[Gameday IX] GM Zin's The Sky Key Solution (Tier 5-6) CORE (Inactive)

Game Master Zin Z'arin

warhammer+bless: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 161d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 61d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 81d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
cat: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 111d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 261d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 171d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 81d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 71d34 ⇒ 4

Ranger and leopard attack to the monster with all their forces.

Beorin lets his conjured weapon attack on its own since there isn't any target beyond the ooze.

He falls back instead.

SW attack 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 271d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Homlicore's attacks are brutal on the mindless ooze, and the cat's even more devastating, though they have an unintended consequence. The first rip of the cat's teeth through the amorphous flesh causes it to split into two! However, the claw attacks finish the first half of the creature, while Beorin's spiritual hammer makes quick work of the other half.

Combat over!

Next encounter forthcoming. Sorry, work's been busy.

You come upon a solitary figure in another town square; local citizens are staying back due to the greenish glow and sparking energy coming from the figure--clearly this is one of the Harbingers of Fate!

Your goal is to dissipate the temporal energy that is anchoring the green dome--the temporal energy that is currently controlled by this Harbinger of Fate.
* Killing the Harbinger of Fate would certainly dissipate the energy
* The energy could be disrupted by targeting the Harbinger with dispel magic, lesser restoration, remove curse, or restoration, and then succeeding at a caster level check
* You could convince the Harbinger to release the energy themselves with the use of various skill checks. I will reveal which skills might would if you engage them in conversation and learn things about them that reveal those skills.

Please place your tokens in the green starting area and begin... whatever strategy you wish to pursue!

The ranger looks to the Harbinger whispering to his partners.

Well, if any of you have a magic trick for this situation, that is a good time; if not ... I would try to intimidate him, but my best option is to kill him. It is hard, but perhaps we don't have many choices

"Talk him down. Failing that we kill." Beorin suggests as he's not willing to just openly kill everything and everyone if there's a chance to talk them out of it.

Feel free to speak him. If he is not gentle I will have ti use my bow

Charisma negative :)

Bump?

No one to step forward?
Cast Guidance to boost my rolls.
Diplomacy 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 = 11 <--bad.
Reroll, with GM 5* and hope it works. 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 + 5 = 25

Beorin steps forward after a whispered prayer to his patron.

"Greetings, would you not be amendable to stopping this madness?" The dwarf begins.

"There are lives to be considered and your actions along with your companions will endanger them all. Can you bear that on your conscience?"

Beorin steps up and addresses the woman standing before you. She initially looks disgusted, almost literally looking down her nose at the dwarf as temporal energy sparks and traces over her body in green shivers. However, the words seem to have some effect. Her eyes unsteadily glance to the green dome--and the approaching Starfall--and her shoulders slump.

"You're right..." she murmurs, and the energy she was controlling dissipates; the green dome grows ever-so-slightly fainter.

Success!

One of Kreighton Shaine's many instances appears beside you. "Well done; very excellent! The Sky Key Vault is open, let's hurry; there's no time to waste!"

He points you down a rough-hewn sloping stair into the earth, that eventually breaks into a well-made spiral stair. You come into a large room. Veins of strange metal line the walls of this massive chamber. Enormous bronze devices connected to the walls by massive cables spark and spew steam, almost obscuring the large vault door at the far end of the room. The door is labeled with a single word in a plethora of languages: "DANGER." Stagnant water collects at the bottom of a ten-foot wide pool in the middle of the room. Bodies--some recognizable as Pathfinder from their Wayfinders or other adornments showing the Glyph of the Open Road, and others clearly Harbingers of Fate--litter the floor. Another much-aged Kreighton Shaine awaits you.

"Good show, Pathfinders," the injured form of Kreighton Shaine manages between blood-soaked coughs. "But Lady Arodeth is a true savant and driven to fanatical extremes. The same energies that infected her casters above have also seized her soul, and I fear she has already killed several of your fellow chroniclers. Or will have killed them. Blast, but this is confusing." Shaine props himself up to continue speaking. "However noble her goals may have been, if Lady Arodeth forces us to remain in this time, we will all die. If the Sky Key is still functional, you must reactivate it before the Starstone arrives."

The machines in this chamber begin to spark and smoke, and female bodies take shape from the green miasma. Shaine continues, "She has learned to create temporal copies of herself, as I have. She can produce an army, left unchecked. Some teams will need to hold the line here, in this chamber, so that anyone confronting the true Lady Arodeth in the room beyond isn’t overwhelmed by these simulacra. You know your team’s capabilities better than I, but I promise you Lady Arodeth will be not yield easily."

With that, the chorus of murky green figures announce, "I would have brought destiny back to this world."

We are roughly 4 days out from the end of this scenario. You have a choice here; you can stay back here and fight Lady Arodeth's simulacra, or advance into the next chamber to take on Lady Arodeth herself. She is a formidible opponent, and I'm formally instructed to advice tables in Tier 5-6 to not attempt combat against her. However, since you talked down one of the anchors with Diplomacy, there is a diplomatic option against Lady Arodeth if you so choose.

If you choose to stay here, place yourselves in the green starting spot and I will start a combat with her simulacra. If you press on, I will move us on to the next room.

Three virtual Lady Arodeth's seem to sense your will for combat, and bring their attention to bear.

Round 1 (bold may act)
Homlicore
Homlicore's Leopard
Yabatha (place token)
Red Simulacra
Blue Simulacra
Green Simulacra
Beorin (place token)
Varian (place token)
Kreighton Shaine

Active Effects
None

Fighting the simulacra sounds like it is just up out alley!

Yabatha will clap her hands, "Well, this doesn't seem very fair - why are there three of you!" and casts minor image DC 19 creating a wall to block off two of the simulacra so we can only deal with one at a time.

The illusion is of a similar wall as the rest of the complex, but only around the two left simulacra.

cat`s attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 121d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Cat moves to one of the simulacra and attacks.

Homlicore moves and shoots to the same simulacra only one arrow.

arrow: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 201d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Yabatha drops what appears to be a box of stone around two of the simulacra, who apparently believe it to be real, as they don't emerge from the box. The one simulacrum outside the box avoids the leopard's strike, but Homlicore's bow--as usual--is true, driving an arrow deep into the flesh of her arm.

She steps away from the leopard, and splits into multiple identical copies that all move in the same way.

Round 1 (bold may act)
Homlicore
Homlicore's Leopard
Yabatha
Red Simulacra (-8 hp)
Blue Simulacra (believes illusion)
Green Simulacra (believes illusion)
Beorin
Varian (place token)
Kreighton Shaine

Active Effects
None

Cast Bless. since we have no buffs up..

Beorin intones a prayer and calls upon his divine patron to craft once more a spell of blessing on him and his allies.

Kreighton Shaine, behind you, begins intoning a spell as Beorin blesses the group. You all feel infused with supernatural speed.

Kreighton casts haste on the group

Round 1 (bold may act)
Varian (place token)
Kreighton Shaine

Round 2 (bold may act)
Homlicore
Homlicore's Leopard
Yabatha
Red Simulacra (-8 hp)
Blue Simulacra (believes illusion)
Green Simulacra (believes illusion)
Beorin
Varian
Kreighton Shaine

Active Effects
bless +1 morale to attacks and saves vs. fear
haste 1 additional attack (natural or manufactured weapon) at full BAB with full attack; +1 to attacks; +1 dodge to AC and Reflex; up to +30 ft speed

cat`s attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 231d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 181d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 201d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 131d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 51d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 81d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 71d3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 54d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 4, 4) = 15
Cat moves again and attacks.

Homlicore shoots very quickly to the simulacra, but this time many arrows.

arrow: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 171d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 201d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 281d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 202d8 + 7 ⇒ (7, 8) + 7 = 221d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 91d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 101d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 114d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 2) = 11

She is human ... +2 to attack and damage -and also haste and bless-

Varian pours a brace of force missiles into the simulacrum.

Magic Missile: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 1) + 4 = 14 Force damage.

Yabatha smiles, "The other two copies are caught inside my wall. But i doubt that will keep them for long. Take care of the one outside - QUICKLY!"

She will cast magic weapon on her own quaterstaff, and move up.

Varian, your token isn't on the map. You are in delay; make a post to let me know that you've placed your token, and your spell will go off in initiative order at that time.

Homlicore's leopard strikes at the many images of the simulacrum in front of it, but none of the bites nor claws land on the real foe, though they dispel many of the images, leaving only two choices for Homlicore to aim at. (I'm reading the order of attacks in your post to mean that Homlicore is delaying until after the cat attacks; I've adjusted the initiative order accordingly.)

Homlicore's first arrow pops the final image into disappearing, leaving the remaining three--fired with preternatural speed, to land true and bloody the simulacrum mightily.

Homlicore, what is the 4d4 shown in your damage posts (both yours and the cat's) at the end? I don't understand how either relates to an attack, so it's not included in the damage dealt to the simulacrum currently. It--and Varian's magic missile--could make a difference in Red's survival, though, so I'm pausing here for a moment to let you explain, in case it should be included.

Round 2 (bold may act)
Varian (delay; casts magic missile for 14 force damage once token is placed)
Red Simulacrum (-38 hp)
Blue Simulacrum (believes illusion)
Green Simulacrum (believes illusion)
Beorin
Kreighton Shaine

Round 3 (bold may act)
Homlicore's Leopard
Homlicore
Yabatha
Red Simulacrum
Blue Simulacrum
Green Simulacrum
Beorin
Kreighton Shaine

Active Effects
bless +1 morale to attacks and saves vs. fear
haste 1 additional attack (natural or manufactured weapon) at full BAB with full attack; +1 to attacks; +1 dodge to AC and Reflex; up to +30 ft speed

4d4 shown in your damage posts (both yours and the cat's) at the end?

Sorry, it is for mirror image not for damage, but I now understand that it was useless, I have to throw 1d5 at the beginning

Sorry, it is for mirror image not for damage, but I now understand that it was useless, I have to throw 1d5 at the beginning

Yup. And not only that; you have to reduce the die size every time an image is "popped." But how would you know the spell? I didn't see you make a spellcraft check. ;)

The visible simulacrum charges her quarterstaff with a cold blue glow, then brings it around in a looping swing that knocks the leopard hard in the side of the head, discharging the spell with a hit that both crackles with electricity and leaves a frosty patch behind; she attempts to double up and hit the cat on the backswing, but misses that strike.

She looks to her right, and does a double-take. "Sisters, what are you doing? It's not real; it's just an illusion!"

From inside the box you hear "In Aroden's name, she's right!" One of the other simulacra emerges--surrounded by a similar set of duplicates--to flank Homlicore's leopard.

Kreighton, seeing the dire situation this puts Homlicore's companion in, swiftly barks words of power, drawing the stone wall near the combat out to separate the leopard from the new threat. "Maybe they'll think that's an illusion too!" he offers with a giggle.

Round 2 (bold may act)
Varian (delay; casts magic missile for 14 force damage once token is placed)
Beorin
Kreighton Shaine

Round 3 (bold may act)
Homlicore's Leopard (-21 hp; staggered 1 round)
Homlicore
Yabatha
Red Simulacrum (-38 hp)
Blue Simulacrum (believes illusion)
Green Simulacrum (believes illusion)
Beorin
Kreighton Shaine

Active Effects
bless +1 morale to attacks and saves vs. fear
haste 1 additional attack (natural or manufactured weapon) at full BAB with full attack; +1 to attacks; +1 dodge to AC and Reflex; up to +30 ft speed

GM, you are right! I don`t throw for spellcraft! XDD

spellcraft for DC17 & DC 19: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 211d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

If red simulacra falls after Varian spell, I try to attack to green; I am not sure that I may see him without moving more ... in that case, I only do one attack; I throw 1 die for what attack -ignoring de double one for many shots; Leopard is going to retreat to my position if red falls

cat`s attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 181d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Cat seems wounded and weak.

Homlicore shoots quickly to the simulacra.

arrows: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 341d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 291d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 181d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 262d8 + 7 ⇒ (8, 2) + 7 = 171d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 111d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 131d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

As I said before, if there is only one arrow, between 2nd (1) & 3rd (2) it would be ...

wich arrow if it is only one: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Beorin moves up and prepares another of his spells to get himself into melee combat.
Giving himself more strength as he moves.

Cast Bull strength..

Yabatha moves up to green to smack her.
Smack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 181d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**

The asteroid looms impossibly large overhead, and the air grows stiflingly hot as the world itself begins to rumble. High overhead, the dome of green energy shudders, twists, and finally shatters, and Pathfinders’ bodies begin melting into flowing particles as the world slips away.

Just as quickly, you stumble as Bloodwatered Meadow coalesces beneath your feet, as it does for countless other Society agents. The wildflowers bob lazily in the wind, and nothing but a few still bodies stand as testament to the bloodshed and struggle of the past five hours. Kreighton Shaine, looking several years older, staggers to his feet and gives a nervous chuckle before climbing up a small knoll and waving his arms for the crowd’s attention.

“What we have all witnessed here today has been a remarkably journey that included sights no living soul on Golarion has witnessed. The Sky Key has allowed us to walk among the serpentfolk and Azlanti, gazing upon several of the greatest events to shape Golarion and the region that would one day become the Inner Sea. Let the catastrophe that we witnessed and narrowly escaped humble us and teach us so that we might find value in preserving the messages and wisdom those lost people may have left behind for us to discover. I think we all have some responsibility to remember those who passed so that our modern world can exist.

“You have all observed great things and have notes to share. This much is certain. But for now, let us… let us simply take a few days to reflect. The Society, I imagine, will send agents to collect your notes and interview you about your experiences. Until then, find your families and loved ones, as I know I shall. Failing that, find some passion that ties you to the here and now, and embrace it.

“We survived, Pathfinders. I am proud of your unrivaled accomplishment!”

That’s the end! GMs, the house reached the Unrivaled Accomplishment level for determining boons. Thank you to everyone for playing, and especially to our hard-working GMs who put a lot of work into making this special happen.

Varian arches an eyebrow, and smiles.

"Well, that was certainly... interesting..."

As the echoes of his prayer fade away, Beorin is somewhat startled to find himself back with the rest in a field of flowers.

"We survived?" he mumbles.

Homlicore seems to be surprised.

- I was trying to avoid thinking in this weird situation when we were fighting for our lives ... but we are in the past!! It is something amazing!!
I thought that simulacras are going to kill us ... but we survived!
Come here Cat, you are very brave, let me see that wounds.

"Well done everyone! We survived! I always knew we would! There is nothing the society cannot achive when we all fight together!" Yabatha cheers for the group!

"It is an honor have been your partner in this adventure!"

Even as the world appears to be changing around you, Homlicore's leopard gets a final bite in on the simularum, leaving that one on its last legs; Homlicore's first double-arrow shot seals the deal, landing that iteration of Arodeth on her back, unconscious if not dead. The remaining arrows confirm that she'll not stand again.

The world you left--your world--coalesces around you, safe at last from under the threat of Starfall itself.

Congratulations!