EndlessForms |
Yes it is in Sylvan. It has been less than 30 minutes since you cast it so Nicklod can still read it.
Nicklod Vassily |
Thanks !
After his comrades did the trade, Nicklod began to read it for all of them.
As we have heard, the worm's got by the bird
Who gets up so early a-dawnward.
But what of the bird who, deceased and interred,
Becomes food for the worm womring onward ?
What is this gibberish ?!
The cleric turn to the birdlike creature.
Can you describe us the Sleeper ? Is it the one who create so much water ?
Diplomacy (take 10): 10 + 12 = 22
He gave the two part of the scroll to Vespaja and asked her
Could you study the magic on the scroll ?
EndlessForms |
"Yup, she's been spittin' out water every which way!" Owl answers. "Like a big fish with four eyes and tentacles spewin' out water, on'y not a fish we'd want t'catch, ya know?"
They are intelligent but extremely absentminded and careless. its memory is poor, and it has difficultly remembering things it was told even 5 minutes prior-though it can recall some events of the distant past with perfect (and often frustrating) clarity.
No DR, resistances, or immunities. They have many water-based abilities and let out an explosion of water when they are killed. They are rather powerful creatures (for your paygrade).
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
Fahd was getting frustrated at his lack of ability to help so far in this mission. All the clues sounded like gobbledygook to him, so he stood silently and hoped the others could figure out the verses. He just wanted something to punch!
Insidion |
Insidion tosses a gold piece to the pair in a seeming display of reluctance. "Guard this well...should it fall into the wrong hands..." his voice trails off.
As they examine the new scroll fragment, the tiefling snarls. "Bah! More undecipherable riddles!"
However, as the pair describe the 'Sleeper,' Insidion says "That sounds like it could be a Grodair..."
The tiefling then describes what he knows about the aquatic magical beasts. see spoiler
knowledge arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Nicklod Vassily |
It seems to be dangerous creature if angered...
Do you know what language it speaks Insidion ? I hope we will be able to convince it to undo what he did.
Finishing to put to safety the most valuable tomes, he added
I think we're ready to see this "sleeper" downstair.
Vespaja |
Sorry, I'm a bit confused about the map.
I'm assuming we entered through the western most doors? In the small western room there are some rectangular stairs; do those lead up or down? And the spiral staircase in the main flooded area lead up to a mezzanine as well as down to another level? Where does it seem that the water is coming from?
Vespaja takes the soggy scroll fragments from Nicklod and concentrates, casting detect magic to see if the paper itself is magical.
"Hmm, more fey... I think we should try to find more of this scroll before we take on something as powerful as a Grodair. Besides, these books can't get too much wetter. Probably," Vespaja suggests with a rakish shrug. "There's something strange going on here. Maybe we can find the worm that this rhyme talks about."
My vote is that we avoid the Grodair for now, but I dunno which direction to suggest until I know where the water's coming from.
Insidion |
"I do not speak the language of this creature, I would imagine. I do think it would be best not to confront it directly...perhaps we can persuade it as we have these creatures, or perhaps take advantage of its faulty memory," the tiefling snarls.
EndlessForms |
Yes, you had your meeting with Kreighton Shaine in the western room. The stairs lead up to the scriptorium (where Virml went after the meeting to copy the scrolls he salvaged). The spiral stairs lead up and down. The water is coming from above and that's where Owl and Albatross indicated the grodair is.
Grodairs speak Aquan and Sylvan.
The scroll fragments bear lingering magical auras, as if they were once magical when whole.
Vespaja |
"Let's go down the spiral staircase and see if there's anything useful on the lower level."
EndlessForms |
The water is still pouring from above though and you're going to head downstream of the water into the basement where it's probably pooling up? Just checking....
Vespaja |
Hm. Is the current particularly fast? If it would be significantly difficult to get back up against the current, or to breathe air down there, maybe we should give Fahd something to punch. I was assuming the "whirlpool" mentioned in the room's description was less Charybdis and more bathtub...
Rhoswen Faerondalan |
Rhoswen's frustration grows as she fails to understand just exactly what is going on. "So this grodair is what's causing all this water? Maybe collecting all these pieces together will give us a clue? Or, are we sure we don't want to just try and confront this thing straight on?"
Rhoswen shrugs her shoulders, "I'm just not that keen on going swimming, I guess. Whichever way we go, I'll take lead."
Though unsure of the course of action, Rhoswen will take care to place herself at the lead, in the hopes of being in a position to defend her companions.
EndlessForms |
It's not a particularly rough current or fast whirlpool, but you probably want to stop the flow of water before you head downstairs. At least that's just my suggestion.
The party heads up the stairs to confront the grodair. This wooden floor rises 10 feet above where you just were and overlooks the stacks. An iron staircase connects the two levels. Most of the water generated here flows freely through the railing, so not enough accumulates to impede movement.
Moving about the wet room on tentacles is the grodair you are seeking. She wriggles about bubbling water everywhere and gurgles at you when you enter.
Nicklod Vassily |
Thanks to his spell, Nicklod was able to understand the creature.
he said to his comrade he asked what we want and tell us that he was busy.
Then he turned to the creature and asked it in common then in infernal the two language Nicklod known.
Hi, do you understand me ?
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
All Fahd spoke was common, so he waited to see if the fish understood the others before trying to communicate.
Vespaja |
Grodairs speak Aquan and Sylvan.
I've taken the liberty of checking everyone's character sheet, and it looks like no one speaks Aquan nor Sylvan.
So it seems we have at least three options: one, we could try to find some magical means of speaking those languages, like tongues. Two, we could find another Pathfinder to interpret for us (perhaps Virml?). Three, we use the universally understood language of interpretive dance. But for reals, three is that we attempt to communicate nonverbally, either through gestures or...well, punches.
If we go the magical route, Tongues is the most straight forward, but is available (in PFS) at the cheapest as a 3rd level spell. The other option I can see is getting a scroll of Share Language, which is cheaper as it is only a 2nd level spell. However, it requires one of us to deliver it via touch to the Grodair, and we won't be able to verbally communicate that we mean no harm until after we've delivered the spell. I don't think we have time for Nicklod to rest and prepare it normally, unfortunately. Do we have time to quickly go buy a scroll from someone in the Society?
Nicklod Vassily |
I agree with you Vespaja, the best bet will be to buy this scroll of Tongues. I tend to the same conclusions as you.
We could split the cost of the scroll in six.
Insidion |
I'm good with the scroll option and splitting the cost if that option is available (and good thinking). In the alternative, perhaps we could try to take advantage of the creature's poor memory somehow, though no ideas are coming to mind right off.
Vespaja |
A scroll of Tongues would be 375 gold. Split 6 ways is 62.5 gp per person. The question then is who uses it. Insidion is the most intimidating, Nicklod is the most diplomatic, and I'm a close second to y'all in those while having the highest bluff. This is assuming we have time to stop at the nearest Scroll Emporium and Magic Mart.
Nicklod Vassily |
we are on the Grand Lodge :P I hope they have some scroll of tongues somewhere !
@Vespaja Tongues is a level 4 cleric or a level 2 inquisitor. The more logical is to let you use it.
Thanks to my powers I can give +2 to all your skills and +2 to diplomacy and intimidate.
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
I'm in for part of the cost of the scroll.
Insidion |
Since we've been told it may be a bit out of our league, I'd vote for diplomacy or bluff over intimidate. I think we could also come up with some scheme to take advantage of its short-term memory in whatever we tell it.
Vespaja |
Vespaja addresses her companions, not bothering to whisper since the tentacle fish couldn't understand Common: "We need a way to speak to this thing. Luckily, I think I know exactly where we can find a solution. Let's leave and come back--with this thing's memory, I doubt it will notice we were even here in a few minutes." Vespaja makes an apologetic gesture toward the Grodair, then backs out of the room down the stairs.
Having sloshed down the stairwell back into the main flooded chamber, she flashes a smile at the fishing fey and calls to them from the staircase. "Ahoy, mateys! Listen, we're in a bit of a bind. We're trying to find out more about that leaky fish upstairs, but none of us speak the language of the fey. What'll it take to hire an interpreter?"
Insidion |
Insidion nods.
"I'm having second thoughts about that coin...it was much too valuable to trade for that soggy scroll...maybe if you help us I won't feel so badly about it," he says while baring sharp fangs.
intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Cool! Author help! I'm sure someone would have thought of these guys...eventually.
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
Oh, that's clever! I'd already forgotten the albatross and owl!
Vespaja |
Haha, yeah, me too. At first I was like, "Oh, I totally know who would know Slyvan! Let's go get Virml! He has to help us because he goofed up so bad. But I think these two might be better interpreters. We gotta walk past them anyway!
EndlessForms |
Haha. I didn't have time to check in this afternoon but I was hoping someone would think of it sooner or later.
After sweetening them up earlier with what they saw as a great deal, Owl and Albatross seem more than willing to help you. "Why sure! What does an interpreter need to do? Just repeat stuff back and forth? I think we can do that!"
They will come with you upstairs and interpret. What do you want to say to the grodair?
Vespaja |
"You got it, sailors. Just say what I say in your language and say what the Grodair says in Common."
If this requires any social skill rolls, let me know. If Nicklod wants to buff my check with his domain power, now's the time!
Back in front of the water-spewing beast, Vespaja clears her throat and bows deeply before speaking. "Sorry to interrupt. We are here to help. Clearly," elaborates Vespaja, as if tone alone could convey her message to the Grodair, "We were sent as ambassadors from the Pathfinder Society to assist you. You were supposed to inform us of how you arrived here, and what exactly it is you are doing. Don't you remember?" Vespaja asks with a twinkle in her eye.
Bluff/Diplomacy, whichever seems most appropriate to what I said: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Nicklod Vassily |
the Fey are usually chaotic. My lawful character will have never asked them to translate his words. Hopefully with Comprehend Language he could know what they translate
Not convince by the fact the two fey could translate truthfully the words of his comrades Nicklod thanks to his spell listen carefully to each of their words and intentions while giving Vespaja Abadar's guidance.
Be Abadar your guide and your protector.
Inspiring Command (2 allies) (Su) on Vespaja and Insidion :
+2 insight bonus on attack rolls, AC, combat maneuver defense, and skill checks for 1 round.
+ cast Guidance on Vespaja : +1 competence bonus
EndlessForms |
Well you don't really need them to translate into Common since Nicklod can understand Sylvan thanks to comprehend languages. He just can't speak it.
Owl and Albatross seem a bit scared to enter the upper chamber where the grodair is at first, only peeking their heads above the railings to see if everything is safe before fully entering the upper floor. Nicklod notes that their translation is not perfect and they tend to speak in their informal slang but the main point gets across.
"Oh, I've lost my prisoner!" the grodair moans. "It'll be impossible to catch him on dry land, I'm so much slower on dry land! I just need to flush him out of hiding, that's it!"
Nicklod Vassily |
Nicklod asked the two creatures Tell it that we could do it, searching for its prisoner. He don't need to create more water. And as we are six we will be more effective in this quest than it alone.
It have our words that we will bring the prisoner. He just have to describe him to us
Diplomacy (take 10): 10 + 12 = 22
Then he added and once he will agreed to that continue to ask him to stop creating waters
EndlessForms |
"Well, you see," the grodair begins, "there were a bunch of us in The Name of the Fox, all to punish whatsisname—that dreadful, haughty fox-after he insulted us during a riddling contest." She tearfully confesses, "Well, stupid whatsisname outwitted me with some fiendishly clever magical ruse! And now I've lost him and he's probably running riots below!"
She slowly stops pumping water into the room and the cascade to the floor below settles down. "If you want to help me, you'll need to get all the fragments of The Name of the Fox and bring them to me. I knows its magic and can recapture the fugitive. And if you deliver Whatsisface—that whiskered riddler-alive, I'll get rid of all the water for you if it's a problem."
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
"Ask her how many fragments of the poem there are..." Fahd orders those talking to the interpreters.
Insidion |
"Its memory is better than I had guessed," Insidion sneers. "It mainly seems to be names and details forgotten."
The tiefling folds his arms across his massive chest to wait. The others seemed to be doing well.
Vespaja |
Vespaja good-naturedly jabs Nicklod and Rhoswen in their respective sides with her elbows and quietly brags, "Called it. Trapped in a story."
"After she tells us how fragments there are, if she knows," Vespaja addresses the Grathlains, "tell her thank you for ceasing to flood this area, and for offering to get rid of it. We'll have that whatshisname fox delivered in no time."
EndlessForms |
"Oh, I don't know," the grodair answers, "everything all burst apart so quickly! Maybe six pieces? I think...."
At Joesef's request, the grodair answers, "Sure! Once I get my prisoner I can clean things up again if you want."
Rhoswen Faerondalan |
Rhoswen whispers back to Vespaja, "Nicely done. I admit, though I've seen many fantastic things in my time working for the Society, I still get surprised..."
She gives a low whistle, "Six pieces?"
Vespaja |
"Let's look around this room to see if we can find anything useful, or any scroll fragments. Then let's head down to the basement to see if we can find this fox," Vespaja suggests. Addressing the gathlain interpreters, she asks, "Owl, Albatross: have you seen any more of those scroll fragments?"
Perception to search the room: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Joesef Deadwillow |
Joesef looks as if he is going to plead his case again but decides not to press the issue, fearing he might jeopardize the current agreement. He then helps with the search.
Take 10 to aid Vespaja if I can.
Fahd Bin Stavain PFS |
Fahd looks around the room as well.
Aid another Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19