GM Erich's #6-99 Under The Eye Of The Mantis (7-8) for Gameday XIV

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

Nagaikaze addresses them calmly.
”The Pathfinders are coming here in force and may attempt to rescue the prisoner . It is our job to relocate him to a new, secure location. You should report back for new orders. You may be required for defense. Go now.”
Diplomacy(E): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

A circle of smoke accompanies the declaration from behind some people.

They shift to their back legs as Nagaikaze calms them, but they still seem wary.

"The Red Mantis told us to guard the monkey goblin. You don't look like Red Mantis..."

The diplomatic (deception?) tact certainly works, but will take a couple more successes from others to completely defuse the situation.

A circle of smoke moves up in the air

"Who are you," Yakuthiel yells, shaking his weapon at them, "to doubt your obvious superiors."

Intimidation: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

"What my friend means is that we are not only your superiors by way of rank, but also in the way of skills."

Intimidation: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24

"Well, this was an easy gig then. Later." They reply to the veiled threats before lowering their weapons and squeezing by.

--------------------------------------

Chirper awaits in his cell and springs up when you enter, clearly no worse for the wear. New pic

"About time someone came to free me! Thank you! I've been trying to reason with those two goons for days. Taking orders from the false mantises! Bah!" He complains as he gathers his meager items.

"It is our pleasure Chirper. We are surprised that there are so few around like you and I who are wise enough to recognise that these Mantises are false. What is the story between you and they?"

"Let's keep walking, my time on this gods-forsaken island is over. Yes, I discovered the Dispatch started taking on assassination contracts on their own, pretending to be the real Red Mantis. Naturally, they couldn't let his information get out or they would be eliminated post-haste, so they kidnapped me. Even had the gall to ransom me back to my family on the mainland! Can you believe that?"

Chirper picks up his pace to a gallop.

"Here, since you seem to be interested in all this. The idiots never searched me, so I still have it."

He reaches into his tunic and pulls out a scroll.

When you arrive at the base camp, he thanks you profusely once again.

"You should be rewarded endlessly throughout your days, but this is the best I can come up with...

He draws you a map to where he buried the rest of the evidence he gathered, along with a cache of treasure.

"Ancient coins from the Ghol-Gan empire worth a small fortune! For your troubles. Until we meet again!"

---------------------------------------------

In a bizarre coincidence, you turn around to a familiar figure approaching you at the base camp. Zarta Dralneen has a serious look on her face, commanding attention. “Ah, you are the group that has been rescuing people, no? One of my own darling agents, Khione, is being held by the Dispatch, and I think I’ve finally figured out where they’re keeping her.” She points to a hastily drawn sketch of the island. “The villains built themselves some kind of oubliette—also known as a ‘place of forgetting’ under this dockside tavern. Let’s make sure we don’t leave any of our people behind today. Go rescue her without delay, my lovelies!".

Her crude map gets you to the docks and the sturdy tavern built at the water’s edge easy enough, but finding the tunnel is another matter.

I'll need a couple of successes at a DC 23 Perception, Nature, Survival, or Engineering (or similar) Lore check.

Nagaikaze hopes he will not have to get in the water.
Perception(E): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Nature or Fishing Lore: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

"It's definitely not here."

I will not use a Hero Point, as I don't think the CF should hurt.

@Emdi it does not hurt - unless eveyone fails :)

Engineering lore:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Earlier...

Jun-Mei shows Zarta the assassination request. "You appear to have a fan."

At the docks...

"Now let's see. Where would be the most forgettable."

perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

@Song Jun-Mei --- Earlier

Zarta takes a quick look at the document, and laughs. "Throw it on the pile, darling..."

-------------------------------------------------

The cleric and gunslinger are able to find the a hidden tunnel built into the tavern’s foundation. Once inside the dark tunnel, you immediately notice there’s no sound.

The magical prison’s outer layer traps light in a sphere, making both inside and outside very dark, but the boundary of the prison painfully bright. In order to create a breach in this wall safe enough to travel through, you must use reflective surfaces to create a prism and then insert that like a key into the dark spherical wall.

Creating and inserting the prism requires three DC 23 successes using Arcana, Crafting, Nature, Occultism, Religion, Thievery, or a relevant Lore check. If you have other creative ideas feel free to attempt those too.

religion, what's going on?: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

religion creating-inserting prism: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

"... ........ . ...... .... .. ..... ..?"
Nature(T): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Nature (E, hireling): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Nagaikaze has no idea what's going on, but if a prism needs making he can give it a good go. He already has a prism shaped Aeon stone that could serve as a foundation for a key.
Crafting(T): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Seeing everyone's confusion, Jun-Mei attempts to mime the solution.

performance, mime: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

The dwarf inserts the prism.

Crafting: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37

I think it’s right like this.

With enough expertise at hand, the group silently inserts the prism to prevent the worst of the blinding damage. Inside the oubliette’s inner layer, you find it traps sound inside of it, reflecting it back on itself so much that even the sound of a person taking a step reverberates into an ear-splitting cacophony.

Breaching the inner barrier requires the group to work together, forcibly creating a sudden burst of sound on a precise focal point in order to break open the prison. Creating an appropriately loud burst requires all of you to work together, coordinating your timing and actions, which is difficult due to the silence surrounding the oubliette.

As a group, you need to achieve three DC 25 successes using Acrobatics, Arcana, Athletics, Nature, Occultism, Religion, or a relevant Lore check. Again, there may be other creative solutions if you can think of them.

Round 1. One of you needs to lead this check, others may assist.

Nagaikaze smiles, and silently mouths the word "Shiko", leaning and pointing to his leg to suggest raising it high for a very loud stomp. He raises his eyebrows in a way that makes it a question rather than a statement.
If he keeps practising Mountain Stance for long enough he might one day be able to pull off Mountain Quake, which would have worked well here.

Professor Whitegourd casts guidance on themselves and gathers forth the magical powers of nature to intensify the upcoming sound.

Nature: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 18 + 1 = 26

The Professor sets the stage for the upcoming burst...

Round 2. One of you needs to lead this check, others may assist.

Nagaikaze mimes Guidance please” to the Professor and then used his athleticism.
Athletics(M): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

If necessary...

religion: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Nagaikaze single-handedly opens the portal large enough for the focused sound to crack the inner sanctum and break the silence.

Inside you find Khione new pic - disheveled but alive, and so very grateful for being able to speak again.

“Wow thank you so much for saving me! I knew Zarta and the others would come for me. I told those fake Red Mantises that, but they kidnapped me anyway even though I warned them they’d be in for it if they took a Pathfinder hostage and wow are they like silent monks or something? They said their leaders invented two brand new spells just to keep me locked up because I was ‘annoying’ the other prisoners and their guards. What’s up with that? Also, their whole organization is tackier than the Cult of the Screaming Grub if you ask me, and...”

Zarta, thankfully, has followed you here - and steps in. "That will be enough, dear. The adventurers are in the middle of an armed siege of the Dispatch facilities, and can't delay."

At this, Khione straightens herself up and grabs some parchment and a pen from seemingly out of nowhere.

"I haven't much to pay you back for saving me, but I can at least follow you around and chronicle your glorious deeds for the Chronicles, if you will allow me."

As you exit, some of you spot Giovana leaning against the wall of a nearby building, cleaning blood off the blade from one of her iconic sawtooth sabers. She pauses momentarily to indicate the passage inside with a thumb. You approach cautiously.

“Some of the poor fools tried to tangle with me and paid the ultimate price. Their disciples—assassin trainees if you will, fled inside. Clearing them out is beneath me, so I want you to handle it.” She fixes a steely glare on you all. “Don’t let a single one out alive.”

With that, the Red Mantis vernai struts away without another word, leaving the you all at the entrance of what sounds like a Dispatch training dojo.

Spend time to look around (Percpetion or Engineering or Underworld Lore checks) or get the upper hand and move in quickly?

Nagaikaze does not like the idea of butchering trainees at all. In nearly all fights against non monsterous (or mechanical) foes he pulls his punches, so is likely to be giving them a chance to surrender regardless of what the VA has declared.
He will however follow anyone who does charge in and back them up. So I'm spoilering his Perception check

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**
Medically fragile hostages and soulbound dolls are being successfully evacuated from the hospital wing of the Dispatch’s facility. During the evacuation, some experimental supplies were found and distributed to all Society agents.

The Medical Cache condition is now in effect

Emdi is very much on board with looking before leaping. He also does not weigh orders from assassins as highly as his Pathfinder Society training.

Medical Cache - Zarta leaves each of you with an experimental medical alchemical item they have found that functions on the living, constructs, and the undead. This item restores you to full Hit Points while also restoring 1 Focus Point one minute after being activated (but cannot be used during Encounter mode).

You discover escape ladders and hatches cleverly disguised as buttresses on the building’s exterior that lead to a skylight and alternative entry points, allowing you to scout out the room belo and see the six Dispatch agents meandering about.

New Map. You can individually start this encounter in the main corridor to the west or drop in from the roof from the two skylights in the east. Feel free to place yourselves at any of the locations shown in blue and prep with spells or items.

How far is the drop from skylight to floor? Also having spied on them what do we know of the trainees? Are they equipped similarly to the Stevedores?

Also can I start in Mountain Stance as prep and what are the four central barriers? Are they hindering or climbable?

@Nagaikaze It is a 10 foot drop from a hanging position, so no roll or danger involved. Stances are encounter mode only, though. So not quite yet. We are basically starting the encounter from the moment you land.

Professor Whitegourd reads their Mountain Resilience's scroll on Emdi and drop in with them.

Duration 20 minutes
The target's skin hardens like the stone of a mountain face. It gains resistance 5 to physical damage, except adamantine. Each time the target is hit by a bludgeoning, piercing, or slashing attack, mountain resilience's duration decreases by 1 minute.

It looks like someone is still moving the map around, so I'm going to hold off placement for now.

Emdi's reaction depends on having other people around, so Emdi will suggest we stick together, and if people split up, he'll pick whatever side more melee combatants are on.

Emdi looks at his stone-like skin. "Thank you!"

Nagaikaze is coming in the front because he likes to keep his feet on the ground, but thinks there would be value in having 2 halves to ensure the trainees cannot escape so easily.

Proposal: Nagakaze and Jun-Mei can protect the ranged combatants at the main entrance, and Emdi and Yakuthiel can cut off their escape at the east. I'm moving Emdi to the southern box in anticipation of people being okay with it, but if not, feel free to move Emdi back to the main entrance. Emdi would prefer starting within 30' of a combatant because he gets a free Demoralize with Battle Cry.

Plan sounds good.
Nagaikaze holds out a fist to Emdi.
"Impact me Inu."

Jun-Mei takes her place beside Nagaikaze.

Yakuthiel takes his place in the NorthEast.

In place and ready to go, the Pathfinders jump into action.

Nearly a clean sweep on initiative, I'll give it to you anyway.

Round 1 - Bold can act
Prof. Whitegourd
Song Jun-Mei
Yakuthiel
Nagaikaze
Dran'Tilt
Emdi <mountain resilience>
Red Agent <delayed>
Yellow Agent
Orange Agent
Purple Agent
Pink Agent
Grey Agent

You are all on the groound where you stand. it is a 10 foot distance from all the surrounding balconies to the floor below. Stairs are only difficult terrain going up.

Energyshot on Init

The dwarf fires towards the purple one with Fulminating shot.

+1 striking flaming hammer gun: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24

Damage, electricity, fire, acid: 2d6 + 1 + 2 + 1d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 1 + 2 + (6) + 2 + (6) = 25

Damage, electricity, fire, acid, if crit: 2d10 + 1 + 2 + 1d6 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 6) + 1 + 2 + (1) + 2 + (2) = 18

Fatal: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Then he running reloads.

Jun-Mei taunts the white-clad initiate with a biting hwanggot haiku.

"So young and so dumb,
these would-be assassins before me.
Easily defeated."

Bon Mot vs white: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

She gestures and a rain of tiny yellow chrysanthemums fall down upon the closest two initiates.

creative splash vs white and pink: 1d4 ⇒ 3

White and pink, will save DC25 vs frightened 1 or 2

◆ Bon Mot, ◆◆ cast creative splash

creative splash
bon mot

Yakuthiel hurries down the steps, and attempts to Slam Down the Purple agent: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23for: 2d10 + 7 ⇒ (9, 1) + 7 = 17 piercing damage.

Emdi releases a Battle Cry as the fight begins.

◇ Demoralize (Intimidation): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20 vs Purple Will DC
Will assume that Fails.

He follows Yakuthiel into the fray ◆, activating his Dread Marshal stance ◆.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (17) + 18 = 35 vs Easy Level DC 22
Success: all allies within 15' get a damage bonus equal to damage dice (+2 with a striking rune), and enemies critically hit by an ally within 15' are frightened 1.

Emdi fires a shot at Purple ◆.

Shortbow, Nonlethal: 1d20 + 17 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 17 - 2 = 25
Nonlethal, Dread Marshal: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 + 2 = 9

↺

Nagaikaze surveys the scene, waiting for his allies to put a degree of fear into the trainees. His focus wavers momentarily as he imagines that he saw a very large trainee to his left, and then he hears something that causes him to mutter:
"Oh, of course...the splendid owls."
Snapping back to the moment he prepares for a fight, and calls out:
"This need not be painful. You have 2 choices...Choose life and surrender to us...or choose death by fighting us and the true Red Mantis that you just fled from."
Diplomacy(E): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
My Intimidation is +12T (3 less) if you think that it would be more appropriate.
It's a plea to them all to surrender, but if I need to target a single npc it'll be whoever is least frightened for intimidation or whoever is most frightened for diplomacy out of White and Pink.

Technically Nagaikaze would have delayed until after Emdi
Action 1 ◆ Enter Mountain Stance (AC increases to 27, movement decreases to 40 feet)
Action 2 ◆ Use Mountain Stronghold (AC increases to 29 until my next turn)
Action 3 ◆ Talking

Nagaikaze adds: "We surround you."