GM Blake's PF2 Extinction Curse Campaign

Game Master Blake's Tiger

Based on context and past experience, these are likely not demon tracks and them being xulgath tracks makes the most sense to most of you.

Clover is reasonably sure that she could find and track the most recent path. Probably.

Let me know if anyone wants to change their Exploration to Track (requires Survival Trained) or Cover Tracks before I move to the next scene.

Ephie, unable to track, follows along.

I can try to follow the tracks if you want, even if I suspect than Clover can do it better than me..

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

"Maybe I should take the lead and you follow me?" Clover gently suggests to her friend. "If nothing else, you're probably quieter than I am so if we run up on something then they'll be focused on me and not you!"
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Note that this is a flavor suggestion rather than a Follow the Expert suggestion since Clover isn't Expert-level in Survival (yet?).

Clover follows the tracks across the lowlands, changing direction occasionally as she comes across a fresher set. Eventually, she reaches a trail she feels has been made very recently. She also notes that the prints sink deeper and the grass is crushed more than merely bent, suggesting these xulgath were burdened by something.

Roughly twenty minutes later, you break through a game trail passing through a copse and spy five reptilian humanoids, which must be the xulgath. Four of them carry a freshly killed ox. They have quivers of javelins on their backs and clubs hang from their belts. A fifth leads them. This xulgath walks with two daggers in his hands.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Environment: Normal light
Trees provide Cover.
Sloped ground is Difficult Terrain.

Rulean
Ephie
Leaf-on-WInd
Clover
Red Xulgath
Song-of-Air
Nabi
Blue Xulgath
Green Xulgath
Yellow Xulgath
Pink Xulgath

Ephie's antique battleaxe hurtles a hundred or more feet through the air but only hits the cow.It then flies back into his hand in a long arc.

Hand of the apprentice, Greataxe, Cover: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 1 = 14
Slashing: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Blast. He then flings a frost-ray at the creature.

Ray of Frost, Cover: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 1 = 29
Cold: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8 if crit, -10 speeds 1 round

“I’m not so good at archery, so I’ll distract them as you cut down their numbers.”

Having said that, Rulean raises his shield and starts moving towards the group of xulgaths, trying to keep out of his friend’s line of fire.

raise shield, stride x2

Rulean marches out into the field to serve as a distraction while Ephraim begins a long range assault. His antique axe moves with unearthly speed but loses accuracy and carves into the slain ox. His ray of freezing condensation appears to do quite a bit of harm despite the expected resistance to the cold.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Environment: Normal light
Trees provide Cover.
Sloped ground is Difficult Terrain.

Rulean
Ephie
Leaf-on-Wind
Clover
Red Xulgath
Song-of-Air
Nabi
Blue Xulgath
Green Xulgath
Yellow Xulgath (-16 hp; -10 ft x 1 round)
Pink Xulgath

"Well, c'mon Snowy! Gotta give Rulean some backup," Clover whistles to her badger friend as she hoofs it out into the open as well; Snowy hot on her heels.
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Command Animal, Stride x2 for Clover~
Stride x2 for Snowy~

While Clover advances, Leaf-on-Wind-bot enters a familiar mindset and rapidly fires a trio of long shots at the injured xulgath. The first two arrows land but the third falls only a few feet short.

Clover's nose is assaulted by a pungent musk.

The leader makes his way toward you and throws a dagger at Clover as he gets near. The blade strikes with uncanny accuracy and sinks deep into her shoulder (natural 20).

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Environment: Normal light
Trees provide Cover.
Sloped ground is Difficult Terrain.

Effects: Stench: Entirely inside a Green Circle requires Fortitude DC 16 vs. Sickened 1, critical failure also adds a -5 ft penalty to movement. Retching suffers a -2 penalty within the aura. If you succeed, you are immune for 1 minute.

Rulean
Ephie (shield up)
Leaf-on-Wind (archery stance)
Clover (46/58 hp) (Fortitude DC 16 vs. Stench)
> Snowy (Fortitude DC 16 vs. Stench)
Red Xulgath
Song-of-Air
Nabi
Blue Xulgath
Green Xulgath
Yellow Xulgath (-19 hp; -10 ft x 1 round)
Pink Xulgath

"Ewwww! Let's help you against that stench!"

Performance (dance): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
◇Lingering Performance
◈ Inspire Defense

◈◈ Animated Assault
Animated Assault (120 foot range, 10 foot burst, DC 20 Reflex Save) Bludgeoning Damage: 2d10 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Song sends an animated assault on Pink, Green, Blue and Yellow! Unfortunately, she can muster up only a few pebbles.

That was really wimpy damage.

Fort (DC 16): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

"Ughhhh, this is stinkier than the stinkiest of skunks!" Clover groans as the scent hits her, though she does manage to avoid getting sick.

Fort (DC 16): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Snowy chatters indignantly as the smell assaults his sensitive nose but he too seems largely unaffected by it.

Nabi moves and target one of the foes Red creature; Move, Shoot Shoot but both arrows go wide

Bow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Clover and Snowball have smelled worse--one would expect so given the halflings interests in mustelids.

Song-of-Air raises your courage and then drums up a storm around the xuglath. They all drop the ox and take cover beside its bulk. However, one of them sprawls on the ground, unmoving.

Nabi fires at the advancing leader, but the xulgath dodges the first and a sudden gust of wind steals the second.

The three xulgath that survived Song-of-Air's storm of stones break away from the whirling debris and each draws a javelin. Two of them throw theirs at Clover while the third throws its at Rulean. Each of the circus performers is struck by a javelin despite their defenses. The strength behind the throws nearly knocks them off of their feet.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Environment: Normal light
Trees provide Cover.
Sloped ground is Difficult Terrain.

Effects: Stench: Entirely inside a Green Circle requires Fortitude DC 16 vs. Sickened 1, critical failure also adds a -5 ft penalty to movement. Retching suffers a -2 penalty within the aura. If you succeed, you are immune for 1 minute.

Inspire Courage +1 (3/3 rounds)

Rulean (38/48 hp) (Fortitude DC 16 vs. Stench)
Ephie
Leaf-on-Wind (archery stance)
Clover (37/58 hp) (immune to stench)
> Snowy (immune to stench)
Red Xulgath
Song-of-Air
Nabi
Blue Xulgath (-2 hp)
Green Xulgath (-2 hp)
Pink Xulgath (-2 hp)

It is defense... To help with stench, everyone gets plus one to their saves and AC and also resistance 1 to damage.

Looks liek yellow was dropped but is still on the map. I sent it to the back layer along with the aura.

Ephie moves forward and ices Pink.

Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Cold: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9 Looks like a crit for 18, -10 speeds.

Excellent.

DUMB LUCK, says Mr. Splinters.

Fort, ID: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21

Rulean raises his shield, moves up to Blue, and swings his pick at it.
+1 Low grade cold iron pick: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 Fatal d10
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Fatal crit damage: 3d10 + 6 ⇒ (7, 8, 7) + 6 = 28 crit, die increase, extra die for fatal

"Gah! They've got good aim," Clover admits, staggering from where the xulgath's javelin struck her. "Time to return the gesture, Snowy!"

She moves closer to the melee and jabs her brand new fork at one of the injured xulgath...(whichever one is hurt the most & still standing after Ephie & Rulean's attacks resolve).

Fighter's Fork (IC): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 = 22
Damage (Piercing): 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4
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Command Animal, Stride, Strike. Clover is 2-handing the fork so it gains the Reach property.

Less tactically-minded, being a badger and all, Snowy darts forward and snaps at Pink, who is closest!

Strike vs. Pink (Jaws; IC): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 = 14
Damage (Piercing): 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Ephie conjures another ray of freezing energy and strikes one of the oncoming xulgath in the face, nearly choking it to death crit. Clover closes and drives her trident into frozen xulgath's gut, putting it out of its misery.

Rulean advances cautiously with his shield raised and then slams his pick into the xulgath's chest (crit). The reptilian humanoid gurgles once and then falls limply to the ground.

Encounter! Round 2. Bold may act.

Environment: Normal light
Trees provide Cover.
Sloped ground is Difficult Terrain.

Effects: Stench: Entirely inside a Green Circle requires Fortitude DC 16 vs. Sickened 1, critical failure also adds a -5 ft penalty to movement. Retching suffers a -2 penalty within the aura. If you succeed, you are immune for 1 minute.

Inspire Defense +1 (3/3 rounds)

Rulean (38/48 hp) (immune to stench)
Ephie
Leaf-on-Wind (archery stance)
Clover (37/58 hp) (immune to stench)
> Snowy (immune to stench)
Red Xulgath
Song-of-Air
Nabi
Green Xulgath (-2 hp)

Leaf-On-Wind moves to a slightly better location and lets another volley of arrows fly towards the creature that is not as engaged (red).

First Flurry Shortbow: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 = 16

Primary Damage (if hits): 1d6 ⇒ 4

Second Flurry Shortbow: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 1 - 5 = 23

Secondary Damage (if hits): 1d6 ⇒ 6

Third Shot Shortbow: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 10 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 - 10 = 12

Stride, Flurry, Shoot

The xulgath with the dagger expertly dodges the first arrow, but Leaf-on-Wind sinks his second. The third arrow is released too soon and falls short. The wounded stalker moves around Snowball to get behind Clover. He stabs Snowball in the leg as he bends down to bite Clover, but the act of trying to kill two with one movement throws him off and he closes his jaws well short.

Encounter! Round 2. Bold may act.

Environment: Normal light
Trees provide Cover.
Sloped ground is Difficult Terrain.

Effects: Stench: Entirely inside a Green Circle requires Fortitude DC 16 vs. Sickened 1, critical failure also adds a -5 ft penalty to movement. Retching suffers a -2 penalty within the aura. If you succeed, you are immune for 1 minute.

Inspire Defense +1 (2/3 rounds)

Rulean (38/48 hp) (immune to stench)
Ephie
Leaf-on-Wind (archery stance)
Clover (37/58 hp) (immune to stench)
> Snowy (35/40 hp) (immune to stench)
Red Xulgath (-6 hp)
Song-of-Air
Nabi
Green Xulgath (-2 hp)

Song moves out and shoots Red!

◈ Short bow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Deadly?: 1d10 ⇒ 7

I have the most pathetic crits ever!

◈ Short bow shot 2: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 1 - 5 = 11
Piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Deadly?: 1d10 ⇒ 6

Nabia ponders whether shooting from afar or joining the melee.

Sure, it's safer for her to shoot arrows, but what if she hits Rulean or Clover?

She gets a little closer, to have clearer line of sight for aiming, and tries to pepper Clover's foe with her arrows

short bow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Deadly: 1d10 ⇒ 3

short bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Deadly: 1d10 ⇒ 8

The two performers send a hail of arrows at the xulgath threatening Clover and leave him significantly injured.

The other xulgath steps towards Clover to take advantage of its leader's distraction and reaches for her with its claws. The claws come dangerously close to her throat as they tear her skin.

Encounter! Round 3. Bold may act.

Environment: Normal light
Trees provide Cover.
Sloped ground is Difficult Terrain.

Effects: Stench: Entirely inside a Green Circle requires Fortitude DC 16 vs. Sickened 1, critical failure also adds a -5 ft penalty to movement. Retching suffers a -2 penalty within the aura. If you succeed, you are immune for 1 minute.

Inspire Defense +1 (2/3 rounds)

Rulean (38/48 hp) (immune to stench)
Ephie
Leaf-on-Wind (archery stance)
Clover (31/58 hp) (immune to stench)
> Snowy (35/40 hp) (immune to stench)
Red Xulgath (-20 hp; <50%)
Song-of-Air
Nabi
Green Xulgath (-2 hp)

Rulean raises his shield and carefully gets on the other side of Green, hoping to take it out before they can take advantage of their positions to attack Clover.
+1 Low grade cold iron pick: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 Fatal d10 Flat footed because of flank
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Fatal crit damage: 3d10 + 6 ⇒ (9, 7, 10) + 6 = 32 crit, die increase, extra die for fatal

Rulean puts an end to the xulgath warrior, sinking the blade of his pick all the way in to the haft.

The remaining xulgath adopts a defensive posture and exclaims something, "Āmi chēṛē dēba! C̄hạn yxm phæ̂!"

Encounter! Round 3. Bold may act.

Environment: Normal light
Trees provide Cover.
Sloped ground is Difficult Terrain.

Effects: Stench: Entirely inside a Green Circle requires Fortitude DC 16 vs. Sickened 1, critical failure also adds a -5 ft penalty to movement. Retching suffers a -2 penalty within the aura. If you succeed, you are immune for 1 minute.

Inspire Defense +1 (2/3 rounds)

Rulean (38/48 hp) (immune to stench)
Ephie
Leaf-on-Wind (archery stance)
Clover (31/58 hp) (immune to stench)
> Snowy (35/40 hp) (immune to stench)
Red Xulgath (-20 hp; <50%)
Song-of-Air
Nabi

Ephie knows undercommon

The fellow gives up.

PUNISH HIM ANYWAY. THEY HURT OUR FRIENDS. says Ephie in Mr. Splinters' voice.

No, wouldn't be sporting. And perhaps he knows something of use.

Mt. Splinters leans over Ephie's shoulder and stares at the Xulgath, grinning with his sharp wooden teeth.

“Tell him to drop his weapon then!”

Ephie tells him to drop the weapon in undercommon.

"Snowy, down!" Clover calls out as she takes a cautious step back from the xulgath, though she does keep her fork at the ready should the creature try anything funny.
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Command Animal, Step, and uh...null for the third action, I suppose.

Obeying Clover's command, Snowy also backs off the xulgath - though he still chitters and snarls threateningly.

The xulgath makes a token lowering of his blade but gives a pointed look at Clover and Snowball. Once the halfling and badger step back, the xulgath drops his dagger onto the ground.

<Undercommon>: "You let me go and you keep ox?" he asks slowly and with a sibilant accent.

Ephie will continue to translate. Perhaps you can keep the ox… if you can tell us about your home.

Once he isees the xulgath drop its weapon, Rulean cleans the blood off his pick and sheaths if.

“We probably want to ask him about the demons and others in the tower. If all the xulgaths left, I would have no problems with that.” He looks around the group to see if anyone disagrees.

<"My home? My home is a cave deep beneath your sky. We came through a tunnel near the tower but he collapsed it with his great hammer,"> the xulgath says vaguely. <"Cannot carry ox myself, anyways.>" He seems disinclined to answer questions about the demons and the other xulgath.

It will require successful Coercion--or Charm, I suppose--to anything of tactical value out of the xulgath.

“Is he now trapped above ground? Needs to find a new tunnel down?”

Demon with a big hammer? Unusual weapon for a demon.

He mutters so it takes Ephie a moment to translate, <“Yes. He said we succeed or die trying.”>

Song says sweetly, "There is another alternative to dying to him. Helping us. Less injury and demon pranks, more chance for profit."

Is it a secret roll? Can I even roll this if I don't know Draconic?

"You took the words right out of my mouth," Clover chuckles at Song. "If they don't have any real loyalty to this demon then maybe we can get them to help us - or at least stay out of our way."

Ephie translates as best he can.

“Staying out of the way and leaving the tower works for me. I don’t really care about the oxen, other than we shouldn’t allow it to go to waste.”

Ruling: You can aid someone doing the Coercion without speaking the language by telling them what to say, but the character doing the speaking in the necessary language needs to make their roll with their modifier.

<"I won't help. I would be punished. Let me go, and I will find another place on the island to hunt alone,"> the xulgath answers Ephie's translation.

You can consider him neutralized, but he won't give you helpful information without coercion.

Help us… or else? Says Ephie.

Ephie's voice cracks, but Mr. Splinters sits on his shoulder, grinning at the creature with his goggly eyes and sharp little teeth, slowly pantomiming a stabbing motion.

Intimidation (U): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16

Intimidation Aid: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

"Tell him 'Or else I eat his eyeballs.'" Song taps her sharp beak.

Looks like Ephraim is having some problems convincing this creature. Too bad there is no way for us to magically share languages.

“I’m not sure fear is the proper incentive here. The demon likely uses fear.”

“Might ask their name and if any of the rest of the xulgaths are still with the demon. Might respond better to the idea of rescuing them.”

<"Fine! Just don't eat my eyeballs!"> the xulgath protests. <"Cavnakash led two dozen of us to the surface to destroy the floating orb. We have not seen much of him since we arrived at the tower. He is at the top praying and performing a great ritual. We brought several great lizards with us, and Cavnakash brought some demons. There is only one way into the tower and two demons guard it.">

Puzzled, Rulean says “Great Lizard? I wonder if he is talking about dinosaurs? Thought those were only in the lands far to the north.”

“Wonder if the lizards would be willing to talk to us.”

Why would demons come here? I mean, apart for creating mayhem and despair? Who's behind all this, and who is powerful enough to be helped by demons? A bigger demon?