Granta's Long Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Granta

Kembe moves up towards the Gillman with more caution in his step than the rest, he keeps himself within arm's reach of Sejiri. He keeps his words to himself for now. He seems quite calm and serene, I wonder if he practices joining the mind and body as well.

The gillman looks at each Pathfinder as he or she speaks, but his expression says little, and he says nothing at all.

He seems rather ‘indifferent’ to you so far, but a Diplomacy or Intimidate check could change that.

That's... unfortunate. I wonder if the bundle we found at the bottom of that pit was a friend. I'm not going to touch that just yet.

Norril holds his smile a little longer, waiting for a response. Just before the silence becomes awkward, he dives into a follow up greeting. "We are here to study these caverns and learn about people like you! If it wouldn't be too inconvenient for you, perhaps we could ask you a few questions?" His smile continues to remain genuine, but begins to falter a little. What a strange fellow, he could at least nod his damn head and let me know I'm not talking to myself. Cold as a fish, this guy.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

"Look at that cloak - it is like the one we found..." she says.

Forvenniel smiles at the gillman. "Show him the cloak, maybe it is his.." she suggets.

"Hello, we are sorry to disturb you, but we were exploring these wonderful caves. Could you tell us about them?"

diplomacy(aid): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

Iuni begins to think the gillman might not speak the common taldan. We are friendly! As she says it she points to the group and then puts her arms around Forvenniel and Norril's shoulders and rocks back and forth.

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Hey anyone speak gillman? Ah..aquan maybe?

Kembe watches the others interact and tries to get a read on the Gillman. Once he does he pulls out the bundle of cloth, handing it up to the others. He maintains his silence though for now.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

"That's correct. Gillmen do not worship Aroden", confirms Arthur with a nod to Norril.

***

"As my friends said, you've got nothing to fear from us. Unless you don't want to make the situation worse, it is. But I trust you'll be willing to share a few words with us, won't you? For example, do you know something about those carvings depicting the gods of mankind? We found it quite strange that those carvings were here..."
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Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Diplomacy (aid another): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

"Greetings, strangers," the gillman finally responds after Iuni's declaration, "You have entered a cave sacred to my people. It was once sacred to Aroden as well, but the dead god's influence has faded from this place as those carvings have weathered and melted away.

"Soon, his influence shall be gone completely. If you wish to perform any rituals to the dead god of humanity, I suggest you do so soon."

You may attempt the Arodenite rituals if desired. Otherwise, choose a path once you're finished talking with Uori.

Forvenniel nods her thanks to the man.

"I think I may. Could you tell us why this cave is sacred to your people?" she asks as she glides through the water.

Reaching down she pockets some of the ancient coins. More obviously she picks up some of the small gems and other bits of metal.

sleight: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Wading back through the water, she takes out a small hammer and carefully beats the metal into a pleasing setting for the gem, which she mounts roughly and then takes back to the island.

craft(jewellery),take ten: 10 + 8 = 18 <- maybe a penalty for improvised tools.

"Thank you for the offer, but it feels uncouth to worship a god I do not truly venerate." Norril waits politely while others pay their respects.

"Would you be willing to tell us more about what you do here? I do not mean to be callous, but dead gods, while tragic, are not within my scope of study. I am more interested in what brings a Gillmen so far from the ocean. Surely such a risky journey holds significant purpose?"

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Once we get a little more information out of him and people are done doing whatever else they want to do, I'm open to taking any path. For the record,
Norril will transcribe everything that we learned in his journal as soon as we are on our way again.

"Same for me", adds Arthur. "Aroden has done a lot for us in the past, but he has abandoned us. So I don't owe him any devotion. I surely keep him in high esteem for what he has done for us, but now he's gone, and we're in the Age of Lost Omens".

Arthur fiddles with his cane for a moment, giving Norril the time to ask his questions to the gillman. Then the Pathfinder clears his throat. "It makes me feel more comfortable that you are here", he says to the gillman, "our races are intertwined, and I respect yours. We're not here to desecrate or otherwise damage your sacred site. We just need to explore it. To that end, I would greatly appreciate if you could tell us something more about the paths leading out from this cave, if you know anything about them. Where do they lead?"
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Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Avistani gods and politics are still strange to me, despite having been here for some time now. Whenever a Tien god died, they just got resurrected...

Sejiri bows and nods respectfully to the gillman, but says nothing yet. Instead, he marvels at the cavern and the iconography it holds.

Seeing the elder gillman as no obvious threat, Kembe steps forward and offers his help to anyone wishing to complete Aroden's rituals "I'm unfamiliar with these rituals, but am happy to learn and lend a hand. It saddens me to think of a God lost to his followers."

Kembe returns the cloak to the elder as it appears to be his. "We found this in the bottom of the pit, it is yours?"

"No spiritual journey can be measured--or judged--by the physical steps one takes. As to why I made this pilgrimage? Again, that is not something one can explain for another. Such things are very personal, unique for each man or woman." The man delicately accepts the cloak from Kembe and slowly folds it as he continues talking.

"Thank you, I will endeavor to find its rightful owner and return this.

"My pilgrimage has not taken me down any tunnels other than the one you already traveled. I wish you a swift and safe passage. I really must continue with my ablutions though."

He smiles as Forvenniel collects materials from the shrine, and says, "Interesting. That must be a land dweller thing; thievery is not a religious observance among my people."

One ritual completed. Check the new spoiler on the Campaign Info tab for your bonus.

I'll wait a day before pushing on, in case anybody has something they want to wrap up.

Did that lordling just... openly agree with me? Norril inwardly shivers at the thought of having similar views with the man.

"I see. I will think upon your words and contemplate the meaning of this place for myself. Thank you for your guidance, I wish you the best of luck with your prayers. May you find peace in your worship." He bows his head in respect and moves to the mouth of the next tunnel and waits for his companions, writing in his journal as he does so.

Round 1
Effects none

• Iuni -
  
• Red -
  
• Yellow -
  
• Green -
  
• Purple -
  
• Kembe -
  
• Sejiri - 1 damage
  
• Arthur - 2 damage, 2 Strength damage
  
• Forvenniel -
  
• Norril -

Uori seems glad to see you go, as he quickly and quietly returns to his own business. After several twists and turn, the damp air becomes increasingly stale, and the stench of decay grows as you travel down this tunnel. The passage turns east and opens into a small cavern littered with bits of broken glass, rotting pieces of paper and other unusable detritus. The body of a male humanoid lies facedown toward the back.

But before you can check on him or search the room, several creatures lunge out of the shadows.

Iuni is up.

Hearing the signs of danger from the group in front. Iuni springs into action.

Oh beautiful Dawnflower, bring forth your power and Bless these people that need your light in this darkness. While tracing the sun with here fingers in the air. The party fills itself filled with divine courage.

Iuni then takes a couple steps back to give here allies room to work.

Std - Cast Bless, move - move

Bless fills your allies with courage. Each ally gains a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects

Maps

Round 1-2
Effects bless

• Red -
  
• Yellow -
  
• Green -
  
• Purple -
  
• Kembe - 10 damage
  
• Sejiri - 4 damage
  
• Arthur - 2 damage, 2 Strength damage
  
• Forvenniel -
  
• Norril -
  
• -----Round 2-----
  
• Iuni -

Iuni quickly calls down her Goddess' blessing for the Pathfinders, before the undead monsters can rip apart Kembe and Sejiri.

Everybody is up.

Backing up isn't a bad idea in these confined spaces... Norril follows Iuni's lead and heads back down the hall.

"The undead are an abomination, steady your blades and bring justice to their trapped souls!" he calls out to his comrades, boosting their morale.

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Everyone gets +1 to hit/damage and saves vs fear. Bonuses to hit/damage stack with bless for a net +2 attack, +1 damage.

Holy geezus, no perception checks to notice a herd of undead before they were on top of me? Also, any attacks that went vs someone adjacent to me, so Sejiri, I would use an aoo to try to aid his AC, I get 3 aoo's via combat reflexes. If he got hit perhaps I stopped it, I'll roll three times.

Aid AC Sejiri + Bless, +6 AC if successful: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 = 24
Aid AC Sejiri + Bless, +6 AC if successful: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16
Aid AC Sejiri + Bless, +6 AC if successful: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8

Kembe flinches back from his substantial wounds as he tries to fend off the attacks directed at his Halfling brother. "Back up, quickly brother!"

Kembe delays to wait for the others to hopefully move.

Taken aback by the sudden appearance of the undead, Forvenniel summons a bright ball of condensed moonlight, tossing it at the purple skeleton.

Casts flare, Fort DC13 or dazzled for one minute (-1 to hit)

Sejiri rushes back, taking what is at the moment a very good suggestion. "You should too, when you can! You're not looking too good and we can pick them off from afar!" In his retreat, the halfling pulls and loads his sling-staff.

Seeing the brutal undead attack occurring in front of her, Iuni raises here holy symbol, Help us goddess! Waves of positive energy emanated from the symbol of the sun. Healing those of her fellow pathfinder's injured.

"For the golden mane of Taldor's lion! Mr. Kembe, watch out!" Arthur is surprised as his fellow Pathfinders by the sudden apparition of the undead horrors. Having to decide quickly, and without having the leisure of a long meditation about how to act, the Taldan Pathfinder steps forward and, completely unaware that skeleton are resistant to piercing weapons, he attempts a thrust with his rapier.
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Damn Arthur, I'll try to help you...

Kembe feels a wave of healing energy wash over him and smiles as some of his scratches heal over. "Fall back as soon as you can Arthur, there are too many in there. I'll try to keep you safe."

With that Kembe tumbles back behind the man, raising his fists ready to knock away the inevitable claws.

@Kembe: You do indeed negate a hit against Sejiri. And you did notice the undead, that's why they aren't kicking your butts in a surprise round :-Þ

Maps

Round 2-3
Effects bless, inspire courage +1

• Red -
  
• Yellow -
  
• Green -
  
• Purple -
  
• Sejiri -
  
• Arthur - 5 damage, 2 Strength damage
  
• Forvenniel -
  
• Norril -
  
• -----Round 3-----
  
• Iuni -
  
• Kembe - 5 damage

Sejiri draws and loads a crossbow, while retreating to a safer position. Arthur bravely steps up to fill the gap left by the halfling. Forvenniel tries a spell, but the skeleton doesn't even notice it. Norril continues the retreating action, but starts another one of his inspirational tales.

Sarenrae's light heals Iuni's allies quite well, then Kembe pulls back as well. With his help, Arthur avoids almost all of the claws.

Everybody is up.

"May the moon guide your footsteps" whispers the half elf to Kembe. She then steps back, aware that the team was getting boxed in and wanting to make space for them to pull back and enjoy the benefit of numbers.

Casts Guidance on Kembre, and pulls back

On the plus side, no need to feel bad for these things, Sejiri ponders as he looses a bullet. I don't think Kembe and Arthur will be needing such consolation...

Arthur tries to parry one of the attacks directed at him with his rapier.

Using opportune parry and risposte to parry one of the attacks against Arthur. For the rolls, see below.

"Oh, come on! Fight with honor, you abominations!", calls out Lord Arthur as he keeps trying to pierce the skeleton in front of him with his rapier.
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"Forvenniel, your wand please! Kembe has the best chance of breaking these old bones and he can't get back in there in his condition." His fists will certainly work much better than that toothpick! Norril steps over to the woman, reaching out for a wand. His eyes still trained on the deteriorating frontline.

Now fully realizing it is the undead in front of them, Iuni decides to take a different tactic. Sarenrae allow me to put these menaces back into the graves in which they belong. She takes a step forward and continues to channel positive energy this time though to destroy the undead.

Kembe hollers to Arthur over the roar of battle "Back into the hall my friend, there is no need in you challenging the whole of that army yourself. Let us battle them on our terms."

Kembe holds his position to help try to deflect any attacks from the rapier wielding man.

@Sejiri: Please do not include cover or other AC bonuses in your attack roll. I will apply those on my end.

@Norril: You could just spend a move action to take the wand yourself. Either way, you are still left with a standard, and this way it doesn't use up Forvenniel's move action.

Maps

Round 3-4
Effects bless, inspire courage +1

• Green - 1 damage
  
• Purple - 1 damage
  
• Sejiri -
  
• Arthur - 5 damage, 2 Strength damage
  
• Forvenniel -
  
• Norril -
  
• -----Round 4-----
  
• Iuni -
  
• Kembe - guidance, 5 damage

Sejiri's sling bullet crashes through a skull's forehead, dropping the skeleton with one hit. Arthur's luck runs out though, while Forvenniel and Norril try to help Kembe.

Iuni's faith wavers a moment as she tries to release the souls from their undead prison, and Kembe turns his fists to helping Arthur stay alive.

Arthur just barely deflects the first claw to come his way, but his counter strike is just enough to take down the monster.

Everybody is up.

Forvenniel happily lets Norril take the wand, and then offers him the moons blessing as well.

Guidance on Norril

Perfect, they are falling like flies before us!

Norril moves next to Kembe and heals what he can of his wounds. "Keep it up Kembe!"

________
I didn't know I could take things off of other people, thank you! From prior round, will use his standard to move closer to Kembe. Next turn I will renew Inspire Courage.

"Thank you, Mr. Kembe" Arthur says between an attack and the next, "but I'm not withdrawing. We almost did it! Let's fight!" The Pathfinder then tries another attack.
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Attacking green skeleton, then, if it falls, 5 ft. step to occupy its square.

Without a clear sight of the skeletons, Iuni decides it's best to give the others some room to work, Blessings! she exclaims as she touches Sejiri with her holy symbol. She then steps back.

Cast Guidance on Sejiri, then 5' step.

Seeing Arthur steadfast and determined Kembe nods in his direction "Then let us continue" He continues to defend the man from all attacks possible.

If Sejiri hasn't posted within a couple hours, somebody please bot him.

"Thank you, I will put this to good use," Sejiri smiles and nods in Iuni's direction as he reloads and hurls another bullet from a difficult angle.

Even with a wall and several people blocking his view, Sejiri shatters one of the skeleton's skulls, and then Arthur brings down the other creature.

Heal up and let me know what/how you'd like to search.

Kembe watches as his brother lays low another of the walking dead and Arthur does the deed to the last remaining. He relaxes his muscles and turns and thanks whoever healed his wounds. "Many thanks to you all, I thought I was sure to fall to these walking dead. What are they? I've never come across such abominations in my time. Lets be wary incase their condition is carried through disease."

He bends down to take a look at the dead corpses, poking at them with his sword to avoid touching them, trying to see if he can learn more about them in life or in death. Heal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

As he does he searches for anything that could be of use to them, including what the strange corpse is to the north. Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Forvenniel takes back the wand and taps Arthur and Kembe with it.
CLW Arthur: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
CLW Kembe: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

She then looks around, and checks for the presence of magic.
perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Casts detect magic

"What were those things? " she asks in horror.

"Surely moonlight never touched such unnatural ... things."

Kembe was only down 1pt so save the charge. He was healed for 5 with the channel then Norril hit him once for 4 more. PS, I'll be away until some time Monday.

"I believe they were...skeletons. That should be the name" Arthur shrugs, then shows his confident smile to those behind him. "Thank you for keeping me healthy. We all did well".

After receiving more magic healing, Arthur starts searching the room, starting from the humanoid body lying facedown toward the back of the cave.
____________________

Iuni moves to the skeletons and touches them each with her holy symbol, Sarenrae blessings on you She says to each. I wonder what cause things to live on after death, or at least on the material plane.

She then moves to the other body. Sarenrae blessings on you She says tapping it, before looking a little more carefully at what caused it death.

Heal check, take 10 for 17

"My studies indicate that the undead typically rise from magical means. A wizard or cleric with such interests can eventually learn the means to do so. A priest once told me that particularly heinous people obsessed with their vices may sometimes rise in undeath as well. Intense suffering, physical, emotional, or mental, may also result in such a twisted creature." I hope to never suffer such a cruel fate.

Danger vanquished, Norril walks about the room. If there is a corpse, there may be signs of others around. Why was he here?

On the fallen body, you find a note detailing plans to start an army of undead made from the “fish people” who have been frequenting this cave. The only other things of note on the body or in the room are some well made jewelry items, which Forvenniel does sense magical auras around.

Identify and divide the loot, then we'll move on.

spellcraft1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
spellcraft2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Forvenniel gazes at the dead body, poking through some of the items on it.

"An amulet, one that will make your skin as tough as that of a wild animal." she says as she fingers the odd ball of leather at the body's throat.

Working her way down, she removes a ring. "And look. A ring that will magically deflect attacks against you."

She shakes her head sadly.

"For all his worry and preparation, it would appear they did him no good. "

"Those at the forefront of any fighting are probably the beset suitors for this. I have no pressing interest in these items." Maybe Arthur won't need Kembe's help to stay alive then...

Norril spends a good deal of time studying the note in his hand. What a wretched person. "Should we tell our friend in the pool? I don't want him to suffer without reason, but this is quite the threat to his safety. There may be more of this type of person around."