Thorur has the Endurance Feat and does not take Fatigue for Forced March. He can also cast Create Water and Guidance at will, subject to GM's discretion for the later, of course.
Endurance Feat:
ENDURANCE: You gain a +4 bonus on the following checks and saves: Swim checks made to resist nonlethal damage from exhaustion; Constitution checks made to continue running; Constitution checks made to avoid nonlethal damage from a forced march; Constitution checks made to hold your breath; Constitution checks made to avoid nonlethal damage from starvation or thirst; Fortitude saves made to avoid nonlethal damage from hot or cold environments; and Fortitude saves made to resist damage from suffocation. You may sleep in light or medium armor without becoming fatigued.
Create Water:
Create Water Casting Time: 1 standard action
Components: V, S Range: close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels) Effect: up to 2 gallons of water/level Duration: instantaneous Saving Throw: none Spell Resistance: no Description: This spell generates wholesome, drinkable water, just like clean rain water. Water can be created in an area as small as will actually contain the liquid, or in an area three times as large—possibly creating a downpour or filling many small receptacles. This water disappears after 1 day if not consumed. Note: Conjuration spells can't create substances or objects within a creature. Water weighs about 8 pounds per gallon. One cubic foot of water contains roughly 8 gallons and weighs about 60 pounds.
Guidance:
Guidance casting time: 1 standard action Components: V, S Range: touch Target: creature touched Duration: 1 minute or until discharged Saving Throw: Will negates (harmless) Spell Resistance: yes Description: This spell imbues the subject with a touch of divine guidance. The creature gets a +1 competence bonus on a single attack roll, saving throw, or skill check. It must choose to use the bonus before making the roll to which it applies.
Would like to cast Guidance on everyone "Before they attempt a roll" including Gillie's climb check, as a default action, if allowed, to save time/posts.
Hills require 4, not 3. That was a typo that I didn't catch, sorry. The cache is in the tile you're in and is conveniently on the way no matter which direction you head, so it does not add any time to your journey. And while a 12 (with the +1 from Thorur's guidance) is a failure, it's not a critical failure so it doesn't hurt the group as a whole. Also, from double-checking the rules I'm given for the race, there does not appear to be a limit on how many attempts each player can make, beyond the advantage limit given for the terrain. So you could try another one if you wanted. Climb probably won't work again in this phase, though.
Thorur: I think you can still take damage from a Forced March, you just get a +4 on the check to avoid the nonlethal damage (and thus the fatigue from it). Create Water is great, I doubt drinking water will be a problem for the group at all. Casting guidance repeatedly I think we'll treat like the Recovery tactic. It's not so taxing that you couldn't do something else, but any checks you make to gain an advantage while doing that will be at a -5.
Bahram does his best to range ahead and pinpoint easier climbing routes for the rest of the party, but in his zeal it turns out that he missed other, easier paths and so winds up wasting a fair amount of his time.
Male Half-orc Bard (archaeologist) / 6 HP 44/51 | AC 23 F 20 T 13 | Init +3 | F +8 R +12 W +9 | Perception (+12) | Darkvision 60'
Well, in that case...
On his way down from his failed vantage hike, Bahram takes another look around to see what he can Know the area.
Kn. nature:1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29
Sorry. Got a bit ahead of myself with the numbers. DC is listed as 10 or 15. Thorur has 8 plus 4 from Endurance (possible +1 from Guidance). Not guaranteed but pretty close. That's what I ment.
I don't understand why Guidance (+1) would cause a -5 penalty, but if so it would be best if I don't use it.
Because it's taking a fair amount of your focus to cast it over and over again for hours at a time. The -5 would only apply to advantage checks made by you specifically during this phase, though.
CN Ratfolk Level 4 Alchemist/Vexing Dodger |HP 29/29 | AC: 21 (+2 vs animals) T: 16 FF: 11| Fort +5; Ref +10; Will +0 * +3 vs poison & +1 alchemical weapons or harmful effects from drinking | Init: +5 | Perception: darkvision |Sense Motive: -1| CMB: 0 CMD: 15 | Special Abilities: Unnatural, Cornered Fury, I have 3 arms | Movement: 25ft Base 15ft Climb | Active Conditions: None
Gillie giggles when Bahrain tries to climb a tree.
”Don’t worry! I’ll describe it to you!” Climb check:1d20 + 21 ⇒ (18) + 21 = 39
You see as the monstrous claws of his third arm dig into the bark and he can hang from the muscular limb effortlessly.
He then proceeds to describe the countryside in enthusiastic detail.
[ooc] I don’t know how it could work but Gillie weighs bugger all without gear... could he get a piggyback ride? [ooc]
Yates stares up at the ratfolk in the tree then the sheer cliff face right next to it that reaches halfway up the towering tree. "Gillie! You have some rope in your pack right? Toss it down and I think we could all get over this cliff face with no troubles!"
No more advantage tries right? I think we should look at making gear in the next one if we can.
As he waits for the rope, Yates checks his race sandals, ensuring the odd mental connection he always feels with his implements is there, and then checking his compass once as well just in case.
You can attempt as many as you like, but you can only achieve three of them for this phase. Someone could also Craft/Modify Tools or Gather Supplies. You have a +2 bonus on those from your research leading up to the race, though it does reduce your personal progress by half (rounded down), which would slow the group's base progress from 2 to 1.
The upside of Bahram's time spent on looking for shortcuts is that it offers him a great view of the surrounding terrain. Between that and Gillie's better luck at finding easier climbing routes, the team makes excellent progress.
A few hours after the race's start, you arrive at the location marked on the map. The cache is remarkably easy to find, buried in a shallow pit and marked by a stake with a piece of red cloth tied to it. A short dig later, you extract a large chest from the soft sand.
Inside the chest, you find the following:
Six potions of cure light wounds
Four flasks of alchemist's fire
Two suits of masterwork studded leather armor
Two masterwork longbows with 40 arrows
Two masterwork longswords
A quarterstaff
A spell component pouch
Twelve trail rations
Six waterskins
Seven tindertwigs
A wand of cure light wounds with 20 charges
Finally, a traveling spellbook with the following spells:
All wizard cantrips
1st: alarm, burning hands, chill touch, color spray, mage armor, magic weapon, sleep, and true strike
2nd: acid arrow, blur, bull’s strength, daze monster, false life, protection from arrows, scorching ray, and see invisibility
After inventorying and doling out your find, it is time to begin the second phase of the day.
Just so we have a reference on the new page:
Hills (Progress 4, Advantages 3)
Jungle (Progress 8, Advantages 8)
Mountains (Progress 6, Advantages 6)
Plains (Progress 2, Advantages 0)
Swamp (Progress 4, Advantages 3)
I added some red arrows to the hex grid that seems to be our shortest rout to the finish line!
Reillana focuses on her magical needs, gathering herbs and reagents so that she and Bahram aren't forced to deplete Bahram's spell component pouch immediately if there's trouble.
Knowledge (Nature):1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Male Half-orc Bard (archaeologist) / 6 HP 44/51 | AC 23 F 20 T 13 | Init +3 | F +8 R +12 W +9 | Perception (+12) | Darkvision 60'
I would agree with the 'red route' suggested. Should be the easiest DC's, and smoothest path.
As I usually fill the role of a front line fighter, Bahram would probably vie for the longsword and armor. However, i see that a couple of you have many more hp than me, so I could try my hand at the bow, or be a secondary fighter with the staff. We can each carry a clw pot. I could also be the clw wand monkey.
I added an extra step to the route, because while the finish line's point on the map is on a hex corner (for some reason), it actually does lie within that swamp tile so the scenario requires you to enter it. So, taking that route will take you into the next tile.
While the party moves along, Eòshli focuses on gathering spell components and herbs along the route. While this slows the group down, she is able to scrounge up enough ingredients to approximate a spell component pouch. Unfortunately, Thorur leads the group down what he initially believes to be a shortcut, but it dead ends and requires some amount of doubling back to find the path again. Fortunately, Khāṇa spots an easier path up from the dead end and the party doesn't lose too much time from the misadventure.
Summary: Eòshli's Gather Supplies reduces her personal progress (and the group's) to 1, Thorur's critically failed Survival check reduces the group's progress by 1 to 0. Khāṇa's initial failed Perception check reduces her personal progress to 2, which has no effect on the group as a whole, but her successful Acrobatics check increases the group's progress back to 1. The party can still gain 2 advantages for this phase, but we'll get to that in a bit.
Once you're back on track, you take a quick look around. Hogback ridges running east to west stretch as far as the eye can see. The northern slopes of these outcrops are covered by short green grass swaying in the wind, while the southern slopes are steeper and rockier. The sun is just barely peeking out from the clouds, and a gentle breeze carries the scent of the sea. Around the corner and out of view, you can hear what sounds like a group of animals fighting over something.
Please arrange yourselves on Slide 6, and assign the gear as you see fit. I'll start the encounter later tonight.
Thorur would prefer a longsword and one of the armors, but just the longsword will be fine. He still has his dagger, but is not designed for ranged attacks at all. I think giving Eoshli one of the bows is a no-brainer.
Upon hearing the sounds, Thorur calls out..."Oh great Trudd, please bless your servant with your divine protection."
Blessings(SU):
A warpriest’s deity influences his alignment, what magic he can perform, his values, and how others see him. Each warpriest can select two blessings from among those granted by his deity (each deity grants the blessings tied to its domains). A warpriest can select an alignment blessing (Chaos, Evil, Good, or Law) only if his alignment matches that domain. If a warpriest isn’t devoted to a particular deity, he still selects two blessings to represent his spiritual inclinations and abilities, subject to GM approval. The restriction on alignment domains still applies. Each blessing grants a minor power at 1st level and a major power at 10th level. A warpriest can call upon the power of his blessings a number of times per day (in any combination) equal to 3 + 1/2 his warpriest level (to a maximum of 13 times per day at 20th level). Each time he calls upon any one of his blessings, it counts against his daily limit. The save DC for these blessings is equal to 10 + 1/2 the warpriest’s level + the warpriest’s Wisdom modifier.
Blessing(Protection):
PROTECTION:(su): Increased Defense (minor): At 1st level, you can gain a +1 sacred bonus on saving throws and a +1 sacred bonus to AC for 1 minute. The bonus increases to +2 at 10th level and +3 at 20th level. Aura of Protection (major): At 10th level, you can emit a 30-foot aura of protection for 1 minute. You and your allies within this aura gain resistance 10 against acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic. At 15th level, the energy resistance increases to 20.
Please note that Thorur has the Combat Reflexes feat and the Armor Expert trait.
Current AC=12/12/11 not counting possible +3 for the studded leather armor.
|AC 16, T 11, FF 15|HP: 27/27|F +4, R +7, W +9 (+2 vs death/negative energy)|Init +1, Perc +10|CMB +5 CMD 16|5/5 Inspiration, 7/7 Necroforensics, 1/1 Luck, 1/1 Showman
I have my kunai, and can't use the longswords or longbows (at least, not well :P), but I would like one of the studded leathers; I'll also take one or two of the alchemist's fires.
CN Ratfolk Level 4 Alchemist/Vexing Dodger |HP 29/29 | AC: 21 (+2 vs animals) T: 16 FF: 11| Fort +5; Ref +10; Will +0 * +3 vs poison & +1 alchemical weapons or harmful effects from drinking | Init: +5 | Perception: darkvision |Sense Motive: -1| CMB: 0 CMD: 15 | Special Abilities: Unnatural, Cornered Fury, I have 3 arms | Movement: 25ft Base 15ft Climb | Active Conditions: None
I don’t want to force a retcon but we already have two spell component pouches,
I snuck one in and we just found a second...
However I was about to suggest we scavenge a rope from the vines so that’s a decent alternative.
As the party starts dealing out the weapons Gillie gets his tailblade out and straps it on.
"This is the only blade I need! It'd be too tricky to make that amour fit me and l'm pretty good at getting out of the way anyway!" Gillie is a natural attack build and with high dex can do without armour
While the others get into their new armour Gillie takes the time to refill the pit with the sand and tries to disguise their presence as much as possible.
Yates looks at the armor with a longing look, "I could use one of those. But otherwise I don't need anything from there, other than maybe a potion." As the group is climbing the mountains Yates looks for a good think walking stick that he might be able to use as a weapon in case things come to that.
Male Half-orc Bard (archaeologist) / 6 HP 44/51 | AC 23 F 20 T 13 | Init +3 | F +8 R +12 W +9 | Perception (+12) | Darkvision 60'
Based on requests, and my keen observational skills, here is my take on the loot:
Thorur, mw longsword, 1 clw pot
Khana: mw studded leather, 2 alch fire, 1 clw pot
Gille: 1 clw pot, 1 alch fire
Yates: mw studded leather, 1 clw pot
Bahram: mw longsword, mw longbow, 1 clw pot, 1 clw wand
Eoshli: mw longbow, 1 clw pot, staff, 1 alch fire
If someone else wants my bow or wand, I'm fine with that. Eoshli, if you don't want the staff, we can just carry it. The tinder twigs, rations, and waterskins can just be carried as well. I think that's it.
Yates runs purely on Improvised Weapons, making good use of them and increasing the damage die by two steps. An actual weapon is actaully worse in his hands.
Pulling back the bowstring to test its draw, Eoshli smiles to herself. "It's been forty years since I've used a bow in earnest, but some skills are never fully forgotten..."
Sounds good to me, Bahram: mw longbow, 1 clw pot, staff, 1 alch fire for Eoshli
As the sounds of squabbling animals comes their way, Eoshli quirks one eyebrow. "Seems like the locals have a sense of dramatic timing. Is it trouble?"
CN Ratfolk Level 4 Alchemist/Vexing Dodger |HP 29/29 | AC: 21 (+2 vs animals) T: 16 FF: 11| Fort +5; Ref +10; Will +0 * +3 vs poison & +1 alchemical weapons or harmful effects from drinking | Init: +5 | Perception: darkvision |Sense Motive: -1| CMB: 0 CMD: 15 | Special Abilities: Unnatural, Cornered Fury, I have 3 arms | Movement: 25ft Base 15ft Climb | Active Conditions: None
Yates enthusiasm galvanises Gillie. He works on a selection of branches and even climbs back down for one of the longswords if he can’t break them off by hand
As Thorur and Yates round the corner and climb the slope, they see a trio of large, winged lizards fighting over a kill. One of them holds it in its mouth, while the other two try to jump and snatch it for themselves. Upon catching sight of the party, however, they immediately stop fighting, and the first one drops its prey out of its mouth, a small humanoid corpse. With an excited screech, they begin slithering and clawing toward you!
Round 1 Eòshli Green Khāṇa Gillie Bahram Thorur Red Blue Yates
Eòshli is up first!
Knowledge Arcana, DC 13:
These are young amphipteres, distant relatives of wyverns. Their tails, much faster and more flexible than you'd expect, give them an extended reach.
If your result was 18 or higher, open the next spoiler.
Spoiler:
If they confirm a critical hit with their tail against a creature, they can impale it, instantly pinning their target and subjecting it to automatic bleed damage until released.
"Amphipteres, luckily young ones," Eoshli informs the others, pushing forward to get a clear shot. "Be careful, their tails can hook you and they reach much further than than you might expect."
Staring down the nearest of the dragonlike beings, the elf curses them with ill fortune in battle.
Move, then Evil Eye to apply -2atk for 3 rounds (Will15 reduces to 1 round)
Amphipteres are also skilled at grabbing foes with their jaws, and do not need to make any effort to maintain a grapple with a creature they've impaled with their tails. While not capable of true flight, they can throw themselves into the air and glide on their wings.
GM Screen:
Red will save:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12[/dice]
Green tail vs Yates:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 Damage:1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
The mind of Eòshli's target becomes clouded as her hex takes hold, but one of the other wyrmlings throws itself into the air with its claws and hurtles toward Yates, lashing out and stabbing him with its barbed tail.
Round 1 Eòshli Green Amphiptere Khāṇa Gillie Bahram Thorur Red Amphiptere Blue Amphiptere-2 to attack for 7 rounds Yates-8 HP
Yates takes 8 damage from the tail attack. Khāṇa, Gillie, Bahram, and Thorur are up!
Thorur mutters unpleasant under his breath in the Dwarven tongue, casts a spell, A floating Warhammer of pure force comes in to being next to one of the creature. Thorur then moves forward to help protect Yates.
Warhammer vs. Red:1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6 possible Force damage vs. Red:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Spiritual Weapon:
Casting Time: 1 standard action Components: V, S, DF Range: medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level) Effect: magic weapon of force Duration: 1 round/level (D) Saving Throw: none Spell Resistance: yes Description: A weapon made of force appears and attacks foes at a distance, as you direct it, dealing 1d8 force damage per hit, + 1 point per three caster levels (maximum +5 at 15th level). The weapon takes the shape of a weapon favored by your deity or a weapon with some spiritual significance or symbolism to you (see below) and has the same threat range and critical multipliers as a real weapon of its form. It strikes the opponent you designate, starting with one attack in the round the spell is cast and continuing each round thereafter on your turn. It uses your base attack bonus (possibly allowing it multiple attacks per round in subsequent rounds) plus your Wisdom modifier as its attack bonus. It strikes as a spell, not as a weapon, so for example, it can damage creatures that have damage reduction. As a force effect, it can strike incorporeal creatures without the reduction in damage associated with incorporeality. The weapon always strikes from your direction. It does not get a flanking bonus or help a combatant get one. Your feats or combat actions do not affect the weapon. If the weapon goes beyond the spell range, if it goes out of your sight, or if you are not directing it, the weapon returns to you and hovers. Each round after the first, you can use a move action to redirect the weapon to a new target. If you do not, the weapon continues to attack the previous round's target. On any round that the weapon switches targets, it gets one attack. Subsequent rounds of attacking that target allow the weapon to make multiple attacks if your base attack bonus would allow it to. Even if the spiritual weapon is a ranged weapon, use the spell's range, not the weapon's normal range increment, and switching targets still is a move action. A spiritual weapon cannot be attacked or harmed by physical attacks, but dispel magic, disintegrate, a sphere of annihilation, or a rod of cancellation affects it. A spiritual weapon's AC against touch attacks is 12 (10 + size bonus for Tiny object). If an attacked creature has spell resistance, you make a caster level check (1d20 + caster level) against that spell resistance the first time the spiritual weapon strikes it. If the weapon is successfully resisted, the spell is dispelled. If not, the weapon has its normal full effect on that creature for the duration of the spell. The weapon that you get is often a force replica of your deity's own personal weapon. A cleric without a deity gets a weapon based on his alignment. A neutral cleric without a deity can create a spiritual weapon of any alignment, provided he is acting at least generally in accord with that alignment at the time. The weapons associated with each alignment are as follows: chaos (battleaxe), evil (light flail), good (warhammer), law (longsword).
Just a thought, since we heard them, are we assumed to have drawn weapons? My BAB so I can draw as I move, but was curious about the others.
Yates gives a start as the ampithere stab him with his tail. He snaps out of the analytic mode and realizes that Eoshili recalled the same information that he did, and spouted it off before the Yates had the chance. "Yup beware the tails! They hurt."
Sorry I've been warned for giving information before my character had initiative.
Green Tail AoO vs Khana]1d20+8[/dice]
Damage:1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Through bad luck, Thorur's warhammer springs into existence just as the dragonkin prepares to throw itself into the air, inadvertently dodging both the swing and an arrow from Bahram.
Khāṇa steps in to deliver a well-aimed strike with her kunai, but the beast's tail snaps around and scores its own hit on the half-orc. Striking for 6 damage.
Round 1 Eòshli Green Amphiptere-6 HP Khāṇa -6 HP Gillie Bahram Thorur Red Amphiptere-2 to attack for 7 rounds Blue Amphiptere Yates-8 HP
Gillie is still up! And no worries Yates. You technically can't make a knowledge check until its your turn, so you made the right call.
The two other amphipteres throw themselves into the air and glide toward Thorur and Bahram. While Thorur's armor easily deflects the barbed tail, Bahram is less lucky and is struck painfully by his attacker.
Round 2 Gillie Yates-8 HP Eòshli Green Amphiptere-6 HP Khāṇa -6 HP Bahram-8 HP Thorur Red Amphiptere-2 to attack for 6 rounds Blue Amphiptere
Did Yates get a good stick for whacking things? Something like a quarterstaff?
Yates raises up the branch in his hands by the far end, it's weight causing him to have to shift to one foot, making him look like the epitome of an untrianed combatant on the verge of losing their balance. He stays in the pose, however, constantly seeming to hover on the brink of toppling over, the weight of the branch the only thing keeping him from doing so. After a second or two, he starts moving into action, half tottering, half toppling forward, as he brings the branch around, using the full weight of his body nearly toppling over to drive the impact of the weapon even further.
Ahh! Back foul beast! (Improvised weapon):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 Damage (if counts as a quarter staff), Shikigami Style and Mimicry, two handed:2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9
CN Ratfolk Level 4 Alchemist/Vexing Dodger |HP 29/29 | AC: 21 (+2 vs animals) T: 16 FF: 11| Fort +5; Ref +10; Will +0 * +3 vs poison & +1 alchemical weapons or harmful effects from drinking | Init: +5 | Perception: darkvision |Sense Motive: -1| CMB: 0 CMD: 15 | Special Abilities: Unnatural, Cornered Fury, I have 3 arms | Movement: 25ft Base 15ft Climb | Active Conditions: None
Sorry, kids first day back at school today after holidays do things were chaotic finding uniforms and lunchboxes and the like. I should have said.
Gillie runs forward and claws at the creature.
Attack:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Yates's unusual style serves him well, and he is able to deliver a solid blow to the amphiptere. Gillie's attack is less successful, as she dodges its snapping jaws but gets clocked by one of its wings. The creature, realizing it is almost surrounded, begins to panic and attack everything around it. Khāṇa takes the worst of it, as the amphiptere's tail once again finds its mark. 8 damage to Khāṇa and 4 damage to Gillie.
Round 2 Gillie-4 HP Yates-8 HP Eòshli Green Amphiptere-15 HP, AC hexed for 6 rounds Khāṇa-14 HP Bahram-8 HP Thorur Red Amphiptere-2 to attack for 6 rounds Blue Amphiptere
As Thorur marches toward Khāṇa, he also marches through the barbed tails of his foes, and they leave their marks upon him. His magic does its work, however, and Khāṇa finds many of her wounds closing in seconds. His work does not go unpunished however, as the amphiptere struck by his spiritual weapon retaliates with its tail against his exposed back. Thorur takes 16 damage from 2 AoOs and a tail strike, Khāṇa heals 9 HP.
The other one cautiously advances on Bahram, striking him again with its tail even as it dodges out of the way of his arrow. Bahram takes 5 damage.
Round 3 Gillie-4 HP Yates-8 HP Eòshli Green Amphiptere-15 HP, AC hexed for 6 rounds Khāṇa-5 HP Bahram-13 HP Thorur-16 HP Red Amphiptere-2 to attack for 5 rounds Blue Amphiptere
"Enough of that!" Eoshli snaps at the creature jabbing at Bahram, her voice taking on a strange echoing quality even as she backs away from the little monster.
