The Prince of Augustana (Inactive)

Game Master Baerlie

Relieved that the scroll worked, Gilfroy congratulates Verhaal on a job well done, and preps his crossbow. "Perhaps Verhaal should go near the front, and keep that scroll handy. It may be our best weapon against further threats."

"Agreed, well-done Verhaal!"
Kristen gets behind the others, ready to move on.

Vrald watches the scribes vanish out of the museum before heading into the next side room.

A large placard above the entryway to this hall reads “Hunting the Beasts of Legend” in great block letters. Vrald opens the door to the room on the other side of the hallway and steps into the room. This gigantic chamber is relatively free of mist, and darkness is held at bay by braziers of radiant light. Behemoths occupy these halls, great taxidermy nightmares such as a two-headed bear easily taller than an ogre; a great desiccated beetle, its carapace larger than the face of the clock tower of Absalom’s Clockwork Cathedral; a massive specimen of chimera, its jaws open in a mock roar; and an assembled skeleton of a tyrant lizard. The walls here are studded with strange masks, staves, spears, and other implements of long forgotten cultures, most likely used in ritual hunts of the beasts preserved here.

Vrald looks carefully about the room.

"I wonder which of these ones is going to try and come at us?"

He calls out in a louder voice.

"Nigel, are you in here?"

And then starts to move around the room, shield up, expecting that at any moment one of the Hunting Beasts of Legend will animate.

Keeping his back to the wall, Vrald heads towards the inner room that according to his map doesn't have another exit.

perception: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Kristen is fairly disgusted with the hunting trophies. "I was taught never to be prideful in the creatures that you kill, and to only kill those you must eat to survive. This is barbaric!"

She will follow a few steps behind Vrald.

Jaegar maintains concentration on his Detect Magic and scans the room. Perhaps this time they will not be caught unaware...

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Kristen, perhaps barbaric is not the right word. In some cultures it is both a sign of admiration and respect to display your most impressive quarry. I can appreciate your utilitarian approach, but in many ways these animals would be lost forever if eaten and converted strictly to tools and clothing. In this form their majesty can be both remembered and reach a broader audience." Jaegar pauses, guaging the perspective of his arcane companion.

Sherrinford seems totally oblivious to the conversations going on between his allies, instead scanning the room intently looking for clues as to the curators location or insight into what has happened here.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"I... I meant no offense, Master Jaegar. I suppose I would prefer that they were made into leathers and other useful things, as opposed to displayed in this manner, that's all." She bows, clearly upset at herself for possibly offending her allies.

Jaegar gently brushes his shoulder and upper arm into the shoulder and upper arm of Kristen. He winks at her, and says ”Where I came from, we felt as you did, and for the most part I agree with you. But seeing these creatures fills me with a sense of wonder, and had their bodies been utilized for maximum efficiency, we could not even have this conversation.” He winks at the Aasimar, with his amethyst eyes twinkling behind his raised cloak.

Jaegar looks up and down the stuffed monsters, and casually turns to the party, "So, is this the first Society mission for everyone else? I joined to appreciate different perspectives, and it seems I’ve found one already.”

He turns to Gilfroy and Vrald, ”It seems you two are familiar with each other. Was it among Pathfinders that you were first acquainted? I would love to hear your insights from another mission.”

I have a boon for Jaegar which is contingent on documenting the previous scenarios of other Pathfinders. If anyone would be willing to mention a scenario and a non-spoilery description, I would appreciate it. It also looks like we have a pause in the current scenario.

Thanks! Ben

"We met on a previous mission, recovering sensitive documents from a recently unlocked subterranean vault belonging to a Chelish family living in Absalom. The heir had returned and we had to get them back before she escaped back to Cheliax."

Despite appearing completely lost in his own thoughts while examining the room, Sherrinford replies to Jaegar queries, but his attention remains focused on his investigations.

"This is my first 'official' assignment for the Society. I'm something of a field commission, given my previous successes assisting the watch."

Without giving up any further information, the investigator returns to being silent.

That's a great boon Jaegar, my girlfriend picked it up at PaizoCon UK. It's great for encouraging talking to other agents about their missions and getting a bonus every few sessions.

"This is also my first mission as a Pathfinder agent. I joined to the Society in order to travel to amazing locations, experience the sense of wonder when discovering lost knowledge, and help the people I met in my journeys... The beginning looks promising," Verhaal says with a smile.

"I have been through the official confirmation for Pathfinders, though it was a very scary experience... we somehow took down a huge horned creature!"

Kristen's eyes get very wide as she recalls the harrowing experience of

Vrald can see two of the masks movin. He can see small cracks growing on the surface of the masks.

"Careful!" says Vrald, pointing at the masks that are cracking.

He grabs the enchanted knife and moves forward.

"Gilroy and myself helped out the Society earlier. There was a question of security in Absalom. A Chelix plot it was. Old documents stored in the Infernal Vault."

Vrald is happy to fill in some more details.

Scenario #55: The Infernal Vault

The masks come to life and attack.

Round 1
Jaegar
Gilfroy
Kirsten
Sherrinford
Masks
Vrald
Verhaal

Kristen, seeing two masks come to life, will cast a magic missile spell, using a point from her Arcane Reservoir to increase its caster level by +1 to CL 3.

Magic missile vs. mask 1: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Magic missile vs. mask 2: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Gilfroy brings his crossbow up and fires at mask 1.

Crossbow 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

His bolt wings the mask, but isn't a strong hit.

Vrald steps forward, wielding the knife blade that is supposed to be especially enchanted against this sort of threat.

"Masks? Moving. This is as bad as that House of Chelix"

I have no idea about the extra properties of this. I'm assuming it is a standard masterwork knife at the moment for my rolls.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 <=assumes masterwork.
1d1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 <= add any extra properties the blade has.

Fire Zee Missiles!

Jaegar looses his nocked arrow...

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Arrow Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Knowledge Dungeon: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Knowledge Planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

"What are we up against?" Can Jaegar tell what special defenses and attacks these masks have?

Jaegar attacks the moving masks and chips away a part of the mask. Gilfroy also. Kristen fires her magic missiles at the masks.

Botting Sherrinford
Sherrinford shoots a crossbow bolt at the masks but misses.
Bolt: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

The masks shriek.
DC12 Fortitude Save for everybody in the room or paralyzed for 2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7 rounds.

For. Save Sherrinford: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

If Vrald succeeds his save
Vrald hits the mask in front of him with the knife he found in the other room.

Round 1
Jaegar
Gilfroy
Kirsten
Sherrinford paralyzed 7r
Masks
Vrald
Verhaal

Mask blue -8HP (-15HP)
Mask red -2HP

Jaegar knows that the masks attack with kiss, shriek and are poisonous. But they don't have damage reduction or immunities.

Vrald grits his teeth against the horrible sound
1d20 + 0 ⇒ (8) + 0 = 8

"For Taldor!" he cries, but it is no good, the horror of the masks overcomes him.

Fort save: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18

Kristen ignores the creature's shrill shriek, realizing that they're really not as scary as they look.

Fort Save: 1d20 ⇒ 3

The creature's shriek pierces Verhaal ears, and she can do nothing but cover them to withstand the pain.

Verhaal presses her hands against her ears, but the shriek is too laud.

Round 2
Jaegar save first
Gilfroy save first
Kirsten
Sherrinford paralyzed 7r
Masks
Vrald paralyzed 7r
Verhaal paralyzed 7r

Mask blue -8HP
Mask red -2HP

Jaegar struggles to resist the shriek of the masks...

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

And is paralyzed for 7 rounds (unless Verhaal is signing)

Should Jaegar get a +1 from any source on his will save, he will fire his bow into the blue mask.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 Assumes Bardic Performance

Arrow: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Kristen will five-foot step forward, pull out a wand of burning hands, CL3, and shoot them both with it.

burning hands: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 2) = 5, DC 14 reflex save for half damage.

Sorry, I am here. I thought I'd posted off my phone yesterday but the message must not have got through. Not to worry, I'll take the botting.

Should Jaegar get a +1 from any source on his will save, he will fire his bow into the blue mask.

It's a Fort, not a Will save. So you fail by 1 more than you thought.

Sory for that! I checked when you posted the last time and thought you are on holidays or something. But I know now that you are here and won't bot again!

Jaeger gets paralyzed also.

Kristen tries to burn the masks, but one of them dodges aside successfully.
Save red: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Save blue: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Round 2
Jaegar paralyzed 7r
Gilfroy save first
Kristen
Sherrinford paralyzed 7r
Masks
Vrald paralyzed 7r
Verhaal paralyzed 7r

Mask blue -10HP
Mask red -7HP

Can't sing, I'm also paralyzed :-(

We all are, except Kristen and maybe Gilfroy.

Yeah, this is looking pretty dangerous, let's hope we can survive!

PBP PFS TPK? TBD ASAP!

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

All the colour drains from the gnome's face as he stands and watches the shrieking masks float ever closer.

Hooboy. Well, I suppose it's time to find out whether Arcanists really are OP! LOL

Bring it on, Baerlie!

Edit: Let's see if Kristen knows anything about these things' abilities that might help her save her friends...
Knowledge(planes): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Gilfroy was also not fast enough to withstand the shriek.

The masks bite Vrald and Jaegar, both wake up.
blue vs. Jaegar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
red vs. Vrald: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Round 3
Jaegar
Gilfroy paralyzed 6r
Kristen
Sherrinford paralyzed 6r
Masks
Vrald
Verhaal paralyzed 6r

Mask blue -10HP
Mask red -7HP

The masks attack with kiss, shriek and are poisonous. They have no weaknesses and no immunities. AC15

Kristen will cast her last level 1 spell for the day, magic missile, using her last point of arcane reservoir to increase it to caster level 3, which will hit the blue mask with both missiles.

magic missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6 damage to blue mask.

Vrald snarls.

"Enjoy that taste of metal? Here is some more!"

He swings a strong blow at the Red Mask with the enchanted knife.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 <= assumes the knife is masterwork
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 <= assumes no enhancement bonus to damage.

The knight is slow in recovering however and the attack is very weak, going wide.

Jaegar takes a 5 foot step back, away from his attacker. He shakes his head to clear the paralysis, and fires an arrow at point blank range.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Arrow Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

We must be the least competent combatants ever!

Kristen, Jaegar and Vrald attack the masks, but only the missiles hit.

The masks continue to bite.
Bite blue vs. Jaegar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Bite red vs. Vrald: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
DC 12 Fort. Save to resist being poisoned

Round 4
Jaegar
Gilfroy paralyzed 5r
Kristen
Sherrinford paralyzed 5r
Masks
Vrald
Verhaal paralyzed 5r

Mask blue -16HP
Mask red -7HP

Kristen, her inherent magic all but spent, fires another charge of her wand of burning hands at the red mask.

burning hands, CL3: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 3, 3) = 8
Reflex save DC 14 for half damage.

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Jaegar contines to fire arrows at the masks of doom!

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Arrow: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Vrald grins at the horrible masks, relieved he had managed to get his shield up just in time to avoid the bite.AC23, I think the mask just missed

"My knife can do better than that!"
attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 <=assumes masterwork
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 <= plus any special bonus.

However he is obviously rattled by how close the mask got that time, and repeats the awful attack of a few seconds ago.

Reflex red: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

50% wake up on 1 Verhaal: 1d2 ⇒ 2
50% wake up on 1 Gilfroy: 1d2 ⇒ 1
50% wake up on 1 Sherrinford: 1d2 ⇒ 1

Jaegar destroys the mask in front of him. Gilfroy and Sherrinford are not paralyzed any more. Kristen burns the mask in front of her, but Vrald did not land a hit.

The remaining mask bites Vrald again.
Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4 + Poison
DC 12 Fort. to resist poison
effect: damage caused by bite can only be healed with magic if the spellcaster succeeds on a DC 20 caster level check; cure: 1 save

Round 5
Jaegar
Gilfroy
Kristen
Sherrinford
Masks
Vrald
Verhaal paralyzed 5r

Mask blue destroyed
Mask red -11HP

Jaegar can do a DC12 Fort. save to be cured from the poison

Fortitude to Cure Poison: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Jaegar calls upon the guidance of Erastil to avoid shooting Vrald again. He targets the Red Mask with another arrow.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Arrow Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Unlikely to strike his next foe, Jaegar is quite grateful that there is no longer a mask attacking him.

Yay! Another natural 1, but this time for my saving throw. The good news about this is I have a boon for rolling natural 1s. If I roll a nat 20 on a save sometime during this scenario, I can mark this on my sheet. It's #5-03: Erratic Luck.

You may be especially lucky, but recently you have experienced only bad luck. Once per scenario, if you roll (and keep) a natural 1 for any saving throw against a non-harmless effect during a scenario before rolling a natural 20 for a saving throw during the same adventure, record the name of the adventure and a brief description of the event below. After recording five such unlucky situations, a god or goddess of luck gives you a change of fortunes. As long as you have yet to roll a natural 20 on any saving throw during the course of the scenario, you may re-roll the first saving throw of the scenario for which you roll a natural 1.

Yeah I have that one on one of my characters too, it's the toughest boon I have to fill out.

Kristen will fire a simple ray of frost at the remaining floating head, hoping that it is very badly hurt and she can finish it off.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
cold: 1d3 ⇒ 3

The colour returns to Gilfroy's face as he regains his senses, moves into range, and flings a glob of acid at the mask.

Touch attack: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 1 - 4 = 10

"Arghhhh" grunts Vrald as the mask finaly gets through his defence.

He grits his teeth as the poison tries to take hold..
fort dc 12: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Even as the poison runs through his body, he continues to strike out with the supposidly enchanted dagger.
attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Still here, just can't act.