GM Sior's Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (PFS #3-21, Table 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Sior

Arion blinks his eyes open. He shakes his head back and forth and then sees the demon looming over him. He raises his hand to point at the creature and a burst of rain and clouds whirl around its head, obscuring its vision. Then Arion grabs his fallen Longspear and tries to roll away from Dakang.

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Tumbling while prone is an full-round-action with Acrobatics check to move 5 feet. DC increases by 5 when doing it in this manner. Not really possible after using standard for storm burst and move to pick up the longspear.

As Arion picks up his spear, Dakang lashes at the prone shaman.
AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Miss chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 39 Hit

Soran up!

oh wow. I was not expecting that. I assumed it would be a free action that doesn't provoke to grab it since I wouldn't have to bend over or reach, etc.

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I know of no caveat to negate the move action to pick something up.

Seeing Arion get up, Soran feels a little better, and launches another barbed arrow.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

alright. That's good to know for future reference then.

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Soran launches another arrow, but again sins off the mark.

Dakang snarls as Quint rushes up and heals one who has been a pest to him until his collapse. However, he turns his teeth the one who has hurt him with holy energy!

Bite vs Silas: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Party up!

I think you forgot the miss chance from Storm Burst there.

Arion glares at Dakang, then points at him again. The burst of cloud and rain remains around the demon's head. Arion then stands up.

One use of Storm Burst left now...

You are correct!*
Miss chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 16

Hey! What do ya know!

As Dakang strikes at Silas, the storm clouds obscure his vision enough to miss the paladin's form! Silas is spared the hit due to concealment!

As Arion stands, however, Dakang tries his luck again.

Bite AoO: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 4 = 26
damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Miss chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 50

Once again, the shaman finds himself unconsious, only this time bleeding out!

Dario, Silas, Soran!

*Technically, defender rolls for concealment, but to hasten things along it makes sense to roll as attacker. Also, open rolls means no one's flubbing or bluffing.

The CLW removed 8 HP damage and an equal amount of non-lethal damage, right? That would have me at 9 HP with no non-lethal damage, so I'm now at -1.

Dario casts a spell and suddenly the Professor disappears!

Cast Vanish and move toward Dakang, drawing rapier again. Should draw no AOO for movement.

Quint heals Arion once again.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Try and draw the beast away from here a bit.

Nine hells, I forgot I should've been getting a +1 trait bonus to all my Lay on Handses.

Silas drops to one knee and places a hand on Arion. "Just Lady, heal this man of the demon's wrath. "

Lay on Hands: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

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100%!

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Soran sighs and looses a normal arrow this time. With everyone up, grappling might not be necessary any longer.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Dakang laughs as Soran continues to miss, but you can tell he is starting to look a little desperate. So he does one thing to try to finish you off.
He channels negative energy. This time you DO feel the effects.
1d6 ⇒ 3 negative energy damage to all, DC 12 Will save for half.

Party up!

Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Quint feels the brunt of the negative energy slamming into him. Grasping the wand he heals his wounds.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

There's a sudden grunt behind Dakang, moments before a rapier lashes out at the demon and the Professor reappears. He shouts to the others. "Use Cold Iron or blessed weapons! Don't bother with electricity. Most other magic like fire and cold won't hurt him much either!"

Cold Iron (Luck): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 2 = 24
Damage (Luck): 1d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5
Attacking from invisibility should be against Flatfooted AC

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Arion again extends the storm-burst. Distract him! Readied action to stand up if the demon appears to expend an AoO or all but two of the other party members act.

Only Silas and Soran have not acted this round. Sooooo all but two have acted, haha.

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

He can feel the effects of Dakang's evil again, but this time he braces and shrugs off most of it. My weapon is blessed by the holiest of gods, He thinks in response to Dario's suggestion.

Longsword smite : 1d20 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 3 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 = 10

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ha ha. Okay.

Arion tries to stand up.

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This is getting ridiculous. How could have evil of this magnitude have infiltrated a haven of peace?

He nocks and fires a normal arrow.
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Soran's arrow again goes wide, rebounding off the wall! Silas's strike, however, finds its mark, dealing a good blow to Dakang. He still stands, however, as he tries to strike Arion when he stands up!

AoO: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 4 = 24
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Miss chance (high hits): 1d100 ⇒ 99

He bites the shaman with a quick nip, though not overly lethal.

Now that he is really hurt, he looks about you and burrows down into the earth! Crunchy: Full withdrawal, first 5 feet does not provoke, rest of movement behind cover of the ground.

Out of combat!

Of course, it is only at THIS moment that one of the gnome boys comes walking through the curtain. They look at you with your weapons drawn and wonders out loud, "What in the name of this place is going on here? What're ya doin'?"

Arion kicks his longspear across the ground and sticks his head in his hands.

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Quickly we should mend our wounds before it returns! Who requires healing?

Looking to the dwarf Quint furrows his brow. Seems Dakang was none other than a demon playing everyone for fools.

Soren winces as he comes down from the balcony.
I took a hell of a beating. I could use some healing. 3 HP left. Glad we made it out alive.

To the gnome boy he speaks grimly.
It seems Dakang is actually a priest of a demon, and has been allowing its evil to corrupt your teachings. He altered your texts, the symbols on the walls and floor, hell, he even knew about the haunt and let it take lives purposefully.

He motions to the small demon's body that the group slew.
That thing was allied with Dakang, and aided him in trying to kill us. I believe it also may have killed the guards outside as well.

If more evidence is asked for, Soren will have the altered books and symbols produced and explain the differences, or allow someone with more religion knowledge to do so.

Go ahead and roll the CLW and just let me know how many charges.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Just 1, apparently. Haha. I'll hit you up in another game once I have my own.

Arion has his own wand but will just live with the 4 HP damage for now, although he won't complain if someone channels.

Dario uses a wand on himself and Airon. "Keep aware. It won't have given up."

Dario: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Airon: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

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Another for Dario: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

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Trying to point at the demon, you find nothing in the space its body once occupied. There is no sign of it even having existed. It is as if was a summoned creature which returned to its plane once slain...

The gnome is troubled by your claims and goes to tell the others. They all gather and listen to your accusations and remain silent throughout.

At the end, the looks on their faces show they are now lost. What are they to do now? Who will guide them? One by one, they silently return to their lodgings and allow you to complete your tasks.

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"Don't despair! This is a crucial moment for each and every one of you. You have been led astray by a creature of the Nine Hells, but I tell you there is hope! " Silas reaches into his pack and pulls out his copy of The Acts of Iomedae, well-worn and dog-eared. "The Inheritor has a place for each and every one of you by her side! In Act Four, the Great Lady promised, "When the night is darkest, look to the dawn, for your saving grace is at hand!""

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

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Quint looks over. Or join the Society? See the world, travel with strangers. Nearly be killed by demon priests

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (14) - 2 = 12

Soren listens to Silas' words, but doesn't try to add anything. Inspiring people isn't really his strong suit, shooting them is.

Arion says nothing to the people; he stares at the far wall with a preoccupied look on his face and a defeated posture about him.

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"Come, let us show you what we found. I think its prudent to search Dakang's room for more evidence too." The professor shows them the evidence from the library and the symbols in the meditation room.

Diplomacy, aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

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They listen to your words and claims. Then, one by one, they silently return to their lodgings and allow you to complete your tasks.

"do any of you know how we can find Dakang? I feel odd continuing our mission with him still lurking about..."

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Well, there isn't much we can do here now. Shall we take care of the garden? I feel that the statue there is much more than it seems. We should be wary of Dakang as well. No splitting up, that's for sure?

"I agree. Let's keep together. Ok, we'll map out the garden next."

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Arion nods.

You reenter the garden (or enter, for those who did not accompany them before). For those who did not see before, here is a description.

The temple garden is badly overgrown with tangled vegetation. Vines and briars climb the temple walls on three sides, surrounding the large windows into the chapel and the smaller windows into the library. The garden itself is a profusion of flowering bushes and weeds. Except for a clear space in the center of the garden, the dense weeds grow taller than an adult human. At the center of the garden sits a crumbling fountain, long dry, with a statue of a noble turtle in the center. Heaps of foliage choke two similar fountains, each with a large stone orb resting in the fountain’s center.

Additionally, those who have already looked can show a small patch of weed kept in one corner, previously identified as the recreational hallucinogen, flayleaf.

The garden is empty of other creatures. The gardener is not returned after being drawn to the combat in the auditorium.

"Let's get this done." Arion helps the others with the task but does not take the lead himself other than encouraging them to continue.

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To complete your task of accurately sketching the original plan of the garden, you must significantly prune back the overgrowth to see how the original beds were designed. This task takes 12 person-hours of labor, or only 6 person-hours if one of you succeeds at a Knowledge (nature) or Profession (gardener) check.

I have neither of those skills but will gladly aid untrained if possible.

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Knowledge: Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Soren tries to help out by pointing out the easiest ways to cut down the weeds and vines, and the most effective ways to clear out large swaths with team effort.

Knowledge, nature, aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Dario helps Soran keep the others organized and sketches the layout as they reveal the original plans.

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Will count the erstwhile dwarf in calculating working time, just because I can.

With Soran's know-how and Dario's assistance, you are able to make relatively short work of the pruning and, in only an hour, you find a close resemblance to the original flower beds in the garden.

Where to next?