[PFS2] GM Rinaldo's Escaping the Grave (1-03) (Inactive)

Game Master The Great Rinaldo!

"Careful. Careful." Hiro begins to check out the classroom. If the hole looks safe, he'll check that out too. Perception in stat line.

Emdi will volunteer to climb into the hole. (Acrobatics +7)

Bellamin frowns. "You've been holed up here for a month and have seen no other living souls the entire time?"

"Quite the ordeal, I'm sure but if you survived it's possible some of the others might have survived too. We found a few bodies, not all of them, so there's hope, at least"

Bellona follows the others and investigates with perception

This is what I am seeing from your posts, including from before you found Larraz:
Hiro - Search classroom [Perception +4]
Bellona - Search classroom [Perception +6]
Emdi - Climb down into hole [no check needed]
Trestan - Examine art and architecture in main hall [Society +6]
Bellamin - Examine clothing and possessions of body on outside stairs [Religion +4]

I just need an investigation activity from Klatzu. If anyone wants to change, let me know.

Klatzu will follow Emdi into the hole since there's no telling what's in there. Also, I missed it originally while I was speed reading at work, but Klatzu is a Gorumite Cleric, which is why he's hauling around a Greatsword.

"If one Pathfinder live, might be others! No time rest! Klatzu check downstairs!"Klatzu quickly hooks his rope to a desk, badly ties it around his waist, and leaps down into the hole, throwing caution to the wind.

Emdi notes that Klatzu left more slack on the rope than the depth of the hole. He grabs the rope and lowers Klatzu to the ground before climbing in.

Larraz waits in his hiding room while you spread out to examine more of the college.

Trestan goes back into the main hall and looks over the art there. He notices one painting has survived nearly undamaged. It is of a distinguished, handsome halfling woman dressed in pristine white finerymost likely a former dean of Goldenflame Academy. This probably has both monetary and historical value.

Bellamin goes back to the steps to look at the man who died there. His dress appears to be that of an Iomedaean priest or ranking church member.

The rest of the group begins to inspect the classroom. As Klatzu and Emdi prepare to lower themselves into the hole, Bellona calls out for them to stop. She points out places around the hole that are unsound, and might give way if the two spelunkers step out.
Shoring up the loose boards will require a Crafting check; alternately, you can simply try breaking the loose boards away and hope that nothing untoward happens as you do.

I need to resolve this before moving forward; let me know which solution you are trying, or if you want to simply forge ahead and risk the loose floorboards.

Emdi waits for Klatzu's response, but if Klatzu wants to be a little reckless, Emdi's more than happy to be co-reckless. He can hold the rope while Klatzu swan dives into the hole, and pull him out, to minimize the effect of the crumbling floor boards.

Hiro offers to at least try to prop it up. He's no carpenter, but it's likely worth the try: Craft (U): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17

If it doesn't eat the exploration phase, Klatzu will try to shore up the floor with Craft: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21 by smashing a few desks and using their top boards to cover the weak floorboards; else Klatzu is more than willing to boldly go into the abyss. If anything it will explain how he develops bounciness at later levels if he falls a bunch now.

If Klatzu Crafting requires a turn, Emdi will go Percept something (the body outside).

If it doesn't, he will help Klatzu down the hole.

Bellamin shakes his head as he rises from his examination. Turning to Bellona, he says, "From what I can tell, this man does not match any of our dossiers. He did, however, have this book." He holds out the notebook that was nearby. "I believe you are more suited to the task of looking through this for clues than I am."

After handing off the book, he heads back inside and opens the doors immediately inside and to the north, looking for more clues.

Bellona smiles and nods at Bellamin:"Worth a try, s'pose" she says as she starts studying the notebook...

Society +3 for Bellona

Shoring up the floorboards is part of the exploration of the hole, so does not require any additional time.

Klatzu breaks up some of the more intact furniture and uses the pieces to brace up the weaker parts of the floor. With that done, he and Emdi easily go down into the hole and discover an ornate longsword that had fallen in.

You have now spent about 15 minutes total in the college, counting the time you spend talking to Larraz. There are several unopened doors downstairs, and three stairs leading upward. There are two investigations you have not done from what you've found so far. Let me know who wants to go where and do what!

A bunch of people had declared their intention to search various aspects, I assume they should have done that while we were spelunking.

Religion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Society: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Tresten properly identifies the new object also. "Ah, an Iomedean sword. Very interesting." He says, presuming they bring it back up. "There's also some nice art in the foyer that could be worth recovering." He nods, then adds hastily, "Purely in the interests of preservation, of course."

I can check the body again for Medicine/Perception, but based on the info we have already, I don't feel like it would give us any more useful information.

A bunch of people had declared their intention to search various aspects, I assume they should have done that while we were spelunking.

Yes, I addressed all of the other results before stopping to have you deal with the hole. You are all now caught up to the same point in time, and ready to either open more doors or do more investigations.

"Let us be thorough, but not lag. Festina lente I believe is the old Taldane for it." Will continue to hang back and take action after the party decides.

Emdi Emmay wrote:

A bunch of people had declared their intention to search various aspects, I assume they should have done that while we were spelunking.

Yes, I addressed all of the other results before stopping to have you deal with the hole. You are all now caught up to the same point in time, and ready to either open more doors or do more investigations.

Bellona wanted to check the notebook with society but I don't think it was adressed? Should I roll for her?

Klatzu examined the sword briefly before passing it off to Emdi. "Sword too small! Unusable for Klatzu! Pretty though." Klatzu remains silent for a blessed moment before grinning heartily. Without warning he quickly clambers out of the pit, scrambling to collect his rope before before bursting from the room to explore the other side of the hall. "CHOP CHOP TEAM! Klatzu want find more pretty garbage!" Klatzu throws open the door across the hall, or bashes it in as needed.

You are all now caught up to the same point in time, and ready to either open more doors or do more investigations.

Excellent!

Emdi runs around with Klatzu throwing open doors.

"Can longshanks be on Chop Chop Squad? I have a chop, but I prefer toing."

Bellona wanted to check the notebook with society but I don't think it was adressed? Should I roll for her?

I must have missed that. I'll note it for the next round. In the meantime...

Klatzu and Emdi cross the hall and open the doors on the northern side. Dirty rugs, shattered desks, and smashed-in doors are what remains of these small offices. Papers and long-dried inkwells are scattered among the detritus.

In the northwesternmost office lies a body surrounded by chunks of gray zombie flesh. Heavy claw marks and deep rips mar this corpse, which lies sprawled and partially covered by the broken desk in the northwest corner. The desiccated flesh of zombies litters the floor around it. Scraps of cloth hang tattered around its mangled hands, which even now are locked into fists.

Adding investigations to the list:
* Search the offices (Perception)
* Investigate the cloth in the corpse's hands (Crafting)
* Examine the corpse (Medicine or Perception)

There are three sets of stairs leading up to the second floor.

"Hey guys, there's another body in here!"

Since there doesn't seem to be anything that's going to jump out at us on this level, Emdi suggests we finish searching this floor before going upstairs.

Emdi will search the body in the office. (Perception +3)

Bellamin crouches next to the body, examining it. "They fought hard, to the bitter end."

+4 to Medicine

@GM: is there anything at the well? If there is, Klatzu will figure this area is covered by Bellamin and Emdi, opt to "explore upstairs, but will stop to examine the well when he spots it on the way up.

Hiro searches around the offices, looking for anything of import...

Post must've gotten eaten. Tresten will also search the offices, Perception +6

Bellona looks over the notebook dropped by the man outside. The esoteric diagrams within to be some sort of field research notes.

Klatzu goes out back and examines the well. Beyond a functioning bucket that brings up clean water, he finds nothing of note.

In the offices, Hiro and Trestan fan out to search each room carefuly. Behind a collapsed cabinet they find a channel protection amulet, and in a caved in portion of the room with the body they find a wayfinder.

Emdi and Bellamin look over the body itself. Other than the tattered rags in its hands, it carries no gear that would identify the person, but they note tusk stumps in the mouth, as if the man had tried to hide an orcish heritage.

----

Gathering back together, you go upstairs. All the stairs lead to the same area from different directions. The main open room is lined with bookshelves and sitting mats. Two smaller rooms branch from the main hallway, serving as private study nooks.

A hallway beyond has four closed doors, and one opened door leading into what appears at first glance to be a well-furnished bedroom.

Added an investigation task for the Study Area, and marked additional locations you can open up. There is one incomplete check on the ground floor still (The cloth in the corpses hands in the office).

Seized by an idea, Bellamin hurries to find Tresten. "I believe I may have found another of our missing Pathfinders, but I will need your help to be sure. Would you mind examining these cloths we found on the body? I think your more intensive education will be useful here."

Emdi notes that Klatzu also has Crafting. However, Emdi notes with dismay that this may preclude him being on the Chop Chop Squad

Emdi opens a door in the upstairs. He'll start with what appear to be small rooms.

I put my icon by a random door but if someone else joins me and wants to go somewhere else, I'll gladly follow.

I would not want to deprive anyone of being on the Chop Chop Squad! But Tresten has a higher crafting score.

Bellona follows Emdi and waits for him to open the door

Emdi and Bellona check the doors on the east side of the hallway, discovering two sets of faculty offices.
Nothing special here and no investigations.

"Mmmh... nothing worth our time here. Ehi, Emdi, let's check this other room..." Bellona says as she moves north next to another door waiting for Emdi to get it open

I moved Bellona next to the door she wants to open

I swear it took me all weekend to find out what craft check you guys were talking about before remembering all the available checks were listed in the Slides. Klatzu will join Emfi up top to slam doors open, Tresten can hit the cloth due to his better save.

"Chop-chop squad roll out!"

Emdi backs up Bellona. He'll stay within 10 feet of her.

Opening more doors, you discover a series of dormitories meant for several students each.

Added two investigations, one each for the northern and southern pair of dorms. That makes 5 total investigations currently available.

The only remaining unviewed area is the center room, which you can see slightly into from the hall.

One final task for the Chop Chop Squad!

Still waiting on Tresten for what he'd like to do, but otherwise I'll head upstairs and check the study area. +4 to Religion.

Can't move self, on phone. Will search one of the dormitories, Perception +6.

Tresten heads to one of the revealed dorms to look it over for valuables or survivors.

Bellona studies the southern dormitories with her perception of +6

"Mmmmh..."

Klatzu scurries up behind Emdi before getting into position behind the last door. "Klatzu ready!"

Emdi and Klatzu peer into the center room. The double door to this suite has been knocked off its hinges and shattered, leaving the exit open to the hallway outside. A broken four-post bed stands against the eastern wall. A circular table and an accompanying chair occupy a nook in the southwest. A large statue depicting a marble chariot wheel sporting flames of gold occupies the northeast corner.

Two additional investigations: Search the room (perception), and study the statue (religion).

So I have Trestan on the northern dorms, Bellona on the southern dorms, and Bellamin in the study area. Klatzu, Emdi, and Hiro can give me investigation activities.

Emdi will search the statue. (Religion +3)

While Emdi checks out the statue, Hiro will look at the room itself (Perception.)

Going to bot Klatzu as searching the big room with Perception.

Bellamin examines the books in the study area, and uncovers an antique copy of The Acts of Iomedae, a sacred text that is in remarkably good condition relative to the rest of the college.

Bellon and Trestan split off to check the student dormitories; between them they uncover a vial of holy water and some dusty jewelry.

As Emdi puzzles over the statue in the big room, Hiro and Klatzu start looking around. Klatzu gets up onto the bed and looks at the ceiling, and notices several places where the supports are sagging. Looking more closely, he realizes that something is moving in the ceiling.

Klatzu has noticed a hazard. The ceiling is about to collapse, and there appears to be something scurrying around up there. Disabling this hazard requires a trained Crafting check from one of the three of you in the room.

Bellamin, nearly in shock at his find, carefully wraps the book in some cloth and stores it in his pack. Definitely can't leave this here.