On a recent foray into Kwanlai, the Pathfinder Society learned that a conniving being from the Abyss has been targeting righteous communities on the border between the tengu nation and Tianjing to the south.
Honored Pathfinders and treasured colleagues,
I received an urgent request from an old friend of our Society, the samurai Shiyo Takarak of the Way of the Kirin. To my surprise, she has been working with another, more recently acquired friend of the Society: an archon of Heaven named Zepha. The two, it seems, have been pursuing leads discovered by one of our Society’s previous expeditions into the Kimu Mountains. Clearly impressed with their previous interactions with our colleagues, the two have asked for skilled Pathfinders to lead an expedition into Tianjing to follow the trail of evidence further. This is an excellent opportunity to strengthen our ties with both the Way of the Kirin and the archon. It also provides an opportunity to explore some of Tianjing and perhaps some of its ancient celestial-inspired architecture, arts, and philosophies. Zepha and Shiyo are in Kwanlai’s capital, Hisuikarasu, planning the expedition. Meet them there in the private room of the Gilded Lotus Teahouse.
With Regards,
Venture-Captain Amara Li
Tokens:
Tai Dan - Lost
Toko - Nope
Naki - Lost
Aasimar tokens - 2x earned, none used
Why no tengu tokens?
Quote:
Each aid token represents the tengus’ willingness to take greater personal risks or otherwise spend their own limited resources to directly aid the PCs.
Sense Motive:1d20 + 24 ⇒ (16) + 24 = 40 "Friends, it seems that apart for some of the minor mutations caused by the blight, these deserted soldiers suffer from some mental ailment. We can possibly help them if we offer them the chance for redemption."
When someone more skilled than him at speaking talks, Kahn lowers his weapon. "Brothers and sisters, come back to the ways of the light. You are not forsaken; just lost." Diplomacy Aid Another:1d20 - 4 ⇒ (15) - 4 = 11
Ah, but Kai's diplomacy is actually +17 with student of philosophy. And oh what's that, another +1d8 from expanded inspiration? :)
diplomacy:1d20 + 17 + 1d8 ⇒ (8) + 17 + (5) = 30 "What wrongs the followers have committed, the leader answers for. And she has," Kai begins, glancing at the body of Riko. "No more blood needs be spilled today, at least not by the hands of comrades. I've never lived in Tian Xia, but my mother used to tell me when I was up to my childhood mischief. 苦海无边，回头是岸. 知错能改 善莫大焉. It is not too late to return."
Tien:
The merciless seas stretch to infinity, but turn back and the shore awaits. To know your wrongs and repent, there is nothing better.
Well, technically, you don't need a diplo roll for this. They just kind of give up as soon as Riko is dead. But it was still fun.
Yuto observes the deserters and the Twenty Four Masks. They are all in dire condition after the battle. "Navigating through the fire with such a large force could be an issue. I want to take these soldiers back to North Winds for a proper trial, but we have suffered injuries in the fight. We've healed most of it, but could use spare bandages or potions if you have any."
Male LG Nagaji Scaled Fist 12 | HP 90/90 | AC 23(27)(32)(36), T 22 (26), FF 20(24)(29)(33) | CMD 41, FFCMD 38 | F +13, R +14, W +14 Init +3/7 | Perc +2/4 | Stunning Fist Uses 13/13 | Ki Pool 13/13 |
Narayan grins, "I would be pleased if you used my wand as well. I assk only that you sseek to give merccy where it does not excceed wisdom."
"Agreed, brother Narayan."
Kahn has Cure Light Wounds so he can utilize that wand, but will also use two casts of his own 1st level spell to save on charges for,the more severely hurt.
To heal both the aasimar and the tengu squads, you will need to use wands or spells to heal a total of 50 points of damage.
After taking care of the wounds of your companions, Scout Yuto's men secure the deserters' weapons and start moving towards North Winds in an orderly manner. They bid you farewell and good luck before they do, and some of the deserters express their doubts about the legitimacy of the Hei Fengan priest that convinced them to abandon their posts in the first place. "Something odd about that man, but I can't quite pinpoint it.", one of the deserters notes.
You leave the Twenty Four Masks and the North Winds men to head back and you venture further south, towards where you believe the fire is spreading from.
A scorched, barren clearing marks what must be the center of the blight. Pale orange flames occasionally burst from tears across the ground, bathing the area in an unnatural light. A ruined building sits atop a nearby rise, its half-crumbled walls featuring imagery of angelic beings attempting to hold back a horde of alien horrors pouring forth from gaping wounds in the land.
A single man is in the area, chanting something near one of the bigger tears in the ground. He has several odd items and scrolls set near the tear, as if setting up some sort of a ritual. With his back turned against you, he doesn't notice you as you approach.
Male LG Nagaji Scaled Fist 12 | HP 90/90 | AC 23(27)(32)(36), T 22 (26), FF 20(24)(29)(33) | CMD 41, FFCMD 38 | F +13, R +14, W +14 Init +3/7 | Perc +2/4 | Stunning Fist Uses 13/13 | Ki Pool 13/13 |
Narayan focuses his senses, reaching out to sense if this man is trying to help, or if the corruption has claimed him. Detect Evil via Shining Wayfinder
After using the spell, the priest seems like pure darkness. Very much pinging as evil.
The man in old, hooded rags and sandals has a few items stored around one of the rifts in the floor. He chants and makes gestures with his hands as if performing some sort of a ritual. Gorund Kahn doesn't identify the ritual, though.
With his back to you, you only see that it is humanoid in shape. The hands and feet are certainly not unusual. Each has five fingers you are used to when dealing with humans, and no specific oddities are discernable.
How long did the travel take? I believe our min/lvl buffs are up but the 10min/lvl?
"This looks highly suspicious." Before approaching, Kai quickly gulps down another extract that magically forms magical protection around him, and activates a wand on himself.
UMD wand of heightened awareness, heroism:1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 17 + 2 = 23 Will dismiss in combat for +4 to initiative.
"We apologise for the disturbance but we are seeking to end this unnatural blight fire that is sweeping across the region. May I ask you role in this?" He keeps his hands tightly on his longspear, while studying the figure carefully.
perception, heroism:1d20 + 17 + 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 17 + (8) + 2 = 34
He also studies the ritual, trying to determine what he is trying to do.
Not sure which knowledge check is relevant knowledge(religion, arcana or planes), heroism:1d20 + 15 + 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 15 + (7) + 2 = 38
Buffs - unlikely. You probably traveled several hours, with the blight around and you needing to navigate through.
"OH!", the man turns as if startled. "Erm.... You scared me there. I'm a servant of Hei Fengan, attempting to close these ruptures.", he points to one of the fissures in the ground. "I think they might be the source of the odd fire that is spreading. Even if not, they don't exactly look nice, do they?", the man smiles with the charm of a grandmother. His unkempt beard hangs from his chin down to the middle of his torso. He picks up his cane from the ground, and assumes a more relaxed stance.
"As a matter of fact ... You could help me out a bit. Maybe the force of several joined in people wanting to close the fissure will help out. How about you stand there, there and there?", he points to points on the edge of one of the large fissures, and waits for your response.
Lin Kai:
While this is not exactly a common ritual, there are several items that seem redundant in such a ritual. More importantly, several items used in such acts are missing. IMPORTANT items. Purposeful, or a result of incompetence?
Male LG Nagaji Scaled Fist 12 | HP 90/90 | AC 23(27)(32)(36), T 22 (26), FF 20(24)(29)(33) | CMD 41, FFCMD 38 | F +13, R +14, W +14 Init +3/7 | Perc +2/4 | Stunning Fist Uses 13/13 | Ki Pool 13/13 |
"I fear the Blight'ss corruption may lie within you as well, friend. Please, sstop your workings. You may cause more harm than good. We will not permit you to do sso."
In this forest Narayan would keep mage armor up, so let me know how many charges to remove. And assuming Lin Kai's preparations are kosher, I'll put barkskin back up as well.
Kai would have refreshed barkskin, heroism (via alchemical allocation), and longstrider as well. UMD wand of longstrider:1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 17 + 2 = 25
Narayan, did you share with us the result of your detect evil?
Kai whispers to his group after studying the ritual. "There's something wrong with his ritual. Some redundant elements and more importantly, several key items are missing. Could be incompetence but I suspect they're intentional."
Standing beside Narayan, he nods his agreement and studies the man intently.
sense motive, heroism, free inspiration:1d20 + 17 + 2 + 1d8 ⇒ (16) + 17 + 2 + (1) = 36
Male LG Nagaji Scaled Fist 12 | HP 90/90 | AC 23(27)(32)(36), T 22 (26), FF 20(24)(29)(33) | CMD 41, FFCMD 38 | F +13, R +14, W +14 Init +3/7 | Perc +2/4 | Stunning Fist Uses 13/13 | Ki Pool 13/13 |
Not explicitly, but in a tainty-mind-controlling situation like this, Narayan's not going to say more than that the Blight's corruption is present within the guy. Spellcraft could tell you what Narayan is basing his assertion on though.
Actually, Kai whispered that to his teammates, not say it out loud, but guess it works!
"You lie!" Kai yells out. He grabs another vial and downs it in one go. As he strides towards the man, he doubles in size. Waving his longspear threateningly, he continues. "I am warning you! Stop!"
Male LG Nagaji Scaled Fist 12 | HP 90/90 | AC 23(27)(32)(36), T 22 (26), FF 20(24)(29)(33) | CMD 41, FFCMD 38 | F +13, R +14, W +14 Init +3/7 | Perc +2/4 | Stunning Fist Uses 13/13 | Ki Pool 13/13 |
To streamline the process - everytime you cast a spell on the creature, please roll for spell resistance as well. Fellow has this ability. 1d20 + effective caster level
SR Shonne:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 SR Victoria:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
"Guess I'll just have to live with that.", the man grins, and continues. He is hit by a barrage of arcane energy, but simply ignores it. Without an interruption, he completes the ritual before you can further interfere.
A geyser of blight fire erupts from the fissure, and the man's flesh starts to peel off, revealing a creature hidden within - a purple torso with a crocodile-like tail. His hands, similar to those of a snake's body, end with several octopus suction pods on the palms. The 'man' slowly stands up on his two jaguar legs - and the head... Oh boy - as he turns around, you see a flower-like face with a single eye looking in your direction. The chimeral creature roars at you.
You recognise the creature as a qlippoth of the utukku variant. These schemers build a cult of followers around themselves, promising their victims transformation into an entity of a much greater power. While this is not necessarily false, the process involves the mortal's soul merging with the energy of the Abyss, depriving the demons and devils their precious currency.
This variant is known to often not be affected by most spells, but can use some "minor" magic of its own.
You may ask an additional question for each multiplier of 5 by which you beat the DC. Based on what you saw happen, you can assume you are already aware of the creature's spell resistance ability.
Turn 1 - Go if bolded
Narayan
Victoria
Felicitas
Shonne
Lin Kai
Priest
Gorund Kahn
Male LG Nagaji Scaled Fist 12 | HP 90/90 | AC 23(27)(32)(36), T 22 (26), FF 20(24)(29)(33) | CMD 41, FFCMD 38 | F +13, R +14, W +14 Init +3/7 | Perc +2/4 | Stunning Fist Uses 13/13 | Ki Pool 13/13 |
Narayan hustles forward, drawing out a wand to complete his abjurations.
Victoria casts another spell at the creature. It shrugs off the golden particles and carries on unaffected.
In a burst of blight fire, another creature bursts through the rift. The pale creature has four suckered arms that end in pincers, and a gnashing maw gapes in its head between two staring eyes. The eyes themselves are set on you, and it starts moving the tentacles in an oddly mesmerising pattern.
Everyone roll a willsave on their turn, please.If you fail to beat a DC of 15, you become fascinated for 1d6 rounds of combat.
Knowledge Planes 17:
The creature that popped out of the rift is a shoggti qlippoth. Although a shoggti lacks proper hands, it is capable of performing incredibly dextrous manipulations with the pincers at the tips of its tentacles.
You may ask an additional question for each multiplier of 5 by which you beat the knowledge DC
Turn 1 - go if bolded
Narayan
Victoria
Felicitas
Squiddy fellow
Shonne
Lin Kai
Priest
Gorund Kahn
Male LG Nagaji Scaled Fist 12 | HP 90/90 | AC 23(27)(32)(36), T 22 (26), FF 20(24)(29)(33) | CMD 41, FFCMD 38 | F +13, R +14, W +14 Init +3/7 | Perc +2/4 | Stunning Fist Uses 13/13 | Ki Pool 13/13 |
Once it's Narayan's turn to roll I'll also appreciate knowing if it's Mind-Affecting, Fear, or Confusion related.
My guess is only Mind-Affecting, but I figure it's worth checking :-)
It's a mind-affecting effect. Apply any bonuses available to your rolls.
Lin Kai:
These creatures are both qlippoths. The squid-like creature is of the shoggti type, and the priest resembles an utukku.
Qlippoths originate in the Abyss, and are in a long-term war with the other inhabitants of the plane. Their goal is to stop the flow of mortal souls from the material plane by causing the souls to join with the Abyss itself, and this removing them from the cycle. They achieve this by subterfuge - by starting cults on the material plane, and promising their followers a 'transformation into something greater'. While this is not necessarily a lie, the transformation comes in the form of merging the mortal soul with the sentient energy of the Abyss itself.
Immunity to cold, mind-affecting effects, and poison.
Resistance to acid 10, electricity 10, and fire 10.
DR 10/cold iron or lawful
