GM Silbeg's 1-05 Trailblazer's Bounty (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

Mechanically, no.

"It would be nice to spend a night out of the snow and cold, thank you," Chulyin says. "I can tend to Yaergen and JR's injuries in a more hospital environment as well."

JR nods in agreement, more than happy to spend the night inside, out of the weather. "Sounds like we'll be investigating these orcs in the morning then. How far away is their camp from here you think?" He asks, taking off a layer and hanging it up to dry a bit.

"Have you seen any other explorers come through?"

"I wouldn't mind a night off," Yaegren chips in to agree with Chulyin. "Though these scratches won't stay long either way. I feel like we've scared off the only other mappers we need to. If we haven't seen others, they're likely too far ahead or behind."

"Talk to whomever is the chief right now. All depends on what is happening to them." replies Bark. It is pretty clear that he just doesn't know, he is not being evasive.

You settle in for a warm night's sleep for the first time in over a week and wake up refreshed. Spells and all are back to full!

Staying exposed above the snow line is dangerous, so you realized you should press on and reach the tree line while descending from the mountain. The overall temperature is still low but no longer poses a risk. Along your path is a tall cliff that reaches above the surrounding trees. It is immediately clear this cliff would give a great view of the surroundings and assist with scouting the terrain.

The cliff is about 25' tall, and will take Athletics to climb. While it is a rough climb, you can, for sure, send someone up first to secure a rope to help the poorer climbers. You can see trees and rocks above you could anchor a rope to.

JR bids the friendly half orc goodbye in the morning "We appreciate the hospitality Bark. Perhaps we'll see you again one day." And with that a bundled up Junior trudges off once more.

----

Looking up at the peak JR gives a slow shake of his head "No way I can climb up there, even if it would be a great view. I'm starting to think I've been born with my father's weak lower body." He pulls his furry hat down a bit more around his ears.

Nina will also wait until someone else is up top.

Sure. Right after I decide to trade out Animal Shape for Speak with Animals.

"Could I borrow one of your climbing kits?" Chulyin asks as he stretches in preparation for the climb.

"Sure thing, its barely been broken in yet."

None of us who were tethered at the scree should have used ours, right?

Yaegren readies a nice bundle of writing and cartography supplies to hand up on the off chance Chulyin doesn't have his own. The trek has taught him even a dwarf climbing with a knotted rope can be brought low, quicker so by bragging.

Thank you, Chulyin for the full sequence, but this is a single check!

Chulyin easily makes the climb up. The handholds are so obvious to himn, that there is not any reason to do anything more than just climb up!

When he gets to the top, he notices a herd of goats at the top.

Chulyin leans over the edge of the cliff and gestures to the others to wait. He invokes words of primal power in order to allow him to better negotiate with the goats. Cast speak with animal

He makes himself known to the goats in a non-threatening manner and tries to calm them before speaking. "Excuse my intrusion into your territory," he says. "My herd and I are passing through to the other side of the mountain."

Nature (E): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

From below, you see and hear Chulyin cast a spell. He then makes some sort of animal sound! You hear a reply from something with a similar sound.

We can try to identify the animal, can't we? From the sound? At least roughly?

(Nature +6)

"Is everything okay?"

"Appreciation," he tells the goats. "Maybe move the children to the back. We walk with a predator, but he is not hungry."

He ties off the rope JR lent him to a sturdy trunk and tosses the coil over the side. Leaning over the edge again, he tells the others, "Try to climb quietly and do not make too much of a fuss when you get here."

Ryk hears the words of wisdom from Chulyn, takes the rope and begins his climb.

Athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Athletics: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Apparently Nina is an expert climber.

Ok, no need to roll any more, you've received enough successes! Good job. You needed 3 successes before you had three failures... critical success or failure counting double

The team manages to get up the cliff without trouble. Once up there, they see a herd of goats. Apparently Chulyin has been conversing with the goats!

Do we change his name to Chulyin the Goat Talker?

Once up there, you get a good look at your surroundings. You can:
- Learn how to handle the goats, turning a hazard into a resource Nature
- Chart the view Cartography or Scribing Lore, Crafting
- Recognize valuable terrain resources such as climbing spots and streams Nature, Mountain or Scouting Lore
- Identify grazing areas and places medicinal herbs and mosses might grow Nature or Herbalism Lore
- Spot potential meltwater hazards Perception or Nature, Mountain or Scouting Lore
- Identify cliff overhang as good resting spot for travelers Survival or Perception

Others may open up as you succeed. As before, each person should makje one check at a time. Each check can be attempted once. If making a check, please roll the skill you are choosing. If there is a choice, you must choose only one.

Nina will identify a good resting spot.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

It's a superb resting spot.

Nina does determine that this is a good resting point.

New check opened up!

Discovery Checks:
- Learn how to handle the goats, turning a hazard into a resource Nature
- Chart the view Cartography or Scribing Lore, Crafting
- Recognize valuable terrain resources such as climbing spots and streams Nature, Mountain or Scouting Lore
- Identify grazing areas and places medicinal herbs and mosses might grow Nature or Herbalism Lore
- Spot potential meltwater hazards Perception or Nature, Mountain or Scouting Lore
- Identify cliff overhang as good resting spot for travelers Survival or Perception Success!
- Clear an area a the base of the cliff to provide better shelter Craft or Athletics

Others may open up as you succeed. As before, each person should makje one check at a time. Each check can be attempted once. If making a check, please roll the skill you are choosing. If there is a choice, you must choose only one.

JR is more than happy for the free ride to the top of the hill Pays to be slow on the draw this time! "Great work leading the way guys, quite the view up here!" The half elf doesn't take long though to wander off hunting herbs to refresh his satchel.

Herbalism Lore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Well, I see who's balancing out Nina's superb rolls...

Yaegren tears off an unneeded sheet of brewing notes to draw up a rough approximate of the area. "Couldn't take a cart up here, hopefully no one looks to plunder what traders leave down below. More copper towards guard expenses."

Crafting to Chart the View: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Chulyin finds a rock to sit while he makes notes in his journal about how to handle the mountain goats of the region.

Nature (E): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Discovery Checks:
- Learn how to handle the goats, turning a hazard into a resource Nature Success!

- Chart the view Cartography or Scribing Lore, Crafting Success!

- Recognize valuable terrain resources such as climbing spots and streams Nature, Mountain or Scouting Lore

- Identify grazing areas and places medicinal herbs and mosses might grow Nature or Herbalism Lore Failure!

- Spot potential meltwater hazards Perception or Nature, Mountain or Scouting Lore

- Identify cliff overhang as good resting spot for travelers Survival or Perception Success!

- Clear an area a the base of the cliff to provide better shelter Craft or Athletics

Others may open up as you succeed. As before, each person should makje one check at a time. Each check can be attempted once. If making a check, please roll the skill you are choosing. If there is a choice, you must choose only one.

JR wanders off, and after a while, wanders back. He's found some interesting looking mushrooms that he is about to sample before Nina shouts at him to stop!

Yaegren stares out over the landscape before scribbling down what he sees, making some decent charts of the area.

Chulyin continues to have conversations with the goats. They seem very interested in new foods, and predators. He is able to keep the lead buck from charging his cat and knocking it off the cliff.

Waiting for Ryk to make his roll, then we can go on to round 2!

Ryk looks around to spot a potential meltwater hazard...

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"What do you all think of this spot...?" he asks the others.

Ryk is able to find where meltwater might be an issue!

Discovery Checks:
- Learn how to handle the goats, turning a hazard into a resource Nature Success!

- Chart the view Cartography or Scribing Lore, Crafting Success!

- Recognize valuable terrain resources such as climbing spots and streams Nature, Mountain or Scouting Lore

- Identify grazing areas and places medicinal herbs and mosses might grow Nature or Herbalism Lore Failure!

- Spot potential meltwater hazards Perception or Nature, Mountain or Scouting Lore Success!

- Identify cliff overhang as good resting spot for travelers Survival or Perception Success!

- Clear an area a the base of the cliff to provide better shelter Craft or Athletics

Others may open up as you succeed. As before, each person should make one check at a time. Each check can be attempted once. If making a check, please roll the skill you are choosing. If there is a choice, you must choose only one.

You now may make one more check each, until they have all been taken

Once the goats have been settled and thoroughly documented, Chulyin begins to survey the area for resources that would be beneficial to passing traders.

Nature (E): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Nina will leave Crafting and Athletics to others.

She'll relax at her resting spot and warm up some pickle brine for everyone.

Chulyin surveys the area from upon high.

Just the base camp

Yaegren starts sweeping up and pushing small rocks off the overlook, unless that gets him any looks from Chulyin.

Crafting to Clear an Area: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

As Yaegren creates a lovely base camp, the team realize that they have done all that they can do here.

Good job! 6 of 7 successes!

Secure that they have more good knowledge to report back, the team moves on.

I need both an Athletics and Survival check from each PC, please.

Athletics: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17
Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

I'm going to use my Hero Point to reroll the Survival.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Hero Point: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Yaegren's long-lived nature somehow fails on him, and he grows a bit sloppy and resentful at what for dwarves is a relatively short trip.

Lucky for everyone else, JR gets wrapped up in relearning his mushroom identification skills instead of assisting with the actual project at hand "Are you sure? The spore print really pulls me away from Amanita sp... Oh time to go?"

Athletics: 1d20 ⇒ 2
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Geez, I'll use my HP for that Athletics too I guess.

HP: Athletics: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Survival (T): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Chulyin loses his team somewhere in the mountains and backtracks to find them. He pulls out the charts and notes they received from the youthful Chelish team to try to get back on track.

That's all just narrative license with those terrible rolls above even though they were Hero-ed out of the toilet. :)

Athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Ryk seems a bit tired and sluggish as the team keeps moving deeper into the mountains...

This time the Pathfinders are able to do a much better job of foraging, and managing the trail. A few falter on the climbs and such, but they make excellent progress.

The valley opens up, flattening out at first, then deepening, forming a large bowl. The terrain becomes more marshy, with trees and shrubs stunted by the damp. Animal musk hangs in the air.

As you approach the clearing, you see three mangy looking wolves, and a beautiful alpha male, who asks you,"So, my little humans. What are you doing in my neck of the woods?"

The wolves seem to be staying put, deferring to the talking one.

See slide #6 for a picture of the talking wolf

Yaegren starts slightly at the talking wolf. After a moment, he breaks from his usual policy of silence during big conversations. "Who're you calling humans? We're just taking a look around, I guess you could say. Good to get out into nature and learn about it for later. And you, if this is you're place, what are you up to?"

"Oh, not too much. I live here. So, you are coming through my woods. Mine, and my pack here." he says.

The other wolves all snarl a little bit, but say nothing.

"I did not mean to cause offense. All of you two-legs look about the same to me. Wearing those fake pelts, carrying your fangs in your hands.

"That all being said, my name is Odvar. Who do I have the pleasure of speaking to?"

"Nina Jaribu, of the Pathfinder Society."

After everyone else introduces themselves, Nina explains their mission.

"We come because we have been asked to find a route from one side of the mountains to the other side. How would you feel if more two-legs passed through here? Would you prefer if we made a route that went around your territory?"

Nina holds her palms open, to emphasize that she is unarmed.

"We have no wish to make enemies."

"It is not usual for wolves to speak the words of men," Chulyin remarks.

Recall Knowledge: +7 Arc, Occ, +8 Rel, +10 Nat

"I have no need of enemies, either I would be very interested in becoming a business partner. I could be an employee of yours, guiding the convoys safely through these woods.

"All I ask for is that the caravan bring a plimp halfing, or two, along with them as payment. That isn't too steep of a price, especially for Chelaxians."

Nina frowns.

"I'm afraid that's going to be a price most are unwilling to pay. We would be happy to bring some farmed animal meat. We grow cows this tall and this wide."

Nina begins gesturing more with her hands, surreptitiously waving the others closer.

Deception +8

At any point if she is convinced the talking one is evil, she will strike first with Divine Lance (good).

"We also have magical means of satiating hunger. Sacrificing people is out of the question. Surely there is more that interests you than human flesh?"

"Fine... if you don't have halfings, a gnome will suffice!"

It is pretty clear what he is asking for is evil. Nina will be rolling deception for initiative, everyone else is perception.

In PF2, there isn't surprise round... so initiative takes in consideration who fires first. In this case, it appears Odvar was perceptive enough to see that Nina was about to attack... and Ryk quickly responds, too!

"I see. That's they way you want it, we will feast on YOUR flesh, two-legs!" growls Odvar!

The warg runs up to Yaegren, clearly the shortest person in the group, and bites! He just hits, and then grabs hold of the dwarf!
Bite vs AC17: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 piercing: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Move, Attack, Grab

Ryk is/are up.
Universal Adjustments:

"You should have taken my offer. I would have brought up some Vidrian Massaged Beef, personally."

Discussions with the strange, talking wolf quickly devolve, before JR even has a change to speak. He stands there a bit as things progress quickly.

Ryk takes a step to his left for a clearer shot, takes his longbow and shoots at the leader wolf attacking the dwarf...

"Bad Move Wolf!"

Longbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
LB DMG: 1d8 ⇒ 4

not sure if taking 1 step and drawing his bow and arrow count as two individual actions and thus only giving the archer 1 attack this round- still learning

not sure if taking 1 step and drawing his bow and arrow count as two individual actions and thus only giving the archer 1 attack this round- still learning

Yes, they are separate actions.

Also, the longbow has the volley trait.

Yaegren bellows in pain and annoyance as he is caught. "Oh, I'm all gristle! And we'll make you into another heap of it in short order!"

Ryk: Yes, pretty much EVERYTHING counts as an action. So, you took a Step action, a retrieve item action (to draw bow), and a shot. With the volley trait on the longbow, you take a -2 penalty on shots < 30'. Which, with that roll, won't matter.

Ryk steps to the side, pulls his bow, and drills the warg with an arrow. Odvar yelps out in pain, and growls something in wolf.

With that, the blue wolf rushes forward to attack Ryk! It manages to bite him, and as it does, a cloud of fleas jumps from the wolf to Ryk!
bite vs AC18: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Ryk fort save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Overcome by the infestation, Ryk is sickened 1

The wolf then bites again, but it misses.
bite! vs AC17*: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 5 = 3

Nina, JR is/are up.
Universal Adjustments:

* Sickened reduces your DCs by the value, and AC is a DC