Chaosorbit's PFS PbP GameDay VI - #8-20: Torrent's Last Will (Inactive)

Game Master Chaosorbit

Not known for his patience, Aelwynd kicks off while he still has a moment left of touch of the sea and heads to into the shell, giving a pirate's salute to Thunderhoof and the nearby members of his team.

Paddling like a monkeyfish, Thunderhoof follows behind the dashing swashbuckler.

The 9 damage would have come out of Rowanna's Temp HP. I'll correct the status line shortly.

"Yes, let's not waste our time with anymore angry fishmen." Rowanna says in a bored tone as she follows the others to the shell.

A quick check of the downed sahuagin's find that the Baron carries a potion of barkskin; +1 trident, belt of giant strength +2, cloak of resistance +2, and 1,038 gp (as well as other more mundane gear).

The other sahuagin's have a total of 3 potions of cure moderate wounds, 3 potions of invisibility, and 3 cloaks of resistance +1 (as well as other more mundane gear).

Go ahead and post any other healing and divvy up any treasure as you would like.

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map

The entrance to the nautilus shell is a circular opening about 40 feet in diameter. Thick rows of purple coral reef line the inside of the shell, covered with a riot of colorful plants and fish. Delicate screen walls of coral sprout from these reefs and stretch from the floor to the ceiling of the shell, creating hallways and rooms through which water flows. Each screen is overwhelmingly detailed, filled with fractal patterns and colorful murals depicting sea creatures and forgotten events. Near the back of the room, visible through several layers of screens, is a mound of coral with a pearly throne seated at its pinnacle. The ceiling rise to 30 feet and it's dimly lit here.

Lore, if no one objects, wants to wear the +2 cloak

Aelwynd will take a potion of cure moderate wounds and a potion of invisibility.

"Anyone for barkskin? It should last at least a little while, and I don't know how long we will be in here."

He then looks over the entrance for traps of any kind before moving further in.

perception: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 23 +1 more vs traps

Just as he is about to move in he gets the idea that maybe he should try and be a bit more heroic.

UMD Scroll of heroism(DC25): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28 cast heroism on self(50min)/unless Thunderhoof wouldn't mind casting it on me from his own spell slots(then it would last 100 min and save me a scroll.)

Nachts, having carried the bodies into the entrance of the conch, tosses the aside, helping himself to a potion of invisibility and a potion of cure moderate wounds.

"You would... have me spread pain and despair... longer? HA! HAHAHAHAHA! I WILL... TAKE... YOUR OFFER CAPTAIN" exclaims the half-elf gleefully as he approaches uncomfortably close. "What would... you ask... of me?" he whispers, his head tilting at angles that are certainly uncomfortable. Noting the half-breed's gaze, he turns with a over-dramatic sigh. "Oh... Those. Traps. If you would... avoid them... I suppose that I will... indulge... you and try and find... them."

Perception vs Traps: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37

"I'm fine Lore. Thank you. I'll take a potion of invisibility and one of cure moderate wounds." She swims froward next to the others and waits to enter.

Yes I will take advantage of Raging Song

I'm not exactly swimming in second level spell slots but I suppose I can spare one.

Noting a hint of doubt in the elf, Thunderhoof hums a tune and claps Aelwynd's slender shoulder with a huge meaty hand. "Take heart! Our adventure has only just begun!"

Heroism on Aelwynd and Thunderhoof.

Aelwynd floats back a bit as he grins at the warpriest, "Thank you for the help Nachts! Love the laugh by the way. The world needs more laughter. Maybe a little less maniacal laughter, but I'm not one to quibble."

If Nachts finds any traps, Aelwynd will work to disarm them, but otherwise he heads inside, looking and listening for expected threats as well as looking over the beauty of the place.

He swims toward the throne, as it is easily the most interesting thing so far, looking down each room or path as he moves, making sure nothing is lying in wait.

@ Thunderhoof Thank you for the spell! @ Nacht Thank you for the better perception roll! ;)

As the group reaches the shell, Rowanna pulls out one of her potion sponge soaked in Slipstream and drinks it. "Yes, this is much better." She says to herself as she casts Detect Magic and looks around the area for auras.

Will concentrate on any aura found to determine school if there is time.

No traps are found and other than small aquatic life, no other life (or threats) is around. Rowanna only detects magic auras around the throne an overwhelming conjuration effect.

Each of the coral screens forms a 30-foot wall, going from floor to ceiling dividing the shell into rooms. The screens measuring less than one inch thick and are filled with thousands of holes, which form geometric patterns and murals. The screen walls appear to be incredibly fragile. The coral murals seem badly damaged from centuries of conflict,
and are covered with a dizzying display of iconography and complex symbols.

The Throne rests near the back of this innermost room. It is a massive nacre chair that looks big enough to seat a troll or giant. As a part of
Riam’s shell, the throne’s roots extend through the coral and connect with the floor below.

The whole place is extremely beautiful and some what overwhelming. It seems a wealth of hidden history may be recorded here.

Would you like to spend time studying the room?

Aelwynd is always interested in beauty, no matter the source, and he is extremely inquisitive, so he stops and takes time to study the room.

"This place is fascinating! It almost makes me dizzy to look at! I am sure we could learn something from all of this if I could just take a little time with it. Anyone want to join me?"

knowledge check(They are all the same)+heroism: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 2 + (6) = 23

Nachts moves on up, accompanying the dashing captain. "I only... know the... barest minimum about... spells or spellcraft. I... would be... curious on what... these conjuration auras... do, but alas..."

Lore will look around the room with a wondrous expression on her face, trying to make sense of the iconography... reading whatever is readable, f anything, among the images. she can read any language - eastern star ioun stone

Not sure what kind of checks will help but Thunderhoof can do it all with bardic knowledge.

"Who would have expected such a trove of lore under the sea?" the huge Shoanti wonders aloud as he joins the others in studying the corral.

Wordlessly, Rowanna begins to examine the chamber with the rest of group, appearing quite interested in any secrets it might hold.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

I have quite a few Knowledges as well, and other possible tricks up my sleeve once we have a clearer idea of what rolls are needed here.

Okay this is a success based mechanic

For every five minutes spent examining the murals, you may each
attempt one action to decipher the hidden story depicted within the murals.

You may use a variety of skills and abilities to assist in this process. 1)Succeeding at a DC 24 Knowledge (planes or religion) check interprets a symbol and gains a success point. 2) Succeeding at a DC 25 Disable Device check or a relevant DC 20 Craft check is able to repair a broken piece of the mural and learn something new, gaining a successes. 3) If you can come up with something out of the box, that may be useful in recreating the story in the murals, let me know and it may count. 4) If you are able to comprehend Aquan (speak, Ioun stone, comprehend language, tongues or similar)you can spend time translating mural messages and gain a success point without making a check. 5) A mending spell grants one success and a make whole spell grants two successes.

We'll run it in 5 minute rounds and I'll reveal what is learned as you go along. And to speed things along, you may post multiple checks and indicated what your desired time commitment is. For example, only interested in 5,10 minutes worth, all the way up to unlimited to know the whole story. At whatever point the majority says stop, we'll end there and move on.

Aelwynd dizzy from the amount of information swirls around not quite putting pieces together, but very close to figuring something out. Everyone begins to take in the plethora of information and Lore let's everyone know that there is writing here and there in Aquan.

We'll call all that a freebie preview; challenge begins now.

Lore will spend all her time reading the Aquan writings on the walls. She'll continue reading until she's done or until the rest of the group wants to move on.

Rowanna casts Comprehend Languages on herself and helps Lore translate the writing to the rest of the group.

Rowanna is fine with translating the whole thing before moving onto another encounter. She has 80 minutes of Aquan reading at the very least.

Could I try something weird with scrivener's chant and some sort of non-paper? Otherwise, unless someone is gracious enough to give me a hand, I can't help at all. Of all the characters to have not prepared Mending on...

@Nachts - Hum..were are you going with your scrivener's chant idea, give me a little more detail. Craft can also be performed untrained, but admittedly is a long shot for you to gain a success with it.

Aelwynd looks over some of the broken mural and hatches on the idea that if he repairs it, it might make better sense of the whole picture. To that end, he takes out some tools and gets to work filling in gaps, reconnecting broken coral pieces with wire, and in general, fixing what he can.

Disable Device+heroism: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 2 = 37

Disable Device+heroism: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 17 + 2 = 26

Disable Device+heroism: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 17 + 2 = 29

After about 15 minutes of study, unless he was interrupted before then, he looks to the others to see how they have fared

"I've been able to repair some of the mural over here. I hope it helps understand more about this wondrous place."

Could any of us take 10? In case we want to do more.

Yeah I think taking 10 would be okay

Well, from what I understand, there's a considerable amount of text here in addition to imagery here right? Enough for people who understand Aquan to have an edge. Nachts doesn't understand Aquan and never will, but he might be able to get an exact copy of whatever is written here for people back at the lodge, something they might be able to use in conjunction with our report for experts to understand all of this. Thus, if he were able to scrivener's chant the text upon the throne and walls, that would work for his purposes.

Thunderhoof hums a tune as he works the broken shards back together.

I'll do the mending. Can we do each of these actions more than once?

@Nachts -- okay sounds good.
@Thunderhoof -- Yes

You spend around 15 minutes studying the murals and reconstructing them as well. Thunderhoof casts mending on certain broken parts; while Aelwynd begins fixing parts the old fashion way with tools and care. Nachts makes use of scrivener's chant to do some transcribing for posterity. As Rowanna and Lore begin to read the story that is told here.

And it goes something like this:

Kelizandri, the evil elemental lord of water,
imprisoned Lysianassa, the good elemental lord of water,
inside an artifact called The Gasping Pearl long ago.
Before she was imprisoned, Lysianassa used
her last gasp to breathe into a magical decanter now called
The Breath of Lysianassa. This imbued the artifact with the
power to control the ocean tides.
Lysianassa gave this artifact to a giant nautilus
named Riam, who fled with it. Nine brine dragon wyrms
eventually caught and killed Riam, but his shell was lost
inside the Lambent Bloom. Later, pilgrims of Lysianassa
built a temple in the shell and subsequently used it to inter
their dead.

The murals indicate that The Breath of
Lysianassa is hidden near the center of the shell inside the
mouth of a giant sailfish. Hulking creatures made from
moving coral guard it.

A few more details remain.

Ariana is still up. But I'm not sure she can contribute much other than taking a shot at 3 Craft checks. Do you want to spend 5 more minutes to get the rest of it?

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A corroded bronze door leads deeper into the shell. A coral lined -curved central hallway, contains more corroded bronze doors inside.

Aelwynd flashes a smile as he asks the team, "I think with a little more work we can get the entire story, so how about it? I'm game if you are."

His tools still in his hand, he fishes out more wire to help with the repairs should the team agree...

disable device+heroism: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 17 + 2 = 26

Aelwynd works on and allows you to find out that the throne is called the Throne of Deep Currents and acts as a control platform for the powerful magic provided by The Breath of Lysianassa. Becoming fully attuned to the throne requires an 8-hour ritual and grants control over the ocean currents within 300 miles of the shell. However, if the Breath of Lysianassa is ever freed the throne would lose all its magical properties.

Does that mean we've uncovered everything there is to learn here?

"If you attune to the throne and gain control over the ocean currents, do you have to sit on the throne to exert control after that or can you do it from anywhere once attuned?"

Ariana can't contribute much so she stands back and watches the others work. Her job is usually as bodyguard to the scholars."Are we going to try to attune the throne or find the Breath? "

-Posted with Wayfinder

In answer to Ariana's question, Aelwynd speaks up, "I think we should focus on finding the Breath. I know I don't sound much like a pirate right now, giving up on something powerful like the Throne, but from the sounds of it, the Breath was literally the last breath of a good god, and it's here for protection. Perhaps the breath can be used to free the god from imprisonment? I don't really know, but I can tell it's important."

He pauses to look around at the group, making sure he is understood before continuing.

"All that said, I don't think it is a coincidence that 9 brine dragons were hunting for the Breath, and now Razethka, a brine dragon, has been funding expeditions to get here in the Bloom. If Razethka, who we barely know, happens to be an agent of this Kelizandri, it's up to us to move in and really see what all the fuss is about with the Breath. Don't you agree?"

Sure it's a bit of a leap, but those murals were quite revealing. I can't help but wonder what sort of coral guardians are in there...

@Thunderhoof - yes

Options abound let me know which it will be.

"But if the Breath is in the shell, where it's protected by the currents, wouldn't control of the currents help us get to it?"

"Maybe Razetha... is an enemy. Or... perhaps Razetha... is not. An exception, like... many here. I also... believe that... if the Breath is... the... key... to freeing another... elemental lord... we must rethink... our strategy; these... things... require better planning. After we... attune the throne... to our... purposes, we... can look... at this Breath. And perhaps... make a mark that... will... allow us... to come back and... take it... should we need... to. If the... dragon proves to... be... our opponent, taking... it... back to Golarion... might be... in the... best interests... of all. But we... have not... gotten to... that point... yet. I imagine... the dragon will... want... us all... dead... before we leave... to prevent anyone from... finding this conch... should betrayal be... her final motive."

"So we are going to attune the throne? Who wants to take the seat? I don't think I'm smart enough to be the one that does that." Ariana points out.

"I agree with Nachts that we should attempt to attune the throne and then learn all we can about the Breath. If it appears that someone will use it for nefarious purpose, there may be a way to attenuate this power to keep out of their hands. In any case, if we are forced into conflict with the dragon, so be it. Shall we continue onward?" Rowanna offers somewhat more enthusiastic than her demeanor thus far.

Lore considers the options... "I wonder whether it is 'smarts' or power of will that would be best to excel at to attune the throne... I am willing to try it..." She walks toward the throne, which most likely dwarfs her. "It IS big..." IF no one objects or stops her, she'll climb up and sit down in it... Eyes wide as she expects something wild to happen.

Nachts aids the gnome onto the throne. "Be safe... I am the one... whose blood... need be spilt" comments the half-elf with glee.

Thunderhoof claps and whoops as Lorelendral approaches the throne, putting a beat to her ascension.

Not much else to add here. Was there anything the party needed to do to help with the attunement?

Aelwynd listens to everyone's ideas, digesting all he can, then he replies, "I agree we should learn all we can about the Breath, and I think to that end we have succeeded, at least in this room."

He focuses on the throne where Lore is now sitting, and tilts his head quizzically as he comments, "But I don't see the point of attuning ourselves to the Throne. I don't think that will give us any more knowledge. Are we doing it just so we can control the currents? They haven't effected us since we came inside here. Besides, if we end up freeing the Breath, according to what we translated the Throne won't function anymore and having attuned to it will have been a waste of time. I think the way to find out more is to move deeper inside. If I am still the only one that thinks this way, then by all means, attune away."

"I mean, it is an eight hour ritual after all. I'll do what I can to help. If anything happens from just sitting on it, that is completely different." he says with a bit of interest.

"Anything tingling?

Can multiple people take part in the attunement? Nachts would probably like to try as well.

With some difficultly Lore climbs up and sits upon the massive throne, she sits there and nothing happens. From what you find in the writings, sitting upon the throne is required in certain steps in the ritual, along with many other very complex steps. From what you can tell the throne would, in the end, attune to one being; but likely help could be used from other in performing the ritual.

Multiple {difficult} knowledge (planes, arcana, and religion) checks each hour.

Seems like you are divided on whether to attune the throne or search for the Breath of Lysianassa at this time. Go ahead and continue to discuss which it will be.

know religion: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
know planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

"I'm not sure I can do this, you know... " she scowls in concentration as she tries to figure out what the actual ritual is... "Can anyone help me? perhaps if not, we need to just move on, or someone else can try it."

Lore begins to perform the ritual but something is not quite correct in sequencing.

"Upon further reflection, let's find the Breath first. I think we'll have a greater understanding of what we need to do once we witness the thing for ourselves." Rowanna offers after a moment, "I'm also well-versed in arcane, planar, and religious matters, so perhaps I could try sitting on throne once we're truly ready."