LN Male (he/his) elfbane Hobgoblin Nomad Investigator 4 | HP 44/44 | AC 19| Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +8; +1 vs attacks from traps | Perc: +8 (+9 when using Pursue a Lead or to detect traps); darkvision | Speed 25ft| Hero Points 2/3; Fear 1/day | Leads: Aslynn, Alyreha | Exploration Mode: Search | Active conditions:
"Hell monkey, I would not accept your bargain were it the only way to save my life. My allegiance is to the Pathfinder Society."
Pugsley barely crawls to his feet as he has difficulty breathing. "What happened?" Seeing everyone wounded around him he sends a small bit of soothing energy into Haggra.
Action 1: Sustain a Spell
Action 2-3: Ray of Frost
Morgan holds her mental focus on the zombie, willing it to carry on. It moves inexorably closer to Aydrian, standing now in front of the monk. "Your time will come, Aydrian. My minions are far more potent than yours."
And though she didn't mean to call the others 'minions', she didn't not mean to.
She follows this up with another ray of the purest frost.
Ray of Frost vs Monk:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 Damage (Cold):2d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11
LN Male (he/his) elfbane Hobgoblin Nomad Investigator 4 | HP 44/44 | AC 19| Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +8; +1 vs attacks from traps | Perc: +8 (+9 when using Pursue a Lead or to detect traps); darkvision | Speed 25ft| Hero Points 2/3; Fear 1/day | Leads: Aslynn, Alyreha | Exploration Mode: Search | Active conditions:
Haggra moves up quickly, and tries to figure out what's up with the wall.
I think this qualifies for the pursue a lead, since Aydrian is one of his leads? If so, +1 seek:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 Never mind.
The imp talks to Haggra. Hey buddy I'm not friends with Addy over there. It's just work. Nothing personal. But fine, no deal even though Im such a nice guy? I guess that's how it's gonna be.
The imp flutters over to Haggra and tries to sting him!
Stinger:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
✥ ✥ ✥ Have the Tides Turned?
Party Conditions: Inspired 3 more rounds; wall of stone blocking LoS Battlemap
Maggie counteracts the wall! It fluctuates, then vanishes like a puff of shadow.
Urp. The imp swallows and looks at the silver rapier. Wanna make a deal? You like you could use some help with your… uhh… it looks at Nanny's patched and stained simple servant's outfit. It looks at her rapier. What is it you do again?
Aydrian curses as she is revealed, sneaking into spell range! Did I hear you call me me "Addy," Imp? It's AYDRIAN. I'm a THRUNE. I'll gut you next and send your pieces back to my master!
Alonzo dashes forward — or at least, dashes as much as any dwarf can — and flicks a vine covered in sticky sap from his hand through the air at Addy/Adrian/Aydrian. Cast tanglefoot.
spell attack:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Stride, verbal & somatic components for tanglefoot.
Pugsley rushes forth, as he does so his body begins to split into several more images similar to Aydrian's. He looks over at the imp. "I already made one deal with the devil. Still looking for that deal Imp?"
The imp grins at Pugsley. Wonderful! Of course, my good pug sir. Might I say, you are a handsome specimen of genetic modification. In Hell, we find wrinkled faces beautiful. Never let them say otherwise. So what if it's hard to breathe? I'll have your bargain ready in a shake of the tail. Ha.Sure, on the imp's turn the contract is one action.
Aydrian glares. What are you DOING, IMP?!
The imp winks at Pugsley. Nothing in my contract specifically forbids me from working with others.
1d20 ⇒ 20 Aydrian flings the gooey tanglefoot away with disgust. She throws a ball of fire at Flint!
LN Male (he/his) elfbane Hobgoblin Nomad Investigator 4 | HP 44/44 | AC 19| Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +8; +1 vs attacks from traps | Perc: +8 (+9 when using Pursue a Lead or to detect traps); darkvision | Speed 25ft| Hero Points 2/3; Fear 1/day | Leads: Aslynn, Alyreha | Exploration Mode: Search | Active conditions:
Haggra ignores the imp for now, devising a stratagem against Aydrian.
1d20 ⇒ 18Free action as she is a lead Free recall knowledge, that I keep forgetting.
He chuckles as he moves forward away from the little hell monkey. "I hear your 'type' likes chains, Addy." demoralize:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29Oh my! Frightened 2!
strategic strike, IC:18 + 10 + 1 = 29slashing, precision, IC:1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 + (4) = 1122 on a crit, plus possibly 1 evil and 1 fire
She cannot reduce her Frightened below 1 until the beginning my next turn
Action 1: Sustain a Spell
Action 2-3: Ray of Frost
Morgan gestures towards the imp, and the zombie takes several lumbering steps to close the gap. She then repeats the incantations to fire a ray of frost at Aydrian!
Ray of Frost vs Aydrian:1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21 Damage (Cold):2d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 + 1 = 10 Mirror Image (1 hits):1d3 ⇒ 1
LN Male (he/his) elfbane Hobgoblin Nomad Investigator 4 | HP 44/44 | AC 19| Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +8; +1 vs attacks from traps | Perc: +8 (+9 when using Pursue a Lead or to detect traps); darkvision | Speed 25ft| Hero Points 2/3; Fear 1/day | Leads: Aslynn, Alyreha | Exploration Mode: Search | Active conditions:
”Come here, and I will show you want I think about that offer.” grumbles Haggra.
Thank you sir! Thank you thank you! The imp will give Pugsley an infernal offer "on the house" if he wants.
Infernal Temptation:
[one-action] (divine, concentrate, enchantment, evil, fortune); Frequency once per day; Effect The imp offers a nonfiend within 15 feet a bargain, granting a boon of good luck if the creature accepts. The boon lasts for 1 hour once accepted. If the creature dies while the boon is in place, its soul travels to Hell, where it is bound for eternity and unable to be raised or resurrected except by wish or similar magic. Once during the hour, the creature can roll an attack roll or saving throw twice and use the higher result.
While you heal up (and there is a lot of healing to do), you search the area.
Behind the curtains at the end of the hallway is a circular chamber that Aydrian must have used as her private space. She must have been truly beleaguered to hole up in such a miserable hovel. But why? The space contains a sleeping cot and her journal.
The journal is written in a cipher. It seems to combine two languages that none of you know. Decrypting the full journal will take many days, but you can spend an hour trying to glean some information from it. Secret check. Or save it for later.
You follow the footprints you saw earlier… there are two hallways. COme to think of it, this layout matches the "Delvehaven Basement" map you found upstairs. One of the doors is open; that must be where the Imp came from.
LN Male (he/his) elfbane Hobgoblin Nomad Investigator 4 | HP 44/44 | AC 19| Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +8; +1 vs attacks from traps | Perc: +8 (+9 when using Pursue a Lead or to detect traps); darkvision | Speed 25ft| Hero Points 2/3; Fear 1/day | Leads: Aslynn, Alyreha | Exploration Mode: Search | Active conditions:
Haggra looks to Morgan, and just shakes his head. He does not want the corpse walking back to the safe house. "She is my bounty, I will bring her."
He picks up the corpse, after checking the body for any signs of life, and also checks for anything of value. He definitely struggles under the weight, but does his best to cover it up.
LN Male (he/his) elfbane Hobgoblin Nomad Investigator 4 | HP 44/44 | AC 19| Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +8; +1 vs attacks from traps | Perc: +8 (+9 when using Pursue a Lead or to detect traps); darkvision | Speed 25ft| Hero Points 2/3; Fear 1/day | Leads: Aslynn, Alyreha | Exploration Mode: Search | Active conditions:
Haggra looks to the open door, and sets the body down.
He the helps decrypt the book as much as possible, hoping to help.
Will reroll a skill check that is a crit fail, or a fail with a natural 7 or less, please.
Morgan Titchwillow's Society (T):1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 Haggra the Hobgoblin's Society (E):1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Morgan Titchwillow's Society (T):1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26 Haggra the Hobgoblin's Society (E):1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
I will spend a hero point for each of you.
Haggra cannot make heads or tails of the cipher. Morgan, however, learns some things.
Journal
Aydrian Thrune was a typical scheming Chelaxian noble, part of the large Thrune family. Unlike a Chelaxian noble, her father (assassinated while she was young), was secretly from Nidal. This lineage of hell and shadow manifested as innate magical power in Aydrian. In her earlier years, she focused her attention on infernal magic as befits a Thrune, but in recent years, she began to delve into shadow magic and acquired a mysterious shadow benefactor who provided guidance both in arcane pursuits and political maneuvering.
Everything was going fine until she heard rumors her recent actions had drawn the ire of Queen Abrogail II. At the advice of her shadow-patron, she kidnapped Jaggare to present him, tortured and broken, to the queen. A Pathfinder venture-captain and betrayer of his homeland, spilling all his secrets… surely such a thing would earn her acclaim and much-deserved power! Her most recent journal denotes increasing frustrations that Varian has resisted the shadow prison attacking his mind for so long. It seems that, in her final days, she was rather desperate.
Loot
On the ground near the stairs is a broken old Wayfinder. The name Soren is inscribed on the Wayfinder's lid. This is an item of import to the Society.
Female (she/her) goblin bard 5 | hp 56/56, hero 2/3 | AC 23, F+9 R+13 W+9 | Speed 25ft | (+2 on Initiative) Perception +9, Stealth +11, Perform +15, Deception +14 | Current Conditions:
"I mean I don't really want a dead body anyway but didn't you specifically say you would provide us with a clue TO FIND our Venture Captain? I don't think we have actually found him yet, unless he is hiding here somewhere."
You were provided with a clue to find him at the outset. In exchange for that clue, you made an agreement. You ave had what is yours. Now give me what is mine.
“Play hide and seek with the skull, the spider, and the doll and the count will find his way out of the dark.”
LN Male (he/his) elfbane Hobgoblin Nomad Investigator 4 | HP 44/44 | AC 19| Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +8; +1 vs attacks from traps | Perc: +8 (+9 when using Pursue a Lead or to detect traps); darkvision | Speed 25ft| Hero Points 2/3; Fear 1/day | Leads: Aslynn, Alyreha | Exploration Mode: Search | Active conditions:
"Yes, we made a deal, and we will honor it." says Haggra. "Your 'clues' were more of a riddle than true clues, but we made a deal with the devil-worshipper, so I guess we got what we deserved."
We found that there was a missing spider, skull and doll. So we just need to find them, apparently
Isn't following clues what an investigator does, Haggra my dear? She takes the body. You think I'm a worshiper and not the worshipee? She titters and vanishes in a wreathe of Hellfire, taking Aydrian's corpse with her.
LN Male (he/his) elfbane Hobgoblin Nomad Investigator 4 | HP 44/44 | AC 19| Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +8; +1 vs attacks from traps | Perc: +8 (+9 when using Pursue a Lead or to detect traps); darkvision | Speed 25ft| Hero Points 2/3; Fear 1/day | Leads: Aslynn, Alyreha | Exploration Mode: Search | Active conditions:
To the cloud of hellfire he says, "That's what they all think."
Having fully explored this area, you move on to the West, through the door the imp left open.
Three stone sarcophagi, surrounded by candles, stand in this mausoleum that smells heavily of earth. Crude carvings on the coffin lids depict faceless humanoids with arms crossed over their chests. Various bones and skulls lie scattered throughout the room.
A large sphere made of shadow whirls next to the northern wall. The shadows obscure a hunched humanoid shape with pointed ears; all other features are obscured. The person looks like they are uncomfortably crammed into the bubble, unable to move a muscle. Being in there must be pure claustrophobic torture.
Art and map updated on slide 1
DC 18 Medicine or Perception, searching room:
A fragment of a human's skull lies on the tomb — one that doesn't match the rest.
DC 18 Arcana or Occultism, examine the sphere:
There must be some magical foci nearby, channeling shadow magic to keep this shadow-prison intact.
Arcana:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 "Look around. There must be some sort of foci nearby that is channeling shadow magic into that prison. It's holding the whole thing intact."
Morgan follows her own words, looking around for anything that might fit the description of a magical foci.
Perception:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
"Foci? No Focu!" Pugsley snorts to himself at his own joke that noone else finds funny. Waving it off he begins to scour through the area. "What does it look like?"
LN Male (he/his) elfbane Hobgoblin Nomad Investigator 4 | HP 44/44 | AC 19| Fort +7; Ref +9; Will +8; +1 vs attacks from traps | Perc: +8 (+9 when using Pursue a Lead or to detect traps); darkvision | Speed 25ft| Hero Points 2/3; Fear 1/day | Leads: Aslynn, Alyreha | Exploration Mode: Search | Active conditions:
perception:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26+1 if this counts as part of my pursuing a lead
arcana:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
"There is some foul elf-magic around here, channeling the energy to the shadows. We need to find the foci. I'd guess we know what they are.
"Still need the spider and the doll. Let's keep looking. Perhaps detecting magic if you can?"
You think you can disrupt the ritual by smashing each of the objects, a DC 18 Arcana or Occultism to disrupt the magical energies and render the object inert, or a DC 22 Counteract for each object.
The skull definitely radiates magic and must be a ritual focus.
Flint looks around. He has training in neither the arcane nor the occult. Disrupting evil, however, is something he's dedicated too, so he does his best to examine the flow of energy and tries to counteract it. Not sure which skill here:1d20 ⇒ 16
