Male N Human Druid 2 | HP: 15/19 | AC: 18 (12 Tch, 16 Fl) | CMB: +5, CMD: 17 (15 Fl) | F: +6, R: +3, W: +5 | Init: +4 | Perc: +6, SM +1 | Speed 20ft | Active conditions: none
Sorry, don't know how I missed this!
Beren nods at Caelreth, grateful to have the support. He swings his scimitar at the rat-like creature, wracking his brain trying to figure out what it even is! "What's going on out here? Why such a furious defense at just some questions?!?"
Knowledge (nature):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11Not sure which knowledge skill applies; nature is +7, everything else is untrained with no Int bonus (so, +0 with max DC 10 allowed)
"What's going on out here? Why such a furious defense at just some questions?!?"
"You're tresspassin' on Vaor family property," the thug snarls.
He drops his weapon in surrender and holds up his arms.
"You win, trespassers. I yield, I yield."
The other thug moans and groans on the ground, holding his wound to try to stop the bleeding.
"I wanted to be an adventurer like you, 'til you shot an arrow in my knee. Gah! Ow!"
The female rat person, cut off from escape, tosses her blade to the side and surrenders as well.
"Union, my rat's ass."
She spits.
"What gives you the right barging in here and disrupting our business?"
Male N Human Druid 2 | HP: 15/19 | AC: 18 (12 Tch, 16 Fl) | CMB: +5, CMD: 17 (15 Fl) | F: +6, R: +3, W: +5 | Init: +4 | Perc: +6, SM +1 | Speed 20ft | Active conditions: none
"It's not about right or wrong, it's about you not have the courtesy to listen, and just slamming a door in our faces!" Beren calms himself down before he continues.
"We're here to talk about the Runecarved Key. We know you're interested, but our intelligence says you don't have the resources to bid on it. So we were just wondering who's backing you?"
Social (aid another) DC 10:1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9Same modifier for either Diplomacy or Intimidate. Could be either depending on who takes the lead; Beren's tone is friendly and helpful if it's Diplomacy, or gruff and mean if Intimidate.
"This is about that stupid key!?!"
The rat lady says as she transforms into a mousy-looking, yet somewhat attractive, woman.
"We're not interested in that key whatsoever. In fact, we plan to get our deposit back as soon as possible."
She reaches into her vest pocket and pulls out a piece of parchment.
"If you don't believe me, here's proof!"
She thrusts the letter at you. On slide 5.
DC 21 Linguistics on the letter:
You determine it was written by a well-educated individual whose native language is Varisian.
She grabs the letter back once you're finished reading it.
"Now, before we call the authorities, I ask that you please be on your way."
She says sternly as she points at the door.
DC 20 Intimidate check to get more information from Miss Vaor.
#2-15: Shades of Ice - Part I: Written in Blood (CORE) Female NG Halfling Bard 4 | HP 27/27 | Riding dog HP 13/13 | AC 18 T 13 FF 16 | CMB 2, CMD 14 | F: +5, R: +8, W: +5 (+2 vs. Fear) | Init +2 | Perc +7 | SM +16 | Speed 20ft (40ft on riding dog)
No Linguistics ranks here.
Aid Intimidate:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
"What kind of proof should this be? It says here that you are bidding for someone else! You better tell us everything from the beginning!"
@Astingaire: You should roll for Linguistics and Intimidate.
"Hmm. You have a point that it's really not much proof," she says matter-of-factly to Corba.
"But, we're not bidding for anyone else. We just dropped off the deposit for them and we get to take it back. So, there."
She childishly sticks her tongue out at you.
LN Human Fighter 3 | Mods: None | HP 37 (-0) | AC/Tch/FF 18/11/17 (Sleeping 15/11/14) | CMD 18 (+2 vs. Grapple) | F/R/W +7/+3/+2 (+1 vs. Fear) | Speed 30 ft (Nimble Moves) | FJC Orator 1/1, Bond Breaker 1/1 | 2 Star Reroll 1/1 | Perc: -1, SM: -1 | Init: +1
Leon steps up to the thug and threatens a big punch, ”Ifya so quick ta surrendah, mebbie considah a difrent jahb.” he mostly ignores the convo at the back of the warehouse, but is definitely menacing.
Malakar | Male LN Small Halfling Wizard 1 DARK ARCHIVE | HP 7/7 | AC 13, T 13, FF 11 | CMD 6 | F +2 R +5 W +3; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Perc +3 | Speed 20ft | Spells 1st 3/3 | Acid Dart 6/7 | Active Conditions: None.
Linguistics:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25+2 from Corba's aid
Malakar inspects the letter. "Ah. A native Varisian. You can tell by the way they conjugate their verbs. Varisians have the tendency to..." he realizes no one is paying attention to him.
| HP 27/27 | AC 16 T 11 FF 15 | CMB +3, CMD 14 | F: +2, R: +4, W: +3; +4 vs. bardic performance, language-dependent, and sonic | | Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)| Spells: 1st lvl - 4/4 | Active conditions: NONE! | Perc: +4, SM: +5 Init: +1
Skills:
Acrobatics -2 (-6 to jump), Appraise +6, Diplomacy +9, Heal +7, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (religion) +9, Linguistics +8, Perception +4, Perform (act) +9, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +3, Spellcraft +8, UMD +9
GM Roll4initiative wrote:
"Hmm. You have a point that it's really not much proof," she says matter-of-factly to Corba.
"But, we're not bidding for anyone else. We just dropped off the deposit for them and we get to take it back. So, there."
She childishly sticks her tongue out at you.
"One should more closely guard one's tongue, lest they plan to loose it... or something worse," sneers Astingaire. "As you can see, I am a man of the cloth. To cross me is to not only place this life in peril, but to threaten whatever awaits you beyond Pharasma's throne. I suggest you tell us all you know."
Possibly a bit superstitious, Miss Vaor trembles in fear at Astingaire's words.
"A-a-a a strange woman hired me for the sum of the deposit, to walk around the outside of the Abadaran cathedral and scatter some seeds or dust or something. I don't know what they were. She said to get the deposit after the job was done. I have no idea who this woman was."
Miss Vaor thinks for a moment.
"Hmm. Well. She was wearing a dark traveler's cloak with the hood almost covering her eyes. I did see a lock of long dark brown hair cross in front of her face. She had a soft and very pleasant voice, though."
That's all she knows.
"Now, if you'll kindly excuse us, we have a lot of work and... some cleaning up to do."
She gestures towards the thug in green laying in a pool of his own blood as the one in blue pours a healing potion down his buddy's throat.
Feel free to discuss things in character here or ooc in discussion. I'll move us to the next mission soon.
Male N Human Druid 2 | HP: 15/19 | AC: 18 (12 Tch, 16 Fl) | CMB: +5, CMD: 17 (15 Fl) | F: +6, R: +3, W: +5 | Init: +4 | Perc: +6, SM +1 | Speed 20ft | Active conditions: none
"Well, this is definitely an interesting twist. Mysterious influences! What could these seeds be? I wonder if we'll have a chance to search the grounds before the auction; I'd like to have a look at one, if I could."
Holy cow! We only have time for one more! I'll let you all choose which mission you want to do next. I'll start as soon as the first two of you decide on one.
Dead Woman's Debts:
“Prior to the founding of our lodge, the Pathfinder Society had few contacts and fewer resources here in Magnimar. One of our best was an alchemist and a sage name Darga Cranstone. Cranstone kept a small lab in Ordellia, performing specialized research using rare herbs that grow wild in the Mushfens. Yesterday, word from Absalom arrived that several years ago, our organization paid the alchemist an advance of over three thousand crowns for some research. Several months later, Cranstone had only turned over half of her findings, and eventually failed to complete the commission. Then for a short while, the Society lost all contact with her. Just days before the Decemvirate sent a debt collector to hunt down Darga, her apprentice suddenly sent word that his mistress was still working on the project. This kept on for several seasons, with the apprentice’s notes becoming more infrequent, until they simply petered off. While the sum was fairly significant, other matters put recouping the lost sum on hold, and after a few years, it was eventually forgotten. Now that we have again been reminded of this debt, I need you to go to Cranstone’s tower and collect the fee she owes us, with interest.”
OR...
Hydra Bait:
“We’re still a little short on funds and we need to make some quick coin! If you’re daring enough, head over to the Alabaster District and enter a hydra baiting competition at the Serpent’s Run coliseum. The Master of Games, Axetongue Droæb, has offered a decent sized purse to adventurers willing to get in the ring with one of his ferocious multi-headed beasts. As always, this event draws a tremendous crowd, one whose coin will more than double the purse he pays to contest participants."
“We’re still a little short on funds and we need to make some quick coin! If you’re daring enough, head over to the Alabaster District and enter a hydra baiting competition at the Serpent’s Run coliseum. The Master of Games, Axetongue Droæb, has offered a decent sized purse to adventurers willing to get in the ring with one of his ferocious multi-headed beasts. As always, this event draws a tremendous crowd, one whose coin will more than double the purse he pays to contest participants."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
You have little trouble locating Jorston “Axetongue” Droaeb, as the Master of Games eagerly seeks out contestants for his most popular event.
"Ahh! We have some suck... Oop! I mean contenders, do we?”
Jorston says with a gleam in his one good eye, rubbing his hands together with a wry grin after you proclaim that you wish to enter the competition.
"Splendid, splendid! Alrighty, then... You'll get a substantial amount of gold if you win. Buuut... You must fight the beast (a hydra, by the way. Did I mention it's a hydra?) for about half a minute!"
He pulls out a tiny hourglass from his pocket that appears to have about 30 seconds of time.
You're actually given 6 rounds.
He leans in closer to you, squinting an eye.
"Now, if'n you can drag the fight out longer, I'll add more gold to the purse. Longer fights make for more excitement and more excitement makes more money, ya see? Especially once the crowd starts bettin’ more 'n' more!"
Axetongue leans back in his chair and gives you all a serious look.
"I gotta warn ya, though. Li'l Nelly is a wild one, she is. Bit the heads offa two wranglers anna dung sweeper so far."
He gives a wink.
"You still up fer it?"
You all nod affirmatively, eager for the challenge.
He shakes your hands to seal the deal, however, he has a doubtful look in his eye that he'll never see you all alive again.
"Wonderful! Let's get you all to the prep area and ready for the fight."
"Oh, Great Anvil of Torag!"
Jorstan says, surprised by the commotion in the stands outside.
"We've got us a packed arena! Quick! Get out there and show 'em what ya got!"
The crowd of the coliseum roars with excitement as you are pushed into the arena by battle-scarred attendant guards wearing plate armor and wielding polearm weapons. They look at you with smirks on their faces as they usher you into the arena.
"Best of luck. You're gonna need it."
One of the guards says as she and another guard closes the portcullis behind you.
On Slide 4. Place yourselves behind the blue lines to the right/east.
Jorston reaches the observation deck and holds his arms up to silence the crowd.
There is a moment of silence, then gasps of terror, followed by oohs! & ahhs! as
wranglers on the opposite side of the arena bring out a very angry giant serpentine beast with five snake-like heads. The wranglers release ropes and chains from the beast and quickly run back to the entrance. Suddenly, a nervous and slow to get away wrangler is quickly snatched up in the jaws of one of the heads of the great beast. Li'l Nelly snaps the body in two, chomps on one half, then flings the torso into the stands, spraying blood all over the closest spectators. The crowd roars in excitement!
A fanfare of trumpets blare to silence the crowd and officially start the games.
Jorstan stands and raises his arms again to address the hundreds of spectators.
"LADIES AND GENTLEMEN. BOYS AND GIRLS! DYIN' TIME'S HERE!!!
He sits down and flips the tiny hourglass on the arm of his throne.
The crowd goes wild when archers shoot wickedly barbed arrows into Nelly's hind end. Li'l Nelly's heads snarl and howl in pain as she charges forward.
#2-15: Shades of Ice - Part I: Written in Blood (CORE) Female NG Halfling Bard 4 | HP 27/27 | Riding dog HP 13/13 | AC 18 T 13 FF 16 | CMB 2, CMD 14 | F: +5, R: +8, W: +5 (+2 vs. Fear) | Init +2 | Perc +7 | SM +16 | Speed 20ft (40ft on riding dog)
Before entering Corba draws her crossbow and loads it.
"I guess it is, Leon."
However, when she sees Li'l Nelly the color of her face becomes as white as a sheet.
The bard quickly recovers, thinking of what she knows about this monster.
Knowledge: Arcana t:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
According to the Initiative rolls, Corba should act right after Li'l Nelly and before everyone else. Her score and modifier are ex aequo to Malakar, but I guess he will not say no to the effects of Bardic Inspiration... ;-)
Corba will start her performance to inspire courage in her comrades.
(standard action to start it, +1 competence to hit and damage and +1 morale against fear for everyone)
"Once upon a time there was a group of unexperienced but very brave Pathfinders with a mission..."
Well, it is the arena, so she'd have to yell to be heard, right? ;-)
Then she will move towards the nearest column. (see map)
Corba darts behind a column and inspires her friends with encouraging tales. Getting a good look at the creature, she knows that this is a Young Hydra, a neutrally aligned magical beast. The most notorious thing about hydras is their ability to regrow heads when severed from their body.
To sever a head, an opponent must make a sunder attempt with a slashing weapon targeting a head.
To prevent new heads from growing, at least 5 points of acid or fire damage must be dealt to the stump (a touch attack to hit) before they appear.
#2-15: Shades of Ice - Part I: Written in Blood (CORE) Female NG Halfling Bard 4 | HP 27/27 | Riding dog HP 13/13 | AC 18 T 13 FF 16 | CMB 2, CMD 14 | F: +5, R: +8, W: +5 (+2 vs. Fear) | Init +2 | Perc +7 | SM +16 | Speed 20ft (40ft on riding dog)
"This is a neutral Young Hydra, it can regrow heads!"
Male N Human Druid 2 | HP: 15/19 | AC: 18 (12 Tch, 16 Fl) | CMB: +5, CMD: 17 (15 Fl) | F: +6, R: +3, W: +5 | Init: +4 | Perc: +6, SM +1 | Speed 20ft | Active conditions: none
Beren begins leading Kuti the other way, looking to spread the party out so they can encircle the hydra. "Remember, we need to make this last!" he calls, hefting the weight of his scimitar as he moves.
Malakar waits for an opportune time to react. (Delay.)
As the group spreads out, Nelly charges at full speed forward, comes skidding to a halt, and lashes out with each of her heads (pounce ability) at Leon, Corba, and Caelreth.
Corba is the only one to get chomped! It's enough to make the crowd holler and cheer!
Caelreth, Corba, & Leon are up!
Combat stats (Round 2). Inspire Courage is in effect!
Li'l Nelly:
Caelreth:
Corba: 7/15 hp
Leon:
Malakar:
Beren:
Astingaire:
#2-15: Shades of Ice - Part I: Written in Blood (CORE) Female NG Halfling Bard 4 | HP 27/27 | Riding dog HP 13/13 | AC 18 T 13 FF 16 | CMB 2, CMD 14 | F: +5, R: +8, W: +5 (+2 vs. Fear) | Init +2 | Perc +7 | SM +16 | Speed 20ft (40ft on riding dog)
"...and part of the mission was to battle a very scary - OW! - monster..." free action to continue IC
Corba carefully 5-foot-steps back and casts grease(Reflex DC 16) on the floor right below the hydra.
As you go about the tasks set to you, the magically-enhanced words of criers can be heard out on the city streets:
"Ladies and gentlemen, the Cathedral of Abadar will soon open its doors for the public auction! Anyone interested in participating must be within the cathedral in fifteen minutes. Once the auction starts, the doors will close. This is not an open door auction and no one will be admitted to the auction once the bidding starts!"
______________
Table GMs, begin wrapping up Act Three if you haven't already. Act Four begins tomorrow, October 12th!
The crowd "Ooohhhs" (or are they "Boos!”?) as Leon's scythe swings wide, missing Nelly.
Corba creates a pool of magical grease underneath Nelly.
Reflex DC 16:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
The great five-headed beast manages to keep her footing.
Caelreth, Malakar, Beren, Astingaire are up!
Combat stats (Round 2). Inspire Courage is in effect!
Li'l Nelly:
Caelreth:
Corba:
Leon:
Malakar:
Beren:
Astingaire:
Caelreth slashes at the nearest hydra head. (I’m on my phone so can’t really move on the map, but will move if I need to to get in reach of the thing.)
| HP 27/27 | AC 16 T 11 FF 15 | CMB +3, CMD 14 | F: +2, R: +4, W: +3; +4 vs. bardic performance, language-dependent, and sonic | | Speed 30 ft. (20 ft. in armor)| Spells: 1st lvl - 4/4 | Active conditions: NONE! | Perc: +4, SM: +5 Init: +1
Skills:
Acrobatics -2 (-6 to jump), Appraise +6, Diplomacy +9, Heal +7, Intimidate +7, Knowledge (religion) +9, Linguistics +8, Perception +4, Perform (act) +9, Sense Motive +5, Sleight of Hand +3, Spellcraft +8, UMD +9
Astingaire rushes the monster. With blade drawn, he calls out, "I smite thee in the name of Mighty Aroden!" Move
Smite:
Arcane Strike As a swift action, add +1 damage, +1 per 5 caster levels and your weapons are treated as magic for the purpose of overcoming damage reduction.
Caelreth steps forward and also swings wide, failing to strike Li'l Nelly.
Beren and Kuti circle around, ready to strike if the beast comes near.
Astingaire "blesses" his blade with holy power, leaving a large gash in Nelly's side. The crowd roars as Nelly howls in pain.
Malakar, in shock and awe of the great beast, takes a step back. He gathers the nerve to point a finger and shoot a magical blob of acid at the creature.
Acid Splash:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 acid dmg:1d3 ⇒ 2
Nelly barely notices the little drop of acid. She shifts to the side with her powerful legs, unaware of the danger of the grease underneath her feet. She starts to slip...
Acrobatics DC 10:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
And manages to keep her footing.
Astingaire is the only one to suffer a nasty bite from Nelly's jaws.
Everyone may act!!!
Combat stats (Round 3). Inspire Courage is in effect!
Li'l Nelly: -12 hp
Caelreth:
Corba: 7/15 hp
Leon:
Malakar:
Beren:
Astingaire: 17/20 hp
#2-15: Shades of Ice - Part I: Written in Blood (CORE) Female NG Halfling Bard 4 | HP 27/27 | Riding dog HP 13/13 | AC 18 T 13 FF 16 | CMB 2, CMD 14 | F: +5, R: +8, W: +5 (+2 vs. Fear) | Init +2 | Perc +7 | SM +16 | Speed 20ft (40ft on riding dog)
"...and the monster - haha, missed me! - had more than one head..." free action to continue IC
Darn it! Why won't you slip and fall down?
Again, Corba 5-foot-steps back and casts grease(Reflex DC 16) on the floor right below the hydra.
Kuti shadows Beren, keeping her master behind her as she eyes the hydra warily. She licks her lips, anxiously awaiting the command that still hasn't come.
Actions:
Move: 20' Standard: readied attack vs hydra if it enters a threatened square
Caelreth strikes and leaves a scratch in Li'l Nelly.
He gets struck in the back by a rotten tomato tossed from the crowd.
Leon slashes deep in poor Nelly, a spray of blood splattering some in the stands. The spectators roar in excitement!
Corba magically creates another layer of grease overlapping the other. Nelly, nimble for her size, tries to maintain her balance.
Reflex DC 16:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Nelly falls onto her side, shaking the earth in a plume of blinding dust.
The crowd roars as Nelly flails her heads and legs.
Beren and Kuti continue circling, waiting for an opportunity to strike.
Astingaire slashes into her flank, creating another gaping wound.
Nelly howls in pain much to the spectators' enjoyment.
Male N Human Druid 2 | HP: 15/19 | AC: 18 (12 Tch, 16 Fl) | CMB: +5, CMD: 17 (15 Fl) | F: +6, R: +3, W: +5 | Init: +4 | Perc: +6, SM +1 | Speed 20ft | Active conditions: none
GM Roll4initiative wrote:
Nelly looks like she won't last much longer.
I know the reality is that we won't be able to post at a rate that allows us 6 rounds of action, but remember that the goal of this encounter is to survive 6 rounds. If we kill the hydra now, we fail the encounter. It has to stay alive.
LN Human Fighter 3 | Mods: None | HP 37 (-0) | AC/Tch/FF 18/11/17 (Sleeping 15/11/14) | CMD 18 (+2 vs. Grapple) | F/R/W +7/+3/+2 (+1 vs. Fear) | Speed 30 ft (Nimble Moves) | FJC Orator 1/1, Bond Breaker 1/1 | 2 Star Reroll 1/1 | Perc: -1, SM: -1 | Init: +1
I disagree. I believe the incentive to the six rounds was to gain extra money. We get paid if we win, regardless. But I could be wrong, the wording in the setup leaves a bit to be desired.
