[ACO] PFS2e Speedrun - B09-13, 15-17 (Inactive)

Game Master UncleFroggy

Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"Maybe the squirrel is cursed? Or it tangled with a basilisk? Definitely a real squirrel, though. Look at the tail!"

Grammy recognizes that the squirrel isn't native to the area. She is incensed to learn that the squirrel isn't even a sculpture at all, but a real squirrel that's been petrified.

The two women listen with growing distaste at your comments. The reddening face of your guide is also a sign that the evening isn't going to end well. Red-faced, the two women whisper to each other and move off through the gallery, rapidly drawing the attention of others who want in on the gossip.

"Well, I never!" the gnome says indignantly, "Asrennia only procures the finest art pieces for her salons. You'd be wise to keep your slanderous comments to yourselves!"

You are led into another room. In this room, numerous carousels display sketches and diagrams depicting apothecaries and herbalists collecting and processing flowers, herbs, and other plants for various remedies and medicines.

You see a man dramatically rotating and stopping a carousel, loudly complaining that the sketches, which are supposed to convey scientific knowledge and processes, lack accuracy.

"It seems we are not the only ones to have identified issues with the 'art,'" he comments to the others upon noticing the protesting gentleman.

The gentleman turns at the sound of Kazimir's voice. He flushes a bit, not expecting to be heard.

"Doctor Fander Rolph is who I am, yes, these so-called artworks are pretty but they don't convey any scientific knowledge. Even if they look interesting, they're hardly accurate. Like, here, for example, what do you think about these?"

Dr. Rolph rotates the carousel device to a journal of sketches of an apothecary grinding herbs for medicines, stating, "I don’t know about that. But see here, what do you make of this latest Baltaram sketch?!"

Critique Points (as of 2 rooms): 8

"Looks fine to me, but the best medicines are pickled."

Sadly, Jig has little experience with such things.

Medicine: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

X-23 reaches out and grasps one of the plants. "These plants here are medically useless."

Marcus stares at the plants. But they were just plants. "Dr. Rolph, do you think Baltaram had any idea of what he was painting?"

Medicine: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Lore-Herbalism: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Grammy is too incensed by the squirrel to pay attention to ‘scientific drawings.’

Dr Rolph sidles over to Marcus and says in a conspiratorial whisper. "I don't believe he did. But our host seems to think highly of him."

The gnome turns red with anger and his hand slaps down on X-23's hand. "Do not TOUCH the exhibits! I should have you thrown out of the gallery for that!"

Tibal and Kazimir - are you going to make checks? Your group has enough successes for the room but I thought I'd ask :)

"Looks fine to me, but the best medicines are pickled."

Sadly, Jig has little experience with such things.

I have 2 goblins who would wholeheartedly agree with that!

"Are they even real plants or merely artistically fanciful renditions of plants in general?" Kazamir wonders to the fish in the animated suit of armor.

No Scribing or Library Lore here.

Dr. Rolph raises an eyebrow at X-23's comment, gives a silent nod, and strides off. His uncharacteristic response draws a hushed murmur from nearby attendees. The gnome, on the other hand is red-faced with indignation, though you do see him rub his hand after swatting X-23 on the armor.

"Well then, right this way!" he says in a disgruntled tone, "but mark my words, I will be having words with Asrennia about you!"

In this exhibit, a series of clockwork devices represent numerous elements of nature, such as the cycles of the sun and moon and the movements of other heavenly bodies. You see another gnome, wearing work clothes as loudly colored as her hair, takes notes on everything she sees in the mechanical exhibit while trying to keep out of the way of the rich socialites and bureaucrats surrounding her.

"Please do not touch the exhibits! This is your last warning, eh... err... Penelette! I didn't see you there..." He's clearly a bit flustered to see the other gnome in the room...

Granny looks at the mechanical construct with some sideye, clearly still miffed about the squirrel. She does as she’s told and doesn’t touch it.

”I know precious little of clockwork or metallurgy, but this seems to be fine. At least it’s not claiming to be something it isn’t.”

"Does this make music? That would be a feat if it could replicate the celestial music," Kazimir comments.

Crafting: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Marcus tries to see how the mechanism is created, though he doesn't really know much about how such things work.

is there a check to make here?

Yes. Sorry about the delay.

The gnome, who your guide addressed as "Penelette" taps a sketch in her notepad a perfect sketch of one of the clockwork devices nearby, a gearbox that represents the solar system. Its creator, of course, is Baltaram.

Nature: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"So many moving parts! Look at those planets zoom."

nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

”Oh, look, it’s some sort of comment on time I think. . . Going backward in time or traveling to the past. See how the planets orbit the wrong way round. Sculptor must have wanted to make some comment about reversing time or some such.” Grammy decides to play it safe and not anger the gnome anymore but still point out the flaw.

Crafting: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"This clockwork is useless without magic. It is only able to function with the little bit of magic it has." X-23 motions to specific areas willing to disable the device to prove his point.

After hearing your comments, Penelette laughs so hard she bumps a display, nearly knocking it to the floor. She apologizes profusely, drawing a great deal of attention, and continues laughing quietly to herself for much of the evening.

Your guide, on the other hand, flushes, though you can't tell whether it's from embarrassment / humiliation or fury (maybe both?).

"Well, I never! You've not only criticized our patron and a true friend of the arts, but you've humiliated me in front of Penelette. That's it! This tour is over! Follow me back to the lobby!"

You may certainly make more checks if you wish, but you have enough to satisfy the requirements of this room

If anyone wants to make additional checks in the Mechanical Exhibit room, go ahead and I'll just retcon it in.

After an evening of interacting with the artists, art critics, and other socialites, you are led into the main hall, where Asrennia is preparing to thank her guests and announce her favorite pieces from the various galleries. She starts with several rounds of terrible jokes and descriptions of some of the winners from the minor galleries.

During this time, each of you can conduct one of the following activities and attempt the associated check.

Diplomacy - Mingle with the crowd
Deception - Spread rumors
Intimidation - Bully others into agreement

X-23 walks among the crowd listening to what the others think. He feigns looking at additional pieces of art.

Each of those are a negative value for me so will pass rolling.

Jig bustles through the crowd, his mouth soon amusingly filled with an equal amount of hors d'oeuvres and toothpicks.

"Lovely party."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"That last piece on getting a new perspective on time was interesting . . ."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"No! Listen to them! Don't go for a refill, it's important that you stay and listen! Seriously?! You have to go to the bathroom now? Just a few minutes, come on!"

Jig and Grammy manage to get a few more people on their side by schmoozing. Finally Asrennia calls the hall to order. She glares at you and says,

"I know you have been troublemakers all night. I demand you answer why you have been critical of Baltaram!"

Grammy, here's your chance to rant about the poor squirrel :)

"Art is subjective," Kazamir says with a languid arch of his eyebrow. "I merely pointed out the fact that the statue of a squirrel was was not crafted by any artist--unless you count dressing it in clothes as art--but petrified. Probably by a cockatrice. My companions voiced their own factual observations on various pieces of art. If you like the art, then you like the art, but I don't believe that gives you the authority to dictate how anyone else feels about the art."

"Actually, it seems like Baltaram knew very little about the subjects of his art, and he may never have seen the scenes that he depicted."

"If Kazimir is right, then that poor squirrel has been petrified and passed off as art. It's not used to feed the cycle of life, and it certainly isn't from Magnamar. It's a farce! So help me if someone did that on purpose I will bring the wrath of all of nature down on them.
Now, I understand it may have been petrified by a basalisk or cocatrice, and if you don't have the option of turning it back to normal, that's fine, but it deserves the dignity of not being put in a top hat!

As for this painting in the first room. A normal wolf and a full buck the same size as each other? Ridiculous! Rabbits don't grow to the full height of that berry bush either. If you want to label this fantasy, that's fine, but to claim it is an actual scene from nature just misinforms the public and is going to get them to not know one thing from the other. You are actively hurting the education of people by presenting these falsities. Oh, and the astrolabe in the back is spinning backwords, but I let that go, I assume it is a comment on reversing time or somesuch."

Kazimir chuckles silently at Grammy's choice of interpretation of the astrolabe spinning in reverse.

At your words Asrennia appears indignant. "Why the nerve of that upstart! He begged and wheedled his way into my graces, claiming to be a talented artist that was wronged by Trinsky! Well now I know the truth! Trinsky's reputation is thus restored. Search the gallery! Baltaram must be found immediately! You, who bravely called out this farce may have the pleasure of escorting him out!"

Overall, she puts on a dramatic performance, though you're not sure if she's really sincere about what she's saying. As you prepare to "search the gallery", a disturbance occurs at the front door and Baltaram himself storms in with three bodyguards.

"So! You have turned on me, Asrennia!" he says with a high pitched nasal voice (I kinda think of Sheldon from Big Bang Theory, but more high pitched... basically a nerd/geek type :)). "I think my friends and I have something to say about that!"

Kazimir, please change your token since it's still Zarisha on the slides. :)

Red strides forward, swinging a sap at 1-Jig 2-Marcus 3-Grammy: 2d3 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5

Sap vs Grammy, AC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Sap vs Marcus, AC 19, MAP, Agile: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Bludgeoning, NL: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Blue also strides forward, calling to Yellow "Keep the Master safe!"

Sap vs Jig, AC 18, FF: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Sap vs Jig, AC 18, FF, MAP, Agile: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Bludgeoning Damage, NL: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 8 = 15

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Red
Jig Gnasher - AC 18, 0/15 (Unconscious)
Blue
**Kazimir - AC 16, 15/15
**Grammy Thistledown - AC 16 (18 w/shield), 8/17
**Lilting Rill - AC 17 (18 w/shield) 18/18
Baltaram
Yellow
Marcus Howe - AC 19, 21/21
X-23 - AC 16, 17/17

Marcus is shocked as Baltaram walls in. "He was here the whole f*~+ing time?!" He shrugs. "Guess it's a party after all..."

Is Jig down? I think that second attack missed.

oops. you're right. i have no idea how I thought that it hit.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Red
Blue
**Kazimir - AC 16, 15/15
**Grammy Thistledown - AC 16 (18 w/shield), 8/17
**Lilting Rill - AC 17 (18 w/shield) 18/18
Baltaram
Yellow
Marcus Howe - AC 19, 21/21
Jig Gnasher - AC 18, 8/15
X-23 - AC 16, 17/17

”How dare you strike an innocent old lady?”

<>Raise Shield
<>Strike Red with walking stick/cane
Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
damage if hit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

<>Strike Red with walking stick/cane again
Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
damage if hit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"Is violence really necessary?" Kazimir asks entirely rhetorically. "Your employer will force me to render your bones to ash."

He raises his hands and begins to motion as though conducting as the sound of stringed instruments emanates from his position. A ray of blue light streaks past Grammy (and, unfortunately, the body guard).

◆ Demoralize @ Red: Intimidation (T): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
◆◆ Cast (V/S): Ray of Frost: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Grammy and Kazimir lash out at Red. Grammy manages to hit with her first strike, but Kazimir's snowball flies over Red's head and breaks on the far wall. Kazimir attempts to frighten the bodyguard but he just sneers back, unaffected.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Red (-6)
Blue
Kazimir - AC 16, 15/15
Grammy Thistledown - AC 16 (18 w/shield), 8/17
**Lilting Rill - AC 17 (18 w/shield) 18/18
Baltaram
Yellow
Marcus Howe - AC 19, 21/21
Jig Gnasher - AC 18, 8/15
X-23 - AC 16, 17/17

Sorry for the wait! I've been terrible about keeping track of the boards, sorry! But also Lilting has been to these museums already. Tibal is here for her first time though.

Tibal raises a hand and draws in moisture around her hand before drawing an elvish adjacent sigil with the cloud that forms. The sigil hangs there for a moment as she chants a short spell before it starts to spark with electricity shooting two bolts of power out at the man in red and Baltram himself.

Electric Arc DC 17 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

She then takes the remaining mist and uses it to create a small barrier between her and anyone who might attack her.

Shield AC is 18 for the round

Tibal sends a jolt of lightning at Baltaram and his bodyguard in the red tunic. The guard dodges the worst of the jolt but Baltaram doesn't get out of the way in time.

"You'll pay for that, you unwashed savage!" Baltaram snarls. He focuses and dramatically raises his arms, while pointing at Tibal, causing a wave of eye-watering body odor coming at the group. (◆◆ Daze). Baltaram moves around the pillar, apparently trying to get a clear shot at Tibal.

"Stay still, you fool!" Yellow snarls as he moves to shield Baltaram from the party.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
Tibal - DC 14 Will save
After Your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Red (-10)
Blue
Kazimir - AC 16, 15/15
Grammy Thistledown - AC 16 (18 w/shield), 8/17
Tibal - AC 17 (18 w/shield) 18/18
Baltaram (-8)
Yellow
**Marcus Howe - AC 19, 21/21
**Jig Gnasher - AC 18, 8/15
**X-23 - AC 16, 17/17

Will Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Tibal's nose curls at the smell of the man, but gives a scoff and a look that could cut steel. "I do believe you are the one physically unwashed, at least. As for metaphorically unwashed and being a savage, despite what your severely limited mind might think is true, the elves from before Earthfall were highly sophisticated. If you ever want proof, please see about making a trip to Castrovel where many of the distant descendants of my relatives are living in conditions that would make this place look like a badly kept pigstye."

Tibal seems distracted by the aura... I mean, odor, from Baltaram. But the mental attack seems to be more talk (and eye-watering) than anything else.

Yes, Baltaram has a casting ability modifier of ONE. The only way for the spell to have hurt you would have been a crit fail! :)

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Red (-10)
Blue
Kazimir - AC 16, 15/15
Grammy Thistledown - AC 16 (18 w/shield), 8/17
Tibal - AC 17 (18 w/shield) 17/18
Baltaram (-8)
Yellow
**Marcus Howe - AC 19, 21/21
**Jig Gnasher - AC 18, 8/15
**X-23 - AC 16, 17/17

Marcus glares at the nearest one and swings his maul at the guard.

Demoralize vs Red: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Power Attack vs Red: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Damage: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (4, 6) + 4 = 14

Marcus' glare turns Red's knees to jelly while his maul leaves the redshirt seeing stars.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Red (-24; Frightened 1)
Blue
Kazimir - AC 16, 15/15
Grammy Thistledown - AC 16 (18 w/shield), 8/17
Tibal - AC 17 (18 w/shield) 17/18
Baltaram (-8)
Yellow
Marcus Howe - AC 19, 21/21
**Jig Gnasher - AC 18, 8/15
**X-23 - AC 16, 17/17

Exploit Vulnerability, Strike, Reload

Jig mutters about sneak attacks and draws a bead on Baltaram.

Exploit Vulnerability: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
That's probably a success. I'd trigger its highest weakness, or weakness 2 if it doesn't have any.

Strike: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 for slashing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 plus 1 splash

Jig determines that Baltaram is vulnerable to bathing of any sort. His spoons, laced with some dish soap and water strike Baltaram and cause him to react as if they were some strong acid.

"Nooooo! Soap!!"

Some of the soap gets into Yellow's eyes and does some superficial damage.

------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Red (-24; Frightened 1)
Blue
Kazimir - AC 16, 15/15
Grammy Thistledown - AC 16 (18 w/shield), 8/17
Tibal - AC 17 (18 w/shield) 17/18
Baltaram (-14)
Yellow (-1)
Marcus Howe - AC 19, 21/21
Jig Gnasher - AC 18, 8/15
**X-23 - AC 16, 17/17

Four biomechanical metallic arms come out of a small metal device X-23 keeps strapped to his backside. Two lift him slightly off of the ground, keeping his legs dangling in the air as they other two point towards the threat and begin glowing red hot on the ends. "Now you've made Sentinel angry."

The bottom two arms keeping him aloft release a great amount of energy thrusting him to the ceiling as X-23 leaps over the crowd.

Explosive Leap Unstable Action DC 17: 1d20 ⇒ 4 1 Fire Damage to Sentinel and unable to use further Unstable actions.

As X-23 lands on the other side one of the arms thrusts out, slamming its pincer-like claws into the back of the bodyguard with the red cloak as the second arm points towards Baltaram and releases a small burst of fire at the man.

Sentinel Jagged Edges vs Red: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Damage (Slashing): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Energy Beam vs Baltaram: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 5 = 8
Damage (Fire): 1d4 ⇒ 1

Energy Beam vs Baltaram: 1d20 + 6 - 10 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 10 = 16
Damage (Fire): 1d4 ⇒ 1

◆ Command Sentinel
◆ Sentinel (Explosive Leap X-23 is riding)
◆ Sentinel Strike
◆ Energy Beam
◆ Energy Beam

Sentinel leaps over Marcus and Red and lands on the other side, though Sentinel seems to backfire slightly before jumping up. It slams its claw at Red but misses. Its second pincer fires two bursts of energy at Baltaram. The first misses but the second hits Baltaram in the face and burns half his scraggly beard off. Baltaram reacts with a howl, dancing madly and slapping his hands on his face.

Red swings his sap at Jig, trying to help finish the job his blue-caped companion started.

Sap vs Jig AC 18, FF: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Sap vs Jig AC 18, FF, MAP, Agile: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Sap vs Jig AC 18, FF, MAP 2+, Agile: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

Unfortunately he's still a bit rattled by all the violence going around him.

Forgot to include the Frightened condition, not that it matters

Blue snorts in derision.

Sap vs Jig AC 18, FF: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Sap vs Jig AC 18, FF, MAP, Agile: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Bludgeoning, NL: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Sap vs Jig AC 18, FF, MAP 2+, Agile: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

"That's how you do it, you fool!" he berates his companion.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
Those with ** may go

Red (-24)
Blue
**Kazimir - AC 16, 15/15
**Grammy Thistledown - AC 16 (18 w/shield), 8/17
**Tibal - AC 17 (18 w/shield) 17/18
Baltaram (-16)
Yellow (-1)
Marcus Howe - AC 19, 21/21
Jig Gnasher - AC 18, 1/15
X-23 - AC 16, 16/17

<>Step away from the fighting
<><>Electric arc red and yellow (DC 17)
electric arc damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7