Adeah Silversong's page

"Thanks," Adeah responds, unused to receiving compliments. "I just hope we didn't kill him by accident." She loads a normal bullet and powder into her musket (spending a move action) and rushes toward the conjured pit (spending another move action).

Seeing the golem handled by the summoned archons, Adeah turns her attention back to Zoarth and tries to aim for non-vital areas, her attacks coming in magically-quick succession.

Musket 1 + haste - nonlethal vs Zoarth (touch): 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 1 - 4 = 19
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23

Musket 2 + haste - nonlethal vs Zoarth (touch): 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 1 - 4 = 12
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

Musket 3 + haste - nonlethal vs Zoarth (touch): 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 1 - 4 = 19
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Musket 4 (hasted) + haste - nonlethal vs Zoarth (touch): 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 1 - 4 = 22
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

The thunderous peals echo throughout the chamber.

Weird. You'd think that would be a pretty basic question to have answers for, in a game that has such defined countermeasures for mental abilities (and at a high-enough level that a party can reasonably be expected to have them). I could maybe see a 1-5 adventure simply saying "this is beyond you, find a way around the problem," which they do sometimes, but at this level breaking a hostile mental hold is pretty straightforward.

Seems like an awfully big oversight. I agree with your approach though, not trying to invent something yourself and maybe end up throwing us completely off-course.

Adeah moves closer to the golem and fires her weapon.

Spending 1 grit point on the Deadeye deed to resolve this as a touch attack instead of normal, since I'm outside of my first range increment.

Musket (touch) vs golem, 2nd range increment: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 14 - 2 = 14
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

That is the one element I have no defenses against. Probably should invest in some.

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Nice!

Adeah only just manages to throw up her wings in time to block the worst of the magical fire-- which still leaves her painfully burned. "There's an evil presence here!" Adeah confirms to the group. Don't have time to narrow it down.

Are we on slide 3 or 4?

"It's the cats! I think they're the ones who screwed this whole thing up between them!" Adeah manifests her musket into her hand, but doesn't fire it yet.

Move action to draw musket, standard action to use detect evil as a spell-like ability.

Knowledge (arcana? planes?) + Monster Lore: 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 4 = 16
(My bonus is the same for each. Specifically wanting to know about any mind-affecting abilities these creatures might have.

Plot twist!

"Hold on," Adeah says, visibly lowering her weapon into a less-threatening stance. "You and Zoarth had a life together?" She looks at her allies, as if to ask them whether anyone else knew or suspected this.

Ouch!

Adeah takes a step back, then unloads a haste-d volley at the remaining giant.

Each of these shots probably provokes an attack of opportunity, if I'm still within its threatened area.

Musket 1 + haste: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 1 = 30
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18

Musket 2 + haste: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Musket 3 + haste: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Musket 4 + haste: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 12 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Now with a much closer (and easier) target, Adeah unloads on the nearer of the airborne giants, firing and reloading and firing again as quickly as she can.

Musket 1 vs blue (touch): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Musket 2 vs blue (touch): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (1) + 15 = 16

Musket 3 vs blue (touch): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!

Adeah air walks a step closer and aims her musket at the nearer of the two.

I assume we can have our weapons already out, since we're anticipating a fight. I'm in the second range increment so these attacks are vs normal AC rather than touch. Will opt to not use Deadly Aim this round.

Musket 1 vs blue: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 15 - 2 = 17
Damage: 1d12 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Musket 1 vs blue: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 2 = 32
Damage: 1d12 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Musket 1 vs blue: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 - 2 = 11
Damage: 1d12 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

None whatsoever. I will have to rely on what party members can give me (or maybe we can go somewhere and buy scrolls of overland flight or something).

"If we're actually doing this... I can help with the flying creatures. My own magic is pretty limited, and won't be much help here, but I can help get us through at least."

Adeah only has a few 2nd-level spells, so she can't help with closing the portal.

"Whoa. Well this definitely seems like the kind of thing that shouldn't be allowed to stay there. But how in the hells can the five of us do anything about it? Do we even have that sort of magic at our disposal?" Adeah herself certainly doesn't. Her musket is quite deadly in single or even group combat, but it feels woefully inadequate to topple such a behemoth organization.

Can the rest of us see the dragon as well?

Or we stop here, go do some other 3 XP module, and come back. That way I'll have a fly speed :P

I actually really like the fact that we have not been handed a solution to this problem. A lot of PFS adventures would have started with "oh hey before you go, here are six potions of get-to-the-flying-castle. You know, just in case you need them."

"I know an invisibility spell myself, but I don't think it will last long enough. I can certainly go with you, for backup, but I'd need a way of getting there."

(My invisibility is only CL 5 and I don't have a way of extending the duration. Also only 3 of them per day.)

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

"Oh man. I'm liking this region less and less." Adeah points to the giant thundercloud and gathering storm. "That storm shouldn't be there. It isn't natural. Could be a mage controlling the weather, could be something else entirely. But we're gonna have to find shelter."

No Knowledge (dungeoneering) here.

"Eugh," Adeah says in disgust, wrinkling her nose. She folds her wings over her head, trying to keep the worst of the goo off her hair and face. The reddish stuff mixes with the bright red of her feathers; if they already couldn't support her weight, the gummed-up feathers certainly can't now.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

We have a reason to go to the Storm Queen, I'm not sure we have much need to go into the city, so that's my vote as well.

No need, I have enough, it was just a suggestion so we don't have to keep track. But I agree that full speed is better. I do like the create food and water idea though.

"Anybody know this area? What're we looking at?"

I'm afraid I lost track long ago of how many traveling days we've spent. Does anyone have that amount? Also, Adeah has a +15 Survival; can I forage as we go to cut down on rations needed? Is there forage to be had up here?

Will follow the group, but I vote we leave it alone. It might be a bad idea to provoke a fight now, since we don't really need to, and breaking into the chest would probably do just that.

I actually meant the corridor that leads down and to the right on the map, but this works too.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

Adeah helps Berato, particularly with the burlap sack on the floor.

Adeah shakes her head. "I doubt whoever's in charge around here will leave the deeper, better defended cave for someone else. I think we should go this way." She starts down the south tunnel, but stays within sight of the others.

What do I see this direction (with darkvision)?

With eyes as well-adapted to the darkness as those of the trolls, Adeah sizes up the competition. She reaches out a hand and summons her musket. "Guess it's hard to threaten people who outsize and outnumber you," she says grimly, tensing for a fight.

Adeah marches up to the giant camp, holding up her empty hands in a gesture of non-aggression. "I want to talk to your leader," she calls out in a stern voice. "I'm guessing that would be in the cave?"

I was thinking Diplomacy would be needed to get them to not immediately attack. Yes, Adeah is well-equipped to handle an interrogation, but if they don't use their words those abilities don't do much. But whatever.

Does Berato not want to do it? You've got more Diplomacy than everyone else put together.

"I, for one, would like some information from them. Going in swinging steel will accomplish only one thing-- preventing any more attacks to Zoarth's castle-- but won't tell us why it happened in the first place."

Sorry, forgot to mention it ahead of time but I was at Origins over the weekend.

"I imagine getting them to talk will take no great skill. Getting them to not attack us on sight will be the real trick. Berato, do you want to take point on the negotiations?" (Berato has the best Diplomacy by a long shot.)

Anybody else have an opinion either way? I don't mind going first, but don't want to drag us into it unwillingly.

"Six giants beats one dire bear," Adeah says grimly. "I could tell when I got close that they're from the same Jurn tribe that attacked the castle. Should we go say hello?"

Cool! No I will not try to intervene.

Adeah's spell runs out just as she returns to the others-- I hope none of the giants saw that!-- and gives her report. "Ok, it's something of an open question as to who is the hunter and who is the prey down there. The giants are about to face off against an enormous bear, probably bigger than they are. Way I see it, we can try to save one party or the other, or let them tear at each other and see who wins."

"I do have some spells that would be helpful here. Be right back." Adeah mutters an incantation into her hand and disappears.

Casting invisibility, which only lasts for 5 minutes so it will need to be a fairly brief trip.

Stealth + invisibility: 1d20 + 15 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 15 + 20 = 47

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

Specifically looking for what has them so anxious & prepared.

Adeah makes sure she stays bundled up warm against the weather, though Xilt's spell thankfully keeps the bite out of the wind. Still, she's only uncomfortably cold instead of bitterly cold. "Well, nobody ever said the life of a Pathfinder agent is glamorous."

Adeah rests the barrel of her musket on her shoulder in a relaxed pose. "I worship the goddess of uprisings and breaking chains. I was very close to killing your 'perfect husband' where he stood, for the crimes you want us to believe he's committing. I'd be careful with that story, if I were you."

She turns away from the dryad. "The whole thing is a lie," she tells the others. "Let's head to the giants."

"If you don't have a magic ring, I think any magical jewelry will be enough to set me free. Please hurry, I can feel his mental domination returning to cloud my mind already!"

Using 1 round (or 2, per GM fiat) of my discern lies ability on this statement. Both whether magical jewelry will set her free and whether she's being mentally dominated. DC 18 Will to negate.

(Adeah is suspicious of anyone who is allegedly being held against their will but unwilling to do whatever it takes to get free.)

I swear I've never played this adventure, it's just that she claimed she was trapped while sitting next to a tree so that was where my brain went.

Adeah's first instinct is more correct than her own eyes. The strange woman, who is to all appearances a perfectly normal human, admits to being a dryad after all.

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

"Hey, don't go far!" she calls out to Berato.

Casting remove fear on Berato, suppressing the panic for 10 minutes.

"I don't have any magic rings to give you," she tells the dryad. "But I do want to free you." She manifests her musket from out of her glove. "Should we get rid of your husband for you? Permanently?"

Is that a... dryad? Adeah examines the situation from a distance. "By, um, what exactly?"

Knowledge (nature?): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 (+4 to identify abilities and weaknesses)
Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

Specifically wanting to know if the creature has any abilities that would give her statement some context. Also looking for anything tangible keeping her here.

Same. Even if Adeah wanted to, she wouldn't be at all convincing-- her Diplomacy check is just an unmodified d20.

So that's Anthys and Berato against, myself and Xilt for. Farrokh I think you're the tie-breaker, and (apologies if I'm wrong) you didn't seem swayed in either direction just yet. What do you think?

I'll happily go with the majority, whichever way it sides.

I really hope Adeah isn't getting on anyone's nerves. Especially in this situation-- nobody likes "escort missions" but I honestly really dig the idea of a couple of random farmers taking up pitchforks against an army of giants to avenge their huts.

Sort of like "awww, you're all going to die but I like the enthusiasm"

"I disagree strongly, my friend," Adeah says to Anthys. "Never let it be said that I discouraged fighting the good fight!"

She addresses the farmers. "You should know before we leave-- we're from the Pathfinder Society. Hunts like this one are what we do; what we're paid to do. But I think you're well aware of the danger ahead of you, and if you're willing to face it with us, I want to do everything I can to help you."

"As it happens," Adeah responds, relaxing slightly and continuing forward, "my hunting party and I are after some giants ourselves. The ones that came this way. A bite or two would be most welcome, we've been living on trail rations for quite a while now. Did they take anything valuable we should look for?"

Adeah, servant of the goddess of championing the downtrodden, has already started to head in the farmers's direction, holding her arms up in a gesture of peace. "What happened?" she calls out from a safe distance (both to the farmers and to her company).

Adeah blushes and smiles. "Long hours of practice, that's all. But to Anthys's point, our ranged capabilities aren't great. My musket is only effective at a much closer range than most bows. I can't hope to hit the linnorm if it's more than 200 feet away-- and best if it's 40 or less. It's a deadly weapon, but lead bullets lose their speed quickly."

For her part, Adeah tucks in her wings and stays among the boulders and foliage to avoid being noticed. Although it's certainly possible their group will end up squaring off against the enormous beast, she doesn't want to make that fight any more likely.

Stealth (if required), full speed: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33

Will go ahead and take the speed penalty so the trip doesn't take even longer.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Hah!

"Really? I wouldn't have thought... Well, I'm certainly not going to turn away a second set of eyes. You can take point with me."

"I agree. More likely he'll just betray us, or at least announce our coming. We should look for the camp on our own. I have some experience following tracks, and like Zoarth said theirs should be easy to follow."

(Adeah has a +17 Survival to follow tracks)