PFS2e 4-01 - The Year of Boundless Wonder - Take 2 (KS) (Inactive)

Game Master phaeton_nz

Gameplay Thread. Dot and delete to join

"Acorn"

Having gotten lost - or rather, in his meanderings, remained so as a more perpetual state - our tiny hero spots the seed to a mighty tree on the curb of the street outside the Grand Lodge - "What's it doing out this far?" - the reader may ask, and yet, the thought not-crosses the whimsical mind of the brown sprite, who, built it seems to resemble, or mock, the male form, in miniature, and sporting inverted cloven hooves for feet, and with backspiral horns protruding from his head, and with ugly, mothen wings sprouted from his shoulders.

Walking along with steps proportional to his full one foot of height, and leaving a gentle trail of ash in his wake...

You have been sent down to the Guild Vaults to meet up with Zarta Dralneen (human female) and Rain in Cloudy Day (fungus leshy) (pics on slides) to help them catalogue the recent acquisition of treasure, and there is quite a lot of it. Rain calls this the 'Vault of Boundless Wonder' before introducing himself proclaiming that he’s a new Pathfinder agent who has been chosen to help with important tasks around the Grand Lodge.

When he sees those whom he has met before, he gushes with enthusiasm, saying how much fun their adventure together was, thanks them for helping him pass his Confirmation, and proclaims that the ruins they uncovered drew the attention of all sorts of important faction leaders. Rain also asks them for a first hand account of their adventures in the ruins.

Zarta Dralneen watches the conversation with amusement, but when it begins to drag, she clears her throat to remind Rain of his current mission.

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? Rain prompts you to introduce yourselves.

You are all at area A1 on the map if you wish to place your tokens there.

Also, please fill out Slide 2

Banterknell is dressed up in wildly colorful clothing, perhaps to compensate for a very slight bleaching that has begun in his hair, though he keeps that mostly hidden under a jester's cap. His mouth is stretched into a wild grin, a bit too wide. He eyes show a bit of desperation.

"Banterknell here! You may call me BK, for short. Everyone does. Are there any dangerous magics? Call on BK! Are there any curiosities that make you nervous? Call on BK! BK the brave, BK the heroic, BK the curious, will lead the charge into the unknown!"

In an aside to whoever happens to be near him he whispers sotto voice "I volunteered for this job, you know."

Slides filled out

A stuffed rabbit with a backpack and a large rifle on his back enters the Vault. He sees Rain and immediately hops over to greet the leshy.

"Oh hello Rain! Nithe to thee you again! Are theth the other Pathfinderth for our mithtion?"

Turning to the group he bows and says "Well met Pathfinderth! I am Bun Helthing!" His gross overbite produces a pronounced lisp.

A halfling male in farmer's clothes looks around the vault. He is accompanied by a rather large duck that looks irritated.

"I-I'm Welby. I was a farmer and one day, my p-pet duck Drake started talking to me. Though no one else can quite hear i-it. He thinks he's a dragon and wants to go a-adventuring. So.. we're h-here," he says.

Drake honks.

Maruta - unattentive during the mission briefing, used to being ignored for his size, and typically pre-occupued with his own to do - sprinkles over to Bun Helsing, and affixes a Potency Crystal to his long rifle...

"I had a dream I was a dragon once! Did you know they have oils that allow you to breath fire? Say, Mr. Duck, or should I call you Mr. Dragon, what kind of dragon are you?"

Ignoring the fact that Welby just told him the he was the only who could hear the duck, BK cocks his head to listen for a response.

((Will wait for Severus and Lon to introduce themselves - everyone has two Hero Points each to start with))

Drake lets out a quack. "A f-fiery one, he says," Welby translates. "And d-don't you be using that h-here Drake! You might b-burn the place down!"

You see a small halfling with a couple of long barrel firearms almost as big as he is as he approaches everyone, an easy smile on his face.

"Good to meet you everyone!" he says as he waves at the present company.

"Hopefully sorting out items will be somewhat more relaxing than dealing with kingdom politics and coupes"

A man in all black attire with matching sleek black hair arrives as well. "Severus." he introduces with a tone of pride. "What are we going to do here, yes?" he asks the Grand Archivist. "Is this place infested that needs to be cleared with or something?" he muses. "But I heard we will just catalogue things down here, why not."

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?

"Aslynn? Might have heard the name somewhere. Who is she? And how did you even get these treasures from her?" Severus is curious, his tone is suggests suspicion. He also has his eyes at the talking skull. Could it be undead? he thinks.

Bun looks curiously at the crystal the sprite attached to his rifle. "Why thank you good thir. I hope that I can shoot thtraight with it. Thee, I jutht got my arquebuth. I have yet to try it out."

Bun perks up at the sound of Aslynn. "Hmm. Did we encounter Athlynn latht year, Rain? I only remember having to find some lotht relicth."

...still unattentive during the mission briefing, our tiny ashen hero now sprinkles over to Lon Spiritgazer and affixes a Potency Crystal to his long rifle...

Bun notes the halfling and his many weapons. His eyes brighten and he hops over to introduce himself.

"Well met! I thee you are a thniper yourthelf! I jutht got my arquebuth and I can't wait to try it out!"

"M-mostly harmless? Are y-you sure?" Welby says, wary.

Zarta says, Ah yes. Aslynn. 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.

Rain pipes up. Oh! How we got theese? 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 just grins at the comment 'Mostly harmless'. At least one of the ‘objects’ seems to be alive, in a sense, yes. So far, the skull just insults everyone. Maybe you can talk to it and learn more. We haven’t found any other creatures in the vault—yet! It’s not our business to keep creatures captive, so we’d like to help get them home if we can, and to keep them safe from Aslynn.

"A-a talking skull? Oh dear... that sounds.. not right.." Welby says. Drake lets out an aggressive honk.

In clipped fast sentences, BK gushes.

"I never met a talking skull! I can hardly wait! Does it have a name? Where is it? We can trade insults."

BK starts mentally rehearsing interesting insults and bad puns, fully intending to be prepared.

Zarta says Once we've done here, we’ll return some to wherever they belong. Some might be dangerous, some should be destroyed, some might hold valuable knowledge. Some might be all those things. That’s why your work, and my meeting with the Society’s leaders, is so important. We need to make a plan!

Here's my plan of attack Rain exclaims, producing a parchment and putting it on the table. Or should I say my 'to do' list

((Added to the Slides))

As you go over it, Zarta advises you to be ready for anything, suggesting they make a quick trip to purchase supplies, if necessary, before they begin their work. Then, she departs for her meeting.

So which part of the Vault do you wish to investigate? Each investigation phase takes ten minutes and requires an appropriate skill check for a potential discovery. One check per PC please.

Bun heads to the Precarious Shelves and climbs to the very top.

Athletics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"Oh look at thith!"

Severus climbs the winding stairs to reach the northeastern raised storage area to look for something useful among the Assorted Items on the shelves there.
Arcana to Assorted Items: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Welby goes to the talking skull. "U-um hello Mr Skull. H-how are you today? C-could you tell us more about t-this place?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Assorted Items (#3) w/ Perception (Trained): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

...having placed a few Talismans upon his companions, our sprite hero goes searching for more random trinkets, shuffling through the pile of assorted items...

BK also heads straight towards the skull, totally into the novelty and immediately launching into insulting puns.

"Hi brainless! Care to empty your head of any ideas? I heard you like insults?"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Of course the skull can tell BK doesn't really mean it and is having fun. He cocks his head in anticipation of a good response.

Bun finds a Dagger of Venom

Severus finds a Moderate Healing Potion

The scroll grins at Welby. Oh I like you. 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. If the PC carries Zykyryz in their hand or a suitable container, the next time the PC rolls initiative, Zykyryz casts heroism on them. This reward can only be earned once.

Maruta finds nothing useful

Banterkull discovers that the skull retorts back with some really penetrating puns but is also told I'm with this person. Go and make yourself useful somewhere else

Banterkull can go to another area and reroll

Waiting for Lon

With an unconcerned shrug, BK goes to check out the jumbled pile of assorted items. Casting a Read Aura he digs through the pile with an occasional AHA! though what produces the exclamation is unusual at times, such as the case full of finger puppets, which, incidentally, distract him for quite a while.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"Wel, this all sounds certainly interesting! So ... let's see where to start..."

As the halfling thinks about it, he watches Bun hopping around the shelves with an incredible dexterity and finds it interesting enough to give it a try himself.

"And here I was worried I would get bored to death in books and items and you found a way to make it interesting Bun, well thought!

With that he moves towards the shelves and tries his luck with them 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

BK finds a Wand of Manifold Missiles

Lon finds a Demon Mask

Between Lon and Bun, they have completely covered the Precarious Shelves. There is no more to find here.

Ten minutes into your explorations ...

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.

What looks like four shadowy bugbears appear in the Vault. Blue and Red look to be tougher versions.

Initiatives:
Bun Helsing, Avoid Notice: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Maruta Avoid Notice: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Banterknell, Search: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Lon: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Severus: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
Welby: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Red: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Blue: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Cyan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Pink/Magenta: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Blue and Pink go first.

Blue moves up to BK and stabs with a spear.
spear: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Pink moves up to Maruta and stabs with a spear.
spear: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Lon, Severus, and Maruta are up before Red.
Banterknell is up before Cyan.
Bun and Welby are last in the order.

Maruta shakes some of the ashes from his shoulders, engulfing himself and the shadowy creature in a tiny cloud.

”Friends”

With a primal power word, several woodland creatures emerge from different doorways and swarm over the creature attacking him, biting and scratching!

◆) Faerie Dust w/ Blood Magic (Will DC 19; Maruta Concealed)
◆◆) Animal Allies

Animal Allies (Piercing) vs Basic Reflex DC 19: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 3, 4) = 9

Surprised by the sudden appearence of the monsters, Lon is quick on the take and grabs his rifle, firing the first round directly into the nearest creature.

He then ducks behind Bun, reloading his weapon in one fluid motion and the let's another shot fly towards the shadowy monster.

"Just what are those things?" he asks hoping that someone has some knowledge on them.

◇ One Shot, One Kill: Draw arquebus.
◆ Shoot light blue bugbearish monster: +1 Arquebus: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21piercing damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 2 + (6) = 9
◆ Covered reload behind Bun 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
◆ Shoot light blue bugbearish monster: +1 Arquebus: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14piercing damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Lon blows cyan away with his first shot
((You may retarget your second))

ref(pink): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 (pink: -4, Red: 0, Blue: 0)

((Severus still to go))

Rolling his eyes, Severus gets close to the railing and looking from above, finds the shadowy creature. He sends an icy ray at Red.
Ray of Frost Attack vs Red: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Spell Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 cold damage

◆ Stride
◆◆ Cast a Spell, Ray of Frost

That is unfortunately a miss.

Red moves up to Welby and strikes twice.
spear: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
spear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

With Cyan gone, Banterknell, Bun and Welby are up.

"O-oh dear. T-this is rather r-rude..." Welby says.
If you allow Drake to be manifested already

◆◆◆ Act Together
Welby ◆ Protect Companion
Drake ◆ Stride
◆ Attack pierce Beak attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
◆ Attack buffet (agile) Wing: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

If not, Welby will just Manifest Eidolon (3 actions)

Bun stares at the scene below. "I glad we're up here and not down there."

He pulls his arquebus from its sling and takes aim. He takes aim at Pink.
"Picking on a thprite ithn't very nithe!"

+1 Arquebus vs Pink: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Concussive?: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

BOOM! comes a loud report from the top of the precarious shelves as Bun looses his first shot. He ducks behind Lon the same way the halfling used him for cover to reload, before firing again.

+1 Arquebus vs Pink, MAP: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Unfortunately this one goes wide and misses Severus by inches.

"Oopth! Thorry Theveruth!! comes a soft call.

◇ One Shot, One Kill: Draw arquebus.
◆ Shoot at Pink
◆ Covered Reload behind Lon
◆ Miss Pink

With his first shooting being true on his foe, Lon retargets with second on into the only other creature he's able to see at the moment.

◆ Shoot pink bugbearish monster: +1 Arquebus, MAP1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 1d8 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + (5, 6) = 17

Pink/Magenta is also utterly annihilated.

((Banterknell still to go))

BK heads away from the nasty melee combat and starts inspiring everyone with his flute playing, adding in a flourish, while trying to remember what these things are.

lingering performance: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
recall knowledge occult: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

* move
o lingering performace
* inspire courage +1
* recall knowledge occult

Banterknell determines these are Dream Fiends from the Plane of Shadow. They are capable of frightening their victims.

Blue chases after BK and stabs twice. Maybe it is trying to stop the music
spear: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
spear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Lon, Severus, and Maruta are up

Gingerly, seeing the high table next to him, and being about one foot tall, our ashen hero attempts to disappear beneath a pile of scrolls...

◆) Step
◆) Take Cover (to AC 20)
◆) Hide

Severus sends electric arc at Blue and Red, the lightning dancing from one to another. He also raises his magical shield.

◆◆ Cast a Spell, Electric Arc at Blue and Red, DC 17 basic Reflex save vs 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 electricity damage
◆ Cast a Spell, Shield (+1 to AC)

ref(blue): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
ref(red): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

((Red: -3, Blue: -6))

Lon still to go.

Lon focuses his fire on the bugbear he can still see. "So, are there any more than this one? he asks the rest of the group as he shoots.

◆ Covered reload behind Bun stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
◆ Shoot light blue bugbearish monster +1 Arquebus: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30 piercing damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
◆ Risky Reload light blue bugbearish monster +1 Arquebus: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20piercing damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Lon is just able to see Blue from where he is and a well aimed shot is enough to take it out. He cannot see Red from his current position so there is no need for a risky reload.

Red continues stabbing at Welby
spear: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20 piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
spear: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
spear: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14 piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Everyone is up.

From his hiding spot, Maruta spits a black glob into the Bugbear's eye!

◆) Strike
◆) Take Cover (to AC 20)
◆) Hide

Sting Shot (Ranged, Unarmed, Poison) vs Off-Guard (-2 AC): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 261d4 ⇒ 2

Turning around, now that the shadowy goon is off his back, BK continues his inspiring flute playing and adds in a little twist and flip and a bit if rubble leaps from the floor and whistles its way over toward the remaining bugbear-thing.

to hit, inspired: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 = 13
damage, inspired: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

BK is enthralled by the fact that it made a whistling sound and looks around for another piece like it.

*inspire courace
**TK projectile

"Nope," he calls out between tweets, "None that I can see."

Welby is down after those hits...