GM Abraham's Legacy of the Stonelords [Retrocon] (Inactive)

Game Master Abraham Z.

True: I'm choosing Ectoplasmic.

CODE WHITE!
GMs, please check your scenario for the impact this has on the current fight.

1:18 Round 3

Conditions: Aura of Fury (auto effect all 20' around Thurismund; +2 to melee atks, -2 to AC); Raging Song/Inspired Rage (+2 morale Str & Con, +1 morale Will, –1 AC, no casting or other concentration-based actions, must declare whether accepting each round);
Begin Round 3
Blue Clockwork Soldier - 63 dmg; hypnotic stare (-3 atks, -4 Will); psychic inception; painful stare (1/2);
Roni - dmg; 2 temp negative levels; antitoxin (1:40); Lucky Number 4;
Red Nabasu Demon - 30 dmg; on fire; fire resistance -5 until round 5; Deeper Darkness; shaken;
Loxx - dmg; DR 2/-; Deadeye's Lore (6:05); Barkskin (2:05); Lucky Number 3; Shillelagh (1:19); Enlarged (1:21); Bull's Strength (1:22), Fatigued until round 12;
Fetch - dmg; Longstrider (6:05); torch & flint/steel in hand;
Troi - 5 dmg; 2 Mirror Images (1:23); Daylight;
Alaric - dmg; raging song (started round 1); ectoplasmic bonded manifestation (started round 2);
Thurismund - 41 dmg; 2 con dmg; Aura of Fury; ectoplasmic; DR 5/magic, 5/slashing;
Agate - dmg; 1 CON dmg; 1 DEX dmg; See Invisibility (1:30); Lucky Number 8; Ball Lightning (expires before Agate's turn round 8); Twilight Knife (expires before Agate's turn round 9);
Yellow Clockwork Soldier - 44 dmg;
Sindelle - dmg; 1 DEX dmg; Life Link (Agate, Troi, Loxx); Compel Alacrity trick;

As the battle rages throughout the throne room and the Pathfinders enjoy some success, the demons begin to lose heart. Code White: granting all enemy demons but Yealek-Vor the shaken condition.

Roni lets loose a blast of fire, targeting it behind the column where he believes that the demon is hiding.
Reflex DC 21, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 = 27

Sindelle takes a moment to heal herself.

The Nabasu demon emerges from behind the column, descending to the ground at the top of the stairs, as if to block the pathfinders ascent to the throne, and wiggles its eyebrows at the flame-crazed kineticist. A black ray shoots forth from its finger at Roni!
Ranged touch attack, shaken: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 2 = 26
temporary negative levels: 1d4 ⇒ 2 @Roni, you may enjoy two temporary negative levels.

Then the demon glares malevolently at the assembled pathfinders! Fortunately, some of the pathfinders cannot see in the dark! (Free action)

Reflex vs being on fire DC 22, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 2 = 15
The demon continues to blaze on fire, though it does not appear to be bothering it.
fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3 This still doesn't penetrate its fire resistance, but its fire resistance is reduced another 3 points. Due to Roni's 2 temp negative levels this further reduction only lasts for 3 rounds, so I've just added it to the reduction from before.

The bold may act. Loxx is at a convention and I would greatly appreciate it if one of you would be willing to bot him until he returns on Sunday.

It took 2 burn on the first round and 3 burn now- did you roll a save for it on its turn when it flew behind the pillar?

I do not have darkvision.

To Alaric, there is nothing now but the thing in front of him. A metal man; a metal man whose halbard spins expertly in his hands, a smile on his face as he brings the axe down through the Nirmathi rebel's back. A boy, barely a man. "C'mon merc; plenty more killing to be done here!" he cackles.

Alaric shortens the reach on his weapon, and launches the heavy steel fist into the man's face.

+1 cold iron dwarven dorn-dergar, PA: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
damage: 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

As the cold-forged dwarven weapon collides with the automaton's face, Alaric's memory distorts the physical world.

Making an extra attack with the ectoplasmic manifestation as a swift.

Slam, PA: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 10 - 2 = 15
damage: 2d6 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 + 4 = 13

Tendrils shape themselves out from the aether, and coalesce into a fist which attempts to punch the pseudo-golem in the gut. However, while humanoids have guts, clockwork creatures do not. The blow rings against the metal like a bell but without any ill-effects to the creature.

Darkvision and no reroll, so... ouch.

As the demon's attack saps her very soul, Agate directs one ball of lightning each to the demon and the clockwork creature.

Damage to nabasu if it fails reflex save: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 3) = 7
Damage to clockwork if it fails reflex save: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 1) = 8

Gritting her teeth, she also fires a crossbow bolt at the demon, sending the knife of force at it as well.

Ranged attack, Point-Blank Shot, level drain: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 23
Cold iron bolt, Point-Blank Shot: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Twilight Knife attack, using Int bonus, level drain: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 1 = 7
Twilight Knife damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Twilight Knife caster level check, level drain: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 1 = 23

Botting Loxx

Loxx, fatigued as he may be, does not take kindly to this metal opponent. He adjusts himself and slams into the metal beast with his quarterstaff.

Loxx Quarterstaff: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 13 - 2 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Loxx Quarterstaff: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 2 = 6
Damage: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Loxx Quarterstaff (Offhand): 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 - 2 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Does it have LoE and range to the leshy?

And... managed to overlook the note about spoilers until too late. Sorry.

Troi will attempt a re-roll (with GM stars)

Fort take 2: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 4 = 15

As the demon stares tauntingly and assaults Roni, Troi decides they need to strike back hard or else the battle might begin to slip away from them.

Actions are assuming the construct is still up: he'll five-foot closer and swing twice at it, using a swift to Stare at it first

Attack: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 11 - 1 = 25 for adamantine damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Painful stare? (high is yes): 1d100 ⇒ 28
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 1 = 25 for adamantine damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Painful stare? (high is yes): 1d100 ⇒ 58
extra Painful stare damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 = 7
Crit?: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 1 = 16 for more: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Roni doesn't have darkvision

Fetch lights up the torch.

1:18 Round 3->4

Conditions: Aura of Fury (auto effect all 20' around Thurismund; +2 to melee atks, -2 to AC); Raging Song/Inspired Rage (+2 morale Str & Con, +1 morale Will, –1 AC, no casting or other concentration-based actions, must declare whether accepting each round);
Sindelle - 5 dmg; 1 negative level?; 1 DEX dmg; Life Link (Agate, Troi, Loxx); Compel Alacrity trick;
Begin Round 4
Blue Clockwork Soldier - 63 dmg; hypnotic stare (-3 atks, -4 Will); psychic inception; painful stare (1/2);
Roni - dmg; 2 temp negative levels; 1 negative level?; antitoxin (1:40); Lucky Number 4;
Red Nabasu Demon - 38 dmg; on fire; fire resistance -10; Deeper Darkness; shaken; hypnotic stare (-3 atks, -4 Will); Painful stare 0/2 per round;
Loxx - dmg; DR 2/-; Deadeye's Lore (6:05); Barkskin (2:05); Lucky Number 3; Shillelagh (1:19); Enlarged (1:21); Bull's Strength (1:22), Fatigued until round 12;
Fetch - dmg; Longstrider (6:05); torch lit: 20' normal light;
Troi - dmg; 1 negative level; 2 Mirror Images (1:23); Daylight;
Alaric - dmg; raging song (started round 1); ectoplasmic bonded manifestation (started round 2);
Thurismund - 41 dmg; 2 con dmg; Aura of Fury; ectoplasmic; DR 5/magic, 5/slashing;
Agate - dmg; 1 CON dmg; 1 DEX dmg; 1 negative level; See Invisibility (1:30); Lucky Number 8; Ball Lightning (expires before Agate's turn round 8); Twilight Knife (expires before Agate's turn round 9);
Yellow Clockwork Soldier - 72 dmg;

@Roni, thanks for pointing that out. I did roll the damage for it being on fire the previous round but incorrectly thought that the 5 dmg I rolled did nothing because of its fire resistance (normally 10, but at that point 8 from round 1). Instead, it should have taken 2 more dmg that round (fire resistance reduced to 3), which means that the 3 dmg from the current round would reduce its fire resistance to 0 and cause it to take that 3 dmg. In short: its dmg total is increased by 5 and its fire resistance is now 0: a very humiliating situation for a demon, I'd say.

I'm going to say that Fetch lights his torch before resolving the attacks from those without darkvision, since you are all in a single initiative block.

Alaric is undisturbed by the Nabasu's glare and smashes the construct with his dorn-dergar. Its tough skin seems particularly resistant to his weapon, but he still makes very solid contact with his weapon. However, the creepy tendrils that have suddenly emerged from his torso do not manage to make contact.

Agate reels from the monstrous gaze of the creature and then sends her ball of lightning towards it.
Caster level check vs SR, 1 negative level: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 1 = 20
Nabasu Reflex, shaken: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 2 = 18
However, it merely laughs and seems entirely unperturbed by the globe of electricity.

Clockwork Soldier Reflex, metal body: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 - 4 = 4
The clockwork soldier is not so fortunate, as the lightning rips through it and its gears are finally overwhelmed as it collapses in a pile of sparks.

Agate then sends a crossbow bolt towards the demon, somehow managing to pierce its tough hide with cold iron. Her magical dagger of force does not manage to find its target. @Agate, you made your SR check for this spell, so you don't need to roll again for it in future rounds.

@Thurismund, thanks for botting Loxx. Since the Yellow construct was already destroyed by the time you took Loxx's turn, I'll say that he moves forward and takes a single attack with vital strike against the demon. However, using the first die roll as the attack, he misses.

@Thurismund,, and yes, Fetch is within the range and LoE of the gaze attack. And it looks like he should have darkvision. But he made the save, so its moot.

Troi also succumbs to the power of the Nabasu's gaze. He attempts to return the favor with his own hypnotic stare, as well as some magic malevolence of his own. Unfortunately, his spell seems to dissipate harmlessly. With the -1 from your negative level, you did not make the SR check.

Sindelle's life link heals Troi of his wounds.

Sindelle and Roni are up! (note that both of you took a negative level from the gaze attack last round unless you wish to use a reroll or other immediate action to negate)

Loxx's ab and damage wasn't correct, but a roll of 4 is likely to miss anyway - Loxx should have ab +18 atm with power attack, bull's strenght, furious focus and fatigue calculated in. Shillelagh raises dmg to 3d6. In the event that a total of 18+4 =22 (from Thurismund's botting's first roll) is enough to hit
dmg would be: 6d6 + 19 ⇒ (3, 3, 5, 2, 6, 6) + 19 = 44

math: bab +8, str +6, bull's strength +2, MW weapon +1, weapon focus +1, ioun stone +1, total +19, fatique -2 str = - 1 ab.
Dmg: shillelagh: 3d6, vital strike = total 6d6.
Static dmg: str +9, power attack +9, shillelagh +1
I was just about to bot Loxx myself but Thurismund was quicker :P Was just checking out his sheet and making sure the math was correct before he posted.

1:18 Round 3->4

Conditions: Aura of Fury (auto effect all 20' around Thurismund; +2 to melee atks, -2 to AC); Raging Song/Inspired Rage (+2 morale Str & Con, +1 morale Will, –1 AC, no casting or other concentration-based actions, must declare whether accepting each round);
Sindelle - 5 dmg; 1 negative level?; 1 DEX dmg; Life Link (Agate, Troi, Loxx); Compel Alacrity trick;
Begin Round 4
Blue Clockwork Soldier - 63 dmg; hypnotic stare (-3 atks, -4 Will); psychic inception; painful stare (1/2);
Roni - dmg; 2 temp negative levels; 1 negative level?; antitoxin (1:40); Lucky Number 4;
Red Nabasu Demon - 76 dmg; on fire; fire resistance -10; Deeper Darkness; shaken; hypnotic stare (-3 atks, -4 Will); Painful stare 1/2 per round;
Loxx - dmg; DR 2/-; Deadeye's Lore (6:05); Barkskin (2:05); Lucky Number 3; Shillelagh (1:19); Enlarged (1:21); Bull's Strength (1:22), Fatigued until round 12;
Fetch - dmg; Longstrider (6:05); torch lit: 20' normal light;
Troi - dmg; 1 negative level; 2 Mirror Images (1:23); Daylight;
Alaric - dmg; raging song (started round 1); ectoplasmic bonded manifestation (started round 2);
Thurismund - 41 dmg; 2 con dmg; Aura of Fury; ectoplasmic; DR 5/magic, 5/slashing;
Agate - dmg; 1 CON dmg; 1 DEX dmg; 1 negative level; See Invisibility (1:30); Lucky Number 8; Ball Lightning (expires before Agate's turn round 8); Twilight Knife (expires before Agate's turn round 9);
Yellow Clockwork Soldier - 72 dmg;

Thanks for catching that. 22 is *just* what you need. Unless...

I will use my folio reroll, I have no gm stars though so...

Fort: 1d20 ⇒ 20 well that's a pleasant surprise!

Sindelle weaves her hands in complicated patterns and forms words torn from the abyssal realm like the demon before her, causing two barbed chains to appear on either side of it, trying to sweep it to the ground!

Map slides says it's not flying so these are trip attempts. If it acctually is flying and the slide is wrong these will be attacks with the same to-hit. If the first one succeeds at a trip the second will just be an attack.

chain 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
chain 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

if either chain connects the demon needs a dc 17 will save or be shaken for 1d4 rounds (extending the duration of existing shaken stuff but the effects don't stack), and if the demon can't be tripped or is tripped by #1 and hit prone by #2, each chain does 1d6 slashing damage, no sr.

It is no longer flying.

Sindelle attempts to trip the creature with a pair of horrific chains she has summoned, but both somehow miss the demon.

Since Roni lacks darkvision, I think he didn't need to save?

Roni attempts to blast the creature despite having poor visibility.
Empowered Fire Blast: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 14 - 2 = 32
vs SR: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 18
20% miss chance, high is good: 1d100 ⇒ 21
dmg: 3d6 + 10 ⇒ (5, 2, 1) + 10 = 18 x 1.5 = 27

Ooh! Threatens crit! And barely avoids the miss chance XD
confirm: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 14 - 2 = 23
Vs touch, as always. It does have cover, and the caster level check vs SR is so-and-so, but if everything goes smoothly, there's an extra
crit dmg: 3d6 + 10 ⇒ (4, 4, 1) + 10 = 19 x1.5 = 28 dmg :D

Edit: Roni also moves to the side to avoid further gazes, should the creature still stand after the blast.

The strange device around the demon overlord’s neck pulses with angry green light, its vein-like circuitry illuminating the entire chamber. With a thunderous crack and a blinding flash, a wave of crackling energy bursts from the relic, freezing anything it touches in mid-stride. In the span of several heartbeats, the entire room is locked in stasis. As the combatants stand helpless, the room’s features slowly rebuild themselves as though decaying in reverse. Ghostly figures— dwarves, demons, duergar, and more—flit about the room at incredible speeds, sometimes slowing to speak to one another as if playing out brief scenes from an eclectic play. All the while, frozen Pathfinders and demons who were fighting only moments ago begin to wink out of existence. As the chamber reaches its pristine state, duergar apparitions appear fighting dwarven images, and a slain king rises from death to stand before a stone throne. The room brightens as illuminated torches fill once empty sconces, and the immobile Pathfinders begin to move once more.

The king glowers and shouts from his throne as his honor guard level halberds toward you. ”What is this? What devilish trick sullies the throne room of King Gutheran of Jormurdun? Where are the rest of my soldiers? Where are the duergar who invade my citadel?”

Briefly taken aback, Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine quickly recovers and asks, ”You are Gutheran the Bold?” The dwarf receives the question and sputters at the elf’s audaciousness. Shaine quickly bows and continues. “Your majesty, forgive our intrusion. Some sorcery has transposed our forms into an alternate configuration in temporal space, which is to say we are seeing your time, or you are seeing ours. I am Kreighton Shaine of the Pathfin—”

Angrily perplexed, the dwarven monarch cuts off the Master of Scrolls’s explanation. ”Speak sense, elf! By Torag’s knucklebones, can no one here tell me what in the seventh hell has happened?”

GMs, please move immediately on to Act 5. You do not need to wait for overseer announcements to move between parts of Act 5.

1:19 // Out of initiative //

Conditions: Aura of Fury (auto effect all 20' around Thurismund; +2 to melee atks, -2 to AC); Raging Song/Inspired Rage (+2 morale Str & Con, +1 morale Will, –1 AC, no casting or other concentration-based actions, must declare whether accepting each round);
Sindelle - 5 dmg; 1 DEX dmg; Life Link (Agate, Troi, Loxx); Compel Alacrity trick;
Roni - dmg; 2 temp negative levels; antitoxin (1:40); Lucky Number 4;
Loxx - dmg; DR 2/-; Deadeye's Lore (6:05); Barkskin (2:05); Lucky Number 3; Shillelagh (1:19); Enlarged (1:21); Bull's Strength (1:22), Fatigued until round 12;
Fetch - dmg; Longstrider (6:05); torch lit: 20' normal light;
Troi - dmg; 1 negative level; 2 Mirror Images (1:23); Daylight (2:08);
Alaric - dmg; raging song (started round 1); ectoplasmic bonded manifestation (started round 2);
Thurismund - 41 dmg; 2 con dmg; Aura of Fury; ectoplasmic; DR 5/magic, 5/slashing;
Agate - dmg; 1 CON dmg; 1 DEX dmg; 1 negative level; See Invisibility (1:30); Lucky Number 8; Ball Lightning (expires before Agate's turn round 8); Twilight Knife (expires before Agate's turn round 9);

Calling upon the luck of the gods, Sindelle somehow manages to elude the power of the Nabasu's gaze. She summons two barbed chains to attempt to trip the demon, but they both miss.

@Roni, sorry, something you said earlier caused me to just assume that you have darkvision and I didn't bother to check. That's correct, if you couldn't see when it activated its gaze attack you were immune to it.

Roni sends another blast of flame towards the Nabasu, one that would have been sufficient to kill him once and for all, but unfortunately the flames dissipate harmlessly. You missed the SR check by 1!

However, just before the Nabasu has a chance to wreak havoc upon the pathfinders, there is a great roar from the entire battlefield, as the very fabric of time appears to flicker. The Nabasu demon snarls hatefully as it seems to fade from view, "Don't think you can escape me so easily, pathfin----!" and then it is gone, along with the rest of the demon horde. Something - you don't really know what - has clearly happened and time itself seems to be acting rather wibbly-wobbly, or even, dare I say it, timey-wimey.

Please be sure to read the Overseer post just above to have a (somewhat) better understanding of what is going on.

A variety of buffs and status conditions have now expired (or will before the next thing happens). I've struck them through in the status block above so you can take note of them.

As a side note: I'm sorry if I slowed us down too much - I know it can be a bit unsatisfying to not get to kill the enemy yourselves. Hopefully you can make up for it in the next section! Incidentally, it was very good play to disrupt his spell casting the first round. He was casting Mass Hold Person (DC 21 Will) which would have hit all of you. Also, I'm a bit disappointed we didn't get a chance to continue on with this section - after you had killed him you would have had a choice: either stay at the same level or try to push on up the stairs. If the former, I either get to repeat the same encounter (boring) or give you the tier 5-6 encounter x2 (which would have meant 2 Babau demons and 2 Clockwork soldiers). But if you had opted for pushing up the stairs, you get the next tier encounter (i.e. 10-11), which in this case is a CR 13 encounter (2 clockwork mages - the same wand nodule construct you fought at the door - and a Hezrou demon.

Returning to your ?present? situation:

The stout, middle-aged dwarf wears a simple crown of iron on his balding pate and stands before a throne made of the same blackened metal. An honor guard of six armor-clad warriors wielding blood-spattered halberds crowd him protectively. He looks at you and barks, “Has the Dweller Below chewed off your tongue? Begin making sense!”

Troi stands (a bit more slumped and queasy than normal) as the demons around them seem to vanish and be replaced by a series of dwarves. Is the ‘king’ speaking in Common or Dwarven? Rest of post will assume common: if Dwarven he’ll ask Agate to translate.

You're King Gutheran? Of the Jormurdan Gutheran’s? The aasimar looks confused for a moment. Then a smile comes over his face and he removes his dark glasses to look the monarch eye to eye.

Apolgies your Magesty. We mean no offense, or to be bleeding in your fine hall, but looks like some magic has thrown things out of wack. You see, me and my crew here are Pathfinders: guild, goes about exploring, taking notes, preserving history and heralding stories. You may have heard of us. Or, well maybe not.

He looks towards Shaine and then back at the dwarves. You may want to sit back down on your throne for this one - see we’re from 4719. AR. Where we’re from, Jormurdan isn’t quite still as magnificent as it is now. But we felt that was a tragedy! He adds quickly. So when our guild rediscovered it, we came here to take notes, try to discover its history, you know: all the things that could help your legacy be preserved and spread. But when we got here there were duergar about, and then demons, and archiving turned into fighting and then...

Troi trails off, realizing he has no answers here Well something happened and either we’re back when you are or you’re up where we are. But either way, don’t want any trouble. You said duergar are attacking you ‘now’, right? Well great: we’ve got experience with that. We can fight them off together while we figure out what’s up!

Diplomacy to try and calm Gutheran: 1d20 + 26 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 26 - 1 = 31

He then turns to Shaine and whispers nervously. Seriously though: Hells is going on? Is this some Jeremy Bearimy magic whatever?

The king is speaking in Dwarven, of a perhaps somewhat archaic variety, but Agate has no difficulty understanding it or translating for Troi, whose words seem to mollify the ancient monarch.

“Very well. It seems circumstances have brought me the enemy of my enemy. You have come at a difficult time. The duergar have breached our defenses, and despite our bravest efforts, they are winning Jormurdun. I have sent my heirs from this dying place to forge a new future for our people, that they might one day return and claim these halls as their own. Some have stayed behind out of duty or out of love for their homes. I do not know if the duergar or some worse threat still plagues the citadel. Slay my enemies, but spare my people; they are the only legacy left to Jormurdun. If a dwarf should trouble you, inform them that you travel with King Gutheran’s blessing.”

Kreighton Shaine looks up from his writing and says, “Thank you, your majesty. Pathfinders, I’ve studied our surroundings and can conclude that whatever has shifted our place in time is unstable and cannot last. We have perhaps an hour—maybe two—before it collapses, and when that happens, I think it wise that we not be inside. Make your way back to the Grand Cathedral in a timely fashion. But…” he trails off while gazing at the beautiful throne room. “We can’t ignore this splendid opportunity to explore Jormurdun as it was thousands of years ago! Retrace the steps you took to get here, see what has changed, and document what you see. I’ve been able to record brief instructions based on what I have already learned of your earlier discoveries. Be wise, be brave, and make haste!”

You may also elect to take an alternate route back if you wish to visit other districts, though you may be at a disadvantage for not having visited those sites earlier.

One of the other side effects of the time shift is that some of the PCs’ expended powers and class abilities are once again available as though they had not been expended for the day. Each PC can choose two of the following benefits, and the same benefit can be selected twice to double its effects.
• Recover one or more spells whose total levels are equal to your character level.
• Regain one daily use of a class feature. If you would normally be able to use the feature five or more times in one day, instead regain two uses.
• Heal 1d2 points of damage to all ability scores.
• Heal 1d8 hit points. Add your character level to the
number of hit points recovered.
Despite the time shift and scattering of Pathfinder agents, all Aid Tokens continue to function normally.

Let me know where you would like to go first. Two votes gets it.

Agate would like to heal her ability damage and recover spells. Does this use her usual level or take the level drain into account?

Agate votes for the Seer's District.

Sindelle surprisingly doesn't speak dwarven so she can only look pretty while Troi does the heavy lifting (automatic aid-another with a +16) and marvels at the sudden changes!

Wow! Time travel!! Sindelle will recover 2 uses of channel energy since she can use it more than 5 times per day and also will recover one 3rd level spell slot and three 1st level spell slots!

Knowing how important this whole experience might be to Agate, Sindelle votes with her dwarven companion for the Seer's district!

Let me know if we can use healing wands on ourselves or not, GM. If Alaric is still suffering con damage Sindelle will take care of that for him as well as top herself off with hp. thanks!

So, if we're in the past, would seer's visions of the future just show...us?

Troi struggles a bit with the implications of being in the past, but is eager to try and head to the Seer's District to figure it out.

Fine with recovering some spells, and some uses of Mesmerist Tricks

Eh... I can accept 9 burn per day. Does that count as a class feature that I can use five or more times per day? If yes, I'll recover 4 burn. If not, eh, literally none of the other options do anything so Roni just skips them. Roni would vote for the Monument District because it's the closest and on the route to the seer's district? Don't see a point in deliberately skipping it.

Agate would like to heal her ability damage and recover spells. Does this use her usual level or take the level drain into account?

Agate votes for the Seer's District.

We'll say your usual level.

Let me know if we can use healing wands on ourselves or not, GM. If Alaric is still suffering con damage Sindelle will take care of that for him as well as top herself off with hp. thanks!

Yes, you have time to use wands, potions, etc. It will take you 15 minutes to travel to the Seer's district.

Eh... I can accept 9 burn per day. Does that count as a class feature that I can use five or more times per day? If yes, I'll recover 4 burn.

Sure, I would consider that a class feature.

1:40 // Out of initiative //

Conditions: Aura of Fury (auto effect all 20' around Thurismund; +2 to melee atks, -2 to AC); Raging Song/Inspired Rage (+2 morale Str & Con, +1 morale Will, –1 AC, no casting or other concentration-based actions, must declare whether accepting each round);

Sindelle - 5 dmg; 1 DEX dmg; Life Link (Agate, Troi, Loxx); Compel Alacrity trick;
Roni - dmg; 2 temp negative levels; antitoxin (1:40); Lucky Number 4;
Loxx - dmg; DR 2/-; Deadeye's Lore (6:05); Barkskin (2:05); Lucky Number 3;
Fetch - dmg; Longstrider (6:05); torch lit: 20' normal light;
Troi - dmg; 1 negative level; Daylight (2:08);
Alaric - dmg;
Thurismund - 41 dmg; 2 con dmg; Aura of Fury; ectoplasmic; DR 5/magic, 5/slashing;
Agate - dmg; 1 negative level; See Invisibility (1:30); Lucky Number 8;

After a few minutes of discussion with the King and Kreighton Shaine, the group decides to return to the Seer's District. In addition to the expired buffs I noted in my previous post, Roni's antitoxin and Agate's See Invisibility have now expired.

Feel free to note your uses of the time shift benefit if you haven't already, as well as any other healing or buffing you wish to do.

The pathfinders soon find themselves back in a room that looks very familiar, and yet... different. A large two-tier platform with a rectangular stone altar and four braziers filled with burning coals dominates this chamber. A narrow channel runs red with oily liquid, twisting in strange patterns. The platform is flanked by six statues of demonic mien that reach out with wicked claws.

Four hooded dwarves in dingy brown robes linger near the altar, and one acknowledges the PCs when they enter the chamber. She lowers her hood, revealing a very old female dwarf. She extends one hand in welcome and speaks. “Strange travelers visit our shrine, perhaps seeking the wisdom of the Vision Unveiled in these troubled times. I am the chief augur of its mysteries. What draws you here?”

Agate will recover Scorching Ray, See Invisibility, and Lightning Bolt.

Agate is too excited at the opportunity to speak to practicioners of a lost art to hold back. "I'm a student of divination myself," she says, "but this form is completely new to me! What can you tell me about it?"

Agate is at -2 for all the interpersonal skills, but if there's some way she can ingratiate herself with shop talk, she'll try that.

Sindelle will use her clw wand on herself and also re-cast Deathwatch during the traveling.

clw: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5
(47 charges left)

Sindelle will try to join Agate in the discussion if the dwarves speak any of her languages, Common (Taldane), Celestial*, Abyssal*, Infernal, Kellesh, Tien, Elven, Orc, Sylvan, Halit, Polyglot.

"I am also a seer, but the force that grants me sight also takes a price in return." She looks at the wicked statues and tries to hide a sly grin that might be misinterpreted in a place like this. "We are drawn here in pursuit of knowledge, so that those in the future might not forget the legacy of the past."

Sindelle will help Agate get her ideas across if a diplomacy/social check is needed, or if it's more talking shop she'll roll to aid another for Agate.

Assuming the dwarves speak common. If not, Roni just speaks Veeeery Slooowly like an idiot and makes lots of wild gestures with his hands, which probably doesn't help.

"Last time we were here, we saw an arrangement of small tiles. There were four by four... Sixteen of them. There was a red square in upper right corner and a yellow square at the lower left corner. All other tiles were half red, half yellow, and arranged so that red and yellow edges weren't touching? Would you happen to know anything about those?"

assist in diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

1:40 // Out of initiative //

Conditions: Aura of Fury (auto effect all 20' around Thurismund; +2 to melee atks, -2 to AC); Raging Song/Inspired Rage (+2 morale Str & Con, +1 morale Will, –1 AC, no casting or other concentration-based actions, must declare whether accepting each round);

Sindelle - dmg; 1 DEX dmg; Life Link (Agate, Troi, Loxx); Compel Alacrity trick; Deathwatch (2:40);
Roni - dmg; 2 temp negative levels; Lucky Number 4;
Loxx - dmg; DR 2/-; Deadeye's Lore (6:05); Barkskin (2:05); Lucky Number 3;
Fetch - dmg; Longstrider (6:05); torch lit: 20' normal light;
Troi - dmg; 1 negative level; Daylight (2:08);
Alaric - dmg;
Thurismund - 41 dmg; 2 con dmg; Aura of Fury; ectoplasmic; DR 5/magic, 5/slashing;
Agate - dmg; 1 negative level; Lucky Number 8;

She listens to Agate's introduction with interest, clearly intrigued to be meeting a dwarf such as herself who is yet clearly so different. "Your accent is strange, outlander, and your fashion, yet you are not one of those hated duergar, that much is clear. I am Holugi, chief augur of this shrine of the Vision Unveiled. Perhaps I can assist you and your comrades, yet first I must judge whether you are worthy. Step forward, that I may know you better!"

She gazes keenly and deeply into Agate's eyes, clearly seeking something. After a few moments, she leans back and takes a deep breath. "Aye, there is much in you that is good and worthy of encouragement. Yet, I must advise you, by the blessings of Torag, take care to put others' needs ahead of your own!"

She then leads Agate to the altar, where there are 16 brightly colored tiles and a small silver hourglass. "The way one arrays the tiles speaks volumes about one's character and motivations, and before we augurs leave this shrine forever, we intend to place the tiles in a way that will honor Torag and his family. If your comrades wish to aid you," - she glances at Roni, whose curiosity about the tiles she has noted - "they may help in word but not in deed." Holugi then flips the hourglass over. "So, then, O student of divination, place the tiles as you wish!"

@All, you can see the Seers' puzzle here and you should be able to comment directly on the slide (and please put puzzle solving comments there, and RP comments here). However, only Agate will have the ability to edit (i.e. move) the tiles.

@Agate, please send me your email (my email address is abezab at gmail dot com) and I will give you the ability to edit the slide.

Good luck! May the blessings of Torag aid you!

I've now shared direct edit access with Agate's player. You have 24 hours to attempt to solve the puzzle. (This is following the guidance of the other GMs in the discussion group for how to adapt this to PbP. In real life you would have 4 minutes).

I sort of remember the basic shape from here but I don't want to rely on my memory if there's a rule about stuff from this. Should we make a roll to see how well our characters recall or just go with what we remember ourselves?

Agate steps up to the altar, looks at her partial sketch, and tries to recall what happened before the vapor-induced confusion. No red touching yellow, didn't someone say that?

I think they made a couple of 'U's. Troi calls out, though for the moment that's about the extent of what he remembers.

Hey, Alaric, didn't your spirit bud get a solid look at them? He remember anything?

I sort of remember the basic shape from here but I don't want to rely on my memory if there's a rule about stuff from this. Should we make a roll to see how well our characters recall or just go with what we remember ourselves?

You can use what you remember. That’s why I told you at the time that you could make notes but not copy the slide.

Sindelle nods when Troi speaks. "I remember that too, two U shapes joined back to back in the middle like the shape of anvil. I also definitely remember a dark line going from the upper-left down to the lower-right, but I don't remember which color was where..."

"Yes... Red and yellow sides weren't touching. The red and yellow squares are in the corners, and formed sort of... pillars that were towards each other."

I'll try to give a more accurate description in the comments

Can those tiles be rotated?

"I agree with Sindelle. I didn't give it much thought ealier, but I think all the dark lines were parallel, and the lighter lines too with each other."

Loxx will regain 2 uses of growth and all his expended spells.

Can those tiles be rotated?

yes

Agate nods as she listens to the others, then sets about placing the tiles. She pauses once or twice to turn one this way and that, but quickly has them all arranged. "That's what I recall, I think."

Looking to the other characters for confirmation, not the GM yet. :-)

Looks good to me! Troi yells encouragingly. Think it’s either hat or the inverse, so trust your gut!

2:05 // Out of initiative //

Conditions: Aura of Fury (auto effect all 20' around Thurismund; +2 to melee atks, -2 to AC); Raging Song/Inspired Rage (+2 morale Str & Con, +1 morale Will, –1 AC, no casting or other concentration-based actions, must declare whether accepting each round);

Sindelle - dmg; Life Link (Agate, Troi, Loxx); Compel Alacrity trick; Deathwatch (2:40);
Roni - dmg; 2 temp negative levels; Lucky Number 4;
Loxx - dmg; DR 2/-; Deadeye's Lore (6:05); Barkskin (2:05); Lucky Number 3;
Fetch - dmg; Longstrider (6:05); torch lit: 20' normal light;
Troi - dmg; 1 negative level; Daylight (2:08);
Alaric - dmg; Protection from Evil (2:12);
Thurismund - 41 dmg; 2 con dmg; Aura of Fury; ectoplasmic; DR 5/magic, 5/slashing;
Agate - dmg; Lucky Number 8;

When the sand in the hourglass runs out, the chief augur steps up and examines the tiles to read their meaning. Her face breaks into a smile - clearly an unfamiliar position for her weathered visage - and she congratulates you on your understanding of the proper ritual forms. "Torag is pleased, I am sure of it. If you wish, we will share with you knowledge of our cult, and, moreover, I see that some of you are injured - I will do what I can to assist you." She looks at Agate and mutters and weaves her hands and Agate soon finds herself feeling much better. She cast Restoration, removing Agate's negative level. She also waves her hands over Sindelle, who finds that her minor dexterity damage has been healed. She cast Lesser Restoration, removing Sindelle's 1 dex dmg. Finally, she casts once again, this time upon which party member: 1d6 ⇒ 5 Alaric, bestowing Protection From Evil on him (12 minutes duration). She looks apologetically at Roni and Troi and says, "I'm afraid I cannot also help you with your afflictions today, but if you come back tomorrow I will be happy to help you." Unfortunately, despite her status as the chief augur of the shrine and her knowledge of powerful divination magic, she does not appear to understand that by the time "tomorrow" arrives, the entire temporal bubble that you currently inhabit will surely have collapsed, making it highly unlikely that you and she will meet again...

For exactly matching the puzzle, you earn two successes.

The group continues its journey back to the throne room, while also investigating the sites previously visited. A journey of just a few minutes brings them back to a familiar cavern. Loxx, Barkskin has now expired

This large cave’s condition is strangely similar to that witnessed three millennia later: dirt and stony debris lie scattered across the floor along with discarded scrolls, bits of bone, and several jawless skulls. Crouched over the seven natural pools on all fours are seven humanoid figures clad in dusty, rust-colored robes. The seven sway back and forth in unison muttering an inaudible mantra. They continue their chanting ritual, seemingly oblivious to your presence.

Loxx will cast another extended barkskin on himself.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

"Does anyone understand what they say?"

Agate thanks the chief augur profusely and uses every additional minute the party can spare with her asking about their lost divination practices and chattering about the modern forms of the art.

In the throne room, she strains to listen to what the figures are muttering...

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

...but can't quite make it out.

Two things; First Thurismund is going to try and heal ability damage.

Ability Damage Restoration: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Then we are going to regain two rounds of Raging Song.

Second: Because of my position as a backup GM, I'm going to be shutting my pie-hole.

Alaric, busy healing Thurismund of his wounds, does not pay much attention to such trivial things. Tiles, or the color thereof, are of little interest to him.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Edit:Good thing things moved on since I last loaded the page. Also, Thurismund is completely healed.

But soon the Pathfinders move on, and Alaric is left wondering why the dwarven woman touched him so. But once back in the cavern where Thurismund was ambushed, he listens in at the words spoken.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7

He frowns. The words are almost unintelligible to him. "Thurismund. What is said?"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Thurismund shrugs. "Who knows. At least it's not fey-talk" he grumbles.

Great work everyone!!

Sindelle also bends her ear trying to figure out what these sounds are...

Pereption: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

She whispers to the others, especially Agate, "Chanting, in the dwarven tongue...I forgot to replenish my scrolls that let me comprehend other tongues, but maybe you can make sense of it?"

The aasimar will direct Agate to where the sounds are coming from, if possible.