GM Jhaeman's PFS1 Module: "Curse of the Riven Sky"

Game Master Jhaeman

Tongues active

Berato announces, "Please step aside trolls; we have business with the chief, not you."

Diplo: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

Anthys can see by the light of Berato's shield.

He holds his ground, happy to be in a defensive block of allies.

If the trolls do not move aside:

Waiting for an answer, Berato stares at the troupe of trolls with disgust, akin to a military officer scowling in disapproval at soldiers who have sadly not passed the inspection. A palpable vibration of menace is felt throughout the trolls' frontline... i.e. all the way to include black

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If the trolls move aside:

Berato nods and follows Anthys' quick soldier's steps deeper into the cave.

Xilt and his sidekick Tzleztor hang out at the back of the party. He looks up at the ceiling to determine if he might be able to fly over the trolls if need be.

@GM Jhaeman - How high is the ceiling in this cave?

Tzleztor looks over the rift-raft blocking their path.

"Let us hope that these trolls don't decide to get frisky in these tight quarters. That is an experience I can live without."

Berato raise an eyebrow at the mephit, adding "I sure hope so as well. What kind of trolls do you usually frequent?"

Berato's command, and the palpable aura of danger he emits, are enough to get the trolls to each take a single step to the side. A narrow passage is made that you're all able to squeeze down, but you can't help but touch the greasy, sweaty, disgusting flesh of the gluttonous creatures. They snarl and tense as you pass, and it's clear they're hoping the exact same thing as the triplets guarding the entrance: that you're allowed in, but won't be allowed out!

Just beyond their cave, a natural junction splits into three directions. Flickering light is just visible to the east . . .

The trolls aren't (currently) impeding your way, so you can share squares with them and move through the chamber. The way the tunnels twist, you can't see from the junction where each direction terminates. Essentially, your choices are north, east, or south.

@Xilt: The module doesn't say. From its general description of a roughly-hewn, cramped cave, we'll say 10'. The trolls are probably stooping a bit.

Xilt suggests going east.

"Perhaps we should follow the light. It might be a camp fire used for cooking."

Adeah shakes her head. "I doubt whoever's in charge around here will leave the deeper, better defended cave for someone else. I think we should go this way." She starts down the south tunnel, but stays within sight of the others.

What do I see this direction (with darkvision)?

Xilt shrugs. Your average giant is just not that smart but they can get hungry, very hungry.

"Very well."

Follow Adeah's lead, the group starts down the south tunnel. It leads to a simple little cave with a bed made of woven wooden strips and a pile of rags as a pillow. The walls are covered in crudely fashioned paintings, but the subject matter is strange surprisingly complex, involving movements of the planets and the events that they seem to inspire

A large burlap sack lies on the floor.

Farrokh squints at the paintings seeing if they may contain any interesting information.

If any knowledge checks or similar would help to understand them Farrokh will take 10 (with bonuses for heroism and heightened awareness).

"Looks like this is a dead end, shall we try another direction? If need be we could ask the trolls for directions."

Berato searches the room. He fires off a detect magic afterwards to see if he missed anything hidden.

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (12) + 25 = 37

As Farrokh examines the paintings on the wall, Berato paws through filthy bedclothes.

I actually meant the corridor that leads down and to the right on the map, but this works too.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

Adeah helps Berato, particularly with the burlap sack on the floor.

"It appears someone is interested in astrology." the wizard notes nodding in the direction of the wall art.

"If everyone is done here lets head back and try a different direction."

Adeah opens the large burlap sack on the floor and finds it contains paints, brushes, some clothes, and a wide variety of worthless trinkets and fetishes--feathers, colored stones, dried plants, bones, teeth, etc.

The group then returns to the junction and continues to the east.

A flickering pair of torches lights this cave. Furs and skins hang on the walls, and the skulls of beasts and humans are displayed like trophies. More furs lay across the floor, around a bed of still more furs piled high.

Two giants stand in this cave.

One, a hill giant, bears a large scar from a wound that appears to have torn away one of his ears long ago; he wears a short red cloak of some scaly hide, as well as a large glittering earring in his remaining ear.

The other is thin by giant standards and wears a silver necklace covered in charms of moons and stars; most remarkably, however, he has but one eye—he’s a cyclops!

The two seem busy in conversation, and don't seem to notice your arrival . . .

A pic of these figures are on the side of Slide # 3.

"Judging by the missing ear I assume this must be chief Grunf One-Ear." suggests Farrokh. "Let's see if he can shed some light on how he became 'big rich' for sending his giants to attack Zoarth's castle."

Xilt looks over at Berato. The introverted wizard is glad that the responsibility of negotiations no longer falls on his shoulders.

As you stand there watching the two converse, the cyclops glances casually to your side of the chamber and almost jumps in surprise! He shouts something in Giant, and the one-eared hill giant whirls around as well.

They jabber amongst themselves in rapid Giant, before finally the cyclops speaks in rusty Taldane: "Lo, but know ye strangers ye stand before the mighty and unparalleled Lord of the Giants, Chief Grunf! Why come ye unannounced and unattended to his worshipfulness's council chambers?"

Farrokh smiles and give a polite nod of acknowledgement. "Good evening, I am Farrokh and these are my companions. We have come here seeking information on behalf of Zoarth the cloud giant who is curious to know why Chief Grunf sent giants to attack Zoarth's castle. One of the attackers told us that the chief had become 'big rich' for sending the giants to wreck the castle. So we were hoping Chief Grunf would be able to provide us with more information about why he sent the attack against Zoarth's castle?"

After another rapid-fire consultation in Giant, the cyclops answers: "Harken to my words, forlorn emissaries! Mighty Chief Grunf was entreatied by the Storm Queen via envoys begging his legions' aid against the Mountain Castle! But no further claim to enmity has he with thou and thine."

"We will agree to your claim of no enmity if you tell us where to find the Storm Queen. Any additional information you have on herself or her forces will also aid greatly in believing said claim. What say you, Wise Cyclop?" asks Berato, hoping to gauge how far these two wished to avoid battle.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26

Tzleztor nods and smirks at the stilted speech of the cyclops. He knows that his master can incinerate this lot to dust if they get too rowdy.

"Sure, we will be glad not to blow you up today with our mighty magic."

Aid Berato, Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Xilt simply shakes his head in shame at his boisterous and overzealous companion.

He address the group in Giant.

"Well, yes my companion can be over the top at times but he has the right idea. An agreement of non-aggression would be most welcome."

Diplomacy (Aid) to Berato: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13

The cyclops' single eye critically appraises the situation. Confronted with a heavily-armed group of adventurers who have managed to stroll into the chieftain's quarters unharmed, he holds another rapid-fire exchange in Giant with Grunf before answering:

"Mighty Chief Grunf is certain the Storm Queen will be welcoming to all petitioners for an audience. Her castle and retinue stand just four days' northwest of the imposing edifice ye now stand within."

Farrokh nods, contemplating the information. "And what can the chief tell us of the Storm Queen's temperament, her abilities and her retinue?" he enquires.

There's another quick exchange in Giant, before the cyclops says: "As a head of state, Mighty Chief Grunf has communicated with the Storm Queen only through envoys. She sent . . . a 'pretty lady' . . . on a 'really big bird' . . . bearing gifts as a token of her esteem for the Jurn."

"Thank you for seeing us, Mighty Chief Grunf and Wise Cyclop. We will travel to her castle to seek an audience."

On his way out, Berato checks out the last room to the north.

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (16) + 25 = 41

"Thank you for your time." says Farrokh with a smile and a polite bow. "We will be sure to relay to Zoarth that the Mighty Chief holds no enmity towards him.".

The cyclops nods eagerly, and you hear an audible sigh of relief as you turn to leave. Berato leads the way down a corridor you haven't yet explored. At the end of it is a small, unlit cave that's empty except for a large chest of wood and iron, fitted with a hefty padlock. Painted sloppily on the wall behind it are a skull symbol in red and some crude writing.

Xilt reads the writing and translates for the group.

"This area is off limits by order of the chief. There are some colourful expressions included that don't neatly translate into Taldane."

Berato detects magic on the chest and opens it no magic is present.

Berato examines the chest, finding no magic emanating from it. However, an attempt to open it shows it's locked.

In the corridor behind you, one of the trolls watches you carefully, an eager grin slowly stretching across its horrid face.

"I think the trolls are looking for a fight, Berato. Looting their treasures would no doubt give them a reason.

While I have little doubt that we would prevail, I don't see a need to take the risk and expend resources. Let's just go on with the information that we have."

"OK."

Leaving the chief's treasure behind, the Pathfinders manage to carefully inch their ways past the slavering trolls and into the . . . relatively . . . fresh air of the giant encampment outside.

Okay, you're gotten some good info and have avoided some fights--good work! In game, it's the middle of the night. What would you like to do next?

Xilt can see perfectly well in the dark but still he would prefer to be sleeping then wandering around late into the night.

"Perhaps we should rest?"

"My extra-dimensional hotel is only moments away."

Tzleztor shakes his head.

"All you humanoids do is sleep and eat. It is so boring."

"Sounds like a good plan to me. We should probably get out of the camp before you set up the hotel, just to avoid any giants getting curious about the entrance."

As you start leaving the camp, the young hill giants and ettin who were following you earlier see you again. They bellow in enthusiastic greeting, pat you on the back (hard enough to almost knock you over), and look excited to see what their new best friends are going to do next.

Although he can't speak their language Farrokh attempts to entertain the young giants with some magic tricks (probably just things like mage hand and message) to either give the rest of the party a chance to speak to the giants or sneak off while they are distracted.

Farrokh tries to distract the overly-friendly young giants to give his allies a chance to slip away.

Fun idea, Farrokh. We'll call this a Bluff check.

To be fair Farrokh's plan was more just to be nice to the giants and entertain them. But if it has the side effect of distracting them to allow the party to sneak away that's a nice added benefit.

bluff + heroism: 1d20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) - 2 + 2 = 12

Farrokh's magical light-and-sound show completely enraptures the giants, allowing him and the rest of the Pathfinders to slip away unnoticed!

A night spent camping in the safety of Xilt's magical refuge provides some much-needed rest, and soon another day begins.

The giants' Sense Motive check was lower than Farrokh's Bluff! The night passes uneventfully, and we are at the next morning. What happens next?

"I don't think this Storm Queen is going to just meekly accede to our requests that she cease attacking Zoarth. But if her grievance against him has any basis in history, rumor, or fear, then perhaps we can negotiate a solution.

Zoarth did tell us that he does not recall making any enemies."

The wizard nods his head as Anthys speaks.

”In the end force will probably be required however a dialogue might fill in some gaps in our knowledge. We should at least attempt it first. “

The mephit points a crooked finger at his master.

”Xilt is not interested in diplomacy. This will just be more material to put down in one of those boring chronicles that you pathfinders love to write or even worse a snoozer of a lecture.”

"Its certainly worth keeping an open mind on the situation, it could all be the result of a misunderstanding."

The first day's journey west from the giant camp is cold but uneventful. In the middle of the afternoon on the second day, you come across a road heading roughly in the direction you're already walking and soon you come within sight of a small city in the distance.

There are no encounters during these two days' travel, but please do keep track of rations, etc.