[Gameday XIII] PFS1e 6-04 - Beacon Below (KS) (Inactive)

Game Master phaeton_nz

Gameplay Thread

Please fill out Slide 2 and introduce your PC while we wait for the start date.

Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir rubs sleep from his eyes as faint pre-dawn light filters into his office. He shutters the window as a thrush begins singing loudly in the garden below before gesturing for everyone to have a seat and addressing the matter at hand. I’ve received a request from the Diamond Sage, Tahonikepsu, the leader of the Jeweled Sages. You may be familiar with her as an associate of Amenopheus, longtime friend of the Society and our trusted expert on matters of Ancient Osirion. She has asked the Pathfinder Society to send its best Osirionologists to the Pillars of the Sun to help explore a sealed-off area in the sages’ stronghold there—so I have recommended you.

He searches his desk for quill and ink and scribbles out two notes, sealing one with wax imprinted with the Way of the Open Road. I’ve made arrangements with a caravan to Eto and provided directions from there to the Pillars of the Sun. Once you’ve reached the Pillars, Tahonikepsu has promised a guide to see you the rest of the way. We have maps and sketches from the last expedition if you want to familiarize yourself with the site, and I have also withdrawn several scrolls from our reserves in case your Ancient Osiriani is rusty. Feel free to arrange alternate transport—at your own expense. Don’t try using magic to reach the sanctum directly, though; there’s no telling where you’d end up.

The venture-captain rises from his seat to see everyone off, and hands over the two letters. Show the first letter to the caravan master. The sealed one is your letter of introduction to the Diamond Sage. Remember, the Jeweled Sages are invaluable allies in our exploration of Ancient Osirion, and it’s a privilege to be invited into their sanctum. Treat everything there with care, and help to preserve the region’s past.

Katswiri sits in a chair, watching the Venture-Captain and glancing at her fellow Pathfinders. She is a Garundi woman in her mid 30's, with her brown hair pulled back in a ponytail. She wears silver rimmed glasses, a mithral breastplate and well worn traveler's clothes. She has a Handy Haversack on her back, and two Ioun stones whirl around her head, while a shield and morning star lay resting at her side.

When the Venture-Captain finishes, she gives him a warm smile and a nod.
"I think we'll be up to the task. It will be good to see Tahonikepsu again, and to go home to the desert sands. I always enjoy exploring ancient Osiriani structures, they have a deep and rich historical heritage."

Katswiri turns to her companions and gives a friendly wave. "I am Katswiri, the Desert Seer of the Scarab Sages. I am looking forward to working with all of you. The gods gifted me with second sight and spellcasting when I was young, but took my hearing. Once I started working with the society, I was able to acquire these glasses - " She pauses and taps the side of her glasses frames " - which magically let me see the words on your lips. It has been quite a bit easier to communicate than when I had to read them myself! Usually they are sufficient, but I would appreciate warning if you hear something from out of line of sight, or a magical weapon starts talking to us or something."

Gurgle shifts uneasily, his eyes darting from face to face, never resting too long in one place. His blue-green skin glistens in the light, the coral-colored spots on his arms and neck standing out against his mithril kikko armor. A brooch with the symbol of the Scarab Sages faction glints on his chest.

"Name’s Gurgle, The Twice Risen. That's right, I been killed twice." he mutters, his voice low and gravelly, like the sound of distant waves. "Been with the Pathfinders for a while now. Don’t make me your friend, but it makes me useful." His gaze flickers to the rapier at his side, then back to the group. "I'm blessed by Besmara, the Pirate Queen. Means I do things my way — and the sea’s way."

He tightens his grip on his stonebow, his eyes narrowing slightly. "I don’t trust easy, and I don’t expect you to either. But we’re here for a reason — treasure, glory, whatever keeps us moving. Stick with me, pull your weight, and we’ll be fine."

There’s a brief smirk on his lips, but it vanishes just as quickly. "And if you don’t? Well... that’s your problem." He taps the Scarab Sages brooch once, almost as if reminding himself why he’s still with the faction, then adds, "I’m here for loot, knowledge, and Besmara’s favor."

Gurgle takes mental notes of The Pillars, meeting up with Tahonikepsu's guide, and the two letters.

He requests to peruse the maps and sketches.
Knowledge (Geography +4, Local +7).
• Friend of Janira Gavix: +1 Knowledge checks attempted in the Grand Lodge.

"Who's takin' the comprehend languages scrolls?" he inquires, as he tries to nonchalantly secret one away into his cloak.

~~~~~~~~~~

Gurgle’s eyes narrow slightly as he studies Katswiri. He tilts his head, his eyes flicking to her glasses and back to Katswiri's face, watching her lips move for a moment. He crosses his arms, still looking wary, but there’s a glimmer of understanding in his gaze.

"So, those let you read lips, huh?" His voice is rough, but there's a touch less edge than usual. "Could be useful in a tight spot, especially if someone’s got words they don’t want heard. I’ll make sure you know if I catch something you don’t."

He pauses, glancing around as if checking for threats again. "Long as we’re clear though — you read my lips, it’s only what I want you to know." He taps the side of his nose with a crooked smile. "Still, pleasure to meet ya, Seer. I don’t mind someone who sees more than they hear. Could be we’ll need that, sooner or later."

With a final nod, he shifts his weight, eyes scanning the area once more.

A bit tickled at being called an Osirionologists, Guy gives a low chuckle. Guy is a swarthy mousy man the color of sand from head to toe. He carries a staff, has a couple of ioun stones circling his head, and carries a prominent holy symbol of Sarenrae.

"It's nice to be back in my home country after all the travelling."

We are being briefed in Sothis, Osiri, right? Where are the scrolls that were provided listed? Note: I took read lips as a language for Guy. I hear that was legal at one point but I'm not sure. Anyone know for certain?

"I do not need a scroll since I have a wand to cast the spell. Comprehend Languages is too useful, but not enough for a spell slot."

"Pleased to meet you both, Gurgle and Guy. They are handy, sometimes. Katswiri runs her finger down the edge of her glasses frame and smiles mischeviously. "I caught an Aspis agent out once when they were holding a whispered conversation across a ball room, and the glasses let me see their words easily. I practiced a lot reading lips before I joined the Society, but its much harder with distance without the magical aid and a good deal more work. I still need to do it the old fashioned way if I use a Clairvoyance spell though, since the magical augmentations don't worth through the sensor."

"You are from Osirion as well, Guy? I grew up in the desert wastes before I eventualy landed myself in Sothis in my teen years. I love seeing all the places the Society sends us, but there is nothing quite like being back on the sands of home."

"I also have a scroll of Comprehend Languages, so you're welcome to them Gurgle. I rarely need them however, as I greatly enjoy languages and am fluent in Ancient Osiriani as well as many of the other dead languages of distant empires past. I'm still learning Cyclops and Infernal, but can read Jistka, Ancient Osiriani, Tekritanin as well as the timeless classics like the elemental tongues, Draconic, Celestial, Aklo and Abyssal, which I find usually covers most of the languages we would encounter in Osiriani sites."

I think we are in Sothis. As far as I know, Read Lips is still a valid language choice; it looks like my FAQ link broke at some point, but the legacy FAQ has it mentioned here if you search for Read Lips: https://paizo.com/organizedplay/legacy/faq

Katswiri has that as a language choice as well, which is how she handled communication for her first few levels of Pathfinding. She upgraded to the Glasses once she could afford them since they let her do it much more effortlessly. Under normal circumstances, with the -1 per 10 ft distance modifiers she can take 10 to see what anyone is saying within 240 feet, or 150 feet minimum in battle or other stressful situations where she would have to roll.

"Hi all and blessings of Desna for this troupe. I seem to be the odd duck here, having nothing to do with Scarab Sages and all, but since I was around, someone decided to foist me on you in case you need to find the wonderful ancient Osirian traps on this outing." The talker is a robust-looking Varisian man with well-groomed moustachios and a practiced cheer on his face. His dark hair, usually well-tended, is suffering a bit from the heat. "I'm Taresh. Meladronai is my family name, though I answer to Taresh Mel. I'm a magician by trade, specializing in transmutation, courtesy of the bunch of gnomes who I traveled with while young. If you need something blown up or charmed, I'm not helpful. Otherwise, tell me what you need and I'll try to accommodate."

Taresh is wearing a plain old rucksack that has been overstuffed with all sorts of odds and ends, and has a well-worn sheath for a rapier on his left hip and a shortbow hanging from the rucksack. A brace of wands is dangling from his right hip. He's wearing no armor. Most of the colorful Varisian scarves and belts have been stuck into the bag because of the heat, except for the white one around his head.

While Taresh might seem cheerful almost to the point of annoyance, the creature sitting on his left shoulder is not. It appears to be a dragon made of shadows and darkness, with scales so fine it glistens. It has its tail coiled protectively around Taresh's neck, and occasionally the man flicks it with a finger, making the dragon narrow its eyes and poke him in the ear or cheek with a spine. Taresh continues, "This precious little cutie is Daosvaria. I found her on an earlier outing, and since her previous employer was no longer capable of taking care of her needs, I adopted her. She looks fierce, but is very helpful if you treat her well. Aren't you, Daosvaria?"

Daosvaria lifts her tiny head and looks at the rest of the group like she's evaluating their net worth or nutritional value. She speaks with a voice that's too precise and sharp for a creature that small. "I will help those who need help from the Master, but be aware that I am keeping track of your performance, soft humanoids." The dragon has a sash, and Taresh whistles atonally as he picks a few wands from her brace and sticks them to the sash.

"Pleased to be traveling with you, and so is Daosvaria, believe it or not!"
-------------------------------
"Don't know who's handing out scrolls, but I don't need any. If Katswiri can't read it, I have a wand for it." He looks lazily at Gurgle. "I thought all you Scarab people were deeply invested in the lore of the desert and the glories of old. You sound you expect to find gold instead of secrets."

"Does it bite? Not that I plan to stick my finger near it any time soon. To answer your question, I'm in this for the glory, not the gold."

"Say, Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir," Hmmm, I wonder if I I could get away with just callin him Norden, "for those who do not know can you explain what a Jeweled Sage is and some information about Tahonikepsu a Amenopheus beyond their titles?"

"I thought all you Scarab people were deeply invested in the lore of the desert and the glories of old. You sound [as if] you expect to find gold instead of secrets."

Gurgle slinks forward and sticks out a finger to poke with curiosity at Taresh's shadowy pet mini dragon. The little dragon hisses (most likely), startling Gurgle. He quickly retracts his arm.

Gurgle gives Taresh a crooked, toothy grin.
"Gold. Secrets... They're both worth something to someone, heh-heh."

"We're glad to have you with us, Taresh and Daosvaria. I personally have a bad habit of touching things that end up being cursed on these types of expeditions, and your expertise dealing with traps will be appreciated..." Her eyes seem to glance sideways, following an Ocher Ioun stone as it orbits around her field of vision before she shakes herself slightly.

"Regarding what we might need spell wise, perhaps we should all compare our resources and see how we can best complement each other. I have a fixed set of spells I have been gifted with by the gods, as well as a Mnemonic Vestment and a collection of the following scrolls..."

Katswiri's got her spell list on her character sheet linked from her profile. Don't hesitate to ask if a spell would be helpful for you. Her Inventory Tracking Sheet is also linked, and has a lot of scrolls listed.

Guy will also compare spell notes, making his selections known. Note: He has a number of open slots which he will prepare once he has a better idea of what they will encounter. Between Guy and Katswiri we have tons of healing.

You do start in Sothis.

The Diamond Sage can give you the official version. Put simply, the sages are a group of scholars who preserve Osirian history. Each possesses a potent magical jewel that contains the memories and knowledge of past sages.

I’m not sure where Amenopheus is—Absalom, I think. When he found the Diamond Sage a few months ago, they held a vote and, with the support of certain Pathfinders, she became leader of the group.

As promised, Venture-Captain Norden Balentiir gives you three scrolls of comprehend languages, a scroll of tongues, and a field primer that grants the user a +2 bonus on Linguistics checks to decipher Ancient Osiriani.

You also have a few hours to purchase supplies and research the Jeweled Sages or the Pillars of the Sun before the caravan departs.

Roll Knowledge History or Knowledge Local followed by a Knowledge Geography.

"I have a great deal of knowledge regarding the Jeweled Sages and the pillars of the sun, both from personal experience and from my oracular gifts. Allow me to consult my second sight for a moment, and I can summarize."

Katswiri's eyes flicker back and forth as she enters a brief trance, viewing information only she can see, then refocuses as she smiles.

Knowledge: History, Savior of the Sages, Focused Trance: 1d20 + 23 + 3 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 23 + 3 + 20 = 56

Knowledge: Geography, Focused Trance: 1d20 + 12 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 12 + 20 = 39

Kn History: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Kn Geography, untrained: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

"I believe my own contributions will pale in comparison to what you Sages know, but let's find out just how much more I need to learn."

Knowledge: Geography: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Knowledge: History: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Daosvaria pretends to be patient, but soon rolls her eyes. "If I want the facts, there is a better source for them." The dragon flies next to Katswiri and coils into a blob of spiky darkness to listen.

Unphased by the dragon's critique, Taresh nods politely to the others. "I now have a small understanding of your magical capabilities. Since we are magic-heavy group, I am afraid I might be the frontline." He unsheathes an adamantine rapier. "Given some preparation, I can pierce most defenses, but I would ask for some defensive support to survive a prolonged engagement, and I would prefer to have a couple of moments before engaging tougher foes." Taresh walks to check what items the Sandswept Lodge has in shelves.

Taresh purchases two scrolls of bull's strength and one scroll of cat's grace in case there's a fight he can prepare for.

"I can provide some support, including a blessing that provides a number of sacred bonuses. But I need to know what we will be up against first since it is narrowly targeted."

"Aye. I'll be right there with ye, Taresh."
Gurgle slides his flashy rapier halfway out from its scabbard, then slides it back in, giving the fellow Pathfinder a wink.

He then addresses the others.
"I am endowed with the divine favors granted by Besmara. I agree, it would be most beneficial if we choose spells to compliment each other."

"Perhaps I should pick up a few scrolls before we head out."

Know: History: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 3 = 16
Know: Geography: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Savior of the Sages: +3 bonus on Knowledge (history) & Knowledge (religion) checks regarding Osirion.

Katswiri finds out everything.

Several scholars in the royal library left Sothis to study with the Diamond Sage last month.

Both the ancient pharaohs and later the Qadiran satrapy outlawed the Jeweled Sages. The current dynasty seems to enjoy warm relations with the order.

Each Jeweled Sage carries a unique sage jewel as a badge of membership. These jewels are potent magic items that contain the history of Ancient Osirion and some of the power of the Age of Destiny.

The Qadirans mercilessly hunted the sages and employed powerful outsiders to track them down.

The Pillars of the Sun is a mountainous region in central Osirion. It is a treacherous labyrinth of harsh desert and rocky terrain, full of cliffs and chasms.

The region is home to numerous monsters, ancient tombs, and lost ruins.

Some historians believe that the tomb of the Pharaoh of No Rain, An-Hepsu XI—infamous for using numerous dark rituals to extend his own life—is hidden in among the Pillars of the Sun.

Ancient wards and strange weather make some magic unreliable in the region, but a knowledgeable spellcaster can use these features to her advantage.

"My oracular powers can be used in a variety of ways. One of them involves drawing out the answers to questions, uncovering information we may wish to be better prepared. It takes some time, but I will use this ability before we leave and during the caravan trip to help us better understand what we face."

Katswiri will use her Automatic Writing revelation to gain the effect of Commune, for 8 yes or no questions.

-Is anything planning to ambush the caravan during our trip to the pillars of the sun?
-Is anyone trying to follow us in an attempt to find the sanctum of the sages?
-Are there any extraplanar creatures in the recently unsealed section of the Sanctum of the Sages mentioned in the letter?
-If yes: are any of them Divs? Are any of them elementals?
-Are there any undead in the unsealed section?
-If yes, are there any incorporeal undead?
-Are there any traps that can summon creatures?

If there are more questions available because the extraplanar creature and/or undead questions answered no:
-Is there a Sage Jewel in the unsealed section?
-Are any of the scholars from the Royal Library visiting the Diamond Sage dead?
-Is the Pharaoh of No Rain, An-Hepsu XI undead?

Afterwards, she will purchase a Belt of Mighty Constitution +2 and a Scroll of Dismissal.

A little late, another man arrives at Norden Balentiir's office. He is tall, bald and wearing medium armor. He has a sword on his back and a strange pistol on his belt, and also the habit of thoughtfully rubbing his chin while looking around. His dark cloak on the clasp is decorated with two symbols - the holy symbol of Ragathiel and a Red Star, and his blackened mithril armor fits perfectly on his slim figure. His accent is slightly reminiscent of Irissen, but still subtly different.

Grreetings, comrrrades. I have neverr been to ze southern lands of Golarion before, so I am glad to have zees mission veeze you. My name is Nikita Volkov. I am a marksman, svordsman and paladin of ze General of Vengeance. In ze past, I vas an officer of ze Red Army, but it remained very far beyond ze northern lands.

Guy gives him a look of respect, and relief.

"I'm Guy, Guy du Loc. I am glad you are here with us. Which red army were you a member of? Did it have anything to do with the Red Revolution in Galt?"

Nikita firmly shakes Guy's hand. Unfortunately, my homeland iz mahch further avay zean Galt. And zee great Red Army, fighting in zee holy battle for zee liberation of all prolyetareeans from zee yoke of imperialist-capitalist oppression, rremained zeyerye too. I can't go back zere, at least not now. It vas a one-vay ticket... One day I will tell you zees story, comrade, over a cup of strong black tea.

You encounter no noteworthy obstacles in your journey west to Eto and then south to the Pillars of the Sun. There, two sage acolytes wait for you: a
handsome young Garundi man in white robes named Garai Weheliye (cleric of Nethys) and a sweating, middle-aged Taldan woman named Helena Arendall (magus). They greet you excitedly and lead you to meet Tahonikepsu. They can answer basic questions about the area and the Sanctum, but they defer most other inquiries to Tahonikepsu.

The Diamond Sage personally maintains a twisting path between the many peaks of the Pillars of the Sun, chasing away monsters that would otherwise hunt along the route. Garai and Helena lead you along this trail, guided by hidden glyphs they sense with the aid of detect magic.

Knowledge(Arcana), heroism: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 12

Very interesting! Hopefully I got the orderning correct.
Before we leave.

"I have searched with my second sight to try and gain insight into what trials we may face. I do not see any undead or extraplanar creatures in the section of the sanctum that was unsealed, nor traps to summon them, and we should not be attacked on our journey. There is a Sage Jewel, however, in that section! Also, the Pharaoh of No Rain, An-Hepsu XI is undead. If we have cause to encounter his resting place, we should keep that in mind."

"Well met, Garai and Helena. Thank you for guiding us to our destination."
Knowledge, Arcana: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

Is the trip more than one day? If so, everyone will have Extended Ant Haul and Extended Resist Elements from Katswiri's nightly castings.

On the way Katswiri realises that the Sage Jewel would be the Diamond Sages' Sage Jewel since the unsealed section of the Sanctum is where you are being guided to.

And sure enough, you were not attacked on your journey here.

"I am beginning to suspect that perhaps the unsealed section of the sanctum does not contain dangers directly, but possibly has information pointing to some ancient site that does. I suppose we shall see when we get there."

Nikita nods silently, looking with interest at everything that comes his way. He had never been to such hot lands before, was not used to so much sand and such a hot sun...

Guy tries to get the assistants to open up a bit more about their mission.
diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

"What do you know about the mission we are to be sent on?"

Ack, with that roll he'll probably be ignored.

Could Katswiri please make a Bluff, Sleight of Hand, or Stealth, or anything else relevant, to hide what you are doing from the guides please,

The guides also request that you leave all questions until you meet with the Diamond Sage.

Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Gurgle greets the guides with a nod. Suspicious of the two, he tries to get a feel for the pair.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
He keeps a watchful eye on the pair during their trek to the Sanctum.

With his arcane knowledge, Gurgle assists Katswiri with making a map.
Know: Arcana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
And helps to keep what they're doing a secret.
Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Those Sages certainly seem busy. I wonder what they are doing. But Taresh mostly just tags along, happy to be protected from the parching sun and enjoying the different vistas.

Knowlege Arcana: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

The Sanctum of the Sages is an extensive underground complex set into the side of a mountain. At a distance, illusions disguise the structure’s features. Within about a hundred feet, however, the illusion fades, revealing a beautifully engraved facade and door carved directly into the mountain face. A dozen acolytes live outside the sanctum in a small tent community, where they meditate and debate the finer points of Nethys’s holy text, the Book of Magic.

Tahonikepsu waits inside the entrance hall. ((picture on slides))

Ornate rugs and a small pile of sitting pillows create a small soft space in the marble room, where a finely dressed Garundi woman sits by a fountain. She looks up from a puzzle of broken pottery fragments as the two escorts announce the Pathfinders. After thanking and dismissing Garai and Helena, she beckons her visitors forward. Welcome, Pathfinders. You and your venture-captain have my thanks for agreeing to aid us. I am Tahonikepsu, the Diamond Sage.

Has anyone met the Diamond Sage before?

Nope. Never before.
Taresh bows low and tries to greet Tahonikepsu politely. Daosvaria on his shoulder keeps the Diamond Sage in unblinking sight during the whole time.

Katswiri has met her several times, and voted for her in Destiny of the Sands Part III.

"It is good to see you again, Tahonikepsu." Katswiri gives her a warm smile. "I am excited to hear that a new area of the sanctum has been unsealed. I attempted to peer into its mysteries with my second sight during the trip, but the results were somewhat inconclusive. I look forward to hearing about what you have uncovered."

No, just the 'Scarred Sage' in the Unseen Inclusion.

"Well met. I am Guy du Loc, a servant of Sarenrae. It is a pleasure to meet you."

The Diamond Sage greets Katswiri by name. She then requests the Pathfinder's letter of introduction. After reading it carefully, she says

The venture-captain has great faith in you. I shall extend you the same courtesy. She gestures for everyone to sit before continuing. My sage jewel grants me some knowledge of this complex, and my own research has confirmed many of those memories. That said, the site’s long abandonment has made exploration difficult. I believe the next most productive step would be to reopen the archive, whose interior has defied out attempts at divinations. On the lowest floor of the library reside the written history of our order and a crystalline artifact attuned to the sage jewels. I would like you to explore the area, inventory the contents, and report your findings to me. Please be careful; these halls contain delicate, irreplaceable cultural treasures and writings.

Questions?

"What can you tell us about the structure of the Archive? Do I understand correctly that it has not been unsealed in modern times, and your knowledge of the crystalline artifact is due to the ancient memories from your sage jewel? And if that lies on the lowest floor, do you know how many other floors there are?"

Yes, Gurgle has met Tahonikepsu in Destiny of the Sands pt III.

"Greetings, Tahonikepsu." Gurgle says with a respect nod.

"I, too, would like to know how many floors this Library has. Also, what does the crystalline artifact look like and what does it do?"

"Sounds pretty straight-forward to me. Crack the vault, explore and record. Unless the way in has already been opened?"

"Fragile and irreplacable, hmm? Common sense says not to use aggressive evocation magic in there, but are you aware of any specific restrictions on magic use down there? Are there some particular spells that would react badly with the wards and defenses?"

Taresh thinks for a while before continuing. "As I understand, we must inspect and catalogue the contents, but we should not remove anything from the vault. Everything down there is to be left down there. Or are there exceptions?"

"Finally, do we have a permission to access the entire complex, or are there sections that are off-limits?"

"Also, is there any reason to think it is critical to start immediately, or would waiting one or two days be acceptable to properly configure our magical enchantments for safety?"

We've got ant haul/endure elements and delay poison if its morning from Katswiri, but we can potentially stack Taresh's and Guy's spells with any 1/hr per level buffs, extend them all with Blessing of Fervor in the evening, then wake up, memorize the actual spells for dungeon delving, then crack open the area and retain ~8+ hours of a bunch of effects.

Never thought of using blessing of fervor for that purpose. Good idea.

"I'm in no hurry, but then again I do not have any spells I need to cast either."

Nikita scratches his chin thoughtfully. I zink eef it's been standing here for a zousand years, eet can wait anozer day.

Nikita scratches his chin thoughtfully. I zink eef it's been standing here for a zousand years, eet can wait anozer day.

Gurgle chuckles softly.

Tahonikepsu has no objection to waiting a day until you are all ready but she would like you to start as soon as you can. Nor is she aware of any off-limit areas in the library.

I am not sure the extent of the collection. The sage who bore the amethyst jewel was responsible for the archive, along with several assistants. The Diamond Sage had other responsibilities. I do know the archive is divided into three levels. Librarians cataloged acquisitions on the first floor, repaired them on the next, and stored them in the library below, which is accessible only through a special gateway. The portal requires a sage jewel to activate, and should activate when I unseal the complex. If not, await my return.

Guy will cast blessing of fervor on anyone who wants it that evening (may be used to extend 1st or 2nd level spells). If noone is interested he will not bother.

Because he can cast any one cleric spell 5th level or lower using his bonded item, he will cast life bubble on himself 1 hour sunrise which is when his spells reset. Might as well use it or lose it. Will last until 17 hours after sunrise.

Then in the morning, before the group heads in, he will cast hunter's blessing on the group targeting undead and underground and have Taresh use his wand to cast mage armor on him (provided he is willing and he does not offer to cast it on Guy using a slot. Note: Guy has a pearl of power if Taresh has a Mage Armor slot prepared).

Katswiri will accept the Blessing of Fervor for her own preparations. She will cast extended Delay Poison, Ant Haul and Endure Elements on all of the team members, using her own Blessing of Fervor when Guy's runs out.

"Nikita, Taresh, Gurgle; if any of you have spells that would last until we enter the complex tomorrow if extended that could benefit from Blessing of Fervor, let us know."

We could get Mage Armor, Darkvision, False Life, Delay Disease I think. Nikita, you might also want to choose a different second level spell in the morning, since Katswiri will have Delay Poison covered.

Soon after the nightly spellcasting, Katswiri will go to bed to get a good night's rest for the exploration.

The following morning before preparing to enter the complex, Katswiri will prepare her Natural Divination ability by watching birds in the sky and charting marks in dirt or stone to get 2 +10 competence bonuses to skill checks in the next 24 hours and 1 +4 insight bonus to an initiative check in the next 24 hours.

Before entering the complex, she will cast Magic Vestment on her breastplate and shield, and Gurgle's Buckler to enchant them all to +2, then nod to companions that she's ready to proceed.