GM Valen's PF 1e PFS 1-37 The Beggar's Pearl (CORE)(Subtier 3-4) (Inactive)

Game Master Lysle

A summons has been issued requesting your presence at the Pathfinder Society’s chapter house in Almas.

Almas? Where in the blazes is that? The half-orc begins looking at maps in the Grand Lodge so he has some idea of where he is being dispatched.

Tusk gets directions to the meeting place, though it takes a while. Something about being snarled at by a big half orc with a nice big Orc double axe and a sturdy breastplate decorated (if you can call it that) with bone fragments.
Once he gets there, he spends his time productively sharpening his blades with a whetstone, mostly out of habit since one of the blades is made of adamantine, is already plenty sharp, and the whetstone is losing the battle.

Besides the axe, he also carries a composite long bow.

Sarzuket serves as a cook and rigger during the sea voyage to Andoran. The job pays for his fare, with a few gold crowns in surplus. Exiting the gangplank he salutes the officer of the day and returns his uniform to the quartermaster.

"Farewell gents! may Gozreh keep your sails full and keep the skies clear!"

Upon arriving at the Almas Lodge, Sarzuket sees a big half-orc sharpening his double axe and smiles, happy that the Grand Lodge has seen to the group's protection once again. However, as he enters the room and walks past the door jambs he sees another, less heavily armored half-orc but with broader shoulders, and his smiles fade to a look of surprise, embarassment, and quasi-horror...

"Oh... Korum... hey! nice to... see you again mate!"

The gnome then sits at the table, busily arranging and re-arranging his backpack and taking out his notebook and ink kit. The Pathfinders in the room definitely get the sense that he's trying to avoid further conversations somehow...

A toothy grin appears on the ranger's face. "Sarz? My luck must be changing for the better!" He turns toward the other new comer. He nods at the axe. "That's a good looking blade. Don't see 'em too much outside of Belkzin. You ever been?"

The gnome is surprised at Korum's easy smile and dares to ask, "Well then... I... take it your conversation with your paladin sister went well hey? Glad to see we're all somewhat moving on after that last mission's... controversial conclusion..."

Tusk pauses in his labors, if only for an instant, and looks up to eye the competition.

"Yep. Grew up there. Pathfinders came through on some big highfalutin mission one day and I liked how they treated each other. Even the half-orcs. 'sides, it gives me a chance to teach dwarves how real men fight. So I joined 'em. You?"

The grin widens to a smile at the dwarven trash talk. "Born 'n raised. Then my sister found Shelyn and took me 'n her outta there. As fer my sister, she's out on some kinda mission. It's been a bit since we spoke. But I'm guessin' no news is good news."

Sarz gets the clue. He shuts up about this line of questioning, seemingly satisfied that the issue's been forgotten by the gregarious half-orc.

"She a half orc too? Not a lot of half-orc paladins. Wouldn't mind bein' able to smite and smack, but I ain't never had no god listen to me much."

Goldur makes his slow way through the streets of Almas to the local Pathfinder lodge. "Much appreciated," he says when someone holds the door open for him. Perhaps the young man took Goldur for a venture-captain, with the way he took pains to keep a respectful distance from the old dwarf. Goldur's hair and beard are more gray than blond these days, it's true, and his gait is slower than it used to be. He pauses, one hand on the doorframe. Here we go again. Why, oh why, did I come out of retirement? Mustering up his energy, he walks in the lodge.

He finds the others easily enough, waiting for the new mission. "Afternoon, gentlemen," he says to the others, and slowly takes a seat. Two identical warhammers hang from his belt, well-crafted and well-used. His pack should bend the back of someone his age, but he carries it easily. His armor, however, is much lighter. "Anyone have any ideas what our mission will be?"

An autumn chill filled the Pathfinder Society’s chapter house in Almas as Venture-Captain Brackett briefed you.

Normally brash and outgoing, the hatchet-faced veteran’s face instead wore an expression of guarded concern. “I need you to venture into the Aspodell Mountains between Cheliax and Andoran; a dwarven prospector there seeks a lost dwarven site and we want in on his expedition. The prospector’s name is Torvic and he’s obsessively searched for years, hoping to find the hidden galleries of his ancestor, the dwarven craftsman Barek Triongger.”

At this point, the chapter’s librarian Wystorn Telfyr stepped forward and from a small wooden case, he produced several tattered scrolls and a gleaming, strangely phosphorescent pearl. “We recently acquired these from a man called Beggar. They describe the Gallery of Wonders built by Barek Triongger during the death throes of the dwarven Empire of Tar Khadurrm.”

Picking up the strangely-glowing pearl, the librarian continued, “These pearls are only found in the deepest of the Darklands’ seas. While not especially valuable, a cache of these would be a rare find. Divinations revealed that Barek apparently used this one as a key. We could claim substantial favors from the dwarves of Emperor’s Peak should we discover what it’s a key for.”

Venture-Captain Brackett took over. “I’m wagering that Beggar stole these items, as the likelihood of a wandering vagabond possessing legally acquired dwarven heirlooms seems small. Looking through these documents and comparing them to Pathfinder Chronicles on the matter, it’s clear that this Torvic is onto something.” Brackett cocked a thumb toward Telfyr.

“Our librarian was able to glean some information from Beggar about where he acquired these items and was also able to divine a likely location where the dwarf might be holed up. Find him and make an alliance with him; hopefully, he’ll want his pearl back and will show you the way to the Gallery of Wonders.”

The pearl matches nothing found in familiar seas. Glowing like a golden candle, the opalescent stone gleams with hints of fiery crimson.

One of the aged parchments is also intriguing, containing runes written in dwarven.

You may purchase whatever they like before leaving Almas.

Tusk dislikes these briefings, what with all the talk of lore and stuff. Bores him stiff. But a nice shiny glowing pearl is intriguing, even if he has no idea what he would do with it. So he just sits there and answers with a grunt, not contributing anything, sharpening, sharpening, sharpening.

Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

The last person to enter the room is a human lady with pale skin and blond hair. Her aristocratic clothes with elegant embroidery and a perfect fit on the figure are executed in dark colors. She prefers sweet scents in perfumes (which immediately fill the room) and dark cosmetics (that emphasize the pallor of her skin). It's hard not to notice that she's wearing an elaborate silver brooch decorated with blood-red rubies and dark amethysts. Precious stones are extremely skillfully folded into a distinct outline of the skull.

She passes in silence, without interrupting the briefing, and only lingers her gaze on the bone ornaments of one of the half-orcs. A slight smile crosses her face.

Once character choices and purchases are finalized, please put your PC in marching order and provide a token and modifiers on this Slide.

Once character choices and purchases are finalized, please put your PC in marching order and provide a token and modifiers on this Slide.

Please turn on the share feature for the slide; thx!

Appraise: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Goldur’s eyes widen. Well that explains why they wanted me for this mission. ”Not especially valuable? What you have there can only be found in the Vaults of Orv, in the very depths of the Darklands. Most of us on the surface never even see one in our lifetimes. They’re a priceless find. If this Beggar wasn’t himself a Darklander, he almost certainly stole them.

“Let me see that,” he adds, asking for the parchment written in dwarves runes. ”So Triongger’s Gallery of Wonders is hidden in a place called the Candlestone Caverns, eh? Sounds like that’s the place to ask about.”

Wait...you mean to tell me there is a chance to get some rare pearls and such? Say no more...I'm in. a tall lean elf says from the corner. She somehow slipped in as the others were listening to the briefing.

I'm Merisiel...but you guys can call me Meri. I was hoping this was important enough to drag me away from a game of dice...and it is. Good thing...I had a chance to get a good amount of coins from those poor fools. she says with a smile as she nods in greeting to the others.

Tusk waves the hand with the whetstone lazily. "Well, I'm no expert, but these stones glow and the place is called candlestone caverns so if we do get there there should be more of 'em. On the other hand we must be idiots to go that dep into the darklands. It gets really nasty the further you go, from what I heard."

"Pearls is fine 'n all, but the Darkland's a dangerous place. Anyone got dependable magic ta make some light?"

Korum is going to buy a Wayfinder for 250 gp and five (5) sunrods.

"Lights? I got you covered big guy!" answers Sarzuket.

Sorry for the delays. I have had some family medical demands and work demands that needed attention, which has narrowed the number of "windows" I have to craft GM posts. Unfortunately, I don't anticipate the demands easing up any until sometime next month. Nevertheless, I will do my best to keep us progressing.

The journey from Almas up into the Aspodell Mountains is uneventful, save for dismal frigid rains.

In the plains, the dreary autumn weather carries promises of a harsh winter, but the mountain weather is much worse. Telfyr’s divinations placed Torvic’s location in a cave about four days’ hike from Piren’s Bluff in northwestern Andoran.

After enduring weeks of relentless mountain wind and sleeting rain, clambering past jagged stone faces and slogging through ice-crusted mud, the you finally reach the valley believed to hold Torvic’s encampment. Gnarled conifers surround the mountain trail, their fallen needles carpeting the rocky valley. The trail cuts back and forth upslope toward the cave described by Telfyr. A plume of smoke rises the cave’s mouth.

Map of cave entrance now revealed on Slides; please go ahead and place your PC token where you wish inside the green box.

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

There is a fight going on...let's go... Meri says as she bolts towards the cave mouth.

all good man...family first...worry about that...game is a distant second...well, hopefully not too distant...and can someone add my token please? and move it towards the cave? i'm on my phone right now...ty!!

all good man...family first...worry about that...game is a distant second...well, hopefully not too distant...and can someone add my token please? and move it towards the cave? i'm on my phone right now...ty!!

Thanks for understanding. Token placed and, since we now have a marching order, I have added the others as well with Merisiel in the lead.

Barricades of wooden boughs block the cave entrance, their sharpened branches lashed together with rawhide cords.
Barricades: Hardness 4, 13 hp, DC 18 to smash

Inside, a hapless dwarf is surrounded by squat, blue puffy-faced humanoids, each seems to be nearly all head. They are accompanied by an giant ant. Battered and weary, the dwarf is too weak to hold them off and falls to ground!

TUSSLE IN TORVIC'S CAVE - Round One Begins

PCs in bold may act

Sarzuket
Red
Ahtoret
Korum
blue
green
Goldur
Merisiel
Tusk
yellow
ant

Sarzuket leans on the wall next to Meri and aims at the ant with his index finger. Suddenly a small bolt of lightning arcs between the gnome and the oversized insect.

Lightning Arc, Ranged Touch, PBS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25 vs. Touch AC
electricity dmg: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Sarzuket leans on the wall next to Meri and aims at the ant with his index finger. Suddenly a small bolt of lightning arcs between the gnome and the oversized insect.

Electricity arcs through the barricades and zaps the giant ant.

One of the blue-skinned creatures retrieves a dart, then glares at Sarzuket.
Sarzuket, Will save (DC 10): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

The gnome experiences only a moment of dread, which quickly passes.

TUSSLE IN TORVIC'S CAVE - Round One Cont'd

PCs in bold may act

Sarzuket
Red
Ahtoret
Korum
blue
green
Goldur
Merisiel
Tusk
yellow
ant -6 HP

Runnin' in there now might be a sure way ta get myself kilt. Best ta wait to see if Tusk can get in there or we can lure them out here.

Delay

Sent PM to Ashtoret. Will delay if no response in 24+ hours. I usually try to keep things moving more quickly, but I am handling some family medical issues at the moment, so I expect my posting rate to slow down a bit for the next week or so.

TUSSLE IN TORVIC'S CAVE - Round One Cont'd

PCs in bold may act

Sarzuket
Red
Ashtoret
Korum (Delay)
blue
green
Goldur
Merisiel
Tusk
yellow
ant -6 HP

dont worry about the pace...family first always. i'm content

BOTTING Ashtoret - No post in 24+ hours and no response to PM

Ashoret delays.

One of the blue-hued beings (blue) approaches the barricade and looks glaringly at the gnome; its eyes bulge hideously!
Sarzuket, Will save (DC 10): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Another (green) draws a dart and approaches the barricade.

TUSSLE IN TORVIC'S CAVE - Round One Cont'd

PCs in bold may act

Sarzuket
Red
Ashtoret (Delay)
Korum (Delay)
blue
green
Goldur
Merisiel
Tusk
yellow
ant -6 HP

We need to get in there....quickly!

just waiting to see what the others are doing...

Tusk steps forward and delivers a one-two to the barricade.

To hit Orc double axe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage, adamantine: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10; +1 if first hit from whetstone
To hit Orc double axe: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage, cold Iron: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11; +1 if first hit from whetstone

Tusk Two-Blades' two-blades make short work of the barricade.

TUSSLE IN TORVIC'S CAVE - Round One Cont'd

PCs in bold may act

Sarzuket
Red
Ashtoret (Delay)
Korum (Delay)
blue
green
Goldur
Merisiel (Delay)
Tusk
yellow
ant -6 HP

The rogue moves forward and takes a swipe at the blue guy in front. "Leadin' the charge, little man? Well, big risk, big reward. Here comes the risk!"

Great Ax vs GREEN: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage: 1d12 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Excuse me, boys... Meri says as she wriggles her way between the two half orcs and tries to duck under the blade of Korum's foe.

acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

just in case he's still up

She tries to stab the and in the soft underbelly.

attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 171d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

I guess I was under the impression that the barricade would prevent most attacks. Am I wrong? Is it only 4 feet tall? Are thee arrow/dart holes in it?

I guess I was under the impression that the barricade would prevent most attacks. Am I wrong? Is it only 4 feet tall? Are thee arrow/dart holes in it?

I allowed line of sight and line of effect through the barricade, but would have had it prevent melee/ranged attacks. The scenario does not call out any arrow/dart holes although I suppose they may have been reasonable additions, but the matter is moot now with the barricade down.

Korum quickly downs one of the blue creatures (green).

She tries to stab the and in the soft underbelly.

Merisiel easily tumbles past, before choosing a target.

TUSSLE IN TORVIC'S CAVE - Round One Cont'd

PCs in bold may act

Sarzuket
Red
Ashtoret (Delay)
Korum (Delay)
blue
green -16 HP
Goldur
Merisiel (choose a target)
Tusk
yellow
ant -6 HP

Also, I posted a place for a marching order for 10 ft. corridors that you can fill out.

”Hold on, friend!” Goldur shouts to the helpless dwarf as he draws one of his hammers. ”Merisiel, watch your back! Tusk, careful of those points! Sarzuket, keep your wits, boy!”

Inspire Courage! +1 to attack and damage, and saves vs fear. Round 1.

"Boy? I'm older than you, but I'll take the compliment!"

lol...yeah the ant...i accidentally typed "and" in the post

Ashtoret walks forward, raises her crossbow and shoots at the beetle.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 - 4 = 141d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6
(-4 is for cover)

Merisiel pierces the ant's underbelly. However, Ashtoret's bolt fails to pierce its exoskeleton.

The giant ant attempts to bite and sting Merisiel.
Melee (bite): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Damage (P) plus grab: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
CMB to Grab: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

As its mandibles close around the elven Pathfinder, the ant stings!
Melee (sting): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage (P) plus poison: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

With a perverse smile, one of the blue-skinned creatures (yellow) that had been holding back, now rushes forward and attempts to skewer Merisiel with his dagger.
Melee (dagger): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (7) + 0 = 7
Damage (P): 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

TUSSLE IN TORVIC'S CAVE - Round Two Begins!

Inspire Courage! +1 to attack and damage, and saves vs fear

PCs in bold may act

Sarzuket
Red
blue
Goldur
Merisiel -4 HP (grappled)
Tusk
Ashtoret
Korum
yellow
ant -13 HP (grappled)

Also, I posted a place for a marching order for 10 ft. corridors that you can fill out.

Sarzuket calls to Gozreh for divine support. A trident made of pure force appears near the mite with red shoes and begins to aggressively skewer the filthy creature!

Casting spiritual weapon; attacking red

spiritual trident, BAB 3, WIS_BONUS 4: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 4 = 21
force dmg, CL 4/3: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

The gnome's magical trident downs the blue-skinned creature (red).

Another one of the blue-skinned creatures (blue) draws his dagger and attempts to stab Merisiel.

Melee (dagger): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 0 = 16
Damage (P): 1d3 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

TUSSLE IN TORVIC'S CAVE - Round Two Cont'd!

Inspire Courage! +1 to attack and damage, and saves vs fear

PCs in bold may act

Sarzuket
Red -4
blue
Goldur
Merisiel -4 HP (grappled)
Tusk
Ashtoret
Korum
yellow
ant -13 HP (grappled)

Also, I posted a place for a marching order for 10 ft. corridors that you can fill out.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 111d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
reload - shot at yellow

Luckily his kill didn't count as he was using magic.

Not caring how many attacks he takes, Tusk slips by Korum and Merisel to the first available location he can attack from, takes a two handed grip, and takes a mighty but poorly aimed shot on the ant.

To hit Orc double axe, inspired: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14
Damage, adamantine, inspired: 1d8 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 1 = 17; +1 if first hit from whetstone

I am not food! Meri says as she tries to kick and claw her way out of the ant's grasp.

escape artist; grappled: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 11 - 2 = 22
-2 is from the Dex penalty...just fyi

Could sworn I posted last night.

Goldur moves closer and keeps up his advice, but he isn't about to try to squeeze his way through the others.

Inspire Courage! +1 to attack, damage, and saves against fear.

Ashtoret misses his shot as Tusk, too, fails to connect.

Merisiel, however, manages to slip free of the mandibles of the oversized ant.

As Goldur ventures further into the cave, Korum contemplates his choices.

BOTTING Korum - No Post in 48+ hours - Putting Korum on Delay.

At the seeming direction of the blue-skinned creature, the ant of unusual size attempts once again to seize the elf!
Melee (bite) v Merisiel: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Unsuccessful, it attempts to sting her.
Melee (sting): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Disappointed at this turn of events, one of the blue-skinned creatures (yellow) tries to slice the elf with his dagger.
Melee (dagger): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

His disappoint only grows.

TUSSLE IN TORVIC'S CAVE - Round Three Begins!

Inspire Courage! +1 to attack and damage, and saves vs fear

PCs in bold may act

Sarzuket
blue
Goldur
Merisiel -4 HP
Tusk
Ashtoret
Korum (Delay)
ant -13 HP
yellow