GM Pendrak's page

Xander is fairly certain that the slime is a mix of preserving fluids (possibly formaldehyde), biological mucus consistent with tissues or organs stored in such liquid, and traces of ectoplasm.

Deciding to investigate the strange goo trails later, the group moves down and John cautiously opens the door to Administrator Losandro's office.

Yellow fog soundlessly roils against the cathedral-like windows of this opulent, two-story office. The ground floor features overstuffed furnishings, elegant side tables, and an altarlike desk of dark marble. A delicate spiral staircase and balcony of dark iron rises to a lofty library overhead. Both floors' fixtures frame the lake of blood spread across the room's center.

At the room's center, Doctor Eliege Losandro kneels in the pool of blood, her back straight, her mouth gaping at the ceiling. From her soundlessly screaming mouth an unsteady torrent of purple mist spurts like a fountain of gritty sludge, rising up into the air like smoke to gather near the ceiling in a strange cloud.

Xiao peppers the tatzylwyrm with her magical artillery, and then mighty Regis brings down his massive battleaxe to finish off the dragon-cousin. The way is clear once more.

Searching the creature’s nest reveals a mace made entirely of cold iron with a pentagram inscribed on the head and tarnished silver wire loosely wrapped around the hilt, revealing an inscription in Infernal along the handle. It would seem that this mace is the mace you seek, and that the inscription contains another portion of the fury's true name.

Close inspection of the table uncovers a hidden compartment containing a journal written in Common, a wand, and a scroll.

The journal belonged to a hobgoblin commander called Malgrin. The journal details Malgrin’s strategies and victories. It describes his use of the foothills to lose pursuit and how he employed the druid medics under his service to conceal their tracks and modify the terrain for better camouflage.

The hobgoblin journal represents an insight into the opposition during the Goblinblood Wars. The journal details not only battles, but also Malgrin’s thoughts on the war’s direction and his concerns about new forces entering the field. He outlines new tactics to counter the new arrivals.

The table seems to have been used for maps and planning, allowing the unit to observe from the spiral.

The return to Umok is uneventful. When the group arrives back at the Badgers's Den to get some rest, they are greeted by Trigi Neppo.

"A letter for you guys arrived while you were on your quest! This was attached: a scroll of heroism. Somebody must like you! The messenger said it was urgent. Told me to tell you that someone else hunts the prize you're after."

See Slides for the letter.

With their next mission in hand, the group readies themselves for the final section of their adventure here in Isger. Trigi is able to identify the scroll and wand they found in the tatzylwyrm's lair, if the Pathfinders can't do it themselves, and she provides them with cheerful company that evening at the inn. Bearjaw joins the festivities, and is interested in hearing all about the old hobgoblin hideout.

The next day, the group sets out for the Chitterwood.

Again, let me know if you want to make any purchases before the final quest commences.

After days of travel on overgrown trails and hard sleeping in the wilds of the Chitterwood, a half-collapsed wall emerges from the trees winding around a long forgotten encampment. The Hellknight outpost was breached long ago, and decades of growth have begun to reclaim the interior courtyard. A few walls still stand, and undergrowth covers the ground in a dense carpet. A single building in the southeastern end seems to be whole, its entrance blocked with a crude piece of wood.

As Smiley tries to wrap up Pava her well-trained hands move swiftly to block each attempt of the dwarf's to grapple her.

Mikhail and Tholand may act.

Maxime slices at the cyclops with her legendary blade, and twice draws blood. Ismene once again roars in pain. But despite the threat in front of her, she realizes that the spellcasters in the rear are going to cause her more problems than she and her seeresses are ready to deal with, especially if they have a way of preventing the cyclops and her allies' own spellcasting. With a quick, muttered word, divine energy wreathes her body. As Ismene lifts off the ground and flies over their heads, some strange magic prevents Maxime and Willem from trying to attack the cyclops. She lands near Bo and Uzziah, and again taking special effort to remain defensive while casting she sends forth yet another gout of flame, this one engulfing Bo and the spellcasting Barbo.

Bo and Barbo need to make a DC 18 Reflex save to try to dodge the cone of fire. If they succeed they each take 4 points of damage; if they fail they each take 9 points of damage and catch on fire for 4 rounds. If you catch fire, you can extinguish it as a move action with a DC 18 Reflex save (dousing the creature with water as a standard action grants a +2 bonus on this save, while immersing the creature in water automatically extinguishes the fire).

Then Barbo needs to make a concentration check if he takes damage. The DC is 12 plus whatever damage he ends up taking.

Bo, Uzziah, and Glorne may act.

Laura and John manage to shoulder the northern door open to reveal an L-shaped hall that runs from a collapsed space in the west to a small waiting area to the north. Some of the doors in the this wing are closed, but it appears that some of the doors are open or ajar.

Next to the door at the end of the hall is a large nameplate that reads "Administrator Eliege Losandro."

Map updated (if you don't get the Perception check you don't notice the pink lines on the map).

The creature seems confused by Reginald's japes, and this opening allows Dana, Woodthorne, and Xiao all to land attacks. The creature seems shaken, but it is still standing for now. It bites Woodthorne once again, but once again it is unable to get a grip to grab him.

Woodthorne takes another 8 points of damage.

Xiao, Reginald, Dana, Woodthorne, Orst, and Regis may act.

Giovanni's acid blob misses the mark, but Everbloom sends countless tiny needles sticking into the monk. Pava cries out in pain.

The thugs Pava brought with her nock and loose arrows, one each at Giovanni and Everbloom. Giovanni barely sidesteps to dodge, but an arrow hits Everbloom, just missing her throat.

Everbloom takes 7 points of damage. Smiley, Mikhail, Tholand, and Hskoro may act.

The Pathfinders begin preparing themselves with spells, save Glorne who fires off an ice blast that takes the draconic cyclops full in the chest. Ismene roars.

Behind her the two human women seem to recover their senses, and begin casting spells of their own, albeit one of them blindly.

Everyone but Barbo needs to make a DC 16 Will save or be confused for 8 rounds.

Barbo, Maxime, and Πολυμάθεια may act.

Despite its spell resistance, the spell seems to affect the codex archon just the same.

I feel like Grimm John is having a really, really bad day so far. Also, I don't know how many of you have read A Song of Ice and Fire but I get a serious Dolorous Edd vibe from Cage.

Genny continues to chitter away in Aklo.

The doors to the north, out the opposite side of the library from where the group came in, are jammed, but no serious effort has been made to unjam them or break them down.

You can try a Strength check.

Botting Willem.

More cautious after his flirt with death in the previous bout, Willem advances with a keen eye to his own self-defense.

Move 20' and take a total defense.

"Fools," cries Ismene the cyclops, and she leaps from the waterfall, using her massive wings to slowly descend and land before Maxime and Willem.

"Burn in the cleansing fire of the Dragon!" She murmurs a few arcana syllables in Cyclops and waves her hands, and a cone of searing flame shoots from her fingertips, engulfing Maxime, Willem, and the codex archon. She laughs, and more heat seems to exude like an aura from her very skin, again singeing Willem and Maxime.

Maxime, Willem, and Πολυμάθεια need to make a DC 18 Reflex save to try to dodge the cone of fire. If they succeed they each take 6 points of damage; if they fail they each take 12 points of damage and catch on fire for 4 rounds. If you catch fire, you can extinguish it as a move action with a DC 18 Reflex save (dousing the creature with water as a standard action grants a +2 bonus on this save, while immersing the creature in water automatically extinguishes the fire). Then Willem and Maxime need to make another DC 17 Reflex save against the heat aura. If they succeed they take 6 points of damage; if they fail they take 3 points of damage.

I'm only slightly put out that Ismene wasn't able to drop a fireball on all y'all, but Uzziah's spell prevented it entirely. I hope I did everything right with your spellcasting, Uzziah, there are a lot of moving parts when you cast your enchantments.

Bo, Uzziah, and Glorne may act.

Delaying Xiao and botting Orst.

Orst steps forward and also takes up a defensive stance. The tatzylwyrm scoots forward and snaps its jaw up at Woodthorne. Despite his divine protections, the draconic beast still manages to bite him hard in the leg. However, those same divine protections do manage to somehow deflect the creature from getting a grip on Woodthorne's leg and he remains thankfully ungrappled, though he has a nasty wound on his thigh.

Woodthorne takes 8 points of damage. Reginald, Dana, Woodthorne, Orst, Regis, and Xiao may act.

I've enjoyed the references, though I too am surprised they were subtle enough to just now come onto someone's radar. Though I suppose not everyone was as obsessed with Monty Python as a teenager as I was (I remain a big fan today but man did I love Monty Python back in the day, lol).

Gonna bot Tholand.

Tholand moves forward cautiously to join Hskoro, and takes up a defensive stance in the Dragon Style.

Move 30', total defense, swift action to activate Dragon Style.

Pava gives a smug smile and begins to advance, moving towards Mikhail but watching her fellow martial artist, Tholand, out of the corner of her eye. From her stance as she approaches it becomes clear to both Tholand and Smiley, if not some of the others, that Pava is trained in hamatulatsu, an exotic but deadly fighting form inspired by the varying attacks of the barbed devil, intended to maim and scar rather than kill.

But as she closes the distance, suddenly a wicked, baroque, spiked chain erupts from somewhere below her feet! The chain whips about, and despite her dexterity it slashes Pava across the shoulder sending an arc of blood into the air. A brief flash of fear crosses her face. But despite being shaken, the Irrican scion grits her teeth, keeps pushing forward, and launches herself at Mikhail with a feral shout, the fingers on her hand bent like claws as she attempts to strike the inquisitor. Mikhail feels a piercing pain in his chest as she strikes him, and her hand comes back red with blood.

Mikhail takes 8 points of damage. Everbloom and Giovanni may act.

As the dust covers the cyclops and her henchwomen, you see that only one of the human women seems to be effected. She rubs her eyes and reaches around, confused.

Willem, Maxime, and Πολυμάθεια (if the archon is still around) may act.

Pava practically fumes with anger.

"Have it your way," she says, turning to her men, "Kill them."

The bandits reach for arrows from their quivers, and the erinyes lets out a derisive laugh. Pava takes up a martial arts stance and begins to stalk forward.

Mikhail, Tholand, and Hskoro may act.

Sorry, missed your spoiler Alico

"Do you know what are in these books to make them so precious to you, little one? Do they have knowledge of the strange mists or monsters wandering these damned halls? Help us and we will not pursue you or your kin."

Briarstone’s library boasts an impressive collection of texts covering advanced psychological theories and treatments, common medical practices, and matters of regional record. Many of the books seem to be copies of texts held at Rozenport’s Sincomakti School of Sciences; some have even been pilfered from that collection and bear the university’s stamp within their covers. Regardless of the tomes’ pedigree, almost any matter relating to medicine, psychology, and Briarstone or Versex history can be researched here.

There don't seem to be any patient records here.

If you guys are interested in doing research at the library, we will use the Research rules from Ultimate Intrigue for that, as specified. However, it takes an 8 hour period of uninterrupted research, so I'm not sure if that is something you guys want to do right now or not.

Do you let the ratling go?

Neither Regis's entreaties nor Xiao's magic seem to have any effect on the creature, which nimbly scrambles forward, climbing the walls with exceptional ease, until it nearly closes with the Pathfinders, making its way to the upper level.

Daze only works on humanoids.

It hisses something that almost sounds like words.

Despite Reginald giving it the evil eye, the tatzylwyrm resists Dana's efforts at enchantment as well.

Woodthorne, Orst, Regis, and Xiao may act.

Pava steps up into view, accompanied by a pair of thugs.

"Very well, if you want to do this the hard way, I'm game," she says. But suddenly the situation changes.

A sharp bang announces the arrival of a black-winged figure in tight leather armor, wielding a longbow. She appears on top of a broken wall nearby, dark eyes darting around the courtyard at the assembled face-off. "Ah, I see the Irrica family line isn't entirely wiped out yet," she observes, "And facing off for a fight! You mortals make such tepid entertainment. But I am merciful. Give me the fragments you've collected and I'll let you live."

Pava scowls at the winged creature, "You serve the Irricas, devil. I know you cannot harm me. Now, you lot, quickly, give me the ring and I'll command it to spare you."

I am Maxime Chanteclerc de Hénin, Marquise of Beauregard and follower of Iomedae. You claim this place as your temple, but Iomedae's light will shine on this place.

I will give you only one chance to surrender to Her justice.
We will stop the infighting and bring peace and hope on these lands. The Dragon will not raise again.
Surrender, or Die.

She says as she points her sword toward the half dragon Cyclop.

"I am Ismene, the inheritor of the Firespeakers’ legacy and herald of the Second Dragon. It is my divine mandate to usher in the Dragon’s return. He conquered this land once, and will return and conquer it again: the dragon wearing the skin of mortal man. He shall arise and punish these people for forgetting their place and we, his true and loyal subjects, will be at his side to carry out his justice."

"What the Marquise means to say is that we have come here to end this feud and restore peace to the land for all involved. If you are going to hinder that, we will have little choice but to stop you."

"Orlovsky, Surtova, they are merely the tinder to the coming inferno. We sparked the flame from under them, and now we wait and watch them burn. This feud was long foreseen in our ancestor’s visions; we only hastened along the inevitable with simple whispers and witchery."

Uzziah bursts out laughing at Maxime's words. "Surrender to her justice? Who's to say that the dragon doesn't have just claim on this place?" he says as he walks forward

"Yes, your words are wise, elf," says the cyclops, as she watches Uzziah move forward. But then she seems to notice with her single, keen eye, that the psychic is up to something. "Wait, he is casting some sort of spell..." she says, but then her eyes glaze over slightly. "Kill them all, except for this one," she says to her followers, pointing at Uzziah.

The two women below do not react immediately, and instead babble incoherently, clearly still intoxicated, as they sway at the foot of the waterfall.

How long does the archon stay around?

Willem, Maxime, Πολυμάθεια, and Barbo may act.

Yeah, everyone in the room is evil. Well, everyone who isn't a Pathfinder.

The ratling, who you now see is a female, responds to Mashiki's words in Aklo. To anyone who doesn't understand Aklo, it is a hideous language, guttural but with strange pitch changes and obscure sounds, entirely alien.

At the end of the creature's speech, she gestures towards her hind end, pointing at a pair of wormlike tails, with a bit of a grin as if she is very proud of them.

Woodthorne manages to locate the best possible path up to the hideout. Dana finds a way to leap from rock to rock, making her way to the top, and with a lowered rope the ascent is made without any injury. In fact, despite a decent hike and climb, the Pathfinders are in pretty good shape both in terms of spirits and fatigue, when the reach the entrance to a cave that most likely is the lair they seek. This would not have likely been the case had they gotten lost, or had trouble with the climb.

The trail ends at a large boulder in front of a tunnel leading deeper inside. The cave is dark, the walls are stone, and the ceilings are 10 feet high.

You guys were perfect in all parts of the skills challenge. You have a chance here to cast any buffs or do anything else before entering the cave, through the power of retroactive continuity. At any rate I'll keep us moving though.

Entering the cave, the Pathfinders move down a long tunnel. The passage eventually turns south, serving as the only entrance and exit for a wide chamber that spirals down to a stone table 10 feet below. Bones and refuse litter the floor, and debris is gathered into a nest alongside the table.

Yellow eyes briefly flicker from the nest. Then, suddenly, a large reptile leaps out, gray-scaled and at least six feet in length. It has a dragon’s head filled with sharp teeth, and two arms ending in grasping claws. A cloud of greenish vapor wafts from its gaping maw.

Reginald, Regis, Xiao, and Woodthorne may act.

Smiley's shin-kick causes the ettercap to double over in pain, and Hskoro brings his blade down in a solid blow that nearly decapitates the creature, just as Giovanni moves in to stab the creature in the back simultaneously. The Pathfinders have made quick work of this aberration.

With a brief search of the room, the Pathfinders quickly turn up the remains of what must have been Dremlut Irrica.

The Irrica family signet ring is still on her desiccated finger. It’s encrusted with dirt but still retains its magic.

Once cleaned off, the gold ring reveals delicate Infernal text carved into the band, but the letters are hopelessly lost in the dense calligraphy. Only through many hours of study might somebody fluent in Infernal pick out and decipher the last piece of the name.

However, it is around this time that a woman's voice calls from the outside.

"Explorers! I am Pava Irrica and I believe you have been traveling across Isger, collecting my family heirlooms. However you've come by them, I am willing to forgive and forget as long as you turn them over to me peacefully. You can walk away, and I'll not get the authorities involved. Now, come out and sheathe your weapons."

Sorry, I was just going by what Willem said his HP was. By my math his is fully healed in terms of hit points. Moving on.

The fungal threat dealt with, the Pathfinders continue to explore the underneath. A long hallway leads from west to south and contains several stone statues along the walls. These statues depicts one-eyed figures in various poses, with inscriptions in a strange language on the base.

Continuing onward, the adventurers begin to hear the distant rush of water, growing nearer as they go. Soon they come into a cavern, and discover the source. Clear spring water rushes down from a raised opening in the western wall and spills into the pool ten feet below. Lit sconces flicker along the cavern's walls, offering ample illumination throughout the chamber. Painted on the rough-hewn ceiling, thirty feet above, is the image of a resplendent red dragon encircled with flourishing script and arcane symbols.

However, the most notable feature of the room is the nine feet tall feminine figure with red scales, dragon wings, and a single eye standing atop the waterfall between two braziers of fire encased with skulls. Her clawed hands reach up to the painting above as if in reverence to the icon. A pair of human women dressed in shabby rags with dirty bandages covering a single eye flank her on either side at the bottom of the waterfall. They seem to be intoxicated, or in some sort of trance, and they are gently swaying and murmuring nearly inaudibly. Both women are reminiscent of the doomsayer you saw back in Zmekya. In fact, its fairly sure that one of them is the very same woman.

Picture in slides.

As the Pathfinders enter the chamber, the one-eyed giant lowers her gaze to regard them, and addresses them:

"You come uninvited and trespass on the sacred grounds of the Firespeakers. Petty lordlings claim this land as theirs, yet it is none but the Dragon who shall inherit the land and rule as its rightful leader. The anger of these upstarts only fuels the fire of the Dragon’s second coming, and we shall continue to stoke that blaze among them until his return. As for you pitiful intruders, you shall make fine offerings, indeed. Count yourself blessed; not everyone receives such an honor."

Two Questions: (1) to GM: Glorne wears a cloak of resistance(+2), can he loan it to Whillem while he runs his saves? (2) to everyone else: Does anyone have anything else they can do to boost his saves or cure the Wis damage? Guidance, Lesser Restoration potions, etc.

Yes, I don't see why he couldn't let him wear that. Guidance also would help. It looks like any way you cut it though, Ser Willem is cured of the poison at this point. He did take some ability score damage, though, and he is still pretty hurt. Does anyone want to heal him up before moving on to the next area?

Xander sends a sling bullet smashing into the jaw of the ratling on the outer bookcase, and Miniel follows it up with an arrow that ends the creature's miserable existence.

The one remaining ratling, hemmed in by Mashiki and Alico, seems overwhelmed at this point and simply falls to its knees, blathering something in Aklo.

Though they were initially concerned that they might struggle to locate a 20 year old trail, it seems that it is still in use, and the Pathfinders finds it quickly with everyone helping out (except Regis who gets lost in the woods for a bit). But the path to the base proves a difficult climb. The hobgoblins seem to have chosen the route to deter pursuit and the terrain seems strangely modified, with sudden drop-offs and no smooth trails.

For the ascent to the base, you can use Acrobatics (to jump from rock to rock or balance on a precipice), Climb, Knowledge (nature) (to notice areas deliberately altered to hide the path), or Perception (to spot a safe route).

Maxime gives one of her antitoxin to Whillem.

That gives you a +5 on all saves against poison for an hour.

Rather than botting Tholand I'll just delay him to the others in initiative.

The ettercap hisses and clicks in fury and pain as he is hit right in the face by a blob of acid. Before he can do anything about it, Hskoro rushes forward and slashes him with an axe, and suddenly the tables are turned on the erstwhile ambusher. Nonetheless he seemed unfazed by Mikhail's magic, and simply stares back with his huge, black, beady eyes, before turning to tear into Hskoro with jaws and claws. Hskoro manages to avoid the creature's bite, but the ettercap rips into him with one of its claws. The creature steps over so its back is against the wall.

Hskoro takes 3 points of damage. Tholand, Everbloom, Smiley, Giovanni, Hskoro, and Mikhail may act.

Hi GM, are we going to finish this game before Nov 19?

You probably already know but I just wanted to make sure you are aware that games need to be reported by then. ;-)

I sure hope so. We are on the home stretch. I've had a lot of issues lately that have prevented me from keeping as regular a posting schedule as I'd like, so I apologize if for some reason we don't finish in time.

@Glorne ooze don't get crit :'(

Actually the psychepore's creature type is plant, not ooze, so the critical did actually go through.

Glorne focuses a storm of elemental energy and blasts the remaining psychepore, riming the fungal mound with frost, flash-freezing it. Cracks form, and then the entire creature shatters like glass. Another threat is neutralized.

Willem still needs to make a bunch of saves against poison if no one can neutralize it. With the failures on the new saves, the DC is now 22 and it lasts for 12 rounds total. You have gone through I believe 4 rounds so far, so there are 8 remaining. Keep in mind if you are damaged by the poison you must also make a DC 18 Will save or be confused for the round, so there is a chance you attack your allies or self during this period.

On the lichen covered pedestal rests a journal and a small metal coffer. The journal belonged to a Taldan man who once held this keep by the name of Lysius Corcina. Within the coffer are a ring, a small amulet, and two small vials labeled "sporedream poison." The ring appears like it once held 9 small gems in the band, but all but one are empty: the remaining slot still contains a garnet.

The journal is mostly concerned with Corcina's experiments here with the plants and fungi. He transformed the chamber into a subterranean garden of moss and fungal species. He experimented with cross breeding Taldan and local varieties for both medicinal and recreational purposes. His trials yielded several interesting findings, including a temporary remedy for an illness similar to the one that now plagues Berislav Surtova’s home. One practiced in the medicinal arts could probably use the notes to make this remedy.

Dana and Woodthorne conduct the majority of the successful research in the archives, though both Orst, the Reginald/Cassomir tag-team, and the librarian are all helpful in fetching and gathering the books, maps, and scrolls for them as well. With the information here learned put together with what Bearjaw told them, the Pathfinders are able to determine that the hobgoblin base must have been due east of Umok, in the foothills of the Aspodell Mountains.

After resting the night at the Badger's Den, the Pathfinder set out, heading east. After walking for most of the day, they begin to approach the area where they suspect the old hobgoblin base to be located, but now it is a matter of trying to find a trail or path to the base itself, it such a one exists.

For this part it is Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (nature), Perception, Profession (guide), or Survival to locate the trail. You can also choose to make a Fortitude save instead, representing your character working extra hard to try to locate the trail (even if you aren't particularly skilled).

The return to Umok is uneventful. When the group arrives back at the Badgers's Den to get some rest, they are greeted by Trigi Neppo.

"A letter for you guys arrived while you were on your quest! This was attached: a scroll of heroism. Somebody must like you! The messenger said it was urgent. Told me to tell you that someone else hunts the prize you're after."

See Slides for the letter.

With their next mission in hand, the group readies themselves for the final section of their adventure here in Isger. Trigi is able to identify the scroll and wand they found in the tatzylwyrm's lair, and she provides them with cheerful company that evening at the inn. Bearjaw joins the festivities, and is interested in hearing all about the old hobgoblin hideout.

The next day, the group sets out for the Chitterwood.

Again, let me know if you want to make any purchases before the final quest commences.

After days of travel on overgrown trails and hard sleeping in the wilds of the Chitterwood, a half-collapsed wall emerges from the trees winding around a long forgotten encampment. The Hellknight outpost was breached long ago, and decades of growth have begun to reclaim the interior courtyard. A few walls still stand, and undergrowth covers the ground in a dense carpet. A single building in the southeastern end seems to be whole, its entrance blocked with a crude piece of wood.

If for any reason anyone wants to do anything (cast spells, etc.) before moving into the fort, you may retcon doing so at this point.

The worm-eaten slab of wood falls aside easily to reveal a cluttered and rank-smelling hall. Rotten parchment scraps, worm-eaten carpets, and disintegrating furniture hint at a decaying Hellknight command center, a fact confirmed by the rusted remains of armor and ancient standards adorning the walls. A rusting iron statue of Asmodeus lies toppled to one side against a wall. Amongst the debris are the skeletal remains of five humanoid bodies. Two still wear rust-fused Hellknight armor, while three others are covered in molding, rotten leather. Surrounding these aged corpses are the remains of their goblinoid killers; it's clear that everyone was slain in a vicious fight.

However, the Pathfinders hear a faint chittering sound, just as the wooden slab is removed. This is enough warning to prevent them from being surprised when an ettercap reveals itself, ready to attack!

Giovanni, Hskoro, Tholand, and Mikhail may act.

You don't need cold iron for the psychepores, but they do have DR 5/slashing.

Glorne and Bo pummel the creature in front of Maxime with their ranged offensive, and she finishes the fungal monstrosity of with a series of hacking blows. The psychepore lurches over and collapses to the floor with a groan.

Meanwhile, Willem continues his assault on the other one, which is hurt badly but still standing, and the creature responds in kind by slamming back at him with a series of crushing blows.

Willem takes another 21 points of damage, and needs to make two new saves against the poison (which might increase the DC and duration) and then another against the old poison.

I made a mistake on the psychepores as well, they should have been exposing you guys to poison as well when they are hit by slashing or piercing weapons, but I also neglected to make one of the adjustments to the creatures for higher subtier with 4 PCs for the first few rounds, so I think it generally evens out.

Maxime does need to make a couple more saves against the yellow mold, Fortitude DC 15, as she stayed in the area for 2 more rounds.

Πολυμάθεια, Glorne, Uzziah, Willem, Barbo, Bo, and Maxime may act.

It did, but I think the three rounds are now up for the archon.

Nope, unfortunately the ratlings aren't wearing armor and don't have any shinies on them as far as you can see.

Aliva moves over and yanks the rope down out of the trappers' hands. He seems surprised, but manages to let go of the rope and not get pulled down with it. Fitliss is still tangled up, but he doesn't have to worry about get dragged anywhere unless Aliva decides to do it.

Several thugs step out into the streets with fine Kelesh longbows, and send feathered shafts flying at Ai'sha. Another fires at Irakelesh between the buildings, even though he has cover against the attack. Only one of the bowman targeting the bard aims true, and a long piece of ash sticks into her shoulder, almost the neck. The archer firing between the buildings also has great aim, and Irakelesh takes one in the hip.

Ai'sha takes 7 points of damage, and Irakelesh 4. Irakelesh, Fitliss, Ai'sha, and G'nock can act.

"Aye, I fought in the Goblinblood Wars. That's where I got the name, Bearjaw. I was a scout, fought alongside the Eagle Knights. Fought in a lot of skirmishes, and a few big battles. It were a terrible war. We were out-numbered 3-to-1 or worse in the best case, though they were goblins for the most part. The Chitterwood seemed full of them in those days."

Bearjaw sighs, and looks distant for a moment before continuing.

"You know, I was the one that found the survivors of that caravan raid that happened not far from here during the wars. Hobgoblins slaughtered most of a family that was bringing a betrothed suitor home for their daughter to wed. Them hobgoblin raiders weren't like the main bunch, and that's why the convoy didn't make it. See, them hobgoblins didn't attack from the woods like all the rest. This group, they came down out of the hills and hit that convoy hard and fast. They came from the Aspodell Mountains."

He seems to come out of his reverie, reaches for a rag, and begins wiping down the table in front of him.

"Ah, I hope that helps you. Anyways, I'm busy and I think I've had enough war talk for the day," say the gnome, dismissively.

With this useful piece of information in hand, and not wanting to press the veteran soldier, the Pathfinders say their goodbyes to Bearjaw and proceed to the town archives. A friendly gnome clerk greets, them, and after their explain themselves she allows them to peruse the archives at their leisure. It is a cosy room, well-lit by magic.

The archives contain Eagle Knight maps and documents recovered at the end of the Goblinblood Wars, listing out a number of raids, their general locations, and estimates of when the raids occurred.

In the Archive, you may use Knowledge (geography), Linguistics, Perception, or Profession (cartographer) to determine the probable location of the raid.

The tatzylwyrm hisses at his fellow reptillian as Hskoro approaches, or does the best he can with Giovanni in his mouth. However, the tatzylwyrm doesn't get an opportunity to make good on his threat, as Everbloom's forceful flower blast pummels the creature into unconsciousness, gracefully doing no harm to the rogue.

Searching the creature’s nest reveals a mace made entirely of cold iron with a pentagram inscribed on the head and tarnished silver wire loosely wrapped around the hilt, revealing an inscription in Infernal along the handle. It would seem that this mace is the mace you seek, and that the inscription contains another portion of the fury's true name.

Close inspection of the table uncovers a hidden compartment containing a journal written in Common, a wand, and a scroll.

The journal belonged to a hobgoblin commander called Malgrin. The journal details Malgrin’s strategies and victories. It describes his use of the foothills to lose pursuit and how he employed the druid medics under his service to conceal their tracks and modify the terrain for better camouflage.

The hobgoblin journal represents an insight into the opposition during the Goblinblood Wars. The journal details not only battles, but also Malgrin’s thoughts on the war’s direction and his concerns about new forces entering the field. He outlines new tactics to counter the new arrivals.

The table seems to have been used for maps and planning, allowing the unit to observe from the spiral.

The yellow mold spores are a poison, not a disease. As far as the psychepores go, acid seems to be affecting them normally.

Botting Willem.

Though Willem seems to be shrugging off the worst of the psycheporic poison, the yellow mold spores he just breathed in are causing him serious respiratory distress. Despite his hacking and coughing, he manages to bring his longsword down twice on the psychepore in front of him, cutting off large chunks of fungal matter. He then steps back out of the mustard colored cloud of spores, though the psychepore follows him closely.

Maxime follows suit, hacking and slashing at the fungal mound in front of her, and Bo sticks one of them with another pair of arrows. Meanwhile the psychepores retaliate on Willem and Maxime again, slamming Maxime twice and Willem once.

Willem takes 6 points of damage, and 1 point of Constitution damage. He made one save against the psychepore poison, but he needs to make another DC 18 Fortitude save against the existing poison next round to completely cure it. He also needs to make a new DC 18 Fortitude save against this round's poison (which should be made first, as it could affect the DC of the previous rounds poison as noted in my last update).

Maxime takes 22 points of damage, and she needs to make two more DC 18 Fortitude saves against psychepore poison. She also needs to make another DC 15 Fortitude save since she is still in the yellow mold.

Πολυμάθεια, Glorne, Uzziah, Willem, Barbo, Bo, and Maxime may act.

Also, I forgot, but Willem and Maxime need to make a DC 15 Fortitude save for moving into the yellow mold.

As the warriors move onto the bed of yellow fungus to engage the psychepores, a cloud of musty spores fills the air with a slight hiss, causing both Maxime and Willem to hack and cough.

Failure on the Fort save means Willem takes 1 point of Constitution damage, or Maxime 2 points of the same.

The Pathfinders rest well at the Tooth and Hookah, and the next morning the set out into the Dead City of Wati, well-rested.

The sun beats down on the lonely, silent streets of the necropolis. Dust and sand now cover the once-bustling streets, and buildings that were once homes and shops are gradually disintegrating into rubble after centuries of neglect. Scattered throughout the ruins is the occasional palm tree or shrub, kept alive by the broken remnants of a long-abandoned irrigation system.

Suddenly, the silence is broken by a shout, as an ambush is sprung! The group notices shady looking men moving about in the ruins, and from atop one of the half-collapsed buildings a Keleshite man throws a net down at Ai'sha, while another comes running up through the rubble.

Despite being caught off guard, Ai'sha manages to dodge out of the way, and the man pulls the net back with a curse in Kelish. He decides to try another tactic, and pulls out a small sack, throwing it down at Ai'sha. The bag hits her leg and bursts, entangling her legs in a gooey substance that almost immediately begins to harden as it contacts the air.

Meanwhile, the other trapper has better luck with his own net, and ensnares Fitliss.

Both Fitliss and Ai'sha are entangled, and Ai'sha needs to make a DC 15 Reflex save or be stuck to the floor. Fitliss would only need a DC 9 Strength check to move more than 10 feet away from the trapper. Aliva may act.

Laura focuses, and cuts one of the ratlings nearly in half, sending its corpse tumbling to the floor from the top of the bookshelf.
Things may have begun to go right for the adventurers. Meanwhile Alico injures another with a touch of negative energy, though the others cannot manage to hit their ratling targets.

The ratling that Alico touched bites at him again, but he dodges. The other, seeing her comrade sliced asunder by Laura's axe, thinks twice. She looks around for a way out, gives a shriek of panic, steps away from Mashiki, and teleports across to the opposite bookshelves with another POP.

Mashiki just barely missed with the touch attack, but the charge stays on her hand. Did you mean to have her climb atop the shelf and try to get to yellow? As Laura has confirmed, regular AC on the ratlings is 16 (Touch 15, FF 13).

Did Alico already have an inflict light wounds charge on his hand? Otherwise he'd need to cast the spell, which would either provoke (and risk losing the spell if he is hit), or require him to cast the spell defensively (and risk losing the spell if he fails his concentration check).

Xander, John, Miniel, Mashiki, Laura, and Alico may act.

"The archives, eh? Very well, first things first. You guys look like you've traveled a long ways, and you need some hot food and a cold drink. Follow me!"

The gnome leads you to a tavern, a building that is surprisingly sized for Medium humanoids rather than Small. The sign names it "The Badger's Den," and it turns out to be a cheery place, where gnomes scurry to and fro to help their mostly human and elvish patrons, visitors to the town or some of the few non-gnomes that live in Umok. It is notable that the building has no fireplace, but rather there seems to be a large heatstone of some sort sitting in the center of the room on a pedestal. A massive dire badger lies curled sleeping at the base of the pedestal.

Once inside and seated, and once the group has been served a generous helping of bread, butter, honey, and fruit, and been given the opportunity to order a meal and drinks, Trigi begins to answer questions.

"So you want to see the Archives? Questions about the Goblinblood War? Hmm, well I'm sure you'll find some information in the Archives, but honestly I'd recommend going and seeing Bastojo Qualimger, or "Bearjaw" as they call him, first. He was a scout in the wars, though he doesn't talk about it much. He runs a butcher's shop just down the street, calls it the Beartrap."

Feel free to insert any questions or roleplay with Trigi during your time at the Badger's Den, but I'll go ahead and keep us moving.

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After a delightful dinner, the group says farewell to Trigi for now, though she recommends they come back later if they want to stay the night in town. They make their way to the butcher's shop known at the Beartrap, an unevenly split two story building whose ground level is distinctly taller than the floor above.

Inside the butcher shop, a beefy gnome with a massive green beard tucked into an apron wipes down a long, bloodied table. He turns around, saying "Ahh, strangers, how can old Bearjaw help you?"

This next part is a skills challenge, if you will, consisting of four sections, starting with the discussion with Bearjaw here at the Beartrap. The better your success with Bearjaw, and at the Archives, and on the other two parts will determine how difficult things are for you at the end of this quest.

For each challenge, you can either attempt a skill check or use a class ability (such as bardic performance or casting a spell). After each of you has contributed, we will use the highest check result, and treat any check with a result of 10 or higher as though the that person had used the aid another action. If anyone casts a spell or uses an ability that is appropriate to the task at hand, it will grant a bonus of +2 to the highest check result. For spells or other class abilities that seem particularly appropriate to the task, this bonus might increase to +4.

Bearjaw seems cordial, but you've heard he doesn't easily talk about the war. For talking to Bearjaw, the skill checks you can use are Diplomacy, Bluff, or Sense Motive.

The Pathfinders rush forward, moving down the ramp to confront this strange draconid. Giovanni decides to skip the ramp, and jumps down, landing on his feet, nimble as a cat. Almost as soon as he lands he sends a blob of acid flying to collide with the tatzlwyrm, and the creature roars in pain.

Quick as a blue-tailed skink the tatzylwyrm rushes across the room, and runs straight up the side-wall of the ramp to close with Giovanni, and tries to bite the daring rogue, who the creature views as a most dangerous purveyor of nasty, burning acid. Giovanni seems not to have expected the climbing prowess of this dragon, and it manages to bite into him hard, right above the knee. What's more, the tatzylwyrm refuses to give up its toothy grip, and has the rogue grappled for the time being.

Giovanni takes 5 points of damage and is grappled. Mikhail, Everbloom, Hskoro, Tholand, and Giovanni may act.

Botting Bo.

With the lampad dealt with, the Pathfinders proceed to assault the fungal psychepores, launching missiles of force and acid, and bringing the blade. Bo fires another barrage of arrows, though the one arrow that hits seems to barely overcome the creature's defenses.

Then the semi-intelligent plants make their move again. They try to slam their massive bodies into Maxime and Willem.

Willem takes 15 points of damage and needs to make a DC 18 Fortitude save against poison or have the duration extended by another 3 rounds. If he fails that save, he has to make another DC 20 Fortitude save or add yet another 3 rounds to the poison duration. He then needs to make a third save for the poison currently running through his veins, the DC of which is dependent on whether or not he makes the other two saves. It could be 18, 20, or 22, as the duration and DC to save against the poison increases with multiple applications. If he fails this last save, he takes 3 more points of Wisdom damage. As of right now, he is poisoned for 5 more rounds or until he makes 2 consecutive saves.

Maxime takes 11 points of damage, and needs to make a DC 18 Fortitude save or take 3 points of Wisdom damage.

Glorne, Uzziah, Willem, Barbo, Bo, and Maxime may act.

Once more the adventurers struggle to make a dent into their adversaries, though Mashiki is able to hit one of the monsters with her acid blob.

The ratling near Alico continues to be no better at hitting the spiritualist than vice versa. The other ratlings continue to try to use their fear magic, this time targeting Mashiki and Laura.

Laura and Mashiki again need to make DC 12 Will saves vs. fear or be frightened for 1 and 3 rounds respectively. If they make the save they are shaken for one round instead.

Xander, John, Miniel, Mashiki, Laura, and Alico may act.

Althea looks sad for a moment upon hearing of the true cause of her death, but then she smiles at the Pathfinders and speaks, "Thank you for telling me. It is hard to swallow, but it can't take away the happy memories I have of my betrothed."

At this, the image slowly drains away upward, as if her spirit is traveling onward to other realms. With Althea laid to rest, the locket pops open easily. Inside, hidden behind the portrait, is what appears to be just a portion of the erinyes true name.

Delara says that she has a message for the Pathfinders that came while they were gone. She hands over a letter.

See the handout in the Slides.

Delara allows the group to stay in her manor for the night, before bidding them a fond adieu in the morning. The Pathfinders set out for Umok. A few days later, they arrive.

Again, you can retcon any resupply between leaving Valten and arriving in Umok.

The Pathfinders arrive in Umok without incident, despite the occasional signs of goblinoid activity en route. Approaching the town, it becomes clear that Umok looks oddly proportioned. The buildings are squat, and the streets look too narrow. The walls rise barely 6 feet high and appear too low for an effective defense. Bright colors abound throughout the town, adorning both the architecture and Umok's citizens, giving the impression that a fleet of chromatic dragons must have battled in the skies above, raining multicolored scales down upon the city. Wild and domesticated animals wander the streets, seeming perfectly at home amid the bustle of the town.

The party attracts attention as they enter the city of Umok, with animals taking up defensive postures and gnomes gawking at the travelers and whispering to their neighbors. Before the Pathfinders make it more than a few yards into the city, a female gnome confidently approaches.

Armored and accompanied by an apparently tame badger, the fierce looking gnome eyes your group intently. Finally a smile cracks her face. "Welcome to Umok strangers! My name is Trigi Neppo, peacekeeper and goblin-watcher. Might I ask your business in town?"

Sorry if I was confusing, you don't really need to move the boulder to go into the cave. I was just giving everyone a chance to notice the tracks and discuss, plus cast any buffs or anything, and decide if you wanna try to move in stealthily or anything. So, yeah, Giovanni has as long as he wants to try to activate that wand (as long as you don't roll a natural 1, since that prevents the item from being activated for 24 hours).

So, we'll work from the assumption that he eventually activates it, and then you move on into the cave, though not particularly stealthily (it hasn't been your guys' thing so far). If anyone else wants to do any kind of buffing before entering the caves, we can also retcon that.

The passage turns south, serving as the only entrance and exit for a wide chamber that spirals down to a stone table 10 feet below. Bones and refuse litter the floor, and debris is gathered into a nest alongside the table.

Yellow eyes briefly flicker from the nest. Then, suddenly, a large reptile leaps out, gray-scaled and at least six feet in length. It has a dragon’s head filled with sharp teeth, and two arms ending in grasping claws. A cloud of greenish vapor wafts from its gaping maw.

Mikhail, Everbloom, Hskoro, Tholand, and Giovanni may act.

Altogether you will get 1 XP and 2 PP for completing all five quests. You technically get the gold for each part upon finishing it. If you were playing these in person at the table you might not run them all at once, and you might not ever finish all 5 so that is why you get "partial credit" after each quest is finished, if that makes sense.