Rizzlefunk |
"Wait, whose murder are you talking about? It's not Amenira's, is it?"
(No response to this from the doll?)
Rizzlefunk nods to Khana and then proceeds to exchange some appropriate pleasantries with the high priestess before getting on point: "I was wondering if you could tell us about Amenira. You know her, presumably, from your position. Was she religious? What did the other town members think about her, being an outsider and all?"
Rizzlefunk already knew the answers to those questions from Amenira's letter but he wanted to hear the answer from the original source.
Nithrandyl Eikrekkr |
Nithrandyl looks over the tree and concurs with the assessment of the tree. "Such a sad way for a mighty tree to perish. Hopefully this blight will not spread."
GM chadius |
Rizzlefunk wrote:"Wait, whose murder are you talking about? It's not Amenira's, is it?"(No response to this from the doll?)
Nira isn't sure. It seems like she has a vague idea of something bad that happened, but she can't identify details.
Khāṇa notices how blighted the tree is and tells the party about it, before they approach Zuri.
Rizzlefunk nods to Khana and then proceeds to exchange some appropriate pleasantries with the high priestess before getting on point: "I was wondering if you could tell us about Amenira. You know her, presumably, from your position. Was she religious? What did the other town members think about her, being an outsider and all?"
Rizzlefunk already knew the answers to those questions from Amenira's letter but he wanted to hear the answer from the original source.
"Amenira. She lives in the painted house. She likes to make dolls for the kids here- just like the one mister Jann is carrying." She points at Nira, who isn't moving. "She dresses like us now, but she never listens to the great Robori. She'd fit right in if she did." Zuri nods, mostly to herself.
You may be able to get some more information from her with a Diplomacy check to improve her attitude.
"I have never seen such a large tree. Is this normal?"
"That is no mere tree. That is Robori, the great protector who keeps us safe from the terrible storms. Why, a storm was about to hit the town, and the leaves shook. The stormfront split in half, moved around Mercy, and rejoined out in the back."
"Why did you ask? Do you want a blessing?"
Rizzlefunk |
The psychologist gnome assesses the high priestess's attitude, and then continues. "Well, in that case I'm as outsider as they come: I'm still stuck with the shackles of fashion. I guess your town is lucky, or just wise, to have a common dress code. My wardrobe cost me a fortune, and it'd be bizarre for me to try on any normal clothing. At this rate I'll be mistaken for a doll!" He hopes a flattering joke hidden in his small talk would help lessen the impact of the oncoming question.
"So, Amenira was a bit slow to adjust to the dress code? Oh, did she meet someone who taught her to dress that way? A friend? A rival? Something must have happened, right?"
To smoothen the question further, he finishes his interview with a return to a familiar subject. Using flattery, he asks the high priestess to tell more about the religion of Robori, even though he couldn't care less about it.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
GM chadius |
"Robori is the god of trees, and he has protected all that live here from invaders and storms. He grants us a bountiful harvest throughout the year. As long as he stands watch outside, we have nothing to fear." Zuri seems to relax a bit while talking to you all. Rizzlefunk's doll joke caused her to burst into laughter.
"Well then, a blessing for all of you." She gives a brief prayer, waving her hands over each of you. "Wood of the tree speaks a whisper to thee. The sun rises soon. To you a boon. Such is the will of Robori."
Hoping that he's entertained her for long enough, Rizzlefunk asks her more about Amenira. She exhales slowly. "Amenira...I haven't seen her for about two months. We're all a little worried about her. At first she stuck out with all of those eye motifs, but she wanted to blend in more, so she ditched that and started wearing simpler garments."
She frowns. "I'm gonna be a bit frank with you, here. She came up to me and started asking about this, uh, Nethys fellow. Said there he was a god of magic or something. Now, Robori is the only god and I told the sheriff about her false rumors. He told me he would keep an eye on her, but sometimes that man says things he doesn't follow through on. He's missed too many sermons for my liking."
Zuri prattles on about marriage, gardening tips and the many cashew recipes she shared with Amenira. You can feel the day just go by as she rambles on.
"So...I decided to follow her once. She broke curfew, too. I hid in the bushes near her house, I thought I had a good vantage point. The sheriff tapped me on the shoulder and asked what I was doing- I was so embarrassed! She wanders the Mana Wastes on some nights, keeping to herself. She hasn't really made any rivals or nothing like that. I hope I didn't anger her with all that Nethys stuff. Besides that, she was pretty nice."
Thannaen the Forgotten |
While the priestess prattles on, Thann makes note of Khāṇa's observations and looks to see if the priesthood has noticed the blight.
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 17 Any hunch on that question?
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 Any sign of it being covered up or hidden?
Nithrandyl Eikrekkr |
"Ribori sounds like a pleasant protector of the trees and your flock. I myself know of some magic regarding nature and trees. Let me offer a thanks to Ribori for your boon." and the elf casts create water over the roots of the great tree.
Khāṇa Tsogtsos |
'The only god'...? Khāṇa thinks incredulously. She's heard of 'one-horse towns,' but this is literally taking things to a whole other level.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
GM chadius |
Khāṇa and Thannaen noted Zuri's initial distrust of them, but her conversation with Rizzlefunk has opened her up. She feels a lot more friendly with the group.
Thannaen guesses Zuri hasn't noticed Robori's blight. If she has noticed it, she has made no means to hide or to heal it.
Khāṇa Tsogtsos |
Khāṇa stays at the back of the party, her eyes peeled for anything and everything left unspoken.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Nithrandyl Eikrekkr |
"About how long ago? A day or two, a week, a month? Just wondering if we hurry would we catch her on the road or not."
GM chadius |
"The last time I saw her was... 2 months ago? She said she was heading to Alkenstar to deliver some letters to her folks."
Khāṇa quietly observes Zuri and the acolytes at the temple. Everyone is curious and weary of the party, as they clearly aren't from around the town. Zuri has relaxed considerably, as she is very candid with the party.
Khāṇa Tsogtsos |
"Did she ever talk about her past, or her family, or her temple?"
One thing I'm unclear on: Is/was Amenira herself a Pathfinder, or not?
"Also...have you not noticed your sacred tree has a severe blight at the roots? I'm no druid, but if it isn't dealt with somehow, I'd give your tree a decade - at most - before it topples over quite dead from thirst."
Thannaen the Forgotten |
Everyone is curious and weary of the party
Emphasis added. Weary or wary? Significant difference.
Thann wonders to himself whether pointing out this blight was wise, but he had been considering saying the same thing. He watches Zuri -- and the others -- carefully for their response.
"Nithrandyl, do you sense any magic in this place?" Detect magic scan?
Nithrandyl Eikrekkr |
Nithrandyl moves behind the others so as to obscure their host from watching him and begins to concentrate around the room detecting anything magical...
GM chadius |
GM chadius wrote:Everyone is curious and weary of the partyEmphasis added. Weary or wary? Significant difference.
Wary. The villagers are very cautious around the party, somewhat worried they will turn violent at any given moment.
"Nithrandyl, do you sense any magic in this place?" Detect magic scan?
Nithrandyl steps aside and begins scanning the immediate area. Besides the party, Nira, and the staff of Tethys, Nithrandyl doesn't notice anything magical in the area.
Khāṇa remembers that Amenira was an investigator sent by the temple, but not a Pathfinder. When she mentions the tree's blight, Zuri is clearly surprised and asks Khāṇa to show her.
"Oh...oh my. It smells like the ceremonial oils- oh, that's terrible." Zuri frowns. "I need to change one of our ceremonies. Thank you so much for telling me about this. You guys have been a real blessing, you know that?"
Telling Zuri about the tree gives you all a diplomacy bonus for the rest of the scenario. I'll track it internally.
Also, this covers about everything. I'll move on to the next event soon. Anything else people need to do at the temple before we move on?
Thannaen the Forgotten |
"Thank you, Zuri, for your time," Thann bows. With little else piquing his interest, he suggest the group meander the town and engage the townsfolk for tidbits on Amenira. Though quite austere and reserved in nature, Thann gives it a go himself.
Diplomacy (Gather Info): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9
Nithrandyl Eikrekkr |
"Looks clear here" Nithrandyl whispers to the others.
GM chadius |
"No, thank you. Robori works in mysterious ways..." Zuri bows to the party as you leave. Zuri's droning and rambling seemed to waste the day away, and it's just after sunset. With the curfew not far behind, you decide to head towards the guesthouse.
Screeches fill the air, accompanied by the sound of thousands of wings
crashing through leaves and branches, and the occasional thud of
something hitting the ground from a great height. The people of Mercy are out
in the square, slinging rocks into the trees to frighten away the mass of bats
attacking the town.
A swirling collection of shadows appears along the wall of the carriage house.
As the people in the square cry out in surprise, the shadows collect
themselves into distinct forms. A figure wearing a large cape flees towards the artisan's square. The frightened townsfolk flee back to their homes.
square. But your keen eyes notice something strange about a black tarp covering
a market stall. It's some kind of creature.
The tarp is actually a cloaker in disguise.
As you see the cloaked figure run towards the square, Nira opens her eyes and glares at it. Utterly determined, she points in its direction and looks at the party. "Murder."
There are four lit torches in the scones of the wall outside the guesthouse. Move action to detach
Khāṇa Tsogtsos |
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 +2 = 16 :(
Inspiration: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Thannaen the Forgotten |
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Thann glances quickly around for any sign of the sheriff. Seeing none? he is already in action, pulling a torch off the wall. Don't be outpaced, his mind says, and he nods agreement. "Hurry," he calls to the others, already chasing after the cloaked figure.
Base speed is 60 ft for one minute. On an unrelated note, I do not have any blue clothing.
Nithrandyl Eikrekkr |
cant make that perception check
Murder...? Did she mean we are murderers... or that there was a murder done and wanted to notify us... or was it something else... what is that cloaked figure...Thannaen where are you running off to...?!" Nithrandyl muses aloud and then once told to hurry he follows the elf after the cloaked figure...
Smiley Stonegirdle |
Perception DC26: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Sense Motive DC17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Har! It's a farce! It's a show! Pay no attention to the bats, get that person!
Smiley dashes after the cloaked figure, not for the first time cursing his short legs.
He does not take a torch.
Khāṇa Tsogtsos |
Perhaps against her better judgment, Khāṇa decides to put Smiley's "lucky Dwarf" claims to the test and takes his word that he's somehow seen through a ruse that she hasn't. She follows (and probably overtakes soon enough) Smiley into the night, with no need for a torch. Where she grew up, the laws restricting torches were more and stricter than the laws restricting drugs and poisons.
GM chadius |
The tarp on the market stall comes to life, and flies into the air, hovering in place. The white underside hosts a barbed stinger, two beady eyes and several rows of sharp teeth. It moans, and the swarms of bats try to surround the party.
Khāṇa: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Nithrandyl: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Jann: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19
Thannaen: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Smiley: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Rizzlefunk: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Nira: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Cloaker: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Bat Swarm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Round 1
Nithrandyl
Jann
Rizzlefunk
Thannaen
Nira
Cloaker
Khāṇa
Bat Swarm
Smiley
Most of the party are able to quickly move before Nira and the Cloaker can react.
Nithrandyl Eikrekkr |
Nithrandyl preps a readied action for if and when the bat swarm comes close to the party he will toss an alchemist fire at the before they reach the group...
Alchemist Fire vs Touch AC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11...DMG: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Thannaen the Forgotten |
Knowledge to identify?
Thann charges without hesitation, dagger in hand. The thing lazily floats over his strike, unperturbed. 60 ft base speed gets me there with a charge. AC 14 until my next turn.
Charge @ Tent: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7
(All of this assumes it's close enough to the ground to hit it. Otherwise I'll do the same as Nithrandyl.)
GM chadius |
Cloaker's Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Jann reaches into the figure's mind, offering it visions of insanity. Instead of resisting it, the figure seems just fine with it, as if Jann threw a copper piece onto a pile of gold.
Thannaen uses his speed to rush at the figure but only gets his dagger briefly stuck in the wooden stall. As he frees it, the figure flies upward, seemingly oblivious to Thannaen You can take an AoO against it. 25 feet above the air, it emits a strange moan that disturbs your aim and resolve. Anyone within 60 feet of the cloaker takes a -2 to attack and damage rolls.
As Nithrandyl grabs his alchemical fire and focuses on the bats, Nira runs underneath the stall, her gaze focused on the creature. Wooden splinters emerge across her body.
Khāṇa plans her next move...
Khāṇa Tsogtsos |
Impressive, Khāṇa notes as she observes Nira's interesting transformation. Meanwhile, she stares down the street toward this...thing. If this is the "vampire" said to be stalking these parts, it's like none she's ever met. She tries to place its scent...it reminds her of some of her more adventurous and risky catacomb forays, but only as an ambient whiff. Under the circumstances, she decides to take her cues from Nira, who appears to be out for black, alien blood.
She advances and takes a timid shot at it with her bow.
shortbow, cloaker moan penalties: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
low allows me to retrieve my arrow: 1d100 ⇒ 32
Very timid. Her arrow flies an armspan or two into the sky then lackadaisically arcs back down to the ground. She really doesn't know what she's dealing with, or how to deal with it...and that scares her.
Thannaen the Forgotten |
Oops, missed that I get an AoO.
Thann attempts to redeem himself with a better follow-up strike at the floating thing.
Dagger AoO @ Cloaker: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Nithrandyl Eikrekkr |
if the swarm does not appear to attack the group Nithrandyl will switch targets to the cloaker
GM chadius |
Blades and arrows fly but are unable to reach their target.
Fly: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
The Cloaker flies on top of a building and begins to moan, unnerving the party.
Unnerve: Anyone within a 60-foot spread automatically takes a –2 penalty on attack and damage rolls. Those in the area for more than 6 consecutive rounds must save (Will negates) or enter a trance, helpless until the moaning stops.
The bats swarm towards Rizzlefunk. As they close in, Nithrandyl hurls a vial of acid in their general direction. It doesn't hit directly, but the splashback burns some of the bats.
The bats claw and bite at Rizzlefunk in a mad frenzy.
Swarm's damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Rizzlefunk, I need a Fort Save, DC 11 or you are nauseated for 1 round.
Nira emerges from behind the stall. "Y-You can't hide, murderer!" She continues her death glare at the cloaker on the roof. Briefly, she turns to the swarm of bats and unleashes a spray of splinters at the creatures, careful to not hit Khāṇa or Rizzlefunk.
Splinterspray, Unnerved: 3d6 - 2 ⇒ (5, 2, 2) - 2 = 7
Bat's Reflex Save, DC 11: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
The swarm easily evades most of the splinters, but some bats are skewered by the blast.
Round 1 - Unnerved
Smiley
Round 2 - Unnerved
Nithrandyl
Jann
Rizzlefunk (1 Damage, Bleed 1, need Fort Save DC 11 vs nausea)
Thannaen
Nira
Cloaker (20 feet above the ground)
Khāṇa
Bat Swarm (5 damage)
Smiley
Smiley curses his sluggish reflexes as the rest of the party moves before him. But, the Seventh Son knows it isn't who starts first, but who finishes last!
Jann Ulfenssen |
Jann closes his eyes for a moment, wondering if the eerie moan is the sign he's been waiting for that the end is nigh. His eyes open and seeing the world unended, he sighs and reaches a hand toward the cloak-thing.
He steps closer to the weird cloak and calls upon the icy hand of the void! Using interstellar void for 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9 cold damage, Fort DC 15 for half!
Smiley Stonegirdle |
Smiley briefly considers attempting to wrestle the bat swarm into submission, but wisely decides that it would take too long. He moves closer to the bat swarm and throws an alchemist's fire at it instead.
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Har! Lucky shot!
Khāṇa Tsogtsos |
[dice=Ranged Touch]d20+4 [dice=Damage]d6Har! Lucky shot!
+50% = 9
Indeed it is. :)
Smiley Stonegirdle |
Have I ever mentioned that I'm the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son...?
GM chadius |
Cloaker's Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
The Cloaker's mind may deflect visions of madness, but its mass withers under the cold of the void.
Lucky lives up to his name as a well-aimed vial of acid hits the bats, destroying most of them and causing the remainder to scatter to the winds.