[Outpost VIII]PFS #8-99 The Solstice Scar Ver.D (1-2) by GM Colin (Inactive)

Game Master Colin_Mercer

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The pathfinder teams are in transit from the Tusk Mountains to the Fangwood together with the Twinhorns, and you guys join the group as a new batch of reinforcement. It's a long journey, which gives you plenty of time to get familiar with each other.

Now it's a good time to do character introduction now! The overseer GM will kickstart our mission with the announcement when the game officially start on Sunday.

A young kitsune, with a rapier at his belt, a musket on his back and a wide-rimmed hat with a feather in it introduces himself when the group is gathered.

"Well met, fine frriends!" he says with a poorly imitated Galtian accent. "I am Rrenarrdagnan, a prroud member of the rroyal, no, rrevolutionarry musketeerrs! I am herre to offerr my sworrd to fighting evil and prrotecting fairr maidens, wherreeverr my path me takes".

He ends his presentation with an overly-elaborate doff of his hat and bow.

***OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT***

Table GMs, it is March 2nd in Greenwich, so you may begin!

Our story so far:
Part 1: The Pathfinder Society received an urgent call for help from the Blakros Museum. (This happens often enough that there’s a staff member at the Grand Lodge whose sole task is to be ready when the Blakros family calls for aid.) It seems a group of intruders had gotten past the defenses and barricaded themselves in the building. When the Society sent assistance, the intruders–members of a Kellid tribe called the Twinhorns and their spiritual leader, a woman named Medda–turned out to have a very good reason for what they did. It seems that the Twinhorns have long kept a relic of the Shining Crusade, the hilt of a dagger that was used to banish Eshimka, a nightwalker lieutenant of Tar-Baphon, from the world, and they use the relic in an annual rite at the Winter Solstice to keep Eshimka and its followers at bay. Blakros agents stole the hilt and brought it to the Museum to display. When Ambrus Valsin heard the Kellids’ tale, he was furious, and promised that the Society would escort them back to the Tusk Mountains with the dagger hilt.

Part 2: The Society agents secure passage through the Hold of Belkzen.

Part 3: Medda, the Twinhorns, and the Pathfinders arrive too late at the location where the rite is to be performed: Eshimka’s undead forces have begun to enter the world through a portal at the standing stones. The Pathfinders successfully defeated the intruders and closed the rift, but left a weak spot in the walls between the worlds. The next solstice would be critical.

Part 4: The dagger belonged to Ivvora, a paladin of the Empyreal Lord Vildeis. In order to learn how to either repair the dagger or create a new weapon against Eshimka, Medda asks the Pathfinders to escort her to where Ivvora died fighting a great white dragon. There, Medda hopes to commune with Ivvora’s spirit. The Pathfinders had to fight the descendants of the white dragon and their kobold servitors, but were ultimately successful.

We begin with the Twinhorns and Pathfinders returning to Fangwood after their success:

The long journey south from the slopes of the Tusk Mountains to the edge of Fangwood took several weeks, during which many of the Twinhorns and Pathfinders exchanged ancestral stories and tales of daring adventures to pass the time on the relatively uneventful trek. By the time the Fangwood rises ahead in the brisk morning air, both groups are eager to confront whatever lies ahead.

Medda addresses the crowd gathered before her. “South of here lies a battlefield where the paladin Ivvora risked her life in a daring ploy to help her battalion defeat an undead horde. For her selflessness, Ivvora earned a token of Vildeis’s favor: the dagger she used to deal a terrible blow to Eshimka! For all the crusaders’ heroism, I can sense an undead taint lingered here, and that stretch of the Fangwood has expanded in the centuries since to absorb it. It is now our turn to earn Vildeis’s blessing, risking ourselves to end this threat so that in turn we might slay Eshimka once and for all.

“The terrain favors small groups over larger formations, so we shall divide into smaller groups to navigate the forest and identify the corruption’s heart. May Ivvora’s example guide us to victory!” With that, Medda and her phantom Anok turn and enter the Fangwood, followed by Pathfinder and Twinhorn teams that fan out behind her.

The sunlight glimmers faintly on the holy symbol adorning Kyra’s white robe. Holding a curved blade in her hand, her gaze is resolute yet gentle as she speaks slowly:
“I am Kyra. Some of you may have heard of me to varying degrees. I am not merely someone who knows only how to pray—my blade and divine magic will protect you all, and they will also burn away those enemies who dare to obstruct justice. May Sarenrae’s flames light our path, and may her mercy heal our wounds. I am glad to journey alongside you, my companions.”

One other kitsune checking her light crossbow heard the vocie and looked to the source. She smiled,

"Hello friends and my fellow Kitsune," Her accent seems to be from Taldor, "My name is Aroma. I am a close range spellcaster. We kitsune are good at Enchantment School and so am I. I have some tricks that may help in battle"

She end up her self introduction with winks.

"Niocholu!" declares as he thumps his chest with a meaty fist while thrusting a shovel into the air with his other hand. He is adorned in a series of furs and speaks with the thick accent of Irrisen. "Time to teach the undead to be learning to be staying dead!"

You guys maintain the six-agents small group formation, classics Pathfinder protocol and all, and head into the Fangwood forest.

Brambles grow wild throughout the edge of the wood where a thick canopy of trees begins to filter out sunlight, turning day into night. The overgrown plant life forbids easy access deeper into the forest and fills the air with the sickly-sweet smell of decay. As you soon find out, the blighted forest is overgrown with poisonous barbed plants, and its thick foliage hides venomous creatures in its nooks and crannies, makes you wonder whether you should have stay back and pick a seweage mission instead.

Navigate your way through safely requires a successful Acrobatics, Climb, Handle Animal, Knowledge (nature), or Survival check.
And roll a Reflex or Fortitude save (your choice) as well just in case the RNGesus is not in your favor for this part of your journey.

"Looks like my teammates are all powerful. Nice to meet you all! " the human girl says with a slight Kelish accent, fiddling with her messy alchemy kit. "I'm Auray, an alchemist. I'm good at making and throwing bombs. Explosions are art, and so is mixing alchemical components. But organizing my tools? Not so much."
She turns to Kyra and grins. "Good to see you again, Kyra. You're always helpful."

"Last time I went through a forest was on a mission to Segang. I didn’t like the damp air there—it made my alchemical ingredients spoil too easily. But since then, I’ve started learning more about nature and survival skills. So, let me see if I can find us an easier way through these brambles."
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

An, apparently human woman nods and smiles at you, introducing herself simply by name.

handle animal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Renardagnan nods to each of the four women. "Ladies, my most solemn wow is to prrotect and serrve you. Yourr wish is my command."

He walks in the front when they enter the forest. "Aha, these path-blocking plants are good practice for my panaache!" he declares and skips and jumps to get through the vegetation.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Niocholu attempts to handle the brambles.
Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

kyra tries to climb over these annoying obstacles, but she appeares particularly clumsy due to her lack of experience in outdoor adventures.

Climb: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1
Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Acrobatic: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 - 2 = 4
Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"I am not good at this kind of travel"

Auray, Eglia, and Renardagnan gracefully maneuver around the poisonous plant, while Niocholu, Kyra, and Aroma just tank it all with their strong bodies. Despite the unpleasantness, the group make it out just fine.

Going through the poison brambles, you guys continue your journey into the Fangwood. The forest floor is blanketed with eerie dark flowers that paint the otherwise lightless woods with their purple incandescence. Disorienting paths cut through the trees, forward-facing paths seem to lead back to where they started, and retracing one’s steps leads to unfamiliar terrain. Glowing eyes glare hungrily from within the impenetrable thickets where the vines slowly curl around anyone who gets too close.

If you haven't done so already, please add your token into the character information slide at position 1 and fill out your dice roll modifier.

And could everyone give me a Perception or Survival check please?
I mean, you don't have to if you don't want to. I'm sure it's pointless to keep an eye out for stuff in a forest that almost poison half of you :p

As the surrounding environment gradually grew eerie, Kayla frowned. "Everyone, be careful. We can’t be sure if some wild beast or other monster has set its sights on us." She then took out her holy symbol, and warily scanned the surroundings.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"That’s extremely weird. Though I really want to check out and study those glowing flowers, it’s better to keep our eyes on the path and stick together. Let’s hope the beasts in this forest are doing well and don’t dare attack a group of six travelers." Auray glances at her muscular companions, then scans the surroundings. "Hard to say if there are more of them than us."
"Does anyone think we might be on the wrong path?"
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

"Animals can sense fearr, so we just have to continue boldly onwarrd", Renardagnan states and follows his own advice by confidently walking along the best-looking path.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

He concentrates a bit too much on his presentation of courage, and less on the surroundings.

"I hope we are on the right track. I feel like I am lost"

Perc: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

FYI, the result is determined by everyone's dice roll (which seems like a common trend in this adventure), so only when every body has rolled then I can determine the outcome.

Sorry, I have been under the weather...

"This way, I am believing," offers Niocholu.
Survival: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 5

It's dim around here, the thick canopy of the forest keeps any outside light from passing through. The local plant life seems to have a mind of its own, their vines and sterns are constantly twisting and moving, their glowing flowers illuminates the dark forest.

Across the trees to the west, Kyra, Aroma, and Niochulu spotted 3 elks quickly coming toward you guys. They are the opposite of the timid animals you're used to, and are all very sick-looking. Strange forest with strange beasts. As they're getting closer, you don't sense any nice intention from them at all, and get ready to defend yourself......

......for COMBAT!

Initiative, Round 1
==========
Eglia
-----
Green Elk
-----
Renardagnan
-----
Blue Elk
-----
Aroma
Niocholu
Auray
-----
Red Elk
==========
Bold can act!

Map is up in slide 1
The vegetation on the map are difficult terrain, looks dangerous, and provide Cover for 10ft distance, Full Cover for 20ft distance.

Totally missed out on Kyra's init, sorry. She act first on the second round, after red elk...

BOT: Putting Eglia on delay

The green elk run right to Eglia and Niocholu's face! It's hide are dirty and disgusting, and its altars are bloodstained. No, you definitely don't want to pet it.

Initiative, Round 1
==========
Green Elk
-----
Renardagnan
Eglia BOTTING, delaying
-----
Blue Elk
-----
Aroma
Niocholu
Auray
-----
Red Elk
-----
Kyra
==========
Bold can act!

Renardagnan takes aim with his musket at the elk along the northern path.

Attack blue: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 2 = 18Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 Grit to get cha to damage

He shoots with a loud boom. "Ouch! I must put parrsley in my earrs orr something. Still too loud! he complains. Then, he drops his musket, takes a step forward, pulls out his rapier and challenges the beast: "En garrde, elk!"

Parry and Riposte against first attack

With a loud bang, Renardagnan shot the elk, but it's not enough to take the beast down and anger it more! It charges at Renardagnan at full speed!

The rapier wasn't able to stop the charge, and the kitsune got injured in return.

BOTTING Eglia takes out her greatsword and tries to hack down the green beast in front of her!
GS: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 Dmg: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 = 10
But the elk also withstands the strike.

Initiative, Round 1
==========
Green Elk -10
-----
Renardagnan -4
Eglia
-----
Blue Elk -11
-----
Aroma
Niocholu
Auray
-----
Red Elk
-----
Kyra
==========
Bold can act!

Aroma applies her stare at the blue elk who hurts her kitsne fellow, and then casts Daze (DC15).

Auray steps back a distance and hurls an Explosive Bomb at the nearest elk (blue), excluding Renardagnan's square. "They're really fierce! Try my bomb."

Attack (touch): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 = 15 Damage (fire): 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

The Explosive Bomb has a 10-foot splash radius and ignites anything it hits.

flame damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

BOOOM! Auray's bomb takes down the Elk easily, and burns away some of the brushes nearby. (Marke with dark red outline)

Aroma probably have too much furry/kitsune friends that she think the elk might be another one of them, albeit more crazy than usual. Alas, it is not the humanoid shapeshifter she is expecting, and her Daze fails to work.

Initiative, Round 1
==========
Green Elk -10
-----
Renardagnan -4
Eglia
Aroma
Niocholu
Auray
-----
Red Elk
-----
Kyra
==========
Bold can act!

"These elk are not the good kind." Niocholu declares as one charges up to him. He reaches for his miner's pick. "Best put them down."

He challenges the creature and attempts to do so.
5 ft. step
Melee miner's pick (improvised weapon +2 trait bonus on attack rolls, unarmed enemies flat-footed) v green elk: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 = 17
Damage (P): 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Niocholu put down the green elk with his trusty pick, then he find himself up against the red elk!

Initiative, Round 1
==========
Renardagnan -4
Eglia
Aroma
Niocholu
Auray
-----
Red Elk
-----
Kyra
==========
Bold can act!

Kyra notices that her teammates handled these encounters very easily and decides to delay until a new danger emerged.“Haha, they don’t seem to be a match for us at all.”

There isn't any other visible threat besides the red elk.....for now.

Initiative, Round 2
==========
Renardagnan -4
Eglia
Aroma
Niocholu
Auray
Kyra
-----
Red Elk
==========
Bold can act!

Aroma was embrassed that she forgot the elk are not humanoid. Now she turns her stare to the red elk and demoralizes it.
intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Prolong 1 turn if it is shaken for more than 1 turn

Eglia tries to smash the red elk with her greatsword.

attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

She looks quite confused when she misses entirely.

Renardagnan stares in astonishment the explosion around him but leaving him untouched. "An experrt's explosion! Magnificent, Milady!" he compliments Auray.

He runs around to engage the remaining enemy. "Down, you diseased dastarrdly deerr!" he shouts and thrusts with his rapier.

Attack Rapier: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21Damage (piercing): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Again, parry if attacked.

The swashbuckler made a pinpoint stab that kill the infested beast, the red elk falls to the group.

Combat Over!

Time to heal up, will move us forward soon

As you continue to wander within the blighted forest, the forest opens to a small clearing that is free of the dark flowers that seem to permeate the rest of the landscape. A ring of tall grey trees circles the clearing, their branches reaching toward each other to form a ceiling of black leaves. A chorus of whispering voices echoes within the clearing as countless faces form out of tree bark only to meld back in, flowing from tree to tree. Three of the faces remain in place and speak out in unison. “Who wanders these forlorn paths? Do you seek to join us? Join us!”

Picture up in slide 1

"We are Pathfinders, here to identify what it is that is doing the corrupting of this forest. Perhaps, undead is the source? You can do confirming, yes?" Niocholu informs the faces in the tree, although his mastery of common is far from complete. "As for doing the joining, Niocholu already belong to group, which is Pathfinders."

Renardagnan sheats his rapier and goes to pick up his musket. He reloads it as they continue along the path. "Onwarrd of this quest of rridding the rrealms of corrruption."

When they mmet the faces, he nods to Niocholu. "Yes, that. Pathfinderrs prrotecting people, we arre."

Kyra tries to consider whether this phenomenon is related to undead
religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Auray mutters under her breath, "I think we’re a bit… different, so no thanks."

She also takes a moment to think about what this could be.

Knowledge (Arcana, Religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 181d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Kyra think the lingering undead influence probably take part in the entrapment of those spirits, but Auray thinks there is probably more than just undead, but can't quite put a finger to what it is.

"UNDEAD? WHAT ELSE COULD IT BE?" The top spirit speaks angrily.
"It is what made us what we are now. Unfortunate indeed." The middle spirit speaks calmly.
"Yes and no. Good guess, but incomplete answer. BOOO!" The bottom spirit is clearly in the mood for jokes.

You guys can hear many whispers among the tress around you, shifting from trees to trees. Clearly, there are a LOT more spirits than the three that's talking.

"Finders of path, looks like you need guidance on the blight you seek." Says the middle spirit.
"WHY SHOULD WE HELP THEM? WHY SHOULD WE HELP YOU!" the top one screams.
"Does it matter? They come, they die, they join us, just like everyone else." the bottom one doesn't seem to care.

Sounds like the spirit do know something though, and they do seems like someone/something you can maybe try to reason with? Probably not all three at the same time. Clearly they don't 100% agree on each other.

"Yes, guidance would be grreat. We might even find out something that helps you in yourr unforrtunate condition. We have alrready prroven ourrselves herre by eliminating evil elks, and arre prreparred forr furrtherr challenges!" Renardagnan tries to convince the calm middle mask to help them.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

"Easy, my friends. We can help you. Tell me what you disire, and in return, you give us guidance."

Diplo: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"Mr. Spirit, like my companion said, tell us your story—and the forest’s too. Maybe there’s something we can do to help." Auray speaks to the middle spirit first.

Then she turns to the bottom one with the same playful tone: "Sorry, but there’s a voice in my head saying: 'Pathfinders come, Pathfinders go, Pathfinders don’t join you.' "

Finally, she looks at the top spirit: "Hey, no need to be angry. Having someone to chat with isn’t so bad, right?"