TOZ's Hao Jin Cataclysm [Gameday VIII] (Inactive)

Game Master TriOmegaZero

**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**

The waters of the Eternal Lake flow once more, and our repair teams have patched the nearby rift. The kappas make for strange companions, but they have pledged unending loyalty to the Society. The Eternal Lake is secured!

GMs, the Eternal Lake Secured condition on page 11 is in effect!

Although not proficent, Deno'thar does his best to help Laara in her task.

Acrobatics,aid: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

No binding of souls...

Flyn will maneuver through the room in the old Elvish style...

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (13) + 24 = 37

**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**

The repair teams have patched the rift at Round Mountain. Be on the lookout! Before closing the rift, the team glimpsed a mysterious sailing vessel lurking in the Astral Plane. Round Mountain is secured!

In addition, the repair teams have patched the rift at Slave Mountain. Many slaves are now free, and they have pledged their aid! Slave Mountain is also secured!

GMs, the Round Mountain Secured (page 10) and Slave Mountain Secured (page 11) conditions are both in effect.

Thanks to Flyn and Laara's efforts, the tortured monks straighten, bowing in thanks as the worms turn to mist, filling the room. As the mists recede again you see a temple filled with prayer mats. Rapt worshipers sit on the mats as a bloated corpse stands on the balcony above, preaching heresy and ugly truths in equal measure. You feel the urge to shout him down, drawing the attention away from his blasphemy.

You can use either Perform Oratory or Sing to be louder than the preacher or you can use Bluff to distract the congregation.

With the Round Mountain secured, you may now choose to gain +10ft land speed for the entirety of one encounter, decided when the encounter starts. Slave Mountains securing allows you to gain 30 temporary hit points at the start of an encounter, lasting until the end of that encounter. The Eternal Lake being secured gives one free use of the Timely Inspiration option from the Aid Tokens.

Hearing the heresy, Deno'thar begins a beautiful balard, filled with life and joy.

Perform(Sing): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29

I assume the DCs are different, otherwise it'd make no sense to offer perform and bluff on the same line. My bluff modifier is identical, and if other players would prefer we can do bluff instead so people can make checks too.

With respect to boosting aid tokens, since we just got a free one for timely inspiration, can we do so at anytime? If so, Deno'thar will expend 3 rounds of bardic performance to boost the what we just got

I tried to make a list of the various boon options we now have below the last slide. I remember we also got several things at the start but couldn’t find those. There are probably plenty I am missing

They indeed have different DCs. You can boost the token at any time, but keep in mind that the boons from securing the tapestry are not actual Aid Tokens. The discussion thread should have any tokens that have been passed, these are just table benefits. I will compile the list and post it to the discussion thread later.

If my check didn't hit the DC after people attempt aids (probably straight charisma checks), I'd use Gallant Inspiration

Gallant Inspiration: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

Which would give an additional +4, since it would exceed the existing +3 compotence bonus

As singing is most definitely not in his repertoire, Flyn will stand by quietly, observing and admiring Deno'thar's performance...

Deno'thar realizes that his efforts aren't quite enough to sway the gathering away from the monstrous figure and gives a redoubled effort. As the faithful turn away, a screech of rage fades into mist. It roils away from a long banquet table, covered in scorched dirt and vermin. A dozen acolytes choke and gag on the squirming mess in a mockery of a banquet. You feel a mixture of rage and pity at their plight.

Deno'thar uses Gallant Inspiration to get the party through, and now you can either flip the table with a combat manuever check or treat the acolytes with Heal.

Ammen grimaces at the sight but moves to help the acolytes.

Heal, heroism: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 2 = 24

Flyn will assist Ammensura, as best he can with his modest healing skills...

Aid Another (Heal): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Retcon to perhaps save Deno the use of Gallant Inspiration?

Ajax invokes his wayfinder and tries to throw a well timed harmony.

Perform(sing) (Aid): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Ajax also tries to assist the shaman.

Auto succeed at Heal (Aid) with wayfinder

Deno'thar is not the most skilled healer, but he tries his best to help Ammen.

Heal, aid+4: 1d20 ⇒ 9

I'll use timely inspiration to boost this by plus 1 if I can (failure at aid another), so that I give Ammen another +4

Leaping into action, the party manages to pull the acolytes away from the disgusting feast and sooth the injuries manifested. The table melts into mist, obscuring the room until it coalesces into a kitchen. Seated in the center, weeping in anguish, a halfling waves his bloody, fingerless hand. "Korada has forsaken us! Abandon all hope!" he cries. All you can do is offer him encouragement to not give up.

You can resist his despair with a Will save or encourage him with Diplomacy.

"Do not despair!"
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35

Deno’thar continues ,” Take heart, there are those who would help.”

diplomacy: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 40

The halflings tears turn to mist, enveloping the party once more. You blink and find yourselves back in the garden, surrounded by the aasimar guards and acolytes. Zhuang blinks, slowly looking about before rising.

"My companions. Come, gather close." he calls to the temple's residents. "I beg your forgiveness for this transgression. I had lost faith in our teachings and have greatly trespassed against your peace." Murmured responses from the congregation offer support and forgiveness to the monk as he turns to the party. "Pathfinders, you have aided the temple as your predecessors did and have our deepest gratitude. There will always be a place for you and your allies here." He bows low, accompanied by the rest of the gathered acolytes and guards.

Zhuang will gladly put you up in the temple to rest and prepare for your next trial. The house has acquired enough successes to move on and the overseer should be updating us soon. Reset and refresh your daily abilities as you see fit. I will get that list of boons posted in the discussion thread shortly.

Before we rest Ammen tries to greater dispel the curse.

Caster level check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

The scales fall from Laara's skin as Ammen lifts the bestial curse, allowing the healing process to begin!

Laara looks at her pale skin once more in shock - and relief. The half-elf gazes at Ammen and says. Anything. Sea journey, muscle for an expedition, a vote in your corner towards Mastership. Whatever you need. I'm in your debt. There's worse ways to go than becoming a croc, but not too many.

**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**

Our new allies on the patchwork plane have granted the repair teams access to the rift, and it is repaired. These allies can help in the coming battles. The Patchwork Allies are secured!

GMs, the Patchwork Allies Secured condition on page 11 is in effect!

As you enjoy the temple's hospitality, more and more Pathfinder agents arrive from other sites. They bring supplies and news from other successful missions, along with an optimistic outlook on the overall goal of restoring the tapestry.

A large Ulfen man with skin like burnished metal takes a seat in the meditation chamber, speaking in a voice foreign to restraint. "When it is we are arriving in tapestry, I and my companions are finding turtle men stuck in lake of no water! They telling us of great dragon having turned off fountain that supplies them. So we go to discuss situation with dragon. They are not very willing to listen, so I offer to wrestle them in glorious competing to decide matter. My companions, they suggest more negotiation and like great Venture Captain Valsin I am contented with this. Perhaps one day I shall wrestle great dragon to victory!"

With a shrug of his shoulders, the man finally lowers his voice. "The turtles, I am told they are kappa, they shared more tales with the water returned to their heads. They speak of such nightmares as to terrify grown men and strange outsiders in tapestry. Purple skin and evil eyes say kappas, these peoples. You would be doing well to watch for them!"

**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**

Aram Zey stands once more before the tapestry, a renewed light in his sunken eyes. “The Hao Jin Tapestry is stable at last. While you were performing your duties, I have reached a better understanding of the chaos you faced. The tapestry is still in dire condition. Lacking Hao Jin’s own magic, the tapestry has been using small pieces of departing souls to maintain itself over the centuries. This mechanism is depleting the tapestry’s water sources and spawning undead horrors. However, thanks to you, we have time to search for a more permanent fix. For now, get some rest, and—”

The former Master of Spells staggers back as a three-foot tear down the center of the fabric gouts sudden flame. Pathfinder agents flock around him, scrambling to assess the damage. A vein pops out on his forehead, and he yells sharply, “Pathfinders! What have you done?” He cuts himself short, taking a deep breath and muttering to himself, “Keep it together. Don’t take it out on the agents.” Frowning, he returns his gaze to the tapestry, his eyes darting wildly across its surface. When he speaks again, his voice is low and determined, “This new rift is no accident. Something is attacking the tapestry from the Astral Plane. Damage of this magnitude must have spawned hundreds more undead. Quickly, re-enter the demiplane and fend off the invaders!”

GMs, please begin part 3!

In the rush of teams entering the tapestry once more, a Chelish man in waistcoat and cane bumps into Ammen. "Mine apologies! Zhe excitement off ze mission makes for quite ze difficult passage." Catching sight of the rest of you, the red pinpoints of light in his pupils brighten. "Laara! Zuch ah pleasure to encounter you after ze Solstice Incident. Vherever are you und your team headed? Mine ist thinking off tackling ze undead problem. You remember ze effectiveness off mine acid? I haff ah NEW formula zhat should be astoundink!"

You have the choice of stemming the undead outbreaks or repelling the invaders from the Astral Plane. You may also boost and pass your current Aid Token if you wish.

Do we have any rounds to buff before we start doing one of those two activities?

Deno'thar replies to the professor Well met Professor Hurtubize. If your team is going to tackle the undead, perhaps ours should repel the Astral invaders.

I have no strong preference either way on undead vs astral. Once we know how many rounds we have we can dole out buffs as appropriate.

Well, you are standing in the Grand Lodge and no one is forcing you to jump in immediately. :)

Laara smiles as she sees the good old professor. Trey! Well, they really rbought everyone in today didn't they. Good luck out there: just be careful not to throw those things too close when some other Pathfinders are in the thick of it with the corpses.

She thinks. My vote's have us go and see these new 'astral' invaders. With luck they may have enough sense to be able to be scared off.

Regardless of where the rest of the group lands, Laara adjusts her jewelry to get her ghost touch amulet properly presented.

Ammen doffs his hat to the Professor, The idea of astral invaders does indeed intrigue me, let us see if these tears can be repaired!

I will activte 10 min/level spells and longer just before we enter and tap myself with a wand of heightened awareness. If an encounter is apparent and gives us time to buff I will cast shield of faith on myself

Flyn shrugs. ”I have a long-standing feud with all things undead and would prefer to face them...but I yield to the will of the team...”

Flyn gets +4 to hit & +4 damage on undead...but either is fine by me...

There are many different teams splitting between the two fronts, do not feel obligated by the roleplay. :)

@Laara you might want to adjust your AC to account for my +4 Barkskin

I'm fine with either. I'll re-cast heightened awareness and mage armor before jumping back in, and cast a shield spell, if it's clear we're jumping straight into a fight.

Deno’thar summons everything he has before the pathfinders go to repel the invasion. Methodically he turns to each member of his team and brings out the inner hero in each. After this is done he heightens his senses and duplicates himself.

They picked the wrong place to attack. The grand lodge will answer!!

mirror image: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Heroism on all but Ammen, lasts 90 minutes

I have my own heroism so you can skip me

Ajax feels compelled to follow the will of the team.

"If these creatures be etherial, do we have the weapons to fight them?"

Ajax will buff up before entering. Anointed oil Barkskin on himself and Ara (with Pearl of power)( +4) 90 minutes, Mage Armor on himself and Ara. Shield Companion on Ara. Longstrider on himself and Ara. At any obvious pauses before combat, he applies Gravity Bow.

Oh, and I hit myself with Guidance before entering

@Laara you might want to adjust your AC to account for my +4 Barkskin

Thank you! And you Deno'thar!

As you are transported into the tapestry once more, the full extent of the damage becomes apparent. A gaping hole mars the sky of the tapestry. Beyond the rift, dozens of strange vessels float in the Astral Plane, crawling with invaders. Every surface of the tapestry realm stretches and tears as it tries to repair itself, creating more rifts in a slow but devastating chain reaction. The vessels deploy invaders to wreak havoc as the demiplane disintegrates.

The invaders appear concentrated at Round Mountain, Slave Mountain, and the Temple of Empyreal Enlightenment. Which would you like to defend first? You would guess travel to take roughly the same amount of time as before.

Ammen sighs, We just finished fixing the issues at the Temple, I suggest we start there?

Ammen will cast Shield of Faith on himself as we approach

"Yes, back to the temple."
Re-cast heightened awareness at the appropriate time and also cast shield spell at the appropriate time with travel.

Aram Zey’s voice carries through the tapestry. “I wish I could say I’m surprised that pirates would strike at a time like this. But there are always forces lurking in the shadows looking to take advantage of weakness. Don’t let them get away with it.”

As you approach the temple, you see that the doors are closed, likely barricaded against attack. Circling around the back, you turn the corner into the garden to see a a bronze griffon appear in midair, carrying an elven rider and flanked by a human woman to one side. The elven woman levels a lance at you, brooking no parley!

33 Aericus
30 Deno'Thar
28 Ammen
23 Flyn
20 Laara
19 Blue
16 Red
13 Ajax

Everyone but Ajax is up! (R.I.P. my pirates.) Both enemies are at 20ft elevation above the garden.

Deno’thar begins a performance to inspire his allies. He then prepares to switch to a discordant strike should the creatures close.

move: inspire courage, standard ready weird words if target within 30’

The non-mounted human is in the air too? If so:

Laara eyes up the aerial opponents and clicks her heels together. Winged boots springing to life, the brawler then takes to the air towards the griffon.

Standard to activate Winged Boots, move to get in it's face, Swift to enter Outslug Style

Flyn fires a rain of cold iron towards the rider and its mount, then steps back 5’...he concentrates on the rider first and then the mount if/when the rider drops...

To Hit: Dex+Base, Magic, Weapon Focus, Lesser Bracers of Archery, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Deadeye Bowman, Point Blank Master, Manyshot, Inspired Courage/Flagbearer
Damage: Strength, Magic, Deadly Aim, Clustered Shot, Gravity Bow, Inspired Courage/Flagbearer

Magic Composite Longbow (Manyshot) vs FFAC: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 5 = 38
Confirm: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 5 + 3 = 38
Magic/Cold Iron/Crit Damage: 6d6 + 9 + 6 + 18 + 15 ⇒ (5, 5, 3, 4, 2, 5) + 9 + 6 + 18 + 15 = 72
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 + 2 + 6 + 5 = 21

Magic Composite Longbow (Rapid Shot) vs FFAC: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 5 = 20
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 2) + 3 + 2 + 6 + 5 = 23

Magic Composite Longbow (Iterative)vs FFAC: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 5 = 24
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 2 + 6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 4) + 3 + 2 + 6 + 5 = 25

With three arrows, the rider slumps in the saddle, the fourth catching the griffon hard in the belly. The unmounted woman looks startled at the sudden assault.

33 Aericus
30 Deno'Thar
28 Ammen
23 Flyn
20 Laara
19 Blue
16 Red (Rider Dead, Griffon 25 Damage)
13 Ajax

Aericus distances himself from the party and lengthens his arms.
Swift action wrist sheath, standard wand of longarm, move up. I'll attempt to give you a turn, before Ajax and Flyn finish the slaughter.

I might be being blind but I dont see where the other enemies are on the map?

Ammen raises one hand and conjures a spinning clicing scimitar of force next to the nearest enemy. It slices out, possibly confounding them.

Casting dazing spiritual weapon on the nearest bad guy. if there is someone adjacent to an ally I will target them instead

Spiritual weapon, IC, flag: 1d20 + 21 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 21 + 3 + 2 = 43
Damage, SG, IC, Banner: 1d8 + 3 + 2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 + 3 + 2 = 15

If it hits and does damage the target needs to make a DC24 will save or be dazed for 2 rounds

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Falling Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

The griffon takes a spiritual weapon to the face and finds itself unable to maintain its wingbeats to stay aloft. Crashing to the garden below, there is a pop as it suddenly turns into a small bronze figurine of a griffon.

In a panic, the woman floating near the empty space the griffon just occupied gestures, fingers crackling with electricity. A blast of lightning bursts directly at Ammen, arcing out to everyone else nearby. She flies backwards to put further space between her and Laara and Aericus.

Reflex saves for Ammen, Deno'Thar, Flyn, Ajax, and Ara. Check the spoiler once you have rolled. Can't update the slides at work, will handle that when I have a chance.

33 Aericus
30 Deno'Thar
28 Ammen
23 Flyn
20 Laara
19 Blue
13 Ajax

Ammen, southern part of the garden. Ajax is up, we will see if the rest of the party needs to help out.

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Ammen takes the full brunt of the attack to the face and wilts slightly.

I assume this is chain lightning so everyone else gets +2 to their save?

Correct, let me add that.