GM Endless Forms' PFS 03-15 The Haunting of Hinojai (5-9) (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Endlessforms - If I alter self into a strix will I gain a fly speed and wings?

Doesn't look like it.

Kirah casts a spell.

Invisiblilty Purge. 35' radius. Kirah will move toward last known position if he doesn't show immediately.

Hoping that the invisibility purge gives me something to try and shoot at...assuming it's now flying blind. If it actually landed on the ground I'll use the longsword instead...

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Oh please, please, please...
Confirm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Additional Damage: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 = 13

Kirah gets rid of the invisibility and you can see a blinded wayang still flying where he was last seen. Sahar shoots at it with her bow.

Now here's the role that matters:
miss chance, high is good: 1d100 ⇒ 79

Sahar sinks an arrow into his chest and he falls from the sky!

Out of combat!

Dagagal: -7 with Con of 13

Dagagal had potions of cure moderate wounds (2), a wand of glitterdust (10 charges), a masterwork dagger, cloak of resistance +2, ring of protection +1, and a spell component pouch.

On the porch there is a telescope. The telescope is an instrument of exceptional craftsmanship, worth 1,500 gp.

So, what's your course of action now? Two dead PCs. You can end the scenario now and everyone will get 0 PP and very little gold. You can go back to town and sell things to get your party members raised as soon as possible. Or you can continue on and hope to raise them afterwards with significantly more gold in your pockets. Up to you guys.

Can the dead legally vote?

I'll allow it ;)

And yes, pregens can sell equipment to help pay (and I won't take that off you're gold earned in the end). However, you'd have to play Kyra minus all her goodies for the rest of the adventure.

Only some of her goodies. Peri only needs 511 GP to be alright (about the cost of 3 Haunt siphons). I have the PP for one Restoration and a Boon that gives me a free SLA casting of it one time. But what is stopping us from spending a few nights nights in town allowing Kira to memorize the restoration spell a few times over the course of a few days? I don't believe this is a time sensitive mission, that mansion has been sitting in isolation for a while.

How much spending gold Peri and Des have? Kirah can theoretically cast Restoration at a thousand a pop for a level, but then you have to wait a week.

That's right, I forgot about the spell focus part. Peri has 4939 spending gold towards the Raise Dead, and the PP and boon to clear the negative levels if necessary. Worry about Desmond, he adventures with this group more, and is a flagship character. Cashing in 3 siphons will get me back to normal. Can we sell the casters ring and cloak to cover some of the cost?

Technically I don't think you're supposed to sell things you've found in the scenario to pay for spellcasting and things like that (since that gear is liquidated at the end into your lump sum of gold) but I'm feeling nice. So you can sell his ring and cloak and the telescope for some gold to help Raise and Restore people.

According to the Core Rulebook, a 5th-Level Cleric Scroll costs 1125 gold. Raise Dead is indeed a 5th-Level Cleric spell, but it lists a material component of a 5,000 gp diamond. It seems as though the scroll is the way to go, cost-wise, but could we expect any to be available in this town?

I may misinterpreting the information. Also, Desmond has 1626 gp available, and doesn't mind spending the PP to get the restoration.

[ooc]EDIT: I missed the paragraph explaining the materials cost being added to the scroll. So, strike that.[/dice]

So, Des has 1626 in petty cash. Selling his splash items will get him another 28 (not counting the holy water - if I'm going to live and continue this scenario, I'll probably want it) Also, if the Siphon needs to be sold, give that cash to Peri, of course.

That brings Des to 1654 gp, or 3796 short. Sell my belt of incredible dexterity +2 for 2000 gp. So then I need 1796. I'd prefer not to lose my armor - Des is really attached to his shiny breastplate - but selling my sword and bow won't cut it. So, you can sell the armor for 2600.

I'm not trying to sway things one way or the other. You can leave the corpse (I suppose you aren't allowed to loot my body for yourselves) and get outta Dodge, or try to finish things off without me - it's not like Des was doing a whole lot, other than opening doors dramatically. :)

Gm said we could sell the ring and cloak that should get us pretty close. Plus pregen Kyra can sell some wands or scrolls she is not planning on using.

Gm said we could sell the ring and cloak that should get us pretty close.

Yes, the GM did say that, but...I don't want rules to be bent for me. I don't have the rules in front of me, but if scenario loot is not supposed to be sold for any reason, then it shouldn't be. If Kirah wants to sell anything, then I will accept that because the rules allow for that. But, I don't mind if I my stuff needs to be hocked in order to reanimate my corpse. Then, I can use my PP to get restorations.

I don't have a lot of time tonight to weigh in on this, but Sahar has an IC post combat scene coming. Seeing one of her close adventuring partners killed isn't going to do very much positive for her....I can probably kick in ~ 1200 gp without selling anything to start. So.much.suck. :(

Kirah can sell breastplate, scimitar, ring, cloak, and a couple potions for 4800 and change, then just get mundane stuff. What's a Raise cost again? Could also sell the wand of CLW for 375.

With only selling some cheap-o alchemical splash stuff that I never use anyway, I am 3796 short. You can use my CLW wand if you sell yours for the cause. Then I am 3421 short. Sell your cloak and ring - then you can just wear the bad guy's cloak and ring that you looted. There's the way around selling scenario items. Where does that put you, Kirah - with just selling the ring and cloak?

Sahar casts stabilize on the wayang.

As the wayang finally to the ground, unmoving, Sahar looks over to her companions laying in the snow. "Desmond, it's ok now you can get up. I killed it." Noticing that neither Desmond nor Peri have moved Sahar starts to worry, running over to Desmond's form checking him for signs of life. Finding none, a cold shock rolls over the Keleshite woman. Numbly she turns to Peri's body looking for sings of life, again finding none. "Kirah..." she beings, stumbling for the words "the Dawnflower has called them home!" Tears well up in her eyes. "Oh Desmond!" she sobs openly, collapsing next to his body and hugging his fallen form to her. "The...the..shri..temp..temples" she finally manages between sobs, "...the temples they vvv-visted yesterday." Sahar exhales a deep breath, "Do you think they can bring his soul back to me? Us." she quickly corrects. She sobbing tapers off abruptly, something has occurred to her.

She stands, taking her waterskin out and dumping it's contents on the ground as she approaches the fallen wayang. Checking the wayang and finding it still alive but unconscious Sahar mutters a stabilize spell over the nasty critter. Sahar removes a scroll from her case. The fox tentatively slips into the room, stopping at Desmond's corpse nudging him with his muzzle. The fox sits down next to Desmond watching. Sahar beings to recite the words on the scroll and they burn off with a crimson arcane light as she does. When she is finishes, both her hands crackle with a dark crimson energy, and she kneels next to the wayang putting both hands on the creatures head. It's body convulses with a twitch, it's eyes open. Sahar lifts the niqab up, revealing her face. It's mouth opens in a silent scream as white light pours out directly into Sahar's open mouth. She breathes in the energy until it stops and the wayang's body once again goes limp on the ground. The fox whimpers, but stays put. Walking over to where she dropped her longsword, Sahar retrieves the weapon, grabbing the wayang's left arm and slashing it's wrist open. Hot blood begins to pour out and she again drops the weapon, holding her waterskin underneath collecting the blood. Once it is full, she tosses the arm aside, letting the creature continue to bleed, as she removes another scroll from her case. Her dark, determined eyes turn to the fox "Come." she commands. The fox starts to lurch forward but stops. It whimpers at her. "Come!" she commands again, "Now!" the fury in her voice rising. Head hung low in submission the fox approaches it's mistress. Sahar points at the pooling life force leaking out of the wayang. "Drink." The fox, head still held in submission, begins to tepidly lap at the blood. Sahar puts the waterskin to her lips and drinks down the contents, dropping the empty waterskin and beginning to recite the arcane words from the scroll. As the words burn away from the scroll, Sahar is wreathed in an emerald light for a few seconds. The fox stops and scampers off back toward the garden.

Sahar retrieves her gears and stows it, returning to Desmond's corpse. Suddenly as if she had forgotten Kirah was even present sher turns toward the Kelish woman and says "We must go to the temple." She hefts Desmond's body over her shoulder and begins walking...

Sahar stops suddenly looking at Peri's body quizzically. "You!" she yells into the garden at the fox. "This was your doing wasn't it!? Still you punish me? So many years have been swept under that bridge, and yet..." she trails off. "It will never be enough for you, will it?"

Sahar turns to Kirah, "We must cover her before we take them to the temple. It is shameful enough for us to do what we are doing, leaving this haunted place with corpses. Imagine what the locals would say if they see her in her true form. Let us wrap her in our cloaks to keep the prying eyes and gossip to a minimum."

As the two Keleshite women make their way back through town with the bodies of their fallen companions, the town itself seems to freeze. Seemingly every person stops what they are doing and the crowds of people on the streets go completely silent. Heads poke out of windows and the townsfolk and travelers stare openly at Kirah, Sahar, and the two bodies they carry.

Some people mutter curses under their breath and look away; others maintain astonished faces to see that two people have walked out of Hinojai with their lives still intact. The temple clears as Sahar and Kirah approach and it takes some time before one of the older clerics finally asks nervously, "What do you want? Please, just leave this town. You are doing everyone a disservice. And now you bring these here to our temple!"

It takes some convincing before Sahar and Kirah can make agreements with the man to raise the Desmond and Peri back from the dead. "You can't possibly be going back! You aren't thinking straight! No one will go back in when all four of you fall and who knows what will happen to your poor souls then? And think of me, please; what will everyone say when they hear that I helped put you back on your way, that I assisted in your madness?"

After a few more minutes of haggling and convincing, the old man finally agrees to perform the necessary rituals. He spends an hour in deep prayer to his god and silently walks over to Desmonds body. He says a quick prayer and grasps the holy symbol about his neck as places a diamond upon Desmond's chest. The old man bends his head down and listens at Desmond's mouth and nose. He quietly and softly blows air through them and the diamond begins to glow faintly. He blows harder and the diamond becomes too bright to see.

Sahar and Kirah avert their eyes momentary and when they look back Desmond's eyes have opened and his breathing is hard and heavy. "Shh, calm, my friend." the man whispers. He performs another quick ritual on Desmond before moving to Peri and repeating the same process. After a few more minutes Peri too is breathing heavy but alive.

You raise with a number of HP equal to your HD.

The old cleric approaches Kirah and Sahar. "Please, please, do not do this thing. Do not go back to Hinojai. I have done all that I can do." He pauses for a moment before turning back to Desmond and Peri. "No, perhaps just one more thing. It's the least I can do."

channel positive energy: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 6, 6) = 20

After handing over their payment, the party makes their way through the town back towards Hinojai. The streets have been deserted although you are far from unwatched, as people poke their heads out of windows and doors and from behind carts and barrels, watching as the raised dead now walk past them. Several people whisper and point at Peri; clearly news spreads fast in this town and Peri's true form has only worsened the party's ruined reputation.

The company makes their from town, silent and somber, and works their way down the road back towards Hinojai.

Sorry for the delay! Let me know what you want to do/where you want to go now that you are back at Hinojai.

Is it possible to get the restorations? Or will Des need to finish the scenario with the negative levels?

No, you got the restorations while you were there. Include those somewhere in the ritual the cleric did.

"Can we spend a night here? Getting brought back from the dead can really do a number on what I can do with my magic"

Peri looks around and immediately resumes her human form.

The townsfolk are terribly wary and no one is willing to take you in for the night.

You are welcome to camp outside of town if you'd like though. You do have a ranger with you.

Survival to set up a camp outside.

y Wake-Up Scene (in progress)]
Floating.

Where am I? What...happened.

The memories flash before him. The snow, the searing pain of electricity. The acrid smell of his singed flesh. The darkness...

Did...did I die?

Nothing.

As the man struggles to orient himself in the inky blackness, he finds his efforts useless.

...can't even see my own...anything.

He becomes aware of his lack of corporeal form - though he wouldn't know to describe it that way. Why can't I see anything? Do I even have my arms?

Suddenly, a scene fades into view. He sees a room, but it is open on one side. There are two bodies lying on the floor - a man, and a woman, but her form is changing...

Two women are making violent motions at a small, flying creature. Blasts of arcane and divine energy flash upon the scene.

The creature falls. One of the women, dressed in a black robe, rushes to the fallen man... the scene fades to black.

What is going ON!?

Time passes. Suddenly, he becomes aware of a glowing warmth. The heat grows - a comforting, calming feeling washes over him. He notices a noise - voices? "...mon...Des....nd....Desmond."

Desmond opens his eyes to find Sahara and Kirah standing over him with a priest. Though he has many questions, he realizes that the party must leave the temple at once.

Survival: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

As he sets up camp outside of town, Desmond notices Kirah's armor, "What happened to your armor, Kirah?" Yet, even as he finishes the question, he realizes the answer. He embraces the cleric, "I'm no follower of Sarenrae, but I thank you deeply for what you've done for me."

He then turns to Sahara, grasping her hand. "I saw you pull my body out. I...cannot thank you enough. You know what I thought of? Remember our first assignment together? The argument we got into? We...we've been through a lot since that night on the streets of Absalom." Overcome, Desmond wraps his arms his friend, trying to hide the tears welling up.

3 clw: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 7, 1) + 3 = 15

Desmond taps himself on the chest three times with his wand of cure light wounds before handing it over to Kirah. "I think you will have more use for this than I will."

27 charges remain.

Peri watches Desmond and Sahar with interest.

These two have been through a lot together, I wonder what the pig farner, Laz, and that damned acrobat are up to on the other side of the world.

Desmond sets up a fairly comfortable camp in the wilderness outside of town. The party gets a decent night of rest after their ordeal and wakes up the next morning ready to tackle the rest of Hinojai.

I assume we will continue to clear the first floor?

"We should avoid that first haunt we encountered if possible. Speaking of which does everybody have their siphons ready?"

Yes, the haunt will have reset but as long as you don't use the front steps you'll be fine. You can enter through atrium. You also won't be fatigued anymore.

Desmond takes hold of the siphon. "Alright, we better get to the bottom of this. Let's finish checking out the main floor, then move down to that basement."

The ranger packs up his belongings and hoists his pack onto his back once again. "So, we should be able to avoid the haunt if we take the side entrance, right?" He takes the front as he leads the party back into the house.

Desmond even takes care to bring Sahrek along with him. As the party enters the house through the western atrium and into the dining hall, Desmond notes the doorway on the eastern wall. With the siphon in his grasp, he carefully opens the door.

I moved everyone on the map. I hope you don't mind.

Don't mind at all

When Peri arrives at the mansion she casts mage armor on herself once again

A lot of good that did me last time.

With his head held high and his trusty wolf at his side, Desmond leads the party back through the seemingly haunted mansion.

The first room that Desmond stumbles into appears to be a bathroom. It contains two empty bathtubs and a rotting bench. Paintings of cherry blossoms decorate the walls.

"Well, does anyone need to...Sahrek, stop that!"

Sahrek ignores Desmond for a moment as he laps at the water in the commode. After a few seconds under Desmond's scowl, the wolf backs away, holding his head down sheepishly.

Desmond moves through bathroom and the restroom on the other side.

"Well, this is probably just a closet or something, but we better check it out."

Nice to see a restroom in a house for one of these maps - they often seem to be left out.

That's what I was thinking too. Blakros Museum has public restrooms at least.

Desmond walks through the restroom with his wolf and companions in tow. Tiles line the floor in this room, in the center of which stands what was once a luxurious communal bathing pool. Now, the water is filthy and dark, and an acrid odor lingers in the air.

Desmond, Peri, and Sahar may take surprise round actions (move or standard)!

Desmond doesn't delay in popping the cork on the haunt siphon, hoping to use it correctly. He points the open bottle in the direction of the mist rising from the pool.

Positive Energy: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 5) = 11

So close!

Desmond lets off his haunt siphon and some of the mist appears to dissipate, although everyone still feels a cold chill moving through their body.

Peri and Sahar may take surprise round actions!

Peri uncorks her haunt siphon as well

I'll catch up on some back roleplay, sorry it's been a rough couple of days trying to get life managed and my Wayfinder submission completed today.

Sahar will uncork her siphon as well if Peri's doesn't finish it!

Peri's siphon draws on the rest of the mist and the room returns to its natural temperature.

No more haunt! For now. . . .

Knowledge (nature) checks.

The party notices the shadow of a chest or box at the center bottom of the pool.

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Perception for chest/pool: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Knowledge (Nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Show off. :P

Is my Siphon a grenade now?

"Kira, I believe Desmond has the best chance of activating another of the siphons, would you mind giving yours to him?"

But if course. Kirah hands over the siphon and peers into the pool.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13