GM Tyranius (PF2) Outpost VI: The King in Thorns (Inactive)

Game Master Tyranius

Bastian joins Klank in pushing through the brush, trusting his plate to assist him.

Athletics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

He then hopes his senses (from his elven heritage) will pick up bad smells before it's too late.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

He then continues on, bracing himself against the wind.

Athletics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

"We must press on."

Each of you finds a suitable area to begin carving a pah through as Miladistra offers a bit of advice on poisonous gases and how best to breath freely as the group avoids the bad smells. Each of you quickly find cover and fold your draconic wings in tightly so as not to get blown from the cliff as you manage to chart a new course through the hazards for the rest of the Pathfinders.

Charting Success.

★ -- ★ -- ★ -- ★

Calisro Benarry offers a flask from her coat pocket. “How you holding up, Pathfinders? Anyone need a little nip?” She takes a swig. “There are some real green agents on this mission. I don’t think they even know which end of a spyglass to look through. I just saw a group head that way looking like lost puppies. Can you make sure they’re not getting themselves into trouble?”

You travel out to meet this group of agents. You see them walking ahead through a wide meadow full of flowers.

Everyone, please make a DC 20 Will save.

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Will Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17 +1 vs sleep/paralyze

Kernal politely declines the nip "Sorry, I'll save my celebrations for after the mission succeeds." He nods and moves to help steer the neophytes on the the right path... or not.

Will Save, Bravery: DC20: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

I don't drink. Just says without tact Dab. If I wanted. I would create my own alcool.

Dab's Will (E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Miladistra sniffs the vial. "I'll... pass for now. But those are some well-fermented currants." She pulls Deroff away.

Will Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

"Oh! Howdy ya'll!" Miladistra waves. "What kind of flowers are those?"

Bastian, Dab, and Jinlong notice that the Pathfinders are not walking through a field of flowers but rather towards a raging river!

Qxal has used magic to disguise a swiftly moving river to look like a calm and peaceful meadow. A group of Pathfinders is about to forge through to get to the other side, but they don’t realize how dangerous the waters are.

You shout, and the leader of the other party puts up a hand to pause her group. She turns to face you. "What's up? We're kinda in a rush here, runnin' over that way to help save some agents in trouble! Heard their whistles, and we got the healing they need!" The leader points over the river's edge, oblivious of its existence

You can convince them to stop with

- A DC 16 Fey Lore check to explain that the Thorned Monarch is using fairy magic to be tricky.
- A DC 18 Diplomacy check to convince the Pathfinders that fording the river is a bad idea.
- A DC 18 Intimidation check to cow the Pathfinders into going a different way.
- A DC 20 Nature or Survival check to give evidence that the river is much more swiftly than it looks.
- Some other check that makes sense; I'm an easy sell.

You need at least 4 successes.

hireling diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"Don't do this! Danger!

Can we try this even if we failed the save?

Miladistra looks at the flowers, then to her teammates, then looks again. "Wait, daffodils would overwhelm that entire flowerbed. And why are tulips intermingled like that? Wait a sec, ya'll. Feels like a trap, the arrangement makes no sense."

Miladistra will use >Assurance< (Nature) for a DC 20 check.

"Stop hatchlings! It's not safe!" Jinlong calls.

Nature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

"The water is running faster! Dragon eyes are much better than your smoothscale eyes! Please, hatchlings! Come back! It's not safe!"

three successes so far. Dragons are superior, after all!

@Rhaegal- Yes, as I am assuming you are telling each other it is an illusion. It would play differently if you all failed the will save.

Retcon

"Rhaegal! We are Dragons! It takes more to fool us with childish illusions! It's a river not a meadow!"

Rhaegal snaps out of the illusion with the help of Jinlong. "You're right! It is a river. We are Dragons!"

He turns to the hatchlings. "STOP WHERE YOU ARE!!!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

"It's an illusion. You will get get washed away in the raging river." Bastian shouts.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Klank rustles his backpack and a small gnome with a fabulous black mustache pops his head out "Is it time for Gene Spackletrot to make a deal Mr Klank? I am ready!" He climbs out, twists the ends of his mustache and hustles towards the newbies waving his arms.

"I've been told I need to warn you of certain and utter doom if you continue your current path friends!" His shoulder slump dejectedly though when his plea is drown out by the river, he slowly walks back to Kernal and climbs back into the backpack. "Sorry Sir, I tried."

Expert Hireling Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Jinlong- Get a Hero Point

"Uhhh....Yeah I thought I seen some bushes flickerin' like they were'nt really there." The Pathfidners seem to be rethinking it as they stop right at the edges of the river. Your pleas and quick reaction allow some of them to see past the veil of illusion as some begin to shake in fright. "Thanks, we just became Pathfinders and nearly didn't live long enough for a secnd mission. We owe you."

Befuddled Success.

★ -- ★ -- ★ -- ★

“They say that nature speaks, if we pay attention.” Torrsen says. “Go find out what it has to say, would you?”

You make your way along a gorge; a shallow river trickles at your feet. A band of lizards approaches. They stop at the top of a low rise and look at you. The strongest one approaches. He lashes his tongue out, tasting the air.

"This lizard territory now! Thorned Monarch awakened us! We smart now! We say, get out, or we eat you!"

It seems the fey have awakened these lizads. You can respond to their bluster with a show of force or try to be more diplomatic.
- A DC 17 Forest Lore check to explain to the animals that the Pathfinders respect and care for the animals’ habitat.
- A DC 17 Performance check to entertain the animals enough that they agree not to fight.
- A DC 19 Deception check to convince the animals that the Thorned Monarch will betray them.
- A DC 19 Nature check to use information about the specific animals to make an argument.
- A DC 21 Diplomacy check to simply convince the animals to ally against Qxal.

If you have wild empathy, you get a +2 bonus on your check. You need at least 7 successes to make them pass on.

Dab would prefer to throw a bomb at them. But diplomacy first.... She use what she learned about them when she did the research section.

"Really, I have scales like you! We are like brothers! " says Dab.

nature + research: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 2 = 19

Again Kernal calls on his trusted hireling Gene "You know what to do, no one wants to get eaten here."

Gene crawls out of his cozy backpack and approaches the lizard band slightly, hands held high while looking small and nonthreatening. "Don't fight us, fight WITH us! Doesn't that sound better?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

"Hey, don't worry about it." Miladistra waves to the Pathfinders. "Fey love these kinds of tricks, and they don't understand death the way we do." The befuddled Pathfinders are safe for now.

---

One of the lizards begin to speak. Miladistra looks about and likes Dab's argument. "The Thorned Monarch awakened you, good. But did they anticipate your growing needs? You should work collectively to build a nest where some of you can handle the young while the others look for food. Teamin' up and all that. Workin' together. We Pathfinders know plenty about Cooperation. Let us pass and we can show you more once we're done with the monarch."

Miladistra will use Assurance with Nature for a DC 20 roll. A shame, this would have been a great Speak with Animals opportunity...

Nature (Wild Empathy): 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 2 = 15

"You lizards can be Dragons if you try hard enough!" For some reason, this argument doesn't seem to resonate as well as Rhaegal thinks.

You can certainly use Spek with animals if you wish. I am always open to other actions as long as they make sense.

Assurance is guaranteed success, but in-character Miladistra would try to talk to them.

She sighs and listens to the lizards hiss. The scent of a gentle hibiscus floats through her nose as she casts >Speak with Animals<.

"Alright, do ya'll understand me?" She looks at the lizards. "Pathfinders will protect your home and help you prosper. Please, let us through."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Jinlong admonishes the fledgling Pathfinders.

"In the future, listen to Dragons! We are superior."

Nature: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

"You are lizards. But we are DRAGONS! We are superior!"

Now I hope this continues in combat...

Jinlong also bows to acknowledge the GM's hero point. "It's about time the GM recognized me as a great dragon!" :)

"Join us! We are strong and will treat you well." Bastian tries to impress the creatures.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

7 Successes seems a really high bar unless we can do multiple rounds of this.

7 Successes seems a really high bar unless we can do multiple rounds of this.

We have 6 so far.

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**

"Excellent teamwork, agents! We have rescued our fellow Pathfinders from mortal peril!"
______________

GMs, the Pathfinders Rescued condition on page 8 is in effect.

So far we have 5 Success:
Miladistra (Success +1)
Rhaegal (Failure)
Dab (Success +1)
Kernal Klank (Failure)
Bastian (Success +1)
Jinlong (Crit Success +2)

You do only get this one round. Do Kernal Klank or Rhaegal wish to use a Hero point as there is a chance to succeed here if you do?

"Fighting with you does sound better. But so does food." The lizards tongue flicks hungrily, though are held at bay only by the Dragons obvious superiority.

Will give a brief moment to see if either of the two wish to use a Hero Point.

I'll pass on the HP, not great odds and we're 2 short.

Sure, why not. Rhaegal has a decent chance of a crit.

Hero Point, Nature (Wild Empathy): 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 2 = 28

Rhaegal tries to explain further. "Some creatures uses cocoons to transform and grow wings. You could try that!"

Seeing how close they are Kernal gives Gene the go ahead nod to try again. "This time with more flair Gene."

Gene adds in some jazz hands this time!

Hero Point RerollDiplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Perfect!

The lizards slowly back away, rethinking if the meal is worth a bit of injury. They ultimately decide it isn't worth it. "Their scales would just be too crunchy and those dragon's may kill us for their own meal." The larger lizard says pushing the smaller lizards away as they retreat.

Animal Success

★ -- ★ -- ★ -- ★

Khoumrock Blackthane stands covered from head to toe in leaves and bits of vine. “It appears that the Thorned Monarch has got the plants on their side. I just took out several, but watch out for more. They’re easy to miss until they’re trying to bite your head off. And bite they do! Watch your step!”

Blakethane screams as the bushes just to the south of you leap to life. One giant flytrap reaches out, swallowing a Pathfinder whole as the group draws weapons to defend themselves.

★★★
Enchanted Plants! Round 1

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Dab (71/71 HP)
➤ Bastion (80/80 HP)
➤ Rhaegal (56/56 HP)
➤ Jinlong (43/43 HP)
➤ Miladistra (42/42 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Deroff (51/51 HP)
Snapping Flytrap (Blue) (-0 HP)
Snapping Flytrap (Pink) (-0 HP)
Kernal Klank (62/62 HP)
Fugus Leshy (Red) (-0 HP)
Fungus Leshy (Green) (-0 HP)

" Let's them come to us! I have a trap for them!" Says Dab has she crafts a Pummeling snare. Link

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**

The mushroom rings have been disabled! The Thorned Monarch’s tide of reinforcements has slowed.
______________

GMs, the Mushroom Ring Disabled condition on page 8 is in effect.

"So long." Miladistra waves goodbye. "Seriously, think of bandin' together and formin' a nest."

As the lizards leave, Miladistra hisses a bit. "Er, sorry. I was wishing 'em goodbye. Where to next?"

The plants rise up against the group. She listens to Dab and agrees. "Okay, I'll force them to either walk towards the trap or walk through the wall."

A >wall of thorns< erupt between Miladistra and the plants, leaving Bastian and Dab at the forefront. "Alright, get ready."

Deroff independently moves towards Miladistra and whines. She wipes the roseoil off of her hands.

Cast >wall of thorns< on the purple squares.

@Dab- Do you have a feat to craft and set snares as 3 actions? Link

Snare genius. LinkAlso, i will add that pummeling snare with trip snare and irriting thorn snare were my three free snares for the day as mentionned at the start of the adventure.

Rhaegal huffs as he sees the plants attack a Pathfinder. "Not acceptable! Plants do not eat Dragons. It's the other way around!" The Dragon concentrates as he inhales and then he moves towards the plants. He forcefully exhales and then suddenly fire erupts around the plants.

Fireball (Reflex DC 21): 6d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 6, 4, 4, 3) = 21

◆ Move
◆◆ Cast Fireball to hit all the Plant creatures

Not to be outdone by Rhaegal, Jinlong hurries forward.

"Plants are inferior to Dragons!"

Calling down Abadar's wrath, Jinlong drops a loud MEK! on top of the red leshy.

Sound Burst, 10' burst around the Red fungus leshy, DC 20 Fortitude: 2d10 ⇒ (7, 8) = 15

◆ Stride
◆◆ Sound Burst centered on Red

"I'll trust you know what you're doing!" says Bastian, not moving closer.

A blue glow comes from underneath his plate armour and tiny runes flow out from his left hand side. Some of them form a curtain around him, whilst others fly across to the plants, bridging between a flytrap (pink) and a leshy (red). They flash and become an arc of electricity.

◆ Shield

◆◆ Electric Arc, DC22, pink and red: 3d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3, 3) + 4 = 13

↺ Glimpse of Redemption ready

Dab quickly sets a snare up with some of the heavier stones he carries about to pummel the plants into oblivion. Bastian sends electricity between the plants as Rhaegal scorches the earth.

Pink Flytrap Reflex DC 22 (Electric Arc): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Red Fungus Leshy Reflex DC 22 (Electric Arc): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Pink Flytrap Reflex DC 21 (Fireball): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Blue Flytrap Reflex DC 21 (Fireball): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Red Fungus Leshy Reflex DC 21 (Fireball): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Green Fungus Leshy Reflex DC 21 (Fireball): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

The plants wither but remain upright as the flames seem very effective. Seeing the plants barely moving Jinlong sends a sonic burst through their midst.

Pink Flytrap Fort DC 20 (Sound Burst): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Blue Flytrap Fort DC 20 (Sound Burst): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Red Fungus Leshy Fort DC 20 (Sound Burst): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Green Fungus Leshy Fort DC 20 (Sound Burst): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

The plants vibrate quickly before splitting apart and falling limply to the ground. The fungal leshy's burst sends spores in the air, healing all the fungus in a 30' radius. Unfortunately all of the plants dies at the same time from the intense amount of area based focused damage on the bush.

Holy cow that was a good chunk of AoE damage. Plant Success and weak to fire. Miladistra save your wall of thorns.

★ -- ★ -- ★ -- ★

Khoumrock Blackthane puts a finger to his lips and then speaks quietly. “There’s things here that aren’t what they seem. Some of those fey are real tricky...looking like things they aren’t. Don’t trust your eyes.”

The tracks of the scouts are fairly easy to follow until they hit a patch of rocks that lead to a downed tree across a river. It takes a few seconds to figure out but it seems like the scouts kept to the path and across the tree. As you reach the tree though, a brilliant white horse in full bridle and gear waves its mane in the sun glinting off the river. It seems to be terrified of having lost its master and shies away from the path.

Kernal Klank however feels a deep pull in his soul as if the horse was calling to him to jump into its saddle and claim it for his own.

DC 23 Will save from Kernal Klank please.

Klank drops his visor to shield his eyes from the nuclear launches detected. "A bit of a warning next time would be ok, but good work none the less." He wades through the carnage, poking the destroyed bodies to be sure they are indeed well done.

---

Will Save DC23: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

"Sorry horse, my legs are too short and yours too long for this to work. Best maybe you and one of the Elves figure it out." Klank holds fast to the path, brushing away any vegetation with his shield if it gets too close.

The dripping horse seems perturbed as Kernal Klank does not advance towards it. It neighs splashing angrily in the water as it rushes in to attack. All this noise doesn't detract from your senses as many of you notice a smaller bush-looking fey sneaking up from behind you.

★★★
The Poorly Disguised Forces Round 1

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Jinlong (43/43 HP)
➤ Dab (71/71 HP)
➤ Rhaegal (56/56 HP)
➤ Kernal Klank (62/62 HP)
➤ Miladistra (42/42 HP)
⠀⠀➤ Deroff (51/51 HP)
Fey (Green) (-0 HP)
Fey (Red) (-0 HP)
Bastion (80/80 HP)

"Where's the rest of yer herd, horsie?" Miladistra notices the horse is not alone. "Or maybe this is the trap."

She turns to the bush and speaks in Sylvan. "This trap ain't gonna work, friend. Best you leave now."

For now, Miladistra seeks intel.

Miladistra will try to Recall Knowledge against the bushy green fey. Nature DC 20, thanks to the >Assurance< feat.

Miladistra reeks of strong pollen as she sprays Glitterdust on the horse. "I liked ya better when you were a horse. Go home, tell Qxal this ain't worth it."

Deroff independently Strides infront of Miladistra and growls.

◆ Recall Knowledge on the Green Fey, DC 20 Nature
◆◆ Cast >Glitterdust< on the "horse". Reflex Save, DC 22
◇ Deroff Independently Strides

Rhaegal hisses at the "horse" fey and moves to get a good view of. He breathes out and cold and frost shoot out to the creature.

Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Damage: 3d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4, 3) + 4 = 12

◆ Move
◆◆ Ray of Frost at Horse

Jinlong spies the fey attempting to creep up on the party.

"Did you think you can fool mighty Dragons?! Feel our wrath!"

Jinlong runs up to stand beside Deroff.

"Watch this, friend. You are in the presence of a mighty Dragon"

Jinlong takes a deep breath and breathes out a cone of fire that envelopes the green fey as well.

Kobold Breath, Fire, DC 20 Basic Reflex: 2d4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 4) + 1 = 7
Cooldown: 1d4 ⇒ 2

◆ Stride
◆◆ Kobold Breath