☠ Season of Ghosts w/ DM rainzax ☠

Game Master rainzax

Daily preparations: Vekka isn't switching any more spells at the moment. Is there anything else to specify?

Publicly Known Shrines

Abadar @ Abadar Shrine (W3)
Daikitsu @ Nine Ear Shrine (W9)
Kofusachi @ Trade Office (W21)
Pharasma @ Lady of Souls (W10)

Discoverable Shrines
Shelyn
Qi Zhong
Ketephys
Nalinivati
Shizuru @ Mother’s Coil (area W20)
Tsukiyo
Desna
Lao Shu Po
Yaezhing
Calistria
Lady Nanbyo
Others

Discover Shrine
[exploration] [secret]
As a 1 hour activity, a PC may attempt to locate the whereabouts a particular deity's shrine using the Diplomacy, Religion, or Society skill. This is a secret check with the following outcomes:
Critical Success ➤ As success, but you do so in a fraction of the time!
Success ➤ You locate the whereabouts of the shrine, or, confirm that none exists (if looking for an "other")
Failure ➤ You are unable to locate the whereabouts of the shrine, or, unable to confirm that none exists (if looking for an "other")
Critical Failure ➤ As failure, and GM may give you false information.

The party decides whether to head to a known shrine, or, to ask around and see if they can’t get the whereabouts of another…

No rolls please, I will roll a secret check for anyone who requests, and do note the time requirement. But go ahead and discuss which shrine you’d like to complete the trinity of coins needed to re-light the Eternal Lantern!

"We can try one of the known locations, time is of the essence. Perhaps Kofusaki is good enough for now, or Abadar if that shrine is closer."

"If we had time I would look for Shelyn or Qi Zhong." Sigurd readies his shield when the team leaves the estate.

Lan has decent Diplomacy, but he would agree that it's easiest just to go to a known shrine.

"Let's spend 15 minutes asking around. Maybe there's a closer one. The farther we go, the more likely we'll be ambushed by more of those jinkins. Or worse." If nothing better turns up in that amount of time, Auntie Wu will recommend heading west to the Abadar Shrine (W3), since it seems to be slightly closer than the other known shrine and doesn't put the team back under Granny Hu's thumb just yet. She wants to rescue the remaining prisoners at the lumber yard and destroy the ritual stakes before heading back to Northside. And Kazuki's mother is probably somewhere in Southside. She can't imagine how wretched he'd feel walking away from any hope of finding her for an indefinite period of time.

Vekka is kicking himself.

I need to erect a proper shrine to Nethys wwhen things calm down. But, it can wait. I agree we should favor the closest shrine.

He agrees with Auntie Wu's suggestion to go with Abadar.

"I'm up for asking around. We could also ask if anyone has seen my mother." Kazuki suggests with a solemn expression.

Deciding against asking around (one hour to attempt), the party decides to quickly head nearby to the Abadar Shrine (W3) to make an attempt to bless their third coin!

Nearly adjacent to Matsuki estate - no checks to navigate / random encounter check!

This darkwood-trimmed shrine houses a 3-foot-tall limestone statue of Abadar that holds a shovel in one hand and a trowel in the other. The statue was reportedly taken to Goka first to ritualistically invite Abadar’s divine blessings at the Grand Bank before being ferried back to Willowshore.

One die roll at this time please - who is going to pray?

Abadar seems kind of down Lan's alley, and he takes Diplomacy, which at +9, is tied with Auntie Wu's Religion, so Lan will give it a shot.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Will Hero Point a Failure or Critical Failure (since Failure carries penalties as well, assuming it works the same as other Invoke Blessings)

Um, hey there, Abadar Xiansheng. It's me, Ho Lan. I don't pray much, but we're kind of in a jam. There's something attacking the town, and we kind of need to light this lantern, and, I guess what I'm saying is that we would really appreciate it if you'd bless this coin for us. I guess I could leave an extra coin or two here, if that'd be okay with you?

Lan puts a gold piece on the shrine, unsure of what to do or what will happen next.

Hehe. Does Lan say that prayer out loud or just to himself standing at the shrine.

Vekka watches Lan solemnly from behind. He doesn't find Abadar particularly inspiring, but he appreciates that there are some who find comfort and reflection in that god.

It depends on how things are set up, but Lan wouldn't want others to hear him, so he'd think it if he could, but if he needed to say it out loud, he'd whisper it as softly as he can get away with.

Inside of Lan's hand, while he whispers his modest prayer (not without some deserved paranoia!), he feels the coin suddenly sprout shank, collar, pin, and wards, growing into a key, and changing it's denominational value from copper to gold - above his eyes, he feels a tingle in his forehead, whereupon looking in his tiny vanity glass, he discovers a keyhole-shaped glyph occupying the spot above his third eye, and granting him insight into the veracity of the words of others, with truthful statements registering as yellowish-orange, and deceitful statements registering as blueish-purple!

Ho Lan Benefits from:
1) The deity's Minor Boon (for a Success to Invoke Blessing)
2) A temporary Focus Spell (and Pool Point) chosen from among Abadar's Domains: Cities, Duty, Earth, Travel, or Wealth (because Area of Concern: wealth)
3) These benefits remain until his next Long Rest

The Shrine hath given it's Blessing - while it remains a Shrine, it is now "tapped" of power for the time being...

And so, while Lan continues to commune with the Master of the First Vault, the rest of the party, having made easy time to arrive here, decides where to go next...

...I am assuming the Eternal Lantern, but I also heard other ideas (Search for Kazuki's mother, etc)... if we reach a quorum of three for the Eternal Lantern, either Auntie Wu or Kazuki please roll a Survival check to get us there!

"Lan? You seem... pensive." Sigurd watches him pray. "Prayer is always a good opportunity to focus inward, on your thoughts."

He looks at the coins. "It looks like we have all we need to relight the Eternal Lantern. Let us make haste."

Abadar warns his favored against those who might unfairly take advantage. Once, when someone rolls a success on a Deception check to Lie maliciously to you and you alone, they get a critical failure instead. Abadar typically chooses to grant this boon in response to an extremely consequential lie.

Lan gasps as his mind is opened to the consequences of lying. Perhaps there are times when I shouldn't be lying, he realizes. It's not as harmless, or as easy as I've been led to believe.

"Let's get to the lantern before any more of these creatures crawl out of the woods."

"Yes. Once the Lantern is lit, everyone will be safer. Then hopefully we can head back to the lumber camp and find Kazuki's mom." Auntie Wu feels time slipping away from them and the ritual approaching too quickly. Who knows how much worse things will get if it is completed?

Quorum reached: One Survival check moves us along!

The lantern and then after hopefully recovering remaining citizens. A community is not whole without its people! Vekka states enthusiastically.

"Off to the lantern. Keep a lookout for danger, everyone."
Survival (E), Sense Direction: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
(+1 Survival in Forest Terrain)

RETURN TO DAWNSTEP BRIDGE

The party treks across town, avoiding any mischief along the way thanks to Kazuki's shortcuts...

...arriving once again to Dawnstep Bridge, with the Eternal Lantern in view, the two-days old remnants of Gurglegut's Trash Throne still intact, as well as his decomposing corpse!

1) Place your Token on the New Map!
2) Who has which Coin? (Shizuru, Pharasma, Abadar)?
3) Describe your approach and what you will do
4) You may include a single Die Roll with your description

Sigurd holds his shield and katana as he approaches the bridge. The smell of the so-called king hits his nose like failure. Kazuki's mother and the prisoners at the camp are still fresh in his mind. Ugly Cute was active. And its sacrifice... we are blessed.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Sigurd looks for danger as he leads the way across the bridge. Assuming he finds nothing wrong, he moves up to the Eternal Lantern. Once the rest of the team is ready, he places the blessed coin of Shizuru inside. "Please, shine upon Willowshore and protect us."

Ugh! That stench is vile. Auntie Wu tries to breathe lightly as she pads alongside Sigurd toward the Eternal Lantern, keeping her eyes on the swivel for any threats.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17

The coin blessed by Pharasma is tucked deep into one of her pockets. Once she's assured that there is no threat and everyone carrying a coin is gathered around the Eternal Lantern, she will pull it out to place it with a small prayer.

Lan has Abadar's coin. He fumbles it in his pocket as he Scouts ahead for dangers.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Vekka follows behind the three with coins at a short distance. It occurs to him that enemies would be very likely to be watching this spot.

He carefully draws his katana and begins scanning the edges of the scene around them. He looks for places someone or something might hide before an ambush.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

"I'll hide in the bushes over there and keep a lookout for danger." Kazuki says quietly before slinking off to the bushes to the northwest. He finds a good spot, draws his bow and scans the area.
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Gurglegut's Nerve!

Kazuki has the sense to hide in the bushes while the rest of the party approaches the Eternal Lantern, coins in hand, and escorted by Vekka...

...As they cross the bridge, the Buso's corpse remains still...

...As they cross the Trash Throne, the Buso's corpse remains still...

...As they approach the Eternal Lantern itself, the clouds suddenly change, and from the sky, a single bolt of lightning strikes the Buso's corpse!

But instead of rising, the Brain bursts forth from it's head, floating independently and still attached to Nerve Endings that too rip themselves from the carcass up and down every limb, forming a tentacular mass of reddish vessels, which reach out to attack the party!

Gurglegut's Brain and Nerve Ending Mass to Initiative: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18

➤➤➤➤➤

GURGLEGUT'S NERVE!

Monster ID: Occultism (DC 22) or Religion (DC 20)
Affixing a Coin into Eternal Lantern (◆◆): From an adjacent square, you may attempt a Religion or Thievery check vs DC 15 to properly affix the coin. If you critically fail, you drop the coin, which rolls in a random direction determined by GM!

➤➤➤➤➤

Sigurd, Kazuki and Lan are Up!

What god would dare stand in the way of- Sigurd keeps his mind on the task.

Shizuru, keep my hand steady and my mind pure.

Religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Pure I say! Pure!

Sigurd almost fumbles the coin.

Do we roll Recall Knowledge checks or do you, GM? Sigurd's Religion is a +7

"Those with coins: focus on the lantern. We will buy you time!"

◆◆ Affixing a Coin into Eternal Lantern
◆ Recall Knowledge

Orange divine light glows dimly at the base of the lantern, stretching faintly in all directions...

...the mangled mass of guts that spurned from the body of Gurglegut turns away from the light, scaldingly, it's luminescence some anathema to the thing's very constitution!

Gurglegut's Brain and Nerve Ending Mass is Sickened 1 while in the light!

◆◆ Affix a Coin (Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Lan attempts to affix his coin, but he's not sure where to place it. At least his shaky fingers didn't drop it.

He shouts at the thing.

◆ Demoralize (Intimidation): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
Intimidating Glare

"Stay back! I know kung fu!"

Whirling on Lan, the "thing" throws tendrils his direction, little sparking nerve endings attached to thin whiplike appendages...

Fail to Recall, Fail to Demoralize

Kazuki!

"What the...!?!" Kazuki's eyes go wide in shock as the brain and spinal cord thing rises.

"Look out! Behind you!!!"
He calls out to warn his friends as they ponder the coin situation.

He marks the thing as his prey as he raises his bow. He lets loose a volley of arrows...

Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 1st increment, deadly d10) vs Target: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 231d8 ⇒ 81d10 ⇒ 7
Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 1st increment, deadly d10) w/ MAP (-3) vs Target: 1d20 + 10 - 3 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 3 = 121d8 ⇒ 71d10 ⇒ 7

Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 1st increment, deadly d10) w/ MAP (-6) vs Target: 1d20 + 10 - 6 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 6 = 171d8 ⇒ 21d10 ⇒ 7

◆ hunt prey (brain).
◆ hunted shot.
◆ strike

Kazuki's first arrow strikes true - right in the left occipital lobe.

AC 20 / sickened, -8 damage

Hosing everyone but Vekka (and Kazuki), a shrill shriek in an inaudible spectra fills the area, silently shattering the eardrums of Auntie Wu, Lan, and Sigurd!

Lan - you do have Cover - but this is not a Reflex save...

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Gurglegut's Brain and Nerve Ending Mass
◆◆◆) Synaptic Overload

Mental Damage (4d8; enchantment, incapacitation LV5, mental, occult) vs Will Save (DC 18 / sickened) w/ Reset (1d4 rounds) vs Auntie Wu, Lan, Sigurd: 4d8 ⇒ (1, 2, 8, 1) = 121d4 ⇒ 1

➤➤➤➤➤

The Party is Up!

Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Will Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 Half Damage, 6 total
The Eternal Lantern's light reminds Sigurd of the sun. Shizuru seems to bless him once more. He channels the blessing into his Katana.

"Go! I'll keep it distracted." Sigurd runs in front of the creature, hoping it doesn't scream like that again...

◆◆ Cast >Runic Weapon< on Sigurd's Katana
◆ Stride (this may provoke a Reactive Strike if the Boss has one.)

Kazuki cringes from the shriek of the brain. Luckily, he's unaffected.

He quickly fires two more arrows against his prey...
Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 1st increment, deadly d10) vs. Target: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 151d8 ⇒ 11d10 ⇒ 10
Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 1st increment, deadly d10) w/ MAP (-3) vs. Target: 1d20 + 10 - 3 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 3 = 201d8 ⇒ 41d10 ⇒ 4

And then takes careful aim with a final shot...
Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 1st increment, deadly d10) w/ MAP (-6) & Hunter's Aim (+2) vs. Target: 1d20 + 10 - 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 10 - 6 + 2 = 221d8 ⇒ 41d10 ⇒ 8

◆ hunted shot.
◆◆ hunter's aim

Still recovering from it's own pulse (1 round until it can do that again), the Brain and Nerve Ending Mass fails to impede Sigurd's advance... (No Reactive Strike)

Kazuki continues to pepper it with arrows, (Hit for -4 and -4 again), pig-sticking the Parietal Lobe twice!

(AC 20 / sickened, and -16 damage total)

➤➤➤➤➤

Auntie Wu, Lan and Vekka are Up!

Will DC 18: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
No hero point.

"Uh-uh-uhhgh..." Auntie Wu is stunned for a few seconds, unable to do anything for a bit. With a shuddering breath, she finally is able to force herself to place her blessed coin in the Eternal Lantern.

Religion DC 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

That task accomplished, she turns toward the brain with a glare. "I have just the spell for that thing." Her voice drips with contemptuous venom.

◆ Stunned 1, ◆◆ Affix Coin

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 vs DC 18

Lan is stunned ◆, but tries to affix the coin ◆◆ again!

Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 vs DC 15

"Everyone be quiet! I need to concentrate."

Auntie Wu or Sigurd: feel free to take the coin from Lan and attempt, since you have better Religion modifiers.

Deeper Orange divine light glows dimly at the base of the lantern, stretching somewhat brightly in all directions...

...the mangled mass of guts that spurned from the body of Gurglegut turns further away from the light, scaldingly, it's luminescence again some anathema to the thing's very constitution!

Gurglegut's Brain and Nerve Ending Mass is now Sickened 2 while in the light!

Vekka!

The shriek, despite not directly affecting him, makes Vekka wince.

That was too close and it looks like it really got to them...

Gripping his katana he takes a deep breath before he beats a spell drum at his back and begins to recite multiple sequences of draconic.

First, an extra glow of blue power comes over his blade. Second, he closes his eyes, looks down and phases out of existing. Re-appearing behind the brain (across from Sigurd) he thrusts his katana at it.

◆◆ Cast a spell: runic weapon on katana
◆ Cast a spell: dimensional assault

Strike: +1 katana attack (flanking), slashing damage (one-handed, runic weapon): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 162d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 5) + 4 = 15
deadly damage IFF crit: 1d8 ⇒ 3 but, lol, no way

Two katanas glow - but Vekka teleporting strike falls short.

The Thing throws a peeper on Kazuki and focuses on Lan!

Accelerating Inquest (Occultism w/ +2) w/ Sick (-2) vs Kazuki (Will DC 19): 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 2 - 2 = 21 (Learns +2 AC vs Kazuki's strike 1-rnd, and Steps)

A long peeper touches Kazuki's brain - for a moment, they share minds! Kazuki witnesses Gurglegut's life flash before him in an instant - and the Thing learns how Kazuki shoots, anticipating his next round of fire!

◆) Accelerating Inquest (AC boost plus Step)
◆) Stride w/ Float
◆) Strike
~) Synaptic Overload @ 0 rounds reset

Nerve Ending (agile, electricity) w/ Sick (-2) vs Lan (AC 18): 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 15 - 2 = 152d8 + 5 ⇒ (8, 5) + 5 = 18
Involuntary Reaction to Reflex Save w/ Sick (-2 DC) or Lose Reactions DC: 22 - 2 = 20

Lashing out with it's tentacular nerve, it narrowly misses Lan as he tries to get his coin inserted in the slot!

➤➤➤➤➤

GURGLEGUT'S NERVE!

Monster ID: Occultism (DC 22) or Religion (DC 20)
Affixing a Coin into Eternal Lantern (◆◆): From an adjacent square, you may attempt a Religion or Thievery check vs DC 15 to properly affix the coin. If you critically fail, you drop the coin, which rolls in a random direction determined by GM!

Sigurd w/ Runic Katana @ -6
Kazuki w/ Hunting but mind Soft Cover
Lan w/ Coin @ -12

Gurglegut's Brain and Nerve Ending Mass (AC 21) w/ Sick 2 (Lantern) @ -16 arrows @ +2 AC vs Kazuki @ Overload reset 0

Auntie Wu @ -12
Vekka w/ Runic Katana

➤➤➤➤➤

The Party is Up!

"Do not fear, Lan!" Sigurd readies his katana. "Shizuru and Abadar believe in you. You put your faith in the Sun, and she will continue to aid you."

Katana, Runic Weapon: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 = 11

Speaking of focusing, Sigurd realizes he should take that advice.
Katana, Runic Weapon, MAP: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 - 5 = 15

A shame. With his aim off, he resorts to a magical strike. His hand glows with the searing light of the sun as he reaches out to touch the thing.

Void Damage: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Cast >Harm< as a 2nd Rank spell. Basic Fortitude DC 17 reduces damage.

...somewhere in the background of the Firmament, Lan feels the Fair and Just smile of Abadar against his back, the coin in his hand shifting from gold to platinum...

The Thing is too quick for Sigurd's spell!

With nerve endings probing outward, it slithers through the air and chases Lan, bearer of the platinum coin!

Sigurd - Thing is out of touch range - go ahead and redo 3rd action...

Sigurd would love to choke the thing but it ran away. So he gives chase and Strides after it!

Huh, it's much farther away than he realized. Sigurd makes a note to switch to his bow if this thing runs again.

He takes a careful Step to get close to it and then swings. "Leave Lan alone, abomination! The gods will us as victors today!"

Katana, Runic Weapon: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 20
Slashing, Runic Weapon: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 3 = 10

◆ Stride
◆ Step
◆ Strike

Sigurd slashes off a few nerve endings… the high frequency scream the Thing makes is inaudible, but rattles the eardrum nonetheless!

Weakness 3 to Slashing for -29 damage total so far

Vekka hustles off of the junk heap and circles around behind his companions. Finally arriving at Sigurd's side, he has a clear view of the brain-creature.

◆ Stride
◆ Stride

He braces himself for another scream, but he knows they need to keep it away from Lan for a moment.

Over here! he shouts before slashing at it.

◆ Strike: +1 katana attack, slashing damage (one-handed, runic weapon): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 212d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9
deadly damage IFF crit: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Vekka too slashes off a few nerve endings… another high frequency scream the Thing makes rattles the eardrums!

Weakness 3 to Slashing for -41 damage total so far, bloodying it.

Auntie Wu, Lan and Kazuki!