GM supervillan's Krune campaign (Inactive)

Game Master supervillan

"Right-o," Nina agrees with Quiella, shooting her a thankful look for the healing energies. "And I think we've got plenty of evidence to back up what these sick jerks were doing here. Let's bust up what we can of the sanctum, get these people out of here, and report back to Miss Feathers and/or the Blushing Rose!"

When they reach the question of what to do with the comatose lethe users from the first building she hesitates, a worried expression on her face. "Did their soul-cookies get eaten? Or did they just overdo it on the lethe?"

"My hope is that it is simply the latter. It should not take too long to discover what the truth is."

"Wives?" Teric looks at Fendel in horror. "Heavens no. Don't put that jinx on me! My purely legally gotten gains shall remain my own!"

"Perhaps some of us can go treat the lethe users while Fendel works out who of those below we have wafers for. Sixty-five wafers. There were not that many here."

I think we just take the time to treat and match those who we can find.

"...report back to Miss Feathers and/or the Blushing Rose!"

Daedîn nods in agreement with Nina. "We should definitely report back to the Blushing Rose..."

Ok, there's just one 'snag' to iron out, then we can proceed to debriefs at the Blushing Rose and Magnimar:

The sanctum is still protected by the Forbiddance spell - that spell doesn't go away, and will do damage each time you enter the forbidden area. You also left Anton and Kesoulla down there (and Quiella's mount).

You can, of course, just high-tail it with the wafers. But if you're intent on busting the Lissalan temple up, and doing something other than just leaving the cult leader behind, what's the plan?

Can the forbiddance be disabled, like a magic trap? Daedîn can't disable magic traps but Fendel can...Daedîn could try to find its source though so Fendel could disarm it, if it's detectable, that is...

Though in some ways it acts like one, Forbiddance is not a magical trap spell (otherwise Fendel would certainly have detected it). Magical trap spells are always called out as such in the spell descriptions (eg Fire Trap, Explosive Runes).

There are also traps that trigger spells, and theoretically could be set to trigger any spell, but Forbiddance does not require this.

Dispel Magic can dispel Forbiddance, but the caster level of the Dispel Magic must be at least as high as the caster level of the Forbiddance. Unless you have some impressive boonage, you aren't going to reach the CL of this Forbiddance.

One more question so that I can resolve your debriefings: what do you do with the surplus Sigil Wafers? Three options:

destroy them in holy water
eat them (one or all of you might eat one or more - you know this would be an Evil action)
bring them back to VC Heidmarch / the Society

We can just leave the Forbiddence spell for now. We can report that back to the Society and get them to send someone later. For now we can barricade the building, and let Miss Feathers keep it under watch.

I say destroy the extra wafers with holy water.

Destroy the wafers that we cannot match to victims. Not certain what to do in a town with no law enforcement. Fendel would look to the local lodge/VC for advice.

I agree re the holy wafers. Quiella does not mind taking the forbiddance damage again to go smash things up with her hammer. And hand over the unconscious NPCs to party members standing on the stairs

Daedîn is fine with destroying the wafers. If Quiella wishes to smash up the place, he'll cover her from the stairs, just in case something nasty was hiding down there. As for the cultists, think we'll have to carry 'em back to Heidmarch Manor...

Seldanna helps Fendel match as many wafers as they can and agrees with the plan to destroy the rest. Lonan needs to be kept securely locked in his cage, however, as the hungry raven seems intent on gobbling as many of the tasty looking wafers as he can stuff into his beak.

Seldanna and Fendel, with some initial help from the rest of you to move the comatose addicts, set to work in the lethe house. They find that the cultist thug has already left to seek absolution, having escaped his bonds. The lethe-users are unconscious, but not in danger. Once they are all in one group the two pathfinders set to work matching Sigil Wafers to the addicts. As they feed the addicts the right wafers, some of their sensibility returns and those who are able leave the lethe-house in a hurry, with profuse thanks...

Nina, Inky, Quiella and Sèriè re-enter the temple to start demolishing it. Nina has an adamantine weapon which tends to be helpful for this stuff - even if she can't go mounted.

Nina Forbiddance: 12d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5, 2, 4, 4, 2, 2, 2, 1, 5, 1) = 30 15 dmg
Nina Will DC19: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Inky Forbiddance: 12d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 6, 2, 2, 5, 3, 6, 4, 3, 2) = 49 24 dmg
Inky Will DC19: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Quiella Forbiddance: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 3, 1, 3) = 16 8 dmg
Quiella Will DC19: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

No further damage for Sèriè as she hasn't left and re-entered.

The gnomish knights break up the desk just to make sure that there's nothing more there, and then set about the inlaid sihedron rune.

Daedîn stands watch at the foot of the stairs.

Teric lounges on a sofa upstairs, waiting for word from his colleagues and contemplating whether to risk another smoke of that sweet, sweet lethe...

The crew in the basement has been working for about an hour. Much of the sihedron rune is destroyed. Then, Daedîn sees Kesoulla pull her gag off! Her bindings no longer hold her! Freedom of Movement

"Not dead then" the priestess says simply. "What do you plan to do with me?"

Surprise round

Nina
Kesoulla
Daedîn
Sèriè
Inky
Quiella

Nina may act!

Surprise round - move or standard action only. Everybody except Quiella has noticed that Kesoulla is conscious - evidently Quiella is making too much noise smashing stuff ;)

I am happy to say that you healed all the damage from the Forbiddance before Kesoulla wakes up. Quiella has lifelink on everybody in the basement, so that's 40 damage for her to heal I think.

Note that many of your buffs will have expired. Just over an hour has elapsed since you entered the basement again. Kesoulla is unarmed and unarmoured - you have divested her and Anton of all their gear, and I will assume it is all upstairs.

Nina starts; she'd forgotten all about the priestess being under her own enchantments - that apparently last as long as some of theirs.

Okay, okay, she's unarmed and she can't get out without getting past us and up the stairs. Even if she blasts me, the others'll get her.

She swiftly steps closer to Kesoulla and her still-unconscious goon, lance in her hand, though she hopes she won't need to use it now.

"You need to answer for the wicked things you've done," Nina responds with narrowed eyes. "Field execution would've been easier but it's not entirely up to me."
______________

Move to current map position~

Yep, we should've killed her, she can't have too many hp though since she just regained consciousness. Damn those dice though... Daedîn has +13 to init, she has +1 and she's beaten me in initiative twice now...seems like I wasted that feat...

"Only Lissala can judge me" Kesoulla says. "Fhtagn."

Kesoulla speaks a single, terrible word; to hear it is an abominable shock to both body and soul.

OK, this spell has different effects depending on your hit dice, and an additional possible effect on Inky.

Daedîn, Nina and Inky, attempt DC23 Will saves. Inky must attempt an additional save at a -4 penalty first. Quiella and Sèriè are out of range.

Surprise round

Nina
Kesoulla
Daedîn; -5hp, save needed
Sèriè
Inky; -4hp, save needed
Quiella; -46hp

The bold may act! saves permitting

Surprise round: standard or move actions only.

Quiella, you had time to heal the damage on the tracker above - it comes from the Forbiddance and your lifelinks. Inky's damage is leftovers.

Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

It is much more efficient for Quiella to channel as the wounds are transferring over. She is now out of Oracle channels but still has 6/8 LoH left; which sounds 1-2 too high. maybe I missed one in combat

TL;DR only Inky has 3 dmg and no one else is hurt, Quiella is out of Oracle channels and all spell slots

It seems Quiella does have a smite left, which should be convenient

Will (DC 23): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

"Oh g-nnnrgh!" is all Nina manages to get out before she finds herself sapped of her strength (again) and rooted to the spot.

Will (DC 23; -4 Penalty): 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 4 = 4

"RRRREOWR!"

As Kesoulla's spell hits Inky she utters a loud yowl as her bond with Nina is temporarily broken, sending her back to her home in a flash of light.

I botted a lay on hands for you during the wisp fight, Quiella.

Daedîn may act in the surprise round!

Daedîn quickly puts a cold iron arrow into the cultist, hoping that's enough to drop her back into la-la land...

To hit: Base/Dex, Weapon Focus, Magic, PBS, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Deadeye Bowman
Damage: Magic, PBS, Deadly Aim, Holy

Longbow (Manyshot): 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 14 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 32
Magic/Good/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 + 4 + (6, 6) = 24

...he'll await to see if she drops before alerting the others...

Daedîn's arrow puts Kesoulla back on the floor. She's unconscious, but still alive. You might have lost a couple of initiative rolls, but your dice have been hot when it counted!

Combat over! (again)

Nina looks to be paralysed, and Inky has disappeared.

Daedîn will chance the forbiddance and rush down to the fallen cultist...

Forbiddance: 12d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 4, 4, 4, 6, 3, 2, 3, 4, 6, 3) = 44

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

...grimacing from the pain while drawing his adamantine dagger, and, murmuring, ”Fool me once,” he slits her throat from ear to ear. ”Now, Lissala may judge you, but you won’t hurt my friends again...”

GM: Need any rolls for the coup?

He checks the other cultist’s binds and gag, resecuring them if needed...and knocking him unconscious, if needed, as well...if OK with Quiella, he’ll hoist that cultist on Serie for transport upstairs...

”You can continue smashing, Quiella...I’ll get Nina and this cultist trash upstairs and come back to cover you...”

The Elf will walk over to Nina and gently picks her up and carries her up the stairs while leading Serie with the captive cultist dude...

When he gets upstairs, he’ll lay Nina down somewhere comfortable. ”Teric, I can see you’re terribly busy, but can you keep an eye on Nina while she recovers? Had a bit of trouble down there, the Lissalan priestess awoke and gave us trouble...I’m afraid she won’t be making the trip back with us now...the other cultist fella is atop Serie here...I’ve gotta get back down and cover Quiella...”

Daedîn will head back down to watch over Quiella...but won’t risk the forbiddance again unless absolutely necessary...

Teric looks up from where he is lounging in one of the chairs. "What? How did she get free?" He sighs and swings his legs down to get up, motioning for Daedîn to lay Nina down on the couch.

He snaps his fingers and an Unseen Servant slides a chair over for him to sit in front of her. He focuses for a moment, drawing divine energy to his will and casting a healing spell on her before realizing that might not be the problem.

"What happened to her?"

Quiella would oppose Daedîn killing the cultist pretty adamantly, and would physically oppose him if necessary. Then he would get quite an earful from her if he pulled it off. Not only is it an evil act but the woman probably knows some things the VCs could get out of her

Going strictly on initiative order, and seeing as Daedîn drops Kesoulla unconscious with his surprise round action when Quiella does not get to act, it's impossible for Quiella to reach Daedîn before he completes a coup de grace (unless you have some sort of swift or free action speed boost Quiella).

dagger coup de grace: 2d4 + 14 ⇒ (4, 2) + 14 = 20
Kesoulla Fort save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Daedîn finishes Kesoulla off just before a furious Quiella reaches him...

I don’t see how that’s an evil act...tried to take her in alive but she was unrepentant...she awoke, easily got out of her bonds and she tried to kill us...might’ve succeeded had I not gotten lucky with my save...should I have tied her up once more and let her try all over again? I think not...Nina was paralyzed, Inky vanished, and this evil and powerful priestess had already technically killed one of us earlier, should we keep giving her more chances? Who know what other nasty spells she had left to use...

Not to mention, I did not coup her companion, when I could’ve done that just as easily...

killing an unconscious person in cold blood is an evil act. It doesn't matter what they've done.

Seeing a furious Quiella rushing up to him, Daedîn throws up his hands. "Peace, Quiella! I know you don't approve, but I don't see where she left me much choice. I tried to do it your way but she easily escaped the bonds. She paralyzed poor Nina there, made Inky vanish to I don't know where, and tried to do the same to me...she might've killed one of us had luck not been on my side...

"If you'll notice, the other cultist's bonds still hold, and he's still alive...I do not kill indiscriminately..."

Kesoulla's plans are thwarted. The cult of Lissala in Kaer Maga is destroyed.

Fendel and Seldanna manage to restore the stolen soul-portions to all of the addicts rescued from the warehouse, and several of the unconscious lethe-users from Drollis' den; the remainder either did not partake of a Feast yet, or else their wafers have already been consumed.

Downstairs, Queilla finishes breaking the sihedron up and realises that the ceiling is so unstable that one well-placed fireball from Teric will bring it down, burying the forsaken place. Glaring at each other as they ascend, Quiella and Daedîn haul Anson upstairs. Sèriè follows.

Teric cautiously descends the stairs, and whilst avoiding the Forbiddance spell he aims his fireball, and sure enough the ceiling comes down!

Nina recovers after several minutes, but Inky doesn't reappear. Fortunately the enforced absence is not permanent though. 24 hours till she can be summoned back.

Together you usher all the surviving lethe-users who are mobile outside - but many will not recover their strength until morning. You find your guide, Urchin Ally, curled up asleep in a nearby doorway. Rousing her, you convince her to keep watch over the helpless lethe-users that you cannot bring with you. "Huh" she says "looks like I'm not getting steak at the Canary House then." A couple of silvers mollify her sufficiently. In the morning her charges awaken, and drag themselves home to recover.

You've saved three of Madam Rose's girls, and you escort them back to the Blushing Rose. Your deed gets you an audience with the Madam, and Miss Feathers. "My thanks for what you have done" says the stentorian old prostitute. "Any of my girls will give you half an hour of her time at no charge - to be used by the end of the week. And if you don't want to lug that Lissalan scum halfway across Varisia you're welcome to leave him in my care. I'll find a use for him."

You're able to identify Miss Feathers' 'soul cookie' before you destroy the remainder by soaking them in holy water. "Well, sugar" she says, perking up considerably after eating the wafer "I'm sure glad I wrote to you guys! The Pathfinder Society is always welcome here! And thanks for bringing my friends home, even if you couldn't get them all back. It means a lot to me."
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Several weeks and a long overland journey later, back at Heidmarch Manor, you meet with Venture Captain Sheila Heidmarch.

"So you broke the cult in Kaer Maga, and you helped out Miss Feathers too. Well done. We'll count this as a success. It's a pity that you destroyed all of the Sigil Wafers, we could have done with a few samples for study. But not to worry - yours was not the only mission against the Lissalans. It doesn't do to put all of your eggs in one basket, now. Take a break pathfinders, you've earned it. But don't go too far, I've a feeling I'll be needing you again very soon."

This ends Feast of Sigils! Feel free to continue role-play here. I plan to use the same thread for the whole mini-campaign.

Upon hearing the madam's offer, Fendel merely waves his hand. "I donate my time to Teric."

Daedîn arches an eyebrow at the madam's offer, murmuring, "Does that include Miss Oni?"

Quiella thanks the madam for her offer but feels uncomfortable accepting such an offer indirectly and passes.

Several weeks and a long overland journey later, back at Heidmarch Manor, you meet with Venture Captain Sheila Heidmarch.

Turns out that Refuge of Time begins in Kaer Maga too - so a slight retcon:

VC Heidmarch debriefs you via multiple Sending spells and instructs you to remain in Kaer Maga for the time being - she will contact you with further instructions.

Meanwhile Daedîn gets to know Miss Oni...

Teric laughs at some of the others' discomfort. "My friends, this is their trade! It's like refusing to ask a blacksmith to forge steel. If nothing else, seeing a skilled artist perform their work is divine. And here you can even participate..." He gives a lecherous grin and swirls the whiskey glass he somehow obtained.

A few minutes later you see him arm in arm with the cute brunette and a busty blonde. "I'll be sure to put your time to good use, Fendel."

"Um...I might...look around the city a little...and maybe here," Nina later admits after the briefings, her cheeks flushing pink. And those who are particularly observant might notice that Inky is conspicuously absent at the moment.

She leans in close to Madam Rose. "Do...you have any, um, beefy halfling men working here?"

Otherwise I guess maybe I'll see if Miss Feathers wants to play checkers or something.

"My half an hour will go to my familiar...if that's alright with you? It'll give me a bit of peace and quiet, if nothing else. I might even get to finish my book if he takes up the full time."

Seldanna lets Lonan out of his cage and the raven eagerly flies over to the red and blue parrot. The pair fly off together into a nearby room.

The parrot's calls echo out into the foyer. "SQWAAAARK! Who's a pretty, girl? SQWAAAARK! Who's a pretty girl?" From the excited, high-pitched CAAAAWS coming back from Lonan and the screeched compliments about the shape of her tail and the fluff of her down, it seems that she's the pretty one, at least as far as the raven's concerned.

You already heard that one of the new agents that will join you is a Dwarven archer and devout follower of Erastil.

When the Dwarven colleague joins you, you can see that he wears no armor.

He is well groomed and has a slightly arrogant and distant behavior.

When he sees you all, he seems to be in the mood for a lecture.

”Almaas is my name! I hope that you were all told what is at stake here! I want you all to behave and be civil as this is a Society mission for the greater good I heard!"

He looks at all of you like a father that teaches his children.

"For once, I hope that you have listened to the preachings of followers of Erastil in your communities! It is always important to feel a spark of family, community, and duty in your hearts! I will help you with that!“

You clearly notice that Almaas can really go on one’s nerves with his preachings.

"Well, um, I'm sort of partial to the Dawnflower and all but I don't have anything against family and community," a small young lady-gnome with strawberry-blonde hair remarks as she gestures to the holy symbol hanging around her neck. "And I dunno, I think we were pretty civil on our last job, except for the part where friendlies got scorched by those wisps and, um, Teric, but we'll do our best, sir!"

The gnome is dressed in a sparkling chain shirt and carries a lance of adamantine slung across her back, along with her pack and an assortment of other weapons. Sitting beside her is a rather large...fire cat? Except that it sports leathery black wings and has only a small stub for a tail.

For its' part, the fire cat makes a show of rolling its eyes.

"Oh my gods Nina, he's not your dad or anything, you don't need to call him 'sir'," the cat rumbles in a gravelly, but feminine, voice. "Just another talker like that hooded guy. No, not him," the eidolon continues, waving a paw at Daedîn, "the other hooded guy."

Almaas is confused.

"Good, good young lady ... eh ... lady Nina! Sarenrae and Erastil are good friends and you seem to have a good heart!" he says remembering that the fire cat called her Nina.

"And you should respect your elders young fire cat! And I do not know about the 'hooded guy' part you are talking about." Almaas says to cat.

”A gnome, a dwarf and a halfling head into a bar....no, it must be a Society gathering,” the small halfling pipes up. She chose not to comment on any religious talk. Any of those gods and their servants could do wonders when it came time for her to have her wounds magically healed.

She stood up, and her well made chain mail was very evident. She had wicked looking sharp kukri hanging to her sides, and an especially well made belt bringing everything together.

”I’m Shel. They sent me here to help. Apparently you lot are up to big things! I want in.”

Seeing the two newcomers, Daedîn gives a warm smile and bows, "Almaas...Shel...Daedîn, at your service..."

Listening to the newcomers, he thinks, This dwarf fella could rival Teric with his gift of gab...but it's a good thing he wasn't with us at the Blushing Rose, that would've been awkward. The halfling lady seems to have a sense of humor...

More familiar with the other two, Daedîn grins to the gnome and her fire cat. "Inky, you seem radiant this morning...and Nina, you're absolutely sparkling," he says before whispering to her with a playful wink, "Any luck finding that beefy halfling?"

Teric walks in eating some sort of meat pie. "I'm not sure I even want to know what this 'meat' is, but Ally was right that it's the best in town. The little street rat does seem to know everyone in the city. I wonder if they would be looking to expand..."

He looks up and smiles at the group, nodding to those he recognized. "Good to see you back Inky. Ally was asking about you." He finally spots the new comers. "Oh, guests! How wonderful!" The Varisian snaps his fingers and a chair slides over for him to take a seat. He sticks his legs out and an invisible force brushes the dust off his trousers and boots.

"Welcome. I am Teric, a Trade Prince. If you desire anything, I can get it for you as long as the price is right. I hold contracts from Tian Xia to Riddleport." He holds his hand out and a steel goblet of whiskey settles into it. He sips and smiles at them.

"Any luck finding that beefy halfling?"

Why yes, in fact.

"It's just girls here, sweetie, and I like to keep it that way" Madam Rose answered Nina's enquiry. "We have an arrangement with The Strapping Lad down the street. You can get what you need there, sweetie. Get a receipt and I'll reimburse you up to twenty-five gold. Just don't tell them I sent you, or Elias Sayer will double the rates!"

Slides are all ready - same links as before. I'll get us started in earnest at the weekend.

Nina blushes a little but smiles back at Daedîn. "Um, y-yeah. I'll tell you more about it later, if you're curious," she whispers back. Then her blush deepens and she quickly adds, "Um! W-within reason, I mean. I'll tell you more about it later, within reason!"

Turning back to the newcomers, Nina smiles at Shel and sticks her hand out. "We're up to all sorts of big things! I'm Nina and it's nice to meet you, Shel. This is Inky," she adds, gesturing to the eidolon.

Shel takes the accepted hand. ”Pleasure, Nina. And tell me more about Inky. He’s certainly a handsome lady. Inky, how did you two get together?”

Nina blushes a little but smiles back at Daedîn. "Um, y-yeah. I'll tell you more about it later, if you're curious," she whispers back. Then her blush deepens and she quickly adds, "Um! W-within reason, I mean. I'll tell you more about it later, within reason!"

Daedîn arches an eyebrow as his grin grows wider. "Aye, Nina, all within reason, of course...I look forward to the telling. In return, mayhap I can tell you what Miss Oni looks like behind her mask..."

"'He'?" Inky repeats in what is clearly a feminine voice, if a bit low in pitch and gravelly. "I guess I'll give you a freebie since fine specimens of elemental might like myself aren't just hanging out on every street corner here on the Material. But it's good to meet someone with a discerning eye for a change."

The eidolon stretches both front legs and wings, perhaps to show off a little bit.

"How'd I get paired up with Nina? It was my turn to get summoned and she happened to be the one that called," Inky shrugs. "And I mean that's a simplistic answer; there are other rules and regulations to be followed - like it does sorta depend on the personality of the summoner as to who answers. If you're a wicked son of a b+$&~ you're not going to be getting any angels or agathions coming to help you out, you know?"

Inky laughs. "To be honest I expected some dope in a hat with a 'Summoning for Dummies' book, not a gnome aiming to be some sort of mounted knight."