[GDXIV] Zero's #6-99: Under the Eye of the Mantis

Game Master Super Zero

The illusory ghoul sighs dramatically and vanishes, the words "Very well," hanging in the air.

Then all the Pathfinders see are the mirrors and their own reflections. Their own very hostile reflections.

Each of the Pathfinders suddenly realize what the mirrors are showing them--these other five dangerously violent people are clearly out to get them! Zuza and Clides (and Cranky) mostly resist the compulsion.

Jared's Will (T): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Blueberry Peat's Will (E): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Zisiro's Will (E): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 (+1 in Spirit Trance)
Agate Stark's Will (E): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Zuza the scout's Will (E): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Clides's Will (T): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Cranky's Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Zuza, Clides, and Cranky are Stunned 1.
Jared, Peat, Zisiro, and Agate become Confused for up to one minute. If you want to reroll the Will save, the DC is 17. You can also attempt a new save at the end of each turn.

★★★
House of Mirrors Round 1

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.
Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Clides (30/30 HP) │ Stunned 1
➤ Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP) │ Stunned 1
Jared (18/18 HP) │ Confused 10 rounds
Blueberry Peat (26/26 HP) │ Confused 10 rounds
Zisiro (30/30 HP) │ Confused 10 rounds
Agate Stark (16/16 HP) │ Confused 10 rounds
⠀⠀Cranky (- HP) │ Stunned 1

Hero Point: Will (E), Vestments: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22

Definitely want to spend a hero point to reroll the will save.

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 DC 17

Alas.

Zuza shakes her head to get her mind cleared. Then she looks around, and sees several of the party members raising their weapons toward her.

She kicks Agata on her leg to shock her back to senses, then runs away to get some distance from the confused pathfinders.

◆ Stunned
◆ Strike Attack Agate: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 Damage (nonlethal): 1d4 ⇒ 1 Not using sneak attack.
◆ Stride

Clides advances and tries to smash the mirror.

◆ Stunned ◆ Stride ◆ Strike

Melee Frying Pan (Fatal d8, Halfling) vs. Mirrors: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
B dmg, fatal: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Agate recovers her senses.
Confusion Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Clides smashes one of the mirrors, but it doesn't have any immediate effect. It looks like this trap has already done its work.

★★★
House of Mirrors Round 1

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.
Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Clides (30/30 HP) │
Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP) │
➤ Jared (18/18 HP) │ Confused 10 rounds
➤ Blueberry Peat (22/26 HP) │ Quicksilver Mutagen, Confused 10 rounds
➤ Zisiro (30/30 HP) │ Stunned 1
➤ Agate Stark (14/16 HP)
⠀⠀Cranky (- HP) │ Stunned 1

The Confused condition says the random target is determined by the GM, but I'll go ahead and randomize it. Since I'm in melee to Cranky & Agate, I guess they are my two viable targets ... 1 is Cranky and 2 is Agate.

In the mirror is a dark reflection, Blackberry Peat! Driven to mental distress by this image, Blueberry Peat lashes out at the nearest targets.

Random enemy: 1d2 ⇒ 2
◆ Strike
Rapier attack w/ quicksilver mutagen vs Agate: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8
Rapier damage (piercing): 1d6 ⇒ 3

Random enemy: 1d2 ⇒ 1
◆ Strike
Rapier attack w/ quicksilver mutagen, MAP vs Cranky: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 - 5 = 17
Rapier damage (piercing): 1d6 ⇒ 1

Random enemy: 1d2 ⇒ 1
◆ Strike
Rapier attack w/ quicksilver mutagen, MAP vs Cranky: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 10 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 - 10 = 1
Rapier damage (piercing): 1d6 ⇒ 4

Once he sorts out his senses enough to determine what is happening, Zisiro moves toward Jared and reaches to restrain him.

◆ Stunned
◆ Stride
◆ Grapple vs. Jared's Fortitude DC 16: Athletics (E): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Yeah, go ahead and make your own rolls. Otherwise I'd be doing all the rolling here.
And Peat, you get another save at the end of your turn to end the Confusion early.

Peat manages to scratch Cranky, a dubious success.

Zisiro gets a hold on Jared.

★★★
House of Mirrors Round 1

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.
Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Clides (30/30 HP)
Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP)
➤ Jared (18/18 HP) │ Confused 10 rounds, Grabbed by Zisiro
Blueberry Peat (22/26 HP) │ Quicksilver Mutagen, Confused 9 rounds
Zisiro (30/30 HP) │ Grabbng Jared
➤ Agate Stark (14/16 HP)
⠀⠀Cranky (-1 HP) │ Stunned 1

"Get off of me!" Jared tries to concoct a bomb to throw at Zisiro.
DC 5 Flat check to Manipulate: 1d20 ⇒ 1 to Manipulate while Grabbed (Fail)
Lesser Versatile Vial Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1 fire damage, 1 acid/cold/electricity/fire splash damage (to target only)

Failing to do so, he tries again.
DC 5 Flat check to Manipulate: 1d20 ⇒ 12 to Manipulate while Grabbed (Success)
Lesser Versatile Vial Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4 fire damage, 1 acid/cold/electricity/fire splash damage (to target only)

He is so desperate that he tries again.
DC 5 Flat check to Manipulate: 1d20 ⇒ 16 to Manipulate while Grabbed (Success)
Lesser Versatile Vial Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2 fire damage, 1 acid/cold/electricity/fire splash damage (to target only)

◆ Quick Bomber
◆ Quick Bomber
◆ Quick Bomber

DC 17 Will save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 vs Confused

Jared still feels the threat of being held that he is about to cry.

Not sure if the Strike from failed flat check counts to MAP, and if the vial is spent.

End of turn Will save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

After the final swing, Peat finally looks away from the version in the mirror, and seems to realize who they have been attacking. "Oh! So sorry! Don't know what came over me."

DC 17 save to end confusion due to damage taken from Zuza.
Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"Hey!" Agate calls out after being kicked by Zuza. Then she realizes she was thinking crazy thoughts of attacking her allies but those thoughts evaporated after the kick. "Thanks, I needed that."
I believe Zuza did just 1 nonlethal point of damage, not 2.

Clanky seems to be glitching, so Agate ignores him this round. After a moment, he moves and stands ready for instructions again.

Agate moves over next to Jared and tries to give him a slap up the back of his head to snap him out of his addled state.

Fist: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Fist Damage, B, nonlethal: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

"Snap out of it, man!"
Then she raises her shield.

◆ Stride
◆ Strike
◆ Raise Shield

Basic bombs don't cost you a resource at all. You can use Quick Vial for that. ...and it doesn't matter, because that's three critical failures so there isn't even splash damage.
Zuza rolled a 1 for damage, but she also rolled a crit. Ending confusion after taking damage is just a DC 10 flat check. This is as the spell confusion, so you also get a save at the end of each turn.
Speaking of which: Jared Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 14

After a brief melee, the Pathfinders have all returned to their senses. They could start working to disable the magical trap now, but the point is moot: Its magic expended, the illusory mirrored environment fades away, and the team finds themselves back in the hallways lined with mirrors (one of which is now broken).

You have 10 minutes to rest, and I'll report a success.

★★★
House of Mirrors

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.
Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Clides (30/30 HP)
Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP)
Jared (12/18 HP)
Blueberry Peat (22/26 HP)
Zisiro (30/30 HP)
Agate Stark (14/16 HP)
⠀⠀Cranky (-1 HP)

Agate will once again take out her repair kit and try to patch up her construct companion.

Crafting, trained: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

That should repair his damage.

Zisiro lets go of Jared as he comes to his senses in the wake of Clanky's scratch. "Better? In the mind, I mean. You should tend to that cut."

Basic bombs don't cost you a resource at all. You can use Quick Vial for that.

After reading this and reviewing about Quick Alchemy, now it makes more sense to me, the difference between Create Consumable and Quick Vial. Thank you so much!

Jared is too stunned after being slapped, and slowly returns to his senses. "I'm sorry, I thought you were enemies." he turns Red in embarassment. He quickly drinks one of his vials after adding something to it to make it drinkable.
Minor Elixir of Life: 1d6 ⇒ 1 HP to Jared

He prepares another and drinks it.
Minor Elixir of Life: 1d6 ⇒ 6 HP to Jared

He then replenishes his stock.

At least half a dozen bodies lay around Giovana as she sighs in boredom, sawtooth sabers dripping with blood. “I caught a glimpse of the Dispatch leader Sotroz, but they sent their minions after me and scurried away down that dark passage. Go do some pathfinding and see if it’s safe to proceed, hm?”

The passage is clearly trapped. If the team can work carefully and find a safe path, they can act as the tip of the spear for Giovanna and the rest of their Pathfinder allies.

Each PC should attempt two skill checks, such as Scouting Lore, Survival, or Thievery to carefully advance, or Deception, Diplomacy, or Intimidate to interrogate the single living survivor of Giovana’s recent eviscerations. PCs with creative solutions may use other skills. A PC who casts an appropriate non-cantrip spell such as show the way earns an automatic success.

Agate advances carefully, with clanky at her side, carefully scanning for traps, advancing when a way clear can be seen, marking the path with chalk if anyone has some to spare. She uses her knowledge of engineering to try to anticipate likely mechanisms for traps.

Engineering Lore, trained: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Engineering Lore, trained: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Clanky assists by watching for markings, fine cracks, or outlines in solid seeming surfaces.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Jared removes any traps the group might find that needs disabling.
Thievery: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Thievery: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Peat walks over to the remaining Dispatch member. "C'mon, buddy, how 'bout you just tell us the way through this maze." While the others try to work out the path, Peat continues trying to cajole the injured assailant.

Diplomacy w/ Investigation bonus: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 20
Diplomacy w/ Investigation bonus: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12

Zuza joins Jared in the disabling.

Thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Zuza has the Trap Finder feat, but that's only to perception to find, and to defenses, not disabling. At least as I read it. But as you can use other skills here, it might work here, too? Zuza's perception to see traps is +8.

Clides tries to help out with the traps!

Thievery: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Thievery: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Zisiro attempts to follow Zuza, Clides, and Jared by mimicking their footsteps.

Acrobatics (T): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Acrobatics (T): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

The Pathfinder team navigates through the dangerous route, leading others who follow quickly behind them.
Agate critically succeeds, which earns two points, and fails.
Jared fails and succeeds.
Peat succeeds and fails.
Zuza, I'll buy that and apply the higher bonus to your rolls--though it doesn't change anything anyway. A failure and a success.
Clides succeeds and fails.
Zisiro critically succeeds and fails.
That's 8 total points, more than enough for a success.

You have 10 minutes before the next mission, and I'll report the success.

Venture-Captain Viore approaches, out of breath. “Pathfinders, the Dispatch leader Rowan is activating technomagical switches and devices, powering up their faux-aiudara. They must be preparing to escape. You need to chase after her and shut down all the things she’s been turning on over the last few minutes. Hurry!”

This encounter uses the chase subsystem from page 192 of GM Core. Each round takes 1 minute, representing the Pathfinders running to a place and interacting with items or creatures in that location.

Obstacle 1: Playing Catch Up
Rowan the Whispering hasn’t noticed that she’s being pursued just yet. This gives the Pathfinders a chance to close the gap and catch up to her before she can activate more strange magical devices.
(Easiest Scouting or Warfare Lore to advance quickly, harder Acrobatics or Athletics to race ahead, or hardest Perception or Stealth to avoid notice while moving as a group.)

★★★
Shut it Down! Round 1

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Clides (30/30 HP)
➤ Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP)
➤ Jared (18/18 HP)
➤ Blueberry Peat (26/26 HP)
➤ Zisiro (30/30 HP)
➤ Agate Stark (16/16 HP)
⠀⠀Cranky (- HP)

"Come on! Let's be quick!" Jared quickly goes to stop Rowan from escaping.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

SERIOUS "TOM CRUISE" FACE WHILE RUNNING FULL SPEED

Athletics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Jared and Clides lead the party in catching up to Rowan, which they do very quickly.
Critical success and success. Three chase points, which clears the obstacle.

Obstacle 2: Flipping Switches
Dozens of clockwork and technomagical levers and dials have been set to their activated positions on a series of switchboards along the walls, causing mundane and magical energies to begin building up.
Easiest Engineering Lore or Crafting to find the right levers to pull immediately, harder Thievery to dig into the guts of the machines and disconnect their wires manually, or hardest Perception or Society to find clues as to which switches were touched most recently and deactivate those ones first.

★★★
Shut it Down! Round 1

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Clides (30/30 HP)
➤ Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP)
Jared (18/18 HP)
➤ Blueberry Peat (26/26 HP)
➤ Zisiro (30/30 HP)
➤ Agate Stark (16/16 HP)
⠀⠀Cranky (- HP)

Peat's crafting is usually more in the alchemical style, but he's looked at a few clockwork things and thinks he can figure out this machine.

Crafting w/ Investigation bonus: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 1 = 17

Perception (T): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Zisiro carefully examines the knobs and levers. "Hmm."

Athletics, trained: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Agate is in decent shape and tries her best to keep pace.

Clanky tries to help by leading the way to help her see the best path forward.
Athletics, trained, aid: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

When she gets to the switches, she is in her element and starts fiddling with the controls to deactivate the devices.

Engineering Lore, trained: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Zuza also works on the problem.
Zuza's Thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

The Pathfinders are all moderately successful in their work, and between the four of them they manage to get all the switches set how they want them.

Obstacle 3: Energy Influx

Magical power, tied to pieces of stolen aiudara fragments from all around Kyonin and bound together here, flare to life, causing a cascade effect that must be cautiously and safely dissipated.

Obvious potential solutions include (easies) an Elf Lore or Kyonin Lore check to understand the connection to the original aiudaras; (harder) an Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion check to create a magical counterbalance, or (hardest) an Intimidation or a Will save in order to use one’s force of personality against the supernatural effects.

★★★
Shut it Down! Round 2

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Clides (30/30 HP)
➤ Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP)
➤ Jared (18/18 HP)
➤ Blueberry Peat (26/26 HP)
➤ Zisiro (30/30 HP)
➤ Agate Stark (16/16 HP)
⠀⠀Cranky (- HP)

Arcana, trained: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Agate struggles to understand the arcane energies.

Clides tries to see if the elves incorporated natural patterns into their magical weave...

Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Arcana (trained): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Peat offers what advice they can, though this is far from their area of expertise.

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**
Medics and apothecaries wearing armbands with the Glyph of the Open Road on them begin to back-fill in through underground passages, setting up rallying points and field hospitals as the Pathfinders continue to delve deeper into the island’s interior, guarded by Eando Kline and members of the Vigilant Seal.

The Medical Resources condition is now in effect.

Religion (E): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Zisiro beseeches the spirits to create a counterbalance to the wild energies.

The Pathfinder find this stage of the operation more challenging, though Zisiro makes some progress.
Agate critically fails, but you have no Chase Points to lose. Clides and Peat fail, Zisiro earns 1 Chase Point.

Obstacle 3: Energy Influx (1 Chase Point)

Magical power, tied to pieces of stolen aiudara fragments from all around Kyonin and bound together here, flare to life, causing a cascade effect that must be cautiously and safely dissipated.

Obvious potential solutions include (easies) an Elf Lore or Kyonin Lore check to understand the connection to the original aiudaras; (harder) an Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion check to create a magical counterbalance, or (hardest) an Intimidation or a Will save in order to use one’s force of personality against the supernatural effects.

★★★
Shut it Down! Round 2

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Clides (30/30 HP)
➤ Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP)
➤ Jared (18/18 HP)
Blueberry Peat (26/26 HP)
Zisiro (30/30 HP)
Agate Stark (16/16 HP)
⠀⠀Cranky (- HP)

Zuza looks at the influx. "That is from homeland, but I am no historian. Maybe generic arcane", she says, and tries to unbound the ties.

Arcane: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Peat says to Zuza and Agate, as Zisiro makes progress, "This must be more of an religious situation than an arcane one..."

The party keeps at it.

Obstacle 3: Energy Influx (1 Chase Point)

Magical power, tied to pieces of stolen aiudara fragments from all around Kyonin and bound together here, flare to life, causing a cascade effect that must be cautiously and safely dissipated.

Obvious potential solutions include (easies) an Elf Lore or Kyonin Lore check to understand the connection to the original aiudaras; (harder) an Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion check to create a magical counterbalance, or (hardest) an Intimidation or a Will save in order to use one’s force of personality against the supernatural effects.

★★★
Shut it Down! Round 3

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
➤ Clides (30/30 HP)
➤ Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP) │ two actions available
➤ Jared (18/18 HP)
➤ Blueberry Peat (26/26 HP)
➤ Zisiro (30/30 HP)
➤ Agate Stark (16/16 HP)
⠀⠀Cranky (- HP)

Occultism w/ Investigation bonus: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 = 27

Peat takes a different tactic, looking for more esoteric clues on how to counterbalance the ring.

Whoops, it's Jared that still has his round 2 action available, not Zuza.

Clides tries again. Harder!

Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Religion (E): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Sweat beads on Zisiro's forehead. His tattoos begin to pulse between their usual dark blue and a bright red as he continues to parley with the spirits.

The Pathfinders successfully dissipate the magical energy.
Clides fails, but both Peat and Zisiro critically succeed. That's five points, and you only needed four for that obstacle.

Obstacle 4: Deadbolt

But then, the energy cascade caused by the conflict between systems being activated by Rowan and then deactivated so shortly afterwards by the Pathfinders creates a negative feedback loop of energies that cannot be disabled—only survived.
Obvious solutions include: (easiest) Fortune-Telling Lore or any Lore relevant to magic or the planes, (harder) Medicine or Survival to help others through the energy storm, or (hardest) Fortitude or Reflex saves to simply stubbornly resist.

★★★
Shut it Down! Round 3

Party Conditions: Due to Khione's... helpful narration, all Pathfinders have the Deny Advantage Rogue feature.

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Clides (30/30 HP)
➤ Zuza the Scout (15/15 HP)
➤ Jared (18/18 HP) │ two actions available
➤ Blueberry Peat (26/26 HP)
Zisiro (30/30 HP)
➤ Agate Stark (16/16 HP)
⠀⠀Cranky (- HP)

Zuza looks around the energies around her. "That kind of burst seems weaker", she tries to estimate the less dangerous spots.

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

She jumps back after getting a shock. "No", she corrects her position.

On the phone right now.

Jared attempts to tinker the arcane aspects of the fragments. But it is too late for that so he tries to evade the exuding energies
Round 2: Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Round 3: Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

Medicine, trained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

Agate knows a bit about medicine and tries to use that to help.