[Gameday XIV] PFS2 #6-99 Under the Eye of the Mantis (tier 5-6)

Game Master cmlobue

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 Pathfinders can attempt to find a safe way forward through the clearly trapped passage by using some of their skills or abilities. Each PC should attempt two Average skill checks to act as the tip of the spear for Giovana and the rest of their Pathfinder allies who wish to proceed down this path, such as Scouting Lore, Survival, or Thievery to carefully advance, or Deception, Diplomacy, or Intimidate to interrogate a single living survivor of Giovana’s recent eviscerations. PCs with creative solutions may use other skills at the GM’s discretion, using the same DC. A PC who casts an appropriate non-cantrip spell such as show the way earns an automatic success.

Roark becomes one with the shadows.

Thievery: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22
Thievery: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29

Kit says words over the bodies of the victims found in the tunnels. Hopefully she will have time to come back and give them a proper burial later, after they are done dispatching the kidnappers.

When she gets to the trapped hallway, she looks for any signs of passage that might hint at where the traps are. She points out the ones she sees to everyone.
Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Picking up his thrown dagger, Dreggar sighs at the bodies of the slain innocents in the tunnels. Shame.

Then he turns to finding the leader's hideout.

survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
thievery: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Diplomacy E (Glasses of Sociability): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 14 + 1 = 30
Diplomacy E (Glasses of Sociability): 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 1 = 33

"Hello, I'm Jinglemane, a reporter from the Mane Event. Is there anything you would like to share with our readers about the clever traps that surely lie ahead?"

Seeing Jinglemane interrogating the one prisoner, Kit pauses to tells them “This is your chance at fame! Getting interviewed for his newspaper!”

[dice=Diplomacy E (Glasses of Sociability)]1d20+14+1

[dice=Diplomacy E (Glasses of Sociability)]1d20+14+1

"Hello, I'm Jinglemane, a reporter from the Mane Event. Is there anything you would like to share with our readers about the clever traps that surely lie ahead?"

"Any chance you could spot me a healing potion before we discuss this?"

Jinglemane realizes sheepishly that he has no healing potion. Traveling with his girl Kit, he has never needed one. He gives Kit an anguished look. "I'm the dumbest poppet ever, aren't I? What well-prepared Pathfinder doesn't have a single healing potion on them?"

Note to self: purchase a healing potion in case Kit gets hurt. D'oh!

He pauses. "We do have improved supply lines, and I can send a healing potion your way once we're finished with the current mission though. Or maybe Kit can treat you? Pathfinders don't mistreat their prisoners, I assure you."

"Smee - hand this petty assassin my potion - I shan't be needing it with the level of profesionalism displayed here"

"Sir, I don't think that is advis..." he is cut off midstream.

Jinglemane hugs both Smee and Don Jurri. "Thank you!"

"Had I cared what you had thought, Smee, I would have bothered to phrase my order as a question"

His stern face, at once handsome and adminishing, and thereby reprehensible of tone. Condescending.

Unliking of the repeated hugs, Don Jurri avoids the affront with a clean sidestep, clicking his high-heeled boots.

"No"

Smee shrugs and hands the Red Mantis his provision potion.

And says... nothing.

But he does turn to Jinglemane, takes the hug, and nods.

Now revived, the almost-victim is happy to discuss the traps with Jinglemane and Smee. Not Don Jurri, though.

Qitarah carefully works her way through the dungeon, while Roark simply vanishes from sight. Even Dreggar manages to spot something the others missed.

The team navigates through the dangerous route, leading others who follow quickly behind them.

10 minutes later...

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!”

Chase rules. Each round is 1 minute, and if an obstacle is cleared before everyone makes a check for the round, whoever is left may move on to the next obstacle during the same round. As usual, +2 for crit success, +1 for success, -1 for crit failure.

Round 1 - everyone may go!

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.

Chase Points 3; Overcome Easy Scouting or Warfare Lore to advance quickly, Average Acrobatics or Athletics to race ahead, or Hard Perception or Stealth to avoid notice while moving as a group.

Please do not look at the second obstacle until the first is cleared.

Kit looks to the rest of the team for the initial pursuit.

How many successes to clear an obstacle? That way we can know when it is cleared and we move on to the next one.

Acrobatics(E): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Looks like it's 3 successes (Chase Points) to clear

Don Jurri turns up his nose to the assassin. Perhaps her failure will reap her a just reward at the hands of her superiors. Fatal, no doubt, thus, no need to sully his own hand. Again. Matter of fact, he has Smee clean his blade.

And moves gently ahead with noble grace.

Acrobatics (E): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Looks like it's 3 successes (Chase Points) to clear

Thanks, I had missed that!

Jinglemane helps with the leaping.

Athletics E: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

That should give us our three needed chase points.

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.

Chase Points 4; Overcome Easy Engineering Lore or Crafting to find the right levers to pull immediately, Average Thievery to dig into the guts of the machines and disconnect their wires manually, or Hard Perception or Society to find clues as to which switches were touched most recently and deactivate those ones first.

——

Kit examines the levers closely looking for any clues as to which ones have not been used, so as to narrow the possibilities.

Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28 Success

Perception to avoid notice while moving as a group: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Do they see us?

"This should be an easy one!" Dreggar smirks.

crafting: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31 Crit!

Roark jams his beak into the machine and tries to bite the wires in half.

Thievery(E): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

Roark's makes some gagging noises and he pulls his beak out, spitting, "BLARGH! That tastes awful!"

Crit!

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.

Chase Points 4; Overcome Easy Elf Lore or Kyonin Lore to understand the connection to the original aiudaras, Average Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion to create a magical counterbalance, or Hard Intimidation or a Will save in order to use one’s force of personality against the supernatural effects.

Round 2 - everyone may go!

Kit calls on Ranginori to cause a breeze to sweep through the area. The breeze absorbs some of the overflowing magic.
Religion: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24 E Shining Symbol

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**
Seeing weary faces all around her, Zarta Dralneen unlocks a secure portion of her messenger bag and produces a small hourglass filled with orichalcum and dawnsilver particles. She winks. “I had a hunch you’d turn to me for a bit of refreshment.” With a flick of her finger, the hourglass begins to spin in its rune-engraved frame, seeming to rewind some elements of time for the assembled agents.

The Short Skip condition is now in effect.

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Will, HP, Vestments: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 1 = 30

If I don't have another HP, then the Nat 1 stands then...

If Roark lacks a hero point, I am willing to use my Campaign Coin for the reroll
Please let me know if it is used.

I show Roark as using 2 Hero Points before today. As I am pretty sure there are six glyphs at the table and I gave one to everyone mid-game, you should have one for this roll, so need for the coin.

Occultism E: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Jinglemane brings his esoteric knowledge to the forefront!

When the Short Skip condition is in effect, each PCs regains one Focus Point and also one use of their highest-level spell slot. PCs who do not benefit from either of these may instead recharge a single already expended talisman that lasts until the end of the adventure. This is due to Zarta Dralneen using an artifact she brought with her from the Grand Lodge’s archives.

1 Chase Point remaining in obstacle three.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Kit
Roark
Jinglemane
Don Jurri
Voron
Dreggar

Did somebody say Kyonin? Well, I don’t know more about it than the next elf but it’s full of magic…

Arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

hero point Arcana: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18 -_-

"We shouldn't stay here everyone! Tis not safe."

Occultism: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

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.

Chase Points 3; Overcome Easy Fortune-Telling Lore or any Lore relevant to magic or the planes, Average Medicine or Survival to help others through the energy storm, or Hard Fortitude or Reflex saves to simply stubbornly resist.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Kit
Roark
Jinglemane
Don Jurri
Voron
Dreggar

"If I hadn't raised you from a laddy..." Smee remarks, still hurt from the ungracious tone of his master, but of greater emotional fortitude, and thus, willing to continue lending his skills.

"Oh, I do not like the looks of that. Let's wait for the eye..."

Survival (E) vs Moderate DC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Smee dies first mate things and guides the Pathfinders through the storm.

2 chase points remaining in this obstacle.

Round 3 - everybody may go

Kit helps people survive the storm.

Medicine, baton: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 14 + 1 = 33

"Stay close, everyone. We'll get through this!"

Medicine: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

This part of the underground complex becomes unstable with arcane electricity, forcing friend and foe alike out of the area. However, the Pathfinders cleared the area quickly enough that they have a moment to search the area, where they find a +1 striking shock dagger.

**HOUSE GM ANNOUNCEMENT**
Viore Ciobanu blasts a ghoul to cinders while Giovana decapitates another with her wicked blades. The pair burst through a pair of large iron-bound doors. The Venture-Captain calls out, “We’ve reached the inner sanctum, Pathfinders. Hurry! We need to brief you for the final assault!”

The Breached Sanctum condition is in effect. Table GMs, you have 2 days to resolve your encounters.

Kit looks at the dagger with mild interest. “I do like electricity…but hopefully I will not be in a situation where such a weapon is needed. Does anyone else have use for it?”

Med: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

oops. read the wrong line. thought a medicine check is still needed

Roark stares at the weapon and shakes his head. "I have my own" he says with a cheeky grin, indicating his beak.

Kit gets a mischievous smile and asks Roark “Is your beak electrified? I know you can call down electricity, but do you channel it through your beak?”

Jinglemane swings his leiomano around. "My bite is sometime electric, but only if it really needs to be."

Jinglemane does not need the dagger. Does anyone else want it?

Don Jurri claims the Shock Dagger, and hands it to Smee.

"Stow this"

Will use as a backup weapon if needed