[Outpost VII] PF2 #5-04 Equal Exchanges - Necessary Introductions (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

Speaks Softly leads the way through the remaining potion mess.

The hippogriff in a jar has fallen into the center of a treasure pile in the overflowing vault. You can use Thievery to carefully remove the jar without causing a collapse Crafting to stabilize the pile.

This is the pile you already stabilized once, but a falling hippogriff has made it dangerous again. this check is easier due to your previous work.

Thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Nonchalantly, Folmyr flutters over, grabs the jar, and flutters back.

Speaks Softly hesitates, not wanting to risk bringing the pile back down again.

Untrained in either skill unfortunately, and at this tier that’s starting to get more likely to mean a crit fail than a success. So unless Speaks Softly has to roll, he’ll wait to tackle the next challenge instead.

Having had this pile fall on her already, Sindrailla is a little shy bit gives it a try...
Thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Folmyr retrieves the jar, and Sindrailla stabilizes the pile somewhat, but a bit more work could prevent a future accident.

Bechamel (and Speaks Softly, if desired) are up.

Bechamel is also Untrained in both, but if an 18 Succeeds, he'll try untrained.

Crafting: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

:)

Bechamel improvises some structural supports for the loot.

The ghost courier fulu is set thirteen feet high up on the wall of the occupied vault. You can use Acrobatics or Athletics to scale the wall and grab it.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Bechamel blames his height disadvantage.

Athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Speaks Softly climbed the wall of Hillcross once or twice in his youth - this should be no different.

Bechamel stretches for the item, barely getting a finger on it. Speaks Softly has no trouble ascending the wall.

One more success needed. Sindrailla and Folmyr are up.

Sindrailla helps Speaks and the saucy one get the item down.

athletics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

The Pathfinders retrieve the ghost courier fulu and the hippogriff in a jar and bring them to Purepurin, who begins to lead them to the vaults...

“There might be a problem!” Purepurin sheepishly bustles into the hallway, an empty jar in her hands. “I went to go get the jug of fond remembrance and it turns out that I may have traded it earlier today for some vats of extra spicy kimchi. And it was worth it! But we need to get it back from the Jjang-Jang goblins if we want to contact the boss quickly. They like to take their time on the road, so I’m sure they aren’t too far.”

Purepurin holds out an ornate ceramic wine bottle, shaking it enticingly. “Here, take this and trade it with the goblins for the jug back. I’ll get started on setting things up to call the boss!”

Fortunately, you have met these goblins, and have some idea where to look for them. You do need to make a Survival check to track down their exact location.

Bechamel has +7 Survival, and he'll roll Aid if there's only one roll required and someone has a higher modifier.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Speaks Softly kneels down outside the cavern entrance and looks for tracks to follow.

+7 here as well, so happy to lead or Aid.

Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Or neither. XD

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Waiting until they are outside, "Is it just me or is that the most bumbling being you've ever met? Gah! It's gotten me so mad I can't even track today!"

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Folmyr looks at the ground. "Ah, you're too high off the ground to see the tracks. Here they are."

Folmyr keeps its eyes to the grund and finds the tracks leading to the Jjang-Jang goblins.

Dokk is happy to see the Pathfinders but reluctant to part with the jug of fond remembrance as she planned to use it for a new marinade, having just finished the latest batch of Spicy Death Chicken sauce.

The party can attempt a single Diplomacy check to get her to trade for the bottle Purepurin gave you.

Speaks Softly is calm and quiet in his request, stating that the jug was given by mistake and that by cooperating and returning it, the goblins would be building relations with the the kobolds - aka future customers - but also the dragon herself. And they need not leave all these benefits to the future, because Purepurin has another bottle for them to use for marinating!

Diplomacy to Request: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Bechamel stays quiet, but will offer plenty of containers suitable for marinating.

Dokk listens to Speaks Softly's reasoning and returns the jug in exchange for the wine Purepurin game them.

Before you leave, Dokk offers you the chance to try their new and improved Spicy Death Chicken Challenge. It's not required because you made the Diplomacy check.

If you partake, make a Fortitude save.

"Oh. i'll try it for sure!"
fort DC 17: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Soon after eating it she sweats a bit, gasps and then starts squawking like a chicken and doing a fantastic job of it. After a few seconds of obvious confusion she smiles and starts waggling her arms like little wings and prancing around like a chicken.

Once it wears off she laughs and goes over to give Dokk a hug.
"That is FANTASTIC! Thank you!"

Speaks Softly recalls the lessons of his mentor - to respond positively when someone you are trying to recruit or otherwise influence reaches out, and to never turn down free food.

Fortitude vs DC 17: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

The day’s work has given the orc quite the appetite, but he does take a moment to appreciate the taste and belch heartily to show his gratitude to the chef.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"This tastes fantastic! Can I get the recipe?"

Speaks Softly and Bechamel both receive a round of applause, while Sindrailla is offered more of the milk-substance. The goblins clearly appreciate the praise of their cooking. They will be happy to discuss how they made the sauce later - once they get the person who is clucking like a chicken to also breathe fire - but the Pathfinders need to get the jug back to Purepurin in time for their meeting. As they leave, they hear the goblins sing.

♫ We're the Jiang-Jang
Purveyers of the spiciest fowl
We're the Jiang-Jang
Taste our spices, then you'll howl
Jiang-Jang! Bang, Bang!
Spicy Death, Garlic Breath!
Happy Chicken Time! ♫

(c) HMM

As the group hurries back to the vaults to deliver the final artifact for the ritual, they hear a familiar alarm; the sentry fulu in area A1 has activated once again! This time, however, they also hear a language they don't recognize coming from the room where they found it.

Investigate or look for your kobold friend?

"Wait, you can make me breathe fire? Yes please. Work on that!"

As they enter, finally having collected all that is hopefully needed, another distraction pops up.
"Well, we should probably look at least."
She will peek around the corner, see what she can see...

Investigate!

Bechamel will draw his bow and follow Sindrailla.

Folmyr will flutter after Bechamel.

Speaks Softly rubs Big Stick’s back to help calm the elk, who seems agitated by the noise and movement of the paper flier.

Follow, but we can be at the rear.

The Pathfinders return to the vault to find the sentry fulu running around, screaming its head off again. This time, however, there is a group of dwarves picking through the piles of treasure.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Speaks Softly
Sindrailla
Blue
Folmyr
Red
Green
Bechamel
Yellow

Sindrailla mumbles something about thus being the most comical Dragon's lair ever before casually stepping in, invoking an AOO from the closest dwarf if they are truly hostile and shouting at the Dwarves.
"Hey! You do realize you are messing with a Dragon's treasure, right? Perhaps you should rethink this.."
a pitiful intimidation attempt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Speaks Softly doesn’t anything as he follows Sindrailla into the vault, but the way he casually leans on his trident says a lot for him.

Intimidate, Intimidating Prowess to Demoralize vs Green Will DC: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 1 = 22

Stride [A], Interact to draw weapon [A], and Demoralize vs Green [A].

The Pathfinders try to scare the dwarves away. Sindrailla is not particularly frightening, but Speaks Softly does rattle the one clad in green.

You think you daughters of elves will scare us off?" the one in blue shouts as he walks toward Sindrailla, drawing and swinging a pick.

Pick: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

He puts a chip in the dragon's personal wall.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Speaks Softly
Sindrailla
Blue
Folmyr
Red
Green (frightened 1)
Bechamel
Yellow

Folmyr rages, then moves into Green's space.

Folmyr strikes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29for: 2d12 + 6 + 12 ⇒ (10, 3) + 6 + 12 = 31 slashing damage.

Folmyr cuts down the startled green-clad dwarf in a single blow. Feel free to describe exactly how you did it - full to negative HP in one strike deserves some flourish!

The pillager in red, clearly seeing the danger from the sprite, steps towards him and hacks at him twice.

Pick: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Pick: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 5 = 24
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Critical Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

It gets some manner of revenge, though Folmyr is still standing (flying?) strong.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Speaks Softly
Sindrailla
Blue
Folmyr (-13 HP)
Red
Green
Bechamel
Yellow

I'm going to assume Bechamel can see Red from the open doorway. A line from his NE corner to their SW corner is unobstructed.

Bechamel pulls his bowstring and arcane energy builds up within it. Gouging Claw

Spellstrike: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 4 plus Piercing: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 2) = 14

He then recharges his Spellstrike.

Bechamel puts an arrow into the red-clad dwarf. It is barely standing after the magic of the hit does its job.

The enemy in yellow moves into position to flank Folmyr and tries his own luck with the pick.

Pick: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Pick: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 5 = 23
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Critical Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

His luck is quite good, and the positioning lets him hit a vital spot.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Speaks Softly
Sindrailla
Blue
Folmyr (-31 HP)
Red (-18 HP)
Green
Bechamel
Yellow

"Idiots... Fine then."

Mentally thanking the stupidest Dwarves she's ever encountered, Sindrailla starts in on Yellow and moves to Blue if the first goes down.

long sword+1: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
S or P damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

long sword+1: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 5 = 11
S or P damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

long sword+1: 1d20 + 12 - 10 ⇒ (17) + 12 - 10 = 19
S or P damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Speaks Softly ponders the dwarf in front of him for a moment…

Esoteric Lore vs Yellow Lvl DC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Well, at least it would only be a crit fail if Yellow is lvl 6+. XD

…and decides that the subterranean fellow would be most disturbed by the feather necklace that he loops over the left point of his trident. He gives the weapon a twirl and the dwarf a meaningful look…

Intimidate, Prowess to Demoralize vs Yellow Will DC: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 1 = 16

…before jabbing.

Trident vs Yellow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Piercing damage: 2d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (7, 5) + 3 + 4 = 19 (plus Weakness 4)

Sindrailla and Speaks Softly each fell one of the raiders in their own fashion. If they were smart, they probably wouldn't be trying to steal from a dragon.

The remaining dwarf looks ready to surrender, though Folmyr can thwack him before his turn. Either way, they are no longer a threat to the Pathfinders. You can decide whether to turn the 3/4 corpses and 1/0 captives in to the dragon or its kobold servants, the local authorities, or the Society, or let the survivor go. Your decisions here will not affect your rewards.

If you want to rob them in turn, you get four mundane picks and four mundane crossbows. Probably some mundane armor, too, but it's not listed in their stat block.

When the Pathfinders return with the final artifact, the kobolds usher them deeper into the caves to where Purepurin has been preparing the ritual to contact her mistress.

The soft glow of crystals along the walls illuminates fine furniture of all sizes, with sets of tea and various delicacies artfully arranged on lavish tables to accommodate guests. At the tallest wall is a large hearth carved by nature’s work, surrounded by ritual items and bursting with a twisting cerulean flame.

Purepurin stands before the hearth, struggling with a pair of tongs to adjust the hippogriff in a jar into the center of bright blue coals. The Pathfinder Society’s gift to Valashinaz sits on a small table beside her, ready to be presented, and the ghost courier fulu is plastered onto the wall. The kobold turns as she hears company arrive, nearly swinging the jar out of the flames as she shouts, “You’re just in time!”

Purepurin hurriedly takes the jug of fond remembrance from the Pathfinders to complete the ritual. She pours the contents into a series of connected ceramic saucers and slides them into a compartment beneath the flames, the steam changing the fire from blue to gold.

The jar set within the golden flames cracks open and the fulu evaporates into a mist that swirls into the hearth. A dark shape emerges, twisting and stretching as it grows. Smoke coalesces into the agile shape of a dragon that stretches out to fill the empty spaces of the cavern. A cold, ancient face forms from the vapor, misty scales rippling into place as a rumbling voice echoes out.

“Purepurin, have you called me?”

“Yes, ma’am!” Purepurin stands straight, tail twitching nervously. The enormous smoky image of Valashinaz, powerful, lithe, and nowhere near full size, peers down coolly. “You see, there’s been a bit of a scheduling mishap! These nice adventurers have brought you a gift from, uh...”

Purepurin glances over and gestures, whispering, “Introduce yourselves! Tell her why you’re here!”

Speaks Softly bows and softly explains that they are Pathfinders here to deliver this gift from the Society in hopes of improving relations with the great and powerful Valashinaz.

I think that was our mission? XD

Knowing she is no diplomat, Sindrailla will happily allow someone else to pontificate properly.

Bechamel has no particularly diplomatic skills, but he knows the universal language of food.

He's happy to prepare some "exotic" dishes from Avistan and Garund to bring some of the outside world to Purepurin and Valashinaz.

I guess you could also leave the dwarves where they are for a surprise dragon snack later.

Purepurin sheepishly explains the time constraint to her mistress; only half an hour remains until the scheduled time. “So, you see, boss, it would be really great if you could come back in time for the meeting! I’m sure these nice Pathfinder ladies are going to be here soon, and it’d be a shame if we couldn’t have our talk with them after they’ve brought you such a nice gift.” Purepurin grins at her mistress, all teeth. The smoky vision of Valashinaz weaves throughout the room, eying each individual creature with measured scrutiny before settling in front of Purepurin.

“Very well, my steward. I’ll return shortly. Perhaps afterward, we should discuss schedule management.” Valashinaz’s misty face stretches into a long smile as the smoke evaporates, swirling back into the hearth and snuffing out the fire. The room dims and Purepurin heaves a sigh of relief.

“The boss isn’t the late type, so we should be seeing her pretty soon. Let’s get some fresh tea and snacks ready for everyone, huh?”

"Oh, and by the way, when we came back in there were some Dwarves ransacking that treasure room. We left them there."

When Valashinaz returns to the vaults, she thanks the Pathfinders for their gift and promises to have an open mind about the Pathfinder Society. Purepurin brings them along to greet Venture-Captain Yi Da Som and the Waterfall as they arrive at the cave entrance. The kobold loudly praises the Pathfinder Society for helping clear the vaults of vermin without mentioning the scheduling mishap and Da Som assures her that the Society is always there to help. The Waterfall thanks the agents for their hard work and suggests they might later be recommended for negotiating with a friendly local goblin tribe. She sends them back to the Hwanggot Lantern Lodge for a thoroughly deserved rest. The meeting commences and the Society begins a formal discussion with Valashinaz about magical artifacts and their connections to mindscapes.