[Gameday XII] PFS1e #9-09: Beyond the Halflight Path (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master roll4initiative

"Those are some weird frogs. Let's proceed to the Southwest to get out of that foul smell!"

Agreed, that's pretty foul. Reminds me of a troglodyte who died in a sewer... Markus agrees.

Encountering no hostile creatures and wanting to leave the stinky chamber as quickly as possible, the group heads down the slightly sloping passage to the south.

The burble of a waterfall grows louder as you approach the cavern. With Seelah in the lead, she spots a strange object at the base of the steps, sitting near the edge of a large pool that fills the entire cavern.

Room description:
A pond of luminescent liquid fills the area, fed by a stream to the northeast that slowly tumbles down a set of falls before emptying into the pool. Mucilaginous and thick, the substance roils about slowly, squelching as it moves. The tiny, mutant frogs travel along the passage in and out of the room, basking in the liquid at the pool's edge and just enjoying life.

The strange object at the base of the steps is a black, metal box that sparks sporadically with electricity. Various knobs, dials, and wires of different colors protrude from the device.

Map updated.

"Wait. There's a very strange... device?... down there at the base of the steps, near the edge the pool. I've never seen such a thing before! Take a look yourself, maybe one of you have seen or read about it. I'll check if it is an evil thing..."

Seelah scans the device with detect evil.

The sparking box does not radiate an aura of evil.

The dwarf looks at the others, Magic people, why is it glowing like that? I've never seen a box glow on its own...

Iovo looks at it and says “Looks like the kind of thing a gnome would make.”

She scans the sludge to try and make sure there isn’t an ooze hiding in there. Then she says “Watch my back, I’m going to go examine it more closely.”

Then she will carefully approach the box checking for traps along the way.
I have no idea what sort of check might be needed here.

As Iovo begins to approach the box, Salvio casts his detect magic cantrip again and examines the box for magical auras.

The device does not radiate any magical auras.

Iovo and Salvio carefully creep up to the sparking box, trying not to squish any frogs underfoot. The box appears to be very alien in design and appears to be a broken part of something much bigger.

Smiling, Iovo says “Everyone else, please stay back. Unfortunately if we retreat, the box will trigger whatever it is set for.”

Looking to Salvio, she says “Please don’t move.”

Inspecting the box a little more, she says “Sis, if you’ve got any buffs I could use them. Same goes for the rest of you.”

I will give people a chance to do whatever before I attempt the Disable Device check.

"I have a minor warding that would help in general with resisting affects, but it will not be helpful as you already have a cloak that does escentually the same thing. I do have a spell that wards verses a specific elemental energy. You must know the element that might injure you, I could help with that?" Farlen projects his voice to reach the endangered elf peering down from the back over the shoulders of the others. "Other than that, Erastil be with you."

@Iovo: Would you like to bot Damiar? It's been over a week since they posted.

Damiar casts Heroism on Iovo.

And offers her +5 Campaign Coin in case Iovo fails.

In response to Farlen, Iovo says “No idea what element. There is some electricity leaking out, but that doesn’t mean the danger will be electrical.”

With a shrug, she says “If it is electrical, I can probably react fast enough to not get hurt.”

Iovo decides now might be a good time to bring up one of her own protective spells to enhance her life force.
False Life temp HP: 1d10 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 Lasts 5 hours

With the help of Damian’s spell, she then approaches and attempts to deactivate the box.

Her heart racing, Iovo studies the wires. Black, red, blue, and yellow wires poke out and spark with electricity. Sticking out her tongue in concentration and narrowing her eyes, she can't quite figure out which wire goes where. With a surge of determination, she just yanks out the black and red wires...

The contraption falls silent. No more sparks or humming emanate from the metal box.

With a sigh of relief, Iovo sits back and wipes the sweat from her brow.

“Looks safe now!” Iovo calls out. “I wonder who put it here…”

Gesturing to her sack, she asks “Do you think this is something the Society would want to study? I could probably fit it in my sack.” Handy haversack

Salvio nods excitedly. "Of course they would!" Then he settles down a little, frowning. "The Duskwardens might want to keep it, though."

“Well done, Iovo!”

Seelah is relieved that the device has been disabled without an explosion.

As it looks like the hit another dead end, the paladin turns around and investigates the nortwestern end of the 'stinky chamber'.

“I'll go check the other end of the smelly room...”

Iovo quickly packs the box in her bag and then hurried to catch up with Seelah.

Before picking up the strange device, Salvio and Iovo take a good look at it by walking around it. They discover the opposite side of the strange metal box is mostly covered by a smoky, slightly concave piece of glass similar to a window.

Surely something the Society would want to place in one of their vaults for further study, she surmises.

With the strange device safely stowed away, the group finds nothing else of interest in the pond room or the stinky chamber.

Moved group over to stone bridge on map. What now, Pathfinders?

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Seelah quickly checks out the bridge before stepping on it.

“Tt's just a little bridge, looks fine to me. Nothing out of the ordinary .”

Damiar also checks out the bridge before Seelah steps on it.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

The stone bridge seems to be quite sturdy and safe.

Farlen just shrugs his shoulders. "I guess we use the bridge."

Salvio once again mutters to himself. "...I'm forgetting something...light sources, check; looking out for traps, check...never assume that you've found all the traps...that's it! We cross the bridge one at a time, and use a rope so that if one of us slips or the bridge collapses the others will keep them out of the water!"

Farlen looks the bridge over from a structurral standpoint.
know engineering: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
"I am 70% sure the bridge is ..."
insert gm's answer above.

Excellent idea, let's do that. Markus agrees, while finishing out an impossibly thin rope and handing it to the lead party member I'm willing to go first, but if you prefer Seelah... he holds the other end of the rope if she goes first...

Tying the rope around each of you, with slack between each, you carefully set across the stone bridge. Seelah tests the stability with her foot as she inches across. Once safely across, the rest of the group follows, one at a time, with those in the rear holding the rope taut. Taking your time, the group manages to get across the stone bridge safely.

Map updated with all of you on the other side of the bridge.

Iovo checks the alcove to the north of the group, just to make sure nothing is hiding there.

Then looking ahead she takes out a coin and flips it. Looking at the coin she proclaims “If nothing attacks us, let’s explore to the South East first.” pointing ahead to those stairs.
1: North East, 2: South East: 1d2 ⇒ 2

There's a compass rose in the lower left of the map. East is up, but, I understand your directions.

Iovo creeps towards the alcove to the east. Luckily, nothing jumps out at her.

That's ok with me."

Iovo then looks at her Wayfinder and says “Oops! Caverns are confusing! That way is what I meant!”

As a player I don’t care which direction we go. I am just suggesting a direction because when no one cares at least we have a direction to go.

Salvio follows along, crossbow loaded and ready. His grin has more than a little rictus quality to it, and his knuckles are a little white where he grips the weapon.

Markus stows the impossible rope and hurried along with the group, trying to stay near the front.

The dim light of the glowing crystals embedded in the walls reveal an arched passage to the south that soon splits in two different directions. Each passage beyond has a set of natural stone steps that ascend slightly.

With Seelah taking the lead, the group moves forward.
Seelah Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
A seemingly mundane puddle on the floor under the arch is suddenly revealed to be more as a terrible pseudopod lashes out at Seelah.
Slam vs FF: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
bludgeon: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
acid: 1d6 ⇒ 1
And it attempts to grab Seelah...
grab: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 It does not grab hold!

Combat Tracker (Round 1). Pathfinders are up! DC 14 Knowledge (dungeoneering) to identify creature.
Salvio:
Markus:
Damiar:
Farlen:
Iovo:
Seelah: -11 hp
Ooze:

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Iovo recognizes the type of ooze or slime it is and lets everyone know what sort of special defenses or resistances it may have.

Want to know if this is the type that splits into multiple creatures, resistances, GM choice.

Given it is an aberration, think I will wait for results of the knowledge check before diving into combat.

Iovo knows this is a gray ooze, an aberration that is transparent, making it difficult to notice in dimly lit dungeons. They are immune to acid & fire. The acid it secretes is known to dissolve weapons made of wood, leather, and metal, but not stone. If grappled by the creature, the acid can severely damage the armor an adventurer is wearing, along with their clothes!

“I don’t think we want to touch that thing or be touched by it!” As she says this, Iovo retreats to the bridge.

She then casts a spell to damage the creature. “Immune to acid and fire, Farlen can you protect Seelah from Acid?”
Magic Missile, CL 5: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) + 3 = 9

Markus nods and sighs, looking at his walking stick, gnarled with age and use, before closing and swinging it at the ooze, hard in a flurry of blows...
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Spend 1 ki for +1 FOB attack
Fob 3: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Magic +1 Long Bow + PBS: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 13
Piercing Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 2 = 10

Damiar doesn't bother to inspire courage. She just starts shooting (and apparently missing.)

Iovo pulls back to the bridge and shoots three magical bolts of force at the ooze, eliciting a squelch and causing it to quiver.

Markus gets three good whacks on the ooze with his old, gnarled staff.
Reflex to avoid acid dmg: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Reflex to avoid acid dmg: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Reflex to avoid acid dmg: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
damage to staff: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 6) = 11
Markus' staff is reduced to a tiny twig within seconds.
Wait. That may only be 1 point of acid damage to the staff. I thought acid ignores hardness, but I can't find a definitive answer.

Damiar fires an arrow from her usually trusty longbow. The arrow ricochets off the cavern wall a couple of times and lands weakly on the ooze. The arrow is quickly dissolved by the creature's acid.

Combat Tracker (Round 1). Salvio, Farlen, & Seelah are up!
Salvio:
Markus:
Damiar:
Farlen:
Iovo:
Seelah: -11 hp
Ooze: -32 hp

"Acid resistance coming up." Farlen gestures and chants. Slides forward and touches the brave paladin. casts resist energy acid on Seelah. Movement help needed: could someone move me behind Marcus?

Ooze. Probably mindless. None of my spells will help. The human wizard shoots it with his crossbow.

Bolt attack, including PBS: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 = 18
Bolt damage, including PBS: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

SEEEELAHHHHH!!! You're up.

Sorry, busy days... :-/

"Thanks, Farlen!" Does the spell protect my gear, too?

Seelah 5-foot-steps in front öf Markus and strikes the ooze.

+1 longsword: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
magic slashing, IC: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Seelah, surrounded by a shimmering protective aura against the corrosive ooze, delivers a powerful blow on the creature. Seelah's sword remains unscathed by the acid, protected by the same shimmering aura of acid resistance.

Ravenous for organic matter, the ooze lashes out at Seelah with a pseudopod...
Pseudopod: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
slam damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

It then attempts to grab a hold of Seelah...
grapple vs. CMB: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
constrict: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
The pseudopod wraps around Seelah's neck and tightens its grip!

Combat Tracker (Round 1). Pathfinders are up!
Salvio:
Markus:
Damiar:
Farlen:
Iovo:
Seelah: -16 hp (grappled)
Ooze: -41 hp (grappled)

Iovo moves forward a little and then casts a spell on Seelah’s armor, causing it to become slippery. “That should help you escape, Seelah!”

Cast Grease on Seelah’s armor.

Seelah tries to escape the grapple.

Escape Grapple, grease: 1d20 + 7 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 10 = 19 :-/

Did Salvio's crossbow bolt have any effect?

Farlen gestures and chants pointing a finger at the gray blob. [Ooc]Casts magic missiles at it.[ooc]
2 mms with force dmg: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7
"Acid protection helps but it looks to be strangling her. Hit it quickly."