GMF's Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master Fanguar

HP: 61/61; AC: 16 (T14/FF12)
F: +7, R: +10, W: +6
Location: Back row
Opponent: None

Bibic stares out into space, frozen solid.

Okay. I think this has gone on for entirely too long. Sorry for not just handwaving this earlier.

Rhesus' hammer arcs in, his arms infused with a sudden surge of strength. The mighty blow connects shattering the medusa's head in a shower of gore and twitching snake bits. The hound archons relate the creatures demise, if the sudden spray of blood was not indicator enough to those in the splash zone.

#Lootz: +3 chainmail, +1 frost punching dagger, stone salve (4 doses), gold unholy symbol of Mestama worth 230 gp, precious necklace worth 2,500 gp, three potions of eagle’s splendor, doomsday key (see spoiler)

The bath chamber is exquisitely decked out, but the feature of most interest is the petrified figure of a half-elf adventurer

Bibic stares out into space, frozen solid. :)

Nice that the AP gave some relief here so we don't have to go back to save Bibic. 'cause you'd have all gone back to save Bibic right? Even if it was hard? ... hehehe

Yeah, uh huh, Bibic. We would have saved you. Uh huh.

Spasi doesn't come out of hiding until the hounds bay the 'all clear' sound, peeking out from between his fingers at first, then openly looking round when the body of the medusa is viewed. He still refrains from looking at it directly, insisting that it be covered before he comes closer.

Spasi smells the salve after he identifies it (and the other magics) and passes it to Clem.

"Clem, be a dear and rub a portion of this all over Stony McstoneBow over there?" Spasi offers the rub while he examines the rest of the magics. "You should keep the rest. Might be handy to rub all over Rhese."

Spasi offers a smile to Rhesus. "You fight well. Glad that you serve the right people, I am." Spasi offers Rhese a knowing wink.

Spasi picks up the doomsday key and then offers it around to those who might want to wear it. He doesn't want to, clearly, and wonders how magic like this is even ever created.

When Bibic is back and others are ready, Spasi will simultaneously search the bath house and make space for camp.

Take all night to search the place with Detect Magic.

Bibic stretches out his joints as the color comes back to his features (presuming Clement rubs me all over... oh baby). "Thanks Clement." he speaks when he can. "That was unpleasant."

He looks over the gear but picks nothing for himself. "We should save the key though in case we find a lock we cannot open. Clement, you're often up front, you should wear it and bestow the occasional curse with it to boot!"

He readies to camp, going over his gear and replenishing his quiver before bedding down.

Clement first tries applying the salve with a plated gauntlet before realizing that it's getting his armor too messy and leaving a rash on Bibic's fine, delicate elven flesh. Sighing, he removes the gauntlet and works the salve into Bibic's stony flesh, first targeting his face, then working his way down to his shoulders, arms and hands.

Once Bibic's upper torso is restored he shoves the half-empty urn to him.

"The rest is up to you, buddy."

Stretching as if a few minutes of rubbing salve were hard work, Clement steps over to Bibic to assess the bounty of the brawl with the medusa.

"Anything else useful? What's the deal with the doomsday key? Just scares people and curses them? It doesn't open any special locks?"

Rhesus looks over the room as Bibic caresses warmth back into Bibic, in no way jealous of the attention lavished on the stony elf.

"Can we stop fighting yet? I'm, what'cha call it, tuckered."

He frowns at Spasi until he understands everything that was said, not quite certain he got it all.

"I'm not wearing any key, that's for sure. Hey, ain't there a legend that a medusa head can paralyze ya after she's dead? Maybe we can use that on your next enemies?"

Someone can make a Know(religion) check for more info about doomsday keys.

@Spasi:There's nothing else to be found in this room. There's tons of other places in abbey still to explore.

Through some good fortune, though you've created enough ruckus to wake the dead, you manages to rest amid the ruin you have wrought without any of the remaining denizens disturbing your slumber.

With the new day, you stare at the petrified half-elf woman deciding what to do with her, as you plan your next move.

Bibic will use his lore master ability the day before, to identify the key. (Take 20 once a day on a knowledge check)

Knowledge Religion: 20 + 6 = 26

"So should we use the salve on her? Maybe not now, but when we're ready to leave. Don't want to have to protect some half-elf while we're mucking about in here."

When the party gets ready to move on, he casts Heroism on himself and Rhesus.

Spasi wakes up from the corner was in, scratching his ass and bemoaning the lack of female companionship.

"Man, what is the point of being heroic and s&#@ if no one is around to appreciate how amazing you are?" Spasi asks, having thought a lot about this during the night.

"And say, Clem...lemme see that key again. I thought I might...uh...huh...maybe," Spasi takes the key and examines it again.

1d20 + 22 ⇒ (15) + 22 = 37 Know (Religion)

Spasi looks up to his keying, to look at Bibic, then at the half-elf woman that he totally forgot about.

"What? You think...oh...yeah, we totally should. Let's do that. Maybe she'll be grateful for it. Who knows, Bibs, you might even get lucky."

Clement seems half ready to rub the salve on another stone-faced elf, but also half ready to hand the salve to someone else or possibly toss it over his shoulder.

"Huh, never thought about being stoned being a good way to keep someone safe."

Clem's eyes glance to Rhesus for the briefest moment.

"Probably had to get cut when your skin's stone. I wonder if there's a spell that'd do that.."

Clem's eyes glance to Spasi for another brief moment as he begins his preparations for the day.

Shield Other + Lifelink up on Rhesus.

"On the other hand, say we're jumped or end up somewhere like one of those alternate planes again. Maybe we don't end up coming back this way? It'd be... "

Clement hesitates the briefest moment as Spasi proposes Bibic's "reward" and stops his thought before handing Bibic the salve.

"Your call, Bibs."

Walking off a few steps, Clement becomes interested in several stones scattered about wondering if any were rats at one point.

Rhesus stretches with the new day, ready to see and face whatever horrible things wish to injure Clement.

"Hey, she's probably safer here. I remember one time I had to lug a statue of a wizard buddy o' mine all over these hills and he fell off the cart. Broke his foot off and we figured there was no use keeping him around after that. Also if she's stone she don't have to listen to Spasi be a creep."

He nods sagely at his own storytelling skills.

"Stone skin, you think? I guess that'll help you out Clem, seems like you're always getting hurt. I don't need it of course, I can't remember the last time I even took a scratch."

The barbarian looks at the new chainmail wistfully.

"Damn shame this is so big, if it was smaller and showed off my arms and legs I'd wear it."

Bibic will take the salve, but delay for now. "Let's clear out this complex first before we free her." he suggests.

"Speaking of which, where to next?" he takes out his bow and makes ready to proceed.

Spasi checks out the half-elf again.

"Are you sure you want to leave her here? She might know things about the area...or be useful in some other way. I can't imagine any harm in seeing what she knows before we proceed."

Where are we on the map? I'm really confused to where we've been an not. I know we left a slew of dead bodies on our march here, but where we are now, is confusing. What room was the Vrock party?

"I dunno..." Bibic mumbles as he takes out the salve. "If you think it's a good idea."

he covers the half-elf in the salve and stands back to give her some space as she returns to consciousness. He maintains the grip on his bow however, in case she's not friendly.

"Good morning. My name is Bibic. You were turned to stone by a medusa. We've rescued you. Who are you?" he speaks levelly and quietly suspecting the woman is still in shock.

@Bibic/Spasi: Doomsday keys and doors are tied to the Grotean mythology. Groteus is the god of the End Times, a sentient and cruel moonlet that looks down upon the Boneyard and waits for the last living soul to die. Doomsday doors lie scatter throughout the material plane and Groetan dogma holds that as soon as all of the Doomsday Doors are opened, the End of All Worlds will begin, but whether or not opening these doors causes that end or is merely a symptom of the end is unclear.

@Spasi: You are in A22, the vrocks were in A21. You haven't investigated A11-13 or A4-5

The woman is surprisingly composed for someone who was just petrified. "I remember the medusa. She must have gotten lucky," she says cooly. "I am Koriah Azmeren and I am here looking for my father. He's the representative of Desna at the abbey."

Spasi definitely needs to take the DC25 here...

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29 Know (local)

...and pauses when the woman says her name.

"Azmeren, you say? You're...the one doing the work on the Drow? I think we've heard that name around the lodge, because we are also totally Pathfinders. Well, I used to be." Spasi says offhandedly.

"Bibic, I think is a fan," Spasi wingmans for Bibic.

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29 Bluff

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26 vs DC 25

Bibic laughs, "Yes, Spasi ran a little afoul of our Venture Captain and got himself suspended, but we're on a mission for the Pathfinders and are here to see what's going on as well. You say your father is here? We were just about to proceed with our hunt, but it's a very dangerous place. Perhaps you should stay back a bit as we enter new chambers. Just to be safe." he suggest gallantly.

"I know from your reputation that you're an excellent Pathfinder mind you. I mean no disrespect. But we've had it tough here, and we're quite well seasoned." he says with some pride.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (15) + 21 = 36

Clement smirks at the suggestion there might be danger.

"Noone's dying while I'm around."

He puffs out his chest and glances at the rubble about.

"Now being stoned.. I haven't figured out how to stop that yet, but we've got enough salve a few of us could be saved that way."

Clement glances back at the main structure of the abbey.

"How about the bell tower? Maybe a couple harpies up there?"

A22 has a pretty good line of sight to A5. Can we see anything?

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

Rhesus checks his gear while the palavering is going on.

"Yup, Pathfinders, that's us. Reckon if you're going to stay back miss you'll want to keep Bibic between you and Spasi. One of them is a right proper fella and the other is Spasi."

He hefts his hammer and the bag of looting.

"Where to next?"

@Clement: You don't really have a good line of sight from there. (the map is laid out a little weird). Also I just noticed that the map has A5 labeled as 'bell tower', it's actually the lighthouse. You have seen that the lighthouse is still working.

"Pathfinders? Excellent! Sheila must be your venture captain then. Stick with me and I'll put in a good word for you. She owes me a couple of favors."

SHe bristles a little at the suggestion that she should stay out of the way. "Trust me boys, you're more likely to get in my way than the other way around. Besides, I'm not staying anywhere until I find my father."

Koriah nods at Clement's suggestion, "Yes let's check the lighthouse. The whole thing a pretty much just a box made out of walls of force. If anyone is holed up here, that would be the place."

She looks to Rhesus. "Noted big fella." She pulls out her sword and gives a couple of practiced swings. "Lead the way."

You head back down through the wreckage that you have wrought and return to the courtyard. The doors at the base of lighthouse tower are closed and locked tight. Koriah looks up at top of the tower, high above. "Anyone want to go up and take a look?"

"Well, I can't fly, and I'm no good at climbing, but I may be able to do something about this lock." Bibic suggests.

He looks for traps on the door.
Perception: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 17 + 2 = 32 (insight)
Disable Device: 1d20 + 15 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 15 + 6 = 33 (magic lock picks, insight)

If that doesn't do it, he'll take-20 for a 41 on the lock.

"Anyone want to go up and take a look?"

Spasi is content to let Koriah lead for now, letting her think she's in charge or that he cares much for Sheila. She may be her venture captain, but Spasi is much better than she is in his mind.

"Yeah, sure...one sec..." Spasi says, casting Vanish and flying around to examine the lighthouse from outside.

1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 21 + 2 = 37 Perception

false life life: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 temp hp

Rhesus prepares his barbarian lock pick before remembering that Bibic can open it. He lowers his foot back to the ground and watches.

"You got turned to stone but you're in charge? Whatever you say I guess, we'll help you find your dad no problem."

Clement can't help but grin when Koriah suggests that they might actually get in her way when she ended up as statuary. His grin broadens as Rhesus reinforces his very thought.

Hands gripping his shield and green-tinged dagger, he waits patiently for Bibic to ply the secrets from the lock like a... like a Spasi plying the secrets from a two-copper Calistrian.

@Bibic: You first attempt fails. If you take 20 you will eventually get it.

I do take-20 then to get the doors open.

Spasi floats back and emerges into visibility again. He rubs the back of his neck as he explains what he saw.

"There was an old dude in old robes scribbling graffiti up there. He's drawing a bunch of butterflies and stuff all over the place."

Spasi ponders more.

"Oh, and it's a bunch of walls of forces up there. I might be able to blamphf some of us inside, but not all of us. We should find another way in."

If asked, Spasi will try to open the lock with a Knock or two.

1d20 + 11 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 10 = 37 vs. Lock DC

Rhesus idly scratches himself while waiting for the door to open.

Sure hope I didn't catch anything from standing too close to Spasi.

Koriah speaks up, "Butterflies? Like those of Desna's icons? Was the man wearing multicoloured robes that...describes the style of dress of Desna's cleregy. @Spasi: yes he was. "Did he have red hair?" Yup."

Spasi's spell if asked for is not successful. Bibic can get the door open, but do you want to try to make contact with the man beforehand, or just break in?

Bibic unlocks the door, but does not yet open it.

"Koriah, you seem to know this man. Who is he?"

Spasi confirms and explains what he saw to Koriah and the party. Spasi seems content to let Bibic do his work unless Koriah has an opinion about how to approach.

Clement glances upwards again.

"Just hope he didn't go crazy, you know what I mean?"

Clement glances at Koriah, wondering if there's anything about her father they need to know.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Would we be able to shout at the man from down here and he'd hear us?

"That's my father!" She turns to Bibic, "Did you get the door unlocked? I didn't even know that was possible to do that. Normally the keeper of the lighthouse carries a little statue that unlocks it." I don't know if you were obvious about your success or not. If you were, she'll just try to push past you.

@Clement: You could bang on the door, or Spasi could just fly up to get his attention. I'm not sure if yelling would be super effective, but you could definitely make contact if you wanted to.

Bibic would not have hid his success. When she bustles by him, he shrugs smiling, "If it's her dad, what should worry us?"

He follows her in, though he does have his bow out just in case. He also keeps his eyes open as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 17 + 2 = 36 (shard)

Spasi thinks this is all very strange, wondering about the father and daughter's relationship.

"Hey Bibs...does it seem strange to you that the father just left his daughter out there stoned? Or maybe he didn't know? What is going on?"

He follows the group into the lighthouse.

Rhesus shrugs.

"What's that word you guys are always using about the Calistrians? Permissive? Yeah, some fathers are more permissive I guess, reckon he just didn't mind what she was doing out here?"

The big man keeps an eye on her just in case she turns out to be some disguised demon or somesuch. He figures if she starts acting nice to Spasi that's when trouble's about to start.

Clement's concerns seen to be placated by Bibic's nonchalance and his response is genuinely innocent.

"Ah, sorry. Something about the forcewall prison and graffiti seemed unusual, but I'm just being overprotective, I'm sure..."

Forcing a grin, Clement rubs his arms focusing mostly on the areas where any injuries born by Rhesus tend to appear first.

Spasi looks jolted. He ponders for a moment, then nods agreeable.

"Permissive? Yeah...permissive! That's exactly why I like them Calistrians!! They are the most permissive people around. Good folk. Good decent people. Permissive people," Spasi agrees, smiling. "Ain't nothing wrong with that. It's the way we should be with those kinds of things."

You follow Koriah up the winding stairwell inside the lighthouse. You can't help but notice the smell that permeates the area. It is the smell of human waste, and it gets more powerful the higher you climb. Eventually , you reach the top. Fantastical colours swirl out of the magical orb that serves as the lighthouse's beacon. It's a bit disorienting, but tolerable. While Koriah and her father exchange and emotional greeting, you do a quick survey of the room. Nearly every surface has been covered in prayers to Desna and butterfly iconography. You also find the source of the odor, evidently this man has been cooped up in this small room for a very extended period of time and proper sanitation has not been at hand.

Tearful reunion complete, the pair turn their attention to the party. "Koriah says you're to thank for her rescue and for that you have my gratitude. You must the ones responsible for all the commotion yesterday. I was planning on preparing a means of magically reaching out to you, but your ability to by-pass the lighthouse's defenses has saved me the effort. I hadn't thought it possible to get through that door without the gatekey. I guess I'm fortunate that none of those foul creatures were as proficient as you lot."

Bibic suffers through the smell as long as he can before he suggests, "We might continue this conversation downstairs? It's a little strong here. I can clean you up a little with magic, sir, if you would permit it."

He'll cast Prestidigitation and clean the man up if permitted.

When they're somewhere more comfortable (hopefully), he asks, "How long have you been trapped here?"

Aside from the lighthouse, have we searched the whole area? Want to make sure we're not going to be jumped by some critter or other...

Spasi sniffs around and blanches.

"This place smells awful," Spasi wafts. "Rhesus, this must remind you of home."

Spasi backs away from the smells.

"How long have you been here, Mr. Azmeren? And...uh...why haven't you gone to find your daughter? And who set up these walls? You have a lot of explaining to do."

Rhesus takes a deep sniff.

"Nah, smells more like you after a visit to the brothel than the clean crisp mountain air of my homeland."

He eyes the man with suspicion.

How do the prayers look? Genuine?

Religion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Clement, a bit touched in the mind himself, glances about the room at the scrawlings as he takes Bibic's own advice and turns to descend to fresh air.

@Bibic:I think you've hit most of the important stuff on the upper levels, but you haven't checked every room yet, if you want to be thorough. I posted a list of rooms a while back before you restored Koriah.

@Clement: They are legitimate prayers for protection.

Casamir nods. "If you believe that it is safe outside. I could use the fresh air."

*Outside*

"You may call be Casamir. A pleasure to meet you. Koriah says that you're all Pathfinders and formidable ones at that. As for how long I've been inside? It's been about two weeks since the initial assault. We were betrayed from within by Zolerim, the abbey's representative of Nethys. He broke the Windsong Truce and let the invaders in."

To Spasi he says, "Koriah came to rescue me. I was able to contact her magically, but then I could no longer make contact. I feared the worst. Thankfully she was just petrified. If you are referring to the Pharasmae's windows, they were installed when the Pharus Pharasmae was first constructed some 500 years ago. I can't say why the builders felt the need to have a light house so well defended, but I'm thankful they did."

"Uh, yeah I mean, that's good. Uh, what's the Windsong Truce? And where is Zolerim now?"

"And what is all the graffiti about? Was that you?" Spasi asks follow-ups to Rhesus good questions.

"And also, what were you doing here again?"

Bibic is glad to be in the fresh air. "Two weeks is a long time. Is there anything here you require? There are a few more rooms to check, but it should largely be safe now."

He suggests they collect these two's belongings and take them to the safety of a nearby town.

Clement digs through their packs and offers the man some food. He assumes he was capable of praying for his own fresh water.

"You must be famished?"

He nods as the Pathfinder connection is established. Clement, perhaps influenced by Spasi's lack of respect for authority, finds no issue using their venture captain's first name as if he was a longtime friend of hers. Nonetheless, he seems to be building trust for Casamir despite his recent odd accommodations.

"Sheila dispatched us here to look for a magic shard attuned to envy. She gave us one of the stones to pair with it too.."

Clem digs around before producing the dusty rose colored stone.

Re: Rhesus:

"This abbey is, well was I guess, a place were the clergy of all faiths could meet and discuss theological matters. The truce guaranteed that the priests of opposing faiths would not try to murder each other in their sleep. The last time it was broken was when Aroden died. The priest of Pharasma went mad and slew many of the other priests. The abbey has never really recovered and now he has returned to finish what he started. The leader of the assault was Ardathanatus the same priest responsible for those murders more than a century ago. "

"As for where Zolerim is, I suspect he is with Ardathanatus. The abbey was built on the ruins of an ancient temple to Groteus. If I was a betting man, I would guess that's where you could find them."

re: Spasi:

"I was beseeching Desna for deliverance and protection. I appears that my prayers were answered. As for why I am here, I live here. This my home. I am the abbey's resident member of the church of Desna and presumably the last remaining member of the counsel."

Re: Bibic:

"You're right, it might be best is we regrouped elsewhere."

Koriah will argue that she should go with you into the bowels of the abbey, but won't press the issue if you're not interested in her aid. The pair will decamp to the Sandpoint inn.

RE: Clement

"My magic sustains me. Unfortunately, Desna hasn't blessed me with any means of removing the byproducts of sustenance." He can cast create food and water

"I don't know about envy, but I did catch sight of Ardathanatus wielding a triangular metal shard of some sort. He may have what you seek."