[Outpost II] GM Brandingopportunity's #10-15 Tapestry's Trial (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master Branding Opportunity

Lens cranes his neck around as he pantomimes an exaggerated search for hidden creatures following the group.

But we already have a Zwei!

Speaking of which, Zwei looks for hiding places to continue his sneaking about.

Stealth: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (18) + 31 = 49

The eidolon got the "feeling" about someone following you before you passed through the portal.

The far side of the portal is a seemingly barren wasteland between different parts of Axis several hundred feet from the golden wall that forms the boundary of the Empty Court. In the distance you can see other neighborhoods of Axis, but they seem to have shrunk back from Aroden's former realm, withdrawn their borders as if to avoid whatever befell the God of Mankind.

The golden wall of the Empty Court (easily several hundred feet in height) has a single gate that is being guarded by two massive inevitables. They each have three legs with bodies like three torsos fused together. These torsos are topped by a single head bearing three faces, each set in a bland serene expression. Each inevitable carries two large golden halberds.

know planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Barnette looks at the 2 guards and raises an eyebrow.

"These 2 look menacing... Do you think we can just walk past like we are meant to be here?"

He looks up at the wall, then says "Well it looks like there is only 1 way in, shall we?

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"I guess there's only one way to find out, but I must say they may find us more trusting if someone wasn't constantly hiding from their companions or the law! You know, it's a lot easier, as a healer, to keep everyone alive if people aren't constantly and deliberately trying to hide from you." Ruby's patience for Zwei's games of hide and seek are starting to test her patience.

Nevertheless, she understands the mission and tries to move forward as such. She will approach the inevitables non-threateningly.

"Hello. We have traveled from Golarion in search of a sorceress by the name of Hao Jin. Esfir at the Guesthouse of the Cage informed us that she could be found at the Empty Court and helped us to navigate the portals of the city. Can we assume we are in the right place? We wish to enter to speak with Hao Jin herself."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

knowledge (olanes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Kn Planes: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

As the party approaches the gates, Kramac identifies the creatures standing guard.

They are like the police men of this realm - as long as we do not cause trouble, Kramac suspects they will let us pass.

Hearing Ruby's frustration with Zwei,

Do not worry Ruby! I'm sure as soon as he has need for your healing his desire to hide will evaporate quite thoroughly! Or if it doesn't, well Kramac suspects our companion will do a rather poor job hiding when he is lying on the ground in a pool of his own blood. Kramac just hopes you can make it to him before he bleeds out! But, Kramac suspects it will not come to that. Come! Let us continue our search for the famed Hao Jin!

Approaching the guardians,

We pledge to start no trouble within your walls - we merely seek a meeting.

Kramac will auto assist whoever has the highest Diplomacy bonus on their roll.

Lens is going to do something else.

We come as representatives of Abadar… thrice-blessed be his name! Lens examines the strange creatures with unabashed curiosity.

You are a police-thing? He adjusts the feather in his hat as he considers. Your senses must be extraordinary.

He turns to his fellow Pathfinders. A demonstration. With so many powerful beings in the vicinity, perhaps skulking about isn't so wise. Futile at best; misunderstood at worst. A little louder, he continues: You see, I'll never be able to find you, Zwei… I concede that you a master of stealth! You've won! Ha, ha, ha! In a normal voice, he continues: But I posit that the beings we're to deal with in this place can see you, Zwei… and that they see you right now. He whispers: And if we're being followed by a third party, perhaps these Monitors can be put to good use…

He turns back to the monitor. As a representative of Abadar (thrice-blessed be his name), of middling standing with the Eternal City, I request that you inform me as to how many humanoids you saw pass through the portal yonder, and how many you discern right now. It is a matter pertinent to our task, which is one involving the rescue of beings trapped in an unraveling demiplane. I suspect there is one halfling hidden nearby — and possibly another being. Can you confirm for me, please?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 27 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 27 - 2 = 44

As a player I want to accommodate the sneak around playstyle, especially if the player has invested heavily in the skill (Lens is often hiding in images/objects, himself, I get it), but would prefer the player work with everyone to make it happen in a way that is fun for everyone and not potentially damaging to the diplomatic nature of our mission. I worry that the beings we'll be dealing with in social encounters are very powerful and will be able to spot Zwei easily, meaning he's effectively only hiding from his own team. Maybe sneak around, but come out into the open for social encounters as a sign of good faith? Just a suggestion!

While I understand the idea that sneaking around is suspicious, we are not dealing with humanoid npcs. We are dealing with just barely not-constructs who are the epitome of law (i.e. logic to the extreme). Suspicious is more of an emotional classification. Sneaking around is not illegal, as far as I'm aware. Because it is not illegal, and Zwei has done nothing else illegal, I do not see how Zwei's sneaking could hurt social encounters with supremely logical beings. That said, if it turns out that I am hindering the group in some way, I will cease the hindering.

As a side note not directed at anyone, but intended as preemptive (as I have heard the argument a number of times now). The Cooperate in Explore, Report, Cooperate does not mean I have to play the way that any of you want me to. It means that I have to play in such a way that is beneficial to the group and does not actively (or intentionally) hinder the group's progress. I have a few characters that some people have found off-putting in some way, but aforementioned characters have never hindered and have always helped in their own way.

If you find yourself being frustrated that I am not playing the game the way you want me to, I encourage you to really delve into that and understand that is is very unfair that you are putting that on other players. As I am sure that it has been put on you before, surely you can agree with this sentiment. I endeavor not to begrudge other players for enjoying the game their way and I'd ask that you do the same for me.

All of that said..

Zwei finds a suitably close nook in which to hide and observe this interaction. Probably around 50ft away.

It is amusing how frustrated they get until they come face to face with the benefit of what I do. The law does not prevent all wrongdoing. Asmodeus, I rest my case.

I do not see how Zwei's sneaking could hurt social encounters with supremely logical beings. That said, if it turns out that I am hindering the group in some way, I will cease the hindering.

Your assumption here is that every being we'll be dealing with is going to be supremely logical. Further, if it looks like someone is trying to hide, it's logical to assume they have bad intentions in regards to the law. This might certainly hurt diplomatic efforts. Ultimately while I disagree with you here, it's somewhat subjective territory and up to the GM.

Overall, I want us all to succeed at this mission. I want to be communicative about any concerns, so we can all have a good time and enjoy playing our characters.

The Cooperate in Explore, Report, Cooperate does not mean I have to play the way that any of you want me to.

Totally. This is why I tried to address the issue in character, the way Lens would; others here also addressed it in character. I tried to frame my words above with the goal of accommodating your play style while getting everyone on the same page here. Part of "cooperating" might also be saying Hey guys. This is my character's shtick. I want to let you know ahead of time, and maybe we can work together to make it awesome. That's a great place to start, particularly if you enjoy the "cooperation" aspect of Society play!

Also please note that this doesn't mean players in character have no right to be frustrated with your own character's actions. It makes total sense that fellow PCs might be frustrated with Zwei right now. They have a right to roleplay their characters, too, and your PC's actions have consequences in the roleplay-centric portion of the game, within the bounds of PFS.

That said, if it turns out that I am hindering the group in some way, I will cease the hindering.

Thank you. If it turns out that hiding is deleterious during social encounters, please stop doing it.

Totally. This is why I tried to address the issue in character, the way Lens would; others here also addressed it in character.

Which is exactly how I was choosing to address the situation. As a character, Ruby finds it insulting. She has a very deep-seated notion of what a Varisian caravan should be, and as a Varisian Pilgrim, she takes her duties very seriously. To her, a caravan bond is something very serious and powerful to her, and she's taking a formal responsibility to keep everyone in the party safe (also the reason why she was last to enter the portal). She understands the nature of a stealthy character (she has two sisters with levels in rogue) but equates someone who is hiding *all* the time as someone who is making her job more difficult, i.e. not cooperating. Her dialogue was her way of expressing frustration that she's having a hard time keeping track of a party member. Zwei has said all of one word so far (and it wasn't directed at anybody in the party), and while he was polite for the prayer, distinctly seemed perturbed by the Harrow reading. This is why Ruby is getting upset about it. She doesn't expect you to change; this is just her way of expressing her frustration with the character themselves. She has a legitimate concern that, on the plane of law, a creature skulking about and trying to remain hidden would reflect poorly on the group. And, since she doesn't have any ranks in an applicable Knowledge skill, hasn't attempted any Sense Motive rolls, nor has she been to Axis before, she is not deducing that these creatures are devoid of emotion and do not fathom the concept of 'suspicion'.

As a player, it feels like you're being... lazy? You haven't contributed any dialogue and have spent all of your rolls in Stealth specifically aimed at your own party, with the exception of one Knowledge Local roll, in which you were the only person who rolled it, rolled high enough to meet the DC to gain information, and then didn't share with the party any information you learned. If we were sitting at a table, I would most likely just not pay attention to you or your character because you're not trying to interact with any other players through dialogue or roleplaying (and the only part that would upset me is making the Kn:L roll and not sharing the information learned). To reiterate, I still wouldn't expect you to change your playstyle, and I make no expectations of how you should play your character at a table. I just ask that you also have the awareness to understand how your play style can be perceived, potentially having an effect on the gameplay session as a whole (especially if you're not providing any character flavor to other players).

Nobody is going to try to tell you how to play a character, but if you think you're cooperating thus far, I'm going to tell you that's wrong, and in my opinion, only cooperating in combat doesn't really fit the spirit of Society. Again, that's my gripe as a player; the justifications for my character are separate, and I was choosing to handle the situation *in character*. If I were playing a different character, you would be getting a different in-character response (and not necessarily an agitated one).

Finally, if we wish to have further discussions around this topic, I would request we do so in the Discussion tab and not here. Let's try to preserve this thread for gameplay and in-character conversations.

Barnette waits patiently to see how this situation unfolds before stepping in, his hand on his chin thinking to himself.

Interesting move Lens, not how I would have played it, I prefer to keep an ace up my sleeve. If we had acted like we didn't know he was there we could have had plausible deniability if he did something wrong, and if any pursuers were more focused on us, he could have been a nasty surprise. Still, this is an interesting move.

As there was nothing to hide behind...

Zwei follows the group silently.

You walk through the deserted scrubland toward the massive golden gate that leads to the Empty Court. Once you are about 100 feet away, the inevitables seemingly come to life, shifting from parade rest to a more active stance, and heft their massive halberds, pointing them at the group.

"Halt, humanoids!" they command with amplified voices, "Pause your approach and relay the reason for your presence here. The Empty Court is off-limits to all unauthorized individuals."

"Hello, We're here on a matter of live and death for thousands of innocent people! We need to urgently speak to Hao Jin, also known as the Ruby Phoenix. She is last known to be performing research in the Empty Court as a guest of the axiomites."

Assisting in Diplomacy, Assuming Barnette is doing the main roll
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31

From earlier, when I approached the guards.

"Hello. We have traveled from Golarion in search of a sorceress by the name of Hao Jin. Esfir at the Guesthouse of the Cage informed us that she could be found at the Empty Court and helped us to navigate the portals of the city. Can we assume we are in the right place? We wish to enter to speak with Hao Jin herself."

Diplomacy roll of 18

The two two inevitables consult with one another for a moment upon hearing your request. Still on guard, the rightmost axial monitor turns to you and proclaims:

"Please maintain calmness and remain in your current position and make no further perambulations in our direction. An appropriate representative is being summoned."

Approximately 15 minutes later there is a short flash of light at the transportation portal, and a small flying orb appears and begins flying toward you at high speed. Once it comes closer, you can see that it is about a foot in diameter with a large central eye that his a triangular pupil, two small decorative wings, and long, delicate arms: an arbiter inevitable, the messengers and minor functionaries of Axis.

It slows down as it approaches and makes a complex gesture with its hands that could be interpreted as a greeting.

"Greetings, mortals. This one is classified Eleven-Sun-Truth and represents the one classified Hao Jin in all matters before her Tribunal. I have been informed that you have business with said individual but must inform you that the one you seek is not accessible on orders of the Godmind itself. How else may this one be of service?"

knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Aquila tries to copy the greeting.

"Greetings Eleven-Sun-Truth, this one is classified as Aquila Audax. Indeed we need to speak to Hao Jin, as her creation is breaking down and this threatens to end thousands of innocent lives. What is a Tribunal?"

Diplomacy (assist?): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31

Eleven-Sun-Truth ignores the question about the Tribunal and moves a bit closer to Aquila. "Pardon this one's ignorance, but which creation are you speaking of and why are lives at stake because of this?"

Eleven-Sun-Truth ignores the question about the Tribunal and moves a bit closer to Aquila. "Pardon my ignorance, but which creation are you speaking of and why are lives at stake because of this?"

"The demiplane known as the Hao Jin Tapistry is breaking down and many of its inhabitants are unwilling to leave. If the demiplane collapses all inside will perish! Look, here we've got these notes dealing with the current magical state."

know planes: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Barnette looks surprised to hear that the Godmind is involved and lets his companions know briefly about it before interjecting

Eleven-Sun-Truth, I am Barnette, we are pathfinders and have travelled from the material plane to find Hao Jin to ask for her assistance with the issue that my college Aquila here has mentioned.

Praytell, could you tell us more about this tribunal and why the Godmind has forbidden access to hao Jin at this time?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 34 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 34 - 2 = 45

The arbiter considers the requests presented before him for a few seconds before responding.

"On a matter of dimensional stability, I believe it would be best if you speak to they who is classified Hao Jin personally. Please follow me."

Eleven-Sun-Truth flies out ahead of you toward the axial monitors and talks with them briefly. As you are heading toward the gate, one of the guards reaches over and touches the massive golden gate in the enormously tall golden wall. The surface of the gate begins to shimmer and then a small, human-sized portal appears as the substance of the gate boils away.

The arbiter flies ahead through the opening.

Barnette & Lark follow

Aquila and Garra follow

Zwei follows with furrowed brow.

Eleven-Sun-Truth leads you through the small portal and into what looks to be an abandoned city. As you pass beneath the shadow of the gate, the arbiter remarks "Please stay close as this one conveys you to the correct address. The Empty Court is a lawless realm with differing factions all vying ceaselessly for its control. This one should be able to take you to Hao Jin by a secure route, but please do not deviate from it."

You travel through streets choked with rubble and between collapsing buildings. Far in the distance the sound of battle can be heard and occasionally a devil or angel can be seen flying far overhead, speeding in the direction of the battle.

"I can't believe it. Hao Jin is really here!"

Ruby follows the rest of the group. She seems to be in awe at the current situation.

"There is an enemy casting spells somewhere on us," Zwei whispers before he finds hiding spots to follow the group from.

Stealth: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (3) + 31 = 34

Barnette and Lark both keep a watchful eye out for the sign of pursuers or other threats.

Barnette perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Lark perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27

both have see invis active and have had it since we stepped through the portal incase that matters.

Neither Barnette or Lark see anyone other than the arbiter and your party members, and detect no one nearby, visible or otherwise.

Geees that Zwei guy is super paranoid, always hiding from something, he's probably scared of his own shadow

my in-character reaction to not seeing anything after Zwei's comment :P also just thought i would make reference again to the see invis as there had a been a few posts since then. So all good if I dont see anything. :)

Kramac has also been targeted by spells. We should be wary- someone is very interested in our activities here. Perhaps Zwei's paranoia is not so uncalled for.

Let us make haste to Hao Jin and complete our mission before whatever wicked creature is watching us is able to interfere.

We're being watched, let's see if I can spot anything weird.

Aquila will activate his eagle senses and look around.

Perception: 1d20 + 34 ⇒ (14) + 34 = 48

Ah, there's Zwei... I still don't know what a tribunal is. Should I warn Zwei he's not properly hidden?

Aquila crows like a rooster.

Hmmm, maybe we should have agreed upon a signal first. He probably doesn't know what I mean by that. We're actually going to see Hao Jin. How cool is that!

Ruby, trailing towards the back of the group, observes the conversations and observations of hostile spells.

"Hmm, could this be the work of The Liar? It would seem this unknown force is beginning to show itself...."

Eleven-Sun-Truth looks around, seemingly a bit alarmed.

"What? There are people casting spells? This one did not detect any such activity!"

Anyone want to do anything else to deal with the spellcasting?

Could I detect magic in a sweeping arc around us?

Nothing detects as magic other than what you already know is magical.

Ruby has Detect Magic, and in case it can help, I would like to roll Spellcraft to pick up any residual effects and Knowledge Arcana to possibly have an idea of what's going on.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Whatever magic was used did not work. Good Eleven-Sun-Truth, how much farther until we arrive at Hao Jin?

The arbiter looks around warily and then motions for you all to follow. "A short while only. Not more than 2500 hecuns."

About 20 minutes later you arrive at a large, circular multi-storied building that is falling apart that is built into the side of a hill. The structure’s outer walls bear faded murals of Aroden’s life: his mortal life as a blacksmith, his leading of the Azlanti survivors from the ruins of Earthfall, his planar travels, his raising of the Starstone and creating Absalom, his battle with the wizard Tar-Baphon, and more.

"Here we are," says Elven-Sun-Truth. "The Amphitheater of the Last Azlanti. The one designated Hoa Jin is known to be living inside."

Eleven-Sun-Truth leads you through a large open passageway that passes beneath the outside.I nside, the amphitheater’s stadium-style seating partly surrounds a raised, stone stage where a small tent is pitched next to a campsite.

A middle-aged Tian woman sits cross-legged on the stage who is studying and sketching several dozen broken sculpture pieces made of what look to be glass. She looks up with curiosity as you approach and greets you with a courteous nod without breaking eye contact.

"Welcome, Eleven-Sun-Truth. You have not brought me visitors in some time and certainly never from my home world. What calamity has befallen Golarion that you come all the way to the Eternal City to find me? Has the Whispering Tyrant escaped his confinement? Has a new spawn of Rovagug been released in Casmaron? Or has Arazni perhaps decided to stir from her torpor and lay claim to Garund? What is the matter? I see the strain of grave news in your faces.”"

For the first time in memory Barnette seems lost for words... if only momentarily, as he stands only a short distance from the mythical Hao Jin herself.

He clears his throat before speaking "It is an honour to be here my lady, you are as astute as they say in the legends. My companions and I have travelled from Golarion at the behest of the Pathfinder Society on an urgent matter pertaining to your Tapestry demi-plane.

He pauses for a moment trying to study her reactions before continuing

"You see the demi-plane is failing and the lives of its inhabitants are at risk. The society has tried to stabilise it and at great personal cost. But we fear that we have done all we can and we beseech you for assistance on behalf of the tapestry's denziens"

he bows his head at the memory of lost pathfinders including the master of spells.

"We have brought arcane writing and chronicles best describing the effects currently plaguing the tapestry as well as detailed lists of everything we have tried to date. Would you please help us?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 34 + 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 34 + (4) - 2 = 44

I'll use my gregarious trait to reroll that check

Gregarious: 1d20 ⇒ 16 for a total of 52

"You are the tapestry's only hope!"

Auto assist

Picture of Hao Jin

Hao Jin listens closely as Barnette explains about the Tapestry, and takes any offered documents. As she scans the pages she asks a few pointed questions.

"What can you tell me about the Tapestry itself and its inhabitants? Have any of you actually visited the places within the Tapestry and interacted with anyone? What can you tell me about them?"

At the mention of visiting the Tapestry, Ruby makes her way towards the front of the group. She is visibly in awe of the sorceress, and also seems to be smitten with her.

"Oh, yes. The Tapestry. Well, I've traveled several times to your demiplane.

"My last foray into the Tapestry was in search of a fragment of the lost Sky Key. It was transported to the Tapestry with Naldak’s Point in Irrisen. We discovered the duergar had settled into Slave Mountain. They were rather aggressive, and once again we found another community coerced into giving up their treasures to the Aspis Consortium. We were able to drive them off, free the wayangs they had enslaved from a local settlement, and recover the portion of the Sky Key."

Ruby, having realized she has rambled on a bit, composes herself once again before speaking.

"I haven't been back since, but I've heard rumors of the Tapestry itself unravelling at a very accelerated pace. There is a grave concern for the Tapestry and its inhabitants were it to deteriorate entirely."

A total of six scenarios involving the Tapestry, however this character did not play in (or get a GM sheet) from 10-00, if someone would care to tell that story.

The Ruby Phoenix's eyes grow wide as she hears of your visits into the Tapestry, asking a number of follow up question. When she hears of the Diamond Gate, her mouth falls open.

"What do you mean, they made another portal into the demiplane? How did they do that? And who is this Aspis Consortium? Your Pathfinder Society I have heard of, but not this other group."

Aquila hasn't been involved in any Tapestry or Aspis scenario, so he'll let others do the talking

"while I have encountered the Apsis on more occasions than I care for perhaps someone who is more adept and understanding of their shadowy nature could describe them better than I could."

Barnette looks around and then speaking to the open air he says

"Zwei? would you mind? have you encountered the Aspis before?"

Zwei stays in the hiding place he took up amongst the stadium seating but shouts, "I have nothing to add." He then moves to a different location, his bow at the ready.

Kramac has been to the tapestry recently. The situation is dire. Kramac visited many of the people living there - entire civilizations that have grown up from the people you trapped in your little demi-plane. Regardless of the past wrongs comitted by capturing them for your own amusement, the people living there now consider the Tapestry their home and do not wish to leave it. However, the tapestry is unraveling. Rips are forming, threatening to destroy the demi-plane. We were able to stall it for a bit, though it required the sacrifice of one of the greatest mages in the society to do so. You are the only one with the knowledge to repair the tapestry.

Hao Jin quickly skims the documents you hand her, becoming more and more concerned as she does so, and listens to your descriptions of your time in the Tapestry.

Once you have completed your report to her and she finishes looking through the documents she takes a deep sigh and momentarily stares off into the middle distance lost in thought.

After a moment she focuses her intense gaze on you.

"These backdoors that were created into the Tapestry. They were the ones that triggered its final collapse, although the demiplane was far from stable due to my long absence."

"“Although I cannot hold the actions of the Pathfinder Society and its rivals as blameless in the Tapestry’s demise, I know that at least the Society did not commit them out of malice. In the end, responsibility for the demiplane’s condition is mine. My time here on Axis has shown me how reckless I acted when I created the demiplane. I did not fully understand the implications and long-term consequences of my actions, but what is done is done and cannot be taken back.”"

She lowers her eyes and lets out a long sigh, before continuing.

“If I understand you and the documents you have shown me correctly, I’m afraid there is nothing I can do to save the Tapestry; it has unraveled beyond the point of repair. There may, however, still be a chance to save the places and people inside it. My memory is not what it once was, but I believe that I could perform a ritual that reverses the process I first used to transport various sites into the tapestry, thereby returning a site to its original location. In that way that site could serve as an ark to carry any plants and creatures aboard back to the Material Plane.”