Pathfinder 1st edition, 3-07 for Outpost VI (Inactive)

Game Master DoubleGold

It destroys intelligence? Triix guesses. Or maybe it eats your brain - while you're still using it

For some strange and macabre reason she giggles at the end.

"Well, a mind is a terrible thing to taste." Kegdrainer quipped as he thought about the foe. "Given that there was signs of frost on the corpse, it is possible that the ghoul is some type of frost or planar creature that got turned into one. he said

K:Religion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
K:planes: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

ACT 2: ON THE DEVOURER’S TRAIL
“Absalom legend tells that Blakros Museum was once the mighty stronghold of an astrologer called Ralzeros the Overwatched. He watched the stars with his weird machines, and some say he was able to communicate with the otherworldly beings of the Dark Tapestry, the black spaces between the stars.
“Ralzeros’s rival was a prominent mage named Beldrin. After a significant feud between the two, Ralzeros disappeared. It is thought that this feud arose when Ralzeros accusing Beldrin of stealing a key to one of Ralzeros’s many chambers, which contained the wondrous magical tools he used to watch and be watched by the stars.
“If Beldrin did steal a key to Ralzeros’s magical chamber, he most likely hid it in one of his three towers, which once stood on a promontory near what is now the Precipice Quarter. Only one tower remains standing—the Tower of the Broken Shield, commonly called Beldrin’s Tower. The Tower of the Candelabra has sunk deep beneath the water. The Tower of the Horn fell to the base of the bluff; it remains half-flooded at all times and is only accessible during an extremely low tide. He most likely hid it in the Tower of the Horn, which is said to have held the keys to many of the chambers in his other spires.”
anyone from Taldor? If not I need checks to complete a faction mission. DC 22 Stealth, Bluff, or Sleight of Hand check is needed to
abscond with anything.

You also go to visit the Forae Logos library. You see Brivit Nae okay for 5 gold you can have a copy of History of the True Art. alternatively sleight of hand to steal it.

Triix will quite happily pay the five gold.

Valentina is from Varisia, but can assist with a Stealth or Bluff attempt. She also has no qualms helping pay for the book copy.

Her eyes get super big and her jaw drops when she sees the volume of the library for the first time!
(yeah, she's a big ol' nerd.)

It is also obvious from Triix's demeanor that this is also one of her favourite places in Absalom. Certainly she knows her way around.

Maybe she and Valentina could nerd out together sometime.

She then goes on a quick search for volumes about Ralzeros the Overwatched and what he discovered.

Kegdrainer joined the others as he plunked down 5 gold pieces for a copy.

Kalak observes his colleagues get to work on the various tasks, So we're on to a strange tower? This is getting somewhere! he adds.

Teke will contribute to a copy of the book.

What is the faction mission? Teke's not from Taldor either, but if we need a check for it he can roll stealth.

Triix will quite happily pay the five gold.

Here you go. I'll add it to your chronicle sheet.

diplomacy (untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
diplomacy (untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
diplomacy (untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Thank you. I'll come back later to continue my research

Libraries are fun

[dice=diplomacy (untrained)]d20+3

[dice=diplomacy (untrained)]d20+3
[dice=diplomacy (untrained)]d20+3

Thank you. I'll come back later to continue my research

Libraries are fun

I'll doublecheck that, but I think each pc can only attempt once. You succeeded best 2 out of 3, so I'll count that as one success. In the meantime, the rest of you can roll.

Diplomacy, Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 5 Not so much...

Diplomacy, Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Success! (at an aid)

Actually it doesn't say each pc can only attempt once, or even 3 times, only that there are 3 pieces of info, so I'm assuming you keep trying to you get all the info, even if it takes you another 1d4 hours or so.

A suspicious figure was asking about ways to enter the Tower of the Horn. “This spooky guy like the one you’re talking about wanted to know how he could get to the Tower of the Horn without using the road. His hood hid his face, but I could see that when he talked, nothing moved, like it was a mask. I didn’t really understand what he meant, but I figured he wanted to go to the Precipice Quarter. He was creeping me out, so I told him to go talk to some of the Low Azlanti in Gilltown just to get rid of him.”

A gillman was seen leading a cloaked figure to the Tower of the Horn. “There’s this gillman everybody calls Anchor—nobody knows his real name. He’s shady, even for a gillman, and willing to do anything to make a few coins. I saw him whispering with somebody like the guy you described, and afterward they went off toward the Precipice Quarter. I don’t know why he’d need a gillman to show him the way, unless he was trying to get to some place underwater or something.”

A cloaked figure was seen climbing down the side of the Precipice Quarter with a gillman. “Earlier today, I saw your guy with a gillman in the Precipice Quarter. Don’t ask me why I was there. Anyway, they were acting real shifty, and they must not have known I was watching, because they began to climb down the side of the cliff there toward the fallen tower in the water. I have no idea why they were going to the tower in the sea when there’s a perfectly good one still on the top of the cliff, but that’s what I saw all the same.”

You also meet Key Absalom Citizens. You already obtained all the info, these npcs would give you the info you wouldn't have obtained anyway.
Scarin Saloli, female Varisian fortune-teller: Although she was actually born and raised in Absalom, this middle aged card reader affects a thick Varisian accent. She insists on reading your futures in her Harrow deck before sharing any information, but presents even the most
ominous of portents in a positive light. Although she offers to read the cards for free, Scarin shouts curses in Varisian at anyone who doesn’t tip her at least a few silver pieces after they’ve received a reading.

Boils Caralne, male halfling shiver addict: Known only as Boils, this drug addict has realized the cost of his addiction too late. His health is ruined and his family and friends have abandoned him. A lingering case of filth fever adds to his misery. Boils gladly assists anyone who shows him kindness, gives him a decent meal, helps treat his disease, or offers him some of the illicit drug he craves.

Pakinsa Strongbow, female Taldan mercenary: A hard drinking sailor, brawler, and sellsword, Pakinsa is trying to make an honest living as a guard or soldier. Unfortunately, she got on the wrong side of some well-known merchants, and has been blackballed in her efforts to acquire a job in the only occupations she knows. Despite her diligent efforts, finding work has proven difficult. She freely offers what she knows, but asks you to promise to send word if they learn of any opportunities for honest work.
Anything else before I move onto ACT 3?

For Scarin, Triix returns the reading with a magician's trick, first apologizing for an empty hand then extracting some silver pieces from behind Scarin's ear before presenting them to her.
profession stage magician: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Boils gets some of Triix's chocolate as well as getting an impromptu show of card tricks to help cheer him up. She also gives him enough silver to buy a decent meal.

Triix suggests that Paksina join the Pathfinder Society in order to obtain honest work.

Do you want us to continue to make those earlier Diplomacy checks just to see how long it takes? In case we are on a time constraint?

She is familiar with Gillmen from her own (botched) Confirmation with the Society, and can also speak Azlanti, so she is sure she can be a boon to interacting with any of the Gillmen, including "Anchor."

Based on her own history growing up in a Varisian caravan, and training in reading the Harrow Deck herself, Valentina is intrigued but incredibly skeptical about Scarin Saloli's Harrow-reading abilities.
Sense Motive on Scarin Saloli: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18 (Craft Harrow Deck skill is +7 instead if you think that counts as relevant, but I was planning on taking Profession Fortune Teller NEXT level haha oops)

As soon as she recognizes his health issues as noncontagious, she will have great compassion on him, especially regarding the Filth Fever, as her dear sister Althea very nearly died of the same disease when she started her adventuring career. She will stay and attempt to assist him in at least overcoming the disease. (I thought I purchased a scroll of Lesser Restoration, but checking the rules that's a level 2 spell, not level 1, and I couldn't cast it anyway)
Heal to assist Boils in overcoming his Filth Fever: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15
Heal to assist Boils in overcoming his Filth Fever: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (18) + 0 = 18 Since the disease requires 2 consecutive saves to cure - this should do it but just in case

Valentina seconds Trix's suggestion, as she has no first-hand knowledge of any other Mercenary guilds, but has 2 acquaintances that she's sure Pakinsa will get along very well with, whom might have other suggestions - a Half-Orc Ulfen Skald Paladin named "Grelthe," and a Nagaji Dervish Dancer Fighter named "Zehameti." She takes her information and promises to get back in touch soon.

Kegdrainer smiled as he looked at Scarin before pulling out his own harrow deck. Giving it a shuffle, he plucked out a card. The card showed a bear with a ruff for a collar and a conical hat. "The Bear, interesting. Looks like brute force may be necessary today."

Harrow deck: 1d6 ⇒ 11d9 ⇒ 5
Harrowed feat. One time for the rest of the day, gain a +2 bonus (untyped) to attacks(melee or ranged). Next level will be going into the Harrower prestige class.

The Shoanti gravely accepts the 'varisian's' Harrow reading, tipping her a gold piece for her trouble. Yes Kegdrainer, I suspect violence will be the end of this today. We shall gather many skulls or shall join the dusts of home.

With Boils, Kalak will cross into the next street as Valentina tends to his malady, bringing back a meat pie for the halfling, The shaman of my tribe always said food was a way to combat illness, I know not what is in this, but it smells edible - although I would offer you a roast lizard from the Storval, those are in short supply here in the city.

With Pakinsa, Kalak recommends the same as the others - You have a look of someone who knows which end of the blade goes where - many of the Pathfinders could use someone with a practical mind and sound judgment.
Diplomacy, recruit her?: 1d20 ⇒ 2

When the tall barbarian returns with a meat pie saying its for the halfling, Teke really gets his hopes up for a moment before he realizes the one in need is the actual beneficiary. Teke makes a mental note of where the meat bakery was located. In case it's ever important for a quest again. Mmmm hmmmm.

You fail to recruit her. Nah, I don't know much

Churning waves break against jagged rocks where the Precipice Quarter meets the sea, a chaotic maze of stone and coral with neither level ground nor shelter from the ocean’s destructive power. In the midst of this chaos lies the fallen Tower of the Horn jutting out of the shallow surf, its smooth, ivory surface now adorned with seaweed, coral, and barnacles. It is a dc 5 climb to get up, but anyone taking a 10 can easily do it, so unless anyone has a climb of -6, I'm handwaving this.

As you get up there
Half of this chamber’s floor is covered in seawater, and the tower reeks of brine and the lingering smell of death. Three doorways lead to other chambers in the tower, the wooden doors having long rotted off their hinges. The southernmost portal is almost half-submerged beneath the cold water. A large, circular hole gapes from the ceiling to the north, with a long rope dangling down from the dark chamber above, and another hole opens in the floor directly below it. Stealth checks please, or everything comes at you all at once, which still would be an average fight and not deadly, but still stealth can give you a surprise round, okay stealth means they come at you little by little, bad stealth means everything comes your way.

Triix sticks a toe in the water.

Brrr ... that's cold.

She casts Endure Elements on herself followed by Mage Armour capping it off with Darkvision

stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Altavan tried to stay quiet but stubbed his toe when he got to the bottom.
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Sorry, not a Stealth character

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 Heard you
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Heard you
perception: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (2) - 5 = -3 Definitely didn't hear you
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 May have heard you. Will hear you on a 1 or less or if several of you get a 2 to 5.
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 May have heard you. Will hear you on a 3 or less, or if several of you get a 4 or 5.
These perceptions do not include range penalties, penalties listening through walls, etc. And the penalties are a lot, so the rest of you can still roll stealth. That 5 does not mean everything heard you. Failing to roll stealth results in a 0, which means everything will have heard you except for the 3rd one. Or rather I'll bot stealth.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

The large Shoanti man unlimbers his massive earthbreaker and sneakily takes up a position to get the drop on whatever comes at them through the water.

Stealth is a thing Teke can do well. He also clings to the walls instead of being in the water where it's not too far out of the way.

Stealth: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (14) + 16 = 30

stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Place yourselves in 3A and roll init Map

init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Is this the same day since the last encounter?

init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Initiative: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Is this the same day since the last encounter?

It doesn't have to be, but it can be, you can have delayed a day or 2 before going to this area. You weren't told time is of the essence. Time could be of the essence or important, but as far as your character knows it is not.

Map is updated, none of them are large, the map is just too small, but I'll worry about that one one or more of them get into melee, assuming they ever do get there. Below the map is pictures

Oh, this is important re: positioning - I'm assuming the circular pile of rubble in the NE quadrant is the hole we can in, yes? That's what I based my spot off of so I hope so

Are any of US aware of the sound of THEM (yet)?

You are aware of the sound of them as much as they are of you. Yeah, start by the hole. All enemies doublemove forward, except for the hands on the top level, they are deciding what to do yet. All heroes are up

Kalak, finally seeing a threat, and not just from sneezing to dust, unleashes his might, surging forward to meet the closest combatant with his mighty earthbreaker. He roars, bringing the massive weapon down in a sweeping arc.

Rage! 1/12

Power attack, Rage: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Damage, cold iron: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 6) + 9 = 20

Teke gathers power from the stone around him and then forms a blade of razor sharp stone in his hand as he brings it down on the foe before him.

Earth Blade: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30 Slashing Damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 4, 2) + 6 = 13

Seeing the aquatic creature standing in front of him, Kegdrainer smiled and yawned.

Slumber Hex (Su) DC 17 Will save.

Since her companions appear to have the matter in hand, Triix holds her shooting stars until something else shows up through the hole.

Kalak and Teke take out the aquatic creature.
Kegdrainer does a hex on a reefclaw, since the aquatic creature is dead. will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13By the way, I missed the fact that there are 3 reefclaws instead of 1, added them to the map, this might also change Triix's action since that means 3 enemies clumped up
Valentina Vitteri, and Triix are up

In that case, Triix will Shooting Star reefclaw #2
ss: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1, 3) + 3 = 9

Are these things edible?

The shooting Star kills one, will bot Valentina sling hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 dmg: 1d4 ⇒ 1 and mildly damages one. The hands move forward for round 1, the rest of the creatures move forward for round 2, while the remaining reefclaws attacks. You can hear them coming down stairs.
Killing a reefclaw puts it in a death frenzy hit: 2d20 ⇒ (8, 14) = 22 which doesn't hit its target before it dies.
hits remaining reefclaws: 4d20 ⇒ (2, 16, 18, 16) = 52 the highest is an 18, which does not hit Teke
all heroes are up

Triix Shooting Stars the one that was hit by Valentina
ss: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2, 1) + 3 = 7

Kalak continues his violence as the creatures feed into his direction, swinging the massive hammer down at the thing in the water.

Power attack, Ragaing: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 4) + 9 = 19

Rage 2/12

If there are any left standing

Turning his attention towards one of the reefclaws he once again yawned.

Rinse and repeat. Slumber Hex DC 17 Will

Teke drawks power form earth again and swings a fresh new blade of stone.

Earth Blade: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27 Slash Damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 4, 4) + 6 = 18

You all take out the remaining reefclaws, but they get finishing attacks hits: 4d20 ⇒ (1, 13, 10, 4) = 28 and none hit Teke.
The remaining monsters from floor number 2 are coming down. You can wait for them and ready attacks, but maybe they have ambushes waiting as well. You can move around so they no longer know your position and hope they leave. You can stay near your current position position and hide. You can come to them. You can do lots of things.
Round 2 still, or rather decision time. Movement or where shall you move to?

Triix looks up the hole and whispers.

I knew I should have got a Scroll of Levitation, but I got one of Rope Trick. Up the hole and let them have it?

Valentina seems mildly shocked by the sudden extreme violence by which the ambush is dispatched, but impressed by her companion's competence.

Which direction am I hearing sounds of movement from? This the bottom layer we are on, yes?

Ah b&$&!~+s, I think I misread which hole we climbed in. Whatever, 'tis fine.
I think the round thing I'm standing next to is actually a pile of gravel from the hole in the floor above? And we climbed in through the hole in the wall directly east of "3a" label?
If the sound if coming from the hole right next to and above me then I will move SW into the doorway of the next room 3b - it looks like there are some desks or something I may be able to search through for anything useful - and cast detect magic as I scoot about the room.

as Valentina shuffles around, she is muttering to herself [n]"...did not prepare the right spells today. Definitely not the right spells, dang it, dang it..."[/b]

Pretty much her only trick is casting Shield on herself, but she will wait til the last possible moment to do so as she is ALWAYS short on spell slots.

If everyone else wants to go up the rope then she will follow shortly next round