PFS2e 5-09 Equal Exchanges - Skymetal Hoard (Inactive)

Game Master Nomadical

Reflex vs DC 22: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Lokaloka runs past Tao and shudders as she sees her companion gets smacked in the face...

"Right you are, though we go!" warns Khaul.

Then, lowering Myrsa he charges through the underbrush, trying to make a path for the others to follow and hoping his armor and shield will protect him (and them) from the worst of it.

athletics DC 21: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Lokaloka follows Khaul as the path of least resistance!

Aleksandr tries to dodge.

Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Hero Point
Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22

Mindartis is faced with a myriad of obstacles. The elf tries to nimbly steady himself and avoid getting hurt in the process.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 HP Reroll

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Tao gets smacked in the face by the bushes as Lokaloka winces in sympathetic pain. Khaul Myrsa leads the way by pushing aside the branches. Aleksandr and Mindartis dodge and weave through the underbrush.

Round 5
Obstacle 5: Underbrush Surprise
Chase Points: 4 (6 required)
Party damage = -24 hp each

BOLD May Act

Tao
Marigold
Khaul
Aleksandr
Lokaloka
Mindartis

Skills
DC 21 Athletics to scramble over the foliage
DC 23 Nature, Perception, or Survival to notice the faulty spots of underbrush and avoid them altogether
DC 22 Reflex to avoid tripping and falling on your face

Marigold tries to dip and slide her way through the foliage.

Reflex: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21

Does Evasion apply?

Marigold dips below a sturdy branch, and the pursuing akata smacks right into it; then she slides just out of the reach of another.

Evasive Reflexes (nee Evasion) says “When you roll a success on a Reflex save, you get a critical success instead.” So, yes. Successful Save = Crit = 2 Chase Points clears the obstacle!

You keep the akatas at bay for now, but Binoco Isle doesn’t relent so easily. Twisting vines, fallen trees, and thickets of greenery complicate the straight route back to the shore. Khaul notices something strange as he races along. It seems that the nature spirits he befriended earlier are helping to ease some of the plant life out of his path.

Special: Because Khaul succeeded at the Befriending the Anito activity, he earns 1 bonus Chase Point.

Round 6
Obstacle 6: The Unrelenting Jungle
Chase Points: 1 (6 required)
Party damage = -24 hp each

BOLD May Act

Tao
Marigold
Khaul
Aleksandr
Lokaloka
Mindartis

Skills
DC 21 Fortitude to power through the dense flora
DC 20 Nature or Survival to discern the best path forward while making contact with only the least obtrusive plant life
DC 23 Reflex to evade the assailing vines and branches that always seem to be at face height

Murmuring a quick spell, Lokaloka ducks and weaves to avoid the vines and branches.

Reflex, Guidance: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 13 + 1 = 31

If I can't use Guidance, remove the +1, though the save succeeded anyway

With Myrsa firmly on-arm, Khaul continues to bash through the jungle, nodding his thanks to the forest spirits as he goes.

"See, a good deed returned unlooked for!"

fort: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Aided by the forest spirits he powers through some old standing dead wood, finding an unexpectedly free passage for a few meters.

"Some of your allies have shorter legs than you. Make sure you don't leave anyone behind!" warms Myrsa.

The vines and branches may be at face height, but not for Marigold!

Reflex save: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28 Evasive Reflexes

Aleksandr takes up a spot right behind Khaul.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Lokaloka weaves her tiny body through the low hanging branches and vines while Khaul and Myrsa barrel through like a battering ram. Marigold’s uncanny reflexes make it easy for her to avoid any scratches on her pretty face. Aleksandr doesn’t do as well, but he is able to keep up with his teammates and get through the jungle.

Crits from Khaul and Marigold, plus the bonus point earned and Lokaloka’s Success brings us to 6!

The akatas fall behind as they get their tentacles caught by the vines.

You burst out onto the sandy beach. Though not quite the beach day one would envision, the beautiful, open sands also herald safety in the form of an impending watery escape, for those quick enough to reach it. You race towards the Saranggola as Arong wakes up from his nap in the sun and gives you a lazy wave of welcome, blissfully unaware of the horrors right on your heels.

Round 6
Obstacle 7: Beach Rush
Chase Points: 0 (6 required)
Party damage = -24 hp each

BOLD May Act

Tao
Marigold
Khaul
Aleksandr
Lokaloka
Mindartis

Skills
DC 22 Acrobatics or Athletics to sprint or bound across the sands
DC 21 Reflex to expertly roll down the beach after making a dynamic exit from the jungle
DC 23 Perception or Survival to identify spots for better footing so that the sand doesn’t slow you down

Picking herself up after her fall, Tao sprints ahead once more onto the beach, carefully avoiding all the traps her companions layed.

Athletics (E) w/ Boots of Bounding (+2 to jump) vs DC 22: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 15 + 2 = 21
Final Hero Point!
Athletics (E) w/ Boots of Bounding (+2 to jump) vs DC 22: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 15 + 2 = 30

Arriving at the Saranggola, she sees Arong "Quick! We are being chased!" she helps him push the boat from the sandy beach to the shallows - and turns back "Let's go! Not leaving without you!!"

Again, Mindartis uses his keen senses to look for safe landing spots on the beach.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

Tao reaches the boat and Arong senses the urgency as he starts to untie the bow line from a driftwood log. Mindartis slogs through the sand, not able to find the best footing. 1 Success

Lokaloka keeps looking back over her shoulder as the nom-nom-ers get ever closer to the beach. Aleksandr implores the gods of fortune who grant him a bit of luck allowing him to tumble across the sand.

Khaul neither leaps nor bounds across the sand, but instead does what dwarves do - goes steadily onward and reaches the boat.

Arong looks up to the edge of the forest in alarm. ”It’s the akatas, isn’t it? You disturbed them? But the anito, they helped, yes? And you got what you came for, I hope.”

Round 7
Obstacle 7: Beach Rush
Chase Points: 4 (6 required)
Party damage = -24 hp each

BOLD May Act

Tao
Marigold
Khaul
Aleksandr
Lokaloka
Mindartis

Skills
DC 22 Acrobatics or Athletics to sprint or bound across the sands
DC 21 Reflex to expertly roll down the beach after making a dynamic exit from the jungle
DC 23 Perception or Survival to identify spots for better footing so that the sand doesn’t slow you down

While catching her breath: ”We got the dragon’s hoard, yes. Khaul (the metal clad dwarf) befriended the Anito, yes, and is helping us run from the Akatas, yes” she looks back ”I gotta go back - wait and have faith!” she smiles at him and dashes back across the beach!

Athletics (E) w/ Boots of Bounding (+2 to jump) vs DC 22: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 15 + 2 = 31

Marigold somersaults her way down the beach, and sees Tao running from the boat.

”Hey, you’re…going the…wrong way!”

Ref save: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26 Evasive Reflexes

Mindartis this time makes a run for it across the sands.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Unfortunately, his unfamiliarity with the terrain slows down the group.

Tao bounds across the sand in boots apparently made just for this purpose, and Marigold dodges out of both Tao’s way and that of the approaching akatas. Mindartis again gets mired in the sand.

Arong tosses the bowline onto the deck and clambers aboard. ”Let’s go, Pathfinders. Back to Binocol as fast as she can fly,” he urges you. The Saranggola requires incentive to sail its passengers to safety, and that incentive involves a lot of vigorous rowing and generally not being on land any longer.

I’ll carry over the extra Chase Point from Marigold, and we’ll start this last round with everyone able to act.

Round 8
Obstacle 8: Row! Row! ROW!
Chase Points: 1 (6 required)
Party damage = -24 hp each

BOLD May Act

Tao
Marigold
Khaul
Aleksandr
Lokaloka
Mindartis

Skills
DC 23 Athletics to shove the boat into the water
DC 23 Diplomacy to distribute the oars and organize everyone into a good rowing pattern
DC 21 Intimidation or Performance to encourage Arong to get the vessel ready for a speedy escape
DC 22 Survival to aid in untying knots or unfurling the sails
I would also accept a DC 19 Sailing Lore here.

Lokaloka pulls out her pipes and starts to play a rousing tune to start the rhythm.

Performance, Wind Instruments(Virtuosic), Maestro's Instrument: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Tao rows, but also sings along, a song about getting the wagon loaded quickly, calming the horses, and hitting the trail.

Performance (E) vs DC 21: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17

Too bad they are on a boat...

"Climb aboard, I'll shove you out." calls out Khaul as he leans in heavily against the boat, shoving with all his might.

athletics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

But the sand shifts under him, and he face-plants into the sea, spluttering curses about dwarves and water not being a good combination.

"Oh come on Khaul, you have this. Your team is depending on you." says Myrsa is an unusually encouraging voice.

HP reroll
athletics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

However the well intentioned encouragement just turns out to be an unhelpful distraction as he goes down for the second time.

Lokaloka’s song mightily inspires Arong to get a move on, but then Tao’s song about wagons and horses just confuses the poor man. Lucky for Khaul that everyone was scratching their heads about the song and no one even noticed his face plant.

The akatas begin rushing across the sand, eager for one last taste of goblin. (And dwarf, and human, and gnome, and elf, too, of course. But that goblin meat with the infusion of spicy pickle brine - that’s the first-class ticket to nomnom-land!)

Round 8
Obstacle 8: Row! Row! ROW!
Chase Points: 3 (6 required)
Party damage = -24 hp each

BOLD May Act

Tao
Marigold
Khaul
Aleksandr
Lokaloka
Mindartis

Skills
DC 23 Athletics to shove the boat into the water
DC 23 Diplomacy to distribute the oars and organize everyone into a good rowing pattern
DC 21 Intimidation or Performance to encourage Arong to get the vessel ready for a speedy escape
DC 22 Survival to aid in untying knots or unfurling the sails
I would also accept a DC 19 Sailing Lore here.

”Yes, the jam!”, Marigold exclaims.

”Wooden oars to make you go!
Rowing faster, to and fro!
For the best speed that you could,
Get a grip and pull your wood!”

Performance: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

"I's not NOM-NOM!!" Lokaloka screeches...

Aleksandr tries an inspiring soliloquy.

Performance: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Waiting for Mindartis. If he succeeds, we're done with the chase. Otherwise, everyone gets bitten again, then Lokaloka's spoilered roll ends it. This is also Last Call for Mindartis to fill out RPG Chronicles. Once we finish (which will happen in the next day or two), if it's not completed, I'll report it without Mindartis on the assumption that after 4 requests to do so, they don't want a chronicle for whatever reason.

Somewhat bleeding with all the akata bites, Mindartis helps push the boat to finish the chase once and for all.

Athletics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

I'm really sorry. I was not getting the notification over at the discussion tab so I thought everything was all good. RPG Chronicles is now filled out. Again, really sorry for the delay.

Marigold sings a more inspiring song this time, though any innuendo she might have intended (or not) seems to be lost in translation on Arong. Aleksandr harmonizes as Mindartis slips in the deep wet sand at the waters edge. The akatas get one last taste of the yummy goblin main course and her friends the appetizers. Then said goblin plays a rousing tune, and the akatas can only watch hungrily from the beach as the Pathfinders sail away, deterred from any pursuit by the salt water of the Okaiyo Ocean.

Chase Over!

Safely under way upon the water, Arong resumes his hosting duties and leads the singing trio with an upbeat shanty during the voyage back. The sun has set well below the horizon by the time you make landfall at Binocol. Venture-Captain Taiwalei and Purepurin await the Pathfinders at the docks, engaged in conversation with each other. Both appear positively elated to see you safely returned—though likely for different reasons.

”Did you get it all?” the great dragon’s kobold assistant, Purepurin, asks excitedly.

”I’m sure they did as tasked,” the VC begins, then pauses. ”But I’m more interested in what you found and saw. No one goes to Binoco Isle, so the Society and even the local elders here would be most interested in your reports.” He pauses again thoughtfully to allow you to elaborate.

Party damage = -24 hp each hand waving healing on the “2 to 3 hour trip back.”

”Khaul, tell him about the Anito you befriended. Neither fey nor undead, but it reminded me of both somehow…” she puzzles a moment ”There might have been another expedition there - twice we disturbed the dead who rose to attack us. What else…” it snaps to memory ”There are creatures on the island called Akatas - almost ran us down on the beach”

Also ”Although we had lots of encounters, we refrained from using fire magic. That was in your note, right?” she winks at the VC.

After flopping on the deck in exhaustion, Lokaloka takes up her pipes and jams with Marigold and Tao as the Saranggola makes for Binocol.

"That be true. Those forest spirits were fickle, but still we paid them our respects and they helped us out, unlooked for. " agrees Khaul.

"Maybe they be just not liking the akatas, but me feelin on th' matter be that they miss respectful company."

Purepurin takes the spacious pouch from you, looks inside briefly to see it all for herself - "I'm just curious; I've no doubt it's all there" - and then wanders off to look at the boats and talk to the locals.

Venture-Captain Taiwalei nods as you make your verbal reports and reminds you to write them up formally. "We'd like it done before you leave Binocol so that we may present a copy to the locals as a show of appreciation. And it's likely we'll have other work in this area, so you could remain here as long as you need."

He looks over to where Purepurin is pestering a fisherman. "But perhaps you could hurry, so I can get her and the metals back to Valashinaz," he asks hopefully.

Either way, your mission here is complete.

And with that I say salamat po (thank you in Tagalog).