GM Doug's Sky Key Solution (Inactive)

Game Master Doug Hahn

Faustus will calmly walk forward, making a show of stowing his weapon. "Please be calm, friends. We are not here to fight, we are as much surprised by this course of events as you are.

"We are archeologists and explorers out to learn about your people and culture, but we apparently got a little lost along the way. Please, what can we do to help?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (20) + 21 = 41 Well, there you go...

Fung looks alarmed and starts drifting up into the air. Their hostility is clear but he is not about to start lobbing lightning bolts at them, and hopes earnestly that his team can talk them down.

"Yes, please, we mean no harm. And honestly, I am as lost as you are about what's happening."

They don’t seem to understand Fung but Faustus gets through; the guards lower their weapons and the crowd’s murmurings diminish.

He gestures up at the moon, which may be in the path of the comet, and wipes something from his eye before kissing a symbol that he wears on a chain — bronze spears crossed over a silver crescent.

A child in the crowd starts wailing at the old soldier’s callous but truthful words, and his father takes his hand and moves away, shoulders slouched. Several more crowd members start moving off too, their momentary rage dissolved into resigned acceptance. It is time for them to prepare, and you’re no loner of much interest.

Roderick understands the language and the concern of the people.

He will translate much of Faustus's comments (or not, if tongues is still up)

diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6 aid - or not

I told them we are friends...whether they accept it or not, is the question.

Rod will continue to translate if anyone remains behind

Faustus is interested in the holy symbol the man wearing.

religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Whether or not he identifies it, he asks, ”Acavna? So you think she has a chance of protecting you? Perhaps you should turn to The First. If enough of you join him, perhaps he will be kind enough to save us all.”

Bluff: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (17) + 25 = 42

Two of the guards grimace with disgust and stride away. But the third lingers and comes closer to Faustus.

Faustus quickly teaches the man some prayers to the Prince of Lies. "Good, my son. Your devotion will save some of humanity, at the least."

Lya steps in front of Faustus to confront him in common. "You claim to be all for law, and yet you would deceive these desperate souls into surrendering their souls to your evil god. We may be fellow agents, but I will not allow your lies to take advantage of these frightened people."

"Can you deny, without a shadow of doubt, that his devotion will not help? For if you cannot, then let this poor soul find solace in my patron." says Faustus.

The soldier wavers, unable to understand Lya but able to get the gist of it. He looks around uncertainly…

Just then, a familiar figure limps out from between two buildings. The weight of years seems to hang over Kreighton Shaine, his face more deeply lined than it was this morning.

“My apologies for not reaching you more quickly, but I have been quite distracted,” he pants. To the left and right across the ancient marketplace, other versions of Kreighton Shaine come out and gather up other groups of pathfinders. Dozens of Shains!

The bewildered soldier does a triple-take at the many Shaines, and decides it's best to just to run away from this whole mad situation altogether. There are prayers to the Lord of Hell in his mind and the moon and spears around his neck — who knows what he'll choose (if he'll choose) — his decisions are his own…

He speaks to you as if nothing’s out of the ordinary. “It seems redundant to say so at this point, but the Harbingers of Fate have seized control of the Sky Key, and we all appear to be trapped in what the Isle of Kortos used to be eons ago. The same sort of temporal bubble that brought the serpentfolk city of Sessegishoss to us now keeps our forces pinned down here.”

“We are attempting to uncover the Sky Key Vault now. While the vault itself seems to be here in this time period, our entrance to it wasn’t projected back, and we’ve lost our bearings relative to its location in this new landscape. What’s more, I worry simply reclaiming the Sky Key will not be enough to allow our escape that green surge we all witnessed seems to have invested many of the Harbingers with enough of the Sky Key’s energy to maintain our chronological exile.”

Shaine looks worriedly up at the sky. “We will need to work together to uncover the vault and cut the tethers that anchor this time period to the Harbingers’ spellcasters. We must do both so we can use the Sky Key to escape.”

Shaine distributes a single potion of cure serious wounds to each of you. Any questions? He pauses and cocks his head as if listening to something.

”And before you ask a redundant question I’ve already fielded a dozen times today: you may be wondering why there are so many of me. It’s part of a rather questionable ritual I uncovered and performed in the Grand Lodge several years ago. It allows me to repeat a recent period in time so long as I do so close to Absalom. The eldritch power appears to function across time, but I have thus far been unable to extend its benefits to anyone else. Certainly hope there are no unspeakable consequences for it…”

A crack of thunder sounds overhead as the dome of green light twists and arcs down to the surface with a thunderous crash, and strange, hairy beasts stride into reality in the spot where it struck. “It might be wise to move quickly.”

Please let me know if you have any questions for the venture-captain.,

"Master, how do we know where to find these tethers, and how do we do sever them?" asks Faustus, given that is the obvious question.

These are two questions: how to sever the tethers from the Harbringer Agents, and how to locate the vault.

Separating the Harbinger of Fate mages from the temporal energy inside them:

Cutting the tethers from the Harbingers? That’s the lovely part: I’m not completely sure. Advanced magical theory was always more Aram’s bag. But then, it does seem to be a sort of magic, so anything you have to shut down magical effects should do the trick. And if it is a magical effect, it will certainly expire upon their deaths—tragic, certainly, but better than all of us dying here. Then again, these Harbinger spellcasters must be of some relative skill based on the spells they performed. You may be able to coax them into dismissing the effects themselves, though their temporal investitures seem to have made them a bit… erratic.”

Locating the vault:

Hmmm. How to we find the Sky Key Vault? .... Divine providence? He shrugs.

I’m not sure, as it’s made of steel and sky metals, but also buried approximately 30 feet beneath the earth, which shields it from most of our available divinations. I remain open to suggestions.

Props to Shaine: I think he has actually managed to be even less helpful than Drandle Dreng.

"Master Shaine, is there a way that we can detect where these Harbingers are, so that we are not running around like a bunch of Galtan anarchists trying to find them? Any help you can provide will be of use." Faustus's tone has shifted from one of respect to that of someone scolding a puppy who just soiled the carpet, as if he knows the puppy can't help it, but needs to be disciplined.

How to find them? They glow! Look — the Shaine-simulacrum points to an eerie green glow coming from an alleyway a half-mile away. That’s probably one right there. Just follow the green glow. Shines like a beacon! Even a Galtan Anarchist couldn’t go astray!

You may either locate the vault (I am open to in-character problem solving as to jow you would try to locate a highly potent magical area in the ground below a city, and can provide hints if you want; or, you can start separating the Harbingers from their temporal energies, automatically finding them.

So, Locate the Vault or sever the beacons first? You will have to do them both.

Severing the beacons seems wise... if not because that's the only things we can really know where they are at the moment... but also it might help weaken the whole shebang in the long run.

"Very well, with that clue, let us at least go and try and put an end to these tether.

"For the sake of conserving resources, I would think that we should start by trying to talk the Harbingers into voluntarily surrendering their tethers. If they choose not to, there is always Final Arbitration."

NPC art on slide 1. I will put up tokens/map up if necessary but it sounds like the party may want to try non-combat tactics first.

You make your way to the glowing alleyway… Azlanti citizens peek out their windows at you or stare at you from their rooftops, where they watch the comet.

You see a crowd gathering near a woman standing on a crate. She glows green. She looks like a well-bred Taldan noble, and also has a strong resemblance to the Azlanti citizens who surround her and look on her with a sense of fear and awe.

Her voice rings out: This is in Azlanti but one of you can translate:

… beware, fellow Lacsuhnollos! Hide in your cellars, hide in your caves! The end is nigh: Acavna moves to intercept the world-killer even now, but it won’t be enough! Tonight, a god will die and so shall her lover: the fragments of the comet will rain down death and blot out the sun for 2,000 years. The Age of Darkness is upon us!

She waves a seen-glowing hand, and the crowd falls back.

I, Alrule Shahan, have taken it upon myself to help my fellow Azlanti prepare. What I say will come true — I know this, it’s as if I’ve seen it writ in the pages of history from a future age. You will do well to repent your past sins, and prepare for the coming darkness.

She seems to truly believes her own words, and that she’s a person of this time with prophecies of the future.

You can decide how to approach this and make a check. You will need more than one success to snap her out of it. Suggestions include Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate, or Knowledge history checks (perhaps to notice a flaw in her "prophecy" or prove to her she's not of this time and snap her out of it.) However, I am an easy sell on other creative ideas.

Also, you may want to review other options Shaine may have pointed out.

Roderick will stand-down and translate for his fellows as she addresses the groop.

Grettings and well met. (in Azlanti)

Faustus grins behind his mask as he approaches.
’I could go with lies, or truth. But, this time, I think it is to be something more fun.’

”Arule Shahan, what you speak is truth. But truth that is was not meant for these people. You believe you worship a god of prophesy, and that he gave you these vision. But these are not prophesies, and if you speak more of them, not only do you doom these people, but you doom your nation of Taldor to never come.” the volume of his voice rises to a crescendo, as a zealot preacher before his flock.

“Your dead god Aroden was the last of the Azlanti, but if they do not fall, he cannot rise! If he does not rise, what of your beloved Taldor? Will he be there to lead the Shining Crusade to save your from the Whispering Tyrant?

“No! You must let this happen, you Taldan fop!! For Taldor! For Aroden! And, yes, even for Cheliax!!

Intimidate: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (10) + 25 = 35

’So that he can betray us by not returning, leading to my Lord of Darkness gaining his proper respect in the Empire.’

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25

"Azlant will fall, as is written, not in a prophecy, but in the history books. It is time for it to die, so new nations like Taldor can rise. However it is not your time to die, it is not your time at all as you are from the future like ourselves. Burst out of your bubble so we can break from this doomed dome together and get back to our proper place in time."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (6) + 22 = 28

"As I speak to you in the language known as Taldane and you can understand me should confirm Lilybeth's words."

diplomacy assist: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Alrule begins to shout a retort, but pauses, mouth agape. What... wait... what? What was I doing? She slumps on the crate, and the temporal energy drains from her body. A ripple washes over the emerald dome, weakening its anchor to this time.

She stands tall. Wise words, but cruel words, from a Chelaxian devil-worshiper; typical. But I recognize your truth. Wiser words from a fellow Taldan. We’ll will rise again. And when we do, we’ll cleanse the continent of the rot festering to the West. I’m done with all this. — Harbringers and Pathfinders — for good She shoots a nasty look at Faustus and strides off into the crowd.

Success!

Another glow, this one next to a shuttered shop: a Varisian man sits on a stool in front of a slab of wood in the mud. He’s poring over a traditional layout of nine Hawwor cards laid out in rows of three, muttering to himself in common:

The Devil, the Daughter, the Compassionate, the Storm, the Physician, the Feathered Blade, the Stranger, the Inkpot, the Lost…

He wears the costume jewelry that so many dubious (but sometimes genuine) fortune-tellers bedeck themselves with.

So engrossed is he in his cards that he doesn’t notice your approach. He just pulls at his hair and rocks back and forth, muttering the names of his hand over and over again.

As you examine the Harrowing cards, you get an eerie sense of Déjà vu… perhaps an effect of the time paradox… or that one or more cards speak of you…

Art on Slide 1.

You can tell me how you approach this. Some useful skills might be Bluff, Profession (gambler or fortune teller), Sleight of Hand, etc.

Don't forget we have an aid token here for a +3 on your check, if you want to try somethign outside your wheelhouse.

"The Storm, that is probably my card!" Inkwell whipsers to the party.

Theo snorts at Inkwell's comment.

"I think that last one just applies to all of us." Easier that way.

"And we all know who the devil applies to. And Lya... this must be about us." says Faustus, as he approaches the man.

"Good sir, may we be off assistance? It appears that you have laid out a foretelling of our arrival. That is, me and my companions here. What you are puzzling over, for sure, is the why.

"Release your bindings now, that you might achieve enlightenment."

bluff: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22

The man looks up at Faustus with a frown and furrows bis brow… Perfect time for a non-talker to try and jump in with a clutch Aid!

"The Feathered Blade is that axebeak over there and the inkpot is my calligraphy wyrm for example."

Bluff (assist): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

Lilybeth is a talker (diplomacy), but she doesn't do card hocus pocus so this is a bluff.

The man snaps out of it and looks at you for a moment. It's true! You're exactly right! But there's only eight of you, and nine cards in a reading…

You know… everything is coming true — everything the cards say — but it's all terrible! I was never good at telling fortunes, and now I find I just don't want to know the future… it only holds pain, darkness, and death. But now that I've seen what's to come, I can't stop looking…

He glances back down at his cards, lost in his puzzle. That assist made the check successful, but we'll need one more success to fully snap him out of it.

"Are you forgetting the most important card? The one that represents yourself?

"Obviously you are 'The Lost' since you are so lost here."

Faustus leans down to tap that card. "Had it been inverted, you know that would have meant you are finding something. But as it is, you are looking for your guides to show you the way.

"I will tell you true... retrace your steps to return to from where you came. That is the way home. Release your misgivings, and your burden, returning home empty handed in supplication to whatever god you hold most dear. That is the only way you can escape this horror."

bluff: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (3) + 21 = 24

Please let me know if you want me to slow down.

I suggest we buff the aid token and let it go to a table that needs it.

”Strong work comrades! “

The man laughs and smacks himself on the forehead. Of course! Of course!

He taps the board five times. Do you see? Do you? The Devil is reversed! He is surrounded on all four corners by the Inkpot, the Daughter, the Physician, and the Compassionate. Therefore, he must speak the truth even though he intends to lie. And the Devil is wise. It is good to heed him, even though you might not like what you hear.

Four more taps. The Stranger and the Feathered Blade are enlightened by a flash given by the Storm — sudden insight for the Lost — leading to…

He flips over a card that shows a man with broken chains in the sun. The Big Sky. A new beginning on the horizon; one that cannot be seen yet, but should be watched for.

His green aura fades and he looks at you. Thank you for solving this conundrum. But what is in your futures?

Before you can stop him he flips over four more cards: the Jester, the Drunk, the Dragon, and the Twin.

Another anchor severed.

Alas, we strive to make the most of our own futures, good man. Roderick puffs on his pipe while he considers the four cards.

Shall we proceed?

Stive away, Physician, and best of luck.

You move on.

★★★

There's a green glow coming from between the columns of an open-air temple. You make your way inside. Behind the pulpit stands a man dressed in sorcerous robes; he's glowing green Art on the slide again. With one hand he idly juggles a dozen rainbow-colored balls. The air in here is electric, sharp with ozone — there's potent time-storm energy gathering in this place. It might surge at any moment!

The man smirks and waves idly with his free hand. AHH! Petitioners to the Avatar of the Living God! The "Living God" is, of course, Aroden.

As his newest and most powerful avatar, I am workshopping on his thirteenth guise: the Juggler! What do you think? As you look closer, you can see that this man actually does have some kind of celestial blood in him: a faint halo glows above his head.

He flips another ball into the mix. Wait wait — don't tell me. I actually don't care. He points to himself. Avatar. He points at you. Mortals.

It doesn't matter anyway… people show up, begging me for favors and saving because bla bla bla we're all gonna die, and then —

The air crackles and warps — the energies of the temporal bubble collapse momentarily, bringing in a creature from another era! It's a gargantuan, disgusting, quivering mound of midnight sludge that glistens darkly as it surges forward.

— Then THAT happens! HAHA! You see, Aroden sends his Petitioners tests, so that we may judge who is worthy and who isn't! Most people just run away screaming… will you?

He capers about the pulpit, dancing and juggling as he watches you do battle.

★★★

Knowledge Checks on your turn

★★★

The "Test:" Round 1

There are prayer mats on the map but they are just normal terrain. At this point, the mad "avatar" of Aroden is not in initiative but he will roll and come out of delay if you attack him or include him in any area effects. So, his token is on the map.

Fung
Roderick
Faustus
Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks
Lilybeth Zey
Lya
Ooozie

Knowledge (dungeon): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Are we no longer underground? Seems that way. Just want to be sure... I lose some terrain bonuses if so.

Knowledge: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 14 + 2 = 19
Inkwell: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Lilybeth and Inkwell share their knowlegde about the creature and Lilybeth casts Resist Energy Communal (Acid) on the party. CL 9, so 20

Broken record but how high is the ceiling?

Deciding that this time, he does not wish to get within melee range of this gigantous glob of a creature, Fung takes flies himself closer, taking cover behind the self. He summons from the air what can only be described as a massive thunderstorm and sending it smashing upon the black pudding.

Air Wysp Aura, Elemental Overflow (Dex & Con), PBS
Burn: Composite Blast (+2)
thunderstorm blast: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 1 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 23
dmg: 8d6 + 8 + 7 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 6, 6, 3, 6, 6, 6, 5) + 8 + 7 + 1 + 4 + 1 + 1 = 63
(half bludgeoning, half electricity)

Theo: your question was answered in the OOC Discussion, but if you missed, you're in Urban Terrain.

Lilybeth I'm not sure you can touch everyone with a spell from where you're at. You can touch Up to 6 friends as a full-round action, but many of them are not in reach unless you a way to extend your natural 5' reach. You could delay so Faustus can get within touch range (he could have moved under Fung whose always flying 5' up), but that would eat the character's move action. If Theo opens up the space below your token you can get Lya too, with a 5' step. It would probably behoove the melee characters to get Acid Resist 20 even if it costs them an action, but it's up to them. If I am missing a more obvious solution, please let me know!

Fung: The temple is open-air — we'll say there's no ceiling!

★★★

Fung flies into the air and blasts the creature — ooze splatters across the temple. The "Avatar" says Ooooh. Wonderful!

★★★

The "Test:" Round 1

There are prayer mats on the map but they are just normal terrain. At this point, the mad "avatar" of Aroden is not in initiative but he will roll and come out of delay if you attack him or include him in any area effects. So, his token is on the map.

Fung
Roderick
Faustus
Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks
Lya
Lilybeth Zey Actions accounted for but we need to determine who gets the communal resist
--
Ooozie -63 HP

Lilybeth I'm not sure you can touch everyone with a spell from where you're at. You can touch Up to 6 friends as a full-round action, but please let me know!

As the axebeak has narrow frame, I think Liliybeth can share 1 of its spaces without either being squeezed, so touch most, 5 foot step, touch the rest

I like it; nice and simple. I will have you at the top of the team's initiative order as everyone would have delayed for you to buff them before taking their actions. I moved your token as well.

★★★

"Aroden's" "Test:" Round 1

There are prayer mats on the map but they are just normal terrain. At this point, the mad "avatar" of Aroden is not in initiative but he will roll and come out of delay if you attack him or include him in any area effects. So, his token is on the map.

All allies have Acid Resist 20!

Lilybeth Zey
Fung
Roderick
Faustus
Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks
Lya
--
Ooozie -63 HP

"Very well. Maybe we just wait for it to come to us, and let Fung take care of it for us."

Faustus moves up and readies to strike it with Final Arbitration should it get close enough. He declares ooze bane

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**

Pathfinders have found and uncovered the Sky Key Vault. It is there that the Sky Key—the Society’s ticket home—awaits. However, the dome of green energy remains strong, suggesting that too many Harbinger spellcasters are still anchoring the Society in this time period.

GMs, Area G is now open. However, more Anchor successes are still needed!

Lya sees her allies target the ooze, and decides to confront the "Avatar" instead, striding slowly and purposefully towards him.

"And you believe Aroden would approve of you, taking his guise, twisting it for your own purposes? Taking advantage of his people? Summoning such a horrid creature as this ooze?

Shelyn worked with Aroden. Hand in Hand to create the greatest works of art and beauty in all of Azlant. To see someone claim to be his avatar... to use this hideous creature to scare his people. It is incomprehensible!"

perform(oratory): 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (8) + 29 = 37

Theo is leery of charging right up to the thing. So reluctantly follows Faustus' lead, and moves up and waits for it to come their way.

Fairbeaks breaks after him, but squawks in confusion, when Theo commands him to stop short.

Am guessing it has reach, so readying an action seems pointless... But, just in case...

The "Avatar" screams at Lya: HOW DARE YOU! YOU… YOU… YOU… you…

He drops all the juggling-balls!

What have I done!?

You have celestial blood too. I'm sorry! Something here is making me… crazy… Let me help! He casts Bless on the party as the green light fades! Another anchor success!

He then runs and hides near the fountain.

★★★

It's not a Test Anymore: Round 1

All allies have Acid Resist 20 and Blessed!

Lilybeth Zey
Fung
Roderick
Faustus Readied Attack
Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks Readied Attack
Lya
Gad Gemple Admonished
--
Ooozie -63 HP

Botting Roderick

The Chirugeon moves in closer — but not too close — and throws the bomb from the second range increment, knowing that gargantuan ooze

Bomb, 2nd range increment, Bless: 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 2 + 1 = 24
for Explosive dmg : 4d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6, 5, 6) + 3 + 1 = 22 No adjacent creatures; splash doesn't matter. Oozie at -85 and on fire

Oops - just missed it

That ought to scorch the beast, I daresay!

The pudding sloshes forward! It attacks the kineticist hiding behind the shelving! It seems to have blindsight.

…Somehow it misses. It has 15' reach in addition to blindsight.

It then burns!

★★★

It was never a test: Round 2

All allies have Acid Resist 20 and Blessed!

Lilybeth Zey
Fung
Roderick
Faustus
Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks
Lya
Gad Gemple
--
Ooozie -89 HP

Roderick will line up another bomb on the blob.

But it is never too late to be certain of success!

He steps back, mixes and hurls another bomb....

Fire in the hole!

Bomb, range, bless, pb: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 13
for Explosve dmg : 4d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 1) + 3 + 1 = 20

Roderick's bomb hits! The ooze writhes in flames. It smells horrible.

★★★

It was never a test: Round 2

All allies have Acid Resist 20 and Blessed!

Lilybeth Zey
Fung
Roderick
Faustus
Theo ‘Little Foot’
Fairbeaks
Lya
Gad Gemple
--
Ooozie -109 HP