GM Lari's Phantom Phenomena (Inactive)

Game Master Dhenn

Draw from the Deck - Suit: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Draw from Deck - Card: 1d9 ⇒ 9

+2 Wisdom: +1 to Wisdom Skills and Will Saves

Merisiel entertains herself once again by tossing a dagger in the air and catching it, as Reiko asked the question she was going to ask anyway.

ability: 1d6 ⇒ 3
card: 1d9 ⇒ 2

Hmm, Constitution -- does that give me bonus HP?

-Posted with Wayfinder

draw: 1d6 ⇒ 2
card: 1d9 ⇒ 7

meh.

"Why is the lightning here red?"

I believe you'll gain temporary HP. I think it makes the most sense to treat these as temporary increases, like Bull's Strength and similar spells. An increase in casting stats would increase spell DCs, but not spells per day, etc.

The gnome turns to Mavaro, "Good question! I don’t know. That's why we're here, after all."

Adjusting an angular ellipsoid of green crystal with a single dial, he continues,

I suspect that ectoplasmic residue from red lightning imparted this area with necrotic energy after it struck long ago. Of course, we will find out if this theory is true when the next strike occurs. Exciting, isn’t it?

He moves over to what appears to be a wayfinder balanced on a tripod of iridescent metal.

"Oh yes, my machines. This one locates the closest sources of Astral interference. The green thing is a multiphasic Aetheric impulse dampener. I've got a few quartz resonance manipulators scattered about. All sorts of cool stuff. Plus some new ectoplasm storage containers of my own devising. Hopefully you can help me obtain some fresh samples."

Stepping closer to you, he adds "Based on my readings, we should be witnessing a strike within half an hour. When that happens, I need you to secure the site so that I can obtain my samples. Then we can all head back to some nice warm beds."

Draws
Oloch: The Uprising (CN Strength), signifying overwhelming strength, and entanglement in larger events. An incredibly appropriate card.
Reiko: The Snakebite (CE Intelligence), associated with schemes, venom, and assassinations
Merisiel: The Lost (CE Wisdom), indicates the insane, lunatics, and lost souls
Rivani: The Survivor (NG Constitution), represents a creature that has managed to survive a terrible ordeal, when everyone thought him lost.
Amiri: The Avalanche (LE Dexterity), It represents disaster: an unthinking panic and destruction that overruns all.

PFS doesn't give a great amount of flexibility in actually making these relevant, but a good number of them actually connect pretty well.

Secure the site? from what I wonder. She mused aloud fingering the hilt of her weapon. It didnt seem like there was much to do but wait.

As long as I know how to love you know I will survive, hey hey!

Rivani cautiously uses her scroll to protect herself with Mage Armor.

Yeah, most of those cards work well with the characters.

Her eyes glazing over a bit as the gnome explains the contraption, Merisiel awaits the lightning strike with a bored expression.

"We can secure the site," Oloch says. "Sounds easy. Just point us to it."

"From what? Well... I’m told wild animals and plants react strangely to these lightning strikes. Furthermore, ectoplasm can be dangerous and is often accompanied by ghosts or restless spirits. Might be wise to take a look around first."

Before he responds to Oloch, he examines his instruments again.

"I expect it'll hit somewhere to the southeast of this position. Wait...no. Northeast. I'm almost sure of it. Either that or due west."

If you'd like to search around here, Survival will be more helpful than Perception. Any Knowledge, other skill checks, or other actions you think might be useful are welcome as well.

Mavaro decides to take a chance, half expecting to be struck by lightning at any moment, and walks around the site. He also considers whether he has heard any history of this site or whether the Pharasmin's had anything to say about ectoplasm.
Survival (untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 9
Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

In an effort to stave off boredom, Merisiel takes a look around the area for anything unusual, especially of the supernatural variety.

Survival: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Rivani will do her usual scanning of the area with detect magic.

Also Aid another for Survival (helping Merisiel)

1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8 Well, that doesn't help.

Oloch looks around skeptically. The lack of specific locations makes it difficult to pinpoint anything.

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Most of the surrounding hillside is overgrown Most areas will count as difficult terrain and provide concealment, except for the areas where vegetation seems to have been burned away by lightning strikes. Rivani doesn't see anything of note, perhaps due to the darkness. Oloch realizes the underbrush is remarkably undisturbed, with no signs that the area has been disturbed at all, except by the recent arrival of yourselves and the Doctor. After some thought, Merisiel realizes there is absolutely no sign of any animal (or vermin) activity on the hillside.

Meanwhile, as the Ninja and Occultist roam about, they can sense the dormant presence of some sort of angry intelligence (or intelligences), that seems tied to this location.

"I'm not sure what the rest of you can sense here, but it seems to me that the hill itself is infested with some form of angry spirits or some other presence. I know not what to do about it though. I have a bad feeling the lightning may lead to us learning the hard way."

"There's no animal life present here either. I mean, not even an ant. Whatever happens will probably be exciting at least, right?"

Perhaps yes, let us be on our guard.

The ninja replied to the rogue. She kept a good distance away from all the equipment, making sure to keep a bit spaced out from her companions to keep the area encircled somewhat

Nodding to Reiko, Merisiel draws her rapier and waits.

As Mavaro mentions the spirits, several tree branches begin knocking together, clearly not blown by the wind. They produce a series of arrhythmic sounds, that Mavaro clearly interprets as an attempt at communication.

Mavaro is the only one with Linguistics trained, so I'm going to roll his checks in the interest of speed.

Mav Linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Mav Linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Mav Linguistics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Though it takes him some time to decipher the pattern, the occultist eventually figures out the code.

...home...Release Us...Kill the Dreamer...Pulled from our home...Release Us

While this goes on, dark clouds begin rolling over the hill. As the message repeats again, a bolt of bright red energy shoots out of the clouds, striking a copse of trees not far from your position. Perking up, the gnome shouts, "This is it, people! Let's get moving! as he begins trudging through the brush towards the site of the strike.

Feel free to make any reactions to the above post, but presumably you'll be heading over to the site eventually. This is what will happen when you get there.

Map is linked above. As stated earlier, everything is considered light undergrowth (difficult terrain).

A chorus of wailing screams comes from somewhere inside these trees, and a red glow casts a baleful light over the area. The smell of ozone hangs heavy in the air, and crackling arcs of electricity jump between the plants here and there. The forest is filled with the sound of rustling branches.

A crater of fresh, bubbling red ectoplasm can be seen in the distance.

Initiative:

• Merisiel-We are Here
  
• Amiri
  
• Red
  
• Green
  
• Oloch
  
• Mavaro
  
• Dr Q
  
• Rivani
  
• Blue (*)
  
• Reiko

Perplexed by the supernatural event, but pleased to be back in action, Merisiel moves closer to the crater, but readies her weapon in case something aggressive flies out at her.

I can't edit the map at the moment, could someone move Merisiel two diagonals southwest of Amiri?

Readied Rapier attack if an aggressor enters an adjacent space: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Mavaro tells everyone about the spirits communicating from the trees, "They are saying something about being pulled from their home and a desire to be released. They tell us to kill the dreamer. Or maybe they see us as dreamers. I'm not sure." He joins everyone else hustling over to the site after the strike.

Rivani moves forward, continuing to scan with detect magic.

Moving everyone forward a bit and starting a new round. In hindsight, this starts you way too far away.

In the crater, you see pools of ectoplasm beginning to coalesce into three large masses. As they grow, each one elongates, and wispy tendrils gradually thicken and twist, forming what appear to be limbs and a head.

Amiri, Merisiel, and Rivani all notice the branches around you twisting against the wind, seeming to reach towards you, taking on the appearance of grasping claws. Rivani begins to detect the presence of magic.

• Merisiel-Back to here
  
• Amiri
  
• Red
  
• Green
  
• Oloch
  
• Mavaro
  
• Dr Q
  
• Rivani
  
• Blue (*)
  
• Reiko

Merisiel moves a little closer, but still readies herself to strike if some ectoplasm tries to slime her.

Ready action: Attack an ectoplasm creature if it moves into an adjacent square

Readied Rapier attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Damage in case it has stats like a gelatinous cube: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Oloch rushes to engage...whatever it is...that is forming in the crater.

"What is this thing?" he asks, though it is clear that whatever it is, he means to kill it.

Botting Amiri with a double move forward.

The Barbarian continues her steady march towards the glowing red crater.

Two of the glowing red ectoplasmic creatures begin moving towards Amiri and Oloch, gliding inches above the underbrush. Each now appears humanoid, though with the same cloven hooves and unnatural mouth as the fortune teller from the tavern. Each unsuccessfully attempts to smash into one of the party members.

Doctor Quolorum continues to trudge forward.

"I've never seen anything like this before! Do make some observations while you stop these creatures, please and thank you.

Green vs Amiri: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Red vs Oloch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Knowledge (Religion) to ID these

• Merisiel
  
• Amiri
  
• Red
  
• Green
  
• Oloch
  
• Mavaro-We are here
  
• Dr Q (already gone)
  
• Rivani
  
• Blue (*)
  
• Reiko

Oloch easily dodges the blow against him, then counters with a powerful swing of his greatsword.

greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 202d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 = 9

Rivani hurries forward to get a better look at the creatures.

knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Waiting on remaining standard action after knowing what they are.

Going to give Mavaro ~24 hours to check in before proceeding ahead. Reiko, consider yourself on deck.

Rivani realizes that these are, rather unsurprisingly, Ectoplasmic creatures, a type of undead formed from pure ectoplasm. These creatures tend to be resistant to bludgeoning and piercing damage, move as though constantly under the effect of an air walk spell, and have the ability to pass through walls and similar obstacles.

The ectoplasmic residue their attacks leave can be unsettling for victims. Who exactly these creatures were in life is not immediately clear. While many of their features appear human, there are clear similarities to the illusory creature at the Lucky Lantern.

waiting patiently :P darn low inititive rolls

"They're ectoplasmic undead! Use blades to slash them! I... don't think I can do a damned thing to them." She draws her dagger to try to defend herself if necessary.

Botting Mavaro. If you're out there, let us know. Reiko, I sympathize about the low initiative. I've got a Paladin in the same position in the Blackros Museum.

Mavaro scrambles through the underbrush, one-eyed sword at the ready. Unfortunately, he puts himself straight in the path of the last ectoplasmic figure. Before it can harm him, though, Merisiel's rapier darts out at the glowing red form.

Merisiel AOO: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Slam: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

While her attack seems to have only slightly disturbed the creature's gooey, stringy body, it throws the enemy off balance, causing it to miss Mavaro by several feet.

Forgot you rolled attack and damage earlier. Oops!

With the sound of an anguished scream, the handlike plants Rivani and others noticed spring into life, grasping and clawing at Oloch and Amiri.

Reflex Amiri: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Reflex Oloch: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

While Amiri nimbly dodges the grasping vines and brush, a thorny hand wraps around Oloch's leg, hampering his movement. The undead float just out of reach of the spell effect.

Oloch is entangled and suffers 1 point of damage.

All squares marked in dark green (and in the full radius of the spell) now effectively cost 4 squares of movement, provide 30% miss chance, and require a Reflex save upon entering.

Who is up? I would post, but I believe Merisiel has moved in the initiative order since her readied action went off.

I had rolled an attack on my last round, and can't for the life of me see a response to it. Did this get missed: greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 2) + 6 = 9

Oloch curses as he becomes entangled, but lashes out at his opponents again.

str check to break free: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Slashing weapons she had, but just as she was bout to run forward the very vegetation itself seemed to spring to life and attack her companions.. That was no problem for the skilled ninja, she would just avoid the plants and go around.

double move to flank in a way

Sorry, forgot to update initiative and add Oloch's attack. Reiko, the spell effect covers the full 40 ft radius of entangle. I had only drawn the portion I expected to be relevant. I apologize for any confusion. Please let me know if that alters your actions at all.

Until we hear from Amiri and Mavaro they're in bot mode.

Oloch handily annihilates the creature that attacked him, as ribbons of ectoplasm fall into the surrounding brush. However, he is unable to escape the plants' fearsome embrace, taking another point of damage.

Amiri, furious at the indignity of being trapped, swings her massive sword at the one who attacked her. Once she lowers her blade, there is little sign an opponent stood before her at all.
Amiri: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Damage: 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (8, 7) + 9 = 24

Mavaro likewise levels the one-eyed sword at the undead closest to him, cutting deeply into its glowing body.
Mavaro: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Doctor Quolorum continues trudging towards the crater, scribbling notes in a journal as he does so.

• Amiri
  
• Red
  
• Green
  
• Oloch
  
• Mavaro
  
• Dr Q
  
• Rivani-We are here
  
• Blue (Damage=6)
  
• Merisiel
  
• Reiko

Rivani draws upon her mental strength to boost her body, and slashes at the closest ectoplasmic creature.

Using Burst of Adrenaline as a swift action to gain a +8 boost to strength for one attack. She will be fatigued for 1 round afterwards.

attack with dagger: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"Oh right, forgot I could do that for a moment."

Naw since she couldnt really see around the foilage there, I let it ride :)

Rivani punctures the otherworldly flesh of the last standing creature. It begins to dissolve into a thin puddle of red liquid.

We can effectively get out of combat right now, except for dealing with the Entangle effect. In the interest of expediency, does any one object to simply considering one of the holy waters you found last time expended in order to deal with the issue?

Once the scene returns to normal, your Gnome employer dives towards the crater, and ladles several piles of the red goop into a pair of boxes made of a combination of glass and metal.

"Thank you so much, all of you! You handled that much better than even I could have anticipated. These samples should serve wonderfully, and the strike was so much more dramatic than I expected. I'll be able to get this report published in the Sincomakti Journal of Occult Occurences for sure!

...I'm not quite certain what those creatures we encountered were. I'll be returning to my office at the Sincomakti school to see if I can figure out what they might be. In the meantime, perhaps you could check out Lady Illirigarde's manor. Perhaps she encountered these creatures before.

Dr Q Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Roleplay and questions for the Doctor as much/little as you want. We'll spend ~24 hours on the hilltop before moving on. If our absent players don't check in by then, I'll be seeking out replacements.

No objections to the holy water.

Merisiel shrugs and idly kicks some dirt. Not only was she still a little bored, she didn't actually stab anything! "Yeah, Doc, whatever you say..."

"Spirits of restless dead, given form somehow due to this release of energy, I would speculate," Rivani suggests.

She examines the ectoplasm and other residues the professor is sampling as well.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Having the vague sense that there might be something otherworldly about the effect entangling everyone, Mavaro examines it more closely. "Holy water. Or perhaps Oloch could channel the energy of his god. That should free us." Afterward, Mavaro helps to examine the crater and area for more clues for the professor.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Knowledge (nature) untrained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

She rounded the corner of the vegetation to find that the spells effects were there as well.

Well Oni spit.

The ninja muttered rushing back around to help her associates only for the strange battle to end.

I am not complaining but, did all your research mention red globules of doom being a byproduct of the lightning strike? I wonder what caused such things?

She asked the doctor a bit curious as to the nature of the how and the why of the creature.

Excited to see his employees take an active interest in his research, Doctor Quolorum is positively effervescent as he babbles on,

"I'm not completely sure of the relationship between the lightning and our assailants just yet. It may be that they were awakened by the lightning, or took advantage of the burst of energy to give themselves form.

In the meantime, the rest of you should check out Lady Illirigarde's estate. Perhaps she found some useful information.

I know the combats haven't been very challenging so far, which isn't how I like things when I'm a player. If that frustrates you, the next quest does provide opportunities to split the party. You may wish to take advantage of that. I think I'll run that whole event in initiative once we reach the point where combat is possible.

We'll probably head to the Manor quest sometime late Sunday EST, potentially Monday based both on my availability and any responses from you.

In the meantime, special bonus trivia! Doctor Quolorum is part of the faculty at the Sincomakti School of Sciences. Can you figure out the OOC inspiration for the name of that institution? Please post answers in Discussion in spoilers. As a caution, the Pathfinderwiki page for the school gives away the answer.

I'm fine with the combats so far, I don't see Merisiel as the most intellectual sort of character, hence my role-playing her boredom. As a player, everything is fine on my end. I'm ready to move on whenever you are.

Should we draw a new card for the next part?

"Is there anything you can tell us of her estate? Has she lived there long?"
I'm fine with everything too GM Lari. Sorry for disappearing during that last combat. I eagerly await everyone else's guesses since I don't know this one.

"The mansion has been abandoned for about four decades now. It's assumed that the Lady died, though her body was never found. It's not far from Dunhob, actually.

She was working on a device called an etheric compass, as I understand it. If you find any sign of the device, bring it back to me.

He darts over to his instruments, and comes back carrying two glass and metal cubes, each side a foot long.

"If you do find anything, place it in one of these containers. Hopefully, it will isolate the device from any esoteric connections and allow me to study its workings more easily.

Oh, and of course this might help too.

He fumbles through his pockets, pulling out an ornate brass key, handing it to Mavaro.

Lady Illirigarde is the one who performed the Harrowing in the Lucky Lantern that caused the pub to be closed. She disappeared shortly thereafter.

You can continue to ask questions if you like. Appropriate Knowledge checks would be History of Local. Diplomacy to gather information is also an option, though there's nobody else on this hillside to ask, so you'd likely have to return to your friends in Dunhob.

My next post will include "arriving at the manor" text, though that shouldn't stop you from interacting more here if you wish.

Please Draw from the Deck again.

draw: 1d6 ⇒ 2 just a 1d6, right?