Beacon Below CORE (Inactive)

Game Master Helikon

Same, also confused because I thought one of the mummies at least was defeated, but still see 2 on map?

Not your fault, this seems like a challenging encounter to run.

And I would appreciate if you could list initiative. Since the way so far is chaotic.

This is meant to be chaotic, but the fight is now over anyway.

DO you speak Ancient Orsisiani? Or did you make a Linguistic roll Erwin! Otherwise you have NO CLUE that those were names!

In response to your question, I'm actually not 100% sure now. The stat block for the iconic Paladin Seelah lists Osiriani as a language for her. Now that I've checked the PRD for clarification, I see that modern (which I assume is the one I speak) and ancient are definitely different, but are specifically noted as being connected and not altogether separate languages.

It states that a modern speaker would get the general meaning out of someone speaking in Ancient Osirian but would likely miss more complex terminology or misunderstand what they might mean. It's also possible for a modern Osirian speaker to be able to decipher some ancient Osirian text.

That said, as the Paladin has no ranks in Linguistics, interpreting meanings beyond what is explicitly stated or deciphering things is not really possible.

So I suppose it is up to you if I understand what is being said at a basic level or if you would rather I didn't understand anything in Ancient Osirian at all.

Lem has no Linguistics, beyond his starting languages(!?).
So he won't understand the spoken words, even if he heard them.

He has a scroll of comprehend languages for later use, plus the ones we were given, though they would only have a duration of 10 minutes each, if crafted at minimum caster level.

We may be wise to spread out their use, rather than use them simultaneously.

Do we have a view of the rest of the corridor, or room beyond the doors?

@ GM Helkion:
Not that it matters too much right this instant, but I'm sure we'll come upon more encounters with the Ancient Osiriani language. Does understanding the modern Osiriani language help with deciphering and/or listening to conversations in Ancient Osiriani as stated?

It won´t help at all.
Ancient Egyptian and modern Egyptian do not match,
and ancient chinese and modern neither.
So nope!

Alright then, GM's call on this one. I'll leave it to the smarter people to decipher.

She doesn't have limgustics

I did study modern chinese as major at university.
And I am a history nerd. Shrug. Even helped a lot with the ladies!

Sorry if it seems like I'm dragging this on, but just to clarify, this is how you are ruling it in your game?

The only reason I had asked earlier was because it is specifically noted in both the human languages and the Dead languages portion for the Osiriani language that the two are still close enough to be understood. Unlike our worlds Egyptian and Chinese languages.

Human Language of Golarion:
Osiriani:
This is the most widely spoken language on the continent of Garund. It is a direct descendant of Ancient Osiriani, which modern speakers can partially understand.

Dead languages of Golarion
Ancient Osiriani was invented over 8,000 years ago at the dawn of the Age of Destiny. Though different from modern-day Osiriani, it is still decipherable to speakers of the modern language. It has more complex pictograms than its modern counterpart, although there are not nearly as many words. Words and symbols in Ancient Osiriani can also have many more meanings than the modern language.

Forgive me, for I am non english native because decipherable is for the context of reading and deciphering pictogramms.
I am still of a different opinion but for now let it slide.
You could at least asked if you could check the spoilers.

That's true, I shouldn't have assumed they were the same without checking first.

I'll just make sure to see that the two are different.

So it's more like the difference between simplified Chinese and Traditional Chinese? (Although I should note: most peoples from Taiwan and Hong Kong can quite easily read the mainland's simplified Chinese..most of the younger generation (from the mainland) struggles with reading traditional Chinese.)
Are you in China now Helikon? I lived there for 5 years but, my mandarin is surprisingly bad for someone who lived there that long. (doesn't even qualify as chinglish..I call it 'taxi cab Chinese'. I get from to the airport to my appointment usually...without too much trouble and can ask where the restroom is and order a beer or coke in a restaurant without too much trouble..but , that's about it!)

No that was in my stupid youth. Over 20 years ago. I worked for many years at the airport specialising in immigration and anti-terror.

das is gud :)

German is not one of the languages I am fluent in :)

I'm going to be in a work-related job fair for the next four hours, so if I post, it'll be on the run.

I'm interested in who or more importantly, what 'Badru' is, and what defences he is likely to have.

I'd also like if she could lift any illusions, that are going to cover any of the other rooms. Or provide us with a map, so we know where to expect doors and corridors to be.
That would save us a lot of time blundering around.
I'll be as diplomatic as I can, with lots of praise for her guardianship so far. I don't want to upset a sphinx, as I think she could take us all, if she wanted.

If you need to roll any skill checks for me, they are:
Acrobatics +10 (+6 when jumping), Bluff +16, Climb +1, Diplomacy +15, Knowledge (arcana) +15, Knowledge (nobility) +15, all other Knowledges +5, Perception +2, Perform (comedy) +15, Perform (wind) +15, Sense Motive +10, Stealth +13

Ok there's a couple things bothering me in regards to this undead sphinx..
1. I don't want to mess with the GMs game but I find it hard to 'play in character' that, Kyra a worshiper of a deity that hates undead..would so readily trust an undead monster that had super genius intelligence in life.
2. Ok, so now it wants to 'follow-us' instead of lead..fair enough..meta wise; a lot of plots are driven with the PCs being forced to make the choices and the NPC are just in the background, to aid and give exposition when necessary..But, I ask you.."if you were in a dungeon and just destroyed a bunch of undead, would you let another undead walk in back of your group, the rest of the way through?" I wouldn't, and I darn well think Kyra wouldn't.
3. How can we be sure that this sphinx wasn't the one in control of the undead and the other guy, summoned the fire elementals to protect the library? Wouldn't it make more sense for undead to summon and deal with their kin? She indicated this other guy, to be some sort of construct.
4. Why are we agreeing to kill this other guy, without talking to him first? Because, we got good sense motive rolls? This is a sphinx we're dealing with, it specializes in riddles and lies! I mean, why exactly is he the bad-guy again? We're taking this creatures word for it that, he just went rogue...We could be; being used, to be a personal hit squad, for misses sphinx.

So I want to assure you I have never been spoiled on this scenario if I got any of this right. If I'm sending us "off the rails", from what I'm about to do..I apologize in advance. But, this doesn't add up to dried s h * * if you know what I mean. So I need to hold conference with all the players "in character" before Kyra goes one more step in the murder hobo rampage universe.

thx for bearing with me in advance.

Yep, seems pretty weird, no doubt about it. When Kyra attacks Meri will back her up.

I can understand your problems.
Just a few things to consider.
The game orders me that the sphinx shall not lead to take the limelight from the PCs.
Second she did not become undead out of her own will.
How did she summon the others. Good question, ask her?
The funny part is she hates her undeath state and would not make other undead. There is also no punishment for going against her.

I'm in agreement with Kyra, but I'm playing along for as long as I have to, because I expect a sphinx to be well above our pay grade, and it could possibly gobble us up, even without its undead immunities.

I agree, we need to meet the other guardian, and hear their side, before making a decision to harm either.

I also don't want to have that conversation in her earshot.
Do any of us have the message cantrip?
If so, we can have that cast on us all, and we can have the above discussion in whispers, as we head out of her sight.
Would also be good for keeping informed by anyone scouting ahead.

She is going along to see if she can meet the other guardian and get his tory :)

This seems a good time to read my scroll of comprehend languages, if that would help me read directions to the exit, or give a clue what this room was used for.
But I don't want to waste it, if it takes us ten minutes to get through these corridors.
I'm thinking we may need several of us understanding Osiriani, to operate the artifact we've been told about.

Dancing lights is by far the better spell, but light lasts only a minute, where Light lasts for 10 minutes/level. If you think Bramble would be up for recasting it every minute then go ahead, but a light spell should do the trick.

Looking over Erwin's very limited skill set, I believe I have just errored in how he would have handled this situation, as he is actually very skilled in diplomacy and not in being bull-headed with intimidation.

Meh, I think its realistic to not approach a problem using something you are really skilled in.

I like that she can be flying and unseen :)

Flying is easily one of the best defensive abilities anyone could ask for. That and being unseen is just an amazing combination.

Yes you are right. Very evil grin.

By the way now you have proof that the mummy was made by him.

By the way now you have proof that the mummy was made by him.

Is that in answer to the scanning of the room for magic?

Why do we have a gorgon with us now, lol

Oh, there's plenty more where that came from. LOL

Apologies for being absent today.
I tried to log on at work, and got a warning the site was blocked by McAffee.
I don't know if that's a official security flag, but better safe than sorry.
I've had no problems in the past, but I've been online more often than usual.

I came home, and had to go straight out to my face to face game.
I'll try to keep up outside of work hours.

now a Squely Nord

Ooops, my mistake I called him an undead in my post. Sorry for confusion.

It's times like these I wish that we were playing with Hero Points.

Hmm seems I should have waited to see what you were going to do first, Bramble. I do realize that haste grants an extra attack when full attacking, but this round it would be the vital strike that Erwin was going for.

The extra +3 to his attack bonus and +2 to damage are nice. The speed boost however increases Erwins jump from 9 to 21 which is significant.

I am reminded however, that the normal version of Vital strike does not in fact multiply on a critical hit. Which means I only add +5 damage rolled. I forgot how terrible they made that feat.

We need to get you in the air, so you can slice and dice.

I don't have that ability, but anyone got a fly, or levitation?

I can fly, I can fly, I can fly

Well we might just be using the jump, unless Seoni is okay with using her action to make Erwin capable of flight.

She had a potion or a scroll

Why did these things get to go ahead of us without iniative being rolled?

I think it was just their auras activating, I might be mistaken though.

Iniative Rolls: Enemys have also some Boni, they managed to get ahead of you.
Erwin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Bramble: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Seoni: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Kyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1
Barm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Merisiel: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
enemys: 1d20 ⇒ 19 + Hidden boni
Soulbound doll Ini +7 = 26 Ini
Sceandear Ini +5 = 24 Ini. They all had higher Ini than you all!
Seoni how is your flat footed touch AC 21?
And why 6 single posts? Within 15 minutes.

Somehow I'd thought the ceiling in the room was only 15 ft. high. There is no world in which the Paladin could have conceivably made a 10 ft. high, Dc. 40, jump in order to have reached that creature. Now I feel foolish for have even tried to attack it once it was off the ground.

Seoni how is your flat footed touch AC 21?
And why 6 single posts? Within 15 minutes.

She has mage armor cast on herself.

Happy Easter!

It's okay, I believe Helikon simply posted the enemies' flat initiative roll, and not their bonuses.
I thought he'd added them and given us the total.

Apologies for getting the wrong impression.