GM.BastardBard's [PFS]#8-02: Ward Asunder (Inactive)

Game Master Neal B

When the other Pathfinders make their way into the room they see Dale sitting comfortably on a fresh pillow, journal between his legs writing furiously with a smile on his face. "Ahh, nice of you to join me, take a seat and let me tell you what we've got here!"

North Wall: Knowledge(Planes) DC 22: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

"The inhuman creatures are highly stylized depictions of fire and earth elementals, respectively, with the background image suggesting a scene on the Plane of Earth as the colossus crushes fiery creatures." He lifts his journal to show reproductions of the scene. "Pretty interesting huh?"

He shifts his seat to face the East wall and starts pointing things out:

Knowledge (Planes) DC 18: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Profession (Soldier) DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Knowledge (History) DC 20: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

"Hrm, not sure what those fiery creatures are for sure, but they are definitely trying to lure that big one into a trap!" He takes careful notes here. "There was this one place down in the Mwangii were we had to deal with a ancient imprisoned beast. Be wary we don't have to do something similar here. These messages could be directions!"

He shifts his butt again, fluffing the pillow to get a better cushion before working on the South wall.

Knowledge (Religion) DC 18: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Knowledge (Geography OR Nature) DC 15: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

"Ahh, the bearded giant is a Yamatsumi, the god of mountains, volcanoes, and winter. And that cave is actually the basin of a volcano! Maybe this very one here?" He sketches that quickly again before moving on.

"Ahh the West wall seems to be the end of this story!"

Knowledge (History OR Nobility) DC 20-24, 25+: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27
Knowledge (Planes OR Religion) DC 20-29, 30+: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Knowledge (Geography) DC 18: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Dale reads and nods along knowingly at the first set of images, translating to the group as he sketches. "The woman is Ankilhi from local mythology. She is known for her 68 great deeds, which included slaying great beasts, acts of kindness, and unifying the people against a common enemy. The armor she carries as that of the graveknight Pnao Kilnak, whom she destroyed in single combat. As the story goes, she sought to destroy the graveknight’s armor with Yamatsumi’s fire, but the Mountain Lord spoke of a slumbering evil that the armor might wake; instead he bid her to melt down the fragments and forge them into a powerful weapon to wield in his name."

He points out the old man in the story "The old man is a kami, and get the feeling that the creature is immensely powerful... maybe our kami hat friend knows him?" He postulates before frowning as he doesn't recognize the figures in the rest of the story.

Dang, a good bit to have Dale along for here!

Wisp listens from just outside. He focuses on making certain nothing is trying to sneak up on the team.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 East Wall
Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 West Wall

Vlazis listens attentively to Dale's expertise, only chiming in to point out, "Those fiery creatures are efreeti, and that trap is a portal, likely a temporary one."

"Ahh efreeti.. that makes sense, thanks Vlazis!" He flips back a few pages to add in that note while he waits for the others to chime in on any additions or signs of life.

Thorur does not possess any of the above skills, except...

Survival(untrained): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Yeah, this one can be skill/knowledge heavy. But I love the amount of story and background in this scenario. Glad you're making most of the knowledge checks to see it.

Well, that is pretty much everything in this room, unless someone has yet to try one of the checks. Where to next? (please move minis accordingly (or describe if heading into a blocked room, I can place everyone))

I started to try to figure out if Arion could beat any of the checks, he has quite a few knowledge skills, including +8 planes. But I ran out of time. Won't have time today but one of you should figure it out and bot the roll

+8 Planes won't get us anything new, but a -2 Survival technically could...
Hail Mary Survival: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2

"In the absence of other clues, shall we examine the closest chamber?"

To the east!

As Vlazis enters the next room...

The smell of old paper fills this long building, whose walls are lined with drawers carved from the same stone. Between the shelves, three windows offer a majestic view over dozens of snowy peaks in the east.

Sitting on a shelf is a pile of old guestbooks.

For future reference, does anyone's character read/understand Dtang, Nagaji, or Tien (without the aid of a temporary spell)?

The wayang walks over to the ancient books and begins to look through them.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

I just realize that I when I took a point of Linguistics, I updated my HeroLab with Tien, but not my Pbp sheet. Will not change it now as that feels kinda cheap.

"I guess these guys had a thing for solstices. Take a look at this..."

Wips shares the spoiler above.

"Pretty interesting, huh?"

Knowledge, DC16: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Dale joins the others and quickly sets to work browsing the journal as well. "We should add our names to the log book here, Tian-Dtangs consider it polite to record one’s visit in a guestbook. It is also a safety measure; if someone goes missing, it is possible to check if there is a record about the person’s visit... I wonder what happened to those three Nagaji's..." His face droops a bit as he looks back towards the cliff.

"You don't suppose those three snakes were..." He looks from side to side with a touch of guilt in his eyes.

Does the journal also have notes about the people signing it as leaving or no?

Dale pulls out his own ink pen and marks his signature in the book before taking down some notes in his own on what they've found in the room. "While you guys sign I'm going to go take a look in the next room, don't be long!" He starts whistling as he heads down the corridor, eyes darting around for anything of interest.

Take 10 perception: 18

Arion signs the book, happy to keep the local customs.

Thorur shrugs, then signs saying.."Orders are orders."..then follows Dale...

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"I have met a few Nagaji in my travels. All of them had arms."

Before Vlazis signs anything he makes certain to have someone who can read the local languages ensure that this isn't any sort of binding contract. Then he is happy to comply with local customs.

It does not contain notes about when people leave. Just that they arrived. Also, to ensure clarity: the last three entries are written in the language of Nagaji. Make of that what you will...

While in this library one of you happens upon a box with several scrolls.

Moving into the next room Dale, and anyone that follows him see...

The shelves carved into the walls of this small building are lined with bottles and vials of many sizes. A faint scent of incense hangs in the air.

Baphos also signs the book, but keeps in silence.

Baphos uses Read Magic to understand the scrolls. Guys, there are 10 scrolls in this box. I think I can cast them, I can carry them with me, but if any one of you want them, I can share them. All of them are clerics spells.

Baphos always follows the group.

GMing SFS tonight after I get off work. Probably won't get a post in today. Bot me if needed.

spider climb spell looks pretty useful for Arion

"We may as well split the curative scrolls among those who can easily use them. That way if one falls, the others may easily recover them."

"Scrolls? Excellent! I've learned to cast the magic on those scrolls, so sign me up for some too!" He plucks out a cure mod and a lesser restoration.

As he walks to the next room Dale's eyes light up and his nose dances in the smells of the room. "Ahhh a combination of sage and tobacco!" He eagerly takes an accounting of the room's contents.

Taking 10 on craft alchemy and perception to find and identify the goodies in this room: 21 and 18 respectively.

Thorur will take one of the Cure Mod scrolls. Although he would like to use the scrolls of expeditious retreat to keep up with the group, they are arcane.

Dale finds relics and other items, likely of religious significance, pretty much undisturbed over time.

"Oh nice, so many useful mixes in here!" Dale entertains himself with the potions and oils, doing many taste and smell tests and consulting his own notes on any differences he sees until the others show up.

Checking in on everyone else. I know Arion is out for a bit, but I haven't heard from several of you in a while. Moving along with Dale? Checking out other rooms? Taking a nap on the comfy pillows in the first room?

I understand sometimes it feels like you don't "have anything worth posting" but even a quick "I follow the group" periodically let's me know that people are still involved and haven't dropped from the game.

I had posted after Dale, but I guess it got ate.

Leaving Dale to his investigation of the potions and oils, Thorur moves out into the space between the buildings and looks around to see if anything is amiss...

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Thorur steps out from the open rooms and takes in the beautiful scenery of the snow-capped mountain. (nothing out of the ordinary noticed)

Vlazis follows on Thorur's heels. Treasure was all well and good, but there was likely danger hidden here...

sorry, I'm used to parties that follow a standard operating procedure to move through dungeons. I am here and still following along but have not seen anything for Arion to do, say, interact with, or make a decision about.

Arion follows Dale with drawn polearm at the ready for any unexpected guardians or other ambushers.

Not one to consider himself a leader, Wisp follows the others.

Once the others finally show up Dale gives them a detailed (more like OVERLY detailed) assessment of what he's found, not to mention the process for creating such concoctions. "Any more questions? No? Ok let's continue to the north shall we?" He leads on, blathering about all things alchemy and spellcraft. Read spoiler above.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Dale snags one of the oils of cure light as well as the oil of jump.

Baphos follows the group after he distributed the scrolls.

Arion continues to follow Dale.

A polished, fifteen-foot-tall stone statue of a coiled snake sits at the center of this room.

Tanbaru looks perplexed and remarks, "Strange, I don't remember that statue at all."

None of those skills here.

"Huh...interesting work."

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

history or religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"This is not a well known historical or religious figure...
Tanbaru, you don't remember it?
Are we sure this is a statue?"

It appears to be a statue. One of its eyes looks to be a yellow/orange (topaz) gem.

If attempting to climb the statue (towards the gem):

Arion eyes the statue. "I can probably get that gem if you want me to, but I would have to remove my armor to move freely. It could take a while."

arion will do it if no one else wants to or can

With a little par kour leaping to and fro, the wayang reaches the top of the statue.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

K Engineering, DC16: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28
K Dungeoneering, DC18: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
K Religion, DC18: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Dale looks the statue over and drags out his well used journal to make notes yet again. "Very interesting. This was definitely added after the initial construction of this place, but at least they kept the materials the same. The creature here is a very large dark naga, or maybe just an exaggerated one."

He turns and nods in agreement with Arion's assessment. "Yup, not sure where they got this, I've never ready anything about something relevant. Maybe its a local hero or antihero? Who knows." He looks up at Wisp as he climbs towards the glinting gem in the eye socket "Oh nice find. Be sure there aren't any defense mechanisms in place before you do anything drastic..."

Dale has a cursory glance to see about any such things himself. Take 10 perception, traps? 18.

"Can someone tell me if there is any magic around. I would hate to accidentally trigger something...or someone. Other than that, it looks clear up here."

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Arion murmurs a prayer as he eyes the statue. 3 round detect magic on the statue

Thorur wanders over to check the courtyard...

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Vlazis awaits the results of the divinations and climbing before offering any further aid at looting the statue.

No magics or anything perceived.

I'll assume at this point that Wisp takes the topaz. Please correct me if that is not the intention.

Thorur steps out for a breath of fresh(er) air and a look around the courtyard. He doesn't see anything of note. However, just after recovering the Topaz, Wisp and Dale swear they hear some unfamiliar movement out in the courtyard. Wisp and Dale may act in the surprise round. One Move or Standard action each.

Initiatives - Bold may act:
Wisp Surprise Round
Dale Surprise Round
Vlazis
Arion
Baphos
GM-X
GM-M
GM-N
Thorur -3hp

Hearing the noise outside, the wayang believe it may have to do with what he just did. Feeling a little guilty about stealing the topaz, Wisp slowly disappears from view.

Enacting Dissolution's Child. Essentially, it is four rounds of invisibility/Vanish.

"What was that? Sounds like it could be troublesome." Declares Dale, drawing and drinking down one of his concoctions.