Outpost III - GM Ietsuna - Siege of Gallowspire (Inactive)

Game Master Ietsuna

Arrow knocked, the archer follows.

Looking through the entire complex on the north of the bridge it is all just trophies.

"Are we just wasting time, New Friends? There doesn't seem to be anything worth looking at around here," Corona remarks with a frown. "I mean, I guess there's still whatever's across the bridge there (the section in the southeast corner of the map) that we should look at..."

I'll wait for one other to agree with Corona before moving us that way

"Agreed. Let's get across the bridge before something else comes up to knock us off of it."

Numerous small cells line the hallways here, accessible only through narrow windows cut into the otherwise bare walls. There are no doors to these cells.

Grel uses his Spirit Sense here as well. Hoping not to uncover anything malicious.

"Huh, not much here it seems." Hanlin, getting a bit down about the entire situation, goes about searching through the cells for any tidbits of information.

"Someone check for magic, maybe there's something hidden away?"

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Bo looks for dangers and auras.

Perception: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (13) + 28 = 41

Will also cast Detect Magic

As before, Garduk casts detect magic and (if he's still with us) Magnus casts detect evil.

Perception (Garduk): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Perception (Magnus, if applicable): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

No malicious presences appear to be within the prison cells or the surrounding "cell block"

**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**

A flurry of Pathfinders descends on the battlefield, darting between the undead. With medicine and magic, they repair your injuries. The Medic Mission was successful!

GMs, the Medic Mission Success condition on page 26 is in effect.

Does that mean we have searched the entire southeast area? I didn't see a description - it's an empty prison?

Yeah have searched the south structure. It is an empty prison. Each cell has no doors. The Whispering Tyrant simply put prisoners in and formed the walls to seal them in.

With the medic mission success you each gain a medic aid token.

Any other searching we should be doing here or are we waiting for an event trigger?

There is the ruins/buildings on the upper right (north East) of the map

Grel stalks around to the northeast using his Spirit Sense to root out any foes.

Garduk follows Grel at a reasonable distance (10-15'), casting detect magic every few minutes to keep the effect going.

I assume that by now, Magnus's summons has expired?

**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**

Pathfinders! Your valiant efforts in the Black Caverns have met with success! The holy relic of the goddess Chaldira Zuzaristan responds immediately to your presence, granting luck to the entire expedition!

GMs, the The Relic Recovered condition on page 27 is in effect.

"Well, at least it seems like we're making progress as a whole, New Friends," Corona remarks as she follows the others towards the northeastern ruins. "Even if we've not found anything around here. And I guess making sure the rear is secure is still pretty important!"

"Well, at least it seems like we're making progress as a whole, New Friends," Corona remarks as she follows the others towards the northeastern ruins. "Even if we've not found anything around here. And I guess making sure the rear is secure is still pretty important!"

"You're rear looks pretty secure from back here, if you don't mind me sayin'..." Hanlin gives the blonde a wink and a smile. "Once we finish saving the world and all, dinner and drinks on me, that invite goes out of all of you, not just the owner of the caboose I keep staring at."

"Aw geeze, New Friend Hanlin..." Corona stammers, flushing a little bit. "That's nice of you to say, but, um..."

Her eyes take on a dreamy, faraway look. Well, more dreamy than usual, anyway.

"There's someone else that's been on my mind...he's probably here too, somewhere...I hope he's okay..."

Grel laughs in his cat form, You sound more like a Caydenite than an Iomedaen. But I definitely will partake of drink when we get out of here.

"Aw geeze, New Friend Hanlin..." Corona stammers, flushing a little bit. "That's nice of you to say, but, um..."

Her eyes take on a dreamy, faraway look. Well, more dreamy than usual, anyway.

"There's someone else that's been on my mind...he's probably here too, somewhere...I hope he's okay..."

"Ahh good for you! We all need someone to go home to. I hope they're ok and may you both please attend my celebratory meal." Hanlin leaves it at that, knowing full well that there are many dames in the multiverse.

"I appreciate the zest for life of Caydenites. There's a time for serious and a time for celebration. What's the point of battling evil if you can't revel in victory?"

The hound archon smacks Garduk on the back of the head and gestures at Hanlin and the others up ahead.

"You better catch up, Bub. Safety'n numbers and all that. And try ta lighten up a little, will ya? These other guys'll be more likely ta want ta save yer bacon if they like ya."

He blows a double-lungful of choking cigar smoke in Garduk's face. By the time the half-orc has waved it away, the celestial is gone.

Realizing he is alone and has lagged behind the group, Garduk hurries to catch up to the other Pathfinders, arriving in time to hear the end of the conversation.

"I drink. I mean, I could drink. Hrmmm. I mean, I would be happy to join you all for a drink when this is over. If we survive."

Bo, never one to feel in such social circumstances, remains quiet during these exchanges.

**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**

Pathfinders! Thanks to your efforts, the Whispering Tyrant’s ritual is starting to falter. Necromantic energy from throughout Gallowspire is draining to the Pillar in an attempt to maintain the ritual, and you’re still gaining ground.

The Ritual Disturbed condition on page 27 is in effect.

You approach the door into the building. A presence seems to radiate from a rune on the door. Fort save please from everyone

Fort save 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Reesa cries out in pain as the force from the door has a terrible effect on her!

fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Grel approaches the door and braces against the negative aura. It passes over him after some clenching of teeth.

Fort (DC 20): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Corona flinches as Reesa shrieks with pain, looking around for the source of it.

"Oh! New Friend, what's wrong!? Is it ghosts???"
______________

Alas, Corona can't make that Spellcraft even on a 20.

Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

"ARRRGG!"

Garduk doubles over and staggers against the cavern wall. Shaking his head, he grits his teeth and snarls, "Let's keep moving."

The half-orc takes a long breath, then another. He spits on the ground and grunts in surprise that there isn't any blood.

"I don't know what that rune is. That probably means it's advanced enough that this pain isn't going to go away anytime soon."

Still bent over from the pain, Garduk draws his wand of magic missile. "I guess we found someplace the damned lich doesn't want us to go."

Fort: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 +4 If mind effecting
If not Mind Effecting Fort {GM Reroll}: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 1 = 22

Magic reaches out for the monk, who spins away at the last moment.

Fort DC20: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

"Good golly that stings!" Hanlin feels like his joints swell and ache all over. "Yes, keep moving while I try to think of a way to fix this! Anyone know what that was exactly?"

Heal Check vs Self: What is this?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

You continue to advance and move inside the structure.

Auto succeed on that DC

With keen eyes, the archer spots something amiss. He kneels near a flagstone. "Hold a minute! This one seems loose." He pokes and prods the stone, then finally pulls it free from the ground. "Ah ha. A box. It is locked though." After scanning it for magic and traps, he holds the coffer up for others to open.

Perception (coffer): 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (16) + 26 = 42
Will also cast Detect Magic

DC28 Disable Device to unlock the coffer

Grel walks by Bo and the flagstone. I'm not much help with picking locks in this state. I figured you'd be handy with these kinds of things, Bo.

Garduk casts detect magic as well, and eases himself down to the floor to get a closer look at the box.

Damnation, that doesn't help at all, and I bet it's going to hurt like Hell when I stand back up.

He stands up quick and groans in pain, proving himself right. Blinking away years, he growls, "While we look for magical auras, I don't suppose anybody has a set of lockpicks? And the skill to use them? If not, I can look up a spell that might get it open without damaging the contents. Only takes a few seconds, but I'd have to give up one of the spells I prepared this morning, and it might not work."

Using the Quick Study arcanist exploit, as a full round action Garduk can spend an arcane reservoir point to swap one of his prepared second level spells for Knock.

Bah, Grel has a Traveler's any-tool but that would have been absorbed in his Wild Shape.

Corona shakes her head. "Nope! I've never been very good with little tools like lockpicks. But I might be able to corrode the lock open if Garduk really doesn't want to use his magic powers."

"Nice find. Can't say I can be much help.. other than my sword cuts through steel like buttah..." Hanlin draws his beautiful adamantine longsword and offers to try to gently saw open the box.

Ok, so is Corona doing her thing or Garduk doing his? I will proceed assuming one of you opens it, resolve it and burn the spell etc.

Within the coffer you find a 6-inch-tall statue of a halfling holding a shortsword with three notches cut into the blade.

While it will take further study to uncover the artifact’s full potential, its recovery provides an immediate boon. You gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks for the rest of the adventure.

You hear a howling off in the distance outside that seems to be getting closer.

Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

The monk takes a moment to appreciate the craftsmanship of the figurine. "That is a tiny man. Do you think it is life size?"

**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**

At last, the ritual reaches a critical point, With the ritual’s anchoring stones disrupted and its guardians slain, the Pillar struggles in vain to stop its magic from collapsing. The Pillar trembles, and a psychic scream echoes through the minds of everyone within Gallowspire. The lasts wisps of magic drift away from the pillar’s surface, filling the room with a quiet fog. The taste of corruption fades from the air.

Utter silence falls, as if all the air in Gallowspire has been drawn away by the inhalation of some massive being. But the peace does not last for long. The stillness is broken a moment later by a titanic crack. Fissures form in the walls, and the ground shifts. Silently, a pitch-black nothingness begins to ooze forth from the newly formed cracks in the walls, floors, and ceilings. The cracks spread with supernatural speed, reaching out like grasping fingers to tear the dungeons to pieces. In the Black Caverns, small rocks begin to rain down from above. Gallowspire is falling apart!

GMs, please apply the Speeding Up the Encounters conditions on page 16 and finish up your encounter quickly.

Stalactites riddled with fingers of negative energy begin raining from the ceiling as the entire area shakes treacherously. It is clear that the time to go is now!

There are scattered undead remaining, but the spire is collapsing. The ground rocks and bucks beneath your feet.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Uh oh

Grel tries to dodge the rocks but finds himself pinned under debris.

Depending on how many others are trapped I have some remedy for this. Freedom of Movement or Stone Shape. I could wild shape into an earth elemental, too.

Corona, we might need to do both - let's see how Garduk does.

Garduk quickly flips through his spellbook, reluctantly casting aside his preparation of mirror image and refreshing his memory of knock, then casting the spell.

Knock knock (caster level check with +10 bonus vs. DC): 1d20 + 7 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 10 = 31

He examines the statuette inside the box.

Knowledge (religion), pain penalty: 1d20 + 9 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 4 + 1 = 17

"Huh, well, I didn't expect something like this. We'd better bring it back to the Dark Archive."

Acrobatics, pain penalty: 1d20 + 2 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 4 + 1 = 8

Reflex, luck bonus: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 = 12

GM reroll, 1 star: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 10

"AAAAAAAaaaargpmh!"

Ok, there is also something that I need to offer you. If any of you want to have your character or aid character/s have a heroic death this is your chance. There are skills challenges but this section is mostly narrative.