able to lift his head until his nose and mouth are out of the water. If he is unconscious, and still breathing, he might just survive. But who can save him?

Out on the river, to the south of the structure

Alomar tries to aid Calex as he steps into the small canoe like boat and with one leg shoves the boat into the current, but Calex is not ready for the sudden sway of the light boat as it settles in the water and he is pitched overboard into the shallow water here.

Round Three has Calex falling into the water, he needs to make a Reflex Save, DC 10, to keep a hand on the boat it will float away. Poseus and Dieredon are swimming to shore. Dieredon will reach the shore where Riku is standing in Round 4, while Dieredon will be there in Round 5 (Dieredon needs another DC 10 Swim Check with a -5 penalty). Caoraan has raised the old man’s head above the water, but his tail is locked onto the pier. Is she strong enough to free him before the roof collapses on her? The roof begins collapsing in Round 4. Caoraan needs a DC 15 Fortitude save, and a DC 14 Reflex Save here. Did I forget anyone? Round 4 begins now

I'm guessing Poseus arrives where Riku is in round 4.

He pants a little as he brings the child ashore, but recoils a bit as he sees Riku, an unfamiliar face, can he trust him with the child?

He seems torn for a moment, but then hears the cracking and crashing of the burning roof. He hesitates for a second, then spekas as he sets the child ashore.

"You're safe now, stay here it's not safe in the river." He speaks softly to the child.
"You!" He calls out to Riku. "Take care of this child, I have to get back, there's still someone in there!" It sounds more like an order than a question as he dives back into the water and swims back to the entrance into the tower.

Take 10 on swim checks for 21 until he's inside the tower

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Though coughing and sputtering from the steam and smoke, shge still manages to dodge some of the debris.

She tries tugging at his head with her own strength and magic, but realizing that his tail is still wrapped around the pillar, she tries the first idea that pops in her head. With some movement of her hands, she speaks one word.

Somnus She casts sleep on him. DC 18 Will

Sleep causes the voluntary muscles to relax, like those used to grasp a pillar, so now he should let go.

Since he is in sort of semi-concious state brought upon by exhaustion, should i rule that he gets no save, or apply a Will Save modifier? Hmmmmm

Riku kneels down by the child on the shore of the river. He grasps the child's hands comfortingly and speaks in a calm soothing voice.
"Are you hurt?"

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Calex gives a startled "AwwSHEE...!"as the small craft shifts under him. Arms flailing wildly he falls back into the shallows with a large splash and comes up sputtering, clutching the side of the boat. The bedraggled wizard tries to wipe off the mud from the river bottom but gives up after moment and looks sheepishly back at Alomar. "Well, at least I can't get any wetter. Could you hold it steady for me, please Alomar? I'll climb in and try again."
Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

"Sure, no problem"

Alomar tries to steady the boat for Calex

Survival Aid other: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Swim: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 5 = 16

Dieredon makes his way to shore with the child and drops the second child with Riku.

It can go either way really. He has enough "will" to hold on to the post, but he isn't really doing anything consciously. Honestly, I stole this tactic from a player of mine irl. 5th ed was playtesting at the time, so I had him roll twice and take the lower.

Day 8, MacNorra House (Gymnaga Settlement), late afternoon

Poseus hands the Gymnaga infant off to a tattooed man, and then leaps backward, arching his body to dive into the river waters and swim back toward the structure.

Caoraan hovers, shifting from side to side as flaming debris falls from above, and manages to keep the old Gymnaga man’s head above the water even though her eyes are filling with stinging tears and her lungs begin to tighten from the smoke she has inhaled. Realizing she has precious little time, Caoraan casts another spell and almost immediately the old Gymnaga man releases the grip of his tail on the pier.

But Caoraan was not expecting the current to be powerful here (she could not see the openings below the surface of the water at the ends of the structure). The body of the old Gymnaga man is swept away and is heading straight for the stone foundation wall at the north end of the structure.

Just then Poseus surfaces inside the building. He knows that flaming debris is falling and that the area is choked with steam and acrid smoke so he only raises his eyes out of the water just in time to see Finnos coming toward him, and the small winged lyph doing what she can to stay airborne.

Riku finds himself now trying to comfort an infant Gymnaga, a type of being he has never been around before. The very small child looks to be no more than one year old, in human terms, but already its lower body is a good two feet in length, and as the child cries its tail thrashes back and forth. When Riku takes the infants small hands in his own, the tail immediately moves to wrap around Riku’s left arm. A moment later, the elf, Dieredon, swims up to the shore and calls out to Riku for help.

Calex manages to climb back into the canoe while Alomar reaches out to steady it. Getting down on to his knees Calex finds his center of balance and notices a short paddle in the bottom of the boat. Taking it in hand, and not entirely sure of how to work the small craft, he gives Alomar a firm look and nods he is ready to try.

Alomar shoves the boat out into the current and the canoe spins for a moment as Calex struggles to get the rythym necessary to control the bpoats direction. He manages to point the boat downstream just as Dieredon hands a small Gymnaga child to Riku.

But what has happened to Marcus?

Collin, the halfling, points downstream at the floundering Marcusand shouts out to Calex

”There is a man having trouble in the river, on the north side of that building. The Gymnaga man has saved two children and gone back inside. I think there may be more of his people in the burning building.”

Round 4 and 5 have ended. Poseus must make a CM, versus a CMD of 10 to safely stop Finnos as he comes toward him, failure means he catches the man, but is swept into the wall and takes d3 damage (this happens in round 5). Poseus must also pass a new Fortitude Save, (round 5) the DC is 15, or be limited to a single action per round. In Round 6 Poseus can escape the building with Finnos. Caoraan has cast Sleep (round 5) is affected by the steam and smoke and is limited to one action per round beginning in round 6, she can escape the building in round six, with a single move action, but must pass both a Fortitude Save, now DC 16, or suffer d6 Nonlethal damage, and another DC 18 Reflex save to avoid falling, flaming debris or take an additional d6 lethal damage and be knocked into the water. Dieredon can take Round 6 actions. Calex can reach Marcus by the end of round six, but he must pass a Strength Ability Check, DC 12, to keep the canoe in one place against the current, otherwise he and Marcus will be swept downstream. Marcus will be safe, holding onto the canoe, but should he try to climb in, both he and Calex must pass Reflex Saves with a DC of 20 (Calex can tell that it will be very difficult to keep the canoe upright if Marcus shows signs he wants to get in the boat, and can warm him it is dangerous to try). Riku has two crying infants on his hands. Alomar can hear Collin’s shouts, and can take round 5 and round 6 actions

Round 6 begins now

Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
CMB: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Poseus's head only surfaces a moment before he sees Finnos drifting towards him. The unconscious body collides with him, causing him to let out a low "oomph", but he manages to catch him quite handily and steadily.

Poseus looks around and sees the slightly familiar shape of Caorannamidst the smoke and falling debris.
"Caorann? Can you make it out alive? Else hang on tight to me!"

Depending on what Caorann does, or what happens to her, Poseus waits and acts accordingly. If Caorann is knocked into the water he'll collect her as well and swim back to shore with both of them.

Swim check take 10: 10 + 11 = 21

swim: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Marcus, still showing obvious sugns that he is not accustomed to the water or swimming, starts to sink in the water. He holds as much air in his lungs as possible while going under, but he wonders if he will ever get used to the current.

I can swim in the lake...with no current so why do my legs fail me now

with an epic fail swim check, I feel it appropriate I start to drown lol

Riku speaks quietly to the crying gymnasia children.

"Shh, it's going to be alright. You're safe now."

He picks up a pebble from the shore and holds it flat in his hand.

"Here look at this."

[ooc]Light on the pebble[/b]
The pebble slowly glows brighter and brighter, a soft light like a torch or a fire. He hands it to the older child.

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Well hot damn

"I'm fine"She says dodging some debris. "Take him and go! The ceiling is collapsing!"

She flies straight out the hole she came in.

Round 6

Dieredon makes for marcus' last known location to help his floundering friend.

Swim: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Poseus makes his way fast for the exit as he sees Caorann managing her own escape, hopefully taking the still-living Finnos with him through the gap and spurting back to land with the old Gymnaga.

Strength: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Calex struggles to control the small boat and finally gets it pointed in the right direction. He clumsily maneuvers it over to Marcus and calls out to him: "Marcus! Grab the side!"

Seeing that there is nothing he can do just now Alomar moves towards Riku and the children.

In a cheery tone to the children
"Hi, I am Alomar. What a beautiful pebble you have there!"

He quickly tries to assess whether they need healing.

I believe they don't, I asked earlier. Maybe the DM just missed that though.

Day 8, MacNorra House (Gymnaga Settlement), late afternoon

Poseus and Caoraan escape the burning structure just as the roof collapses completely in a thunderous splash into the water below.

A huge plume of steam rises from the ruin filling the air all around.

Calex paddles with all he has got and brings the canoe right up to where Marcus is floundering. The young man makes several failed reaches, his arms leaping out of the water over and over again, until finally when it seems hopeless, Dieredon swims up next to Marcus and grabs the man around the waist. Dieredon lifts as best he can and thrust Marcus toward the Canoe. Marcus’ hands slap hard on the sides and pull the small boat over almost capsizing it. Calex is quick to realize the danger and leans away from Marcus keeping the boat upright.

Marcus is coughing up water, and panting for his life, while Calex and Dieredon exchange knowing and relieved glances.

On the shore of the river, Riku delights the infants by casting a sparkling light upon a small rock. The rock shines out in the growing gloom, and Riku turns his head skyward noticing the density and color of the sky increasing toward the coming storm.

Alomar approaches the tattooed man slowly, and speaks comforting words to the children.

The infants cannot communicate with either Riku or Alomar, one of them is only a year old, and the other barely over two, speaks in an incomprehensible dialect of common and Gymnaga mixed with baby sounds. Neither of the infants appear to be harmed in any way, and both seem to be growing excited by the attention they are receiving

All is quiet, save for the sound of the steam rising in the river, and the fire crackling through the remains of the small settlement.

Poseus reaches the shore with the old Gymnaga man, and gently lifts him onto the grass while Calex paddles toward shore with Dieredon and Marcus clinging to the canoe for support.

The Challenge is over. Each character receives 750 experience points. Finnos will recover, slowly, and be able to answer questions in a few moments, otherwise the party can talk among themselves as to what the next course of action should be.

Riku quickly hands the children off to Alomar as Poseus comes ashore. He takes the unconscious gymnasia from Poseus and lays him in the grass. He checks to make shore he is still breathing and then lays a hand on him letting positive energy flow freely into the old man, as he does so the white tattoos on his left arm glow brightly.

Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Riku, your auto correct, is cracking me up

@Terquem: I am uncertain where that puts me for total XP? I am 2nd Level, but I have only recorded 750 on my sheet.

*Gulp* give me a day, and I think I can recover it, okay?

NP...thanks. I must have forgotten to add everything Calex and I picked up on the trip to Castletown.

Riku, your auto correct, is cracking me up

I'm sorry, typing fast on a phone never ends well.

Trying out Wayfinder.

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