GMG's PbP: Cosmic Captive (CORE 1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master Magabeus

Time: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (8, 5) + 10 = 23
As the asteroid starts spinning again you notice that the air cools down. The sun starts sinking below the horizon and soon it will be night on this area of the asteroid. The plantlike madness seed also cools down, quite literally and looses it's interest in you.

A senior pathfinder directs you to a tunnel entrance and bids you good luck. You enter the tunnels, which are 10 foot in diameter. The dim glow of heated rock illuminates the area while a cool wind accompanies you from the surface. Although it cools the tunnels, the temperature here is severely hot. You are all relying on your potions of endure elements and take a sip from your waterskins as you continue through the tunnels for some 25 minutes.

Plumes of cool air grow hot and dry as they rush out from the network of igneous tunnels. A palace constructed of obsidian bricks stands high within a large cavern, surrounded by cultivated gardens containing brass mockeries of plant life and elegant pools of lava. The gates stand open without a guard in sight, while sounds of revelry emanate from within.

Do you enter the palace or bypass it?

Are we still in the previous combat, or did that end?

"What an intriguing place. Someone around here must like their plants. Even in this hot place of rock and lava they have recreated some foliage!"

Volar wants to investigate cos he's curious what is going on here.

Combat had ended, the madness seed lost interest and drifted off

"Well, Gramma Snowfoot always said strangers were friends what you hadn't made yet, so I'm all for going and seeing what this is all about. Isn't that kind of what we're supposed to be doing, anyways? Y'know, Explorin', reportin', cooperatin'?"

Etune supports the 'lets go seek out strange new civilizations and life-forms' idea.

Barring any party protest, the halfling sorceress will start into the tunnels happily.

"Yep, I believe that would be a good place to search for intelligent life. So far, we've not had much luck with those." agrees Vraxam.

3rd for checking out the palace

Agreed. Onward

"OK so we are into the palace going." Korvan says.

Jing Hao grunts non-committedly. He'll take the dents either way.

You find fine decorations and plush carpeting line the palace’s floors and walls, and the scent of rich delicacies wafts from tables laden
with opulent dishes. You see several of the ifrits that you saw earlier, they are lounging on soft cushions and look at you with interest but make no move to stop their lounging.

At the end of a long hallway you enter a large room that is even more luxurious than what you have seen so far. A muscular giant with crimson skin, smoldering eyes, and small black horns lounges here. Smoke rises in curls from its flesh as it stands up.

His booming voice welcomes you "Welcome in the realm of the Master of the Labyrinth of Flames! What brings you here?"

He does not wait for a reply, but snaps his giant fingers at an ifrit "Go and prepare a feast for our guests!". Tapping the soft cushions around him he looks at you "Sit, you must be tired. Now tell me, what brings you to the court of Fahaz Nahlam?"

"Thank you, Mister Master of the Labyrinth of Flames!" Etune offers excitedly and happily. "I'm Etune Snowfoot! We're explorers that are trying to learn new things about this new world that got kinda close to Golarion."

Then, realizing that she's made a mistake on the name, she facepalms.

"Sorry about that, Mister Fahaz Nahlam! It's a very nice place you have here! Have you explored much of this small world?"

The halfling will sit on one of the offered cushions. It's only polite!

Korvan bows to the giant as a respectful greeting but lets his more silver tongued companions speak to the man...

Smiling, he greets the massive man. "Your generosity is a kindness, sir. I'm pleased you've had to honor to meet me! Vraxam Uldar's the name. And as my companion stated, we are exploring your interesting world, hoping to expand our knowledge of your realm."

Finding himself a plush cushion, he plops down. 'Now this is how these society missions should go! Good food and drink, and a soft place to rest your legs.'

"Do sit down, all of you! Please help yourself to some of these dishes" The giant takes a platter and with surprising delicacy for his size takes some of the fingerfood and eats it.

He continues "Oh, this is not my world, I am glad it is not, dreadful place that it is. I have been merely placed here on guard duty by the Queen of the Inferno. It is a dull assignment and can't be as exciting as exploring new worlds, even though Aucturn's Tear is just a small asteroid. "

"That's very generous of you. What a kind host you are." says Volar as he takes a seat and tries something to eat.

"Are you exploring on anyone's behalf? Who is your patron?" the giant inquires, pleased that Volar is sampling the food. He points to Smiler "What kind of creature is that? Why doesn't it talk? I have met many mortals, but never one of his kind. Or is it her kind?"

He snaps his finger at an ifrit who just entered the room with another platter and points to Smiler. The ifrit approaches the ape and holds out the platter.

"Looks good." remarks the sorcerer as he grabs a handful. "Be nice if we were treated like this on every exploration!"

"Ooook!" says Smiler as he picks up something he thinks looks tasty.

He then takes the plate from the server and keeps eating.

"This is my animal friend. He's called 'Smiler' and i befriended him on my travels to a jungle continent back on Golarion."

Korvan nods and looks for some choice breads and fruits to eat...

WIL: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

The giant nods "I have heard that these jungles are comfortably hot, is that true? Also, why did you evade my earlier questions?"

Korvan reaches on the plate again and then looks under it as if he dropped something. He then shrugs his shoulders and listens to the conversation.

"I was distracted by this feast you provided. We are on an expedition of exploration with the Pathfinder Society of Golarion. Is this your home? As one who lives on a planet i find it strange to find someone living on an asteroid. I don't exactly have experience with other asteroids though so who knows!"

A lot of questions from this one yet not many answers. I wonder if he's hiding anything...

sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Jing Hao fumbles around for his pince nez, and then after securing it to his face, takes a seat, along with a finger sandwich. As nothing so far sounds like it needs his legal expertise, he avoids saying anything

"Yes, this is my home. Like I said earlier I was placed here on guard duty by the Queen of the Inferno. I do not think that guarding a prisoner is the best job for someone with my abilities, but what can you do if your family made an ancient pact offering the firstborn of each generation to her service? Although it is great to be able to order these ifrit about."

He turns to Volar "The Pathfinder Society? I have never heard of them, what is the goal of your society and what does it stand for? As for the asteroid, we move through space and that's about it. Although I must say that interesting things are happening now that we came near your planet. First I heard you appear, then suddenly the asteroid starts spinning again."

Etune will eat sparingly, looking for cooler dishes rather than warmer ones, stopping every so often to appraise the meal being offered politely without offering comment.

"I know what it's like to have family and pacts. My great great great great great great great you-get-the-idea Grampa Snowfoot made a deal with a dragon that was terrorizing a community of my people centuries ago in Ulfen lands. Every couple of generations part of that price shows up in our family, even." Etune will subtly indicate where her scaling is at with a bit of a sage nod.

"So, the Society is a group dedicated to find lost people and things, such as someone like you who's been on guard duty for a really, really long time. Much of what we do was already mentioned."

That should catch Etune up, working late again tonight but will try to post more when we get home should it be appropriate.

"Eh, family is overrated. Power, that's the real draw in life." offers Vraxam, as he grabs another piece of fruit. "So, what's the prisoner you're guarding? "

As the feast goes on and her comrades eat the food. Greenwillow stands quietly in the back of the room observing the scene.

"Oh, the prisoner should be of no concern to you. But if there were holier than thou counterparts to certain extra-planar rulers we might be guarding a certain ruler of winds at the center of the asteroid. All purely hypothetical of course."

"Oh, the prisoner should be of no concern to you. But if there were holier than thou counterparts to certain extra-planar rulers we might be guarding a certain ruler of winds at the center of the asteroid. All purely hypothetical of course."

"So if we were to explore the rest of the planetoid what would be places to avoid encountering that theoretical consideration? After all, listening to the wise counsel of local authority figures is something the Society tends to ask us to do."

"It sounds like you're unhappy with your position here, Mr. Nalham." Hao says, "I am but a humble lawyer, and I don't mean to imply that I have the legal expertise to help you, but is there no room for renegotiation?"

"Of course." replies the halfling, grinning slyly at his dragon-blooded counter part.

"We did encounter a few ifrits on the way in here. You mentioned you enjoyed bossing them around? Any chance you could pull them back so we aren't forced to cause undue harm? This world of yours is quite the curiosity for us."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Volar sits back and takes another bite of food.

It seems the short ones may be able to make our lives easier here.

"Making all our lives easier sounds good to me, Vraxam."

diplomacy assist: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

"I am afraid the fools of earth and water are not as considerate as I am to explorers, I can give you no council on what areas to avoid. Most inhabitants of the asteroid will likely see you as intruders and attempt to force you out or kill you."

He takes another morsel and turns to Jing Hao "I would only wish for another assignment, the agreement has brought my family and myself much. Now if there was no prisoner to guard I would likely be relocated..."

He seems lost in thought for a while before he replies to Vraxam "You have piqued my interest little one, please continue. Or you could show your prowess against some of my minions, if you are the stronger ones I will be forced to call them back to preserve their strength."

I need more attempts to influence him, using Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Linguistics, Perform or Profession(Merchant), I will also allow other reasonable skills like Profession(Barrister) ;-). The giant seems easily bored, so it might be good to use different types of skills. Aiding is possible, and I will resolve skill checks in posting order

Profession (barrister): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Jing Hao attempts to find a fair agreement that benefits all sides.

"If you were freed up of this commitment to this contract then that would leave you with the ability to move on to even better deals, which would benefit your family as well as yourself."

Prof (merchant): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

I'll use my bag/t-shirt/folio re-roll - i own all 3 :)

Prof (merchant), 2 GM stars: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29

20! Whoohoo!

hmmmm Korvan is no good at any of the mentioned skills other than the "lets fight some minions"

Grinning at the request, Vraxam hops up. Trying to dazzle his audience, he makes a rather large display of gathering the kinetic energies around him. Drawing the crackling blue lights into his little palm. He finishes by flicking the ball of energy harmlessly to the floor.

Blushing, he laments. "I realize I'm not much of a showman...but in our realm, I do control the element of air. It bows before my might!"

Perform: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

So close :-(.

At Jing Hao's attempt to explain some legal matters the giant yawns quickly, but he seems more interested when Volar expresses his opinion on more profitable opportunities. Then Vraxam ruins it all with a failed show...

The giant stands up "I am so sorry, I should not have forgotten
that mortal skulls are home to clumsy tongues, although I will still give you the opportunity to redeem yourselves by fighting with two of my subjects, perhaps you are more elegant combatants than negotiators. You are also free to leave."

★ - OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT - ★

“We’ve discovered a path to the Vault Entrance!” Sorrina Westyr’s image appears drenched but defiant, in the midst of pouring heavy rain. Ignoring the water sleeting off her, the Master of Spells points with her wand as she illuminates the asteroid map behind her. “Reports from those traveling through the Ice Reservoir indicate that most of the enemies in that region have been mopped up, though a few scattered groups may still be dealing with ongoing fights.” She taps the map. “We’ve discovered an entrance to the Vault through this area. If you’re nearby, proceed here as fast as you can!”

Then a serious expression crosses her face. “Our efforts have not gone without notice. My divinations indicate that Kelizandri, the Brackish Emperor himself, is displeased and wreaking havoc. Beware of flash floods and rain! Take care, Pathfinders!”

AREA E: The Ice Reservoir, is claimed and free for travel! GMs, there is a Water Event happening now!

It starts to drizzle inside the palace! Although the droplets quickly evaporated in the sweltering heat the giant is displeased. "What did you do?!" he shouts

Etune looks downright *miserable* in the briefly raising humidity.

"We didn't do ANYTHING! Do I really look like I'm enjoying this any more than you? We've been sitting here and enjoying your awesome hospitality!"

Much like the distinction between Phoenix at 100F and Chicago at 100F, the humidity has to be gawdawful in the latter case. :P

The flustered halfling squints, then sighs. "Was going to show you some nifty tumbling moves but given how... bad the other agent was... nah, not going to do that to you. You said combats?"

Not saying you must, but you can also choose to leave and explore the new area

I say we move on to keep us on track with the rest of the group.

"Unless my compatriots object, I kindly thank you for your hospitality, Master Nahlam. Unfortunately, our Society wants us to continue our exploration, and why should we spoil a lovely meal with base combat?"

As Greenwillow is not of very much use, she simply nods at Jong Hao's insistence of moving on.

Time: 2d10 + 10 ⇒ (4, 4) + 10 = 18
1d2 ⇒ 1

"Whatever" the giant replies to Jing Hao while he turns away to grab another delicacy.

You move out of the labyrinth, back towards the crater. Then you move through a frozen city and enter icy tunnels. Directions are provided by junior pathfinders. Finally you exit the icy tunnels and enter rocky tunnels. The rocks glow green and yellow, with occasional patches of red. You are glad you all benefit from the planetary adaptation spell provided to you at the spire of Nex.

Vaulted arcs of stone create a bizarre network of geometric recesses, like a petrified beehive but orders of magnitude larger. In one cell stands an altar smeared with blood and ochre. A humanoid with chiseled, angular features that make him ook almost like a statue brought to life stands on top of the raised dais on which the altar stands. He quickly moves down and stands ready for what comes in a defensive pose.

Initiative
Knowledge (Local) and Knowledge (Religion) to identify, will save if you attack him
Volar
Smiler
Etune Snowfoot
Vraxam
Jing Hao
Korvan
Greenwillow
- - -
Enemy
- - -

If you come adjacent to him he attacks. See spoiler for readied roll.

I assume you either have darkvision or carry light sources

Without further direction from his more charismatic compatriots, Jing Hao makes the executive decision to secure this chamber. After all, Nahlam said something about this asteroid holding a beneficial prisoner.

Jing Hao moves up and attempts to match the creature's defenses.

will save: 1d20 ⇒ 12
combat expertise attack: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 1 = 10
damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 = 10

Korvan sends an arrow at the foe...

CLB+PBS: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25...DMG: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Who is this man?" the woodsman asks no one in particular.

Jing Hao moves forward and receives a punch before he can make his own attack, which fails to hit. Korvan's arrow does not miss, but it does far less damage than expected.

Korvan, you are not within 30 ft and the enemy has DR

Initiative
Knowledge (Local) and Knowledge (Religion) to identify, will save if you attack him
Volar
Smiler
Etune Snowfoot
Vraxam
Greenwillow
- - -
Enemy -1 hp
- - -
Jing Hao 7/12 hp
Korvan