Cwethan's Siege of the Diamond City (Retrocon! Tier 7-8) (Inactive)

Game Master Cwethan

Just had a thought. We could give them the potions of longstrider to help them get back faster.

That sounds reasonable. At least one more in favor, or two opposed?

I don’t think they need potions to get back but we do have 6. I am definitely keeping one for an emergency. Also I will cast detect magic on the group and will continue to concentrate on it if any auras show up.

“I hope you don’t take offense to a magic sweep, but it’s better to be safe than sorry.”

"You even have spare horses! Do you not want us to get back in the fight?!"

"Well, if this man gaves us the horses as I asked for..." is thinking the archer.

He told to the others: Yes, we can give them the potion of longstrider. We can't give them the horses. We need them to carry on further. Then perhaps we will need them to transport something.

Well that's a relief. After those Aspis by the docks it's probably best to just scan everyone.

"Sir, Styfis is correct. You can walk just fine but others might not be so lucky. Please understand."

Okay, I've got a Kargen and a Styfis vote for potions over horses, so I'll proceed with that

Heading east towards the next closest group, you have a couple of moments where you have to steer your caravan of horses into the scant cover afforded by the lands around Nerosyan to avoid an uncomfortable number of aerial demons, but after a while you find yourself near Jorsal's second marker.

You see six humanoids resting scattered around a small campsite. As you arrive one of them, a woman bearing the symbol of Desna next to her Wayfinder gives you a lazy wave hello.

What do you do?

The archer arrives and sees... a campsite. There is war and these guys are going to play cards and cooking sausages on fire. That's a joke.

Hi, ok what are you doing here? Someone's waiting for you in Nerosyan. There is a battle against demons, don't you know?

The Desnan nods along seriously. "Of course we do, but you can't just keep fighting forever. Eventually you've gotta take a break. You should join us for a rest."

In an other time, under an other sky he would have ask where was the camera. On Golarion he simply tells:

OK, now you got the rest you're talking about. Now you've to get up and go back to Nerosyan, to go back to the battle. The future of the nation is in your hands. Come on, for the liberty !

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

"Absolutely, just, you know, in a little bit. We're not ready yet."

Well...

And what are you waiting for? The summer?

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

A good dice worthless...

As I did before, I will cast detect magic and sweep them and then the area.

“Its important to get your rest, but first you should report in. If you are tired then we do have horses you should take.”

Spellcraft of 25.

Well I can see why you would want to rest here, the scenery is rather ENCHANTING.

What gave off the enchantment aura?

They did

Alexandra turns to Kargen and whispers to him so the other group can’t hear.

Something is wrong here. I think they are under some enchantment spell.

Sense Motive (heroism): 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 15 + 2 = 21

Kargen looks at Alexandra questioningly. "You sure?" He looks back to the campsite. "They seem ok to me. I mean, lazy, but I've seen that before with some Pathfinders." He focuses on the group and tries to see their inner selves.

Detect Evil on them.

AM I sure? Well I thought the men at the docks were enchanted. Maybe I want to tell myself that magic is to blame when people disappoint me. I don't know what is wrong with them, or even if I can fix it.

"I'm...positive something is up. While I'm not sure of the spell but I do sense an enchantment on them. It might not be possible to convince them to leave."

A large corpse of a demon crashes to the ground with a thud next to Kargen.

"Take it's stuff... you look like you could use it more than I."

Another Seeker Aid token from Cugel Marat.

"What? We're going to leave, just, you know, when we're ready."

And why aren't you ready right now?

To the other member of the party:

Otherwise we can take them on our horses with us. They won't fight against it. Otherwise, if it's something magical, I can cast a dispel magic.

"Let's go now! We've risked our lives to get out there to retrieve you! Any moment a demon could be coming and slaughter you lay-abouts!" He kicks dirt into the fire.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 2 = 33

"Great FLAMING EXCUSES! Your friends and ALLIES NEED YOU NOW! GET OFF YOUR DUFF AND LET'S FIGHT HORNY DEMONS, PEOPLE!" El Garrapata thunders!

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Dax looks around at those assembled. "You truly think this serves our cause? You disappoint. I expected more of Pathfinders. I expected more of humans. You disappoint. We of the blue fight for you, you cower in fear? I have not time to spend on this. Should you find your nerve, you will find us at the front. Should you not... may the god you serve have mercy on you for neither Pharasma nor Abadar will." The gnome's head shakes, and with that at least Dax departs for the next stop, whether the others come with or not.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

“You can dispel magical effects Styfis? Color me impressed. If I’m correct then talking to them will not work. If you dispel the effect that would be awesome, otherwise...umm...oh yeah! Hey Big Blue, if we can’t get the magic off them, could you pick up a bunch of grown men and strap them to our spare horses?

That would be fun to watch.

El Garrapata grins. "I would BE HAPPY TO HELP TRANSPORT HEROES TO THE BATTLE!"

""We of the Blue" I think I love this phrase, Dax!

The Desnan grouses as she begins to stand, but as she thinks more and more about what she's doing the light begins to come back on in her eyes. "Fffiiine. We'll start heading back. We can-...Wow, we do really have to get back. We can't just stay here! Okay everyone up and at 'em! Get a move on!"

***

As you at last come to the farthest marker on Jorsal's map, you don't see anyone waiting for you...

If someone passes the Perception

Perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

I would spend a minute to look around the area so that I could take 20 on my perception, but that would only give me a 22.

“I can’t see anything. Maybe they moved back to the camp on their own.”

Where are they? They must be OK!

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Where ARE THE CRUSADERS? Did we miss them?" Garrapata looks around, but cannot see any sign of them.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30

The remains leap to Dax's eyes immediately. Perceptions are easy when your eyes are unclouded by prejudice or concern. "They are dead. Something... something slew them without concern. Their bodies are in many pieces. Be concerned and be ready for what comes."

Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"These were the Pathfinders." The small head shakes. "Were we too slow, or were they dead to begin with?"

OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT
Despite the Demons attempting to take control once again and arriving in greater numbers, the host of Pathfinders is battering them back as quickly as they arrive. The Pathfinders are delivering victories at an astonishing rate, particularly in the Confluence and Outer districts!

Kargen shakes his head. "Damn, no telling what happened." He looks around. "Ok, try to gather up anything you can find. Maybe it's enough to identify who they were."

Perception: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 2 = 23

"Let's get back to the others."

At the very least, gaining the knowledge that there is no more help to be found, or more Pathfinders to rescue will help the Venture-Captain in making the many difficult decisions ahead.

Where to next?

Alexandra's eyes go blank as she remembers claws ripping her side and removing her arm. Fear, pain, more pain, blackness. She pulls out her pocket watch and opens and closes it repeatedly as she fiddles with it in her hand. She had wanted to come here last and these people might have died because of it. She chokes up as she opens and closes her mouth as if to say something before giving up, turning away, and getting back on her horse.

Alexandra would not have anything to say on the matter of where we go next.

[ooc] I'll take out of character votes too :-p
Forgot to mention, but the different districts are all green (aka in good shape). Also, you could head back and get some support from HQ if you'd like!

Are those benefits per character? Regaining spells is pretty valuable and it seems like we're not needed immediately.

I don't need anything, so it's entirely up to the group if we do support. I'd favor more work in Confluence, if there are other encounters.

On second thought, I'd like to head back to HQ to get a spell slot back and then head to the Battle District.

On the walk back Alexandra starts to mumble to herself before speaking up to repeat her question.

Can we head back for a moment. I...could really use a coffee

Yep, each character gets to choose one of those benefits. It sounds like people are at least interested, so let's go for it! Aside from that we've got a tie at 1 for Confluence and one for Battle - anyone ready to break it?

Kargen uses his rod of extend metamagic to cast See Invisibility before heading back to HQ.

Let's go to Battle and see what's there.

Okay, so please do indicate what Support benefit you've chosen in your next post, but otherwise: continuing on...

As you move through the Battle District a huddled group of citizens comes into sight, eyeing a horribly mangled corpse at the front entrance of a large storehouse. One of the citizens approaches you as you draw near.

“Please, we need your help! This crusader was taking us into a safe house for protection from the demons, but he was slain by a trap! We know we’re in danger out here on the street, but none of us are willing to go inside for fear of what else might be in there! And even if we go somewhere else, there may be other crusaders that try to shepherd people this way. Could you lot go inside and do a sweep?"

Oil of align weapon (good) for me!

El Garrapata nods and rushes inside where angels dare to tread!

Oh so it’s a dome house? Oh right ‘angels’.

Anyway, I’ll take a second level spell slot recharge and before we go into the house I’ll cast Ward the Faithful and Mage Armor if they are down.

Averting her gaze from the body, Alexandra thinks up a strategy as she casts a few spells.

“OK, we can case the house and see if we can cut off escape routes and find the best place to enter. Then secure it room by room to isolate...where is Big Blue? Oh.”

She then runs in after him.

Well as I don't really need anything I will take the magical healing to be full again.

Well I cast Heightened Awareness during Alexandra's casting time.

Seeing El Garrapata and Alexandra rushes into the house, where it was said there were traps, the archer thinks the worst. So he takes his bow and casts a spell.

I cast Shield.

Remarkably (and mercifully for face to face versions of this special) this section of the city looks a lot like where you fought that ooze. You all have been placed outside the building. Except El G. EDIT And Alexandra

Mage Armor and ward had fallen off, there's still a little time left on Heroism

As El Garrapata bursts across the threshold, the concerns of the citizens quickly become manifest! They scatter throughout the streets as in a flash of light and stale rank sweat awful creatures appear!

They are goat-headed humanoids covered in a mangy gray hide that only partly covers its gaunt but muscled frame. They gnaw manically on the tips of their halberds as they lunge to the attack!

Kargen's in front of a window; Dax is in front of the door.
The Bold may Go
Dax
Alexandra
Styfis - Shield
Goat-Demons
El Garrapata
Kargen