PFS Scenario 06 - Black Waters (Inactive)

Game Master Tarondor

Whaitaminnit. The families of the dead constructed this fence. Who do they allow in?

What is your duty here? I thought this place was off-limits to anyone but those granted access by the noble families? Gritta asks. Grave-robber? Bandit? Better not be lead into an ambush.

The man smiles. “I'm Deris Marlinchen. My daughter Cassiel attends this school. You should see how she’s grown. Those beautiful long braids! I thought I’d tend the grounds while I wait for Cassiel.”

Mad-man living in the past?

I apologise, but I am not aware of any school in this area. Which one would that be?

Bram leans closer to get a good look at the man.

"Eh, my friend's right. There don't seem to be many students about today..."

Deris smiles and shakes his head. "Mrs. Heracks was one of the teachers. She’s teaching in Headmistress Kiwu’s old office now. I'm sure she can help you.”

Knowledge (Nobility) Untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Wilhelm keeps a smile on his face as he tries to think of what to say. Oh, this poor delusional man... He then realizes what sounded so familiar about the man's name.

"Marlinchen! Tell me, do you have relations in Absalom?" He asks the man, nervously twitching his hands.

Well, let's see how she doing then. Gritta responds to whom she regards as poor, deranged soul, then silently says to the others I'm not sure if this man is completely up to date. The headmistress' office? That must have sank into the necropolis with the rest of the building, right?

Turning back to the man, she says Could you point this office out to us, sir?. Perhaps we should get those fine folk from the temple of the shining star to look after this man.

Malena smiles sadly, nervously, at the pleasant, delusional man tending to the trees.

"It is so nice of you to tend to daughter's school," she says. "She is lucky to have such a father. When do you expect her to be done with class?"

Diplomacy - Improve attitude of already very friendly man: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Never hurts to have helpful folks around.

"She'll be back as soon as school is out. Follow me," says Deris cheerfully, setting aside his gardening gloves.

The ruined paths of the Tri-Towers Yard wind their way around black ponds and gray, shattered buildings. Powerful fragrances precede one roofless hall where a thin path meanders through an abundance of flower arrangements in wild bloom. Just off this path is the entrance to a small classroom.

Inside, Ten students dressed in checkered uniforms sit stiffly at wooden desks, staring straight ahead. No one moves. At the front of the class, a conservatively dressed woman leans against the wall.

Perception checks, please!

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Wilhelm takes a look around the classroom at the oddly still & silent students and instructor.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Gritta's facial expression is equal part amazement and confusion. They're actually here... she whispers. What noble would school his children in a place like this?

Malena follows the cheery man through the dour campus of the drowned school. She finds her senses dulled considerably by the pervasive spookiness of all that she sees.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Bram stands with his mouth slighyly agape at the sight in the classroom. He furrows his brow as he considers the scene more intently.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

As soon as you enter the room, the teacher gestures silently and the students all nod in rapt attention. Not a whisper of sound is made except for the ordinary shuffle and rustle of your own movements.

After a moment, you each realize that the students and the teacher are not what they seem. They are spirits—wispy, see-through haunts attached to their former classroom.

Deris Marlinchen clears his throat. "Excuse me, Mrs. Heracks," he says. The teacher turns slowly to regard him. "These fine people are here to see..." he pauses and sighs. "...the necropolis."

Her mouth moves as if speaking, but no sound emerges.

Deris nods his head as if listening intently. "That's fine," he says. "And how is Cassiel doing? Is she learning?"

The ghostly teacher nods and again pantomimes speech. "That's my girl!" says Deris with enthusiasm.

He turns back to you. "Mrs. Heracks knows the way. She'll take a break from teaching and lead you there now. The children will get a short break." Turning back to them, he asks "Won't that be nice?" In reply, they silently pantomime slow and vaguely cheerful assent.

Bram looks on, his eyes growing wide as he realizes this man is communicating with the deceased. He makes an odd gesture with his hand and spits over his shoulder.

To Deris he says;

"Ye have me thanks, sir fer yer help."

To Mrs. Heracks

"Ma'rm, I'm not sure what ye can hear, but I'm ready if me friends are."

Wilhelm echoes Bram's sentiments. "Yes, thank you kindly for your help today, sir."

He then takes another look around at the students and the teacher. "A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Ms. Heracks," he manages to get out. "As unpleasant as it may be, we do have important business to attend to down in the, uh, necropolis."

Unsure of what exactly he is seeing, Wilhelm's tone is almost apologetic.

Malena, too, thanks the man for his help before turning to follow the teacher and her companions. She can feel a cold, creepy chill down her back as the "children" shuffle past her to take their recess. In some ways, she thinks, a haunted necropolis would be preferable to this.

Gritta keeps a straight face, and is on her toes. A haunt from the past. At least they're not vengeful. Content to let others do the talking, she merely meekly follows.

As Devis Marlinchen and the ghostly Mrs. Heracks lead the Pathfinders out into the Drownyard, you have a chance to observe them as Devis talks and Heracks pantomimes. Mrs. Heracks moves in short, jerking steps towards the underwater entrance to the necropolis.

At last, Heracks leads the group to a wide, black pool with an occasional bubble percolating up in the center.

Devis Marlinchen spends a few moments talking silently to Mrs. Herack and gestures at the bubbles, saying, “She says the entrance is beneath that arm.”

Sense M: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Be very careful now. Gritta whispers to Wilhelm this man seems to be controlling those spirits.. And that is a human arm down there. Would that be a body belonging to one of these spirits?

Could you watch my back as I inspect this? I would hate to be pushed into this pool.

Gritta has a closer look at the arm, to see if a full body is attached to it.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Malena studies Devis and Mrs. Heracks intently as they lead the way.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 9

As they approach the bubbling pool, Malena leans as close as she dare to get a better look. Seeing nothing herself, she steps behind Gritta to cover her as her more perceptive Chelish comrade investigates further.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 11

The sorcerer whispers to Gritta as the inquisitor works.

Using Infernal to prevent Devis from understanding, not you two fine gentlemen.

Gritta can't tell what might be submerged below the silt.

It's alright. You two ladies just need to learn a civilized tongue, like dwarven!

Bram looks on grimly, still not feeling altogether confident.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

"Er, what does ye mean,'beneath the arm' mister? Are ye tellin' us we be needin' ta drown ourselves in that murky pit?"

Can you tell us what happened here? Why is there a human arm in this pit. Gritta asks Malinchen. Surely, if this is a ghost or someone living in the past, this must trigger some paradox

Wilhelm gives Gritta a knowing nod and whispers back, "I haven't dealt with haunts before, but I agree - it's best not to upset him, if possible."

He then gives Gritta a wink, letting her know that he'll keep close. As he follows the inquisitor, Wilhelm keeps his hand close to the hilt of his rapier.

"Not everyone was saved from the drowning of the Tri-Towers Yard," says Devis. "My daughter was one of the lucky ones."

Were you well acquainted with the girls in this school? Would you happen to know what happened to Junia Dacilane?

Malena crinkles her nose and looks at Gritta.

The sorceress draws her longspear and tenuously dips it into the black pool to test the depth.

"I like to swim," she says. "But in this pool? Not so much."

So you say the entrance is beneath that arm Gritta asks carefully, with a shudder. So, do you mean we have to jump in?

"I'm sorry," says Devis. "I think she was one of the ones who wasn't saved."

He talks some more to the spirit who pantomimes talking back. "Yes," says Devis. "Mrs. Heracks says its the only way in."

"Well, I hope it's nay too deep. I can take a bit 'o punishment, so I'll head down first."

With that Bram walks over. He grabs hold of his waraxe and draws in a deep breath. Holding his breath and pinching his nose shut, he tries to climb down into the thick murky ooze.

Saved she was - from this existence. Gritta thinks, as she sees the dwarf climb down the hole. Are you sure you want to do this? Gritta says, as she draws her longsword to stand guard in case anything comes up.

Malena stashes all her nonessential gear into her backpack and places it beneath a nondescript piece of furniture or pile of rubble. No sense unduly burdening herself, she reasons.

She stands beside Gritta, ready to cast acid splash at any threat that might emerge from the murky pool.

"How is water, Bram?" she says.

Malena will leave her backpack with the following items behind: bedroll, outfit (entertainer's), sack, and trail rations (3). Was she able to get any idea of how deep the pool was by dipping her longspear in it?

"That's not a bad idea, Malena." Wilhelm follows the sorcerer's idea to leave non-essential from his backpack.

"These Pathfinder kits, though helpful, do have quite a bit of gear that can be less than useful." He removes the bedroll and trail rations from his backpack. He places the courtier's outfit and jewelry in a burlap sack and places it carefully away from any obvious source of dirt or stain. "Oh, I'd hate for this to become sullied."

He shoulders the pack back on and stands at the ready. "So, underneath the arm, then?"

Would you believe that the adventure doesn't establish how deep the water is? I'm calling it 4' deep.

Bram walks down into the water and begins moving across the slimy bottom, bouncing up for air, while everyone else remains behind on shore. He is about twenty feet out as he approaches the arm.

Right. I'm going to regret this, but I cannot let that guy out there on his own.

Gritta takes a first step into the murky water. Already regretting this right now, and intends to wade in after the dwarf.

"Well, here goes nothing!" Wilhelm tries to cheerily announce, but a slight waver in his voice betrays his nervousness at such a path.

Cursing her situation in Infernal, Malena follows her comrades into the murky water. She curls her fingers, ready to launch acid splash at any threat that might arise.

Let's hope it remains nothing. Nothing has emerged from these dark waters - yet.

Now let's follow that dwarf, before he reaches Osirion

Bram arrives at the arm. It’s immediately obvious that the arm is tightly gripping a metal handle at the bottom of the pool and is also covered in giant, bulbous white eggs.

Wilhelm makes his way through the mucky-muck and catches up with Bram. He also takes a look at the arm and notices the white eggs.

"Well, I guess you can't explore a necropolis without breaking some eggs," he chirps with a smile. He then takes a close look and tries to remove the eggs without disturbing them.

Disable Device?: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

"Iwonder what that handle does" Gritta says as she inspects it

perc: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

I'm on holiday for a week. Trying to post, technology willing, but posts will probably be short

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The handle appears to be attached to a trap door at the bottom of the pool. Pulling on the handle will lift the door. The arm just happens to be grasping the handle.

The moment that Wilhelm attempts to dislodge the eggs, the mud swirls around you and an enormous and very angry water beetle attacks!

Gritta and Wilhelm may act in the surprise round. Malena and Bram may not.

Initiative Order
Wilhelm
Malena (not in surprise round)
Bram (not in surprise round)
Gritta
Water Beetle

I'll do a map in the afternoon tomorrow, but for now, assume that the beetle is 10' away and all squares are difficult terrain. This is the surprise round so those who get a turn can take only a single move or standard action.

Wilhelm, Gritta, go!

"Oops, Sorry!" Wilhelm cries out as he draws his rapier.

MAP OF THE WATER FIGHT

Gritta, go!

Gritty react just in time to ready her longbow and get some distance between herself and the beetle 5 ft north

"my mace will be completely useless here"

I can't move tokens on maps this week. Would someone be so kind?

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It's not a google map. It's just a jpg I create here at home. Just tell me where you want to move and I'll move it and update frequently.

I didn't notice the difference ;-). The move is in the post: a single 5 ft step N

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The water beetle surges forth (yes, it can charge in water) and bites at Wilhelm with its out-sized mandibles. The rogue manages to splash out of the way.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 111d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

____________________________________________________________
Round One

Everyone, go.

MAP OF THE WATER FIGHT

We're using block initiative here. That means that you go in the order you post, although you can state that you go after someone or before, if your initiative allows it.

Gritty pulls back the string of the longbow, and aims for creature, waiting for an opportune moment to fire.

wilhelm is probably not going to step back, but delaying until after Wilhelm for the shot - if you allow that

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