GM Debug's PbP: PFS-RPG 03-26 Portal of the Sacred Rune (Inactive)

Game Master DebugAMP

Rakenlattle pushes his way through trying to open space as the melee draws to a close. As an afterthought he throws a dagger at the archer's arms again, attempting to dissuade additional arrows from the Aspis.

Thrown Dagger, Deadly Aim, 2nd Increment: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d3 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9

"I recommend you settle down, there is nothing to be gained from you fighting to the last."

Yeah, I use vital strike with a musket and a stun gun on one of my characters, but as it happens...

The ranger sees the mage drop to the ground and turns to make a run for it. One bolt of flame and one dagger later and he's face down in the fountain...

~Combat Over~

Even faded by eons, this room's decor suggests decadent, libertine usage. This chamber's heart is filled by a five-foot-deep marble indentation, aparently the remains of a once sumptuous public bath. From the center of this pit rises a fifteen-foot tall marble statue of a nude snake-torsoed woman bearing a giant tarnished coper bowl above her head - clearly once a fountain for the pool. The walls covered in faded erotic murals, and several gauze-curtained alcoves lead off the main room. A wide arch leads out onto a western balcony, and northern and southern arches contain stairs leading up and down respectively.

With the skirmish over, Gromsk picks up his javelin and hands a wand to Lore.

"Could you use on me? Go ahead and keep it as well. I'm no good at using those things..."

CLW: 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 7, 8) + 5 = 28

He then takes a peek behind the curtains.

The large set of curtains overlooks a pool over 100 feet below. The area is dark and unlit, so details are difficult to distinguish but it appears as though across the way are a few other unlit rooms with openings facing the pool as well.

The small sets of curtains open reveal small bunks, likely for the agents you just fought. One of them has 4 small bunks stacked together, likely for the guards. The other two are single bunks. The furthest from the entrance contains a small ledge with a few books on it.

Kleetus' eager, happy face turns sad. "Aw shucks. I wanted t'git that one. Let's keep 'em alive to ask all them questions all y'all have. " Going around, he first stabilizes the still living enemies before continuing by relieving them of their weapons, armor and anything magical or that he doesn't understand. "Who do we wanna quest-tiun first? All 'dem folk hasta have sum'thin' ta say. Anything in them small rooms?"

Kleetus will them go around and begin searching for anything of interest in this room and the four small rooms. Once that's done we will tie up their foes, anticipating the others might want to question them.

Jaysin will collect his arrows as the others do the more mundane tasks, like question the enemy and search the premises.

My wifi issue will be sorted out Wednesday, so I'll be back to full posting then. GM, Takkit's full attack array is in his profile under a spoiler, but it looks like you had it right. Thanks for being patient with me!

Takkit wanders around the room, searching and sniffing for anything of interest as the rest of the group gets ready for interrogations.
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

"I think we should speak with the archer. He wasn't willing to throw his life away, maybe we convince him more that we have him tied up."

Thanks to Kleetus's quick orisons, the ranger, the mage, and one of the guards are able to be stabilized. As for the other two guards, only Pharasma can help them now... especially the one on the stairs.

Right away you notice that the mage has attached to his belt a Pathfinder's Wayfinder.

Between all of the aspis agents you find several potions, a few of which appear to be alike. Additionally, several pieces of the mage's and ranger's equipment radiate magic.

Additionally, the whole room seems to radiate enchantment magic.

Lore casts stabilize on the mage and ranger... in that order... then suggests "Perhaps secure them with some rope or manacles before I heal the ranger for questioning. I'm loath to heal the mage, he might teleport if we leave his mouth unbound, and if we don't we can't question him anyway."

She happily uses the wand on Gromsk... "Anyone else hurt and need some healing?"

Then she looks over the magic items with a practiced eye, especially the potions.

perception on potions A, B and C are auto successes for her, so:

5 healing potions 3 moderate, 2 serious, and an invisibility potion... all could be handy for us."

she casts guidance on herself before examining each other item.

spellcraft dc18: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16

spellcraft dc18: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16

spellcraft dc21: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12

spellcraft dc18: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18

"This is a +1 ring of protection."

spellcraft dc18: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10

spellcraft dc23: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27

"and this is a belt of +2 strength... I'm not sure about the other items."

Gromsk'll take a cure moderate potion for emergencies.

"I'd say we wake up the archer, and 'politely' ask them a few questions..."

"Yer healin' did me all the good in the world, praise be. We could wake that wi-zard right up; Ah'm kinda curious 'bout this wayfinder he has."

With the votes I'm seeing, we'll start with the archer. Go ahead and expend whatever resource you wish to wake them up and let me know what precautions you are taking to prevent escape.

The ranger wakes up groggily and upon realizing he's bound goes limp.

"...name your price."

Kleetus ties the archer up and asks everyone to check his work. "Ain't no harm in double checkin'."

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Once everyone is satisfied with his work, Kleetus feed him one of the potions of cure moderate wounds. Unless told not to, but I figure we keep one cure moderate and both cure serious.

"Whelp, we got sum' them questions, we have. So Ah'd lahke you ta answer them without lying, to the best o' yer ability, tellin' us when ya don't know. Ah'm also gonna say that yer stuff... Well it ain't yers no more. At least it ain't fer now. If that's all right by you, then we can git to it" says Kleetus as he takes a knee, his vastly oversized symbols to Abadar getting in the way of his kneeling.

In other words, just tell us everything and you'll be better off for it.

Takkit nods at his friends words.
You're alive for now. Just remember how fast that can change...

"Bout what? You guys all know about us down here... 's why they sent you the first couple 'o times. If y'want specifics you'll haffta ask Lyone. She's in charge of what's left of us... assuming you didn't already kill her. Promise a safe way outta here and I'll tell you what little I know."

"The first couple a wut?" It's mah first tahme down here. So ya gotta be better at this." Ah want you tah imagine yer talkin' to someone who don't have a clue about anything. Like Ah'm stoopid or sum'thin'. Tell me everythin' you know with that in yer mind" answers Kleetus, unaware of the irony.

As the Master of Spells indicated, some expeditions preceded this one in order to secure and locate the other end of this portal within the tapestry. This is the first expedition to go back out of the tapestry and into the Aspis foothold on this side, but the struggle has been going on for some time.

"I know how to shoot arrows. I know how to cook stew. You'll have to be more specific 'bout what you wanna know... and more specific about what's gonna happen to me once I tell you what you wanna know."

This Lyone, where is this woman? What does she look like? How many more of you lot are in here and how can we avoid them? Answer these questions and any more that my associates might have and I'll vote to let you live.

Erm... It's a he and I keep reading the name thinking its a female name. Sorry bout that.

"Sh...sh..."

The ranger looks groggy and spits a bit of blood and a tooth out onto the ground next to him.

"...He. He. Jaw hurts... can't speak clearly." He points over to the unconcious mage. "That's Lyone... I think he kept a roster too. Might need ta put the fear of god in 'im though to make him talk... but don't tell 'im I said anyth'n."

He turns his head with a grimace and looks around at the captives and bodies. "That's the lot 'o us, but Lyone talked to some others down below. Lost a couple 'o agents there, made some deals"

"Others? what others? Tell us about these deals you made. " (he kept a roster? like a list? or did he have a rooster familiar? just want to be clear, lol)

"You think Lyone will do something to you if he finds out you talked? what do you think he can he do to you while all trussed up like a pheasant ready for roasting?"

"As for you, I suppose it's possible we might keep you alive, if your information is valuable enough, and accurate enough.. but if you fail in either of those contingencies, your prospects aren't good, so do keep that in mind."

"Not worried bout what he's gonna do to me now... worried what he's gonna do to me later... and if there's no later for us then we ain't talkin anyways. An I didn't talk to anyone below. Had some fights when we first got here but Lyone went below to barter with em. Only he knows the details."

Duty roster. Although a rooster would be much funnier. Give me a diplomacy check for him as well.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

well that could have gone better

Someone else tag on in, I'm not a diplomatic person.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

"I know I'm a bit of an odd one because I will do is honor my word on behalf of society and the land I come from. If you tell us what you know, I will make sure you live to see another sunset."

Gromsk stand with folded arms and gives the archer a penetrating stare.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

"Sounds like we need to wake the spelcaster up as well..."

The archer looks over at Lore with fear in his eyes, then turns to Rakenlattle. "Then this is on your conscience... I'm your charge now... Keep that other runt away from me and we'll all get through this the better. I'd suggest you keep a gag on Lyone. Good chance he'll try to teleport outta here first chance he gets unless you can get him to listen first."

Gromsk, you can't be too certain on the veracity of his claims. He's desperate to make a deal that results in him walking out of here in one piece and its rather difficult to say if he's saying whatever you want to hear or if he's telling the truth.

Let me know what precautions you wish to take with Lyone and give me whatever rolls you wish to make to talk to him.

We can bind Lyone with some rope, Gromsk may be the best at it, and gag him with a gag. Remove the archer from the room entirely. While he is being revived Rakenlattle can have musket at the ready to stop any immediate spellcasting attempts.

If there are no other preperations...

"I would strongly reconsider any spells you might have on hand. We are in a bit of a hurry and don't have much time to banter about. What other Aspis Agents are here? If you tell us, you stay safe. If you won't tell us, ... ", Rakenlattle looking to the rest of the party for following up on the actual threat.

Aid to Intimidate Check: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 4 = 20

Kleetus will have the blade of his scimitar on his neck and his tiger mask down.

The mask dampens and seems to somehow empower Kleetus, also making him much more understandable.

"...Ah will be yer reckoning you sac of pus. Like he said: utter a single spellword and Ah'll end you. Ah will crucify you after breakin' ev'ry one o' them bones if ya start lyin'. Try me. I fear none but the reckonin' o' the Lord o' Aktun. And you are so far 'neath that, Ah ain't even gonna tell you what it empowers me tah do."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (16) + 22 = 38

Gromsk adds to Lyone's woes and gives him the ol' stink eye over Kleetus' shoulder.

Intimidate aid: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

As Lyone shakes the grogginess out of his head he takes a quick look around the room and panics. He opens his mouth a begins an incantation but cuts himself off as he sees Rakenlattle standing over him and feels Kleetus's blade press harder.

Finally he meekly inquires.

"Erm... How can I be of service?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Perception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (4) + 23 = 27

"What other defenders are here aside from you?"

He sighs deeply then speaks in a sleightly more measured voice. "As far as our group, its just the 5 of us. There were more of us but we found a group of Lissalan cultists below and our initial meeting... did not go so well. We came to an agreement that allowed us to use this upper level but I don't trust them. I don't know their exact numbers, but they are led by a hideous giant of a Shoanti woman and a man with red hair and dead eyes. They are a very dangerous lot. They've secured all of the levels below here and warded many of the passages."

Tell us more about these cultists. What makes them so formidable?

"This is their home turf. They know this temple like the back of their hands and have spell-casters capable of weaving protective wards. I do not know if they outnumbered us in the beginning, but after our initial losses it was clear that concessions had to be made to hold on to this side of the portal. Although it seems clear that will no longer be the case..."

He grimaces with the last sentence.

"Nice to see ya understand. What else can ya tell us 'bout them Lissalan cultists?"

"Erm... that's really all I know. Our first encounter with them was disastrous and I've done my best to see as little of them as possible after negotiating with that Shoanti woman."

"I guess we need to have a 'talk' with this Shoanti woman then..."

"Agreed. Good thing we are very good at talking. We should check his bindings and move him to the other side of the portal. Rather not have them at our back when we are moving forward."

Takkit nods.
That's a great idea! I wonder if this woman will listen to us, or try to fight us also?

As stated by the Ranger, one of the books on the shelf by the last bunk appears to be a duty roster. The duty roster confirms what she said. A few aspis agents have their names struck through, and the remainder of the group is shown as being led by Lyone Ekanian, and her first officer Orlicino, who's description matches the ranger you captured. They were originally accompanied by a small retinue of field agents, but their number has dwindled down to the small lot that you just defeated.

Next to the duty roster is Lyone's spellbook.

Let me know when you're ready to move forward.

Kleetus check with everyone else before knocking the tiefling out. Let me know if you need me to roll non-lethal damage. "Whelp" he continues as he lifts up his tiger mask "That sure wuz funny, fer sure. Where we wanna go? Through them curtain over there or the stairs? Ah like stairs. 'Xcept when they're in Pa-Go-Das he adds, making a strange face.

Might as well keep going this way. Jaysin points at the stairs. To the right of the map, I assume that's south?

"That sounds about a good a path as any, we never got a good look at that statue up above though before all this happened, but I'm sure we can come back to it later."

"Let's secure the entire area first. When nothing's left that wants to kill us, we can examine any and all nooks and crannies".

Gromsk moves to the next set of stairs, ready to take point.

"Lets do the securin' then!"

The end of the room leads to a short staircase down into the next level. Unlike other rooms in the complex, this one shows no signs of even cursory habitation. The reason for this desertion seems clear: time and decay have rendered the level unstable. A crack runs across the ceiling, sagging under the weight of unsupported earth above. Dust and pebbles trickle down with the vibration of the slightest footstep. The room itself
is almost completely bare, with undecorated walls. Stairwells lead up and down from the main room.

"We better watch our footing. This place may be older than all of us, but that doesn't mean it isn't willing to change if we try pushing through. Give me a moment to check for poor ground or a way to shore this up. It isn't terribly interesting to rocks fall on your head."

Will move across the room first slowly searching. Trying to search for traps or such that might cause a collapse. Otherwise trying to confirm what it would take to bring it down on our heads.

Knowledge (engineering): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (13) + 23 = 36