[PFS] #7-00 The Sky Key Solution (1–2) Gameday V — GM Crucible (Inactive)

Game Master TomG

The high-flying Pathfinders have taken control of the Temple Plaza! In doing so, they have found out how to access the Temple itself!

The Temple Plaza is now claimed, the Temple Interior is now discovered. This will be reflected in the map momentarily.

So what do the pedestals state, anyway?

Dearel carefully removes his armor. It takes some time, and one of the last he tries to get to the other island.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

'So, what do we have here?'

Knowledge (History): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

AC13 now. And of course, he will put the armor back when (if) he'll get out of there :)

Never did get an answer on distance, oh well.

The DC comes from a combination of distance, slipperiness, and slope. If you have a solution other than Acrobatics that relies on jump, I'm happy to entertain it.

The party is able to safely return from their various plinths.
Well done! Worth 1 "Victory Point" to the collective "room" of tables.

So what do the pedestals state, anyway?

Only when you are able to bring the pieces together and study them side by side does the full import become clear. You not only learn enough to provide the Society with new insights into serpentfolk society and biology, but it seems the note also describe the ritual importance of the hot springs, and its healing properties. The ritual seems to turn the spring water into a temporary healing potion.

You have the time to perform the rite, if you have some sort of flask or other container for the water.

What now?

Is it positive energy-based? :S

"Well, that is certainly interesting." Volyana unslings a trio of waterskins from her pack. "Even if we don't have need of this water's properties, I'm sure the Society would want a sample of it."

That makes sense, I'm just used to actual distances for Acrobatics, not scaling for party level. And I made it at any rate it seems. Acrobatics is just one of those skills that I don't think can really be metagamed. If you know the distance, and the ground condition, the DC is obvious :)

Amba crouches down to help Volyana. "That is a good idea. I'll help! We just won't be able to take them with us. Remember, Master Shaine said that anything we take will collapse, immediately."

While working on the ritual, Amba tries to think of other ways to collect information. "Maybe we could make a map of the islands, or make a description and drawing of the snakes? I'll be happy to help."

Just throwing some ideas out there. Amba can add +4 on an untrained Profession Scribe, if needed.

"Good point Amba. Perhaps one of us should sample it in order to repprt its effects? Likely best to wait until needed or the effect is about to expire. When will we get the chance to try water like this again?" Volyana looks to the diagram of the area. "Which way now? I am still very interested in this serpentfolk temple, I wonder how to get there?"

Malik will dutifully make notes on the ritual. To pass it on to the society and for his own interest.

Baied put on her own two coppers, helping people by taking notes and cooperating

Using Volyana's three waterskins, you are able to complete the simple rite and infuse the already tingling water with a temporary rush of positive energy.

The tunnels twist and turn, and you hear noise ahead. Occasionally, sickly looking humans hurry past you, nearly running. They look at you in shock and hurry onward.

The hallways are dimly lit, and it's difficult to see.
Low light until mentioned otherwise.

You turn a corner and step up a half-flight of stairs. Claustrophobic cells line the walls here, many crowded with three or four miserable-looking humans. The halls converge on a hewn-stone chamber lit with braziers and choked with herb-scented smoke.

Malik enters the hall with the rest of the pathfinders, and apparently doesn't like what he sees.

"Theseare slaves. We have to free them!"

He looks at the people in the nearest cage and asks: "Where are the keys?"

Not sure if they speak Taldane, though.

'The situation is complicated. What consequences this might lead to? However, I also can not quietly look at it. Damn, how all this to understand?'

Dearel sighs and addresses his words to the prisoners in all known languages:

'Who are you? Where are the keys?'

Common, Skald, Celestial, Sylvan

'I think that even if we'll free them... they will have nowhere to run... but this is not a reason for inaction. We must give them at least a chance.' - he thinks, trying to get a response.

"Oh..." says Amba at Malik's explanation of the situation. "So, in the past, the humans were slaves to these lizardfolk? That's not nice." She utters a small prayer, upon which the end of her staff starts to glow.

She walks up to one of the cages. "Hello. Can you tell us about this place?"

Cast Light.

Volyana makes sure her wayfinder is unlit and approaches the smoky chamber. Hoping that the dim light and smoke will hide her from any serpentfolk nearby, she looks to see just what this room is used for.

Stealth: 10 + 6 = 16
Turning off wayfinder's light.

As Malik surmises, the slaves to not speak Taldane (Common). Dearel attempts several tongues, but nothing seems to spark recognition.

Volyana dims her light and creeps forward.

Volyana is exceptionally stealthy, as she sees the approaching serpentfolk well before anyone else, as they are distracted with the prisoners/slaves. They appear to be troglodytes: menial serpentfolk of low intelligence.

—COMBAT—
(surprise round: standard action only)
Volyana
(round 1)
Dearel
Malik
Baied
* Troglodytes (red & blue)
Amba
Xukong
Volyana
Those in bold may act.

'We have guests? Great! I hear the voices of Heavens! They call me into battle with these miserable slavers!'

Doble move

Thanks to the efforts of the Pathfinders, the Slave Pens are now claimed! Sources say that there's something weird going on in that temple! Hurry up and check it out Pathfinders!

The map has been updated.

Volyana rushes the surprised troglodytes and delivers a snap kick to one of the serpentfolk.

Kick: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Surprise action, move 30'
Move 15'
Swift action, enter Crane Style
Standard action, unarmed strike on the red one.
Activating Stunning Fist if attack hits, DC 12 Fort save to avoid.
Not fighting defensively, AC is 15.

Malik peeks around the corner to look at the commotion.

"Do they have keys?", he yells at Volyana, but doesn't wait for an answer.

The half-orc quickly jumps from around the corner and performs a quick chant. The vapour in the area around Malik disappears, and he lets loose a beam of cold at one of the scalies. Blue

Cold Blast, vs Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 151d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

5ft step - free action
Gather power - move action
Blast - standard action

"I don't know, I don't speak lizard!" Volyana hollers back.

Baied moves to get closer to the action, and seek an angle to shoot at the lizardmen without risking to injure one of her fellow pathfinders

Move and readies sling

The Pathfinders have allied with a group of Azlanti Rebels! They're joining up with Pathfinders as they make their way into the Serpentfolk Temple!

Each table now counts as one subtier higher for the purpose of calculating what benefits they get from Aid Tokens. Subtier 10-11 tables increase the Aid Another bonus to +5, the Allied Offensive option deals 4d8 points of damage, and Burst of Healing heals 6d6 points of damage.

Volyana moves quickly in to position before the troglodytes can react. I moved you back slightly; they move the rest of the way to you on their turn.

Dearel quickly follows, and moves in close.

Cold air swirls in a noisy whirlwind around Malik before a stream of pale blue cold energy leaps from his arms at the nearest lizard. The troglodyte yelps in pain as it's burned by the cold.
@Malik: I didn't realize at first you were using the Extended Range infusion.

Baied moves in a draws her sling, preparing for combat.

The troglodyte with red eyes swings a claw at Volyana. Its companion with a blue sash attempts the same.
red claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
blue claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Thanks to the superb defensive capabilities of Crane Style, Volyana swats aside second attack easily, but the first sneaks past her.

The most disgusting thing about the troglodytes is their smell. Some foul combination of offal and sewer, it emanates from them in disgusting waves that churn your stomach.
DC 13 Fort if within 30' or be sickened for 10 rounds

@Volyana: Your attack hits regardless of whether you succeed on your Fort save, so I'll let you roll it.

Volyana counters with a hard strike to the solar plexus of the foul lizard. It still stands, barely surviving the damage, but wholly unaffected by the stunning fist.
Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

—COMBAT—
Amba
Xukong
Volyana
Dearel
Malik
Baied
* Troglodytes (red & blue, -12)
Those in bold may act.

Sling, on Red: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 1 - 4 = 13
Dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Baied moves nearer, but stops when the stench assault her delicate nose.
She sends a stone from her sling...hoping for the best

The troglodytes' rancid smell is bad, but not enough to deter Volyana's kick to the chest. "Ugh, this better not stick to my boot!"

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damn, I was hoping Fortitude wasn't their good save. Ah well.

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Xukong barely breathes as it advances on the troglodytes, its sword somehow only describable as "glowing black."

I spend an Arcane point to enchant my sword for 1 minute.

+1 Bastard sword vs blue, whetstone bonus: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Amba is startled at hearing the sounds of battle. "Eep!" She jogs over to the others as quick as she can on her short legs. "Hold on, I'm coming, here to help." She swings her staff as she walks, fiddling with the sling on top.

Double move, swift action to go into Slipslinger style.

Malik tries to get into a more favorable angle to attack. He swiftly lumbers past the main group of pathfinders, trying to not disturb their movement in the process. As he walks, he overhears Volyana and responds: "Hah! At least you have boots!"

Double move

"Heavens, put me in the thick of battle!"

With an incredible speed (for a man clad in fullplate armor) Dearel rushes to the enemy.

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Longsword: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 81d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

'Sudden Speed' (swift), move action (+30 ft speed), attack

Baied's sling stone misses as she stops too quickly to avoid the stench.

Xukong swings mightily, but the heavy swing lacks the accuracy he was hoping for.

Amba and Malik hurry over, but stay far away from the foul smell.

Dearel hastens to the battle with divine aid, and joins the fray, but does not connect with his swing.
I've moved you around by blue so as not to make you jump up on the table in plate.

Dearel's heavy armor protects him as the troglodyte claws and bites at his face.

Volyana dodge tooth and claw, but a second claw slips through her defenses. (2 dmg)

—COMBAT—
Amba
Xukong
Volyana (-2 -2 = -4)
Dearel
Malik
Baied
* Troglodytes (red & blue, -12)
Those in bold may act.

Xukong swings mightily, but the heavy swing lacks the accuracy it was hoping for.

Xukong's sex is impossible to determine.

+1 Bastard Sword vs blue, whetstone bonus: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Malik decides to give it another go. This time without the unnecesary drying of the areas around him. He lets lose another ray of cold.

Cold Blast vs Touch, into melee w/ PBS(Red): 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 4 = 111d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

Volyana takes up a more appropriate defensive stance and swings the spike on her whip into the troglodyte in front of her twice.

Standard action, Flurry of blows, fighting defensively, on red. AC now 19.
Flurry of Blows: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 91d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The Pathfinders have worked their way through the Temple Interior, and have discovered that the serpentfolk are performing some kind of ritual in a basement level called the Ophidian Rectory. Perhaps if you rush there you can learn all about the serpentfolk's ancient sacrificial techniques.

…

Oh, also potential save some people. That could be important too.

The Temple Interior is now claimed and the Ophidian Rectory is now discovered! Can we stop the ritual in time? The map is now updated with both the district unlock and the recent aid token transfers. Remember, you still count as one subtier higher for the purpose of your aid token benefits!

Amba tries to get a clear shot, but doesn't find a proper target. She sighs and keeps hustling forward, all the way around the table.

Double move.

Anyone wish to bot Dearel?

I can.

Dearel's longsword vs blue: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

It's another unfortunate series of missed for everyone.

The ever-indeterminable Xukong assists Dearel, but even that goes awry.

One troglodyte throws himself against the tank that is Dearel, and the tip of a claw makes it through the heavy armor. (-4 dmg)

Volyana's defensive crane style helps her easily avoid any incoming strikes. The troglodyte growls in frustration, but lacks the intelligence to do more than continue to press its attack.

—COMBAT—
Amba
Xukong
Volyana (-4)
Dearel (-4)
Malik
Baied
* Troglodytes (red & blue, -12)
Those in bold may act.

+1 Bastard Sword vs blue, whetstone bonus: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
damage: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Dearel's longsword vs blue (or 5-foot step and vs red if Xukong felled blue): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Malik walks towards a more favorable spot to engage, and lets lose another cold blast. (Red)

Cold Blast, into melee w/ PBS vs Touch AC: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 4 = 111d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

Volyana continues her whips dizzying pattern, sadly failing to land any conclusive blows. "Good hit, Xukong!"

Standard action, flurry of blows on red
Nine-section whip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Nine-section whip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Amba rounds the corner of the table and picks up some extra speed, waving er staff in two hands for extra heft. Unfortunately, the best of speed causes her to breath in deep, catching the full brunt of the terrible smell.

Fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Attack +charge +flank - sick: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 16
Damage -sick: 1d4 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 2 = 4

Thanks for botting, Xukong! Okay, I'm back, I'm in.

'I feel like the Heavens have left us!' - Dearel says with desperation in his voice, once again trying to strike at the enemy.

Longsword : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 151d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

+ 5 ft step if blue is already out
To GM - Dearel has a DR1/cold iron, so I think he received 3 dmg, not 4.

By Abadar! Let us not succumb to savagery!

Baeid displays her holy symbol, and unleashe a golden ring of purifying energy, soothing the pain of her fellow Pathfinders

Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 6

As it seems that Baied is just 30 feet on the map from Dearel, Voylana and Xukong, she uses a Channel, excluding (Selective Channeling) Xukong from the positive energy wave

Nota Bene: Since you're presently channeling to heal the living, it wouldn't hurt me anyway. If we run into undead enemies, that's when you be sure to exclude me.

@Dearel: Yes, 3 dmg then, not 4, b/c of DR

Xukong cleaves the already wounded opponent nearly in two, leaving the troglodyte bleeding out on the stone floor.

Malik, having adjusted his position to take a clear shot, looses a stream of cold and ice, striking the remaining slow-moving troglodyte square in the chest.

Volyana swings her exotic weapon with furious grace, but does not connect.

Amba nearly chokes on the foul smell of the troglodytes, made worse by the gore from Xukong's strike, but she manages to strike a blow with her staff.

Dearel finishes the fight with a clean stroke from his longsword.

—Out of combat.—

Bodies lie bloodied on the floor, and the stench remains. If you were sickened, it lasts a full minute, but will be gone by the next combat encounter.

The slaves you were interacting with—but not easily understanding—look on in a mix of awe and horror.
You can make yourselves understood with a mix of common (Taldane) and hand gestures, as many Taldane words come from Ancient Azlanti, but it takes a little while.

What do you do with the slaves? Any other actions you wish to take?

It's not from the whetstone. I spent an Arcane point to make my sword +1.

Xukong tries speaking to the slaves in