Iron Abode (Inactive)

Game Master Pirate Rob

Game is played here.

The adventure begins with you already having arrived at the Nexus House in Quantium, Nex...

You have a brief chance to get settled Feel free to introduce yourself.

Before...

Closing the door behind her, the brown-skinned gnome with golden streaks through her long, dark hair crosses the room in a few long strides and leans against a stool, grinning wryly. Atop the stool sits a skull with glowing pink eyes.

“Good, good you’re all here. I’m vash-vatom Sebnet Sanserkoht, or venture‑captain, if you prefer. I have someone I need to introduce you all to before we get to the rest of the briefing.”

She gestures towards the skull beside her, “This here, is Alyreha, one of Nex’s arclords. We recently dispatched a team of agents that assisted her in recovering her lost memories.”

Alyreha shakes and rattles before Sebnet is allowed to continue. “That’s right! I up and lost my head, but your society helped me put the pieces of it back together. But in turn, I also remembered why I lost it in the first place. See, I was doing research on true names and had just hit a breakthrough, but someone else wanted to get a hold of my work to use for some sort of evil plan. Needless to say, I didn’t agree with that, and tried to lock away my research by erasing memory of myself until the time was right to let my studies out.”

Sebnet finally cuts back in, “And now that her memories have been restored, it’s likely that the rest of her research can be as well. So that’s where you all come in. We want to you to take Alyreha and go to her former manor, to find the pieces of her research and restore her true name before anyone else finds her old notes.”

Short, shaggy, and leaning on a staff is a Shoony named Domwurd. A dedicated Pathfinder who has shown a knack for transmutation magic, Domwurd is a notable character in that he's diligent about following the rules and doing the right thing. That said, some agents have noted that his book smarts doesn't always translate into street smarts.

He inclines his head politely to the vash-vatom and smiles openly at Alyreha. "Good to see you again, Arclord. I'm glad to hear that you've got all your memories back. You know I'll help. Anyone who means you ill I've got a bone to pick with. You know me, I'm like a dog with a bone when it comes to solving problems," Domwurd says, oblivious of his choice of words. "That said, just who is it that wanted to get ahold of your work? Would they be someone we should worry about?"

A scruffy looking dwarf, not at all as refined and orderly as most makes his way in. It is clear that rules are not something he tends to care much about, including his full head of hair on an Ouat dwarf. He has a very nice looking short sword strapped next his clan dagger, and a short bow on his back. ”Manor? You bring me in ‘cause you need us to break in? Just be warned, that’s profiling. I ain’t no criminal, least not in any ways that can be proven. Wut?”

A beefy goblin wearing scrap metal stands in the doorway, clutching a waterlogged old book. He looks around, trying to think of a clever pun about bones.

"Uhhhhhhhh…"

Then he sees the talking skull. Hey it's the smooth-brain runelord! I remember it all like yesterday. 'Cause I took notes so I don't forget. He opens the Coloring Tome and shows shows everyone his notes

These are the actual "notes" I took playing the previous part playing at the FLGS.

Nobody gonna take memories out of my brain. 'Cause I keep 'em outside where it's safe. I'm smart like that. He taps his Coloring Tome. I bet we'll find yours too, Zyzz… zrrrruhhhhhhhh… vzzzzzzzz…

He blinks at Dethor. Wut?

A small clicking sound is heard behind Toadkiller as a cracked porcealin face watches over his shoulder at the book. The eyes shimmer and gleam in the dim lighting as her face shows lines and cracks all throughout from age. The doll wears a tattered and old victorian dress that expands out bigger and bigger around the feet as a matching stained bow is in her curled bond hair. "Are you an author?" She asks as a large spider crawls from a sizeable hole in the cracked porcelain face.

She looks up and smiles at Domwurd. "Hello again, friend."

"Are you an author?" She asks as a large spider crawls from a sizeable hole in the cracked porcelain face.

Toad draws princess with sad, dark maroons and greys. And the scary spoder too.

I wanna submit my detailed notes to the Chronicles but they keep saying I gotta learn to read or write first. My brain is just too ahead of its time. See? He shows her another mission’s notes.

Alyreha frowns and looks to Sebnet "These bone-heads again. Then again... the bone you know..."

Looking over to Toadkiller "Arclords... Arclords are the decedents of household workers in Nex’s own household. Many of them supposedly had notes and scrolls left behind by Nex himself and sought to sway the nation’s politics towards what they suspected Nex would have wanted. You might say we make up the bones of government!”

She bursts out laughing at her own pun, only continuing once Sebnet again clears her throat. “Ahem, though… I had more important things to spend my time than politics, and naturally I have absolutely no idea what the others have been up to lately. I’ve been sitting around in this skull for long enough that I couldn’t possibly have kept up with any of that even if I wanted to!”

As to Domwurd, Alyreha "Dunno who, those memories are still lost. Sorry, just not all back."

"Those are very nice, dear," an older dwarven woman says to Toadkiller as she enters the room. Her hair is streaked with gray, but her chain mail glitters as if it's been freshly cleaned. A wooden shield is strapped to her back, and a battleaxe rests at her hip.

"Alreyha," she continues, looking around the room. "I'm glad to hear you're doing better, and regaining your memories. I'm sure we'll be able to help you at your house."

She smiles at those agents she remembers working with before.

"Doomwurd, your highness, how are you? Any exciting adventures since we were together last?"

As a note I frequently roll ice under spoilers like that. You're not going to ruin anything by peeking as I don't bother to label the rolls. Think of it as me just rolling some dice to the side. If it makes you happy to peek go for it, but if you'd rather not peek than don't bother.

Some things your group knows:

Since many arclords are involved in politics, they are known to have a tradition of being overly cautious with their living spaces, covering them with wards, alarms and many kinds of magical defenses to keep themselves and especially their research secrets safe.

Many arclords were highly specialized in a specific school of magic, and Alyreha was known for her strengths in enchantment magic. She was specifically was known to use it when her students failed at puzzles she would give them, often compelling them to jump on one leg for several minutes or similar such tasks.

Additionally old public records of Alyreha’s manor mention that she had a habit of making strange puzzles out of the rooms of her household, which she sometimes used to entertain her guests and train her young apprentices.

Sunset leans on the splintered toy horse leg of her once mighty steed called Moondust as she reads and smiles at Toadkillers Chronicle. "It will be a great book."

She listens to the Arclords plight as the large spider on her crawls over and finds a new hom within the skull. "As long as we don't get trapped in any basements." She says a bit gloomily.

A man who you would guess is in his 80s rides up atop a magnificent white horse and swings himself out of the saddle before strolling into the meeting. Despite his obvious age, his face is heavily caked with powder and makeup to make what can only be described as a misguided attempt to conceal that fact.

"Hold, Bucephalus!", he says to his horse, who takes his reigns in his mouth and backs away to the side of the building.

"My sincere apologies for being late. The rabble choking the streets is even worse than usual today! All the same I am here and pleased to introduce myself as the Grand Marshall Hieronymous St-Jean Magdalen Featherstonehaugh. You may simply call me the Grand Marshall for short. You already met Bucephalus, who is a most extraordinary steed and a star in his own right."

"Welcome, Grand Marshall," Grams says, pleased that someone else here is slightly older, at least. "You're hardly late at all."

She turns back to Alreyha.

"Do you remember anything about any of the puzzles you might have put in your manor?" Not sure if we'll get anymore than we already did, but probably can't hurt to ask.

Alyreha says “Well, I mean I am an exceptionally powerful wizard so there’s all kinds of magic in my old manor. But don’t worry I haven’t let all that power,” she pauses for effect, “go to my head!”

She waits for laughter, only continuing once Sebnet clears her throat.

“Anyway, I don’t expect any of that to be too much trouble to any of you. Since all memory of me was erased until recently, I suspect it’s just been abandoned all this time. The only thing I would worry about is if someone tried in break in there during all this time, there might be one or two of my magical defenses active, but there shouldn’t be too much of a problem, especially with how magically warded I made sure to keep the place.”

Sebnet nods to the party and Alyreha.

"Alyreha, I have supplies for the Pathfinders down in the vaults, if you'd be so kind to wait for us here, I'll send the team to retrieve you once they're ready."

Once in another room Sebnet explains "Vigilant Seal faction leader Eando Kline and Envoy’s Alliance faction leader Fola Barun have each sent a letter to the lodge addressed to the you."

She hands you two sealed envelopes.

See Slide 5 for letters.

Sebnet will leave you with the letters. Feel free to read and discuss and go get Alyreha when you're ready.

Princess patiently waits for the supplies from the vault. "Do you think it will be a crown, or maybe a necklace?" She winks with her one good eye. or possibly it begins to droop as one's porcelain eyes tend to do after several years of neglect.

She is ready to go investigate a house.

Toad stares at the letters and shakes his head. No one can understand these crazy squiggles. They are not even color-coded.

He turns to Sebnet. I'm a real smart guy. That means I got no questions.

Who wants to carry Alyreha?

Who wants to carry Alyreha?

Toad stares at Domwurd. He blinks furiously trying to think of a pun. Uhhh. But his creativity is bone dry. I think Dom carried her last time. That would be my vote.

"Well, it looks like I'm carrying a skull again. Honestly, it was kind of fun. And I'll keep them safe," Domwurd says, smiling at the group. "And I'm sure you'll all help keep me safe, which I greatly appreciate."

Dethor just looks at Domwurd with a blank look.

Seeing the look, Domwurd scratches his ear and shrugs. "Look, I'll help to keep you all safe too. I've been taught a bunch of tricks from trainers in Grand Lodge. We'll be fine."

Alyreha’s manor is on the outskirts of the city and easy enough to get to. Once there you can see both its unusual shape and signs of active magic within. Each of its two floors is 15 feet tall, while a small section of the southern ceiling rises above into a tower shape, another 40 feet above the second floor.

Flashing multicolored magical lights shine through the windows and energy visibly pulses out from the building, seeping into the surrounding area.

Alyreha rattles in concern, “You see that, Pathfinders? My manor was once filled with numerous magical experiments. To keep it safe from thieves and intruders I had it covered in wards, keeping all of the magic sealed with its walls. Something, or more likely someone, has broken several of the wards. Quickly now, get me inside! It’s safe to enter the building for now, but if too many more of the wards are compromised, uncontrolled magical energy could surge out into the city streets, People could die if we let that happen!”

Is a rave happening? :)

Princess Sunset looks as the colors pulse out of the windows. "Looks like some sort of party. Thank you for inviting us!" She claps her hands together and scuttles quickly towards the door.

”Well, great. Magical traps. That kinda of crap. Probably designed to kill folks like us. ” grumbles Dethor as he spots onto the pavement. ”Guess Mr. Stabby ain’t gettin’ much of. A workout today. ”

Grams can't help but wonder at Eando Kline's request. She's read enough Pathfinder Society chronicles to doubt that the vault's are really all that secure. Didn't their enemy just sort of break in a matter of months ago while a group of agents were sorting through various treasures?

At the tower, Grams looks concerned. "We'd better hurry. We don't want people to die!" Of course, who knows how sincere Alreyha is being -- Grams has her doubts after last time, and wonders if the skull is just trying to get them to step into a proverbial sewer again.

Still, she brings out her shield and axe, and heads toward the door.

"Well, if anyone can relate to being locked away like some ancient mystery it's.... well... not this man in his prime you see before you, that's for sure."

Toad looks in his Coloring Tome to try and recall any clue about raves or rainbow alarms.

Toadkiller's Esoteric Diverse Lore (E), Tome: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 12 - 2 + 1 = 20

It's hard to tell what's going on from the outside. You'd assume/conclude some sort of magical defenses built by a powerful wizard have been triggered.

Heading to the house you find the elegant foyer displays a statue of Nex, covered in a wide array of multicolored runes.

Several other runes and lines of magical energy, seeming to originate from other parts of the house, coalesce in a strange magical circle surrounding the statue’s base. The statue’s left hand holds a staff that lights up in apparently random sequences of color.

Glowing runes on the rest of the walls shimmer, spin, and spill out into the adjoining rooms. Flashes of mystical lights going off in other parts of the house are visible underneath the doorways. A deep thrumming sound can be heard throughout, though its source cannot be determined.

Alyreha’s eyes glow a vibrant red and flash in disbelief at the sight before her. “Oh goodness, it’s worse in here than I thought! I don’t think I can permanently repair the wards here without significant time and a look at my old notes. However, my statue of Nex is supposed to be the focal point—as well as being a lovely bit of décor—so if you place me over there on top of it, I should be able to keep the magical bleed from getting any worse. That’ll buy you all some time to look around and find what we need! But be careful, Pathfinders, I suspect with how terrible this damage is that it may be deliberate, and someone has a trap waiting for you. I keep backup copies of the more important notes of my true name research around the manor, hidden by magic and defenses that only I had keys to surpass. It’s likely that all this damage to the wards has been done to reveal my hidden research. Thankfully, that shouldn’t deactivate the rest of the defenses I put into place, which was hopefully enough to scare our thieves off. But that will mean that whatever they didn’t manage to overcome, you all will have to do so, as I no longer have my relics to deactivate the defenses, and it would take more time than we have to make new ones for each room. I’m counting on you all to find whatever notes you can and make your way upstairs, but don’t fret if one of the challenges seems impossible for you all. I’m still a highly skilled wizard, after all. I put my notes together in such a way that not every single part is needed to piece the research back together. Oh! And feel free to take any useful items you find. You can even keep them. After all, as I am, they’re not exactly going to be any good in my hands!” She laughs at her joke before turning her focus to the wards.

Can you make us stronger like last time, with your runelord magic? Toad remembers the skull making them faster and providing them with heroism before. Maybe she has more magic to give away.

"I need to focus most of my power to work on restoring the house and making sure the defenses don't explode and kill you all, but as I am a powerful wizard, I'll probably have more to spare as conditions improve. Be sure to come back and see me as you make progress."

Toad makes his way to the doors on the left.

Princess Sunset smiles as she waddles along behind Toadkiler to help push the doors open. "To the party! She waves the broken horse leg in the air her cracked head clicks back and forth.

There is a small hallway that heads north, split after about 15 feet with stairs going up to the north while a bigger room opens up to the East.

Rainbow lights and runes flit all over going in every direction.

”Lets be methodical and safe. You might want me up near the front, as I have been well trained to spot anomalies that can be traps. Much as I hate that to be true, puttin’ myself at risk and all, it may be our best chance to git through dis alive. ”

Grams nods at her fellow dwarf.

"If you insist, but be careful. If you get in trouble, come back and I can help," she says.

"Everyone else should stay behind me. Like Alreyha, these old bones are tougher than they look."

Which direction are we going?

Grams leads the way toward the main entrance. "We might as well go in like we're supposed to be here," she says.

Moving my token to where I suggest we head, since we have nothing to indicate one way's better than another.

"Nobody here." Princess Sunset looks around at the empty room with pretty lights as she twirls and begins to slowly dance about in them. The waltz-like dance is not great as her broken joints cause her to jolt and jerk creepily in the process.

Followed Grammy on the map.

Heading over into the central display room, you find it contains numerous magical weapons, jewelry, tomes, crystals, and other baubles. 8 different cabinets with indentations display 8 separate items, 7 of which are surrounded by a blue orb with lines of electricity running across it. On top of the cabinet furthest to the southeast, a charred and unrecognizable item lies in place of one of the orbs.

Each alcove contains an item surrounded by a magical barrier with a different rune on each. Toadkiller and Princess recognize these are runes commonly used in shielding and wading spells. In fact the whole room seems somewhat dedicated to the study of abjuration.

There seems to be some damage to the wards, almost as if somebody tried to disable them and failed. In fact the entire display in the southeast has been destroyed, including any notes that may have once been inside it, most likely be some sort of lightning bolt that was unleashed

If you want to investigate/ransack the cabinets further you're going to need to deal with the magical wards. Disabling with Arcana is likely easiest but any magical skill could work. Additionally thievery could always work to do it manually and brute force would likely get you inside at least but would almost certainty trigger and defenses..

Arcana: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

The poppets unnatural state of life and psychic capacity seems to pull at the fringes of the magical wards.

Grams hesitates. "Maybe we should wait and see if we can learn more to deactivate these without setting them off?" she suggests.

She realizes a minute too late that Princess Sunset has already started working on them.

I'm fine if others want to proceed immediately. This isn't Gram's forte, though, so she'll just observe at this point.

Remembering their mission, Domwurd picks a different cabinet from Princess Sunset and employs his own magical talents to open a cabinet.
Arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Toad points with a pink crayon at the runes. See Runelord stuff.

He scribbles on the cabinets, disrupting them.

Toadkiller's Arcana (T): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Toadkiller's Arcana (T), Hero Point: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

Princess has no trouble disabling the wards around one of the items.

Domwurd has success as well. (No need for heropoint)

Toadkiller is the most successfullerist though!

Each rune disabled allows you to access to item on display. Each item on display can be used to unlock the cabinet below it.

3 runes down, gets you 3 fragments of notes. Not enough to be of any value yet, but there's nothing stopping you from progressing further. In fact there's something helping you!

Toadkiller understands enough about how this works that all further attempts are at +2.

Dethor does what he does, carefully pulling out a carefully manicured set of tools, and attempts to disable the next display.

thievery: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 2 = 25

"There, that should do it. "

Seeing the others succeed, Grams decides she should give it a try. It's apparently not all going to explode.

Religion (trained): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 16

Arcana: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 = 11

Uhhh.

Dethor takes the manual approach and disarms a display.

Brynsil is not so lucky with the non arcana result and gets zotted.
electricity damage no save for Brynsil: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The item on display seems to have been damaged to.

Toadkiller is a normal fail, going to assume a different display.

Toadkiller's confidence also leads to him and a relic getting zotted.

no save electricity damage to Toadkiller: 1d6 ⇒ 6

You have 4 pieces, but it's not enough to source a clue. There are 2 damaged relics, 1 untouched relic and 1 totally destroyed display.