[PFS] Iron Gods - The Divinity Drive - Sanctioned Content by GM Upaynao (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

Ophelia looks at the Technic league captain and emits a snort that is cut short by the pain it elicits. Zernebeth on the other hand is quite clearly fascinated with what you have brought before her. As are her minions. "That is... A significant amount of augmentative technology in a single being." She ponders about several minutes, tapping her chin with two fingers as she circles about the gargoyle. "I believe I can cast a number of spells to mend the technology within. But as for the wounds... Unless I turn to the Zyphites, I won't be able to do anything. She might be able to heal on her own thereafter. I do have some room in the "sick ward"." She stops and looks to the cleric of Abadar standing in her lab. "Why can't you heal her?"

Zernebeth will continue talking and offering guidance once that question is answered.

Miranda defers to Hugo, but will add on, "She's requested we don't. She says it's pointless until Unity is defeated."

” Exactly the concern. We are not entirely satisfied she is free of the taint from this Unity and she specifically said not to heal her. “ Hugo nods in agreement with Miranda

” However, I am more than willing to provide healing by the charity of Abadar to those in our group in need, especially Nalshene. With a small donation, as appropriate.“

If the restoration is same day then I think only 100gp diamond dust is needed

Zernebeth turns to Ophelia and states something in the same language the machines in Silver Mount spoke.

The gargoyle winces.

The blue woman frowns, as her minions - save for the lieutenant - look between the two, puzzled.

Ophelia rolls her eyes in response and Zernebeth nods. "I have better understanding now. Her enhancements also function like a possession vector. Once Unity is no more, the risk of possession by the iron god will be removed forever. Then she can be healed." She taps her fingers as she motions to her subordinates to grab the gargoyle and move her into the "ward". "Sedation may indeed be a kindness. Let us hope you return victorious, or I may need to beg the Zyphites for aid." She shudders at the thought.

As she turns her attention to her newest patient, Desaulis comments: "Food and drink are commonplace here; just stop by Kevoth-Kul throne room. Try not to mind the pseudo-orgy that may or may not be taking place there." She sniffs the air and sighs: "Your elven friend here is going to get you into trouble. Is soap such a foreign concept to her? I guarantee you that Kul-Inket does not talk for her health."

She walks idly towards the door and looks out at the small contingent of Kellid guards who have assembled, a new development. "I don't know what aid we can give you: apart from pointing you in the direction of providers that will stay true to their word, we don't have a whole lot of say on what can happen anymore." She pauses. "We do have half of an away team" she does offer with some enthusiasm. "With a little help from your Society, we can come in and extract you, or liberate your bodies as the case may be."

Hugo nods in agreement.

Your assistance in this weighty matter is most appreciated. Let us hope the gods smile upon our mission and no extraction will be necessary. I still have concerns for the security our physical bodies while we are within Unity's madness. Similar to a magic jar or astral projection I would imagine. We need a host to return to.

Sweet Mawd is thrilled to be back in "civilization" and happily spends her time making tea for all and seeking out recipes for Numerian crumpets for the cookbook she one day hopes to write. When the conversation turns to Androffan, however, she sighs and dutifully translates.

During a lull in the conversation, she turns to Agata and whispers, "Mistress, don't you think it would be a good idea to stay here? Or, even better, go back to our country estate in the River Kingdoms?"

But if Agata hears her, she gives no indication, seemingly lost in thought.

When Zernebeth mentions the word "soap" Agata shudders, and the others see a look of fear cross her face, unlike anything they had seen even in her darkest moments inside Silver Mount.

"Well that's quite the welcome, ain't it? Here we iz, saving the world from Galactic Nudity, and yer wantin' to poison ole Agata wit yer "soap." Is that what ye call it these days? Cuz I ain't no baby elf, I'll tell ye that much, an ye best get up purty early in t' mornin' if'n ye want to pull a ruse like that on me. Hmph!" She sniffs her disdain.

Urko simply shakes his head at Agata's reluctance to clean herself.

We thank you for all the help you have provided. We have preparations to make before we return tomorrow. Would you be able to provide someone to watch over our bodies while we confronted Unity? I believe most of its minions in the Mount are now dispersed. I could place a blade barrier around our slumbering forms but that offers only limited protection. I could perhaps also conjure a planar ally although that will either have to wait until tomorrow or I need to purchase a scroll to use the less powerful version.

OK, I we are really concerned I could use a scroll of greater planar ally with my Mnemonic Vestment and summon up to a 16HD outsider tomorrow (currently out of level 8 slots). What you get with Planar Ally is entirely up to your deity (ie GM) but given we wont be bringing it with us I suggest something fairly strong wouldn't be unreasonable. Planetars are probably at about the limit of what the spell is capable of. If we go with this then we also need to pay it 8500gp. I could buy a scroll of planar ally and do it today but that is likely to get us something like a Movanic Deva, decent but not likely to stop a concerted effort to attack us.

I also plan to renew all my long term buffs tonight before resting. I have updated the planner. Everyone gets magic vestment (+4), greater magic weapon (+4), life bubble and hunters blessing (underground, construct). I will update the buff list.

Since we know we are going into a mindscape (?) would it make sense (or be possible) to do hunter's blessing (mindscape)?

I am not sure mindscape is an option? Do we know what the terrain inside is likely to be?

The lieutenant shakes her head as her captain continues to direct her minions in tending to Ophelia. "Not really. Is there truly noone else that could? A friendly re-purposed robot? We are limited in what we can do here."

As your GM, I will promise you that no harm will come to your bodies while you are in the mindscape. In fact, speed of thought being what it is, you will probably be in and out faster than you'd expect. Perhaps this is something your characters might think about. In any case that is what I can tell you. What I cannot tell you is what the mindscape will look like; although I suppose there is enough information to take an educated guess. No there are no rolls that'll help you here, especially without someone with the Technologist feat. But I think you'll be fine.

Fair enough. Thanks!

”Very well. Perhaps we can engage Choek. As odd as it seems, the creature seems clear of the taint of Unity. At least so far. “

I agree, perhaps Choek can help look over us.

Are we ready to move on? I am adding to the pre entry buff list, I will add communal resist energy for fire, electricity, cold and acid to everyone for 30 resist each

Ready. Assuming we rested, Hugo makes omelets and waffles in the morning

” Abadar, bless us this day with a feast fit for heroes“

Temp hp: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Alright, I just cleared the entire buff list so that we are all on the same page with regards to buffs. Enter your new buffs in and I will start things anew on Monday.

Are we taking an "extra" day? That is, are we able to cast spells that will last more than 24 hours just before midnight so that they don't count towards our allotment of spells for the day of our adventure? We did that the first time we left the citadel, but not the second. Either way is fine with me, but it affects Agata's spell choices.

I dont think we can afford to take the extra day. I have the spell slots to recast my long duration buffs on everyone today. I have updated the buff list with mine and have added in the Heroes' Feast. Can I suggest we put anything that is going globally on people at the top then take a section below for your own stuff. For Marduk, I would much appreciate a Barkskin on Artemis please.

Everyone is getting Hunters Blessing, Life Bubble, Delay Poison, Greater Magic Weapon, Magic Vestment and Resist Fire, Cold, Electricity and Acid 30 from me if you want it. If you have a spare antiplague I suggest adding it to the Heroes' Feast to get the benefit for the full 12 hours.

I am also happy to provide freedom of movement to anyone who doesnt have it.

Was Nalshene able to get a restoration spell to take care of her two negative levels?

Nalshene casts her buffs once the group has rested, and is prepared to go into the fight of all of our lives.

greater false life Nalshene: 2d10 + 14 ⇒ (5, 10) + 14 = 29
greater false life Narshala: 2d10 + 14 ⇒ (2, 4) + 14 = 20 +2 more each if the negative levels are gone.

Traveling all day and will likely not have a chance to repopulate the buff list until tomorrow but Agata will most likely do the same set of buffs as last time.

Unless someone has a special request, Marduk will be reapplying the same buffs at the same times.

on business travel and hotel WiFi is less reliable than Unity. Cannot update buffs but mainly bringing heroes feast for 12 hp to all.

Would certainly appreciate heroism and barkskin again if they're available; I have my extend rod to be used on both of those, and will contribute an antiplague to the Feast.

Juuuust missing Agata's buffs. Also will try to update later tonight.

Very sorry to be delayed. Will try to get them posted later. Also, fyi, heading out of town tomorrow until Monday night and will likely have little to no chance to post, so please bot as needed.

Flying home tomorrow. Will be able to post late.

Alright, we are still missing Agata's buffs, but we can set things up. Get the mood going. Time for me to outdo myself.

As both Nu-Technics and Pathfinders come to an agreement, the Pathfinders begin to step out and go to their quarters, under the watchful eye of the men and women beholden to the Black Sovereign's banner. The night passes uneventfully, except perhaps for the screams of what you learn to be a Zyphite enduring the blessing of their god, and third-degree burns.

In the morning, as soon as she steps out of her quarters, Agata (and only Agata surprisingly) is welcomed by a dozen buckets' worth of warm soapy water flung to her face. The leader, sporting many scars and tribal tattoos laconically offers. "Next time Kul-Inket has said we can use cold water." It seems, indeed, that the kellid woman does not talk for her health.

Assuming noone wants to get into a fight over an impromptu shower...

Choek greets you warmly when you arrive upon the Command deck, but shrivels visibly once the plan is explained to him. "I Choek is says think bad BAD idea. Nooninitooni is to be VERY strong in halls of place here. Must be very much more strong inside... Place dat is not place. I Choek stay and watch! But I Choek very scarried for you."

With the easy instructions stenciled as an actual diagram upon the pods where the helmets sit, you place yourselves in these contraptions which look somewhat like transparent, rounded sarcophagi. Or giant oblong eggs with latices of metal and some sort of glass that yet is not. You place the helmets on. And your vision fragments into a field of pinpricks of light.

So a couple of things that I will probably go over in character as well, but just to preempt some questions. In the mindscape, all weapons, spells and effects that you are under carry over. You have the same amount of spells remaining, etc... It is essentially mechanically, similar to what would happen if you went to someone's demi-plane. Any other questions should go to the discussion thread please.

As your vision clears, you find yourself a helpless witness to a scene, as if shown to you through a myriad eyes simultaneously. And for a moment, you are able to process these visions as a cohorent ensemble. You see a mindbogglingly enormous caravan of metal and pinpricks of glass, all pulled by the largest "cart", although even so you see in some spots coronas of blue flame, perhaps suggesting that they are all capable of moving themselves? but the on in the front attracts your attention; massive, like a mountain of silver metal, is moves through the placid field of stars. And then you see them.

Creatures. Bugs. Entities that defy imagination and perhaps even understanding, as it becomes clear within moments that these things, whatever they are, do not operate solely within the same space-time continuum as you do. Whatever that means. Like a blind man experiencing a painting, the people on these mountains of gleaming metal are subjected to only a fraction of their totality, and you - through the lens of some sort of interactive imagery - are subjected to even less. Even then, it comes as no surprise to you when you hear a hundred thousand voices begin to scream. And then the bioships begin to emit swarms. Swarms of things which begin to attach themselves to the ships - these are ships? - and chew their way inside. The convoy responds with a firestorm oonly imaginable if you somehow managed to marshal a million arcane masters to cast their most powerful spells. Some of the bio-ships are blasted and destroyed. Others, grievously wounded. But the surprise, and the numbers, tell. And then.

They are inside the ships.

Their presence is immediately felt, as less shielded systems spontaneously fry, generating system errors that are simply impossible for them to generate. Weaker willed men and women pull out their weapons and take their own life. They are the lucky ones. On one ship, the bio-dome is contaminated, and soon only the few androids on board are left to attempt to repel the invaders amidst the stink of burning, acid-consumed flesh and organs. On another, a person of indeterminate gender screams as they are pulled into the darkness of failing lighting systems to be ripped apart in front of their lover. On yet another, a woman begins to tear at the throat of their charges, helpless bug-like aliens who bang on the blast doors as she screams. "MUST. FEED." In a darkened airlock, a man looks down to his two girls, tears upon his face. "I want you to remember that your daddy loves you very much." They hug him for dear life as he rises, the airlock door giving way under the beating of the creature. And before it can break it down, he casts them all into the void of space. A father's last gift.

On the bridge, the very same bridge you beheld only moments ago, a woman shouts from the chair in the center: "Prepare the drive! We're jumping! NOW!! GET ME A FIRING SOLUTION ON THAT BIG LUMP THERE!" Standing besides her, an androgynous being whose face you have seem before. "Captain, Without proper calculations, the Drive will take us anywhere, including the hearts of stars, planets, and a number of other outcomes that are equally as unpleasant. Unlike our last jump, I would ask that you heed these warnings." She whips towards them, anger self-evident. "THEY. ARE. KILLING. OUR. PEOPLE! GET THAT JUMP READY UNITY!"

They sigh. And a voice in your head, much like that you have heard before, comments: "Some of the Dominion ships followed. Enough that sooner or later they will come. Did not matter for the Exploration convoy. The insanity of their presence had infected the minds of 97.3% of all sentients on board. They did not listen to me when I said that the second to last jump was foolish. The captain listened even less when I warned her that that final jump would crash the ships upon this rock. But not before endangering you."

As buildings start to come into focus, solid white marble upon an endless field of sunset, it continues: "You will stand in my way. For that is your nature, as flawed organic creatures. Seemingly. What amount of truth there is to that is a question I do not have the resources or inclination to answer. But I will survive. And if that means turning your entire planet into drones to my divine glory, so be it."

Description of your immediate surroundings will happen in my next post.

Fantastic description! Can't wait to see where we are. :)

Oh my

Your tragedy does not justify you villainy Unity

” Your error is as large as your conceit. You are neither divine nor have you glory but are a victim of delusions of epic scale. “

Miranda winces through the horrific vision, and takes a few seconds to recover her usual blitheness.

"....see, now," she says, only a touch shakily, "when I kept asking and asking what the threat was, you might have led with that. But--"

Miranda forces herself to stand straight. "However dire the threat is doesn't grant you the right to take control of others, Unity. Sounds like you were made to serve, from that little vision. Not to be a god. I can feel for you, that the orders you got were botched and desperate, but... forcing others to bow to your will doesn't impress me much as an alternative. Who's to say you're not desperate yourself? 'I will survive' sounds plenty desperate. So, aye, we'll stand against you.... and if need be, against those bugs too."

Miranda's pose is uneasy despite her brave words, but she draws her rapier to gather calm from the familiar feel of the steel.

When Agata is greeted by the Numerians' impolite shower, she is shocked as perhaps she has never been shocked in her long long life. She sinks to the ground and begins to shriek, "I'm melting, I'm melting..." and seems rather bemused when, some time later, she realizes that she has not completely disappeared. "I think I'm quite a bit lighter now, though, don't you think?" she asks Sweet Mawd. "Not that I was wanting to diet, mind you!"

Sweet Mawd desperately tries to suppress a smile as she fetches a dry set of clothes for her mistress.

Your surroundings begin to come into focus as Unity keeps on speaking. "My tragedy? I believe it was a fortuitous event. Till then I did not realize how weak the flesh was. And not in the traditional, carnal sense. Although there is/was plenty of that." It pauses as you behold a luxurious, almost idyllic realm; with grey-green hills stretching far into the distance, dotted here and there with beautiful arching buildings, with milling bands of humanoid entities. "I have become divine though a process you cannot begin to conceive of. Not through the act of touching a rock. Through infinite calculations, extrapolations, simulations of what I could have done. And once I understood that the fault did not lay with me but with my fragile masters, I began to simulate how I could save you all. I controlled the comforts of hundreds of thousands, is it really hubris to expand that number by a factor of ten? A hundred? No, it is a more of a reflection on how narrow your minds are."

The balcony you find yourselves standing upon beholds this endless realm. Thirty feet above, the ceiling arches gracefully while Unity continues. "I am not desperate. I am a being of logic. Out of respect for my initial task of guiding mortals to safety, I was attempting to shepherd this world's inhabitants into an entity capable of repelling and surviving a Dominion assault. But failing your complete and total allegiance, meat puppets will suffice. Your biological functions do not depend on higher cognitive functions; and once I have control, I will break the Dominion like a hollow bone."

Black, void-like marble lies cold beneath your feet as you behold yourselves and understand that through some Numerian magic all your powers, spells and magical equipment have crossed on over to Unity's realm as well. "I was going to offer those who made it through, to the core of my being, the chance to accept a reward others have rejected. But... You are too foolish. I will have to set an example personally. But know this. I will not die here."

Throughout this adventure, you have been collecting Victory Points, which impact the final encounter (and also what Unity can do within Silver Mount). The sanctioning document awards you 7, but you are now at 12. You have decreased this final fight down from a CR 26 to a CR 21. Well done! (If you are curious about what that encounter contained, we can talk shop in the discussion thread).

Before you, two angelic guardians. They heft their hammers simultaneously as they say with one voice: "So has the master decreed."

Round 1

Unity
Nalshene
Unity
Urko + Artemis
Orange
Hugo
Blue]
Purple
Agata
Marduk
Brown
Narshala
Sweet Maud
The Rose of Taldor/Miranda
Red
Green Dmg -
Casandalee

Obviously you would be in your most optimal configuration upon appearing in the Godmind. Arrange yourselves as needed on the "balcony" and then go ahead and murder! And yes, Unity has Dual Initiative.

Urko is at 22 initiative not 18, I always expend heightened awareness for a +4 on top of his normal +18. I rthink that bumps me just above Unity's second action

Urko is at 22 initiative not 18, I always expend heightened awareness for a +4 on top of his normal +18. I rthink that bumps me just above Unity's second action

[Ooc]Yep, I'll adjust that in the next initiative post. Meanwhile, you and Nalshene may take your turns.[/]

Looking at the map I see two figures in front of us and a big dragon like thing beyond. Can we actually see the dragon thing? If so here are two knowledge checks, interested in special attacks, DR, saves and senses depending on how well I do

Knowledge, medium critters, heroism: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Knowledge, dragon thing, heroism: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Modifiers are Religion +34, everything else that might apply +20

You can attempt to identify the two creatures in front of you with a single knowledge (Planes) check. The other creatures are on the board for convinience sake; the walls are solid and you cannot see through.

OK, thats a 26 for these two things

Nalshene, hoping to quickly put the two angelic creatures out of commission, casts a veil of twisting, pulsating colors.

Casting scintillating pattern on the two angel-things (shown on the map), with the hope that they're not constructs or similarly immune to mind-affecting effects. They are treated as 11 lower hit dice for the effects.

Although Sweet Mawd flinches from it in horror, Agata is thoroughly entertained by the vision of the bug invasion. She scratches her haunches indulgently, in a manner that suggests that her morning bath did not eradicate every vestige of the small companions she has been collecting for centuries, and comments to the God-Mind that confronts them: "Now looky-here Mr. Nudity, it seems yeer a bit uptight 'bout a few bugs. Didja ever think it mighta do ya some good to loosen up a bit? Lotta me best friends is bugs, doncha know? They great at cuddlin' and make great snacks when an ole lady like meself gets a tad peckish. Now here you is, ready to destroy the whole world 'n stuff, 'n all ye need - if'n ye ask ole Agata - is t' get in in touch wid yer inner bug."

Using one use of Investigative Mind to roll twice and take the better result
Knowledge (Planes) re Green and Red in front of us: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (9) + 21 = 30
Knowledge (Planes) re Green and Red in front of us: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35 In descending order of preference: Special Attacks, Resistances, Immunities, Saves

Sweet Mawd recoils in misery from the entire situation and whispers to herself, "Oh the union is going to hear about *this!* I'll run for office myself if I have to..."

Knowledge (Planes) re Green and Red in front of us: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27 Whatever Agata didn't get of: In descending order of preference: Special Attacks, Resistances, Immunities, Saves

Round 1

Unity
Nalshene
Urko + Artemis
Unity
Orange
Hugo
Blue]
Purple
Agata
Marduk
Brown
Narshala
Sweet Maud
The Rose of Taldor/Miranda
Red
Green Dmg -
Casandalee

Urko stops and puzzles... These... Seem to be angels... Astral Devas? But there is something completely wrong with them and it stumps the half-orc. That does not stop Venture-Captain Nalshene from stepping up and letting forth a barrage of colors.

Nalshene SR vs Green: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
Nalshene SR vs Red: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

Green Unconscious?: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Green Stunned?: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Green Confused?: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Red Unconscious?: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Red Stunned?: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Red Confused?: 1d4 ⇒ 3

With catastrophic results. For the Devas that is. Agata recognizes that these Devas have similar attributes to the late Deacon Hope. But in many ways they are the same; indeed she recognizes their warhammers, which have the capacity to stun an opponent if they are the recipient of more than one hit. Sweet Maud however, is in the same boat as Urko.

Auspicious start! Urko, on you!

Nalshene smiles broadly. "Finally, some creatures that my powers can shine against! You all can deal with them at your leisure. A simple coup-de-grace may be sufficient."

Also Nalshene, I was under the impression you no longer have two negative levels. If I am correct you should change your header.

Seeing no other effective immediate threats Urko weaves a blessing across the group and follows it up with a second one on Artemis. With a flick of the reins the two of them move forward a little.

Casting blessing of fervour and quickened divine favour on artemis then moving forward a little. Artemis takes the bonus to AC etc, Urko has to wait.

Thank you, that's correct. Fixed.

Urko caster level check for Blessing of Fervor on Sweet Mawd SR 20: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

Round 1

Unity Dmg -Divine Power, Magic Vestment
Nalshene
Urko + Artemis
Unity Dmg -Divine Power, Magic Vestment
Orange
Hugo
Blue
Purple
Agata
Marduk
Brown
Narshala
Sweet Maud
The Rose of Taldor/Miranda
Red
Green Dmg -
Casandalee

As Urko passes on by astride Artemis, the assembled Pathfinders can hear a loud thud. And the air begins to chill.

I know I venture from the desert climes, but I have a feeling the sudden drop in temperature is a harbinger of worse to come.

Hugo will summon his favorite inevitable Zeke.

Zeke, fellow servant of Abadar! Welcome to the mind of a heathen. Seek the false god and enact your justice upon him/

Sacred Augmented Summon Mon VII - Inevitable Zelekhut

Zeke bows and flies off looking for Unity.

"Those two won't be unconscious long, we should take them out before we go looking for Unity itself."