GM ZD The Perennial Crown (Inactive)

Game Master Z...D...

Can Quinoline use Assurance (Medicine)? If so, she will, for a 20. If not ...

Arcana: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

lol

Risky, but not unheard of. And in your case, same result...

"What's my sister doing here?

occultism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

"Oh I get it. It's not real."

@Zaoh I give you my HP from my coin to reroll :-)

Nature: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 = 16

Crafty tries to calm down the animals around him but again, he seems quite not in his element. Certainly the influence of evil fey!

Nature: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 = 33

But the screaming and chill mist seems to wake up the old elf and he recovers his senses!
Illusion! It just an illusion! Don’t be fooled friends!

Crafty was that for round 3 and four?

If you guys are going to post two rounds worth, please label them. Getting kind of confusing on my end

Waiting on Zhao to make his re-roll before moving along

Thanks for the reroll offers. Will take Fafrd as the first offer. Also, this would have been for new round so different skill.

Again, Kang pauses, his mind going into overdrive and he scans and studies the patterns to decipher the fey magic.
Arcana: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Concluding Round 3

Zhao shakes some cobwebs loose and overcomes the illusions.

Astrid deduces the same fey trickery.

Crafty Succumbs to the sights and sounds.

The manifestation moves over the end of the stampeding animals. Vines with razor sharp thorns come at herd from every angle, impaling hundreds.

Round 4

Quinoline has no problems assisting her companions with there mental states.

Crafty finally comes through with a vengeance. His mental surge pushes the mist back and clears the path for others.

Obstacle cleared

Next Obstacle
Bloody Mire
The ground suddenly gives way, in a matter akin to quicksand. Rather than silt, the ground is loose soil mixed with blood
Athletics to haul yourself free, Medicine or Crafting to use reagents to coagulate the sand and make escape easier

To Act
Astrid
Herondal
Zhao
Fafrd

Fafrd realizes that medicine is his best choice as his companions are showing distress.

medicine: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
bloody hells, rerolling
medicine: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Fafrd tried to talk his companions down, when he realizes that his explanation was completely off base, and does a 180 to really help them,

Fafrd manages to throw some things together to begin coagulating the blood. Crit fail to success, nice

Net 2 success

To Act
Astrid
Herondal
Zhao

Kang quickly whips out some common reagents he carries in his alchemist kit and pours into the sand, hoping that it is sufficient to coagulate the hazard.

crafting (expert): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

"Ugh! This is awful. I'm getting sand under my armor. It's going to chafe."

athletics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Astrid does not seem to be concerned about the blood.

Zhao solidifies more ground as Astrid wallows through the soil and blood mixture.

Net 4 successes

Left to Act
Herondal

No pressure...

Herondal tries to climb out.

athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

"Little help?"

After my twentieth reading of the rules. Light bulb. I started the manifestation's movement to soon. It was not to start advancing until the end of round two

Herondal just manages to get himself unstuck.

Total 5 successes

End of round 4.

Qxal is enjoying itself too much absorbing as much blood as possible.

Round 5

Everyone may act. Still in the Bloody Mire

Astrid continues to slog through the muck.

Athletics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Astrid pulls herself and another free of the muck. Crit success and it closes out this obstacle.

New and final obstacle
Grasping Dunes
Massive pillars of sand shaped like grabbing hands make a final attempt to intercept fleeing people on the beach.
Crafting to identify weak points in the constructs, Deception to zigzag past them, Acrobatics to evade them.

To Act
Herondal
Zhao
Crafty
Fafrd
Quinoline

Herondal tries to trick them into thinking he is something too disgusting to grab.

"Braaains."

Deception untrained: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Kang heaves a sign of relief as he gets past the quick sand, only to face the grabbing hands of sand. (Sandman?)

He rapidly studies the structures and points out the areas where structurally the grasping hands would be less dextrous to flee past.

crafting (expert): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Fafrd harkens back to his days going viking, and dodges through the hands like a viking leaping from ship to ship in a gale.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Quinoline debates whether to bother finding a weakness, which looks harder, or just run through, which looks easier.

In the end, her curiosity gets the better of her and she looks for a weakness.

Crafting: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

Craft: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 2 = 21

Tired of running qnd jumping, Crafty stops to study the structure, and hopefully, identify some weak point in it.

Herondal somehow fools the sandy constructs to ignore him.

Crafty, Quinoline and Zhao puts their heads together to figure out the weaknesses.

Fafrd just uses some fancy footwork to get through the outstretched hands, causing two of them to collapse on themselves.

That's six successes. So this clears the obstacle and moves us out of the chase.

As the other agents get the people of Bhopan situated on the Unsinkable, the PCs are able to recover a cache of Bhopanese art objects. Count towards 2 treasure bundles

As the Unsinkable casts off from Bhopan, the NPC Pathfinders aboard the ship largely think of themselves as being home free. Audho is silent amid the celebrations.

Several minutes pass in silence. As the Unsinkable sails away from Bhopan at full speed, plumes of smoke still visibly rising from Hoba Dukuza, the atmosphere upon the ship is one of celebration and hope. Yet not all aboard the ship celebrate; both Khoumrock Blackthane and Audho from within her Perennial Crown are quiet, Blackthane’s eyes locked upon the shoreline. After ten minutes pass, the passengers aboard the Unsinkable see the terrible avatar of Qxal arrive upon the shore, its bellows of frustration barely audible beneath the sound of the roiling surf. It flutters back and forth agitatedly against the shoreline before its tendrils sink into the sand.

Nearly simultaneously, Audho and Blackthane both cry out, in words and in thoughts respectively.

“Pathfinders! To yer battle stations!”

“It comes for the crown!”

Before any aboard the ship can react, a massive arm formed from roots and thorns reaches up from beneath the sea, splitting into a net of seaweed and vines that entangle the Unsinkable and hold it against the beating winds. The manifestation of the Thorned Monarch leaps powerfully from the beach and soars toward the ship, the water flattening in the wake of its outspread wings, as the hateful fey creature readies to sink the Unsinkable.

As the vines climb over the railings, three spiked cocoons are deposited on the main deck.

Khoumrock yells from the decks below, "Take care of the cocoons. We will work on the vines and repairs. Oi, and don't let the canons got to waste"

Rules for the canons will be posted on the slides. Can only be fired once per round. If you all do not fire the cannons, a NPC agent will fire, alternating cannonballs and harpoons

Bold May Act
Round 1
Fafrd
Herondal
Zhao
Qxal: 100 feet away
Red
Yellow
Crafty
Flame
Quinoline
Astrid
Blue

The rules seem to suggest that we are spending 2 actions to order someone to fire the cannons. Weird. I say we don't use the harpoon, No rush to add another enemy.

Lingering Composition DC 22: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 15 + 1 = 19 ◇

Herondal acts out a bit involving brave seafarers fighting off pirates. ◆

+1 Status bonus to Attack and Damage rolls for 1 round.

"Make us proud Astrid."

He then casts Haste on Astrid. ◆◆

+1 action to be used for Stride or Strike for 1 minute.

Correct, it is just shouting commands. If you choose not to, the NPCs fire it instead, but they have are not as good on their own. I agree, hold off on the harpoons at first. Might need them later ;)

Ah. So one of us shouting grants a +17 bonus before Inspire but a crewperson firing it fires at a lower bonus?

So we should decide who to use the cannon? I'm proposing Kang as I think he is the least effectual right now in combat.

So we should decide who to use the cannon? I'm proposing Kang as I think he is the least effectual right now in combat.

Have you used your 'ha ha I get this spell back now as a free action' ability thingy yet this adventure?

Also while this doesn't help us at all I think this would be hilarious for anyone with a familiar that can speak. Hexala the witch casts an attack spell and commands her hedgehog to oversee the cannon. 'FIRE!' squeaks the tiny mammal.

That sounds good. Depending on how the elemental resistances and weaknesses pan out, Quinoline might could be on cannon duty, too. But she can go up and give Fafrd/Astrid a flanking buddy so cannons would be third tier.

Have you used your 'ha ha I get this spell back now as a free action' ability thingy yet this adventure?

Also while this doesn't help us at all I think this would be hilarious for anyone with a familiar that can speak. Hexala the witch casts an attack spell and commands her hedgehog to oversee the cannon. 'FIRE!' squeaks the tiny mammal.

Actually I can get it twice, as a universal wizard, one for each level. Just that being a level 4 wizard in a high tier games, his spell levels and DC don't seem effective enough to make significant impact relative to the rest of the team. And the familiar idea is brilliant! Too bad I didn't take his fox familiar down that route.

Deciding that he would be most useful at the cannons and to let his teammates take care of the ship invaders, Kang moves to join the crew to direct their actions. "Fire!"

fire the cannons, IC: 1d20 + 17 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 17 + 1 = 38 dmg: 4d8 + 7 ⇒ (5, 8, 2, 3) + 7 = 25 MWAHAHA!

Stride, Fire Cannons

Did Fafrd or Astrid accept the mistform elixirs that Quinoline offered earlier? Just checking so Quinoline's inventory is correct.

So what I was thinking was a round where someone besides Kang fires the cannon while Kang casts flaming sphere. Then Kang can spend subsequent rounds firing the cannon and still concentrate on the sphere.

Yes. I figured I took one.

@GM ZD
Astrid starts this fight down 16 hp

@Herondal, Correct.

Herondal begins to inspire the PC's.

Zhao shouts at commands and his first salvo slams into the manifestation from a hundred feet out with great accuracy.

Bold May Act
Round 1
Fafrd
Herondal
Zhao
Qxal: 50 damage; 100 feet away
Red
Yellow
Crafty
Flame
Quinoline
Astrid: 16 damage
Blue

So what I was thinking was a round where someone besides Kang fires the cannon while Kang casts flaming sphere. Then Kang can spend subsequent rounds firing the cannon and still concentrate on the sphere.

Ah good point. Or a summoned hyena. Or hideous laughter. Whichever might be more effective against these cocoons after we've found out a bit more about them.

I also assumed I had one... of course, having him remember that is another thing.

Fafrd moves up to blue, and then quick draws his rapier, attacks, and does the same with his main gauche.
+1 strikingrapier, IC: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 1 = 16 Wow... so many nat-1s

+1 striking main gauche, IC: 1d20 + 14 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 14 + 1 - 4 = 15 Sigh.

I think we are using 2 actions to help a crewperson fire a cannon instead of moving to the cannon and firing it ourselves so Zhao Kang didn't need to stride. I don't see a cannon or harpoon on the map anyway so presumably we ignore aiming and cover. @GM ZD Knowledge needed to identify the enemies and their weaknesses?

Kang strided to get away from the frontline. :)

As far as I know, there is no moving to cannons. It just talking them through it, shouting orders.

To learn more. It will be a recall knowledge Nature on the cocoons and the manifestation, one each. Of course I will roll it in secret if you wish to know.

Fafrd can not make a dent in the cocoon.

The manifestation flies over the sea, drawing closer with each flap of its wings. It launches a thorn at, in order of initiative: 1d6 ⇒ 4, Crafty. It pierces his skin and causes him to bleed. Sorry. Critical hit and deals bleed damage.

The red and yellow cocoons begin to release a hypnotic thrum.

Red is targeting Crafty. Yellow is able to get flame, Quinoline and Herondal. Need each of you to attempt a DC 21 will save vs enchantment and mental.Success=Unaffected and immune to any hypnotic thrum for the next 24 hours. On a failure, you are fascinated and must move towards the cocoon as expediently as possible. If you are adjacent to the cocoon, you stay still and can't act. Critical failure=same as failure, however, you do not lose the fascinated condition if attacked. You get a new save at the end of each round after the attack.

Bold May Act
Round 1
Fafrd
Herondal
Zhao
Qxal: 50 damage; 40 feet away
Red
Yellow
Crafty: 28 damage; d4 persistent bleed. (please roll at the end of your turn and than attempt a DC 15 flat check to end the condition. There is a medicine action that may be able to help with bleed)
Flame
Quinoline
Astrid: 16 damage
Blue

Oops, their abilities don't look good. Kang has a scroll of dispel magic. If anything gets affected, he can try to dispel it, assuming it is a spell effect. But someone else would need to fire the cannon. At the speed that it is approaching, looks like we can only get in one more shot.

Herondal quickly acts out in a startling fashion to distract everyone including himself from the noise. ↺

Counter Performance in place of the Will saves: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 15 + 1 = 25

"Look at me! I am the great ape Balaranda!"

Everyone can still roll but you use the better of the 2 results. Inspire is no longer in effect.

Will save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Will take the 25 result.

Oops, their abilities don't look good. Kang has a scroll of dispel magic. If anything gets affected, he can try to dispel it, assuming it is a spell effect. But someone else would need to fire the cannon. At the speed that it is approaching, looks like we can only get in one more shot.

This is not a spell.

Sensing that this will be a tough fight Astrid reaches into her belt pouch and removes Quin's mistform elixir and quickly consumes it. Almost immediately a thick mist begins to exude from every pore, covering her completely.

"Well that's a shame. How is everyone going to see me slice these things open?"

She races towards the nearest creature and swiftly slashes at the beast as she draws her sword.

shortsword: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
damage-shortsword-slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11

Rretrieve item, drink elixir, stride(haste), quickdraw-shortsword

Mistform Elixir (moderate)

Will Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Crafty resists the hypnotic thrum and then tries to remember something about the pods and the manifestation of Qxal. Two actions for Recall Knowledge Nature (+13)

Then he commands Flame to attack.

Flame, Attack!

Will Save Flame: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 20

The small cat is first disconcerted by the thrum, but Herondal's performance makes him refocus and he moves to bite the closest cocoon.

Bite, IC: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 22
Damages (P), IC: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Bleeding Damages: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Bleeding?: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Crafty continues to bleed.

Herondal quickly distracts his allies, free their minds from the hypnotic thrum.

Astrid and flame gang up on the cocoon. Both leaving gouges on the hardened exterior.

Bold May Act
Round 1
Fafrd
Herondal
Zhao
Qxal: 50 damage; 40 feet away
Red
Yellow: 15 damage
Crafty: 30damage; d4 persistent bleed. (please roll at the end of your turn and than attempt a DC 15 flat check to end the condition.
Flame
Quinoline
Astrid: 16 damage
Blue

Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Quinoline moves up, uses Battle Medicine on Crafty, and then throws a moderate frost bomb at Qxal.

Not sure if it's 40' away or 40' off the map. Quinoline's range increment is 30' from Far Lobber so I think it's going to be the 2nd range increment either way, but this is going to be important if Quinoline hits.

Assurance: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 8) + 10 = 25

Moderate Frost Vial, 2nd range: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 13 - 2 = 30
Cold: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 6) + 4 = 14 plus -10' speed
4 splash cold on a miss

Edit: A very good round for high rolls!!

I am saying 40 ft away from the boat itself. It should be on the map next round

Quin rushes to provide aid to Crafty and the tosses a hail mary at the giant moth. It connects, the freezing mixture covering its wings causes to slow.

The cocoon in front of Fafrd opens slightly and snaps a tendral out at him. The tendral slashes Fafrd, leaving a red lash across his body. The cocoon begins to thrum, piercings Fafrd's mind, trying to entrance him. Will need Fafrd to make a will save vs mental and enchantment. Unfortunately this was activated after Herondal's counter performance, so you can not benefit from it

A voice from below calls up to the agents on deck, "Cannons are ready, awaiting your orders."

Bold May Act
Round 2
Fafrd: 10 damage
Herondal
Zhao
Qxal: 64 damage; 40 feet away; -10 penalty to speed
Red
Yellow: 15 damage
Crafty: 5 damage; d4 persistent bleed. (please roll at the end of your turn and than attempt a DC 15 flat check to end the condition.
Flame
Quinoline
Astrid: 16 damage
Blue

Use fire against these creatures!

Says Crafty while bleeding

Herondal does a bit where he is waving away and swatting moths. ◆

+1 Status bonus to Attack and Damage rolls for 1 round.

He then tries to slow Qxal down even more. ◆◆

Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 1 = 30
cold damage: 3d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2, 4) + 4 + 1 = 13

if crit then -10 Status penalty to speed for 1 round (The bomb's penalty is untyped.) and 13 more damage.

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Fafrd shrugs off the thrumming and the marks his target, stabbing with both weapons
Rapier: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 1 = 25 striking piercing: 2d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6, 5) + 2 + 1 = 14
Main Gauche, flurry: 1d20 + 14 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 1 - 2 = 19 striking piercing: 2d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 + 1 = 8

He then strikes once more his main gauche.
Main Gauche, flurry: 1d20 + 14 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 14 + 1 - 4 = 24 striking piercing: 2d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3) + 2 + 1 = 9