GM Rinaldo's Ruins of Azlant (Inactive)

Game Master The Great Rinaldo!

I'll be 30 feet out gathering power then. :) 120 foot shots are a wonderful thing for a girl who doesn't wanna get beat up by slimy fish people!

What on Golarion is Lily up to?

Gervase gives the kineticist a curious look before shrugging. (Delay)

I need Gilstrom's surprise round action; Gervase, are you saying you are going to let the fish-folk go first and delay your action until Lily and Arcilde's action slot?

Realizing where they are, Gilstrom sucks in a big breath and Persephone dips below the waves so that they can get a good attack from the side in.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Arcilde only has a 20 ft move, so I suspect she'd be back with Lily.

Knowlege Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Knowlege Nature Flower: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Lily listens for a moment as she holds up her hands and shouts to the others.

Their called skum! Don't know to much about them, but be careful, they have a nasty sent of claws and teeth as well as weapons!

Hmm, apparently my post got eaten ...

I had rolled perception for the Skum, and they saw Gilstrom and Persephone dive.

As Gilstrom dives, Persephone makes an ill-timed tail slap on the water, catching the attention of the approaching creatures. One of them dives into the water while another advances on Gervase and Arcilde, the third hanging back.

Gervase, Lily, and Arcilde are up!

Round #1: AC 17 ☤ 31/31 hp ☤

“Gilstrom, please stay close enough so we can support each other. We don’t want this to turn into a fair fight.”

Gervase waits for Arcilde to act, while taking note of Blue’s speed. She tries to stick him with a couple of arrows as he moves into range.

rapid shot on Blue: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 2 = 16
piercing damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

rapid shot on Blue: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 2 = 19
piercing damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

If Blue drops after Arcilde and Lily have acted, she keeps her bow in hand. Otherwise, she drops her bow, quick draws the Levin longsword and takes a 5' step to the south.

Lily holds her breath and let's power flow through her. She holds out her arm and fires a lance that flies through the air...

Wood Blast: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 14

It lands close, but just kicks up sand.

Oi! Gilstrom, don't get too far away!
Arcilde snaps her wrist back, and a scroll drops into her hand. She moves toward the shore, just far enough to get Gilstrom and Persephone in range of the spell, then asks Arqueros for a blessing. As she moves, she draws her battleaxe in the other hand.

Swift action to pop the scroll from the spring-loaded wrist sheath, move action to the shore, then standard to cast Bless.[ooc]

[ooc]Gilstrom should have both his masterwork breastplate and his masterwork lance.

Gilstrom should have both his masterwork breastplate and his masterwork lance.

This is a true statement.

Arcilde quickly moves over and uses a scroll to bring the blessings of her god to the group, as Lily and Gervase fire shots at the approaching creatures. Lily's thorn lands dead center in the lead skum's chest and is immediately followed by two arrows from Gervase. The creature drops to the sand.

The remaining skum on land hesitates slightly, but then runs up to join his fallen comrade.

Gilstrom is up! You and Red can see each other through the water. Don't forget to count bless in your attack.

Lily, you had a move action after firing your blast. Did you gather power again, or move up? Gervase, let me know whether you dropped the bow and drew the sword, or kept the bow after dropping Blue.

Gather power again

"YAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAIIIIIIIIIII!!!!"

Spotting a perfect target, Gilstrom crests the waves, Persephone's tail slapping down as she speeds towards his target with deadly accuracy. He lets out a hysterical battle cry as he speeds for the target, obviously having one hell of a time.

Power Attack CHARGE + Bless + Cavalier's Charge: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 + 4 = 32
Charge Damage+PA+Waverider: 2d6 + 4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 + 4 + 2 = 16

Crit!: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 Damage: 3d6 + 6 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5, 5) + 6 + 6 + 3 = 27

Sigh. The dice giveth and the lord taketh away. 16 damage though!

Too bad, I was really rooting for you on that lance charge crit!

Gilstrom and Persephone charge the skum in the water, hitting him hard with the lance.

Red Trident vs Gilstrom: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Red Claw vs Gilstrom: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Red Bite vs Gilstrom: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
The skum swims forward and stabs, claws, and bites at Gilstrom, but can't seem to find the gnome right in front of him

Gervase, Lily, and Arcilde are up!

Round #2: AC 17 ☤ 31/31 hp ☤

Because Blue dropped, Gervase kept hold of her bow, GM.

Trusting Gilstrom to stay out of trouble, Ai, ai, ai! *shakes head*

Gervase steps up 5’ to ensure Lily gets a clear shot, before drawing a bead on Yellow eyes.

rapid shot + bless on Yellow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 - 2 = 18
piercing damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

rapid shot + bless on Yellow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 - 2 = 24 crit threat
piercing damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

If Yellow drops after Arcilde and Lily have acted, she drops her bow and quick-draws her harpoon. Otherwise, she drops her bow and quick-draws the Levin longsword.

confirm crit on Yellow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 - 2 = 9

Wood Blast: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 10
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4, 6) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 18

Lily let's out another massive blast! But unfortunately, it flies wide.

Arcilde moves forward, drawing her battleaxe, then throws the chakram at the fish-man-beastie-thing.

Attack with chakram, bless: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Holding the battleaxe in two hands, just in case the fish-beastie-man-thing closes into melee.

Gervase lands two arrows, while Lily and Arcilde aren't quite able to hit.

Yellow trident vs Arcilde: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
The remaining skum moves up and jabs ineffectively at Arcilde.

Gilstrom is up!

Persephone swims around the skum, trying to get a little closer to shore while Gilstrom stabs out with his lance. "Avast! Does that mean what I think it means?"

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 16 Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 8

"HEY GUYS WHAT DOES AVAST MEAN!?"

5' step and attack.

Looks left.

Looks right.

“I balieve it’s what a pirate wears ‘neath his pea coat during a cold night on watch in the crow’s nast, Gilstrom.”

Gilstrom backs up and jabs at the skum, this time knocking it out.
Red is now unconscious!

Red stabilize?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 No!
Blue stabilize?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 No!

With Red and Blue both down, Gervase, Lily, and Arcilde are up!

Lily grits her teeth and tries to focus, gathering power to increase her distance and launching the shot.

Wood Blast: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 14

But it still flies wide and she sighs with frustration.

Round #3: AC 15 ☤ 31/31 hp ☤

With Arcilde engaged, there is zero subtlety in Gervase’s actions.

With the Levin longsword already in hand she charges 25’ at the remaining fish-folk.

2-handed longsword + bless + charge on Yellow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 30 crit threat
magic slashing damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

confirm crit on Yellow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 1 + 2 = 18
extra crit damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

“Are there any more on the way?”

Lily fires a distracting shot as Gervase charges up, slicing the fish-man's belly wide open.

Yellow is just plain *dead*. Red and blue are unconscious. You can decide what to do about that.

Looking over your assailants, you realize that one of them has a belt pouch with a map in it. Gilstrom recognizes the material as whaleskin.

The map reveals the northwestern contours of the island of Ancorato, with a few terrain landmarks and a symbol that resembles a tower. This symbol is also accompanied by another glyph.

I have marked the tower symbol on your map of the island. I will take a Linguistics check to identify the language; if high enough it might also translate, or you can use comprehend language to read it.

Should we try t' take any o' them alive? I'm no good at gettin' questions answered...

Arcilde looks at the map. Mayhap Ramona could translate this--or I can prepare a spell t'morrow.

Lily doesn't even ask the others anymore. She walks up to blue and red and puts them down. She wipes her hand of their disgusting flesh and walks back over to the team.

Sorry Arcilide. None of us are interrogators, and trying to capture monsters like that is just gonna get us hurt and others killed.

She looks at yellow and whistles.

Niiiiice Hawk. You filleted that fish man something good.

She then peers over and looks at the map.

A map huh?

She gets a glimmer in her eye.

Think it's a real, honest to goodness treasure map?

Niiiiice Hawk. You filleted that fish man something good.

“Thank-you, my dear.”

It may be odd to see the tall wilderness warrior attempt a cutesy curtsey. “Thoughtful team work again for the win.”

Think it's a real, honest to goodness treasure map?

Gervase nods as she looks over Lily’s shoulder. “Yep, and ‘+’ marks the spot!”

Linguistics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Mayhap Ramona could translate this--or I can prepare a spell t'morrow.

The ranger nods. “I’m sure Ramona, Perrell or maybe Lyra could do better than me. I think we should draw some rations, and CAMPING GEAR too, Gilstrom.”

*Pointed look* at the gnome. “This could be an extended trip. I might ask Ramona if I can borrow the pocketwatch compass.”

“Also …” Gervase frowns. “ ‘They’ sent three grunts against an entire village, making no attempt at stealth –– with a map of where they came from conveniently planted on them.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Smells a bit fishy, or what?”

Gilstrom lets out a yell and Persephone charges for the shore. He stands in his stirrups before bounding off of the dolphin and tumbling to his feet. He hauls in the skum corpse on the tip of his lance.

"That was fun! Nothing like defending the town from some evil fish-men. Hey, that's made of whale! Useful critters, whales."

He blinks as Gervase points out something is strange.

"Huh, I guess they really want us to go to the tower on that super exciting map. We should probably do what they want. I don't want them having died in vain."

The other colonists once again thank you for your quick action. The map you found draws plenty of interest.

Perrell Beys scrunches her eyes as she looks at the writing. "I would have expected something like Aklo or even Azlanti, given where we are, but I don't recognize that script. It's clearly words, not just symbols, but I can't make it out."

“This could be an extended trip. I might ask Ramona if I can borrow the pocketwatch compass.”

“Also …” Gervase frowns. “ ‘They’ sent three grunts against an entire village, making no attempt at stealth –– with a map of where they came from conveniently planted on them.”

She raises an eyebrow. “Smells a bit fishy, or what?”

Ramona agrees, and says, "I can't believe this is an isolated incident. It must be related to the disappearance of the original colonists. Gather whatever you think you need to investigate."

Father Eamon offers to pray tomorrow morning for a spell to translate the map symbol so that Arcilde doesn't have to use her own spells just for that.

------
Ramona will loan you the pocketwatch compass. If there is anything else you want to ask for, let me know.

You can start fresh on the next day, and Arcilde can prepare whatever spells she wants for the trip. I'll allow Eamon to cast comprehend languages so that Arcilde can save her spell slot for the trip.

Eamon tells you that the mark on the map reads "transport prisoners here".

You estimate that the marked site is about 8-10 miles away. Given the terrain, it will probably take most of a day just to get there.

Lily appears with her pack ready the next morning, and fresh rations packed. She seems more than a little miffed that the "Treasure Map" turned out to be a prisoner transport map.

Teach them to kidnap people...

She mutters to the bunny on her shoulder.

Gonna punch them full of holes. Maybe try out that new technique on one of them. Bet they won't be so confident if I drop a log on them. Jerks.

She keeps muttering, her foul mood only marginally improved by the fresh honey scones she passes out for breakfast.

If these guys took those colonists, they are in for a WORLD of hurt!

Gilstrom makes sure to gather up some camping supplies and a couple of days worth of food and casts his speak with animals spell to explain to Persephone the long trip, the direction, and to keep up in the water. Knowing that there may be great battle ahead, he uses a good half a tub of dolphin polish on her to ensure she's extra fearsome.

---

However, during this time Gilstrom actually finds out what skum are and their dealings with humans. He shows up dark-faced and bitter. "Abominations! Cretins! How do these things exist?! It's not fair. Yes thank you - extra butter please."

He chomps down miserably on a scone.

"Abominations! Cretins! How do these things exist?!"

“They are sent to forge BIG dang heroes, Ser Gilstrom! AND to keep gnome warriors from getting bored.”

And then burning down villages with *fizz-bangs* and Molthuni Candles.

“Cheer up, Lily! At least we might be able to rescue some of the poor colonists.”

Gervase moves up to give her bestie a BIG Hug from behind. However, as Lily feels her arms being immobilized, it becomes apparent what the ranger’s true goal is.

CMB: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

“YUM! Honey scones! You don’t mind if I show my appreciation by taking a few extra do you, Lily?”

After retreating, with her prizes ...

acrobatics to avoid an AoO: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 nope!

Gervase fills in the others on her preparations, between giant mouthfuls of scone. “Mwy affed Ramwona fwor swum *cough* bug repellent and Father Eamon for a loan of the Poltergeist’s longbow as a backup.”

*CHOMP & chew* “I’ll pwobabwy hwear bwack fwom dem dis mwonrning.”

Since these are fishy-people-beasties, I s'pose I should prepare some "Let's don' drown" spells. Will ye be all righ' if I don' provide light this time?

Assuming everyone has their own light source, Arcilde prepares the following spells:
0-level - Detect Magic, Guidance, Read Magic, Resistance (If she needs to, she'll drop Resistance to prepare Light instead). She has a scroll of Stabilize in her wrist sheath.
1st-level - Air Bubble, Bless, Liberating Command, Suspend Drowning. (She has a scroll of Magic Weapon in her left wrist sheath, and she packs scrolls of Ant Haul, Comprehend Languages, Cure Light Wounds, Deadeye's Lore, Remove Sickness, and Shield of Faith.)

“That’s cool with me, Arcilde.”

Gervase mm-mm’s her way through Lily’s baked goods, though she’s clearly got something else on her mind.

“If the ‘+’ on the map is some kinda prisoner collection point, how are we going to tackle it?”

“I mean do we plan for a general assault, or could we pretend to be a bounty hunter with slaves in order to infiltrate the place?”

Gilstrom, aren’t you a little short for a Stormtrooper?

Spells prepared, provisions stocked, and gear hoisted, you set out across the island. None of the larger rivers go in the direction you are headed, so Gilstrom gives Persephone a good polish and leaves her to guard the colony.

The going is relatively easy, given the terrain, and within a few hours you have crossed the river and started up the slope toward the hill indicated on the map.

Well before arriving at the tower, you notice an interesting sight. In a grassy field pockmarked with piles of fallen stone and sparse trees stands a monument that is relatively free from damage. A path of broken white marble leads to it, and the grass is curiously cut and edged away from it. The monument itself is a smooth marble disk, about thirty feet in diameter, and marked with representations of the phases of the moon. A semicircular row of thirteen columns surrounds the northern side on a curved marble base, the ends of which have broken off and subsided into the ground. Two adjacent columns near the center are broken and the lintel between them is sundered. Two curved stone benches sit before the semicircle on either side of the path, and two stone buildings lie to the north.

Arcilde uses her arcane sight to examine the area, and notices that the disk radiates a faint transmutation aura. Additionally, two statues radiate magic. As Arcilde examines them further, they animate, and begin speaking. Gervase recognizes the language as Azlanti, and gets the impression they they are telling you that you don't belong here and should leave.

Forgot to say that Eamon would have allowed you to borrow the Erastil bow; who would be carrying it?

Gilstrom gasps as the statues begin speaking. "This is SO NEAT. Why don't they do this back on the mainland? I know those Chelaxian bastards have lots of magic they're spending on devils and opera orgies that they could be spending on nifty talking statues!"

He moves over to investigate the talking statues closely. "I wonder what happens afetr an empire falls? I mean... so Starstone makes a big boom, it's all lousy for everyone, but they don't all just vanish here. People still exist even if the empire dies. Do they leave? Do they turn into statues?"

He pokes at it with the butt of his trident.

“I’ll take a wildass guess about this place. GILSTROM! Be caref…”

*sigh* Should have saved my breath!

“Perhaps it was some kinda outdoor shrine/meeting place for toffee-noses in decadent Azlant.”

Gervase nocks an arrow and scans the area as she talks. “It’s interesting you mention Cheliax, Gilstrom.”

“The statues might be informing us we’re of the wrong citizen-class to be congregating in this area.”

take 10 perception: 10 + 8 = 18

“Do we want to search the stone buildings to the north? Maybe they’re old temples?”

As Gilstrom steps toward the statues, they become even more annoyed. As he pokes at one, they get angry. The one Gilstrom poked at swings its stone sword.

Blue vs Gilstrom, flat-footed: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Even caught by surprise, the gnome is able to dodge the blow.

Lily and Gervase are up!

Gilstrom lets out a squeak as he blocks the attack on his shield. "Hey! I was poking that!"

Round #1: AC 15

"Far out! Are those statues flipping us the tines?"

Gervase drops her bow, quick-draws her harpoon and charges the red-veined statue.

harpoon + charge + PA on Red: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 2 - 1 = 21
piercing damage: 1d8 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 3 = 13

Map!

Gervase runs up and stabs at one of the statues. To her surprise, the tip of the harpoon penetrates the stony exterior as if it were flesh, and the statue cries out in pain.
The statue takes full damage from the attack. Noticing this allows everyone a Knowledge Arcana *or* Religion check to identify them.

Lily is still up!

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Oi...that dinna sound like a statue... let me think a moment...

“Rutting elk!”

Gervase’s jaw drops as she looks up from the sucking wound into the “statue’s” eyes.

I figured some strange things could result from this attack –– but not that!

“Arcilde, should I try to disbelieve their ‘statue-form’? I’m not taking my eyes of it –– I won’t even blink.”

Arcilde realizes that these are probably celedons, immortal caretakers of the faith of some deity.

Forged of the purest extraplanar metals, every celedon exists to serve a single deity. Each possesses a boundless willingness to praise their deity's name, whether through song, oration, mock battle, or whatever performance their creator favors. Most spend the entirety of their existences tending a single holy place, repeating rituals, perfecting services, and creating new works to laud their particular deities. Celedons in the service of a goddess of law might perform an endless cycle of daily ceremonies and shrine upkeep, with time set aside for copying scripture and adjudicating disputes between the faithful. Those who serve a chaotic god of destruction might perform sacrifices as whims strike them, while erratically preparing weapons of war. While only those celedons created by martially minded deities function as warriors, most of these divine constructs zealously defend their divinely chosen homes and eagerly sacrifice themselves in their defense.

Lily still has an action, but she act on the information provided by Arcilde.

sorry guys, gencon ended up being rougher than I thought!

Lilly blushes a deep red as Hawk hugs her... and then her face turns to a mixture of embarrassment and furry as she realizes she was just stealing a scone. Her red shade doesn't seem to go away as they march, and she only snaps out of her revelry when Gilstrom is attacked. She holds out her hand and fires a lance at the red tinted one near Hawk.

Leave them alone!

Wood Blast: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 16
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2, 4) + 4 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 15

Lily blasts the first statue with a thorn, piercing it directly in the midsection and breaking it in half.
Red has been destroyed.

Gilstrom and Arcilde are up!

"Nice one, Lily! I owe you a hug."

Gervase takes a closer look at the guardian statues. "Their robes appear to be 'carved' with lunar phases."

"Perhaps this is an ancient shrine of the Azlanti Moon goddess -- whoever that is."

"Perell and Carver will be interested in this site."

Gilstrom looks in awe at the attacking, and now partially-destroyed statues. "Wow! I've never had something this neat try to kill me!"

Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 1 = 21 Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Gilstrom stabs the second statue, eliciting a litany of Azlanti. Gervase makes out about every third word, but thinks the statue is calling down curses on the gnome.

Arcilde is up!