[OPVI] PF2e B12 - Somewhere Below (P7) (Inactive)

Game Master UncleFroggy

Marcos and Oraelia give the signal. "GO!"

Please give me three rounds of checks! I'll still score it by rounds.

With his lighter frame, Bee opts to take a position towards the center of the rope and use his footwork to keep constant force in their team's direction. He also tries to mitigate any sudden jerking of the rope from the opposing team so that his allies don't get dragged off their feet.

(round 1) Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
(round 2) Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
(round 3) Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

The orc tries to pull the rope as strong as he can.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Round 1 Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Round 2 Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Round 2 Hero Point Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Round 3 Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Planting her feet to the ground, Cath begins to pull hand over fist, hoping to drag the other team over.

When everyone's ready, Ashun starts drawing a glyph to help his friends, since he knows he isn't that strong, but before he's even done tracing it, he hears both mentors

"GO!"

"Aaah!" And startled, the changeling stops drawing and hurriedly grabs the rope, begins pulling it. And Bea knowing Ashun ain't going to be enough, tries to help too.

Can I roll using Bea's athletics instead? If so, he is +1 instead of Ashun's +0

Round 1: Athletics (U): 1d20 ⇒ 13
Round 2: Athletics (U): 1d20 ⇒ 17
Round 3: Athletics (U): 1d20 ⇒ 5

What Familiar and Master abilities did you give Bea today? As a witch, you have three of them. If you gave the familiar manual dexterity, it can use its trained Acrobatics here. That would add +5 to each of Bea's rolls. All familiars are trained in Perception, Acrobatics and Stealth.

Bitty plants her feet firmly in the ground, which is difficult for a sylph like her, with the wind always blowing her to and fro. Towards the end the wind starts wanting to lift her up.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"Eeeep!" Her tail twitches as she tries to fight the wind blowing her around.

Konbu pulls as hard as they can

athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
athletics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

I'll use Bea's Acrobatics this time.

Round 1: At the signal, both sides start pulling with equal gusto. Loompecker can't seem to get a grip on the rope but everyone else manages to make up for the orc's shortcoming. The rope moves 5'! PP: 5

Round 2: Loompecker finally finds his stride and gives the rope a good hard yank. The ribbon surges towards the Pathfinder lines. Suddenly the rope goes slack which causes all of you to go tumbling backwards! You hear a roar from Marcos and you realize that you have won! PP: 7

Oraelia shakes her head. "This is the first time I've seen my students get overpowered like this!"

What's next, Pathfinders?
Insults - 1
Medicine - 1
Cat Calling - 2
Battlefield Conditions -
Poetry - 1

The orc raises an eyebrow: The first time you said? Now will come the second time so.

It seems to be Cat calling. I've never played this one.

"How about we let them choose the next one? Since they lost the first round, I do think it is only fair." , he says with a gentle polite anime towards the other group.

That seems fair Konbu replies

You want the dice god to decide then? :)

It works for me.

Simple Majority

Halran's Choice: 1d5 ⇒ 3
Dura's Choice: 1d5 ⇒ 3
Thisnabel's Choice: 1d5 ⇒ 3
Rhenei's Choice: 1d5 ⇒ 3

Based on the table above, it appears they want to do cat calling

A sturdy pet carrier is delivered to the lodge. Orlaelia carefully and gently brings it to the lodge’s garden, as growling and yowling noises emerge from inside.

She explains, "sometimes you have to take down an opponent in an unconventional way, without harming them." To help simulate that, Mephisto will be their rather unwilling target. They need to capture him and make sure he stays in his crate without harming him. He is clearly none too pleased to be here, adding to the challenge.

At the start of the challenge, Mephisto is released in the walled garden of the lodge. Both students and PCs must attempt to catch Mephisto without harming him or anyone else, and only one person is allowed to try to catch him at a time. To catch Mephisto, a PC needs to get three successes before they get three failures. A critical success counts as two successes, and a critical failure counts as two failures.

To attempt to catch Mephisto, each PC can attempt Stealth, Thievery or Survival checks to approach Mephisto surreptitiously. PCs can instead attempt DC 18 Deception checks to pretend they are not interested in Mephisto at all, therefore making themselves irresistible to him.

Alternatively, the PCs can employ a spell that deals no damage (even nonlethal damage is forbidden) to aid in capturing the crafty feline. This does not automatically succeed, as they still need to employ their magical knowledge to understand the best timing to target Mephisto as he darts about and hides, which requires an Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion check, using the type that matches the spellcasting tradition of the spell cast (Arcana for arcane magic, Nature for primal magic, Occultism for occult magic, or Religion for divine magic).

Who's up first? :)

that's a lot of threes

"Ooh, Mephisto is adorable! I have an idea. You stay there and take care of them, Bea. I will be right back." and Ashun bolts out of the lodge walls towards the streets of Restov.
Athletics: 1d20 ⇒ 12
While in the streets, he quickly glances over the stores and street vendors, looking for a place that would sell pet supplies.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 Lore (Mercantile) is +7, if that makes any difference.
if 22 is not a success, Ashun will come back sad and empty handed.
if it IS a success...
The changeling finds something that would resemble a simple store for pets, buying a couple of cat treats and a small toy that he assumes Mephisto would be interested in, thanks the seller and dashes back to the lodge, carrying a handful of tuna stuffed cookies, a pinch of catnip and a cat wand.

According to the Archives of Nethys, animal treats cost 1 cp, I'll be buying two. I don't know how much a toy is though.
And considering this took some time, I won't act now.

"Ooooh. Pet food is an excellent idea, Ashun!" Meanwhile, Bitty gives Egg one of her own treats and says, "Stay! I'll be right back."

The sylph gnome begins to tiptoe, her draconic tail high, and her light foot falls barely touching the ground.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Until a plaintive dinosaur wail is heard across the way.

"Aiooooooooooooooooooo!"

You left me behind for some other animal!

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

But Bitty reassures Egg with an air blown kiss, then turns back to continue to sneak up on her target.
Hero Point!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

When she gets back from kitty capturing, she returns to Egg with another treat and lots of pats. "Who's a good dinosaur? You are!"

"Chirrrrreeeep!"

I'm such a good boy!

Egg's tail wags in time with Bitty's.

Konbu goes for the deception approach to look like a normal plant to see what happens.

deception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
deception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
deception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
deception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Bitty leaves Egg to sneak up on Mephisto. Although Egg's wail of disappointment threatens to disrupt proceedings, Bitty manages to calm him down. She manages to sneak up on Mephisto and grab him by the scruff of his neck. Running back with a very unhappy cat that's trying to claw her, she drops him into the pet carrier.

Keep the HP. The first check was enough.

While trying to secure the pet carrier, Marcos accidentally tips it over and Mephisto escapes again and runs into the bushes. Halran decides to try brute force and chases him into the bushes. The bushes shake as if a Battle Royale is raging inside and finally Halran emerges with several scrapes running down his face and a sheepish look.

"Halran, how many times have I told you that brute force isn't always the answer!" Oraelia chides him.

Konbu goes next and poses like a regular plant. Mephisto walks up to the Konbu-tree and begins to rub against them. Mephisto is distracted enough that Konbu is able to perform the same scruff-of-the-neck snatch and grab Mephisto. They carry the now-unhappy cat back to the pet carrier and close the door. Mephisto seems to figure out his pet carrier and bumps the side, causing the latch to spring open and he escapes again!

Pathfinders 2 - 0 Students

One more success and you've won the day!

"Hang on! I'm missing a Pathfinder! Where's Ashun?!" Marcos asks.

Btw, it's one check only

Marcos looks bemused as he sees Ashun return with pet treats. "What do you plan to do with those now?" he asks with a slight twinkle in his eye.

Bee watches as Bitty and Conbu fairly easily catch this skittish cat. He is planning an approach very similar to Bitty's when Ashun comes back. He agrees with Marcos, "Not sure what he has planned, but it should be interesting to watch."

Well, winning conditions are 3 successes before 3 failures... so you can let Ashun try...

Rhenei goes next. He moves into the garden on all fours, pretending to be Mephisto's prey. Unfortunately, he underestimates Mephisto's predatory instincts and has to scramble up the nearest tree to keep the cat from eviscerating him. The other students howl with laughter.

"Umm... nice try, Rhenei. I think the idea is to not get killed!" Oraelia says, also trying to control her guffaws.

I'll wait for Ashun, but am doing lots of errands, so I'd like Ashun to do their work before me.

The orc tries to be stealthy to be able to catch the cat. Mmhh not even sure it's worthy to sell. This mission is a bit weird for sure.

Stealth:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

"Well, Mephisto seems skittish. And with everyone running around him, it only scares and makes him more irritated, so..."
He draws an aiding glyph that tattoos whiskers in his cheeks, and carefully approaches where the cat was last seen. He puts down a couple of treats lightly sprinkled with catnip, and waits patiently with another few tuna cookies on his lap. Trying his best to look calm and approachable instead of big bad menacing human that wants to cage the cat.
Nature: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 21
Nature Hero Point because I always forget to use them: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25
If it works, Ashun calmly hugs Mephisto and starts petting him, giving him the last few treats and taking him to Marcos and Oraelia.

◆ Guidance
sorry for taking so long!

Loompecker moves stealthily. Which is something unexpected given that orcs aren't the most stealthy of creatures. He sneaks up to the bush where Mephisto hides, reaches down and grabs the cat by the scruff of the neck. Running back to the cat carrier to avoid Mephisto's flailing claws, he unceremoniously drops the feisty feline into the box and slams the door.

Ashun walks up to the cat carrier and soothes the cat with treats of tuna and catnip until Mephisto, apparently zonked out from escaping, curls up into a ball and goes to sleep.

Pathfinders 3 - 0 Students

Marcos raises his arms quietly to avoid disturbing Mephisto. Oraelia again scowls as her students are once again soundly tromped. Shrugging, she calls for a break.

"Well done to both groups! We shall have a little refreshment to recharge ourselves. While we eat, two ritualists will cast a ritual to ensure that any damage done in the sparring room is nonlethal. The ritual takes an hour to cast so you can also use that to refresh yourselves. After all, " she says with a wink, "I would not want Marcos here to complain that I did not give you ample time to rest."

She turns to Marcos, saying, "I know that this lodge is unstaffed, old friend. So I took the liberty of having some food delivered." Fresh baked bread, vegetable soup, and sausages are all brought in, still hot and steaming.

Marcos nods jovially before proclaiming, "Enough talk! Let's eat!"

Feel free to RP this part. Also any PC that needs to refocus may do so now.

Ashun, keep your hero point.

The orc is satisfied of his performance on this challenge. It wasn't his cup of tea usually but he did well. So at the lunch he's quite happy.

Ah ah so the Aldori, how do you go with the merchants here? Are you open to discussions or more buried in your thoughts upon some products?

He takes something to eat during the discussion.

Having been on the losing end of more matches than he can count over the course of his professional career, Bee knows better than to gloat over his wins against people who he may have to face in the ring again later.

"Ooh, food sounds like a great idea."

Over dinner he starts questioning some of the others. "I have heard of the Aldori swordfighters. I always thought it was just a fighting style though - not that there were actually people named Aldori. Are you all related? Or do you take the name?"

Society: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Cath, having enjoyed the success of her comrades and herself, tries to keep somewhat sportsmanlike, especially when the visitors to the lodge are providing food and refreshments.

At the table, Cath listens in to Bee's questions, while asking a few of her own, "What kind of style is of the school Aldori? I know that those who do make it through are sought after by many nobles as well as armies because of their skills. I can't wait to see the techniques!" The woman was giddy and full of energy, which she had started to to with her fidgeting with the provided utensils at the table.

Konbu stays quiet during the meal, placing a few morsels in their core to digest while sitting in the sun to absorb as much solar energy as possible. They appear to be meditating.

Dura swallows some sausage before answering Bee's question. "We all took an oath to dedicate our lives to learning the techniques of Sirian Aldori. These have been passed down for generations. So in effect, we took the name Aldori in honor of the pact we swore."

Dura grins at Cath. "We hope to show you. However, you have to realize that we cannot teach you the techniques as you have not sworn the oath."

Rhenei answers Loompecker's question through bites of sausage. "The school arranges for our needs. I suppose you can ask some of the school staff how it works regarding dealing with merchants, but we are not part of that decision-making process."

Thisnabel looks at Egg. "What kind of creature is that?"

I'll move us along later today.

Nodding at Dura's comment, Cath eats a sausage before commenting. "There's a difference between learning through study and through sparring and combat, but I do see your point. Perhaps I might learn the basics from this event though. A fight is always good if both side live and learn from each other."

Bitty has been enjoying the meal quietly, watching some of the more social members of the group talk to the Aldori students. She's busy feeding some choice bits of sausage to Egg when she hears Thisnabel's question.

"Oh, Egg's a baby dinosaur!" Bitty perks up, warming to her favorite subject. "He's a velociraptor from a theropod family of bird-like dinosaurs known as dromaesaurs. They're predators known for their speed -- Egg travels faster than some horses -- and their darting gait. Do you see the feathers on his tail? There's feathers on his limbs, too. Some scholars think that there were two branches of ancient dromaesaurs. That one branch specialized in fast movement to launch and glide in the air, eventually evolving into actual avians, while the other branch kept its size and specialized in its land speed, still retaining the feathers though."

She feeds Egg another piece of sausage. "Isn't he beautiful?"

Egg stretches his neck and preens as he catches another piece of sausage. "Rooaaark!"

More, please!

Thisnabel looks awed at the words "baby dinosaur" but it appears the rest of Bitty's description goes over her head.

About an hour after the beginning of the feast, Orlaelia stands and claps her hands once to get everyone's attention. Smiling at the success of the exercises so far, she says, "Now that the food has had a chance to settle, and everyone has had a chance to rest and relax a bit, we should move to your final challenge." She looks to Marcos.

The Master of Blades nods, and he takes over what is obviously a rehearsed speech. "Aldori students, Pathfinders, both of you have demonstrated skill and creativity, but there's no test like a real fight. And so, that's what the last challenge will be."

Orlaelia then again takes the lead. "Of course, a combat where you had to hold back would hardly be a fair assessment, so we've had a special ritual cast over the combat arena. Fight to your hearts content, for none of the damage or injuries suffered therein can be lasting or lethal. Your test will be a fight, one group against the other. Defeat only comes when all on your team are unable or unwilling to continue. Show us what we've taught you!" Her students are surprised, and their nerves show through briefly before they quickly compose themselves. Noticing this, Orlaelia adds "I know you were expecting single combat, but if you only ever fight the same fight, you'll never grow."

You adjourn to the dueling room where weapons are drawn. Both masters look at each other and grin, anticipating the excitement to come.

Marcos ensures both sides are ready before bellowing "FIGHT!"

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:Nonlethal; KO means "dead"
Before your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Bitty Blue - AC 18, 26/26; Egg AC 17, 14/14
Thisnabel
Loompecker - AC 18, 21/21
Thull Ashun - AC 14, 14/14
Dura
Cath - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 19/19 (AC 20)
Rhenei
Halran
Corabee - AC 18 (20 parry), 19/19
Konbu - AC 15, 17/17

Konbu and Bitty, please update your slides. Konbu, please update your statblock. I'm still using the old data apparently.

Done

"Of course, a combat where you had to hold back would hardly be a fair assessment, so we've had a special ritual cast over the combat arena."

Bee nods, recognizing the description of the same type of enchantment that they were fighting under in the Pathfinder training hall.

"Your test will be a fight, one group against the other. Defeat only comes when all on your team are unable or unwilling to continue."

Bee is also somewhat surprised by this. Group battles are not common in the sport fighting circuit - though not completely unheard of. It is more difficult for spectators to keep track of everything that is going on. And there is always the inevitable accusations of individuals on a team not doing their part. Mostly by the losing team.

Then he looks around at his friends and thinks of the various things that they have fought together - as a team - both in an arena and in the wild. "Hah. No worries. We've got this."

Tactical Map fixed!

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Nonlethal; KO means "dead"
Before your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Bitty Blue - AC 19, 26/26; Egg AC 17, 14/14
Thisnabel
Loompecker - AC 18, 21/21
Thull Ashun - AC 14, 14/14
Dura
Cath - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 19/19 (AC 20)
Rhenei
Halran
Konbu - AC 16, 26/26
Corabee - AC 18 (20 parry), 19/19

"Eep!" Bitty dislikes going first, preferring instead being able to position around opponents. But then none of these swordsmen appeared to be wielding ranged weapons. So she moves forward, wind lapping at her heels, and readies an attack for the first of the Aldori to come forward, not commanding Egg to join her in battle yet.

She stops just out of reach of a normal gnome's stride, and then calls to her fellow gnome, "Thisnabel, meet me gnome to gnome! Show me what you can do!"

◈ Stride
◈◈ +1 Rapier (deadly, finesse): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Sneak Attack: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Deadly?: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Thisnabel rises to the challenge and charges at Bitty. When she gets to within reach, Bitty's rapier suddenly flashes towards her chest, catching her totally unawares. Her eyes widen and she drops to the mat.

Oraelia groans and covers her face with her hands. "That's what happens when you let your opponents bait you! Focus, students!"

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Nonlethal; KO means "dead"
Before your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Bitty Blue - AC 19, 26/26; Egg AC 17, 14/14
**Loompecker - AC 18, 21/21
**Thull Ashun - AC 14, 14/14
Dura
Cath - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 19/19 (AC 20)
Rhenei
Halran
Konbu - AC 16, 26/26
Corabee - AC 18 (20 parry), 19/19

The orc moves twice towards the ysoki and strikes him.

Orc necksplitter: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

As Loompecker slashes at Rhenei, Halran sees his opening and swipes at the orc.

↺ AoO; Aldori Dueling Sword vs Loompecker AC 18: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Halran's slash misses wide but Loompecker's slice strikes true and critically injures Rhenei.

"Eek! Halran! Dura! HELP!" Rhenei squeaks.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Nonlethal; KO means "dead"
Before your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Bitty Blue - AC 19, 26/26; Egg AC 17, 14/14
Loompecker - AC 18, 21/21
**Thull Ashun - AC 14, 14/14
Dura
Cath - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 19/19 (AC 20)
Rhenei (-12)
Halran
Konbu - AC 16, 26/26
Corabee - AC 18 (20 parry), 19/19

If it's critically it should be -24 hp or it wasn't a crit?

During the rest, Ashun talks a bit to everyone, being corteous and soft-spoken to the others. Although not the most social, he tries to make sure the other party at least feel like their presence is welcome.

However, when the fight starts, he prepares by drawing an aiding glyph in the air that marks Corabee's hands. Turning to his side, the changeling traces another glyph that etches itself into Cath's weapon.
"Go get them!" he says to both of them with a smile.

◆ Guidance on Corabee
◆◆ Magic Weapon on Cath
perhaps Rhenei has 14 HP like Ash, maybe that's why critically injured?

If it's critically it should be -24 hp or it wasn't a crit?

Wasn't a crit

Ashun sends Bee some divine aid and makes Cath's weapon practically hum with power. Dura runs to Rhenei's aid and takes advantage of the flank provided by Halran. She swipes at Loompecker twice.

Aldori Dueling Sword vs Loompecker AC 18, FF: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Aldori Dueling Sword vs Loompecker AC 18, FF, MAP: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Slashing: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (5, 8) + 4 = 17

"Well done, Dura!" Orlaelia calls from the sidelines as Marcos cringes.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Nonlethal; KO means "dead"
Before your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Bitty Blue - AC 19, 26/26; Egg AC 17, 14/14
Loompecker - AC 18, 4/21
Thull Ashun - AC 14, 14/14
Dura
**Cath - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 19/19 (AC 20; Magic Weapon)
Rhenei (-12)
Halran
Konbu - AC 16, 26/26
Corabee - AC 18 (20 parry), 19/19 (Guidance)

"Let us see how our tactics fair Dura!" Cath's shout, was filled with joy as she strode towards the orcish woman. Getting next to her, Cath swings her sword!

Power Attack Bastard Sword vs Flat afooted: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Magic Weapon+Power Attack: 3d8 + 4 ⇒ (6, 3, 4) + 4 = 17

Actions
◆ Stride
◆◆ Power Attack