PFS Gameday #4 - 7-01 Between the Lines (Inactive)

Game Master eddv

Brother Max pummels the creature and it shrieks in pain and stops moving.

success

Thaco is a man of his word; he keeps the horns.

Omar stops singing and high-fives the team.

"Bravo!

While celestial creatures don't bypass DR naturally, they do all have the Smite Evil power. From the description of Smite Evil:

"Regardless of the target, smite evil attacks automatically bypass any DR the creature might possess."

Actually, the rules are a celestial creature's smite evil functions differently to Paladin's ability.

Jaquilin aims her finger and fires another bolt off at the creature.

MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 If I need it. Can't remember the rules of spell resistance.

I have nothing else to do in combat as nothing else will affect him and I have no other offensive spells. Plus as pointed out, my summons, despite how buffed they might be, won't do much to it.

I have nothing else to do in combat as nothing else will affect him and I have no other offensive spells. Plus as pointed out, my summons, despite how buffed they might be, won't do much to it.[/ooc]

Unless I read that wrong above, I think the battle is over anyway.

Jaquilin Leroung wrote:

I have nothing else to do in combat as nothing else will affect him and I have no other offensive spells. Plus as pointed out, my summons, despite how buffed they might be, won't do much to it.[/ooc]

Unless I read that wrong above, I think the battle is over anyway.

oops, missed that. Ignore the earlier post. I save that missile for later.

Jaquilin looks down at the creature, surprised by Max's abilities and Thaco's ability to over-power that creature.

"As I said, poor excuse for an outsider." she states smugly. "Now, lets bring this mask back to it's owners. I'd like to study this beast some more, enhance my understanding of their kind if I ever run into this thing again. You can keep the horns though, Thaco."

Holding up his gory trophy and grinning, Thaco replies, "Sure, you can have the rest of what's left of it, Jackie."

Wiping the blood and guys from his bare hands, the half-orc stands back up and stretches. "Alright, what's next?"

What was the name of that particular Div species? Jaquilin would like to note it down for future reference so she'll know about it's weaknesses next time.

That was a Doru Div

After, gorily swapping trophies and high fives you return the mask to Murqual who happily takes it from you.

" Good work, I am as happy as a Camel at an Oasis at this job well done... only two more to go. I look forward to your further success"

ok next job then?

but which one - the delivery or the mirror

Let's do the mirror next?

Sure, the mirror sounds like fun. Let's go!

sounds good...mirror

Located in the shadows of the temple to Nethys, this higher end shop smells of sweet perfumes, medicines and the distinctive smell of alchemy emanate from the shop.

All across the shop you see vials of perfumes and baubles available for the casual customer while obviously alchemical compounds are kept behind locked glass cases.

There is a black marble countertop at the back of the store where a bell sits beside a bubbling cauldron and back behind that there is a beaded curtain obscuring the backroom of the shop.

A petite timid looking shopgirls sees you and immediately runs to the back saying something about "Palhuna Murqual's goons".

Soon a busty but conservatively clothed woman with classic dark-haired and pale skinned Chelish features emerges from the back. A hah, so it seems that the good merchant has found people gullible enough to pay my price? Well, well...you all seem young and vital so this shouldn't hurt...too much she grins wolfishly Are you certain you want to go through with this?

Jaquilin raises an eyebrow and shrugs.
"Only such concerns of years are for humans and other short-lived races like a few of my companions here. How would you like us to divvy up the years? I wouldn't mind giving you only ten whilst the others give you the rest?" she states simply, not seeming too scared by this notion "It won't matter. When my plans are complete I will be the new head of my family and mere years will be of minor consequence."

Peering at the woman with obvious distrust, Thaco crosses his arms and demands, "How about you go over all this once more. What exactly is going to happen?"

"I would give away a few years if necessary, I suppose. Not the worst thing the Society could ask of me..."

Omar, not as long lived as a full elf, does not relish losing any life.

"I would rather not lose any, but 3 or 5 at most ."

She looks surprised at Jaquillin's eagerness I-I see..well truth be told I don't really want to part with this mirror, but to be so willing and generous to offer... I need 25 years for the mirror. I have only ever seen ill effects if I take more than 5 at a time so if Jaquillin is willing to take 10 it should be a mostly...well it'll be quite uncomfortable but it won't take long at all. You can decide how to divvy up the years amongst yourselves before I administer the treatment.

She produces what looks like a tiny beaker connected to a thin glass tube that is the length of an average throat and begins to sanitize it.

Who is first?

and since Jaquillin has volunteered to take 10, she will be the only one I require a fortitude save for at DC 19

Pointing a meaty finger at the woman, Thaco exclaims, "I'm not pouring a second of my life into some sinister arcane ritual."

She looks surprised at Thaco and then looks startled as she say Oh I suppose I did not explain the experiment to you - I am looking at the essence of life itself to create alchemical processes similar to your higher level healing magics, revival especially. The essence of life is essential to that process. If it makes you feel any better it doesn't actually age you you won't suddenly be 5 years older. Just you will live a few years less and may feel a little woozy for a few days after. But if you refuse...well I guess I can just keep my mirror can't I. "

Pointing a meaty finger at the woman, Thaco exclaims, "I'm not pouring a second of my life into some sinister arcane ritual."

Jaquilin tilts her head down and leers at Thaco above her glasses.

"I'm going to stop you right there before you dig any deeper, Jackie. I might not be a fancy spell caster, but I've been around the block enough times to know that summoning horned demons and draining life are definitely on the sinister side of the magic spectrum."

He looks back at the other woman and adds, "Besides, my people don't have as many years to give as the rest of you. I say if Jackie is so enthralled by this ritual and cares not for the years, let her pay the whole sum."

"This seems like a steep price, and devil magic to boot. How do you even know how long one may live?"

She looks puzzled Well, sure most people have to potential to live around 80 years if disease or injury don't strike them down first. If you can't muster the courage to participate...well I can always keep the mirror. However I am a gambling woman...if you want to have a shot at getting away scot-free we can always play a game but keep in mind that betting at all means agreeing to wager a certain number of years of your life and I trust that as pathfinders I can be assured that you won't simply welch on the bet.

"Gambling is a devil's trick! I'll play no part in it!"

Brother Max is a bit of a loon, but all I can picture is the torture machine from Princess Bride...

"Is there anything else you would accept as payment?"

She frowns at Thaco No... as I said before I don't particularly wish to part with the mirror in the first place. I set the price high on purpose - I thought Murqual would balk at it and leave me alone. He has someone goaded all of you to come here and pay his price - and that is fine I will happily accept the payment I requested. But no alternative price. Either submit to giving me 25 years between the 5 of you or leave and tell Murqual that no deal could be reached and deal with whatever those consequences might be.

"Twenty-five? He told us you only needed twenty. When did the price go up?"

I'm struggling to figure out how any sentient being would agree to surrender years of its own life to essentially do a favor for a stranger. You guys want to just come back and steal the mirror when she's asleep?

"As I said, I will give a few years. Even without Thaco and Max, the rest of us should be able to cover the expense, no?"

FYI, I'm going to be at a work conference starting tomorrow through Friday, so my posting will be spotty (I'll do my very best to update all my games every night after I get back to my hotel, but I can't guarantee it). Feel free to bot me to move things along.

I'm struggling to figure out how any sentient being would agree to surrender years of its own life to essentially do a favor for a stranger. You guys want to just come back and steal the mirror when she's asleep?

Well in Jaquilin's case, she's an Elf and they can live close to 1000 years. Plus, getting these scrolls are VERY important to the society and the Dark Archive as they hold knowledge of a relatively undocumented era. Plus it wouldn't help the society any to get the merchant in trouble by stealing the mirror and fencing it to him. Also another reason Jaquilin is so laid back is she hopes to be able to bind or maybe force a powerful fiend to share it's life-force with her when she retires. This is all fluff stuff so won't need a GM approval after she retires. Her mindset is that the society MUST succeed in getting this document. If not them, then it may end up in some private collector's hands where it'll just gather dust or the Aspis will take it and sell fake copies, messing up the persuit of knowledge. Again, these are more Jaquilin's own ideals than everyones.

Well, if we are going to do it...let's get it over with or move on. All this talk about draining years is making me edgy. I am not happy about it...but figured with the life of a Pathfinder, I would not live more than a few dozen more years before some Lich or Dragon offs me anyway.

Ok just so I understand the arrangement, Jaquillin has volunteered to take 10 years, Max and Thaco are refusing - so to split it evenly among the remaining two would be 7 and half years for each of Omar and Emdaleen. If that is acceptable to everyone, I will move forward if not well it would be up to you guys to come up with some kind of alternate proposal for Murqual. If that is acceptable, I will simply need fortitude saves for Jaquillin, Emdaleen and Omar.

"Twenty-five? He told us you only needed twenty. When did the price go up?"

I'm struggling to figure out how any sentient being would agree to surrender years of its own life to essentially do a favor for a stranger. You guys want to just come back and steal the mirror when she's asleep?

As for this that was a writing flub. In one place it says 20 and in another it says 5 per player. I tend to think the 5 per player was what the intent was so that's what I am rolling with.

Thaco Ulgar wrote:

"Twenty-five? He told us you only needed twenty. When did the price go up?"

I'm struggling to figure out how any sentient being would agree to surrender years of its own life to essentially do a favor for a stranger. You guys want to just come back and steal the mirror when she's asleep?

As for this that was a writing flub. In one place it says 20 and in another it says 5 per player. I tend to think the 5 per player was what the intent was so that's what I am rolling with.

It probably means 5 per player on the basis of it being a team of 4 which means 20 would be correct if so.

I am fine with the 7.5 if need be.

I'm fine with 7 years, though I think you said that means I need to make a save, but that's fine too.

Ok in that case

Emdaleen, Jaquillin, and Omar all submit to the process and despite it looking and feeling really uncomfortable, she sprays you with some kind of blue liquid which makes your thoat numb during the process.

All 3 of you feel quite weak when the process is over

for the sake of time I will roll your fortitude saves

fortitude save Emdaleen: 1d20 ⇒ 20
fortitude save Omar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
fortitude save Jaquillin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Amazingly, all three of you merely feel a bit weaker after all of that, instead of nauseous as you felt you might.

Omar and Emdaleen You each lose one point of Dex, Str, or Con (your choice) and Jaquillin loses two total points which can be split up between the 3.

After the process is over she hands over an oval wrapped loosely in cloth As promised, my mirror. It's been a pleasure doing business with the three of you

Omar and Emdaleen You each lose one point of Dex, Str, or Con (your choice) and Jaquillin loses two total points which can be split up between the 3.

Just out of curiosity, is this ability score damage or drain?

It was unclear at first - but clarification in the GM thread has it clarified as Damage since it was intended to be healed by lesser restoration - if anyone has a lesser restoration spell they can be brought back to normal and anyone with heal skill can accurately identify it as ability damage by taking 10

Okay then, now I don't feel quite so bad about not giving up any years. Ability score damage is temporary and heals over time (1 point per day) so it's no big deal. Plus, it doesn't actually lower your ability scores. It works like nonlethal damage in that it's tallied separately, so taking 1 point of damage actually doesn't really do anything.

It's an awkward sight to see such a big man cringe as the ritual takes place. When it's over, he shakes his head slowly, inspecting each victim as though they were a curiosity in a store window. "You feel alright? Can we get on with the rest of our errands now?"

"I seem to be none the worse for wear, relatively. It was uncomfortable, though. Shall we return?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

"I seem to be none the worse for wear, relatively. It was uncomfortable, though. Shall we return?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

Jaquilin nods, feeling a little off balance, but manages to remain standing.

Omar will stagger with the temporary loss of strength but continues.

"Not as bad as I feared but bad enough. Lets get while the gettin's good."

Max keeps staring at each of the volunteers, as if expecting them to sprout wings or something.

While the character is appalled, I am willing to pay for restoration services if they are needed to restore your characters.

The woman hands over the mirror and you are on your way.

Are you returning the mirror to the merchant or making your way directly to the rendezvous point for bargaining with Gnolls

I would say turning over the mirror first, lest it be lost or damaged in the gnoll bargaining.

Sounds right.

Good idea, drop the mirror off, then go "negotiate" with the gnolls.