GM Endless Forms' PFS 06-15 The Overflow Archives (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Kreighton Shaine's form slowly wavers until you see the kitsune himself standing before you. "No, no, these are mine. That's not how the game is played."

If you guys are going to do anything offensive, we will go into initiative:

Initiative:

1. Nicklod, Rhoswen, and Vespaja
2. Kitsune
3. Fahd, Joesef, and Insidion

Nicklod, Rhoswen, and Vespaja are up!

Vespaja shouts out, "Grab the fox! Get the scroll fragments first!" while moving closer and drawing her whip in hand.

She concentrates, sending a prayer to Calistria to lend her judgment!
Using my Judgment as a swift action: Judgment of Justice for a +1 profane bonus to attack rolls.

She then attempts to snatch the soggy scrap of paper from the Kitsune's belt.
Combat Maneuver, judgment: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8
Vespaja feels her attempt starting to go badly, but she grits her teeth and twists toward the fox again! Using my Determination ability to reroll my attack roll--I have to take this second one.
Combat Maneuver, judgment: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9
...Well, if I can use my whip to help, it's another +2, in case I can aid anyway...

EDIT: Hmm, I didn't realize how far back from the fox we were... Well, if I could make the CMB check with my whip, I can reach him. If not, consider my CMB check a readied action to attempt it when in range. I don't know, I assumed we were closer, but I should have checked the map before doing anything. :B

Nicklod cast on him Eagle Splendor and said

Please don't do anything foolish fox.

Insidion laughs maniacally and disappears from view.

cast vanish, then move 40' toward the fox

With her sword drawn, Rhoswen weaves through the various piles of things to reach the 'fox'. "We don't need it alive, do we?" she asks out loud before taking a powerful swing with her blade.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Damage: 1d10 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 6 = 23

Please, try to keep him alive

Said Nicklod

@Insidion: you're not up yet.

Also, totally forgot there was a crocodile in the room too but it might not matter soon enough:

Vespaja is unable to grab the scroll from the kitsune's belt but Rhoswen catches him off guard and hits him hard enough to leave the kitsune looking quite disabled.

"All right, all right! I submit! You, my vanquishers, shall have your names live forever in story and song! Just please stop!" He holds his hands up.

Out of combat or continuing the attack? If still attacking, you guys are up. Otherwise we can drop out of initiative.

"Give us the paper, Fox, and we are done attacking you! Cooperate and we can work things out without more violence!"

Nicklod taking advantage of his spell and the situation said

We are not here to kill you, but to stop the mess you create by your escape. Please, tell us the truth and give us the last fragment of the scroll.
We need to find a solution for both of us. I would prefer a non lethal one and one which satisfies everyone.
We listening.

Diplomacy (Silver-Tongued Haggler): 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 2 + 1 = 28

"Names live on forever, eh? Sounds nice..." Vespaja muses. "Gather the scroll fragments together, and get that translation book. I have an idea," orders the inquisitor, seemingly lost in thought and not paying attention to whether the others follow her instructions or not.

If told, Joesef is willing to move to gather the scroll pieces, doing so carefully as the others watch the enemy for tricks.

"I believe you have earned that," the kitsune says good-naturedly as he coughs and rubs some of his wounds. He hands over the scroll in his belt and the one on the desk.

Heard you word of the sword who’s a chef for all fish?
Have you seen how his sea bream can brighten a dish?
Dare you steal of his eel, or rob roe from his pan?
Bid him send you the menu as fast as he can!
But don’t duel with the sword for his finest filet,
Or he’ll serve you up cold as tomorrow’s entree!

The croco-dee-dile
Cracks open his smile
So the birdies may fly in and nosh
On fish-guts and crumbs
And the bones of their chums
Who last week fluttered in and were lost.
…Who is the last to dine?

Added to the Scroll Fragments link above.

"You never did guess my name though," he says with a smirk as he allows himself to be escorted back down to the Overflow Archives.

"And you know why I was trapped, right? Because I lost. I lost a bet, a riddle in fact. And as punishment I was trapped by my fey opponent. But I was robbed of a fair answer and have never quite figured it out."

"Rumpelstiltskin?" Insidion guesses.

"I don't suppose it's just 'Fox' is it?" Vespaja asks doubtfully.

She shuffles the scroll fragments around in her hands, trying to puzzle out the riddle. "Was it in fragments like this before? Or did it used to be whole? Look at this," the inquisitor offers, arranging the fragments. "They can be arranged such that the first letter of each stanza spells out 'CAUGHT.' And I think this sword one has something to do with swordfish, maybe? Been too long since I had decent seafood. Hmm..."

Rhoswen takes a look at the various fragments. "So, uh...are you Sir Crocodile?" She asks uncertainly.

Good catch Vespaja ! said Nicklod at Vespaja suggestion.

If you have the answer of the riddle, can you be freed from your prison ?

Fahd's eye glaze over at the discussion. He wondered if punching the fox creature would be for the best.

Good catch Vespaja ! said Nicklod at Vespaja suggestion.

If you have the answer of the riddle, can you be freed from your prison ?

"No, that is the price I pay for losing the game. But it would give me satisfaction at least."

"They can be arranged such that the first letter of each stanza spells out 'CAUGHT.'-"

As Vespaja says the word 'caught', the kitsune smirks and is about to say, "Ah, so you do know my-" but he is also cut short as a magical wind seizes the parchment scraps and stitches them back together. As an unseen chorus of voices murmurs Sylvan incantations, the words on the scroll form a vortex that draws the kitsune bard back into his inky prison!

Mistress Koi, the grodair, comes wandering back downstairs. She is about to swim right into the vortex but you catch her just before she dives in and remind her that she promised to clean up the water. "Oh right!" she says as she dips her tentacles in and quickly sucks up all the water, cleaning up the Overflow Archives in an instant.

She swims into the verbal whirlpool, followed by the surviving scroll-bound creatures (Owl and Albatross mainly). Finally, the script settles back to its original form, and the scroll drops to the floor, its magic dormant once more.

Although the answer to the riddle remains a mystery to you (for now), it seems you have rightly guessed the name of the fox and imprisoned him once more. Now aware of the magical potential of the scroll, you can report back to Kreighton Shaine with your version of the events that have occurred.

Those of you who are close with Zarta Dralneen are able to surreptitiously slip her the book she requested.

And that wraps it up! Thanks for playing, everyone! I can get chronicles out later today. Feel free to keep guessing the answer to the riddle.

That was a different scenario, wasn't it!? As always, thanks for running it for us, EF.

That was fun :)

Yes, I really enjoyed it. Very creative and unique! I like these types of scenarios that really stand on their own as great, fun adventures. And even though I complained about the map (and sheesh, it would be a nightmare to draw), it's not nearly as bad as the map for Fires of Karamoss, which for some reason has a rectangular room that is set at an odd angle to the grid lines (not even 45 degrees!) which would make it nearly impossible to draw as is. Why they didn't just align the rectangular room to the grid is beyond me.

Overall a great scenario though and I'm glad you guys had fun with it!

If you can't guess the answer to the riddle in a bit, I'll post the answer before I close down the thread.

Even in french, finding riddle is not my strong suit ! So I prefer let those more fluent in english to try it :)

Thanks again EF for GMing !

Thanks for running that, and great solving the name, Vespaja!

I quite liked the scenario. It was quite different from others I've run, and it was a nice change of pace. Lots of great visuals and interaction.

Thanks again, DM EndlessForms, and also to the author!

I can't tell if the riddle is a logic puzzle or a trick question or a pun or what... But the first letter of each fragment was so big, I just HAD to check if it was an acrostic.

Putting my English degree to work. 8D

For those of you who want to know the answer:

I'll shut this campaign down later today. Thanks for playing, everyone!