GM Fuskee's #4-07 Severing Ties

Game Master Maar the Volcano Monk

Although severely discouraged, Lucent makes one more attempt at the contest...
Barstool Lift: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Six Cup Balance: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
...and fails once again to hold the stool up.

Two new contestants take the place of the other two, as they had a wedding to attend...

Strength of Beardy Strengtherman attempting an entire sideboard: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Dex of Beardy Strengtherman attempting 6 cups: 1d20 ⇒ 20

and

Strength of Benedict Cumberbatch attempting a table: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Dex of Cumberb~!#! attempting 3 cups: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Beardy almost gets the sideboard off the ground but it tips over and beer goes everywhere, causing Benedict Cumberbatch to slip and fall, losing his grip on the table which causes more alcohol to fall off the table on the ground.

Raphael and Eradan tie, so the crowd begins to cheer for a drink-off.

Eradan's Chugging: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Raphael's Chugging: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Raphael is unable to keep up with the drinking power of a giant talking bird, and loses.

Eradan who is here in spirit chooses the sacred mug as his prize. Arnando congratulates him and goes behind the bar to grab the mug, while also grabbing the last prize for the runner-up, Raphael.

It's just extra gold on your Chronicle, you lost some to the Trout

"Huzzah! Well done, comrades! Today, Kurgess felt it best to bless my friends with a victory. For this I am thankful. Father always said that even in Kurgess' grace, every dog may have its day."

Linux claps his friends on their shoulders with one hand while slamming down another fresh mug of ale with the other.

"Shall we move on then?"

Eradan shakes the hand of the barkeep and thanks him for the enjoyable contest when he grabs the mug. He buys himself a final ale and makes his way over to the rest of the party. "Aye Linux, let us move on. Hopefully this next temple is as fun as this one was."

"Well, it is called The House of the Silken Veil, so I imagine it offers at least one type of ...fun" Raphael replies with a nod. "Let's be off"

The party travels to the House of the Silken Veil…

Upon first glance, it is hard to imagine the House of the Silken Veil as a brothel. It is a large, grimy marble building topped with an ugly blood-red steeple. Nevertheless, its three entrances are each hung with freshly laundered curtains and the heavy, floral smell of incense wafts from the building.

As the group enters, they’re greeted by resident prostitutes and attendants, most of them surrounding Linux and Lucent, asking if they’re looking for a good time.

What do you do?

"Strictly business today, I'm afraid" Lucent says with a chuckle. "Is there someone in charge here, by chance?"

"And who gives you the authority to barge in here like some sort of animal and demand things?" One of the patrons working near the front door addresses Lucent.

Lucent flashes his badge. "Aspis Consortium agents, m'am. We're here to collect on a debt. A missive was delivered here stating that we'll be taking a magical item as payment tonight" he explains, in his best authoritative voice.

The patron rolls his eyes, "Excuse you, I am no m'am..." and leans in for a whisper "...but for the right price I could be, tee hee." The fawning attendant motions the group to follow, "Shorafa Pamodae will see you then." he says as he begins pushing prostitutes out of his way towards a room in the back of the House of the Silken Veil.

You all enter through an array of colorful curtains and meet a female tiefling. She greets you and asks you to sit on the various piles of pillows that take most of the floor and gives an enticing smile to the three males, not so much the one resembling Big Bird, "I hope my girls have been hospitable, please, have some wine, a sign of my respect for the Aspis Consortium." she snaps her fingers and two girls walk in, each holding a bottle of red wine, already uncorked.

Eradan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Linux: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Lucent: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Raphael: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Insert here what you'd like to do while the girls are going around offering you wine. I'll tell you what happens but she keeps talking.

"Please, stay for awhile, finish the wine, and enjoy the girls." she gives a short laugh, "Not just the two of them, of course. You each can have as many as you'd like. BUT, in return, all I request is that Thestil Shadowtongue signs a little document of mine, stating that her temple's debt has been repaid in full, including the past-due interest."

Also Paul, your Sense Motive is +1, your trait, you picked Perception, and the +1 only goes to the skill you picked, if I'm reading it right.

"Ahh, I'm sure Thestil here would love to sign that document of yours, after you give us the magical dagger we came to collect."

"Why is this filthy unintelligent beast speaking to me?" She turns to the others, "The dagger was to repay my debt, but with your signature I won't have to part with it. Surely YOU three understand this?"

Lucent politely refuses the wine from the serving girl. "Thank you, I'm not thirsty" he says to her.
In response to Shorafa's outburst, Lucent replies, "Yes, I understand... You wish that you could bribe a few agents and make all your debt disappear. But you must realize it doesn't work like that. We have superiors who are expecting real payment. What would we bring them? Stories of the wonderful time we enjoyed here? I think you understand why giving us the dagger is the only real solution."

Diplo check?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"The legendary Thestil Shadowtongue doesn't have the authority to pardon a debt?" She rolls her eyes at him. "Very well." She motions for one of the serving girls to leave the room and return with a locked iron case, a glass top reveals a dagger inside that is shaped like a wasp's stinger.

Linux Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Linux can tell that the wasp is a symbol of Calistria, and this is probably the dagger you're meant to get.

"One of my girls seems to have lost the key, so if Jenk wants it, he'll have to get the lock open on his own." Shorafa then waves for her attendants to escort the party from the brothel.

"That appears to be the dagger in question. Madam, in the future, I would suggest that you not get into bed with the Consortium. It does not a beneficial union make if you do not intend to pay your debt owed.", Linux smirks and winks at Shorafa. "I am sure Jenk will be able to bet into you box when it pleases him."

Linux snickers at his unusual cleverness as they begin to exit the chamber.

Stunned into silence by the presence of so many scantily clad women, Raphael follows the party out of the chamber.

Once out of the Silken Veil Eradan turns to his friends. "Well it seems we have all the items we need, shall we head back then?"

"Aye, let us make our delivery and proceed with the mission."

The group returns to Jenk and “Thestil Shadowtongue” hands him the three items. He doesn’t take them, and instead shares a note from “The Spider”.

Agent Jenk,
You demonstrate excellent initiative in collecting our overdue debts and offering them as gifts to the Lissalans. This way, we can start to stem the hemorrhage of our goodwill with the Lissalans for very little actual cost to the Consortium. Deliver the items to the Lashmistress at the Lissalan safe house with our best wishes for future negotiations. If Thestil Shadowtongue’s team has impressed you, they can make the delivery in your stead, but be sure they understand that the situation is politically tenuous. Indelicacy here could do us serious damage.

The Lissalans remain paranoid, secretive, and edgy. Tread carefully, so we can turn this situation around. Success so soon after our arrival in Riddleport would mean accolades for me, and thus for you.

After reading the note to everyone, Jenk requests that you deliver the three magical items to the Lissalan cultists in their secret lair, underneath the tattoo parlor named “Seven Needles”. Jenk asks that you leave immediately so the opportunity to make amends with the Lissalans doesn’t grow stale.

"Consider it done. The Lissalans shall have these gifts and our best wishes." Lucent says, ulterior-motively.

"Indeed! Methinks we should proceed into the Lissalans' lair with a show of respect and humility. For once, I believe that should approach this challenge with finesse instead of force. What say you, Master Pendragon?"

"I concur Linux. As members of the Aspis Consortium we must be diplomatic and honorable in this endeavour. After all it is our duty to represent the Aspis Consortium, of which we are members, to the fullest."

lets try and post this for the fourth time...

Moving on, assuming nobody had any questions for the guy

Eradan nods to Jenks and leads the group out. Once the group is far enough away from the Consortium, Eradan looks around to make sure that there is no unwanted listeners. Perception!: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Once he is sure that they are safe, Eradan turns to the rest of the party and whispers, "So lads, how do you suppose we do this sabotage?"

Waiting on you all.

"We should probably head to the lair and see what the layout is, maybe we will be able to ascertain some weaknesses" says Raphael, urging the party to venture on to the Lissalan's lair.

"Raphael, have you had time to inspect this dagger or mug? If they have magical properties, we may be able to use them to our own advantage." Lucent looks them over and ponders.
"Perhaps we should just keep these and deliver non-magical items to the Lissalans? Or worse, cursed items! Maybe just boxes of dung! That'd be sure to harm relations!"
Lucent calms back down a bit and says to Raphael, "You could be right though... perhaps we just need to scout the safe house and figure it out as we go?"

Lucent wonders if there really are any shops where one might pawn magical items and purchase cursed ones...
Untrained Knowledge (local): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19

"Since we need to sabotage this transaction, I would agree that we deliver these artifacts to the Pathfinder Society when our mission is complete. In the meantime, we could possibly burn down the tattoo parlor that functions as the entrance to the Lissalan's lair and leave an article that would incriminate the Consortium for the travesty!", Linus excitedly plots.

This is a fairly large town, and you've heard of a few shops that have the possibility of selling cursed items, but they are far out of your price range.

The world spins and waits as the party spends the good part of a week deciding on what they want to do. The Lissalans have surely left by now, and the party is suffering from exhaustion, sleep deprivation, starvation and dehydration.

You all snap out of the same daydream and look at each other, figuring one of you should take command and lead the party.

Eradan smiles at his friends after there suggestions. "Hmm these are all very good ideas I say, I do very much like Lucent's, however the whole in that plan is if they verify the items as soon as we deliver them. Linux's isn't too bad either, chances are it won't harm many of the Lissalan's. Though is it enough damage to strain the relationship between the two factions? As much as I loathe to give these magical items to them, I feel we might not have much choice on that. I do believe Raphael is right though, our best bet right now would probably be to scout out the place and see what we see, perhaps the perfect sabotage will jump out to us when we arrive."

Unless any objections I think it's safe to move on to the Lissalan's

"Well said! Let's be off, as the hour grows late!"
Lucent hurries on toward the "Seven Needles".

Tenements sprawl across the portion of the Wharf District between Zincher’s Arena and the solid-looking Gas Forges. A shop with a sign reading “Seven Needles” stands at the end of a dim, trash-strewn alley. The tattoo parlor is abandoned, its windows cracked and portions of its wooden trim looking like they were removed long ago.

6: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
7: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
8: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
9: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

You enter the abandoned shop and Eradan notices footprints in the dust that coats almost the entire floor. Other than that, you hear nothing around.

6: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
7: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
8: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
9: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Eradan and Linux find a concealed trap door as you guys wander about, since nobody is in here. When you all make your way down the stairs, you find some secret underground tunnels which is probably the safe house you're meant to find.

Map is up, use the link under my name. Do not be retarded and move boxes or mess them up. If you accidentally click on one and drag it, just Ctrl Z to Undo and move it back.

Lucent whispers to Eradan, "Want to scout ahead? Slip down to the end of this hallway and see if you can hear anyone."
With a small gesture, Lucent casts Guidance on Eradan to give him +1 on his next check.

"Aye, and I shall follow thee, Master Eradan."

Eradan nods to Lucent, then he whispers to the others "Aye, everyone wait here, I shall see what I see and come back, then chances are we'll all move up together."

Eradan then begins to try and stealth a bit down the hallway to see if he can see or hear anything.

Double Move: 30' (half speed due to stealthin)

Steath!: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

As Eradan sneaks up the corridor, Raphael peers after him attempting to discern anything useful.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

You both see a hallway.

Responding to Eradan's and Raphael's observations, Lucent responds, "Yes, it's a hallway, I can see that. But what is around the corner?"
Lucent casts Guidance, and quietly moves to the end of the hallway, (at half-speed, of course) and peeks around the corner.
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Before Lucent can make it to the end of the hallway, he crosses over the circle directly in front of Eradan and triggers a trap! The trap goes off, casting a spell on the wall directly to the left of Lucent and Eradan, and it begins to melt away revealing a large caged area with a medium-sized lizard inside. The creature snarls at the uninvited guest and locks eyes with Lucent as he's looking over at the wall when it disappears.

DC 15 Fortitude Save or you’re turned to stone permanently.

DC 15 Knowledge Arcana to figure out what it is and get one question. For every 5 past the DC, you get another question.

The cage door next to the two of them looks to be locked, and will require someone to disable the lock or you’ll have to break it down with your strength. Eradan can see enough around the corner to see more caged doors which look exactly the same as this one.

Door to the left to the creature looks the same as the door at the end of the hallway, locked bars that will require some ingenuity to get past them.

Initiative Lucent: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Initiative Eradan: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Initiative Raphael: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Initiative Linux: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3
Initiative Lizard: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Round 1:
Raphael: Go (Remember to roll Knowledge Arcana since you're the only one that has it, and make your questions count. :P)
Lizard: Waiting
Lucent: Fort Save
Eradan: Waiting
Linux: Waiting

Hearing the snarl of an unfamiliar creature, Raphael moves up to the party to investigate. Looking through the now open door he spies the creature....

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Recognizing the creature, he realizes the danger and frantically tries to recall how to reverse its gaze attack. When he recalls the knowledge he shares it with the group.

Then, averting his gaze from the creature and tracking its movements by watching its shadow Raphael raises his arms and casts a spell he knows will find its own way to the enemy.

Toppling Magic Missile 1 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Toppling Magic Missile 1 Trip Attempt: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 3 = 10

Toppling Magic Missile 2 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Toppling Magic Missile 2 Trip Attempt: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 3 = 15

Fort Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Lucent finds that he can't seem to look away from the lizard. In fact, he can't seem to move at all, or even breathe...

Raphael recognizes this as a basilisk, a young one, and knows exactly about its gaze attack and on how to reverse it!

Gaze (Ex) Turn to stone permanently (as flesh to stone), range 30 feet, Fortitude DC 15 negates. A creature petrified in this matter that is then coated (not just splashed) with fresh basilisk blood (taken from a basilisk no more than 1 hour dead) is instantly restored to flesh. A single basilisk contains enough blood to coat 1d3 Medium creatures in this manner. The save DC is Constitution-based.

The missiles strike into the creature, but as it’s on 8 legs it’ll be VERY hard to trip or knock prone. The creature retaliates by turning its gaze towards Raphael on its turn.

DC 15 Fort, well you can read above.

Round 1:
Raphael: Fired missiles, Identified creature
Basilisk: Turning Raphael into stone.
Lucent: Stoned.
Eradan: Go
Linux: Go

Eradan, seeing his friend turn to stone, quickly grabs his bow and let's loose an arrow into the beast!

Move Action: Draw Bow
Standard Action: Fire Bow

PBS Attack!: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 = 15
PBS Damage!: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Doing some research because that Basilisk is ridiculous, the save DC is actually 13, but Lucent still fails.

Eradan fires an arrow at the basilisk but the arrow harmlessly bounces off of the natural armor covering the beast.

You'll also get a soft cover penalty because of the bars.

Actually Paul, because it's a Young Basilisk, it's CR 4, so you'll get 2 questions. You already asked about special abilities, he has the gaze and I'll also give you that he has Blind-Fighting, because it won't matter. Go ahead and ask one more question.

There are cage bars blocking the path between the party and the basilisk, allowing it to look through at you guys but restricting access to it. The door at the entrance to the hallway is locked, but we'll say that the rest of the doors heading into the area are all open.

Because that would suck having to go through two doors while it's Gazing at you.

Linux raises his shield up in front of his face and moves up to the edge of the bars keeping the party from reaching their new foe. Avoiding the gaze of the beast after seeing his friend become a statue and his friends' cries, he considers his options.

"I hath not a projectile weapon to assist in slaying this monster! What can I do to help?!"

Looking at this I get a 50% chance not to have to make a save, correct? What's the best way to roll it? Or, can I just close my eyes to avoid having to make the save (Granted the creature would then have total concealment for that turn)?

Also, can Linux take Lucent's bow or is that stone as well?

Sure, if you'd like to avert your eyes, I'll assume that when you identified the creature and learned about the gaze attack, you all decided to avert your gaze at least, if not closing your eyes. If you do that, you get no attack though. So your spell wouldn't have gone off.

Linux: Choose whether you want to close your eyes, or avert your gaze from the basilisk. If you choose to avert your gaze, I want your first roll on your next post to be your Fortitude save, because thanks to Mr Paul here and his looking up stuff, I find out that you all have to make saves every turn if you're in range at the start of your turn. After you roll your save, you can either Disable Device the door or make a Strength check to bend the bars. You can also try hacking through the metal bars.

Raphael: Choose whether you want to close your eyes or avert your gaze from when you identified the creature. If you choose to close your eyes, you get no attack and since you're redacting your action you get no other action. If you choose to avert your gaze, roll 1d100 and low is good, so 51-100 you need to make a Fort Save. If you choose to avert your gaze, the beginning of your turn is his passive Gaze, and he will actively Gaze on his turn so make another 1d100 roll, same effect as above, and make another Fort Save.

Eradan: Choose whether you wanted to close your eyes or avert your gaze at the start of your last turn. If you averted, roll 1d100, on 51-100 make me a Fort save for the passive Gaze attack. If you chose to close your eyes, you get no attack but you can go back and take another action. If you avert your gaze, make a 1d100 roll for your attack, on 1-20 you miss because of concealment.

As the stone magic begins to work on his mind, Lucent starts to think about how much he likes statues, and how becoming one wouldn't be so bad. If only he had gotten time to pose...

Previously on "Severing Ties"....

Raphael's turn

Passive Gaze Miss Chance 1: 1d100 ⇒ 45

Raphael averts his gaze from the creature after identifying it. After remembering how how to reverse its gaze attack, Raphael tries to recall whether it has any weaknesses that he can take advantage of.

Basilisk's turn

Active Gaze Miss Chance 1: 1d100 ⇒ 96

Raphael locks eyes with the creature...

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

...but manages to resist its gaze.

The adventure continues...

Raphael again tries to avert his eyes from the creature's terrible gaze.

Passive Gaze Miss Chance 2: 1d100 ⇒ 27

Years of studying in solitude gives Raphael a natural advantage to awkwardly avoid looking people in the eyes and successfully he averts his gaze from the basilisk.

Drawing his crossbow he takes a shot at the basilisk...

Basilisk Concealment Chance (presuming low is good again): 1d100 ⇒ 8

...manages to aim in the direction of the monster...

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 2 - 4 = 15

And possibly scores a hit!

damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Lol ok, i think that's everything caught up for Raphael. There's one more wrinkle though; should Lucent have gotten a save to avert his gaze at the very beginning? If he did (and he made it) it would change the combat as I'd suggest just walking past the creature with our eyes closed, it doesn't look like we need to actually fight it.