Redelia's PFS1 3-06 Song of the Sea Witch (Inactive)

Game Master Redelia

Please dot and delete. We'll start soon.

We still need several characters to provide the requested information in discussion before we can start

The drifting steam of freshly made tea shimmers through the air in front of Venture-Captain Amara Li. The stoic Tian woman places an ornate tea tray on the edge of her desk, inviting all those present to partake of the drink. Li’s neatly organized office is the site of various tapestries and artifacts imported from the distant land of Tian Xia.

“I would like to thank you all for coming here despite the lack of explanation. Circumstances have forced me to be discreet in this assignment. There are many who would put the information I am about to share with you to more unsavory ends.” Amara begins to take an initial sip from her teacup before she continues. “Several months ago I arranged the successful sale of a pair of tomes from my homeland of Tian Xia to a versed historian here in Absalom. Of these books, the Infernal Incantation was the more highly sought after, as it is said to contain the secrets of binding the legions of Hell.” Amara takes another sip of her tea and then places the cup on her desk, her expression turning cold. “The historian—one Yargos Gill—has spent the past several weeks studying the book from within his Absalom villa. To make matters more complicated, Yargos decided to try performing one of the rituals held within the Infernal Incantation late last night. From the breathless ramblings of his assistant who arrived at my door only a handful of hours ago, it would appear that something went horribly wrong with the ritual Yargos enacted. From what I was told, the ritual revealed to Yargos and his aides that the Infernal Incantation was not a guide on imprisoning fiendish forces, but instead the book itself was a prison for the armies of Hell. Within the confines of those ancient pages reside hundreds—perhaps even thousands— of devils eager to escape their long imprisonment. If Yargos’s bumbling has caused some sort of disturbance within the tome, then we need to ensure it is fixed as quickly and as discreetly as possible. It would not do the populace any good to realize that a full-on infernal invasion could appear in the middle of the city! I need you to go to Yargos’s estate, where his aide has already informed him of your impending arrival. Once you meet with the historian, learn what you can about the book and how to reverse the meddling he has caused. Above all else, ensure that the legions of Hell are contained.”

any questions? knowledge (religion) or knowledge(arcana) checks are also welcome.

Tea?! TEA?! What is it with the Venture-Captains lately offering only some sort of water as "refreshments"? That doesn't count, not for a dwarf!
If you are curious, have a look here and here. ;-)

Bluff: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9

The barbarian declines the hot water tea, trying to hide his disappointment. But even for the average person (taking 10 on Sense Motive) it is quite obvious that he is not happy about something...

"Well, I am definitely no expert on books, but if there are devils that need to be smashed, I'm in!"

Dimak has none of the knowledges mentioned. Therefore...

"Do you suggest we acquire any special weapons against devils?"

@GM Redelia: Dimak was going to buy an adamantine dwarven longhammer, a cold iron dagger and a silver dwarven boulder helmet - but if you allow it, he will change the shopping list already posted. Otherwise, he would have too little gold left to buy a two-handed silver weapon... Devils hate silver, right?

Know. Arcana 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

”Devilbinding is a dangerous game,” Keene’s booming voice cut through the room. ”What are we to do with the book, assuming we are successful in stopping a devilish invasion,” the man wonders.

A gnome with pink and blue hair flounces into the room and says, "Hello, everyone, I am Gnagnatsu♥!" (You're not sure how, but you can hear the ♥.) She then hops up onto a chair to shake Rondoplho's hand enthusiastically. "Can't wait to see what the powers that be have for us this time!" She takes a seat and winks at Dimak.

She seems a ball of barely controlled emotion as she listens to Amara drone on for what seems like forever. "Devil invasion sounds bad. Any idea what kind of beasties he's been chatting with?"

No relevant knowledge.

"Hello all." An elf dressed in leather armor with a rapier at his hip enters the room.

"A devil invasion? Hm, perhaps we throw the thing into the Worldwound, give the demons another thing to worry about." Morait jokingly states.
"More seriously, do we know what sort of person Yargos was or what sort of protections he might have prepared? Considering that the ritual was several hours ago with no further reports, it would be reasonable to assume Yargos is either dead, captive, or contracted to a devil. Despite how he might have acted normally, under the right stresses, he could have made a deal."

Jasmine accepts the tea and begins trying to find a way to hold it so that her beak fits, until she finally gives up and swirls it absentmindedly instead. "What happens if the book gets destroyed? Would the devils die or would they get let out?"

not trained in either skill

"It is unknown what would happen if the book was destroyed, or even if that is possible. Yargos was a competent scholar, given money and resources by someone unknown to enable him to study these books. You will have to use your judgement as to what to do with the book."

Slender and handsome human puts down his cup of tea, when Amara mentions devils. He is wearing a leather armor and carrying a musket. Listening the discussion of book's properties, he becomes clearly concerned. "Not a single devil was released from the book if I understood correctly? And the historian, Yargos survived alive though certainly horrified?" Jaakko asks

I got a 20 on the know. Arcana roll in case you missed it, GM.

thanks for the reminder

The Infernal Incantation is a tome from distant Tian Xia said to hold the secrets of binding the denizens of Hell.

The Infernal Incantation has a relatively unknown sister document: the Celestial Song.

Amara is unable to answer Jaakko's questions, because it's unknown what might have happened since the messenger left.

The barbarian scratches his bald head.

"Would you suggest we acquire any special weapons or other items against devils? I am not an expert on these creatures..."

Devils hate silver, right?

I am ready to move forward - and possibly go shopping. ;-)

"Oh. Sorry, I misunderstood the situation. Good that he's still alive." Morait facepalms in embarrassment.

Keene tells the others what limited information he has about the tomes. ”Id suggest we get on the way. No telling what awfulness might be happening there right now.”

Yes, the party would know that for some devils, it is helpful to have a silver weapon. A quick shopping stop on your way is fine.

Yargos Gill’s villa is a stand-alone edifice that would normally meld into the background of Absalom’s various structures were it not for the massing crowd of local citizens in front of the entrance. Up above on the second floor, lights flicker as burning orange and red embers dance within.

After a quick shopping trip Dimak proudly displays his new masterwork silver earth breaker. "Nice hammer, don't you agree? I'm eager to try it on a devil!" The barbarian grins broadly, then suddenly seems to remember something else. He stows his hammer and pulls out his assortment of wands, then selects the one with engraved with a four-leaf clover.

"On my latest mission a fellow pathfinder names Shamus used a wand like this one to give each of us a minor blessing of luck that lasts for 24 hours. I thought that 's a good idea so I went and bought such a wand myself. The shopkeep told me the activation phrase for this one is 'Bona Fortuna'. Let's try it!"

Dimak will use one charge of his wand of lucky number (see below for the spell description) for every party member who wants a little bit of luck for the mission.
Just roll a d20 and put the number in your header so you don't forget to use it. ;-)

UMD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
UMD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

He starts tapping himself with the wand while mumbling "Bona Fortuna. Bona Fortuna!"... and makes it work on the second try. "Ha! I did it!"

Dimak's Lucky Number: 1d20 ⇒ 13 How appropriate. ;-)

If Jaakko or Rondolpho would like help out so Dimak doesn't need to make many more UMD checks (and probably roll a nat. 1 while trying), that would be great, thank you very much. ;-)

You are able to tweak tiny variables affecting a creature’s immediate future in order to grant the target a bit of luck at the right time. Roll a d20; once during the duration of lucky number, when the target creature rolls that result (regardless of what type of dice the target rolls), the creature has the option to either reroll the result or add a +2 luck bonus to the result. The creature must decide to use this ability before the success or failure of the original roll is known. A creature can have only one lucky number at a time. If lucky number is cast on a creature already affected by that spell, the new number replaces the previous one. (Link)

Lucky Number: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Considering how 4 is treated by many Asian Tien cultures, we're doing great here.

"That doesn't look like the fire from a cozy night with your partner."

Lucky number 1d20 ⇒ 11

”Let me help you with those wands. They can be tricky, you know,” Keene says with a smile, after watching the dwarf struggle with the finer points.

Keene also uses his wand of mage armor on himself, granting the protection spell for an hour.

Lucky number: 1d20 ⇒ 15

"I'm able to help with some of those wands, Dimak." Jaakko says while using one for lucky number

"A little good luck never hurt anyone. Much."
lucky number: 1d20 ⇒ 13

what are you doing after you're done buffing, team?

”Welp, we are gaining nothing by standing around and twiddling our thumbs. Let’s head in there and see if we can get things squared away,” Keene says as he begins heading towards the villa.

"A crowd of civilians and a problem involving devils? Great, sounds like an angry mob in progress."

Lucky Number: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Jasmine squawks and shakes her head and starts grumbling under her breath in Tengu when she sees the crowd.

For anyone who speaks Tengu she is complaining about how now it'll be harder to handle this quietly and not cause a scene.

"Thank you, Rondolpho and Jaakko! Yeah, they definitely are tricky - but I'm learning!" Dimak is confident he will get better. He grabs his longhammer and takes point. "I'll lead the way in!"

If the layout of the Villa is too narrow (or the ceiling is too low) to be enlarged and wield a reach weapon at the same time, Dimak will wield his new silver earth breaker instead.

Gnagnatsu palms a few of her silver shuriken and moves next to Dimak. "Don't forget that I'm here to handle things that a hammer can't!" she says with a wink. She then begins scanning their path for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

The front door is slightly open. An exploration of the first floor reveals a non-descript kitchen, dining room, and meeting room.

Upstairs, you find uninteresting bedrooms and a study. A terrible burning light comes from under the door of the study.

"I won't, Gnagnatsu. But I am certain that I can handle a devil or three!" Dimak answers.

He then scans that door for traps.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17

The gnome also checks the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Keene waits for the all clear from the two inspecting the door. In such tight quarters, he pulls his magic missile wand, ready for trouble.

Morait draws his shortbow, notches an arrow and takes up position on one side of the door. (Assuming it is not trapped)

No one notices any traps on the door. You also notice that there is not any heat escaping under the door to go along with all that light.

After the door is checked for traps, Jaakko pushes it open and wades in armed with his flail.

"It's not even warm here... strange, with all that orange and red light..."

Dimak follows Jaakko, hammer ready to strike.

If the layout of the Villa is too narrow (or the ceiling is too low) to be enlarged and wield a reach weapon at the same time, Dimak will wield his new silver earth breaker instead.

Sheets of dancing orange and red fire cover the walls of this long room, forming blazing curtains around two windows facing the streets below. The interior of the room is undisturbed, and the wooden floor is completely absent of flames. A swirling, sinister symbol adorns the center of the floor, formed of a darkened red substance and accented by a few nearby candles. Opposite the only entrance into this room is a large open altar filled with more candles, a single blood-stained dagger, and an open book from which torrents of flame feed the inferno along the walls. Nestled in the corners adjacent to the entrance are three humanoid bodies—two toppled over one another in one corner, and a third in the opposite corner, face down on the wooden floor.

A threatening figure stands across the room, near the altar. It deftly wields a vicious, saw-toothed glaive, while below its toothy maw writhes a hideous, twitching beard.

Morait, Gnagnatsu, and Jaakko may act before the enemy. Everyone please start with your tokens in the yellow box on the map.

"What the hell..."

Dimak realizes that maybe that's exactly what has caused this scene.

@GM Redelia: I would say, if our enemy can wield a reach weapon in this building, Dimak can do that, too. Is that ok with you? Also, this barbarian has Combat Reflexes. ;-)

Gnagnatsu will try to identify the creature, if it is humanoid.

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Looking mostly for which type of metal is most likely to cause it harm.

She then moves toward the altar and throws a bit of metal at him.

Shuriken: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 vs. FF (+1 if no DR/weakness)
Piercing Damage: 1 + 2d6 ⇒ 1 + (6, 4) = 11

Morait fires an arrow at the creature, then draws his rapier.
attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
damage: 1d6 + 3d6 ⇒ (5) + (1, 4, 1) = 11

Would someone please place Keene’s picture in the yellow area? I’m a phone poster and struggle with that. Anywhere is fine. Thanks a bunch!

Jaakko decides not to expend bullets on this enemy, rather approaching from the right flank and hitting with flail.

+1 flail: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Dimak, in the room there is space for you to be enlarged and with a reach weapon. Not necessarily in some of the corridors, but that's not where you're fighting right now.

Knowledge local turns up nothing against this creature. knowledge:planes checks welcome

No hits on the enemy.

The scary creature takes a 5-ft step and then swings a glaive twice at Jaakko.

attack 1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

There is something about this creature so that Jaakko is bleeding heavily. now has the bleeding condition

status: Jaakko -19 HP

The entire party is up.

Know. Planes 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 +2 v. Demons

Keene tries to recall anything he might have read about this terrible creature.

Jasmine moves forward and swings her sword at the devil-y thing.

+2 short sword: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31
regular damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
sneak attack: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 5) = 19

Also 4 bleed damage per round, and debilitating injury: disoriented: if the foe takes sneak attack damage it also takes attack penalty -2 (-4 vs. striker) for 1 round.

Dimak's anger rises when he sees the creature hurt Jaakko. (free action: rage)
He moves around the symbol that adorns the center of the floor (see map) and swings his hammer with all his might. (activating Power Attack and Reckless Abandon)

"Take THAT!"

Rage adamantine Longhammer, Dwarven + RA + PA: 1d20 + 12 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 12 + 2 - 2 = 30
Bludgeoning + PA, adamantine: 2d6 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (6, 1) + 9 + 6 = 22

current defense:
CMD 20 (10 +5 BAB, +6 Str, +3 Dex, -2 Rage, -2 RA)
AC 13, touch 9, flat footed 10 (+4 armor, +3 Dex, -2 Rage, -2 RA)
AC vs crit 15, touch 11, flat-footed 12 (+4 armor, +3 Dex, -2 Rage, -2 RA, +2 circumstance helmet)

Heavily groaning due to pain, Jaakko steps away from glaive-wielding horror and uses healing magic on himself.

concentration check vs. bleeding: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
CLW: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

I'd like to see the results of Rondolpho's check before acting.

Morait moves to flank the thing.
acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
attack: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 2 = 25
damage: 1d6 + 3d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + (2, 6, 1) + 7 = 20

caster level check, please, Jaakko, to see if that healing takes

Morait, Dimak, and Jasmine are able to take down the demon.

Rondolpho knows that this demon has the following ability, important for Jaakko: