GM Silbeg's Godsmouth Heresy (Inactive)

Game Master Silbeg

This is the gameplay thread! Please introduce yourselves in character!

"Oi! We ready ta go on a mission?!"

Says the crazy looking dwarf.

How about a description, what do you do, what makes Fhlangorn cool, different, fun?

The team assembles in a cottage at Heidmarch Manor in Magnimar prior to being sent out on their next mission. The Pathfinders straggle in from all parts of the world, ready to head out on perhaps their first adventure as a Pathfinder field agent! As such, based on their training, they know they should let their new teammates know as much about themselves as they can so that they will work well together.

A tall Vudrani woman enters the meeting room. Her black hair hangs straight with a tiny amount of curl near the tips. A cold iron bastard sword is slung across her back.

For Satine, Varisia might as well be another world, or planet to be honest. The land's rugged coast and lush interior being so very different from Satine's own experience in Vudra and later Absalom.

Satine's hazel eyes take in the room; her training betrays her attempt at casualness. Wiry muscles tense below her lamellar leather armor. She takes in the dwarf; her eyes look for weaknesses and frailties as if she were studying a slab of meat deciding the best method to butcher it.

"Good day. I am Satine Fenix. This is my first visit to Heidmarch Manor and Varisia as well. With whom do I have the pleasure of speaking?"

Satine's Taldane is only slightly accented. Her right hand moves to a necklace and begins to caress it while waiting for the dwarf to answer.

Satine is a Pureblade Slayer monster hunter. Pureblades can add their studied target bonus to aberrations as an immediate action when she damages an aberration. Satine advocates the cause of the Dark Archive because she knows there are creatures the rest of the world is not prepared to experience. She always uses Power Attack and Furious Focus.

Satine wonders whether the dwarf is hard of hearing.

"GOOD DAY! I AM SATINE FENIX! WITH WHOM DO I HAVE THE PLEASURE OF SPEAKING?"

A young Varisian woman enters the lodge, straining under the weight of her gear. She struggles with a backpack, heavy with adventuring gear and alchemical supplies, while dragging a sack full of clothing and trinkets acquired during her recent voyage.

"Is this the right place? I am here for the mission!", she beams. Her flushed cheeks contrast with the greenish tinge to her skin. A thick jawline and pointed tips to her ears clearly indicating orcish blood in her recent ancestry.

She drops her gear, approaching Satine, "You must be Venture Captain Heidmarch. Field Agent Zavra at your service Ma'am!". She clicks her heels together and puts her hand to her forehead in salute.

Zavra is a Mindchemist. When under the effects of her Cognatogen, her already impressive intelligence is further increased. Weak, awkward and easily upset, she is quick to rely on her bombs to eliminate any threat, and not very careful about who may be close to the explosion.

Augusta Undermountain clears her throat loudly as she slaps Zavra on the shoulder. "Ah'hem, excuse me, I'm looking for the venture captain" She says roughly.

Augusta is a rough and tough female dwarf. She has bright red hair in braids and freckled face from many battles in the sun. Her voice is low and she doesn't always realize her own strength.

Satine looks at the newcomers, holding up a hand signaling them to stop. She points at Fhlangorn, touches both her ears, and shakes her head back and forth alerting the newcomers Fhlangorn can not hear. She shrugs before continuing.

"Good day. I am Satine Fenix, not the Venture Captain whose manor we now rest in, Sheila Heidmarch. I am pleased to meet you. Zavra, was it? Please, call me Satine. Madame dwarf, I am Satine Fenix. Pray tell, what is your name? I can not help but notice you and I are near polar opposites in almost every category."

Satine continues to caress her necklace.

Augusta, you may want to use the speaking conventions used in pbp. Zavra and I use bold to indicate speaking and italics for inner thoughts.

there are a couple of good guides I have linked to on the info page. Would be very helpful to give 'Emma read through!

Yay! Amanda got control over her account!

"What?! Were ya talkin' ta me?"

Fhlangorn, a relatively crazy looking and disheveled dwarf with a still slightly singed beard, looks perplexed for a moment before it dawns on him...

"Sorry Satine, I heard you, but was rather distracted by some ephemeral thoughts, as it were. And I'm not deaf, so you don't need to shout or anything."

Fhlangorn squints his eyes and grunts. You are unsure if he's concentrating for some reason or about to crap his pants, but in either case, its a bit awkward.

And then you see a translucent glow surround his hands as a shimmering green great axe of ectoplasm forms in his hands.

"I be sportin a spiritual axe, as it were. Some call me an ectoplasmicist. I don't know what to call it myself, but being able to form weapons from the very ether of spirit that surrounds us is quite useful."

Fhlangorn is a Dwarf Spiritualist (ectoplasmicist) and focuses more on hand-to-hand combat than occult things. However, he does have a couple occult skill unlocks, including healing.

In walks yet another Dwarf with a large Axe on his shoulder. There are a couple of holy symbols on him for his god Tourag. He seems to be rather quiet. He takes a look around and sees Fhlangorn and Augusta he smiles and says. I be glad to see more dwarfs with us. This will indeed increase our chances for success!

"Of course not." Zavra apologizes, dropping her salute. "My apologies, I suppose I should be able to tell."

"It's a pleasure to meet you Mr. Dwarf," she acknowledges the newcomer, "and you, Mr. Dwarf with an ax," she turns to the spiritualist, "and you too Mr. Dwarf with braids." she acknowledges Augusta.

"It's a pleasure to meet you as well Satine. Are you aware of when the Venture Captain will be arriving and what our mission is?" Zavra seems to look to the tallest person in the room for some direction.

"Satine, nice to meet you, my name is Augusta Undermountain. We may have time yet to discuss our many differences as long as they won't be a problem in our coming adventures"

She turns to Zavra with a disgruntled look on her face.

"I am a female, and I prefer it if you treat me as such."

She then turns to look at Drungaard.

"Hello, fellow dwarf, I am also happy to see some of my kin here as well. My name is Augusta, good to meet you Sir fellow dwarf, what shall I call you?"

"Oh, my dear Undermountain, I meant simply to point out our obvious differences. I am tall while you are short, my skin is chestnut brown while yours is pale white, my hair is black where as yours is red. That is all."

Why do I always say the wrong thing? Damnit Satine, you know better!

"I do not know Zavra. But three dwarves and myself lead me to think it is somewhere underground."

"Ohh! Do you live under ground too?" Zavra asks Satine with obvious interest.

"I don't know much about things underground, but my note did say that my 'particular knowledge and expertise' would be useful on this mission. I was quite surprised that the society would send me back to Varisia after only a single mission in Absalom." she ponders the meaning of the message. "I've never been to Magnimar, but I suppose most of the flora and fauna of the area can't be too much different than below the Storval Plateau near Kaer Maga. Do you think there is a dungeon near here they need us to explore?" she asks excitedly.

Drungaard says"I have lived underground for sometime. He then says in under common "I am not fond of so call fresh air"

After the team has introduced themselves, Sheila Heidmarch makes her way into the room. "It is good that you know Kaer Maga, Zavra, for that is where you will be going. A friend of mine, Valanthe Nerissia, priestess of Pharasma, has asked for my help. You are to make your way up to the City of Strangers, and to the Cathedral of Pharasma in the Bottoms district. She has need of some adventurers, and asked me if I could help her out. You six... wait, where is the Calistrian that was supposed to be here?

"Do I make myself clear?"

Walking in with her head held high, the Calistrian cleric is clad in all black, a whip on one hip and a staff on the other. She puts on a sly smile as she looks over the group.

"Sheila dear, sorry I'm late," she says, walking next to the Venture-Captain. "I hope you won't hold it against me."

She turns and joins the group, the smile remaining on her face.

"Hello all, I hope you're all ready to go. I'm here to make sure that you all feel good at the end of the day. Can't have any bad cuts or bruises blemishing your beautiful faces."

Zavra pulls out a notebook and charcoal pencil to jot down notes as the Venture Captain provides the basic mission briefing. "I am being sent home already?!", she beams. "I thought it may be years since I got to visit. My mom is going to be excited to see some of the things I bought in Absalom."

She politely greets the cleric as she enters as well, then begins to gather up her gear.

"I'm ready to go right away! It's an easy trip east to the Storval Plataeu and I can show you where to pick up any supplies you might need when we get to the Bottoms."

The cleric is not here... She's still at her temple

"Very well, Zavra. I shall entrust you to be their guide. But, please try and stay out of too much trouble. "

She turns, finally, to the Calistrian. "Miss Ivy, it is good of you to have joined us. I would hate if your worship would have put your team in danger. I have read some accounts of your... frivolous nature... Please see that your team comes back alive, and in one piece. Also, pleas recall that they are not your playthings. Use that whip only on your enemies."

decide if you need any more gear, and I will move on tomorrow

Satine is ready to rumble

Good to go!

The trip to Kaer Maga is without incident. You easily find your way to the Cathedral of Pharasma with Zavra leading you there. In a midnight meeting, you are able to present the letter of introduction given to you by Sheila Heidmarch to the priestess. She takes you to a side temple, where she says, "Good evening, Pathfinders. I am glad that Ms. Heidmarch was able to find an able team with such short notice. I hope that you understand the need for discretion.

"Oh, I know that typically you are paid directly by your Pathfinder Society, so my offer might seem a little odd to you. But you are adventurers, and I have already confirmed with Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch that this reward would be appropriate*. Do you accept this mission?"

* Of course, this will be a standard chronicle!

Zavra leads the way to Kaer Maga with little difficulty, attributed only to the fact that the road is well marked between the two major cities of Varisia. She provides intellectual commentary about the various plants, animals and minerals encountered along the way, with little flare or purpose.

She leads the way into Kaer Maga by way of the Storval Stairs, maneuvering past lines and guard posts and providing easy access to the city through ways only a local could easily navigate. Along the way, she waves and yells to a few orcs and half orcs working hauling stone, bore from the mountains or torn from forgotten buildings. Her peers nod or quietly offer comments as she passes them trinkets any coins from Absalom.

The group easily finds the temple in the Bottoms district, though it looks unlikely that Zavra has ever visited it based on the look of awe she has as she enters. Her eyes go wide at the offer of the reward. She quickly agrees, "Yes! Of course I would love to help out. That's what we Pathfinders do, for the right price."

Drungaard says,"Well, I don't have much going on, and I think that Torag wants me to see that the honored dead rest in peace. Count me in..." Drungaard then quietly says a prayer to his god.

Assuming everyone agrees!

"Fantasic! Since we don't know what you will encounter down there, the Church of Pharasma is also willing to give each of you a potion of cure light wounds and a vial of holy water, just in case. Of course, should you not use them, we would prefer to get them back when you are done!

"Any questions? "

Any Kn: checks we can make aboot the ossuary?

"I'm prepared to heal all of you (CLW Wand, 24 charges, 8 Channels) and make sure you're all blessed by the power of Calistria (Bless wand, 50 charges)."

Electra looks between her companions, sizing them up.

"I would like to commune with a few of you before we enter, but I can only accept four into my caravan as it were... who would like to join me?"

4 Companions in my Caravan are able to be targeted by my blessings as if they were me and at a distance of 30 ft. That means the following:

Bit of Luck x6 - for 1 round, you roll twice on every d20.
Sudden Shift x6 - When you are missed by an enemies' melee attack, I can teleport you 10 ft, as long as you're still in their threatened area.

"I would be honored to be part of your caravan."

Drungaard will stop at the markets and find 2 Alchemist fire potions.

Fhlangorn seems to be quite introspective lately. But looks up startled for a moment.

"We're there already?! What!? Yes of course I'll help out! Oh and where'd all these dwarves come from?"

"Of course!" Zavra agrees to both questions cheerfully. "It may be safer for everyone else around me if I am more accurate with all these explosives, and I have everything I need for us to go explore now. No need for light, I'm used to working late and it gets very dark in this city once the sun goes down."

No knowledge checks

Once you have run your errands, Valanthe meets you and leads you down the narrow, twisting cliffside path to the Godsmouth Ossuary. Once they pass through the mouth of the Unnamed King, they are in the ossuary proper, where robed and hooded Pharasmin priests silently tend to the deceased. Valanthe leads you through luxuriously appointed catacombs packed with bodies and down several stairways before coming to an area that obviously sees little use—most of the burial niches are empty and dusty, the air is musty and close, and silence reigns supreme.

In this disused portion of the crypts, Valanthe stops before a locked door. She explains that this is the only known entrance to the sealed lower portions of the ossuary, and once you enter, the door will be locked behind them. Because of this restriction, you will be unable to leave the ossuary to rest and resupply between encounters.

She hands each of you the promised potion of cure light wounds, the holy water, and hands Augusta the chime of opening. "There probably aren't many uses left of this, probably somewhere between three to seven, so use it wisely."

With this warning given, Valanthe draws a large iron key from beneath her robes and unlocks the door. The Godsmouth Ossuary awaits.

Unless stated otherwise, walls and floors are smooth hewn stone, and ceilings are 10' tall. Also, unless otherwise stated, all rooms are unlit, and the doors are strong wood bound with iron.

Please let me know ASAP what you will be using for light, and what your marching order will be in both 5' and 10' corridors. As soon as we know this, I'll post the map, and we can start.

Wayfinder for light. I should be well protected so I can keep everyone in channel range. For the Caravan, it really comes down to who DOESN'T need it right now - I'm automatic and can get 4/5 allies.

Satine will ride shotgun in the caravan

"I will need a source of light, please. If someone can cast light on my necklace I would be most appreciative."

Drungaard has 60' Dark Vision so he is ok.

Fhlangorn has 90' darkvision. He moves slowly and hits hard, so the back is probably bad. But no preference otherwise.

Zavra has 60' darkvision. Definately in the caravan. Squishy, so in the middle near the cleric, but I will tend to work a little closer to the front as needed for line of sight with bombs.

Zavra suits up in her armor, rolling up the bag she was carrying it to add to her backpack. She struggles a bit under the weight for a few moments, until she drinks an extract. Ant Haul (2 hours)

"I will walk in front with the spacy dwarf, unless Ms. Undermountain prefers to walk in front. Ideally, his extended vision will alert us to any threats. Shall we begin?"

Satine's eyes get a little bigger as a grin spreads across her face.

"This is where it gets exciting!" to no one in particular.

"Everyone wants to be in the front!" Electra laughs. "I am a bit slow with this gear, but I can take up the rear, I suppose."

Fhlangorn takes the lead with a forked stick held out before him.

"Follow me. This will lead the way!"

Zavra will follow, around 3-4 in the line. She has no weapons in hand, but her hands constantly reach out to take inventory of the extracts and bombs that she keeps attached to her belt and bandolier.

Drungaard will be the second one in line...

Ok, We need to move on. Since no one has posted an actual marching order, I will go with what I have seen... it is all a bit confused since 4 want the front, or 2nd position...

Augusta (1)
Satine (1)
Fhlangorn (2)
Drungaard (2)
Zavra (3)
Electra Ivy (3)
The (#) is the rank for when you can go 2 by 2.

If you wish to change this, someone needs to post what the change is (in the same format) in the discussion thread. I will post the marching order in the campaign information page

The door grinds open despite long years of disuse. Within, a stone spiral staircase descends into the earth. The party descends down the stairs, when, suddenly, all goes black! All are encompassed in complete darkness/ Note: darkvision still works.

Something drops down in the darkness to attack Electra Ivy. It wraps itself over her head (much like one of the gimp hoods she is so fond of using on her... initiates), and squeezes HARD! With that, the Calistrian collapses, unconscious. It drops the priestess, and waits to attack the next in line.
slam vs blind/flatfooted: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19 slam: 1d4 ⇒ 2
grab: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 constrict: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Electra stabilize DC11: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

We're going to try to do this combat w/o a map.

Order:

Electra + BG1, Zavra, Drungaard (cover)
(the rest have no line of sight, since they are up the spiral stair. But they are also out of the darkness)
Fhlangorn, Satine, Augusta

Describe your actions, and we'll interpret them. Assume you are all in adjacent squares.

Drungaard, Zavra, and Augusta are up!
Universal Adjustments:
Universal Conditions:

Drugaard will attack with axe. "By Torags hammer I will smite this foul creature ARRRRRGGG!"
attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 41d10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Zavra sheiks in surprise and terror as the cleric fall to the foe from nowhere. She quickly regains her composure, swiftly ejecting a wand into her hand.

Cure Light Wounds on Electra: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

She then stumbles backward, allowing Drugaard to push past her as he lunges at the beast.

What is the Knowledge to identify? I assume Dungeoneer.

Kn:arcana
There is no where for Zavra to step back to. You could move down the stairs, past the fallen Electra, but that would provoke. Or just 5' to Electra's square, under the flying creature (sorry, I probably didn't mention it was flying). Drungaard was able to attack from where he is, though the creature gets cover from the tightly turning staircase. No one else can see the thing, currently.

Drungaard attacks, but is not able to land a blow on the creature. Zavra pulls out her wand and heals Electra, bringing her conscious.

Augusta, Fhlangorn, and Satine may go!

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Fhlangorn takes a full round to create his Ectoplasmic lash.