NG male half-elf barbarian 6 | ◆◇↺ ♥️ 92/92| AC 25 (27 with shield) | F +12 R +8 (bulwark) W +11 | Perc +11 LLV | Hero Points 2/3 | Focus 1/1 | Spd. 20ft.
NG male half-elf barbarian 6 | ◆◇↺ ♥️ 92/92| AC 25 (27 with shield) | F +12 R +8 (bulwark) W +11 | Perc +11 LLV | Hero Points 2/3 | Focus 1/1 | Spd. 20ft.
With no enemies left, the ancestral spirits leave the half-elf. Toanthel moves up to the plinth and begins to contemplate how to deal with it.
"Hmm" the dwarf starts fetching his fancy "infiltrator" thieves tools (just in case) and begins reading the inscriptions in Cyclops... to Toanthel "Do you read Abyssal?"
CG Halfling Rogue/Sorcerer | HP 42/42 | AC 21 | Class DC 20 | F: +7, R: +12, W: +9 | Perc: +9 | Speed 30ft | Ranged: Sling +10 1d6+4, Melee: +1 Striking Short Sword +11 2d6 +4 Active conditions: None
Wounded, and not wanting to get washed away in a surge from the monolith, Packet calls out, "Let me know if you need any help with that thing!" But he doesn't cross the water.
Is Packet at 12 or 22 HP? Either way, he will delay. Is there even any room left on that plinth?
The party (minus Packet and Ithuriel) slogs through the heavy water, rushing to reach the monolith before the next surge. Before anyone is able to attempt to disarm the structure, however, another wave of water floods out, this time to the south! Fort save from Knab and Emdi, please. You get a +2 circumstance bonus due to standing on the plinth.
DC 18 Fort save results:
Crit Success You take advantage of the undertow after the surge to reposition yourself. you can immediately Step, ignoring the difficult terrain caused by the water.
Success You are unaffected by the surge.
Failure You are pushed 10 feet away from the monolith.
Critical Failure You are pushed 15 feet away from the monolith and knocked prone.
You can attempt to disable the monolith with an Arcana, Occultism, Religion, or more difficult Thievery check (2 actions per disable attempt, multiple successes required). Please also include a Reflex save with your check, as you need to try and avoid the flames wreathing the monolith on a failed disable check.
Keeping his balance on the plinth, Knab examines the Monolith, and placing his five fingers around the [redacted] diagram on a hunch, speaks a few arcane words in Cyclops...
"I see..." he can be heard mumbling... "Ah yes" he says to Fangor as he watches him approach from the other side... he nods at Toanthel from under his risen shield... but when Emdi approaches, the dwarf raises a skeptical eyebrow!
NG male half-elf barbarian 6 | ◆◇↺ ♥️ 92/92| AC 25 (27 with shield) | F +12 R +8 (bulwark) W +11 | Perc +11 LLV | Hero Points 2/3 | Focus 1/1 | Spd. 20ft.
Toanthel keeps his shield in place and uses his knowledge of monuments to try to disable this one.
Knab and Fangor combine to quickly disable the monolith, the flames dying down before Emdi can burn himself on them. After a moment's quiet, a massive pillar of flame shoots up into the sky, arcing over the horizon to the Southwest! It cuts off as suddenly as it began, leaving the monolith cold and the runes no longer glowing. Monolith disabled! That crit from Knab counted as two of the three successes you needed.
You have time to rest and recover, and to do anything else you'd like to do before setting out again. You should also let me know if you want to make any changes to your route at this point.
Male Ancient Elf Ranger 3 ◆◇↺ Init +9 | HP 30/39 | AC 20 | Fort +8, Ref +11, Will +7 | Perception +9
Bear:
AC20 | HP32/32 | Fort +7, Reflex +7, Will +6
Ithuriel looks over to the southeast as the group dry themselves off.
Well, if we were looking for a sign that looks like it!
I suggest we change direction towards the Southwest. If anyone needs healing I can treat wounds at +9 but we have a champion with us so lay on hands should cover everything given we are travelling for days.
NG male half-elf barbarian 6 | ◆◇↺ ♥️ 92/92| AC 25 (27 with shield) | F +12 R +8 (bulwark) W +11 | Perc +11 LLV | Hero Points 2/3 | Focus 1/1 | Spd. 20ft.
Toanthel helps in getting Packet and Knab back to full health.
If Toanthel and Emdi work together we should only need about 30 minutes to heal to full with Lay on Hands.
open | male (he/him) skilled human (Nidalese) champion (Shelyn) 8 | ◆◇↺ | HP 112/112 | AC 28 (29) | P+11, F+15, R+15, W+14 | DV, NH, 30' | ↺ Retributive Strike | Hero: 1/3 | Focus: 1/1 | Active Conditions: resist cold 1, electricity 1; Experienced Mountaineer
Upon seeing the flames shoot into the sky and the monolith go dark, Emdi changes his plans to come back and surf. But he's okay with sticking with the current route - we can follow the flame jet if we start running out of food or otherwise becomes urgent to get back to base. I think the risk of missing something and having to come back out is bad enough to avoid deviating from the preplanned path at this time.
Emdi would also take some time to study the artifact if there's anything to study about it.
CG Halfling Rogue/Sorcerer | HP 42/42 | AC 21 | Class DC 20 | F: +7, R: +12, W: +9 | Perc: +9 | Speed 30ft | Ranged: Sling +10 1d6+4, Melee: +1 Striking Short Sword +11 2d6 +4 Active conditions: None
Packet is thankful for all of the healing, and apologizes for starting that mess.
"Once again, trying to do the right thing gets me into trouble." He gives a chuckle at the thought. "Can't guarantee I won't make the same mistake again though..."
Seems like the monolith wants us to go SW, but I'm fine continuing as we were if that's what folks would like to do.
Tino (human paladin), Takatorra (tengu swordmaster), Yabin the Just (nagaji sorcerer), Ji-Yook (kitsune ninja)
Ruebella's eyes widen as the jet of flame rises into the sky - she has never seen such a display of ancient magic - a little reminder that this "camping trip" also had some real danger. She watches as Knab nearly passes out on the plinth, and goes over to help the others help him.
"What was that creature you fought?" talking about zoology always seemed to calm him down. He replies "Young Ahuizotl" he tells her "Fierce grapplers" he adds "Dangerous in low water" talking as he tends his wounds and Packets as well.
Ruebella does her best to help, but Knab "shoos" her away while he is tended to by multiple people. She rounds up the steeds and looks ready to go by the time everyone is done.
As you scramble back up onto the bank, Fangor spots something in the bushes, where the ahuizotl had been hiding. It quickly reveals itself to be the remains of one of the ahuizotl's previous victims--an elf, by the look of it, wrapped in a fancy-looking cloak. Packet identifies the cloak as a coyote cloak(a useful item for Subsisting, particularly for someone with a chance of crit-succeeding; let me know who, if anyone is wearing it).
I'll move us along the next leg of the journey shortly.
One day of food spent, one day of food found, 2 successes remaining. 26 days of supplies remaining.
Coming down from the hills, you find your path blocked by a steep, rocky ridge. Bordered on either side by wide areas of thick growth, avoiding the slope would require several days of backtracking. Each PC can make one check to help the party (and animals) navigate the slope. Your options are:
Climb to a high point and haul things up (Athletics to Climb)
Construct a pully system or other apparatus to help (Crafting or Engineering Lore)
Pick out a safe path along the face of the embankment (Acrobatics, Survival, or Scouting Lore)
Guide the animals safely and calmly up the slope (Nature)
I'm open to creative solutions as well, if you can explain what you are doing to help
NG male half-elf barbarian 6 | ◆◇↺ ♥️ 92/92| AC 25 (27 with shield) | F +12 R +8 (bulwark) W +11 | Perc +11 LLV | Hero Points 2/3 | Focus 1/1 | Spd. 20ft.
Tino (human paladin), Takatorra (tengu swordmaster), Yabin the Just (nagaji sorcerer), Ji-Yook (kitsune ninja)
"Here - I'm sure the "Living God" wouldn't mind a little assistance in keeping his most dutiful proxy alive out here, yeah?" Ruebella gives the Coyote Cloak to Fangor...
No worries. Didn't mean that to rush you, just trying to be clear about where we're at.
A few of you are able to reach the top, but despite your best efforts you are not able to help the rest of the party and the accompanying animals safely navigate the slope, requiring a long detour that takes several days.
Three days food spent, two days food found (2 successes left over). 25 days food remaining.
As you continue, Toanthel receives a sending spell from Gorm Greathammer, that says Energy levels dropped by half. Have you found anything yet?
As you continue your journey to the Southwest, you see a massive column of gray smoke rising over the horizon. Approaching, you can see that a forest fire burns in the area before you! Standing out against the gray smoke of the forest fire is a thin column of oily black smoke with a distinctly unnatural appearance (it seems to be originating from the next hex to the Southwest of where you currently are).
Now that you're in a forest fire hex, I need a DC 16 Fortitude save from everyone as you deal with the smoke and intense heat. On a failure you are fatigued until you spend 24 hours resting in a hex that is not on fire. The DC to Subsist is also increased to 20 in these hexes, and requires Expert proficiency.
I'll pause here, to see if you want to do anything/change course/etc. before venturing deeper into the fire.
NG male half-elf barbarian 6 | ◆◇↺ ♥️ 92/92| AC 25 (27 with shield) | F +12 R +8 (bulwark) W +11 | Perc +11 LLV | Hero Points 2/3 | Focus 1/1 | Spd. 20ft.
Toanthel responds mentally.
"One ritual site neutralized. Supplies holding steady. Continuing search."
"It looks like we may be half way to reaching our goal according to Gorm."
open | male (he/him) skilled human (Nidalese) champion (Shelyn) 8 | ◆◇↺ | HP 112/112 | AC 28 (29) | P+11, F+15, R+15, W+14 | DV, NH, 30' | ↺ Retributive Strike | Hero: 1/3 | Focus: 1/1 | Active Conditions: resist cold 1, electricity 1; Experienced Mountaineer
Fortitude:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
"I agree - we need to press on. Let's eat the twigs we've already scavenged, and try to find the source of this. Not just for our benefit, but for all of Golarion!"
Male Ancient Elf Ranger 3 ◆◇↺ Init +9 | HP 30/39 | AC 20 | Fort +8, Ref +11, Will +7 | Perception +9
Bear:
AC20 | HP32/32 | Fort +7, Reflex +7, Will +6
Fortitude:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Ithuriel covers his mouth and nose to protect against the smoke. Agreed, lets draw on our supplies and investigate this area quickly before we are overcome by the smoke.
After we receive the message from Gorm he digs out one of the birds. We should probably let him know we negated some sort of water monolith and are approaching a large source of fire which may be another monolith.
CG Halfling Rogue/Sorcerer | HP 42/42 | AC 21 | Class DC 20 | F: +7, R: +12, W: +9 | Perc: +9 | Speed 30ft | Ranged: Sling +10 1d6+4, Melee: +1 Striking Short Sword +11 2d6 +4 Active conditions: None
Fortitude:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
"The smoke I can bear, but these twigs? It's been so long since we had anything delicious. What is a halfling to do? I can barely remember the taste of strawberries and cream."
As you enter the second fire hex, I need another round of Fortitude saves, please. DC 16, fatigued on a failure.
------
After several days of travel, finding safe routes along streams and stony ridges, you draw near the source of the foul black smoke.
Shielded from the heat by rocks on either side, a narrow ravine winds close to the column of roiling black smoke that stands out against the paler gray smoke of the forest fire. Rough natural stairs lead along either side of a large boulder to the higher ground beyond. Just visible beyond the rock, the source of the foul column, is a small stone monolith, wreathed in flames and covered in glowing runes. Though it's hard to tell from your vantage point, the flames in the area surrounding the monolith seem to dance and move about, almost as if they were alive.
The big boulder rises 15 feet above your starting position, and requires a DC 20 Athletics check to climb.
The rough natural stairs on either side of the boulder are difficult terrain, rising a total of 10 feet to the upper area by the monolith.
Trees and squares with fire are difficult terrain.
If you start your turn in the fire or on the rock by the monolith you will take some fire damage. Please include a basic Reflex save at the beginning of any such turn.
Disabling this monolith is similar to the last one: Arcana, Occultism, or Religion to magically alter the runes, or a more difficult Thievery to physically alter them. +1 circumstance bonus for speaking Abyssal or Cyclops, +2 if you speak both. Two actions per attempt, multiple successes needed.
When you reach the top of the stairs/boulder:
You can see roughly half a dozen figures moving about in the fire, some the size of a human, some the size of a dog, their bodies seemingly made of flame. If you have actions left, feel free to hold them until I place the figures if it affects your choices.
Choking on the smoke, heading Straight East, Knab grips both fists harnessing the speed-imbuing power of his bronze bands, and makes an attempt to climb and wade through the rocks.
NG male half-elf barbarian 6 | ◆◇↺ ♥️ 92/92| AC 25 (27 with shield) | F +12 R +8 (bulwark) W +11 | Perc +11 LLV | Hero Points 2/3 | Focus 1/1 | Spd. 20ft.
Cleric 9 AC 27 | HP 69/69| F +13 R +20 W +15 | Init +16 Perception, +20 Stealth| low-light vision Trap Finder +1| Exploration Mode Avoid Notice | Resist negative5 cold1 electricity1
Seeing that the creature are too far from him to call for his God's power, Fangor decides to give time to his comrades to climb or get closer to the monolith.
He starts calling the creatures and making some strange, and hypnotic movement, taking his time.
Packet and Knab both struggle climbing the boulder and are quickly outpaced by Fangor as he scrambles up. Wishing to buy time for his allies, the elf draws the fiery creatures' attention and holds it with his strange undulations.
Several of the nearer creatures watch the elf, fascinated.
