[PFS2] 1-10 Tarnbreaker's Trail (GM Watery Soup, Fast Game) (Inactive)

Game Master Watery Soup

Sensing she may have hurt his feelings, Tao volunteers herself to accompany the (second) shopping mission, if and only if Asketell will have her...

...

Permission pending:

Asketell is happy to have some company while shopping.

"Werewolves ye say? I've heard stories of such cursed things dwelling in the woods. Men driven mad by the moon, howling naked in the snow and eating the flesh of other humans. Now alchemists do have an elixir that can turn a person into a beast for a short duration. They grow claws and fangs even, from what I've heard. I haven't bothered researching such concoctions myself." Asketell cracks his thick knuckles. "These fists have usually been sufficient for my needs and if that's not enough to handle a werewolf, I'm sure a flask full of acid will do the trick."

"What happens if we get injured or move incredibly slow? Do the trail rangers step in?"

"We'll step in if needed, but this is a demanding physical challenge and if you're afraid of getting hurt, maybe you should rethink your entry."

Are there any other teams that I know of or can see here? I want to see all my options for who to watch.

1. A team of four Ulfen warriors.

"Is there a map we can have?"

"A map? Navigating your way through the woods is half of the fun!"

"We're going to need a lot of supplies if we want to survive out there and our venture captain gave us a nice day bag of silver to spwnd. Who wants to go shopping with me?"

Asketell will spend the hour buying supplies for the journey.
He will pick up some winter clothes so that he fits in.

To be clear, the purse only covers cold weather clothing and anything else that, quite frankly, spares the GM from having to look up environmental rules. (I'm not kidding.) You'll get a race pack containing three minor healing potions, a single climbing kit, vouchers for lodging in Frostgarten, flint and steel, and a signal whistle when you begin the race. You'll have to pay for anything outside of that.

Vellir thanks Tao and heads off to don his new team uniform. Afterwards, he decides to look in on the couples' preparations. He does so from a short distance away, but is perfectly willing to schmooze if he gets caught.

Perception and Stealth are both +8 if you'd rather roll those in secret.

Marra goes with the shopping trip to make sure she gets cold weather clothes. And snowshoes?

I figured that it was just covering miscellaneous cold weather survival items that aren't in the Core Rule book like skis or snow shoes and maybe some food for the journey, since scenarios generally don't require players to track rations. It's nice to know it also covers the cost of winter clothes for us. Its also just roleplaying what I think the character would do.

"Have you ever used skis, Tao? It's not hard. We'll need something to move through the snow, and I prefer skis over snow shoes. Finding small ones that are good enough for heavy use will be tricky but we need at least two sets."

Crafting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

I figured that it was just covering miscellaneous cold weather survival items that aren't in the Core Rule book like skis or snow shoes and maybe some food for the journey, since scenarios generally don't require players to track rations. It's nice to know it also covers the cost of winter clothes for us. Mostly I'm just roleplaying what I think the character would do.

"Have you ever used skis, Tao? It's not hard. We'll need something to move through the snow, and I prefer skis over snow shoes. Finding small ones that are good enough for heavy use will be tricky but we need four sets. Or three I guess if you're preferring snow shoes, Marra."

Crafting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Hookie gets his cold weather gear and wanders around, chatting with the other teams in a friendly, innocent fashion.

Diplomacy Untrained +1, Perception Trained +5, Survival Trained +5 to check on their preparations

"Nope never" In response to Asketell's question. She eagerly looks on as other people don them, watching a while, puzzling her nose into a curious wrinkle.

Eventually she puts her pair on her own feet, not trusting them at first, but after first one step, then two steps, then a jump forward, then back, now a 90 degree turning jump, acclimates herself to navigating this new foot space. "Think i'm ready ta go!" Getting the hang of it.

Vellir overhears two people discussing the best places for them to stay once they reach Frostgarten. They decide on the Boar's Head Inn.

Hookie talks to a few of the local merchants. They tell him about a team of lycanthropes that almost won a few years ago, but they miscalculated the phases of the moon and had to be rescued from the woods.

---

The race is divided into sections of overland travel and trials. Each day of the race begins with a determination of the weather, followed by skill checks from the PCs to determine their success on the trail ahead, ending with the arrival and attempt at defeating the next trial. Each member of the team can attempt one overland travel skill check per day.

Weather: 1d4 ⇒ 3

The sky is clear and the air crisp for the first day of the trek. The race officials gather the teams and explain the rules once again.

"You must complete the course within four days. If you’re any later than that, the officials will send out parties to retrieve you and you’ll be officially disqualified. Please do your best to avoid getting lost out there. Don’t do anything to injure your competitors, though this should of course go without saying. Don’t try to bypass any of the checkpoints, they are there not only for the trials, but to make sure that you and your team are well enough to continue on.

You’re welcome to advance as far as you can in a day, but the officials don’t want anyone traveling after dark. If you find yourself at a checkpoint near sunset, they may ask you to stay. I’d heed their advice. It’s easy enough for some of the more dangerous things that stalk the tundra to slip by the rangers patrolling the trails under the cover of darkness.”

With the end of the speech, the officials declare the beginning of the Balgirdtrek and the teams rush off into the snow.

Overland Travel Check #1: Athletics, Nature, Survival, or any other relevant skill (description required, higher DC may apply).

As they ready to depart, Rex wipes his mouth with the sleeve of his shirt and puts his cup away in his pack.

"I may not know what I am doing, but at least I will have fun trying to get there!" "...I hope."

Throughout the first day Rex tried to understand the lay of the land. He certainly wasn't comfortable in the wilderness, but perhaps with a little luck he'd find something useful.

Nature: 1d20 ⇒ 15

"Onward, Sledmasters!" Vellir grins. He knows his stuff, but most stuff to be seen around here is covered by snow. And it's a tough journey regardless.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Hero Point
Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Better

I don't belong here!
We're never going to make it!
I never got to say goodbye to my family!!!

Tao does her best to keep up with the pack. As this is the first time she has been unable to feel the ground with her toes - or spontaneously burst into cartwheels on a whim! - she nearly has a panic attack a couple of hours in, before steadying her breathing once more, bringing her anxiety back down. She conceals her moment of weakness, not wanting her teammates to make a "first day impression" of her that is, well, anything but sparkling...

I think we have a +1 this first day? I forgot to add it in...

Yes, everyone has +1 for the first day.

@ Rextangalin Werzerial Nature is trained only. You have the same bonus in Survival which is untrained.

"Hopefully there will be more chances to learn about the other teams."

Marra attempts to find the fastest way to the next checkpoint.

survival: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 = 13

Using a hero point because the druid getting lost is just sad.

survival: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 12

Marra seems lost at first but is sure she has found the right direction.

"All of these snow drifts are starting to look alike."

@ Rextangalin Werzerial Nature is trained only. You have the same bonus in Survival which is untrained.

Recall Knowledge can be done untrained. The GM didn't say the type of check we were doing was trained only. Perhaps you are thinking of 1e rules?

Perhaps :)

Untrained is fine. Only very specific skills are trained only, this is generic.

Asketell looks at his group of fellow Pathfinders and it dawns on him that most of them are rather small and that he might be the strongest person in the group.

"Well, looks like I'm going to be pulling the sled." Asketell grabs the strap to the supply sled and begins pulling.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 = 18

Survival!: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25

Hookie sees the large Ulfen start pulling and gets behind to help push!

With Asketell and Hookie pushing, the Society Sledmasters surge to finish in the middle of the pack, behind Wyrding Wayfinders and Without Trace or Fail (which seems to annoy the latter).

---

At the checkpoint, the tall pines ahead are heavy with snow, and the forest is quiet. Ahead, officials for the Balgirdtrek stand around a roaring fire. Several campsites have been cleared nearby as clerics stand ready to examine and treat any injured racers. Beyond the fire and campsites, in a small, raised clearing, is a tall, thin pole carved with the intertwining necks of a Tarn Linnorm. Atop the pole rests is a small platform, an oval shape resting within it.

The officials at the trial explain to each team that this trial hearkens back to Balgird’s time in the wilderness. While searching for a Linnorm in the frozen reaches of the Saga Lands, Balgird Bluetongue survived by living off the land itself. In particular, Balgird was known to have scaled a great tree and retrieved the egg of a massive bird. He did this so swiftly and carefully that the tree did not bend, and the bird did not notice its egg go missing.

The tree stands 20 feet tall. The base of the tree is 8 inches in diameter, tapering down to 3 inches in diameter at the top. The small platform holding the egg has a short lip along the edge to prevent the egg from being blown out of the tree by the wind or nudged out by an errant creature.

The object at the top of the pole is an egg which each team must retrieve without breaking.

Athletics to Climb, Acrobatics to Balance, or other creative uses of skills or spells (justification required and DC penalties may apply). Everyone can attempt or Aid, but not both.

Tao is quite pleased to not only arrive "not last", but in fact "middle of the pack". Her experience earlier advises her that maybe she should sit out this "tree challenge" personally, instead focusing on preparing for the next day.

That said, she listens intently to the story the officials share - transfixed by love of storytelling! - remembering a time when her own mother, like this Balgird Bluetongue, had to not only survive off the land, but also provide for her four other siblings, deputizing Tao at a young age as her "right hand man". As such, remembering how she used to help out best she could, Tao will cast Guidance on any PC who wants to attempt the athletic feat, as well as standing by with curative magic in the event someone (from any team) falls and hurts themselves.

GM permitting, you all have a +1 status bonus to a single next Athletics or Acrobatics check.

"I have a ladder in my pocket, but I don't know if we'd want to lean it up against that tree. It looks like someone is going to have to climb up there. Luckily, for you all, I've been climbing trees since I was a wee lad. I had three brothers and two sisters, all a head taller than me and being up in a tree was the only way I could get any peace."

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19

Mara evaluates the situation.

"Looks easy enough. While several of us look like we can manage it I feel Vellir has the best chance of getting up there without disturbing the egg. Tao, You or I can help by"

She is cut off by Asketell's actions. Marra looks disgusted.

"Or just rush in without any planning. That works sometimes."

"Ooo he am good climber! Hookie am better on ground. Definitely am better on ground!" Still Hookie cheers loudly for Asketell.

"Looks as if he has it under control," Vellir says. Still, he makes his helter-skelter way up the pole, careful not to disturb it for Asketell. If the Ulfen manages the task, the halfling beckons, offering to take the egg back down for him.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Asketell gets half way up the tree and calls down, "Ha, ha! Told you it would be easy for me! Woo hoo!"

Asketell gets up to the top quite easily, but as he grabs the egg, but the egg has been stuck to the nest with some sap from the tree. He manages to get it free with some effort.

Vellir notices the same thing as he climbs up the tree, but is able to retrieve the egg nonetheless as well.

Seeking clarification, Tao asks the race officials how the Wyrding Wayfinders and Without Trace or Fail teams fared on the tree & egg challenge - presuming they completed / failed the trials prior to the Society Sledmasters' arrival - specifically, questions about how many from each team attempted it, how they fared, and inquiries into the scoring system (if one exists) generally.

Diplomacy (untrained) +3

Asketell prices the egg loose and holds it high in the air. "Vallhalla!"[b] he screams before descending the tree laughing.

Down on the ground Asketell tosses the scrap of cloth he found to Tate.[b]"Damn thing was glued down. They left a bit of clothes behind. Keep an eye for anyone with a ripped cloak or gloves. I think we'll want to have a little talk with them about the importance of playing fair.". The fat Ulfen cracks his knuckles with a grin before taking a swig from his wineskin.

"It wouldn't do, such dishonesty in a sporting competition," Vellir replies. He shows everyone else the scrap just in case. For now, he sticks with the group. At the next opportunity, he surveys the two teams they're trailing behind and tries to find a match in clothing.

Assuming it's somewhat late in the day. Maybe the contestants will end up having a dinner with or near each other.

Also, I have Specialty Crafting (tailoring). A bona fide expert in all things clothing. My Crafting is a ways lower than Perception, but can I add the +1 when trying to find the offending garment? No worries if not.

Rex looks over and around the tree for any more clues that the person who tampered with the egg might have left.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

"Sap is sticky stuff. You might want to have the rangers check for sap on people's tools or weapons. It's possible that a single ripped garment will be buried or burned, but a valuable tool is less likely to be tossed aside."

Seeking clarification, Tao asks the race officials how the Wyrding Wayfinders and Without Trace or Fail teams fared on the tree & egg challenge - presuming they completed / failed the trials prior to the Society Sledmasters' arrival - specifically, questions about how many from each team attempted it, how they fared, and inquiries into the scoring system (if one exists) generally.

The officials are reluctant to answer questions. The Balgirdtrek is not supposed to be an interactive competition. After all, Balgird had no companions.

Also, I have Specialty Crafting (tailoring). A bona fide expert in all things clothing. My Crafting is a ways lower than Perception, but can I add the +1 when trying to find the offending garment? No worries if not.

Absolutely! You can go ahead and make your roll openly.

Rex looks over and around the tree for any more clues that the person who tampered with the egg might have left.

After a very thorough search, no other clues can be found.

Vellir looks over the assembled teams when he gets a chance. His discerning fashion sense is on the case!

Perception, Specialty Crafting: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22

The fabric has a satin-stitched pattern that you definitely recognize from the robe of the cleric from Without Trace or Fail.

Assuming the Ranger shares this information with the team

"Careful Vellir - 'es a Werewolf 'n all liklihood - better keep an eye, willya?"

Tao shares her discovery as well "Well I definitiv'ly can confirm thet them 'fficials are liable ta remain quite tight-lipped 'bout 'zactly what are the rules." She pauses to think "Prolly shouldn'ta done but what mind'n my own business, but, seein' as it's cold all day - I mean All Day - an' prolly gunna git worse tomar, figgered I might'az well go an' makin' myself useful!" Smiling at the group (presumably) around the campfire.

She sits quitely a long time, staring at the flames, curling up in her winter clothes tighter as the temperature outside of the camp slowly drops. Until later, addressing Vellir "Should we confront 'em?" properly deciding that would be a bad idea the moment after the words escape her mouth...

Vellir passes along the word. "I thought they looked a tad shifty! Well, from what you said about the organizers, I don't know what would come of telling them. We probably should, though."

"I doubt going right to the perpetrators would go any better. And if we did, we'd want to engage subtly, dancing around what we all know and the like." The halfling scratches his own head, then Haast's. "Asketell, how good are Ulfen at that? They seem quite blunt, no offence."

Figures the team called WTF did it!

The Society Sledmasters hunker down for the night. The next morning the sky is 1d4 ⇒ 3 still clear.

Some of the officials warn that there was something moving around in the woods in the night. They scared it off, but they remind all the teams to be on guard.

Day 2: Overland Travel checks - Athletics, Nature, Survival, or other.

Marra observed the investigation, pleased that it produced results.

"So not everyone is playing fair. Interesting. We of course will obay the rules. Hopefully some of that snow will have melted and the trail will be clearer today."

survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"Ah. A clear path at last."

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Feeling much better this day, Tao - sturdier than perhaps one might expect - takes her shift pulling the sled. She finally seems to be getting the hang of her footwear. Also, given her increased exertion this day, she keeps from talking too much. Instead, she simply follows Marra's strong lead, turning the tiny patterns of impressions left in the snow by the halfling's feet into two thick sled tracks. Today, she thinks to herself, her internal dialogue, though not audible, still running, I am the Sledmaster!

Later, about halfway through the day: However, if someone were to come and relieve me, I certainly wouldn't complain...

"Something prowling around at night? That would be more interesting than just wandering through the ice and snow," Rex contemplated.

So he kept his eyes open for signs of where a creature might live or hunt in the area.

Nature: 1d20 ⇒ 5

But he was probably more of distraction than anything as he pointed out every terrain feature as if it could be important, but likely was not.

"Maybe it's just that sort of competition," Vellir says. "You know, where people lay small traps for others to stumble a little on. It didn't exactly keep us at bay.

The following day, the halfling is mostly business, on guard against ambushes while he helps chart a path.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Marra not only finds a path, but a shortcut!

Tao and Vellir are adept at following Marra's trail.

Rextangalin keeps an eye out for monsters. He's so busy looking that he has to be prodded along by Marra.

"You know Vellir, our people tend to like charging at a problem head on. We appreciate honor and strength; to the point that we pick our leaders based on whether they can kill a linnorm. I don't think sabotaging these contests are part of the competition."

Asketell stops to take a drink out of his wineskin. "To answer your question though, I think if we suspect that someone is cheating, we should accuse them in a way that leaves no chance for confusion and be prepared to challenge them. We don't have time to dance around the issue up in the north and they're going to see it as weak. And we're going to need to be ready to back our challenge up, with solid evidence or strength of arms."

At night, Asketell takes out his cookware and cooks up a heady stew out of the ingredients purchased and any meat or foods that the ranger or druid managed to scrounge up. During the race, Asketell continues to rely on his size and strength, with a little bit of help from some of his homemade vodka to power through the snow drifts.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Asketell's bathtub moonshine does the trick! Hookie also contributes, and the team surges ahead, arriving just ahead of Wyrding Wayfinders.

---

A race official patrols this area, watching over the restless herd of taiga caribou (a skittish breed of Medium deer) that has been gathered here as a part of the trial. Four of the caribou have had small bells tied into their antlers.

The goal of the trial is to retrieve a set of the bells without disturbing the caribou. There are a total of 12 caribou currently on
the ice, spread out enough to have room to walk between them, but not far enough apart that any of them would be isolated from the group.

Hookie, Marra, Tao, and Vellir spot the caribou with bells. Asketell and Rextangalin can't see the bells.

The caribou might seem docile, but they run if startled. The goal is to retrieve one of the bells from the caribou’s antlers without harming any of the animals.

Stealth or Nature to attempt. Asketell and Rextangalin will take -1 to any attempt. Only 1 person can attempt this at a time.

"Maybe I can calm them making it easier for the rest of you."

Marra goes first granting herself a bit of Guidance.

nature: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 = 21

She calmly unhooks the bell and walks back.

She will then cast Guidance on each of us who tries.

"Now this is something I can do!" Vellir whispers to the group, despite being a good ways from the caribou. He sets down some of his gear before slipping forward. "I wonder when old Balgird had to do something like this."

Marking the belled caribou as my prey.

Stealth, Outwit Bonus: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 = 20

Edit: ninja'd! Take Marra's attempt first.

Marra strides right up to the nervous caribou, and lets the caribou smell her, assuaging their fears. She takes the bell off its horn.

Success!

As she's walking back towards the group, the caribou begin rumbling. A fox has darted out onto the field, and all the caribou are on edge.

Edit: ninja'd too!

Vellir doesn't notice the fox, but the caribou don't notice him either. He also steals a bell, but faces the same dilemma with the fox.

Asketell sits down on a tree stump to watch Marra and Vellir and takes a bit of dried venison out of his belt pouch to gnaw on. "I'm smart enough to know when I'm just going to make a mess of things by getting in the way. This looks like a job for our distinguished animal lovers.
Have at it you too. Do the Sledmasters proud!"