GM Bret's Outpost IV PF2 #2-00 The King in Thorns (Tier 1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

Krek finds that the root systems on the bushes are just a little deeper than he is used to.

As Meadow tries to squeeze her way through, she finds the thorns on the bush make that much more difficult than she expected.

Neither succeeded.

"We can find a clear path, or we can blaze one on our own!"

The champion marches into heavy foliage, only advancing a few metres before reaching a solid wall of entangled flora.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

"A quick bite of lunch would be nice..."

Eltis sees everyone having some difficulty and tries to find a way around the obstruction.
acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
He may have just found a wonderful thorn filled cul de sac...

Refocus to renew focus point.

Redd tries to skirt around the area. She comes upon a narrow stream with a game trail running beside it. Although the small path is muddy and slick in spots, it would be good enough for the other Pathfinders to follow. She carefully tries to keep her footing while clearing away weeds and overgrowth.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Redd gets tangled in a mass of tall cat-tails and slips on the mud then falls on her rear end into the stream.
Oh, burnt buttered biscuits!

Oh, wait! Who hasn't gone yet? May I use Inspire Competence on an ally?
Performance: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Not a crit failure so that's still a success.

Symeon hasn't gone yet.

Darlann also finds the brush much sturdier than normal plantlife.

Eltis renews his strength with a quick snack before leaving the camp. Evidently a full belly does not help when someone needs to squeeze between thorn patches.

Redd also has no luck with slipping through the brush.

The performance check isn't high enough to give a bonus. I will check to see if there is anything against giving aid.

Don't forget you have the Morale reward you can call on.

Well, here's hoping we're getting rid of a run of bad dice before a big fight. :)

Dang all my weaker checks.

Symeon give the plants a look and takes his time to study them from a distance, using the survey map they got earlier to see if he can't recognize it from that.

Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Not sure how the survey maps interact here but might they give this a +1?

He perks up. "Ah! Brambilicus Spikemuf#*&erilican! These are hard to deal with just make sure you don't break off thorns and it should be okay. Cut the base of the plant as it's easy to remove that way. The stem has no thorns."

The atlases cover the whole area and give you a +1 item bonus to Survival checks and any skill checks to Recall Knowledge, provided the checks are related to the location detailed on the map.
I would consider the Nature check to recognize a Recall Knowledge check.

Symeon is able to figure a way around the obstructive brush.

Success, but not critical success. Total of one success.
Did not get enough successes for that challenge.

Next skill check

Having found your way around that, you come to an area where Qxal has created pockets of dangerous gas.

Obvious skill options are:
• Medicine to recognize the harmful gases.
• Nature to recognize vents where gases emerge.
• Survival to get through the pockets quickly.
• Perception to smell the gas.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Krek's smells the alien air. "Do you all smell that?" He turns his head as the wind shifts slightly.

Krek is distracted by a strange smell, only to discover it is some animal droppings.

Failure.

Redd stops and sniffs the air also. She looks around as she moves slowly in various directions. She twitches her nose and inhales deeply, trying to find areas with an acidic aroma.
Medicine: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
I kind of do smell it, Krek. I just can't really pinpoint any areas where it's coming from, though.

I'm gonna hero point that.
Medicine: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Oh, wait! I smell it here... and here... and also over here. Eww. It is kinda stinky. Like Drendle Drang's office.

Symeon takes a long look at the gasses and then snaps his fingers. Medicine: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Might this also use the survey map?
"Agression Gas! Oof this is a nasty one to deal with, as it can cause unwarranted agression in some people. Best to burn it away." He quickly yanks Redd back from inhaling too much and realizing what he's done gives a blush. "Doesn't a a affect ha ha ha halfings that often but just in case..."

Eltis jokes with Krek, "What is the saying, he who smealt it..."

medicine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
"Wait, that is something different..."

Yes, you may use the Survey Atlas for the Survival or Nature check here.
I would consider both the Medicine and Nature checks to be Recall Knowledge checks, so you could use the Aid Token for an automatic success on either of these.
Might want to save the Aid Token for the last person.
Since it is Recall Knowledge, you could also use the Research bonus from the preparations for the Medicine or Nature checks.

Redd is able to figure out there is poisonous gas in the area. Eltis doesn’t recognize it.

One success.

Meadow wrinkles her nose and waves her hand in front of her face.

"I think Silence must have gotten ahold of some fish. He always gets gassy when he eats fish."

Silence flaps his wings.

"Screech!"

Meadow frowns and turns towards the owl.

"You always say it wasn't you. Remember that time in Master Farabellus' office? That was really bad."

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Meadow is unable to determine where the smell is coming from, and Silence isn't telling her.

Still at one success.

Didn't Symeon get a success right after Redd?

I had missed that he had even rolled!
With him having asked about the survey maps and putting the roll at the end of the text rather than I new line, I completely missed the skill check.

Symeon is able to identify the gasses and help find a path around them.

Two successes. We still need Darlann to make a check or someone to bot his check.

I had missed that he had even rolled!

With him having asked about the survey maps and putting the roll at the end of the text rather than I new line, I completely missed the skill check.

Sorry formatting on my phone can be a pain.

Botting Darlann.

Darlann attempts to sniff out pockets of gas.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 Failure

Led by Redd and Symeon, the group is able to chart a safe path through the area.

With two successes, the group succeeded in the second section.

You come to a winding forest path that has sudden, powerful bursts of wind. If you are not careful, you could be pushed into trees or even off the ledge.

Obvious skill options include:
* Athletics to withstand the blasts and stand firm
* Nature to notice when the wind is about to start
* Survival to find a safe place to shelter
* Stealth to hide behind cover

The atlas would give a +1 item bonus to Survival or Nature checks.
You have the Aid Token which can give you one guaranteed success. Might want to save that for the last person to see if you need it.

Redd waits for the gust of wind then quickly darts to a nearby tree. She makes her way slowly along the trail, taking cover at the base of a tree or behind a boulder each time a blast of wind comes through.
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Might need that Aid Token.

Darlann marches forward, steeling himself against the wind to break the gust for his allies. His lack of education in the matter proves to be his downfall, as attempting to face the wind with a large, flat shield is like spreading a sail over yourself.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Eltis also waits for the gust to start to die down and rushes to the next cover and the next. He sees Redd mistime her run and hopes he has better luck...
stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
I'm not suprised this has been the norm for several games...

Instead he finds himself even more off balance than her...

Redd tries to make her way from tree to tree. Still gets hit by the wind and nearly blown over.

Darlann just leans into the wind. Not graceful, but he manages to keep his footing.

Eltis mistimes the wind, nearly getting blown over! He does manage to recover.

Three failures.

"Wow! This wind is pretty crazy! Come on Silence, let's hide behind this big tree."

stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Meadow and the owl are blown head over heels by the incredible wind.

"We're gonna need a bigger tree!"

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**

Excellent teamwork, agents! We have rescued our fellow Pathfinders from mortal peril!

GMs, the Pathfinders Rescued condition on page 8 is in effect.

Krek grabs ahold of a nearby tree branch as the high winds whip across his body. "Hang on!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Pathfinders Rescued: With the befuddled Pathfinders protected, they can assist with medical needs. At the end of one encounter, a helpful cleric casts a three-action heal, recovering 1d8 Hit Points.

---

Meadow finds there is much less cover than expected.

Krek leans into the wind, but even he is having issues with the footing.

Five failures. Just Symeon left.

Oof even if we use the aid token it won't help here...Gotta roll well I guess.

Nature: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14
Symeon takes his time contemplating how to handle the wind, he comes up short. His specialty was human biology and while there was some definite bleed over with other plants and animals, however slight, meteorology is just not his cup of tea.

The dice were definitely against you this time.

Your group was not able to Chart a Course.

On the good side, no one took damage from a Critical Failure.

I am awarding one hero point to Redd.

“Things are not what they seem!” cries Urwal as he crawls out from under a giant toadstool. “The tree, the rock, the bird, even the ground! Constant vigilance is needed!”

He then disappears as quickly as he appeared.

Ahead you see a stream. On the other side of the log bridge, you can see where the path becomes muddy.

Everything in the blue dashed circle is muddy ground and counts as difficult terrain.
The stream also counts as difficult terrain.

You see a tiny frog sunning itself on the rocks between the two branches of the path.

You have some time to investigate. Nothing immediately attacks you.

Well, that didn't go very well. I hope it doesn't ruin our chances of becoming legendary pathfinders in the future.
After the group makes their way past the gusty forest ledge, Redd walks slowly along with the group, somewhat discouraged. She decides to lift everyone's spirits by singing soft hymns of Chaldira's teachings.

--------------------------------------

Redd is slightly startled by Urwal's sudden appearance from underneath the toadstool.

After a bit of thought after Urwal's words, she remarks,
Interesting. "Everything is not what it seems."
That sounds like a pretty obvious clue to me.
Puzzled, she cocks her head to the side.
I wonder if he means it could be illusion magic?

Eltis, maybe you should scan for magical auras in the area. I'm going to move a bit closer to that log and take a gander at it and the stream.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Redd also has Keen Eyes which gives a +2 to seek.

It is almost as if the fates were against us..."

"A good idea. I'll need to get closer to get a reading on that frog."
Eltis cautiously moves foward, going 'south' a little and crossing the stream to miss the muddy area. He will take a look around when he gets back on shore.
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Stride x2, percept poorly

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**

Qxal’s animal allies have been defeated! The animals that remain may even aid us in battle.

GMs, the Animals Defeated condition on page 8 is in effect.

Animals Defeated: At the start of one round of combat, a group of animals rushes into battle to assist. For that round, any character making a melee Strike can treat their target as flanked.

Symeon starts to cross the wooden bridge and stares at the frog for a long moment, trying to see if the thing is dangerous or not.

Nature?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

“Things are not what they seem!” cries Urwal as he crawls out from under a giant toadstool. “The tree, the rock, the bird, even the ground! Constant vigilance is needed!”

He then disappears as quickly as he appeared.

Silence bumps his head against Meadow and hoots softly.

Meadow looks at the owl and nods.

"I'm starting to think you're right, Silence. Urwal is a little weird. What the heck was he doing underneath a toadstool?"

She carefully examines the scene before her.

"I'm not sure what he meant but let's go take a look. Be careful."

She motions for the owl to follow and cautiously moves forward.

Meadow and Silence are being as sneaky as they can (+8, and +7)

Krek steps heavily through the muck and mud as he walks to the frog looking around. "Don't suppose you speak as well?" He offers a bit of a jest at the frog. "Doesn't seem to be much around here does there."

Perception + 4

Silence hoots softly.

"Oh! Good idea Silence."

Meadow whispers to Krek from behind her rock.

"Krek. Try kissing the frog. Maybe he's really a prince or something."

When Eltis gets closer he will cast Detect Magic on the Frog and then the areas around it..

"Uh, I don't know if petting it would be a good idea. Of course, I DID hear a tale about someone kissing a frog once..."

Krek looks at his new found companions oddly. Thinking them to have some experience and him here to learn after all why not. He bends down and scoops the little frog up in his hands and gives it a quick peck. "Like that?"

Nooooo!!!
Redd yells out.
What if it's poisonous!?!

Nooooo!!!

Redd yells out.
What if it's poisonous!?!

"Nothing some medicine and divine magic can't take care of," the champion assures Redd. "Kissing unidentified frogs is a risk we must be willing to take."