PFS All for Immortality Hard Mode (Inactive)

Game Master KingTreyIII

Sorry, I always assume I restart "Message" whenever Nox creeps around, he's reporting this back in same time as he's seeing it.

@Nox - good, I missed that you had that wand. Okay, so we can buff while you are looking through - we'll just need to be close enough to catch you in the AOE for things like Prayer, Blessing Fervor, and Particulate Form.

Alright, give me the spells that you cast and the order in which you cast them.

You learn very quickly that a scout that can't report back is a pretty useless scout.

Sense motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Nox whispers back.

Boss, the target is moving, I've lost sight of him. I'm moving in.

Quietly and delicately as possible, Nox opens the door...

If Nox goes in now then it'll be before buffs have occurred.

"Negative, Nox; wait for spells."
More later.

Order of buffs:

Greater Heroism (CL 14) on Sir Hendric, while Suli drinks another Strong Jaw if the first one has worn off (or skips this if it still in effect). Suli, can Tortuga use a Strong Jaw potion?

Greater Heroism on another PC who might want it. Tortuga? Géatan?

Blessing of Fervor on the party
Prayer on the party
Particulate Form on the party
Communal Align Weapon (Good) on the party

All the while Nox is observing through the door.

Right before Nox opens the door, Sir Hendric uses Mr. Khayn's boots, activates Tactician (Coordinated Charge), mounts up, and draws the lance.

Yeah, the strong jaw definitely ran out.

Kaldane finishes casting greater heroism on Hendric when the sound of a blood-curdling scream echoes from beyond the massive silver doors!

"Nox, what do you see?"

I'm sorry, but this is a case where I have to object. No way would nox let the primary target out of sight for over half a minute. Nox would have absolutely followed, even if the party was still outside buffing.

Boss the target's leaving visual! We KNOW the boogey is nearby! I have to move in! We can't risk this!

Again, Nox tries to move in afterwards.

Do what you think best. I think it's a trick of some kind but I can't be sure.

And what would Hendric do in this situation?

Stick to the plan. Keep buffing.

Nox's Stealth might keep him safe, but if not, he's the one going off on his own and choosing to take this risk.

If he calls for help we'll of course have to come in after him and I guess we'll be in initiative at that point.

And everyone else?

Sir Hendric is Suli's boss :)

Sir Hendric is Suli's boss :)

Oh right, you’re not allowed to speak Because you know things.

Géatan? Tortuga? What’re you two going to be doing?

Though he doesn't have much buffing to do on his own, Tortuga holds back. He doesn't want to give up Nox until Nox reports that he's been spotted. He knows he has speed on his side if things go wrong.

If the buffing goes according to plan, Tortuga will cast a shield spell from his ioun stone. Other than that he has little to do.

Then it is decided.

Nox manages to open the door and sneak through, the screams of bloody murder crescendoing through the briefly open door as he does so. From how Nox was posting then he moves into right as the buffing started, so greater heroism on Hendric goes off and Nox sneaks in right then.

Assuming Kaldane casts greater heroism a second time: Kaldane manages to cast prayer when the terrified screams cease and the sound of whispering conversation comes from inside the room that Nox entered.

He mutters under his breath through the message spell.

Boss, Suliji and Target are both here... Suliji seems to be non-hostile? Proceed with caution.

"If she really is non-hostile, we can grapple her, remove her magic items, and then talk."
"Tortgua, Suli, can you do that? I don't want to kill unnecessarily, but I don't want to fall for a trick."
With the Blessing of Fervor active and your already high ACs, you guys probably won't get hit by an AOO even if you take one for trying a grapple.
Sir Hendric enters Snake Style.

Then Particulate Form from Kaldane, Tactician from Sir Hendric, and we enter the room and attack.

Sir Hendric adds through the Message, "She convinced a high priest of Abadar to turn to banditry. We are dealing with a master manipulator. "

A voice comes from inside the room.

”You guys are aware that I can hear you, right? Message isn’t as subtle as you guys think.”

Sorry, used to people not being able to detect my presence at all, let alone hear me. He's not wrong though you know. Like I said, lots of explanations needed.

”I believe you are correct, Nox—more than a little explanation is indeed required; it seems a misunderstanding has occurred. Come gentlemen, I wish you no harm; I simply wish to talk! Let us put down our blades and unite under a common foe—well, maybe not ‘put down our blades,’ we are in the belly of the beast, after all, and I’m sure we each understand the other’s caution in such a situation.”

"No. Attack! Subdue her! Nox, get out of there!"
Sir Hendric will not parley with her. He has signed a contract to bring her head on a pike (a contract he would only breach if, once subdued, she provides an exceedingly persuasive argument), he knows she is a master manipulator, he doesn't want to let her to stall for aid (or for our spells to run out), and he doesn't want to enter initiative while facing her as versus Khayn; he'd rather the combat start when we are around corners. That is just due to the ridiculous flat-footed mechanic, where you can decide to initiate combat and then find yourself totally unprepared for combat. Trying to trigger initiative while out of line of effect is weird and doesn't make much sense in-game but it's what we have to do after that first round vs Khayn.

”Hendric...I-I’m shocked. You are a barrister, are you not? I wish to explain my side of the story—isn’t that exactly what you do in your profession? I am not some demon-worshiping fanatic like Thurl or Tancred Desimire, nor am I a sadistic overlord like Runelord Krune, and I’m certainly not...”

And Hendric, let me remind you what the contract actually said.

Nox looks at her with a sigh.

He's a might touchy right now. You must understand... the security here IS rather impressive.

With a motion of his hand, he draws the shadows around him like a cloak, disappearing from sight.
Stealth: 1d20 + 55 ⇒ (8) + 55 = 63
Hendric, what part of the patron is here, unharmed are you not hearing? Something is going on here!

Nox's voice calls out to Hendric.

Ratarion is here, Alive, and Suliji had me dead to rights. She chose not to kill me, and I owe her at least the chance to listen to what's going on. Our contract is that we bring a Traitor's head on a pike... if Suliji isn't the traitor, we'll have blow this whole thing!

Though Ratarion can't see him, he can feel the glare from nox.

You might wanna speak up, and fast, or else you've have a VERY insistent knight on your tail with a VERY pointy lance.

Heh, ninja'd in pointing out the contract.

"She can explain it tied up, stripped of gear, in an Antimagic Field. Attack!"

That's the thing about gaining a reputation as a super-mastermind - at some point people stop even playing your game because they know they're going to lose. What is she, a bard? That would be cool, but it also means I wouldn't want to play her game.

Main rule for Hard Mode: never do what the enemy wants you to do.

I really want to roll initiative now.

Nox sighs deeply.

I'd very much consider it Suliji. He's a man of his word... he won't hurt you if you obey, but I'm an assassin, I can't stop him if he's determined.

”I-I’m just as authorized to be here as you all—which is to say not at all!” A clear amount of fear and frustration mixes in her voice. ”If Stichalto or Hightower come down that hallway with gods-know-what at their disposal then you’ll have just crippled your greatest ally! I’m not trying to be a Patron—I’m doing exactly what that self-righteous pr*ck Alexayn asked me to do from the very start! For gods’ sakes, I’m not your enemy—I’M THREE RINGS!!!”

Tears stream down Suliji’s face as she screams those last three words; when she does more than a dozen bladed weapons float up from their stands and point their tips towards the Pathfinders! Suliji opens her eyes and is horrified to see the floating swarm of blades in front of her! ”No no no no no! Stop stop stop stop STOP!” At that moment the dozens of floating blades clamber and clink onto the ground, lying motionless. And Before you ask: no, she did not cast a spell.

Sir Hendric is currently at +41 Sense Motive, +48 vs Bluff. Not that it matters. Even if she doesn't want to be our enemy, we have to stop her.
"We're being played. Take her down. Talk later."

She's just too good a manipulator. She doesn't have to lie to manipulate us. Selective truths could be enough to make us her puppets. I'm done with this. She's just too good at playing people.

Now can we roll initiative and get out of being flat-footed?

Géatan? Sulii? Tortuga? Care to weigh in?

Nox draws his bow and points them at the swords that are clambering around.

Damnit Henderic! You wanna take her down, you can get your own ass on your own high horse in here and do it, but I. Am. Not! There is something else going on in here, and I doubt it's good, and I NEED you to get in here and be ready to do battle before WHATEVER THE HELL THAT JUST WAS decides I'm a problem!

He stops for a moment and in a quick decision moves up to Suliji.

Suliji! Drop your sword! I'm next to you, I'll hold it. I swear that if you speak the truth I'll protect you, but I can't win a fight against my own team! Why where those swords flying, what's going on? Ratarion, I swear if you don't open your mouth and prove your not dead or mind controlled or something I'm going to shoot you in the leg to make sure!

As soon as we can roll initiative I'll be in there, Nox. Maybe I can throw a dagger into the room or something to trigger initiative without being in the line of fire. Is this transition handled any better in PF2? It is maddening.

Suli most definitely cannot weigh in. One, because he is taking orders from Sir Hendric. And two, because I cannot contribute to the progression of the story by my decisions. But, Hendric did give Suli an order so...

Suli moves over and opens the door.

" I want to listen to her for good sake!"

Hundreds, likely thousands of swords, knives, and other blades of nearly every size and curvature adorn this gallery, which includes both cases and stands as well as fireplaces and comfortable chairs, as if also serving as an ostentatious lounge. Edged weapons even comprise the frames of three chandeliers that cast cheery, magically sustained light throughout the hall.

Standing at the far end of the room sits an aristocratic Taldan man in a chair—the fine silks of his Snake-embroidered jacket rumpled and wrinkled.

As you all enter the man’s demeanor shifts from shaken to hopeful.

Standing next to Nox is a dark-skinned, female half-orc bedecked with a Mithral breastplate and an adamantine falcata in one hand—she undoes multiple metal straps and connections that seemed to have held her weapon in her gauntleted hand. She then drops the falcata into Nox’s tiny hands.

”There, not a weapon on me. Care to talk now? Or are you just going to execute me here and now with zero explanation?”

Going into initiative because I largely agree with Hendric on the flat-footed matter as well as to track duration rounds. This doesn’t mean that this is necessarily a combat if it doesn’t need to be. Gonna take initiative two at a time because who goes when is actually important.

PATHFINDERS GO! THE BOLD MAY ACT:

Round 1
=============
Suliji
Géatan
Nox
Tortuga
Hendric
Sulii
Kaldane
=============

"Hendrik, The contract says to bring a head, a traitor head even, it doesn't mean it must be dead." He says to Hendrik.

"Yeah, we know that you are three rings, you sent us into a goose chase against your ex-partners when they weren't useful enough."He says to three rings.

Tortuga would have stayed with Hendric to make sure the bulk of the group was close enough for safety.

Nox "oofs!" at the heavy weapon.

Oh good grief that's heavy... how do you wield this thing? Okay, we're all here, those explanations now please?

PATHFINDERS GO! THE BOLD MAY ACT:

Round 1
=============
Suliji
Géatan
Nox
Tortuga
Hendric
Sulii
Kaldane
=============

Tortuga enters the room a looks around for any hidden danger:

Perception: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (3) + 24 = 27

Sir Hendric also enters the room, moves up to Suliji, and looks around for any hidden dangers.
I think Blessing of Fervor is up - Sentry will use that for the movement boost, and Sir Hendric for Attacks/AC/Reflex.

Perception, Prayer, Greater Heroism: 1d20 + 34 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 34 + 1 + 4 = 52

I really want to attack her rather than get manipulated, but if Géatan and Nox want to talk, and the GM wants her to talk, then I don't want to wreck everybody else's fun.

"Suli, follow Tortuga's lead."

Tortuga and Hendric see nothing but swords, daggers, and other blades weapons.

Well, in that case, we’re out of initiative.

”Ahem. First off, that,” Suliji gestures towards the various blades that fell to the ground. ”Was an unfortunate side-effect of a significant emotional response coupled with my psionic capabilities; apologies, it tends to happen when I’m horrified for my life! Now then, where shall we begin? Ah yes, satiating my piqued curiosity: Why do you all think I’m here?”

Ratarion, amidst Suliji’s speech, looks the Pathfinders in the eye and mouths two words continuously:

Help me