GM NovelEnigma's B19 Grim Tidings (Inactive)

Game Master zer0darkfire

HELP US!
We, the people of Zekrotska, humbly ask for help against the forest creature that preys on us. If we’ve angered it, we’ll placate it; if it can’t be placated, we must ask you to kill it. In return, we offer all the silver we can muster, as well as such jewelry as we have and a number of family heirlooms. Please come to our hamlet. We have little time remaining.

You see the bounty poster hug at the Grand Lodge in Absalom. Either its new or other agents are either preoccupied or uninterested. The Society has recently granted you some off days to do with what you will, but there are always some loose ends or odd jobs that need doing by skilled adventurers, even if the Society doesn't sponsor a team directly. This is one such job.

What little you know off-hand about this job is that the location states "Irrisen" which is far to the north. This won't be a one day job, but sometimes the Society offers a free ride on teleportation if a sponsored team is headed somewhere close by.

As you consider the job and the time investment, you notice that the bounty poster has an additional note at the bottom "Free teleportation for up to 6 agents if claimed in the next 3 days!

A young woman with a white headwrap and translucent mesh covering her face shields herself from the sun. "Free teleportation huh?" She says in an almost sing-song voice. It hadn't been long since she was last patrolling Lastwall. Oh, how she missed those peaceful days. Well peaceful compared to what the Tyrant brought.

Opening her eyes she grabs her pack and a shield emblazoned with a rapier with a dark lotus. She offers a small salute, looking for anyone else to join.

Free teleportation, heck yes, but to where?

A short woman of about 5' worms her way under the other Pathfinders crowding the board. Her eyes open wide at the words "free teleportation". Having always walked (or gone by ship), she'd never been magically whisked to a different place before, though her twin sister Shayna had spoken about it.

"Irrisen" she says to the Assimar standing nearby, "Can't you read? Brrr... That's cold though. Gotta buy some cold weather gear. Hey all, if we're going to this Irrisen place, we should get some warm clothes. You can get it at the Quickfingers Equipment Emporium here in the Grand Bazaar. My sister Shayna runs it so I think I can wrangle a discount for you if we're gonna go!"

Ka-BOOOOOM!!!

Smoke is visible in the sky, as careening down from the heavens, a small ball of flame and metal (and gnome) comes crashing-landing into the "free teleportation" sign, knocking a hole in the wall, and catching the bounty poster on fire.

For a moment the figure doesn't stir. Is it alive? The humming sound of some choking engine splutter from the pile, the pattern irregular, the stuttered breathing of some machine alternating between loud piston crunches and halting depressurizations...

until...

"Blast!"

Covered in soot and oil, our mad hero rises, cursing here, and shrugging at the destruction rendered "I have insurance - stand down" defensively, with the press of a button mounted on his gauntlet, the engine cuts out altogether, one final pained choke spewing forth, accompanied by a gout of smog that completely soots the entirety of 1d3 ⇒ 2 Zac Freelan 3, soiling him in black, as the gnome searches through another compartment and hands a few documents to 1d2 ⇒ 2 Kaclenna Eentrays "You'll see my registration is all there too. Sorry about the damages. You can bill me here" he points to a line that says "Harlequinn Enterprises LLC".

That business concluded, he asks "Where is this blasted place? My global positioning sensor relay accidentally ejected itself into the Inner Sea - turns out flying by wire is risky business... Not that I'm not up to the task of course" He turns to Shayla Quickfingers, and thrusts a gauntlet her direction to shake hands "Councilman Professor Serj, perhaps you have heard of me?"

Mirtha is a gnome with bright orange and red hair that sticks up on her head like tongues of flames. Eyes with red irises blaze from beneath deep, dark sockets. She is dressed in dark clothes with a baroque style that is clearly Chelexian. She wears an oversized symbol of Sarenrae on her chest that has been painted a bright glossy red that makes it look like the Dawnflower has been dipped in fresh blood.

"Irrisen is a wicked place filled with witches and monsters that has placed itself far from the blessing of Sarenrae," she hisses. "No place can hide from the sun and it's cleansing light and heat forever though."

As the gnome steps up to other Pathfinders, they notice that despite her scrubbed and polished appearance she exudes a faint, yet noticeably unpleasant smell. It is the same burning, chemical smell made when a matchstick is struck or when a vial of alchemist fire is broken open.

As Serj makes quite and entrance and causes damage, Zac's eyes widen and gives him the stare of a thousand yards.

Shayla, check. Mirtha, check. Zac, check. Kaclenna, check. Serj, check. Looks like everyone is accounted for, lets get this show on the road.

Agents (that's you), gather around the bounty poster. One agent flies in on jets of fire causing most of the people of Absalom to look up and watch his crash landing. Some, remembering the recent invasion, panic at first before realizing the destination is the Grand Lodge and are able to convince themselves that is simply another eccentric pathfinder. Most of the more experienced agents barely give the sight a passing glance as they continue their work.

Seeing you standing around the poster, one female halfling approaches you, "Oh great! A whole crew is already together for that job, huh? Thought I was going to have round up a team or two of fresh recruits, but I've heard all of you are a bit more experienced than most of our greener agents." she says as she tears the poster down, "Names Janira Gavix, pleased to meet you...or re-meet you, as the case may be! Anywho, follow me if you want that free teleport; there's a team heading to Irrisen in the next hour." she then looks at your gear, "You uhh, might want to dress a bit warmer though."

Make your purchases and prepare to teleport to Irrisen, land of ice, snow, and witches.

Kaclenna heads to one of the nearby stalls with some of the others as she quickly shops for a pair of cold weather boots, a thick cloak, and a coat. "I should be ready."

Purchase Cold Weather Clothes (4 sp)
Backfire Mantle (45 gp)

Looking at the state of his busted rocketpack, the Councilman Professor's greedy eye sparkles - he seizes an opportunity "Janira Gavix - here is my card" he hands her a thin metal chip imprinted with a similar style as the insignia on the insurance papers "We can set up a consultation to discuss terms. Always looking for bold investors who feel..." some yadda yadda about how certain characteristics lead "one" unto fortune (and it's inverse) later, Serj prepares himself:

Twisting a knob on his armor, several plates begin to turn red with heat - he prepares to step himself through whicever portal leads him to "Irrisen, huh? Never been there. Let us see what gains this venture may yield? Not due back to the lab in at least a week..."

Armor Innovation provides Phlogistonic Regulator (Heat and Cold Resistance 3 each)

"...Look lively, gentlemen! Let not the Virtuous Cycle slip you by! For under any rock may lay the Key to the City!"

Zac checks, he already has winter clothing for bought some for when he did tarnbreakers trail. He is ready to go.

Mirtha shakes her head in disgust at Serj's antics. "Now that we are on a job, perhaps you can show a little more restraint. Sarenrae's light should shine on all. Professor.... what's your name; it would be unfair if your recklessness made it so that I needed to expand all of my energy healing you."

Mirtha sneers at Janira's remark. "I am a Pathfinder. I know how to pack a bag," she sharply replies to Janira. She pulls out a black sable coat, along with a fur muff and hat. She throws the coat on, then sighs. "May we get on with this teleportation business before I start sweating in my furs? I'd prefer not starting my day off cold and damp."

You follow Janira to a teleportation circle where other agents are gathering, "This will take you pretty close to your destination, but the other agents have a different task further north." Janira explains.

You step on the platform and it begins to glow and then, in a flash of light, you're suddenly standing in snow. You travel down a snow-covered path for a time in an opposite direction from the other team of pathfinders.

**We Begin**
It sounds like most of you are wearing cold weather gear. Serj, I can't find anything suggesting that cold resistance would make you immune to the environmental cold, just reduce the damage from it. On the other hand, resist 5 is 420g and cold-weather gear is 4s so I'm fine with saying resist 3 is probably fine.

The trees grasp at the road with gnarled fingers, runes of good luck and fortune carved on their trunks, and offerings of twisted twigs lie amongst their branches. Barren trees and the bitter cold have been constant companions on the dirt road for several hours now. The severed heads are new.

Withered and frozen, the horror-struck human heads hang by their blood-matted hair from the trees’ lower branches. Their crow-eaten, empty eye sockets stare out as though pleading for release.

The blizzard reduces visibility and buries the road within minutes, threatening to make you lost in the storm. You can nominate one character as a guide. That character must attempt a DC ?? Survival check to Sense Direction to keep the group from getting lost.

If anyone is not wearing cold weather gear for whatever reason, they take 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5 cold damage (DC 16 basic Fort).

Cold resistance doesn't make one immune to weather effects. Otherwise heritages like Snow Goblin and Winter Touched Human wouldn't need to both grant cold resistance and reduce the effects of weather.
If any damage gets through then you can still get fatigued.

Mirtha buttons up her fur coat to her chin. When she sees the severed heads she shakes her head in disgust; then offers a quick prayer to each head.

"They keep sending me to cold wild places, yet I can barely operate a compass. I promise that I will be useful if someone gets injured though. Zac, you look like someone trained in woodcraft and survival? Perhaps you should lead us through this blizzard."

"Conservatism is for the Unfit" Serj snaps back at the uppity sorcerer with a mini-lecture in philosophy "The Miser is the man who Squanders Opportunity, profiting Not!" he smiles at her in pity - if only her personality weren't conducive to living a life in poverty... on the other hand, an economy has winners and losers, so...

Basic Fortitde vs 5 cold (DC 16): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

...Enduring the cold, Councilman Professor taps a little dialscreen on his gauntlet - it fails to respond "Irrepairable" and looks towards Zac Freelan 3 "You look like you know where we are going. Bo Bold!" the pep talk delivered with enthusiasm!

"Philosophy will mean nothing when the Tyrant's undead sweep through." Kaclenna shivers in her coat, having never been anywhere this cold before. "Where do we go from here?"

Checked everyone's profiles, guess I'm the highest with a +7, I was expecting someone to have expert in the skill as well as positive wisdom modifier for like a 9 or something.
Zac turns toward Serj Right, I'm all for this job. survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 Zac thinks he knows where he is going, but probably makes a wrong turn at the end. I'm roleplaying assuming the dc is 15 cause they usually are that dc at this level.

People sleep on the Survival skill, despite it coming up quite a bit. I kind of wish I took it for Mirtha.

Mirtha replies back to the Professor, "The treasures of this world are fleeting and too easily lost or wasted; the wise invest their money in spiritual wealth instead."

Mirtha casts a light spell on her holy symbol, to make her easier to see in the blowing snow. "Zac, we will follow you."

Shayla has zero survival so she's following the party

"Brr. Cold up here. You mean people actually live here?"

Seeing Mirtha cast a light spell on her holy symbol, Shayla follows by lighting her wayfinder.

Might be delayed in updating. It's a long weekend here and I'm going fishing, assuming the weather cooperates

Zac leads the group along what everyone is pretty sure is the road, however after half an hour you realize that you got off-track somewhere and need to cut back towards the real path.

Anyone not wearing cold weather gear takes 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7 cold damage (DC 16 basic Fort).

After a bit more trekking through the snow, you hear the clear, pure note of a bell as it rings out just a short distance ahead. Hazy, dim lights accompany it. Could you have found civilization in this blizzardy wasteland?

"If you're...storm...follow...bell!" you faintly hear from the direction of the lights.

Mirtha struggles moving her little legs through the snow, cursing this dark snowy land. "They only stay here because the witches don't let them leave.".

Seeing the lights she says, "It's probably a trap...but what choice do we have? We need shelter."

Basic Fortitde vs 7 cold (DC 16): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 (Half 3 less 1 = 2 cold damage!)

A leak in our mad hero's otherwise insulated airtight exoskeleton sends a shiver across his body "Blasted gasket! I'll have to pinch that back shut when we return from this frozen hellscape!" giving up on Mirtha and Kaclenna - not wanted to be two-teamed - he whirls on Zac and channels his projected anger "You fool! If you are going to lead, at least choose the right path!"

Muttering under his breath something about trusting subordinates...

Then.

..."You hear that?" He raises his shield here, aware danger may be ahead!

Explore: Defend

You come across Zekrotska, a scattering of cabins in a small forest clearing. Directly in front of you, you see a woman ringing a bell and calling out into the storm, "Quickly, get out of this blizzard!" she says as she gestures towards the tavern behind her. A signpost reads The Blooming Branch.

Oil lamps light the taproom, and a feeble fire of broken wooden furniture heats a soup pot in the hearth. Humans in heavy furs and leathers wait patiently for soup and sip weak ale.

Aletzka seats you by the fire and provides some complimentary beverages before immediately asking if you have come to town to accept the bounty, "You’re here to help? To hunt the beast of the woods? I suppose Zon-Kuthon’s eyes are elsewhere today! I thought no one was coming, I thought all was lost…"

Kaclenna shivers at the name Zon-Kuthon, or maybe it is from the cold breeze that seemingly cuts through her coat. "You want us to hunt a beast? What sort of beast could survive in this?"

Shayla nods in agreement. "What kind of beast are we searching for here?"

Mirtha takes her hands out the fur muff, then clutching her holy symbol she produces a bright red flame in her hand. She holds her other hand up to it and lets it warm her frozen hand.

"We are here for the bounty." she answers, letting her allies get the details about "what" they are actually going to hunt. After this, Mirtha then asks, "Can you tell us anything about the tree with the heads hanging from it? We'd like to avoid their fate if at all possible."

The woman tends to the fire, "A beast that can survive the storm is exactly the kind of beast we are dealing with...and those heads? Innocent people the beast has slain." she says remorsefully. "We're just foresters, not warriors. We don't stand a chance against a monster like this."

As you continue to converse with her, she provides additional information, "Its been weeks of something preying on us in the woods; now no one will go out to gather wood or hunt for food." she then adds, "Can't buy food either, no wood means no coin."

The woman then introduces herself and some others in the inn, "I'm Aletzka, the innkeeper. Over there is Nikita, one of our foresters." she whispers, "I think he may have seen the beast; won't go out there anymore.", she continues, "That's Oleg, one of our hunters...his wife was killed by the beast, she adds quietly, [b]"And that is Vanya, our herbalist. She tried to speak with the beast, but she hasn't said much about it."

Nikita (male) is a stout, shaggy-bearded, man with gray-streaked hair.

Oleg (male) is a massively built, red-faced young widower whose iron-headed spear never strays far from his hand

Vanya (nonbinary) is a heavyset ulfen in their mid-30s.

"Pathfinders are explorers first, but in order to survive we have also become skilled at monster slaying as well. And when it comes to monster slaying, preparation is crucial."

Mirtha approaches Nikita the forester first. "It sounds like you are the only one to have gotten a good look at the beast. Could you describe the monster to us please? Any detail could be important, so tell us everything you remember."

Diplomacy, Expert: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
Perception to Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

If time seems like it would be an issue, Mirtha can use Group Impression to Make an Impression on up to 4 NPCs simultaneously.

Kaclenna approaches Oleg. "I am sorry to hear of your wife's passing. We will do what we can to bring this beast down."

Zac walks over to Oleg, Can I feel your muscles?

Shayla skips over to Vanya.

"Heya. I hear you tried to speak to the beast. What did it look like?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Shayla has a carefree attitude. Think Imoen from Baldur's Gate

Time isn't an issue since you should probably wait for the storm to die down, but it does mean you only need to roll once.

Nikita responds, "Damn thing was weird as the ice witches. I didn't see it that well on account of the snow, but its kind of human looking but taller with stretched out limbs. Tends to attack in clearing so far and can control trees and plants plus it lops off heads and gives us back the bodies; strange beast." Nikita adds, "I marked places its attacked with Xs on the trees."

Oleg drinks heavily as Zac approaches, "Uh...I guess. You look pretty strong there yourself." after a minute of conversing, he provides more information, "Wife thought it was an angry dryad and thought her lucky charm would keep her safe." he then pauses for a minute, "It didn't but the creature left me alone for some reason when I...retrieved her."

Shayla speaks with Vanya, "Aye, I saw the beast. Calls itself 'King of the Wood'. The thing is smart and can talk, but it certainly ain't no dryad."

"Oleg, what's the spear made of? I have a feeling the creature left you alone because of it."

Oleg looks at you a bit funny, "Its a spear, so wood." he says before pointing at the top, "The head is some kind of special iron though."

A lot of you recognize the head as being low-grade cold-iron.

"Cold iron...many evil creatures are vulnerable to it. Could we borrow your weapon? I promise you that we will return it to you; with the creatures head mounted on it."

I think as Pathfinders, you've probably at least heard that cold iron is effective against certain evil creatures, though which specific creatures are vulnerable would need a knowledge check as normal.

Oleg looks at the spear then back at Mirtha, "Aye, but I'd better see you alive to return it to me when you're done."

You've gained one low-grade cold iron spear

Coldly indifferent on the tragic stories of loss, Councilman Professor Serj Harlequinn, his bones still chilled from the ice and his suit's malfunctioning, keeps to himself for the time being, shaking his head at the crudeness of the weapons on display...

...popping into the hut, whirring with a mechanical belt-driven hum, a spherical object with a "life" of it's own opens a chute on it's small frame, and ejects a large icy "snowball" from an inside compartment, emptying it, which flies out to strike 1d4 ⇒ 4 Kaclenna with a "piff"...

Basic Fortitude vs 5 Cold (DC 16): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 (@ 0 damage)
Basic Fortitude vs 7 Cold (DC 16): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 (@ 3 damage)

...the singular wheel spanning it's circumference speeds now towards 1d3 ⇒ 1 Nikita, and it loudly pronounces that "Beep Boop Beep Beep Booooop!"

Rising now, only slightly annoyed, Serj moves in to translate:

"Bull Market here likes you. Blasted contraption has a mind of it's own, but I suppose, two heads are better..." realizing his faux pas, our mad hero changes subject "...So. Let us conduct business then!" straight to the point, tone-deaf to the sensitivity of the situation "There is a Dividend you will Dispense to those that bring back it's head, I presume? We will thus take the Venture!" Deciding for the party in his arrogance and overconfidence!

Aletzka retrieves a chest and opens it up for you to see the coin, "Here's the coin. Kill the creature and its yours."

The amount of coin seems to ebb and flow depending on the number of characters looking at it, always increasing or decreasing by 10 gold pieces at a time. (10g per player is listed in the bounty rewards)

The blizzard eventually dies down and you head out to hunt this "King of the Wood." As you move into the woods, you look for carved Xs on trees and see one in a clearing not to far away from where you are now.

You're on the map.

This part of the path winds and curves before leading out near a jut of rocky hills. A single, downed tree lies flat on the ground

Does anyone want to hold onto the spear? If the creature does have cold iron weakness it could be devastating. And Mirtha has magic weapon to bring it up to par with any magic weapons you have.

Zac would likely be best.

Kaclenna steps lightly through the snow as she approaches the downed tree. "Let's look around for some tracks."

Does anyone want to hold onto the spear? If the creature does have cold iron weakness it could be devastating. And Mirtha has magic weapon to bring it up to par with any magic weapons you have.

If you only you had a thaumaturge to give it weakness to snow.

I can't think of any reason why you wouldn't be travelling together, but this will only hit the people in front.

As you press slightly froward, a partially sawn tree collapses onto the path, possibly crushing you! (that no one noticed)

reflex, kaclenna: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
reflex, Professor Serj Harlequinn: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
reflex, Shayla Quickfingers: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
reflex, Bull Market: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

damage: 4d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 2, 4, 2) + 10 = 25

The tree catches Shayla and Bull Market as they try to dive away while Serj manages to avoid the worst of it. Unfortunately for Kaclenna, the tree lands directly on them, dealing a potentially lethal blow.

HP Values
Kaclenna 0hp, dying 2
Serj 21/35
Shayla 26/38
Bull Market 19/34

"Yeowch!" Shayla cries out as the tree clips her as she dives away. Getting back to her feet, she sees Kaclenna unmoving. She rushes to the half-elf and pours a healing potion down her throat.

Minor Healing Potion: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Pulling out a wrench "Blast! Won't you hold still!" he begins opening up the panel of his mechanical companion's outer shell "Don't want to end up like her..." indicating Kaclenna on the ground.

Repair (Crafting, Expert): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Mirtha raises her arms to the sky and shouts Sarenrae, shine your light on our fallen companions!"

A sickly red light shines, but it is coming from the ground, and not from the sky. Along with the light there is foul smelling smoke and strange whispers. But the enchantment seems to heal, sizzling open wounds shut and stitching broken bones back together.

L2 Heal, 3 action: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 7) = 8

Mirtha can also Treat Wounds, but we got to keep Kaclenna alive first.

Kaclenna is revived and everyone is healed a bit. You wait a few minutes to patch each other up and nothing else seems to happen.

Hazards like this always bother me in 2e; you take some damage, then you heal up. It doesn't apply a lingering condition, no enemies ambush you to capitalize on the trap, no time pressure. It just feels like its to punish you if you didn't bring medicine or a focus healing spell.