[PFS Core] GM Harker Presents: The Emerald Spire (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

Well, if we can buy 2nd-level spells we can get Gentle Repose which is Core and will buy us time. We can even get scrolls of it to cover the journey back to a larger town if needed.

Awesome! Anyway, we'll be able to figure this out in an informed fashion as soon as I delved into Fort Inevitable's services. All I remember right now is that it is Hellknight central.

Frēodwēn falls to his knees at Sugar's side and closes her eyes. "We will take care of you, m'lady."

I am presuming that we will already be familiar enough by now with the area to know what our options are before we make any treks.

There are Prestige Point options for taking care of this, right?

After closing the eyes of their companion the remaining Pathfinders survey the remainder of the room. Thankfully, it seems none of the other constructs have activated. At least for now.

Guarding the last door on this level is a mandala of faint arcs of electricity. At infrequent intervals the arcs brighten and fade, and Krago has a good feeling about the ease with which he can disable this trap.

Don't roll a 1 on your Disable Device check Krago.

Opening the door, the Pathfinders behold a rather novel arrangement to the spire's configuration. Indeed, it seems to form the heart of a massive eldritch machine, with hundreds of small gemstones orbiting it like tiny moons. A control panel is embedded in the spire just above the floor—a marble and adamantine altar studded with gleaming crystals. Arcane patterns of cold fire blaze on the floor of the chamber. Two massive, coffin-like structures stand to either side of the room, with three smaller ones around them. The air is cold, and tingles with magical energy.

"The Iron Creche. Finally" intones Steward, with perhaps a note of reverence. "It has not yet sensed us, but the moment you place me near it, in such a way that I might wrest control of the creche from the reclaimers, its defenses will activate. As such my lord Patrons, I would humbly suggest you heal your wounds. It would be devastating for me to bear witness to another incident."

Consider that your in-game warning Xakon. Insofar as my records are up-to-date, you have taken 74 points of damage and have not healed any.

After looking through Fort Inevitable, it looks like the place is terrible for high-level problems such as a death in the family. The closest township you could get help is not that far away though. Castle Urion is the first pit stop for crusaders on their way to Mendev and it is about 3 days away. Those are the same crusaders that the Society has helped during Season 5. Finding a cleric there that will return Lady Sugarsnap to life will be trivial once you get there.

There are Prestige Point options for taking care of this, right?

There are. Please, share what you have in mind in the discussion thread.

Normally it is always my practice to Take 10 on Disable Device if I am not threatened or distracted. That would be a 33.

"Steward, could its defenses sense us if we were invisible? We might try all going invisible towards the Creche and then if some defenses activate one or two of us could engage or divert them, while the others keep working on the Creche with you - if we can be of any help. But first, as you suggest, Xakon should heal up."

I only have 4 charges left on my CLW wand, or else I would offer that to you.

"The defenses would most assuredly activate my lord Patron. Invisible or not, we'd be stirring their proverbial tea. Whether the defenders themselves will have the astuteness of mind needed to perceive invisible intruders is... Another consideration." The Steward pauses, before adding: "It will take me about a minute to disable everything and enable the systems to start producing perhaps a chef or masseuse. Of course, if you could spare some of your invaluable time to assist my meager skills with your own, impressive arcane knowledge or ... Whatever it was that my lord Patron just did to that electrical hazard there, it should take less time."

Okay, so I think we can all help. Xakon and Krago have Disable Device, and Frēodwēn has Knowledge (Arcana).
"Let's go in while invisible, and if they start to move towards us, one of us can become visible and lure them away. I don't mind volunteering for that task, though my skills may be better employed at the Creche."

If it's another swarm-golem, Xakon with his adamantine light hammer is probably the best suited to deal with them. You can damage a swarm of Tiny things with weapons, but bludgeoning is best. And he has the movement speed to kite them.

But first, we heal Xakon.

Once you have done whatever healing you think is needed on Xakon, please let me know if you are turning invisible. Oh and who is grabbing the head? It seems like the boar AC is at a loss as to what to do so I do not want to have to bot it; I would rather it stay on the outskirts/near Lady Sugarsnap's body.

Krago will grab the Steward's head. Does the Steward count as an object (and so would go invisible with Krago) or a creature (needing its own Invisibility spell)?

I think Invisibility is a good idea but it is dependent on Frēodwēn's spell slots (or else Krago using a scroll).

Its' an object for the time being.

Waiting on those who are able to enact this plan; we're really close to the end here.

I am not objecting to any plan at the moment. just need to know the final cost

Frēodwēn, Xakon, if you like my plan let's do it.
We heal up Xakon
We go invisible with Frēodwēn's spells
We help the Steward take control of the Creche with our Disable Device and Knowledge (Arcana) - Steward thinks about a minute but could be less with our help
If the defenders come for us, then Xakon breaks invisibility and kites them away
If you don't like that plan, let's do something else, but if we can be clever rather than fighting them head-on we might have a better chance.

so we're talking 3 casts of invisibility and 1 cast of heroism to boost Krago as we both help the steward. Frēodwēn already has heroism and expeditious retreat active on himself. He can cast haste if things get spicy. I feel maybe more validated than ever in going the Bard route while making an Archer.

Frēodwēn nods at Krago and begins casting a series of spells. "Let's do this."

After casting the appropriate spells, Frēodwēn, Krago and Xakon sneak on into the Creche, discreetly approaching the Emerald spire's root, and the contraption attached to it. The air within is cold, eliciting goosebumps

As the Steward is placed in contact with the control altar the head begins to vibrate in Krago's hands. Hastily the Pathfinders begin to help the friendly construct, as the three smaller coffins burn with green flame before seemingly summoning automated defenders, smaller versions of the ones who have taken Lady Sugarsnap's life. Oozing out of all three, a swarm. A reclaimer. They begin to scan the room ominously.

However, these creatures were made to defeat simpler threats. And the reclaimers... Well.

I've been going both ways with this but after careful thought it seems that in order to defeat your tactic, one would have to be Intelligent. That is to say, when your intelligence is a nice "dash", coming up with a counter to your invisibility is... Impossible.

Soon, with your help, the tremor coming from the Steward ceases. And without another word, the clockwork defenders, as well as the reclaimer, return to their metal tombs, and with another flash of green flame they disappear.

"Much better" echoes a voice you recognize as belonging to the Steward, but emanating from seemingly everywhere in the complex. "Impeccably done my lord Patrons. It appears as if I am able to ... Oh my, how interesting. A reinforced chassis? Quite appropriate. Let us not forget a redundant thinking core. I'm sorry, I have begun to build myself a new body. In the meantime, perhaps these shall prove useful."

Materializing on the altar are a stone and metal rune as well as a Spire transport token glinting green in the light. "The rune should help you access the lower level. Perhaps you will even meet the Prince. If you would inform his majesty that services will be resuming as soon as the Sanctum has been restored to a modicum of propriety. If you wish to partake of our services anew, you are always welcome within the halls of the Sanctum. I'm certain Chef Two will be delighted to have you try some of his recipes, once he has the body necessary to effectuate them."

And this concludes The Automaton Forge. I'll be posting links to your chronicle sheets in the discussion thread.

"Thank you for your assistance and your hospitality, Steward."
Krago goes for a massage and some more tea and cakes. After a while, he realizes that he is needed to help carry Sugarsnap's body back to Fort Inevitable. With a sigh, he gets his armor back on, leaves the spa, and sets about the grim task.

Xakon stops for a brief moment, both hands on his knees and panting loudly from anxiety and adrenaline.

"Well, that was a very smart plan. Too bad Sugar wasn't alive to witness it. I can take her to the nearest cleric for healing. What supplies do we need next? Perhaps haste scrolls or mirror image wand for support? I'm curious is Sugar will want to return after her first encounter of Lady Death."

Retro healing CLW: 15d8 + 15 ⇒ (5, 1, 8, 4, 7, 2, 1, 7, 1, 7, 1, 3, 5, 8, 2) + 15 = 77