[ACO] PF2e 05-18 - Equal Exchanges: Tapestry of the Mind (P3, LT)

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.

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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

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

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

You assemble in the main lobby of the building.

Go ahead and introduce yourselves.

First at the spot is a dwarf clad in heavy armor, she carries a large tower shield on her back and a large warhamemr on her side. To whoever comes next she smile which is bright and genuine.

"Pleasure to see you, Makai Goldenoak cleric of Torag."

You can see by her firm handshake and posture that she is no stranger to fighting. You might have heard someone describing her as 'Hard as an anvil, subtle like a hammer', which seem to match.

Kohl, a green kobold with a large force of personality, enters immediately after Makai, and seizes her firm hand in one of his scaly claws.

"Great to meet you. I'm Kohl, dragon guardian of the sewers," he nods. "No need to cower at my presence! I am terrible to enemies but kind to my friends. And all Pathfinders are friends."

Kohl is content to watch the others arrive and introduce himself quietly. He doesn't want to overwhelm anyone with his fearful draconic majesty.

Wish we had new kobold illustrations as forum avatars!

Another small but mighty figure enters the room. A gnome with distinctly feral features who hardly seems dressed for adventuring. Wearing only buckskin pants and an open vest complimented by sturdy boots and a belt with buckle the size of a buckler, he doesn't seem to be armed other than the spiked gauntlet he wears.

"Zabu Creed," he announces himself. "Is there any food around here? There's usually food at these things."

Bath? Check.
Clothes neatly pressed? Check.
Whip coiled? Check.

The human man smiles, waves goodbye to his companion, and heads off to the Grand Lodge. He's feeling good today, he finally transcribed the song in his head, the crowd loved it, except for that creepy necromancer but he defeat her pretty readily. Plus all of those onlookers were quite thankful. Shylye must be proud.

Probably.

His guardian angel has gotten quiet of late. Did he say something stupid? He probably did.

And Waterfall requested his help again. Great. Helping her against the Night Hag was interesting to say the least. But first it's time to greet the crew.

Oh, it's Zabu again. Oh well, he's the kind of drinking buddy who will beat you every time but he's got your back when battle breaks out.

Kohl, did they meet before? Kobolds have the strength of dragons going through them.

Makai Goldenoak. There's a new face.

"'Sup everyone. I'm Emmanuel Holysmith. Call me Manny, all of my friends do-" he grunts as Makai gives him a strong but firm handshake.

Liam is another human. He wears goggles and odd, bulky, heavy armor with more than the usual number of buttons and knobs and that occasionally emits a burst of steam.

He wears a shield and has at his hip a strange-looking mace. It's unique, but bears an unmistakable resemblance to a more traditional gnome weapon.

"Hello," he says, nodding at the other Pathfinders, "I'm Liam. I'm afraid I'm not quite the warrior my mother used to be--at least, I wasn't when I started doing this--but my gadgets help me get by well enough."

A tall woman of obviously Kellid ancestory enters the room. Tall, she walks with surprising grace. While her face mostly screams Kellid her dress is Varasian, and her movement is that of a dancer.

Also, she doesn't bear the traditional heavy weapons of a Kellid, a dagger and rapier hang at her waist. A glance at her hands don't show the calluses of a swordswoman though. Rather they are covered in ink. Stepping back you might even notice her robe is that of a scholar.

She casts her gaze around the room. "Teja Khellekdottir reporting... to chronicle the events."

She looks around the room again. "And to ask a favor of The Waterfall, if at all possible." she adds, almost shyly. She offers a nod to the other agents. Some she may have worked with, others she's read their chronicles. Still, with an organization as large as the Pathfinders, there were always brand new faces and names.

Wall of text warning

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."

Csilla turns to Teja "What is it you wish of me?" she asks.

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

Another mindscape.

Manny wiggles a bit in his seat. He remembers helping Zarta Draleen in her mind. Fighting reflections of her own past as well as his own. It's a dangerous place.

"Uh... any dangers we need to worry about while in there? Oh! And I assume dying in the dream world is bad. Do we die for real or are we just ejected from there?"

Maybe he can see Shylye again. Might cheer her up.

Zabu flops down on one of the larger cushions, his body small enough for it to serve as a bed for him. He laces his fingers under his head and watches the ceiling for the duration of the briefing.

"I guess you picked me and Manny because we just did this for Zarta," he says when they're done talking. He rolls up onto one elbow.

"Look, if the important ladies of the Pathfinder Society want me in their dreams, there are easier ways of doing it," he says with a feral grin.

"In dreams or in reality, we can face down any nasty thing from the Dark Tapestry," Kohl assures the leaders.

"Is there anything special about being in a mindscape that we need to know?"

"Yes, I've done this before as well. Though this sounds more in-depth."

Liam looks over at the Waterfall. "Did you say you want us to retrieve a physical object from your memory, though? That is new to me. [smaller]Wouldn't removing it from your memory mean you forget it?"

"Well.." says Teja.
"I was wondering if you would be able to track down my father. He works for the Society. For a "humble historian", and "noted scholar" he seems to spend more time away from the Grand Lodge than in it.""

Segueing back to the topic at hand. "Rather like yourself, I have no memories of him. But mine is a more prosaic reason. I've never met the man."

"But to your matter at hand. If we find the journal in your mindscape, how does that let us retrieve it back into reality?"

"As deep in Csilla’s mind as you’ll be, the clarity of memory will allow the ritual to reproduce the item should you carry it through a mindscape door exiting the mental space." Killia explains.

Csilla looks back to Teja. "We can speak of this afterwards, " she says pleasantly, "If you manage to retrieve my journal and the Dark Tapestry, we can look into tracking down your father for you."

Killia states further, "If there are no more questions, you have an hour to prepare yourselves for the journey while we make our final preparations"

I suggest you gather supplies (and pick out your Provision). You won't get another chance...

Makai nods, and goes to provisions to get her potency crystal, that she immediately applies to her hammer.

"I can heal you, both in and outside of combat, take something shinny boys and girls!"

I refined the spells and she casts Vital beacon + Mind of menace

Than she pulls out a wand of tailwind and she tries to bend it to her will

Trick magic item: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Trick magic item: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

Trick magic item the 2nd lvl spell wand is of lvl 5 - standard level DC is 20

Manny spends his hour seeking out a Moderate Bravo's Brew. Fear is the mindkiller, after all.

Then he spends a few minutes fiddling on how his armor will look. Blue, stars, family crest, maybe an angelic figure holding a shield bearing the family crest? That sounds awesome.

"I think it's time." He sits back on his pillow. "It can only hurt if you believe it's true."

On Meakai's advice, Kohl picks up a moderate potion of cold resistance.

"Just like normal! Nothing can stop us--we're Pathfinders!" Kohl effuses.

"Does that mean that if you went into my memories and found the best beer I ever had or the waitress that brought it you could bring a copy out?" Zabu asks.

"'Cause, if so..."

When it doesn't seem like anyone will answer his question, he heads down to provisions and comes back with a potency crystal, though given the questions he asked about its details, it's possible he thinks it does other things.

"I can do some healing, too. I've been dabbling in alchemy."

All the same, Liam normally stocks up on healing potions. But... this time potency crystals seem to be the popular choice, and he follows suit.

Teja also nods at healing. "I've got some skill in the area as well. Maybe that Scroll of breath of life could be handy though.." muses Teja.

In the end though, she borrows a greater potency crystal and affixes it to her silver dagger.

Sorry, not posting very much at all at the moment.

Teja, no worries. Get better first. I can always run another one for you :)

I'm mostly better now, just been a tiring week, and family not wanting me to be anywhere near them so they don't get sick. I'm out of confinement now, hurrah.

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.

You can aid in this modified ritual as secondary casters with a DC 26 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)

Teja sits down next to a candle. As she does so a breeze seems to drift the candle flame toward her for a moment. Focusing her eyes upon it, she casts her mind back to the dollhouse, and thinks starts to remember.

occultism: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

However the act of sitting down almost blows out the candle!

Not a good first roll, but at least not a crit failure

While by no means a spellcaster, Liam is at least knowledgeable about magic.

...enough so to realize that the better approach for him here is to coordinate and encourage better experts.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

Any chance to use Religion? I have it at +18, otherwise it is Diplomacy at +13 which is meh.
Do we truly get haste scroll lvl 7 - it is the same as for high tier?

Any chance to use Religion? I have it at +18, otherwise it is Diplomacy at +13 which is meh.

Do we truly get haste scroll lvl 7 - it is the same as for high tier?

I'll let you use Religion. And yes, you do get the haste scroll. Can anyone cast it, though?

Haste is on all lists beside devine ;) Manny can cast it no prob, and If I recall Teja well, she had some caster archetype

Religion: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21

Makai grabs her shield closer and closes her eyes

Religion, hero point as this is madness: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

Zabu flops down next to one of the candles, almost knocking it over by accident. He wiggles his fingers in the palm of the person sitting next to him then giggles before some stern glances force him to sullenly settle down.

Not much for intellectual pursuits, he does pay close attention.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

But his mind soon wanders as he looks around at the gathered ladies.

Need 1 more success to make the ritual a crit success. Makai's check is a crit.

It's never easy, is it? The mind makes it real. Shylye would mumble that to him sometimes while claiming she was "just an illusion." If she is an illusion, Manny didn't tell her to say that!

Whatever. Join hands. Nice hands. Guide everyone to success. "No worries. The more the merrier. We're all Pathfinders, and we're all here to unify and work as one. Just focus."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

Manny's been in this situation a few times. Lots of people want to have fun. Darkened room with mood lighting. Just relax and get in the groove.

Oh, and a scroll of haste? Whoa, this is turbocharged. Yeah, he can hold onto it.

Looks like Manny has it

Kohl lets his draconic presence add some gravitas to the ritual as he takes hands with the fellow Pathfinders.

Tjea gestures to the scroll. "I can read that if nobody else wants it. With a few of you marshal types up the front, I might almost have time to do it even."

Manny and Makai both contribute to the casting and the ritual is a Critical Success. Even before you enter the mindscape you are suddenly aware of its instability and can act even before the mindscape reacts to you.

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...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25

"Ah. Hm. Should we answer that, then?" Liam draws his weapon and readies his shield. "Even if it's bait, it's probably something we'll want to deal with anyway, I think."

Calm the raging maze - from the ritual, you are now aware that the mindscape is inherently unstable. Every 10 minutes, something will happen. To prevent this bad thing from happening, you can try to sweet talk the mindscape...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20 I'll use a Hero Point here, unless >Glad-Hand< can be used instead.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17

"Ah shaddup!" Manny blurts at the maze. "Uh, I mean-" but it's too late.

Manny isn't sure what to make of the village. Society +10 or Bardic Lore +10 to Recall Knowledge, if possible.

"Ooo! Mystery voice! Sounds spicy! Let's go there."

A bit hard to explain but the mindscape is not really a creature so you really can't talk to it for a minute :)

Manny tries to talk to the mindscape but ends up insulting it. As a result, bits of debris from the surrounding landscape suddenly fly at you.

Bludgeoning, DC 24 Basic Reflex/Will: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Will Save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20
"Ow. I deserved that."

btw, the DC 24 Basic Save is for everyone... You can thank Manny for getting pelted with debris after just arriving :)

Will save, DC24: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (2) + 19 = 21

Makai growls as she was not able to resist the stone.

"Let's go to see who called us ..."

When seeing the creature

"I am sorry, and who are you exactly?" Exploration activity defend, Makai has the healing aeon stone, so in 7 mins it would be gone

Will: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33

"Gah, this debris isn't even real, it barely hurts," Kohl comments. "Still we should get to the bottom of things wuickly if we don't want thoughts jumping on our heads all day."

When they get to the figure:

"Look, Csilla decided that she should get those memories out, and she gets to make up her mind about her own...mind," Kohl contends.

I'll Intimidate if needed. +21

Reflex: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

It isn't the first time rocks have come hurtling at Zabu and he nimbly manages to dodge all the debris.

When they run into granny snake legs, Zabu lowers his mask, the design only enhancing his feral appearance and giving it a distinctly demonic an even more feline cast.

"If you think we're going to let some figment of imagination stop us, you must be one of the crazier parts of her psyche," he says.

If any of you have the healing aeon stone, you can ignore the save since you'll be ok in 10 minutes... if you don't have the aeon stone, then you probably should be kicking yourselves for not getting one! :)

will: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27 And healing Aeon stone, so no worries here

Teja listens carefully to the maze/mindscape, slowly moving toward the voice.
"Don't you think that is Csilla's decision to make? Every parent must let go of their child at some stage if they are to grow.." she points out to the serpentine figure.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

Manny rubs his head as they follow the voice to its source.

"Huh. Csilla has to confront her past at some point. Besides, missing memories suck. Aunt Voralla sacrificed her memories to destroy a mummy lord. Took her decades to recognize Shylye. And that was it. She was more of a shell than a person."

He sighs.

"Look, I'm just saying. Could you explain what's going on? What if we can tame or conquer the worst of it? You won't be here forever, it's going to come out at some point."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (1) + 16 = 17Glad Hand definitely applies here, right? Save me!
Glad Hand: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Reflex: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25 3 damage, healed in 3 minutes.

"Boss's orders, I'm afraid," Liam agrees, "And she's decided it's worth the risk. If you can explain the danger, perhaps instead we can cooperate to mitigate the damage?"

The naga's head turns to Makai. "I am called Jamimpi. You do not belong here. This place was the childhood home of the dreamer, and somewhere that they have found to be comfortable, as they enjoy watching others find happiness."

Jamimpi pauses, as if to consider Manny's words, before continuing, "I cannot allow you to proceed. I would implore you to heed my warning and turn back before you regret it."

"I don't plan to stay here. Is Csilla the dreamer? She... she deserves a chance to be happy, you know."

Manny hopes this doesn't come to blows, but maybe he can squeeze one more answer out of Jamimpi before going elsewhere.