[ACO] PFS2e 02-11: The Pathfinder Trials (P1) (Inactive)

Game Master UncleFroggy

waiting to see what happens next

"If you can't just give it to us, perhaps we can come to an arrangement of some sort. What can we go for you or give you in exchange?"

Jiggo begins spinning a tale for the Aeon to listen to. He manages to catch its attention.

"Compassion is irrelevant! Orders are orders. You are bound to follow the orders of your commanders. How did you progress?"

The aeon begins quoting passages from cases that you have never heard of. In doing so, the amulet appears to hang loosely... Salera tries to grab it but accidentally knocks a vase over. But the aeon, strangely, is still spouting case files...

Charlies takes the opportunity to grab the amulet while the aeon is busy spitting nonsense that is irrelevant to them.

Thievery: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Seeing the task at hand and three of them have failed, Estes tries his luck instead in grabbing the amulet hanging loosely from aeon's grasp.

Thievery: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"Of course, orders are orders. When demons are tearing your allies apart, or tempting those in power with honeyed words-" Jiggo winces when he hears the good stuff shatter. "Ahem. You have to know when to improvise, and when to blindly march ahead, ignoring the clues around you."

Jiggo motions with his hands towards the amulet, hoping Charlies and the rest of the team can take advantage of the situation.

"Ah yes, Iomedae's Order, Sanctum 3, Volume 2, Paragraph 8. There's one sentence that is open to interpretation. I've heard the meaning is quite clear in Celestial, though, and mortal languages can't get the nuance right. Could you tell me more about it?"

Jiggo nods along, planting his staff and letting the Aeon drone on. Anything to get the mission done.

Sin takes a half baked try at the amulet to further keep it's attention...
thievery assist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Dicebot!!!! Hero point in the hopes to not critically fail...

thievery assist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

As Estes relieves the aeon of the amulet, it suddenly vanishes, his contract with Shane having been fulfilled. You head back to Shane, who receives the amulet and gives you your next clue.

"One of our subjects is a protean, a creature of the Maelstrom that thrives on raw entropy. Proteans are interested in acts of both creation and destruction."

Which portal, Pathfinders?

"Ah, the Aeon was getting to the juicy stuff!" Jiggo sighs as Salera ruffles his hair. "Where to next... we went through the Red circle, right? That leaves Blue, Yellow and Purple. Um... Blue next?"

Purple for royalty of a thane Gavin states.

"Blue is as good as any other."

Purple is a nice color, but I will go wherever the majority decides.

”Purple! I love Purple!” Charlies exclaims with his one hand raised as if he's in a recitation class.

"Sounds like purple it is."

You step into the Purple portal and...

This chamber is empty save for a single stone plinth covered in a purple drape. A creature stands on the plinth, idly toying with the amulet.

Picture of the creature is now on Slide 2.

Religion +4 to identify

Jiggo stares at the creature. "Ahoy there! Nice amulet."

Religion +5 to identify

Ember looks around. You don't look like you are from around here.

The dwarf looks at the creature and slowly draws his ax, in case there is trouble.

"So, are you here for my amulet? I only have one condition if you want it. Are you interested? So I can be done with this nonsense. I have some chaos to raise..."

"Oh boy. Imps and their... conditions." Salera huffs. "Let me guess: you want a gallon of our blood. Sign some contract carefully worded to condemn us every Tuesday. Give the local paladin a wedgie." She chuckles. "Hell is tiring, and I know your boss will grind you into an ashtray if you take too long. So what's the condition?"

"An Imp? Well, never met one of those before. Yes, what is your one condition?"

Imps? Aren't those from Hell? he asks.

Estes squints his eyes toward the imp.

What is this horrendous creature doing here? Why is it even here? he says in his thoughts. He spreads his wings to emphasize his presence. He gives Charlies a partial cover with one of his wings.

Salonviel has little experience with denizens of the lower planes. He stays in the back, bow at the ready, waiting for a cue from the other Pathfinders.

"Oh it's really easy. I can grant you a boon of good luck for an hour. BUT if you die within that hour, your soul goes straight to Hell where it is bound for eternity and unable to be raised or resurrected except by wish or similar magic. So how about it?"

Jiggo will make a Sense Motive check, Perception +4. So will Salera, same bonus.

"Well, I don't need the good luck, I desire the medallion." Jiggo recalls tricky deals with demons. Never goes well. He glances at Salera. Well, most of the time it doesn't end well.

"Ah, the classic deal." Salera ponders. "Let's say I were to sign this deal." She takes a step in front of Jiggo. "Do you need me to sign in blood? Do you have a collector? Is this a trick where you summon a bigger demon to kill the bearer as soon as they sign? Come on, give me details."

Salera starts fast talking to distract the stupid imp.

Deception +5 to create a diversion. I'm hoping someone else can steal the medallion while I keep it busy.

The dwarf will rub his finger over his ax to make sure it is sharp, especially with the imp's offer.

Salonviel will take several steps back with his bow out, but not at the ready.

Are you sure you have the right creature?

Jiggo and Salera wouldn't take the imp's offer, but they would try to trick it. Jiggo has a +4 Theivery check, so if no one volunteers he could try to snatch the amulet.

You ID'ed the creature as an imp. But are you sure it's the imp's amulet you want at this time?

Stepping inside an active circle brings you to a matching circle elsewhere in this dungeon, and waiting in the vicinity of each of these is a summoned creature. Four creatures, of four different types. Each of them has an amulet you have to retrieve for me.

"One of our subjects is a protean, a creature of the Maelstrom that thrives on raw entropy. Proteans are interested in acts of both creation and destruction."

"So, are you here for my amulet? I only have one condition if you want it. Are you interested? So I can be done with this nonsense. I have some chaos to raise..."

Sounds like the Imp has an amulet, but it's not what Shane's clue was pointing at. Is there an order of amulets we're supposed to retrieve?

Well, Shane gives you a clue which indicates which creature you're to retrieve the amulet from. Shane specified that the creature the next amulet belongs to is a protean. But you're negotiating with an imp...

Heh, duh. Thanks for the reminder. Easy to miss little details like this using this format to play. :)
"Perhaps we should just try a different portal and see where it leads us..."

Ah, I missed that detail.

"I agree. Let's try a different portal. Looks like we could try Blue or Yellow... Blue, then?"

Salera sticks out her tongue as she abandons the imp and enters the next portal.

I doubt this fiend knows anything anyway, all they do is lie adds the dwarf

Charlies and Estes follow the party back into the portal, Estes keeping an eye to the imp while they move away from it.

Salonviel looks back at the imp before leaving. He thinks that they'll have to deal with it before long. He follows the team.

So where’s everyone going? Blue or yellow?

”I think it is high time to go to the Blue Portal,” Charlies says as he is about to step into the said portal, looking to others and waiting for their approval.

"Blue is still a good choice."

"Blue it is."

Blue is an acceptable choice Grallen adds.

Blue works for me. It is almost as nice as Red.

A statue of a human woman decorates the northwest corner of this chamber, beside a glowing blue pedestal.

A creature (pictured in the slides) sees you and asks with honeyed tones.

"Well? Are you here for my amulet?"

"Uh... depends?" Jiggo tries to identify the creature.

+4 Religion and +4 Society for both Jiggo and Salera.

You can also try Diplomacy/Intimidate to get him to let something slip...

"Depends on what?! Come on, I've got things to do and people to see... I'm sick of being Shane's pawn!!"