Taicho slides his sword through the remaining beetle's shell and with a poof, it too disappears.
@Van: You can have that wand charge back since Taicho would've finished it before you in initiative.
With the obvious threat within the house cleared, the Pathfinders give it a thorough search for clues on Fimbrik's connection with Elysia and her hidden trove of research.
The main living quarters proves to hold nothing of note. Then, you all then scour Fimbrik's bedroom to the west and a sutudy to the southeast, also coming up empty.
Finally, upon checking the northeastern room, you all turn up something interesting - a note apparently written by Fimbrik... to you all... sort of.
Mysterious Note:
Dear Pathfinders,
Well, you got me! I’m not here anymore, and my house is filled with an incredible array of illusions to discourage the curious. But you just had to break in. I respect your gumption and assume you’re either a petty burglar or someone looking into Eylysia’s affairs.
I’ve left Absalom to look for my friend, for she’s been missing for some time; however, you’ll want to investigate at the Wall of Names at the Society Grand Lodge paying close attention to Karina Clamp.
I assure you, it’s quite important, but I’ll leave you to figure out why. Oh, and the password. It’s ‘Wiffle.’ You’ll find it important, should you learn where to use it.
—The Illustrious Fimbrik
**
In addition, you find a pair of long-forgotten potions on the windowsill.
Fimbrik's home has been thoroughly searched for anything of note.
Taicho identifies the second potion as a potion of lesser restoration. The first remains unidentified but definitely spells different than the second.
You can return to the Wall of Names, which you all visited here, however there's nothing else to do there except pay your respects to long-dead Pathfinders.
GM Note: The scenario is a bit confusing as there's two similarly named monuments for the "fallen", but the latest clue would seem to indicate visiting the Shrine of the Failed that Xasay identified the three named aspirants as being buried at.
|AC 20, T 13, FF 18|HP: 45/45|F +2, R +8, W +4 (+1 vs water/cold, +2 vs shadow, +3 vs poison, +4 vs fear/drain/death/Necr)|Init +2, Perc +4|CMB +6 CMD 18|23/23 Perform, 3/3 Speaker, 3/3 Phantasm, 1/1 comic relief
M Gnome Arcanist 6 - HP 38/38 - AC 16/T: 15/FF: 13 - Perception: +1; Darkvision 60 ft. - Fort: +6, Ref: +7, Will: +6 (+2 vs. Illusions) - CMB: +2, CMD 15 - Speed 20 ft. - Init. +3
"Alright, just to make sure we got all this straight, we need to go back to the Shrine to the name Karina Clamp and say 'wiffle,' although we probably have to mess with it first." Van says in an attempt to clarify and then adds,"Man I really hate having to backtrack with my short legs."
Heading back to the shrine as stated, unless someone has an objection. I have to admit some confusion between the Wall of Names and the Shrine of the Fallen. Where did we go earlier?
Earlier you were at the Wall of Names in this post. I'll assume you all wish to visit the Shrine of the Failed, as the clues point you that direction by referencing "aspirants" and not "Pathfinders".
Xasay identifies the other potion as a potion of cure moderate wounds.
Crowds have formed to witness Reinhart of Kenabres attempt the Test of the Starstone, so the usual guards that would monitor entrance to the Shrine of the Failed have wandered over to observe the crowds gathered there.
As you all begin descending into the shrine, you can hear the ooohs, ahhhs, and ohhhhs of the crowd as the Mendevian Crusader works the crowd and begins his test.
**
This monumental chamber stretches eighty feet from end to end, with a ceiling suspended thirty feet from the floor by great pillars. Seven arched passages lead to humble rooms, each of which contains a polished stone altar dedicated to one of the failed aspirants who attempted the Test of the Starstone.
Each of the seven side chambers contains a small stone altar to one of the failed aspirants. Each altar stands upon a raised dais and bears a small brass nameplate identifying the aspirant and the would-be-god’s areas of interest.
One of these bears a name you all find of particular interest, Karina Clamp.
With MacDowell's aid, Taicho is barely able to determine something is amiss with the room's western wall (DC25 Perception check!).
As the tengu examines it even more closely, he discovers some sort of illusion obscures a door on the western wall.
As he works through the room trying to determine how to open the door, he realizes the nameplate on the altar slides to one side, revealing a small compartment behind it.
Within lies a miniature chalkboard and a single piece of chalk.
Continuing deeper, you enter a small alcove where several desks are arranged along the northern and eastern edges. Whereas the stonework leading to this chamber is rough, the walls in the alcove are polished.
A single gem rests among the neatly filed papers on the desk, emitting a soft luminescence that brightens the small room.
Detect Magic and Spellcraft DC15:
The gem is a cut alexandrite upon which someone has cast continual flame.
If you examine the desk:
The paperwork on the desk is a priceless collection of Pathfinder Society lore and information describing dozens of unexplored sites. Most are written in an Azlanti dialect further encrypted using an old cipher employed by the Society centuries ago.
It will take the Society weeks of hard work at the Grand Lodge, but this seems to be Eylysia's hidden trove of lore!
|AC 20, T 13, FF 18|HP: 45/45|F +2, R +8, W +4 (+1 vs water/cold, +2 vs shadow, +3 vs poison, +4 vs fear/drain/death/Necr)|Init +2, Perc +4|CMB +6 CMD 18|23/23 Perform, 3/3 Speaker, 3/3 Phantasm, 1/1 comic relief
M Gnome Arcanist 6 - HP 38/38 - AC 16/T: 15/FF: 13 - Perception: +1; Darkvision 60 ft. - Fort: +6, Ref: +7, Will: +6 (+2 vs. Illusions) - CMB: +2, CMD 15 - Speed 20 ft. - Init. +3
Spellcraft:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Casting Detect Magic on the gem and examining it after Xasay, Van shrugs and looks unimpressed. "It's just an expensive paperweight with permanent lighting spell cast on it."
He then begins to riffle through the desk, looking far more satisfied, "This stuff is the real deal, fellas. We should take it back and get our ceremonial attaboys. Just in case though, let's check the entire room in case the old boy hid his good stuff in another spot."
After packing up Eylysia's works, you return back through the passage and emerge into the main area of the Shrine of the Fallen.
However, you are not alone.
Four men stand in your way, weapons drawn.
The one in the back speaks.
"Your death will fulfill the Thousand Whispers. What must be done will be done... ezyrien-ka krithsarl-na..."
His words quickly devolve from the Common tongue into a harsh language (Abyssal) and they step forward with an apparently premeditated plan to murder all of you.
The four NPCs depicted:
The following letters are used on the latest map:
T = The man who spoke, he is armed with a morningstar and wears no armor
B = A human in a chain shirt carrying a large greatclub
S = Another human in a chain shirt carrying a longsword and shield
A = An elf with a longbow
I'm flexible on where you guys start and tried to get you into an advantageous spot without slowing the game down to let you all place yourselves for a "pseudo-ambush."
If you guys ever feel your PCs would be somewhere else besides where I set them up for an initial setup, just let me know.
TLDR: Even if you moved him 4 squares away from the group or suggestsed he was still in the cave, I'm fine with it. :)
|AC 20, T 13, FF 18|HP: 45/45|F +2, R +8, W +4 (+1 vs water/cold, +2 vs shadow, +3 vs poison, +4 vs fear/drain/death/Necr)|Init +2, Perc +4|CMB +6 CMD 18|23/23 Perform, 3/3 Speaker, 3/3 Phantasm, 1/1 comic relief
Xasay's habitual rictus becomes much wider, and he expertly fans his metal stencils like a hand of cards. He picks one out, and the next thing anyone knows, a freakish-looking bird of prey appears from the darkness and launches itself at the intruder with the greatclub!
1: I take a 5-foot step to behind MacDowell, then conjure a Shadow Puppet of a celestial eagle, which appears to the upper-right of B and makes a full attack, including Smite Evil. B receives a DC 16 Will save to reduce the puppet's reality to 20%.
Since the eagle is flying can I use burning hands to target only the front enemies on the floor? If the answer is yes that is what Mac will do. If its not possible he will cast protection from evil in himself instead. BH just in case...:1d4 ⇒ 4
MacDowell steps foward, cast a spell and ready his weapon.
Quick update to keep things moving - see above for actions, no flavor text at the moment but I need to run back out for an emergency and don't want to hold us up.
|AC 20, T 13, FF 18|HP: 45/45|F +2, R +8, W +4 (+1 vs water/cold, +2 vs shadow, +3 vs poison, +4 vs fear/drain/death/Necr)|Init +2, Perc +4|CMB +6 CMD 18|23/23 Perform, 3/3 Speaker, 3/3 Phantasm, 1/1 comic relief
"Flavor text" - don't like that term. Anyways....
I maintain my performance, and my eagle pursues and attacks B, moving to what would be a flank with MacDowell were he still conscious.
I then cast sleep so that it catches T, A, and, S (I'd want to catch B, too, but I don't believe I can catch all four now). They must make a DC 15 Will save.
|AC 20, T 13, FF 18|HP: 45/45|F +2, R +8, W +4 (+1 vs water/cold, +2 vs shadow, +3 vs poison, +4 vs fear/drain/death/Necr)|Init +2, Perc +4|CMB +6 CMD 18|23/23 Perform, 3/3 Speaker, 3/3 Phantasm, 1/1 comic relief
DM Panic wrote:
Descriptive combat text..?
I believe the term is "narration."
DM Panic wrote:
Your sleep spells are a full round action, correct? I don't want to miss resolving them as a standard if for some reason I should.
Huh! You're right, I didn't know that about sleep. It is, in fact, a full-round action.
M Gnome Arcanist 6 - HP 38/38 - AC 16/T: 15/FF: 13 - Perception: +1; Darkvision 60 ft. - Fort: +6, Ref: +7, Will: +6 (+2 vs. Illusions) - CMB: +2, CMD 15 - Speed 20 ft. - Init. +3
I was going to post my action, but it appears the icons for the enemies are all gone. I'm assuming they're below the map, but I'm not sure how to pull them back up. I'll post when I can see them again.
HP 22/22 | AC 20 T14 FF15 | Init +3 Perc +8 (+1 Traps) CMB +4 CMD 18 | F+3 R+6 W+0 | NG Tengu | Rogue (Swordmaster, Trapsmith) 2; Fighter (Weapon Master) 1 | Cmp Bow +6; 1d6+2 x3 P (Dueling Sword +6; 1d8+2 19-20x2 S) | sheet
Round 2Expert Duelist AC20
Taicho sidesteps left, using the swordsman as partial cover against the archer, then awkwardly slashing at the swordsman ...
Dueling Sword:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 for Slashing:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
In the heat of posting amid chaos last night, I had assumed shadow puppets were a standard action to cast, and that appears correct here.
I didn't notice the quasi-real aspect, so here's the Will save for the brute as he interacted with the eagle (as the eagle attacked him).
DC = 10 + Cha + 1/2 bard level = DC14
Brute Will vs eagle shadow:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Well, on the bright side, that 20 wasn't the brute swinging at someone and hitting for 30 damage.
As the brute realizes the eagle is quasi-real, he'll only take 20% of damage from its attacks. I won't go back and will let the 4hp bite stand, but had I done my homework properly, it would've been 1hp damage.
This fight's a bit brutal with that brute running around...
The archer has favored enemy humans, and I've forgotten if that applies to half-orcs. For this round, I didn't include it as I'll go do a check later today.
Helm advances and with one fluid motion, nearly ends the swordsman's life. "Helpppp.."
The "touched man", backing up a few steps, manages to pray to whatever gods he reveres and the swordsman's wounds knit, albeit barely. His healing seems to exclude the Pathfinders gathered around the swordsman (Selective Channel).
The brute with the greatclub, spitting at the eagle, advances to assist his ally (provoking an AoO from the eagle) before swinging at Helm. His greatclub barely connects with the samurai (10 damage to Helm) as he guffaws, showing a few missing teeth.
The swordsman, clearly worried about his compromising position, swings ineffectively at Taicho while continuing to call out for support.
"Get them away from me! Augh, this grease!!"
The archer, not being surrounded, stands and moves out of the greasy area himself before also taking aim at the Helm. His arrow luckily ricochets off the samurai's armor.
Round 1 Con't
14 Helm : Walks up to S, hits for 11hp
3 Van : Grease brings (S) and (A) to the ground
Round 2
20 Taicho : 5ft, misses with dueling sword
18 Xasay : Begins casting Sleep
17 Celestial eagle : Attacks, misses
16 MacDowell : Fails to stabilize, at -3hp
15 Touched Man (T) : Backs up, channels to heal for 1hp, deselects Helm & Taicho
15 Brute (B) : Moves to Helm, provoking, hits for 10hp
15 Swordsman (S) (-10hp) : Swings from prone at Taicho, misses
15 Archer (A) : Stands, 5ft out of grease, fires at and misses Helm
14 Helm :
3 Van :
|AC 20, T 13, FF 18|HP: 45/45|F +2, R +8, W +4 (+1 vs water/cold, +2 vs shadow, +3 vs poison, +4 vs fear/drain/death/Necr)|Init +2, Perc +4|CMB +6 CMD 18|23/23 Perform, 3/3 Speaker, 3/3 Phantasm, 1/1 comic relief
HP 22/22 | AC 20 T14 FF15 | Init +3 Perc +8 (+1 Traps) CMB +4 CMD 18 | F+3 R+6 W+0 | NG Tengu | Rogue (Swordmaster, Trapsmith) 2; Fighter (Weapon Master) 1 | Cmp Bow +6; 1d6+2 x3 P (Dueling Sword +6; 1d8+2 19-20x2 S) | sheet
Round 3 Expert Duelist AC20
Taicho does a quick side step to keep his cover from the archer and presses his attack against the Swordsman "S"
Dueling Sword:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 for Slashing:1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
|AC 20, T 13, FF 18|HP: 45/45|F +2, R +8, W +4 (+1 vs water/cold, +2 vs shadow, +3 vs poison, +4 vs fear/drain/death/Necr)|Init +2, Perc +4|CMB +6 CMD 18|23/23 Perform, 3/3 Speaker, 3/3 Phantasm, 1/1 comic relief
The shadow bird hops 5 feet into a flank with Helm, then makes a full attack on the Brute. Damage will not rise above 1 per strike.
