(#B-21) "Against the Unliving" w/ QM rainzax (Inactive)

Game Master rainzax

The squire of a long-dead knight asks for the help of heroes in investigating the site of their master’s death. A bleak island awaits the heroes, now inhabited by the dead and undead alike. It’s up to the PCs to retrieve mementos of lost knights and lay to rest any lingering spirits on the island.

Gameplay

Jaehaera is an elf with a heavy Kaer Maga accent. She spent a few years working for the Shadow Lodge in the City of Strangers. Now with that organization kaput, she's been slowly examining the Pathfinder Society and trying to filter out every bit of corruption she can find.

A lithe, young elven woman with a fur-lined cloak, heavier than one expects in these parts, approaches. She has a pack over one shoulder and a longbow over the other and they both drop down in a fluid motion as she discards the thick coat, as if squarely completing the transition from a much colder place. Underneath is nondescript hide and breeches of earthy tones. Her complexion is overly pale, even for an elf. Most interestingly, an intricate pattern of tattoos can now be seen reaching from her forearms to just where her hands meet her wrists. Sleeves hide where they begin. Her blond hair is always tied back and out of her way.

She moves very deliberately and swiftly, while her at-rest stance is of someone about to break into a sprint. She's always "on her toes."

The adventure begins in Caliphas, where the PCs have been staying for the past few days. While perusing job boards, the adventurers come across a tattered and rain-stained bounty pinned on top of fresh ones.

Please introduce yourselves, if you haven't already, and describe your journey to Caliphas!

In addition to her name, if asked about the heavier coat she discarded she will explain she got downtime in the colds of Irrisen, at her woodland hometown. She grew up as a scout there, watching the surrounding outlands for marauding goblins and honing her longbow proficiency.

Not trained in any of those Lores.

A young human woman with long, dark-blonde hair reads the board. Her blue eyes have an unfocused look, as if she’s looking past (through?) everything. She wears a simple brown dress with a black hooded cloak. A red and black spider is perched on her head. Another spider, halfling-sized, brown with a silver chevron on its thorax, walks beside her.

”Flory Buntzer”, she says with a curtsy. ”These are my cohort, Lady Gwendolyn and Sir Miles” The two spiders bow.

She peers at the knight’s bounty.

”I hope the weather has improved since then”, she adds.

Lores are +4, Untrained. Religion & Gather Info +1

Jaehaera, if this is a Recall Knowledge check, has the lores at +7, thanks to Keen Recollection. Religion at a +3. Diplomacy to Gather Information at a +8. I don't think I have enough to make something my lead.

With the cold rain coming down, Jaehaera's face can be barely seen from under her hat. She was investigating a series of trades between Venture Captain Balentiir and Dr. Linas. But she needed cash to sustain her investigation. This looked like steady work, and she wasn't afraid of some undead.

A goblin with a gun steps in.

"Sorry for being a little late. I hear there's a task to be done."

Apologies for the delay. Not trained in any of those.

➤➤➤➤➤ ➤➤➤➤➤

The party make their way to Elderberry Cellar, where the innkeeper points them to a private suite upstairs at the end of the corridor. As the group approaches the room, a muffled explosion occurs and the door marked of the appropriate number.

As the group knocks, a smoky and disheveled Chelaxian man in his late twenties appears.

"Sorry!" he smiles seedily "I'll keep it down - no property damage" he must mistake you for the innkeeper...

Crafting: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

Squeg tries to figure what's up.

Crafting: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Endra frowns and cocks her head to one side.

So many questions. Sir we are not the management. We are Pathfinders. Are you... the master innkeeper?

Which is who I thought we were supposed to meet with.

Endra frowns and cocks her head to one side.

So many questions. Sir we are not the management. We are Pathfinders. Are you... the master innkeeper?

Which is who I thought we were supposed to meet with.

”Or perhaps the knight in question?”, asks Flory.

"Knight? Oh yes, that is me. In question? Well, I suppose it depends who is asking what..." he looks away "I am Timitheo Ralovon of Lastwall. You must have read my Bounty. I..." he trails off a moment, recovers "I am conducting an Investigation... please, come inside..."

Inside.

"My old mentor and my colleagues got lost near Lake Encarthan, and, I'm thinking they probably got stuck. So..." another trail off "So, I need recruits to go rescue them: Will you go?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Seek: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

”The knight of questions”, Flory says dreamily. ”The first: Will you be joining us, brave champion?”

”I will remain here in case they return by a circuitous route” the knight evades ”My money is good though, you can trust to that” he negotiates.

Please take the time to declare your Daily Preparations!

DC16 Sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
DC16 Seek: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

I suppose someone else in your charge could stay in case they return. We might make use of your valuable knowledge of their mission if you could find a way to join us.

She notices his hand...

"Got stuck..." it seems you may have a notion of what happened to them. Mind filling us in?

Timitheo Ralovon of Lastwall explains “I... keep having nightmares. In my dreams, they were all... dead, but moving toward me. I could never lift my sword against them. It’s too much. I can’t handle... If this is real, please, end their suffering.”

0/3 Daily Preparations

”You are haunted by them”, Flory declares. ”Alive or undead, here or there. We can help you, but if you don’t see to it, they will keep haunting you, long after they’re gone”

Endra has no specific preparations to make.

ANCHOR POST ("Favorite" this informational post so you can return to it easily!)

Endra dons her armor and readies her weapons...

1/3 Daily Preparations

Nodding morosely to Flory, Timitheo goes on to describe his 5 teammates, using the past tense accidentally or perhaps purposely, fearing that none survived:

Flory takes a healing potion

”You should see them again, whether for camaraderie or closure”, she says. ”A knight’s true strength comes from their heart, not their blade”

I know the pre-remaster rules, Bounties, you didn't get the school items, but I guess I don't know how it works with new thing that's replacing the schools. Anyways, Jaehaera doesn't have any choices to make in her daily preparations like spells or anything else.

1d5 ⇒ 5

Jaehaera will ask some more basic biographical questions about Averlace, making her the lead on the investigation.

Interesting. What is this elixir that Falckre employed?

2/3 Daily Preparations (Flory is a prepared caster!)

"Those are for blowing up undead creatures without damaging structures" Timitheo replies.

Was referring to:

Falckre suffered from chronic back pain and managed it with a special elixir.

"Special admixture" in response to Endra's question.

Timitheo arranges a boat, the Faithful Return, to take the PCs most of the way. The PCs should therefore prepare to leave Caliphas early the next morning. The ship has its own security so the PCs can rest at night, though they’re welcome to help keep watch—the captain mentions that "This island is cursed!". Indeed, a strange gray fog soon rolls in, blanketing the island ahead. As a result, for those whose eyes can see well in starlight, it may be both safer and easier to venture on to the island at night.

Once the island comes into view, the captain drops anchor and provides two rowboats for travel. Having scouted the island from a distance before under the starlight, she suggests the party approach the island from the west and disembark on the northern shore.

During the night, the moon and starlight are the primary light sources, blanketing the island in dim light. For creatures without low-light vision or darkvision, everything has the concealed condition.

But! Conditions during the day are even worse; the fog gives all of the PCs the concealed condition unless they have means to see through it. If the PCs choose to brave the island during the day, they occasionally catch glimpses of eerie figures in the fog.

"When should we take you in?" the captain asks the party.

Day or Night?
Special preparations for your decision?

Cursed...?!

Oh... probably just sailors' superstitions.

--------------------

From the rowboat, Endra weighs in. Maybe travel by night is better. The moonlight cuts through the fog nicely.

Cursed...?!

Oh... probably just sailors' superstitions.

--------------------

From the rowboat, Endra weighs in. Maybe travel by night is better. The moonlight cuts through the fog nicely.

”Agreed. And so prettily when it does”, Flory replies.

FOLLOW THE RABBIT

Ashore now in the dead of night, you notice a white rabbit with glowing red eyes resting on the beach. It raises it's ears to perceive you, and wriggling it's whiskers, approaches 10 feet before stopping, sitting back on it's haunches, and facing you erect.

To Do:
1) Place your Token on the Map in the Box
2) What is your Vision and Light situation?
3) What will be your Default Exploration Tactic?
4) Please give me instructions for Ezren answering the above questions too

”Ah, a herald”, says Flory. Facing the rabbit, she curtsies.

”Greetings! We are an envoy, looking for our lost friends. Have you seen others like us?”

Jaehaera has low light, and won't be carrying a torch or light, Jaehaera will be investigating, and I think Ezren should too. Ezren can carry a torch, right?

"I imagine this is the rabbit of that Dorenea!" After a moment's consideration, she continues, "Or possibly a descendant of that rabbit. They breed prodigiously."

The rabbit awaits a command. Perhaps it will be our pet now?

low-light vision; Avoid Notice (Stealth +9)

White Rabbit starts thumping it's leg...

Flory, what is your Vision and Light situation and Default Exploration Tactic?

It seems that dancing lights is no longer a thing, so Flory will have a light spell follow her around, as she has normal human vision.

Her cloak continually billows as she travels, regardless of the wind (Cast a Spell: shield)

Flory tilts her head at the rabbit’s thumping. ”Is there danger? Can you show us where?”

Make an Impression: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7

Endra leans down and tries to motion for the rabbit to approach. She hopes to signal that the group is friendly.

Make an impression, Diplomacy (untrained, but with Nature!): 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5 yeesh

She must have something in her teeth that looks like rabbit meat.

Gunna wait to hear from Jaehaera before moving on...

The bunny startles at Endra, poises suddenly, as if to run...

The elven investigator lowers herself onto the balls of her feet, "Wait, wait, little one, do you know Dorenea?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

White Rabbit hops up to Jaehaera, and with her paws, scrapes 7 figures into the sand - 5 with two legs and 2 with four legs - and hopping in place, suddenly bounds off!...

White Rabbit runs to Area "A3" on the Map(s):
1) Do you follow the White Rabbit? Which way around the rocks (SE or NE)?
2) If not, where on the island to explore? (Two maps, one zoomed in, one zoomed out)
3) Keep the same Exploration Mode?
4) Something else?

Endra scratches her head.

Should we follow it or is it a trap? I'm thinking trap... but it's possible those we are looking for fell into it.

She sighs audibly, resigned to the likelihood that they'll need to follow the rabbit to confirm or deny this conclusion.

Vote to follow, but very cautiously.

"Yes, I think that's likely." Jaehaera said, "Lets keep a careful eye out."

I say follow, Southeast of the rock, and we all switch to "Searching" for exploration

”Come into my parlor…”, Flory muses, as she follows Jaehaera.

Sticking with Cast a Spell: shield

Need a quorum of two for direction...

Need a quorum of two for direction...

Jaehaera and I are going SE

Endra agrees on direction and also shifts to searching instead of avoiding notice.

The party, under cloud of night, moves carefully through the fog, alert on high, expecting at any moment to fog itself to jump out at them!

Players - go ahead and roll your Search (Perception) checks (vs DC 23), and move your Tokens (plus Ezren) correspondingly on the Map!

Search (DC23 Perception): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 so close!

Map on slide 2 or 3? Either way I picked a spot on both.

Endra draws her bow and stalks forward cautiously, more concerned with her own observations than remaining quiet.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 (+1 if it relates to Averlace?)

Jaehaera moves forward, blissfully unaware of the danger she's undoubtedly in. She does have her spiked chain out.

I also moved Ezren? Do you want us to roll for him too?

Players - go ahead and roll your Search (Perception) checks (vs DC 23), and move your Tokens (plus Ezren) correspondingly on the Map!

Bump