GM Doug's The Seven Secrets of Dacilane Academy (Inactive)

Game Master Doug Hahn

"Sure, the school yard sounds nice. It wouldn't be bad to get outside for a bit when we aren't outside having to sleep in tents or worse!"

Every Wealday morning, we run in the yard. The next morning, the statues stand in different spots and in different poses—almost like they’re trying to get in our way.

Hard-packed dirt marked with chalk lines creates a small track around most of this open yard. Within the loop of the track, a cleared oval provides a space for other types of exercise. Outside the track, statues stand on opposite sides of the yard, each posed in mid-stride, as though about to reach the finish line of a footrace. In the corner of the schoolyard grows a picturesque maple tree.

There are two statues out here. One is of a famous pathfinder named Gobo, a kitsune, and the other is another famous Pathfinder. Probably one oof your own characters, especially if any of them are venture captains or higher

Biago, Fearful Berry, and Rubeg notice a crumpled-up letter at the foot of the tree.

You are standing in the doorway; the yard’s dirt is well-trodden and hard packed. What do you do to investigate?

Slide 1 updated.

"There's a letter," Rubeg points out, walking over to pick it up and hand to someone else to read. Let them lose their words and ideas, he has too many he still needs to turn into reality. Walking in a straight line to the letter.

"Be careful!" Flint will follow 10' behind, Defending.

Was I able to get my last 4 hp healed? If not (yet), not a big worry.

I would assume Flint would heal the las bit as Berry can't treat your wounds again for an hour.

Berry leans forward peering as Rubeg goes after the letter. "What does it say?" He shakes his head at the though of others writing on trees.

When Rubeg steps out into the yard… the statue of Gobo begins to rumble!

The statues slide across the ground, trampling Fearful Berry and Rubeg!

Trample, dotted outline vs Rubeg: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11, DC 20 Basic reflex Save
Trample, solid outline vs Berry: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10, DC 20 Basic reflex Save

The statues not only look dangerous but ready to trample again if you get too close… though those of you who are already close can probably act without triggering them.

These statues don't look like animated constructs; they look more like a trap. You may try to disable one of them with an Athletics check to hold them back, a crafting check to break the statue, or an Occultism check to dispel the magical energies causing them to move.

This is a weird one. Basically, you know these are traps and not creatures. Thus, they can be disabled. Some traps, like these, act in initiative with a "routine" and even have Reactions. They effectively function in ways similar to a creature but need to be disabled instead of killed or knocked out. The Disable activity is also 2 actions, so you cannot try more than once on your turn.

Recess Games

Disable is 2 actions, meaning you can only try once on your turn. You can roll Athletics (you will have to be adjacent to the statue), Crafting (you may need to be adjacent and need to be trained), or Occultism (trained as well) as an action. The DCs are listed in the spoiler below, which you can read before deciding to use a hero point.

Statues
—
Rubeg, DC 20 Reflex save vs 11 trample
Farzin
Biago
Fearful Berry, DC 20 Reflex save vs 10 trample
Flint

Reflex DC 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Berry's vines wrap around the base of the statue as he tries to hold it back as much as he can.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Alas his little vines are no match for moving stones. The statue plows right over him, leaving an imprint of his face into the soft soil beneath it.

False Life soaked all the damage for Berry.

Farzin steps forward. Unless he doesn't need to...

"Let me try to banish the occult energies that animate this one. Begone, I say!"

Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

{ooc]Hero point![/ooc]

"I said be gone!"

Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 Ugh, these rolls...

"Not good, boss!" squawks Papayo.

"Hold still! I can break whatever is making these move!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 And he does! I'm at a loss for my 3rd action here.

"I don't think these are actually creatures. Maybe I can interfere with their mechanisms. "

crafting: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Hero Point!

crafting: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Flint the Athletics DC is actually 23 :(

Biago disables the Gobo statue!

Recess Games

Disable is 2 actions, meaning you can only try once on your turn. You can roll Athletics (you will have to be adjacent to the statue), Crafting (you may need to be adjacent and need to be trained), or Occultism (trained as well) as an action. The DCs are listed in the spoiler below, which you can read before deciding to use a hero

Statues (1/2 disabled)
—
Rubeg, DC 20 Reflex save vs 11 trample
Farzin
Biago
Fearful Berry
Flint

!@#$%$%& Well, at least you know I didn't peak.

Reflex (trained): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Yeah, going to use my Hero Point on that...
Reflex (trained): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 Well, that was a waste. Critical fail: 22 hp (out of 36).

Rubeg groans as the statue runs over him, so surprised that he barely tries to get out of the way. Shaking his head to clear it, he growls at the statue. "I thought they only moved at night!" he calls out, personally offended that he was lied to.

Realizing what's going on, he tries to quickly Disable the Device ... to no avail. Crafting (trained): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 Unwilling to move again and risk being trampled further, he raises his shield.

Actions 1-2: Disable Device
Action 3: Raise Shield

There's a goblin faceprint in the turf, next to Berry's. Flint at least reduces the damage Rubeg takes. While you don't have statues of your own i the yard here yet, you are definitely leaving a memorable mark!

The statue, clearly thinking it's giving some rugby students a good workout, tramples in a loop over Flint and Berry!

Trample: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12; DC 20 Basic Reflex Save

Recess Games

Disable is 2 actions, meaning you can only try once on your turn. You can roll Athletics (you will have to be adjacent to the statue), Crafting (you may need to be adjacent and need to be trained), or Occultism (trained as well) as an action. The DCs are listed in the spoiler below, which you can read before deciding to use a hero

Statues (1/2 disabled)
—
Rubeg, -18 HP
Farzin
Biago
Fearful Berry
Flint

REF: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19 Holy crap, I have to remember I'm the low level here.

Losing his cool, Flint gives a growl and lays into the statue, trying to break its mechanical basis.

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

"Stupid statue!" Rubeg complains, again trying to figure out how it works so he can disable it. And again having no luck in doing so. He raises his shield to protect himself.

Crafting (trained): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Disable Device

Reflex DC 20: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Hero Point Reroll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Berry grabs ahold of one of the inert statues with his vine and barely yanks himself to safety as it tries to run over him once more. "Shut it off!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Flint knocks the statue of a higher-level Pathfinder down a peg or two! It's probably what they deserve.

Out of "combat!"

You can heal up again while making checks; medicine checks are available as is Flint's Lay on hands. So, roundabouts of another hour, and we're fine.

★

The note under the tree reads:

S.,

Meet me under the tree so we can talk. I'll be there on Ḿ̵̨͠͡ǫ̶̕͞͡l͝d̷̸̡̛͜à̸̡͜y̨̡̧̕S͞͝a̡͜͝͝͏ỳ̶͜͠W̶̶̛e͟͜á̵͠a̸̸҉y̶͢O҉̸́͡a̸̛͘t҉̛̛͢͠h͏̢ ͜t͏́a̵̢͢ŗ̵͜͡͝l̢̢͡d̷̨͡͡ḑ̷͟a̡͜d̶̀͝a̷̡͟͟ỳ̴̶̛͜ơ̵̕̕͝ǹ͞͠d͏̷̀á̷͜͞y͢͡T̛͟ơ҉í̷̡͘͟ý̨͜S ̸͡u̡͜͠n͢d́̕á̧͘͜͡y̷̴͠F͝i̸̛̛͞r̴̕e̶̵d̨͢͜͡͝

The date has been written, crossed, out, and re-written so many times it's indecipherable.

★

Berry and Rubeg inspect the outline of their faces in the dirt (will these, perhaps, lead to more rumors and ghost stories?), and notice gold dust gleaming in the spoil.

You can collect it. Free gold! You may wonder why it's here, but that's what the investigation is for!

★

Every Wealday morning, we run in the yard. The next morning, the statues stand in different spots and in different poses—almost like they’re trying to get in our way.

You can use a Crafting check to examine the physical structure, or a Perception check to examine the exercise area.

The Walking Statues!

Crafting or Perception… or sell me on another skill. Same DC as all the other checks.

Rubeg
Farzin
Biago
Fearful Berry
Flint

Berry climbs up high onto one of the statues as he looks over the entire exercise area, trying to spot anything out of the ordinary.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

"Fascinating. Why did they attack us, though, and not the students, who are apparently out here regularly, yes, yes, yes?" Rubeg mutters aloud as he investigates the statues remains. He looks to see if there's anything he might be able to scavenge for his own purposes, since that could be of far greater value than gold.

Crafting (trained): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Biago takes a look with a critical eye a the statues trying to understand them.

crafting: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

"Ah, these are rather ingenious really! It seems that....."

He begins to ramble on about what he finds.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Flint looks at it, and gets nothing. "Guys, I really think something happened to me in front of that bathroom."

"I've been known to craft clever devices." Farzin attempts to study the statues. "I mean, not like these ones, but others. Perhaps, some might say, even more clever than these." He sighs and looks around. "You know, there are reasons why I never liked school. It's all coming back to me now."

Crafting: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 These rolls lol

Flint remembers the bathroom.
Farzin remembers school.
Neither of them fondly.

However, the others make progress!

These statues can be articulated in various postures, such as a running gait. Perhaps they are used to demonstrate fighting form to the students.

The statues’ shoulders have jagged claw marks in them. A creature that can reach the statues’ shoulders has been moving them regularly. There seems to be an intelligence behind their positioning, but it is impossible or too obtuse to decipher at this moment.

Whatever the case, it took just a spark of latent planar energy to send them across the schoolyard and trample you like bullies on the playground! Updated the slide.

Where to next? Perhaps, along the way, you might share some in-character theories about what is happening here — there is only one mystery left, after all!

"There are those claw marks again. Something is here and it does not want to be seen. Maybe invisible?" Berry looks to the others for better suggestions as he heads towards the classroom. "Did the students summon something?"

"I fear we are seeing the signs of some type of planar creature who can slip between the planes, likely when no one is here. Or perhaps summoned, as you suggest Berry. But why such a creature is targeting school children is beyond me. Revenge? Bullying? Jealousy? Some other petty motive?"

"I agree that it seems to be some kind of extraplanar creature, based on the energy. But maybe it's not actually sinister. What if it's just some kind of prankster having fun?"

"I think it was likely stuck here -- perhaps it was summoned to be a janitor or some other sort of menial role -- and is trying to show that it knows more than the idiot students?" Rubeg theorizes. "I've heard of almost just such a thing happening at the Clockwork Cathedral, and we're not that far. It may also be confused, and not be intending to hurt anyone at all. Like when an experiment explodes just as some idiot children are getting too close, and probably trying to claim credit for it themselves."

It seems possible Rubeg is talking less about the academy than the cathedral.

"Agreed. I think we have a mischievous presence. Maybe we can simply send it home."

Have you ever noticed how there’s no student #19? The roster skips straight over them. I hear they only appear to someone who’s seen all six mysteries, but once you see their face, they scare you to death and take you away!

As you discuss where to go next, the light in Ms. Hirasara’s Classroom turns on. You look in the window and see an empty classroom; chairs neatly arranged, books on the desks. You make your way down the quiet halls and push open the creaking door…

Sitting in the back row is a halfling child. Grinning at you.

They're dressed in a pale white school uniform. They giggle. Several bells around their wrist chime with every movement.

“You’ve been caught after hours!” they say, nearly singing in glee. "Students are not allowed on Dacilane Academy grounds after hours. If I tell the headmaster, you’ll be in BIG TROUBLE.” They giggle. The sound cuts through the otherwise quiet air.

"MAYBE there’s something you can do, to stay out of trouble. MAYBE I won't tell on you! MAYBE I will! I wonder… what you can do… so I won’t TELL ON YOU!"

A grin spreads across their face. Their teeth are sharper than a halfling’s ever should be.

“Oh, I know what you need to do. You can finish my homework! It simply must be done, and it’s so VERY late.” The halfling flashes their too-pointed teeth again. "Will you do it? Will you? Will you FINISH MY HOMEWORK?" They prepare to open their satchel.

Art on Slide 1!

Farzin scoffs at the idea of doing homework.

"What are you talking about, you silly child. Who are you, and what are you doing here after hours?"

"What are we looking at here? Also, that would be cheating."
Flint looks at the others, "I don't cheat." Religion to ID: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 Sigh.

Farzin scoffs at the idea of doing homework.

"What are you talking about, you silly child. Who are you, and what are you doing here after hours?"

"No one knowing me knows me." They giggle. "Do you SEE? You can call me a Scholar of Sorts. What does a scholar do? Do you know that they do? Do I know what they do?"

They grin wider… "If you did the HOMEWORK you would know… will you do your HOMEWORK? You don't want me to TATTLE on you to the HEADMASTER, do you? Do you?"

re: knowledge checks: as far as you can perceive this is a halfling child. Though, then again halflings usually don't have such sharp teeth… Let's take a vote, either help with the homework or refuse. I'd like everyone to be on the same page (pun intended).

Rubeg hrumphs, ready to stump forward and show this creepy halfling that he can certainly figure out any sort of problem, even if the others can't.

"What is this homework? I'm not looking at the paper and letting your words steal mine from my brain!" he asks sharply.

Biago tries to think about what this guy might be getting at (or the implications)

academia lore: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Biago thinks that this is a test of sorts!

The bracelet on Berry's vine is beginning to hum.

Religion: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 lol of course not

Farzin tsks at the halfling's coy answers.

"Let me see this homework. Can it really be that hard?"

He holds out his hand expectantly.

Berry gets distracted as the innate bracelet begins to vibrate and hum on his vined arm.

Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

"Well, that's odd. This toy created by the children is a planar focus. It can be used to dismiss an extraplanar being from this plane it seems." Berry's eyes narrow at the halfling child as he attempts to dismiss what the bracelet is drawn to in the room.

They look at Fearful. This isn't ART class! Put that away, or I'm TELLING!

The halfling giggles at Farzin. This is a GROUP ASSIGNMENT! EVERYONE has to help!

You can see Berry is onto something here, but the "Scholar of Sorts" hasn't caught on quite yet… but the Leshy will need a distraction if he's going to pull this off. And then, if the ritual can be completed, you'll need to push your target into the portal… fast. Because it will likely be very, very angry.

If you want to try and use the focus, you will need to distract the halfling (Create a Diversion or another skill check [sell me]), then another PC can complete the ritual (Religion check). I don't see anything about not Aiding, so you can attempt that at DC 20 if you want. But only ONE PC can attempt the main checks, and you will not get a second try, and you can only do one of these activities. Choose wisely.

Rubeg looks around to see what the others want to do. He's still voting for homework, but only because he stinks at all the other options here.

Farzin is coming around to the homework idea, but he would be more than happy to create an illusory creature to help cause a diversion!

Flint too is coming around to the plan. He's also more than happy to shove the creature in.

As you waver, the halfling seems to be getting angrier.

Time's running out! TICK-TOCK! They grin at Biago… their mouth is too wide. So many pointed teeth…

Looks like we're in need of some decision-making here as the group has no strong feelings one way or another, outside Rubeg (homework) and Fearful (ritual). Biago, thoughts?

You're making the right choice! Otherwise, you'd all be in BIG trouble. Do you know what else they call me? Can you guess? They call me "Student Number Nineteen." And I have to do my homework in Mr. Ngon's room, so we have to go there. Giggling all the while, they lead the way to Mr. Ngon’s classroom. Maps updated.

They stand behind the teacher's desk — quite disrespectful for a student! There's TOO MUCH HOMEWORK!

Student #19 spreads their hands and giggles. An avalanche of books and paperwork falls from the thin air, surrounding you! All adjacent space is difficult terrain. A cursory examination reveals that the books cover nearly every subject taught at Dacilane Academy (and some clearly not taught) including planar mathematics, languages of Avistan, and the history of Absalom from Earthfall to present.

SO much to do. It's all due TOMORROW. I have to finish a worksheet of conjugations in Azlanti, and then describe a structure using non-Material-Plane dimensions. That's right! It's really DIFFICULT homework! Hmmm. And then I must explain the biology of protean creatures! I don't know anything about THAT. You do, right? Last, I need to write down a list of powerful Dragons who live here on Golarion! You better do a good job, or I'll TELL. They giggle hysterically.

It's time to cram!

Too Much Homework!

You have two attempts to earn points; we'll do this in "rounds." If you do not earn enough points over those two rounds you will Fail the assignment. Everyone must participate, choosing to make a roll or aid. If a PC uses the same skill twice, they will take a penalty. There is no stricture on completing all the suggested tasks, just doing well, so you can roll whatever you like. Finally, keep in mind that these are Basic checks so crit failing will penalize you and crit succeeding will demonstrate excellent work.

Skill options include: Arcana (DC 21) to complete a list of significant dragons; Society (DC 19) to copy a worksheet on conjugations in Azlanti, Crafting (DC 20) to describe a structure using non-Material-Plane dimensions (I would allow Engineering DC 19 too), Medicine (DC 19) to explain the biology of a protean creature, and Academia Lore (DC 17) to philosophically demonstrate that all Homework is impossible and/or pointless.

Biago
Farzin Maaravi
Fearful Berry
Flint
Rubeg

Medicine: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Hero Point Reroll: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

"Slithering creatures of pure chaos, proteans have an amorphous anatomy which makes it difficult to learn." Berry begins to explain what he knows of Proteans.

Crafting: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

"Describe a structure using non-Material-Plane dimensions?" Farzin considers the question for a moment. "Do you mean something like the River of Souls? That's a structure, right? A silvery stream of never-ending souls making their way to the outer planes. I've read that most inhabitants of the Astral Plane give the River a wide berth, or else seem incapable of even perceiving it; it is unknown whether this is because of a law of the Multiverse or by deific fiat. Perhaps we'll never know."

Thanks Pathfinderwiki!

This is killing me. I could weave a post of linguistic acrobatics on verb conjugation to make your heads spin.... but alas, I shouldn't risk adding a roll.

Lore (engineering) (untrained): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Rubeg shakes his head, though studiously avoids looking at the paperwork. "You are speaking of perhaps the First World, yes, yes, yes? The strange realm of the fey allows for shapes and structures that most people--" it seems clear Rubeg perhaps thinks that excludes himself "--could not create. But it's a false tautology to envision doing that here because of course, without bringing in aspects of the First World into this dimension, it wouldn't exist at all. But if you are in the First World, the idea of dimensions and even descriptions change, so ... there's simply no way to make it all work!

Yeah, that's a big bunch of gibberish. To go with another bad roll.

This is killing me. I could weave a post of linguistic acrobatics on verb conjugation to make your heads spin.... but alas, I shouldn't risk adding a roll.

Student 19 is adamant all of you participate. I mean, don't you hate those people who skate by on group projects without doing anything!? Feel free to assist, sell me on another skill, or roll keeping in mind I am happy to award a bonus for good RP, etc. If you would like to weave a post on verb conjugation, please feel free. We also have 2 rounds, so there's some breathing room here; in other words, failing won't immediately cause things to blow up in your face.

"Really? Who came up with this?"Biago looks at student 19. "This is all quite pointless, much like conjugating verbs in Azlanti. They're dead you know.... "

academia lore: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23