Ærde: Lost and Found in the City of Wonders

Game Master Jibril Johan Sameh

Can we cast some of these spells on ourselves, instead of our PCs. All of these buffs are well and good, but WE still have to solve the riddles.

Also, just realized my links were all for 5e spells, not PF1. oops.

So:
1st level scroll = 25x6=150gp each OR 1st level potion = 50x6=300 gp
True skill(pick one skill, next time use it get insight bonus =1/2 level. 1min/level)
Karmic blessing (treat one skill as a class skill. 1 round/level)
Heightened awareness (+2 on perception on knowledge checks. 10 min/lvl)

2nd level scroll = 150x6=900gp each OR 2nd level potion = 300x6=1800gp
Owl's wisdom/fox's cunning (+4 to wisdom/int based skills 1min/level)
Ancestral communication (self, +4 to knowledge check, 1min/level)
Investigative mind (self, advantage on knowlege/linguist/spellcraft rolls, 10 min/level)

3rd level scroll = 375x6=2250 gp each OR 750x6=4500gp
Heroism (+2 to attack, saving, skill rolls; 10min/level)

Also, since I don't get to keep the lockpicks, regular MW will do 500gp

Things are only 5x more expensive, not 6 - is that right? It looks like Dounia was multiplying the cost by 6. Potions would be easiest for each of us to use. Don't scrolls require a use magical device roll if you aren't magical?

CLW wand for Cairee = 750*5 = 3750 gp

I'm thinking a couple chalkboards to write on because if what we say around the doors can be construed as our answer then maybe we'll need to write a discussion.

Chalkboard = 1gp*5 = 10gp for 2 or 20gp if we each want one

I'm pretty sure I said x5

That's what I thought, but then the calculation for the thieve's tools was 6. happy to do 5x. I like chalkboards, but surely whispering is okay? But i guess we shouldn't assume that.

I'll put up my suggested shopping list tonight.

Shopping list. 25,000 to spend.

CLW wand for sure. 3750 (21,250 left)
MW lockpicks 500 (20,750 left)
Incense for 4 castings of Augury just in case 500 (20,250)
4xheightened awareness potions so we each take one at the start. 300x4=1200 (19,050)
2x investigative mind potions(take as needed) 1800x2 (15,450)
4x Heroism scroll (cast immediately/before) 2250x4 (6,450)
2x ancestral communication potion (Take as needed) 1800x2 (2850)

That leaves us with 2850, plus whatever else we had before our windfall. Thoughts?

Cairee could only cast augury a max of 3 times.

Maybe healing potions?

Cairee’s also preparing bulls strength, fire belly, summon monster, shadow trap, bless, in case we need to fight.

I think that's a pretty good haul already - and besides, if we figure out the riddles the fun way we won't be needing any of those in the first place ;^)

4,300 gp remaining?

Package A
2 cure moderate wounds potions (2d8+2) @1500 ea
5 cure light wounds potions (1d8+1) @250 ea
(50gp remaining)

or

Package B
1 cure serious wounds potion (3d8+3) @3,500 ea
1 cure light wounds potion (1d8+1) @250 ea
(150gp remaining)

Are there any other spells that Cairee and Zahra can cast that they need components for? Remember Zahra, eschew materials only covers component to a certain value.

One clarification, please. You said we may ask one question/knowledge rolls per riddle. I assume it was not one question per character but one from the whole group?

I vote package B. Sometimes getting that big hit in one round is vital.

Ooh, I assumed it was once per person.

I need some bulls hair. Is that something I need to purchase?

You can each ask one question per door.

Only Yes or No questions will be answered.

You can ask each other as many questions as you like as long as it's in character.

~

You only have to buy spell components individually if there is a listed cost. All other components are assumed to be in a 'spell component pouch' which all spell casters should have (Cairee - you have one listed amongst your equipment).

If you have the feat 'eschew materials' you don't need a spell component pouch or any spell component with a cost of 1gp or less.

;)

Another stupid verification: were those knowledge rolls you mentioned on top of the yes/no questions? Or were the yes/no answers a reward for a successful roll?

That's an important clarification.

You can make one knowledge roll. If you roll high enough and the skill you picked is relevant to the answer then I will give you a hint.

Eg.
1) Tymythy thinks the riddle has something to do with the constellations.

2) He decides to make a knowledge-geography roll.

3) He gets one of three results:
- He beats a DC20 and the riddle does have something to do with geography he will understand he is on he right track (a hint in itself) and will get a little additional info.
- He beats a DC20 and the riddle has nothing to do with geography then he learns he is thinking in the wrong direction.
- He fails to beat a DC20 he learns neither of the above.

One knowledge roll per person per door please.

Thank you, that's plenty of potential hints then. Let's get solving these!

Sorry, Tymythy. Everyone else is facing the bog mummy - or some other creature. It is the final challenge. I'm giving myself permission to be strict.

Quick clarification - that's tear as in crying, not as in torn?

yes - as in crying

Sorry, Tymythy. Everyone else is facing the bog mummy - or some other creature. It is the final challenge. I'm giving myself permission to be strict.

No worries, I deserved that. Need to keep our mouths shut or whisper like we are doing now when not actually asking a question, and when we do, keep it short and sweet ;-)

Also, I need to google me a good English language dictionary and start hunting for synonyms for half the words in that riddle in search of potential interpretations ;-)

CLW wand for sure
MW lockpicks
Incense for 4 castings of Augury just in case
4x heightened awareness potions - used (good for 100 rnds)
2x investigative mind potions
4x Heroism scroll - used (good for 600 rnds)
2x ancestral communication potion
1x cure serious wounds potion (3d8+3)
1x cure light wounds potion (1d8+1)

*Everyone has +2 morale bonus on attack rolls, saves, and skill checks
*Everyone has +2 competence bonus on Perception checks and on all trained Knowledge checks (dismiss the spell for a +4 initiative check)
As the bonuses are from different sources (morale and competence) they stack if applicable
- I will set up a proper 'party status' and record these buffs

Notes on scrolls:
The spell must be of the correct type (arcane or divine). Arcane spellcasters (wizards, sorcerers, and bards) can only use scrolls containing arcane spells, and divine spellcasters (clerics, druids, paladins, and rangers) can only use scrolls containing divine spells.
The user must have the spell on her class list.
The user must have the requisite ability score (Heroism requires a 13 in their spell casting ability)

Heroism is not on the clerical spell list (unless you have the correct domain). Zahra is the only one who can use those scrolls freely but she can cast them on others. Dounia can try to but she must make a use magic device roll. We will assume she has done that.

Also, I need to google me a good English language dictionary and start hunting for synonyms for half the words in that riddle in search of potential interpretations ;-)

Yes, I was worried about this and about cultural differences which may come up.

If you don't want me to do that, I won't do it... but considering English is my 3rd language it will make figuring obscure wordings a bit difficult;-)

Please go ahead. I was only worried about my cultural biases

I will be traveling from May 5 - May 15. Depending on wifi, I may be able to post but I'm not sure about what time I'll have. Please bot Zahra as needed.

Rook
Apparently it used to be a chariot. The Persian word for small wheeled military devices, including small mobile towers, is rokh.

The Italians came along and mistook chariot for tower as their word for tower is Rocca.

The word evolved into Rook - although some people here call it a castle and the move of switching an unmoved tower fans king positions is called castling

I don’t like how Corey italicized ‘answer’ and ‘something’. Feels tricky.

Or he's just playing mind-games with us ;-)

Also on the chess topic, the bishop is called a "lähetti" in Finnish, which means courier or messenger rather than anything religious... which would lead to quite different interpretations in my mind assuming that piece was an integral part of the puzzle.

Anyways, languages. Funny old things, ain't they just?

I remember give the riddle doors personalities ages ago. He'll if I remember what they were.

-

I find etymology more and more interesting. I'm thinking about taking up linguistics as a hobby.

I have updated the Character Status link.

If you can zoom in you should be able to see the number of rounds left on your various buffs. Every time someone has something significant to say I subtract 1rnd (six seconds). If someone else replies then that is a new round.

I will subtract another round if someone's comment is particularly long.

I'm not subtracting a round for Dininn's yes or nos.

Ooh ooh if you look at the city map it's not round, it's tear shaped!!

Tear shaped, close to fertile lands (that a river on the left side of the map with all the vegetation I see?), likely made of limestone (well, could be, I dunno if the most prevalent construction material was mentioned), but how does it fit the chessboard part... unless it means the city doesn't have a king or a queen ruling it?

It might help to re-read the riddle carefully

Riddle one:
Cairee- k roll: USED (GEOG)
Cairee- Y/N question: AVAILABLE

Dounia - k roll: USED (LOCAL)
Dounia - Y/N question: USED

Tymythy- k roll: USED (GEOG)
Tymythy- Y/N question: USED

Zahra- k roll: USED (LOCAL)
Zahra- Y/N question: AVAILABLE

Cairee had a strong feeling that she was on the right track. The riddle felt like it pointed to a place, or a kind of place. The belt of lime reminder her of this entire region of sediment. The phrase 'a providing mother' felt very important. The phrase about the chess board, however, felt … out of line with a natural formation.

Cairee felt like the chess board pointed to something cultured, unnatural and she couldn't get past a feeling the 'belt of lime' was also. Tymythy got the strong feeling 'a providing mother' pointed to a fertile natural phenomenon, but not a mountain.

I think Zhayalammar is a great guess. Cairee will use her question to try to find out.

Ok, that seems clear enough then. Does Dounia want to do the honors as you figured it out?

I am a chessboard of many pieces with one king and queen missing.
'a chessboard' was meant to point to the light and dark nature of the city
'of many pieces' was intended to indicate there were more than 32.
'with one king and queen missing' chess boards have two kings and two queens while the city only has one male and one female ruler.

I am a tear, ever clinging to the cheek of a providing mother, never falling.
'I am a tear' you got this one. The city is tear shaped
'providing mother' the river is called the Masdar'um. A look at the vocabulary (last pages of The Narrative) or a gameplay thread search would show Masdar'um means 'providing mother'

I am a sentinel that wears a belt of lime, guarding the bones of my father and my father’s father
'a belt of lime' is indeed the lime base sandstone and mortar of the city wall.
'my father and my father's father' refer to the two previous cities beneath Zhayalamar. Knowledge history might have given hints to this.

~

Not all of the riddles will be like this. Many will be more ephemeral/concept riddles.

Cool! And way to go Angie!

Wow! Go Cairee with the double solve!!

As of opening the Izmo door you have 55 rounds of 'Heightened Awareness' and 555 rounds of 'Heroism' left.

As a curiosity, Zahra has 2,353 rounds of mage armour left.

You have been in this challenge for 45 rounds or 4.5 minutes.

I'm back and getting caught up. Hope to post on the weekend

You are zipping through these riddles. I'm not going to make you hum and haw on this one. The elves are picky and only the exact word would do but Tymythy has it exactly. There was a hint buried in the riddle:

I am a-part in each situation

pebble on the hilltop
only a newborn child
two tigers meeting in the wild
every hour from now on
next tossed bone
the gift unrevealed
ink in an ink-pot
arrow before the archer's shot
lentil when frost is gone

Please finish it off with a post, Tymythy ;)

Lol... I was just about to point out flaws in "only" a newborn child having potential, as every moment of every life has its own choices it offers, be it large of small, but I guess I'll go ahead and submit ;^) Didn't even think of looking at the starting letters!

Ha! Thank you for not letting us talk ourselves out of Tymythy's excellent guess!

That was a very good Kn religion roll. Here is some more info:

Ok, for this new riddle, I got nothing ;^)

We need to continue it? Or does every line point at one thing and that thing is what we need to figure out? So some kind of "what am I?" situation?

I can't think of any skills that would be useful to help with this one.

You can eliminate a skill by doing a check in it if you like. Pick a skill. Make a roll. If you get 20+ I will either give you a relevant hint or let you know there isn't any relevant knowledge from the skill.

Does anyone else want to try questions or knowledge rolls? Maybe try phrasing a question better than Cairee did :)

I'd been thinking that everything in the riddle ended in 'certain doom' - hence my guess of time. My question assumed the listed things are the items, and “certain doom” is what happens to them.

But the answer - "No, the riddle does not ask why all of the items are certainly doomed."

Why is 'items' italicized? Is it asking why something else is doomed?

Or does it mean that 'certain doom' isn't the thing that happens to them, it's part of the list that describes the answer? The answer is something that is all of those things, including 'certain doom'?

Dounia's flashback is steeped with memories and reconnection. Everyone seems deeply moved. What does that mean?

I'm struggling to articulate it, but could the answer be something that inspires, that gives life meaning (peak experiences (the strongest, the sweetest, etc)and the knowledge it will end (certain doom)), drives people to 'live life to the fullest'.

Am I making any sense?

Perhaps it's just because "breath" and "note" aren't concrete "items" and thus your question referring to "all the items" wasn't valid?

Just reposting the riddle here, so I don't have to keep flipping pages.

"The strongest column
The sharpest arrow
The loftiest note
The sweetest grape
The brightest match
The highest rung
The cleanest breath
Even the truest beat of the heart
Certain doom"

I'm really stuck on this one. I thought Time was the answer.
If the answer is more along the folk-riddle lines, can somebody try k history? I think Tymythy hasn't tried a skill yet, but don't know if he has it.

Dounia's flashback is about her family (love not being demonstrated) and the feast (everybody having a nostalgic flashback and then making new vows of renewal). Maybe something about how things are better in our memory, more pure, but eventually everything is forgotten?

I don't know, I'm at a loss.

Maybe it’s memories? Over time, our memories can make things appear better or worse.

Not sure and I’m also struggling.