This the new campaign thread for the campaign started by GM Ladile. I'm looking forward to running this for all of you. Dot in and I'll let you any of you know if I have any questions. If you also have any questions for me, let me know right away and I'll be happy to answer.
I will say the same. This is a pleasant surprise. I am glad to be able to help as well and I'm hoping this leads into a great game for you all.
I do have a few questions though before we do get started. Without saying anything about what happens, have any of you played or run the special, "The Hao Jin Cataclysm"?
Post in the Gameplay thread to introduce your character as I'm excited to hear about what sort of group you all are.
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Mera Ka is brand new PC whose only credit is GM cred from Crypt of the Everflame.
I've played but not GMed 10-00: Hao Jin Cataclysm.
I have played and/or GMed most of the Hao Jin Tapestry scenarios, with a few exceptions. During Outpost II, I'm GMing Tapestry's Trial, and playing Icebound Outpost (*waves at Pai* I'm playing Yagaji over there.)
Mera Ka is by nature, the strong, silent type, and will follow the party's lead. (which goes along well with not wanting to spoil anything)
As some of you might know, this is a scenario from years ago. There are a lot of details that go along with that, but one of the features of older scenarios were faction missions each of the different factions presented their representatives to complete. I'm presenting here the faction missions you would have received back then, in part because the information may help you on this mission and you might find it entertaining.
A lot of the factions have changed since this scenario was released, so the overall goals of of the factions have changed. Andoran missions were different before it became Liberty's Edge and the same for Cheliax before it became the Dark Archive. You will not get any extra reward for completing these missions and if you don't want to complete them or acknowledge them, don't feel like you need to.
Rumors reach my perfect ears that you are to raid a temple of an Empyreal Lord. I shudder to consider the oppressively benevolent atmosphere that awaits you. It would please our superiors to see such a place subtly defiled.
Korada’s temples are often constructed around a spiral and three precisely positioned orbs. These orbs continually generate an undetectable celestial resonance. Moving the orb farthest from the center of the spiral even an inch out of place retains the appearance of precision but destroys this resonance. With this one delicate push, you serve he whom we all adore.
Reverently,
Paracountess Zarta Dralneen
Would that each of our missives direct you to strike down those who would impose upon the liberty of others! Alas, we see very little opportunity for such heroics in an abandoned temple tucked into a little trafficked demiplane. Still, be ever vigilant for any opportunity to bring freedom to those shackled in body or in mind.
One small task is now expedient: devotees of Korada were occasionally buried with a symbol representing something important to them in life, to meditate upon in death. If you can recover a set of brass scales from the crypt of the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment, please do. It is an example of how justice transcends ages and continents.
May freedom prevail,
Major Colson Maldris
Few know that Hao Jin’s fabulous museum is, for some, a prison. These unfortunates are carried into the tapestry along with a beautiful park or noteworthy battlefield. The paladin Bewei disappeared after the Battle of Eighteen Falling Stars centuries ago, when Hao Jin sequestered the battlefield in her tapestry. Bewei would be long dead by now, but he may have a descendant—recognized by brilliant hazel eyes and a streak of white hair across the brow—still alive somewhere within the tapestry. If you find such a descendant, please convince him or her to visit me. The enclosed amulet—an heirloom of Bewei—should allow Bewei’s descendent to leave the tapestry with you. We could make good use of a living symbol of bygone heroism.
May Peace Prevail,
Ollysta Zadrian
I can really understand that feeling. I can go back and forth on them between love and hate.
They have created some of the most memorable positive experiences for me in PFS as well as some situations that didn't really enjoy.
I can understand why they removed them, but I do miss them at times.
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I'm a big fan of the extra flavor of these. I wish they would add them back in to the scenarios.
In general, I agree. But sometimes they were a hot mess...actions that are totally random (or outright evil), factions working against each other (which can be fun, but no PvP, and some folks can't handle intraparty strife). But when done well, they're a lot of fun.
the Liberty's Edge for this one is a bit dodgy...rob a crypt in the name of Freedom!!!
Of course, they don't call it the Tombrobbing Murderhobo Society for nuthin...
Understood
I wanted to check in to see how everyone is doing with this adventure. We are about a week in now without any combat and I wanted to check in to see how everyone was feeling about the pace of the adventure. I've been adjusting the third slide of the "maps & handouts" page to include NPC icons and names as I introduce them. The map has been more descriptive of where NPCs are as well as the overall layout of the temple. Is there anything you think I can provide to help on this adventure, any parts that are confusing?
I think you're doing well describing the NPCs and the rooms and their overall demeanor. If you are going for a kinda creepy cult thing with something weird going on but you can't quite figure out what.. then you're spot on for me!
I don't want to say whether that is my intent or not, so I'll just say thank you for letting me know.
I know what you mean. It can be hard to give just the right hooks to prompt action, but not give away the answers for extensive non-combat exploration in PbP. However, unless you think we're completely missing crucial angles or interactions, I think it's going well.
Yeah and if any of you are confused about what you are doing as a player, feel free to toss that here. I'm less concerned about you missing details and more about you all having fun and that I'm at least looking at how to address if anyone is not.
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Pai Shecks: Your read on Gastidem is less on point but you can tell he doesn't truly believe what he is saying.
Oh, yeah. Pai is kind of silly and not particularly adept at reading people. She doesn't actually believe any of that, but rather than try to figure it out, she made up a goofy story about it. (There! Now she can dismiss it and get back to drawing.)
I wasn't trying to correct any assumption I thought you had, I was just responding to the sense motive check itself. I edited my response and left out that I meant to say that your read on Gastidem not as clear as Kembe's.
Sorry for delay, I'll post an update tomorrow. I'm fine with inventive solutions, but many will still carry some element of risk. I'm happy to hear them though.
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Pai would probably suggest asking their hosts for permission to shore up the wobbly statue. She'd suggest some sturdy wooden posts or planks to prop it up, and some shims to make it lean back into its niche. Even if the posts block the doorway, she's pretty small, so she could squeeze through, go into the crypt, and unlock the door that leads to the garden.
She's not nervous or creeped out by this place yet, so the idea of going into the crypt by herself wouldn't set off any alarm bells. The inhabitants seem full of baloney, and the finger-biting-off turtle thing is a little macabre, but the folks here seem nice enough. Maybe just isolated for too long so they're a little odd, and maybe trying to show off to people from the outside world. Someone will have to point out the potential dangers to her before she realizes them.
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I'm going to admit this that I more or less took on the idea that the crypt was a location to explore as well as being in the realm respectable place to lay the body. Besides it is easy easy enough for the party to say "we would have laid the him here" if people rather that have happened.
So I went with the idea proposed of heading to the crypt, but running the interaction with people if they were encountered.
I will also admit this is selfishness on my end because I thought it might be easier to run the question of "what direction the party goes" if the unknown areas of the temple are explored since the party might be more able to split into smaller tasks with a little less worry.
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I just read through the whole thread to add a few notes to the Mission Briefing that Mera's been posting (thanks for that, by the way; it's been helpful to keep us on track!). I also added a list of people that we've met along the way.
Mission Briefing: A complete report on the temple with a focus on four key locations.
1) locate the temple’s meditation room, find evidence of any meditative techniques described there, and record any effects of performing those techniques.
2) prepare a comprehensive catalog of all works in the temple library.
3) find the temple gardens and draft a detailed plan of the garden’s layout.
4) enter the temple’s crypt and take rubbings of the carvings on each sarcophagus.
Di Duang (F human disciple)
Xifen (M halfling disciple)
Dakang (M immortal(?) leader, mentioned, not met)
Zhuang (M elderly Tien meditation leader)
Gastidem (M gnome garden tender/ritual observer)
Tamtai (M brother of Xifen, mentioned, not met)
Unnamed youthful woman (in library)
Unnamed halfling mother and husband (?) Wei, with children (offered room to stay; Wei mentioned, not met)
Unnamed M Tien disciple (cleared plates)
Unnamed M halfling disciple (dead, found in kitchen -- could be Tamtai or Wei?)
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Thanks for the update! Pai has knowledge (nature), so she will volunteer to work in the garden, and has a rank in Profession (artisan), so would be happy to work on the rubbings as well. If our GM believes it's plausible that her expertise would help her and anyone to whom she gives advice and a demonstration, it could speed that process up considerably too. ;)
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Feelo will definitely work in the library; he has kreighton's perusal and scrivener's chant both prepared today, and can keep them if the work bleeds into tomorrow (which seems likely at this point).
However, I think we may have a higher priority to figure out who our dead halfling friend is, and to notify the others (and specifically, their family).
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Thanks for putting all that together.
Kembe's priority will be finding who the dead Halfling is and if he has any family. After that I'd still like to explore the rest of the rooms we have access to before taking any long term actions like rubbings and library work.
Most his skills are physical. He does have 1 rank in K history and K religion. As well as being an accomplished healer.
We are near the end of the adventure and I wanted to double check all the information I had for your character for filling out your chronicle sheets.
Here are rolls for random boons~
Boon Rolls (19-20):
Congratulations to Arin on winning a boon sheet. Arin, I'll need you to PM your email address so I can forward to the Outpost organizers so they can get you your chronicle sheet.
You all can make your day job checks here if you have any.
I've included all the chronicle sheet information I had below for each of your characters. Double check all the information to make sure I have it all correct and let me know if there is any other information I need to know (like if you were going slow track) so that I can record it on the chronicle sheet.
If you get me the chronicle number for the sheet I will also include that on this sheet as well.
Chronicle Information
Player Name: PaleDim
Character Name: Arin Qualnoh
Level: 3
Character #: 272301-15
Faction: Liberty's Edge
Player Name: Warah
Character Name: Pai Shecks
Level: 3
Character #: 289224-1
Faction: Liberty's Edge
Player Name: Hawthwile
Character Name: Jahz the Wanderer
Level: 2
Character #: 264524-16
Faction: Dark Archive
Player Name: uktar
Character Name: Mera Ka
Level: 2
Character #: 100685-20
Faction: Liberty's Edge
Player Name: Zin Z'arin
Character Name: Feelo
Level: 2
Character #: 192785-14
Faction: Silver Crusade
Player Name: Massee
Character Name: D. Kembe
Level: 2
Character #: 202046-7
Faction: Silver Crusade
And with this your actions have had a major effect on many lives as well as providing important information for the Society.
Here is a link to your chronicle sheets, let me know if anything is wrong at all with any of them and I'll get it fixed right away.
I'm very thankful for all of you being able to play at this table and I hope you all feel the same way. This was a bit different from any other Play-by-Post I have run or played in given the structure of this adventure being very free form in how you approach this and the many characters here.
Let me know if this worked perfectly for all of you, if there was anything you found confusing, or things that I could have improved on.
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Season 8 Faction Card Goals: Silver Crusade
Did I accomplish any of these tasks? I'll chose which out of the options. Its possible I qualify for any of them in this adventure. It was very much Silver Crusade worthy.
(0/2)Defeat an outsider that has the evil subtype or an undead creature whose CR is at least equal to your character level.
(0/2)Defeat a divine spellcaster whose patron is an evil deity and whose CR is at least equal to your character level.
(0/1)In the course of an adventure, purify a corrupted object or location, or remove an evil force that is possessing or otherwise controlling a creature.
PS, Chronicle looks good. Nice magic item for Kembe there too.
You are correct in that qualify for any of those.
Dakang was both an outsider and divine spellcaster and I would say that he was controlling the people in the temple, but his guards especially.