GM CariMac's 10-12 Breath of the Dragonskull (Inactive)

Game Master CariMac

@Laaf: It's the name of the druid.

The wolverines ignore Lekki and Laafdahni's attempt to get them to come to them. Dragbog scrambles out of the way of the creatures as they move close to you.

Are you all trying to avoid them or something else? The party is up.

Realizing that the wolverines are not responding to her overtures, Laafdahni changes tactics. "We should let them pass, if that is their intent. Step back to give them space so they do not feel threatened, and do not look them in the eye, as they may take it as a challenge." I do hope the elven forest guardian is unharmed, though if his animal is fleeing I fear for him.

Taking a step back, Osten allows the animals to pass.

The bird chirps something uncoherent in auran, before nodding at Laafdahni and her plan. "Poor creatures, the fire must have really spooked them. Perhaps if we leave them alone, as Laaf said, they will let us be."

Definitely avoid.

"If they belong to this 'guardian,'" says Leyten, "their flight is not a good sign. Let's be reckless and move in the direction they ran from."

The wolverines rush past the group.

The party moves further into the forest. The last stretch of the Finadar Forest before the Dragonskull’s village is choked with smoke and ashes making it difficult to breathe and hindering movement as piles of ash and smoldering embers make the footing treacherous.

Dragbog begins to sing a quiet song as he leads you through the soot.
Stoke the ember, build the flame
Take its food to keep it tame
Chop the earth and cut the roots
From the ashes grow green shoots

You are keeping an eye out for the druid.

I need perception or Survival Checks for those who are searching for the Druid. Failure on the check will have consequences so choose wisely Pathfinders.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

The ash and smoke are so thick that Laafdahni has the hardest time seeing anything. Oh, how glorious a long soak in a cool, quiet pool with crisp, clean air would be! The pale ashes show up starkly on her dark skin and hair.

Waiting for the animals to pass allows Osten to catch his breath a bit. [i"First they send us to the land of Air. Now we have been sent to the Flames. Where exactly will they send us next.[/i]

Suddenly, Osten points into the distance. Or much closer. It's really hard to tell, but it all seemed dramatic!

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Osten notices a a flame-shrouded bower with an elf trapped inside.

You must either navigate or clear a path through the burning trees and brush to reach the druid, succeeding at either an Acrobatics check or a Strength check. Small or smaller creatures gain a +2 circumstance bonus on the Acrobatics check.

I also need another Fort Save from everyone except for Osten. This is to become fatigued.

Leyten moves forward once Osten points out the trapped elf. He jumps over the brush as best as he's able.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

If the Fortitude save is related to breath, Leyten is safe, thanks to his No Breath feature. But just in case it's NOT breath related...
Fortitude save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Flowing through the spaces between the burning brush like water over rapids, Laafdahni follows after Leyton to reach the druid.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Fortitude: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

"Hello? Are you hurt? We are coming to help you!" Her soot-smeared brow furrows in concern for the elf's safety.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Is the elf conscious? Are there any visible wounds? Are they stuck (physically pinned)?

STR: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Oh dreaded dicebot, why have you decided to torture Osten this way?

Reflex: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 = 28
Fort: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 1 = 14

"Poor creature! Aaaaahhhh, here I come!" He moves as quickly as he can in his armor towards the wounded creature and casts cure light wounds on it.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

All but Osten manage to find their way into the burning structure with the elf. He's alive but the smoke has caused him to be unresponsive. The healing makes him look better. He's trapped in the bower though.

Now how to get him out of the bower?

Finally, you must extricate Cenenviel from the bower, requiring a Knowledge (engineering) or Survival check. Any of the checks required in this challenge may be replaced by an appropriate Profession check or situationally appropriate spell of at least 1st level.

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Laafdahni isn't very strong, but she does her best to help move the elf out to clearer ground. Once the group has him at the edge of the bower, she calls out around her coughs: "Take him please, Osten!"

Osten grabs a thick branch that has avoided most of the deadly flames. He steps in and wedges it under the bower. Using it as a lever, he strains to shift the load off of the pinned elf.

Survival (fatigue): 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 10 - 2 = 24

I genuinely misread that, as elk instead of elf…

The old bird, will do his best by guiding Osten's movements by pointing out the structural strengths in the load, "Ahhhh, *cough* you've gotta move that big branch first, and then the.. *cough*… smaller ones! That's a lad, put those *cough* big muscles into it!"
Engineering: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Damn old coot! Always squakin'!

"Yeah! ...Yeah! I ...see it. Feel free ...to jump in...any time!"

Leyten stops a few feet away. "I've never done this before - at least not like THIS - but I'm feeling bold today." He says to Cenenviel, "Go limp! Don't resist!" He extends an arm and concentrates.

This'll be interesting. Now that Osten has gotten the bower off of Cenenviel, Leyten will using the Pulling Infusion of his kinetic blast to pull the elf toward him. It's a Drag Combat Maneuver, using Leyten's Constitution instead of his Strength. Ideally, Cenenviel will NOT resist! Leyten accepts 2 points of burn to move Cenenviel a maximum of 10 feet toward him.
Drag Combat Maneuver: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Working together in an effective team the Pathfinders remove Cenenviel from the burning bower. He coughs and takes in deep breaths of the slightly clearer air.

"Thank you."...his voice is scratchy from smoke. "I am so happy you came along. Dragbog? What are you doing here with these people?"

"They fix the fires. They smart. I lead the way." Dragbog replies.

"You are going to stop the elementals that are bonded with the dragon skeletons? Be careful they are dangerous."

"Here" he hands over a Goodberry to each of you, and a Snapleaf. "I can also cast Endure Elements on you all. It will make navigating the area easier."

"Thank you. These gifts are most appreciated, as is the spell you offer. How are you feeling?" After he has answered, she volunteers: "We saw a couple of wolverines run past, going in that direction," Laafdahni gestures as she speaks. "Dragbog said the one with the necklace is yours."

Osten lungs spasms into a coughing fit. "Wait. Elementals are doing what...with skeletons of dragons? As in more than one?"

Leyten takes the offered Goodberry, but he too looks up with Ceneviel mentions the elementals. "Dragon skeletons bonded with elementals? That's a thing?"

He asks Ceneviel, "What do they want? Is there a purpose to what they're doing?"

"I don't know what they want. I don't know the purpose. They are elemental creatures. What did you think they were?"

He looks relieved as Laafdahni lets him know his familiar is all right. "That's my familiar. He'll be back. I sent him away from the flames. Thank you for letting me know he's still alive."

"Huuuh? Stop the elementals bonded with the wagon specimen? That's odd, are wizards making sentient wagons these days...? And wouldn't it burn up in the flames?"

He sighs, "Tht's a very good question, Leyten my dear boy. But also, how are they causing all this fire? And where do we go?"

Laafdahni places her delicate hand on the druid's arm. "We would rather not leave you here, but we must continue on our way before the fires worsen. Do you feel well enough to walk, and would you rather go your own way or continue with us?" Her limpid, turquoise eyes are full of concern for the elven man. In the smoke-hazed reddish-orange glow from the fires her eyes seem almost to glow as she searches his face for signs that he is unfit to move.

"More importantly, can you get this smoke outta my lungs?" Any chance he has something to remove my 'Fatigued' condition?

"Fire elementals," ponders Leyten. "Ice and water magic would help us fight them, or at least buy us time until we can figure out a way to send them back where they belong."

He looks at Laafdahni and Lekki for any suggestions about magic.

Nodding at Leyton, Laafdahni volunteers: "I know some simple spells that can be useful."

They're just cantrips, though. She only knows two 1st level spells: Mage Armor and Color Spray.

"I'm afraid I can't help you with your fatigue young man. You'll need to sleep to clear that up. Unless someone has a wand of Lesser Restoration. I can use the wand to cast it."

"Thank you young lady. I'll be fine. I'm going to head away from the fires and look for my companion. You can clearly handle yourselves and can take care of the elementals without a tire elf tagging along." He stands slowly, but is steady on his feet.

I always wondered if elves might be cowards. Guess now I have some proof.

"Well, if you insist..." says Leyten in a grim monotone. He shares a look with Osten.

After Ceneviel has left their group, he says, "That was enlightening. So, my friends. We've flung ourselves at air creatures and liquefied a few cold foes. Shall we move along and become fire fighters next?"

With a warm smile in her eyes, Laafdahni acknowledges Leyton's observation. "Indeed. After you." She gestures to Osten and Leyton to lead the way and for Lekki to follow them. It would not do for the old bird to fall behind.

Leyten smiles and takes the lead.

The rocks and scorched ruins of the Dragonskull village spill down a stony valley studded with the scorched stumps of small trees. In the center of a small dell at the southern end of the valley juts a granite monolith, graven with fiery runes.

The Dragonskull tribe’s village is a sprawling wasteland of scorched earth, crackling stumps, and bones seething with strange fire. In some places the skeletons of dragons are arranged to serve as crude huts, with smoldering rags hanging across ribs and spinal cords strung with rope holding up the charred remains of hammocks.

On a small rise in the southern edge of the village, a stone monolith standing roughly three feet tall and covered in cyclops runes crackles with arcing flames As you observes the monolith from a distance you soon notices that the fires surrounding the monolith occasionally arc out and “crawl” away, slowly simmering until they come into contact with a draconic skull which begins shuddering and snapping to strange, fiery life.

That looks like trouble. Laafdahni immediately begins casting Mage Armor on herself, wishing she was immune to fire. Wryly she comments: "Diplomacy worked well enough with the centaurs, but it may be too much to hope for an encore here."

"Yes. It's a rock," says Leyten. "A magical, powerful rock, but still a rock." He looks around at the dragon skeletons. "But it's self-aware enough to create protectors. Well, if you have any protections, now is the time to use them."

He reaches into the sash that runs diagonally across his chest and pulls out a potion flask with a red stopper. He pops open the stopper and downs the sour liquid.

Leyten drinks his potion of resist energy (fire). He has resistance for the next 30 minutes.

"Ahhhhhh, my back is so sore from all the hiking we've been doing, but let's as you young people say - rock! Ha, get it! Ol' bird still got it!" The tengu makes his preperations by ruffling his feathers and straightening his rice paper hat, which for some strange reason has been saved from the fire and sits comfortably on his head.

Lekki will cast shield on himself and drinks a potions of resist energy fire, and maintains his gift of will (+10 to will) on Osten.

Oh! Right! Laafdahni had forgotten about the potion of resist energy that she was given earlier. She pulls it from her pack, and drinks it as well.

Seeing the scholars taking the time, Osten swallows down his potion as well.

Cari, is the animation of the dragon skeletons an ongoing thing or is it more of a start-and-stop thing, where the skeletons move only when the fire touches them?

They only move when the fire touches them. It's the elementals combining with the skeletons that makes them move.

The map is updated. It's in my header. What would you like to do?

Finally seeing something to vent his frustration on, the barbarian wastes little time attempting to 'resolve' the situation.

Ax: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage: 1d12 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
If evil outsider, add: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Weapon considered GOOD aligned. First round of Bloodrage. Seven rounds remain.

Here goes nothing. Wondering if any of these beings is willing and/or capable of communicating with them, Laafdahni calls out to the elementals, and even the stone: "Why are you doing all of this?" It's a long shot...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Of course, since Osten is already hacking one of them to tiny bits, she doubts anything but a fight will happen here. But how to stop the stone from triggering these things... Hmm...

Lekki sighs, waits for the creatures to react, and then will decide if he should help Osten or not.

[spoiler Perception Check]The sloping, smoky valley leading to the monolith is treacherous, slick with fallen ash and greasy soot hiding scorching piles of burning embers. If you step in these you may fall and burn yourself.[/spoiler]

There is no response to Laafdahni's request for a conversation. Osten obliterates the dragon skull he attacks.

The other Dragon Skull moves over and attacks Osten. His bite hits. 4 DMG

Osten I need a Reflex Save DC 11 or you take Fire Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Party Up
C1: 25
Leyten Krovt: 18
Lekki Pioro: 15
Laafdahni Riverrun: 11
Osten Grimhelm: 5

Lekki will begin by casting bless on the party. He sqwacks loudly, pointing at the dragon skull.

"Now do the same to that one, Osten!" He is thinking to himself.

Well, I suppose we are doing this, though I cannot shake the feeling that there ought to be a different solution to this problem than simply destroying these things. Despite her misgivings, Laafdahni steps forward 10 feet and casts a spell at the elemental dragon skull that just attacked Osten.

Ranged Touch (Cold Splash): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 201d3 ⇒ 1
Laafdahni's Bloodline Arcana allows her to change any spell's elemental damage to Cold damage. This spell was originally Acid Splash.

Reflex {Fatigued}: 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 2 - 1 = 11

Spinning on the next set of flaming bones, Osten swings his axe straight through them.

MORE OF THE SAME! {Bless/Fatigued}: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 - 1 = 26
Dragonslaying!: 1d12 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24
If evil outsider, add: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Weapon considered GOOD aligned. Second round of Bloodrage. Six rounds remain.

Seeing the frustration on Laafdahni's face, Leyten says, "Don't give the monolith anything to animate, then we can deal with it!"

He extends an arm at the first skeleton that Osten attacks. Purplish energy streaks from his hand. Then he begins moving carefully toward the stone.

Negative Blast attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 Leyten goes before Lekki, so no bonus from the bless spell
Roll to confirm crit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Negative Energy damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Bonus Critical damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Move: Going toward the monolith. Cari, how far away is it?