[Outpost IV PFS2 1-01] GM Chadius - Absalom Initiation (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

Sir Quinton waits with bated breath to hear the knight's fate, fearing the worst.

He's still hoping for an answer as the other agents finally remind him of their final mission. Ready to go

Rathal says

Do you like haunted houses? We are to explore one this evening, and learn about the houses' previous owners. You game for this type of thing?

With a look of horror in his eyes. Drakmak nods his agreement to go forward, "I have had no dealing with any haunted place before, it is safe?" he asks.

"Now then, where was I? Oh yes. His armor began to glow with the grace of the heavens. He felt the presence of an angel and with the strength of an entire battalion, he threw the devils off of him. His blade sliced through the enemy. Even with his life draining, he knew this was his moment of glory." Zarta continues her tale. Eando Kline and Sir Quinton stand quietly, absorbing each precious detail.

Eventually, Sir Quinton is dragged away to the next mission, although Eando Kline does promise to hand him a summary later on.

Many rumors swirl about this manor. Some say this Chelaxian family were devil worshippers. Some think they sold slaves below the table. Some say they sought the elixir of youth. Whatever happened, the last owners disappeared when the Great Earthquake of 4698 AR cracked its foundation. Who knows what secrets haunt this land?

You can spend 2 hours and make a Diplomacy check to learn about the history of this home. There is a chance of getting bad information if you fail.

Calisro Benarry wants you to survive a night in the house as a proof of courage and for the entertaining story—though resolving the haunting would make for an equally rousing tale.

Not wanting to go into a haunted house unprepared, Drakmak enters the records office and learns as much as he can about the house, it's owners and any unusual stories that have been recorded.

Rathal spends two hours carousing with other pathfinders to learn more about the haunted house!

Diplomacy(Gather Information) +1 (Secret Check)

Since Rathal is in between missions, He will buy some healers tools and a bandolier to put them in.

Uncle Good Good asks the local street vendors, urchins, bakers, and delivery workers for tales of the place.

Sir Quinton joins Rathal in talking with the others, sharing stories.

"Yes, and so the linnorm emerged from its cage and began to attack the circus-folk. I could hardly just stand around and let everyone die. Of course, I didn't know at the time that I would be struck by its curse, nor become royalty in the lands to the north. All of that was the furthest thing from my mind ... "

He carries on.

"But you have some knowledge of devil hauntings, in Cheliax?"

Before leaving the Grand Lodge, Chirrit borrows an extra pillow for the quartermaster. If this is going to be an all-nighter, may as well make it a comfortable one.

Since they have some time before sunset, the kobold also inquires of the locals what their thoughts on the abandoned place is.

Diplomacy is +6

"Ahh, who wouldn't love spending time in a dank, dark place like a basement?" Eddie is very sincere. Their eyes are large and dark, perfectly formed for seeing in the dark. Their skin is pale and moist, accustomed to such places from birth.

The group scatters to research the place, while they do, Eddie reveals to the reader a handful of blueberries taken from the party. These will make a fine supper tonight! Good berry time!

Most of you discover nothing new about the manor. You gear up and travel to the outskirts of Absalom, arriving just as the sun begins to set.

This old home might have once commanded the respect and envy of its neighbors, but the remaining story is cracked and crumbling. Whatever upper stories it might have once had have long collapsed, scattering stone and debris across gardens grown wild and weedy. Two curving staircases lead to a broad veranda bereft of its railings. Two openings that might have once been doors lead into the faint remnants of a solarium, while two more doors lead further into the creaking house itself. A whiff of rot and decay seeps from the structure.

The manor is on Slide 1.

Eddie thanks the squirts that run goods around town, they know a lot of gossip. He informs the group what he heard on their way to the manor.

"The Mavedarus family was infamous for owning slaves. Before Absalom banned slavery they were well known among trader along Misery Row. After losing their main business stream, they continued trading. The earthquake claimed the heads of the Mavedarus, but it also buried the slaves underneath the rubble. With no official record of their existence, there were no rescue parties." They add in a spooky undertone at the end.

"We should be ready to deal with the dead.. I have some scrolls that will help if the time comes.. do any of you like to fight with a sling?" They ask, grabbing up some rounded street pebbles.

I have used sling upon occasion, but I prefer the power of Nethys over my sling. For Nethys would frown upon me if I favored it over my other spells.

I'm also prepared to battle undead should the need arise.

Rathal licks his lips as he savors the feeling of possessing true power...

The cleric steps forward with his spear readied, and steps into the solarium.

While there, he begins examining his surroundings while moving slowly this area. He's looking for any clues of what is going on or has gone on here of a religious nature.

Ralthal grimaces at the upleasant odor, but is willing to endure.

Rathal uses the Investigation (Religion) exploration activity while moving through the Solarium.

Religion(Recall Knowledge, Secret Check)+7

Eddie straps on a wooden shield and keeps his club in easy reach. "I am ready to do my duty to the Society!" They declare, but not before waiting for the likes of Sir Quinton or Chirrit to go first.

"Don't worry, I'll provide ranged support unless needed up front in a pinch." They blink a few times and crack a small smile.

Eddie is better off as a spellcaster than in melee. Its too bad he used his only prepared heal spell earlier, but does have a scroll the society gave him if its needed.

Perception +7

Slavers. Chirrit's jaws bare. I'd say a god was laughing when that quake shook them, if it weren't for the people who paid the price with them.

The kobold follows the elf up the stairs, looking around at the decaying manor. Not even sure undead'll be the problem if this whole place crashes down on us. One story down already doesn't exactly scream stable...

Will be Searching with a +5 to Seek

Sir Quinton gulps nervously.

"The dead you say? That's horrible about the slaves, but these aren't the sort that ... drain you, are they?" he seems nervous, as if trying to remember some previous experience.

Despite his concern that more of his life could be sucked away, he advances, sword out and shield raised.

Using Defend.

"In my time in Cheliax I saw a good many slaves. Horrific institution and don't let anyone tell you otherwise. Master Eddie, I can make use of a sling if we are to enter combat, distasteful though I find the idea."

Uncle Good Good wipes a disapproving finger along a layer of dust and says, "This place will need an exorcism regardless of what abominations reside here."

Avoiding Notice during exploration. +7 Stealth

Drakmak just shrugs at the mention of slaves, they are after all just one of many illegal commodities in Qadira, although he does not like the practice himself. However the thought that there might be undead slaves brings a shiver up his back.

He smiles weakly at his companions, "Not really come across any real undead creatures before." he says "I've only read about them in the Society Library, I'm not sure my magics will help that much, although I can empower your weapons should anyone call for it."

He nervously approaches the house, looking around him at all times, never sure what expect, other than something out to get him.

Search with darkvision

You draw your weapons and cautiously climb up the stairs. Sunrays gleam off of a wooden plaque: Mavedarus, born with honor, born for glory.

With no apparent threats, you peer into the main hall.

The tiled floor, ornate columns, and sweeping staircases of this once-grant hall evoke a distinctly Taldan aesthetic, though the finery has suffered greatly over the past years. The marble floor tiles are cracked and filthy, and the statuary lining the walls has been smashed. None of the three staircases climbs beyond head level before ending abruptly, debris from their fallen upper reaches scattered across the floor.

"I like what they've done to the place. Things aren't meant to last forever. Decay is good sometimes." Eddie shuffles around the main room, looking up each stairway and shaking their head.

"The basement is the place right? If we can find it." They continue to search, black eyes easily piercing the dark corners.

Continue with perception +7 looking for a way up or down, mostly down.

1-right, 2-left, 3-centre 1d3 ⇒ 3

"My instinct is to see what's in this main hall." Drakmak says with trepidation in his voice as he moves forward after those who are confidently leading on. He follows Sir Quinton.

Rathal ventures down the Southern Hall and examines the door.

If it seems safe to him then he opens it.

Perception +7.

Chirrit looks at the plaque, then pries it off before entering the manor. Died with neither.

Once that's done, he quickly scrambles to continue following Rathal.

"Don't head off on your own," Sir Quinton warns Rathal, head swiveling back and forth before finally deciding he should protect the odd gnome. He advances, looking for undead.

+5 Perception

Rathal will heed Sir Quinton's warning.

He will examine the door for safety but not open it until the others finish in the main chamber.

Uncle Good Good slinks along behind the party.

Stealth +7

Rathal inspects the southern door, with Chirrit behind him. A cool wind blows overhead as the sunlit sky gives way to a starry night. He examines the door and finds nothing extraordinary.

Eddie looks around the main hall and finds the grand staircase that lead upwards to nowhere. The earthquake collapsed the top floors, leaving a mound of rubble on the periphery.

Seeing Eddie hasn't discovered anything, Sir Quinton rejoins Rathal, encouraging the others to follow, so they can see what might be through the door.

"It seems things can only go down from here," he notes.

Drakmak follows Sir Quinton as he makes his way to join Rathal. "My most worthy friend Sir Quinton, I have your back, don't worry."

Rathal carefully opens the door.

A large, long-cold fireplace stands in the east wall of this expansive parlor, but the furnishings are all rotted. A dank stench of mold lingers in the air. The ceiling overhead has collapsed, leaving the room open to the sky. The floor in the room’s southern end has followed suit, leaving a gaping hole into darkness.

Feel free to check out the room or move on.

"Perhaps that's how we can get down to the basement," Sir Quinton notes. He looks around from the edge, not trusting himself to not cause the area to collapse further with the weight of his armor. Looking around from the doorway; I hope someone who's a bit better at such might check for the floor's stability, or any dangerous mold, before we go in.

Perception (expert): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Eddie looks pretty light, so does Chirrit and Good Good though. "A hole in the floor, I'll take a look. I see very well in the dark!" They move around the room, trying to get a look down into the hole without ending up there themselves.

Uncle Good Good joins Eddie near the hole, adding his darkvision to the efforts.

Rathal casts detect magic from the door, but does not go in.

Chirrit stands back as some of his colleagues lean in to peer over the pit. If we're thinking there may be undead about, wouldn't a crumbling pit be the perfect place for them to jump out of?

Drakmak behind the queue to get in, which suddenly halted when a hole was discovered, takes out the rope from his backpack. "If there's a hole, perhaps having some rope handy might help. You know fish out anyone that falls." he says, hoping that others might be able to use the rope.

At Cherrit's mention of undead, Drakmak immediately starts to looks around and back.

Uncle Good Good and Eddie enter the room and notice how weak the floorboards are. Decades of mold and disuse must have caused the floorboards to rot. Stepping on the weakest section Outlined in red could cause the floorboards to collapse.

Other than the weak floor boards, they notice nothing unusual. Rathal detects nothing magical about this room.

"Let us check the rest of the upstairs before we descend," Sir Quinton suggests, leading the group back across the hall. Assuming everyone's amenable. I figure let's go through here, then through the door in here to the left, barring any obstacles.

"I defer to your good judgment, Sir Quinton."

You begin to cross the main hallway again towards the north. You hear nothing but your footsteps and creaks of wood. Eddie, in fact, doesn't even hear the squeaks of rats, as if they are fleeing something.

Chirrit and Drakmak see it first: Spectral hands emerge, still wearing ghostly manacles. They lash out at everyone's legs, trying to pull them down.

Chirrit, Drakmak and Eddie have a round to act.

Looking down into the hole turns up empty, at least for now. "I don't see anything down there, but the fungal spirits have eaten most of the wood floor there. Best we avoid it." They follow Sir Quinton and Good Good through the main hall once more.

"Hrm, restless spirits of the dead ones. I can calm them." Eddie draws out his bundle of dried flowers and twigs, waving it at the grasping claws. "We're here to find you. Relax!"

Religion: Begone spirits!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

Well, that's a well timed roll.

Eddie offers flowers and twigs to the undead. A meager offering, but more than they received in life. The hands soon recede into the floor.

Sir Quinton, now at full alert, proceeds to the northern door. Nothing threatens him at the door or in the next room, so you all proceed west.

Everything this room once held now lies jumbled over the floor in a soggy mess: torn pages, scraps of fabric, and splintered remnants of furniture. Doors hang askew on two of the walls, but the door to the west has been smashed from its hinges.

You notice a faintly glowing item in the corner.

Rathal gasps at the glowing item....sincerely hoping to be of a magical nature...

He hastily casts Read Aura on the glowing item in the corner...

Could powerful magics be here among these undead?

Restless? That's a bit of a small way of saying it! Chirrit yelps to Eddie as the swarm of ghostly grasping hands appear and are banished just as abruptly.

Looking about, the kobold looks up to see if any bits of the upper stories are still remotely intact - or barring that a ledge or other elevated point. If we need to spend the night here, I'm less and less thrilled with staying on this ground level.

Rathal notices a small potion sticking out from beneath the scattered papers. He picks it up and looks at the green liquid inside- what is it?

Chirrit looks up to the moonlit sky and wonders if he could rest on the ceiling. The shaky floorboards and cursed main hallway leave him worried about the main floor, but he doesn't really see an upstairs level to sleep on. Unless he's good at standing while sleeping...

Everyone else is in the room and wonders what to do next.

Should we try lowering ourselves down into the basement? It might be good to see what's down there before we settle in for the night.

Does the Read Aura Spell reveal anything about the potion?
What about the room to the south of Eddie? We gone it there yet?

"Well done, Eddie," Sir Quinton exclaims, as he steps carefully lest anymore undead get their clutches on him. "It appears this place truly is haunted. Let's hope that's the last of them, though."

He will lead the group to the next room, stepping carefully. Agreed. Room to the south; I put my fig just inside.

"We should finish exploring up here first, though I think none of us is likely to get any sleep tonight. If you must, though, I will stand guard!"

Rathal knows the potion is full of necromantic magic.

A single worktable stands in the corner of this kitchen. You do see some clay and rusted metal fragments in what used to be the stove. The ceiling completely collapsed, and you have a clear view of the midnight sky.

Nothing much to do here.

Uncle Good Good peeks his head into the remaining room on the northern side.

Ivy has overgrown the empty window frame, casting this room into cool shadow. A low shelf, its wood warped and cracked, stands against one wall, and a desk has been overturned and smashed in another part of the room.

Rahal holds the potion up to see how the moonlight diffuses through it...

Arcana Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Religion Check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16