Dungeon Master S's "Abomination Vaults" AP

Game Master Chris Marsh

She looks up at it with a determined expression, then huffs out a breath through her nose. ON a whim, she takes one mighty jump...

athletics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

..but her tiny tiny legs betray her.

Later, I guess. The thief marks the spot mentally so maybe they can figure out where it leads, when they get to the 2nd floor.

Yeah, OK, i'm done here.

Talborel strides over and jumps for the trapdoor.

Athletics:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Bibi blinks.

And again.

...*sniff* I just showed you where to step, Stretch.

Talborel nimbly climbs up to the trap door and opens it rather easily. From here he can see all the places the roof has collapsed. Will update the map when I can.

"Do you think I have to go up there as well? I think I much prefer being on this level."

Talborel nimbly climbs up to the trap door and opens it rather easily. From here he can see all the places the roof has collapsed. Will update the map when I can.

Can I get up there?

Bibi blinks.

And again.

...*sniff* I just showed you where to step, Stretch.

Talborel fixes a very serious gaze on Bibi.

You are as you were born, BiBi. Apologize to no-one for being true, for being who and what you are. If anyone takes issue with you for being your true self? Do not stand for it.

Tal eyes the open trapdoor in the roof with interest.

"Do you think I have to go up there as well? I think I much prefer being on this level."

Then how will you *know*?

Tal can see that most every part of the ruins has at least some collapsed roof. The only exception being the separate building to the northwest.

"Then how will you *know*?"

Carrufikus thinks on this question for a moment and then replies, "I admit, I am a curious one, and will fight off the bleaching as much as any gnome, but not when it comes to heights. Perhaps you could just tell me what you see."

You are as you were born, BiBi. Apologize to no-one for being true, for being who and what you are. If anyone takes issue with you for being your true self? Do not stand for it.

Bibi purses her lips, thinking, then breaks out into a big smile. She pulls out her flask, takes a swig, and hands it to Talborel with a nod.

Talborel comes down from the hatch. There's little to see here. Aside from the northwest building being largely intact, it seems that most of this ruin is in roughly the same shape. The lighthouse proper seems to be in exceptionally good shape. Given the early afternoon hour it's impossible to tell if it's giving off any light.

Where to? This continues to be the easiest game for me to sneak posts into, so bring it on!

Notice nods as Tal dispassionately recounts what they have observed. Logically, we should finish one level before beginning another, yes? Bibi, let's check out what's through that door. He points to the north. One step at a time.

Bibi Throws Noroc a jaunty salute, and checks the door for traps

perception: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12

Assuming it's clear, she then steps aside, hiding AND LETTING SOMEONE ELSE OPEN IT.

Bibi finds nothing untoward.

Elena moves a bit closer to the northern door, holding her lit torch high. "I'm ready to sling a spell if something hostile appears. If someone opens the door. Noroc? Peldur? Tal?"

I suspect Peldur is more hearty than I, Noroc says matter-of-factly. But I'll be sure to stand right behind him.

Does that work for Peldur?

He points to the north. "One step at a time".

"Agreed, my friend. Be ready for challenges and unexpected friends. Lead us onward! Tal or Peldur, do you have the door?"

Talborel, bow in hand, opens the door.

Sure thing. I'm ready.

Peldur moves to the door and opens it.

The collapsed ceiling at the middle of this room has left a ragged hole in the wooden roof. Rotten tapestries, their designs completely obscured by mold, hang in tatters on the walls between arrow slits and ruined side tables. The remains of a fancy dining table lie mostly pulverized by the fallen ceiling.

Carrufikus follows the others into the moldy room and remains vigilant as he searches for anything of interest.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

"Do you think we need to worry about the fact that this place is so moldy?"

Elena relaxes a bit when nothing nasty leaps out at them. "Ok, so let's take a moment to examine this room. Noroc, can you lead us in? I can see our Desnan friend is excited to explore, and I'm curious too. But keep your eyes open for traps still."

When Noroc cautiously enters she lets Carrufikus follow before moving to the doorway and looking about. Her interest is less on things and more on clues to the past.
Continuing to Investigate

Noroc enters the room with Carrufikus by the door. There's a lot of refuse here, but perhaps some pot....

There's something wrong. Noroc's hair stands on end... There is something unnatural in this room.

Round 1:
Noroc: Go
???: ???
Talborel: TBD
Peldur: TBD
Bibi: TBD
Elena: TBD
Carrufikus: TBD

Noroc holds up his hand. Something's not right here, he says, pausing a moment as he looks about the chamber.

Perception to Seek whatever is standing his hair on end: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Unless he sees something, he will poke at the refuse withheld non-business end of his "walking stick".

Let's call that a Stride, an action to Seek, and then an Interact action.

Noroc looks about, trying to calm himself. That's when six ghostly short, reptilian humanoids with scaled skin, snouts filled with tiny teeth, and a long tails surge out of the rubble with eerie yowls!

Noroc and Carrufikus, make Will saves versus fear!

The spirits seem lost, frenzied! What do they want‽ No one has ever faced spirits like this before. Indeed someone trained in religion may be able to exorcise them. Perhaps someone who knows how to push their will on others can cross the mortal coil... Either way, saves from Noroc and Carrufikus.

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

More like won't save.

The horror of the haunting gets to Noroc. Confused for 1 round and frightened 2.

Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Carrufikus knows this is a haunt, and keeps his cool as best he can, but it's still frightening. Frightened 1

The spirits swoop together toward Odd is Noroc: 1d2 ⇒ 1, instilling him with feelings of betrayal and confusion! Mental Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 DC 18 basic Will save.

For Two actions, if you're trained in Religion you can exorcise the spirits, or if trained in Intimidation you can cow them.

Round 1:
Noroc: Uh-oh Confused for 1 round and frightened 2.
Haunt: ???
Talborel: Go
Peldur: Go
Bibi: Go
Elena: Go
Carrufikus: Go Frightened 1.

Action 1-2: Exorcise the Spirits
Action 3: Stride

Seeing the spirits swirl about Noroc, she shouts, "Hang in there!"

Elena directs her attention to the spirits. "This is not your place anymore, fallen ones! Go now, and be judged in Pharasma's Boneyard!"
Religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

She then moves back, looking to get some distance from the haunt.

Desna, be at my side. I think this is a real haunt! Oh great dreamer, do you think I am ready for this?

Carrufikus attempts to tap into the starsong within himself and use his divine influence to send the haunt away . . .

"Umm . . . , nasty spirit. Yoo hoo! I mean, nice spirit that is very misguided and does not like intruders. Umm, go away. I mean, be free and go away. Not the mean type of go away, just go away in a nice way. Umm, please?"

. . . but panic sets in as he becomes tongue tied before he can accomplish that.

Religion: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 1 = 7

◈ Stride
◈◈ Religion for Exorcism

Elena and Carrufikus both try to exorcise the haunt, but neither can gain any power over the spirits.

Round 1:
Noroc: Uh-oh Confused for 1 round and frightened 2.
Haunt: ???
Talborel: Go
Peldur: Go
Bibi: Go
Elena: Fail
Carrufikus: Fail

Bibi hears what's going on, and decides to take her own action.

Bofus looked sternly at his niece and pointed at her. "Remember, Bibi--courage isn't having no fear. Courage is being afraid, and going ahead anyway! DON'T let 'em know you're afraid, and make THEM afraid!"

She takes a deep breath, and stands boldly in the doorway. The fierce look on her eyes is not something anyone in this party has ever seen before; she actually appears taller than a moment before.

The halfling gives the ghosts a hearty stare, and in a stentorian voice belying her tiny stature, she bellows out three words.

GET THEE GONE!!

intimidate: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 <--BOLT2MUTHAFUGGA!!!! (maybe??)

Bibi's bold delivery and sheer confidence startles the unquiet spirits. With a final yowl, they retreat to the netherworld, for now at least.

While Noroc still needs to make his save to see how badly the haunt affected his mind, the party nevertheless triumphs! For defeating the haunt, each hero earns 60 XP.

Bibi holds her position for a few breaths. When her new friends look back at her from the dispersed haunt, she's back to her normal size--clearly that was just a trick of the eye.

She grins with power. THAT is how a BEERswizzler does it!!

"Bibi, how is it that you have so much confidence is dealing with a ghost. Don't they frighten you just a little?"

Bibi catches her breath, and smiled wanly at her new gnome friend Why, Carrufikus! Only fools and paladins don’t have fear! I’m neither of those. Uncle Bofus always told me that courage is being afraid and forging ahead anyway. I’m trying to heed his advice

DC 18 Will: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 - 2 = 11

When he comes back out of his fright, Noroc finds himself whimpering on the floor of the room.

With the threat gone, Elena hurries over to Noroc. She helps the man up, saying, "It's alright. It's over now. You're safe and with friends." When he's standing again she gives her friend a reassuring hug. "It's ghostly magic, nothing more."

When he's settled Elena looks about the room, studying it for clues. She also ponders the ghostly figures that she saw.
Investigate the room, but also I'd like to Recall Knowledge to identify the lizard-like humanoids.

Peldur is startled at the appearance of the ghosts. Seeing Bibi's stoicism in the face of their terror impresses Peldur.

Woah, this just got real! I figured we'd have to clear out some riffraff, but spirits? Badass, Bibi!

Elana is confident those were kobolds. She avoids searching through the detritus and the refuse, but she does see enough skeletal remains to make up about 6 kobolds.

Nothing else stands out to her. A reminder that in PF2, Elena's actions don't count as searching for hidden points of interest.

Having seen Bibi search the previous room with some thoroughness, Peldur steps in and starts rooting around in the debris.

Peldur begins a dig. He finds the missing pieces of the skeletons (he thinks.) Which means there were 6 kobolds who died here. While rooting around, he finds a few bits of treasure!

Among the bodies he finds 3 gp, 20 sp, a box with components for a caltrop snare, a wolf fang, and a vial a light green liquid within. “YUM” is clumsily written on it.

When Peldur finds the vial Elena becomes curious. "Let me see if I can identify that."
Arcana to Identify Magic: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Clearly Elena is thrown off by the label.

"Why, Carrufikus! Only fools and paladins don’t have fear! I’m neither of those. Uncle Bofus always told me that courage is being afraid and forging ahead anyway. I’m trying to heed his advice."

"Wow, your uncle Bofus must have been quite a character. I will try to remember those words myself. I have a feeling that I will need to remind myself of his advice in the day ahead."

"Let me see if I can identify that."

"I would not trust to the fact that it says YUM on the outside. It probably tastes gross."

Carrufikus also begins looking around the ruins for anything interesting.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Elena discovers only that the liquid is not magical. Meanwhile Carrufikus doesn't find anything else of note.

The halfling smiles & gives Peldur a quick bow.

So...are those ghosts GONE gone? Or just, gone for now?

should I bother with searching too?