GM Aarvid PFS #6-04: The Beacon Below (Inactive)

Game Master GM Aarvid

"No... we are not..." Noisy starts to explain again, before Badru backs out of the room to retrieve his tools, and his words trail off.

He sighs slightly, in frustration.

"I'm not sure if he's being intentionally obtuse or there's some sort of language issue." He looks back at the others with a resigned shrug.

Does it seem like Badru is actually going to fetch tools, or retreating with nefarious intentions?
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 2 = 21

Figure about 5 rounds pass during the discussion, so fatigue has ended.

He seems like he is genuinely getting some tools as you hear a clanking of what sounds like glass or ceramic.

His monotone words are very clear about two things. 1) He is devoted to the Library and the Amethyst Sage 2) He thinks you are going to help him kill the Traitor. He seems to have no emotion, so sensing falsehood is not as easy as might be with a human.

I apologize, did you say something? I am almost ready...there it is. Excellent. You cannot imagine how long I have waited for this day.
Ever since the servants of the Padishah invaded and my master fled.
I was left alone with the traitor, the great work unfinished.

Conan gazes down at his unseen hands, which is a curious and odd feeling since he can feel his sword but not see it. He's never been invisible before!

"What is the nature of the amethyst stones in the wrapping of your servitors? Do they power them? Were they a gift from your master?" Conan asks, his voice ringing in the air though he remains unseen.

From his current position he peers into the sage's chamber. "What is that you are gathering, precisely?"

Conan had stealthed closer to the door of the room; can he see what Badru is collecting?

"Before we go, Saruna mentioned that you sought to turn others into creatures such as yourself. What do you think she meant by that?"

Badru has some sort of jar and sharp looking scoop of some sort. He turns and looks right through Conan to answer the questions.

The amethysts were part of the construction process for the servants. As to my gatherings, obviously we need a receptacle to hold Saruna's heart stone.

To San Xiao as he, and his several images start walking towards Conan and the doorway...likely to bump into Conan if he stays there.

The Amethyst Sage's wisdom of choosing this form for me has open my eyes to the possibilities. Imagine the progress in a world where no one gets ill or old and can continue serving the Sages for hundreds of years.

At this point if anyone has no intention of helping him, comments to the contrary will need to bluff, otherwise he is taking you at your word for helping him harvest Saruna's heartstone and rescue the Amethyst Sage below.

"But if you are pledged to protect the archives, how will you enact this vision? Or is this merely idle speculation?"

Bluff?: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (6) + 0 = 6

How is he taking us at our word? We never said we'd do it in the first place!

Will wait for Badru to respond to San Xiao, before interjecting.

Noisy sighs. "Please, listen carefully." He says. "We are not killing anyone at your behest. That includes Saruna. We seek peaceful resolution, not conflict."

"The Diamond Sage has tasked us with cataloguing and preserving the knowledge contained in this place." He waves one hand to to generally indicate everything. "At this point, that would include the Head Librarian."

He gives Badru a knowing stare "And the Archivist." He continues.

"Unless either prove uncooperative, of course."

"Saruna cooperated. Will you?"

another Diplomacy if required: 1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 21 + 2 = 35

Conan steps to the side, unwilling to let Badru walk right into him. He tightens his grip on his sword, his brows knit together.

“Badru, my companion Noisy has made our position quite clear.”

Luisila shakes her head in frustration as she moves up to join Conan and Savage. “You appear to be deliberately misconstruing the meaning of our words and evading my questions about your exposure to technology.”

“In my culture, these are often the pre-cursors to an overt unfriendly act. Can I suggest you respond satisfactorily to Noisy’s reasonable request for access to this level of the library for our work, otherwise you force us to use alternative methods to diplomacy.”

Badru stops in his workshop and steps back in surprise as Luisila and Savage approach the doorway.

What did you just say? You are not going to help rescue the Amethyst Sage? I thought you said you were here on behalf of the Sages. The Traitor cares not about the Sages. Now I am beginning to suspect you do not either.

His face remains emotionless, but you can sense a change in his posture.
Also, the three of you see scattered parts of manikins and several other metallic clockwork legs and limbs lying around the workshop.

Diplomatic negotiations appears to have ended.

=== Round 1===
24-Noisy <--- Can sense negotiations just ended, cannot see Badru
21-Badru (images)
18-Luisila (FoM), Conan(invis, FoM), San Xiao
17-Friends
14-Fredrick, Savage

I would have wanted to use my Heightened Awareness for +4 on that initiative, if it's not too late.

-Posted with Wayfinder

@San Xiao - You made it by 18 mins - lucky I was checking and not watching Hockey!

Noisy finally throws his hands up in disgust, as yet again, Badru seems to be listening only to himself.

Its like talking to my mom, I swear!

"Fine!" He says. "If you care not to listen, and will not negotiate, than so be it."

As if to emphasize his point, he brings one booted foot down in a loud stomp, the vibrations from which seem to echo through the room as if taken up by the very stone of the Archive itself.

Move action to Inspire Courage (+2 competence to hit and damage, +2 morale to saves vs fear and enchantments)), 5' step off the steps, and then a second move action to pull out his weapon which he had put away so as to negotiate in good faith.

Noisy expresses his exasperation with the mind-addled Badru.

The bard inspires his friends to put an end to this crazed man.

Badru, having seen his friends not see the wisdom of his plan, decides to take matters into his own hands.

Luisila sees the eyes of one of the manikins in the room open and stare directly at Savage.

Why? Why cannot you see my way is the only way? You bring darkness upon us all!

He casts a spell and the entire room and doorway fills with a thick cloud of noxious gas.

Luisila, Savage, Conan, Noisy

=== Round 1===
24-Noisy
21-Badru (images)
18-Luisila (FoM), Conan(invis, FoM), San Xiao <---Saves+GO!
17-Friends
14-Fredrick, Savage

Round #1: FoM (Luisila + Conan) ; invisibility Conan ; copycat #2

Fort DC 22: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

Luisila reaches out through the fog to touch Conan for a bit of luck before retreating 30’ up the stairs to the north.

“At least he won’t have line of sight on us. Fredrik, do you want to attempt to dispel the fog?”

Fortitude, including the antitoxin he drank earlier, heroism: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 2 + 5 = 22 Jeeez, my dice, but at least it's still enough... made the save so I won't bother rolling the second d20

Conan growls at the vapor that fills the doorway. His path is clear now! Except also quite foggy.

Spellcraft to ID spell?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 = 14
Spellcraft to ID spell (bit of luck)?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 = 19

Frustrated at his probable lack of knowing what the spell was, Conan gets angry. His muscles bulge once more. enter rage

(So I see Badru is no longer shown on the map, I assume because the fog blocks line of sight. Conan has blindsense. Do I know where he currently is?)

To attempt to reduce time waiting on me-- if the answer to my question is 'yes I know where he is' then Conan will move adjacent to Badru and attack. I'm not sure if that is more than a 5-ft step or not; I'll roll the whole attack block, but if Conan only gets the first attack just use that one.

The following text is contingent on the GM saying that Conan knows where Badru is, so don't take it as gospel:

"HAHA! RIGHT HERE! I SEE YOU HIDING... BUT I WILL NOT MIST! HAHA!" booms Conan's voice, providing an audio clue of where things are happening, anyway.

Boy, I'm sure glad I burned that Heightened Awareness on this initiative roll... I delay.

Will: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 +4 vs enchantment
Fort: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17 My kingdom for a reroll. :(

*Blech* I chose Conan for bit of luck because his Fort save was lower :(

I do have a scroll of lesser restoration here somewhere ...

Luisila and Conan manage to avoid a big breath of toxic gas. Savage is not so lucky.
1 or 3 con Dmg respectively .

Heading to work but will post more this evening.

*Blech* I chose Conan for bit of luck because his Fort save was lower :(

I do have a scroll of lesser restoration here somewhere ...

And that was the right choice. I mean I need to roll a 6, but it happens. Assuming I don't die from the poison, I would very much appreciate the lesser restoration.

for future reference- is a touch or miss roll needed to touch an ally that is in fog/invisible? I am assuming Conan is willing and Luisila can fumble around until she finds him. I have never had this situation so was not sure .

Hm, good question. Presumably Conan might have been able to move towards the touch-- not as in move distance on the map, as he was flatfooted, but like, leaning in his square into her hand? I've made PCs roll concealment/to hit when trying to touch an invisible, unconscious ally with a heal spell before, but in that case the ally was completely unable to give any clues as to their own location.

Excuse me! Clerics of Calistria DO NOT fumble on the one yard line!

And then there is that :) .

Luisila gropes in the cloud for Conan to give him a pat for good luck before she stumbles choking out of the cloud to get fresh air.

Remember movement in cloud is difficult so half-speed/double cost

Conan strides forward into the cloud, coughing, and trying to sense the missing Badru.

He finds the Librarian in the back of the room, and swings his mighty sword. He does not connect with Badru, but manages to pop an image.
img: 1d9 ⇒ 2 Badru on 1

Alas, but I think you did miss.

San Xiao delays to see what happens.

Ironically, something does happen. The room goes utterly dark and very silent.

=== Round Tracker===
14-Fredrick, Savage <---GO!
24-Noisy <---GO!
21-Badru (images)
18-Luisila (FoM), Conan(invis, FoM), San Xiao
17-Friends (dark and silent type)

Not knowing where Badru is, Noble just moves out of the cloud that is currently killing him.

Supernaturally dark?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Don't overlook the casting time on silence, if that's what caused the quiet
And ya, supernaturally darkness, or are those with darkvision ok?

Inspire Courage will linger for 2 more rounds on the folks in the silence/darkness area

Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 + 2 = 16 jeeze, I'm really killing these saving throws!

Is Fredrik still playing? Been 3 weeks since he last posted.

I am not sure on Merck/Fredrick - he went silent on another game too. I will bot him unless one of you wants to do it.

The darkness appears to be incredibly dark...deepest of darkness.
I forgot about the 1 rnd casting on silence - or rather thought it was different in this case.
So we will just stick with deep-deep dark, but you can still hear.

Luisila and San Xiao feel a bone chilling cold near them in the darkness.

Fredrick calls out...into the darkness

Lady Luisila - I can try to dispel the poison cloud or the darkness. Any preference?

And Noisy - just to be clear - you are not in darkness and would still have actions...including the highly popular, step out of the gas cloud

Luisila eyes narrow before they shift left … then right.

How does he know the cloud is poisonous? She *shrugs*

There may be forces at work here beyond my comprehension!

“The cloud please, good Fredrik! I can deal with the supernatural dark.”

Targeted dispel vs DC 11 + spell caster level: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Hardcopy Character Folio re-roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 Well bum.

Seeing himself enveloped in supernatural darkness, San Xiao retrieves his Oil of Daylight from his bag, and smears it in his buckler.

-Posted with Wayfinder

San xiao - before you do that - Luisila should you be +7 or +10 on the dispel? .

Fredrick stumbles through the dark and targets the center of the cloud with a dispel.

"I am on it!"

DM: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

As the cloud vapors were rolling directly towards Savage, they quickly thin and disappear.

Luisila tries to dispel the darkness and fails.

However, San Xiao pulls out his Oil of Daylight and the extreme darkness vanishes, leaving just normal darkness in the area (the two cancel).

Those able to see in the darkness spot a bat-winged creature flying 10' over San Xiao and Luisila's heads.

Fredrick dispels the cloud.

Badru, now able to see Conan, calls out.

Your treachery against the Sages is revealed. And your friend dispelling my cloud is quite rude. Perhaps another is needed.

He steps back and casts another cloud in almost the same spot.

Conan FORT save vs poison for CON: 1d4 ⇒ 4

=== Round Tracker===
1-Noisy(sing), Conan(poison, FoM), <--- Go - save needed vs poison for Conan
2-Flying thing (deep darkness)
3-Fredrick, Savage , San Xiao(Daylight) , Luisila (FoM)
4-Badru (images)

Wasn't looking to delay, was waiting on all the previous folks to go, to see if the darkness went away and whether there was a threat there or not. /sigh

Knowledge on the new critter? Knowledge (all): 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 2 = 24 (+2 if demon/devil/daemon, +4 if undead)

Noisy curses, still coughing from the previous cloud, as another pops up in its place. He relays any information he can remember on the strange bat-winged creature to the others (including its current locating flying over their heads)

He manages to keep the inspiring beat thrumming through the stones though, as he turns to the second cloud and tries to make it go away, since he can't see anything through it!

Maintaining Inspire Courage, than casting yet another Dispel Magic.
Dispel on Cloud: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29. Hope its not an at will thing 8(

If Successful:
He then moves southward, so he can see Badru and Conan through the doorway.

If not successful:
He then moves northward, towards San Xiao, worried about the cloud shifting his way again.

Unclear if I still need to make the Fort save if the cloud gets dispelled; I think I do since it triggers an immediate save, no?

Fort, heroism, antitoxin: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 2 + 5 = 24

Conan laughs deeply, not at all bothered by the noxious gas even before Noisy dispels it again. "THE BLOOD OF DRAGONS RUNS THROUGH MY VEINS, SIR. MY BREATH IS WORSE THAN YOUR CLOUD."

With his chicken at his belt burning bright, Conan steps in to press the attack.

@Conan - yep save is on Badru's turn.
@Luisila - oops I thought that was your dispel - so you definitely get the reroll back.
@Noisy - sorry I did not mean to skip your turn so moved you on the init order.
I am trying to keep this moving each day since it tends to run long.

Noisy successfully dismissed the second cloud of Badru's. But not before Conan gulps in half a breath of the toxic gas. save is for half damage, so still down 3 con total

Woe. Missed the half-damage the first time. *notes it appropriately* 10 less HP, -1 to my fort save, now reflected in statline

Conan coughs some during his defiant shout, feeling perhaps not quite as great as his words would indicate.

@Conan - even with the -1 on FORT you still saved...barely.
5' step is good for full attack.

The strange gargoyle-like creature flying overhead has long spiky legs and a bat-like head—
its body seems to be made of living, dark purple crystal.

The creature makes spell-like motions above San Xiao and Luisila

It flutters down with a black glowing hand, as is sniffing for the very life force of the priestess and reaches out to touch Luisila.

Mussssttt feeeedddssss on souullllsssss!"

melee touch, higher: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 1 = 17 vc TouchAC 16
if hits(?) DC19WILL for half of 90hp of damage. plus 1d6 ⇒ 5 negative energy damage.

=== Round Tracker===
1-Fredrick, Savage(-3con) , San Xiao(Daylight) , Luisila (FoM, -1con) <--- Go - save needed vs HARM for Luisila
2-Badru (images)
3-Noisy(sing,-3con), Conan(FoM,-3con), Conan
4-Flying thing (deep darkness)

Did I get high enough to know DR-related info on the flying thing? (I can't even say it, much less know what it is =))

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 2 = 24

Am a little unsure on the turn order, what with the delays and such. So I actually lost a turn there?

Seeing something that he can fight, Noble rushes over and tries to grab the demon.

Grapple, Inspire: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (7) + 32 = 39
Constrict: 1d6 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

@Noisy, you had a 24 vs 17 so you get one additional question at 22. I provided special attacks. But I can give you special defenses instead and redact the attacks. You did not lose a turn, but moved 1 spot in the init order (from before Badru to after him).

Savage leaps up to grap the flying creature. He grabs it and immediately is scorched by negative energy for 1d6 ⇒ 5.
It seems to take a bit of damage from the constriction, but not as much as expected.

Oh and Ki Point for +4 AC since I have a swift.

@Luisila - I was not sure if the d6 applied, but it says "all its natural attacks" do the extra damage...which I assumed included touch attack...maybe not...still checking.

Fredrick is unable to see the battle with the flying creature (due to natural darkness, and his having only normal vision).

So he double-times it around to the south to check on Conan, where the light is better.

@Noisy- adjusted the Kn:Planes to special defenses per your request

Savage is able to latch onto the creature, which will pull to the ground if it cannot fly.
The grab is hurting Savage more than he seems to be hurting the purple creature.

Remember the area is naturally dark since deeper-darkness is being canceled by San Xiao's oil of daylight. Which I believe means only darkvision is working in the circle