GM Jhaeman's "To Scale the Dragon" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Oh please oh please oh please...

Strength: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

Pai's white knuckle grip doubtless isn't strong enough. "WAAAAAHHHH!!!"

Oh please oh please oh please...

Strength: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Pai's white knuckle grip doubtless isn't strong enough. "WAAAAAHHHH!!!"

Pai manages to hold on again, but if Pethwen doesn't get control of the sled, disaster is about to strike!

Pai, you posted twice with different results. I'm not sure if this is what you intended, but I'll treat this as your promotional item reroll since the second roll succeeded and the first one failed.

Pethwen, I need one handle animal check from you to see if you get the sled under control or if something bad happens.

Yikes! What happened is that it looked like the site ate my post, so I retyped it. When I submitted, I only saw the first one that failed. I don't know anything about rerolls, so I doubt I have any.

Pai, players who own certain types of licensed Pathfinder/Starfinder merch (generally, shirts, messenger bags, or character sheet folios) are entitled to one free reroll per session. Details are here. Do you have any of these items?

OK, if an 18 at +3 wasn't good enough, this doesn't look good for Pethwen and Pai! :O

Pethwen continues to try to get the sled and the dogs back under control. "Pai! Just hang on a little bit longer! I'm doing my best here...now if I can just get us to slow down a little bit more..."

Handle Animal (untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Ketephys be praised! Hopefully that is enough!

Somehow, Pethwen manages to get her sled under control! But there's no time for celebration. Four dogsleds full of Aspis Consortium agents, seeing their planned ambush foiled, emerge from cover and give chase!

Okay, this is going to be a bit complicated, so please read carefully and be patient. I've placed your relative positions on Slide # 2. You want to progress toward the bottom of the screen (The Tail). Right now, you're in the Talons section, and the Aspis sleds are right behind you in the Wings. We'll stick with this abstract representation as long as there's a chase, but if a sled stops completely (or is wrecked) then I'll shift anyone involved over to another map for more traditional tactical combat.

Mushers: Your sleds are moving at a "5" on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the fastest. The Aspis sleds are moving at a "8" (faster than you) and are trying to catch up to you. As a move action you can try to "mush" (increase speed by 1) or "break" (decrease speed by 1), and as a full-round action you can try to "halt" (stop completely). Each of these maneuvers requires a successful handle animal check. The area that you are in now, the Talons, has two paths: an upper path with a shallow incline (slower but safer) and a lower path with a steeper incline (much faster but more dangerous). Either path you take, I'll need a handle animal check to see if you navigate it safely (and if you want to do a maneuver like speeding up or slowing down, I'll need a separate handle animal check for that.

Passengers: You've got a few options. You can hold on tight to your sled so you don't get bounced off if your sled goes out of control; you can engage in ranged combat at a -4 penalty on attack rolls; or you can cast a spell with a successful DC 15+spell level Concentration check. I'll use GM discretion as necessary to adjudicate anything beyond these three options.

Initiative (Round 1)

Constantin (musher)
Pethwen (musher)
Pai (passenger)
Andor (passenger)
Aspis
Yaiho (musher)

Bold may go!

Andor retrieves an oil of grease from his minor bag of holding.

He readies an action to throw the oil flask on the steering handle of an Aspis sled to make maneuvering difficult!

GM, has an hour passed since Andor took his mutagen during the fight before discovering the grave?

Ready action to throw oil of grease touch attack (+6Dex, +4 BAB) vs AC ? : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 +2 more to hit in case mutagen is still active.

Andor, your mutagen will still be in effect.

"You still with me Pai?" Pethwen remains intently focussed on the path ahead, her eyes wide with excitement and her voice sounding like the frantic staccoto notes from the high scale of a piano. "Let me know if it looks like we may need to stop and take these Aspis on together!"

In the meantime, she veers towards the safer, shallower incline, worried about her little companion who almost got flung from the sled only moments ago.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Constantin nudges the reins over towards the upper path, calling out somewhat sheepishly over his shoulder.

"The better part of valour is discretion."

Mush!: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21
Keep Control: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 17

Concentration: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 So no guidance for Constantin next turn

Andor hurls a vial of slippery grease all over the nearest Aspis dogsled, and the reins slips out of the musher's hands! The sled careens wildly out of control, throwing both the musher and the passenger off! The two bounce painfully down the slope.

Meanwhile, both Pethwen and Constantin choose the slower but safer route, and manage to keep their sleds under control.

The musher of the Red Aspis sled failed his Reflex save vs the grease, and his sled is out of control for one round. Unable to hold on, both the musher and the passenger are thrown free and take 7 and 16 points of nonlethal damage, respectively. Good work Andor!

Pethwen's sled is still at Speed 5, while Constantin's sled is now at Speed 6.

Pai, you're up, and then the Aspis.

Now that the sled is stable, Pai shouts to Pethwen: "Keep it steady so I can blast them to heck!" A powerful blast of electrical energy explodes from her outstretched hand.

Electric blast vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 = 142d6 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 + 3 = 11
Includes Point Blank Shot and Elemental Overflow

Pai's electric blast crackles as it impacts one of the Aspis mushers, but the man manages to stay at the reins of his sled.

The Aspis musher for the Black sled is badly hurt, but still hanging on.

Everyone, please remember to designate which target you're aiming at by color--otherwise, I'll just pick someone.

Determined to catch up to the fleeing Pathfinders, the mushers of the Aspis sled choose the faster but more dangerous lower path! Two of the sleds flip over on the icy dunes, but one musher manages to stay in control! Its passenger whirls a bolas overhead and then hurls it at Yaiho! But the half-orc manages to duck just in time, and the bolas lands harmlessly in the snow nearby.

The Black and the Blue sleds flip over, and their occupants take damage. The Black musher, already damaged by Pai, is knocked out cold. The Yellow sled has caught up to you though!

Initiative (Round 1)

Constantin (musher)
Pethwen (musher)
Pai (passenger)
Andor (passenger)
Aspis
Yaiho (musher)

Bold may go!

Mushers: Your sleds are moving at a "5" on a scale of 0-10, with 10 being the fastest. The Aspis sleds are moving at a "8" (faster than you) and are trying to catch up to you. As a move action you can try to "mush" (increase speed by 1) or "break" (decrease speed by 1), and as a full-round action you can try to "halt" (stop completely). Each of these maneuvers requires a successful handle animal check. The area that you are in now, the Talons, has two paths: an upper path with a shallow incline (slower but safer) and a lower path with a steeper incline (much faster but more dangerous). Either path you take, I'll need a handle animal check to see if you navigate it safely (and if you want to do a maneuver like speeding up or slowing down, I'll need a separate handle animal check for that.

Passengers: You've got a few options. You can hold on tight to your sled so you don't get bounced off if your sled goes out of control; you can engage in ranged combat at a -4 penalty on attack rolls; or you can cast a spell with a successful DC 15+spell level Concentration check. I'll use GM discretion as necessary to adjudicate anything beyond these three options.

Yaiho moves down the upper path with a shallow incline, not trusting his ability to lead the dogs down more dangerous path.

Handle Animal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18
Nice.

If the yellow sled driver gets to close to his sled, he with slash out with his razortusk to inflict damage on the musher.

Andor holds on tight to not fall off!

Yaiho manages to keep control of his sled and delivers a vicious bite to the musher of a nearby Aspis sled.

The race down the Dragon has now reached the Heart, and a dangerously narrow bridge of solid ice!

Initiative (Round 2)

Constantin (musher)
Pethwen (musher)
Pai (passenger)
Andor (passenger)
Aspis
Yaiho (musher)

Bold may go!

This ice bridge is the one that, on the way up, you stopped and tied yourselves off to the chain above while walking your sleds over. It spans a chasm about 30' deep.

Mushers: You essentially have two options: Do a full-around action to stop completely before the bridge (difficult) or try to speed up and race your sled across the bridge (even harder!). There's not an easy option here. For either option, I'll need a Handle Animal check.

Passengers: Andor, you can try ranged attacks against the Yellow musher or passenger. Pai, you can try ranged or melee attacks. Just remember that if you're attacking it means you're not holding on tight to avoid getting bounced out of the sled if it goes out of control.

"Pai, I don't think we'll be able to outrun these Aspis. Perhaps it is better we stop and deal with them face to face...or at least I'd rather we try and deal with them up here and not from the bottom of that icy chasm!"

Pethwen tries to halt the sled before they reach the narrow bridge.

Trying full round action to stop.
Handle Animal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

"Fair enough! I think we can take them now!" Pai shouts as she lines up another shot, this time at the yellow clad musher.

Electric blast vs. Touch AC: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 = 302d6 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1) + 2 + 3 = 7
Includes Point Blank Shot and Elemental Overflow

Pethwen manages to rein in her dogs just in time to stop from going over the edge! And with a carefully-aimed blast of electricity, Pai takes out the lead musher for the Aspis sled! The sled's passenger is fortunate, however--when thrown clear, he lands in a soft bank of snow and is barely bruised by the experience.

That was close Pethwen, but you made it! And good shot, Pai. The Yellow musher is out. The Yellow passenger is now on the ground nearby, prone but largely unharmed.

Constantin & Andor are up.

Andor holds tight!

"WWHHHHOOOOOAAAAAAA!!!!"

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7
GM Reroll: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 + 3 = 20 Yessssss!

Seeing Constantin's sled hurl towards the edge of the crevasse at high speed, it seems inevitable that slide ride off and crash into the freezing cold river below. But somehow, the Azlanti defies fate itself and commands the dogs to turn in a voice so imperious they have no choice but to comply! The dogs dig in their heels, stopping mere inches away from the edge.

Nicely played!

Having been flung into a nearby snowdrift, the nearest Aspis agent gets to his feet. "Fancy moves!" he snarls. "But you'll still get yours! You'll see!" Leaving this threat hanging in the air, he begins to jog back up slope toward his fallen companions.

Okay, let's see if you guys can make it 3 for 3: Yaiho, can you stop your sled in time?

Handle Animal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0
LOL... at least it wasn't a negative.

Seeing the others stop before the bridge, Yaiho tries to pull back on the reigns to get the dogs to stop but pulls way too hard.

Yaiho's sled sails right off the edge--with him still pulling uselessly on the reins! The Pathfinder and his sled team plunge almost thirty feet down before splashing into a shallow but icy cold stream.

Yaiho, I need you to make two saving throws. First, a DC 10 Reflex save for the fall--if you make it you take 7 points of damage, if you fail you take 14 points of damage. Second, a DC 15 Fort save for immersion in the icy waters--if you fail, you take 1d6 nonlethal cold damage and become fatigued (or, in your case, exhausted).

With the Aspis agents either left behind or having retreated, we can go off Initiative.

Andor immediately runs to the position where Yaiho fell off.

"Who of you guys has rope?!? We need to pull him up and I need to get the rope to him!"

He drinks his extract of alchemical allocation and then his potion of fly. The potion is then spit back into the flask.

He flies down to check on Yaiho.

"Yaiho! Do you potentially have rope that we can use?"

As Yaiho's sled careens off the bridge, Pethwen calls out. "Yaiho! Don't worry, I've got you!" Her voice rings out like a loud horn and Yaiho and his dogs float down slowly into the water like very large feathers.

Immediate Action to cast Feather Fall on Yaiho and his pack of dogs.

The affected creatures or objects fall slowly. Feather fall instantly changes the rate at which the targets fall to a mere 60 feet per round (equivalent to the end of a fall from a few feet), and the subjects take no damage upon landing while the spell is in effect.

Quick thinking, Pethwen. Yaiho, you won't take the falling damage (though you'll still need to make the Fort save for falling in the cold water).

Fort Save DC 15: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Thanks to the feather fall spell, Yaiho floats down into the icy cold water. "Refreshing. Cold water feels good."

Not having a rope, he grabs Kaa's body and attempts to climb up to the others.

Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Yaiho makes it safely back up to the top.

"Here! I've got rope!" Pai grabs her rope and holds it out, but Yaiho is already nearly at the top. "Oh, wow. Good on you! But what are we going to do about the sled? Is there a way to get three people on a sled? I'm small... OOH! Or we could take one of their sleds!" As she puts back her rope, she glances around to gauge how close the Apsis jerkfaces and their sleds are.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

One of the Aspis sleds is indeed nearby, and it's suitable for your needs!

Andor is very relieved!

“You guys are super professionals!!“ he says with a sly smile.

“Lets get going!!“

Having escaped pursuit and somehow making it through the treacherous Heart of the Dragon, the Pathfinders enter the so-called Spine. The partially-submerged boulders are even more treacherous when encountered going downhill.

I need the three mushers to roll Handle Animal checks to maneuver around the boulders--fortunately, the DCs here aren't nearly as high as they were in the bridge scene!

"OK Pai, hold on tight again. That was the worst of it, I think. Should be smooth sledding from here!" Pethwen's voice chimes like tiny bells as she once again takes up the reins.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Yaiho has no better luck with the other sled as he crashes into things.

Handle Animal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (3) - 2 = 1

"Wow! Yeah! Good job, Pethwen!" Pai continues watching their trail, just in case any remaining Apsis agents try to catch up to the Pathfinders.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Pethwen's getting the hang of mushing, and she skilfully manoeuvres her dog-sled team around the boulders. Yaiho, however, just can't figure it out and is thrown from his sled!

Yaiho, you take 7 points of nonlethal damage. You're able to pick yourself up and continue, however.

Let's see if Constantin can make it through unharmed!

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7 Ah crumbs

Constantin is unable to get his dogs to swerve in time, and the sled swings wide, right into the side of a large boulder! Both he and Andor are hurt in the crash, and the their sled is barely salvageable.

Constantin, you take 12 points of nonlethal damage. Andor, you take 19 points of nonlethal damage. Everyone, make sure to keep track of nonlethal in your taglines and remember that it counts "up".

Having made it through the Spine, the descent reaches the Haunches of the Dragon. Although easy to ascend, it's quite treacherous on the way down, with a series of hairpin turns in the last quarter-mile.

I need each musher to roll two Handle Animal checks. They're not high DCs, but it's going to hurt if you fail either one. If you have some boons or rerolls, it might not be a bad idea to use them.

Handle Animal 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Using shirt reroll.
Handle Animal 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Handle Animal 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Pethwen starts to look like she had been sledding all her life as she guides the dogs around the first hairpin turn. Her white hair continues to flap and fly out behind her and her diamond-like eyes twinkle with glee as she calls back to Pai, her voice still tingling like sleigh bells. "I'm almost sad that we're nearing the end of our ride, just when I seem to be learning the ropes!"

...but she perhaps speaks too soon! "Oh dear! Pai, hang on if you can!"

Yaiho panics as he looses control on the sled.

Handle Animal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1
Handle Animal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1
Oh wow...