Yangrit Foehammer wrote: An RBF stumps into the lodge, followed shortly thereafter by an otherwise unremarkable female dwarf. After a brief scan of the place, she threads her way over to the jobs board. Anyone near enough can hear her grumble-muttering over the options. "No, that'd get me killed. No, that's been done. No... No... No... Rrgh." She sullenly turns and strides purposely to the bar to curtly order an ale. Tankard in hand, she weaves her way towards the most secluded table in the lodge, proceeding to survey the room from that vantage point with the intensity of a hunting hawk.
Level 2 CORE monk eager to try out her new wrestling skills.
"Yangrit! Me and Apollyanna here were planning on heading up to Nerosyan, the Diamond City, to fight a bunch of demons from the World Wound this winter. Should be fun. You coming? Yangrit was one of my pupils when I was student teaching last semester."
"Oo, oo, oo! I got one! I got one! 'Aroden's Temple of Doom!'" Janira says, and snaps her bullwhip for emphasis.
The Dean gives her a look with those overly-appraising elven eyes, as if to say 'not helping'.
"Oh, er, sorry. Not my find. I'll just stand over here then, shall I? Meep."
"Yes, why do you think the gillwomen travel to the site? Are they worshiping Aroden?"
"'Gillwoman', sir." corrects Janira.
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"He means we were fighting." adds the halfling quickly.
Shaine nods in relief.
"You're back!" Pipes up Janira who suddenly frowns and clasps her small hand over her nose and mouth. "Ugh. You all still smell like a fish market dumpster."
Tusk Two-Blade wrote: As in role-play or second scenario? As in the party has seen off the last major threat in the cave complex (the kobold scouts), but have yet to present their final reports to Master of Scrolls Shaine back in Absalom. It doesn't have to be a novel, and I won't force folks to actually draw maps and pictograms but each player should have something put together that at least explains what it is their character presents to the Dean, in relation to their understanding of the site, the Gillfolk interest in it, etc....
The party meets up with their compatriots.
"Well? Are you all ready to head back now?"
As for other PFS (evergreen) adventure scenarios: I haven't tried my hand at the Wounded Wisp, Master of the Fallen Fortress, nor We be Goblins yet. I do have all my notes for First Steps (part 1) up and ready to roll though (as I am currently winding down a game of that right now).
I would probably link such a game to Gameday VII's opening session (Aug 1st), if only so everyone had the chance for more boons. ;)
"So did you want to check the other passage, or are you confident that you have learned enough of the secrets of this place to head back and make a report to Dean Shaine?"
Yangrit Foehammer wrote: Upon seeing the monstrous moooOOOOooo leap across the stream and retreat, Yangrit holds her breath in anticipation of an about face and charge maneuver. When it is clear that the minotaur will not return, she lets out her breath in a loud Whoosh of relief. She then closes her eyes, slipping into her meditation for a few moments. The tension in her body slowly drains away. When she opens her eyes, she is calm and relaxed.
"Janira, are you wounded, or just winded?"
"I only get to choose one?" After a minute Janira straightens up. "So how goes the exploration?"
"WHEW! That showed him." Janira says between labored breaths.
"Don't get cocky kid! That's no small moo!"
Duncan MacMhuirich wrote: Duncan is exhilarated at being in the open again after the journey through the dark and damp caves and the shock of encountering the horrifying jello monster. He moves forward quickly and raises his bow aiming at the monstrous bovine foe.
TWANG! He loses an arrow at the creature! It flies through the air and (possibly) strikes the creature and drives home.
"Mr. Pepper? Wouldn't Sgt. Pepper's be a better choice? After all, you get by with a little help from your friends."
"OH, Maybe he was a doctor? I mean everyone wants to be a doctor nowadays. Don't you all want to be doctors too?"
acrobatics (jump): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Janira cogitates for a moment before remembering her mortal peril and she makes a limping, breathless run for it. She makes flying leap across the swift stream and into Ironshanks' arms. **CLANG-ANG-NG-G!!**
"OUCH!"
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Janira turns and triumphantly points at the party. "See? They came! They came to save me! An now they are coming for you!"
Using her ally's sudden appearance as a distraction Janira lobs a big wobbly sack of something at the minotaur. "Ugh!"
Janira tanglefoot bag v minotaur (fatigued, inspired, ranged touch): 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 - 1 = 15
minotaur reflex save DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
The bag hits and sticky goo splashes out of it all over the hulking brute.
"So like the famous Mr. Pepper's said: 'Consider yourself camed at' cowboy!" shouts the halfling.
From somewhere outside a still flustered Janira shouts:
"As Polanco 'the brogue-laden' Goldhammer said when he found himself locked in combat with the fearsome Flesh-warped Queen: FILTHY MONGREL, lae thes place ay ancient wonder! Och Aiee! Hoots Mon!'" She has to do something hideous to her voice to strike what the party imagines to be the original speaker's 'tain', and unknown to all present manages to sound even more garbled.
Inspire Courage +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
"Sure it might have been stupid to run through a camp full of minotaurs and then through a aerie full of harpies to throw them off, but did Kala, Daughter of Krokum care that it was sort of dumb that she named her wolverine 'Stinky' when really it's obviously a skunk, of possibly a musk ox's name? No, she went ahead and did it! Because that is the Pathfinder way!" Janira's distant, breathless, high-pitched, and slightly panicky voice echoes down the tunnel. The proclamation has a sort of bolstering effect on the party.
Inspire Courage +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
It is followed by a loud, bestial bellow, that has nearly the opposite effect.
MEANWHILE....
**Puff, puff** Well, I finally lost him. Thank Desna that's over! I was almost out of breath there. Now all I have to do is head back and wait.
Janira turns a corner and walks into a camp of a dozen minotaurs.... They all look up.
"Oh crap."
"CRAP!" Janira tosses her backpack into the cave mouth at Tusk. Then, keeping the bottle of Dreng's Best in one white-knuckled hand, and drawing her whip with the other she shouts. "GET INTO THE CAVE! USE THE STUFF IN THE BAG, AND GET INTO THE CAVE! FINISH YOUR MISSION! I'LL LEAD IT OFF, AND CATCH YOU UP!"
She casts a spell, and darts off toward the minotaur with amazing alacrity before turning to lure it away.
"Right. Time for your confirmation to officially begin. Now get in there and see if you can figure out what the gillwomen are doing here, take good notes about your discoveries (it's part of the test after all), and I'll be waiting here for when you get back-" Janira is in the middle of pulling out a bottle of Dreng's Best when she stops suddenly and cocks her head.
The squirrel suddenly scampers away. Followed by a bunny, some chipmunks, a family of quail, a garter snake, and a fox, and a family of deer.
"-Do you hear something?"
A large creature is crashing through the undergrowth, from the opposite direction of the animals' flight. Whatever it is the party can feel it's mass and momentum in sound and the fear its coming provokes.
The halfling worriedly remarks, “Quick, take cover inside before whatever it is spots us!”
With both hands she shoves ineffectually on Ironshank's stomach trying to get the dwarven tank to move. She might as well be an ant trying to move a rubber tree plant.
It's late afternoon when Ironshanks moves the tapestry of foliage before him to one side revealing wide clearing at the base of a sheer cliff. The trail he discovered having led them true. Thick vines cover the surface of the cliff stretching 30 feet overhead. Janira races forward.
“Here! The cave entrance is behind those vines,” Janira says with a broad smile as she walks to the cliff’s face. She pulls back several layers of vegetation to reveal a narrow crack in the cliff’s surface. Sitting at the base of the crack amid some loose stones is a surprised looking squirrel.
“This is where I saw the gillwomen enter, last time I was here. Get your stuff together, you're going in.”
"Oh hey! You're hurt. We should take a look at these wounds Yangrit. I mean your face is so red they might be infected." Janira pulls out a wand with a bejeweled crest-shaped head, and intones the command words: "Moon Healing Escalation!"
With a lot of flourish she aims it at Yangrit.
wand of cure light wounds (CL 3): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
"Everyone else okay?"
"Dang it!" shouts Janira. "The little compass-thingie on my wayfinder looks like it's been stuck. All the running around just now must have dislodged it. I knew I shouldn't have used it to ladle stew with last night. We're lost!"
Anyone want to try and pick up the trail before you miss your full moon rendezvous with the gillpeople?
Janira jumps up onto the downed log, balances along it and cracks her whip at the nearest bug's legs, but with so many legs it's hard to get read on which ones are supporting it at any given time.
whip (trip, inspired): 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9
Inspire courage An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
"OH, CRAP! They're some kinda monstrous bugs! Stay calm guys!" Janira says in near panic. "We can do this! --I hope."
Even though she sounds scared her words seem to help clear everyone else's mind focusing them on the fight ahead.
Inspire courage An affected ally receives a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Janira steps back, and pulls the whip off her belt.
"Hold really still Telos! I'll try and snap it off you!"
Yangrit Foehammer wrote: "Hey! Noisy people! I'm taking the first watch. You can fight over who gets the others." "Watches! Good thinking! The food was so good I almost forgot."
Yangrit Foehammer wrote: Magee certainly enjoys cooking, though I hope none of his beard ends up in the stew. (Shudder) Nor any halfling foot fur.
"Liv, did you want some of stone soup?"
Telos Downshot wrote: Wilen returns with an assortment of wild fruits. Telos already tried a survival check (to forage for food). Those are usually 1/day sort of checks and as I recall Telos got a rock.
Cooking score total of 20! You have a Great Meal!
"Well they are certainly interesting rocks." Janira says to Telos consolingly. *BURP!* "Excuse me! This is why I got into the Society. To to travel to exotic lands, and to eat all of the interesting food I find there!"
The sky begins to darken and night sets in on wide plains on the heels of a lovely rose-colored dusk.
"Meat! Just what the bard ordered! What's that fiddly bit there, Ironshanks? Liv are you sure you don't want to join? It smells really good! It sort of reminds me of why I got into Society in the first place. What can I do to help?"
Wisdom check or Profession (cook) (Aid): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16 ;) It would have been serendipity!
"I know! I brought some salt and spices. Thanks for reminding me Duncan. I almost forgot again. Here is this any good? Thanks for bring these back Ironshanks, it really would have been just boiled cheese otherwise."
"Right. Um.... How can you tell when water is boiling?"
"Right." Janira says looking up from the kettle full of boiling cheese and trail mix, to Liv and Duncan. "Now, does anyone here actually know how to cook?"
Duncan MacMhuirich wrote: "We cannae be a'havin' a dinner wi' out some music. I know a song that might fit the mood."
Fifteen birds in five firtrees,
their feathers were fanned in a fiery breeze! ....
After a few bars.
"You wouldn't happen to have something--I dunno--more civilized in your repertoire would you?"
"You could always go hunt something up with that bow of yours while the water simmers."
Darkness begins to fall, but Janira pushes on, almost to the point of it being too dark to easily make camp.
The forest is thicker here. Roads and civilization has been left far behind.
Janira asks one of the team to make a fire while others gather wood. Janira unrolls her bedroll, and blanket. She sits on the edge of a log near the fire with a small cauldron, which she fills with some water she had taken from a stream the party passed. She puts it over the fire and then pulls a smooth river stone out one of her pouches and tosses it into pot.
"We made such good time I thought I'd make my famous stone stew for dinner." She sighs regretfully. "Unfortunately I only have the fixings for the broth, and a weak one at that. If only there was something we could add to it." She looks around the camp fire at the group as the water begins to bubble along the inside of the pot.
Janira points to one of the fallen fortresses. Her spirits seemingly lifted by the long walk. "Wouldn't it be something to find an unplundered tower and explore it? Why some of them date back to the Siege of the Archmage Nex, over forty-five centuries ago."
She pulls out her wayfinder, the famous instrument or the Pathfinder Society and uses it to reorient.
*Audible facepalm* "The cave is in the Mounts. The Mounts are only near the ocean because Kortos is a relatively small island in the grand scheme of things and the Mounts lie at its center." Janira explains again through gritted teeth.
"See that over there." she points to the ocean. "That's the ocean."
She pauses to make sure that everyone is still with her.
"We have to walk for a day and a half inland away from the ocean to get where we are going in the Mounts."
Refer to the the current page 1 of the slides.
"That's spirit Tusk poke those unknown molds and slime woth a stick rather than a finger!" Janina heads for the door.
"Right. Let's move out."
Janira leads the party through the twilight world of earlier-morning Absolam. The streets are alive with merchants, and delivery folk setting up for the day ahead. The sun is just reaching over the horizon, illuminating the tops of city's tallest structures, when the party makes it to the as-yet-uncrowded market square.
"So Gillwomen aren't really my specialty. My area of study is flora and fauna and was part of my confirmation. I only tangentially noticed the gillwomen activity, but it was enough to pique my curiosity." Janira says. She moves over to a fruit seller and samples the strawberries.
"They are known to be very secretive, but not overtly hostile. Mmm, these are good. I'll take some."
"Oh, and what about light? Are we good on light? Those caves could go on for miles."
"There wasn't any time to investigate the caves more thoroughly when I was there last, what with keeping clear of all the clans of minotaurs, and centaurs you find up near the Mounts, and it wasn't my mission regardless. It’s that exact question that you all are being asked to answer. The only known permanent surface settlement of the gillwomen is in Escadar. Why they’re venturing into the foothills of the Kortos Mounts is a complete mystery. Alas, time is short. After reviewing my mission reports personally," (she takes a moment to beam) "Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is also no coincidence that you have been called upon now, just a day before the moon is full again. Master Shaine and I both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are important and what exactly the gillwomen are doing in there."
Yangrit Foehammer wrote: Yangrit grunts in curiosity. "I have rope and a grappling hook. But 5-foot poles? Why would we need those?" "Why you can use it to find pressure traps, feel around in the dark, use it for measurement, probing things, prodding things, replacing sundered hafts, snap it on the ground in a dark room to get a sense of the size via sound, sharpen it into a spear, or a bunch of stakes for vampires, put your helm on stick to draw out a sniper, help you balance on a tight-rope, use it to push enemies off walls, punt boats, pole-vaulting, making litters, lean-tos, walking sticks, hobbles for mounts, posts for clotheslines, crutches, flag-poles, a lever for moving things, kindling, something to crack open nests of insects with, or whack teammates who annoy you." She says adding extra emphasis on that last bit while looking at Telos.
"Why there's no end of the things you can do with a 5-foot pole or two." Janira beams.
Liv Moore' wrote: Though I think I will swap out one of my prepared spells if the trip is longer than a single day It is.
Tusk Two-Blade wrote: Dang! That half-pint likes the gold piece words, don't she. What the hell is an anfibeos human-oid, anyway? Anti-fibbing or something? I wonder if she would repeat that in Orc. Nah, not worth it. And too high-pitched for Tusk to hear.
Duncan MacMhuirich wrote: "I will run into a shop and pick up a journal and writing supplies as we head out of Absalom, friend dwarf. I am ready for an adventure! There are sonatas begging to be written of our journey, so let us set forth."
He hops up and heads for the door.
"Good plan! We'll be passing the marketplace just as it is opening this morning. Master Shaine is going to require good notes from all of you." She passes out some basic writing supplies and looks at Tusk meaningfully as she does so. "Beyond that, the Kortos Mounts are home to centaurs who control the lowlands and surrounding wilderness. It's part of the reason we're not taking horses--centaurs are sort of touchy about people riding equines. The areas farther up the Mounts are controlled by minotaurs, and the icy peaks are home to tribes of harpies. They’re always vying for territory, but with any luck, we should be able to avoid them and reach the caves without conflict. Then of course there’s always the chance we may run into bandits along the way, and there are dozens of kinds of predators in that forest. That’s why we should always be as prepared as possible."
Telos Downshot wrote: ”Yeah, ready.” "Are you sure? Food? Camping gear? Climbing gear? Antitoxin? Lanterns, and oil? 5-foot-poles?"
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
"I'll take that a 'no'. Well, gillwomen are also known as Low Azlanti, they are an amphibious humanoid race believed to be the last direct descendants of the ancient Azlanti people. During Earthfall, when the Starstone struck Golarion and destroyed the human empires of Thassilon and Azlant, it is thought that the gillwomen’s ancestors survived the cataclysmic event because they received the blessing of an aquatic entity that allowed them to breath underwater. Since then they have adapted to a near-fully aquatic lifestyle."
"Is everyone ready to head out? The full moon is tomorrow night, so there's no time for dawdling."
We're doomed.
Desperate now Janira turns to her last resort. "Liv? Did you have anything to add?"
Duncan MacMhuirich wrote: Duncan thinks to himself, "This guy is running the show? He can't even find the right list!"
"Master Shaine has a rather off-beat approach to life, but I guess when you are as experienced as he is you are allowed."
Yangrit Foehammer wrote: Refusing to acknowledge all the shenanigans of her comrades around her, Yangrit gets right to the point. She has a list of questions, but keeps her initial query succinct.
"How far are these caves, and how safe is the route?" Her question comes across as gruff, but her eyes shine with interest. Now that they're getting down to business, she's clearly in a better mood.
"Excellent questions! Before I pitch in my knowledge does anyone else here know about the Kortos Mounts, or perhaps about the history of the Gillwomen? How about I get my fellow halfling to start us out. Yes, you." She points to the late arrival. "What do you know about the Kortos Mounts and gillwomen?"
Kortos Mounts knowledge roll one Knowledge (geography) check and open all the spoilers that apply.
Gillfolk knowledge roll one Knowledge (history) check and open all the spoilers that apply.
Liv Moore' wrote: So are we to you know... and slashes her throat with her finger nail, just a touch. Her skin tears like paper but a surprisingly light amount of blood falls out. "Probably."
Janira looks momentarily defeated, but rallies quickly. Her broad smile only slightly forced.
“Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders!" She says through slightly gritted teeth. "Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, I witnessed a lone male gillwoman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillwomen."
"Uh, 'gobbies'?"
Just like a 'stumpie' to be culturally insensitive to a potential PC ancestry. It's like they have some sort of inbuilt hatred or something. ;)
Janira looks pained for some reason.
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"Oo, oo, oo! I got one! I got one! 'Aroden's Temple of Doom!'" Janira says, and snaps her bullwhip for emphasis.
The Dean giver her a look with those overly-appraising elven eyes.
"Oh, er, sorry. Not my find. I'll just stand over here then, shall I? Meep."
Hallimir Duskrin wrote: Before they depart on the return jouney Hallimir spends about an hour in the river trying to wash out the stench of the undead.
"Whoops!" *Blush!*
Later outside.
You're back! Pipes up Janira who suddenly frowns and clasps her hand over her nose and mouth. "Ugh. You all smell like a fish market dumpster. I don't even know how that is possible for Fomalhaut. What happened?"
Hallimir Duskrin wrote: "Apologies Janira, allow me to explain....
After entering the cave we met a deaf old Gillman named Uori. He told us that the cave is an ancient shrine to Aroden which the Gillmen have since been using as a place of sacred place of meditation and worship."
Hallimir turns away from Janira and looks up into the night sky. "Unfortunately, many Gillmen have been disappearing in the caves, never to be seen again, and Uori had no idea why....we agreed to search and try to determine what had befallen the missing Azlanti."
Turning back to the group, "When we began our search, we came across a pair of Kobolds who had set up in one of the tunnels. They attacked us but when one tried to flee, it ended up engulfed in some kind of acidic jelly creature...which also attacked us....We could hear your battle with the Minotaur echoing through the caves and your words spurred us to a swift victory over the creature." Hallimir raises his fist in triumph.
"....we could hear your struggle and came as fast as we could to aid you".
"So 'no toast' huh? I'm famished after all that healing. Okay here's the plan. You guys get back in there and finish up--fast as you can. I'll hang out here and try to cover our tracks from any other minotaur scouts. Chop chop! .... Oh! and if you find any toast and jam...."
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