GM Otha’s The Cultist’s Kiss Campaign (Outpost III) (Inactive)

Game Master Otha

I think you mean 'calls Tiny to him', Teric. Jing just needs Kiboko (or someone else, it probably doesn't matter) for a Message contact to know when to make his switch.

Seldanna, the more people you teleport out the greater the risk that the orderlies notice something amiss, but the less the risk of you being set upon by Tomasz. If we leave him blind until we all reunite somewhere outside then I think you are probably safe.

So, where shall we meet up? It should be somewhere familiar to minimise the chance of a teleport mishap.

Ha! Yes, Jing swaps with Tiny!

Sounds like the teleportation plan is set...for clarification, just give me a general idea of who leaves the cell when, who stays, what do the non-teleporting folk do/where do they go, and when and to where will the teleportation go? Oh, and what is the range of your teleport spell, Seldanna?

The spell's teleport range is 100 miles per caster level, so 1000 miles for Seldanna. Meet back in the Grand Lodge of Absalom, anyone?

Seriously though, perhaps just across the road at the entrance to the Trebuchet Factory? What do others think?

One other coming with would be nice...just in case Tomasz does do something nasty.

Wow! OK, so range won't be a problem...and you've been to the Trebuchet Factory so no worries there either. Probably won't get a chance to post an update till this afternoon so if anyone wants to post any other details, feel free...

Jing Kwan's Maker's Call and Transposition function as Dimension Door. He currently has a range of 800'(Range: long (400 ft. + 40 ft./level)).

Sorry, had to work late as we had network maintenance so all sysadmins were on call...

So, before I post in gameplay thread tomorrow, let,e make sure I’ve got the general gist of this plan:

1. Seldanna teleports herself & Tomasz to the Trebuchet factory entrance
2. Jing stays in the cell, under the blankets, pretending to be Tomasz
3. The others depart, gather their weapons left behind, and distract Master Belodia
4. Jing dimension doors out of the asylum
5. The others leave the asylum

Have I got that right?

Jing will wait until the others leave or at least at the door if possible. It takes one standard to switch places with Tiny (currently standing outside the door), and one standard to recall him to my side once I am there.

Roger that, thanks, Jing!

We need a plan - we left our weapons behind :o

Kiboko can call Mvumbu on round 1 - a standard action, plus probably a move action to take the statuette out and set it down. She is a Large hippo and could block the corridor. She can also trample to get behind the undead.

Round 2 Kiboko can become a large hippo as well.

So I can potentially put the totenmaskes in a hippo flank, but Kiboko's armour class in hippo form stinks and he'll block the corridor. Also both Kiboko and Mvumbu have low CHA.

Thoughts?

If we hole up in the cell, we can take them out from range. Fendel is probably going to turn one into a pin cushion on his turn. Normally, Teric would turn to cold damage, but since they're resistant, he'll just escape for this round.

Jing Kwan just gave us a 10 round breather unless they pass.

Outpost III officially ends on the 18th...while we probably won’t be through then, I will be reporting by then. So when you get a chance, go ahead and roll for your boons when you get a chance; a 19 or 20 does the trick...

BOON: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Boon?: 1d20 ⇒ 18

boonage: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Boon!: 1d20 ⇒ 6

possible Boon: 1d20 ⇒ 16

possible Boon: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Just Kidding.

boon: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Moving this here to save gameplay. Before we sleep, Jing Kwan will dismiss Tiny and 2-5 Lantern Archons. Jing Kwan can do this 9x a day for 10 min. each time. He will tell them in Celestial to scour the sewers for possible entrances into the Foundry, natural or created, and to report back to him. He will take notes in Tien-Dan and share them with the group.

In the morning when he awakes with his spells/abilities re-set, he will re-summon Tiny and cast Mage Armor on the both of them.

That sounds like a good idea Jing.

I'm assuming some sort of river access to the Foundry because of the need for water as part of the forging process. I could go look in the river in hippo form, but an ooze mephit may be more stealthy ;) Although, Kiboko can still get to +14 stealth as a large hippo using Owl focus.

Anyone got water breathing?

No, but Teric can try to go buy a scroll of Water Breathing. He does have Monkey Fish, but it only affects the caster. He also have Alter Self which grants a swim speed.

Could we Teleport/Dim Door into the office? Or will the ritual just be the way in eventually? I feel that's what the scenario is pushing us toward.

While Kiboko is right about the water being needed as part of the Foundry, you find it will still lead to the main warehouse room, just like going through the front door or via the docks...

Or will the ritual just be the way in eventually? I feel that's what the scenario is pushing us toward.

It kinda is...I didn't want to force you do the ritual thing...and I oversimplified things when I said both plans are viable; while they are, one is much less complicated. During the day, you have dozens of dominated workers who'd be working directly against you...and most of them are innocents otherwise and you wouldn't want to hurt/kill them...

Without trying to ruin anything, if you could somehow get by the workers without raising the alarm, finding your way would be problematic and probably frustrating...that being said, I'll try to work it either way you wish...

From a meta perspective I'm sure the scenario assumes that the PCs go along with the 'join the cult' plan, and if we do anything different then we probably give our GM a headache.

Thinking as Kiboko though, if we believe we are facing vampires the best plan is to enter their lair (the foundry) during the day. A score of dominated workers are less threat than one vampire (I mean unless the dominated workers are actually levelled to a dangerous degree in PC classes). Dominated workers can be knocked out, but if some of them are accidentally killed Kiboko still considers that better than being enslaved by a vampire. Kiboko wants to find out what the cult is up to, but also prefers to destroy the vampires and considers that easiest to do during the day.

Just my 2cp. I'll go along with the majority decision. (I'll have Kiboko scout the waters anyway, doesn't cost anything if I do it the first day).

No worries Kiboko, if Flyn were in your shoes, he’d see it the same way and try to find a way in during the day. (On that note, Flyn ‘died’ for about 6 seconds in Siege of the Gallowspire...he was fortunate one of the other PCs had gloves of healing and hit him with Breath of Life...tough scenario)

Back to the scenario though...all ways in from the outside ultimately lead to the large warehouse room...and let’s just say finding anything from there on your own will be an issue. And once you’re discovered in the Foundry, the authorities will be sent for (and like the entire town, they’re ignorant of the cult)...you may still try though, if you wish...

Seems like the writers hedged their bets here, thinking the same thing as Kiboko...

It's too bad we don't have a Bard. We need a mass non-combat area control effect for once we're inside.

What about Invisibility Sphere? How noisy will it be in there? Maybe we could get inside unnoticed and hide somewhere until darkness falls if it turns out we need to be inside the warehouse itself?

Invisibility would be a way for one (or more if it's a group spell) to get yourself inside to the warehouse area unnoticed, if one of you has that capability...that would give you a much better idea of the layout...

We need to decide if we follow the track on the railroad suggested path or break away for a daylight assault. Unfortunately, my Invisibility only lasts for four (4) minutes. Note enough time to recon in so short a window.

The dominated innocents present a problem. I have Merciful on my bow, but I imagine it would take a loooong time to clear everyone in there. Then there would be the local fallout with the town and constabulary. Plus, there is no guarantee the presumed vamps would be there during the.

The safe and informed course of action for the seasoned team we are is to go in with the sun, like at dawn.

That said, playerwise, that may be a real headache for Otha. I doubt there is a section in the scenario well designed for a daytime contingency. Which means extra work on the GM's behalf.

A nighttime excursion helps to ensure that the bad guys are either there, or a clear way to find them is discovered. Additionally, it would seem that there would be fewer civilians around at night, so less collateral damage.

So, even though it is an entirely metagaming decision, I vote for the night time as it seems like the most direct route.

So you're proposing we sneak in, but at night time instead of broad daylight? That would work for me

Most of the scenario is actually pretty wide open and not very linear...until you get to this part. The writers literally show no other option for getting entry into the foundry; as I said, I'd have the same reservations if it were one of my PCs trying to go in at night so not sure why they didn't at least address it in the scenario at all...

I don't necessarily mind the headache of a daylight assault, but realize I'll be winging it as I'll have no guidance from the scenario itself...I'll try to be fair and logical if you go that route. While most of the workers are dominated not all are; none are cognizant of the cult and both the dominated and undominated see you as outsiders and will contact the authorities (and the dominated will warn their masters) unless you can somehow enter unseen...but even unseen, finding the cult would be problematic (don't want to say more as I don't want to give anything away here)…

So you're proposing we sneak in, but at night time instead of broad daylight?

Not at all. I think that presents it's own problems. How exactly would we sneak a rather large animal companion in? And I believe the vampire's would probably sniff us out. Could be wrong, never really faced one in PFS before, so I'm not up on their stats. I do think bluffing our way in maintaining our cover may be the best option, but we might be in that part of the movie where the bad guys know who James Bond is already. Still, that doesn't stop 007 from finishing the mission (and let's face it, as a team, we're like a bunch of 007's).

I will also cast a vote for the night option, in the interests of keeping things easier for our esteemed GM. Avoid the crowd of innocent civilians and go straight to the bad guys.

Yeah, there are times to go off the rails and be creative, but usually these pfs scenarios go better when you decide to play along. I'm fine with doing the infiltration.

Night time is fine with me. I cannot do anything to help hide/disguise us.

I like the alternative options because Quiella is useless at subterfuge. And in this case I'm not sure how long she'll wait before drawing her sword and challenging all the evil doers. I will go along with what the group prefers though

Mvumbu is currently in statuette form (Carry Companion spell) so we've no problem there.

With a majority favouring playing along with the 'joining up' ruse, Kiboko will also acquiesce.

I think we're almost certain to have to fight vampires - either Quiella will witness some unholy abomination or the cult will detect her aura of good. We should prepare accordingly.

Protection from Evil is the best I can think of, but it doesn't last long.

Magic Circle vs Evil / Chaos / Etc lasts 10 mins per level. Would be much better than ordinary PFE. Both are available as potions.

Break Enchantment is handy in case anyone does get dominated.

Once per adventure Kiboko can use the awesome Liberator boon from a completed Liberty's Edge faction card to grant a reroll on a save vs compulsion where you get to reroll two dice and take the best result. If you use your own rerolls on a compulsion save you also get to roll two dice and take the best.

What else have we got?

Any more prep or purchases before we move on? No rush, just making sure you're not waiting on me...

Just an FYI, as the following isn't explicitly listed on the Vampire link that Fendel's check allows:

Vampire Weaknesses: Vampires cannot tolerate the strong odor of garlic and will not enter an area laced with it. Similarly, they recoil from mirrors or strongly presented holy symbols. These things don’t harm the vampire—they merely keep it at bay. A recoiling vampire must stay at least 5 feet away from the mirror or holy symbol and cannot touch or make melee attacks against that creature. Holding a vampire at bay takes a standard action. After 1 round, a vampire can overcome its revulsion of the object and function normally each round it makes a DC 25 Will save.

Vampires cannot enter a private home or dwelling unless invited in by someone with the authority to do so.

Reducing a vampire’s hit points to 0 or lower incapacitates it but doesn’t always destroy it (see fast healing). However, certain attacks can slay vampires. Exposing any vampire to direct sunlight staggers it on the first round of exposure and destroys it utterly on the second consecutive round of exposure if it does not escape. Each round of immersion in running water inflicts damage on a vampire equal to one-third of its maximum hit points—a vampire reduced to 0 hit points in this manner is destroyed. Driving a wooden stake through a helpless vampire’s heart instantly slays it (this is a full-round action). However, it returns to life if the stake is removed, unless the head is also severed and anointed with holy water.

Just before, or once we start combat (depending on how much warning we get ), Seldanna can use a boon that she has:

Aquel’s Favor: You may check both boxes that precede this boon to surround yourself in holy radiance as a standard action, gaining the benefits similar to an angel’s protective aura for 1 round per character level you have. Against attacks made by or effects created by evil creatures, this ability provides a +4 deflection bonus to AC and a +4 resistance bonus on saving throws to anyone within 20 feet of you. Otherwise, it functions as a magic circle against evil effect with a radius of 20 feet and a caster level equal to your character level.

Before combat, Seldanna will use False Life (10 hour duration) and will also use another charge of her Mage Armor wand.

Does anyone want the benefits of her spell of Enlarge Person?

Teric would buy a small hand mirror and holy water if he can find some for sale. A wooden stake ought to be easy to fashion too.

Aquel's Favour is a really nice boon.

Enlarge Person is good on Kiboko in the right circumstances - he has combat reflexes and vital strike so more reach and extra damage dice are good. However, if there is space to be large he is likely to want to take on hippo form, so it's going to depend on action economy and priority targets I should think. Kiboko will also want to bring Mvumbu into the fight, and will be carrying her in statuette form initially.

Mage armour will be handy on Kiboko in case he does go hippo form - he's got no armour then.

K will whittle a couple of stakes and buy some garlic. Suspect we want to hide these things somehow.

K has a holy symbol. (GM, it's a symbol of a CN deity - but I see that the pathfinder version of this vampire weakness lacks the old 3.5 stipulation that it has to be a Lawful Good holy symbol).

@Seldanna: From talking to Tomasz, you pretty much know who the cult leaders are; I think you’ll know when to use the boon...

@Teric: Mirrors and holy water are available in town

@Kiboko: As it says only holy symbol, I’m good with that. And the black robes are large and loose, allowing you to hide much of what you carry...

Quiella is going to pass on enlarge person.

She will, however, prepare Veil of Positive Energy for herself in one of her Paladin spell slots.

She will also buy a Bard's scroll of Heroism (unless someone in the party will cast it on her from their own spell slots) to cast on herself

How long is this operation likely to take? Quiella can cast Life Pact but it only lasts for 4 8 minutes. Is anyone interested in partaking in Life Pact?

I am also going to buy a lesser extend metamagic rod. Can you use those with scrolls? Anyway that would make it 8 minutes. I'm happy to pass the rod around; take a drag, everyone.

As for Life *Link*, which lasts all day, I am thinking
Sèriè
Fendel
Serdanna
Teric

If anyone objects or thinks it should be different, let me know.

So Quiella's buffs going in are
Comprehend languages, 80 minutes
Heroism, 40 or 80 minutes (unless someone else casts it on her)
Veil of Positive energy, 60 minutes
Shield of Faith, 8 minutes
Life Pact, 8 minutes

If she casts detect undead with the metamagic rod, can she concentrate on it for 8 minutes as the party moves in? Obviously she would stop concentrating as soon as she does something else.

She also has two oils of daylight.

That vampire spell list is quite a doozy!

@Quiella: Though I can't give away the length of the operation, pretty sure you'll know when you see the leaders of the cult...and you might even have a good guess just before you encounter them...so you should have a ballpark estimate of when it will be best to cast the 8 minute duration spells...

You're also reasonably sure that even though you're meeting at the stone, you'll be taken to the foundry and probably will not need to cast anything till at least then...

Ok, I'll cast the longer spells before leaving, but save the shorter ones. I guess I would be nervous that after meeting at the stone we wouldn't have the privacy to cast spells without triggering a combat

I guess I would be nervous that after meeting at the stone we wouldn't have the privacy to cast spells without triggering a combat

You're right there, that would be a possibility you'd have to consider...

Jing Kwan and Tiny will have Mage Armor cast. Lasts 10 hours from casting time. No other preparations at this time.

Sounds like y'all are almost there as far as your plans go. We'll wait and move forward to the stone in the morning, if that sounds good to everyone...should give you time to think if there's anything else you might need...