GM Endless Forms' PFS Thornkeep: The Enigma Vaults (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

"Makes no difference to me where we go.. lets get the adventure on!"

@Swayaah: it's perhaps easier to look at the map.

The door Dvalin opens leads to a short corridor with three branches and three doors. The door straight ahead leads to a small room. A carving over the door has something written in Azlanti.

Inside, the curved western wall of the room depicts a vast field of stars with such realism that you feel perched at the edge of an infinite gulf.

Will save from everyone please!

Swayaah crouches, slightly lost as the rest of the party heads off.

"W-wait for me. I was just...um...observing." She stammers before looking at the endless expanse of space.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 +2 if the spell is evil

"What are we looking at, anyway...." Swayaah trails off before her eyes lock with the wall painting.

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 +2 vs poison, spells, and spell abilities
"Gorum's Bloody Hands ... I didn't realize the door would open so easily!"

Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Awen walks into the room and is immediately entranced by the wall.. open space.. the vast and infinite opening to the realms of the sky..

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 +1 vs fear; +2 vs enchantments

Kalendir stares into the stars. It seems so real. Is it a window to the sky?

Will 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Rackle looks up and says, "Pretty." before looking around the room.

Perception 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 +2 more vs Traps

Swayaah's and Awen's eyes go wide and their faces blank.

1d6 ⇒ 5

Any actions/reactions?

Swayaah stares off into infinity. It reminds her of when she was young, in her mother's arms, atop a hill staring into the sky. Mother was rambling about humans, and how smelly they were and how horny they were and why she couldn't stop thinking about them. This one human, in particular. Just like how there are so many stars in the sky, you are only interested in the brightest one.

The brightest one, right over there. Point at it, Swayaah. Or is the brightest over there? No wait, over there...

"It's...beautiful." She mumbles as she points randomly the wall. "Which one is the brightest?" Swayaah's eyes are wide open and blood red at this point.

Awen, fully entranced walks forward, eyes glazed and vacant. "To soar through such beauty.. To join with the heavens.."

Dvalin tries to get their attention focused on him ...
"Swayaah ... Awen ... are you okay?"

Rackle looks at Swayaah and Awen, and caws quizzically. "What's got into them?" he asks.

Whenever we survive this, Swayaah has a wand of Cure Light Wounds, Rackle.

AAAaaand back to the wall.

"No mom, shutup. This is the brightest one." Swayaah drones on.

Kalendir steps in between Swayaah and the stars grabbing ahold of her. Snap out of it girl.

Grapple: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Awen continues to approach the wall, muttering about joining the stars as they float through the heavens in perfect harmony and balance. Balance.. it is all that he has ever wanted. Peace. Harmony. To finally find the balance between his deamon and human blood that is always pulling him so many directions. He tenses, ready to spring out and find this harmonious peace that he so craves.

Ummm ... yeah ... Dvalin will attempt to restrain Awen ...
"Woah there big guy. Don't be jumping off the deep end yet."

You all wonder what is going on with Swayaah and Awen when suddenly a brilliant flash of light fills the center of the room as an impossibly distant and impossibly cataclysmic event results in a traumatic explosion.

From everyone: DC 14 Will save or take 1d4 points of Charisma damage as an overwhelming sense of loss fills your mind (this is a mind-affecting effect).

1d6 ⇒ 4

Actions/reactions?

Kalendir holds Swayaah back as she struggles to find the brightest star on the wall. Her mother found her star pretty quickly and swore to herself to find him again. Suddenly a bright light engulfs everything, burning her mother alive with divine energy.

Will Save DC 14: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Charisma Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Swayaah screams in pure fear as the light burns her mother and burns her. "M-m-mom...no...I tried to save you...honest."

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Kalendir steels his mind. We should leave this room.

The elf reaches over pushing open the door leading south.

Will save 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"My shinies!" Rackle says before he gets a hold of himself. "What was that?"

Will DC 14: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 ... I don't suppose this is considered a spell effect as well?
CH Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
"We should leave now!"

Not a spell.

At Kalendir's urging, the party pulls Awen and Swayaah back and quickly closes the door before anything more dire happens. Still need a save from Awen you get the chance.

---

To the south, an upraised dais in an alcove holds a four-foot-diameter geode that's been cracked into two halves. The inside of the geode glitters with strange green crystals. A mound of green crystalline fragments and twisted strips of flaking green metal lies to the west.

Unfortunately, when you open the door to this chamber you discover that the oddities in this room are being guarded by a trio of oddities themselves: three hairless blue lions with twin tentacular tails. Dozens more thick tentacles quiver and twitch where their manes should be.

Before you have time to react, the creatures leap forward to block the entrance, biting at Kalendir in the process!

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
DC 14 Fort save against disease

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
DC 14 Fort save against disease

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
DC 14 Fort save against disease

If you get bit more than once, the DC goes up by 2 for every extra bite rather than making multiple saves. (At least iirc, correct me if I'm wrong.)

Initiative:

1. Critters
2. Awen, Dvalin, Swayaah, Rackle, and Kalendir

You guys are up!

"If dad's the brightest, go find him already..." Swayaah mumbles as Kalendir tugs her out of the room.

"All of those stars, staring at me...reminded me of-" Swayaah shakes her head. "That light did somethin' bad to me...I'll need some beauty rest to shake it off." She laughs.

She uses her wand of Cure Light Wounds on Rackle.
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

---

"What are those? Kalendir, watch it!" With the cramped space, Swayaah hesitates to squeeze into the room. Instead, her tail holds onto the wand of Cure Light Wounds and she decides to scream at the (Green) Whatever it is.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 - 1 = 8 Sadly, it's more of a squeak than a scream.

I have never seen beasts like these before! Kalendir stumbles backwards. Provoke AoO He quickly fires two arrows at the green beast.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 + 4 = 10

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 28
Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 + 4 = 15
Possible crit damage: 2d8 + 4 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (7, 6) + 4 + 2 + 8 = 27

+1 Attack / Damage from point Blank Shot
Precise shot to eliminate -4 modifier for shooting into melee
-2 modifier for rapid shot to fire an extra arrow
Weapon Focus and Deadly Aim -2/+4

Catching up.. Sorry y'all! edit: My will saves are really blowing in this game. Just saying!!

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Charisma Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Awen falls back in horror as the heavens suddenly explode around him.. taking with them any hope of becoming one with the balance and harmony that he thought he had found. "NOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!" A gut wrenching and heart shredding scream tears its way from his throat as Dvalin bodily hauls Awen back from the brink. As they fall to the floor, Awen is suddenly besieged by his accumulated doubts and terrors.. his feels as if his soul was ground zero for the blast. He snarls at the party as he regains his feet, and stomps out of the room.

Sorry guys, not mad anyone but the Dice AI.. lol Just playing the fact that I now have a 7 for charisma. Please dont take to heart anything that comes next, but I think that Awen just went from gruff and difficult to full a$$hole. This sucks.. I hate being the a$$hole.

Caught up now..

Awen draws his bow as he steps forward, and his bow sings as he throws two arrows at the red.. thing.
Knowledge Dungeon: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Attack: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 2 = 21
Attack: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 2 = 24

Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Dvalin moans as the unmitigated sense of loss washes over him and he quickly exists the room with a painfully distorted visage (and Charisma 8).
"I can't deal with this now."
...
Knowledge (Dungeon): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
"This is more like it ..."
Dvalin moves forward to engage the creatures next to Kalendir ...
Greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 for Slashing: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 5) + 4 = 13
... but is still shaken by the previous encounter and doesn't manage to connect.

AoOs:
bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
DC 14 Fort save against disease

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
DC 14 Fort save against disease

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
DC 14 Fort save against disease

---

Kalendir backs away from the onslaught, his arrows quickly ending one of the beasts! Although Dvalin misses, Awen's arrows strike true!

Initiative:

1. Critters
2. Awen, Dvalin, Swayaah, Rackle, and Kalendir

red: 18 dmg

Rackle is up!

Rackle loads the hand crossbow he found on the priestess, and ducks back around the corner to try to hide.

Stealth
1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

Rackle hides around the corner as the two tentacled blue dog creatures go after Dvalin!

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
DC 14 Fort save against disease

tentacle: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11
damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

tentacle: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16
damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
DC 14 Fort save against disease

tentacle: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2
damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

tentacle: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6
damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Initiative:

1. Critters
2. Awen, Dvalin, Swayaah, Rackle, and Kalendir

red: 18 dmg

You guys are up!

Seeing as they would have to shoot over Dvalin anyway, Swayaah heads in and heals Dvalin using her wand of Cure Light Wounds.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
34 Charges remain

"I would say you guys owe me, but I was literally seeing stars a few minutes ago..."

Awen leans around the corner to shoot past Swayaah and Dvalin at what was the middle goon.
Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 18
Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 19

Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Peeking back around the corner, Rackle takes a shot with the hand crossbow.

MW Hand Crossbow, firing into melee
1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 9 - 4 = 11
1d4 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + (1, 2) = 7

Stealth to hide after the snipe
1d20 + 14 - 20 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 20 = 0

Awen takes down one of the beasts but Rackle misses!

Initiative:

1. Critters
2. Awen, Dvalin, Swayaah, Rackle, and Kalendir

Dvalin and Kalendir are up!

Round 2 Destructive Smite
Dvalin swings his great sword once again, with destructive smite ...
greatsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 for Slashing: 2d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6) + 5 + 2 = 18

Kalendir notches two arrows onto his string. waiting for the beast to come into view. Once it steps into view his bowstring releases with a solid twang.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 + 4 = 8

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 + 4 = 12

+1 Attack / Damage from point Blank Shot
Precise shot to eliminate -4 modifier for shooting into melee
-2 modifier for rapid shot to fire an extra arrow
Weapon Focus and Deadly Aim -2/+4

Dvalin misses but Kalendir takes the last beast down!

Out of combat!

The green crystals in the geode are fragments of a skeymetal you recognize called noqual, a substance valued for its resistance against magic. It would take some time to remove it.

"Any needs healing?" Swayaah asks as she waves the wand around. "Crystals are cute, but not my style."

Awen moves over to examine the crystals. "This could be really useful.. or at least we can sell it."
How much time are we talking about to recover a usable amount of the crystal?

Once he is settled about the crystals Or collects them.., Awen will take a careful look around the room for anything else of interest Taking 20 for 32

Yes these crystals are quite are. They could save many lives in the Society if we bring them back. Kalendir helps gather the crystals.

Rackle slips into the room after the beasts are dispatched and searches, then helps with the crystals.

Perception 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

It will take a couple hours but ou can do it. Which way? There's a door directly north and several passages off the large room.

Let's go north, I say, but I have the -1 to Charisma checks right now.

Kalendir opens the door leading north.

Awen steps up behind Kalendir, his bow ready and an arrow notched.

This large chamber is overgrown with foul-smelling mounds of strangely colored, shuddering fungi, many of which glow with a sickly green luminescence. A large alcove to the west seems less overgrown. Metal bars wall off this alcove, but a door in the bars hangs ajar.

Among the wriggling fungi are two bulbous creatures prepared to defend their home! Two swollen, brainlike bulbs encrusted with fungal shelves squat atop several ropy legs. A wide mouth bisects each bulb's crown.

You can feel the creatures scanning your minds!

DC 14 Will save or take a –2 penalty on attack rolls. This is a mind-affecting effect.

They leap forward and try to touch Kalendir with their ropy vines after casting a spell!

melee touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Int, Wis, and Cha reduced by 1d6 ⇒ 6

melee touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Int, Wis, and Cha reduced by 1d6 ⇒ 5

Scores cannot be reduced to lower than 1 by these effects.

Initiative:

1. Fungi
2. Awen, Rackle, Swayaah, Kalendir, and Dvalin

You guys are up!

"Kalendir, get behind me!" Swayaah yelps as she bares her claws and prepares to lash out at the first fungus in range.

We have a lot of chokepoints here, so someone should be a meat shield while the others shoot into melee. I think Dvalin and I are the frontliners here, so I'll volunteer.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Awen feels a weird slithery feeling try to drain his muscles, but he manages to shake it off. In reply, he shoots two arrows straight through the frackas in front of him
Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 15
Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 14

Dmg?: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Dmg?: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Haha thats what I get for pushing :)

Int and Wis are down to 1 and Cha is down to 4

Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

kalendir feels the creatures enter his mind and he begins to scream.

When the tentacles slam into kalendir's skin his face becomes limp as his jaw goes slack. Turning he shuffles back behind the group as a large line of drool begins to cover his armor.

Pushing past everyone he smiles as his eyes seem to momentarily cross. He closes both eyes then fires at the red beast.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + 4 = 9

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 + 4 = 10

+1 Attack / Damage from point Blank Shot
Precise shot to eliminate -4 modifier for shooting into melee
-2 modifier for rapid shot to fire an extra arrow
Weapon Focus and Deadly Aim -2/+4

Oops, forgot the Will Save.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 "My mind isn't that pleasant, is it? Mom hated using telepathy on me..."

Will 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Rackle's feathers fluff up as the strange powers of the creatures assail his mind. He loads and fires the hand crossbow at the first one in the doorway before ducking back.

1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
1d4 ⇒ 1