[GDX] PFS(2) 2-00: King in Thorns (Tier 1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master Blake's Tiger

Anschluss tries to weave through.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

He makes his way through easily, and then gets angry with himself for not getting stabbed at all, and stops to hit himself with his spiked chain a few times.

Bosh slips through the underbrush while several of his companions get tangled. Quickblade snags on a particularly tenacious branch and somehow manages to stumble into a patch full of briars when he yanks himself free (3 points of piercing damage to Quickblade).

Nant's attempt remains.

You may but do not have to take 10 minutes between steps in this encounter.

While traveling, the puppet accompanying Nant begins talking. "Master, I sense that your blood sugar levels are low. I recommend eating at your earliest convenience." This recommendation is met with a groan from the puppetmaster, and a tired look which says, "I know already!"

Just then Venture-Captain Durant suggests stopping for a meal. Nant looks ready to leap with joy, but holds his emotions in check.

Nant turns to his puppet, points to the tangled path up ahead, and gives an order to clear the path. "Yes, master," Needlework obeys.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Quickblade hisses in pain as the thorns inflict damage. He'll deal with it as soon as they stop for the night, or when there's a free moment.

Quickblade can take a moment to tend to his wounds, if he desires.

The next stretch of jungle appears surprisingly clear of obstacles. Certainly this is not the case? Only slowly swirling mists drift across the ground.

Medicine to recognize dangerous gasses.
Nature to identify the vents from which the gas is flowing.
Survival to find a path through the gas safely.
Perception to smell the dangerous gasses.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"Iocaine powder!"

Laeron tries to remember his medical training.

Medicine: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Quickblade sniffs the air...

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

... and immediately smells something off. Rotten eggs?

Quickblade also tries to tend his wounds...

Medicine, Generous GM: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Healing, GM is good: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 5) = 13

... and succeeds in binding the wounds before they get infected.

Medicine: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Needlework's puppet head turns in various directions, examining the strange mist. But, the puppet says nothing, perhaps concluding that there's no danger to its master.

Perception, on the lead: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17

Ulrich looks at the fog "The stench seems different than in the rest of this bog infested, fey swarming place. I wonder if this is a local point of interest or a trap of some sorts..."

Bosh attempts to cross the mists carefully. Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

This group of Pathfinders proves more adept at detecting poisons and dangerous vapors than move through briars and prickers. Everyone is able to find a good, safe route through the mists except for Nant and his puppet. The puppet leads the goblin into a particularly caustic pocket of gas and begins to degrade before Nant can change course.

Quickblade patches his wounds from the briars.

Status
Nant (-5 hp)

Once more, you can take 10 minutes to try to patch yourselves up.

(Okay, someone hit me up with a Treat Wounds check real quick. Please.)

Laeron attempts to treat Nant’s wounds.

Medicine: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

healing for Nant: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5

Ah. Apologies. I forgot that you got Basic saves on the damage, but this is the more PC favorable result.

Once Laeron has tended to the wounds on the puppet and given the other teams time to catch up, you all set forth once more. The trees become more spread out and the ground is uneven but traversable. It seems fairly benign terrain until the winds start. Powerful and erratic gusts of wind sweep through the jungle out of nowhere, threatening to knock you off of your feet.

Athletics to withstand the blasts of wind.
Nature to notice the leaves rustling before the gust reaches you.
Survival to identify shelter from the wind.
Stealth to hide behind cover as you move.

Bosh proceeds across, using survival techniques to try and avoid the worst of the wind. survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Anschluss refuses to let a little wind blow him around.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"The wind shall not prevail against the might of Zon-Kuthon!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Needlework shields Nant from the unusual wind.

Laeron pushes against the wind, confident that his daily physical training has prepared him for this obstacle.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Quickblade dives behind some cover to get out of the wind...

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

... and becomes one with it.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Ulrich walks after Quickblade, trying to find cover from the wind. He is a bit concerned by other possible watchers in this jungle, but his paranoia would have to wait. His skin and hair color adjust to the surroundings as he sneaks by...

These Pathfinders are well prepared for the gusting assault of the wind! Wow!

A stream nearby starts bubbling and a familiar iruxi pops his head above water. “Pathfinders, do watch out for the local fauna. The animals of this area are quite intriguing. I even heard some speaking. Well worth further study if we can avoid ending their lives with a blade.” Before anyone can respond, Urwal is back underwater and swimming away.

As you follow the shallow ravine through which the stream flows, you hear rustling in the leaves on a hill above. Several snakes rear their heads and look down at you from the rise. "Oh, look!" a large constrictor hisses in Taldane. "More of those silly man-things who think they know anything about the jungle. They should have gone back home. Now they will fill our bellies for the next week!"

"Qxal said they are particularly dumb creatures," another constrictor says.

If you initiate combat, I will roll initiatives. However, you have the opportunity to negotiate.
Diplomacy is the obvious option, but other suggested skills if they align with your argument or tactic include Forest Lore, Nature, Deception, and Performance.

"Greetings, wise ones." Bosh says. "We do not wish to fill your bellies, perhaps we can come to some sort of agreement to avoid any unpleasantness."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

"Oh! It thinks it can flatter us?" one of the constrictors says and all the snakes make a hissing laughter. (Fail)

Quickblade casually loads his crossbow, without pointing it at anyone (or anything)

Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

"We are interested in your forest. What unique features do you have here?"

It's not much, but no harm in trying

Ulrich moves forwards and clears his throat

"If I may, my kind sirs!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

"We look for no trouble, especially that it seems that you are such an intelligent and capable group. Your scales look healthy and I am sure your venom is feared in this land. We are heading deeper within lands. Qxal is our enemy and he tries to stop us, but he has a tendency to use others and destroy them. I feel like we need to warn you, don't trust him. He destroyed plenty of feys that believed in him and is particular destructive..."

“Also, we are really great guys. You don’t want to eat us.”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

let’s throw a hero point at that…

“I mean to say that we are with the Pathfinder Society, we explore and share knowledge and are really helpful people. Instead of eating us…wouldn’t you guys rather learn about far away places and ancient times through the work of the Pathfinder Society?”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Under normal conditions, Nant the not-so-silent mastermind would already have resorted to hostile means. However, his training in the Pathfinder Society has given him some amount of temperance and a mind for diplomacy. The others seemed to have a handle on the conversation.

So instead of hurling insults and commanding the puppet to attack, Nant merely directs Needlework to stay close, and hides himself behind the taller party members.

But if this ends up in a fight, he telepathically messages his eidolon, we'll make them pay. They called us dumb!

Needlework politely messages him back, saying that it goes without saying.

"Trust me, I have no wish to flatter you."

Intimidation: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

"Tell me, what kind of god sends his servants out into the world to find their own food while they relax in luxury? Your god is weak."

Anschluss brandishes his spiked chain.

"My god - the Midnight Lord - send us out with strength and power. We do not beg for scraps at the tables of others, we are self-sufficient and use our abundance of might to bring others to the knowledge of Zon-Kuthon."

Anschluss narrows his eyes as he looks at the snakes.

"Humanity was once as you are - weak, pathetic beings crawling on the ground, relying on the charity of others for survival. But when Zon-Kuthon showed them the Way, they rose up and took control of their own destinies. So, tell me, what do you choose? Will you choose to serve the weakness of your butterfly god, or the power of Zon-Kuthon?"

The six snakes all hiss in angry unison. It appears that diplomacy is failing. "You threaten us just like Qxal said!"

You can each make a second check. You have 1 Success (thanks to Laeron Hero Point-ing out of a Critical Fail).

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Ulrich raises his hands

"Can we all just calm down. We seek no squabbles with you. We just want to pass through, do you really want to want to head into a fight with armed opponents? Why have enemies when you may have friends?"

Quickblade makes a show of studying the forest and its surroundings. "We mean you no harm. I am a guardian of the forest and I do not want to hurt its inhabitants."

Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Let's redo that

Nature, Hero Point: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

I hope that's not a crit fail...

**"We got off on the wrong foot,"** Bosh says. **"But there is no need for us to come to blows. We don't wish you any harm."**

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

You have 3 points. You need 7 points to avoid combat. You will need, from the 3 remaining PCs, 1 Critical Success and 2 Successes or 2 Critical Successes and no Critical Failure.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"We're not as dumb as you think! We can help each other!"

“If you were us and we were you…you wouldn’t want you to attack you either.”
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Sorry, team, Anschluss ... doesn't have Diplomacy. :(

Deception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"Don't take my words the wrong way! We're all friends, right? Ha, ha, ha."

Anschluss looks at his team for some support, but even they're not convinced.

"Right?"

Forced laughter fades into awkward silence.

"No. No, we do not believe that you are friends," the lead snake hisses, and then they coil to attack. (5 out of 7 points, good effort)

I actually rolled your initiatives earlier and then remembered you had two rounds to win over the reptiles, and you all rolled really well, so I'm using that block.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Environment:
Water is difficult terrain.
Bushes are difficult terrain.
Cliffs are 10 feet high and require the Climb action (DC 15).

Ulrich
Laeron
Quickblade
Bosh
Nant
> Puppet
Anschluss
Yellow Circle
Red Circle
Blue Circle
Yellow Square
Blue Circle
Red Circle

Climb rules, if you need them.

Anschluss moves over and uses the powers of his mind to fling a rock at the nearest snake (Red Circle).

Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Bludgeoning: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Quickblade fixes the nearest snake (Yellow Circle) in his mind. He raises his crossbow and shoots at it.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Seeing the bolt miss, he curses under his breath and reloads.

◆ Hunt Prey (Yellow Circle)
◆ Crossbow attack
◆ Reload

Laeron hops over the stream and targets yellow circle snake and red circle snake with an Electric Arc.

Basic Reflex DC 17: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

A rock flies off of the ground and into the lead constrictor's head. Quickblade loses a crossbow bolt over the hill. Laeron strikes two snakes with deftly controlled arc of lightning.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Environment:
Water is difficult terrain.
Bushes are difficult terrain.
Cliffs are 10 feet high and require the Climb action (DC 15).

Ulrich
Laeron
Quickblade
Bosh
Nant
> Puppet
Anschluss
Yellow Circle (-11 hp)
Red Circle (-6 hp)
Blue Circle
Yellow Square
Blue Circle
Red Circle

Strategem@yellow circle: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Ulrich looks at the enemies and spots the one that is too much exposed over the edge. He grabs his short bow and puts an arrow on the bowstring. He takes aim and releases

Shoot@yellow, using strategem: 15 + 7 = 22
Damage, strategic strike, piercing: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

Device strategem, pull out bow, shoot

(The enemy probably has some form of ranged attacks, and the terrain favors them. Conventional tactics suggest we should fall back, or shoot them from behind cover. I know Pathfinders don't like strategic retreats, so yeah, let's stay and return fire. However, my effective range is 30 feet, which requires me to get closer.)

Nant and his puppeteered companion move together at first, but then separate. As the goblin is crossing the stream, he spellcasts a barrier to shield against possible attacks.

◆ Act Together: Both Nant and Needlework get one action each; ◆ (Nant) Stride 25 feet; ◆ (Needlework) Stride, ending its movement next to Nant; ↺ (Nant) Goblin Scuttle, Stepping 5 more feet; ◆ (Nant) Stride, into the water; ◆ (Nant) Cast a Spell: Shield.

(I triple-checked the tactical movement, should be correct.)

Ulrich gives the lead constrictor a nasty wound that will take a long time to heal--if it survives.

Encounter! Round 1. Bold may act.

Environment:
Water is difficult terrain.
Bushes are difficult terrain.
Cliffs are 10 feet high and require the Climb action (DC 15).

Ulrich
Laeron
Quickblade
Bosh
Nant
> Puppet
Anschluss
Yellow Circle (-18 hp)
Red Circle (-6 hp)
Blue Circle
Yellow Square
Blue Circle
Red Circle

The snakes simple slither down the hill to retaliate. Nant moves his leg out of the way of one viper, only to feel another viper bite him on the other leg. However, this does not appear to have made it through his boot. Laeron, on the other hand, takes a rather nasty bite from the wounded constrictor.

Encounter! Round 2. Bold may act.

Environment:
Water is difficult terrain.
Bushes are difficult terrain.
Cliffs are 10 feet high and require the Climb action (DC 15).

Ulrich
Laeron (22/30)
Quickblade
Bosh
Nant
> Puppet
Anschluss
Yellow Circle (-18 hp)
Red Circle (-6 hp)
Blue Circle
Yellow Square
Blue Circle
Red Circle

(Color me moderately surprised! I did not expect them to be just regular ol' snakes with no ranged attacks. That makes this a much easier fight.)

Nant grins maliciously when the snakes descend from the hill to fight at closer range, and grins even more when said snakes fail to immediately give him any venomous bites. "Who's dumb now?!"

The puppetmaster swings his marionette bar in a wide arc and spellcasts with it, simultaneously directing his puppet while conjuring electric threads.

Electricity damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
(Basic Ref save, DC 17.)

◆◆ Act Together: Nant gets a two-action activity and Needlework gets one action; ◆◆ (Nant) Cast a Spell: Electric Arc, targeting yellow circle and red circle; ◆ (Needlework) Stride; ◆ (Needlework) Strike, targeting red circle.

Laeron grunts in pain, but manages to say, “You made a big mistake, serpent.” He changes the grip on his sword from one hand to two and then strikes the yellow circle snake with a Power Attack!

Cold Iron Bastard Sword Power attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Two handed Power Attack: 2d12 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4) + 3 = 13

Needlework is pulled closer to Nant, almost tackling Anschluss or a constrictor snake.

Fist: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Bludgeoning: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Its hard, construct fist lands a devastating blow on one of the snakes that tried to bite the puppetmaster.

"A warning, master," Needlework speaks gently, despite its violent attack just now, "your physical constitution, while above average, might not survive viper venom. Proceed with caution." However, the puppet's words fall on deaf ears: its master can only hear sounds of electricity crackling.

The injured viper takes the electric strike directly as is left as a charred corpse. As the energy arcs towards the injured constrictor, it looks as if the snake might escape. However, the energy catches it enough to stop its heart, and the constrictor falls limp.

Nant's puppet nearly crushes the remaining constrictor. Laeron finishes him off with a powerful, two-handed chop that decapitates the last constrictor.

Encounter! Round 2. Bold may act.

Environment:
Water is difficult terrain.
Bushes are difficult terrain.
Cliffs are 10 feet high and require the Climb action (DC 15).

Ulrich
Laeron (22/30)
Quickblade
Bosh
Nant
> Puppet
Anschluss
Blue Circle
Blue Circle
Red Circle