GM Bugman's #9-06 The Shores of Heaven (Inactive)

Game Master McBugman

annoyed grunt

K, let me know if you're grouping up and how, then what books are being targeted first.

Fez looks to his colleagues, "I'm quite skilled in researching through pretty much any area, why don't you all figure out what you can review, and I'll take what's left over."

"Oh great glowing one in the sky, you have perfect knowledge of this place, and you likely know what it would take for us to retrieve the tomes we require. I'm sure you also would have a good idea of what most of us are capable of by looking at us. The exception being that one," Arxus says, pointing at Corrin, "He is more of a spellcaster than you would imagine."

"Would you, perhaps, be able to recommend how we should proceed, and who should seek out which book? We would be grateful for the opportunity to make the best use of our mortal time in Heaven."

"I appreciate the flattery, you are some of the kindest visitors I've had in decades. Please believe me when I say not to worry. You look to be a very capable lot, more so than most that pass through. I'm confident that your research will be sucessful." With that the six of you head into the library. As you leave Kitarlo stays behind for a second and speaks with the Latern Archon. From what can be overheard, he is looking for a spell to restore his arm.

Entering the library proper the stacks in this tower fill a vast room that extends for miles. There is no floor to walk on in the library as half the bookshelves float through the air in swaying rows, while the other are submerged beneath a pool of water 100 feet deep. The bookshelves are constantly rearranging themselves, shifting amongst their rows. Short of flight, if appears you will need to navigate the library using the small rowboats that wai before you or by jumping from bookshelf to bookshelf.

"I'll check back in with you in five hours to see how you're doing, I have some books of my own to locate. Good luck and god's speed!" Then Kitarlo flies off into the library.

With a shrug the party breaks in half, three to one boat and three and a pig to another.

If no one has thoughts I'll continue after lunch.

"This looks fun. I guess we'll have to be able to swim, fly, or climb? Seems tricky!" Glastor looks to Lya, "How about you, me, and Grippli go together. I think Grippli can probably climb really well, so he can do the climbing part."

To help clear up things
From the boat there are several signs directing to all corners of the library, all six of the book locations being among them.

I've likely made this seem more complicated than is really is, you just need to pick what book you're going after and if it is either alone or in some form of groups. A lot of ways you can do it in six hours, e.g: everyone check on one book then report back and evaluate (leaving 5 hours to retrieve), everyone goes to each book as a big group, etc. Each "trip" to find a book takes an hour, even if you've found it before because the library is constantly reshuffling.

These 6 books were recommended for you to look into, but it wasn't explicitly said you MUST get them all. Intended to be more of a "Oh these 6 are up your alley, I'd start with some of those."

"Lya!" exclaims the excitable gnome. "Can we go find The Tome of Stars and Moons? I think that'd be right up our alley!!"

Glastor literally bounces.

Lya nods to Glastor and Pig "that sounds wonderful. I also have a wand of waterbreathing should we need to swim for books."

Glastor and Lya make their way to the condensed astrological directory. Entering the dense cluttered room there is a mind boggling volume of identically bound tomes, all with the same aged spine decorated with three stars and a single crescent moon. Gears creak behind the bookshelves, but for the moment everything stays in place while you search for The Tome of Stars and Moons.

Perception check. Either individually or one can aid the other.

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

"Grippli, sir, you have the biggest eyes among us, so we'll help you, ok?"

Corrin grumbles and jots down notes on the books. He seems offended at 'tall stacks'.

"I'm going to the basement, follow if you want." he says, before heading out.

Glastor's words snap Grippli out of whatever haze he was in. A quick inhalation and several rapid blinks later, "Wha- um... ok. Which book are we looking for? Something about stars was it? Hmmm.... let me take a look."

Take 10 Perception: 10+16+2 = DC 28

Pig looks at Lya. It is obvious he is giving her a "What's this bullshit about Pig going for a swim?" look.

grunt

Grippli pulls a volume from the shelf. Opening it he finds the title page reading "The Tome of Stars and Moons".

Fezier shakes his head in frustration, "I'm quite skilled in actual research. Heaven is not garnering my respect if their interpretation of research is 'I know all, so there's no reason for a library other than you have to jump through this flaming hoop to grab a book'. Fine though - I'll go looking for Asaru’s Grimoire of the Planes."

Thinking for a minute he also concludes, "Somebody strong might want to go looking for The Slates, and somebody that wants to climb should probably go searing for Elgar’s".

Everybody should think about this mechanically. There is probably something in each book we're going to need somebody to look for, but the checks to find them are probably based on where they're stored. Meaning we should split up, figure out what you have to do to actually get the book, and then retry again splitting our skills more effectively.

Corrin begins cursing in a multitude of languages as he attempts to squeeze through the stacks.

Escape Artist?: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

"Grippli! That's great! Let's go find another book! Maybe that Elgar's book, that you'll wanna climb for!"

"Better than swimming. Let us go."

"You don't like swimming, Mr. Grippli? I guess you must be a different kind of frog, 'cause I thought frogs liked to swim and that you look like a frog but maybe you aren't quite a frog but on the other hand there are tree frogs so maybe you are more like them than a water frog so that you would want to climb in a tree rather than swim in the water but then..." Glastor has a serious case of "diarrhea of the mouth".

"May Desna help you in your climb!" Glastor cast guidance on the grippli, and then, when he is ready to climb, grants him a bit of luck. Roll twice, take the greater

I have a climb speed so I should be able to just "walk up", yes?

Fez starts looking around for Asaru’s Grimoire of the Planes in the maze of books.

Int (Alignment Penalty): 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 4 = 10
Reroll, because of this stupid penalty (equal to either four levels worth of skills, or makes me the equivalent of a 9 point build) which renders me virtually useless in a level 1-5 scenario: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 - 4 = 20

I'm very unclear - We're still in hour one right? Lya and Arxus haven't looked for anything yet, right? So just to confirm, we have one (and with my roll hopefully two) books in hand, two more searches, but haven't actually researched them, correct?

Fez, Corrin, and Arxus are in hour one, Glastor, Glippli, and Lya are in hour two. Arxus has yet to begin searching.

I also agree, the penalties are a bit harsh. Alas, you succeed here.

Fez finds his way through the books with ease. He almost passes by the Grimoire but double-takes and stops in his tracks before it. Successfully holding the tome, he is unaware that the group now has two of the six books they were directed towards.

At Fez's suggestion, Arxus heads to where he believes the Archon told him The Slates is located.

Corrin wanders back to the main hall, pulling out a piece of paper and angrily scribbling.

Incunabulum of the Ages is in a disorganized mess of a basement. Need someone more slippery to squeeze past the piles of junk in the way.

He waits a few minutes, then heads to find The Luminous Libram down aisle 4A-Y.

"This works much different on Golarion.... Shut up Pig."

Grippli starts climbing.

Climbing!: 1d20 - 1 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (8) - 1 + 1 + 8 = 16

Climbing!: 1d20 - 1 + 1 + 8 ⇒ (14) - 1 + 1 + 8 = 22

I'm assuming you're leaving that note at the general "gathering area," Corrin?

Grippli's first foothold slips, but then he gets into a groove on the odd heavenly shelves. CLimbing 100ft up the grippli is able to retrieve the book and safely return to the library floor.

Retrieved 3/6. Going to let everyone catch up to the end of hour two. Fez and Arxus can both attempt for another tome or wait after their first hour.

After Arxus and I act can we get a full accounting? I'm absolutely lost on what we've found and haven't found.

Fez, book in tow heads back to the main desk where he leaves a note. 'Looking for The Luminous Libram, meet everybody here in one hour. We'll have four hours left at that time and can compare notes.'

He heads down to wherever The Luminous Libram might be located.

Meh, swimming? I've wasted too much time looking to not even make an attempt...

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Arxus spends two minutes removing his full-plate armor, before attempting to swim for this book.

Swim: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Does that check take up the whole hour?

Arxus walks away dejected, with soaked clothing, carrying his armor until he can find someone willing to spend 4 minutes helping him put it back on...

I had not committed Lya to assisting Grippli, and after consulting with Glastor, I believe he does not need her help.

Lya will have Her friends drop her off above the water, use a charge of waterbreathing. Then she will attempt to swim, utilizing a remnant power from her friend J. Dacline.
Casting Burst of Adrenaline form the Spiritualist list
take 10 umd: 10 + 13 = 23
swim, annointed champion, burst of adrenaline: 1d20 - 1 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (17) - 1 + 2 + 8 = 26

Completely fair to assume you'd run into Arxus.

Lya is easily able to swim down and collect the slates. 4/6

Traveling at the moment, I can sum upbthe first two hours tomorrow. Arxus can still attempt another bpok at the mpment if he wishes.

Fez nods to Corrin when he arrives and quips, "I can see your predicament with your heavy armor and all. This isn't exactly research is it?"

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

He begins bounding up the sides of the bookshelves, flying from one to another with ease. He makes sure his trip down is just as full of flourishes.

In a series of deft and graceful movements, Fez summits the floating bookshelves and returns with The Luminous Libram.

Gathering together at a table in the entry, Akarah flashes and lets out gasps of glee, "Oh! The Luminous Libram! And The Slates of Klador!! Do I see Asaru’s Grimoire of the Planes?! The beautiful text The Tome of Stars and Moons!! I absolutely love Elgar’s Forgotten Compendium!

Now all together and with four hours remaining on your pass for entry into the library, only one tome remains. The Incunabulum of the Ages in the lower reaches sub-basement 2J.

Assuming..
Heading to the sub-basement together, you find the organization here is as bad as Corrin has described and it takes a frustrating half hour to find the correct section. Once there you see stacks of books clog all the paths back into the stacks which much too heavy to simply shove over.
Escape Artist Check

"Grippli," starts the gnome, a glint in his eye, "you know, we've done really well so far. Now, you are the smallest of us, so I'll bet you're the best to get through there. I'll pour a dose of alchemical grease on you, which will help.

"Maybe if your ancestors granted you a spell to make you even smaller, it would help. Why, I wager if you could wriggle through 6", you could get through all of that. What do you say"

Glastor holds himself back from bouncing... too much... in the sheer delight of being able to see this.

Before heading into the basement Fezier declares, "Since we've been told the last tome is impossible to get to without training in escaping from bonds, perhaps those that can't do that could stay here and start researching as to not further waste time?"

Did the scenario designer somehow forget this is a trained only skill?

Did the scenario designer somehow forget this is a trained only skill?

When I look at skill descriptions it appears to be usable untrained ("Yes" is in the "Untrained" column)

"Do not look. This is an ability of which we are not proud. Pig, stop laughing. Pig, you keep this up I swear to Gozreh I will swap your acorns with prunes."

Grippli begins casting a spell. Tiny seams appear in his skin, gradually separating until his skin sloughs off his body. The muscle and viscera of a 2' frog stands before you. What can only be describes as laughter from Pig, the pile of skin twitches before it stands up and greets the assembled Pathfinders.

"Please watch over my body while I am in this sorrowful state. The last time Grandfather did this, his Pig decided to play a game." Both the bloody body and skin turn to stare at Pig.

"Let us get this over with...."

Casts skinsend. My skin is now a construct with the compression monster quality. I can move through areas one quarter of my size, 2', or one eighth if I squeeze.

Glastor then spreads his alchemical grease on the skin of Grippli. "Grippli, I will protect your body to the best of my ability." The suddenly serious gnome pulls out his starknife, and stands guard, staring directly at the pig.

"If you get stuck, Grippli, I can cast liberating command on you!"

What was I reading then? I saw trained only. Well that's better than not trained. My suggestion that we don't all go down still stands though. If you can't do escape artist, better spend your time here reading.

While her allies retrieve the last book, Lya will begin her research.

Fezier picks up The Luminous Libram, runs his hand over the cover and begins delving into research.

Once empowered with magic, Grippli is able to easily slip through the clutter and retrieve the book. Returning a table by where you entered the library, two hours pass before Kitarlo returns with a stack of books under his arm. "Wow! You beat me, and retrieved everything? Fantastic, the society made the right choice in trusting Valais to you all." The azata places his books down and begins picking up the book you all recovered, one by one. He reads a hundred pages in mere moments, flipping though one tome before setting it down and reading another. By the end of two minutes, all of the information on the ritual has been collected in Kitarlo's head.

"There is a secluded reading room I noticed, let's not do this out in the open." Leading the six of you and Valais to the room, Kitarlo closes the door and begins drawing an intricate diagram on the floor. "The ritual needed to purify Valais is a ritual of mortification, which requires sacrifices from each participant. Although I can guide the ritual, all of us must participate in order for it succeed. With as well as you did, there are several options of sacrifice at hand. The ritual requires three phases, where in each phases we all will make a mortification sacrifice. Each successful mortification will lend strength to Valais, while each failed mortification lends power to her demons. If the demonic influence ever grows stronger than Valais’s spirit, the ritual will immediately fail." As he finishes the diagram he explains the sacrifices that he learned of within the recovered books, some of which Lya and Fezier have already started revealing themselves. Then Kitarlo places Valais at the center and directs everyone in forming a circle around her.

With everything in place, Kitarlo begins chanting. Blood begins to drip from his eyes and run down his cheeks, then a small wisp of light appears and begins to circle Valais.

I have some issues with this section, so apologies about what may seem like an aggressive GM push. But yes, you have to do this in Heaven and not return to Absalom. Feel free to include any "before the ritual" content in your post as well, preparation things like spells, etc if you desire. Otherwise, everyone is up to pick a mortification and make the necessary check!

"Kitarlo, do we need to all need to do the same rituals? Or can we pick the ones that best suit outselves?" asks the gnome cleric.

Not waiting for an answer, Glastor casts guidance on himself, and attempts to recite the proper religious passages.
kn:religion, chaotic, guidance: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 2 + 1 = 8
reroll on that: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 2 + 1 + 5 = 29

Glastor seems to falter for a moment, under the lawful oppression of Heaven, but recovers and recites some lovely religious passages.

"Choose the mortification that is right for your soul, some will be called to different sacrifices." Kiyarlo replies.

Everyone can make all three rolls in one post.

The ever-generous gnome then counts out 60gp, and offers them up as a charitable donation. "May this treasure go to someone who needs it more than I do."

Finally, he ponders the selections. Then, he calls upon the power of Desna to offer him guidance, and a bit of luck, and attempts to suppress his pride. Thankfully, it is that bit of luck that saves him, as he started thinking about the fun he had learning the Ogre style martial art... but quickly realizes that he is small, not very strong, and not a good fighter.
Will Save #1, guidance: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9
Will Save #2, guidance: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 = 23

Fezier shrugs, "Heaven sure is a silly place. You name these sacrifices we have to make, but none require any actual faith, just a token action on our part. But I signed up for this mess."

I'm confused at this point. Do our three checks all have to be the same thing? The starvation sacrifice seems to imply they should be, but can I switch now to something else like Glastor did?