Pirate Rob's Charity Gauntlet (Inactive)

Game Master Pirate Rob

Please confirn that you've read the disclaimers below in your dotting post, game to begin in earnest on Monday.

You've each recently received a written letter delivered by messenger ordering you to report together to the Gauntlet Siege Castle in the hills north of Absalom. The letter states that once they open the red metal doors, you have entered the Gauntlet, and that honor demands that you not leave until you have successfully navigated its many dangers.

The Gauntlet was written as a challenging dungeon for a wider audience, and the background flavor is best suited for an adventure where the threat of character death is very real. That flavor is, however, a more unforgiving depiction of the Pathfinder Society itself and is not representative of the organization as a whole. Embark knowing that the Society will have your back in your future exploits, but today you delve into the merciless depths of the Gauntlet.

The adventure describes the contents of a letter the PCs receive, including the warning that once they begin the adventure, they must finish the entire dungeon. As a sanctioned Pathfinder Society Roleplaying Guild event, this is not the case; after concluding any encounter, the PCs can choose to exit the dungeon and conclude the adventure. If they do so, though, the adventure ends.

I've read the disclaimer and I'm still here.

I broke the back of your disclaimer.

The disclaimer has been read, crumpled, and left behind.

I've also read the disclaimer and I'm still here.

that makes 4/6 to have checked in.

Any preperations to make in Absalom before heading out?

I'm in and have read the warning.

Alright, looks like no Madscientist and his alchemist so you'll be going with 5. Based on a full reading it may be designed for only 4 anyway, so I'll donate for him and you'll go with 5. A fine compromise.

From atop the high bluff, the sprawling city of Absalom at your back, your destination looks like nothing so much as an errant pile of rocks and loose boulders.

A Siege Castle, they call it, one of an endless number of ruins surrounding the City at the Center of the World, time-lost fortresses of would-be conquerors. In thousands of years, Absalom has never fallen, leaving a scattering of forgotten towers, castles, and keeps strewn at odd intervals like corpses on a battlefield.

As you near, the structure’s irregular contours take form. Huge monoliths of old stone form a squat platform about a hundred feet square. Centuries of rubble and debris litter the top of the platform, which levels out twenty feet from the ground. A fallen tower or crumbling rampart rises from the rubble here and there, but the ruin looks beyond hope of restoration, its run-down architecture more a part of the natural landscape than an edifice crafted by the hands of men.

But there, at the center of the southern wall, lies the landmark spoken of in your summons—sturdy double doors of bright red metal. The time to test your adventuring skills is at hand. It’s your turn to face the Gauntlet!

Please take a moment to introduce your characters

Also...

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

"Well then, I hope the riches are worth the risk. Rather decrepit looking place, don't you think? They could use the help of a few dwarves. Shall we knock? We were invited, weren't we?"

Warpac looks like a stereotype dwarf, with an expensive looking plate mail, an expensive looking axe of dwarven make, and well groomed facial hair. He seems a bit agitated though. The axe of his is rarely in its harness, constantly moving, and often thwacking things as he passes them. During the trip you will have found out that he is a warpriest of Desna, and considered a bit too 'wild' for polite dwarven company.

Rayne is a devilishly handsome Chelish man, roughly 2 and a half decades old. His dark flowing locks reach to his chest where you can see a hint of a well made mithral shirt underneath his clothing. His bow has the initials "R.D" carved into it. His five-o-clock shadow just enhances his rugged good looks. "Yea, they should fire whoever built this place. I'm Rayne by the way."

Wraith is a Human woman wearing what appears to be a black, form-fitting body suit, a cloak that would easily all her to hide her movements underneath, and a cloth mask that covers her nose and mouth.

"You may call me Wraith" the woman says and then nods to each of you.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 33

Wraith moves to an area near the entrance, kneels, and picks up something off the ground. she rubs it between her pointer finger and thumb, then smells it.

"Looks like someone was doing ritual magic here, most likely divination based."

"Yea you're right. You thinking someone was here right before us?"

Etu ruffled the feathers atop her head as she glanced around. She wore the typical blue, white, and gold of the Eagle Knights over her exquisite chain armor. An elaborate, purple butterfly hung in easy reach from her neck: a holy symbol of Desna. A small, brown bird with a white breast speckled with even more brown. A thrush. So far, it seemed content to watch from its opened familiar satchel.

When she speaks, her voice is strong and powerful. "Lance Corporal Etu of the Eagle Knights. But, as I'm off duty, Etu will do just fine.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30

"If someone were here before us, then they were either stupid or brave for coming to this place, Etu stated. She, too, leaned down and examined the incense, smelling and feeling so that she might get a better idea of what kind of magics were performed here.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

With you stands a fin tall man of Keleshite heritage. He has short red hair, black eyes blinking under the sun despite being clearly from the hot desert of Qadira. His skin is covered with numerous tattoos of strange arabesques and chromatic dragons. He wores heavy robe of red silk with flying dragon golden patterns, expensive jewellery - most of them representing dragon's head or flying dragons - and a golden symbol representing a falling burning scale.
His condescending smile is surrounded by a palpable aura of imminent danger.

The only weapon he seems carrying is a short staff - like a light mass - carved to look like a red dragon.

Be the blessing of Dragons upon you ! I'm Trade Prince Qalim Al Asham, Master of Fire and Ashes.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 1 = 25

Looking at the remnents, Qalim casts detect magic on the area.

No magic auras out here except what you've brought with you.

The ominous red doors stand before you.

Let's open these doors, I let you do it.

Before entering Qalim casts see invisibility.

Rayne examines the doors before opening them.
Perception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (1) + 23 = 24 +4 for traps.

"It would also probably be prudent to mention that I can see through objects that aren't too thick, such as most doors, if we want extra reconnaissance," Etu said as she, too, looked for traps. You could never have too many eyes.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

No traps, perfectly safe.

With see invisibility up on Qalim the red metal doors open to reveal a richly appointed room lit by lanterns along all four walls. A wide carpet of regal blue hue stretches thirty-five feet across the floor to a pair of deep green metal doors set into the north wall opposite you.

Halfway across the room, the carpet branches to the west, where it ends at the foot of a golden door with bright silver hinges. Two man-sized statues of sumptuously armored figures in elaborate masks flank the golden door, the glass lenses of their helmets glimmering in the lantern-light as they stand silent vigil.

Along the eastern wall, four broad stairs lead to a wide dais on which rests a long banquet table overlooking the room. Behind the table sit three well-composed figures: a long-haired elf in robes wearing a wistful look, a middle-aged oread seated before an open book, and a gregarious bald human with a clipped dark beard and a glint in his eye.

You immediately recognize the three figures as the deans of the Pathfinder Society's academy, it's three masters.

Map is now linked in my header as well as up top. For the Gauntlet North will always be up. Maps are hand-drawn by the Bulhman and not optomized for digital display so may be a bit fuzzy in places.

Warpac approaches the deans. Are the 'figures' real or are they statues? Wondering if he should say anything.

The masked figures remain statuesque.

Marcos Farabellus grins and motions you all forward.

Wraith will move forward, wary for ambush.

Was Marcos one of the three figures that were remaining statuesque, or standing somewhere else? Where is he and where is he motioning us to go?

After looking around to see if anything was magicaly hidden, Qalim moves toward the three masters, stoping a few feet from them and bowing slightly.

Greeting Masters, have you some last words or warning before I enter this dungeon? If you summoned me to this test, I suppose that I'm worthy of your attention.

There are 2 statues of the Decimverate to the west, and then the three masters behindi the desk to the east.

No ambush here, moved people onto the map.

The red metal doors clang shut behind you, echoing against the sturdy stone walls of the lantern-lit chamber.

The woman at the center of the table turns to the massive book before her and reads each of your names, pausing for a moment to look straight into the eyes of each hero as his or her name is called.

“Able agents,” she says, “the Decemvirate itself has taken notice of your exploits and adventures, and believes that you are called to further greatness on behalf of the Pathfinder Society."

"To prove that their trust in your abilities is well founded, they have called upon we three deans of the Pathfinder Society, your former trainers, to administer one final test to you. Your task is to venture north, through the green metal doors, and face the Gauntlet’s challenges and eventually emerge through the gold door to the west."

"You may each ask each of your old instructors a single yes-or-no question about the dangers to come, which we are obliged to answer as honestly as possible.”

Edit. I read that as 1 question total originally.
@Marcos
"Is there anything here that I can't shoot to death? Like a swarm for instance."

@Master of Spells
"Is their anything in there that can use mind control? It's come up a few times."

@Master of Scrolls
"Is there anything that drains life energy?" I.E. Levels

In this mission will I confront a creature immune to Fire?

Asks Qalim to the Master of Spell

In this mission will I confront a creature immune to Magic?

He asks to the Master of Scroll

Do we will meet dragons ?

He asks the Master of Blade hoping that the answer will be yes !

Rayne's questions are answered:

"Yes, yes, yes."

Qalim's questions are answered

"Yes, no, yes"

Sense Motive DC24: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Thank you masters

Etu would approach and bow to the masters before thinking, contemplating on the answers already given.

She turns to the Master of Spells, "Will there be time in between fights to prepare spells if we haven't prepared them all already?"

She turned to the Master of Scrolls, "Will there be traps ahead of us?"

Finally, she turned to the Master of Blades, "Will there be any incorporeal foes?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Warpac perks up at the question about incorporeal foes. Being a well armored dwarf, and relying on his armor to provide protection to most blows, he hates incorporeal 'touchers'. In fact he was going to ask the same question, though he is quite sure that the annoying answer will be 'yes'.

To the master of scrolls he asks as his first question:
"Should we expect this mission to take more than a day?"

The three masters answer Etu's questions

"Yes, yes, yes."

Kreighton Shane responds to Warpac's question with a "No."

Someone should ask if we're allowed to rest or if it's safe to do so.

He asks the master of spells,

"Well. It may be unlikely that the mission will take more than a day, but Will there be the option to rest and regain spells at some point, or will that be impossible."

To Marcus:

"Is the quickest path to the exit to the East, North, or West from the first room?"

To the Master of Spells:

"Will we encounter any incorporeal creatures in the maze?"

To the Master of Scrolls:

"Do any parts of the maze employ magic which prevents us from mapping it?"

"Well. It may be unlikely that the mission will take more than a day, but Will there be the option to rest and regain spells at some point..."

Kreighton responds "No."

The Master of Swords does not answer Wraith's first question.

His two other questions are answered with a yes and then a no.

As a note I added the questions and answers to a map slide.

To the master or swords he asks,

"Finally, my last question is 'Will we likely see combat withing 5 minutes of passing through the first door?"

"Okay then, how about 'Is there any specialized mundane equipment we will need to complete the maze?'"

Marcus answers Warpac with a "Yes."

Sorrina answers wraith with a "No."

The three masters go silent but watch you intently for now.

I'm ready

Says Qalim after casting False Life, greater

False Life: 2d10 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 8 = 15

Rayne pulls out a wand and tries to activate it.

UMD: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30 Shield for 1 minute. I'm going to atleast attempt every minute we're in this thing until I run out of charges.

Before approaching the door he asks the spell caster(s), "Does anyone know how to cast Mage Armor? Even though I've got hard metal covering me I have had issues with incorporeals in the past and wouldn't mind a little backup. I've got this pearl if it helps." It's a pearl of power.

Right before entering, Warpac will buff, given the knowledge that combat will most likely begin soon after. He will cast Bull's Strength (7 min), Shield of Faith(7 min), bless himself with Lucky Presence(1 min), and activate Sacred Weapon(1 min) to add +1 to his armor.

tag line updated. Should we keep a buff list on an excel spreadsheet we share to keep all the buffs straight? I've seen that done in other games and it helps a lot.

"I'm ready too."

I have of course the ability to cast such spell, but I have not prepared it nor have a wand of it.
But one of my fireball and those creatures will be no more as nothing can stand the roar of the Dragon

Says Qalim.

"I cannot cast that spell at all," Etu says before turning back to the masters. "Thank you for the information. We will see you again once these trials are over."

Etu will cast Deathwatch and Magic Circle vs Evil.

"I also have Hide from Undead prepared, in case we come across a room filled with them and we would like to be tactical," Etu informed.

Warpac, was that armor or weapon?

All buffed up...

The green metal doors open to reveal a short hallway extending five feet to the north before ending in a billowing curtain of opaque, multi-colored gas.

Every few seconds, the gas glows with an inner, largely obscured radiance—first red, then blue, and finally white before the cycle begins anew. The swirling gas makes distance difficult to determine, but perhaps eighty feet away, a wide column of dull green light casts a lugubrious radiance over the chamber.

Other than the pillar of light, that seems to be about 80 feet away opaque makes other details of the room impossible to make out from here.

The gas does not seem to be pouring out towards you.

Sacred Armor. For some reason they got real frugal with the sacred weapon and it eats it up by the round instead of minute. I only get 7 rounds of sacred weapon at my disposal and I'm saving it for the ghost touch. I have no idea why I wrote Sacred Weapon.

"Shall we all try to go through on the same color cycle, or do you think it matters?"

Wraith is going to throw three copper pieces into the mist, one for each color, to see what happens.

Wraith's 3 copper pieces all disapear into the opaque mist. Each falling about 30 feet or so before clanking on a stone floor.

No noticible difference between the coins.

any knowledge ?

Qalim casts detect magic to better understand the phenomenon.

Know. (arcana): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38