PFS Speed Run: 03-01 Intro Year of Shattered Sanctuaries (P5) (Inactive)

Game Master UncleFroggy

dot in here

Your adventure begins in the Grand Lodge of Absalom, where Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin has summoned you to help Rain in Cloudy Day with an urgent task. When you arrive in the venture-captain’s office, you find Rain in a desperate state.

Rain in Cloudy Day stands on a chair behind a large oak desk covered with documents.

"Ah, you’ve arrived! What a relief! I’m a bit overwhelmed at the moment, and I could use your help. The Pathfinder Society leadership is in a closed-door meeting right now, reviewing the latest news from Iobaria, the distant land where the Society has focused its efforts of late. I can’t wait to hear more about all the interesting things our agents discovered there! But, while they’re busy, I’ve been asked to catalog the flood of correspondence from our Inner Sea lodges. Just look at all these letters! Ambrus—that is, Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin—asked me to sort and summarize all of it, but there’s so much! And, I’m not ashamed to admit that with my relative inexperience, all of it seems urgent! I’ve got to put a report together, but I’m overwhelmed by all the unfamiliar names and places! Here, take these
letters. See what you can make of them. I’d hate to miss something important and disappoint the venture-captain, and I think the meeting is almost over."

Rain hands you six pieces of parchment (see pages 4-5 in the slides).

"Feel free to share these among yourselves, exchange information, and introduce your characters."

"Please, Rain, how could you forget us? We rescued your worthless life and then finished the work YOU started in that Azlanti ruin in that Taldan Swamp. Have you already forgotten the Prince of the Saia-jin clan of Numeria? Give that here."

Reading Letter three, arcana: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"This venture captain doesn't know what they are doing. If the Undead keep coming then it is clearly an issue with rejuvination, at which case you need to put the haunt generating them to rest, or there is a necromancer summoning them. Either way, killing the undead themselves is not the answer. Idiot."

Oh, sorry, you only have time to read one letter. and the checks are secret, like all RK checks :)

Jaxon squints at one of the letters. "Oh, we need to get people to Sedeq quickly. Otherwise the government is going to auction off the property."

Reading letter #4; Mercantile Lore +4

"Let me see what I can do to help," Qigiq says, taking one of the letters. "I am Qigiq. I come from the Crown. I have worked with many of these agents before."

Letter #1, Religion +6

Alaric grabs ahold of the letter from Cheliax. "Let's see what these have to say. Reading through it he folds it back up. [b]"This seems rather important. Count Varian Jeggare has gone missing."

Letter #2: Occultism +5

"It's good to see you again, Rain. Paperwork is dull, but it's not dangerous, at least."

I feel like the most natural fit for Samna is using Politics Lore on the Taldor letter. (+5)

Oh, sorry, you only have time to read one letter. and the checks are secret, like all RK checks :)

Okay, uh, I take letter 3 and have a +7 to arcana. . . as you saw.

Jaxon reads his letter and then comments, "Sedeq is the regional headquarters of the Aspis Consortium. Qadira is the westernmost satrapy of the great Padishah Empire of Kelesh. Qadira once commanded its own faction within the Society, which it used to promote its trade interests across the Inner Sea. That faction eventually became the Exchange, a group more broadly dedicated to influence via commerce."

"One of the guys who was in our cell block was in there because of some trade scam by a wily Varisian member of the Exchange. Scammed him out of a few carts of good and left him holding the debts."

"The lodge in Andoran is in a converted cathedral dedicated to Aroden," Qiqiq explains to Rain as he hands the letter back, "there is a legal dispute regarding the building. The venture-captain there expects it to be handled soon. This is probably less pressing."

Dyner takes up letter 7 and reads through it beak gaping open. "Seems that a shipment on the Sixwing Drake has arrived in port and is ready for us to unload. This is directly from the Harbormaster Hansara Molnesh and should probably be taken care of soon. Even if the ship is run by a veteran pathfinder, I doubt they'd appreciate being kept waiting!"

Rain excitedly takes all this down, writing it in his notebook. As a brand-new Pathfinder agent, he is especially curious about any information pertaining to the Pathfinder Society’s older factions. Rain ponders aloud whether these events might be related, but before he can ask for more details, a tall man with tan skin and dark, meticulously groomed hair throws open the doors and strides into the office: Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin clearly has something urgent on his mind. Rain in Cloudy Day jumps up to interrupt him, proclaiming that the report summarizing the correspondence is ready. The venture-captain, taken aback, accepts the journal that Rain shoves into his hands. Rain watches expectantly as Valsin skims the report.

Ambrus Valsin nods to those gathered and says in a gruff voice, "Ah, yes. Thank you Rain, agents. Let me see… this is all quite worrying! Your thoroughness is praiseworthy. Unfortunately, we cannot act on any of this right now. Another urgent matter has come up, right on our doorstep. I need agents to go to the Blakros Museum and meet with Curator Adjutant Seshuun, who is temporarily in charge. I do not have any details, but she’s requested the Society’s immediate presence, and she seems upset. We’ve worked hard to establish a working relationship with the museum, and I do not want it to fall to pieces now with everything else going on. Please help the curator with anything she may need, and if you can, try to make a good first impression. Rain and I will remain here and bring this report to the Society’s leadership. Some of this is quite serious, and we’ll take it all the way to the Decemvirate if needed!"

Before you head out, Rain approaches you and presents you with a satchel containing four lesser healing potions and a choice of an acid flask, alchemist’s fire, tanglefoot bag, or thunderstone (lesser variety).

The selection of alchemical items is for the entire group, not per PC.

Kondai Rolls his eyes. "Another mission doing errands around town, hurrah." Then before Valsin can chide him for his back-talk. "I know, we're going, we're going."

As they are walking out Kondai talks in a low voice to Jaxon. "We should go train after this, get a real workout in. Are you up to it?"

Dyner perks up and nods, "Finally, something nice and simple around town! So we're just going to the Blackros Muesuem? Sounds more than doable! Can we stop by a food stall or three on the way or is this a much more pressing time frame?"

Ambrus give Dyner the look. "Are you hungry again?!"

Dyner gives a happy chipping noise. "You know I eat small amounts of everything. Isn't there a saying in Taldane about 'eating like a bird'? Or was that 'pecking at your food?' But anyways, I get hungry quickly, and I can always find new ways to spice up my spells!"

Not going to weigh in on the alchemical item, as Dyner has no training in martial weapons and thus can't use it effectively.

As they are walking out Kondai talks in a low voice to Jaxon. "We should go train after this, get a real workout in. Are you up to it?"

"Are you going to blow me across the room again with some thunder spell?" Despite the question, Jaxon pops some of his knuckles in his right fist. He nods to Valsin. "Museum? We playing moving crew again? What does a curator want with us?"

Dyner's right, most of us can't use alchemical bombs. Kondai might be the only one.

"No idea, Richter. I have no further information. I'd advise you to run over and find out, " Ambrus Valsin says with a crooked grin.

"What do you enjoy doing?" Qigiq asks Kondai as they set out. "You seem disinclined to most routine tasks. Or polite social interaction. Where can we make the most efficient use of your abilities?"

Alaric looks down at the satchel that rain hands them. "We are just going to speak with the curator at a museum. Why do we need a volatile bag of alchemical bombs?" He holds the bag out at arms length, not that it will do much good it even one of them goes off.

"What do you enjoy doing?" Qigiq asks Kondai as they set out. "You seem disinclined to most routine tasks. Or polite social interaction. Where can we make the most efficient use of your abilities?"

First post got eaten

”Can you not tell, I am a warrior! I enjoy fighting, a good challenge. Also training, a hearty meal, and people worth my time. Many of these so called friends of society we meet and contacts are. . . Not worthy of my time.”

Ready to move on to the museum

"We should take the tanglefoot bag," Qigiq suggests. "As Alaric implies, we do not want to damage the museum."

He nods at Kondai's answer. He starts to say something back and then pauses. He turns to Dyner. "Yes. Maybe we should stop to eat frequently along the way."

You head off to the museum, stopping only twice for Dyner to get a snack. You arrive to a scene of controlled chaos.

Gardeners and landscapers busily haul plants and building materials through the gardens that flank the path leading to the imposing, multistory building that is the Blakros Museum. Its outer walls are crafted almost entirely from a single chunk of volcanic rock. A woman stands near the entrance, speaking with several of the workers in a calm yet commanding voice. She has deep blueish-purple skin and vibrant teal markings, denoting her ancestry as one of the aquatic azarketi. She approaches you and introduces herself.

"Well met. I am Curator Adjutant Seshuun. What business do you have at the museum?"

Because Ambrus Valsin's instructions were to make a good first impression, all of you can make a Diplomacy or a Academia/Azarketi/Iobaria Lore check to Make An Impression. You need three successes to impress the good Curator.

Kondai, knowing his limits, will shut his trap.

No relevant lore or Diplomacy here

Qigig hands Kondai a meat pie to keep him occupied while the droll parts of Pathfinder work happens.

"Good morning, Curator Seshuun," Qigiq says. "Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin of the Pathfinder Society sent us to help you with anything you need."

Diplomacy (T): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Diplomacy (Untrained): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Alaric tries to help but instead it seems his resting face just seems to be construed of a massive glower and stance of intimidation.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Jaxon stands to the side of Qigig, but nods at the curator. "Anything you need. Moving stuff, taking out the trash, whatever you need, just name it."

Just waiting for the chippy one to make a check. Kondai you can try rolling untrained if you'd like.

Dyner walks up to the gardens with a small wrapped thing of fried mashed potatoes with a cheese filling in one hand and half a pocket bread filled with meat, vegetables and a yogurt sauce in the other. She takes the last bite of the fried potato thing, giving a happy chip as she does, before then examining the scene in front of her.
Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

She fails to recognize the plants, and instead turns her eyes towards Curator Seshuun. Dyner knows she isn't the most charming or pursuasive and instead gives a small bobbing bow before pulling out the other half of her pocket bread sandwich. "It's a pleasure to meet you, Curator Seshuun... Would you like half of a gyro? I can't eat a full one myself. It's been kept cold!"
Cooking Lore to make an impression?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 Roll is for the fun of it. You can ignore if you want to!

"Now, what do you need us to do? I'm sure we can resolve anything quickly."

Diplomacy (Untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 16

"So, you’re the ones Valsin sent to fix this mess. No, not the gardens. The shipment! You know, the relics? The Iobarian relics? Surely you can explain why the shipment hasn’t been delivered yet. The Sixwing Drake should have arrived with the relics by now, but I’ve heard no word. We can make the gardens look as authentic as we want, but nobody is going to visit an empty exhibit. The recent business with the curator, Nigel Aldain, has tarnished the museum’s reputation enough as it is. I can’t allow the Society’s delays to cause further problems."

"It is imperative that you make your way to the docks as soon as possible to see what has happened to the relics aboard the Sixwing Drake. I have far too many things to do to make small talk with a bunch of Pathfinders, and I certainly don't want your leftover sandwich. What do you take me for? Some scavenger?!"

"We will head to the docks immediately," Qigiq says and then tries to usher his companions back to the street.

Halfway through his meat pie, Kondai rolls his eyes so hard it is almost audible and follows the group to the docs.

Alaric smiles as they depart for the docks. "That there is an awful way to ask for help if you are too busy. Most people would just leave at this point."

"The venture-captain asked us to make a good impression," Qigiq says, "So we must suffer the displaced anger. But, yes, there are better ways to ask for help."

Dyner very quickly packs away the half gyro into her pack again and instead pulls out a paper. With the tone of a whipped puppy in her voice, she comments, "Ah the Sixwing Drake? The harbor masters sent word to the Grand Lodge that it arrived this morning. It was one of a large number of letters we received, and next on our list. Also if you want a gyro of your own, the stall is 3 blocks east of here... Uh, bye?" She then flutters after everyone else and tries to stay out of further attention from the lady.

Jaxon shrugs and heads out with the others towards the docks.

Your journey from the Blakros Museum to the docks doesn’t take long. The waterfront teems with activity and the sights and sounds of one of the Inner Sea’s largest ports. Once you navigate through the crowded streets, you approach any one of the dozens of dockworkers, who wave you toward the docks where you can find Harbormaster Hansara Molnesh and the Sixwing Drake.

Hansara Molnesh is a tall, broad-shouldered Garundi woman with weathered bronze skin and graying hair. She directs a small group of dockworkers who are busy loading barrels onto a sleek, blue-sailed ship emblazoned with the name Sixwing Drake in faded paint.

"Well met! What is it you need?"

"We're looking for the Sixwing Drake. She came in this morning, but her cargo hasn't been delivered to our employers."

Samna looks curiously around the harbor as she speaks to Molnesh.

"You appear to be loading the Sixwing Drake," Qigiq notes. "Where is the cargo bound for the Blakros Museum?"

Dyner lets everyone else chat with the harbormaster as she peers around the docks looking for the possible cargo that was bound for the museum.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

She, however, only has eyes for a nearby food stall selling fried clams.

While the others talk to the harbormaster, Jaxon wanders among the goods being loaded onto the ship, trying to take stock of the crates and barrels still on the dock. He tries to see if there's any potential smuggling activity.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Underworld Lore: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Jaxon wanders among the various crates and boxes trying to see if anything's amiss. Although he does see small packages and money change hands, he doesn't really notice any major skullduggery going on.

Dyner, however, is drawn to a nearby stall where the vendor is busy frying up some clams that call to her...

Meanwhile...

The harbormaster frowns in confusion. "Someone already came by to get the shipment. At least… I think they did? They were… hmm. To be honest, I can’t remember. Come to think of it, everything that happened this morning is all… cloudy. Wait, why are the workers loading cargo on the ship?!" She turns to the crew gathered on the docks and the Sixwing Drake and shouts, "Hey, listen up! The Pathfinders are here for the shipment! Let’s get to work!"

Moments later, a dockhand on the upper deck steps rigidly toward a stack of barrels and says something inaudible over the din of the harbor. A series of massive explosions obliterates the Sixwing Drake, spewing flames and charred debris onto the docks. Out of the flames, two creatures appear and advance.

Harbormaster Molnesh, though initially stunned by the explosion, recovers and begins directing fire fighting operations.

"We'll handle the fire! You take care of those two creatures!" she yells at you.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Special Conditions:
Within 5' of Yellow is concealed (DC 5 flat check to hit). Both creatures are immune to this effect.
Any creature coming within 5' of Yellow or beginning their turn there must succeed at a DC 22 Fort Save (Sickened 1 otherwise)
------------------
Those with ** may go

Yellow
**Kondai of Numeria 19 (20 w/shield), 26/26 (DC 22 Fort Save pending; )
**Jaxon Richter AC 19 (21 w/shield), 20/30 (DC 22 Fort Save pending; 1d4 Persistent Fire, DC 15 to overcome)
**Samna AC 20, 30/30
Circle
Dyner Inazuma AC 19, 27/27
Qigiq AC 20 (22 w/shield), 24/24
Alaric AC 21, 35/35

1-Kondai, 2-Jaxon: 2d2 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

Yellow scurries up to Jaxon and tries to bite him. The jaws close on Jaxon's leg, setting him on fire.

Jaws vs Jaxon AC 19: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Fire Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

It then turns to Kondai and attempts to do the same.

Jaws vs Kondai AC 19, MAP: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

But the jaws only close on air.

Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Guess I’m sickened 2?

Kondai will cast shield, enter arcane cascade, and vomitAttempt to remove sickened
Fort again: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Nope. Damn, DC 22 is hard. I’m a high fort save class and I still need a 15 on the die or better

Samna takes a quick stride across the docks, enters her stance, and flicks some throwing stars at yellow.
Flurry
shuriken: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 for piercing: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
shuriken: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 4 = 20 for piercing: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Concealment: 1d20 ⇒ 14
Concealment: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Fort Save (DC22): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 Assume Sickened 2

Jaxon coughs violently at the smoke and you see him grab for the smoky creature. He wraps his arms around it tightly and then tries to slam his knee into it. Then he shoves his shield against it so it can't fight back. "I got it!"

Grapple (sickened): 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 - 2 = 26
Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Attack vs flat-footed (sickened): 1d20 + 9 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 4 - 2 = 18
Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (2) = 9

◆ Grapple
◆ Strike
◆ Raise Shield

Wow! It's restrained until it Escapes (Athletics DC18)

Kondai gets overwhelmed by the smoke. Samna sends a pair of shuriken at Yellow and connects.

Pushing through the nausea caused by the smoke, Jaxon manages to grab the creature and knees it, doing damage.

Meanwhile, what appears to be a flaming garbage pile makes its way to behind Yellow and expels a line of flame, cutting through Yellow and into Jaxon, Qigiq and Dyner.

Fire Damage, DC 21 Reflex for half: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) = 11

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Special Conditions:
Within 5' of Yellow is concealed (DC 5 flat check to hit). Both creatures are immune to this effect.
Any creature coming within 5' of Yellow or beginning their turn there must succeed at a DC 22 Fort Save (Sickened 1 otherwise)
------------------
Those with ** may go

Yellow (-16; Restrained, FF, Immobile, DC 18 to escape)
Kondai of Numeria 19 (20 w/shield), 26/26 (Sickened 2)
Jaxon Richter AC 19 (21 w/shield), 30/30 (Sickened 2; DC 21 Reflex pending)
Samna AC 20, 30/30
Circle
**Dyner Inazuma AC 19, 27/27 (DC 21 Reflex pending)
**Qigiq AC 20 (22 w/shield), 24/24 (DC 21 Reflex pending)
**Alaric AC 21, 35/35

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Qigiq manages to turn away in time to shield himself from some of the flames. He then steps out of the line and calls upon the heavens, "Path of Heaven guide our aim!"

◆ Step
◆◆ Cast (V/S): bless