GM Bauers PFS 5-08 The Confirmation (Inactive)

Game Master mbauers

"Oh yeah, take the scroll. It probably helps you more than it helps me." Acel replies in Gnomish and hands Eleanor the scroll of Mage Armor.

Acel gives a thumbs up to the party, then turns to Eleanor: "And it's only stupid if it kills you!"

The gillman doesn’t turn around at the sound of your approach, nor of your words, but as soon as Eleanor gets close enough to send a slight ripple through the water the man turns around and stands, as she reaches to tap him on the shoulder.

He is bent-backed and his face is lined with age, but the old man watches Eleanor closely as she speaks. He smiles at her and replies: You are looking for me? In what way can I help the Pathfinder Society, here in this place that is sacred to my people? In the past it was sacred to Aroden, and some of his influence still remains, though it wanes with the ebb and flow of the tides.

Inira hears the sounds of creatures moving coming from the direction of the southeast cavern. She also notices that the gillman is eying the cloak from the pit with interest, and that it is of similar style and color to his robe.

"The cloak is pretty, do you want it? I am sure we don't need it much, we just found it." Eleanor asks.

Waki is surprised by the response of the gilman.

To Acel he nods.

"Caw...in agreement with you, I was. Until around turned him, and spoke did he. Uncertainty cast he has upon us."

"We have come to speak with you, and your friends." She points to the southeast cavern so the others can see. "We are explorers and historians, and your use of this cave has sparked some interest to us. We have no desire to intrude upon sacred ground, however. Does this cloak belong to you and yours? We found it in a pit near the entrance, but there was nothing else with it. If it is yours, we will return it as a show of good faith."

Silas nods. "Aroden was very wise and powerful. And he gave his life so that Iomedae, the great Inheritor, might ascend... The greatest sacrifice in all of history. But you should rejoice! Iomedae is Lady of all the planes!"

The man peers intently at Waki, squinting as the bird-man speaks.

He accepts the offered cloak, saying: Thank you, my name is Uori. Please, take this in return.

He draws a wand from his belongings and hands it to Inira. Then, gesturing to Silas, he says: If your faith is as strong as it seems, this will protect you from harm.

Wand of shield of faith, CL 6, 10 charges

The old man steps aside, and motions to the replica of the city. Take all the time you need to study, but I ask that you give this holy place the reverence that it deserves.

He makes no move to intervene with your inspection of the city, only politely watches your actions.

All of this holy stuff, goes right over my head. I'll try not to fiddle.

Acel keeps watch over the entrance, trying her best to not touch anything.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Inira thanks the man, and hands the wand to Silas. She takes the opportunity to sketch some notes about the gillman, the replica and the room. She is particularly interested in the replica of the city, never having seen something like this before.

While she is sketching, she tries to get the gillman to open up more.

"Thank you, Uori. My name is Inira, and these are my friends." She introduces everyone, unless they introduce themselves.

"How is it that you have come to this place, and what makes it such a place of reverence for you, if I may ask? I am always very interested in cultures other than my own."

Check out this post for some assistance

Inira thanks the man, and hands the wand to Silas. She takes the opportunity to sketch some notes about the gillman, the replica and the room. She is particularly interested in the replica of the city, never having seen something like this before.

While she is sketching, she tries to get the gillman to open up more.

"Thank you, Uori. My name is Inira, and these are my friends." She introduces everyone, unless they introduce themselves.

"How is it that you have come to this place, and what makes it such a place of reverence for you, if I may ask? I am always very interested in cultures other than my own."

My people have been coming here for quite some time. I cannot say what others have experienced,but for me--the waters speak. And when I hear something, I understand its importance. For you and your Society, I imagine this place would hold historical significance. Your god Aroden still has a spark of influence here, too, if you know how to listen.

"How does one listen? Does it have to do with these things I found on the walls?" Eleanor pulls out her journal and shows the writings to the gillman.

He takes the wand, having no idea what it's supposed to do. "How do I use it?" Protect me from harm... He touches it to his armor, not sure how to activate it. Nothing happens. He hands it to Eleanor, knowing she knows a thing or two about magic and assuming she'll know what to do with it.

Shield of faith isn't a paladin spell, so I can't use it lol.

Hey, he just saw you preaching, didn't get to look at your character sheet ;-)

The city responds to rituals based on the 12 guises of Aroden. Let me see...yes, you've deciphered them all!

If you look back at the spoilers in the post I linked 3 posts up, the information you already learned from the carvings should tell you all you need to know.

"So um, I guess this is kind of a shrine to Aroden's principles, right?" Acel finally pipes up. "It must be old."

Scribbling a bit more into her journal, Acel nods to the party. "I guess we know why they come here- to take a look at this. We should tell Janira. Wait, we should find Janira. See if she evaded that big bull."

Acel turns towards the gillman. "Ah...sir. Have you heard of a...um...minotaur around these parts? Our friend is out there, distracting him or her."

Eleanor ponders the mysteries she has translated, and takes a stab at the soldier by casting dancing lights, and guiding the lights to and through the miniature city.

"By the city's, do you mean this temple? And how could it respond, what would it do?" Tsadok finally begins to show excitement, but pauses to look and sniff around.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
"You can't be the only one here. Is there anyone else, do you know them?"

Waki watches the others as they discuss things with the gillman.

"For your generosity, thanks. Read my beak can you?"

He will move closer to the doorway with the sounds, and ready if any should enter while the group is talking.

"I think Eleanor has it right. Maybe we can apply the information to this model of the city and reveal some secret, either here or back in the city?"

He turns to the gillman. "Is this why your people have been coming in here? For this holy place?"

"By the city's, do you mean this temple? And how could it respond, what would it do?" Tsadok finally begins to show excitement, but pauses to look and sniff around.

[dice=Perception]1d20+6
"You can't be the only one here. Is there anyone else, do you know them?"

I am alone, but others have arrived and are not friendly.

Waki watches the others as they discuss things with the gillman.

"For your generosity, thanks. Read my beak can you?"

He will move closer to the doorway with the sounds, and ready if any should enter while the group is talking.

It is....difficult, but I believe I understand you.

He turns to the gillman. "Is this why your people have been coming in here? For this holy place?"

Yes, our purposes are for simply meditation and reflection.

Before he can answer any other questions, Eleanor shines a magical light on the city. There is a faint hum and surge of power, and all of you can’t help but feel some benevolent source protecting you.

For the next 24 hours each PC gains a +1 insight bonus to AC if he or she has taken damage since the start of her last turn. Nice move!

Feeling confident, Eleanor asks the gillman if she may use the cloak of resistance, "I want to see if this also pleases the dead god. . . "

If the gillman allows, Eleanor swirls the cloak about the tiny model city as if it were a moat of fabric. If anything happens, Eleanor shares the trick with the gillman.

Having only silver, Eleanor asks, "I think we need coins of different sizes to put in the city as well. I have no clue about the stones though. Perhaps one of you stronger types could break up some small rocks to put in there as well?"

Once all the tasks are done, Eleanor shares the method of completing them with the gillman, and any benefit gained thereby.

Acel has sat on the floor for the last few minutes, thinking about her time on this mission and as a Pathfinder in general. "Let me think. Shone a light, like a soldier. Boom! Feeling protective. Eleanor has a good idea there, wrapping the city with a cloth like the tailor."

Suddenly she stands up. "Oh! An idea, I can help too!" Acel scurries over to the model city. With her fingernails, she draws four lines in the farmland section of the city. "The Farmer's symbol is four lines, right? Maybe that's what we need here to represent 'im."

She starts paying attention to everyone else, again. "I've got gold, Eleanor. We could drop them in the marketplace. Or we could move all of the tiny coins in here into the market."

Acel seems giddy and excited about her new found inspiration. "It's a fun puzzle and all."

Uori, amused by the parties' antics and impressed by the successful ritual, lends you his cloak. Eleanor finds that the cloak only fits around half or so of the city, so she borrows the cloak of one of her bigger allies. Requires 2 medium-sized cloaks to go all around the city.

Afterwards, a similar faint surge of power can be felt.

Each of the PCs gains a +1 bonus on a single attack roll made against a flanked target within 24 hours.

Eleanor, in response to your point about coins, this is in the description of the city: "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."

Acel has sat on the floor for the last few minutes, thinking about her time on this mission and as a Pathfinder in general. "Let me think. Shone a light, like a soldier. Boom! Feeling protective. Eleanor has a good idea there, wrapping the city with a cloth like the tailor."

Suddenly she stands up. "Oh! An idea, I can help too!" Acel scurries over to the model city. With her fingernails, she draws four lines in the farmland section of the city. "The Farmer's symbol is four lines, right? Maybe that's what we need here to represent 'im."

She starts paying attention to everyone else, again. "I've got gold, Eleanor. We could drop them in the marketplace. Or we could move all of the tiny coins in here into the market."

Acel seems giddy and excited about her new found inspiration. "It's a fun puzzle and all."

Acel finds success too, feeling resilient like the farmer who toils day and night.

All of the PCs gain a +1 luck bonus on Fortitude saves against poison for 24 hours

"Hmph. Never seen a puzzle like this, but then again I'm not one for puzzles. I'll give it a shot, though. How 'bout I 'irrigate' the farm?" Tsadok casts Create Water and lets it trickle along his outstretched fingertips, attempting to fill the lines with water.

Eleanor laughs, clearly enjoying the puzzle. After she returns the cloak to the gillman, she assists Acel in putting all the tiny coins back into the market place.

"Hmph. Never seen a puzzle like this, but then again I'm not one for puzzles. I'll give it a shot, though. How 'bout I 'irrigate' the farm?" Tsadok casts Create Water and lets it trickle along his outstretched fingertips, attempting to fill the lines with water.

Tsadok adds some water to the diorama, but doesn't feel any magical effects as a result.

Good idea, but Acel already activated the farmer ritual successfully

Eleanor laughs, clearly enjoying the puzzle. After she returns the cloak to the gillman, she assists Acel in putting all the tiny coins back into the market place.

Eleanor and Acel put a few of their own coins amidst those already present, moving them around the city and are rewarded with the familiar pulse of latent power.

PCs gain a +1 competence bonus on Appraise checks to determine the value of objects and on Spellcraft checks made to identify magic items for 24 hours.

Uori nods, impressed, and wades into the water past the miniature city, resuming his meditation.

Well done, you've activated all of the rituals! There are two exits out of this cavern, SW and SE, and Inira has already heard sounds of movement coming from the SE. What do you want to do next?

To the gillman, Inira says "We should continue our exploration, but thank you for your information and friendship. We value that most of all! You said that others have arrived and are not friendly - do you mean other friends of yours, gillman or otherwise? Or are the others someone you need protection from? Are those who we hear now?"

Answers from Uori may change my opinion, but my thinking is we hear to the SE where the noises came from first, so as not to get trapped. Our missions were to map the caves and find out why the gillman was here. I think we have succeeded at the latter, but still have mapping to do...

"Yes, thank you very much! It is an interesting diorama. I wish I had the time and skill to sketch it all out, for now a note indicating that this is a "miniature representation of Absalom" will have to do. I have noted all the rituals we were able to document. Would you like a copy?" Eleanor asks.

Once the duties to the gillman are taken care of, Eleanor agrees to head south-east with Inira.

Waki waits by the SE entrance, seeing if his companions head this way or choose the other direction.

"Very interesting fellow was he."

Acel follows to the South East, heading with group consensus.

"Whee, that was fun. Are all missions this fun?"

btw, I'll be on a business trip for the next three days. The hotel will have Wi-Fi, but if it's bad feel free to bot Acel.

Eleanor ponders a couple details. . .

"Acel, when we get back to town, do you mind swapping spell books for scribing spells we don't have? I am sure I may have some you do not, and vice versa. Don't let me forget!"

We can scribe spells from each others spell books into our own.

To the gillman, Inira says "We should continue our exploration, but thank you for your information and friendship. We value that most of all! You said that others have arrived and are not friendly - do you mean other friends of yours, gillman or otherwise? Or are the others someone you need protection from? Are those who we hear now?"

Answers from Uori may change my opinion, but my thinking is we hear to the SE where the noises came from first, so as not to get trapped. Our missions were to map the caves and find out why the gillman was here. I think we have succeeded at the latter, but still have mapping to do...

Uori shakes his head in sadness.

Friends of mine no longer, corrupted by the one who dwells there.

He does gesture towards the SE.

But I count you as friends, and wish you luck on your journey. May your gods watch over you.

With that, he sinks beneath the water.

Acel, thanks for the heads up. Any of you, please feel free to bot Acel. I'd rather one of you take her turns for her than have me do it. Next up, SE passage...

The cave’s damp air becomes increasingly stale as the PCs continue down through this tunnel, and as they approach this area, the stench of decay grows increasingly evident. The passage turns to the east and opens into a small cavern littered with bits of broken glass, rotting pieces of paper, and other unusable detritus. The body of a male dhampir lies facedown toward the back of the cavern. (that's the figure outlined in red)

Also in the room are what appear to be 3 dead gillmen, their flesh rotten and stinking, yet still they stand and shamble towards you when they see you.

Up next:
Silas, Acel, Inira, Tsadok, Waki, Eleanor, Monsters

Knowledge Religion to identify them

Odd creature. Silas doesn't miss the reference to what is clearly an evil presence lurking down here. "There's obviously some kind of demon in here as well, controlling the others somehow, and I don't like it." Though if he lets himself admit it, part of him is amped for an opportunity to cleanse the world of another evil presence.

Knowledge (religion, untrained): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (19) - 2 = 17
So, 10. Not sure if that's good enough, unless they're considered 'common.'

As the dead bodies rise and stagger forward, he instinctively draws his sword. Silas isn't clever, and he knows it; he felt distinctly left out in the previous room as the others seemed to easily make connections he had struggled to put together. But this... this I can do. He dashes forward and strikes at the nearer of the two corpses, hoping to keep their attention on him and away from his allies.

Longsword slash: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Spoiler Alert: I AM NOW ACEL! Admittedly, though, anyone else who wants to use her turn can, and I think Acel would use different tactics than I would. It is dead stuff, though...
"Hm, dead, definitely dead," Acel mutters to herself as she enters the room (Just ahead of Tsadok). "No illusions, no enchantments, my spells ain't much good here," Acel says nonchalantly, once again making a bold move and drawing a throwing axe.

Waki draws his rapier and moves in and tries to hide just outside the doorway to the next room.

stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Ooo! This should be fun to watch. Feel free to use an Arcane Pool point to enchant her melee weapons.

I was planning on it. Thanks for the support. Also, feel free to stop me or anyone else going on a course you'd prefer uncharted.

Eleanor fires a bolt of acid at the nearest creature.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
It Hit: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Inira gets into position for clear shots, and shoots an arrow at the southern corpse.

Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Tsadok moves towards the unoccupied corpse to the north and draws his sword.
If someone could help me move, I'm trying to go 4 to the right, 1 up via the diagonal.

I moved the both of us. Assuming Right is East, I moved you East, East, East, East, Northeast. If the red is a non-animated corpse, you could have moved East, East, East, Northeast, North to the corpse Northwest from your position.

Acel and Waki move forward, the latter moving as quietly as he can.

Silas advances alone, slashing a large chunk of flesh from the NW corpse, but it still remains to menace him.

Eleanor misses with her spell as Inira buries an arrow into the southern foe. The arrow sinks deep, but doesn't seem to cause as much damage as she thought it would.

Tsadok also advances, drawing his sword.

Tsadok, I see you as having 20 ft movement, so I'll move you back one square (4 right of the original position). If you have anything I'm missing that increases your move speed, please let me know.

The northern undead set upon Silas, with one of them knocking the wind out of the paladin with a savage blow. 8 damage to Silas!

NW attacks Silas: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

NW damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

NE attacks Silas: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

NE damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

The southern creature, unconcerned with the arrow sticking out of its chest, awkwardly stumbles over the debris and advances.

NW: -5
S: -2

Next up: Party

Eleanor moves back and casts acid splash at the southern most corpse before it can engage in melee.

To Hit Touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

I was going to hook a diagonal, but where I got put wasn't where I intended. It's okay this way, though, now there's a charge lane!
Tsadok charges the NE undead and swings his sword around in a mighty arc!
Tsadok SMASH: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16
Damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 6) + 6 = 18
Now taking -2 AC until next round.

Moved you over to the NE Zombie, Tsadok!

Noting all of the zombies moved into melee range, Acel shrugs and enchants her axe. She closes in and...

+1 Throwing Axe: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Wobbles as the axe drops into the pile of undead flesh.
"Did I cut through its skin? Should have studied Disrupt Undead. You know that spell, Eleanor? We should trade spellbook notes later!" That's what friends do, right?

2/3 Arcane Points remain. Her Throwing Axe is a +1 weapon for 1 minute.

Inira changes tactics when she sees her arrows seem to be less effective. She looks closely at the creatures to see if anything would be more effective.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17 I don't have any Knowledge skills.

Figuring fire would be effective against most anything, she reaches into Janira's pack, and pulls out the alchemist’s fire (move action), and lobs it at the southern monster.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4 (and another next round)

Silas moves his shield to intercept the blow from one of the zombies, but fails to react in time to the other, which lands a solid punch. Eyes blurry from the pain, he lashes out a second time at the same target, hoping to drop it quickly to make his job easier.

Longsword slash: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Extra damage, if applicable: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

So, the zombie on its turn moved into melee (check out the map). I'm going to assume that Inira backed up before throwing her alchemist fire at it. So Acel would delay until Inira and Eleanor back up and shoot, then she would close in melee. Hope everyone is ok with that. Otherwise Inira is provoking an AoO from the zombie, just for the privilige of point black throwing alchemist fire on it and splashing it on all of you. ;-) I do like your idea, though. Use those consumables!

Silas swings his sword upward and strikes the head off the "injured" zombie. Its eyes blink a few times in mid air. Meanwhile, Tsadok charges the other zombie threatening Silas. He bisects the creature vertically with his massive sword. The arms reach impotently toward him as the two pieces fall to the ground.

2 zombies down!

Inira, seeing the ineffectiveness of her arrows, backs up and draws an alchemical vial from Janira's backpack. She waits until her friends are clear and throws the weapon to great effect, setting the remaining undead alight. Arrow in its chest, wreathed in flame, but the creature still stands.

Acel and Eleanor, effective with Aroden's rituals, can't find much success against the undead horrors.

Next up: Waki, last zombie

Remaining zombie: -7 HP, on fire