The Official Overseer thread for Cosmic Captive: Accept no Substitutions!
Originally posted in the Discussion thread, UTC Midnight.
The Society's Master of Spells, Sorrina Westyr, looks up with approval upon the 30 foot platform the society is erecting around the base of the Spire of Nex. Her slate-gray skin seems to blend into the stonework behind her, but her manner is lively. She grins as she addresses the unkempt beggar beside her. ”See, Drandle, we were ready in time. You owe me a beer.”
The old Venture Captain titters. “Heh. You’re not away from the spire yet. We’ll see.”
“So we will.” Sorrina nods, then waves at the assembling crowd. “Pathfinders—welcome and well timed. Please, make your ways to the designated safe areas quickly and carefully, and please mind the wards. Try to keep the paths clear, as we have some very delicate equipment coming through. I have some amazing discoveries to share in just a few more moments.”
Meanwhile in the crowd, the aura of excitement continues to build. Rumors are flying everywhere as Pathfinders ask each other, “What’s this all about?”
Sorrina Westyr, the Pathfinder Society's returning Master of Spells, hurriedly concludes her conversation with Drandle Dreng before stepping onto the platform in front of a giant metal ring the Society has constructed. The starlight glimmers in her crystalline white hair, though her obsidian oread features are visible only in flashes from the nearby glowing wards.
“I thank you all for traveling here on such short notice, Pathfinders. A unique opportunity has come to us from the stars.” She gestures gracefully to the comet trailing gas in the sky above her head. “The asteroid Aucturn's Tear quietly travels our solar system once every fifty-six years. For the first time it now flares with brilliance. We have learned this phenomenon is the work of an entity trapped on Aucturn's Tear and, whatever this being is, it is calling out for help. We do not know its intentions, yet it is in our interest to learn more. If it is benevolent, it may prove a powerful ally and friend to the Society if we can free it. If it is malevolent, then we will do what we can to ensure it stays sealed away where it can do no harm.”
She casts a spell, briefly creating an image of Golarian’s solar system, and the asteroid’s trajectory within it.
“As it approaches planets, the entity has opened gateways in magic-dense regions, as if calling out to powerful champions that might come to its aid. Based on our calculations, the first of these gateways on Golarion should appear in a matter of minutes, and we have gathered in this magically infused site to draw the portal here and stabilize it, allowing us to travel to the asteroid ourselves. Our observations show billowing clouds pouring out from three locations on Aucturn's Tear. These both create a livable environment we can navigate as well as provide three entrances to the asteroid's interior so that we can find the source of these events.” Red arrows appear at each entrance as the image keeps focusing closer and closer to the asteroid itself. “The first entrance is at the base of an enormous crater, where there are monumental fortifications— likely making that the most difficult approach. The second plume is coming from the remnants of a frozen fortress, which could contain incredible secrets in its own right. The third plume is coming from the sunward side of the comet and is issuing from a number of lava tubes. Our observers also spotted the wreck of a metal craft near there.”
Sorrina pauses a moment, letting the significance of all of these observations sink in, and then continues.
“This will be an unusual environment, so prepare for unusual conditions: extreme temperatures, low-gravity, and airless pockets are likely. Everyone should have received a package of supplies to assist in managing these hazards. While the gateway should remain stable, a contingent of conjurers is staying here to monitor it, and additional teams are on standby to provide escape routes to extradimensional shelters in case of complications. Perhaps most importantly, we've ringed this area with defenses to prevent any outside interference with this expedition, and the bronze dragon Ahelvetinn has agreed to keep watch in case any evil attempts to escape through the gateway into Golarion.”
The Spire of Nex begins to hum, the vibrations creating a stomach-churning resonance as a pinpoint of light appears in the center of the portal ring and begins to grow.
Sorrina Westyr shouts to be heard over the deafening noise, “It's beginning! Be ready to move through and split into teams to investigate each of the three possible approaches. Once we're inside we can regroup and compare notes.”
The metal of the portal ring incandesces, and a blast of freezing air pours out as the gateway opens. The place beyond is a field of jagged grey stone, and once several dozen Pathfinders step through, the earth itself springs to life in the form of countless elemental creatures that swarm toward the gate. From further in, a terrible draconic roar accompanies the appearance of a flight of crystalline dragons sweeping out from the lip of a crater.
“Secure the gate! Do not let any of them through!” Westyr shouts as she sends a lance of swirling black and white energy into one of the wyrms, sending it careening end over end as the forces meet.
Sorrina Westyr urgently projects her image to speak to every Pathfinder, and appears to be holding tightly to a steel ring near an alien device. “Everyone, brace yourselves. We have finished repairs of a strange craft on the bright side of the asteroid, and the engines will fire shortly, hopefully causing this rock to spin and even out the extreme temperatures. This may get a bit bumpy though in three…two…one... Hold on!”
A sudden jolt shakes the entire asteroid, sending anything unsecured reeling as the stars begin to spin overhead.
Sorrina Westyr’s projection appears once again to every Pathfinder. Behind her is a map of the Asteroid, Aucturn’s Tear, lit up with different colors around the different regions.
“Good news, everyone! Our tactical reports coming from the region known as Area F, ‘The Sea of Fire’, tell us that the entire region has been claimed and is now safe for travel! Keep going, Pathfinders!”
“More tactical reports have been flowing in to our Control Center,” Sorrina Westyr proclaims as her image appears once more to all of you. She points her wand at a now glowing region of the Asteroid. “We’ve cleared another region! Area D, The Frozen City has been claimed and is now safe for travel!”
“We’ve discovered a path to the Vault Entrance!” Sorrina Westyr’s image appears drenched but defiant, in the midst of pouring heavy rain. Ignoring the water sleeting off her, the Master of Spells points with her wand as she illuminates the asteroid map behind her. “Reports from those traveling through the Ice Reservoir indicate that most of the enemies in that region have been mopped up, though a few scattered groups may still be dealing with ongoing fights.” She taps the map. “We’ve discovered an entrance to the Vault through this area. If you’re nearby, proceed here as fast as you can!”
Then a serious expression crosses her face. “Our efforts have not gone without notice. My divinations indicate that Kelizandri, the Brackish Emperor himself, is displeased and wreaking havoc. Beware of flash floods and rain! Take care, Pathfinders!”
“The crater has been claimed, but our divinations indicate that Ayrzul is not happy about this! We’re experiencing unexpected surges in gravity everywhere, especially near the crater and vault!” Sorrina Westyr declares, madly strapping herself down as everything as everything rattles and shakes around her. “Hold on!”
Meanwhile behind her, Drendle Dreng is holding up a bottle, as he weaves back and forth in the convulsing landscape. “I feel the earth move under my feet, I feel the sky tumbling down... WOOOOOO HOOOOO!”
The image of Sorrina Westyr appears as she helps an enormous water elemental dispatch a band of gargoyles. “We do not stand alone in our efforts, my friends. Our teams discovered a band of rebels fighting back against our adversaries and we have begun to coordinate with them. Some much needed assistance should be arriving shortly.”
Hello Cosmonauts!
The lovely staff at Paizo gave me 15 ten-dollar gift certificates to distribute across the Cosmic Captive Special. Alas, we have 25 tables, so not every table can win one. In order to pick winners, I’m hosting a Cosmic Giveaway!
The Rules:
You cannot nominate yourself. You cannot pick me. Pick someone else (fellow player, GM, backup GM) who made your experience of Cosmic Captive fun! Tell me why!
You can submit only one name, but you can make a submission on the above link from now until July 9th.
Some names will likely get chosen because of the stories you tell me. Some may get selected in a random lottery. I’ll try to spread the love around to as many different tables as I can.
Hugs,
Hmm
The asteroid groans as if an invisible weight had been lifted from it, leaving the air cleaner and breathing easier. The reassuring breeze emanating from tunnels suddenly drops in intensity, leaving a feeble stream that whistles weakly as it drifts off into space. A moment later, portals wreathed in tumbling stone open all across the asteroid, and Sorrina Westyr urgently beckons everyone to come through.
“We've truly grabbed the scorpion by the tail. Whatever entity was holding us at bay has loosened its grip, but it has redirected its efforts to cutting off the source of air that allows us to survive in this place. The path forward is no longer filled with lethal energy. We have at most…an hour or two before we must return home or face asphyxiation. But if we press forward and find the source of the air, I believe it is tied to whatever captive is imprisoned here. Our portal minders will stand ready in case we need to evacuate quickly.”
Sorrina leads the assembled Pathfinders toward the edge of an immense, steeply sloped tunnel that descends into a miles-wide, spherical cavern. A crude stone fortress floats near the cave's center as if it were a rocky sun, and enormous slabs of earth orbit it like a miniature asteroid belt. These slabs gravitate inward toward the fortress, but periodic blasts of air slow their approach and cast the jagged masses back toward the edge of the cavern. Each gust is slightly weaker than the last.
Robed figures cling to the rocky slabs and chant loudly, as if empowering the stone. Unimpressed, Sorrina Westyr casts a spell at one of the distant cultists and flings him off his crude platform.
“iiiiiieeeeeeee!” The cultist screams, arms and legs askew as he hurtles toward the fortress and collides with its surface with a faint splat.
“Woo hoo, Bullseye!” Drandle Dreng claps, then goes back to organizing a party of Pathfinders who are busily unpacking knotted ropes. “Hurry, there’s not a moment to lose!”
“We must get to that fortress,” Sorrina announces before signaling others to lower knotted ropes down to the cavern. “Clear off the opposition, then we'll make our way inside. I find it reassuring that whatever lies within the fortress has an aura of good, and no doubt seeks our aid.”
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Thanks to everyone who nominated someone else for the Cosmic Giveaway! We had a grand total of 42 nominations! There were so many excellent candidates that I could not choose them all. Some winners were picked by story, others by random roll-off between two or three exceptional contenders. Congratulations, all!
All winners get a ten dollar gift certificate from Paizo!
We have so many great GMs that I had to have a lot of roll-offs in this category. We are blessed with some awesome GMs in this special!
Arrowhawk (aka NN959) (Myth-Weavers)
Belabras said, “They have consistently been present, always pushing the story forward, and run a great game full of flair.” Spellsorrow adds, “Arrowhawk has done an awesome job DMing this scenario. Not only has he kept us on track, moving along at a good pace and involved, but he's been efficient about combats and allowed us to engage in more RP as a result, breathing life into the NPCs and foes alike and thereby making the whole experience as good a PbP experience as can be expected!”
Carmanbeck (ACG, Paizo Forums)
Several of Cartmanbeck’s players cited this GM’s dedication, keeping the game going despite the recent addition of his Cosmic baby, Nolan Robert Beck.
GM Iff (Paizo Forums)
Ietsuna wrote: “An amazing GM. The game has kept moving and in some places where it could have got very confusing (that wave in the tunnel) he kept everything straight and easy to follow.”
GM Qwerty (Paizo Forums)
Tizen Nimrod wrote: “He has done really well advancing the story along with the other table being so far ahead of us. Despite everything moving so quickly he has made it an entertaining scenario. He's also managed to make it much less discouraging to myself and other players that we are running behind, than say, by someone running the special that cared less about the quality of games and more about completion of tasks.”
Michael Hallet (Currently GMing on the Paizo Forums)
Michael got multiple nominations -- and no wonder. While many cited his excellent GMing, others commented on his willingness to step up and GM an orphaned 10-11 table. As Solomon Goodman notes, “The last minute pickup of a tier 10-11 table is heroic in its own right.”
Terence Lin (RPGgeek)
Taen says this nomination is for “when the Ele-minion came up!” Ele-minions? Ah well. What happens in Cosmic Captive stays in Cosmic Captive! Meanwhile, Ian / Krazyman Karg loves both Terence’s attention to detail and how he always keep the game flowing.
Our great players have lively roleplay, interact with everyone, and help make the ongoing story epic with their enthusiasm and energy!
Celebdan (Kuey) (Paizo Forums)
Khaozknight wrote: “Kuey has interacted with every other character in meaningful way, the roleplaying I've seen for Celebdan is awesome, it certainly has helped to make the group of characters we currently have to coalesce.”
Gonecase (Dave Choua) (RPGGeek)
Derf_Red wrote: “He plays a summoner from a farm, whose eidolon Drake looks like a giant duck with an even bigger attitude. I guess similarities to a certain choleric duck are merely coincidental...”
Grag Gorumbound (Michael Cullen) (Paizo Forums)
Cwethan writes: “In the very first post where everyone's filling in their Day Jobs and PFS #s and other necessaries, he made a point of talking about his character's personality, and the different ways he expected to interact with other characters. For the people who bought in, it was a great starting point."
Kaya (Hiyami) (Paizo Forums)
Elektra Dawns wrote: “Himayi offers fun RP and also helped me when the Paizo site wouldn't let me post right!”
Kronas Kronglic (Shieldbug) (Paizo Forums)
This gnome, playing on Turmoil’s table, was one of the most nominated players in the special. Gummybear says, “Kronas Kronglic is an excitable gnome who approaches every situation with childlike wonder and enthusiasm. Gnomes in general have never really appealed to me, but this character makes me want to play one. The player's use of the character's abilities in unique ways to highlight the character's personality is masterfully done. I hope to have the pleasure of adventuring with this player and any of their characters again soon!”
Ranger Arabundi (Leaun Arduz) (Paizo Forums)
Mork XII wrote: "Everyone at my ACG table has put so much effort into making a story out of the cards we encounter and play, which is something I had never really done with the ACG before (other than a making jokes about a few odd combinations). It has been really great! But my favorite moment so far was during a scenario where our characters were sliding on the ice and had to move to a new random location every turn. We managed to come with unique stories for this rule fairly often, but Leaun's of one on Hmm's announcements was great: ‘Startled by the sudden appearance of the vision of the Overseer, Arabundi again falls to the ground landing him at the: [Random open location: 1d6 ⇒ 1] Canyon.'
Sirettis (Chadius) (Paizo Forums)
Nominated by players on two different tables, Sirettis and her GM (Red) initiated a selfless crosstable wish that allowed a fallen Pathfinder from another table to come back to life.
All of our backup GMs got nominated! There was a lot of love shared for the work that the backup GMs do. Magabeus wrote: “As a GM: knowing that they are there to take over if real life happens is great.”
I wish that I could have picked all the backup GMs! Here are the two that won!
Gayel Nord
Granta wrote, “He did a fantastic job GMing during my absence. It was extremely helpful that he used the same format as my own combat posts. That made it much easier for me to step back in, and the consistency probably helped the players as well.”
GM Cwethan
Magabeus says, “As a player: Cwethan is now at our table, he comes in running, takes over without us players really noticing and will leave without getting enough credit. As a former backup: you are trying to keep up to speed, so that nobody will notice any hiccup when you take over. If you manage to take over without anyone noticing you have done a great job.” In addition, GM Upaynao wrote, “They allowed me to deal with the dumpster fire that was my life on Wednesday and Thursday without worrying about making it on time for my players. And he did a kick-ass job of it.”
Sorrina Westyr’s image appears, her hair windblown and a look of wonder on her face. “The Society's discoveries have weakened the prison of the powerful being sealed within Aucturn's Tear,” she pauses, studying a flotilla of crystal balls that hover around her. “Our divinations indicate that it’s now offering a fraction of its power to our forces!”
Behind Sorrina, a small army of Pathfinder mages are studying the floating globes. Then one of them whispers in Drandle Dreng’s ear. Abruptly, Drandle hurries to the forefront, his shaggy head appearing in the center of the Divination window. "ACG Warriors, make a run for it!" Hands gesticulating wildly, he shouts, “NOW!”
Even as the many-faceted prison spins and reconfigures itself, it cannot keep pace with the combined efforts of the Pathfinder Society. A refreshing breeze pours from the immense orb, restoring the agents' will to fight.
Sorrina Westyr's image manifests to the Pathfinders, standing before a floating metallic polyhedron scribed with countless shifting glyphs. “We have done it! Now how to open this—”
A great crack interrupts the Master of Spell's musings, as an immense three-eyed giant with skin like hewn stone steps through a tear in space, with an army pouring out past her. The giant bellows so that all can hear. “I acknowledge your strength, little ones, for you have angered my benefactor enough to send me. I and my warriors, the Daemon Prayers, honor it with unyielding death. Seize the Vault! Slay them all!”
Sorrina Westyr urgently pipes in. “We just need a few more minutes to secure our prize and escape. Hold them off as long as you can!”
Drandle Dreng’s shaggy head appears once again in the divination window. “You heard her, Pathfinders!” He says, fist raised. “Go get ‘em!”
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Pathfinders push back the extraplanar mercenaries, which flee the Society's ferocious counterattack. The few remaining elementals fight to the last but quickly crumble under the assault. With the path back to the surface clear, Sorrina Westyr leads the way up to the portals, while Drandle Dreng organizes a quick head count, and begins ushering groups of agents back to Golarion.
Sorrina Westyr is among the last to step back onto the Isle of Kortos, carrying a beautiful, fist-sized opal that seems to glow with countless colors. Overhead, the once-radiant Aucturn's Tear gradually fades in brightness until it's imperceptible against the night sky.
The Master of Spells holds the immense gem aloft and speaks to the gathered agents. “We have accomplished a marvel today. I hold here an artifact in which dwells a powerful air spirit called Ranginori. Many ages ago, the Elemental Planes existed in balance, forces of good and evil locked in equilibrium. The elemental lords we know of today united against their benign counterparts, and claimed sole dominion. Scholars have speculated on the fates of the defeated, but no longer!”
A few scattered cheers well up from some of the more elementally inclined Pathfinders. Sorrina smiles at them indulgently, and continues.
“It will take time to confirm the outsider trapped within this opal is who he claims to be.” She starts for a moment, as if in response to a comment only she can hear, then looks up to the gemstone apologetically and adds, “Professional caution and courtesy, you understand.” She then looks back to the Pathfinders and continues. “If that's true, though, we now hold the essence of the lost lord of air, Ranginori, Duke of Thunder!”
At this, a wind whips around Sorrina, and she laughs.
“If we can free this being, imagine the history he can share with the Society, the good that might be accomplished. I cannot even begin to speculate on the ramifications for the Elemental Planes…and as word of our accomplishment spreads, there will be many thinking these same thoughts, and not with charitable intent toward us. We must be very cautious in the coming months I fear, and not least in verifying the truth of what we hold.”
“Fortunately, thanks to your efforts this evening, we have crippled key allies and armies of the elemental lords who opposed us. It speaks volumes of what the Society has accomplished in the past decade that I can sincerely state you defied demigods and emerged triumphant! It has been my privilege to have been part of that effort.”
Then the Drandle Dreng totters forward, weaving and swaying as if still trying to adjust back to Golarian’s gravity. “We traveled to the stars, and showed those sanctimonious sycophants just what the Society can do!” Then he scratches his shaggy chin, muttering to himself. “Heh. Pathfinders in the Stars. Starry Pathfinders? Starfinders? Starfinder Society! Oh, that’s catchy... I’ll have to remember that.”
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