GM miteke - Wardens of Sulfur Gulch (Outpost VII) (Inactive)

Game Master miteke

Reesa was letting the others take the task of communicating with Isirah. Reesa did have the ability to cast a slight bit of positive energy, but she held off until the others were certain they wanted to try and disrupt the haunt.

Are there any signs of human remains around here, or anything that looks like it could be related to someone who has died here? I guess it's probably hard to tell due to the gas, but are we able to get part of the party to lure the cloud away so we can get a better look at the area?.

No such luck.

Options:
Kill cameras
kill haunt with positive energy
Stick around to see what happens
Take one of the 4 passages (including the one headed back into the room you just came from.

Which is it to be?

Nikita shakes his head thoughtfully. Ee svorye ee voahldn't lyet any tyechnology gyet oaht ofgyerye. Baht zeees... Eet's not tyechnology, eet's leeveeng pyerson trappyed een zeees sahbjyect... Somyezeeeng leekye volahntary cahrsye chosyen for zeye sakye of salvateeon. Ee zeeenk vye can makye yexcyepteeon for gyer sakye... eef vye can't ryelyeasye gyer yearleeyer reeght gyerye, vheech voahld bye pyerfyect.

By the way, really Nikita doesn't let anyone collect technological items and hide them in their belongings. But! You can try to do it covertly (Slight of Hands, Stealth) - this paladin is not too observant.

_____

Ee veell try to nyeahtraleezye zeees gaahnt veeze my povyer. Eet vas not for nozeeeng zeat aftyer Ee yentyeryed zeees strangye vorld, Ee svorye allyegeeancye to Ragateeyel, vho so ryemeendyed mye of dyear comradye Trotsky, ahndyer vhom Ee syervyed! Eet's teemye to apply zeyesye povyers!

Can I use LoH on it?

Will Reese’s heavenly fire ability count as positive energy, since it does heal good creatures?

Ingrge swears as he misses…he fires at that camera again with another adamantine arrow…

To Hit: Dex+Base, Magic, Weapon Focus, Precise Shot, Deadeye Bowman, Point Blank Master, Deadly Aim
Damage: Strength, Magic, Deadly Aim

Magic Longbow: 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 15 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 33
Miss<=50: 1d100 ⇒ 58
Magic/Adamantine Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 3 + 4 = 14

"Thinking about these 'cameras', one option if we don't want them watching us would be to cover their 'eyes' with something while we work out who or what is controlling them and why. we could maybe use some cloth, or I have some alchemical grease which we could smear on their 'eyes' to temporarily blind them." observers Farrokh.

Was there any likely cloth in the other room and do I think that spreading alchemical grease on the front of the cameras could be used to temporarily blind them?

Cloudkill block visions like Fog Cloud already.
"Elu believes that the camera saw us first, then release the poison gas. There's no point blocking it now as the haunt already know that we're here. Elu thinks we should keep moving."
Sleight of Hand vs Paladin: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

"Oh, I agree that who or what is controlling the cameras already knows we are here. It was offered more as an alternative to shooting at them."

Can I use LoH on it?

I'm going to say yes.

Will Reese’s heavenly fire ability count as positive energy, since it does heal good creatures?

Yes.

Ingre hits this time and takes out the camera. The cloud stops moving around and trying to include you all in its noxious area. Which seems to suggest the camera can see through the cloud. It also seems that the haunt was affected in other ways as it looks a bit weakened.

Was there any likely cloth in the other room and do I think that spreading alchemical grease on the front of the cameras could be used to temporarily blind them?

I'm all for creative solutions and that would work.

Farrokh, moves into line of sight of one of the other cameras covering the junction to see if the cloud starts following him again. He then slips back out of view and covers the camera with his waterproof bag to investigate how blinding the camera will impact on the situation. Walking back into the area which had been monitored by the camera, he checks if blinding the camera had any effect.

Farokh's experiment has no effect on the haunt, perhaps because the camera is pointing down another corridor, or perhaps because it was not destroyed. Which camera did you blind?

I’ll blind the one looking along the corridor heading north.

Reesa expensive two uses of her heavenly fire ability, trying to see if it’s positive energy could put the poor thing out of its misery.

Two uses 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 4) + 8 = 16

LoH: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 1) = 17 LoH: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 5, 2) = 16
In general, I am ready to repeat until I "cure" this haunt .)

Reesa expensive two uses of her heavenly fire ability, trying to see if it’s positive energy could put the poor thing out of its misery.

I believe it is a standard action and you may only expend one use at a time. Please correct me if I am wrong and explain. In any case, even with a single charge...

Ressa's heavenly fire descends on the cloud and as it is destroyed several ghostly images are visible: a number of ephemeral robots march into the eastern corridor from the north hall. The PCs can easily recognize these as the robots they fought in area A. A PC who succeeds at a DC 15 perception check detects a faint breeze from the western corridor (SOMEONE is going to make that roll so I'm not going to bother spoilering it.).

Isirah is a bit disturbed. "Wha... What was THAT!?"

@Nikita
You can save your LoH for another time.

You are right, GM. I posted I would use it twice, just assuming it would take two rounds. Didnt think one use would be very effective, to be honest.l

"Nicely done Reesa." say Farrokh. "Now that's been dealt with, does anyone have a preference of where to go next? Isirah, do you know where any of these passages lead?"

You are right, GM. I posted I would use it twice, just assuming it would take two rounds. Didnt think one use would be very effective, to be honest.

The destruction of the camera seemed to weaken it and your heavenly fire put it over the top.

Isirah seems a bit distracted, still lost in thought about the weird cloud with robots in it. But eventually she does answer.

"I really don't remember. It looks familiar like I've been here before, but ... I'm as curious as you, perhaps even more to see what is around the next corner."

Rule of two. As soon as I get two players that agree on a direction, I'll send the party on their way. Also, you can respond to Isirah's concerns if you want to RP.

[b]”How about we head toward the left most passage and see where that takes us,” Reesa suggests.

Elu is fine with whatever direction the team decides. If they all lead to unknown, then Elu thinks that they're equally viable options.

Based on what we've discovered so far, I think we know the following about the remaining exits from the junction: Left goes another 15 feet before reaching a section of corridor which has been crushed shut; Straight on has a faint breeze coming from it; Right is no longer being watched by a camera as Farrokh covered it with a bag.

"Left looks in bad shape, but its definitely worth giving it a quick check." agrees Farrokh.

"Isirah, you seemed a bit shocked back when the haunt was destroyed, was there something that worried you? Was it something to do with those mechanical creatures?"

"What is a haunt? I've never seen such a thing. How can robots become mist, and why was the mist trying to attack us. you know, I seem to remember some of the people in that mist. They were good folks and it looked like they were dying all over again. Why?"

When you head south, she remarks, "This used to be a way on and off the... vessel! Yes! I remember! This was a starship once upon a time, and we used to use this corridor to disembark and enter new places. Those people in the mist were part of the maintenance crew. Poor Ardney. He was always afraid of suffocating from vacuum exposure. This would have been worse."

Oddly, though her words seem sad, and her forehead wrinkles, her tone does not convey a lot of emotion.

The way south is a dead end, unless you spend a heck of a lot of time or magic on clearing the way.

Farrokh considers Isirah's question "I suppose a haunt is like the echo of a tragedy. The anguish of those who suffered being twisted and lashing out at the living. There are ways to temporarily bring them relief, such as the application of positive energy, but to truly alleviate their anguish typically requires the identification and removal of its source. Looking around the source of this haunt's troubles is not apparent to me, but perhaps it will become obvious as we explore further?"

"Any preference on where we should investigate next? Also, Isirah, you mentioned this was a 'starship', what can you tell us about those?"

It's a ship. It is used to travel through space. I don't understand. Do you not travel to other planets? Are you isolated to your one planet?"

She looks a bit mortified by the thought.

"I had hoped, when I met you, that you would be my ticket... I was going to say home, but I'm not sure I have one. Ticket to space then."

Ee don't knov anyzeeeng aboaht spacye, baht Ee'm sahrye yoah shoahld gyet oaht of zeees placye. And vye veellgyelp yoah.

"As my comrade says, well do our best to help you. There are definitely magics which can allow you to travel long distances and also travel between planes if necessary, so maybe those could help?"

"Magics. What are these magics and how do they work. Are they nuclear powered or do they use fossil fuels?"

Do you walk while you talk, and if so in which direction?

Shonne heads right from her current position (north) and doesn't talk at all. She uses the light from her flaming spear to see by.

Farrokh follows Shonne north continuing his conversation with Isirah as they head back to the junction. "There are a few different types of magic, I'm a practitioner of arcane magic, like the spell I triggered from that wand earlier. But there are also other types of magic, like divine magic granted by the gods."

As they pass the junction he attempts to keep his voice down and an eye out for any trouble up ahead.

Farrokh will also recast the message spell on everyone (he will keep renewing it whenever it goes down). Out of interest does Isirah count as a creature for the purpose of the message spell, if so he will also cast it on her if she is willing?

"Well, that's interesting. Magic has types, but what is it? How is it powered? Is it powered?"

Yes, message works on creatures and creatures include constructs and, in contradiction to their knowledge category, a robot is a subtype of constructs.

You reach a large chamber, which is laid out like an auditorium, with rows of seats pointed toward a large pane of black glass set into the curving northern wall. The area contains two cameras in addition to the above and has several large vents. There are panels adjacent to each of the doors.

"Finally something that's not hallways." Elu takes out wand and put Shield and Heighten Awareness up.

"That's a big question." the wizard replies to Isirah. "I suppose it is like a pervasive energy which can be brought into focus as spells."

When it becomes apparent that the party are approaching a room, Farrokh take's the opportunity to re-apply some of the spells which lapsed while they where searching the area where Isirah was found "Here, I'll give you a demonstration..." (specifically he will re-cast, shield, mirror image and monstrous physique I (gargoyle)).

Mirror images: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

"Do you recognise anything about this place up ahead?" he enquires via the message spell as they approach the large chamber.

Ingrge, bow drawn, checks out the chamber…

Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (20) + 25 = 45

Ingrge, bow drawn, checks out the chamber…

Shonne allows Ingrge to pass her. She waits by the door patiently to allow the half-human to human-splain anything he thinks he might have found.

"Yes, I think it is a briefing room. I can help you with identifying things and even using them."

Isirah can verbally guide others through technological tasks. She can grant a PC the benefits of her Technologist feat for the purpose of performing physical tasks, but the action takes twice as long to complete; tasks that require a standard action instead take a full-round action.

@Ingrge
Do you actually go into the room, or are you checking it out from outside the room?

Isirah is extremely interested in the spell casting. Her fingers twitch in response to the gestures, and her mouth mimes the words spoken.

"Oh, I see patterns. The gestures you use are different, yet similar when you start a new spell. Some are shared and some very different."

Ee sahggyest vye look aroahnd, vreetye dovn yevyeryzeeeng and ryedrav eet, baht do not takye anyzeeeng veeze ahs, byecaahsye vye gavye oahr vord! (says paladin with perception +0)

Engineering : 1d20 + 15 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 15 + 10 = 27 - Exploring local technologies under the guidance of our new tech friend.

I’ll go inside the room…but I’ll add a Stealth check to my earlier Perception (45) roll

Stealth: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (10) + 24 = 34

Isirah starts to explain, the access panel, the vents where the gasses have been coming from, and the black glass on the far wall which she calls a monitor (clearly a misnomer since it displays images and does not monitor squat, you find out), when it blinks into life. It quickly resolves into the image of a dark-skinned woman surrounded by clouds of yellow-green smoke. Her gaze is cruel and imperious (slide 6), and she exhales poison gas with every breath. “Natives.” Her voice is hollow and cold. “Lay down your weapons and surrender, and perhaps I will permit you to live.”

Farrokh raises an inquisitive eyebrow at the new development, before stepping forward and bowing politely. "Apologies, we didn't mean to disturb you. We are explorers, sent to investigate this place. I am Farrokh, may I ask who you are and why you wish us to surrender?"

Elf is not Golarion native...we're from Sovyrian.
Elu watches the female figure's talking to the REAL Golarion natives with great interest.

"Who am I? Why Isirah Tanner... among others."

Indeed in the mist that surrounds her features seen to form momentarily, teasing you before vanishing.

"And I am waiting for your surrender. The sooner you do so, the better it will go for you."

”I don’t think we are in a position to do that. We’d enjoy conversing with you though. To find out more about each other…”

"What do you plan to do to Elu if Elu surrender? Do you need help? "

She hesitates for a moment before responding. “You are capable, and I lack assistants. You will aid me in creating a body with which to depart this place. What becomes of this place afterward is of no consequence.”

"This is most intriguing." mutters Farrokh.

"Isirah, any idea what this is? Is it another 'AI core'?" he quickly whispers to Isirah in the portable device via the message spell, before directing his attention back the image on the monitor.

sense motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

"It's nice to meet you Isirah Tanner. By 'among others' do you mean to say there are more of you? Do you all need bodies and to what end? Leaving this place may be trickier than just creating a body, perhaps if we knew more about your situation and this facility that could be advantageous to all of us?"

Shonne slowly shifts her stance....

sense motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 + 2 more vs humans

....

Nikita casts the detection of evil on the monitor (yes, I understand ...).

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 +2 vs evil creature’s bluff

Hm. He scratches his chin thoughtfully. Maybye vye coahld gyelp, baht ee von't part veeze zeye vyeapon. Zeees nagan vas geevyen to mye by Lyev Daveedoveech Trotsky pyersonally. Ee veell alvays kyeyep zeees vyeapon veeze mye.

Sense motive 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

“I am all of those who died in the crash. I am many who are one.”

The AI looks a bit shocked. "I have no idea what that is. It looks a lot like me."

Hearing the voice, the Isirah on the monitor looks a bit shocked before before gesturing dismissively. “I tried to save a copy of myself on that device. But as you can see... the real me is quite intact.”