Beyond Azlant Ridge (Inactive)

Game Master R D

Sorry about the slow posting over the last couple of days. I've been laid low by a late winter/early spring flu. Ugh.

Husarq grunts as the acid sprays near him. "Watch out, Uthred," he says before slashing at the other side's pustules.

Um, since you're slashing at the other side, it would be Berosius and Harrow who need reflex saves. But, presumably, since there are party members with high INT and WIS, you all have enough sense to get out of the way. :-)

Husarq slashes at the pustular flesh. It erupts and coats the area with acid. Husarq evades. Now you can re-examine the runes.

Remember, Uthred found yet another trap ahead of you...

"Master, you may examine the runes now," says Husarq.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Mareck is unable to decipher the runes further...

Perhaps Quartz and Davina could help out.

Im confused are we just here to escort Valais. So she can look into something?

Quartz tries to read the runes.

Linguistics take 10: 10 + 12 = 22

"Valais does any of this look familiar to your dreams?" Quartz asks.

Im confused are we just here to escort Valais. So she can look into something?

Please take another look at your mission briefing and/or the discussion page.

Linguistics take 10: 10 + 12 = 22

"Valais does any of this look familiar to your dreams?" Quartz asks.

"It's all very hazy... But, this..." Valais responds as she gestures at the mural. "This does seem somehow familiar..."

Everyone can now see that the murals depict a large tree on a hill with a single piece of spiny purple fruit. The next one shows the fruit grown and unraveled into a creature, roughly man-sized and shaped but with elephantine feet and spikes growing out of its body. The third panel shows humans groveling before the spiked creature, which slits the throat of a man at the base of the tree using his long, sharp claws. The fourth panel shows the spiked creature touching the tree and creating an abundance of fruit bearing plants.

With that linguistics check, Quartz is able to decipher the full phrase: "Servants shall grovel at their master's feet."

Knowledge planes to know more about the spiked creature.

Know Planes: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

"Hmm I don't know what these things are. And whats with this message..." Quartz says, telling the group the meaning.

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Aid Quartz.

On a whim, Harrow decides to use his wand of cure light wounds on the nasty pustules on the wall.

He does so casually when the others are not looking, in the event it is a stupid idea.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

no evasion...yet

On a whim, Harrow decides to use his wand of cure light wounds on the nasty pustules on the wall.

He does so casually when the others are not looking, in the event it is a stupid idea.

Despite the interesting idea, nothing happens.

Quartz and Mareck can't make heads or tails of the depiction of the spiky creature. Anyone else have Kn.Planes?

Harrow looks at the spiky creature, wondering if Ragathiel will enlighten him.

knowledge planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Davina takes a look at the creature as well.

know planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

The spiky creature depicted on the walls is a Kalavakus demon! (Valais has kalavakus parts grafted to her.)

"We are certainly in the right track," says Mareq. "Though the conflation of the Kalavakus demon with the tree imagery of this area's religious iconography is disturbing. Was Sarkoris already amenable to Abyssal taint even before the Worldwound opened?"

Is Valais with us?

"All this planar stuff is mind boggling. Why cant everyone stay on their own plane...? No offense Mareck." Uthred says when folks start discussing all the Abyssal information.

Mareq stares at Uthred. His eyes narrow a bit. He turns away from the half-elf.

"Didn't the Sarkorians say that their god Laktharis was born from the fertility goddess of the sacred Heartwood Tree? Is this kalavakus, Laktharis?" says the extraplanar ifrit.

Yes, Valais is with you. She guided you to this place.

There's still a trap ahead of you.

Uthred takes a gander at the trap first before trying to neutralize it...

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

"Stay back a bit... this is not the best skill in my bag." Uthred warns the others...

Disable Device: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Davina stands back.

Mareq steps back at Uthred's words.

Husarq stands between Uthred and Mareq.

Uthred unintentionally sets off the trap.

Uthred Will Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Before I reveal the result of this roll, do you happen to have a re-roll? If so, would you like the opportunity to use it?

yes i have a re-roll to use... do i want to use it now?

??? It's your prerogative, if you wish to use it. I took the liberty of rolling a save for you. The result was low. Would you like to use your re-roll now? Or would you like to go with the low roll?

I was just asking philosophically to see if the effects are deadly or just inconvenient and save the re-roll for something else more dire.

WIL: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 not much better.

"Uthred okay?" Harrow asks from a safe distance. "Not look like fun job," he adds.

I just realized that it also should have been a fort save, not a will save, so Uthred's re-roll succeeds. My first roll really did fail, though--even with his high fortitude bonus.

Uthred begins to double over in pain. But, before he suffers any real effects, he shakes it off. The trap is not disarmed. The slayer suspects that, after some unknown interval, it might get someone else.

For the moment that he is doubled over, it occurs to the half-elf that the translated runes ("Servants shall grovel at their master's feet.") hinted at this trap's effect.

Berosius and Davina both notice that Valais is horrified and taken aback. When asked about her reaction, she simply replies: "memories that are not my own," and refuses to elaborate further.

The little halfling swallows his fear and disgust and approaches the afflicted crusader. "We do not want to cause you any more pain, but if your memories can prevent more of us from getting hurt, I pray you will show us the real strength of the crusades and share them with us."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

is this a skill check Uthred can try again?

Berosius is able to calm Valais. Though, she remains silent--for now.

is this a skill check Uthred can try again?

Sadly, no. You can retry checks made to disable traps if you miss the check by 4 or less. Unfortunately, you missed by more (else you would not have set off the trap).

You can try again "tomorrow" or whenever you leave here.

I presume that at least one of you, in character, is taking good notes?

Quartz would be. And taking samples wherever he can. Can I try on the trap?

To Valais

"You must show strength to carry on your task"

OK, not sure where we go from here. If the trap doesn't reset quickly, (as said by GME) let's go, NOW, through this area and avoid the trap.

Quartz can try to disable the trap, if he wishes. :) Before he does so, everyone please adjust your placement on the map!

In response to Davina, Valais nods and takes a deep breath. But, she also remains silent for the time being.

Quartz, do you want to take a shot at it? If not, I think we just run through ASAP with the current marching order. However, Harrow would go first to make sure it doesn't trigger anything right off, others could follow a couple seconds later.

While Harrow waits, he uses his detect evil power on the statue at the end of the hallway.

Disable device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Boom! If anyone can aid for a 36 that would be cool.

Mareq watches Harrow prepare to take the lead.

"HUSARQ!" he shouts. "To the front, Soul-of-S%$@e."

Oh yes. What will happen to the Killer of Childhood? Perhaps something painful... heh, he thinks to himself.

Husarq steps forward and, once the rest of the party arranges themselves appropriately, walks ahead into the trap.

His body language is resigned. Even depressed. His shoulders slump and his head is slightly bowed. He knows danger awaits. Not danger to be confronted, but danger to be endured.

[dice=Disable device]1d20+14 Boom! If anyone can aid for a 36 that would be cool.

GME, lemme know if this roll succeeds in disarming the trap. Mareq will have a particular/specific reaction if it succeeds or fails!

Boom! If anyone can aid for a 36 that would be cool.

Uthred's disable device is +11; he auto aids you. :-)

The device is disabled!

Quartz Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Quartz Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

As far as Quartz can tell, there are no other traps in the surrounding area.

Where to from here?

The device is disabled!

Mareq's weirdly expectant look crashes when he watches Quartz disable the device. His fists clench as Husarq walks by the trap without suffering any harm. Mareq looks at Quartz and his eyes swirl with maniacal hatred for a split second.

"Husarq could have --," he says through gritted teeth, before suddenly forcing a smile onto his face. "Thank you, Quartz. You have surely... saved Husarq much discomfort."

As the rest of the Pathfinders walk on, Mareq turns away and takes several deep breaths, exhaling carefully through his nose. When he returns to the group, he is relaxed again.

oh Davina is Silver crusade If I need any checks for the extra stuff let me know

oh Davina is Silver crusade If I need any checks for the extra stuff let me know

Yup! :) I've been nudging the whole party.

I'm so confused. Nudging us?

Mareq points to the left. "Let's go that way."

Harrow scratches his head, looks both ways, shrugs, and leads where Mareck has pointed.

I'm so confused. Nudging us?

- One example

I can stop nudging you, if you'd prefer.

Harrow scratches his head, looks both ways, shrugs, and leads where Mareck has pointed.

Marching order? So, Mareck and Harrow are in the lead?

I can stop nudging you, if you'd prefer.

No, no! My god, no. Nudge away. :-)