GAMEDAY #8-25: Unleashing the Untouchable - GM Nowruz (Inactive)

Game Master noral

Lichaam frowns at Daathiel. "I hope you didn't leave anyone behind when you ran. That happened to me once, which is why I may be called "Lichaam the Risen". Being eaten is a unique experience, but not one I recommend."

"We may want to consider a scroll of mass planar adaptation" Lichaam offers. "We should be able to find one for around 1650 gold, and I can enhance it to last all day. It should grant us strong resistance to fire. One of us could prepare it, but that would prevent us from memorizing our most-powerful spells."

Agreed with Master Lichaam. I will contribute towards two shares if we collectively purchase the scroll.

He also looks towards Daathiel with a nod.

If Master Caduceus is willing to carry or wield the magical weapon, this would be very helpful. If not, I will carry it.

Lichaam frowns at Daathiel. "I hope you didn't leave anyone behind when you ran. That happened to me once, which is why I may be called "Lichaam the Risen". Being eaten is a unique experience, but not one I recommend."

"Oh yes, I had that experience too. Well, the being eaten, not the dying. After which I acquired these fine Gnomish boots.

Will chip in for the scroll. The quip about running was mostly a Doctor Who allusion.

Telepathically, ***...beyond the constant effect of The Breath I can protect the entire team against fire or other elements...but only for a short time...the scroll of mass adaptation is a better idea...I recommend that due to the extreme planar conditions stemming from the overlapping planes of fire and earth, especially near the Trueflame, the scroll be committed to one or both of our wizard's spellbook and memorized the day we get near that region...I am not worried about such a spell overly diminishing our casters' ability to memorize more powerful spells...I am certain they have other resources to bear in battle...logic dictates that our survival would take priority over battle capability...***

Yanndu has communal resist energy which is resist 30 for 120 min divided by the total number of creatures in our party; good buff for upcoming fight or location we plan to be in on the short term but no good for day-long explorations...

Yanndu sits still at his table and closes his eyes, then steadies his breath, thinking about all the information Daathiel has shared with them. He then begins to send his mind reeling across space and time on a thread made of bloodlines, life, death and destiny.

You all hear telepathically:

***...shepherds of the Age of Legend, masters of the elf gates and the orbs they unite, reveal thy knowledge of Kandirion’s Pyre, its people, and the Trueflame, before they were consumed by its flare 900 years ago!!!...***

Yanndu casts Ancestral Memory
Ancestral Memory spell, Direct Memory 82% chance, 01-82 succeeds: 1d100 ⇒ 6
If direct memory fails, Knowledge Arcana check, +5 insight bonus, HA: 1d20 + 18 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 18 + 5 + 2 = 44

The paladin flexes his fist as he rests his arm on the pommel of his blade. He seems as if he is contemplating the matter with a great deal of seriousness. I carry the Blade of The Inheritor herself. Would it be blasphemous to wield another weapon?

He closes his eyes in prayer, seeking guidance. He then nods to himself. Opening his eyes, he reaches for the pick with conviction. "I would be honored to carry the means of freedom if it means ending the bondage of any entity." As he holds the pick, he takes a step away from the others. Rolling his wrist, he attempts to gain a feel for the weapon.

To help with his own survivability, Caduceus carries Inheritor's Light. It adds +1 to each die rolled to heal me (up to the maximum possible. It's a nice supplemental healing. However, if I'm the best suited to carry the pick, I can do that. Just to be clear, Cad is a healer, not a melee dps guy. Heck, I don't even have the most hp, lol.

Also willing to toss in coin for a scroll or two of the Planar Adaptation. I've used it in another Seeker story arc. Love that spell. Is anyone able to cast Life Bubble? That is another favorite of mine.

@Cad sorry , I did not see Inheritors light as primary and thought only had mw weapon. Fendahl is normally a secondary fighter and not usually on front line but seems best suited in this party. The long sword for Iomedae is more important to a paladin than katana for samurai. Stick with sword.

Fendahl bows to Cad.

”Master Caduceus, do not dishonor your patroness as her symbol. This is a mighty weapon. But the sword is the light of the Inheritor. Carry her with honor. I will wield Fossilblight if it must be held aloft to protect us..“

Kyron will take 10 for 37 on the knowledge (planes) check.

"On the subject of the Mass Planar Adaptation spell, I have it in my spell book so would be more than happy to prepare it. Personally, I'd much rather do that than need to buy a scroll."

@Cad - Life Bubble is great, I always make sure I have it prepared.

Kyron Turns to The Master of Spells and her companion. "Is there any more you can tell us regarding Ayrzul, Ymeri and the forces which they have at their disposal in the region. Are there any other threats in the area which it would be useful for us to know about?"

You put your heads together and although you have heard about Kandirion, you do not know more than what you already remembered.

But you know more about the elemental lords!

~

Ayrzul, the Fossilized King, is one of the four powerful demigods collectively known as the elemental lords, who dwells on the Plane of Earth.

Ayrzul has existed since the earliest days of the Elemental Planes, during which he shared control of the Plane of Earth with his rival Sairazul, one of four good elemental lords. Initially, the good elemental lords had the upper hand, while their evil rivals were disorganised. However, as life evolved on the Material Plane and started using the elements for evil purposes, the situation reversed.

While the good elemental lords started bickering, Ayrzul and fellow evil elemental lords Ymeri and Hshurha were gathered under one banner by Kelizandri, and together they defeated their good rivals one by one and sealed them away.

~

Ymeri, Queen of the Inferno, dwells within the Auroric Palace on the Elemental Plane of Fire, and is one of the four powerful beings collectively known as the elemental lords.

She is served there by a cult of fiery creatures—efreet, fire mephits, fire elementals, and others. Her followers seek to raise her to divine status, and ultimately gain control over the entire Plane of Fire.

She believes that elemental earth will eventually succumb to elemental fire, and appears to be seeking to promote war between the efreet and the shaitans of the Plane of Earth. This is possibly connected to her rivalry with the mysterious Ayrzul.

~

Ranginori, the Duke of Thunder, is the good elemental lord of the Plane of Air.

In the Age of Creation, Kelizandri struck an alliance with his fellow elemental lords and took advantage of their good rivals' disunity to defeat and imprison them. Ranginori was held in the Untouchable Opal, which was kept by Ayrzul, leaving the Plane of Air under the authority of Hshurha.

In 4717 AR, Ranginori's wardens discovered that his prison was not entirely secure and moved the Untouchable Opal to the comet Aucturn's Tear, viewing the vacuum as a deterrent to his agents. However, Ranginori took advantage of his prison being incomplete and weak to strain against his bonds, causing the comet to glow like a star and attracting the attention of numerous astronomers across the solar system.

This included the Pathfinder Society, whose agents successfully retrieved the Untouchable Opal from Ayrzul's agents.

Now, just years later, the Society figured out the key to Ranginori's prison and you are obviously here to destroy the Untouchable Opal, allowing Ranginori to return to the Plane of Air and recover his strength.

Sorrina listens to you all and tries to answer some of the questions.

"Well, we have not heard that teleportation is in any way hampered to be honest in the area where the pyre is but in some areas this could be the case."

Grave Treader jumps in.

"Regarding the resistance that you can expect: As best we can tell, Ayrzul does not consider the Pyre a priority and believes we will act elsewhere to liberate Ranginori. Ymeri is not so convinced, and has committed a significant number of fire elementals to the region and demanded Ayrzul do the same with his forces. Beyond those creatures, we’re not sure.” she says and shrugs.

Sorrina then looks at all of you with an apologetic look on her face.

"I am really sorry that we cannot accompany you but if you think ... " but before she can continue, Grave Treader grimaces and touches her arm.

“Stop it Sorrina!" the Shoanti says and looks at all of you. "If we thought we’d be of any help, we would join you. Unfortunately this is so far beyond our capabilities that it’s almost laughable. You’re here because you’re the best. We know our limits, and we know when to cede the floor to the more experienced. That’s you.”

"I hope we can live up to your faith in us." says Kyron.

"So by the sound of it we are most likely to principally come up against forces loyal to Ymeri from the Plane of Fire."

He rubs his chin in contemplation. "We've spoken about various long-term protections with which we are able to ward ourselves with against potential threats. How close to the Pyre are you able to get us? Are we talking hours worth of travel or days?"

He turns to his companions "What options do we have for communicating back to our friends here if needed?"

Sorrina nods.

"Good question! We teleport you to a point on the trail several hours outside of Kandirion’s Pyre. From there you have to walk or fly or whatever else but teleportation can be dangerous so we chose a location where we know that you will be safe!"

"You can't be expected to do more than you can" Lichaam adds. Unlike some briefings, this one apparently had some effort put into it.

"Kyron, you said you can warp prepared spells into fireball variants? I noticed your spellbooks didn't include move earth. Would you like to prepare or copy it from my spellbook? We may not need it, but if the entrance is blocked or buried it might be helpful."

Several hours walk away... "I could prepare communal phantom steed. With a touch of darkwood, they would have constant flight and move faster than anything but an air elemental. Earth elementals also have tremorsense, and the flying steeds would help us avoid that." At 333% the speed of a standard unladen human, divided among the six... no, seven of them... "Each mount would last two hours, during which we would cover a distance most races would take nearly seven hours to travel on foot. That should get us to Kandirion's Pyre, but they will probably expire soon after."

"There is a problem, though. The spell can only produce six mounts. Another, weaker version could be used to produce one for Rajah if she can ride. If she can't, there is a spell to reduce her weight by a factor of 8, but we might need to shift equipment around to ensure none of the mounts are overloaded. How heavy is she?"

"Ah good. That certainly opens up our options when it comes to our defenses."

"You mentioned that there was a fiery ward around the front entrance to the Pyre. How much do we know about that? Are we simply talking about a wall of flame through which Ymeri's followers can pass due to immunity to fire, or is it something more sophisticated?"

The Master of Spells thanks Lichaam with a nod.

"To be honest we do not know exactly how the ward works so you have to figure that out yourself!" she responds to Kyron.

”Hrmm. I have means to absorb Rajah into my armor. This assists in transportation but leaves her unavailable for fighting if needed. “

"That is a most useful armor enchantment, Fendahl. I know of a Venture-Captain that uses it often."
Sir Hendric, my highest-level PFS character, is a human cavalier on a horse who has Hosteling armor.

"If combat should occur unexpectedly, I am sure we can hold out for the few seconds it takes to summon her forth. But, more likely, we will have some advance notice of a horde of angry elementals."

"As for myself, I can fly, but a Phantom Steed is much faster. I would appreciate that spell, Lichaam."

Angel Wings just gives a 30' fly speed.

"Is the effect teleporting us able to also send six horse-sized conjurations?" Lichaam asks Sorrina.

"Do we want to purchase two scrolls of invisibility sphere? They should be able to fit three horses and riders under each if they ride closely together, which would help if we need to hide or sneak on the way there."

@GM Nowruz: did we get anything else about the Pyre, its wards, exterior/interior map, guardians based on Yanndu's successfully unlocked memory? i.e. "Success indicates that [...] that one of your ancestors came across a situation or problem similar to one you are currently facing. In this case, the GM provides you with some specific information to assist you in overcoming your problem." Anything you have - even fluff! ;) - would be greatly appreciated!

Yanndu taps into the memories of his ancestors!!

Suddenly visions flood his mind!

Centuries ago, Kandirion’s Pyre was a sprawling complex both aboveground and below, but a particularly devastating trueflame flare scoured nearly the entire surface flat.

Yanndu telepathically shares his vision across both mind links he's established with the team. ***...this is what it used to look like...these molten ruins are what remains...***

@GM: any advanced map previews from these visions?

Yanndu's vision allows him to draw a map that reveals how the structure looks like!

See handouts.

Any more information/preparation you need?

"I'd still like to know the limits of the effect teleporting us. Can it also teleport six large horselike constructs or not?"

Lichaam pauses, considering. "Also, can it handle an elder air elemental? We could use the Opal to summon one today. It should have recharged by tomorrow, and we can still summon another if the guardian elemental is dissipated."

"If there are no objections, I would carry to take the Untouchable Opal. I have some affinity for gemstones, and the energies flowing through it are fascinating."

"Is the effect teleporting us able to also send six horse-sized conjurations?" Lichaam asks Sorrina.

"If you want then we can also teleport you twice so that you can take horses with you. But ... but they will suffer from the heat I think." Sorrina says.

Lichaam pauses, considering. "Also, can it handle an elder air elemental? We could use the Opal to summon one today. It should have recharged by tomorrow, and we can still summon another if the guardian elemental is dissipated."

Sorrina looks nervous. "Well, I think that there won't be a tomorrow. You will be teleported and then need to travel for a couple of hours to reach the pyre!"

"Great! No waiting around then."

Daathiel will cast Heroism on himself, and use a charge of Channel the Gift (wand now at 49) on Fendahl to power Barkskin (+5, 130 minutes). He will also cast Heightened Awareness (140 minutes).

He will have his Wand of Shield in hand.

Spells remaining: 6/6/5/5/3

"Ready to go."

Long buffs:
Detect Scrying
False Life: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Mage Armor

Medium buffs: (if arriving to location or if scout reports permit)
Message
See Invisibility
Heightened Awareness
Antitoxin
Antiplague

Short buffs (before imminent battle):
Fly
Vanish, Invisibility, or Greater Invisibility
Shield

Fendahl casts bark skin on self and Rajah and any loaning pearl (etc)

He will also cast heighten awareness and then hostel the lioness into his armor until arrival on plane.

”Ready. “

Kyron will buy a couple of doses of clear ear and use one no more than 2 hours before the party leave.

Prior to leaving he will cast Mage Armor and Overland Flight.

When we have all the creatures we are taking with us he will cast Mass Planar Adaptation (Plane of Fire).

Kyron is also ready.
I also realised I wouldn't be able to memorise Move Earth as we need to leave today and all my level 6 spell slots were full.

@Lichaam & GM: maybe Yanndu's visions can help with surrounding terrain (it looks like typical rocky/mountainous/volcanic from the map...)

GM goodwill here with such a high roll. :-)

Yanndu also remembers that there are two major areas of interest on the surface of Kandirion’s Pyre.

One is Kandirion’s Gate, a crumbling ziggurat from which a thousand-foot-tall plume of fire erupts, surrounded by a field of ash and bones several hundred feet wide.

The other noteworthy feature is a collection of outbuildings that are now little more than brittle beams, crumbling walls, and vitrified foundations.

~

The master of spells looks at all of you.

"I wish you all the best!!" she says.

I will move us forward tomorrow.

Sorrina nods to you.

"We are really thankful! So much will happen when we free Ranginori!" Sorrina’s eyes sparkle as she says, “We’ll change the fate of the planes themselves. In a more immediately practical sense, Ranginori will likely try to escape to a safer place to regain his strength. He is aware that you are key allies in his liberation.”

Sorrina guides you to Lodehollow’s great plaza along with a Garundi mage named Farhaana Zadeh, the female court conjurer of Thuvia’s Emir Guldis, who owes the Society several favors.

Farhaana seems a little agitated about this assignment but teleports you as often as needed.

Sorrina hands you six potions of endure elements and six potions of resist energy (fire), after which Farhaana teleports you to a point on the trail several hours outside of Kandirion’s Pyre.

So close to Kandirion’s Pyre, the Plane of Earth is a hellish, blasted landscape of twisted igneous rock and jutting spines of volcanic glass hundreds of feet tall that angle away from the incandescent glow of the horizon like glittering quills.

A ceiling of stone disappears into an inky darkness overhead, and distant formations of rock a mile across rise up in looming columns. The horizon in the direction of Lodehollow entirely dark, and in the direction of Kandirion’s Pyre there is a flickering, eternal dawn of firelight that casts exaggerated shadows across the blasted realm.

A highway of fire-blackened stone snakes toward that horizon, leading the way to Kandirion’s Pyre.

What is everyone's speed over long distances (i.e. not using any abilities with duration 10 minutes/level or shorter)? Air or land?
Do you use the road or try to avoid it?

Survival : 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Fendahl scans the terrain ahead for the sign of an movement.

Perception,HA : 1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 21 + 2 = 25

Rajah remains hostelled in Fendahl’s armor. He has +10 ride, so should auto the ride check(but can roll to see if he can get another subpar dice :-).
What altitude and are we invisible?

After a quick glance around, Lichaam pulls out his scroll of eagle eye and begins casting it.

One minute later, a magical sensor appears high overhead and gives a birds-eye view of the land. If time permits, he carefully checks the land for patrols or hazards.

Take20 Perception (560' up, with HA and Clear Ear): 20 + 21 = 41
Take10 Geography (with HA and Clear ear): 10 + 30 = 40

W: False Life: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Knowledge (Planes), Heroism, Heightened Awareness: 1d20 + 30 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 30 + 2 + 2 = 51

Daathiel will share what he knows of the local geography.
"We are about six miles from the Pyre. The road may be more heavily traveled by sentinels; I would suggest avoiding it, flying parallel to it but not too near it."

If for whatever reason we lose the Phantom Steeds, Daathiel has a fly speed of 30'.

Caduceus tries to comprehend the chaos all around him. "Sword and Sun! How does this place exist? Why does it exist?" He spends moments attempting to force 'order' into what he sees; patterns, symbols, anything that might make sense. He is on the verge of being overwhelmed when he simply gives up. Just focus on the others...and the mission. He reaches out subconsciously to confirm the sympathetic link between his various allies is intact. He takes solace in this. For now, it is the one thing on this plane he can control.

Knowledge The Planes check, +5 insight bonus, HA: 1d20 + 18 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 18 + 5 + 2 = 44

Yanndu reviews the map of the local terrain all the way Kandirion’s Pyre and transmits the layout telepathically. ***...with Lichaam's phantom steeds and using a parallel route...my calculations...45 minutes...shall we, Lichaam?...***

After about 40 minutes of travel on the phantom steeds, Yanndu adds his medium duration buffs.

***Please wait... confirming the map...*** Lichaam "sounds" distracted as he concentrates on his divination, twisting one hand a few degrees.

If the Take20 is going to take more than a couple of minutes, just take10 and move on

Currently, there is no opposing force or anything else that is strange - except of the utterly surreal surroundings that you are in - visible.

Just want to make sure that Kyron has a chance to react and then I will move on.
I like Lichaam's current buffs. I am honest that you guys have so much going on that I am already confused. :-) If you want to make my life easier then please indicate somewhere the effects that are active so we do not have to retcon too much because I forget something ... which I most definitely will! ;-/

knowledge (planes) + clear ear: 1d20 + 27 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 27 + 2 = 34

Kyron stares out across the blasted landscape. ”Well I guess we’d better get moving.”

Once we are approaching the Pyre, but sill out of line of sight, Kyron will also cast some medium term buffs (so most likely at the same time as Yanndu).

I’ll keep my active effects up to date in my header (although if it gets to long I’ll move it into the posts themselves).

”hrmm. Once we are close to the pyre I will release Rajah and add additional support. “

Long term buffs in header for now. Once medium and short buffs added, I can spoiler in post. Also for rajah and any summons I may spoiler attack rolls since pouncing cats can be a bunch of dice to wade through.

On the horizon you see a flickering tongue of fire at least a thousand feet high ... this is your destination.

Resembling a thin cyclone of white-hot flames, this persistent fire marks the location of Kandirion’s Pyre. The land between here and the flame is even more jagged and broken than before.

The ground smolders with heat, and smoke issues from glowing-hot fissures in the earth. A crumbling stone building—little more than partly intact, fire-blackened walls—perches atop a nearby cliff.

You are only about halfway to Kandirion’s Pyre.

So all those that indicated that you would buff when near the pyre ... you do not have those spells up so far and please readjust your buff list / stats etc ... sorry for that but I did not write the scenarion. :-/
SEE MAP FOR LOCATION.

You all realize that the heat issuing from the large fissures in the ground is immense!

You are only about halfway to Kandirion’s Pyre.

Roughly speaking what does this mean in terms of travel time?

Telepathically, ***...I do not like the amount of heat coming out of these cracks...let us be on our guard and steer clear of these...stay close to me and The Breath...***

Yanndu heightens his awareness...

Casting Heighten Awareness
Knowledge Geography, HA: 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 17 + 2 = 33

Yanndu then focuses briefly on the The Breath and the decanter exudes a thin refreshing mist...

Fire Resistance 10 (30 against fire planar traits) to everyone within 30-feet

Knowledge: Planes: 1d20 + 31 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 31 + 2 + 2 = 38

***Did your planar adaptation wear off?*** Lichaam asks. ***That should protect you from the heat of those fissures, unless you fall in.***

Lichaam studies the crumbling building, trying to pinpoint a time period or architectural style.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 2 + 2 = 39
Knowledge: Engineering: 1d20 + 26 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 26 + 2 + 2 = 35
Knowledge: History: 1d20 + 31 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 31 + 2 + 2 = 41

***...it did not...but a bit of redundancy from a artifact source will not hurt...*** sends back Yanndu with a thought.

***Redundancies are always a good idea*** Lichaam offers. ***...nearly always. No, I was commenting on your reluctance to approach the fissures.***

Lichaam glances back down at the fissures to verify he hadn't missed anything before returning his gaze to the ruins. Kandirion's Pyre was consumed 900 years ago, so perhaps something contemporary with that?

Knowledge: Geography: 1d20 + 26 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 26 + 2 + 2 = 48
Because Lichaam hadn't thrown Geography at the fissures yet

”Hrmm - I do not like these heat emissions either, Master Yanndu.
Not that it is unexpected. But also not something we can spend much time deviating from our course. “

He casts freedom of movement on himself.

Perception : 1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 21 + 2 = 43

knowledge (planes) + clear ear: 1d20 + 27 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 27 + 2 = 48

As the stone building come into view Kyron takes out a wand and casts heightened awareness on himself, before packing it away and seeing if he can spot anything of interest in the ruin.

perception + clear ear + HA: 1d20 + 27 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 27 + 2 + 2 = 40

"I agree Yanndu, we should probably avoid going directly over those cracks. We've got some good protections up, but it still wouldn't hurt be be careful."

How high up are we flying? I assume not high enough to be spotted from a distance, but equally not so low that we could be grabbed if something ambushed us from ground level?

@Kyron - I was assuming 30-50' up or something like that...