EbonFist's PFS #3-21 The Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment (Inactive)

Game Master EbonFist

I'm going to need a Profession (artist) check to see how well you drew your pistol, Tofang.*

Tofang whips out his firearm ready to do some damage.

Kal'Ryon hits the first creature like it insulted his mother. Bones shatter from clavicle to the last rib and the hip bone, scattering the thing in a wide area on the floor.

Vanna moves into position a moment after Kal'Ryon's devastating blow.

Castinus assures Baram he is in little danger of defiling the crypt any more than it already has been.

Baram also moves into position to engage a foe that no longer exists by the time he gets there.

Itham checks his casting from his wand just before wasting it on a target that is no longer a threat. (I assume. You can still spend the charge if you want but Red was Dead before your shot.)

ROUND 1 - The Bold May Act
Vanna
Kal'Ryon
Itham
Tofang
Skelemans
Castinus
Baram

*Sorry, I had to make that pun at least one time...won't happen again. #DadJokes

Vanna moves to the left most skeleton[ooc]green[=ooc] and swings her mornigstar in a vicious arc.
Back to the land of the dead with you....
attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 121d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Sorry, holiday weekend really got away from me there.

Itham holds back as the pile of bones crumbles right before Itham blasts. I don't mind fighting these things nearly as much as fighting humans and other members of our society!

I am going to hold a little bit to see what my allies do. Itham doesn;t want to charge into the room if his allies aren't already there and there isn't anywhere he can get a clear shot yet without being in the room. I will check back this evening.

Kalron steps into the room a little further- and seeing the scattered bones of the skeleton and the sounds of combat allows the sense of chaos to fill up his senses. Rage

He swings his guisarme at the black creature- striking at it with a surprising force.

Mst Guisarme, Rage, PA: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Slash, PA: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (1, 1) + 10 = 12

10 foot move, 10 foot reach. Standard: Attack. Rage 1/6

Tofang infuses his gun with alchemical ordnance (free action) 1/7 used

Tofang moves forward and shoots the black undead.

Gun: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Gun damage. alchemical ordnance: 1d6 + 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + (2, 6) + 6 = 20 Last 2d6+6 fire damage.

Kal'Ryon's blow shatters bone and sends the black garbed skeletal leader reeling. Before he can recover, Tofang launches a carefully aimed shot. The bullet hits him right between the eye sockets and explodes in a fiery blast that shatters his skull, leaving the other bones to clatter to the floor.

Meanwhile, Vanna narrowly misses her target, leaving him still standing.

He is the last skeleton standing.

The bold may act.

Vanna
Kal'Ryon
Itham
Tofang
Skelemans
Castinus
Baram

Itham follows the group into the room but does not have the chance to do much else before the skeleton acts.

Double move

With all the fearlessness of a creature that has already faced death and returned from that abyss, the remaining skeleton pays no heed to the fact that its two companions were vanquished before they could even act or that it is now outnumbered six to one. It rushes at Vanna to strike.

Claw: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Slashing: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

But its bravery exceeds its skill.

Round 1 Continued. The Bold may act

Vanna
Kal'Ryon
Itham
Tofang
Skelemans
Castinus
Baram

Not an easy way into combat here, so pass turn

I can’t tell from my phone, if Green moved more than 5 feet Kal should get an AoO with 10 ft reach

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage: 2d4 + 10 ⇒ (4, 4) + 10 = 18

acting pre-emptively to save time in case it gets to me....

Vanna sees a weak spot in her target and swings her morningstar with a grunt of exertion.

attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 81d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5+1 is studied target

The skeleton is a bit too fast for Kal'Ryon's reflexes and narrowly avoids being smashed as it's companions were.

Just missed with the AoO.

The Bold May act

Vanna Action for Round 2 Resolved
Kal'Ryon
Itham
Tofang
Skelemans
Castinus
Baram If you change your mind.

Castinus observes the melee as best he can from the doorway, and, confident in the group's ability to easily dispatch the last of the enemy, he puts his tanglefoot bag back in his pack and re-equips his shortbow. Thus re-armed, he watches the rear corridor in case of unexpected assault from the door from the library or from the garden.

With the Pathfinders crowded in the doorway, it is difficult for some of their members to get into the melee. They linger at the back, ensuring there is no treachery from behind, trusting in their fellows' abilities to handle a single animated skeleton.

Although, Vanna takes a shot and misses so perhaps their trust is misplaced...

Round 2 The Bold May Act
Vanna
Kal'Ryon
Itham
Tofang
Skelemans
Castinus
Baram

Itham circles around the crypt and points his new wand at the creature and activates it, excited to use the gift.

Magic Missile (Green): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Move action to move and standard action to use the wand (49/50 charges left)

The chaos of battle pulls at Kal'ryon's senses and the fog narrows his focus only to the remaining skeleton. His hands go loose, and the guisarme clatters to the ground with a metalic ringing.

He steps forward and brandishes his hands, fingers now fully sharpened into deep black claws. He swipes across once with his right, drops his shoulder, and swings backs again with the left upward across the creatures defenses.

Claws, PA, Rage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
S/B, Rage, PA: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Claws, PA, Rage: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
S/B, Rage, PA: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Itham's brand new wand knocks most of the unlife out of the skeleton but leaves it to suffer Kal'Ryon's rage. The Ganzi's first blow obliterates its rib cage, knocking it out of position for his second attack.

With a final clatter of ancient bones on ancient stones, the Pathfinders are left alone in the sarcophagus.

Tofang sighs.

”How odd! Undead here?!“

take 20 to search the place.

Baram looks for any scales laying around, but isn't going to grave-rob a coffin to get them. "We should probably tell brother Zhuang about this. I know Korada would not be pleased about undead in his temple."

There is one other door to this place but it is boarded up (DC20 Strength check to break down.)

As Tofang carefully searches the place, he notices that the central sarcophagus lists to the side. There is a crack underneath that leads to a small space 18" deep and roughly 8' long. There appears to be something shiny at the back of it.

It requires an Escape Artist Check to get in there. DC30 for medium creatures. DC20 for Small.

You all also realize that taking the rubbings requested by Master Zey will take about 12 hours of work.

The boarded up door is the red X on the map right? Leads to the little park area?

I moved the X to the correct door. But both of those doors out into the little park area are boarded up.

Vanna inspects the crack, and shakes her head.

[b/No way I can fit in there...my cousin Mykel could though...he is slender, but hits like a bull with his sword.[/b]

She moves over to the boarded up area and cracks her knuckles.

Give me 1 few moments and the boards can come down easily. she says before ripping the boards apart.

question...can i take 20 and get 2 assists to make the escape artist check? rules say i can take 20 if not opposed, but want to get a ruling from you...

str: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Baram tries to stop Vanna, "Just because the doors are boarded up doesn't mean we need to take the boards down. Do you have a reason for doing so?"

What if there is more undead behind there? Or the secret that Dakang is hiding? Vanna waits for Baram's answer before proceeding.

question...can i take 20 and get 2 assists to make the escape artist check? rules say i can take 20 if not opposed, but want to get a ruling from you...

With the proper description, I would allow it. Mostly because I am already amused by imagining what people will come up with as assists for an Escape Artist check. Did anyone bring a stick of butter?

"I believe we should bring this to the attention of Brother Zhuang before we go about breaking things. Why not ask? The answer could be a lot easier to find that way then to explain why we are smashing stuff up." Baram says as he begins heading back to the library to find Zhuang.

Fair enough. But I'm gonna find out what that is in that crack. Here's the plan. I'll doff my armor, and squeeze down. You guys help push me in and be ready to pull me out. I'm onky taking a dagger with me....so there's that. Ready? She then pulls the aforementioned dagger and points at the group.

And if I feel a hand where it shouldn't be, I'll remove it, understand?

Escape Artist : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Escape Artist : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Escape Artist : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Escape Artist : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Escape Artist : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Escape Artist : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Escape Artist : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Tofang realises that he is small and will try really hard to get through!

Well, you could have spoken up earlier... Vanna says as she puts her armor back on.

Tofang wiggles his way into the crack and along the way while Vanna is stripping down and making her plans...or vice versa.

He might be a little disappointed by his find, though someone in the group should be pleased.

He brandishes his prize - a set of battered brass scales.

"Oh hey, the free agents of the society wanted those. Mind if I take those, Tofang?" Baram says.

Anyone object to informing Zhuang?

As the skeleton falls, Kal feels the trance of combat leave him, his armor feeling heavy and his fingers slipping slowly back into something more closely resembling humanoid fingers. His breath is hard, but the feeling quickly passes.

4 rounds of fatigue. 2/6 rage used so far

He makes his way over to his discarded pole arm, picking it up and twirling it around again before settling with it in his grasp. He wipes his hands across his blue tunic- leaving a dark stain across his hip.

Kal'ryon, watching the scene unfold between Vanna and Tofang, laughs quietly to himself. Yes. This is a group I can enjoy being around!. And he lets out a knowing smile.

"I have no value in scales, by all means Baram. I am glad you were able to see the desecration of this sacred crypt. There continues to be something... off... at this location."

”Sorry! Sometimes I am so concentrated that I forget everything around me! Of course you can have the scales!“ Tofang says.

Entering the room, Castinus carefully surveys the wreckage of the undead skeletons, and the rest of the tomb. perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Passing those who played an active part in the melee, he squeezes their shoulders in gratitude, "Good work, well done." Turning back to take everything in, he states:

"One, sacrilegious teachings are being foisted onto the monks here instead of the words of the lord they follow. Two, on the instructions of the head monk, the tombs are out of bounds. Three, undead infest the tombs, and have clearly been animated here rather than risen autonomously from the coffins. Four, all doors to the gardens are fortified. Yes Baram, I agree that there are questions to be asked about events here, and I for one would not be content to sit and take brass-rubbings of these sarcophagi for an hour, whilst they remain unanswered."

"Please Lady Vanna, this is not the time or place to strip. We need you fully armoured for the 'discussions' we may face with any interloper monks."

Turning to his companions as a group, he seeks their opinions; "What do you say? Shall we confront this situation now, and hope to return to the tomb and the gardens after?

A wide smile comes over Kal's face as Castinus speaks.

"Here! Here! A wise man. We should pay his words heed!" and he laughs, mostly to himself, for no obvious reason"

"After some consideration, I imagine it will be hard to convince my brothers that there is foul play going on. Imagine their response to telling them that undead are in the temple: 'Well that's probably why we weren't allowed in there!' While I wish we could find some way to reveal this corruption, I believe our best option is to confront Dakang." Baram replies to Castinus.

"With the true light of Korada empowering me, Dakang will not stand a chance should he truely be the source of corruption in this sacred place." Baram says as he clenches his fist. "But lets speak to him first, mercy changes more than butchery."

These are Baram's people, and as such, I believe we should act in the way he thinks is best to proceed. He will know how to handle this situation better than any of us.

Tofang doesn’t say anything but looks at Baram and nods.

Thanks Itham!

Makes sense....ok then, Baram. We follow your lead here.

I keep forgetting, do we actually know where Dakang is?

You do not know where Dakang is, yet. It appears that consensus is to follow Baram's lead and that Baram wants to find Zhuang.

The Pathfinders decide to return to do the work of taking the sarcophagi rubbings at a later time, eager to get to the bottom of the deepening mystery, instead.

They leave the crypt, pass through the hallway of statues and round the corner. Zhuang is nowhere to be seen, likely back in his studio. But Miriya is peeking around the corner of the door to the library. She has a book in her hand but is clearly not paying as much attention to it as the passageway where the Pathfinders disappeared.

"Oh...you're back...what did you find?" she asks Baram.

"Undead desecrating your temple! We couldn't sit idly by with their corruption tainting this sacred place, so we destroyed them. Now please, I must speak with Dakang about the purity of Korada's temple." he replies to the librarian.

Don't really want to be totally in charge as this is a team game, so make sure you speak up if you really don't like where things are headed.

I actually thought he was going to be in the crypt... so... yea, I don't know!

Kal wordlessly follows along, just behind the front of the part- guisarme clearly at the ready. The air shimmers behind him and he hummms a nameless tune, still an amused and self-assured smile on his face.

”You are correct Baram! I want to learn where your spiritual leader is please!“ Tofang says curiously.

Itham follows along, ready to answer any questions but still believes that Baram has our best interest in mind and that he should our "leader" while here.

I do not mean to say we aren't a group or team, but every team should have a leader or captain. Itham looks to you as that role here because what we do here may have very real consequences to your faith and relationship with your god. You are also the most knowledgeable about this and Itham always believes we should defer to the person with the most knowledge in a given situation.

"By Korada! That's terrible! Perhaps that is why Dakang sealed it up and ordered us away. Surely they were dangerous? Perhaps not for people like yourself who are trained to fight, but for those of us who are not martially minded," Miriya replied.

She nods at Baram's request but then a loud hand bell sounds from another part of the temple.

"That's the dinner bell. The other acolytes will be gathering in the dining hall. Would you like to join them? I'm certain they would like to hear of what is happening."

"Yes of course, I'm sure I'll see Dakang there as well." he replies as he follows Miriya to the dining hall.

Castinus casts a sudden cautious look at the others at the sound of the dinner / alarm bell. Hey GM - what time of the day is it? Does it feel right that this is a dinner bell?

He looks sideways at Miriya SM + inspiration: 1d20 + 1d6 - 2 ⇒ (5) + (3) - 2 = 6 trying to assess whether she is being straight with the group or leading them into a trap. Bah. Some investigator Castinus is...

He then asks her, in a neutral voice: "Madam Miriya, about Brother Dakang: does he surround himself with an inner cadre of closer acolytes, perhaps some that accompanied him when he first arrived at this place? I would like to understand what we might face, should our suspicions about subversion by followers of this Empyreal Lord of Heresy are correct..."