GM Tektite's PFS #06-12 Scions of the Sky Key- On Sharrowsmith's Trail (Inactive)

Game Master Hawkwen Agricola

Auto Aid on Survival check.

HAgrym helps point out whatever bits of path or wear he notices in the surrounding environment.

Chochok easily leads the the party through the undergrowth. In addition, he spots several tracks left by the rival explorers, which include at least six Medium humanoids and a curious set of smaller tracks left by a barefoot humanoid missing two toes on the right foot.

About four miles from the Krihirik village, the terrain suddenly drops off into a deep ravine. The far side of the ravine is sixty feet away, and its craggy faces descend one hundred feet to the ravine floor below. The gap in the jungle allows a glimpse of the sky above, but the trees grow to the very edge of the ravine, and their dense canopy still blocks out much of the light. Several of the trees have massive, shaggy-barked trunks sporting countless twisting limbs. The trees’ strong roots grow deep into the earth and some even dangle over the side of the ravine.

Kniw nature 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

"That old tree will sure help us with climbing, but we might want to avoid it. It's called a monkey tree...anyone that touches it barehanded or with leather will pick up quite a scent! It'll be impossible to sneak around, and it'll probably draw predators who fancy the scent."

"That is very interesting! And good advice - certainly, some creatures in this area will pick up scents easily. So, then, how shall we proceed?"

Climb check to navigate the slope. It is 100' down if you want to use rope to aid you.

Antonella pulls 100 feet of silken rope from her backpack and secures one end to an appropriate ledge with a grappling hook.

She raises an eyebrow to her companions. “Going down? Ground floor: dinosaurs, jungle-rot, lizardfolk and sudden death for the unwary …”

You see her wink as she disappears below the ledge. “See you on the other siiiiiiiiiide …”

Take 10 Climb vs DC 0: 10 - 5 = 5

Climb DC = 0 for a knotted rope with a wall to brace against, GM Tektite.

Sifvery keeps her bow ready looking for danger until it is her turn. Then she slings it on her back and climbs down.

Climb Check: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

Seems we're going down. Nivik should have no trouble by taking-10 on the climb.

Hagrym will also take 10 to descend down the rope with the others.

Grim follows the crew down the rope.. Taking 10 as well.

@Tuna: although knotting it will significantly shorten it though. I think Chochok has some to aid to the cause.

Chochok proves quite adept at climbing, what with the sticky hands and feet.

T10 for an 18 Climb.

Tying three ropes together and knotting them, the party is able to easily scale the steep ravine side. Fallen trees, rocky streams, hanging vines, and other obstacles litter the ravine floor, making travel through this area just as difficult despite the sparser foliage. After several hundred feet, the terrain gives way to a natural trail running through the middle of the ravine. In most places the trail is a mere five feet wide, though it widens to fifteen or even twenty feet in some areas. The ravine walls and the distant canopy still block out most of the natural light along the path.

Where the path narrows again, a humanoid corpse—one hand stuck in its vest as though desperately trying to reach for something—lies sprawled in the dirt next to a thick, thorny plant. Countless biting ants swarm over the corpse, making its features difficult to discern.

"Hold up, let Froggy and myself try to figure out what's happened here and how to proceed! Could be more man eating plants."

Survival 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Perception 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

No objections here. Nivik will scan for magic, however.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Survival: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

"I don't think we want to mess with those ants either. But we're in a hurry and I'd like to know who that man is. Nivik, got any tricks for clearing out bugs and whatnot?"

Countless biting ants swarm over the corpse ...

Antonella nods at the Tree Whisper's assessment. Totally thinking ant swarm …

She draws alchemist’s fire, acid and alkali flasks, handing the alchy's fire to Chochok and the acid to Sifvery.

“I wonder if that guy was reaching for alchemist’s fire? Nivik, do you think it worthwhile to blast them with burning hands from a distance?”

What, and burn the corpse and everything else he might have useful? I'm not sure we should trouble ourselves and waste resources looting the dead.

That reaction might change if I detect magic, however.

Grim pulls his own alchy fire and readies a toss if thats what the group is going to do.

Chochok lets out a soft croak. "It's not just lootin' the dead, it's discoverin' who he is and what befell him, ayup. Could be the Aspis knew somethin' we don't."

Nivik sighs and relents. True, you point is valid. I'll take care of this then.

Burning Hands, DC 17: 5d4 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 1, 4) = 13

Chochok and Hagrym get the feeling that inspecting the body will rouse the an swarm, while Chochok identifies about half a dozen sets of humanoid tracks that ran through this area and don’t appear to have returned.

Nivik casts a spell and releases a torrent of flame on the swarm!

2d20 ⇒ (16, 12) = 28

The gorging ants are charred to little crisps and the remaining ants disperse.

Examining the man, you see his hand is pinned where he was trying to reach for a flask of alchemist’s fire he never quite had a chance to use.

Around the man you find a rapier, a masterwork composite longbow, a potion of invisibility, a potion of cure moderate wounds, two oils of magic weapon, two sleep arrows, and two flasks of alchemist’s fire, and a rope of climbing looped around his waist.

Nivik looks to see if there is anything that might identify the man in any way. Seems to be well prepared, though a bit slow in reacting. Nivik will step away so the others might further investigate.

"Smart move in not just crisping up the whole body without investigating first! Lots of useful gear here!"

Hagrym could use that bow if no one wants to put a claim in on it.

Nivik sighs and relents. True, you point is valid. I'll take care of this then.

Antonella claps the evoker on the shoulder while *rolling* her eyes behind his back.

“Way to go taking one for the team, Nivik. It appears your generosity knows no bounds.”

"Hagrym, I like my own bow, so feel free to take this one. I would be happy to try and put those arrows to good use, though - or we can split them."

"Take the arrows. If you could give me a few of your normal one's, it'd be appreciated, Sifvery."

Nivik gives no reply to the compliment he receives. Picking up the potion of invisibility, he brushes himself off and waits for the party to start back on their way again.

Chochok leaves the gear to the others but now that the ants are gone he makes a thorough search of the man and the surrounding area.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Survival: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

+2 against humans

Grim will taek the rope of climbing and leave the rest to group..

Sifvery nods and exchanges arrows with Hagrym to make sure he has ample ammunition.

If no one claims the potions, oils, and alchemist's fire, Sifvery will put them in her pack. She has no need to carry a rapier, though.

After looting the body, the party continues onward.

The floor of the ravine slopes downward slightly and the foliage overhead gradually thins. The ravine is wider here, and numerous boulders scattered throughout the area attest to steady erosion. Some of the boulders bear strange carvings and are even hewn into rough pillars, but they jut at odd angles out from the landscape and don’t seem to be a part of any surviving structure. Nestled in the shadow of two such pillars is a shallow pit scraped out of the earth by some massive creature’s claws. The nest contains several branches, the half-eaten body of a leather-clad humanoid, several broken shells, and a several large, intact eggs. In the trampled foliage near the nest lies the corpse of a massive, bipedal dinosaur, its tooth-lined maw agape and its hide pierced with dozens of crude javelins.

6d20 ⇒ (13, 9, 5, 17, 20, 19) = 83

As you approach, everyone, but Chochok and Grim notice four lizardfolk guarding the nest.

Take 10 Survival: 10 + 3 = 13

Antonella whispers “Seems momma’s left the building – for the time being anyway.”

“What say someone stealthy like Chochok sneaks up on the lizardfolk using the potion of invisibility and steals ...uh... acquires the eggs for the cause of greater good.”

“Chochok, if you like I can use my snapleaf and accompany you as backup – or give it to one of the others, if having more muscle makes more sense AND they’d like to go.”

Auto on Survival check.

On the phone. Please read the DM spoiler in last post.

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

"Do you think these lizard folk attacked the dinosaurs, or are they protecting them? I am not familiar with these creatures."

"I don't know, but it seems the momma's around here somewhere." He points to the large three-toed tracks on the ground. "Better get those eggs quick. C'mon Tuna, let's go."

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 20 = 37 (+4 more in marshes and forested areas, if this counts; another +2 if this counts as swamp but probably not)

Grim stays back out of sight and readies himself to move up should combat start..

Nivik will let the outdoorsy and stealthy ones do their job, staying out of the way but prepared to act if needed.

"Hagrym and I could put these sleep arrows to use and try to better our odds against these lizard folk, if you like. I can pretty much ensure I won't miss, at least not with the first shot."

Sifvery stands ready to cast Truestrike and then shoot a sleep arrow at a lizardfolk, should the group decide against the stealthy approach. Otherwise, she simply stands ready with the arrow in case of discovery.

"We don't have enough arrows to get them all to sleep, though. Maybe you can try and knock two out, while the rest of us close and try to scare the other two off."

As the party stand around, Chochok just disappears into the surrounding vegetation, followed shortly after by Antonella(?). Creeping toward the nest, the two get within five feet of the nest, unnoticed. The four lizardfolk are preoccupied with eating and notice nothing.

The duo can see six eggs in the nest as well as a mangled human body. The body's gear is strewn about the nest, including a climber’s kit, 100 feet of silk rope, a grappling hook, a masterwork composite longbow with 20 arrows, a potion, two tokens, and a wand.

Antonella decides to remove her armor and shield before breaking her cherry blossom-shaped wondrous item between both thumbs and index fingers with a *snap*

Take 10 Stealth + Invisible (moving slowly): 10 + 1 + 20 = 31

At the nest with Chochok, Antonella makes a check for traps/alarms and waits for the grippli to do the same before ‘liberating’ the magic items and an egg. Happy Easter or Passover

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Take 10 Stealth + Invisible (stationary): 10 + 1 + 40 = 51

I assume you will put the items in a pack (Items will go invisibile once in packs.) Need some stealth rolls to avoid bring noticed retrieving the items. Eggs are about the size of a football.

Antonella surveys the area, but finds no traps.

Antonella takes her time stuffing items in her tucker bag as quietly as she can.

Stealth + Inv: 1d20 + 1 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 20 = 32
Stealth + Inv: 1d20 + 1 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 20 = 25

Hardcopy Portfolio Reroll that last one: Stealth + Inv: 1d20 + 1 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 20 = 29

Is that enough rollin'? Is Chochok doing some as well/instead?

There are six eggs so three each I guess.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 20 = 36
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 20 = 46
Stealth: 1d20 + 8 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 20 = 30

Chochok carefully stows as many eggs as he can fit in his pack.

Hagrym stands well back, letting the others do their thing.

As Antonella and Chochok stealthily gather the eggs and equipment, the grippli notices footprints that appear to have fled both up the slope of the ridge and farther down the ravine—the latter accompanied by more lizardfolk footprints.

As the duo make their way back to the party, the lizardfolk continue stuffing their gullets, oblivious to the theft. Suddenly, the party notices one of the lizardfolk look up and peer into the jungle.

A few hundred yards from the dinosaur nest, the ravine suddenly falls silent—no birds, monkeys, or other jungle creatures are audible. A few heartbeats later, a bellowing roar echoes through the ravine, causing countless small birds and animals to abandon their hiding places and scatter as quickly as possible. A series of great shuddering cracks herald the downfall of several trees in the distance, and a second thunderous roar pierces the air, followed by the frantic shouts of panicked humanoids. Suddenly, a massive dinosaur bursts out of the jungle to the southwest, pursuing a dozen leather-clad explorers through the ravine. The furious creature sweeps up a straggler into its massive jaws and flings the screaming victim off into the jungle, roars, and rushes toward its next target!

It is quickly apparent the party is ill-equipped to deal with the monstrosity, leaving only one option......RUN!.....FAST!

Aaaand, we have a chase! This is slightly different in that everyone can roll a check (the same one) and we take the highest, allowing the others to potentially aid. Away from the computer atm, so will have the "map" up later today.

As you turn to look, you see the fleeing group of explorers heading straight for you! You quickly realize you have two choices, turn and begin to run, trying to avoid being trampled, or try to knock down the fleeing men, following the philosophy, that you don't have to run faster than the dinosaur, just faster than the other party.....

Acrobatics to take off running or CMB to knock the men over. Everyone should try the same, otherwise you might lose out on potential aids.

Party up!

Sifvery looks shocked by the sight of the creature, and quickly decides her arrows will be of no use. She turns to run.

I vote Acrobatics, because I have no real desire to know we knocked over men who were then eaten! But I will work with the majority - my CMB is +1 and Acrobatics is +2, so not a big difference... I will just roll once and GM can apply the appropriate modified so as not to slow down the game.

Check: 1d20 ⇒ 16

My best would be CMB but likewise I dont wish to trip up men to their deaths.. Ill go with acro too even though i have a -3 mod lol..

Acro: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (15) - 3 = 12

Aid Another Acrobatics 1d20 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (16) + 1 - 3 = 14

Time to go! Now!

Acro: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10