GM Tyranius (PF2) Gatewalkers

Game Master Tyranius

Daehalya sags ever so slightly as the fight ends. "We need to stay together," she admonishes the others. "I could have taken care of that trap in the other room, but everyone rushed through it!"

Though she gives little sign, a slight whitening of her already pale face gives hint of her anger.

"The risen dead are vanquished and the tribe is alive," the amurrun says while he tends to Nicholo's injuries with a touch. "Nicholo needs stronger armor if Nicholo wants to fight close to the enemy."

Odioki takes the crossbow and wonders if he should change weapons.

"I'm not used to hunting more than snow hares," he says in his defense.

"Nicholo needs stronger armor if Nicholo wants to fight close to the enemy."

Both Onye is right in that I need better armor. Or a better battle plan. I don't know what's gotten into me. Each decision I make seems to be worse than the last.

Taking a bit of time to heal up and tend to the wounded you pus open the secret door revealing a fungal forest. Mushrooms and fungi of every size and shape choke this room with a riot of color, soaking up the light of a glowing shield-shaped panel on the western wall. A one-foot-deep stream curves through the room, emerging through cracks in the stone and disappearing again in the same fashion.

Ezgara walks up to the glowing shield.

Nature (T): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

A superficial glamour to swindle fools. Not Ezgara, oh no. He won't be fooled by shiny gems, no matter how beautifully glitter… glitter He stares blankly at the gleaming gems until he is pulled away.

Glamorous Buckler

occultism: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 DC 16 [/dice]
Staring at the colorful flora, Nicky doesn't even notice the shield. He moves towards that part of the cave, and gingerly steps over the 1 foot deep stream - but his head is constantly looking at the Fungal forest.
What are you talking about Ezgara? Shiny gems? What?! Those are mushrooms and moss. And what's that about swindling? I have a few good swindles I learned at the circus.

Nicky points to something he noticed. @GM Can I use the That's odd ability in this room?
Hey, look where I'm pointing my finger. That's pretty cool.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
@Gm, what are my HP's now?

Daehalya seems stunned by the vegetal panoply, unlike anything she's seen in the frozen north. "It's beautiful," she whispers.

Finally throwing off its spell, she picks up the buckler. Feels like it should be of use for me -- but I don't really feint, since I pictured Daehalya as not deceptive. Of course, I could change that next time we level up. (And I don't think I can use it as a buckler, since I two-hand my weapon. Wah wah.)

@Nicholo- Everyne is full on Hp with no damage. Between Lay on Hands and Medicine Checks you will be topped off in between combats unless we are under a time constraint, which I will let you know about.

Nicky knows that there is something odd and off about the strange glowing shield panel. All is made evident when the group pulls it free to revel a glowing buckler.

Grabbing the shield you continue along to the reception hall. The stone here has been carefully chiseled into worked walls. Papers ranging from whole scrolls to tiny tatters are pasted over every surface. To the south stands a large metal double door etched with a leafless tree design.

Sitting near the door are a pair of tiny, snakelike creatures with numerous hands that usually hold a multitude of fountain pens in various ink colors. The words scrawled across their bodies shift depending on what texts they've looked over recently. The pair immediately begin talking over each other.

"Hello..."

"Have you secured an appointment?"

"We will need some basic information."

"Name..."

"Date of Birth..."

"Region Born in..."

"Parents names..."

"Parents Date of Birth..."

"Region they were born in..."

"Their parents names..."

"Grandparents Date of Birth..."

"Region they were born in..."

"Schools attended..."

"Schools parents attended..."

"Schools grandparents attended..."

"Region of those schools..."

"What subjects did you study..."

"Do you possess any magical abilities..."

"Do you possess any magic items..."

"Have you been injured..."

"Where have you been injured..."

"On a scale of 1-10 how bad was each injury..."

"Do you have copies of all of your school reports..."

"Can you read and write..."

"Please look at this eye chart and tell us what it says..."

"What is your weight..."

"Do you have any pre-existing conditions..."

"Do your parents have any pre-existing conditions..."

"Do your grandparents have any pre-existing conditions..."

The pair go on and on and on until you stop them.

Ezgara pulls his hair. I did not authorize this! This is an invasion of my privacy! I refuse, you neurotic bureocrats! I, Ezgara the Misanther, refuse! Hereby I refuse to authorize, without reservation, any and all Castrovel-based law enforcement agency, administrator, agency, institution, school or university (public or private), information service bureau, employer, or adventuring company furnishing any and all background information requested!

While he rants his crooked good eye wanters around. Check to ID these creatures?

Ah! Flashbacks to ... everything.

Daehalya's jaw drops as she can't even understand all of the questions these creatures want to know.

"Why do you need all of this information? Who are you?" she blurts out.

"Onye Dinta does not believe that snakes with arms can make use of any of this information," the catfolk says with an irritated flick of his tail. "The tribe is on a mission of urgency to undo the harm the tribe has inflicted upon the kind elves."

Whoa Now. Whoa. You want information, and we'd like to both get information and progress forward. But, your questions might need to be answered in small bites. Isn't there a short question and answer track?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 = 25 I get group impression, so I can possibly affect both.
Nicky tries to be diplomatic. He also tries to see if he can pick up the languages that these things write in. Since the texts are shown on their bodies, he looks at the their bodies!

perception: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 = 23
I think this is also pursue a lead -- to find the source to cure the
Elf curse, so I probably get the +1 for Perception and Diplo.

None of you seem to recognize these strange aberrations, though Nicky decides on a more diploatic approach. The pair of sake-like creatures look at each other and seem to come to an agreement. "Well, seems the time as gotten away from all of us. Your appointment is now. You may pass through the doorway, but please leave all scrolls, spellbooks, and formula books on the desk. You can collect them on your way out."

The text on their bodies seems to be similar to whatever they read that is nearby.

The pair seem to be trying to trick you into leaving new material to read. Nicky gets the sense that you can easily just push past with no immediate threat.

"Of course it is now. Ezgara planned this all ahead. With infinite foresight he has memorized the most potent tomes, yes. And now he graciously bestows them upon bureaucratic snakes. Will they know what to do with such powerful ancient wisdom? Perhaps they will be cursed with their own Donkeys. Beware! Where is Donkey? Beware! Hehehehe."

The giggling old elf hands one The Wisdom of Donkeys and the other Raising Miniature Livestock.

"Great, let's get on with it," Odioki says, happy for once that Ezgara has such eclectic reading tastes. He pushes through the doors.

Daehalya smiles to herself as Ezgara accedes to the worms' demands. She's unsure she would want to leave them any other tomes, but perhaps that will satisfy them.

"Well done," she murmurs to Nicky. "It is nice to avoid violence when we can."

The pair grasp the books with glee as they shift to the corner, slowly flipping through its pages. They seem to completely ignore you now that they have new reading material at their disposal. "Donkey can also mean Jackass it seems...." One giggles as you leave them be heading into the final chamber.

Walking through Ezgara notices a couple useful scrolls. Scroll of Glitterdust and Scroll of Haste.

Ornate lanterns hang from the stalactites along the ceiling of this vast, dimly lit cavern. An orchard of short, leafless trees spreads out across the floor, their twisted branches weighed down with shadowed shapes of odd fruit.

Three emaciated and hairless humanoids with their arms folded into the sleeves of silver robes stand before the grove. The figure in front raises a long-fingered hand, and telepathic words ripple through your head, seeming to echo with many voices.

“Welcome, scholars.”

Odioki, Nicky, and Daehalya begin to feel a small intrusion into their mind. Probing softly at the surface.

“We see the knowledge you desire. The Grove contains these memories—but what memories will you offer in turn?”

Odioki isn't thrilled about sensing someone probing his mind.

Is there anyway to seal ourselves against it?

"I have memories of Ezgara I wouldn't mind losing, if that's what you mean." Odioki looks at the dishevled elf.

"I'm sure we'll make new ones anyway."

Ezgara plucks a fruit, trying to identify whether it's yummy and soft enough to eat for his old gums.

HA! You see? Odoiki wishes to forget the wine he owes me! Mendacious mendacity! Taking advantage of an old elf. Shame. I know it. I won't forget. And these starved telepaths, clearly afraid to pry into the depth of mind lest they be adrift forever, sunk in the bottomless black depths of my sagacity! An endless ocean, so deep even light cannot fathom. Who can blame them? Touch not the mind of Ezgara. This is the path of wisdom.

Nature to ID the fruit, and any trained check to ID these creatures?

@ Odioki- It would be a Will save if they have to probe deeper.

Ezgara recognizes neither the fruit nor the creatures. "We maintain this world's grove of memories. We are the Gardeners of this grove and don't allow anyone in freely." They seem to speak as one in your mind. "To be given access to the wealth of lore and knowledge of which you seek contained in the Grove of Memory yu must contribute to new memories, new experiences to the Grove."

They explain the process. "The memories will be harvested from your minds. Once harvested the memories you choose will be erased from your memory, never to be remembered again."

You can negotiate this term with a DC 18 Diplomacy, or a completely different term altogether witha crit success.

"We have few memories to offer," Daehalya says. "In fact, we come looking for memories that we have lost."

Diplomacy (trained): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

The Gardeners of the Grove think on this for a few moments. "Offer one memory in exchange and we will guide you to the grove." They look to you. "Which memory do you wish to offer."

Daehalya frowns. She does not want to offer these creatures any entry into her mind. Findeladlara knows her thoughts are her own, and she has had enough of them taken already!

"Can you take the memories of Onye Dinta?" the amurrun asks. "Onye Dinta has a memory to offer, if so."

To speed things up given my internet issues:

This sounds like a quid-pro-quo.
I think we need to do a bit of barter .
Let us make sure that Onye's memory is getting a just worth. He's super special and his memories will be REALLY an improvement for the grove.

Nicky looks to make sure the wheeling and dealing is fair, but also maybe trying to get a bit more like a couple memories from The Grove.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 1 = 17 +1 due to pursue a lead.

Nicky also searches his mind, thinking of a memory that he likes, but will just have to miss. That's if they don't take Onye's memory.

Odioki thinks of his brother, Tonaro, falling through the ice on that fateful day, the panic, and the struggle to rescue his twin from the frozen water.

He shakes the thought away. Even so, painful as it is, he would never give that memory away.

Odioki is relieved when he hears Onye volunteer.

"Are you sure?" Odioki asks, hoping however that Onye doesn't change his mind.

Ezgara silently gloats, clearly all are too fearful to consider even touching one of his memories. An unspoken but clear compliment of his keen intellect and wily ways. Heee hee!

Nicky isn't able to barter anyhing better as the creatures connect with Onye's mind. "This memory you hold is a powerful memory. We will relieve you of this sadness you bear Onye Dinta." Onye feels a strong tug in his mind, but quickly forgets it was there a few seconds later as the memory of the morning after the death of his daughter vanishes.

"Your sadness and unfortunate time have been lifted. It will be used in the Grove to teach the future of empathy and compassion." They seem to offer their condolences as tears stream down Onye's cheeks, though he no longer understands why.

The Gardeners lead the way into the grove. The darkened shapes that appeared to be fruit from a distance now reveal themselves to be severed heads—the elegant heads of elves, multicolored humanoid heads with prominent antennae, insectile heads like giant ants, strange heads that appear to be almost entirely brain, and more. Each head rests in a cradle of branches like a jewel in a setting, looking as fresh and peaceful as if its owner were sleeping. Tiny shoots pulsing with faint silver light extend from the tree and into the open necks of the cradled heads.

One branch bears the head of a raven‑haired elf. As the Gardeners touch the branch, the elf’s eyes snap open, glowing with silvery light as she speaks.

“What knowledge do you seek?”

Nicky looks at all this and an unsettling thought crosses his mind. So, he reaches out telepathically to the cloak dangling around his neck. Hey vegi-cloak! Um, is this the kind of thing you are going to morph into after the passage of time, and are you designed to be around my neck, so you can collect my head easier? Because if that's the case, I'm not keeping you and I might want to give you to Ezgara!

to which the cloak replies.
You sure are stupid. This effect and Grove is something... special.
Special, as in something *YOU* are not ram-brains.
This symbiotic relationship where I am bound to try and keep you alive --keeps looking worse and worse for me.
The only thing less appealing that listening to your stupid thoughts is the possibility of being attached to the madness in the gourd of that old elf!

Having been shut down, insulted, and not given more information- Nicky mutters to himself.
Stupid plant thing. Probably would have lied to me anyway.
It's odd how I can talk humans and demi-humans into things, but a cloak of flowers treats me like I'm the future son in law of his beloved daughter.

Looking up and at the decapitated head of Raven Haired Elf.
We are looking for the cure to the Obnubilate Plague - a disease targeting elves.

The elf closes her eyes. "I sense a psychic imprint.." Her eyes open looking to each of you in turn before stopping on Onye. "You carry something of great importance on you. Show it to me."

"The shadewither key from the land of shadow and fey," the catfolk says as he removes the artifact. "Onye Dinta inadvertently brought harm to Alleli when Alleli asked to examine the key. Onye Dinta wishes to undo the harm."

Daehalya watches, concern writ large on her face. She didn't know about Onye's tragedy, and maybe it was a blessing to have it taken from him, but she still can't help but feel it's wrong somehow. Even if he was willing to part with it and doesn't know to mourn its loss.

She keeps staff in hand, concerned still that she might need to use it.

"The imprint on that key is the same as that of Osoyo, the Blackfrost Whale, though it seems muffled-as if only clinging to the edges of the key. She notes with a bit of surprise. "Osoyo’s mark doesn’t seem to be causing the obnubilate curse but is trying to negate it."

"Osoyo is somehow tied up in the obnubilate curse. The wisest Ilverani priest-scholars say that Osoyo was first encountered near the elves’ ancient homeland of Sovyrian millennia ago. In a vast canyon filled with a magical sea of mist, the massive, ice-blue whale floated through the air as easily as a fish through water. Those who encountered “the psychic whale” and inhaled its chilling, shadowy vapors developed paranormal powers. Unfortunately, they also lost control of their minds, becoming potent yet senseless thralls."

"Once discovered, the Blackfrost Whale could not simply be ignored. Sovyrian’s High Families knew this entity was far too dangerous to remain anywhere near the elven capital. At great cost, brave elves subdued, shackled, and shuttled Osoyo to the Crown of the World. There, they sealed the beast beneath the thickest part of Golarion’s icecap, where Osoyo lay dormant for thousands of years."

The hanging head thinks for a few moments. "Tell Jenthiel to consult “the third restorative formula from my seventh lab journal, but scrap the peony seeds and azata tears and sub in water from She Who Walks Through Seasons.”

Daehalya is a bit stunned as she hears about this creature from her people's ancestral homeland -- Sovyrian! I can only imagine what it would be like to visit there! -- and then buried under her actual homeland. She wonders if there's some connection to Findeladlara, this tie to the elves' origin and the location that the goddess led those who remained on Golarion during Earthfall.

And of course, paranormal powers -- even somewhat losing control of their minds -- seems even more familiar all of a sudden. Did they somehow encounter this Blackfrost Whale?

But as much as this seems important, more important is it sounds like they have a cure for Alleli. That must take precedence!

"We must return now," she urges the others.

Well, I'm part elf now, so I feel a bit of kinship to Sovyrian. That's the land/world where Elves went after EarthFall. Right?

Back to Osoyo and this curse. How is this curse working? Is Osoyo's influence dulling it? Because the sound of the story you mentioned -- an astute person would think that Osoyo aided in creating the curse because Elves captured and locked the Blackfrost Whale away!
Also, you mentioned the creatures became powerful- yet Thralls. Who is the puppetmaster to a few dozen psychic thralls?

Nicky thinks to himself. This gets stranger and stranger. Some answers create deeper questions.

"Third restorative from seventh journal. No peony seeds or azata tears," the catfolk says to himself, trying to memorize the instruction. "Use water from she who walks through seasons."

Unable to answer anything further Iskariel closes her eyes once more, and the Gardeners escort you back out of the grove. "Many thanks for upholding your end of the bargain." The Gardeners lay a comforting hand on Onye's shoulders and press their heads to his one by one.

Making your way back to the surface the Oatia are overjoyed at your return. Jenethiel pushes through the crowd. "Did you find Iskariel? What did she say?"

Let me do a bit of a rewind my dear friend Jenthiel!
Not very long ago you chided me for thinking this case was not important.

This isn't a fun case. There is a life involved.”

Back then, I told you that Fear is the mind killer and that we were confident of success.

This group of people are AWESOME. They are the cream of the crop. Seriously, our group are gate survivors. We are like “Solutions, incorporated!” . Yeah. Yeah. We are Solutions, inc.
I am glad you had confidence in us. For it paid off! Daehalya knows the recipe for the cure.

Nicky takes a victory lap. The tune of some Golorian version of "We Are the Champions by Queen" bounding around in his head. He has a smile that lights up the room on his face.

The wooden mask conceals the furrowed brow and perplexed expression the amurrun has as Nicholo brags. "Yes. The tribe heard the advice of Iskariel," he says to Jenethiel. "The answer is in the third recipe from the seventh book. Iskariel says do not use the peony seeds or azata tears. Use the water from the one who walks through the seasons."

Earlier (also I'm not 100% sure that elves actually know this, so apologies if I'm getting my meta info confused with in-world).

"Sovyrian was our ancestral homeland millennia ago, back before the days of Aroden even," Daehalya says. "From there, we came to Golarion and made it our home. And, yes, when Earthfall came, that is where many of the elves fled. Though some stayed behind to help the survivors, such as my people. We stayed, and Findeladlara saw us through that dark time, and led us to the Crown of the World."

Now
She nods at Onye's words, hoping the cure can be applied quickly.

The elves on Castrovel probably wouldn't know that.

Jenthiel lights up at the words from their mother and rushes off down the hill to retrieve the journal. “She Who Walks Through Seasons is a sacred being— not quite god, not quite beast. Many Ikal natives have worshipped her as an avatar of the jungle itself. The size of a hill, she lumbers through the forest, as the forest. Atop her head bubbles a sacred spring. To save Alleli, you must summon She Who Walks and bring back some of her headwaters. We’ll prepare the rest of the components and be ready for your return.”

"Does this She Who Walks Through Seasons person ring any bells?" Odioki asks Daehalya, finding himself a bit lost with all this elven history.

No one asks Ezgara. Well he won't tell anyway!

Though he will. Would also RK if avialable and he's trained. Otherwise let's rest and then get going1

"She Who Walks Through Seasons isn’t so much found as summoned. To call forth the ancient being and collect the water from her crown, the characters must complete the following tasks."

1. Secure the Spire: She Who Walks can be beckoned out of hiding from an ancient tower called the Offering Spire. Since the site’s caretakers abandoned it long ago, the Spire is likely now home to territorial monsters.

2. Make the Offering: One hundred pounds of special fruit and fungus will make a sufficient offering to She Who Walks. You must also blow a huge relic called the Sporehorn to complete the summoning.

3. Gather the Water: When She Who Walks draws close, you can board her, gather the water from her crown, and rappel back down to safety.

Jenthiel provides you with a skull‑sized stoppered gourd to fill with water. "The Oatia will send several strong young elves to guide you to the Offering Spire and haul the ropes and offerings, but that’s as far as they’re willing to go."

Getting some rest Ezgara tries to understand and recall some of She Who Walks but isn't able to come up with anything from books on this alien world.

The amurrun stands silent, looking at Jenthiel for a moment. "Onye Dinta will do what Onye Dinta must do to make amends for the harm accidentally brought to Alleli," he says slowly. "However, many of the tribe of Onye Dinta have been awake a long time and are tired. And even more disagreeable than usual. Does Alleli have time for the tribe to rest?"

Jenthiel looks to Alleli. "You should have time to rest for the night, though we should head out at first light."

Nicky tries to think about creatures or rituals like the ones that are described by the Elves of this alien culture.

@Gm. Roll knowledge please. Occultism +8, Star Lore +8, Arcana +8/

When he has a moment, he looks for Elven guards that are using interesting and exotic Elven weapons. He wants one that looks Agile or requires finesse.

Hey bud, that's a cool weapon design. Who is the best armorer in the city and what's a good weapon that sings about your city and culture? See, I just got this gnarly old short sword I grabbed in a gladiator pit in Cheliax.
oh, you don't know about Cheliax. Well, that's a stupid country where I am from. Also, does the armorer have any cool armor that's light but durable? Any suggestions on equipment since the best thing I have is this here buckler.

"Yes, a rest might be nice," Daehalya agrees."In the meantime, can you tell us anything more about what sort of monsters might be in the tower? And where might we find this special fruit and fungus, and the sporehorn?"

Jenthiel explains. We will gather the fruit and fungus for you, hauling it in the cart as well as carry the horn." He thinks for a moment. "The site has been abandoned for decades now but Kareq's have been spotted near the tower and it is covered in thorny vines."

One of the elven guards looks to Nicky and speaks with Jenthiel as the elf translates. "We have soe shops set up down the hill for any of your needs."

You can purchase common gear fro the CRB here.