(#2-01) "Citadel of Corruption" (Inactive)

Game Master rainzax

With furious, desperate anger, Valgomorus, staving off the truly inevitable, reacts to Olnik's slightest movement!

Greataxe of Opportunity vs Olnik (AC 17): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 211d12 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

...Striking Olnik firmly, but neither disruptively, nor definitively, he screams once again:

"WHO AAAARRRRREEEE YOOOOOUUUUUUUUUUUUUU!!!!??!??!?!??!!!"

(11 damage to Olnik, 21 healing to Mandoo)

...

Elsha, Redd, Symeon - and now Mandoo! - are Up!!

Olnik is a wonder. Not only does he get Mandoo on his feet, but he sucks up the AoO as well.

Mandoo's eyes pop open. In an instant, he recalls the events that transpired to put him flat on his back. "Not again," he thinks to himself as he looks up at the crotch of his adversary. "Ugh. Oh well, here goes nothing."

Mandoo jumps to his feet

Action 1 (◆): Stand

Seeing that Valgomorus was being distracted by taking a whack at Olnik with his greataxe, Mandoo jumps to get enough height to put a blasting roundhouse kick to the side of the brute's head. The blow is so powerful that the sound of neck vertebrae cracking is clearly audible throughout the room.

The undead cyclops's head starts toppling from its shoulders, but not before Mandoo lands and punches the creature in the chest so hard that his fist plunges through its ribcage and destroys what remains of its heart.

Mandoo extracts his fist from the chest cavity of the great beast and lets the body slump to the floor dead; permanently this time.

Action 2 (◆): Strike (Fist) + Flurry of Blows, Powerful Fist & Inspire Courage vs. Valgomorus

Fist 1: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 = 27 vs flat-footed
Concealed DC 5 flat check: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Fist 1 Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8 bludgeoning damage vs Valgomorus

Fist 2: 1d20 + 7 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 - 4 + 1 = 17 vs flat-footed
Concealed DC 5 flat check: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Fist 2 Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9 bludgeoning damage vs Valgomorus

Action 3 (◆): Strike (Fist) + Powerful Fist & Inspire Courage vs. Valgomorus

Fist 3: 1d20 + 7 - 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 8 + 1 = 3 vs flat-footed
Concealed DC 5 flat check: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Fist 3 Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6 bludgeoning damage vs Valgomorus

Awakening Destroying Ancient Evil!!! (Saving Nal - Round Three Continued)

Inevitable.

With the Ancient Evil layed to rest - permanently this time - the party turns their attention to their Fallen Comrade!

...

Elsha, Redd, Symeon - are Up!

Symeon gives a small shake of his head, not sure what in the nine circles of hell happened to him to cause him to blank out like that, maybe the effect of trying to heal Redd with a pop-up book and failing, but he hadn't quite felt himself for a while there. He faintly remembers something about helping Nal and finds a half-written receipt in hand, then there's there two missing arrows in his bow and some half-remembered well aimed shots... But what did he fire them at again? Why does he feel that they were fighting something? But there's nothing here right now...

He pauses, takes a quick assessment of the situation and then descends on Olnik and Nal to try healing the two. That was pressing and more important than trying to parse through what happened to him.

Battle Medicine, Expert, DC 15 Olnik: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Healed: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 4) + 2 = 12
Battle Medicine, Expert, DC 15 Nal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Healed: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (6, 8) + 2 = 16

◆stride to between the two, ◆ Battle medicine Olnik, ◆ Battle medicine Nal

Temple of Eternal Eclipse (Part Nine)

Symeon swoops in and in moments Nal is restored, her wounds expertly staunched, and she comes to...

Transitioning from Encounter to Exploration

...a brief respite as the party tend to the wounded and take stock of their situation...

How much time spent healing?...

...as the adrenaline subsides and nasty gashes are cleaned and wrapped, the party once again focuses their attention on the fading Map-Mural of Koloran as well as the Cyclopean Occularity, having otherwise "solved" the Archeological riddle of the Stone Tablets of Ai'Sheen just before the Cyclopean Wight Seer "Valgomorus" had been inadvertently freed from his prison through the thick contraption in the "secret" eastern room...

...They remember Shrike (!), and weigh the merits of returning empty-handed vs returning having thoroughly salvaged the knowledge not only of the tablets and strange orb, but also the still-rapidly-oxidizing cultural information contained within the mural, once stretching all the way across the eastern wall, now occupying a single receding square on the floor in the center of this dank dark room, and smelling of rot as the body of Valgomorus fills it with a fetid odor...

...

...

...

...

Valgomorus broke through his prison here and was destroyed by the party!

...

...

The Party is Up!

Redd runs behind Symeon and stands at his side as she, too, tries to assess Nal's and Olnik's wounds. She watches the doctor perform his medical wonders as he heals their friends.
You know what, Symeon? It was really weird. We must have some strange connection 'cause for a few moments during that fight, it felt like I was in your head. Like, really in your mind. Like, I learned some of your techniques and how you do certain things. It was sooo weird.

Symeon glances back at his ... wait why in heven's name did the word 'muse' come to mind when looking at Redd?, well crush, and blushes slightly. "That could explain why I felt out of it for a while there... N- n- Not that I mind you being in my mind." He gives Redd a small smile, trying to gauge how she felt about the whole 'connection.'

Still giddy from possibly having forged a bond with Redd, he turns back to the things in the room and tries to comprehend what they are here for.

Round 9 (Mural) Society, Active Lead, DC 18: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21
Round 10 (Mural) Society, Active Lead, DC 18: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 1 = 31
Round 11 (Mural) Society, Active Lead, DC 18: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 = 14
On success, one Crit success, one failure. If the mural gets 'solved' he'll move onto the Cyclopean Occularity

Nal's eyes snap open as soon as she is healed. She leaps to her feat to continue the battle, only to discover that it's over. "Is anyone else dead?! Are we all okay?!" Relieved to learn that the party can patch themselves up well enough, she asks: "So, how'd he go down? ... All right, Mandoo!" She gives him a high five, then turns back to the Occularity with a grimace. "Guess it's back to it, huh? <sigh>" Setting her shoulders, she gets back to work, doing her best to manage the pain.

Round 9, Cyclopean Occularity, Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Basic Will DC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 (Success)
Round 10, Cyclopean Occularity, Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Basic Will DC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 (Success)
Round 11, Cyclopean Occularity, Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Basic Will DC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9(Failure)

Is the party pausing to Treat Wounds before Round Nine?

I don't know how battered everyone is looking, so mayhaps, if there's need for it.

Elsha's eyes almost pop out of his head when two of his teammates go down, and then are quickly revived. It's only so comforting and even when the cyclops goes down he retains a constant fear.

Th-th-that was intense... Nal, Mandoo, how do you feel?

It almost doesn't feel safe to go back to studying the room and for several moments Elsha's head is on a swivel, looking back and forth at the various dark corners of the room. Once everyone is finally settled back into it, he finally gives it and gets back to surveying things.

Occultism, Mural (round 9): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Occultism, Mural (round 10): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Occultism, Mural (round 11): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Th-th-that was intense... Nal, Mandoo, how do you feel?

Mandoo examines the fist that went through the cyclops's ribcage and seeing it none the worse for wear replies, "Mandoo feel fine. Mandoo good as new."

Feeling that his luck has changed for the better, he wishes the same luck on his friends (Hero Points up for grabs - see discussion).

Getting down to business, Mandoo carefully searches the brute's corpse and then carefully examines the hidden room it came from for additional enemies, other secret doors, or anything really.

Action: Perception (Seek): +6 - secret

After 10 minutes, Mandoo sheds his wounded 1 condition. Let me know how many rounds it took Mandoo to do all the seeking, and assuming the Cyclopean Occularity hasn't been fully explored, Mandoo will spend the rest of his time staring into it... it's really the only thing available for him to do at this point.

Olnik lights one of his torches and gives it to Mandoo, who seems to really only need one hand free to be effective. "Mandoo, is a torch alright, or do you want to carry this other wayfinder? I was going to offer it to Symeon, since he needs his hands free." Assuming there is no disagreement, he gives the harmonic wayfinder to Symeon to provide light.

"Redd, go ahead and light up that wayfinder of yours. We don't want anything else to sneak up on us."

He then looks around for a sconce and, if he finds one, lights his other torch and places it there. "Hope that helps everyone out ..."

Just occurred to me that lighting the torches might accelerate the oxidation of the mural. If that's the case (and hopefully I'd know from having Scribing Lore), I won't light the torches, and we'll just go with the wayfinders.

Also, I am down 5 hp, so probably makes sense for Symeon to heal me up before round nine begins.

I forgot about Nal's Wounded 2 condition. She would've preferred to rest for 20 minutes before getting started on the Occularity to overcome that.

Olnik turns his attention to the Map-Mural, hoping to record more details before it is destroyed.

Round 9(Map-Mural, Occultism): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Round 10(Map-Mural, Occultism): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Between Elsha's rolls and mine, I'm suspecting that we might have this "Solved" so I will switch back to the Orb. I do want to double check if Spirit Lore might have a lower DC on that one.

Round 11(Occularity, Perception): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Will Save, Fatigued: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 10 - 1 = 21
Mental damage (halved): 2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8
Great, max damage ... ;) I'm down 9 at the end of Round 11, then

Forgot to roll Nal's damage from the occularity. Here goes:

Round 9 damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 Success; half damage --> 2
Round 10 damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3 Success; half damage --> 1
Round 11 damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 failur; full damage --> 4

Assuming Symeon cured her up to full before she started, she'll be at 11 HP after round 11, and seriously wondering how much longer they'll have to do this.

It seems that the smart ones are done with examining the heavy stone tablets, so Mandoo yawns deeply and looks around for something to do. His eyes fall on the Cyclopean Occularity. "How bad could it really be," he thinks to himself, and wanders over to see what all the fuss is about. Taking turns with Olnik and Nal, he spends the next three hours staring into the big eye.

Round 9, Cyclopean Occularity (Perception) vs DC 23: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 (Success)
Basic Saving Throw (Will) vs DC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 (Success)

Round 10, Cyclopean Occularity (Perception) vs DC 23: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Using a Hero Point for a reroll

Round 10, Cyclopean Occularity (Perception) vs DC 23: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 (Success)
Basic Saving Throw (Will) vs DC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 (Success)

Round 11, Cyclopean Occularity (Perception) vs DC 23: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 (Success)
Basic Will Save vs DC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 (failure)
Mental Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 hit points

Mandoo has a slight headache but seems otherwise unaffected. All he can say after his ordeal is "Interesting".

Whew! Well, good thing everyone is okay now. Hopefully we can finish this up soon.
Redd let's out a big yawn.
I'm getting really tired.
She suddenly remembers about their pack mule outside.
I hope Ugo is okay. I left him under a tree with plenty of grass around him to nibble on.

Well, back to work now.
Redd pulls out her wayfinder and activates its magical light. She stays near Symeon, practically in his shadow, as she shines the wayfinder about for he and the others to see their work better. She jots down notes when she can or tries to decipher the secrets hidden within the images on the map-mural.

Link to Redd's rolls from round 8 thru 10.

Round 11:
Document Map-Mural w/Occultism: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I'll take one of those Hero Points if you don't mind, Mandoo.
Occultism reroll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Thank you!

Temple of Eternal Eclipse (Part Ten)

...A couple of hours later - indeed well into the middle of the night! - under the light of two Wayfinders, the PCs are admiring Elsha's complete replica sketch of the Map-Mural of Koloran - which itself has now all but completely faded! - Redd's complete recorded log of visions of the Cyclopean Occularity - and Symeon's complete and diligently ordered notes on the Stone Tablets of Ai'Sheen. Mandoo, Nal, and Olnik all look the worse for wear - visions of a terrible past causing them a proportional mental strain. And to top it all off, having stayed in motion all day, everyone is completely Exhausted; physically, mentally, spiritually...

...looking over the corpse that was once the Great Cyclopean Seer, they decide what to do next...

The Party is Up!

"I think..." Olnik begins, interrupted by a yawn, "... that we need to set up camp ... Anyone willing to take first watch?"

I would love to get a good night's sleep, but not with that icky thing in here.
She points at the giant undead corpse.
Let's haul that thing outside. While we're out there we should burn it to make sure it never rises again. And collect enough fire wood to keep us warm while we sleep in here. Oh! We can also check on Ugo while we're out there.

Elsha feels slightly energized as the group appreciates his replication of the mural. A-and thanks for your help with it Olnik!

At that he roles it up and tucks it away, yawning deeply as he stands up from his cross-legged position.

I could s-sleep for a week. I'd better take first watch. I ss-s-suspect that once I let my eyes shut, there's no waking me up...

Interlude

...Redd whips Mandoo, Olnik, and Nal into shape, guiding them outside...

Nal sets up her Pup Tent, and the party draw straws, rotating a watch through the night, until nearly high noon the next day...

Any final actions before bedding down?

Full Night's Rest

...Waking up having overslept, the party decides their next move!

The Party is Up!

Symeon blinks a second or two and realizes that he'd fallen asleep looking at the last details of those stone tablets... but the papers weren't in his hands anymore, and someone had tossed a blanket over him. He curls up and nuzzles into the pillow under him before realizing that it's not a pillow. A very very short prayer to Gruhastha that it might be Redd's lap he fell asleep in he peers up and blanches when Elsha's face comes into focus. He rapidly sits up and takes count of his surroundings, noting the papers and the documents. After a moment he gets up and starts to pack away his things, and tries to get a fire going so the group can have breakfast.

"I think we've found everything we can down here. Should we examine a few more places up top?"

Elsha wakes up, just as a surprised halfing also starts and jumps off his lap.

What...? What the...? The mixture of pure confusion and half-sleep as he slowly wakes up impedes his realization greatly.

Shaking his head violently, he looks around again and takes stock, a little more aware.

No... couldn't have been.

The alchemist gets up to dust himself off. For breakfast he takes dry foods that he can eat easily while mixing his alchemical concoctions. He gathers reagents in different combinations into tubes, before pressurizing them with the stoppers, shaking lightly, and slotting onto his bandolier that runs across his chest but is often tucked out of sight.

Finally chiming in on the plans for the day, he concurs with Symeon.

Absolutely, we c-c-could use some time out of dark places.

I took a quick look backwards, I wasn't easily able to find locations where we hadn't "solved" archeological points of interest. GM do you have a list that you can post of gaps that were left behind when we entered the temple?

I'll take one of those Hero Points if you don't mind, Mandoo.

I do not mind at all. Mandoo still has one more Hero Point left in case Valgomorus was just a warm-up for the real BBEG.

Just noticed that Mandoo did not take the -1 on the Will saves for being fatigued. I checked the numbers and it appears that doing so would not have changed the outcomes.

Mandoo wakes up refreshed and does his morning limbering up exercises. His headache is a little better. He then waits patiently while the others decide what to do next. He can't think of anything that they've missed, so he's fine with returning to camp and reporting their findings.

Did we miss anything? if not, then let's wrap this up.

Overnight Nal recovered 2 HP, so is up to 13/18.

Nal's sleep was fragmented, as she took a watch in the middle of the night. Even so, she seems reasonably alert this morning. Now that her head is clearer, she wonders aloud: "Hey, guys? Where did Valgomorus come from? We didn't pass him on the way in." She begins searching the area for a hidden door, passage, or something while she gnaws on a hunk of rations for breakfast.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Redd wakes up early for final watch. She looks over to see Symeon nestled on Elsha.
"Aww. How cute." she giggles with a little smile.
Feeling rested, yet sore from the battles from yesterday, and still feeling some stress about the discoveries made here, she decides to check on Ugo again, giving him pats and praise. She unpacks some rations for everyone from the saddle bags and enjoys cooking a light breakfast with tea upon the small campfire in the center of the room.

Once everyone is awake, they discuss their plans for the day.
That's right, Nal. The giant came through a passage in the wall over there.
She points at the center of the eastern wall.
We need to check that out.

Base Camp (Part Nine)

Strategizing over how to explore the rest of the "Citadel of Corruption" - a name cleverly coined by 1d6 ⇒ 3 Nal - the party scours the final corners of the Temple (ie. Valgomorus's secret room), and decide whether or not they want to spend twice as much time, over consecutive days, to yield perhaps half the results of their initial survey of the entire ruined city - contemplating the diminishing returns of doing so. Liberal voices chime in with "We've got plenty!" contrasted with Conservative voices chiming in "We could always do more!" as the decision between expediency vs thoroghness is meted out by our heroes...

Decide as a group if you'd like to return in 1 day with 100% of your results, 2 days with 150% of your results, 3 days with 175% of your results, and so on... essentially resolving the Exploration of the Ruins narratively from here!

...Thinking on Shrike, the party discusses on their way back to Base Camp - having been gone for X days - exactly how they will present their results! Perhaps passing another team on the way in after hiking most of the way back ("Ahoy!"), they come into view, only to see the camp's population to have doubled over their absence.

"Pathfinders - you made it back - what do you have to report?" the eagerness in Jorsal's voice undampened now, the Decemvirate members no where currently in sight...

...The Party is Up!

Decide as a group if you'd like to return in 1 day with 100% of your results, 2 days with 150% of your results, 3 days with 175% of your results, and so on... essentially resolving the Exploration of the Ruins narratively from here!

Looks like the best bang for the buck is an extra day for an extra 50% of our results, with diminishing returns after that.

Mandoo is not looking forward to having to present their findings to Shrike, even if it was the smart ones that would most likely be doing the talking. If the others want to stay another day or two to explore the ruins further, Mandoo is fine with it; it would give him a chance to spin up the planetarium and work out a little; he realized that he'd missed leg day yesterday in all the excitement and he needed to catch up.

We're all still alive. I'm up for 1 more day of exploration for another 50%.

There must be more details around here that we can find. Maybe more writings or pictographs to document. There are some nice red berries and blue flowers that I could use to make colored pencils and make our updated maps look nicer.

Plus, you've all been so wonderful to work with. Let's spend one more day together before going our separate ways.
Whadda ya say?

The halfling doctor blanches some as he realizes he made poor Nal sleep with open wounds and immediately sets to stitching them up.

Treat Wounds Expert, DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Failed
But seems he still has too much sleep in his eyes and can't quite get a good grasp on how to help her.

Symeon stays on the conservative side constantly pushing to detail as much as they can of this 'Citadel of Corruption' that Nal so aptly named. Though after a few days he finally starts to tire of looking at the carvings.

I'd argue for 2 days at a minimum, but more than 3(175%)-4(187.5%) wouldn't be worth it.
(Just cause I was curious how numbers would work out 5 days 193.75% 6 days 196.875% 7 days 198.4375%)

At the tent, the small halfling walks up, takes off his hat, dusting off the dust of the road and journey, before turning to Jorsal and saluting. "Reporting back from the citadel, venture captain. We found as much information and documented everything we could. Now can we get some food? I'd love something warm and fresh. Warmed rations and traveling bread gets tedious quickly."

I'd be okay with a couple of days, so long as we don't think a blizzard or something is moving in during that time. But if the consensus is a single day, I wouldn't argue ... though, as a dwarf, I am genetically obligated to gripe a bit, regardless of the decision made.

Survival(Checking the weather): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

Olnik nods to Redd. "Aye, I suspect we have time around here to poke about a bit. I'm sure the Society would appreciate all that we can find. And, with what we've stumbled upon so far, I doubt we're going to find anything that'll kill us."

With whoever wants to help, Olnik helps develop the notes, structuring them in a narrative form, to present the story that they've uncovered about this lost Cyclopean civilization. "I'm used to performing for a tough crowd, so I'm more than happy to give the report ... unless one of you want the practice."

Elsha is good with one or two days. I'd vote for two instead of one on the basis that the ROI isn't just our own time vs. knowledge, but for the society avoiding the overhead of having to send out a fresh group for more when we could get it while we're here.

Although we uncovered q-q-quite a terrible history and saga here, I suspect there's much more to be uncovered. Besides, I suspect we've dealt with the most horrific danger in this place.

Really, despite the joy of recovering so much knowledge, Elsha isn't really up for going back to report in front of those people who singled him out in the briefing before they ventured out.

In the Citadel:

"Ha! Famous last words! But all right. Looks like most of us want to stay two more days. But don't expect me to mess with that Cyclopean ball anymore! I'm done with that torture device!"

"I'm used to performing for a tough crowd, so I'm more than happy to give the report ... unless one of you want the practice."

"Sure, Olnik. If you need back-up with Shrike, let me know by tilting your head like this." She demonstrates a subtle movement that will allow him to indicate a request for help without losing face to that jerk Shrike. "I've got all the sullen, stubborn insolence you need!" She finishes with a wink.

Catastrophe's Spark!

Presenting their notes, maps, and records of the "Citadel of Corruption" to the Venture Captain, his eyebrows raise at their thoroughness and meticulous attention to detail. He has many questions for our heroes. Interrupting a discussion of just how the ancient civilization, as recorded in their artifacts, transitioned from worship of lunar deities to solar deities, Shrike is striding up, and our party looks around to see that perhaps five times their own number of assorted Pathfinder Recruits have gathered to hear of the party's exploits - some "Oohs" and "Aahs" at the description of the battle with the Corrupted Seer Valgomorus - who part to brook a path for the Decemvirate member to pass through straight to the heart of the discussion: the table where the party has laid their work and are giving their impromptu presentation.

The pillar of energy suddenly implodes, collapsing into a single point of intense negative space before exploding outward, sending Pathfinders and tents flying away from the epicenter of the blast. When the dust and smoke clear, Sapphire is gone! An empty suit of leather armor; a battered set of traveling clothes; and a scorched, sapphire-studded mask are all that remain...

...

The Party is Up!

Olnik rushes over, grabbing the mask. "Could anyone make out what Sapphire pulled from their belt?"

He looks around to see if there is any remnant of the object among Sapphires other things.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Mandoo picks himself up from where he'd landed and dusts himself off. He looks at where Sapphire had been standing and wonders where they had gotten to and who the nebulous, shadowy figure was. After about a second of such thoughts, he shrugs. "That's way above my paygrade. No doubt the captains will handle this situation and tell the rest of us what to do."

He looks over at all that remains of Sapphire. He notices the sapphire on the mask and thinks, "did Sapphire get their name from the stone, or was the sapphire there because of their name?" Perhaps Sapphire's replacement would also take on the same name. Mandoo was a pretty deep thinker on occasion.

Mandoo helps others back to their feet and looks around to see what happened to Jorsal and Shrike? Weren't they nearby when the blast occurred? Did they too get taken? Who was in charge now? What would happen to the mask?

Most important of all, what would have happened if they'd come back a day earlier instead of continuing their explorations? :)

Redd crawls out from underneath a fallen tent that got blown down from the blast. Struggling to stand from disorientation, she dusts herself off and looks around to make sure everyone is alright. She follows Olnik and Mandoo as they make their way to what's left of Sapphire.
What did they mean by "fly, you fools!”? Are we supposed to fly away somewhere?
Redd flaps her arms a couple times as if flying.
I wonder if that shadow creature they were fighting was the shadow dragon from the citadel? Or was it an ancient Cyclopean demon?

When a super powerful person tells you to run for your safety, you run! First, however, is teamwork. Nal picks herself up, quickly assesses her lack of serious injuries, and begins checking on the folks around her. She makes a point to look for Shrike and Venture-Captain Jorsal. "Are you all right? I assume Sapphire meant it when she ordered us to flee. Our group can start organizing a retreat for the simpler folks here, unless you have other orders."

Symeon gives a small look of worried consternation at the shadowy figure and Sapphire fighting, but isn't able to do much about it before he is blown backwards with everyone else. He takes getting back up methodically, quickly accessing if there were any breaks, cuts, or excessive trauma to his own form, and then moving to make sure no one in the immediate vicinity is bleeding heavily or on death's doorstep. He then quickly moves to check on the medical tent and staff there, and with their help moves to start triaging people. "We should probably abide by Sapphire's wishes, but given that explosion I doubt some of these people can be moved quickly. If you're hurt, bleeding heavily or think something might be broken, STAY STILL, we'll be over there as soon as we can!"

Elsha feels like he's been smacked hard in the face. Because he has been, by a tent-pole. Just when he sits up to stand, he feels an odd sore pain in his knee. One moment ago they were casually going over the finding of the mission, and the next he feels like he just put his body through a mountain climb.

He very nervously looks around to take stock of the group, and the VCs, and the Decemvirate members. He turns to the latter and asks

D-d-did she mean fly for that? Or is s-something else coming?

To Be Continued?

Mandoo and Redd goes flying from the blast, crawling out from under some tents when the smoke clears. Nal and Elsha are struck too - flying pieces of equipment (tent pole!) lacerating them with cuts and bruises. Entire teams up pathfinder recruits suffer similar fates. Olnik strides forward to investigate the disappearance at ground zero. Symeon - luckily inured from the worst of it - assesses the the damage:

There will be casualties - and much more if nothing is done and the party doesn't act fast...

...

Final Skill Challenge!
1) In a final post, describe how you will assist Symeon to triage and otherwise mitigate the damage to the 6d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 2, 3, 5, 1) = 18 people injured by the explosion.
2) Roll your check to Aid him! The DC is 15. He gains a circumstance bonus to the Lead Check equal to the number of party Successes (double for Critical, per usual).
3) Finally, Symeon, after everyone has rolled their Aid check, roll your Lead Check!

Quickly gathering himself, Elsha rushes to help Symeon.

Craft, aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Mandoo, seeing that the explosion was worse for other Pathfinders in the camp than he initially thought, starts quickly moving through the blast site looking for ways to help. He finds himself alternately lifting heavy bits of debris to free those trapped beneath, or carrying the unconscious to Symeon for treatment.

Athletics (Aid): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 (crit!)

As people start setting up fallen tents, Redd helps get a large tent set up to be used to treat the injured.
A rugged pathfinder ranger, with a bow slung over his back, hobbles by her with a large gash above his knee. Redd quickly moves forward to help him.
I'll get you fixed right up, mister. Sit down there.
She points to a barrel on its side. When the man sits, she sings a soft hymn to Chaldira and casts soothe on the burly woodsman.
Aye, that feels much better, lass. A heap of thanks.
He says as he bends his knee a few times as if nothing happened.
The name's Brünwulf. I'll never forget this, lass. If you'll excuse me, I must go assist where I can.
He says as he stands, then hurries off.
Someone yells out to fetch fresh water from the nearby stream as they point at two buckets lying on the ground. In the chaos, Redd grabs the buckets and makes leaps and bounds across the drifts of snow and tall, dry grass to the stream. She quickly scoops up two buckets of water.
Upon her return, Symeon and the others are hard at work treating those injured from the blast while a wood burning stove is fired up in the center for warmth.
She gives a heartfelt smile to Symeon, his face tense in concentration as he moves around to assess the wounds and treat the injured lying on cots or makeshift beds.
You're doing great, Symeon. May Chaldira grant you her blessing.
She says softly, momentarily setting a hand on his shoulder and giving him a small kiss on the cheek as she hurries past.
Guidance cast on Symeon!
You're all doing a great job, everyone! Just stay focused on helping the injured. Me and any others will fetch whatever you need!
A call goes out for more fresh water and to gather supplies from around the encampment; strips of canvas from fallen tents, cutlery from the mess tent, whiskey from the quartermaster's supply, and anything else needed to treat the injured.
I'm on it!
Redd calls in return.
As Symeon and other Pathfinders trained in medical skills treat the injured, Redd fetches anything she can in a hurry.
She weaves her way through the crowds, ducking under or climbing over fallen tents, and scampers over debris through the mud-soaked encampment. She returns every so often with an armload of supplies, then hurries off again to fetch more.

Acrobatics to Aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Absent any response from Shrike or VC Jorsal, Nal searches the area for injured people, especially those who may be buried under the debris scattered by the blast. Whenever she finds one she can't dig out on her own, she flags down Mandoo or another muscle-y person to help.

Aid Symeon(Perception) DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

To Be Continued!

While Elsha runs to help Symeon and Nal keeps her ears and eyes peeled, Mandoo's adrenaline surges and he lifts tents he would normally be unable to budge freeing wounded pathfinders from being pinned down, as Redd scours the exploded medical tent collecting scattered supplies careful not to fall over herself.

All this greatly assists Symeon as he directs the entire camp into a gigantic makeshift medical tent, locating many of those injured thanks to Elsha and Nal, hoisting those stuck and injured onto makeshift stretchers thanks to Mandoo and Redd.

Will the efforts of our heroes be enough to save everyone in the camp?

Has Sapphire disappeared forever into Shadow? What will Shrike do in response to all that has happened? Will this Base Camp in Iobaria be Abandoned or Restored?

Find out next time as this Adventure continues in it's next installment: Catastrophe's Spark!