It's mainly the life-siphoning I'm concerned with. Does she want this to come from us? Or is there something else at hand? And is the loss permanent? I can't think of anyone who would intentionally have that done to them...
Murqual shifts in his seat. "Twenty years of my life, all at once, is too dear, but twenty years divided among you lot? That's little enough, I think! Plus I'll let you in on a secret: Madame Jelaris is an inveterate gambler. If you wager the years, you might walk away paying nothing! Or paying twice as much. If you do that, a word of advice: don't cheat. Or at least don't get caught cheating."
Rogzul the Whisperer wrote:
what do the gnolls have? Can it hurt us too?
"Probably just weapons and bad tempers. Do what you can to keep the situation civil."
Wyconda Sunaki wrote:
"As for the other threats, it is indeed wise to know what the gnoll merchandise is."
In the crates they bring should be a pair of Katapeshi white lion cubs. My niece's birthday is imminent."
Truly Iconic Female Human (Ulfen) Wizard (evoker, admixture school) 6 | hp 37 | AC {17} T 13 FF {15} | CMD 16 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Spd 30' | Init +2 | Kn(Arc, Dun, His, Loc, Pla, Rel) +11 Kn(Eng, Geo, Nat, Nob) +10, Lngst +9, Perc +6 (+2 w Kalas), Scrft +14, SensM +0 (+2 w Kalas) | versatile evocation 8/8 | wands false life CL 3 6/7, m missile 42/50, summon monster I CL 3 9/9, unseen servant 8/10 | vanish 4rds
A plan starts to take shape in Natula's mind made up of the various puzzle pieces provided and when Wyconda returns with his blade she looks upon the cold iron insurance policy--should 'negotiations' not go well--with a small nod. Now to find a negotiator from among her fellows. She knew well enough it would not be her unless it came down to a contest of evocation.
|AC 14, T 14, FF 11|HP: 42/42|F +5, R 0, W +4 (-1 vs sonic, +1 vs earth/acid, +2 vs MA/disease)|Init -1 Perc +2|CMB +7 CMD 16|5/5 Arcane, 2/2 Shard, 3/3 erase, 1/1 六, 5/5 Death Field, 1/1 Scholar, 1/1 Archivist, 1/1 Time
With its gift for numbers, Xukong has some talent at certain forms of gambling. It begins contemplating ways they might best be able to best Madame Jelaris.
Moving us along but you can come back and check with him between tasks if you'd like.
You make your way towards the warehouse top where Murqual suggested you might deal with the mask. Murqual's directions lead to a rickety iron ladder in an alleyway that climbs the side of a long, low warehouse. The roof is canted at a slight enough angle that it might as well be flat. Several other rooftops are adjacent, at more or less equal height, forming an L-shaped superstructure. See the map linked at the top.
If you wanted to buff or cast any prep spells, feel free to retcon them in.
Standing atop the warehouse, it seems there is nothing left but to activate the mask. You set it amidst yourselves and someone speaks the command word chalifan. The mask exhales a while-and-red cloud of smoke that fills the area, a foggy shape spiraling out of the growing cloud. The disembodied and bestial head covered in lashing hair and curling horns flies in the air before you...
DC 12 KN (planes):
This is a doru div, an evil extraplanar outsider. They are the divs that whisper in the night, the foul inspiriation that drifts upon fetid winds, the messengers of pretender gods. They are the least of the divs and serve as messengers.
Just as you were warned, cold iron or good-aligned weapons are needed to hurt them effectively. They are also immune to fire and poison.
DC 17 KN (planes):
Doru divs also have spell-resistance and are resistant to acid and electricity damage.
Male Vishkanya Samurai 1 | AC 17 T 12 FF 15 | HP 13/13 | F +4 R +2 W +1 | Init +4 | Perc +7
Wyconda looks for where the thing has gone, though he is not optimistic about his search. So he readies an action to attack it should it appear adjacent to him.
|AC 14, T 14, FF 11|HP: 42/42|F +5, R 0, W +4 (-1 vs sonic, +1 vs earth/acid, +2 vs MA/disease)|Init -1 Perc +2|CMB +7 CMD 16|5/5 Arcane, 2/2 Shard, 3/3 erase, 1/1 六, 5/5 Death Field, 1/1 Scholar, 1/1 Archivist, 1/1 Time
Xukong yanks a scroll out of its robes and reads it, and its form is overcome by a sort of ornate darkness for a moment before it fades. Once the scroll crumbles, it draws its sword, which flashes a glimmering black for a moment.
Using a scroll of mage armor, then drawing my sword and spending an Arcane point to enchant it for the next minute.
Perception in the unlikely event it does any good:1d20 ⇒ 9
Intimidate +5 K. Planes +6 Survival +9 Sense Motive +13 Diplomacy +10, Prof. Archivist +9
Male Half-Orc PFS: 186188-1 Shaman/4
Stats:
│HP:27/27│ AC 16│ T10│ FF16│ F2│R1│W8│Init 2│Perception +6 (+9 in bright light, +12 with scent)│CMB 2│CMD 12│
Rogzul's nostrils flare uncontrollably as he attempts to catch his opponents scent in the air while he channels negative energy into his right hand.
Perception:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16 Normal +4 and additional +8 from scent ability as written under perception skill.
Going to be a few contingencies here: Due to Scent, if the creature moves within 5ft of Rogzul he automatically detects it. If perception succeeds I move towards the Div and attempt Touch of Fatigue.
If perception fails, I can use Survival to attempt to find the Div's tracks, and I'll use my move action to determine it's location. Then I'll cast the spell, but hold the charge.
Survival:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 Touch of Fatigue (touch attack):1d20 ⇒ 12 Fort negates, DC 14
Truly Iconic Female Human (Ulfen) Wizard (evoker, admixture school) 6 | hp 37 | AC {17} T 13 FF {15} | CMD 16 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Spd 30' | Init +2 | Kn(Arc, Dun, His, Loc, Pla, Rel) +11 Kn(Eng, Geo, Nat, Nob) +10, Lngst +9, Perc +6 (+2 w Kalas), Scrft +14, SensM +0 (+2 w Kalas) | versatile evocation 8/8 | wands false life CL 3 6/7, m missile 42/50, summon monster I CL 3 9/9, unseen servant 8/10 | vanish 4rds
She's running detect magic slightly before summoning the guardian to observe the magic of the mask at first and then to see if the div just teleported away or is hiding beneath some illusion effect.
Knowledge (planes):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
"Hold, we may be able to bargain with it." She says resting a hand on Jaren's shoulder.
Jaren is about to swing his cold iron longspear in a wide arc, to try and catch the Div in it's path, but waits when Natula puts her hand on his shoulder. He leans in close and whispers to her.
Are you sure this is a good idea? It's more than likely an evil guardian!
Truly Iconic Female Human (Ulfen) Wizard (evoker, admixture school) 6 | hp 37 | AC {17} T 13 FF {15} | CMD 16 | F +5 R +6 W +7 | Spd 30' | Init +2 | Kn(Arc, Dun, His, Loc, Pla, Rel) +11 Kn(Eng, Geo, Nat, Nob) +10, Lngst +9, Perc +6 (+2 w Kalas), Scrft +14, SensM +0 (+2 w Kalas) | versatile evocation 8/8 | wands false life CL 3 6/7, m missile 42/50, summon monster I CL 3 9/9, unseen servant 8/10 | vanish 4rds
Jaren Ward wrote:
Jaren is about to swing his cold iron longspear in a wide arc, to try and catch the Div in it's path, but waits when Natula puts her hand on his shoulder. He leans in close and whispers to her.
Are you sure this is a good idea? It's more than likely an evil guardian!
"Is it, or is it trapped in the mask that supposedly binds souls?" (Not sure if detect magic susses this out yet.) "It is a messenger spirit. Perhaps it has a message. Besides, I hate doing other people's dirty work."
Intimidate +5 K. Planes +6 Survival +9 Sense Motive +13 Diplomacy +10, Prof. Archivist +9
Male Half-Orc PFS: 186188-1 Shaman/4
Stats:
│HP:27/27│ AC 16│ T10│ FF16│ F2│R1│W8│Init 2│Perception +6 (+9 in bright light, +12 with scent)│CMB 2│CMD 12│
I meant track it by scent, not by actual tracks, I'll word it better next time.
The energy in Rogzuls hand dissipates as his eyes turn black and the color around him momentarily fades away and the div begins to shed light.
Stardust (Su): Shaman causes a target within 30ft to shed light as a candle. Target can not benefit from concealment and takes a -1 penalty on attack rolls and sight based perception check. Lasts 1 round.
|AC 14, T 14, FF 11|HP: 42/42|F +5, R 0, W +4 (-1 vs sonic, +1 vs earth/acid, +2 vs MA/disease)|Init -1 Perc +2|CMB +7 CMD 16|5/5 Arcane, 2/2 Shard, 3/3 erase, 1/1 六, 5/5 Death Field, 1/1 Scholar, 1/1 Archivist, 1/1 Time
Xukong leaps forward with a freakish hop, whirls about, and strikes at the suddenly-visible div!
@Rogzul: I knew what you meant. But others were also looking for traces of it so I just wanted to clarify that it was flying. Also, I'm not that familiar with shamans but shouldn't there be some kind of save associated with your stardust ability?
@Xukong: I moved you back. You are on the roof of a warehouse and it is flying above the alley:
Intimidate +5 K. Planes +6 Survival +9 Sense Motive +13 Diplomacy +10, Prof. Archivist +9
Male Half-Orc PFS: 186188-1 Shaman/4
Stats:
│HP:27/27│ AC 16│ T10│ FF16│ F2│R1│W8│Init 2│Perception +6 (+9 in bright light, +12 with scent)│CMB 2│CMD 12│
I looked through the players guide, the GM guide, the advanced classes, and the pfsrd but I couldn't find any sort of standard roll for a supernatural abilitiy.
When the div reappears, Jaren moves to the edge of the roof, in striking range.
We wish to speak with you! Please, just answer the lady and perhaps we can solve all of this without a fight!
Activating Bardic Luck as a swift action, grants +2 to attack, damage, saves, and skill checks for three rounds. Readying an attack for if the div does anything threatening, including moving out of reach. Therefore, should be able to get two attacks in if it casts a spell or moves. (One for readied attack and one attack of opportunity.)
Intimidate +5 K. Planes +6 Survival +9 Sense Motive +13 Diplomacy +10, Prof. Archivist +9
Male Half-Orc PFS: 186188-1 Shaman/4
Stats:
│HP:27/27│ AC 16│ T10│ FF16│ F2│R1│W8│Init 2│Perception +6 (+9 in bright light, +12 with scent)│CMB 2│CMD 12│
Wow I must have read right over it about 6 times, found the DC, sorry about that!
Per Shaman Spirit section, the DC for a shaman special ability is 10 + 1/2 the shaman's level + the shaman's Wisdom modifier. Since it doesn't say minimum 1, that makes the DC 14. I'm assuming that's a will save. Sorry about the confusion.
|AC 14, T 14, FF 11|HP: 42/42|F +5, R 0, W +4 (-1 vs sonic, +1 vs earth/acid, +2 vs MA/disease)|Init -1 Perc +2|CMB +7 CMD 16|5/5 Arcane, 2/2 Shard, 3/3 erase, 1/1 六, 5/5 Death Field, 1/1 Scholar, 1/1 Archivist, 1/1 Time
Xukong chucks a javelin at the thing with a powerful but disturbingly rigid arm motion.
javelin:1d20 ⇒ 2
damage:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Do I need to roll to see if I can retrieve it? I don't think so, since it's a self-contained thrown weapon and not merely ammunition.
@Jaren: I don't see how you would get an AoO when it is not near you so you are not threatening it but I'll keep your readied action in mind. But also: how is your luck +2? It shouldn't become +2 until level 5.
Will:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Rogzul's magic does not take hold and Nutula obeys her new master with due diligence. Jaren inspires his allies and tries to reason with the div but it doesn't seem to understand him. Wyconda's arrow and Xukong's javelin fly past the creature.
Initiative:
1. Rogzul
2. Div (misfortuned)
3. Piety, Natula, Wyconda ,Zukong, and Jaren
Jaren is threatening with a reach weapon, and his luck bonus is increased to +2 by his fate's favored trait. It only affects him, it's not inspire courage. According to the map, the Div is in range of Jaren's longspear. I can't edit the map from my phone, but I stated that he was moving into range to attack it with melee if it takes an action to negatively affect the party.
Intimidate +5 K. Planes +6 Survival +9 Sense Motive +13 Diplomacy +10, Prof. Archivist +9
Male Half-Orc PFS: 186188-1 Shaman/4
Stats:
│HP:27/27│ AC 16│ T10│ FF16│ F2│R1│W8│Init 2│Perception +6 (+9 in bright light, +12 with scent)│CMB 2│CMD 12│
Jaren used his move action to get to the edge of the roof, but he wasn't actually able to edit his position from his phone, so he's not accurately represented on the map at the moment.
|AC 14, T 14, FF 11|HP: 42/42|F +5, R 0, W +4 (-1 vs sonic, +1 vs earth/acid, +2 vs MA/disease)|Init -1 Perc +2|CMB +7 CMD 16|5/5 Arcane, 2/2 Shard, 3/3 erase, 1/1 六, 5/5 Death Field, 1/1 Scholar, 1/1 Archivist, 1/1 Time
It wouldn't be unreasonable to say you already had a bolt loaded, so go ahead and fire it.
Piety's bolt goes flying past the div to clatter on an adjacent rooftop. The div flies back a few feet to get away from Jaren's spear and casts a spell just as another div appears next to Piety!
DC 17 Spellcraft:
It cast minor image.
Initiative:
1. Rogzul
2. Div
3. Piety, Natula, Wyconda ,Zukong, and Jaren
Wouldn't Jaren's readied attack go off when it moved? The only way he wouldn't have attacked it is if it came forward in a non threatening way. As a player, I know that would have never happened, but Jaren is good aligned (sigh, why did I ever even do that?) so he would have offered the thing a chance to tell us why it was stuck in there. If it does, then I'll go ahead and roll it here.
Jaren sighs, and thrusts out with his spear.
Very well. You give me no choice. Readied Attack, Cold Iron Longspear, Arcane Strike, Bardic Luck, Power Attack:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 Damage:1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
|AC 14, T 14, FF 11|HP: 42/42|F +5, R 0, W +4 (-1 vs sonic, +1 vs earth/acid, +2 vs MA/disease)|Init -1 Perc +2|CMB +7 CMD 16|5/5 Arcane, 2/2 Shard, 3/3 erase, 1/1 六, 5/5 Death Field, 1/1 Scholar, 1/1 Archivist, 1/1 Time
Divs are Evil spirits on par with fiends; Jaren would have understood what the phrase "Evil incarnate" implies.
Spellcraft:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
"That's just an illusion," Xukong hisses.
I try tossing another javelin.
javelin:1d20 ⇒ 9 damage:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Did I mention ranged combat isn't really Xukong's element?
|AC 14, T 14, FF 11|HP: 42/42|F +5, R 0, W +4 (-1 vs sonic, +1 vs earth/acid, +2 vs MA/disease)|Init -1 Perc +2|CMB +7 CMD 16|5/5 Arcane, 2/2 Shard, 3/3 erase, 1/1 六, 5/5 Death Field, 1/1 Scholar, 1/1 Archivist, 1/1 Time
@Jaren: It moved back 5', which does not provoke. With perfect flight it can not fail that.
Jaren chases the div across the roof and reaches out to stab it! The blow is powerful enough to stab straight through the evil creature and end its life in a hiss of smoke and steaming blood!
Out of combat!
Ok, you have removed the guardian from the mask so that's one task down! Where to next?
Jaren pulls his spear back, and lets it rest at his side.
A lucky blow, my friend. I'm glad we were able to finish it quickly, lest it continued to use its magic on us. As for our next task... I think the gnolls are a slightly better choice. The thought of having someone steal one of our life forces still makes me slightly... queasy.
|AC 14, T 14, FF 11|HP: 42/42|F +5, R 0, W +4 (-1 vs sonic, +1 vs earth/acid, +2 vs MA/disease)|Init -1 Perc +2|CMB +7 CMD 16|5/5 Arcane, 2/2 Shard, 3/3 erase, 1/1 六, 5/5 Death Field, 1/1 Scholar, 1/1 Archivist, 1/1 Time
"Agreed. Though I might have a plan for the other...."
I would think she'd be ok once the div died but even so you could probably shake her out of it, giving her a new save, until she finally snapped back to normal herself.
You are to meet the gnolls near the Twilight Gate to complete the transaction. By night, the streets of the Twilight Gate district are mostly empty. The courtyard surrounding hte Ruined Monastery, a popular tourist attraction by day, is even more deserted than the surrounding streets. Perhaps this is what made it the choice location for Murqual's gnoll 'distributors,' or perhaps the gnolls feel comfortable in the shadow of this former home to Lamashtu's faithful. In either case, the shadows lie thick underneath these crumbling walls.
Murqual has set you up with a small donkey-pulled cart before departing, most of the contents consisting of trade goods, bolts of cloth, and several casks of liquor. In addition, he gives you two sacks containing 100 gp each as additional payment if the gnolls prove recalcitrant.
The gnolls are already waiting in the plaza when you arrive. Behind them in the gloom is a small crate. Only one of the gnolls speaks Common it seems, and she greets you with snarling disdain. "You? Sorry looking bunch. And you're not even the normal piddlespotters Muqual sends." They approach with their crate and move in to inspect the goods you've brought along.
"These linens are moth-ridden," she complains. "There's only one donkey? Do you expect the tribe to starve?"
Diplomacy or Intimidate would work to move the transaction along.
The leading gnoll gives a scowl followed by a grumble, "Ay, those were the original terms of the agreement. Fine." She motions to the others to bring the crate forward as she grabs the reins from the donkey and leads it away. Taking the crate, which indeed contains the two Katapeshi white lion cubs, you can bring the 'merchandise' back to Murqual and then head to your final task:
The last of Murqual's tasks involves paying for an enchanted mirror, which is currently in the possession of Madame Jelaris.
Located in the shadow of Nethy's temple, this higher end shop emaneates scents of perfumes, medicines, and the dusky tang of alchemical experiments from behind a baded doorway The front of the store has shelves for the casual shopper, with scented oils and colognes in faceted bottles on delicate shelves. Further back, more solid looking containers under locked glass offer alchemical wares of the more adventurous and martial varieties. A marble counter blocks off the very back of the shop, where a bell sits beside an alembic bubbling away with a cerulean liquid. Behind the counter, another beaded curtain leads deeper.
A young assistant boy sits by the bell at the counter. "May I help you?"
|AC 14, T 14, FF 11|HP: 42/42|F +5, R 0, W +4 (-1 vs sonic, +1 vs earth/acid, +2 vs MA/disease)|Init -1 Perc +2|CMB +7 CMD 16|5/5 Arcane, 2/2 Shard, 3/3 erase, 1/1 六, 5/5 Death Field, 1/1 Scholar, 1/1 Archivist, 1/1 Time
small flashback
Before arriving at Madame Jelaris' establishment, Xukong takes the party aside.
"I have an idea by which we should be able to acquire this mirror for nothing." It holds up a few sheets of blank rice paper in one hand, and a pen in the other. "I trust you are familiar with the grifter's game wherein one is expected to track a marked card among others that are unmarked as it is shifted about? Since we are told that Madame Jelaris is a gambler, I suggest we challenge her to such a game in exchange for the mirror. This is where the beauty part comes in: I am something of a prince among the kingdom of the abstract; letters, numbers, and symbols fear and obey me, to an extent. While one of you performs the game for her, I will, when she chooses the card she believes marked, bid the marks into the Void should her choice be correct. It takes only an assertion of will on my part. She will find she has lost, and we will, presumably, acquire what we came for for free."
