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

Game Master Magabeus

back to the vault

Kiddrik berates Dekion and Sigríðr for not letting him handle this by diplomacy and you head back to the vault, going through the second door.

Heavy walls and strange panels in this room all focus on the strange orrery in its center. Raised on a small dais, and separated from the rest of the room by a wide trench, the device oozes a thick, emerald light. The air smells of ozone, like standing amid a roaring thunderstorm.

In the middle of the room a woman stands with a staff in her hand. She radiates power, but also seems to be in doubt. You know you have been able to some of her harbingers release the temporal magics they were holding. Are you able to talk Lady Arodeth out of her plans?

The PCs can use the following skills in order to persuade Lady Arodeth away from her destructive path, rekindle her sense of duty, or recall some of the beauty in the world despite the absence of fate and prophecy: Bluff, Diplomacy, Heal, Knowledge (history, nobility, or religion), Perform (any), Profession (any), and Sense Motive. A PC cannot use the same skill more than once, though other PCs can use that skill

You need 5 successes and being stupid more than once might cause her to attack (Trust me: you really don't want that)

Heal 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Knowledge Nature 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Belvica walks up to the woman and offers her knowledge of healing herbs. She even shares some from her backpack. While Lady Arodeth is very defensive at first, even beginning preparations to cast a spell she slowly calms.

You are off to a good start!

"Miss Arodeth," Kiddrik says calmly as he approaches, his spear point held away from her, "I know you don't want us meddling here, but we're not your enemies. We all just want to get home safely. That comet isn't going to further your cause. It'all just set everything back. Just like with Earthfall. It's just senseless destruction, and it can be stopped. But we could really use your help. You can save so many lives. Surely that's what Aroden would have wanted, right? Let's fix this."

know (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

one more!

I have no positive modifiers in any of those skills. Looks like Sigrid or Girzog might have a chance.

Or can I take another shot at getting us across the finish line on this one, GMG? I don't want to hog the spotlight, but then again, if no one else has appropriate skills, Kiddrik is happy to step up.

Go ahead Kiddrik, as long as it is a different skill

"We can change this," Kiddrik continues, casting about for any reason for the woman to relent, even going so far as to mention any historical details about Aroden that he thinks might help in the persuasion.

know (history): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15; hmmm. Not great, but hopefully good enough.

Sorry guys, a weekend event took me away earlier than planned and I didn't have a chance to update any PbPs or say to bot

Girzog will try and tell her about various important events from history, trying to convince her of many good things that her plans would prevent from happen I'd go for Profession, but I get the feeling showing off any prowess as a gladiator isn't a good way to stop violence...

History: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Vash tries to get a read on her and how she is feeling.

As Pathfinders defeat the furious simulacra, they disperse into foul mist that screams in anger before fading away entirely. Nearby, the true Lady Arodeth seems shaken by the destruction of her miasmic doppelgangers, and their deaths seem to sap her of her zealous rage.

Table GMs, this is Code Green. Code Green is in effect.

The Lady Arodeth sits down, dropping her staff. "You are right, this has gone too far. It seems that the Book of 1,000 whispers was not the prophecy to follow. It has guided me here, but I have to let go and take control."

She stands up again and moves to the controls on the Sky Key

“I have learned something of these controls, and I fear the damage my Heralds and I have inflicted in our zealotry has damaged your Sky Key. It now acts less as a projector and instead like a bridge… And a bridge must be anchored at both ends. For any of you to return now, something someone—must remain behind or else the path home will collapse.

“I have earned this fate. As I said before, I can think of no finer way to die than in the fiery cataclysm that spurs on Lord Aroden’s journey to divinity. It will never be enough to make up for the blood we have shed here, Pathfinders, but know that I truly regret what I have done here today.”

Kiddrik relaxes visibly, giving the woman a thankful nod as he leans on his spear. "You're doing a good thing here, but .." he gives the controls a concerned look that seems to encompass this whole situation, "... is there no other way? It's right courageous of you, ma'am, but can you not kinda ... I don't know ... set it and escape with the rest of us?"

Sigríðr shrugs and looks at Lady Arodeth, "Yah, ya proally do deserve this." She looks at Kiddrik, "Drangviit sees this is a suitable punishment, so let 'er be."

The asteroid looms impossibly large overhead, and the air grows stiflingly hot as the world itself begins to rumble. High overhead, the dome of green energy shudders, twists, and finally shatters, and Pathfinders’ bodies begin melting into flowing particles as the world slips away.

Just as quickly, you stumble as Bloodwatered Meadow coalesces beneath your feet, as it does for countless other Society agents. The wildflowers bob lazily in the wind, and nothing but a few still bodies stand as testament to the bloodshed and struggle of the past five hours. Kreighton Shaine, looking several years older, staggers to his feet and gives a nervous chuckle before climbing up a small knoll and waving his arms for the crowd’s attention.

“What we have all witnessed here today has been a remarkably journey that included sights no living soul on Golarion has witnessed. The Sky Key has allowed us to walk among the serpentfolk and Azlanti, gazing upon several of the greatest events to shape Golarion and the region that would one day become the Inner Sea. Let the catastrophe that we witnessed and narrowly escaped humble us and teach us so that we might find value in preserving the messages and wisdom those lost people may have left behind for us to discover. I think we all have some responsibility to remember those who passed so that our modern world can exist.

“We survived, Pathfinders. I am proud of your Unrivaled Accomplishment!”

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Congrats everyone. The stakes haven't been higher for a PbP Special, but everyone rose to the occasion. I've been watching the successes come in on the Google form and it's been exciting watching you inch closer and closer to the goal! There have certainly been some super tables out there, but it's fairly clear that everyone has been working hard and contributing to the group success. I'm super proud of you guys.

At this point, you have a chance to perform Downtime activity and roll for boons. Because the house earned an Unrivaled Accomplishment, everyone gets their Secondary Success Condition.

I'd like to send a big thank you to all of the players for participating in this event, and a big thank you to all the GMs who ran this. Running and playing in the Play-by-Post specials are a lot of work in a short time, and you rose to the challenge.

If you have any feedback about how this was run at all, please either email me at jmcteague@pathfindersocietyonline.com, or email Jesse at jesse@pathfindersocietyonline.com