GM Hawthwile's What the Helms Hide (Inactive)

Game Master Hawthwile

The Minstrel's Midwife is probably not the oddest inn in Varisia, but it's certainly within the top five. Garish streams of colored scarves hang from every possible surface, and the air smells strongly of cinnamon and cloves. There's no denying that Madame Zolstra's breakfast pastries are well worth her eccentricities as an innkeep though, and her wife keeps everyone's cups filled well into the night. All in all, an experience every visitor to Korvosa should partake in at least once according to the local tour guides.

In the late morning hours, a group of Pathfinder agents sit on heavily-decorated couches as they finish their breakfast and other daily preparations, and several re-read their letter from Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine detailing their current mission between bites of fruit tarts and yogurt sweetened with honey.

Go ahead and introduce yourself here. We'll kick things off in a few days once everyone's had a chance to check in.

The ostentatious pantaloons that billow around the young grippli's legs make a soft sirrush of fabric as he kicks his legs where they dangle over the edge of the plush couches. Being only two feet in height makes for quite the troublesome fit to furniture made for humans and other similar creatures. The parchment of the letter rustles as well as he sets it aside and finishes his pastry.

"A most interesting mission we have been given. Now is the time for introductions, yes? I, MacDermott Sammakko, offer you all greetings! I am but recently come from the circus to ply my skills in Pathfinding. I hope that my dabbling in many things is useful enough." MacDermott is dressed to entertain, with jaunty feathered cap, his armaments appearing to be sickle and trumpet.

Eranahu (a Varisian himself) looks around that the colorful streamers with appreciation. He, himself, is dressed in similar colors from his simple shirt and pants to his hooded scarf.

"It does seem to be an interesting quest. A possible good intentioned assassination attempt within our own ranks? Interesting indeed." Eranahu agrees as he smiles warmly at MacDermott.

"Oh, and my name is Eranahu. I'm still questing for my surname, so it's just Eranahu." He says as he adjusts his worn looking longbow. Aside from his bow, he simply has a hand axe and dagger on his belt below his leather armor.

A kobold in armor enters the room.
He says in accented Common.

"Greetings all. Me Zornesk member of Sewer Dragons. Dreng help us. Me have Confirmation and other missions for Society. Eager to help other members! This quest does sound interesting!"

Smiling, Eranahu thinks to himself, So a grippli, kobold, and a human walk into a bar... Don't laugh. Don't laugh.

"Sewer Dragons. That is an excellent surname! Paints a picture, doesn't it?"

"Oho, a fellow of appropriate size!" Sammakko exclaims. "Now I will not feel as out of place."

There's also a man who looks like he is made of rock. He has chiselled features, but the stonemason was blind drunk. He is very broad, and very tall, and he is sitting on the floor. His eyes, set deep in the flat planes that make up his face, are grey and featureless. He is clad in thick, barely cured leathers, and a crude but hefty scimitar is sheathed at his hip.

"Greetings," he says. "I am Spar."

Apart from that, he sits in stony silence.

A bald, brown-skinned human sits cross-legged on the couch, licking his fingers clean after polishing off a third fruit tart. "I am Khabash, out of Osirion. There are a number of things that puzzle me about Master Shaine's letter. First, expulsion from the Society seems a minor punishment for someone who tried to kill the Decemvirate. I would expect her to have been arrested and executed, yes? Second, Montlarion Jeggare died over three hundred years ago. Yet the person we are supposed to meet at the Jeggare Museum is his ancestor? Is this Mercival Jeggare an immortal?" He shakes his head. "Very strange, indeed."

Eranahu listens to Khabash's reasonings with a thoughtful expression. "Yeah, hey. I wonder if she orchistrated the hit from afar so they couldn't find her. Or maybe she had something on them and they let her go in exchange for her secrecy. Looks like we might be tasked to find out. It's like a juicy spy novel, is it not?". He continues excitedly.

"Ha! That master Shaine. He's a kooky one, hey? I bet he meant descendant instead of ancestor.". He says as if he'd just solved that riddle. But the more he thought about it, the more vampires and liches intruded his thoughts.

In the back of the room, wine glass in one hand, a lovingly worn harrow set under the other, sits a dwarf with a long brown beard done up in tight ringlets and a bright violet varisian scarf. A gold hoop hangs from both ears. He looks up, finished with a harrowing, and spots the grippli and kobold talking with a few humans and a rock person, clearly Pathfinders. He reverently gathers the cards and puts them away in case, before picking up his cloak and pack with a longspear strapped to one side.

He stands up, and the estimation of him being a dwarf muddles some, as a dwarf would never reach the 5-foot something that this man has, but the size and beard would be hard for a human to grow, especially one with clearly varisian origins. He tosses on his wine red cloak across his shoulders, showing that the inside of it has been lined with hardened leather strips. He then dons his backpack emblazoned with the stylized grapes and jar that mark him as a follower of Halcamora. He wanders up to the rest of the group on his hardened bare feet and flashes an easy going smile. "You must be the other pathfinders. Not often that a grippli and a kobold get to talking with humans in a tavern in Varisia. Anyways it's a pleasure to meet you; I'm Genryl Vinebrewer. It's been a while since I'Ve been on a mission, but I'm looking forward to working with you."

He looks about the place before asking, Is it just me, of does Krighton call for briefings in taverns quite a bit? I mean the Pig's Paunch and now The Minstrel's Midwife? Not that I'm complaining! Any place with some wine is a good place... which is always why I have some on me!"

The Pathfinders continue to get to know each other as they compare notes on what they already know about the region - either from talking with the locals over drinks the night before or from research before leaving the Grand Lodge.

Then, preparations complete, they depart for the Jeggare Museum. The building's striking marble edifices rise above the surrounding structures, glittering softly in the late morning sunlight. A museum guide greets the adventurers at the door, and upon hearing that they are Pathfinders, asks them to wait in the lobby for a moment while they notify the curator.

What do you do?

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"I have heard tell of this Jeggare, whomever is the ancestor or not. He brought much needed supplies and relief to Korvosan soldiers in their battle against the Shoanti quahs. The city was but a fort outpost then, named for the commander, Jakthion Korvosa. Glad I am that Cheliax no longer imposes itself on foreign lands, overtly anyway." Sammakko peers around the entry hall for any particularly interesting features to admire while they wait.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Spar shifts his weight from one foot to another, clearly uncomfortable and out of place in the glitzy lobby. He stays well away from the walls, glass cases, and potted plants so as not to knock anything over.

"I read of this. Many Pathfinders followed the army, studied places they could not get to before Shoanti were driven away. Not sure if research or looting. Three hundred years before first lodge in Varisia."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

"That's what I heard from our waitress, Mary. I wonder what artifacts were plundered during this time. Perhaps a 'speaking artifact'?"

Eranahu looks to the bottoms of his boots to see if he's going to leave muddy tracks in this fancy place. Other than that, he takes It look around to see what he can snoop into.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

"Speaking artifact? Like vase that talk?!?"

Zornesk turns to the grippli. "Us small folk stay together!"

Genryl smiles as he looks about the place. "Fancy! Way more than I expected. Oh, is that gold fixtures on that door over there? Swanky!" He settles in to wait as he pulls out one Madame Zolstra's breakfast pastries that he bought before heading out this morning. After a moment to luxuriate in the consistenly amazing tastes of something that ought be in the museum than half the displays he snaps his fingers. "Right! While we are waiting, why don't I give everyone a simple reading? Just step over here and pull out a card. I'll try interpreting what it means for the mission! If you don't want to then just say so!"

This is Genryl's 'minute long groups prayer' that allows him to designate people for his caravan bond. If your character wouldn't participate in the reading don't worry, just being here should be enough.

The alchemist shakes his head, looking over at the paladin. "I doubt that last interpretation. I'm the humblest of people."

"Foolishness and greed? That is apt for a museum of Chelish invaders."

"Well, that's certainly one way of looking at it." A well-dressed man with long auburn hair walks up to the group, adjusting his glasses and smoothing his trimmed beard. "But that's in the past now, am I right?"

He laughs and holds out a hand to Eranahu. “Welcome to my museum Pathfinders! I am Mercival Jeggare, the head curator.” The scholarly figure shakes the ranger's hand, then gestures through a set of double doors toward a grand hallway dotted with displays of weapons, artwork, and fossilized remains. “Come in, come in! Always a pleasure to host members of the Society. I assume this is in regards to the missive I received from Mr. Shaine, yes? Do let me know how I can be of assistance!”

What do you do?

Khabash steps up and bows in greeting. He doesn't look like a deathless undead abomination, but I suspect that they usually don't. "Honored, sir. We are interested in records left by Montlarion Jeggare, particularly those dealing with his experiences with the Shoanti."

"Yeah, apparently Master Shaine is interested in something called The 'Speaking Artefact.' Eranahu says, lowering his voice at the end. Just In case. "Whatever that might be. Do you know what it might be in reference to? That would sure save us some research time, hey?"

"True, it is in the past. We have more recent concerns, yes." Hard to say if the sickly green grin was normal or embarrassed. "Master Shaine mentioned it may be connected to a sort of 'false rider', if that helps narrow the field."

The alchemist shakes his head, looking over at the paladin. "I doubt that last interpretation. I'm the humblest of people."

Genryl gives a small good natured laugh at the irony of Kabash's last statement. "It could be a game of who is the most dominantly humble, but if you think that is unlikely then keep an out out for something that tries to posses you."

Genryl trots up to the museum curator and extends a bulky hand. "Pleasure to meet you! The name is Genryl Vinebrewer. My friend's have explained the main reasons we are here, but on a personal note, do you have any displays on vinting, fortune telling, or Halcamora? I'd love to see them, if you do!"

Mercival chuckles again. "So many questions! Come, I will do my best to answer them while we walk." He leads the Pathfinders through the grand hallway, speaking all the while and waving his hands about for emphasis.

"Now, most of the exhibits displayed here were collected by my family and ancestors. Montlarion Jeggare certainly was responsible for the vast majority, which unfortunately means he left behind lots of notes and artifacts we're still working through to this day - some of his personal effects are currently undergoing restoration for public debut. That's not a problem though - I trust the Society to send only their finest agents here, so you'll have a chance to examine them if what you're looking for isn't already on display." He pauses to gesture at the walls and nooks of the grand hallway, where antiques from Korvosa's founding mix with vestiges of conquered Shoanti tribes and ancient rune-etched artifacts. "Not that that's a small endeavor with how many relics we have here. And the collection's always growing too. Why, just this morning we procured several Tian antiquities. Very soon we could have a collection that spans all of Golarion!" He beams happily at the thought.

"Now then, a 'speaking artifact'? I must say I've not seen anything like that here. I suppose adding an enchanted mouth could make an artifact speak, though we probably would have noticed that." He smoothes his beard absentmindedly. "A 'rider', on the other hand, could be referring to someone mounted - or else a proviso or alteration of some prior statement or decree. Oh, here we are!"

Mercival stops and extends a hand towards a large room off the grand hallway. Skylights illuminate exhibits displayed within decorative alcoves, including several wooden totems and tools. More wood-carved pieces rest within a raised exhibition area to the north. A massive glass-walled case dominates the center of the gallery and holds three bound volumes of the Pathfinder Chronicles. To the south, a table bears two metal chests as another holds two wooden reliefs.

Suddenly, a resounding “crack!” and cascade of wood dust heralds the fall of an enormous glass skylight before it shatters upon the marbled floor. As the Pathfinders flinch, a horrid buzzing sound fills the room as swarms of insects pour through the opening.

"Shrew flies!" Mercival gasps. "They're after the displays! I'll go get the staff - Pathfinders, save those relics until we get back! They're irreplaceable!"

Map can be found here, in my GM header, or at the top of the page.

What Doesn't Belong in a Museum
Round 1! Bold may act!
MacDermot
Spar
Red
Blue
Eranahu
Zornesk
Khabash
Genryl

Environmental Effects:
- Green circles labeled "A" are artifacts

What do you do?

Spar springs into action like a sudden rockslide. He grunts, and suddenly looks even heavier and stonier than he did before. Then he approaches the closest swarm, drawing his scimitar on the way. It looks strangely small in his boulder of a fist.
"No use stabbing them! Use fire or acid!" he shouts.

He then extends his free hand toward the swarm and flings a bolt of flame at it.

Swift action for elemental aspect (+2 Con), 15 ft. move closer to the blue swarm, drawing scimitar as a free action during move. As a standard action, casting fire bolt at blue swarm (the ability is from the Concordance faction trait Balanced Offensive and I can do it once a day).

fire bolt at blue swarm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
fire damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Oh no!" Zornesk watches the artifacts.

"Oh bother!" MacDermott cries with a grimace. Producing his trumpet, he sounds a call to arms, beginning to reach for his sickle before catching himself. "We need alchemical weapons, magic, anything but blades! They'll chew through the wood!" He casts about for anything on display that looks liquid.

Standard action to Inspire Courage, +1 to hit. Not sure we have much of anything that will get the +1 to damage, maybe Spar's firebolt?

I think Khabash's bombs may get it, which would be good.

@Spar, feel free to move your token on the map as well. I've put him into what I think was his desired position, but feel free to adjust if it's not quite right.

Spar's bolt of fire whizzes over the swarm, catching only a few of the insects before spattering against the far wall. MacDermot goads his companions on even as he watches the shrew flies descend on a wooden bowl and a hat of woven grass!

Red Swarm damage, Doubled: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Blue Swarm damage, Doubled: 1d6 ⇒ 5

MacDermot's mouth opens in horror as he sees the hat in tatters, though still (barely) holding together. Spar sees a chunks missing from the bowl, but the damage looks more superficial.

What Doesn't Belong in a Museum
Round 2! Bold may act!
Red
Blue
Eranahu
Zornesk
Khabash
Genryl
MacDermot
Spar

Environmental Effects:
- Green circles labeled "A" are artifacts
- Inspire Courage +1

What do you do?

Khabash steps up, drawing a vial from his belt and hurling it at the closest swarm.

Alkahest bomb to blue, including inspiration and PBS: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 11
Bomb damage, if applicable, including inspiration and PBS: 1d4 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 8

Splash damage is 7 HP; vs. a swarm that will be 10 HP.

Shoot! Forgot to buy anything for swarms!

"Careful with that fire damage now!" Eranahu will move up and grab the artifact within his reach. "I'll try to help clear the way!" Since I can't do anything else.

Fortunately, these are alkahest bombs, and do force damage to living creatures.

Spar raises his scimitar, which is suddenly weeping a viscous fluid that give the blade a greenish sheen. A few drops hit the floor, sizzling and smoking. He steps forward, furiously swinging it at the buzzing flies, trying to swat them with the corrosive weapon.

Swift action for elemental strike so the weapon does 1d6 acid damage, 5-ft. step adjacent to the blue swarm, and attack.

scimitar, including inspiration: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
acid damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Dashing forward, MacDermott moves to secure another of the artifacts before the swarm can descend upon it.

Double move, Lingering Performance is maintaining inspiration.

@Khabash - It's not as official as a FAQ, but James mentions here that the damage to living creatures from alkahest bombs should also be acid damage rather than force. Given that that's consistent within the ability, I'm going to proceed under that assumption. If you can find an official FAQ clarifying this, I'd love to see it.

Also, @Khabash - Splash damage from a bomb unfortunately does not include bonuses from things like Point-Blank Shot. Following that precedent (and a lack of clear language on the topic from Paizo), my understanding is that the "minimum damage" for a bomb is the number of dice plus the alchemist's intelligence modifier (which would exclude the competence bonus from Inspire Courage). Again, I would love to see a FAQ or something similar clarifying this if you can find it.

Khabash's vial clips the edge of the desk and bounces unexpectedly...

Miss: 1d8 ⇒ 6

...striking the back wall in a burst of acrid fumes and caustic liquid. A sizeable clump of shrew flies shrivel from the acid, but many more remain buzzing hungrily. Thankfully, the wooden bowl and its neighbor (a reed flute) seem to be only cosmetically damaged by the bomb. Spar's equally-acidic blade whistles through the air as the oread tries to strike as many insects with the flat of the blade as possible.

Eranahu and MacDermot spring into action, the former quickly scooping up a large piece of bark covered in runic writing while the latter hops around the swarm as quickly as his little legs can manage.

What Doesn't Belong in a Museum
Round 2! Bold may act!
Red
Blue (-13)
Eranahu (carrying artifact)
Zornesk
Khabash
Genryl
MacDermot
Spar

Environmental Effects:
- Green circles labeled "A" are artifacts
- Inspire Courage +1

What do you do?

I'm cool with your interpretation. I suspect the force damage came from a desire to make alkahest bombs able to affect noncorporeal undead.

Genryl rushes up and tries to grab the artifact being attacked by the swarm that flashes blue in the lights. "I've got this one! can't do anything to damage these swarms, but if need be don't be afraid to hurt me! I'll be okay with a few splashes of whatever."

Move to get there, and then if he has the ability to move after picking up the artifact he will. I don't think he would though.

Zornesk tries to swat at the creature with his sword.

attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Maybe this work?"

Genryl rushes forward at a ponderous rate, while Zornesk darts up to the swarm and tries to stab the shrew flies - but they are too small and there's too many of them for his little sword to make a dent!

The shrew flies continue their voracious assault, the southern swarm shifting slightly to cover Spar in search of food...

Red Swarm damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Blue Swarm damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Spar Fortitude vs Distraction: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Genryl Fortitude vs Distraction: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

...but the shrew flies are too spread out to cause much damage - Eranahu sees the tattered hat still holding itself together, as is the wooden bowl to the south. Spar and Genryl don't let the insects crawling all over them distract them from their mission to save the artifacts!

What Doesn't Belong in a Museum
Round 3! Bold may act!
Red
Blue (-13)
Eranahu (carrying artifact)
Zornesk
Khabash
Genryl (-1)
MacDermot
Spar (-1)

Environmental Effects:
- Green circles labeled "A" are artifacts
- Inspire Courage +1

What do you do?

Spar continues to imbue his scimitar with elemental force, waving it around furiously to disperse the flies from around him, while backing out of the cloud.

Swift action for elemental strike, attack swarm, 5-ft. step out of the swarm's area. If the swarm dies, instead move 15 feet towards the other swarm.

Scimitar attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Acid damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Artifact in hand, Genryl rushes back a few paces and sets it down on the raised dias, before turning to the north and trying to get the one that has been left alone comepletely. "Can someone grab that hat? I *puff* can'T move my legs that fast!"

Leaving the bark behind, Eranahu goes after the next artifact. I'm guessing that this would be a double move? If it is just considered one move, I will move away with this item.

Shew fly! Don't bother me. They're not listening!"

Since Genryl had to double-move last round, he would need to take a move action to pick up the artifact, another move action to move, and a free action to drop the held artifact. Tokens adjusted accordingly.

Spar continues batting at the flies, blade whizzing back and forth until only a few stragglers are left. Genryl rushes to place the bowl in a safer location while Eranahu drops the rune-covered bark and runs over to pull a mat of woven palm leaves from its display before the insects can get to it.

Spar disbursed the Blue swarm - token moved accordingly.

What Doesn't Belong in a Museum
Round 3! Bold may act!
Red
Blue (-19)
Eranahu (carrying artifact)
Zornesk
Khabash
Genryl (-1)
MacDermot
Spar (-1)

Environmental Effects:
- Green circles labeled "A" are artifacts
- Inspire Courage +1

What do you do?

Zornesk grabs an alchemist fire and throws it at the nearest swarm. He moves as he tries to hit.

"Zornesk use fire bomb!"

attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6

confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

fire: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Seeing the nearby swarm dispersed, MacDermot rushes across the room and up the stairs to try and distance the artifacts from each other.

Khabash steps up, drawing another flask, and tosses it on the edge of the swarm. Going for the intersection marked with X, which AIUI will just do splash damage to the swarm if it hits. The AoE will also miss the artifact, though.

Bomb to spot, incl. inspiration and PBS: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 14

So nobody can agree on whether an alchemical splash weapon is a weapon or an item for purposes of actions needed to draw it. So let's treat it as a weapon and move on with our lives.

Zornesk's "fire bomb" hits the swarm squarely, though the insects scatter before the flames can catch them all. Khabash opts for a more controlled explosion...

Blue Reflex vs DC 15: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

...but the shrew flies are spread too thin from the kobold's assault, and most of the acid ends up sizzling on the stone floor.

The hungry hungry caterpillar shrew flies seem to notice a nearby set of armor in an older Elven style that looks to have been grown from tree bark rather than crafted by hand. Buzzing furiously, they descend!

Red Swarm damage, Doubled: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Eranahu watches in horror as the hat is torn to shreds by the swarm, leaving nothing but a few pieces of leather string behind. MacDermot's mouth falls open as he sees the ancient bark armor attacked as well. Small thuds can be heard over the buzzing of insect wings as bits of plating detach and drop from the armor.

What Doesn't Belong in a Museum
Round 4! Bold may act!
Red (-12, burning)
Blue (-19)
Eranahu (carrying artifact)
Zornesk
Khabash
Genryl (-1)
MacDermot
Spar (-1)

Environmental Effects:
- Green circles labeled "A" are artifacts
- Inspire Courage +1

What do you do?

Spar stomps across the floor towards the other swarm. His scimitar stops weeping acid for the moment.

Double move. Slow oread is slow.

Zornesk moves back.

"That's all I got!"

delay

Snatching up the nearest artifact, the grippli hops it back as far as he can before setting it on the floor. "At least they can't get a two for one!"