Male Human Brawler (shield champion) 1 | HP13/13 | AC18 | T12 | FF16 | CMD 17 | Fort +4 | Ref +4 | Will +1 | Speed 30ft | Initiative +4 | Perception +5 |
"Well don't this look like a spooky spook." Will says moving closer to the creature, drawing his shield along the way. double move in the difficult terrain
Round 1: FIGHT!
Light Condition: Dim Light
Active Buffs: None
Active Penalties: All Ground not near the shrine is difficult terrain.
Roland(-0,Fine)
Kelleran(-0,Fine)
Galdur(-0,Fine)
Forescare(-0,Fine)
Yakari(-0,Fine)
William(-0,Fine)
Jack-O'-Lantern(-0,Fine)
A strange aura emanates from the Jack-O-Lantern.
Will Save Galdur:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 Will Save Forescare:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Will Save Grand Aigle:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 Will Save Yakari:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Forescare seems to be spooked by the aura.
Shaken:2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10Minutes of Shaken.
GM Screen:
Acrobatics DC13:1d20 ⇒ 20 Slam Target:1d4 ⇒ 4 Slam Attack:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 Slam Damage:1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
The Jack-o-Lantern shifts over to get out of any potential flank, seeminlgy unhindered by the difficult plant life. By watching it shift around, you get an idea on how you can take advantage of the terrain.
From now on, at the start of your turn, you may attempt a DC13. Also, I missed reading that at the start of the encounter.
It reaches out with its vines and swings them like a club at Grand Aigle, landing a heavy blow! 7 Damage!
Round 2: FIGHT!
Light Condition: Dim Light
Active Buffs: None
Active Penalties: All Ground not near the shrine is difficult terrain, DC13 Acrobatics to move full speed.
Roland(-0,Fine)
Kelleran(-0,Fine)
Galdur(-0,Fine)
Forescare(-0,Fine)
Yakari(-0 [-7],Fine)
William(-0,Fine)
Jack-O'-Lantern(-0,Fine)
Male Human (Preacher/Living Grimoire) Inquisitor 3| AC 20/12/19 | HP 30/30(+5 temp HP)| F+5,R+2,W+3 | CMD 16| Init+7,Perc+6,SenseMotive+7| Hand of the Acolyte 6/6 | Speed 20’ | Determination 1/day
Did you remember your IC bonus, William?
Roland double moves toward the enemy, continuing his advice ability.
Would someone move me, please? Remember your IC bonuses as stated earlier.
William slams his shield into the Jack-O-Lantern, and deals a hefty blow against the monstrosity! It still stands, but appears shocked that someone so goofy looking could hurt it that badly.
Male Human (Preacher/Living Grimoire) Inquisitor 3| AC 20/12/19 | HP 30/30(+5 temp HP)| F+5,R+2,W+3 | CMD 16| Init+7,Perc+6,SenseMotive+7| Hand of the Acolyte 6/6 | Speed 20’ | Determination 1/day
Sorry. Got my characters mixed up. It was the Bless Spell I cast previously. And there is no IC bonus for Roland. Please remember your Bless bonus, even if I can’t keep it straight myself, lol.
Round 3: FIGHT!
Light Condition: Dim Light
Active Buffs: None
Active Penalties: All Ground not near the shrine is difficult terrain.
Roland(-0,Fine)
Kelleran(-0,Fine)
Galdur(-0,Fine)
Forescare(-0,Fine)
Yakari(-0 [-7],Fine)
William(-0,Fine) Jack-O'-Lantern(-24,Dead)
The Jack-O-Lantern collapses!
Yes, you are all still in initiative.
Male Human (Preacher/Living Grimoire) Inquisitor 3| AC 20/12/19 | HP 30/30(+5 temp HP)| F+5,R+2,W+3 | CMD 16| Init+7,Perc+6,SenseMotive+7| Hand of the Acolyte 6/6 | Speed 20’ | Determination 1/day
Roland moved forward and smashed the strange enemy with his iron bound book.
Most of the party backs away from the jack-o-lantern, pulling those who don't start right away with them.
Suddenly the pumpkin head explodes in a burst of flames!
**********************************************
Closer to the shrine, you realize that from the outside it appears to be a simple crumbling lumber mill. It is mostly unremarkable except for the wooden statue of Ng protruding from the front on the northern side.
A pile of six goodberries and three immature jack-o-lanterns have been left at the base of the statue. Carved along the side of the statue is the inscription...
Like the Lord of Seasons, our hoods illuminate truth, while their masks shelter deceit. Let this be the sign of our covenant. -E
Sense Motive DC10:
You infer from the inscription Eylysia was telling her or whomever discovered her message that raising their hood would stand as a signal of support or alliance. This is almost certainly the clue that the you were sent to find.
From inside, a figure watches you all with interest. She is a striking figure wearing a cowl that appears to be made of leaves. She wears armor emblazoned with small purple flowers called "Crocus", and wields a silver lance.
“Take ye not a step further into Ng’s sacred realm. I am the Crocus Knight, sworn protector of the Thicket of Endless Fall and rightful successor to Ng’s chosen, Zaul Blystone. Are you here to join in the grove’s protection, or defile its splendor? Speak now, lest I add you
to the great harvest.”
Male Human (Preacher/Living Grimoire) Inquisitor 3| AC 20/12/19 | HP 30/30(+5 temp HP)| F+5,R+2,W+3 | CMD 16| Init+7,Perc+6,SenseMotive+7| Hand of the Acolyte 6/6 | Speed 20’ | Determination 1/day
”Successor to Blystone? He was the person we were looking for. We wanted to talk to him about, well, actually, that cowl you are wearing. The Pathfinder society wants to find out more about it.”. Roland will pull out the wayfinder the group was given to see if that might prove who they were.
Male Human (Preacher/Living Grimoire) Inquisitor 3| AC 20/12/19 | HP 30/30(+5 temp HP)| F+5,R+2,W+3 | CMD 16| Init+7,Perc+6,SenseMotive+7| Hand of the Acolyte 6/6 | Speed 20’ | Determination 1/day
"Yes. It seems that you have donned quite the artifact. Legends rumor that..." The mage begins to drone on before interrupted by someone with more common sense.
Her hard stance softens a bit, and something akin to a smirk can be seen forming on her face.
"Very well, I see now that you are not a foe to me or my cause. It was Ng, whose divine powers as keeper of the seasons, who created the Thicket of Endless Fall. Seeing as you are here for the Autumn's Cowl, I will let you have it, as a sign of good faith for new allies."
You get a closer look at the Autumn's Cowl...
Spellcraft DC12:
It was the Cowl that forced this location to have an endless Autumn, not Ng directly.
You also ask her about Eylysia.
"Ah yes, there was a gnome woman that came to the grove long ago, but she did not stay long. The gnome inscribed a prayer at the base of the statue of Ng, believing it to be helpful to allies in a future time. I myself was never able to discern its purpose." It does not directly tell me what it says, so you just copy it with papyrus and coal or chalk or something. **********************************************
You remove the Cowl from the thicket, which causes the permanent season phenomena to end, and the natural cycle of nature to continue. The Aasimar druid you met earlier opens the Thornwall to let you all through, and is pleased that her duties to this region are now over.
**********************************************
Shortly afterwards, you receive another letter from Kreighton Shaine...
Letter:
Pathfinders,
From what I can gather, your next clue lies within an old cavern, not terribly far from a dwarven outpost called the Rising Spire, which lies near the ancient settlement of Highhelm. I have little to go on as Eylysia’s notes provide hardly anything more than a location and an odd reference to ‘an old noble’s tale’. I have already made arrangements for your travel to the Spire and for an escort to the cavern. This should be a relatively simple and straightforward task if you can solve this riddle Eylysia has left us with.
Male Human (Preacher/Living Grimoire) Inquisitor 3| AC 20/12/19 | HP 30/30(+5 temp HP)| F+5,R+2,W+3 | CMD 16| Init+7,Perc+6,SenseMotive+7| Hand of the Acolyte 6/6 | Speed 20’ | Determination 1/day
Know. Religion1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Roland tries to place any distinguishing feature of the letter to any religion he has studied.
Unfortunately, you wouldn't know much of this information, as you are not of Dwarven ancestry. The party makes the trek and ride for Highhelm, and arrive at the Rising Spire.
The claustrophobic tunnels outside of Rising Spire are carved with smoothed stone walls adorned with periodic arrow slits, twisting and turning until they converge at an open cavern about one hundred feet wide and at least twice as tall. At its center stands a tower carved from natural stone, rising up into the darkness.
A young dwarven woman with rock dust in her hair and stonemason’s tools hanging from her belt steps out of the tower. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” she says as she brushes the dust away with a gloved hand before extending it in greeting. “I’m Helga Silverbrew, head architect around here. Welcome to the Spire!”
A middle-aged dwarven man in leather armor steps out after her. “I’m Urgrin. Most call me Urgrin the Everyman. I haul rocks, patch up armor, feed the cat, whatever needs to be done around here. And you lot must be the Pathfinders we were expecting!”
The two dwarves let you all introduce yourselves, and they guide you to the abandoned cavern, chatting along the way. The trip takes about 3 hours.
***********************************************
The cavern entrance begins with a simple stone archway, and its walls are made of smooth stone that is bare of decoration.
Knowledge Engineering or Religion DC14:
This unappealing style is fitting for followers of Droskar.
Male Human (Preacher/Living Grimoire) Inquisitor 3| AC 20/12/19 | HP 30/30(+5 temp HP)| F+5,R+2,W+3 | CMD 16| Init+7,Perc+6,SenseMotive+7| Hand of the Acolyte 6/6 | Speed 20’ | Determination 1/day
Know. Religion1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
”Looks quite unassuming, unadorned, simple. Perfect for the Droskar followers, I’d bet.”
Droskar (pronounced DROH-skar) is a minor dwarven deity with a very limited following among the surface-dwelling races. He believes that sufficient toil leads to eventual success, and that those who fail simply weren't trying hard enough. In the pursuit of this goal, Droskar believes that one should be free to do whatever is necessary to accomplish one's goal, even if that includes lying, cheating, the exploitation of others, or even worse crimes. His symbol is a stone arch with a fire burning beneath it.
Survival DC16:
Small footprints and drag marks are on the floor. They lead back and forth between here and much further in the cavern, with the occasional detour to another section of the cave.
Male Human (Preacher/Living Grimoire) Inquisitor 3| AC 20/12/19 | HP 30/30(+5 temp HP)| F+5,R+2,W+3 | CMD 16| Init+7,Perc+6,SenseMotive+7| Hand of the Acolyte 6/6 | Speed 20’ | Determination 1/day
M Human Barbarian(Invulerable Rager) HP 16/16(19/19) AC:17(15) T:11(9) FF:16(14) Fort:5(8) Ref:1 Will:3(5) Rage 10/10 CMD:15 Speed 30 ft. Neutral ini:1 Perception:6
survival:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Forskare points out Small footprints and drag marks are on the floor. They lead back and forth between here and much further in the cavern, with the occasional detour to another section of the cave.
Once a statue garden, these halls are cluttered with scorched and shattered stones. Short, dusty pedistals have little to showcase, save for rubble and the occasional stone foot. Several stout skeletons lie beneath the piles of ruin, their brittle bones snapped and scattered. A single pristine warhammer rests on the floor to the northwest.
Male Human (Preacher/Living Grimoire) Inquisitor 3| AC 20/12/19 | HP 30/30(+5 temp HP)| F+5,R+2,W+3 | CMD 16| Init+7,Perc+6,SenseMotive+7| Hand of the Acolyte 6/6 | Speed 20’ | Determination 1/day
”Sure, let’s go help them,”Roland says, following the directions of the sound pointed out by the others.
