[PFS] PbP Gameday 5 - Scenario 7-00: The Sky Key Solution subtier 1-2 (Inactive)

Game Master Scott Young

Kageko is able to sneak past the snakes to the next island without incident. Sorry, just flavor text to explain the missed roll.

Fort DC12 - Sees-far-Ahead: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Osten and Sees_Far-Ahead are both bitten several times. Osten shakes the venom off, but the seer takes 1 point of Con damage.

Once at the island, she manages to puzzle out some of the information on the stele that Marika looked at. It seems to detail some of the serpentfolk's animalist religion, which is bizarrely similar to the Green faith but with a cold-blooded detachment far beyond even the most fanatic druidic sect. Each roll takes a round, so I'm starting with the top of your list and working downwards.

Uthread: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13Uthread shakes off the effects of the venom.

OK, majority rules - the aid token is used, granting each of you a +3 to your next skill roll.

As you work, a young Taldan man in armor clanks through the cavern, distracting the snakes. "We've captured the area!" he shouts. "Once you're done here, push higher into the... oh, look, Draconic writing!" He pulls up short and casts a quick spell. Walking across the water to the island, he introduces himself. "Girion, Son of Aroden the Living Man," he states. "Can I help?"

You think that you'll need about 3 successful skill rolls at each stele to puzzle them out. Right now, Marika and Sees-Far-Ahead are at one, and Kageko and Uthread and Osten are at another.

Marika kneels down and studies the stone at the island she just arrived on.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 3 = 24

"Quite a lot of it, in fact," Kageko replies. "I fear not all of us are terribly conversant in the language, and the sheer age of it does not make matters easier. I believe these writings describe their religion, but either I'm mistranslating something or these people were extraordinarily cold-blooded about it, if Milady will pardon the expression..."

She spends a bit more time comparing notes with Girion as they puzzle over the stele's writings.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 3 = 17

Osten walk up to Uthread and asks the warrior, "What does it say? Is it some kind of warning, or do they worship their old gods?"

Did my perception check from my last post apply to the island I am on now, or do I need to make a new one?

Just in case. Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"Let's hurry so we can be gone! There is nothing here but the scent of piss and scat."

The high-flying Pathfinders have taken control of the Temple Plaza! In doing so, they have found out how to access the Temple itself!

The Temple Plaza is now claimed, the Temple Interior is now discovered. This will be reflected in the map momentarily.

"I'm not exactly sure, Kageko's explanation seems to make sense." let us cross to the next island, I have learned all I can from this pillar.

Uthraed crosses over to the next island by wading into the water trying to be quieter than before. He then examines the pillar as he did with the last one.

stealth: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 3 = 22
perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
linguistics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

How many of the islands have the pillars on them?

Quick question to the GM for clarification -- are we supposed to 'clear out' all the research possibilities in this area, or move on to the next ones?

All 5 islands have stele on them, and you have deciphered one and partially deciphered the second one. You don't need to move on until you want to - it basically opens up options for you. You could choose to abandon this encounter and move on if you want, or stay and finish this one, up to you.

Girion manages to aid you somewhat in discerning some more detail before he has to move on. Much is still a mystery as your don't have all of the skills which would help.

Island Two
stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Island Three
stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Island Four
stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Island Five
stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Similarly, as necessary:

Marika continues to explore the islands, as well as making sure they're safe for their seer. Unfortunate she can't do much about the snakes, but there's just too many.

After all exploration is done enough to get the point...

"Okay, I think that's all we can do here. That runner mentioned slave pits I want to check out..."

"I'd expect no less of you, Milady," Kageko comments as she keeps pace with Marika. "... Although I'm uncertain how much we'll be able to accomplish -- this is, after all, the past. In some fashion or another."

Osten pushes through the masses of snakes, receiving dozens of bites but shaking off the effects of the poison.

Sees-Far-Ahead is also bitten multiple times as she moves to the islands. Fort DC14: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22Fort save DC 12: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17Fort save DC 12: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 1 Con damage

Fort save DC 12: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Eventually, you are able to get enough of the information to be of value to the Society, and you also uncover a ritual of more immediate use. By performing a short ritual, a PC can transform a vial of the water into a potion of cure light wounds (CL 3rd).The potion retains its potency for 30 minutes, and a PC can benefit from the water’s healing properties only once during this adventure.

Sees-Far-Ahead has taken 2 Con damage and Uthread has taken 1 Con damage from the venomous snakes.

Any other votes for the slave pits? There's also the Temple Plaza and Temple Interior to explore.

To the pits!

Moving ahead to make up some time... sorry for absence the other day, had a family issue.

Beyond the zoological gardens are the serpentfolk slave pens, mostly occupied by sickly, depressed human captives. In the distance you can hear the sounds of a commotion echoing through the halls, as of a mob.

Claustrophobic cells line the walls here, many crowded with three or four miserable-looking humans. The halls converge on a hewn-stone chamber lit with braziers and choked with herb-scented smoke. As you advance down the hallway, the smell gets worse, and upon entering a doorway you spot two reptilian fiends armed with crude clubs and javelins walking down the hallway towards you. They hiss and prepare to attack as a wave of odor roils outwards at you!

Everyone except Osten is sickened by the stench of the reptiles.

Initiative order: Uthread, Osten, Kageko, Sees-Far-Ahead, Yellow, Marika, Red.

Uthread, Osten, Kageko, Sees-Far-Ahead are up!

My companions are in no condition to fight. I must keep these monsters away from them!

"Gorum, lend me your strength!!" Free action to enter rage (unchained). AC 16

Without further thought, the barbarian sprints toward his opponents.

greataxe, yellow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 Against flat footed(fingers crossed?)

damage: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Kageko turns slightly green and shudders. "You do take me to the loveliest places, Milady," she gmutters through gritted teeth as she draws her blade and moves to Osten's side, feinting a slash at the reptile's left flank before darting across and slashing at its right leg.

Bluff (Improved Feint): 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 2 = 5 ... Meh.
Attack (Katana): 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 - 2 = 13, Damage: 1d8 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 2 = 6

A vile stench overcomes Uthraed just as 2 more lizardmen appear in the hallway. He begins to retch but is able to stifle it and fumbles to draw an arrow and aim at the enemy in front of him.

longbow: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 2 = 8
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

I am aiming at the red lizardman

Spear in hand and stench on her mind, she falls in behind Osten to take a thrust at the red trogolodyte.

Longspear, Sickened: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 2 = 9 for Damage, Sickened: 1d8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 - 2 = 0

I just realized that I didn't apply the - 2 on my damage roll, but it doesn't really matter with that pitiful attack roll.

Round 1

Uthread fires an arrow, which goes wide.

Osten charges forward and swings his axe and connects, but the blade doesn't penetrate the lizard's tough hide.

Kageko tries to confuse the lizard, but his attack is ineffective.

Sees-Far-Ahead moves forward and thrusts her spear at the creature, but also does no damage.

Yellow raises his club and attacks Osten with club, fang, and claw! The attacks prove ineffective.
club: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
claw: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (1) - 3 = -2damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
club: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (8) - 3 = 5damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Marika is up!

"Well, if you didn't 'invite' yourself to every meeting I get pulled into, you might not end up in some of these places!" Marika shouts back at the Tien girl, before trying a stronger lightning attack than she used on the first set of lizard men.

Targeting Red
Lightning Lance 1/7 (Touch): 1d20 ⇒ 11
Lightning Lance Damage (unsure if -2 applies): 1d6 ⇒ 6

Somewhere in his rage, Osten wonders what these beasts are made of. His rage has the answer, hit them harder!

I'm hoping I actually missed his AC and that these guys do not have DR 12+.

Correct... you missed due to their +6 natural armor bonus.

Round 1 (continued)

Marika releases a blast of lightning which strikes Red in the chest, scoring his scales.

Red stares at Marika, eyes narrowing, but then turns to focus on the much nearer Osten.
club: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
claw: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
bite: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (16) - 3 = 13damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

End of Round 1!

Uthread, Osten, Kageko, Sees-far-Ahead are up!

Again Uthraed fires in the direction of the red lizardman this time he staggers forward while drawing an arrow, trying to get a better shot of than last time.

longbow: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 2 = 8
damage: 1d8 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 - 2 = 4

"GOOORRRRUUUUUUMMMMM!!!!!"
greatax, yellow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
damage: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Kageko coughs, trying to breathe less through her nose in an attempt to avoid gagging on the stench as she moves in to flank the yellow troglodite with Osten, feinting low and slashing high.

Improved Feint: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 2 = 18
Attack: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 - 2 = 2 Grrr.

The smell seemingly affecting her ability to think, she steps back and awkwardly thrusts at the red troglodyte.

Longspear, Sickened: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 - 2 = 7 for Damage, Sickened: 1d8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 - 2 = 3

Round 2

Uthread fires another arrow, which goes wide.

Osten bellows a plea to Our Lord in iron and slashes the yellow lizard, badly wounding it.

Kageko's fancy footwork does not impress the yellow creature.

Sees-Far-Ahead's spear thrust is also ineffective.

Yellow steps behind Osten and attacks in a flurry of spittle. Osten takes a glancing blow from the club, but no other damage.
club, flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 = 23damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 - hit!
claw, flank: 1d20 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) - 3 + 2 = 4damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
bite, flank: 1d20 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) - 3 + 2 = 6damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Marika is up!

Marika turns her attention to the other lizardman, although this burst is less powerful than the first.

Lightning Orb on Yellow.

Touch Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Lightning Damage +1 Force: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Round 2 (continued)

Marika unleashes more lightning, but misses.

Red attacks the flanked Osten as well.
club, flank: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 = 15damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
claw, flank: 1d20 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) - 3 + 2 = 10damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
bite, flank: 1d20 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) - 3 + 2 = 3damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

End of Round 2!

Everyone is up (Yellow will delay so that he and Red can act together.)

Frothing with anger, the barbarian fails to see the tactical advantage of moving from between his two opponents.
"YOU DIE!!!"
Greatax, yellow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
damage: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Covered in blood and gore, the man-turned-beast laughs as he spins and turns his wild eyes on the remaining troglodyte.

3 of 9 rounds unchained rage

Yay, low level combat! With Penalties!

She holds her breath and thrusts again, hoping to at least divert the attention of one troglodyte.

Longspear, Sickened: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 - 2 = 2 for Damage, Sickened: 1d8 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 - 2 = 3

Marika spins back away, trying to get away from the horrible smell before she lets loose with one last bolt of lightning - maybe they'll smell better cooked?

Lightning Orb on Red: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Kageko darts away from the frothing barbarian to help engage the other, striking at its flank across from Sees-Far-Ahead

Feint: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 2 = 5
Katana: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 - 2 = 16Damage: 1d8 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 - 2 = 2Sneak Attack (flanking): 1d6 ⇒ 5

Uthraed loads and fires a third time hoping to finally make contact.

longbow: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 2 = 13
damage: 1d8 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 2 = 6

well I'm getting closer to a double digit role. Also I'll be in a wedding all day today so I won't be checking frequently.

Round 3

Your combined attacks finish the two troglodytes, and silence suddenly reigns in the tunnels again, broken only by the soft moaning and mewling of prisoners in the various cells.

You can investigate this area further, or move on to the temple district ahead.

Also, do you have a preference as to what table you pass your aid token to now that you've used it?

"Hold on, I've got this," Marika says softly, reaching into her hip pouch and pulling out a set of lockpicks. Kneeling down, she begins working on getting prisoners out.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

Any table. Another low-level one, if that's an option?

Each cell is locked, and contains several human prisoners. They speak only Thassilonian, Undercommon, and Draconic, but there are enough words with roots similar to Taldane to get basic ideas across.

Yay - another victory point!

Where to next?

"All right," Marika grins once the slaves are directed to the portal "I suspect the main force in the temple could use some help, unless someone else wants to do something out here. Not like we're going to get another chance to go into the past, right?"

"Admirably done, Milady, although what to do with them now that they're free may be a more complex decision," Kageko comments. "At any rate, I suspect it's best if none of us - past or present, slave or liberator - stays around here. At the very least I'm quite tired of the smell..."

The temple interior sounds promising.

The lady in furs nods.

"Freedom isn't easy, but you will learn," she meekly tells the newly freed prisoners. "We are pressing on."

Into the temple!

Thanks to the efforts of the Pathfinders, the Slave Pens are now claimed! Sources say that there's something weird going on in that temple! Hurry up and check it out Pathfinders!

The map has been updated.

After both assailants have fallen, the barbarian looks for others to strike down. He takes a wild step toward the group before realizing they are not a threat to him. Slowly, the bloodlust ebbs away, the lack of adrenaline leaving the warrior winded.

Fatigued for one minute after rage. With freeing the prisoners, Osten has more than enough time to fully recover. 6 of 9 rounds unchained rage remaining, 9 of 9 round of blood rage remaining.

Hmm... yesterday's post disappeared.

you leave the slave pits behind, and climb upwards through a network of tunnels to the surface of the cube. At ground level, you enter a broad plaza with several buildings scattered about. The detritus of combat is everywhere; wounded and fallen Pathfinders and intermixed with dead reptilian humanoids of every description.

Passing quickly through the plaza, you approach the central temple, a huge pyramid-shaped structure with many entrances. Ducking inside one tunnel, you enter a dark warren of tunnels with low ceilings interspersed with shrines of much greater height. Glowing coals warm this shrine and cast an eerie under-lighting on the towering, snake-headed statue behind the altar. The reek of ammonia and rotting flesh fills the air and burns the eyes.

Please let me know what light sources you'll use; the tunnels are dark, and the shrines are dimly lit.

Surprise Round

ranged touch: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Suddenly, from near the ceiling, you hear a hiss, and a fist-sized blob of liquid strikes Osten in the face!
Fort save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Osten's eyes are bruning from the venom, and he is blinded and also takes 1 Con damage.

Marika can take a single action in the surprise round before combat begins. She sees a small winged snake crouching on the ledge of a pillar, about 20' above the ground.

Marika, you're up!

Marika yelps in surprise, her hair standing on end. She levels a finger at the flying snake. "Okay, that's something snakes shoudln't do! Quit it!" And then another bolt of electricity flies from her hand.

Lightning Lance 2/6: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Elec Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Also, almost forgot - Marika's using a Wayfinder for her light source.