Just minutes ago, messengers from the Decemvirate banged on your door and demanded your presence at the Grand Lodge. Venture-Captain Hestram, it seemed, had received an important bit of news about work that a Nethys cleric Pathfinder named Rijana was doing in the Mana Wastes--important enough to summon you at such an early hour and demand your preparedness for a new mission assignment.
Female LG follower of Sarenrae | human (actually mostly human Ifrit) | freckles, sweet, naive, fierce personality in battle | Outsider (Native), Humanoid (human) | Resistances: Elec. 3, Acid 3, Fire 2, Cold 3 | Smite 1/1 | Boots of Speed 10/10 | Swashbuckler 5, Paladin 2, Unchained Monk 3, Bloodrager 1 | HP 106/106 | Protector Familiar HP 53 | with mage armor/rage: AC 35, T 30, FF 24 | CMD 37 | F: +23, R: +25 (Evasion), W: +17 | Init: +13 | Perc: -2, SM: -2 | Ki Pool 7/7 | Stunning Fist 6/6 | Rage 6/6 | LoH 7/7 | Panache 6/6 + Plume 1/1 | Reroll 1/1 + Lesson of H. 1/1 | Eefriti Magic 1/1 | Darkvision 60ft | Speed 40ft | Active cond.: +4 Dex
You do not hear much from shy but likable Setare.
She seems to be quite nervous and looks around.
Setare is a scrawny girl with auburn hair and amber eyes.
Her features seem Chelaxian but also have something else mixed in.
She is wearing a brown adventuring outfit but no armor. She has a plume on her head, carries a scimitar at her hip that is attached to her left wrist with a very fine chain and has a finely crafted adamantine chestus attached to her right hand.
Around her neck a pendant with the holy symbol of Sarenrae is clearly visible.
"He ... hello, I am Se.. Setare .." Setare says with a quivering voice and a shy smile.
Then she focuses on the group of Pathfinders.
"Ehhh ... it is ... you know ... I’m ... ehh ... good that we are together.” she says and then looks down to the ground.
The young tusked wizard smiles back at the girl. Xilt pushes back his grey hair and arranges his spiffy brass covered transparent staff while he speaks to Setare.
"Indeed. It has been several months at least from my last adventure. So if they decide to call us in a bit early then who am I to complain?"
"Right, I almost forgot. I am Xilt, and this is my travelling companion Tzleztor."
Male N Salt Mephit | Buffs: | HP 41/41|DR 5/Magic| FH 2 Arid Env|AC 25 T 14 FF 22|CMB +5 CMD 18|F +4 R +5 W +7|Init +6|PER +14 DV 60' SM+1|30' Fly 40'+18 Stealth+20|Improved Evasion,SR 16
At first blush this salt mephit is armed for war. Scrolls, wands and even a short and strangely stubby magical staff hang at his side. He has clearly seen and participated in his share of action.
Tzleztor snorts at his master's maladroit introduction.
"Ha, this one is not one for small talk. In fact he hired some freshly scrubbed nobleman from the Tullian family to announce his presence after an almost fatal faux pas a year back."
"But I guess it is too early and not an auspicious enough venue for him to show."
Per +17, low light, SM +17, Acro +19 (31 to jump, running start) Mv 60, Climb 20, Mage Armor (CL1) Ring Force Shield, Barkskin HP 104/104 AC 36 FF 33 T 23 – Init +4 - CMB +17/19 trip (+1 unarmed), CMD 38 – 41 Trip, UnStrike 16/16/11 for d10+6, Ki Strike (magic/cold iron/silver/lawful,) Shattering Punch, Flying Kick Ki 7/8 Combat Reflexes (4), Bodyguard +3, In Harm’s Way, Mobility, Deflect Arrows, Insightful Wisdom, Improved Evasion
To say a Vanaran Pathfinder agent is a rarity, is an understatement.
Yet, standing before you, is just that. Dressed in bright purple robes, with a temple sword hanging from his side, the monkey man speaks.
"Greetings all, I am Monkey Boy, the Humble One. Though you may have heard of my many military exploits, and the many Society missions I have guided to success, I will not detail them. Humility demands, I keep my many glories to myself. And I will not brag of my great skill in unarmed combat, nor speak vainly of my ability to aid and protect others. I will say this, staying close to me may be good for your health. I hope all of you will also get a chance to shine on this mission."
Venture-Captain Adril Hestram, a bear of a man, hustles into the hall.
"All right, gather round! Are we missing someone? No matter. Here's the situation. A Pathfinder cleric of Nethys named Rijana is one of the best scholars on arcane mysteries that we have,” says Hestram as he paces back and forth.
He shakes a thin sheaf of papers in his hand. “This missive from her hand just a month ago tells a daring tale of hidden dimensions in the Mana Wastes that could be used to return magic once again to that failed, desolate garbage heap. I could care less about restoring magic there—-but I care a lot about what bizarre ruins and hidden sanctums might have been concealed there while magic lay dormant. I haven’t the time to waste to send another message back and await its answer—-I’ve asked a Decemvirate member, a powerful wizard, to teleport you to Rijana’s last known location, a dusty hamlet on the edge of the Wastes in northern Geb called Geb’s Rest. I’m sending the lot of you because Geb is dangerous, the Mana Wastes are deadly, and I want this thing done right.”
Hestram snorts. “Well, I at least want it done. You lot will have to do. Get to Geb’s Rest, find Rijana, and bring back whatever notes she’s got in her journals about the Mana Wastes. She should have four journals if my memory of her bizarre organizational skills is correct—-I
want all four of them. Tell her I’m reviewing them for inclusion in the Pathfinder Chronicles, I don’t care. Just bring them back. Now get yourself ready to go—-you can’t buy a decent potion within a hundred miles of this backwater dust pile.”
In addition to questions, you can purchase equipment. The scenario instructs me to tell you "the Mana Wastes is almost entirely magic dead."
Male N Salt Mephit | Buffs: | HP 41/41|DR 5/Magic| FH 2 Arid Env|AC 25 T 14 FF 22|CMB +5 CMD 18|F +4 R +5 W +7|Init +6|PER +14 DV 60' SM+1|30' Fly 40'+18 Stealth+20|Improved Evasion,SR 16
"Yes, Salt Mephits do like their arid regions. The rest of us, well there is magic for that."
"I do suggest that everyone prepares themselves for the adventure. We have no divine casters in the party so people should be prepared to bring their own healing and ... water of course."
"Setare, hopefully we will be able to find Rijana and her journals. So do not worry."
Hestram nods. "Rijana's an experienced Pathfinder, but if she needs a hand, lend it to her. Just don't let her talk you out of getting the journals--she'd spend a decade perfecting each page if we let her!" He shrugs when asked about the weather. "That I couldn't say. Hot and barren, from what I've heard."
"Alright then. I will head to the nearest temple and get some protection against the sun before we leave."
He looks at Setare a bit more closely and thinks that he has a good idea of her true heritage.
K-Local of 24 should probably be more than enough for this and as it is only for RP purposes I will not sweat the details.
"I don't think that either of you needs or wants protection but I can set you up if you like."
@GM Jhaeman - Xilt will deduct 10 gold from his Slush Fund for a non-permanent cost for spell casting services (Endure Elements). I am going with the assumption that Tzleztor should be fine in desert-like conditions considering that his Fast Healing is only active under arid conditions. If you disagree then I can deduct another 10 gold from Xilt's slush fund.
Perhaps someone should PM Purple Dragon Knight and let him know the game has started.
Male CG Human (Shoanti/Varisian) Cavalier (Strategist) 11 - Init +2, Senses: Normal Vision, Perception +1, Lookout Perception +11, AC 30/ touch 12/ ff 28; hp 92/92, F+10, R+6 W+5, Speed 20 ft.; Challenge 3/4; Tactician (60') 4/4. Continuous Auras: 30 feet: +6 morale bonus on saves vs. fear; 60 feet: +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear and +2 morale bonus on charge attacks. BUFFS:
A short man, approximately 5'6" and 30 years old, rides into the Grand Lodge's gates atop a magnificent white horse with a silver-grey mane in chain barding adorned in the same colors and lion motifs as those worn by the cavalier. The knight is wearing gleaming mithral armor covered in an opened resplendent uniform coat bearing leonine figures, clearly identifying his knightly order. Without the armor and coat, he would be the kind of man no one looks at twice, but those with a warrior's eye can clearly see that his posture speaks of an harmonious blend of strength, balance and stamina.
After a few moments the short knight spots the group of Pathfinders and their Venture-Captain attacker. He lowers his lance and spurs his horse into a charge!
...only to stop short, a few inches from the group, horse rearing on hind legs!
"Oh, it is you, Venture-Captain Hestram. Apologies. I had mistaken you for some kind of underfed owlbear for a moment. Not as much a threat as the full-grown kind we see in northern Andoran, but close enough in appearance to warrant a prudent skewering... just in case you would have had designs on this group... ahem... Sir!"
The knight open his visor with his shield hand and smiles at the Venture-Captain before dismounting effortlessly to pat the large man on the shoulder with a gauntleted open hand.
"Always a dramatic entrance, Alazario!" says Hestram. "Well, late is late, and the others will have to fill you in once you arrive. Gather round the masked and robed figure, and get ready to travel faster than you can think!"
Having hastily assembled your supplies for the trip, the mysterious member of the Decemvirate teleports you all almost a thousand miles to the south, and then disappears again in a flash the moment you arrive.
In the distance lies a squat, tumble-down hovel comprised of a few turreted domes, a collection of ramshackle huts, a solid, two-story inn, dusty red streets, and a large central fountain.
There are maybe four dozen intact buildings scattered about the town, with the central hub largely surrounded by weed-choked ruins of a time when the two was more prosperous.
As you approach, you don’t notice any signs of life at all—no people, no animals, no birds . . . nothing!
I'll place a map of this little town on the slides. Assume you come in from the top of the map, and it's late afternoon--getting close to sunset.
@GM Jhaeman - I have included and will always include his Heightened Awareness bonus to his initiative in his tag line if it is active. Going first is important for a squishy wizard. :)
Male N Salt Mephit | Buffs: | HP 41/41|DR 5/Magic| FH 2 Arid Env|AC 25 T 14 FF 22|CMB +5 CMD 18|F +4 R +5 W +7|Init +6|PER +14 DV 60' SM+1|30' Fly 40'+18 Stealth+20|Improved Evasion,SR 16
Outside of combat you can assume that my wizard will help you with activating your magical devices. My mephit has a pretty solid UMD for activating spells that are not on the wizard's spell list but please let me know as I would like to roll and more importantly role-play this sort of interaction. :)
Male N Salt Mephit | Buffs: | HP 41/41|DR 5/Magic| FH 2 Arid Env|AC 25 T 14 FF 22|CMB +5 CMD 18|F +4 R +5 W +7|Init +6|PER +14 DV 60' SM+1|30' Fly 40'+18 Stealth+20|Improved Evasion,SR 16
Companion to Chaine "The Butcher" Alazario | Male N Horse Animal Companion | HD 9| Class Level 11th | HP76/76 | AC 33 T 14 FF 30| CMD 28 (34 vs. Overrun) | F +12 R +11 W +6 (incl. pro vs. evil)| Init +3| Low Light Vision, Scent, Perception +5 | Speed 80 ft | Buffs: Feather Step
Silvermane rears on his hind legs upon seeing Tzleztor flap his wings, then paws the air with his hooves, mimicking the wing pattern...
Male CG Human (Shoanti/Varisian) Cavalier (Strategist) 11 - Init +2, Senses: Normal Vision, Perception +1, Lookout Perception +11, AC 30/ touch 12/ ff 28; hp 92/92, F+10, R+6 W+5, Speed 20 ft.; Challenge 3/4; Tactician (60') 4/4. Continuous Auras: 30 feet: +6 morale bonus on saves vs. fear; 60 feet: +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear and +2 morale bonus on charge attacks. BUFFS:
"Ah, yes... thank you friend. Silvermane begs me to mention that he is fully trained with the spells of spider climb, air walk and fly. In case some of you magic folks can offer him these options, that is!" says Chaine, smiling and patting his horse.
Male N Salt Mephit | Buffs: | HP 41/41|DR 5/Magic| FH 2 Arid Env|AC 25 T 14 FF 22|CMB +5 CMD 18|F +4 R +5 W +7|Init +6|PER +14 DV 60' SM+1|30' Fly 40'+18 Stealth+20|Improved Evasion,SR 16
Xilt nods politely at the cavalier's words but offers no encouragement.
It seems fairly obvious that this wizard would not be easily inclined to expend his magical energies on a dumb animal.
"Interesting. I will keep that under advisement."
Xilt is a bit of a stick in the mud and quite stingy with his magic at times so please do not take it as a personal rebuff. It is actually a good idea. :)
I love the way that Monkey Boy says that he will never boast about his abilities but does it anyways. Ha!
Male CG Human (Shoanti/Varisian) Cavalier (Strategist) 11 - Init +2, Senses: Normal Vision, Perception +1, Lookout Perception +11, AC 30/ touch 12/ ff 28; hp 92/92, F+10, R+6 W+5, Speed 20 ft.; Challenge 3/4; Tactician (60') 4/4. Continuous Auras: 30 feet: +6 morale bonus on saves vs. fear; 60 feet: +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear and +2 morale bonus on charge attacks. BUFFS:
Silvermane's training was completed with the help of wizards and clerics back at the Grand Lodge. RAW: "Receive Spell (DC 25): The companion has been trained to be the recipient of a specific spell (chosen at the time the animal is taught the trick), allowing it to fully take advantage of the spell’s effects. The spell should be one that grants the companion an ability it might not normally be intelligent enough to make use of or one that it might not even realize it has (such as air walk). The companion is able to recognize when it has been affected by this spell and can take full advantage of the spell’s effects. At the GM’s discretion, a companion can also be trained to receive certain nonspell effects, such as those granted by an elixir of fire breathing. The companion can be taught this trick multiple times; each time it learns this trick, it becomes trained to utilize a different spell effect."
Right my understanding of the rules is that you need to train the animal for 1 week to teach it the Receive Spell companion trick. Your character can easily do this with the Take 10 rule and a PFS legal source of the Receive Spell companion trick. As your character cannot cast any of these spells then I would think that you would have to pay for spell casting services for the week (1/day at least) for each of the tricks which you would like it to learn. You can confirm this with the GM (as this is only my understanding of the rules) but I think that this would be fully legal and would hold up to scrutiny even with picky GMs.
Male CG Human (Shoanti/Varisian) Cavalier (Strategist) 11 - Init +2, Senses: Normal Vision, Perception +1, Lookout Perception +11, AC 30/ touch 12/ ff 28; hp 92/92, F+10, R+6 W+5, Speed 20 ft.; Challenge 3/4; Tactician (60') 4/4. Continuous Auras: 30 feet: +6 morale bonus on saves vs. fear; 60 feet: +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear and +2 morale bonus on charge attacks. BUFFS:
Actually, in Organized Play teaching tricks is largely a formality as explained by this FAQ, especially at high level since you can take 10 and teach a number of tricks per scenario equal to the number of ranks in Handle Animal (in Chaine's case, that's 11 tricks per scenario, and taking 10 means DC 28 which covers all tricks). If one wishes to 'overwrite' the companion's tricks or change them, they do however require a GM's initials though (same applies if mount dies and new one shows up; the first 6 tricks for Int 1 and 2 must be signed off by the GM)
Chaine gathers everyone together before they enter the town and drills them on the importance of guarding's one's mind against agents of evil, as well as steeling one's resolve into a sharp tool that will see any mission through.
Chaine uses his Drill Instructor ability and spends 10 min and 1 use of challenge ability to grant use of the Lastwall Phalanx teamwork feat to up to 4 allies: Silvermane, Xilt, Setare, Monky Boy (who retain the use of the feat for 15 minutes, as long as the cavalier is visible and can be heard by his allies; if the cavalier falls unconscious or cannot be both seen and heard, his allies lose the benefit of the granted feat until the condition is remedied) As with tactician, allies need not meet the prerequisites of the granted feat.
I will let the GM decide if you can hand-waive not being able to cast the spells needed to train the animal or not. I was simply curious how you were able to do it. :)
Xilt waits until everyone is finished their preparations and actually ready to move forward. Only then does he cast Heightened Awareness (again) from his wand.
"Thanks for the training. It was most informative."
Male CG Human (Shoanti/Varisian) Cavalier (Strategist) 11 - Init +2, Senses: Normal Vision, Perception +1, Lookout Perception +11, AC 30/ touch 12/ ff 28; hp 92/92, F+10, R+6 W+5, Speed 20 ft.; Challenge 3/4; Tactician (60') 4/4. Continuous Auras: 30 feet: +6 morale bonus on saves vs. fear; 60 feet: +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear and +2 morale bonus on charge attacks. BUFFS:
Xilt puzzles me: favored class alchemist, and arcane reservoir/arcane exploits despite being a wizard? is this the result of some kind of archetype / feats / chronicle boon? PS: interested to know for a campaign mode Strange Aeons character I'm building...
Chaine nods in the direction of the half-orc, before turning to his squire and sentry to instruct them to remain here at the edge of town while they investigate further.
"There may be trouble ahead lads: stay here and watch our backs."
The knight then downs two flasks, and pours three of them down Silvermane's mouth. He then sprinkle a faint amount of another liquid around his armor and saddle. Finally, he readies a final potion, but does not drink it yet... keeping it at the ready.
Chaine: antitoxin, antiplague, cologne, draws a potion and holds it in right hand; Silvermane: antitoxin, antiplague, feather steps
After the group takes precautions both magical and mundane, Monkey Boy looks at some nearby buildings. Here on the outskirts, it looks like you're adjacent to several houses and a temple to Nethys. Curiously, a peak through the windows of the houses shows dinner plates still set at tables with spoiled food on them.
The Temple to Nethys is now marked as "4" on Slide 2.
@MonkeyBoy: You'lll need a picture for a token on the slides, which can (but doesn't strictly have to) match the picture you add to your character profile. There aren't many vanara (if any) in the Paizo pool, so you may have to be creative.
@Alazario & Xilt: For GM sanity, let's try to keep lengthy OOC discussions to the Discussion thread :) You all have high-level, complex characters, and as a table GM I don't want to have to make decisions on build legality questions unless I have absolutely have to and the answer is clear. Regarding the mount/spell question, my suggestion is for any player with a plausible question about their build legality to send a quick PM to GM Tyrannius as PBP V-C for their interpretation.
Male CG Human (Shoanti/Varisian) Cavalier (Strategist) 11 - Init +2, Senses: Normal Vision, Perception +1, Lookout Perception +11, AC 30/ touch 12/ ff 28; hp 92/92, F+10, R+6 W+5, Speed 20 ft.; Challenge 3/4; Tactician (60') 4/4. Continuous Auras: 30 feet: +6 morale bonus on saves vs. fear; 60 feet: +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear and +2 morale bonus on charge attacks. BUFFS:
No question on my build legality; ready to proceed.
Chaine and Silvermane enter the temple.
Are each square on the town map 10', 20' or 30'? might be better to use a party marker until we go to 'tactical' mode... In any case, Chaine has auras affecting the party up to 30' and 60', as follows:
30 feet +6 morale bonus on saves vs. fear [Rallying Shield] 60 feet +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear and +2 morale bonus on attacks made as part of a charge [Banner]
Roger that GM. We will keep the game thread clean.
Xilt dry swallows a blood boiling pill and as soon as the party is ready to enter the temple Xilt flicks out his wand of mirror image and activates it. He then quickly places the wand back into his spring-loaded wrist sheath.
A quick look into the temple reveals unwound prayer scrolls and candles burned down to the stubs, as if a worship service were interrupted before completion. There's no sign of any priests or parishioners, however.
The utter silence coming from the town is unsettling.
@Chaine: That is an excellent question. The map squares are actually 10'. I'll add a note to the slide.
"Well, we should move inside to investigate or move on to another building."
The eerie silence puts the wizard on edge. He decides not to hold back with his magic and casts another trio of spells. After putting his magical paraphernalia away he draws forth a rod (persistent) and grasps it tightly in his left hand.
@GM Jhaeman - See Invisibility is now up.
The wizard gives a quick scan of the area including moving up to the temple door and peeking inside with his new and improved senses.
25 Perception on a take 10.
"Setare, Chaine are we ready to go inside the temple?"
Buff Spells:
on Xilt
Grand Destiny (cast at CL 12 with Potent Magic) (2 hours)
See Invisibility (Extended with Rod) (3 hours, 20 minutes)
Heroism (from wand, 50 minutes)
Male CG Human (Shoanti/Varisian) Cavalier (Strategist) 11 - Init +2, Senses: Normal Vision, Perception +1, Lookout Perception +11, AC 30/ touch 12/ ff 28; hp 92/92, F+10, R+6 W+5, Speed 20 ft.; Challenge 3/4; Tactician (60') 4/4. Continuous Auras: 30 feet: +6 morale bonus on saves vs. fear; 60 feet: +3 morale bonus on saves vs. fear and +2 morale bonus on charge attacks. BUFFS:
Chaine shakes his head. "No sign of anyone in this temple, Pathfinders... before we begin a detailed search of each building in town, which will take weeks, Silvermane and I will go for a quick patrol around the town to see if anyone's out there. I'll be back or yell if I find anything. Later, Pathfinders!"
The cavalier wheels his mount around and heads into the town.
See map for intended path; Silvermane is speed 80; Run speed 320 ft
Male N Salt Mephit | Buffs: | HP 41/41|DR 5/Magic| FH 2 Arid Env|AC 25 T 14 FF 22|CMB +5 CMD 18|F +4 R +5 W +7|Init +6|PER +14 DV 60' SM+1|30' Fly 40'+18 Stealth+20|Improved Evasion,SR 16
The more serious minded wizard simply furrows his brow but says nothing. Chaine's plan is not necessarily bad but strays from his more plodding and methodical approach. He might be a bit of a rebel for a wizard in terms of his magical research but he is by anyone's estimation a real stick in the mud.
Per +17, low light, SM +17, Acro +19 (31 to jump, running start) Mv 60, Climb 20, Mage Armor (CL1) Ring Force Shield, Barkskin HP 104/104 AC 36 FF 33 T 23 – Init +4 - CMB +17/19 trip (+1 unarmed), CMD 38 – 41 Trip, UnStrike 16/16/11 for d10+6, Ki Strike (magic/cold iron/silver/lawful,) Shattering Punch, Flying Kick Ki 7/8 Combat Reflexes (4), Bodyguard +3, In Harm’s Way, Mobility, Deflect Arrows, Insightful Wisdom, Improved Evasion
Monkey Boy watches the horse leave.
"Though I would not say I am the fastest person alive, my speed is considerable. Still, my skills are best suited to protecting those remaining here. I will not say I guarantee our success, that would be vain, only that I should be a major contributing factor."
Male N Salt Mephit | Buffs: | HP 41/41|DR 5/Magic| FH 2 Arid Env|AC 25 T 14 FF 22|CMB +5 CMD 18|F +4 R +5 W +7|Init +6|PER +14 DV 60' SM+1|30' Fly 40'+18 Stealth+20|Improved Evasion,SR 16
You scan the temple with your enhanced senses, but don't notice anything beyond what you saw with the naked eye.
Chaine:
Spurring your mount in a circling direction, you pass quickly by stables, several houses, and an inn before entering what looks like the town square from the west. In the fountain in the center of the square is a desiccated corpse. But before you can investigate any further, several wretched human figures with tight leathery skin, sunken eyes, and emaciated frames emerge from hiding to attack! I'll start a combat round, but first if you want to shout something as a free action to alert your allies you can (if not, we'll have Round 1 be a solo fight and they'll be alerted to the sounds of fighting in time for Round 2).
The first of my standard reminders that if you're using resources (spell slots, ki points), taking damage, or activating buffs to please update your taglines accordingly.
