GM Tarondor's Scenario #9-06 The Shores of Heaven - Gameday VII (Inactive)

Game Master Tarondor

Looking around, Angie Sen picks up his bow.

Can I assume that now Lydia has time to use that healing spell on me?

VERY happy with his for once decent swordplay Felix joins the treck back, singing happy marching songs and keeping the others mood up, even offering healing for those in need!

Lydia uses her wand to bring Lizbeth back to consciousness.

Lydia uses her CLW wand to bring Lizbeth up to 5 hp. Perhaps Felix can help her further?

"Well, looks like you guys did all the hard work," Lizbeth remarks. She claps Felix on the back. "Good job. Care to heal this gaping wound in my side?"

Once she's healed a bit more, Lizbeth turns and starts to walk away. "Come on, let's head back to Heaven's Shore."

Slinging his sword back on his shoulder Felix draws his wand and with a voila heals her,too.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

STATUS
Angie Sen - 22/25 hp
Felix - 10/17 hp
Lydia - 13/16 hp
(Fomalhaut) - 10/13 hp
Lizbeth - 8/9 hp

You return to Heaven's Shore and wander around a bit amidst the ordered beauty, until you are approached by a wondrous and strange creature. The top half of the seer’s body looks mostly human, aside from her light purple skin and insectile wings, while the bottom half of her body
looks like the abdomen of a giant bee. Behind her is a nearly comatose creature you only slowly recognize as Valais... or more exactly her unresponsive soul.

"Hello, honored guests," she says. "I am a Hivetender of the empyreal lord Andoletta. Your friend Zepha asked me to divine the location of Valais's lost soul, and so I have. I discovered her soul wandering the slopes of Heaven and brought her here to Heaven’s Shore."

"Her soul is badly damaged and has no memories of her former life. In order to heal Valais, you must retrieve a variety of special flowers that I can use to make restorative honey. I can produce honey in large batches that take a long time to prepare, but as fortune would have it, my next batch of honey will be ready to complete by the next time the sun sets in my home. If I add nectar from just the right flowers, I can imbue some of the honey with soul-healing properties."

"There is not enough time for me to collect all of the necessary flowers myself, but if you can collect some of the flowers on Heaven’s Shore, I can gather the rest from the fields surrounding my home."

To collect all the necessary flowers, the PCs must succeed at each of the following checks: one DC 15 Knowledge (nature) or Knowledge (planes) check, one DC 15 Survival check or Diplomacy check to gather information, and one DC 15 Heal or Perception check. There is only enough time for the PCs to attempt one check each, but PCs may aid another in place of attempting a check.

Angie Sen helps where he can

Knowledge Nature or Planes Aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21 untrained
Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Perception Aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

I can aid in another skill/s if needed
Darn I should have been a lead on some checks

Feeling his own wounds burn a bit Felix continues to use his wand to heal himself CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Digging deep in his memory he will add what he knows about the plant.
knowNatorplanesaid : 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
He will also work the crowds to get some info Diplo: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
LDoing his best to help with the finding he searches.
Percaid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

[dice Claw and Shaken vs. Fomalhaut]1d20+6-2;1d4+2

[dice Claw and Shaken vs. Fomalhaut]1d20+6-2;1d4+2

The demon strikes back, slashing the Shade across its nebulous chest.

I WAS incorporeal at this point, so unless the demon's claws were seriously magical, I shouldn't have been hurt at all.

aid someone else's Diplomacy check, if permitted: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Knowledge (Nature), Angie's aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

I WAS incorporeal at this point, so unless the demon's claws were seriously magical, I shouldn't have been hurt at all.

Hmmm. Who knew a demon's attacks weren't necessarily magical? Surprise!

Well, you're right!

Angie Sen, you can't do all three. You have to choose between making a check yourself or helping someone else make a check. You only get to make one roll.

Angie Sen and Lydia put their heads together and make some excellent deductions about where the magical flowers might be found.

Felix and Fomalhaut talk to many of the locals and help narrow down which meadows that might contain more of the flowers.

Lizbeth, no one has made a Heal or Perception check. Want to give it a shot?

STATUS
Angie Sen - 23/25 hp
Felix -
Lydia - 13/16 hp
(Fomalhaut) -
Lizbeth - 8/9 hp

"Flowers? Seriously?" Lizbeth says with a scoff. "Fine. I'll just... uh... pick some..."

Having pretty much no knowledge of flowers, Lizbeth goes to try to find the proper ones anyway.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 - 2 = 9

While Lizbeth doesn't find the correct flowers, it turns out that her companions' efforts have been enough to secure a sufficient amount of the rare blooms. The Hivetender thriae quickly finishes the batch of honey and feeds some to the listless soul of Valais, who instantly livens
up and regains some of her former memories.

"Whuh... um... where? My friends, I don't know how I... Um, are we still in Heaven?"

"She's recovering!" says Akarah the lantern archon, brightly.

"Come, we must return to the Great Library of Harmonious Scripture to face judgment. Lord Altha must not be kept waiting."

You have gained more of the Favor of Heaven.

__________________________________________________________________

Once back at the Great Library of Harmonious Scripture, you find the great Archon Altha reading over the ritual books you used. He closes the books and waves you to a row of seats.

Altha the Scrivener stands at a lectern in the center of circular chamber. The archon addresses the room in a booming voice.

“Kitarlo, you are here as an observer, and I expect you to remain quiet and sit patiently until these proceedings have reached their conclusion. As for you, mortals, the time has come to form a proper account of what has happened here. From the evidence I have gathered, it seems most likely that you have come here with noble designs, but good intentions alone are insufficient. Mortals often show a careless disregard for order and a weakness toward evil influence. The halls of this library could not contain the accounts of all of the times that these tendencies have lead to ruin, from the scale of individual souls
to the scales of nations and beyond. On your world, Golarion, mortal sins share some of the blame for the recent surge in fiendish incursions, from the creation of the Worldwound to the fall of Cheliax under devilish influence to the growing strength of qlippoth forces in Tianjing. A soul that seeks righteousness should remain ever wary of the costs and effects of its actions. And so, to that end, I ask of you: what have been your actions since you first arrived in Heaven?”

Angie Sen's back straightens when told of the forces in Tianjing.
I will need to request leave to go home soon as his mind wanders for a second and then he focus back on the archon's words.

"My actions have been, and always will be, honorable great archon."
Andie Sen says holding his head up high.

Felix shrugs."I have done what I could to fulfill the tasks given to me by your kind. I have battled evil, without falling to the temptation, I have help to heal and I have given freely, and willingly to others!"

"Let us take this from the beginning," says the divine judge. "It is important that each of you relate some part of the tale."

Altha is going to interrogate you on the series of events that led you here. Each of you will, in turn, make a Diplomacy check. No one can make a second check until everyone has made at least one, so you'll need to decide who goes in what order.

You get a cumulative bonus for prior successes, so opening arguments will be the hardest.

For the sake of moving along, I'll preview the five stages of the story:

The Gates of Heaven - Altha carefully questions the PCs on how they managed to enter Heaven and secure passage into the Great Library. You gain a +4 bonus to the roll for having gained the Favor of Heaven by avoiding conflict here.

The Purification Ritual - Here, Altha attempts to prove that the PCs were reckless, concerned that they performed inadequate research or lacked the fortitude to complete the ritual. You gain a +4 bonus to the roll for having successfully completed all portions of the ritual.

The Hunt for Ammoch - At this point, Altha probes the competence of the PCs, insinuating that they might have foolishly bitten off more than they could chew. After all, if the PCs are unable to destroy demons, then they shouldn’t be meddling in demonic affairs. You gain a +4 bonus to this roll for having actually defeated Ammoch.

Defeating the King of Strings - Framing them as coldhearted mercenaries, Altha insinuates that perhaps healing Valais was merely an excuse for the Pathfinders to loot artifacts or knowledge from the halls of Heaven. You gain no bonus here as you failed to humiliate Laktharis enough to make the children laugh.

Healing Valais - Following his previous line of thought, Altha wonders if the PCs are truly committed to healing Valais of her many scars. You gain a +4 bonus to this roll for having successfully collected the restorative flowers.

So, decide your order before rolling, please.

Hmmm... Lizbeth has bad social skills, so she definitely shouldn't go first, but some of the later ones she won't be able to argue well since they speak to her personal weaknesses (she fell unconscious fighting Ammoch, she is a greedy coldhearted mercenary, and she doesn't care much about Valais or other people). I'd like her to make the second roll: Purification Ritual. She can speak honestly about that, and will get a +4 bonus from our successes.

Can I roll it now? Or should I wait until the other rolls order is set first?

Wait, please.

I meant that only Lizbeth should wait. Everyone else, chime in now!

Healing Valais was our first priority. We came to gates of heaven in peace, knowing that just bringing her here may cause conflict. But we stood by her side and was give entrance to the Great Library with little to no disturbance in the peace. Others that we have incountered seen the good with in our quest.

Diplomancy: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 4 = 10

So if I read this right, this is for The Gates of Heaven part.

Felix would like to tell the tale of the king of strings

Looks like Angie Sen is taking the first part. But he fails to convince Altha of your pure intentions.

Lizbeth will tell the tale of the Hunt for Ammoch. Who wants to convince the judge on healing Valais?

No, Lizbeth it taking the Purification Ritual. Not the battle.

Purification Ritual Speech:
"Whoah, whoah, whoah!" Lizbeth remarked. "Don't tell us we didn't try our best. We did. We came to a whole different plane to heal Valais. ANOTHER PLANE. That may not be big for you guys, but for us mortals? That's a big frickin' trip!" She crosses her arms. "We went through that library even though it's crazy, and found what we were looking for. We read, we studied, and we even sought advice from a celestial! We tried. Hard. We were cautious, if anything. Not reckless! And as for our fortitude. Well, that should speak for itself. We accomplished every part of the ritual. Every one. Don't blame a shoddy ritual on us. We followed it to the letter."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 0 - 2 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 0 - 2 + 4 = 13

Roll details: +0 is my modifier, -2 for being in Heaven and the wrong alignment, +4 is our bonus for completing the ritual.

I meant Lydia. Lydia, are you still with us?

I meant Lydia. Lydia, are you still with us?

Yes, I'm sorry.

The Hunt for Ammoch:
"What do you want us to say? We went through your forest, found it corrupted - at least I'm assuming, I've never seen that particular forest in any other state, perhaps it was an improvement - and despite the dangers, the demon Ammoch and his pestilence fell pretty easily before us."
Lydia looks Altha straight in the eye, more than just a bit annoyed. "You know, I would never have expected a Judge of Heaven to be so...cagey and manipulative. If Heaven is unsatisfied with the work mortals do when It asks them to clean up ITS domain under their own power, either because Heaven can't - or won't - assist them, then perhaps It should not be meddling in mortal affairs."

Diplomacy, success bonus, Heaven penalties (-4 total, right?), Guiding Spirit, burst of insight: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Diplomacy, success bonus, Heaven penalties (-4 total, right?), Guiding Spirit, burst of insight: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

I wish to offer my folio reroll to Angie-Sen's check above, if I may.

"Our work?" says Altha, incredulous. "It was you who sought out Heaven, was it not? And you who initiated this ritual without full knowledge of its effects? And you who released this evil... in Heaven. We did not meddle in anyone's affairs."

Angie Sen may re-roll.

Felix, go!

do you want more story or just a reroll?

Re-roll: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 4 = 21

Just the reroll will be fine.

I made my stealth check on the post

Okay. Thanks to Lydia's assistance, Angie Sen convinced Altha of your pure intentions on entering Heaven. That gave Lizbeth a +2 bonus, but she still failed to convince Altha that you performed adequate research to perform the ritual successfully (one success, one failure). Despite her bitter comments, Lydia convinced Altha that you had the heroism and wherewithal to take on Ammoch the babau demon.

This means that it is now Felix's turn to convince Altha that in engaging Laktharis you were not merely opportunists seeking to capitalize on Valais's travails. Felix, you have a +4 bonus from Angie Sen's and Lydia's successes, but no bonuses from the fight with the King of Strings. Go!

Felix takes a deep, deep breath and starts to sing in his beautiful voice of their adventure
"Well, dear Altha, we were asked to enter a play, to entertain the children and to teach a fallen respect and humilate him. Alas it was a performance made in heaven. We fought him and showed him his worthless, little existence, but alas, some beings are unable to repent or to feel for words. We did put up quite a show, but alas we failed to humilate him. I am not proud to have failed a task, but I am also not sad that we failed to humilate him. Because humilation, to make someone small, with purpose and intent feels to me like a tool of the lower realms.
So we just vanquished evil, once and for all. Of that I feel good.
Like a good deed should!"
Perform sing: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 4 = 25
If sing is not allowed he will use diplomacy, and the result goes up by one

I'll allow it on the Rule of Cool.

Altha nods, as if hearing something in Felix's tale he had not considered before.

"Humility imposed from without is rarely real or permanent," he agrees. "Though occasionally necessary for discipline."

You've all gone at least once, so anyone can take the last one - explain your desire to heal Valais. Whoever does it gets +6 for past successes.

Fleix, would you like to take this. I think you have the best chance.

Definitely not Lizbeth! Haha.

Okay... I'm rolling it then, I guess. Apologies in advance for sucking horribly.

Seeing no one else speak out, Lizbeth crosses her arms. "Of COURSE we truly want to heal Valais. We wouldn't have come here if we didn't. We're on another freaking plane for goodness sakes, and we were greeted by armed warriors upon arrival. And that library?!? Oh, gosh, that place is practically a death sentence for mortals. If we DIDN'T want to heal her, really and truly, we had plenty of opportunities to back out, give up, and leave. But we didn't. We stuck it out to heal her, cause... Well, just LOOK at her. How could we not? Yeeeesh... We can't leave a comrade looking like... being like.... THAT... Why? Could you?"

1d20 + 0 - 2 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 0 - 2 + 4 + 6 = 12

Roll details: +0 is my modifier, -2 for being in Heaven and the wrong alignment, +4 is our bonus for finding the right flowers, and +6 for our previous successes.

Lizbeth's argument is less than convincing to the archon.

Three successes out of five. Thanks for stepping up, Lizbeth!

Altha sighs. "Enough. It is the judgment of this Court that your actions were pure enough to do you and the Pathfinder Society credit, even if things did go awry with your ritual."

"Know, then, that to complete the ritual, the soul of Valais must extinguish the other two parts of her spirit. Bring forward the babau and kalavakus souls. They are forfeit for their unrepentant evil."

Altha hands the soul of Valais a sword and with grim determination, she swiftly executes the two demons. With a flash of light, the soul of Valais is drawn back into her comatose body, and Valais awakens.

"You are free to return to Heaven's Shore. Akarah and Kitarlo will show you out."

___________________________________________________________

Walking back to the Shore, Kitarlo turns and smiles. "I think you did very well. I'm giving you a selection of rare books from my collection back in Absalom. I'm also giving you this, a souvenir of Heaven." He hands you a beautiful torch. Archon's Torch.

"By the way, with the information I found in the Great Library of
Harmonious Scripture, I have several strong leads for ways to restore my arm."

Back in Heaven's Shore, Kitarlo leads you to speak with Zepha. Zepha is is delighted to hear that the PCs have successfully restored Valais. Zepha apologizes that the situation ended up being so complicated, and offers his hospitality to any PCs who may wish to stay a while longer to enjoy Heaven’s Shore.

He is particularly interested in talking to Lizbeth and Lydia. "Consider it a chance to rest from your worldly concerns and reflect upon your life’s experiences in peace," he urges.

Who among you take up Zepha's offer to stay awhile in Heaven's Shore and learn a little about redemption? I need to know.

Lizbeth laughs. "Ha! Cause the hospitality's been so great so far! They put us on trial for goodness sake! Yeeesh!" She shakes her head. After a moment she crosses her arms. "So this hospitality you're offering... You buying me food, too? I suppose I wouldn't mind a little wining and dining... Wait! Do they have wine in heaven? How about rum?" She thinks again for a moment. "Are the beds nice?"

If there's free food and a comfy bed, Lizbeth will take him up on his offer (even if there is a lack of liquor).

Zepha bird-head can't smile, but it can laugh. "Of course there is wine in Heaven. And many other fine spirits besides. I'm glad you'll stay. We've much to discuss, but for now, let us find you a room and perhaps a bath? I think it's been a long day for you."

"Will any others of you stay?"

"A bath? Whoah, easy pal. You haven't even bought me dinner yet," Lizbeth jokes.

Felix will also stay, mainly to learn about the heavenly choir, but also about redemption!

"It would be my honor to accept your hospitality, Perhaps I could return to the children and truly make them laugh with a song and dance form my country, that made me laugh when I was a child.

It starts of like this. I am a little tea pot short and stout...... "

Angie Sen accepts the kind offer to stay.

Lydia gives Zepha a pained look. "Just get us the h-"

Lydia suddenly catches sight of Fomalhaut behind her.

He is now giving her a pained look - while draped in a garish shirt, carrying some sort of demonic-waterfowl-shaped pool toy, and over/in/above/below his what passes for his shoulder is what might be a long, finely-made towel (better not to ask where, when, or how he got any of them).

"You...you're sure about this?"

After a moment's bemusement, she turns back to Zepha. "Um...Okay."

THE END

I'll have your Chronicles up today.

Thanks for playing!