NG (male) human thaumaturge 2 | HP 28/28 | AC 19 (+1 with shield) | F +7 R +5 W +6 | Perc +6 (E) | 25’ | focus points 0/1 | hero points 0/3 | Exploration: Scout | Active Conditions:
Yuan Wu grunts in pain as the acid covers his exposes skin and starts eating in. Choosing to ignore the acid for now, he turns his attention to the creature that summoned the glob of acid to figure out what manner of monstrosity it might be.
You scour your experiences and learning to identify something that might repel your foe. You retrieve an object from your esoterica with the appropriate supernatural qualities, then use your implement to stoke the remnants of its power into a blaze. Select a creature you can see and attempt an Esoteric Lore check against a standard DC for its level, as you retrieve the right object from your esoterica and use your implement to empower it. You gain the following effects until you Exploit Vulnerabilities again
Critical Success You remember the creature's weaknesses, and as you empower your esoterica, you have a flash of insight that grants even more knowledge about the creature. You learn all of the creature's resistances, weaknesses, and immunities, including the amounts of the resistances and weaknesses and any unusual weaknesses or vulnerabilities, such as what spells will pass through a golem's antimagic. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis (see below). Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Success You recall an important fact about the creature, learning its highest weakness (or one of its highest weaknesses, if it has multiple with the same value) but not its other weaknesses, resistances, or immunities. You can exploit either the creature's mortal weakness or personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Failure Failing to recall a salient weakness about the creature, you instead attempt to exploit a more personal vulnerability. You can exploit only the creature's personal antithesis. Your unarmed and weapon Strikes against the creature also become magical if they weren't already.
Critical Failure You couldn't remember the right object to use and become distracted while you rummage through your esoterica. You become flat-footed until the beginning of your next turn.
(That's likely a fail, so only personal antithesis, i.e. gain weakness 3 vs my attacks. Also, Yuan Wu has Diverse Lore, essentially allowing a free Recall Knowledge, in the off chance that he succeeded. :P)
Diverse Lore:
...
Additionally, when you succeed at your check to Exploit a Vulnerability, compare the result of your Esoteric Lore check to the DC to Recall Knowledge for that creature; if that number would be a success or a critical success, you gain information as if you had succeeded at the Recall Knowledge check.
Yuan Wu strives to keep calm despite his repeated failures, as he moves forward, coating his weapon with marble powder which he postulates might disrupt its nature. He moves forward, and swings his asp coil at his target, activating the potency crystal attached.
vs red: +1 asp coil, CA, potency crystal:1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 28slashing, implements empowerment:2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3, 6) + 3 + 2 = 14+3 from personal antithesis weakness
◆ Exploit Weakness (Red)
◆ Stride
◆ Strike (red)
The acid on his skin continues to burn...
flat check:1d20 ⇒ 2 with no sign of abating.
Implement's Interruption: If red uses a concentrate, manipulate, or move action, or leaves a square during a move action it's using...:
Yuan Wu grins grimly, as immediately in reaction, he strikes with his asp coil.
vs red: +1 asp coil, CA:1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22slashing, implements empowerment:1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 = 10+3 from personal antithesis weakness
Rose's first shot misses her mark, but her glare certainly frightens it. The next shot goes right through its chest, causing it to drop dead.
So with that we have to direct Yuan Wu's attack...
Yuan Wu doens't recall anything about these creatures. However, his weapon certainly finds the remaining creature and gouges into it.
Hit, but not a crit.
Now the reptilian creature looks far less confident with its companion already down. It looks around the room pitifully.
Soon after Klara's sling bullet crashes into it.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (round 2 of 3)
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
The bold may go
Shayna
------------------
RED -45 (frightened 1)
------------------
Cragorn -4
------------------
BLUE -25
------------------
RRho
Rose -2
Lady Alya -2
Yuan Wu -9 (delayed, 1 persistent acid damage)
Klara's sling bullet is followed by a chunk of debris that Shayna sends speeding at the reptilian creature. It's now looking genuinely frightened.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (round 2 of 3)
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------
The bold may go
Shayna
------------------
RED -45 (frightened 1)
------------------
Cragorn -4
------------------
BLUE -38
------------------
RRho
Rose -2 (guidance)
Lady Alya -2
Yuan Wu -9 (delayed, 1 persistent acid damage)
Shayna notes parts of a torn page stuck to the back of the maelstrom painting, where it had previously been concealed by the frame when it wasn't broken. As she continues to inspect other pictures in the room, more pages of research are found concealed on their back sides within frames. They are all easy enough to remove.
You have recovered one fragment of Alyreha's research!
The western wall also contains a single square painting, 10 feet on each side, labeled “Illusion Garden.” This contains an image of the outdoor garden adjacent to it see map, rather than a creature. It seems as thought you could step through it to reach the garden instead of having to go around the outside of the house. That's it, it's just a shortcut to one location.
NG (male) human thaumaturge 2 | HP 28/28 | AC 19 (+1 with shield) | F +7 R +5 W +6 | Perc +6 (E) | 25’ | focus points 0/1 | hero points 0/3 | Exploration: Scout | Active Conditions:
Anyone has out of combat healing before I break out my scroll of heal?
"Ooh, most fascinating," Yuan Wu exclaims as he studies the painting, drawn to it as a moth to a candle flame.
Just in case, anything pops up with Esoteric Lore (+8) or Diverse Low (+6)?
Esoteric Lore:
a special lore skill that can be used to Recall Knowledge regarding haunts, curses, and creatures of any type
He almost sticks his hand into the painting, but catches himself just before. "I guess we should explore the rest of the house first, though?"
-Ekkhhhm. We should do something with the mess probably.
Nods Klara as she tryin to do something quickly with paintings and other mess... while mates heal up she maintains surroundings so that Lyreha also woldn not upset. And maybe find something interesting, which is possible as you investigate closer.
Rrho now obviously On The Case and probably gonna find a Lead...
Perception:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 Craft to Repair:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Rrho begins mending the frames. In such a short amount time they aren't perfect, but they're more or less back on the paintings, which are back on the wall.
NG (male) human thaumaturge 2 | HP 28/28 | AC 19 (+1 with shield) | F +7 R +5 W +6 | Perc +6 (E) | 25’ | focus points 0/1 | hero points 0/3 | Exploration: Scout | Active Conditions:
Alya, thanks but I believe treat wounds heal 2d8? If GM is ok, I'll just roll here. Alya's treat wounds:2d8 ⇒ (1, 8) = 9
"Thanks a bunch, milady." Yuan Wu grins, whips off his straw hat and gives her bow.
"Now how about the Abjuration Display Room? I must admit I'm keen to see what is displayed."
Alya, thanks but I believe treat wounds heal 2d8? If GM is ok, I'll just roll here.
That's right, and we can take that roll.
The group backtracks only slightly and enters the large room on the East side of the manor. This display room contains numerous magical weapons, jewelry items, tomes, crystals, and other baubles. To the north and south, 8 different cabinets with indentations display 8 separate items, 7 of which are surrounded by a blue orb with lines of electricity running across it. On top of the cabinet furthest to the southeast, a charred and unrecognizable item lies in place of one of the orbs.
Lady Alya De-Quinn, Klara, Yuan:
You recognize these as runes commonly used in shielding and warding spells. Each item can be used to unlock the cabinet door underneath it, given the proper understanding of the wards.
You believe that your knowledge of magical traditions may help you study and understand the nature of each magical ward.
Any of your companions can try these checks once you share the information. Specifically:
Arcana, or slightly harder checks of Nature, Occultism or Religion may be used to recall knowledge.
Alternatively, a somewhat harder Thievery check to Disable a Device can also bypass the wards.
NG (male) human thaumaturge 2 | HP 28/28 | AC 19 (+1 with shield) | F +7 R +5 W +6 | Perc +6 (E) | 25’ | focus points 0/1 | hero points 0/3 | Exploration: Scout | Active Conditions:
Again, curiosity draws Yuan Wu closer to the displays, intent on studying them much closer.
diverse lore (in place of arcana):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Arcane:1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 1 = 14
First Klara carefully investigates warding spells to better understand how to deal. She nods in the process intesively...
Yuan is able to work out one of the wards and open the corresponding cabinet. In it he finds a partial fragment of Alyreha's research. He's quite certain that this piece isn't enough go be useful to her.
One success.
Klara is not quite able to figure out any additional runes.
Round 2 of checks. Those who have already tried are not limited and may try another ward.
Cragorn will try a Thievery check to bypass one of the wards.
Thievery:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12Y'know, a crit fail seems like a Bad Thing [tm]. I VOLUNTEER THIS HERO POINT AS TRIBUTE Thievery:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26better
NG (male) human thaumaturge 2 | HP 28/28 | AC 19 (+1 with shield) | F +7 R +5 W +6 | Perc +6 (E) | 25’ | focus points 0/1 | hero points 0/3 | Exploration: Scout | Active Conditions:
Heartened by his first success, Yuan Wu excitedly moves down to the next ward...
diverse lore (in place of arcana):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Klara starts to hiss and giggle ocasionally as everyone gets zapped although continue the similar approach.
She's already thinks about some basic forms of physical distruction
but pehaps her brain proceeds something?
Arcane:1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 = 26
The halfling analysis wards.
Klara handily disables the party's third ward, recovering yet another scrap of a fragment of Alyreha's research.
Note that every individual may try the knowledge checks at least once against each of the 8 wards (now 5 left) before resorting to risky (and painful) disable device checks. Also note that while there are 8 cabinets, it may not be the case that you have to open all of them ;)
Haha! I heard those zaps! It looks like I didn't do too shabby with the protections around here! Hey! Just... don't leave any bodies in there that I have to clean up later!
You hear the skull shout from the entry room, followed by the now-familiar pattern of teeth-chattering to approximate laughing.
NG (male) human thaumaturge 2 | HP 28/28 | AC 19 (+1 with shield) | F +7 R +5 W +6 | Perc +6 (E) | 25’ | focus points 0/1 | hero points 0/3 | Exploration: Scout | Active Conditions:
Only slightly disheartened that he failed to decrypt the ward, Yuan Wu steps over to the next.
"Don't worry!" he calls back. "We'll clean up after ourselves!"
diverse lore (in place of arcana):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Note that every individual may try the knowledge checks at least once against each of the 8 wards (now 5 left) before resorting to risky (and painful) disable device checks.
If only I had the correct skills, alas. :-D
Cragorn tries another ward, using his talents instead of his knowledge.
Cragorn positions himself in front of the next, squaring himself up with it and wiggling his fingers in light warm-up. His focused talents unlock a fifth ward!
With three left, Klara is able to discern their core workings and undo them careful. You ended up getting all of them anyway :)
With several pieces of text from each of the previously-protected cabinets, the Pathfinders are able to construct what they recognize as a whole fragment of Alyreha's research.
You also notice that, to the North, in addition to one of the final two rooms on the floor there is a passageway to stairs leading up.
Initi +7 | AC 18 |Fort +4, Ref+9, Will+7| Perception +7 /Arcane Sense 30'/ Trap Finder / LLV 120'| Speed 30' | HP 2/3
Noble Rogue/Archetype Bard
As they walk she whispers to Cragorn
"Did you hear the one about the A blind dwarf who walks into a bar, sits down and says: "Do you want to hear a Elf joke?" A voice beside him says: "Before you tell a Elf joke, know that the bartender is a Elf, the guard is a Elf, I am a dwarf and my two companions are Elves. Do you still want to tell your joke?!" The blind dwarf thinks for a moment and then replies: "No!, not if I have to explain it five times."
"Did you hear the one about the A blind dwarf who walks into a bar, sits down and says: "Do you want to hear a Elf joke?" A voice beside him says: "Before you tell a Elf joke, know that the bartender is a Elf, the guard is a Elf, I am a dwarf and my two companions are Elves. Do you still want to tell your joke?!" The blind dwarf thinks for a moment and then replies: "No!, not if I have to explain it five times."
Not bad, Cragorn says with a smirk. I think mebbe you should upgrade your armor, though. All Rogues should wear leather armor, eh? Since it's literally made of hide.
