GM Frost's S03-13 Guardian's Covenant

Game Master Frozen Frost

Dot in and delete.

Having traversed the new portal in the Maze of the Open Road, the PCs convene around the massive hearth fire in the center of the fledgling Port Valen lodge. Venture‑Captain Bjersig Torrsen approaches them with his dog Mahki, his scribe/ interpreter Lirall, and Rahaksenwe.

Kindly introduce yourselves to them.

A muscular but lanky white skinned hobgoblin tries to correct a powerful slouch by leaning on longspear.

"Snarlfist Medic." growls the aging hobgoblin.

While rather short for a person, Clover is immensely tall for a doll at round three feet, which works out on average. She has a warhammer at one him, and a cracked hand mirror at the other.

"Princess Clover," sh says, "monster hunter.

"Now I'm obviously not actually a princess, and I'm under no delusion that I am so don't worry about that. It's just part of my name." She taps on the wooden crown poking out of her curly hair. "It's built in, you see. I was designed as a mascot for a little toy shop. If you've never seen something like me, I'm called a poppet. We are supposed to be animate, but the thinking for myself part was unintended. I was built with menial chores in mind--shelf-stocking at night and such--so I am robustly constructed and stronger than you think I am." Clover tugs at her skirt. "And this is technically part of my body, too. You'd think it'd get in my way, but I'm used to it. Cutting it off doesn't hurt, but it's pointless. Whenever I'm magically healed--and, as I'm sure you al know, that tends to come up in our line of work--it just grows back.

"Anyway, I'll talk your ear off about my theories about why poppets 'pop up' every so often when your more traditional golems don't if you want me to, but the important part: I'm well-read, good with a hammer, and I've got a few other tricks."

Clover draws her mirror and directs it at another corner of the room. She's reflected in the mirror as though she were standing there, which she is. For several seconds she stands in two places at once, before the Clover in her original position suddenly vanishes, leaving only one again. She slides the mirror back into her belt. "It comes in handy."

A slender woman of medium height, blond hair and what appears to be a perpetually sunny disposition skips up. "Hiya all! Shayla Quickfingers! We look like a motley crew, don't we?"

A shortish elf with snow white hair and wearing a formfitting blue outfit is the next to arrive. She carries a long bow and an elven curve blade. As she speaks, she also signs with her hands.

Hi. I'm Snowdrop and I'm a Winter Witch ... but no, not those Trrisen ones. Nice to meet you again Venture Captain sir, and Lirell.

A snow white owl perched atop a tall bookcase flaps his wings. "Screech!"

A young aiuvarin woman frowns at the owl. She wears leather armor and a dark green cloak embroidered with an owl and what appears to be either a lizard or perhaps a cat.

"You liar! You're not hungry at all. You just ate that big fat lizard not 20 minutes ago and you stole my sausages at breakfast. You'll just have to wait to eat that barbeque that Xiao-Feng packed for you until lunchtime. You're getting too fat as it is. Much more and you won't be able to fly at all."

The owl turns his head upside-down and chirps indignantly at the girl.

The girl nods earnestly. "It's true. You're almost as big as me now. Anyway settle down. It looks like we're about to start our briefing."

Before she turns her attention to the assembled pathfinders she relents and pulls a tiny piece of meat from a belt pouch and tosses it to her friend who catches it handily.

"Heya everyone. I'm Meadow. I'm an archer and my hungry friend here is Silence. He's an owl.

Venture-Captain Bjersig Torrsen’s oversized gestures convey his excitement. “Welcome to the far side of the map! I don’t know what I was expecting to find here, but it sure wasn’t the hospitality that the locals have shown us. I mean, just look at this new lodge! It’s like we never left home!

“Speaking of leaving home, we’ve worked alongside Rahaksenwe and other Port Valen leaders to link this lodge to the Maze of the Open Road. They helped us set up the portal so that future Pathfinders won’t need to cross monster-infested waters to get here like we had to. That help wasn’t free, though.”

Rahaksenwe nods and explains, “The portal could not have been completed without the blessing of Viltydus, the fey guardian who guides travelers through the Forest of Trials. Viltydus has a keen eye for heroic potential, and their one condition for building and maintaining the portal is that Pathfinder agents must assist them regularly to foster greatness in this region. That’s why you’re here: to hold up your end of that bargain.”

Torrsen jumps back in. “So, wash up, get what you need from the quartermaster, and follow the footpath just outside the town gate right to the stump at the edge of the forest. Viltydus will meet you there—somehow, they can always sense when Pathfinders are on the way! Any questions?”

Snowdrop continues to sign as she speaks while looking amused at the owl.

So, what sort of tasks would he have us do sir? And has any other agents partaken?

Prior to the briefing

Shayla's eyes widen as Meadow introduces herself. "I've heard of you. Didn't you run some tour group some time ago? Didya really lead some people off a cliff?"

Snowdrop continues to sign as she speaks while looking amused at the owl.

So, what sort of tasks would he have us do sir? And has any other agents partaken?

Rahaksenwe replies, “Viltydus will provide details once you meet with them. They care deeply about legendary exploits, so your tasks won’t be chopping wood or other mundane work. I doubt you’d have made it this far if you didn’t have the skills to handle whatever Viltydus needs, though.”

"And yes, we have been sending agents to Viltydus regularly. This time, it is your batch to do their tasks. Viltydus is a crossroads guardian, a fey created to serve a primal purpose. Theirs is to help travelers who are called to Valenhall safely navigate the Forest of Trials. Around here, we deeply respect Viltydus’s work. They have been a mentor and protective spirit for generations of us.”

Prior to the briefing

Shayla's eyes widen as Meadow introduces herself. "I've heard of you. Didn't you run some tour group some time ago? Didya really lead some people off a cliff?"

The Ranger's face goes white. "Eep! What? No...The whole thing has been exaggerated. I mean...Okay well maybe, but it was a small cliff. Erm ...and anyway the lake broke their fall so it wasn't that bad really and uh...." Her shoulders droop and she sighs in defeat. "Yes that was me."

Shayla winks. "Don't worry. Your secret's safe" Though with that cheeky grin and mischievous twinkle in her eyes, Meadow doesn't appear convinced...

Snowdrop looks over at the pair, really curious. That sounds like fun

"Meadow here is quite the tour guide. She's got some exciting tours we could sell to people..." Shayla tells Snowdrop mischievously.

Snarlfist nods and growls. "Lets go see Viltydus"

"The Forest of Trials? That doesn't sound ominous at all. Why is it called that?"

A strong and wiry half-elf joins in somewhere in the middle of the briefing and listens silently with his arms crossed over his chest. He has a dark gray skin tone, some kind of ashen hair and in contrast to this, it is noticeable that his eyes have an unusual golden hue.

Well, I see. We can't find out what kind of tasks are waiting for us from this fey while we're here. So let's get going.

After a pause, he will add, coughing slightly into his fist (it seems that he is not too comfortable with everyone's attention):

By the way. I'm Zaizarc of House Misraria.

"Sounds more interesting than the last time I participated in a trial. Though perhaps more challenging."

Earlier ...

I can just see it now. Meadows's Mystery Magical Tours. And ... heck ... I've swum under ice. Cliff diving into a lake can't be that hard.

Now ...

Presumably cause that's where our trials will be taking place? She smiles over to Meadow.

"As far as I know, the forest leads to Valenhall. Nobody alive has visited Valenhall and returned though. Legends say that folks who haven’t received its call can’t find it at all. The Society hopes to earn the right to visit Valenhall someday, but it probably won’t be today."

Once the Pathfinders are ready, they travel a short distance beyond Port Valen’s borders toward the forest. A massive stump eight feet in diameter sits at the edge of the wood, and all the surrounding plants and earth seem to direct their focus toward it.

A lithe Mahwek individual stands atop a giant stump, their average height magnified by an awesome presence of personality. Their fingers, lips, ears, eyebrows, and nostrils are richly adorned with dozens of rings, each one made of a different material and etched with varying pictograms and sigils. They speak with a voice like wind in the canopy. “The portal already beckons souls destined for greatness! Welcome, Pathfinders, to the Forest of Trials, a noteworthy juncture in your travels across this vast, beautiful world.”

"Galantha Nival Frostweaver, I suppose? Princess Clover, I am sorry to hear about what happened to your creator. Zizarc Misraria whose patron is Noctinula. Meadow with her Silence the Owl. Snarlfist, who has helped the Society find the missing agents in the Spirit Road. Shayla Quickfingers, helped find the missing Chelaxian venture-captain." they tell them who they are.

"Are you all ready?"

"That's rhetorical. Follow me."

Viltydus sends the Pathfinders back to the feasting hall. By the time they return, the lodge is packed with layfolk, eagerly distributing and enjoying ales and meads. The floor near the hearth fire has been cleared to provide an impromptu stage, with Viltydus standing at its center.

Viltydus’s eyes flash with genuine joy and playful mischief. “We consume food and drink for our bodies, we consume books and studies for our minds, but we consume tales and stories for our souls. Stories allow us to share our common love of life and remind us why we press on even when our bodies and minds beg us to turn back. Pathfinders gather stories from across the whole world, farther than the sight of a humble villager or even an Arcadian fey. Therefore, I task you to share your most exciting tales with us so that we may for a moment share in your greatest achievements!”

"For your first task, tell us stories that are rich with action and physical prowess."

The storytelling session has three rounds. Each round, one PC is the primary storyteller and must make a skill check to earn Story Points. PCs can use Performance or Deception for the primary check and Acrobatics, Athletics, or relevant Lore skills (e.g., gladiatorial, mining, sailing). You can also take 2d6 bludgeoning damage with your storytelling for a +2 circumstance bonus. Before the primary check, players should roleplay or describe their story, which can reduce the DC by 2 for compelling ones. Other PCs can Aid using Deception, Performance, or the allowed skills for this task. Appropriate skills, spells, or items are also permitted.

Decide the primary storyteller for Round 1. PCs who will Aid can roleplay and roll their skills first, with the primary storyteller going last.

Snarlfist looks to his allies and eventually snarls at Princess "Grrhn, you want to tell story? Hrrngh, I think you're best. I'll make a good jobber, or horde of enemies. "

At a dramatic time in the story Snarlfist leaps atop a chair, menacing the storyteller, just long enoguh to be dramatically knocked off, tumbling to the ground.

taking damage for better storytelling: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

Athletics to Aid: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 = 22

"Well... story time was my specialty."

Of course, she wasn't conscious then. Or the one telling the story. She just sat on the floor with the children.

It's fine.

Galantha is my given name in elven, yes. It translates to Snowdrop in Common. I do answer to both.

Now she ponders what would be the best story to tell.

"Well, ya know, I was bein' chased by a bunch of undead, or I think they were undead. We had ta go over really crazy terrain in a thick jungle."

Shayla describes the chase on Binoco Isle in Tian Xia (05-09).

Acrobatics to aid: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

"This'll be good!" Meadow enthusiastically reenacts the more acrobatic portions of the story.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Meadow takes the spot as the first storyteller and tells her tale as she reenacts them with acrobatics, supplemented by Shayla's story and Snarlfist's attempt with tumbling to the ground.

I will use Snarlfist's Aid to give +1 to Meadow's check which is a Success! 1 Story Point!

"That is a wonderful story to tell! I should begin practicing those moves to make the story compelling when I tell them to others!" Viltydus tells the Pathfinders. "How about the others? What stories do you have for us?" they ask, while the locals are all ears to hear more stories from them.

Decide the primary storyteller for Round 2. PCs who will Aid can roleplay and roll their skills first, with the primary storyteller going last.
The storytelling session has three rounds. Each round, one PC is the primary storyteller and must make a skill check to earn Story Points. PCs can use Performance or Deception for the primary check and Acrobatics, Athletics, or relevant Lore skills (e.g., gladiatorial, mining, sailing). You can also take 2d6 bludgeoning damage with your storytelling for a +2 circumstance bonus. Before the primary check, players should roleplay or describe their story, which can reduce the DC by 2 for compelling ones. Other PCs can Aid using Deception, Performance, or the allowed skills for this task. Appropriate skills, spells, or items are also permitted. If the same PC attempts the primary storytelling check multiple times, that PC takes a cumulative –2 penalty per prior attempt they’ve made at the primary check.

Oops I probably should have clarified that I was attempting to aid with acrobatics. For the next round I will aid Princess Clover's attempt.

acrobatics to aid: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

Meadow enthusiastically leaps and tumbles at the appropriate portions of the poppet's story.

Snowdrop also aids with Acrobatics
acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Acrobatics to Aid: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

"I remember when I was a kid, I tried climbing a high wall. I slipped and would have broken my neck had I not tucked into a roll when I hit the ground. Boy! That was a close one!"

Basically a canned description of cat fall

The half-drow listens to the main narrator, then stands up and does a few somersaults with kicks in the jump. This is how we fight. It might not have been too appropriate, but it still looked good.

Acrobatics AID: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

"Now, this rolling around is all well and good for some, but it's not my style. I may be small, but I am sturdy and robustly constructed--besides, it may tear my lovely dress, and of course I don't want that."

Clover prepares herself for a barreling charge. "Oh no. This is how I have dealt with demons!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Hero Point!: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

She nearly trips. But nobody noticed.

Princess Clover takes the spot in telling another story, this time about her story dealing with demons. The story is highlighted by the other Pathfinders with their own fighting and climbing, and some acrobatic acts in the background, making the story a complete show. Success with +1 from Aid, another 1 Storytelling Point!

Viltydus and the crowd give them a warm applause when the second story ends. "Fighting with demons with acrobatic highlights? Fantastic, I should say!" the crowd also cheers with Viltydus' statement.

"How about one last story to cap off my task for you here? I know Pathfinders have many tales to tell." they say, and you can see the crowd agreeing to them, still all ears for another story.

Decide the primary storyteller for Round 3. PCs who will Aid can roleplay and roll their skills first, with the primary storyteller going last.
The storytelling session has three rounds. Each round, one PC is the primary storyteller and must make a skill check to earn Story Points. PCs can use Performance or Deception for the primary check and Acrobatics, Athletics, or relevant Lore skills (e.g., gladiatorial, mining, sailing). You can also take 2d6 bludgeoning damage with your storytelling for a +2 circumstance bonus. Before the primary check, players should roleplay or describe their story, which can reduce the DC by 2 for compelling ones. Other PCs can Aid using Deception, Performance, or the allowed skills for this task. Appropriate skills, spells, or items are also permitted. If the same PC attempts the primary storytelling check multiple times, that PC takes a cumulative –2 penalty per prior attempt they’ve made at the primary check.

Shayla goes into more detail about how the chase on Binoco Isle in Tian Xia. "Ya know, there were hordes of these undead things runnin' after us. We couldn't fight 'em all off so it was a race back to the boat. The terrain was rough. Lotsa rubble and loose rocks. Oh and traps too!" Shayla proceeds to act out the chase, doing backflips and somersaults. She hops onto a chair and... "Woah... Woaah!" loses her balance and topples to the floor, knocking the wind out of herself.

Bludgeoning: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

"Ugh! Yeah! Undead are the worst! Especially skellies. We hate skellies don't we Silence?"

Silence ignores his friend and preens his feathers.

"I heard that there are skellies that eat your brains but because they don't have a stomach all the icky brain goo just falls to the ground. Gross!" She goes on to tell several increasingly outrageous stories about the undead. Before drawing her mace and demonstrating the best way to bludgeon them to second death. She gets a bit too animated and drops the mace on her foot.

deception to aid: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 2 = 17

bludgeoning damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

Deception to Aid (Helpful Poppet): 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 2 = 22

"Hoards of them! Undead everywhere! Only the brave Pathfinders could save the people!"

There were probably people there. Shayla didn't say there weren't!

Stilling waiting for others to be primary storyteller for this round.

With help from his allies undead actions, Snarlfist tells the story of the Rise of the Whispering Tyrant.

"We had just won a battle against a group of Elf-Magic wielding raiders when a blackened wave rolled across the battlefield, raiding the dead where they lay. We didn't know what had happened at first, and we fought valiantly, but there numbers were unending and our camp was near by, so we executed a fighting retreat for what felt like hours to buy time for the escape."

Snarlfist leaps from chair to chair bashing himself a bit with fake undead attacks as he tells the story.
b damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Deception: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 = 26
Didn't add any aid(s).

Snowdrop pretends to be an undead zombie.

Braaaains .... Brains .... before pretending to be knocked over by Meadow.

performance: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Snarlfist is quite convincing with his part of the story. Viltydus surely knows the truth, but they let the tale unfold, seeing how the crowd is captivated with their "oohs" and "ahhs." The story is further brought to life by the efforts of other Pathfinders, who pretend to be undead and engage in a mock battle. The crowd cheers wildly at the end of Snarlfist's storytelling. Success becomes critical success with Aid. Another Storytelling Point for the group!

Viltydus gives the audience a closing speech and motions for the Pathfinders to step outside the inn.

"I am very impressed with what everyone has shown here. Your Society truly lives up to the 'Cooperate' part of your motto." They then draw out a pair of goggles of night. "Take this as a reward for your first successful task. Well done!"

You have half an hour of rest to do healing. I will retcon it while I post the second task.

---

"Now for the second task, follow me."

Viltydus brings the Pathfinders outside Bronzhelm’s, a revered smithy in Port Valen. They stop underneath a metal sign emblazoned with Bronzhelm’s mark—a winged helm perched on the handle of a morningstar— that hangs above the entrance.

"Bronzehelm is a shop run by the Ulfen master smith Tonfer Bronzhelm, renowned as the birthplace of most magic weapons and armor in Port Valen." they tell them.

Viltydus cracks their knuckles. “Many dream of greatness, but a dream’s legs often buckle without a sturdy tool to support its weight. Any who brave the Forest of Trials must be well equipped, and such instruments of valor are forged here in the song of fire and steel. I task you to assist our esteemed smith with crafting a tool worthy of a hero, one you’d be honored to receive yourself in the coming years, were you to journey to Valenhall.”

Viltydus then introduces the Pathfinders to Tonfer Bronzhelm, who is presently working on a magical item fit to take to Valenhall. The item is still mostly unfinished, as the Ulfen has been putting off the procedure for imbuing the item with magic since “that step always seems to go awry.”

"Your second task is to make your mark on the item alongside Tonfer’s so that a part of your identity may journey into glory with the item’s wielder." Viltydus tells them.

But Tonfer warns them, "You see, crafting magical gear so close to a site of legend is tricky: the forge fire takes on a life of its own, and sometimes spirits of grandeur inhabit the items and try to exert their own will. Just be ready to fend off such creatures as you collaborate with me to finish the item."

The owner presents them a flaming battleaxe. "I call this Firecutter. Let's get working!"

To mark the item, the PCs must succeed at three DC 20 simultaneous checks using Crafting, Arcana, Nature, or Plane of Fire Lore. Each primary check must be made by a different PC, with others either Aiding or using exploration mode activities like Avoid Notice, Defend, or Repeat a Spell, etc. to prepare for battle.

Being a Spell Seeker, Snowdrop concentrates on the magical side of the operation.

arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

I only need 1 skill or Lore check per PC. That is one Success.

Snowdrop joins Tonfer to work on the flaming battleaxe, concentrating arcane magic with it.

Snowdrop - Arcana, Success
Shayla - ???
Snarlfist - ???
Princess Clover - ???
Meadow - ???
Zizarc - ???

What others are going to do for the task?

"How did you all get yourselves so banged up telling stories? Honestly!"

Clover pulls a shiny white stone from her pocket, and offers to lend it around. "Or I could use my healing scroll, but I like to save those for a pinch."

If those who've taken damage haven't used all of their Investment slots, the party has taken less than 30 damage so Clover's pearly white spindle aeon stone shared around should cover it.

At the forge, Clover frowns. "I've done some metal work, but mostly for toymaking. Not weapons. I could try it, but if there's anyone more confident I can assist."

Clover is Trained in most of those skills, but not great at them and would prefer to Aid.

"Well I learned a little bit about primal magic while growing up in the Immenwood. Let's see if I can remember what Igga and Lily with the Brown Hair taught me."

nature: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Meadow has her own Pearly White Spindle so no need for healing.