Iron gods

Game Master Vagabonds.

"...They're not actually blind."

Sarona remains quiet while Caimor examines the blindhelm.

"So... is there a way we can pass it without coming to blows?" She asks, nervously eying the creature.

Why, thank ya. It's really satisfying to see high rolls with a skill monkey build. Investigator was practically made for it.

"Joseph can attempt to handle the blindheim as if he were its trainer," Caimor says, "but otherwise it would mean directly disabling it ourselves through magic, might, or other means. If you require more accurate information on their kind, I can provide you, but most of it is irrelevant to the situation or only useful if you want to fight it."

"We can try take the fork to the right and see if it lets us pass. It might get hairy on the way out if it decides it doesn't want to let us leave."

map

"...They're not actually blind."

I was hoping you would jump on that XD

The Blindheilm doesn't respond kindly. It them goes to attempt to bite Joseph's face off.

??? How about i re-do that roll. Also just a note, me and Stumpers position should be switched as Stumper went back and i went to the blindheim.

Fist rolls his eyes as he steps up and holding back some of his strength gives the frog like beast a firm smack on the nose.
This is meant to be non lethal damage

"NO! Bad frog thing."

unarmed attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
nonleathal damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

"Try again on getting him to behave."

Fist aids another on a handle animal check giving him a +4

handle animal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

"..." Caimor can't properly express his feelings on the matter so he settles for explaining what he saw and how to fight it. "There are silver discs in the water which may give us some clues."

"And they're called blindheims because they blind their prey. They emit a light from their eyes, bright enough to blind anyone it looks at. Either close your eyes or keep your distance."

Even as he speaks the elf close their eyes and backs away, allowing for anyone else to take his place in the room.

I guess i could try and use handle animal to command it "Down", give that a try.
Btw, handle animal is a trained only skill, you failed the aid another roll, and the DC increases by 2 if it takes non-lethal damage. Thanks for helping!! XD
But.. But... How are we supposed to do anything with our eyes closed??
Well, here goes nothing...

Turning around, facing the blindhielm (eyes closed) and pointing importiantly, Joseph commands: Blindhielm. Down.

Sarona sees Joseph get smacked by the blindhelm and Fist deliver a retaliatory punch.

Heeding Caimor's warning, she closes her eyes and winces. "I'm afraid violence may be our only remaining option..."

Holding my action.

the map is kinda confused/jacked up. I'm assuming Fist is in combat with the blindheim and Joseph bugged out like he posted. Right now, I appear to be in combat and Fist seems to be in the river.

Taz offers an opinion to the group at large "Maybe we should just shoot first and ask questions later next time."

He draws an arrow back in his bow and says to Kerin "Even odds I hit the halfling if I take the shot ... maybe you should just go kill it with your axe."

"All right, let me give it a go."

Kerin steps up, hefts his axe, and brings it down hard with a mighty roar.

It stumbles back, and screams, flashing it's eyes. It runs past you all, after Joseph, obviously very, VERY angry.

Anyone who saves gets a AoO on on it.

Yay getting two attacks for one round of rage!

Fortitude: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
damage: 1d12 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Kerin reflexively closed his eyes as a sudden light flared up right in front of his face. He had red shapes and white swirls dancing in his vision, but still managed to get in another swing of his greataxe as the blindheim scuttered by.

I've backed away and closed my eyes. If that's not enough, then:

Fort: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 + 1 = 22

Fortitude Save (If Needed): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Sarona manages to shut her eyes in time against the blindhelm's light!

As it runs past, she swings at it with her hammer!

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Fist once again trys to subdue the "pet" without killing it.

unarmed attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

nonlethal damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

fortitude save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

fortitude save: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 1 = 13

"Not kidding about that blinding light, were you Caimor"

Taz takes a shot at the frog as it passes by with his held action.

longbow shot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

confirming critical: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3 x 3 = 9 damage

I can quit now, that's never going to happen again

It's pretty much killed in mere moments, chasing after Joseph. He managed to get so far as Sarona... Who then procedes to knock it down, as it laid there, unmoving, slowly bleeding out.
(Well done, each of you gain 100 exp.)

Hold on a second... his Fortitude Save was a 13. Doesn't that save?

Sarona winces as the blindhelm meets its end by her hammer before turning to Fist.

"Is everything alright?"

Caimor opens his eyes after the noise has died down before approaching the water to inspect the discs.

Fist looks down at the bleeding creature sadly.

"Awww poor thing. i didn't want to kill someones pet. i feel like i stepped on someones ugly puppy."

Eyes still close, Joseph continues to run past the group
Aieee! Kill it! Kill it! before hiding behind Fist.
Did... Did you get it?
He then notices Stumper lazilly eating a mushroom near the cliff face. Where were you when i was running for my life huh? he says with disgust.

If you want to save it, Sarona could channel energy, tho Joseph might not be too happy :)

Actually... The thing doesn't appear to be quite dead. It appears to have stabalized, though the strikes ended up shattering it's leftmost legs. You don't think it'll walk fast ever again.

At the edge of the pool, you find four silverdisks, half of them broken. The dead body still floats in the pool, the smell of rotting in the air. You see a unholy symbol on the corpse chec. The belt pouch on it's hip is still intact and contains 63 gp, and four watertight potions of Cure Light Wounds.

To joseph, the entryway ahead looms ominous. Dark. There is no light ahead for anyone to see by. It's a fairly lengthy corridor ahead, dark and ominous.

Fist looks up at sarona with a grin.

"hey can you heal it's legs? I just wanted to smack it on the nose so it would behave. Mabee we can have it light our way for us. I have a rope I can use as a leash. I'm sure it won't try and eat Joseph again."

Fist sais with a smile hoping he can help tame the rambunctious pet in some way.

Your sure? Your SURE?? the thing tried to bite my face off!!
Well now that we have officially crippled it, we should finish it off. As it is, it cant hunt for food or fend for itself. While i dont like the guy, that is a slow and agonizing death that i wouldnt wish upon anyone.
But, if you DO heal it, i dnt want to be anywhere near it when it wakes!

if you decide to put it down, Joseph will help, and do it in a painless way.
If you decide to heal it, Joseph will recast a light spell on stumpers harnes and head to the corridor with a Ill be over here! called over his shoulder.
Perception for corridor: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 = 13
The dice are trying to kill me XD

Edit: if he is heading to the corridor, he is riding Stumper and smoking his pipe in his hand :)

Caimor attempts to see if he recognizes the corpse, all the while taking the discs, the gold, and the potions, which he immediately identifies.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

He then tries to see if he recognizes which deity the unholy symbol belongs to.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Finally done with the corpse, he moves away and begins inspection of the silver discs in earnest.

Knowledge (engineering): 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 1 = 29

He pauses to distribute the potions of cure light wounds to the party, however, passing one to Tazwell, Fist, and Joseph.

Sarona is able to provide their own healing, and Caimor ponders on keeping the remaining one for himself, but logically understands he can simply concoct one with no trouble whereas Kerin likely has no way of quick healing. And it is in his best interest to keep everyone alive. He gives the last one to him.

"A potion to cure light wounds," Caimor says before returning to his observations with one last comment. "Save it for emergencies."

"I'm not sure..." Sarona examines the blindhelm. "I'm reluctant to call upon Brigh's favour too frivolously."

When Caimor distributes the potions, she nods in approval. "A fortuitous find."

Fist looks up at Sarona with a smile.

"hey help the poor guy out and ill owe you one."

Fist takes the potion hes given and wonders about using it on the creature. As he thinks about it waiting for Sarona to decide he fashions a leash out of the rope in his supply's and secures it around the beasts neck.

"Joseph will you relax i can handle this thing and i wont let him bite you. just help me convince him were not his enemy's and that i wont thump him as long as he behaves."

"Ehh, 's someone else's guard dog. I say we kill it and be done with i'. Master might be around somewhere, don't want to run into 'er with 'er pet around."

That said, Kerin didn't seem all that eager to get around to killing it himself. While the rest of the party decided what to do about the unconscious blindheim, he propped himself down against a wall, and sat there for a moment, seemingly a little exhausted.

He rummages around in his bag, and digs out a sealed bottle of water. He takes a large swig, and seals it again.

After a moment, he gets up, ready to get on with it.

"Now then. Onwards, eh?!"

"I agree with Kerin, the creature is too dangerous to leave behind us." Taz offers.

Deciding the caves are too cramped for ranged combat he sling his bow onto his back, draws a dagger from his belt, and takes one of his lanterns from his bag, lighting it to provide extra insurance against the party being left in the dark.

"Anyone recognize this body? Given how many people have disappeared down into this hole I'm thinking we should be careful."

knowledge(local) to id the corpse: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Sarona sighs, not really willing to make waves.

"The creature's fate is irrelevant anyway... Khonnir is still down here somewhere." She moves away from the fallen blindhelm. "I'm sorry, Fist. Perhaps on our way back, I will see if I can do something for the creature."

"Your light is not necessary for me to see, Tazwell--my eyes are capable of seeing in the dark as well as Kerin can." She says as the sorcerer lights his lantern. "...although it would be more convenient for those of us who do not possess such senses."

Zombie girl can see in the dark. Ain't natural for those tall folk, I'm told. She's not natural, that's fer sure.

He eyes Sarona carefully.

"Aye."

Joseph calls back Its even crueler to just leave it, but lets get going, i am eager to keep exploring!
Still, Joseph slows down not wanting to face this cavern alone...

"I know you can see in the dark Sarona, it was really more me that I was immediately concerned with." Taz answers.

"I'd really rather not be dependent on that glowing pig as a light source." he gestures towards Joseph and Stumper.

"Let's not be cruel, then. Might up 'n try to kill us from behind if we leave it, too."

Kerin decapacitated it with his axe, then trot along, his short legs catching him up to Joseph and pig at surprising speed.

alright, we are moving along :)
And i got a glowing pig X) first step to Cy-porked pig >:)

The body, unfortunately, has been mangled and munched on beyond recognision. You know it's probably one of the thugs, though.

A collection of crates, boxes, rubble, and scavenged metal lies heaped in the northwest section of this damp cave. Several strange chalk drawings of twisted, spiny plants, a strange three legged creature, and emancipated four armed humanoids mark the walls.

Did you take the potion from Caimor, Kerin?

Caimor inspects the northwest section first, carefully prodding through the rubble, opening the crates or getting someone to open them for him, and trying to piece why this collection was here.

It could have been Khonnir or the thugs, of course, but there were still other possibilities....

Knowledge (engineering): 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 ⇒ (15) + 9 + (4) = 28

He then moves on to the drawings on the walls. How old were they? What were they depicting? Could it have predated Torch or was it made afterwards, or at the same time?

Knowledge (history): 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + (1) + 1 = 27

Deduction after deduction races through Caimor's mind, discarding hypotheses even as he made new ones. This was his element.

Sarona joins Caimor in examining the rubble, putting her knowledge of engineering to good use alongside him. She fiddles with any odd-looking devices he points out.

Disable Device (If Needed): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Knowledge (Engineering): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Taz crouches and looks over the collection of rubble for anything valuable or that looks like a clue.

perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Fist frowns deeply as the dwarf suddenly chopped off the beasts head.

"trust me nobody enjoys killing like me but....ahhh just forget it."

Fist puts away the rope and pulls out a torch lighting it up with flint and steel so we can see what were doing down here. He then moves over to Sarona and Tazwell to give them some light.

Ah, you gave me a potion, i had forgotten that. Adding it to my list :)
in real life the killing would have bothered me quite significantly, really significantly. However, in this game the concept of killing is a lot less amoral and even normal. I just go with it in pathfinder, a fresh break from reality in that regards.
Joseph rides Stumper over to Caimor, watching him quizzically. Trying to figure out what he is doing...
Thanks for the potion! Umm. What are you doing? You look deep in thought. Are you concentrating? Can i help you with... Whatever you are doing? You know Stumper can be quite good at helping in things like this and, hey! Isnt that 3 legged thing one of those we saw in the city?
Joseph asks, pointing to the drawing of a 3 legged thing. (he also puts the potion in Stumpers sac)

Kerin accepts the potion from Caimor. "Thanks. Seems we might've found those thugs' stash of stuff. Stands to reason it was their flashy beast, too."

He opens crates when asked to, using the haft of his axe as leverage when needed. If no-one needs help with that, he scrounges through what is there, and looks through the shallows of the water for more of the silvery disks. Might be valuable, or else the metal could be good for melting down and being put to other work.

Caimor doesn't find anything technological of value, but Tazwell doesn't. The things depicted on the walls? A race unknown... New. And it wasn't particularly old, definantly younger than the torch. Maybe 20, 40, 100 at most years old.
The three legged creature? The same type of thing that was in the Foundry. This... Is also new. Intresting.

Kerin finds no more silvery discs, just random bits of technological junk.

Also, the silverdiscs are Silverdisks, though they are more rarely known as Batteries.

The area from here branches off in two directions, south, and east. Which direction do you guys go?

Knowledge(Engineering): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Where does those random bits come from? What did they use to do, and what's a likely reason for them to be here?

A fork this early, Caimor thinks. They were after Khonnin so logically they could try to find his tracks, or simply figure out which path was most traveled, and proceed from there. He could also note changes in the temperature, wind, and surrounding geology to deduct where they were and what they were heading towards, and even with the assumption that the place they were headed to was artificial in nature he could approximate an educated guess.

But ultimately, it would be more informative to observe the party than to make the decision himself, which is what Caimor does.

Abstaining. Doing a Sherlock Scan on everything we come across to solve every problem might be a bit overkill and Caimor wouldn't simply take 'left' or 'right' without knowing what 'left' and 'right' entails. Unless it's an emergency.

"Hmm..." Sarona examines the silverdisks more closely. "Batteries. I'm curious as to where these go."

She waits next to Caimor, pondering which way to go. "I have no preference as to which way we go. Shall I flip a coin?"

"Into some of those magic things that aren't magic, probably. I like the right one better, let's go that way." He points with the hand that isn't hoisting his axe over his shoulder.