Longroads Coffeehouse 2.0

Game Master chadius

"Huh, well, looks like this thing's pretty harmless," Finn takes a step towards Roark. "Where'd ya learn how to dance like that? I could use a few pointers. Last time I tried, I was told I was much too stiff. Something about dancing like a grandpa. Can you believe it, pal? A grandpa!" He laughs incredulously as he continues on, trying to take a peek past the fleshforge.

Acro: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Finn clumsily finds his way into the sleeping cabin. In stark contrast to the rest of the ship, this cabin has been somewhat cleared of algae and cleaned. Six simple beds, complete with fresh linens, are crammed into the space. A few small footlockers are shoved under some of the beds.

One of the rags is covered in salt, but you notice the shine of a talisman inside. There are two, in fact. They are in the shape of >crying angels.<

With your investigation complete, it is time to figure out what to do about the Fleshforge Dreg.

"Um...he seems harmless enough, at least right now," Fran remarks as she watches the dreg continue to dance and play around. "We should take him back to the Grand Lodge with us; he'll be safer there than out here!"

"What's wrong with dancin' like a grampa? Unless its yer lady sayin' that..." Stitch looks over the room and maps and coats of arms "Nothin' here but a bunch of crud." He heads out to join the others, watching the dancing construct.

Look how fluid those joints move... and about as smart as most orcs I've worked on too...

"Yep, let's see if it'll follow us back to the Lodge, be good fer everyone to get a better look at it. Maybe some food scraps left from the party too?" He looks around for some rope "Anyone got anythin' fer a leash or a lead fer it?"

Stitch will try to ID those pendants once we get back to town. Religion +6

"Easy there little Dreggy, come on now," Finn coaxes the Fleshforge dreg as he digs a rope out of his backpack and tries to tie it around its wrist. "Can I call ya Dreggy? Yeah? Thought so! Come on, there are much better places to be than this ratty old ship!"

Why do I feel like this will go horribly wrong? :)

As long as Roark leads the way, the Fleshforge dreg is glad to follow, belching light and smoke along the way. You reach the Grand Lodge and your stench of soggy seaweed and burnt lantern oil become very apparent. The crowds part as you move towards Eando Kline.

"Good to see you all, successful, I take it?" He looks at the Fleshforge. "I'd like to hear your report. You're just in time for lunch."

Roark is a bit sad to see the Fleshforge go, seeing that he was a good dance partner, as far as fleshforges go. He crosses over to Fran and flamboyantly asks her to dance...

"I'd like to hear your report. You're just in time for lunch."

I think this place is like one of those 24 hour breakfast dives, but for lunch.

Stitch walks behind the Fleshforge, eyes hardly able to look away, almost like he's studying its movements and taking mental notes. It also seems to be a bit safer than near the smoke and fire that it burps up.

"Well, yer lookin' at it.. Roark put the smooth moves on this thing and now Pal here leads it like a pup in the park. Where's the nearest workshop so we can find out how it ticks?" He scratches the stubble on his cheek.

"Oh, and the ship is a total loss. May as well just tow it back out to sea and sink it. Slicker n spit and rotten too."

"That'll teach those smugglers," Finn smiles at Dreggy. "Little guy came all the way from Nex, and we snatched him before the smugglers could. Maybe it was a slave at some point," he frowns. "How sad. Whatever. Where's lunch?" Finn abruptly drops the leash and hits the buffet table. Of course.

"The Pathfinder Society will take care of... Dreggy, here." He takes hold of the leash. "I hope we will find some way for it to live peacefully." Dreggy takes one last look at Roark before belching towards Eando Kline, singeing his hair. "I will... take this dreg to the back. Enjoy the lunch."

Trays full of roasted pork, vegetables and sautéd nuts line the buffet tables. Finn makes sure to sample each one- for research purposes, of course.

The party gets a chance to sit down, eat and dance. And maybe clean the seaweed stench away. Where will they journey, next?

Stitch's face laments the loss of the research opportunities as Dreggy is taken away I guess I'll just need to hunt around later to see the dissection?

"Pork n nuts again. I think there musta been a sale." He takes a sampling of veggies, but is sure to give them a solid coating of pork gravy before consuming.

"Now I got a chance to look at these pendants..."

Did they come already ID'd? Reading the ID is a secret check. Assuming religion based on the item. +6. Stitch has access to all the ID skills, +6 or +7. We do need to be sure to divvy up the consumables so they get used if needed. Stitch certainly will attach one of these pendants if ID'd.

Stitch identifies the pendants as >Crying Angel pendants<, which are quite useful when surgery goes awry!

The Pathfinder Grand Lodge will add the pendant for free. It's a perk for all agents.

"Ooo baby, where these things been all my life? Sure could have used them a time or two when uhh, ya..." He trails off in some unsettling mumbles.

He pulls out some pliers, metal clasps, heavy thread and a bit of glue before working on the installation into his leather armor. "Don't all you carry around some tools? What the heck else do you put in yer pockets if it ain't tools, duck tape, or maybe half a smoke?" Liquor shooters, roaches, jerky, bullets... He waves away the hovering PFS attendant who keeps trying to help him affix the talisman.

"Should we hit up the scholar next? Save the over-nighter for last?"

Fran blushes a little as Roark invites her to dance but, surprisingly, she doesn't turn him down. "Um, it's...been a while since I've danced with anyone, if that's okay..."

Performance (Dance): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

But more astonishing is that once the pair get going, she seems to have little trouble in keeping up with the spry tengu!

"Um...I used to t-take lessons when I was little," she offers once the dancing is done. "I guess I remembered more than I thought...or maybe it's just muscle memory. Either way, that was fun! Thank you, Roark."

She then sits down to join the others for a quick lunch, the impromptu dancing having only further whetted her appetite. "Ooh, pork...let's just get a little bit of each..."

During the meal proper, she nods in response to Stitch's suggestion. "T-that's actually a really good idea. If we have to, um, spend the night in the old house anyway, we may as well see about the other job in the meantime since there's still lots of daylight left."

You go to the College of Mysteries to find out about the researcher. You soon hear about a controversial researcher named Tavvar Hamavsi and her odd magical theories. They say she is practicing within the Blakros Museum, where its protective wards can help her against whatever’s going on out there.

You can roll a Diplomacy check to gather information about Tavvar’s experiments by asking about her at the College of Mysteries.

Remember your mission. Fola Barun has sent you to determine whether Tavvar and her research might be an asset to the Pathfinder Society and possibly recruit her.

Finn pulls out an unlabeled manila folder. "Tavvar Hamavsi, eh? Lemme see if I've got anything on her." He opens it... and finds that it's completely empty. "Oh, right! Nothing here. Thought I might've had something. Time to ask around!"

Diplomacy to Gather Info: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

"Hmm... Maybe people will be willing to chat with a talking bird..."

Diplomacy, Gather Info: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Roark gets stares from people who must think that he's trying to become something he's not...

Stitch just rides Meat Wagon around town, half a smoke in his lips, revving the engine once and a while and hoping out sometimes to check on odd noises from under the hood. "Mr Midnight, can't you get them damned mice? Look at these wires.. shredded n covered in mouse piss!" He's far too busy to gather information, but at least everyone has a ride if they want it.

Roark learns Tavvar Hamavsi works at the Blakros Museum after hours for nights on end.

Finn learns a bit more about Tavvar Hamavsi's history. She's spent a lot of money on her research, but it hasn't borne any fruit. Out of money, and on the verge of a new discovery, she's taken several assistants with her tonight to finalize the ritual. She's going to cut corners and skip fundamental practices behind the ritual. Knowledge of Arcana or Thievery may be needed to fix the flaws.

You slip past the unlocked front door and head up to the second floor. You pass by several offices, all of the doors are locked. “Nigel Aldain, Curator” is inscribed on a silver plate on the Southernmost door. You hear more chanting from upstairs.

Anything you want to do here, or proceed?

>Blakros Map<

Roark looks a bit concerned at Finn's revelation.

"We better hurry up and end this ritual, then"

"Hurry up is right," Finn moves ahead quietly. "No time for dancing this time! Tavvar's going to skip important steps in her ritual and go straight to the good stuff. Somethin's definitely gonna go wrong. Let's put our magical knowledge to use."

Moving along towards the dino sculpture, Avoiding Notice, of course, Stealth +7

"Sounds like we gotta move it or lose it." Stitch thumps on Meat Wagon's dash with a fist "You heard me, move it Meat!" Tires squeal and everyone gets to the museum in a tangle of beer cans and tied up baggies of stuff that certainly could be medical waste.

---

"Small doors and narrow halls, don't they build things fer giant machines anymore?" Stitch leaves his precious innovation idling outside. "Wait fer the old guy Pal, yer gonna need my thorough magical experience I'm bettin'."

Searching as he goes I guess. +6

All of you head towards the dinosaur exhibit, passing by the Hall of Incantation. Carefully framed spellbook pages hang along this room’s walls, while eldritch relics stand in small display cases in the room’s center. In the far corner, shadows hang thicker than the rest of the room, and it seems a boisterous half-orc woman stands there, surrounded by vague figures, as she welcomes newcomers. Her voice is thin and reedy, but eerily familiar. “Congratulations! Let me spice up that punch a bit for you—to celebrate, of course!”

Finn's eyes are drawn to the Hall of Legendary Beasts. A gigantic reptilian beast is on display in the center of this expansive gallery, ferociously leering over the collection of taxidermy animals and monsters. Shadows flit between the displays, meandering and shuffling shapes reminiscent of museum patrons. Then a distant shriek echoes off the walls, as the shadow of a stuffed owlbear lashes out at one of the shadow-visitors with its talons. The shadow of the tyrannosaur in the room’s center departs from its source and snaps at the misty image of another patron, tossing its head back and seeming to swallow its meal nearly whole. Other shadows snarl and hiss, scuffling amongst themselves as shadow-guests panic and run toward the exit.

The shadows reach forth and try to pounce your own. It doesn’t hurt, but it is unsettling. More chanting can be heard from upstairs.

Fran will Detect Magic as we move along.

"O-okay...this is really strange," Fran remarks uneasily as the shadows in the museum prove to have a little more life than is typical. "Is this all part of Tavvar's ritual? I wonder if this is what's supposed to happen..."

Roark is clearly out of his element as he follows along. His head glances here and there, as if something deadly will suddenly jump out at him. He sticks close to Fran, almost trying to hide behind her.

"Can't say I've been here bafore. Maybe its part of the regular show? Somethin' to distract the parents and scare the kids?" He points upstairs "Either way, the faster we get upstair the faster we shut things down before its too far underwater."

He draws out his trusty sidearm. Dammit Meat, yer supposed to be the one getting in the mix while I enjoy the view!

Seeing Stitch pull out his weapon, Roark does the same, raising his buckler as well.

You draw out weapons and quickly run upstairs.

Droning voices echo off the mahogany walls and domed, plaster ceiling of this luxurious room. The sumptuous furniture has been pushed to the sides of the room, making space for eldritch markings and mystical paraphernalia laid carefully over the plush carpet. The chamber seems muted and dim despite the crystal chandelier overhead, and a bone numbing chill seeps through the space along with a metallic scent. A ritual is obviously underway here, but it doesn’t seem as though it’s working as planned. Shadowy energy lashes out from a twisting breach in the center of the room, and indistinct shapes flit and scuttle along the walls.

”Everyone calm down. I’ve got this!” The woman’s face is in a determined grimace. ”Keep those shadows under control.” She grunts as the ritual’s shadows lash out at her and her assistants. ”We can do this, just focus-” she enters a coughing fit before continuing. Her assistants flail wildly, pouring all of their concentration into the ritual.

Looks like you’ll need to control this ritual before you can talk to her. Tavvar won’t last much longer at this rate.

Round
Finn
Fran
Stitch
Roark
Ritual
Tavvar Hamavsi
Assistants

You see several breaches in the central shadowy swirl in the center of the room. There must be some way to correct the flaws.
You can try a few things:
- (2 actions) Make an Occultism check on the pattern to fix the flaw as if you were disabling a device. You need to be within 10 feet of Tavvar to fix it.
- (2 actions) Make a skill check to fix the flaw as if you were disabling a device. The DC is lower than the Occultism check but only if you have the correct skill. Successes lower the DC of the Occultism check. Finn got a good hint. You need to be within 10 feet of Tavvar to fix it.
- (Reaction) Protect Tavvar or one of the assistants. End your turn next to them and you can spend your Reaction to protect them if they are attacked.

Roark will try to fix a flaw using Thievery.

Thievery: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Totally botching the job, Roark will protect one of the assistants.

◆◆ Fix a flaw
◆ Stride

Stitch looks around quickly and mutters "Sometimes ya gotten take chances, but this ain't feelin' like one of them times." He hustles down to try fixing some of the arcane flaws in the ritual.

"Look lively Kid, yer all tangled up. Lemme help, I'll bill ya after." Arcana ◆◆: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

At this point Stitch isn't taking one for the assistants, that could change later.

"Oh no! I don't think they can keep this going much longer," Fran gasps as she comes racing up the stairs behind Roark and Stitch. She stoops down and attempts to do what she can to bolster/repair the ritual's arcane runes.

Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
______________

Stride, Repair (2-Action). If Fran isn't quite close enough to do a repair in her current position then she'll stride twice to get next to Tavvar and then draw her sickle.

I moved Roark closer to Tavvar. I'm still protecting the apprentice as a reaction but I think I wasn't close enough the first time

"Geez, I've seen kobolds perform better rituals," Finn grumbles as he gets closer to Tavvar, his eyes scanning the ground. "See this, pal? It's wrong. All wrong! You gotta put your wrist into it like so, see?"

Thievery to Disable Device: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Finn takes a look at the ritual and realizes some of the ink lines are incomplete, causing energy to flare up. If he connects these two... nothing happens? Must be the wrong lines! Roark sees a waste of valuable inks drawn across the floor and wonders who will pay for it.

Fran sees an incomplete shadow sigil when she sees it, but how can she complete it? She almost figures it out, but it's too confusing. She'll have to try it again.

Stitch isn't able to help, but he keeps an eye out for the ritual energies. It bubbles up and exhales a purple bolt of energy against everyone. The bolt

Negative Energy Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 6) = 12 oof

Tavvar's Fort Save: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Black Fort Save: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Purple Fort Save: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Yellow Fort Save: 1d20 ⇒ 14

The bolt hits the assistant in purple and she's blasted across the room, her body toppling against furniture like a cheap folding chair.

Roark has time to dive in front of one of the assistant in Black.

The bubble forms into a blob and begins lurching towards Roark.

Round 2
Finn (DC 18 Fort Save vs 12 Negative Energy Damage)
Fran (DC 18 Fort Save vs 12 Negative Energy Damage)
Stitch (DC 18 Fort Save vs 12 Negative Energy Damage)
Roark (DC 18 Fort Save vs 12 Negative Energy Damage, can React to protect Black and make a second Fort Save)
Ritual (1 blob, 2 flaws suppressed)
Tavvar Hamavsi (12 damage)
Assistants (Yellow 12 damage, Black 12 damage unless Roark reacts)

You see several breaches in the central shadowy swirl in the center of the room. There must be some way to correct the flaws.
You can try a few things:
- (2 actions) Make an Occultism check on the pattern to fix the flaw as if you were disabling a device. You need to be within 10 feet of Tavvar to fix it.
- (2 actions) Make an Arcana or Thievery skill check to fix the flaw as if you were disabling a device. The DC is lower than the Occultism check but only if you have the correct skill. Successes lower the DC of the Occultism check. You need to be within 10 feet of Tavvar to fix it.
- (Reaction) Protect Tavvar or one of the assistants. End your turn next to them and you can spend your Reaction to protect them if they are attacked.

Fort Save 1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Roark grabs his healing potion and drinks it down.

Healing: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Roark clenches his beak, braces for the impact and dives across Black to protect her.

Fort Save 2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Good night everyone. I'm exactly at 0. Do you need my recovery check now?

◆◆ Interact x2 (grab healing potion, bottoms up!)
↺ Protect Black

"I'm still chargin' ya for time spent." Stitch hollers at the Assistant even though his efforts failed. He harrumphs as she flies across the room against the wall.

Fort vs DC18, Death Warden: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

The foul necrotic energy doesn't seem to bother Stitch, mostly he just grins.

"Aight, less screwin' around and more fixin'." He shuffles over next to yellow to help the lass out if that happens again.

Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Stitch doesn't have battle medicine until level 2 I'm afraid. If we make it through he'll patch people up!

Forgot about the blob. Adjusted my position back 5' to stay close to the blob and Roark.

Roark decides to be a hero, leaping in front of the assistant in Black.

Recovery checks are at the start of your turn each round, so you're at Dying 1. You can roll recovery later.

Stitch remembers his grandpappy talking about resisting the pull of death. Or was it fire? Nah, has to be death. He ignores the deadly energy wave and gets to fixin'. He quickly fixes one of the flaws, helping the energy stay under control somewhat.

Stitch's success makes the Occultism check a bit easier.

Round 2
Finn (DC 18 Fort Save vs 12 Negative Energy Damage)
Fran (DC 18 Fort Save vs 12 Negative Energy Damage)
Stitch
Roark (17 damage, Dying 1, Unconscious)
Ritual (1 blob, 2 flaws suppressed, 1 flaw repaired)
Tavvar Hamavsi (12 damage)
Assistants (Yellow 12 damage)

You see several breaches in the central shadowy swirl in the center of the room. There must be some way to correct the flaws.
You can try a few things:
- (2 actions) Make an Occultism check on the pattern to fix the flaw as if you were disabling a device. You need to be within 10 feet of Tavvar to fix it.
- (2 actions) Make an Arcana or Thievery skill check to fix the flaw as if you were disabling a device. The DC is lower than the Occultism check but only if you have the correct skill. Successes lower the DC of the Occultism check (1 success already.) You need to be within 10 feet of Tavvar to fix it.
- (Reaction) Protect Tavvar or one of the assistants. End your turn next to them and you can spend your Reaction to protect them if they are attacked.

"Ahh!"

Fort (DC 18): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Fort - Hero Point (DC 18): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Fran throws up her arms and manages to weather some of the negative energy that washes over the room, but not all of it.

"Owww....oh, we need to get this thing under control before it kills us all!" she whimpers as she moves next to Yellow and tries again to repair the ritual.

Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
______________

Stride, Repair (2-Action)~

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Oh.. Oh hell no.
Fort (Hero Point): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Finn's 'stache turns frayed and wiry as negative energy saps his strength. "Dang it. I knew I should've taken out ol' Trusty Glass 3000 for a magical ritual like this." He pulls out a similar magnifying glass, except the glass looks ten times as thick, making his eyes seem otherworldly large when viewed through it.

"Let's see now." He carefully identifies some of the incorrect runes.

Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23

Fran and Finn work to fix the magical flaws in the ritual. The occult nature of the ritual makes more sense. The flaw is almost under control...

Only for it to pulse again.
Negative Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

Tavvar's Fort Save: 1d20 ⇒ 16
Black's Fort Save: 1d20 ⇒ 14

One assistant holds onto her Yellow shawl, knowing she can't last much longer. Tavvar coughs up more blood. "Come on... almost there!"

Another shadowy blob appears. The darker blob, now free, sets its sights on Stitch.

Tendrils: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Tendrils: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 8 - 5 = 10
Tendrils: 1d20 + 8 - 10 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 10 = 13
Stitch scoffs at its amateur work and continues focusing on the task.

Round 3
Finn (12 Negative Energy Damage, DC 18 Fort Save vs 6 Negative Energy Damage)
Fran (6 Negative Energy Damage, DC 18 Fort Save vs 6 Negative Energy Damage)
Stitch (DC 18 Fort Save vs 6 Negative Energy Damage)
Roark (17 damage, Dying 1, Unconscious)
Ritual (2 blobs, 2 flaws suppressed, 3 flaws repaired)
Tavvar Hamavsi (12 damage + 6 more if no one reacts to protect her)
Assistants (Black 6 damage, Yellow 12 damage + 6 more if no one reacts to protect her)

You see several breaches in the central shadowy swirl in the center of the room. There must be some way to correct the flaws.
You can try a few things:
- (2 actions) Make an Occultism check on the pattern to fix the flaw as if you were disabling a device. You need to be within 10 feet of Tavvar to fix it.
- (2 actions) Make an Arcana or Thievery skill check to fix the flaw as if you were disabling a device. The DC is lower than the Occultism check but only if you have the correct skill. Successes lower the DC of the Occultism check (3 success already.) You need to be within 10 feet of Tavvar to fix it.
- (Reaction) Protect Tavvar or one of the assistants. End your turn next to them and you can spend your Reaction to protect them if they are attacked.

Recovery: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Ack! I don't have a hero point!!

Fort vs DC18, Death Warden: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Fort vs DC18, Death Warden: For Yellow: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Stitch shields the yellow woman from the barrage, he does grimmace a bit this time from the double dose.

"How long ya think Birds over there's got bafore its over? I'mma gonna head his way and feed him some of the good stuff before long." He quickly works on the faulty ritual then heads over next to Roark.

Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Repair ◆◆, Step ◆. I'll protect black next round if needed.

Fort (DC 18): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

"Argh! A-almost..." Fran gasps as she takes a step closer to Tavvar. She tries to ignore the pain of the negative energy and the hostile blobs being summoned and focuses on helping to repair the ritual.

Kn. Arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
______________

Potentially risky but if push comes to shove, Fran will try to protect Tavvar next go-around.

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

"Gah!" Finn falls to his knees, his last bit of strength sapped. "This isn't the last of Gumshoe, pals, mark my words," he manages before passing out.

So close, yet so far.
Stitch sees another gap and fixes it. Fran wracks her brain trying to figure it out but it's no good.

Finn is unable to focus and the ritual's energy envelops him, draining his vitality. The blobs of shadow stuff see plenty to feast upon. The ritual bursts with more energy, helping them but hurting everyone still standing.

Negative Energy Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4

Tavvar Fort: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Black Fort: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Yellow Fort: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Tavvar isn't ready for it at all, nor is the woman in Yellow.

The bright White blob of energy tries to latch onto Fran's shadow.

Tendril: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Negative Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Tendril: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 5 = 4
It scratches away at her, hoping to still her shadow and bring it under control.

Tendril: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Tendril: 1d20 + 8 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 5 = 6
The other blob wraps into Stitch's shadow and picks away at it. Is Stitch shadow boxing it away?

Make your Fort Save vs the Energy Burst, THEN you can react to save Tavvar and the researchers. Then the blobs attack you. Something tells me Stitch is going to cart you all back on Meat Wagon back to the Grand Lodge...

Fran & Stitch's rolls are very important here.
Finn and Roark, I'll need stabilization rolls from you.

Recovery, DC 12: 1d20 ⇒ 3