[PFS2_Luke_Parry] 2-06: The Crashing Wave (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

Dranald continues to make steady progress on the Tablets...

Farryn, likewise, continues to extract information from the mural.

Jasariel's steely will once again proves to be too strong for the beguiling effects of the Ocularity... but she doesn't manage to extract anything useful from its depths, this time.

By comparing information, the party learns the following:

The cyclopes’ core understanding of their ability to see the future centered on the importance of their single eye. A cyclops seer lived in the present and the future simultaneously and could see events centuries before they occurred, though this ability was rare and in decline near the end of Koloran’s history.

You feel that there is still plenty that could be uncovered...

Meanwhile, Gruvok and Okh, for the most party, gamble badly...

Lost Library of Koloran, Round 6:

Dranald (-)
Farryn (-)
Gruvok (-)
Jasariel (-)
Okh (-)
Map-Mural of Koloran (-5; +1)
Stone Tablets of Ai’Sheen (-5)
Ocularity (-2)

Party is up!

Farryn rubs his eyes, they've been working on this most of the day. "I know I shouldn't complain, but dang this is rough. Most fights are over in a minute, this research is dragging on forever. We'll have to break for the day soon."

Society (T): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

"Wish I'd brought some dominos. I'm good at dominos."

The cleric continues to decipher the stone tablets.

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Seeing that the things don't moves so quickly with the ocularity, the goblin jumps from his sit and says to Jasariel: Let's me to have a try as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Will:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Dranald manages to extract yet more information from the tablets, whilst Farryn derives some more promising leads from the mural.

Jasariel - BOT:

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19.
Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17.

Jasariel does not make any further progress with the Ocularity; moreover, it is starting to give her a headache...

Vision Quest: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 Mental damage.

EDIT:

Okh fails to make any progress with the Ocularity, either, and his mind is also wrenched by the device...

Vision Quest: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6 Mental damage.

The DCs are variable, depending upon the check you are attempting; ironically, Perception against the Ocularity is the *hardest* check that it is possible to attempt in this entire 'Research Combat'.

Lost Library of Koloran, Round 7:

Dranald (-)
Farryn (-)
Gruvok (-)
Jasariel (-7)
Okh (-6)
Map-Mural of Koloran (-6; +1)
Stone Tablets of Ai’Sheen (-6)
Ocularity (-2)

Party is up!

Okay that's not for me. I've understood.

The goblin pulls out some plants and heals himself.

Nature. Natural medicine. DC 15: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Damage healed:2d8 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

Gruvok's magical ally attempts to soothe Jasariel.

Treat Wounds, DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Healed for: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

Gruvok chides the Goblin, "Just couldn't help yourself, huh?"

Jasariel drops to one knee and winces as the crystal's afterimage pulses behind her eyes, sending stabs of pain up her forehead. Once she has recovered from the visions she absently thanks Yellow Eyes and comments "And it seems like this isn't much safer than a fight as well, to add injury to insult."

Jasariel the braces herself and returns to her contemplation of the orb.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Farryn continues his research, "Well, better a little pain then the urge to kill your allies... though I could understand in my case, I'm pretty hard to get along with sometimes."

Society (T): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

If he ever runs out of checks on the one he is researching, he can help on the orb thing. I think Occultism was an option which is +9 for Farryn.

Okh takes some 'herbal remedies', and soothes his troubled mind.

Jasariel manages to rip some more information from the Ocularity, but in the process, her mind is damaged again...

Vision Quest: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 Mental damage.

Farryn, meanwhile, follows some promising leads.

Dranald - BOT:

Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14.

This time, Gruvok doesn't make any further progress with the tablets...

Gruvok - BOT:

Society: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23.

...but Gruvok ambles over and manages to extract some information from the mural, right before what is left crumbles into illegibility.

Everyone compares notes, and comes to some further conclusions...

Specifically,that as prophecies began to fail them, even the Koloran cyclopes began to seek powerful beings from outside the planes to inform their prophecies. Unfortunately, this knowledge came at a price... and simply learning of this attracts the attention of these beings, even now, millennia later...

...Meaning that you have the uncomfortable feeling that you are now being observed by *something*, with the same detached interest as a scientist would view bacteria on a microscope slide...

Basically, all further checks are now a... little... harder.

Lost Library of Koloran, Round 8:

Dranald (-)
Farryn (-)
Gruvok (-)
Jasariel (-8)
Okh (-)
Map-Mural of Koloran (-8; +1) (Exhausted)
Stone Tablets of Ai’Sheen (-6)
Ocularity (-3)

Party is up!

The cleric continues to decipher the stone tablets.

Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Farryn moves over to the orb, taking a gander at it, ”So what’s so special about this thing?”

Occultism (T): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

The goblins patches Jasariel during her investigations. To patch. That he knows how to do.

Nature. Natural medicine. DC 15:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Damage healed:2d8 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Well he was supposed to know how to do. But he can retry as the look inside the globe takes 1 hour.

Nature. Natural medicine. DC 15:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Damage healed:2d8 ⇒ (5, 4) = 9

Well...

Gruvok's Religion is only +6, and he doesn't have a reroll. I don't personally want to risk crit failing, which seems all the more likely if the DC is higher, but if the rest of you want him to roll, I'll spoiler his result below and roll again during the next round.

He doesn't have Occultism, though.

Dranald doesn't make any more progress with the Tablets.

Farryn shifts over to the Ocularity, and uses his knowledge of forbidden arts to successfully extract some information!

Gruvok picks up where Dranald left off, following some promising leads.

Okh tries his hardest to help Jasariel, but his 'pharmaceuticals' do not have the desired effect.

Jasariel - BOT:

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26.

Jasariel nearly gets lost in the Ocularity, but pulls more useful intel from it, and is satisfied when it stops glowing.

Vision Quest: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6 Mental damage.

Comparing notes, the party learns that Valgomorus, a cyclops seer, had uncovered a ritual that he believed could bring back the lost power of prophecy. The ritual required a great sacrifice to an extraplanar being...

Lost Library of Koloran, Round 9:

Dranald (-)
Farryn (-)
Gruvok (-)
Jasariel (-14)
Okh (-)
Map-Mural of Koloran (-8; +1) (Exhausted)
Stone Tablets of Ai’Sheen (-7)
Ocularity (-5) (Exhausted)

Party is up! That said, you have now reached an odd point where nothing bad (apart from screwing up with a crit-fail) can actually happen, so I am happy for whomever wants to, to give me a bunch of Religion rolls.

That said, I cannot stress hard enough: At this stage of the game, you do *not* want to fail any of the follow-up Religion Research checks.

*looks at Dranald*

The goblin continues to treat Jasariel's mental wounds.

Nature. Natural medicine. DC 15: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Healing:2d8 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

Again:

Nature. Natural medicine. DC 15: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Healing:2d8 ⇒ (3, 5) = 8

Finally...

The cleric answers to Gruvok: Well I continue.

Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

Well, I took a subscription it seems...

@Dranald: Please just keep rolling. You need to crit fail (natural 1 only, in this case) to screw up. Literally nothing bad will happen otherwise...

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Religion:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Oh. What did this mean, then?

At this stage of the game, you do *not* want to fail any of the follow-up Religion Research checks.

*Dranald* only crit-fails on a 1. Gruvok would have had a much higher chance of doing so...

Dranald gets into a stride for a couple of hours, then goes down a false lead, before returning to the 'correct' path.

Eventually, he uncovers enough to piece together the following:

The cyclopes of Koloran planned a ritual designed to draw on the power of the demon lord Urxehl, a troll-like being who revels in catastrophes. The nature of this ritual is not in any of the tomes located here, though it seems likely that it would require a sacrifice of truly monumental proportions...

With all research avenues exhausted, the party returns to the surface.

----------------------

As the sun sits low on the horizon, the sound of a great disturbance comes from the edge of the base camp. A mysterious pillar of energy erupts skyward from an area near the quartermaster’s warehouse, filling the sky with crackling black lightning. Sapphire, the member of the Decemvirate, can be seen inside the pillar, grappling with a nebulous, shadowy figure. It’s unclear whether the creature is attacking Sapphire, or if the Decemvirate member is restraining the shadowy creature. As you watch, Sapphire’s eyes lock with yours, and they nod grimly. “Stand back!” they shout, pulling a small item from their belt.

The pillar of energy suddenly implodes, collapsing into a single point of intense negative space before exploding outward, sending Pathfinders and tents flying away from the epicenter of the blast. When the dust and smoke clear, Sapphire is gone. An empty suit of leather armor; a battered set of traveling clothes; and a scorched, sapphire-studded mask are all that remain.

Jorsal and Shrike rush forward and take charge of the situation, immediately recovering Sapphire’s Decemvirate helm and other gear. Other Pathfinders help to clear the area of debris and begin restoring the camp to some semblance of order. Jorsal sends you to the medical tent to be checked over. After an hour or so, he returns, visibly shaken but tight-lipped about the cause of the pillar or what happened to the Decemvirate member...

Presumably, foreshadowing for a later scenario.

Being the social one...

Gruvok explains what the group found to Jorsal, highlighting the individual efforts of everyone (and definitely not telling him about the games of cards).

"Perhaps there was a lingering magical charge stored below, waiting for a sufficient life force to arrive in the vicinity, before it was triggered. This area may no longer be safe to explore."

The cleric agrees to the declarations of the sorcerer. He doesn't know what to do or what to say now.

Farryn grimaces, "Well that wasn't good. Hopefully we find more of their body later and can resurrect them. Removing a member of the leadership isn't ideal for our organization."

Jasariel fails to muster much sympathy for Sapphire's apparent loss. "Don't envy whoever gets sent to search the planes for whatever's left of them."

The sorcerer doesn't know what to think when the member of the Decemvirate disappeared. But then when Gruvok tells the truth he had to tell to Jorsal he approves what his colleague says. The card's games don't interest anybody anyway.

Well, what can we do now? I it still possible to do something here by the way?

Either we face a gigantic cyclopean troll emerging from the earth, or the GM transitions to the next scenario... There is no in-between! ^_^

Can we choose?

To be clear: Shrike was the bastard; Sapphire was the 'nice' Decemvirate member at the start.

Also, sadly, there is no stat block for the demon lord published by Paizo thus far, but I think he is probably outside your pay-grade ;-)

Commencing 2-02: Mountain of Sea and Sky (3-6)

Each of you received a letter.

Handout 1, Slide 2.

Now, you are in Sakakabe, a port town in its eponymous province of Minkai.

Sakakabe bustles on this clear, humid summer morning. The constant buzz of conversation and commerce echoes over the concentric terraces leading up the hillside from the town’s port. Wagons clatter their way across cobbled streets, their wares bound for export on waiting cargo ships. Oyster boats are returning to port from the north, their nets filled with the morning’s catch. The air smells of brine and seaweed.

Fishers and merchants alike clatter across the pier, with shouted orders and affirmations traded from vessel to cart to street. Farther down, a beaming, older Minkaian man waves his burly, tanned arms from beside a rickety boat. “Ahoy there! Always good to see fellow Pathfinders in these parts. Name’s Masuhei Okonase, former Pathfinder agent and current oyster fisher extraordinaire! Good old Fola reached out and asked me to lend a hand, and I’m always happy to help out where I can.

I’m ready to take you to Kayajima when you’re ready. If you need to pick up anything before we head out, the markets should have everything you could need. Just let me know when you’re ready to set sail.”

Hannah STRETCHES while basking in the warm sunlight before she transitions into her usual morning calisthenics routine centered around sweeping movements with her polearm.

"I feel like I haven't adventured in forever! What a beautiful location to get back into the swing of things!"

It may have been months, but her smile is still just as bright and her demeanor still just as friendly and inviting.

"...former Pathfinder agent and current oyster fisher extraordinaire!"

"Pleased to meet you, Okanase-san! Or is it Okanase-kun?" she bites her lip, "I always get the two mixed up!"

"Fola tells me that you’re headed out to Kayajima to scout some ground for a new Pathfinder lodge?"

Hannah laughs and blushes before brushing a windblown hair away from her face.

"I suppose we made a name for ourselves after setting up that Lodge in Razmiran. Anything should be easy after that!"

"Might even inspire me to pick up the old wayfinder again, ha!"

"If you don't mind me asking, why did you set it down?"

A new mission. New skills and abilities. A boat. A trip. New sensation. the goblin takes his time to feel it. Hannah already asks questions. He can sit down. He's the apprentice that for. She's the professional. She won't come to tell him how to interpret any arcane symbol on the other way.

That's fine. A gentle mission. Have a look if we can build a lodge here. Let's have this look and say 'yes' before to go to the beach.

I'm fine. We can go when you want.

I'm ready as well.

The words come from the cleric who is now known by the group of pathfinders who are often set together to go in mission. He's interested in the answers Masuhei Okonase should provide. Especially the last one.

Farryn looks around when the find their ride then glances back at the letter, "Good morning Captain, it appears a fine day to sail. What are the dangers in these waters and if you know anything about dangers at our destination, that would help too."

While chatting and boarding he keeps looking around worried and finally whispers to his allies, "You all see our contact yet? She was supposed to meet us in town."

Once I get my level 4 update done, Perception for Initiative will be +8. Any of my trained rolls will also bump up one. I might get the update done this evening.

Jasariel is mostly focused on studying the waves and wind patterns of this unfamiliar land until Farryn's whisper brings the mission back to mind. "No, I suppose not," she responds quietly, her eyebrows knitting together. "That is rather worrying."

Jasariel gives the supposed former Pathfinder a suspicious glance.

Perception (T): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Okanase's eyes light up at Hannah's words.

"Anata mo minkaigo wo hanasukoto ga dekimasu ka?"

He then reverts to Taldane.

"Okanase-kun is fine; you're all Pathfinders, after all! As to why I retired, well, I was getting on a bit, and someone had to take over the family business after my father died... Still, whilst business is booming, I do miss the adventuring lifestyle, and sometimes gets that itch to travel the world, meet new types of people, and explore new places!"

Overhearing the whispered conversation, he nods.

Heh. Paranoid, much? ;-)

“Oh right, you were supposed to meet up with her here. I ferried her out to Kayajima a couple days ago. She decided that she wanted to head out early to spend some time getting familiar with the island’s geography. Quite an eager little tengu!”

The voyage takes a couple hours and is peaceful.

Kayajima is visible from the mainland in good weather, though its verdant forest and single tall mountain come into sharper contrast as the Auspicious Pearl nears the island. Masuhei docks at a rock pier in the southeast and bids you farewell.

"I’ll be back to pick you up tonight; you'll be welcome to join me for a drink and some oyster soup when you return to Sakakabe!"

Up the rocky pier and farther inland, a path winds into a stretch of cedar trees. The forest is tranquil, and the path, although partially overgrown with ground foliage, remains clear beneath the dense canopy. The ground is packed dirt and pine needles. An occasional rustle of leaves or flapping of wings break the silence. The air smells of rich earth and peat...

Last chance to make any purchases, before I advance.

"Anata mo minkaigo wo hanasukoto ga dekimasu ka?"

Hannah bites her lip before mouthing the words back to herself.

"Can... I... Also... Oh!" she flushes beet red, "No. I'm a bookworm. I've only really read the language. Maybe one day I'll be able to speak it."

And now I know what I'm picking up next time I take Multilingual!

"Sorry to hear about your father. You have my condolences. I never really knew mine. Yours must have been a great man."

When the topic of last minute shopping is brought up, she adds, "Anything you'd recommend for the region? Oh! I should probably pick up a dress while I'm here."

She will spend 2gp on Fine Clothing in the Minkaian style.

EDIT: and 1sp for Explorer’s clothing, because apparently Hannah has been wearing Winter clothing this whole time!

Farryn nods at the explanation, "Crazy pathfinders running off on their own, right?"

He looks through his formula book, "We don't risk overheating wandering around our destination right? If so, let me know so I can prepare properly."

"It is summer, and the humidity isn't for everyone. I guess I misplaced my warm weather clothes back at the Grand Lodge. Been adventuring in the frigid north for so long, I'd forgotten what it feels like to be warm!"

Well I hope I'm well prepared.

The cleric is confident in the power of Iomedae. He also doesn't know what to buy. And he hasn't a lot of gold pieces neither. Perhaps something against mosquitoes. Antidote? Antiplague?

Okanase smiles understandingly at Hannah.

“Well, he certainly thought so. Thought I was a bit crazy to go gallivanting off, seeking excitement, but it *was* always nice to have a quiet home to return to, in between missions. I owe a lot to the man.

As for what you should take with you, well, my understanding was that it’ll take you a day to do what you need to do, according to Kukuha. From my experience, pretty much any piece of adventuring gear can be useful with a little cleverness, but you can never go wrong with a potion or elixir to patch up scrapes, and some food and water for the road. The island’s got a mountain, so some climbing gear wouldn’t hurt.”

Well for the potions to patch up I can provide some. And the cleric is also ready to use his powers. Concerning the climbing gear on the other hand I hope someone has one. I can't afford to buy one. I've only 11 copper left.

Hannah winks at the Goblin.

"I still have the same climbing kit from when I was training to become a Pathfinder. It doesn't have all of the shiny, expensive buckles that some do, but there's enough rope that we can share."

In that, it's not the +1 Item Bonus version.

The cleric buys a climbing kit. For the rest he should be ready.

Thank you, Hannah. Hopefully I won't crash down the mountain.

You travel along uneventful for about an hour...

Kayajima Boars: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27.
Dranald: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18.
Farryn: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19.
Hannah: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22.
Jasariel: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16.
Ukh: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22.

...and then suddenly, four ornery boars charge out of the forest!

Boar Charge: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 2 = 27, for 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 4) + 6 = 13 damage.
Tusk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17, for 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 6) + 6 = 14 damage.

Hannah cops a tusk to the gut...

Boar Charge: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 12 + 2 = 26, for 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 = 12 damage.
Tusk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19, for 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 3) + 6 = 10 damage.

...as does Ukh...

Boar Charge: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 2 = 34, for 4d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 5, 3, 1) + 12 = 22 damage.
Tusk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22, for 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 4) + 6 = 15 damage.

...Dranald has the wind completely knocked out of him...

Boar Charge: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 = 20, for 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 = 10 damage.
Tusk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10, for 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 5) + 6 = 14 damage.

...and Farryn takes a glancing blow, as well!

Angry Piggies!, Round 1:

Kayajima Boars (-, -, -, -)
Hannah (-13)
Ukh (-12)
Farryn (-10)
Dranald (-37)
Jasariel (-)

Slide 3.

Party is up!