GMG's GD5 special: The Sky Key Solution [Tier 3-4] (Inactive)

Game Master Magabeus

Sigríðr comments, "I am fine wi' the vault as well, but if we don't destroy the anchors, we may be 'ere awhile. At least 'til that thing 'its us.

It's possible that if we control the sky key, we no longer need to concern ourselves with the anchors -- plus I'm sure other Pathfinders can take care of that. Getting Arodeth out of the way seems to be key to fixing all of this.

You move to the entrance to the vault and go down the stairs.

Veins of strange metal line the walls of this massive chamber. Enormous bronze devices connected to the walls by massive cables spark and spew steam, almost obscuring the large vault door at the far end of the room. The door is labeled with a single word in a plethora of languages: DANGER

Stagnant water collects at the bottom of a ten-foot wide pool in the middle of the room. A gasping, bleeding elf who looks like an aged version of Kreighton Shane lies across the room. In the room you see three humans and a creature that looks like a dark storm cloud, with sparks suggesting eyes and long sweeping arms charged with bolts of lightning.

Initiative
Girzog (on stairs)
Dekion (on stairs)
- - -
Enemy
- - -
Kiddrik
Vash (above stairs)
Sigríðr
Belvica

Is the cloud thing standing by the lightning on the map? Where is the elf in comparison to us and the other 3 humans?

I have put both on the map with text and an arrow

you state I'm "on stairs". Does this mean I start where my token is located or where Girzog is now (see arrow on map). I'm trying to determine if I can reach the cloud with a double move.

What I meant was that Kiddrick (not you, I switched you in my head) is on stairs and that he needs to take that into account when he moves. Sorry for the confusion

Dekion surveys the room trying to determine what they are up against.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 What class to I think the humans are?

"What is that thing?" he asks before starting to move. "I don't think I'm going to like this," he thinks as he quickly moves around the pool to get next to the cloud.

double move

Girzog rushes in with Dekkion

I don't know what it is, but I imagine it's best we not let it stick around!

Two of the humans are wearing a breastplate, are armed with a heavy crossbow and longsword and also carry a shield. The other is wearing studded leather and has a light crossbow and a rapier.

The human in studded leather pulls out a scroll and starts to read it.

Attack vs Dekion: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 1 = 5
Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13
Attack vs Girzog: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 1 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12

The two other humans pull their swords and move towards Dekion and Girzog. They attack wildly and miss.

Attack vs Dekion: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 3 = 10
Damage: 1d4 + 1d3 ⇒ (1) + (2) = 3

The cloud thing tries to hit Dekion. Sparks move over his full plate in a frightening pattern, but no harm befalls the human.

Initiative
Girzog
Dekion
Kiddrik
Vash
Sigríðr
Belvica
- - -
Enemy
- - -

Know (Planes), DC 11: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20; we'll go with the no flank/crit knowledge, as it's the only usable info for this crew.

Kiddrik rushes down the stairs, taking in the scene as quickly as he can. He points to the cloud-thing with his spear, "That's an air elemental! It's got no weak spots and flanking will do no good!"

Then, switching tactics, he points at the man engaging Girzog, his tone becoming imperious and commanding. "Attack your buddies, fella!"

Move down the stairs as far as possible in a single turn, then cast Murderous Command no the human next to Girzog. Will DC15 or he attacks the elemental.

Belvica moves to attack the nearest enemy 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 if hits 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Sigríðr aggressively pushes her way towards combat, shield in one hand, pick in the other.

Double move

After easily stepping out of the way of the human's wild attack, Dekion cringes in anticipation of the attack from the elemental. Relieved that the lightning just made some sparks, he attacks the elemental, not wanting to know what would happen if it connects.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 2 = 21
Damage(S): 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 4 = 15

Dekion hits the elemental, sending it back to whatever plane it came from! Belvica hits one of the guards with a mighty swing from her axe.

The man again tries to read the scroll, a moment later it disappears in puff of smoke.

Attack vs Dekion: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 1 + 1 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 2 = 8

Attack vs Girzog: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 1 + 1 = 6
Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13

The two sword-wielding humans attack Dekion and Girzog and miss again!

Initiative
Girzog
Dekion
Kiddrik
Vash
Sigríðr
Belvica
- - -
Enemy
- - -

Wait, did Kiddrik's Murderous Command do anything on the guy attacking Girzog?

Girzog laughs as he dodges the spells and weapons coming his way

Did you really think we'd be that easy to catch?

Claw: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Crit Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Claw: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Happy that he was able to dispatch the elemental easily, Dekion turns his attention to the fighter attacking him.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 2 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 = 16

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 - 2 = 10 :( that would have been awesome.
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 4 = 18

Thanks for the reminder Kiddrik!

Murderous command will safe: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Suddenly you are enveloped in a sickly green aura and time shifts again. This time just a matter of seconds as you experience that the guy who attacked Girzog is now taking a step towards his companion.

Girzog claws open the face of the man while he passes
Claw: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Claw: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

And Belvica tries to bring her axe up in time, unfortunately the man is just too quick!
Axe: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Damage: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

The sickly green aura disappears and Girzog steps in to bring the man down! Girzog looks up and sees that Dekion does the same to the other!

Initiative
Kiddrik
Vash
Sigríðr
Belvica
- - -
Enemy
- - -
Girzog
Dekion

Belvica double moves.

Kiddrik and Aska hustle in, rushing towards the aged pathfinder on the floor.

Double move.

Vash and Milly Fly into the room. Vash casts a spell. Lead Blades. Also which ones are the enemies?

Sigríðr cautiously moves towards the Master of Scrolls and stands over his body keeping a careful eye on their surroundings.

Standard: Cast Shield of Faith
Move: 20' movement

Vash, enemy in red outline

The man steps between the two sparking columns, although sparks wash over him noting bad seems to happen. He produces another scroll, tries to make sense of it and throws it on the ground in frustration.

UMD: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Initiative
Kiddrik
Vash
Sigríðr
Belvica
Girzog
Dekion
- - -
Enemy (in red outline for Vash)
- - -

Belvica charges the enemy with her waraxe 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 2 = 21 if hits 1d10 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12 and 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10 from rhino armor.

Belvica slashes the human in small bits!

“Good show, Pathfinders,” the injured form of Kreighton Shaine manages between blood-soaked coughs. “But Lady Arodeth is a true savant and driven to fanatical extremes. The same energies that infected her casters above have also seized her soul, and I fear she has already killed several of your fellow chroniclers. Or will have killed them. Blast, but this is confusing.”

Shaine props himself up to continue speaking. “However noble her goals may have been, if Lady Arodeth forces us to remain in this time, we will all die. If the Sky Key is still functional, we must reactivate it before the Starstone arrives.”

The machines in this chamber begin to spark and smoke, and female bodies take shape from the green miasma. Shaine continues, “She has learned to create temporal copies of herself, as I have. She can produce an army, left unchecked. Some teams will need to hold the line here, in this chamber, so that anyone confronting the true Lady Arodeth in the room beyond isn’t overwhelmed by these simulacra. Meanwhile your team needs to go back up to confront the other anchors so that we can safely activate the Sky Key. Get on with it, the Starstone is almost upon us!"

At the entrance to the Vault you run across a grizzled man who looks to be a mercenary of sorts. A magical green aura surrounds the man as he his frantic eyes dart left and right before locking on you all. The temporal energy seems to have taken root as he takes considerable pride
in a job well done.

Driven to extremes by his infestation of temporal energy, the man’s arcane power and pride have fused into suspiciously draconic urges, driving him to loot the stalls and shops of the panicked Azlanti citizens and guard his “hoard” with fanatical devotion. He screams at you from a good distance as several conjured lightning elementals flock to his side. I am Romnus and you won't take my trophies!

With his sizeable pile of loot Romnus looks to be pretty susceptible to bribes as well.

Influence-need 2 successes Bluff, Diplomacy, Perform (any). And RP as necessary.

Kiddrik’s eyebrows rise at the size of the man’s loot pile, but his attention is drawn to his strange behavior and gathering elemental buddies. He slows down, raising both hands in a calming manner.

”Listen, buddy, we don’t want any problems. In fact, we’re here to help. Why don’t we all calm down and figure out the best way to survive this whole thing. It’s the only way you’re going to get to enjoy that pile of … goods, huh?”

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

Can I make a second attempt? or does each character only get one skill check?

Dekion nods in agreement to Kiddrik's statement. "Yeah, we're not interested in your trophies. We are just trying to get away from the Starstone. If we are still here when it arrives, there won't be anything left," he says while pointing to the comet in the sky.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Romnus calms at Kiddrik's words and sits down on his pile "Yeah, I sure want to enjoy everything!"

Then Dekion opens his mouth and the man stands up. He looks around the area "No time left! You are right! I need to add to this pile, nobody will say I died as poor as I was when I was born!"

Kiddrik: yes, you can make several attempts

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

Sigríðr is clearly frustrated everybody just wants to talk, but she does try to "help". She starts shouting, "YOU WANNA DIE 'ERE? NO? THEN GIT OFF YER BEHIND AN LEAVE WI' WHAT YA GOT! COME ON, WE AIN'T GOT TIME FER THIS!"

Kiddrik suppresses a sigh, but plows forward, trying to build on his teammates' attempts. "Which is to say, there ... uh, Romnus, that this situation is deadly serious. The locals don't seem to know how to keep themselves and their stuff safe through it." He steps forward, nodding to the man emphatically, "What they need is a big damn hero. Can you just imagine how important such a person would be? IF they helped save a whole city? Man, I can only imagine what such a hero would deserve."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

"YOU DON'T HAVE TIME FOR THIS?! THEN STOP BOTHERING ME!"

Kiddrik desperately tries to rescue the situation but is too late. The man snaps his fingers and suddenly there are six of him!

"KILL THEM MY BEAUTIES!"

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The two elementals move forward to the dwarves and try to hit them. Sigríðr's armor can not stop the sparks from connecting her flesh while Belvica's armor is just slightly sturdier. Or did the elemental attack with less gusto?

Attack vs Sigríðr: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 1d3 ⇒ (3) + (2) = 5
Attack vs Belvica: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 1d3 ⇒ (1) + (2) = 3

Initiative
Kiddrik quickly sees that these are also small lightning elementals
Kiddrik
Vash
Dekion
Sigríðr 32/35 hp
Girzog
Belvica
- - -
Elementals
Romnus (+5 images)

Sometimes failure at a skill check (or two) has consequences....

Sorry, was trying to move things along and did so before I knew Kiddrik could try again since I knew he was the only one of us who had any social skills. Oh well, this is what we do best.

Disappointed in himself for not letting Kiddrik take care of the situation, Dekion moves up to attack the elemental that attacked Sigrid.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Suddenly, yet again in the midst of all that is going on, it seems the heaven's themselves have heard your unsounded call for help, and a rift forms in the ghostly green energies forming a barrier around the ancient town. From beyond the rift, a bolt of lightning also strikes, but this one coming from beyond, cutting through the temporal pearl that you and countless other Pathfinders and Harbingers are caught within as the sign of the end, that comet that will one day be the central stone upon which all of Absolam stands flies closer. As the Green Lightning splinters the sky, and sizzles the ground just before you as it strikes, you notice this discharge is different from all you have seen, more of a darker, almost emerald coloration, and once it is gone, it leaves a small, silvery-colored coin. Not a piece of currency, but rather something, a trinket that seems more similar to a holy icon or relic, upon it you see the stamp of the Glyph of the Open Road.

Table 29 is passing you an Aid Token. Enjoy and do not die. . . :P

Kiddrik shows why he does not like to talk and completely kills an elemental!

Initiative
YOU HAVE AN AID TOKEN
Kiddrik
Vash
Dekion
Sigríðr 32/35 hp
Girzog
Belvica
- - -
Elemental
Romnus (+5 images)

Kiddrik rips off a few expletives, then steps forward, clearing a stabbing lane to distract the remaining elemental so Belvica can try to finish it off.

Move forward, then Aid Another on Belvica's next attack on the elemental.
longspear, DC10: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12; +5 to Belvica's next attack vs. elemental.

Adn I vote we go ahead and use the Aid as an Inspire for the next few rounds. That's an option, right?

Yes: Timely Inspiration: A Pathfinder agent provides the effects of a bard’s inspire courage bardic performance for 3 rounds. In Subtiers 1–2 and 3–4, the competence bonus is +1.

You notice the palpable tension in the air as the starstone gets closer and closer. Pathfinder agents are rushing by to deal with dinosaurs that suddenly find themselves near the entrance to the vault.

The Harbingers’ tampering has overloaded the Sky Key, creating extremely large and dangerous fluctuations in the temporal bubble that traps the Pathfinder Society in the past. As the gathering eddies of time collide, they form momentary breaches in reality, dumping creatures and hazards from other points in Golarion’s history into the 'current' time and place.

Sigríðr looks pleased that the stupid human has shut up about whatever he was droning on about. She focuses her might, "DRANGVIIT PROTECT ME!"

Walzing casually past the creature that tried to hit her, she flanks and swings.

Swift: Judgement Fast Healing 1
Move: 10' movement provoking AoO
Standard: Pick Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 17 Pick Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

You were flatfooted, therefore you got hit..

Belvica swingse her waraxe, flanking 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 2 = 27 if hit 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Attack vs Sigríðr: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Damage: 1d4 + 1d3 ⇒ (3) + (3) = 6

The elemental tries to hit Sigríðr but fails miserably. Sigríðr does not and Belvica finishes the sparking thing.

Initiative
Inspire Courage active: +1 on to hit and damage rolls
Vash
Girzog
- - -
Romnus (+5 images)
- - -
Dekion
Sigríðr 32/35 hp
Kiddrik
Belvica

The green dome overhead ripples and flexes, visibly weakened but still present. The same woman’s voice from earlier booms from everywhere and nowhere at once.

“This… this isn’t what I wanted. I wanted a world with purpose again—with certainty. But I suppose there is no greater way to die than in the same fiery cataclysm that marked Aroden’s first step toward divinity. Join me in martyrdom, Pathfinders, and try to die with some dignity.”

Tables, we no longer need any anchors successes! All that's left is to retake the vault!

are we still fighting Romnus?

Kiddrik / AGamer70: that is up to you...

Girzog and Vash stand by, not knowing what to make of Arodeth's message.
It seems that Romnus only wants to defend his trophies. He currently does not make any move towards you.

GO AWAY!

Initiative
Inspire Courage active: +1 on to hit and damage rolls
Dekion
Sigríðr 32/35 hp
Kiddrik
Belvica
Vash
Girzog
- - -
Romnus (+5 images)
- - -

Edit: forgot to reset initiative

In Dwarven

I edited my post

If you need new initiative 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

The party can act, no new initiative needed

You can either do a tactical retreat since success here won't contribute to the greater good (and there are other things to do) or to make it clear to this guy that pathfinders should not be messed with

Kiddrik falls back, giving the man one final look. "I don't see the need for more blood here. We have more important things to deal with."

Tactical retreat