[PFS1] 5-09 The Traitor's Lodge (GM Watery Soup) (Inactive)

Game Master Watery Soup

The Ghostwriter picks his way through the stack of books lying on and around the table with his clawed fingers.

Orin moves in and determines there are many books. Most, if not all, of the books have writing inside. Some books are longer than the others. So many words!

The Ghost Writer finds a series of volumes written in some kind of code. He quickly determines that the books are accounting ledgers - Thurl has been engaging in unsavory business practices, double-crossing everyone to get his hands on demon parts.

Toral finds several books which detail studies of demonic anatomy, and techniques for dissection.

Patros looks for valuable books, but all he can find are back issues of Sarkorian newspapers. Several of the papers are opened to stories about a local Sarkorian god called Laktharis.

Vangral locates and dives into a whole bookshelf about Sarkorian relics tainted by the Abyss.

Fifi Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7

Fifi strolls around the room aimlessly, scimitar in hand. As she gets to the back shelf, a voice calls out.

"PATHFINDERS!

Someone - or something - steps out of the shadows. She is an amalgamation of human and two kinds of demon that looks like a patchwork of cream, red, and purple skin with asymmetrical horns and mismatched legs. See Slide 1.

"I am Venture-Captain Valais Durant."

She wastes no time briefing as a Venture Captain would. But her voice toggles between human and demon, as if she struggles to control which part is speaking.

"The traitor Thurl built a hidden workplace past this room, and that’s where he performed his most vile experiments. If the Society is to understand just how FOOLISH he is, someone must uncover his terrible schemes. That’s where you come in, Pathfinders. There is a hidden door against that wall.”

She waves a crimson claw toward the bookshelf near where she appeared.

“Beyond you shall find his lair. ANY QUESTIONS?”

Toral looks at the strange being and immediately tries to slumber it!

DC 18 Will save or asleep for 5 rounds.

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

A demonic voice growls, "NICE TRY, MORTAL." But a human voice follows. "Why are you attacking me?"

Going to shift into initiative.

Ghostwriter sees Toral act, and instinctively follows.

Surprise Round

Ghostwriter
Toral

Round 1

Valais
Patros
Orin
Fifi
Vangral
Ghostwriter
Toral

Fifi is surprised when she sees Valais Durant, her hand immediately gripping her scimitar. Still, she lowers her guard as she speaks to them in a calm tone, having been taught to never prejudge a person by how they look.

As she sees Toral cast a spell on her, Fifi yells-"Friend, please, stop! The Everlight teaches to raise one's hand only against those who wish you harm. Miss Durant, please forgive our colleague!"-but not being quick enough to react.

The Ghostwriter darts between Toral and Valais, dropping his now and raises his hands above his head.

"Sometimes a man with a hammer starts to think everything looks like a nail," he says, giving the shaman a withering look (or it would be if his mask wasn't covering his face). "I'm sure he was just surprised and thankfully he chose a non-lethal offensive. I implore you, let's calm down, everyone!"

Valais - or at least the human part of her - seems to relax when things de-escalate.

“I know you must be scared of my appearance," she says.

"AS YOU SHOULD BE," adds a demon.

"Thurl turned on me when he realized the Decemvirate had me investigating his operation. When one of his-" Valais continues.

"PATHETIC MINIONS" a demon interjects.

"-turned me in, he surprised me and knocked me unconscious. I awoke in one of the chambers below, and made my way here."

"And here I wait, in the shadows…” hisses a second demon.

Valais will delay her turn to see what happens.

Round 1

Patros
Orin
Fifi
Vangral
Ghostwriter
Toral
Valais

Fifi runs to hug Valais and shield her with her own body and says-"Please, don't hurt her! She's the victim here!"-trying to dissuade any further attacks.

Toral holds up his arms.

”Hey, I just wanted to be on the safe side! Lady, you look horrible! I mean really disgusting! We have to help you! You might be a victim but we need to find out what’s going on with the demons talking! So do you know anything about this place? And why are you not already out of this place to inform others? I don’t know what you have witnessed but now it’s time to spill the beans!!“ he says in a calm voice.

diplomacy : 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

Aye...We are friends...tell us what needs to be done.. Patros says, backing Toral's play. He has hs grip on his cold wrought blade just in case though...

aid diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Orin moves out into the center and bows to the bizarre looking demon-human hybrid, "My lady, I do apologize for any rash moves on our part, if you mean us no harm I a certain there need be no quarrel."

Aid Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Out of initiative.

“I knew the Decemvirate wouldn’t abandon me! Also, just in case Thurl returned, I wanted to be ready to stab him in the back, then skin him alive. Beyond this door is a large area that Thurl used as some kind of dumping ground. A small shrine conceals a secret passage to a second level below, but that shouldn’t be a problem to get past with US around. YOU WILL LEARN TO FEAR THE POWER CONTAINED BELOW!"

Valais gestures to a secret door in the far corner.

Toral nods and walks over to check the secret door.

perception for traps : 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

If no traps are found he opens and enters.

Fifi is overjoyed the violence stops, and says-"For now, we will venture below. But I really want to take Miss Durant to a church or to the Lodge - I'm sure there must be a way to help her somehow."-as she retrieves her scimitar and keeps close to Valais.

"You know how it is being a Pathfinder - it seems like if something jumps out at you it probably wants to kill you. Although, if it doesn't jump out at you, it seems like it's just waiting for a more convenient chance to kill you. And if it wants to talk, it's probably trying to stall for time so it's friends can kill you. Why do I do this again?" Vangral says.

"Oh yes! Chambers of unimaginable power and horror! THAT is why I do it!"

He hurries to follow Toral to get to the entertaining part.

"I am ready to keep moving. Let's head into this passage...cautiously."

Perception, Checking for traps: 1d20 + 11 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 5 = 28

Valais insists on going with you. "What kind of Venture Captain would I be to send you into YOUR CERTAIN DEATH without some kind of guide?" she asks.

I admire your conviction to see this through...we will do our best. Patros says as he advances and watches as The Ghostwriter checks the area

Toral doesn't find any traps and Valais leads everyone through the secret door.

At the end of the passageway, a chamber stretches ahead and to either side as far as the eye can see. Wall segments stretch from floor to ceiling, as much resembling overgrown stalactites as architectural features, and chunks of shattered masonry and other rubble litter the otherwise even floor. Long since expired torches rest in sconces affixed intermittently to the walls.

See Slide 4.

This massive room extends further than you can see. From any point in the area, a creature is rarely able to see more than 50 feet before a wall interrupts line of sight. These wall segments range from five to 20 feet in length, sometimes extending in a straight line or encompassing a corner, but when crusaders demolished much of the maze, the large gaps made it easy enough for anyone to wind his way through the rubble, reach
the other side, and avoid getting lost.

You can navigate by telling me which color rectange you'd like to open.

The Ghostwriter whispers back to the group, "I'm seeing bones and carapace in the rubble. Something tells me that there might be a dangerous predator about, so keep alert everyone."

Ghostwriter will explore the red zone first.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 5 = 20

Toral collects some of the durable body parts lightly buried under rubble.

He checks for danger or traps always.

”Move guys? Where do we go?“

perception : 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

"yes, let us proceed there to the east- but with caution. I have your beak, I mean back good fellow!" Orin follows close behind The Ghostwriter and Toral.

This doesn't bode well... Patros says, following the others, checking over his shoulder once in a while to make sure they aren't surprised by anything.

following the others...

You guys all really missed an opportunity! When the GM said "tell me which colored rectangle you'd like to open" you should have said "green."

Perhaps disturbingly to his companions, Vangral actually looks disappointed that the bones are just bones. "I was hoping to test my new trick."

He pauses, then frowns and rolls his eyes.

"Yes, yes, I know I can trust you Vaultkeeper. Perhaps 'test' was the wrong word. I should have said 'use.' You don't have to be so sensitive."

Unlike the others, who are clearly watching for danger, he traipses along in the back, apparently excited about what they're going to find.

The maze twists. One branch doubles back on itself (orange), and you get to a fork (light orange or pink).

Fifi starts walking forward, taking the orange path. She will bend down and try to inspect one of the crusaders-"Why would Mendevian Crusaders be here? I thought the path was sealed by Thurl. Have they died recently?"-she says as she tries to surmise how long ago these people died, asking to group too if they can conclude anything from the corpses.

"And why would there be shattered masonry? It's almost as if something tried to break through this maze - maybe one of Thurl's experiments?"-inspecting how long ago the masonry has been broken by checking how much dust has accumulated on top of the broken-off pieces.

Heal vs Corpses: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Survival? vs Masonry: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Not sure what opportunity we missed out on not choosing green. It it a reference to something pop cultural that went over my head?

The Ghostwriter continues to stalk ahead, checking for traps.

GM, do you want me to keep rolling for trap checking? Being the rogueish member of the party, Ghostwriter will keep checking for traps as he scouts around and I'm happy to just let you roll when something comes up that needs a Perception check.

"Good idea, Fifi. Scouting the perimeter first is always a good way to go."

Head to the pink section next.

Ghostwriter - I can make the checks. I'll just make a spoilered roll every time we move into a new square.

There may be some confusion as to what the colors are. I see pink as the perimeter choice, and orange as a choice that doubles back. Let me put color labels. Edit: started with "salmon" and then got carried away with the food theme.

Nobody spots any traps.

---

Fifi can't tell anything from the corpses, but they look old - very old. They may predate Thurl. Fifi can tell that someone smashed through the walls, looking for a quick way through the maze.

Toral casts detect magic and continuously scans the area and also looks for traps.

He also casts ‘heightened awareness’ on himself.

Will not discharge spell for initiative.

This isn't concerning at all...is it? muses the Taldan as he follows the others.

is it normal light? figured i'd clarify before moving on

I think the joke of saying "green" is that it was the last or furthest away square, so it would be like skipping to the end

Orin's right. The GM didn't specify we had to pick a box next to us so I was (jokingly) suggesting we skip to the end.

"Well, I suppose that's one way to get through a maze. Takes some of the fun out of it though, doesn't it?" Vangral comments as he views the smashed walls.

"And it seems like far more work than just walking around."

I say salmon. I think it makes sense to scout around the perimeter first and then work our way inwards.

"Ah, yes, we can certainly follow this perimeter first then work our way in, if you'd like?"

Salmon is as good a direction to roll as any other. Looks like other than Vangrel we are all melee character? Anyone care about march order?

I'm good wherever..front or back...

"Just like a jigsaw puzzle. Do the border first then work your way in," Vangral comments.

As mentioned, I'm not a melee character so I'll need to be in the middle.

The group moves forward through the twisting tunnels.

Pink and blue have opened up.

Fifi approaches the peach square, saying-"If the crusaders here have been dead for such a long time, then maybe Thurl did not build this place? He may have stumbled upon this labyrinth and used it as a base, which means these crusaders died of something else. Does anyone recognize their insignias or holy symbols?"-she asks the group as she continues to advance.

Know(religion?): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Toral nods.

"Your assumptions make sense! Let us press forward. Ehh, but I stay in the middle of course!" the dwarf says with a chuckle.

"Not to fear, not to fear! I shall gallantly lead the way if no one objects? Let us continue to the most outward direction then. . ." he head off cautiously, making sure the others are not far behind.

Going towards pink to maintain the pattern.

The Pathfinders continue along the path, making left turns at every opportunity, but eventually the path comes to a dead end.

Blue(berry), double back to Peach, Pumpkin, or Banana?

If this is a maze or a labyrinth, could there be hidden secrets? Perhaps this sin't just a wall...a hidden portal might be here... Patros says, not accepting anything at face value in this place and checking the wall

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

"Hmmmmmm...quiet so far. A little too quiet," the Ghostwriter murmurs as he continues to scout ahead.

Blueberry fine?

good by me- just keep working that edge

Opened up Blue and Light Blue

”Let us move on! Steady and careful!“

Vangral trails along with the group, looking on with blank interest at the twists and turns of the maze.

"I'm sure this is all quite interesting but it just seems like walls to me. Although, I don't quite remember which way is out, if I'm being honest."

If this is a maze or a labyrinth, could there be hidden secrets? Perhaps this sin't just a wall...a hidden portal might be here... Patros says, not accepting anything at face value in this place and checking the wall

The walls are as they seem, they are partially ruined but they are not magical.

---

It's hard to see but you have a choice, one branch leads to Blue and the other to Light Blue.

Continuing forward toward light blue

"Ah, indeed, which way is out? When I was a young hatchling fresh out the egg my mother always said, the only way out is through!"

Orin thinks he spotted a transparent horn on one of the walls, but it sinks away before he got a good look.

"Aye, I think I saw it too," says Valais. "I feel like we're being watched."

Moving everyone to light blue.

Near the center of the clearing stands a raised altar made of ivory-inlaid wood, its virtually pristine condition a sharp contrast to the shattered walls around it. At the center of the altar rests a statue of two figures locked in combat: a brass bull and an iron dwarf that gripes the animal by a horn from over its shoulder while holding a warhammer aloft.

Delicately incised words encircle the statue’s base, reading, “In my name is the strength of my history, my tradition, and my people. Speak your name into my ear, and I shall judge your worth.”