M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
Quenly casts Blessing of Fervour on the pathfinders
Shel takes out a rat and moves in, while Quenly gives the Pathfinders an extra burst of speed.
Rats, rats and more rats crowd toward the Pathfinders.
Round 1 - bolded may go
Flyn
Omrax
Yellow Rats
Green Rats
Brown
Cyan
Blue Rats
Gold Wererats
Shel
Quenly
Purple Rats
Blue Wererats
Violet Wererats
Red Rats
Orange Rats
Noke
Pink
Red Wererats
Gray
Female N Wayang Witch (Invoker archetype, Time patron) 12 | Darkvision 60 ft | Speed 20 ft (40 ft riding Happu) | | Temp HP 19/19 | HP: 115/115 | AC 19 Tch 15, Fl 16 | CMB: +2, CMD: 15| F: +18 , R:+14, W:+14 & +1 vs. spells/spell-like ab./poison | Init: +3 | Perc: +17, SM: +3, Dipl. (Influence): +22, Bluff (Deceive): +22 | Invoke Patron: 9/12 min. | Flight 10/12 min. | Reroll 1/1 | Chaldira reroll 0/1 | Happu (riding dog) HP: 13/13 | Divune (familiar) HP: 115/115 | Act. Cond: See invisibility, Heroism
“What a mass! Why are they attacking us?!?“
Noke invokes her patron and then slumber hexes two of the rodents.
Swift action: Invoke patron Curiosity: The DCs of the invoker’s hexes and patron spells increase by 2.
Standard action: Slumber hex, with twin hex to slumber hex two (see red moon symbol) DC 26 or asleep 12 rounds.
M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
You've got a bonus Blessing of Fervour attack if you want it Flyn, unless you're taking one of the other bonuses :)
M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
These vermin only slow us down. Eliminate them quickly. If the wererats have any sense they will surrender.
Quenly gestures briefly. A fragment of shadow breaks away, floating in front of him. The shadows that still cling to the elf expand rapidly, before receding just as fast. Once the shadows have retreated, something else is in the elf's place. Still clad in darkness and held aloft on intangible phantom wings, a terrible beast is revealed: cloven-hoofed and possessed of a grotesque face at the end of a long neck, it has a bull-like body covered in spines.
Fear not, friends, for I remain Quenly. All flesh is an illusion: this, the Gods have shown me.
Quenly takes +2AC and To Hit from Blessing of Fervour; Swift Action for Quickened Divine Favour; Move action to animate his Animated Shadow Shield; Standard to activate Many Forms and assume Catoblepas form - this form has a big Trample attack and a poisonous Breath Weapon.
I will crush any foe in front of me.
Going to take an action for the little dragon too - post pending
Dragon (shadow conjuration draconic ally) | AC 15 T 14 FF 13 | HP 3/3 | F +5 R +5 W +4 (+4 vs mind affecting) SR12 | Init +2 | Perc +6, lowlight vision, darkvision, blindsense 60', see in darkness
Directed by a thought from Quenly, the little dragon flies into the warehouse. Hovering above Shel's head, it opens its mouth and spews forth a blast of corrosive acid!
acid breath:6d8 ⇒ (3, 6, 2, 1, 7, 7) = 26
Marked on map in Yellow AoE; targets get a DC21 Reflex save for half damage; because this is a Shadow Conjuration effect they also get a DC21 Will save for 20% damage. So this works out as follows:
Fail both: 26 dmg
Pass Reflex, Fail Will: 13 dmg
Fail Reflex, Pass Will: 5 dmg
Pass both: 2 dmg
Dragon also takes +2s from BoF
If the ceiling is high enough, the dragon keeps out of the wererats' melee reach.
Shel finishes off another wererat, and when Noke calls for a truce, the others realize they are being overwhelmed. They surrender, demanding to know why you invaded their warehouse. When you explain, the leader, Vaor, says that she was only there to collect their deposit.
The Pathfinders search the warehouse, and Shel finds a strange note hidden among a stack of papers on the desk in the office. You can make a Linguistics and/or Intimidate check to learn more. The result will have no immediate effect, so I will start the next mission.
The Scandal
The Pathfinders begin brainstorming ways to blackmail Lady Kaddren.
You can fabricate evidence in a number of ways, including Linguistics to forge papers, Bluff and Disguise to pretend to be Kaddren and/or Toth, or Diplomacy or Knowledge (Local) to hire someone to smear them for you. Other skills may apply if you can come up with a way to use them.
You can also try to obtain true evidence by breaking into Lady Kaddren’s private
chambers.
M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
Quenly resumes his normal shape and recovers his levitating shield. The little dragon returns to its usual spot on his shoulder.
linguistics on stange note, heroism:1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 = 27 Quenly has constant Comprehend Languages from his Scholar's Ring, if that helps
How shall we approach Lady Kaddren? It would be easy enough to find a forger in Magnimar, though I have no inkling of the likely cost. Shall we pay her a visit?
M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
Lucky that he cannot hear the mad cackling from Noke, Quenly offers advice on her pen-craft.
linguistics, Aid Another Noke's forgery:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Neither Quenly or Noke has a problem reading the note, but they cannot determine anything about it other than the actual content. The check was about noticing details, not understanding the words.
Shel locates a scoundrel willing to plant incriminating evidence on the lady or in her chambers, though the thug requests a payment of 650 gp to perform the task.
Noke creates some papers suitable for blackmail - fortunately, ignoring most of Quenly's suggestions.
You can make further preparations if you want or add more details, and still have the option of breaking and entering. When you are ready, you will need to confront Lady Kaddren to convince her to drop out.
Male Half Elf -Paladin 13 AC32/T11(18) /F31/CMD28| Hp 121/121 | Fort:+21;Ref:+16;Will+18(25) |Percept.+10 | Init.+3. { }
Omrax, not exactly pleased with his employer's direction on this mission, is all too happy to leave the 'negotiating' to others more adept at this sort of thing. He casts his daily instance of eaglesoul and meditates.
• I will suffer death before dishonor.
• I will be temperate in my actions and moderate in my
behavior. I will strive to emulate Iomedae's perfection.
Flyn makes some helpful suggestions on the document Noke is making.
At this point, you are ready to confront Lady Kaddren. This requires at minimum an Intimidate check, though effective roleplay, additional strategies and possibly other skills could improve your chances.
M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
I can look into the past and uncover connections between Kaddren and her rivals Quenly advises.
But I usually prefer more friendly negotiations that benefit both parties.
Quenly can get a decently high Knowledge (Nobility) check by using his Lore Needle - at least +26, as high as +38 if there's time for Heroism and Page-Bound Epiphany
You are escorted into a receiving room, and after a few minutes, Lady Kaddren makes an appearance.
"Oh, Pathfinders. I remember meeting you at the reception. I'm afraid I don't have time for a long chat, but if you want to discuss one of my theories to report back to your superiors, I can spare a moment."
M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
"We did not come to discuss 'theories'" Quenly declares, aloud.
"You have many enemies, Lady Kaddren. We came to warn you. Witness."
Quenly pulls a large book from his pack and opens it. The pages are blank. But then, as Quenly turns the pages and gestures as though with a quill, the ever-present shadows write words and images upon the pages at incredible speed, until the whole book is filled in barely a minute.
Knowledge.Nobility, Lore Needle substitution, Page-bound epiphany:1d20 + 26 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 26 + 10 = 47Not sure if Heroism is still up from the previous encounter, if so add another +2
Having learned much of the rivalries and deeds of the upper class of Magnimar, Quenly informs Kaddren of her own mis-steps and misdeeds before Noke presents the forged letter.
Male Half Elf -Paladin 13 AC32/T11(18) /F31/CMD28| Hp 121/121 | Fort:+21;Ref:+16;Will+18(25) |Percept.+10 | Init.+3. { }
If this is still needed…
”My good lady. We do not want to frighten thee beyond what is necessary, but reports of evil organizations have surfaced regarding said auction. We suspect for thy own safety, the less involvement thou have the better. “
Intimidate :1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18as aid to above, and with whatever buffs apply.
”We shall do our best to stop evil from prevailing. “
"Yes, yes, that's lovely. I don't think that anyone will take your word over mine, even with your little papers. And I am not worried about any 'evil' that may appear here."
It doesn't seem like Kaddren is going to leave the bidding.
If you have any other attempts, you can make them in parallel with the next mission.
The PCs have little trouble locating Jorston “Axetongue” Droaeb, as the Master of Games eagerly seeks out contestants for his most popular event. He offers you a flat rate in gold. All you must do is fight the hydra for 6 rounds, plus a bonus for each additional round they draw the fight out (as longer fights make for more excitement and more excitement makes him more money, especially once the crowd starts betting).
M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
We have to put on a show - not dispatch the hydra swiftly. Hamper the beast and bolster your defences. Restrain yourselves.
Can we identify the Hydra to see if there's anything odd about it?
Quenly's pre-fight buffs will be Deathwatch, and Displacement on himself right before the fight.
Will post actions later - not going to do Blessing of Fervour though, will probably shapechange into something showy.
No full attacks, eh Flyn!? Don't want to kill the poor beast in one round :D
M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
The shadows surrounding Quenly swirl as if in anticipation. A portion separates from the rest and hovers in front of the flying elf. And then, as before, the shadows swallow the Scarab Sage completely, expanding and then receding to reveal a three-headed beast: part dragon, part goat, and part lion.
The monster roars in challenge to the hydra.
Move action to animate animated shield; standard for Many Forms to adopt the shape of a chimera.
Dragon (shadow conjuration draconic ally) | AC 15 T 14 FF 13 | HP 3/3 | F +5 R +5 W +4 (+4 vs mind affecting) SR12 | Init +2 | Perc +6, lowlight vision, darkvision, blindsense 60', see in darkness
Meanwhile, the little dragon circles upwards out of range of the hydra's many long necks.
Flyn shrugs at Quenly before nodding in agreement with Omrax. ”Aye, I must agree with the paladin; I understand having to provide entertainment but I doubt that’s what the hydra signed up for…”
He taps himself with his mage armor wand and activates a 10-minute Infiltrator increment (to increase his natural armor by +2); he casts gravity bow right before the fight starts…
Upon the start of combat, Flyn fires a single arrow at the hydra …
To Hit: Dex+Base, Magic, Weapon Focus, Greater Bracers of Archery, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Point Blank Master, Deadly Aim
Damage: Strength, Magic, Greater Bracers of Archery, Deadly Aim
M Elf Oracle (Ancient Lorekeeper) 14 | AC 33 T 21 FF 27 | HP [132/121] 121/121| F +17 R +18 W +16 | CMD 34 | Init +12/14 | Perc +21/23 lowlight vision, scent, darkvision, see in darkness, deaf | Spells (-, 6/8, 7/8, 3/8, 5/7, 6/7, 5/6, 4/4)
I have seen your bow-work before, Flyn. I have no doubt you could kill the hydra before it got close enough to bite you. Do that though, and we don't get paid. And then any risk we have taken here is for nought.
The beast must live long enough to entertain the crowd and the arena's master. If you cannot accept this, you should not have entered the arena.
The Pathfinders take a surprisingly cautious strategy against the hydra, resulting in some calls from both the crowd and Axetongue to get on with it. Only a single arrow strikes it before it can act.
It has no similar compunctions, though its lumbering frame is not fast enough to do more than sprint across the featureless battlefueld toward you with a roar.
