GM NovelEngima's Gameday X 1-08 Revolution on the Riverside (Inactive)

Game Master asdffghjkl01

You arrive in the town of Artume by ship, accompanied by Venture-Captain Holgarin Smine.

The ship slides into dock as crews of gnome engineers operate hoists protruding from the cliffside overlooking the river. Large bundles of goods glide through the air at the end of sturdy ropes, down to ships at the docks and up to vaulted openings in the cliffside.

Above the cliff, the white walls and towers of a keep reflect the morning sun. The ship sways gently in its berth as sailors ready a gangplank and throw ropes to dockhands. Not long after the plank slams against the dock, a dwarven man strides up from below deck, dressed in a white shirt and a black vest. This is none other than Venture-Captain Holgarin Smine.

As he crosses his arms, toned by decades of hard work, he nods towards the town that spreads on the slopes around the keep, “Bet you’re eager to get on your way. The Society needs you to find an old lodge. I hear it’s northeast of the town. Learn any details you can about Kerinha Napsunar and report back to me. Also. Lot’s changed with the new king and all. People don’t always like change. I’d like to know if there’s trouble brewing. I’ll be conducting some business in town. You can contact me at the River Steed Inn.” Smine points to a fancy three-story building that stands above the cliffside a bit south of the keep, “So that’s two missions: find the lodge and keep your ears open. Any questions?”

The beautiful elven woman enters into the area, a white fur cloak over her. Dressed in yellow and black, in the form of a wasp's patterns. She kisses each of the sailors good bye and promises that should she travel with them, she will spend more time with each of them, showing them the beauty of the worship of the Savored Sting. A few of the more smitten crewmen help her off the boat and carry her equipment down for her. She hugs them each and whispers something in their ears as she gathers her items.

She asks the dwarf Are there any temples here and to which of the deities are they dedicated to?

A young woman, human, tallish and athletic, with twin blond braids nimbly walks down the the plank. She wears leathers, carries a short bow of elven manufacture on her back and a rapier at her side. She looks well equipped and eager for adventure. She smiles at both the dwarf and the elf.

Turning to the elven lady first

and then to the dwarf "You're right, I am looking forward to this. Pathfinder work in the outdoors! Last time, I ended up in the sewers under Absalom...New rulership always puts people on edge at first. What is the new king like?"

Holgarin scratches his head, "The River Kingdoms are in constant flux, and getting any permanent temples built is quite an undertaking. Instead, I refer you to River Freedom number one, 'Say What You Will, I Live Free'. Long as you don't impose your religion on others, there shouldn't be much of a problem so long as you don't enjoy slavery or Razmir."

Holgarin shrugs when asked about the king, "Seems like a royal tart like any other. The old king, Drellis Artume, was assassinated two decades ago. Sir Waike, crusader I think, was made the regent. He tried to kill Queen Sovella. She was pregnant at the time. She fled to a Milanite monastery called Everbloom. Waike was a slag heap, so eventually the populace rebelled with the support of the monks of Milani. Edryd, son of Drellis and Sovella, was of age. He’s King Edryd now."

A hobgoblin dressed in leathers and equipped with a wide array of weapons and adventuring gear approaches Holgarin. The hobgoblin walks with a purposeful stride, her gaze is focused, her back straight.

Her boots click as she snaps to attention before Holgarin: "Venture-captain, thank you for the efficient briefing. As this is only two tasks, what do you expect us to do this afternoon?" The hobgoblin gives a slight smile, obviously confident in her skills.

Atae nods in understanding at the dwarf's response and looks around sadly that there are no male companions so far.

Smine responds to Nothero, "I’ll be taking a peek at the machinery inside that cliff. Making some new contacts for my shop. And keeping my ears open. If you finish quickly, come join me I suppose, though we'll hear more if we are in different places.” Smine is referring to his blacksmith shop and secret Pathfinder Lodge, Smine’s Weaponworks.

Dramir finally makes his way down from the ship on to the docks. He moves carefully not to tangle his giant polearm into the lines of the ship.
The weapon and the creaking of his full plate male are by far the most noticeable about the dwarf. What little features you can see behind beard and under his helmet are nondescript and by no way striking.
He greets Holgarin in Dwarven and continues then in Common: ”Are there known trouble makers we should look out for or other Individuals you would like us to check up on? Do you have a tip where we should start our information gathering?”

"First time I've had the pleasure of workin' with another sensible Dwarf Master Dramir. Although I'm not sure I'd be forgoin' a shield for a weapon that oversized myself." Adds in another Dwarf in full plate as he makes his way up out of the ship behind the barbarian. This Dwarf carries an array of traditional dwarven weapons as well as a pair of shields: one with a prominent mounted spike in the center, while the other has a solid steel cap.

He quickly notices the ropes and pulleys moving up the cliff and flips his visor open to enjoy the view "Now that's some fine engineering right there. Feast yer eyes on that!" It takes more than a pregnant pause before he notices the briefing is going on.

"Ah, sorry 'bout that, name's Kernal Klank, reporting for duty Captain Smine." He draws out his blacksmithing hammer and holds it across the breast plate of his suit, emblazoned with an anvil and hammer. A personalized representation of Torag.

A gnome ambles down the gangplank, missing almost the entirety of the briefing. He stretches and yawns, clearly just awakening from a nap, or maybe for the first time today. He scratches himself with fingernails that are more like talons and wipes the sleep from his eyes.

In fact, his fingernails aren't the only things unusually sharp and his teeth are all a bit more jagged than normal with prominent canines. His facial features are fierce as well and he has a wild mane of hair that extends into unkempt mutton chops.

"Smell that? That's freedom! It's good to be home," the River Kingdoms native says as his feet hit dirt.

A wide belt wraps around his waist held closed by an even bigger belt buckle that looks like it might once have been used as a buckler.

Gods' blessings come in odd packages and he certainly seems to think that holds true for him. At least, that's the way he presents himself to Atae.

"Heya, Honey. Name's Zabu. I would have introduced myself back on the boat but you seemed booked." He looks around at his competition. A couple dwarves? Nope. A hobgoblin? Probably too interested in soldiering to be distracted. The human who speaks elven...maybe.

Still, he likes his odds.

"Maybe we can get to know each other better now that we're off the boat," he says with a toothy grin.

"Do you all think we should head out of town towards the Lodge first, or would you prefer to do some fact-finding? I'm eager to explore but I understand it might not be the consensus."

She looks towards the confident Hobgoblin.

Holgarin shrugs in response to Dramir's question, "Finding troublemakers may be part of why we are here. Regardless, I suggest you start with finding the old lodge to the northeast. It's near an abandoned village."

The Venture-Captain returns Kernal's salute, "May the Forgefather guide you, Kernal. You may find that Torag is a little strict for these soft riverfolk, so don't plan on meeting many other followers here."

Regardless, I suggest you start with finding the old lodge to the northeast. It's near an abandoned village.

Nothero turns to the address the party. "You all heard the Venture-Captain. On his advice we will proceed directly to the old lodge. On our way out we will commence with requisite introductions. I will go first: I am Nothero, and I came to the Pathfinder Society through the Iolite Training program. In truth I should have been funneled into the officer corps of my home nation of Oprak, but it was clear that I was too intelligent to gain promotion. I suspect that most of you will be intimidated by my exceptional intellect, but I will try not to show off too much. I have also been informed that a few of you are new to the Society and have entered into the mentorship program. I am your mentor. You tutelage begins now...with a POP QUIZ! Tell me everything you know about River Kingdoms culture!"

Caitlin raises her eyebrows at the brusque manner of Nothero. But she smiles nonetheless. With a slight chuckle.

"I'm Caitlin Berrigan. I know all about the Six River Freedoms. They're the kind of thing you like to dream about when you're born into indentured servitude. My masters had an unfortunate and violent end and I was taken in by an amazing community of Elves. I am a forest ranger by training. I don't do excessively strict."

"Sounds like we got a plan of action, thanks Nothero." Klank nods to the VC then gives his gear a quick once over, making sure he didn't leave anything on the ship.

"Ready when you all are, abandoned village sounds like a solid place to start." Maybe they'll have some long lost smithing plans I could get my eyes on...

Once the group gets on the road Klank opens up a bit about his strengths and such. "Well, I'm a blacksmith by trade really, but sometimes you just need to earn a bit of extra cash to help get established in the game. Costs a pretty penny to set up a forge and buy raw materials you know. Anyhow, between missions I like to get back at the hammer and fire, see what all that thinking time helped me learn while I was traveling."

"When we do get in a scrape, keep behind me and my shield and I'll keep the blades at bay as long as I can ok?"

” Well met Kernal, I never met someone who called me sensible - that’s a first. It’s good to talk about our strengths. I will rush into the fray – giving myself to the rigorous rage of battle. I have this one tool and so far, it solved most of my problems. ” He pats his weapon. ” It looks like we have someone on bord who is good in finding things out – often enough I found that this is not my strong suit. . ” And he looks at Nothero before turning back to Kernal. ” And I loathe talking as a mission. People who know what you like to know won’t talk to you and the People who do talk to you saying things of no importance whatsoever. It is very annoying! ”

As Nothero speaks it looks a little bit as if Dramir comes to attention before he relaxes again.
“Well Met Nothero, you remind me of my old captain in the City defense Corp of Kovlar….
Ah we lost her to a breach in the walls to Saggorak. I was a field medic in the army, mostly trying to keep our soldiers alive so that they don’t join the undead horde scratching at our walls. That was before I came to this beauty.” And he points at the weapon which lets him look like a moving flag pole “We will need you intellect -As far as I can tell nobody ever accused me of being intelligent. I will let writing the report for our good venture captain safely in your capable hands. I can’t add more than good Catlin here brought up – besides the six freedoms I don’t have anything to report”

I am a devotee of the Savored Sting she says pointing at her whip and the coloring of her armor.

"I'm Zabu. I like to fight, feast and...fraternize. I'm not new and I don't do quizzes so talk to me again when you're talking about one of those three things," the gnome says, his ego and attitude clearly far outstripping his stature.

At least he seems interested in the mission, though and he starts heading northeast. In a straight line. Caring little for who stands in his way and shoving and pushing his way through any crowds he runs into.

"Let's find the path to the old village, then." Caitlin starts to move in the requisite direction too.

Dramir can you add your skill bonuses to your profile? I can't make any checks or secret checks without knowing your bonuses.

I'm now noticing that the highest diplomacy in this group is +3. This is going to be a significantly different scenario than when I played it with a bard.

Atae gets some useful directions to the ruined village and the group sets off.

Rolling plains stretch to the horizon outside Artume’s walls. The road leads north alongside the Sellen River. Smaller paths and side roads branch off towards the eastern plains, where mounted riders herd livestock across the grasslands. Beyond the grassy hills opens up a gloomy valley, where a snaking river flows sluggishly toward the Sellen. Over the centuries, the river has turned the valley into marshland

One PC may make a Trained survival check with a +2 bonus from Atae to Sense Direction to find the village. One other PC Trained in survival may aid the check.

I never expected Caitlin to have the joint highest Diplomacy in a scenario!

Once Zabu gets outside of town, he realizes he's not exactly sure which direction North East is. He stops abruptly, turns around and looks at the river along it's length, then up at the sun.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29

Then nods to himself. "Come on," he says to the rest of the group, waving them to follow.

Caitlin follows Zabu, Shortbow in hand, Scouting.

With the level bump, Atae and Caitlin actually have +4!

It's a good thing I let you roll then because I tested the waters and rolled a nat 1 on that post which is far different than a nat 20.

Zabu, with Atae's information, manages to plot a safe and optimal route to the ruined village. When you arrive, it's still bright outside, but you can tell that taking a slower route would not have gotten you here before the sun had set.

Nestled next to a lone hill is a drab-looking village where many of the houses have collapsed, sinking slowly into the morass. On a hillside overlooking the village resides a weathered, two-story house with a broken tower. You can assume that this two-story house was once an old Pathfinder Lodge based on its tattered banner displaying the Glyph of the Open Road.

Map Slide

"Heck of a navigator Zabu, dropped us right where it looks like we should be." Adds in Klank after flipping up his visor and taking a couple deep breaths of warm, humid air. "Living in a swamp is no life to lead, I can see already why this village was left to rot."

Regardless, Klank draws out his spiked steel shield, just in case its needed, and prepares to look around for information "Wonder if anyone still lives out here?" He prepares to enter the lodge.

Search mode: perception +8

Nothero takes the crossbow slung over her shoulder and readies the weapon. The crossbow has a strange added bracket on the side of the stock near the lath.

She explains: “A weapon of my own design, created through my unique genius. You may have seen copies of such weapons that can be loaded with alchemical ammunition, but mine is the original. Truly.”

Looking down upon the scene: “Let’s quickly clear the village, to establish that there is nothing hostile, and then move on to the old lodge.”

With the level bump, Atae and Caitlin actually have +4

If Nothero is your mentor then you are +2 to skill rolls with the level bump. +1 to the other stuff.

Zabu gives a brief, sardonic salute to the praise.

He then prowls toward the village, half hunched over, scanning his surroundings and clearly looking (hopefully) for trouble.

You don't find anything hostile in the rest of the village, nor do you find anything of value. It appears that this place has already been picked clean quite thoroughly.

Perhaps the gnome will be useful she thinks to herself as she follows the rest of the group, though she is still sad that there are no human or elven males in the group

"Lodge time! I hope it's got something useful in it!"

Caitlin starts off up the path towards the old Pathfinder lodge.

As you enter the old Pathfinder Lodge you notice that the floorboards are rotten. In fact, they are in such a poor state that you wouldn't be surprised if they broke under your weight if you're not careful.

Most of the lodge’s ceilings are 10 feet tall. The upper levels in the octagonal tower in the southwest have collapsed, leaving a space that is 30 feet tall

Nothing seems to be of any interest here at the front door.

"We should be ready for a fall wouldn't you say. I explored many a ruin in my youth but then I was not as haevy. And he hits his armor on the side. Dramir takes his rope out of his backpack and secures it in the door frame and his midriff with a sling to always keep it tight before slowly walking in the room seeking. If the floor takes my weight you should be safe I hope, even though we should not all occupy the same spot"

(perc +8)

Zabu follows Dramir in. He doesn't bother to make the preparations the dwarf does, though he does watch his step and doesn't get too close to the man. He's pretty sure the dwarf's armor weighs more than he does.

He also looks around for trouble or other interesting things.

(perc +9)

Caitlin follows in, also looking around for trouble. Her bow is ready and she does not step on the same floorboards as Dramir.

(Perception +7)

"Hey Caitlin, you see any signs of anyone living in here? Foot prints or something?" Klank keeps his shield at the ready, but is more concerned with keeping his weight on solid floor boards and over floor joists. He knows he can always get his shield up if need be.

Just a reminder if a surprise attack does happen, Klank will use reactive shield to raise his shield as a reaction.

As the GM suggested in Discussion, I've spent the 4? Fame to get a hireling that gives me access to diplomacy. Gene the Gnome is my front man.

In the southwestern tower, you spot a body wrapped in some form of webbing. Hanging above the body is a strange, scythe-handed, spider-eyed creatrue.

"That's ominous And he Takes his weapon in both of his hands. Somebody recognize that?

"I recognize that I'm about to hand it it's head if it doesn't answer these questions correctly," Zabu comments, unhelpfully.

"Hey! Can you speak common and are we going to have problems?" he calls out to the creature.

Nothero is the only one with occultism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Nothero seems to be the only one with formal training in occult lore, but even they aren't sure what this creature is.

In response to Zabu, the creature chitters (Aklo) at your group. Seeing the size of your party, it seems to retreat further into the ceiling.

"Guess that answers your second question at least Zabu." Klank continues to move slowly forward towards the wrapped body, eyeing the floor boards and now the spider creature.

Nothero will approach carefully, avoiding any of the unstable floor boards. “Let’s get that body cut down for examination. There are clues available to a trained physician, and I happen to be one. Of course, I was too smart to graduate from medical school…the instructors were all fools who couldn’t recognize my brilliance.” While other Pathfinders get the body down, Nothero will prepare for an autopsy.

Dramir uses the reach of his waepon to cut the body down

Zabu keeps an eye on the creature, disappointed that there wasn't a fight and wary lest there be a fight he's not expecting.

Feel free to rearrange yourselves behind the white lines (basically anywhere other than the tower section where the spiders are now)

As Darmir walks over to the webbing, he finds that it starts to stick to his armor. The strands quiver, and two giant spiders descend from the ceiling ahead of the strange creature.

Web attack, Dramir: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Dramir becomes immobilized until he Escapes!
fang: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
fang: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19 damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

The spider bites into its captured prey quite viciously! The venom begins coursing through Dramir's veins.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map Slide
Orange Spider
Nothero
Weird Red Thing
Caitlin
Kernal
Zabu
Atae
Blue Spider
Dramir, -14hp (out of 40), 2 fort saves against poison, immobilized.

Nothero stares at the weird creature and will Devise a Stratagem, mentally playing out the next few movements of the combat.

The Known Weakness feat will give Nothero a Recall Knowledge as a Free Action on creatures that are subject to Devise a Stratagem. Since the check was already rolled, I don't know if this is closed off now, but the possibility of a critical success on the Recall Knowledge will trigger a additional bonus.

Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Not seeing an opening against the weird creature, Nothero will spend a moment to load a lesser alchemist's fire into their crossbow and switch targets to take a shot at the Blue Spider.

Ranged Strike at Blue Spider: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Piercing Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 8) = 13
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

So I'm not really sure what the intent of those abilities are, and you'll definitely experience table variation on it. I'm going with: You can continue to make the check as part of your ability, but once you fail, you won't get any additional information. However, you can still get any other bonuses the ability would give you if you keep rolling it.

Nothero critically hits the blue spider! The creature bursts into flames and dies instantly.

The weird creature falls from the ceiling intent on killing Dramir!
fangs vs Dramir: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
agile claws: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Even while wrapped in webbing, Dramir proves to be a tough nut to crack!

Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Map Slide
Orange Spider
Nothero
Weird Red Thing
Caitlin
Kernal
Zabu
Atae
Dramir, -14hp (out of 40), 2 fort saves against poison, immobilized.