GM Hawthwile's Eyes of the Ten (Inactive)

Game Master Hawthwile

Flyn stows his swarmbane clasp and reactivates his amulet of life’s breath while whispering. ”Kiboko, my friend…can you cast spider climb upon me? With your wand, there may be another way…”

"Yes, friend Flyn. Kiboko has been thinking on this."

Kramac will take a moment for his companions to cast their spells, healing himself in the meantime.

CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

As the Pathfinders slowly advance, Zaarah hears two voices chanting over the howling curtain of wind.

The Numerian
Round 6! Bold may act!
Kiboko (-5)
Mvumbu (-13)
Red (-159)
Flyn (-13)
Zaarah (-11, -21 nonlethal)
Kramac (-79)
Beak (-12, -2 Dex damage)
Fendel
Yellow (-46)
Blue (-79)

Environmental Effects:
- Room is difficult terrain
- Every 5 ft of movement in the room will deal 1d8 piercing damage and require a Reflex save (only once per round) to avoid having movement speed halved
- Wood-repellent effect indicated by green arrow
- Bird- and half-orc-repellent effect indicated by brown spread
- Wind wall indicated by grey line
- Stone wall indicated by thick grey line

What do you do?

Infusing his words with the power of his faith to Irori, the detective calls out closer intruder. "You know that you are running out of time. Your defensive measures will soon expire. What will you do after that? Are you willing to die for this man? Adril has lost at every turn. Think about it. He has planned this for years, a decade perhaps. And in a matter of a few days, we have unraveled nearly all of his efforts. He has placed himself in a corner and has nowhere left to maneuver. His fate is sealed. Your's however, is still in doubt. Stay and perish in such a way that your death will be absolute, never to rise again. Or leave now and return to Golarian and stay there of your own accord and continue to live as a master of your own destiny. He surely cannot pay you enough to risk literally everything. And ask yourself this; would he be equally willing to make the same sacrifice for you? He has left you here to die. I offer you the opportunity to see tomorrow."

Using Deific Obedience to cast Suggestion (1x/day) on YELLOW. The large, italicized text is the command.
DC 22 Will save to negate.

CL vs SR?: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

He turns toward Flyn. "Be ready with that clasp. If this fails, I am likely to but the subject of his ire. You'll need to shoot fast."

Preparing an alternative plan of offence, Kiboko casts Spider Climb on Flyn and then advances around the conjured stone wall, walking on the air.

If Flyn is able to move up to Kiboko's position then that will grant Kiboko another 15' of movement; I have positioned Kiboko assuming that he needs to move to Flyn, and using a total of 35' out of 40' speed. I've also assumed that Kiboko has to squeeze past the Wall of Stone where it bends.

Kramac is tired of your games wicked invaders!

Kramac guides Beak through the tight hallways, gliding over the spike growth in the next room, to where he can get a view of the druid that is vexing them so. He pulls a talisman off his belt, smashes it on the ground and calls out,

Colin! You strange man! Fulfill your debt for when I saved your life at the Gallowspire!

Using a boon from Siege of the Gallowspire to cast Dispel Magic on the druid.

A portal appears, and a scrawny, strange looking man in red robes steps through.

Remove the spells that prevent Kramac from defeating that wicked man!

Colin rolls his eyes, and scoffs, intoning a few magic words.

Dispel Check: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Lets try that again (using my reroll)...

Dispel Magic: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

The rest of my post assumes that that second dispel check was successful in removing the Anti-Life Shell

With his work done, Colin disappears back through his portal. With the way now clear, Kramac slides off beak and stalks into the room with his foes, sword in hand.

Swift dismount auto succeeds

Reflex Save for the spike Growth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

Flyn climbs along the wall laterally to avoid the spikes in the floor…

20’ climb speed

Yellow Will vs Enchantment DC 9: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 = 20

The man shakes his head dismissively, then frowns. "Who is this Adril?" he answers angrily before resuming his spellcasting.

"A trick - don't listen," his companion answers.

Kramac Piercing damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

As Flyn and Kiboko round the corner of the new stone wall, they see a furious Kramac - and his conjured assistant - rip away the stranger's protections and stride into the hallway. The half-orc sees the path in front of him stretch and extend much further into the distance than it looked like it had from the room outside, and the alcoves on either side of him fill with gray translucent haze that conceals his targets.

The Numerian
Round 6! Bold may act!
Kiboko (-5)
Mvumbu (-13)
Red (-159)
Flyn (-13)
Zaarah (-11, -21 nonlethal)
Kramac (-80)
Beak (-12, -2 Dex damage)
Fendel
Yellow (-46)
Blue (-79)

Environmental Effects:
- Room is difficult terrain
- Every 5 ft of movement in the room will deal 1d8 piercing damage and require a Reflex save (only once per round) to avoid having movement speed halved
- Wood-repellent effect indicated by green arrow
- Bird- and half-orc-repellent effect indicated by brown spread
- Wind wall indicated by grey line
- Stone wall indicated by thick grey line

What do you do?

Zaarah moves forward.

"Coming!!" Zaarah says and laughs.

She again claps her hands to freeze water to ice tomb the woman in blue clothing!

cold damage : 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 2) = 8

DC 23 fort save to half damage and prevent to be imprisoned.

Zaarah Piercing damage: 3d8 ⇒ (5, 5, 5) = 15
Zaarah Reflex: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (1) + 21 = 22

@Zaarah - assuming no rerolls, your movement speed is halved until you receive healing magic or someone spends 10 minutes to make a Heal check on you.

In her haste, Zaarah steps squarely on a spike and finds herself hobbled from the pain. But she still conjures up a blizzard around the woman...

Blue Fortitude vs DC 23: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

...who freezes. Solid.

The man finishes his spell, and from the rafters comes a dreadful buzzing. Swarms of wasps descend on the Pathfinders (except for those caught in the howling winds and immediately thrown back to the ceiling), biting and stinging at every inch of exposed skin!

Swarm damage vs Flyn: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8
Flyn Fortitude vs Distraction: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30
Flyn Fortitude vs Poison: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33

Swarm damage vs Zaarah: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
Zaarah Fortitude vs Distraction: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (9) + 19 = 28
Zaarah Fortitude vs Poison: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33

Swarm damage vs Kramac: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7
Flyn Fortitude vs Distraction: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (6) + 24 = 30
Flyn Fortitude vs Poison: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (11) + 24 = 35

Swarm damage vs Beak: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9
Beak Fortitude vs Distraction: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Beak Fortitude vs Poison: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

The man then takes ahold of his scythe and attempts to cut Kramac down before the half-orc can retaliate!

Yellow Scythe vs Kramac AC 31: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29
Slashing damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 = 12

Yellow Scythe vs Kramac AC 31: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Slashing damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 6 = 12

The Seeker dodges the first swing and deflects the second with his own blade. But worse than the man's aim is his stink - a rotting, vile miasma that hangs around him like a shroud. Kramac tries to power through his revulsion...

Kramac Fortitude: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (2) + 24 = 26

...and forces his stomach to settle before it can make him queasy.

The Numerian
Round 7! Bold may act!
Kiboko (-5)
Mvumbu (-13)
Red (-159)
Flyn (-21)
Zaarah (-18, -35 nonlethal, Half-speed)
Kramac (-87)
Beak (-12, -2 Dex damage)
Fendel
Yellow (-46)
Swarm 1
Swarm 2
Swarm 3
Swarm 4
Blue (-87, Paralyzed, Unconscious)

Environmental Effects:
- Room is difficult terrain
- Every 5 ft of movement in the room will deal 1d8 piercing damage and require a Reflex save (only once per round) to avoid having movement speed halved
- Wood-repellent effect indicated by green arrow
- Wind wall indicated by grey line
- Stone wall indicated by thick grey line
- New swarms are numbered left-to-right

What do you do?

Haha! You are tougher than Kramac expected, but still no match for the might of Kurgess!

Swift action to activate Bane, then full attack, and 5-foot step to make room for beak afterwards

Attack 1, Power Attack, Bane, Flurry: 1d20 + 19 - 3 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (16) + 19 - 3 + 2 - 3 = 31
Concealment, 1 misses: 1d5 ⇒ 3
Damage, Power Attack, Bane: 1d6 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 6 + 2 + (2, 5) = 25

Attack 2, Power Attack, Bane, Flurry: 1d20 + 19 - 3 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 19 - 3 + 2 - 3 = 25
Concealment, 1 misses: 1d5 ⇒ 2
Damage, Power Attack, Bane: 1d6 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 6 + 2 + (4, 2) = 28

Attack 3, Power Attack, Bane, Flurry, iterative: 1d20 + 14 - 3 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 14 - 3 + 2 - 3 = 25
Concealment, 1 misses: 1d5 ⇒ 1
Damage, Power Attack, Bane: 1d6 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 6 + 2 + (4, 6) = 31

Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8
Reflex Save: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

Beak swoops into the room, and bites the evil druid! (this will probably provoke)

Attack, power attack, outflank: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Concealment, 1 misses: 1d5 ⇒ 5
Damage: 2d6 + 14 + 6 ⇒ (6, 6) + 14 + 6 = 32

Kiboko just gets there on a 40' move

Though he knows he could thwart the swarming insects with a spell, Kiboko is furious that he didn't do so already and eager to spill the enemy's blood. With his allies engaged, Kiboko strides amidst the wasps and passes the druid, ducking underneath Beak's wings and then turning his lance on the foe.

hooked lance vs yellow, rage, bull focus, power: 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 2 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 2 + 2 - 3 = 23damage, furious finish: 16 + 12 + 9 = 37
Furious finish only triggers on a hit - otherwise Kiboko remains raging.

Actions: 1 move, a swift to change Mouse focus to Bull, and a vital strike attack; I did not account for soft cover so I suspect that may be a miss.

Flyn will exit the swarm climbing towards the ceiling and then over and into the room, behind Kramac..

Zaarah activates her flight hex and flies out of the swarm.

"Ahhh, that hurt my feet!"

As Kramac lays into the stranger, he notices pale liquid splurting from the man's wounds onto his skin.

Kramac Fortitude vs Disease: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29 (it's a blight druid thing)

The half-orc doesn't let it affect him as he swings again and again. The man spits blood, then raises his scythe desperately as Beak squeezes into the room...

(I forgot a bonus last time, but I'm not going to retcon it - so if you're wondering why the attack bonus changed, that's why)
Yellow AoO Scythe vs Beak AC 28: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25
Slashing damage: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 = 13

...but he is too slow and can only look up in horror as Beak's beak envelopes his head.

Beak Fortitude vs Disease: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Beak likewise ignores the liquid spurting from the man's remains, dropping them in a bloody heap on the ground.

Out of Initiative! Damage Report:
Kiboko (-5)
Mvumbu (-13)
Flyn (-21)
Zaarah (-18, -35 nonlethal, Half-speed)
Kramac (-87)
Beak (-12, -2 Dex damage)

Go ahead and post any restorative actions you might want to take in your next post.

The wasps continue to buzz and swarm furiously, but they do not pursue the Seekers as they make their way into the hallway. As each one enters the passage, they see the short length suddenly stretch out before them. Even more strangely, those in the haze-filled alcoves on the side find that the can reach everyone in the hallway with ease.

The hallway stretches to 200 feet long, and creatures in the alcoves consider all creatures in the hallway as adjacent.

Finally, an archway opens into a wedge-shaped room. The outer wall, though, is bisected by a spherical chamber. Blackened, lightning-shaped streaks run across the walls and floor. In the middle of the spherical chamber floats an ebon gemstone with fifteen facets. Long chains forged from a strange blue alloy run from the center of each facet to the chamber walls.

What do you do?

”WHEW!” Flyn exclaims as he climbs down from the ceiling. ”Glad that’s over with…not sure who they were…but they were obviously not with Hestram. Makes me wonder if the dude that attacked us in that entry room was either…”

Flyn taps himself with his wand…

Taking the average 4 times to get back to full health

…before perusing the chamber north of them…

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (9) + 25 = 34

…eying the spherical chamber, Flyn casts detect magic…

Looking towards Fendel, he shakes his head. ”Never seen the likes of that before…it’s beyond me. What do you make of it?”

Zaarah cackles.

“That was funny!!!“

She detects magic and scans their gear.

Whoever these folks were, they certainly didn't have much on them. The man has his armor, his scythe, and a ring that all radiate magical auras, while the woman has her armor, a dagger and short sword, her bow, and three arrows. As for the frozen woman - it's difficult to tell through the ice.

+2 hide armor, +2 scythe, ring of protection +2, +3 chain shirt, +1 dagger, +1 short sword, +1 composite longbow, 3x human slaying arrow

As you patch yourselves, up, this is an excellent opportunity to make sure that your status in the slides is up to date.

What do you do?

Flyn picks up the three human-slaying arrows. ”Hestram probably has protection against these…but it’s still worth a try…”

Looking over things, Flyn murmurs. ”This way appears to be a dead end…there’s a door over in the rainbow room to the west. We should try there…”

If there are no objections, Flyn will climb up to the ceiling, over the swarms, into the multi-colored room and checks it out…

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (12) + 25 = 37

Are there spikes in the floor in this room as well?

Spellcraft vs DC 37: 1d20 + 21 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 21 + (6) = 45

"Beware the stone! It emulates a cursed mirror. Even touching it may be enough to absorb you. Nevermind what may accidentally be released. Who knows what enemies the Decemverate has trapped within."

The detective studies the archer. He clearly pauses for a moment as he looks over at some of his teammates. Three of them rooted around the trophy room before we were ambushed and nearly perished. Perhaps that distraction prevented us from noticing some critical detail. I cannot rewrite the past, but I can learn from it. With a snear of disgust, he walks away from the fallen woman.

Zaarah cackles again and gives her wand so she can be healed.

clw : 5d8 + 5 ⇒ (6, 6, 4, 7, 8) + 5 = 36

“Good ideas Fendel and Master Flyn! Shouldn’t we take the woman out first? We can break the ice s d then incapacitate her!!!“

She casts another ablative barrier on herself.

Finally! Those wicked people were quite slippery. But they could not escape Kramac and friends! Yes, we should finish dealing with the woman. Can you dismiss the ice, or do we have to break through it?

Kramac will heal himself up while everyone explores the room.

CLW: 15d8 + 15 ⇒ (2, 2, 6, 4, 5, 3, 3, 3, 6, 3, 4, 3, 5, 8, 8) + 15 = 80

And for Beak:
CLW: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (5, 1, 6) + 3 = 15

After healing Beak up, Kramac stands next to the ice-encased woman, ready to grapple her.

Grapple check: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

"How long does the icy prison last?" Kiboko asks. "Must we break it, or can we leave this woman alone?"

Icy Tomb hex doesn't give a duration, just says it lasts while the ice lasts. How cold is it in the tower?

"Kiboko must go and get Mvumbu."

Kiboko walks through the air to rejoin his companion. "Mvumbu, we must go further into this bad place. Kiboko's magic will protect you."

clw charges, M: 4d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2, 2, 7) + 4 = 16
clw charges, K: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Leaves Kiboko down 2hp.

Kiboko casts some spells, then with a smaller she-hippo walking on the walls he rejoins the others.

"The rainbow room" he nods.

Casting Reduce Animal (from scroll), duration 3 hours; and Spider Climb (duration 110mins), both on Mvumbu. The Spider Climb is extended (rod) and Shared with Kiboko, so they both get 110mins. Slides updated.

Skyreach is... room-temperature? XD I'd imagine it would take hours for the ice to melt naturally.

While Kramac works tirelessly to heal his many cuts and bruises, the other Seekers study their surroundings and formulate plans of action.

Technically the swarms stick around for 13 minutes, but it doesn't feel like forcing folks to deal with them will create a more-enjoyable play experience so I'm happy to ignore them without making us wait for them to leave on their own (or spend resources to make them realize they're not welcome anymore).

Flyn sees that the floor beneath him is inlaid with a giant circular mosaic of vivid colors - red, blue, green, and yellow - divided into quarters that swirl counter-clockwise. A brass plaque encircles the design, engraved with a passage that is perhaps easier to read from above: "The shortest year has five seasons of fire." In the northwest corner of the room, a short passage leads to a metal door.

What do you do?

”We can come back for the woman later… or we take care of her now! What if she has evidence?“ the Kitsune asks with a sly smile that almost is seeing to continue the fight.

Seeing no traps, Flyn notes the counter-clockwise swirling and reads the passage on the engraved plaque befor climbing down and approaching the door. He checks it out…

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31

…and if he finds nothing hinky, he’ll open the door…

As the team recovers, the detective swallows another extract.
False Life: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

"I am less concerned with the frozen corpse than I am with the living threat. We should make haste."

Flyn doesn't notice anything dangerous hinky about the door and reaches for the handle. On the other side is a triangular room with a curved outer wall, decorated floor to ceiling with red and gold ceramic tiles. Two doors stand on the other two walls, each with a silver lever set into the wall on their right side.

What do you do?

Recalling the engraving on the plaque, Flyn will examine the room, looking for traps…

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (11) + 25 = 36

Kiboko and Mvumub attend Flyn, with the she-hippo walking along the wall at Kiboko's suggestion and the half-orc floating on the air.

"The decemvirate have crafted a lair filled with inexplicable riddles. To what end? What purpose does Skyreach serve?"

Kiboko activates his wand of Heightened Awareness then peers into the triangular room with Detect Magic.

Will burn H.A. for +4 initiative if combat breaks out in next ten minutes.

Flyn pauses for a moment as the subtle glimmer of dormant magic catches his eye. It covers the walls of the triangular chamber, seeming to branch out from the two silver levers in the walls next to the doors. Kiboko doesn't detect any magical auras, however.

My understanding is that since the trap has a mechanical trigger rather than a magical one (such as an alarm spell), it doesn't create an aura until it is triggered. I'm not super worried about that ruling at this time thanks to Flyn's successful Perception check (so we know the trap is there), but please do leave a link to something that would state otherwise (or confirm, as the case may be).

What do you do?

”Be wary…this room is rigged…”

Flyn will attempt to disarm the trap…

Disable Device: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (14) + 28 = 42

Assuming that disables the trap, is there any way for us to determine what would’ve transpired had we triggered it?

Flyn carefully works to sever the latent connection between the lever and the faint lattice of energy coating the walls and ceiling. A brief wash of heat suggests that a mistake could have made the room quite... hot.

What do you do?

Flyn turns to his friends. ”It’s a puzzle. The engraving in the previous room read:

“Any other ideas?”

"Perhaps it is just a door, Flyn. If you have disarmed the trap, would not one pull of the lever serve to open it? No doubt we will soon see."

Kiboko's brow furrows. "Little about this place makes sense to Kiboko."

Flyn shrugs. ”Only one way to find out…”

Once everyone enters, Flyn will pull the northern lever…

As Flyn pulls the lever, several things happen in rapid succession.

First, the door into the chamber slams shut with a loud clang. A quiet click suggests a bolt has engaged.

Second, a soft flash of light radiates from the lever and travels up the wall. It stops as it reaches the archer's handiwork, dissipating harmlessly.

Third, the chamber shudders and the Seekers might have had to try to keep their balance if they were not packed so tightly into the room as everything rotates to the right.

Last, the door next to the lever Flyn pulled opens smoothly to reveal another room - this one coated in blue tiles. Fendel immediately feels a subtle drop in temperature, and a quick look around the walls reveals a similar lattice of dormant magic as the previous room.

What do you do?

Flyn shrugs. ”It appears I am wrong about the teleportation…but the room shifted counterclockwise and the trap would’ve normally spewed fire. So perhaps we should pull the the lever four more times? I assume it’ll shift counterclockwise each time…perhaps after the fifth pull the door will open to the place we need to be?”

He ponders for a moment. ”Anyone object if I pull it again?”

Zaarah uses her flight hex and peeks into the newly revealed room.

"What do we have here?" she says and casts detect magic.

"Perhaps you are right, friend Flyn. But it would not hurt to examine the room that has been revealed."

Perhaps some experimentation is called for.

Zaarah also does not detect any unknown magical auras in the newly-opened room.

And to clarify, since I didn't mention it before - there is also a silver lever to the right the door you used to enter the red room.

The Pathfinders consider their options, knowing that time is of the essence.

What do you do?

Assuming since it’s not in a spoiler that Fendel shares the subtle drop in temperature…

Flyn shrugs. ”Fendel has sensed this room is cooler in nature…not sure that fits 5 seasons of fire…but you’re right, Kiboko, it can’t hurt and we might find something useful here…”

He looks around the room, looking for any signs of traps, danger, or anything of use…

Perception: 1d10 + 25 ⇒ (9) + 25 = 34

Flyn also spots the lattice of dormant magic on the walls and floor connected to the two levers to the right of each door.

It's another trap that can be disabled if you so wish.

What do you do?

Flyn attempts to disarm this trap as well…

Disable Device: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (8) + 28 = 36

Having recently worked with a similar setup, Flyn makes short work of the power supply from the levers to the rest of the room.

Trap disabled. What do you do?

Flyn looks to Kiboko. "This trap is disabled; based on Fendel's observation, I assume this trap was ice or frost based. It does not seem to match the 'puzzle' of the prior room of '5 seasons of fire'...

"Should we return to the previous room and pull that lever again and see what happens? Or do you think we should open other doors, my friend?"

"Kiboko thinks we should keep moving. Keep opening doors, friend Flyn. If we go round in a circle then try your numbers."

It's just guesswork, and your guess is as good as mine, but if we disarm all the traps I think we'll make progress.

"Agreed."