PFS 1 Adventures (Inactive)

Game Master R D

Section 6: Ralzeros became unhinged from reality, losing his ability to comprehend mortal life. This is particularly evident in the haphazard arrangement of information in this area.

However, Harrow's keen senses land upon something shiny--a picture book called "Unquiet Meditations." ROFL! This is so perfect for Harrow. In my head, its now a book about how to yell whilst meditating. LOLOL!

As he picks up the book, Harrow notes that the mindshards seem disgusted about something.

Why do they ock together? Why do they ap their lips at each other? Flesh forms rotting and spinning, stuck to the prison’s surface. Corners is the puppet of my thoughts, and his children dance with mine. Liberated from esh, though esh melts to remain.

This book may help you communicate with Ralzeros’s fractured mind.

Do we get the take the books with us or is it assumed that we took notes or something?

Do we get the take the books with us or is it assumed that we took notes or something?

Aha! Funny you should ask. First, yes! You may take the book. Second, you discover something unusual.

As Phoebee contemplates taking the book she found, she notices something odd about the way the pages lay--as though something was trapped in the middle. She opens up the book to discover a dreamcatcher within.

Phoebee may benefit from the dreamcatcher's protection whilst inside the Immaculate Geometries even though you're awake.
__________________________________________________

The party tries to find each other again, to share your respective discoveries. As you do, you each notice a malformed shadow moving through the area before diffusing into the structure. It proves impossible to follow because of the constantly folding and re-folding space.
__________________________________________________

The party has some options at this point:

(1) talk to the mindshards

(2) attempt more research

(3) attempt one or both of the rituals that Berosius and Mareq discovered

(4) try something else

We should attempt the rituals and then more research.

"So, Ralzeros was nuts, right? Like, 'pecan orchard' nuts?"

"Mmm, nuts. Harrow, do you remember that little stand in Katapesh that sold honeyed almonds? I think I ate five pounds of those. You did eat five pounds of them. I could go for some honeyed almonds right now. Do you think there's a kitchen in this place?"

Harrow smiles as Berosius mentions the honeyed almonds. He could go for a pound or five of honeyed almonds right now.

"Maybe after done here we go back," he suggests.

He decides to practice the Unquiet Meditation--Ragathiel helps him figure out what to do.

"Shhhh---everyone quiet. Stop breathing your fire breath so loud, Husarq," Harrow asks.

Once everyone is quiet, the half orc closes his eyes for a handful of moments, then

"RAAAAAAHHHHAHAAHHHHHHH!!!!!"

Oh look, I found a little friend she says as she pulls out the dream catcher.

"Shhhh---everyone quiet. Stop breathing your fire breath so loud, Husarq," Harrow asks.

Husarq has departed the Prime Material Plane to seek revenge in the City of Brass. Mareq is quite alone.

So, one vote for the rituals. Which one first?

I like to do magic, let's do a ritual she says doing a little dance.

Let's do Sacred Geometries from Room 2. It will help ward the plane against unnatural entities.

Harrow agrees with the plan, seemingly disappointed that Husarq's fire breath turned out to be his own heavy breathing.

OK. The party attempts to attune the sacred geometries to stabilize the area. The book details a ritual involving some very exact math.

You may roll your choice of:
- Craft (any)
- Knowledge (arcana, engineering, or planes)
- Profession (architect)

I'll describe what happens depending on which skills you choose and how well you roll, collectively. But, essentially, you're working to prevent the constantly folding space from creating tears (rips) that allow creatures to move into areas where they shouldn't be.

Right now, the folding loosely follows a pattern and also happens very roughly. In my head, it's like a disgruntled worker packing your groceries angrily into a paper bag. Sometimes it's fine. Sometimes the eggs get broken or the bread is put into the bottom of the bag under the gallon of milk.

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

I suggest Mareq act to assist a primary roll.

Harrow doesn't know much math beyond how high he can count on his fingers (and often getting that wrong), but Ragathiel knows a thing or two.

assist planes: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Cool. We have two assists. Who's taking primary? Any of the listed skills will do.

Phoebee, can you do a knowledge(planes) roll, too?

Know planes 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 aide

OK. The three of you are able to successfully aid Berosius. Looking at his stat block, I see that he has a +14 to his knowledge(planes) skill. You're not in combat. If he simply takes 10, that brings him to a 24. Plus three successful aids, that makes a 30. Cool.

The halfling healer steps forth and takes charge of the ritual. Before he can evin touch the pages of the book, his spirits fly out and seem to struggle with the folding space--as though they want to hold it back from folding.

One spirit gets mashed to ectoplasmic goo. Another spirit is shredded apart. But with the help of the team of Pahtfinders, more and more spirits are called forth.

The struggle to stabilize the space goes back and forth for a while. Sometimes a spirit is finally laid to rest. Sometimes the spirits are able to work together to fold a piece of space back into a ore sensible alignment.

Ultimately, after about 20 minutes of the ritual, the party prevails.

Success! Great job, everybody!

At this point, you may:

(1) Attempt the second ritual

(2) try to get more information

(3) talk to a mindshard

More info might be helpful

Nice imagery, GME.
Love the Unquiet Meditation, Harrow.

"I think we should get as much information as we can," says Berosius, thoughts of food temporarily banished by his close brush with the divine. Despite being fairly jovial, he is a devout follower of the good gods, especially his patron goddess, Milani, and he takes such things seriously.

"This is a place where mortals need to have a care."

In the library, only the following sections remain unexplored:

- Section 1: Knowledge (history or nobility) or Sense Motive

- Section 4: Climb, Profession (librarian), or Stealth

How would you like to handle them? Together or split up?

Harrow wanders over to Section 1 and begins to look around. '1' was Harrow's favorite number. It was the easiest to count to. Of course, it was also the loneliest number.

Harrow miss Janira...

sense motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Not too much incentive to split up, is there?

She will aid the halforc in sensing motives
1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

She got it by the hair of the half orc's chiny chin chin :)

Berosius accompanies the two into area #1 and looks around, trying to sense a pattern.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Mareq joins the entire group, trying to aid them.

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 7

This section's books deal largely with Ralzeros's personal theories, realizations, and uncovered lore; unfortunately, the section also hosts numerous ramblings about the wizard’s feuds, grudges, paranoia, and other matters of concern to Ralzeros alone. Sifting through the mess requires a keen mind for history, noble drama, and an understanding of human nature.

At first, Berosius stare at the pages--unable to make heads or tails of the truly obtuse language. However, with the timely aid of his friends, he starts to see a thread.

As the party sifts through the material here, the mindshards seem to become curious. Oddly, they seem to hold their hands like pincers.

Eventually, one of Berosius' spirits notices that the "pincers" all seem angled towards one particular tome: Secrets of Pastlight.

The light we see from distant stars is unknowably old, and so contains the seeds of the past. With this "apocryphal light" or "pastlight," a wizard could observe the past, thanks to the resonance of the light's genesis across time. In addition, pastlight could theoretically be used to alter the probability of future events, while the light from now-dead stars might grant power over life and death. All of my will is bent upon understanding and mastering this unearthly power. Realms touched by the stars may hold the secrets that will guide my studies.

This book includes a ritual that loosens this demiplane's ties to the Material Plane.

Suddenly, before the party can head to section 4 or the library, every statue in the Library animates, pointing accusingly at each of you. The wizard's warped voice echoes throughout the chamber, demanding to know:

"Why have you entered my domain?!?!"

Each of you can now attempt a Bluff, Diplomacy, or Stealth check. Your choice. This check is meant to to pacify Ralzeros, either by justifying or obfuscating the reason(s) for your presence. Please make only one check.

You know me, though. If you have a really creative solution that uses a different skill, you can try to "sell" me on it. :)

Harrow jumps a little as the voices yell in unison, but decides to respond honestly.

"Harrow not really sure he want to be here anymore. Harrow not like books very much. Harrow getting hungry. Harrow look around with his buddies a little more, then Harrow go home."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

"We have come to learn, from one of the most important mages of all time," says Mareq.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21

We are here to learn about so many things from someone who is much smarter than we are she says
1d20 + 23 ⇒ (7) + 23 = 30 diplomacy

Harrow offers an honest explanation to the statues. They seem unmoved.

Mareq offers a flattering explanation to the statues. They seem unmoved.

Phoebee goes down the flattery route, too. However, something about the inflection of her words--or perhaps her body language--causes all the statues to squee at the same time. However, though the bard made great progress, something still seems "not-right" here.

Berosius, are you trying a skill?

Taking a minor liberty with Berosius: (Berosius Diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37) Woo hoo! Crit success. :D

The statues all seem placated. For the moment...

FYI, if half or more of the party fails to calm them, you have to make will saves to avoid 4 points of Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma damage! Yep. All three stats.
__________

Do you want to go to section 4 of the library or try another ritual?

Does doing the research give us bonuses to the rituals?

Ouch on the consequences of failure! That would have put Harrow at 3 Int!

Harrow is getting tired of all these books around them. They hurt his brain.

"Harrow say hurry and do last area--Harrow getting hangry."

Hangry? she asks.

"Yes," Harrow replies. "Harrow get angry when he hungry. Hangry"

She looks for a snack in one of her pouches and pulls out a piece of xheese.

Harrow takes the cheese and eats it, looking a little less 'Hangry.'

"Thanks..."

I wouldn't want you to loose any muscle. she says smiling.

Berosius hastens to keep up as the team moves into the new area. "I always carry an emergency Harrow snack," he whispers to Phoebee. "He's really not himself when he gets hungry."

"Of course, Mareq isn't himself half the time. Sometimes he's his father. It's complicated. I tried snacks with him too, but it didn't help."

He peers curiously around at the new area.

OK. Section 4 it is! This area is badly scrambled, while the shelves seem to purposefully stretch and warp to keep useful books out of reach. Sorting through the books for cohesive thought requires an intimate understanding of the written word or a good eye for cataloguing, while more athletic researchers or sneaky characters can stymie the shelves' attempts to deny them research material.

Your choice, please roll one: Climb, Profession (librarian), or Stealth

The athletic half-orc is able to keep some of the shelves from moving with his great strength.

"Hurry! Harrow not hold this all day!"

climb: 1d20 ⇒ 18

"I shall help, Harrow."

climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

Mareq, never the athlete, has some difficulty finding purchase on the shifting bookshelves.

Stealth 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Rolling for Berosius: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Looking at the Oracle's stats, this is insufficient--regardless of what skill he chooses.

As the party tries to navigate this section of the library, the mindshards look afraid.

Would you like to try the another ritual?

Ouch...I'm not sure we can do much better than that, but are we allowed to try a second time?

The shelves press Harrow out of the way and he collapses in a heap.

"Not working!" he mourns.

When Harrow suggests trying again, Each of the mindshards abruptly ceases its activities, throwing its hands to the sky in despair and cries out.

The screaming is telepathic in nature. No matter what you do, you cannot block it out.

If you wish, you can attempt to calm down the mindshards with a Sense Motive, Spellcraft, or Use Magic Device check. If you try, please pick only one.

Sense Motive 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Calm down mindshards, I think that we can handle this situation. she says.

LOL, I hope that helps