PFS2 - 1-01 The Absalom Initiation by GM redeux (Inactive)

Game Master redeux

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"Stay back, Stitchy!" Tsu calls, wanting to keep her friend safe.

Religion: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Hopefully, Tsu can figure out something about what these are and how to stop them?

Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Bleed for This Turn: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11

The rotting hands claw open Tsu's leg which begins bleeding profusely. As quickly as the hands appeared, they disappear beneath the floorboards and can be heard scurrying off with faint shackled scratching. Before the phantasmal hands disappeared Tsu was able to recognize a holy symbol on the manancles belonging to Asmodeus.

Taking a moment to assess the situation she then realizes that she can't put much weight on her leg you're -10ft to land speed

Tsu - recall knowledge would've only been 1 action, so you're welcome to use 2 actions from your turn before the persistent damage hit.

Manacles!! Round 1: Bold May Act

Hornietelle
Knab
Tsu (-18, 2d6 persist bleed damage, -10ft land speed, 2/3 actions left)
Isra
Rikki

"Ow!" Tsu calls out as a twinge of pain comes as she tried putting weight on her injured leg. K, gotta do something about that, she thinks and quickly unravels the wrappings from her left forearm and tries to bind the wound to help slow, or hopefully stop, the bleeding.

So, two actions to do something that conceivably could help stop the bleeding should give me another flat check if I'm reading the rules on that correctly. If I'm not and she can't, she'll instead advise her allies make a swift retreat and will ready an action to move back towards the door after she sees her friends have moved safely away.

Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Isra, shocked by the turn of events, drops his dagger to the floor, and bends down to help Tsu.

"May the mercy of Pharasma see that your life is preserved and that the soul of the one below will soon be put to rest!"

Release Dagger (Free action), Treat Wounds using Battle Medicine (1 action)

Battle Medicine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Cast Heal (2 action version)

Heal: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10

I'm unclear with Battle Medicine whether you can keep trying until you succeed. Or is the target immune to your Battle Medicine for 1 day regardless of whether or not you succeed on the DC15 Medicine check?

It is 1 day cooldown regardless of pass or fail. you could use your hero point if you wished.

Thanks for the clarification. Save the Hero Point and just use the Heal as rolled.

"Thanks, Isra!" Tsu calls out, grimacing against the pain she still feels. "If we don't know how to fight this thing, I suggest a tactical retreat."

If I'm reading the rules correctly, it takes healing up to full to end persistent bleed. Is that correct, or does it stop with magical healing like it did in 1e?

"Ach, undead. I hate undead." Rikki will say, moving into the room and slicing at the hands grabbing at Tsu.

Hunt Prey the hands, if possible, one move and then slice with my clan dagger. Ignore the 1d8 if it is precision immune!

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
damage: 1d8 + 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + (2) + 4 = 9

Hornietelle runs around the corner hearing Tsu's cries, wondering what the dwarf was wrong. "What has happened to cause this noise, this place was quiet." Her tone a little angry at the disturbance. "Undead, what's this about undead?"

Assuming that she gets round after the undead arms have gone.

If I'm reading the rules correctly, it takes healing up to full to end persistent bleed. Is that correct, or does it stop with magical healing like it did in 1e?

it can be ended by healing to full, or passing the dc 15 flat check. there's also administer first aid which can be used to give you extra flat checks, or some persistent damage will run it's course and end after a certain amount of time.

Past that, persistent damage doesn't automatically stop if you go into dying, and taking persistent damage while you're down does increase your dying condition making persistent damage -very- dangerous. Since it can go downhill very fast that why we're staying in initiative until this is resolved

I can't recall if it was brought up previously, but the event at the grand lodge spans a week, so there will be time to full rest between each faction leader's quest

Currently the hands are not in sight, and cannot be heard by anyone (even by Hornietelle's elf ears). Rikki runs into the room but isn't able to determine where hands scrambled off to. All that remains is Tsu's leg gushing blood from the phantasmal hands. Mr Sitch runs around aimlessly, unable to communicate but perhaps worried for his friend.

Manacles!! Round 1: Bold May Act

Hornietelle
Knab
Tsu (-8, 2d6 persist bleed damage, -10ft land speed)
Isra
Rikki

Knab, unsure of what to do, draws his minor healing potion, and administers it to Tsu. Then he tries to understand what is going on.

(◇) Release one hand from lonspear
(◆) Interact to Draw stowed minor healing potion
(◆) Interact to Administer potion 1d8 ⇒ 3 hit points restored
(◆) Recall Knowledge 1d20 ⇒ 7 @ (Arcana, Occult +3; Nature, Religion +5)

"Here, this outta do a trick!"

Seeing Tsu bleeding profusely, the elf takes her time to heal the young dwarf. She holds her broach and says "Bring life so that revenge can be wrought." Two strands issue from the elf´s hand, one yellow one black, that surge forward to Tsu.

Heal 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

After being told that the arms came from below, Hornietelle instructs the others to "Make haste and go below, find the soul that seeks eternal rest."

Knab doesn't recall anything regarding the shackled hands. After drinking a healing potion and having both Calistria and Pharasma's divine aid, Tsu's leg stops bleeding and retains full use once more.

end of combat/hazard

Isra is relieved that Tsu is no longer in danger. "Well done everyone. The gods smile upon the young dwarf. I agree with Hornietelle that we should find the entrance to the basement and be done with this shackled creature at once."

He goes north toward the spiral staircase to see if he can find such an entrance.

Isra will continue to Search - Perception +6

As the Elf's healing magic washes over Tsu's leg and finally stops the bleeding, Tsu looks at her and quietly breathes out an, "I love you," then, realizing she just said it out loud, blushes furiously and says, "I mean, I...thank you...for the healing...and stuff," and stands with extreme embarrassment and reaches out for Stitchy's hand for reassurance.

With the threat passed, Tsu peeks through the door she'd gone to and finds nothing more than an old dining room.

Following this, she moves forward as the group seems to be moving towards a consensus that heading downstairs is the best route.

Approaching the spiral staircase the group once again finds that it does not climb above head level after ending abruptly due to debris fallen from the upper floor. The staircase doesn't appear to have ever led to a floor below. Additionally, the staircases on either side of the group are in similar condition --- having once led to a 2nd story that is inaccessible.

"Hmm, it looks like we're going to have to either explore the rest of the rooms to the east to find stairs leading down, or use the hole that we found in the west room (C7)."

Isra moves to the first door on the east side.

Tsu moves along with the human cleric while keeping a wary eye on the floor in hopes that no more manacled ghost arms burst forth. She makes sure to keep Stitchy in what she thinks will be the safest position. She also steals chances to glance across the room at the Elf to ensure she's safe and to try to read just how embarrassed she should be about her earlier verbal blunder.

Perception for Threats: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Perception for Sense Motive on Hornietelle: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Wow, pretty clear where her real focus is.

Knab is right behind Isra, longspear pointed, alert.

Search (+7) while Traffinder (+8)

The group approaches the door and detects no traps. Opening the door reveals a similar side-hall found on the eastern side. The doors at the opposite end of the side-hall are closed. Stepping into the room the group finds nothing noteworthy--continued broken tiles and a collection of dust on every surface.

C5
Repeating the routine, the group detects no traps on the next door and enters through a creaking door. Inside there is only a single, aged worktable that still stands in one corner of the room, though the clay fragments of an oven and rusted metal suggest the room was once a kitchen. The ceiling has completely fallen in which leaves this room open to the sky above. Searching the room yields no results.

There are doors on the east and west walls with the eastern door looking partially rotted through but not enough to see inside the room. The stench of the manor still lingers throughout the air.

Knab is not bothered by the stench, but he does look at Hornietelle, waiting (with some joy) to see her face curl.

Snapping back his attention, he waits for one of these fine dwarves to open the next door.

Search (+7) while Trapfinder (+8)

Hornietelle is hardly bothered by Tsu's remark's, she has broken other's hearts in the past when their gold could not provide service to Calistria. Hornietelle smiles at the dwarf, "We will need your eyes turned to the evil at hand, not me. Now let's find the spirit ready to be freed from it's misery. I have rope should you require lowering below."

........

Then she follows the group as they search the remaining rooms at the ground level. "The east seems a perfect way to continue, the west has an ambiance that is rather unsavory." Her nose rises and her lips curl as the aroma from the west attacks her senses.

"Guess i'll go first then." Rikki says, pushing the door open with his free hand and poking his head around in the room before - if it seems to be safe - heading further into the room.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

BTW, after healing Tsu, Isra would have picked up his dagger off of the floor before moving on - shield and dagger in hand.

Knab and Rikki detect no traps and the group enters. Everything this room once held now lies jumbled over the floor in a soggy mess: torn pages, scraps of fabric, and splintered remnants of furniture. Doors hang askew in the northern wall, and the southern door has been smashed from it's hinges.

In one corner of the room there is a faintly glowing lesser healing potion out in the open. 2 treasure bundles.

"Did you hear that? The spirits are calling out for us to free then. " Hornietelle speaks with a confidence that belies her demeanour. "Perhaps they are one of these two room, try the southern door, it is already open." she smiles amused at her own words. "Forward my friends." as she let's another enter the room first.

Still wanting to impress the lovely Elf, Tsu moves to enter the room, making sure Stitchy stays close, but behind her so he stays safe.

She is looking for traps or threats as she walks into the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

And she is obviously distracted trying to keep her partymates safe. Incidentally, if no one else objects, perhaps Tsu should carry the healing potions we found since she seems to be good at finding opportunities for taking damage.

Isra turns to Hornietelle, "Yes, I heard that too. We need to free these spirits, indeed."

To Tsu, "I agree, Tsu, that you should take the healing potion."

"Speaking of Freedom - I found some documents detailing the names of 50 slaves and transactions involving their illegal trade." Handing over the papers to Isra. He seems the right person.

"Hmm, thank you, Knab. All the more reason to release their souls! We must find them..."

As the group leaves the room Isra is no longer able to hear the whispers. Hornietelle can still hear the cries for help and feels they are moving further away.

Inside the next southern room there is nothing except an old area rug covered with dust and rubble. Against the eastern wall there's whats left of a wooden shelf that has rotted through. Nothing is found while searching the room.

I can't remember if we ended up circling back to check down the hole in the C7 floor?

"Well, looks like this is the last room to check?" Knab says. He will proceed cautiously if none other steps up...

the group hasn't yet, so unexplored room north of current location, then circling back to C7 sounded like the plan

"Let's do this. This badgie has to be around here somewhere, and i'm stuffed if I leave without completing the mission, and recoving the poor wee thins body." Rikki will push the door open with his clan dagger, looking around for the badgie.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Thork is as always, at his side sniffing at the air with his powerful nose.

Perception (Scent): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Hearing Rikki's comments about the badger, Tsu looks at him, head tilted slightly to the side as if in contemplation, then says, "You're good, Rikki. A very good person." Then, looking with a grin at Stitchy, she adds, "And look! I found a traveling companion during my adventures just like you found Thork! How cool is that?"

Perception for threats: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

The elven woman looks nonplussed as Knab reads the ledger of transactions, A good slave has a better life than the gutter kin that eek a living in the cities of Golarian, but their souls all need to leave for the boneyard. It is the evil of the master, not the slaves that needs redemption and to change their ways. My friends so want to change the world.

Before leaving the room, Hornietelle lift the carpet and looks underneath, shrugs and follows the others as they look to the northern door. "Careful, with nowhere left to search, this could lead to the entrance to the basement."

Then she remains quiet listening for the voices to return.

The group approaches the remaining room with the voices subtly whispering again.

The room is covered with overgrown Ivy that has come through the empty window frame. There is a low shelf with wood worn and cracked against the south wall, and a desk has been overturned and smashed in the eastern part of the room.

Hardly being in the for more than a few seconds, the whispers become more insistent. A mix of overlapped cries of help in various languages though only some voices are understood. in common
"Save us..."
"help!"
"Please, take me instead!!"

Will save from Rikki, Knab, Tsu

Will Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Will Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Will Save: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 = 10
Hero Point!
Will Save: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21

Knab calls upon his ancient blood, reflected in the result above. Less one if unable to apply.

The whispers continue to intensify. Tsu having already fallen prey to the tricks of the house isn't so easily fooled and she tunes the whispers out completely. Knab calls upon his ancestors to give him strength and he finds himself able to resist the spirits.

Rikki on the other hand has this maddening look in his eyes.

Wait on Rikki to post before doing anything

"You alright there Redbraid?..."

Hearing Knab checking on Rikki, Tsu turn towards her fellow Dwarf and asks, "What is it, Rikki? Do you see the badger?"

Rikki turns on Tsu with a mad look in his eyes and a little bit of drool on his beard. "destroy" He whispers at the other dwarf before stabbing and then bashing her with it, but being unable to connect with the hasty monk.

Frustrated, he then turns on Knab and stabs the rogue who, maybe concerned for his companion or simply surprised, he gets a clan dagger to the gut.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 - Miss!
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 - Miss!
Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 20 - Crit!
Damage: 1d4 + 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + (6) + 4 = 13 x 2 = 26

Can I use a Hero Point to reroll that last attack on Knab, representing the heroic mental effort to try and adjust his own aim at the last second to save his companion. If so Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 12 - Miss

"Achh!!! I die! The old dwarf keels over, spits blood onto the floor, and goes still...

Another State

The world goes dark, and as most souls are expectant to meet their next usher into a new world, alas, nobody is waiting for Knab, who consorted not with gods and devils in life, and now, neither in death. Instead, in the span of an instant, strangely, it is Hornietelle he thinks of, and not in the amorous way she is usually regarded by others. No. This is different. Disagreeing with her, obeying her command, disobeying her command, purposely annoying her, taking pleasure in throwing her off-kilter. And further back! His "glory days" of running goods across the inner sea, his best mate Hammid, the wind-tossed nights, the close calls, the glorious successes, the payoffs. Still further back, his childhood, being given his clan dagger, now dying by one, the sweet poetry of the circle of life...

Would there not be initiative first?

Hornietelle hears the cries and the commotion from the room, unsure of what is happening, she asks slowly, "Are you all right?"

Waiting on GM for the result of the Hero point reroll for the attack..depends whether Knab is dead or alive.. It could be a trap rather than an encounter..

I don't see anything preventing the use of a heropoint, but hold onto it-- If I understand correctly the extra 1d8 is coming from hunter's edge (precision) but Knab isn't his hunted prey so damage would've been (3+4)*2=14 damage. Knab is still up.

I didn't feel initiative was needed here because Tsu/Knab/Rikki all were affected simultaneously; as well as no real danger of death.

Tsu instinctively moves to block and dodge the unexpected attacks from Rikki even as she moves defensively to put herself between Rikki and Stitchy as she must make sure her friend stays safe. However, her eyes go wide as she sees Rikki's blade sink into Knab's midsection.

"...Knab?" she manages to mutter in disbelief as the older Dwarf staggers with the blow.

I assume this is just a trap thing and Rikki is no longer under its influence?

apologies I thought I had posted that it was over
Rikki's clan dagger rips into Knab's gut taking Knab to his knees as the blade is withdrawn. Knab proves to be too stubborn to go unconscious.

After a moment the whispers fade away until they are completely gone-- Not even Hornietelle can hear a whisper from afar. The madness in Rikki's eyes fade as he sees his clan dagger covered in Knab's blood.

feel free to roleplay as much/little as the group wants. Searching the room spoiler in my last post