GM Top's Dungeon Delver's (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

"Greetings. You might remember me, I've done some scribing work here. Bilos Nizhnny. As my associate has said, we are simply looking for some information."

Profession (Scribe): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Sense Motive, Aid Kaz: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

longshot here...is craft alchemy valid?

alchemy if so: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Not here Ander, but good try. However...

Bilos knows the workings here inside and out. Well, maybe not that well. But he did have to come here twice already to speak with wizards about their commissions, so he takes lead. Working with the friendly and helpful Karen, he quickly determines the orbs are called "Beacons of Ralzeros" and that the remaining two beacons are in journeyman wizard Maren Fuln’s office on campus and on display in the Blakros Museum. The Wizard's office being in a nearby building makes it the logical choice to go to next.

Last chance to make the Arcana or Religion check about the Dark Tapestry. If you wanted, you could go to the Museum next instead, but it is definitely farther away.

know.arcana, dark tapestry: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

knowledge Religion Assist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Know religion 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Knowledge? Nah....: 0 = 0 Don't have either!

The pathfinders take a few moments to peruse the library’s wealth of information while their scribe manages all the nitty gritty.

The bird flies high and searches the high stacks. Kaztor and Bilos use Dran as a gopher and scour religious texts. When all is said and done, a few things seem to have been learned.

The Dark Tapestry is the common term for the lifeless space between the stars.

The object in the fungal vault resembles one astronomer’s depiction of Aucturn, the planet farthest from the sun in Golarion’s solar system. Not much is known about the enigmatic planet, other than that reaching it via teleportation or portal is exceedingly difficult and that only vile creatures can thrive in its poisonous atmosphere.

I will move us to the next scene when I get my next chance to post.

The dwarven delvers arrive at the office given as being occupied by the wizard Maren Fuln. The document listed that he recently checked out an orb for ‘research’, but nothing else.

The door is closed but light is seen through the crack at the bottom.

"Try knocking first, but Ruya doesn't really care about doors."

Kaz knocks at the door. ”Wizard? You in there? We’ve come to warn you of danger…”

"At least there's a light. That's a good sign. Probably." Halali shrugs.

"I mean it probably means that Fuln hasn't opened a portal to the void and been dragged through. Maybe."

"Some portals can be very glowy, though."

Dran considers the light at the crack. What color is this light?

Normal light from fire (torch, candle, fireplace, light spell, lantern, it’s all about the same color). There is no excessive noise or heat to indicate an out of control fire.

A voice responds, ”I am busy with my work and certainly not in danger. Go away.”

The usual methods for getting inside could be useful here. Convincing your way in, breaking in, etc… Or you could leave and come back later, I’m sure everything is fine!

Diplomacy 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

”Zarta sent us. Something about two orbs you have that can go crazy and destroy the whole building. And you, I suppose,” Kaz warns the mage.

Just let us in for a moment...we'll be on our way...

diplo aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 2 = 6

"Have any of the inanimate objects in your study shown any tendency to reject their state of quietus during the last 24 hours? If not, then we may still be in time."

diplo aid: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (11) - 3 = 8

Really nice door ya got here. Be a shame if somethin were to happen to it.

diplo aid: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Dang

Something happens to the door... a phantom pokes her head through it to see if everything is actually fine. He probably won't even notice, since he's so busy.

"We'll only be a moment if you can open the door for a quick check. Then get back to your work while we go and report that you are well...."

Diplomacy aid?: 1d20 ⇒ 6 Are we the anti-diplomacy team or what?

Ruya peeks her head inside briefly and notices a humanoid sitting at a desk looking right at her. He blinks a few times and by that point she has disappeared back into the hall. The other thing she noticed was some sort of small creature in the middle of some sort of magical circle.

Fortunately, the only one heard through the thick door is Kaztor. The guy responds, ”Zarta? The only one I have ever met with that name was Zarta Dralneen. It was a fundraiser and she was without a doubt, the most striking person in the room. She barely had time for me, but it still made an impression. And if you are on her behest, then you aren’t with the university. Let me get the door and I’ll hear you out.”

You hear a chair creak and footsteps are heard coming towards it.

Trained Knowledge Dungeoneering to ID the creature. Anyone trained can roll at this time as you will all see the creature very soon. I’ll get my next post up at some point when I have access to my home computer to put up a map.

know.dunegoeneering: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Grim flaps his wings and alights on a bookshelf. He squints at the creature in the circle, but has nothing to say about it.

Knowledge-Dungeoneering? Nope!

that's a no go on the K. Dungeon for me...

Knowledge (Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

From Ruya's description, Bilos is sure that it is a very small elder red dragon.

The door swings open and you see a tall human male with a scraggly beard standing before you.

The floor of this workplace is layered in charcoal and gravel, with mounds of incense burning in regularly spaced wall sconces and two metal braziers to the north. Worktables, chairs, and haphazard stacks of papers take up the eastern half of the room. A glass sphere floats above a desk in the western section of the room, holding a roiling mass of dark liquid. Faint motes of light fly from the orb to a wide summoning circle that has been carefully drawn in the stone and ash, illuminating its circumference with subtly shifting numerological sigils.

Inside the circle is an odd creature. Thin tendrils trail from this misshapen ovoid. Its underside holds a gray orb that resembles a bulging, lidless eye. It seems to be looking at the pathfinders.

The human asks, "How can I help Zarta?"

By the gods, what is that thing u've summoned? Dran blurts out as he takes in the room.

”Weve been told you possess two orbs that Zarta needs contained. The one at the Society malfunction and let out all sorts of evil stuff. Weve been given these cubes to safely store the orbs in for everyone’s protection.”

He replies to Dran with a slight shrug, ”I am not really sure, but they are an interesting conversationalist.”

And then answers Kaztor, ”Two orbs? No, I just checked out one. Why would I need two? And anyway, I am using it to power the summoning circle so don’t disturb it.”

You summoned something..and you don't know what it is? I've heard some absolutely wild things in my time...but that is near the top, fer sure... Ander says, near gobsmacked.

And if that orb goes bonkers, it's gonna be bad...

He looks annoyed, ”Obviously I didn’t summon something randomly. I had intended to bring a raelis azata here to ask some questions, but this little one showed up instead. I have been working on figuring out why and who they are. But if you just want to insult me and not help, you can leave.”

"You need help? You just asked how you could help Zarta.

Now dismiss your summons so we can secure that arcane booby-trap."

Halali scowls mightily. "You can dismiss it, right?"

His ire seems to rise more, ”I am not wasting this opportunity to further my research or figure more out about this creature or orb. And since none of you have provided ANY useful information about this creature or the orb other than ‘it goes bad, give it to us’ then I will have to ask you to leave.”

He taps his chin, ”Unless you actually want to help me figure it out faster? If so, go talk to the creature.”

Halali rolls her eyes, but steps up to the summoning circle. "Fine."

"Okay then. Hello creature. I am Halali from the Sodden Lands. Who are you, and where do you come from?"

It shifts in the circle and seemingly focuses on Halali. She hears a voice in her head, ”Not sodden lands am I from, Nggilth-Tsa is how I feel today. Does your emotions slough on and off like skin?”

Grunigon snorts at the human. "You planned to summon a Raelis Azata? What you've got is a creature from the Dark Tapestry. That's what that orb does, twisting your magic. Using you. I hope your summoning circle can contain it. If not, well, you'll be its first target since you summoned it."

Ander just watches, not knowing how to process what is happening. His finger remains close to the trigger should something need a hole punched in it quickly.

”Welp, if it’s evil, I suppose we could smite it if you aren’t able to control it.”

"Did you boys hear that?" Halali looks about, not having seen the creature move anything resembling a mouth.

"I think it might be friendly. Alien and weird, but friendly."

"Hello Nggilth-Tsa. No, neither my emotions nor my skin sloughs anywhere. Although I'm not really myself before my second cup of coffee in the morning.

Do you know how you came here? Would you like to be somewhere else?"

Can ya sent it back? Dran asks, not liking the strangeness of the creature. I feel like my emotions might be sloughin a little.

Halali, roll a Diplomacy or Spellcraft check, your choice. No aids allowed here.

The creature floats in a circle, focusing briefly on the orb and then turning back to Halali. The words echo in her mind again, "Lights, bright lights, to hold in the dark. When the dark pushes back, the lights shine brighter, and there is balance, a seal on the gate. But the dark is everywhere now, even within the light, for the light now shines from the darkest stone in orbit. Maybe Corners of Spheres can now unseal the gate from inside. Why are all your senses on one head?"

______________

The wizard shrugs at Grunigon's argument, "It isn't here to harm me, I have nothing to fear." He moves back to his desk and sits down, pulling out a pen, "If it speaks to you in your mind please share."

spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Meh. I wanna know more! GM reroll with my shiny new third star :)

spellcraft, GM reroll: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 3 = 18

"Not all of my senses are in my head, Ngglith-Tsa. My sense of touch comes through the skin that covers me. Sometimes I sense the spirits of my ancestors, and their emotions, and I've no idea how or why.

Who is Corners of Spheres? You say that like it's someone's name."

Halali turns towards the wizard. "It's telling me that there is Light and Dark, fighting, but there's a balance and some sort of sealed gate. Someone or something called Corners of Spheres is beyond the gate, but may be able to break the seal."

The lady dwarf feels something heavy pressing on her consciousness, but then just as quickly it fades.

Halali, roll an Intimidate or Knowledge: Engineering check, your choice. You get a +2 circumstance bonus but still no aids allowed.

The wizard seems very intrigued, ”Oh! It hasn’t thought anything like that to me, maybe you all are useful!” The comment is insulting, but you don’t feel he intended it to be.

The voice drizzles into Halali’s head again like wet honey, ”Corners of Spheres. One who craves memories. One who longs for day to understand night. It is hard to warm a cold void. If you stop breathing, do your thoughts change color?”

Ander gets a little antsy, not knowing what's going on. He watches carefully.

Not a fan of this...not at all... he says as he puffs away furiously.

Can I roll Engineering untrained?

skill check: 1d20 ⇒ 15 If Engineering, +3; if Intimidate, -1; both totals include the circumstance bonus.

"It's okay, Shooter. I've talked to spirits almost as strange out on the mountains."

"Let's see" Halali thinks to the alien creature. She holds her breath. "Nope. Just the same." She exhales again.

"So Corners of Spheres is trapped in the dark, but might break out to see the day. I'm sorry it's so cold."

Untrained on the Knowledge skill would just be a common knowledge check, maxed at ten. And with that roll, I’ll go with Intimidation.

Halali is happy to have learned some things, which seem to be freely given and true. But she gets a nagging feeling the creature is learning a lot about her and her companions too. It floats there softly waiting for further interaction.

Anything else from Halali or anyone else?

Kaz isn’t going to interact with that obviously evil thing other than using his detect evil ability on it.

"You got anything you want to ask, Fuln? It seems happy talking to me. But it's also watching. I get the sense that it's feeding information back, somewhere, somehow."

Halali asks the creature "Which is greater, the sea or the sky?"