'23-'24 Round Robin w/ S01-06 Lost on the Spirit Road (Inactive)

Game Master Frozen Frost

Haohji curses, Please hurry, folks! Things aren't looking so good!

◆ Snagging Strike, ◆ Snagging Strike, ◆ Shield Once a Snagging Strike hits, any subsequent attacks will be Unarmed Strikes.

Unarmed Strike: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Unarmed Strike, MAP 1, Flat-Footed: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 4 = 24 If it can be Flat-footed, I do believe that is a crit!
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Current AC 19

The Veiled Lady quickly heals Assistant One to continue their task on the ongoing ritual.
2-action Heal: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 HP for Assistant One

"No one's dying until you close or end whatever you do here." she exclaims and then produces thorns out of her body.

◆◆ Cast a Spell, Heal
◆ Cast a Spell, Vibrant Thorns

I am out of Heal spells already.

Haohgji nearly kills the Shadow Creature next to him with his critical strike - but even as the ritual itself flickers, connected somehow to it's life force, it remains standing to continue it's freedom assault! (-22 damage)

Veiled Lady revives Attendant One, who fully restored (full HPs), stands and regains control of her "Flaw" by keeping her side up (Back to Three disable successes needed!)

Merellin and Ramona!

Ramona will attempt to 'disable' the threat.

Thievery: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Then, Ramona will Inspire Courage +1 att/dam & saves vs fear

Scruffing off some of the runes, Ramona sees the successive surges begin to weaken as the portal between this world and the nether narrows just somewhat...

(Two successes to go!)

Merellin!

"Good work Haohji," Merellin nods. "Let's see if I can finish this one."

Merellin aims his pistol at the creature Haohji was fighting, and fires.

Hand cannon, Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 = 26
Damage, Inspire Courage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3
That's a crit as well, I think, thanks to Ramona. Thanks! :)

With that opponent gone, Merellin tries to erase the last of the runes.

Thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Black Shadow dissipates under Merellin's hand cannon, and he makes quick work altering the trace ink by emptying some black powder into it...

...and with that, the ritual sucks the remaining Shadow back into the portal, and seals with a "ZZzziiipppp"...

Out of Combat!

Tavvar looks at Merellin "I had it under control, but..." she pauses a moment here to reflect "...but, yeah, thank you for helping out with the roughest part" she heads over to Attendant One "Are you okay?"

Please be careful. This is messy stuff you are dealing with! Haohji regards the young scholar, sparing a glance at his compatriots, Do you think I could take a look at your book? I would love to get a copy of it, if that is possible...

"What were you actually trying to do and why did it go like that?" Veiled Lady asks lazily. "What you are doing is kinda dangerous indeed, summoning hostile creatures." she adds while begin tending the injured allies.

Well without the arrival of my squad you would have suffered more issues. Better not to try this again alone. You should ask experts ones how to handle this.

Tavvar hands Haohji one of the books - some dusty old manual written in Nidalese "I've been working on a ritual to create partially real shadow illusion manifestations of the memories from people, places, and things!" she boasts "I think I've got what I need from these old books - you can keep them!"

Turning to her attendants, with infinite incredulity, she asks "So, are you all ready to begin again?!" with utter seriousness - and in this moment, the room falls into awkward silence...

Stop it now!

The hobgoblin is thinking that if they were among his soldiers Tavvar would have been sent to the pit. Now he has to formulate it a slight differently.

Why don't you want to understand? That's all. You must not retry the ritual without the help of a senior wizard. We can bring you to one.

...the party eventually heads back to the Grand Lodge...

...a host of workers are cleaning up the mess from the multi-day soiree, and all the VC have vacated, onto more pressing matters...

"You're back!" Janira pipes "Do you have the text?" also "What happened? Is Tavvar okay? Did whatever she was cooking up work out?"

She beams.

She lives, but seems not to have learned anything from the encounter, Haohji plops the book down on the counter. Her portal almost got one of her assistants killed and could have killed us too, had Merel and 'Mona not come in clutch!

The young fighter stretches and yawns, I think I need a nap...

The grumbling from his stomach says otherwise...

Yes, Tavvar needs to be trained. My squad had to intervene to save their life and the ones their assistants. So watch them out.

"I think she's one of those types that gets too absorbed into their own research. Has Haohji and Horul said, this could've gone very wrong. She definitely needs a supervisor in the future."

"Good thing you all got there is time!"

Janira looks around "I think there is a second job tomorrow, if you all are ready. I hear they just got a huge treasure trove in and are archiving it tomorrow..."

Janira proved to be right. As you go back home, you find a letter waiting for you. You're expected tomorrow morning in one of the vaults in the Grand Lodge.

The next morning, you find Rain in Cloudy Day excitedly waiting for you and leads you to the vaults himself.

“The Archives get more exciting every day,” Rain states then adds, “And who better to manage the excitement than Zarta! Oh, have you all met Grand Archivist Zarta Dralneen?"

Zarta, who you might recognise from last night, appears next to you, holding a big mug of coffee and looking like she regrets last night's party, and joins you on your walk to the vaults. She gives a polite nod but doesn't speak until you're all in the vaults. There, she composes herself as she readies her briefing.

Rain in Cloudy Day waves exuberantly to indicate the piles of treasure in the vaulted chamber. “Wow! Just look at all these magic items! And enchanted weapons! And a skull that always looks at me funny! Big magic books about even bigger magic books! Well, I’m not sure about that last one. I haven’t read them. Cataloging all this treasure is bound to be exciting! It sure beats sorting the mail.”

Zarta runs her fingertips along the table, lifts a strange hourglass, and inspects it with dubious curiosity. “Exciting, yes, and possibly quite dangerous.”

Rain frowns. “Well, yes, but… at least we’re in the safety of the Lodge? Can’t be that bad! You said these items are harmless.” He picks up a skull from the table. Its eyes glow with pink fire, and it speaks, “Unhand me, you hideous rotten mushroom! Harmless?! How dare you!”

Rain replaces the skull and covers it with a cloth, muffling the voice. “Well… mostly harmless?”

Zarta fails to stifle a grin. She tilts the hourglass this way and that, shrugs, and sets it back on the table. “Yes, mostly harmless. We believe these items present no major threat to us, and we’ve secured those we believe to be cursed. The true danger comes from an old enemy of the Pathfinder Society, the night hag Aslynn. She nearly claimed these treasures for herself before they were entrusted to us. We don’t know why she needs the items, or which ones are most central to her wicked plans.

“I’m off to a meeting to discuss the situation with Eliza, Ambrus, and the faction leaders. You’ll stay here with Rain and continue cataloging these objects. We need to learn where the items come from and understand what they do. Then we can decide what to do with them.
Any questions?”

"Who's Aslynn?"

"Ah lovely," a lumpy and old fungus leshy stretches her legs. "So we are going to sort things. A nice work to do after battling undead and mob and all. At least I can relax a bit." or so she thinks.

"Krinolyn "Veiled Lady" Styncorn," she introduces herself, grinning behind the veil that looks like part of herself. How does she even properly see behind that? She only knows. "It is nice to meet you, fellow," she stretches her hand to Rain for a handshake.

"And you too, Grand Archivist." she gives the woman a nod. "How did you even get these treasures, if I may ask? Are these safe for us to handle them? Are there things we need to be cautious about as we sort them?"

Daily Preparations

Walking in on a cane with a strange handle - you'd swear it looked just like the stock of a firearm - an old gnome with a long beard completely white as a sheet and decorated with anti-symmetrical bangles appears himself.

"Who is anybody?! Do you really know anyone??! Can you!???!" he mutters non-sensicaly to Ramona while lifting the lantern in his other hand to cast it's redundant light across her person, giving her a discriminating look "The puppet and the puppeteer! But which is which and who is who?" another esoteric query pronounced into the space between - he turns attention and light source and incessant questioning to the leshy now "Is it ever safe anywhere in the Universe?! Can you every truly be cautious??! From what do you seek protection???!"

Not expecting immediate answers, instead, amusing himself with the thought that his prudent examinations will instead inspire reflective thought on behalf of his companions, Antiquarian Swix Harlequinn pauses to allow time to think, his lantern gently swaying, distorting the shadows into some dilative motion, as if themselves too grasping for answers just beyond reach...

"Who's Aslynn?"

Zarta says, “She caused trouble for the Society a few years back, even tried to capture and sell the soul of our former Master of Spells. We thought we’d seen the last of her after we helped stop her from raiding a magical demiplane known as the Hao Jin Tapestry. Apparently, she’s still hunting for treasures, and she has something horrible planned for the Pathfinder Society."

"And you too, Grand Archivist." she gives the woman a nod. "How did you even get these treasures, if I may ask? Are these safe for us to handle them? Are there things we need to be cautious about as we sort them?"

Rain says, “Oh! It’s such a cool story! There’s this place called Shadow Absalom, where a mercantile group called the Onyx Alliance had a massive vault of treasure! Aslynn wanted it all, and she almost got it, but some Society agents learned about her plot just in time! There’s more to it… but you’ll have to read the chronicle yourselves. I don’t want to spoil the story!”

Zarta nods in agreement. "We have done a preliminary sorting and relocated the actually dangerous items to other vaults. These are most likely the more mundane magical items, with the odd exception here and there," she glances at the cloth-covered talking skull.

"Still, any item could be dangerous if improperly handled, so I wouldn't advise using them willy-nilly."

A young Varisian man, decked out in leathers under the flamboyant colors of his people steps into the room, I guess, I'm fashionably late again. Sorry... The name's Kieran, of Clan Tylekki, though that likely nuffin' t' youse.

Looking around at everyone, the edge of the rake's mouth pulls back into a wry grin, Ah, if I am good at anything, it would be looking at treasures, eh? So, where shall we start?

A gnome with brown like earth skin and blue eyes wearing a turban over their head waits in the room armed crossed on the torso. He wears rings his little fingers.

Be simple, call me Genius.

"Looking at Treasures?!" Swix swacks his cane "What is a Treasure??!..." he struggles to continue expounding upon the concept when the gnome chimes in "A Genius at what exactly?! At being Simple??!" and here, he laughs "Bah!"

He shines his lamp onto Rain in Cloudy Day and says nothing - merely nods...

The genie simply raises an eyebrow at the reaction of the incredulous one.

"Well then," Zarta says, "If there are no more questions, let's get started. I have a meeting with Ambrus Valsin in a few minutes, so I'll check back on you after that. Friend Rain knows all the details on where to find what, in case you need a little guidance."

"Yep, I've made a list of all the important sections of the vault!" Rain produces a sheet of paper and puts it on the table next to the skull.

"Well then, good luck and I'll see you in an hour or so," Zarta says as she drains her mug and heads out.

The map is HERE, and skills required for each section is on the next slide, but I'll reproduce it below.

Talking skull: Arcana, Diplomacy, Occultism, Religion.
Pile of treasure: Arcana, Crafting, Perception.
Assorted items: Arcana, Crafting, Perception.
Empty chests: Useless. If you find trash, throw it in one of the chests.
High shelves: Arcobatics, Athletics, Medicine, Thievery, Underworld Lore.
Weapon shelves: Arcana, Crafting, Gladiatorial Lore, Warfare Lore.
Scrolls and wands: Arcana, Nature, Occultism, Religion.

Please put your token near one of the sections you'd like to investigate and roll a check to see what you can make of it. (Non-secret)

"Dead men tell..." Swix whispers to himself as he approaches the Talking Skull and poking it with the business end of his cane pistol like a common trinket or curio...

tap tap tap

Esoteric Lore (Thaumaturge vs Creatures / Curses / Haunts) @ Trained: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

"It's not polite to tap. Hello, skull! How are we today?" Ramona says.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

The skull swivels around to face Swix as he taps it. "Ex-cuuuuse me, I'm a lady, thank you very much! Can't you see from my delicate cheekbones and fine chin? I demand some respect!"

The skull then turns to Ramona. "See, ladies know how to treat each other. Well, I'm not great, seeing as I'm a skull and all. I've been better, you know. Call me Zykyryz! No, it isn’t my name, but it’s shorter than ‘all powerful wizard.’ That’s right, I can do magic! Just wait. Keep me close, and I’ll prove it to you. I'm quite handy like that."

Swix also discovers with his knowledge of weird stuff that Zykyryz isn't an undead, more like some part of her got trapped inside this skull somehow. Maybe her soul? Maybe her consciousness or something else?

When you share that information with the rest of the party, Zykyryx says, “That sounds about right. Thanks for using your head,” then cackles loudly.

Ramona, feel free to go somewhere else. Some parts only have one discoverable thing. The skull is one of them. Feel free to keep interacting with the skull though. :)

If someone carries Zykyryx around, she might do something at some point...
Just state "I'm carrying the skull" and I'll try to remember it when/if it becomes relevant. Anyone can carry her, not just Swix or Ramona.

The fungus leshy cleric heads to the Scrolls section to sort out the scrolls there. How to make a tea using..." she stops reading the scroll and quickly closes it and looks for another one to sort.

Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

"Respect is earned not freely given - make all the demands you want!" infuriated, our incredulous hero quickly hands the uppity skull to 1d6 ⇒ 6 Krinolyn ”Veiled Lady” Styncorn "You can have it! It talks SO MUCH" and storms off to area #7 ("Scrolls and wands") and picks up a scroll of Burning Hands "Ha. Yes. YES!" (School Item)

Startled by the gnome, the Veiled Lady takes the skull without a thought and examines it. "This one really talks? I thought I was just imagining it a while ago..." she says to it. "I wonder where your body has rotten...." she muses while she continues her work with the scrolls.

Seeing that someone else will be carrying SkullYzUckks, Ramona will go to the high shelves and attempt to balance her way to finding something interesting.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Not understanding why the others are so interested by a simple skull having the possibility to converse with a real genius, he goes to have a look among the scrolls and wands.

Arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Kieran, trying not to stray too far from the others peruses the piled treasures looking for something of interest...

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

The Veiled Lady inspects the pile of scrolls, but finds nothing of value. Similarly, Wizel is also having problems, not finding anything that challenges his intellect. Ramona and Kieran however do manage to find some interesting stuff. Hidden way behind other stuff Ramona sees a glimpse of a face staring back at her, and after clearing away the rest she finds a Demon Mask.

Kieran dives into the pile of assorted stuff and finds a lot of things: a teakettle that sings Absalom's latest pop music when it boils, a torch that emits a nice scent of freshly backed cookies when it's lit, a ball of string that knits itself back together when cut (labeled as "unbreakable string"), and a Brooch of Shielding.

Those are the only valuable things you can find in the treasure pile and the high shelves (except on a crit). All the other options have multiple things you can find.

The remaining options:
Assorted items: Arcana, Crafting, Perception.
Weapon shelves: Arcana, Crafting, Gladiatorial Lore, Warfare Lore.
Scrolls and wands: Arcana, Nature, Occultism, Religion.

Rain in Cloudy Day sighs and says, "Phew, good work, gang! Time for a break, I think. Let's test out that teakettle and I'll come back with some drinks and snacks."

He walks out of the vault, but then comes running back in, his eyes wide in sheer panic, and hides under the table with Zykyryx.

“They’re not real! They can’t be real!” The panicked voice of Rain in Cloudy Day precedes his rapid footsteps as he races back into the vault.

“I can’t… I don’t… help! Please, help! They’re after me!” Rain collapses just inside the vault, clutching the sides of his head and whimpering in fear. A hideous snarl from just past the entryway causes Rain to go completely still.

A being made of pure shadowstuff confidently strides into the vault after Rain, and as he does, several other slightly smaller shapes step out of the shadows in the vault.

"Oh, that doesn't look good," Zykyryx says, "Time to give you a head start!" She cackles wildly, then casts a spell on the Veiled Lady.
You now have a sixth-level Heroism for this combat! This gives you a +2 to all your checks.

Ramona's Initiative Using Detect Magic: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Wizel Genius's Initiative Using Avoid notice: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Kieran's Initiative Using Scout: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Antiquarian Swix Harlequinn's Initiative Using Investigate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Krinolyn's Initiative Using Defend: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 = 25
Big bad black: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Red: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Green: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Yellow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Wizel
Red
Ramona
Krinolyn, Level 6 Heroism
Big bad black
Yellow
Kieran
Green
Swix

Wizel is up!
Big Bad Black is different from the rest. Identifying them would be a Society, Religion or an Occultism.
Stairs are difficult terrain. You can jump a railing down as two squares of movement (it's not high enough to be dangerous).

Delay

Wizel waits for a moment, wanting to see what the shadows do before acting himself.

The Red being strides towards Kieran, flashes a wicked smile as an attempt at intimidation, then tries to shank him with his shadowspear.

Intimidate attempt: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Spear attack vs Kieran: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Kieran knows a thug when he sees one, and isn't very impressed. He easily dodges the spear thrust as well.

Wizel, delay
Red
Ramona
Krinolyn, Level 6 Heroism
Big bad black
Yellow
Kieran
Green
Swix

Ramona and Keinolyn are up! Wizel may also act.
Big Bad Black is different from the rest. Identifying them would be a Society, Religion or an Occultism.
Stairs are difficult terrain. You can jump a railing down as two squares of movement (it's not high enough to be dangerous).
Veiled Lady, don't forget your Heroism!

Ramona begins her puppetry with Banjo, and moves closer.

Inspire Courage +1 Att/Dam & saves vs fear

Knowledge Occultism: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

The Veiled Lady covers her ears when Zykyryz begins to cackle. She even almost drops the talkative skull. But she feels something surging within her that is warm and calming.

"Whatever you are doing, keep that, you talking thing." she muses while trying to recall what kind of creature are they dealing with, specifically the closest one from her, Yellow.

"Do you see that? Do you happen to know what that is?" she inquires Zykyryz. Religion +7 to Recall Knowledge with Heroism (6th) about Yellow.

And with a waving motion, brambly thorns unusually cover her body. Shen then raises her shield.

◆ Recall Knowledge, Religion +7 to Recall Knowledge with Heroism (6th) about Yellow
◆ Cast a Spell, Vibrant Thorns
◆ Raise a Wooden Shield (+2 to AC)

The genie stays quiet and simply casts a spell upon both red and yellow.

electric arc:1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

reflex DC 17

He's also ready to intervene in case of necessity.

Two reactions at disposal in case he or an ally is attacked

Swix shines his light in the face of the (likely) approaching whatzit.

↺) Empathetic Plea

"No, you Fool! Your quarrel is not with Me!! But with Yourself!!!"

Ramona is dumbfounded by these creatures and has no idea what to make of them. She then moves and inspires everyone with her trusty sidekick Banjo.

The Veiled Lady knows a lot about these things, partially in thanks to Zykyryx's help. They're dream-creatures, modified by some foul mind to do their bidding. They took bugbears and twisted them with fiendish features until they're literally only a shadow of their former selves. They're not really alive, more like dreamed up, so killing them isn't a problem.
As they're based on bugbears, they tend to use scare tactics to bully their victims. They can move and sneak when frighten someone, but that's about it.
The bigger, black one probably has similar abilities, but more powerful ones.

The Veiled Lady then guards herself with spell and shield.

Wizel throws electricity at Red and Yellow.

Reflex Red: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Reflex Yellow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

They both make their save, but are still pretty injured by the electricity.

Big bad black stomps up the stairs, spending all his actions to move.

Yellow moves up to the Veiled Lady, tries to scare her as well, then tries to hit her.
Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

Luckily, her mind isn't easily frightened. Yellow readies his spear and thrusts!
Spear: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Do you wanna shield block that? I presume so, but I don't want to assume. And Wizel said he had reactions as well.

Yellow's hand brushes past Krinolyn's thorns and takes some damage.

Inspire Courage is active

Red, 4 damage
Ramona
Krinolyn, Level 6 Heroism, 2 damage pending
Wizel
Big bad black
Yellow, 5 damage
Kieran
Green
Swix

Kieran is up!
Stairs are difficult terrain. You can jump a railing down as two squares of movement (it's not high enough to be dangerous).

Kieran draws his slim dagger, feints an upward strike but comes in low!

◆ Draw Dagger
◆ Feint Deception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 v. Perception DC
◆ Strike Dagger: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Yay crit!

EDIT: This is on Red, in case it wasn't clear. ;)

The gnome claps in hands and Krinolyn vanishes in a burst of brightly colored smoke and sparkles, reappearing an instant later.

They become concealed against the triggering attack and until the end of the current creature's turn. It is Genie's Veil.

Kieran tries to catch Red unawares, but Red is on to him. Kieran then stabs him straight in the heart, and Red poofs out of existence with a puff of smoke.

Green moves up to Swix and tries to intimidate him as well.
Intimidate: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

With Swix's enigmatic mind unimpressed, Green then resorts to violence, but Swix's bizarre statement confuses Green and it just looks at Swix quizzically.

Inspire Courage is active for Swix.

Ramona
Krinolyn, Level 6 Heroism
Wizel
Big bad black
Yellow, 5 damage
Kieran
Green
Swix

Swix, Ramona, Krinolyn, and Wizel are up!

EDIT: I just missed Wizel's reaction.
Flat check to hit concealed: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Nice! Wizel's reaction causes the attack to hit thin air, where only a moment ago the Veiled Lady stood. No damage for Veiled Lady. :)

Bah, realised I forgot to bold the people who are up. It's probably not necessary, but I like to be clear.

Ramona
Krinolyn, Level 6 Heroism
Wizel
Big bad black
Yellow, 5 damage
Kieran
Green
Swix

Having stunned the fool with his words, Swix seizes the distraction to abandon the melee.

"I am the Compass! Let us draw a Circle now. These Shadows are but mere Tangents. We find Strength in the Center. Let the Radii focus you, yours, ours!"

Bisecting a mad dash to the middle of the pack, he fires off his cane at the Black Shadow, emptying the single chamber with a loud POFFF!

Cane Pistol of Potency (1d4 Concussive, 30-ft) w/ Implement's Empowerment (+2) w/ Courage (+1/+1) w/ Fatal (1d8) vs Black: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 221d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 71d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10

◆) Stride
◆) Strike
◆) Stride
+
↺) Empathetic Plea