[PFS] 8-00 The Cosmic Captive by GMUpaynao - Subtier 7-8 (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

Whoops! Yeah, CMD 22's right. I'll update the profile.

Reflex v Prone: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Reflex v noooooooooooo!: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Knocked prone and battered by the rush of water, Barnaby nevertheless manages to grab on to a jagged stone to catch himself before plummeting below.

Seeing one of the witches not be so lucky, he spits out water to call out "The snapleaf! Don't forget the snapleaf!"

The problem with that is that you don't have an action until you hit the bottom of the trench. But perhaps someone else can try to help?

With the Flight Hex, a witch can Feather Fall at will, which should at least stop her from taking falling damage.

I'll allow it, but it must only be the effects of feather fall. No immediate action flight here.

Reflex DC 17: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Reflex DC 19: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Lyan manages to stay upright, but the pit still beckons...

Reflex 1, DC 17: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Reflex 1, DC 19: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Sigh

Wait! If Haste is in effect, both of those above get a +1!

Hooray for Haste then!

Ethendril Reflex #1: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 1 = 11
Ethendril Reflex #2: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 = 25

Ethendril gets knocked prone, but otherwise manages to avoid being washed over. Only Tessara and Lyan get washed off, into the depths, with Tessara using a bit of her magic to hex herself into a slow fall down.

Falling Damage: 8d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 1, 1, 1, 3, 4, 4) = 21

Lyan on the other hand, finds himself prone at the bottom of a 80 foot pit. Thankfully, the gravity is still low.

I believe that there are at least two people with lengths of rope which can be knotted. Therefore, I'm not going to spend any more time on Lyan or Tessara's climb back up. Heal as necessary!

After the climb back up, the Pathfinders quickly find themselves in an enormous ice cavern, to which several smaller tunnels like the one you have emerged from arrive at. Hanging from the icicle-covered ceiling by sturdy chains is a block of ice, in which hundreds of humanoid shapes seem to be bound. The looks upon their faces are mostly similar; horror, fear, agony... however, at the head of the crowd stands a regally clad giant, staring ahead with barely contained disgust, her pose suggesting defiance in the face of some unseen tormentor.

Back to you! Sorry for the delay, I was trying to kill as many PCs as possible in Bonekeep 2 today.

After ringing out her faux fur coat, Rowanna draws her wand of Infernal Healing and heals herself over 30 seconds. HP back up to 50

"I suppose this place is just full of surprises." She murmurs as the group enters the Ice Cavern in all its enormity. "I hope whatever did this isn't still present."

Afterwards, she casts Detect Magic over the area.

Rowanna's detection does not reveal that any of this is currently magical. Created by magical effects though... Well. Unless there was a particularly obsessive dwarf with a fondness for cubes, this was definitely the result of a magical effect.

The place almost feels like a prison of sorts. Of the jailers though, there is no sight.

"No magical auras, although if this is a prison I'm certain there will be traps or a warden somewhere." Rowanna says to the others as she takes a non-magical look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

As Rowanna looks around, Barnaby is fixated on the frozen creatures sealed within.

Knowledge checks on the creatures inside?: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 2 + (3) + 2 = 25
That's assuming Planes, Local, or Religion. Add 7 more if Arcana. Or if I need to make multiple checks, let me know.

"Sorrina's message," the detective says, thinking out loud. "She said Kelizandri himself was involved with this place, right? Do you think we might not have been the first to get on his bad side?"

He fiddles to the sheated cane at his belt nervously. "And if so, are we going to have a little more than some flooding to deal with as we go?"

Shaking his head, Barnaby steps cautiously forward. "I can take a look to see if there are some more surprises. But unless you've got some efreeti cords, melting them out could be a whole other set of problems. Assuming we even want to - I know the ghost talked about 'freeing' but then again she didn't exactly seem the most stable.."

Perception on ice block for traps: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 2 + 4 = 30

To Barnaby's trained eye it looks like the block isn't trapped. However it is keeping the creatures inside trapped, this in spite of the growing temperature. That said, it should be easier to break the chains and the ice should one not mind getting a little frostbite (read cold damage).

A giant! You can't trust giants, can ya? I mean, that what I've always been told. August will await any instructions from his smart friends. I believe August is still unharmed.

Almost missed the part where you rolled knowledge (Planes).

Barnaby also believes that while most of the creatures within are beings with strong ties to the elemental plane of water, the woman up front is in fact a shahzada marid. A commander. Someone with great power who would be in command of many times the amount trapped within the bloc found by the Pathfinders.

Lyan clambers out of the pit and uses a wand on himself.

CLW: 7d8 + 7 ⇒ (1, 7, 1, 6, 8, 3, 6) + 7 = 39

Once in the icy prison, he assesses the situation. Eyeing August's sky metal sword, he gets an idea.

"If we can get you up there, I'm sure your blade will make short work of those chains."

"We have to break those chains. My flight hex won't work on anyone else, unfortunately," Tess grumbles as she looks for a way up.

To break the chains you may either shoot at them from below, fly up or climb up to them. Alternatively you could try and break the ice.

"That oracle said we needed to unleash our wrath on the chains. In eg those are the ones she was speaking about."

Barnaby fishes into his pack and looks to August. Not a giant. A marid. Generally genies can be negotiated with, or at least intelligent enough to talk to. Maybe it can finally explain why a demigod's so interested in this place.

His fingers catch what they were looking for and he pulls out a scroll with a smile. "Ah, here we go. Should take care of the chill, courtesy of Zarta.

Barnaby will offer to cast Resist Energy and Fly on anyone who want to get up and smash the chains. He could also do it himself, but lacks adamantine and suspects some of the others may be better at the task.

While the others investigate, Ethendril takes a few moments to heal everyone's wounds.

"If any are injured, come near to me," he says.

I have 11 channels...I'll go ahead and roll a few of my lesser channels, so go ahead and put back wand charges. Let me know if you need more.

channel: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 3) = 13

August would be willing to be the one to break the chains with his weapon.

@Barnaby: I say cast them on August.
@Ethendril: Lyan would still be 26 hp down after your channel.

At August' nod, Barnaby focuses and begins casting the necessary spells on the fighter. "Good luck. If you see anything strange...er up there yell. Loudly."

Casting Resist Energy Cold (Resist 10 for 30 minute) and Fly (8 minute duration) on August.

The Channel brings Jal to 54.
Wand of CLW, x charges: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Jal takes a moment to bring himself back to full capacity as he listens to the discussion. ”My blade’s not adamantine.” He gives August a nod, ”Shout if you need us.”

Ethendril volunteers his adamantine blade.

"My father's sword would certainly be up for the task," he says.

Lyam can get back 2 charges of his wand, then...or I can do additional channels if he'd like.

@Ethendril: No worries. Save your easily accessible abilities for when a wand isn't practical.

August brandishes his adamantine greatsword. Imma thinkin' this oughta do the trick! August lets out a huge belly laugh and then goes about his task.

August (or should I say Ethendril?) take 5 points of cold damage.

August flies up to the top of the block, where the chains are bolted upon the surface of the ice. With a smug grin, he begins wearing away at the chains, which finally snap in a matter of seconds.

With all the remaining weight bearing on the remaining chains, it's only a matter of seconds before the entire thing comes crashing down, shattering into a thousand pieces.

Slowing rising upward, the prisoners within shake off the weariness of their long confinement, going over to help each other. However, the giantess needs no help, nor does she accept any. Rising back up she marches towards the Pathfinders and bows her head respectfully. "My thanks mortals for releasing me and my companions. However, the danger you have put yourselves in now rivals ours for daring to rebel." She shakes her head, seemingly disgusted by her actions. "I am sorry I have dragged you into a quarrel that isn't your own. However, let it be known that I will make it right. Take my hand and I will teleport all of you to your world."

She seems to be getting a Greater Teleport ready to bring you back onto the surface of Golarion. However, it looks like she is willing to talk. Or perhaps even be swayed to another course of action.

Barnaby takes a few more large steps back as the block of ice slams into the ground.

As the giant marid speaks, Barnaby lets out a small chuckle and point to the Glyph of the Open Road on his armor. "I guess you've never sen this before then. We're Pathfinders: getting accidentally involved in quarrels is almost expected."

"But what's your name. And who trapped you and your friends in there? Because we've got plenty of our own all around this rock, and I'm not going to just leave all of them behind if that's what they can look forward to."

Barnaby is quite the good talker if we want to roll a check, but due to outside knowledge I'm going to step back from taking the IC lead on this.

★ - OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT - ★

“The crater has been claimed, but our divinations indicate that Ayrzul is not happy about this! We’re experiencing unexpected surges in gravity everywhere, especially near the crater and vault!” Sorrina Westyr declares, madly strapping herself down as everything as everything rattles and shakes around her. “Hold on!”

Meanwhile behind her, Drendle Dreng is holding up a bottle, as he weaves back and forth in the convulsing landscape. “I feel the earth move under my feet, I feel the sky tumbling down... WOOOOOO HOOOOO!”

___
AREA B; The Crater, is claimed and safe for travel! GMs, there is an Earth Event happening now!

"Oh good," Jal snarks at the announcement, "More good news from our esteemed leaders."

Preparing for whatever calamity will come next, the Varisian takes a moment to size the giant up, listening for deception or threats. "Smart Guy's right," he yells up at her, "We're not planning on going anywhere just yet."

The giant is now Jal's Studied Target, and he'll use Perception / Sense Motive to see if there's anything up.
Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20; +2 if Studied Target is appropriate
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 2 = 20

"Though we would be happy of any assistance you could offer," Ethendril adds. "Or perhaps you could get us home once we are finished here."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

"I'm afraid we have further business deeper inside the asteroid, so we will need to politely refuse your offer of teleportation. However, before you leave, could you perhaps tell use what transpired here to leave you imprisoned or perhaps tell us more about the layout of this place? Any information you can impart would be very helpful to us."
Rowanna says in a conversational tone, although clearly she's had very little training in the art of oratory.

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Aid another diplomacy 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

"Yes, thanks for your kind offer, but we have pending business here for the time being. If you'd like to help us, we'd appreciate any assistance you could provide. "

She looks to each and every one of you in turn and sighs, shaking her head as the magical threads woven together for the Teleportation dissipate. "What transpired... You face instant annihilation, yet not only are you defiant in the face of your deaths, but you actually have the audacity to ask questions!"

A sly grin appears on her face as for a moment, gravity seems to change, knocking down some of the weakest freed prisoners. On the Marid and yourselves though, there is no real effect. It's at this point that Jal gets the impression that you just made her day.

"I was a faithful vassal of Kelizandri for eons, serving the Brackish Emperor as the guard to whatever resides in that gem within this rock. But as the ages went by, I heard something. A voice... No... A feeling. Carried by the breeze within the stellar rock. I listened, and I made a choice. I chose to try to rescue it and escape. But I was betrayed. And Kelizandri punished me for my insolence. Well. Pre-punished me. I'm sure the Brackish Emperor had something more gruesome in mind."

She ponders her next words for a minute before continuing: "I must still get those who cannot fight anymore who took up my cause out of here. However, I will try and rally whoever is left that can still fight to help your people out and back to where they came from. After whatever it is you think you can accomplish. Furthermore, to show my intent on making good on my word, I will grant you one wish. No gimmicks. No distorting your words into something you didn't really want. But nothing that can be used for selfish gains. No gold. No increasing your abilities. Weapons? you got it. Power over your next foe? Sure. Health? You already all look healthy so... Magical gear that isn't weapons? Well... We'll have to see."

She cracks her fingers, with a smug look on her face. "What'll it be?"

You can wish for a bonus against your next opponent or for weapons and armor worth a max total of 40 000 gp. I'm open to wishing for consumables, but those might see their price bumped up for the purposes of counting towards this total. Well done Pathfinders!

Moving along, since we're apparently falling behind... (Sorry everyone)

As you make your way deeper into the caves, ice turns to hard stone, and soon you believe yourselves to be in the depths of the Vault Entrance. Rounding a corner, you come across someone you may recognize. The loud boorish Venture-Captain Denell Hamshanks. "'Bout f+~%ing time you f*#@ing f+&*s show your f+~#ing faces here. Here's the situation. These f*&*ing shit-bag Akitonians have been looking around like the f!&*ing four-armed freaks they are. They have something on them that's f@%!ing with our f$!!ing portal. Either tell them to quit their shit or beat them into not having those things on." And without further ado, Hamshanks storms off, nearly missing slamming his head into a low hanging stalactite.

Not too far off, in a cavernous opening, two four armed green-skinned men look around, brandishing strange boxes of metal. By some odd miracle, they have not heard the litany of foul language the wonderfully rotund Venture Captain has delivered.

Back to you!

I say we take bonuses against the next enemies, and try to deal with these two really quickly.

I agree with Tess.

Lyan gives the four-armed beings an assessing look.

Knowledge (arcana/nature?): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

"I'm all for honoring Ragathiel by smiting those mighty foes, but if you think we should try to resolve this peacefully, so be it."

As a character who doesn't have much use for weapons and armor, I also vote for the combat bonus.

"Yes, I agree that peaceful resolution is worth a shot, at least initially." Rowanna says calmly as she looks over the strange humanoids.

Blind Knowledge Roll: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Knowledge (Arcana), Knowledge (Nature), Knowledge (Planes) +18; Knowledge (Religion) +12; Knowledge (Local) +8

August would readily accept any combat bonuses that could be offered.

Looking confused, the dwarf then asks Rowanna, So, we ain't gonna beat on anyone? August looks saddened but understands that talking sometimes works just as well as fighting.

"Let's do it," adds Jal as he begins to move forward, watching the two creatures. Making them his Studied Targets. He looks over at August with a wink, "Ya never know, we may still get our chance to beat on someone here."

After making their plan to attempt to resolve things peacefully, Ethendril hails the four-armed creatures.

"Greetings," he says with an uplifted palm. "We would discuss these portals with you," he says, hoping they can resolve things without the need for bloodshed.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Hi Folks, I'll be taking over for Upaynao for today and tomorrow

The four-armed warriors give Ethendril a confused look, and start to slowly set aside their boxes to get their hands free.

Qain tal shobtal, minsh? Shobtal ni granna shob. Mir callan stundj dunna ling?

Rowanna and Lyan have heard of these creatures. They're the Shobhad, an Akitonian people with a proud and ferocious martial heritage. Luckily, they seem to speak a dialect similar to the Giant language.

Tess smiles as she figures out the tongue. She then relates the message that Eth delivered. "We'd prefer talking to fighting. Perhaps we could get you to leave the portals and allow us to pass. Without violence of course."

Aid another diplomacy 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

★ - OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT - ★

The image of Sorrina Westyr appears as she helps an enormous water elemental dispatch a band of gargoyles. “We do not stand alone in our efforts, my friends. Our teams discovered a band of rebels fighting back against our adversaries and we have begun to coordinate with them. Some much needed assistance should be arriving shortly.”

Table GMs, the Allies benefit is now in play!

I'll actually treat that as Ethendril aiding your Diplomacy, since you're doing the heavy lifting so to speak. Window is still very much open to give him Tongues and change that up, or have other people pitch in helpfully

The leader leers at you, a bit mockingly, then she says:

Qen pursh habt gounda, undj. Ketar shto, an ni shob. Pursh ni shalb granna. An granna bal, qen?

***Edit***

Qain tal, ornst!

The Shobhad are visibly caught off guard by Sorrina's sudden appearance, and look around, watching for other surprises.

You all can now call on some aquatic assistance for a single fight, though it might not be quite the size of Sorrina's new pal :p

Can't fail the Sense Motive check.

"They're posturing, though they'll fight us if necessary."

"Let's leave them alone. Save our blades for whatever's next."

As a reminder, those items they have are interfering with the Society's portals, so while leaving them alone is an option, it is not a successful resolution.