PBP GD-X: GM Silbeg's PFS2 2-21 In Pursuit of Water (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

Drante keeps his distance, lest he be added to the pile of corpses. He follows Khagra from a stone's throw away. (30 feet)

Keeping you as close to your requested distance, while still in the described starting location on the map as I can

Khagra can see four humans around a campfire. Additionally, he sees a man and a woman, tied up, right near the water's edge.

They apparently notice Khagra coming, as they stand up, and draw weapons. They pull daggers and whips and appear ready to fight!

What’s in the fire? Who were they talking to?
Jaware, Drante, Khagra is/are up!
Buffs/Adjustments: 


Round to progress 2021-09-14 1700 CDT (UTC-5)

Seeing the dead bodies, the prisoners and the drawn weapons Khagra rages as he rushes forward to the water's edge and throws his left trident.

thrown second range: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 2 = 6
piercing: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 4 = 14

Khagra has raging thrower so gets to add rage damage to thrown weapons. Also AC 18 from rage.

Action 1: Stride
Action 2: Stride
Action 3: Recall Knowledge w/Scholarly Recollection

Jaware moves up to be close to Khagra, taking a moment to study the men.
Recall Knowledge please? Society is +5, but roll twice due to the focus spell

Khagra throws a trident with a mighty roar. However, it definitely goes wide.
Assuming at red, because he is the closest. Not sure where it would end up in 2E, but with a nat-1 crit fail, I suspect in the water?

Drante hustles closer to Khagra (◆). Once he is near enough, he stops and closes his eyes for a moment. He peers into one of the probable futures, sharing his vision with Khagra. Diviner's Sight on Khagra. ◆

Diviner's Sight: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Okay, you might not want to use that.

Drante detests what he sees and decides to forgo sharing it with Khagra. What a start for the lawyer's career!

And just to be on the safe side, Drante casts a shield to protect himself. (◆)

"If it was not already clear, they are Usij cultists!"

With Drante moving up, the cultist with the convenient yellow headband moves over to the couple laying on the ground and kicks them into the water! There is an audible splash, and the two quickly disappear below the surface!

If someone is adjacent to either of them, they may attempt an Athletics check to Swim in order to save them.

Those bastards! They are drowning the couple!
Sal is/are up!
Buffs/Adjustments: 


Round to progress 2021-09-14 1800 CDT (UTC-5)

"Now THAT is completely uncivilized. And ironic." Sal shouts in Osiriani. Really? Drowning someone in a desert?

Given the sudden need for a change in tactics, Sal attempts to zip along the perimeter to get to the oasis unopposed.

Stride (Green), Stride(Yellow), Stride(Red)

Sal, just move yourself. that's fine. If you want to show the path, have that behind you. Sometimes that is helpful.

Sal the SalesBold moves around the oasis.

Blue moves up, and casts daze on Khagra!
Khagra fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 Success, take 1 damage

Blue moves towards where Sal is flanking, and casts bane!

White then moves up towards Sal, and casts divine lance at Sal!
spell attack vs AC18: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 evil damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Lucky for Sal, he takes no damage, as he is not good!

And the bubbles are roiling in the water
Jaware, Drante, Khagra is/are up!
Buffs/Adjustments: 


Round to progress 2021-09-16 1800 CDT (UTC-5)

Khagra grunts as his head hurts.

Not caring for his own safety is rushes around the edge of the oasis, splashing into the water and reaching with his freehand to pull the woman back to shore.

athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

2x stride (have enough movement even if this last square is difficult), rescue.

Drante figures this is his time to show what a wizard can do. He strides (◆) towards the blue enemy, and casts a small lightning that zaps the foe's head! (Electric Arc, ◆◆)

Electric Arc @ blue: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Action 1: Stride
Action 2-3: Ray of Enfeeblement

Having faith that Khagra will hold his own for now, Jaware moves closer to Drante. He eyes the nearby cultist, then invokes a prayer to Pharasma. "Lady of Graves, aid me as these men try to send us to the Boneyard before our time. Sap this one's strength, so that they might not harm us."

He finishes the prayer by pointing at the cultist in blue, and a ray flashes from Jaware's hand!
Ray of Enfeeblement vs Blue: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Assuming that misses, please take my hero point
Ray of Enfeeblement vs Blue: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Sigh. If I somehow hit with the first attack, then DC 17 Fort save please.

Khagra rushes over, and, playing the hero, hauls the couple out of the water!

reflex blue: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 Not sure of the DC, but that's for sure a fail

Drante's electricity give blue quite the shock!

Jaware is betrayed by the fates, even after urging them on a little harder!

"Don't you save them, orc scum!" yells yellow, as he cracks his whip at Khagra.
whip vs AC19: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

As that fails, he casts daze again.
will save Khagra: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Fail, 2HP damage
Khagra’s head hurts more
Sal is/are up!
Buffs/Adjustments: 


Round to progress 2021-09-16 1800 CDT (UTC-5)

"Ow" grunts Khagra as his temples start to bulge.

"Who said anything about SAVING them?" Sal snarks in Osiriani as he strides closer, then holds his hands in front of his mouth as if play-acting a dragon using their breath. They try to get the arcing 'breath' to land on the white and yellow clothed humans.

Stride, Cast Electric Arc (Verbal, Somatic))

Electric Arc (DC 16 Basic Reflex): 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

white reflex DC16: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
yellow DC 16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Both cultists manage to save against Sal's savage spell.

Blue casts a spell at Drante, but misses. He then moves back to the be closer to the rest of the party.
divine lance: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Red casts his spell against Khagra, but also misses.
divine lance: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
He then slashes with his dagger.
dagger vs AC19: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 4 = 15

Finally white steps back and casts against Khagra. He hits, but he learns that the orc is immune to his spell, calling that out, he casts shield. "Another one that lacks conviction!"

Good, Evil, make a choice!
Jaware, Drante, Khagra is/are up!
Buffs/Adjustments: 


Round to progress 2021-09-17 1800 CDT (UTC-5)
divine lance: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Drante casts shield to protect himself (◆), and then moves to circle around the cultists (◆◆), to get closer for the magic to really shine.

Each 25ft stride pictured on the map

Khagra draws a second trident and attacks the red cultist adjacent.

magic stabby: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
pointy damage+ fire: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 4 = 14

second non-magic stabby: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 2 = 14
pointy damage+ fire: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 4 = 11

Damage combines before resistances/weaknesses

Draw, Double Slice(2).

Action 1: Stride
Action 2: Stride
Action 3: Guidance

Jaware changes direction, moving closer to Sal. He invokes a prayer, saying, "Pharasma, please guide my friend Khagra. He is facing villains who resist the call, unwilling to accept that it's their time."
Guidance on Khagra

Drante moves around, while Khagra stabs. He hits the red cultist hard, clearly killing him. As the cultist goes down, he lashes out at Khagra with his last breath.

dagger vs AC19: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Due to double-slice, Khagra is out of actions/ooc]. Jaware then moves up and casts guidance on Khagra.

Then Yellow casts daze on Khagra once more.
Khagra will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 [ooc]2 hp

First one bites the dust!
Sal is/are up!
Buffs/Adjustments: Guidanced on Khagra


Round to progress 2021-09-21 1800 CDT (UTC-5)

"Khagra, you're tougher, rougher, and all-around far more attractive than these corpse-loving monsters. Let this thought carry you through this fight!" Sal offers encouragingly to the orc while pointing at him.

Verbal, Somatic actions to cast Soothe on Khagra

Soothe: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Khagra also gains a +2 to saves versus mental effects for 1 minute

"Free the hostages." Sal then intones as he strides up to the white-clothed human.

Khagra had 4 temp hp from rage and has only taken 5 damage, so is only missing 1hp, may want to save the soothe.

Argh. Crap. Player saw Khagra keep getting migraines and wanted to make migraines stop!

REVISED Turn Action (because Khagra's a brick superhero)

"Khagra, keep the pressure up and save those folks We'll get the rest of them!"

Electric Arc (DC 16 Reflex) for White and Yellow : 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Revised Turn due to new information that wasn't parsing to player: Cast Electric Arc, Stride

white reflex DC16: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
yellow reflex DC16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 wow!

White stabs Sal with his dagger.
dagger vs AC18: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

and then casts daze.
Sal will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 3 hp!

Another one bites the dust!
Jaware, Drante, Khaggra is/are up!
Buffs/Adjustments: 


Round to progress 2021-09-22 1800 CDT (UTC-5)

Khagra steps over the cultist and nods to Jaware as he assaults the white cultist with Sal's help.

guided strike vs white vs FF: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 = 20
piercing+fire: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 4 = 10

doubled sliced vs white FF: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 2 = 24
piercing+fire: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 4 = 16

Drante protects himself with a shield (◆), takes a step closer (◇) to include both the blue and yellow cultists to his electric boogaloo (◆◆).

Electric Arc (Reflex DC 17) @ Blue & Yellow: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Action 1: Guidance
Action 2: Stride
Action 3: Strike

"Pharasma, guide me in this endeavour. Help me bring peace to this moment," Jaware prays. Guidance on Jaware

He then strides forward and swings a fist at the cultist.
Fist vs White: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7
Damage (B non-lethal): 1d4 ⇒ 2

Khagra stabs at the apparent leader in white, hitting twice.

With his last gasp, the man stabs with his dagger.
Death Frenzy vs AC19: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 piercing: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 total 12

Then Drante casts his spell..
reflex blue: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
reflex yellow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Jaware moves further

Jaware moves up but swings very wide on yellow.

Yellow then Steps back, and casts a spell at Jaware, which misses.Another one bites the dust!
Sal is/are up!
Buffs/Adjustments: 


Round to progress 2021-09-24 1800 CDT (UTC-5)
divine lance vs AC14: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 evil: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

"Keep them off of me, I'm going for the hostages!" Sal bellows. He then slides up to try and pull the apparent female human out of the water.

Stride, Attempt to grab apparent human woman, Attempt to Grab apparent human woman and/or reposition her to not drowning spot

Athletics(Grab/Interact): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Athletics(Move/Interact): 1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 5 = 20

Khagra grunts in pain as the digger plunges deep into his side.

Sal drags the two (who are chained up) a little.

Blue casts his spell against Jaware. He hits, doing a little damage.
spell attach vs AC14: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 evil: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

He then casts guidance on yellow.

Here we go again!
Jaware, Drante, KHagra is/are up!
Buffs/Adjustments: 


Round to progress 2021-09-25 1800 CDT (UTC-5)

Khagra roars as he moves to the firepit and raises up both tridents before stabbing them down with great fiery force at the yellow cultist.

stabing vs yellow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
piercing + fire: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 4 = 12

2stab2yellow: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 2 = 14
piercing + fire: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 4 = 16

Drante sees his position favoring the same course of action, casting shield to protect himself (◆), and casting even more lightnings to zap his foes, blue and yellow! (◆◆)

Electric Arc, Reflex DC 17: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Action 1-2: Heal
Action 3: Stride

Jaware prays once more to Pharasma, this time asking for renewed vigor. He directs that energy into Khagra and is pleased to see the man's wounds close.
Heal on Khagra: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

He then moves closer to help the warrior.

Khagra finishes off yellow with a trident stab. Then Drante lets lightning fly!
reflex DC17: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Even though the final cultist saves, he collapses to the ground, dying, nonetheless!

"Ahriman რისხვა ახლოვდება. შენ ამას ვერ გაუძლებ." says the voice in the fire before vanishing.

The couple are coughing from their ordeal, but otherwise seem healthy. "شكرا لك لانقاذنا. نحن سيدا ورسول علم. كنا متزوجين للتو ، وكنا نعود إلى أسبينثار من باشو ، حيث كنا نزور والدي سيدا. كان علينا أن نكون ذبيحة لإلههم غير المقدس." says the man.

If no one responds to the Garundi, he repeats himself in Common, so look at the spoiler

Khagra grunts back in Orcish.

Drante, pondering about the potential legal issues that this combat might raise despite its remote location, rushes over to the cultists in order to keep them from bleeding out. He, however, possesses absolutely no skills to deal with wounds finds himself helpless.

"Jaware, it might be reasonable to revive the cultists for interrogation purposes," he says, noticing he doesn't like blood one bit.

"And please excuse us foreigners, we don't speak... that language."

After being told in Common what they are on about, Drante looks at the cultists once again. "Unholy god? Most dire indeed! We arrived at the nick of time, it seems."

Jaware will make a point to Stabilize any cultists that he can. But he does not heal them yet, waiting instead to tend to any injuries within the group or with the two newlyweds.

"Greetings, Seda and Rasool Alame. Were you part of a caravan or other organized travelling group moving through the desert?" Sal inquires as he glances over the team members and the newlymates to determine who needs medical care -- the cultists are very low on his priority list.

After all, such uncivilized cult behavior undermines the common trust that promotes the development of Greater Works.

At some point, we should check the bodies for loose change, just sayin'... :P

Khagra grunts and checks the bodies while his allies make with the social niceties.

"We were part of a caravan." says Seda (the wife) "It is their bodies you see stacked over there.

"Thank you very much for saving us. As a token of our appreciation, please take my shawl. I wove it for my wedding, but I now wish it to be yours."

It is a lovely (masterpiece) shawl, decorated with sapphires.

You also find two minor healing potions and a book.

[spoiiler=DC15 Society to decipher or Osiriani language]
It is copy of Parvad’s Calamities, an Osiriani history of the wars with the Jistka Imperium.
If you speak Osiriani please let me know
[/spoiler]

From the bodies, you get some daggers and whips, as well as some holy symbols.

Jaware's first language is Osiriani.

"You are too kind, Seda. But we cannot accept your gift. Please, keep your shawl. I only ask that you honour Pharasma, saying a prayer to her at the next shrine you see."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

"Interesting. I see a tattoo..."

Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Oh. That looks to be the head of an Aghash."

Jaware then picks up the book, explaining what the tome is about to the others.
Feel free to look at all of the spoilers

"It is an amazing work of art, Seda. Whilst I venerate my deity's teachings to 'never offer a free lunch' in the form of your rescue, that doesn't mean I can't tell everyone I know about what a master craftier you are, and recommend you highly for your work. In fact, I wish to commission your work for a few pieces I have planned out, if you're amenable..."

Sal was shouting Osiriani at the cultists earlier in the fight. He's fluent in it, and a former accountant. ;)

"Some things never change over the ages. The book may have as much value as the amazing shawl for historical reasons. Do you know any more about eggs and hash, Jaware?"

eggs and hash = Aghash in case there's confusion

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Drante prefers to inspect evidence himself, more of a habit than out of impoliteness. "Right you are. Aghash, I've merely heard tales of such abominations. Maybe the tattoo is there to provoke fear in his foes. Well, it met its match."

He nods to Seda as a thanks, "while it would be courteous to decline the gift in these circumstances, I find it equally courteous to accept your gift. We only hope your marriage onward will never be met with similar events.

[b]"Jistka, you say? All I know it was some empire eons ago. Not really my forté, history that is."

The prosecutor gathers evidence of the cultists by taking a(n un)holy symbol with him.

The party heals up and sets back out on their quest. Seda and Rasool remain at the oasis, confident that another caravan is soon to come buy. The Pathfinders leave them with enough food to last a while, as they found several weeks worth in the remains of the caravan.

Two more days of travel are ahead of the Pathfinders.

Please give me two desert lore, survival, or perception checks

Khagra continues to use his wayfinder to help find the way.

survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Jaware keeps an eye out.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Day one
1d4 ⇒ 1
Khagra loses track of the trail, and the party stumbles across a massive field of loose sand that yields easily under your weight, dragging you down!

Each person must roll: Reflex Save, Athletics, Crafting, Survival, or a lore relevant to desert travel

"It's like a swimming pool, but made of sand!" Drante exclaims, finding the journey through the open, featureless desert becoming less than a holiday.

He tries to use his intellect to devise the items he has to create a platform on which he can get himself to safety.

Crafting: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Pity he didn't take almost anything with him.