Pattern Seekers – Episode 6: Gold, Gold, Gold (Part 1)

Having achieved another part of their goal, the Orb of Air, our heroes are dispatched on a different task, the seeking of allies but hopefully negotiating a peaceful compromise over the control of a gold mine between the Diamond Clan Dwarves and one of the Sun Temple Sects.  Both of whom the Pattern would like to have as possible allies.

Gold Ore

Thus our heroes are dispatched on a mission of diplomacy, which they may be particularly ill-suited towards, and soon find themselves on a winding road through the mountains.  Defender, as usual, takes the lead and after turning a corner, narrowly avoids being impaled by a ballista bolt.  Defender charges the dwarven post, taking a hit from a crossbow bolt, while Bradley shouts for peace.  After a few tense moments, the situation stabilizes.

The dwarves take a letter of introduction from Bradley and escorts the group to the dwarven camp where they meet Emissary Sagaroth White and Warleader Arcantus Rockbiter.  The dwarves explain that there have been attacks by bandits which is why the guard post was so jumpy.  They then lay out the dwarven claim to the mine: it was established by the Diamond dwarves but abandoned and sealed during a time of contraction and then the location was lost.  Bradley and the others agree to present the dwarven case to the Sun Temple in the homes of finding common ground between the two groups.

TPK Avoided . . . so why am I depressed?

So, we were playing Pathfinder last night and we got to the final battle, our four 5th level characters (barbarian, cleric, sorcerer and alchemist) against the Frost Rider -the big bad-, his ghoulish thug and four mephit minions.  The sorcerer is my character, more charming than combative but not useless in a fight.

Better off dead?

Things started out rough as we were pummeled by an ice storm and then had to climb out from the snow and ice to close with our enemies.  The barbarian went down paralyzed by the ghoul, the alchemist was entangled by the frost riders horned helm and was being brutally stabbed whenever he used a fire bomb.  Both of them were only not brutally killed because the GM choose not to inflict the damage the villains should have.   The cleric and the sorcerer mopped up the mephits while the alchemist was allowed to burn the Frost Rider to death.  Not sure what happened to the ghoul.  Somehow, were were victorious, but for the life of me, I am not sure how in game we could have survived.