Even though much of the forest withers from some evil curse, eager faces flow from tree to tree as the friendly, whispering spirits encourage their would-be saviors onward.
The group follows Daniel's lead and climbs carefully up the cliff. Ibb and Cernan take a little bit more time than the rest, but Grimpfkin scoffs and disappears as you ascend carefully.
Fung,Perception:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
The trail zigzags through a large thicket that winds about like a primal hedge maze. Some of the plants seem to move on their own, reaching towards warmth. Sitting on the rock by the entrance is the fey, "Well, what shall you do now? Hehe."
Obvious tactic is finding the shortest path through the area. (Survival)
Male Elf slayer 3/Un Rogue 6/snakebite brawler 2, HP 103 AC 23(27), T 17(21), FF 16(20), F +14, R +19, W +12, Initi. +11, CMD 23, Perception +21, lowlight(+24 traps)
Rallas takes a breath and studies the land for a moment before carrying on.
8/8 Lightning Flash, BotG 1/1, Dissolution 1/1, Imp SA 1/1, L&D 1/1; At Will: Feather Fall (Self), Levitate (Self) | Spells 1st: 5/6+1; 2nd: 4/4+1; 3rd: 3/4+1; 4th: 3/3
Considering the plants, Umbrato does his best to follow his companions. Using his knowledge of this strange phenomenon, he tries to stay away from the grabbing vines.
The pathfinders struggle with this particular challenge, even using the best means they could think of, still the overgrowth manages to hold you back more time than you like overall. Grimpfkin snickers and mocks you along the way, "Perhaps nature's not good for everyone! BWAHAHA"
No PC met the DC for that check.
But you're still able to follow the trail, as it glitters in the distance. And you follow you quickly in attempt to make up for lost time.
A ruined two-story building rises out of the forest, hugged by dense, thorny thickets on both sides. The front wall, ceiling, and floors have long since collapsed. Several support columns rise from the cellar, and the remains of a staircase up to the second floor look far too weak to support weight. The back door leads to clearer terrain, where the trail continues.
Obvious strategies include identifying stable columns to use as stepping stones (Acrobatics or Knowledge [engineering]) and perhaps climbing the inside walls toward the back door (Climb).
Male Elf slayer 3/Un Rogue 6/snakebite brawler 2, HP 103 AC 23(27), T 17(21), FF 16(20), F +14, R +19, W +12, Initi. +11, CMD 23, Perception +21, lowlight(+24 traps)
Rallas looks at the columns and makes a bee line towards them, taking bounding steps as he leaps from pillar to pillar.
The last challenge proves to be a struggle for a few, but Rallas and Daniel get through with ease dancing off the columns as they try to keep the pace with the bird.
The other PC's rolls won't change the outcome of the results so I'm going to conclude the test!
As the group reaches towards the end of the trial, the bird now sits on a tree alighted in the moment. Grimpfkin is reclining against a tree stump where the ale-bird has alighted. Grimpfkin congratulates them heartily. "Hah! So you indeed have proven yourselves worthy of speed. Not as slow as I thought, and I congratulate you for taking successfully completed the challenge."
He uses his magic to shape part of the stump into a set of mugs, and when he knocks his own mug against the stump, the bird splits into equal parts, turning back into ale that fills each mug. "So, here ya guy chums! A toast to your victory, and a blessing of luck for you!
You have earned the benefit of Charm of Luck, however this will only come into play when the overseer moves us to the next part.
As you take a sip of the blissful tasting ale, Grimpfkin asks, "So.. would you perhaps like to prove you strength in the Test of Might as well?"
You have a choice to continue this challenge, or move on to the next bit.
With time as an enemy to your efforts, you politely decline Grimpfkin's offer for another challenge and move on deeper into the blighted forest with the vanishing spirits following ever so closely as your guides. Up ahead, you see a few friendly faces as Medda seems to be mustering a few groups and at immediately calls to yours as well. Within a few minutes of your arrival she approaches you with a request.
“Something’s not right, Pathfinders. Only a fraction of our combined forces have made it here, and our scouts have found several groups mired by the terrain and beasts. However, there are just as many groups that are completely missing. If you have the strength to spare, please double back and find one or more of these teams. They may have run into more trouble than they can handle and need help.”
To begin your search, Kn. ntuare, Perception, Survival to look for tracks left by the missing Pathfinders.
Daniel notices that Ib is on the right track, though he may not recognize what he's looking for. He moves over to assist and notices footprints in the mud.
Male Elf slayer 3/Un Rogue 6/snakebite brawler 2, HP 103 AC 23(27), T 17(21), FF 16(20), F +14, R +19, W +12, Initi. +11, CMD 23, Perception +21, lowlight(+24 traps)
Rallas cans the ground with a trained eye, seeking the missing Pathfinders' trail.
Fung frowns in concern when he hears news of the missing Pathfinders. He worries if it might be one whom he have travelled with before. He pulls out a wand that enhances his senses and activates it after a short while.
8/8 Lightning Flash, BotG 1/1, Dissolution 1/1, Imp SA 1/1, L&D 1/1; At Will: Feather Fall (Self), Levitate (Self) | Spells 1st: 5/6+1; 2nd: 4/4+1; 3rd: 3/4+1; 4th: 3/3
Seeing his companions begin to search, he does his best to help Daniel recognize the differences between naturally occurring marks and footprints. "Hmmm...I think this way...any of you find anything specific?"
Working closely together, it doesn't take much too much to find the initial trail of the missing Pathfinders, however the group makes a few unusual observations along the way. Several foliage is scarred, and has a sticky purple substance. Several small animals too has this unusual liquid but are found to be sickly.
Craft Alchemy, or Kn Arcana, DC23, Heal DC28:
This is clearly some sort of toxin, the way that it infects the land suggest that it is natural toxin as oppose to artificially created toxin.
Mechanically, I disallow Aid on Kn checks (coming off the brain), as I believe it to be individually based. You either know it or you don't, and if someone else doesn't know it, they can't aid you in knowledge. (eg. Say I ask you if you knew 'Bernoulli's Theory', you either know it or you don't and someone saying, "is that physics?" (like an aid check) doesn't magically give you extra knowledge to know what 'Bernoulli's Theory' is. Where I allow Kn. check aids are in research based checks, if everyone is researching a subject, perhaps the aid means he found a book that might help translate something.
Male Elf slayer 3/Un Rogue 6/snakebite brawler 2, HP 103 AC 23(27), T 17(21), FF 16(20), F +14, R +19, W +12, Initi. +11, CMD 23, Perception +21, lowlight(+24 traps)
This muck is beyond my ken, unfortunately. Perhaps it is magical based? One of you spellslingers might have some insight into it..i mean cast detect magic...I can cast guidance from my wayfinder for +1 on a roll...
Unfortunately that would not help for this particular situation.
Clueless about the unusual observation, the group continues to follow the tracks in search of the missing. But soon find that the tracks become scarce, less footprints to follow and the distance between each step seems to grow. Further ahead, you notice in the bushes, one of the Pathfinder agents, lying, barely conscious, injured. He's not in any immediate danger of death, but seems to experiencing some combination of delirium, fatigue, and terror. Your presence does not comfort him in any way.
With a successful Bluff, Diplomacy, Perform (comedy), or Sense Motive check, a PC can get the NPC to focus sufficiently and communicate.
Cernan's Sense Motive is +21 — I am pretty sure we're all terrible at the other stuff. Can we aid another on a sense motive check? I imagine this as sharing the individual conclusions we form about the delirious pathfinder, in order to better inform the inquisitor on his own check.
If not, Ibb will aid whoever on Diplomacy using this roll, which will also net a result of "10" (although I'm pretty sure even with a natural 20 and some assists, no one here will beat the diplomacy DCs).
Male Elf slayer 3/Un Rogue 6/snakebite brawler 2, HP 103 AC 23(27), T 17(21), FF 16(20), F +14, R +19, W +12, Initi. +11, CMD 23, Perception +21, lowlight(+24 traps)
While you are unable to talk him into sense, he manages to say a few words while trembling and stuttering."MMMMoonterrrrr,, atttackkkkeedd,,, ffefefeeeww,,, ddededeaadddd! kkkkiiiddnappppp! daannngeeerrr!" He manages to point in the direction to indicate which way the creature went.
Let me know if you want to do any pre-buffs, or anything additional, else I'll roll us straight into initiative in my next post.
None for Xuan Fung. Fung actually has a wand of longstrider, leftover from earlier days when he couldn't fly yet. Only applies for land speed so it's useless for him now. Anyone is free to use it.
8/8 Lightning Flash, BotG 1/1, Dissolution 1/1, Imp SA 1/1, L&D 1/1; At Will: Feather Fall (Self), Levitate (Self) | Spells 1st: 5/6+1; 2nd: 4/4+1; 3rd: 3/4+1; 4th: 3/3
Umbrato would hit himself with a Wand of Shield after hearing a 'Monter' was close by. ;-)
Tugging a wand out, the small man taps himself with it before stowing it again. A shimmering shield of force appears before him. "Well now, that could be troublesome."
Drawing his mithril blade, he looks around. "I don't suppose you can get him to tell us what we're facing?"
Male Elf slayer 3/Un Rogue 6/snakebite brawler 2, HP 103 AC 23(27), T 17(21), FF 16(20), F +14, R +19, W +12, Initi. +11, CMD 23, Perception +21, lowlight(+24 traps)
Rallas goes to Cernan.I want to make sure I have a ward for this fight.get him to cast shield from my wand...second charge used. Can I get a ht of the longstrider, please? will help me get in to combat quicker...thanks
Not far ahead, you find the missing Pathfinders! Unfortunately, only two of them remain alive, barely as they attempt to hobble themselves to safety in the swampy terrain. "Friends! Quick, we are being chased by a snake like monster with nine heads! It's attacks are deadly, it can render blindness or weaken you with it's poison! We're in no state to outrun the creature!"Kn. Arcana DC20 to identify the beast!
Map is up!
Terrain: The green portions of the map are expanses of stagnant water covered in thick mats of algae. Thus you do not know the depth. The dirt paths are clear enough that they don’t impede mobility, and the surviving stone walls are 10 feet tall.
As an added bonus, the surviving pathfinders can either provide you +2 attack bonus or +2 AC bonus for one round when you desire, acting as a distraction.
Immediately, everyone keeps their senses perched for the sight of danger, and notice that in the waters nearby, unusually larges ripples occur on the surface of the mostly stagnant algae invested river.
