GM OfAnything's Darkest Abduction (Inactive)

Game Master KingOfAnything

"You got snow? Luxury. Back when I was on my Confirmation, we had to cross the Osirian desert. Without water. And we thought we had it easy."

Zarah raises an eyebrow, keeping a very light and amused tone. "You had desert? Ve had robots and a room vithout air, and ve liked it that vay."

Bluff to pass Secret Message: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

Made it to Boston!

I'm going to be rallying tomorrow, but I'll try to take some time to post.

I'm about an hour from Boston. Have fun.

It was a good time. I'm still a bit sore, but I am back in KC now.

Oh, I didn't realize you where from KC. Mo or Ks side? I lived there (both) for a bit, but I've lives a lot of places. :P

How did the rally go? What was it for?

Kansas side, I'm in Overland Park.

Science March Boston was pretty neat. The Common was a busy place with plenty of speakers and a kid's area with science demonstrations and some entertainment. It mostly stuck with the general call for the administration to preserve funding for basic research and respect data and findings and make them available to the public, but also took time to address diversity issues in academia and research fields. As a large gathering in Massachusetts, there were plenty of anti-Trump signs among the protesters, and (in what I found very Boston) even a coven of witches casting a binding spell.

The reason I went to Boston in the first place was to see BAHfest, which was a thoroughly enjoyable show.

Oh, nice. We lived in Shawnee Mission/Merriam for a few years.

Good thinking on that teleport ;)

You can roll on the "studied carefully" line for getting to the theater. A result of "off target" will result in a d% of an hour's delay as you walk back to the city and "similar area" results in a nearby theater stage, with only minimal delay to regroup.

Edit: Going to the inn would be on the "seen casually" line. Depending on how attentive the staff are, it may be more conspicuous than the otherwise empty theater.

Waiting for more people to move before my move. I intend to move into the room, thus illuminating it much better. Continual Flame provides torchlight, so the other end of the room currently is barely visible to those who do not have either Darkvision or Low-Light vision.

Can you counterspell a wand? I ruled yes, but I'm not sure if that is correct.

I will be on a citytrip with my wife until May 8. Please bot me where required. I have already included my next round action in my post.

Busy day today, I'll update tonight. Feel free to continue your philosophical debates.

No worries. Im in the military, so happens all the time. And I figure in game, we have a few minutes even with looking at all the tjings in the room as Infernal Healing kicks in.

I must say though, I'm very surprised that others would have a problem destroying an known evil idol, (or alter, or the like). Was not expecting that.

Replace it, Omar would then have no problems with the destruction.

You could even replace it with a statue of a female angel, her hair a fiery blaze and he would be fine with that.

You directly violated one of the core tenets of his faith. That quote wasn't something I made up, it is straight from the Paladin code for his deity.

Shelyn is a strange deity. It can really be rather fun!

By the way, he wouldn't have quibbled about destruction of an evil alter. Alters generally are not works of art.

No, I fully understand. This is exactly why I don't think Shelyn should be Good aligned or have Paladins.
And, this is also exactly why I did that, as the core tenets of my faith say "•I will not abide evil, and will combat it with steel when words are not enough. I do not flinch from my faith, and do not fear embarrassment. My soul cannot be bought for all the stars in the sky." Likewise, straight Paladin code of the deity, not that either of us are Paladins. However, while I wouldn't mind, especially for RP reasons, claiming this site as a bastion of hope for the Silver Crusade or Pathfinder Society, and even spending PP to do so, placing an icon of Sarenrae (or SHELYN!!!) here, in this torture chamber seems, way, way beyond wrong. After the place is cleansed, . . . maybe. If you are okay with us leaving a statement that Shelyn is absolutely ok with the torture and ritual sacrifice to dark gods of people for the sake of art, I shall bow out and allow you to do so. But, I doubt that is what you mean. :P

OOC, I guess I should have been more clear, saying "one would not leave a pretty flower that causes death out in the open for any random passerby to stumble upon and want to have".

Beauty and art are both tools of evil just as much as, if not more than good, and I really do not understand the supposed connection with art and redemption or holiness. Again, speaking OOC here, not in character. The way I view this, in and out of character is, would I leave a trap I spotted, and bypassed there so the next random person to trip and possibly die from when I can choose not to? Not only no, but hell no. Because that would be wrong. Period. Wou7ld I leave an alter to an evil patron intact, when I have the power to destroy it? What possible good can that do? In fact, the more pleasing such an alter appears to be, the more damage it can do. Both short and long term.

Sorry, there is a misunderstanding here. I'm not saying you need to place the art where you found the other art. I want more art in the world -- it would do much more good where it would be seen and hopefully inspire others.

Omar doesn't approve of torture, ritual sacrifice, or anything like it. There is no beauty in damaging another creature like that.

He also wouldn't want to leave an evil shrine or temple active. He would want to preserve the artwork but if there were any evil magic or profane taint that would need to be removed.

Out of Character I would say Shelyn is very idealistic. She still has hope of reforming/redeeming Zun-Kuthon after all.

It is getting a little late, so I'll stop here.

I don't want to start a fight with a noble, especially when they appear to be telling the truth as they know it.

I think it is time the group back off and leave, as requested. Maybe we can find a lead near the lodge house. If not, time to look more closely at the star's room. Last time when we were going to check it out, we met Mad Margaret (who sent us to the swampers) but to my knowledge never searched the room.

I will freely admit that this isn't making a whole lot of sense. I don't know what we missed, but right now it looks like the swampers ripped us off.

I kind of feel similar. I'm not keen on just leaving and allowing a known Demon/Devil to continue to do their thing, but as far as I can tell, he is innocent of at least this.

I'm not really sure about the swampers. It sort of feels like they where just there to force the party to use resources as this seems fairly combat light so far.

The theater sort of seems tapped out as well, as far as looking for more clues. I'm not certain, OOC, if we missed something at the theater (or the swamps), or if we found everything and have skipped a location or person somehow completely.

The only thing I can think of is the sewers, since we sort of just did that off screen. Perhaps if Zahra will explain what she saw through her magic, describe the room, or other details besides the dark priestess, there is something we missed there? I'm not sure there was any other details like that, just not clear where else to really look.

Well, besides the Lodge, but that seems like a big stretch. Why would we consider going there if no one had played the previous Scenario?

@ DM: feel free to give us a small nudge. :P

Well, besides the Lodge, but that seems like a big stretch. Why would we consider going there if no one had played the previous Scenario?

Because Leseige told us they followed the intruders there. Like I said, I wouldn't be surprised if we've been sent on a wild goose chase so that someone had time to set the stage for Olivina's murder to take place somewhere in the manor, knowing we'd eventually be led there to happen upon it. Then I suspect as soon as we arrive, the responsible party will just happen to walk in and shout "Aha!" and implicate the Pathfinder Society in the abduction and murder. I suspect it's not Basia, but someone else who knows the lodge. Maybe another noble looking for a political play, maybe the dark folk looking for revenge.

So, recap of what you know:

1. Mad Mad Margaret saw Olivina taken into the sewers
2. Swampers saw a large group of shady people in the sewers near Eylusia Building
3. Olivina was being held in the sewers, and then moved somewhere else
4. Lesiege's men drove off/followed intruders to Marigold Manor

Garinol wrote:

Well, besides the Lodge, but that seems like a big stretch. Why would we consider going there if no one had played the previous Scenario?

Because Leseige told us they followed the intruders there. Like I said, I wouldn't be surprised if we've been sent on a wild goose chase so that someone had time to set the stage for Olivina's murder to take place somewhere in the manor, knowing we'd eventually be led there to happen upon it. Then I suspect as soon as we arrive, the responsible party will just happen to walk in and shout "Aha!" and implicate the Pathfinder Society in the abduction and murder. I suspect it's not Basia, but someone else who knows the lodge. Maybe another noble looking for a political play, maybe the dark folk looking for revenge.

Did we? I'm either missing it or it was in a spoiler not meant for me.

I see the suggestion to go speak with the VC about who might have cause to kidnap her, which we have already done, and an off handed comment that it's more likely to happen at the Lodge than here. But, without knowing that there is a secret entrance to the Darklands there from the previous scenario, why would anyone consider that?

From what I'm seeing, it sounds like Lesseige did see the intruders <that the swampers said came here> and then chased them off. One of them followed them back to their hiding place, which I guess I didn't see as the Lodge, but rather him specifically not telling us where that was. Seems like a very beating around the bush way of saying that. :P

It just feels too metagamy to me. ha ha. But, I guess we have something else to at least try, so I'm game to head there next.

My agents followed the intruders back to their lair. Go back to your tacky lodge and ask your venture-captain who might have cause to snatch up Karcau's citizens.

If these two sentences don't go together then what Lesiege said there makes zero sense to me.

I read that as they followed them back to their lair and we should go back to the lodge, implying that was the lair.

You have been busy! I have enjoyed the wonderful city of Prague, and am ready for some gaming.

Dealing with Real Life stuff today. I'll try to be back Wednesday. Bot me.

Hmm

Glad you are back, Magabeus!

At a conference for the next few days, so you may need to bot me, sorry.

Thanks for the heads up.

Also, you are attacking an invisible Garinol. The shadow is currently in the kitchen, where you have no vision.

I'm going to assume Vrald moved up to the Blue dark folk and made a single attack if you don't get an edit in.

If you prefer to attack the shadow, you could move adjacent to Omar and ready an action.

Thanks Omar for double checking, that's why i post damage numbers and the like. I may not always post my rules reasoning when describing action (e.g. incorporeal senses), but I'm happy to explain, discuss, or debate my decisions or what is happening.

Sorry for lack of posting. The Paizo site was not very reliable yesterday and I had a long day at work today.

Are you going to take an action, Garinol?

I'll delay or take the best suggestion from the party in a few hours.

HMM and I will be traveling to PaizoCon starting tomorrow night. Since there is always lots of last minute preparations, I'm not sure how much we will be able to respond. There is supposed to be wifi on the train, but there were also warnings about limited bandwidth.

Have fun and say hi to Tineke and Therry if you meet them.

Sorry guys, I didn't read Garinol's post very well yesterday. Got it caught up now.

I'm at paizo con this weekend, so I won't move you forward until Monday. I think you've settled things with the dark folk, unless anyone else has something to say.

You know where the stairs are, I just need a marching order and any preparation you want to make.

Just wanted to give everyone a head's up. I'll be leaving to "the field" on the 3rd to approx. the 25th. I don't expect this to change my availability before then, and during that time, minus a day for travel back and forth, I expect to have posting capabilities. BUT, I will not know until I get there just what sort of internet access I will have. Possibly none, and possibly a great deal.

I tend to have fairly good internet, but, like I said, I really will not know until I get there. We are going out to the field to train for the upcoming deployment, and so I do expect to be rather busy, but no more than I have been the last few weeks, and likely even less so.

As I see it, Garinol and Omar had some damage leftover from the last fight (5 and 1, respectively). Let me know if that isn't the case.

Thanks for the heads up, Beckett.

Wondering about a few things...

Finding herself suddenly alone, the dark woman retrieves a scroll from her side and reads from it, then points her hand at Omar. dispel magic

[dice=CL]1d20+11

Omar's torch winks out. The room is plunged into deeper darkness.

To target a specific spell, don't they need to know the specific spell? If she is a cleric, that is a fair investment in Kn: Arcana.

Also, was the scroll really at Caster Level 11 rather than the normal 5? It wouldn't have mattered with as high as you rolled (I believe the Ioun stone was CL 7).

Is Zahra's Ioun Stone still active? I believe it should be.

Other than the question of Zahra's Ioun Stone, I don't think it is a big enough deal to change anything.

Wondering about a few things...

GM OfAnything wrote:

Finding herself suddenly alone, the dark woman retrieves a scroll from her side and reads from it, then points her hand at Omar. dispel magic

[dice=CL]1d20+11

Omar's torch winks out. The room is plunged into deeper darkness.

To target a specific spell, don't they need to know the specific spell? If she is a cleric, that is a fair investment in Kn: Arcana.

Also, was the scroll really at Caster Level 11 rather than the normal 5? It wouldn't have mattered with as high as you rolled (I believe the Ioun stone was CL 7).

Is Zahra's Ioun Stone still active? I believe it should be.

Other than the question of Zahra's Ioun Stone, I don't think it is a big enough deal to change anything.

She's an inquisitor, so she has more than a fair chance to identify it, and she'd get a hefty bonus for an ioun stone that appears to burn magically.

Yes, it is a CL 11 scroll, specifically called out for use against pesky light magic.

Per the light sources spoiler, and that she doesn't have a light dot on her icon, Zahra's stone is stowed.

Edit: I see where Zahra pointed to it earlier, but that would change the dark folk's actions a lot. Rather than back up, let's just call it stowed. Zahra can pull it out and finish this fight up.

Mine has been spinning around my head. I only needed the darkvision spell because of the scry.

Hmm

Now I see where Zahra pointed to it earlier, but I just didn't have it in my notes and it would change the dark folk's actions a lot. Rather than back up, let's just call it stowed.

Y'all are going to clean this fight up pretty quick either way.

Yes, Inquisitor would make a huge difference. Probably has some ranks in Kn: Arcana then.

We will roll with it as is. Doesn't take that long to pull out the Ioun Stone.

Okay, I still had a move action. Plenty of time to pull out a stone..

Just a heads up, im heading out to field.

Just a heads up, im heading out to field.

Please take care out there, Beckett. Come back safe!

Hmm

I just realized I may not have made it clear enough in my gameplay post.

Omar would give other people a chance to act before casting the Break Enchantment. If someone wants to identify the spell or do something else, go for it.

Thats fine with me. I have signal, but I'm the only medic on site and we arentrying to set up a base in the field, Im very busy at the momet. I was intending to check the kidnapped folks for injuries and heal myself up.

Yay team. Even managed to not kill the BBEG. I do have manacles we can bind her with.

I'll include actions I think are appropriate to Garinol and along those lines as we finish out.

While Olivina is no longer charmed, she is convinced the Pathfinder Society is evil. To prevent her from slandering the Society and undermining your work in the city, you will have to convince her otherwise. It may be difficult.

Perhaps I have given us a good start here.

Since we are almost at the end of the adventure, anyone who wants a heightened continual flame item from Omar should probably say so. It costs 50gp in Ruby Dust and you need to specify which item it is cast on. I bought a grey Ioun stone for mine since it is only 25 gp and still floats around the head.

It will be heightened to a 5th level spell, CL 10.