GM Endless Forms' PFS 07-14/16/18 Faithless and Forgotten Parts I, II, and III (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

"I could not care less, fop." The Mother says.

"Grab it and let's continue. "

-Posted with Wayfinder

As the Dandy Hobo points out some inconsistencies in the findings at this archaeological site, Atanxi hops over the water to scout out the next area. Around the corner, the hallway has staircases leading down to the north and west. The wide staircase to the west leads to a room illuminated by the warm glow of a small, fuel-less forge next to an eight-foot-tall statue. The statue depicts a handsome, winged humanoid, though one side of his body is notably angelic and the other half fiendish. Skeletal remains in a red uniform lie in the middle of the room.

The human corpse has a Jistkan gold bracelet that has the head of a goat engraved on it. The bracelet has faint abjuration aura on it, is worth 40 gp.

Zahaz heal (untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 14
Samaeon heal (untrained): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

Zahaz glances at the body, but ignores it in favor of critiquing the statue. "Who would soil such beauty with that." He gestures at the angelic side. "Blasphemous."

Meanwhile, Samaeon examines the bracelet.

There is no spoiler on the bracelet, but I'll roll to identify anyway.
Spellcraft + Guidance: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21

Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Atanxi nudges the remains. More skeletons....at least it is not rising up like the rest.

He looks around the corner. Looks like there is a way around over here.

Wisdom check for Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

"A nasty way to go... like something hot melted through his chest.", Dandy pointing out the scorched bone marks in the center of the skeleton.

"And another Jistkan relic..."

The Mother and Son see that this room is more boredom and the Mother gently runs her finger along the blade of her scythe, drawing a bit of blood that seems to soak into the metal.

"Why the hell was I called in for this mission..." she mutters to herself as her Son follows behind.

No specific effect on the bracelet, just an undefined abjuration aura.

You head around the corner where the complex continues. The staircase to the north has collapsed. A painting on the eastern wall depicts four figures guided along a path by a rat, a goat, a raven, and a hound. A rounded tunnel extends to the west, and glowing runes on the floor divide the floor into four areas. Stairs at the far end of the hall descend into a larger room, and a decrepit corpse wearing a silver amulet is splayed precariously across the upper steps.

The corpse wears a Jistkan silver amulet that looks like a rat curled into a circle. It is worth 30 gp and also radiates abjuration magic. However, actually reaching the corpse and amulet requires crossing the third set of glyphs.

Any ideas or plans on how to get through?

Sameon casts a spell for guidance and detects for magic, attempting to identify any danger the runes present.

Guidance plus detect magic.
Spellcraft?: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 = 20

Atanxi thinks for a moment.

Didn't we find Jistkan stuff matching this painting. A dagger with a Raven pommel on it? A gold bracelet with a goat engraved on it? And a Platinum ring adorned with a hound?

He looks over at the corpse. And look over is an amulet with what looks to be a rat curled on it. He says pointing to the pictures.

"So?" Zahaz sneers.

Though cunning, he isn't the brightest flame in hell.

Atanxi shrugs. Dunno! I was hoping you might have an idea.

Atanxi looks back to the others. Anything?

Heh! We're a bunch of murder dumbos!

This character is definitely a murder dumbo. I mean it's based on a scenario's BBEG who basically just wants to kill and maim, so... Good roleplaying means acting dumb and murder-y right?

"I will fetch the amulet." says the Son dourly as his body begins to shimmer and he practically glides across the glyphs.

The Son will turn incorporeal for this to retrieve the amulet of the rat.

"Good point Atanxi; this cannot be a mere coincidence. And must we physically retrieve the body? Perhaps more mundane means may be in order?", Dandy pulling out a grappling hook and rope.

The Son tries to move across the first row of glyphs associated with the rat...

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Nothing happens yet so the Son keeps going...

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

The Son continues walking across the glyphs with seemingly no ill effects, retrieves the amulet with the rat on it from the body, and moves back to the rest of the party, which allows everyone to then move across the wards without issue.

---

The air in the next chamber is strangely humid, and a thin layer of fog clings all across the floor. A staircase descends from the east and another staircase to the west is fully obstructed by rubble. Several statues with serpent motifs stand in the area. To the north, a large, green stained-glass window looms behind a twisted statue of three serpentine men conjoined at the hip. Vines snake across the floor from a central pool filled with luminescent green liquid. In several places, faintly glowing arcane script inscribed on the floor tiles shines through the mist.

The Son has a strange compulsion to try reading the glowing scripts on the dark stones....

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Oh no! Fascinated for 1d4 ⇒ 3 rounds.

As the Son's eyes start to glaze over, one of the human statues turns its head towards you....

Initiative:

1. The Dandy Hobo and Zahaz
2. Construct
3. Atanxi and Chrysalis

The Hobo and Zahaz are up!

"Beware!" Samaeon shouts, pointing at the construct. Acting quickly, he casts a spell that coats the ground beneath it with slick grease.

DC 14 save

"Finally, something I understand!" Zahaz steps closer and brings his glaive down on at its head.

+1 Glaive - PA: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 1 = 15
Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

I'll wait to see if the statue is standing after the grease, then either trip or move to flank.

Trip if needed: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Ref: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Samaeon slicks the floor beneath the construct and topples it over as The Dandy Hobo moves around to the side and Zahaz brings his glaive down upon the statue! It is not fully effective but still takes off a large chunk from the shoulder.

The eyes of the statue begin to glow and from one of the serpents carved into the stone near the central pool a beam of hellfire shoots out at Zahaz!

ranged touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
fire damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

Initiative:

1. The Dandy Hobo and Zahaz
2. Construct (15 dmg, prone)
3. Atanxi and Chrysalis

You guys are up!

The Mother sees that the Son is distracted as combat finally arrives. She lashes out at the Son with the handle of her scythe, trying to smack him awake. "Pay attention, you bloody idiot!" she says as the handle swings through the air.

Improvised Weapon: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 11

The handle misses, but the fascinate effect is dissipated as the Son is attacked.

The Son bows to his mother. "Apologies. I don't... know what came over me." he says, deferring to the maternal aggression.

Mother and Son bicker while the fight rages on!

Initiative:

1. The Dandy Hobo and Zahaz
2. Construct (15 dmg, prone)
3. Atanxi and Chrysalis

Atanxi, The Dandy Hobo, and Zahaz are up!

Atanxi outstretches his hand causing sharp gusts of wind to quickly buffet the statue.

Kinetic Blast Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Knowing his wind would have little effect he moves in on the outskirts of the slick grease next to the Hobo.

Zahaz is hit directly with hellfire, but it doesn't seem to faze him much.

"Aha! That reminds me of home!" He roars, readying his glaive for another strike. As he does, Samaeon steps up to cast a spell of guidance on his master.

+1 Glaive - PA + Guidance: 1d20 + 8 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 - 1 + 1 = 14
Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Dandy lashes his whip at the statue, hoping to improve Zahaz's aim.

Was the plan anyway, hopefully GM is good with my attempt to aid despite Zahaz posting before me!

Aid (to hit for Zahaz) @ statue: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

The party works together to destroy the construct!

Out of combat!

To the north behind the great statue you find a small room. Eerie green lights burn all along the walls of this laboratory. A staircase ascends to the east, and a collapsed one lies to the west. A stained-glass window looms over an operating slab where the remains of a humanoid creature lie chained to the stone. Several tablets and other strange items lie atop the various tables. There is a Large +1 bastard sword atop one table.

"What dark were we sent to figure again?" Zahaz asks as he moves about the chamber, hacking plants out of his way and examining the body.

"Lady Dralneen and the Swordsman, they wanted to know more about the rumors that Taldans once colonized this area." Samaeon replies meekly. "From what we've seen it appears someone came here recently and made efforts to conceal its true infernal heritage with a false Taldan one."

"To what ends?" Zahaz growls, clearly annoyed at being deceived.

"We were sent to find a lost colony, yes? Perhaps someone doesn't want us to find it. Or has planted this evidence to lead us astray."

Atanxi sneers at the torturous table. Also, seems they didn't want someone to talk about what happened here.

He takes a look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"This mission bores me. Should we just say we couldn't find it and move on? Not like anyone else has found this repository of garbage..." the Mother says with disdain.

"Good points, Zahaz.", Dandy chimes in. "This definitely does not sound like the noble history Taldor has touted itself on."

The foppish man suggests the party note and catalogue the room, including taking the magical blade.

Certainly the story you were told about Taldan colonization seems dubious at best, in light of the evidence you have found at this site. After a more thorough cataloging of your findings, you had back to Khari. Because you have the proper travel permits and have made friends in high places, you can easily leave the secured town to return to Corentyn. However, when you arrive at the museum to meet with Zefiro and report your findings to him, the place appears dark and empty except for several muffled voices audible in the building's east wing.

Heading to the east wing to find out what is going on, you find yourselves in the library. The double doors open on a hall filled with bookshelves, display cases, and two large tables piled with manuscripts. Several oil lamps keep the darkness at bay. A rolling ladder stands at the east end of the library. Two staircases near the doors rise to the balconies on both sides of the hall. The railed balconies run across the length of the hall with a third one rising even higher to the east. There, a pair of doors leads into a second-story office.

A woman with dark, flowing hair speaks from the highest balcony. "How nice of you to deliver yourselves to me. I was just about to come find you! I strong advice that you turn yourselves in for questioning-though I must admit that part of me hopes you won't, since our friends to the east are sure to hammer the truth out of the traitor Zefiro anyways."

Initiative:

1. Zahaz, The Dandy Hobo, and Atanxi
2. Signifer Iluvia Thorn and her thugs
3. Chrysalis

Zahaz, The Dandy Hobo, and Atanxi are up!

Questioning? For what? We are on orders from the Society to investigate!

He glares at the woman. Tell your guards to stand down as we do not wish to fight! He hollers back up.

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Double Move

"Oh your friend Zephiro has been taken away for too much of his own questioning, that is the irony of it!" she laughs back at Atanxi. "And I really prefer to take you in restrained and hence more cooperative."

Initiative:

1. Zahaz, The Dandy Hobo, and Atanxi
2. Signifer Iluvia Thorn and her thugs
3. Chrysalis

Zahaz and The Dandy Hobo are up!

Zahaz steps into the room and readies his glaive. "You think you can take us? Cmon berks and try it."

Ready action attack with +1 glaive - PA: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 1 = 18
Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

"You certainly like to talk a lot..." remarks the Mother as the Signifer babbles on about something that 'she' could really not care less about.

Dandy moves up and lashes at the feet of the red-shirted guard. "You may have the initiative, but we have the numbers, madam!"

Trip @ red guy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

The Dandy Hobo's whip puts one of the guards on the ground. "The insolence!" Signifier Iluvia shouts. The guard picks himself up and steps over to the Dandy Hobo while his friend joins him.

longsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

longsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Seeing Atanxi moving closer, Iluvia gives him a vicious look. DC 14 Will save against evil eye or take -2 on saves for the next 6 rounds; making the save reduces it to 1 round.

Initiative:

1. Zahaz, The Dandy Hobo, and Atanxi
2. Signifer Iluvia Thorn and her thugs
3. Chrysalis

You guys are up!

Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Feeling a bit shaken by the woman's glare Atanxi stirs the wind around her in an attempt to knock her from her perch.

Kinetic Blast: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Dandy is surprised by the accuracy of his opponent's strike, but is grateful it is shallow. He steps back and lashes at the red guard's feet again. "What ho, let us dance!"

Trip @ Red: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Sameon casts a spell of guidance upon his master and Zahaz tries to swing his glaive at the thug in red, but ends up clanging off the wall behind him instead. "Bloody piking h@ll!"

+1 glaive - PA: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 1 = 8
Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

"Son, if you do not strike down these insolent whelps before I lose my patience then I will bury you with them!" the Mother bellows as she snaps her fingers.

A sheen of a magical forcefield envelops the Son.

Shield with Share Spells.

The Son nods to the Mother and steps forward, lashing out with his fists at the red tabard soldier. "Thank you for your aid, Mother." he says reverently as the spell activates.

Slam @ Red: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Slam @ Red: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Miserable Strike (Su): If the phantom hits a creature with a slam attack, that creature must succeed at a Will Saving Throw (DC 12 = 10 + 1/2 the phantom's Hit Dice + the phantom's Charisma modifier) or take a –2 penalty on attack and damage rolls for 1 round. This is a mind-affecting fear and emotion effect. Penalties from multiple hits don't stack with themselves.

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 18

The Signifier evades Atansi's blast but The Dandy Hobo puts one of the guards on the ground. Despite his advantageous position above the prone man, Zahaz slips and misses. Luckily the Son is there to offer his aid.

The man on the ground stays there, hoping that his friend will help him stay alive. Both swing at the Son.

longsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

longsword: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 4 = 0
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Iluvia scowls at the terrible form of her guards and moves closer to Atanxi to blast him with flames.

fire: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 2) = 10
DC 14 Ref for half

Initiative:

1. Zahaz, The Dandy Hobo, and Atanxi
2. Signifer Iluvia Thorn and her thugs
3. Chrysalis

red: 4 dmg, prone

You guys are up!

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Hmm. Not sure why I didn't heal. Noob mistake.

The flames wash over Atanxi and he fall unconscious to the ground.

Samaeon and Zahaz continue working together to take down the thugs.

Guidance on Zahaz.
+1 Glaive + Guidance at Blue Thug: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 - 1 = 27
Damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

"How dare you try to hit my son, you blathering idiots!" the Mother yells, berating the man. "If you are going to fight, at least do it correctly. Swing your sword with more killing intent, otherwise slaying you will not be quite as much fun!" she says with evil in her eye.

Intimidate @ Red: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

After she berates them, the Son bends over and throws out two haymakers, trying to beat the man into submission.

Slam @ Red + Prone Bonus: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 4 = 15 +2 if Shaken from the Intimidate.
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 +2 if Shaken from the Intimidate.

Slam @ Red + Prone Bonus: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 4 = 13 +2 if Shaken from the Intimidate.
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 +2 if Shaken from the Intimidate.

Also, the same miserable strikes as before (Will Saves).

Atanxi falls from the burns as Crysalis and Zahaz take out the two guards.

Initiative:

1. Zahaz, The Dandy Hobo, and Atanxi
2. Signifer Iluvia Thorn
3. Chrysalis

The Dandy Hobo is up!

Sorry, busy day today, so keeping it short and sweet.

Dandy double moves up the stairs.

Seeing the Dandy Hobo coming at her from the other side, Iluvia gives him a sideways glance and warns, "Oh no, my dear..."

DC 14 Will save against evil eye or take -2 on saves for the next 6 rounds; making the save reduces it to 1 round.

Initiative:

1. Zahaz, The Dandy Hobo, and Atanxi
2. Signifer Iluvia Thorn
3. Chrysalis

You guys are up!

Zahaz marches up the stairs, following Atanxi's path toward the woman above. "Your knights of the post have fallen. You will fall too."

Unable to edit the map at the moment. Zahaz double moves 60'. Samaeon follows at a distance of 30'.