GM Tektite's PFS #5-12 A Bitter Bargain (Inactive)

Game Master Hawkwen Agricola

Corb will activate POWER CORB MODE by downing his Enlarge Person extract on Round 3, Shield on round 4, and Mutagen (+str -int) on round 5 and is only stealthier than the Aasimar only by virtue of the fact that extracts don't have a command word. If anyone makes the motion to parley, Corb grumbles but complies.

Khamul looks concerned as he hears the other approaching group and his companions readying for battle. "Who's the other group? If its the Aspis behind us there's no negotiation with those fiends. If another interested party arrives, we may be able to broker a deal with them."

No preparation for me. Just having my scythe at the ready.

Shana will cast Divine Favor and Shield of Faith on herself, then Bless on everyone.
"I never thought I would be saying this, but I agree with the necromancer." Shana adds after casting her spells.

The party prepares themselves for the worst, and not a half a minute later, three Ulfens come stomping into the hall. but pull up short upon seeing the party. A bald man, apparently the leader bellows at the party. "Who are you and what are you doing here!"

1d20 ⇒ 16

Seeing the broken ruby shards, his face turns a deeper shade of red. "You destroying my loot is what it looks like to me!" He says, pointing. "Explain yourselves!"

"It does not belong to you. And we did not break it. But if it is a fight you want, have at thee!" Titus raises his blade in preparation.

"Stay your blades, please!" Khamul screams. "We are Pathfinders! Who are you? It seems we have both been beaten here by a third party and it was they who left this broken ruby behind!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Yeah!

Shana attempts to look as non-threatening as possible while holding her bow and waits for their response..

The Ulfens grip their weapons tighter, seeing Titus prepare for battle. After Khamul speaks, the lead Ulfen says. "I am Yjalk, from the Land of the Linnorm Kings. I came here in search a of mighty enchanted weapon to battle a linnnorm with, what's it to you?" He says gruffly.

"Well I don't know of any mighty enchanted weapons here; we certainly haven't found any. There were powerful artifacts here but someone got to them before we did. So there's no sense killing each other over nothing."

"YOU'VE NEVER SEEN TWO, REALLY BORED GORUMITES, THEN!" Corb continues to not fight, waiting for his 1 minute buffs to wear off.

The Ulfen balks. "No weapons? Surely you are trying to deceive me!" He growls, gripping his weapon again.

Anyone want to assist?

"No weapons at all." Shana responds to the Ulfen, reinforcing the parties previous statement.
Diplomacy 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Corb gets diplomatic, pt 3: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7

"IF WE DID, DO YOU THINK YOU'D STILL BE STANDING THERE WITH ALL YOUR LIMBS?!?"

The Ulfen's face looks crestfallen as he processes what Corb and Shana tell him. "Blast! I had a lot riding on this. Have you explored any further, perhaps you missed something?"

At that moment, the room trembles, the brazier in the center of the table ignites with emerald fire, and the spectral form rises from the flames to attack, babbling incoherently!

The spectral form points to an alcove and suddenly one of the bodies animates, stands and starts shuffling toward the party.

Initiative:
Spectral Form
Khamul
Corb
Shana
Titus
Ulfens

Party up!

MAP

Diplo takes a minute to use, so all short duration buffs are gone, yes (given my unenlarged size, I would assume)?

Diplo takes a minute to use, so all short duration buffs are gone, yes (given my unenlarged size, I would assume)?

Yes.

Knowledge (Religeon) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

"So... Khamul... you have anything for this or should I start blasting them all?" Shana asks while taking a hand off her bow to clasp the Erastil symbol hanging from her neck.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"I don't think I can handle any more!" Khamul calls back to Shana as he urges his zombie minions into the room, following just behind them.

I can only control 6 HD worth of undead so I think I'm maxed out with the current three zombies that I have.

Khamul directs his three zombies to take out the new zombie coming after them. He then boldly strides up to the wispy green figure. As he goes, he raises his scythe overhead and calls out to Nethys for guidance as his ominous weapon begins to glow.

Swift action Arcane Strike; +2 damage and weapon counts as magical.

Mwk Scythe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
damage: 2d4 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 + 2 = 13

Titus will draw his wand of shield and activate it again.

Khamul's zombies shuffle over to the other zombie!

Khamul strides forward and strikes the wispy figures!

Titus uses a wand to shield himself.

Shana and Corb

Shana moves forward and raises her holy symbol with one hand.
Channel Energy (DC:15) 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9 (Offensive)

Man, [redacted] are the new ghouls, for' reals; I've seen, like, 3 this year.

Corb, if the channel didn't waste the allied undead, double moves wherever he can to join the Zom-beatdown. If any of our zombies crumples and open up the spot within 20 (or a charge line), Corb will Rage Power Attack Greatsword.

Just in case Greatsword (Pa, Mutagen, Rage): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 222d6 + 16 ⇒ (2, 4) + 16 = 22 -2 dex AC, +2 Natural from Mutagen. Maybe even less if I can charge.

5d20 ⇒ (5, 3, 3, 15, 9) = 35

Khamul's zombies seem to take the brunt of the positive energy, while the spectre and unfriendly zombie seem to resist. Khamul's zombie that trigger the trap falls to the ground, slowly turning to dust.

Corb charges forward and cleave the unfriendly zombie in half!

The Ulfens rush forward, somewhat confused. "Are those undead things working for you guys?" The leader asks incredulously.

The spectre begins to babble as it reaches out to touch Khamul.

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
WIS Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Khamul dodges the ghostly touch!

Everyone needs to make Will Save DC 15 or become fascinated for 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 rounds

Initiative:
Spectral Form
Khamul
Corb
Shana
Titus
Ulfens

Party up!

MAP

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Titus resists the babbling as he rushes towards a zombie.

Rage, PA: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 1 = 22

1d10 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

@Titus: I think the unfriendly zombies are gone. If you don't have a magic weapon I think we found an oil of magic weapon (or was it a scroll?) earlier.

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

Before he can answer the Ulfen's question, Khamul stands fascinated by the babbling of the creature.

Actually, my plan was to destroy YOUR zombies so you had more HD to control, but I was gonna ask first. Plus you got all fascinated and whatnot, so I might just bomb (or bomb my save, do ho ho.)

"KIND OF!" Corb states, answering the Ulfen.

Will (rage): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Corb will move (up to 20) to get a straight shot with his bombs! If making his bomb is something that requires not being in Rage, then remove 2 to hit from fatigue. If it isn't, he stops raging after he throws anyways.

Dumbest Alch Bomb Ever (in melee): 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 1 - 4 = 101d6 ⇒ 1 maybe I hit with splash, at least do ho ho. Also, that was my only bomb for today until my mutagen stops.

Shana sends another burst of positive energy out at the undead.
Channel Energy 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6(Offensive)

I will use the oil of magic weapon on my turn instead then.

Titus applies an oil to his weapon, shaking off the sound of the spectre's babbling!

Shana channels more positive energy! All the undead seem to resist the bout of energy though!

Khamul on the other hand, succumbs to the noise and begins babbling himself!

1d8 ⇒ 3

Corb throws an errant bomb that land to the east of the spectre, splashing Khamul and the undead thing.

Ref vs DC 12?: 1d20 ⇒ 11

The creature manages to avoid most of the splash!

Will Y: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Will S: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Will C: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

The lead Ulfen and one of his companions begins to babble incoherently, while the third begins a rousing Ulfen was song. Inspire +1

Touch Attack vs Khamul: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
WIS Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The incorporeal form touches Khamul, causing him to babble louder!

Initiative:
Spectral Form
Khamul
Corb
Shana
Titus
Ulfens

Save rolls for the channel because I forgot them. 3d20 ⇒ (15, 14, 18) = 47

PARTY UP!

Spectre- 8 damage

Is he taking no damage or half damage from my channels?

Khamul blabbers some more. His zombies stand still waiting for orders.

2 Wis damage; Will saves are down by 1 now.

Is he taking no damage or half damage from my channels?

Half damage. I forgot/missed Khamul's initial attack in my math.

Spectre- 14 damage

Titus will move forward with his newly magical weapon and strike the spectre.

Rage, PA: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

1d10 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Shana sends yet another burst of energy through the room.
Channel Energy 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10 (Offensive DC:15)

1d20 ⇒ 6

Titus' magic imbued sword tears through the allip, then Shana completes its destruction by channeling more positive energy!

Out of Combat!

As the specter fades away, the fascinated party members regain their senses. "Wha...what was that thing!?" The Ulfen leader sputters. Looking at the party with newly found admiration, the Ulfen leader says. "By Gorum's gonads! You Pathfinders are a tough lot, I'll give you that! If you ever need seafarin' travel, Ild be hinired to have ya on me boat!"

"Many thanks. I suppose. What now?"

The Sapphire Sage instructed you to break that geode and contact him when you found something.

Wasn't sure if this counted but ok.

Titus will break the rock as per instructions.

Breaking the geode, Amenopheus informs you that he will be there within an hour.....

As promised, Amenopheus arrives 1 hour after the party contacts him about the broken sage jewel. At first he bemoans the loss of the jewel, but he quickly realizes that the shards hold a glimmer of magic and may still contain several of the Ruby Sage’s memories.

Amenopheus uses his magic to contact the spirit of the Ruby Sage, who briefly animates her nearby corpse and restores it to how she must have appeared in life. She thanks the party for putting her colleague’s spirit to rest and can explain the events that led to her death—the same events that led to her sage jewel’s near-destruction.

Through the gem, she has maintained a limited degree of awareness, and she also related that until only day before, the topaz and emerald jewels sat on this table alongside her. When the thief handled one of her shards, she was able to read his thoughts before he discarded the fragment and fled. She identifies the thief as a man named Kafar, who had intentions of delivering the jewels to the Diamond Sage in a region known as the Pillars of the Sun.

It is there that the Jeweled Sages’ built their sanctum, but it strikes both her and Amenopheus as odd that the Diamond Sage would collect the gems there instead of finding new candidates to become sages elsewhere in Osirion. Amenopheus voices his concern that the Diamond Sage’s actions are not typical for the order, and he is dismayed that the jewels may be in the hands of known enemies of the Pathfinder Society.

Sharing her fellow sage’s concern, the Ruby Sage offers her power—mythic power—to the party if you are willing to chase down the thief Kafar, reclaim the stolen jewels, and find the Diamond Sage to learn what she intends. With that said, her corpse slumps and returns to its desiccated form.

That about wraps it up. In case you hadn't heard the rumor. You'll all get to have mythic tiers for the next scenario. Remember, the next one is a 3-7. I'll get chronicles out tomorrow, hopefully. (I have to go out of town, again, this weekend. I'll have them to you Sun. at the latest.

"Verily, I will do this for you." I actually didn't hear that, but I am not one to turn down semi phenomenal nearly cosmic power.

Khamul greets Amenopheus warmly when the Sapphire Sage eventually catches up to the party.

Khamul then stands in awe of the Ruby Sage as she tells of the fate of the emerald and topaz gems. "It would be my honor to carry your power and recover these gems, Wise Sage. I have heard of Kafar's exploits in the past; he is certainly a noxious fellow but I am certain that we can overcome him, recover the gems, and restore the Jeweled Sages to their once-great power."

Woo! I love this trilogy. As a note, I have Mythic Adventures (as you know, from GenCon last year) so I will probably be giving Khamul three tiers of archmage. I will have to look into it first though; I'll play around with it this weekend.

There was a linguistics check somewhere in here for something. Can we show the Ammy that, since I assume he's LEAGUES smarter than we are?

Ancient Osiriani or Liguistics DC 25:
You notice that the shrine holds coded notes. The notes are question-and-answer sessions conducted with a scholar. The questions concern the preservation of memory in magical jewels and the crafting and repair of such jewels—information that Amenopheus might be able to use to repair his own sage jewel.

Amenopheus decodes the coded notes within the shrine and deduces that if he touches the sarcophagus, he can speak with the spirit of the dead man held within. From this spirit, the court librarian, the sage learns answers to questions about Osirian history through the life of the Song Pharaoh.

Corb largely converses with the Ulfens about how great Gorum is, though jumps at the chance for REAL ULTIMATE POWER.

I have the mythic books as well. I will need to take a look into them when I get home today.

"I have no problems looking into this. My only question is what do you intend to do with all of this power?" Shana asks the sages.

The growing light of predawn filters in through a window of the two-story building that Amenopheus has rented in Eto, and the aging Garundi man takes a seat on one of the cushions set out for this meeting. He produces a sealed letter from his robe, placing it in the middle of the floor before speaking. “Good morning, Pathfinders. As you know, we have had our share of setbacks recently. Not only have the emerald and topaz gems sacred to my order slipped through our fingers, but we also faced the frustration of finding nothing but fragments of the once great ruby. Thankfully, its power is not lost entirely, and through the Ruby Sage’s blessing, it lives on in you. I am thankful that you have agreed to act on her behalf and see this through to the end."

“As we speak, the scoundrels who seized the two gems cross the Pillars of the Sun to meet their employer, the cryptic Diamond Sage.” He sighs heavily. “What she intends to do with the gems is a mystery, but the sage jewels are too important for me to take risks with. If the power that you wield is representative of a shattered jewel’s potential, imagine what one might accomplish with three undamaged stones! Until we know what her plans are, it is paramount that we get to the jewels first". He sits forward as he continues.

“Kafar and Nefti have a rudimentary map of the Pillars of the Sun, and last night I found a bartender who spotted them poring over it between drinks. She recalled little of the map, and she could not make sense of the marks or annotations; however, the right spells have allowed me to probe her mind and determine Kafar and Nefti’s entry point into the mountains. We will follow them from there.” With a somewhat chagrined smile, Amenopheus adds, “It may be that they will lead us to the Sanctum of the Sages, a hidden complex I have long suspected might be in this area.”

He stands and announces, “Prepare yourselves quickly. We shall leave momentarily.”

KN: local/Diplomacy and KN: geography can be rolled at this juncture.

Diplomancy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

"Verily. How far are these thieves ahead of us. Days?"

Corb tries to help talk: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11

Corb is going buy a +1 Adaptive Comp longbow and 20 arrows for 2000 + 300 + 100 + 1 = 2401.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"You are coming with us then? I have heard the names Kafar and Nefti before, what do you know of them?"

Diplomacy 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 (same question as above)