[PFS 2e] GM Dinketry’s Bounties: (#4) Cat’s Cradle (Inactive)

Game Master dinketry

Jun-Mei frowns.

"You say your caravan was capable of defending itself. Do any of the missing items have similar capabilities? Will they pose a danger to us?"

"What?" Tidbit laughs in response to Jun-Mei's question. "NO of course they wouldn't do that THEY are pieces of contraptions and constructs without any mechanical abilities HOWEVER that does give me a very good idea..." Without hesitation, the industrious gnome begins scribbling mathematical equations and drawings next to her maker's mark on the back of the map, her soup (and you all) temporarily forgotten.

Without any further questions, the group considers their options.

It is evening; the oasis is two hours west of town. You may all freely attempt the following check. (Click on it only if you equal or exceed the DC.)

survival check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

[dice=survival check]1d20+4

Well done! Too bad it didn't result in a success, but your post was well formatted!

"TRULY I hope the bandits don't consider my heirloom puzzle box to be a simple jewellery box and smash it open," Tidbit mutters to herself as she scribbles.

"What is inside?"

Tidbit looks up with a crooked smile on her face.

"JUST a letter from my grandmother THE puzzle-box itself is the more valuable thing."

Would the team like to travel now, or wait until the morning?

"I say we move now. The sooner we get the box, the better." Erathiel looks determined. "Plus, the bandits might travel in the morning. We can ambush them at night and get the advantage, before it's too late."

"I say we move now. The sooner we get the box, the better." Erathiel looks determined. "Plus, the bandits might travel in the morning. We can ambush them at night and get the advantage, before it's too late."

”Night’s not a problem for me”, says Kurvok, ”but we’ll have a rougher go of it. It gets a lot colder, and we won’t be the only predators out there”

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"I didn't really pack a jacket, so like, maybe we should wait? Sleep in, have a good breakfast?" Hepcut says, "Though, I guess I could go shopping for a jacket."

"Perhaps we should rest now and set out at false dawn. It will still be cold, but we won't be dealing with as many predators."

Drazzel glances at the others that don't want to head out right away.
C'mon, you'se daffodils. We's passa-finders. The desert not that cold at night. Better for you pink skins than traveling at high sun.

Seeming to be anxious to get a move on, Drazzel begins tugging on Erathiel's pant leg.
We brave. We go. They can follow.
He frowns with disappointment at the procrastinators.

"Sheesh. I got'sa git outta dis town soon. Me hopes they want to go soon. Hamdar will skins me alive if I still here. Me no wanna be someone's kobold-skin shoes."

Jun-Mei goes back to her table gathers her glaive and Gayageum.

"We should leave immediately before the bandits have a chance to either escape or damage the puzzle-box."

"Seems like half wants to go now and half wants to stay. Maybe we could decide this in another way..." Erathiel looks at the bartender."Hey, bartender. Do you perchance have some dice?"

He looks back at the rest of the group. "Let's roll a die, if it's odds, we go now. If it's even, we go in the morning." He gives a quick pause. "Unless someone has a better idea?"

”Eh?” the bartender looks annoyed at the elf’s request.
”You wanna play, you gotta bring your own dice. You might try one of them tables in the back; they might let you borrow or rent some dice.”

I love the idea!

"Thank you." you good for nothing @&£##@... Erathiel turns around irritated. He approaches one of the other tables with a fake smile and an enthusiasm to match it.

"Hello there fellas. Do I have the game for you! " The elf reaches to his pouch and takes the last gold coin left in it, showing it intently to the group of what he estimates are very much unfriendly folk. "The game is simple. I roll a single dice and bet for odds, for a gold coin. I win, I get a gold piece, I lose I give you the gold." He gestures to the rest of his group to approach. "Do we have a deal?"

Kurvok watches Erathiel, his brow furrowing again.

”Why not just flip the damn coin?”, he mutters.

"Sure, if you want to take the fun out of it." Erathiel tosses the coin with his thumb. he catches it with one hand and places it on the top of his other, without showing the result.

"Okay, Kurvok. What's your bet?"

Hepcut slams her orcish fist into the table, "Make a decision. Heads, we leave in the morning, tails we leave now."

She takes a copper coin from her pouch and flips it herself.

heads being odd, tails being even.

1d2 ⇒ 1

"Looks like we're getting a night of sleep."

Drazzel has a sad look on his face after hearing the result of the coin toss.
I'se meets you'se all outside the main gate at sun-up.
Sulking, he turns and slowly walks out of the tavern. He glances back towards the group just as he opens the door. Looking down, he shakes his head in disappointment and lets the door close behind him.
"I'se thought theys be brave passa-finders. Drazzel wrong."

He shuffles down the street and makes his way towards the main gate of the western road out of Eto. He makes sure to take the back streets and alleys so that Hamdur, the angry merchant, doesn't harass him on the way out of town.

Kurvok smirks at Hepcut. ”Girl after my own heart”, he says. ”What do you drink?”

"Banana daiquiris, or anything that has peach schnapps."

Aeinquel makes an early night of it, planning to be up and prepared well before dawn.

Kurvok smirks at Hepcut. ”Girl after my own heart”, he says. ”What do you drink?”

I’m playing GM Cupid here.

"Very well then." Erathiel lets out a small chuckle as he puts his gold coin away, only half meant. "I'll see you all in the morning." He pauses for a second. "Wait a short second, wasn't the opposite true? Ugh, Drazzel left already. Nevermind"

I thought odds was we left right away? It's fine though, as long as the decision is made.

The team finds lodging for the night in Eto after agreeing upon a launching spot for their adventure, wake early on the next day, and travel east out of town.

Each of you will spend 1sp on a bed for the night unless you'd like something a bit more extravagant. If so (for whatever reason), let me know. Also, each of you now has a single Hero Point that they can use during this scenario.

How to use Hero Points

After two hours of easy travel along a well-tended road through the rapidly-warm sands east of Eto, your team arrives at Pillars' Rise Oasis, a small but lush site loomed over by a giant sandstone statue of a sphinx.

Map (Slide #1)

Please tell me what actions each of you would like to be using during this Exploration phase (i.e. while you're travelling). Also, would you please suggest a travelling order for your road travel? You can travel two abreast if you so choose.

Jun-Mei can go in the first rank. She will Search

Erathiel will Scout if the team is okay going half speed

If the party is good with moving half-speed, Aeinquel will Investigate using Nature. Put him in the middle of the party.

Kurvok will take the rear guard, and Defend

Avoid Notice

I will assume that Erathiel is in the front as a scout. I'll put Drazzel in the middle and Hepcut next to her friend in the back. I can see that Hepcut is using Avoid Notice as her Exploration activity from her stat line - thanks!

Suddenly, a trio of beating wings coming from the sphinx statue cast shadows over you all. Small snickering creatures with no good intent race at your group.

SURPRISE ROUND!

Aeinquel, Drazzel, and Jung-Mei may all act in the surprise round!

The lead flying creature wiggles its wings at the group and a cloud of glittering dust erupts around you all!

Everyone needs to make a Reflex save or suffer the effects of glitterdust. I'll allow you to do so, and then Aeinquel may act in the surprise round!

Reflex save against glitterdust: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Reflex save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

The elf attepts to remember anything about the creatures that might be useful. Then he draws his crossbow and loads it.

Recall-Interact (draw)-Interact (load).

Aeinquel, Kurvok, and Erathiel call out in alarm as their eyes become over-stimulated at the shimmering cloud of dust enveloping them.

The three of you are dazzled.

I’ll give the rest of you another hour or so to post your Reflex saves, then I’ll do it for you.

reflex save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Hepcut, Drazzel, and Jun-mei also fail to avert their gaze in time and a cloud of glittering dust gets into their eyes.

A clean sweep! You're all dazzled (and no, you don't know for how long)! You'll all need to pass a hit or exceed a flat DC5 roll in order to target a creature.

Soaring across the sands about five feet off the ground, one of the strange creatures (Slide 2) swoops close to the coughing crew as their eyes tear up.

Jun-Mei and Drazzel may act in the surprise round!

Eep! We's under attack!
With sand in his eyes, Drazzel darts forward and gets right in front of Jun-Mei. He sees a nearly dried out cactus paddle nearby with many of its thorns still intact. Pointing a finger at the spiny paddle, he flings it at the creature wearing a blue bandana flying straight for the group.

telekinetic projectile: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
ouch!: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
DC 5 flat: 1d20 ⇒ 16

◆ stride
◆◆ telekinetic proj.

Jun-Mei draws her glaive with a flourish. Her voice is a clear soprano that bolsters those nearby as she sings a blessing to the Lady of Chrysanthemums.

◆ Interact-draw a weapon, ◆◆ Bless

Drazzel flings a rock at one of the flying creatures, smacking it in the nose despite the dazzling effect. Jun-Mei draws her glaive and projects an aura of blessing about her. A third maliciously curious creature flies near.

That’s a 5 foot circle around Jun-Mei. NOTE this difference between 1e bless and the 2e version.

ROUND 1!

The most remote creature flies behind a copse of palm trees, concealing itself close to the party.

Pink is hidden. Aeinquel may act!

Ok, as Jun-Mei correctly pointed out, your GM screwed up. There is no surprise round. I’ve retconned the map. Erathiel, Kurvok, and Hepcut all may act in Round 1. After that, we will move to Round 2. The map is correct currently. Sorry about that!

Taking cover behind some nearby rocks, Kurvok chants a mystical passage in a guttural tongue. He points his mailed fist at the gremlin, and a bolt of electricity hurtles toward it.

Stride, Cast electric arc
Reflex save vs DC 16
Dazzled: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Hepcut staggers forward, straps on her buckler, and then raises her buckler. "Leave us alone, you losers!"

"Try to stay close to me in order to receive the blessing of the Lady."

Awaiting Erathiel.

"my eyes!" Erathiel scratches one for a second, to no avail. "you're going to pay! " He moves behind Jun-Mei, and draws his Elven Curve Blade. He looks at the creature, trying to identity it.

◆Stride ◆Interact ◆Recall knowledge Nature (if it's not possible the he just uses two actions)

Kurvok sends a pulse of electrical energy arcing at the nearest creature.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 FAIL!

The creature takes a painful jolt. Hepcut raises her buckler while Erathiel draws his sword and tries to jog his memory.

The far creature flies behind a nearby palm tree, obtaining a modicum of cover.

ROUND 2!

Another one of the creatures mutters to itself and flies behind a boulder to the north of the party.

Aeinquel, you may act!

Blinking furiously to clear his eyes, Aeinquel strides up to stand beside the warpriest, sends a crossbow bolt at the further attacker, and reloads.

DC 5 flat concealment check: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Crossbow attack, including bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13

Stride-Strike-Interact (load)

Unable to edit the map at the moment; put me just east of Jun-Mei.