PFS Destiny of the Sands Trilogy (Inactive)

Game Master James Martin

Guys? Our mission was to convince Zelekhati to share her info with Torch.

"One more thing, Madame," adds Karos, a sour look on his face. "There is a man...no doubt you know of him... with whom you will now share your source of information. He will prove to be a useful partner. His name is Torch. Do this and nothing further needs to be said."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Zelekhati looks confused. "I don't know this Torch, but if you'll keep my secret, and he will too, I'll aid him." She sounds defeated, clearly understanding that if she does not cooperate, she's finished.

"Thank you for your cooperation, ma'am. We shall trouble you no longer," the dwarf says as he begins heading toward the exit and toward the next mission, using the information given by Zelekhati.

Zelekhati nods and happily leads you to the exit, eager to see you go.

Back on the streets you head in the direction of the gates you entered, near which lies the Caravanserai. More than a dozen camels are tethered outside a large pavilion tent while a score of porters pack supplies for what looks to be a grand archeological expedition. Crates of tools, coils of rope, and sacks of dried food lie in piles waiting to divided up among the beasts of burden. Within the sumptuously appointed pavilion, stacks of scrolls and hand-drawn maps lie strewn across a canopied bed. A tall, dark haired northerner with a thick eastern accent and persistent scowl supervises the storm of activity while checking over an inventory scrawled in a well-worn ledger. “Where are those amphorae of water? This expedition won’t last a week in the Pillars of the Sun without water!”

The tanned Shoanti approaches the ranting man.

"Know you Ionacu Lozar?"

The ranting man turns and looks you all up and down with an expression of exasperation. "I am Professor Ionacu Lozar, yes. Are you from the supply company?"

Rekgar steps back to allow the others to speak. Staying silent would be for the best.

Anyone else want to blunder through this conversation? Hagrym has already had a turn at it with Zelekhati. If no one jumps in, I'll start up a conversation in a couple hours, DM.

Karos has no ability to secret the book where it needs to go, but he is a fair hand at schmoozing.

"Professor!" cries Karos, "What an honor! Why when I heard that such a renowned scholar was here in the city, I just had to come see for myself! Tell me, Professor, will you be giving any lectures in the next day or so? I would find it quite refreshing to hear some true scholarship for a change. I have heard nothing but the coarse talk of the road for months! I'm Karos Valdian, by the way. I'm no scholar, sir, but I do try to keep up."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Karos want to engage the good professor's attention, perhaps get a tour of the campus, permitting his compatriots to freely insert the book into the Professor's belongings.

Realizing he's no longer as limber -- or quiet -- as he once was, Sir Quinton hopes someone else will take care of actually secreting the book.

He joins Karos in trying to distract their quarry.

"Ah, yes, I must say I would love to hear of your lessons as well. It seems I spend all my time simply listening to tavern tales, and most of those are so far-fetched as to be beyond belief. Why I heard one time there was this vault that was supposedly filled with riches from a veteran Pathfinder, but that she'd gone missing and the Pathfinders had to have an expedition merely to find the thing. Of all the absurdities!"

Diplomacy to aid another: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Lozar looks momentarily taken aback, then your words sink in. "Oh my! Why, yes, I am he! Why, no, no lectures, but I could give you a brief overview of my work, yes! Yes, indeed. You see, we seek the lost tomb of An Hepsu XI, Pharaoh and reported lich! I believe it might still be sealed, and the remains of the Pharaoh untouched! Yes, you see I found many references to the tomb in the book of Common Prayers of Life and Death, or the Seventh Dynasty Death Manual as it is known..." He begins to ramble on in a scholarly fashion.

If you wish to slip the book in his belongings, I need a Sleight of Hand check vs his Perception, which will take a penalty due to your Diplomacy rolls!

I'm sure someone might be better at it, but Hagrym would be willing to give it a good old college try."

Rekgar can't do it but will move up in an attempt to block theprofessor's view.

Rekgar moves to block the professor's view as he is interested in hearing the professor speak, listening in rapt attention.

I think Karos has the best shot. He and Kurvast have the same Dex, but his ACP is lower.

The swashbuckler waits patiently as the excitable scholar continues to ramble.

As Karos is speaking and doing the distracting, do you want to give it the try then, Kurvast?

So he is.

Sleight of Hand: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

"Er, Professor, aren't liches terribly powerful? Wouldn't wanna disturb them..."

Id like to help distract him to aid another to Kurvast. Not sure what modifier to use to aid, so I'm just going to roll a d20, and let you add or subtract what you want, DM.

Aid Another 1d20 ⇒ 6

Lozar Perception: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 2 = 7

Lozar seems quite engaged in your discussion and does not notice when Kurvast slips the book into a sack of similar tomes, even when he almost tips the whole thing over while placing the book. Still, success is achieved as Lozar continues to lecture on the proper precautions for dealing with a tomb full of lich-related magics. Which mainly consists of having a lot of really talented people around you who can deal with the traps. Or shield you from the blast.

Success! Where to now?

Let's ask the professsor if he knows anything else on our list.

Bored, Hargrym tries to get away from the long winded Professor as quickly as possible.

"How about we got looking for that well? Just outside Eto, inside a dry well southeast of the Sunrise Gate. If we can find the Sunrise Gate, that should be one we could complete, lickety split."

"Agreed Brother Hagrym, Let us move on towards that well then."
Rekgar pauses to allow the more experienced members to lead the way.

"Aye! A quest actually worthy of a knight. We shall find this buried treasure if it takes our very last breath! There may be deadly threats guarding it, but you can rely on my good arm to protect you, eh?"

Sorry, took the weekend off!

Lozar seems somewhat reluctant to lose his audience, but he shrugs and turns back to his endless repacking, shouting at a porter to find more waterskins.

The Sunrise Gate is easily found, after asking several locals who point you in that direction. Once there you head southeast, into the desert. Amid the dry sands and shifting dunes you spot an ancient stone well, its oasis long since dried up and gone. Approaching it cautiously you can see that a mere trickle of water remains in the bottom, about 30 feet down, but there appears to be a horizontal shaft leading to the east at the bottom.

"How do we get down there?"

In reponse to Hagrym's question, Regkar carefully uncoils a rope from his backpack, methodically tying knots in it before slowly and carefull lowering it down the well before securing it. Checking the fastness of the knots before he nods to the rest of you and makes his way down.

A Knotted rope would make it DC 5 to climb down. Taking 10 should be fine I think.

With a rope knotted and tied off, you descend into the well. At the bottom you find a small passage that requires you to crawl through a wet trickle of water into a larger chamber. The larger chamber is pitch black, but Rekgar and Hagrym can see the following:

A dark pool fills the center of this vast chamber spilling out of its cracked basin. The trickle of water flows west through a short tunnel of rough-hewn stone and pools at the bottom of a collapsed well. Alcoves set in the walls give the illusion of staring at the flared hood of a cobra. Two altars face each other across the pool in the chamber’s northwest and southeast corners. A statue of a robed human male stands in the northeast corner, and what must have been its twin lies toppled in the southwest corner.

"What a weird scene? Cobras, altars, and statues? I don't like the looks of this. Everyone should get ready, and pull out a light source if you need it.". He casts Magic Weapon on his Greatsword.

Knowledge (History) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Knowledge (Religion) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Rekgar adopts a rather solid and compact stance, designed to maximised his rather compact frame into a smaller target. Looking around, he gestures to the others to look out for dangers.
Total Defense, If the others can see his gestures to be on the lookout, he won't speak else he will.

Rekgar, the altar seems to be to Apep, the Osirian god of serpents. And by the way, is that a hissing sound coming from behind that altar?

"A little light would be well appreciated indeed," Sir Quinton agrees, drawing his massive greatsword.

As they take their bearings of the dim well, Kurvast fumbles about in his pack. After a moment, he withdraws a rounded helm with a stout spike on the crown. Taking a candle, flint, and tinder from another pouch, he spends a moment fidgeting with his supplies, then stands up straight, with a candle-bearing helm atop his head.

Seeing Rekgar's signal, the duelist unloops a spiked club from his belt.

"Damp. Dark," he observes in a sullen tone. "Is the burned man's rod seen?"

Hagrym moves forward slowly, keeping his sword at the ready.

The torch flares to life, but it seems to be only half as effective as it should be, spreading normal light to 10 feet, then dim light 10 feet beyond that. However the sudden flare of light causes two serpents to erupt from behind the intact altar 20 feet away!

Hagrym Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Rekgar Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
Karos Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Kurvast Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Quinton Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Serpents Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

24 Kurvast
20 Hagrym
17 Quinton
16 Serpents
11 Rekgar
7 Karos

Kurvast, Hagrym and Quinton are up! Then the serpents and finally Rekgar and Karos! Go!

If we need a battlemat, I can provide one.

"Ha! A challenge. I've faced down linnorms, beasts, so I suggest you turn and run now!" Sir Quinton declares as he steps forward, swinging his sword in an arc that looks like it may have been more intended to scare the serpents than actually hit them.

Greatsword (power attack/furious focus): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Yeah, that's it. Trying to scare them!

Hagrym approaches the closest serpent and swings away with his now magical sword.

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Damage 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4) + 5 = 12

Rekgar's stance does not change as he tightens his defenses
Maintaining Total Defense

Kurvast delays, while Hagrym and Quinton boldly step forward! Quinton makes a great deal of furious slashing and hacking, which would intimidate any creature who wasn't a serpent, but Hagrym opts for the more results-oriented slashing and cuts the serpent facing him deeply!

The two serpents lunge, one at Hagrym and one at Quinton! Attack vs Hagrym: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 for 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 damage! Attack vs Quinton: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 for 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 damage! I need Fort saves from each of you!

Everyone else is up!

Fort. save 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 3 = 16

I added in my plus three to poison saves, as I assume that applies.

Hagrym continues at attack the serpent.

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Damage 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 5) + 5 = 11

Do we have a map? If not, I assume that I am within Point Blank Range and not threatened.

Karos blasts away into the confined space with his rifle.

Judgment of Sacred Purity (+1 saves)

Musket, PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 101d12 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

I'm going to hold off on maps for this adventure. The next chapter is VERY map-reliant and I'm trying to avoid making them until I absolutely must! Kurvast is up!

The swashbuckler follows his companions into battle, stepping forward and swinging his morningstar at the wounded serpent.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

"Blasted beast!" Sir Quinton curses, swinging wildly again at the snake. "I'll turn you into a pair of shoes if you would just stop dodging!"

Greatsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
I love starting off combats with a 1 and 2 from the die roller...

Maps aren't really needed for this Part 1. Rekgar will have to total defence for 3 full rounds due to Vows.

Round 1:

Both Quinton and Hagrym feel the venomous snakes bite into them, their fangs dripping with venom, but they manage to avoid a poisoning! Kurvast swings his morningstar, but the snake rears back. Karos fires his musket, but barely misses the serpent!

Round 2:

Hagrym dispatches his serpent with a SNIK! Quinton swings again, but his aim seems to be a bit high as it passes over the serpent's head!

The remaining snake hisses and lunges at Quinton! Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 It hits and deals 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 damage! I need a Fort save from Quinton.

Rekgar maintains his defense, even though his body is ready to attack! Karos and Kurvast are up!

Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"Damnable little thing, you're more pernicious than the waiting ladies at the Taldan court!"

The Shoanti adjusts his grip, and takes another swing at the remaining reptile.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Karos reloads! Kurvast swings at the remaining serpent to no avail while Quinton manages once again to avoid poisoning!

Round 3:

Quinton, Kurvast and Hagrym are up!

"Slippery little beast," Sir Quinton cries, blood dripping from the fang marks in his legs.

"Ha!" he cheers as his sword finally cuts into the creature, all but severing it in half.

Greatsword (power attack/furious focus): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 2) + 9 = 16
I think that should hit...

Quinton's anger at the serpent's constant attacks finally translates into a heavy strike at the serpent, killing it!

Combat over!

A quick glance around the room reveals no obvious piles of treasure.

Hagrym casts Detect Magic and starts looking around the scene. "Look good, guys. Thing has to be down here!"