Serinbaal the Lands of Torment ("Dark Sun" Homebrew Pathfinder 1e)

Game Master Sebecloki

Cae's anger at the shadow fiend wars with his wonder at seeing the cavern. He drags his finger along the wall, feeling the moisture there while feeling the waterfall's spray on his face. For just a moment, a childlike smile can be seen on his face as he leaps through the waterfall to join Hamza and the rest.

Ito's confidence is reassuring to Cae. Not worried by their presence, Ito seems less likely to strike at them without provocation. Cae tries to push the image of a cat toying with prey out of his mind as he opens his senses.

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[dice=Acrobatics: Jump]1d20+24+3+48

Cycling through divinations(Range: | Close:40' | Med:160' |):
---Alteration: You may divine for creatures with the shapechanger type. If a creature is not a shapechanger, but is under the effect of a Shapeshift Alteration sphere (or similar) ability, it shows up with a dim aura.
---Illusion: You may divine for illusions. This grants you a free Will save or Perception check against any illusions or invisibility within the area.
---Telekinesis: You may divine the presence or absence of creatures with the incorporeal subtype. For the purpose of this ability, creatures such as unseen servant and other similar creatures of force are considered to have the incorporeal subtype. This ability will not not reveal the general location or direction in which the incorporeal creatures are, it will however give you knowledge of the incorporeal creature’s aura.
---Warp: You may divine the presence of portals, rifts (including extradimensional spaces), and teleportation circles, both active and inactive within medium range. In addition, when identifying the properties of portals, you gain a circumstance bonus to Knowledge (planes) checks equal to 1/2 your caster level (minimum +1).
---Magic

[dice=Perception: Illusion/Invisibility]1d20+22
[dice=Know: Arcana: Magic]1d20+23

As Jin prepares their meal, Hamza continues his conversation with Ito. "Tell me my friend, how is it you, Puthyrith-Rainsey and Chanthavy-Chanvatey came to be here, in this grotto? And more importantly, why do you stay? Surely if they are to 'guide you on travels far and wide' you would not be confined to this immense cave, lovely though it might be."

1d20+18 Sense Motive, on Ito, to see how he's reacting to the conversation so far, as well as the meal Jin's making.

Ito smiles warmly,

"As might be readily discerned by my tattoos, I am a sworn member of the venerable sodality known in the Vraḥ Phiəsaa Khmae language of ancient Yaramuke Sthan'Baromsokh-Php'Phendei-Mnoussacheate Sahchip, the Earth, Heaven, Humanity Union. These distinctive markings are adopted by all of our initiates."

"The reawakened True Drakes and their servants are threatened by the apparent return of the sorcerer-queen Sielba, whose wrathful spirit has manifested as a terrible shadow within her former demesne. The power of her cult grows daily, and threatens to subsume within her dreadful power all those who still claim Yaramuke their home, both human and the newcome lask."

"I am bid hither by my compatriots to seek the mysteries of Kalidnay and its fall. It is said that this ancient city's sorcerer-queen was laid low, and I would know more of the means by which her consciousness was confined to an obsidian orb. Recently, it appears this solution was less than... final. However, it remains that this might prove a promising solution to the present predicament of my people and our allies."

"This cavern grotto was chosen as much by my regal companions as myself. Drakes are exiles from the elemental planes, and yet they have never entirely forgotten their homes. The extraordinary confluence of elemental conduits in this location was irresistibly attractive to my charges, and they accordingly directed our shared attentions to this remarkable locale."

"I suppose we shall remain here until we learn what can be known of the sorcerer-queen Kalid-Ma's defeat, or a more promising lead presents itself."

"Presently, both of my royal lieges are also invested in the discovery of the peculiar cult that rules the diamond mines. There are a number of feral fire drakes who are apparently companions of the society's leaders, as well as a number of other beings of elemental fire. As in the case of the many planar conduits which we discovered in this grotto, the presence of entities derived from the other Elemental Strongholds has decisively seized their attention."

As Jin prepares their meal, Hamza continues his conversation with Ito. "Tell me my friend, how is it you, Puthyrith-Rainsey and Chanthavy-Chanvatey came to be here, in this grotto? And more importantly, why do you stay? Surely if they are to 'guide you on travels far and wide' you would not be confined to this immense cave, lovely though it might be."

1d20+18 Sense Motive, on Ito, to see how he's reacting to the conversation so far, as well as the meal Jin's making.

Tyren's eyes lit up at the mention of 'peculiar cults.' It appeared luck may very well be on his side...While it was true that elemental fire had little to do in particular with his newfound foes, there were a lot of other pieces of their investigation that sounded very familiar to the tunes he kept hearing about. "I don't suppose this cult of yours is known for delving into matters of the afterlife? Perhaps something about...Flaying people alive? Or freeing them from their mortal shackles?"

Tyren's eyes lit up at the mention of 'peculiar cults.' It appeared luck may very well be on his side...While it was true that elemental fire had little to do in particular with his newfound foes, there were a lot of other pieces of their investigation that sounded very familiar to the tunes he kept hearing about. "I don't suppose this cult of yours is known for delving into matters of the afterlife? Perhaps something about...Flaying people alive? Or freeing them from their mortal shackles?"

"Hmmm... not the one I was referring to in addressing the queries of your companion Hamza. However, what you have just said does possess an unsettling familiarity to my ear -- alongside the worshipers of the shadowy visage of Sielba in the ruins of Yaramuke are another faction who refer to themselves as the True Children of the Endless Grays, or similar monikers. They are a fairly recent intrusion into our midst, having arrived even later than the late resurrection of the sorcerer-queen of Yaramuke. Little is known of them. Some have said their emissaries announce the return of the Grand Architect Temulea to Athas, and offer those receptive to their message an opportunity to participate in the 'Great Journey' by which this divine future shall be realized."

Jimbli, could you please roll a memory check (i.e, equal to or lower than your Intelligence score on a d20) to see if Tyren's conversation jogs something in your memory?

Cae looks around the cavern, his eyes reflecting light in that way that a cat's eyes often do.

Tyren gave a quick nod, "I would like to extend my gravest warnings, then--Your people may be in grave danger. I am glad to see your royalty here, because the Gray does not merely refer to the plane--The cult is controlled by ones known as Drell. They are skin-stealers, and they have a penchant for persuading high-ranking members of organizations to provide them their skins. Your royal highnesses would have been surrounded by potentially duplicitous foes. If our mission is successful, and we are able to retrieve a method of detecting these Drell, I would humbly like to extend any knowledge we glean on the matter to yourselves.

Cae looks around the cavern, his eyes reflecting light in that way that a cat's eyes often do.

** spoiler omitted **

Tyren gave a quick nod, "I would like to extend my gravest warnings, then--Your people may be in grave danger. I am glad to see your royalty here, because the Gray does not merely refer to the plane--The cult is controlled by ones known as Drell. They are skin-stealers, and they have a penchant for persuading high-ranking members of organizations to provide them their skins. Your royal highnesses would have been surrounded by potentially duplicitous foes. If our mission is successful, and we are able to retrieve a method of detecting these Drell, I would humbly like to extend any knowledge we glean on the matter to yourselves.

Are you creating the fluff about the Drell? I'm mostly open to cooperative world-building except for significant plot points I've already nailed down-- this being one of them: I already have the major details worked out about the cult, so you don't need to develop who it is or what they're doing, I'll unveil that to you in time :).

Oh, could have sworn that that Cult was the same one referred to with the guys ripping skin off of people claiming it would 'free them of their mortal coils' and such stuff. The one that had the Drell very obviously stealing their skins to wear as magical disguises. If I got that wrong, I can alter the post, though, it just sounded like that one is all.

With reference to "skin stealers", I suspect you meant the Dray, not drell.

Aha, and herein we have my mistake! I shall fix immediately!

EDIT: HA! I kid. It's too late for that!

What was throwing me is that the Drell are a race from Mass Effect. Jin just referenced a Star Wars race in her evocative culinary post, so I wasn't sure if you were doing some creative setting kit bashing here -- carry on.

memory: 1d20 ⇒ 14

That might have been 5 posts in the discussion thread ;)

Seeing Cae glance around kinda nervously with eyes reflecting light in weird ways, Amunet-Ra looks what he could be looking for.
Perception: 1d20 + 42 ⇒ (15) + 42 = 57

Still she listens to Ito.
So another sorcerer queen believed to be killed or lost is returning? That seems like bad news. I wonder where all these cults stem from recently? But then, humans always want to believe in some nonsense, not seeing they further only evil schemes, instead of being good traders.

You really don't seem to know much about Kalidnay though. Kalid-Ma was a man, he had a wife, Thakok-Ma. Perhaps we can trade some information. It has come to my ears that great artifacts of my elven ancestors have resurfaced here and you might be in their possession?

"It does seem we both would be better without the defiler blocking further exploration of this area," Ri'Kli'Klek suggests.

Rokan takes over for Jin at the boiling pot, as suggested.

Sure thing! Sticky rice is taken for granted. So many overdo it so that it's dried out and falling apart. Street food depends on it. Your customers want to be able to walk and eat, and not having the composition fall apart as they go!

As he gets started he answers Jin's other request.

Sure, I can watch out for psionic intrusion. I suppose we'll be used to watching out for each other in the way generally as we proceed on our quest.

Once Jin returns...

You know, around the time Kalak was overthrown the templars were handing out these spices in lieu of more expensive ones that the masses cannot afford. Soylent masala, they called it. Perhaps this can be our secret ingredient! I have a bit left.

Craft (cooking), aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Ah, yes, I hadn't quite considered it. Well, that would be ONE twist on Athas I'm sure we wouldn't have been seeing.

That might have been 5 posts in the discussion thread ;)

Seeing Cae glance around kinda nervously with eyes reflecting light in weird ways, Amunet-Ra looks what he could be looking for.
Perception: 1d20 + 42 ⇒ (5) + 42 = 47

Still she listens to Ito.
So another sorcerer queen believed to be killed or lost is returning? That seems like bad news. I wonder where all these cults stem from recently? But then, humans always want to believe in some nonsense, not seeing they further only evil schemes, instead of being good traders.

You really don't seem to know much about Kalidnay though. Kalid-Ma was a man, he had a wife, Thakok-Ma. Perhaps we can trade some information. It has come to my ears that great artifacts of my elven ancestors have resurfaced here and you might be in their possession?

[dice=memory]1d20

I know Seb doesn't post much on the weekends, but I'm waiting for his reply to Amunet before I respond. Also, I move Hamza on the map. However, if we're actually eating the appetizers at this point, he's probably right next to Ito.

I know Seb doesn't post much on the weekends, but I'm waiting for his reply to Amunet before I respond. Also, I move Hamza on the map. However, if we're actually eating the appetizers at this point, he's probably right next to Ito.

I replied to her above, she just hasn't responded yet. The results of her Perception check are in a spoiler.

I replied to her above, she just hasn't responded yet. The results of her Perception check are in a spoiler.

Unless I'm missing something, I don't see any reply to the questions she asked or any other response to what she said.

Sebecloki wrote:

I replied to her above, she just hasn't responded yet. The results of her Perception check are in a spoiler.

Unless I'm missing something, I don't see any reply to the questions she asked or any other response to what she said.

Amunet-Ra wrote:

That might have been 5 posts in the discussion thread ;)

Seeing Cae glance around kinda nervously with eyes reflecting light in weird ways, Amunet-Ra looks what he could be looking for.
Perception: 1d20 + 42 ⇒ (5) + 42 = 47

Still she listens to Ito.
So another sorcerer queen believed to be killed or lost is returning? That seems like bad news. I wonder where all these cults stem from recently? But then, humans always want to believe in some nonsense, not seeing they further only evil schemes, instead of being good traders.

You really don't seem to know much about Kalidnay though. Kalid-Ma was a man, he had a wife, Thakok-Ma. Perhaps we can trade some information. It has come to my ears that great artifacts of my elven ancestors have resurfaced here and you might be in their possession?

Amunet-Ra: Perception:

There's a spoiler at the bottom of the post I quoted here in which I replied.

Amunet-Ra looks deeply into Cae's eyes, then continues:
The elven artifacts are of great interest to me.
While talking, she gestures and then barely hearable whispers something.

bluff: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (9) + 33 = 42

Amunet-Ra looks deeply into Cae's eyes, then continues:

The elven artifacts are of great interest to me.
While talking, she gestures and then barely hearable whispers something.

** spoiler omitted **

[dice=bluff]1d20+33

Except for being vaguely insectile, it doesn't look anything like the other golems. Those were bioorganic creatures -- like Giger xenomorphs. This thing is a Star Wars battle droid.

Vyse skitters around, running over Tyren's foot and up Ri'Kli'Klek's leg, perching on a leg joint.

Casting Restore on each, lessening exhausted to fatigued.

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Meanwhile Cae gives Amunet-Ra the slightest of nods as he begins to hum a tune, eventually beginning a crude farmer's song about the infrequent rains of Athas.

"The Tablelands are hot and dry,
In thirsty fields do we kneel,
No clouds to be found in the sky,
A table that provides no meal..."

As he begins the next verse, the moisture in the air grows.

"They say it wasn't always so,
But the rains will come again,
Like ages past when crops did grow,
Taller than the heads of men..."

Using Control Weather to summon a light rain, hopefully revealing the hidden visitor.

"You really don't seem to know much about Kalidnay though. Kalid-Ma was a man, he had a wife, Thakok-Ma."

Jin looks up from her cooking for a moment.

"I've heard legends with either sex, actually. And it's not as if shapeshifting is beyond the abilities of even a moderately talented defiler: gender could well have been optional for them."

You know, around the time Kalak was overthrown the templars were handing out these spices in lieu of more expensive ones that the masses cannot afford. Soylent masala, they called it. Perhaps this can be our secret ingredient! I have a bit left.

Jin blinks. For a moment, her expression is utterly, carefully blank.

Does he know how that was made? He doesn't seem the type for...halfling eating habits.

And if he's got 'a bit more', then he's been eating it for a while. If he doesn't know, I think it's best that he doesn't learn it from me.

She reaches out, hesitates for an instant-

...and I suppose that with Kalak's death, consuming it now won't create a market for any more.

-and accepts it.

"A rare delicacy indeed. Thank you, Rokan."

Jin's fingers dance over bottles, pouches and boxes, careful to taste as she goes. This much dill, a little more parsley, half again as much mint because it's wilted somewhat, dice and combine them with the rice with a pinch of pepper...

...wait a minute.

The mint has wilted.

She bought that mint fresh from the pot from Ghazi, forty-eight subjective hours ago. It usually takes about three days for the leaves to curl in on each other like that, and perhaps another three for it to get quite so dark. That's useful to know.

Oh, and that would mean- yes, the odor hits her the moment she unwraps the erdlu. There's no making kebab out of that slimy mess- but blessedly, the onions are fine, the bell peppers are elderly but serviceable, and the sucuk is a sufficiently dry sausage that it's survived the week perfectly intact. Jin pivots smoothly to making kebab with that, and the warm, pungeant scent of toasting cumin mixes with the savory sausage to produce a truly mouthwatering aroma.

The drakes' nabe takes a bit longer: she finds an enormous earthenware jar that their hosts apparently brought a water supply with them when they weren't sure whether this grotto provided water year-round or merely seasonally, fills it with help from Rokan and others, and solves the problem of how to quickly bring the tremendous amount of water to a boil with the curious expedient of tossing her magic instant-boil pot into the bottom and setting it to heat. The boiling water rises to the top, cooler water rushes in to replace it, and before long the entire thing has been brought to a boil just as Jin returns laden with a double armful of dark, leafy greens. Now Jin is busily mixing in enough bonito and sardines for three months' worth of her own meals to make dashi as Rokan butchers the two great fish into fist-sized chunks...

Ehawee watches the group go about, and with a much puzzled look peers at the water source. It seemed to be very pure, mostly to her eye, and for this much of it to be here as a source... But yet her companions seem to take that this is normal! She seems surprised by this, as surely the others can not create water as easily as she can? Perhaps they can without drawing on the life around them.

Tyren can feel the heaviness lifting from his body, even as the small insect merely touches him, and nods his head in appreciation. The Allnight was now much less of a concern to him, and so he turned his attention to whomever might have sent him this boon. It looked to be getting a bit...Hazy. Strange, there was no particular reason for it. Especially since this appeared to be mist playing a role...Tyren looked around curiously. What's causing all this moisture to appear?

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34The moisture's caught Tyren's attention-He's now actively searching for either whoever made it or whatever's causing it.

"Ack!"

As the rain begins to fall, Jin hurriedly covers the food with a bit of oilcloth- then, as the curiosity of such an event happening indoors hits her, inches towards her spear...

Jimbli lays out his blanket, makes it float, then tugs into place above Jin.
“Some cover for you.”
He the breathes deep.. tilting his head up so he can feel the light rain on his face.

Amunet-Ra bites her lips as Cae begins to sing and the air grows more humid.
A man who can make it wet...i now see what you are worth.
She nods aknowledgingly to Cae.

Then turns to Jin
Shapeshifting? You have experiences with changing your gender? I could see you in such a serving position...I'm pretty sure that's not what we are talking about here, at least not originaly. Lore says they were a couple. Right now i'm more concerned about other things.
With one hand she points at Ito, with the other at the droid behind her, so it can't see it.

It is clear to see that the rain is testing her self-composure very hard.

Ri'Kli'Klek is not certain what is happening... but he can tell from the others' actions that something is amiss. Warily he tenses, ready to spring into action in whatever way seems sensible.

Amunet, was your secret message warning to just Cae, or the group as a whole? It's hard to tell, due your lovingly staring into his eyes...

The whole group, sorry should have been clearer.

Tyren looked over to Amunet-Ra, and smiled, "Hey, I've got a rather heavy burden I'm looking to put down. Could you point out a spot that'd look ideal for it? And try and be pretty exact, I'm terrible about the details."

Encoded message basically asking Amunet-Ra to point out exactly where the Scorpion is.
Bluff for message: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28

Hamza was just about to reply to Ito when he catches Amunet's subtle message. "My friend, it would appear we have an unwanted guest. Perhaps my companions and I could 'convince' it to leave, thereby proving our worth? I would not want you to think us incapable of backing up our claims."

As the nature and extent of the incoming trouble becomes increasingly clear, Jin momentarily excuses herself to a secluded spot to 'relieve herself'...and a minute later, her spear and shield are nowhere to be found...

The droid has a camera mounted on it through which Kchac'Thraa is observing the PCs. He has definitely heard Hamza make the comment " "My friend, it would appear we have an unwanted guest," so the kreen dread wraith knows the gig is up and is going to attack now -- everyone roll Initiative.

Since Amunet-Ra spotted it, there's no surprise.

Initiative: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
Gu: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Scorpion Annihilator Droid: Dual Initiative (Mythic Adventures): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Scorpion Annihilator Droid: Dual Initiative (Mythic Adventures): 1d20 - 13 ⇒ (12) - 13 = -1

Dual Initiative (Ex)

The monster gets two turns each round, one on its initiative count and another on its initiative count – 20. For example, if the monster’s initiative is 23, for its first turn it could make a full attack (and take a 5 foot step) at initiative 23, and for its second turn at initiative 3 it could take a move action and cast a spell. This allows the monster to perform two actions per round that normally take an entire round, such as using a summon monster spell. For the purposes of spells and effects that have a duration of a round or longer or trigger at the beginning of the creature’s round or the start of its turn such as saving throws against ongoing effects or taking bleed damage), only the monster’s first turn each round counts toward such durations.

Format: +21/+1; Location: Initiative.

Rokan sighs audibly. So much for the meal, and this rare chance at fish.

Init: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Drawing upon his mythical reserves, Hamza speeds up his reactions to nigh impossible speeds. Spending a mythic power to treat my initiative as a natural 20, for a 42.

Initiative: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Initiative: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (8) + 24 = 32

Initiative: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 38
Raxus: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Hamza 42
Cae Leonidas/Raxus 38
Amunet Ra/Tyren Lourofesh 32
Gu/Jin En Mok 29
Jin En Mok 20
Scorpion Annihilator Droid 19
Rokan 16
Scorpion Annihilator Droid -1

Update when everyone else rolls.

inititavie: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
I think I'm placed right? I tend to stay mostly with the group, and I can't find the darn map. I feel stupid.