[Gameday XIV] GM Chadius 4-06: Signal from the Electric Laboratory (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

Dinetrie takes a swig. "It's not as punchy as I hoped, but we'll save the stronger libations until we're back at the manor." She grins. "Anyway, I have a purse at home, I was going to, er donate it in the Pathfinder's honor."

Narcela returns to you at this point. "Alright, the guards should be gone for a bit. Let's get her back to the Safe Space and then figure-"

Without warning, Narcela lets out a loud moan, reaching out to a nearby wall to hold herself up. Her body again distorts, curved horns growing from her head. After a few moments, she returns to normal. She slumps down and looks up with fear in her eyes.

"No... it's happening, isn't it?" Narcela pants. "Mother... she's turning me into a hag. No!" Terror grips her tightly."Please," she says in a rough whisper. "Don't let her take me! I don't know if I can hold on much longer. If... if I transform, do what you have to do! I'd rather be dead than a monster!"

If you want to calm her down, make a DC 26 Deception, Diplomacy, or Performance or DC 29 Religion or Society check.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36

BakBat pushes aside the demon mask for a moment. "There, there. BakBat the all mighty Wizard will help you. I will protect you and save you."

"...thank you, BakBat." Narcela gathers her wits and calms down a bit. "I don't want to become like that... besides, I don't Revecka would like my hag makeover much." She stands back up. "Let's escort Dinetrie back."

Dinetrie shrugs. "Hey, some people like the horned look. My brother, he became quite the catch once his tusks extended a bit."

You return to the safe space. Vernuth is the first to notice. "Dinetrie, you've had better days. We found some water, you should drink some."

She nods, glances at Bremix who is sulking by a wall and shrugs. "Bremix is always frowning, don't mind him. And Vernuth I will take that water. Cetezar, you were right, the ship is too complex to pilot alone."

Cetezar shrugs. "It's alright, we can all team up to pilot it if need be. I'll try not to turbo charge it. Keyword is try."

Narcela rubs her temples where the horns had erupted from a moment ago. "Let's move on, then. Where to, next?"

Rooms to Visit:
- Lightning Tower (To recharge Lumna)
- Seneschal's Study (To gather more intel about the tower's layout)
- Vault (Aslynn's trophy room)
- Bell Tower (A net blocks Interplanar travel)
- Sky Dock (Aslynn's airship is here)

"Hmp. Narcela, if you return with us, the Society can prevent you from turning into a hag, but we don't have the resources with us to be fully successful now." Itka addresses the group: "Hmp. I think we should prioritize getting everyone to safety before Aslynn's attempts manage to overcome her resistance. I second Doc's plan. While the Vault is an extra stop, the chance to gather such vital intel and possibly weaken Aslynn is too good an opportunity to miss. Regardless of our route, I suggest we bring all the Ardis scholars with us so that Lumna can get us all home at a moment's notice if Aslynn returns." ...or Narcela's will is overtaken.

Reminder that the Key takes 1 minute to transport us across Planes, so we can't use it to avoid a combat.

"I agree with Itka"

Jakoby pauses a moment to stuff another bowl into her pipe with blackened thumb, inhales thoughtfully, and elaborates "The Doctor's plan is solid. I think stopping by the Hag's little trophy room might be worth risking the time. After we get our untied friend to safety, let's take a peak in that Vault, hit the Bell Tower, then take command of the Gale's Claw"

We have to do the Bell Tower (to shut down the net) for either the airship or the key to work, right?

Argoni grins at the idea of raiding Aslynn's vault. "Payback is a b~~%%!" The he laughs. "And we steal her airship?! I'm in."

Isaku agrees with Argoni. "I have heard of such. Getting one for the Society would be a great addition to our ways and means to combat evil..." he says with a perfectly straight face...

Sorry, I was exhausted when I got home last night. All caught up

The Vault is, unsurprisingly guarded. Narcela manages to get you in but some of them call her. "There are reports of intruders, we need your help." Narcela maintains a straight face. "Yes, show me what's going on. Take me there." Narcela and some of the guards leave, but there are a few still at the door. "No entry allowed."

The team will have to spend some time convincing them to move out of the way.

Explore the Electric Castle: You must trick guards in the vault into opening the door (using Deception to Impersonate another guard, Diplomacy to Make an Impression, Intimidation to Coerce them, or Performance to lure them). Base DC 26.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

BakBat must have forgotten to move aside the Demon Mask...

Hunched, Itka thumps her cane angrily as she strides up to the leader of the remaining guards. Menacingly, she draws herself up to her full height, looming over him. In Shadowtongue, she growls:

Intimidation, base DC 26: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
I will use her last Hero Point if we end up one success shy of our goal.

"You are wasting time. Did you even check inside? The intruders can pass through walls using a transitive plane. Or were you not paying attention?" she gets in the face of one of the guards, and fake-scowls.

◆) Hunt Prey (+2 to Deception w/ Outwit)

Deception (T) w/ +2 Outwit (DC 26): 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 12 + 2 = 30

Deception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Argoni tries to appear like Jacoby's hireling. "Ma'am, I have some alchemical elixirs ready if you face off with the intruders."

If only one of us needs to make the check, can I retcon Argoni's roll as a Aid for Jakoby? Since that's how it sounded narratively.

Argoni, I'll switch your attempt to an Aid

It takes about 30 minutes of haggling with the guards, but eventually you buy their trust and they leave you alone as you enter the vault.

An array of items sits on plinths in this chamber. Among them are a crystalline, eight-spoked wheel; a ledger with the name "Thurl" written on the demonhide cover; a frayed scrap of tapestry; a leather bracelet with a number too faded to read; a tropical lotus flower; and several Stasian items.

You must pick through the Stasian technology to determine which is the item described in the mystery Ardis Scholar's notes. The items include:

- A grandfather clock, with one dial tracing the path of the sun from dusk to dawn, and the other following the phases of the moon
- A black metal bowl with a silvery interior, in which a spiraling wooden top wrapped in wire spins in perpetual motion
- A fist-sized glass globe containing a spinning golden ring with a coil glittering with black opal dust (this is the multiversal navigator described in the faction notes)
- A sphere of beaten brass with numerous white pearl-capped keys, each inscribed with a letter in the Skald alphabet; a multi-hued wooden tray holds a piece of parchment

You remember getting some notes from the Ardis scholars describing something they were looking for. It would help them greatly if you could identify the correct object.

Doc strokes his chin. "The glass globe seems to match the description best ... gyroscope, coil, within a sealed glass outer sphere. Should we ... liberate the other things, too?"

"Hmp. Check for traps and alarms first. But yes, we should take what we can." Itka remarks. Taking her own advice, she casts Read Aura (5th Rank) on all the Stasian technological objects and their surroundings, ignoring the magic of the objects themselves in favor of detecting whether and/or how the removal of these items would be noticed or defended. Whatever she senses she shares.

If we have 10 minutes for Identify Magic:
Identify Magic for traps/alarms (Arcana/Occultism): 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
On the off chance Religion would work, that's a +13.

Ah, my GM notes spilled into the post...

Itka does not notice anything out of the ordinary, and the team is able to collect everything. They are pretty certain what the Ardis Scholars were looking for.

Where to next?
- Lightning Tower (To recharge Lumna)
- Seneschal's Study (To gather more intel about the tower's layout)
- Bell Tower (A net blocks Interplanar travel)
- Sky Dock (Aslynn's airship is here)

"Narcela, is there any real reason to go to the Seneschal's Study? You know the layout pretty well, don't you? If not, then my vote is to get to the Bell Tower and disable the interplanar net. I am fascinated to get a look at this thing."

"Hmp. Agreed." Itka grunts, checking to make sure the Ardis Scholars are properly securing the items for transit.

Narcela listens to Doc Bloodshanks. "Well, the castle is huge, and Mother doesn't let me go everywhere. But I understand. I'll escort you to the Bell Tower."

Itka asks for a brief stop in the Safe Space. Cetezar offers Dinetrie an ice pack for her swollen eye, rambling a bit about its exothermic properties. She asks if it's going to cool the swelling or free her face, and he's not certain.

Venruth is droning on and on to Bremix, who continues to tolerate him until you arrive. "Gods, please tell me you found an exit..."

Dinetrie slowly stands up. "Hey, is that...?" She looks at the wheel. "Aye! This is the wheel for the Gale's Claw! It's half the reason I couldn't fly out of here when I had the chance. Keep it if you're going to take control of that ship. It's still parked in the Sky Dock. Aslynn loved taunting me about my failure, but I paid close attention to what she said."

After a check up, you head off to the Bell Tower.

Three massive black metal bells hang from a yoke stretching across this open tower. The clappers are carved to look like screaming faces. A fine silk net hangs below the bells. Several rough-cut gems woven into the fabric glow softly. As the bells shake ever so slightly, you see Narcela take deep breaths.

Explore the Electric Castle: If you want to silence the bells, you can dismantle them with brute force (using Athletics) or skill (using Crafting, Engineering Lore, or Thievery). DC 26. On failure you will take damage as the bells are very loud.

"Hmp." Reaching out her bony arms, Itka begins to dismantle the clapper from one of the bells. It nearly slips from her hands at the absolute worst moment, but she deftly catches it at the last moment.

Crafting DC 26: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
Hero Point Reroll Crafting DC 26: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

Doc looks over the glowing gems, but focuses his attention first on making sure the bells do not alert residents of the fortress.

I assume we need multiple successes on this.

Crafting DC 26: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32

Argoni tries to disable the clappers so they can't make any sound.

Thievery: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

If we don't need more successes, that can be an Aid roll.

More successes will reduce the time spent removing the net. Argoni, you'll have to state whether you're making a check or Aiding before you roll.

Thievery: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

BakBat gets out his tools and gets to work on the bell ropes.

Since I didn't say I was aiding, let that be a separate roll.

Jakoby slides uses some of her weapons to absorb some of the sound...

Thievery (U) w/ Clever Improvisor vs DC 26: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16
☘️ Thievery (U) w/ Clever Improvisor vs DC 26: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30

Argoni takes Sonic Damage: 1d10 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 as he sets off a bell right in front of him. It slows everyone down as they quiet the bells, but after 25 minutes they are able to destroy the net.

Itka hears Lumna's voice ring through her mind. "Alright! I can transport you and any scholars back to your Universe now."

As the teammates quickly take down the net, Narcela seems to calm down.

A sudden surge of pain wracks her body and for a third time, Narcela groans in pain, this time falling to her knees. Face hidden against the ground, she speaks in a horrible voice, like rocks scraping against each other. "Mother has been watching you, spying on your little dreams. They're going to become such good nightmares," she grates. A moment later, Narcela's true voice emerges again: "No! I... I won't! Won't... let you have me!" she says, clearly talking not to anyone present now but to her mother. She stands up, a grim look on her face, and wipes away a trickle of blood flowing from her nose. "I will fight her as long as I can, I promise you," she says. "For Revecka."

Medicine: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

"Narcela!" Argoni goes to help her up and recoils at the 'other' voice that comes out. He examines her for a moment, then turns to the others. "I think all this is causing damage to her mind."

Crafting (Medicine) DC 24: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24

Doc nods in agreement with Argoni. "Does anyone have a sense of anything we can do to stave off these attacks on her?"

Arcana DC 24: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 30

Concurring with the others' assessment, Itka replies: "Hmp. Not here. We need to get Narcela back to one of the Lodges. They'll either have the resources needed to either stabilize her or quickly transport her to a Lodge that does. Let's move, people. To the sky ship, on the double!" She starts limping in the right direction, hoping against all hope that they can get back without having to fight a transformed and/or controlled Narcela.

Doc nods. "First back to pick up the scholars, then to the ship, yes, that seems prudent. Our time pressure is no longer purely about Aslynn's return."

You return to the Safe Space once again. Bremix is, for once, quiet. He doesn't say anything as you announce your plans.

Dinetrie stretches. "Good. Let's head to the Sky Dock, yeah? We follow you." She turns to Narcela. "Thanks for everything, by the way. You gotta come with us, alright?"

Narcela gives you a nervous glance but turns back to Dinetrie and nods. "I'll do what I can. Give me about 20 minutes to clear out the Sky Dock."

You bring the scholars with you to the Sky Dock. Bremix remains silent, focusing on his own breathing. Narcela goes ahead, talks to the few guards there and they gladly take her offer on a short lunch break. "Well, that was easy!" Venruth chuckles. "Could you secure the Gale's Claw? Then we'll gladly join you."

Reminder that Argoni has taken 11 damage.

Doc mixes up a moderate elixir of life for Argoni. "Drink quickly."

elixir healing: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 5, 4) + 6 = 16

He replenishes the spent vial while traveling through the fortress.

This strange space vaguely resembles a dock, but with metal piers jutting into the shadow beyond the castle walls. What looks like a sailing vessel is tied to one pier. Its two masts are angled backward at a steep angle, making the raised sails look more like a covering canopy than something intended to catch the wind. The ship's name is marked in blood-red writing: the Gale's Claw. The ceiling here is 30 feet high to accommodate the ship.

As you enter the chamber, you hear a horrid pulse. A blast of dark clouds emerge from the ship's deck, and an equine creature made of shadow rears up on his hind legs. Living dreams crawl off of the deck behind it and laugh. "Oh, we'll have so much fun feasting on your comatose minds."

You hear Narcela gasp. "Deimostride! Aslynn's prized horse... Try to stop it from escaping. I'll keep the scholars safe." She calls to the scholars telling them to hide.

Jakoby, you may freely Stride as part of your initiative if you wish.
There are no pictures of the dreams, so I had to reuse the generic red tokens. The one with a Black X is stronger than the one with the Yellow \.

Round 1
Jakoby
- Ro
Doc Bloodshanks
Isaku
Argoni
Deimostride
Elite Faded Dream[Black X]
Faded Dream[Yellow \]
Itka
BakBat

>Sky Dock<

Before
Argoni readily accepts the healing elixir. He gulps it down and makes a face. "Did you make that with blackberry juice?" He quickly chases it down with a pumpkin spice coffee that he had brewed earlier.

Now
"Jakoby, remember the elixir I gave you!" Argoni slinks off to take cover behind some of the Sky Dock's machinery. He takes note of one of the Faded Dreams, trying to work out what it might be weak to.

◆ Move
◆ Hide (Stealth +16)
◆ RK on Faded Dream (Occultism +16, Arcana +15) (looking for weaknesses, then resistances)

Argoni studies the dreams. The remains of nightmares given incorporeal form. While he doesn't recognize any weaknesses, he knows they are very resistant to non magical damage. They also resist any damage that is not force, ghost touch or void.

◆ Recall Knowledge

As Argoni (presumably) shares his findings, Doc mutters, "Sounds like I'll have little that can help with those creatures ... so I'll focus my attention on the large beast..."

Taking Argoni's lead, Doc darts down behind some crates, pressing against them to avoid any possible attacks.

◆ Stride

◆ Take Cover

Doc dives for cover and tries to focus on the fiery horse covered in smoke. But nothing comes to mind. This is a very unique creature. He does realize the smoke exudes about 20 feet away from it and creates a field of concealment.

A death pony. She had fought one of these before, but struggles to remember exactly what it was capable of... perhaps she smokes too much... either way, leading sword-first, our rugged hero stops well short of the halfway point, and braces for the assault.

~) AC 29 vs Death Pony (Prey)
◇) Swift Tracker to Stride towards Prey
◆) Inbibe Argoni's Potion (+5 THP every round 1 min)
◆) Regrip Katana (to 2h)
◆) Magic Hide on Ro (Ro AC 29)
&
◆) Ro to Fly

His faithful bird right behind her, inured once more with defensive primal magic.

The horse trots out to survey the area. His hooves burst into flame and he dashes across the docks, covering everyone in smoke and ash. The heat is so intense almost everyone is burned. Fire Damage: 6d6 - 2 ⇒ (6, 5, 1, 3, 2, 2) - 2 = 17 Basic Reflex Save DC 28 He snorts in Argoni's direction.

The stronger faded dream flies up towards Jakoby. An arm wreathed in tentacles reaches out and she finds her perceptions scrambling.

The weaker one sweeps around the battlefield and finds BakBat's mind oh so tasty...
Tendril: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (4) + 18 = 22
But BakBat's mind is a dish best preserved. That's where all of his ideas come from.

Round 1
Deimostride
Elite Faded Dream[Black X]
Faded Dream[Yellow \]
Isaku (Reflex DC 28 vs 17 Fire Damage)
Itka
BakBat (Reflex DC 28 vs 17 Fire Damage)

Round 2
Jakoby (5 Temp HP) (Reflex DC 28 vs 17 Fire Damage, Will DC 28 vs >Confusion<)
- Ro (Reflex DC 28 vs 17 Fire Damage)
Doc Bloodshanks (Reflex DC 28 vs 17 Fire Damage, Take Cover)
Argoni

>Sky Dock<

Basic Reflex (M) w/ Evasion vs 17 fire (DC 28): 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (5) + 22 = 27
Will (E) vs Confusion (DC 28): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38

Jakoby's reflexes falter as she is singed by fire (17 damage), but her mind steels as her purpose remains undivided (CS > no effect).

Basic Reflex (E) vs 17 fire (DC 28): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31

Ro turns in time to recieve only minor burns (8 damage).

Heeding his master's gesture, he flies behind Deimostride and harries it with beak and talon!

~) Magic Hide / Prey (AC 29, or 30 vs Deimostride)
◆) Fly
◆) Strike

Jaw (P, magic) vs Deimostride (Flanked w/ Isaku): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 262d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 6 = 13

~) +5 temp HP (tonic @ ☑□□□□/□□□□□)
~) AC 29 vs Death Pony (Prey)
◆) Command Ro
◆) Stride
◆) Strike
~) Sword Specialization (Off-guard 1 round crit)

Jakoby, meanwhile, falls back to defend the sorcerer from the animate dream, swinging her astral katana - Spiritbreaker! - with precision and force.

Astral Katana (S, 2h; deadly d8, two-handed d10, versatile P) w/ Astral (1d6 spirit) vs Weaker Dream (Flanked w/ Bakbat): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 222d10 + 6 ⇒ (1, 3) + 6 = 101d6 ⇒ 11d8 ⇒ 5

Perhaps her perceptions do need a moment to recenter...

Hmp. We need to handle this quickly. Pressed for time, Itka casts Slow on the Deimostride, then Shield on herself in quick succession. A thin film of lacy frost and shadows coalesces in front of her.

Deimostride needs a DC 27 Fort save vs. Slow.

◆◆ Cast a spell, ◆ Cast a spell

Stratagem vs Deimostride: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Argoni is stunned by the horse's appearance and he can't judge any angle. The inner child however, takes over and he rushes out to punch one of the horse's hind leg tendons. "Charlie horse!"

Dirty Trick vs Deimostride's Reflex DC: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36

◆ Stratagem (+RK on Deimostride; Arcana +15, Occultism +16, Religion +10)
◆ Move
◆ Dirty Trick

Remember Deimostride generates a 20 ft cloud of Concealment around himself. You'll have to roll to target him.

Concealment vs Jakoby: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Concealment vs Ro: 1d20 ⇒ 4
With all of the thick smoke, Jakoby and Ro have trouble hitting their target.

Concealment vs Slow: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Fort vs Slow: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37
Deimostride completely ignores Itka's magic.

Concealment vs Devise A Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Concealment vs Dirty Trick: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Argoni has no idea how to hurt Deimostride, but he does know how to distract him. Deimostride neighs in shock, leaving him Clumsy.

Round 1
Deimostride (Smoke Concealment, 20 ft, Clumsy 1 via Dirty Trick)
Elite Faded Dream[Black X]
Faded Dream[Yellow \]
Isaku (Reflex DC 28 vs 17 Fire Damage)
Itka
BakBat (Reflex DC 28 vs 17 Fire Damage)

Round 2
Jakoby (12 damage)
- Ro (8 Damage)
Doc Bloodshanks (Reflex DC 28 vs 17 Fire Damage, Take Cover)
Argoni

>Sky Dock<

Reflex vs fire: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21 17 fire damage - 4 fire resistance = 13 fire damage.

"Thanks! BakBat is just getting warmed up."

BakBat casts a 3-action 4th-rank Blazing Bolt at Deimostride, Elite Faded Dream, and Faded Dream: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (13) + 17 = 301d20 + 17 ⇒ (1) + 17 = 181d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22for: 8d6 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2, 2, 5, 2, 3, 3, 6) + 4 + 2 = 34 fire damage.