GM Ladile's TL;DR: A Pathfinder Society Campaign

Game Master Lady Ladile

Will (DC 13): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Spellcraft (DC 16): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Zithembe stiffens as the negative energy rips through his jade body. He gasps after the pain recedes and then, bloody from the beheading, advances upon the remaining cultist. He swings the sword while addressing the disembodied head.

"We can help you restore your memories if you stop this mayhem!" he calls out, wagering on a hunch.

MW Longsword, Bless, Champion: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 24
S, Champion, Seance: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 11

Maria moves up and ducks into the room to get a view on the other voice.

Is it visible now or was that just briefly and not anymore?

If Visible Knowledge: All + Inspiration: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 10 + (2) = 21

She spits out anything learned about the newest threat and then fires an arrow at it or the last cultist.

Move 30 ft, Attack Red if up, Floating Head if not.

Wasp + PBS < 30 ft + Bless: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 21 for Focused Shot Piercing/Cold Iron/Silver + PBS + Champion: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 13

"Meetin'? Aye've got yer meetin' righ' 'ere!" Rumble declares as the steel of his mind easily cuts through whatever magic the head has thrust upon him.

The Dwarf rushes the head and swings Sledge perpendicular to the wall, hoping to smash it between a rock and a hard place.
________
Will (Channel), DC 13: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Will (???), DC 13: 1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 3 = 24
Sledge (Divine Favor, Bless, Champion) vs Green: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 231d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 15

Though some of the group suffers more from the cultist's negative channeling than others, you quickly rally against the strange floating head - which Maria easily identifies as a div, a doru div to be precise. When Zithembe calls out about memories, the creature pauses...

"My memories! You have the b-"

...before finding itself mercilessly pummeled into unconsciousness and possibly beyond by your attacks. Zithembe and Rumble both notice that their weapons don't seem to do nearly as much damage as they'd have expected but Maria's arrow has no problem penetrating the div's defenses. The flying head crumples to the ground; it's now up to you whether to finish it off or revive it and see if you can learn anything about the reason for all its' antics.

The remaining cultist, meanwhile, refuses to listen to reason or to surrender. But considering you outnumber him 6-to-1 it's not a problem for you to either put him out of his misery or just knock him out and tie him up.

Combat Over!
______________

Red has 1 HP left and you guys beat the bejeezus out of the div so figured I'd call it in your favor :P

Effie unceremoniously cold-cocks the last cultist with the butt of her pistol, and turns to Zithembe: "You want to do a deal with that thing? After all it's done? I'm surprised at you Zith."

I won't take part in the decision here folks, as I'm replaying, but just wanted to express Effie's surprise at the usually-morally-exemplary Zith ;)

Maria turns to the more divinely blessed of the group, "Stabilize them? I'd like to know more about all this stuff now that we've stopped the ritual. And we might want to turn them over to the authorities for sentencing anyway."

Parison gives Maria a look of consternation as he looks around at the cultists that lie bleeding out, but then remembers that Sarenrae is about redemption. Without a word, he begins to go from cultist to cultist, starting with the worst hurt to the least hurt. "Dawnflower, despite their sins, please aid me in delaying their journey to Pharasma, lest they not have a chance to redeem themselves and be everlastingly lost."

Parison casts Rebuke Death on each of the cultists. He can only do this if anyone is at 0 or lower on hit points, but he can do it five times a day. It won't work if they're beyond stabilization.

Rebuke Death: Yellow: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Rebuke Death: Blue: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Rebuke Death: Red: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

When he finishes, he looks at the monstrous head lying on the ground. "That thing?" he asks. "It drove a woman to madness. It made another man poison others. And worst of all, it made an acolyte of Pharasma act in anathema to his faith. I've got really strong reservations against stabilizing it."

I agree with Parison. I know we should, as Pathfinders, pursue knowledge, but at what price? How long before one of us, or worse, get corrupted by what he wasn't in need to know? This thing has to die, quickly and as painlessly as possible

Seeing Parison tend to the wounded cultists, Rumble sighs but dutifully follows him. The way he raises Sledge suggests he is ready to knock them unconscious, should they begin to move. Once they've been held from opening Death's door, he binds them together.

"Aye ahgree, tha Div 'as casused much 'arm an' aye dunno whah sorta mindtricks iht 'as, buh iht already tried tah use one on meh. Give iht more time, an' we risk more trouble," he argues, in favor of the Div's destruction. Might know something about the box we found, but we can't risk it corrupting others. Driven people to murder, apostasy, and lunacy. We just can't risk it, no matter what it knows.
________
Basically readying to non-lethal a cultist if the Rebuke Death brings them back to consciousness.

Maria rubs her forehead as she thinks it over. She slings her bow back over her shoulder and murmers to herself, "But the knowledge it could provide is immense, how can they not..."

She posits, "But think about this, isn't it the right thing to do to reunite the soul and the mind before it has to receive final judgement? It seemed to indicate it might be possible to reunite it with its memories, which may even grant it some semblance of sanity. I'm not saying it shouldn't pay for its crimes, but we did a lot more for Valais than I'm suggesting we attempt here."

"My time in Heaven has opened new perspectives, and I must speak for those deemed broken. If I can end this creature's madness, it is my duty to try," Zithembe answers Effie. "I believe that there is more than what appears to be here and that madness may be obfuscating the truth. However, it is a creature of the lower planes, and if it is your determination that it should be sent back now, I cannot stand in your way."

"I can't fix madness!" Parison cries out, torn between what knowledge the creature might have versus the evil acts it has committed. "I could barely help Onethar recover what memories this thing took from him!"

This crisis of faith was overwhelming. This wasn't something Parison's teachers had told him in seminary that he might one day experience, that he'd be forced to make a choice regarding the tenants of dogma. He'd always assumed that the temptation would come from something like the monstrosity lying on the floor. Not from those he considered trustworthy allies.

At that moment, the idealist within him died. He would never again be able to face evil, let alone seek out that spark of redemption that could transform it into something better. How could you do that when you didn't know what evil was? His allies weren't wholesome, but that didn't mean this creature in front of him was without a speck of goodness. Within the cleric's eyes, the fire there suddenly turns as cold as ice.

"I do not deem myself worthy of passing judgement upon this creature," he says. "Nor them," he adds, glancing at the fallen cultists. "Their fates are in your hands. I will wait outside the tomb while you make your decision. May Sarenrae grant you the wisdom to make a choice both right and good. May the Dawnflower help me, I feel like hell."

With that, Parison walks out of the chamber and back to the entrance outside to await the group's choice, his mind churning with self-doubts that will not go away soon, let alone the morrow.

"I'll go to him" says Effie after Parison storms off. 'You guys deal with - well, with this."

Effie follows Parison outside. She lays a gentle, warm, hand upon his cheek and smiles at him.

"It's okay, Parison. You did good. You kept us in the fight, and with your help we put an end to an evil. The humans have a chance at redemption thanks to you. You've done the Goddess's will.

You're a good man, Parison. If our friends decide to send the div back to the Beyond, that's not a failure. Sometimes the price of knowledge is too high."

With that, Effie gently embraces Parison.

Know planes: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Aren't Divs evil by essence? i would have said by nature but they aren't natural creatures. I would have had a doubt about a possible redemption if it believed itself being a butterfly, a fluffy rabbit or something harmless. But this is not the case. It IS mad, sure, madder than I am, but it seems to me it IS evil first and foremost. It doesn't want or seek redemption, unlike Valais. It seek to create chaos, and horror, destruction and death. I think we should rid the world of it.

”They are,” he answers Hepsubia. ”Which is why I cannot argue against its dispelling. And I may be wrong, but I suspect that there is more at work here.”

[b]”I understand your conflict, Parison,” he begins gently before continuing with a more stern tone. ”However, abandoning your companions to engage in what you believe to be danger and folly is not a solution. If we do engage in trying to communicate with the div, and my suspicions are wrong and your instincts are right, then we will need your hand in correcting our error for we weaker with your absence.”

Maria adds her thoughts to Zith's reply, "Listen, we KNOW it is evil. But sometimes... sometimes it's just smarter to take a little time and when we have the opportunity, dig a bit deeper for information. We slap ourselves on the back for the next couple weeks about how we saved the day by smiting the evil div and completely miss a worse enemy hatching a plan ten times as big."

Zithembe looks to Maria as she begins to speak and then back to Parison. After a few moments he turns his head swiftly back to Maria and asks, "Who is guarding the enemy!?"

Maria did not leave. She is talking to Hep inside.

Meanwhile, guarding the enemy, is Rumble. His shield is on the floor. Sledge moves slowly from one hand to the other. Back and forth. Baaaack and forth. His eyes are locked on the Div, motionless on the floor.

Evil is as Evil does. Torag doesn't spare the evil because they know things. Not like we are going to let it go after it 'learns its lesson' and shares what it knows. Parison doesn't even believe in its redemption. Death is the only thing in this wretch's future. He raises Sledge for a moment. Then lowers it back down.

Baaaack and forth.

Wouldn't be right to take it upon myself though. Part of a team, not working on my own... But is it my duty to do this even if the others don't see the justice in this yet? It is literally the beast that pushed people to their darkest of places.

"Maria, yer tha only one thah 'as an argument fer keepin' it from tha Boneyard. Iht isnae goin' free, even aftah iht gives us tha infermation. How're ye gonna geh iht tah talk? Wouldn' iht be cruel tah give iht tha glimmer of hope fer life, then dash iht all away when we coulda ended iht righ' 'ere, righ' now?" he argues, never taking his eyes off of it.

Well, there goes the punchline I had planned...

Parison remains silent as Effie does her best to try and assuage his inner conflict. He takes a small bit of comfort in that the bard is on the same wavelength when it comes to feeling that the div may be beyond redemption, but he can't bring himself to be of certainty that the div back in the temple would never turn from its ways if given the chance.

When Zithembe arrives and speaks his piece, Parison keeps his silence. Despite his inner turmoil, he does have enough presence of mind to realize that if nothing else, the shabti is right about his lack of presence should the group attempt to interrogate the div and it has no interest in cooperating.

"I owe them that," he says in a steely tone. "But you and Maria should hear yourselves. At least your intentions are noble in trying to fix its madness. But capturing it to gain knowledge? To know its secrets? Sometimes the price for that knowledge is too high, Zithembe. Maybe Maria can pay that price the same way Grandmaster Torch paid the price to know all of the secrets that he knows. If she can, Sarenrae bless for being that strong of a person. I know I couldn't."

As he prepares to walk back into the room, Parison looks at Effie and Zithembe. He takes his holy symbol in his left hand and looks down at it, then back up at the pair. Without thinking about it, he runs his thumb along the symbol. "After all of this, I have a choice of my own to make and it has nothing to do with whether or not that outsider lives or dies."

Deep within his heart, he knew what that choice must be. "I'm sorry, both of you," he says sadly, with great regret as he clenches his holy symbol in his hand. "If I want to stay strong in my faith.....that means being a Pathfinder comes second."

With that, the cleric returns to the temple to await what the group decides to do with the div.

Knowledge (Religion), Take 10: 10 + 5 = 15
Knowledge (Planes), Take 10: 10 + 6 = 16

Zithembe frowns as the cleric turns his back and heads into the cave.

Returning to the others inside the chamber, he says, "Parison has abandoned us to what he sees as our folly. He has opted to not be the strength and light of his allies. To leave us our own fate." He pauses to take a calming breath and then adds, "However, it may be fear that is driving his decision. He has witnessed the fall of one faithful to what we believe are this div's influence and so may fear the same fate. Still..."

He pauses again before continuing. "We have a choice of our own to make. The div does not go to the Boneyard. As a creature of the planes, it has no soul and will be utterly destroyed upon death. So do we destroy it now or look to see what might lie beneath the madness and chaos? I can assist in restraining it and bringing it to consciousness, if we choose the latter."

Maria just glares at Parison and simply states, "There is no higher goal than knowledge."

She gestures towards the whole room, "What is the point of any of this if we don't learn something from it?" She turns back to the cleric, "I strive to constantly expand my mind with new experiences and information. To close oneself off to everything and only adhere to a simple set of commands is folly and the way of petulant children."

Her choice on the matter stands, though she obviously won't act against the wishes of the group.

I do enjoy knowledges too, Maria, but can't we stop at "Div are evil and dangerous and should be stopped"? Is knowledge worth friendships?Trust? Love? Respect? I don't think so.

and of course, fun is the higher goal, and that's not fun.

Let's keep an open mind, both of us. Tell me first what you do hope to achieve, and how. I'll give you my point of view then, if I deem it an acceptable risk.

She frowns, and for once seems serious

I don't agree with you, on the "set of commands " thing. Parison's faith is genuine, it cannot be compared to a simple "set of commands", and it saved our lives multiple times, and if I can be accused of acting like a petulant child someti..often, it's not how Parison behave. If we except that pie in the demon's face in Heaven, but it was for a good cause.

"Pie is a very serious matter" says Effie as she follows Parison back and catches the end of Hep's speech. She gives a little smile in hopes of lightening the sombre mood.

"Er, hey. Maybe if we search this place we'll learn something? And what about that black jewel there? What's that about?"

Given that I misunderstood what Parison wrote, you can excise everything from Zithembe's last post except the last paragraph about making a decision on how to proceed.

Maria nods at Effie's suggestion, "Sure, let's look around this room. We should probably make sure no cultists or other dangers are hanging about the rest of the complex too."

Her thoughts bounce to the current discussion, It's likely not a time-pressing decision anyway with the div, either it is fully dead, or it stabilized on it's own and a decision will need to be made before it wakes to execute it or not.

Then she pulls a wand, uses it on herself and then searches the cultists, removing any weapons and valuables. After that, she starts searching the rest of the room and attempting to determine any information she can about the ritual that was being performed.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 43 charges remain

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 +1 vs. traps

Knowledge: Any + Inspiration about the Ritual: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 10 + (4) = 18

Are those doors or doorways exiting the current chamber?

Edit: Disregard CLW use, I forgot we got channel healed a while back.

Rumble pushes the head around with Sledge. First, he rolls it onto it's side. Then back to the other. He flips it over and back again. He leans Sledge against the wall.

Pulling rope from his pack, he threads it through the Div's curved horns, leaving a large loop between the two lower horns and a smaller loop for each upper horn. Stepping into the biggest loop, he pulls the contraption up and slides the smaller loops over his arms. "Leh's geh ah move on then, we can think as we smash tha rest o' this place tah pieces," he declares. And in the mean time, this sack of s$+@ ain't going anywhere that I can't.

Looking at the Dwarf, you can see that he's fashioned a horrifying chestpiece of sorts out of the Div. With nothing to stabilize it's jaw beyond a pair of lax masseters, a grotesque tongue lols to the side of a pit of razor sharp teeth.
________
Move Rumble outside of a proposed door, but ultimately he doesn't care which door is chosen.

"Better to deal with this now while we have control of the situation than dragging an enemy through the unknown," Zithembe says to Rumble before the dwarf charges off. "Here. Use the proper tool for the job."

He takes the folded net from his waist and unfurls it so the div can be placed inside.

"Since Rumble has not put his hammer through the div's head, I take it as acquiescence to a more measured approach," he notes. "And so, if you are ready to prepare yourselves, I can try to awaken it... or it may destroy it. Div are not my specialty."

After a lot of deliberation and no small bit of personal crisis for some of you, you finally reach...well, something of a decision. A very careful and cautious sort of interrogation is in order, though it's certainly not a route that everyone is happy with. But first, Effie and Maria do point out that it might also make sense to finish securing the area first.

Now that you've defeated the cultists, you're able to get a better look around the chamber that you now find yourselves in. Eight stone pillars stand around this room. At the center of the room, a five-foot-diameter spiral of twisted arcane glyphs is charred into the floor. Broken bones stained with blood encircle the spiral, and an onyx gem sits in the center. The ritual that the cultists had been performing seems to have been focused on this gem, which when examined radiates an overwhelming amount of magical power - so much so that Zithembe and anyone else with knowledge of such items quickly realizes that this isn't just a magical item. It's a magical artifact - a minor artifact but an artifact just the same.

As you gather around to have an even closer look, the gem suddenly flares to life as a crescendo of frantic, telepathic whispering issues forth!

[I am awake! I see you — all of you! My strength grows. Do not forget...]

The voice fades away as quickly as it came and the light within the gem fades with it.
______________

Another post to follow, please stand by~

Beyond this incredibly strange and surprising occurrence, the other object of note is a faded and threadbare banner hanging on the southern wall that bears a charging leopard on a background of tan and black. It too, radiates a magical aura.

The stable and unconscious cultists do carry some gear as well. All told, you find...

There are also some items that radiate magical auras: three wands, three scrolls, a potion, a chain shirt, and a cloak.

The cultist leader also carries a key, which looks like it might fit the door that you guys came in through.

There are three other doors leading from this chamber, to the south, west, and east.

Parison doesn't return Maria's glare nor does he verbally respond to her words when he walks back in the room. With an unflinching look of resolve, he lifts his holy symbol, still clenched in his left hand and lets it fall free against his armor and clothing where anyone could see it. He no longer felt conflicted. All that the cleric felt was a renewed stubbornness and determination from the wellspring of the decision he'd just made.

Drawing his scimitar, he moves to stand watch over the three cultists that have been secured but he alternates his gaze between them and the div that's under Rumble's guard, ready to strike it down if it so much as attempts to try to sway anyone else's influence.

He spares a telling glance at the shabti. Do what you must and be done with it, the gaze seems to convey.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Hepsubia gets a good, close, lenghty look at the leopard on the banner.

Then she offers this deep, experienced and invaluable advice on the spell within:

It's a kind of magic.

She tries her hand, or more accuratly, her tongue, at the potion

Take 10 for 19 in Craft Alchemy to identify the potion

I would definitively have put some lemon in it. And maybe a little umbrella on top. Nevertheless, if I drink that one, you won't see me in a while. Hey, maybe I should start a career as a wrestler, and people would pay to try to see me, even if they can't. This won't cause a scene, nah, John?

Is this artifact recoverable? Asking for a friendfaction card.

"That is ominous," Zithembe says after the voice speaks through the artifact.

He surveys the recovered items.

The shabti points out what the pair of similar wands, the potion, and the cloak can do as well as revealing the spells contained on the scrolls. Beyond that, he can only describe the relative strength and type of magic the other items provide.

"The weakest mind among us should wear the cloak once we begin to interact with the div, if he or she does not already wear one," he suggests.

Maria looks over the pile of options, "That wand would be useful in most of our hands*, I'll take one if no one else wants them. We might run across some sort of energy attack or natural danger later."

*I believe everyone can use it.

She shrugs about the cloak, "Useful, but I have one of similar value."

If Hepsubia attempts to give the potion away to someone, she closes her hands over the other elfs, "Keep it Hep, you'll probably have more use than any of us for sneaking. Oh and... please don't taste things to id them? It just... yeah"

Crinkling her nose at the scrolls she mutters to the group, "Isn't there a magic spell or something that can just read those things? I think I'll burn my elixir on the other wand." Slamming it back she quickly identifies it as being a FULLY CHARGED wand of CLW, "Anyone still physically injured? I can solve that quickly. Emotionally... not so much."

Potion of Identify used to ID Wand #1. Can't fail with a mod of +20+1d6. I just want to note that the mcguffin being an unidentifiable artifact stinks. :(

And lastly she turns to Zithembe, "Can you actually return this creature's memories right here? Didn't we leave the box back with the archaeologists? But if you can do what you say, then I think we should try that before searching further."

Yes. Zithembe cast read magic. You can open those spoilers.
It had been my intent to keep the box with us the entire time in case my hunch turns out correct, which it may not.

"My body is still wounded from the negative energy," he says despite being resistant/immune to much more powerful negative energy.

Pretty sure we still have the box. Didn't see anywhere we gave it up.

"I'm hurting too" adds Effie.

Will save vs the last negative channel that I didn't roll yet: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 Passed, so Effie has 5 damage not healed yet.

"If we just got a shiny new healing wand still in its wrapper, let's break it out, sure!"

Effie clw with wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

"OK. Better. Give me a couple of seconds to reload here, then, well, open the box if that's what we're gonna do."

Effie reloads her pistol with a cold iron bullet and powder, and goes to aim it at the div. "You sure you want that thing strapped to your chest, Rumble? You don't have to worry about my shooting - I shot apples off Ole' Pug's head often enough. Still, gotta be hard to whack the thing with Sledge when you're carrying it there."

Rumble awkwardly drapes the net over the Div. Don't know what the hell this is supposed to do to a creature without limbs, but who am I to turn more rope down?

He gives Effie a pair of raised and frowning eyebrows. "Wha'? How am aye supposed tah keep iht from gettin' away if aye don' keep iht close? Tha rope does tha holdin' first, than aye can add mah arms if aye need tah," he explains. "Buh if aye hold iht in mah hands, then aye cannae use Sledge. Aye assure ye, there isn' ah bettah plan than this. Besides killin iht righ' now, thah is."
________
Rumble doesn't have a cloak, but his saves are looking pretty solid for 2nd level.

"Honestly, Rumble?" the shabti says with strained patience and a leveled stare at the dwarf. "You trust your makeshift rope work to hold the div secure to your chest more than a net to keep it contained--and to allow you to intercede if things go awry?"

Well that makes way more sense. I was thinking of the net like a weapon but Zithembe was thinking more like a fisherman.

"...Yes..." Rumble says with a completely neutral face.

"Prince of the Moon, this all makes sense now," he mutters.

He turns to the others and says, "We will not know if it is possible until it is awakened. If you have any more preparations to make, make them, and then I will invoke the spirits."

Found Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Found Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Could i try it too? I got wounded…

CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

back to full

Yep, the artifact is absolutely recoverable. More on that shortly. And yes, you also still have the box you found in the ruins earlier.

After availing yourselves of the recovered items from the cultists - including the healing wand so no one has to use their own - everyone seems finally ready for Zithembe to awaken the div and see what it has to say for itself.

Not sure if you've got a specific ritual in mind or not Zith, but simply bringing it back to consciousness won't be a problem - you can use the wand you found.

With everyone ready and the div secured in the net, which is also strapped to Rumble's chest, Zithembe is able to reach out and gently tap the creature with the wand. A few of its wounds heal and the div's eyes flutter open, a look of confusion crossing its ghastly face as it registers the net and all of you staring intently at it. This confusion quickly gives way to anger and aggression; it snarls menacingly but trapped as it is, is unable to do much else.

"Hsss! Who are you? Servants of the new pharaohs? Servants of servants? Release me, so I can have my revenge!"

I had planned to invoke the Hierophant for the bonus to Will/Wisdom and spirit surges (and for CLW).

Zithembe kneels down before the div, and his eyes transform to sapphire. The merciful side of the long past Sarenrites invoked, the thoughts of compassion, mercy, and loyalty flow into those near the shabti. He activates the wand.

"We have your memories and would like to return them," he says. "Can you tell us about your revenge?"

Diplomacy (Make a Request): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Maria waits, her bow out but not currently fitted with an arrow. She stays quiet while Zith attempts his tactic.

She nods at the simplicity of the request, good he isn't attempting deception. Parison and Rumble seem already to be trending towards disliking us.

"Yes!" The div's mouth twists into a bestial grin. "The master! She trapped me when the last pharaoh seemed not long for the world, stealing from me! Now she's trapped like I was, stirring and dreaming, living and not living." The div flicks his tongue towards the onyx jewel. "Consciousness fragmented, sealed in the jewel...and in its' counterparts. But even that is too good for her! All I want in this world, in this lifetime, is the chance to see her wretched face once more...to make her pay for centuries of unending torment!"

The div pauses, eyes flickering across each of you that he can clearly see. "We are alike, you and I, servants of servants are we. And we can help each other. You offer my memories back...and one good turn deserves another. The master, she is your enemy as much as mine, yes? I can help you, help you track down other sites of her experiments - she had many, many, many!"

"Or perhaps one or more of you seek servants of your own? An able assistant? I have my uses, yes, yes I do, and ask nothing in return but an exchange of information and the chance to avenge myself upon my former master! And if not one and not the other, then what else do you seek? What can Veshtahz offer?"

It seems that Veshtahz is willing to do - and offer - quite a bit in order to be allowed to continue his pursuit of revenge. Judging by his statement regarding 'assistants'...you suspect that he might even be willing to enter into the personal service of one or more of you. If you were to play your cards right, that is.
______________

For anyone able to demonstrate a command of esoteric information (Knowledge: Any) *and* able to present it in such a way as to convince Veshtahz that you've got more secrets to offer (Bluff or Diplomacy), you can tempt him into working for you as a familiar or assistant. Multiple PCs may do this. Admittedly I don't really expect anyone to take him up on this but I'd be remiss to not point out that it's an option.

"Do you know how to open this box where your memories lie hidden?" he asks while he retrieves his journal and a charcoal stick to take notes. "I was crafted before the last pharaoh and have traveled the Abyss, Axis, and Heaven. Perhaps you could imagine the the things that I have witnessed or perhaps not given your suffering in that tiny prison for so long. I can only imagine what the isolation would do to a mind. Have you learned how your mistress became trapped? Where are these other sites? Are they related to this artifact?"

This not to earn his service but to keep him spilling the beans. I think I have an idea where this is going, but Zithembe has not had much interaction with the Sages.

Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Rumble isn't sure where this is going, but he just continues to stare holes into the top of the Div's head.

Veshtahz's eyes do sparkle with a kind of curiosity and greed as Zithembe addresses him. Clearly, he's intrigued by the shabti and his words...then the eyes flicker upward towards his unseen jailer; clearly he can also feel Rumble's eyes boring into him. The div then laughs, a mad sound more reminiscent of screams than of joy or mirth.

"Do I know how to open it!? Yes! But opening it was the one thing I could never do! She made sure it would be so by sealing them in that damnable box! Its key? Nothing more than hands and fingers!"

And it hits you. While you'd detected magical auras from within the box, the box itself seemed purely mundane. Because it is. There isn't even a lock on it. All anyone has to do is just flip the latch to open it.

Veshtahz possesses no limbs, no arms or hands, fingers or toes, to open the box. His master left him entombed with a box of his own stolen memories that could be opened by the simplest of motions - motions that she well knew he couldn't perform. The div certainly is no saint but his master was undeniably just as cruel or maybe even more so.

When the div's laughter dies down, his unnerving, mad grin returns. "My memories are fragmented, yes, but I remember...the mistress not only served the old pharaoh but herself as well! She sought immortality...and it seems she found it, but probably not quite as she expected, ehehehe. These fools," he flicks his tongue at the cultists, "I heard their whispers in the city, I tracked them here...they had recovered this jewel and wished to speak with the mistress! The ritual was to summon her spirit from within the jewel...and I was so close...so close to being able to scream in her face, scream of what she did to me..."

Perhaps realizing that he's beginning to ramble, Veshtahz gnashes his teeth and stares back at Zithembe.

"The other sites, connected to the jewel...? Yes, yes they surely must be, connected to all of her work, all of it, all of her experiments. We can find them together! With my memories restored..."
______________

The scenario is pretty vague about these other sites; it's not me (or Veshtahz) being intentionally obtuse or evasive!

"Well. Let's remember what we're here for. If we're not going to send Veshtahz here back to whatever pit it came from, then Amenopheus will probably want to talk to it. Might get more sense from it too."

Covering two services at the same time, and they're both off the chain. Should be able to post tomorrow, though.

The weekend did not go as planned. Including forgetting my laptop.

I'm waiting to hear from Grandfrogger before moving us on.

Might have to shoot a PM if you haven't already, just in case they're not getting updates for this campaign for some reason.

Sent a Paizo PM. Though is anyone else has other comm's with Hathwhile, that couldn't hurt.

Thank you for the PM - I was indeed not getting notifications for this campaign. XD

No worries. It's like getting the band back together after a hiatus.

Could I get folks to update data and tokens on Slides 2 and 3, please and thank you.

I'm getting the first dungeon post ready. You'll note in the slide deck that on Slide 7 there's a full map and the rooms have names. This is such a big dungeon and the names don't betray the hazards and loot, nor where the Finale might take place, but it will make it easier as a common reference.

I can try to cast Calm Spirit once we get to regular rounds, which may buy you some time to figure how to put it to rest. If the spell is successful, damaging the haunt will dispel the effect. However, damage before casting won't do anything to affect the result, I believe.

My apologies. My laptop died today. Won't power on. Posting from phone really isn't going to work. Please give me a couple days to see what I can do from the road about this. Sorry.

Of course!

No worries, GM!

Ouch. Yeah, I can't GM-post from a phone either. Don't worry on our account though!

So the laptop is dead, and I won't have it back from warranty (thankfully) repair for probably about a month. Really crushing me mentally cause that's my lifeline when I'm in hotels.

Today I'm in a hotel with a crew room, so I can do a GM post from the shared desktop there. I'll do my best to find places to post from going forward, but the pace will be slow and intermittent. Not unusual for this group, I know, but it's not what I'd planned.

Don't worry about it at all! :)

It's okay GM, hang in there and I hope they're able to repair your laptop speedily and without too horrible of a cost!
______________

Apropos of nothing but since it occasionally comes up, I wanted to mention that as of the beginning of February I am no longer an acting Venture Agent. Nothing's wrong, just decided that 4+ years was plenty and that I'd like to step back and allow for some fresh blood to step up for the Online VO Corps.

Not sure when that change will be reflected on my website profile but just consider me an Average Jane once more.

Happy Lunar New Year from Asia, though I expect no one else celebrates it, and even I won't be really celebrating since I have to fly all day today. But it's the thought that counts, right?

^It is indeed the thought that counts! And it's always good to be reminded that it's not just the US/West that celebrates holidays.

I don’t think the ghostvision gloves make you unable to see the living. It says “While the gloves are active, constructs and living opponents treat the wearer as blind.” It doesn’t say that you are blinded or that you cannot see the living. It also limits the effect to “opponents.”

From the CRB conditions, blinded says:
(The afflicted) takes a –2 penalty to Armor Class, loses its Dexterity bonus to AC (if any), and takes a –4 penalty on most Strength- and Dexterity-based skill checks and on opposed Perception skill checks. All checks and activities that rely on vision (such as reading and Perception checks based on sight) automatically fail. All opponents are considered to have total concealment (50% miss chance) against the blinded character.

I think those are the only parts that apply, and only for opposed actions or checks since it says only that “they treat you as blind.”

So which way next?

My mistake, sowwy. I posted too fast before going at work.

But it was funnier my way, so not that sowwy. ^^

Oh, totally. I fully expect that Hep would have described it that way, whether or not she knew it to be correct or not. I just didn’t want the party making decisions based on Hep’s interpretation. Cause certainly “the other elf” would know the truth.

Hey folks. I haven’t forgotten about us. I should have my laptop back in a few days, and then I’ll be able to get us moving again. Sorry for the delay.

Great to hear your laptop is returning soon!

I had not realized Sleeping Sword was a cleric of Shizuru. Ha.

Thanks for the bot roll. I posted in a hurry while multitasking and missed that.

No worries. Just figured it would be faster to advance us to the next step which was a roll that almost anyone could attempt.

And speaking of which, I think only one success was needed, but we got 4 :)

And Hep's post was perfect for her!

Since Maria succeeded on the first post, there's no need to burn the Prestige Point or the Spirit Surge.

I'll be out of the country from tomorrow through 3/16. I'm not sure how much internet access I'll have. My profile characters sheet is up to date, though I know a Rivethun Spirit Channeler/Paladin is not the easiest character to bot.

Generally, in combat, Spiritual Invocation for the Champion. Save Smite for something that looks like a challenge.

It's coincidental that while Zith is out of the country, I'm taking my annual currency training and evaluation this week. I'll move us along on either Fri or Sat. Sorry for the delay.

Life's been busy but I'll try to catch up later tonight...

Sorry. That trip got mutated, and then my figurative house was on figurative fire when I got back to work.

...it's good job security to be the only one able to do what I do, but I could sure use someone(s) to share the work load.

Better than literal fire, probably.

Probably.

Having only one person able to do things seems to be a common occurrence in the world of jobs. /sigh

...it's good job security to be the only one able to do what I do, but I could sure use someone(s) to share the work load.

I was in that type of situation in different jobs several years ago on active duty and in the civilian sector. It sucked. Being "indispensable" meant not being able to do the career enriching activities I needed to expand my skills or remain competitive for promotion.

Now there's literally 1500 other copilots that can do my job, and any Captain can technically fill in my seat, too. I don't mind one bit.

I hope they find someone else to help you soon.

Switching hats...

Sorry, realized we were still waiting for Soddy to post. I'll give her another day, and if she doesn't I'll make a GM post but keep her bolded.

Having only one person able to do things seems to be a common occurrence in the world of jobs. /sigh

That, or running with the bare minimum staffing to get by. And then management has the nerve to be all Surprised Pikachu when it inevitably ends up biting them in the ass because someone quits or has a life event that takes them out of work (whether for an extended time or permanently).

Also, apologies for the wait. This weekend was a good reminder of another reason I've pared down my PbP activity - work has lately either been too busy or the WiFi there too unreliable to be able to do any posting. Not a big deal if you're working 9-5 type hours but more of a hindrance* when you're doing 12 hour shifts.
______________

*Obviously being free to do anything internet-related at all while at work is a privilege not everyone has and I certainly don't expect to be able to just goof off all the time at work. But it's admittedly a nice perk of working solo at night - as long as the work, when there's work to do, gets done in a proper and timely manner, I'm basically free to kill any downtime I have by watching TV/Youtube, dinking around on my phone, posting here, playing games on my Switch, or whatever.

Soddy, don’t forget you have precise shot and point blank shot.

I doubt it will change anything this last round as red still has cover from you, but you don’t need to take an extra -4 of your attacks. Blast em!

Whoops! Thanks for the reminder; it's been a while :)

To answer Hep’s question about flanking.

Flanked foes being flat footed is a PF2 rule. And in PF2 being flat footed just means the flanked person has two less AC. In PF1 it means the flanking people get +2 on their attack so it’s basically the same in both versions, a two point modifier.

We have gotten waaaay to many 21’s in this fight against a 22 ac, lol.

We have gotten waaaay to many 21’s in this fight against a 22 ac, lol.

Anyone want to borrow Sleeping Sword's Wand of Bless?

I rarely find time to use it :o

Yep, I can do that once I touch someone with this spell. XD

Yes. The 1e flat-footed AC is AC w/o Dex or Dodge bonus and applies in combat before you've acted (if you don't have the Combat Reflexes feat).

The DR is /slashing? Aw, man! I thought it was /bludgeoning for some reason. :(

The GM and Grandfrogger both said NOT to use slashing weapons at the start. I think a mistake was made then or now.

Yep, I screwed that up.

The published stat is indeed DR 5/slashing. However, I did tell GF in a spoiler that "slashing weapons are not particularly effective."

I will go back through the thread and remove the damage reductions that I've applied. You've been using piercing and bludgeoning weapons based on my erroneous input, and any slashing weapon should have done full damage per RAW. Had I given correct input at the beginning, you'd have no doubt used the proper type of weapons to full effect.

Zithembe and Soddy may still act, and please do so assuming that there is no further DR.

Green is indeed Down after Sleeping Sword's attacks, so you don't have to do the whole "if Green is still up" thing in your posts.

I'll do a full update when I can. Sorry, but I'm in Singapore today, heading to Hong Kong tomorrow. Should be able to post on the flight to HK about 24 hours from now at the latest, but I'll try to get it done earlier if I can.

The only difference Maria would have done would be to draw her Handaxe instead of Rapier this turn.