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

Game Master redeux

The creatures rotting arm infected Isra with a disease.

Isra's dagger slashes into the monster; a masssive amount of flesh is sheared off and it almost surprises Isra at how effective it is. The second attack hits nothing but air and almost makes Isra drop his dagger from all the bits of flesh that greased it up.

Scratching?? Again?? Round 3: Bold May Act

Round 3

Knab
Hornietelle
Particularly Stinky (Pink) Undead (-41)
Rikki
Tsu
(Blue) Undead
Round 4
Isra (-10, Zombie Rot Stage 1)

Hornietelle smiles at Isra knowingly and calls on Calistria to sting these undead. "The Savoured String, visit ill on those who still cling to this place and administer your lust to those that are meant to be here."

Healing Font: Heal 3 actions 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 HPs to heal the alive and harm the undead within 30ft, DC=16

Hornietelle smiles at Isra knowingly and calls on Calistria to sting these undead. "The Savoured String, visit ill on those who still cling to this place and administer your lust to those that are meant to be here."

Healing Font: Heal 3 actions 1d8+8 HPs to heal the alive and harm the undead within 30ft, DC=16

** spoiler omitted **

I think the 3 Action version of Heal still only does 1d8 healing/damage per creature, but in a 30' emanation. Good roll though!

Knab steps into flanking, and strikes twice!

◆) Stride
◆) Strike Longspear vs Flatfooted: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 171d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 111d6 ⇒ 4
◆) Strike Longspear vs Flatfooted: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 101d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 91d6 ⇒ 2

Striking flatfooted AC 17 for 11+4 slashing+precision = 15 damage!
Striking flatfooted AC 10 for 9+2 slashing+precision = 11 damage?

If one of the remaining undead is destroyed, Isra will use his Death's Call ↺

Correct on 3 action heal so PC's gain 7 back, and undead get basic fort save against 7 positive damage

Hornietelle's energy radiates around. The energy heals Isra's wounds and start shredding through the undead flesh. Blue undead seems to resist the damage at first but gets burned badly by the positive energy Success, but more damage than you'd expect. Pink immediately started succumbing to Hornietelle's spell; flesh rapidly decays until it slides off the bones and nothing is left to hold up the skeletal remains which collapse on the ground crit fail; and more damage than you'd expect--24 to be exact.

As the wretched creature falls, Isra speaks a few words and feels temporarily empowered.

Knab takes the opportunity to run into action and strike rapidly at the remaining undead. His blade pierces twice, though the first would've been good enough. The first leaves a hole big enough to separate the undead into two halves, and the 2nd blow goes through the head ensuring the creature would be cause no more trouble.
I might've missed this earlier but longspear is Piercing only so no weakness but doesn't change anything.

End of Combat
After Death's Call ends Isra will be at -3hp and still a carrier of zombie rot which we'll deal with as the party rests between the faction leader quests.

The party found the undead Isra was looking for--but where did they come from? They were last seen coming from the direction of the parlor C7. Mr Stitch slowly returns from the crumpled staircase and seems unfazed by Hornietelle's heal--perhaps he was out of range, or not really undead...

Tsu rushes over and hugs Stitchy saying, "Oh good, you're okay! You were so brave, buddy!" And then, turning to Hornietelle, she adds, "That was really impressive...and thanks...for not hurting my friend," and gives the Elf a smile.

Isra breathes a sigh of relief that the undead are vanquished. "At last, Pharasma has taken their souls. I'm glad none of you were hurt."

Does he have any idea that he's been infected with disease? Would that be a Recall Knowledge-Religion check? If he does know, he'll use a Medicine check to find out what it is exactly.

"Whatever is causing this disturbance, it is down below. Are you sure we have searched everywhere?" the cleric asks her companions. "Tsu, leave ...Stitchy.." her face winces as she stumbles over Stitchy's name. "Best leave him here, whilst we take one more look below." She points to the hole to the downstairs, "Ropes ready, we all need to see what's happening below this floor. It may aid you in your fight against these creatures Isra."

Isra doesn't seem to hear what Hornietelle is saying. He appears to be deep in thought on something. After a brief pause, he says: "Ah, yes, in that room, in the hole - we need to check again..."

He starts walking off west toward the room. (to C7 in Detect Magic mode)

"But...he's good and he stays right with me and..." Tsu started, then, seeing the Elf was not being swayed, and hearing the logic in the words, turned to Stitchy and said, "Auntie Hornietelle is right, buddy. You stay here and I'll be right back," and then, handing him the rag doll she had made, added, "I need you to hide here and keep yourself and my dolly safe. You can do that, right? Of course you can, my big, strong, brave boy!" and she prepared to go with the group, though she kept casting glances at Stitchy over her shoulder.

Knab takes Isra's temperature, touching his temple with the backside of his thick fore and middle fingers.

Medicine (+5) check to diagnose effects?

If / when Hornietelle asks, he goes down the hole.

Isra takes a moment to look at his arm and the putrid flesh from the zombie. He does recognize the wound as the beginnings of Zombie Rot

spoiler open

Knab also takes a look but isn't able to determine any other information. The group approaches the hole in the parlor and can again see that there are over a dozen skeletal remains in the hole. putting together several spread out clues The group recalls between notes found describing chelexian halfling slaves and the whispers that Tsu, Rikki, and Knab heard that were cries for help that these may have been slaves that were killed and buried under the floorboards that have sense rotted away leaving the giant hole in the floor.

Isra returns to the zombies that they just killed, looking for any markings. Perception +6. Also, are the zombies human-sized?

Tsu having seen the hole, Tsu then follows Isra back out and immediately returns to Stitchy to reassure him that she's safe and everything is okay. Then, somewhat quietly, she says to Isra, "Should we do some sort of...burying...and saying words...thing for them? I mean, that's a religiousy thing you do, right? Maybe if they're laid to rest properly, all the whispery ghost stuff will stop?"

As he's examining the felled zombies, Isra nods to Tsu, "Yes, their remains deserve to be interred with respect - to ensure their successful journey to the Mother of Souls."

Isra will try to recall the most appropriate way of laying the bones to rest.

Isra returns to the slain zombies and confirms that they were shorter than humans. Searching the bits of flesh that were sliced off...

Isra looks down at the unfortunate dead. "Indeed, we need to lay all of them to rest."

He asks Tsu and the others for aid in bringing all of the bones and remains of the slaves to the yard. He'll start digging a proper grave for the halflings. After all of the dead are properly buried, Isra returns to the temple to retrieve some incense that he found.

As he waves the burning incense over the grave, "May your souls at last find their peace with the Lady of Graves. You will be tormented no more!"

He kneels next to the grave, saying a silent prayer to Pharasma. Mother, please grant this poor servant of yours the grace to do your work.

Knab - a non-believer - smooths his "hair" (a few sparse wispy grey strands) and nods his head in respect.

Hornietelle wonders about the place the hands first came and caught Knab, she starts to pull up the floor above C6, "are there more here?" she asks. "The spirits of the grasping hands also need the rest assured by Isra. They may not be the only restless spirits around tonight."

As the incense begins to burn, cries for help were faintly heard once again. The cries continued to get louder as Isra spoke but upon Isras' conclusion the voices fell silent. It was peaceful for a moment and a final whisper "thank you" was heard departing. The stench still lingered in the old manor, but the quietness no longer had an eerie feel and instead was peaceful.

At this point you can continue searching the house but there is nothing left to be found.

We're halfway through, so I've added a hero point to the slides for Isra and Knab. Isra for laying the souls to rest and Knab for their roleplaying (though everyone is doing great!).

What next? Group likely will need to rest before the next 'quest' to recover spell slots. The party at the Grand Lodge extends over a week so time is not an issue. Does anyone treat disease on Isra? where is the group going to rest? And which quest is next?
1. Gorm Greathammer (Grand Lodge) (College of Mystery Stolen Scroll Heist)
2. Eando Kline (Vigilant Seal) (Whistleblower of De-pretrification mission

Isra expresses no preference for the order of the next missions. He is exhausted from the events at the manor house and needs to rest. to regain his Focus point and to get his Divine Font Heal spells back.

BTW, can a character Treat Disease on themselves if they are trained in Medicine?

Looks like treat disease lacks "another creature" language so it appears mechanically you could do so

Tsu takes a moment to plays dolls with Stitchy while the rest of the group decides which quest to do next.

Hornietelle says one last prayer to Calistria, before she meditates and sleeps for the night. For the prayer, she invites Tsu to join her in her holy rituals, asking a mere 10 silver pieces as an offering.

In the morning, she washes and cleanses herself, letting the smell of roses and lavender permeate the air from her holy observance of starting the new day. She prepares her litanies to Calistria and asks for the power of the Calistria to aid her endeavours this day.

Upon seeing her companions, she says "It seems we must venture out on behalf of the captains again. Surely we should do Gorm Greathammer's bidding, his faction is the more powerful and senior of the two."

Being familiar with brushes with undeath, Isra uses various unguents and tinctures to try to purge himself of the affliction he suffered at the hands of the zombie.

Medicine-Treat Disease: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

At the end of Stage 1 of the disease, Isra will make another Fortitude save with a +2 bonus.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Definitely Hero Point that.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Crikey, that's a crit fail - at Stage 3 now. :(

Negative Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Isra will likely need extra time to get back his Divine Font spells, etc. since he's been trying to treat his disease most of the night.

The next morning, Isra wakes from the little sleep he was able to get feeling much worse than he did the night before. He tries to heal himself.

Medicine: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Treat Wounds: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8

Knab sleeps easily - through any further haunting or other sounds of the night. He awakens in the morning raw as an onion, and looking around, decides that he is unconcerned about tending to his hygiene altogether, figuring that he can book an entire evening in the bathhouse after the party is finished with the series of quests they are tasked with, saving a little coin that way.

He agrees that Gorm's Quest sounds best to attempt next. Too, he is eager to prove himself to the dwarven leader of his own faction!

For the prayer, she invites Tsu to join her in her holy rituals, asking a mere 10 silver pieces as an offering.

So, it's Calistria, so I have to ask, is it just praying, or is it more "physical" forms of worship? Just want to roleplay Tsu appropriately for if she heard cool words or is now a woman.

@Tsu, Didn't want to take it down a route you weren't comfortable with ... but there would be some adult worship involved. She would have some practice at that from her time at the temple, (brothel).

Seeing Isra tend to his wounds, Hornietelle brings a cloth sodden with the cool water from a stream and lays it on his head to bring any temperature down and soothe his body. "As one believer to another, though our gods are different we share a desire to bring all to a closer relationship with the gods. We should seek aid from our captains, I am sure they have the means to calm your body."

@Isra, didn't matter here, but Crit success on Treat Disease grants +4 circumstance bonus. Not enough to prevent a crit fail though. Also the negative damage dealt by Zombie Rot can't heal the negative rot damage until you're cured. I've added the disease text to main campaign page but will also post it before any nightly rests.

The group begins to head towards the Petals District to find the College of Mysteries. There, Gorm Greathammer of the Grand Archive has asked the group to secure a copy of scrolls being used on some potentially dangerous research.

If anyone wishes to gather information, go ahead and roll your diplomacy openly. Otherwise, you're welcome to describe what you'll be doing while travelling. .

Upon arriving to the museum the group discovers that it is after hours and the front door is closed but unlocked. Knock? Let yourselves in? something else? I'll assume default exploration modes unless specified otherwise

Tsu had never really pursued religion, but the religious experience she had that night was life-changing. She experienced things she'd never felt before. And the Elf seemed to like her. Really like her! If this was what worshipping Calistria was like, Tsu was in!

The whole morning and walk to the College of Mysteries, Tsu was beaming. She'd been humming happily to herself and practically skipping as they walk. She was also awkwardly trying to manage to walk close to both Hornietelle and Stitchy while not bringing the undead construct close enough to make the Elf uncomfortable.

As the party arrives at the College of Mysteries, Tsu was pleased that they found and unlocked door and apparently easy task. "Should we just go in and ask for the scroll then?" she asked. Then it occurred to her, maybe it was too easy. She held up her finger in the "wait a moment" gesture, stepped protectively in front of Hornietelle, cocked her head to the side and listened for any sounds of disturbance even as she scanned the area for signs that something might be amiss.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

"Maybe you should check that door for traps, Knab?" Tsu suggested. "This just seems a bit too easy and I will not let anything happen to my love," and she reached back to give Hornietelle's hand a reassuring squeeze.

Knab rolls his eyes. Why would anyone trap the Front Door of their own college!?!

And were Tsu not a dwarf - not to mention a mighty warrior - he mightn't acquiesce the request. Instead, he keeps his protest silent, and gives the door a cursory check.

Perception vs Traps +8

Rikki is looking stoic following his own experience of possession but politely waits for Knab to check the lock before heading in himself to look around for the scrolls.

Diplomacy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Sorry, not enough time for real post, time to sleep, so my wife tells me. Will post in the morning.

Isra smiles appreciatively at Hornietelle as she tends to his fever. Another time and place, perhaps...

After seeing that his own healing was only partially successful, Isra realizes that he had better shake this affliction soon or...

Isra's mind seems to be elsewhere when the others discuss checking the door for traps.

Once Knab is certain that there are no traps on the front door of a museum, Rikki lets himself into the museum. Only half of the museum lights are on after hours but this still provides sufficient light to see. The group barely manages to get past the front desk in their search for the scroll before they are approached by a man. "We're closed to the public. Why did you let yourself in?" he asks irritably. Looking at his nametag it reads "Chayron, groundskeeper"

Knab looks left towards Isra, right towards Hornietelle, front towards Rikki, and back towards Tsu - his necks a twisting blur! (If he were Stitchy right now, he'd probably spring a stitch or two...)

GM, I had assumed it was night for some reason. What time of day is it?

Group rested overnight, Isra took some extra time to recover spell slots, and travel time across the city so early evening-ish. Musuem may be closed because of the time of day, odd hours, or other reasons.

I'm assuming Hornietelle's diplomacy was rolled for exactly this moment.

Tsu simply stands beside Hornietelle, keeping Stitchy on the other side, to keep her beloved safe while the Elf displays her great talents at diplomacy. She's so wonderful, Tsu thinks, looking at her with dreamy, love-struck eyes.

Knab shudders to think what Hornietelle's "gathering information" looks like...

Sorry, missed the gather info roll

Chayron doesn't seem to be disturbed by Mr Stitch, though does give him a curious look. He continues to stare at the group waiting for someone to say something, then sees Isra's wayfinder. "Ah, Pathfinder society business, huh? Why didn't you say so! I assume you want to meet with Tavvar, please right this way" and he walks the group towards a set of stairs. "You'll find her up there!".

Map updated (slide 3) and you're free to explore if you're ready to move on

Hornietelle smiles at Chayron, "Thank you Chayron, you are most kind letting us have access, we shall be with Tavvar presently. I've not visited this museum before, it has been a wish of mine for some time. Do you mind if we have a look around before we see Tavvar. If you would tell her we are here and will help her in rituals in mere moments, unless she would join us down here." The cleric unsure whether Tavvar needs their immediate assistance or they should get a feeling for their surroundings.

"Before you go Chayron, tell me how is Tavvar getting on with the ritual, is she in control of the ritual or is her fascination with the ritual leading her into dark places. What is your opinion?"

"I'm a groundskeeper, not an assistant-- you'll have to tell her yourself that you're here," he responds pointedly. "I'm not too familiar with her work, but I assume she has everything under control. Feel free to take a look around before or after visiting her."

Knab bows his head, and proceeds to becoming nosy, looking around the place. He assumes his comrades will follow him.

Investigate

Isra is off in his mind when the groundskeeper speaks. He's startled to attention when "Pathfinders" is mentioned. Once Hornietelle finishes with him, Isra will follow behind Knab.

"That was so great," Tsuyol says, from a position beside Hornietelle as they start moving, "but if that lady might actually be in trouble and into dark stuff with the scrolls and stuff, maybe we should check on her first?"

Going up the stairs reveals the 2nd floor, which has light provided throughout by use of dozens of hanging braziers with flames lit.

B1
Knap and Isra set down a hall with offices to their left. Each of these offices appear to be unoccupied and locked. The first door they pass has a small brass placard reading "Nigel Aldain, Curator."

Isra will be using Detect Magic along the hallway. He will also try the door to the large room. (B2)

Knab looks back Chayron, and behaves himself...

Recall Knowledge Society +5 to know about Nigel Aldain and the museum.

Hornietelle stops in front of the brass plaque, she wipes her fingertips slowly and gently over plaque. "Cold..." she says almost distractedly. "Hurry Knab, I know your desire for searching around the place gives you some pleasure, but Tavvar has no real experience with rituals, we could perhaps help her and her assistants in completing it. She will want your knowledge of nature and our other skills, to do it safely, so hurry up!" the elf says with a little annoyance. "Tavvar will be able to provide the scrolls for us to copy or lead us to them, so don't be long."