PFS1 #5-08: The Confirmation (GM Mike...R) (Inactive)

Game Master Mike...R

The woman shrugs. "It might, it might not. It's certainly worth trying. Though it occurs to me...." She concentrates, the air rippling around her head.

Casting detect magic on the cloth.

Bart gets out a length of rope and hands it to the dwarf.

Hang on to this...I'll climb down and up the other side. I'll tie it off so the rest of you can easily climb up... he says as he takes his armour off, revealing a load of scars on his arms and chest peeking out from under his shirt. He throws his gear across the pit then knots the rope and starts his descent.

climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Then tries to climb the other side.

climb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Zika uses her magic to successfully levitate the bundle of cloth out of the pit. Upon closer examination it turns out to be a blue cloak. While the cloak looks a little sorry for itself after clearly having spent some time at the bottom of the pit, it is of good quality and when Zhaxia studies it for magical auras, she finds that it does indeed harbour magic of some sort (Zhaxia or anyone else using detect magic can make a spellcraft check to identify the nature of the magic in the cloak).

Zhaxia's investigation into the content of Janira's backpack yields a number of useful looking items which the halfling has helpfully labeled, saving the need for anyone to identify them...

Meanwhile Bart successfully climbs down the pit and back up the other side.

Would I be correct in thinking that Bart's plan here is to have one knotted rope going down one side of the pit and then a second for climbing up the other side? If so what would be the plan for securing the ropes, or would someone just hold each one? Assuming that is the plan then anyone climbing the knotted rope would just need to make one DC 5 climb check to climb down and a second one to climb back up using the knotted rope.

Spellcraft check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

exactly...have Morden hold the rope to allow trhe others to climb down, then I can hold while they climb up...we can even use a second rope to be a safety catch

Happy to serve as anchor, but the rhino may need to be hauled down and back up. It can succeed at an Acrobatics to jump the distance, but it's by no means a guarantee (+2 against a DC 15).

we can lower him down..with each one of us on one side..thewn you climb down... upll you up and we both pull him up...

Zika is not trained in Spellcraft.

After getting the cloak out of the pit Zika leaves it with Zhaxia, with the upmost confidence that she will figure out what it is.

"Hei, Bartok. If the gillmen come regularly they probably have a way to cross across without risking breaking their neck. Do you see anything on your side? Like... I don't know... A way to flood the pit and swim across? Or a place easy to secure a rope?"

The DC to jump horyzontally is equal to the number of feet jumped, so I think the DC to jump 10 feet is 10 (I could be wrong, I am a bit confused by the DC table of Acrobatics). Also, since Mount has a speed of 40 feet they would get a +4 modifier to the jump, so a +6 total.

I'll check... Bart says as he puts on his armour as he searches.

perc: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

"We should leave a rope on the far side to make it easier for Janira to follow us once she gets away from the minotaur."

After studying the magic that she detected in the cloak Zhaxia is unable to determine exactly what it does.

While she does this, Bartok searches around on the other side of the pit. A search that proves fruitful when he discovers a 3-foot-wide plank of wood hidden out of sight behind a bend in the tunnel. The plank is of a perfect length to bridge the big hole allowing the rest of the party to cross without any further need for climbing.

Are the party planning on leaving the bridge in place for Janira?

Continuing further into the tunnels, the Pathfinders spot more aquatic themed petroglyphs carved into the cave's damp walls. The frequency of these increase as they progress deeper into the system below the Kortos Mounts, as does the number of stalactites. Eventually the tunnel opens up into a large cavern. What must have once been beautifully carved reliefs and inscriptions have since weathered heavily, their features dulled and softened to the point that it is hard to distinguish what each once depicted. A wide tunnel exits the cavern on its far side, and blue-burning torches line the passageway’s walls.

Examination of the carvings found in this area suggest that they are in a very different style to the petroglyphs found elsewhere in the caves and that they appear much older. Some of them are far to badly weathered to interpret, but others are still distinct enough that it may still be possible to decipher their meaning.

Trying to decipher the carvings would require a Knowledge (history or religion) or Linguistics check. Appraise or Perception would also be options for this check, although with a slightly higher DC. Success will be determined by the result of whoever gets the best result in this check, so feel free to either aid other PCs or roll your own check.

"Leave the bridge in place, but with only a slight overhang on the entrance side. That way, if the minotaur follows us the board will likely slip and send it into the pit."

Zhaxia examines the carvings halfheartedly, most of her skills of no use.

Perception check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Examining the carvings Zhaxia is really not sure what to make of them or what they could mean.

Makes sense to leave it for her...good idea... Bart then focuses on the carvings.

perc: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Bart is equally stumped regarding what the carvings might represent.

Do Zika and Morden want to try an decipher the carvings in this cavern or do the party want to go deeper into the cave system and explore the tunnel on the other side of the cavern with the blue burning torches?

"We should expect someone ahead. The fact that the plank was on this side of the caves means that someone already came and took it out after them or that someone or something puts it on when a gillman arrives."

Zika aproaches curiosly at the torches lighted with blue fire on the room.

"I never saw fire burn blue before... Do you think those are everburning or that someone has lighten them up recently?"

As the bard investigates the sources of light her eyes wonder to the carvings on the wall.

Knowledge(history): 1d20 + 1 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 3 + 1 = 13

Likely magic...although there might be some things that burn blue when lit...maybe some powders mixed together...like fireworks... Bart muses

Upon closer examination of the torches Zika realises that they do not seem to be giving off any heat.

Turning her attention to the carvings the bard is sure she recognises elements of at least one of them, but just can't quite remember from where (Zika narrowly missed making the DC to start deciphering the carvings).

"Before we move on, though, I'm going to sketch these patterns. Even if we couldn't understand them, Master Shaine might be interested."

No Knowledges or Linguistics here.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Like his colleagues Morden is equally puzzled by the carvings which Zhaxia sketches down for later study (You got really unluck with those rolls).

Looking along the tunnel with the blue torches the party can see that it appears to lead to another large cave after a short distance.

Is there anything else you want to do in the current cavern or do you want to investigate the area you can see at the far end of the tunnel?

I'll give everyone another 12 hours or so just incase there is anything else anyone wants to do in the current cave and then move things on to the cave the party can see along the tunnel.

"I think we've done enough here...let's see what lies ahead."

Sounds good to me... Bart leads the way, his blade ready.

just need a map to show where we are..

Zika has been all this time looking at the carvings, convinced that she she has to know at least some of these simbols but incapable of remembering any detail or their meaning.

When she notices that Bart is starting to leave she grabs one of the blue torches from the wall and follows along, keeping the light of her dancing lights ahead.

"This all means nothin' to me. We can report it when we get back, I'm sure it'll mean somethin' to someone." Morden continues onward.

Bartok leads the party through the short tunnel and into the area they saw beyond. The soft light of the surrounding fungus mixes with the flickering glow of the nearby torches to reveal a grand chamber. A large pool of water along the chamber’s southern edge reflects the blue and green radiance to illuminate the massive stalactites that cling to the ceiling overhead. Two other tunnels branch off from this area, leading to the east and west.

Rising up from the pool is a column of rock with steeply sloped sides and a flat top, as if someone had sawn off the top of a massive stalagmite. A miniature city carved from this same stone occupies nearly the entire surface. Tiny trinkets such as ancient coins, polished semiprecious stones, and ornately braided loops of string are scattered throughout the diorama, and pale cave frogs clamber atop it. The smooth cavern floor is covered in gravel and pebbles along the edge of the pool, and several foot-long centipedes prowl among the gravel in their search for prey.

Kneeling in the water of the pool is a lone humanoid creature, he is facing away from the party and does not appear to have noticed them yet.

I've added a picture of the creature in the water to slide 5, I've also added a map of this cave to slide 6. Feel free to move yourself on the map, the tunnel you have just come through is the one in the middle of the slide, the two other exits from the current cave are the ones on the top right and bottom right of the map (north is left on the map).

What do you want to do?

k local1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
k local2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
perc: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Bart shares what he knows. He sheathes his sword and approaches the gillman slowly, so as to not startle him.

Pardon us, stranger. We don't mean to intrude...

The elderly looking gillman does not initially appear to notice Bart's approach, only turning around when he spots the half orc's reflection in the pool ahead of him.

Upon spotting Bart he intently watches the warriors lips while he speaks, before nodding politely in acknowledgement of the party.

Ahh... Bart says as he points to his ears and shakes his head.

I see...my friends, I think he is not able to hear us...hence why I was able to get close to him so easily. He seems to be able to read lips though..so stick to the common tongue...am I right, sir?

The gillman smiles courteously and nods by way of confirmation.

If the party are interested in asking the gillman any question, feel free to make diplomacy checks to improve his attitude towards you. As before I'm happy for one person to lead on this and others to aid the check. If there is anything else you want to do that could help improve his view of the party feel free to do that as well.

Zhaxia steps into the gillman's field of view. "I can speak to you mind to mind, if that's more convenient for you."

Zika moves her lights to better iluminate Bart and Zhaxia's face to facilitate the gillmen's to read their lips, while remaining herself in the iluminated area, limiting herself to also nodding as a salute.

Her eyes wonder towards the city's diorama, still frustrated at her innibility to identify the rest of the runes her head works franticly trying to find something at least vaguely familiar about it.

Knowledge history: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

It takes her a minute, the bard not being familiar with the silouette of the city until she recognizes the Starstone Cathedral.

"Absalom! It's Absalom!"

Zika puts her hand over her mouth, having screamed involuntarily at the joy of finally recognizing anything in these ruins. Then she decides that covering one's mouth in front of someone who has to read the lips is probably rude and lowers her hand.

Knowledge local: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

While looking a bit embarrased for her outburst towards the old gillmen, the bard notices the cloth folded near the pool. The material style and color seem very similar to the one the group managed to recuperate from the pit.

Zhaxia and Bart are a bit too far for her to point it to them without being too obvious, but she points it to Morden with her head.

Morden meanders toward the diorama, kicking aside a centipede or two in the process, while a few of his allies try to converse with the gillman. He picks up one of the ancient coins, his dwarven treasure sense all a-tingle. "Would ya look at that. Wonder if any of these are still spendable," he says absently.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Morden doesn't really have anything to contribute in here.

Observing the scene the old gillman watches the Pathfinders with wry amusement. When Zhaxia asks about using telepathy the gillman makes an expression suggesting that he is fine with either method of communication.

Looking at the gillman's reactions the party get the impression that while he has no issue with the Pathfinders being in the cave, getting any more out of him other than polite nods and smiles will likely require some degree of diplomacy.

Zhaxia's voice sounds clearly in everyone's heads. Greetings, sir. I'm called Zhaxia, and I'm a member of the Pathfinder Society. If it's not an imposition on your time, we are curious about this place--could you tell us about it?

Diplomacy check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

The gillman appears to consider Zhaxia's question although he does not immediately answer it.

I'll give everyone an opportunity to aid Zhaxia's diplomacy check if they want to.

i have a -2 mod..sooo...yeah...i'll leave it for others....

What do the party want to do now? It looks like Zhaxia was very close to persuading the gillman to be a bit more forthcoming, so I'm happy for anyone who wants to to try and aid that check (The DC to aid another is only 10 and there is no penalty if you fail, so it is certainly worth trying even if you are not that diplomatic). Alternatively there are also unexplored exits from this cave, one at the top of the map and one at the bottom which you may want to investigate.

diplo aid: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14 wasn't sure if there was a limit to aids in this case

After a brief pause to consider the situation the gillman appear won over by the Pathfinders polite approach.

"It is good to meet you Zhaxia of the Pathfinder Society, my name is Uori. The place we are in is a sacred site for my people, it has been a place of pilgrimage for many generations due to the freshwater spring that fills this pool. Priests and spiritual leaders come here on the full moon to meditate and seek enlightenment before traveling back home to the sea."

"As I understand it these caverns were also once sacred to the Aroden, the dead go of humanity. There are a number of carvings in the adjoining cave that are linked to his worship, but from what I gather, over the past century those carvings have gradually weathered and melted as if eroded away by the action of the waves. If I had to speculate I believe that the fading is due to the dead gods influence on this cave system also fading. Based on the state of the carvings I suspect it will not be long before that influence has faded completely. Soon the only carvings left on the walls will be those left by pilgrims, such as myself, elsewhere in the caves."

"It is a nice surprise to meet such polite outsiders in this place, recent pilgrims have reported encounters with far less pleasant visitors who seem to have invaded other areas of the cave system and can cause serious problems for those who come here simply seeking enlightenment."

That makes explains why the gillmen are here during the full moon. Our leader on this foray saw various members of your tribe making their pilgrimage. That is why we are here... Bart says. Isn't it odd that a place holds meaning to different religions? But if there are those that would desecrate them, I would like to...persuade them to stop...

Uori smiles and nods at Bart's comments. "If you were able to assist with the invaders I would be extremely grateful." he says. "Luckily I've not seen any myself, but others who have been here recently mention encountering small blue aggressive humanoid creatures. Even worse some pilgrims who set out to come here on previous full moons have never returned, perhaps they ran into a misfortune on their journey to the caves, but it is a worry that perhaps something may have befallen them after they arrived here."

"If you are able to help, I'd suggest searching along the two tunnels either side of this pool." he adds pointing at the two tunnels which the party have not yet explored.

Exploration is what Pathfinders do, and we will definitely watch for any sign of your fellow pilgrims. Before we go, though, that model is certainly interesting, and we'd like to get some sketches of it. The psychic glances around the room. "Morden, did you see anything there worth studying further?"

Morden quickly hides the coin behind his back (a gesture that's quite unlikely to fool anyone). "I, em..." His eyes dart to the pile of clothing Zhaxia had pointed out to him a moment ago. "I found that cloak over there." Now that it comes to it... "And it looks pretty similar to the one down the hole earlier, don't it?"

"Thankyou and of course you can make some sketches of model." Uori replies to Zhaxia. "Once you've had a chance to explore both tunnels, perhaps I can give you some assistance in interpreting what you have found if that would be useful."

"Ah yes, that's my cloak." smiles Uori in response to Morden's comments "Many of us pilgrims wear such cloaks when we travel to this cave. You said you found another one down a hole? Maybe it was lost by a previous pilgrim visiting this site."

Yes. The passage that we took into the mountain was blocked by a pit, and the cloak was at the bottom. Would you like it back, since it likely belonged to another pilgrim?

"Oh, that's very kind of you." exclaims Uori, clearly impressed by the Pathfinder generosity. The gillman reaches for his backpack and after a bit of searching pull out a wand. "By way of thanks, perhaps this might be of use to you?" he say handing over the wand. "It can provide the benefits of a shield of faith spell. If none of you are able to use it I'm happy to activate it for you, just let me know."

It's a wand of shield of faith, caster level 6, with 10 charges.

Uori then pauses as if trying to recall something. "I noticed that you had some sketches of the carvings from the other cave in your notes. I've no idea if this will be useful to you, but I recall a previous pilgrim who traveled here mentioning that those carvings may relate to one of Aroden's holy texts."

This additional information counts as an aid to everyone's previous rolls to identify the carvings in the other cave. As Zika's roll narrowly missed the DC, the aid from Uori is enough to allow her to identify one of the carving. Specifically she identifies one of the images as 'The Soldier' a parable from the History and Future of Humanity (the principle holy text of Aroden) which features one of Aroden's twelve guises, meant to illustrate his hopes for humanity.

The image depicts the soldier bearing a lantern through the streets of a city, along with the text from the parable itself. This alludes to the dead god's prophecy that the vigilant shall carry light to the darkest corners of the world to banish the shadows. Furthermore she realises that the image may relate to a potential ritual that can be performed using the model city found in the current cave.

Lastly, she also notices that the holy text depicted in the carving is slightly different from the text which appears in the current known version of the History and Future of Humanity, suggesting that this may represent and earlier version of the work.

You are a font of knowledge, Uori...and most generous. We will do out best to cleanse this sacred site of any interlopers... Bart says with a nod of his head in respect.