[Outpost III / PFS2 Luke_Parry] 1-01: The Absalom Initiation (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

"Where is the tower? Anyone see stairs to top?"

Chug then dodges around the shadows.

You mean, for example, like the staircase in the SE corner of the room you are in right now...? ;-)

No longer distracted by the shadows, Chug notices the stairs and heads that way.

Elixia will follow along, motioning to the others.
two scenarios on the same map at the same time hehe.

Guinoq follows along, the words of power itching to leave his mouth and summon forth cleansing fire.

He refrains, but only just.

Merisiel also follows, eager to get to the source of these shadowy monsters.

Dazzatir follows, not used to being last. "Sick 'em boy!" he shouts to the t-rex shadow, trying to get his shadow to point to the other Pathfinders.

B5:

Droning voices echo off the mahogany walls and domed, plaster ceiling of this luxurious room. The sumptuous furniture has been pushed to the sides of the room, making space for eldritch markings and mystical paraphernalia laid carefully over the plush carpet. The chamber seems muted and dim despite the crystal chandelier overhead, and a bone-numbing chill seeps through the space along with a metallic scent. A ritual is obviously underway here, but it doesn’t seem as though it’s working as planned. Shadowy energy lashes out from a twisting breach in the center of the room, and indistinct shapes flit and scuttle along the walls.

Your arrival appears to have stirred the shadows up even further; it is abundantly clear that whatever fragile balance was being maintained, has been well and truly broken by your sudden arrival - it is only a matter of time before the ritual fails, catastrophically...

A woman with white hair manages to spit out through gritted teeth:

"I don't know who you are, but if you are here to help, stabilise the wards!"

Flawed Ritual: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4.
Caelan: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11.
Chug: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18.
Dazzatir: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22.
Elixia: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17.
Quinoq: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13.
Merisiel: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7.

Publish Or Perish, Round 1:

Dazzatir (-)
Chug (-)
Elixia (-)
Guinoq (-)
Caelan (-)
Merisiel (-)
Flawed Ritual (-)

Party is up!

Alright, so, the way this works (for the moment at least) is the following:

If you are adjacent to the ritual circle (the starburst pattern on the floor of the tower room), you can spend 1 action to make either an Occultism check, *or* an Arcana or Thievery check.

That means that if you start your turn next to the Ritual, you can make three checks per round.

The Occultism DC is initially very high, but each time you succeed at it, the DC lowers by two, whereas the Arcana/Thievery DC is moderately high, but does not reduce.

Merisiel runs to the center of the circle still had 15 ft left so if its somewhere other than center than i could've gotten there.

"What's going on?!" she shouts as she attempts to discern what is wrong with the ritual.

Thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

actions: 1-2 Double move, 3 thievery check

We's Pathfinders and we will help!"

Chug moves into the room and tries to figure out the ritual.

Thievery: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Thievery: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Stride, Thievery, Thievery

Elixia doesn't like the look of things and moves into the room so she can be central to everyone, then casts Spirit Link on Guinoq who she guesses will be key to fixing this with his magical lore.

Guinoq sighs as he comes down the stairs. "Crap. I guess I have to learn everything I can about this magic, now." He rushes forward into the room to the circle and attempts to understand what is happening.

1. Move 2. Move 3. Arcana

Arcana Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

I have both skills at +7 so If I get opportunities to do more checks next round, I'll probably blow actions attempting both.

This scenario has really not been for this type of character! Goodness!

"You want me to hoodamawuzit with the circle-thingy? I mean, I can try..." Sure hope there isn't a penalty for crit fails!

Triple move to there. Man I'm slow. Stairs are always difficult terrain in 2e.

Caelan takes in the room at a glance and raises his eyebrow at the woman.

”Well, naturally my good lady, but would you mind elaborating on what precisely you were trying to do here?”

He glances about the circle, then in a lower voice to his companions, ”Not really my bailiwick, but I can make the attempt.”

Occultism: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Arcana: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Dazzatir thunders up the stairs, huffing and puffing.

Chug moves forward, and starts reinforcing the warding circle.

Elixia casts Spirit Link on Guinoq.

Guinoq moves in and does his best, but the wards are fluctuating a little too fast for him.

Caelan somehow stumbles onto a meditative hum, which helps the other ritual casters focus better.

Merisiel manages to reinforce the warding circle.

The rift in reality pulses...

Chug, Guinoq, Caelan, and Merisiel take 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10 Negative damage. DC 18 Fort for half.

...as a blob of shadow matter pulls itself out of the rift, and lashes out at Merisiel...

Since three of you decided to stand at the centre of the ritual circle, rather than at the edge, it can just full attack...

Shadow Tendril: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23, for 1d6 ⇒ 2 damage.
Shadow Tendril: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6, for 1d6 ⇒ 6 damage.
Shadow Tendril: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0, for 1d6 ⇒ 3 damage.

...scoring a minor blow.

Publish Or Perish, Round 2:

Dazzatir (-)
Chug (-10; Fort for half)
Elixia (-)
Guinoq (-10; Fort for half)
Caelan (-10; Fort for half)
Merisiel (-2+-10; Fort for half)
Flawed Ritual (4 successes)
SW (-)

Party is up!

At the start of Elixia's turn Guinoq heals 2 damage and she takes 2 through the Spirit link!

Seeing so many of her teammates hurt she'll cast a three-action Heal spell through her Divine font that should hit all the living people in the room (and if any undead are lurking around...)

"Let the savored sting flick across your skin and remove some of the bite from your wounds!"

Positive energy: 1d8 ⇒ 5
Any undead in the area get a DC 17 basic Fortitude save

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 no hero points so i go down. shadow attacks me to dying 2. .

Elixia's healing brings me back to 5/15 with wounded 1.

Merisiel feels a dark presence over her that she cannot shake. she falls to the ground and is assaulted by a shadow blob as her eyes flicker between life and death. After a moment she feels a wave of healing over her and manages to stand up and begins stabbing at the blob in front of her.

it is flat footed assuming chug still up. and no special feats/immunities
Strike w/ rapier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 dmage piercing: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8, sneak precision: 1d6 ⇒ 5 total 12
Strike w/ dagger: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 4 = 17 dmage piercing: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7, sneak precision: 1d6 ⇒ 5 total 12

Looks like my post from yesterday disappeared.
Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Chug draws his rapiers and moves in to help Merisiel. He then stabs at the shadow creature.

Rapier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Draw Weapon, Stride, Strike

I misunderstood the description, I thought the circle on the map at the center of the room was the circle and I was standing at the edge of it. I am fine with leaving it be, though. Sorry for the confusion on my part.

Guinoq tries to resist the shadow forces.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Pushing through it, he nods a thanks to Elixia for the spirit link and the heal, which means he's at full health still. Seeing that Caelan has already started with the occult studies, he continues his meditation saying, "I just need to wrap my brain around the meta-math, one tick."

1. Occultism 2. Occultism 3. Arcana

Occultism Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Occultism Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Arcana Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Ok, let’s get this out of the way.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

1. Occultism. 2 & 3. Casts Command.

Occultism: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

”Sit down!” he says commanding the shadow thing.

Guinoq and Caelan manage to finish stabilising the ritual enough, that the ritualists are able to get it back under control, and shut it down safely.

As the rift in reality closes, the shadow blob is pulled back through, like jelly being sucked through a straw; tendrils flail madly at the edges of the rift for a moment, then disappear with a popping sound, as the rift snaps shut.

The white-haired woman breathes a sigh of relief, then turns to the party:

"Not that I don't appreciate the assistance, because I really, really do, but who are you, and why are you here? Interrupting things here could have been incredibly dangerous."

Putting away his rapier, Chug looks over at the white-haired woman. "We be Pathfinders. I'm Chug. We are need to speak with Tavvar. Is that you?"

The woman nods warily.

"Yes...?"

Elixia immediately tends to Mersiel once the fighting/issues are over...

"Oh let me look at you, poor dear..."

2 action heal: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Once she's convinced her companion is no longer at death's door...her sultry voice comes back as she joins Chug.

"It looks like you were losing control here before we came. You know...the Pathfinders can teach many things in all walks of life. Control, and how to enjoy losing control at the right moments, could be among them..."

She trails off hintingly and enticingly...

Diplomacy?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

The woman snorts and retorts:

"Only because the College refused my request for additional time and funding, to allow me to conduct further safety assessments and quality control - I was told that I had to produce results, or lose my position!"

Merisiel turns to Elixia, "This isn't easy for me to admit but no doubt you saved me back there. Not every day I get saved by a fellow Calistria follower."

----

Joining in on the conversation, Merisiel adds "Well, we've been sent to determine if you might be a good fit for the Pathfinder Society. Do you feel like you could practice better safety in your experiments in the future?"

The woman nods.

"If I am given the time and space that I need to do my research properly..."

Elixia grins a bit at Merisiel, "I'm sure we can find a way to celebrate that fact later, hm?"

and follows up with Merisiel's direction in the conversation, smiling to the woman. "Just look at us, Tavvar. The Pathfinders encourage diverse groups working together to explore, report, and collaborate. Unless you're out in the field surrounded by an angry mob, I don't think you'll have much to worry about!"

I'll make another check if needed. I don't suppose any hero points have been handed out yet this scenario GM?

Chug looks over at Merisiel and Elixia, "I can show you around Cayden's Hall. Its on the way back to the lodge."

The woman nods.

"Sounds good to me! I'll just pack up things here; I wouldn't want further problems to arise, due to improperly stored ritual objects..."

After packing things up properly, she then follows you back to the Lodge.

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

Having completed all four missions, you are able to report back to the faction leaders.

All of them are reasonably satisfied with your actions.

After the last meeting, Janira Gavix intercepts the party in the halls of the Grand Lodge.

Janira Gavix races down the hall, her blond hair flying in her excitement. “I just heard you made it back—congratulations! It sounds like everything went, well, about as well as anyone could expect. Come with me, I have something for each of you.”

The halfling woman leads the way into a small office and distributes finely crafted wooden boxes. Within each, a gleaming compass lid emblazoned with the Glyph of the Open Road and an engraved name lies upon a cushion of silk. “I’m not sure if you’ve picked up your own wayfinders yet, but when you do, you should have ones that prove that you belong. Now it’s official,” she beams. “Welcome to the Pathfinder Society!”

Alright, that's a wrap, folks! I'll try to get chronicle sheets out via PM when I get home from work.

Guinoq looks at the wayfinder with an air of obvious joy. "Thank you. It is so good to be welcome in polite society."