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Scratch manages to put a hole in the water, but does not manage to hit the Dragonfly.
Initiative
Round 3/4
Bold May Act
Round 4
Scratch
Vilmur
Quickblade
Rannarix (Grabbed by Blue, -25 HP)
Giant Dragonfly Blue (-58 HP, plus 1d4 persistent poison damage )
Giant Dragonfly Black (Forbidding Ward Zazu-Black, -68 HP)
Round 3 remaining
Rhaegal Dragonkin
Zazu Darksnout ( -19 HP)
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Rannarix takes out a dagger and stabs the Dragonfly once, but misses with the second strike.
Initiative
Round 3/4
Bold May Act
Round 4
Scratch
Vilmur
Quickblade
Rannarix (Grabbed by Blue, -25 HP)
Giant Dragonfly Blue (-64 HP, plus 1d4 persistent poison damage )
Giant Dragonfly Black (Forbidding Ward Zazu-Black, -68 HP)
Round 3 remaining
Rhaegal Dragonkin
Zazu Darksnout ( -19 HP)
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The party seems to be trying to drop enough debris in the river to make a dam.
The Blue Dragonfly continues its assault. Its flight is rather wobbly, but it is still in the air.
◆ Strike at Rannarix
Once again, hitting Rannarix only because Rannarix is Flat Footed due to being grabbed.
◆ Grab to maintain the grabbed condition another round
◆ Stride/Snatch The giant dragonfly can Fly at half Speed while it has a creature grabbed or restrained by Clutch, carrying that creature along with it.
Initiative
Round 4/5
Bold May Act
Round 5
Scratch
Vilmur
Quickblade
Rannarix (Grabbed by Blue, -43 HP)
Giant Dragonfly Blue (-65 HP, plus 1d4 persistent poison damage )
Giant Dragonfly Black (Forbidding Ward Zazu-Black, -68 HP)
Round 4 remaining
Rhaegal Dragonkin
Zazu Darksnout ( -19 HP)
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Zazu, Rannarix and Scratch all try to hit the Dragonfly and miss by varying degrees. The Dragonfly swerves as it flies across the river, obviously hurt.
Initiative
Round 4/5
Bold May Act
Round 5
Scratch
Vilmur
Quickblade
Rannarix (Grabbed by Blue, -43 HP)
Giant Dragonfly Blue (-65 HP, plus 1d4 persistent poison damage )
Giant Dragonfly Black (Forbidding Ward Zazu-Black, -68 HP)
Round 4 remaining
Rhaegal Dragonkin
Zazu Darksnout ( -19 HP)
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Rhaegal's icy blast drops te Dragonfly into the water, dead and frozen.
You are out of combat.
It looks like you have located the spot where the Song'o halfling traded away the bell but buried the chest with the payment. The area nearby has eroded a bit, and a corner of the chest pokes out of the sandy riverbank near the boulder. You find the chest when you look around. It contains 30 gp.
A short distance away from the narrow tributary, you discover what can best be described as a camp that has settled into the jungle to stay awhile. Several tents of various colors and sizes surround a small, sandy clearing. Most of the tents seem to have not been moved in ages, based on the way they’re embedded in the nearby undergrowth: flowers, vines, and branches grow around and even inside some of the tents. Tiny flower and vegetable gardens line a stream running through the camp. Most of the flowers are bright colors, but some of the tents have only dark flowers growing nearby, including dark blue, purple, and even black flowers. Several Song’os of all ages are busily going about their days when you arrive.
As you approach, two people come forward to greet you.
I am Efala Toru. You must be in the wrong place. Nobody comes this way, not even our own kin. Our home is haunted. You should go.
The other says I am Irena Vella. Please forgive Efala’s rudeness. You are welcome here—assuming your intentions are kind—though my friend is right. Our home isn’t haunted, exactly, but it may be dangerous to stay. Who are you and why have you come to visit our community, the River Sentinels?
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Rannarix, munching on a haunch of dragonfly, swallows, wipes his mouth with the back of his hand and says "We're trying to find the remains of a ship, the Imminent Laughter. We're gonna recover a bell, find out why its important and return it to them what owns it."
He pauses, considers, and nods, satisfied that he's hit the high points.
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In the beginning all began because of the mushroom. That you must understand. We wouldn’t be here without the mushroom. Because we have to find it’s right owner, do you understand? That’s important not to give it away to anybody but the right owner. Do you have an idea who is the owner?
The man of Irissen waits seriously for an answer.
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Rhaegal looks around he camp. "I think we might be here, Rannarix."
He bows his head towards the two halflings. "I am Rhaegal, also called the Dragon. The Pathfinders have bid us to come with something we believe belongs to you." He motions towards the bag of holding and opens it to show the bell they had retrieved.
"We recovered this from a ship and the records shows that it was acquired here, probably from the Song’os. Do you know it? Is it yours?"
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When the River Sentinels learn that you have come to return the cold iron bell, their expressions become serious. The nearby onlookers immediately run off to gather the rest of the community. Irena gestures for you to take a seat beneath a wide awning facing the clearing at the center of the camp, We have much to discuss—and we’d best do the talking over a nice meal. Our eldest leader, Atamu “Mr. Riverside”
Godoko should be along shortly.
Several members of the community lay out a nice meal consisting mostly of food foraged from the nearby jungle, fish from the river, and a few squashes and other things they’ve grown themselves. All the food is fresh and delicious, and the portions are generous—the River Sentinels haven’t forgotten the joys of food and cooking, even after all they’ve been through.
Your goal in this encounter is to learn as much as you can about the bell and the River Sentinels and make an overall good impression on the community and its leaders. While the River Sentinels are overall hospitable and curious, they don’t immediately share their story with you. To represent your interactions with these Song’os during this scene, this scenario uses the Influence subsystem (Pathfinder Gamemastery Guide 151).
During the meal, you have multiple opportunities to gain Influence Points with Efala, Irena, and later with Mr. Riverside. During each of these social rounds, any of you can attempt to either Discover something about an NPC or Influence them in some way. These actions are detailed in the Gamemastery Guide and reproduced below for your convenience.
You will have five Social rounds to gain the information. You can roll secret checks in spoilers or just tell me what your bonus is. ALWAYS tell me what you are trying to do/find out with each roll.
Discovery skills are listed below the portraits on the slide. I will also list Influence skills (other than Diplomacy, which always works but is usually not the easiest.) The skills in both sections will be listed easiest to hardest. I am going to go ahead and list the influence DCs so you can know success or failure sooner and make Hero Point usage determinations.
DISCOVER
CONCENTRATION SECRET
You watch or study an NPC to learn more about that NPC’s preferences. Attempt a Perception check or an appropriate skill check determined by the GM. The DC is found in the NPC’s influence stat block.
Critical Success Choose two of the options detailed in Success below; you can choose the same option twice to learn two pieces of information from the same category.
Success Choose one of the following: You learn which skill that can Influence the NPC has the lowest DC (skipping any skills that you already now), one of the NPC’s personal biases, one of the NPC’s resistances, or one of the NPC’s weaknesses.
Failure You learn no information.
Critical Failure Choose a piece of information to learn about, as success, but the information is incorrect.
INFLUENCE
CONCENTRATION Linguistic
You attempt to make a favorable impression on an NPC to convince the NPC to support your cause. Attempt a skill check to impress that NPC. The DC and skills which can apply can be found in the NPC’s stat block.
Critical Success You gain 2 Influence Points with the chosen NPC.
Success You gain 1 Influence Point with the chosen NPC.
Failure You gain no Influence Points with the chosen NPC.
Critical Failure You lose 1 Influence Point with the chosen NPC.
Round 1
Bold May Act (Just to track who has done what)
Scratch
Vilmur
Quickblade
Rannarix
Rhaegal Dragonkin
Zazu Darksnout
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Rhaegal spend much of the dinner, chatting with Irena about the various plants and animals that the River Sentinels make use of nearby and whether or not they will have the same usefulness to Dragons. He tries to see how they are concerned with the natural world around them and what value they place on it.
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Scratch slides himself up to the feast as its laid out, a huge toothless grin spreads out "You all really know how to treat a guest! Tell me, just how is the hunting around here? Must be hard to always be on a hunt, and tryin' not to be the one gettin' eaten yerself." He grabs a smaller half squash, using it as a bowl, and fills it with an assortment of goodies.
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And how are you cooking mushrooms in the region? Because you have mushrooms, don’t you? They are very good in omelets you know. Once near Cassomir I had enjoyed one with Gorm, you know the venture-captain, and it was salted with a special salt from the region of Cassomir. It was delicious. But I am sure you also have a wonderful way to cook mushrooms?
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Unfortunately, Scratch and Rhaegal can't seem to attune themselves to the situation, and don't get any information.
Round 1
Bold May Act (Just to track who has done what)
Scratch
Vilmur Clarification, Please?
Quickblade
Rannarix
Rhaegal Dragonkin
Zazu Darksnout Clarification, Please?
Efala
Discovery Skills: Gladiatorial Lore, Scouting Lore, Athletics, Perception
Influence Skills: DC 23 Diplomacy
Irena
Discovery Skills: Herbalism Lore, Nature, Perception, Society
Influence Skills: DC 21 Diplomacy
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Well aware that the halflings are not going to want to share his haunch of dragonfly, Rannarix gives it up to Mister Snappers and leaves the giant arachnid feeding in peace.
The green-scaled kobold approaches Efala. "Hiya!" he says. "I'm Rannarix and I'm a dragon. Well, not as dragon-y... wait. Dragon-ish? Dragonistic? Hmmm..." He becomes quiet for several long seconds and if no one suggests it, he finally pulls the word he wants from the ether. "Draconic! Not as draconic as Rhaegal over there, but my mother said I was a late bloomer."
"Where was I?"
"Right. Introductions. Well, anyway, I'm Rannarix. Over there is Mister Snappers. We're the Pathfinders. Not all of them, but y'know, pretty good ones. We're supposed to represent the Society and make friends, but you're feeding us, so that's real nice. Anyway, we brought you this bell thing. I guess its yours. Rhaegal said so."
"So, anyway, we worked real hard to get here and I hope you're happy to see us and the bell. Can you tell me more about yourselves? I'm not really clear on who everyone is because no one ever tells me anything. I think they're afraid of Mister Snappers."
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Vilmur engages Irena in a discussion of herbs and determines she can be influenced by including Lore about Plants or Animals in the arguments.
Quickblade discovers that Efala is very interested in the Art of Warfare.
Zazu also engages Irena and determines that talking about Nature in general helps to sway her.
Irena tells Zazu Our community is small enough that we govern by consensus, and Mr. Riverside is considered a wise and influential Elder.
Round 1
Bold May Act (Just to track who has done what)
Scratch
Vilmur
Quickblade
Rannarix
Rhaegal Dragonkin
Zazu Darksnout
Efala: Current Influence Points:0
Discovery Skills: Gladiatorial Lore, Scouting Lore, Athletics, Perception
Influence Skills: DC 14 Warfare Lore, DC 23 Diplomacy
Irena: Current Influence Points:0
Discovery Skills: Herbalism Lore, Nature, Perception, Society
Influence Skills: DC 14 Lore (any plant or animal Lore), DC 20 Nature, DC 21 Diplomacy
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Apologies. I missed that Rannarix stated they approached Efala.
Rannarix makes a really good impression on Efala,
Round 1, Introductions, is over.
Efala tells you The River Sentinels are a group of nine extended Song’o families, originally numbering about 50 halflings in all, though our numbers have dwindled to around 30 in recent years as we’ve suffered regular biloko attacks. We once migrated around the Laughing Jungle, like other Song’os, largely enjoying life and regularly visiting other Song’os for feasts, celebrations, and stick-fighting tournaments.
The group continues the conversation and digs in to the first course of the meal.
Round 2
Bold May Act (Just to track who has done what)
Scratch
Vilmur
Quickblade
Rannarix
Rhaegal Dragonkin
Zazu Darksnout
Efala: Current Influence Points: 1
Discovery Skills: Gladiatorial Lore, Scouting Lore, Athletics, Perception
Influence Skills: DC 14 Warfare Lore, DC 23 Diplomacy
Irena: Current Influence Points: 0
Discovery Skills: Herbalism Lore, Nature, Perception, Society
Influence Skills: DC 14 Lore (any plant or animal Lore), DC 20 Nature, DC 21 Diplomacy
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Zazu moves towards Irena and begins chatting. "I noticed that you are into flowers and such. When I worked in the circus I would create illusions of plants, let me show you" Zazu moves his furry paw and on a part of the table creates grass, and then bushes.
But it turns out that when one focused their gaze, it was all blurry and not precise enough. On top of that Zazu seemed to try and impress Irena to much
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The old man continues his conversation with Irena.
So the mushrooms are a quite special and exciting plant in the nature. It’s a marvelous and delicious plant on the plate as well. You haven’t told me if you enjoy the omelets? But you need to try it once at least you know. And they can be particular because of the region. The egg’s type is of course important but not only. The salt you add and the variety of pepper makes them very different. And over all the mushrooms. What kind of mushrooms do you have here around? We have to try them in an omelet if they can be eaten of course. Because have to be precautionary with mushrooms. All can’t be eaten.
Herbalism lore:
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Zazu fumbles the conversation about nature and fails to impress Irena. Vilmur does seriously impress Irena with his knowledge of plants and herbs.
Irena starts gossiping about Efala;
Rhaegal makes quite the impression on Efala, talking to her about the tactics of settlement defense.
Efala asks Can any of you tell me a story of your bravery.
After the story, Efala challenges one of to a test of strength.
Efala starts to tell you the tale of the River Sentinels:
Tale Fragment 1:
Everything changed following a chance encounter with a cunning eloko spellcaster named Wrigglemaw (NE male eloko fate weaver). Possessing a connection to a fey patron deep in the Laughing Jungle—the River Sentinels still do not know exactly who—Wrigglemaw was as clever as he was cruel. He wove a magical illusion to lure the River Sentinels along a false river and into the clutches of his biloko hunters. Wrigglemaw’s plans to amass greater power would be severely hampered if he kept losing hunters during raids. Instead, he ensnared the River Sentinels in a fey bargain that would produce food for Wrigglemaw and his hunters for generations to come.
Scratch also impresses Irena, and Irena starts gossiping about Mr. Riverside;
Efala: Current Influence Points: 3
Discovery Skills: Gladiatorial Lore, Scouting Lore, Athletics, Perception
Influence Skills: DC 14 Warfare Lore, DC 23 Diplomacy
Irena: Current Influence Points: 3
Discovery Skills: Herbalism Lore, Nature, Perception, Society
Influence Skills: DC 14 Lore (any plant or animal Lore), DC 20 Nature, DC 21 Diplomacy
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Scratch listens to the tale with interest, being someone who also uses surprise in his methods of hunting and dealing with an enemy "So is this Wrigglemaw still around? Tell us more!" He starts digging around in his pack and pockets for some old skunk jerky.
He snickers at the tight wrestling contest between Quick and Efala "Where I'm from you usually get alot more matches like that after a couple kegs been kicked!" He claps.
Forager: Feat 1: General/Skill: Prerequisites trained in Survival
While using Survival to Subsist, if you roll any result worse than a success, you get a success. On a success, you can provide subsistence living for yourself and four additional creatures, and on a critical success, you can take care of twice as many creatures as on a success. Each time your proficiency rank in Survival increases, double the number of additional creatures you can take care of on a success (to eight if you’re an expert, 16 if you’re a master, or 32 if you’re legendary). You can choose to care for half the number of additional creatures and provide a comfortable living instead of subsistence living. Multiple smaller creatures or creatures with significantly smaller appetites than a human are counted as a single creature for this feat, and larger creatures or those with significantly greater appetites each count as multiple creatures. The GM determines how much a non-human creature needs to eat.
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Vilmur continues to talk about Herbs to Irena, extracting a part of the tale and exhausting her resources.
Tale Fragment 2: Wrigglemaw charmed the River Sentinels’ leaders, forcing them to accept stewardship of an enchanted cold iron bell. Their agreement required the River Sentinels to perform a ritual using the bell once each year. The ritual would call Wrigglemaw’s hunters, who would join in the eerie dance with bells and songs of their own. Each time the ritual was completed, the bell’s magic would draw on the life essence of the River Sentinels, fusing it with primal energies from the First World to conjure strange, quasi-real simulacra of the Sentinels. The bilokos would then feast upon these semi-living beings.
Round 2
Bold May Act (Just to track who has done what)
Scratch
Vilmur
Quickblade
Rannarix
Rhaegal Dragonkin
Zazu Darksnout
Efala: Current Influence Points: 3
Discovery Skills: Gladiatorial Lore, Scouting Lore, Athletics, Perception
Influence Skills: DC 14 Warfare Lore, DC 23 Diplomacy
Irena: Current Influence Points: 4 - No more Influence Points available- All Information earned
Discovery Skills: Herbalism Lore, Nature, Perception, Society
Influence Skills: DC 14 Lore (any plant or animal Lore), DC 20 Nature, DC 21 Diplomacy
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Rannarix loves to wrestle. In some ways, it's what he was born to do So he happily accepts the challenge to wrestle with Efala.
Rannarix slaps his chest and says "I love a good tussle. Don't be scared, I don't bite. Well, I do. I really do. But I won't. Promise."
With that he dives for Efala's midsection and takes her down, pinning her with his wiry limbs until she taps out. He then grins. "Hey, this is more fun than the Society guy made it out to be!"