Granta's Long Campaign (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Granta

"Here. Try this," Pavo says as he hands the slate and chalk to Zyrethian.

"Not say word but write? Yes, better you, my handwrite too messy" Anastasia says, looking at the slate interested.

Kirrote watches from the back of the group. When the nameplate moves he raises his eyebrows. "That's sneaky," he says.

"Yes. If I hadn't written down what the coin said, I never would have known to look here. Never once have I heard of a secret compartment behind a nameplate on a statue."

Zyrethian writes "wiffle" on the small chalkboard, and the door silently lifts up into the ceiling. The tunnel behind the door is dark, and opens into a small cavern. From the far end, you can see a dim light.

Well isn't that something...shall we proceed. Kane is almost giddy at the thought of finding hidden history.

"Made with magic. Shaped. Gnome, maybe, or older", Anastasia says as she's looking around the cavern.

"Last time cave, undead. Now? Armor first? Kirrote?" she suggests as she's trying to see any signs of possible enemies.

Pavo slowly leads the way into the tunnel, keeping an eye out for traps. "Hopefully, there are no golems or skeletal warriors stashed in here to guard the chronicles."

Funny enough, I had intended to talk about the name plate but I was thinking pushing different letters, there definitely should have been some kind of perception DC to tell that the nameplate was movable.

Zyrethian stands up to allow others to go first into the tunnel, as he enters he draws his rapier, ready for what may come.

"Indeed Anastasia, it would appear that this cave was formed with magic. I am thinking the stone shape spell, or similar magics."

Kirrote joins the rest of the group and enters the tunnel. "There might be danger ahead. I should go first." He shoulders his way past everyone else and moves to the front. He lifts his greataxe from the belt loop it sits in and holds it in the ready.

"But--" Pavo starts to say as the half-orc pushes his way to the front.

Kane trails behind keeping his eyes peeled.

@Zyrethian: My guess is the author didn't want PCs to skip the puzzle aspect with die rolls. Because, you know, it's such a fun puzzle.

Kirrote navigates the dark tunnels with ease, chuckling as his companions bumble around. Fortunately, the cavern seems to be abandoned.

The light is coming from a small office, where several desks are arranged along the northern and eastern edges. Whereas the stonework leading to this chamber is rough, the walls in the alcove are polished. A single gem rests among the neatly filed papers on the desk, emitting a soft luminescence that brightens the small room.

The paperwork on the desk is a priceless collection of Pathfinder Society lore and information describing dozens of unexplored sites. Unfortunately, most are completely undecipherable and will take the Society weeks to decode.

Anastasia follows Kirrote through the caverns, keeping her eyes on any dark corners that might hide undead. When they reach the desk, she routinely again detects magic.

"Light forever. Useful, boring", she comments pointing at the stone.

Then she turns to the papers, and immediately snatches an armful of sheets. She browses through them with great speed, often stopping and returning to previous papers, to connect the information together.

"Great! Look, I know this place! Close home. This about it, but not clear. Other paper, also it! Maybe, similar pictures. This elsewhere, maybe connected. Same builders? What in these? Good, catalogued and filed, but correct? Must start check. Oh, that on table too! Or maybe not? Zyren, help, look those, Pavo, over there?"

She continues grabbing papers with anything similar to those she already has seen, or having anything interesting. Somehow she manages to keep the messy pile in her hands while still reading new documents.

Kane grabs a handful of documents as well.

Seems to be in codes, I think I could make it out, but might take some time. I say we gather all this up and head back to Drendle Drang.

Pavo raises his eyebrows at Anastasia's antics. "My, I have never seen you so animated today as now."

He assists in collecting the encoded chronicles as well as the everburning alexandrite.

Maps

Round Surprise
Effects none
Terrain none

• Pavo -
  
• Kirrote - surprised
  
• Zyrethian -
  
• Swordsman 1 (red) -
  
• Swordsman 2 (orange) -
  
• Archer (green) -
  
• Touched (purple) -
  
• Anastasia - surprised
  
• Kane - surprised

All documents safely packed up, your next visit seems to be Drandle Dreng, but the decision isn't left up to you. As Kirrote exits the altar room, two swordsmans step away from the wall and to other assailants come out from behind pillars.

The one in robes shouts, "Drop your weapons and give us all of the documents, and you can walk out of here alive. Don't, and you won't."

Pavo and Zyrethian are up, surprise action only.

"Wha-!" Pavo exclaims and steps back from the archway. He pulls out a pinch of sand and tosses it into the air as he invokes arcane words of power and gestures at the bandits between the pillars.

"Look out folks we got company!"

Zyrethian hunkers into the corner for cover and once again a shimmering field bursts out from him.

@Pavo: You can't move diagonally through a hard corner, which means no 5-ft. step. Also, sleep is a 1 round casting time, so it will take up your standard action next round. And you don't have to target the spell until it finishes, so you'll be able to move the area if desired. And there are templates here.

Maps

Round Surprise - 1
Effects protective ward (green, 1/7)
Terrain none

• Anastasia - surprised
  
• Kane - surprised
  
• -----Round 1-----
  
• Pavo - casting sleep
  
• Kirrote - 8 damage
  
• Zyrethian -
  
• Touched (purple) -
  
• Swordsman 1 (red) -
  
• Swordsman 2 (orange) -
  
• Archer (green) -

Pavo begins a complex spell, while Zyrethian chooses a quicker, if less powerful response. Kirrote reflexively dodges one of the sword swings, but the other tears a bloody gash in his leggings, and the leg too. And luckily, the archer's shot is wide several feet. The robed one cast some sort of spell before the others attacked, but it didn't seem to have any visible effect.

Pavo, Kirrote and Zyrethian are up.

Pavo completes his incantation and releases the somnolent magic around the bandits between the columns. He then pulls his dagger from the sheath at his belt.

"Kirrote? Are you alright?"

hmm bless eh?

"They will be a bit more accurate now the robed one cast bless. I think the robed one is a divine caster of some kind."

Zyrethian continues to shelter in the corner, speaks words of arcane power and is visibly encompassed for a moment in a different field of power which settles into his form almost unseen.

Kirrote snarls at the man when his sword slices his leg. Half a second later he roars in pain and swings his axe at the man. As he follows through with the stroke he steps diagonally across the man so that he is no longer flanked between the two.

Pavo, and the others, can see the half-orc bleeding profusely from the large gash in his leg.

Maps

Round 1-2
Effects protective ward (green, 2/7)
Terrain none

• Anastasia -
  
• Kane -
  
• -----Round 1-----
  
• Pavo -
  
• Kirrote - 17 damage, staggered
  
• Zyrethian -
  
• Touched (purple) -
  
• Swordsman 1 (red) -
  
• Swordsman 2 (orange) -
  
• Archer (green) -

Pavo completes his spell, knocking out the enemy caster. Kirrote tries to take down one of the swordsman, but has to settle for stepping out of the doorway and making space for his own allies to help. Zyrethian continues girding himself with protective magic, but also prepares his rapier this time.

As Kirrote moves away, the swordsman step up to him, never letting the half-orc get more than a few feet away. The two immediately strike in opposite directions, catching him twice and spilling what's clearly more blood than Kirrote can spare.

Fortunately for him, the archer seems more worried about his companion than about killing the half-orc. He wakes up the sleeping caster, and then switches to a shortsword while moving up to block the entrance to the altar room.

Everybody is up.

Kane watches as the ambush unfolds. He sees a whole lot of Kirrote's blood split, but none from the ambushers.

Pavo get us out in the open! He makes a desperate plea. Abadar grant me your healing energy. With that waves of positive energy pour from Kane. He then steps to the side.

Pavo lunges at the archer, twisting his dagger at the last moment so that it locks with the shortsword. "There's too many blocking the way."

He twists back with a deft flick of his own blade.

"Kirrote! Keep your guard up!"

"And look this, near Absalom! What? Enemy?" Anastasia finally wakes up from her enthusiasm for the documents.

"Kirrote! This help! Drop!", she shouts while casting a spell, and the red-dressed swordsman's blade is suddenly covered with a thick layer of grease.

"Tight. Janira's wand, burn, good!" she says and pulls out a wand from her belt.

Kirrote staggers under the onslaught and nearly collapses. A burst of positive energy from Kane brings some color back into his green cheeks. An intense burning angry grows in his eyes. He turns towards one of the men who attacked him and swings his axe viciously. As his stroke hits home he steps to the side to avoid being between the two enemies.

Zyrethian finishes his arcane preparations with one last spell.
"Excuse me Pavo, lets see if we can't convince this archer to back off."
Then stepping carefully past Pavo, gets into the face of the archer, "Hey you, Scum! Face me!"

Zyrethian's protective ward just turned the tide of battle. Without it, Pavo would be injured and the archer would still be blocking the hallway with his sword in hand.

Maps

Round 2-3
Effects protective ward (green, 3/7)
Terrain none

• Anastasia -
  
• Kane -
  
• -----Round 3-----
  
• Pavo -
  
• Kirrote - 15 damage
  
• Zyrethian -
  
• Touched (purple) -
  
• Swordsman 2 (orange) -
  
• Swordsman 1 (red) - 12 damage, dying
  
• Archer (green) - short sword
  
• Touched (purple) - prone

Anastasia tries to conjure a glob of grease on the nearest swordsman's weapon, but he pulls the sword back in time and avoids her spell. Kane then unleashes a blast of healing, hoping that the ambushers won't be able to benefit from it, but knowing that Kirrote will.

Ever the risk taker, Pavo lunges at the archer's sword, risking a counter attack in order to disarm the attacker. Conversely, Zyrethian chooses to boost he defenses and then try to pull some attention away from Kirrote.

The two swordsmen continue dogging Kirrote's steps, but Kane's healing seems to have rejuvenated him significantly. Not only does he dodge both attackers, but one falls unconscious after a last, desperate attack. And he easily avoids the arrow that comes his way an instant later. The spellcaster tries to work some magic, but the threat of Kirrote's axe distracts her too much.

Everybody is up.

Zyrethian seeing that he has the archer on the run and without a melee weapon in hand takes a risk and steps boldly around to limit the archers mobility. Once in position he makes a careful strike against the archer.
"Come on people we have these fools!"

Still enraged, Kirrote steps quickly to the side of the armed man and swings at him with his axe. It cuts deeply into his side.

Pavo begins to orate. "Wharever these cads' intentions in ambushing us, we have the right of way. However, we cannot take victory for granted. Let us put our skills to the test, push ourselves beyond our imagined bounds."

He moves around the archer, ready to strike if the elf lets his guard down to aim, while he speaks.

Adabar measure my actions and grant your servant your healing power! Kane prays and his hands begin to glow with radiant light. He swiftly moves past the archer and behind Kirrote, touching his shoulder and discharging the healing power on the barbarian.

Anastasia moves closer, wand in hand. When she gets to a point when three of the enemies are close to her, she calls the wand's magic. Fire engulfs the three assailants.

"Oh! Strong fire!" she comments, surprised on the strength.

Her toad withdraws deep into her pocket, not liking the flames at all.

Pavo' eyebrows rise as Anastasia releases the hungry flames.

Maps

Round 3-4
Effects inspire courage +1 (1), protective ward (green, 4/7)
Terrain none

• Anastasia -
  
• Kane -
  
• -----Round 4-----
  
• Pavo -
  
• Kirrote - 6 damage
  
• Zyrethian -
  
• Archer (green) - short sword
  
• Touched (purple) - 4 damage

Anastasia steps out of the altar room, shooting out more flames than it should be possible to hold in such a small wand; while Kane continues helping Kirrote stay on his feet.

Pavo begins an inspirational ode, while keeping an eye on the archer for any openings. With the renewed vigor and inspiration of his allies, Kirrote easily dispatches the other swordsman and then turns an angry eye on the remaining assailants. Zyrethian tries honorably--and ineptly--to mirror Kirrote's prowess.

The archer tries to stab Pavo with an arrow and clear an escape path, but when that fails, the spellcaster abandons her allies and flees.

Everybody is up.

Still enraged and not wanting the other enemy to escape, Kirrote goes after the fleeing person. As soon as she is in range he swings his axe at her.

Pavo moves around Zyrethian for an unobstructed strike and snaps his whip towards the archer's bow. "Now we have them on the run, flame and blade driving them. Do not release the pressure. Show them what will can do!"

Unaware of Kirrote's enraged state Zyrethian yells for a status report,
"Kirrote, do you need an assist?."

Zyrethian shifts to cut off the archers options for retreat and stabs at him with his rapier. While stabbing at the archer Zyrethian mocks him, "You should just surrender, you can see what we did to your friends."

You've got 'em Kirrote! Kane utters a divinely charged inspiring word to the raging barbarian to further fuel his fire. Kane then steps to his right and draws his crossbow.

"We stronger, surrender!" Anastasia calls out. She takes a step back and sends a telekinetic fist at the closest enemy standing.

Maps

Round 4-5
Effects inspire courage +1 (2), protective ward (green, 5/7)
Terrain none

• Anastasia -
  
• Kane -
  
• -----Round 5-----
  
• Pavo -
  
• Kirrote - 6 damage
  
• Zyrethian -
  
• Archer (green) - short sword

Anastasia launches a fist of solidified energy at the archer, but barely misses hitting her elven ally. Kane's voice suddenly joins Pavo's in a burst of motivation, while the latter tries to lash the archer's hands and make him drop the longbow. And then Kirrote slays yet another enemy with but a single axe swing. Zyrethian continues bravely wielding his rapier, but gets no closer to drawing blood--and then the lone archer makes a run for it.

Everybody is up, though the last enemy is fleeing.

As the enemy in front of him falls Kirrote sees the other trying to flee. He moves toward her and a snarl escapes from his lips as he swings.

As the archer tries to flee he drops his guard and Zyrethian takes another shot.

As the archer makes a run the long way to get around away, Zyrethian calmly moves to pincer the archer between himself and Kirrote.

"What part of surrender do you not understand?"

Zyrethian strikes again at the archer and gets ready to bring him down again if he flees.

Anastasia moves closer, and aims a finger at the archer.

"Surrender or I shoot!"

"I know you're scared. Half your compatriots are dead--burned to a crisp or cut from stem to stern. However, if you surrender, it would be better for you. I'm sure our half-orc friend will chase you down to the edge of the city."

Pavo steps back into the protective aura and snaps his whip at the archer's legs.

Oops, I started a post and I think I got side tracked and never posted it.

Kane steps to his right and loads and fires his crossbow.

As the bolt flies wayward, I really need more practice with this contraption.

Kane tries to stop the fleeing archer with a bolt through the knee, but his fancy shot just skips across the marble floor. Pavo does manage to trip the elf though, wrapping his whip around the man's ankle and pulling it out from under him, giving Kirrote just enough of an advantage to spill the man's life onto the stone.

Combat Over.

"Well, that's going to make getting answers out of him difficult," Pavo says as he pulls in his whip.