[PFS]In Wrath's Shadow (Inactive)

Game Master Matthais777

Volsung unsheathes their rapier upon entering temple, and a stream of tiny iridescent bubbles pour out of the tip of the weapon. A mix of amusement and just a little embarrassment crosses their face.

It's a long story that involves gnomes.

Volsung moves about fifteen feet into the temple and stays on the lookout for possible enemies while the others enter and study the interior of ancient building.

Also moved on the map

Outside

"Yeah, I'm not your frontliner, Volsung. Shabbah is the better choice." Truddig tweaks the tip of the bow that stretches above his stout shoulder as if to emphasize the point.

Knowledge (dungeoneering) DC 26: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

He can't see anything in the damage that isn't obvious to everyone.

Inside

Truddig's eyes find the smashed statue quickly on entering the large temple room, and it doesn't take long for them to find the pool that quite obviously has held a copious quantity of blood at one point. He's already drawing his bow when his gaze rises up to see the monstrosity memorialized in and above the pool.

"In the name of all of the gods, what's that?!? Is that... Lissala?"

Alani will stick to the outside of the pillars, keeping an eye out, weapon loaded and ready, she will slowly make her way around to the other side of the room

moved her to where she is currently

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Bot walking Shabah inside.

As everyone walks inside....

Alani will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Truddig will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Volsung will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Toral will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Shabah will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Umberto will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

a haunting melody fills the air as Alani, and Toral eyes glaze over, and they begin to walk forward.

A second voice joins the chorus...

Umberto will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Shabah will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Truddig will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Volsung will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

This second voice doesn't seem to be as effective, but Truddig can't help but fall in love with the beautiful music. All of the clouded pathfinders begin to walk towards the great columns as two women, covered in feathers, stand tall on their columns, cooing their soft song down to the others...

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!

Truddig-Enchanted
Alani- Enchanted
Toral- Enchanted
Umberto
Shbah
Volsung
-----------------------------
Harpy 1
Harpy 2

Apologies - busy Sunday and a late Monday

Shabah lets their falchion fall to the ground, snatching up their sling instead and loosing a stone vaguely at the closer harpy.

Sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Their heavy-jawed snout twists in disgust at the shot, but all Shabah says is, "Mr. Ricci, Revered Dreamborn, do you know what will break the spell of their voice?"

Volsung sheathes their rapier Move Action and moves toward the harpies while drawing a light crossbow 2nd Move Action in place of my Standard Action.

My apologies Noble Shabah, my studies have been of a more esoteric nature.

Ironically, I just ran

I may. We need to kill those things. I'll get Alani. Umberto runs towards Alani protecting himself with divine power.

Fervor cast Divine Power. Move, move.

The two harpies launch themselves from their perches, swoop down, and attack Alani and Truddig.

Morningstar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Morningstar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Neither attack lands, as the harpies fly up towards the ceiling, all 3 enchanted warriors slowly stumble to stand underneath them, reaching up as if praying.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!

Truddig-Enchanted
Alani- Enchanted
Toral- Enchanted
Umberto
Shbah
Volsung
-----------------------------
Harpy 1
Harpy 2

Did the harpies continue singing when they attacked, or did they have to stop singing for a round while they attacked?

They continue singing, it functions much like bardsong in that it's basically free to keep singing.

Umberto shuffles over to Alina and hopes to break the enchantment.

Move and cast Protection from Evil of Alina. Alina gets another saving throw vs the Siren Song with a +2 resistance bonus.

I gather we're not worrying to much about exact initiative order so as to speed things along in a PBP setting.

As the singing continues, Volsung comments ...

Agreed Mighty Tankard Wielder, this is the music of nightmares.

Volsung loads their light crossbow Move Action and fires at the harpy flying above Truddig and Toral Standard Action

Crossbow To Hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Crossbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

After firing, Volsung takes a five foot step to the southwest.

Moved my icon on the map.

Reroll from umberto: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 2 = 19

Yup. In this particular fight, the harpies where delaying down to start their song at the same time once you all moved in, so that put them automatically at the bottom of the init order. Normally, I'll roll for everyone and put you on the list, though in that case some enemies may cut your place in line into "Batches" that resolve together.

Alani feels a jolt of magical energy through their body as the song of the harpies is shunted out!

After a quick look around, getting their bearings, Alani sees Volsung shoot at one of the harpies, but the arrows fly wide as the two bird women continue their song.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!

Truddig-Enchanted
Alani
Toral- Enchanted
Umberto
Shabah
Volsung
-----------------------------
Harpy 1
Harpy 2

will fire at blue

PB vs Touch: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d12 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

free action Reload with Alchemical Cartridge

Fast Musket Deed - treat as one handed, Rapid reload - one hand is movement, Alchemical Cartridge - treats as Free Action, with it being a free round action to reload would you allow the use of Rapid Shot?

"Excellent, Mr. Ricci!"

Shabah lends the weight of their own fire to Alani's fusilade - this time with a much more satisfying result!

Sling @ Blue: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

One of the harpies is hit repeatedly! The harpy in red flies down and strikes at the unmoving Toral! As she flies down, the blue one changes her tune, and the red seems to strike harder!

Mace: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Unfortunately, not hard enough as Toral bumbles in the wrong direction for the hit to connect as she flies back up!

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!

Toral- Enchanted
Truddig-Enchanted
Alani
Umberto
Shabah
Volsung
-----------------------------
Harpy 1
Harpy 2

Fires at Blue again

VS Touch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage: 1d12 ⇒ 10

and reloads

Sacs in the side of their throat swell in triumph as Shabah unleashes another stone in a measured, deadly rhythm.

Sling @ Blue (or Red if appropriate): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Volsung reloads and fires their crossbow (at Blue, if it is still up, otherwise at Red).

Crossbow To Hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Crossbow Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Watching their latest bolt go wide, Volsung sighs.

Apparently the Black Butterfly desires me to learn a lesson in humility.

Umberto lowers his trusty mace and tankard and draws his longbow for a shot on the harpies.

comp longbow, DF. on living harpy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

The blue harpy barely has time to scream as they are riddled with arrows, falling with a "CRASH!" to the floor.

The red one flies down to take another swipe...

mace: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

and finally deals a blow to Toral as she flies back up, who stumbles a bit under the blow but continues to stand and stare at the singing harpy.

PATHFINDERS FIGHT! THE BOLD MAY ACT!

Toral- Enchanted -6
Truddig-Enchanted
Alani
Umberto
Shabah
Volsung
-----------------------------
Harpy 1

Umberto fires another arrow at the flying Harpy.

longbow, DF: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Volsung utters a brief prayer to the Black Butterfly and fires their crossbow at the remaing harpy

Crossbow to Hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Potential Critcal

Confirmation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Additional Damage if Confirmed: 1d8 ⇒ 7

"You cannot honestly expect victory, beast. Is some paltry bloodshed worth your life?"

Sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Alani moves 5' and fires her musket at red

Vs Touch: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage: 1d12 ⇒ 4

and reloads her musket

Arrows, Bolts, Slings, and Guns, goodness what a pelting

After a barrage of attacks that leaves the harpy barely flying, she seems to take Shabah's suggestion and flies straight up and out the skylight at the top of temple, fleeing for her life.

PATHFINDERS WIN! VICTORY!

Toral slowly comes out of his trance.

"Ohh... that ... that was a truly amazing song! But, it hurt me? Me? That is outragous! Well, thanks to you all I seem to have only a minor wound. Let me use my wand! Cheap as hell ... I have to admit that but as a merchant you have to take value for money as a principle in life! And business luck!" Toral mumbles more to himself than to anybody else.

He uses his CLW wand on himself.

CLW 49/50 charges: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Volsung stows their crossbow and casts Detect Magic in order to examine the corpse and gear of the dead harpy, and after that, to conduct a general scan of this chamber.

Let's see if there is anything of magical interest about.

I think that it's possible to stand in the middle of the room and then everything is within the 60 ft. range of Detect Magic.

Umberto stows his bow and picks up his mace and tankard from the ground. I hate to spill beer. If I run into that harpy again, she'll pay for this. He waves his hand over the tankard and fills it with a full-bodied white wine, perfect for the day. Cheers. He takes a swig. Victory in battle, especially without loss, is to be celebrated.

Umberto pats a few of the team on the back and helps with clean up and searching.

Toral starts searching the area.
Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

Alani makes a mental note to capture one and put it at the front of the hull of her ship "there may be more then just the two of them, so just be careful" as she begins to search the room as well

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Truddig looks at his fellow dwarf. "That was beautiful, wasn't it? But... it's like I can't remember it at all. Just a memory of the purest joy I've ever heard...."

He joins the others in searching the room, but his search is obviously half-hearted and distracted as his mind keeps trying to remember the song.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

As the team draw's closer to the statue, they have a easy time scaling it (It's only a DC 10) and grabbing the object strapped to the tentacle of the statue.

The piece is made of hammered and etched gold. Threaded through either end are ribbons of red silk. The item is the brow and nose guard which covers the wearer’s forehead to just above the eyebrows and extends down to the nose. One could employ the silk ribbons to secure the
thing to one’s head. As everyone looks over it, you see that it is incomplete, catches and grooves suggest other pieces attach.

Volsung examines the item, trying to recall if they had ever dreamed about such a thing.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"Interesting. However, our mission beckons. There must be some sort of passage..."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Have we been into the side rooms in the course of our searches?

To the south, you find a side room. At the southeastern corner of this room is a gruesome statue of a man. He is bare chested; scars, brands, and seeping wounds cover his exposed flesh. He stands with arms crossed, hands gripped tightly like a penitent. Blood oozes from his lacerations and he grits his teeth as though in excruciating pain, though the corners of his mouth turn up slightly, suggesting he derives some wicked pleasure from this perversion of his flesh. A strange mask made of iron covers the statue’s face, the metal etched with complicated sigils. A broad belt made of leather and adorned with copper disks
girds the statue’s waist.

The Iron mask the statue wears seems to be a completed replica of the gold one you found.

To the North, you find a smashed open door. This small, irregularly-shaped room contains little more than debris from the smashed barrier, ages-old dust, and a shaft descending into the darkness.

Shabah looks speculatively at the statue and then at Volsung, "Perhaps this completed mask holds some power?"

Toral has little arcane knowledge. He decides to search the area with detect magic some more.

Perception : 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Other than the gold headpiece, ALL of the walls, floor, every block of stone radiates a faint aura of abjuration magic. Someone distilled protection magic into the very stones of this temple.

The mask on the statue is not magic, but the belt is.

”The belt is magical!“

Toral starts to approach the statue and greed is clearly visible on his face.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Unless Shabah spots a trap

Shabah is rather nonplussed by Toral's avarice, but leaving an enchanted item to molder in the dark is no better.

Volsung walks over to a point about 30 feet to the east of the large statue in the main room and looks down at the floor, speaking in their usual quiet, even voice.

Moved my avatar on the map.

May I suggest we lay out all the pieces on the floor here.

We have three items - the gold brow and nose guard, the iron mask, and the magical belt leather belt with its copper disks - correct?

They then look about the room and continue in the same tone.

From this point, I can examine the psychic significance of the items, the statue, and the center of the large rune on the floor and determine if a more detailed reading might be useful.

Skill checks to possibly understand the sigils on the mask.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
linguistics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Umberto contemplates their possible religious origin.
kn religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Umberto joins Volsung in their research. Not sure. Seems the mask pieces probably fit together. For what? I'm not sure.

Alani keeps back some keeping her finger ready at the moment

Sadly, you didn't spot the trap!

As Toral grabs the mask and belt, the statue's mouth opens wide, and a blast of super-heated air hits him.

Heat blast: 3d8 ⇒ (3, 1, 3) = 7

He feels his skin sizzle, but the statue stops after a moment. Luckily, they hadn't all crammed in the room, so only Toral is hit.

Volsung can't make head or tails of the runes... they are just to obscure. But, they can tell that the stone mask is clearly the completed version of the gold one. It implies that there are probably 2 or 3 other pieces to the gold version.

”Ahhhhrggh ... “ Toral shouts.

Clw wand : 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Toral gets up and heals himself.

Thank you for obtaining the mask. You are now well I trust, Master Toral?

With the three items laid out of the floor, Volsung steps back and their blue eyes briefly flash. They then stare intently at the belt for several seconds.

Cast Detect Psychic Significance with its 40 ft radius of effect.

Cast Detect Magic and concentrate for three rounds upon the belt.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19