Hmm's PFS 3-99: Fate in the Future [Nostalgia Con] (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

You emerge into the empty ruins and quickly investigate the entry room with its three side chambers.

The first side chamber contains a fountain that splashes water into a large stone washing basin. The running water makes a soothing, burbling sound that is quite relaxing. The water is clean, clear, and tastes metallic.

Chulyin, Sideon and Greezgux realize this is an ablution chamber, used to ritually wash before entering a sacred space.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

In the second side chamber, three rows of wooden hooks protrude from the stone walls in a line around the perimeter of this side chamber, one row at three feet above the ground, one at five, and one at nine. A smooth and well-worn black wood bench is in the chamber's center. It’s old, but sturdy and comfortable.

Patrick and Sideon realize this is a dressing chamber, which would have held clothes for creatures varying from Small to Large in size.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

The arch in the center of the room soars up fifteen feet wide and twenty-five feet tall. It’s constructed of a luminous crystal that sheds bright light.

Patrick, Sideon and Chulyin determine the arch is a powerful artifact with a connection to another plane. Furthermore, all three realize the arch is releasing a barely audible hum as it resonates with something elsewhere in the ruins. When you present your information to Ashasar, the suli druid raises an eyebrow in appreciation. “Impressive mystical analysis. I’ll investigate this further while you explore the rest of this complex.”

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

The final side chamber behind the arch is ovoid-shaped. The entrance to this ovoid chamber is only partially blocked by a circular stone door, which slides in and out of the wall. The red stone chamber is completely curved, with no angles or hard edges anywhere.

The chamber is empty, but as Chulin, Sideon and Greezgux enter this chamber, they see a large grey and blue container in the center, similar to a sarcophagus, constructed from metal and glass. Patrick and Grum just see an empty chamber.

Chulyin, Sideon and Greezgux, what do you do about the sarcophagus? Do you interact with it? Point it out? Investigate it?

"Hmm. Careful now," Chulyin says as he pauses to withdraw a crowbar from his pack. He approaches the container, looking for symbols, markings, or a seam. "What is this?"

The fiery jaguar looks at Chulyin and blinks. He flicks his tail and chuffs in confusion.

Sideon scratches his head. He's seen a lot of sarcophagi in his day. He worked as a stonewright in Osirion for a season. (Or was that a book he read?) Does he recognize anything familiar about this example?

Investigate

The metal and glass sarcophagus is some of the most detailed and delicate craftmanship that Chulyin and Sideon have seen, though it appears to have been battered, scuffed and repaired at some point. The horizontal seam is tiny, and along one side they can make out, SNOWGARDEN PR--. Whatever else is written wraps around the back, and they would have to get closer to read it.

Grum looks around the area, "Secure the area...from what?"

"In case we accidentally release something hostile from this box," Chulyin squats down beside the box to read the rest of the inscription and gently touches the side with the crowbar.

Search the container for traps.

Seeing the others investigating the container, Greezgux has far little concern for his own safety as he reaches out to open the container. "No time, stand back..."

"Wai-!"

Chulyin perceives no traps. The writing reads:

SNOWGARDEN PRODUCTIONS ★ STASIS POD 322 ★ KEEP OUT OF REACH OF CHILDREN

And apparently goblins!

As Greezgux moves to open the sarcophagus, his hands go right through it. Everyone -- including Patrick and Grum -- can now see the container flicker in and out of sight.

Patrick uses Detect Magic to determine the nature of the magic even though logic is telling him it is an illusion.

His usual exploration activity is checking for interesting magic. Has he detected anything like that so far?

A jumble of words spoken by a female voice echo in this small space.

“for me, Heraxia!”
“no, I"
“run so”
“wait?”

The disjointed sentences sound incredibly sad, and also a tiny bit hopeful.

Although the rest of you can still see the madly flickering sarcophagus, for Greezgux it has simply disappeared.

Patrick definitely thinks something magical is going on, and everyone with magical expertise on the team has a chance to study the phenomenon.

Fascinating Patrick remarks. I beleive we are dealing with Chronomancy i.e Temporal Magic ... erm ... Magic of Time. It is, as if, two strands of Time are touching, revealing what we see.

He begins taking notes and doing magical tests.

However, he does seem wary when hearing the female voice.

Patrick does not have very long to conduct his tests. Eventually, the sarcophagus stops flickering and disappears altogether, leaving the ovoid chamber empty once more. There is no sign that the sarcophagus ever was here. No scuff marks or indentations on the floor, just emptiness.

Eando Kline spots you and points to his watch meaningfully. Having explored the rest of this large room, you head to the chamber's massive exit door.

Your examinations reveal the door is made of pitch-black stone, with no traps you can see. On the other side of the door (the side that faces the next room), there are six faintly glowing glyphs, but the symbols make no sense to you. Outside the chamber's exit, numerous branching halls and passages lead in different directions. Taking your leave of the other Pathfinder teams, you set out until the path before you dead-ends in a circular chamber,

Slide 10

A deep pit partially filled with bones sits at the center of this circular chamber. Rising from the platform hanging over the pit is a single central pillar, which stretches up to the ceiling. Doors line the chamber's perimeter, but the north and west doors are sealed. The east door is the one through which you came.

What do you do? Where do you explore first?

"eh..poor souls." Grum says with a poor chuckle, "Hope not to end up like them"

The then strides around.

Is there a direction arrow?

I tried to find a nice clear compass rose, but none of them show up against the black background very well. For now consider N to be up.

Chulyin drinks a pair of elixirs that he brought himself once they are urged to move deeper into the unknown. "I think we should proceed that way..."

As Grum and Chulyin stride around in the room, everyone here's the same female voice from before, only less disjointed: “Heraxia? Heraxia, where are you?”

The north and west doors seem to be sealed stone, with little to grip. The pit appears to be twenty-five feet deep, but not a terrible climb. It is filled with skeletons of humanoids of various sizes.

DC 20 Climb check if you wish.

You all also realize that your step has been springier all the way through the complex. Wherever you are, the gravity is lighter. On a platform over the central pit is a stone pillar.

Sideon gently urges the group forward. "Kline is always in such a hurry! The world's not ending, probably."

"I can climb down there to investigate," Chulyin offers. He removes a coil of rope from his pack. "If a couple of you could hold the rope and anchor me?"

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 *Note: Catfall*

And if I don't fall and break my neck or get eaten, appropriate secret check to identify remains and search.

Greezgux looks up at the large pillars. He rests his hands on them and grunts as he slowly tries to turn it. "These can be rotated!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

He watches to see what each rotation accomplishes.

Chulyin looks up at the goblin playing with the unknown as he begins to climb down and braces himself.

Chulyin climbs down successfully, standing on the piles of bones. However, just as he is about to examine the bones, which seem to come from different species, Greezgux starts rotating the pillar. The North and West doors fling open, each revealing a human-sized clockwork creature wielding a halberd! Chulyin notices the pile beneath him start to rumble as something seems to be digging its way up from under the skeletons!

Whirr. Crunch. Click! Whirr. Crunch. Click!

It appears to be yet another clockwork creature.

Aren't you glad you climbed down there, Chulyin?

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Map on Slide 10

ROUND ONE, Bold goes first!

Patrick
Red
Green
Sideon
Grum
Chulyin
Purple
Greezgux

After hearing that female voice again, Patrick was already on high alert although he wasn't expecting clockwork constructs.

Part of his mind was also attempting to measure the gravity - had they been shifted to Akiton? It is a smaller world than Golarion after all.

His first action was to recall what he knew about these things so he could use his spells more effectively
arcane: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22

And, assuming that would work, he probed the creatures defences with an Electric Arc on Purple and Red.
electricity: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9 (heightened) DC 25 basic reflex.

If they turn out to be immune or resistant to electricity he will instead Ray of Frost Purple.
sa: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30 cold: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 = 7 (heightened)

Patrick, alas, failed to recall much on these uncommon clockwork creatures. But his Electric Arc proves quite effective, doing even more damage to clockwork creatures than he expected!

Red takes full damage but Purple manages to evade part of the damage.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Red and Green come in to attack!

Red strides in, raises a metal plate to defend itself, and then attacks Grum!

Clomp. Clomp. Clomp. Click. Whirr. Poke!

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Green double-moves to stab Sideon.

Clomp. Clomp. Clompity-clomp-clomp. Poke!

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Patrick
Red (-14, plate raised)
Green
Sideon (-13)
Grum (-12)
Chulyin
Purple (-9)
Greezgux

I choose to blame the goblin!

Choosing the better part of valor, Chulyin begins climbing back up his rope of climbing to escape the emerging clockwork death engine. "For the future *huff* refrain from manipu-*huff*-lating things when *huff* a fellow Path-*huff*-finger is in a pit! Please."

Climb, Climb, Climb
I know it's DC 20 to free climb. Third is a fail unless using a rope provides a better DC.

Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 +5 ft (or 10 ft if critical)
Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28 +5 ft (or 10 ft if critical)
Athletics (T): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 +0 ft (or +5 ft if success)

I always blame the goblin. He was tricked! Tricked I say :)

Grum enters a rage and places a second hand on his weapon. He then swings.

raging attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
magical slashing: 2d12 + 12 ⇒ (7, 9) + 12 = 28

1 action: rage, 1 action: interact to place second hand on weapon, 1 action: strike

The elf will take a Step back from Green and attack Purple.

I have Gang Up, so Purple should be flat-footed.

Strike: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28 for piercing: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 6 = 11 and sneak: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7
Strike: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 17 - 4 = 17 for piercing: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 = 12 and sneak: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

I'll use Opportune Backstab as a Reaction if Purple is hit with a melee attack.
Opportune Backstab: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20 for piercing: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 6 = 11 and sneak: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

Sideon, this is a three dimensional map, and the top of Purple's head is still some 20 feet down, so he would be hard to attack on your turn. I am going to say that you delayed, waiting for Purple to come up and into range.

Speaking of three dimensions.... Chulyin spends his turn climbing. With the rope, I do think the climbing DC would be lower so he makes it all the way up. Unfortunately, as Chulyin comes up, his movement triggers Green's attack of opportunity with the halberd.

Whirr. Poke.

AoO Halberd: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

He hits Chulyin!

Meanwhile Grum rages and hits Red hard!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

The Purple starts climbing up the wall without a rope. CLOMP. CLOMP. CLOMP.

Athletics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22 5 feet
Athletics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31 10 feet
Athletics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 5 feet

Let's just make this easier and say that Sideon delayed until Purple was in range.

Then Sideon catches the flat-footed climbing clockwork as it comes into range! The first attack hits the Purple clockwork, the second does not.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 1/2

Patrick
Red (-40, plate raised)
Green
Grum (-12)
Chulyin (-13)
Purple (-27)
Sideon (-13)
Greezgux

Patrick cast another Electric Arc, this time targeting Purple and Green. He then Raised Shield - just in case.

electricity: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11 (heightened) DC 25 basic reflex.

I take it the spell cannot be heightened any further

Cantrips are auto heightened to half your level rounded up..so you should be rolling 4d4+casting stat.

Let's get the missing electric damage fixed!

Missing Electric Damage from Patrick's Round 1 Electric Arc: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6

Six more to Red, 3 more to Purple.

Missing Electric Damage from Patrick's Round 2 Electric Arc: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7

Patrick zaps Purple and Green! Both Purple and Green manage to evade some of the damage, but still take more damage from the electricity than expected. They each take another 14 damage.

On the other hand I noticed that I missed that these clockwork creatures have some physical resistance, so I took off some damage from both Grum and Sideon's attacks. Everything should be correct now.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 1/2

Patrick
Red (-41, plate raised)
Green (-14, AoA used)
Grum (-12)
Chulyin (-13)
Purple (-39, FF)
Sideon (-13)
Greezgux

Seeing the trashed automatons begin to make their way into the room makes Greezgux's stomach confused. "Are these edible?" His body grows to extreme lengths as the demon within his belly clamors to the edges of his jawline. His jaw extends downward to double the length as dozens of extra razor sharp teeth slowly sprout from his gums in multiple rows.

◆◆ Cast Enlarge (Signature Spell 2nd level)
◆ Cast Glutton's Jaw

Greezgux shows that there is no limit to how big a goblin ego can get as both he and his fangs grow larger!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

This sudden size increase makes the Green clockwork reevaluate which humanoids are providing them with the biggest threat. It raises a metal plate in self defense and then does two attacks on Greezgux.

Click. Whirr. Poke! Poke!

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

The first one just barely fails to crit.

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (12) + 18 - 5 = 25
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

The second one just barely misses!

Then the Red one raises the defensive plate again and focuses on Grum!

Click. Whirr. Poke! Poke!

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

The first poke glances off Grum's armor.

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 18 - 5 = 32
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

The second poke hits the raging orc!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 2

Patrick
Red (-41, plate raised)
Green (-14, plate raised)
Grum (-27)
Chulyin (-13)
Purple (-39, FF)
Sideon (-13)
Greezgux (-13)

The fiery jaguar moves around the clockwork engaged with Grum (provokes) to threaten the guardian from behind.

Mature AC Action: Stride

Chulyin gambles and swiftly strides around the clockwork guardian engaged with Greezgux (provokes) so that he can call upon eldritch power unthreatened. "Tha mi a 'gairm dealanaich sìos!"

Electricity arcs from his staff toward the (Green) guardian and then on to the (Purple) clockwork that followed him out of the pit.

Stride, Cast (V/S): electric arc

Electricity, Basic Reflex vs. DC 25: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 1) + 4 = 13

The jaguar moves to help Grum flank Red. Red takes its attack of opportunity out on the fiery jaguar!

Whirr. Poke!

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Chulyin deliberately provokes Green. Green then takes its attack of opportunity out on Chulyin!

Whirr. Poke!

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
Piercing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Then Chulyin zaps both the Purple and Green clockwork constructs!

Green takes full damage, while Purple evades some of it!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 2

Patrick
Red (-41, plate raised, AoO used)
Green (-32, plate raised, AoO used)
Grum (-27)
Chulyin (-24)
Chulyin's Jaguar (-13)
Purple (-50, FF)
Sideon (-13)
Greezgux (-13)

Grum scowls at red, trying to scare it.

intimidating glare: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

He then brings his ax down hard.

raging attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (6) + 16 = 22

Hero Point why not

raging attack hero point: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27 eh, a bit better
power attack: 3d12 + 12 ⇒ (7, 10, 6) + 12 = 35

Heroic Inspiration activate: Your most momentous actions can inspire your allies to follow suit. When you use a Hero Point to reroll a check and succeed at the check, your allies gain a +1 circumstance bonus to checks of the same type for 1 round (such as attack rolls, Will saves, or Perception checks).

The clockwork creature stares back at Grum, clearly unaffected by Grum's terrifying visage.

On the other hand, Grum's inspiring use of a hero point will indeed give his allies a +1 bonus to attack rolls!

Fortunately, Grum follow up with a hard-hitting power attack!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

Clomp. CLOMP!

Athletics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18 No progress.

Athletics: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25 And up!

Since it could not climb with its halberd in its hands, it settles for punching Sideon.

Whirr. Pow!

Fist (agile, unarmed): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 2 / 3 +1 to strikes this round!

Patrick
Red (-71, plate raised, AoO used)
Green (-32, plate raised, AoO used)
Grum (-27)
Chulyin (-24)
Chulyin's Jaguar (-13)
Purple (-50)
Sideon (-30)
Greezgux (-13)

Greezgux turns on the pile of gears and bits into the thin sheetmetal. The tiny poppet falls free, barely gripping onto the cracked decanter as it hugs the clay tightly on the fall down.

Large Glutton's Jaw vs Green: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25
Damage (Piercing): 2d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 8) + 4 + 2 = 17
Greezgux Temp HP Gained: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

Large Glutton's Jaw vs Green: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 15 - 5 = 11
Damage (Piercing); Forceful: 2d8 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 17
Greezgux Temp HP Gained: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 6) = 9

◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Shield
◆ Mosquito Witch Doll (Independent) Grab Decanter of Endless Water

Greezgux's first bite attack nearly misses because of Green's raised defensive plate, however at the last minute, he gets inspired by Grum and his bite hits! He crunches the gears in a satisfying manner, though the metal resists some of his damage. The second bite misses, but his poppet doll manages to grab his decanter of Endless Water!

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 2 / 3 +1 to strikes this round!

Patrick
Red (-71, plate raised, AoO used)
Green (-44, plate raised, AoO used)
Grum (-27)
Chulyin (-24)
Chulyin's Jaguar (-13)
Purple (-50)
Sideon (-30)
Greezgux (-13)

Patrick's tactic seemed to be working so .. why change it.

Electric Arc targeting Purple and Green then Raise Shield - just in case.

electricity: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 3) + 4 = 14 DC 25 basic reflex.

Alas, Purple still has its attack of opportunity and will use it!

Fist (agile, unarmed): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Well, it was a good thing that Patrick raised that shield, because Purple did not crit him, and thus did not disrupt his spell. Patrick zaps Purple and Green once again with an Electric Arc.

Both the constructs manage to evade part of the damage, but their delicate circuits are still hit harder than normal by that electricity.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 2 / 3 +1 to strikes this round!

Patrick (-16)
Red (-71, plate raised, AoO used)
Green (-56, plate raised, AoO used)
Grum (-27)
Chulyin (-24)
Chulyin's Jaguar (-13)
Purple (-62, AoO used)
Sideon (-30)
Greezgux (-13)

Bruised, the rogue takes a step around the purple enemy and attempts to overbalance him, tipping him into the pit he came from.
Athletics: Shove: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

If that fails, I'll attack him; if it succeeds, I'll go give the big goblin a flank on green.
Strike (just in case): 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 17 - 4 = 14 for piercing: 2d4 + 6 + 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 6 + (6, 6) = 23

Sideon successfully shoves Purple into the pit, and as Purple has already used his reaction, the creature falls!

Falling Damage, Low Gravity: 1d6 ⇒ 5 x.25

With its resistance to physical damage, it takes no damage from the fall and just bounces off the bones!

Crunch.

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

It's time for Red and Green to attack!

Red raises its metal plate for self-defense, then attacks Grum!

Click. Whirr. Slash! Slash.

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36
Slashing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

It crits Grum for 24 damage and does a victory dance!

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 18 - 5 = 30
Slashing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Then it hits Grum again!

Then Green goes after Greezgux.

Click. Whirr. Slash. Slash?

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (9) + 18 = 27
Slashing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

It manages to hit the goblin once eating some of the goblin's temporary hit points, then utterly misses.

Halberd: 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 18 - 5 = 14
Slashing Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

★ --- ★ --- ★ --- ★

ROUND 3

Patrick (-16)
Red (-71, plate raised)
Green (-56, plate raised)
Grum (-66)
Chulyin (-24)
Chulyin's Jaguar (-13)
Purple (-62, Prone, 25 feet down, AoO used)
Sideon (-30)
Greezgux (-26)

3 of that damage would have come off of Greezgux's temp HP he gained from his Glutton's Jaw bite.

Corrected!

Let's see if I can keep the colors straight now...

Chulyin frowns at the clockwork warrior bloodies Grum. Deciding that the fastest way to protect the warrior is to destroy the threat, he makes an eldritch sign with his free hand and once more declares, ""Tha mi a 'gairm dealanaich sìos!""

He then calls out to the cat, "Kill them."

Cast (V/S): electric arc @ Red & Green, Command

Electricity, Basic Reflex DC 25: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 4) + 4 = 13
Ugh. I feel like that could have been better.j