[PFS] 8-08 Tyranny of the Winds, Part : The Sandstorm Prophecy by GM Upaynao (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

Will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Alexis's frustration with herself at her poor performance in this test of will leads lends itself to a downward-spiraling effect on her ability to redeem herself...

Will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

...but at last, upon reflecting on this, she manages to disentangle herself from her own lesser emotions enough to liberate her mind, and from that, matter.

Grax finally lands at the exit, badly bruised and cut. He limps over to the chest. "I don't think I get the hang of flying, Javon. Down is suddenly up, up is suddenly a rock."

He looks over to the others. "Anyone have tools to open this?" He pulls out a wand of healing. "And can anyone use this to help me?"

Ollo crashes in the mouth of the exit and lies there a moment shaking the cobwebs out before slowly getting to his feet. He pulls a wand out from his belt, and soon his bruises and bloody scrapes fade away in the wash of golden light from the healing spells.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Turning to the others, he waves away Grax' wand and taps the half orc on his wounds before moving on to the next, healing everyones wounds in turn.
Grax: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Grax: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Alexis: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Your NL is also healed here
Khair: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Quick glance, those are the ones I see wounded. Anyone else wants a charge, just roll it and let me know!

With the lock holding onto nothing but pieces of wood, it is child's play for Ysmero to open the chest. Inside a feather with a fan delicately painted upon it, four massive hunks of quartz and a potion labeled "Levitate".

"Well done indeed! Come along, follow me!"

The tunnel follows a downward slope to a large chamber that stands out as particularly artificial among the otherwise roughly crafted trenches and caverns of the rest of the Sandflow Source. It finally arrives flush with the ground into a chamber, approximately 45 feet in diameter with a ceiling about 40 feet up, and clay-colored floor and rocky walls.
Eight statues ring the chamber, each sheathed in an element that clings to the figurines like an aura—constantly burning fire, a swirling cloud of fog, slate-colored stone, or a pocket of water held in place by an invisible force. Triangles etched into the floor connect matching pairs of statues. At the center of the room stands a large wooden desk with several jars on top. Some jars contain nothing more than a bit of dirt or rock, while others aregrislier, containing blood or, in one case, a disembodied eye.

As he walks on in, Iyasset immediately takes to the air, leaving you to deal with the woman at the center of the room. With her dogs rising and growling at you suspiciously, she looks like she is an oread, and perhaps a bit more, as the left side of her body seems to be more stone than person. With one stone arm, she grasps a spear, while the other holds a wand.

"I see Iyasset returns, but now with lapdogs. What is your intent here outlanders? Are you here to do violence onto me as he has long promised?"

Khair looks at the statues. He is looking for signs of danger but also has an interest in these relics as one who appreciates ancient relics.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Look at the expressions on the statues. They all look slightly different. Does that one look angry to anyone else?

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

"You are right Khair, one looks happy but the other is sad. Or angry, like the oread woman. Is she who we are here to fight?" The Nagaji takes a couple steps into the room to make room for his companions but also to be in the way of the spear wielder.

Grax smiles at Ollo. "Thanks. I needed that."

He steps towards the Oread. "We have no quarrel with you, but Iyasset mentioned a prophecy. Do you know anything about that?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Before:

Alexis gives the reward a once-over...

Spellcraft DC 27: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Spellcraft DC 18: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Appraise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

...but doesn't recognize any of it.

"Well, it says 'levitate,' but I would be careful of judging potions by their labels. Remember the fable of the 'Drink Me' cordial and 'Eat Me' cakes."

Presently:

Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

"These are the Elemental Lords," Alexis says of the statues.

The woman steps back further, her dogs growling as Iyasset shouts from up above "Yes! Kill the impudent trespasser! She would aspire to be more than she is. Her insolence must be punished!"

Javon lands on his porter's head. "You would be an elemental lord? That is high aspirations, my dear. Tell us, what is your name?"

Ollo moves into the new chamber and looks at the grand carvings on the statues. "This be fine work, lads.. Fine work indeed." As Iyasset shouts down at the Pathfinders, Ollo glares up at him. "We're tha prophecied ones, yes? Then let us deal with yer problems here, and leave us to it!" He gives the creature a stern look before addressing the woman in the circle.
"Miss, me names Ollo Hammersong. We are Pathfinders that have been sent on quest an' 'ave gotten mixed up with this lot. We've heard his side, may we hear yours as well?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

The dogs growl louder as Ollo approaches, but she barks a command and they both quiet down. "I am Qiarah, and Desna must smile upon me. I expected Iyasset's lackeys to wish nothing but violence upon me."
Seemingly a little less apprehensive, she still makes sure the altar is between you and her. "I am an oread by birth and a descendant of court wizards by lineage. My ancestors bound elementals like him to this plane, a fact that causes me no small amount of shame. They then ordered the bound ones to build what is now known as the lost city of Tumen. To atone for the sins of my fathers and mothers, I have decided to make myself into what they would have bound. An elemental of earth."

She motions Ollo to look as she rolls up her left sleeve, showing off her stone arm. "Living stone. It took me a while, but I have started replacing some of my tainted flesh with what it was meant to be. Working here in the Sandflow Source is vital to the process, but has attracted no small amount of people who would see me removed from here. The Goanron Triumvirate seem to think I am but a fool for trying to reclaim my heritage, saying that "fate has decreed that I was to straddle both worlds" while the Ainsi would see me driven and dead."

She snorts as Iyasset quietly murmurs something very unflattering about her. "Anyway, I will not leave until I am wholly stone. And that flying ass can suck it!"

Ollo listens carefully as the woman explains her presence, frowning at the apparent impasse that the situation presents. However, he chortles loudly at her last comment before he is able to control himself, resulting in a strangled choking sound as he tries to maintain his diplomatic demeanor.
"I can see yer plight here.. but is there no where else ye can do this at??"
And turning to Iyasset hovering over the party, he asks "Ye have heard her story, trying ta make amends fer what she sees is a wrong done not even by her, but in ages past. Is there no way ye can permit her ta be here fer a time ta complete her ceremony thingy in peace before she departs?"

Diplo just in case: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

I guess I didn't stop chortling soon enough...

"Prophesied ones, from where I stand there can be no compromise! IF we allow her to remain, soon this entire site will be filled with those who desire naught but ill-will to the Ainsi. Interlopers who will drain this site of all it's potency! I will bow to your wisdom, but I believe your path is clear" replies a rather miffed Iyasset, as a smile seems to quickly cross Qiarah's face.
"I could but the amount of time it would take me would be infinitely greater; the proximity to the Sandflow Source enhances my rituals' potency a hundred-fold at least" she finally replies to Ollo, but her body language seems to indicate that she is on the fence. Perhaps if she felt like she had a friend in the Pathfinders, aiding her in her quest, allowing her access to actual research on the matter, she might acquiesce to your request, not being bound to backwater methods in the middle of the desert.

I'm going to need a Diplomacy check versus Qiarah. The DC is a little lower than before, and Ollo's roleplay here has allowed for a small bonus to the diplomacy roll. So go ahead and give her a good explanation as to why she should leave and roll diplomacy. Aiding is possible, just declare it ahead of time.

Khair is not an overly imposing individual, but is also more an academic and warrior than a skilled negotiator. He watches from the background.

Grax's voice rumbles. "I doubt that even if others learned of her success, they would try to become elementals themselves. Besides, this seems like a complex and taxing ritual. Most would not survive it. But she could take an oath of secrecy."

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

So...Grax said that so quietly no one heard.

Diplomacy Aid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

"Uh...yeah...what they said." Ysmero grumbles, not entirely sure he shouldn't already be pummeling the oread.

Breaking from his trance of listening to the conversation unfold, Iddo clears his throat, the desert's dry air causing him to cough for a moment.

"Uh, Miss Qiarah, if being a stone is what you really want, there are plenty of spellcasters out there willing to do that for you. And if it's not just that, then I'm sure the Pathfinder Society can help you with that. You know, just a few months ago, a colleague of mine returned from an expedition with a crystal that could turn him into part oread! There's got to be a way we can help you complete the ritual without trespassing in these nice elementals' grounds."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"Furthermore, if the Pathfinder Society cannot help you, perhaps the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye can! The ambition to transcend mortality is one we understand."

aid Iddo's Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"Turned part oread? From what? How? This... This is remarkable! I would love to be the Pathfinder Society's guest should they allow me to study this gem! Or the Order of the Palatine Eye, they sound esoteric. Do they have access to that crystal as well? I must.. I must get ready" says Qiarah effusively as Iyasset scowls. "Please, take these wands as a token of my gratitude. Your society, they are in Absalom right? I'll head there and await your return" she adds as her and her dogs move along towards the southern exit.

Alexis carefully examines the gifts...

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
"This one generates disruptive etheric power...though that power is very limited..."

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
"...and this one replicates the 'glitterdust' phenomenon...but has very little resonance left."

She frowns and shrugs. These gifts are somewhat meager, but they might yet be useful.

Javon bobs his head up and down. Caw! Caw!"

"Well, that defused the situation. Good thinking, Iddo!" He turns to Iyasset. "You never know how prophecies will turn out!"

I think I have the majority of my computer woes figured out and the virus mostly rooted out. I should be back up and running by Monday, and until then, the computers at work perform just fine!

Ollo bows to Qiarah, and then again to Iyasset. "Ye see? Rough I may be, but e'en I kin tell there be more'n one way ta solve a problem! Onward now, me friends. Let's see what lies next fer us!"

Once Qiarah is long gone, Iyasset flies down to be among you. "Well. Your methods are certainly not what I had expected" he states in a rather less effusive tone than the one he had at the beginning of this journey. "But you have proven yourselves. I shall thus take you to meet with Aridiea, our leader. Follow me."

Without further ado, he leads you down the same passage as Qiarah before you, which turns into a staircase going back up to the surface, where the burning desert sands greet you again. Suddenly, the ground begins shaking as another creature, this one made of earth emerges, fully formed. A burst of fire at the edge of the trench flares up into several roughly humanoid shapes, all of which begin advancing toward the site’s entrance as the massive stone figure takes the shape of a stout woman.

“The Ainsi continue to cause us trouble,” she says in a slow grumble. “And now, you ally with these flesh-things. Do you really believe them to be the prophets?”
Slowly, her rocky face shifts into a half-smile. “Prophet or not, the Goanron Triumvirate would have a use for you. Join us, and we will give you rewards that make the offerings of the Ainsi pale in comparison. The Ainsi are flighty and careless. The only certainty with the Ainsi is their tendency toward violence and treachery. Whatever they’ve promised you, they would just as soon throw you off a cliff and steal from your corpse.”

Alexis, not interested in the stuff I put in the spoiler?

I absolutely am, but I was hoping Iddo, also a Scarab Sage, might figure something out there, since his Diplomacy modifier (and no doubt Stealth/Sleight of Hand, if it came to that) is better than mine.

Yeah, I'm sorry I'm posting on-and-off like that, I'm struggling with returning to school after an extended holiday now. I'll see if I can figure something out and post something meaningful when I have the time tomorrow.

Huh, I've seen these statues before. Yeah, in those visions. We should check this back at the lodge.

Realizing that their host might not view taking samples of the sacred statue as kindly as a researcher would, Iddo fakes not paying attention and walks into a statue, using the impact's force to chip some stone off and shove it into his pocket.

"Oh no! I'm, uh, I'm so sorry!", says Iddo, patting the statue as if to comfort a living being, "I knew my absentmindedness would break something important one day... my storytelling might be uplifting, but my head's up in the clouds too." That's wasn't a very good pun.

Using my Inspired trait to roll twice and take the better result.
Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 or Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Iyasset does not seem to notice Iddo pocketing the piece.

Iddo you believe that this part of the statue will wither and die much like a plant, should you not keep it in an appropriate receptacle. So which statue did you chip and how are you storing said chip?

Ollo looks back and forth between their guide and the new comers.
K. Local for WTH is going on?: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 HA! Sorry guys, got to role with the roll..

Ollo steps forward and gruffly gives a mighty harrumph. "First ye insult us, then ye try to get us on yer side.. all mixed up with tha gods only knows what. Now, whats yer problem and why tha nasty words? Ain't no call fer none o' that!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

A 1 is not an auto-fail on skill checks, and while it usually does not bode well, it's enough for you to remember information given to you by your companions on page one.

"I don't want to be thrown off a cliff....but we need to find that woman." Ysmero says, vaguely remembering something about an argument over an ancient city, but not remembering why he should care.

Javon pipes up. "Right! We need to find Jamila. She stole something from us!" He looks at the stone woman. "Do you know where she went?"

"I believe she talked with our leader the wise Ini-Kehrit, and I would be delighted to bring allies and friends of the Goanron Triumvirate to meet with him" replies the earth elemental woman-thing.

"Pah! I don't know which is most risible; your lies about the honor of the Ainsi or the notion that your leader is wise. Do not believe her Prophets! The one you seek spoke with a true leader, Aridiea of the Ainsi. She knows where the Janni went, and as Prophets, it would be my duty to bring you before her so that you may find her."

"True leader? If I didn't know it was impossible, I'd say you'd been consuming too many hallucinogenics you breezy dimwit. Fortunately, we all know how damaged your mind is, so out of respect for those who cannot think as clearly as the rest of us, I will not thrash you."

"Thrash me? Prophets, listen to this muddy tart. Clearly, keeping the company of root vegetables has molded some of their properties on her. Thrash her in the name of our friendship and let us speak of this ground-bound earthworm no more!"

"EARTHWORM? NOW LISTEN YOU..."

It seems that you have started a minor altercation between two people who cannot stand each other. Whatever it is that the Pathfinders decide, it may be that they make an irreversible choice!

Sense Motvie vs Earth Elemental: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Sense Motvie vs Iyasset: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Ysmero attempts to read these strange creatures, wondering if either of them is truly sincere about telling them where the Janni has gone to. Whichever he trusts most will be the one he sides with.

Ysmero believes both of them believe themselves to be telling the truth. He can also sense that the Pathfinders have about equal standing with either envoy at this point; and that whoever they choose to go slong with, it is likely the other will take the news poorly.

I think we have to pick one to take sides.

Javon squawks and flies down to the group. "They are bickering, but if we lend our voice to one side, that might break the deadlock. Iyasset has seen us through this ordeal. Plus, I don't want to fight the winds, if he turns on us!" The bird holds out his wings.

"I was going to suggest we side with the Triumvirate, actually. Identitarian separatists, which is what Iyasset's faction rather sounds like, are a special sort of trouble, irrational and inevitably treacherous."

Trying to see if I can know what kind of container would preserve the piece of the statue.

Knowledge (Dungeoneering, History, Local, Nobility, Planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 +1 Religion or Arcana

"But what about the lost city? Atumen, or something, the one the Goanron want to keep hidden. The Ainsi want to uncover it, and such a discovery is probably in the Society's interest. I think."

Iddo believes that the appropriate receptacle for his shard would be dependent on what icon he took a piece from.

Which leads me to ask: Which one would you have taken a piece off of?

Also it's looking like there's a majority for the Ainsi. So, unless someone posts something contrary to that in the next twelve hours or so, that's what we are going with.

Hmm... one of the blue (presumably water) statues, I think.

GM: This is more for s$#+s and giggles than anything.. and.. its how Ollo is. Just ignore it if it doesn't play well with anything going on.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Finally, Ollo steps forward once more. "I'm hearin' yer arguments, but I'm not seein' yer points." he begins in a conciliatory manner, making placating motions at both Elemental beings. "Yer both sayin' tha ye know where our "Friend" is, and tha she spoke ta both yer leaders. If'n she was able ta speak ta both 'o yer kings, then we can too.. and with none 'o yer fightin ta boot." He pauses a moment, trying to gauge his audience before speaking over the expected burst of emotion. "Now.. I know ye've been fightin fer ever, its in yer natures ta not like another. But WE are not you.. and WE can act like brokers 'o a sort here."

Turning to the Air elemental, Ollo says "We're yer "Promised Ones", right? We've passed yer tests an no led ya astray yet. Trust us and keep yer faith about ye."

Turning to the Earth elementa, Ollo continues "We've no met yet, but tha names Ollo. Servant o Torag, I be, an I donna just fight fer whim nor fancy. I am sure we can find a way ta solve this wi'out drawing steel on each other.. Can ye be patient long enough fer us to make a deal?"

This sort of thing is MORE than welcome in my games. Especially at low level and when the choice offered is just kinda... dumb. So you can avoid having to duke it out with either party, but the entire party needs to really step up their RP to try and broker a deal. If you do, I'll let you choose your reward at the end of the game on an individual basis.

Both of the envoys look at the dwarf with considerable respect. "I am assuredly the most level headed one here" speaks the earth elemental. "What would you offer, child of the darklands?" Iyasset scoffs at her words, but nontheless retorts: "Level-headed? You're an obstinate boulder, but I will hear the prophets out. Like the wind, they too do not let themselves be constrained by the wills of others."

Javon begins to speak again, but Grax grabs the bird. "Javon, let's let Ollo handle this one." The half-orc turns to the two elementals. "Would it be possible to speak to both your leaders? They may each have insight into Jamila's plans."

Both envoys turn to Grax, and Iyasset takes the lead: "Probably not prophesied ones. That is too much to ask of us, even for beings such as yourselves" he says, with the earth elemental nodding along in agreement.

Ollo gives each of the elemental envoys a bow of respect. Turning to his companions, he says in an aside "We be on a slipp'ry slope o crumblin' sandstone 'ere.. but jus mehbe we can pull some'in outta this.."

Straitening his tunic, he turns back to the elementals. "Ye say Jamila was able ta speak ta both o yer kings, but we're no so lucky. Ye say ye'll listen ta a deal, but offer no marks or concessions. We need ta find Jamila, but ye say we need ta choose 'tween you. What did she do tha she was able ta talk ta both o ye?" He spreads his hands in a helpless manner before turning to Iyasset.
"You would have us ta follow ye. What would ye have o the Goanron Triumvirate?"

Turning towards the Triumvirate Representative, he asks the same. "Same o you. Ye would have us to follow you to yer king, but prevent us from doing as Jamila did an speak ta both kings. What would ye have o the Ainsi, and what would ye have o us?"

This is the way Ollo sees it.. Two factions both wanting the opposite in everything it seems. They both want us to go with them, and said its not possible to see both. Either we can try to solve their disagreement (highly doubtful) or we can at least broker a truce between the two parties for a time.. long enough for us to get what we need and skedaddle!

Both envoys sputter and hem and haw. "Well..." starts Iyasset. "You know..." continues the earth elemental. "She is a Janni... So..." finishes Iyasset as they both seem to be at a loss as to how to respond to the dwarf without appearing like the xenophobic gatherings that they are.

I would like either a diplomacy check or an intimidate check from anyone here. Let's see how your rolls support your words. You are looking for two more successes, with the DC decreasing in between both checks. Your initial DC is 20 and the second DC is 18

Flexing his biceps as he holds his longbow Khair looks from one envoy to the other. He isn't drawing the bow, only holding it where it can easily be used.

Intimidate, Aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

"Okay, consider this. We're your prophets, which must mean we're really important. However, you still wouldn't let us meet with both your leaders. You did let Jamila meet them... simply because she is an elemental. That would mean that as important as we are, elementals are that much more important. And guess what? You're all elementals. You see what I'm going at? Because I hardly am..."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

"She is also a thief. She stole from us. She might have stolen something from you. Maybe your leaders don't even know it. You claim to both be honorable, but you value a thief's presence more than ours."

Diplomacy, aid: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Both elementals seem to shift uneasily. "Uh.." "Well..."

You are very close! One more success and we'll be done with this encounter!