Gimble's [Gameday VIII] PFS 2e #1-01 The Absalom Initiation (1-4) (Inactive)

Game Master Eric Sklavos

If I can make a new Perception roll on the door I certainly wouldn't mind :-)

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Sigh... clearly Arun disagrees...

"Let's just go."

Everyone takes turns listening at the door and hearing nothing, Jaladek pushes the door open.

This cabin’s floor has been cleared of the algae present everywhere else on the ship, and a simple table has been set up in the center of the room, with a few chairs pulled up around it. The aft wall bears a large carving of a coat of arms, visible even despite the wear of the elements. An antique lantern hangs above the carving, casting a faint light over papers strewn over the table.

As usual, the little goblin focuses on the coat of arms for traces of arcane magic.

Detect magic

Society re: Coat of Arms: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"Well, this is much nicer."

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

The coat of arms is not magical, but the lantern is.

Sparkin recognizes the coat of arms as the insignia of the Taldan Navy. He also spots the papers on the table are financial and trading records from the Nexian capital of Quantium.

"Taldan colors! Very interesting. I'm sure someone at the society could make something of these records. Not really my specialty."

Sparkin will make a note of the coat of arms and take the records.

"Have we explored all the nooks and crannies?"

The goblin nods enthusiastically.

Yes, ship became very less interesting after we defeat weird tentacle-man-creature. He mutters further. You never see warped goblin with tentacle parts...

"Well in any case.. we should make a copy of the coat of arms."
He will use a sheet of paper and a piece of charcoal stick to make a copy of it, holdint the sheet on the coat and rubbing the charcoal stick over it.

Can anyone identify that magic lantern? I'm pretty sure Jal would walk right by it.

"I'd say we're ready to go. There's still sun left in the sky, perhaps we can use it to look into another one of the Society's missions?"

Jaladek will be ready to shove off and move on whenever ready. At this point, unless otherwise stated, Jaladek will always be using the Scouting exploration action for the group. That's a +1 to initiative for all of you.

Arfsnarf can spend the minutes to identify it, yes

Arfsnarf stops to inspect the lantern on his way out...

Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 welp...

"Oh, the lantern is magical?"

Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Figuring there's nothing much else here, you make your way back to Captain Balogog's boat to shuttle you back to shore.

While making your way back Sparkin uses the time and identifies the lantern as being enchanted similar to that of an Everburning Torch.

Where to next?

Arfsnarf shrugs.

Maybe next we check out Gorm Greathammer and his weird skin-scrolls.

"Yes, that unusual research sounds very interesting."

"After all, who has skin-scrolls and isn't interesting..."

After a brief discussion, you decide to make your way to the College of Mysteries in the Petals District to look for the scholar working on a dark ritual using Nidalese texts.

You may spend a couple hours to find out more about student by gathering information (Diplomacy checks).

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

The goblin walks up to a random student in the college study lounge.

Arfsnarf want to join dark rituals and Nidalese poetry club. Didn't find sign on dorm bulletin board. Please direct to hip underground scene.

Arfsnarf walks up to a random student and that student was actually someone who was working on the project, "The one you are looking for is Tavvar Hamavsi and she has the book you're looking for. She’s been working on a ritual to create partially real shadow illusion manifestations of the memories from people, places, and things. The ritual pulls an unpredictable amount of shadow energy from the Plane of Shadow, which might drag other material—or creatures—along with it. She’s testing the ritual’s effects in the Blakros Museum, both due to that location’s longstanding ties to the Plane of Shadow and because the museum has an intricate series of wards and protective measures to guard against a variety of supernatural mishaps. She has been working on the ritual for several days at the museum after its normal hours of operation, with some assistants aiding her. I was one of those assistance, but I have seen some misplaced affection toward her homeland of Nidal. She hopes the ritual will show that there is some good in her homeland; she included some Shadowtongue in the runes and it’s been enhancing the energy."

Nice Roll.

Grimm can´t do a thing but be utterly impressed. "Good work. Let us go to the BM!"

Oh, thank you very much! Does new members have to bring baked goods first time? Nevermind... we go check it out.

The goblin scurries off with his party toward the museum.

"Ah, I've been meaning to visit the Blakros Museum. I've heard such intereting things about it!"

It certainly sounds as if they're working on something the Society would be interested in. Let's make sure to bring that magic lantern too! The museum sounds like a dark place even without this ritual.

Arun's face splits into an ugly sneer. "Because if there's one thing the Blakros Museum is known for it's safety. Expect shadows to try to eat our faces."

The group hastily makes their way to the Blackros Museum. It's after hours and the doors are closed, but unlocked. Shortly after entering you are politely greeted by one of the staff cleaning up for the day, "Hello. Welcome to the museum, but we are closed for the day."

"We are here to check on a researcher. Could you let us in please?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Ahem

The goblin clears his throat.

We here for hip underground scene. Probably in the basement?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

"We are willing to pay the silver price."
Grimm hands over a donation of 5 silver pieces!

Arun snarls, "How closed?"

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

He motions to the stairs, "Sure, they're upstairs. Go on up. Ummm.
Thanks for the donation." He puts the silver in his pocket and continues his work.

You make your way upstairs. To your left is a hallway lined with office doors. Looking south, the museum opens up to several exhibits.

Map is updated.

Arfsnarf starts down the hallway to the left.

Maybe in one of these offices, where they can get privacy.

Arfsnarf makes his way down the hallway. He can vaguely see placards on both doors at the far end of hallway.

The doors are a bit hard to see, so I marked them all in Green on the map.

Green door #1!

Arfsnarf opens the first door he comes across and finds a stereotypical office. The office is clean and organized.

"Offices? How mundane. Not at all this museum's reputation!" Sparkin will wander toward the exhibit spaces.

Sparkin moves south toward the exhibits. The gnome looks at the display to the left:

Carefully framed spellbook pages hang along this room’s walls, while eldritch relics stand in small display cases in the room’s center. In the far corner, shadows hang thicker than the rest of the room, and it seems a boisterous half-orc woman stands there, surrounded by vague figures, as she welcomes newcomers. Her voice is thin and reedy, but eerily familiar. “Congratulations! Let me spice up that punch a bit for you—to celebrate, of course!”

The goblin follows Sparkin into the exhibit area.

Tavvar Hamavsi, we presume? How go your shadowy experiments? Good enough celebrate, or is that for something else?

He casts a quick detect magic towards the shadows.

What going on there?

Arun's face twists in suspicion. Probably just some odd echo. Nothing that thinks.

He reaches down to light a torch, hoping to dispel the shadows.

"Now this is more like it!" Sparkin admires the spellbook pages.

Looks like careful work. Maybe I'll stop by when we aren't so busy.

He tries to identify the source of the shadows.
Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Right-o, a check to go with that detect magic would probably be helpful...

Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 oh cool

Keeping his hand on his weapon Grimm slowly moves closer.

Jaladek glances at the exhibits with controlled fascination. He's positioned himself as the scout of this small band and doesn't want to leave the group open to attack like what had happened in the ship. Munk follows close, silent and vigilant.

He holds the magical lantern in one hand and his rapier in the other as he moves about the room.

"Hmm, quite a...different kind of museum."

Exploration action:

I moved the tokens on the map to represent where I think you might be. Feel free to move them as necessary.

Jaladek scouts ahead with Munk close behind keeping an eye out for immediate danger.

Arun and Grimm move forward warily as Sparkin and Arfsnarf examine the exhibit.

Though Sparkin isn't sure what the cause of the shadows are, Arfsnarf is sure this is a supernatural effect caused by an outside influence.

Arfsnarf detects the presence of magic in the area which isn't surprising considering the exhibit.

The image of the half-orc disappears and a female half-elf appears with a big smile on her face, "I love working with new recruits, they're so enthusiastic."

Yeah, but I was hoping the roll would give me more details about the magic. At least I hope that 20 wasn't wasted!

Arfsnarf begins to walk the room and inspect the spellbook pages carefully.

Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Yeah, but I was hoping the roll would give me more details about the magic. At least I hope that 20 wasn't wasted!

Detect Magic just shows that there is magic somewhere in the area of effect, but doesn't locate the magic.

But, for your nat 20 I should give you some information:

Arfsnarf looks at the shadows and the manifestations of the half-orc and half-elf. The goblin believes that these shadows are a direct result of whatever ritual is being performed in the museum and is tapping into the feelings and memories of those around it.

Arfsnarf gives the half-breeds a puzzled look and inquires.

What good does feelings and memories of nearby people do for you?

:So, this is merely the effect of the ritual? We should go find the caster."

Sparkin will continue farther into the museum.

Oh, they not here. Casting from afar. I starting to doubt hipster illusion club.

The goblin sighs and follows the gnome, wondering aloud where they could be hiding out.

I wonder if they hide in office or museum exhibit. My guess be office but if we go see other exhibit they probably try more illusions on us.

Sparkin moves toward the Hall of Legendary Beasts with Arfsnarf following.

A gigantic reptilian beast is on display in the center of this expansive gallery, ferociously leering over the collection of taxidermy animals and monsters. Shadows flit between the displays, meandering and shuffling shapes reminiscent of museum patrons. Then a distant shriek echoes off the walls, as the shadow of a stuffed owlbear lashes out at one of the shadow-visitors with its talons. The shadow of the tyrannosaur in the room’s center departs from its source and snaps at the misty image of another patron, tossing its head back and seeming to swallow its meal nearly whole. Other shadows snarl and hiss, scuffling amongst themselves as shadow-guests panic and run toward the exit.

Arun gives a feral grin as he watches the shadowy predators hunt, taking out his polearm in case things turned hostile. "Now this at least seems interesting."

Dinosaur shadow puppets. These illusionists make very sophisticated community theatre.

The goblin remarks out loud, louder than needed for his companions around him, hoping that the casters might reveal themselves sooner than later.