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

Game Master Watery Soup

I was going to the far bank.

Still confused about using the map, sort of, but actually not? That said, I can still describe Tao's plan, and hopefully that will be clear either way.

Basically going to shift to "plan B".

As Tao reached out a pole, but Vellir didn't go for it, this means she still has it in her hand. So, something like:

I'm honestly pretty confused by this whole encounter at this point. On his next action Asketell will take out his rope and grappling hook, move towards Vellir or anyone else who has fallen into the water and then toss it to them so they have something to grab onto.

Rex runs with the rope towards Vellir and tries to toss it to him.

Some sort of roll: 1d20 ⇒ 13 Not sure what modifier would apply. +3 for an untrained ranged attack? If that works the total is 16.

If it makes it easier, we can just skip right to Vellir, let him choose how he wants to be helped (or not), and just add the bonus to his checks.

Grab an Edge (Hook): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Vellir grabs Asketell's proffered rope and winds it around himself as best he can. He then starts to pull at it as he swims, reeling himself in.

Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

In that, he finds some way to fail spectacularly.

I don't think I'm holding my breath at this point, but some other crit-fail problem may befall me. Again!

"I gotcha Vellir - hopin' the water ain' too cold tho!" Knowing full well it is, Tao, who could probably choose a better time for humor, tries to reassure him a little with "Jus' float on down this'ere river an' I gotcha!"

Racing down the western coastline, she gets just enough ahead of him, and offers out the 20-foot leaping pole.

Athletics +6
(Hero Point if a failure)

Vellir grab Asketell's rope. He can't climb out on his own, but Asketell pulls him out.

--End of Initiative--

Hookie, someone used a ladder token to make a ladder across the river. All the remaining people can cross without checks.

--End of Day--

Day 4!

Vellir wakes up early and cooks a hearty breakfast for everyone. It's 1d4 ⇒ 1 still snowing, but hot halfling oats with powdered milk helps the day start off right.

The officials come by to let you know that they're surprised you've done so well. You're in the lead.

Overland travel checks!

"Hearty oats are a good meal to eat when you're going to be spending he day as a glorified plow horse. Hook me up to the wagon, lads!". Asketell snorts and neighs playfully as he prances around like a horse for several minutes before he begins to pull the supply sled.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

"Alright, no more time for horse play. We need to finish this race!"

"Phew, thanks!" Vellir shakes all over as he is retrieved from the water. "My usual clothes wouldn't be so wet right now, they're resistant. But then you'd need to chisel me out of an ice cube!"

Eager to see the race through, the halfling helps work out a path. "Can't mooch off of the other teams if we're in the lead."

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

After helping to build a fire so no one dies of hypothermia.

"That ladder was a good idea. They say always be prepared but for what I ask? We can't always have bags of holding with a fortune in gear inside."

Hoping to have better luck with the snow trails today Marra seeks a path.

survival: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 Hookie wakes with a song. Unfortunately it's off-key and far too loud.

Me used to stand on a corner when me was goblet

Me'd play my guitar and sing as the goblins went by
The sidewalks were crowded but me'd just sing louder cause I didn't mind
Just spending my time, spinning my rhymes, and singing for pickles and limes

"Have you met Kreighton Shane? He heads up the Scrolls school and he swears by these feather tokens. He told me once, you never know when you're going to need a shovel, a boat, or nice tall tree to hide in. People think that half elf's half mad, but I don't think so. I bet he's got enough feather tokens to stuff a small sofa with."

Tao sleeps restlessly and in strange dream.

...She is back in her home country, with her mother and her four younger siblings, but now suddenly they have to wake up, and aren't allowed to roll-up their bedrolls, in fact they have to leave them, and everyone has to pile into a Wagon, and the entire Caravan has to start going fast, into a direction that eventually leads into the Mountains - where you are not supposed to even take a Wagon! - but everyone is doing it, and the Horses are tired, but wait, Tao is the horse now, but her family is not, and she is pulling the wagon, and she looks over, and one of the other Wagons is being pulled by Wolves, and they pull ahead, but start spilling cargo, which, Tao has to dodge this way and that to avoid, almost spilling her own cart over - and her family with it! - but she doesn't, and suddenly, they reach the Sea, and there are no Mountains, and Tao is no longer a Horse, but they have to keep going, but how do you get across the Sea? And her whole family falls in the Water, but Tao can't swim, and she can hear them sloshing around in the water, but Tao can't do anything, and she screams...

"Hoooolllllldd OOOOnnn!!!!!!" wrenching awake, sweating her brow, clammy, Tao sits up with the violence of crossing between realms too quickly. Her breathing is accelerated, short fast breaths, feeling her heart beat against the surface of her chest.

After a moment, she calms, her breathing slowing, her skin taking it's color and shape, her heart rate stabilizing, her mind separating the two experiences back into distinctness. She looks over first at Vellir, then over at Asketell, Hookie, Marra, and Rextangalin, hoping her outburst hadn't startled them into early wake.

It's not even light out, nor close to it, so Tao lays back, and trys to lull herself back to sleep, but instead, her mind too active, she lies awake for hours, as the sun slowly rises upon the third day (or is it fourth?) of this race.

...

Later, upon witnessing Asketell's horseplay, she raises her eyebrows with a single paranoid thought - Did he...? - dismissing the crazy idea as quickly as it arose, Tao bowed her head, finished packing up, and silently hit the slope.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"The ladder thing was neat. It's something I'll have to study one I get back to the lodge."

Once on the trail, Rex make a half-hearted attempt to help. He decided he really doesn't like the cold.

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 6

The Society Sledmasters push through the snow with difficulty. They can see the Wyrding Wayfinders catching up, but they maintain their lead.

When they arrive at the checkpoint, there is a small delay after the Sledmasters arrive. The official in charge of greeting all the teams has gone missing. The race officials insist they will delay the other teams by an equivalent amount.

Eventually, a replacement official comes over to greet the arrivals.

---

Among the tall drifts and dunes of snow and ice, a small hollow reveals signs of life. A large fire pit is encircled by tents and snow shelters as officials stand near the warmth of the blazing fire. Beyond the camp, a large sheet of exposed ice is marked by race banners. In the middle of the ice, a delicate ribbon lies partially frozen in the sheet.

"This trial recounts the tale of Balgird’s brave survival on the open ice. While camping in the tundra, Balgird lost some precious equipment to the wind in the night. The following morning, he followed a trail of gear to discover one of his scrolls frozen in the ice. With great care, he moved across the thin sheet to where his scroll lay trapped. Balgird created a lens from a piece of the ice itself, focusing the sunlight on the ice to slowly melt it away from his scroll until he was able to free it. The goal of this trial is to make it across the ice to the center and free the ribbon from the ice without damaging it."

Acrobatics or another means of moving across the ice, Thievery or Nature (or other means) to remove the ribbon. One at a time, but multiple people can attempt as long as nobody critically fails.

Asketell begins feeling concerned about Rex and Tao, who both seem to be struggling with the stress of the Balgridtrek.

"Don't worry, We are almost at the end. We'll be welcomed as heroes, with all the feasting and comforts that entails. "

"I'll probably break through the ice" Asketell says as he laughs and slaps his belly. " This seems like a job for one of the wee folk."

"I do have a flask of acid in me. You're probably better off chiseling it out with a dagger or something, but you might as well take this with in case you need it."

Asketell also has cookware and a repair kit, so there's probably something in there that someone could use to break ice apart.

"My specialty!" Vellir grins. He ties a light silk rope around himself. "I don't remember if I said that yesterday. But just in case Desna frowns on me again, let's make the task of fishing me from the freezing water a bit easier."

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

With that, he practically dances across the ice, a knife in one hand and various tools in the other.

Hookie stands at the side of the ice, watching with worry as Vellir dances across it. "Ooo, Hookie am hoping he am fine. Hookie am not liking ice, no no no."

From a safe distance of 30 feet, Tao sends a Guiding blessing Vellir's way

+1 to the Thievery or Nature check

Vellir, can you also post a Thievery or Nature (or otherwise describe how you want to get the ribbon out)? +1 from Tao.

Ah, I should've done that after I noticed my roll wasn't likely to fail.

Vellir goes to work while he's able, pushing against the ice with his dagger and a hollow metal tube with some give to it.

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

Edit: There might be a failure penalty or something. But in case I can try again:

Thievery: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

I'll leave it at that for now, just in case.

Vellir is unable to free the ribbon. He returns t8 the edge of the ice.

Someone else can try.

Tao will keep it coming, providing Guidance to Marra'a next Acrobatics check, as well as a few words of encouragement:

"Is jes' a crikin' ribbin!"

"Ah a chance at redemption."

Marra casts Guidance on herself and walks carefully on the ice.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13 ...

Marra walks across the ice quite steadily at first, but slips almost as she gets to the ribbon. The ice around her begins cracking.

No time to make a Thievery/Nature check, you need to hustle back to the edge.

Someone else can attempt.

Asketell doesn't have Nature or Thievery, but could he try extracting the ribbon with an acid flask and Crafting? Otherwise there's no reason for him to get on the ice.

An acid flask plus Crafting will work, but you'll still need to get out onto the ice with Acrobatics or creativity.

Hookie takes a deep breath and begins to slide-walk onto the ice.

Acrobatics, untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 And promptly slides back off the ice, looking forlorn.

However, he lays his shield down and looks to one of the others. "Maybe if you am sliding on shield, you am not making as pressure? It am working for sleds!"

I'm going to lwt Asketell make his check before Hookie's.

Third charm's a time!

Tao once more blesses a teammate - guiding his way across the ice.

+1 to Asketell's next Acrobatics check.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19

Asketell carefully steps onto the ice, keeping his legs set widely to spread out his weight as much as possible.

After gingerly getting out to the ribbon, Asketell pulls out the flask of acid and a small chisel from his backpack. Asketell then quaffs down an elixer before going to work.

Drinking a cognitive mutagen for the item bonus to Crafting.

"Careful does it...

Crafting: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 20

Tao turns to Hookie to whisper into his large ear "Is there 'nything this ulfen cannot do?!"...

"Look at him dance! Truly a shining example of what Bulgur...Belcher...um..." Vellir makes a show of pretending to forget Balgird's name, but cracks up midway through.

"Balgird" Tao corrects Vellir "Who, seen here, Reincar-Nated in th' flesh!" Turning to make this last pronouncement to any other teams nearby who also bear witness!

Asketell returns triumphantly with a ribbon!

As everyone is congratulating him, Hookie runs out on the ice ... and finds an exceptionally thin patch. He falls through the ice!

Cold Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 6) = 9

He manages to pull himself out and crawl back. However, the officials are running over to inspect him. If he's hurt, they'll make the whole team stay overnight for observation.

Tao, feeling responsible for possibly encouraging Hookie, asks the officials to stand aside.

She touches his chest, and focusing, speaks a few divine syllables, and sends a warming light surging through his body.

(◆◆) Heal 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 damage healed to the plucky goblin.

"Gotcha all patched up right and well, ne'er better - eh Hookie?"

The official, seeing Hookie healed, seems satisfied. He sets off on his cross-country skis back to his post.

A minute or so later, a piercing scream shatters the tranquility of the woods.

Rushing forward, the Society Sledmasters find some skis lie in the snow at the edge of the path beside an old bridge. Fresh blood marks are clearly visible against the white snow as large, crimson swaths. Equipment is scattered across the snow and onto the frozen surface of
the lake.

Please put yourselves somewhere in the red circle on Slide 6.

Hearing the scream, Asketell prepares for battle by taking the round shield off his back and fishing his juggernaut elixir out of his pockets. He keeps the elixir wrapped in his meaty free hand, ready to drink it at the first sign of trouble.

"This doesn't look good, lads and lassies. Everyone best be ready to scrap. You might also want to drink those eagle eye elixirs I gave you two. It'll be good to have some sharp eyes about."

Vellir draws and loads his crossbow, surprisingly unused throughout the long trek. He dutifully drinks the elixir and shortly after is looking for more blood marks.

Using Hunt Prey to start tracking the blood donor. Might not be important depending on what we're about to get into.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 12

Tao draws her staff, and follows Asketell and Vellir to the source of the scream.

"This is more then just a bit of cheating."

With no idea how near or far the attacker might be Marra will hold off on spells.

"Who got themselves into trouble this time, I wonder."

Hookie draws his scimitar and shield and follows Asketell and Vellir. "Stay close to Hookie! Hookie am ready to help if you am getting attacked!"

A large brown bear emerges from its lair. It smells meat, and pickles, both of which make it want to attack, albeit for different reasons.

Round 1!

Vellir
Rextangalin
Tao
Hookie
Bear
Asketell
Marra

Relevant knowledge is Nature. All the ice is slippery and is difficult terrain.

Tao charges across the ice!

(◆) Stride
(◆) Stride
(◆) Stride

"C'mon guys - ya heard thet scream right?"

"Whoa!" Vellir keeps Haast close for the moment, as the bird would likely be a one-bite meal without backup. He instead takes a shot from quite a ways away. "Let's do this like Balgird would."

Hunt Prey, Recall Knowledge, and shoot!

Crossbow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Hookie charges after Tao, striding three times!

Rex moves behind the biggest tree he can find.

Stride x3