Longroads Coffeehouse 2.0

Game Master chadius

Valdarel's holy lance misses the remaining zombie by a mile and almost knocks Eddie's hat off...

COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 3
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:

Terrain:
* area inside the 30' emanation is difficult terrain
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Those with ** may go

**Salissa Greenscale - AC 24 82/82; Protector Tree AC 10 14/30
Bella Sidare - AC 23 78/78 (Panache, Concealed); Khiari AC 23
Vardarel - AC 21 (22 shield) 51/51
White (-45; E1)
Eddie 'Bo' Leetus - AC 23 (25 w/shield) 63/63
Nicole Flames - AC 23 (24 w/shield) 58/58

Salissa conjures up a wooden chakram and throws it at the final zombie. She follows up with a conjured javelin.

elemental blast: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
damage, vitality: 2d8 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 + 3 = 13

elemental blast: 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (12) + 13 - 5 = 20
damage, vitality: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (3, 8) + 3 = 14

◇ Weapon infusion, ◆◆ elemental blast, ◇ weapon infusion, ◆ elemental blast

Salissa's weapons make short work of the final zombie. It, too, explodes into negative energy but there's nothing else to 'heal'.

COMBAT OVER

Where the map shows the Compost Forest, a vast thicket of sickly-looking thorn bushes reaches up to the canopy and beyond. It stretches out in both directions, likely encircling the whole Compost Forest. It’s obviously unnatural, as it glows with a nauseating purple light, which seems concentrated on one area. Anemone mentioned choosing either haste or silence. A party could force their way through, but the fragile, hastily-assembled magical energies would be unleashed—it would almost certainly be noticed. Meanwhile there could be ways through or around without disturbing this unnatural wall—but such methods will take time. These choices are mutually exclusive.

Now is the time to decide which way you wish to go. Either Quick and Loud, or Slow and Quiet. There are upsides and downsides to each approach (which you will find out the hard way). Please decide as a group.

Bella and Khiari strut like peacocks as a victory dance. "Exemplary work, everyone."

Khiari sneezes. "You have that dagger out, don't you?" Bella sheathes the blade. "It seemed best to cut through them rather than punch."

They approach the wall. "The Rose Witch mentioned this- magical barriers infused with primal energy. I would prefer a Slow and Quiet approach to this. We are so close to the Compost Forest I worry we would harm the citizens within if we blundered through." Bella inspects the wall carefully, eventually turning to Eddie.

"This is your home, so I will defer to your judgement."

Eddie sits down in a heap, looking around the forest sadly, gaze lingering on the thorn bushes mostly. "We should ask them." They say, standing up and approaching the nearest thorn bush.

Speak with Kindred: Feat 5: Leshy: Source Player Core pg. 69 2.0
You have a connection with creatures that share your physiology. You can ask questions of, receive answers from, and use the Diplomacy skill with plants and fungi. You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to Diplomacy checks with plants or fungi of your kind. Generally, fungus leshies get this bonus with mushrooms and fungi; gourd leshies with gourds, melons, and similar fruiting plants; leaf leshies with deciduous trees; and vine leshies with vines and climbing plants.

"I am Eddie, nice to meet you! Why are you here? Can we help you?" Eddie tries to open up and communicate with the sickly looking bushes, trying to gauge if they are the enemy or just sick.

Apologies for my prolonged absence, and thank you for botting me during that time, I truly appreciate it.

"Slow and quiet is nice. But moving quick will allow us to reach the location faster." Nicole scratches her head, having a hard time to decide which.

She finally chooses to go Slow and Quiet. "I think I will agree with Miss Bella to go slow and quiet. We don't want to be rash by going quick, do we?"

Looking around, Vardarel says “Is someone really good at sneaking? It is not something I have any training in.”

Bella and Khiari stop bickering and begin tippytoeing around the group. Well, Bella tippytoes. Khiari is very careful about were she steps, using her unguligrade gait to stretch further.

Both have +11 Stealth, trained.

Looking around, Vardarel says “Is someone really good at sneaking? It is not something I have any training in.”

Salissa gives the elf a puzzled look. "'Twasss alwaysss my underssstanding that all of elvish blood doth possssssessssss sssome natural talent for ssstealth. Thou sssayest this is not true, then?"

Salissa has +11 stealth, trained. It doesn't look like we have anyone with expert proficiency in stealth.

Vardarel wrote:

Looking around, Vardarel says “Is someone really good at sneaking? It is not something I have any training in.”

Salissa gives the elf a puzzled look. "'Twasss alwaysss my underssstanding that all of elvish blood doth possssssessssss sssome natural talent for ssstealth. Thou sssayest this is not true, then?"

Salissa has +11 stealth, trained. It doesn't look like we have anyone with expert proficiency in stealth.

“It is an exaggeration. I certainly had opportunities to learn such things, but even an elf must choose how they spend their time.”

+3 Stealth thanks to Dex.

The bushes communicate to Eddie that something evil is affecting the forest, spreading rot and decay where none should exist.

So essentially what you're trying to do is get through the barrier as quietly as possible. Each round is like an exploration activity

Each skill check earns 'Thorn Points' (TP): CS/S/F/CF: +2/+1/0/-1
Each PC has time for 4 checks
Successes Needed: 15 TP

QUIET BUT SLOW
* Each round is 10 minutes
* Skills:
DC 16 Acrobatics to Squeeze allows a PC to find narrow paths through the thorns, leading the way along routes that won’t set off the magic.
DC 16 Survival check to Track can help find game trails that weren’t completely blocked.
DC 18 Nature check to Recall Knowledge can grasp the flow of primal magic.
DC 20 Athletics check to Climb will help find a path over the wall.
DC 20 - Other skills ok if you can make it fit.

DC 16 Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Nicole makes sure she is not poked with the thorns, squeezing herself between safe passages, or at least what she thinks is safe.

Go ahead and make all 4 checks.

She continues to do so, but also checks out her allies if they are also making progress.

DC 16 Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
DC 16 Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
DC 16 Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Apologies, I copied the wrong DC. It's 2 higher for 5-6. Sorry about that.

Corrected skill DCs below.

QUIET BUT SLOW
* Each round is 10 minutes
* Skills:
DC 18 Acrobatics to Squeeze allows a PC to find narrow paths through the thorns, leading the way along routes that won’t set off the magic.
DC 18 Survival check to Track can help find game trails that weren’t completely blocked.
DC 20 Nature check to Recall Knowledge can grasp the flow of primal magic.
DC 22 Athletics check to Climb will help find a path over the wall.
DC 22 Other skills if you can make it fit.

Bella and Khiari remain quiet, but once they see narrow passageways they begin sidling like crabs, sticking to a 4 beat shuffle.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

They alternate, managing to achieve a perfectly coordinated motion through a few passages. Eventually they get exhausted and barely get through the last one.

Exhilarated yet Excited, the duo take a quick break.

Picks jaw up off the floor... I was going to apply the checks per turn but unless people start rolling crit fails probably not!

"We will help find and remove the rot!" Eddie reassures the thorny bushes, shaking their fist at the unseen foe out there.. somewhere...

"We're ready? Ok. Let's get to work." Eddie moves through the thorns, waving the others to follow their expert lead.

Forest Passage: Feat 4: Prerequisites leaf order: You can always find a path, almost as if foliage parted before you. You ignore any difficult terrain caused by plants and fungi, such as bushes, vines, and undergrowth.

Allowing Eddie to lead the way, Vardarel checks for things they may have missed.

Vardarel's Survival (E), follow the expert: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 13 + 2 = 34
Vardarel's Survival (E), follow the expert: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 13 + 2 = 30
Vardarel's Survival (E), follow the expert: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 2 = 18
Vardarel's Survival (E), follow the expert: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 2 = 31

btw, Bella is an Expert in Acrobatics, so you can Follow the Expert using Acrobatics.

Salissa, don't bother making checks... I'll move us along tomorrow... :)

Salissis is also an expert in acrobatics

Salissa's sinuous body effortlessly slips past the thorns.

Eddie smiles and waves at Vardarel, pretending to stroke their own imaginary goatee and mustache blissfully as they make their way both quickly AND quietly through the thorny brush.

The group slips through the wall like it wasn't there.

Welcome to the Infiltration Subsystem!

* The Infiltration consists of a series of Obstacles that you need to overcome.
* Each PC can attempt a given Obstacle once.
* Successful skill checks earn successes in the form of Infiltration Points (IP): CS/S - +2/+1
* Failures don't reduce the number of successes. They accumulate Awareness Points (AP) that alert the enemy and cause additional complications that the party would need to resolve.
* AP Accumulation: F/CF - +1/+2 AP

This is an individual obstacle. Each player must succeed for the group to get through. Essentially, you roll until you succeed, though each failure will generate 1 AP (2 AP for CF).

QUIETLY THROUGH THE UNDERBRUSH

The area of the forest here is covered in leaf litter and twigs, just waiting to make noise.

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TRACKER
Round: n/a
Obstacle: QUIETLY THROUGH THE UNDERBRUSH

Skills:
DC 18 Stealth
DC 20 Acrobatics
DC 22 Perception

Successes: 1 (Individual)
Obstacle Complete:
Awareness Points (Bad):
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Nicole Flames
**Bella Sidare
**Vardarel
**Eddie 'Bo' Leetus
**Salissa Greenscale

Vardarel figures the best way to avoid making noise is to balance on logs and avoid the brush completely. He does a respectable job of it.

Vardarel's Acrobatics (T): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Would have been willing to Follow the Expert if there was an opportunity.

Nicole keeps her feet light to avoid making a sound as she steps on the ground full of leaves and twigs.
DC 18 Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

"Oooopsss!" she becomes small in embarrassment when she inadvertently snaps a twig under her.

She keeps moving though, but is more careful this time.
DC 18 Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Vardarel easily makes it across by balancing on logs. Nicole makes it most of the way until she steps on a dry twig with cracks like a lightning bolt. Everyone freezes and she manages to make it the rest of the way with no issue.

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TRACKER
Round: n/a
Obstacle: QUIETLY THROUGH THE UNDERBRUSH

Skills:
DC 18 Stealth
DC 20 Acrobatics
DC 22 Perception

Successes: 1 (Individual)
Obstacle Complete: Vardarel, Nicole
Awareness Points (Bad): 1
------------------
Those with ** may go

Nicole Flames
**Bella Sidare
Vardarel
**Eddie 'Bo' Leetus
**Salissa Greenscale

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Hero Point, Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Bella is caught up in the forest's wonder. It's incredible.

Khiari manages to catch her right before she kicks a wooden log and makes another loud noise.

Always thankful, Bella corrects herself and quietly skips along.

Any chance Bella could go with Acrobatics so Vardarel and I could use follow the expert? Or Salissa?

"Those thorns don't keep out much, they probably wanted us to get in and help them anyhow." Eddie rationalizes their ease of passage.

When faced with the next challenge Eddie waits to follow the others that are better trained in balance than they. Using acrobatics if I have access to using follow the expert for the +2. Otherwise using stealth at +10.

Trained in Acrobatics(DEX), Follow vs DC20: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 2 = 14

Hero Point: Trained in Acrobatics(DEX), Follow vs DC20: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 2 = 20

If the GM is OK with it, Bella can switch to +13 Acrobatics. Checks are now 14 and 32.

Salissis is also an expert in acrobatics

acrobatics DC 20: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Salissa carefully works her way through the underbrush.

Bella - no worries

Bella, Salissa and Khiari make like ghosts and easily get through the leaf litter. Eddie manages to keep up but has a few close calls.

Fortunately most of the obstacles in this one are group obstacles

AVOID THE ROAMING PATROLS
Countless undead leshies shamble about, but the way they shift their attention in unison means that whatever plant network was used to call Anemone for help is now being used by these undead. The tree canopy, notably, receives less attention.

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TRACKER
Round: n/a
Obstacle: AVOID THE ROAMING PATROLS

Hero Points: Salissa(2), Vardarel(2), Nicole(2), Bella(1), Eddie(1)

Skills:
DC 18 Survival
DC 20 Stealth
DC 22 Athletics

Successes: 0/3 (Group)
Awareness Points (Bad): 1
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Nicole Flames
**Bella Sidare
**Vardarel
**Eddie 'Bo' Leetus
**Salissa Greenscale

Nicole keeps herself unnoticed by hiding behind ordinary trees and bushes. She keeps her steps light and avoids areas with leaves and twigs.
DC 20 Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

athletics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Salissa is easily able to climb up to the tree canopy and avoid the undead by leaping from branch to branch.

Salissa is expert in athletics if anyone wants to follow the expert.

Nicole becomes the trees while Salissa easily navigates the canopy and gets past the leshies.

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TRACKER
Round: n/a
Obstacle: AVOID THE ROAMING PATROLS

Hero Points: Salissa(2), Vardarel(2), Nicole(2), Bella(1), Eddie(1)

Skills:
DC 18 Survival
DC 20 Stealth
DC 22 Athletics

Successes: 2/3 (Group)
Awareness Points (Bad): 1
------------------
Those with ** may go

Nicole Flames
**Bella Sidare
**Vardarel
**Eddie 'Bo' Leetus
Salissa Greenscale

Khiari's frown melts as she sees the leshies marching around in undead unison. It's like someone turned the cycle of life into a cold machine. When Fey talk about reincarnation, this isn't what they mean at all.

Bella doesn't break character often, but face shows outright rage. This is desecration to the finest degree. So meticulous, so carefully designed it is an affront to this region.

Bella's skin is beet red when Khiari puts a hand on her shoulder to calm her down.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Bella maintains enough of her wits to calm down and keep quiet.

Eddie's jaw nearly hits the forest floor as the scene plays out, dead leshies shambling around like zombies. They're almost sure they recognize some of them "Follow me, I know the way." They declare, waving the others along an unused trail...

Expert in Survival(WIS): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

"Err.. wrong trail. This one!" They whisper.

Hero Point: Expert in Survival(WIS): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

Bad dice!

We only needed 3 successes, so Eddie didn’t need to roll. Bella had the last success.