Storm-Screamers of Rull: PCs gain a +1 on attack and damage rolls against animals and magical beasts for the rest of the adventure.
Cleft Head: Before attempting a Bluff, Escape Artist, Perform, or Sleight of Hand check during this adventure, a PC can decide to roll twice and take the higher result. Each PC can use this benefit once before the end of the adventure.
Steel Eater: Each PC gains a +5 bonus on any Day Job checks performed at the end of this adventure.
Broken Spine: Each PC gains the Nimble Moves feat until the end of the adventure.
Burning Sun: Each PC chooses either the Acrobatic or Athletic feat and gains it for the rest of the adventure.
Bloodied Gauntlet: Each PC can use martial flexibility as a 1st-level brawler once before the end of the adventure; if a PC already has the martial flexibility class feature, she gains 1 additional use per day for the rest of the adventure.
Murdered Child: At the start of an encounter, each PC can choose to gain the Precise Strike feat for the duration of the encounter. Each PC can use this benefit once before the end of the adventure.
Each person can be approached twice by the party collectively. Only one success is needed.
Constantin devises a clever limerick, but can't stop laughing in between his delivery that his performance becomes choppy and uninspiring. Fortunately for him, Borbus is already half-drunk, and it is enough to elicit a chuckle from the orc, who throws him a few tribal tokens for the effort. Gave a circumstance bonus for the effort in the limerick, and natural 1 does not fail skill checks.
Lini blazes through the camp with her cat, impressing many of the orcs along the way and gathering many more tribal tokens.
Refer to the spoiler at top of the page for the bonuses that the tribal tokens give you. One of the tribal tokens gives you a bonus feat for the rest of the adventure. Make your choice in your next post.
The only tribal tokens you have not obtained yet are from Bukog, Kardook and Mirtgog.
Bukog:
Though the Steel Eaters are supposed to be the best metalsmiths in all the clans, Bukog is having trouble impressing his peers. He’s seeking innovative new crafting techniques. (Appraise, Craft (any) Spellcraft, Use Magic Device)
Kardook:
Kardook is in the sparing pen challenging other orcs to nonlethal combat. He hopes to learn new fighting techniques to improve his fighting style and teach his tribe. He is a devout worshiper of Gorum. (Intimidate, Profession (soldier) CMB, Knowledge (engineering))
Mirtgog:
Seeking illicit information to topple the ruling Empty Hand tribe, Mirtgog is seeking information he can use against the Empty Hand and Chief Grask Uldeth. (Sleight of Hand Disable Device, Stealth)
Summoner (Unch) 3 | AC 15, T 11, F 14 | HP 23/23 (1NL) | F+2 R+2 W+4 | Per +1 Init +1
Iudex quick stats:
AC 25, HP 3/19, F+4 R+2 W+3, Per +4
Vlad spends the bulk of the trip north chatting up Khismia and Vanya to whatever degree they tolerate him, and trying to escape Iudex's watchful attentions. The psychopomp never lets the Ustalavan far from his sight, however.
Once they reach the camp, Vlad listens to the scuttlebutt about the many orcs and their interests, and suggests he try with the metalsmiths... and that Iudex try with Kardook. Iudex seems less than pleased with this suggestion.
"DO NOT CAUSE TROUBLE, VLADIMIR DRAZNOI."
"Who...? Me? Don't worry, I'll be back before the Grave Goddess checks in on you!"
At the tents of Bukog, Vladimir introduces himself affably and suggests some rituals that might infuse raw elemental energy into the forging of a blade.
Vlad, UMD at Bukog:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
The psychopomp, meanwhile, strides for the arena where Kardook may be found. He observes the orc for a while before moving into the arena.
"TO STRIKE FEAR INTO THE HEART OF THE ENEMY DOES NOT REQUIRE SCREAMING OR VOLUME. ALL THAT IS REQUIRED IS TO REMIND YOUR ENEMY THAT DEATH IS COMING. THAT AFTER ALL HEROICS ON THE BATTLEFIELD, AFTER EVERY LAST CHARGE, AFTER EVERY VICTORY, AFTER EVERY MARCH, DEATH REMAINS. NO WARRIOR OR CHIEFTAIN WINS THAT FINAL BATTLE. IN THE END, THE STRONGEST BLADE SHATTERS BENEATH THE INEXORABILITY OF ONE'S MORTALITY, AND ARMOR AND SHIELDS RUST BEFORE DEATH IS EVER DEFEATED. PRESENT YOURSELF AS THE HARBINGER OF ULTIMATE FATE AND FEAR WILL BE THE ANSWER IN ALL WHO ARE MORTAL."
Female Human Rogue 05/Wizard 02 HP 48/48 AC 24 T 24 FF 19 Cmb +4 Cmd 18 F +2 R +9 W +7 Perc +11 In +10
Always one to get the lay of the land before actoing, Vanya spends her first day collecting rumors and learning who's who in Urgir. Once reasonably sure she has what she needs Vanya makes contact with the warchgief called Mirtgog.
"Many greetings mighty warchief... I have heard you are in dire need of someone quick of hand and wits. I happen to be that kind of person. In exchange for your help traversing the land of Belkezen for me and my friends I can help you acquire the information you seek..." so saying Vanya points at one of the doors trying to demonstrate her ability with her thieves tools...
Female Human Rogue 05/Wizard 02 HP 48/48 AC 24 T 24 FF 19 Cmb +4 Cmd 18 F +2 R +9 W +7 Perc +11 In +10
Are we allowed a second roll against the same chief? If so Vanya will try to impress him using stealth once disable device fails
As the door lock proves way harder than she had expected Vanya smiles confidently and adds:"Of course... one can learn a great deal by hiding into the shadows and just listening..." and then Vanya vanishes out of thin air!
"Can you imagine what secrets I can learn for you, chief?" says a disembodied voice coming from somewhere near the orcs...
Stealth check:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Stealth to hide in the shadows aftyer the effect of vanish ends
Human (Garundi) Hunter 6 AC23(T12,FF21) CMD 19| HP 55/55| F +9 R +8 W +5 | Init +2, Perc +9, Sense Motive +5 |
Khismia seeks out Kardook to show unusual techniques that can be learned from the Dire Ostrich. While it will take her a few moments to get Nusar to comply, she does eventually get him to attempt to trip one of his warriors.
Nusar Trip:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
so to push Nusar to do a maneuver, I'd need to take 20 to guarantee that Nusar would do it (I'd need a 15 or better on my handle animal roll). Since we aren't lethal combat, I figure that's possible?
Nox and Iudex obtain more tribal tokens from Bukog and Kardook respectively. Vanya initially fails to impress Mirtgog, but her second attempt proves successful as she manages to overhear several useful pieces of information as she skulks around the meeting areas of the other tribes.
Khismia, you don't need to do anything more. You have collected all the tribal tokens. Now we just wait for the overseer to move us ahead.
You have some time to RP and discuss strategies.
Check the tribal tokens tab at the top for your tribal token bonuses. Remember that one of the tokens gives you an extra feat (acrobatics or athletics) for the rest of the adventure. You need to choose one.
Female Human Rogue 05/Wizard 02 HP 48/48 AC 24 T 24 FF 19 Cmb +4 Cmd 18 F +2 R +9 W +7 Perc +11 In +10
Vanya will take the acrobatics feat and with the +5 to her day job roll she gets a total of 25, which means she gets 50 gp if she survives this mission :P
Having traveled for more than a week through the harsh lands of Belkzen, the Twinhorn warriors grow excited as they come within a few days’ travel of their homeland.
As the sun dips behind the Smokespur mountains, the sound of drums start to echo off the rocky canyon walls, starting slowly at first, but quickly increasing in pace. Medda turns from her lead position in the caravan and shouts “Look out! Ambush!”
The drumming continues as a boulder hurtles from the mountain and lands on the lead wagon, sending splinters flying in all directions. Clouds of dust billow off the mountainside as dozens of orcs surge from the foothills and chant to the beat of the drums. Arrows and boulders begin to rain from the slopes.
Medda calls out, “Pathfinders, someone is willing to risk Uldeth’s ire by attacking us! I need some of you to meet their vanguard, others to guard the caravan, and a third group to take out their archers.”
@Table GMs: You have 11 days to run Up the Flood Road on page 22. Encounters D, E, F, and G are now accessible, but please stop before reaching Part 3.
Pathfinders, this is a pitched battle and you are needed in many places at once. It’s up to you to decide where to focus your efforts:
1. rushing forward to attack the charging orcs,
2. guarding the caravan and its supplies, or
3. eliminating the ranged attackers
*. After defeating at least one other encounter, you can also choose to confront the orc leadership for an even greater challenge
Female Human Rogue 05/Wizard 02 HP 48/48 AC 24 T 24 FF 19 Cmb +4 Cmd 18 F +2 R +9 W +7 Perc +11 In +10
Vanya shakes her head:I think we should get behind those archers and remove them from the field of battle. If left unmolested they can very well prove to be our ruin even if we break their initial push!
A mass of orcs and their monstrous allies charges down the foothills. Remnants of an ancient dwarven outpost provide cover and an obstacle; it is the most defensible position from which to confront the enemy, or it would be if the enemy was not already there. They advance menacingly towards you driving a small pack of coyotes before them as a vanguard.
"Nobody hurts da doggiez!" Lini yells as she spurs Droogami into a gallop.
GM, presumably Lini would know how this spell works. If I cast calm animals on the coyotes now, will they stay where they are and not attack us while we fight the orcs? Will fighting the orcs make them see us as a threat?
Lini: Calm animal will stop them but any of the orcs can end the effect by threatening the coyotes with light kick in the backside - it will deal no damage but it will take the orc's standard action. The spell will work better after the coyotes are defeated.[/b]
[b] But your druid senses tell you that the coyotes are controlled more out of fear than loyalty. You can attempt a wild empathy check or handle animal check to persuade them to take a course of action that will not piss off the orcs with the same modifiers as diplomacy (it will count as a complicated task) and with a further penalty for doing it in a rush. If you have speak with animals prepared you can cast it as part of your attempt and I will let you negate the penalty for a complicated request, but what you request could still incur penalties.
"Hey there doggies! You don't want to hurt little me do you? I mean, we can be friends! And I can tell those green meanies don't treat you well, so how about we just take a breather? You guys pretend to chase me and Droogami here, we go for a walk and see how the rest of these idiots go. If my minions lose, you let me run away and you all go back alive, and if the green idiots lose you can come with me and I will feed you and love you and give you a forever home. Either way, you win, right? What do you say?"
Male Human (Azlanti) Bard (Duettist) 7 | HP 52/52 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 CMD 14 | Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +7 | Init +4(5)* | Perc +10 | SM +18* | Spells Remaining: level 1 4/5 level 2 4/4 level 3 2/2 | Bardic Performance Rounds 22/23
Trusting Lini to handle the coyotes, Constantin turns his attentions to the other beasts. I could foil Lini's work if I were careless with my conjurations...
Instead, he gestures to his comrades,
Once more unto the fray, dear friends once more!
We'll teach our foes the true meaning of war!
Lini barks at the coyotes for a few moments, then runs away with Droogami. The coyotes ignore everyone else and chase after the gnome. Constantin inspires his allies to prepare for battle. However, the orc warriors go first. Without their hounds to drive before them, they instead charge forward with their falchions.
Iudex and Nusar find themselves almost at the receiving edge of the orcs' falchions. Iudex manages to cut down the first 2 orcs. The third is just out of reach and cuts Nusar.
Several groups of Pathfinders break through the enemy lines and surround their leaders. A shout of encouragement rolls through the caravan, but a vastly different sound of worry begins rumbling among the attacking tribe.
@Table GMs: Encounter G is still available, but there are no further benefits for it.
Summoner (Unch) 3 | AC 15, T 11, F 14 | HP 23/23 (1NL) | F+2 R+2 W+4 | Per +1 Init +1
Iudex quick stats:
AC 25, HP 3/19, F+4 R+2 W+3, Per +4
(Assuming the announcement doesn't stop our combat from proceeding)
Iudex's chain and blade cut down several; the psycopomp shows no reaction to this, but strides forward to provide tactical advantage to his current traveling companions.
It does not interrupt your fight. It just gives you an extra option on who to fight after this.
GM:
3d20 ⇒ (4, 1, 5) = 10
Vlad's spell causes the orc to look at the big bird in front on him in amazement. The last orc at the back moves forward to attack Iudex, but both he and the psychopomp miss each other with their strikes.
All of you are up again since red is dazed.
Lini what exactly are you planning to do with the coyotes? They can't chase you all day. You can assume they are out of combat for now. Your calm animals spell will work on them now and you can make another wild empathy or handle animal check to try to send them away. They are too afraid of the orcs to help you fight against them.
Human (Garundi) Hunter 6 AC23(T12,FF21) CMD 19| HP 55/55| F +9 R +8 W +5 | Init +2, Perc +9, Sense Motive +5 |
Khismia dashes forward, knowing that she risks an attack from one of the orcs.
She draws her scimitar, and slashes at Green, knowing that Nusar is distracting him, leaving him open to a devastating precision attack if she can hit.
"Go little doggiez, be free! The big green meanies you held you captive are all but beaten! Or stay with our caravan and I'll make sure you are looked after."
Looks like the others have the orcs taken care of, so I'll just do whatever is needed to remove the coyotes from the fight without harming them. If necessary I will cast calm animals to make them more amenable.
If not, I'll save the spell since I can always convert it to a summon spell later.
Male Human (Azlanti) Bard (Duettist) 7 | HP 52/52 | AC 18, T 11, FF 17 CMD 14 | Fort +6, Ref +8, Will +7 | Init +4(5)* | Perc +10 | SM +18* | Spells Remaining: level 1 4/5 level 2 4/4 level 3 2/2 | Bardic Performance Rounds 22/23
Constantin gestures and pools of grease rise up to swamp the hapless orcs!
Grease, Ref. DC 13 or prone for blue and green, maintaining Inspire Courage. Also, it looks like Iudex didn't include Flagbearer and Khismia and Nusar didn't get Flagbearer or Inspire Courage
Someone shfted the order of the images so that 2 of the orcs who were put behind the map were brought back to the front. They should have been dead. I will adjust your actions to account for that.
GM:
1d20 ⇒ 3 1d20 + 1d12 ⇒ (11) + (10) = 21
Lini sends the coyotes away, but this will take some time for her and remove her from the fight for now. Khismia cuts down red. Nusar moves to the last orc and takes a big bite, but this orc looks much tougher than the others and takes the hit without falling. But then Constantin's grease spell makes him slip and fall prone.
Iudex and Nox are up.
Edit: putting them on autopilot.
The last orc is tough, but not tough enough when prone and surrounded by murder hobos. Iudex finishes him off with its flying blade.
There is still fighting all around you. Where do you want to go now?
1. rushing forward to attack more of the charging orcs,
2. guarding the caravan and its supplies, or
3. eliminating the ranged attackers
4. confront the orc leadership for an even greater challenge
Human (Garundi) Hunter 6 AC23(T12,FF21) CMD 19| HP 55/55| F +9 R +8 W +5 | Init +2, Perc +9, Sense Motive +5 |
"I still say we need to take care of those archers." Khismia says.
I think I might have been the one to bring them forward. I couldn't find us and thought we must have been pushed back in the map thing. I didn't think to scroll down at first. My bad.
No need to wait for Lini's vote then. Lini takes a level of ninja.
GM:
7d20 ⇒ (2, 18, 13, 8, 2, 15, 6) = 64
You follow the direction that the orcs were swarming from and find the stony remains of a ruined edifice that provide shelter from the hot winds. Rocks on a stone table hold down what appears to be a crude map of the valley. Standing at the table is an orc sporting an elaborate headdress and a chain shirt of distinctively better quality than the leathers of the standard orc warriors. He looks up as you approach and greets you in halting common.
“I’ve been waiting for strong opponents. Your deaths will give me honor among the Black Suns.”
His two large bodyguards heft their massive greatclubs.
Human (Garundi) Hunter 6 AC23(T12,FF21) CMD 19| HP 55/55| F +9 R +8 W +5 | Init +2, Perc +9, Sense Motive +5 |
"Right then. I've danced for money before, this isn't a dance." Khismia says. The sound of a bull snorting can be heard as Khismia activates calls upon the spirit for herself. She cast's Magic Fang on Nusar She attempts to get on Nusar, barebacked.
Summoner (Unch) 3 | AC 15, T 11, F 14 | HP 23/23 (1NL) | F+2 R+2 W+4 | Per +1 Init +1
Iudex quick stats:
AC 25, HP 3/19, F+4 R+2 W+3, Per +4
Vlad quickly taps the psychopomp on the shoulder, and the big suit of armor moves inexorably forward. (shield)
"IT IS GOOD THAT YOU HAVE BEEN READY FOR DEATH," intones the psychopomp. He strides forward and stands stolidly before the enemy, a bastion of steel.
Iudex will double move. With shield up his AC is at 25, and of course if any of the baddies provoke AOOs from him while closing, he will use his up-to-two AOOs to try and capitalize. Here is a preemptive AOO if needed:
Female Human Rogue 05/Wizard 02 HP 48/48 AC 24 T 24 FF 19 Cmb +4 Cmd 18 F +2 R +9 W +7 Perc +11 In +10
@Vlad: I don't think those ogres could provoke by moving into a threatened square (if they even need to, having reach), normally you provoke by leaving a threatened square not enetering into one
Lini casts barkskin on Droogami as they head towards the orc leader. Once they see him, Lini sends Droogami at the nearer ogre, though not wishing to be too deep in melee herself, she readies herself to dismount en route.
No charge lane, so no pounce, sadly. Move action to handle animal to direct Droogami to attack (can't fail), standard action ready to dismount at current location on map.
Droogami and Nusar bring down the red ogre. The rest of you move into position and apply buffs.
GM:
1d20 ⇒ 17 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (4, 5) + 7 = 16
The orc is surprised at how quickly his ogre went down. He pulls out a scroll and reads from it. A cloud of glitter appears over Droogami, Iudex, Khismia and Nusar. The other ogre brings his greatclub down on Iudex and leaves a deep dent in his helmet.
Droogami, Iudex, Khismia and Nusar need to save against glitterdust DC13.
Summoner (Unch) 3 | AC 15, T 11, F 14 | HP 23/23 (1NL) | F+2 R+2 W+4 | Per +1 Init +1
Iudex quick stats:
AC 25, HP 3/19, F+4 R+2 W+3, Per +4
Vanya Kaleth wrote:
@Vlad: I don't think those ogres could provoke by moving into a threatened square (if they even need to, having reach), normally you provoke by leaving a threatened square not enetering into one
Yep, I know. It was meant more for the leader in case he was a melee guy, than it was for the ogres. Iudex moved precisely to draw attacks from the ogres in terms of being a tempting target precisely because he would be within their reach. He and Vlad are mechanically meant to soak hits and draw aggression off other PCs, ultimately.
Will save for Iudex when the spell is cast:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
The pyschopomp stands still in the wake of the glittering dust that drapes over him, adopting a defensive stance but otherwise not moving. Standing action to go total defense
Will save at the end of his turn:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Iudex manages to clear his vision, but it comes too late to do anything just now. Vlad hurries up and glares at the ogre. "You should relax too."
The clash of weapons and sounds of battle are all that remain after the war drums stop beating. The orcs and giants look around in a moment of panic. Where they once fought with cruel determination, they now fight with worried desperation.
@Table GMs: The Scattered Leaders condition on page 20 is in effect.
