DM Rah's "The Confirmation" Group 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Kobash

Climbing up Noisy's rope Lexia finds herself in possession of a mysterious cloak. its not really my color she thinks before handing it off to Noisy. "hey can one of you bring all my gear over to this side please" she says a hint of embarrassment in her voice.

How much does the gear weigh?

all and all 94lbs :P

"Sorry, there's no way I could even lift that, let alone jump it over a gap!"

actually its a light load for me facepalm

Lexia makes the journey across the hole again grabbing her gear and moving it to the other side before donning her armor.

taking 10 4 times

"Clothes are overrated." Noisy observes with a chuckle, as he helps Imperia haul up her stuff.

He takes a moment to examine the cloak she handed him with detect magic, to see if he can ascertain its properties.

Detect Magic to ID the cloak whilst folks are ferrying across

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

edit: But fails spectacularly to learn anything!

After staring at it for a while, he curses colorfully, then offers the garment to Cyrinda as she comes over to the far side. "Wasn't paying as much attention during that divining class as I probably shoulda." He says wryly. "Can you making anything of it?"

Cyrinda watches the proceedings quietly. I could've gotten that...but I'm glad she went, she thinks to herself.

As Noisy hands the cloak to her, she gets a closer look and tries to determine what sort of magic it may hold.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

"Hmm...well...I can't make anything of it." She hands the cloak back in embarrassment.

"Ha, obviously cause there's nothing to make!" He says, with a hearty laugh. "Clearly some nefarious entity has shrouded it from magical detection!" He quickly pulls out his notebook, and makes a few quick notations. "That's how it shall be recorded, yes indeed!"

Blushing at the dwarf's comment Lexia struggled to get her armor on quickly. "so it really was some piece of cloth after all"? she said sounding some what disappointed shivering from the combanation of being in a cool dark cave and the water.

At least it was not filled with something creepy like bugs or something she thought a sense of happiness washing over the fact that she may have risked her life for nothing.

"We should be on our way the sooner we complete our mission the sooner we can find our ally " she says with a hint of determination.

yeah I hope we don't roll like this for any combats lol

EDIT - Actually, crossing with a rope is DC 5. You can all make it by taking 10. We'll move on.

The tunnels continue on, leading deeper beneath the Kortos Mounts until they eventually open into a large cavern. What must have once been beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls. The carvings here are different in style from the petroglyphs found elsewhere in the caves.

Knowledge History or Religion available here. Also Linguistics (with a bonus if you know Aquan or Azlanti). Alternately, you can attempt Appraise or Perception.

Kaâb crossed the gab with an acrobatic jumb smiling at Noisy joke.

She continued to look at the carvings.

Know. Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Tracing her hands across the wall Lexia attempts to unravel the caves history.
Linguistics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

The dwarf studies the walls with a great deal of interest.

Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Appraise: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

edit: wow, its been that sort of scenario so far

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Guys look! Blue Fire!"

Where, where ?

Said Kaâb at Lucia's comment

perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
there we go

Believing she she has gleaned all the information she could from the cave wall the young paladin tries to look forward to see if she cold see anything past the bluish flames but was obviously distracted by a rock that has been in her boot since this morning.

sitting down to take off her boot Lexia muses "do you think we will have to fight that minotaur?" She says her voice wavering between worry and excitement.

4d12 ⇒ (6, 4, 2, 7) = 19

Noisy and Imperia find that the inscriptions tell parables from the History and Future of Humanity, the principle holy text of Aroden that refers to "12 guises of Aroden" meant to illustrate his hopes for humanity: the artist, beggar, craftsman, farmer, fisherman, hunter, merchant, scholar, shepherd, soldier, tailor, and thief. Most of the carvings here are weathered beyond recognition, but they are able to decipher four of the parables, and in doing so realize something more - the parables depicted here are slightly different than those that appear in the known version of the History and Future of Humanity, suggesting that these might represent an earlier version of the work.

The Beggar is depicted kneeling with an alms bowl raised high, representing Aroden espousing humility in all, lest they forget their shared humanity.

The Farmer is depicted plowing four lines in a field, retelling Aroden’s prophecy that humankind would prepare the rocky earth for planting and over generations wear the pebbles down into fertile soil.

The Hunter is depicted slaying a giant serpentine creature and then parading a trophy through the city streets—a sign to all humanity that the wilds are safe to inhabit once the monsters are slain.

The Merchant is depicted weighing and trading coins of different sizes, a reference to the holy text’s proverb that peace brings trade and prosperity to all people.

only thru history may we learn the future the words from her mentor ring thru her head as Lexia takes a moment to register the information she just read.

" Here rests the words of a dead god" she says aloud in reverence before looking further down the cave " maybe we will have some common ground with the peoples after all" she says thumbing her holy symbol of Iomedae. Eagerly she rises from her resting place to continue walking forward the words of her mentor still echoing in her mind.

I hope not, whatever it is ! said Kaâb at Imperia's question about the minotaur.

All people are bless by the Sun, but not everyone are the same.

May be these symbols and writings are clues of what this cave is for the fish people ? Don't the rumors tell they are the last azlante ?

asked Kaâb

Cocking an eye brow at Al-burdas words "while true that Aroden was an Azlanti I highly doubt that they have any kinship to him. not that it would matter seeing how Iomedae has taken his place amongst the pantheon, after he abandoned his chosen people."

I know some people who will disagree with you Imperia, but that's not my place to speak for the last of Aroden's followers and believers.
Sarenrae is present in Golarion long before Aroden and Iomeade

Slamming her fist against the wall causing several flakes to fall to the ground. Lexia quickly recovers her composure "remember while yes your god may have been around longer If it wasn't for Iomeade the world would have been ground down beneath the boot of the whispering tyrant. Your god was created with power Iomeade earned hers. If I remember core correctly is not the worship of the dawn flower banned in certain countries" She says every word measured and precise hiding her underlining anger.

Kaâb was taken aback by Imperia's reaction to her words. with 6 in wisdom sometime don't see the impact of her words :P

Confused she said

I'm...I'm sorry Imperia ! I don't want to upset you or insult your faith. If I have said something wrong please accept my deepest apologies.

Shall we return to the task at hand you two? Lucia says with a grin, seemingly finding the banter quite humorous.

Cyrinda looks back and forth between Kaâb and Imperia. "Alllright then. Let's all just take a deep breath. Perhaps there's a chance that all this stuff," she waves her hand over the various inscriptions, "is at least partly related to the gillmen's appearance here. Like maybe they've formed a cult? I know we've studied about cults in our Pathfinder preparations - mostly that Lamashtu one."

"Now, I gotta admit that my working knowledge of gillmen culture is severely lacking, but perhaps these guys do feel they have some connection to Aroden," she snaps her head towards Imperia, "despite the fact that Iomeade is the clearly superior god."

She then backs away from the two. "What about anyone else? Any ideas what this all may mean?"

Rekkr has been silently studying the inscriptions...so deeply immersed that he barely notices the conversation going on around him. "I like this one." he says, pointing to the hunter slaying the great serpent. "But as to any hidden meaning any of these have...I fear I have no clue."

Lexia taking a few deep breaths describes that they are the History and Future of Humanity meant to describe the hopes of humanity and what each symbol means.

read the dm comment if you haven't lol

stopping her glaring at Kaab long enough to look at the gnome and ignoring Lucia's comments all together."Mayhaps they do but I find it more likely that they are interlopers in a once holy place, none the less I will stay my blade until I arrive to a judgment."

"I look forward in finding out the mysteries of this.... once holy place." she says as she stalks forward.

Noisy agrees with Cyrinda with a emphatic nod.

"Aye, knock it off you two! Both your gods are pretty. Let it be."

He glances meaningfully at Imperia, and adds. "And given that this stuff could possibly predate Iomedae entirely, you might want to not start vandalizing it with your righteous fist." He grins slightly. "Its significant enough, for that reason alone. Some big brain back in Absolom will probably start salivating once they hear of it. Will probably take some historian years to delve into its true significance."

well mine is more pretty :P

feeling embarrassed over her actions and partially due to being humiliated by the dwarf yet again Lexia shoots her confused companion a regretful look "Sorry about that I look forward in discussing the error of your faith at a later time but for now we must press forward" she says apologetically.

wisdom 8 not much better lol

"I swear, religion and politics..." the dwarf mutters, shaking his head.

He makes a quick note of what they've learned in his journal. "Maybe there's more further in that will shed some light on all this." He taps out a small beat on his shield once more, casting detect magic, and proceeds to scan the area as they press forward.

GM: Are the torches you mentioned just regular torches, that happen to burn blue... or are they everburning torches (that happen to burn blue)? (The former of course implying someone else is in the area recently)

Oh yes ! Writing everything in our book ! I almost forgot !

Kaâb began to sketch the drawing and the carving in her book, writing all what they mean

The torches are everyburning torches that happen to burn blue.

"Right behind you, Noisy my man!" the diminutive pyromaniac chirps.

Are the torches able to be removed from the walls? If so lucia will cover one in cloth and stash it in her pack

What's next guys?

After studying the walls and taking notes, your group heads further into the cave.

The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.

Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.

Kneeling in the water is a lone gillman, his back to the party...

slightly disappointed at the fact it isn't half man half fish Lexia whispers to the party. "We came here to establish contact may as well try it now peacefully when there is only one. " She says eagerly her hand resting on the hilt of her sword just in case while studying it for and evil aura.

detect evil on gillman

also since I don't have the largest diplomacy bonus

diplomacy aid other: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

The gillman is not detecting as evil.

GM: what do we know of gillmen in general? (Was looking them up on the wiki page, and turns out they are not uncommon in and around Absalom, curious if this is something we might know) Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 if it helps

"Well now, that confirms Janira's story, anyway!" Noisy says at the sight of the lone gillman in the pool. He frowns slightly that the halfling woman has not rejoined them yet.

He takes a moment to concentrate with the detect magic already cast.

"Hello friend!" He calls out, to get the man's attention.

Hm.... I thought Imperia did have the highest diplomacy mod... but turns out its Kaâb! Shall let her do the honors as well and simply assist. Can she take 10 on this?

Diplomacy Aid Another: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Was I able to take a Everburning torch?

Lucia will move to somewhere where she can remain hidden, this situation is making her quite uncomfortable.

I think we must wait for him to speak, right ?

Waiting a few seconds, Kaâb couldn't resist to speak, may be it's an Arodenite priest ?

Excuse me Sir, are you the man in charge here ? We are sorry to bother you in your meditation or your prayers but you are send here by the Pathfinder Society. We hope to know more about theses caves and their signification to your people, the gillmen unsure of the term Kaâb turn to Noisy to confirm she used the right term I hope your understand me and my comrades and I hope we won't made any mistake If it is the case, please excuse us, it was not our intention

Hoping to have guess right the gillmen in the pool was the men in charge Kaâb wait

Diplomacy (if I can't take 10): 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 + 2 = 19

Noisy - regarding Gillmen, you've already learned as much as you can about them (Knowledge History checks were offered at the beginning of the scenario). Unfortunately, nothing you know sheds light on why they might be here.

1d20 ⇒ 20

The gillman turns, sees the party, and stands. He watches each of you carefully as you talk, eyes darting between those attempting diplomacy. He eventually settles on Kaâb when it appears she acting as the face of the group. When he replies to her there is a strange slur to his words.

"I am Uori. I am not the authority here. No one is."

Perception Checks if you like.

Lucia observes closely, while attempting to remain hidden.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

I take it they are not evil lol

"how do you function without a leader?" the Chelish woman says with a sense of disbelief in her voice. "so who would we talk to in order to get details about this cave system then?"

perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9
sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
I may have to buy some dice so I can execute them for this

The gillman is not detecting as evil.

Replying for Lexia

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Noisy eyes the stranger for a moment as he talks.

"Huh." He says, suddenly. "I do think the fellow might be a bit hard of hearing. I think he's reading our lips."

He makes sure the man can see him when he speaks next, talking louder even then normal, even though it wouldn't matter for lip reading.

"Uori is it? They call me Noisy." He smiles brightly. "Mostly cause I... well, guess that's not really important." He looks expansively around the cavern. "What is this place? And what is all that?" He adds, pointing towards the strange diorama in the center of the pool.

"We are a long way from the ocean here."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

"Greetings Uori. My name is Cyrinda." As the gnome speaks to the gillman, she gesticulates emphatically in an effort to ensure that Uori understands what she is saying, though it may not be helpful.

"We," she waves her hands widely to indicate herself and her fellow pathfinders, "are Pathfinders." She pantomimes with her hand, snaking it in front of her, trying to indicate 'path.' She then cups her hands around her eyes as if she is looking through a set of spyglasses to indicate 'finding'.

"Are there more gill men like you near by?" She flaps her hands underneath her jawline to indicate gills.

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Ha! Sweet!

Noisy suddenly has a uncontrollable coughing fit.

Kaâd blushed when Noisy said that the gillmen was deaf.

Then, she bow to him and speak calmly to give the time to the man to read her lips

I'm sorry to disturb you Uori. I'm Kaâb follower of the dawnflower and member as my comrade here of the Pathfinder Society.
We are here to observe, report and cooperate in hope to know more on this place. Even if you are not a leader among your people may be are you their voice ? We will be please and honored to hear your stories and why these cave in the center of Kortos is visiting by lot of Gillmen and what are their own stories

Kaâb smiled to the man hoping to not have upset the man like she did with Imperia.

sorry for not catching that Lucia my smiting finger is itching

enjoying the gnome's antics Lexia is content to lean against the wall and let off the occasional giggle pausing every now and then to write a few notes in her journal.