GM Frost's S05-08 Protecting the Firelight P02

Game Master Frozen Frost

Dot in and delete.

During the long sea voyage, a small nondescript ysoki makes continuous circles around the boat, checking on everything and everybody - the captain, first mate, crew - the knots, sails, ropes - an experienced sailor himself, he makes sure to remian "just out of the way" so as not to overstep his role as passenger. He also helps keep the rodent population in check below deck, and the cats happy.

Arriving in Niishan presently, he immediately joins the others "Bangy Piper" eagerly shaking everyone's hand "Some say I'm a Scoundrel and a Rogue - I see myself as a Scout!"

He looks off into the distance, one hand over his eyebrows, and squints...

Bangy are you in the right place? I see that you're signed up for 03-13

After being asked by Venture-Captain Rahaksenwe, who leads the first Pathfinder lodge in Arcadia, to represent the Society in Niishan’s Festival of Fire, the Pathfinders begin the adventure as they arrive in town late in the morning before the start of the celebration.

The town of Niishan is bustling with people—mostly Mahwek humans, but also halflings, beastkin, and several small wooden humanoids, among others. Children run through the dirt streets, dodging around grown-ups, their happy screams adding to the calls and chatter of adult voices. Smiles abound, though some seem to carry a hint of anxiety or trepidation, maybe even just a touch of fear.

Star-shaped gourds and stalks heavy with scarlet corn wait to be harvested in small gardens that surround the circular earth lodges where townsfolk live and work. Smoke rises into the crisp autumn air from the homes’ dome-like roofs.

Kindly introduce yourselves to one another.

From the distance walks a dwarven figure, she has a long thick coat and a holster on her hip, two leather gloves cover her hands which never are far from her weapon. She walks casually but her eyes are keen and senses alert

"Rose, Rose Goldenoak at your service."

A goblin, in a draconic jump-suit approaches.

Hey! I'm Arfsnarf! Fortune-teller extraordinaire! My clacky rock can tell us what may become of this mission.

He looks at the polyhedral object in his little hands and drops it on the ground amidst the group.

Clacky rock: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Number that can't be divided by most other numbers! Something very special and unique should happen on this mission!

He smiles a toothy grin and looks proudly at all assembled.

"Heya! Shayla Quickfingers. I'm - hey! I've heard of ya! Arfsnarf, right? Been reading 'boutcha in some Chronicles. Wait'll Meadow hears of this! She'll be sooooo jealous!"

Shayla is a youthful looking woman of medium height. She's slender and lithe and has an apparent perpetually sunny disposition.

Shayla sighs, "I'm supposed 'ta tell y'all about my sister's store in the Grand Bazaar, Quickfingers' Equipment Emporium. We always sell the best!"

Arfsnarf's expression lights up.

Clacky rock in chronicles too?

He thinks a little longer and snaps two of his little clawed fingers.

Quickfingers! I think I read about you too in some chronicles! They so nice to read while eating at Grand Lodge. (They don't let Arfsnarf do both things at the same time anymore - nobody likes scratch'n'sniff chronicles). He flashes a slightly guilty look, which quickly fades away.

"I read 'bout the time the Grand Lodge blew up and your clacky rock didn't perform as it should!"

A young aiuvarin woman wearing leather armor and a green cloak embroidered with an owl and a lizard (or is that a cat? No definitely a lizard...probably) approaches the group. She is smiling broadly as she greets the assembled pathfinders. "Isn't this great. We get to attend a festival. It's like a giant party. This is gonna be soooo much fun."

She looks to the sky and frowns briefly. She puts two fingers in her mouth and whistles loudly.

Moments later a snow-white owl quietly descends from the rooftops and lands next to the young ranger. He is wearing light barding and has a blue ribbon tied around his neck in a festive bow. He hoots softly and shakes his head in an attempt to remove the ribbon.

"Oh no you don't. This is a party, remember? That ribbon stays on." She places her hand on the owl's head, gently admonishing him.

"Besides you don't want to hurt that little girl's feelings do you?" She turns to the pathfinders. "She was soooo cute. She couldn't have been much more than 5 years old. She just squealed with excitement when she saw Silence. She ran up to him and I could tell she wanted soooo badly to hug him but she controlled herself and politely asked me if she could pet him. After I said it was okay she practically vibrated with excitement. She was talking a mile a minute, telling me all sorts of interesting things about owls while she petted him. She said owls are her favorite. It was too cute. Eventually her mother called Miwa away but before she left she gave him a big hug goodbye and tied that blue ribbon around his neck. Ha! Silence says it makes him look silly but I disagree. What do you guys think?"

The familiar voice causes Shayla to turn. "MEADOW!" she squeals, running to the ranger and gives her a big hug...

Thievery vs DC 23: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

... and plucks a particularly juicy strip of meat from her ration pouch...

"Silence! You look cute!!" she gushes, at the same time tossing the meat to the owl.

"So, Meadow, lead any tour groups off a cliff lately?" she asks, impishly.

Kindly declare what Pathfinder Provision you are bringing with you before you arrive at Niishan. Everyone begins with two hero points each.

While waiting for others to introduce...

Though their arrival attracts interested stares from the townsfolk, the female halfling Mayor Deyahi collects the Pathfinders before they have a chance to do anything.

The mayor leads the way to her home, stepping down onto the sunken floor of her earth lodge and gesturing for everyone to sit on the cushions scattered around the fire. “I’m so glad you’ve come,” the mayor says as she hands out flatbreads filled with meat, squash, and herbs. “Our Festival of Fire starts tonight when we celebrate the turning of the seasons and our town’s continued prosperity. When Niishan was founded, a group of four brave explorers were the first to spend the night in the area. They lit a fire and through the night battled or befriended all manner of spirits from the prairies until sunrise, allowing them to make peace with the spirits of the land and start building the town.

“Each year, we honor their memories with a great fire, and honor the four people who have done the most for the town over the last year by giving them the Fire Watch. They protect the fire—and the town—from the prairie’s spirits, soothing those they can, and fighting off those they cannot. This year, the year the star gun Hatahasi came back to us, we have decided this honor, one of the greatest we can bestow, can only belong to the Pathfinder Society. We have also decided, in the spirit of understanding, that we will honor the Pathfinder Society’s traditions—though there were only four heroes on our first night, we know the Society traditionally sends four to six agents together, and so the town’s people agreed that all who came would be allowed to participate in the Fire Watch.

"Normally, those who will be in the Fire Watch also lead our festival preparations. Though you have only just arrived, I hope you will help with the final details. This will also let you get to know our town, and for our people to better know you. You may even see some of the spirits that have decided to join Niishan at previous Festivals of Fire. Please know that though these spirits may look monstrous to you, our relationship with them means a great deal to the people of Niishan.”

"Do you have any questions before you can help with the festival preparations?"

Considerations during the trip: Well this time they told me they would give me more experienced soldiers for the mission. I hope for good soldiers.

Wearing a chain mail the steady blue skinned hobgoblin with a bold head arrives at Niishan looking for his soldiers with his beady eyes. Once he found them he introduces himself to them:

Greetings. My name's Horul and I will be your... alchemist for the mission. We represent the Society. So be careful.

I've played 04-13, but not with Shayla. 2 moderate healing potions for Shayla

"Sounds easy enough, " Shayla says cheerfully. "What do we have to do?"

Scroll of Haste

Understood. Where do we begin?

Rose actually played 4-13, so yes! Healing potion as provision

Rose greets mayor "Great to be here again! "

Rose looks around and greets the others Wow, some lineup we have here

"So, protecting the fire is like keeping the fire burning through the night right?"

...a rat pops it's head out of a pocket in Bangy's clothes.

It takes one look at Silence, PANICS, and, ducks back into the safety of the pocket...

"Oh don't worry Freerat - I think she's friendly"

Bangy listens to the briefing "Stay up all night and make sure nothing happens - okay - that it? - What's the catch?"

The familiar voice causes Shayla to turn. "MEADOW!" she squeals, running to the ranger and gives her a big hug...

A look of consternation crosses Meadow's face as she accepts the hug from Shayla. "Oh. Shayla's on this mission?" She manages to hide her feelings and returns the rogue's hug.

"So, Meadow, lead any tour groups off a cliff lately?" she asks, impishly.

The ranger stomps her foot. "I keep telling you, it was just the one time."

Meanwhile, Silence quickly devours his treat and returns to fussing with the ribbon around his neck.

A smile slowly grows on Meadow's face as she realizes the scope of their mission. She's giddy with excitement as she addresses the mayor. "So wait...We get to help with the party? Fantastic! Could you tell us more about the four heroes that started this tradition?"

"Oh don't worry Freerat - I think she's friendly"

Yeah. I had a looong talk with Silence after 'the incident' in the library when we first became pathfinders. He knows all about familiars. Your little buddy is perfectly safe."

She makes quotes with her fingers as she mentions the incident.

I've played 4-13, but not with Arfsnarf.
Provisions: 2 moderate healing potions

As the mayor explains the festival he counts out the members of the party on his clawed fingers.

I think there's more than four of us though! How does this work? I can certainly keep a fire going for long time.

The little goblin shrugs.

He gives Meadow a confused look.

Incident?

Then looks between the owl and the rat several times before realization creeps into his expression.

"I can see that you are all excited to help!" the mayor is infected by their enthusiasm. "Once you get outside, whoever approaches you for help, you can begin helping them." she tells them.

She lights up more at the mention of Firewatch, "Correct! This year, the town has decided to honor the Pathfinder Society, to thank you for returning something that belongs to us. Actually, it is the first time since the original explorers arrived that outsiders—who are only very rarely allowed into the interior of Arcadia—will participate in the fire ceremony. I hope you will do well to protect the fire!"

"Yes, the festival just needs four, but I don't think there is a restriction to make it five or six?" the mayor shrugs off the thought. How would the festival differ anyway?

Random randomness: 3d5 ⇒ (3, 4, 5) = 12

Once outside, the Pathfinders wander to see if anyone will approach them to help. While wandering, they find that Niishan is a small town with probably around 600 inhabitants. More than half are Mahwek humans, though it also has a sizeable population of halflings and allied spirits, along with a handful of wyrwood, beastkin, and syrinx. The people are generally friendly, and openly curious about the visiting Pathfinder agents. Thanks to the Segada Protocol, few people from Avistan, Garund, Tian Xia, or Casmaron ever enter the Arcadian heartland. Though a few Pathfinders have visited, many Niishani haven’t had a chance to actually meet and talk with an agent. The townsfolk live in earth lodges, circular, semisubterranean buildings covered with earth. Vegetable gardens where residents grow produce surround these earth lodges. Paths of packed earth wind through town, beaten down by generations of Niishani. The air is crisp as the season turns to fall, and people largely wear leather and fur clothing. Most carry some sort of small blade in case they need it for work or defense—it’s a concern few typically have, but they know that on the first night of the Festival of Fire, spirits from the region will be at their most active.

Eventually they stop their track at the outskirts of the town. There, a tall, muscular man wearing pale blue hide clothing with a blue bison embroidered on his breech cloth frowns as he looks up. “Pathfinders, right? You are here to help me?" he then motions them to follow.

"One of the last things we do is gather ceremonial fuel for the fire. The mayor says I should have you accompany me, so you can learn what the prairies provide. What we gather, we give back in the fire. They say the founders used these same materials to help call the spirits and soothe them during the first Fire Watch.”

He then explains how they collect and use the ceremonial fuel the same way the town’s four founders did long ago.

Each PC who chooses to help gather fuel can attempt a DC 21 Herbalism Lore check or a DC 23 Athletics, Crafting, Nature, Survival, or Perception check. CS: +2 Preparation Points (PP); S: +1 PP; CF: -1 PP. Creative solutions are encouraged for circumstance bonus. Other skills are allowed as long as appropriate for the task.

Everyone is up!

Eager to help and diligent despite his mild reservations, Bangy Piper hustles around the praerie and gathers kindling wood, keeping it in his mouth, and handing some to Freerat, who remains hidden in his pocket, in case the monstrosity Silence rears nearby...

Perception (E): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Hero Point!
Perception (E): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Shayla starts looking for wood for the fire and hauls them back.

Athletics(T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

The hobgoblin tries to help with his mind of course.

Crafting: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

But the tools and the material provided are not good for his work.

"Oh. We get to help prepare for the party by gathering firewood?" The disappointment on Meadow's face is clear. She smiles wanly. "Sure we can do that. Come on Silence." She sighs and heads out to find firewood.

survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Meadow sulks a bit at being given such a boring task and doesn't give it her best effort.

Meadow has forager which might turn a failure or critical failure to a success for a task like this. If not I'll burn a hero point and reroll to prevent a critical failure.

Arfsnarf is a bit started when a local suddenly approaches them. He didn't realize it would be that abrupt! All the same, they were instructed to be helpful.

Gather wood. Seems easy.

DC 21 Herbalism (untrained): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Unless this is a trained action. If so, then same result but vs DC23 Nature instead.

It turned out... not so easy. Alas, Arfsnarf could not find any wood labeled "ceremonial."

While we wait for Rose...

During their collection of fuel, the man introduces himself. "I am Mekobin."

“A long time ago,” he begins, his voice steady and distant, “I was granted the honor of watching the fire after I slew a marauding drake. When I heard of Hatahasi’s return, I welcomed it, she belongs here. But outsiders? Being given the same honor?” He shakes his head slightly. “I had my doubts. I did not expect much from the Pathfinder Society. But now… I believe your intentions are genuine. I just hope the people were right to let you stand beside the flame.” He continues collecting more fuel silently.

I think you soon see we are genuine, and try very hard! Some might even call us try hards! Probably doesn't sound as nice as Pathfinder Society though.

Rose uses her keen eyes to spot wood for fireplace...

Perception, DC23, level bump with mentor: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 2 = 17

But she keeps on looking at Silence with a ribbon

"I can get rid of that ribbon for you when Meadow doesn't look"

Then when she spots Mekobin

"Well, I did some deeds in the past for this town, and we are here to prove that we are worthy of this honor."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 1 = 25

Bangy just shrugs. He has never slain a drake. Been in 100 fights though.

"Outsider" wherever he goes - even home - the term just doesn't evoke anything in him - neither sympathy nor regret - and he just helps. Mostly because he enjoys being helpful.

I should have mentioned that you will be gathering summer mints, savory herb reportedly drives away hostile spirits, making it a uniquely useful fuel for the ceremonial bonfire. Let's assume you are gathering that.

Cautiously eager, Bangy gathers kindling with his mouth, passing some to hidden Freerat in case Silence appears. 2 PP Shayla gathers fuel and hauls it back successfully. 1 PP The hobgoblin attempts to help using his mind, but poor tools and materials hinder him. Despite his effort, he fails. 0 PP Meadow heads out with Silence in tow. Though she sulks and puts in little effort, her forager instincts kick in, turning what could've been a failure into a bunch of summer mints. 1 PP Arfsnarf quickly tries to be helpful by gathering wood. But searching for something clearly marked “ceremonial” proves harder than expected, and he comes up empty-handed. 0 PP Rose sets out to spot summer mints with her keen eyes, but her focus drifts to Silence and that ribbon. 0 PP

Once they have gathered what they need. "I think you have gathered enough. Summer mints are used to drive away spirits when burned. This will be used for..." before he can finish talking, a raging bison charges at the party!

Everyone, roll DC 22 basic Reflex save vs 6d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 5, 3, 3, 3) = 21 B damage from the charging bison!

Ref: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23
Successes become crit successes

Shayla dives out of the way, rolling and coming up to one knee, axe in hand, ready to throw. "Where did that come from?!"

"Wha---" Bangy darts into the nearby...

Basic Reflex (DC 22) vs 21 damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

...nope. Suddenly trampled underfoot!

Earlier...

During their collection of fuel, the man introduces himself. "I am Mekobin."

“A long time ago,” he begins, his voice steady and distant, “I was granted the honor of watching the fire after I slew a marauding drake. When I heard of Hatahasi’s return, I welcomed it, she belongs here. But outsiders? Being given the same honor?” He shakes his head slightly. “I had my doubts. I did not expect much from the Pathfinder Society. But now… I believe your intentions are genuine. I just hope the people were right to let you stand beside the flame.” He continues collecting more fuel silently.

"Well we're not exactly children to be taken away by a wanikkawi. Still...slaying a marauding drake is pretty cool. Best I can come up with is saving a drake. Well a dragon really. She was about to be killed by a bunch of icky old oozes but we managed to fight them off and rescue her."

Just now...

"Eeeeek! A bison! What's got him all riled up? Look out Silence!"

reflex save DC22: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

reflex save DC22: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Distracted by his ribbon, Silence takes a nasty blow from the rampaging bovine.

"SILENCE!" Shayla screams, watching the owl get clobbered.

When the bison is out of range, she rushes to the owl and treats its wounds.

Treat Wounds, DC 20, Assurance: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (2, 2) + 10 = 14

Shayla removes the ribbon and uses it to secure a splint to Silence's wing...

It coming right for us!!

DC 22 basic Reflex save vs 21 B damage from the charging bison: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Yeeeouch!

Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Stay in line, soldiers

The hobgoblin tries to command his troops, but without a great success it seems.

With Pearly white spindle he's soon back to full hp.

Reflex, DC22, level bump mentor: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 2 = 23

Rose dodges the worst of the damage "Where did it come from!?"

Mekobin evades the bison without being harmed, surprised that that the animal suddenly appears.
Shayla easily avoids the charging bison.
Bangy is almost squashed. 21 B damage
Meadow is also not lucky, 21 B damage
while Silence is thrown by the impact. 42 B damage
The goblin Arfsnarf is also bounced away. 42 B damage
Horul manages to twist his body to avoid full impact. 10 B damage
Rose dodges to avoid being hit head on. 10 B damage

Most of them wonder where the bison came from.

After ten minutes...
Shayla treats Silence's wound while Horul

"I think you should go help the others with the preparations. The animal may have been spooked by something," Mekobin advises them, before anything unusual befalls them again.

Treat Wounds w/ Medicine (E) vs DC 20: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 222d8 + 10 ⇒ (8, 4) + 10 = 22

Bangy dusts himself off…

Well, let's find another one who needs help with the preparations.

Add Arfsnarf to the treat wounds. I forgot Shayla has Ward Medic

As Shayla begins to tend to Silence, Meadow concentrates and the owl's wounds close.

heal companion vs Silence: 3d10 + 24 ⇒ (9, 2, 10) + 24 = 45

Not wanting to make her friend feel redundant she offers up some encouragement. "Wow, Shayla you fixed him up good. He's right as rain already. You should be a vetrama...vetrari...vetronomico...animal doctor." She frowns a bit at her inability to pronounce 'veterinarian'.

deception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

She spends the next few minutes keeping Silence still enough for Shayla to do her work. (i.e. she regains her focus point.)