GM Debug's PbP PFS 6-4: The Beacon Below (Inactive)

Game Master DebugAMP

The first problem is quite apparent once you approach. Some of the energy emanating from the beacon seems to have been from some jury-rigged modification designed to keep people away. At the moment it is acting similar to the spell Resiliant Sphere. Peering through the aura it seems as though there are some Ancient Osirion glyphs that make it appear like some sort of... catalogue? Library control? Will need to get through the ward to find out... That being said, no obvious connection appears to exist between the beacon and the statues.

The ward can be either disabled as though it were a magical trap, destroyed with damage, or dispelled with magic.

Rounds 13-14:
Beacon (Falling! Over halfway to disaster!)
Watts (-26, -20 NL)
Ramesses (-35)
Yanndu (+15)
Deyno (-62)
Sihir (+9)
Cirri (-31, Harpy form, Dying, con check to stabilize)
Riddlywhipple (-4)

Yanndu approaches and casts dispel magic on the resilient sphere.

Caster Level Check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

I don't quite understand why some of us are casting darkness in the area: aren't we trying to study this beacon? Yanndu has low-light vision but I don't feel like untangling the rat's nest that is the Pathfinder vision/light rules at this point. In any event Yanndu goes in a section that has normal light (move my token accordingly if his current position is dark)

Remember Good Hope lasts for 7 minutes, so it's still in effect and it's a +2 bonus to a lot of good stuff, including Skill Checks.

Cirri (no longer dying) stands up and squawks. "Did we win? Man, it's hot in here." She flutters up to the disk. "Bah, the only attack spell I have is fireball, and more heat isn't going to solve this problem."

She pulls out her scroll of Dispel Magic. "It's so hard to choose the right spells to use..." Only to see Yanndu dispel it directly.

CL check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 The plight of scrolls... caster level checks.

Yanndu flies over to the beacon and rends the magic preventing access. Dispel successful!

Rounds 13-14:
Beacon (Falling! Over halfway to disaster!)
Watts (-26, -20 NL)
Ramesses (-35)
Yanndu (+15)
Deyno (-62)
Sihir (+9)
Cirri (-31, Harpy form)
Riddlywhipple (-4)

"Good to see you back, Cirri!" Riddywhipple flies over towards the Isis statue. "Does anyone know what these statues mean?"

I moved in and used my teamwork feat to grant me precise strike 1d6 damage, and used vital strike on my first attack.[ooc] I posted fast while at work, next time I’ll diuble check that I put a recap of feats I’m using.

Vital strike is a standard action and cannot be used as part of a full attack. Either way with or without those last 2 d6s there was more than enough damage to cut down that Hound.

As Deyno begins to look around, the Marut looks him squarely in the eye. "Should the Amethyst Sage return to his post, you will inform us."

Rounds 13-14:
Beacon (Falling! Over halfway to disaster!)
Watts (-26, -20 NL)
Ramesses (-35)
Yanndu (+15)
Deyno (-62)
Sihir (+9)
Cirri (-31, Harpy form)
Riddlywhipple (-4)

Deyno looks back at Marut, "Uh, sure".

Deyno looks over to the others. "Guys I am kind of useless at this point..let me know if you need anything."

Not really sure what to do. Out of offensive spell and I am fatigued for the next six rounds since I left rage to talk to Marut

Ramesses and Deyno gather around the more well trained in the art of devices such as these.

Three statues with outstretched arms surround a giant crystal shard, seeming to hold it aloft without actually touching it. Below the softly glowing crystal swirls a pool of sand, whose particles coalesce to form tiny, short-lived images of people and cities. A set of wide, tinted lenses are mounted on adjustable arms around the luminous gem, reminiscent of an armillary, each lens focusing the crystal’s light in a faint beam toward one of the eleven columns arrayed to the north. Each column contains niches sized for scrolls, though most are empty.

Glyphs on the beacon make mention of calling library items from a 'Sky Vault.' Resting on the altar are a pair of goggles, and wedged into the ground are a small set of glowing beads. They seem to be the items that once powered the barrier, and while they no longer are doing so they seem to have some remaining power.

Rounds 15-16:
Beacon (Finally accessible!)
Watts (-26, -20 NL)
Ramesses (-35)
Yanndu (+15)
Deyno (-62)
Sihir (+9)
Cirri (-31, Harpy form)
Riddlywhipple (-4)

Watts looks more caustiously as he moves around the beacon. "This is the first time I've seen anything of this kind. Is it possible that the discharge is merely a symptom of the falling rather than anything like an true cause? Even then maybe this could halt or even just delay it. Marut, how long have you been here?"

"Riddlewhipple, do you think it is possible for you to take control of the device yourself to stabilize the flow of magic?"

Meanwhile Watts works at the apparatus, attempt to see if the lens could be redirected, disabled, or polarity reversed to turn back the cataclysm. Possibly in conjunction with the luminosity dampening or amplification at play around the beacon.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (13) + 17 + 2 + (8) = 40

Yanndu raises the sage jewel, as he did with the Column and Ring Gate above, to gauge whether the glyphs on this beacon will also react similarly.

Spellcraft, Four-Leaf Clover: 1d20 + 22 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 22 + 2 = 32

Seeing that the hour is late and that the sky is literally falling on their heads, Yanndu reaches inwardly. Calling upon the powers of his mind, Yanndu greatly accelerates his thought process, enabling his powers of understanding to decipher the mystery that lies before him five times as quickly as he would normally do so.

[dice=STANDARD ACTION: Casting Hypercognition to make his mind go five times faster; checks that require 3 rounds or less are done instantly; checks requiring 5 rounds can be done in 1 round; checks that are longer are done 5 times faster, etc. THEN Yanndu makes a Knowledge Arcana check (+2 heightened awareness; +10 hypercognition)]1d20+17+2+10[/dice]

"Riddlewhipple, do you think it is possible for you to take control of the device yourself to stabilize the flow of magic?"

"I can certainly try."

UMD: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30 If K. Arcana would be more applicable, use my +5 bonus instead.

Cirri flaps past the awe-inspiring marut "'Scuse me!" and flaps towards the Ra statue. "Flying this way is still slower than using my hexes. Sucks."

I don't quite understand why some of us are casting darkness in the area: aren't we trying to study this beacon? Yanndu has low-light vision but I don't feel like untangling the rat's nest that is the Pathfinder vision/light rules at this point. In any event Yanndu goes in a section that has normal light (move my token accordingly if his current position is dark)

Yes, and for some of us, at least, less is more. You were standing with me in the darkest zone of them all, so I moved you a bit. Some of my spells are Tenebrous, hence the most prominent reason for needing at least some dim light.

Anyways, my next actions will need to be at least partially determined by what we learn from Watts's and Yanndu's above checks.

Got it: spells stronger in the shade. Cool. Thanks for moving my token!

Yanndu has a very difficult time suppressing his thoughts from being projected to the rest of the party and you all hear this...

WHATDOYOUWISHTOCHECKOUTFROMTHEVAULT?THERE'SAVAULT?OHWAITTHISISTALKINGTOMETE LEPATHICALLY?NOITSNOTTELEPATHYITSOHITSRESONATINGWITHTHEJEWELANDTHEJEWELISTA LKINGTOMETELPATHICALLY...SOTHEJEWELCANBEUSEDTOGIVECOMMENDSTOTHEBEACONANDWIT HDRAWTHINGSFROMSOMEVAULT...RIGHTNOWITSAYSITISWITHDRAWING...EVERYTHING? Oh dear...

Would you like to give the beacon any commands?

Oh yes. I would.

***...SKY VAULT...PRIMARY COMMAND: CANCEL ALL WITHDRAWING REQUESTS! CEASE YOUR DESCENT! RETURN TO YOUR ORIGINAL POSITION!...SECONDARY COMMAND: MAKE THIS PRIMARY ACCESS METHOD AND OVERRIDE ALL COMMANDS FROM OTHER USERS...***

Via message to everyone: "Use this time to heal up and be ready to intercept any potential hostiles who wish to target us, the noble Marut, or the library!!"

Cirri and Riddywhipple meet up again.

Cirri casts Bull's Strength upon herself. "I can cast this spell once more. Does anyone want to be really strong?"

Due to my Transforming Defender trait, the spell lasts twice as long for me and at +1 level (so 18 minutes). For everyone else it's at +1 level (9 minutes.) First person to post gets it.

Also, if anyone can heal Cirri, that would be great.

The beacon complies, and the solar disk begins to slow. After an agonizing 30 seconds, the disk finally slows to a halt with likely only that much time again to spare. The pulsing energy stops and the library is eerily quiet. The Marut stands above, staring down wordlessly.

Yanndu issues a long breath of relief, but he keeps focusing on the sage jewel, the beacon and the disk for a few long moments.

Yanndu will not rest until it regains it position high up in the sky i.e. reverse its course back to its spot; however if it merely stops and nothing else can be done, Yanndu will come to terms with this after a few minutes and once satisfied the disk is secure in its current (but not original) position, then he will resume the exploration of the library.

Ah, thanks DM, I misread that feat, suddenly not quite as good as i thought it was.
Cirri, I'm glad you're okay, here. Anyone else need healing? Ramesses will use a few charges on himself as well to get back to full.
CLW Cirri: 4d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 7, 6, 8) + 4 = 32
CLW Me: 4d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 8, 8, 8) + 4 = 30
I'll take that Bull Strength from you.
-8 charges

A minute goes by... then two... and everything seems... OK? The sun is lower then you might like, but it's not falling! The beacon seems low on power... but it's not malfunctioning anymore! The Marut just stands over you all... and it's getting a bit awkward. No more extradimensional invaders... no more impending calamities... you can actually finally rest and take a good look around.

Most of the tomes are impossible to value given their uniqueness, but a few are of note to you lot. Near the statue of Isis you find a pair of ancient spellbooks, one entitled the Journeyman Book of Rul Thaven, and the other titled Insights of Far-Seeing Taernis. Scattered throughout the library are unguent of timelessness, likely used to further preserve valuable relics.

The closed chamber near your entrance is unlocked and reveals what appears to be a bath area. Within there is water and bathing facilities, cabinets full of incense and soap. A metal mirror frame depicts men and women in erotic and tortured poses.

Further inspection of the beacon reveals that not only can it be used to withdraw items from the Sky Vault, it is attuned to only respond to sage jewels... and has maintained a link with them. It seems as though this can be used to find the location of other sage jewels, although you think you can only use this safely once before letting it rest for a while.

"Better we leave the head of the Scarab Sages try this locator function of the Beacon- it is not our place to interfere in their affairs. I believe it is time: after you complete your search of this library, we should all report to Tahonikepsu so she can survey this area and assist the noble Marut here in his investigation. Please accept our apologies, mighty Inevitable: our knowledge is limited and Tahonikepsu would know more. I can stay here and wait with the sage jewel to ensure the disk moves no more, if you don't mind hurrying up and getting her promptly... or getting one of her servants call for her, if they have a way to do that."

Watts moves around the area cautiously, mourning the damage dealt and studying that which remains.

Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 16 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) + 16 + 2 + (5) = 25

"From the reign of Ahabaris I, the Pharaoh of Long Shadows. One of the darker periods in Osirion's history, although there were a great many of them if one counts them out. I wonder how many were injured in the creation of the final product. It is unfortunate how much of the relics have such a violent history."

Given the aid of another, Watts is happy to offer his wand to heal Deyno and himself to some degree.

Healing Denyo: 8d8 + 8 ⇒ (6, 8, 2, 1, 7, 1, 2, 5) + 8 = 40
Healing Watts: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (6, 5, 6) + 3 = 20

"I'm relatively certain the society might be interested to location of the Emerald Sage."

*** And the inevitable here is quite insistent on tracking down the the intruder here who is likely a sage themselves to gain easy entry. ***

"I would be content with leaving the sages control of the device."

Content that the hidden library, the Crystal Beacon, and the Sky Vault of Ra are secured, the party returns to the base camp up above. It is several hours before Tahonikepsu returns, but she appears quite impressed with your work.

"Your resourcefulness is admirable... that flawed sage jewel you constructed was clever. In fact I would like to hold on to that. If I am correct, this may be used as a template for creating new sage jewels that we can use to restore our order. Although this news of the Amethyst sage is worrisome. Your work may have drawn the attention of the amethyst jewel's current bearer and perhaps we can use that to establish contact. We could use their return to our order."

Saruna confronts Tahonikepsu, rather rudely. "I wish to have nothing to do with the Amethyst sage after this centuries long imprisonment... Nor do I have much faith in your order. Should you wish to learn any that I know I demand you lift the Geas put upon me."

Later that evening, the diamond sage agrees to remove the Geas and grant Saruna freedom, but not without expressing her reservations about losing an ally of her knowledge of the past age... Yanndu however knows where to find her in the future.

Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir is pleased to hear of your success, and accepts the maps drawn of the area, but after a few days of work it seems as though they weren't accurate enough for him to derive much information from. Regardless, the kind words from the diamond sage have reassured him greatly that the Pathfinder Society and Scarab Sages will be firm allies in the coming years...

"Good luck Saruna." she bows to the gynosphinx. "You now have your freedom. If you wish to have your life, or finally come to rest, I'll help however I can. Um, if you want to trade riddles I'll work on that too!"

"Tahonikepsu... it's good to see you again. Be careful with the jewel. You know what happens when you look too deeply. Sometimes it looks back at you." Cirri warns the Time Dragon.

Cirri of course spends her time discussing the discoveries in the party.

"Immortality sounds good at first, but it's fraught with peril. A time limit forces you to make the best of your life. Besides I would get bored staring at the same walls for the rest of time."

Thanks for the game, everyone!

"I have my own questions about the jewel. Through it's creation, much harm was dealt. I hesitate to following in that study if that is an absolute requirement."

Watts wishes the gynosphinx farewell. "I wish you luck in your endeavors Saruna. I hope that you can accept my apology someday for what was done to you. If you seek aid, I will be among those to offer it."

"Cirri I agree with you, I've encountered few immortal beings that I have wished to follow in the footsteps of. I would much rather know I have done all I can and leave this world in peace. Although my likelyhood of a peaceful end is far less likely as I travel with the society. But such are the sacrifices I make for knowledge."

Yanndu politely bids farewell to everyone. Over the next few months he silently goes about his cataloging tasks in the Society's Dark Archives. Every week, on Toilday, he seeks a quick audience of five minutes with the head of his faction, Zarta. He inquires on the ongoing usefulness of Saruna, whether she's taught everything she knows or still has several weeks, months, years left of usefulness. Yanndu is patient, and when Zarta will lower her head with the inevitable nod, Yanndu will nod back in understanding, and seek the Dark Archives' resting place for a certain urn which contains a certain heart, and with with a jeweled dagger adorned with the purple spiral of Pharasma, will send a certain soul on its overdue journey to the Boneyard.

~Epilogue~

After a few visits to Zarta, it is quite clear to Yanndu that the Sky Vault - which as it turns out, was the solar disk that almost landed on you - contains a LOT of ancient documents and relics, any number of which could be of interest to your organization. Saruna's relationship with Zarta isn't a done deal, but it seems like there will be a lot of work ahead should she decide to remain.

Tahonikepsu takes your recommendation to inspect the Beacon's ability to track gems, and seeks out the Amethyst sage once the Marut has taken his leave of the site. The sands by the beacon show a humanoid figure with no discernible facial features. The person startles and stares at the scrying sensor before the gritty tableau collapses. (See scenario 7-11 for more...)

Tahonikepsu keeps the flawed sage jewel, and after some time begins the arduous process of recruiting new sages to fill the ranks. The flawed jewel is used as a template to make a new set of jewels for the new recruits, and after a time you hear that your old compatriot Watts Helm has joined the upper ranks of the Scarab Sages and is due to receive one of the newly created Sage Jewels.

~The End~