The Horn of Aroden (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

Despite the natural 1, doesn't the 23 result count? Skill checks don't have the automatic success/failure conditions of attack rolls and saving throws. Claire would have succeeded at the perception check...

Dex Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

I believe Claire is correct, I don't think you can botch skill checks or ability checks.

Dex Check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Her instincts for sudden danger honed by her early years at sea, Tori quickly dodges the monk's attack before it can hit her.

I see, thanks for the info. And sorry about that! I handled it wrong my whole life :/ But nobody conplained, lol.

Tori and Claire are able to dodge the monk's attacks. "Well done, Pathfinders! I can see your defensive training was very good."

"Please follow me to the waterfall. the monk says and leaves the training hall.

The next trial takes place by the waterfall to the west of the village, and the walk through the Down Valley attracts the attention of curious bystanders. Under the assumption that Aeotsep is about to test a group of aspirants, several dozen people take a brief break from their work to observe the trial. A trail ascends 40 feet to a mountain ledge, where a series of wooden posts overlooks the waterfall’s plunge pool. Aeotsep hops atop one of the posts and instructs you to do the same and stand immobile for 1 hour. Though at face value this seems to be a test of balance, the trial is actually designed to test resilience and resoluteness.

maintaining balance for 20 minutes requires a successful DC 10 Acrobatics check, and each PC must succeed at three consecutive checks in order to last the hour without falling. The DC increases by 5 for each subsequent check unless the PC succeeds at a DC 13 Fortitude or Will save before attempting the Acrobatics check. A PC who fails the Acrobatics check falls in the plunge pool below, taking 1d6 points of nonlethal damage

DC 10 Acrobatics 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Dc 13 Will save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Dc 10 Acrobatics 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

DC 13 Will save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Dc 15 Acrobatics 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Molos hangs on for quite a while, but he was exhausted by then fall, and falls into the chilly pool.

nonlethal damage 1d6 ⇒ 1

Acrobatics: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Gilfroy climbs up onto the post, steps on his sleeve as he stands and tumbles into the pool.

Non-lethal damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Acrobatics check DC 10: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
DC 13 Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Acrobatics check DC 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Folio Reroll, +2 GM stars: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 2 = 24
DC 13 Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Acrobatics check DC 15: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Although she almost falls off in the middle of the hour, Tori calls upon all of her fortitude and luck to stay on her post the entire time.

I used a folio re-roll there, if necessary I can provide a photo of it. My GM stars can be confirmed by looking at my main alias.

Vrald looks at the posts with some trepidation.

He carefully removes armour and shield before trying to leap onto the first post.

acrobatics DC10: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
He does it with a degree of grace, but then the challenge really starts.
fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Even after twenty minutes, the hard training of being a knight seems to have stood him in good steed for the challenge. Then a gust of winds sweeps down the mountain side...

acrobatics DC10: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Taking onboard the lessons of the monks, Vrald becomes as one with the wind, letting it float past him and enjoying the unusual touch of it on his unarmored body.

Still, the his legs start to shake. Vrald calls on hours of experience standing at attention on a parade ground...
Fort DC13: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
The memories serve him well. Just as the hour is up, a great bird flies past. Vrald tries to keep his concentration on the job at hand..

acrobatics DC10: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
And manages it. After a very long hour he gratefully climbs down.

"Thank you for your earlier lessons. They served well." he says to Aeotsep

"The view was exquisite."

"And the water was refreshing," Gilfroy quips.

Claire attempts to stand atop the rocks. She tries to focus intently on the rocks, observing their curvature and friction coefficient.

Acrobatics DC 10: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Fort DC 13: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Successfully maintaining her focus for the first window, she feels very fortunate to have maintained her composure.

Acrobatics DC 10: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Fort DC 13: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

In the second window, she again is thankful for her good luck.

Acrobatics DC 10: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

The time passes, and her focus on the task at had has paid off. Unexpectedly, she has endured the challenge of the rock wall!

"No one is more surprised than me. I can not believe I actually passed the trial!"

After one hour the monk opens his eyes and looks around to see how many of you are still on the wooden posts. "Three of you made it to the end, that's really amazing." He approaches Gilfroy and Mollok "You look wet, are you ok? Don't worry, this is something you can learn easily. Just try and try and you will succeed at last."

Aeotsep leads you back into the monastery and to a hidden trail. He tells you a story of Tar Kuata's past.

"Many years after he began to teach students in these mountains, Narmek Tar Kuata challenged the air spirits for mastery of the winds. They attempted to tear him from the peak, but he struck the mountain and caused a great pillar of stone to rise high into the sky. Acknowledging Narmek Tar Kuata’s superiority, the air spirits granted him the respect he had earned, and have served the monastery ever since. The spire, as we call it, still stands as a reminder of our alliance with these spirits, and our founder’s remains reside in a reliquary at its top."

Aeotsep steps out from the covered path and into daylight, where a impossibly tall stone pillar rises from the mountainside. "Climbing to the top symbolizes the metaphysical ascent that Narmek Tar Kuata realized. This climb is your next trial."

To overcome this trial, the PCs must scale the spire in a single attempt. This requires three successful DC 15 Climb checks. If a PC fails a check by 5 or more, he falls and fails the test.

Claire leaps forward, blustering at her good fortune on the waterfall. "This seems like a good time for a little Derring-Do!"

Climb DC 15: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 1 + (3) = 23

Climb DC 15: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (20) + 1 + (4) = 25

Climb DC 15: 1d20 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (11) + 1 + (4) = 16

Claire utilizes a few points of panache to ensure success.

Climb: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (9) - 3 = 6
Climb: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (1) - 3 = -2
Climb: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (5) - 3 = 2

Gilfroy starts to climb up. After about two minutes and an ascent of three feet, he pauses for breath, limbs splayed, and asks, "Am I almost there? Is the air getting a bit thin up here?"

Then he slips and doesn't even get out a yell before his backside hits the ground. Looking up at the others climbing the stone, he calls out, "You guys go ahead. I'll be fine here."

Climb 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Climb 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Acrobatics to negate first fall die, if necessary: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Tori does her best to climb to the top, but about halfway there her foot slips on the smooth spire and she falls to the bottom with a curse. Angry with herself, she walks away for a few minutes to control her inner rage.

Climb 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
Climb 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4
Climb 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

Molos was getting most upset with these dumb challenges. I'll have some words for the Venture Captain, that's for sure! This is ridiculous! He sulked after falling down after a third of the way up the mountain.

Vrald enjoys the sights as well as the physical challenge of the climb. The spiritual awakening was perhaps a little less obvious, but of all the challenges the team had faced, this was by far his favourite.

Varld took his time, judging carefully the route he wanted to take and making sure of his hand and foot holds.

Team.... for a moment he was distracted by the effort, but he knew this was not a challenge for but one. When Gilroy started to slip, he reached out a hand to try and help
Not that with that -3 even the whole party together could get high enough but was a moment too late.

Later, when Tori also started to slip, he offered her a word of encouragement.

climb aid another: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 <-should be enough to not fall and give you another attempt.

Even Molos received a helping hand.
climb aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 <- if Tori and Claire also aid-another he could get a second attempt at that.

His own attempt was slow and careful, without the panache of Claire, but easily reaching the top.

Takes ten for 18 on each. On the off chance that taking ten is now allowed here are rolls, he only falls on a 1 climb@+8: 5d20 ⇒ (10, 2, 5, 7, 20) = 44

If Vrald can assist that poor roll to prevent her from falling, Tori will just take 10 on the next two climb rolls for 16 on both.

While Clair is able to find the biggest handholds and footholds to reach the top Gilfroy does not get off the ground. Tori does well at the beginning, but about half way up her foot slips from a wet foothold and she drops. At least she's able to stop the fall with a very good roll on the floor.

Molos also tries to reach the top, but like Tori he slips in the middle and drops. Tori knows now where to find the best handholds and ascends to the top very slow.

If Claire makes it to the top or not doesn't matter, the result will be the same as the scenario states "If at least half of the PCs reach the top unaided". And the scenario assumes that everybody makes it to the top sooner or later.

Once you reach the top of the pillar, you find Itephta hovering above the spire, accompanied by a slender Garundi woman carrying a long spear, her dark hair woven into a braid. Aeotsep joins you a few moments later, carrying a large bag on his back.

"This is your last test, Pathfinders—one I personally requested and insisted on observing," Itephta says without taking his eyes off the wooden case in his hands. The young monk opens the lid, gracefully plucks a wand from inside, and hands the empty box to Aeotsep. Itephta points the wand at the spire, and in a matter of seconds, the narrow summit expands into a broad platform, like an unfolding mushroom.

"Irori teaches that inner peace and knowledge are key, but one must be able to defend his values in trial by arms," he explains as the Garundi woman alights on the platform. "I ask that you spar with the monastery’s champion, Aramaya. Please make it an honorable fight, for the great Tar Kuata watches us today."

Itephta has used a wand of stone shape to expand the 10-foot-wide summit into a broad stone platform with enough thickness and support that it doesn’t break under your weight. Aeotsep’s idea of an honorable fight prohibits dealing lethal damage, and he opens his bag to reveal an array of wooden weapons—including any weapon you use except firearms. These function as normal weapons of their type, except that they deal nonlethal damage.

Aeotsep offers Claire and Vrald either a masterwork version of the weapon or the one lesser merciful metamagic rod, they may choose.

The platform’s edge curves upward, providing creatures at the edge a chance to catch themselves if they start to fall.

Aranaya drinks a potion.

A creature knocked off the edge during this encounter can catch the edge with a successful DC 15 Acrobatics or Climb check. A creature can lift itself back onto the platform as a move action with a successful DC 15 Climb check.

Round 1
Aranaya
---------
Claire
Molos
Gilfroy
Tori
Vrald

Do you want to prepare for the fight?

Claire draws a few vials from inside her coat, and begins adding powders, liquids, and other reagents to her favorite flask. In a moments time she adds a sprig of mint, and winks at Gilfroy, "That last little bit was just garnish, but it makes a much more enjoyable cocktail!"

Claire will guzzle a few potions herself, one of Shield and the other of Long Arm.

Because of the Vial of Efficacious Medicine, Shield adds +6 to her AC. Long Arm adds both +5' to her reach and +2 to her CMD, putting her on par with the Longspear or forcing the monk to take an AoO if she closes to 5'. This takes 2 of the 3 daily uses of her vial.

"Aeotsep, I will take one of those wooden rapiers, if it is an option. Vrald, do you want me to grab you something while I'm over here?" Claire looks at the Monastery champion, and then at Vrald.

"Do you think flanking will work?" she whispers to the knight.

"I'll summon an earth elemental to help," Gilfroy says, casting silent image. The stone spire bulges once again, and a gnome-sized man creature of rock and stone slides up out of the spire. Will DC 18 to disbelieve.

Bluff: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

He speaks at it in gibberish. "I've told him to avoid lethal injuries to your champion."

Molos will caste Grease on his first action, hoping to make the champion fall or at least slow him down until he gets through the area of the spell.

DC 14 to resist.

Tori switches to the wooden arrows with no complaints and waits for the battle to begin.

"Sir. I am a knight. While attempting the test of the climb, I left behind my armour and shield. Am I permitted as part of the trial by arms to once again fight in the manner to which I am accustomed and trained? Or is part of the test using only that which we brought with us?"

At the words of Claire Vrald scratches his head. "That wooden longsword looks a nice weapon."

"Itephta, we often fight as a team. Is the trial of arms to be one on one with us selecting a single champion; one on many, working through my companions and myself one at a time should the first of us fall to Aramaya ; or one against the team?"

"Of course, please wait a moment." the monk says while waving to something you can't see. Suddenly Vrald's armor flies up and whatever carries it drops it in front of the knight's feet.

"You will fight at the same time, but be careful, the challenge is still big. If you fall off the platform you are defeated and can't rejoin the fight." Aeotsep says.

After you prepared the fight starts. Aranaya takes her wooden longspear and attacks Vrald but misses.
Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Molos casts grease under Aranaya. The dwarf slips a bit, but manages to keep the balance. I hope the area is fine, Vrald can still attack her without stepping into the grease.
Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Round 1
Aranaya
---------
Claire
Molos
Gilfroy
Tori
Vrald

Vrald circles around, trying to get behind the monk. Slowed by his armour, he can't quite get to where he wants, so settles for a position of relative safety near the middle. There he slashes out with the wooden sword.

attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Is Aranaya denied her dexterity bonus to AC because of the grease?

Claire charges forward to utilize her Long Arm to attack Aranaya from beyond foot and fist range.

Catching Vrald's eye, she nods her head to the far side of the grease to indicate her intended position to set up a flank.

Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 13 Charge

Rapier Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

In her haste to flank, Claire lost focus on the task at hand, missing wildly with her lengthened reach.

Nothing beats a Max Damage Fumble!

Tori takes a 5ft. step to avoid shooting around her companions and concentrates on hitting vital ki areas as she fires two wooden arrows at Aranaya.

Magical Longbow 1 + PBS - RS - DA: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Magical Longbow 2 + PBS - RS - DA: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Not an auspicious beginning.

Gilfroy speaks gibberish to the illusion and mines pushing, and the illusory elemental attempts to shove the monk off the spire, but the nimble monk moves so well, the elemental doesn't even get a stony paw on her.

For his part, he casts a spell and touches Vrald, who vanishes!

Not sure about the grease, I just checked the spell description and it says 'Creatures that do not move on their turn do not need to make this check and are not considered flat-footed.', so I think no, she's not denied her dex bonus. But please correct me if I'm wrong!

While Vrald moves closer the monk tries to hit him with her longspear.
Aoo vs. Vrald: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26 Damage: 1d8 + 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + (4) + 6 = 12

Vrald hits the monk with his wooden sword, creating some bruises on the monk's arm and shoulder. Claire charges the monk, trying to push her back, but she misses her target. Tori uses her wooden arrows to hit the monk, but both arrows miss and go wide into the air.

Gilfroy's illusion tries to push the monk back, the monk tries to hit the illusion with the wooden longspear.
Will to disbelieve: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

I completely forgot about the illusion, I put a token on the map.

Aramaya knows she must not move back and risk a fall on the greasy stone floor and tries to hit Claire with her Longspear.
Longspear: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 11 - 2 = 17 soft cover behind the stone golem

Round 2
Aramaya -10HP
---------
Claire
Molos
Gilfroy
Tori
Vrald

FYI: Aranaya has combat reflexes and can make up to 6 Aoos per round

"Nice move.." Compliments Vrald trying to distract the monk as he works his way around the side of her.

5' step, no AOO. Tries to use Bluff to feint as a move action
Feint: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

When he thinks he has the monk distracted, he lashes out with his sword again.

attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

crit confirm: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
bonus damage if confirmed: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Claire flanks with Vrald, and swings at the nimble monk.

Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 2 = 17

Rapier Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Vrald, you're invisible (or at least you were). No need to distract. :)

Which means the monk shouldn't have gotten that AoO unless she can detect him well enough with some other means.

Tori takes a 5' step to the west to get a clear firing line, and shoots two additional wooded arrows at the monk.

Magical Longbow 1 + PBS - RS - DA: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Magical Longbow 2 + PBS - RS - DA: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

I think the AOO was from when Vrald closed initially. Good point about vanish. I was looking for something useful to do with his move action - Vrald doesn't often get a free move action :-)

I think the AOO was from when Vrald closed initially. Good point about vanish. I was looking for something useful to do with his move action - Vrald doesn't often get a free move action :-)

whoops. I was looking at the wrong round. Never mind.

Yes, the Aoo happened when Vrald moved through the 10 ft. threatened square of the longspear. But Vrald should hit vs. flat footed when he's invisible, which means the crit succeeds.

Vrald hits the monk strong on the head. She frowns but continues to fight. Claire tries to thit the monk as well, but misses. Also Tori's arrows go wide and drop off the platform.

Round 2
Aramaya -35HP
---------
Claire
Molos
Gilfroy
Tori
Vrald

Molos takes a full defense action.

Molos doesn't have much else to contribute other than Grease. I don't want to do lethal damage, and PFE ain't going to be effective here.

Gilfroy also doesn't have much to add here, so he continues to gesture at the earth elemental, who continues to fail to push the monk off the spire.

1 Elemental, 2 Vrald: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Molos takes a full defense position while Gilfroy puppeteers the elemental. The monk takes a step back, close the edge of the platform and attacks Vrald with her longspear, trying to push him back.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
Power Attack w. Longspear: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 11 - 1 = 12 failed
Power Attack combined with Pushing Assault, not sure how 5-ft step works on grease

Round 3
Aramaya -35HP
---------
Claire
Molos
Gilfroy
Tori
Vrald

I don't believe you can 5 ft. step in Grease without provoking since it's basically enhanced difficult terrain.

With a sigh, Tori moves again for a clear shot and fires a wooden arrow.

Magical Longbow + PBS - DA: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

PbP handwaving here, Vrald is after Gil and his "elementals" so rather than delay the game, I'll move the elemental.

"Tell your creatures to move!" calls out Vrald, who then steps into the vacant spot and again directs a blow at the monk.
"You are good" he admits to the monk.

"But how long can you keep this up?"
feint: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

And AOO if appropriate
AOO: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Yes, if it's difficult terrain it means Aoo for Vrald and Claire.

Ye Olde Claire takes an attack of opportunity:

AoO Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 = 16 Flanking

AoO Rapier Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

She also moves to continue flanking with Vrald. This will provoke 1 AoO from Aramaya.

Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 = 18 Flanking

Rapier Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

The dice have been very unkind to Claire this combat. I think it makes up for the exceptional rolls Claire got during the trial phase.

Gilfroy casts canish, moves up, and touches Vrald with it, causing him to wink out of existence until his next attack.

I just realized that Feint is actually a standard action not a move action unless you have improved feint. So Vrald wouldn't have tried it. What a waste of a 19, I should have used that on my attack roll :-(

While Vrald thinks better of Feinting, the ever helpful Gilfroy proves even more effective than Vrald's initially proposed action.

So hopefully the monk is still flat footed! I should be power attacking if inivisible. I'll remember that for next time.

Claire's and Vrald's opportunities miss, also their planned meelee attacks the monk dodges. Tori shoots a wooden arrow at the dwarf, but the arrow hits the platform before falling down to the ground.

"Thank you, you are also a good fighter!" the monk answers "I have to admitt that your strategy with your partner is brilliant."

Gilfroy touches Vrald and the fighter vanishes while Molos stays in full defense.

Aramaya makes another move on the grease Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 and tries to push Claire off the platform.
again aoo for Claire and Vrald

and if you don't hit her and make a good amount of damage..
Mercyful longspear vs. Claire: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
the monk misses...

Round 4
Aramaya -35HP
---------
Claire
Molos
Gilfroy
Tori
Vrald

Tori shifts position on the circle again to find a clear shot and releases a wooden arrow at Aramaya.

Magical Longbow + PBS - DA: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
NL Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Vrald takes advantage of Armaya's movement.

attack vs flatfooted due to invisible: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

"But I think you will find our numbers will tell in the end." he says, stepping up to strike her again.
normal attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"Let's call this battle now. The warrior is right. We are wearing you down. Allowing that to continue to happen will not show us anything we don't already know now. Stand down and let this end."

AoO Rapier Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 = 21

AoO Rapier Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Regular attack

Rapier Attack : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Rapier Damage: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Bump?