I'm going to assume that Roderick and Ehm have been calling out the locations of the invisible creatures. You can target their square with a d100 check. In addition, Ansha has not lost line of sight with Red, so she can be calling out its location. Rakesh can always make a DC 16 Will save to remember.
LN male Nagaji | Ranger (skirmisher) 9 | HP 67/67 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB +13, CMD 25 | Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 (evasion, +2 vs mind affect & poison) | Init: +5 | Percept: +17 (low-light), Sense Motive: +7 | Speed 30' | Fav. Enemy: +2 vs. mag. beasts, +4 humans | Active conditions: ---
Slightly confused about what's going on around him, why these creatures keep showing up for no reason only to attack then disappear, Rakesh shakes his head to clear his mind. Seeing movement around a stack of crates, he keeps his longbow up and cautiously moves to engage the creature. The moment he gets sight of the devil around the corner, he fires an arrow.
+1 adaptive comp. longbow & IC:1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 1 = 23 piercing dmg & IC:1d8 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10
LN male Nagaji | Ranger (skirmisher) 9 | HP 67/67 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB +13, CMD 25 | Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 (evasion, +2 vs mind affect & poison) | Init: +5 | Percept: +17 (low-light), Sense Motive: +7 | Speed 30' | Fav. Enemy: +2 vs. mag. beasts, +4 humans | Active conditions: ---
Rakesh turns to see Kyra get slashed by an invisible entity. He fires two carefully aimed shots into the area in front of her.
50% miss:1d100 ⇒ 43 +1 adaptive comp. longbow & IC:1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 2 = 30 piercing dmg & ic:1d8 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 = 20
Rakesh's first shot passes through air, but the second shot ends up striking something. Then, a thud of a body hitting the floor echoes throughout the room, and quiet ensues.
The collection’s paper assets consist of trunks full of ledgers, journals, notes, and manuscripts from explorers dating back nearly 600 years. Most of the information is wholly unrelated to the lantern the Pathfinders seek, though most of the texts contain fascinating bits of lore on occult mysteries across Golarion. However, many of these finds appear to be absolute fabrications.
Ansha learns the Collection Esoterica contains a substantial list of unusual supernatural objects from around the Inner Sea region and beyond, some even come from unidentified lands. A water-damaged journal contains a sketch of a metal-framed lantern of exquisite (though infernal) design. The writing indicates that the lantern was gifted to the Blakros Museum, but with no legible indication of when or from whom.
Ehm can read some of the smudged text in order to learn that someone gifted the lantern to the Blakros Museum 47 years ago. Discovering this fact helps narrow down what age of documents to review.
The group feels like they've only gone through about half of the books after 8 hours. Nigel Aldain meets the group at the end of the day, and encourages them to rest, and come back the next day to continue their research.
As a reward for ridding Collection Esoterica of its unwanted guests, Nigel gives the Pathfinders an oil of hold portal, a wand of cure moderate wounds (7 charges), deathwatch eyes, and a set of pipes of pain.
Kit takes the pipes, just because. After all she is the company's bard. Though afterwards she reconsiders.
"Ansha, you seem a girl of many talents. You know how to play pipes? I don't, personally, but these do interest me. However, if you can use them, I'll hand them over."
Ansha preens at Kit's perceived compliment. "I can probably fake my way through playing it, anyway."
After a night's rest, Ansha gets back to doing the thing she does best after seducing pants off their wearers: reading. The dry reading here isn't nearly as salacious as what she'd prefer, though.
LN male Nagaji | Ranger (skirmisher) 9 | HP 67/67 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB +13, CMD 25 | Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 (evasion, +2 vs mind affect & poison) | Init: +5 | Percept: +17 (low-light), Sense Motive: +7 | Speed 30' | Fav. Enemy: +2 vs. mag. beasts, +4 humans | Active conditions: ---
Rakesh passes his wand to anyone that can use it on him.
CLW wand (3 charges):3d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 8, 1) + 3 = 19
After a good night's rest, Rakesh meets with the others to get back to researching. With some knowledge about magical lanterns he learned while on assignment in Tian Xia, he tries to use that historical information to find anything interesting about the lantern in the books.
Going to attempt Knowledge (history) as Primary Researcher using Diverse Training boon from Student of Swords GM sheet. I get 3+GM Stars, considered trained, and can add no other modifiers. Know (history):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Ha! What a waste. Oh well. Gave it a shot.
Those pipes might require a certain bit of training...don't try it near me please..just in case it blows up...or worse.. Kyra says, trying to say it straight faced. She fails miserably and smiles.
The Forae Logos is a tremendous building, as much a cathedral as it is a library. Beyond its imposing entry arch stands the grand foyer, an immense chamber of tiered balconies decorated with ancient marble statues, creeping ivy, and an overhead skylight decorated with astrological designs.
In spite of the structure’s serene grandeur, a palpable sense of tension hangs in the air. Dozens of heavily armored guards brandishing halberds observe the foyer from the balconies, and few visitors grace this spacious hall, making it feel unwelcomingly empty.
“Excuse me!” calls an immaculately groomed man with a thick Kelish accent, dull orange skin, faintly incandescent tattoos along his neck, and golden eyes that seem to flicker like candlelight. Accompanied by two of the Learned Guard, he swiftly moved to intercept the visitors.
“I am Second Archivist Qilaus Sandaril of Forae Logos. I regret to inform you that we are in a state of heightened security at present and can only admit visitors on a case-by-case basis for the foreseeable future."
Ansha discovers the buyer of an auction lot in Kintargo 47 years ago donated many of those items to the museum. However, the reference numbers in the auction lot receipt do not correspond to the entries in the Blakros Museum’s codices of acquisition. In fact, someone altered the codices and replaced the original pages with forgeries to conceal the truth.
Roderick discovers a battered journal that makes passing reference to “duplicate copies” of all Blakros Museum codices involving magical items registered with Forae Logos, per the Founding Law of Absalom. Unaltered copies of the codices detailing the lantern are likely still kept within
Forae Logos, Absalom’s largest library.
Furthermore, the group feels like they've gleaned all the information they can from this archive.
Will move the party to the Forae Logos in the next post. Prepared spellcasters can prepare spells with the knowledge that you'll be in the Forae Logos.
LN male Nagaji | Ranger (skirmisher) 9 | HP 67/67 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB +13, CMD 25 | Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 (evasion, +2 vs mind affect & poison) | Init: +5 | Percept: +17 (low-light), Sense Motive: +7 | Speed 30' | Fav. Enemy: +2 vs. mag. beasts, +4 humans | Active conditions: ---
Since you rolled the Perception to Aid check for Rakesh, does that mean I get my boon back for rolling Knowledge (history) and that it never happened? ;)
Edit: Ah! I see you used my history roll for the Perception check to Aid.
After their arrival at the Forae Logos, Ansha approaches the Second Archaeologist. "What exactly are you in a state of heightened alert for?" she asks. "Maybe it's something a group of intrepid Pathfinders might be of use with. Or at the very least, a group who're looking for records that the Forae Logos has on a certain set of artifacts given as gifts to the Blakros Museum some years back."
LN male Nagaji | Ranger (skirmisher) 9 | HP 67/67 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB +13, CMD 25 | Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 (evasion, +2 vs mind affect & poison) | Init: +5 | Percept: +17 (low-light), Sense Motive: +7 | Speed 30' | Fav. Enemy: +2 vs. mag. beasts, +4 humans | Active conditions: ---
Standing directly behind and towering over Ansha and Kit, the hulking Rakesh stares downward with a sneer at the archivist.
"You can admit us Pathfindersss on a case-by-case basisss right now."
He snarls in a domineering tone.
"What exactly are you in a state of heightened alert for?"
"Intruders! At least one was an elf—a woman carrying an unusual lantern of some sort. Members of the Learned Guard spotted her when they responded to the sound of combat. There were other cloaked and masked figures fighting her, but they escaped the wing using teleportation magic soon after being spotted. The elf fled deeper into the wing; she may still be there for all we know. We had to seal the entrance and dimensionally lock the area before the unleashed magic spread to other areas."
Rakesh Manidhar wrote:
"You can admit us Pathfindersss on a case-by-case basisss right now."
He snarls in a domineering tone.
"This is not an ideal situation, mind you, but I suppose. I must profess we are at a loss as to what the infiltrators were attempting to accomplish there. Perhaps you might be able to discover their reason for entering Forae Logos and what caused their altercation."
---
I'm going to have everyone enter initiative soon, just because there's a lot of stuff going on in the next map. To be continued tomorrow ... (go ahead and ask any followup questions if you'd like).
LN male Nagaji | Ranger (skirmisher) 9 | HP 67/67 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB +13, CMD 25 | Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 (evasion, +2 vs mind affect & poison) | Init: +5 | Percept: +17 (low-light), Sense Motive: +7 | Speed 30' | Fav. Enemy: +2 vs. mag. beasts, +4 humans | Active conditions: ---
Rakesh is a bit taken aback that the archivist allowed their entry so suddenly.
"Well, uhh, thank you."
He relaxes a bit so as not to appear so threatening.
"What type of items are held in the wing the elf fled into? This place seems like a museum as well as a library."
He says as he looks up and around in awe at the interior of the grand foyer.
male Human Chirurgeon 9 AC21(24)/T16(19)/F17/CMD17 |HP 75/75 | Fort:+11;Ref:+13;Will+7 |Percept.+12 | Init.+10 (1/1 mutagen: used bombs 0/16 used) wings 0/9 min {heroism, cues, endure elements, shield, mutagen}
Roderick continues with his current spell mix, usually good for research.
Right before entering library...he mixes and downs investigative mind and perceive cues.
Infiltrators attempting to steal knowledge or was there something else hidden in the Forae Logos which they treasured more. as he puffs on his pipe pondering the significance.
female human cleric 7, HP 59/59, AC 21, T 11, FF 19, F +7, R +4, W +10, Init+0 Perc. +4
Hmm...seems you might have trapped her in there. We'll find her...that lantern might be a clue... Kyra says, as she thinks about the possible target inside.
"Well, now I know that our problems are intertwined. That lantern was stolen from the museum and has powerful magical properties related to devil summoning. We have already handled a few of the devils and we are perfectly capable of handling some more."
Of course she really has no idea what the lantern does, but if WHE were a guard and knew that devils were involved, she would let the pathfinders by to deal with them, so...
bluff, heroism:1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 23 + 2 = 44
Before heading any further, she casts an extended heroism on Rakesh.
"What type of items are held in the wing the elf fled into? This place seems like a museum as well as a library."
"The vast majority of our collection are archival codices, located on the ground floor. We have historical records retention, stack six. Some of the tomes are magical, but it's entirely a library."
Roderick Xim wrote:
b]Infiltrators attempting to steal knowledge or was there something else hidden in the Forae Logos which they treasured more.[/b] as he puffs on his pipe pondering the significance.
"We won't know until you report back. Happy hunting."
---
Second Archivist Sandaril dismisses the ward sealing the wing with a wave of a wand. After sparks cease dancing across the doors, two of the Learned Guard move to pull them open to reveal a ten-foot-wide hallway littered with scorched books and drifting motes of multicolored light. Where the hallway turns, shifting hues of iridescent light drift like oil slicks in the air, accompanied by strange, disembodied noises of distant laughter and whimpering agony.
Sandaril looks anxious as the group enters, and the Learned Guard swiftly shut the door behind them. Soon after closing the doors, Sandaril’s muffled incantation on the other side precedes a final click as the entrance is sealed once more.
We are on Slide 6. You need to move through the room and exit on the top left.
As I mentioned before, I'm putting you into initiative, and will resolve actions in initiative order (rather than post order, as I usually do) so that if anything triggers, characters can revise their actions to respond appropriately. Kitoro and Ehm, please let me know if you will dismiss heightened awareness if we go into combat.
LN male Nagaji | Ranger (skirmisher) 9 | HP 67/67 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB +13, CMD 25 | Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 (evasion, +2 vs mind affect & poison) | Init: +5 | Percept: +17 (low-light), Sense Motive: +7 | Speed 30' | Fav. Enemy: +2 vs. mag. beasts, +4 humans | Active conditions: ---
Rakesh slowly cracks open the door and steps into the room. He lets his eyes adjust to the bright/dim/dark(?) lighting and looks for any movement nearby.
When all seems clear, he motions with his hand for the others to enter.
The enchantress steps into the room, musing idly about the lighting and the decor. Her emerald eyes take on a blue sheen, and she scans her surroundings for magical auras. Detect Magic.
Yes, I will burn the heightened awareness for the initiative bonus on this combat. I will also start drinking extracts as soon as Qilaus says they are under heightened alert (paranioa for the win).
buffs:
false life, dur 8 hours
heightened awareness, dur 80 min
heroism, dur 80 min
see invisibility, dur 80 min
shield, dur 8 min
HP: 86+12 of 86
AC: 23
Ehm, with pistol ready, looks around with beady eyes.
The group moves into the room, Rakesh and Roderick taking the lead. Roderick spots a set of runes on the floor, it looks like flames would arc between the runes. The trapped area is highlighted in red.
A green fog rolls from one of the alcoves. Horrid shapes form within this cloying green mist, which pulses sporadically and with seeming voracity. Contained within the mist is an animated husk from an enormous spider which is filled with thousands of living spiders that fall from its body like drops of blood. Knowledge skills, since they're both non-obvious, are dungeoneering for the fog, and religion for the spider.
LN male Nagaji | Ranger (skirmisher) 9 | HP 67/67 | AC 21, t 14, ff 18 | CMB +13, CMD 25 | Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 (evasion, +2 vs mind affect & poison) | Init: +5 | Percept: +17 (low-light), Sense Motive: +7 | Speed 30' | Fav. Enemy: +2 vs. mag. beasts, +4 humans | Active conditions: ---
Avoiding the area with the trap that Roderick silently points out, Rakesh nods then slowly slinks forward into the shadows of a bookshelf in the next alcove while pulling out his bow.
Stealth & Fav. Terrain:1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 14 + 2 = 23
He wonders if he's ever seen or heard about a mist like the one surrounding the giant spider.
Know: Dungeon:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
From the dark shadow, he takes aim and fires a shot at the spider, attempting to hinder the creature with a well-placed shot.
Tangling Attack (free action). +1 adaptive comp. longbow:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 cold-iron piercing:1d8 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18
Entangled:
An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.
Neither Rakesh nor Ansha can recognize the fog, but Ansha recognizes the spider - it is a deathweb, an undead spider so, undead traits.
Infestation Aura wrote:
An infestation of poisonous spiders, which nest within this creature’s exoskeleton, constantly surrounds a deathweb, to a radius of 5 feet. Any creature within the infestation takes 1d6 points of damage at the end of each round it remains in the area. A creature that takes this damage must make a DC 17 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. In addition, those damaged by this infestation are poisoned as well. Any area effect attack that deals 10 or more points of damage to a deathweb destroys its infesting spiders, removing its aura for 3 rounds, after which a new batch of spiders swarms out of the undead’s body to replenish the infestation.
With heroism, Rakesh hits and entangles the spider.
Roderick throws two bombs, both of which hit the lumbering entities.
Fog Reflex:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 Fog Reflex:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 19
The fog takes normal damage. Specifically, no weakness to splash.
Stepping to the north for a better view, Ansha begins an incantation. As she finishes, a small bead of fire appears before her outstretched fingers. It zips away toward the deathweb and the fog, and explodes in a roaring ball of fire. Aiming it to land such that Rakesh doesn’t get caught up in the blast.
