GM Endless Forms' PFS From Shore to Sea (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

"Aye, we need to keep moving and not chase zhe bog lights."

Roland follows Tyraneus, coughing all the way.

"Wait a minute--those floating glowing glass globes we've seen. Are those will-o'-wisps, too?"

Knowledge (Dungeoneering) check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

You make your way east and fine a sheet of muddy water flowing up from the floor forming the door of a domed, shell-like structure. The liquid moves in a continuous loop, flowing from a large central pool across the floor and up the walls in a thin sheet, then falling from the domed crystal ceiling in a cylinder of water. A large bubble of murky water floats in the air above the pool. Detailed mosaics of fantastic sea creatures and undersea motifs adorn the coral-colored walls.

Perception check: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 2 = 10

Even with his improved peripheral vision, Kilian notices nothing out of the ordinary.

Perception 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

"Look over there! Part of the pool is turning black...be careful! There's something that might be coming for us."

Kilian readies for an attack.

Roland keeps his distance from the strange pool, looking up at the dome.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

"Zhis water is not natural. Is see it as well!"

Roland steps back from the pool further and readies to shoot.

Tyraneus turns his head so that he may see it better from the side.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

Hmm all I see is mud...

As you might have expected seeing the ink in the water, a storm of tentacles suddenly erupts from the surface, each twenty feet in length! The leathery body of this gigantic octopus can be made out as it briefly surfaces before sinking back in to the inky water!

Initiative:

1. Roland and Kilian
2. Giant Octopus
3. Tyraneus and Pai

Roland and Kilian are up!

Roland will step back out of reach and fire into the mass of tentacles.
5' or more if needed to get 25/30' away. Ignore 2nd attacks if more than 5'

"Stand clear! Do not let zhe zhing grab you!"

Roland +1 Ad darkwood comp bow, PB, Rapid: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 1 - 2 = 25
for dmg: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11
Roland +1 Ad darkwood comp bow, PB, Rapid: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 1 - 2 = 27
for dmg: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14
Roland +1 Ad darkwood comp bow, PB, Rapid: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 15
for dmg: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8

If they're in reach, Kilian takes a quick step up and chops at the tentacles, expertly using his momentum to power his strikes.

Guisarme attack, incl. leaping attack: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 1 = 24
Iterative guisarme attack, if applicable, incl. leaping attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 26

Attack 1 damage, if applicable, incl. leaping attack: 2d4 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3) + 8 + 1 = 14
Attack 2 damage, if applicable, incl. leaping attack: 2d4 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 + 1 = 14

Roland and Kilian both leap into action putting arrows in the monstrous head of the beast and hacking off tentacles, respectively! But mechanically not really. It still gets 8 tentacle attacks. The octopus' writhing tentacles whip around at Kilian!

Initiative:

1. Roland and Kilian
2. Giant Octopus (53 dmg)
3. Tyraneus and Pai

You guys are up!

I make it Kilian takes 17 HP and is grabbed by four tentacles. Sound right?

Tyraneus steps back as he weaves a spell. Burn beast! A large ball of fire spittles against the creature's mass of tentacles.

Flaming Sphere (DC 16 Reflex to negate)

damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 4) = 13

Pai casts Haste on the group. "Let's use the extra speed to get out of here! I don't think we can beat this awful octopus demon!". She starts moving backward out of the reach of the arms.

Grappled by multiple tentacles and unable to bring his guisarme to bear, Kilian hammers at the octopus with an armored fist.

Cestus PA, incl. haste: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 = 21
Cestus PA, hasted, incl. haste: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 = 29
Cestus PA, iterative, incl. haste: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 1 = 18

Cestus PA confirmation, incl. haste: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28

Attack #1 damage, if applicable: 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Attack #2 damage: 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Attack #2 crit damage, if applicable: 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Attack #3 damage, if applicable: 1d4 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"Zhanks, Pai! Tyraneus, good plan. We must free Kilian from zhe beast.

Roland uses the extra speed to launch an extra arrow.

Haste added in attacks below

Roland +1 Ad darkwood comp bow, PB, Rapid: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 22
for dmg: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9
Roland +1 Ad darkwood comp bow, PB, Rapid: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 31
for dmg: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8
Roland +1 Ad darkwood comp bow, PB, Rapid: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 23
for dmg: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9
Roland +1 Ad darkwood comp bow, PB, Rapid: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 17
for dmg: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11

Yep. Although being grabbed by more than one tentacle doesn't do anything extra mechanically. It just has that many more opportunities to grab you.

Working together the party easily finishes off the giant octopus!

Out of combat!

The corpse of a decaying skum lies toward the rear of the builing. The dead skum wears a cloak of the manta ray and holds a corroded copper scroll case containing two scrolls of freedom of movement. An elixir of swimming is tucked in the cloak's interior pocket.

That's it at this location.

"Take the items, everyone. This skum body will no doubt power that machine again. Maybe it will give us another clue about how to stop this madness here."

ROland will help Kilian detangle himself from the tentacles.

Looking to Pai and Tyraneus

"Along with zhis magical gear, do we need to take zhis skum to zhe other pool of oracles for more lessons?'

Kilian chuckles as the nature of the treasure is revealed. "A skum carrying an elixir of swimming ? Maybe we'll find a dwarf with a potion of darkvision, too. "

-Posted with Wayfinder

You need a fresh body. This one is far too old and decayed.

Ah poop, lol.

Pai looks closer at the corpse. "Darn it, this one is too old and crusty to get us anywhere, I think. But, I believe these skum might be the way to the answers we seek. We have to find more of them, so we can find out as much as possible. As soon as possible, too," Pai groans as her eyes continue to seep that black secretion.

"What's that other building marked on the map? It looks like it's not far from here."

Almost forgot!

"Tyraneus, I'd appreciate it if you could use my wand to cure these sucker marks. Those things are unfriendly."

CLW wand, 34 charges left: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW wand, 33 charges left: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW wand, 32 charges left: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"That should be enough. Thanks!"

Yes. Is that better? Tyraneus returns Kilian's wand to him.

You travel further east: piles of white shale litter the ground before a twisting, broken spire near a high cliff. Large white flakes constantly slough off the top and sides of the tower and plummet to the ground and sea below, as if the spire was still growing like some out-of-control mollusk. A gaping hole provides entry to the lower floor.

A giant frilled lizard sits near the tower entrance but quickly runs away when you approach.

You are then able to explore the ruins:

Roland will approach slowly as he sees the giant lizard...or does he?

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Perception check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Kilian's eyes are on the lizard, anticipating that it'll come back and attack.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Hmm. That lizard looked to be pretty aggressive until those will-o-wisps flared up.

Once in the building Tyraneus takes a look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

There is a horn of Fog lying here. Moving over to the dead scum body he looks at the necklace. There is something about this...

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Spell craft 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

"So what do zhey do? Can zhey help cure us or zhe villagers of zhis curse? ."

Tyraneus and Pai are able to determine the unique features of the necklace:

Armillary Amulet

Aura faint divination; CL 5th
Slot neck; Price 2,500 gp; Weight —

Description
This thin chain of silvery-gray metal holds a series of interlocking rings that slowly turn within themselves in an accurate replication of the celestial sphere. The amulet grants its wearer a +5 competence bonus on Spellcraft checks. It also grants immunity to the dangerous effects of the Orrery of Nal-Kashel.

---

The lights flare up again as you study the amulet.

Do the effects mentioned in the necklace refer to all the stuff that's been happening to us on the island?

No, just the random effects that were happening in the orrery during the phase spider attack.

Roland looks disappointed the amulet is not a cure, as he coughs and prepare to leave.

"Does it help us with zhe other places? Or should we keep searching buildings yet unvisited?"

He will keep an eye out for any glowing wisps or the lizard...with bow at the ready.

"One of you put it on. It can't hurt. Let's go explore another building. We have to be getting close."

"If it improves your Spellcraft skill, it's going to be useless to me."

There is but one place left on the island to visit: the northeastern shore.

An entire section of the island has plunged to sea level here, forming a sunken cove far below the streets of the city above. Among the toppled towers punctuating this beach, a rough canal cuts from the shore deep into the interior of the island, disappearing into a dark cave mouth in the cliff wall. Seawater in the trench rises and falls with the tide. Dozens of exhausted villagers excavate the canal with crude shovels and large clamshells scavenged from the nearby beach.

The cliffs drop 180 feet to the beach below. The trench leads into a cave in the cliff face, 50 feet deep and 30 feet wide, eerily lit by two will-o’-wisp globes.

"What are zhey doing with zhe digging? Why?"

Roland exclaims to nobody in particular...dumbfounded as to the motives of the villagers.

He tries to see if the wisp globes are somehow attacking the people.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

I think the globes are glass spheres with will-o'-wisps trapped inside them.

"At least they're alive. I was worried that the ones who were taken by that thing at the lighthouse were all dead."

Kilian is right. They are not attacking.

There is a patrol of skum moving around the villagers, keeping them in line. They have noticed you but don't seem to care.

When you approach any of the villagers, they simply look back at you with dead-eyed gazes.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"The villagers are enchanted. We need to free them. Maybe we could lure a couple of skum away and use their corpses to find out more about this place."

Kilian goes to run his hand through his hair, but starts when he touches his bare scalp. "I don't think they'll follow us, but it's worth a try. I'm worried that if we try to fight the skum here the villagers will turn on us, though."

"I could shoot some of zhe skum and see if zhey give chase. Zhey may attack zhe villagers zhough.."

Perhaps we can see what is in the cave first since they are paying no mind to us?

The trench leads into a cave in the cliff face, 50 feet deep and 30 feet wide, eerily lit by two will-o’-wisp globes. The canal extends for the length of the cave and terminates at a partially uncovered wall of strange, sculpted coral.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

"Somezhing is scraping beyond zhis point here in zhe wall

Roland will move forward with bow ready.

Of course, I have no ranks in Knowledge Engineering.

"Let's be careful down here," Pai warns as she casts Mage Armor.

Knowledge (Engineering) check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Kilian turns his head from side to side as he studies the coral wall. "That's interesting--it looks like a foundation wall, but I don't see any buildings directly above it."