GM Cwethan's Wounded Wisp (Inactive)

Game Master Cwethan

Eraith smirks at Aram's words "Well, if he succeeds he will be called a hero and brave beyond measure. If he fails it will be called hubris and foolishness beyond belief. Let's see how history will remember him aye? But enough bout Reinhart. What about yourself sir? Do you still serve the Pathfinder Society or have you retired to enjoy your...golden years?"

@ Skivven Yargos is startled, and he keeps starting and breaking off his explanations Oh, I'm not anagent, though the Pathfinders have certainlydone - me a good turnortwointhe - past. As far as advice, I supposeI wouldhave to recommendagainst inadvertently calling an army of the dead to kill you and destroy Absalom. Thoughthatdidnthappen. He clears his throat and calms himself back down with a large swallow from his mug.

I'm trying to keep to safer researches these days. People who are really dead. And not coming back. It's like with Sir Reinhart. If he succeeds, he'll join a very small group of mortals who have become something - more! Iomedae, Razmir, Cayden Cailean, and Norgorber, but even if he dies, he'll still be immortalized in his own way as an Aspirant. Though I suppose very few people really study them. Ah well.

@ Eraith Golden years indeed. I may not have elven blood running through my veins, but I still have decades before I waste away in my dotage. I serve the Pathfinder Society still, though less... fervently than in the past.

Now everyone is focused on their own individual achievements. They forget that they are supposed to Explore, Report, and Cooperate. Those who should lead and teach scheme instead.

Eraith is genuinely surprised to hear this tidbit about the past "Factions tied to principalities and kingdoms? How odd...wouldn't that encourage espionage, sabotage and bias? At least factions based on ideals are truly borderless, with no preference given to race or profession, instead all members striving towards a common goal."

He takes a sip of his wine before continuing "And as for schemers...well, one doesn't reach the highest positions without guile and allies, no matter the intentions or skills a person might have... although truth be told I have little patience for such things"

And I bet you are just jealous that you didn't reach the heights of power yourself

Heryn's replacement will no doubt arrive some time Friday, so if you want to chat any more with your colleagues and/or Yargos, this'd be the day.

Skivven presses Yargos for more, "I am super interested in those Aspirants. Other researchers are not as thorough as you are. I understand why you do what you do. If you don't mind me saying I sense greatness in you Sir. I'd be honored if you grace me with more tales about your research, especially those Aspirants."

Bluff for the embellishment and flattery, including at +5 for 'target wants to believe you' and another +5 for 'target is drunk or impaired' - reduce accordingly if those conditions are not met: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Heading back to the bar, with a Mug of Cider and a saucer of milk, Usagi returns to the Boartusk Twins.

"Heryn was telling me that you two are Muscle for the society! And you get Free Drinks on Confirmation night! That sounds so exciting! What else do you do in the society?"

Yargos begins to spin tales to Skivven of various failed aspirants, and the different portfolios they hoped to embody, I'll have to put my research on hold for tomorrow though. The keepers of the Shrine of Failed Aspirants will all be watching Sir Reinhart's attempt.

The Boartusk twins are also happy to regale Usagi with their exploits as axes for hire before getting field commissioned into the Society. They seem light on stories as actual agents though - apparently their rather narrow skill set has left them a bit out of favor.

Before too much longer though, Lisle shows up, and Heryn signals to the group that she can take them down to the cellar.

Feel free to add a retconned in post over the next day or so about further interactions with the patrons, but unless someone has a compelling reason not to...

You descend into the store room, a sturdily crafted stone affair filled with barrels and crates of assorted food stuffs and drink garnishes, beyond which is another room with a long narrow chasm stretching across it. Oh, watch yourself on the plank; I'm so used to it I forgot to mention it, but the footing's a bit treacherous.

Before Aram can respond, Eraith spots Heryn's signal that Lisle has arrived "Alas, I have to leave on society business. Still, I wish you a good day sir" He drains his glass and joins the others into the store room.

When Heryn warns them about the plank, Eraith silently eyes the gap, then runs and jumps across the plank before the others can say anything...

acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

...and lands at the opposite side without a problem. He turns around and looks to the others "Coming?"

Looking a bit absent minded Brynnith blurts out "Oh! Time to go...?" and hops up to follow Yargos into the store room....and then steadies herself along the plank...taking 10 if possible

Omniel looks skeptically at the plank and at the gap. He considers carefully for a moment.

Take 10 + Acrobatics 2. Looks like 12 either way. If there's something I missed, it looks like he can just jump across. Let me know otherwise.

Brynnith's Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

As Brynnith steps on the plank, she feels it wobble most concerningly. It looks as though whatever fastenings it used to have are entirely loose!

She has spared herself, and probably others, an unpleasant tumble, but is still on the wrong side of the drop.

Omniel and Eraith are able to hop across with a bit of a running start, avoiding the plank entirely.

Skivven takes a running leap and lands softly on his paws.
Take 10 + Acrobatics 8 = 18

Leona follows the group down to the cellar. She pauses with Brynnith at the plank.

"This is already such an exciting mission!"

She attempts to follow after Heryn and the rest of the party over the plank. "Steady Leona..." she mutters to herself as she makes her way across.

take 10 please

Since a quick check showed no Acrobatics checks lower than a -4, I'll assume everyone made it across the narrow chasm without any undue peril.
The cellar chamber where the Wisp keeps their supply of specialty wines is well laid out, and it doesn't take long to find Dreng's bottle, but when you remove it there is a sudden *click*, and the wine rack slides back into a short stone tunnel leading to a hidden room!

A sturdy silver chain jutting from the ceiling ends in a glowing orb that radiates yellow light across the rectangular room. A simple desk of polished wood, stacked with documents and scattered notes, shelters a pair of wooden chests against the south wall. A series of cracks along the eastern and western walls form makeshift entrances into exposed caverns.

What do you do?

Upon noticing the desk and papers, Omniel's eyes light up. He looks like he's about to head over and start reading when he pauses a moment. "Uh, while I definitely want to get a look at those papers, does anyone have better searching skills than I do?"

Brynnith takes her time getting across and is with the others when Drengs bottle is pulled out. She loos rather stunned at the hidden chamber and checks out the room per Omniels request.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

"Dont see anything wrong. All clear me thinks."

Skivven moves up to the desk and starts shuffling through the papers methodically, careful not to mix the paper piles together and leave them as is after inspection.

Linguistics to decipher any hidden code or meaning or understand foreign languages: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Sleight of Hand to not smudge, fold or break the documents: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Perception to notice something in the documents: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Skivven lets out a short sigh of frustration as his sharp thumb claw punctures some of the pages he's reading...

Stepping carefully over the board, Usagi looks around in the Wine Cellar

"I've never seen so many bottle before in one place! I guess for a rowdy place like upstairs, you would need a whole lot!"

As the door clicks open, Usagi is astounded, before excitedly running into the new room.

"DO you see this? This is an Honest to Iomedae SECRET PASSAGE! How exciting is that! In the basement of this inn!"

Looking down at her cat (who warily waits outside the small space) Usagi frowns, with her hands on her hips.

"This is Exciting! Why are you waiting outside?"

Eraith grunts when the secret passage is revealed Of course. Sly old fox. Knew there was something more to this than just playing errant boy

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Eraith steps into the room carefully, looking about for any signs of danger

Skivven inspects the desk inside out for false bottoms, then thoroughly inspects the chests for traps.

[Take 20 on desk for Perception DC 28]
[Take 20 on both chests for Perception DC 29]

GM roll: 1d6 ⇒ 5
As the Pathfinders begin to examine the room, what had looked like piles of stones inside the tunnels unfold themselves into man-sized scorpions before lunging forward and jabbing their venom-dripping stingers into Usagi and Brynnith!

Sting at Usagi: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Sting at Brynnith: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 = 15
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Bold may go
Usagi -4 - Fort Save DC 12 needed
Brynnith -1 - Fort Save DC 12 needed
Eraith
Skivven
Omniel
Scorpions Green has -2 AC
Leona

Skivven's searching has not yet been completed, though these papers certainly do look interesting...

Fort Save!: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

"Oh no! What are those things?"

Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Perplexed by the creature, Usagi leaps back slightly, drawing a disc from her hip.

"Take THIS evildoer! Wait, are you an Evildoer?"

Glancing warily at the creature, she flings the disc at the tail of the creature!

Swift action, Detect Evil on the thing that hit me!

Chakram Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Chakram Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Skivven enters Brinnith's square via Scurrying Swarmer feat (considered flanking) and attempts to flick the critter out of commission with a quick snap of his tailblade. "Oh! scorpion snack! Yum!"

Tailblade (1d2-3; min 1 dmg) with Weapon Finesse, Flanking and Sneak Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 for 1d1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (4) = 5 slashing damage.
Confirming critical: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 for an additional 1d1 ⇒ 1 slashing damage.

Eraith upon seeing the scorpions emerge from their hiding, takes a quick step forward and plunges both his blades into the scorpian

"Get back Usagi!"

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
wakizashi: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 2

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
wakizashi: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 1

A couple of edits/questions to posted actions: Usagi, I'm not seeing how you get a swift action Detect Evil; Eraith, I think you can only take one of those swings since you hadn't posted anything about walking around with two swords out while getting a bottle of wine, and would have to draw them. Also, since they got to go in the Surprise round they aren't flatfooted, so I don't think that's a sneak attack.

Usagi's chakram digs into the thick chitin of her foe, and Eraith and Skivven also score the thick hide of their verminous foes.

Bold may go
Usagi -4
Brynnith -1 - Fort Save DC 12 needed
Eraith
Skivven
Omniel
Scorpions Green has -2 AC Red-7 Green -6
Leona

Omniel moves into the room and draws his sling. Life at 0 BAB. Done.

Usagi, I'm not seeing how you get a swift action Detect Evil;

Poor Memory of how Paladins work. Smite is Swift, Detect evil is move. Assume it didn't happen.

Cool, that's what I was guessing, but I couldn't remember if Luna would be able to do that on your behalf or something

Aww man you're right. Ok, retcon it to one attack then

FORT vs DC12: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Brynnith gets hit due to her inattentiveness and strikes back quickly with her sword...

ADS: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5...DMG: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

and her flash of steel swings wide due to the cramped confines she finds herself in and she misses... she then takes a 5 ft step to her left to allow others a chance...

Cool, that's what I was guessing, but I couldn't remember if Luna would be able to do that on your behalf or something

At this level, Luna is just a Cat. Soon though... Lay on Paws and Truespeech!

The scorpions, maddened by their injuries, continue their ferocious assault on whatever's in front of them! Happily for the heroes, the scorpions' strikes are easy enough to parry despite their unnerving mass.

Red: Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Sting: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Green: Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Sting: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Bold may go
Usagi -4
Brynnith -1
Eraith
Skivven
Omniel
Scorpions Red-7 Green -6
Leona

Omniel loads his sling and fires at the red scorpion. Switch to green if others kill red ahead of me.

Attack (Sling, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Cover): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 4 = 5
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Drawing a blunted dagger from her hip, Usagi glowers at the creatures, then at Luna

"You don't have to get Sassy with me, Luna. Training isn't very fun! And I can't help all of my friends trying to protect me!"

Ineffectively flailing her dagger in front of her, she steps toward the creature that attacked her, pinging it audibly off the stone walls.

Cold Iron Kunai Attack (cover -4): 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 2 - 4 = 10 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"Don't you get catty with me Luna! I'm supposed to Throw things, not stab with them!"

Leona notices that Usagi has been stung and seems a little woozy. She moves to Usagi's square.

casts Healing Hex

healing hex: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Eraith shakes his head at Usagi's flailing attacks "Let me show you how its done" His eyes glow faintly as he channels his ki and plunges his blades repeatedly into the scorpian

Swift action to spend 1 ki point and make one additional attack at her highest attack bonus; full attack on red scorpian

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
wakizashi: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
wakizashi: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
wakizashi: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

ADS- cover: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 4 = 9...DMG: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Brynnith tries to hit the green tinted foe from around the corner...and misses

Skivven 5 foot steps south and readies an attack to flank his future snack. :)

After the scorpion moves:

Tailblade (1d2-3; min 1 dmg) with Weapon Finesse, Flanking and Sneak Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 for 1d1 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + (1) = 2 slashing damage.

Eraith dismantles his scorpion with precise blows of his swords, but the other one scuttles forward into Skivven's trap, and feels the bite of his tailblade betwen its armor plates before unleashing a hail of pointy chitin at him, which he narrowly manages to dodge or catch on his armor.

Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Sting: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Bold may go
Usagi
Brynnith -1
Eraith
Skivven
Omniel
Scorpion Red Green -8
Leona

"An Opening! In the name of the moon, I will PUNISH YOU!"

Drawing another disc from her hip, she flings it at the creature.

Chakram Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 4 = 11 Chakram Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"Watch out Skivven! Brynnith!"

I took into account not having Precise Shot. Sad :C

Omniel takes a step back and tries his sling again.

Attack (Sling, Point Blank Shot, Precise Shot, Cover): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 4 = 17
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Omniel's sling bullet caroms off the scorpion with a dull crack.

Bold may go
Usagi
Brynnith -1
Eraith
Skivven
Omniel
Scorpion Red Green -9
Leona

Pulling his blades out of one scorpian, Eraith nimbly takes a step towards the other scorpian and strikes at its claw before stabbing his blade down at the scorpian's head

5 feet step, full attack. Flanking with Skivven to get +2 attack and sneak attack

attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10
wakizashi: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 4

attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 = 12
wakizashi: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Brynnith sees Skivven move back a bit and watches the scorpion get in-between them before she strikes with her sword...

ADS: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 = 15...DMG: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

I will delay

Skivven reverts to his baser instincts to finish off the scorpion:

Melee, Full-Attack:
Claw, Flank, Sneak Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 for 1 + 1d6 ⇒ 1 + (5) = 6 damage;
Claw, Flank, Sneak Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 for 1 + 1d6 ⇒ 1 + (1) = 2 damage;
Tailblade, Flank, Sneak Attack, Secondary: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 for 1 + 1d6 ⇒ 1 + (5) = 6 damage.

The scorpion falls beneath a hail of blows and lies still.

Now that there are no hideous vermin trying to poison and eat you, examining the papers on the desk is a simpler task.

They seem to Chronicle the personal exploits of a man named Selmius Foster.

There are all sorts of notes of his adventures, apparently designed so that they can be collected better later, but also evidence of an investigation that he appears not to have completed before he died.

See the maps page for some of the notes - Slides 5 & 6

Knowledge (history), Untrained: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Omniel tells the rest of the party what he knows.

Not being one who did well in her schooling as a youth Brynnith asks "What does it all mean?"

Omniel says, "It looks like we've got some clues to finish up the last mission of one of the founding Pathfinders. I don't expect anyone else knows enough to object to us doing so, but we could check with Dandle Dreng first if anyone wants to be certain."

Omniel helps in reading and organizing the notes. "Maybe some of the above Pathfinders could also give us some advice. They mostly seemed pretty helpful."

As he helps with the notes, another thought occurs to him, "Does anyone want to search the rest of the caves for potential clues or items left behind?"