GM Chadius [PbP Gameday] PFS2 1-01: The Absalom Initiation (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

Yeah, let's try that again.

Olexbu does things the hobgoblin way and doubles down. He has to talk over Dreadfang, though. "Evidently. And I'd be doing you a service, too. Any jeweler would agree." He gestures to an appropriately bedecked statue. "Anyone going out of their way to look at these is in it for the horror, the facial expressions. Stringing your cheap wares around anything but the face forces them to divide their attention."

Sorry Olexbu, your hero point reroll also failed. I assumed you would try again this turn and that failed. Dice roller doesn't like you today. Of course, someone could try to aid you, since you have the highest crafting bonus.

"My... cheap... jewelry? You think my efforts are cheap? Hmpf! I'll have you know my family has been crafting for generations. You mock me and you mock my entire family!" He glares angrily at Olexbu and Dreadfang. The crowd urges him on.

One more obstacle: Ordin Verdstorm, a smith who fashions jewelry for the statues. He's given names and roles to plenty of them, and gets guild leaders to sponsor his work. [ooc]Crafting or Guild Lore. Intimidate will also work but the DC is much higher. Remember to roll your checks secretly (or tell me what you want to roll.)

Calm the leaders down (2/2) (Instructions)
Aleksandyr
Paulie
Hangust
Dreadfang!
Rosette
Olexbu

"Where I come from, those who are the best at their craft make jewels for kings and counts, not for statues that cannot admire and appreciate them. Ever think that maybe the guild sponsored you in this endeavor out of embarrassment or pity."

Guild Lore +1

"Listen, but, that's not a statue, that's an actual, living, breathing creature that's been cursed. Now I don't know much about jewelry, but I suspect making jewelry for statues, and jewelry for actual living creatures is different. So, this is kinda outside your wheelhouse, right? Just let this creature go, please? You're not even practicing your trade here."
Crafting +4

Eh, at least my rolls have been fairly consistent with my roleplay. Olexbu is not good at talking to people.

Ordin simply glares at Aleksandyr, his rage starting to boil. He's about to reach to his side, when Paulie speaks up. He turns to Paulie like a raging tiger... but something about his speech cuts through.

"There are differences, but I didn't... think... what have I been doing with my career?" He pauses. A look a realization washes over his face, and he turns to the crowd.

"Wait! Everyone calm down! Please! They- they are right! We- we cannot do this any longer. They have come to see their friend. We must respect their wishes. Everyone go. We can't- I won't participate in this violence. I have much to learn."

He shakes Paulie's hand. "Thank you. I would... have made a terrible mistake. Good bye." He waves and heads off. Paulie rolled a 20.

Without anyone to lead them, the crowd begins to disperse. ”Youngins never appreciate traditions and culture…” Without a threat in the area, it’s pretty easy to find the statue.

Paulie will let the more arcane minded people in the party take care of the de-stoning. Paulie doesn't trust himself to do it right.

As the final mob leader leaves Hangust plops on the ground and leans back on his hands.
"Good job everyone! I was getting worried!"

When the rest of the crowd is gone and leaves them to their task he wanders around the area climbing on statues if he needs to for a good look, breathing a sigh of relief when they find the correct one.

"One of you still has that stuff Captain Benarry gave us, right?" Hangust asks nervously. He starts looking through his stuff and if he finds it, begins applying it to the statue.

"That went better than I expected," Olexbu says mildly. He keeps an eye on the thinning crowds, just in case of more troublemakers. "Unless we need to make someone more angry, I believe I'll leave the task of talking people down to Paulie."

"What? Hey no, not me. I'm just . . . like . . . a guy. Hey, you know your way around magic, think you can de-curse-ify Captain Benarry's Friend here? I'm sure I'd mess it up if I try. I've never dealt with anything like a curse before."

Dreadfang joins Olexbu in giving the crowd the hairy eyeball.

The statue of a snake with a human's head is easy to find. It even has a pearl necklace around the neck- surprisingly good quality coming from Ordin. You check and double check the salve's instructions before finding a note: Head on, apply directly to the forehead. Seems simple enough.

You apply the salve to the naga statue. Stone shards chip off revealing snake scales from the tail up to the humanoid head. ”Ah, to be free again!” She hisses.

”I should have taken a left at Magnimar, honestly. Maybe I wouldn’t have gotten lost, captured and put on trial for endangering the innocents or such nonsense.” She shakes her head a bit. ”Gorgon breath is quite nasty, you know. But it does preserve the body for centuries, assuming the statue isn’t significantly damaged- but I digress! Thank you all for your help.” She slithers free for the first time in who knows how long, only to stop and bend her head a bit. "What is... something is on me. One second." She lowers her head and shakes the necklace off. "What is this, a necklace? I don't need it. You guys take it. Consider it a reward."

"It's just an ointment. If you mess it up, the problem is with it!" Olexbu loses a bit of relative good cheer at the talk of his magical knack.

He seems a touch more relaxed talking to the naga, at least. "Calisro Benarry sent us. Do you remember what landed you here?"

"Ah, she's a Captain now? I told her she could do it!" The naga laughs. "She was so afraid when we first met. I don't blame her."

The woman slithers forward for a bit before stopping. "I did have a vision of meeting her after emerging from stone slumber. But I don't remember where she is. Take me to her."

"Um, okay. She's at a party that's going to last for a couple days if you like that sort of thing!" Hangust tries to sound excited but he keeps looking over his shoulder at all the other statues they aren't able to free.

"I hope she can help me save more of them." He wonders out loud.

”Good good! Back to the feast!”, Dreadfang declares. ”We return triumphant! All will see our victory, and be humbled!”

The other statues seem to look on with envy as the naga slips away from the Westgate neighborhood. It isn't long before you return to the Grand Lodge. People were staring at you and your serpentine friend, but as you find more Pathfinders, the looks of fear and worry are now smiles and greetings. Your naga friend is quite chatty.

Luckily you're back at the right time: lunchtime! Trays full of roasted pork, vegetables and sautéd nuts line the buffet tables. The naga descends upon it as if she hasn't eaten in years. Well, she hasn't.

With her mouth full of lettuce, rice, chicken and some kind of wine, she slithers up to Captain Benarry. "Captain! You sent such wonderful friends to help me. This makes us even, then?"

Captain Benarry's mood brightens up as she sees the naga. She doesn't even mind the naga's slop staining her surcoat. "Vainel, is it really you? I thought I'd never see you again. Oh, thank the gods."

She turns to you. "And thank you, too. You helped me out, big time. Trust me, I'll make sure to add this to your report."

Success! Which quest is next?

Hangust giggles as the naga stuffs so much in her mouth and he puffs his chest out when Benarry thanks them.

"Thanks for sending us to go save someone from that place!"

He turns to the rest of his companions, having shoved quite a bit of food in his own mouth and smiles eagerly. "Let's go meet that researcher we're supposed to recruit! Which way to the Petals District?"

You go to the College of Mysteries to find out about the researcher. You soon hear about a controversial researcher named Tavvar Hamavsi and her odd magical theories. They say she is practicing within the Blakros Museum, where its protective wards can help her against whatever’s going on out there.

Fola Barun has sent you to determine whether Tavvar and her research might be an asset to the Pathfinder Society and possibly recruit her.

You can roll a Diplomacy check to gather information about Tavvar’s experiments by asking about her at the College of Mysteries.

"Whenever a senior agent came in to help teach a class, they had some story or other lamenting this museum," Olexbu says. "Perhaps this will be a rite of passage."

”Yeah, Uncle Vinnie said he had some bad times here. Apparently their exhibits like to go wild. We, uh, we should be careful.”
Diplomacy+3

"Institutions of higher learning. Some of my biggest fans were the scholarly type."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Aleksandr fits right in. Even if his speech is a bit dates and his accent a bit thick, he is still quite charming.

Dreadfang pokes around nearby, looking for anything he can find about dragons.

Aleksandyr, don't forget to roll these checks in spoilers.

Aleksandyr learns that Tavvar has been working on the ritual for several days at the museum after its normal hours of operation, with some assistants aiding her. Her colleagues add a comment that Tavvar is cloistered. She hasn't seen much of the outside world, and she can barely tell the difference between oak and pine trees. They suspect she has difficulty finding the correct raw ingredients.

Skill with Crafting or Nature may help here greatly.

You find the sun setting as you slip into the famous (or infamous, depending on who you speak to) Blakros museum. The lower level is soon cleared out and the guards lock the doors, leaving you alone to explore the upper levels.

You are on Slide 1. Tell me which way you want to go and move your icons around.

Paulie's Nature and crafting skills are both +4
Paulie starts walking down the cooridor. "I mean, I've never been here before, but this looks like where all the important people have offices. I guess this is a good place to look for them."

Paulie will stroll down the corridor, knocking on doors and looking for a looking for a door with the nameplate 'Tavvar Hamavsi.'

Hangust follows excitedly behind Dreadfang and Paulie. Standing on his toes to read any nameplates that may be too high up.

"I wonder what the ritual is, I'm bet it's really exciting!" The halfling is back to his bouncy old self now that they're out of Westgate.
On the off chance it can be justified, my Survival is +5, untrained in the two mentioned skills.

Olexbu takes a few steps down a different hallway before following along. If the nearest doors can be opened, he does so, but doesn't stick around unless he sees Tavvar or something amiss behind them.

Rosette and Sabre follow along with the others. "It's not good to spend too much time indoors. Imagine, not knowing the difference between an oak and pine!" she shook her head sadly.

Rosette will also scan with detect magic to help locate the ritual.

You already see shadows of pillars, statues, and yourself begin to flicker live flames of a candle. Something’s definitely going on.

I'll save that roll for a bit later, Rosette.

You pass by several offices, all of the doors are locked. “Nigel Aldain, Curator” is inscribed on a silver plate on the Southernmost door. You hear more chanting from upstairs.

Olexbu walks down the hallway and takes a look down the lecture hall. This long, narrow presentation space has seating for around thirty guests, all facing a low stage at the south end of the room. At first glance the room seems empty, but a moment later, it seems as though the shadows of an audience still fill the plush seats. A chill draft sweeps through the room, and of a whispery voice echoes from the podium.

“...and rather than engage in a responsible, controlled study of the codebook, Yargos Gill decided—imprudently—to simply execute the signals listed therein...” The voice trails off into a looming silence.

Anything you want to do here, or proceed?

Olexbu immediately slams the door and returns to the main group. "Either the ritual is in effect, or a ghost council has taken up residence here. Neither option would surprise me, but I didn't see anyone alive in that room. Let's get this over with."

"No one's in their offices, I guess we should head upstairs."

Hangust's eyes go wide at the word Ghost Council and he crouches low trying to see through the gap between the floor and the bottom of the door.

"Maybe they know where Tavvar is!" He gives up after a few moments and stands back. "Or maybe not, I haven't met many ghosts, let's check upstairs like Paulie said."

”Onward!”, cries Dreadfang. ”Let’s see if they’re making ghosts! I’m not afraid!”

Deciding time is of the essence, you all head up the stairs to the third floor.

Droning voices echo off the mahogany walls and domed, plaster ceiling of this luxurious room. The sumptuous furniture has been pushed to the sides of the room, making space for eldritch markings and mystical paraphernalia laid carefully over the plush carpet. The chamber seems muted and dim despite the crystal chandelier overhead, and a bone numbing chill seeps through the space along with a metallic scent. A ritual is obviously underway here, but it doesn’t seem as though it’s working as planned. Shadowy energy lashes out from a twisting breach in the center of the room, and indistinct shapes flit and scuttle along the walls.

”Everyone calm down. I’ve got this!” The woman’s face is in a determined grimace. ”Keep those shadows under control.” She grunts as the ritual’s shadows lash out at her and her assistants. ”We can do this, just focus-” she enters a coughing fit before continuing. Her assistants flail wildly, pouring all of their concentration into the ritual.

Looks like you’ll need to control this ritual before you can talk to her. Tavvar won’t last much longer at this rate.

Aleksandyr recalls his earlier conversations and notices the woman at the center is indeed Tavvar Hamavsi. The ritual has already begun, but it's doomed to fail unless you interact.

You suspect the ritual will be flawed because of incorrect ingredients. A Trained Crafting or Nature check can be used to repair the damage. Move within 10 feet of the center of the room and you can try to repair the ritual. You can also attempt an Untrained Occultism check but the DC will be higher. It costs 2 actions to fix the problem.

Rosette, if you want to use your Nature roll go ahead. Everyone else, you can make your rolls public.

The ritual will do bad stuff(TM) to Tavvar and her assistants, but you can spend a reaction to shield them with your body, taking the bad stuff(TM) yourself.

Round 1
Aleksandyr
Paulie
Hangust
Dreadfang
Rosette
Olexbu
Tavvar (0 damage)
Red Assistant (0 damage)
Purple Assistant (0 damage)
Black Assistant (0 damage)
Ritual (3)

Nature check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Really dice bot? Again?
"I have NO IDEA what's going on, I'm WAY out of my depth here!"

Aleksandr moves in and tries to see if he can fix the flaws.

Occultism: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Dreadfang dashes into the room. He plants himself near one of the assistants, claws bared, watching the shadows warily.

”I defy you, ghosts!”, he shouts. ”Come and face my wrath, if you dare!”

Stride, Stride, Tiger Stance

Seeing his companions assist with the ingredients, Hangust rushes to Tavvar. Not sure what he's doing, he prepares to protect the potential Pathfinder recruit with his life if need be.

Will use my reaction to protect Tavvar

Olexbu plods up the stairs. Too slow to start picking the ritual apart, he gets into position and braces for a conventional attack. "Let's stop this here and now."

Stride, Stride, cast Shield. Will protect the assistant I'm next to.

Rosette moves in to try and help, "Oh dear, this doesn't look quite right... Let me see now..."

Yes, would like to use previous roll to help fix the Ritual.

Paulie, Rosette and Aleksandyr feel themselves linked to the ritual's negative energy. Aleksandyr feels this ritual is quite difficult to analyze, and Paulie can barely tell the difference between the various mushrooms. But Rosette quickly analyzes the mushrooms and realizes the porcini and king oyster mushrooms are in the wrong order. She improvises quickly and fixes one of the many flaws in the ritual. Maybe it will be easier to find an occult solution to the problem now.

Just in time, too, as energy pulses from Tavvar's position. Dreadfang, Hangust and Olexbu step in front of two of the assistants and Tavvar. The energy pulses forth and they feel the energy surge through them. Rosette, Paulie and Aleksandy also feel the energy coarse through them.

Everyone, please make a basic Fort Save against negative energy. DC is 18.
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10
Fort Save 28+ : Take no damage
Fort Save 18-27 : Take 5 damage
Fort Save 9-17: Take 10 damage
Fort Save 8 or lower: Take 20 damage

The assistant in Purple coughs up a lot of blood at the energy surges through her, wounds and bruises rapidly appearing on her body.

To make matters worse, the residual energy converges into a blob of pure energy. It steps up to Dreadfang and a shadowy tendril lashes at him.

Dreadfang watches his shadow as the blob begins to strangle it and merge with his. Wherever he goes, the blob goes with him.

You suspect the ritual is flawed because of incorrect ingredients. A Trained Crafting or Nature check can be used to repair the damage. Move within 10 feet of the center of the room and you can try to repair the ritual. You can also attempt an Untrained Occultism check but the DC will be higher. It costs 2 actions to fix the problem.

The ritual will do bad stuff(TM) to Tavvar and her assistants. If you didn't try to fix the ritual you can spend a reaction to shield them with your body, taking the bad stuff(TM) yourself.

Round 2
Aleksandyr
Paulie
Hangust
Dreadfang (4 damage, Blob is in your space)
Rosette
Olexbu
Tavvar (0 damage)
Red Assistant (0 damage)
Purple Assistant (10 damage)
Black Assistant (0 damage)
Ritual (3+1/9)
Blob (in Dreadfang's space)

I'll need Basic Fort Saves from all of you. DC 18 to halve 10 negative energy damage.

Aleksandr feels the wave of energy wash over him. It passes through him harmlessly.

Aleksandr is immune to negative damage due to his negative healing ability.

Aleksandr moves to intercept any further damage to the purple assistant. He then pulls out a dagger and stabs at the blob.

◈ Stride
◈ Interact
◈ Strike - Dagger (Agile, finesse, thrown 10 ft., versatile S)
1st Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage (Piercing): 1d4 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2

Fortitude: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Olexbu starts trying to piece together the ritual. As an aside, he gets ready to grasp his halberd in a defensive stance. But instead it is ripped from his hands and flung at the energy creature!

◈◈ Fix it! Crafting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
◈ Cast Hand of the Apprentice: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 Slashing: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

”What?! No!”, cries Dreadfang. ”That’s my shadow! Give it back!”

He tries to shoo the blob away with the back of his hand, before raking at it with his claws.

Tiger Stance, Feint, Flurry of Blows

Deception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Damage 1: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7S
Attack 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Damage 2: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6S

fort save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
crafting to fix ritual: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"I have no idea what I'm doing and I can't take another hit like that."

Step up

Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Hangusts face falls as the negative energy washes over him. He grimaces but stands his ground in front of Tavvar. Seeing the blob form near Dreadfang Hangust shouts in fury and rushes forward to assist his companion.
HP 13/23

Greataxe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 81d12 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Will use my reaction to protect Tavvar again if needed.

Aleksandyr and Dreadfang tear into the shadowy blob, but it still survives. Hangust tries to help, but he's never attacked a living shadow before.

Paulie really isn't sure which mushroom goes where.

Retroactive turn one second fix ritual
Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Retroactive turn two second fix ritual
crafting: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14