Lilybeth manages to take excellent notes on the nature and disposition of enraged triceratops while on fire and shocked. There are some very interesting takeaways about the physiology of these great beasts when under duress; these new avenues of study will bear fruit once the notes are safely back in skyreach. Success.
Lya will smile as the fighting stops. Thank you Shelyn.
As the Serpentfolk begin to calm the dinosaur, and speak Draconic, she will put her glaive down and step forward to attempt to help them (imitating their movements).
Perform Dance to Fascinate the triceratops dc 17 will:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21 in draconic "I am grateful no one was killed. On either side. You are to sacrifice mammals to the Father of Serpents? What is special about this occasion for so many sacrifices?"
to save time GM, she is going to attempt to take a few minutes to coax information out of them about our surroundings, the holiday, the serpentfolk leaders (can always goad fighters into bragging about their best fighters right?)
While Lilybeth sketches the dinosaur Lya fascinates it. It stays still perfectly still, watching the colorful feathers in her hair. This greatly helps both the zookeepers and the ex-librarian work.
The serpent folk talk while they go about their work: Sssily warm-bloods. Down here in zoo, we work hard all day while others watch sacrifices for Spent Coils! Shoveling dino dung, missing all the fun! No fair! No fair!
One of them sighs wistfully and places the now-empty bucket on the ground, reliving fond memories. You want to know what Spent Coils is, mammalsss? It is new year, and birthday for all ssserpentfolk. And today they have an important mammal, sssome Azlanti leader, to sacrifice! But we are working, down here. Missing all the fun. Not fair. But Sssomeone mussst do it.No wonder they’re grumpy — they’re working on their birthday!
Are you going back to the ssslave pens above? That's where the other mammals are
The other pokes him. Back to work!
You move on. You get the feeling that while evil, these creatures are rather lowly. Those who care can rest assured good that the dinosaur is safe. It will at least recover from its wounds under the care of the serpentfolk, who seem to be using it as a massive draft beast.
Gather info result: It's Spent coils, the serpentfolk new year and collective birthday. They have an important Azlanti for sacrifice today. But they don't know much more about that. Above you are the "slave pens" where other mammals are kept. From the context, you suspect many of them are humanoids.
"Well Happy Birthday. And take care of this magnificent animal."
Completing her work, she returns to the group and shares the intel. "We should hurry above to help the Azlanti's Leader. Who knows what he could tell us."
Lya eyes sideways and uncomfortably at Lily as she takes the deamon onto he skin, but seems to be trying her best to not say anything.
Female Human Conjurer 9 | HP 74/74 | Init+2 | F:+11 R: +9 W: +12
Theo Rosevale wrote:
"Freed slaves might help with the temple." Theo offers, though doesn't seem particularly invested.
"Have to go that way anyway, I think." He adds, uncertainly.
"I was thinking of using teleportation magic to get us there as I don't think everyone can fly. I can take three and Inkwell can take three, but as the axebeak counts double, that would mean Xuan would need to fly himself."
I'm assuming the temple is less than 800 foot higher than we currently are.
There is one more encounter to complete in this area before it’s clear.
You get the feeling the sacrifice isn't happening quite this moment; it's like the evil birthday cake after dinner. The top is open if you want to go there after completing this area, but it may only be one step on the way to freeing any important sacrifices — you cannot be sure exactly where the most important sacrifices are kept, after all!
I'm assuming the temple is less than 800 foot higher than we currently are.
It doesn’t say exactly how high it is but less than 800’ seems reasonable. This would work.
Roderick Xim wrote:
Assuming the hint...is something we can find now without waiting?
No, this is a complex scene (for PbP) that took me longer to set up than I intended on a workday :)
The "hint" is that it will be better for the House to finish up the caverns with a non-combat scene rather than moving on to a whole new section and leaving this area unfinished. As Pathfinders, you should also feel motivated to follow through with party choices as well! There will be plenty of opportunity to explore other areas.
As you move on, debating about where to go next, it grows hotter and hotter. The decision about where to go next will have to wait, at least a few minutes as there is still work to do here.
You come across a new and interesting place: a chamber full of steam and balmy air. There are countless pools in here: hot springs full of mineral water. Five small, rocky islands are scattered throughout, separated by the cloudy water. Each island features a stone plinth that is carved with minute glyphs and elaborate pictograms.
Sliding across the floors and basking in the heat are thousands of snakes of various species and sizes. They are all poisonous: cobras, mambas, vipers, and more.
The plinths seem to be religiously significant, and should be researched. But you need to get to them first… without getting snake-bit.
Lya and Lilybeth can tell from here that the plinths are written in Draconic. You feel that the following skills will be useful in researching these items: Appraise, History, Nature, Religion, and Perception. Those who can speak Draconic will be at a great advantage. You will need multiple successes at each plinth and will not be able to use the same skill at the same plinth more than once.
This will be a research challenge. You have two tasks:
1. Navigate to each plinth safely. 2. Make a series of skill checks on that plinth.
I would like to approach this in an organized fashion. First, let’s see how you move between the plinths, and if you can come up with any solutions to make this safe for everyone.
If you cannot make it safe for everyone, PCs can leap to each island; they are about 30 feet apart and you can have a running start. You might also move through the water with a Handle Animal, Stealth, or a wild empathy check. Flight and water-walking negate the need for a check altogether.
Please let me know how your character approaches this problem, and if needed, make a check to codify how well you do on the way to your plinth of choice. Characters who are not good at any of the skills needed to decipher the plinths might also decide to sit this one out.
"While I agree we might want to go up, I want to be sure that we are as complete in our explorations as possible. As the Master of Scrolls said, this is a once in a lifetime opportunity, and we are under orders to explore as much as possible. I suggest we do so."
He the looks for the next logical place to explore... by walking up to one of the serpentfolk. "So, the fastest way to get us out of your... scales... would be to point us in the direction of somewhere interesting. Where would that be?"
diplomacy:1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28 +25 if this sounds more like intimidate
Looks like Faustus and I cross-posted, but that's OK. Before:
Go to snake-pools! Lots of words to read on rocks, all about Father of Snakes. Very nice place. Warm. Nice water. Relaxes muscles after hard day of work.
They direct you to the balmy snake-pools I posted above!
Theo eyes the room full of snakes with an uncertain scowl.
"Had to be snakes." He mutters.
"I ain't gonna be much use figuring out those." he says, pointing vaguely towards the nearest plinth. "Didn't pay much attention to the tutors when they were going on about that sort of thing."
"Might be up to some snake wrangling... but that will only help me get to the stones, don't think I can get enough of 'em to move for everyone to pass." He scowls again, unsure how he can help here at all.
Theo can (try to) get himself past them with handle animal or wild empathy... but not sure if he has the skills necessary to decode the info on the stones themselves. Not without knowing what might work there.
Funny... And, well, I just realized the "custom magic item" is a ioun torch with a SL4 (CL8) casting of continual flame, so really didn't need the daylight. So, now, we've got more than enough light.
"Lya, this seems your sort of thing, charming those snakes."
Faustus looks like he would normally just wade through, but the sheer number of snakes prevents him from doing so. "Or can you ferry us across, Fung?"
Faustus is decent with religion and really really good with perception.
Female Human Conjurer 9 | HP 74/74 | Init+2 | F:+11 R: +9 W: +12
Lilybeth can cast fly from her headband and has ranks in all the relevant skills and reads draconic. Inkwell also flies and shares ranks, so has a decent appraise and perception and as a dragon reads draconic as well.
"There are far too many of them for me to distract with a performance... I can attempt to keep them at bay while swimming through. Or perhaps we can find a way to get a small boat? what is in my bag..." She rummages through her haversack.
handle animal though not well.
edit: GM - is it feasible to backtrack to find a fellow pathfinder to buy a swan boat feather token? (assuming none of us have one)
edit: GM - is it feasible to backtrack to find a fellow pathfinder to buy a swan boat feather token? (assuming none of us have one)
Yes, that seems totally reasonable. I think if you wanted to buy one we could handwaive the checks to move between islands.
For the sake of simplicity and time, if you have a swan boat I'm also inclined to bot these skill checks for your characters, in the most efficient way possible. (Unless anyone is opposed to that and really wants to roll a mountain bunch of dc20's… each plinth could have up to 5 checks / PC). This is an exercise that probably runs okay at the table but doesn't translate well to PbP.
edit: GM - is it feasible to backtrack to find a fellow pathfinder to buy a swan boat feather token? (assuming none of us have one)
Yes, that seems totally reasonable. I think if you wanted to buy one we could handwaive the checks to move between islands.
For the sake of simplicity and time, if you have a swan boat I'm also inclined to bot these skill checks for your characters, in the most efficient way possible. (Unless anyone is opposed to that and really wants to roll a mountain bunch of dc20's… each plinth could have up to 5 checks / PC). This is an exercise that probably runs okay at the table but doesn't translate well to PbP.
then if no one objects, poof - I fetch a swan boat and return and use it.
Need 3 successes per pillar Lilybeth cannot fail the appraise/linguistics check. 1/3 successes complete for all. Faustuic cannot fail perception. 2/3 success for all.
Lya uses her connections to procure a swan boat from a compatriot in the Exchange. You row about the room… well, more pole about as it’s more of a process of shoving the boat along than graceful sailing. No snakes are harmed in the process, though many dull their fangs on the boat and the pole. After only a few minutes, the swan is quite perforated.
★★★
Lilybeth uses her expertise in languages to begin decoding the pillars; no sign or signifier escapes her mind. Faustus leans over her shoulder, keen eyes easily picking out the most important details. Neither of you can fail at least one type of check. But I want everyone willing to participate to be able to help (more help also saves you time as well, allowing you to operate more efficiently than watching two PCs do all the work).
At pillar one, Theo picks out an out-of-place squiggle that connects two key aphorisms on the plinth.
At the next, Lya discovers an obtuse (and not very nice) reference to her goddess Shelyn — who is, of course, hated by the Lord of Coiling Poison.
At the third, Roderick uses his knowledge of natural toxins to infer the double meaning of a metaphor.
At the fourth, Fung notices some older scratches below the Draconic text, demonstrating a revised worldview of the Serpentfolk.
The fifth monolith proves no trouble at this point, and it easily yields its secrets.
Those of you who care about scholarship know that you’ve discovered enough to open new insights into serpentfolk society and biology.
Further, these sacred writings detail many secrets of serpentfolk animal husbandry, and form the scripture of a twisted version of the Green Faith — a sort of cold-blooded and detached animism.
You learn about the kind of sacraments performed here — those that revere poison. And those who truly understand poison understand healing as well. By performing a short rite, you can transform a vial of the mineral-and-poison-laden water into a potion of cure serious wounds. The potion retains its potency for 30 minutes, and this special concoction can only be drunk one time before a humanoid body rejects it. In other words this is a one-time thing for each PC who chooses to perform such a ritual.
You begin making your way out, but find a side-cavern that’s unexplored.
Ahead you hear a sibilant scream — cut short as suddenly as it sounded. Running through another broken wall, you come across a horrible scene! This seems to be a ritual chamber. Standing on a platform near a circle of silver runes are two serpentfolk.. A serpentfolk corpse dressed in the robes of a cleric lies at their feet, a river of fresh blood running down the steps.
The two serpentfolk turn and grin. One of them unhinges his jaw until it's as wide as a human’s head. The other speaks quickly in a tongue that hurts your ears:
Serpent Folk 1, bite:1d6 ⇒ 4 Serpent Folk 2, bite:1d6 ⇒ 2
Nature Checks on the Serpentfolk:
DC 15+
Spoiler:
These look a bit tougher than the other serpentfolk. Many serpentfolk have a poison bite attack that does strength damage. These have fangs do not look capable of delivering that poison.
DC 20+
Spoiler:
Serpentfolk are Monstrous Humanoids with moderate spell resistance and are immune to mind-affecting effects, paralysis, poison.
DC 25+
Spoiler:
Weakest save for Serpentfolk is often is will or reflex.
Knowledge(arcana) on runes:
DC 26
Spoiler:
The silver runes are a summoning circle used in a ritual similar to Planar Binding.
The serpentfolk seem almost completely focused on Faustus and Lya. They charge recklessly in and strike with their fangs! Both feel their flesh punctured.
★★★
The scales of Ydersius: Round 1
You may attempt a perception check on your turn.
Serpent Folk 1 Charge AC Penalty
Serpent Folk 2 Charge AC Penalty
——
Lya-2 HP Fung
Roderick
Faustus-4 HP Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks
Lilybeth Zey
Inkwell will fly over the top lizardfolk (if possible keeping out of reach, else he will use acrobatics:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17) and spray them both with ink (DC15 reflex to negate)
Lilybeth notes that These "Serpentfolk" are not what they appear to be! They might be some other kind of creature, polymorphed or disguised. But they aren't very good at it. The scales are all upside-down in some places and crooked in others.
Inkwell:
The blindsight doesn't reveal anything that Inkwell cannot see.
There's room to get there without an AOO; I mentioned before these halls are used to move around huge+ size beasts.
The second serpentfolk gets splattered in ink. It licks some up with its tongue and laughs at the taste! Is this a Calligraphy Wym's Glitterdust-like ability?
Is this a Calligraphy Wym's Glitterdust-like ability?
Indeed, although the only thing that's the same is the blinding (and no SR). Everything else is different! (EX instead of SL, Reflex instead of Will, No penalty on Stealth checks, and you can remove the blinded condition automatically as a standard action.
The deamon's bite slides off the Serpentfolk, but still leaves deep gouges in the flesh. Looks like some DR.
★★★
The scales of Ydersius: Round 1
Serpent Folk 1 Charge AC Penalty
Serpent Folk 2 Blind, Charge AC Penalty, -14 HP
——
Lya-2 HP Fung Roderick Faustus-4 HP Theo ‘Little Foot’ Fairbeaks
Lilybeth Zey
Lya will step to the side away from the creature, Glaive at the ready, and cast Veil of Heaven.
"I trust you know what you are talking about when it comes to Daemons..."
Sorry I know we are long passed that scene but when we were on the swan boat, I just imagine Fung flying behind and pushing it forward with his continuous air blast. :)
Fung rises higher up into the air, coming up in between above them, but out of their reach. (Unless they have reach.) Manifesting a tight spinning column of air, he sends it smashing down upon the blinded serpent folk (2).
Fung blasts the "serpentfolk" with a blast of bludgeoning air! Again, the creature seems to have some DR and not all of the damage goes through.
★★★
The scales of Ydersius: Round 1
Serpent Folk 1 Charge AC Penalty
Serpent Folk 2 Blind, Charge AC Penalty, -41 HP
——
Lya-2 HP, Veil of Heaven
Fung
Roderick Faustus-4 HP Theo ‘Little Foot’ Fairbeaks
Lilybeth Zey
Serpent Folk 1 Charge AC Penalty
Serpent Folk 2 Blind, Charge AC Penalty, -78 HP
——
Lya[-2 HP, Veil of Heaven
Fung
Roderick Faustus-4 HP
Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks
Lilybeth Zey
The serpent smiles, and transforms into an altogether different creature!
Tentacles tipped with snapping jaws emerge from this serpentine creature’s back, complementing the vicious maw in its reptilian face. Art on the slide.
As it does so, it heals completely! Unfortunately, it’s still on fire.
Spellcraft DC 22 for effect that healed the creature:
Heal.
DC 17+ Planes:
This is a Naunet, a chaotic neutral outsider with the chaotic, extraplanar, protean, and shape changer subtypes. They are totally insane and relish in destruction. This might explain their foolhardy charge
They have some strong resistances: DR / Law and Spell Resistance.
DC23:
Spoiler:
Its tentacles can confuse you for 1 round if you fail a will save. A creature with a chaotic alignment gets a +4 bonus on this save.
DC 28:
Spoiler:
Naunets are immune to acid and polymorph. They resist Acid and electricity.
DC 33:
Spoiler:
The creature has constant freedom of movement, detect law, and has amorophous anatomy.
DC 38:
Spoiler:
This creature’s strikes count as chaotic for the purpose of DR. As a free action once a round it can infuse its strikes so they also count as adamantine.
The creature bites at Faustus, but misses. However its tail comets with the inquisitor, and it grabs him. It then wraps around his waist, constricting him before letting go.
Its tentacles reach ten feet to slap at Fung and Theo. The tentacle connects with Fung! Fung, please make a will save against compulsion/mind-affecting.
★★★
The scales of Ydersius: Round 2
Horrible New Creature -1 HP, Burning 1d6
——
Lya-2 HP, Veil of Heaven Fung-7 HP, Will Save needed vs enchantment [compulsion/mind-affecting] Roderick Faustus-15 HP Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks
Lilybeth Zey
I take it that none of its actions triggered AoO also?
Will:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17(If this fails and if the pentacle talisman applies.) reroll: Will:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Pentacle Talisman:
The five-pointed star carved on this round silver talisman glows blue whenever an evil creature targets the wearer with magic jar, possessionOA, or a similar effect, or with a charm or compulsion spell or effect that allows the creature to exercise control over the wearer (such as suggestion, but not sleep). If the spell or effect allows a saving throw and the wearer fails it, he receives a second saving throw. If he succeeds at the second saving throw, the wearer is also protected by protection from evil for 5 rounds. Faint abjuration; CL 1st; protection from evil.
I take it that none of its actions triggered AoO also?
That is correct. Free action to resume its actual form, and when that happens it heals. It then unleashed a volley of natural attacks.
Fung's mind is nearly overcome with confusion, but he fights through it! You needed the reroll, however. But I think that's a good use… confused kineticist can mean some bad times.
★★★
The scales of Ydersius: Round 2
Serpent Folk 1 -1 HP, Burning 1d6
——
Lya-2 HP, Veil of Heaven Fung-7 HP Roderick Faustus-15 HP Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks
Lilybeth Zey
