[Gameday XIII] GM PaleDim's PF2 #3-18: Dacilane Academy's Delightful Disaster

Game Master PaleDim

It seems that some way, some how, your activities have caught the attention of beings across nearby phases of reality in and around the lodge.

Four flying, iridescent... worms (?) suddenly manifest in your phase of reality at the opposite end of the battleground.

Map updated!

Just as with you, the students see the forms of these aggressors in the mirror. They immediately go silent and look at each other...

Hey! I remembered this time! You can choose which of these you're exploiting.
◆ Exploit vulnerability, Esoteric Lore: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 ⇒ SUCCESS (meaning the DC is between 11-20, as that wasn't a crit)

The flying iridescent worms advance, clearly hostile.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
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The bold may go

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Round 1
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Yuan Wu (2 actions after exploit)
Ghardak
Billy
Thevenin
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RED
BLUE
GREEN
PURPLE
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Eltis

Yuan Wu, Ghardak, Billy, and Thevenin are up!

BATTLE MUSIC!

Ghardak moves forward, draws his warhammer and raises his shield.

"What creatures are these..."

+ Stride
+ Draw Warhammer
+ Raise Shield

Are we in A4 on the map? If so, things are kind of small for me, even with enlarging. I have eye issues after 2 retinopathies and would like to see what my options are for my gunslinger ability to move with iniative

I'll choose blue but Yuan Wu would know what they are? And what weaknesses, if any? So I know whether to activate that or use personal antithesis. :)

Billy, you should be able to zoom in. There should be a magnification tool on the google slides. You can set it to 200% or type in a bigger magnification if needed.

Are we in A4 on the map? If so, things are kind of small for me, even with enlarging. I have eye issues after 2 retinopathies and would like to see what my options are for my gunslinger ability to move with iniative

I have an enlarged version HERE. It's just an image capture, but does that help understand the setup at least?

I'll choose blue but Yuan Wu would know what they are? And what weaknesses, if any? So I know whether to activate that or use personal antithesis. :)

These are voidworms. The resistance they have is a little different:

A voidworm's vital organs shift and change shape and position constantly. Immediately after the voidworm takes acid, electricity, or sonic damage, they gain the listed amount of resistance to that damage type. This lasts for 1 hour or until the next time the protean takes damage of one of the other types (in which case their resistance changes to match that type), whichever comes first.

Voidworms have protean anatomy 5. Until one of the above conditions is satisfied, your personal antithesis will be greater.

Thanks for the info, but a success only gets him info on weaknesses. :)

Focusing his attention on one of the creatures in the centre (Blue), Yuan Wu extracts a fulu, igniting it and spreading its ashes along his weapon, stabilising it in this reality.

He then strides forward, coming up beside Ghardak and lashes out!

vs Blue: +1 asp coil: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 slashing, implement's empowerment, personal antitheses: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 2 + 3 = 12

◆ Exploit Vulnerability (Blue)
◆ Stride
◆ Strike

Yuan Wu wrote:

I'll choose blue but Yuan Wu would know what they are? And what weaknesses, if any? So I know whether to activate that or use personal antithesis. :)

These are voidworms. The resistance they have is a little different:

Protean Anatomy (divine) wrote:

A voidworm's vital organs shift and change shape and position constantly. Immediately after the voidworm takes acid, electricity, or sonic damage, they gain the listed amount of resistance to that damage type. This lasts for 1 hour or until the next time the protean takes damage of one of the other types (in which case their resistance changes to match that type), whichever comes first.

Voidworms have protean anatomy 5. Until one of the above conditions is satisfied, your personal antithesis will be greater.

That is much better, thank you.

Trying to get into better position to shoot at blue, he takes a 10' step Reaction

and attempts to create a diversion to distract blue
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 deception

and then fires, both barrels blazing
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 p/b
1d10 ⇒ 5 fatal

I'm not sure if Yuan Wu's knowledge is public knowledge, but intentionally or unintentionally, Thevenin will gladly trigger their resistances.

Thevenin moves up ◆ and BZZAP BZZAP! ◆◆ against Blue and Purple.

Electricity: 3d4 ⇒ (1, 4, 1) = 6
DC 19 basic Reflex save

Thanks for the info, but a success only gets him info on weaknesses. :)

Doh! Well, everyone has it now anyway.

Yuan Wu just catches his target with the end of his asp coil. This void worm recoils violently enough to show Billy its "broad side".

Still, it isn't quite down yet. Thevenin rubs his feet vigorously on the floor to create a static charge, releasing it at two of the voidworms...

The first voidworm BLUE fries and drops to the ground.

RED
BLUE -27
GREEN
PURPLE -3 (resist electricity 5, 1 hour)

Ghardak is up!

Not sure why but I can't move my token. Keeps selecting the background.

Ghardak takes a step forward and tries to strike red.
"What cretins are you.."

+ Step north
+ Attack Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27Dmg bldg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
+ Raise shield

You might be looking at the slide which is just a blown up image I made to give Billy an idea of the battlefield. I presume you want to attack PURPLE, which you'd be right in front of. Also that crits.

Ghardak steps forward and smashes the void worm in front of him. Two remain.

RED lurches at Ghardak and tries to gnaw on him like a rock-snack...

The problem is, this voidworm doesn't understand that Ghardak's shield is not Ghardak. all misses

The other one dives at Yuan Wu, trying to bite him and then slap him with its tail...

This one catches Yuan Wu off guard, drawing blood on the bite and knocking some sense... out of him (?), with the tail slap.

bite for 6 piercing, 3 chaotic damage
tail slap for 5 slashing, and...

Through sheer force of will he shakes off a stupefying effect. He feels that the tail slap held the potential for some extra power to fog one's clarity.

As the shadowy shapes move in the mirror, and some begin to disappear, you can hear the two students in the room gasping. They are seething with anticipation.

What are those creatures they are fighting?

Which ones are the creatures?! Two are gone! I hope the Pathfinders are okay!

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1 -> 2
Tactical Map
Active Conditions:
Before Your Turn:
After Your Turn:
------------------

The bold may go

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Round 1
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Eltis
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Round 2
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Yuan Wu -14
Ghardak
Billy
Thevenin
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RED
BLUE -27
GREEN
PURPLE -25

Everyone is up!
BATTLE MUSIC!

Yuan Wu grunts in pain but much as he yearns to retaliate against the offending creature, he notes that the reddish one is more in the reach of Ghardak and focuses his attention on it.

He roars at the creature while waving his asp coil intimidatingly in the air, while studying the creature. Then empowering his weapon the same way, he swings the asp coil over the dwarf's head to strike the red voidworm.

vs red: demoralise (intimidating glare): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
vs red: Exploit Vulnerability: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
vs red: +1 asp coil: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 slashing, implement's empowerment, personal antitheses: 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 3 = 11

◆ Demoralise
◆ Exploit Vulnerability
◆ Strike

Ghardak strikes the one next to him twice and then raises his shield.

"Go back to wherever you came from!"

◆ Warhammer: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 Bldg dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
◆ Warhammer: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Bldg dmg: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
◆ Raise shield

Eltis stays where he is but raises a hand towards Yuan We. Healing energy heads his way.
He then takes a shot at Green with his crossbow.

heal, 2 action: 1d10 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

crossbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
P damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

"Bzzap!"

◆◆ Electricity: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 4) = 10
DC 19 basic Reflex save. I believe neither of them has resist electricity.

◆ Shield.

Yuan Wu's asp coil whips over Ghardak's head and slashes the worm off of his shield. It was still trying to eat it.

With it now hovering as an easy target in front of him, Ghardak's smashes it with his hammer. RED down

Ghardak would you like to switch raise shield for stride and apply your second hammer attack to GREEN?

Eltis soothes Yuan Wu and then embeds a bolt in the final voidworm.

Having just dodged a bolt, the voidworm is "on its toes" to dodge the worst of Thevenin's arc of lightning.

RED -23
BLUE -27
GREEN -7
PURPLE -25

Billy is up with possible action update from Ghardak

Yeap Ghardak will do that.

Slinger's Reload to reload and attempt to create a diversion
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 vs. green

He then shoots only 1 side of his pistol
1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 KA BLAM
1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

He reloads

Between Ghardak's follow-up hammer swing and Billy's well placed shot, the last voidworm falls, pulverized.

Combat over! Great job.

A calm falls over the battleground and the two students present seem to exhale in relief. Looking in the mirror they are able to tell that the party has un-tensed.

After, Tels tries to hand the party some equipment while he looks at you in the mirror, and thanks to the chaotic influence of the voidworms, it works!

You receive a short sword with a jeweled pommel, worth 11 gp.

The permeability of the mirror is seemingly momentary; in attempting to pass another weapon it strikes the rigid mirror and Tels frowns at it. It seems the chaotic energy has dissipated.

The students decide to report back to the main hall to share the techniques with their classmates and report on your condition, since they were able to observe you in the mirror.

Where to next?

"Odder and odder... anyone still injured? No? Shall we finish checking this side of the house?"

We haven't checked the A2/A3 area yet, right?

Yuan Wu sighs in satisfaction that the children were not harmed.

"Yes, lead the way! Or if you prefer, I could."

"Aye.. let's make sure they don't get into any more trouble," Ghardak says.

I think A2/A3 as well.

A2/A3 was the kitchen.

From this post, it appears we've collected all the students who wandered off.

Geltra and Hari head to the kitchen (A3) after peaking into the conference room (A2).

Tels and Vim venture further into the lodge, stopping in the battleground (A4).

Alec heads to the library by himself (A7).

Can we head upstairs now? Is there a choice I missed?

He goes with the group

RECAP and Q&A

Can we head upstairs now? Is there a choice I missed?

There are still more students on the main level who may need help completing their assignments. Also feel free to explore other areas in the main level that the students don't occupy.

Thevenin and Ghardak ascend the stairs in the Main hall. While you've been able to pass through doors on the main level, they find it strangely impossible to access or pass through the Strange Door which would open to the second level. Perhaps they'll need the student's help.

There are still more students on the main level who may need help completing their assignments. Also feel free to explore other areas in the main level that the students don't occupy.

A2/A3 was the kitchen.

A3 is the kitchen. A2 is the conference room.

Choices:

A1 Main hall
A2 Conference Room
A3 Kitchen
A4 Battleground
A5 Courtyard
A6 Armory
A7 Library
A8 Restricted Section (this is what Alec was trying to break into)

"... The first two words are 'Failsafe, bring'..."

There is more to this. Missing the rolls to get the full message is a little rough but there are more clues around the main level.

Having summarized, I'll give a 2-3 hours more and if I don't hear otherwise i'll move us on to A2 at that time.

A2 sounds good.

A2 sounds good

Or maybe a little more than 2-3h :D

A2 CONFERENCE ROOM

Like the rest of the building, the conference room is deserted. Sheets of notes on the table detail efforts by the staff at the Woodsedge Lodge to stabilize the Maze of the Open Road after recent incidents during which the Maze unexpectedly connected to strange destinations.

After deliberation and research, the staff asked arcanists from the Grand Lodge to concoct a complex ritual that would reconnect the lodge and its surroundings to the Material Plane in case of emergency. To trigger the Material Failsafe ritual, staff members would simply need to activate three focus items near the site of the disturbance: a jug of pure water, a steel shield, and a large lodestone. According to the notes, Venture-Captain Armeline Jirneau trained all staff members in the activation procedure and gave them instructions (Handout #3: In Case of Planar Emergency) to refer to in an emergency. You find an extra copy of the note on the table.

What do you make of this, and then where do you go next?

A1 Main hall: helped the students identify the plaques to complete an assignment
A2 Conference Room: discovered Handout #3: In Case of Planar Emergency on the desk
A3 Kitchen: neutralized a cooking disaster for Geltra and Hari
A4 Battleground: put on an athletics display for Tels and Vim, fought back intruding voidworms
A5 Courtyard
A6 Armory
A7 Library: talked Alec out of breaking into A8, fought off Grimples (fey gremlins), romance novel used to communicate from beyond with you (partial message: “Failsafe, bring")
A8 Restricted Section

ALSO Thevenin and Ghardak attempted to go to level 2 but were blocked by a Strange Door.

"Anyone remember seeing a jug of water, a steel shield or a large lodestone?"

If I were a shield, i'd be in the armory. Maybe courtyard for the jug of water?

"Oh, I thought the amoury was where they kept the love. Wait, what? Oh, that makes more sense."

Voting armory.

"Armory sounds like a good choice." Ghardak says.

Armory might be a good place to start he agrees.

A6. ARMORY

Weapon racks and suits of armor on display stands line the walls of this well-stocked armory. Several weapons are laid out on the table, along with whetstones and oil clothes.

This room is quiet, with only the weapons left in disorder. Steel shields rest in a rack near the eastern wall.

So, you've found your shield which can be used for the Material Failsafe, but recall that you cannot interact with the material plane. You helped the students, now you will need their help.

A1 Main hall: helped the students identify the plaques to complete an assignment
A2 Conference Room: discovered Handout #3: In Case of Planar Emergency on the desk
A3 Kitchen: neutralized a cooking disaster for Geltra and Hari
A4 Battleground: put on an athletics display for Tels and Vim, fought back intruding voidworms
A5 Courtyard
A6 Armory: contains steel shields which which can be used for the Material Failsafe
A7 Library: talked Alec out of breaking into A8, fought off Grimples (fey gremlins), romance novel used to communicate from beyond with you (partial message: “Failsafe, bring")
A8 Restricted Section

ALSO Thevenin and Ghardak attempted to go to level 2 but were blocked by a Strange Door.

"I guess we need to see what's in the courtyyard," Ghardak says.

"Agreed. We should find the items and then try to get the kids to collect them..."

A5 COURTYARD

This quiet courtyard is open to the sky above. A cobblestone pathway winds its way between carefully tended topiaries and past a
burbling fountain.

The fountain here is a possible source of water for the Material Failsafe.

That covers most all of the main level. As of yet, you have not located a lodestone to use as the third component.

What do you do next?

"All we need to do now is find that lodestone..."

"Hmm, maybe Alec had the right idea. We've yet to search the Restricted area. Let's head there."

"Students are restricted, but are chaperones ... ?"