[PFS] GM Derek W's Below the Silver Tarn #2-12 (Inactive)

Game Master Derek Weil

Ok, so Xiaobo took the Diplomacy route. Since Lazlo's modifier is the same for both skills, I'll count him aiding in diplomacy against the "warriors". Anyone else? 21 + 2 = 23. My hint to you: just a little more "help" might be enough here!

"I suppose it's true, the more of them we have, the more likely those things will come after us and not you."

Enhanced Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

With the help of his friends, Xiaobo convinces Stom Dolock to part with his ingot. Now, there remains only one to retrieve - that being held bu the crazed, rambling defeatists.

Again, bluff is your best chance with them.

Qadathra (lest we forget, a tiny night-black dragon) casts dancing lights to create wispy lights of sickly grey and menacing violet that circulate around the doomsayers' table, then he flies right over to the middle of their table, looks them in the collective eyes, and addresses them telepathically.

"Helloooo, I'm here on behalf of the Great Cold Darkness, I see you've heard of me! Let me be the first to congratulate you for your exceptional wisdom in choosing to make this process as straightforward as possible. As our way of saying 'thank you,' I have been empowered to accept donations of earthly wealth from you in exchange for indulgences ensuring first-class seats on the ferry to your next form of existence - have you anything particularly noteworthy to offer? After all, being that this isn't Osirion, we're afraid you can't take it with you."

Bluff: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 Now don't tell me he doesn't get a bonus for putting on a show....

Love it, Vladek!
Lazlo joins in with the elf as he entrances the cultists defeatists. He'll use a point from his arcane pool to powwer his Quick Study exploit and cast ghost sound as Vladek begins to speak, then follow up with mage hand to move clothes and hair, etc., effectively aiding his Bluff.

Bluff aid another: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Remember, this is Qadathra doing this, NOT Vladek.

Indeed, extra points for clever use of a familiar! Well done.

The leader of this band grows pale as the tiny dragon speaks to him. His eyes grow as wide as saucers as his trembling hand places the final silver ingot on the table in front of Qadathra.

Once the ingots are reunited, you all hear a series of sharp shrieks from outside. The tarnspawn cease battering the pub's walls, and you think you hear them falling back, for now...

So the scenario states you now have a short window, but also that's you'll need a clever plan to dodge the tarnspawn on the way to the Temple. I leave it to you to decide if any precautions are warranted.

"Im good at beating s+~~ up so if you need that department im gtg.. I have a fly potion if you all think it'll be smarter to fly to the temple. I can carry at least on eother with me, maybe two."

In addition to mage armor, I cast greater false life on myself and false life on Qadathra. This will all last 8 hours. My Ward Hex is on Qadathra by default.

false life: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

greater false life: 2d10 + 8 ⇒ (1, 8) + 8 = 17

"Im good at beating s+~* up so if you need that department im gtg.. I have a fly potion if you all think it'll be smarter to fly to the temple. I can carry at least on eother with me, maybe two."

"Finally!!!" he exclaims, also ready to go.

Fighting your way through? That works for me. We don't have a 5' square map for the hike over, so just give me a rough marching order. I'm guessing Roary and Xiaobo in front, probably Thor too. Then Vladek, Qadathra, and Lazlo following close behind. You do have 28 or 29 people who you're shepherding as well.

Qadathra's customary place is on my shoulder - because who among us couldn't be improved with a shoulder-mounted plasma cannon?

I did throw out the fly option although i dunno if others have means too.. How far is this temple?

I can carry a lot of people and fly, but I don't want to circumvent the scenario.

Lazlo doesn't yet have fly in his spellbook yet, but does have invisibility and/or hasteif that helps.

Of course, flying would give him a reason to *add* it to his spellbook. :-) He usually doesn't add non-leveling spells until he sees them used by others.

I can check the map after work, but it's something like a quarter of a mile away. Flying does not circumvent anything, but really, Thor would have to make multiple trips. It's the people holding onto each other's ankles who in turn hold onto Thor that would be problematic. The daisy chain could break if too big. But it is an option if you leave the rest to guard the bar while this goes on.

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Roary has a fly pot and a 23 str.. If it doesn't get us ard anything then lets get to the killing..

Fair enough. This kind of thing can be tedious in PBP. I'll allow Thor's plan to work. Roary can hang onto his pot. and Vladek can keep the spells if he likes.

Thor offers to fly the beseiged townsfolk to safety. He carries them six at a time. Some hanging onto the others by their ankles.

He bursts through the pub's roof, seeing as it will likley fall down before long anyway. As he carries the first load, there's a great shreik from the lake. Dozens and dozens of tarnspawn lumber back towards the pub.

They assault the building as Thor returns for his third trip. The Pathfinders bar the doors, giving him time to ferry everyone to safety.

He returns once more, and as his alles grab holdof him, the roar outside becomes deafening. With a final surge, the creatures burst through, smashing the pub to splinters.

The team then arrives a the Temple and shuts the door.

More later today when I can access "box text"

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Sorry, was really busy the last few days. I'm fine flying people. Again, I just didn't want it to ruin the scenario's fun or threat level. A small note, I can lift and carry 780 lbs and still Fly (at most) 160ft per round. After this, that's going to become 2,400 lbs. :P No need to change things, I just finally sat down and calculated it all out, and I'm not sure a rope would be able to hold as much as I can.

On my first trip, I'll certainly let my friends know what's coming, obviously sad that I can't simply go meet them on the field of battle, but knowing there are innocents that need protecting.

"I found a temple that looks like it will be safe. Keep them safe and stay strong, and I shall be back shortly."

Ah, life as a taxi cab. . .

Act 3: House of the Fallen God

Even with most of the structure collapsed and half the sanctuary flood buried in a foot of mud, the temple stands with a proud and serene air. Collapsed masonry blocks all but a single door into the structure, grating ingress to the main sanctuary. An uneven staircase in the far southeast corner of the sprawling chamber leads to something below.

Faded frescoes on the walls depict iconic scenes from Aroden’s mythology — the raising of the Starstone, battling Tar-Baphon, the knighting of Iomedae — but behind the altar an entirely new myth decorates the plaster. An army swathed in Taldan dress battles a horde of Kellid warriors. A bat-winged mass of shadows and swirls erupts from the battlefield, decked in Kellid symbols and slaying men from both forces. Finally, clerics circle the dark killer, reading from an enormous brass book and laying down silver bars, the winged Eye of Aroden shining yellow rays from the sky. Finally, the valley is shown empty and quiet save for the temple, represented as a great, brass tome.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Vladek points out the image of the brass tome, and relates in detail its significance.

Know Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

"Well, I guess that's where we are heading."

I'll also take a quick look around, both to see if there is anything else of particular note, but also trying to see just how defensible this old temple is for protecting these people in our care.

Perception (+2 if stone related): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Know Engineering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

"Looks like we need to make our way to this vault.. I'll take point I suppose." Roary drinks and antitoxen, antiplague, and smears his blade with a bladeguard before searching for the entrance to the vault..

Take 20 perc for a 33

Ok, I'll do my best to get the new map configured tonight! Sorry for the delay, had home repairs overwhelm my weekend.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Real Life Comes First [tm], GM. Always.

NUH-UH!!!

Thor finds nothing of particular note here, but he can tell this temple should hold up for the night, at least. But maybe not much more.

Heading downstairs:

The architecture shifts noticeably beneath the temple, changing dramatically from the finely crafted Azlanti style above to a more crude, utilitarian fashion. Beyond a wall of corroded iron bars lies a tangled mess of collapsed shelves, moldering books, and muddy sinkholes. Far across the room, a stone altar cradles three heavy tomes forged from glittering, yellow metal.

"3 tomes.. I bet 2 are fake. Any of you magic types figure it out?"

Very strange, he thinks without commenting aloud. These simple mortals seem to have, at least in the past at one point, been visited by his own people. Some of the architecture is clearly modelled after the concepts of the Realm Eternal, though how they got the information, or even just how long ago that may have been is unclear.

Coming to the books, the Prince of Thunder will hold up his hand, adjusting his natural Asgardian sight to attempt to sense any lingering "magic" from the books.

Casting Detect Magic. Not to study, just to see if they have auras. I'll leave more accurate categorization of their native magics to those much more skilled at the task, but also allow them to discuss in their won terms what they think magic works. :P

----------------

Also, at everyone, I'm just reflavoring things for fun. If you find it sort of ruining your experience or breaking emersion into the setting/story, let me know and I'll tone it down.

Not being particularly smart, and more of a hot head that thinks they can and will survive anything, if no one else really decides otherwise or finds anything that would change it, after maybe 5 rounds, I'll just walk over and pick up the book on the right, to keep things moving. But, like I said, that's after everyone has plenty of time to investigate, see what they know, or whatever, and that's only if no one else cares or does something else.

Speaking only for myself, it doesn't bother me, Thor.

Lazlo shakes his head sadly at the collapsed shelves and moldering books — Oh my, oh dear. What a waste, what a shame... — but he squeaks aloud when he sees the golden tomes, scuttling over at once to inspect them.

He reaches for the one in the middle just as Roary suggests there might be fakes. He frowns a moment. Oh! Excellent point. I hadn't considered that. Hmm.

Cast detect magic and study for all three rounds on each.

Let me know if this changes your actions at all Lazlo.

Right after Lazlo's squeak (and just before he begins to race towards the books), a voice calls out, though the room's slight echo makes discerning its origin a bit tricky.

"Who...who goes there?"

"Us." trying to look around dumbfounded at the bodiless voice, thinking how much he doesn't like such trickery magic.

Lazlo freezes in his tracks at the voice. Er— he begins, then looks at Thor gratefully as the dwarf-like humanoid responds.

Lazlo will cast detect magic still, but this time trying to scan the whole room.

The voice continues: "Do the high and mighty faithful of Aroden deign to visit their humble slave once again?"

Lazlo and Thor detect magical auras from the southern antechamber as well as on the altar with the three Tomes.

As to the main chamber you're in:

Much of the chamber has collapsed into dangerous pits and rough terrain. The floor is covered with the debris of destroyed furniture Not difficult terrain. Much of the floor has buckled and collapsed due to the valley’s flooding, leaving several 10-foot-deep pits.

If you interact with the voice, please roll the appropriate social skil.

Probably a bad idea. . .

"We are not the faithful of the mortal, nor do we have any interested in keeping slaves bound. How do we free you."

Enhanced Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

My Plan A is an Adamantine hammer through the wall. . .
If there are other options, now's the time to mention them. :P

Lazlo would have to be where I moved him on the map to use detect magic. He also has darkvision if that matters for seeing into the pits or alcoves.

Er... Lazlo thinks a moment. Yes! Yes, releasing slaves can be a good thing to do! So how do we do that...?

Diplomacy (GM call as to whether it is an aid or not): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Lazlo peers into the southern alcove and sees a large-sized serpent-like creature with a human-like face.

The creature speaks:

"I am Carnag. I was drawn to this place by a strange power, but the Arodenites placed me under a powerful spell. They compelled me to guard the vault and forbade me to leave or to harm any clergy of the Last Azlant. But I may only allow his clerics near the altar, and no one else."

"All these years of servitude have left me bitterly yearning for freedom. Will you help me escape? I'm not sure that I can trust you..."

Vladek looks at the creature with wonder. "I, for one, would love to help you. As for why you should trust us...well, if faith in the kindness of most folk of the world won't move you, then consider that we urgently need to make use of that altar, and if you are bound to prohibit that, then of course we should want to free you, shouldn't we?"

Diplomacy, using Qadathra's modifier (assuming I can do that): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Detect magic and Spellcraft check to identify the spell he's under.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32

Knowledge (Dungeoneering) to identify this being: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

The creature is a dark naga, it can put creatures to sleep with its sting and it can cast spells like a sorcerer. They are generally evil.

It is under the effect of a powerful geas, though you can tell its strength has waned. A remove curse spell could break the enchantment.

The naga seems receptive to Vladek, and appears to be less unfriendly, if not quite helpful.

"What can you tell us of these little stones?" holding out one of the little rocks we received from the townsfolk, "Or the creatures that have beset this place?"

"Ah, I see what they did to you." Vladek gives the naga a shrewd look. "I could break their spell for you right now, you know - or at least I could try. Whoever bound you possessed great power, but then, so do I. I only want to know one thing: You won't make me regret helping you, will you?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Roary remains poised to attack should negotiations fail..

The naga hisses back at Thor and Vladek, sounding interested.

"I know nothing certain of those stones, except that they were important to the Arodenites, and after they took them from here, the dark power that drew my attention was cut off. The creatures might be connected that same presence that drew me here so long ago. I can swear on anything that you wish, that I will trouble none of you if you break the spell holding me. I have long wished to return to my home, which is far from here. I'd even promise to leave this little town alone, if it meant freedom again."

No need to roll sense motive - it's obvious that he's not trying to lie or hide anything. He REALLY wants to get free.

Even if Evil, I'm okay freeing him. I'm not certain I would know what he is for one and two, freedom isn't just for good people. A simple act of kindness might change his attitude down the road, as far as I'm concerned. Issue is, I can't cast 3rd level spells, and II highly doubt anyone in town can do it or has access to a scroll of it, either, so no Remove Curse. If Vladek can and will, I'm for it.

It's his lucky day, because guess what spell I prepared?

The following includes the bonus granted me by Osirion's Curse-Breaker Boon from the Year of the Risen Rune:

remove curse: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

-.- I don't suppose there's anything anyone can offer me that enables rerolls of caster level checks?

I have a DM Star Reroll (+3)?

If I can have it, I'll take it.

Once more with feeling!: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

I take it that you're saying your reroll let's me add an additional +3 to it - correct my result appropriately if I'm wrong, DM.

You've gotta be kidding me. :( Anyone else got Quatloos to bid?

You're in luck today. The scenario specifies that any remove curse will work, due to the age of the original spell. Not RAW, but what the heck? There's no caster level on the geas listed. But let roll once more for fun.

?: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 = 20

If I can have it, I'll take it.

[dice=Once more with feeling!]1d20+13

I take it that you're saying your reroll let's me add an additional +3 to it - correct my result appropriately if I'm wrong, DM.

You've gotta be kidding me. :( Anyone else got Quatloos to bid?

Yes, if you purchase certain products, anyone can get a single Reroll per scenario. One of the better ones is the Character Folio (PDF), as it's cheap, and honestly it's kind of useful for a few pages in there, (character magic item slots). DM's additionally get to add their number of DM Stars tot he roll, so in my case it would be an additional +3 to your 1d20+10. It's not exactly clear on if you can let someone else use it, but so far I've never seen someone say no, and when I DM games, I try to hold it off until a player character really needs it. I know there is one scenario you walk down a hall and suddenly "Ok, everyone one make Fort Saves. Failure = Turned to Stone on the spot. . ." and you really can't do anything about it until closer to the end.