[ACO] Beginner Box 2 - Secrets of the Unlit Star (P3)

Game Master UncleFroggy

Please dot (add a post) in here and then delete your post to add yourself to this campaign.

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8) Let's have some fun and tell a great story together! After all, that's what we are here for.

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You are all young travelers with dreams of becoming adventurers. The life of an adventurer is one of excitement, riches, and most of all, danger! You’ve left your home in search of an opportunity and are now traveling along the Path River in the eerie nation of Ustalav. The river’s route has led you past the small village of Grayce, perhaps the very village you came from originally! Regardless of where you began your journey, you soon find yourself in a small marshland along the river’s edge.

While you can’t explain it, you get a feeling that something is amiss within the marsh. It’s almost as if you hear an inexplicable voice calling you deeper into the area. Despite your initial reservations, you know that this is your opportunity for adventure! You continue to follow the voice that may or may not be calling to you and eventually stumble upon the ruins of a large stone building. The ruins consist of two chambers: an entryway and a larger chamber with several pedestals surrounding an altar at its center. The image of a large butterfly is carved into the altar and almost appears to glow with starlight. The pedestals each seem to have a weapon or other item like a staff resting upon them, as well as a parcel wrapped in leather.

The pedestals draw your attention and you enter the chamber. As you do, the ground beneath your feet begins to rumble. An earthquake! Before you can react, the floor beneath you falls away and you watch as the pedestals and altar are swallowed up by a massive sinkhole. As you try to escape, the sinkhole grows larger and you fall into the darkness below!

TACTICAL MAP (linked above and on the combat tracker)

Pulling yourselves to your feet, you find yourselves in a cylindrical room. The rubble from the earthquake has lodged overhead, the grinding boulders forming a makeshift ceiling about ten feet high. The faintest bits of light filter through, but the surface is impossibly far away. You’re trapped deep underground! In the chaos of the fall, your gear was dislodged from your packs and scattered around the room, requiring you to take a moment to collect it all. You take this opportunity to introduce yourselves while you take stock of the situation.

Please introduce yourselves here
Please don't move towards the exit yet

Sprax straps his shield to one arm, takes up his warhammer in another hand, and picks up his bow with another hand.

He is a skittermander, a short, round, fuzzy (though this is difficult to notice at present) person with six arms. That's considered unusual around here, he's noticed. A short while ago he was a new recruit ready for training courses to join the Starfinder Society, and then somebody shouted "Don't touch that!" and now he can't find armor with a decent HUD and his comm unit died ages ago. Not that it was connecting to the local InfoSphere anyway.

No matter, he can roll with it. These people clearly need his help!

"Is everyone okay?"

Is it pitch black dark in there?

acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 (for RP purposes)

Smokey, try as he might, does not land on his feet, but rather ends up face upwards with a sore tailbone.

"NO!" he shouts in irritation with a slight slur to his voice, "That hurt!" Looking around he finds his backpack and retrieves a pipe, lights it, and takes a soothing puff.

"This reminds me of the time I tried sliding down a glacier in the lands of the linnorm."

The smoke put off by the pipe is soothing, not at all like tobacco, and he sighs as his tailbone is forgotten.

By the description, I'd say dim light; but the BegBox doesn't introduce concealed at this time. So I'd rule that it's enough to see by as, of course, there's a moon :)

DV/Lowlight will help here

"M'row? M'roooooow"

Walter the cat walks in a circle looking back up from the way they fell, and yowling for his keeper.

Shortly after a spry silhouette falls gracefully and lands on their feet.

Mellow has a twinkle in their eye and smiles brightly at all in the room.

"Exciting!" they exclaim.

"I wonder if we'll find forgotten books down here!"

They squat down and scratch Walter under the chin.

Though wild-eyed and of unkempt fur, Mellow wears the pointed hat moreso of a mage than a witch, and a shimmering, blue silk robe covered in bright yellow moons of various phases.

They pick a staff up off of the ground where it had clattered to in the cave-in.

Riccar picked himself up, concentrated a moment, and light glowed from the business end of his main-gauche, a kind of parrying dagger. "I suspect everything down here has been forgotten, books included. "

As the old man of the group, a spry 49, with a salting of grey in his jet black hair and beard, Riccar has taken a somewhat fatherly attitude toward the young folks, although he clearly is not father to any in this lot. As they had traveled, he regaled the youngsters with stories from his adventures, perhaps giving the impression he was an experienced adventurer, but in fact he was as new to exploring dangerous places as they were. His adventures had always been with Varisian entertainment caravans which always had plenty of fighter types to deal with threats. He was experienced with bar room brawls and romantic escapades, but none of that was really dangerous. He had joined the Pathfinders after three adult daughters he didn't know he had tracked him down and confronted him for his neglect of their upbringing and shamed him into joining the Pathfinders.

He collected his lute, starknife, sling and a few throwing knives. He stood looking around the room. "Well, you were all hot for adventure. Looks like we've fallen into one headfirst. Let's see if we can find a way out."

"A most astute and commendable aspiration, my dear Mellow!" Magnus declares, adjusting his spectacles as he meticulously brushes subterranean dust from his garments. He is on the rather small side, even for a gnome, but he looks around in rapt curiosity.

"While our current predicament is, admittedly, rather tumultuous and structurally compromised, the prospect of unearthing forgotten codices or ancient scroll fragments is an exhilarating silver lining to this literal downfall. One must always maintain a rigorous intellectual optimism!"

He turns to address the wider, eclectically assembled company, offering a formal, albeit slightly stiff, bow. He waves his staff, a strange looking twisted piece of orange and purple wood, and bright light fills the immediate space around. "That seems better," he says to the black raven who fluttered down after and perches on his shoulder sublimely.

"Greetings, compatriots. I am Magnus Whizzbang. I specialize in the analytical and historical minutiae of our world or, to speak more conventionally, I am a scholar by trade and temperament, mainly interested in cartography, arcane magic, and the First World. Rest assured, while my physical aptitude may not mirror the graceful descent of our feline companions, my cognitive faculties are entirely at your disposal as we navigate this unexpected speleological excursion. Let us proceed with systemic caution."

Oh, yes!

On Magnus' cue Mellow incants his own orb of light for the group. He circles a target in the air with his index-claw and it appears.

By now the place should be well-illuminated.

"Purrr-fect! I can make up to three more for others would would like them!"

Smokey giggles a bit at the wizard and cat. "Very entertaining. Verbally enlightening as well. I do like enlightenment." he mentions with a slight slur.

The otter is slouched up against a smooth boulder, pipe in hand, merely observing.

Anyone care to look around and find exits?"

"Well that was unexpected, and unpleasant as well" Ragnar stretches out his back after the fall and begins to collect his things and secure his shield to his arm.

"Anyone hurt? I can provide a spot o' healing"

Ragnar opens his kinetic gate and his aura springs into existence. Tiny lines of sand dance across the floor, forming patterns that collapse and reform. Snowflakes and tiny water drops swirl above him in patterns that mirror those of the sand.

The sand begins to stream up Ragnar's legs, forming shapes like armor; only, where metal would be smooth, each piece is craggy like the side of a cliff. When he is covered, the sand hardens until it is solid as rock, leaving only the thin streams of sand making patterns on the floor.

"Alright ready for action, let's explore"

Mellow will first search this chamber for any dangers or anything interesting that may have gotten buried in the rubble of the collapse.

Search: Perc +3

They then focus their arcane eye around the chamber.

Detect magic; Arcana +7

Walter leaps up and bats his paw at the snowflakes swirling in the air near Ragnar.

A loud scratching begins to echo through the chamber. By what little light is in this room, you see a mass of skittering legs making their way through cracks in the ceiling. Three enormous centipedes climb down the walls with surprising speed. The moment they reach the sunken floor, they begin to rush toward you, their mandibles snapping!

Blue drops to the floor beside Smokey and Magnus. It decides to go after M, S: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Mandibles vs Smokey AC 18: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 for Piercing: 1d4 ⇒ 4
Mandibles vs Smokey AC 18, MAP: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 for Piercing: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Mandibles vs Smokey AC 18, MAP 2+: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (1) - 4 = -3 for Piercing: 1d4 ⇒ 2

It manages to get through Smokey's thick fur and draw blood.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go

Blue
**Ragnar Stonefist - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 22/22
**Smokey the Otter - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 12/16
**Magnus Wizzbang - AC 15 15/15; Nevermore AC 15 5/5
White
Red
Sprax - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 20/20
Mellow - AC 16 14/14; Walter AC 15 5/5
Riccar Singer - AC 16 16/16

"Oh no, let me help you!" Sprax leans forward and pushes Smokey back, just enough that the attack hits him instead.

Ever Ready: You always gain a reaction whenever you roll initiative for combat, but you can use it only for reactions from guardian feats or class features. The GM might still rule that you can use other reactions before your first turn based on the situation, as normal.
↺ Intercept Attack: Sprax takes the damage instead of Smokey, applying his own resist 1.

"Uh? Wha?" exclaims the previously relaxed otter. He is obviously not all that drugged as he responds immediately. After raising his shield he casts a spell resulting in an arch of electricity that joins him with the two nearest centipedes.

electricity damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5; DC 17 basic reflex save

*raise shield
**electric arc

"Ack, bugs, gross"

Ragnar moves to stand beside Smokey in front of white careful not to step on Walter. As he moves his fist becomes coated in ice and he swings at the centipede as soon as he's in melee range.

Elemental blast: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 for cold: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

◆ Stride
◆◆ Elemental blast; melee, cold

Just before the centipedes wriggle through, Riccar says, softly, ""Try not to make any loud noises. This ceiling could collapse if anything vibrates a keystone loose.

Ragnar, please move your token.

Ragnar moves, causes ice to form on his fist and reduces the head of White to jam.

Sprax springs forward and shoves the startled otter out of the way, taking the hit from Blue instead. Smokey is startled but recovers enough to zap the remaining otters.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go

Blue (-2)
Ragnar Stonefist - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 22/22
Smokey the Otter - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 16/16 (AC 20)
**Magnus Wizzbang - AC 15 15/15; Nevermore AC 15 5/5
Red (-2)
Sprax - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 17/20 ** Reaction used
Mellow - AC 16 14/14; Walter AC 15 5/5
Riccar Singer - AC 16 16/16

Leaping into action, Magnus conjures a globule of acid just behind the remaining centipedes bursting it in the area around them, and splashing them both with acidic contents. He then spins up a shimmering shield in front to protect from any bites from the little critters.

◆◆Cast Caustic Blast
◆cast Shield

Acid Damage to all within 5' burst: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Would target the square that allows splash on both bugs, but not on any of the party. 5 acid damage to both with a basic Reflex DC17. Crit failure causes 1 persistent acid damage as well. AC16 with Shield in place.

Only way to do that would be to drop it on the other side of Red (against the opposite wall. For you to get both of them you'll have to join the party.

Red gets out of the way in time but lets out a shrill scream of pain. It then attempts to get revenge for the painful attack.

Mandibles vs Magnus AC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 for Piercing: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Mandibles vs Magnus AC 16, MAP: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 for Piercing: 1d4 ⇒ 3

It misses and moves away.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go

Blue (-2)
Ragnar Stonefist - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 22/22
Smokey the Otter - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 16/16 (AC 20)
Magnus Wizzbang - AC 15 15/15 (AC 16); Nevermore AC 15 5/5
Red (-4)
**Sprax - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 17/20 ** Reaction used
**Mellow - AC 16 14/14; Walter AC 15 5/5
**Riccar Singer - AC 16 16/16

Mellow takes their clawed paw and draws an arc in the air from one centipede to the other.

◆◆ Cast a spell: Electric Arc vs. RED and BLUE
Electricity damage RED and BLUE, DC17 basic reflex: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

then they whisper

Inscribed one, speak to me.

◆ Cast a spell: Discern Secrets on self
Free recall knowledge: Nature +3+1

Mellow zaps the two remaining centipedes. Red manages to get out of the way but Blue gets zapped. Both look like they're about to drop but they keep coming.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go

Blue (-7)
Ragnar Stonefist - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 22/22
Smokey the Otter - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 16/16 (AC 20)
Magnus Wizzbang - AC 15 15/15 (AC 16); Nevermore AC 15 5/5
Red (-6)
**Sprax - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 17/20
Mellow - AC 16 14/14; Walter AC 15 5/5
**Riccar Singer - AC 16 16/16

"The brave man is not he who does not feel afraid, but he who conquers that fear."

Riccar's words empower everyone to fight a little harder.
◆ Courageous Anthem: You inspire yourself and your allies with words or tunes of encouragement. You and all allies in the area gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.

Since others had further illuminated the cavity, Riccar drops his main-gauche and swings his battle lute with both hands at the nearest creepy crawler.

◆ Strike
Battle Lute (T), CA: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22
damage B, 2 hand, CA: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 = 9

If that doesn't do it in, he will swing again. Otherwise, he'll move toward the other. ◆ Strike or Stride

Battle Lute (T), MAP1, CA: 1d20 + 4 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 - 5 + 1 = 1

Riccar inspires the party and reduces Red to jam before moving up to Blue.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go

Blue (-7)
Ragnar Stonefist - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 22/22
Smokey the Otter - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 16/16 (AC 20)
Magnus Wizzbang - AC 15 15/15 (AC 16); Nevermore AC 15 5/5
**Sprax - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 17/20
Mellow - AC 16 14/14; Walter AC 15 5/5
Riccar Singer - AC 16 16/16

Mellow takes on their "informational voice" in reciting facts about the party's foes.

These are Giant Centipedes. They've been driven to desperation by hunger which led to violence. They're not the most strong willed of creatures. Thank you for using your local witch service.

His form reverts from rigidly official and slack and gangly.

"mrrrrrrrrrrawr" Walter seems to be standing with a rigidly arched back, glaring at the giant centipedes.

Blue glares back and weakly clacks its mandibles at Walter...

"Such a rude little bug," says Sprax, advancing on the creature, "If you're going to play rough, you can play with me!" It may not understand his words, but it should understand that he's in the way.

He also tries to squash it with a hammer.

◆◆ Defensive Advance, to Raise Shield, Stride, and Strike: Warhammer: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 20 for bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13
◆ Taunt If blue uses a hostile action that does not include Sprax as a target, it takes a -1 circumstance penalty to the attack roll or DC and becomes Off-Guard until the start of its next turn.

Sprax reduces the remaining centipede to goo...

COMBAT OVER

There's nothing else in this room so I'm assuming you're going to move forward into the next room.

The creaking of the door echoes off the walls of this long balcony as you enter. Lightly glowing mushrooms under two rows of cracked stone pews cast the room in a pale blue light, though it fails to penetrate a curtain of darkness to the east, which ripples like oil. At the distant end of the balcony, a fire flickers, two creatures dancing about it.

This room appears to be a balcony of some kind, though whatever the balcony is meant to view is obscured by a shadow veil.

You have about a minute to look around a bit

"Darkness usually doesn't do that," Sprax says helpfully. He waves at the dancing creatures. "Hello there! Sorry friends, we didn't mean to intrude. We're a little lost."

As soon as Sprax calls to the dancing creatures, they snarl, draw steel and attack.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Ragnar Stonefist - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 22/22 (AC 20)
**Riccar Singer - AC 16 16/16
**Smokey the Otter - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 16/16
**Sprax - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 17/20 (AC 20)
**Mellow - AC 16 14/14; Walter AC 15 5/5
Blue
Magnus Wizzbang - AC 15 15/15 (AC 16); Nevermore AC 15 5/5
Red

"Well, that's really rather unfriendly!" Sprax says, hurrying forward to place himself between the assailants and the others, "And it's not a very good idea for you, either, I think. You're outnumbered, friends. Please reconsider."

His voice is cheerful, but he still brings the hammer down.

◆ Stride
◆◆ Defensive Advance to Raise Shield, Stride, and Strike Red Warhammer: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 for bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Sprax sighs, hurries forward and brains Red, dropping it instantly.

These have 8 hp... even without the crit it was enough

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go

**Ragnar Stonefist - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 22/22
**Riccar Singer - AC 16 16/16
**Smokey the Otter - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 16/16 (AC 20)
Sprax - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 17/20
**Mellow - AC 16 14/14; Walter AC 15 5/5
Blue (AC <= 16)
Magnus Wizzbang - AC 15 15/15 (AC 16); Nevermore AC 15 5/5

"Well, it does seem like this place is the home for some unfriendly types."

Smokey plows some needle darts into

to hit needle darts: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

a pew.

Just in case an 11 actually hits, damage is...
piercing damage: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 3, 4) = 9

Ragnar moves forward, the snowflakes of his kinetic aura seem to grow larger and heavier. He focuses on a point just beyond the figure and ice and snow explode from it.

Winter's Clutch: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

◆ Stride
◆◆ Winter's Clutch (target back corner of blue's square should leave Sprax out of the way) Basic save DC 17
- 10ft Burst 2d4 cold, The ground in the area is covered in a snow drift, which is difficult terrain. Each square of the drift lasts until it melts, either naturally or until fire damage is dealt in that square.

Smokey shoots some darts into a nearby pew to show Blue that he means business. Ragnar hurls a cold burst behind Blue.

Blue manages to roll out of the way in time.

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COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
------------------
Those with ** may go

Ragnar Stonefist - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 22/22
**Riccar Singer - AC 16 16/16
Smokey the Otter - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 16/16 (AC 20)
Sprax - AC 18 (20 w/shield) 17/20
**Mellow - AC 16 14/14; Walter AC 15 5/5
Blue (-2; 11 < AC <= 16)
Magnus Wizzbang - AC 15 15/15 (AC 16); Nevermore AC 15 5/5

Riccar starts singing a stirring anthem often sung in battle.
"♫ Save your tears, for the day
♪ when the pain is far behind.
♫ On your feet, come with me.
♪ We are soldiers stand or die."

Courageous Anthem: Riccar and all allies in the area gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects. Range 60 feet.

Then he sends a sling bullet in the enemies' general direction and reloads his sling.

Sling (T), courageous anthem: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9
damage B, courageous anthem: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

◆ Courageous Anthem
◆ strike
◆ reload

Mellow gazes into the shadow with a strange delight; clearly their curiosity is activated. But before it can kill the cat other events intervene...

If there were time before combat began, Mellow would have tried Detect Magic at the darkness and then used whatever relevant magic tradition skill to try to identify the phenomena.

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

Mellow watches with mild interest as Sprax drops one of the creatures, and the rest of his companions take swings at the other.

I don't imagine this will take very long they remark.

Gracefully moving forward they point a claw at the remaining shadowy creature; an orb of biting cold coalesces around it, freezing its body.

◆ Stride 25ft

◆◆ Cast a spell: Frostbite on BLUE
Cold damage BLUE, DC17 basic fortitude: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
On a critical failure, the target also gains weakness 1 to bludgeoning until the start of your next turn.

Riccar sings and inspires his companions. He hurls a sling bullet at Blue but the bullet misses high and puts a small divot into the opposite wall.

Mellow causes ice to form around Blue. Blue stiffens and falls over, dead.

COMBAT OVER

Hey Sprax, let me look at that Ragnar points to where Sprax took a hit earlier.

It's not bad, but best to take care of it before it gets worse Ragnar puts his hand over the wound and Sprax feels a sensation like a splash of cool water.

May the cooling waters restore you.

Cast Ocean's Balm on Sprax and heal him for 1d8 ⇒ 1

Ragnar inspects his healing

Hmm, might need a bit more, I'll check it again in 10 min or so. Now let's see about this wall o' darkness

Can Ragnar see anything beyond it with his darkvision

Society (T): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Riccar strolls down to recover his sling bullet if he can. He takes a look at the deceased ones. "Gnomes. I've heard they form underground clans and can see in the dark. I'm not sure if they're inclined to evil, but attacking first suggests they may be."

Then he waits for healing to be over and says, "Cover me. I'm going to see what's up with this dark area." He holds his main-gauche with the light spell on it and leans in so his head and the weapon are in the dark area.

He withdraws and says, "Must be magical darkness. My spell doesn't illuminate what's beyond."

Then he strolls back to the south end where the doors are. "Let's rest a bit and get healthy again before we move on." He tunes his lute and strums and plucks out some soft, gentle music.

Smokey plops down and muses.

"Hmmm. Magical darkness? Wonder how far back it goes. Going to be a challenge fighting in total darkness."

He does not look all that worried though. More intrigued.

Riccar draws his sword and sticks his head into the veil. After a few seconds he jerks his head back, as if the veil spit him out (which it actually did!)

Magnus peers into the newly revealed western threshold, his head tilting at an angle of intense, academic curiosity. He adjusts his spectacles, leaning forward as far as safety permits to scrutinize the interplay between the golden torchlight and the unnatural shadows.

"Fascinating," he murmurs, his voice echoing with scholarly reverence. "The ambient obfuscation within this subterranean chamber possesses a most peculiar density. It is quite patently not a mere absence of luminescent particles, but rather an active, localized manifestation of thaumaturgical or perhaps divine occlusion. The structural integrity of the darkness itself is a marvel of arcane engineering!"

He sighs, a sound of genuine academic lament, and pulls his journal from his satchel, tapping a charcoal pencil against his chin.

"Regrettably, while the impulse to conduct a rigorous, empirical diagnostic of this phenomenon is incredibly compelling, we are presently plagued by a distinct lack of appropriate analytical instrumentation. To thoroughly dissect the chronological and magical provenance of this ward would require specialized divinatory components that we simply do not possess in our current inventory. For now, we must relegate this anomaly to the status of a secondary objective. Let us proceed, my friends, but keep your cognitive faculties highly alert."

Could be these fellers knew something about this veil Ragnar searches the bodies for any clues.

If we hang around for 10 min Ragnar will use Ocean's balm on Sprax healing for 1d8 ⇒ 8 if we move on before that ignore this

Ret-con: Riccar appeared to be shoved back from the shadow area, after which he staggered a little. He recovers from his vertigo and explains that the darkness seemed to spit him back out. "Might be magic of the umbral gnomes. Best we see if we can find a way out that doesn't involve that area."