[ACO] PF2e 05-18 - Equal Exchanges: Tapestry of the Mind (P2, HT)

Game Master UncleFroggy

Please dot (add a post) in here and then delete your post to add yourself to this campaign.

1) I am based in Southeast Asia (UTC +8) so my posting hours may be unusual (especially for those in North America). I usually update at least one or twice per day. Just to keep the game moving, please post at least once every day and at least once during the weekend.

2) Please keep all posts and communication in all channels limited to a PG-13 level and be both positive and inclusive.

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4) If I am unavailable for longer than 24 hours, I will let you know in the Discussion Tab. Out of respect for your fellow players and myself, I ask that you do the same. Real life happens, and real life will always take priority over the game, but out of fairness for your fellow players, please let us know if you will be unavailable for an extended period of time.

5) Please note that on the following days, my posting can get unpredictable:
Tuesday/Thursdays - all day, as they are the 2 busiest days of my work week

6) Please complete the Macros and the Slides linked at the top of the page.

7) Questions, concerns? Feel free to share them in the Discussion tab.

8) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.

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Quinoline enters and sniffs. It smells like orc poop in here. Someone needs an olfactory obfuscator.

Oh, wait, it's her. She must have stepped in some orc poop in Freedom Town and tracked it all the way back here. Ew.

Crystal has entered the chat.

It's good to see you all again.

Quinoline sniffs Crystal's shoes, then her own again.

You have been called to the Grand Lodge via a cryptic message. The sender, however, was clear—the Decemvirate member known as The Waterfall.

As you wait in the main lobby, you take a moment to meet your traveling companions...

Please introduce yourselves

A relatively young adult half-elf with red hair quietly enters the main lobby and leans against the wall. Her black and crimson armor, meticulously maintained, almost seems to merge with the shadows. A variety of weapons, more than can be counted at a glance, are discreetly arranged across her frame suggesting calculated readiness. At either side of her hips hang two swords, their blades cruelly serrated like the teeth of a predator ready to rip into flesh.

She observes the room for a moment, her gaze sharp and assessing but not unfriendly. A flicker of amusement dances in her eyes as she takes in the new faces, and a faint smile curves her lips. She takes a breath, her voice calm but firm, slicing through the quiet.

“I'm Lydia,” she says confidently, as if she doesn’t feel the need to say more. That is until she sees a familiar face, "Quinoline, pleasure to see you again....can't say the same about smell though" she laughs.

Quinoline's a shy, nerdy-looking human. She's dressed fairly plainly, with no visible weapons, although a series of clear vials tucked into every possible pocket suggests she's not unarmed.

Quinoline waves to all the friendly faces - Rex from a mission in Irrisen, Crystal from her most recent trip to Belzkin, and Lydia from Ustalav.

She heard Astrid was going to be here, as well, along with someone she's never met before, Orin. Maybe Astrid can punch Orin in the arm instead of picking on the nerd.

AND WHERE IS THAT SMELL COMING FROM??

A tall muscular ulfen woman in heavy armor enters the room. Her hair is disheveled and her eyes are bloodshot. The door hinges squeak as the door closes behind her and the sound causes her to wince and hold her head in pain. "Ow. Too loud. Can't the caretakers be bothered to oil these hinges? Some of us have been out all night carousin...uh performing some important public relations work attempting to bolster the Society's image in Absalom. And can someone draw the curtains? The bright light is giving me a headache." She sits heavily on a nearby chair and rests her head on a small table.

After a moment she looks up with a puzzled look on her face as she sniffs the air. "Good gods what is that stench? Have they sent some junior pathfinders into the sewers again for some ridiculous reason?" She looks around the room in an attempt to discover the source of the smell. Her eyes light up as she spots Quinoline.

"Ha! Quin! Have they tapped you for this mission as well?" The warrior stands and strides towards her friend, giving the alchemist a friendly punch on the arm. "Good to know there's at least one person here I can trust to watch my back." Her face contorts as she realizes that Quinoline is the source of the odor.

"What on Golarion happened to you? That stench is positively demonic. You haven't been off dealing with Urxehl without me have you?"

She heard Astrid was going to be here, as well, along with someone she's never met before, Orin. Maybe Astrid can punch Orin in the arm instead of picking on the nerd.

AND WHERE IS THAT SMELL COMING FROM??

I was too slow. You ninjaed me as I was composing my intro.

Upon seeing the other pathfinders nearby the ulfen pounds a gauntleted fist on her armor and despite her hangover, loudly introduces herself.

"Ha! Quin and I go way back and I'm sure the rest of you already know who I am but just in case you've just returned from being trapped in a cave for a hundred years or recently recovered from being turned to stone by an ancient cyclops or something allow me to introduce myself. I'm Astrid Gertasdottir, shield maiden and famous explorer. I'm stealthier than moonlight and fiercer than thunder. I've killed more men than winter and drunk enough ale to drown the rough beast himself. I've ridden dinosaurs into battle in distant lands and frightened a demon lord back into hell."

She leans over to whisper to Quinoline "I don't suppose you've figured out that hangover cure I asked about some time ago have you? I could really use it right about now. Also maybe you should change your boots before the briefing."

Orin grumbles and clanks, the heavily armed and armored dwarf making good speed despite his heavy plate, and an old tattered steel shield with the symbol of Last Wall still barely visible in the center... possibly being held together more by magic than tensile strength at this point.

He certainty looks like punching him could easily hurt you more than him and the impossibly sharp pick hanging from his belt certainty looking more suited for skull busting than mining.

Looking around he grumbles "Orin"

Greetings everyone. It's a pleasure to meet some of you and to be working with some of you again. To those of you whom I have not yet met, apologies if I smell like undead. We had a bit of a mission with lots of undead. Lots and lots of undead.

You see a catfolk with classy leather designed clothing stroll in. Crystal smiles as she glides in gracefully, she can dance and parkour and can show off her skills in style. She also plays the flute in her spare time; you can see a flute peeking out of her bag.

Crystal looks at Astrid. I was not kidding when I said we spent quality time with loads of undead. That is why some of us are stinking it up, and we landed right here with no rest after our last mission.

Crystal looks at Astrid. I was not kidding when I said we spent quality time with loads of undead. That is why some of us are stinking it up, and we landed right here with no rest after our last mission.

Astrid give the catfolk a look that is equal parts skeptical and disgusted. "Eeew! What do you mean by 'quality time?' Waitaminute. I'm not sure I actually want you to answer that."

"I swear, it's not me."

Narrator: It was her.

I'll let Rex retcon his intro

Once on site, you are met by a messenger on the main floor, who leads you down into the depths of the Grand Lodge. You descend into the lowest of the vaults, where the air hangs thick and stale, and finally, at the end of a long hall lit only by blue glowing sconces, you arrive at a room that has seen its fair share of hidden uses. This room into which you have been summoned is one of the most secure vaults in Skyreach. A number of lounging pillows and comfortable carpets cover the burnt remains of a large circle in the center of the room.

Three people are sitting in the room: an elven woman in a long flowing dress, a nephilim woman in a comfortable but functional purple tunic, and a human man of apparent Tian descent in academic robes. Respectively, these are Csilla, the Decemvirate member known as the Waterfall who recently unmasked herself; Valais Durant, leader of the Radiant Oath; and Killia Huon-Wynn, a senior researcher of the Dark Archive. Csilla's face bears a look of obvious concern.

With introductions complete, the worried look on Csilla's face fades slightly. "Thank you for responding so quickly to my summons. In complete transparency, while I feel the results of this mission hold benefits for the Society, the task itself is personal in nature." She motions for everyone to take a seat on one of the many cushions around the circle, pausing to give everyone a chance to get comfortable. She then continues. "After a box of my previous belongings was returned to me, I dug further into why my memories are so sparse. I held long conversations with Valais here," indicating the nephilim to her right, "about her own experiences of piecing her mind back together. We decided that it might be best if I reach out to the Grand Archive. Once I did so, I was directed to Killia Huon- Wynn," she gestures to the man sitting to her left. "Years ago, when the Dark Archive was still a faction within the Pathfinder Society, he was one of their chief researchers, and he continues his work with esoterica dealing with the mind with that group now that it's independent, while also aiding the Grand Archive."

Csilla pauses briefly before continuing. "As such, Killia is our foremost expert on the depths of the mind as well as broken memories. I trust his recommendations for finding the answers, and that's why you're here now." Killia clears his throat and begins to explain. "In order to find what is hidden in The Waterfall, Csilla's, mind, we need to go in and explore it. I strongly believe that the best way to do this is through a ritual known as a mindscape." He pauses, as if for effect, then continues. "Chief among the myriad benefits of a mindscape is that we can send in outsiders to investigate the mind itself. As outsiders are less likely to be impacted by the specific elements that damaged the mind in question, it allows for an overall more effective recovery, especially in dealing with the aftermath of harmful mental magics." He glances to Csilla, and she nods for him to continue. "After reading through the journal recovered from the Tsevel Center detailing what she endured, it is my theory that there may be some very, very malevolent forces at work in the recesses of her subconscious. I have reason to believe that some of the injections may have included essences from the spaces beyond—the Dark Tapestry itself."

Csilla resumes the lead and explains, "It is because of this possibility that I am asking this team to investigate." She pauses to look at each person present, resolve in her eyes. "It is my concern that having that type of entity embedded within me, even as deeply as this should be, could cause long term concerns for the Society, and even beyond that. The only clear memory I have is one that was sparked by the doll in the in the box that was retrieved–a memory of a small cottage in a small village. Somewhere in that cottage is a journal. I am certain that journal is the key to diving in deeper, and I would be very grateful if it were to make it back with you. Since it is something I remember so clearly, I would like to see it in reality."

Killia turns to you. "You'll be entering her memories through a modified mindscape door ritual. Any questions/concerns/violent reactions?"

Lydia listens intently until the mention of the Dark Tapestry at which point she looks more skeptical, "Do you really believe in this Dark Tapestry talk? I thought it was all just made up by an astrologer who stared at the stars too long and used it as a way to explain away the unexplainable."

After pausing for a moment she also asks, "And how is death handled in this mindscape ritual? Do we kill things like normal? Can we be killed?"

Orin grumbles "Mindscapes are like pocket dimensions, right?"

No questions here, I don't think. I've dealt with this sort of thing before I think. Dealing with some hag named Aslynn if I recall correctly. It's been a hot minute. It's not comfortable at all, but that's what we're here for, getting over the line with the tough missions.

So you want a journal. Guess we'll keep an eye out.

Orin grumbles "Mindscapes are like pocket dimensions, right?"

"Yes, and they each have their own intricacies, often by design of the primary caster."

"Do you really believe in this Dark Tapestry talk? I thought it was all just made up by an astrologer who stared at the stars too long and used it as a way to explain away the unexplainable."

"I believe the Dark Tapestry was tied to Aucturn by the people of ancient Osirion. It is home to the Dominion of the Black, creatures believed to eat memories and take over minds.

---

"Are we allowed to read the journal?"

Csilla smiles, "I would imagine whatever's keeping me from remembering things will be protecting the journal in some way. How about you bring it out first and we can see about letting you peruse my memories."

If you have no further questions, please select your provision. Also I would suggest you gather supplies, you won't have another opportunity...

The gnome in the back of the group was listening intently, jotting notes in his journal. How long have the others been staring at him, he has no idea.

"Oh, um. My name is Rex. I'm an entrepreneur building connections, meeting people, and raising money for my riverboat casino venture. Just give a me few minutes to make my preparations..."

He creates an consumes a few tinctures while loading something into his crossbow, which just seems to disappear.

Advanced Alchemy: greater antiplague, greater darkvision elixir, greater eagle-eye elixir, cave worm venom.

Coating Rune Loadout: 3 oil of switfness, 6 bane oil (2 aberration, 2 fiend, 2 fey), cave worm venom.

Rex takes a greater healing potion and buys a few lesser alchemical bombs that he stores in a sack. (2 acid, 2 cold, 2 fire, 2 electricity, 2 sonic) - cost 30 gp.

Greater healing potion for me.

No questions here, I don't think. I've dealt with this sort of thing before I think. Dealing with some hag named Aslynn if I recall correctly.

"Ha! I remember that. Hagsneiðari earned her name that day. She was quite thirsty for Aslynn's blood." The shield maiden smiles and pats the hilt of the cold iron shortsword at her hip.

"If we're all done with the egghead talk let's start traipsing around in Waterfall's memories."

Killia smiles grimly at Lydia, "Death happens as usual within the mindscape. You can die in there."

"We have some final preparations to make. Come back in an hour and we can begin the ritual."

Last chance to stock up on provisions. I'll move this along tonight (my time).

Lydia nods, "Good, I'd hate for something to come back from the dead once we're through with it"

She requisitions a greater potion of healing from the pathfinder supplies and waits for the mission to begin.

Crystal will grab a greater healing potion.

You return an hour later just as Killia is making his final preparations for the ritual.

Setting the last candle into place, Killia Huon-Wynn looks up with worried eyes. "Having my own experiences with outside entities creating dreamscapes, I have invested much time and energy into researching them at great depth. This ritual is a modified version of mindscape door that we are keeping within the depths of Skyreach's most secure vaults, but at Csilla's urging, we are going to utilize it to permit you to explore the depths of what is hidden from her conscious memories. Due to its modified structure, and as well as the strain any external entry to a mindscape can cause the host, you need to move expeditiously inside. The longer you take, the more unstable I fear it will become.

"[b]Also, unlike in traditional mindscapes, your actions in this one mirror exactly what you can do here. So, be assured that you are still be yourself, and not need to rely on your strength of Will to navigate within. However, that also means that you are just as much at risk as you would be here—at greater risk, actually. If you die within the mindscape, we may not be able to bring your mind back to your body, making reviving you nigh impossible." He motions for all in the room to join the circle. "But this is why we are sending you, some of our most experienced agents. You know how to handle yourselves, and how to work together. Speaking of which, we must now work together to complete this ritual. Take each other's hands and follow my lead." As Killia is about to begin, the door to the secluded room opens. "Good, it seems I caught you just in time," Eando Kline states as he walks into the room.

Valais starts to interrupt, but stops as Eando raises his hand to her. "Look, I may not see eye to eye with everyone all the time, but even I can take the time to think and change. After I… abruptly left your last meeting, Csilla, Fola found me, and we went for a long walk on the grounds to talk out why I feel— well, felt—the way that I do about your revelations. While I still don't agree with everything in your past, I also don't agree with everything in my own. So, with hindsight being what it is, I'd like to extend an apology to for my actions and offer my help in sending off this team to finish what you've… we've… started."

After a long pause, Csilla nods her approval of Eando Kline’s apology and offer. With that, he looks to all, giving a pat on the shoulder to any members of the Vigilant Seal. His voice becomes firm as he addresses you, "Going into something like this is dangerous at the best of times, and these are not the best of times. Take these with you. They’ll help keep you moving forward, and aid in getting you back as quickly as possible." He hands the group a bag containing three greater healing potions, as well as a 7th-rank scroll of haste, then takes a place in the ritual circle as a secondary caster. Killia motions for everyone to join hands, and then starts to begin the ritual. He takes the primary caster role, with Csilla aiding him directly.

Killia motions for everyone to join hands, and then starts to begin the ritual. He takes the primary caster role, with Csilla aiding him directly.

You can aid in this modified ritual as secondary casters with a DC 28 Arcana, Deception, Diplomacy, Occultism, or Perception check.
Results:
3+ successes - Ritual is a Crit Success (you get a nice benefit)
less than 3 successes - Ritual is a success as long as nobody gets a CF
number of CF is greater than number of CS - Ritual is a failure (bad)

Orin takes one of the healing potions and helps out by looking.

Perception DC 23: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

*DC 28, typing is hard.

Quinoline will Aid with her mastery of Arcana.

Arcana: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (16) + 24 = 40 vs DC 28

diplomacy: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (19) + 23 = 42

Crystal thinks of simple words that will help see them through the mindscape.

Lydia looks at the scroll, then to Rex, then back at the scroll. @Rex Do you want the 7th rank scroll of Haste? if not Lydia can also cast it. Doesn't matter either way to me, just dont want it lost ^^

She then grabs one of the greater healing potions, One greater healing potion remains to be taken

DC 28 Deception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (3) + 23 = 26 Well, as unlikely as failing was, at least it wasnt a crit fail and we have 3+ successes so not rerolling

Rex will take the scroll and keep it safe bit leave the potion for others.

perception: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31

Astrid sighs. "Ugh. This egghead stuff always takes forever. Can we hurry it up please nerds? Also I'd fix that chalk line over there if you don't want to end up summoning some sort of gross otherworldly abomination." She points to a spot on the floor.

After a moment she seemingly reconsiders and grins. "On the other hand killing a gross otherworldly abomination would look good on my resume."

"I'll likely be in the thick of it so I guess I'd better take that last potion. I picked up a few scrolls I can use to patch you up if any back-liners should get in trouble." Astrid takes the final potion.

Orin and Quinoline easily aid the ritual.

As the ritual concludes, you feel your consciousness dragged out of your bodies, forcing you to close their eyes. When you open them again, you find themselves in a small village, where the homes seem to be fading in and out, building themselves up before fading away. Seemingly sparsely populated, the village fades in and out of existence as Csilla’s mind recalls vague memories of a past mostly forgotten. The homes in the village are all 10 feet tall, and in the Village Square is an amphitheater whose walls stand slightly higher at 15 feet. Otherwise, everything is open air.

This small village is dotted with cottages, each of which seems to be fading in and out of focus, appearing to fade anytime someone looks away. Even though the sun is high in the air, the homes around are either lit by candlelight, or completely dark, as though the whole of the town is sleeping. As things seems to come into better focus, the sound of names being called from what appears to be the village square further away echoes through the air.

As you step through the door into this portion of the mindscape, you can see some of the homes lit by candlelight, and others dark, as though the world is falling asleep with them. As you approach the village square, you hear someone calling your name...

You also become aware that for whatever reason, the mindscape is inherently unstable and prone to violence. Therefore you may pre-emptively attempt to keep the mindscape from attacking you.

Just need 1 success, every 10 minutes or so

Lydia looks wary as she first enters the mindscape and hears her name being called. "Who's there?

She also assures the mindscape that the group belongs in it.
Deception DC 30: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (7) + 23 = 30

Orin muses and draws his pick "Could be a trap, but certainty one we'd need to spring."

Quinoline agrees, and she will Investigate as they move through the mindscape, trying to place locations or people.

Exploration: Investigate. Arcana +24, Occultism +22, Society +19, Nature/Religion +16

As you step through the door into this portion of the mindscape, you can see some of the homes lit by candlelight, and others dark, as though the world is falling asleep with them. As you approach the village square, you hear someone calling your name...

"That voice. It's calling my name. I realize that I'm pretty famous but who knows that I'm here?"

"Well, one could guess that whoever is in here as access to Csilla's memories and we have been recently introduced."

Assuming the above has been satisfied Crystal smiles and tries to observe her surroundings.

I don't recognise anything here. I'm pretty sure it's a trap. I wonder if whatever is in here, is expecting us. At least that's how it always has turned out...

What if it's another Aslynn? Crystal thinks to herself.

I'm assuming you're moving forward...

A snake-bodied figure sits at the top of the stairs of the amphitheater. They would appear to be a grandmother in a rocking chair, if not for the long tail wrapped around the base. Looking up at the sound of an entrance, they begin to speak. "Pathfinders, I know you come here with the best of intentions—to help our poor Csilla recover her memories and understand why they are locked away. However, I simply cannot allow you to do that. For years I have guarded her, protected her, from the horrors locked deeper within. If you open her up to them, it may very well destroy her, and I love her too much for you to do that."

You recognize the speaker as a naga.

Quinoline will Recall what she knows about naga.
Arcana +24, Occultism +22, Society +19, Nature/Religion +16.

Unless contraindicated, Quinoline will explain:

"You are correct, that we are here to help Csilla recover her memories and understand why they are locked away. This is by her own, conscious and lucid, request. You have no right to deny such a request, even if you are correct that there are horrors locked deeper within."

"Waterfall is a big girl now and tougher than you realize. She can make her own decisions. Who are you to decide for her? "

"We are more trained than you think. I am aware that you probably don't know us well enough to trust us, but we were entrusted by her superiors and her superiors beyond that."

Crystal will show her wayfinder and then start going into her previous missions that dealt with the extraplanar and various mindscapes.

We are all very experienced, some of us have had experience with this environs, and others here have a breadth enough to deal with the unknown here. Mix of strength, agility, and magical knowledge. We have it all.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43

"You do not know what you're dealing with. I can see that you are powerful. I offer you one last chance. Save yourselves. Turn around before it's too late."

Orin shakes his head "I don't back down."