Sior's PFS Destiny of the Sands Part II : Race to Seeker's Folly (High-tier) (Inactive)

Game Master Sior

"I've got no objections to that. Also this ring I've found seems to be a ring of maniacal devices..but it's altered somehow to make the wearer tell the truth. Could be of some use later."

There is no door to the south. Merely the hallway with the carvings, accurate and otherwise, around the entrance and the body just inside.

"Another corpse? This one charred..and oddly enough covered in flecks of glass. It could be the one that made that impression in that room with the fireball damage..maybe he made it all the way here before succumbing to his wounds? ...but then I suspect we would have seen traces leading from that room up to here (just checking...we didn't see any of those right?). But it can't hurt to be careful."

Elena will cast guidance, virtue and detect magic and takes a careful look around the area (take 10 on perception, using guidance for 10+17+1 = 28)

Looking at the hallway, Elena notices a few things. One is the fact that there appears to be a trap within the hallway, one which is likely the cause for this poor body's demise. You also notice two switches in the carvings mentioned before, both strategically placed in the inaccurate portions. Both switches are flipped to the left.

From within the chamber after the hallway, you can see the glistening of a gem on a table.

"I am pretty sure that hallway is trapped. There are 2 switches..maybe those can used to turn off the trap? Also..I think there's a gem on the table on the table in the next room"

(Since the switches are in the carvings and the carvings are in the archway I assume we can flip them without having to go into the hallway? If so Elena will try to flip one of them to the right and check to see if she still senses a trap (using detect magic if it's a magic trap, taking 10 on perception with guidance for a 28 total) and flipping the other one after that if needed and checking again)

Correct, they are not within the hallway.

Elena flips one switch to the right, noting no change. She then flips the other and still notices no change. Through it all, there appears to be nothing magical about it.

"I don't see a visible chance if I flip these switches..anyone have any idea? Or can someone summon a creature so we can test if it's safe to enter the hallway?"

Before moving on, Ouroboreia will use her pearl of power to recall the grease spell

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Seeing no one offering any better ideas Elena makes sure she's in the best condition to try to survive a possible trap and makes sure she's at full health and ties a piece of rope around her waist and hands it to 2 strong party members to hold on to (in case of the pit trap).

Elena then makes sure both switches she found are in the opposite position as when she first found them (and haven't reset or something) and that there are no other switches she might have missed (taking 20 on perception with guidance for 20+17+1=38).

If she finds nothing new/has changed she will say a short prayer and casts virtue and guidance on herself before walking under the archway carefully holding her shield out in case darts or arrows will fly at her and holding her breath in case poison gas appears.

Roland grabs the offered rope to assist with Elena's crossing.

After preparing for any possibilities, none occur as Elena walks through the hall, stepping over the corpse as she goes. She finds herself in a large columned chamber which shows signs of past comforts, but appears that an ancient battle scorched the walls and ceiling, and cracked and smashed the floor and columns. The remnants of furniture are scattered against the walls, and piles of bodies are stacked in the sleeping alcoves along the south and west walls. A dais crowned with a great, round table rises from the floor in the south part of the room. Three corpses sit around the table as if in conference, each dressed in fine silk robes. A slight breeze whistles through with a sound like a distant, murmuring voice, but there is no sense or meaning in it.Stairs lead downward in the northeast corner of the room, but were buried in stone when the wall collapsed.

Elena relieved that nothing bad happened checks the corpse she stepped over before continuing on to the large chamber

After she's done with checking the corpse and the hallway (taking 10 on perception for 10+17=27 for both if needed - with detect magic) she will move on to check the large chamber to do the same there (taking 10 on perception for 10+17=27 for both if needed - with detect magic)

(Assuming she makes it safely across and nothing happens)

"It's safe..you can come over here" says Elena as she starts to put away the rope again

Checking the corpse, Elena notes that there is an aura coming from within his backpack. Additionally,the pack contains a wayfinder, no small amount of notes, and a very familiar looking missive.

Thanien,

Our agents in Qadira unearthed documents that were taken out of Osirion during the interregnum. They speak of an ancient group of scholar revolutionaries that were suppressed by the pharaohs during the Second Age. We believe we’ve pinpointed the abandoned fortress where some of these sages hid from the purges with their treasures. The documents say these scholars held priceless histories of Ancient Osirion, which we need you to retrieve and return to Absalom.
Assemble a team of the Scarab Seekers and follow the instructions that arrived with this letter. We’ve set up a cover for you as merchants and prepared a caravan that should see you close to the fortress and provide transport for anything you recover.
If the Osirians discover your purpose, we can’t have it traced back to the Society. Once you go in, you’re on your own. Burn this letter and the other documents once you’ve memorized them, and keep the information they conveyed to yourself.

Like any good Pathfinder, it seems he forgot a step.

As mentioned, there is also many notes on the place, including some notes about this very entryway.

With the inaccuracies of the wall carvings, it was easy to spot the switch to deactivate the trap. It would make sense that the switch pointing to the left would make the hallway sinister. I must keep this information to myself for now. Though I trust the other Scarab Seekers, Ven seems to have been pulling them away from me. Kiras, Rosarra, and especially Asha. I must keep this to myself if ever I need to make use of it. Soon the gems will be in our possession and back to the Decemvirate for whatever purposes they choose. I just hope those traps don't reset while we wait...

As Elena then turns to look at the room, she notices a very faint aura coming from the broken ruby on the table. Indeed, a closer inspection looks like the three corpses may well have once been Jeweled Sages, though what fate befell them or where the other two gems are remain mysteries.

She also hears a distant exclamation of someone seeming to be coming from behind from whence the party came.

Elena will collect the broken ruby from the table after making sure it's not trapped (taking 10 on perception for 10+17 = 27) before picking it up and then returns to the rest of the party (if possible checking to see the switches have not reset before crossing the hallway)

"If I remember our briefing correctly then we were send out here to learn more about the jeweled sages and about the Diamond Sage and the lost jewels in particular..I think we might have just found one of those lost jewels..and possibly some jeweled sages as well. Time to head back and report? After we've taken a look at whom ever seems to be coming up from behind that is..."

Ryster ambles into the room, looking around. "Aye, I think you have the right of it, lass."

"I concur. Best to head off and share our discoveries.'

Guilford will refresh mage armor on himself from his wand.

Full post coming when I get home, but for now will remind you that you do still have the sending stone from part 1 to report with.

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"We can certainly report to Amenopheus, though I'm wondering if we'd better ask some questions to the sarcophagus's inhabitant before we do so. There are so many things about the history of this place we could ask to make our report more... substantial. Don't you think?"

Why is the missive looking familiar? I'd like to have Ouro compare it to the various documents we've gotten so far.

It is familiar due to the seal of the Decemvirate and the Glyph of the Open Road.

The voices behind you grow louder as it seems like someone is shouting for others to look for something. More details of the voice are unknown at this point.

Are you staying here-ish, going to the chasm room, returning to the entry chamber, what are ya doing?

As the voices grow louder, Ouroboreia wards herself with a shield spell, then braces herself for what's coming.

Another vision from Osirion's past, or the other explorers Torch mentioned back in Eto? she wonders.

Roland quietly moves to a point with cover and has his bow ready, watching the door and seeing what his companions do.

He whispers...

"Zhese friends?

"So the plan is to try to deal with what ever is coming our way before we report back?"

Elena will cast virtue on herself as she prepares to be able to take a hit.

Roland will try to hear what they are saying...

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Seems we are staying here and waiting for what ever is coming our way

After a short time, seconds really, a trio of people turn the corner into the large cavern. Seeing you, they draw their weapons, the one in front with a greatsword, the man behind him with a bow, and the woman in back with a rapier. However(!!!), seeing you are not undead, the leader holds his fist up to his companions who relax. The man lowers his bow, the woman sheathes her rapier. The leader himself rests his sword on his shoulder and shouts across the chasm as he approaches, "What the hell are ye lot doin' down here?! Who in all blazes are yeh, anyway?"

Roland lowers his bow somewhat and replies

"We were about to ask zhe same of you. Where have you come from and what do you know of zhis place?"

Ouroboreia retreats to the comforts of silence, observing the scene unfold while maintaining an air of calm, devoid of agressivity, so that the newcomers don't feel threatened.

Diplomacy (aid another): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (20) - 2 = 18

"We came here seeking knowledge and we we're just about to leave. We ain't be wanting no trouble. But do tell..who are you and what be your purpose in bein' here?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 2 = 26 Going to assume that Ouroboria was aiding me

"Knowledge?! Bah! Books and scrolls won't help ye if a linnorm is barrelin' right at ye! I come here for strength! Weapons of ancient make buried with kings! Or at least some riches to buy one, hahaha. Name's Yjalk. I think we can come to some understanding. You take your knowledge, I take my weapons or money, we all leave happy."

"I'm afraid we haven't found any weapons...or money for that matter." Ryster states.

"No weapons?! Hrm... but there's bound to be valuables, right?! Artifacts, gems, old stuff!"

"Actually, we found a weapon but didn't take it. It's still guarded by a mere elemental, ripe for the taking. If you wish to take it, it's yours. We're only interested in knowledge and history."

"To us knowledge is very valuable, luckily we were able to find a library of some sort. Which contained some old scrolls..we don't know what is on most of them yet..but it will be worth it to go home and study them to find out...spending many a night sitting and reading. So we will take out money and leave you to searching for weapons or money. I'll agree..let's all leave happy."

If he's just going to allow us to leave..I suggest we leave.

As Elena speaks, a wind whips around the room coming from the far chamber (with the bodies). As it approaches a howling speed, a shape appears above the table. With a raspy voice is shouts "GIVE IT BAAAAAAACK"

Order:
Ouroboreia
Elena
Mikhaere
Ryster
Roland
Guilford
Baddies

Party up!

"An Allip - a restless soul driven by madness to suicide!" she immediately warns her friends.

Two questions: Any special ability we should be aware of? Is it incorporeal? Ouroboreia will immediately communicate what she knows to the party, since she acts first in order of initiative.

Ouroboreia then readies herself for the creature, holding her ground and gazing upon it with her void eyes.

Ready action: whenever the allip comes within 30 feet of her, she'll use Reveal Weakness (-2 on AC and Saves for one round).

Ouroboreia recalls that though an allip can cause no physical harm, its touch can drain away a victim's willpower. Also, an allip babbles incoherently to itself, and those who hear this babble can become hypnotized. And I'd say that knowing it's incorporeal would be a given with the knowledge roll, so have another question! I insist. Hurry before I change my mind, hahaha.

Alright! Does it have elemental resistances/immunities?

That's a negative.

Elena will just assume that it's evil and cast protection from evil on herself.

"Do we run? Or do we try to kill it?"

(if we decide to run..she will use her move to...well, move)

"We need to bring it down. Let's work together on this one!"

Why would we run away?

Because it's an incorporeal undead (assuming it's undead just because it's incorporeal btw) ?..I'm not that good against those. Also it seems to want something back...so it's not that illogical to just run with what ever we have....I know this is PFS and we can just fight anything...but still..seemed to make sense to at least ask ;)

Ryster pulls a flask of holy water from his bandolier and infuses into his ammunition. "I have a thunder rock, I could throw on the ground and makes us all deaf for a little while." He offers.

"That would limit me to the use of my wand. Still, I am not well prepared to lend magical aid to this sort of fight otherwise..."

Still, Guilford make use of his best offensive magic. He takes a 5' step and get his wand of magic missile. From here, he points his hand at the allip and incants a short phrase. A jet of flame springs forth from his palm!

Scorching Ray, RTA with range 45': 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Fire Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 2, 2) = 11

Last used on prior day v. gnolls, so it should have refreshed. Also, can I burn higher-level slots to cast lower-level spells? Or is that a 3.5 thing?

As far as I know you can prepare lower lvl spell in higher spell slots..but you would have needed to prepare them before hand.

Ouroboreia readies to reveal the allip's weakness when it gets closer.

Elena casts a spell to protect herself and wonders whether it's fight of flight time.

Ryster readies some ammunition to kill the spectre.

Guilford shoots out a ray of flame from his hand and strikes the ghost directly, burning some of its necromantic energy away!

Mikhaere and Roland!

As we're tight on time to finish before the game day ends, I'll go ahead and GMPC Mikhaere and Roland. Yikes, Roland has nothing to use against this thing... And I'm hesitant to start using his wand on the thing.

Roland notches an arrow and fires it towards the spectre. It goes right through without so much as making a mark. The allip babbles in what appears to be a laugh... "Zhis is no good! I have nozhing to harm zhis beast wizh!"

Mikhaere, on the other hand, tries some magic on the fiend. A blinding flash illuminates its shadowy form for a split second before dissipating.

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds
4d4 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 3) = 8

The creature is unable to cover its eyes quickly enough and grips at them as some sort of divine energy burns at its essence.

Slowly floating forward towards you, its babbling becomes more audible, causing your mind to try to make sense of it. Among the words spoken, you specifically hear "It calllllllsssssssssss to meeeeeeeeeee"

Guilford, Mikhaere, Roland and Ryster are fascinated for 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 rounds.

From around the corner, a hulking mass of mis-matched body parts lumbers around the corner, heading straight for Guilford!

And finally, the spectre continues forward, babbling as it goes (not breaking fascination in those fascinated. Sorry, guys). It bumbles around Roland and comes right up to Elena. "It calllllllsssssssssss..."

Party up! If Ouroboreia has can take an AoO, feel free to do so as the allip moves in.

As it bumbles around, does that grant a new save per the description of the fascinated condition? And wand was going to be his action if necessary vs incorporeals.

will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

If Roland is able to shake off the effect, he will draw his cure wand and also hit Guildford to help break the stupor.

"Znap out of it, zhey are going to get us!"

While it is a part of the fascinated condition, the specific of the creature overrides the general of the rule.

Ouro isn't threatening, so no AoO from her.

Ouroboreia takes a single, careful step back before conjuring a magical snowball and tossing it at the allip.

RTA: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 124d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 3, 6) = 16 cold damage, Fort save DC 17 to avoid being staggered.

Finally, she takes out a wand of magic missile from her haversack.

Are the "party crashers" taking part in the fight or not, by the way?