[Paizocon 2025] 06-08 - Upon Wheels and Rime (P3) (Inactive)

Game Master UncleFroggy

Shift-tide's Fortitude Save (E): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Shift-tide's Reflex Save (T): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Hero Point Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Shift-tide will then ◆ Stride to get behind Szvetneera. As he does, Shift-tide calls out,

"Coven Matriarch Szvetneera of the Wintercrux Sisterhood, yield. Your coven needs you."

Shift-tide will then ◆◆ Ready an action to Strike at her if she does anything other than surrender.

Shift-tide would vote she not be disqualified because the idea is what matters, not who came up with it. But he still doesn't think she has the best idea. He would vote for the Fey Lady first choice, Planar Engineer second choice.

Shift-Tide, you may post your readied action behind a spoiler if you like

Spurtz Fort save Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Skunk Fort Save Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Spurtz REflex save Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Fort save
fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Carotte readies to shoot an arrow if she does anything but surrender

Damatros and Spurtz, what are you doing? Since your comrades are taking a wait-and-see stance :)

Fortitude: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Damatros continues singing while re-casting ◇Lingering Composition and ◆Courageous Anthem

Performance: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Damatros then casts ◆◆Needle Dart on Szvetneera

Needle Dart Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Needle Dart Damage: 4d4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 1, 2, 4) + 1 = 11

I just saw team is giving option to stand down so my attack is a ready action depending on Szvetneera's response

"T.. that's cold.." Spurtz says. Spurtz calls Skunk to his side.

He quaffs his healing potion and agrees with Shift Tide.

"We know your power.. but yes, your folk need ya!" Spurtz says.

Where are the designs again?

Train Designs

Matriarch Szvetneera sneers at the Pathfinders surrounding her. She turns to Shift-Tide and says "Run, little creature" while casting another spell at him.

Shift-Tide stabs her as she casts her spell. Damatros follows by sending needles at her, which miss. Carotte also follows by loosing an arrow at her.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16 for Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

The arrow hits her in the arm and she screeches in pain.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 4
Tactical Map
Special Conditions: HELP FROM ALLIES (1 action)
* Ally aid available to: Spurtz, Shift-Tide, Damatros
* Frequency once per minute per PC
* (see below as to what aid is available)
* The Kite (Green) is small. Token is enlarged for visibility.

Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (1/1)

Before your Turn:
DC 18 Will vs Fear: Shift-Tide
------------------
Those with ** may go

Matriarch Szvetneera (-18; 14 < AC <= 16)
**Damatros Lunari - AC 18 35/35
**Carotte - AC 16 14/20
**Spurtz - AC 16 7/14 (Weakness 3 Cold); Skunk AC 16 0/18
**Shift-Tide - AC 18 16/19 (Resistances: Cold 1)

--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------

Shift Tide, Do not forget Courageous Anthem gives you +1 on saves against fear effects

Damatros continues singing while re-casting ◇Lingering Composition and ◆Courageous Anthem

Performance: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Damatros then casts ◆◆Needle Dart on Szvetneera again

Needle Dart Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Needle Dart Damage: 4d4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 1) + 1 = 11

Shift-tide's Will Save (E): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 = 23

Shift-tide feels some fear creeping in to the back of his mind but pulls himself together enough to stand his ground. In response he says to Szvetneera, "Let it be known we gave you a chance to live."

If she is below half HP before one of my attacks she takes an extra 2 Spirit damage on a hit.

First Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 = 101d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 10

Hero Point for First Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Forgot the -1 from frightened but neither result changed.

Second Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 - 1 - 5 = 101d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 10

Third Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 - 10 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 - 1 - 10 = 121d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 7

With Skunk down, Spurtz tries his best to survive.

+ Draw shortbow
+ Fire arrow at Matriach Shortbow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18 Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Fatal, if applicable: 1d10 ⇒ 10
+ Stride

Matriarch Szvetneera quickly goes down after the Pathfinders open fire.

COMBAT OVER

With Matriarch Szvetneera defeated and her plot revealed by her own admission, the rest of witchguards she enlisted to attack the estate retreat. Anastasia, Calix, and the other representatives enter back into the room, each with some superficial injuries that Calix insists aren’t serious. Queen Anastasia thanks you for your help and asks if you have any suggestions as to which train proposal(s) she should look at more closely.

She also asks whether Matriarch Szverneera's design (the one with chicken legs) should be disqualified or kept in.

We're essentially done. The reason for the voting is for the A-B-C-D boxes in the reporting form

Shift-tide will say to his companions and Queen Anastasia alike, "Personally, I would suggest you keep the Matriarch's design in consideration because the purpose of this whole exercise is to find the best idea. Good ideas can come from bad people. With that said, Your Majesty, I suggest looking closely at the Steam Dragonfly. That type of adaptability could allow your train to reach anywhere. The Stone Road Express has some value in my eyes as well, but with the Steam Dragonfly..." Shift-tide trails off for a moment before admitting, "The Steam Dragonfly's adaptability could potentially, someday, even allow travel across and within oceans, assuming the fey can be properly taught."

Carotte believes that either the Dwarves Plan or the Planar Fire and Water spirit plans might have the most merit, but the Dwarves plan being preferable, as they would want a mechanism that isn’t based on cooperation with outside forces after getting it off the ground, as if there becomes a time a disagreement happens between participating forces, it could cause a disruption in the trains not being usable

So 1 vote for the steam dragonfly. 1 vote for the explosive train

1 vote for the Yaga Express not being dismissed

I agree the Matriarch's design should remain in consideration as it is a valid option and a group should not be defined by their leader or held responsible for the leader's choices if they have no choice. I like the adaptability of the fey option but worry if one day a part of the route becomes magically void or unstable. The dwarven option is able to be staffed by a larger variety of trained individual but a small mistake could blow up the train or even everyone on board. Finally I like Surkzin's option as it allows quicker travel and possibly to more areas but again is subject magic that could be corrupted or voided. The best option is a collaberation but for now I vote for Surkzin's Damatros responds

"That stone option looks ridiculous. Explosive one looks tempting and has some zip! But I'll go for the dragonfly. Hey it has dragon in it!" Spurtz says, as he tries to revive Skunk.

Queen Anastasia nods thoughtfully at your suggestions. She commissions a deeper study on the Steam Dragonfly. She also nods as you decide not to disqualify the High Matriarch Szvetneera's design in light of her betrayal. Finally, more to herself than the party, she asks what should be done with winter goblins. Calix jokingly suggests 'winter goblin soup' for dinner, to which there is a clamoring from the goblins to expose their good traits and that they want to help. The dromaar gives a performative sigh and appoints them “consultants” to prevent others from sneaking into the estate.

FIN

Thanks for playing all!

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