[GD7] PFS #6-10 The Wounded Wisp [1-2] (Inactive)

Game Master hiyami

this die roll was changed somehow; it shows 18 now, but I originally rolled a 2 with a -2 modifier and it should be a zero for my total roll. I think it got messed up when I edited my post to add the Sleight of Hand die roll

The forums remember only the order of rolls, not the text that was attached to them. So, when you only had Diplomacy in your post, it was (2). Then, when you edited in a Sense Motive roll before your Diplomacy roll, the Sense Motive became the first roll, thus getting associated with the (2) the forum remembered for you. The Diplomacy then got a new roll.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

"Hey hey hey! We're no trespassers, and there's no need for alarm! As my companions have pointed out, ours is a simple and normal task. We'll be done with it quickly and will be out of your way. We mean no harm nor disrespect; we'll cause no trouble."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Actually, we're here to look for the tomb of Arkath. :P

Aragar looks in confusion as Trique. He then once again pulls out the notes left behind by Selmius and Adolphus to look through again. "Uh, aren't we looking for Arkath's mausoleum? Adolphus said it's buried with him?" He looks up and sees the priestess still as aggressive as ever, and quickly stuffs away the notes, crumpling them badly in the process. He needs to keep his hands free, just in case.

As Vari said, it's because of the order of the rolls. The forum remembers the numbers that it generates, not necessarily the text. In this case, I'll proceed as though your Diplomacy was 0 and your Sense Motive is 21 so feel free to eyeball that spoiler.

Granted, these are some pretty terrible Diplomacy rolls. o___o

"I have already told you to leave this place," the woman says, teeth bared. "I will not hesitate to escort you out by force if necessary." It is fairly clear that the group has failed to impress her. It is also obvious that she's not kidding about forcibly escorting everyone out. Violently.

GM: Are the walls climbable?

You may assume the walls are well-taken care of. The walls themselves might be climbable with care, but you can see that there are sharp bits and pieces all along the top to discourage grave robbers and other such hooligans.

Wymarc, not seeing any other viable entry, will hang back and remain in the shadows, bow drawn as it seems the cleric seems likely to force a confrontation...

"This old man is not up to climbing the wall. Perhaps someone else is able to?"

---

Hennarr heads back around to the woman.

"Madame could you please provide some information on the location of the resting place of a Caskmail"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

GM: Looking at the map, were we already inside the walls of the cemetery when we encountered the guard? When Wymarc snuck past her before, would he have had to find another entrance or climb as opposed to just sneaking around and looking for the mausoleum? No worries either way, just wanted to get clarification...

You had just stepped in when she called you out as trespassers. c: Wymarc would've slipped past her notice b/c of his stealth, but the others have her brand of unhappy attention front and center.

"There is no Caskmail here," she says shortly. "Begone. This is no place for trespassers! This is your final warning."

Oh, duh! My bad GM, I misunderstood...

Wymarc, having slipped past the guard while she was distracted by his companions, stays to the shadows and looks for Arkath's Mausoleum, from east to west...

Perception: 1d12 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Taicho turns and begins walking toward the entrance, ready to act if the others start trouble, but not intending to start any with this woman on his own.

Trique backs away from the woman, placing the bit of red and blue sand back into his pouch. "My apologies if we caused you any trouble madam."

He heads just outside of the gate and pulls out a small bag of raw vegetables and makes a snack for his white rabbit to eat while perched upon his shoulder, while attempting to stay close enough to listen for Wymarc in case he needs help.

"Alright, we'll leave for now. We merely wish to visit the tomb of Arkath. We intended no harm."
diplomacy, aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (1) - 2 = -1 Never mind...

Like Trique, he keeps close though, waiting for Wymarc should he call for help.

Guys, we are looking for the tomb of Arkath, not Caskmail. Adolphus said that Arkath took some clue to his grave. Caskmail is a fictitious person that Eylysia made up and carved into the Wall of Names.

Yeah, looking for Arkath...but I thought Caskmail was a real person that failed the Starstone test...

It's in this handout. Somewhere in the middle, it says Eylysia "added three names, none of which are true Pathfinders..." At the Wall of Names, "Caskmail" has linked us to the aspirant of rot, whose identity is still unknown.

Yeah, I thought we were looking for Caskmail here at the mausoleum. I’m squared up now though :)

After feeding Naomi the vegetables, Trique pokes his head ever so slightly around the corner and sends a scrying sensor near the priestess to keep an eye on her. After placing the scrying sensor, Trique moves back behind the wall. . Send Senses range is 100ft +10ft/lvl, so 110ft. What is she doing? Is she still paying attention to us or does she look like she’s aware of Wymarc’s presence?

Hennarr bows to the woman.

"I am sorry madame"

He moves to the party.

"I cannot climb the wall. My bones are old. Anyone?"

"Stupid witch..." Vari mutters as she walks away, joining the others.

The woman glares after the majority of the party as the group is forced to turn back.

Wymarc, however, is able to quickly locate and slip into the tomb of the stonemason.

The interior of Arkath’s sarcophagus is empty and bare, save for the stonemason’s skeleton. Inside his mouth, he finds a small silver coin that looks quite ancient.

----------

Assuming this must be the clue they're seeking, Wymarc will secure the curious coin to his pouch and sneak back the way he came, hoping to avoid the overzealous cleric...

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Success! Wymarc pauses for just a second when the woman rounds a corner, but manages to hide behind a particularly gaudy statue. He makes it out to the others with no scary encounters.

Wymarc lets loose a wry smile to his friends and shows them the coin. "Found this in Arkath's mouth. What do you make of it? If we can't figure it out, I met a man at the Wounded Wisp who should be able to help us out..."

Hennarr looks at the coin then casts detect magic. "Hmmm..it is magical but I can't detect the school."

“Hrmm, may I have a look at that coin?” Trique beckons to Wymarc.

Spellcraft, to Identify: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Assuming that Trique informs us what he discovered...

"A wayfinder? Wait, where have I seen one before?" Aragar stands motionless as he mentally digs through his past. "Ah! Janira! When she was leading us in my Confirmation, she used it to guide our way! Come, let's return to the Wounded Wisp. She might still be there."

Taicho nods in agreement with Aragar's plan. "Fortune seems to be favoring us ... finally."

It doesn't take long for you to hunt Janira down and seeing that you're clearly on the tail of some happy adventure, she's more than willing to help you out.

"My wayfinder?" she asks at first, puzzled. Her expression clears as soon as she sees the coin, however, and she quickly draws it out of her pocket, allowing someone to settle the coin into place.

As soon as it is triggered, it rises an inch into the air and begins spinning in place as though it were placed atop the wayfinder and a disembodied voice utters the following:

“The path and chamber are complete, hidden behind the nameplate of the requested aspirant and guarded by the word you requested. Fimbrik will add more.”

Guess it doesn't matter now, but Wymarc has a Wayfinder...

Wymarc nods. "Janira, where is the memorial for fallen aspirants?"

"Most peculiar..." Trique mutters while examining the spinning coin. "I wonder what 'guarded by the word you requested' is referring to. Fimbrik's password perhaps?"

And yes, I'll always share what I find with the group :P

"And is there any aspirant associated with rot?"

Wymarc nods. "Doulgonlir Caskmail...but we know he doesn't exist...perhaps rot is the clue and it'll become apparent when we find the location of this chamber..."

"Perhaps Caskmail is an alias of someone that does not wish to be found? Maybe there's more clues in the chamber."

"Fallen aspirants?" Janira blinks, clearly a bit surprised by this question. It only takes her a second to put two and two together, though, and she immediately settles down to the business of Pathfinding. "Oh, I see -- you'll be looking for the Shrine of the Failed."

She pauses consideringly and adds, "I think there's some sort of Mendevian crusader giving the Test of the Starstone a go today if you're looking to keep whatever business you've got uninterrupted."

"Shrine of the Failed, you say..." Trique says under his breath agreeably. "Janira, what do you know of this Mendevian Crusader? Is there anything special you've heard about this person?"

Wymarc nods to Janira. "Shrine of the Failed? Then that's where we should go. Thank you, ma'am...is it close by?"

"Shrine of the Failed ..." Taicho mutters. "It seems that the dead who strive for such an achievement should be honored with a more respectful name for their shrine, even having fallen short of that achievement."

"No, I haven't heard much else about this aspirant." Janira shrugs. "But the Shrine itself isn't far either - it's made up of altars, each dedicated to a specific failed aspirant. There are some acolytes that protect, clean, and maintain the halls, but if you time it with this crusader, I imagine you'll be able to get in without any interruptions."

--

The Shrine of the Failed is exactly as and where Janira said it would be. Happily, just as you're arriving, you can see a crowd of people gathering near the chasm outside the Starstone Cathedral, where the Test of the Starstone begins.

"I can't believe he's actually just going to charge across," someone was saying.

"It's crazy! Sir Reinhart's quite valiant, but perhaps a bit foolhardy."

"I think he can make it," someone else says. "Did you see his horse?"

Taking advantage of the rather large distraction, you're able to get into the multi-level stone shrine without any trouble. Most of the shrine is roped off, closed as the caretakers have gone to see Sir Reinhart's attempt, but there's a section accessible by a large set of stairs near the side of the shrine. Taking advantage of this opening, you find yourself in a monumental chamber that 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.

Slides updated! Please move your tokens in accordance with your actions. :)

Wymarc shrugs. "I'll check out the two to the south..."

He'll walk by the two arched rooms to the south and see which aspirants they are dedicated to...

"And I'll take the two to the north!" Vari inspects the two north chambers for their dedications.

Each of the smaller champers 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.

Wymarc alerts the others. "Caskmail's altar is over here!"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

GM: Can I take 20 for the Perception check?

Trique follows the path to the south; he whispers to Wymarc " Good find my friend, I think I'm going to have a quick look at the remaining three; for curiosity's sake."

Trique examines the three alters on the west wall for whom they're dedicated to.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

No taking 20 in this case -- you're trying to do this before Sir Reinhart is done with his Test. :)

GM: Who are the other three failed aspirants on the western wall?

Wymarc will search Caskmail's altar for any other clues...

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

”From top to bottom, we have Nathan Florelle who was interested in war, Alexander Soren Troix III who took an interest in alcohol and traveling, and Belladonna Riverra who aspired to become the goddess of poisons, any of those names ring a bell for anyone?”

Moments before they reach the shrine, Taicho pauses and pulls a small pouch from his belt. He extracts his left arm from beneath his cloak. He has not revealed this arm before now, and it is clear why. The arm is desiccated, with patchy spots containing no feathers, and the feathers that are there dry and grey against the necrotic skin. He extracts the small skull of toad from the bag and holds it up to look into its eyes. Flesh grows around the skull, then extending from it to grow the body of a toad. The creature blinks after a moment, then hops onto Taicho's shoulder.

Soulbound puppet. For the next 10 minutes, I have a Toad familiar. Increased my HP by 3.

As the group arrives at the shrine, Taicho pulls his book out and begins softly reciting prayers to focus his thoughts again. The toad-like flesh golem on his shoulder once again blinks.

Casting Heightened Awareness again. Between this and the familiar, my perception modifier is +12 total.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

He motions toward a section of the wall. "There is a door, hidden by an illusion."

Beginning to cast Detect Magic, to see if I detect any magic other than the illusion.

Aragar joins the rest of the group in the chamber of Casklmail and looks around. He sees something, and quickly speaks up. "Wait, don't you remember? The coin said 'The path and chamber are complete, hidden behind the nameplate of the requested aspirant'." He goes over to the altar and examines the brass nameplate.

“I think this is a good time to use Fimrik’s password,” Trique says as he draws his crossbow and loads a bolt. ”Ready when you are.”