PFS 1e - # 8-12 Tyranny of Winds, Part 3: Caught in the Eclipse (Inactive)

Game Master MauveAvengr

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Survival: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

With the wave of sand and gravel, Maud and Liora get stuck waist deep in the sand. As much as both of them wiggle, neither are able to get out. Momentarily after the sandslide, a group of visitors arrive - in an unexpected way...

A hand emerges from the shifting ground, followed shortly by a humanoid shape made entirely of packed stone and dirt. One by one, a dozen similar creatures emerge.

A larger elemental steps out from the trench wall. This one towers over the others and looks like a heavyset woman with hollow eyes. The elemental steps forward, but raises no hands to suggest hostility.

She talks slowly and deliberately, taking time to pause between each thought. She mainly focuses her attention on Maud, speaking in Terran first. If Maud does not translate, she'll repeat in Common.

Maud and Liora can wiggle out in 1 minute. Others can help Maud and Liora out by digging them out in 1 minute (or other clever ways). The elementals may wait, but also may not if you take a while.

"Go on, dig her out, boy," Cevrik quietly urges his bear dog.

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

And Cevrik keeps and eye on the non-Maud rock creatures as Dumpling begins digging Rock Girl out of the sand trap.

Maud responds in Terran, her grunting and groaning sounding like an earthslide:

Yulau will try to help dig out the closest party member to her, but her lack of strength meant her aid would be limited at best.

Not sure if it stacks, but the elementals hang tight. They don't help though.

Elsharon looks impatiently at Maud. She barely glances at the others in the group. The other elementals stand still, looking at Maud.

Once Maud is out of the sand, Elsharon will speak (first in Terran, then in Common), "Are you the prophets we seek?"

Willard will look to Maud and the others, incredulous in appearance as he helps Liora to her feet, I'm not sure who they are talking to, but Maud, keep going. he encourages her. Thinking about the scroll in his pack, he instead decides to not retrieve it, and be ready for anything which could happen.

Maud looks confused and shrugs, responding in common so everyone can understand. "Honestly, I do not know if we are the prophets you seek or not. We do not normally consider ourselves prophets. We are here to follow a thief and return the stolen items. Perhaps the Gods have more in store for us. Can you tell us more about the Prophets you seek?" Maud looks both intrigued by the Earth Elemental, and desperately uncomfortable being the one talking.

"Ugh...thanks everyone," Liora remarks as she finally manages to get free of the sand. She does her best to brush herself off, though she grimaces with every movement.

"Gonna be shedding sand for a week..." the sylph grumbles under her breath.

But once she's regained her bearings, she finally turns a curious eye to the elementals. "Prophets? I mean...maybe we could be? Stranger things have happened!"

Keeping an eye on the newly arrived outsiders, Kamishah waits for the trapped to get free, impassive as always. His brows raise at the mention of prophets, turning to listen to Maud's translation.

Elsharon looks at Maud, and in Terran speaks.

The large elemental switches to Common. "You seek the janni who fled through these dunes," says the elemental. "Jamila al-Shafah. She passed through not too long ago, though only the leader of my tribe knows where she was bound. She rightly fears the power of the prophets, while we respect it. My leader can tell you where this Jamila has gone, provided that you are the ones we seek. Will you prove yourselves to us?"

"Uh..."

At a bit of a loss, Liora glances over to Maud and everyone else.

"Dunno...do we really have much choice?"

A wide grin breaks out on Kamishah's face at the question. "So we shall."

Yulau nods her head in agreement. ”I suppose we will take your test as we have to find Jamila.”

"A knight is always ready to show his worth," the tiny Halfling says, beaming with pride even as his faithful mount yawns in boredom.

Maud's jaw drops when Elsharon accurately predicts whom they are searching for. Did they read our minds? Or maybe they DO know something more about this prophet stuff. By the time she recovers from her shock, several of her companions have already responded,
"I cannot speak for the others, but it is true I do not know myself or my abilities well. I have been learning, though. Perhaps this is part of that journey. We will gladly submit to your tests" She bows deeply to the Elementals.

Willard nods eagerly, This is simply too fascinating - learning about the culture of this tribe while pursuing our quarry? I cannot wait to see what 'tests' they have for us - they won't hurt right? he suddenly gets nervous about pain.

Sorry, been a busy past few days!

Elsharon nods at Maud. "the art of prophecy has faded away over the years, but what is known is still known. A new clash of the khasmin storms draws near, and the Goanron and Ainsi watch for a sign of blessing. We have not known what exactly to expect, but the time is right and you are here."

She continues to speak. "To prove yourselves... Sacred ground lies near here, known as the Sandflow Source. Those who pass through must show a mastery of the elements and an appreciation of our people. If you meet the challenges within, you will prove yourselves to all wh may not see your true value. Only may I bring you to our leader."

Let me know if you have any other questions. Will update later tonight.

"Hum...okay, guess we're going to the Sandflow Source then," Liora remarks with an easy smile and a shrug. "I'm all for it if it means less time stumbling around out here under the hot sun!"

"Mastery of the elements?" Cevrik mutters quietly, "If they mean elemental magic, I can do acid splash and ray of frost." He then smiles and looks a bit distant as he says, "If only my lady were here. She is, indeed, a master of the flames." He then catches himself and snaps back to looking as present and confident as he pretends to be and adds, "But no doubt we'll prevail, my friends."

The emissary leads the Pathfinders through a dizzying maze of trenches, dunes, and escarpments, eventually bringing them to the holy site known as the Sandflow Source. The area gets its name from the fact that the ground itself flows like a river here, constantly shifting, roiling, and eventually descending into a waterfall-like shower of sand. As the Pathfinders approach, the heat slowly gets more intense, but they prepared with endure elements.

After several miles of travel, the emissary pauses at the top of a plateau and gazes meaningfully toward the trench below. A roaring, bubbling noise from below sounds like water rapids, but is actually a shifting stream of sand. The river, approximately 15 feet wide, tosses and heaves with waves of fine yellow-brown sand. The rapid flow ends at a ledge, where it crashes downward just like a waterfall.

"From the Sandflow Source many of us came, and to the Source we periodically return," says Elsharon. "If you pass through this holy site, you too will be welcomed into our tribe, and you too shall earn the secrets you seek. To complete the first trial, you must get inside and make your way to solid ground.". She points out a path that leads the Pathfinders to the bank of the sand river and earth glides there to await your arrival.

Another post upcoming

Map updated here.

The current of the sand river is only moderately strong, but the fact that it is sand instead of water makes swimming a challenge. Anyone entering the river must make a DC 15 Swim check or caught up in the current and rushed over the edge of the sandfall.

The sandfall is 10 feet high. If you fail the above check or willingly drop over the sandfall, you only take 1d6 points of nonlethal damage. A DC 15 Acrobatics or Swim check negates this damage.

Once in the pool below, you must make a DC 5 Swim check to stay above the sand without moving. A DC 10 Swim check is required to move at up to half your normal speed in any direction. If you fail, you sink at a rate of 5 feet per round. You run the risk of drowning. A rope, pole, or other aid either anchored or held by somebody on solid ground reduces the DC of any Swim check by 5.

The walls in the pool area can be scaled with a DC 10 Climb check. Ten feet above the pool, the walls become smoother so the DC becomes 20.

Knowledge, Planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Ah yes, the shifting sands are a rare feature of the plane of earth, fascinating how its bled through to this world.... the ulfen glances at the water, grimacing, We need to go in there? I'm a terrible swimmer, would Mr. Dumplington be willing to have a rope and guide those of us who aren't good at it?

"I just had a sand swim and now we have to take another one?" Liora grimaces, staring at the river with obvious distaste. "Yeah, I think maybe we'll need a rope or...or something. I'm really not that great of a swimmer..."

"You'd be happy to tug everyone along on a rope, wouldn't you, boy?" Cevrik asks his faithful mount.

Seeing nothing of interest and nothing to attack, the bear dog yawns and sits down.

if Mr Dumplington wants to help out with the rope, he’ll need to make it to the other side and be firmly planted on solid ground first.

(I can't picture this working without 2 people - if only the person at the bottom is holding the rope, wouldn't it just be washed down stream the same as a person?) Maud will suggest 1 person stay up top on the bank to hold the other end of the rope to keep it taut so others can move along it. (Kinda like a zip line?) She will volunteer.

"So we just sorta...rappel down the falls with the rope?" Liora asks, eyebrow raised. "That could work, maybe. At least it'd let us control our descent a little better!"

So as you are swimming, holding on to the rope as you go down the river? Who will hold on to the rope. Everyone will still need to make a check, though the DC will be reduced by 5. If you fail, you fall over the sandfall. If you pass, you can try to jump over the sandfall with an Acrobatics or Swim check.

"Give me the rope. I will lead." Taking the rope, Kamishah dives into the sand, his limbs stretching to better work with the flow.

Using Animal Focus to assume Frog for +4. If Take 10 is allowed, resulting in 18.

Swim Check if no Take 10: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 4 = 19

Kamishah manages to swim down the river to the sandfall while holding the rope. He stares over the falls at the 10 foot drop.

He must make a DC 15 Acrobatics or Swim check as he falls into the pool below. Failure means he takes 1d6 nonlethal damage from the fall.

Swim Check if Take 10 isn't allowed: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 4 = 11

Maud will hold the other end of the rope firm near the top of the falls.

Yulau takes the rope and tries to use it to aid her swimming.

Swim check with rope 1d20 - 1 + 5 ⇒ (2) - 1 + 5 = 6

Acrobatics check 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Liora watches as first Kamishah and then Yulau take hold of the rope and venture into the sandy river. She heaves a big sigh and steps forward.

"Well, here goes nothing..."

The sylph takes a deep breath, takes hold of the rope, and wades out into the river...

Swim (Rope Assist; DC 10): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

...except the current is much swifter than she'd anticipated! Swept away, the sylph loses her grip on the rope and tumbles over the sandfall and into the pool below!

NL Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

"OOF!"

Turns out, belly-flopping into a pool of sand & sandy water hurts a bit.

Maud holds the rope as Kamishah falls over the sandfall.

Yes, I'll say taking 10 is applicable so you would pass with an 18.

Kamishah falls into the pool below, making a perfect swan dive into the sand. (He must swim to the other side where Elsharon is with a DC 10 Swim check).

Yulau attempts to grab onto the rope, but she loses all control as the swift sands carries her over the sandfall. (Fail on the swim check, so cannot make the Acrobatics check. Yulau takes 1d6 ⇒ 3 nonlethal damage. )

(Right now both Kamishah and Yulau are at the base of the sandfall. Both must make a Swim check. With a DC 10, they can swim to the other side. With a DC 5, they can keep their head above the water, but don't move. Failure means risk of drowning. No taking 10 here as the sands are dangerous (risk of drowning). )

Swim check 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

I doubt we get the rope bonus now, do we?

Seeing Yulau struggling, Cevrik pats Dumpling and says, "Rescue time, boy," and imparts a bit of magical help to his friend with the pat Casts guidance.

With the tiny Halfling still in the saddle, the bear dog jumps into the current and begins swimming over the edge and towards the struggling kitsune.

Swim with Guidance: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 = 24

Rolled it instead of taking 10 since I assumed the DC would be higher since he's carrying Cevrik

The furry mount then tries to maneuver himself and his rider to the struggling sorceress even and the halfling renews the spell to help him.

Swim with Guidance: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 = 19

Basically just trying to give Yulau a chance to grab hold and keep her head above water...or sand

Willard watches Yulau struggle, and knows this won't go any better for him, Here goes nothing, should have listened to my father about swimming better...

Swim: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12
nonlethal: 1d6 ⇒ 4
swim below: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

If the rope bonus applies, ignore the nonlethal damage, thanks!

Willard struggles above, but in the less aggressive pool below, is able to cross to the elemental, struggling out of the sand near it.

Once everyone else is down in the lower pool, Maud will wait for Kamishah to reach the far bank with the other end of the rope, then take her turn attempting to land near the others, so anyone struggling can also grab hold of the rope.

Swim check (DC 15 (-5 for rope?) for upper river): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
She gets caught up in the current and is...
possible nonlethal damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Acrobatics check (DC 15 to negate damage): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
...dashed deep within the sandfall against the rocks at the bottom.
Swim check (DC 10 (-5 for rope?) for power pool): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 OOF this RNG hates me right now
...fortunately she is barely? able to get her head back above the liquid sand.

(Link to encounter checks requested)

Swim Check: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 4 = 23

With strong powerful strokes, Kamishah gains the other side of the sandflow, kneeling down to brace the rope for his less powerful companions.

I'll say Cevrik needs to make his own checks as I don't think he can successfully ride Mr. Dumplington while the dog is swimming. (Or make a Ride check perhaps to stay in the saddle). Mr. Dumplington also needs to make an Acrobatics check or Swim check when he falls over the sandfall or take 1d6 non-lethal damage.

@Willard, the rope trick worked and you passed the first swim check. You can try to do a Acrobatics/Swim check to negate the non-lethal damage when you go over the sandfall.

[ooc]Placed everyone where I believe they are on the map.

Two Pathfinders and a dog safely make it across the sandpool to the other side and stand on solid ground.

One Pathfinder (Yulau) is drowning while two (Maud and Liora) are struggling to move - the sand is tough!

Kamishah, Willard, or Mr. Dumplington can try to throw a rope to any of the three to help them out (reducing the Swim DC to 0).

Maud is still holding the other end of the rope that Kamishah is holding the other end. Also I failed my acrobatics check so took 6 nonlethal damage in the falls.

Oh right. Can you draw on the map where the rope currently is? Anyone in a square next to it can grab on and use it to pull themselves to safety.

Now in the sand pool below, Liora attempts to make for the opposite shore...

Swim (DC 10): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

...and seems to finally hit her stride as she makes headway through the sands.

"H-help the others! I'm okay!" she calls out, knowing she won't be much help to Yulau or Maud from within the pool.

Once Liora is obviously okay and moving off, Maud will dive below attempting to help pull Yulau out of the sand and up to the rope.

Swim Assist Yulau: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Once Yulau's head is above the sand again, and holding on to the rope, Maud will start pulling herself hand over hand on the rope towards the shore...
Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
she gets most of the way to the shore...
Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
but just short of it she starts struggling to keep her head above the sand once more... (DC 0 with rope to tread 'water')
Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
...then she realizes it's shallow enough at this point for her feet to touch and she just walks out.

Swim with Maud’s assist 1d20 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) - 1 + 2 = 9

Yulau takes all help available as she tries to keep her head above the surface.