[Outpost I] GM Abraham's Ancients' Anguish (Inactive)

Game Master Abraham Z.

So we have found what we think is the correct tablet, and the torc, correct? Now we need to find the body to complete the set, so to speak. Just want to be sure I am right on where we stand.

”Can someone heal me? I have a wand if necessary,” she says as she pulls out her CLW wand and hands it to whomever was skilled at activation.

”By my count, we still need to find a body that will fit on that second table. I suspect it will be through that doorway to the southeast.”

Once the group was healed, Shel let them through the now revealed passage.

Perception 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33 +4 v traps.

16:30

Shel 48 dmg; bleeding (1)
Sard 0 dmg;
Chasik 109 dmg; 4 CHA dmg; fatigued;
Enora 3 dmg; bleeding (1); 4 mirror images (exp. after 7 minutes);
Ali 0 dmg;
Archimedes 0 dmg;
Sajan 35 dmg;

Posting your damage totals here for your convenience for healing. Feel free to fully heal yourselves but let me know how much time you are taking up doing that.

After finishing healing themselves, Shel leads the group into the newly revealed chamber. The Pathfinders inspecting the secret room find a dozen coffins, each containing a single body. The bodies have not decayed at all and look as if they might be alive, with strangely milky-white eyes.

In addition, the coffins also contain a variety of items:
7 potions of X
3 potions of Y
5 different wands
a jar (magical)
a large bronze key

Ali puts the torc and the tablet onto the tables in the proper place and upon hearing Shel's body comment....

Ali will lay on the remaining table.

The torc and the tablet each fit perfectly into the indentations of their respective tables. When Ali climbs onto the third table, he feels his life force slipping away!

Vampiric Touch damage: 5d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 3, 1, 3) = 14

... fortunately, it is insufficient to kill him, and he is able to sit up without further mishap, a bit weaker perhaps, but not fundamentally harmed. Perhaps more importantly, at the moment that all three tables were occupied with the appropriate offerings, the crazed resonance of the dark cylinder finally comes to an end. With a few fits and starts, the shaking and trembling of the entire facility ceases, and an eerie quiet descends once again upon the ancient ruin.

Ok, so with that you no longer have to worry about the ticking clock. The building is no longer in danger of collapsing around you. So, what would you like to do?

Regarding the items you found in the coffins in the room in the southeast:

There is also a large bronze key that is not magical.

Ali bursts a channeled heal onto the group.

Channel Energy: 7d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 6, 2, 2, 1, 5) = 28

He will wait for Chasik to finish getting himself healed and then make for the newly revealed staircase.

Come now Gamin. There are mysteries yet to be solved.

Shel holds up for the magical items to be identified.

Possible free healing without burning resources!

”Very clever idea, Ali. I hadn’t considered one of us could actually serve as the body requisite. I’ll make a note of your quick wits in my report,” she compliments the man.

Does anyone object to me to start chugging pots until I am near full? We still have a CSW and CMW from the scorpion fight?

Feel free!

Sard casts detect magic and tries to identify the items.

Spellcraft (7 potions - DC 20): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 One check for all 7, or 7 checks?
Spellcraft (3 potions - DC 20): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 One check for all 3, or 3 checks?
Spellcraft (Wand 1 - DC 24): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Spellcraft (Wand 2 - DC 22): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Spellcraft (Wand 3 - DC 18): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Spellcraft (Wand 4 - DC 25): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Spellcraft (Wand 5 - DC 16): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Spellcraft (Jar of Ointment - DC 20): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Sard identifies everything except wands #1 and #4, and shares what he learns with the others (everyone can read those spoilers).

He hands some of the 7 potions out to those injured, saying "These will cure your wounds." He keeps the three potions to himself, saying "I may need these, if no one else needs them more." Are those potions of remove curse minimum caster level [CL 5]? If so, they seem unlikely to work, considering the check I failed on. I think I failed my check on a 21, and a minimum caster level remove curse means rolling 1d20+5. Worth a shot, but seems like a bit of a tease given that curse's DC.

spellcraft wand 1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

“This is a wand of break enchantment. “

spellcraft wand 4: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

??

Oh right, I keep forgetting about the curses, who all had them? And what were the effects? I have cursed as one of my mercies, I just forgot about it after how long this last scene was.

Presuming the potions fail of course.

Chasik starts to grab potion after potion to heal the immense amount of pain he sustained at the clutches of the stone guardian. After finishing off the few potions from the defeated scorpions, and a few from the coffers of the newly discovered room; Chasik feels much better. He than drinks a potion that restores some of his physical beauty, but more importantly removes the sluggishness he’s felt for a few minutes after lugging the tablets around.

This place is beginning to piss me off, lets find the sage and finish our mission

1 lesser restore pot available

Sajan waits for the group to identify the potions.

"I could still use some healing." he says, patiently waiting for an appropriate potion from Sard.

Cure Serious potion: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (5, 5, 5) + 5 = 20

"My thanks again for the group's support. I will train even hard for the next mission." he says before bowing to the group.

Shel 20 dmg;

Sard 0 dmg;
Chasik 0 dmg; 2 CHA dmg;
Enora 0 dmg; 4 mirror images (exp. after 7 minutes);
Ali 0 dmg;
Archimedes 0 dmg;
Sajan 0 dmg;

Ali channels energy to heal the group; between them, Sard and Enora identify all the items except one of the wands (Anyone else have detect magic and Spellcraft? DC 25; and one check is sufficient for each of the potion groups, which you've done).

Regarding the potions of remove curse, these are actually lesser curses (the DC notwithstanding!) that go away automatically once you move away from the ruins. You can use these potions now to remove them if you wish.

Chasik drinks some potions and feels much better. Chasik, are you fully healed now?

Sajan, too, heals himself fully with another of the potions they have found.

Ok, by my tally Shel and Chasik are the only ones still with damage. Presumably you are healing this up before you move on but just let me know. I'll give you the next portions of the scenario anyway, just so we can keep things moving.

The only area of the complex that the Pathfinders have not yet explored are the stairs leading up from the main hall. When they ascend them, from the top of the stairs the party can see that there is an opening in the walls, leading to the outside. From the opening, you can see that you are at the same height as the tops of the two pillars of stone outside (i.e. 50' above the ground). With a running start it would probably not be very hard to jump across.

If you would like to jump across, I'll need an Acrobatics check, one for each jump.

Edit: just saw that Chasik posted his heal rolls in the Discussion thread. So it looks like you are all almost fully healed up.

can i just climb up the other side. I have no acrobatics?

Enora still has her flight spell active and goes up to check out the opening leading to the outside.

Shel drinks one of the newly found potions.

CSW 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (5, 3, 3) + 5 = 16

Shel sits for Enora to report back before trying to make the jumps herself.

I have Acrobatics +19 if one of us needs to make the rolls.

I think I'm the only one cursed, and it's not a big deal (just a penalty to perception and initiative, I think). I can try those potions, though they have a very low chance of working.

Shel 4 dmg;

Sard 0 dmg;
Chasik 0 dmg; 2 CHA dmg;
Enora 0 dmg; 4 mirror images (exp. after 7 minutes);
Ali 0 dmg;
Archimedes 0 dmg;
Sajan 0 dmg;

When Enora flies outside, she sees that there is a ledge across from the top of the second pillar, at the same height (50' above the ground), and at the end of the ledge there is a heavy bronze door with a keyhole.

Sard drinks one of the remove curse potions and finds that he is no longer under the curse of vanity. I'd have to go back and look it up, but I believe that one or two of you also fell under the curse back in the stairwell when you first entered. In any case, if you wish you can drink the remaining potions to remove that curse as well.

Shel feels confident that, with a running start, she can easily jump from one ledge to the next to get to the ledge with the door.

@Chasik, yes, you can attempt climb checks if you want. If you want to climb to the ledge with the door, the simplest thing is probably to go back outside (where you fought the scorpion people) and climb up from there.

Have we found any keys? If so, Shel will take it and begin her trip over.

Acrobatics for first leap 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32

After getting to the first ledge, she looks for any traps before leaping again.

Perception 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 18 +4 v traps.

Finding nothing (if she does), she jumps again.

Acrobatics 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20

Yes, you found a large bronze key among the coffins in the secret tomb room.

Shel easily jumps like a gazelle from one ledge to the next.

Shel waits for the others to find a way to the ledge before she uses the key.

While she waits, she does search the door for traps.

Perception 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34 +4 v traps.

Chasik will clank back out the area, across where the defeated scorpionfolk are and attempt to traverse the rock cliff.

Take 10=15 If allowed

climb if cannot take 10: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Sard flies up into position to support Shel.

Sajan also joins Shel by the door.

Acrobatics to jump: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (1) + 28 = 29

He then gives a nod that he is ready.

Shel 4 dmg;

Sard 0 dmg;
Chasik 0 dmg; 2 CHA dmg;
Enora 0 dmg; 4 mirror images (exp. after 6 minutes);
Ali 0 dmg;
Archimedes 0 dmg;
Sajan 0 dmg;

About a minute passes to get everyone into position.

Let me know if you have any further preparations you wish to make before trying the door. I've moved everyone who has posted so far over by the door. Ali, how are you joining the others? (I think your fly spell is exhausted?).

Basically ready to move forward whenever everyone else is...

Enora casts False Life again!

false life temp HP: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Unless Ali has some other method they'd rather use:

Sard touches Ali and mutters an incantation, renewing Ali's flying ability.

Shel uses her Wands of longstrider and lead blades, increasing her speed and damage capability. When everyone was ready, she turned the key in the door.

Thanks for the help Sard, yeah thats gonna be necessary

Ali and Archimedes fly the gap and waits for Shel to turn the key.

It is a heavy bronze door and the key you found in the tomb room seems to fit it perfectly. When you insert the key it triggers a lengthy, 5-round-long unlocking process as the door retracts bolts and disables safeguards. So please consider that any round/level buffs you may have cast have 5 rounds reduced from their duration.

The door opens to reveal a room with a pool of water directly before you. Beyond that lies a set of steep stairs, at the top of which you can just glimpse an aging Garundi man wearing violet robes and gold armbands studded with jewels. His voice is calm yet vibrant as he asks the PCs in Osiriani, “Did the satrap send you to kill me?”

Ali steps forward into the room The Satrap? Of Qadira? What year do you think it is?

He taps his head We came because the order of the Jeweled Sages is back. They want you. But...you are a monster are you not. A Lich? Judging by the mechanism in the other room. What you did was extreme. Very extreme. Shelyn has a word for people who would do what you did to Saruna.

His eyes are unusually cold. His golden skin radiating. Needless to say, this is a tense situation. Explain yourself.

"No, that they did not; we've come of our own accord," he replies in Osiriani. "I'm Sard; what's your name?"

diplomacy, if needed: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28

Enora readies to cast haste via her bonded staff of embers should the situation here escalate.

”Are you the one known as the Amethyst sage?”

Shel 4 dmg; longstrider; lead blades (exp. in 5 rounds);

Sard 0 dmg; flying;
Chasik 0 dmg; 2 CHA dmg;
Enora 0 dmg (+10 temp); 4 mirror images (exp. after 5.5 minutes); flying;
Ali 0 dmg; flying;
Archimedes 0 dmg;
Sajan 0 dmg;

@Enora, you cannot prepare readied actions outside of initiative.

"My name is Sinuhotep and I am indeed the bearer of the amethyst sage jewel. The year? Oh, I know well that it is the year of 4718, for I have followed these many passing years in a way that you can hardly fathom."

"But then I take it that you are not in the service of the Satrap? Very good. Who rules Osirion today? Have the Keleshites been driven out?"

"And you say that the order of the Jeweled Sages has been revived? Most excellent! Do other sages besides myself yet live? And who leads the order today?"

As Ali begins to cross the threshold, Sinuhotep holds up his hand. "Halt. I have not yet invited you in. We can converse quite nicely from where you are." Ali, do you wish to proceed with your movement? For now, I've put you back where you were.

Turning towards Ali, Sinuhotep inclines his head. "Ah, you have met my assistant, Saruna? How fares she? I suppose she still bears me ill will." He does not seem terribly troubled by this. "But you call me a lich, and a monster. Perhaps some would use such words. But I did what was necessary for survival - not for my own sake, but for the survival of the Jeweled Sages. How many people have you killed during your careers? How many nameless guards and servants have you slain? Were they all evil? Or was it just convenient for you to kill them? In any case, in this ancient place, I found the means to attain eternal life. I did not want the secrets of past ages to die with me, so I undertook the rites."

Enora looks at Sinuhotep "I was the there and saw Saruna suffer from her undead state ... and suffer from having her heart removed. Your moral standards are beyond anything that I would deem legitimate to attain knowledge."

Sard shoots a look at Enora. Has she no subtlety?

"Your choices are not ours to judge. We have come to find you, on behalf of Tehonikepsu and Amenopheus, the current leaders of the revived sage order. They wish to reunite the sage jewels, and to that end we have journeyed to learn of your fate and that of your jewel."

Sajan watches and listens closely, ready for any signs of impending combat.

Sinuhotep listens to the judgments of Ali and Enora, and the more diplomatic tones of Sard, and replies, first to those who are judging him. "Ah, then perhaps you see me as a monster? Would you destroy me? You would also destroy the things I’ve seen: war chariots of fire soaring through the night sky over Osirion, pharaohs of old speaking to me from beyond the Gate of the Dead, even the 56 visits of Aucturn’s Tear, which even now blazes brighter than it ever has as it once more approaches Golarion. All of those moments would be wiped away, like dust in the desert wind. My soul is bound to the jewel,” he says, tapping the purple gemstone in his right armband. “If one ceases to exist, the other must, too.”

Turning to the entire group, Sinuhotep explains, "Ever since I left my beloved Osirion, everything I have done has had a singular purpose: To recreate the order of the Jeweled Sages. What you have told me means that I can finally return home and rejoin the order. However, before I can leave, I need your help. My immortality also carries a curse, and I cannot leave unless a hateful creature that put the curse on me is destroyed. The question is: Will you slay this creature for me, set me free, and support my endeavor to rejoin the Jeweled Sages?”

So this is one of those places where Paizo puts a fork in the road at the end of the scenario. Basically you can decide to fight Sinuhotep, or fight Surma (the creature who has cursed him), and it's one or the other. The scenario also specifically calls out that, if you have trouble agreeing, that the decision should ultimately fall to the PCs who are Scarab Sages (since you are in a sense directing the fate of the order). Please remind me which of you are Scarab Sages (or are applying this chronicle to a SS PC). And, of course, feel free to to continue discussing with Sinuhotep to help yourselves make up your minds. I just wanted to be clear what choice the scenario is now presenting.

Ali, Sard and Enora are scarab sages. ;-)

Go fight a creature that put a curse on another creature? Seems like an easy choice to me, but not only am I not SS but I'm also a pregen. My vote is the the curse caster, but totally up to the rest of you.

"The wisdom within your jewel is far too valuable to waste. I for one will be glad to help you." Sard is firmly in favor of helping.

Shel didn’t like either option, but she intended to see her mission completed. ”Tell us more about the creature who cursed you. We need to know everything possible to ready ourselves to defeat it,” she sighs.

Sinuhotep turns towards Shel. “After I fled the Sanctum, I traveled to the south, looking for ways to protect my sage jewel. I found what I was looking for, but a powerful curse bound me to this place. I found evidence of a genie cult that resided here thousands of years before I arrived. It seems the genie’s name was Surma, and it is her curse that keeps me here. Upon her death, she turned into a pitiful aghash div, but make no mistake: she is far more powerful than most of her kind.”

Shel scratched her head. ”Anyone know anything about genies or divs? I’ve not encountered either in my travels...”

Sinuhotep's description is sufficient to allow any PC to make a Knowledge (Planes) check to know general characteristics about aghash divs.

Ali's mind is spinning. What is the greater evil, the murderer or the one who placed a curse on the man manipulating him into murder.

Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

Ali looks to Gamin. Gamin too was broken when Ali found him. Of course Gamin was also not a murderer who chose to pervert life itself.

This creature was a creature of evil. Both the div and Sinuhotep. Both detestable. Ali figured the only thing to do would be to end both of them.

Ali hesitated. Shelyn was still able to find it in her to try and forgive her brother, even after he had become the evil Zon-Kuthon. Would she want him to try to forgive this despicable man.

Ali really did not know. I am sorry but no knowledge is worth the evil you have committed. Repent before Shelyn and I might be able to consider a temporary alliance. I simply at this point cannot judge whether you or this div pose the greater evil.

I think that I literally cannot agree to work with Sinuhotep or else I am going to fall for helping he who has literally harmed innocents and does not even seem remorseful in any way.

Consequently, Ali votes to kill Sinuhotep, barring something exceptional in his response.