[PFS2_Luke_Parry] 2-06: The Crashing Wave (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

Thorax struggles to stand, only doing so after another belch and a groan.

"We get *hic* someone carry fireworks here when we find them?"

Let's go to find them!

The dwarf takes his battleaxe on the shoulder. That may help, a battleaxe, to investigate in a tricky city.

Alright then!

The storehouse is a relatively small building, about as tall as a human, built mostly for tools and supplies. Doors on the front open to the city road, while the back doors open toward a dock to facilitate loading or off-loading cargo.

The following checks can be attempted (each PC can only attempt one check, but multiple PCs can try the same thing, if they wish) as part of the investigation:

Perception.
Thievery.
Survival.

Bair saunters around the area like he owns da place. He looks for obvious clues as if he is an experienced criminal... which he ain't admittin nutthin ta nobody!

Perception (E) + Level Bump: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24

Bair locates a faint set of cart tracks leading to and from the storehouse down the street that runs along the river.

These can be followed to see where they lead, if you wish.

Perception - found cart tracks.
Thievery - ?
Survival - ?

Don't forget your Level Bump, Bair ^_^

Thorax tries, with effort, to reach around to his belt pouch. He eventually procures his Thieves Tools and attempts to "open" the door.

Thievery, Tools: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 1 = 15

Gosh, his belly really is getting in the way! Since I think that breaks my tools, I'll reroll:

Thievery, Tools: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 1 = 20

Thorax's check is sufficient to note that the lock has been damaged by some kind of chemical residue.

Any PC can now make a 'free' Crafting check to Recall Knowledge about the residue.

Perception - found cart tracks; ?follow.
Thievery - lock damaged by a chemical residue; can make a Crafting check to learn more.
Survival - ?

Free Crafting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

After having smells a bit the residue, the dwarf then tries to find some traces.

Survival: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Dran'Thor identifies the residue as some kind of acidic secretion!

Any PC can now make a 'free' Nature check to Recall Knowledge about what might have produced it...

Unfortunately, he then fails the Survival check :-/

Perception - found cart tracks; ?follow.
Thievery - lock damaged by a chemical residue, which turned out to be some kind of acidic secretion; Nature check to learn more.
Survival - ?

Adalan, Deshacerla, and Mara can each attempt the Survival check; anyone can also attempt the Nature check.

Nature (T) + lvl bump: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15

"Smells lahk... daht."

Bair has no idea what it might have been produced by.

Nature: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Let me think about it.

Dran'Thor thinks about it for a moment, then realises that the acidic secretion may have been produced by a River Drake!

Perception - found cart tracks; ?follow.
Thievery - lock damaged by a chemical residue, which turned out to be some kind of acidic secretion; was a River Drake here?
Survival - ?

Adalan, Deshacerla, and Mara can each attempt the Survival check.

Recall Knowledge about river drakes.

Adalan scans the warehouse for magical auras, then wanders around the room conducting a cursory search for tracks.

Survival (U): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Adalan: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21.

Adalan recalls that River Drakes, although not 'True Dragons', are still intelligent creatures with the ability to speak. They are resistant to Acid, and have a breath weapon based around that element. Although they can fly, they are also consummate swimmers.

"What they taste like?"

Adalan considers Thorax with a look of slight concern. "I'm not in the habit of dining on sentient beings myself, and I can't say I'm aware of any culinary scholarship on drakes. Perhaps you'll have the opportunity to rectify that tragic gap in our understanding of the world by the time we're done here, who knows."

"Anyway, the most likely scenario seems to be that whoever stole the fireworks was working with a river drake who provided the acid. It's a bit hard to imagine a drake carrying out the heist themself, particularly given the cart tracks."

While his companions finish their investigation, Adalan walks around the surrounding area knocking on doors and asking people if they've seen anything suspicious near the storehouse or noticed any draconic activity recently.

Diplomacy (T) to Gather Information: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Mara - BOT (Survival): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25.

Mara is able to follow some tracks out the back door, and for a distance down the docks before they disappear into the river near where a merchant has a fireworks stand.

(Coincidentally, this is also where Adalan ends up.)

The merchant is doing brisk business - he has a long queue waiting! It seems that people around here take their fireworks seriously; most people seem to be picking up standing orders.

Unfortunately, the crowd is a bit impatient, and isn't willing to wait whilst Adalan talks to the vendor, a chipper and enthusiastic Osiriani man named Kolima...

Unfortunately, 20 is insufficient for the Diplomacy check required here; does anyone else want to take a crack at it?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

The dwarf doesn't learn anything more from the crowd. But he strokes his beard looking at the merchant. Doubtful.

Diplomacy (T) + LB: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18

”Hey you... eh, fagheddaboudit.”

Is it Diplomacy to Gather Information? Or Make an Impression? I'm really good at the latter, but likely to Crit Fail the former.

Not specifically called out (since it is part of a 'skill challenge') - but based on the context, it is more likely to be the latter.

Thorax waddles up to the disgruntled crowd and attempts to cheer them up... With song!

"These fireworks the best!
Well worth the wait!
And Kolima the merchant,
He's so nice you can't hate!

What's your favorite color?
What's your favorite shape?
Let's all talk over here,
And give the man some space!"

Performance (singing) in place of Diplomacy (make an impression): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Thorax manages to distract the crowd long enough, that the rest of the party is able to talk with Kolima.

The merchant explains that she had received an order for a number of fireworks on short notice and was told to take them to the storehouse. Kolima delivered the fireworks last night via her cart (which explains the tracks). However, as she was setting up her cart this morning, she caught a glimpse of a reptilian creature dragging some sort of large burlap sack towards the Old City docks...

What would you like to do now? ;-)

I think we should go to the old city docks, following the tracks we found previously.

Concur!

Okay, Paizo, you already have a bad habit of depicting the end boss on the cover of every Adventure Path, are you now going to spoil the main villain in the title of your scenarios =P

The tracks led near here, before you lost them. That said, you can certainly go to the Old City Docks!

@Thorax: Well, to be fair, it is a riff on 'The Grinch Who Stole Christmas'...

Arriving at the Old City Docks, the party sees a strange sight:

An elderly River Drake, accompanied by a small winged humanoid, apparently made out of water, are busy piling fireworks up into 'caches' around the docks.

The watery humanoid spots you first, and shrieks, causing the Drake to notice you, and groan:

"Why can't you leave us alone! If it is a fight you want, a fight you will get!"

The elderly Drake then waddles forward slowly, and vomits up a great gout of acidic mucus!

Caustic Mucus: 7d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 2, 2, 2, 2, 4) = 18 Acid damage. DC 23 Reflex. On a fail, you also take 1d6 Persistent Acid, and have your speed reduced by 5'.

A: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29.
M: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13.
Adalan: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14.
Bair: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13.
Deshacerla: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8.
Dran'Thor: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25.
Mara: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12.
Thorax: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24.

Get Off My River Front, You Gosh Darn Kids, Round 1:

Slide 2.

A (-)
Dran'Thor (DC 23 Reflex save pending)
Thorax (DC 23 Reflex save pending)
Adalan (DC 23 Reflex save pending)
Bair (DC 23 Reflex save pending)
M (-)
Mara (DC 23 Reflex save pending)
Deshacerla (DC 23 Reflex save pending)

Dran'Thor, Thorax, Adalan, and Bair are up!

Totally didn't get the reference, Lol

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

"Pee-yuu! That nasty! No want fight. Just want fireworks!"

Thorax whirls around and attempts to slap bandages, food wrappers and dirty socks on his friends to stifle the acid.

Battle Medicine, Thorax: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 5) = 12
Battle Medicine, Bair: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4
Battle Medicine, Dran'Thor: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 6) = 14

DC 23 Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Adalan gasps in pain as the mucus scorches his skin, but tries to maintain his calm. Conjuring a floating disk of force for protection, he rushes to the front of the group and shouts at the drake, "Wait, stop! We don't want to fight you at all! We just want to know what you're doing with all those fireworks!"

Diplomacy (T): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Adalan also tries to hastily bandage some of his burns from the acid.

Battle Medicine DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

Persistent Acid Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Use reaction to Resist Harm and gain resistance 3 to acid against this particular instance of damage.
DC 15 Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 5

+1 AC for a round from shield.

Reflex Save + LB: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24

Bair easily ducks under most of the acid, armor only sizzling a little bit. But... it's enough to piss him off. He only sees the target that just vomited gross water on them and yells while charging, "UGONNADIE!"

Rage (5 Temp HP & AC 20), Sudden Charge Striking the Drake

Greatclub + CM LB: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 13 for Bludgeoning + Rage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16

___________________________

I do not believe Diplomacy will work in combat so Bair is going to go ahead and react as normal to being attacked. Maybe this 'grinch' will experience an enlarged heart from being hit in the chest by a club and change his ways.

Thorax dodges the worst of the mucus, then patches up himself, Bair, and Dran'Thor.

Adalan tries to reason with the Drake, but there just isn't time.

Unfortunately, Bair is right :-/

He then patches himself up as best he can.

Bair, meanwhile, charges forward, but skids on the wet dock, and misses.

The watery humanoid then flies up above the party (safely out of melee reach), and sprays a gout of briny-water down upon those beneath it!

Breath Weapon: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10 Acid damage. DC 20 Reflex.

This gets Dran'Thor, Thorax, Mara, and Adalan.

Get Off My River Front, You Gosh Darn Kids, Round 1:

A (-)
Thorax (-; DC 20 Reflex pending)
Adalan (-10, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement; DC 20 Reflex pending)
Bair (-5; +5)
M (-; elevation 15')
Dran'Thor (DC 23 Reflex save pending; DC 20 Reflex pending)
Mara (DC 23 Reflex save pending; DC 20 Reflex pending)
Deshacerla (DC 23 Reflex save pending)

Dran'Thor, Mara, and Deshacerla are up!

Ah well.

DC 20 Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Hooray for consistency >.>

Thorax shakes off most of the briny water and glares at the imp.

"Spicy wings for dinner tonight!!"

EDIT: W00T! Crit success ^_^

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

1d6 ⇒ 4

Reflex¨: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Fortunately Thorax heals him a bit

If the blue humanoid sprays down, the dwarf send some electricity up.

Reach spell, Shocking grasp heightened +1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Damage: 3d12 ⇒ (6, 10, 12) = 28

Come down, if you're a man!

Sorry, I've been sick the past couple days.

Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

Persistent Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Mara screams as the acid drenches her, then hisses as it's immediately followed by a torrent of salt water. "Stupid, f+$!ing, why do you even want fireworks?!"

With the watery...humanoid...thing out of her reach, she charges forward to help Bair with the drake.

+1 Striking Shortsword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
S. Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 6) + 1 = 10

End of Persistent Damage?: 1d20 ⇒ 15 Yay!

Stride twice, (will provoke an AOO if he has it), Quickdraw/Strike. She is at -28 if I calculated correctly.

After his acid bath, Dran'Thor electrocutes the watery humanoid, which nearly swoons.

Mara, decidedly worse for wear, hustles forward to engage the Drake, but her attack bounces off its scaly hide.

Deshacerla - BOT:

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24.

Deshacerla, having managed to dodge the worst of the initial acid blast, calls upon Pharasma to aid her, conjuring a dagger made of force to hassle the watery humanoid...

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26, for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 Force damage.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16, for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 Force damage.

Spiritual Weapon: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15, for 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Force damage.

...which yelps in surprise!

The Drake, utterly furious, lashes out at Bair...

Fangs: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18, for 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 = 13 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29, for 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 = 13 damage.
Fangs: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21, for 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 3) + 8 = 16 damage.

...managing two painful bites!

Get Off My River Front, You Gosh Darn Kids, Round 2:

A (-)
Thorax (-)
Adalan (-20, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Bair (-34)
M (-37; elevation 15')
Dran'Thor (-18, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Mara (-18, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Deshacerla (-9)

Thorax, Adalan, and Bair are up!

Bair steps to the side with the reptile jerk caught between Mara and him. He unleashes a flurry of ferocious fwacks, "Baddah up... an done fahgedda backaswing!"

Step, Strike 2x vs. FF

Greatclub + CM LB: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 = 22 for Bludgeoning + Rage: 1d10 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11

Greatclub + CM LB - MAP: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 2 - 5 = 27 (+1 if prior swing misses) for Crit Bludgeoning + Rage: 2d10 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (9, 10) + 8 + 4 = 31

_________

I think you forgot my 5 Temp HP.

Bair, deep into his rage, lashes out at the Drake; the Drake in response distracts him with its tail, causing his first strike to miss, but the second is a pile-driver which knocks the wind out of the elderly dragon.

Get Off My River Front, You Gosh Darn Kids, Round 2:

A (-31)
Thorax (-)
Adalan (-20, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Bair (-29)
M (-37; elevation 15')
Dran'Thor (-18, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Mara (-28, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Deshacerla (-9)

Thorax and Adalan are up!

Trying to ignore the acid that continues to burn him, Adalan strides forward to stand next one of the piles of fireworks. He makes a series of arcane hand gestures and calls out to the drake, "Your breath weapon certainly stung, but I'm sure that was only an acident. We don't want this fight to dragon any longer than it needs to, so how about we just talk this through?"

Casting hideous laughter (DC 20) on the drake.

Persistent Acid Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
DC 15 Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Thorax reaches to grab his Shortbow, but figures that the spellcasters can finish off the imp.

"Grumpy Dragon, meet grumpy Goblin!"

Stride, Stride, Quickdraw/Strike

+1 striking shortsword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 2) + 4 = 11

Thorax strides forward, and stabs the Drake in the flank!

Adalan then tries to get it to see the funny side of things...

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25.

...but although it chuckles a little, does not seem to be especially amused.

The watery humanoid *really* didn't like what Dran'Thor did to it, so it directs a bolt of Acid at him...

Acid Arrow: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21, for 3d8 ⇒ (3, 7, 4) = 14 Acid damage.

...before retreating to be nearer its draconic ally.

Get Off My River Front, You Gosh Darn Kids, Round 2:

A (-42; can't take reactions as long as the spell is sustained)
Thorax (-)
Adalan (-26, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Bair (-29)
M (-37; elevation 15')
Dran'Thor (-32, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Mara (-28, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Deshacerla (-9)

Dran'Thor, Mara, and Deshacerla are up!

I believe I ended the persistent acid effect with my DC15 flat check. Unless there's something in the scenario that makes the DC higher.

"Thanks Bair!" Mara calls out, grateful for the distraction he's providing from the other side.

+1 Striking Shortsword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 vs FF
S. Damage, SA: 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6, 1) + 1 = 9

+1 Striking Shortsword, MAP: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 11 - 4 = 20 vs FF
S. Damage, SA: 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 4, 4) + 1 = 15

+1 Striking Shortsword, MAP: 1d20 + 11 - 8 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 8 = 23 vs FF
S. Damage, SA: 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1, 6) + 1 = 9

Strike 3 times. The last strike was a nat 20, so if the 23 missed it still hit, and if the 23 hit then it becomes a critical for double damage.

1d20 ⇒ 19 Yeah, no more persistent damage

The dwarf isn't quite happy about how he is considered by the foe.

Hey, coward, come back. Otherwise you'll be dead. Well you'll be dead anyway all good considered.

Then he shrugs and casts a new spell against this creature.

Tempest Surge: 2d12 ⇒ (11, 11) = 22

Reflex DC 20. If failure, clumsy 2 and 2 persistent electricity

"Leave the dwarf alone. His temper may be a bit cloudy some days, but he brings the sun too!" calls out DC as she takes aim at the humanoid beast.

Harm - 2nd level - blood: 2d8 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 16 + 2 = 25

@Mara: You did, but by the time I noticed the copy-paste error, it was outside the '1 hour window' for editing.

Mara manages to only get one hit in on the Drake, but it is a good one, dealing a significant amount of damage.

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16.
Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28.

Between them, Dran'Thor and Deshacerla outright murder the mephit, which splats upon the ground upon falling unconscious.

"Muraxi! Noooo!"

The old drake immediately stops fighting, tears rolling down his cheeks as he sobs, his shoulders shaking with the force of his grief at the (apparent) loss of his friend.

At this point, someone can make a Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Deception check.

Get Off My River Front, You Gosh Darn Kids, Round 3:

A (-60; can't take reactions as long as the spell is sustained)
Thorax (-)
Adalan (-26, Persistent Acid 1d6, -5' movement)
Bair (-29)
Dran'Thor (-32)
Mara (-28)
M (-58, Unconscious, Dying 3)
Deshacerla (-9)

Stepping forward, Deshacerla calls out "Stop being a dick and talk to us. Otherwise, we'll eat your soul! Heck, if you're kind enough, I'll even put a good word in with Pharasma for you"

Deception(Expert): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
Eh hero point reroll
Deception(Expert): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Eh...least it's better

Unfortunately, as per the scenario, he only explains *why* he did what he did on a critical success, which would require a 30 on the Deception check (higher, if you tried the other two options!).

That said...

"We were defending ourselves! Do you deny that the city sent you here to murder us?! Now, Muraxi is dead... Take your damn fireworks! I hope you choke on them."

Still crying, he slips into the waters of the river.

With the business with the Drake resolved, albeit in a fashion that leaves those of you without hardened hearts with some twinges of uneasiness, you are able to recover the fireworks, and return them to Amenopheus, who thanks you for your great and speedy work, giving each of you a pouch of coins for your trouble, as well as a 'Dwarven Daisy' firework, to use during the celebrations.

Quest completed! I will send out chronicles when I get home from work.

He's strong from coffee, the black one! They attacked us and it is now our fault if his mate id dead. They are fool! Let's return with the fireworks before it will be late.

Actually, both of them were/are True Neutral...