GM.BastardBard's [PFS]#8-02: Ward Asunder (Inactive)

Game Master Neal B

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

In a harsh whisper, "Careful! Some of those rocks look loose."

Dale takes a closer look at the rocks as well, now that he realizes the birds aren't on them "Yup, rock slides tend to leave all sorts of unstead and jumbled debris. This can lead to additional slides later on." Auto succeed knowledge check.

"Perhaps we can just avoid these loose ones here.. and here. Or even better let me make them a bit more stable." He does his best to cram smaller rocks in to keep the others still to make the balancing easier.

disable device: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 Ooof
Acrobatics when needed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Dale gingerly walks across the deposited rocks and doesn't dislodge any as he makes his way safely to the other side.

Grumbling unpleasant things in Dwarven, Thorur takes a minute to remove his armor, casts Guidance on himself, and try to cross over....

Acrobatics (+1 Guidance): 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 1 = 22

...gets to the other side, and whispers "Thank you mighty Trudd." . Then re-equips his chainmail.

would Clearing a Path violate the rules of the path?

You feel you would be able to move the rocks to the edge of the path, allowing everyone to pass through. This would not require leaving the path, or obstructing it with the moved rocks. And would also remove an obstruction that is there. This would require (at least) 5 Strength checks. The rocks are heavy and this would carry its own risk.

alright then

Arion murmurs a prayer and tries to guage how hard the rocks will be to move.

str check, guidance: 10 + 5 = 15

Arion is able to start moving some of the stones out of the way.

Dale watches curiously from the far side of the path "Want some help there? With this tool I can certainly help out.. some of the smaller rocks at least." Dale turns his anytool into a pole looking device that gives him better leverage when moving the heavy rocks.

Take 10, MW tool: 10 + 2 = 12

Ariom takes his time and carefully moves the rocks away, stopping to say a prayer every so often.

glad I didn't burn my alter self spell on this!

str check, guidance: 10 + 4 + 1 = 15

str check, guidance: 10 + 4 + 1 = 15

str check, guidance: 10 + 4 + 1 = 15

str check, guidance: 10 + 4 + 1 = 15

Thank you, Arion and Dale. I should helped you. My bad. Baphos says while he crosses the clean path. Tanbaru, have you seen those birds before? Baphos said looking to the birds.

Vlazis gratefully claps Arion on the shoulders, "Thank you my friend. A strong will and strong arms can clear out most any troubles."

"And you've made the path clear for others as well. Very thoughtful!"

After clearing the way and leaving a neat siding of rocks on one edge of the path, everyone is able to pass without issue, and the path is now clear for all who travel it. The birds remained undisturbed. And no one strayed from the path.

A shallow cave in the mountainside bears a carving that depicts an erupting, snow-capped volcano. Two timeworn stone statues flank the entrance to the cave. Near the cave, there is a stone fire ring with a long, semicircular stone bench around it.

One statue depicts a female monk holding an old, pitted bronze gong in her hands. A small bronze mallet hangs on a chain from the statue.

The second statue depicts a male monk with a bowl in his hands.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Possibly it's traditional to leave some sort of votive offering here...

I'll just put all this up, since it'll be faster than only presenting the checks once you look at a specific thing...

Looking at the carving of the erupting, snow-capped volcano.

Looking at the fire ring...

looking at female statue with gong...

Looking at male statue with bowl...

knowledge, religion: 10 + 6 = 16

knowledge, religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

knowledge, planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

"This carving is the symbol of Yamatsumi. We should sound this gong to announce our arrival. The locals believe gongs connect mortals to the supernatural world."

[dice=knowledge, religion]10+6

[Dice=knowledge, religion]1d20+6

[Dice=knowledge, planes]1d20+8

If this were not Play-by-Post you would not know the DCs to be able to pick which ones you would succeed by taking 10, or which ones you would need to roll for. I am posting the DCs to help with flow, and allow you to post with your character's knowledge as soon as they gain it. Please do not metagame with the DCs (please either take 10 for everything, or roll for everything) or I will not post the DCs in the future and the game will slow way down.

I just want a fun and fair game for all, and I want to be able to trust you all with the DCs. Thank you for your cooperation.

sure, no problem. As a GM I always used two spoilers. One would hide the DC and one would hold the information. E.g.

there's probably a more efficient way to word the first spoiler, Like "Secret 1=DC17; Secret 2=DC22."
I've always been puzzled that GMs don't do it that way, as it offers the best of both worlds.

Already whiffed on the bowl, so I'll forego a reroll there.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Vlazis nods along with Arion's assessments, and prepares to give what assistance he can should someone step forward to sound the gong. Inspiring command to give them a +2 insight bonus to the skill check

Thorur looks at the area, shrugs, and looks at the others...

Survival(untrained) vs. DC=16: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

..."I dunno."

Best I have to offer. They just had this discussion on the Flaxseed Pathfinder Lodge. Personally, I think "Take 10" is lame. Man-up, roll the dice, live with it.

Well, we have arrived to this cave. What do you think about it, Tanbaru. Any idea about this place and this volcano and these statues?

Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Well, I can't recognize anything in here. Baphos casts detect magic around the cave. He is trying to find different sources of magic in there. He does it while talk to Tanbaru.

Arion, You should sound the gong, but if you do that, probably, we should do something with the bowl. Put water in it, I don´t know.

GM Socrates is one of my other aliases. I just started that conversation. :-) I won't sidetrack us with discussing whether Take 10 is lame or not. I think it's a nice way to make the game just a little less random. I'll leave it at that.

Tabaru replies to Baphos, "Hmm... I vaguely remember the shrine and these statues look oddly familiar..."

Dale pauses at the back of the procession as the rest go ahead to check out the cave entrance. "I'll be right there, there's something interesting over here!"

He makes sure to stay on the path but gets as close as he can to examine the statues hidden in the bushes. Knowledge Any: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

After sufficient study, including some note taking in his fresh notebook, Dale heads over to see what all the discussion is about. "Oh interesting. Before you go doing anything rash let me have a look and a sketch ok? Reporting accurate information is a very important part of the mission."

Knowledge Religion DC15: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Survival, DC16 (+2 if survival kit applicable): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Knowledge, DC19: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Knowledge, DC17/22: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

He nods along with the assessment of the carving as the holy symbol of Yamatsumi. "Unique holy symbol wouldn't you say?" He muses as he sketches it out quickly before moving on to the fire ring and gong.

"Huh. Fire ring, check. Gong... you don't say Arion? Now THAT is information we should be recording!" He starts writing furiously, asking a few times for the man to rephrase it to sound more... local.

"You know.. pilgrims in Dtang Ma often leave votive offerings for the kami. And cooked rice is their favorite food! Perhaps we should cook up an offering? And... maybe some lunch for ourselves at the same time yes?" He starts shaping his anytool into the proper tools to not burn the rice.

"Grab up that cooker from Pak and I'll whip up some rice. I'm not a half bad cook if you ask the right people!" He snickers as the remembers some of the 'meals' he prepared in the Mwangii. Those red carapace beetles were far tastier than the greens... less crunchy though.

Prof Cook, Anytool: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 = 18

They merely wish food as an offering? How... parochial. Still, far simpler than blood and oaths...

Vlazis gives Dale a warm smile. "Well I for one am eager to see the truth of your culinary might! I am certain these kami will appreciate your efforts as well."

looks like that's a 17 to sound the gong. But...

"This hardly seems like the time to... Ah, why not. Meals are sacred. Let's eat. Good thinking."

will wait to sound the gong, as the other characters requested

Sorry, WiFi was out all weed end. The upside of that is the fact that I do not have any of the skills we rolled on.

The wayang's stomach rumbles at the thought of lunch. After the first spoonful, his eyes go wide. "Dale, you are a fine cook indeed. This is delicious."

Arion, looks like you were encouraged to sound the gong, and given an assist on it.

Sounding the gong produces a beautiful, almost "divine," note that rings through the mountain pass. As the group gathers up from enjoying their mid-day rice break, they find that the rice they had placed in the bowl of the statue is also gone!

After a few more hours' hike, you see the temple looming above you. Continuing on your approach...

After a tough hike up a narrow trail along the face of the mountain, the Pilgrim’s Path suddenly ends. A cylindrical portion of the mountainous landscape—one hundred and fifty feet in diameter—is simply missing. An old milestone still points southwest toward the strangely symmetrical crater, but an arrow engraved in the cliff face points west toward a series of water-slicked steps carved into the unnatural cliff.

Tanbara begins to sob quietly, and Baphos can feel Tanbaru's tiny body shaking on his face. "“It was here! This is the place where my ward, my path, was sundered.”

You effectively have two ways to reach the temple: climb up the cliff face, or balance/jump across the ledge and use the 'stairs' on the far side. Climbing would require climb checks. There is no check required to balance on the ledge *unless* you are trying to pass through another creature's spot; you would also need acrobatics checks to jump the three gaps I pointed out.

The fall looks to be ~60 feet into some thick vegetation.

EVERYONE: could you please give me your first 2-3 rounds of what you would like to do after discussing plans? (I would like to know if people are following each other, working together, or if everyone is waiting for one person to make it, essentially.)

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"Clearly we are seeing the remnants of a powerful magical working. Not just the scale, but the precision makes that plain.

"Do you recall how this ward was sundered, Master Tanbaru?"

He listens carefully then continues, "As for traversing this location, I would recommend we balance across the ledge, but tied together, or at least gripping the same rope, so that the strongest may be of most use."

"I agree, although I am not the best at jumping. Don't tell the Elf."

Knowledge DC15: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32 Dale looks at the carved mountainside with great interest and awe "Yup, some pretty damn good magic did this. Even Dwarves must be impressed on how clean it cut that stone."

After looking at the options and he nods immediately "Well, I can levitate up there and lower a rope for the rest of you to climb if you like. Or I can give you a piggy back ride up while I levitate one at a time. You're choice! OR I can climb up and lower a rope." He tries to get an idea on the distance to gauge the amount of rope.

Dale has ant haul going so his heavy load tops out at 300lbs, which should be enough to carry one person at a time. He has both monkeyfish and levitate prepared, both should be able to mitigate this challenge.

If the scenario doesn't specifically forbid following climbers from using a rope DC instead (assuming it's not for some surprising not visible right now reason), the lower a rope plan works fine for me.

from your description it appears that Arion could eyeball this cliff and determine it is DC15 (based on the Climb skill description) and take 10 for 15. But if it looks harder than that he will go with Dale's suggestion.

I appreciate any help you can provide, Dale. Thanks. I am not so good climbing.

"Dale, if you take me up with you first, I believe I would have a clear view and can keep the others safe should anything attack."

My blast has a 180' range.

The cliff to the temple is described near its DC as "slippery, nearly vertical cliff face"

Sounds like options are either: jump the ledge, or wait for Dale to drop a rope (Arion potentially climbing up separately). Please indicate which path you would take, and your first several rounds of this action (if waiting for Dale to drop a rope, please indicate your patient waiting).

"That's very slippery, maybe it'll be best if I float Wisp up and lower a rope." Dale drinks his concoction, has Wisp hop on his back and starts floating upwards.

Anyone care to start climbing or moving along the ledge in the ~2 rounds it takes Dale (and Wisp) to reach the top?

Vlazis patiently waits, feeling no need or desire to rush ahead of his appointed place of the party's plan.

Oh yeah. Forgot to mention, that we are now on Slide #5.

Dale will drop off the Wisp and the rope, then start floating back down to pick up another person that doesn't climb so well. "Get that rope tied well so we've got more than one way up and down here. This recipe doesn't last for ever and we'll need the rope for the way back." As he floats down he smiles and checks out the stone wall for interesting inclusions.

Baphos waits for Dale. Tanbaru, are you ready? Dale will help us to climb it. If you see something familiar or interesting, let me know.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 While Baphos levitates with Dale.

I think I'm just missing something about the landscape description. There's a perfectly smooth cylinder missing from the mountainside (the CRB describes perfectly smooth surfaces as unclimbable; like, there is no DC to do it) and there is also some kind of rough cliff face that *can* be climbed. I thought we were somehow using the latter to get around the former, but it seems that is not the case. Arion will not attempt to climb a perfectly smooth wall, so I think he is going to climb the rope that Dale offered.
Does that seem right to you, GM?
EDIT: I see now the post where you described the cliff as slippery. I think my confusion is resolved now.

however, you also said this "There is no check required to balance on the ledge *unless* you are trying to pass through another creature's spot; " so it seems to me that crossing via the ledge is a very sensible option. EDIT: but you have to jump to the ledge first? It seems best to just wait for the rope

Wisp enjoys the ride as Dale carries him aloft. "If I continue my studies, I shall be able to fly up these cliffs one day." After arriving at the top, the wayang secures the rope, finds a place to hide and takes a look around.

Stealth: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Arion: If you would look at slide #5 the group is at the bottom of the map, and the path leads to the left. However, directly in front of you is a perfectly cylindrical hole where your path is missing (and a 60ft drop). In order for you to make it to the temple in the upper right of the map (that I have obscured with the large square) you must either climb the wall directly to the party's right (assuming traveling distance) or move across the ledge around the round hole, jumping some gaps where there is no ledge, to make it to the stairs at the top of the map.

Does that help clear up some of the setting?

You guys kept going, so I have to back track you a bit. Once Dale and Wisp make it to the top of the cliff (and everyone else is still at the bottom on the path)...

Making it to the top of the cliff Dale and Wisp see the majority of the temple and arrive on the outside of a courtyard.
Three sets of stairs lead up to a ten-foot-high stone platform surrounding this courtyard on three sides. Several buildings stand upon the platform, some of them built directly into the mountain face.

However, they also see several lengthy reptilian creatures!

Initiatives - Bold May Act:
Baphos
Thorur
Dale
Vlazis
Arion
Wisp
GM

Everyone is up!

(I tend to run "block initiative" now. Whoever can act in between the bad guys (in "blocks of good guys") just take your actions, and we'll assume things happen in the order the posts were made. This, I feel, is easier than waiting for people with higher initiatives, or having to "take back" actions that someone 'before you' invalidated.)

Sorry, how high is the cliff face? Trying to figure out what buffs I can fling before they move away from the edge :-)