[GDXII] PF2e 05-01: Intro - Year of Unfettered Exploration (P1) (Inactive)

Game Master UncleFroggy

Cirri busily scribbles down as much as she can. "It's beautiful..."

"Okay, everyone be careful. Maybe there's something about these trees. Although we still need a lead on those wisps."

To find the land of growth and decay
Ignore the spring but not the fray

Choose the spring if you seek summer
But step back if you’ve gone three steps further

Step back from the growth and the harvest
Winter awaits in the opposite forest

Caution, mortals! To not fall and drown.
You must remember, do not look down!

"I think we checked out the waterfall- um, waterrise. That's the last section, right?"

"This must be the land of growth and decay. I don't know what the fray is..."

You proceed into the planar rift. You see two individuals dealing with several small fiery objects. One appears to be a large walking tree while another appears human. Taiwalei takes one look and tells you "I'll go fetch Selan. Those fire-things might be the missing wisps." He immediately leaves.

The two haven't seen you yet, as their attention is focused on the fire-things. You also notice that the tree-creature has the fire-things in a cage on his trunk.

Art on the 2 individuals on Slide 4

"I think we need those wisps... Shall we ask?"

A fray is another name for a tear or a rip. Presumably it refers to the rip in the Maze Starlight replies.

Yes we should.

She steps up to the two individuals.
Excuse me kind sirs .... I'm down here .... We seek some missing wisps, presumably the ones you have in your custody. May we take them home please?
diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Before Starlight can approach, the tree creature moves to confront you, pointing their wooden spear hand as a warning. The humanoid is quite alarmed by their partner’s reaction and immediately gets between their partner and you.

"Wow! Hold your hostility, everyone. Especially you, my friend. We’ve only just met these folks! No need to come to blows just because we’ve found each other, right?" The humanoid in leather armor with metallic veins shows their empty hands. Their voice has the timbre of fine metal particles rubbing against a singing wind chime. "As you can see, I’m quite unarmed here. My good friend... well, that is their hand, so do pardon us. I’m sure from their face you can tell they’re actually extending a friendly handshake. Right, budding? That was totally what you wanted to do?"

The figure, resembling a carved wood statue, turns to stare at their companion, articulate joints fluid as they transition between poses.

"Not if you call me that in front of strangers again." The spear point retracts as the elemental’s arm rotates at the elbow. Their expression remains unchanged.

The humanoid gestures at the wisps. "Are you referring to these creatures?"

"I think tho. Thothe are withpth right? We theem to have mithplathed thome withpths. We have been therching for them for awhile now."

The professor leans in to examine the small fiery creatures.

Professor Bun Bun Monster Knowledge

"Maybe we got off with the wrong foot. I am Gedun and my friend here is Yeyacha. A pleasure to meet you all! I’m a scout and my partner here’s a collector. We mostly collect valuables from the hands of the undeserving and gift them to those in need."

"If you mean these creatures here, they were very impolite! Positively the rudest clumps of essences I’ve ever met in my life. One of them—the fire one—even called me something very insulting! Who raised these rascals? I have a word or two to say on their discipline and manners! Though if you’ll answer a few answers for us, I can coax Yeyacha here and see if we can’t release them to your custody."

Both Gedun and Yeyacha start off as Indifferent. You can use:
Diplomacy to Make an Impression with Gedun/Yehacha
Diplomacy/Intimidate to scold the wisps and make them apologize
You can also offer to tour them around the maze
You could also escalate the situation and go into combat

Knowing that he’s not the very best diplomat the dwarf waits for the others to take the lead here.

Sure. What do you want to know? asks Starlight.My name is Starlight Sparkle and we represent the Pathfinder Society

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Starlight who are you rolling the diplomacy check against? The pair or the wisps?

Just to make it easier, DC for all the checks is 18

Gedun nods in greeting. "Well met, Starlight. What's a Pathfinder Society?"

"Oh! Hi! I'm Cirri Merryweather." Cirri waves. "It's good to meet you and... hmm. I'm sorry about the trouble these wisps caused."

She kneels down to the wisps. "You should apologize, it's not nice to call people names. That kind of stuff causes wars."

Diplomacy, Level Bump: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 1 = 22

Oops, Cirri isn't trained in Diplomacy yet... oh well, I'm keeping that.

Cirri scolds the wisps, who immediately feel embarrassed by their actions and immediately apologize to the pair. Graciously, both Gedun and Yeyacha accept the apologies and release them. Shortly thereafter, Taiwalei shows up with Selan and she, Gedun and Yeyacha enter a perplexing conversation in a mix of Muan and Talican (the elemental language of metal), which Taiwalei looks on in awe.

This encounter lasts for a total of 30 minutes so you can refocus or do what you need to do. If you wish, you can can invite the duo (and Selan if the wisps can behave) to the party at the Grand Lodge.

Bechamel will start a fire, and take out a flank steak he's been marinading in his backpack.

"Appetizers, before the party at the Grand Lodge!"

"That wasn't too bad. My father works as a Diplomat and he says these negotiations are really difficult. But..." She shrugs.

"Um... all of you are invited to return to the Grand Lodge if you want. The Pathfinder Society is having a grand celebration there. Should be fun."

Gedun's eyes light up at the word "celebration". "We would like to come, but, you haven't answered my question... what's a Pathfinder Society?"

Slight Retcon
The wisps are released and they all cluster around Selan.

"It is a society of people from all over Golarion who wish to explore the mysteries of our planet and beyond. Also, they pay us, so that's nice."

Gedun nods. Her eyes lighting up especially at the word "pay". "What is this Golarion you speak of though? "

"Oh, that's our planet, we can get there through this maze. It's on the material plane."

"Wait... where are you from?" Cirri begins scribbling notes. "Parent has always spoke of their connections to the realms of water and air. But they and Dad were shocked when I could harness both forces in our Universe, the Material Plane."

"Oh I'm from the plane of metal. I'm what you would call a planar scion, I believe, around these parts. A mix of metal and some humanoid in essence, literally. Yeyacha here is an authentic wood genie head to roots. Now, do pardon me turning the question back but what are you too? I’ve never seen people like some of you before."

"We've heard that the Material Plane is quite nice around this season, we decided to take a vacation. Might even make it a staycation if things get interesting. Speaking of what is this place? Where are we? Can you show us around?"

You notice that Gedun does most of the talking.

These foreigners seem stranger to the druid. He follows the conversation with curiosity.

Then he tries to ask to the other one: And you? Are you from the same plane?

Yeyacha answers curtly "I am from the plane of wood."

Gedun looks amazed by what she's seeing. "I'm interested in seeing more. You mentioned a-a-a celebration? Can we go now?"

"Of course we can go! Now, my father is a human, but I seemed to get most of my other parent's side. I'm what people would call a strix." Cirri's wing twitches a bit. "Humans and Strix have had a... uh, unpleasant history, but a lot of that has calmed down now. Even amongst Strix, most can't breathe water and swim like I can. Hence the influence of the plane of water. My parent's homeland is very coastal, so I got lucky."

"Oh. This is the Maze of the Open Road. It's a... maze, and if you know the general route around here you can quickly move between locations throughout the Universe. It's been so exciting to see the various planar breaches. I've never seen a forest of rust before!"

"I am Lorch, an orc, a people native to Golarion and the material plane. We've had a tumultuous history, but we're getting along better with other peoples now. The Planes of Metal and Wood, you say? I was only aware of 4 planes, Earth, Air, Water, and Fire. Though, I am not very learned in those matters."

I'm a wishborn poppet. Starlight explains. A stuffed toy come to life through magical means.

And as for the Elemental Planes, I heard rumours but to have confirmation is interesting. I wonder how that happened?

Gedun looks at all of you in wonder. Clearly she's the more curious of the two. Your now-enlarged party, with Selan (and her now-chastened wisps) in tow, new friends Gedun and Yeyacha, and finally Taiwelei, who is just in awe of the tour he's just received, begin to head back. As you reach the path leading back to the Lodge, several things suddenly happen.

Three things happen at once. From the sky, water begins to pour down into the intersection, creating an ankle-deep pool in its center. Though clear enough to see, the currents push Taiwalei back and away and separate him from the rest of the group. As Selan turns back with the intention to help, a wall of swirling red flame erupts, stopping her in her tracks. As the fire burn away a patch of foliage it touched, the bark peels away to expose a metal core, as if someone used the wood of the tree as a mold for a metal sculpture.

Shadows dart in the water below. A back fin breaches the surface, then goes under again. "That’s definitely a shark!" Taiwalei calls out. "I don’t think it’s one I’ve seen before though, so be careful!"

A patch of trees to the Southeast of the pool has become ash-covered and barren, save for the spiky metallic branches left behind. The area counts as difficult terrain.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Terrain:
* Water is ankle deep.
* The area SE of the pool is difficult terrain. You can move through it but need to make a DC 18 Acrobatics Check or take damage. You will also take damage if you move through at least one square (regardless of the check result)
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Kromrock Crushmaster - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 30/30
Black (w/Pink)
Blue
Cirri Merryweather - AC 17, 30/30
Professor Bun Bun, Q.T.E. - AC 18, 42/42
Starlight Sparkle - AC 16, 14/27
Lorch - AC 19, 34/34
Bechamel Mornay - AC 20 (21 w/shield), 24/33
Red (w/Green)

--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------

Taiwalei is behind the wall of water. You can hear him but you can't see him. Selan is behind the wall of fire. You can hear her but she obviously will not approach

The pool is currently ankle deep to you but the sharks are happily swimming in it. You obviously cannot see the sharks unless you look down into the water.

There are a few surprises you'll need to discover though :)

The dwarf casts a electric spell upon both black and purple and moves away.

Electric arc: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Reflex DC 18

Kromrock, the sharks are invisible to you unless you specifically search for them by looking into the water.

Ok, sorry, so moves, draws weapon and raises shield.

Black swims up to the surface and attempts to bite Bechamel Cirri: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Jaws vs Cirri AC 17: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Piercing: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

The jaws pierce Cirri's arm and lock on.

A tiny creature detaches itself from Black and tries to attach itself to Cirri.

Mandibles vs Cirri, AC 17, FF: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Unfortunately, it can't seem to find any purchase...

One of the sharks swims up to the surface. This is the strangest shark you've ever seen (it has legs). It begins to dance, spinning quickly in place, disorienting observers.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Terrain:
* Water is ankle deep.
* The area SE of the pool is difficult terrain. You can move through it but need to make a DC 18 Acrobatics Check or take damage. You will also take damage if you move through at least one square (regardless of the check result)
Before your Turn:
DC 17 Will vs Disorienting Dance: Bechamel, Cirri, Lorch, Professor Bun Bun
------------------
Those with ** may go

Kromrock Crushmaster - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 30/30
Black
Pink
Blue
**Cirri Merryweather - AC 17, 30/30 (Grabbed by Black, FF, Immobilized)
**Professor Bun Bun, Q.T.E. - AC 18, 42/42
**Starlight Sparkle - AC 16, 14/27
**Lorch - AC 19, 34/34
**Bechamel Mornay - AC 20 (21 w/shield), 24/33
Red (w/Green)

--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------

Taiwalei is behind the wall of water. You can hear him but you can't see him. Selan is behind the wall of fire. You can hear her but she obviously will not approach

The pool is currently ankle deep to you but the sharks are happily swimming in it. You obviously cannot see the sharks unless they're on the surface.

"Left Shark!" Cirri points an accusing hand at the strange creature. Which means she's distracted. Which means one of the other sharks quickly quickly chomps on her outstretched arm.

"Ow! Ow!... what is this?" Recall Knowledge with +3 +1 Nature

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11
Cirri tries to wrestle free of its grasp, but it has a firm grip on her arm. "Alright, you asked for it! Thunder, hear my plea! Strike the creature who clings to me!"

Blast: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 - 5 = 10
Electricity Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Cirri conjures a club made of electricity, but it quickly fizzles as she swings it at the thing.

◆ Recall Knowledge with Nature +4
◆ Escape
◆ Elemental Blast

Starlight electric arcs the thing on Cirri as well as the dancing shark
electricity: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11 basic ref DC 19

She then stays in place.

will save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Professor Bun Bun is delighted by the dancing shark.

"Oh look at that little one. He'th got legth. And he'th doing a little danthe. Tho cute. Can we keep him? I'll call him Jeff. I promithe to feed him and clean up after him. Can we keep him? Pleathe?"

Finally the professor realizes that he's lost focus and returns to the task at hand by using his magic to enhance Lorch's pick. Magic weapon on Lorch's pick

"Pleathe try to not hurt Jeff. I'm thure he doethn't mean uth any harm." Professor Bun Bun proceeds to give a lecture about nonlethal combat techniques used by the martial artist of Quain.

performance, lingering composition: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

◆◆ Cast magic weapon, ◇ Cast lingering composition, ◆ Cast inspire courage

Inspire courage-+1 to hit and damage for everyone

Cirri Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Cirri attempts to get away but doesn't get a firm footing. She then tries to blast it with lightning but trying to shoot something without hitting her own arm proves to be awkward.

Starlight stands her ground and manages to zap the shark hanging onto Cirri and the dancing one. Neither get out of the way in time and take the full charge.

Professor Bun Bun is mesmerized by the dancing shark and wants to take it home. He shakes off his confusion enough to make Lorch's weapon stronger, though he begs his friends not to hurt Jeff...

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Terrain:
* Water is ankle deep.
* The area SE of the pool is difficult terrain. You can move through it but need to make a DC 18 Acrobatics Check or take damage. You will also take damage if you move through at least one square (regardless of the check result)
Before your Turn:
DC 17 Will vs Disorienting Dance: Bechamel, Lorch
------------------
Those with ** may go

Kromrock Crushmaster - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 30/30 (IC 1/1)
Black (-12; Grabbing Cirri)
Pink
Blue (-12; aka Jeff)
Cirri Merryweather - AC 17, 30/30 (Grabbed by Black, FF, Immobilized; IC 0/1)
Professor Bun Bun, Q.T.E. - AC 18, 42/42 (IC 1/1; FF)
Starlight Sparkle - AC 16, 14/27 (IC 1/1)
**Lorch - AC 19, 34/34 (IC 1/1)
**Bechamel Mornay - AC 20 (21 w/shield), 24/33 (IC 1/1)
Red (w/Green)

--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------

Taiwalei is behind the wall of water. You can hear him but you can't see him. Selan is behind the wall of fire. You can hear her but she obviously will not approach

The pool is currently ankle deep to you but the sharks are happily swimming in it. You obviously cannot see the sharks unless they're on the surface.

"Oh! It's a brine shark. Avoid using fire, they resist that. Don't bother with bleed, paralysis, poison or sleep, they don't care about that. Did you know the big ones can dive straight down into water, even while holding onto something. It's pretty cool, except for the fact that's chomping into my arm..." The pain patiently waits for Cirri to finish before she squawks.

"Also, Jeff is a younger shark. What kind of dance is that..." She lets her guard down to observe the dancing, despite the danger!

Baby Shark?

Baby Shark?

It's Jeff!

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Added clarification on which shark is visible.

Lorch can't take her eyes off Jeff...

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Terrain:
* Water is ankle deep.
* The area SE of the pool is difficult terrain. You can move through it but need to make a DC 18 Acrobatics Check or take damage. You will also take damage if you move through at least one square (regardless of the check result)
Before your Turn:
DC 17 Will vs Disorienting Dance: Bechamel
------------------
Those with ** may go

Kromrock Crushmaster - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 30/30 (IC 1/1)
Black (-12; Grabbing Cirri)
Pink
Jeff (-12)
Cirri Merryweather - AC 17, 30/30 (Grabbed by Black, FF, Immobilized; IC 0/1)
Professor Bun Bun, Q.T.E. - AC 18, 42/42 (IC 1/1; FF)
Starlight Sparkle - AC 16, 14/27 (IC 1/1)
**Lorch - AC 19, 34/34 (IC 1/1; FF)
**Bechamel Mornay - AC 20 (21 w/shield), 24/33 (IC 1/1)
Red (w/Green) - Invisible

--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------

Taiwalei is behind the wall of water. You can hear him but you can't see him. Selan is behind the wall of fire. You can hear her but she obviously will not approach

The pool is currently ankle deep to you but the sharks are happily swimming in it. You obviously cannot see the sharks unless they're on the surface.

"I wonder what shark meat tastes like?" Lorch ◆Strides to flank Jeff and ◆◆Double Slices at Jeff Pick attack flanking: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 Necksplitter attack flanking: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 2 = 28

Damage:
Pick Crit P: 2d10 + 8 ⇒ (7, 9) + 8 = 24 + Necksplitter Crit S: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (7, 2) + 8 = 17

With expert carving technique, Lorch announces to Prof. Bun Bun "It looks like we'll be having shark sashimi for dinner."

"Jeff! Nooo! Lorch didn't you lithten to my lecture on nonlethal combat?"

Professor Bun Bun is clearly distraught at Jeff's likely demise.

"Poor, poor Jeff."

Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

"Doo doo doo, doo doo doo." The repetitive tone helps keep Bechamel focused.

He draws his shortbow and fires at the most damaged one. Jeff? Black? The bow crackles with magic as Bechamel channels gouging claw through his weapon.

Spellstrike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 3 plus Piercing: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10

Oops, forgot to remove Jeff from the map.

Bechamel shoots a charged arrow at Black but the arrow misses.

The Red baby shark also surfaces and begins to spin, doing a similar dance and catching the attention of Lorch and Cirri. It then tries to bite Lorch.

Jaws vs Lorch AC 19: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Some sort of creature detaches itself from Red, swims over to Lorch and tries to attach itself to her.

Mandibles vs Lorch AC 19: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

From behind the wall of fire, Selan calls out. "If the brine sharks have some sort of lamprey attached to them, those appear to be hyacinth lampreys, a common elemental wood parasite that feeds primarily on water elementals, though they don’t discriminate if given the chance."

Taiwalei also calls from behind the wall of water.
"A shark’s eye is its greatest weakness."

You can choose to aim for the eyes with a –2 circumstance penalty against the shark. On a success, the shark will release any target it has currently Grabbed, and then use one action to Swim or Stride away from the PC that attacked it on its turn.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Terrain:
* Water is ankle deep.
* The area SE of the pool is difficult terrain. You can move through it but need to make a DC 18 Acrobatics Check or take damage. You will also take damage if you move through at least one square (regardless of the check result)
Before your Turn:
DC 17 Will vs Disorienting Dance: Lorch, Cirri
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Kromrock Crushmaster - AC 18 (20 w/shield), 30/30 (IC 1/1)
Black (-12; Grabbing Cirri)
Pink
Cirri Merryweather - AC 17, 30/30 (Grabbed by Black, FF, Immobilized; IC 0/1)
Professor Bun Bun, Q.T.E. - AC 18, 42/42 (IC 1/1; FF)
Starlight Sparkle - AC 16, 14/27 (IC 1/1)
Lorch - AC 19, 29/34 (IC 1/1)
Bechamel Mornay - AC 20 (21 w/shield), 24/33 (IC 1/1)
Red
Green

--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------

Taiwalei is behind the wall of water. You can hear him but you can't see him. Selan is behind the wall of fire. You can hear her but she obviously will not approach

The pool is currently ankle deep to you but the sharks are happily swimming in it. You obviously cannot see the sharks unless they're on the surface.

Seeing that the fight is occurring on the opposite side the dwarf moves and casts a spell upon the purple and the black shark.

Electric arc: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Reflex DC 18

"Jeff! Nooo! Lorch didn't you lithten to my lecture on nonlethal combat?"

"I assure you I don't know the meaning of the words."

"So long, Jeff." Cirri watches Lorch go to work. "These lampreys are pretty cool, except they are dehydrating me at an alarmingly quick rate."