[Outpost VIII] PFS 1 #7-11 Ancient's Anguish by GM 7thGate (Inactive)

Game Master 7thGate

Abnirke eyes flew wide as the javelin skillfully arced through the air as such a great distance.

"There is an ancient order of scholars in Osirion called the Jeweled Sages. They record the history and knowledge of old and pass it down by storing their memories in the Sage Jewels, ensuring that this wisdom lives on through generations of sages. Many things have happened in the past five thousand years, but for now, the order has been revived, and they are searching for their missing sages."

Elu explains, "Elu and the others are Pathfinders from the Pathfinder Society. We record and protect knowledge, culture, and people alike throughout the Inner Sea and beyond. On top of that, we are good friends with the Jeweled Sages, which led us here when the sages detected one of the Sage Jewels in this place. We want to retrieve the missing Sage Jewel so that the knowledge within can be properly recorded and passed on, rather than being buried under the sand."

"So, if you would allow us to pass, that will be hugely appreciated."

Koani keeps Blarg calm and happy and stays silent for right now.

The siblings give each other worried looks after Elu's story. Ardashir speaks first. "Five Thousand years, you say? Our ancestors found this place over five thousand years ago. They noticed a corrupting influence within and deemed it necessary to keep intruders out so that the evil may not escape or grow. Foolish adventurers and tomb robbers dying in the temple would only feed it."

Anahita chimes in. "According to our ancestors, someone or something entered the place without permission around that time. Whoever or whatever it was, it hasn’t come out. We fear the corruption within the ruins has since grown."

"You may be able to help cleanse the evil from this site, or better contain or understand it. You may enter. We have a key to the door that has been passed down through the generations that you may use." She produces a key and hands it to Elu.

"The stairs are over here, when you are ready." She points up a staircase around the side of one of the two pillars.

"Thank you for allowing us to pass. We will track down this corruption." Andirke said. "By chance, would you have a rough idea of layout, from what you heard?

[/i] The man with the goblin-like suit bows his head a bit [/i]

[/b] Thank you for your serrvice then, we must be sure to take your hospitaliity to the best, and see this corruption removed if possible [/b]

The question about the layout seemed important, so he waits for this reply as well

"There is a large room with a huge statue inside. I do not no more; we do not enter, but each generation checks to make sure the key still works and has not become damaged with the passage of time."

"A statue, you say?" Elu raises her eyebrow as her Pathfinder experience/instinct kicks in, "Elu knows that everything inside carry some sort of historic or cultural significance. But let's say if the statue suddenly animates and attack Elu, does Elu get to self-defense? It might cause some damage to said statue in the process..."

AS this happens he pulls out a wand of Shield and puts the shield on himself

It has happened more than once even to people more experience that us Elu miss, And it would be unfortunate, but archeology has its price, sometimes for learning more one needs to be ready to destroy, although if it could be avoided....

He revises the goblin launcher attached to one of the bombs just in case

It's my duty to repell the corrupting influence and eradicate the evil

”Leta move on then. I’m sure it is cooler in there than out here!”

Elu walks past the guardian duo and up the stairs, then checks for trap on the door and floor.
Perception: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (2) + 28 = 30

"If the statue comes to life, I would expect you to defend yourselves. Or run, its a big statue."

Stairs cut into the canyon wall ascend to a sturdy bronze door. Nearby there are a number of cracked and broken vases, severely damaged with time and their contents long since gone.

Elu checks the door for traps, and finding none, is able to open the door with the key. Inside, a steep stone staircase rises towards a central chamber.
Carvings on the stone walls of this staircase depict groups of humans huddled together, cowering from some unseen menace. Their faces look up toward the sky with despair evident in their eyes.

Just to be on the safe side, when the group enters, Ash casts Fly on himself (10 minute duration).

Koani sadly shakes her head at the feelings that could create such artwork.

You can go ahead and move your tokens into the hallway.

You can attempt a Knowledge: History check, Appraise or Craft: (Painting or Sculpture) to examine the paintings in the hall.

K. History : 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24

K:History: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Know. History 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

History: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (15) + 25 = 40 "Don't look at Elu like that, Elu is only 285 years old. Elu merely read about stuff like these in the books."

Appraise: 1d20 ⇒ 8
I know really little on those art and history

On closer inspection, everyone except Elise is able to determine that the time period depicted is the Age of Darkenss, and remembers that Earthfall caused ash in the atmosphere to block the sun for a thousand years.

As the pathfinders examine the carvings, they start to see pieces move out of the corner of their eye, and begin to hear distant screams of anguish coming from the carvings.

DC 23 Will Save to avoid a minor Curse of Despair for anyone who examined the carvings. This is a curse and fear effect (so Elise and anyone else with fear immunity is fine). On failure, take a -2 penalty to Will saves until the curse is removed or the adventure ends.

Will save DC 23: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
The carvings made Andirke feel uncomfortable.

Will 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Ash was able to shake off the effects from examining the carvings.

When Elise heard the horrifying scream, she frowns:"May my courage guide you and fullfill your heart my friends!"
Casts Aura of Greater Courage which provides immunity to fear in my aura.

I am not sure if my spell works before the check starts, but my allies within 10 feet from me can still take +4 against fear

"Thanks, that was scary." Elu hands Elise a infused extract of Heroism, "You are Elu's hero :)"

Will Save dc23: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

He looks collected and calm, the wost had passed, another madness another judgement by the world . . what what?

Intresting devices, now we are talking, when the knowledge or the search of it would drive one crazy, its not an unknown path, and specially one that has ot been not traveled in the past

Follow on Elu's steps he also drinks an extract of Heroism

If Will save still needed: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 4 = 26

Elise pushes back against the dark curse with her holy power, and the screams dissipate, the images looking sad instead of horrifying. Everyone near her feels resolve, like you are in control of your fate and cannot be deterred by anything.

Fear immunity will override this. My understanding is that if you're afflicted by an effect and then become immune to it, its stops affecting you.

With the meaning behind the carvings determined and its disturbing curse defeated, the pathfinders are able to move up the stairs to find a wide hall supported by stone columns 20 feet high.

This long hallway opens into three large rooms on the north side of the temple. On the south side, there are two staircases, one leading up, the other down. Many cracks mar the stone surfaces in this part of the temple.

Two of the rooms have stairs leading up to them, but the third is clearly ahead. At the heart of this vaulted hall stands a twenty-foot-tall stone statue that depicts a beautiful woman wearing a tunic and wielding a khopesh of polished bronze and a ring of gold in the shape of a snake eating its tail. Ornate columns bulge from the walls bearing carvings of wheat stalks and snakes eating their own tails. Set on the walls between the columns, there are six bronze mirrors.

Go ahead and move your tokens up into the hall.

Know. Arcana 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23

Know. Planes 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Sense Motive 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

Know History 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

”It looks like that statue is a shaitan genie. And the carvings on the columns seem to be that of fertility and rebirth,” Ash warns the others.

Could someone place me on the map? Anywhere is fine. Thanks!

Koani stays close to the others and pats her little dino to keep him calm.

Moved us forward and clustered together to be within the paladin's greater aura of courage.When we're together, we fear nothing! till the spell expire

"They used Stone Shape to make this statue of Shaitan Genie back in the Age of Darkness? Fascinating!
Can't fail any of those knowledge with a 1

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 But Elu can't seem to understand what the statue is trying to present or convey. Either way, she drinks her extract of Shield

[/i] He start to remember the iformation he had gathered, the form of writting an what the place could teach then to the Pathfinder society, a worthy task at hand [/i]

K. Engineering: 1d20 + 22 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 22 + 2 = 41

K. Arcana: 1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 23 + 2 = 34

K. Planos: 1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 21 + 2 = 28

K. Sense motive: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 = 22

K. History : 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 2 = 24

The pathfinders are able to decipher information and take notes about the temple. What would you like to do next?

[i} He tales notes, on a journal that seems to be quite used, the leather bound covers have marks of alchemical sustances burn among other things, the expression of the man hidden behind the leather and metal mask [/i]

Intrestting information did bits

Once he finish the notes, and carbon copy who,ever he can he explains to the group whatever information was missing from the carvings

Alone each of this facts says not much, but together, they start to form a story, and it start to look a lot like a not a one with a good ending, but what is this prideful look?, hunger for knowledge that is not bad in itself, if it can be properly guided and use in the right way, lets hope this was the case on this story

He closes and store the leatherbound journal

So .. shall we then?

He explainss in a way that the hidden button information could be learned

Also Gmm This checks were for all this room right? The stairs that are there head to a diferent area? AS in going up? Or is there any other exit on the room we had not seen. The areas with the circles and the shelves need to be investigated differently??

”We could explore that area to the left over there,” Ash suggests, pointing to the stairs in that area.

Elise thinks maybe she can try to find some evil over here. She uses her Detect Evil ability scanning around.

Koani nods at Ash's suggestion.

"Let's go" Andirke said as he checked his quiver to make sure it was ready for action.

Yes, this is the main area, and I did the obvious parts of the statue room checks too since its so clearly in front of you. But the other places are up stairs, and will need to be investigated.

Elise detects a faint aura of evil coming from the mirrors near the statue, but otherwise does not detect anything on this level. The stairs block her line of sight up to the other rooms.

Moving up the staris to the left, the Pathfinders discover a library. Seven long bookshelves, each cut out of the rock, are full of stone tablets. Most of the tablets lie scattered in ugly piles. It is clear that significant work would be needed to organize the tablets for use.

Each bookshelf has an inscription written in Terran.

Elise does not detect any evil here.

While looking over the room, Andirke realizes that the seeker jewel is starting to vibrate in a distinctly unsettling fashion that appears to be building in intensity. Everyone in the group can begin to hear a loud hum emanating from the other room.

The one with the circles on it.

Elu reads out the bookshelf's descrption in common for others.

"Anything other than the sounds of ice cream machine is bad news in Elu's ear." Elu commented at the noise.

He nods at the translation by the elf

I don't like that sound either, but i would say before that sound become more of an issue, see if we can find something intresting in those shelves, with those names some of our research on the understanding that is happening here, might cut some of the work for us

"Looks like we need to go to the right." Andirke said, indicating the jewel as it started to vibrate.

Koani and Blarg quietly follow the others.

The resonance continues to build as the pathfinders move to the other room. The temple starts to vibrate slightly in repsonse; small cracks start to appear across many of the surfaces, and bits of dust and powdered stone continually fall from the ceiling.

It is clear to everyone that while the temple is not in immediate danger of collapsing, there is probably only about 60 minutes until it starts to fall apart.

In the other room, a cylinder of perfectly smooth volcanic glass stands in the center of an eye-shaped symbol.

Unnatural shadows radiate from within the cylinder, darkening its immediate surroundings as indistinct shapes swim in the inky blackness. One-inch-thick copper wires embedded in the floor extend from the base of the cylinder, connecting it to three stone tables on the west side of the room.

The whole apparatus is buzzing and vibrating in sync with the seeker jewel. Dark energy seeps through the wires and into the stone tables.

The first table has a rectangular space carved into it, shaped like the stone tablets found in the library. The second table has a body-shaped indentation in it, surrounded by arcane sigils. The third table has a circular groove that looks like a snake biting its tail.

Elise detects an incredible amount of evil here, at least 13 Strong auras within the obelisk.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (15) + 21 = 36
"Well, it's apparent that our time is running short here. The structural integrety of this ruin is not very strong."

Elu points at the first table, "A slot for stone tablet, that we yet not have. That tells Elu that we need to go through their library ASAP."

"This one," Elu refers to the table with body-shaped slot, "will use Vampiric Touch to drain life from someone. Think of it as a sacrifice of whatever this ritual may be that may or may not stablize this place. Elu has a solution for this."

"Elu think the third one is also something that need to be found. At least we know what to looks for now, something circular." Elu making circular gesture with her finger.

"And please do not break the cylinder, Elu got a bad feeling about that thing. If you are suicidal you could just ask Elu to shoot you in the head instead."

Elu return to the library and get ready.
Amplify Elixir=>(1Heroism, 2Barkskin+4, 3Freedom of Movement, 4Alchemical Allocation->5Magic Circle against Evil, 6Investigative Mind), Focus Chew, racial SLA Comprehend Languages

"There are tremendous evil in this room. Team, be caucious!"

Also drinks 7Shield and 8Reduce Person during Amplify Elixir just in case others want to check out the statue first

Ash casts detect magic in the library, hoping that any key tomes will jump out at him.

I missed this in my first overview of the stone tables.

The Pathfinders note that the table containing the slot for a stone tablet is carved with the word "Rebirth" in over 20 languages.

The Pathfinders quickly move to the library, and start looking for clues. The Tablets do not detect as magical, and it quickly becomes apparent that significant work will be needed to organize and decipher the information here.

There is a handout on slide 5 going over the rules for this research area. You need to find the right tablet to help with stabilizing the resonance. There are 7 shelves to search; for each shelf, you must first Move the tablets so they can be processed, then Catalogue them to make the information accessible. They then must be Studied for meaning.

The three steps must be taken in that order for each shelf. Each of you can choose a shelf to work on for whichever task is currently active for the shelf. Each check represents 6 minutes of work.

If multiple people choose to work on the same shelf together, the highest roll is used and any other roll over DC 10 counts as an aid for +2 to the result.

Currently, all shelves are at 0% Moving status. Moving will need a Strength check; the Cataloguing and Studying steps can use various skills once they are available (see handout). Go ahead and choose a shelf to roll for, and feel free to go over any discussion on how you want to split your team either in character here or out of character in discussion.

The tablets are written in a combination of Terran and an ancient precursor to Ancient Osiriani. A PC that speaks both gets a +5 bonus to Catalogue and Study checks, while a PC that speaks one gets no bonus and neither gets a -5 penalty.

Library, 1 Minute After Resonance Starts

Shelf 1: Art of Cosmetics: 0% Moved
Shelf 2: Art of Weaponry: 0% Moved
Shelf 3: Bitter and Sweet Secrets of Wisdom: 0% Moved
Shelf 4: Resolving of Enchantments: 0% Moved
Shelf 5: Secrets of Mirrors: 0% Moved
Shelf 6: Signs of the Clouds and the Earth: 0% Moved
Shelf 7: Signs of the Sun and Courses of the Moon: 0% Moved