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

Game Master Sior

Anything interesting Borax? I've never had the chance to learn the ancient language.

Still under the effects of the spell, Borax is able to make sense of the contents. The notes are question-and-answer sessions conducted with a scholar’s spirit. The questions concern the preservation of memory in magical jewels and the crafting and repair of such jewels. The notes explain that the sarcophagus allows a creature touching it to commune with any corpse placed inside. This ability can be activated once per day, otherwise as the spell speak with dead.

These notes would seem to be very relevant to our mission. We should ask whomever is in the sarcophagus about the Diamond Sage or the jewels. We won't get to ask many questions though - best to sort out what exactly we'll ask it first.

And if need be, we could always put one of the dead Pathfinders we've found in the other rooms in it to ask questions of them as well over the next day or two. Whoever is in interred in there won't mind if he was a devotee of Nethys; no point in having a magic sarcophagus and then not using it.

So do we know if there's a corpse inside already?
"Astute observations Defah."

It's good thing that PFS is cooperative, tough to keep secrets when the GM tells everything everyone finds out. :) One of the reason I love the Mythweaver's site is that you can have private messages such that the other players don't see them. I like it when the player's have to actually hear it from the player rather than just reading it from the GM.

Just trying to keep it moving. Besides, many players will just copy/paste it. Were it more competitive, I'd compartmentalize the info a bit more.

And if you want to open the ancient sarcophagus, go right ahead =P
Seriously, though, the journal makes no indication that the corpse was ever removed.

Without an in-forum private text mechanic there's really no option on this forum. And I would not want to get IC info through PMs. You're right most people will copy and paste, but that's fine. What's important, imho, is that the other players get a more IC experience of having to listen to one another and ask one another questions. Again, this forum doesn't support private texts, so it's moot and spoiler blocks change little. Just lamenting.

And I do agree that it speeds the game up to just post things like this publicly. The downside of private texts is when the information is crucial and the player who gets the info doesn't post for a day or two and it slows down everyone else.

I'm just assuming there's a current occupant. To some extent it'd be better for us if it were currently empty as we'd skip directly to questioning one of the people in the last couple of rooms. Whoever is in there now may well have been dead too long to know anything useful to us about the sages.

Well get to talkin' if that's what you plan on doing. I really don't like this place one bit. Not one bit at all.

"Well there's only one way to see if someone's inside." Teric uses his spear to pry open the sarcophagus, mindful that if he touches it, it might expend that day's usage.

Nice job, Borax. I had forgotten that you had Comprehend Languages still up. Care to examine one of the many scrolls to see what those are?

Prothero keeps a wary eye out as Teric opens the sarcophagus, asking the group, "Does anyone have a plan for what questions we ask? I kind of liked the idea of looking around a bit and trying to come up with the right questions, but I suppose we can just ask where to find the Diamond Sage and see what that gets us."

@Teric, in fairness, I would think the CL spell would have expired after translating the book.

As Teric opens the sarcophagus, Borax moves away from the oracle. "I doubt any of the dead adventures will be of much help. Clearly they failed. Whomever is currently interred within would be likely to know the most. I recommend we leave the casket closed and ask our questions. But we must be prepared to lie so that the creature does not think we are here to plunder its tomb. As such, leave the lid be and I will invoke the magic within."

Borax will wait to see if Teric closes the sarcophagus before re-approaching and asking the questions.

@Sior, does the sarcophagus say who is buried inside?

I thought it was the Emerald sage that we were trying to track down?

I've heard the Cubic Zirconium Sage works at a fraction of the cost, so we might look him up as well.

I think it's Diamond, per Sior's helpful link to the Part I briefing scene.

If they've got Cubic Zirconium, I'm sure the Ruby Sage would fall for it, since it's so hard to distinguish from diamond. You should definitely focus your magic sarcophagus questions on that possibility, Borax.

We don't know anyone is actually inside.

Oh, I see. The GM did giveus a hint that might be bad.

Teric pries open the lid just enough to see that there is indeed a person inside, long since dead. The sarcophagus does not say who it is, though as stated the journal says a scholar was its last inhabitant and makes no mention of it being removed. It seems to have been there for some time as the user interviewed it over a long period of time. You would probably be able to do so as well.

OH! And I do apologize, I was looking in the wrong spot earlier! When the room is detected for magic, several scrolls are indeed magical! As a peace offering, no Spellcraft is required to identify them. They are a scroll of bless, a scroll of magic weapon, a scroll of ghostbane dirge, and a scroll of resist energy.

If you want me to, I'll ask the first question. You want me to ask who he is?

Borax put puts out a hand to stop the overly eager Darvik, "It would be best if someone more skilled in the arts of dialogue where to ask the questions."

I'm under the impression that only one person can touch and ask the questions per day.

I agree that Borax should do the questioning as well. And since we don't know how powerful the effect is, we don't know how many questions he'll be able to ask, we should determine the most important questions to ask first.

Borax nods with Defah as to working out the questions in advance.

Regarding the scrolls, Borax will take any that are not usable by the Cleric or Oracle

That's the second (magic) item we've found focused on killing Ghosts. If we do encounter a ghost, Defah should probably have Ghostbane Dirge ready to cast and then maybe I could use UMD and cast Magic Weapon on someone.

I certainly agree that it really looks like a ghost-mugging is likely. Also that I should use ghostbane dirge. Maybe Teric should cast the magic weapon (probably on Darvik) though? Or the two of us could switch those around. Just so we don't have the risk of you getting a one on the UMD roll.

Wasn't sure if Oracles can use all cleric scrolls. If so, then yes.

Teric takes the scroll of Magic Weapon and Resist Energy. Yeah Oracles and Clerics pretty much have the same spell list.

"So what should we ask it? Where's the Diamond Sage? Or what other traps are waiting?"

"Yes, where is the Diamond Sage and the location of the jewels should be at the top of the list. What horrors lie beyond may be important, but it is unlikely our host will know of things that occurred after its death."

I say that, but who knows what logic the authors employ when it comes to dead guys.

"Those questions make good sense to me, Borax, given what our mission is."

I'd happily take magic weapon on my bow as well. The ghostbane dirge plan sounds like a good one, as all signs point to ghosties.

Those seem like the best place to start. If you are able to question him beyond that, the answers to initial questions will likely suggest their own follow-ups. Hopefully he has not been dead too long to have relevant information for us.

With the group in apparent agreement, Borax is about to touch the sarcophagus when he remembers the mechanics of the spell invoked.

"As I recall the dead creature can resist the the spell and even deceive us. Perhaps one more attuned to the deception of others should ask the question. And it may be we only get one question."

Whoever has the best Sense Motive should ask the question

Prothero has a very high Sense Motive, haven't checked that it's the highest but I expect it is.

Prothero smiles grimly and says, "My life at court taught me a great deal about spotting lies and liars. My greatest limitation was my lack of skill at lying right back at them. But I'll ask the questions if that seems the best approach."

He reaches out slowly and lays a hand on the sarcophagus, saying, "I would speak with you. Please, tell me where to find the Diamond Sage."

The visage on the sarcophagus opens its mouth in response to Prothero. "I do not know of whom you speak." Truth

Prothero considers a moment, then speaks again to the sarcophagus, "I understand you know much of the preservation of memory in magical jewels and the crafting and repair of such jewels. I seek someone who is associated with a particular jewel, the diamond. Can you tell me where to find this person, or their diamond?"

He casts a glance at his companions and gives a slight shrug, as if to say, How was that? What else should I ask?

"Yes, I do know of the repair of magical jewels, including diamonds. But I still do not know of whom you speak of. Do you need a gem repaired?"

Again, he turns to the party, raising a hand before him as if to ask, Well, what now?

"Ask who you are speaking to. The creature may not have known the Diamond Sage by that name or this creature could be said sage. In addition, see if the creature knows how to subdue the water elemental."

Prothero addresses the stone coffin again, "Who are you? And do you know how to subdue or dismiss the water elemental in the next chamber?"

"I am but an humble scholar, court librarian for the Song Pharaoh. My name is Halmrat. I do not know this creature, though the pharaoh would oft call creatures to protect his treasure and secrets from those who were unworthy in his sight."

Prothero looks back to the party and raises one eyebrow. Any other ideas?

It might be useful to know when he died. Perhaps he can trek us the date of his death?

Teric rolls his eyes at the answers. "Borax, when did the Song Pharaoh live? Maybe he can tell us what this complex holds."

Whoops, GM did not do his homework. The Song Pharaoh was actually a female.

Borax does as he's asked.

K. History or Nobility Take G10 = 20 + 1d6 ⇒ 3

After sharing what he knows. Borax turns back to the zen archer.

"Perhaps Halmrat can educate us s to the repairing of gems and the scholar's knowledge of this compound?"

@Sior, you don't need to put things in spoilers if I am just going to share them with the group. No point in wasting your time.

Prothero relays Borax's questions to Halmrat, asking in particular if there are any hazards within the compound that they should be aware of.

Halmrat responds, "The next room contains the water source for the complex, as does the well in the courtyard. To the south of the entry hall is a chasm separating the holy inner chambers. The Song Pharaoh did away with the traps and pitfalls which the Pharaoh of Forgotten Plagues had set."

In keeping with Borax's suggestion, Prothero focuses on the sarcophagus and asks about the repairing of gems. He then turns his head to look at his companions and says, "Unless someone's got a better idea, I think we should move on. I'm not sure we know enough to even ask the right questions at this point."

"Perhaps our clerk can tell us what these mundane scrolls contain?"

Prothero tells Halmrat of the scrolls and where they were found, and asks what they might be.

The mundane scrolls in the archive? If so... "Those scholars who came after me have long since asked for my knowledge. One would think that is the fruits of their labors."

Not sure which scrolls were meant, I just work here.