GM Mike's Tarnbreaker's Trail (Inactive)

Game Master Michael Hallet

Reeta was actually quite comfortable in the cold but she was a bit concerned about her other shivering team mates. She too decides to avoid a confrontation with the Ulfins.

Jei. she says. Even with jacket, you still cold? Can't have that. We all need to be at peak. Come. Reeta fix you up.

She scowls at the list. Hemp rope? Silk much better. Hemp, no get wet.

She ends up purchasing a pup tent, some extra blankets, repair kit, healers kit (just in case), and a hatchet, out of her own money. She also makes sure Jal is wrapped up warm.

You not snow goblin. You get double layer cold outfit. Keep you toasty warm. And we see what we can find to keep tail warm too

A trio of very muscular Ulfen, 2 females, and 1 male approach.

"Look at them all small and scrawny," the male says.

"Yah, perhaps we should team up with them. We could carry them all the way," add the first woman.

"We could carry one under each arm. It wouldn't be too hard. Then we would win just like Faergim did last year, only better," says the other.

Perfectly willing to trade trash talk, Meadow confronts the hecklers. She steps up and smiles.

"Lucky for us that this is a race and not a weightlifting competition. I bet you folks can't move too fast with all those muscles weighing you down."

Meadow will purchase winter clothing, a pup tent, a hatchet, a grappling arrow and another 50 feet of rope.

Yes, that was a different team from the other sled.

I feel like I should note that although Meadow is trading insults with any hecklers she is trying to keep it light-hearted and good-natured, rather like when one is goofing on one's friends. This may change later if she feels they truly harbor any ill-will towards the pathfinder team. She is not going to back down to any bullies.

Apollo is unsure what to make of these other teams. Lots of unfriendly Ulfens. But he very much feels at home with the Pathfinder team, Never Seen Again, if that's what was decided. He especially appreciates the spunkiness of Meadow, trading barbs with the Ulfens like a pro!

When the group is purchasing gear, Apollo turns to our elven alchemist, "Erevan, is it? Yes, yes. Okay if we plan to bunk in one of these here tents?" If Erevan is mulling it over, Apollo adds, "As a halfling, I don't take up much room. And unlike our feathered friend Silence here, I don't snore. Plus, if you ever need a fire..." The oracle produces a small ball of flame for warmth.

Apollo is ready to go. If Erevan doesn't want to share, no worries.

1d4 ⇒ 2

The time of the race picks up and the day is clear, but warm, causing a thick layer of fog to form as the warm air moves over the fallen snow.

With all the teams assembled at the starting line, the signal is given and you begin to set off onto the trail.

Each PC should give me a skill check using Athletics, Nature, or Survival to navigate towards the checkpoint. You can use another skill if you can come up with a good reason that it would apply.

Erevan gracefully accepts the halfling's suggestion. "I don't mind. Thank you for the offer." The next morning, Erevan prepares his alchemical items. He offers an elixir of life to each of his companions.

Alchemical Preparations: 2 batches of elixir of life (minor), 1 batch of alchemist's fire (moderate)

At the starting line, Erevan quickly brews a concoction and drinks it. "I think this will come in handy." He immediately focuses on navigating through the course.

Quick Alchemy to create a Serene Mutagen (Moderate).

Nature: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 2 = 20

athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

I think Jei'll start off with a hearty athletics check

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Jei now bundled up in his own tail-covering Mink fur-lined coat gathered up the supplies the group had bought. "Come let us start off day with good stretch and then warm-up before we make long dash fast." He held the extra supplies on his back and made sure to brace himself before starting off with a strong rush.

Meadow pulls out her wayfinder and uses it to help determine the route.

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Apollo sees some of the group trudge through the snow, which looks like very hard work. He attempts to use the snow drifts to his advantage. He balances on top of the rises, and slides down, hopping from rock to rock when he reaches difficult terrain.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

He grumbles something about, "Halfling legs weren't built for snow." He hurries to catch up as best he can.

If possible, Apollo would like to choose Acrobatics with a work smarter, not harder approach. If this isn't allowed, please change to Survival with only a +2 mod.

Watching the lay of the land, Nal tries to anticipate where the smoothest ground would be underneath the snow.

Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Meadow shakes her wayfinder and checks it again when she sees the direction that everyone else indicates they should go.

"I think this thing is broken."

She frowns and shakes it again.

"Oh. It looks like the needle was frozen stuck."

Making excellent progress, you are one of the first teams to reach the checkpoint. The tall pines ahead are heavy with snow, and the forest is quiet. Ahead, officials for the Balgirdtrek stand around a roaring fire. Several campsites have been cleared nearby as clerics stand ready to examine and treat any injured racers. Beyond the fire and campsites, in a small, raised clearing, is a tall, thin pole carved with the intertwining necks of a Tarn Linnorm. Atop the pole rests is a small platform, an oval shape resting within it.

The pole is in fact a small tree, and though the tree itself is dead, it is still flexible and strongly rooted in the ground. The object at the top of the pole is an egg which each team must retrieve without breaking. The officials at the trial explain to each team that this trial hearkens back to Balgird’s time in the wilderness. While searching for a Linnorm in the frozen reaches of the Saga Lands, Balgird Bluetongue survived by living off the land itself. In particular, Balgird was known to have scaled a great tree and retrieved the egg of a massive bird. He did this so swiftly and carefully that the tree did not bend, and the bird did not notice its egg go missing.

The tree stands 20 feet tall. The base of the tree is 8 inches in diameter, tapering down to 3 inches in diameter at the top. The small platform holding the egg has a short lip along the edge to prevent the egg from being blown out of the tree by the wind or nudged out by an errant creature. Any PC attempting to climb the tree finds that it
is very flexible and bends as they shift their weight and climb higher. Climbing to the top of the tree without knocking down the egg from the top requires a successful Athletics check to Climb or an Acrobatics Check to Balance.

Each PC can make an attempt if they wish.

Looking up at the very tall tree, the very small halfling shakes his head. "Yeah, that looks very high." He looks to the group. "I'm hoping one of you are better climbers than lil ol' Apollo. Maybe someone has a way to fly, or can summon a creature to retrieve the egg?"

After thinking a bit, he offers, "If it helps, I can provide magical Guidance for each of you who wants to try the climb." He scans the group for any takers.

Assuming the GM allows it, if anyone wishes Guidance for a +1 status bonus on your Acro/Ath checks, Apollo will cast it on you.

Jei sets down his pack and looks up greedily at the egg. "Look look they leave breakfast for us in tiny nest tree!" Without waiting for the team the kobold begins scrambling up the rail thin excuse for foliage seeming to not even care that it's a challenge. He seems far more interested in eating the prize as it seems he skipped a big meal to make himself run faster.
athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Most people climb 5 feet per action, 10 on a critical success. So even though the challenge is only having you make a single skill check rather than one per action. It would take most creatures a minimum of 4 actions to reach the top unless they roll a critical success, so you can cast guidance, but I will rule it will only help in turning a normal success into a critical success or to turn a critical failure into a failure. It won't last long enough to turn a failure into a success.

should we roll 4 attempts then?

only 1

Meadow jumps up an down with glee, clapping her hands at the Kobold's success.

"Hooray! Great job Jei'Balt! A squirrel couldn't have done any better."

Silence preens his feathers, seemingly unimpressed.

Meadow turns to the owl.

"Oh don't be like that. Everyone knows you could have just flown up there to get the egg but that would have been cheating. Stop being a grump."

I'm guessing that since we have the egg no further attempts are necessary?

They replace the egg to allow others to try.

Fair enough about the Guidance. He will still cast it on anyone who thinks it may help.

I guess we need to know if it's to our advantage to have more than one success, or is it simply a team success?

Apollo marvels at how fast Jei made it up. "Most impressive! Good show!" Apollo claps.

If we could use more successes, Apollo hears Meadow and Silence chatting. "When I suggested flying, forgive me Meadow, but I completely forgot about your owl. He was so ... silent." He smiles and continues, "If we're collecting successes, this seems like a perfect task for Silence." Apollo looks forward to seeing the bird in action.

Jei's feet hit the snow soon after he made his climb up to the prize only to find it was a stage egg. "Awww me wanted real egg. Me skip first meal eat tiny bits on way. Keep us going fast. Thank you tall maybe elf Grassland, me think screechy sky-bird be able to get egg too if want. Me no want hog all glory, as cooperation is big pathfinder success maker."

Once the egg is reset, Reeta will give it a go.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Nodding approvingly at Jei, Nal remarks: "Dang. Doubt I could top that. You're good."

She approaches the officials next, asking: "Is there a benefit or risk for multiple attempts at this challenge? Or is one success all we need?"

"Great job, everyone. Especially you, Jei. I think Balgird himself would have been impressed!"

Meadow raises her hand.

"Okay, my turn now."

She spits on her hands and rubs them together before heading over to the tree.

Silence flaps his wings.

"Screech!"

Meadow walks over to the owl and whispers to him.

"I know, I know, you can just fly up there and get it easily but I need to do this myself. I have to show those bullies that I'm not scrawny. I'n lean and wiry."

She flexes her muscles.

Patting Silence on the head she steps up to the tree. She cracks her knuckles then hops up and down, shaking her arms and loosening up. After one final crack of her neck she begins to climb.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

All who attempt the trial manage to reach the egg and bring it down. Reeta had the most difficulty and almost had to abandon her attempt right before reaching the egg. She was able to steady the branch she was on long enough to grab the egg by the tips of her fingers and carefully bring it down.

Jei on the other hand masterfully climbs about two-thirds of the way up and realizes he can grab the tree by one of the branches and pull the egg towards him without damaging the tree.

Current Standings

1. Never Seen Again
2. Wyrding Wayfinders
3. Without Trace or Fail
4. Fangs of the Remorhaz
5. Two Houses
6. Bluetongue's Brawlers

You each have time to talk to one of the other teams or the race officials if you wish before making camp for the night. Feel free to split up and let me know who you wish to talk to or not.

Whoa. The unwanted newcomers are in the lead? That makes things...extra dangerous. Upon learning of the rankings, Nal calls a team huddle. "All right guys, we gotta watch our backs now. There are all sorts of ways for the other contestants to harm with us that aren't against the rules. Everyone use the buddy system, and don't leave any of your stuff unattended. Hopefully I'm overreacting, but better safe than sorry. All it takes is a damp bedroll to really mess you up. Now, I want to get a feel for who's most likely to be a threat to us, so I'm thinking of walking around camp to talk to folks. Scope things out. Who wants to come with me?"

If Nal gets a buddy, she'll talk first to the officials to see if they have any advice on how to avoid being affected by pranks and which racers to beware of. Then she and I will turn ourselves in to the grammar police for ending sentences with a preposition. Guilty.

GM, can you provide us a brief description of each of the teams. Other than the Wyrding Wayfinders whom we met on the ride (I believe a trio of an older woman with 2 younger companions), we have no way of choosing the others. For instance, we met one Ulfen group glaring heckling us on the sleigh, and another Ulfen team barring our way once we arrived. Do we know who those are?

When the standings are posted, Apollo compliments the group. "You were all splendid. I'll try to be more useful for the next challenge. It's just ... all this damn snow...." He brushes it off his clothes, but keeps finding more.

Apollo nods to Nal when she wants to scope things out. "Excellent idea about talking to the race officials. I'm in!" (even if you do end sentences with prepositions!)

Meadow cheers when she sees the results.

"We're in the lead? Yipee!"

She gives Silence a big hug.

Upon learning of the rankings, Nal calls a team huddle. "All right guys, we gotta watch our backs now. There are all sorts of ways for the other contestants to harm with us that aren't against the rules. Everyone use the buddy system, and don't leave any of your stuff unattended. Hopefully I'm overreacting, but better safe than sorry. All it takes is a damp bedroll to really mess you up. Now, I want to get a feel for who's most likely to be a threat to us, so I'm thinking of walking around camp to talk to folks. Scope things out. Who wants to come with me?"

Meadow frowns, pensively.

"I think you're overreacting a little. I mean, it's just a friendly race, right? Still, I can do the buddy system if you think it's best."

She turns to Silence and motions for him to follow.

"Come on Silence. You'll be my buddy. Let's go give those ulfen bullies the business." she says with a huge grin on her face before sprinting off in search of her targets.

Meadow's grin widens when she finds the ulfen bullies of Bluetongue's Brawlers. She hops up to them and gives a jaunty wave.

"Hey guys. Have you seen the current standings yet? It's a good thing whe didn't take you up on your offer to team up. It looks like we would be the ones carrying you so to speak and I'm pretty sure I'm not strong enough to lift any one of you let alone your entire team."

She gives the nearest ulfen a light and playful punch on the arm.

"Seriously though I thought you guys were going to do better. What happened?"

Silence flaps his wings and hoots softly.

Meadow glances back at the owl.

"Oops! You're right Silence. I'm being rude."

She turns back to the ulfen and smiles.

"My name is Meadow and this is my friend Silence. We're pathfinders from team...ugh...Never Seen Again. Isn't that name awful? You guys were right to make fun of it. It's terrible. I think some of my teammates aren't taking this race seriously. I mean...We're supposed to be honoring a great hero that killed a linnorm and they're making silly team names. I wanted to go with Chroniclers. You know, like a pathfinder chronicle. That's better don't you think?"

Despite teasing the bullies Meadow is trying to befriend them.

Go ahead and make a Diplomacy check.

Diplomacy-make an impression: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Reroll

Diplomacy-make an impression: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Reeta decides to find out a bit more about the history of the Balgirdtrek and of Balgird Bluetongue himself in order to get hints of the upcoming trials. Also, she enjoys a good story and this sounds like a epic saga.

She starts with some of the race officials before going to talk to the previous winners, the Wyrdling Wayfinders,

She doesn't really care if no one else decides to come with her. Also she is a little unsure about her team's chosen name.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Jei nods, "Me want scout competition, go see Wayfinders. Anyone want come with?" Seeing Reeta go he chases her, "Wait up strange pretty gobby. We talk better together." He tries his best to make himself presentable to the others but his social skills are lacking.

"Hello weird wayfinders, I am Jei'balt and this is pretty Gobbo Reeta. We want know about balgrid stories."

diplomacy(Make an impression): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

yeah seems about right

Well ... Wayfinders on Reeta's list to talk to. If you want to come with. Reeta looking for more info on Balgirdtrek itself. Wayfinders should know.

Apollo goes with Nal to talk with the race officials. He lets her do the talking with them.

When he sees the Without Trace or Fail team, he excitedly says to Nal, "They were on the sleigh with us! Let's introduce ourselves...maybe they'll have more respect for us now that we fared well in the first challenge."

Apollo walks up cheerfully to the Ulfens. "Greetings, greetings, friends. I feel like we're friends since we spent so much quality time on that sleigh ride." He looks around. "Sorry if we got off on the wrong foot there. Probably because of our team name. I hate it. And I'm the one that came up with it!" The halfling laughs and continues, "I just figured a humorous name to put folks at ease." He looks at the four of them. "But where are my manners? I'm Apollo. This is Nal. Beginner's luck for us on that first challenge. But you did well too. How did you fare last year?" Seeing their new team member, Apollo asks the Ulfen man, "Didn't see you on the sleigh. Good move! You got a better transportation offer? Hopefully it was warmer. Very good move." He smiles good-naturedly, and asks, "So what's the race like the rest of the way, and who are the teams to keep an eye on?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Apollo gives them a chance to answer some of his questions and tell their story if they wish.

Erevan joins Reeta and Jei. "Yeah. How are you faring up with the race so far?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Hi. Yes. Reeta curious about tale of Balgird. Would like to hear it please.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

A smidgen earlier:

Nodding at Apollo, Nal makes her way over to the officials. "Hi. How's it going? We have a few questions about the teams from past years. Do you happen to know which teams are more likely to, uh, prank or try to hamper whoever they think is a threat? Do you have any advice on what we can do to prevent or reduce that?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

And now, catching up with Apollo's last post:

This time, Nal lets Apollo do the talking. And heck, he's doing pretty well. During the exchange, she watches the "Without Trace or Fail" team to assess their sincerity and threat level. How likely are they to actually mess with us?

Perception to sense motive +7

"Seriously though I thought you guys were going to do better. What happened?"

"The weather gave you a break. We were prepared for the cold and snow."

"Yeah, we even challeneged each other to see who could wear the most furs. Baltus won. He managed to put on 6 outfits!"

"Jokes on him though, he passed out just a few hours in."

"Maybe tomorrow we will try racing naked again. It will make sliding down the frozen rivers much easier."

"Well be at the next checkpoint in no time!"

With this knowledge the party gains a +1 circumstance bonus to tomorrow's overland progress checks.

Most of the group opts to talk to Without Trace of Fail. Even though you were sure you were being very friendly, they seem to have little to say to you.

Nal senses that they are probably seething about being behind you in the standings and aren't in the mood to taunt you further. It's certainly possible they could be up to no good in an effort to defend their "Ulfen honor."

She chats up one of the officials who answers. "Well, no one messed with you today, but the team in the lead always has to watch out. Tomorrow you have to retrieve a bell that has been tied to the antlers of some caribou. I doubt they can do anything with the caribou, but maybe the bell?"

The team has earned a +1 circumstance bonus to their checks for tomorrow's checkpoint challenge.

After a night's rest the officials check your group and your gear and give you the all clear to proceed.

Athletics, Nature, or Survival checks (with a +1 circumstance bonus) from each of you.

Jei helps light the fire once the group beds down for the night. "We do good tomorrow too."

athletics: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9

But it seems like the kobold forgot to do his stretches this morning, or perhaps the last day of travel and the climb pulled something. Either way despite his best effort he just couldn't keep the same pace as the day previous.