You identify the shadow-like creature reflected in the shard as an evil outsider known as an owb. You know it as a sinister creature that looks like a skeletal human torso coated in liquid shadow, but little more than that…
Clarification: Our multiple Light spells were ended all at once?
It’s always good to question me when it comes to magic as I pretty much suck at it (hence I always play martial or rogue-like characters). But I double checked and think I got this right…but I should’ve probably worded it differently as it was more like darkness covered up / overcame your lights more than they just went out. You can try a Spellcraft check to determine the spell if you wish…
It is pitch black as even those with dark vision cannot see; however, you can still see the reflection of the creature in the shards, strangely enough…
CG m Warpriest of Milani 6 | HP 50/50 | AC 18, t10, ff18 | F +7, R +2, W +10 (+2 neg energy) | Percept. +15 | darkvision 60' | Blessings 6/day | Stealth -2 | Init +2 | speed 20' | CMB +8 CMD 18 | Fervor 2d6 (6/day)| Active Conditions: prot/evil
Even with lupine darkvision, Piotr suddenly goes blind.
"Gah! What in the Nine Hells? I can't see a thing!" he snarls. He reaches out with a hand to feel for his teammates.
"Oooh! Piotr!" Brunhilde squeals giddily in the darkness. "That's my teat!"
Female LG Elf Arcanist 3 | HP 15/15 | AC 13, T 12, FF 11 | CMB +0, CMD 12 | Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4 | Init +3 | Perception +8, Sense Motive +5 | Spells 1: 5/5 | Arcane Pool 5/6 | low light vision | Speed 30ft | Active conditions: none
Professor Masaendri scowls into the darkness in the direction of Piotr and Brunhilde. "Piotr! Don't encourage her! Keep it professional. And Brunhilde," She rolls her eyes, thankful that she can do so without being seen (thanks to lupine Piotr's declaration of blindness). "Do remember that flirtation distracts us from keeping you alive."
Spellcraft to ID spell:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Recognizing why all the light spells went out, the Professor feels around in her bag for a wad of paper and her fling and steel. "Now, since our light spells were overcome by a Deeper Darkness spell, we will need to light our way without magic, unless someone has a light spell prepared that is more powerful than their darkness spell. Does anyone have a torch? If so, come towards my voice so I can light it for you. If not, I believe I could construct one."
If no one has a torch, the Professor will try to construct one with her club yardstick and some paper.
N (she/her) elf witch 5 || HP 22 || AC 17/13/14 || Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7; +2 vs. mind-affecting || Perc +11 (low-light vision) || Stealth +3 || Speed 30 || Init +3 || Spells: 3rd 1/2, 2nd 4/4, 1st 4/5 || Active Conditions: mage armor, fly
GM:
Any weaknesses?
"You can want all you like."
Hellebore casts Ward of the Seasons on herself.
Fall: A cloak of autumn leaves appears on the target. While the spell remains in effect, the target gains a +2 morale bonus on Fortitude saves. The target can decide to roll twice on any saving throw against disease or poison and take the higher result by reducing the spell’s total remaining duration by 1 hour.
Hellebore recalls the owb’s weakness is light sensitivity…
Currently researching a magic issue relevant to this encounter; will post again after work. And Professor, I’ll rule you were given a couple of torches by Hasjald before entering so no need to do a makeshift one…
N (she/her) elf witch 5 || HP 22 || AC 17/13/14 || Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7; +2 vs. mind-affecting || Perc +11 (low-light vision) || Stealth +3 || Speed 30 || Init +3 || Spells: 3rd 1/2, 2nd 4/4, 1st 4/5 || Active Conditions: mage armor, fly
Hellebore crouches down to minimize her vulnerability. "I don't think torches will help, if it's magical darkness. Why didn't I learn daylight when I had the chance?"
"Nonmagical sources of light, such as torches and lanterns, do not increase the light level in an area of darkness." from the darkness spell description
Female LG Elf Arcanist 3 | HP 15/15 | AC 13, T 12, FF 11 | CMB +0, CMD 12 | Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4 | Init +3 | Perception +8, Sense Motive +5 | Spells 1: 5/5 | Arcane Pool 5/6 | low light vision | Speed 30ft | Active conditions: none
@GM: Since we can still see the shards, where in the darkness are they? I'm thinking of having the Professor go pick one up.
"Hm. Interesting. We can track the owb through the mirror shards, despite the darkness. Well, for now..." The Professor casts Magic Missile, peering at the mirror shards to watch them hit the owb.
The Professor is able to spot the owb with the shard, striking it with a magical bolt and telling the rest of you it’s general location…it’s hiss, from being hit also betrays its location…
Location is marked by a red X; the rest of you still can’t see it, so total concealment is in play (50% Miss chance when you attack)
Claw:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
…immediately thereafter, Piotr feels something strike his chest but his armor keeps him safe from any damage…
COMBAT! Round 1 / 2 - The bold may post!
The Professor
Gnagnatsu
Owb (-5)
Hellebore
Piotr
Lanel
CG m Warpriest of Milani 6 | HP 50/50 | AC 18, t10, ff18 | F +7, R +2, W +10 (+2 neg energy) | Percept. +15 | darkvision 60' | Blessings 6/day | Stealth -2 | Init +2 | speed 20' | CMB +8 CMD 18 | Fervor 2d6 (6/day)| Active Conditions: prot/evil
Piotr feels a 'thud' on the breastplate of his armor.
"What the...?" Piotr swiftly blesses himself with divine favor.
He lashes out with his blade into the area he suspects the strike came from...
+1 Nodachi, PA & Vital Strike:1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 2 = 22 slashing/piercing:2d10 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (10, 7) + 12 + 2 = 31 Miss Chance:1d100 ⇒ 74
Female LG Elf Arcanist 3 | HP 15/15 | AC 13, T 12, FF 11 | CMB +0, CMD 12 | Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4 | Init +3 | Perception +8, Sense Motive +5 | Spells 1: 5/5 | Arcane Pool 5/6 | low light vision | Speed 30ft | Active conditions: none
Hmm. I ought to get a wand for Mage Armor so I don't have to waste my spells on it. This will get tiresome in a moment. The Professor muses as she casts Magic Missile again, eyeing the reflection of the owb in the shards of the mirror.
N (she/her) elf witch 5 || HP 22 || AC 17/13/14 || Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7; +2 vs. mind-affecting || Perc +11 (low-light vision) || Stealth +3 || Speed 30 || Init +3 || Spells: 3rd 1/2, 2nd 4/4, 1st 4/5 || Active Conditions: mage armor, fly
Hellebore scrabbles for a mirror shard on the floor, angling it until she can see the creature clearly once she finds one. Staring deep into its reflected eyes, she mutters, "Sleep...".
DC 18 Will save or Slumber, assuming it can be take mind-affecting
Hellebore cunningly follows the Professor’s lead and uses a shard to cast a slumber hex on the foul owb…
Will:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
…and the owb drops into a deep sleep…and the darkness clears…
Ah, the fortunate miss by one! Well that was anticlimactic; I’ll assume that since Hellebore was first up, that no one followed thru on their attacks since the spell worked as that would wake it up. The evil owb can be easily coup’ed…which I also assume you’ll do?
COMBAT (potentially over)!! Round 1 / 2 - The bold may post!
The Professor
Gnagnatsu
Owb (-5, sleeping)
Hellebore
Piotr
Lanel
Female LG Elf Arcanist 3 | HP 15/15 | AC 13, T 12, FF 11 | CMB +0, CMD 12 | Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4 | Init +3 | Perception +8, Sense Motive +5 | Spells 1: 5/5 | Arcane Pool 5/6 | low light vision | Speed 30ft | Active conditions: none
"Excellent." The Professor is pleased that the darkness has cleared. "I see we are all in one piece. Now," she gestures at the slumbering owb. "Who would like to do the honors?" She takes the opportunity to light a torch, just in case, then holds it up to ensure that whoever ends the owb can see it clearly.
Presuming she pulled out a torch earlier instead of paper and her yardstick (per GM Otha's concession): move action to draw flint and steel; standard action to light the torch.
N (she/her) elf witch 5 || HP 22 || AC 17/13/14 || Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +7; +2 vs. mind-affecting || Perc +11 (low-light vision) || Stealth +3 || Speed 30 || Init +3 || Spells: 3rd 1/2, 2nd 4/4, 1st 4/5 || Active Conditions: mage armor, fly
Hellebore blinks as the light reappears. She looks over at the shadow creature sleeping on the floor, eyebrows somewhere near her hairline. "I...was not expecting that to work. Brilliant!" She backs up, still holding her shard, ready to hex it again if it wakes up.
Piotr puts a swift end to the sleeping owb, beheading the bastard!
FYI, you have done everything here the scenario requires; identified and slain the owb, discovered the mirror’s properties, and found the cause of the Pathfinder’s death…
Female LG Elf Arcanist 3 | HP 15/15 | AC 13, T 12, FF 11 | CMB +0, CMD 12 | Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4 | Init +3 | Perception +8, Sense Motive +5 | Spells 1: 5/5 | Arcane Pool 5/6 | low light vision | Speed 30ft | Active conditions: none
"Obviously we will bring her back with us. Due to the sensitive nature of the contents of this vault, the Society will appreciate not having to open it up again to allow others to retrieve her body. Do not disturb her until we are ready to leave. Let us ensure that the owb was acting alone." Holding her torch high, the Professor gestures for Piotr to lead the way.
I'm okay with handwaving the rest of the exploration, but will defer to the group.
CG m Warpriest of Milani 6 | HP 50/50 | AC 18, t10, ff18 | F +7, R +2, W +10 (+2 neg energy) | Percept. +15 | darkvision 60' | Blessings 6/day | Stealth -2 | Init +2 | speed 20' | CMB +8 CMD 18 | Fervor 2d6 (6/day)| Active Conditions: prot/evil
Piotr scans the room alongside the others, searching for anything of interest. As he does, he keeps an eye out for a small box or sack—something to place the creature’s head in. He figures it would be a bit less gruesome to present it to Zarta if it’s in some sort of container.
Piotr’s search, with help from Lanel & Maggie, turns up nothing significant, other than a hatbox that the horrid looking owb head would fit neatly into…
You are now free to knock on the door, leave with Hasjald, and return to Zarta Dralneen to report your success. By that time, she is already at the Grand Lodge with a leather folio in hand, and she expresses her approval of your work.
“I’m pleased to hear you were successful. Together we are preparing to open a new chapter in the Society’s illustrious history. I have with me a formal proposal for the creation of a dark archive dedicated to the study and proper handling of any artifacts the Decemvirate deems dangerous enough to hide away. Knowing that they can trust me—and agents under my direction—to do this should seal the bargain. If you are strong enough to handle what lies in darkness, I welcome you to join me. For now, though, there are more festivities.”
As she parts way with the Pathfinders, she winks knowingly at the Professor and Hellebore, as if hinting that greater rewards best left unspoken that await…and she outright vamps at Piotr, in appreciation of his grisly gift to her…
Knowing the next day is Deliberation Day, you’re aware there are no major events tomorrow, so you sleep in and get a well deserved rest. The High Council will spend much of the day in deliberation to determine which candidate should succeed Grayrain...
As you walk about Absalom, alert to hear any scuttlebutt on the successor, a voice calls out, ”Lanel, is that you? I thought so; I make it a point of honor to know all my agents by name. Come, you and your friends may join me for dinner, my treat, in honor of my old friend Greyrein!”
You turn to see none other than the Venture-Captain of Liberty’s Edge!
You agree, thanking him for his courtesy and follow him to the Wounded Wisp. You talk about your missions while he gives you news of slave rings they’ve busted up…
During the meal, a courier arrives for him and delivers a sealed letter from the People’s Council. Maldris’s expression changes to one of intense seriousness. He taps the letter on the table a couple of times, as if deciding whether or not to open it, then he breaks the seal and reads silently to himself before addressing you.
“I hold in my hands a warrant for the arrest of none other than Halmont Warrith, the Andoran Envoy of Foreign Cultural Affairs. I along with several high-ranking members of the People’s Council have reason to believe the envoy guilty of embezzling funds and accepting bribes to establish safehouses for foreign spies in Andoran—all secretly funded by our own exiled nobility so that they might recapture their political power and influence. Furthermore, he’s been turning around and selecting his own candidates—many connected to exiled Andoran nobility— who he believes will operate under the “old rules,” and treat Andoran’s ex-nobility as they were prior to the revolution. In this endeavor, Halmont is quickly becoming a very wealthy and influential man.
“Halmont’s ties run much deeper than perhaps even he realizes, and I suspect that other far more important members within the Council are using Halmont as a scapegoat. At the very least, I am certain Halmont has allies within the Council who would have warned him the second someone issued the warrant. His cronies will be keeping an eye out for me, making it next to impossible for me to approach without him fleeing.”
He glares at his clenched fist in silent frustration before looking up. “Perhaps you can help by making this arrest for me. I can lure away some of his allies by traveling away from his residence, and you could then approach without scaring him off. Take the warrant, go to Halmont’s flat, and arrest him, but don’t forget to gather any evidence you can. He’s a true coward, so hopefully he’ll come peacefully. Remember, I need proof that Halmont’s allies have connections to older Andoran noble families ousted during the revolution in order to make our accusations stick.”
"Major Maldris! Nice to meet you! I've heard so much about you." Lanel is surprised to have been recognized without a direct proper introduction.
After the explanation he smirks seeing where the conversation was going and nods to Piotr. "I would be happy to help. Always fun to see their faces when they realize they have been caught."
Female LG Elf Arcanist 3 | HP 15/15 | AC 13, T 12, FF 11 | CMB +0, CMD 12 | Fort +1, Ref +3, Will +4 | Init +3 | Perception +8, Sense Motive +5 | Spells 1: 5/5 | Arcane Pool 5/6 | low light vision | Speed 30ft | Active conditions: none
Having left a life of comfort for a life with decidedly more excitement, Professor Masaendri cannot fathom why anyone would actually *want* to stick with the stuffy "way it has always been" when change is so exhilarating. The very idea of this Halmont and his cronies desperately clutching to the scraps of a boring has-been aristocracy irritates her to no end. "Why, we would be absolutely delighted to do so, Major Maldris. Where should we bring him once we have him and the evidence in custody?" She has a triumphantly indignant look on her face, like she just spotted a student cheating on an exam and is about to pounce.
CG m Warpriest of Milani 6 | HP 50/50 | AC 18, t10, ff18 | F +7, R +2, W +7 (+2 & DR 5 neg energy) | Perc. +14 | Blessings 6/day | Stealth -2 | Init +2 | speed 20' | CMB +8, CMD 18 | Fervor 6/day (2d6) | Active Conditions: -- |
Piotr raises a hand to ask a few questions without interrupting anyone.
"Will we have special papers denoting that we're deputies? What about the city guards here? Will they be annoyed with us encroaching on their territory?"
Piotr withdraws his esquire attaché case.
"I am willing to draft official documents and have you sign them, if needed, Major Maldris." Piotr says in a respectful tone.
Female N Gnome Ninja (Sanctified Rogue) 5 | HP 28/28 | AC 19 T 15 FF 15 | CMB +2, CMD 16 | F: +3, R: +9, W: +3 (+2 vs. fear/despair)| Init: +6 | Perc: +10 (low-light), SM: +4 | Speed 20 ft. | Ki Pool 4/5 | Eternal Hope 1/1 | 0 Reroll | Active conditions: Invisible 5 rounds
"Cognstable Gnagnatsu..." the gnome says dreamily, not realizing she has slipped back into her accent. "Sounds fun! There's no place he or his evidence will be able to hide!"
