#7-00: Sky Key Solution [Tier 10-11] (GM Andrew) (Inactive)

Game Master Yiroep

Some of you already have, please make sure to roll the approriate checks (Listed in this post) when posting what you'd like to do, which would be one check either Studying or doing Lookout, and then one Disguise or Stealth check.

Message is now up

Raven continues wandering around the ruins, poking at things with his feet, but keeping an eye out for lizard people.

Perception: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (11) + 29 = 40 +2 on Surprise Foes

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

As soon as Garam casts message, Aru runs off and disappears.

stealth: 1d20 + 40 ⇒ (5) + 40 = 45

Aru looks around, her bow readied to strike if needed.

ranged attack: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29

Here snakey snake.... She thinks to herself.

Enough of you made the check for Lookout that I'm going to move on to the next phase.

As Garam studies the columns, the rest of the group looks out for Serpentfolk. They are jumpy, but between the four trying to spot them and shoot them, you are able to scare them off enough that they don't bother you for now.

Garam gleans some information off the columns he is looking at. He sees several of the columns have Serpentfolk eating in their own homes at, but they do so in separate areas. He learns that Serpentfolk generally eat alone, though he does see some columns that depict great feasts. They seem to get a proverse pleasure in breaking the taboo of eating alone amongst themselves in rare communal feasts hosted by a powerful priest or mage. He also sees that certain Serpentfolk figures are marked with scratches over their head, perhaps to delineate inferiority. It is depicted that the Serpentfolk feast on these "degenerates" from time to time.

Garam has successfully completed studying one of the three groups of columns without incident, thanks to the lookouts. It took 5 minutes for him to study them fully.

There's still 2 groups of columns left to study. Did you just want to continue the same strategy for the other 2? If so, you can just roll your Study or Lookout + Disguise/Stealth checks twice.

@Garam: Remember that you can no longer use Knowledge (Nature) to study the columns now. You'll have to use a different check for Studying.

Reference Post

Garam continues to wander apparently aimlessly through the columns but as he moves his mind is blazing, taking in everything, sorting, analysing, comparing, in his head he begins to write the outline of his next submission to the Chronicles, it is going to be FABULOUS! It may even feature other members of the team, although only in a footnote.

Garam uses the last charge of his investigative mind on the first check then uses the wand again. Given each check is taking about 5 minutes he probably also needs to add in another charge of heightened awareness.

Knowledge History: 2d20 ⇒ (19, 18) = 37 take best at +19 for 38
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Knowledge Nobility: 2d20 ⇒ (3, 7) = 10 take best at +16 for 23
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Hassari is looking for enemies.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

This weekend I have few moments for playing

The dwarf finds a post and begins his lookout shift.

I've been picking up little bits here and there since I started with the Pathfinders, Golsan thinks, as he idly fidgets with the chains on his locking gauntlet. Maybe after I retire I'll spend some time really studying. Garam really knows his stuff. Those pillars seem really interesting. But eh; I've never been paid to know stuff. And that's where it counts.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
Disguise: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Heh. gold. Never really cared that much about gold until I picked up this damned ioun stone. I mean, it's great. My ability to react to unseen threats is uncanny, and sometimes it's like I just...know...where to swing at an unseen foe. Yeah. Yeah, this stone is pretty aweso....

A shadow passes over his face.

Dammit, it's done it again. It's like I have to TRY to think about the good in people, or even to reminisce about how I used to care more about what good my actions did for others than I did for myself. I mean, how dumb, right? I can't do anybody any good if I'm dead. Least of all myself.

Golsan shakes his head, clearing his thoughts and getting back to work.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Disguise: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

"All this standing around's got me antsy. Garam, what did you learn? Too much time alone with one's thoughts is seldom a good thing for a fighter!"

Aru stays concealed behind whatever she can find, still keeping an eye on the nearby Serpentfolk.

stealth: 1d20 + 40 ⇒ (17) + 40 = 57
ranged attack roll: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20

Aru thinks to herself. That one's in range... That one's in range.... Hmm...

She, too, is getting antsy.

Aru and Hassari, I think you can post your next two lookout options, as per the GM's post.

Quiet Golsan, this work takes a lot of concentration and I can't have you chuntering on distracting me..., as he works Garam subconsciously strokes the nexus crystal and unlife gem hidden within his robes, damn stupid lumbering meatshield getting in the way and flapping his gums all the time, life would be much easier if I just turned him into a walking corpse, he would do as well and be quieter while I worked, probably smell better too....

Snapping himself out of his reverie he looks over to Golsan his ears turning a delicate shade of purple. He snatches his hands out of his robes, err, sorry Golsan, got lost in the work a bit there, no offence intended, I've got to be more careful with these things, I wish I'd never gone into the damned cursed dungeon...

Raven finds a rock that looks particularly interesting... an odd shape. Like a dwarf-head... wait, no, a half-orc. That's probably it.

Perception: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (20) + 29 = 49 +2 on Surprise Foes

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

[Second Round]

The lookouts continue to do their jobs, but aren't as successful this time. A few Serpentfolk slip through the cracks of their keen eyes and fast quivers, and attack! They throw lots of junk and ranged weapons at the party.

Damage: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 6, 1, 4) = 22 - DC 20 reflex save halves this - you get +4 to this Reflex save from spotting some of them.

Aru, on the other hand, manages to avoid detection entirely and takes no damage from the attack.

In addition, one member of the crowd casts a spell.

Random Target (Garam, Golsan, Hassari, Lightfoot Raven): 1d4 ⇒ 4

Lightfoot Raven starts to feel his mind clouded, potentially to attack his allies. Need a Will save from Lightfoot Raven (mind-affecting, enchantment, compulsion, spell)

After the attack, they retreat back to their hiding spots again.

Meanwhile, before the attack, Garam manages to find out some more information about the Serpentfolk. There is a strong insinuation that the Serpentfolk had some foreknowledge of the coming of Earthfall, the cataclysmic event that ended in the destruction of the Azlanti and Thassilonian empires, and also knew something was wrong with the alignment of the stars. This is clear by the engravings found on these columns.

Just one group of columns left to study!

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

[Third Round]

• Aru: TBD
• Garam: Knowledge (Nobility) 23, Stealth 21
• Golsan: Perception 32, Disguise 15
• Hassari: TBD
• Lightfoot Raven: Perception 36, Stealth 30.

Further checks for Round 3 needed for your character are listed below.

5 more minutes have passed by, so it has been 10 minutes since you have gotten here.

Reference Post

"Oy! Watch it!"
Reflex Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Aru continues to play lookout, apparently very good at her job.

stealth: 1d20 + 40 ⇒ (17) + 40 = 57
ranged attack role: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37

Aru tries to remain quiet as she watches her party members get attacked by Serpentfolk, but snickers quietly to herself.

This retraining sure came in handy... She thinks to herself, smirking as she readies her bow yet again.

of course, it would be the one carrying the Calm Emotions scroll! lol

Golsan draws up with a start. "Sorry lad. Didn't realize I was muttering. I guess sometimes my inner monologue slips from the tongue when I think I'm by myself!"

Oh, and I forgot the +4. But I made it anyway. And honestly, I'm going to stop posting from my phone. I miss too much that way.

Reflex save: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21

Ow, godsdammit, keep the damn snakes off me, this is hard enough as is!

Garam taps himself with a wand of infernal healing as he continues the work.

I should only be down 1HP after the spell finishes

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Hassari bleeds, but try keep wathcing.

Can we heal us?

You have time to heal up.

Reflex, +4: 1d20 + 13 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 13 + 4 = 31 and avoid with Evasion.
Will, Enchantment Bonus: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 2 = 18

Raven fully focuses on the serpentfolk now, taking a better position with which to watch them.

[Third Round]

The lookout team does much better this time, and keeps the opposition at bay. The Serpentfolk are staying where they are for now.

Garam studies the columns, but can't make heads or tails of it. He's gonna need more time to study it. ...one more Knowledge check left (Engineering) you can make before it gets a lot harder for you to study.

5 minutes more passed by in round three. It has been 15 minutes since starting this task.

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

[Fourth Round]

This round, just need a Lookout/Study check and Disguise/Stealth check from everyone.

Reference Post

"Oy, Garam! Maybe I can help a bit!" Golsan runs up to where Garam is working. "What are we looking at. I don't know much, but maybe if we work together I can be of some aid. Oh, and can you tap me with this wand?"

0 CLW and 1 Infernal Healing: 0d8 + 0 + 10 ⇒ (-) + 0 + 10 = 10

Knowledge(Engineering) to Aid Another: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Disguise: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

- Raven, May you use my curative wand on me, please?

I dont have engineering; wand CLW -I only need 3 uses-

wand CLW if Raven use it: 4d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 7, 4, 8) + 4 = 26

The high-flying Pathfinders have taken control of the Temple Plaza! In doing so, they have found out how to access the Temple itself!

The Temple Plaza is now claimed, the Temple Interior is now discovered. This will be reflected in the map momentarily.

Garam floats amongst the last of the columns, he idly taps Golsan with a wand, hey Golsan, I am impressed, must be that dwarven love of architecture inspiring you?

Expending another use of investigative mind to roll twice on the knowledge check, including the benefit from the assist, heroism, pathfinder chronicle and heightened awareness

Engineering: 2d20 ⇒ (17, 15) = 32 taking the best +18 for 35
Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Aru giggles from her hiding place, trying not to laugh at the fact her friends are getting hit and she's not.

Maybe I should give them lessons on hiding... she thinks to herself, smirking.

stealth: 1d20 + 40 ⇒ (2) + 40 = 42
ranged attack roll: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26

[Fourth Round]

Assuming Lightfoot Raven continues to Lookout, you got it.

The lookout team once again does a good job in keeping the Sepentfolk at bay. They don't bother you and stay in their hiding places.

Golsan points out that the columns being looked at have nothing to do with Serpentfolk nobility, but have to do with Serpentfolk structures and machinery. It then clicks in Garam's head as he studied the columns.

Serpentfolk cities and ruins are extraordinarily elaborate, and the use of spirals, snake heads, and circular deigns is very common in both art and architecture. Ziggurats are also common, and typically stone is used in construct, with every surface covered in spirals or snake pictograms. Serpentfolk had access to massive and odd machines beyond modern scholars ability to understand, use, or comprehend. Many cities where found with massive (10-15ft discs) of combined mithral and glass, which are believed to have been used to enhance telepathy to allow cities to communicate.

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

You have studied all you can here!

There's now two places open, the Temple Interior and the Slave Pens. At this moment, there is travel TO the Slave Pens but not through it, so low level parties are still stuck to those two. Would you like to go to the Temple Interior then or down to the Slave Pens? (You've explored all you can in the Temple Plaza)

We have gained access to the Temple my friends, I suggest we head there post haste!

- Yes, we must go to the temple, quickly!

"Aye, let's go to the temple!

"Raven, I'm glad I didn't have to put you down, lad! You had a look in your eye I've seen before! You seem like a nice fellow. It would've been a shame!"

You head out to the temple interior. It takes 6 minutes (full Time Keeping below)

Glowing coals warm this shrine and cast an eerie under-lighting on the towering, snake-headed statue behind the altar. The reek of ammonia and rotting flesh fills the air and burns the eyes.

As you enter the shrine, you see a very large snake near the entrance and a Serpentfolk near the back of the shrine. There seems to be 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 +1 = 4 copies of the Serpentfolk.

Monster Knowledge (Snake)

Monster Knowledge (Serpentfolk)

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

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

@Garam: I think your Mirror Image is gone now. You are free to recast before this (if you can).

@Lightfoot Raven: Your Shield of Faith is gone now. You are free to recast before this (if you can).

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

Initiative Order - Bolded Characters May Post Their Turn

Garam (-1) - Delay Poison, Mage Armour, Overland Flight, See Invisibility, Heroism, Investigative Mind, Freedom of Movement
Hassari (-0) - Mage Armor
Golsan (-1)
Aru (-0)
Green (-0)
Lightfoot Raven (-0) - Hype, Mage Armor
Blue (-0) - Mirror Image (3), Other Mystery Spells?

THIS IS SLIDE 6

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 <-- Snake
Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 <-- Serpentfolk

"Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?!"

Golsan, not knowing much except that it probably bleeds, moves in and attacks!

+1 Keen Adamantine Greatsword (PA, FF, VS, DS, OC): 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (19) + 21 = 40
Damage: 4d6 + 26 ⇒ (3, 2, 5, 6) + 26 = 42

Confirmation: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (11) + 21 = 32
Damage: 2d6 + 26 ⇒ (1, 5) + 26 = 32

I'm deliberately keeping within range for haste if someone decides to drop it. :)

Garam would certainly recast mirror image on the way in, he has two prepped and some scrolls as well.

Mirror Image: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Oh my, what an enormous snake you have!

Uses his last charge of this investigative mind on the serpentfolk

Nature on Snake: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Nature on Serpentfolk: 2d20 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9, take best +15

Watch out for that big snake everyone, its err, a big snake! That serpentfolk might be tricky too, you cant befuddle their minds or paralyse them or poison them, resistant to magic too!

With that Garam moves into the room muttering under his breath as he goes, shit, shit, shit, Golsan how are you so bloody quick on your pins, dammit you probably need this too, lets hope it doesn't mind me, he hit the damn thing pretty hard..., as he reaches Golsan he taps him with a wand, this had better work...

Garam moves into the room up behind Golsan, drawing a wand as he does so. He tries to activate it to cast freedom of movement on the dwarf assuming, given how enormous the snake is, that it may well try and grab him.

UMD: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

I am looking to position myself where the snake would have to deal with cover from Golsan if it wanted to attack me. I doubt it will make much difference if it does go for me but every little helps!

Hassari casts haste.

:D

Messed up my post. Aru, you can go too. Won't be able to do a more intensive update until tonight.

Aru shows as 16 in initiative, Blue shows as 17, I think you are right as is?

Yeah. And actually, it appears it should be blue next, then Aru/Raven, then green.

...woops. Will fix when at a computer.

Golsan steps up and pounds into the snake, dealing a devastating blow. It still stands, but doesn't look good.

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

Garam decides to give the dwarf a little bit of wiggle room with Freedom of Movement.

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

Hassari thinks speed is key in this battle, and Hastes the party.

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

Blue's Turn
The Serpentfolk hears the casting coming from the hallway (From Hassari)

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

Garam (-1) - Delay Poison, Mage Armour, Overland Flight, See Invisibility, Heroism, Investigative Mind, Freedom of Movement
Hassari (-18) - Mage Armor - NEED DC 16 REFLEX SAVE
Golsan (-1) - Freedom of Movement
Blue (-0) - Mirror Image (3), Other Mystery Spells?
Aru (-18) - NEED DC 16 REFLEX SAVE
Lightfoot Raven (-18) - Hype, Mage Armor - NEED DC 16 REFLEX SAVE
Green (-74)

Group Buffs: HASTE

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 16 + 1 = 33

Aru nimbly jumps out from the sphere, making her reflex save with ease!

She shoots at the snake, hoping to catch it flatfooted. We have marked the square she exited the sphere in with A, which is where she'd be shooting at the snake. She'll get point blank from here!

+1 corrosive short bow: 1d20 + 17 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 17 + 1 = 28
regular damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
sneak attack: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 5, 6) = 17
acid damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

She yells out, "Can't let you have ALL the fun, Golsan!"

Once Aru shoots at the snake, she quickly stealths to behind the altar, hoping to not be seen by the caster.

Stealth: 1d20 + 40 - 20 ⇒ (4) + 40 - 20 = 24 I have the fast stealth rogue talent, so I can stealth at full movement speed. With haste, that'll give me 60 feet of movement, which is perfect. Thanks, Hassari!

Aru attempts to hide behind the altar, waiting for her chance to strike as she quickly catches her breath, adrenaline now pumping through her veins.

Reflex: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

- You are going to be defeated!! Your powers are weak!

Garam has mirror image up again with 6 images, investigative mind has expired again. I can tell this is going to burn a lot of consumables!

Agreed. Garam, that was an expensive charge you just dropped on me. Thanks!

I'll leave the SoF off for now.

Raven first attempts to dodge the sphere..
Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16 and must be distracted as he barely makes it out of the way, rolling to the south.

As he comes back up, he sees the giant snake and smiles.

"Garam, do these ones taste good filleted?" he asks as he steps forward once then starts swinging his spear, using its light weight to his advantage as he slashes at the scales.

+1 Ada Branched Spear: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

+1 Ada Branched Spear: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

+1 Ada Branched Spear: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Since I have adjacent allies for once, Bodyguard! I have 7 AOOs with which to increase Golsan and Garam's ACs by 2. I'll spoiler the attacks. Anything but a 1 succeeds at AC 10.

65/83, AC 28, 24 Touch, Ref +14

Hassari easily manages to roll out of the sphere.

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

Aru rolls out of the sphere with ease as well. She snipes the snake, hitting it near the eye and causing it to stagger back.

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

Lightfoot Raven barely dodges out of the sphere and attacks the snake thrice. He only hits once. The beast looks like it's on its last leg!

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

Just to be clear, the damage from the Bead was not avoidable. Only being trapped in the sphere.

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

Green's Turn
It turns towards Golsan, the one who damaged it the hardest. Lightfoot Raven gets in the way of the swing.
Bite Attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19
Bite Damage: 4d6 + 28 ⇒ (3, 1, 1, 5) + 28 = 38
It is clearly distressed by the blitz that just occurred.

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

Garam (-1) - Delay Poison, Mage Armour, Overland Flight, See Invisibility, Heroism, Investigative Mind, Freedom of Movement
Hassari (-18) - Mage Armor
Golsan (-1) - Freedom of Movement
Blue (-0) - Mirror Image (3), Other Mystery Spells?
Aru (-18)
Lightfoot Raven (-18) - Hype, Mage Armor
Green (-125)

Group Buffs: HASTE

"Ok, foul beast. Time to die!"

If it falls after the first strike, Golsan will move in a straight line at full speed (40) toward the other hostile.
.
.

+1 Keen Adamantine Greatsword (First Attack, FF, PA): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31
Damage: 2d6 + 21 ⇒ (2, 2) + 21 = 25

+1 Keen Adamantine Greatsword (Haste, PA, BS): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 24 ⇒ (1, 6) + 24 = 31

+1 Keen Adamantine Greatsword (It. 1, PA, BS): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 24 ⇒ (3, 4) + 24 = 31

+1 Keen Adamantine Greatsword (It. 2, PA, BS): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 24 ⇒ (2, 4) + 24 = 30

well, nothing if not consistent lol

Seeing that Golsan seems to have the snake well in hand he turns his attention to the caster.

With a flick of his wrist he produces a wand and points it at the serpentfolk magician.

No tricky magic for you degenerate! he calls out in perfect draconic.

Swift action to retrieve wand of dispel magic, targeting the mirror image spell specifically to dispel with targeted dispel. The DC is actually the DC of the spell rather than caster level

Caster level check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

If the giant snake is down then Garam will also move to the other side of the room to get out of AoE formation. Garams buff list also needs to be updated, Investigative Mind has been used up again but Mirror Image (6) is up.

@Golsan, you can move after the first attack as the snake is down.... it had 1 HP left of course. :p

@Garam, unfortunately that check meets neither the DC nor beats the 11+CL number, so his images are still there.

I'll have a bigger post once I have everyone in.

Token moved, path indicated. Golsan will step up should he step away.

I have moved to the back of the room as indicated in my post given the snake went down.