[PFS2, Outpost III] GM Ferret's 1-04, Bandits of Immenwood (Inactive)

Game Master FedoraFerret

"There have been reports of bandits in the woods" notes Teja.

"I have also heard of Centuars, Minotaurs and Harpies, as well as the more normal wildlife. But that is more general stories than anything especially recent."

She makes sure the horses are hitched right, climbs aboard the wagon, and then pauses. "We should check the inventory against what is actually here."

As a blues musician, Bubba has some knowledge of the workings of the criminal mind. After leaving the tavern and moving over to the wagon, he scans the area looking for anyone paying undue attention to the party and its wagon.

"Bandits might have 'friends' in town who tip them off about valuable cargo."

Everything in the inventory is accounted for. If there's anything in particular you would like to look at, please say so.

Teja tries to see if the Sea Dragon symbol is well cared for, and if she can see anything...odd.. about it.

Emdi will unroll some of the rolled portraits to see if he can recognize any of the pictures.

Kazikli watches over Emdi's shoulder. After he manages to part with the portrait, he separates the relics into small piles. "Let us see what grand significance these may have."

I'd like to divvy up the artifacts and detect magic a few times to narrow things down. If I can catch which items have an aura, I'll use read aura. That takes a minute per casting, so may cut down on that if there's lots of magic.

Everything in the inventory is accounted for. If there's anything in particular you would like to look at, please say so.

Zac would like to look at all the pretty girls.

"Hey! Why you unpacking everything. Let's get going!" says Heyou!

"We can look at it all when we get the Grand Lodge." A thought comes to the goblin.

"So, how many days should this take?"

No answers from Khoumrock about what to expect?

"I thought it was just one days travel" sighs Teja.

What time of day is it? If we sailed overnight, then if it is morning that would make sense. No point in camping overnight if we don't need to.

Like Heyou! would have remembered such a mundane detail, though it wasn't actually given. However, it looks like it is 50 or so miles, as the crow flies.

The sea dragon is well preserved, chipped in a few places but it only seems to be by the passage of time.

The portrait depicts a whirlwind tearing through an otherwise calm seascape.

Inside the wooden chest containing pottery shards and shell fragments is a dull gray aeon stone. While the carved ebony box is not itself magical, there is an aura of magic inside of it. Each of the carved stone statues radiates a faint abjuration aura, while the bronze medallion of the sun radiates a faint evocation aura. Inside one of the open scroll cases is a scroll of wall of wind.

"Let us put these back. What ever they are, we need to get them back to Absalom." says Teja.

Once they are packed securely away, Teja will take the reins and head off.

As Teja directs the wagon out of the stable, the wind picks up some and the rain begins to fall a little harder. Most of the party notices an unusual number of frogs hopping around the road and grass. And then more. And then more. Until all of a sudden it isn't merely an unusual number but a swarm, one that directs itself straight at the wagon.

The frog swarm is still finishing coming together, but it has already begun hopping in eerie unison towards you, croaking ominously.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go
Zac
Bubba
Teja
Emdi
Kazikli
Frog Swarm
Bubba

Zac will delay until everyone else goes, though he will still go before Frog Swarm, him being melee, I don't want to be in people's ways. Plus I don't want to be the one to attack if others have ideas of animal handling on the swarm or whatever.

"Frogs. Amphibians... There is something odd going on here. I'll try to keep the wagon going. Surely they can't keep up with us."

Cracking the reins she calls out "Giddyup! Heyyou..Git outa the way. "
Moved you aside one square for ease of seeing on the map.

"Frogs. Amphibians... There is something odd going on here. I'll try to keep the wagon going. Surely they can't keep up with us."

Cracking the reins she calls out "Giddyup! Heyyou..Git outa the way. "
Moved you aside one square for ease of seeing on the map.

This action assumes we are all still in the wagon when init is rolled, DM has us outside the wagon on the map, but I really don't know. It could be in box text saying the characters exit the wagon when this happens.

Kazikli starts at the appearance of so many creatures. Too slow to draw his axe, he directs a blast of wind to scatter the swarm.

Casting Burning Hands from Air bloodline, DC 17 basic Reflex.

Bludgeoning: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

I seem to be twice in the initiative order.

Bubba is quickly in fine voice.

"Oh my mama, she squashed some frogs, squashed some frogs..."

First action - inspire courage.

Second action - recall knowledge with bardic lore.

Bardic Lore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"Frogs are huge creatures with giant tusks vulnerable to acid!"

Third action - draw falchion

Emdi draws his shortbow, moves up behind the wagon, and aims for a frog's tusk.

Shortbow, IC: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 = 26
Piercing, IC: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

I am unclear how Glimpse of Redemption works with large enemies. Do I get Glimpse if any square is within 15', or does the whole enemy need to be within 15'?

Edited for IC

Emdi draws his shortbow, moves up behind the wagon, and aims for a frog's tusk.

[Dice=Shortbow]1d20+8
[Dice=Piercing]1d6

I am unclear how Glimpse of Redemption works with large enemies. Do I get Glimpse if any square is within 15', or does the whole enemy need to be within 15'?

Emdi, I believe you'll get +1 to hit and +1 damage because of Bubba's inspire courage.

Thanks!

I seem to have been missed in initiative?
"Me got this!!! Me got BOMBS! Me will heal you all up afterwards!"

I think I go after the frogs

Heyou!: My mistake, that second Bubba should've been Heyou! You go last in the order.

Emdi: Yes, as long as any square of the creature is within 15'.

Zac: You began combat where you were on the map.

The buffeting winds from Kazikli's spell blow a staggering number of the frogs away, while Emdi's arrow strikes perfectly true and cleanly skewers through almost a dozen of the tiny frogs. Between the two blows, a majority of the frog swarm dies, and the remainder disperses.

Combat over! Turns out an AoE spell and a critical hit will do that.

Emdi collects the skewered frogs in case they need a snack on the way.

"Mount up everyone. I think this is going to be an eventful journey." sighs Teja.

"Lets not waste any more time."

"REGULATORRRRS!"

There's no more incident as you leave town, driving the horses and carriage forward. The road is still slick with mud, but the rain seems to have finally abated. The view of the sky is limited to a narrow strip above the road, lined with the spreading boughs of the Immenwood. Thunder still rumbles above the trees, and the sky looks as if it may continue the deluge at any moment. The normal sound of forest animals has been replaced by a cacophony of hoarse cries, growls, and screams. It is clear that the residents of the Immenwood are not happy to see visitors.

Can I get a general "marching order?" Who's in the carriage, who's riding up front with Teja, who's going alongside the horses?

Emdi will be about 10' behind whoever's planning to take the most melee damage.

Bubba will walk alongside the horses.

Heyou definitely collects his share of frogs, snacking on the way.

On the other hand, he appears to want to stay away from the stompy feet of the horses, and would be willing to ride up in the carriage, next to Teja. "Dem horses are not to be trusted." explains Heyou! "You look the other way, and dey gonna kick you and stomp on you. I know... it happened to my friend, Squishy. He got da name when da horse stomped on his face. He was never the same since."

"Don't you worry about the horses Heyou. " says Teja in a reassuring tone of voice.

"While I'm not teamster, these ones look pretty placid to me. I just hope they don't fall asleep on the trip."

Shaking the reins she calls out "Giddyup"

The little goblin medic nonetheless keeps a wary eye on the horses, regardless of Teja's reassurance.

Kazikli walks briskly, his axe out and ready to get up close. He mutters vague prayers to Gozreh and engages in conversation when prompted.

Up front as most as possible while not driving the horses

The cacophony grows louder, particularly the angry sound of sea birds squawking, close as you still are to the ocean. In fact, you notice a flock of ospreys has actually gathered nearby, and begins swooping in on you!

Most of the birds get the drop on you, swarming the wagon. They rip and tear at the wagon's tent covering, shredding away at it until one finally manages to tear it open. Another bird gets inside and grabs hold of a rope bundling together the rubbings and charts the Pathfinders before you put together.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go
Blue
Green
Black
Red
Pink
Orange
Kazikli
Teal
Bubba
Zac
Teja
Yellow
Emdi
Heyou!

So. Many. Ospreys.

Mechanical notes: Wagon has taken 4 total damage and is currently Broken. This has no effect on its operational functions but it does mean there are sufficient holes torn in the canopy for creatures to fit through. Entering the wagon normally requires an action to untie the flap serving as a door in the rear, but you can also now Squeeze through the holes if you choose.

Teja, the horses are currently moving and will continue to move at the bottom of initiative unless you Command them to stop as an action requiring a successful DC 18 Nature check.

If they're hitting the wagon top, how high up are they? I assume out of melee range, 10 or 15 feet or so. May affect my action.

"Ospreys? Wait, isn't there a Seeker called Osprey? I wonder if he sent them to us?" muses Heyou!

"I doubt it. Why would a seeker attack a pathfinder wagon?" mutters Teja. "Keep going, or stop and fight them?" she asks the group.

"We can't drive this wagon faster than they can fly."

Bubba is getting ready to use Telekinetic Projectile.

"Defend the relics!" Kazikli roars, preparing to blast the birds away from the wagon. Or just hit them.

"Ah! You mean use bombs! I got dis!"

They're within melee range, they would be just above you.

Kazikli hurries forward and around, swinging his axe.

Greataxe vs. Blue: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Greataxe vs. Pink: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Kazikli nearly slips in the mud as his first attack is wildly off-target, but his second strikes true, knocking the osprey out of the air in a puff of blood and feathers.

Another bird comes flitting in and darts inside the wagon. It grabs at the reed mat with its small bird claws and begins to tug at it.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go
Blue
Green
Black
Red
Orange
Kazikli
Teal
Bubba
Zac
Teja
Yellow
Emdi
Heyou!

Sighing, Teja tries to stop the wagon.
nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

She then stands, and draws her rapier.

Bubba starts a bluesy serenade.

"Ospreys got a lot of blood, lot of blood, lot of blood!
Pop goes the osprey!"

One action - Inspire Courage (+1 to hit and damage)

Second and third action - fire Telekinetic Projective at bird that's 10 feet west of Bubba (I'm colorblind so I have trouble with color designations of enemies)

Telekinetic Projectile to hit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Telekinetic Projectile damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Zac moves into melee to power attack a bird holding his bastard sword two handed. hit: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
dmg: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (9, 8) + 4 = 21

The horses obey Teja's commands, albeit with a strange sense of reluctance, and stop pulling the cart.

Bubba's telekinetic attack goes wide.

Meanwhile Zac's attack seems to swing true, except that his sleeve catches on a hanging branch behind him and causes him to stumble and miss instead.

The last osprey of the flock swoops in and dives through a hole in the tattered canopy, though it starts from far enough back that it's unable to grab anything.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go

Blue
Green
Black
Red
Orange
Kazikli
Teal
Bubba
Zac
Teja
Yellow
Emdi
Heyou!

Am I missing something, or did Zac's hit magically miss?

Emdi will draw his shortbow, and fire twice at the nearest one.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Shortbow, MAP: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 5 = 20
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Emdi will use Glimpse of Redemption if one of his qualifying allies (attacker and defender within 15') is hit.

It seems like Zac's hit was magically downgraded to a miss, yes.

Both of Emdi's arrows are aimed straight for the heart of the osprey, but a sudden inexplicable gust of wind knocks the first off course. The second does clip its wing though.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go

Blue (3 damage)
Green
Black
Red
Orange
Kazikli
Teal
Bubba
Zac
Teja
Yellow
Emdi
Heyou!