PFS CORE Qstor's Black Waters (Inactive)

Game Master Qstor

feel free to introduce your PC

A small sized dinosaur entres the room and begins inspecting it

An elven man bursts into the room wearing a dragonhide breastplate and a longsword on his left hip/ Croaki I told you to FOLLOW me although he is clearly addressing the dinosaur the dinosaur continues to inspect the room paying not the blindest bit of notice to the elf

He sighs No treats for you tonight or my name isnt Sarathor Naefiel

The elf floats into the room, ready for his mission. He nodded at the other elf and his accompanying beast but remained silent, as he knew a briefing was on the way. He found the nearest chair and sat down with his hands folded in the lap of his long robes.

Venture-Captain Drandle Drenge, a stout and hardy Taldan
with thin, graying hair and a thick, bushy mustache, unfurls a
map on his butcher-block table and places a meaty finger on
the parchment. “The abandoned district of Beldrin’s Bluff was
once the gem of Absalom’s Precipice District—now it is but a
weathered crag of broken rock at the edge of the roiling sea.
When the great quake hit ten years ago, entire blocks of the Bluff
sheared from the mainland. Cliffside tearooms and exclusive
estates fell into the waves and carried hundreds of nobles to
a watery grave. An elite academy, called the Tri-Towers Yard,
remained on the mainland, but sank wholesale into the earth.
Children unfortunate enough to survive the quake lay pinned
under debris as sewer water slowly rose from the ground and
drowned them. Nearly every student perished.
“Today, crumbled stone walls and weed-filled lots sprawl
where gentlemen’s clubs once filled with pipe smoke and
hobnobbing lords. The Drownyard—er, that’s what the illmannered
call the school these days—lies behind a fence of
black iron pikes, constructed by the families of the dead to
discourage morbid trespassers.
“Even respected archaeological groups have been denied
official access. Our own Society has itched to explore the site
ever since the quake—that is, ever since we discovered that the
school fell through the roof of a lost necropolis. Unfortunately,
the emotional trauma attached to the school has remained fresh.
But finally, after ten years of mourning, the politically-connected
families of dead students have sanctioned our delve request.”
With a toothy smile and a clap, Drenge says, “I’m pleased
to announce that I’ve selected your team for the delve. I want
you to find a way into the necropolis, document your findings
with professional detail, and recover artifacts of historical
significance. The Society is interested in one artifact in
particular—a two-finger ring topped with a ruby salamander.”

Know history 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Malon tried to recall more about the school or the necropolis that was mentioned. ”Can you tell us anything else about that necropolis?”

Sarathor tries to think of the ways nature might reclaim such a site and what manner of creatures would find such a place interesting.
now nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Have we garnered the favour of all the local lords or just some. Fae lords are rather capricious and city lords can be prone to such changes of mood

Earlier:

The door to the room is pushed open and a dark-skinned human woman of Keleshite heritage enters hastily.

"Am I too late? I hope not..."

The woman is armored with a breastplate and has a scimitar on her hip. A silver ankh, the holy symbol of the Dawnflower, dangles from a cord around her neck.

"I am Kyra, humble cleric of Sarenrae. Pleased to m..."

Her voice trails off when she notices the small dinosaur and her hand flies to the hilt of her scimitar. But as the beast makes no aggressive moves and the others seem relaxed, she continues after a few seconds:

"Huh, that was unexpected. One does not see dinosaurs indoors very often... Where was I? Ah, yes. Pleased to meet you!"

--------------------------------

Now:

"A lost necropolis? So we should expect at least some undead, right?"

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

A stocky human man of medium height follows the Keleshite into the room, booted feet thudding on the floor. He comes to attention and salutes, striking his chest with his fist. "Antony, R., reporting for duty."

Know history 1d20+8

Malon tried to recall more about the school or the necropolis that was mentioned. ”Can you tell us anything else about that necropolis?”

Dreng continues and turns to Malon ""Moldering

Sarathor tries to think of the ways nature might reclaim such a site and what manner of creatures would find such a place interesting.

[dice=now nature]1d20+7

Have we garnered the favour of all the local lords or just some. Fae lords are rather capricious and city lords can be prone to such changes of mood

"The fey lords aren't concerned with the old building, sorry to say"

Most of the discussion has gone over the soldier's head, but he caught one thing of interest. "Venture-Captain, are we going to have to swim all the time?"

Most of the discussion has gone over the soldier's head, but he caught one thing of interest. "Venture-Captain, are we going to have to swim all the time?"

"No part of the site is on land!"

ready to move on?

Malon couldn’t think of anything else to discuss before setting out.

"I think we have enough information."

Ready to move on.

So on whose authority are we poking around the Tri Towers Yard if anyone asks? Do we have an actual writ? I know how you city dwellers like your bits of paper. So does Croaki

In any case we will only find anything by actually exploring looks around What mischief are you up to now? follows Croaki out of the door

ie ready to move on

Kyra learns of the Tri Towers and comes to the attention of a rich woman, Miranda Dacilane who sends the Pathfnders an invitation to dinner.

see slide 1 on maps, going to assume you go to move along

The Pathfinders arrive at a opulent home in Abaslom. A servant invites you in. Rich rugs, ivory and fine furnishings decorate the home. The servant shows you to a dining room. A few minutes later a middle aged woman in rich clothing introduces herself as Miranda and shows you to your seats.

Ten courses of tasty food, beef, creamy seafood soup, salads, fine cheeses etc are all severed during the length of the meal.

Towards the end, the conversation turns and Miranda says “My daughter Junia was one of so many children lost. Hundreds of them pinned under the rubble in that sinkhole. The black water rising—the kids screaming.” She quiets for a moment. “None of us could get to them.” She holds back tears.

If asked what the girl looks like the noble woman points to a painting on the wall. "A donation to the Society would be in order if you can bring me information on my child."

Malon enjoyed the fine meal and listened closely. ”Would you know the best way to access the necropolis? The easier it is to get to, the better prepared we will be to delve the area.”

The fighter eats quietly, saying little. He occasionally smiles at a particularly tasty morsel, nodding in appreciation to the hostess.

Kyra answers: ”Losing someone you care about a lot - in such a horrible way - that's something I can relate to, unfortunately. And not knowing what exactly happened to Junia for ten years now...”

She trails off, lost in her own memories for a second. Then she looks at the Lady Dacilane and puts one hand on her holy symbol.

”By Sarenrae, I swear I will do my best to find information about your daughter.”

Well I don't think your daughter will be looking that well if we find her thinks Sarathor So they did not recover the bodies at the time?

Malon enjoyed the fine meal and listened closely. ”Would you know the best way to access the necropolis? The easier it is to get to, the better prepared we will be to delve the area.”

"It's through the area of Beldrin’s Bluff and down. I'm sure there will be some people there to guide you"

---

leaving dinner early the next morning?"

Beldrin’s Bluff is a rotting ghost town at the edge of a hungry
sea. Throughout the derelict landscape, seagulls perched on
splintered timbers reflect your passage in their glassy black
eyes. Overhead, dark clouds move ashore with the promise
of a storm.

as you approach

A fence of black iron pikes surrounds a block-wide yard.
Dead tree branches reach out from the fence like the arms
of emaciated prisoners desperate to escape. A man is on the
inside, cutting the trees down. Some of the dismembered
branches remain, stuck in place by knotty elbows swollen
around the iron.

”Well, this place looks just awful, doesn’t it? Any of you brave enough to lead the way?”

Sarathor approaches the man cutting the dead trees Hello there. How did you get inside?

Rast takes the lead, carrying his sheathed sword under one arm.

"And I can go last, if that's ok with you..."

Sarathor approaches the man cutting the dead trees Hello there. How did you get inside?

"I was invited in by the caretaker." The man takes off his work gloves and holds his hand through the fence in friendship as if to shake someone else's hand. I'm Deris Marlinchen. My daughter Cassiel attends this school. You should see how she’s grown.

His daughter is here?! Isn't this place supposed to be destroyed and abandoned? I am suspicious...

"I am Kyra, humble cleric of Sarenrae. Pleased to meet you, Deris!"

Kyra bows her head a little, but does not take the offered hand.

"So your daughter is here? How old is she now? Whitch subjects does she study? ..." Some smalltalk about his daughter to keep him comfortable.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

"Where did you say do we find the caretaker?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Let's see if everything here is as it seems...

Very strange. Does that man know something that no one else does? Let’s see if the others can get more of his story, the elf thinks.

Rast looks around, alert for an ambush.

Let's see if everything here is as it seems...

Kyra know's he is "lost" (without his daughter) and desperately wants to get to his daughter below in the catacombs and is hiding something.

I think it's time to drop the act.

"Why are you really here, Deris? This place is a rotting ghost town! You can tell us the truth. I think your daughter is in the catacombs - a place we are going to visit."

...and I hope she is just dead and not undead...

"Do you want to come with us? If yes, you have to tell us everything... and I mean everything."

I hope that's ok with everyone...

Malon nods. He liked this cleric’s directness!

Malon nods. He liked this cleric’s directness!

"You come with me!" He smiles. "We shall see the children! They're this way! Mrs. Heracks will speak with us!" He waves the party forward.

Looking around, you see the iron gate to the area isn't locked but rusted shut and you could squeeze through.

Malon looks around at the others. ”Well, uh, you seem to know your way around this place, so lead the way for us,” the elf says as he shrugs his shoulders.

Rast stows his sword and tries to open the gate. Start with taking 10 on a STR check to see if a 15 is enough.

Rast stows his sword and tries to open the gate. Start with taking 10 on a STR check to see if a 15 is enough.

He easily pulls the gate open. The group follows the man. He leads you into a classroom.

Ten students dressed in checkered uniforms sit stiffly at
wooden desks, staring straight ahead. No one moves. At
the front of the class, a conservatively dressed woman leans
against the wall.

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Malon whispers to the others. ”These appear to be ghosts…and not hostile ones either. I’m not sure if they will communicate with us or not, but I have to admit this is quite interesting and will make a good journal entry.”

Rast continues to watch for trouble, leaving the mysteries to those best suited to their solutions.

Kyra tries to recall what she was taught about ghosts...

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 :-/

Kyra tries to recall what she was taught about ghosts...

[dice=Knowledge (religion)]1d20+7 :-/

Deris Marlinchen waves his arm. "Yes...the teacher Mrs. Heracks will show us to the necropolis. But we can't be long. We have to get back before lunch. The students are growing and have a nice lunch of lamb sandwiches and cheese around noon!"

Looking around you see that none of the "students" look like Lady Dacilane’s daughter

As Marlinchen waves his hand. A spirit of an older human woman with nez pierce glasses appears and smiles.

Sense motive 1d20 ⇒ 1

”Ms Heracks, I presume? I don’t suppose you could be so kind as to show us to the necropolis, coukd you,” the elf asks the newly formed spirit.

Sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Kyra whispers to the others: ”He thinks the kids are real... he is not quite right in the head.”

Croaki just hisses at the newly appeared spirit but keeps his distance

The spirit leads the Pathfinders down to a large black pool which bubbles from the center.

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

All Malon sees is the strange black pool.

Perception check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

The taciturn fighter nudges Malon. "Arm in the water. Looks like it was cut off."

”Interesting. Which one of you are brave enough to grab the arm and see if there are distinguishing characteristics about it?”

Kyra will spam cast guidance on herself as often as needed, so normally she will have it up any time she makes a check out of combat. I will not mention it as long as we are not in rounds.

"Wait. We should check the area first."

Take 10 Perception, guidance: 10 + 4 + 1 = 15

Kyra looks at the arm.

Take 10 Heal, guidance: 10 + 11 + 1 = 22

Afterwards, she casts detect magic and checks the pool, especially the area with the arm, for magical auras.

This is fine.

It really isn't... :-o

Kyra doesn't find any magical auras.

it's hard to see more without going into the water? Anyone want to go into the water?

No nobody wants to go in the water it filthy and very icky

Croaki splashes in to try and retrieve the submerged arm arm