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

Game Master Upaynao

20 feet tall.

Bailey crashes his way past the bookcases and through the fog, power already surging through him as he takes a good position to use it.

Taking a readied action to cast and fire Ray of Enfeeblement should an enemy come around the corner.

Ray of Enfeeblement, Bless: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6
Reroll, GM Star, Bless: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 14
Penalty, Fortitude DC 16 Halves: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Wait, where did the bless come from? That was what I was going to do this round.

Wait, where did the bless come from?

From Ollo, here

That's inconvenient. We could've coordinated better in person, but oh well....

Alexis recites Abu-Thoneph's Invocation guidance again before making her way through the mist.

Sorry, Alexis. Didn't mean to mess up your plans there.

Round 2

Ollo
Air Elemental - Total Defense
Pavo
Agate
Challisier
Alexis
Blaizin' Bailey
Thaia

The elemental, seeing that everyone is moving cautiously forwards, takes a defensive posture.

Agate darts out of the fog and around more furniture, into the shadow of the balcony, and glances up nervously.

Do the balcony and/or cloud block her from the sylph's view now?

Pavo emerges from the fog to find the elemental still waiting to engage. He gives the airy creature a curt nod before swinging his massive blade at it with as much force as he can muster.

Bardiche, PA, FF: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
S, Cold Iron, PA: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 3 = 12

Move: Move 5 ft
Standard: Melee attack, reach

Round 2 - 3

Ollo
Air Elemental - Total Defense
Pavo
Agate
Challisier
Alexis
Blaizin' Bailey
Thaia

Pavo's blow is deflected by the air elemental, crackling with barely contained fury as Agate steps to the side and, out of sight of their sylph opponent, begins summoning something to aid them.

"And how the rats flee" chuckles the Sylph as he approaches the railing. Looking to the side, he sees Agate casting. She is well hidden. Difficult to hit with any sort of ray.

Fortunately for him, magic missiles aren't susceptible to these things.

Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2, 1) + 3 = 8

Agate, could I please get a concentration check, DC 20?

"Jeez, develop a reputation before laying the condescension on thick," Bailey mutters. "I quit that habit and look how happy I am." The stairs being a bit cramped by hostiles, the ifrit launches a bolt of fire down them.

Fire Ray, into melee, cover vs. Elemental's touch: 1d20 + 2 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 2 - 4 - 4 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Concentration check: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 4 = 17

Agate twitches as the missile hits, destroying the cadence of her gestures.

Alexis gets closer and prepares a trick of her own....

[dice=readied hydraulic push for next time Challisier tries casting a spell, guidance]1d20+6[/dice]

double move.

Round 3

Ollo
Air Elemental - Total Defense
Pavo
Agate
Challisier
Alexis
Blaizin' Bailey
Thaia

The ray misses the elemental, as it continues with it's evasive maneuvers. Continuing total defense.

As the elemental continues its defensive posture, Pavo tries to overrun the creature--forcing it to move aside or risk being knocked prone--in order to climb the stairs.

EDIT: Shirt Re-roll used.
EDIT EDIT: Based on the Upper Level Map, Pavo should be threatening the sylph from his end position. Sylph also gets an AOO if he's armed.
EDIT EDIT EDIT: Assuming that sad re-roll was sufficient.

Agate tallies the missiles that struck her. He's stronger than I am. But, if he's that willing to be distracted...

She scoots back around the furniture to where she can see him clearly as he leans over the balcony, and raises her crossbow.

Light crossbow, Bless, Magic Weapon: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 27
Confirm threat: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 20
Damage, Magic Weapon: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Extra damage if confirmed: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Round 3-4

Ollo - Two rounds of actions
Air Elemental - Total Defense
Pavo
Agate
Alexis
Challisier - 15 dmg
Blaizin' Bailey
Thaia

That confirms, and that barely makes the overrun. And because of course we don't arm the NPCs with melee weapons, we do not get to attack you.

Noone knows what it's like... To be the Sad GM. To be the Bad GM. Behind the screen.

The crossbow bolt hits the sylph right in the neck. Blood gushes out, but he steps into Pavo's weapon arc, slurring "That the best you got?" before casting a spell. Unfortunately, that's what Alexis was waiting for.

Concentration, Violent Motion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

The motion is such that not only is he pushed away ten feet, but he loses the spell.

The more I'm running this on two maps, the more I'm thinking this two map set up was a bad idea. In the back of my mind, I thought that at the very beginning, but then I thought "you have to step out of your comfort zone"! Yeah. About that. Anyway, party is up, Ollo can take two turns, and maybe I'll actually get to the bad guy's morale condition without you all critting it into another galaxy! Yeah. Fat chance. :D

Last round: Double move at 35 ft
Ollo rushes forward, shifting his hammer down into a ready grip.

This round: Attack
Reaching the opposition, Ollo hefts his hammer high and swings it with all he has.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Dmg: 2d6 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (3, 6) + 3 + 3 = 15 Power attk, Furious Focus

Round 3-4

Ollo
Pavo
Agate
Alexis
Challisier - 15 dmg
Blaizin' Bailey
Thaia

The air elemental crumbles, it's body losing form under Ollo's warhammer.

Let's see what happens!

Bailey fires another ray, not wanting to get in too close. His buildup of caution leads to another missed shot. "Just give up!"

Elemental Ray, Bless, melee, cover: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 1 - 4 - 4 = 8
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Alexis opts to take a potshot with her crossbow.

darkwood light crossbow, bless, melee penalty: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
21-71 allows me to retrieve my bolt on a miss: 1d100 ⇒ 62

Move action to reload.

Here goes nothing.

Pavo steps back from the sylph and silently calls upon Shelyn to help him to defeat this foe who would threaten beauty of creation. He brings his heavy blade to bear against his enemy with furious force.

Swift: Smite Evil vs. Challisier
Standard: Power Attack, Furious Focus Attack

Bardiche, Bless, PA, FF: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22 +2 if evil
Cold Iron, S, PA: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 3 = 11 +2 if evil

Thaia rushes forward, levels her weapon (beside Bailey's and Ollo's ears again) and squeezes the less metaphorical of its two triggers.

KA-BOOM!! (bless, precise, point blank, deadly aim, ranged touch): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17 damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Assuming there's anything left of him at this point...

Agate hesitates as Pavo and Ollo rush in, but reminds herself that the sylph was trying to kill them all. She takes another shot at him.

Light crossbow, Magic Weapon, Bless, into melee: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 1 - 4 = 5 There, Sad DM, does that make up for the crit?
Damage, Magic Weapon: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

The gunshot hits the sylph in the thigh, causing him to double over in pain. This allows for Pavo to cleanly decapitate him, as the sounds of people running echo down the adjacent corridor.

Emerging from around the bend is Fairzura, a scimitar in hand, scanning the room you stand in. Following her, is a lanky looking Suli wearing robes in various shades of blue, followed by a small air elemental that has taken the shape of a sailboat.

"Hello Pathfinders" he says in soothing tones. "I, am Ashasar, Liaison to, the Seat of Balance." Fairuza's blade disappears as she continues: "Ashasar is an ambassador for the Concordance's leaders. He speaks with their authority" she states, as the elemental begins whimsically floating around her head, shedding it's appearance for that of an airship, puffing rings of smoke as it does so. Ashasar smiles at the elemental, uttering soothing words in Auran.

Looking back to you and stepping into your midst, he continues: "I am very, very sorry for our initial bout, of hostilities. As Fairuza, and the Suli you defeated, have said: protecting the balance, among the elemental planes, has been our most sacred task, since our founding. When we learned, that the Pathfinder Society had come into possession of the Untouchable Opal, your organization loomed as a threat to everything we have dedicated our lives to defending."

"We believed, that tampering with the Opal, could create a devastating imbalance, in the fabric of the planes. I believed that the Pathfinder Society sought to create this imbalance without consideration for the consequences or, at the very least, was poised to bring about calamity, through ignorance. However, I have come to understand another perspective. There are some, within the Concordance, that have been making the case; that the only way, to achieve true balance,would be to liberate all four of the imprisoned elemental lords."

He pauses, choosing his next words carefully as the elemental flies towards Pavo, spiralling around his bardiche, before flying back towards Ashasar. "I acted rashly, without consulting the Seat of Balance for approval. I am truly sorry, for the trouble I have caused you, by sending my agents against the Society. I allowed fear to blind my judgment, and I take full responsibility for the harm I have caused, both directly and indirectly. I understand that, under these circumstances, your instinct may be to retaliate, and I would not hold it against you if you were to do so. However, we face a more immediate threat, as the forces of Lady Hshurha have labeled the Concordance and the Pathfinder Society as conspirators and traitors. In light of both the nuances of the decision regarding the Untouchable Opal, and our common threat, it would be in both of our best interests to perhaps share information and resources, so that we may come to the most informed decision, and protect each other from what may otherwise be an insurmountable opposition" he finishes, with an outstretched hand towards Ollo and Pavo.

What do you do?

Thaia looks ready to step forward and tell everyone how they should feel about this turn of events.... I'll give everyone a moment to panic.

Pavo lowers the blade of his bardiche to the floor. He smiles and nods to the suli. ”I understand your fear, and I can forgive your initial response.”

Also Detect Evil at Arashar.

He does not detect as evil.

I'm filling chronicle sheets as you might tell from my post in the discussion thread, but you aren't quite done. There is a possibility that you act in a way that I have to redo all of your chronicle sheets. Please be careful!

Agate thinks it best to let others handle the diplomatic overtures, but is fascinated by the elemental.

Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Main question: Is this a special kind of elemental or a special power on display, or can they all do that?

Ollo steps forward next to Pavo as the Suli speaks to the group. Once Ashasar finishes his plea, Ollo allows the silence to hang in the air for a few moments as he looks to his companions to gauge their reactions before he forms his reply.

Turning at last back to the conversation, Ollo sets down his hammer and gives the Ambassador a deep bow.
"Me names Ollo, an as yer fellows may have told ye, this "discourse" you mention is all we have been seekin' all along. Every time yer goons came at us, we tried ta talk first an resorted ta weapons in defense. I for one take yer apology sir, an welcome ye an yours. As I said last night, I believe the only way ta prevent what ya claim is by talking and sharing information with wiser heads than me own. Only then can a decision be reached that will prevent what ye fear."

Just for a bit of clarity, searching the thread for "Lady Hshurha" only turns up one other entry, and that was from the Suli that we defeated in the last encounter. Do we know who this is? or is this even important right now?

@Ollo: Lady Hshurha is the Elemental Lord of Air - the Evil one, and presently the only one...so She has a very personal stake in what we've been up to.

Alexis steps forward - slightly ahead of Ollo and Pavo, and extends her own.

"Allow me, on behalf of the Palatine Eye and the Pathfinder Society, to accept your most gracious offer. A pyramid is the most stable of all structures...at least in our realm, perhaps not necessarily here."

Got ya! Thanks, Alexis!

"Sounds like a plan. So long as we cooperate and remain on the same page, we've got a much higher chance to prevail."

They all can do that Agate, it's just that most of the time, they don't care what they look like.

Ashasar clasps his hands and bows. "Excellent. I would advise, that we leave; as dead bodies, no matter where they are found, usually involve questioning. Follow me."

Ashasar and Fairuza guide you out side doors and towards a discreet back entrance to the Halls. "I'll take care of the rest. Go" states the djinni as she gestures to the building. "I will need to speak, with my superiors. I would, appreciate if you all, could stay in Armun Kelisk. If you cannot, so be it. I am sure, we can contact your Society, through Jairo" continues Ashasar as he walks away from the library in a way that manages to be both serene yet rapid. "We have much to discuss, once I have determined, where I stand."

***Sometime Later, in a room, far from the Pathfinders***

"So things have changed" concludes Ashasar as he turns back to the suli woman. "Now I will mend the rifts I have caused. And you will go and find the horn."

Jamila frowns. "That means going to Port Eclipse. In the belly of the beast so to speak."

"Indeed Jamila. Just be careful, not to get caught, ... In the Eclipse."

The End?

Ashasar and Fairuza guide you out side doors and towards a discreet back entrance to the Halls. "I'll take care of the rest. Go" states the djinni as she gestures to the building.

"Hrmph. I wish you hadn't said that." Thaia says to the djinni.

Just testing. ;)