[PFS] #7-01 Between the Lines (CORE) — GM Crucible (Inactive)

Game Master TomG

"Keep your distance, Apollyanna. I don't want that thing warping your mind."

Meredith grabs one of her shortspears and hurls it where Apollyanna notes.
Concealment, < 50 is a miss: 1d100 ⇒ 33
Shortspear: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

The Eagle flies toward the shortspear.
Concealment, < 50 is a miss: 1d100 ⇒ 4
Talon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Meredith can't control the eagle directly, but that is what she would want it to do.

A shortspear falls on the ground, while the Eagle's talon soars through the air.
"Are you sure it's there? You're not trying to trick me, are you? Excuse me, Pau."

"Keep your distance, Apollyanna. I don't want that thing warping your mind."

*Snort* "As if."

"I totally could. I'd just have to hide his razor. I think Pau would look totally fearsome with a purple Mohawk."

She steps forward as if to try and do something to his non-hair, and loses the color spray into the area indicated. Unfortunately it also gets Pau.

Will DC17, effect depends on hit dice

"Vibrant Rainbow Unicorns!"

She checks with Polly. "Did I do that right? I'm totally going to be an awesome Crusader"

"You GUYS! Be NICE TO HIM! He's just trying to PLAY!!"

"Gailen, not you too. I thought you Paladins were incorruptible." Meredith face palms.

Gailen, antipaladin!

"What do you think of his new hair style? I thought rainbow coloured."

To Gailen she adds "This is how gnomes play. I'm totally going to plait his hair too."

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
The creature manages to turn it's eyes away just as Prisim releases her spell, and recovers, seemingly unaffected.

—?COMBAT?—
Pau - ? (needs will save from Prisim's color spray)
Lannior - ?
Prisim - color spray
Apollyanna- detecting evil, can identify location
Gailen - protesting?
Meredith (Eagle, 2/2?)
* doru div
Those in bold may act.

"Aww. I think the colours would offset your eyes wonderfully."

Will 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"A purple Mohawk?! You are insane! Oh and now you are casting spells at me? Wait until we get back to the Lodge. You lot will be drummed out of the Society for incompetence! I am totally going to the Venture Captain!"

Since Pau can't punch anyone, I hink he's just going to morph into a tattletale!

"Now, now. I knew you'd catch the keyword and duck in time.
bluff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

"But you really would look good with purple hair."

Prisim has virtually no way to hurt this head thing.

With the div's AC of at least 18, Meredith's gonna run around whiffing until we're all charmed...or she manages a crit.

I'm hoping that the charms are a limited number of times per day.

Prisim loads an iron crossbow bolt.

Lannior fires at the called out spot, desperate to hit this thing!

Low Misses (Miss Chance): 1d100 ⇒ 14
Longbow + PBS: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Cold Iron Arrow: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

As he watches his arrow fly onto another roof. He gets an idea.

Let's say the command word again and see if the thing gets pulled back into it's mirror. If it works, we can regroup and set up a more comprehensive way to attack it.

Perhaps annoyed by the color spray spell, the flying head appears next to Pau—right where Apollyanna said it was. It pulses for the third time, and a bust of light directs itself at Apollyanna.
Prisim, Apollyanna: 1d2 ⇒ 2

This time you hear its voice in your head rather than out loud. "Stop trying to hurt me! What did I do to you? Friends, protect me!"

—?COMBAT?—
Pau - ?
Lannior - ?
Prisim - ?
Apollyanna - detecting evil, can identify location
Gailen - ?
Meredith - ?
* doru div
Those in bold may act.

Meredith sees this thing flashing Apollyanna. She leaps down.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Falling Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

She doesn't land well, making her even more annoyed. Lannior gives some good advice about regrouping and trying a better approach. But Meredith's patience ran out long ago, just like every human that elf has met. That's Racist!
"I have a better idea."

Cold Iron Scimitar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Meredith finally lands a solid blow upon the creature and smiles, satisfied. She looks back at the roof as the Eagle chirps and flies away majestically, causing Meredith to shed a single tear and mumble "America", back to whence it came.

As a reminder, the falling damage is non-lethal, and so heals quickly.

The creature screams in pain as it's severely wounded by Meredith's strike.

Prisim moves to get a clear shot and then presses the trigger on her crossbow.

"Holy range strike of doom."
attack,PBS: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
cold iron damage,PBS: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Holy! Holey? It's a crossbow, get it?"

Unfortunately there are no holes, except maybe in the wall behind the guardian.

"Man that is fast."

Lannior moves along the roof looking for a better angle, unfortunately, in truth, he isn't a great shot. He tends to miss most of the time. Nevertheless he looses another arrow, maybe he'll get a little lucky with Desna's help.

Longbow + PBS + into combat: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 4 = 16
Cold Iron Arrow: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

It is tiny, so not threatening. That probably means you don't get the -4 penalty for firing into combat.

Edit: Bah, actually if any of us threaten him, that counts as in melee as well. We don't even get the benefit of being two size categories larger, as that would only apply to the guardian's allies!

Will save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Apollyanna takes a step closer to the thing. "You're right we should always try and protect our friends."
cold iron longsword (smite evil) v head-thingy: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 3 = 19 damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7

"Incandescent Paladinic Smite!" screams Prisim out loud as Polly strikes the head.

Then she adds slightly more quietly "Your forgot the battle cry. I could totally be your herald you know. I'm good at remembering stuff like this."

Meredith grins as she sees Apollyanna's longsword swing. "Now we're talking."

Pau's only action to to try to step in between those in melee attacks with the creature. "Leave it alone! It's not bothering you, cretins!"

Meredith and Apollyanna both strike deeply at the creature. It screams in rage and pain, its voice penetrating your minds as well as your ears.

The floating head bobs toward Apollyanna moving in a long arch up and out of reach of Prism and Meredith as it does so, and tries to bite the paladin. She is able to barely deflect it off of her armor.
bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
@Apollyanna, you may take an AoO as it entered your square.

—?COMBAT?—
Pau
Lannior
Prisim
Apollyanna - no longer detecting evil
Gailen
Meredith
* doru div (-15)
Those in bold may act.

"Well, that wasn't very friendly." Meredith grins as she steps up to the creature.

Mwrk Cold Iron Scimitar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"I tire of your trickery."

The creature drops at Meredith's feet.

Out of combat. Finally.

After a few seconds, those charmed by the outsider return to their normal selves.

The body of the outsider quickly dissolves to ectoplasm, dries to powder, then disperses in the slight breeze, as if it had never been there at all.

You hurry back to Palhuna Murqual with news of the guardian's demise. The servant you worked with previously comes out with the Monadistic Archive. "Here it is, as promised." He answers no further questions about it, and sends you on your way. "Unless you're interested in performing additional favors, of course. ..."

You find Venture-Captain Yuul waiting for you as you return to Farseer Tower carrying the large chest with the Archive. You are quickly ushered back to the meeting chamber.

The room has undergone some changes over the past few hours. The furniture has been pushed aside, and the resulting empty carpet space has cushions laid out in a circle. Unlit candles stand in a silent circle around the cushions. The formerly open windows are shut, perhaps to prevent the candles being snuffed by a stray breeze once lit, not that it makes a difference on this still night.

Wulessa Yuul is eager to see you, and she’s positively ecstatic seeing you carrying the archive chest. She bids you to set it down against one wall. 'Over there, please. Don't damage those Tian plates, mind."

While she says the following, she opens the chest and sifts reverently through the scrolls, unrolling and examining several, holding a few up to her ears, and seeming to listen to them.

“Excellent work. I shall take a full account of your adventures this night shortly, but for now... I need some more of your assistance. As I said before, these scrolls are relics of the Jistkan Imperium from thousands of years ago. What information I’ve found indicates that the Monadistic Archive recorded the thoughts and minds of some of the greatest thinkers of that empire. Not merely recorded in the written word—supposedly they copied the very minds of these men and women. Some binding entity within the scrolls brings these minds together into a collective of wisdom and lore, where each mind is no longer a discreet part, but melded into a greater whole. The ritual I have prepared should allow me to open the archive, but the effort of doing so prevents much exploration on my part. If I include you in the ritual, you can be my eyes and ears. Of course, this is not a process that can be completed in one night. This could take years. In the long run, a full team will be assigned cataloging duties, but tonight I cannot resist at least one brief expedition. I have sought the archive for so long, and I would be honored if you would help me with this foray into the mind of the past.”

She looks at you, simultaneously hoping and expexting you'll consent.

The body of the outsider quickly dissolves to ectoplasm, dries to powder, then disperses in the slight breeze, as if it had never been there at all.

You hurry back to Palhuna Murqual with news of the guardian's demise. The servant you worked with previously comes out with the Monadistic Archive. "Here it is, as promised." He answers no further questions about it, and sends you on your way. "Unless you're interested in performing additional favors, of course. ..."

"Ew."

The creature drops at Meredith's feet.

Out of combat. Finally.

After a few seconds, those charmed by the outsider return to their normal selves.

"FINALLY. Wasting my time like that. At least the eagle was cool." She looks at Pau and Gallen. "Oh get over it."

You hurry back to Palhuna Murqual with news of the guardian's demise. The servant you worked with previously comes out with the Monadistic Archive. "Here it is, as promised." He answers no further questions about it, and sends you on your way. "Unless you're interested in performing additional favors, of course. ..."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

"If I include you in the ritual, you can be my eyes and ears. Of course, this is not a process that can be completed in one night. This could take years. In the long run, a full team will be assigned cataloging duties, but tonight I cannot resist at least one brief expedition. I have sought the archive for so long, and I would be honored if you would help me with this foray into the mind of the past.”

"When you put it that way, how could I ever resist?" Meredith, full of sarcasm, sits down at the ritual circle.

It's not like I could be fighting slavers right now. Palhuna Murqual and his errand boy were already getting on my nerves.

Wulessa Yuul is eager to see you, and she’s positively ecstatic seeing you carrying the archive chest. She bids you to set it down against one wall. 'Over there, please. Don't damage those Tian plates, mind."

While she says the following, she opens the chest and sifts reverently through the scrolls, unrolling and examining several, holding a few up to her ears, and seeming to listen to them.

“Excellent work. I shall take a full account of your adventures this night shortly, but for now... I need some more of your assistance."

Yep. Here it comes. Demon summoning ritual.

"As I said before, these scrolls are relics of the Jistkan Imperium from thousands of years ago. What information I’ve found indicates that the Monadistic Archive recorded the thoughts and minds of some of the greatest thinkers of that empire. Not merely recorded in the written word—supposedly they copied the very minds of these men and women."

"Uh huh."

"Some binding entity within the scrolls brings these minds together into a collective of wisdom and lore, where each mind is no longer a discreet part, but melded into a greater whole."

"Uh huh."

"The ritual I have prepared should allow me to open the archive,

"Uh huh."

"but the effort of doing so prevents much exploration on my part. If I include you in the ritual, you can be my eyes and ears."

"Well good luck with that. Bye."

If only we could do this on a nice, safe, slanted rooftop....

"What do you mean by eyes and ears? Do we get transported to another place?" asks Prisim, yawning slightly after a long nights work.

"That sounds kind of exciting."

Listening to all that is said, he can't help but echo Prisim's enthusiasm.

Most fascinating, what are you expecting will happen when you activate the archive?

Lannior is more than willing to participate, his free-spirited nature, could never resist such a chance as this whatever this is. He nimbly plops down on a cushion. Then gesturing for the gnome to sit on the cushion next to his.

Join me here, Prisim.

Prism giggles at Lannior and snuggles down next to the tall elf.

"So exciting. Now if only there was a fire too."

Pau was t too happy with anything that had transpired today. He'd been hit by spells form both friend and foe, been mind controlled, and now someone he doesn't even know wants him to go plane hopping? "This is outside the scope of our mission, I'm afraid. I'm with Apollyanna. I think this is a poor idea."

"Agreed. We already almost got taken out by a floating head. We've got our own missions."

"But isn't being a pathfinder all about Exploring and Cooperating? Yuul said she needs us. This is part of the mission. Just thing, we could be among the first to see the contents in thousands of years! So, we had some trouble with a floating head. But obviously that was a guardian creature. As the guardian was still there, it must be tougher than anything in the chest, so we should be fine, right?"

"I... you're probably right, Prisim. I'll go along if others think we should."

Meredith barely stiffles a yawn as she shifts herself on the seat. "At least this is comfy. Let's see who we have to fight this time."

"Oh, I'm sure there will be no fighting. We are just exploring some fantastic memories. This'll be exciting. I'm done with fighting, that head was scary."

Yeah, right! Prisim, you are so naive, I remember when I was first level...

Venture-Captain Wulessa Yuul looks at you with a mix of expressions on her face. None of them are amusement.

"Perhaps I simply need to be clearer. I understand the Monadistic Archive to be a mental realm, one only our minds enter. Our bodies remain here. The doors are warded, and my servants trustworthy. No one will harm our bodies while we are away.”

You do have the opportunity to end here, if you like ... (with the scenario half finished) ... but assuming you move on ...

The Venture-Captain coaxes you into a circle, and invites you to hold hands. She speaks an incantation you can't follow from the center of the circle, and closes her eyes.

As Wulessa Yuul nishes her invocation, she bows her head over the unfurled scroll, and the room falls silent. The only thing breaking the quiet is the snapping of the curtains, billowing in a heavy wind. Curiously, the breeze does not stir any other fabrics in the room; even the Monadistic Archive’s scroll lies at on the floor. The doors remain sealed, and there is no sign the seance achieved its goal.

What do you do now?

Prisim goes over and pokes Yuul. "Hello?"

Then, assuming no response she checks out the window, which appears to be the only thing moving in the room.

"I wonder if we are already in the archive?"

Lannior leaps to his feet and gives a stretch. Watching Prisim cross over to the windows...Wait, weren't those closed just a few minutes ago..

He trails off looking around wondering if this is in his mind, it doesn't appear to be, but still how did the window get open. And that breeze would surely blow things around.

perception to notice anything else odd: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

"How do we know if it worked?"

"Huh. She did mention this would be an experience of the mind...We may be experiencing it already. And the VC mentioned it would take all of her concentration to do this. Let's take a look outside."

Meredith heads to a window to look outside.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Pau sighed. He expected things to go poorly and lo and behold, it seems that was the case. He also looked around the room, wondering what mess the group had gotten themselves into now.

Perception 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

You have little time to ponder on the oddities of the windows and the wind.

As Meredith and Prisim head to the window, Wulessa Yuul turns toward you from the center of the room. She is no longer a beautiful Venture Captain, but a hideous hag. Her claws grow and she raises her arms to attack.
The hag is not flat-footed. I don't have time to get a map up right now, but you're all 5' away in a circle around it.

—COMBAT—
Lannior
Prisim
Pau
Meredith
* Hag
Gailen
Apollyanna
Those in bold may act.

Anyone who attacks the hag needs to make a Will save:

Will save 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Pau moves 5' to attack the evil hag that has taken over the Pathfinder with two punches.

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage [dice]1d6+4/dice]

First, please post your character level so we can get the APL sorted, and make either character substitutions or tier adjustments to the scenario, if required.

Second, when that's all settled, please post:
* Player name
* Character name
* PFS #
* Faction
* Downtime

Player Great Green God
Character Apollyanna Lapin Sukino (1st level)
PFS # 139009-40
Faction Silver Crusade
Downtime Goofing off

Player: B Viggers
Character: Prisim (1st level)
PFS# 100387-14
Faction Silver Crusade
Downtime Trapmaking 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8; if I don't use my 2star re-roll in game, I'll probably use it on this.

Player Gerald
Character Pau (level 2)
PFS # 12445-13
Faction Sovreign Court
Downtime None.

Great, so Tier 1–2, so far.

Gailen?

Evarice is a bit busy right now. Luckily I have a level 2 Druid that can help out.

Player: chadius
Character: Meredith Une
PFS #: 133608-11
Faction: Liberty's Edge
Downtime: Profession(Forest Guide): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Psst. GM. Any chance you can close out the Siege of the Serpents thread? If we're still using it for stuff cool but otherwise I'm trying to clean up my campaign page.

A bit later than promised, but here are the holiday boon chronicles for Prisim and Apollyanna. I missed it if anyone else was interested ... it's not too later for me to give you those if your character was part of my Siege group.

That was the last reason for me to keep that table open, so yes, it's finally closed!

Thanks!

GM -- thanks for the invite

Player name Chaosorbit (David)
Character name Lannior Llarm
PFS # 90071-10
Faction the Exchange
Downtime Wandering the world.

Hey DM, we are currently getting pummeled by ice and snow right now and I really worried that the power might go off here. If so, it might be a couple days until things get corrected and I'm back. If I go silent for a bit, please feel free to run Pau for me.

Same is true for Doodle in your other game, DM.

It might be nothing, but I wanted to give a warning.

Yeah, same here. I'm in the DC area so we're right in the middle of it. Hopefully we don't lose power, but it's always a possibility.

I should mention I live close to Boston. Forecasts say it won't be as severe as they predicted a week ago.

No worries. It's possible I'll lose power too. Shouldn't be too bad here, but I'm rural enough that they might be slow restoring it if there is an issue.

I'm always a bit slow on weekends anyway.

Internet and pretty much everything else has been down since this weekend. I'll try to get caught up tonight.

No worries. Thanks for the heads up.

If Polly was smiting, shouldn't that overcome any DR, if the creature is evil?

If Polly was smiting, shouldn't that overcome any DR, if the creature is evil?

Not official smite just hitting real hard. Appollyanna used her smite earlier today.

I appreciate the note, however. Not having played a Paladin, I'd missed that detail of smite. Thanks.

I missed it too until a player pointed it out to me recently. Smiting goodness is even better than I thought!

I agree with the others, Crucible! Thanks so much for running a great game. And that spoiler was awesome, too...I knew some thing was weird from that encounter!

Yeah, this was a lot of fun, guys. Thanks for inviting me and thanks for the run. If you want Meredith or Evarice to join you again, feel free to drop me a line.

Player Great Green God

Character Apollyanna Lapin Sukino (1st level)
PFS # 139009-40
Faction Silver Crusade
Downtime Goofing off

The above info is double-checked and good. If there's something I need to get you for her faction card goal: "Defeat an outsider that has the evil subtype or an undead creature whose Challenge Rating is at least equal to your character level" (assuming there is a qualifier), lemme know.

Are the Shelyn scouts and the GM up for anything else?

I'm always ready for another adventure! The rest of you need an adult to keep you out of trouble!

Prisim is so up for something else. And I think will be second level at last, so I have to make a couple of calls about her dragon type.

I was initially thinking gold or silver, but went with black for the nice acid splash bonus damage at first level. Any thoughts from those who have played sorcerers before?

Burning hands is a nice spell to get bonus damage on, but fire is the most common resistance type. Decisions decisions.

"They call her the Acid Kid. She rides the range burning folks horribly with acid instead of usin' guns like they did on that show Gunsmoke. It smells something fierce when she's done gone and maimed a man--lemme tell ya, like bile and burning sweet meats. And the terrible wounds she leaves looks as gruesome as any honor maiming in Pakistan. Yep. Sweet kid though."

Evarice is still occupied, so if you're starting on the next adventure you're with Meredith.

Lannior is up to run another one. Also will be at level 2 thanks to run a Core special last night. Just let me know.

Gailen is also up for another Core game, and will now be level 2 as well.

As much as I would love to—this is a great group—I'm wanting to pare down my tables for a bit so I can catch up on work. I'm a bit too far behind on RL stuff.

It will probably be several weeks, but my next table will be announced at the Flaxseed Lodge.

No problems GM. Life keeps all of us busy. I took way too many games on during the last Gameday.

I can take over for a bit, but all I have right now is The Confirmation. I could run the level 2 CORE version. I have another scenario I can run, but it's for Tiers 3-7. Otherwise I'll have to buy another scenario.

A new Season 7 would be pretty sweet if you don't mind buying one.

What about the Twisted Circle?

Hmm, I can try it out. Give me a few days to look through it and get the scenario prepared.

No rush GM, but what would you guess the eta is on chronicles? I'm not looking for you do them immediately I just need a ballpark as to when they are coming. Apollyanna may have another game in the meantime.

Or did they arrive and I just missed the delivery?

It's only around for another hour or so, but if you haven't seen it, the Pathfinder Humble Bundle is a great way to get most of Season 6.

https://www.humblebundle.com/books/paizo-pathfinder-bundle

I missed it too :-)

I imagine GMC is just snowed under with other things.

Chronicles are up.
(finally)

Please let me know if there are any issues.

@Prisim: I used your "re-roll" (since you hadn't, I don't think), and "took ten". I think you need to correct your default faction in your character profile, too.. (You changed in an earlier adventure, right?)

@Gailen: I used previous information for you, and no down time.

@Pau: I applied what I believe is Pau's character number, as the one you provided was for Rumble.

The table has been reported to Paizo.

I'll mark this campaign inactive when I hear back from every one, or late next week, whichever comes first.

Yeap, Prisim is Silver Crusade now. What is she showing up as? The icon on her looks to be a silver crusade one to me.

Many thanks for the game.

Yes, GM, I'd given the incorrect PFS number. I blame my fat fingers. Sheet looks great. Thanks so much.

Hey Crucible - none of the info is filled out in the right hand column for Lannior (xp, fame, gold, etc)

Thanks

Thanks Crucible! Everything looks right!

Thanks GM- the chronicles are looking good.

I've taken a look at the Twisted Circle, and I'll have it set up by this weekend. I'll post in this thread when I'm all set, or PM you separately.

(Also, Meredith would enjoy playing in this scenario. It's right up her alley.)

Time to go- it's my wife's birthday.

@Lannior, I've updated your chronicle.

Thanks! Cheers!

At Prisim's request, I've set up a thread for Twisted Circle. All of you are invited, of course. Please post in the discussion thread to get this started.

Many thanks for running this for us.

Thanks Chadius. I think I'm gonna bow out to reduce my PbP load just a bit. I've been falling behind a bit more than I'd like in some of my games.