[Outpost VI] PFS1 #6-08 The Segang Expedition by GM Lupulus (Inactive)

Game Master Lupulus

Oh, I thought it was hunt or assist. If both here's the hunt roll:
Hunt?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

hunt: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Yeah the group as a whole could help the Count, and then each of you had opportunity to hunt as well.

Andrelis and Jheda are hunting Bison too. Andrelis also cannot bring one down, but Jheda is successful in the hunt. The beast has not even hit the ground before Jheda feels a slap on his back and the Baron loudly exclaiming "Great shot my good sir! A fine prize!" Luckily the porters are here and equipped to carry around the bodies of these great beasts so you don't have to find room for a Bison in your backpack.

Thus ends the second day of the expedition. On the morning of the hunt’s third day, the smell of wood smoke fills the camp as porters busy themselves tending various cooking fires. Outside the camp, the jungle is alive with the sounds of monkeys, birds, and chirping insects. The porters offer to skin, butcher, and cook any of the animals for the party to eat. Otherwise, the Count provides sufficient provisions to feed the party.

The smell of food soon attracts local wildlife - a band of macaques (monkeys) starts to cause trouble by flipping containers, stealing shiny trinkets, and raiding unguarded food supplies.

Reactions to the monkeys vary wildly. The porters act reverentially toward the monkeys and offer them prayers along with bits of food and water. Baron Rudyahm however seems to hate monkeys, and belows out "Get rid of the little devils by any means possible!" He grips his rifle like a club.

They seem to mostly be interested in the food. If you would prefer to avoid a battle with the monkeys, the party has a chance for one single PC's attempt to scatter the monkeys before the Baron smacks one and starts a fight. The rest can use Aid another can use Aid Another check.

I'm looking for a single main check to influence the animals. You can either discuss / nominate or if someone feels confident in their plan and thinks they have the best skill or ability they can make the check and I can adjudicate later if need be. Or you can get ready to fireball a swarm of monkeys after they get all riled up.

While fireballing the monkeys is right up Ivan's alley, I think we have a Druid in Colin who can probably try to handle animal this situation first?

"Since the monkey are sacred animal of the local deity, I will advice against harming them. Let's see if a spell can calm them down"
Calm Animals is a domain spell for Colin so it's prepared everyday. DC 17 Will save to negate.

Andrelis has his sword half out of its sheath when Colin speaks, Oh right, good idea Colin, I can try and scare them away if you'd like too?

HD of calmed monkeys: 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (4, 4) + 5 = 13
Will+2 so pass on 15: 13d20 ⇒ (19, 17, 18, 1, 8, 4, 16, 9, 20, 4, 3, 1, 3) = 123

Colin manages to calm enough of the excitable monkeys that they can be calmly chased away in a controlled manner. The entire horde leaves with only modest spoils of war (much of it offered voluntarily by the porters).

This is why you don't feed the animals when you're camping!

After breakfast and the simian invasion, the morning offers another opportunity for game hunting. You each can make that attack roll and d8 if you wish.

I'll assume that the same PCs are hunting as before. So I'll wait on posts from Andrelis, Ivan, and Jheda to either hunt or pass. But the other two can hunt too if they change their mind.

Andrelis leans into hunting on the second day, asking the Baron for advice and tips on how to hunt better!

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

hunt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Having narrowly missed his shot on the bison the day before, Ivan excitedly accepts the crossbow again,

hunting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 151d8 ⇒ 1
knowledge nature: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

"Look Baron! That bush is not a bush, it is an animal!"

Survival tips or how to be a good hunter: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36

This is two nat20 in a row on Colin's advice check!

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Colin and the Baron offer various tips. The Baron's advice for Andrelis is to look for smaller game to start with. "A bison or rhinoceros is a difficult beast to take down. Let's try down be the river here." There the Baron introduces Andrelis to a crocodile and the rogue takes it out in a clean shot.

Colin finds in the bush is a smaller animal as well, and as it leaps out of the bush the alchemist takes down the golden jackal that was hiding within.

After taking down a Bison earlier, Jheda tries his luck with a rhino but the beast proves too strong and gets away.

-------------------------

After you return to the main trail and take to travel again, it isn't long before panic erupts. The elephant rears up, shrieking its elephant shriek loudly and threatening to knock off the howdah. The driver falls out and takes cover in the forest, apparently only slightly injured. The two nobles are still in the howdah atop the elephant.

Soon the cause of the beast's fright becomes evident as you notice a menacing giant cobra on the trail, as well as several just-hatched baby menacing giant cobras in the bush near the elephant. The porters are trying to drive off the large one, with little success so far.

The nobles appear to occupied trying to stay in the howdah to do anything but issue conflicting commands.

Count Matsanda shouts down to you "Calm this beast down before it topples us off and crushes us!"

Baron Rudyahm notices the trouble with the larger snake and shouts to "Protect the porters form that big snake!"

Three of the baby snakes bite at the elphant's ankles.

bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
fort vs poison: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Their bites aren't very effective but do continue to panick the elephant.

ROUND 1
Baby Blue
Baby Red
Baby Yellow
-> Ivan
-> Colin
-> Andrelis
-> Mika
Adult Cobra
Baby Green
Jheda
Elephant (panicked)

See map on first slide

Ivan quickly moves south away from the large snake, lining up a lane to unleash a strafe bomb at them, focusing on the yellow baby,

attack vs touch AC of Baby Yellow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 163d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 4, 5) + 5 = 15 fire damage

move action to go 2 spaces south, standard action to throw an explosive strafe bomb. if a 16 touches yellow it take 15 fire damage. The other 3 Baby snakes all take 8 fire damage for splash damage, DC17 for half.

It's very unfortunate that Colin had already used his calm animal spell for the day and don't have a quick way to calm the elephant down, so he will try to save the porter instead.
"Winifred, take down the big snake!"He commands his cat companion to strike.

"IT'S CAT VS SNAKE TIME!"With a snap of a finger, 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Leopard appears and rush toward the snakes. Colin will move closer to the giant snake as well.
Standard action spontaneous cast Summon Nature's Ally III to summon young leopard(treat as on SNA2 list after young template) via Totemic Summons and command them to charge at the snakes. One of them will appears in the opposite end so Winifred can flank. Each of them have AC 16 after charge and HP of 24. After castsing, Colin will 5ft step up to provide possible flanking for leopard.

Leopard 1 and Winifred will attack the giant snake first.If the giant snake is still alive after that, leopard 2 will attack it as well; same logic apply to leopard 3. If it died before leopard 2 attack it, then Colin will send 2 and 3 to attack the smaller snakes.

Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 Colin will also try to identify the snake, to see if they have any special attacks that the team should be aware of.

Winifred will 5ft step and full attack with power attack. She will swift action activate her Chaos Reign feat and get a slam attack.
Winifred figuratively becomes a furry storm and attack the snake with everything she got.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 = 24 Bite dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Claw: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16 Claw dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Claw: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 2 = 18 Claw dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Slam: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 22 Slam dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Andrelis loops through the underbrush, closing with the big snake, and stabbing it with his shortsword.

Attack, flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14
Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 3 + (3, 2) = 9

Ivan's bomb hits one of the baby snakes and torches the other three. Whether they can dodge or not, they cannot survive the blast.

About half of the cat attacks land, severely wounding the large cobra. Colin identifies it as an Emperor Cobra. Despite its size it is not a constrictor, but does have a nasty poisonous bite that reduces Con.

Andrelis misses the cobra.

In this situation I'll delay Mika instead of botting. Mika can feel free to take her turn whenever if she does check in and wants to.

Neither the bomb nor the appearance of 4 more predatory animals does anything to calm the elephant.

The cobra bites the biggest cat.
bite: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 damage: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (5, 1) + 11 = 17
Cat needs to make a Fort save or be poisoned.
(Colin can you list your animal companion's AC on its header?)

ROUND 1
Ivan
Colin (AC -17, fort save)
Andrelis
-> Mika (delayed)
Adult Cobra (-56)
-> Jheda
Elephant (panicked)

Jheda moves around and stabs the snake.
attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 +2 more if the porters count for flanking
damage: 1d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 3 = 6 the +3 is from being a swashbuckler

Fort save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
The cats should be hitting its flat-footed AC, and missed half of it?

Jheda's attack misses as well, more due to the large snake's tough scales than evasiveness.

I went back and double checked all the attacks, and 1 more hit for 4 more damage. The snake is still up.

Con damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3
Winifred succumbs to the poison and takes 3 Con damage.

The elephant is still freaking out, the howdah atop it is jostling back and forth, threatening to topple at any moment. The nobles are crashing around holding on to avoid falling out.

The porters take advantage of the cover from the cats and the experienced adventurers and flee from the snake.

A handle animal check or (if you get to the top) ride check might calm the elephant, getting easier with more snakes defeated.

ROUND 2
-> Ivan
-> Colin
-> Winifred (-17, poisoned with 3 Con damage 1 fail)
-> Andrelis
-> Mika (delayed)
Adult Cobra (-60)
Jheda
Elephant (panicked)

Winifred should also make another fortitude save at the end of her turn.

The leopards keep attacking the snake.

After the leopards make their attacks, Colin will move back, take out a scroll and use it on Winifred. He will also command Winifred to come after him after she attacks.
5ft step away, move action take out Scroll of Delay Poison, standard to cast it on Winifred

Winifred fights back
Bite: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 Bite dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Claw: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 Claw dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Claw: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 22 Claw dmg: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Slam: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 = 24 Clam dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

then she will 5ft step to be next to Colin.

Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Even if she failed, delay poison will prevent the damage

Andrelis attacks the snake again, stabbing this time with both swords. Can someone calm that elephant down? he says, casting a concerned glance at the nobles and the elephant.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 3 + (4, 2) = 12
Off hand: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + (6, 3) = 17
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Crit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

The kittens destroy the snake.

If you cast Delay Poison, the cat doesn't need to make saves until the duration of the spell is up and the poison resumes. The party has three hours to remove the poison before it resumes. Do you guys have a method for that or to improve saves at the end of the delay?

The Elephant is still in a panicked frenzy.

ROUND 2
-> Ivan
Colin
Winifred (-17, poisoned delayed with 3 Con damage from 1 fail and a 2nd fail on board)
-> Andrelis
-> Mika
-> Jheda
Elephant (panicked)

@Andrelis, i missed your post while writing mine, you have your turn back.

"Zee snakes are all gone, but Someone needs to calm zat beast!"

Ivan has diddly squat to calm this elephant.

Andrelis quickly moves to get out in front of the elephant, looking around somewhat without a clear idea of what to do, he stands in the roadway, ready to get out of the elephant's way should it bolt in his direction. Colin? What do we do with a panicked elephant?

Was planning to go calm the elephant after this turn. Only got a +8 on Handle Animal (much higher bonus against my own companion) so maybe on next turn people can aid me?
"It might be a bit extreme but I can try Hold Animal to stop it from moving"

If people fall from the elephant, Feather Fall is an always-prepared domain spell for Colin and will cast it to save them.

At the end of round 2, the elephant still does not fully shake off the howdah. Colin can try either his spell or Handle Animal check with whatever Aid Another are available. Some of the porters can help for a +4 on the skill check.

Feather Fall noted.

ROUND 3
-> Ivan
-> Colin
-> Andrelis
-> Mika
-> Jheda
Elephant (panicked)

Handle animal assist: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18

"Just tell me vhere to stand Colin"

Easy there Mr Elephant, just calm down and we’ll all get through this…Like that you mean Colin? the elf speaks easily to the elephant remembering it was more about tone than words.

handle animal, aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
"Shhhhhu....big guys, it's ok now. The snakes are gone." Colin gestures his teammate to move to somewhere that the elephant can see, and gently caress the elephant.

The team is able to calm the elephant, and the nobles are able to safely descend while the howdah is re-secured.

No porters were killed or injured in the fight, and the Baron thanks you for it. "Good work ensuring no life was lost." He glances worriedly at the injured Winifred. "I hope your companion fares well after that snake bite." You have earned further favor with the Baron.

The Baron says by tonight you should arrive at the location he wants to set up to ambush the tiger.

Winifred is still poisoned, though delayed for about 3 hours. Does anyone have aid to get rid of the poison or aid its saves when the time comes?

Strangely I have an antiplague in my inventory, but no antitoxin...

Colin will takes out a scroll of Lesser Restoration and use it on Winifred, then heal her up with wand of CLW.
Lesser Res: 1d4 ⇒ 2 Good enought for CON penalty to not kick in
3 charge of CLW: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 8, 6) + 3 = 21
"Several senior colleagues of my father once told me to bring those alchemical remedies whereever I go. Guess I have to pay the price for not listening. This is all I can do for now."

I thought Ivan had several of them but It's not on his sheet, sorry.

The cat doesn't fare well with the poison after the spell wears off. She fails 6 saves before it subsides.

Con Damage: 6d3 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 2, 3, 1) = 10

11 Con is what Winifred needs to get back to full. Colin can heal up the cat while we also set up the next part.

--------------------

A few hours later - after caring for Winifred too - the expedition comes across a small stream. Baron Rudyahm explains that this is the stream he and his friends were following when the tiger ambushed them 5 years ago, and thus this is where they should break off from the trail to find the tiger’s territory.

Count Matsanda declines to accompany the PCs and the baron any further. He and the porters take the elephant half a day farther down the trail to a hunting lodge outpost, where they can wait in safety for the baron to finish his hunt.

Colin has begun to get the feeling though the last several hours that the party is being watched.

You follow the stream with the Baron for an hour. The jungle opens up into a wide grassy clearing bisected by a shallow, burbling stream. In the center of the clearing lies the partially eaten carcass of a gaur. Its throat has been torn open, and the grass all around the dead bison is covered in dried, sticky blood.

Baron Rudyahm proclaims that this is where they should set up their ambush for the tiger. He explains that the kill is fresh, which means the tiger will likely return to finish its meal later that night. He instructs you how to set up the machans so that the party can lie in wait in the trees to fire upon the tiger when it returns. "I can't wait to put a bullet in the monster again - this time won't be a grazing blow and I'll put an end to its terror." The Baron sounds hopeful to be able to finish the tiger off himself.

New map is up. The machans are platforms in the frees inside the orange boxes. The Baron's intent is for you all to set up in them and attack with ranged weapons. They are 20 feet off the ground, and to climb up the rope ladder is DC 10 climb.

Are there any other preparations you want to make before nightfall? When you are ready move your token into one of the machans, or if there is something else you would like to do let me know.

Mika quietly prepares.

Ivan will clamber up the rope and sets up in the corner, taking an Extract of False life and Protection from arrows. If it is or becomes dark he'll also drink his extract of darkvision while they wait. All of them have a 5 hour duration.

False Life: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Andrelis clambers up the platform with the Baron, keeping a close eye on the old man. He strings his bow and sets a pair of arrows down next to him, quietly resting his eyes in preparation for the ambush.

Lesser Res: 4d4 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 1) = 9 Using up all copies of Lesser Res on that scroll, still have 2 CON damage.
CLW: 6d8 + 6 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 2, 3, 4) + 6 = 28 Healing -5CON worth of hp

Colin whisper to Mika "Something in the jungle already put its eye on us, I can feel it"
Colin will cast Commune with Bird to ask for the location of nearby tiger, and feather step on Mika.

In response to Colin's communing with birds, he receives various calls back over the next 10 minutes, but none of them are able to tell Colin the location of a tiger.

Still believing there's something nearby, Colin will wait patiently in the machans.

Jheda has no prep to do, so he will just climb into a machan with Ivan.

Night does fall, but you expect the tiger to attack at night. Hours into the night, complete darkness falls in the jungle, only the clearing below you is in dim light thanks to the moonlit sky.

The eerie silence is broken by a completely unexpected shout from Count Matsanda from the darkness of the jungle to the east, in distress and pleading for help by name. "Help! I've been hurt! Bomande! The beast - gods I can barely move! Colin! Please I need healing!"
Bomande is the Baron's first name.

The Baron responds with a curse. "Blast it something's gone horribly wrong. That boy is supposed to be safely away at the lodge!" His voice trails off a bit from Andrelis though as he is halfway down the ladder and has dropped the last bit to look for his son-in-law quickly. "Where are you boy? Is the beast near?" He looks to the east in preparation to help the Count.

A large beast with striped fur and an old scar from a grazing bullet rushes into the field, ending its surprise round turn right next to the Baron who has descended.

No one else can act in the surprise round due to the tiger's excellent stealth roll. It also won initiative for the first full turn.

The tiger attacks the Baron with bite and ... uh ... hooves?
Bite: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 1) + 7 = 13
Hoof: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Hoof: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
The tiger's impressive bite digs into the Baron, and also manages to clobber him with a hoof.

ROUND 1
Tiger
-> Mika
-> Ivan
-> Jheda
Colin
Winifred (-2 CON)
Andrelis
Baron Rudyahm (max hp 34) (-20)

Ivan Know Arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Ivan recognizes the creature is no tiger, but an unusual Leucrotta. The magical beasts typically have more resemblance to part-lion than part-tiger. They boast no remarkable offenses or defenses aside immunity to poison and disease. They are intelligent, capable of speech, and with remarkable ability to mimic observed creatures and use it as a lure. They are malevolent, said to be descended from a demon lord (though are magical beasts, not outsiders).

Mika, Ivan, Jheda are up.

You didn't get a turn during the surpise round, but if you can fairly say your character would have rushed to the Count's aid without hesitation like the Baron you can retcon an extra move to the bottom of your tree before your turn like the Baron did. Just a move to exactly the bottom of the tree, not a general move action.

Mind that the clearing is only dimly lit. If you have to cross the stream just consider it difficult terrain.

Seeing the beast maul the Baron at the edge of his darkvision, Ivan yells,"BARON!! ZAT IZ NO TIGAR!!! IT IS A LEUCROTTA!!!", before drinking his Mutagen and diving over the ledge of the Machan, hoping to roll into his landing to mitigate some damage,

acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

and if he is still on his feet, advance towards the Baron screaming,"ZEE BARON IZ INJURED, 'EE NEEDS HEALING NOW!"

Colin have Fly as domain spell prepared, so Mika won't have to deal with difficult terrian if she's willing to wait for Colin.

Jheda will leap down and roll acrobatics to avoid the damage.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33
Well, that went well. Thank you Dicebot!

Mika does indeed delay long enough for helpful magic from Colin. Then she will fly a bit closer to the baron and channel positive energy to heal him from a distance. channel: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8

She will also activate her smite evil on the creature.

not yet moved on map, because she is delaying a little

The party gets moving to try and rush to the Baron's aid.

ROUND 1
Tiger
-> Mika (move after Colin's fly spell)
Ivan
Jheda
-> Colin
-> Winifred (-2 CON)
-> Andrelis
Baron Rudyahm (max hp 34) (-20 + 8 from Mika delayed)