Zero's #6-02: Rain Falls on the Mountain of Sea and Sky

Game Master Super Zero

The draconic creature flies over the Pathfinders and alights on their opposite flank. It tries to bite Maneki and narrowly misses. It also whips its tail towards Voron and Scripio, but manages to hit neither of them as it utterly fails to take advantage of the goblin's compromised position.
◆ Fly
◆◆ Draconic Frenzy Fangs: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19 misses, Tail: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 12 - 5 = 10 misses, Maneki/Voron/Ramona/Scripio: 1d4 ⇒ 4 Tail: 1d20 + 12 - 10 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 10 = 6 critical failure

Hezrioux's turn. Crossing bridges requires a DC 16 Acrobatics check to Balance. The Athletics DC to swim in the river is 15.
Initiative:
Blue River Drake (5 feet up; can't use Caustic Breath 2 rounds)
Hezrioux (AC 19/20; 12/35 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Red Elite Crocodile (-4 HP, Prone, Frightened 2)
Tharpe (AC 21/23; 31/48 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Voron (AC 19; 23/30 HP)
Maneki (AC 20; 31/41 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Scripio (AC 19; 25/25 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Yellow Elite Crocodile
Ramona (AC 19/21; 14/35 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed, courageous anthem)

Coming to, Hezrioux remains low, and forks her runic brand with a low hum, arcing a bolt from her near predator and striking the other out of the sky!

◆) Trace Rune: Ranshu (Red Crock)
◆) Rune Singer to Trace Rune: Ranshu (Blue Drake)
◆) Invoke Runes

Ranshu (electricity) Basic Fortitude Save vs Red Crock (DC 19): 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 1) = 9
Ranshu (electricity) Basic Fortitude Save vs Blue Drake (DC 19): 4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 1, 3) = 10

Both creatures are tough, though neither resists the lightning entirely.
Red Fort: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 11 - 2 = 27
Blue Fort: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 Frightened penalty knocks that down to a success.

The croc rights itself, before lunging at Tharpe. It clamps its jaws over him, though a moment's hesitation on its part suggests it could have gone worse.
◆ Stand, ◆ Strike Jaws: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 2 = 24 hits for piercing damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9, ◆ Grab Athletics: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 2 = 26 Frightened penalty knocks that down to a success

Tharpe, Voron, Maneki, and Scripio's turns. Crossing bridges requires a DC 16 Acrobatics check to Balance. The Athletics DC to swim in the river is 15.
Initiative:
Blue River Drake (-5 HP; 5 feet up; can't use Caustic Breath 2 rounds)
Hezrioux (AC 19/20; 12/35 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Red Elite Crocodile (-9 HP, Frightened 1; Grabbing Tharpe)
Tharpe (AC 21/23; 22/48 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed; Grabbed by Red)
Voron (AC 19; 23/30 HP)
Maneki (AC 20; 31/41 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Scripio (AC 19; 25/25 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Yellow Elite Crocodile
Ramona (AC 19/21; 14/35 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed, courageous anthem)

Escape: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Thorpe tries to escape and then he strikes

strike@red: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 11 - 4 = 20 Off guard sice frightened, as he has dread striker
Damage, slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 2) + 4 = 12
Damage, sneak attack if off guard: 1d6 ⇒ 6

strike@red: 1d20 + 11 - 8 ⇒ (11) + 11 - 8 = 14 Off guard sice frightened, as he has dread striker
Damage, slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9
Damage, sneak attack if off guard: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Persistent: 1d6 ⇒ 51d20 ⇒ 11

Hezrioux burns!

Persistent acid (DC 15): 1d6 ⇒ 51d20 ⇒ 2

Don't forget that Courageous Anthem is up.

Scripio opens his eyes and sees the giant crocodile looming above him. "AAAAAHHHH!!!" The goblin grabs his whip and scrambles to his feet, fleeing the area to hide behind Maneki.

◆ Interact to grab whip
◆ Stand
◆ Stride
We'll get to see if they have any reaction attacks. Lots of provoking.

Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 2 Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Tharpe manages to cut deeply under the croc's scales. And also to harmlessly scratch it again.
Escape fails, first Strike hits and bloodies it, second a close failure given its AC penalties.

The beasts aren't able to do anything to stop Scripio's retreat.

Voron and Maneki's turns. Crossing bridges requires a DC 16 Acrobatics check to Balance. The Athletics DC to swim in the river is 15.
Initiative:
Blue River Drake (-5 HP; 5 feet up; can't use Caustic Breath 2 rounds)
Hezrioux (AC 19/20; 7/35 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Red Elite Crocodile (-28 HP, Bloodied; Frightened 1; Grabbing Tharpe)
Tharpe (AC 21/23; 17/48 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed; Grabbed by Red)
Voron (AC 19; 23/30 HP)
Maneki (AC 20; 31/41 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Scripio (AC 19; 23/25 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Yellow Elite Crocodile
Ramona (AC 19/21; 14/35 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed, courageous anthem)

Maneki takes a step back and attempts to hit blue drake.

Ranged Attack;Longbow, Volley: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 2 = 15 for Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1 Critical Hit: Double Damage + Deadly
Ranged Attack;Longbow, Volley, MAP: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 2 = 18 for Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4 Critical Hit: Double Damage + Deadly

She then pulls out another battle dressing and attempts to slap it onto Hezrioux.

Battle Med: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 6) = 14

◆ Step
◆ Flurry
◆ Battle Med on Hezrioux

Voron steps away

◆ Step N

and then incants a floating ball of flame over the drake.

◆◆ Cast a spell: Floating Flame
Fire damage BLUE, DC20 basic reflex: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 6) = 12

The drake's tail snaps at Maneki as she tries to line up her shot. He fails utterly, though her shot does still miss. Not the second one, though!
↺ Tail Lash Tail: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
He does have a reaction attack! Just not to any of the things Scripio did. He can react to Strikes. And maybe other things? But that's a critical failure. 15 misses, but 18 hits.

The drake is badly burned by the spell. He snarls a curse at Voron, though only those Pathfinders who speak Draconic know exactly how offensive it is.
Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 Failure, he takes 12 damage. Oh hey, neither of you added the +1 from courageous anthem. In that case, he's bloodied.

With Tharpe already held by one crocodile, the other steps up towards Ramona instead. It fails to bite her, but turns to wallop her with its tail.
◆ Step
◆ Strike Voron/Ramona: 1d2 ⇒ 2 Jaws: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 critical failure
◆ Strike Voron/Ramona: 1d2 ⇒ 2 Tail: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 12 - 4 = 21 hit for bludgeoning damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12.

Oh, and don't forget Mankei persistent damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3 persists?: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Ramona's turn. Crossing bridges requires a DC 16 Acrobatics check to Balance. The Athletics DC to swim in the river is 15.
Initiative:
Blue River Drake (-23 HP, Bloodied; can't use Caustic Breath 2 rounds, reaction used)
Hezrioux (AC 19/20; 21/35 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Red Elite Crocodile (-28 HP, Bloodied; Frightened 1; Grabbing Tharpe)
Tharpe (AC 21/23; 17/48 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed; Grabbed by Red)
Voron (AC 19; 23/30 HP)
Maneki (AC 20; 25/41 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Scripio (AC 19; 23/25 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Yellow Elite Crocodile
Ramona (AC 19/21; 2/35 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed, courageous anthem)

◆ Continue Anthem.

◆◆ Cast Soothe on herself: 2d10 + 8 ⇒ (3, 8) + 8 = 19

The drake bites Voron and whips his tail around without rhyme or reason, before retreating to land a short distance away.
◆◆ Draconic Frenzy Jaws: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19 vs Voron hits for piercing damage: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 8) + 3 = 15, Voron/Ramona/Scripio/Maneki: 1d4 ⇒ 2 Tail: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 12 - 5 = 16 misses, and Voron/Ramona/Scripio/Maneki: 1d4 ⇒ 1 Tail: 1d20 + 12 - 10 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 10 = 17 misses

Hezrioux's turn. Crossing bridges requires a DC 16 Acrobatics check to Balance. The Athletics DC to swim in the river is 15.
Initiative:
Blue River Drake (-23 HP, Bloodied; can't use Caustic Breath 1 round)
Hezrioux (AC 19/20; 21/35 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Red Elite Crocodile (-28 HP, Bloodied; Frightened 1; Grabbing Tharpe)
Tharpe (AC 21/23; 17/48 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed; Grabbed by Red)
Voron (AC 19; 8/30 HP)
Maneki (AC 20; 25/41 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Scripio (AC 19; 23/25 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Yellow Elite Crocodile
Ramona (AC 19/21; 21/35 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed, courageous anthem)

Pinched between crocks, Hez lays low, and drawing a line between them, clenches her fist, arcing more electricity between them!

◆) Trace Rune: Ranshu (Red Crock)
◆) Trace Rune: Ranshu (Yellow Crock)
◆) Invoke Runes

Ranshu (electricity) Basic Fortitude Save vs Red Crock (DC 19): 4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 3, 5) = 15
Ranshu (electricity) Basic Fortitude Save vs Yellow Crock (DC 19): 4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4, 5) = 12

Persistent Bleed (DC 15): 1d6 ⇒ 61d20 ⇒ 8

Red Reflex: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 1 = 18
Yellow Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

One of the crocs ducks down and avoids most of the shock. The other one... doesn't. Its grip on Tharpe slacks.
Almost forgot the Frightened penalty. That makes it a failure for Red, which drops it.

Tharpe, Voron, Maneki, and Scripio's turns. Crossing bridges requires a DC 16 Acrobatics check to Balance. The Athletics DC to swim in the river is 15.
Initiative:
Blue River Drake (-23 HP, Bloodied; can't use Caustic Breath 1 round)
Hezrioux (AC 19/20; 15/35 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Tharpe (AC 21/23; 17/48 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Voron (AC 19; 8/30 HP)
Maneki (AC 20; 25/41 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Scripio (AC 19; 23/25 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Yellow Elite Crocodile (-6 HP)
Ramona (AC 19/21; 21/35 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed, courageous anthem)

Scripio cheers when Hezrioux's lightning smokes one of the crocodiles. Buoyed by seeing this, he takes a better look at the river drake and begins to follow, whirling his whip at it.

Exploit Vulnerability on Drake: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Success for up to 7th level creature

Attack (anthem): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28
Nonlethal Damage (anthem): 1d4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 9 +weakness or +3 (PA)

◆ Exploit Vulnerability (acts as Recall Knowledge too)
◆ Step
◆ Strike

Alas, the drake doesn't seem to have any particular weaknesses. But while he's not super intelligent, unlike the crocs the drake is not an animal. And he doesn't seem quite as rage-filled as the mantises and plants--he may not have drank any of the affected water.

He's just not very nice. But he's already badly injured. Perhaps he could be convinced to just go away...
As a two-action activity, anyone can attempt a Deception, Diplomacy, or Intimidation check to make the drake decide he doesn't want to fight any more.

The drake's tail lashes at Scripio even as the goblin's whip lashes at him. The tail solidly thumps him, but it's not quite enough to bring the determined goblin down. His whip strikes the brute in the eye, and he careens and crashes into the ground where he doesn't move. Only the one croc remains...
↺ Tail Lash Tail: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 crit for 2xbludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 2) + 3 = 11
..that leaves Scripio with 1 HP and inflicts a -2 penalty to his attack. That would be enough to prevent a crit, except your attack was also a natural 20. Which also leaves him with 1 HP. Except! You're missing either the +1 to damage for courageous anthem or for the level bump. You crit each other, and he's down.

Tharpe, Voron, Maneki's turns. Crossing bridges requires a DC 16 Acrobatics check to Balance. The Athletics DC to swim in the river is 15.
Initiative:
Hezrioux (AC 19/20; 15/35 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Tharpe (AC 21/23; 17/48 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Voron (AC 19; 8/30 HP)
Maneki (AC 20; 25/41 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Scripio (AC 19; 1/25 HP; Wounded 1; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Yellow Elite Crocodile (-6 HP)
Ramona (AC 19/21; 21/35 HP; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed, courageous anthem)

Maneki takes a step back and closer to Scripio before attempting to put 2 more arrows into the yellow croc.

Ranged Attack;Longbow: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 1 = 28 for Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1 Critical Hit: Double Damage + Deadly
Ranged Attack;Longbow, MAP: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 1 = 9 for Piercing Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5 Critical Hit: Double Damage + Deadly
Deadly: 1d10 ⇒ 4

CA +1, Volley -2 = -1 net mod

She then attempts to slap a battle dressing onto the goblin.

Healing, Assurance: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

Acid; Flat: 1d6 ⇒ 21d20 ⇒ 19

◆ Step
◆ Flurry
◆ Battle Med on Scripio

I forgot my persistent damage

Persistent Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Recovery: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Tharpe growls at the crocodile

Intimidate, demoralizing growl: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Then he tries to trip the creature

Athletics, trip, kukri: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 1 = 29

Than he strikes

Swoosh@yellow: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 4 = 23
Damage ,s: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 5) + 4 = 15
Sneak: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Persistend damage: 1d6 ⇒ 51d20 ⇒ 20

Maneki's first arrow buries itself under the croc's scales, but the second buries itself in the mud at least a foot away.
Natural 20 crits of course, 9 is a critical failure. Boy, you've had some bad damage rolls, huh? But don't forget the +1, so that's a crit for 8.

Tharpe doesn't have as much success frightening this one, but he does have equal success flipping it over and striking at it's less protected underbelly.
11 is a regular failure to Demoralize. 29 is a critical success to Trip. Crit Trip damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5. And a big hit that bloodies it.

Voron's turn. Crossing bridges requires a DC 16 Acrobatics check to Balance. The Athletics DC to swim in the river is 15.
Initiative:
Hezrioux (AC 19/20; 15/35 HP; Wounded 1; Prone, 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Tharpe (AC 21/23; 12/48 HP)
Voron (AC 19; 8/30 HP)
Maneki (AC 20; 23/41 HP)
Scripio (AC 19; 1/25 HP; Wounded 1; 1d6 persistent acid, -5 to Speed)
Yellow Elite Crocodile (-40 HP, bloodied, prone)
Ramona (AC 19/21; 16/35 HP; courageous anthem)

Voron commands his floating flame to settle on the croc,

◆ Sustain a spell: Floating Flame (round 2/10)
Fire damage YELLOW, DC20 basic reflex: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 1) = 12

backs away,

◆ Step N

and manifests a force shield in front of him for extra protection.

◆ Cast a spell: Shield

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 Failure. It's down (and would still have been on a success).

The shield turns out to be unnecessary.

The Pathfinders are near the summit now. Once they're ready to move on, they find that this leg of the journey has the most unusual complications yet. Whatever has crashed on the mountain must be interacting strangely with the ley lines that run through the island, creating strange magical effects that dot the landscape. These range
from strange colorations, to minor illusions, to small destructive effects like tiny bolts of lightning or explosive flashes of flame. The effects aren’t so dangerous that the Pathfinders have to worry about getting hurt, but they do hinder their travel, making navigating much more difficult.

Again, you must each attempt two checks but they can both be the same kind.
Arcana/Nature/Occultism/Religion: PCs can use their magical understanding to notice when these magical effects are going to occur and may use minor magical abilities to defend against them or counteract them.
Survival: PCs with wilderness savvy can keep track of their path even when the terrain has been magically affected.
Perception: PCs can notice areas affected by these magical effects before they reach them, making it easier to avoid any magical interruptions.
Another idea?

Voron slows down to pay attention to the magical effects manifesting around them.

What... is happening here?

Arcana (expert): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 Nooo! Hero point...
☘️Arcana (expert): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Though it as a divine event, Voron senses very familiar types of energy.

Arcana (expert): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

In all the books she read, there were people who reported on events while living through extraordinary times.

Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Hezrioux easily rises to the challenge, smiling!

Assuming that we healed up and got rid of the persistent damage.

Can Scripio use Esoteric Lore in place of the magical traditions? He has Diverse Lore, so would take a -2 to perform Recall Knowledge checks, but these aren't explicitly RK.

Ramona will cast Detect Magic, which should alert them as they move into an area with 'wild' magic.

Additionally, she will attempt to figure out a save path (Perception): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Roll #1: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Roll #2: 1d20 ⇒ 13
+6 for Esoteric Lore (with the -2 for Diverse Lore) or +5 for Perception

Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Maneki calls upon the training she received as a monk to be one with nature...

Sorry had a rough weekend and now I am sick

Tharpe tries to use his knowledge of wilderness

Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Get well soon, Tharpe. I know the feeling!

The party travels for a few more hours through increasingly strange terrain. Darkness is falling now, and they may want light sources before they reach the summit.

The trail leads to the ruins of a long-abandoned village. The stone structures here are particularly decrepit after decades or more of exposure to the elements. A stylized statue of a winged creature rests at the top of a small step pyramid at the southern end of the village. A stone archway stands just a few paces away from the base of the pyramid. The origin of a river seeps out of a large crack in the mountain rock at the northeastern end of the village. The water is a deep red, as if the river were made from blood instead of water.

Along the path are three creatures, somewhat feline but certainly not ordinary cats. Their fur is red and purple, especially around their mouths where it is stained red. They're about the size of humans, and each of them has eight limbs.

These creatures, in turn, are watching a pair of adolescent griffins. The griffins look frightened, and stand as if frozen, trembling slightly.
"Oh, travelers!" says one of the felines.
"Pathfinders?"
"It doesn't matter! We're going to kill those griffins. We're going to kill them and eat them!" He twitches. "And, uh, we'll--we'll kill you next if you try to stop us!"

These creatures are clearly more intelligent than the strangely hostile animals and plants the party has encountered so far, and perhaps less malicious by nature than the drake. They're obviously compelled to conflict, but just as obviously aren't giving in completely to the compulsion. Perhaps they're trying to resist the effect, as Aojimitsu was.

"We'll kill you next!"
"N-no, that's not--"
"Yeah, let's kill everyone! We're definitely gonna kill you!"

They continue looking, agitated, from the Pathfinders to the griffins. Twitchy. Prepared to attack. ...not attacking anyone.

Because you've done so well climbing the mountain, you've arrived at the ruins extremely early. The creatures are still resisting the compulsion to attack, so you have time to convince them and gain a +4 circumstance bonus to your checks to do so (this is what you get for all those skill checks--this is the top result).
You can attempt three checks total, though they all have to use different skills (they're too irritable to sit through the same thing more than once). These can be any social skill, but they can also use a skill related to an argument you're making.
Only a single PC can attempt each check, though others may Aid (or perhaps, since you already have a hefty circumstance bonus, Recall Knowledge or do something else to help?).

Ramona will have cast a light spell on our lead melee ally's shield (or armor if they don't have a shield).

Ramona will get Banjo out, and begin performing the story of The Overbearing Weight of Continuous Contention, a completely made-up play about how being aggressive has the side effect of destroying the lives of the aggressors.

Performance or Deception (your choice): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Maneki has zero social skills so she keeps quiet