[PFS] 8-10 Tyranny of the Winds, Part 2: Secrets of the Endless Sky by GM Upaynao (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

"Ow!" Pavo cries out as the lizard's teeth sink into his neck and burns his skin. He calls upon Shelyn to heal him as he moves to twist the lizard into a position where it cannot retaliate.

Lay on Hands: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Grapple (Pin), Unbroken Grapple Bonus: 1d20 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 5 = 16

Was that extra d6 Fire damage? Pavo has Fire, Acid, and Cold resist 3.

Ok, so you take 1 less damage from that. And that is not going to pin.

Having nothing else she can do in the confines of the alley, Agate takes another shot.

Okay, since it appears to be customary to calculate the modifiers in...

Ranged attack, into melee, with cover: 1d20 + 6 - 8 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 8 = 4
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Shoot. Then the lizard is free.

Pavo loses his grip on the struggling lizard as he tries to reposition it.

1) I would rather be puppeteered in a pinch than passed over, let us be clear on that.

2) Have we rested since the party?

3) Is it whatever passes for night here, and if so, is the sky visible?

The light around Alexis mysteriously dims into an eerie localized gloaming as she points at the lizard-being, who is suddenly surrounded by a swarm of miniscule pale stars.

Stardust: The lizard-being sheds light as a candle, cannot benefit from concealment or any invisibility effects, and takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks for 1 round.

1) Gotcha
2) No, you decided to head towards the Cloisters ASAP.
3) It's night, and the sky is visible. Like I said in the discussion, you can see stars.

"Still feeling that mercy, Pavo?" Bailey asks coyly as he fires another bolt. "Relax, Shelyn won't fault you on this one. Unless she's the one messing with my aim, although I'm pretty sure that's just me."

Fire Ray, into melee, cover: 1d20 + 2 - 8 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 8 = 0
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"By the Lord of Laws! Is one of the Eternal Maiden's areas of concern foolishness? What fool goddess would order you to jump upon a scalding skink?"

Thaia reloads, because obviously someone has to do something.

Ollo vs Stupid Lizard: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 = 14

Ollo keeps on taking his hammer to the nearby masonry, as the creature unleashes an electrical arc against Pavo.

Electrical, Non-lethal Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Pavo, Reflex save DC 13 against that zap for half a zap. A "z" ? What's half an a?

Round 3

Steam Lizard 10 dmg -
Agate
Blaizin' Bailey
Ollo 1 NL dmg -
Alexis 0 dmg -
Thaia
Pavo 7 dmg -

Thank you for botting me, GM! I appreciate it. Given the chance to retcon this round, I would like to use this spell. If not, this will be my action next round.

Cursing, Ollo is quickly losing patience with this oversized steam puffing frog. Calling upon the holy power of might Torag, Ollo mutters a short prayer before commanding the frog thing "FALL!!" in his strongest commanding voice. Casting Command: Fall, DC 13 will

Seeing this is getting nowhere, Agate lowers her crossbow. "This'll help your aim," she says as she taps Bailey on the arm, transferring a shiver of magic.

Diviner's Fortune: For this round only, Bailey gets a +2 insight bonus to attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws.

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"Ah! I let you go!" Pavo exclaims as he lurches out of the brunt of the electric discharge. He continues in his movement to pin the lizard between himself and the dwarf. "I tried to be gentle."

He pulls a silver blade from his belt and punches at the lizard with the heavy, blunt hilt.

Silver Kunai, Flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 = 19
P/B, Silver: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Corrected totals: -1 HP, 4 NL

"Hold...still...you...wannabe...dinosaur!" Bailey grunts through gritted teeth, his shot going wide even with Agate's guidance. "I might be a lost cause on this one."

Fire Ray, Fortune, into melee, cover: 1d20 + 2 + 2 - 8 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 2 - 8 = 3
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Pavo, Reflex save DC 13 against that zap for half a zap. A "z" ? What's half an a?

I think there's an '-ap' for that.

Dissatisfied though she might be with the direction this has gone, Alexis draws her weapon - a rather beautiful thing that would more resemble a scepter if not for the spikes - and tries going with a more 'common' approach.

masterwork morningstar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

Thaia shot the lizard?: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 4 = 15
But she did not shoot the deputy: 1d12 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Thaia, having reloaded takes sight and snaps off a shot that wounds the creature only slightly. But between her efforts and those of Alexis and Pavo, the beast is brought down, falling limp and bleeding out on the cobblestones of Armun Kelisk.

End of Combat recap

Steam Lizard 23 dmg - Bleeding out
Agate
Blaizin' Bailey
Ollo 1 NL dmg -
Alexis 0 dmg -
Thaia - Delay
Pavo 1 dmg, 4 NL dmg -

Your fight has gotten you some attention, and it is certain that guards will be on site soon. But, you aren't very far from the cloisters either.

"We should probably keep this thing alive," Bailey notes as it hits the floor. "But shall we stay here and face questioning, or flee the scene of the crime?"

"Not knowing who or what its master is," says Agate, "heading for the Cloisters might be the safer option."

I don't suppose we know anything about how the city laws tend to handle self-defense which nearly kills the original attacker...?

There is a certain amount of prejudice. And while the leader of Armun Kelisk is known bon-vivant, the entire plane does nominally fall under the purview of a evil demigod.

Alexis leans over the creature and invokes the Will of Lifthrasir (stabilize) upon it before beckoning the others toward the Cloisters.

"Thank you," Pavo says, resting a hand on Alexis' shoulder as he slides away a wand. "This creature was not evil. It was merely doing as it was told."

He nods at Agate. "Let's go. Hshurha's justice is no justice."

"We should probably keep this thing alive," Bailey notes as it hits the floor....

"Why? I know an excellent taxidermist."

Leaving the scene of the struggle behind, you step into the halls of the Cloisters of the Hidden Breeze. Dedicated in celestial script to Pulura, it offers blessings to the homesick, the weary, and the lost.

No-one challenges your presence here, and you are soon surrounded by quiet, contemplative azata monks and scholars, all seated or standing within the midnight-blue stone walls; or taking advantage of the numerous shallow alcoves carved within said walls that seem to encircle the temple. Taking a closer look within these recesses, glass lanterns flicker with firelight, like stars in the night sky. Four towers stand aloft, topped by azure domes decorated with gold painted constellations and winkling crystals. A gilded gate stands ajar, opening into a courtyard full of herbs and flowers.

One of the monks finally approaches you and bows, hands held open in a silent welcome. "Feel free to peruse our modest library, and enjoy the grounds upon which it stands. Please be quiet out of respect for our other patrons, and no book should be removed from these grounds" she whispers.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Agate pauses a moment to take in the unfamiliar sights.

If anyone has need, I do have a CLW wand. Just roll it and let me know what needs deducted. GM: I take it that the spell never went off and I still have the spell available?

Ollo looks down at the fallen creature with sadness. "I ne'er meant ta hurt ya.. just wanted to talk." As the others run off, he quickly follows, glad for Alexis and her deed.

K. Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Oblivious of the god of this temple, Ollo stares about at the sights as he enters the cloister. When the monk approaches, Ollo returns the mans bow.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"Tha thanks 'o me an me friends, sir. Tell me, Could ya point me to tha library?"

[ooc]I figure we could use this as a cover to look for tall, dark, and handsome, and maybe find some information that we need on the opal and the Consortium at the same time?[/b]

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"Thank you," Pavo says in a quiet voice and with a polite bow. "We appreciate the hospitality of the Shimmering Maiden. I heard the depth, if not the breadth, of your library could rival the Azure Hall, though." He smiles sincerely.

Nodding at Ollo's question, he adds, "Yes. Which way to the library?"

Diplomacy, Aid Ollo: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

The Azata looks at you, stumped. "Errr... You are in the library. It is rather big and unlike any of it's kind. But, perhaps there is a specific book or series of books I might be able to help you with?" she offers, looking rather eager to help.

My bad. Didn't realize the whole thing was considered a library..

"Well.. ahh.." the dwarf stammers out, embarrassed at his own lack of understanding of this place.

"Perhaps ye have some books on tha Untouchable Opal? We're tryin ta learn as much as we can about it fer tha mages back home.."

DOH. Forgot something in my haste. Before you left the lizard, you did find an item on him. An ornate lantern in a fire-proof leather pouch.

"Oh, of course! Follow me please." The azata quickly takes you to a section somewhat isolated from the others, and with an all-encompassing gesture explains: "This would be the section where we would hold books dealing with the elemental lords, both current and gone, and any lore having to do with them. Please do not hesitate to come and see me if you need further help. I'll be back in the main dome."

Several desks are surrounded by shelves upon shelves of books, scrolls and other documents, enough for several lifetimes.

Agate examins the lantern closely with her arcane senses since she does have Detect Magic prepared, see below.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

"Hmm... I see nothing especially unusual about it," she says.

At the news that they are already in the library, Agate prepares for some research by murmuring a quick incantation and tossing a pinch of something in the air. Casting Comprehend Languages, good for the next 40 minutes.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Agate looks around at the shelves with the sort of expression most dwarves reserve for piles of gold, but suddenly she stops and walks over to an inconspicuous door with an inscription above it. "What's this? 'Concordance members only', it says."

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Thaia rolls her eyes and thinks about how much more efficient the library would be in private, for-profit hands.

"Ah. I thought this was a temple," Pavo confesses. "But, yes, information on the elemental lords would be excellent."

Inside the hall on elemental lords, Pavo begins searching through the texts.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

He looks over at Agate. "What's what?"

Spellcraft, Detect Magic: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 13

"Does it say that? I didn't notice," Bailey says, blissfully ignorant. "I was paying attention to all these books." The ifrit looks around for any staff that might be about. "And are we going to let such a small thing stop us?"

Can one aid another on a Spellcraft check to identify a magic item? It wouldn't be that different from aiding a Knowledge check, so it makes sense from that standpoint....

aid Agate's Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 FFS.

You know, it's not that you don't see anything special--you see the auras--you just don't understand what effect they create.

Agate points out the door and the empty hook beside it. "I wonder... a light should go on a hook by a door, shouldn't it? But I can't say what the effect might be..." she muses aloud.

She makes a quick gesture, speaking an arcane word, then gazes intently at the door.

Casting Detect Magic on the door and hook, just for the heck of it, to see if that provides any clues.

Also, what do we roll against to check the books here for information on Ranginori and/or the Opal?

As Agate looks over the lantern, she can feel its moderate evocation aura but cannot decipher it's purpose.

How are you dealing with the door?

Just staring at the door with Detect Magic right now, not touching it until after we have a chance to look through the books and scrolls.

The door does not seem magical.

While most of the documents here are interesting, none of them even begin to broach the topic that interests you most. At best, they offer you information you already possess. All that remains after a couple hours of examining the literature available here is the door.

About 20 minutes in:

"I thought we were here to set up an ambush; not write a book review."

"A sufficiently scathing book review can BE tantamount to an ambush...."

LANTERN:
Ollo picks up the lantern and takes a look at it after several of his compatriots are unable to identify it, but he too is stumped as to the nature of the item. He shoves it into a pack and keeps moving on.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

LIBRARY:
Ollo eagerly follows their new guide over to the Concordance section, then thanks the man heartily for his aid. As his team sees the door but concentrates on the books, Ollo helps out to pass the time, but stays where he can keep an eye on the door for anyone coming and going.

As the team discusses what to do and how to get through, Ollo shrugs as Agate mentions hooks and lanterns. "Might as well give 'er a try??" he muses, taking the lantern out and hanging it from the hook before stepping back.

Agate stands back as Ollo tries hanging the lantern...

"Do dwarves often stare at lanterns this much? Don't you two see enough of these in your mines?"

Thaia offers to help hoist the lantern over the hook if it seems beyond Ollo's reach, having grown bored with the dwarves' moth-like lantern-fascination-thing before it has begun.

"No," Pavo replies to Thaia's earlier comment. "Not precisely. We came tonight to search for the lore on the trapped elemental lords in the library. It also provides us with an opportunity to scout the temple before trying to confront the Concordance operative purported to be seen here."

He chuckles at the hidden door revealed by the dwarves and the warning translated by Bailey. "Though, that door will be a challenge to ignore, now."

"Well, we have plenty of time to read up on the Lords here," Bailey reasons. "At the same time, perhaps those...less scholastic among us...can watch the door? No telling when our target, or someone tied to them, may enter or exit."

Placing the lantern on the nearby hook, there is a mute "click" and the door silently slides to the side, revealing a winding staircase leading down into darkness.

"Humph..." Ollo exhales in surprise as the door clicks and opens. "Well then.. Lets see what we have here??"

He steps carefully through the door, keeping his eyes and ears open for any surprises.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

"Well, that works too," Bailey mutters, though he is grinning. The ifrit peers down the stairs, and readies himself for the middle or back line should the group descend.

Assuming that we're now going through the door after doing some fruitless research as mentioned upthread. Comprehend Languages has worn off.

Agate takes a position at the back of the group as the party descends, scanning the walls and casting a nervous eye back at the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 (+2 more if it involves stonework)

As you step down the winding downward staircase, you find it empties into the center of a chamber with four circular alcoves. Each of these alcoves glows with a different colored translucent barrier: red, green, blue, and white. With the exception of the alcove behind the white barrier, a variety of items are on display beyond the barriers. Among these curiosities are books, scrolls, figurines, urns, and tapestries. The alcove behind the white barrier, however, is mostly blocked by rubble, as if it had been ransacked in the past. Four gemstones sparkle atop a stone altar along one of the chamber’s walls.

Place yourselves, and do not forget to move your icons to the spot you are inspecting.