[PFS, OPS] GM Blake's PFS 9-06: Shores of Heaven (Inactive)

Game Master Blake's Tiger

Just a friendly GM suggestion: Someone might want to see about touching Loam up a bit more before going to the forest... no particular reason for suggesting that.

I think Blake is confusing his rats and his ravens...
Quensha gives her loaf to Tok.
clw: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Tok nods gratefully to Jeskit for the help up and smiles to Quensha.
"Thanks for the help companions, pecked off a little too much right out the gate."
Tok hops up and smooths out his feathers.
"Ready when you guys are."

Yes, yes. All those anthropomorphic races look the same.

Status

Jeskit: -2 Dex
Loam: -2 Cha
Quensha: -2 Cha
Roland: --
Tok: --

Follow me to the Unbent Forest!" Akarah says and then leads you back through Heaven's Shore.

"Good luck!" Oneol calls as you turn to leave. "Don't forget your demon!"

Laktharis squeaks his indignation, "I will not be stowed away like some kind of luggage! I demand to sit on your shoulder. Yes. You. The scaly one."

Outside the borders of Heaven’s Shore looms a lush and mysterious forest of towering trees. A peaceful hush fills the region, and the air is heavy with the weight of years. The road ahead curves around a small grove before plunging into a wall of shimmering air resembling a massive bubble. Black splotches swirl over the translucent wall like oil floating on water. Inside the bubble, the boughs of the forest are twisted and covered with festering cysts.

“Greetings, mortals,” a stern voice calls out. With a rush of air, a gigantic, gold-feathered owl swoops down and perches on a tree near the bubble.

“My name is Skuroth, and I am warden over this section of the Unbent Forest. I am told that you are the mortals responsible for releasing this evil into Heaven and that you have been charged with cleansing it as well.

“It is not my place to countermand the will of Altha the Scrivener, so I will allow you to enter the bubble first and hunt your quarry. Be warned, however, that I will follow soon after and give chase myself. It has been many long years since evil of this magnitude walked beneath the boughs of my domain. My talons ache to once again taste the blood of demons.”

Concerned about noise, Quensha wags her finger at Lakarthis, "No more of your nonsense, bully boy."

As they head out, Quensha looks around the party, "Is everyone alright? I feel a little drained still from the ceremony but I'm okay to go on."

After a moment she blushes at her own candour and retreats into silence.

---

Quensha gapes, open-mouthed, at the glorious, gorgeous owl. She bends her knee before the angelic animal, "Our thanks, for allowing us to set aright our errors, as best we may."

Quensha draws her katana and pauses just before the bubble, waiting to see that her allies are ready to cross over.

edited for Jeskit shenanigans.

Jeskit adjusts Laktharis on his right shoulder making space for Tetch, his familiar, on his left. He's got a sort of angel-and-devil situation happening quite literally between his emissary and the demon.

We don't plan to stay longer than necessary, Master Skuroth. If you'd point us in the right direction, we'll get to our business. Just let us know if you' want "5 minutes alone" with Laktharis here. Jeskit jokingly offers his right shoulder forward to get a rise out of Laktharis.

Ah, ninja'd on the demon treatment. I'm happy to carry it, Quensha. Might make for some comic relief.

Roland pulls out his CLW wand. ”Who needs healing?”

If Anyone needs healing, roll your clw and let me know how many charges to mark off.

Does Jeskit want the shield?

Tok readies his bow and cocks his head from side to side, looking around at the forest inside the bubble.
"I'm curious at what happened in there. Will there any side effects when we enter the bubble?"

As soon as Skuroth descends, Laktharis-the-puppet goes limp and falls, draped over Jeskit's shoulder.

"That is the bubble of evil that you released. It is corrupting Heaven even as we speak," the giant owl says. "I assume you are asking if you will turn into pudding or some other terrible fate as soon as you enter. No. Only the demon soul that you released, and he will likely be hunting you if you are not careful."

Akarah informs you that he will wait outside the bubble of evil for your return.

Inside the bubble, an unending forest of massive tree limbs stretches out into the darkness. A dark mist obscures the floor of the forest, hundreds of feet below, and a tangle of branches blots out any glimpse of the sky. Red boils cover the branches of the trees, throbbing ominously.

The branches are wide and easy enough to walk along. Now you must find the trail.

All three of the checks below--two Survival and one Stealth--are separate checks. The Stealth check must be made by each PC/creature in the party.

No claim in the shield if it's better for others. I'm a two hander.

Jeskit takes out his wayfinder to aid his pathfinding.

survival 1 aid, guidance: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

survival 2 aid, guidance: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10

stealth, guidance: 1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 + 1 = 15

The best that can be said is that Jeskit is quiet.

Like a freakin ballerina this one.

21 new posts! That wasn't too long, thankfully. I'll eat my own loaf.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Nature: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 8 - 2 = 20

Religion: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 2 = 8

"So Altha the Scrivener is the archon's name," Loam mutters. "Need we really be warned of your desire to hunt? Might you hurt us in the crossfire or attack directly for our failure?" She considers asking Skuroth to question her pet rat, but assumes she has already annoyed the celestial enough. Besides, the terror it would likely cause her familiar....

Entering the forest, Loam follows suit with her own wayfinder. The ratfolk's natural quiet is also helpful.

Survival Aid 1: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 2 = 6

Survival Aid 2: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 3 - 2 = 15

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Tok moves along with the group, on guard at all times and with his bow drawn.
survival aid 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
survival aid 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Survival 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Stealth 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Roland tries to follow the others throughout the strange bubble land of evil.

survival aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
survival aid: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
stealth: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (20) - 3 = 17

I think that means we made the second survival check. Go team!

As the group weaves through the woods, Quensha switches to her long spear.
“This corruption is grotesque.”

@ Loam: I misspoke as it was Tok who was carrying HP damage. You still have your loaf. You, Jeskit, and Quensha have ability damage.

@ Quensha: Unfortunately, no. Most did not include their planar penalty.

While none of you can make heads or tails of the corrupted tangle of branches and pock-marked trees, you do notice tiny eyeballs hovering aloft on bat wings. Every so often one catches sight of Roland, but nothing untoward appears to happen. At a loss for how to track the demon, you simply head ever forward and ever deeper.

Suddenly, there is a crack of a branch and a wild cackle. The branch your own shakes as a strange demon lands heavily. However, in his haste, the spear thrust intended for Jeskit's heart gets tangled in the branches. "Ha--Wha!? Argh!" the demon screams as it wrenches the spear free. "To me, my children! Our prey has arrived!"

The boils on the trees begin to pulsate.

The demon that has ambushed you possesses only a pelvis and legs, floating claws, floating jaws, and the upper half of a floating face all bound together by an translucent, ethereal energy. What is solid is scaly, red, and dripping with a caustic slime.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Roland
Ammoach
Quensha
Tok
Jeskit
Loam
Ooze

Roland moves to the demon and swings his holy cold iron book.

Could someone move me, please?

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

I was down 3 HP from the ritual, and healed exactly that. All's good!

Planes: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 2 = 18
Special Defenses, please.

Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 2 = 24
How 'bout Special Attacks and Defenses?

"Runt boilborns, and a babau! Thankfully, something is wrong with it."

Again... all those anthropomorphic races look the same.

The broken demon tries to stab Roland as the inquisitor approaches, but he fairs only marginally better than his stab at Jeskit. For his trouble, he gets smacked with the cold iron cover of a holy book. Both the demon's flesh and the book cover sizzle.

He thrusts at the nagaji still reeling from the ambush, but this thrust is still only marginally less clumsy than the last one. (Really? 1, 2, 3?) However, Roland is close, so he snaps at him with his displaced jaws. The preacher raises his shield just in time.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Roland Reflex save to avoid damage to the book.
Ammoach (-5 hp)
Quensha
Tok
Jeskit
Loam
Ooze

Loam: You're owed 1 more detail for each opponent.

Jeskit recklessly walks around the demon, perhaps arrogantly. He retrieves his sectioned staff from the sling on his back and whips an end at the demon when he sets his place.

sansetsukon, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 = 22
damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Spell-Like Abilities for the babau and Special Qualities for the boilborn, then.

"Neither of these are foes to be in close quarters with," Loam says. "They may break your arms or burst on you. But do what you must." She channels energy into her gun and shoots at Ammoach.

Sacrificing my Shield spell for the day to give my gun +1 for a minute.

+1 Pistol vs. Ammoach, into melee: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 5 - 4 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Uh oh, then.

Quensha challenges the demon, "You will die here, unmourned, and your evil will harm nothing and no-one."

Quensha drops her spear and draws the mithril shield across her arm, stepping forward in a defensive posture.
total defence: AC is now 22

Jeskit solidly strikes the demon with his tripartite flail. The weapon sizzles and smokes when it comes into contact with the foe.

Loam lands his shot well! The magic drives the pellet deep until the demon bleeds.

Combat! Round 1. Bold may act.

Roland (Reflex save to avoid damage to the book.)
Ammoach (-14 hp)
Quensha
Tok
Jeskit (Reflex save to avoid damage to the weapon.)
Loam
Ooze

reflex save. weapon is masterwork if that matters.: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Reflex 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Tok move up and fires an arrow.
attack: 1d20 ⇒ 17
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Tok's arrow strikes the demon, but it fails to penetrate its ephemeral form (DR).

A cyst pops and releases a tiny blob of sanguine-colored ooze. It lurches its way along the branch and under Loam's feet.

Loam can apparently make an AOO with his tail blade.

Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.

Roland
Ammoach (-14 hp)
Quensha
Tok
Jeskit
Loam
Ooze

Did my book take or avoid the damage, GM?

Did not penetrate hardness.

Roland again bashes at the demon with his holy cold iron book.

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

This splinter of a babau has no spell-like abilities.
The boilborn has no SQ beyond ooze traits.

This time it is Roland who gets his book tangled in the branches mid-swing.

Ammoach steps out of the flank--at least for the moment--and drives his spear over Quensha towards Loam. The spear gets tangled in the branches yet again. With a roar of frustration, the demon tosses his spear into the emptiness and then snaps his jaws on the edge of Roland's shield.

A moment later the spear passes by as it mysteriously falls from above your position. This continues every few seconds like some sort of loop.

Combat! Round 2. Bold may act.

Roland
Ammoach (-14 hp)
Quensha
Tok
Jeskit
Loam (AOO vs. ooze available via tailblade)
Ooze

Jeskit follows the demons side step and stabs out with the end of his sectioned staff.

sansetsukon, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 28
damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

sansetsukon, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18
crit damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Party time.

For all the good it does...

AoO: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Damage: 1d2 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

Loam swings her tailblade, hoping the smaller ooze doesn't pop as a result. She needn't worry - she doesn't exactly hit hard with the thing. She then steps away from it, reloading and firing under Quensha.

+1 Pistol vs. Ammoach: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Tok steps to the side and fires an arrow at the blob.
attack: 1d20 ⇒ 16
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Loam stabs the gooey thing beneath his feet with his tail blade.

Jeskit follows in step with Ammoach and drives the head of his sectioned staff into the demon's ephemeral back with enough force to bend the slimy demon. Before the demon can recover, Loam steps aside of the ooze, which makes a futile attempt to touch him with a pseudopod, and fires an enchanted bullet into his leg.

Tok lands his shot at the tiny, red blob, which fortunately does not explode yet.

The babau wobbles and wavers. He raises an angry fist and then the air around the you begins to waver and warp. With a faint popping sensation, you suddenly find yourselves standing within the soothing trees of the Unbent Forest. At your feet, the babau has shrunken to match the height of Laktharis' puppet.

"Please don't kill me!" the demon wails in a tiny voice and throws himself at Jeskit's feet.

Skuroth sits on a branch not far away. "Well done, mortals," says the owl. "You have shown yourselves to be brave hunters and warriors. I apologize for underestimating you. Please, take this in recognition of your bravery." The owl holds out a gold pennon covered with embroidered watchful green eyes.

Jeskit slings his weapon and bows to the great owl. We are proud to prove ourselves to the denizens of Heaven. Thank you for this gift. Seems we have one more orb to track down. We'll just have to find it.

Quensha looks down at her sword, still in its sheath, and sighs, ”Would that I could have done more.”

Tok nods to the owl and puts his bow away.

"The Scrivener could have done more too," Loam says after thanking Skuroth, not reassuringly. "We do what we do, allowed or otherwise, and must live thereby.

"You are an exception, of course," she adds to the cowering demon. "You should do nothing."

"Yes! Yes, masters! Ammoach will do nothing!" the tiny, not-all-there babau snivels as he follows you out of the forest. "Ammoach will do nothing so great masters will not kill him."

Once out of sight of Skuroth, Laktharis-the-puppet begins speaking again in his piping voice. "You! Slime! You will be my subject and do as I say as are these great big mortals!"

Akarah leads you back into Heaven's Shore. "Well, that was quite the adventure you had!"

Not long after you enter the city, a beautiful woman with a giant bee's torso, bee's wings, and carrying an ornate staff leads a translucent, listless, but wholly human Valais towards you. "Greetings, friends of Zepha, I am a Hivetender of the empyreal lord, Andoletta. Zepha asked me to find this lost soul, and I have, but she is very damaged. She has no memories of her former life and is fading away.

"We Hivetenders make a special honey that can restore the essence of a soul but it takes a long time to make. You are fortunate that I have almost finished a batch. If you help me to find certain flowers, I can accelerate a small portion of it to give to this poor soul.

She describes the flowers that she needs you to find and explains that she will be harvesting other flowers across Heaven that she will be using.

There are three different checks that must be made. You must split up to find each of the three flowers and may each make only one of the three checks or Aid Another on their check.

1. Knowledge (nature) or Knowledge (planes)
2. Diplomacy (Gather Information) or Survival
3. Heal or Perception

Loam tries to keep the two demons isolated while they travel with muttered threats and gun-twirling.

Loam has heard tell of one of these flowers. It grows on the Material Plane, but hails from further beyond. Probably here in Heaven, she knows now. She heads off in search of some.

Nature: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 2 = 8

Jeskit lets Tetch out of his familiar's pouch and they go out in search of the flowers. They use their keen eyes to pick out the missing ingredients.

Jeskit Perception, guidance: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 2 = 19

Tetch Perception, aid Jeskit: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 2 = 15

diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Quensha finds that she enjoys speaking to heaven’s people and they are ever so helpful.

[dice=diplomacy]1d20+5

Quensha finds that she enjoys speaking to heaven’s people and they are ever so helpful.

Forgot my -2 for being LN. So that's a 20.