[GDX] GM Blake - PFS(2) 2-02: Mountain of Sea and Sky (Inactive)

Game Master Blake's Tiger

Zelphari looks down as his tiny claws before dismisses them.

With a mild smile on his face, he continues. "I highly doubt that, graceful Aojimitsu. Wounds are but temporary - they heal with time. Your power and magic remains."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

As Jayma had predicted, it seemed that the dragon was responsive to being flattered. All they had to do now is fix him up and then boost his confidence a little. If they played their cards right, he'd be eating out of their hands soon enough.

"I suspect that the sea serpents probably ganged up on you and got lucky; how else could they best a powerful dragon such as yourself? Even with that advantage, they couldn't vanquish you completely. Why, they're almost certainly back in their own lair right now, licking the wounds you inflicted on them, and ruing the day they ran into you."

"Once you've recovered your strength with dear Arlo's help, you'll be unstoppable. In the unlikely event that you could use our assistance with something, you need only call at our new lodge. As with any friend of the Society, we Pathfinders will have your back when things get rough."

Diplomacy (Make an Impression): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

Pathfinder Society Lore: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
"Sea serpents are truly nasty creatures. I had an encounter with two once, good thing they were both still juveniles." Maximilian said with a frown.

With a furrowing of his brow the rogue continues, "You said sea serpents so more than one. Even the mightiest can fall if there are enough standing against them. What you need are allies to even things up. Say, why not ally with us? Well, not us specifically. As my companion" Maximilian gestures to Jayma, "here mentioned, we represent the Pathfinder Society - a group of adventurers from all over Golarion whose goal is to explore, report and make allies. We are planning to open a lodge in this area and if you ally with us we can help you should you backup."

Hobbs pays careful attention to the conversations, trying to determine the best argument to use on the sea dragon.

perception-search for weaknesses: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"You do seem to know a thing or two about the healer's trade," Aojimitsu says to Arlo. "You may proceed."

As the halfling begins tending the dragon's wounds, he lets out pleased sighs and purring sounds. "You are right. Wounds are temporary, and they will certainly fade under such skilled attention," he concedes to Zelphari. Nodding to Jayma he says, "I did get in a few decent bites."

He listens intently to Maximilian. "Yes. I can see the benefit in that. What sort of skills do Pathfinders have--in addition to tending to sea serpent bites--that might be of value to me?"

Something must have distracted Hobbs, for he fails to glean anything to build a new strategy from his colleagues conversation with the dragon.

"You surely did not come all this way to visit with me, though," he says. "Am I diverting you from some important task?"

Influence 6 Successes
Discovery Skills: Perception, Nature, and Dragon Lore
Known Influence Skills: Diplomacy, Pathfinder Society Lore
Resistance: Degradation/Bullying

Influence Round 3. (or cut your losses, if you want)

Arlo
Azu
Hobbs
Jayma
Maximilian
Zelphari

Influence Round 3. (or cut your losses, if you want)

Cut our losses?!? What kind of loser talk is that. Jayma never leaves a job half done.

Jayma begins to feel the tide turning in their favor. The dragon was almost in the palm of their hands now. With a little more sweet-talking, he'd be begging them to join the Society and possibly even carry them the rest of the way to the dais.

"Oh, you'd be surprised by the many ways that the Society can be of help to its allies. The occasional medical treatment is merely the tip of the iceberg. We Pathfinders are part of a global network of explorers and information gatherers. There is little that happens on this world that we Pathfinders don't hear about. As one of our allies, you would become a part of this network and we would use our knowledge to help you retain control of your domain and defeat any enemies that would rob you of it. It would not be the first time that a small piece of pertinent information has turned the tide of a conflict in the Society's favor. You in turn, would share any information you came across with the Society. It is this mutual cooperation and sharing of information that makes us all stronger in the long run."

Pathfinder Society Lore: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

When the dragon asks about why they came to see him, she replies. "I have to admit that though meeting you was an important part of why we came to your cove, it was not the sole purpose of our visit. You probably already know this, but below our very feet is a dormant ley line which if restored to its original active state, will help us protect this island."

Jayma pulls out the brownish‑green stone shaped like a twisting double helix that Kukuha had given them, and shows it to the dragon. "This is some olivine fulgurite, a special stone that we hope will act as a focus and help repair the damage to the ley line below us." She then points to the large dais at the end of the peninsula. "That dais is where we must place this stone to achieve this goal. We hope that in exchange for our help here today that you will allow us to do so."

Diplomacy (Request): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

"Actually you're our important task. We're planning on setting up a lodge here for the Pathfinder Society and we would be remiss if we did not pay our respects to a powerful and important neighbor such as yourself."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

"I suppose we could deal with repairing the ley line while we're visiting if that's not too much of an imposition."

nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Maximilian takes a few moments to take a closer look at the dragon's current status.

PFS Lore: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
"The Pathfinder Society has adventurers, researchers, academics, crafters, spellcasters and a lot more. If you are no up to opening relations to other beings we can do so on your behalf."

Azu keeps quiet.

Zelphari steps up next to Jayma and adds on, "As Pathfinders, we seek more than just to discover the world. We seek to right what is wrong, too. Our help has been sought to fix this damage ley line, and I trust that you, who is connected to this land, would wish the same as well."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 Or maybe not...

Arlo nods vigorously and tries to support the arguments his teammates make.

Sorry, brainfart moment, can't think of anything the others haven't said yet.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

"Oh, yes, of course you can place your fulgurite on the stone over there," Aojimitsu says and slithers out of the way while he continues to listen to the others. Finally, he rises high above you and nods. "You are right. I cannot let this temporary setback stop me from performing my duty as guardian of this bit of ocean. With friends such as you, I am sure to be able to overcome future challenges."

His scales shimmer, and his form swiftly shrinks down to a anthropomorphic tropical fish wearing clothes made of kelp and sea shells. "Thank you for raising me from my self-pity. That was most unbecoming of a dragon. Here. Take this as a reward." He withdraws a gold and jade lion statuette as if from nowhere and offers it to you. "I recovered it from a shipwreck off of the coast of Kayajima. Now, I am interested to see what happens when you restore the ley line."

Out across the narrow natural stone bridge the dais awaits. It is carved with concentric circles and wave motifs. The fulgurite begins to glow brighter and brighter as you approach the dais.

Jayma beams in self-satisfaction as the dragon finally succumbs to their cajoling. "Ha! I knew we could do it."

She then gracefully accepts the lion statuette from the now fishy dragon. "Oooh! It's beautiful! Thank you. Your generosity knowns no bounds."This time, Twyl doesn't even wait for his cue. He clambers down from her shoulders, takes up the prize and stashes it in Jayma's backpack for safe keeping.

With the dragon taken care of, Jayma takes the fulgurite out to the end of the peninsula and carefully places it on the dais.

Azu draws his weapons, unless he needs his hands for something.

When Jayma places the fulgurite on the dais, the circles and patterns on the stone dais pulse with blue energy. A giant wave crashes against the peninsula, sunlight refracting into rainbows through the spray as the energy courses through the dais and swirls its way into the underlying rock. After this display, a blue light shines from within one of Jayma's pockets. One of the stones she keeps there is shining with an aquamarine light and seems to be vibrating in some kind of pattern.

You take your leave of Aojimitsu. "Good fortune! Nalinivati watch over your endeavor!" he calls to you as you walk away.

Returning to Kukuha, she is pleased to hear of your success but very eager to speed you on to the third gate. "Two gates activated; one more to go." She fetches a crystalline prism from her campsite. She holds it to the sunlight, which catches the prism and refracts in an array of vivid, impossible colors. "A sky diamond—the perfect focus for Soruseiji Peak. At the place of power, it will surely shine even brighter."

She clears her throat. "I fear that I cannot tell you much of what to expect. The bridge over a chasm was broken, and I could go no farther."

The path leads through the ruins, a small woods, and then begins to slow ever more steeply upwards as it winds it way, switching back several times, towards the mountain peak. In time, you reach the broken bridge that had stopped Kukuha. The gap is twenty five feet wide. The chasm looks forty feet or so deep. The rope and plank bridge dangles on your side of the gap. The path switches back and reaches your position once more forty feet above you.

Climbing the sides of the chasm requires Expert proficiency in Athletics or a Climb Speed. You could also climb up to the where the path continues onward. The DC to Long Jump across is 25.

Hobbs follows Jayma across the bridge and waits as she places the fulgurite on the dais.

"I don't anticipate any mishaps occurring but we should be on guard just in case."

Twyl sees the strange bird lady bring out the shiny rock and hold it up to the light. He is enchanted by it. In his excitement, he takes to the air and flies over to the lady, eventually hovering near enough to touch the stone but not daring to. The bird lady smiles at him and hands him the shiny rock. Twyl grabs onto it and holds it up to the light again. He rushes back to his mistress and shows it to her. She smiles at him and nods her approval. He dives into the backpack and adds it to his ever expanding collection of pretty things.

Check out the Party Loot spoiler in my profile for a list of all the special items we've collected so far.

With a look on despair on his face at the long climb ahead Maximilian lets the others lead the climb and just Follows the Expert.
What do the Sky diamond and kodama rope do?

Zelphari stares at the chasm for a few moments, then takes a deep breath before saying, "I believe I can cross that, if need be. And if we can attach one end of the rope bridge to my waist, I can try to pull it up once I reach the other side."

Would that work?

Athletics (E): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Zelphari makes great progress along the stone walls of the chasm.

Maximilian, if he follows the expert, may attempt Athletics as if trained--if he is not already--plus a +2 circumstance bonus to follow Zelphari.

How many of us need to climb the wall and how many attempts do we need to make?

Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Maximilian watches as Zelphari makes his way across, paying close attention to how the sorcerer places his hands. Once the other human is across Maximilian attempts to do as he did.

The abridged PFS version of climbing: one check.
However, so as to not keep you trapped here forever...

Maximilian follows Zelphari down and then waits for the armored sorcerer to secure a rope before following upwards and dragging the rope bridge up with him to the other side. Now you need only secure the rope bridge on the far side and everyone else can just walk across.

It requires one person to make a crafting check (Maximilian), but any number of people on that side can automatically assist, which results in a reduction of the DC (Zelphari at the moment).

Twyl technically could have succeeded the Athletics check required to haul the bridge up, but it would have been a longshot.

Azu assits Max.

Hobbs shouts encouragement from his vantage point on the other side of the chasm.

With a sigh of relief Maximilian hauls himself up with Zelphari's help. Picking himself up he goes to work securing the rope bridge.
Crafting: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Maximilian feels rather proud of the work that he's done. The ropes are taught and the knots feel stable. The proof is in the pudding--or lack of adventurer pudding in this case--as everyone else is able to walk across without difficulty. And then the ascend continues.

The path reaches a series of switchbacks, each climbing about ten feet higher, as it curves toward an aerie. As the peak grows near, the sound of harsh wind accompanied by frantic screeching sounds through the stony path.

Apologies. I can't get the map to paste. I'll set you up after I get home from work.

Sorry for not posting for a while. Busy few days. But there wasn't much I could do anyway.

Arlo cheers Maximilian and Zelphari on as they scale the cliff and fix the bridge. "Good work! See, I'll make survivalists out of you yet!"

He pulls out another apple and hands out celebratory apple slices to Maximilian and Zelphari.

"Also thank you for getting us across. I can get along in the wild, but climbing isn't my forte." He tries to flex his biceps, and nothing much happens.

Arlo babbles on as the group climbs up the mountain, talking about how cool that sea dragon was and wondering aloud if he likes apples.

Upon hearing the screeching, Azu draws his weapons.

As you crest the rise, you see three ephemeral weasel-like elementals harassing two griffin-like beasts. The larger beasts have the heads and wings of ospreys and the bodies of snow leopards. As the weasels dart in to bite at the griffins, the larger beasts claw at them or peck with their sharp beaks, but the elementals turn to smoke the moment before they strike and seem to be unharmed. The elementals swirl upwards upon your arrival and turn their attention toward you. The griffins fly back toward a cave in the mountain and land.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Terrain: The sloped edges are Greater Difficult Terrain.

Jayma
Hobbs (Undetected)
Yellow Square
Zelphari
Azu
Maximilian
Arlo
Red Square
Blue Square

The griffins are on the map with round combat borders to remind you that while they are not attacking you, they are not allies.

Jayma spots the elementals first and watches as they abandon their attacks on the griffins and turn their attention on the group. "They don't look very friendly to me." Rather than slog any further up the mountain, she decides to let the elementals come to her.

Action (◇): Delay: Until after Yellow Square's turn.

"Hmm...The weasel like elemental entities are seemingly the aggressors in this altercation. Furthermore it appears that aggression has been transferred to our group."

Hobbs will attempt to recall knowledge on the three seemingly more aggressive creatures.

Hobbs will await the results of his check before continuing his turn.

Hobbs recognizes these as malevolents. A physical manifestation of the harsh, alpine winds high in the peaks of mountains. As such, they are much like elementals (immune to poison) except that they are native to the place where they were birthed. You have all seen that they are able to protect themselves from physical attacks by becoming ephemeral.

"These beings are known as malevolents. As such I do not expect that peaceful contact is likely and it behooves us to strike hard before they close the gap."

The wizard glows brightly as eldritch flames appear and dance around his hands. With a sudden movement the flames leap from his fingertips and fly towards the hostile creatures. Upon reaching them a violent explosion causes flames lash their ephemeral bodies.

fireball=reflex save DC21: 6d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 4, 1, 3, 6) = 21

Hobbs summons an explosion of flame above the aerie. The ephemeral weasels spin and roll in the blast. Two of them seem to have avoided the worst of it, but one of them looks a bit more ragged than it did before.

One of the wind spirits rushes towards you and attacks the first living thing it reaches. There is a sound like a whip cracking, and a gash opens on Ruby's shoulder.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Terrain: The sloped edges are Greater Difficult Terrain.

Jayma
Hobbs (Undetected)
Yellow Square (-10 hp)
Zelphari
Azu
Maximilian
> Ruby (34/44 hp)
Arlo
Red Square (-10 hp)
Blue Square (-21 hp)

Arlo thinks for a moment to see if he knows more about these malevolents. If at all possible, I'd like to know what that ephemeral-ness entails. Nature and Religion +10, the rest at +0 (untrained).

Weapons out, Azu designates the closest spirt as his prey, moves in, and attacks.

Twin Takedown 1(longsword): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Twin Takedown 2 (lightmace: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Jayma's place in the initiative order should now be immediately after the Yellow Elemental and before Zelphari. As such, she is up.

Jayma watches in awe and not a little envy as Hobbs blasts the elementals from the sky. She yelps in delight at the expanding ball of flames and is only slightly disappointed when the smoke clears and the creatures are still flying, admittedly a little worse for wear. "I'm definitely going to have to learn that spell soon." She claps in appreciation. "Oh, good job Hobbs dear. I think they know now that we mean business."

She then waits, and as expected, one of the elementals flies towards them and attacks Maximilian's companion. That's her cue to act. Jayma proceeds to move her arms in a complicated swirling motion, increasing the tempo until her hands are practically blurring. She reaches down with her mind to call up the water trapped in the ground beneath her. The water bubbles out of the soil before her and rises slightly into the air where it forms into a ball. When it gets to where she can't hold it any longer, she shouts out, "eliminate elusive elemental," and thrusts her hands in the direction of the creature.

Instantaneously, the ball of water explodes forward and smashes into the side of the nearest (Yellow) elemental.

Actions 1 & 2: Cast a Spell: Hydraulic Push (heightened to 2nd Level) vs Yellow Elemental

Hydraulic Push (L2) Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Hydraulic Push (L2) Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 6, 5) = 19 bludgeoning damage vs Yellow Elemental

Yay! A crit. Target takes an extra 3d6 and is knocked back 10 feet.

Hydraulic Push (L2) Crit Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 4) = 10 bludgeoning damage vs Yellow Elemental

For a moment during the casting of the spell, it seemed as if Jayma's mind had touched the dormant ley line beneath her and received a boost of energy in return. "Wow! That felt good."

She speaks the word, "protect," and the space around her shimmers for a moment.

Action 3 (◆): Cast a Spell: Shield - AC 19

Zelphari moves around his teammates to come up within range of the attacking elemental to flank it with Azu, then swings at it in two rapid strikes with his guisarme.

vs yellow (flat-footed): +1 guisarme: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14 slashing: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
vs yellow (flat-footed): +1 guisarme: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 5 = 10 slashing: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Azu cuts through the malevolent even as it becomes more transparent. The blade causes wisps of the weasel to swirls and blow away. The follow-up swing of his mace is just not fast enough to land. Jayma slams the ghostly malevolent with a torrent of water. The force tumbles the malevolent away up the slope.

Zelphari advances and brings his glaive to bear against the elemental, but he is just not fast enough.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Terrain: The sloped edges are Greater Difficult Terrain.

Hobbs
Yellow Malevolent (-40 hp; resist 5)
Jayma
Zelphari
Azu
Maximilian
> Ruby (34/44 hp)
Arlo (2 actions)
Red Malevolent (-10 hp)
Blue Malevolent (-21 hp)

Arlo yells, "They can discorporate," just as Azu seeming cuts one of the malevolents in half, but the halves are still alive. "I mean, um... So yeah."

With one enemy right in front of him, Arlo casts a spell, and the water Jayma called up starts to gather in front of him, and hardens into a ball of ice. Arlo then chucks it at Yellow.

Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Cold damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

The ray of frigid energy lances through the ghostly weasel. Despite it's discorporate form and being creatures manifest from the alpine air, the ray seems to significantly harm it.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Terrain: The sloped edges are Greater Difficult Terrain.

Hobbs
Yellow Malevolent (-47 hp; resist 5)
Jayma
Zelphari
Azu
Maximilian
> Ruby (34/44 hp)
Arlo (2 actions)
Red Malevolent (-10 hp)
Blue Malevolent (-21 hp)

"Ruby! Attack!" Maximilian shouts to his companion as he draws his bow and lets loose at Yellow.
Shortbow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
With swift moves Ruby climbs the side and attacks Yellow with a roar.
claws: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 = 11

The wind spirit dances away from Maximilian's arrow. However, it did not see Ruby coming. The fiery cat swipes through the cloud weasel.

While the Pathfinders focus on the first of the malevolents, the other two advance. Two rapid whip cracks echo across the aerie, and long lacerations open on Ruby and Zelphari's skin.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Terrain: The sloped edges are Greater Difficult Terrain.

Hobbs
Yellow Malevolent (-53 hp; resist 5)
Jayma
Zelphari (24/35 hp)
Azu
Maximilian
> Ruby (21/44 hp)
Arlo
Red Malevolent (-10 hp)
Blue Malevolent (-21 hp)

Hobbs moves to confront the attackers. He lifts his staff and fire spews from its base, covering two of the elementals.

burning hands-reflex save DC21 from red and yellow: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

"If you wish to avoid further conflagrations such as the one you have just experienced I suggest you vacate the premises immediately."

The malevolents remain frustratingly elusive, swirling out of the way of the brunt of Hobbs conflagration. They also do not appear to understand Taldane, if they are even intelligent.

Ruby appears to have figured out the elemental's trick as she jumps left and then right. Both times the gravel beside her explodes as the lashing misses her flesh and strikes the ground. The fading malevolent flits away to gather its wits.

Encounter! Round 2. Bold may act.

Terrain: The sloped edges are Greater Difficult Terrain.

Hobbs
Yellow Malevolent (-53 hp)
Jayma
Zelphari (24/35 hp)
Azu
Maximilian
> Ruby (21/44 hp)
Arlo
Red Malevolent (-14 hp)
Blue Malevolent (-25 hp)

With his prey out of reach, Azu designates a new prey, he advances and attackes.

Twin Takedown (LS) vs Red: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Twin Takedown 2(LM) vs Red: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Jayma is a little disappointed to see the elemental she'd just blasted limp away from the fight. She hated to leave a job half done and considers whether to send a spell after the fleeing creature to try and finish it off. But the two nearest elementals were the real threat now, so the other one would have to wait.

Raising her staff high, Jayma glares at the elemental attacking poor Ruby. With a "Fiery feline foe feels fire," a small ball of flame appears at the head of her staff, which she then flings almost casually at the elemental.

Action 1 & 2 (◆◆): Cast a Spell: Produce Flame [L2] targeting Blue Elemental

Produce Flame Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Produce Flame Damage: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8 fire damage

As before, she speaks the word, "protect," and the space around her shimmers for a moment.

Action 3 (◆): Cast a Spell: Shield - AC 19

Since Ruby isn't looking too good all up there by herself, Arlo decides to scare Blue away with a Fear spell. Arlo weaves a spell and an image of the natural predator of an air-weasel imposes itself over Ruby for a split second.
Blue may make a DC 20 Will save. If Blue is too far away due to height difference, target Red instead.

Arlo then takes a good look at Yellow, whether it's fleeing from the fight, or merely catching its breath for a second assault.
I'd like to make a check to see if Yellow is fleeing, or merely strategically retreating. If it's a Perception check to Sense Motive, it's a +10.