[PFS_Aerondor] 00-26 Lost at Bitter End (Inactive)

Game Master Aerondor

Just moments ago, Venture-Captain Adril Hestram stood beside you inside the great hall of the Grand Lodge in Absalom and said, “Good luck and gods speed. Find out what you can and get back in one piece.” With that, a masked member of the Decemvirate, gender and race impossible to determine under black cloth and an ornate face mask, muttered an incantation and teleported you nearly a thousand miles south, to the northern frontier of the necromantic nation of Geb.

Just 24 hours ago, messengers from the Decemvirate banged on your door and demanded your presence at the Grand Lodge. Venture-Captain Hestram, it seemed, had received an important bit of news about work that a Nethys cleric Pathfinder named Rijana was doing in the Mana Wastes—
important enough to summon you at such an early hour and demand your preparedness for a new mission assignment.

“Rijana is one of the best scholars on arcane mysteries that we have,” said Hestram as he paced back and forth. He shook a thin sheaf of papers in his hand.
“This missive from her hand just a month ago tells a daring tale of hidden dimensions in the Mana Wastes that could be used to return magic once again to that failed, desolate garbage heap. I could care less about restoring magic there—but I care a lot about what bizarre ruins and hidden sanctums might have been concealed there while magic lay dormant. I haven’t the time to waste to send another message back and await its answer—I’ve asked a Decemvirute member, a powerful wizard, to teleport you to Rijana’s last known location, a dusty hamlet on the edge of the Wastes in northern Geb called Geb’s Rest. I’m sending the lot of you because Geb is dangerous, the Mana Wastes are deadly, and I want this thing done right.” Hestram snorted.

“Well, I at least want it done. You lot will have to do. Get to Geb’s Rest, find Rijana, and bring back whatever notes she’s got in her journals about the Mana Wastes. She should have four journals if my memory of her bizarre organizational skills is correct—I want all four of them. Tell her I’m reviewing them for inclusion in the Pathfinder Chronicles, I don’t care. Just bring them back. Now get yourself ready to go—you can’t buy a decent potion within a hundred miles of this backwater dust pile.”

dot.

Nox speaks from under his hood.

Find Rijana, Find her notes, bring them back. Recon and recovery... I like. I am ready to go whenever my teammates are.

He turns to the others and smiles, his mouth the only thing visible under the hood of his cloak, his sharpened teeth and piercings on his lips give him a very menacing appearance even for someone only a couple of feet tall.

My friends, I will warn you ahead of time... you won't see me much on this little adventure. But I will be there to help guard you. I am, after all, a pathfinder.

A voice issues from just behind Nox.

Also, don't get jumpy when you see me.

It's then that you notice that the shadow on the wall of Nox... is moving independently of him, and waves.

The not quite three foot tall halfling clad in a mithral chain shirt with two small scimitars strapped cross-ways on her back, stands on her tips toes to survey the northern frontier of Geb, "Whee, teleportation is always so exciting! I cuts out all that time travailing on ships and by foot. Of course there is the danger of appearing inside some tree or never reappearing at all. Wonder where the people who never reappeared ended up? Probably floating in the ethereal plane."

Taking a breath before continuing, "By the way, I'm Marra a follower of Sarenrae the dawnflower! How extraordinary Nox your shadow has come unattached, and it uses your name in reverse! I bet it came lose due to the teleport! There is a story about a boy who lost his shadow, there was a girl who sewed it back on for him. I bet if we had some sovereign glue we could reattach you shadow!"

Nox chuckles and gives a smile.

Nah, Did it on purpose, right Xon? We make much better teammates when we work together than when he's just copying me all the time.

Xon laughs in a tinny, crackly voice.

We make much better teammates when we work together than when he's just copying me all the time!

He laughs at his joke... you think he's smiling? It's hard to tell with a shadow.

Gotta admit, I like the Dawnflower. Wherever there is a bright light, there are stark shadows.

Nox nods in agreement.

Rolling his shoulders with the sound creaking metal, Lysaer's gaze sweeps over his companions and their immediate area following their hasty summons and short trip by magic. Standing tall and ramrod straight, the Hellknight wore the full raimant of his order: Dark Adamantine breastplate designed to mimic the claw of a fearsome devil with a sleek helm and horns coming from the cheeks. Clawed gauntlets, greaves and wicked Sabatons complete the look over a dark gray arming jacket and dark leather trousers. Lysaer carries Twin Greatswords, one sheathed on his left hip and the other across his shoulder and his hands flex in anticpiation of drawing them.

After a moment he speaks, a dark voice echoing from his helm to give it a sinister tone when he does so.

"I am Sir Lysaer Nymmis, Hellknight of the Godclaw. I must admit I am surprised the Order risked Magic to get us here. I suggest we do not tarry."

.

Take a moment to buy anything you think you may need, and make sure your details are in the discussion thread. Erik, can you include a stat line like the others, that really helps me with the combats.

Erik is an athletic human in a breastplate designed to enable movement. He carries a shield with a scroll attached to the inside. And carries a multitude of daggers and javelins. His right arm is bare below the elbow to show off a tattoo of a scorpion and silver symbol of a muscled arm hangs from his neck. His cloak is navy blue.

" My name is Erik the blue and I am game for anything. My companions will find that luck will favour them. " he smiles at his companions "Well met"

"Good luck and Gods speed" the words hang in a half echo as you vanish and then the world comes rushing back into focus.

In the distance lies a squat, tumble-down hovel comprised of a few turrated domes, a collection of ramshackle huts, a solid, two-story inn, dusty red streets, and a large central fountain.

There are maybe four dozen intact buildings scattered about the town, with the central hub largely surrounded by weed choked ruins of a time when the town was more prosperous.

Can you all please add yourself to the map (middle left side). For the moment, just describe your actions, no need for rounds or strictly going in turn

Time of day GM?

Nox pulls out a long thin wand and shakes it at himself, then his shadow.

Use Magic: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
Use Magic: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

There... now communication is easier.

He grins and steps away into the shadow of a wall.

Me and Xon will check that up ahead is safe... If you hear us whispering, it's just the spell...

Suddenly, as if he's sinking into quicksand, he melts into the shadows at the base of the wall as his shadow itself melts into the ground, nothing more than a little splotch.

No need to be afraid... of the dark..

Take 10, Hide in plain sight, 45 stealth. Begin moving forward and exploring. "Only" 22 stealth for the shadow.

The two begin exploring to see what they can find...
Perception Nox: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Perception Xon: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Lets go with mid morning local time.

Cool, plenty of shadows then.

Marra cast her own Message spell {link} allowing her to communicate with the full party for over an hour and a half. "Let's see if we can locate Rijana. Maybe someone at the inn knows where to find her?

Marra is fine with walking in to the center of town.

A portly fellow with bluish skin and a jovial expression comes bustling up, bearing a platter covered with a simple cloth. ”Sorry to be late, so sorry, though I believe when you see what delayed me you’ll forgive me.” He pulls the cloth aside, revealing an array of... well, it’s hard to say what these concoctions may be: clusters of rice and vegetables and mysterious-looking lumps of fish meat. Seeing the quizzical expressions on his companions’ faces, he throws his head back and roars with laughter. ”Aye, not many in Avistan have acquired the taste yet, but believe you me, it won’t be long before the Kings and Queens of the Inner Sea and beyond are all hankering for a taste! Undiana Jones is the name - Undy to my friends - and I aim to be the sushi king of all Golarion; it’s just a matter of time before I’ve got a franchise in every hamlet this side of Katheer. But as you can imagine, it’ll take some capital to get the ball rolling, which is what brought me to the Pathfinder Society: hard to find a better way to make a quick buck, don’t you know? But where’s my manners? I’m sure after hearing all this you must be famished, which is why I hope you’ll forgive my lateness - if you want to harvest the freshest baby reef claw you’ve got to wait until the tides are just right (and it doesn’t hurt to wait until mama reef claw has gone out neither!).” He offers the platter towards the group, and as he does so, a small dragon pokes its head out of his robe and slurps up half the samples in a flash. ”Riddywipple! Those are samples for our new customers, I mean friends!” Sheepishly, Undy offers the remaining samples to the group, while the faerie dragon smacks his lips with gusto.

Craft (Sushi): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29

Eyes narrowing behind his fearsome helm, Lysaer ignores the offered platter as the rest of the group prepare. The Hellknight nods to Nox as they vanish before uttering two words in the Infernal language of Devils. The first caused his Scarf to glow softly and pull at his life-force, turning the edges a deep red. The second was to activate a wand to heal himself of the damage wrought to him by the magics.

"Indeed, let us make our way into town and see what lies ahead. The Captain had pitiful information enough and I hate to go in unprepared." he says with his dee voice echoing softly.

With that, Lysaer strides towards town across the blighted wasteland, his eyes and ears kept peeled for any signs of ambush.

Life-keeping shawl to store 10hp. If I go below 0 it will heal 10hp. Then cure light wNd to heal.

clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

” So Geb full of undead and desolate wastelands and underground tombs. I have a spell that will give us insight and understanding of monsters and terrain as if we were fresh out of ranger training school. Undead and underground?l asks Erik

Any relevant Knowledge checks to know anything about where we are? Also, Undy will cast False Life on himself and use two charges from a wand of Mage Armor on himself and Riddy.

False Life: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

The town is oddly silent. Even for a settlement so close to the Mana wastes. Almost ghost like in fact.

Quiet as a ghost, Nox slips forward. No sign of life is to be had. No people, no animals, no birds - nothing. There is signs of past life - dinner plates still set at tables, although the food is rotten. Clothes hung out to dry on a line, flapping in the wind. In a bar, a mug of ale stands resting on the counter-top.

How far ahead of the rest of the group is Nox travelling?

No specific knowledge checks are called out, but I can pull something out of the backstory with a geography or history check if you like.

Nox and Xon will travel the limits of the message spell, which if we assume Mara's power overrides my dinky wand means 150 ahead, or 100 ahead if we have to use the wand, continuing to take 10 on stealth, with Nox going ahead of Xon, who ducks down into the dirt completely for a few seconds at a warning from Nox.

Near the centre of town there is a fountain. Here Nox notices movement, shuffling, erratic movement. As if within the walls of the nearby there were a lot of elderly people. Or zombies.

He sniffs. Probably zombies.

150ft for range of marra’s message spell

K(geo): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
k(history): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Marra relays what she knows about the area and its history to the group as they investigate the town.

The halfling bard tries to determine recent the last sign’s of people being here was, ”Strange, Did they just disappear or get up and leave? Someone should look for tracks!”

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Marra knows a bit of the big picture history of the area.

For thousands of years the nations of Geb and Nex have smashed themselves against each other’s respective defenses. What started as border skirmishes and raids soon escalated to full-scale open warfare, magical atrocities, assassinations, and even the wholesale slaughter of entire cities. The two archwizards after which the nations were named grew to hate each other in ways that exceeded mortal ken and vowed to eventually rid Golarion of the other. Their constant battles, both magical and mundane, soon created a roiling wasteland between the two nations called the Mana Wastes.

Where once verdant forests and babbling brooks covered the landscape, now live hideous monsters, mutated and deformed by the horrors visited upon this region; and where blue skies once shined on fields of lush wild grasses, now only stinging sandstorms and bleached earth remain. Most of the Mana Wastes is dead to magic entirely, cut off from the arcane connections that allow magics of all kind to function on Golarion.

Though this land is harsh, brutal, and unforgiving, there are those who have managed to eke out a living on its borders, supplying caravans rushing across the Wastes with food, supplies, and even armed men. One such outpost is Geb’s Rest, a small hovel on the northern border of Geb that is now more ruin than actual thriving town. The locals called the town Bitter End, a title they feel better describes their desiccated hamlet since, the locals argue, no one there actually gets any rest. Geb’s Rest sits astride the road that travels from the necromantic city of Greydirge in Geb north through the Mana Wastes and ends at the fortress town of Ecanus in Nex. With the nations of Nex and Geb today at relative peace, the two countries do brisk trade in many goods and for the brave (and often foolish), good money can be made rushing these goods north and south through the Wastes.

Entering town, Lysaer frowns as they see signs of abandoned livelihoods and homesteads going empty. The place reeked of rot and decay, which the Hellknight presumed, was only marginally worse than it's usual smell. Still, even such a squalid place should have a shred of humanity left, clinging to a wasteful existence in the Wastes.

"I dislike the silence of this place. The silence of the grave.." he remarks darkly before taking to a knee and searching for tracks or signs of passage other than their group.

Survival, Track: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

There are no very recent tracks. Lots of signs of activity up until maybe a few days ago.

In case there is anything further to know about the area:

K Geog: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
K History: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

"I'll tell you my friends, you know what a town like this needs, just the thing to liven things up? That's right! A local branch of Undy's Sushi City! I can see it now, perhaps just over there..."

Undiana heard that a year ago, a Pathfinder cleric of Nethys named Rijana came to Geb’s Rest for a single purpose: to study the Mana Wastes and see if any of its magical afflictions could be cured. Rijana spent her life traveling Golarion from one reported magic-dead location to another and could not resist the urge to explore the world’s largest.

She was know to keep meticulously detailed journals of her research and findings in hopes that, one day, her life’s work might see the pages of the Pathfinder Chronicles and that her resulting fame would land her forever in the annals of Pathfinder Society lore.

"Hmm, there was activity up until a few days ago, something has happened here recently, which sounds poor for our Pathfinder companion." Lysaer states simply after a while of searching, his tone showing little care for Rijana's welfare. "But if they kept meticulous notes, that should be our first step. It is a shame we do not know which hovel they stay in."

With nothing else to do, Lysaer begins to move through the hovels in order to find out any clues as to who their owners were and whether they had belonged to their missing contact. He didn't expect to find much of use, but with nothing else to go on it felt that he should. As he eyes the places, he searches for auras in the ruins.

Detect Alignment, start with Chaos, Evil, Law then Good.

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Marra listens to Lysaer and replies after thinking a moment ”Sound plan to look for Rijana’s notes. Since she traveled around a lot, She may have rented a room at the Inn. We should start our search there.”

The Halfling goes to the Inn and looks to see if they keep a guest register to see if Rijana stayed there and which room was hers. Failing that Marra will search each guest room looking for clues.

perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

As you get closer to the town center, Lysaer detects an evil aura on the wind.

@LysaerAs it is a standard action to use, I'm guessing you are activating detect X, keeping that up for a minute or so, and then when moving over to the next, slowly rotating through them all. Which won't guarantee you that nothing is around and you won't be ambushed, but is a darn sight faster that doing all four and then advancing ten feet. If I have this wrong, please let me know

It appears there is an inn near the middle of town, unsurprisingly around the town square, where the fountain continues to bubble away, heedless of the lack of townsfolk around it.

”This place is creepy. Let’s go look in the inn for any sign of Rijana. It looks to be right there.”

The team members hear a voice of a whisper carried by the "Message" spell.

Nothing here. Says Nox.

Here there is nothing!says Xon.

Inn is kinda creepy though. Says Nox.

And from us, that's saying something.Says Xon.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Oops! Sorry guys, missed a kinda important post.

There are whispers again in the air.

Guys? Found zombies. Or something shuffly. Near the fountain.

Quick directions are relayed.

I'm going to get in closer and have a look...

GM, mind if we use my previous roll to take a closer look and find out positions and such with perceptions? Still taking 10 currently on hide until you tell me I need a roll.

I'm pretty happy with taking ten for any active skill check outside of combat. If I think the situation is dicy, I'll let you know. Could you put a 'take ten' spoiler for stealth, SM and perception in your header, that will make life easier for me.

Nox skulks about without going into the square itself. He thinks there are about half a dozen figures spread about three houses around the fountain. He's almost certain there is something in the fountain too..

I've put a sample picture on each of the buildings that Nox thinks there are walking bodies in. Without going into them he can't be totally sure of course, or know how many are in each. Or even know they are zombies.

Done.

Okay guys, I'm going in. If you hear the screaming of a tiny Wayang, please hurry.

Pulling his bow out and knocking the first arrow, Nox begins to slowly step into the first house Moved markers next to red. making sure he is hidden within the shadow realm as he moves... Nox will not willingly step more than 10ft away from shadows to break his hide in plain sight ability.

Yeah, that's fine GM, that's how I was thinking to do it, just placing it whilst exploring.

"I sense Evil on the air, though with Zombies ahead it is no surprise." Lysaer states as they move towards the centre of town and the Inn. "I believe we may have found why there are no villagers here."

As they move, Lyysaer's gauntleted hands close around his enchanted and silvered blade, drawing it from the well oiled scabbard with only the slightest hiss. He then calls upon his medallion to bolster his inner fortitude in preparation for the upcoming conflict. The Hellknight then runs his hands over his eyes to better reveal foes that would hide from him with illusion magic.

False life from the Sihedron Medallion, then See invisibility for 40 minutes

temps: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Undy will tap himself with a wand of heightened awareness.

Do you want my familiar to go on my initiative or separately?

It is easiest if he goes on your initiative but he can go seperately if you would prefer

Nox heads into the closest building. For some reason the current residents don't seem to have bothered with closing the door. Careless of them really.

Within are two very dead bodies. Still moving. These bodies appear to be of soliders as they have scimitars, shields and wear chain.

Lysaer, warned, changes back to detecting evil, and gets a whiff this time of a strong evil somewhere ahead of him.

Nox steps back a little to send a message again.

Stay back guys. Got two rotters here. Give me a second to clean them up.

Nox places two arrows on his bow and breaths in deep, taking slow, methodical aim before firing two arrows into the nearest one.

Sniping Attack

Shortbow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
damage: 1d4 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (1, 6, 4, 3) = 16+ 1 Str Damage + Debilitating Injury (Does not stack with itself) -2 penalty to ACC
Shortbow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
damage: 1d4 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (4, 3, 5, 1) = 15+ 1 Str Damage + Debilitating Injury (Does not stack with itself) -2 penalty to ACC

Sniper Hide- Sniping Hide: 1d20 + 40 ⇒ (19) + 40 = 59

Xon however, makes a silly face at him, and he looses the arrows and chokes back a giggle, covering his mouth and forcing himself deeper into darkness as the arrows seem to appear from nowhere, probably missing his target. He glares at Xon who merely shrugs nearby before sinking back into the ground.

That's just sad. Hooray for being better than invisible.

Marra relays what is needed through the message spell, and is ready to move forward.

And suddenly the clam is disrupted. Two arrows fly out, but are deflected by the undeads armor. They take a moment to gather their dead wits about themselves giving the shadow dancer another moment to act ib.

Status, bold may post
Nox
Baddies
Marra
Uniana
Eric
Lysaer

Nox stays perfectly silent and takes aim again.

Shortbow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
damage: 1d4 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (4, 4, 3, 5) = 19+ 1 Str Damage + Debilitating Injury (Does not stack with itself) -2 penalty to ACC
Shortbow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
damage: 1d4 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (6, 4, 2, 4) = 21+ 1 Str Damage + Debilitating Injury (Does not stack with itself) -2 penalty to ACC

Sniper Hide- Sniping Hide: 1d20 + 40 ⇒ (15) + 40 = 55

Arrows once again fire forth as if from nowhere. He takes a 5 foot step to the side afterwards just in case they decide to run out the door that they don't trip over him. He was undetectable, not intangible after all.

Dismissing Heightened Awareness will add +4 to my initiative.

Nox manages to get an arrow painfully into one of the creatures in the room in front of him.

Then Undiana can go too.

Status, bold may post
Undiana
Baddies
pink 21 damage, 1 STR damage, -2 to AC
Marra
Eric
Lysaer
Nox

Undy moves forward towards the square. If any creepy things come into view he will attempt to identify them.

K Religion (presuming undead): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 information preferences are (in order): Special attacks, special defenses, immunities, resistances

Btw, it looks like someone else is using the same icon as Undy - could get confusing...

Riddywipple accompanies Undy towards the square, drawing a wand as he does and preparing to shoot at anything seemingly hostile that comes into view.

K Religion (presuming undead): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26 information preferences (leaving aside anything Undy may have learned from his check) are (in order): Special attacks, special defenses, immunities, resistances

Readied Magic Missile dmg, if triggered: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 2 = 4

The damaged zombie moves forward towards where the arrows came from. Eventually it collides with the hidden form of Nox. It flails without success at the air around him.

The second zombie steps forward and also slashes at whatever was in the doorway. This has a little more success but the rogue steps aside at the last minute, causing some confusion to the worm-minded warrior.

Two more undead emerge from the other side of the fountain, not seeing Nox, they close on Undiana, but don't have time to swing at him.

Riddy fires his wand... two missiles go slamming into one of the zombies, but it seems to ignore them!

Status, bold may post
Marra
Eric
Lysaer
Nox
Undiana
Baddies
pink 16 damage, 1 STR damage, -2 to AC

”A bunch of nasty Juju zombies! Watch out - they’re not mindless - much craftier than your ordinary zombie!”

If you are currently in a game or expect to apply a GM chronicle before play, hold off putting in the information.

To make my life easier when it comes to filling in chronicles, if you could each put in a single post with:

Chronicle: What chronicle number this is for the character
History: What scenarios has the character completed? (or been credited with); any other chronicles (special boons etc)
Name:(the player) real name (as you have it appear on your chronicle sheets)
AKA: Character name
Faction: Your faction
PFS: # for the character
XP: starting XP, Note if Slow track!
Prestige: Starting prestige
Fame: Starting Fame
Gold: Starting wealth you bring into the adventure. This should be the total on your previous chronicle. If you want to buy any new stuff... see further on.
Day job: include the roll or that you don't have one. If you want to use a reroll at the end just note here you may want to use a reroll. If you don't include a roll I'll be assuming you take ten. Add the actual gold amount if you want to save me looking it up...
Spend: If you want to buy anything before the scenario starts (apart from your initial 150gp if you are a new character) include it here. This will appear in the "items bought" and/or "items sold" part of the chronicle.

Try to hold off actual discussion here until we have one post per character with those details (makes life easy for me to make the chronicles for you all at the end).

Please add an Icon for your character to the map. If you don't know how, let me know and I'll help. Also dot into the gameplay thread, or just hang around and RP there if you like.

Hello GM, looking forward to this game, should be fun. This is the first time I'm playing this character PBP, so If I leave anything off character sheet or something, let me know. I'll be reviewing my physical docs to make sure everything is up to date and accurate.

Chronicle: 22 adventures done, this will be 23.
History:

Day job: Preform Dance!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22 20 GP

Spend: None planned, everything I need I should have currently.

Also, if you have any questions about my stealth stuff, feel free to ask ahead so we can hash out any discrepancies before hand. The math is on my character sheet, and I'll add links to the various rulings for shadow vs. dim light and such.

Next Chronicle: 26

Name: GlennH
AKA: Marra
Faction: Grand Lodge
PFS: # 11016-3
XP: 25 fast track
Prestige: 42
Fame: 50
Gold: 7,312gp

Day job: Preform (oration - storytelling): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 => 20gp

Spend: TBD

Gold: Will check when I get home to my physical chronicles. It's not much, I bought everything I could to survive Bonekeep.

Gold: 6,552

.... Sooooo... where are the other players?

Sorry, I’ve been getting ready for an international trip, about to take off in a few minutes, will try to upload my character once I reconnect to the internet.

I'll be posting reminders this weekend to those who have not put in their details. Feel free to post in gameplay as well, although I'll hold off putting anything there until the 8th.

I've sent a reminder out to Flaxseed. It looks like with the current party you will be playing high tier, so bonus gold for some of you!

If there is a sixth who is level 7, you will have the option of high or low tier.

Chronicle: 26
History:
First Steps 1 2 and 3 (yes he really is that old)
Temple of Empyreal enlightenment
The Dissapeared
Rise of the goblin guild
Among the Living
Year of the risen Rune
(Lesson Learned, +2 Sense motive vs Devils and Cheliax Govt officials (inc Hellknights) (he had a thing for Zarta at the time)
Among the Dead
Perils of the Pirate Pact
Wardstone Patrol
The Forgotten Laboratory (thornkeep)
Assault on the wound
Fabric of Reality
Sniper in the Deep
Before the dawn 1&2
Of Kirin and Kraken
Beacon Below
Serpents Rise
Ancients Anguish (sacred Scorpion tattoo. Wild empathy vs scorpions only and +2 diplomacy girtablilus. -2 fort saves scorpion and girtablilu venom)
Serpents Ire
Wardens of Sulfur Gulch
Hands of the muted God (paizoconoz)

Name:Jeff Cook
AKA: Erik the blue
Faction: Sovereign Court
PFS: 9251-2
XP: 26
Prestige: 35
Fame: 47
Gold: 13401
Day job: Tries to reinforce political connections knowledge nobility dc 24: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14 may reroll no actual dayjob
Spend: Sell Headband of aerial agility wisdom +2250gp
Sell +1 crossbow +1017gp
buy Headband of Int Wis and Cha +2 Skill fly -16000gp

Apologies to all for slowing things down. I'm currently in Taiwan, last day of an international conference, still haven't had a chance to upload my character sheet to online format but will try to do so asap.

Chronicle #: This will be chronicle 27

Name: Abraham Z.
Aka: Undiana (Undy) Jones
Faction: Grand Lodge
PFS#: 100198-9
XP: Currently 22 XP. YES TO SLOW TRACK.
Current Prestige: 26
Current Fame: 43
Gold: 13,499
Day Job: Craft (Sushi): 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (12) + 21 = 33
Spend: TBD (yes, have a few items that I want to get, will calculate and post separately)

Will update character sheet to reflect above purchases shortly

I've filled in my character sheet info for Undy and Riddy - still probably need to do some clean up but the basics are there now.

I went ahead and made the following purchases: a) upgraded my Cloak of Resistance from +1 to +3 for 8000; b) purchased a Mask of Conflicting Energy for 4000.

My day job roll translates to 75gp.

Heading to the airport for the long journey home (about 24 hours of flying). I'll likely have internet access along the way but in case I don't I may not be online again before Thursday morning (EST). Feel free to bot me as needed.

@Lysaer, when did you put up see invisible? I must have missed it.

Dammit just realised I gave Erik selective channelling when he hit level 9 so i could easily have excluded Xon and Nox from the harm undead channel.

That is okay, I'll assume you did that and take the damage off Xon.

@GM On Wednesday on the post just before combat started and i felt the evil presence on the air. See Invis and False Life cast. Sorry, the site has been down everytime i tried to check this weekend. Catching up now

Quick rules question.

Incorporeal creatures need a magic weapon to hit them (albeit for half damage)
Creatures with Dr/magic I would be happy having hit as magic, no worries there.

If you don't have Dr/magic (as you are aware the devil doesn't) I am thinking you have no way of physically hurting an incorporeal creature. In early verions of D&D HD allowed you to overcome the equivalent of DR - but so far as I am aware pathfinder doesn't have that rule.

My understanding is that neither of those options would work. DR/Magic doesn't allow your natural attacks to be treated as magic as far as I know, but the rule that would allow natural attacks to hit things if your HD was high enough is not a pathfinder rule as far as I know either. Specific monsters have abilities that allow their natural attacks to be treated as magic, but other than that, without say, a amulet of mighty fists or something, a natural attack can't hit a incorporeal.

Slight Edit: I've heard that DR/Magic natural attacks can hit, but I've yet to actually be shown said rule or find it myself.

The extrapolation is that
(1) if you have DR/magic you can overcome DR/Magic
(2) if you can overcome DR/magic, there is a degree of magic inherent in your attacks.
(3) incorporeal creatures can be harmed by magic
Ergo from (2) and (3) your attacks can hurt.

In this case it doesn't apply, as the devil doesn't have DR/Magic, but the logic seems sound.

The rule set is huge, so I thought I'd double check I hadn't missed something obvious the devil could do against the shadow before his taking his next action.

Riddy pauses his dance of dragons long enough to squeak hopefully, "There must be *something* that he can do to shadows!"

Eh, fair enough, I tend to be a bit of a RAW stickler myself for such things, but not my game, I'll play within the rules. Good to hear my guess that this demon doesn't have magic natural attacks confirmed though. :P

And sorry Riddy, not unless he's got some magic weapons on him or he has a spell he can try to cast to hurt me, which, to be fair, is totally a possibility.

Totally :-)

This seems like a good moment for us all to review all those chronicle boons that stack up and are easy to forget about. I have a feeling we are going to need all the help we can get to get out of this one alive! I've looked at mine but nothing seems particularly useful here - I have a feeling that Undy and Riddy aren't going to contribute anything beyond 3 flasks of alchemist's fire (assuming they aren't fire resistant, which they probably are...).

You are all playing up (well, two of you are in tier). This is one of those encounters that will vary markedly in difficulty depending on the makeup of the party. I'd hate to see an all wizard/sorcerer group facing these beasts.

Yeah, I imagine this wouldn't be such a problem for a party with a couple of barbarian... For us, whew, this may be ugly...

Thanks for the reminder Jones, I found one that doesn't appear to be magical and gives temporary hit points.

GM, I updated my post in the forms with the boon information.
Let me know if the cat's are aspis agents.

Unfortunately the cats are Hells agents, but not the Aspis, although many a pathfinder draws parallels between the two.

Well, I just looked through every corner of Undy's and Riddy's sheets, and I'm pretty sure that neither of them has a single useful thing they can do to contribute. We could run for it, in the hopes that the cats can only pull down two of us. Or we could run interference in hopes of buying time for the damage dealers. I assume that Channelling to heal won't work, so Marra likely won't be standing for long, in which case it's really a question of whether Nox, Lysaer, and Erik can handle the two cats in straight up melee...

@GM, please tell me if you would prefer me not to engage in this sort of table talk. I'm still new to the norms of PbP so not sure if this is considered excessively metagaming.

That is fine. Around a table you'd all be chatting like this. You're all experienced pathfinders, and you have traveled together for a day now, so you've had lots of time to discuss tactics.

The manna wastes are known for their magical dead zones, so you would probably have discussed what you would do if you came to one and had a fight there.

What you do know is that the zones are not static, the same place might be dead one moment and alive the next.

i.e. The writer wasn't a complete evil person who would render magical classes completely helpless for whole encounters.

Nox and Xon will be fine if only through their ability to hide out, and Nox's strength damage is EX not SU, so that'll help a little if nothing else.

@Lysaer, the hurtful feat has not been legal in PFS for a couple of years. Archives of Nethys is a bit out of date with respect to that unfortunately.

Well! Oops. I had been told by a friend it was legal and have used it for ages. Will change it as soon as I can ^^.

With the more obscure feats it pays to check the Additional Resources. This feat did used to be legal, but was removed.

I've played a few levels with an "illegal" character before, then someone pointed out my mistake, so no worries there, it happens to all of us.

Well, it is a bit off track, and certainly not what the scenario designer intended...

But that was an excellent diplomacy check (albeit one that normally you cannot do in combat), and the way the scenario is written is potentially subject to interpretation that could allow it to work. And quite frankly he would probably be a three round road-bump for you. So what the heck. Lets see how the RP goes.

Sorry I though the unseen figure was a third party had fired arrows at the last soldier. Still not sure the Hellhound attack was part of the soldier's group.

Lysaer, I'm doing chronicles, but don't have your details to cut one for you yet..

I'll post a wrap up in gameplay, but chronicles are now available.

Thanks for running! I've really enjoyed this - my first PbP game played to completion!

Name:Sethran
AKA: Lysaer
Faction: Dark Achive
PFS: 34762-8

Sorry, Pre-Chistmas and everything went manic!

No worries. The family barred me from the Computer for Christmas!

I need the chronicle # it will be for you, your current pp/fp and xp.

Ideally your current gold at the start of the scenario, but I can leave that blank if necessary.

@Undi glad you enjoyed it. It is a more relaxed pace than round the table.

And the session is now reported!

Gentle prod for Lysaer for the last bits of information for his chronicle. I'll close this game now. But Lysaer, if you can let me know the missing information I'll still cut you the appropriate chronicle.