GM Bret's PbP Gameday IX: Library of the Lion (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

B8

Five broad desks line the walls of this study room. Each work surface is covered with stacked volumes brimming with page markers as well as numerous open books.

B9

Bookcases cover nearly every inch of the walls in this room, which is only faintly illuminated by small lights set into the ceiling. A glass-paned door seals each panel of shelves, keeping the ancient tomes stored within free of dust.

Okay, I'm a little lost. I think we're researching room 4?

Meanwhile in B10...

Hey Elris, look at this lever I found under the table.

She yanks it to open the secret door.

Okay, I'm a little lost. I think we're researching room 4?

We're not all in the same place necessarily, which is okay (until one of us encounters monsters, I guess)

Yeah, I didn't want to get overwhelmed with too many rooms at a time but was just looking for one that suited me best to begin research. Looks like we found something interesting in #10 though so sticking with that.

"Excellent find, Ela! Perhaps this holds exactly what we want...maybe even a vessel for our new friend." he says preparing himself for what waits inside, even preparing his shield in case there are traps.

I offered to search B4 Recital Hall after skimming all the rooms (I figure that can't take more than 5 min?) but no one else seemed to want to search that room with me, so I can wait til later and just stick with Elris (most of these rooms I don't have the prerequisite skills for).

The map shows 3 in B4, 2 in B10 and Igor hasn’t moved.
I would like Igor to indicate where they are going before I update.

Important reminder: Even if you completely fail your skill check, the time is divided by the number of people in the same location. It just means you get put on copying and shelving duty.

So it actually makes most sense that we always search one room together! Ok, I suggest to go for B4 first and then all of us B10.

No, not always.
No more than four PCs can efficiently search a small room at the same time, and no more than five PCs can search a medium room at a time.

Igor moves to B4 to help out.

He looks around.

Perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31

He then sees if he recalls anything important from the materials in the room.

K-History: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Ela finds two magical potion vials in the desk.

When she pulls the lever, she gets a big surprise. Evidently she failed to deactivate some sort of trap. Two darts come flying out at her. They both hit!
Dart vs Flat-footed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Piercing damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2
Dart vs Flat-footed: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Piercing damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1
Please make a Fortitude save vs. Poison
This is a fast acting poison, so only Elris is in a position to be able to help Ela.

There are no other immediate threats evident. I would like to resolve the poison before going on.

Seeing the darts fire out at Ela, Elris rushes over and puts his arm around her.

"Are you alright? Let's get you in a chair." he speaks quickly as he checks her over for the effects of poison.

Heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Owww... that was bothersome!

She plucks the darts out of her skin and drops them on the table with the satisfying thunk. She doesn't immediately feel much, but...

Fortitude: 1d20 ⇒ 10 uh oh!

Ela feals the poison attacking her nerves, making it hard to control her movement.
Dex damage: 1d2 ⇒ 1

To speed this up, we will do multiple rolls. I will put the poison information in the spoiler.
For each round, Elris can try to help you via Heal check, and you get to try a Fortitude save. You would still have your normal round if you have anything that might help you.

I don't think I have a "promotional reroll".

I'm going to also assume one guidance from Elris for each roll.

Fortitude (guidance), DC20: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Nice. Just need to make one?

Excellent! Yes, you only need one.

After the mishap with the desk is past, Ela and Elris look around the room.

Sorry, I found your perception rolls but not your research rolls. Would each of you make a research roll please?

B4 Results

It takes the four of you 8 minutes to find the two books in this room. At that point, you realize there is nothing more worth researching here.

Iocopo, I didn't find your research roll, but since all the clues here were found it did not matter.

Well... that was a disappointing lever-under-the-desk. I was kind of hoping for a secret room full of "the good books." Alas, back to work!

Going to keep with the "implements of war" angle:
knowledge (engineering): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 arg

My issue is not having any of the skills trained for the basic research, so not sure what to roll is why I haven't. If I can substitute anything else I will use Kreighton's Perusal.

"I too was hoping for a trove of treasure or relics! I can handle those better than a book but let us see if this trick from Master Shaine works." Elris says, casting a spell to help him sort through the tomes.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 + 3 = 18

Research skills are Linguistics, Knowledge (history), or text-based Craft or Profession check.
Unless an area says other skills are allowed, other skills are used at a penalty.

Note that Craft is Int based and can be used untrained. There are also cards that can give bonuses to checks.

B10 results
Eli and Elris fail to find anything in 15 minutes of searching.

If you continue, you would automatically get a clue. Assuming just the two of you, it would take 8 minutes.
Also, might want to look at the map. It got updated.

After searching the recital room Grelthe will suggest we check in with the other part of the group, she also suggests 2 groups of 3 might search more effectively? (and on the same time schedule)

Two groups of three would avoid many of the weird situations with time keeping, yes.
That said, I am willing to keep the two groups on different time schedules if that is what is wanted. I will not force a synchronization on either group, but please do not split into three groups!

I'm game for a synchronization. But i think we're going to continue a short time for the auto-clue in B10. Available to sync in 8m :)

Frustrated with their progress so far, Ela frowns and shoves aside her current pile of books to start fresh with a different pile.

After that...

Having already been waylaid by secret darts, she has a sneaking suspicion that there must be more hidden compartments in this room, and takes one last look.

Perception, secret doors that don't hurt: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
But probably not...

Yeah, unfortunately he has to take the penalty as he isn't trained in any of the base ones.

"I am struggling, I should have spent more time in the temple instead of the battlefields." Elris says scratching his head as he continues to work.

"Hopefully we can find something to take back to the others at least." he continues looking through the books longer.

Will stay with Ela before we split into two synchronous groups.

Since Ela & Elris are still busy searching when we come check on them, Grelthe will suggest searching one more room (with Iacopo, Igor & Toral) while they wait. (Took us 8 min to search B4, they are taking 23 mins to search B10, gives us 15 mins to catch up? Yes?)

If you take 15 minutes that would synchronize the groups, yes.
Two people to a room takes 15 minutes on small or medium rooms
When it makes for less timekeeping, I don’t mind three groups.

I am open to whichever room you choose.

Toral then moves with you to continue the research.

“Let us continue with the next room!“

Toral now looks into the search from a merchant’s angle!

profession Merchant to find texts : 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33

I would still like a Perception check with any room.
Waiting for Grelthe, Iocopo and Igor to move to a room with the research and perception checks.

Perception check: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

I thought we make teams of two and scan small / medium rooms so we each need 15 minutes? Can we assume Toral and Grelthe go to B3. Iocopo and Igor go to B8? Be careful to keep everything as it is in B8 (see the hint with the page markers). :-)

I'm ok with that! Good tip on B8, be especially careful.

Meanwhile, in the classroom (B3)...
perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2

Since the only information that was passed along about the Lion Blades was their association with Taldor, the hallway said "Our Monarch's virtues are our own", and based on her Royal Highness' interest, Grelthe is going to look for any connection to nobility in the area.
Kn.Nobility: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

B3 Results

After 15 minutes search, Grelthe and Toral find two tomes. They think that is all there is to be found here.

Added to slides.

B10 results

After 8 more minutes search, Ela and Elris continue their search and find a clue. They think there may be more to find here.

They have found but not yet done anything with the vials in the desk.

Need room to search, research rolls and perception rolls for Igor and Iocopo.

Right, the vials. Those traps really get your attention :)

Ela pulls the vials from the desk and hands them to Elris.

Can you figure out what these are? again, no detect magic :( I'm guessing only the caster of DM can make arcana/spellcraft checks, and not relay senses from the spell?

again, no detect magic :( I'm guessing only the caster of DM can make arcana/spellcraft checks, and not relay senses from the spell?

Yes, that is how I understand it. Since these are potions, Perception (at a higher DC) can also be used for Identification.

Ela: You can upgrade your Wayfinder to a Diserning Wayfinder to change it from Light to Detect Magic. Pathfinder Society Primer. Costs 5PP.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5
Perception: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 = 23

"Well, I can try...maybe a little taste and smell. Who knows it might be one I have had before!" Elris says with a hearty chuckle as he pops the topper off each for a deep sniff.

Oooooh. Thank you, nice tip.

Elris is able to identify the second vial as an Elixir of vision.

Igor heads over to room B10 to help with the identification of the potions.

(His take 10 on Spellcraft is 23 which should be more than enough for any poiton).

"I sure am glad you showed up Igor. This is an Elixir of Vision...our mission is righteous so I don't think the gods will mind us making use of it. There other one, well I couldn't tell." he says gladly handing them over.

The Elixir of Vision looks like it should prove useful finding a clue! I have the lowest Caster Level here so someone else should use it, and maybe that has a re-roll.

I thought we make teams of two and scan small / medium rooms so we each need 15 minutes? Can we assume Toral and Grelthe go to B3. Iocopo and Igor go to B8? Be careful to keep everything as it is in B8 (see the hint with the page markers). :-)

Igor (and Iocopo) if you agree with the above plan to get us back on the same schedule, please make a perception and research check for B8? We made this plan to get us all back on the same timing, so it only works if everyone participates.

Grelthe is busy searching B3 with Toral, otherwise she would be looking VERY DISAPPROVINGLY AT YOU ALL tasting potions that don't belong to you right now.

Well, I only sniffed them to start! There is a reason Ragathiel called me to be a warpriest and not a paladin. Hehe.

Igor imagines the disapproval of the Paladin from another room. Some mention of people not able to follow orders and rules and such. He shrugs his shoulders after identifying the potions and returns to room B8.

(Take 10 on Perception is 30)

K-History: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Does someone want to bot Iocopo? The expectation is he would join Igor in room B8 to search.

Guys, also don't forget we still have lots of bonuses from the clues we already found that we can spend, but I'm pretty sure that has to be done BEFORE we roll? GM is that right? Or just before the roll 2x one? So do we want to give Iocopo one of the 5 bonuses for research rolls we have left?

• +2 to whole room for scenario
  
• +3 single research check
  
• +3 single research check
  
• +5 single research check
  
• roll 2x, take better on a single research check

The bonus to roll ones are generally before you roll. If they allow themselves to be done after the roll they specify that.
You can use more than one card in a single room.

Firstly I want to say I find it VERY odd to have a player roll for another player, but since no one else will and I want to move on... (Also not going to use a clue for Iopoco because no one else chipped in on the subject)

Results in B8

You find one clue here after 15 minutes of searching. You think there are more clues here.

Iocopo and Igor please make a Int check or higher Perception check to restore the area to just how you found it.

I believe everyone is now synchronized.