Zoomba's Dacilane Academy's Delightful Disaster (Table A) (Inactive)

Game Master Zoomba

You all start trying to signal for the students to head upstairs with you and the items. Tels and Vim seem a bit confused at first – ’Flood? The pitcher’s already really full and heavy. ‘ I think they’re saying they want us to succeed’. But I don’t know why that’s something that needs to be said: have they not been rooting for us before now?’ – but eventually Ada and Betel get through to the more studious students.

Oh, so Armeline’s room is upstairs in that corner. Let’s go! With the lodestone in there we can try the ritual!

All five students ascend the stairs, and seem surprised and shaken at the ever-present weirdness attacking all senses on the upper level. Up here the swirling colors and strange sounds seem to be something they are noticing too – not just an effect on your ‘phase’. Hari approaches the northwest doorway, waiting a moment for Tels and Vim to approach with their items before opening the door.

Feel free to place yourselves about the Blue door on the 2nd floor map

Take out a scroll of Magic Weapon just in case

"Well shall we see what's behind this door? I wonder what can be waiting.
Its kind of exciting."

As Tels Vim and Grelta catch up - with Alec trudging along in the rear - Hari opens the door.

Inside the room you see a large bed covered in fine linens is the centerpiece of this well-furnished room, and a sturdy table surrounded by three chairs sits in its northeast corner. Several eye-catching curios rest on top of the room’s chest of draws, including a mirror with a gilded frame, a mother-of-pearl box holding talcum powder, and a polished lodestone more than a foot in diameter. Two lamps in wall sconces light the room and a thick carpet woven with a wayfinder pattern lays on the floor.

Of course even looking at the room for too long is disorienting: Shimmering images of the bed dance across the floor, loose papers float through the air in slow processions, and the walls ripple like a pond’s surface each time someone in the room takes a step. The pile of the carpet grows six inches deep in the course of a second, and then subsides back to normal.

Both Ada and Betel can immediately tell this room is at the center of the chaotic and reality-rippling forces that have been affecting you all. But so close to it the 'phasing' of reality is even more concentrated. You know that you all - and the students - will only be able to affect or interact with things in the room if you are in the room yourselves.

Of course the rest of your allies - Pathfinders and students - are probably more focused on exactly what's on the bed. The body of Professor Krelsun lies unconscious atop the sheets. Wrapped tightly around the gnome is a much larger ghostly serpentine creature coiling about the teacher with both its translucent scaled body and a pair of clawed hands. Extra disturbing: the creature's head appears to be plunged through Krelsun's, its own skull phasing directly into the teacher's temple.

Professor! - Mr. Krelsun! - Professor! - professor! the students all cry in unison. As they yell, you see the ghostly creature's long tail twitch and rise from where it had been hanging down over the side of the bed. A bit up the creature's body from the end of the tail there looks to be a strange "ripple" in reality, and from that ripple to the tail's scaled end that section seems very solid indeed. It sways back and forth, but seems particularly fixated on you five...and Vim and Tels as they clutch their shield and pitcher.

Initiative

Ada
Ahas
Hepcut
Thing
Betel
Hancock

You do notice the lodestone in the room on the bureau.

As this room appears to be the center of the disturbance, it would be an optimal place to trying to enact the Material Failsafe. To do so, you can try to Communicate From Beyond with the students to get them to properly coordinate their actions to the right signal. All three foci will need to be activated in the same round: a Success on Communicating will get one student to activate theirs, a Crit all three. To Communicate in this way, in the heat of this tense situation, you'll need to be adjacent to the material you're communicating with (so next to the dresser if tracing a message in talcum powder, next to the table if writing/using the papers there, next to a bedside table if flickering a lamp, etc.

Wow! This is ..... fascinating

Cast Magic Weapon on gun
Fire Gun at Tail?
attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 3) + 4 = 12
Whoops...
I missed the need to move in part.

"Well that doesn't look good... I think we should shoot it? "

So she will move in as the first action and then attack and reload. Sorry about the confusion GM. The damage would just be: actual damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

"Professor!" Ahas actually exclaims at the same time with the students. He moves inside and gets close to the dresser, writing at the already talcum-powdered top of the dresser, instructing them with the word "Activate" that he writes on the dresser with talcum. He hopes he sends the message to them, especially Vim.
Diplomacy to Communicate from Beyond to Vim: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

◆ Stride
◆◆ Communicate from Beyond

Hepcut bounds into the room and tries to knock the tail down on to the ground. It might be immune to trip, but I had to do something.

Athletics to Trip: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Fist, MAP: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 4 = 7
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

"Well, that went well."

◆Stride
◆Trip
◆Strike

Ada, Ahas, and Hepcut all race into the room. Ada fires at the corporeal section of the tail while Hepcut tries to knock it further down. The appendage wriggles away from the orc's hands but Ada's bullet lands and causes a spray of prismatic fluids to leak from its wound.

Ahas races instead towards the dresser and manages to trace 'Activate' in the powder there. Or tries - as the nagaji works to write the tail Reacts by twitching in Ahas' direction and a loud *BONG* echoes right by the thaumaturge's ears, causing him to start and smudge the message.

botted Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
That attempt to Communicate seems to have been Disrupted by the tail's Reaction (unless you want to use your last Hero Point to re-roll that Will save)

Back near the bed, the tail's wound seems to heal itself as it lashes out right back at Hepcut.

Tail Slap!: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 for Bludgeoning: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
The Orc gets struck hard Luckily just barely not crit though! and the tail end continues to twist and wrap around her. Grab action The coils then begin to squeeze...

Constrict! Hepcut needs a DC 19 basic Fort save against Bludgeoning damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7! If you take any of that damage, you also need a DC 22 Fort save as you feel your body begin to Warp…

While this is happening, Hari runs to the dresser and picks up the lodestone. Vim and Tels move into the chamber as well. What is that thing?!?

Initiative

Thing 1 damage
Betel
Hancock
Ada
Ahas
Hepcut 13 damage, grabbed, need 1-2 Fort save(s)

Hancock would have taken one of the potency crystals. I suggest one of the other fighters take the other one. How long does it take to use it? An interact and activate, or is it attached to the weapon already?

Hancok does not even think. There is a battle at hand and he rushes forward to take a swipe or two, leaving all the technical details to the talkers. But the bed gets in the way.

*rage
*stride
*strike

HA! Remembered to use an action to rage this time!

Move to closest object... GM I don't know where that is
diplomcy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
hero point
diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

" Hey now would be a good time to start activating the contingencies. Big tail thing is attacking is. "

Fort Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 success so I take 3 damage.
Fort Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 so no warp

Hepcut tries wraps her left arm in her dueling cape. it is interact, so it has manipulate, so I need to make a DC 5 flat check 1d20 ⇒ 2 She tries again, not quite able to get it wrapped correctly with the tail wrapping around her. 1d20 ⇒ 9

She snarls and tries to bite the damn thing. Tusks: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Piercing damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Hancock would have taken one of the potency crystals. I suggest one of the other fighters take the other one. How long does it take to use it? An interact and activate, or is it attached to the weapon already?

Potency Crystals can be attached/Affixed to your weapon (will assume that was done during your last 10-minute rest while Hancock was trying to tend to wounds). That specific talisman can be Activated as a free action on any of your turns right before you attack, before you roll. The effect of that will last for the rest of your turn.

Hancock rages and rushes to thrash at the tail, while Hepcut raises up her cape and thrashes herself. Unfortunately, neither of the strikes land a solid blow on the moving creature.

Ada meanwhile races over to one of the bedstands and focuses all her energy on forcing the lamp upon it to flicker. The light in the room binks rapidly, causing Tels, Vim and Hari to all widen their eyes.

Oh! That must be the singnal. Narven!
Narven
Narven, narven, narven! Am I doing it right?

Around the room you feel a faint *shudder*ing. The walls of the room ripple again and the carpet surges with a new spiral of colors. The ghostly creature's tail continues to twitch as it tightens about Eddie but it seems to pale slightly and for the first time you see the rest of its intangible body slightly shudder.

did it work? Grelta asks from the hallway looking in.
I don't know! Vim yells back. Something seemed to happen! Is that it? The professor looks still grabbed by the thing tho
With that Crit success to Communicate, all three have been coordinated together and the Failsafe ritual has been activated once. It is having an effect, but all the different layers of reality still haven't fully anchored...yet (you can try to have the students activate it again next round)

Initiative

Thing 1 damage
Betel
Hancock
Ada
Ahas
Hepcut 16 damage, grabbed, cape raised

Material Failsafe already activated this round

Oh well done Ada Betel exclaims as she moves into the room to get a better shot. Tell them to keep doing it though ... it's having an effect but may require a minute or two to fully work.

She then fires a blast of water at .... whatever it is, something to be determined later.
sa: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 bludgeoning: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11

Ahas attempts to contextualize what he is seeing.

◈ Exploit Vulnerability: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

He recognizes the creature as a pelagaster - a type of incorporeal protean. These outsiders adore spreading chaos, but pelagasters are able to exploit their incorporeal nature to bind with corporeal beings like possessing ghosts to savour the physical world.

Their chaotic nature abhors law however Weakness Lawful 3, so Ahas recites dictums and advances to slash at the tail.

◈ Step
◈ Longsword Strike: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 for Slashing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 plus 3 Lawful

Unfortunately Ahas' slash misses. But Betel's water burst hits the tail with a solid THUD.

The tail continues to squeeze tightly around Hepcut.

◈ Constrict Bludgeoning: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 Hepcut needs another DC 19 basic Fort save. If take any damage, another Fort save v warping needed again.

The very rift itself seems to shuffle and shift and move as the tail lets go of the orc. The rift slowly twists to the north and the tail lashes out at Ada by the lights. It strikes the student and wraps now around her, all the while healing some of its wounds.

◈ strike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20 for Bludgeoning: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
◈ Grab

Initiative

Thing 9 damage
Betel
Hancock
Ada 9 damage, grabbed
Ahas
Hepcut 16 damage, cape raised, need 1-2 Fort saves

Material Failsafe not activated this round yet

diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Reload

"Guys Im going to continue working to activate the failsafe's. I think we are making progress."

Make it so. I'm going to give this ... protean what for.

Better not fire a fifteen foot cone in here, not while someone is grabbed. May as well, keep doing what I was doing
sa: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 bludgeoning: 2d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 = 7

"And I am going to smash this thing." says, Hancock, though it comes out as "Gnasmshit." And Bruce is too busy hiding to translate.

Hancock activates the potency crystal and starts wailing.

Weapon already has a potency rune on it so all it gains is the striking ability for an extra d12

If it turns out it is resistant to the electrical/arcane/evocation bonus damage, he will switch to just adding 2 normal damage.

diplomacy
Reload

"Guys Im going to continue working to activate the failsafe's. I think we are making progress."

So as Ada is grabbed and both of those actions (Interacting to reload and Communicate From Beyond) have the Manipulate trait:

While the pale-er tail seems surpsiringly still and there is no flash of distraction as Ada reaches for the lights, the coily grip causes her to stumble as she plays with the switch.

So that Communicate action would be lost, unless you want to use a Hero Point to try and re-roll the flat check.

Betel's blast also doesn't quite work this time, and Hancock goes one for three on his swings. The barbarian makes up for it in quality though as his middle strike crunches hard into his target. Several scales crack right off, and the exposed skin beneath shifts in hue and takes on a blueish color.

Initiative

Thing 30 damage, blue-er?
Betel
Hancock
Ada 9 damage, grabbed
Ahas
Hepcut 16 damage, cape raised, need 1-2 Fort saves

Material Failsafe not activated this round yet

Fort 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 So I take half damage. Does the constrict really deal 1d20+5 damage?
Fort 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15So I'm immobilized, which means I can't move.

Hepcut draws out her free potion from the school of swords, downs it, and then raises her dueling cape.

minor Healing potion: 1d8 ⇒ 3

So I take half damage. Does the constrict really deal 1d20+5 damage?

It does not, I mistyped! Actual damage is half of 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 so...the exact same. :p

Pinned in place by strange filaments of light that spilled out from the tail's coils as it squeezed, Hepcut manages to at least draw and chug a potion to soothe some of her injuries.

Initiative

Thing 30 damage, blue-er?
Betel
Hancock
Ada 9 damage, grabbed
Ahas
Hepcut 18 damage, cape raised

Material Failsafe not activated this round yet

Thank you for botting. Apologies for not posting during the weekends. I did not have the opportunity to do so when I went to my hometown for a family celebration. Anyway, I'm back.

Ahas, with the knowledge he has about the enemy at hand, attempts to exploit the creature's weakness again.
Esoteric Lore to Exploit Vulnerability of the Thing: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 (I assume it is a Failure)

But this time, it seems his mind is fogged or something he can't seem to precisely exploit the creature's weakness at the moment. "Could someone do tell the students to activate what they need to activate? I'll try to hold off this thing." he tells the others close to things that can easily communicate with the students.

He then gets himself on the bed next to the Thing and randomly draws some pieces of esoterica from his collection from his pockets to incorporate with his attack using his longsword and slashes the Thing.
Longsword Attack vs Thing: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Longsword Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13 slashing damage with Personal Antithesis

◆ Exploit Vulnerability
◆ Stride
◆ Strike

Ahas advances after the moving tail and slashes at it, again scoring a deeper hit than normal while muttering orderly dictums as he swings.

The tail-end of the protean again heals somewhat but is looking much more battered than before. It squeezes Ada quickly

◆ Constrict v Ada Bludgeoning damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 DC 19 Basic Fort save. If take any damage from that, another DC 22 Fort save needed.

before letting the student go and instead lashing out at the nagaji trying to impose order on it. The scaled thaumature finds himself losing consicousness as the wounded and flailing tail pummels him twice.

◆ Tail Slap v Ahas Strike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 for Bludegoning: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 plus Chaos: 1d4 ⇒ 1
◆ Tail Slap v Ahas Strike: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (13) + 12 - 5 = 20 for Bludegoning: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 plus Chaos: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Initiative

Ahas, prone, dying 1
Thing 45 damage, blue-er?
Betel
Hancock
Ada 9 damage, need 1-2 Fort saves
Hepcut 18 damage, cape raised

Material Failsafe not activated this round yet

Not liking that blueish tinge at all, Hancock switches things up and stops channeling his inner blue dragon opting, instead, for plain old brute force.

to hit Maul: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
damage Maul: 1d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16 bludgeoning damage

to hit Maul, iterative: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (12) + 9 - 5 = 16
damage Maul: 1d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13 bludgeoning damage

to hit Maul, iterative: 1d20 + 9 - 5 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 9 - 5 - 5 = 8
damage Maul: 1d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10 bludgeoning damage

Betel tries to communicate to the students to do the ritual and to keep doing it until something happens.
occultism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

fort 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 Crit Fail
fort 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 Sucess
Drop Magic Weapon Scroll
Take out Heal Scroll
heal 1st level: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Ahas.

"No one is going to be dying today. I've gotcha Ahas."," she says while pulling out a bunch of scrolls out of her pack.

Hepcut runs over to the book and tries to coordinate the kids.

"Ready? Okay!"

Athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Betel and Hepcut each manage to attract some attention. Tels notices the orc's furious flicking of the pages and responds Oh, Narven! while Betel by the dresser gets Hari to also focus and mutter Narven

Ada works to get Ahas snapped back to consicousness while Hancock just snaps and continues whaling on the tail. Only the first swing connect, but the force behind it sends the tail sticking out of the rift looking weak and wilting.

Initiative

Ahas, 12/19 hp prone, wounded 1
Thing 61 damage, blue-er?
Betel
Hancock
Ada 9 damage, need 1-2 Fort saves
Hepcut 18 damage, cape raised

2/3 Foci triggered for Material Failsafe this round

Ahas opens his eyes and finds himself lying on the bed next to the unconcious professor, albeit in another phase of existence. "Better to get away from here..." he mutters to himself. He quickly picks up his longsword and begins to Crawl out of bed and stands on his feet.

◆ Interact to pick up implement/weapon
◆ Crawl
◆ Stand

Ahas re-grabs his blade as he regroups.

The tail, thrashing wildly now, smacks hard twice against Hancock before pointing its tip towards Betel

Strike: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 for Bludgeoning: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Strike: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 12 - 5 = 22 for Bludgeoning: 1d12 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Betel: please make a DC 22 Fort save
1d8 ⇒ 4

Initiative

Ahas, 12/19 hp, wounded 1
Thing 58 damage, blue-er?
Betel
Hancock 24 damage (after geting through the rage temp hp)
Ada 25 damage
Hepcut 18 damage

0/3 Foci triggered for Material Failsafe this round

fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
She feels weaker.

Come on students. Keep the ritual going
occultism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Hancock activates another Potency crystal, one that he paid for with cold hard cash, seeing how close that was to taking him out and REALLY wails on it this time.

to hit Maul: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
damage Maul: 2d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6, 2) + 4 + 2 = 14 bludgeoning damage

to hit Maul, iterative: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 5 = 22
damage Maul: 2d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (12, 11) + 4 + 2 = 29 bludgeoning damage

to hit Maul, iterative: 1d20 + 9 - 5 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 5 - 5 = 9
damage Maul: 2d12 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6, 12) + 4 + 2 = 24 bludgeoning damage

Reload
divine disharmony: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
gun
attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"Come on it looks close to death. We've got this."

A slightly withered Betel nevertheless manages to make a big show in the poweder on the dresser by her. It's in fact large enough Crit success on Communicate that all three of the students in the room focus together and activate their foci

Narven!

Once again the whole room seems to *ripple* once more. The ghostly form around Krelsun is now starting to shake, while its tail starts to seem less solid out of the corner of your eyes as you glance at it.

As this blast of occult power engulfs the space and seems to distract the protean for a moment, Ada and Hancock take full advantage.

*Smack* *SMACK!* and miss *BANG!*

Clearly hurt the tail twitches and retracts, retreating back through the strange rift in the air. You see it - still clearly hurt - now lying flat and limp down at the room's floor in the same ghostly and incorporeal phase as the rest of the creature's body.

Together Tels, Vim, and Hari utter Narven. together one more time and you all feel a strange wave of *something* wash through you. The ghostly serpentine thing lifts its elongated vaguely-crocadilian head out of Krelsun's temple as the energy spreads and with a silent yell vanishes. You hear a yell from the doorway as Grelta rushes in and right up to Ahas. ahas! youre here again! oh, but hurt! and ada and bruce and everyone too. youre all all right!

The other three students in the room set their items down and also look at you. So, it worked? The ritual worked! Hari says with a smile.

From the bed a faint moan slips out from the old dwarf professor sitrring and propping himself up I do say, where am I? Professor Krelsun says, looking disoriented.

COMBAT OVER!!!
Ahas 7 damage, wounded 1
Hancock 24 damage
Ada 25 damage
Hepcut 18 damage

"Where are you? Where are we? We think we're in the lodge in Galt, but to be honest, I have no idea. There was a big blue crocodile-snake thing that was like, inside you. How in the hells where we all ghost-like and stuff for the past couple of hours?"

Betel just flops onto a spare spot on the bed.
Ow!
Betel enfeebled 1

Yes. We were ... erm ... all out of phase with the Prime Plane. Now I suppose we should find the Venture Captain.

She struggles back up to her feet.

as well as a nice deep pond or lake ... or some body of water

- you are in the galt lodge. wasnt that you talking to us?
- Oh! Yeah we came out of the Maze and then we looked around and 'whoa' no Professor - well you'd know that that's you - and also none of the Pathfinders were around - not the ones we came with or any inside - but there was weird stuff so we looked around and found a paper and we weren't snooping the other Pathfinders banged for us to go there even though they were invisible
- There was some strange effect happening all around the building. The Lodge has a ritual designed around it, mentioning the lodge could get out of 'phase'. We needed to perform some sort of prepared and triggered magic to solve it.
- It looked like your brain was getting eaten by some ghost arm-snake Professor. But it seems to have gone away when everyone showed back up her

What, oh!the dwarf's eyebrows rise as Hepctu and Tels describe the creature that was around him, while the teacher's expression moves from 'disoriented' to 'concerned' as Betel and the other studetns quickly explain and recap the events of the last hour. How upsetting. I, I'll need to speak with J when we return. But is everyone all right? Are all the students unharmed?!? And yes, we should find -

All right everyone, gather round!!! a new voice yells out loudly from outside the room, cutting Krelsun's last sentence off. Exiting the bedroom and moving down the hall, you can see the source of the sound is a half-even woman in full Pathfinder gear standing in the main hall downstairs. We need to get a head count going!

As things happen very fast, Ahas is not able to absorb all the details of what just happened. All this shining and shimmering made him somewhat sick, perhaps an aftereffect of dying before being brought to consciousness. Sooner or later, they are in the same phase as the students.

"Now you see us? Great! Ow..." he says and gets hurt as he stretches his body. "Good thing everyone is alive and safe, I think?"

Venture Captain? Betel asks.

Bruce is quite touched that Grelta was concerned about him, but he quickly assures here that he is fine. That he excels at avoiding trouble. The it is poor Hancock she should be worrying about.

Meanwhile, a triumphant Hancock holsters his maul and grins, and begins admiring his wounds.

"Ncn. Gotmgd."

Of course he turns his attention to the VC, hoping he can explain all the weirdness, though Hancock is ready to chalk it up to Weird Monster Syndrome.

"Well whatever just happened you can rest assured that the kids finished their homework. I think?"

Venture Captain? Betel asks.

Yes the half-elf says to Betel with a nod and a smile. Armeline Jirneau. Pleasure to meet you. Had a chance to see you for a bit of course but I don't think the chance was mutual. As she talks all five of you see many of Pathfinder agents also moving about the edges of the main hall and corralling some of the younger children.

VC Jirneau claps her hands together and turns towards the throng. Now, that certainly wasn’t the sort of visit we were expecting to give you all. But while we may have been detained by, well by the sort of circumstances that can arise when Pathfindering, I want you to know that I and the rest of the lodge’s staff were able to observe you all the whole while, even if we weren't able to let you know. And most of you did a great job in keeping calm and together in a strange time. you all notice Armeline give a stern look towards Alec as she says the word ‘most’.

I want to especially give thanks to Tels Olsen, Vim Moneymaker, Hari, and Grelta. Armeline says, looking up at them as those four descend the balcony. Vim, Hari and Tels beam as Grelta blushes. They demonstrated excellent problem solving and support to help resolve our little ‘disappearing’ issue. And our visiting agents she points to you five were instrumental in getting everything back to normal before any lasting damage was done. Let’s give them a round of applause!

The children and lodge staff clap for you all.

Now, I know the plan was for you all to spend the day here, but I’m afraid we’re going to need to get you all back home earlier than expected. Us Pathfinders will need to deal with some things to make sure everything’s all right here. So start getting your things ready.

As the students and lodge staff get to work packing up their things for the departure, Armeline nods for your party and the professor to head over to the side. Well, she sighs Even as a Pathfinder I have to say: that was a weird one. Thank the Gods for you lot for getting us out of that pickle.

Betel blushes a bit from all the attention.

So ...... um ....... what's with all the romance novels Venture Captain? Betel asks. And ... um .... she looks slightly embarrassed would it please be possible to borrow Meeting of Queens since we're not staying?

Hancock scowls at the praise and adjusts his maul a bit. There might be a faint flush creeping up his neck though, and Bruce gives him a friendly shove..

Betel blushes a bit from all the attention.

So ...... um ....... what's with all the romance novels Venture Captain? Betel asks. And ... um .... she looks slightly embarrassed would it please be possible to borrow Meeting of Queens since we're not staying?

The books? Armeline looks to Betel, semeingly a bit confused at first by the question unrelated to 'phase' shenanigans but then shakes her head and smiles. Oh, bit of Galtan tradecraft. In times when openly opposing tyranny was a sure path to a quick death - and how whoever in charge defined 'tyranny' could change rapidly - I found that few people take notice of a stray romance novel here or there. Makes them an excellent way to hide ciphers or other subtle communications in them as they are passed around. Plus they can provide some entertainment on a slow night. Feel free to take that one with you when you return, it's a good one.

As the students continue to pack in the other room, Professor Krelsun looks out to make sure the children aren't nearby as he wrings his hat sheepishly.

I...I am afraid Pathfinders that I must apologize profusely for the trying circumstances of this day.While none of it was any of my intentions, I fear that I may be to blame. you know that some time ago our school was suffering from an infestation from a protean invader, which your organization helped drive off. Well, the incident appears to not have been the only one of its sort; shortly thereafter I came across another of their ilk - a pelagaster. The being seemed curious and offered to mingle its experience and skills with myself, and I, well Krelsun looks down I had been experiencing trouble reaching to my students as of late. Partially bonding with the being helped my make my lectures and tutelage more engaging and exciting, and the livened up teaching seemed to be assisting the students themselves in learning their lessons.

Unfortunately, it appears that the pelagaster may have been more interested in spreading chaos to our plane than merely observing it. When we approached this lodge it somehow twisted your hedges' extraplanar magic to fracture reality around it. The resulting magic kept me completely overwhelmed - the next thing I remembered I was waking up on the bed surrounded by all of you just a few minutes ago.

Krelsun shakes his head. I will of course report all of this back to J and the headmaster upon my return. Please do not hold this against them or the school: I can pledge that they knew nothing of this.

Hepcut looks agog. "Your actions put the Venture Captain and the lodge's staff, the children, and us all in peril!" She forces him to suit on the naughty stool with his nose against the wall.

Betel starts to describe to the Venture Captain what had happened as she very discretely slips the book in her bag.

No, we did not see you or the other Lodge occupants at any stage. I can only speculate that the pelagastar managed to split reality into at least three levels, presumably by tapping into the magic of the Maze. Erm, since you already had a contingency plan ... erm ... if I may ask, has this sort of thing happened before

And thank you for the book. I will make sure it gets returned. My name is Betel Capella by the way.

“Calm now,“ Ahas tells the angry orc. “The old man can learn a lesson or two from that. And yeah. It must be reported so that he can makes steps to prevent it from happening again.“