[PFS2] 1-06 Lost on the Spirit Road (GM Watery Soup, run 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Watery Soup

Well at least it's not miming?

Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Careful now - they might be trying to protect themselves against your efforts too," Pepper suggests softly. "Do you know what caused it originally? Usually picking the bad apple out of the barrel is easier than cutting the resulting rot off every piece of fruit."

nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Lynn just carefully starts going into a lesson about trees and plants. " Anyway,on top of all that. Have you considered asking the plants? You never know they may answer back," she says quite plainly.

The Commedienne has exactly zero of the skills that would be useful here, but she's trying to be diplomatic if a bit fanciful and fun about it.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

The fox looks at Commedienne dancing around and saying hello to the plants, and frowns.

"Do you know what caused it originally?""

"Usually, this happens when a kami wanders out of its ward, and its magic no longer protects the forest. Other things will rise up to take its place."

Success!

" Anyway,on top of all that. Have you considered asking the plants? You never know they may answer back," she says quite plainly.

The fox creature glances at Comedienne frolicking, and shakes his head. He hands the bonsai tree to Lynn Success!, who demonstrates by asking the tree what's wrong.

The faint outline of a kami's face can be seen in the leaves of the bonsai tree. Help me, it mouths silently.

See Slide 6 for art.

"Return the kami, and the forest will return to normal!" exclaims the fox-creature.

---

The fox-creature returns all the stolen items to the Pathfinders, including the bonsai tree. In addition, the fox-creature offers a cold iron katana to the group. Collectively, this comprises 4 Treasure Bundles. Anyone who wants can wield the katana for the remainder of the scenario.

The fox-creature leads the group to another clearing in the woods.

Please put yourselves in the yellow box on Slide 7.

"Over there, by the big tree," the fox-creature whispers.

"Which one?" someone asks.

"The one that's ..." the fox-creature's teeth chatter with fright, "... moving!"

He runs off.

One of the pines in the forest begins moving towards the group as well. It is identical to the ones you fought in the village - anythng you learned there will apply here. Recall for the big tree is separate and uses Nature.

Round 1

Pine Brute
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree
Pepper
Ulf
Comedienne

Skitterish flat check: 1d20 ⇒ 5
Dyner barely fights down her mounting fear of the giant tree. After a few deep breaths she gathers freezing ball of energy before she fires off a ray of frost from her claws again. As she does, and to keep her and the spirit in her causing her to feel so skittish, focuses on whether she remembers hearing about a massive tree creature like this.

Ray of frost: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Cold damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Flat check?: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Recall knowledge, Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Well all of those rolls sucked.

Lucky watches with some suspicion as the fox-person interacts with the party, but unwinds a bit when things seem to go well and the fox returns all the stolen items to the group. His relief is short lived, and he looks around at the moving trees, annoyed.

"Small one looks like one of the Pine Brutes we fought back in the village."

He attempts to figure out just what kind of enemy the larger tree is while scanning the ground for a suitably sharp stone to hurl at the Pine and raising a magical shield, in case the enemy approaches.

Recall Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

One action to Recall Knowledge, one action to cast shield. Can't think of a use for my third action.

Fortunately, Recall Knowledge is a secret check, meaning both of your low rolls are for naught. :)

Round 1

Pine Brute
Lucky (1 action)
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree
Pepper
Ulf (DC 5 flat check for frightened 1)
Comedienne

Move
electric arc: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Save DC 17
Also I screwed up the map annoyingly

Lynn moves up slightly and sends a spark to the tiny bonsai plant ready to attack her friends

Don't worry about it. I have two failsafes - 1. I always resize combat maps so they are the height of the slide and flush with the top left corner. 2. I can use my Admin privileges to return to an archived version.

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

It's not the pine brute's first lightning strike.

The big tree raises a large, bark shield and begins rumbling to protect its little sibling.

Round 1

Pine Brute (-4 hp)
Lucky (1 action)
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree
Pepper
Ulf (DC 5 flat check for frightened 1)
Comedienne

I really need to work on my material... or maybe learn the local language -- this is the second time my efforts have fallen flat though not as horribly as the miming in town... the kobold contemplates as she lets others take the lead on the negotiation.

Seeing the large tree she hangs her head a bit. "Right. So at about this point is when we say... 'Exit Stage Right.'"

With that and a -- was that a miming of her being yanked westwards? Is she insane using mimetic warfare like that?! 'Left' on the map she disappears into the big ol' pile of trees.

Cast Agile Feet, Stride, Interact -- Draw Hand Crossbow Route indicated with Orange arrows

Pepper slips his sling-staff back into his hand and slides another bullet into the cup. "If you stay far away, I don't think either of them can hit you!" he advises as he whirls the stick above his head before releasing its payload at the little tree.

Sling Staff vs Green: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Bludgeoning damage: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Interact to draw weapon [A], Interact to load weapon [A], Strike vs Green [A].

1d20 ⇒ 19 Flat check to avoid being frightened.

Ulf feels the momentary flutter of fear from the kami spirit, but manages to shrug it off.

"Almost, I am tired of cutting down these tree monsters," Ulf grumbles, drawing his hatchet and shield, and jogging towards the creatures, but the battle grin returns to his face as he draws nearer.

"Almost."

◆Interact, ◆Interact, ◆Stride

Dangnabit I always forget that recall knowledge is a secret. Thank you! EDIT: I just read the spoiler, that is hilarious!

Comedienne mimes a giant hook coming out of the woods and yanking her in. The trees either don't notice, or they have terrible senses of humor.

Ulf is unfazed by the combat, and draws his hatchet with a wicked smile.

Pepper lets a warning shot fly.

The pine brute marches up and roars at the hatchet-wielding Ulf.

Branch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Bludgeoning: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 plus Sap

Branch, MAP: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 5 = 10
Bludgeoning: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 plus Sap

His swings are easily deflected and dodged.

Round 2

Pine Brute (-4 hp)
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree
Pepper
Ulf
Comedienne

"Take care, Ulf. Don't wanna get all sticky from the thing's sap."

Lucky drums a solid beat on the body of his Lute as wisps of force start circling the Ulfen fighter, creating a protective ward that aligns itself with the large, lumbering tree as well as a smaller shield to protect himself.

Two actions to cast forbidding ward on Ulf (protecting against the large tree) and one action to cast shield on myself.

Dyner starts to gather another ball of energy in her claws as she comments, "Soooo anyone have any good ideas on what the big one doesn't like? Would I be safe to say fire or is this one of those trees that likes to explode when caught on fire? I hear they have them in southern parts."

She steps forward a few steps as she releases the energy in her claws, but this time, instead of a ray of frost, a jolt of electricity arcs over Lynn and into the smaller tree before jumping to the bigger one as well.

DC 17 Basic Reflex Save from both enemies or take electricity damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Lucky casts some protection on Ulf, while Dyner sends some electricity.

Reflex, Big Tree: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Reflex, Pine Brute: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Lynn reminds everyone not to stand under big trees during lightning storms, and ...

Round 2

Pine Brute (-2 hp)
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree (-5 hp)
Pepper
Ulf
Comedienne

lightning arc: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
DC 17 Reflex Save

Lynn continues to send an arc of electricity to the tree saying,"Keep on attacking. I'm sure we're going to win."

Reflex Big: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Reflex Pine: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Lightning doesn't strike twice, but electric arc does. The big tree lumbers up and swings a massive stone longsword at the man with the axe.

Longsword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Even with Lucky's protective ward, Ulf cannot defend himself against the massive sword, and gets knocks the wind out of himself. The tree then raises its shield and prepares for the counterattack.

Round 2

Pine Brute (-10 hp)
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree (-13 hp)
Pepper
Ulf (-16 hp)
Comedienne

Ulf staggers under the giant tree thing's onslaught, and he mutters a curse to himself as he steadies himself.

"Shield up first next time, fool."

He bashes at the smaller tree monster with his shield and hatchet, then snaps his shield into defensive position. ◆◆Double Slice, ◆Raise Shield

Shield Boss: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23, damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Hatchet: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11, damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Boo, using my Hero Point on that. If I go down this round I want to take something out with me.

Hatchet: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28, damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

That's more like it!

The kobold was going to engage in a daring flanking manuever.

Emphasis on was.

Hearing the whack on Ulf from the other side of the trees, The Commedienne makes her way to get close enough to heal Ulf but not (hopefully) close enough to get whacked by the big tree.

Stride, 2-action Heal on Ulf

Heal(2-action): 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"Let the power of laughter lift up your heart, Ulf!"

Pepper quickly drops his sling-staff on the ground and follows his kobold ally into the trees. With a knife in one hand, he emerges from the underbrush around the backside of the large tree creature.

Stride twice [AA] and Interact to draw main-gauche [A].

Ulf slams his shield onto the tree, and sticky sap flies everywhere!

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Ulf dodges it. Then he brings his hatchet down, chopping deep into the trunk. More sap flies.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Ulf dodges it again, and manages to raise his shield as the pine tree falls.

Comedienne heals Ulf, and Pepper Strides up to flank. As he moves through the grove, the big tree reaches out with its longsword and makes an opportunistic swing.

Longsword, cover: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 11 - 1 = 11
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

It hurts a fellow tree and sobs on the inside.

Round 2

Pine Brute (-31 hp)
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree (-13 hp)
Pepper
Ulf (-16 hp)
Comedienne

Round 2

Pine Brute (-31 hp)
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree (-13 hp)
Pepper
Ulf (-6 hp)
Comedienne

Dyner stops to think for a moment and gives an apologetic look at the copse of trees nearby. She raises both hands in front of her, angled between Lynn and Lucky hooking her opposable claws together and pointing them towards Pepper. She gives a small warning to the halfling, "Pepper, duck for a second. shouldn't reach you but it might get a little hot!" before starting a chant. After a moment, a gout of flames wash out from her claws, bathing the area in front of the halfling, in flames, catching the big moving tree in the rush as well.

Casting Burning Hands. The 15' cone should be able to catch the big pine tree and only it in the flames. It needs to make a DC 17 Basic Reflex save or take 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12 fire damage.

The tengu then follows the fire and flames with a sudden shock of cold, rapidly closing her claws with intent and hexing the tree with frigid rapidly climbing ice.

Followed by her hex cantrip, which requires a DC 17 Basic Reflex Save or take Cold damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3 On failed save: -5 speed (crit fail -10) until the spell ends (Duration: sustained 1 min)

Cast Heal on Ulf.
Lynn says,"Ulf stay safe. I don't want you getting hurt more. "

With his protective magic in place, Lucky picks a suitable discarded object with a sharp edge and wills it to hurl itself at the large tree, to amplify Dyner's flames.

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8, Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 slashing, or bludgeoning if slashing is unavailable.

Two actions to cast telekinetic projectile, one action to sustain forbidding ward.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

The tree tries to jump aside, but finds nowhere to go to escape Dyner's burning hands. The fire catches several of the leaves, burning the tree even worse than Dyner anticipated.

Lynn heals Ulf.

Lucky throws a telekinetic projectile at the tree. Unfortunately, it's the wrong tree, and his sharp stone flies deep into the woods.

The big tree will swing at Pepper, then at Ulf, with its longsword. Then it raises its shield.

Longsword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27 vs Pepper
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Longsword, MAP: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 5 = 26 vs Ulf
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

It scores two brutal hits.

Round 2

Pine Brute (-31 hp)
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree (-25 hp + 1x fire weakness)
Pepper (-11 hp)
Ulf (-20 hp)
Comedienne

"Lynn, keep Salt, er Ulf up, I've got Pepper!" the Commedienne japes as she moves slightly. "Have you ever considered getting renamed to 'Steak'?" is offered in a deadpan.

Stride, Heal on Pepper(Two action): 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"I'll take it under consideration, but I don't think it's likely!" Pepper answers, spinning a fork into his other hand. Squinting, he studies the tree for a moment before attacking as though the tree were a roast turkey and not, well, a tree.

Main-Gauche: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Slashing damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Filcher's Fork: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 2 = 20
Piercing damage, Backstabber: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

"Or is that just your way of saying 'well done'?"

Interact to draw filcher's fork [A], Hunt Prey [A], and Twin Takedown [A].

Comedienne heals Pepper. Well done!

As Pepper Interacts with his Filcher's Fork, the big tree jabs at Pepper with its stone sword.

Longsword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

It does a medium amount of damage.

Pepper powers through and slashes with the main gauche, but only slices off a few leaves. Stabbing with his filcher's fork, he finds that the thick bark provides some rare resistance to piercing.

Pepper looks blue in the face as the fork does no damage.

Round 2/3

Pine Brute (-31 hp)
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree (-25 hp + 1x fire weakness)
Pepper (-14 hp)
Ulf (-20 hp)
Comedienne

Sorry, should there not have been a dice roll amount on Lynn's Heal?

The 2-action Heal is 1d8+8, and you were only down -6 hp, so, yes, technically, a die roll was required but the end result is the same.

Edit: just for clarity, you were down -6 hp, Lynn cast Heal and brought you to full (-0 hp), and then the tree crit you (-10 hp x 2 = -20 hp).

The tree needed to make two reflex saves there (unless it's resistant to ice effects). Dyner used a hex cantrip as well last round (it's one action so she can pair it with a two action spell.)

Dyner tries to add a freezing touch to her burn marks on the tree, firing a ray of frost at the tree, hoping to start freezing it in place.

Ray of frost: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Cold damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Sorry - I missed that.

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Retcon: Dyner's cold blast hits. This turn: Dyner's ray of frost hits.

A voice echoes in your minds telepathically. Say this: "Τα ψηλά κλαδιά μπορεί να υψώνονται, αλλά δεν είναι τίποτα χωρίς ρίζες για να τα κρατούν ψηλά."

The speaker need not understand, just repeat the sounds.

Round 2/3

Pine Brute (-31 hp)
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree (-33 hp + 1x fire weakness)
Pepper (-14 hp)
Ulf (-20 hp)
Comedienne

2 Action Heal heal: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Yup that was what I was worried was going to happen

Lynn looks utterly flabbergasted at the tree and says,"Hey I just healed him. Stop it. Stop it. "

Lynn heals Ulf, and says a bunch of words in Common, which the tree doesn't understand because it only speaks Sylvan.

A voice echoes in all your minds telepathically. Say this: "Τα ψηλά κλαδιά μπορεί να υψώνονται, αλλά δεν είναι τίποτα χωρίς ρίζες για να τα κρατούν ψηλά."

The speaker need not understand, just repeat the sounds.

Round 2/3

Pine Brute (-31 hp)
Lucky
Lynn
Dyner
Big Tree (-33 hp + 1x fire weakness)
Pepper (-14 hp)
Ulf (-9 hp)
Comedienne

Ulf, staggering under the repeated blows from the giant tree, yells in irritation at the sound of a voice in his head that's clearly not his own. He shrugs the voice off, readying his weapons again, then hesitates, then curses.

"Fine! Meddling spirit thing, we'll try it your way. Τα... ψηλά κλαδιά μπορεί... να υψώνονται, abba-- wait, no-- αλλά δεν είναι τίποτα χωρίς ρίζες για να τα κρατούν ψηλά!"

Does this take an action?

Hearing this phrase snaps the tree out of its frenzy, driving it to recognize the situation, cease its attack against the Pathfinders, and depart to a safe distance from the kami. When it does so, the animating force departs its body and re-integrates into the bonsai tree.

End of combat!

As the spirits return to the bonsai, the last spiritual barrier keeping the kami caged inside the relic dissipates. With a warm green light, the relic smoothly ejects a small humanoid figure with moss-like skin and a conical hat.

See Slide 6 for art.

The kodama bows to the Pathfinders and thanks them for both returning it to its home and dispatching the usurpers that had profaned its grove while it was imprisoned. It gifts the now non-magical bonsai to the Pathfinders and affirms that they will forever be welcome in its stretch of the Forest of Spirits.

With the kodama returned home, the Pathfinders lead the caravan safely along the remainder of the Spirit Road into Minkai. There they reunite with Amara Li and present her with the bonsai. She is relieved to see everyone returning safely, including Lin Po and Ti Lan. She listens keenly to the tale of their exploits in the Forest of Spirits, fascinated that the relic housed a trapped kami all this time and that neither she nor her benefactor had any idea. Finally, she suggests that all of the agents take a well-earned rest before embarking on new adventures.

End of scenario, although you are free to continue roleplaying!