[PFS] 6-10 The Wounded Wisp - Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Scott Young

Piety scans the room for magical auras. detect magic

"Considering that out of water, I seem to be a complete klutz, I think it's better that I wait outside. If you find anyone, call me. I can give people checkups without breaking things."

Traflet moves up to the nearest door on his right, listening against the wood for any hint of life on the other side.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

[/oov]Well, no one actually opened the door, Traflet just looked in the window, but I will assume you deal with the rusty lock and force the door. [/ooc]

The correspondance inside the main room is neatly stacked, and dates from about 7 years ago up until last year. The loose mail jammed in the mailslot and scattered on the porch are more recent, and include today's newspaper. It seems that no one has pivked up the mail here in years. The room seems well-maintained and clean, but you can tell from the musty smell that no one has been here in years.

Piety detects a magical aura in the vacinity of the couch.

finally - MAP - Fimbrik's House

Sorry, misinterpreted that.

After the door is open Piety makes a stop into the room.

"I can feel a magic aura coming from around the couch."
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17

Jigoo clutches his staff as enters and walks around the couch (on the left side of the map.)

"No one has been here in a while...let's search carefully."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 And search WELL, Jiggo forgot that part

Hoping inside Dailung exhales at the stale smell"Ever heard of the idea of cleaning a house? I will guard while you check for anything intereting!"

As posted above Kazzak will take the stairs up.

Kazzak wanders around a bit aimlessly and then decides to examine the upstairs.

As the group enters to search the room, there is a small "pop!" from under the couch, and a small line appears on the rug. The line tears itself open into a ragged portal revealing nothing but blackness below, punctuated by the faint light of distant stars. Black vapor begins to pour from the hole rent in reality, and coalesces into three multi-legged creatures about the size of dogs. They have a beetle-like carapace and their undersides glow with a sickly violet light as they skitter to attack!

Ordered initiative: Colt, Lu, Taliesin, Shechera, blue bug, Pan, Amenhotep, red bug, green bug.

Colt, Lu, Taliesin, Shechera are up!

Most honorable GM, did you mix up the tables? None of the PCs you mentioend are us.

I also would like to move my char, but couldn´t! For a moment I was wondering if Lu was me... but then I thought... hmm the other names do not really fit in any way.

HAH! <embarrassed grin>

As the group enters to search the room, there is a small "pop!" from under the couch, and a small line appears on the rug. The line tears itself open into a ragged portal revealing nothing but blackness below, punctuated by the faint light of distant stars. Black vapor begins to pour from the hole rent in reality, and coalesces into three multi-legged creatures about the size of dogs. They have a beetle-like carapace and their undersides glow with a sickly violet light as they skitter to attack!

Sorted initiative: Traflet, Dailung, Puss, Jiggo, Kazzak, blue bug, Garikai, Piety, green bug, red bug.

Can't delete that post... let's just pretend it never happened. :/

Map should now be editable.

Traflet yelps and steps towards Kazzak, unleashing a spray of vivid colors from his hands towards the nearest beetle-thing.

Color spray will hit only the red beetle, DC 15

Never saw anything
Moving closer and trying an attack Dailung attacks the blue schimmering beetle [/ooc]

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Does K Religion apply? I'm assuming no.

"What an odd trap... Let's take them down quickly!"

Noting their hostility, Jiggo five foot steps and swings twice with his staff!

[dice=Quarterstaff, "Love" end]1d20+3-2[/dice] for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 damage
[dice=Quarterstaff, "Peace" end]1d20+3-2[/dice] for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 damage

Neither attack includes the +2 flanking bonus yet, but I don't think it will matter.

Round 1 (partial)

Traflet yelps and steps towards Kazzak, unleashing a spray of vivid colors from his hands towards the nearest beetle-thing. Unfortunately, its simple brain seems immune to effects designed for higher forms of intelligence.

Dailung moves closer and attacks one of the insects. Rapier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15; damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6. Her blade passes directly through the insect's carapace, and it shatters into thousands of tiny shards of black glass that turn to vapor and disappear.

Jiggo, you can re-declare since your target is down; Kazzak, you and Puss are also up! I moved Puss to be back with you, since I had forgotten her at the door. I also switched to a better icon for her since that one doesn't seem to show up well.

Somehow part of my post got eaten. Please do not ask me why. I did roll a 2 for my attack roll. For the sake of fluidity my second round action will be to attack a beetle but fail.

Wo what happend to puss.. looks all mean and nasty :). Kazzak and Puss flank the beetle and both attack. Should puss trip be succesful Kazzak's attack is at +4 at just might hit...

Kazzak and Puss work in tandem to harass the green beetle with Puss attempting to turn it on it's back to Kazzak cut through it's soft belly.

Puss Bite 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16 Damage 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Puss trip on sucessful attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Kazzak attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Ah, OK. Some of this depends on whether Puss defeats the green beetle. Jiggo can reach the green one, and he is within 30 ft of the red one if the green one is defeated.

Sorted initiative: Traflet, Dailung, Puss, Jiggo, Kazzak, blue bug, Garikai, Piety, green bug, red bug.

Round 1 (continued)

Puss delays for her master's command.

Jiggo moves to attack the green beetle, but is unable to strike it as is skitters around the floor.

Kazzak orders Puss to attack, and the cat bites the creature and flips it onto its back. Kazzak's attack shatters the insect into tiny glass shards which evaporate into a fine mist that quickly dissipates.

Garikai, Piety are up!

"I daresay we are dealing with wonders from another world."

He fends off the feeling of wishing for his father's guidance, and instead reviews quickly what options he has left. With his healing spells used up and his domain ability also spent, he can still provide protection.

Quickly he moves between Piety and Dailung, so that if they stay beside him, he can protect them with his shield.

Sorry, guys, he still has a lot of talent with the heal skill, but if you want to let your medic have healing spells you need to let him rest between battles.

Round 1 (continued)

Garikai moves to protect his companions.

Piety delays.

The red bug scurries after Traflet, failing to bite the gnome. bite: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3

The rest of you easily finish off the final insect, which returns to the nether voids from whence it came.

The doors to the right lead into a small library and a study; the double doors to the west lead into a large bedroom. Searching the house, you are sure no one has lived here in some time, a fact confirmed by the following note that you find:

Note found in Fimbrik's home:

"Well, you got me!
"I’m not here anymore, and my house is filled with an incredible array of illusions to discourage the curious. But you just had to break in. I respect your gumption and assume you’re either a petty burglar or someone looking into Eylysia’s affairs.
"I’ve left Absalom to look for my friend, for she’s been missing for some time; however, I’ve attached the name of a particular Pathfinder you’ll want to investigate at the Wall of Names at the Society Grand Lodge. I assure you, it’s quite important, but I’ll leave you to figure out why.
"Oh, and the password. It’s ‘Wiffle.’ You’ll find it important, should you learn where to use it.
"—The Illustrious Fimbrik"

Attached to the note is a scrap of paper with the words, "Hollis Thorne," written on it.

You also find a pair of bottles filled with magical liquid, discarded on one of the shelves in the study.

"And the investigation continues. We should head back to the Wall of Names, I'd say." Jiggo seems anxious and somewhat excited about this mystery and looks forward to solving it.

Dailung slaps her hand at her tigh and in a cheerful voice exclaims."Ha... we found it. Let us go to the little wall of lost pathfinders. It shouldn´t take that long to find that name. Let´s go!"Dragging the others with her cheerfullness she moves onward to their next part of the hunt.

"When we do, could we also rest, please? And should we report this?"

Then, without asking anyone, he has a brilliant if somewhat unlawful idea.

Since he doesn't have a healer's kit (due to lack of money to go buy one), he will search the house for anything that he can use, herbs he can use to make medicines, and sheets he can use for bandages, any basic medicines like painkillers and antihistamines, sewing thread for suturing, what have you, and a bottle of alcohol or peroxide, or bleach for cleaning instruments and wounds. that he can use to create an imperfect substitute.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Alas, Garikai doesn't find anything of much use - it actually looks like the homeowner packed completely before moving out, leaving only furniture and an unseen servant to clean the place.

Oh well, at least I'm not guilty of theft after all, Garikai thinks to himself glumly.

Kazzak nods to Dailung very much annoyed by the woman's joyfulness and ambles along through the city streets.

You return to the Grand Lodge and head in through the main gates, this time veering left and entering the small copse of trees which grows near the edge of the compound. In a clearing on a slight rise, the Wall of Names stands, cold and sombre in the grey light. Made of black glass, the wall is inscribed with hundreds of names of Pathfinders who have fallen in the line of duty.

With some searching it is a simple matter to track down the three names given in Adolphus' notes. Each name is accompanied by a short epitaph described their fate.

Doulgonlir Caskmail
Deceased 4332 ar
Sought the jade idol of ten thousand faces.
Now but another sacrifice to the charau-ka of the Mwangi.

Karina Clamp
Deceased 4330 ar
Followed the last Linnorm King to Valenhall.
Lost at sea, last seen in a great tornado.

Jiggo stands respectfully at the Wall of Names, staff at his side. He spent some time reading all of the names on the wall. "They should all be proud to have made it here." Jiggo mumbles. "I wonder if they'll say anything about me..."

Eventually Jiggo doubles back to look for Hollis Thorne. "Ah, yes. Here we are. Perhaps the Storval Stairs is a clue? Does anyone know where that is?"

"In the grand lodge there must be a sage we can ask. Let´s go and find someone!"
Do we know anyone from training or so, someone who loves history and can´t find enough reasons to drool over the glorious history of the pathfinder... useally until all the others eyes have glazed over and they fall over their chairs?

You are easily able to find someone like that, Dailung. The history doesn't seem to make any sense, and in fact the three names are actually completely made up - they seem to have been added without proper authorization. However, the three epitaphs do have a common link. Each one of the epitaphs refers to the portfolio of a Failed Aspirant - a person who took the Test of the Starstone, tried to ascend to godhood, and failed.

For example, "Sought the jade idol of ten thousand faces. Now but another sacrifice to the charau-ka of the Mwangi." could refer to Demeuren, the failed god of sacrifice, who attempted the Test in 4332 A.R.

"Followed the last Linnorm King to Valenhall. Lost at sea, last seen in a great tornado." could refer to Yepyari, who attempted to become the divine master of tornadoes.

"Fought up all but one step of the Storval Stairs. Blade shattered at an inopportune moment." likely refers to Silmor,a Taldane woman who fancied herself the new goddess of blades.

There is a Shrine of the Failed near the Starstone Cathedral, which contains memorials to each of the Failed Aspirants.

"Hmm maybe there is our next clue. What do you think, care to inspect this chapel of... well loosers? I mean, yes that is mean in a way, but I think anyone who takes the test of the starstone must be halfcrazy... or drunk beyond recognition!"

"I need to rest to replenish my spell supply, and see if perhaps I can get some equipment to stock a healer's kit. I know this will slow down the merry chase, but fresh minds and bodies would be in better shape to tackle the strange possibilities of this temple of losers."

Jiggo turns to Garikai and nods.

"Hmm. My good friend here has a point. We may want to rest up and continue our search in the morning. I don't know how many more blessings from Erastil I can call upon. He's fickle sometimes."

"Apologies, Great Shepherd." Jiggo mumbles.

Kazzak looks at the two cowards disrespectfully.

You're a bunch of sissies. You konw that?

Traflet shrugs, It's better to be safe than dead. If they feel it's better to rest before moving on, then that's what we should do.

"Fine, let them have their beauty sleep, and meet here tomorrow morning!"

"Thank you," Garikai said. Then he turns to Kazzak. He looks at him, but says nothing.

Suppose you died because I couldn't offer your wounds any treatments? Would you prefer that, or do you even consider such things? If you were deprived of all ability to fight and could offer us nothing until you recovered, how would you feel? he counters bluntly in orcish, but prudently only thinking it rather than saying it.

And with that, he takes off, wishing this adventure would put them somewhere his skills could be useful, like a nice long ocean voyage.

He'll spend the rest of the day studying in the libraries for any useful information on the matters that concern us, see if they've learned anything about the creature he gave them yet, then sleep for his eight hours to replenish his spells.

Knowledge: History: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

The night passes relatively peacefully. In the morning, you hear some rumours on the street - apparently some knight fresh from the Mendevian Crusade has arrived in town and announced his intention to take the Test of the Starstone. Crowds are already gathering, wanting to be witness to either a god's ascension, or the fall of a fool.

As you head in the direction of the Starstone Cathedral and the Shrine of the Failed, excitement builds. The crusader, Sir Reinhardt, is apparently already at the Cathedral, regalling the crowd with his worthiness to follow in Iomedae's footsteps and ascend to godhood. Odds are currently 3-to-1 that he's a braggart just looking for some fame, and won't actually attempt the test; no one is offering odds that he will succeed, although there are a few bets available on the manner of his demise.

The Shrine of the Failed is a somber stone building with several floors. The main entrance is flanked by black-robed acolytes who are just locking the doors, apparently eager to observe the festivities themselves. It turns out, however, that the names you are interested in are in the basement annex of the Shrine, and that is secured only by a thin chain across the top of the stairs and a hand-painted sign reading "no entry".

MAP - Shrine of the Failed

Traflet glances around to make sure that the acolytes aren't paying attention, then ducks under the chain, moving quickly down the stairs.

Kazzak watches the Gnome's actions and awaits it's repercussions.

Jiggo spent most of the night talking to his teammates, swapping stories of his adventures. He assumed Dailung had a few dozen to tell, and took one for the team by listening to everything she had to tell.

Jiggo shook his head when he heard about Sir Reinhardt and his various boasts. "Pride before a fall, my friend."

Anxious to continue the investigation, Jiggo heads in with Traflet, keeping his eyes peeled.

Perception w/ Guidance: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

Nothing happens as Traflet and Jiggo enter the basement annex and head down the stairs. The columned hall is lit with magical globes of light throughout, although the side rooms are dimly light. Each side room appears to be a shrine dedicated to a single failed aspirant, and contains an altar on a raised dias. Each altar bears a brass nameplate indiciating the faield aspirant to whome the shrine is dedicated. Many also have small foferings of coins, candles, or dried flowers scattered on them.

Starting from the top right, the shrines are dedicated to:

Demuren, failed aspirant of sacrifice
Gobru, failed aspirant of Fish and Bountiful Sea
Mellag, failed aspirant of Rot
Oggo, failed aspirant of Sixteen Poses
Plokkis, failed aspirant of Spoiled Food and Wastefulness
Silmor, failed aspirant of Blades
Spuchasta, failed aspirant of Hallucinatory Incense and Herbs

Seeing that nothing happens Dailung quickly follows them.

Each one of the epitaphs refers to the portfolio of a Failed Aspirant - a person who took the Test of the Starstone, tried to ascend to godhood, and failed.

For example, "Sought the jade idol of ten thousand faces. Now but another sacrifice to the charau-ka of the Mwangi." could refer to Demeuren, the failed god of sacrifice, who attempted the Test in 4332 A.R.

"Followed the last Linnorm King to Valenhall. Lost at sea, last seen in a great tornado." could refer to Yepyari, who attempted to become the divine master of tornadoes.

"Fought up all but one step of the Storval Stairs. Blade shattered at an inopportune moment." likely refers to Silmor,a Taldane woman who fancied herself the new goddess of blades.

There is a Shrine of the Failed near the Starstone Cathedral, which contains memorials to each of the Failed Aspirants.

"Now, let's see...Demuren, Yepyari, and Silmor, right? Maybe there is a common item next to their shrines. Or maybe that password will be useful now."

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Jiggo seems excited to solve the mystery, but he's not really paying attention...