Aid Tokens
Once per encounter, any character at a table can use an Aid Token to assist the group in one of five ways described below. Once a table uses an Aid Token, the token grants no further benefit until the end of the encounter, at which point one of the players can pass the Aid Token to a neighboring table for them to use. It is very important that the players remember that there are a limited number of Aid Tokens, and hoarding one means that somebody else doesn’t get to use it. An Aid Token’s benefits can take one of the following five forms.
Aid Another: Ralph gives advice via a sending spell to help you solve a puzzle, disable a trap, or accomplish some other task as if performing the aid another action for a PC. The bonus for this aid is +3.
Allied Offensive: Ralph happens to be in a battle nearby and spares a moment to direct a long-range magical attack on a creature at the same time as the PC, increasing the damage dealt by one attack by 2d8 points. In addition, after the attack, the target is momentarily disoriented and anyone attacking the target is considered to be flanking it until the beginning of the attacker’s next turn.
Burst of Healing: Ralph asks a nearby cleric to send a burst of positive energy through the token. This heals all of the PCs of 3d6 points of damage. Alternatively, Ralph can send one of these spells thorugh the token to one of you: neutralize poison, remove curse, or remove disease with a caster level of 6.
Spellcasting Synergy: Ralph sends a surge of magical energy through the token as you cast a spell increasing the save DC and caster level of the PC’s spell by 1.
Timely Inspiration: Ralph broadcasts the effects of a bard’s inspire courage bardic performance for 3 rounds. The competence bonus is +2.
Table successes: 22
The beast rider
Research Encounter: The sacred pools
The Serpentfolk guards
The Scales of Ydersius
Research Encounter: Festival Preparations
Temple attendants
Research Encounter: Words of a Dead God
Beasts of a Civilised Age
Scions of the Serpent God
Research Encounter: An Azlanti Perspective (double success)
Guardian Idols
______________________________
Finding the Vault
Fate's Anchor: Gad Gemple
Fate's Anchor: Binui Skostravalus
Fate's Anchor: Romnus Vagarti
Fate's Anchor: Alrule Shahan
The Many Arodeths x 4
The Operations Center
Torrag, one of your archon's rays just managed to hit due to the entanglement by Twitter and the haste spell's attack bonus. Just barely. light ray damage:1d6 ⇒ 3
Blanmieux vigorously shakes his head of the raw chaos in the naunet's first tentacle strike, only to be struck again. The combination proves too much, and his mind buckles under the strain.
confused:1d100 ⇒ 91
Once again he sees enemies everywhere he looks, one of which is holding a bow. With a great cry, he rushes what he thinks is a serpentfolk, swinging with all his might.
Using the same modifiers as his latest attack. Attack pw!:1d20 + 10 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 1 - 2 = 13
Fortunately, Hakime is far too nimble for the barbarian in his addled state. She plants a foot against Blan's chest as he raises his hammer and pushes him away before he can swing it down on her.
I'll have Hakime take a 5ft step back so she does not provoke when she shoots the naunet.
Twitter, Van, Hakime, Torrag and the summoned lantern archon continue to bombard the naunet with magic and arrows. Van's spell fizzles, but the others manage to pierce the naunet's defences and inflict some damage. However, at the last ray, the archon disppaears in a gold-tinted cloud, and the Pathfinders find their movements slowing down.
reflex:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Noticed that the bite is enough to take Blan into negatives. Unless Blan has some trick to remain standing, the naunet will not take his remaining attacks, and instead fly over Hakime.
The naunet leaves Blan battered and bleeding on the floor as it flies over to Hakime, ready to make her its next prey.
Round 7
Van ()
Hakime ()
Torrag
Naunet -32hp (entangled 1rds)
----------------------------------characters below this line have not acted this turn.
Twitter ()
Blanmieux -86hp ()
Lantern archon and haste are gone. Last round of entanglement. Hakime has a monster with reach flying directly overhead.
Blan needs to roll stabilisation. Twitter can act for round 6. Van, Hakime and Torrag for round 7.
M Gnome Arcanist 6 - HP 38/38 - AC 16/T: 15/FF: 13 - Perception: +1; Darkvision 60 ft. - Fort: +6, Ref: +7, Will: +6 (+2 vs. Illusions) - CMB: +2, CMD 15 - Speed 20 ft. - Init. +3
As things continue to look dire, Van concentrates his magical power to increase the potency of his Scorching Ray spell that he casts against the Protean.
Using an Arcane Pool point to increase the caster level to 7, which produces two rays.
Blanmieux remains motionless on the floor, and Twitter hides from the naunet. In a reversal of roles, Van gathers his full power and blasts the naunet with two streaks of intense fire. Torrag and Hakime follow up with arrows and ice, but it is certainly Van that has caught the naunet's attention - but in what way?
The naunet sees Van as someone who could take him out in one more round. Absent listed morale, I will say there is a 50% chance he focuses on Van, and 50% chance he retreats.
1d100 ⇒ 62
Deciding that an eternal existence is not worth risking to battle you to the death, the naunet pulls away from Hakime, then disappears altogether.
Male Human Spell Sage 14 | HP:100/100| AC: 16/ FF 12/ T 14 |CMD: 17| Fort: +12 Ref: +12 Will: +13 | Perception: +18| Init: +3 [|] Uses Ring of Invisibility
"I see you've had some trouble. Well done on defeating that naunet - a formidable adversary for agents of your caliber. The lower caves have been sufficiently explored and documented now, but our agents have also found that the upper caves network lead to some kind of slave pens. Go and investigate. I have my suspicions on what is happening, but see for yourselves. I do not want to color your assessment prematurely."
Roll your healing and other preparations before moving to the slave pens.
Woop woop. I think the GM just threw us a bone there...
Wait is Ralph physically there with us? Or is this an image or just telepathic communication?
"Slaves, you say. I'd bet we gotta free them and help them overthrow their evil overlords! Hmm... those serpentfolk we beat up had some nice weapons. We could probably give the slaves those weapons. Let's perform that snake-pool ritual a few more times too. That ritual-potion thingamajig only works once for each person per day it seems, but I don't think there's anything stopping us from carrying a few spares to give to them. Free healing always gives you brownie points! Also, let's take a body of one of the dead snake-people with us, so the slaves know whose side we're on."
Fun story:
One of my earlier PFS characters was sent to a village under siege by the Taldan army. The Pathfinders were sent to help. We killed a couple of Taldan soldiers on the way, and then had to evade the rest of the patrols. No time to search the bodies, so I carried one on my shoulder. When we got to the village:
Guard: Halt! Take one more step and we'll pincushion you!
Me: Wait! Stop! We're here to help! Look! Dead Taldan! (Shows dead body of Taldan soldier.)
*GM is silent for a moment as he thinks*
Guard: Well that's a whole different kettle of fish then! Come on in!
Woop woop. I think the GM just threw us a bone there...
Wait is Ralph physically there with us? Or is this an image or just telepathic communication?
"Slaves, you say. I'd bet we gotta free them and help them overthrow their evil overlords! Hmm... those serpentfolk we beat up had some nice weapons. We could probably give the slaves those weapons. Let's perform that snake-pool ritual a few more times too. That ritual-potion thingamajig only works once for each person per day it seems, but I don't think there's anything stopping us from carrying a few spares to give to them. Free healing always gives you brownie points! Also, let's take a body of one of the dead snake-people with us, so the slaves know whose side we're on."
** spoiler omitted **
1. Ralph is not there with you. He's using telepathic communication via magical means.
2. Carrying a few decapitated serpentfolk heads would be enough to send a strong (and grisly) message about whose side you are on, both to the slaves and the serpentfolk. If that is what you want, go right ahead. If you want to take a whole body that's also up to you.
3. You can gather a total of 20 vials from the plinths to make 20 doses of the ritual-water after performing the ritual once. Keep in mind that they don't remain potent for that long, and you can only benefit from it once in this scenario.
Based on Twitter's post, I will assume that she gathers all the extra vials and uses them to collect ritual-water. Make a note if you want to take serpentfolk bodies or heads or their weapons with you.
When one player uses another player's CLW wand, I usually rule that either of the two can roll the healing. I generally prefer that the wand-user roll since he is the one actually using it.
M Gnome Arcanist 6 - HP 38/38 - AC 16/T: 15/FF: 13 - Perception: +1; Darkvision 60 ft. - Fort: +6, Ref: +7, Will: +6 (+2 vs. Illusions) - CMB: +2, CMD 15 - Speed 20 ft. - Init. +3
"Man, that was tight. Glad we all made it out of that alive. Yo, I'll give the big guy his ritual water, that should wake him right up." Van takes Blanmieux's healing water and pours it down the barbarian's throat. If that doesn't wake him, the gnome turns to his Infernal Healing wand.
I'll let Blan roll his own healing.
"It's not too cool to be carrying around a corpse, but if you guys are down with it, I'll just stay a few steps away."
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!
"We're pathfinders... it's our job to go kill or be killed where we're told to." Hakime says this with a hint of jest in her voice, but there's an edge to it as well. "The temple it is!"
With Blan fully healed and the areas in-between cleared, you can indeed make your way straight to the temple, and then double-back later.
Since we've spent a bit of time in combat, I'll push you straight to the courtyard research encounter first. It should be an easy success for this party before you move on into the temple, and will represent what you do on your way there.
At Blan's request, Ralph telepathically guides you through the slave pens directly to the courtyard above. You pass several other pathfinder teams battling all sorts of monstrosities on your way, but your eagerness to investigate the temple up above and the warning that something odd is happening there pushes you onward. There will be time to investigate these things later.
At last you reach the Courtyard above, the very one you would have reached had you all been able to fly. Wide flagstones cover the plaza leading to a stepped pyramid. Larger-than-life statues of serpentfolk and snakes line the plaza, alongside pictograph-covered pillars and small cages filled with all manner of furry, chattering creatures. The massive stone plaza stretches out before the stepped pyramid at its far end. Buildings and stalls line either side, and heavily inscribed stone columns stand throughout the area, forming a spiral pattern. Banners and tarps hang between the columns, creating distinct areas of light and darkness. Smoldering coals surround the bases of large, heated ceramic cylinders, which glow softly. They’re warm enough to be felt from a distance, but not hot enough to ignite the blankets draped over them or the banners dangling around and above.
On display in the temple plaza is a dazzling array of serpentfolk religion, art, and civic engineering, all of which is sitting in the open for Pathfinders to study. All around you Pathfinders are battling serpentfolk and their guardians. You have no doubt that taking some time to assess
which displays are most worth documenting and then making records that the Society might find useful would be a valuable use of your time here. However, it also leaves you vulnerable to being caught in the battles around you or being targeted by some of the many serpentfolk hurling attacks at the Pathfinders around them.
Each of you may choose to attempt a Craft (calligraphy or painting), Knowledge (engineering, history, nature, or nobility), or Profession (architect, librarian, or scribe). Each PC can only attempt a type of check once, and each attempt represents five minutes of time. However, during that time you will be subjected to attacks unless you succeed at a stealth or disguise check to hide or otherwise evade the notice of the serpentfolk defenders. Instead of attempting a check, a party member can also attempt to defend the other party members as they conduct their research by making a ranged attack roll or a perception or intimidate check.
In summary, in each 5 minute block:
1. You can attempt to either make notes or protect your allies.
2. Whether you make notes or protect your allies, you can also attempt a stealth or disguise check to avoid damage.
3. If you failed or did not attempt the stealth or disguise check, you will take damage, which can be reduced by a reflex save.
4. You will need to succeed at a total of three research checks to make notes that are sufficiently useful to the Pathfinder Society.
Since there is damage involved, I will take your rolls and actions one 5-min block at a time. Instead of rolling, you can also vote to just move on. If at least half of the team wants to move on, we will move straight to the temple.
Sneaking about and taking notes via knowledge checks? Sounds like something Twitter was practically made for! GM, can the rest of the party hide somewhere whilst Twitter flies about making notes, and then after I've made my knowledge checks, if I don't pass enough of the checks, the rest of the party can try?
0 init:0 perp:+9 hp: 83/83 dr 3; 17\18 rounds of rage ac16 cmd 20 saves fort: +10 reflex +3 will +3 reroll 1\1.
Twitter wrote:
Sneaking about and taking notes via knowledge checks? Sounds like something Twitter was practically made for! GM, can the rest of the party hide somewhere whilst Twitter flies about making notes, and then after I've made my knowledge checks, if I don't pass enough of the checks, the rest of the party can try?
Hmm... you have one party member supporting your suggestion. Alright, I will allow it, since it is gutsy and I like gutsy. You can return to the rest of the party for healing between each 5-minute block.
BUT
Fair warning: if you take more damage than your hit points within a 5-minute block, your party will not be able find you after you go unconscious. If you stabilise, you will still be unconscious until your party gets and uses an aid token for healing, and you do not have an aid token right now.
You don't know how much damage you might take, and you have very few hit points. But if you still want to take the risk, it's up to you. How confident are you?
"Hmm...sneaking about taking notes, huh? For a smart little guy like me? Shouldn't be too hard. I hope. You guys lay low and make your way to the temple first. Wait for me near the entrance. I'll see how I go out there. If you see me again, it will either because I've completed the job or I need help."
I'll try one 5-minute block first to test the DCs and the damage if I fail.
Hakime is dubious about the suggestion, but mostly because she is worried for Twitter's safety, but if Twitter is determined, then she will go along with it. Otherwise, she will be a defender since she has very few of the requisite skills to do the research, and at very low bonuses, or alternatively, she can aid another on research.
Mage Armor (22 hours); Deathwatch (constant); Overland Flight (7/9 hours); See Invisibility (75/220 minutes), Ring of Blinking
I think we'd do better working together. We can get this done quicker that way. Plus Torrag wouldn't be too keen on letting some bird do his research for him.
Unless outvoted and allowing Twitter to make the research notes by himself, Torrag will do research during the first 5 minutes.
Technically you can all act independently or as a group. The only difference is that if you act as a group, you all get to benefit from the defenders' aid.
From the looks of it, in the first 5-minute block, Twitter goes off stealthily while Blan and Torrag do their research protected by Hakime.
What does Van want to do?
Hakime, make a defender check (ranged attack roll or a perception or intimidate check).
The party votes against putting the entire task on the wings of a single bird. Blan, Torrag, Twitter and Van set out exploring the courtyard and making notes while Hakime keeps a watchful eye with her bow drawn, firing at any serpentfolk that looks like it wants to attack the party. Despite her best efforts, however, a few of the serpentfolk still manage to send some projectiles flying in the direction of the party. Fortunately for Twitter, with four other Pathfinders drawing their fire, none of the serpentfolk notice or care about the little bird flying around.
Between the four of you, you manage to take enough notes.
Hakime, roll a ranged attack roll or a perception or intimidate check to see how well you protected the party.
You make your way towards the temple as you do your research, and five minutes later you find yourselves at the temple with an surprisingly impressive set of records and observations. However, all of you (except for Twitter) are suffering from scratches, bruises and burns from the odd sling stone, arrow or minor spell thrown in your direction.
damage:4d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 6, 5) = 19
5 minutes:
Van () -9hp
Hakime () (needs a reflex save)
Torrag -19hp
Twitter ()
Blanmieux () -19hp
Hakime needs to make a reflex save. 19 damage if she scores less than 15, 9 damage if she beats DC15.
I knew you would clear this quickly, but even I didn't think it would be that quick! Post for the temple interior coming up. You can do some healing before the next encounter if you want.
With your notes safely in hand, you take shelter from the hail of arrows and slingstones by running into the temple. 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. You hear the sounds of battle echoing from the many passages that lead from the foyer, but at the moment, the foyer is empty save for a single serpentfolk accompanied by a massive serpent with a hooded head!
Before any of you can react, the serpentfolk's form wavers, and suddenly there are 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4 of him.
Round 1
Serpentfolk (3 images)
Hakime () -9hp
Twitter ()
Large Snake
Van () -9hp
Torrag -19hp
Blanmieux () -19hp
You can roll for healing before posting your action for the first round of combat. Hakime can use your wands, so just mark the charges off your own wands.
Hakime and Twitter can act, and then the large snake will go. Knowledge nature to ask about the snake. Map coming soon.
One of Hakime's arrows pierces one of the serpentfolk, causing it to disappear with a pop. The second arrow is swatted aside by the large snake in front of it.
Round 1
Serpentfolk (2 images)
Hakime () -9hp
Twitter ()
Large Snake
Van () -9hp
Torrag -19hp
Blanmieux () -19hp
rerolling Twitter's ray vs image:1d3 ⇒ 1
Twitter's ray also destroys an image.
The large snake hisses angrily as it slithers forward, looming over the party as it takes its pick of targets.
1d5 ⇒ 5 attack:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 damage:2d6 + 9 - 3 ⇒ (2, 1) + 9 - 3 = 9
It sinks its fangs into Blan, pumping some kind of toxin into his veins.
Round 1
Serpentfolk (1 image)
Hakime ()
Twitter ()
Large Snake
Van () -9hp
Torrag -19hp
Blanmieux () -9hp
Van, Torrag and Blan can now act. Right now you are all threatened. Torrag and Van, you can roll for your own healing before you act. Blan needs a fort save
Sorry, this time I rolled a 1d5, and you were 5th on the initiative order in the party. You are also at the front more often than anyone else, with no armor. High damage and easy to hit makes you a target.
Blan's body is tough and he ignores the poison. He retaliates by slicing the snake with his scythe, though his second attack misses.
Round 1
Serpentfolk (1 image)
Hakime ()
Twitter ()
Large Snake -21
Van () -9hp
Torrag -19hp
Blanmieux () -9hp
Torrag and Van can now act. Right now you are all threatened. Torrag and Van, you can roll for your own healing before you act.
M Gnome Arcanist 6 - HP 38/38 - AC 16/T: 15/FF: 13 - Perception: +1; Darkvision 60 ft. - Fort: +6, Ref: +7, Will: +6 (+2 vs. Illusions) - CMB: +2, CMD 15 - Speed 20 ft. - Init. +3
Van uses his wand of Infernal Healing and a minute of time to heal the damage from the serpentfolk attacks.
* * *
In the next encounter with danger, Van retreats 5 feet to avoid reach and casts Glitterdust on the snake, hoping to blind it for safe passage beyond. He increases the spell's potency for good measure.
The snake needs to make a DC 18 Will save or be blind. Van spent an Arcane Reservoir point to increase the DC by 2 thanks to an Exploit.
Torrag will take a 5 foot step back and cast Stone Call centered at the back wall. That should cover nearly the entire room, stopping short of any allies.
Bludgeoning Damage:2d6 ⇒ (6, 2) = 8 No Save. Area is difficult terrain.
I'm mobile so I can't move my token. Of someone could move Torrag back 5' that would be awesome. Thanks.
If it's just your head poking out of the pouch, you can have cover. But since you are actively taking cover in the pouch, it will be a move action to just get out of the pouch. I will enforce that for the rest of the scenario.
Torrag rains stones and debris upon the snake and its handler, wounding them. With well-practiced maneuvers, Hakime fires an arrow into each of the serpentfolk images in the back whilst leaving no opening for the snake - and one of the disappears from the attack. Twitter also fires a ray of green stuff at the snake from the safety of thee pouch, but fires at the snake in front of her.
Frustrated that its first defensive spell has been completely overcome, the serpentfolk casts another spell, this time making its form shimmer and become blurry. The large cobra continues to see the barbarian with the adamantine scythe that hurt it so badly as the biggest threat, and bites at him again.
bite:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 pain:2d6 + 9 - 3 ⇒ (6, 5) + 9 - 3 = 17
Once more, Blan proves himself to be an easy (though tenacious) target. the snake easily bites him and tries to inject more venom into him.
Round 2
Hakime ()
Twitter ()
Serpentfolk (blur) -13hp
Large Snake -33 (dusted)
Van () -
Torrag
Blanmieux () -26hp
Blan needs another fort save. Van, Torrag and Blan can act for round 2. Hakime and Twitter act for round 3.
