[PFS2, Outpost 3] GM Ferret's 1-03, Escaping the Grave (Inactive)

Game Master FedoraFerret

My apologies for the confusion.

Avulstein and Frenix find a nonfunctioning cart with broken axles behind the armory. This cart was one of many the townsfolk used to transport goods to and from various larger settlements.

New Activity
Repair the Wagon (Crafting)

Tsubodai examines the body, finding that it was a human who was mauled to death by zombies.

Sparky finds census records and historical documents kept by the Goldenflame town council— fortunately far enough from Gibb’s flames that they remain intact. These records detail the history of the town’s inhabitants and notable events in the town’s history, including festivals, feasts, and the like. These documents have light Bulk.

Stopwatch of Doom: 40 minutes

While Stalking Bull and Tsubodai investigate around the plaza, they notice movement near the edge of the plaza as a horse-this one very much alive, and watching you tentatively.

Interacting with the horse requires no action.

What is left to do?

Hey! We found a cart over here we could use, but it needs repairs. I have some skill in craft and a repair kit. I'll get to work on it, if the rest of you want to finish up. Avulstein hollers to the rest of the party.

Stalking Bull tries to piece together the clues he and Tsubodai found on the zombie's corpse. "A human, from Cheliax. Doesn't match any description we got. Right? Better take him anyway."

Avulstein's shouted information joins with the horse that he spots. "Maybe the horse leads us to his owner. Hopefully still alive? Otherwise we'll have a beast to draw the cart." He looks in the direction of the armory. "Frenix, are you good with animals?"

For himself, the Shoanti feels haste. With quick strides he paces to the small building in the northeastern corner of the plaza.

We have a Deception action on the zombie horse to retrieve a piece of metal. And in the tavern, there's two actions left from what I saw: Investigate the gnomish body's armor with Society, or its iconography with Religion.

Let me get this thing out of the Zombie Horse first.
Deception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

I am definitely not good at talking to animals, only my little buddy here. Avulstein I am ok with things of that nature but I don't know if I am as good as you are.

After Frenix gets the item out of the horse's mouth, he is going to investigate the gnomes body.
Perception?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Avulstein you are barely better than I am.

My guess is that Sparky could do a better job at repairing the wagon. Avulstein can attempt to work with the horse.

Hmmm... I'll try to coax the horse into helping us first. The wagon isn't going anywhere, but the horse might.

Avulstein approaches the horse slowly, non-threateningly, and tries to gain its favor.

Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Sparky will take the documents and head out.

His ears perk up when he hears that the wagon needs help.

Hey, I can help with that cart. Don't have a repair kit but I can lend a hand.

Aid Crafting Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"I have tools to craft. You can take," Stalking Bull offers.

Stalking Bull has a repair kit that you could use for a while.

Stalking Bull enters what seems to be a small guardhouse.

New Activity
Search the Guardhouse (no check)

Stalking Bull searches the guardhouse. "No immediate signs of interests," he informs the others. "But I will check quickly."

Still need actions from Tsubodai please.

does anyone have a tally on the tasks that remain? it looks like Society and Religion checks, at which I do not excel. Anything I'm missing?

Tsubodai, in that case you might be better suited to search the guardhouse. I will go back to the Tavern, since Stalking Bull is trained in Society and Religion.

As Stalking Bull sticks his head out of the guardhouse to inform the others, he notices Tsubodai dithering. No time! He beckons the half-orc over. "You search this place. I will go somewhere else." He hustles across the plaza to check on the tavern. Tsubodai might have missed something there. Not too clever fellow...

Religion, DC 14 spoiler: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Stalking Bull is in a hurry, bit is still thorough and perceptive. He spots the painted sign over the tavern entrance. Flaming Wheel. Important for Iomedae. He stretches and swiftly removes the sign, holding it in one hand for the moment.

Inside, he sees the small armored figure with the technicolor hair that was discovered earlier by Tsubodai. Her armor might hold clues. Flame and sword hilt?

Religion, check armor's iconography: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

What's left to look at?

Stalking Bull is strong leader. Not soften speech with please and thank you like some Absalom bard.

Tsubodai checks the guardhouse.

Stalking Bull: The armor's iconography indicates that this gnome was a champion, or at least a devout follower, of Iomedae.

Frenix: Your hand deftly reaches inside the horse's mouth and grabs the piece of metal. Pulling out reveals it to be a wayfinder with the name and ID number of Clement Marten engraved on the inside cover.

Avulstein: Though you approach carefully, the horse is spooked and canters away from you nervously.

Sparky: With your knowledge of engineering and crafting, you're easily able to repair the cart. You believe it could now be used to carry bodies as well as anything too heavy to fit on your person, although you will need either a beast of burden or two strong humanoids to pull it.

Tsubodai: Searching the guardhouse, you find a low-grade cold iron buckler that was kicked underneat the bed and forgotten. Other than that, there is little of value.

Stopwatch of Doom: 50 minutes

A reminder on all activities available to you (including ones you've already done, no comment on whether they were successful, failures or critical failures.).

In addition, Goldenflame College is a 10 minute walk away, but is its own separate area with a different set of challenges and as such I'll need everyone to consider themselves finished here before moving on.

Sparky admires the job he did on the wagon. He hands the tools back to Stalking Bull.

Thanks, friend. I appreciate it.

Sparky then heads to the general store.

Stalking Bull picks up the body of the Iomedaean gnome and walks back to the plaza. When he notices that Sparky has been succesful on the wagon, he loads it there instead of putting it near the others at the plaza. "Not sure they were Pathfinder. But maybe important nonetheless. Deserves proper burial anyway."

I think we're nearly done here, but I agree with Sparky that we should at least check out the general store. Maybe I could try the horse again, perhaps with a makeshift lasso from my rope?

Easy now... easy. I'm not like those dead things. I'm alive and mean you no harm.

Avulstein tries to calm the horse again.

Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Frenix will go to the General Store with Sparky.

Tsubodai will follow Frenix and Sparky to the store.

Sparky or Tsubodai do you guys have either Religion or Society that you could try to look at the 2 other things that we need to do because I do not have them.

i do not have them. i am good for a +1 on religion, but that's it.

As he puts the gnome's body on the cart, Stalking Bull checks the armor itself. Not a Pathfinder. But maybe other clue to their identity?

Society, Tavern armor action: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Avulstein: This time, you're able to calm the horse, and it acquiesces to your touch. Now that you can get a close look, you see that its saddle-ornate but functional-has the Glyph of the Open Road engraved on each side and green-and-gold caparisons. Along the upper edge, it reads "Desert Wind," followed by "Larraz Virtanne." Inside his saddlebags are two labeled minor healing potions.

Stalking Bull: You recognize the styling of the armor and the heavy Iomedean iconography, and realize that this gnome was a Knight of Ozem. In addition to putting her body to rest, her armor is a valuable relic that the Society will be interested in.

Avulstein, Frenix and Tsubodai: As you're about to cross the threshold of the building, Frenix stops the other two as he notices the mold that has grown on the foodstuffs here is potentially very dangerous if touched. Picking around it carefully, you're only able to find one thing that hasn't been destroyed or grown moldy, a bag of rolled oats stored behind the counter.

Society: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"Larazz Virtanne" That was your friend's name eh, Dessert Wind? Don't worry, I'll see you are cared for now.

Got a couple healing potions in the saddle bags.

Avulstein will lead Dessert Wind over to the cart and see to hitching them together.

Frenix will run over with the bag of oats and start feeding the horse.

Good Job Avulstein, your so good with animals! Trix runs over and climbs up and sits on his shoulder

"Knight of Ozem," Stalking Bull states as he gently lays down the gnome in the cart. He goes back for the other remains and items they had gathered. "Well done on the cart. All ready to go to Goldenflame College?" He draws his katana, unsure what they might encounter on their way.

Aye Stalking Bull, if we are done here, let's press on.

Yes, let's press on and I could play a tune to make our walking that much more enjoyable. Frenix pulls out his violin and starts playing as we walk.

Sparky enjoys Frenix's music and starts dancing as he follows everyone else.

Performance: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Despite his tall, lanky, and awkward stature, Sparky is able to keep up with the music and not embarrass himself with his dance moves.

Stalking Bull looks displeased at Frenix's attempt to provide some levity. "This mission is not enjoyable," he states as if it were a fact. "We walk through graveyard. Countless died, or still suffer as undead. No reason for dance." He looks left and right, searching for signs of trouble. "If the undead legion finds us because of sound we make, we will die."

Frenix stops playing and looks at Stalking Bull, Why are you always such a grumpy gills. There is always a time for music, it lightens the spirits even when we are at our lowest. Then he turns around and continues to play a tad quieter.

Hmmm... I've learned not to argue with him Stalking Bull. Besides, some cultures celebrate with music and dance in the face of death, as a way of honoring the lives of the fallen.

"Maybe you are right," Stalking Bull acknowledges. "Grumpy, not always. But have lost much recently. Moon and sun, finally together. But was not meant to be..."

He notes that Frenix's playing is noticeably softer. "Thank you." He still looks out for trouble as they talk, but he seems a bit better at ease.

Although run down, Goldenflame College still bears signs of its once-beautiful architecture: dirty and ivy-wrapped columns, majestic archways, and a partially intact stained-glass window portraying Iomedae herself.

Two wide staircases lead into the college, and centered above them is the religious symbol of Iomedae. Engraved into the graying stone is “Goldenflame College, Est. 4083 ar.” A pair of sweeping staircases lead to a veranda across the entire front of the college, with entrances to a reception area and the main hall on either side. Lying facedown on the porch is a small humanoid corpse, its hand outstretched to the door of Goldenflame College. It's clad in dirtied white and red robes with gold trim, shredded from the back as though by cruel claws. A small notebook has fallen nearby, its pages stained red with blood.

Same rules as the town. I've marked each room of note. Tell me what room you want to look at and I'll give you the description and the activities there.

[u]Porch Activities[/u]
Read the Notebook: Academia Lore or Society
Examine the Body: Medicine or Perception
Examine the Robes: Religion or Society.

Stopwatch of Doom: 70 minutes

Tsubodai stoops to examine the body.

Perception
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Frenix is going to look at the notebook. Let's see what is in here.

Academia Lore: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Society on building: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Hmm... fancy...

Avulstein joins the others by the Corpse.

Religion on robes: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Society: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Despite their hurry, Stalking Bull takes a short moment to admire the Goldenflame College for the building it once was. "Really old. Pre-Cheliax. Shame that it will be lost in land of the dead."

As he walks up the stairs, he gets an impression for the size of the building. "Big. Could take a while to search. If we have that time." Seeing as there's a few people exploring the veranda, Stalking Bull move into the reception area.

Stalking Bull would like to check B1. If I misunderstood and we're already there, he'll check B2.

Notebook (Academia Lore): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

That'll be B2. It has nothing in it, just a reception, so I'll move you to B3 too.

Stalking Bull finds a dusty sofa and small chairs as the only furnishings that remain in this modest room. Two small windows to the east look out over the front lawn, and doors exit to the north, west, and south.

Perhaps once majestic, this cavernous hall now truly resembles a cave: dark and dank. Dirt and standing water obscure the once-pristine white and gray tile, and stone colonnades stretching to the ceiling are covered in grime and mold. Sweeping staircases to the northwest and southwest lead upward, as does a spiral staircase. Smashed statues and torn paintings line the walls here: the signs of a struggle. Several doors exit to various rooms to the north, south, and east.

[u]Main Hall Activities[/u]
Examine the Portraits (Society)

Sorry for the slow pace gang, but I need to get everyone's 10-minute activities before moving time forward.

Tsubodai moves toward the door to the right of the main hall.

i don't think you're waiting for me?

Short post from phone to keep the game going, was already on my way to bed.

Society, examine portraits: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Frenix is going to try to read the notebook again.

Academia Lore: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Tsubodai: You learn that the body is that of a halfling or a gnome, although they've been mauled beyond your ability to recognize which.

Sparky: Flipping through the notebook with Frenix, you understand that the esoteric diagrams you find within seem to be some sort of research field notes.

Everyone else: Your investigations bear no fruit.

Stopwatch of Doom: 80 minutes

"Did you find anything?" Stalking Bull calls back to his companions. Frustrated by his lack of progress, he moves deeper into the building. He silently scolds himself. What am I doing, looking at paintings!

He takes the first door he sees, to his left.

Hmmm... I think there might be something significant about these robes but I just can't remember. Still they're small enough to bring back with us, even if we aren't sure we're supposed to. Desert Wind has the cart after all.

Avulstein looks at the building.

Omenous old, abandoned building,eh? Nothing bad ever happens in these... he says as he enters and heads to investigate B6.

Frenix will follow closely behind Avulstein.

Stalking Bull: The velvet-lined sofa pushed up against the north wall is caked in dust. Broken chairs rest in the southwest. A small closet and empty office, both with their doors torn off or kicked in, are to the west. Closed wooden doors lead to the east and south.

No activities in this room.

Avulstein and Frenix: This spacious classroom still contains some relatively intact seating and a dusty old rug. To the west, the floor is sodden, and part of it has collapsed, revealing a hole filled with shattered bookshelves, broken chairs, and other decor. Doors
exit to the north.

[u]Classroom Activities[/u]
Search the Room (Perception)