[PaizoCon] Zero's 5-17: Stranded on Yesterday's Tide (Inactive)

Game Master Super Zero

Ceratophrys attempts to stride through Kaya and ◆ Tumble Through the ooze Tumble Through Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

"Eh!" Evading Caratophrys's attck, Parkit takes a moment to focus. His next spell sends a broken piece of a crate straight up from the ground towards the Pathfinder's face at close range. He still misses.
"It doesn't matter! It doesn't matter what you do!"
◆ Cast true strike. ◆◆ Cast telekinetic projectile spell attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 or spell attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Blainn, Tenimba, and Kaya's turns.
Initiative:
Arjol Parkit (-10, bloodied)
Bláinn
> - a-BOB-mination (protect companion)
Tenimba
Kaya (9/23)
Yellow Cosmic Amoeba (-35, bloodied)
Gnimishmeijinomu
Ceratophrys
Schek (21/26, Frightened 1)

"Take it easy on the fellow in the back, we might need him."

◆ Act Together
- ◆ Protect Companion

◆ Act Together
- ◆ Strike

Glub Drub!: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

◆ Strike

Slime Skewer!: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 4 = 18
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

◆ Strike

Slime Skewer!: 1d20 + 9 - 8 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 8 = 19
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

If Yellow goes down, replace the next action with a Step into its space, then Striking the character with the book nonlethally.

The final ooze bursts under Bob's blow. It steps up and jabs at Parkit as well.
First hit kills Yellow. You also hit Arjol.

"I transcend beyond time!" he says hysterically, "You're going to undo what I've achieved, but you can't interfere anyway!"
His journal sits on the desk in plain sight.

Tenimba, Kaya, Gnimish, Ceratophrys, and Schek's turns.
Initiative:
Arjol Parkit (-17, bloodied)
Bláinn
> - a-BOB-mination (protect companion)
Tenimba
Kaya (9/23)
Gnimishmeijinomu
Ceratophrys
Schek (21/26, Frightened 1)

Tenimba squeezes in, glances at the journal to see if anything is obvious about it without serious study, then attempts to knock Arjol Parkit out with the hilt of her sword.

Wish blade, nonlethal: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 6 - 2 = 16Damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Tenimba knocks Arjol Parkit out with the hilt of her sword.

Party Status:
Bláinn
> - a-BOB-mination (protect companion)
Tenimba
Kaya (9/23)
Gnimishmeijinomu
Ceratophrys
Schek (21/26)

Ceratophrys pulls the rope out of his climbing kit and starts to restrain Parkit. He takes care to tie between his fingers and gag him as well to prevent any casting. Could someone give me a hand who knows ropes better?, he asks i.e. a higher Theivery DC

Tenimba immediately turns her attention to the journal and the other paraphernalia.

Phew, that was close

Schek pulls his grapnel back to him and stows it. "Someone better tie him up." Schek repeats what the grippli just said. Schek has Thievery (U) +4.

He joins Tenimba reading the contents of some journals at plain sight.

Most of the journal is written in Common and describes Arjol’s efforts to investigate the history of a medallion he found among the belongings of his father, a famed occultist. Arjol was working to develop a ritual that would allow him to “see through time” and learn the medallion’s origin.

Judging from the journal entries, Arjol failed to cast the ritual and was traveling to northern Varisia—what is now New Thassilon—to explore ruins there. They also indicate that he planned to retry the ritual soon. These entries correspond to around the time the Tide disappeared, several years ago. The more recent entries are briefer and appear to be written in some sort of cipher.

The last few entries in Arjol’s journal were made after the Tide became stuck in the time-loop. Though they represent years of Arjol’s thoughts, the entries are truncated. Nonetheless, the entries represent Arjol’s cumulative knowledge about the time-loop, as well as a ritual he believed could break the cycle.

A feeling of wrongness still hangs above the Tide like a storm cloud. The Tide will soon be pulled back to the beginning of the time-loop yet again, so the heroes must work quickly if they want to disrupt the cycle!

Deciphering Arjol’s journal requires a character trained in Occultism to make successful Occultism checks to Decipher Writing. Characters trained in Society can do the same, but the DC of the check is increased. As Arjol’s ritual draws from diverse magical traditions, characters trained in Arcana, Nature, or Religion can Aid either of these checks. Each attempt requires an hour of uninterrupted work.

Schek is Untrained in all those skills, unfortunately, and won't Aid.

Once Parkit is properly restrained, perhaps getting some pointers from Schek, Ceratophrys goes to assist in deciphering the text Nature to aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Bláinn tries to see if The Unyielding has anything to say about this situation. It seems like an odd way of never giving up.

Religion, Aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

I believe that's a simple failure now. If it's a critical failure, I will hero point it.

Nature(E), Aid: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

It probably passes, but Ceratophrys' result is higher, if it makes a difference

Gnimish notices Kaya's wounds and attempts to treat them with herbal salves.

Nature(E): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (3, 7) = 10

If the party is at a total loss to decipher the journal, the Grinning Pixie is still standing by. Eras the Needle could probably do it, although the Pathfinders may lose a little face if they need to retreat to the Venture-Captain for assistance.

Although with their help, Parkit may finally be able to get it right--if they can convince him to cooperate.

"The Venture-Captain can do it for them, but the party doesn't get Reputation for the secondary objective if they don't do it themselves," is the backup plan in the text.
It doesn't account for the possibility of taking Parkit alive, though, so I can certainly consider an solution from that angle as a viable alternative.

Ceratophrys wakes up Parkit as above, see spoiler text, and attempts (badly) to coerce him to help.

"You haven't conquered time," growls Tenimba, "you've just trapped yourself here on one tiny ship forever. If you want to impress us, see if you can think of a way to free the ship."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Schek joins them in coercing Arjol. He now assigns him as his prey, giving him a glare that seems to say, 'I will eat you if you do not help us.'

"You help us, or else..." he bares more teeth.

Intimidation to Coerce: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 +2 circumstance bonus from Outwit to his prey, Arjol

Gnimish also tries his hand at coercing Parkit.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

"Doesn't matter if you do," Arjol grumbles to Schek, though he looks a little perturbed, "everything will be reset at the end of the loop. People start over, as long as they weren't taken by the hounds."

Taking up his journal, he says, "I have parts of a solution, but I haven't quite worked it out. The cipher isn't just to keep my notes private although that's part of it, it's because I need everything in shorthand because I have to rewrite everything I've learned every time the loop restarts. Everything goes back to how it was, including my journal. I was already working on it! You're the ones interrupting me."

But he resumes work all the same.
Occultism: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 = 20

After an hour of work, with help from Gnimish, Arjol lights up a little. He's making progress!
But he's also flagging, looking tired. If the Pathfinders can keep him working...

"The hounds and I have an understanding of sorts, but I can't exactly trust them..."

You can keep trying with Intimidation, or perhaps Diplomacy.

"Alright, keep talking." Schek still keeps his intimidating posture.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 +2 circumstance bonus from Outwit to his prey, Arjol

"Tells us more about these hounds. Why they are taking people? Maybe that is the only way to get out of this loop, I don't know. What do they need?" Schek asks a train of questions.

"The hounds!" he says irritably, "The hounds from the Dimension of Time. They're attracted to magic that manipulates time, so they love this ship. They're usually pretty violent about it, but one of them seems fascinated by the ongoing anomaly and has left me alone. I don't trust that, though. They like sharp corners. That's why I filled in all the corners in this room.

"Hm. The crew saw that city that wasn't supposed to be there while I was conducting my original ritual. If that was time magic, then maybe those things happening together..."

"Hounds? What hounds? Tell us what you can about them, and we'll better be able to aid you.

"And if your journal also resets, it's probably best that you keep it up while we can."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"We're trying to help you, but you have to help us. Hang in there, hopefully we can final solve this problem once and for all"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

"What city that wasn't supposed to be there?" Tenimba asks sharply. "Another side effect of your pathetic attempt to conquer time?"

Intimidation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Intimidation with Hero Point: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

I know something of the natural order of things when it comes to magic if I can help. Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8.
If nothing else we can at least be a bulwark against the hounds so you can focus of this fix before time runs out diplomacy: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3

Hero Point Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Knowing he isn't very diplomatic or skilled keeps quiet and does not intervene so he doesn't mess things up.

In total, Arjol's work on the ritual takes several hours. I'll assume you heal up during that time, given that you have a party member with Ocean's Balm and that the undead party member is undamaged.
Anything else you'd like to do during that time? Anyone searching the room irritates Arjol, but make a Perception check.

"I did tell you!" he snaps, "And that's what I've been doing. No, no. It was a city that wasn't there, and then it was there again. Xin-Edasserol, or something. It was legendary, supposedly disappeared before Earthfall. Nothing was supposed to be there, but we saw a city. If that was time magic, it may have corrupted my ritual. I never screwed it up at all!"

"Though... I first saw the hound before that, I think."

Arjol sighs. "You know, if everything resets again, even if I die, that just gives me another week to keep perfecting my original ritual. If you succeed here, you'll ruin all of my work. You're asking me to give up immortality!"

Huffing, he hands over the journal. "I don't think you can fix it. People affected by the loop need to recreate their steps, what they did on the first first day of the loop.

"You'll need the crew to buy in. I couldn't help with that if I wanted to. They don't exactly like me. They've killed me several times, and I've killed them even more! Hmph. They come back anyway, so I've never seen a need to hold back. And I'm sure you'll need to protect them while--"

Speaking of protecting the crew, there's suddenly quite a lot of shouting coming from the deck one level up.

They seem to have annoyedArjol enough to point them toward a solution, so Bláinn rushes up the stairs to see what the commotion is.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Gnimish follows close behind, crossbow in hand, though spells might be more effective...

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Gnimish discovers a medallion pinned to the underside of the desk. It must be the one mentioned in the journal, and Arjol scowls at its discovery. It may hold other mysteries, but for now it is merely a bronz disc marked with an unusual design.

Up one set of stairs, the Pathfinders come across a group of strange creatures attacking crew members, who are retreating to crew quarters. Though quadrupedal, the creatures aren't all that reminiscent of dogs--as as they turn their gaze upon the field agents, they feel an awful feeling of internal churning.

They also don't see entirely... present? They're indistinct around the edges.

The hounds are quicker to react than the party. It snaps its jaws and swipes its claws at Bláinn, though the railing around the staircase hinders it and it fails to hurt him.
The first seems to step into the space between the floor and the crates next to it, and reemerges from the stairs behind the party's ranks!
◆ Limited Angled Entry limit: 1d4 ⇒ 3. ◆ Strike Jaws: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 for piercing damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7. ◆ Strike Claws: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 8 - 4 = 9 for slashing damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3.

The others follow suit, one appearing from the space between the floor and the crates next to Schek and Tenimba, the other next to Bob and Kaya.
The first manages to bite Tenimba and claw at Schek. The other misses its bite, but still catches Kaya with its claws.
◆ Limited Angled Entry limit: 1d4 ⇒ 4. ◆ Strike Schek/Tenimba: 1d2 ⇒ 2 Jaws: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 for piercing damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3. ◆ Strike Claws: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 4 = 22 for slashing damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5.
◆ Limited Angled Entry limit: 1d4 ⇒ 4. ◆ Strike Bob/Kaya: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Jaws: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 for piercing damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8. ◆ Strike Claws: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 4 = 20 for slashing damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5.

Schek and Tenimba's turns. Churning Gaze: Anyone ending their turn within 30 feet of a Hound Echo must make a DC 16 Fortitude save or be Sickened 1 (2 on a critical failure, immunity on a critical success).
Initiative:
Green Hound Echo (No Angled Entry 3 rounds)
Red Hound Echo (No Angled Entry 4 rounds)
Purple Hound Echo (No Angled Entry 4 rounds)
Schek (21/26)
Tenimba (14/17)
Blue Hound Echo
Gnimish
Kaya (18/23)
Ceratophrys
Bláinn

Tenimba aims for Red with a mighty slash and a wave of fire, before pausing as fire continues to glimmer along the sword's length.

2 actions: Spellstrike + Ignition, 1 action to enter Arcane Cascade

Melee attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26Slashing damage: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Spell attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26Fire damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

"Skills like that send shivers down my spine."

Oops, forgot the save.

Fortitude save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Magus is probably the class I'm least familiar with in the game, but I don't think you need to roll your attacks separately. Not that it mattered there. For several reasons.

Tenimba finds that the hound, not entirely physically present, is bit difficult to harm physically. But she slices through it all the same, and it dissipates into smoke.
It has low resistance against physical damage, though that crit for 30 total damage (plus persistent) is more than enough to punch through that and take it out.

Schek's turn. Churning Gaze: Anyone ending their turn within 30 feet of a Hound Echo must make a DC 16 Fortitude save or be Sickened 1 (2 on a critical failure, immunity on a critical success).
Initiative:
Green Hound Echo (No Angled Entry 3 rounds)
Purple Hound Echo (No Angled Entry 4 rounds)
Schek (21/26)
Tenimba (14/17)
Blue Hound Echo
Gnimish
Kaya (18/23)
Ceratophrys
Bláinn

DC 16 Fortitude save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Hero Point! DC 16 Fortitude save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Schek pulls out his grapnel and assigns Green as his prey. He then throws it at the creature!

"Gnimish, duck!"

+1 Combat Grapnel (Finesse, Grapple, Tethered, Thrown 20 ft, Uncommon): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 P damage

"Spread out! Don't let them stay at sharp corners! These may be the hounds Arjol is talking about." he advises them after remembering Arjol's words about them.

◆ Interact to draw weapon
◆ Hunt Prey (Green)
◆ Strike

Schek disregards the Churning Gaze entirely! He also hits one of them with his grapnel, though it doesn't seem quite as effective as he might have hoped.
That hits, but it does have a little resistance.

The final hound, focuses its gaze on Tenimba and works a spell. She feels as though everything around her seems to be almost speeding up.
It the emerges onto the stairs leading up to the next deck, flanking Gnimish (though awkwardly, as nobody there is on the same level).
◆◆ Cast slow on Tenimba, DC 19. ◆ Limited Angled Entry limit: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Gnimish, Kaya, Ceratophrys, and Bláinn's turns. Churning Gaze: Anyone ending their turn within 30 feet of a Hound Echo must make a DC 16 Fortitude save or be Sickened 1 (2 on a critical failure, immunity on a critical success).
Initiative:
Green Hound Echo (-3, No Angled Entry 3 rounds)
Purple Hound Echo (No Angled Entry 4 rounds)
Schek (21/26, immune to Churning Gaze)
Tenimba (14/17, DC 19 Fort against slow)
Blue Hound Echo (No Angled Entry 3 rounds)
Gnimish
Kaya (18/23)
Ceratophrys
Bláinn

"QUACK!" Gnimish yells as Schek hurls a grappler over his head. "Was that good enough?"

Seeing the Green hound in front of him Gnimish immediately scrambles back. He focuses and unleashes a pair of fiery bolts at Green and Purple.

Blazing Bolt vs Green: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20 for Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 1) = 6 Double Damage on Crit

Blazing Bolt vs Purple: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 for Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 5) = 10 Double Damage on Crit

DC 16 Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
DC 16 Fort, HP, T-Shirt: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9
ARGH!!

◆ Stride
◆◆ Blazing Bolt vs Green and Purple

The fiery bolts seem effective. They aren't resistant to that!
Both hit. And both are bloodied.

Kaya, Ceratophrys, and Bláinn's turns. Churning Gaze: Anyone ending their turn within 30 feet of a Hound Echo must make a DC 16 Fortitude save or be Sickened 1 (2 on a critical failure, immunity on a critical success).
Initiative:
Green Hound Echo (-9, bloodied, No Angled Entry 3 rounds)
Purple Hound Echo (-10, bloodied, No Angled Entry 4 rounds)
Schek (21/26, immune to Churning Gaze)
Tenimba (14/17, DC 19 Fort against slow)
Blue Hound Echo (No Angled Entry 3 rounds)
Gnimish (Sickened 2)
Kaya (18/23)
Ceratophrys
Bláinn

Gnimish should be sickened 2 for crit failing the fort save

"There's only room for one eldritch horror here... so bye!"

◆ Act Together
- ◆ Step

◆ Step

◆ Act Together
- ◆ Strike

Glub Drub!: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

◆ Strike or Step (depending whether Purple is still up)

Slime Skewer!: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 9 - 4 = 14
Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Fort save vs. slow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Balls of steam come off of Ceratophrys like popcorn from an open kettle.
They fly like tiny steam bombs through each of the dogs in a 30' circuitous path ◆◆ doing fire damage to each Flying Flame basic reflex save dc 18 of them green: 1d6 ⇒ 1blue: 1d6 ⇒ 2purple: 1d6 ⇒ 6.
Seeing his steam cloud dissipated he channels his elements and ◆ blasts green with a hot steam knife to the face fire blast: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 111d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5