PbP - PFS ; CORE Game - 8-14 ; To Seal the Shadow ; Table 2 (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Collins - France

"Khellek, is the shadow beast evil?" Assuming Khellek confirms her suspicion, she will cast Shield Other on Graff. "May Shelyn and Rovagug bind together and destroy this evil abomination!"

"I never thought I would mention those two gods in the same sentence."

Evarice reassures Khellek. "No, it's fine, you're doing alright. Harjandi should be able to help untangle them. I need to keep our teammates alive, anyway."

Meanwhile, the frog bites the snake again, hoping to finish it off.
Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
The summon spell will expire at the start of my next turn.

"I'm not too sure." admits Khellek.

"Ms Sukino may be able to tell. Creatures of shadow are rarely good, but unlike the creatures of the lower plains are not inherently evil."

Although if he knows that Gorillions are generally evil, he'll add that.

re. Evil: it's In the 1st Arcana spoiler I think.

Ah yes, the first planes one!

"But in this case, you are right and these beasts are normally evil."

"'Evil'? Did someone say evil?" Apollyanna spins about in a little piroet to face the shadow beast. "I am Apollyanna Sukino, champion of justice! On behalf of the Eternal Maiden, I will right wrongs and triumph over evil, and that means you!" 

Khellek picks up the puppet by the feet and waves the sticks around, before remembering how it is done and taking it correctly in hand.

The frog is unable to bite the snake, but the snake bites back, and the Shadow Plane wins the fight, sending the frog back to the Celestial Plane... it disappears.

Eynemb tires to look around: "What is going on? No need to continue with the ritual, it is useless, only an old wive's tale."

All have Rovagug's Blessing (+1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects).
Do not forget to count the +2 that you gave to whatever item(s) you want.
You have Harjandi's +2 to use on Ritual Skill Checks.
Round 5 Bold is up
Shadow Beast (20% miss chance) 2 thingies left
Khellek (+2 AC) @21 in Knowl' Planes
Evarice
Eynemb (blind ; +3 images)
Snake (17 damage)
Zephyr
Nit
Graff (9 damage)
Apo'
(3/6 ritual checks done)

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 201d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Frog: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Graff glances at Evarice....
"So All I have to do is Destroy that beautifully? he begins to chuckle at the absurbity of it all. He considers a moment to think that the Big guy could perhaps appreciate beauty on the destruction but the methods?

His burns disappeared but the creature was still there wasn't it?
Stepping up, Graff raises his Greataxe now shimmering with power as it blades seems to take up an inner light more sinister then not of its own.

Attack
Destructive Smite +1 dmg
Blessing +1 To hit
+2 Bonus to axe
Below 20% is miss.
Boosted Greataxe 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 231d12 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 191d100 ⇒ 37

"That thing is no small threat," Zephyr mutters, awed both by the beast's power and Graff's bravery. He begins weaving together a spell. "Not to be combatted by a relatively small hero."

Beginning to cast Enlarge Person.

"It is a shadow summon. Mostly illusion, though it can still hurt you if it gets ahold of you!"Nit calls out to warn the others before it is too late.

Nit pumps his legs, rushing across the ground as he stabs his spear at the wayang's side.

Probably provoke from the ape.

+1 Longspear vs snake; PA; Rovagug blessing; Bless; Inspire courage; enhance bonus: 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 - 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 11

Nitk, I don't see that inspire courage is still a thing, and Rovagug's blessing is bless. Otherwise, whoohoo more bonuses for me!

Activate smite evil targeting the four-armed shadow.

Cherry blossom petals swirl past for no reason other than they are pretty and smell nice.

With the cry of: "Gorgeous Charm Crasher!" Apollyanna launches herself at the big shadow beast. (+3 AC vs it.)

20% miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 46 mwk longsword (bless, smite! bypass DR, mopey): 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 + 3 - 2 = 30 damage (first attack): 1d8 + 3 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 6 - 2 = 12
THREAT!
confirm?: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 + 3 - 2 = 19 additional damage (first attack): 1d8 + 3 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 6 - 2 = 12

Zephyr casts, while Nit starts moving away - provoking a bite from the shadowy-ape, that misses! - and Nit rushes over and rips the snake apart!
Nit suddenly realizes that this snake was some sort of illusion... as the puppet that was animated falls back to the ground.

Graf swings his axe, and takes a big chunk of shadows from the giant ape.
He feels protected from Evarice.

Then Apollyanna moves in and smites the Evil Shadows, and takes an even bigger chunk out of it.

The ritual was not completed...

The beast turns to Apollyanna, and with a vengeance, tries to get payback for the critical strike... but it's bite is not that deep.
8 dam' to Apo'

All have Rovagug's Blessing (+1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects).
Do not forget to count the +2 that you gave to whatever item(s) you want.
You have Harjandi's +2 to use on Ritual Skill Checks.
Round 6 Bold is up
Shadow Beast (20% miss chance) 1 thingie left (43 dam')
Khellek (+2 AC)
Evarice
Eynemb (blind ; +3 images)
Zephyr
Nit
Graff (9 damage)
Apo' (8 damage)
(3/6 ritual checks done)

Bite: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 131d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Eynemb: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Nit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Bite 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 291d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Did the 21 not make the check last round? ugh.

Khellek tries to untangle the strings, while continuing the story. He talks to his mask as much as the audience.

"And of course the trickster was the key to it all. And tricks are what shadows are all about."

know(planes),mask: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 2 = 34

The scholar smiles, as the story gets back on track.

Oops! Rechecked and forgot one thing: the 21 DID make the check last round (so adding that: (4/6 ritual checks done). Made it on a 1.

A one, and two once/scenario buffs! And a special in scenario buff. To be fair,I was hoping to get a really high number and that the scenario was one that gave multiple successes for high results. Now if only this was a history check.

Evarice points her hand at the Girallon. "Beast of the dark! If you will hide in the shadows, then we will hide in the mist!" Evarice steps off stage, claps her hands and a cloudy mist appears around her.

I am casting Obscuring Mist . The Girallon has a 20% miss chance due to concealment against anyone within 5 feet. Sorry Nit.

Zephyr drops to his knees, and pulls at his eyes, screaming, oblivious to the mist Evarice created.

Though all are gone, and there is no audience - or maybe because of that - Khellek is wonderful on stage, carrying on with the ritual and completing for this round.

Round 6 Bold is up
Shadow Beast (20% miss chance) 1 thingie left (43 dam')
Khellek (+2 AC)
Evarice
Eynemb (blind ; +3 images)
Zephyr
Nit
Graff (9 damage)
Apo' (8 damage)
(4/6 ritual checks done)

"Afraid I'm only good for the know-how of the ritual, and not quite as much as you," Zephyr says to Khellek, his spell completed, doubling Graff in size. He then thinks back to the wider cosmic applications of the beasts that appeared. "But that should be enough to help banish these creatures."

Knowledge (planes), crawling: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 - 2 = 19

Attack
Destructive Smite +1 dmg
Blessing +1 To hit
+2 Bonus to axe
Enlarge +1 dmg, +1 hit, -1 hit
Below 20% is miss
1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 203d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2, 6, 2) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 161d100 ⇒ 33

Graff feels the change in his size and his swing nearly misses though the weight of his suddenly large axe catches itself as he smashes into the side of the beast in front of him.

This felt more natural to him then anything else.

Seeing the Paladin join him, he is nevertheless taken aback when she screams out an attack name?
Bleach Reference with the cherry blossoms and such?

All good things come to an end, my friends...

As Graff grows in size thanks to Zephyr, he swings his axe, that manages to bite into the shadow girallon, slashing it right back into the Shadow Plane from where it came.

The image of the four-armed terror breaks apart, becoming black tentacles once again.

The tentacles still squirm around, and thrash, and the Shadows are still present... while you continue to perform the ritual, moving the puppets on the stage.

Eynemb mutters blindly: "What is happening? It is all untrue... this cannot be! It is all fake old wive's tales".

Finally finishing the ritual, in less than a minute, you complete the ceremony and rays of moonlight burn into the dark monochrome like rays of fire, destroying the tendrils.
Then the moon is briefly swallowed by an immense shadow--
--and when it returns, color has returned to the landscape and everything is calm

The fleeing wayangs stop, and return to the stage, cheering for you have remanded the dark presence within the volcanic crater!

Victory is yours...

Well: yours and also that of Mayor Farzhan, who, upon his hasty return, jumps about, raising his arms: "Yes, yes! We have won once again. Vote Farzhan!"

He demonstrates his gratitude with hearty handshakes that quickly transform into warm embraces, while smiling at the crowd and fawning about.

Harjandi looks on in bemusement... but bows deep to you in thanks.
And she busies herself to heal you of your wounds.

Eynemb is told of what happened, and, realizing the error of his ways is extremely contrite, trying to explain himself to you if yo will listen.
He begs for mercy... and Mayor Farzhan assures you that Eynemb will receive appropriate punishment—"He will be barred from participation in any future ceremonies, and must work for me".

And the adventure is over, my friends. Thank you!

Evarice quickly dispels the mist. "Good job everyone. Graff, you did well- although if you have an attack name, or proclamation, you should declare it before you strike. I usually place them under citizen's arrest."

"Can someone restore Eynemb's vision? He's under arrest, by the way. Um, unless your authority- I see, you're just going to ban him from participating." She shrugs.

"We live again, friends." She holds onto one of the hats. "I'll add this to the collection. Professor, I learned much about planar interactions today. I have much more to learn."

Mayor Farzhan leans over to Evarice: "If I do that, show leniency, he will be in my debt. It is good to have people in your debt if you enter civil service".

Evarice tips her hat. This mayor is smarter than he acts...

As quickly as he brought on the curse, Zephyr unravels his spell, restoring Eynemb's sight. "You need not believe everything blindly to recognize the truth," he advises the hapless wayang. "Question, but see reason."

"As Pathfinders tend to do, we have brought our variety to a new place and people. To a dangerous level, as usual, but it worked out in the end."

As Eynemb's sight returns, he is obviously deeply shaken by all this.
He blurts out his explanations, and you gather that in recent years Eynemb has grown dissatisfied with his town’s slavish devotion to these rituals.
He believed that there is no real danger bound within the crater and that the stories his people tell are simply metaphors.
As the important anniversary for this celebration approached, requiring outsiders to join in the ritual, Eynemb intended to sabotage the ceremony to prove to wayangs and their visitors that these long-held beliefs are nothing more than mere fancies...

"Thankfully I was here to save the day!", says Mayor Farzhan.

"Yes.." smiles Khellek.

"Now, you have the adoration of your people.. do you think you could see your way to having the library opened as part of the calibrations?"

Many thanks all, this one was a blast.

Mayor Farzhan smiles, and holds out a box for you: "Here, a gift to our guests!"

It is a decoratively carved box that contains an aegis of recovery, and a pair of heavyload belts.

"Oh, of course, of course, tomorrow you can visit the library."

Harjandi steps up: "I am sorry, but tomorrow morning the Spider’s Silk is set to sail at first dawn to return you to Ramparassad the land-locked".

Bleach Reference with the cherry blossoms and such?

Cherry blossoms are a thing in lots of anime. So not Bleach....

But if you think about it, she's kind of a klutz, a bit of a dope (Wisdom 7), describes herself as a 'scout', has special attacks ("Gorgeous Charm Crasher!"), gives long speeches in the midst of combat...

"I am Apollyanna Sukino, champion of justice! On behalf of the Eternal Maiden, I will right wrongs and triumph over evil, and that means you!" 

And has a wand of cure light wounds with a long activation phrase.

If this were a non-core game she would be a Chosen One with a talking cat black cat familiar named Luna. When I do an homage, I dig deep. ;)

Evarice tips her hat. This mayor is smarter than he acts...

"Hey! Is that a new hat?" Apollyanna says while enjoying her magically delicious +2 octopus-looking-thingy-on-a-stick.

"Thankfully I was here to save the day!", says Mayor Farzhan.

"WHAT?! Why you little-!" A vein throbs on the side of Apollyanna's head and she makes a wild grab for the mayor.

Nit chuckles nervously at the spectacle as he glances back at the shadows. "I am still not sure exactly what happened." He shivers at the thought of the hulking shadows. "You guys maybe think that was actually Rovagug trapped in this volcano?" He gulps in true and utter fear.

Nit chuckles nervously at the spectacle as he glances back at the shadows. "I am still not sure exactly what happened." He shivers at the thought of the hulking shadows. "You guys maybe think that was actually Rovagug trapped in this volcano?" He gulps in true and utter fear.

Apollyanna stares suspiciously at Graff. That is when someone pulls her off (or better yet stops her from reaching) the mayor.

Thank me that's over.

The mayor leaps away fearfully to avoid Apollyanna, but recovers in mere seconds: "I too am happy I saved you, but I cannot give in to everyone's thankful advances... I am flattered, but I must save myself for my position as mayor!"

____________________

As you make your way through Ramparassad, coming up to “Pak’s Tobacco and Spice” shop, the smell is awful, and you see even more workers toiling away on pipes and the sewers.

In the shop, Old Pak is enjoying another pipe.

He is very interested in hearing about your experiences, and encourages you to give details about the ritual and the festival in general.
"Squids on sticks!"
He confirms that because you completed the ritual you earn the Inahiyi’s Gratitude boon on your Pathfinder Reports [ooc](Chronicle sheet)[/oo], and since you all performed at least one action attuned to the hero of you respective masks, you all earn the Grace of Minatan Heroes boon.

Old Pak takes note of all of you who accepted any of the wayang body modifications available during the festival.
He, on behalf of Amara Li from Goka’s Lantern Lodge, offers to pay for their reversal, free of charge, if the you aren’t content with the changes.
If you keep your modifications you earn the Wayang Body Modification boon on you Chronicle sheet.

Old Pak claps his hands: "I thank you Pathfinders for your service and I will send findings to the Lantern Lodge in Goka, where Amara Li will hear of the your actions."
Then... "How do you get back? I've no idea. It's a long trek, so I'd get started if I were you. Safe travels!"

"That shadow thing is no Rovagug. If it was the big guy none of us would be standing here. Obvilion would have being our reward." declares Graff rubbishing the suggestion that his patron would be trapped in some mere volcano.

"That spell you casted....." begins Graff as he turns over to Evarice.
"That spell felt nice though I supposed it was good that it didn't have some strange name for it." he speaks plainly knowing that this cleric attempted to share damage with him.

"Now it's time to get back...."

I read up on the Chosen One archetype last week. Yes, it totally would have been you, Apollyanna. Maybe you can cook up a CORE Wizard or Mystic Theurge next time

"I could have called it Barrier of the WInds, or Beautiful Sacrifice of Love r The Beast of Two Backs"

Evarice pauses.

"Okay, scratch that last one. I prefer to declare what I'm doing while Apollyanna is good at condensing it to 3 or fewer words."

"I've never been one to announce to my enemies what I'm casting, especially so flamboyantly. But I'm sure there are some interesting names I can give my spells. Perhaps it's worth a try."

"You guys are boring. Everyone should shout the name of their special attack right before they use it. It shows commitment and dedication. Here watch this. PARKOUR!!" **CRASH!!** rattlerattlerattlerattlerattlerattlerattlerattlerattlerattle--clank.

Khellek looks aghast at Apollyanna. "Are you the one who is responsible for that gnome parading through the library at all hours, calling out 'Bountiful Celestial Butterflies of Joy?"'"

He sinks his head into his hands.

"Those late papers... have you finished them? I've got marking to catch up on during the trip back..."

Apollyanna returns to her quarters aboard the (land)ship, tosses off her shield, and falls into her bunk. *THUD!*

"OW! What the heck? What are you doing here?!"

Serving my time in Hell no doubt. You forgot to take me off your back! You stole me you idiot!

"We already left the dock! Oh well, I guess I'll have to clear some wall space in my dorm. I hope Gwen doesn't mind."