Motteditor's Strange Aeons PBP (Inactive)

Game Master motteditor

I am Hoghbagh, a humble trader in treasures. I heard there were adventurers in the city, and would trade with you for it."

”What?” Tristain tries to parse the not-otyugh’s words. ”What? And what do you have to trade? And what are you looking for?” Tristain asks, and wonders if this is a good time to do some bonking, but delays a bit as questions are answered.

"If you have books, those are my favorite," she replies, "but I am open to other things as well. I have gold and gems -- not on me, of course! -- as well as other items. Armor, and weapons, rings and rods, belts, boots and a madman."

She thinks for a moment. "I have a rod to empower spells, but not extend them."

1d100 ⇒ 45

Al can add that Brooch of Amber Sparks to the items to sell, it's worth a bunch and not really as useful, unless someone else wants it? Looks like it could go straight across for an Amulet of Natural armor +3

Al raises an eyebrow at the last statement by the otyugh. "Did you say that you have a madman to sell? Is he still alive? Isn't selling people immoral and evil, you're not evil are you? Maybe you could just give him to us for safekeeping and we'll promise to drop him off at the next asylum we visit." Al smiles his friendly old man smile and hopes the madman is Lowls.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (5) + 21 = 26

"Did you say that you have a madman to sell? Is he still alive?"

Tristain wonders if Al is thinking about buying yet another madman, the party already has one. In this case, he is not thinking of anyone who uses a bow, but thinks themselves invincible and probably half orcy.

"Yeah, we should try to sell some stuff, shouldn't we? No need to lug it around, right?"

Got it Al - thanks!

Kyffin loses some interest when the creature doesn’t have what he needs, but he’s still willing to sell some stuff.

”Wait, what? You have a madman? Which madman?”

Now that she's closed with the otyugh trader, Starflit again tries to detect its alignment. She, too, blinks at the thing's comment about having a madman in its possession.

Be on your guard--it could be a slaver!

I finally added the headband of alluring charisma +2 to Starflit's character sheet; can't say I recall claiming it, but maybe I did one of those "If no one else wants it..." deals.

Starflit does not detect good, evil, law or chaos from the notyugh.

"Yes, it is very dirty, but if you wish it, I can sell it to you. For 16,000 gold shinies. If you have a very good book, I might give you a discount..."

”What about the madman? Tell us more about the madman,” Tristain asks as he looks for a place to bonk as he steels himself for the answer.

"It is strange thing. Made of thread, and frayed. I do not know where it came from, but I found it here. I will sell it to you for a reasonable price."

There are many, many places to bonk, though none are probably particularly safe.

Is anyone else finding this madman talk confusing? Maybe that’s the point?

Tristain inspects the madman at a distance. What does it/they look like? What knowledge check might help?

"I can't see spending more than 1,600gp on a madman. I mean, if it were someone sane, like Tristain here," he can't suppress a chuckle, "We'd pay more."

It is supposed to be a little confusing. That said, this is PBP, so perhaps I will clear it up a little. The item she refers to as a madman is in fact a wondrous item, a ganji doll.

Hehehe, you totally should have strung us along a bit more! You almost had Tristain bonking and Kyffin slave trading! :)

Kyffin, laughing when he sees what it is, still stands by his offer. But in a friendly way. He has no interest in making an enemy here. "Who is the doll tied to?" he asks curious.

Motteditor, can we go ahead and sell the stuff we've accumulated so far to this, uh, creature? If so, I'll do a divvy in case people want to shop.

Yes; again to help move things along, here are details for trading with Hoshbagh. It's possible to learn more from her too if you can establish a relationship over the course of the adventure.

Hoshbagh possesses approximately 35,000 gp in coins, gems, and other wealth, allowing the PCs to sell magic items, fence gems, and liquidate other goods. She also barters using her own magic items (see below) to offset the cost of any gear she buys from the PCs. However, Hoshbagh takes a special interest in certain items. First, she finds valuable texts and magical writing irresistible, and she eagerly buys any magical scrolls, spellbooks, and the like from the PCs at 75% their market price (rather than 50%). Second, Hoshbagh can literally smell the deeds a PC performed while wearing or wielding a prized piece of gear for at least two volumes of this Adventure Path, and the instilled memories make that item all the more valuable; so long as a PC is willing to explain one or more of the feats she performed earlier in the campaign to create that psychic resonance, the otyugh pays 75% the item’s market price (rather than 50%).

The items Hoshbagh has and will barter for are: There is a 50% chance that Hoshbagh has any magic item worth 8,000 gp or less (at my discretion). In addition:
Armor: +1 invulnerable Ninshaburian parade armor (Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Equipment 120, 13), +4 aberration defiant breastplate (Ultimate Equipment 116), celestial shield (Ultimate Equipment 131).

Weapons: +1 speed whip, +1 shocking burst composite longbow (+4 Str), +4 warhammer.

Potions and Scrolls: Potion of heroism, potion of remove curse (CL 14th), scroll of banishment, scroll of earthquake, scroll of elemental body IV, scroll of ethereal jaunt, scroll of greater restoration, scroll of mind blank, scroll of sunburst.

Rings, Rods, Staves, and Wands: Lawful staff (Ultimate Equipment 194), lesser empower metamagic rod, ring of evasion, ring of protection +3, rod of escape (Ultimate Equipment 181), wand of cure serious wounds (12 charges), wand of death knell (10 charges).

Wondrous Items: +2 vicious bodywrap of mighty strikes (Ultimate Equipment 214), belt of giant strength +4, headband of mental superiority +2, lyre of building, scabbard of keen edges (Ultimate Equipment 318), tremor boots (Ultimate Equipment 233), vest of the cockroach (Ultimate Equipment 223), and “Madman,” the ganji doll.

Oh, that helps a lot. Thank you.

With a bit of growing comfort and ease, Tristain both browses the selected magics and thinks if he has anything of interest to trade in.

I ponder stuff, but let's sell/trade what we can while we can.

Kyffin nods, but apologizes, ”Sorry there, ah, Hoshbagh. We don’t have any books to sell you.” He takes various bits and pieces out of various extra dimensional hidy-holes. He piles up nearly 34,701gp worth of loot, keeping aside a couple heavy duty, but light, items to sell later. ”How’s this? Nothing of particular interest, I’m afraid, but some good stuff I think. It’ll really expand your offerings to the next group of adventurers.”

Party Divvy!
Each of us receives 6,940gp.

Kyffin is happy to loan out up to 8,000gp if anyone needs to borrow a little cash to get something.

Al pockets his loot as he saves for a nice cottage with a garden. "Well met, Hoshbagh, we'll be around the city for a few days, maybe we'll have more to trade with you soon." When the shopping is complete, Al is ready to continue towards the sword.

looks like login issues cleared this morning, thanks T for posting

Starflit decides to barter with the unusual otyugh, offering her headband of alluring charisma in partial trade for the aptly-named headband of mental superiority. It's a tight scrape, but the inquisitor thinks she's got just enough gold to make a fair trade.

Assuming the normal half value selling price for her original magic headband, Starflit should have just enough gold to afford the better one (leaving her with a grand total of 32 gp to her name).

@motteditor: Assuming the sale/trade is acceptable, what skill is associated with the new headband? If I get to choose, how about Knowledge (local)? As a non-class skill, 'Flit's got no ranks in it. It's always bothered me a little that she has all sorts of creature knowledge about aberrations, fey, outsiders and the like, but her eyes glaze over when it comes to goblins or other humanoids. Also, with the +2 Int bonus bestowed by the item, Starflit would get additional skill ranks of her choice, correct?

So my understanding is that the bonus ranks you get from the item are the skill ranks associated with the band. You effectively get +1 rank equal to your HD (to go with the effective +1 to your Int modifier) and those are all in the associated skill. That said, I'm fine letting it be Knowledge (local).

"Yes, I would like that very much," Hoshbagh responds.

She takes Starflit's items and departs, her eye stalk frequently looking back to make sure you're not following. Then -- just as you're starting to think you've been swindled -- she returns with the new headband for the inquisitor.

"Have you found anything else yet?" she asks, hopefully.

Tristain has nothing further to purchase or trade and is ready to move on.

"How do we find you if we need you later? And we might find more fun things as we explore here. We're going to the haunted evil scary lake right now."

Kyffin thinks We gotta get the sword first. but he doesn't say anything in case Tristain is trying to trick the creature.

When everyone is done dealing, he'll redraw his scimitar and head on out.

As you make your way toward what Upianshe called the Snarl, where the Monument of Destruction stands, you realize it's a chaotic logjam of toppled stone skyscrapers, as if something had crashed into them from above and knocked them down, like twigs in a storm. As you approach, you find the entrance Upianshe described: Partway up the mound, it would require you to scale toppled stone structures (Climb DC 15) to a height of about 70 feet above street level. Or use Kyffin's magic again; you could also look around for another entrance.

Al looks around for tracks or other sign of activity in the area, although his old eyes aren't the best for the task. "Maybe the obvious entrance ain't the safest. Let's see if there are other ways into the snarl."

Perception, preferably to aid another: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

"I could cast another ears of the city spell to try to ascertain if there's an easier entrance around...and maybe to learn a few other things, like the nature of the corruption in the lake or the number of flying polyps we might have to defeat." It's obvious from her facial expression that Starflit doesn't like using that spell in this particular city, but she's willing to if it'll make things a bit easier before the impending showdown with Lowls.

Oh, I thought the lake and the sword were mostly the same, but I might be confused. No intended attempts at trickery, such things are not Tristain’s nature.

”You got it, Al. Since you are a legitimate person, I’ll help.”

Tristain will float a bit higher to help scout for a better entry point.

1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 17 + 2 = 35 Perception

As you move along the borders of the Snarl, you discover what looks like another entrance to the south.

”Yeah, hang on to your spell for now Starflit.” Kyffin will hold off on the air walk too, now they’ve found an entrance at their height.

He previously cast Magic Vestment after breakfast on his buckler (13h), but he adds nothing to it for the moment trying to save his magics for later in the day.

He’ll move to the door, and make ready to open it with his scimitar out when everyone is ready.

Albert draws his blade and joins Kyffin at the southern entrance. "Is that a door? My old eyes can't see it proper."

if there is a door, then Al will stand 32' back while another party member checks for traps, and opens it

"Let's be careful moving ahead, those polyps like to jump out at you." If no door blocks the way, Al cautiously makes his way forward into the snarl.

As you enter the Snarl’s core, you see some movement ahead. After a brief adrenaline surge as it seems another fight is imminent, you realize the movement is the approach of a malnourished yet proud-looking Azlanti man. He looks you over, then bows deeply to Al, Tristain and Starflit.

"Ah, the children of Azlant have arrived. Long have I wandered waiting for thee."

Tristain pauses, obviously expecting the man to turn into some multi-tentacled monstrosity that is intent on strangling someone. He pauses, and uses this time to examine the man.

1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 23 + 2 = 44 Know (History) - Azlant
1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 23 + 2 = 28 Know (Local) - malnourished man

”You seem hungry. Are you going to try and eat us? Why do you think we are children of Azlant?”

Starflit gives a polite half-bow. "What is your name, good sir? And how long have you been waiting in this strange place?"

Kyffin stays out of it for now, but he remains close, with his scimitar out, just in case.

Albert, proficient in Azlant from his days in the monastery, speaks to the man in his common tongue. "Heus frater, videris esurire, habes aliquid de pane meo. Quid hic agis, et cur nos expectasti? Quid est tibi nomen?"

Hey brother, you look hungry, have some of my bread. What are you doing here, and why did you wait for us? What is your name?

Al gives the man some of his provisions and welcomes him to the group, though he still takes a moment to sniff for the presence of evil.

detect evil on the azlant man

"Ego sum Aeptolinu," he replies in Azlant, gifting Al with a smile, before changing back to Common. I am Aeptolinu. Al detects no evil.

“I hunger only to serve and enlighten, for was that not the goal of Azlant? As for you, are you not human? Was Azlant not the birthplace of humanity, the center of its culture? Has it been so forgotten that you do not remember from whence you came?” Tristain certainly thinks he sounds like an Azlanti -- though someone from another culture might certainly not agree with his take on history.

"How long? I can scarcely remember, but so long as the failures of history endure, so shall I," he answers Starflit. "Follow. Learn.”

Tristain follows, at a distance.

”Where are we going? Why are you leading us elsewhere when we can speak here? Did you not want the food?” Tristain offers his own questions in return, having answered the rhetorical ones in his head.

Kyffin also follows along, happy not to be in the spotlight. He watches and listens, and keeps ready for battle. This Azlanti might be safe enough, but there are still plenty of enemies out there in the wild.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Starflit shrugs at Tristain before falling into line and following Aeptolinu. She didn't like that the group was being sidetracked from their current mission; on the other hand, someone with knowledge of this strange city could prove invaluable to their quest.

"Where are we going?" he looks around, gazing for a moment at the irregular and broken surfaces all around you, as if lost in thought. Just when you think he's not going to answer further he does. "It would seem to wreck and ruin. Poor Neruzavin, as ruined as Azlant... But if you wish to speak here, we can."

He sits on a broken piece of stone, gazing at you.

"No, I have no need of your food. It merely turns to s~#%, and eventually to dust, as does everything else."

Tristain pauses, looking at the crazy man.

"Are you okay? You stopped us. You looked like you wanted to tell us something or you needed help. Is that not true? While I completely agree that all food turns to s$#~, I don't you stopped us to discuss the details of the digestive process. Unless you meant it figuratively, in which case that's also true. Everything is awful all the time. Everything has been monsters and horrors and more monsters since we woke up in the completely normal insane asylum with the crying doors and rivers of blood," Tristain replies back, not know what the Azlant man is doing or if entire purpose was to waste time.

"We have important things to do right now. So...if we can't help you, maybe uh, go home? Or something. Maybe leave this place that you hate so much?"

First: Whoops, looks like Paizo's swear substitution filer has broken. I'm guessing no one cares about naughty words, but I apologize if I'm wrong (and send me a quick DM and I'll try to clean up my langauge).

"I have no home anymore, other than this place. I have survived only because oblivion has not yet won, and in that time I have seen empires rise, only to be crushed for the hubris of aspiring to be anything more than beasts. I shall remain until humanity learns to surpass these tragedies, yet even I know how it all must end,” he replies. "Nowhere is that more clear than in this city, which should have been a monument to humanity, but instead is a derelict in the desert, crumbling even as something wicked grows in its heart."

So, basically he's offered to be a guide, but you haven't told him anything about what you're looking for, so he doesn't know where to guide you. It's also quite possible he meant both literally and figuratively. It's also possible he's not quite all there (or maybe he is?). But for the moment, he's willing to talk and offering his help if you want it.

No problem here with the occasional swear word.

As for Aeptolinu, I'll have Starflit assent to Tristain's decision about having the Azlanti as a guide. After all, no one knows levels of crazy like our Tristain!

"And we're going to purge that wicked thing from the heart of this old city, but first we need a sword that was lost by this elven lady that died a while ago, but still haunts this place, and it was her that warned us about the polyps in the city, we already killed one of those, and the awful evil lurking in the pond, or lake, or something like that, meaning she warned us about it and we're going to kill it, we haven't yet, but we need that sword first." Al pauses as he realizes he sounds more crazy than Tristan or the old Azlanti. "Ahem, well, anyways, do you know where we can find the elven lady's magical sword?"

Yeap, swear away.

Kyffin can’t help but chuckle at Al, We’re all starting to sound like Tristain.

He listens for the Azlanti’s response.

"Yes, I can lead you to the monument of destruction, as if this whole city weren't so aptly named," he replies. "Though be warned that the path forward will not be easy. As with man's journey through the ages, obstacles await!"

"As for the stela you describe, the star-marked pillar is within the Snarl. I thought humanity wise enough not to seek Carcosa’s blessing, but they have failed before and will fail many times more.”

"Let's go. And what kind of obstacles? Why don't you tell us about them so we are not surprised? Or maybe there is some way to avoid the obstacles?" Tristain replies, ready to move on.

"Monsters and memories all dwell within the Snarl, and man is not alone among them; saffron and scholars, lords and librarians," Aeptolinu replies, perhaps less than helpfully, though he doesn't seem to realize it. "But humanity must test its mettle and meet its test, as it has before, as it will again."

Lothan remains silent. Borrrr-ing. Just point me in the direction of the bad guys, weirdo. Man, this guy is crazy. He'll fit right in. He grins mischievously.

Kyffin follows the madman, and the Azlanti. He watches out for danger, but he hopes their guide can help them at least speed the time they're in this unwholesome place.

Hey Lothan! Check your messages on this site!

Tristain shakes his head at the madman, then shrugs and realizes that if others are going to trust this loon then he might as well.

”You still make no sense and aren’t helping much. I wonder if you will help us at all. Just tell us when there is something bad nearby, alright?”

Starflit seems equally perplexed by the strange man. She examines his words and body posture as he speaks to try to determine if he's trying to deliberately delay or mislead the group.

Starflit Sense Motive Check (Get a Hunch): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23