GM Jhaeman's PFS1 Module: "City of Golden Death" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Sheilding his eyes as Goran calls down a bright light, Ting lulls his tongue in a tengu smile when he realizes the witch is blind. Moving fowards he draws the exotic bastard sword from it's scabbard, telling the little stone man, "When you's is wroight, you's is wroight." Stopping opposite the rock fellow, he chops down at the witch with his exotic blade.

Sickened The character takes a –2 on everything - 3 str, 30 ft move. attack + 1 bastard sword, PA, FF, flank, sneak attack
attack: 1d20 + 11 - 2 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 11 - 2 - 1 + 2 = 16 for damage: 1d10 + 4 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 6 - 2 = 10 sneak: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Ting and Rawk-N-Role show excellent teamwork and strike at the blinded switch simultaneously! Ting's uncanny ability to find a weak point is enough to send the vile menace to the deck, bleeding and unconscious!

Both Rawk-N-Role and Ting hit. The additional sneak attack damage is just enough to knock the sea witch into negative hp. We are off Initiative.

Rawk-N-Role grins at Ting and then stomps on the evil witch some more to make sure that she is fully dead.

Rogarch puts her wand away and then makes her way over to the once fearsome witch. She gives her a once over looking for loot and assuming that she finds nothing of interest she heaves the evil creature overboard.

"Good riddance to some bad garbage. All considering it could have gone much worse."

how many days til we get to where we're headed? i can restore the ability damage with lesser restoration...just have to memorize them in the morning...or using my heal to do it if we get enough rest

Goran goes ad makes sure everyone is healthy...except for their upset stomachs...he can't help that. He then checks to see if the witch left any presents.

Feeling his blade strike deep into the blinded sea hag, Ting jerks the blade out, feeling no remorse for attacking a blinded foe. As he wipes his blade on her seaweed encrusted clothes, he returns the stony fellow's smile with one of his own, chuckling, in a very caw like sound as the little rock man jumps up and down on the corpse.

As he sheaths his weapon, he realizes Rogarch was frisking the body for anything of value. Nodding his approval, he watches to see if the woman produces anything shiny. He bends over to help the bloodrager lift the corpse over the gunwale, feeling the weakness from her frightening gaze, "She's bloody well died quick, 'at's fer sure, But I's is feelin' moighty weaks fer some floggin' reason, wroight."

After a quick search reveals no valuables, the well-stomped sea witch is given the old heave-ho!

@Goran: You should arrive within sight of the Isle of Terror tomorrow (or, technically, today, since it's after midnight that this encounter takes place).

There is nothing of interest on the sea witch.

Rogarch nods at Ting.

"She had some powerful magic that is for sure. A bit of rest or some divine healing should restore your strength I imagine."

The bloodrager shakes her head in disgust.

"These attackers by night should carry some valuables with them at the very least if they are going to try to kill us in our sleep. It is only fair."

"Sleep now Ting if you can and I will wake you for your watch."

Rogarch and Rawk-N-Role continue their watch from the middle of the ship until they are relieved by Ting.

@GM Jhaeman - Please let us know when we are no longer sickened. :)

DAY SEVEN

The rest of the night is a restless one for the crew of the Black Mist, and dawn is a relief when it comes. By midday, an island is visible through the hazy mist that hangs over Lake Encarthan. From a distance, the island looks innocuous enough--perhaps even attractive, with gorgeous, high cliffs and white sand beaches.

"Don't let it fool you," says Captain Walren, grimacing. "If this barge were to sink, I'd rather take my chances in the water than paddle for that cursed place. But I know a little cove that should be safe enough to drop anchor, and Mabon and I will then row you the rest of the way in our shore boat. Once you set foot on the beach, the Black Mist will stay at anchor for 10 days and not an hour more. When . . . if . . . you're able to leave, you need to build two fires far enough apart that I know it's a signal from you and not a campfire from these cultists or whatever else might be there."

Everyone can removed the Sickened condition, and do the usual things after a night's sleep (regain hp equal to level, spell slots, etc.).

Rogarch is feeling better after a good night's rest. She gets together with Rawk-N-Role to have another look at the last remaining scroll that she has yet to decipher.

Rawk-N-Role, aid to spellcraft, DC 10: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Spellcraft, decipher scroll DC 21: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

An entire week has passed and she has yet to break the code but she knows that in time (perhaps a lot of time) she will figure it out.

A bit latter she goes on deck with her familiar and she smiles broadly at the sight of land.

"Captain, I hear what you are saying but right now the thought of being on land again is worth what ever terrors are in wait for us."

Rawk-N-Role almost does a dance at the sight of land. His eyes glisten and he cheers in excitement of being in contact with the earth once again.

i can do long term care to reduce tge ability damage, and lesser restoration on myself...jf thats cool with you boss...i'll roll now to save time if it is

ltc Ting: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
ltc Rogarch: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
ltc Rawk: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
less restore me: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Rawk-N-Role and Rogarch do not need any sort of medical attention as they did not suffer damage of any kind in the last battle. The thought is much appreciated however. :)

@Goran: Long-term care takes 8 hours of light work, and you're going to be on shore "soon". The lesser restoration is fine, just make sure you deduct it from "today's" spell slots.

Shortly after midday, Captain Walren keeps his promise and delivers you via rowboat to the beach. "Remember, ten days," he says. "If I don't see the signal fires by the morning of the eleventh, I'm assuming you're dead, or worse." With a final wave, he begins rowing back toward the Black Mist.

A complicated maze of tumbledown stone walls surrounds a partially collapsed tower covered in arm-thick branches of ivy here. Beautiful white sand layers the nearby beaches, ceaselessly blowing against the western walls of the ruins and sometimes forming drifts as high as 30’.

As you take your initial bearings, you can see further inland are huge, roiling, black clouds hovering closer to the ground than ordinary clouds or thunderstorms. The clouds bear almost no form or definition, and instead appear to be flat-planed swirls of various shades of black.

On that ominous note, I'm off to a work retreat for 48 hours. A good opportunity for you to RP next steps!

my bad..i misunderstood the timing...i thought it was more night then day...i'll cast lesser restoration on Ting and myself...burning a scroll...and i have no idea why i thought it restored 1d4 ability damage...i'm losing what's left of my mind...lol...so Ting and me are back to normal...just ignore my stoopidity

Ten days...got it. We'll be here...

Lesser Restoration does only restore 1d4 points of ability damage per casting. It is largely academic at this point but you can still roll the d4 anyways to see if Ting is at full strength or has one point of ability damage remaining. There is very little in-game difference due to the way that ability damage is handled by the rules. :)

"Hopefully it will be less than ten days but I am confident that we will make it back to you captain."

Rogarch looks around grimacing at the ominous black clouds. The bloodrager is still happy to off the ship and on solid land. She turns to Ting.

"Well, we might be here for a while. We might as well finish preparing the snake to eat as we formulate a plan."

"I would wager that the trouble is further inland and so perhaps is the cultist we are looking to find."

Rawk-N-Role waves goodbye to the captain and thanks him again in Terran. Once the sailors are underway the earth elemental rejoices about being on land and he rolls around on the fine sandy beach close to his master. After a minute or so of this elemental tomfoolery he grins and stands right up.

i'm an idiot...

ting: 1d4 ⇒ 4

last night
Still feeling weak ting nods at the bloodragers recommendation "I's'll do's 'at, wroight,"

this morning
Waking, still weak, but not as sick, ting listens to the Captains instructions. Rolling his eyes at the details. It was just like a dwarf, do this exactly, do that exactly. He was at least glad that the dwarf wasn't going with them. Too proud to acknowledge the dwarf's instructions, he nods in agreement with Goran and Rogarch. Getting his rucksack and other gear ready to load into the smaller boat, Ting is relieved when Goran uses a scroll to heal the physical weakness. Moving his arms about, he lulls his tongue in a tengu smile. "T'anks Goran, I's floggin' feels a hundritiy percent betters, wroight."

this afternoon
Shortly after midday, ting stoes his gear in the rowboat and climbs abourd. Trying not to rock the small boat, he sit's very still during the short trip. Happy to be on dry land, he climbs out of the boat, shifting his rucksack to his shoulders and shifting his gear so he can reach his weapons easily. Again, rolling his eyes as the dwarf reminds them 'ten days.' As the boat rolls away he mumbles under his breath, "Bloke acts like we's bloody well can't counts."

Hearing Rogarch mention the snake, tings countenance brightens, "We's can cook's it when' we's makes camp wroight" He gestures towards the incoming clouds, asking, "How's far do's we wants ta push inta tha storm, afore we's make camp?"

How long did the boat trip take, or was the 'shortly after midday' when they landed?

Rogarch nods at Ting's suggestion. They might as well push forward until they need to camp for the night.

"Very well. We should head inland towards those unnatural looking clouds and the partially collapsed tower."

"If we do not find the city there then we can climb the tower. From a higher vantage point we should get a better idea of the layout of this island."

The bloodrager will lead the party forward unless there is some objection.

Rogarch pushes a little bit further inland to the ancient stone fort. It's obvious the wind, sand, and storms have scoured away anything organic such as wood or rope, leaving behind a sandblasted set of interconnected walls that now form a sort of ruined maze and a tower that has collapsed on itself. Just inside its walls are the remnants of a recent firepit as well as two small areas on the ground where recent digging is obvious, each ringed with stones.

@Ting: "Shortly after midday" is when you hit the beach.

@Everyone: Thanks for your patience. My "48 hours" away ended up being not exactly that!

Rogarch carefully examines the fire pit and areas of digging for anything of interest.

34 Perception on a take 20 to notice anything of interest.

She then turns to Ting.

"I am no tracker as I had not the time to study that skill yet. Perhaps you can tell us who or what were using the fires here?"

She speaks a few words in the language that she alone shares with Rawk-N-Role asking him go beneath the surface to see what is buried below once they finish with their surface investigation.

Rawk-N-Role stays on alert but is now in his element now. He reaches down into the earth itself probing the surrounding area for anything of interest and drawing strength from the earth and stone that he is in contact with.

Tremor Sense 60' is always active.

@GM Jhaeman - A map would be great if you have one. :)

Nodding his beak in agreement with the bloodrager, ting follows along, happy to let the half orc take point. Seeing the firepit, as well as the two small areas ringed with stone, ting shrugs, "I's'll be 'appy ta takes a look-see, wroight"

Ting will take 10(20) on perception, if he notices anything, or if Rogarch points out anything, please apply the survival roll
track: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 + 3 if tracking

Rogarch and Ting look at the firepit, while Rawk-N-Role burrows underground to see what's under the stone rings.

@Rawk: The only map I have is super-spoilery. What I can tell you is that you're on the southwest coast of the island. As the ship approached, you could see three small mountain peaks near the center of the island, and that parts of the island looked heavily forested. The island is large enough that it could take days to cross it.

Rawk-N-Role earth glides back up to the surface without even creasing the earth around him. He speaks a few words to Rogarch.

Rogarch nods at her familiar before addressing the party.

"It would seem to me that two people were buried here recently. They were wearing iron masks and wrapped in cloaks for their burial."

She turns to Ting.

"If possible we should try to track the people who set this fire. Perhaps they will lead us to the golden city?"

I am wondering if it is common knowledge (DC 10 Religion or Local check) to know that followers of Razmir wear masks to hide their identity. They are not a subtle cult. :)

@GM Jhaeman - Are there any other areas to explore in the collapsed tower before we move on? I am going to assume no but it is always best to ask. :)

Candledark skulks around somewhere close behind the others, and takes a somewhat-careful, somewhat-bored look at the firepit and dig-marks.

I'll try to detect magic in the area.

Spellcraft, in case it should matter: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34

@GM Jhaeman - Are there any other areas to explore in the collapsed tower before we move on? I am going to assume no but it is always best to ask. :)

AAAAAAAAAHHH, the whole thing was a trap all along! We got stuck in a time-warp, sent back to 1st-level, and now it's "Master Of The Fallen Fortress" all over again! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHH!!!

Iron masks, you say? That sounds odd.. Goran says as he tries to think.

kn. Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

The investigation of the campsite continues . . .

@Rogarch: Razmir is a (relatively) obscure deity, and definitely not one of the "big 20". I'd set the Knowledge (religion) DC at 15 to know something about them.

@Rogarch: Nope, no other areas to explore among these ruins.

Rogarch and Rawk-N-Role check the area for any clear passageways into the ruined tower. With the assumption that nothing is found she turns to Ting.

"We need to follow these people. It is the only lead we currently have."

She turns to the others.

"Is anyone aware of the meaning of those masks? It seems strange to me to try to conceal someone's identity even after they have passed on."

"Also why bury these people here? I wonder if this tower has any significance to these people?."

Having time to study the firepit, ting moves around, beak low so he can observe the ground. Stepping intently, lifting knees high, being very carefull where he places his feet. Looking very much like a crow inspecting seeds on the ground. Eventually he looks up as the half orc explains what her pet rock had found and observes they should track the people who set the fire. Gesturing the direction the campers went as Rogarch speaks with Goran about the iron masks and reiterates about following them, ting chimes in. "Follerin' em, won't be 'ard at all. 'Air's about twenty er so of 'em an' they's were 'ear abouts t'ree days ago." He points down to the track, "They's weren't tryin' ta floggin' hide 'air tracks at all's wroight."

As the conversation continues, everyone but Candledark becomes aware that something . . . or maybe somethings . . . . are slinking around the outer edges of the area, using the fallen columns and ruined walls to keep out of sight . . .

Rogarch rearranges her equipment and speaks a few quiet words to her familiar in their private language. She knows that if these spies are touching the ground then her familiar will find them.

Rawk-N-Role nods to his master. He pays attention to the vibrations transmitted through the ground to determine where these spies might be located. If he cannot locate them immediately then he will disappear completely down through the floor and he will move around until he can detect them. He will then earth glide back to his master to report on their location.

@GM Jhaeman - Rawk-N-Role's Tremorsense should detect them if they are touching the ground and if they are within 60 feet of his position. If not he can hide beneath the floor and move to find them.

Rawk-N-Role informs Rogarch about the interlopers with a couple of nonsensical sounding words. The bloodrager puts up a magical shield on herself with a wand before stowing it in a ready pocket.

"Alright, let us find them and get this done. Rawk-N-Role will point them out."

Shield spell is now up.

Rogarch casts a defensive spell as her stony companion points at four particular places around the perimeter of the ruins.

What would the rest of you like to do? We're not on Initiative (yet), but please don't take more than one action at a time. I've placed a grid on Slide # 2 so you can better picture your surroundings. The arrows indicate where Rawk has pointed out the shadowy movement and the direction they're slowly circling.

As the converation continues, Ting notices movement by one of the fallen columns. Turning to say something he notices Rogarch seeiming to say something to the little rock fellow and the little fellow respond. Seeing her cast a spell, ting reaches back and begins to draw his exotic bastard sword, stepping closer to the pair he ask, "Can tha rocky fellow tells 'ow manies 'air are?"

@Ting - Rawk-N-Role did point out the positions of four opponents as is indicated on the map (see Gm's post right above yours). :)

@GM Jhaeman - The map is good. Theatre of the mind and PF do not mesh that well. :)

@Ting - Rawk-N-Role did point out the positions of four opponents as is indicated on the map (see Gm's post right above yours). :)

Thanks, I did note that, I was more about being lazy and not coming up with anything creative to say...

Rogarch shakes her head at the Tengu who seems to be falling asleep on the job.

"Four."

RP is always good. Ting only has an Int of 7 so counting up to four in a combat situation might be tough for him. ;)

Goran loads his crossbow in case he needs a ranged answer.

Lead on... he says as he casts a minor spell on Ting.

guidance..a +1 bonus to any roll needed never hurts...

Goran and Ting ready weapons in anticipation of battle.

Candledark, what would you like to do?

Hearing Rogarch tell him four, ting releases the grip of his exotic bastard sword with his right talon, long enough to count off; one, two, three, four claws. Nodding his beak he regrips his sword. "Four, We Got's 'is."

Feeling Goran's spell settle on him, ting turns and lulls his tongue in a tengu smile, "T'anks Goran! at'll bloody well 'elp, wroight."

The others might be wondering where Candledark is...if not for the fact he's evidently managed to hide so well, his affiliates have forgotten to notice he seems to be missing!

Note my Stealth roll above.

He prepares for whatever mischief may await by drawing a slender wand of solid iridescent quartz shaped like a crescent moon; concentrating upon it, he generates a telekinetic shield around himself.

As inexplicably as they came, the creatures slinking around the camp withdraw, disappearing into the tangled overgrowth and crumbling ruins . . .

Please update your taglines with any active spell effects and note durations.

"Alright people. We should move out. Rawk-N-Role will keep a watch out for these four. If they get close in he will know."

Rogarch is ready to move out knowing that conflict will occur sooner than latter.

Can Rawk describe them? Might give us a better idea on how to prepare fr them if we run into them again.