GM Kate's Extinction Curse [closed]

Game Master Kate Baker

Prism slows down. "Sorry, I said not sure. Rova put a stone into the bear's forehead and it just stopped." She sees Mukluk looking around the wagon. "See anything suspicious?"

As Mukluk stands, the bear gently puts a paw on his shoulder, then the other paw on the other shoulder, then squeezes a little. He drops back down to all fours.

Bear hug!

Mukluk goes into the wagon. The inside, which has been emptied of all furniture and instead layered with countless blankets, terrible. He spots an owlbear claw hanging from the ceiling near the door, most likely a possession of the Great Fortunado, who trained Bardolph. The Great Fortunado, who would have been one of your friends at the Celestial Menagerie, was mugged and killed in an alleyway in Escadar.

Mukluk really thoroughly searches the blankets, and spots some telltale dark pellets: rat droppings.

”Rat poop. Lots and lots of rat poop,” Mukluk holds up a hand and pulls off a few pieces of squished rat poop that had stuck where he had palmed into them. ”And The Great Fortunado’s owl bear talisman. But mostly rat poop. That’s probably what had the bear all angry and stuff. Sleeping with rats will do that.”

Mukluk looks at his wounds and shrugs. He’s had worse and more. He knows he’ll heal slowly over the next few days as he couldn’t afford to pay any priests to heal him even if there were some nearby who could.

”Where to next? The family wagon?” Mukluk will follow on. He made a previous perception check, should probably use that.

Bardolph stops Mukluk from leaving paws at the owlbear claw. It seems like he's offering it to you.

Niksi nods, her expression grave under her mask. "Indeed. This is not the first time we have encountered the work of rats today, perhaps even the same rats. The animal theme of these attacks grows even stronger." Niksi spies Mukluk looking over his wounds. "I can heal you the rest of the way when my I have recharged my magical energies. I am afraid I can only manage no more than a couple of my stronger spells before I need a rest."

She follows after Mukluk musing on the way he "mishears" things. Whether it was a shtick or not, she did not know (she assumes most quirks of circus folk are shticks, perhaps a bit of projection), but--either way--she finds the defamiliarizing effect of his mishearing quite lovely, how it forces people to stop and consider the language they take for granted. She adores anything that can transform the mundane and expected into something fresh and new. She will have to mention it to him sometime.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

"Should we wait a little while then?" Rova asks, looking up to try to judge the time. Time check? And do we have another show/other responsibilities tonight?

"I think we know what happened in the Thunder's wagon and with the Kanbali's so we should maybe go try to find these rats in the woods," she suggests. "There could be some fissure exposing them to Rovagug's gas. That would explain why they're acting so oddly."

Also, in a classic annoying PC question: What's the phase of the moon right now. I'm assuming full, since clearly Groetus is getting closer and has His eye on things right now.

Full moon sounds appropriate! This is the same day as your circus performance, so it is late evening right now. There are no more shows tonight, and other folks are taking care of the necessary post-show work while you are investigating.

"I know it's dark, even with Groetus being so close, but I don't know if we can wait," Rova suggests.

We'll need some source of light. I have torches, though would have to recover all my gear. Also I'll probably go get Thkrull.

Niksi stretches her arms above her head, interlocking her wood-covered fingers as she pulls herself upwards. She casually conjures the sound of groaning wood to accompany the motion. Ghost sound

"I forget how uncommon it is for people to see in the dark. The best I can offer is my eyes, but only as long as we keep them in my head."

"Let's see where these rats came from then." Prism scouts ahead a bit, following the tracks as best as she can in the dark.

Mukluk would prefer to keep going tonight, but also would prefer to wait an hour for another med check since the rules state that we can only patch things up once an hour or so. But also, what’s the chance that the family wagon is going to be another fight? Or maybe we should follow Prism’s lead and see if we can pass a hour? Man, I really miss wands of CLW.

Mukluk, who has darkvision, follows along to the place he doesn’t want to go, into danger while he is wounded. He’s not one to actively complain about it (just be passive-aggressive). Sorry/not-sorry. Hard to RP this particular scene.

He’ll try to defend others as best he can while in his diminished capacity.

* * *Edit:* * *

Mukluk gratefully accepts the owlbear claw from the bear, and the returns the, uh...bear hug. He takes it as an act of apology, though none is needed in his mind.

I'm cool with waiting an hour. I could also be convinced to rest. I know how deadly low level pf2 can be and running around with half health as a frontliner is rough

I also miss CLW wands. Negotiating the minutiae of ooc healing is one of the least interesting aspects of the game imo

With two votes there, I’ll assume that you are waiting an hour before continuing on the Kanbalis’ wagon. You sit around the campfire with most of the performers, including the Kanbalis, who are too spooked to return to their tent.

Yeah, I think there's no reason not to wait to go into the woods. If we want to wait for the Kanbalis too, that's fine. I'll get and Treat Thkrull in the meantime.

Medicine (trained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Success!: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 7) = 8 +8 HP to Thkrull

Also, I'm still assuming I'm using the circus' healer's tools. Can I just bring those with me?

If Rova realizes the Kanbalis are too scared to go to their wagon, she revises her plan, and decides the group should probably make sure it's safe first so they can rest before heading into the woods.

She also goes and gets her adventuring pack in case they need the torches when they go into the wood, hanging the bag from a strap on Thkrull's back.

Negotiating the minutiae of ooc healing is one of the least interesting aspects of the game imo

+1 to this.

We also have the two small potions of healing, but they are too valuable to waste right now. Should be saving them for when we really need it.

Mukluk putters around, waiting for Rova to get her gear and coax her elephant out again. He hopes Rova will take some more time to examine his wounds again before they move to the next wagon.

Does anyone else have medicine trained besides Rova? Mukluk does, but it’s a weak skill for him.

Thkrull feels better, though his head is still sore. Who knew that sloppy thing could hit so hard?

He grumbles softly, reminded of his unhappy time with the other circus before he took his halfling out of there.

If we're waiting the hour, I can Treat Wounds again on both of our wounded before we start exploring.

Medicine (trained) on Mukluk: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Success: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 8) = 12

Medicine (trained) on Thkrull: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

While the group waits, Niksi notices the Kanbali family's distress and takes it upon herself to take the stage at the center of the fire.

"I cannot offer the healing of bodies today, but perhaps, I can offer something else. I would like to tell you all a story."

She stands still in near the center of the gathered people, her hands folded behind her back and holding her hat. She tilts her head up to the sky and speaks, letting the others continue their medical ministrations and such, her story offered to those that want it, but not demanded of those who don't.

"A sweet girl was once born in the dark. She had no name. People called her many things, but none were her name. Her loving heart wandered the dark that raised her for untold years. She never hated the dark. In the dark, she could imagine anything and anyone she wished. The world became her dream, infinite in its potential for love and beauty. The moments when she felt pangs of hunger, her mouth parched with thirst, the bruises of stones under her feat, those were but momentary distractions from the dream."

"She finally found others that dreamed. Her imaginings spread out, the sigh of nestling under the bedcovers, each Other she found showing her just how much wilder and stranger the world was. None of it was real, but it was true, and that was all she ever needed. Her stomach filled each day, her lips smoothed the cracks away, and her bruises healed, and that was all she needed."

"But that place was not for her. The Others grew comfortable, and in their comfort, left no space for her. Perhaps no space would be enough for her, for she had let herself believe in too much and known too little. She had not found the love she wanted, but how could anyone love someone without a name?"

"So she flew away. She ventured into the harsh light for the first time. She could not bear its warmth and comfort, its simplicity and directness. But for the first time, she began to grow into something besides heart and mind. She walked on brittle legs, exposed as carved wood. But, finally able to see, she began to mold herself, a knife whittling away the crusting bark, yearning for the form contained within the wood. Many reared back, their eyes finding a sight they could not bite into, for she was raw and freshly born, and the eyes have no taste for fresh flesh. But she was born real for the first time in countless years. For she walked alone, but not without her name."

"Now that she had a name, maybe she could find a family. Maybe someone would love her. Even if they did not, she could at least be something she herself could love. She dreamt of a world far away, a field of pale sunflowers under a yellow moon. At the center of that field, surrounded by mountains of painted canvas, a fire for all to gather, and tales to be told."

She bows to no one in particular, then takes her seat.

Performance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Corkas clasps loud and wildly not caring if anyone else is. "Thatwas..beautiful!" She beams a smile as her hair turns a bright golden color. She turns to see Rova wrapping a bandage tight around Mukluk and Thkrull. "You going to be able to make it to the wagon." She peers curiously up at Mukluk.

"You going to be able to take it to the flagon."

"Are you saying I can't handle my drink, gnome?" Mukluk tries not to look too indignant. "I know I don't have a beard, but I can still drink when I want to. I just don't need it as much as I did when I was younger. And I just got mauled by a bear, in case you missed that."

Mukluk rises to his feet. "Now, let's get to the next wagon. We've wasted enough time to tending to my wounds." He nods at Rova. "Thank you kindly, Rova. It means a lot."

When others are ready, Mukluk will go examine the wagon of the family for rat tracks.

The other circus members applaud at Niksi's lovely story. Someone starts passing out hot cocoa, with or without a little booze added. However, your group has more work to do before fully settling in for the night.

Approaching the wagon, you easily see rat tracks heading into it, similar to what you saw at Bardolph's wagon.

Suddenly, a halfling woman wearing a headdress in the shape of a rat’s head throws open the door to the wagon!

“Isn’t this a pretty sight,” she cackles, twisting her grip on a gnarled staff. “I had hoped to murder more of you while the whole town was watching. That would have frightened them away from here for good! But a bigger slaughter might be even better; the foolish farmers and poisoners of Abberton will discover your rat-chewed corpses. No one will know how it happened, but everyone will whisper that nature is taking its revenge. And it is, through me! I’ll wager most of the town will be gone in a week, and the rest will fall easily. Then, perhaps, the land can heal from the cancer known as Abberton.”

She sends a powerful handful of fire at Rova, and then a swarm of rats pile out to descend on Niksi and Prism!

flame attack vs Rova: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
sizzle!: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Rat bites on Niksi and Prism: 1d6 ⇒ 3
DC 17 basic Reflex save, please. If you fail, also attempt a Fortitude save

Initiative!
Nemmia
Rats
Rova
Mukluk
Prism
Niksi

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Hero Point Reroll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Niksi runs out of the rats and throws out a mental attack at the halfling woman. ”You would presume to know the will of nature? How ridiculous.”

Stride, then two actions to cast daze. She takes 4 psychic damage and needs to make a will save. On a critical fail, she is stunned 1 next turn

Will save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

She shrieks and holds her head. "Gah! I know the will of nature better than you all! You haven't even noticed that the land is dying, have you?"

Earlier
Rova claps as Niksi finishes her story, entranced by the woman's performance. She was such a natural. And so different. Her stories didn't seem intended to warn people of what was to come -- Rova was used to that -- but rather urge them to think of what could be. Rova was glad she'd found the woman, odd as she is, while she had a chance.

She smiles faintly at Mukluk's words.

Not really. I mean, we're all going to die soon, I think, so feeling a little better before then ... I don't think it really means anything at all.

Now
Rova screams in pain as the fire hits her, burning her terribly. She suddenly thinks back to the old rhyme her mother used to sing her to sleep with, and that maybe ice would be in fact be more nice.

She's so hurt, she instinctively cries out for Thkrull as she pulls a stone from her pouch and sends it flying at the woman who attacked her.

Action 1: Command Animal
Action 2: Load sling staff
Action 3: Fire!

Halfling sling staff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Bludgeoning damage: 1d10 ⇒ 2

GM Kate, is that damage accurate? That was a critical hit.

Thkrull, seeing the horrid rats come swarming out, rears into the air, bringing his mighty feet down on them.

Looks like I'm adjacent. If not, ignore the second attack as I'd have to Stride first
Action 1: Strike!
Action 2: Strike!

Foot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Foot: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 5 = 20
Bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Critical hits are just doubled whatever is rolled, so Rova takes 16 damage.

Rova tries to hit the halfling with a sling and misses, but the halfling's cackles soon turn to groans as Thkrull stomps all over the swarm of rats. Any that survived the elephant's attacks quickly run away.

Rova whimpers as she realizes she's burned even worse than she thought, though she appreciates that Thkrull handled the rats, at least.

Round 1

Action 1: Interact/ draw hammer.
Action 2: Stride.
Action 3: Strike.

Mukluk watches as Rova’s face becomes a smoking cloud but her elephant stomps some rats. Angry at the destruction and hurt the rat lady has caused, Mukluk tosses aside his unwillingness to fight. He’s angry. Drawing his hammer, he moves up to engage the screeching rat-kin.

”I don’t like you hurting my friends.”

Melee Strike:
Hammer: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 to hit;
B: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 ethal damage

Can’t move on map now, but in its face.

Mukluk hits!

Reflex DC 17: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

The rats don't manage to get to Prism as she leaps and bounces across the ground through them just as Thkrull smashes them into a pulp to water the grass. Closing in on the wagon Prism draws her dagger. "How do we have anything to do with the land dying?"

Dagger: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

... ◆⃟ Stride
... ◆⃟ Draw Dagger
... ◆⃟ Attack 1

The halfling moves back. Mukluk gets an AoO.

"I went to the Isle of Erran. The land is not like it was in the ancient texts. The grasslands are no longer green, the ground is barren, and the weather fiercer. The fish are dying, and butterflies no longer fill the fields with color. And it's all the fault of towns like Abberton!"

The halfling commands the plants in the area to rise up.

Entangle, getting all of you! DC 21 Reflex save, please. If you fail, you take a -10 circumstance penalty to your speed until you leave the area. If you critically fail, you are also immobilized for one round. You can use the Escape action to get rid of these effects. The area outlined in green is now difficult terrain.

Initiative!
Nemmia, -11 hp
Rova
Mukluk
Prism
Niksi

”All the fault of clowns like Blabbler John!?” Mukluk repeats angrily. ”Blabbler John is a friend of mine and the best clown we have in the show! He didn’t do nothing to you!” Mukluk swings angrily at the retreating form who hates his clown friend.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 to hit. - AoO
1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 damage

Boom.

A mighty blow! The halfling looks rather injured, but still stands.

Round 2

Action 1: Stride.
Action 2: Strike.
Action 3: Strike.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 Reflex vs. DC 21

Mukluk shakes off what vines he can and moves to finish off the ratjerk.

Melee Strike:
Hammer: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 to hit;
B: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 lethal damage

Melee Strike:
Hammer: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 9 - 4 = 9 to hit;
B: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 lethal damage

Can’t figure out how to move MM via google slides on the map. Can’t get under the spell template, so to speak. Will try again when I have more time.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Niksi has dodged an entangle spell before—hard not to when you’re 183 and have decent reflexes—so she is just able to avoid getting trapped, and then simply steps out. I believe you can step out of difficult terrain, but I may be wrong given the new system. If it needs to technically be a stride action, I’m cool with it

”Do the plants obey you because they love you or because they fear you?” As she speaks, she reaches out for the halfling druid’s(?) mind once more. Daze again, so 4 more psychic damage. DC 17 will save and if she crit fails, she is stunned 1

Actions: Step/stride, two actions to cast daze
Situation changed, so no inspire this round. Sorry :(

I moved you, Mukluk. There's options for changing the order of the selected map element under the "arrange" menu. For a faster solution, I just move the template away for a moment, move myself, and put it back.

Reflex DC 21: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

The vines have a difficult time getting ahold of Prism as she ably passes through and tosses her dagger at the halfling and draws a rapier from her side.

Throw dagger: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

... ◆⃟ Stride
... ◆⃟ Throw Dagger
... ◆⃟ Draw Rapier

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Rova skips back and forth so the plants can get hold of her as she tries to keep her eye on the other halfling and make sense of what she's doing. She reaches for another sling stone and lets it fly right toward her head!

Action 1: Hunt Prey
Action 2: Reload
Action 3: Strike!

Halfling sling staff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Hunter's edge (precision/bludgeoning damage): 1d10 + 1d8 ⇒ (9) + (6) = 15

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Thkrull trumpets in alarm as the plans grab him, stomping furiously at them. He reaches down to take a large bite of the grass. It is food for hin; he is not food for it!

Critical failure, though it's irrelevant as he didn't get Commanded this round.

Mukluk struggles to hit the halfling again.

Will save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

She fights off much of Niksi's psychic assault, and stands confidently. "Once I've killed you, I'll scare off the rest of this town!"

At that moment, an expertly thrown dagger from Prism and perfectly placed sling stone from Rova strike her in the gut and forehead respectively. She gasps, her eyes large, and collapses.

Out of combat

"Quick..tieup...thenutcase." Climbing up into the wagon Prism pulls out some rope and helps secure the halfling as she disarms her. "What was she talking about?"

Is this a situation where you want to take her alive? It sounds like there's GM discretion there.

Mukluk won’t have much patience with angry raving rat ladies who blame his good clown friends for things they clearly didn’t do. He won’t save her, but also he won’t prevent others from doing so.

"What was she talking about?"

”Oh, I dunno. She seems pretty angry about the clowns. She ain’t right,” Mukluk replies as he hears Prism clearly in the silence after the battle.

Mukluk stands over her with hammer raised, ready to deal more damage should she threaten again.

Niksi is not a killer, so her preference would be to take alive

Niksi steadies herself and stands tall, striding over towards the downed druid. She remains stoic as Prism questions the situation. ”Nothing that remotely justifies killing us.” She helps tie the knots.

"Great Groetus!" Rova says, voice a mixture of excitement and horror -- and still pain, from her own wounds. "She's talking about The End! Has anyone else seen anything like that? We need to find out what she knows."

Have we seen any signs of any of this?

Rova immediately tries to Administer First Aid to make sure the halfling doesn't die (yet; obviously she will soon, along with the rest of them...).

Medicine (trained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Medicine (trained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Medicine (trained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

In that case, she stabilized on her own!

The commotion of the battle draws the attention of the other circus performers gathered around the fire. Several folks rush over, including the Kanbalis.

"Who is that? What's happening?"

Prism shrugs. "No clue, she just showed up and started attacking us." She then leans down and whispers to Rova. "Youreally..thinkit..hasto...dowith..theend?

She searches through the halfling's belongings as the others attempt to keep her alive to find out more.

"Oh, definitely," Rova replies. "I knew it was coming, though obviously I didn't know it would be right now. I did try to tell everyone. Do you have ... any family you need to say goodbye to?"

Prism's face darkens as does her hair as everything turns gray at the mention of family. "No," she says sullenly.

"I Do you have ... any family you need to say goodbye to?"

Mukluk looks up at Rova, then at Prism.

"Now, no one needs to any good fried dough now, Rova," Mukluk interjects, trying to keep his focus on the rat lady.

Seeing as she has been healed, Mukluk begins to both disarm her and tie her up. He hands anyone of interest to the lollygaggers talking donuts while he working.