DM Carbide's CORE Test of Tar Kuata #6-19

Game Master John Woodford

Radagast looks at the boards with mild interest.

Would the fact that Radagast literally has slashing talons give him a bonus, too?

No; you want to do bludgeoning damage to break it.

Dex Test: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Str test: 1d20 ⇒ 11

If Desynthia manages to catch the falling board with ease even with grace, she hurts her hand a little while trying to break the wooden plank, and says jokingly

Hey, I heard boards aren't supposed to hit back!

"Good try, Desynthia. That was very close."

"Radagast, are you going to stare at the boards all day or are you going to attempt the challenge?"

I thought I'd posted a reply to Sylvester; Bluff isn't an option for this particular challenge. Radagast, do you want to have a go?

Dex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18.
Str: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19.

Much to his surprise, Radagast deftly uses a talon to punch a board in twain!

Dex: 1d20+1.

Str: 1d20+5.

Much to his surprise, Radagast deftly uses a talon to punch a board in twain!

"Hmm. Nice." Sobek says as he nods in approval.

Sylvester attempts to break a board with his bare hands.

"How hard can this be?"

Dex check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Strength check: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (6) - 3 = 3

"Ok maybe I will stick to magic."

Nala's eyebrows raise as several of her compatriots easily succeed. She nods to them, ”Well done.”

so how many succeeded?

so how many succeeded?

Keynala, Radagast, and Sobek were successful.

We'll go on to the next challenge when I have a chance.

Back from camping, mostly unpacked, and most of the laundry is done.

Aeotsep smiles encouragingly at the three who succeeded and offers advice to the ones who didn't. (He manages to do so in a way that doesn't condescend.)

Devonalia, Sobek, and Radagast can take +2 on the next trial's skill checks.

The monk puts away the boards and asks everyone to close their eyes as he walks around the room. "Listen to the sound of my footsteps, the brush of fabric against fabric, and smell the incense clinging to my clothing. Consciousness is achieved through the sum of all senses, and relying on only one sense can create a false perception of the world." Then he stops speaking and just walks for a minute or so. "Now open your eyes. Each of you must take this trial in turn." He takes a padded quarterstaff from one of the weapon racks and produces a scarf from a belt pouch. The scarf is used as a blindfold. "You must sense when I am about to tap you with the staff and either dodge the blow or parry it."

Each of you has to make a DC 18 Perception check to notice the incoming blow, then a DC 12 DEX check to dodge or a DC 12 STR check to parry the blow.

I probably won't be that good at this test, so best to try right now, so others can learn from my mistakes.

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Dex DC 12: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Desynthia fails, as predicted, but she isn't that bad

"I shall try." Sobek says as he's blindfolded.

He tries to sense the incoming blow...
Perception: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 = 17

Then tries to deflect it with his forearm...
Strength: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10

"I have failed."

yes, but you were sooooo close!

says Desynthia in an encouraging tone

I pass the Perception check on a 1, so...

Str: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13.

Radagast readily spots the incoming blow, and only barely manages to parry it, thanks to his insights from the previous round.

Sylvester tries to notice and dodge the incoming blow.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

Dex check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Nala steps up on her turn, closing her eyes and relaxing. Feeling the air currents as though they were water softly swirling around her.

Perc: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

She seems to almost perfectly track the monk as he quietly moves around the room.

He strikes!

Str: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

She parries! Knocking the staff hard to the side. The half elf smiles and removes her blindfold, ”Finally something I am good at!”

Devonalia thinks this training is rather absurd but goes along anyways...'the things we do as pathfinders' she thinks to herself... She sees her companions attempt the challenge and tries to pick up some tips from Radagast, Sylvester and Nala.
She allows the blindfold to cover her eyes and then uses her elven ears to pick up the slightest hint of danger...
Perception with +2 bonus: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 10 + 2 = 21

and then tries to dodge the blow...
DEX with +2 bonus: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15

and takes the blindfold off when told to do so thinking she did a good job.

"Very well done!" The monk puts away the staff and scarf and leads the party outside to the west of the village, where a river from higher in the mountains creates a spectacular waterfall. Numerous villagers follow Aeotsep and the party expectantly. A series of wooden posts overlooks the waterfall's plunge pool, and Aeotsep hops up onto one of them. He indicates the others. "The next trial is simple: all you have to do is stand on a post for an hour."

The four who succeeded at the last trial can add +2 to their skill checks (not saves) for this one.

To maintain balance for the first twenty minutes, make a DC 13 Acrobatics check. For the next twenty minutes, make a DC 16 Fortitude or Will save and another Acrobatics check; if you make the save, the Acrobatics check will remain at DC 13, but if you fail the DC rises to 18. For the final twenty minutes, make another DC 16 Fortitude or Will save and another Acrobatics check; if you make the save, the Acrobatics check will remain where it was for the previous round, but if you fail the DC rises by 5 (to 18 or 23, if both saves were failed). Failing an Acrobatics check will result in falling into the pool and taking 1d6 nonlethal damage. If you have any questions, let me know.

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) - 3 + 2 = 9.

Radagast immediately falls off.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Desynthia manages to stay on the beam for fifteen minutes maybe... and then falls

"I shall try." Sobek says as he removes his breastplate.

He hops onto a post and tries to remain as still as possible...
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

But plunges into the water after about 5 minutes.
"Ooof!” he grunts as he hits the water.
Nonlethal: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"I have failed... again." he groans as he swims back to the river bank.

Devonalia wishes her companions good luck and then hops up to the top.

First 20 minutes check... Acrobatics with bonus: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 2 = 29 good to go...
Second 20 minutes... WIL: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Acrobatics with bonus: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 2 = 23

Last 20 minutes... WIL: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Acrobatics with bonus: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 2 = 22

After the test is over Devonalia is tired...

with all these high rolls she is going to miss in combat...

Acrobatics + Bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 10

Acrobatics + Bonus 2 Star Reroll: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 2 + 2 = 19

Nala hops up and almost immediately falls off, but by the grace of her goddess, manages to right herself.

”That was close.”

She settles in for the long test.

Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Acrobatics + Bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 2 = 24

And makes it to the forty minute mark. Gritting her teeth she tries to finish it out.

Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Acrobatics + Bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26

Even tiring out, she manages to remain up on the post.

That's two! Sylvester?

Silvester's Stalling, probably ^^

Sylvester simply laughs at the others attempt to balance on a stump for an hour. This is simply too much work for the little guy.

Sorry people but there is no way that Sylvester will put in that much effort for a mission. He is just not that motivated an individual.

Do you plan to sit out any of the other trials, or is this a once-off?

Sobek glares at Sylvester after hearing his laughter.
"We're supposed to earn the goodwill of the monks, my friend. Did you not take an oath with the Pathfinder Society to explore, report, and cooperate? Maybe the Aspis Consortium is a better organization for you."

"Now now. Let's not be hasty here. I am sure if he were allowed to use his arcane powers to accomplish the tasks he would do so without objection but these tasks are simply not something he is trained for or accustomed to. I mean it is of no fault of his own that his arms are short and weak, nor does he have the physical grace to climb up top nor the endurance to stand up there for long. I am sure there will be a time in the coming days when his other skills and talents will present themselves and he will be most appreciated for being here. Maybe we can ask if in lieu of Sylvester doing the trial due to his obvious physical limitations we can have Sobek try in his place as a stand in. That might work." Devonlia says to the pathfinder group in hopes of keeping them working together.

Sylvester simply shrugs at Sobek and smiles warmly at Devonalia. There is nothing that this man can say that would distress him in the least. The blood of dragons flows through his veins and he knows his own worth. His self-confidence seems to be quite unshakeable.

"I can fly. Why should I stand on a log? It is a waste of time."

@DM Carbide - The other trials demanded very little of him in terms of effort. This trial is something that he would just not see the point in doing.

"I can fly. Why should I stand on a log? It is a waste of time."

that is a brilliant answer

I had the same idea, Devonalia, we all have our strenghts and weaknesses. Maybe Sylvester is afraid of the water, and we can't know. I was about to ask humbly if I could try again on behalf of Sylvester, so the test will be fulfilled, Aeotsep.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

Sobek plants the butt of his guisarme on the ground with a resounding thud, his eyes narrowing at Sylvester.
"It is not about flying or standing, my friend. It is about respect. These monks ask us to share in their discipline, not to prove our strength. To refuse is to spurn their ways—and to risk the goodwill we came here to earn. We swore to cooperate, did we not?"

"You say you have dragon’s blood. Then show them that a dragon’s pride does not wither at something so simple as standing still. If this trial is beneath you, it should be effortless to endure—and it will win us honor besides."

Sylvester places all of his delicate equipment in his Riding Dog's saddle bags. The sorcerer has the look of a person who is humouring children as he begins to balance on the log.

Acrobatics check, +2 bonus: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 2 = 12

Sylvester splashes into the water. He uses his fey magic to clean and dry himself from head to toe.

1d6 Non-Lethal damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Sobek grips Sylvester’s arm firmly, hauling him up from the riverbank. He gives a small nod of approval, his expression unreadable but his tone steady.

"Well done, my friend. The trial was not in balancing upon the log, but in showing the will to stand upon it. You honored the monks by attempting what was asked. That is what they will remember."

Everyone who fell recovers (level nonlethal damage) while waiting for Keynala and Devonalia.

Keynala and Devonalia, you'll get +2 to all your skill checks for the next trial.

Aeotsep provides his usual words of encouragement as he leads the party back to and through the monastery, exiting via a narrow door that leads to a hidden mountain trail. “Many years after he began to teach students in these mountains, Narmek Tar Kuata challenged the air spirits for mastery of the winds. They attempted to tear him from the peak, but he struck the mountain and caused a great pillar of stone to rise high into the sky. Acknowledging Narmek Tar Kuata’s superiority, the air spirits granted him the respect he had earned, and have served the monastery ever since. The spire, as we call it, still stands as a reminder of our alliance with these spirits, and our founder’s remains reside in a reliquary at its top.”

Aeotsep steps out from the covered path and into daylight, where a impossibly tall stone pillar rises from the mountainside. “Climbing to the top symbolizes the metaphysical ascent that Narmek Tar Kuata realized. This climb is your next trial. However, if you fall while attempting the climb the air spirits here will bear you to the top.”

He smiles again. "Climbing the spire is much like walking the path that led Narmek Tar Kuata to enlightenment, and on occasion one of the monks here attains a level of mastery and wisdom the could have rivaled that of the founder. I count myself fortunate indeed to have met such a one in this life--and one that I trained myself when she was a novice."

This will take three successful DC 15 Climb checks; they don't have to be consecutive, but if you fail a check by 5 or more you'll fall. Briefly, before the invisible stalkers catch you and carry you up.

Climb + Bonus: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 2 = 27
Climb + Bonus: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 = 30
Climb + Bonus: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 2 = 15

The half elf practically swims up the rock face, taking very little time to get to the top. She glances back towards the group and comments, ”Plenty of handholds on that route. I must have been godblessed.”

Climb: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 2 = 12.
Climb: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 = 24.
Climb: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 = 24.
Climb: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 2 = 16.

After struggling initially, Radagast manages to get to the top.

Are we allowed to use magic to help us, Aeotsep? Or would that be cheating?

Sobek spits on his hands, rubs them together, and begins the climb without his breastplate on...
Climb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Climb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
T-Shirt Reroll...
Climb & 4 star GM: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 4 = 20

Climb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Sobek greets the others at the top.
"Well done, my friends."

Sylvester knows that this is another ridiculous challenge for a person who can fly at will but he humours the monks anyways.

Climb: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (7) - 3 = 4

Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Devonalia makes it up to the top after almost faltering on the last few feet but catches herself and climbs through.

Whether by strength, skill, or sylph, all six of you arrive at the top of the spire, a circle of stone ten feet across. There you find Itephta floating in a lotus position above the center of the top, accompanied by a slender Garundi woman carrying a longspear. She is unarmored, her hair tied back in a single braid. Aeotsep soon reaches the edge and pulls himself up, hampered slightly by the large bag on his back.

“This is your last test, Pathfinders—one I personally requested and insisted on observing,” Itephta says without taking his eyes off the wooden case in his hands. The young monk opens the lid, gracefully plucks a wand from inside, and hands the empty box to Aeotsep. Itephta points the wand at the spire, and in a matter of seconds, the narrow summit expands into a broad platform, like an unfolding mushroom.

“Irori teaches that inner peace and knowledge are key, but one must be able to defend his values in trial by arms,” he explains as the Garundi woman strides to the middle of the platform, easily navigating the shifting stone surface. “I ask that you spar with the monastery’s champion, Aramaya. Please make it an honorable fight, for the great Tar Kuata watches us today.”

From the bag he carried up, Aeotsep produces padded wooden weapons suitable for the party to use. Keynala, Sobek, and Devonalia have the option of taking either a masterwork padded weapon or the short rod that he holds up. "This is a lesser merciful metamagic rod that a caster can use in this combat. I need not tell you that attempting to inflict lethal damage will cause you to fail this challenge--this is a friendly test of your martial skills."

In case it isn't obvious, the padded wooden weapons can be used to inflict nonlethal damage with no penalty.

Radagast looks from his talons to the monk incredulously, then sits down in a corner.

I am feeling personally targeted by this scenario :-P

Nala looks at the padded weapons and then down at her spiked shield. She raises her hand tentatively, ”You wouldn’t happen to have a padded shield, would you? I find the surprise of using a shield offensively and defensively is of benefit in combat.”

You'll have your chance, Radagast. Or you could drop the wild shape and have a go--you'll have a day before the final fights.

Aeotsep smiles and produces a padded shield. "That's what made the bag so unwieldy."

The half elf nods and begins equipping the softened weapons. She tests their swing out with a few strikes and maneuvers before asking, ”Is this individual combat or group?”

Aramaya smiles wordlessly at Keynala's question. Aeotsep replies, "Group. She is our champion, after all."