|
1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend.
2) Please keep all posts and communication in all channels limited to a PG-13 level and be both positive and inclusive.
3) Please label all three of your actions. Even if you think what you are doing is obvious.
4) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.
5) Please note that on the following days, my posting can get unpredictable:
Tuesday/Thursdays - all day, as they are the 2 busiest days of my work week
6) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.
7) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.
8) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.
|
|
A dark-green goblin with bulging red eyes that is wearing a suit whose hood resembles the mouth of a dragon arrives, playing music with his flute. Once he arrives to the area where other Pathfinders are, he stops playing the music and takes a bow, as if ending his performance with the audience.
”My name ish Griphook Ragnok, or you can jusht call me Griphook. It ish niche to meet everyone!”
|
|
Your adventure begins at the Open Road Lodge located in northern Mwangi Expanse. As you enter a meeting room, Venture-Captain Sigvard Tornkvist peers at you through her eyeglasses and greets with a stoic nod, introducing herself. There's a large table in the center of the room, and along the walls are several bookshelves and a few display cases with maps and other items of archaeological significance. As you get settled in, you get to know your travel companions.
|
"Why, hello Griphook! My, how sharply you're dressed! You can call me Mrs. Crinkle. Heehee!" Responds a plump, petite old human woman with rosy cheeks and a cheery smile. She's dressed in an absolutely enormous bloodred knitted sweater dress. It's so huge that strings are tied around gathered bunches of the fabric to keep it from falling right off her or tripping her with its voluminous folds. "Would you like a candy?" She pulls a couple of hard caramels from somewhere in her dress and offers one to Griphook. It has a little bit of red fuzz stuck to it. She picks the fuzz of the other and pops it into her mouth. "Mmmm! Delish! Heehee!"
|
Norbwald looks to be an armored purple haired gnome. They look a bit disheveled and down on their luck, somewhat slumped in their walking chair frequently drinking from a container wrapped in a old burlap sack.
"Call me Norbwald, I used to run an orphanage for human children in Absalom, but ever since the new weight restrictions on the flickmace, business just hasn't been the same. The change literally killed me." jokes Norbwald nervously.
He'll then take another swig of his beverage and then offer a sip from his bagged beverage Griphook and Crinkle. He'll decline an offer of candy though if it gets made.
|
A gray furred catfolk sits at the table. He has a long firearm slung over his shoulder and you see a glimpse of a smaller one peeking out of the belt under a patchwork silver and brown coat.
He nods to the goblin. "My name is Savan. That was some nice playing. Where did you learn the tune?" He waves away any offer of candy or a drink. He takes a pinch of gunpowder from a watertight horn and slips it between his teeth and lip. "Don't mind me, just a bit of a pick me up after a late night."
|
|
The middle-aged human man is of average height, his skin a tanned deep olive colour. He is quite well-built, but he looks rather ... weathered. He bears faint scars, as if he's seen some fighting in his younger days, but otherwise he carries a gentle smile. He is well-armored in a worn splint mail, but is bearing the effects of the humidity rather stoically. Other than the sheathed bastard sword, the only other thing of note is a pendant carved into the shape of Irori's open palm hanging round his neck.
"Greetings. My name is Zelphari, of Irori." He introduces himself in his deep warm voice.
He politely receives a candy from Mrs Crinkle and pops it into his mouth (after clearing off the fuzz). "My thanks, Mrs Crinkle. Refreshing in this weather."
|
|
Enrique Stands in his seat after waiting for a sufficiently significant pause in the conversation.
A spear is strapped across his back, and he's holding castanets in his hands, which he taps together rather clumsily.
"Hello my friends"
The castanets clack slightly off-time to his squeaky voice.
"No doubt many of you have heard of me, and have been watching from the corner of your eyes expecting this moment to come"
None of you have any idea what he's talking about
"It is true, the moment is night"one castanet taps slightly
"err...nigh...I am Enrique Gobrigo Aldori El Segundo"
His normally high-pitched goblin voice has now taken on an attempt at a swarthy accent. He pauses for effect before grabbing for any candies that might be left in Mrs. Crinkles hands.
"Those few of you who may not know me can rest assured. I am here to help you and defeat our enemies!"
|
|
Mrs. Crinkle's eyes light up at the offer of a bagged beverage. She eagerly accepts the bottle from Savan and takes a deep swig. "Thank you, Savan dearie. ... Ahhh! Nothing satisfies like a lukewarm drink that burns on its way down. Heehee!" She...doesn't seem to be insincere. "Zelphari, try this bottle for even more refreshment! --Don't worry, Norbwald--I'll buy you a refill before we head out. Can't have you working on a dry throat, can we? Heehee!"
When Griphook calls her "fresh ash the roshesh of the garden," she bats her eyes at him and replies: "Well, I guess I know who my favorite is! Heehee!"
As Enrique finishes his speech, she claps her hands vigorously, causing the voluminous sleeves of her sweater dress to flap back and forth like she's trying to take off. "What a performance, dearie! You have a flair for the dramatic! This'll be fun! Heehee!"
And of course, she hands out hard caramels to everyone who wants them.
|
|
Savan sucks on the gunpowder and waves Norbwald's drink away. "No thanks. This does enough to invigorate me, but maybe later when we're relaxing." The catfolk's eyes suddenly flare with orange fire and then become slate gray like granite. Then they take on a sea green color.
Savan turns to the goblin. "Did you say 'Aldori'? Like the swordlords?"
|
|
Savan sucks on the gunpowder and waves Norbwald's drink away. "No thanks. This does enough to invigorate me, but maybe later when we're relaxing." The catfolk's eyes suddenly flare with orange fire and then become slate gray like granite. Then they take on a sea green color.
Savan turns to the goblin. "Did you say 'Aldori'? Like the swordlords?"
Enrique pauses for a moment, thinking over what he said a few moments ago.
"Oh yes, yes I did. I met and dueled with a group of Aldori and asked if I could adopt their name if I learned to fight like them. I was told that all swordlords are named Aldori, so I preemptively gave myself the name for when I do learn. Smart, right?"The goblin's face screws up tight, searching for the right words to say.
"Are you eating gunpowder?" he belts out.
|
|
Savan sucks on the gunpowder...
"Are you eating gunpowder?" he belts out.
"Is it tasty? Oh--I bet it's spicy! Got a real kick, eh? Heehee!" Mrs. Crinkle actually looks like she's willing to try some. "Speaking of spicy, have any of you heard of Spicy Death Chicken? We came across a food cart on my last mission that had the spiciest chicken this side of the grave--spicy enough to send some folks to the other side, if you know what I mean. Heehee! It was delish! I love me some spicy food, even if other folks don't love my smell afterwards. Heehee!"
|
|
"Are you eating gunpowder?" he belts out.
Savan shakes his head. "Just getting the essence out. Helps me focus. You can eat it, but it'll mess you up a bit."
He looks at Crinkle. "Spicy Death Chicken? I heard a medic talk about that one time. He was patching me up after a bout of food poisoning. Said it was one of the foulest things he's ever smelled."
|
|
|
|
Venture Captain Tornkvist begins the briefing:
"You're all here. Very good, let us begin. What I'm about to tell you concerns the Maze of the Open Road. Some of you may have already traveled through it, but for those who don't know, it's a network of magical portals, which Pathfinder agents use to quickly reach lodges and other sites across Golarion."
"Recently, our field agents assigned to missions through the Maze have started reporting strange happenings. On many occasions, Pathfinders using well-known routes and portals have exited the Maze in completely different locations than they expected. What's more, several Pathfinders have encountered traps and other dangers that certainly were not there before."
She sighs, removes her glasses and places them on the table, pinching her brow in an attempt to avoid a headache, then continues, "Thankfully, there have been no serious injuries yet, but many missions have been delayed or gone wrong. I've collated the reports, and it seems obvious all these incidents are connected. I don't know what is causing it, but I've come to the conclusion that something or someone is altering the landmarks our agents use for navigation."
Sigvard opens a scroll, which seems to contain a list. "I need you to enter the Maze and study at least three of the landmarks in this report. Find out what the source of these issues is and, if possible, put an end to it. Any questions?"
LANDMARKS
Challenge Style: Combat
Sigvard's Report: Something sinister is lurking in this area, scaring off travelers.
Challenge Style: Combat, Outdoors Skills
Sigvard's Report: Something is interfering with the magic of these standing stones in a dangerous way.
Challenge Style: Combat, Obstacles
Sigvard's Report: Someone has been digging holes and building barricades in this area.
Challenge Style: Puzzle, Knowledge Skills
Sigvard's Report: Someone has moved the four druid statues, which were used for navigation.
Challenge Style: Physical Skills, Social Skills
Sigvard's Report: Elemental energies have taken over this area, causing a feud between two factions.
|
|
"Deshpite the fact that the Mazhe hash been moshtly shtable in rechent yearsh, it can still grow new connectionsh to not only locationsh acroshsh Golarion, but alsho to dangeroush planesh and planetsh. Furthermore, the Pathfinder Shociety hash alsho intentionally exhtended the network to better enable rapid travel to new regionsh and lodgesh around Golarion." Griphook recites the information that suddenly comes to his mind about the Maze.
"We should be careful eshpechially if we get losht." he is somewhat worried.
|
|
"I would suggest you first head toward the maze's central courtyard. When you enter the maze, make a right turn at Albuquerque. You should see the central courtyard shortly (assuming the maze hasn't been tampered with again!). If you need supplies, go ahead a see the quartermaster. Good luck."
Beyond the portal's threshold, the sounds and sights of the Open Road Lodge quickly fade into a muted darkness, but just as suddenly, the darkness unravels as the twisted branches of a hedge wall rustle and uncurl to create a round entrance into a hedge maze. The air carries the scent of freshly cut grass, mixed with the sweet aroma of bright red roses that sporadically dot the lush, green maze walls.
The hedge maze's manicured plant walls stand 20 feet tall, though near any places on Sigvard's report, the walls look overgrown.
You soon discover that the the walls are impenetrable. This includes overgrown areas and clusters of trees
After a few minutes' walk and a series of turns and short dead ends, you eventually arrive in a wide central courtyard. The twisting path of the hedge maze widens to a long stone causeway roofed by marble arches. The causeway leads to a courtyard surrounded by ancient stone structures, the largest of which must have been a palace. An enormous marble statue of a robed figure stands on a pedestal at the center of the courtyard, and a garland of red flowers adorns the statue's brow.
If you critically succeed the check
The large statue depicts a bearded, balding man in a rustic, voluminous robe. He carries a staff made from a gnarled oak branch in his right hand and has a sparrow sitting on the left hand's palm.
|
|
Norbwald holds their beverage in one hand and sits up straight a bit in their chair and points out some things.
"Narven's Tears. These roses haven't been seen in 2 centuries. I remember hearing about this courtyard. There used to be a Medusa named Condria. She's moved out these days and the Society has been destoning people as possible. I'm sure there used to be a lot more statues here. That big one though, that's not a Medusa statue, that's Narven, creator of the maze."
Pausing for a moment "Ohh , his garland is made of those roses, how interesting. Anybody got one of those magical hand spells, or want to climb the 15ft and check it out, I've got a feeling something is going on with it..."
Norbwald slumps back down and takes another swig.
|
|
"Oof! These branches are too thin for me. Guess I've eaten one too many candies! Heehee! Well, let's see if the walls really are forever deep. Here, hold the end of this rope, dearie. I'm going in! Heehee!" She hands one end of a 50' rope to the nearest person and plunges into the foliage.
After a while she comes back, spitting out bits of green and brown. Did she try to gnaw her way through? "Phew! Ptoo! Yup, it's forever in there, kids! Onward! Heehee!" She collects her rope and saunters off down the path as if her little side quests hadn't happened.
--------------------------
As they go along, she listens to Norbwald pontificate about roses and a medusa and whatnot. "My, aren't you a trove of knowledge! Let's see, do I know anything you haven't shared? Heehee!"
"Nope! I do not! But I'll climb up for that garland. Don't stare at my bloomers! Heehee!" The elderly woman begins hiking herself up the statue of Narven in a rather unseemly way, melodramatically calling out: "Oh, my! You've caught us! We're having a tryst! Heehee!"
She grabs the garland, plops it onto her head, gives the statue a big kiss, and shimmies back down to show it off to the group. "Who wants a closer look-see? Heehee!"
|
|
Mrs Crinkle climbs up the statue. However, as soon as she touches the garland, it suddenly turns into a mass of red sparrows that fly away. You hear a soft giggle as the garland flies away but can't seem to determine where it's coming from.
With nothing more to do, you head towards the first clearing.
Six painstakingly trimmed topiaries stand in two rows within this clearing in the maze. They’re shaped like fierce-looking beasts: a giant ape beating its chest, a stately unicorn, a giant mantis in mid-strike, a menacing cobra, a rearing owlbear, and a boar poised to charge. A gentle breeze makes the topiaries rustle and sway almost as though they were alive.
The muddy area in the center of the clearing is where the attack in the Venture-Captain's report took place.
|
|
It's a bit surprising that Mrs. Crinkle doesn't just go right up to the nearest topiary and begin climbing it. She actually sticks with the group and refrains from incessant chattering, though she does stage whisper a bit about which topiaries would look best with a used chamberpot placed beneath them.
|
|
As you approach the area where the attacks took place, three of the topiaries come to life and attack!
The unicorn moves up and attacks
for
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Terrain:
* Trees are difficult terrain
------------------
Those with ** may go
Unicorn
**Enrique Gobrigo - AC 19 32/32
**Norbwald - AC 20 38/38; Leggy AC 17 32/32
**Mrs Crinkle - AC 20 (22 w/shield) 53/53
**Griphook - AC 19 (20 w/shield) 37/37
**Zelphari Caryarus - AC 21 (20 w/shield) 44/44 (temp hp - 10/10)
**Savan Genieshot - AC 19 (20 w/shield) 21/28
Mantis
Owlbear
|
|
"Wa Mrs. Crinkle's crow of exuberance shifts into a roar as her body swiftly morphs into a lupine humanoid. Silver-gray fur flows from her skin, her face elongates into a sharp-toothed snout, and her body swells to nearly double her normal size, rippling with muscles. But her blood red sweater dress remains the same size it was before. The slipknots holding the bunches of extra fabric release their hold, but even that isn't quite enough to accommodate her extra bulk. What once was a ridiculously voluminous dress has become an itty bitty minidress, creaking and straining to contain her body, with a skirt so short it would be obscene if she wasn't covered in fur from head to toes.
Mrs. Wolfy Crinkle snaps her jaws at the unicorn's legs, trying to trip it, then savages it with her fists.
|
|
There spends a moment looking for weaknesses in the bearowltopiary before his chair carries him towards danger, and into a flank with Zelphari.
(27 is success for up to level 10 and crit for up to level 2.)
Critical Success You remember the creature's weaknesses, and as you empower your esoterica, you have a flash of insight that grants even more knowledge about the creature. You learn all of the creature's resistances, weaknesses, and immunities, including the amounts of the resistances and weaknesses and any unusual weaknesses or vulnerabilities, such as what spells will pass through a golem's antimagic. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis (see below). Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Success You recall an important fact about the creature, learning its highest weakness (or one of its highest weaknesses, if it has multiple with the same value) but not its other weaknesses, resistances, or immunities. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Failure Failing to recall a salient weakness about the creature, you instead attempt to exploit a more personal vulnerability. You can exploit only the creature's personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Critical Failure You couldn't remember the right object to use and become distracted while you rummage through your esoterica. You become flat-footed until the beginning of your next turn.
Mortal Weakness: Weakness
Personal Antithesis: 3
|
|
Enrique makes a running start and then takes advantage of his marshallowy body to try to tumble through the Unicorn's bushes and brambles.
♦
♦
Enrique will heartily call out to Savan, encouraging him to strike a mighty blow
♦
|
|
Savan is nearly panics when Crinkle changes into a monstrous form. He is about to blow her head off with the rifle when she tears into the unicorn. The catfolk retreats a step, sucking on the tab of gunpowder and allowing it to invigorate him. His eyes glow with an orange light and he fires back at the unicorn topiary who hit him. Fire sparks to the bullet as it...misses entirely.
|
|
Griphook quickly plays a music for battle betwee Pathfinders and animal-carved plants, or so he thinks!
w Virtuosic Performer
He then hurls an unattended shears against the Unicorn!
vs Unicorn
slashing damage
◇ Lingering Composition
◆ Courageous Anthem
◆◆ Telekinetic Projectile
↺ Blood Vendetta (triggered if a creature deals piercing, slashing, or persistent bleed damage to him) or ↺ Counter Performance (triggered if he or an ally within 60 feet rolls a saving throw against an auditory or visual effect)
|
|
Griphook inspires his companions and drives away their fear. He then hurls a pair of shears at the Unicorn, cutting off part of its mane!
Zelphari and Norbwald work on the Owlbear, breaking some of its branches and cutting its leaves off.
Mrs Crinkle changes into the Incredible Wolf but her jaws can't seem to make contact with the unicorn. Savan is apparently so shocked to witness such a transformation that he jerks his weapon to one side, missing the unicorn entirely.
Enrique manages to tumble under the unicorn's belly. With a swipe of his pole () he clobbers it in its flank, breaking all sorts of branches. He then encourages Savan to strike a mighty blow and regains Panache.
The Mantis moves up and tries to swat with its long branches
for
for
The Owlbear decides to clobber
for
The branch stabs Zelphari and tries to latch on.
Failing that, it stabs at him again...
for
... and misses.
Finally, the Unicorn tries to attack
for
for
for
|
|
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
Terrain:
* Trees are difficult terrain
Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (4 rds)
------------------
Those with ** may go
Unicorn (-25)
**Enrique Gobrigo - AC 19 32/32 (Panache)
**Norbwald - AC 20 38/38 (temp hp - 3/3); Leggy AC 17 32/32
**Mrs Crinkle - AC 20 (22 w/shield) 48/53 (Rage: AC 19)
**Griphook - AC 19 (20 w/shield) 37/37
**Zelphari Caryarus - AC 21 (22 w/shield) 41/44 (AC 22)
**Savan Genieshot - AC 19 (20 w/shield) 10/28
Mantis
Owlbear (-22)
|
|
Requirements You aren’t fatigued or raging.
You tap into your inner fury and begin raging. You gain a number of temporary Hit Points equal to your level plus your Constitution modifier. While you are raging:
• You deal 2 additional damage on melee Strikes. This additional damage is halved if your weapon or unarmed attack is agile.
• You can’t use actions with the concentrate trait unless they also have the rage trait. You can Seek while raging. Rage lasts for 1 minute, until you fall unconscious, or until the encounter ends, whichever comes first. You can’t voluntarily stop raging. When you stop raging, you lose any remaining temporary Hit Points from Rage, and can’t gain temporary Hit Points from using the Rage action again for 1 minute.
Mrs. Crinkle yowls. She again tries to trip the unicorn and bite it, though this time she raises her shield. As it turns out, shrubs can hurt, and she doesn't like that.