PFS All for Immortality Hard Mode (Inactive)

Game Master KingTreyIII

Sorry guys, it looks like my post from Friday night got eaten.

Kaldane uses the rest of his magic power saving anyone he can, until the priests of Abadar arrive to lend aid.

At Hendric's shouting, he replies "In a minute" before going back to saving/stabilizing people.

When he finally comes up for air a half hour or so later, he approaches the group and says "So, what did we learn."

What language are the folio and scrolls written in Xavier?

Common.

Nox does not appear so much as whisper into Hendric's ear.

The vials i took from the dragon... they where fake! Please tell me you found the real ones somewhere! I do not like being yelled at... to much attention...

"We found two more vials, Nox. I think they are real, hidden with all these other treasures as they were, but I am not an expert."
He turns to Kaldane. "Sorry about that. I don't know much about magic and I think you're the only one who does. We found some magic items in an extradimensional space, and also these folios of arcane observations."

Again, botting Kaldane for these simple actions so we won’t have to wait a day for him to say that he casts detect magic. Hope you don’t mind, Kaldane.

After casting a spell, Kaldane is able to determine that the shield, gauntlets, and bottles’ contents not the bottles themselves are indeed magical and that the milky liquids give off the strongest aura of magic. Though without Arcana or Spellcraft, he is unable to determine the school of magic or what the items actually are.

Kaldane also observes that there are no lingering magical auras around where the dragon once was—if it truly had items around its neck exactly like these bottles then there would be a lingering aura that would definitely still be there. The liquid has a Strong aura and a Strong aura lingers for 1d6X10 minutes.

Most likely the real deal... can we hurry and give these to the employer? I left him yelling at a shadow he thinks is me...

I do actually need to know what your guys’ next course of action is.

"I think we should give these vials to the Emir, and fulfill our mission. We have recovered two that were stolen. Two have already arrived. Hopefully the final two will also arrive safely."

Sir Hendric will wait for agreement from the others, but that is what he thinks best.

As the Seekers make their way back to the Emir’s palace—elixir in hand—they find a very peculiar scene: as Nox said, the Emir is alone in his chamber, screaming angrily at an occupant of the room that doesn’t exist.

”...a sinkhole! You idiots created a sinkhole in the middle of the square, almost killing dozens! Thank goodness the clergy got on scene otherwise...huh?” The Emir turns to face the Pathfinders who have entered the room. ”Oh! How great of you to show up! I was just telling Nox, here, that the elixirs he brought back to me are fakes! I didn’t hire you to trick me! You better have a damn good expla...na...tion...”

The Emir loses his ability to speak as he eyes the two bottles the Pathfinders brought. He very slowly moves to take the vials, which the Seekers offer no resistance I’m assuming. Emir Guldis carefully places them on the table and snaps his fingers, alerting one of his conjurers to enter the room. The conjurer casts a few spells and whispers in the Emir’s ear before exiting the chamber.

Emir Guldis stands half-bent over the bottles, his hands on the table to support his weight. The small sparkle of tears falling from his face shine. He speaks barely above a whisper.

”We have all six...” A strange sound comes from the Emir as he speaks slightly louder. ”We have all of them...” The strange sound continues until it becomes clear what it is: The Emir is laughing. Without warning the Emir leaps up and wraps his arms around the nearest of the Pathfinders—Hendric—with a smile spread across his face and tears rolling down his eyes. ”By the gods, we have all six! We have all six elixirs! Pashow is saved!”

I don't mind you botting me if it helps move things along. I know that I tend to post off hours.

"Then I believe that our business is concluded." offers Kaldane, clearly ready to be off continuing his research.

Nox quietly sighs in relief, then whispers to Hendric.

We need to check on our pathfinder teams... make sure they're okay.

The Emir unhands Sir Hendric and manages to regain his composure. He looks all of you in the eye (except Nox, whom he can’t see)—at this moment looking the calmest that any of you have seen him.

”Now then. The city of Pashow is eternally grateful for your actions. Pashow’s future will benefit greatly by having a Pathfinder Lodge within our walls. Farhaana and the Kernaug Group should be returning any moment. When the citizens find out that the auction will go as planned then the rioting will cease. We have more than enough scrolls of Sending left over to contact your other team. You all can debrief them and Farhaana can take you back to Absalom to update Mr. Farabellus to the situation here. And, Pathfinders,” A smile appears across Emir Guldis’s face—grinning from ear to ear—as a decade’s worth of stress and anxiety washes away, leaving happiness and relief in its place. ”Thank you, for everything that you have done!”

First comes the Scroll-Seekers—battered and bloody, but very much alive. Janira speaks for the group.

”That was...intense. The crowd did not take too well to my historical Absalomic stories. They were about ready to destroy the marketplace when we received word of the other elixirs’ safety.”

The next to arrive is the Axe-Fixers, seemingly bored upon arriving. The half-orc twins speak for the group.

”So...we followed through on the snakes’ involvement in the elixirs’ journey. That gold agent, Kitty Aspy, was behind it...”

“Annex. He wanted to annex Pashow. But the prince wasn’t going down without a fight! We had to fight off some hired mercenaries trying to kill us! Gods, that was fun! Right boys?!”

The other Axe-Fixers shout a warcry in agreement.

”But the mission was very stealth- and research-heavy; I guess we finally found something that an axe couldn’t fix...”

Finally comes the Kernaug Group, teleporting in with the conjurer Farhaana. Maralyn Corwins speaks for the group.

”We tried to question the prophet, but he was still surprisingly able to resist despite being bound; we had to knock him out again before he could do any lasting damage. We went back to the site of the Pathfinder convoy and it seemed like the planar thinning subsided significantly—though why it happened in the first place is completely beyond me. What we did find was that partway through our investigation, a halfling woman shifted into the area. We were able to subdue her and interrogate her, but—and I couldn’t make this up if I tried—she began to melt into a black, shadowy liquid substance before we could get everything out of her. Apparently she works for a member of the Aspis that’s stationed in the country of Nidal. However, not only do I not know of any Aspis factions within the shadows of Nidal, but the halfling kept getting tripped up when we asked who she worked for—almost as if she couldn’t remember the name of her organization. It seems to me that her connection to the Consortium is tenuous at best. Before she...melted, we were able to recover this.”

Maralyn holds out a medical bracelet, exactly like the one the Prophet was wearing—save that this one reads “#311.”

"Excellent work, all," says Sir Hendric. "I am glad you all made it in one piece. We'll take back those loaned items now, but we may have need of you again."
So perhaps we should have sent the Scroll-Seekers on the Axe-Finders' mission and vice versa, but at least they're all alive. I will make sure to boost my Knowledge skills next time, although I hope we can also recruit either a bard or an Int-based caster.
And it seems like we have another clue on this Professor Kramolag in Nidal. We should see what Marcos Farabellus wants to do with this information.

Nox whispers.

The land of shadows. A dangerous place indeed.

He gives the others a rare appearance as he steps forward and shakes their hands, his hood low.

You have done well pathfinders. You may hear our call again... but for now, go home and rest. The Aspis are up to something, and we'll make sure we stop them.

With that, he disappears without a trace.

Gotta play up the theatre of it ya know.... the captains did it to us, might as well have some fun with our subordinates in turn. He whispers to Hendrix with a barely audible cackle.

”Now, then, I believe the time has come for you to be going.”

Once more, Farhaana has everyone joins hands while she says a magical incantation and teleports the group back to the isle of Kortos.

”Well, it’s been quite a time, Pathfinders. I honestly never thought I’d see the day when Pashow returned to its former glory,” The Mwangi woman wipes a tear from her eye before smiling at you all. ”Thank you, Pathfinders, for saving my home. Farewell.” With one final incantation, Farhaana vanishes.

”Good to see that you all have returned!” Marcos Farabellus approaches the group of Pathfinders from afar. ”It seems that you all have returned in one piece. Now, enlighten me to the current circumstances.”

The Master of Swords listens intently at the Seekers’ accounts of what has occurred in Thuvia. Marcos sighs. ”That is what I feared: this situation with the Aspis goes far deeper than I initially anticipated. Nuck Tuk, there seems to be a situation occurring within the Emerald Spire and we’ll need your assistance there. As for the rest of you, We’ll be needing your efforts in the months to come. Do not travel beyond Kortos, gentlemen. I will strive to find someone to be a suitable replacement for Nuck Tuk, but I cannot guarantee that I will find one before I must call upon you all once more. Until then, please make yourselves at home within the Grand Lodge.”

First Taste of Eternity: End of Part 1

Months had passed since the incident in Thuvia. You all wisely heeded the Master of Swords’s request to stay close to the Grand Lodge. As the days turned to weeks turned to months, it seemed as if Marcos would never call for your aid once more. The boredom of waiting was driving you mad when, finally, a missive from the Master of Swords arrive asking you all to meet in his office.

Marcos Farabellus paces thoughtfully for a moment before rapping his knuckles on his desk to call the meeting to order.

”Sometimes challenges force us to re-examine how we treat others, including old enemies. That’s a good thing, leading to growth and moments in which rising stars can distinguish themselves against dire odds.” He gives an appreciative bow before continuing. “I say this because we’re not alone in our
struggle against the Korholm Agenda; they’re even more a thorn. in the Aspis Consortium’s side than in our own. If we let those wounds fester, it will destroy us both. It’s jarring to work with the Aspis against a common foe, but their assistance might help us stop the Korholm Agenda before they could harm thousands more innocents.

“The Agenda was behind the recent events in Thuvia—again, well done on stopping that—and the Kernaug Group and you all unearthed records of one Professor Kramolag, a member of the Aspis Consortium who has been supplying the Agenda with her technical expertise. When I discussed these findings with my contact in the Consortium—Three Rings—he seemed unsettled by the development but promised to handle the matter personally and relay his findings after the fact.”

Farabellus smirks with chagrin. “We may be trying to mend some bridges with the Aspis, but I’m not so foolish to trust an Aspis higher-up at his word. I sent several agents to follow his team and observe from afar as they traveled to Nidal. Within a few hours, they had broken into an underground facility, left with bundles of strange relics, and set part of the nearby plantation on fire to hide their tracks. As you might guess, my Aspis contact politely informed me that the matter was resolved and that I didn’t need to worry about it anymore. Bullfeathers!”

The Master of Swords lets the affront sink in before reaching down and dumping a stack of papers on the desk. “What my contact neglected to mention is that they never found Professor Kramolag. Our own experts have tracked down where she’s hidden based on intercepted correspondence and questioned survivors of that Aspis raid. She’s set up a lab on a barren island west of Nidal known as Wingless Rock, and hopefully she still thinks she’s safe and hasn’t run off yet. We’ve also found she has one other intact secondary lab at the southern edge of the Uskwood, and there are still unanswered questions about the damaged site near the Mindspin Mountains.

“If Kramolag’s research is any indication, she’s armed, dangerous, and has been calling the shots for the past year. I’d like you to lead the expedition there, ensure she doesn’t remain a threat to the Society, and secure all other information you can on any other plans she’s set in motion already. I’ve gathered the teams you oversaw in Thuvia to provide you additional help, and I’m letting you call the shots on this Nidalese campaign. I recommend assigning one or two to check out the secondary sites, as it’s only a matter of time before the Consortium or the Agenda learns what we know and destroy any remaining evidence there.”
He straightens and concludes, ”Not every agent has what it takes to lead like you do. It isn’t easy, so I’m here in an advisory role until I have to attend to other business. Best of luck to you all. Now, are there any questions?”

I’m gonna pretend you all ask this question because you guys definitely won’t and I like this piece of dialog: Why aren’t you taking a more active role in this mission?
“My title earns me extra external scrutiny, and I don’t want to signal our intentions by setting off for Nidal. Instead, I’m working to keep up a public display of Aspis-Pathfinder hostility. In fact, I’m scheduled to punch a silver agent later this week.” Farabellus barks a short but emphatic laugh and cracks his knuckles. “Oh, the sacrifices I make.”

This Part has some dungeon-crawl elements, so to save some time I’d like you all to place yourselves in a standard marching order at the start of the google slides.

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Hidden in the shadows, Nox shudders.

Nidal. Dangerous place. The shadows never feel quite right there...

He appears and looks at the map incredulously.

Wingless rock is a dangerous place as well... Superstitions in Nidal are rarely just superstitions. Bad luck means we should be even more wary than we normally would be in such a hostile land.

Nox looks at the map for the other two locations.

What do we know about the other locations? Do we have any recon? I'd rather not send our subordinates in blind.

Géatan, following Hendric's suggestion have done some adjustement on his équipement. Will do modifications tonight.

Sir Hendric rolls his eyes. "This again? I was involved in that Cassomir business, you know." "The Devil You Know" series. "We can't trust the Aspis, as you so vividly point out. They've already tried to deceive you! But we may have to work alongside them, given that this Korholm Agenda group is meddling with dark powers that could tear the boundaries between the planes."

Sir Hendric, as you suspected, was not going to ask Marcos Farabellus why he isn't personally leading this mission.

"This Wirholt's Rictus has signs of occult research. I think the Kernaug Group is best suited to follow up on that. The Uskwood site - do we know anything about that? Do we know that there's even anything there work getting? If there's likely to be a fight, we can send the Axe-Fixers. If trickery or persuasion can get the agents in the door, then the Scroll-Seekers. But if there's no reason to risk it, we could bring both teams with us to the main facility at Wingless Rock."

When it is time for mission briefings, let's do our Knowledge buffs. Sir Hendric has loaned the Page of Spell Knowledge (Tears to Wine) to Kaldane.

As to marching order, Sir Hendric would like to be after Tortuga. He has a reach weapon, and his AC isn't as good as the monk's. If space allows, he will be riding.

Marcos ponders on his answer before responding.

”The Uskwood is best described as a dark version of the Verduran Forest; dark fey and shadowy beasts. And if Kramolag has any worth, then it’s likely that the site is very well protected from prying eyes. Unfortunately, we cannot afford a recon mission—if we take too long then the Aspis will do what they did at Wirholt’s Rictus to the Uskwood site.”

I figure we can use my batch of incense for the first one... I'm not sure I 100% understand how it works but since it has 3 "Doses" we should be able to get a take 20 for each of the checks. Nox should probably go first in marching order... if anything, 10 to 15 feet ahead. If I miss a trap, I'd rather it go off on me than the rest of the team get blasted for my mistake, and It's unlikely any baddies will see me.

Nox shakes his head.

We should not leave a stone unturned. I think that we should send the Axe-Fixers as backup to the scroll-seekers at the urskwood site. The Kernaug can handle a blade rather well, but I worry about the scroll-seekers.... and the axe fixers... really, I just worry about both of them.

Nox sighs.

But I will leave the final decision to you Leader.

Marcos sighs and rubs his chin.

”Pathfinding is a dangerous pastime, and what you and your teams are doing is more perilous than usual. That usually means casualties, and deaths are never easy.” He pauses in reflection for a moment. ”Trust me on that. The best you can do is convey your best advice, offer what material assistance you can, and make educated assumptions about who will excel at what. It doesn’t always work. Agents watch you and can tell when you’re confident or when you’re scared. It’s okay to show some vulnerability and emotion, but instill in them the spirit to persevere in the face of what terrors await. Leadership isn’t easy. It falls on each of us to determine how personally we take responsibility when the worst happens, and I trust you to know what’s right.”

"Since we have three locations and five total teams of Pathfinders, we should send two teams per location and take the third one ourselves. That way, the four groups will have ample backup to rely on to cover gaps in knowledge or capabilities; and having a group travel with us, would only make me feel bad if we dragged less experienced agents to their deaths."

So we should have a discussion about who is leading which briefing. I currently can produce decent skill checks, as I am taking the Ancestor spirit today, as well as the Wisdom of The Ages, which lets me add my cha mod to skills. My working bonus, with only my own bonuses from abilities, is a +25 to know (engineering and Geography), which includes a competence bonus and an unnamed bonus. Tears to Wine, ironically enough, would not work for me, since I'm making a cha based check.

Uh...where are you getting five? There's the Kernaug Group, the Scroll-Seekers, the Axe-Fixers, and you guys. That's only four. And even then your guys' mission is very clear: go to Wingless Rock. Meaning that there are only three teams whose missions are unaccounted for.

Before any brifing start, Géatan suggests that all the Pathfinders assist to a shared séance with him.

"Your words give me warm Marcos." Says Gaétan. "I have seen many dangers and no o... Yes, those are true words.

I will talk to them and lend them my wand of cure light wound. I remember the time we were so happy when we receive something from our mission givers."

Sorry, I thought we had 4 teams and us for some reason. NM then.

Would it increase the chance of success to send two teams on the same mission? If so, I guess send both the Axe-Fixers and Scroll-Seekers there. If not (like if their different styles would come into conflict), then I think we should send the Axe-Fixers to investigate the Uskwood site and bring the Scroll-Seekers with us. There's no reason to think they're in any less danger going to explore one of the other sites.
Remember, Marcos suggesting sending 'one or two to check out the secondary sites', implying that one or two teams should come with us to the primary site.
"Marcos, how do you suggest we get to Wingless Rock? Charter a ship? Wind Walk?"

It won’t increase chance of success; it’s the individual teams’ success that’s being tracked.

”I have a boat on standby for your journey to Wingless Rock.”

Tortuga has the ship vanity, so transportation is easily taken care of.

"I have a worthy vessel of my own. There is no rock in all the oceans that will frighten the crew of the Granite Helm."

"Now, if one of the teams has to come with us, then perhaps the Scroll Seekers might be best to come along with us."

My sheet should be updated now.

Marcos’s face turns a light shade of red with embarrassment.

”Oh...yes...my apologies, Tortuga, I had completely forgotten about the Granite Helm when preparing for this mission...

“Now, if there are no more questions then I ask that you all make haste to the docks so that you may head off to Nidal.”

"Do we know which aspis agent are in the region? And can we kill those on the Island? And Do we have additionnal information you didn't talk about? Or the identity of Three ring?"

(Also, Géatan buys additionnal Blunt arrow.)

The Master of Swords sighs.

”Three Rings is...a mystery. He—or she—is an Aspis who reached out to the Society of his own accord; the only identification we have of the man is his penchant for wearing three rings on one hand. Yes, he is indeed Aspis and should be trusted with a grain of salt, but he has proven himself knowledgeable in the actions of the Aspis Consortium and Korholm Agenda and has informed us in some of the Aspis’s and Agenda’s plots that may have gone under the Society’s radar—if memory serves, it was because of Three Rings that we learned of an auction in Druma that an Agenda agent was a part of and we sent Nox to take care of the situation.” He is referring to the events of 7-22 Bid for Alabastrine, Nox.

”Unfortunately, there isn’t any known Aspis division—or at least not one of considerable size—based within Nidal’s borders, save for Kramolag. Kramolag has some connection to the Aspis—the fact that that Prophet, an agent of Kramolag, knew of the Consortium’s plot to steal the Sun Orchid Elixir is evidence to that fact—and the fact that she wishes to undermine the Consortium’s schemes, among other evidence, leads us to believe that she’s not only a member of the Korholm Agenda, but that she’s calling the shots. The problem is that there is no known reference to any ‘Professor Kramolag’ among the Aspis’s ranks—likely because she has been going to great lengths to keep her name hidden.

“As for the Aspis that burned down Wirholt’s Rictus: it has been confirmed that the team included many members of the team that attacked the Grand Lodge and,” Marcos’s voice breaks momentarily before he regains his composure. ”And stole Aram Zey! However, the Aspis agents walked out with their arms and bags full, so there’s likely something they missed. Also, those reports of strange beasts mean that it’s unlikely anyone else has managed to break in since.

“Finally, Professor Kramolag has spent considerable resources researching otherworldly creatures and events, including the Astral Plane, teleportation mishaps, and cutting-edge alchemy. This is beyond the scope of one researcher, so she likely has capable assistants who know not to gossip. Go in prepared for the worst, and expect the unexpected.”

For any of you who don’t know, the Korholm Agenda is a splinter faction within the Consortium that seeks revenge against the Society for past slights against the Aspis when the Consortium’s leaders didn’t take action for said slights (such as the Hao Jin Tapestry business of Season 3), and the Agenda was truly behind the attack on the Grand Lodge.

EDIT: That was poorly worded; what I meant was that the Consortium’s leaders didn’t take action against the Society for slights made in the past and many Aspis agents wanted vengeance, forming the Korholm Agenda to take action against the Society when others wouldn’t. The Agenda is still loyal to the Consortium for the most part, but they are viewed by the Consortium as radical extremists.

"Géatan, would one of your seance rituals help us brief the teams we send out?"
From what you said, I'm guessing you mean to use the Trickster ritual the day we brief the teams. That seance boon would help our skills.

"We should equip the Kernaug Group for the Wirholt's Rictus mission, and tell them what we can. And if we're sending a group to the Uskwood site, same for them."
It looks like Kaldane can do one check for one mission. He doesn't have both skills for either mission, and he can't do one per mission since the briefings are supposed to happen simultaneously. Because his bonus so high and the site is so vital, I would suggest he do the second, harder, check for the Wirholt's Rictus mission.
Nox for Dungeoneering and Kaldane for Engineering to the Kernaug's group mission to Wirholt's Rictus.
Géatan can use Knowledge (Nature) and Sir Hendric can use Knowledge (Geography) for the Axe-Fixer's mission to the Uskwood. Sir Hendric can get UMD to +19 with his Knight's Pennon of Battle (Heroism), making him auto-succeed on wands. If he then uses a charge of Géatan's wand of Heightened Awareness, and the seance boon and the incense, he will have a 31 on the Knowledge check. That is 1 rank, +2 Int, +3 class skill (from seance boon), +1 seance boon, +2 Heightened Awareness, and +2 Heroism. For a 31.
How many people can benefit from a block of incense?
"I don't have much gear to lend them. My wand of Protection from Evil (32 charges) may be useful."

Nox begins to pull his host of items from his bag.

I will loan the one team my suite of arrows... Never know what you will find... the other team my Periapt of Health... Nidal can have dieses that have never been seen in thousands of years. We'll give the final team my eyes of the eagle... see what we can find. I don't think my mummer's ruff will come in handy this time around, though I've gotten out of a suprising number of situations by hiding, throwing my voice with it, and running. We'll see.

Totally fine if you say the ruff can't be used this time, but that's my line up otherwise. Now, if I understand my own bonuses correctly, I should be able to get 1 Rank, +4 Int, +3 Class Skill, +1 Séance Boon, +2 Heightened Awarness (I can also UMD) and +2 Heroism, with the incense for 33 on my check. And I think it's a GM call if we can all benefit from a dose or if we have to each take a dose, though each block does contain 3 doses.

I’m going to go with one dose per character; multiple people can’t benefit from the same dose of incense.

"I can offer one group a bottle of air, which I'm sure they'll make use of. I have wands that I can offer to the other groups." says Kaldane, offering up his Bottle of Air, and wands of Lead Blades and Magic Missiles.

I'm fine with our fearless leader's plan for providing the briefings.

@Nox, where are you getting Heroism from? Sir Hendric has a Knight's Pennon that can do it 1/day but it's a single-target spell.
Assuming Géatan can do the Trickster ritual on this day, then Sir Hendric will give a block of the Incense of Eidos to Géatan so Géatan can Take 20 on his Knowledge (Nature) check. Then Sir Hendric will use a block and do his Knowledge (Geography) check. Sir Hendric will have one use left of his incense.

Then after Nox and Kaldane do their check, we hop aboard Tortuga's Granite Helm and set sail!

While I do appreciate you all telling me what you’re doing with the briefings, I would prefer actual numbers—totals for your checks, gold piece totals for items given to each team, etc. It’s just easier for me if I know those things. Additionally, I would like you to say which team is going on the respective mission when you brief for the mission.

Ah, sorry, I thought you could use Heroism as a spell, my misunderstanding. So it'll just be 31 for me as well.

Nox whispers to Hendric.

I will prepare to brief one of the teams...

He breaks off a block of incense and retreats to the shadows to wait as he meditates, contemplating the arrows (GP Cost 2889) and the Periapt of Health (GP Cost 7500) and Eyes of the Eagle (GP Cost 2500). He breathes in the incense in the dark, considering all angles of what he is about to submit his subordinates to. He binds each into a bundle to give to each group in turn, and later, returns to Hendric as he assigns each team, ready to give his team all the knowledge he can.

[ooc]Nox will also buy and consume Clear EarI can afford the penalty to Charisma, I don't really use it anways. He will also activate the Heighten Perception wand (IOU one spellcast at somepoint Geaten. Also, if it's not to much of a pain, I think flavor wise it would be best if Hendric did the actual assigning... even if some of us others step in to give information and items, so let's get our subordinates in here and give them their mission![/url]

UMD: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32
Knowledge Dungeoneering: 20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 33

Okay, trying to put as many of the numbers as we can into one post.

Sir Hendric gives gear and information to the Axe-Fixers before sending them to the Uskwood. His Wand of Protection from Evil (480) to go with Nox's arrows (2889) and Kaldane's Bottle of Air (7250).
Total gear: 10,619.

Géatan can do a briefing check for the Axe-Fixers with the benefit of the Incense to Take 20. I think that means a Knowledge (Nature) total of 27, or 29 if he uses the Wand of Heightened Awareness. Géatan, do you want to figure that out?

Then Sir Hendric can do a briefing for the Axe-Fixers.
Knowlege (Geography): 20 + 11 = 31

"Find out what you can about the site. Don't take unnecessary risks; if you are outmatched, retreat and report."

The Kernaug group, going to Wirholt's Rictus, gets Nox's Periapt of Health (7500), Kaldane's Wand of Magic Missiles (750), and Kaldane's Wand of Lead Blades (705).
Total gear: 8,205.

Nox made his check (33). Kaldane will do his on Engineering. He can have my last use of Incense if he wants, but can probably get sky-high Knowledge with his class abilities.

I don't think we yet have a mission for the Scroll-Seekers. There is no benefit from sending two teams to one site. And remember that last time, missions popped up in the middle of the scenario. They can just say on the Granite Helm if not needed or if it is too risky.

Kaldane then spends a moment staring out the window to look at birds, followed by a quick council with a group of ghostly beings, who all concur with his assessment.

I'll take the last hit of incense, just to be sure.

As the incense wafts quietly throughout the room, Kaldane begins to give his full briefing: what to expect, what they'll need to look for, and even a suggested marching order; everyone seems to be on page with his briefing and engaged in what he is telling them. Much like Hendric, he finishes with "Work together, support each other, and do what you can to insure that everyone gets back in one piece...even if you can't complete the primary objective. Consider that an order."

with the incense, that's a 41 knowledge (engineering) check.

The Kernaug Group salute to the Seekers.

”Since the situation where that woman melted, we’ve been both disturbed and curious about what this Kramolag woman has been up to; try not to keep us in the dark if the situation allows. Let’s go, guys!”

The Group grabs their satchel of gear and heads off towards the boat.

The Axe-Fixers smile maniacally.

”Retreat? By Gorum’s codpiece, an enemy that forces us to retreat is an enemy we were never meant to face. ‘Fixers, let’s go!”

The warriors once more make a toast with their weapons and grabs their satchel of gear, heading off towards the ship.

I do still need Géatan’s geography result, but I’m just doing this so we can keep things moving along. Results in the discussion thread.

The boat travel to Nidal which is apparently pronounced NYE-dohl is overall uneventful—the only hold up of any significance was getting through Chelish customs at the Arch of Aroden. However, this is routinely handled by the Society so the procedure took little more than 90 minutes. The ship then skirted along the land, up Cheliax’s western shore past the Archduchy of Ravounel and towards the harbor city of Nisroch, where the Kernaug Group and Axe-Fixers disembark to go off on their respective missions. After a restocking in Nisroch, the ship travels to a peninsula just to the north of the harbor city. A few miles off the coast of this peninsula lies Wingless Rock.

Ahead, a resigned pile of blunt black rocks endures the thrashing sea. Its shore is irregular and inhospitable, which might matter if anything of interest stood upon the barren heap.

Wingless Rock is, simply put, a pathetic excuse for an island. It doesn’t rise higher than 20 feet above sea level and is about 100 feet across at its widest point. There is a severe lack of flora and fauna—this place is nothing more than an irregularly-shaped volcanic heap.

With little more than a couple minutes of searching, the Pathfinders find a not-too-well-hidden shack—little larger than a shed or outhouse—that’s squeezed between two slimy rocks. The Pathfinders also find numerous scuff marks on the western edge of the western shore.

Before given a second chance to think, the sound of cracked coughing sounds from the shack, as the sight of a woman in damp and yellowed linens emerges from the shack, in one hand she grasps a loaded light crossbow.

”The ‘ell ye all doing ‘ere?! This ‘ere’s me bloody island! Best git before me friend ‘ere,” She holds up her crossbow. ”Gives ye a kiss—less ye want a kiss from me cracked lips. Unfort’ately for ye, I’m not in the market fer either greasy ‘air or ugly. Ye’ve already taken lungfuls of me crack dust. Now git!”

Gaétan have a set also. So the roll is 20 +2 rank (from the Trickster lesser Power)+2 int +3 class Skill+1 spirit bonus+1 séance boon+2 héroism+2 heightened =34.

"Ok, my Little chicks! You didn't like your last mission?. That sad. This next mission should be better. There a laboratory, we need sniff into. His master is an ex-consortium, but hé should be There we think. He like occult thing. He is also liked to the story in Thuvia. Question?

He also Tell them information about the spécial nature if this place."

_---------

Survival: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (2) + 22 = 24

"Hi ma belle brune! I needed I think I need the autorisation of yours parents before testing your lips. he responds with a grin." I am Géatan, follower of Erastil and member of the pathfinder society! We are not here to cause trouble for you. We here because we have heard there a hidout of someone Who organised an attack on our organisation or my familly as I like to Say. We wish to stop him or her."

diplo: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

The woman gestures around the island.

"Do ye see any 'ideout? No? Because there ain't one! Now git before I start shootin'!"

"Cease your ridiculous threats woman, and tell us of the base you are protecting, then lead us there."

Kaldane pauses for just a hint of Dramatic effect, then says "NOW!"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (4) + 23 = 27

The resolute sound of a shriek comes from the woman. However, with steadfast resolve—as well as shaking knees—the woman stands her ground.

”Y-ye asked fer it. Taste iron!”

The woman shoots her crossbow, which hits Kaldane square in the chest—and with a satisfying ting the bolt bounces right off of Kaldane’s armor, not even leaving a mark.

The woman—completely dumbstruck—returns to her senses at the sight of the approaching aasimar, reloads her crossbow, and shoots—once more bouncing off of his armor. This proceeds for a time—shoot, ting, reload; shoot, ting, reload—until Kaldane stands face to face with the frightened woman, and a single word whispers itself from her mouth: ”Sh*te.”