GM TOP #1-5: Trailblazer's Bounty (PFS2, Gameday IX) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

The Orc camp is located exactly where Bark indicated. Rrho notices that the camp doesn't seem nearly as lively as a normal settlement would be.

Between the walls of a ruined building stand a few hastily erected tents. Muddy footpaths run between the tents while carefully tended campfires emit only faint smoke.

How do you all approach? Peacefully? Sneakily? Weapons out aggressively? Map is up, though we aren't yet in combat depending on what the group does.

Rrho prefer to sneak but not good in it. She can also bluff her way through. Fight - only if no options to leave.

Duncan can sneak, but he's also a charming rogue. Either way he prefers to approach without threat of violence.

Vinny would prefer to avoid violence if possible, but is not super good at sneaking. She is willing to try stealth if that's what the group decides.

"Well, here's the orcs Bark was talking about. Hm." Faerinaa wispers to the group while she peers at the tents from behind a bush.

"I think we should probably try to talk to them and figure out what's going on, and if we can work out a peaceable solution. I don't want to hurt anyone we don't have to, and we're going to need them agreeable or gone if we're going to send a trade route through here."

"The way I look at it, we can all go in together with our weapons sheathed, or a few of us with ranged weapons can hide and provide cover in case things go bad. I can go either way. Duncan, I think you're probably good to lead the opening discussion; do you want us all up with you, or covering you?"

Faerinaa's got a crossbow, Tempest has those seed pods and Vinny's got bombs. All three of us are trained in stealth, and Faerinaa's an Expert in stealth, so we can Follow the Expert for anyone hiding. I'm thinking maybe the three of us could hide behind that bush by where Rrho is now, and the other three could go out a little bit further into the intersection and announce themselves in a non-threatening manner.

Also good with just walking up as a group if we don't want to make it complicated. That's messier if there's a fight, but more straightforward and we don't have to worry about anyone getting caught hiding.

"The sneaky bit works for me." replies Tempest. "So, do you know how to talk to these orc humans? They speak same way as you?"

"If we can get them to agree without fighting that would be good. Good for them too. I say we give that a try, but I'm better at hiding than talking."

I'm all for a few of your more talky types giving diplomacy a go. I'd prefer to hide and see how it goes though before announcing myself. :-P

I like Faerina's plan!
Klara looks a bit worried about going there but takes a point.

I know their language. I should go there with you, Duncan. As a translator. I do not look dangerous, so we might perform as travelers. What actually we are. I am ready.

So, someone sneaking and cover, and part of team approach to orcs to negotiate.

Rrho reminds team about couple of signals, so that they could communicate from afar, before leave cover.

"Orcs usually don't take kindly to peaceful travellers. I can lie in stealth but I don't have a ranged weapon or a silver tongue. Would it make sense for me to pose as your guard?"

"Orcs usually don't take kindly to peaceful travellers. I can lie in stealth but I don't have a ranged weapon or a silver tongue. Would it make sense for me to pose as your guard?"

Good idea, orc respect force and steel, right? So you may even perform as more enforcements are nearby... moreover it i true. That's why I reminds you about signs.

"Yeah, I wouldn't lie about what we are and why we're here. Just be honest and direct about finding out what is going on with them and what they want. They're going to need to be dealt with one way or another before we can use this way for a trade route. I think having you up front is probably a good call Roumatha."

"Just don't mention your friends hiding in the bushes, and we should hopefully be good."

Faerinaa silently slips forward to the bushes, motioning Tempest and Viny to follow her. She helps guide them into position, and gets out and loads her hand crossbow.
Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Vinny and Tempest should be able to Follow the Expert on the stealth check. That gives a +2 circumstance bonus since Faerinaa's an expert, and would allow you to add your level if untrained (which doesn't matter here since you both are)

Then off we go. We'll give you three a minute to get in position before we approach.

Once everyone is set Duncan will boldly stroll up, for once not leaning on his cane.

Hello the camp!

"Sounds good Faerinaa, fingers crossed it all goes well." Vinny follows her to the bushes and pulls a bomb out of her bag, just in case.

Stealth, following the expert: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13

Sorry I'm useless at hiding this game :(

Okay, that is a solid plan. I moved everyone to a three hiding and three approaching position. This is what happens.

Duncan moves up, hands open weaponless with two pathfinders trailing him.

A heavily scarred orc woman with a broken tusk watches Duncan approach very warily, when he speaks she pulls a wicked looking sword and points it at his chest. The three orcs behind her pull their weapons as well.

She yells in broken common, "WHY YOU HERE? I SEE DAT ONE DERE HIDING. YOU TRY KILL ME, I KILL YOU!"

You have a very tiny window here to attempt to defuse the situation. Normally, this would be Diplomacy check. That might still be the best option, but I'll allow creative solutions if anyone has any.

We are looking for mercenaries who might be interested in earn some gold. At the place where they should lead us. We see this area is dangerous and full of savage animals. - Rgho provides answer after short thinking. She is not sure but coin mentioning is a good point to stop talking with everyone, who is able to talk. Usually.

Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Duncan holds up his hands and nods at the three behind her.

You have your protection and I have mine. We don't want to kill you. We want to hire you. We're looking to establish a path through this area and we need powerful warriors, like yourselves, to keep it safe. If enough people follow us your village could grow as well.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Duncan jumps in and quickly speaks over Rrho, preventing her embarrassing lie attempt from causing any harm.

The scarred woman eyes the little human suspiciously, then slowly lowers her blade a bit, "Hire us? We no strong. We no even kill ogre!"

You have now made the orc matriarch indifferent, which means hostilities are now unlikely. However, you have not made a friend yet and are far from securing their aid. A pointed question might provide some information or another successful Diplomacy check to push them to 'friendly'.

An ogre? Here? Well that is a problem. If that's what it took to beat you you're strong enough, but it's something we can't leave wandering around. Why don't we work together and stop it before it can do more damage. If you can guide us we can overwhelm it as a group.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Rrho deattach the bottle with the booze, make a call first with a s short sip.

Respected people of these lands, great matriarch! let's divide this drink as a symbol of peace. , - Klara does not know what to say but hopes at liquor talks more points forward.

If an ogre is bothering you, then it will also be a threat to any traders coming this way. And it is our task to make sure no one threatens this trade route. Our goals align - we will deal with the ogre for you.

Duncan easily manages to continue to smooth things over, especially with the generous application of hard liquor. The matriarch seems surprised that the pathfinders would consider helping their tribe out by taking on the Ogre. She warns that the beastly humanoid is quite dangerous and shows you the way to their lair.

She promises that if the Ogre is defeated or run off, she will accept any terms required to have trade run through her territory.

I'll set up the Ogre encounter in a bit, any prep before you go in to face it?

"That went well." whispers Tempest excitedly.

Turning to his more experienced companions, he inquires "Think we could talk to Ogre thing into leaving peaceably?"

Regardless, as they approach the lair, he attempts to hid among the bushes, spear in hand.

Stealth(Trained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

After the negotiations reach a more friendly state, Faerinaa will put away her crossbow and make her way over with a friendy wave. "Hi, I'm Faerinaa! I'm helping with the scouting and guard duty."

"I don't know about talking to an Ogre, but I guess we could try. I think we definitely want to have a plan in place for fighting that though, ideally without getting near it. What's the terrain look like near the Ogre's lair?"

I think ideally, we'll ambush this at range and force it to come meet us in an unfavorable setting. Ogres don't sound like they have a lot of good ranged weapon options in general, so this will likely be a lot safer if we're able to lure it out and do part of the fight at a distance.

Vinny puts away her bomb, and follows the group to the ogre's lair. "I agree Faerinaa, distance is my preferred method as well. I have fire bombs and acid flasks ready to go."

Since we know we're facing an ogre, is it OK for Roumatha to designate it as its Prey before the encounter starts?

Roumatha keeps his blade drawn and his eyes on the terrain as the group approaches the lair.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9

"If the monster is out and about, I'll meet it head on while you pelt it from afar. I don't fancy my chances about staying toe-to-toe with an ogre for very long though!"

to the Orc, he remarks:

"We've been told other groups came this way before us, have you met other explorers? Did they try to deal with the ogre too?"

The orcs seem pleased at your urgency to defeat the threat and provide a few minor trinkets and potions. They obviously want you to win.

The matriarch replies, "No other groups that we saw, though they may have just gone around us."

Three Discovery Points gained, they will agree to your terms even if you don't defeat the Ogre. The group gets two minor healing potions, a lesser tanglefoot bag, and a crying angel pendant talisman.

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The orcs give you directions to the Ogre's lair, a full day's walk away. When you arrive you see that it appears to actually be a significantly large cave complex (Map is up).

Roumatha, it appears that Hunt Prey requires you to See or Hear the Prey or to Track it during exploration. That Survival check was not high enough to find its specific footprints at the cave, so the Tracking didn't work. You'll have to burn the action once you see the Ogre.

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The ogre has made the orcs’ cave a foul place. Just outside the cave entrance are several animal carcasses, which have attracted large swarms of black flies. The stench is only just bearable. The ceilings in the cave chambers are 15 feet high, and 10 feet in the corridors. The light is dim throughout.

Rrho notices some tracks that don't appear to be large Ogre footprints. Survival check to know more.

E1

The smell in this low‑ceilinged chamber is nearly suffocating. The stench of rotten meat wafts in from outside, and the smell of excrement comes in through the tunnel to the north. Shelves and racks that once held equipment now lie smashed on the ground. Other tunnels exit to the west and south.

Rrho notices a shiny black something in the corner. She quickly pulls out An Onyx Talisman.

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E2

This room was once a storeroom, apparently for leftover crates and bales, but has been recently and regularly used as a latrine. Tunnels exit to the south and west.

Rrho notices very little, the stench is incredible and distracting! I need to know if anyone wishes to risk the stench and go this way.

Current Lighting Conditions

Vinny recoils from the extreme stinkiness emanating from the apparent latrine. "Well, there's no way I'm going in there, I can't imagine what would be worth dealing with that level of stench. Do we want to try luring it out here to talk or fight? Seems better than having to go inside such a foul spot."

What is the terrain outside the cave like? Is luring the ogre out a viable option?

Earlier, when we get the tanglefoot bag.

"I think someone without a ranged weapon should probably carry the tanglefoot bag and try and slow it down before it can get to us. Even a few extra seconds could let us down it before it can get into melee. Rrho or Roumatha, you want to carry it?

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At the cave.

Faerinaa pokes her head into the passage leading north. Her face twists up in a look of utter disgust as the smell assaults her.

"Blech, I am not going to poke through that. Well, at least not before we deal with the Ogre and figure some way to clean that out, that's disgusting."

"I'll scout the passage ahead, see if I can find the Ogre and we can make a plan to take it out." Faerinaa loads her crossbow and silently slips forward into the darkness.

Faerinaa has low light vision, so can see fine. She'll stealthily creep to the passage going east to scout it out, Avoiding Notice.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Klara is obviously not willing to move towards the stench.
SHe is happy to find the Talisman.

Ok, I will take this Tangkefoot bag. Now, lets move, and let shooters be not in front. And scouts first, sure. , - whispers hobbit going to the left to support Faerinna.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

For you I'll brave the stench once the ogre falls. Duncan claims with a sweeping bow.

Duncan draws his sword and moves to the front of the group, following behind Faerinaa.

Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Roumatha will make sure a potency crystal is affixed to his sword before entering the cave. Inside, he is relieved to see it is not complete darkness and his eyes can see clearly in dim light.

"I was looking for Ogre footprints but these ones you found, Rrho... they are different. Something is afoot here."
Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

some tracker I am...

Following along, Tempest stops to inspect the new print. "Hmm...I think I seen this before..."

Survival(Trained): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Watching his companions recoil at the odor, he inquires "With what we've seen, wouldn't it make sense to follow the ickiness? I mean, it seems to be a likely place for this thing to hide."

Outside the cave is relatively open, with a couple large rotting carcasses providing points of cover. If you all manage to somehow draw the Ogre out, I'll pull together a map.

Tempest recognizes these footprints as belonging to Giant Shrews. Recall Knowledge: Nature to learn some stuff (if there is anything useful to know).

Faerina quietly scouts ahead of the group and discovers...

Faerinaa quietly pads back to the group, whispering her report. "Its down this passageway, eating a boar. There's two giant rodents of some sort with it."

"I bet if I shot the Ogre, it would chase after me and I could lead it out of the cave. You can all ambush it and any of the rodents that come when it follows me out. I think its going to be a lot safer if we can deal with it out in the open where we can surround it and hit it with ranged attacks before we start the fighting."

Proposed plan: Everyone goes outside and prepares an ambush, Faerinaa shoots the Ogre from about as far back as she can get a line of sight on it and books it back outside. If the Ogre follows her out, we can fight it in the open where we can spread out and flank it. If it stays inside we'll have to think of something, but I think it will probably come out for the fight.

Vinny nods as Faerinaa tells what she saw. "Sounds good to me. I'll plan on using my fire bombs first, then switching to acid if I run out."

"Those prints there are from rodents. I believe you call them giant shrews." advises Tempest. "I heard they're allergic to salt or something..."
Assuming a 9 doesn't get me anything useful. ;-)

Nature(Trained): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Gripping his spear tightly, he nods. "Makes sense. Is a smart play. I could toss some seeds at it. Then I'll stab it to submission!"

Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Know anything about the shrews?

Works for me. I'll take one shot as it chases you out before joining you up front.

Taking a forward ambush spot Duncan stows his cane and loads his crossbow.

Faerina, take your shot please and then take a single move action to fall back (I'm assuming your first of three actions was to sneak into position to take the shot). There is no need to roll stealth again. Duncan, I'm assuming you are happy with your positioning, if not get on in there and move your pog. I moved the rest of the group outside. IF the Ogre follows you all out then I'll set that map up and allow you all to place yourselves on it.

And for anyone wondering, there is no mechanic for a surprise round in PFS2. HOWEVER, this specific scenario very clearly lays out that the Ogre is not paying attention to his surroundings so your plan can at least be attempted. Depending on what Faerina does will determine what happens next.

Hand Crossbow, vs. Flat Footed AC, Second Range Increment: 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 - 2 = 27

Damage+Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + (1) = 4

Faerinaa creeps into the passage as the group moves outside. She quietly takes aim at the Ogre, shooting it before sprinting back for the entrance to the cave.

Sneak, Strike (crossbow), Stride

Duncan is fine and will take his shot when the ogre follows Faerinaa, then retreat

hand crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The half-elf rogue sneaks in, aims and DRILLS the ogre between the shoulder blades before darting out of the room.

Extra Crit Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

The Ogre yells in pain and turns while drawing a javelin, "WIE DOEN DAT!?!? DAT SEER!"

He gallops out of the room and yells, "U BETROKKE DING WAT JY MY SEERGEMAAK HET!"

Duncan tries to shoot him in the face... but misses.

And now we are in initiative.

Initiative
Tempest: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Roumatha: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Faerinaa: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Rrho: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Duncan: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Vinny: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Ogre: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Shrews: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Round 1
Faerina
Shrews
Tempest
Ogre (-5 HP)
Duncan (May take up to a double move to flee as indicated earlier)
Vinny
Rrho
Roumatha

Bold may go!

I believe precision damage doubles on crit in 2e, so Faerinaa should get her sneak attack damage doubled too.

Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"He's coming, and he's angry!"

Faerinaa sprints back to the group, drawing her rapier as she moves.

Stride, Stride, Draw Rapier

Duncan makes it back to the group, right behind Faerinaa.

If Faerinaa gets attacked, she'll react with Nimble Dodge for a +2 circumstance bonus to AC (total 21)

Family Medical Emergency here, will post when able, hopefully tomorrow.

Still dealing with the emergency but hopefully heading home today. All involved appear to now be healthy.

best of luck to you. I have my own family crisis going on. I'll let you know if I'll be MIA.

Faerina falls back out of the cave. A couple of the hideous shrews dart through the entry room, but end up tucked out of sight behind stone walls.

Round 1
Faerina
Shrews
Tempest
Ogre (-9 HP)
Duncan
Vinny
Rrho
Roumatha

Bold may go!

It is still dim light inside the cave, so if you are attacking something in there you'll need to negate the light issue or roll for concealment.

Rushing forward, Tempest calls out "Come out here and fight like a rose!"

Chucking a seedpod at the rocks directly in front of him, he turns back and rejoins the group.

Seedpod: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 for Bludgeoning: 1d4 ⇒ 3 (Range 30ft; on a crit-> imposes -10 penalty to movement speed)

Stride, Strike, Stride

for what its worth, my target was blue

Tempest splatters some seed goo on the rocks and then beats a hasty retreat.

The ogre moves up a bit, but not out of the cave. It launches a javelin at Duncan, the one it definitely saw shooting at it earlier.

Javelin - Range: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 2 = 7 for Piercing: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

It is about as accurate as Tempest's seed pod. The creature grunts and pulls another one out.

Round 1
Faerina
Shrews
Tempest
Ogre (-9 HP)
Duncan
Vinny
Rrho
Roumatha

Bold may go! Once everyone (or most) have acted, I'll roll it around for Faerina to go in round 2.

It is still dim light inside the cave, so if you are attacking something in there you'll need to negate the light issue or roll for concealment. Also, the black stuff is solid rock and the brown stuff is rotting carcasses. The rotting carcasses are difficult terrain and provide cover.