Will DC 20:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20+4 if enchantment
Coco looks at Vailis when the half-elf demands "Are you sure? This looks dangerous? Why you or one of your workmates do not take it yourselves?"
The eidolon is forced to do it as Vailis commands him. He picks the book and saves it "So what now? Where shall I take the book now? To this place you call Logia?"
Male Elf | Magus 7 / Rogue 1 |HP: 54/54 | AC19 T 14 FF 15 | F+7 R+9 W+7 | Init +6 | Perc +12(+2) | SM +1 | CMB +7 | CMD 21 | Speed 30
At the praise of his skills, the magus/rogue laughs nervously. "Clearly your memories are too short, but thank you."
Mel also grabs one of the tanglefoot bags from the thugs.
(I assume Ophelia as the gem with the air elemental)
Mel cringes when Coco touches the book, giving the creature a friendly, I'm glad I'm not you, look of sympathy. This, however, earns him a peck on the ear from his parrot. "Ow! What was that for?"
Coco feels like he successfully resisted some sort of mental effect, but can't quite tell what it was.
* * *
Returning to the Lantern Lodge, Zey and Li quickly put the group to the work deciphering the Abysium Codex. It quickly becomes apparent that it will take some time to pore through the codex and cross-reference it’s esoteric contents with various sources in the Lantern Lodge library.
Okay now it's time to do some research. There's two parts to this. First, we need to determine how long it'll take you to go through the book to both learn how to gain entry to the Vault as well as the necessary reattunement ritual.
The immediate hurdle here is that the book is written in Tien. Spells that allow you to understand unknown languages aren't that helpful here because they don't last long enough for this detailed research. If no one speaks Tien, you can get around that by making a DC 15 Lingustics check.
Whoever speaks Tien or makes the Lingustics check will then need to make either a Knowledge (arcana) or Knowledge (religion) check. Only one PC can make this check and they'll need to be able to understand the language as mentioned above. This will determine how long the process takes.
The second part of the research can involve everyone. The Abysium Codex contains a great deal of what looks like superfluous content—hundreds of unsettling mathematical formulas, dozens of randomly placed arcane symbols, and a bewildering number of nonsensical poems, prayers, and riddles. While it might be possible to complete the reattunement ritual with just a basic outline, it’s obvious to Aram Zey that additional clues must exist inside the Sacred Vault that are linked to the Abysium Codex’s puzzling apocryphal content, and that locating these additional clues will increase the ritual’s chance of success. Zey asks that each of you attempt to find these clues.
If you have ranks in Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (planes), or Knowledge (religion) you can make those checks to decipher more clues from the text. Each of you can only make one of each of these checks, but you can make one for every one of those Knowledges you possess (e.g., You can't make two arcana checks, but you can make an arcana, history, and planes check if you have ranks in those skills).
Zey and Li are willing to help with the secondary checks here. Because of this, one of you may receive a +4 bonus on one research-related skill check or two +2 bonus on two separate research-related skill checks. This is only for one person, or two people if you decide to split up the bonus.
After everyone makes their rolls or a suitable amount of real life time passes, I'll synthesize all this into a narrative.
TL;DR:
One PC, who speaks Tien or makes a DC 15 Linguistics check, makes a Knowledge (arcana) or Knowledge (religion) check to see how long the research process takes.
Everyone who has ranks in Knowledge (arcana), Knowledge (history), Knowledge (planes), or Knowledge (religion) can make those checks to try to find more clues in the text. One of these checks can get a +4 or two of these checks can get a +2 due to help from Zey and Li.
|AC 16, T 16, FF 11|HP: 48/48|F +5, R +7, W +7 (+2 vs Enchantment/red dragon breath)|Init +5, Perc +21|CMB +11 CMD 24|11/11 Prescience, 1/1 Pearl, 1/1 Arcane Bond
Linguistics:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Zeno, though not fluent in Tien, is versed enough in many languages that he is able to translate it and thereby lead the research expedition!
Male Elf | Magus 7 / Rogue 1 |HP: 54/54 | AC19 T 14 FF 15 | F+7 R+9 W+7 | Init +6 | Perc +12(+2) | SM +1 | CMB +7 | CMD 21 | Speed 30
Quote:
Only one PC can make this check and they'll need to be able to understand the language as mentioned above. This will determine how long the process takes.
Does that prohibit others from aiding in the roll? If not, Mel tries to aid Zeno in hopes of reducing the necessary time. Aid Arcane Knowledge:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Hey, I get a +3 on linguistics from my familiar. Normally, I would not ask if that could apply to a knowledge check, but since these specific checks are related to deciphering more clues from the text, I figure it is worth a shot. What do you think, GM Harker?
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
we are in Tian Xia?
boon:
True Ally of the Lantern Lodge (4-21): Spending a prestige point for a skill bonus gives +5 in Tian Xia or +6 in Goka (instead of +4)
Quiella cashes in on some external contacts to help in her research.
knowledge, history:10 + 4 + 5 = 19 knowledge, religion:10 + 4 + 5 = 19+2 if this is at all related to devils, demons, or daemons
spending 2 PP under the assumption we are in Tian Xia
Vailis and Ophelia have relevant skills here, I'll give them a bit longer to see if they want to participate.
To answer some questions in the meantime, I'll allow Mel to assist Zeno, but he'll need to make a DC 15 Linguistics check to understand Tien.
Also, not only are you in Tian Xia, you are in Goka so Quiella gets the +6 bonus. The religion check has nothing to do with evil outsiders, so that boon is not relevant.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Zeno takes the lead translating the book with the help of Melufiuos and Vailis. It takes a full day of research to the learn that you all must each touch the Abysium Codex and then utter Aram Zey’s trigger word to gain access to the Sacred Vault—Hao Jin’s personal shrine to Abadar, which serves as the heart of the tapestry. Your research also reveals the reattunement ritual, though you only learn the ritual's basic outline. This leads Aram Zey to ask you all to scour the text for more clues.
Zeno discovers that you'll need to locate an ivory statuette of the lich Takaral, a divine servant of Nethys. This should be located in or near the shrine. Crush it and use the powder as a material component during the ritual.
Coco learns that you'll also need to locate a child’s wooden training katana, once owned by the Perfect Swordswoman Setsuna Kuga. A magical incantation is inscribed on it, as a haiku that the you'll need to recite during the ritual.
Coco also figures out that you'll need to find a golden brick that was once part of the great golden wall that encircles the Eternal City of Axis. Inscribed upon the brick is a magical incantation in the form of a prayer from The Order of Numbers, the holy book of Abadar, that you also must recite during the ritual.
With the help of some members of the Lantern Lodge, Quiella uncovers that you'll need to find an onyx merchant’s scales, a symbol of Abadar. You'll need to use the scale as a divine focus during the ritual.
Throughout the course of the research, however, each of you begin to feel sickened. It seems as if it might be sometime before you feel healthy again.
Everyone needs to makes a DC 16 Fort Save or be sickened for 1d4 ⇒ 1 day. Since you are sickened already, you'll have a -2 to this roll.
If you make the Fort Save, I'll assume you wait a few hours to see if the current sickened state wears off, and it does go away if you don't fail the save above.
* * *
With your research complete, Aram suggests you leave for the Hao Jin Tapestry immediately to access the sacred vault and perform the ritual. He does give pause, however, for any additional questions you might have.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
|AC 16, T 16, FF 11|HP: 48/48|F +5, R +7, W +7 (+2 vs Enchantment/red dragon breath)|Init +5, Perc +21|CMB +11 CMD 24|11/11 Prescience, 1/1 Pearl, 1/1 Arcane Bond
Fortitude save, sickened:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
"Yes, it's the natural properties of the book's unusual construction, I'm afraid," Replies Zeno, who despite his especially extensive time with the book, seems to be coping with it rather well - perhaps because he quickly takes to perusing the book's pages using the tip of his bowstave rather than his hands, and reading it from further away than most eyes possibly could.
If you didn't get an opportunity to ask a question, feel free to post it retroactively.
Once you are all ready, Aram Zey gathers you in the meeting room where the Hao Jin Tapestry hangs. He explicitly warns you not to attempt to return to the Material Plane unless the entire group is prepared to leave the vault. If you leave the demiplane, he explains, you can only return to your companions within the Sacred Vault if you are in possession of the Abysium Codex. Therefore, if one of you returns to Goka, at least one other Pathfinder must return with the codex so they can both return to the vault, or the lone Pathfinder must bring the codex back with them.
Aram Zey instructs one of you to hold the Abysium Codex (I'm guessing it will be Coco) and touch their finger to a point near the center of the tapestry, just to the right of a faded starburst design in the tapestry’s weave. He then instructs everyone else to touch the Abysium Codex. As the Pathfinder touching the tapestry utters a trigger word provided by the Master of Spells, everyone is instantly whisked into the tapestry.
When you arrive a 2-foot-diameter sphere of pulsing blue light floats behind you. Only your own light is visible to you. If you haven't been in the Tapestry before, you surmise that walking back into the light will return you to the Material Plane.
The air in the circular chamber you teleport into is cold, stale, and smells of death. It is also somewhat dark. Seven large, dark-furred humanoids lie in a bloody heap near the wall behind you. The lone exit to the chamber lies ahead to the west(?). The floor, walls, and 30-foot ceiling are composed of perfectly square blocks of white, gold-veined marble.
Knowledge (local) DC 12 to identify dead humanoids:
The dead creatures are bugbears.
Heal DC 12 to identify the creatures' cause of death:
You determine they died about a week ago from a combination of crushing and asphyxiation.
Since it's a new day, all of your abilities and spells have been replenished.
Also, Coco needs to make another DC 20 Will save. If Coco has been sent away, whoever is carrying the book now also needs to make a DC 20 Will save. This is a curse, but not an enchantment.
"Good job Coco. Now, pick the book and lets follow Aram's ritual"
------------------
Will DC 20:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Coco seems particularly well defended against the curse of the book.
Heal:1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3
Vailis examines the bodies "It seems they are dead" he closes his nostrils in a clear gesture of distaste. "Let's see if they do have something of use" he casts a detect magic spell while registering the bodies and the chamber.
Perception:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4 Perception (Coco):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Vailis finds no unusual magical auras and neither Coco nor Melufiuos discover any traps. A search of the bodies reveal no items on them.
Satisfied of no current dangers in the room, the group progresses down the hallway, that has a 15 foot ceiling and is composed of the same blocks of white marble with gold veins running through it. After a walk of around 300 feet, you finally come to another room.
Virtually every inch of wall space in this chamber is covered with art or holds some work of art. Marble busts, bas relief carvings, and painted frescoes adorn the walls. Hundreds of stone shelves stretch from floor to ceiling, holding thousands of figurines, statuettes, decorative masks, and various other items. A massive pair of iron doors stand in the center of the far wall.
Also waiting for you in the room is a male human wearing robes and carrying a quarterstaff. A female dwarf stands nearby him in chainmail armor and wielding a battleaxe. A pair of ugly bugbears round out the group, sneering maliciously as they lay eyes upon you.
The man in the robes begins to look excited as you come into view and he commands others, "Attack, but leave at least one live prisoner!"
"You got it, Ascalar." The dwarven woman replies affirmatively.
|AC 16, T 16, FF 11|HP: 48/48|F +5, R +7, W +7 (+2 vs Enchantment/red dragon breath)|Init +5, Perc +21|CMB +11 CMD 24|11/11 Prescience, 1/1 Pearl, 1/1 Arcane Bond
From before:
Heal:1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Zeno looks at the bodies coldly, prepares himself with some magical wards, and moves on....
The Current Map link should be working now. I set the right map under the S4 link in my profile line and the link I provided in my previous post, but I forgot to set up the link on the campaign page.
Zeno casts a spell to strengthen his bow, while Valik grapples the man who appears to be named 'Ascalar.'
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
with the "social" aspect of our mission behind us, can we say Quiella restored her Paladin spell to get default of challenge evil?
Vailis moves to the room entrance and producing a bit of butter from his pouch casts a grease spell under the feet of the grappled man and the bugbear.
Ref DC 19 or fall prone. Acrobatics (balance) DC 10 to move out of the grease, and it's slippery difficult terrain
"Coco finish them!" commands the summoner, and Coco obeys moving to the front and readying an attack with the book.
Book improvised attack:1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 9 - 4 = 10 Book damage (+curse?):1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Assuming what a hit with the book might cause
I am pretty sure he is just adjacent to Valik, not sharing squares:
PRC Grapple wrote:
If you successfully grapple a creature that is not adjacent to you, move that creature to an adjacent open space (if no space is available, your grapple fails).
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella charges forward and swings her hammer at the leader.
Female Varisian cleric of Pharasma 7 | AC 21, T 10, FF 21 | HP 20/52 | F +8, R +4, W +12 | CMD 17 | Initiative +4 | Perception +16 | Channel 4/4 | Eerie Sense 60 ft
Clutching the holy symbol about her neck closely, Ophelia utters a quick prayer before moving up behind Quiella.
Vailis casts a Grease spell under Ascalar and one of the bugbears, and both lose their footing. The bugbear falls to the ground, while Ascalar remains upright in Valik's hold. Since Ascalar is in an upright grapple, I'm going to rule that he won't fall prone unless Valik chooses to drop him at this instant. If there is a rule somewhere that contradicts this, please let me know.
Meanwhile, Coco moves in and brandishes the Abysium Codex in a way to indicate he's willing to use it as a club if any enemies gets close.
Quiella moves up and cracks a couple of Ascalar's ribs with her hammer. Perhaps unsurprisingly, he is susceptible to Smite Evil.
Ophelia calls upon Pharasma to Bless the group and aid them in their current mission.
The prone bugbear stands up, provoking an opportunity attack from Quiella. If he survives, then he tries to move out of the grease, but remains in place as he nearly falls down again.
The upright bugbear moves clockwise to avoid the reach of Quiella's hammer and attacks Valik. He lets out a growl of frustration as his morningstar comes nowhere close to making it past Valik's defenses.
|AC 16, T 16, FF 11|HP: 48/48|F +5, R +7, W +7 (+2 vs Enchantment/red dragon breath)|Init +5, Perc +21|CMB +11 CMD 24|11/11 Prescience, 1/1 Pearl, 1/1 Arcane Bond
Zeno shoots the flying dwarf with an arrow that looks suspiciously like a dried flower....
Prescience:1d20 ⇒ 3
[dice=+2 Adaptive Composite Longbow, blessed, Focused Shot, Deadly Aim, gravity bow, thistle arrow]1d20+11[/dice]
damage:2d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 2) + 13 = 18 rounds of bleed:1d6 ⇒ 2 low means I can salvage the arrow if I miss:1d100 ⇒ 47
| Per +22 | F/R/W 9/9/14 | CMD 23-32 Human 8.1 Monk (sensei/Ki mystic) HP: 54/54 | AC 20 (MA 24) (MA + CW 33) | TCH 29 | FF 23 | Init +7
Valik glances over his shoulder as he sees Zeno noc and get ready to fire an arrow at the flying dwarf. He sees as Zeno lowers his elbow before firing the shot. He yells a few words to Zeno before he lets the arrow go.
Zeno, keep your elbow up, and adjust your left foot a few degrees inward. Your stance determines your success.
Use 2 ki points to let Zeno re-roll that awful attack roll
Valik doesn't loosen his grip on the man, as he refuses to give him any opportunity to aid in the battle. Valik is annoyed at the bugbear swinging a mace at him, but stays determined. He continues to focus on the robed man, and tries to move him backwards towards his allies.
Move Ascalar? Do I provoke from the bugbear next to me?? AC 31:1d20 + 11 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 5 = 26
Recalculated my CMB, it was supposed to be +12 or +11 when def fighting. I don't want to release him though as the rules say "I CAN"?
|AC 16, T 16, FF 11|HP: 48/48|F +5, R +7, W +7 (+2 vs Enchantment/red dragon breath)|Init +5, Perc +21|CMB +11 CMD 24|11/11 Prescience, 1/1 Pearl, 1/1 Arcane Bond
"Excuse me? Who are YOU to..."
reroll attack roll:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
Zeno notices the awkward position of his foot just in time.
"...ah, I suppose I have been putting my weight on that one for too long."
If you are in control of a grapple, you can release it as a free action.
Zeno's shot was on the verge of missing the dwarf until Valik's last minute advice corrects the trajectory and it hits, causing her to bleed slightly afterwards.
Valik, I do believe you provoke from moving even if it's part of a grapple action.
The adjacent bugbear takes a swing at Valik as the monk drags the robed man to the south, but it misses. Otherwise the monk has no problems pulling the small man where he wants.
| Per +22 | F/R/W 9/9/14 | CMD 23-32 Human 8.1 Monk (sensei/Ki mystic) HP: 54/54 | AC 20 (MA 24) (MA + CW 33) | TCH 29 | FF 23 | Init +7
I don't want to drop him, but if I am "required" to release after I move him I will mark which square I must plop him in. Also, if I provoke from the bugbear, does he provoke from Quiella for the movement?
Valik, you don't have to drop him after moving him. He doesn't provoke when he's being moved via a Combat Maneuver. I'm basing this off the Drag Maneuver doesn't provoke for the dragged person either.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
it doesn't matter, as Quiella only has 1AoO each round, but I thought I placed her so ever foe but the dwarf was in her reach. Remember, Paizo errata'd reach weapons to cover a full 25 squares, not just the 21 squares they used to rule.
Quiella's hammer strikes home again as she smacks the greased bugbear as he rises up from the ground.
Mel, you were more than 5 feet from the robed human, so you can't use spell combat. To keep things moving, I'll assume you move up and just attack with your spell stored rapier.
Still invisible, Melufiuos moves up to the grappled human and hits him with a critical strike of his electrified rapier. Valik can feel the robed man shudder with convulsive shock as the weapon penetrates his heart, killing him instantly. Mel, when you crit with a spell that requires an attack roll, you get to double the spell damage.
The flying dwarf woman gasps in shock as the human leader dies, but she attempts to persevere nonetheless, as she tries to concentrate on a spell despite the distraction of her bleeding arrow wound. Her luck isn't much better than the dead human, as she loses the spell.
GM Screen:
Concentration Check:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Initiative (Round 2)
Zeno
Valik
Melufiuos
Flying Dwarf
Vailis/Coco <= Up
Ophelia <= Up
Quiella <= Up
2 Bugbears
Group Effects
Bless: +1 to attacks and fear saves.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella steps closer to the other bugbear, but focuses her attention on the one trapped in the grease. She swings at him with her hammer again.
Vailis steps closer, loads and shots his darkwood crossbow at the casting dwarf.
darkwood light crossbow:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 P damage:1d8 ⇒ 2
Coco moves to the far end of the room and cunningly attempts to close up over the bugbear avoiding his menace area. He then swings the Assylum book menacingly.
Book improvised attack:1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 4 = 15 Book damage (+curse?):1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Spellcraft over any incoming spell:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
