Daathiel's page

Chronicle sheet looks good - thanks for running.

"I'm not sure it matters that much right now. We have discovered the truth about the Breaching Festival (or, at least, a plausible explanation). If Toff Orlenos was unaware of its purpose, we can convince him to end the tradition.
Who started it would only matter if we wanted to hunt them down and bring them to justice, and that isn't our mission. I might look it up later for academic curiosity and to make a more detailed report."

Daathiel will talk quietly to the party.

"So, we made an interesting discovery. Or an allegation, really. It came from a devil, but a devil may tell the truth when it suits their purpose.
The devil claimed that the entire Breaching Festival is actually just a setup to get people onto the demiplane of Belzeragna, where the infernal duke Lorthact can harvest their souls. But, it has been 150 years since the first (and only, prior to us) winner. If Toff Orlenos is human, he almost certainly did not create the Breaching Festival. There are magical ways to extend lifespan such as the Sun Orchard Elixir, and there is the chance that he is a disguised member of a long-lived or immortal race (such as an elf or a devil respectively) so it could have been him. But if he didn't start the Breaching Festival, then he may not know its purpose.
I propose we approach him together, reveal what we know, and try to gauge by his reaction whether or not he knows about Belzeragna and Lorthact.
Now, we do know that the Breaching Festival in this case sent us to a Hellish demiplane. We don't know for certain that the devil's allegation is entirely true in all respects. It does fit the evidence."

I am fine either way.
Daathiel has a ton of spell slots and performance rounds left, and I think our other casters also have lots of slots left, so I don't imagine the remaining combats would be terribly challenging. But happy to do them if others want to.

"Yes, let's get them and go through."

Daathiel attempts to identify what the summoning circle is doing.

Would this be Spellcraft to ID a spell as it is being cast, Knowledge (Arcana) to ID a spell effect in place, or something else? He will cast Detect Magic if needed. With Take 10, Arcana is a 37 and Spellcraft is a 36.

"A contract devil! Use holy weapons or electricity!"

@Rognak - I would assume that the character would know this: "A spell-like ability can be disrupted just as a spell can be. Spell-like abilities cannot be used to counterspell, nor can they be counterspelled."

Daathiel takes a step forward and casts Haste on himself, Thrag, and Aria.

Correct, Daathiel's Discordant Voice feat gives the Sonic damage to all of his performances.

Naturalist adds just to attack and not to damage, unlike traditional Inspire Courage - though it offers defensive bonuses.

Knowledge (Planes), Heroism, Heightened Awareness, Lore Master Take 10: 10 + 31 + 2 + 2 = 45

Having presumably identified the foes, Daathiel begins his Naturalist performance and casts Good Hope, then moves into the room.

+3 insight bonus to attacks, AC, and saves against its (Ex), (Su), and (Sp) abilities
+1d6 sonic damage to all attacks
+2 morale bonus to attacks, damage, saves, skill checks

Aria is too far from the others to be included in Good Hope. The Naturalist bonuses apply to all within 30' of Daathiel.

Daathiel will share some of what he learns, but only the most crucial facts - a round is only 6 seconds after all.

"Go to Hell."

Daathiel will use Lore Master as a standard action for a 20.
I believe Devourers are Undead, so that is Knowledge (Religion). The Barbed Devil would be Knowledge (Planes).

Knowledge (Religion), Heroism, Heightened Awareness: 20 + 22 + 2 + 2 = 46

He does not begin a bardic performance at this time. The foes are blinded, and stacking on additional bonuses to the party seems unnecessary.

Initiative: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Daathiel prepares to spout off facts about Devourers.

That's a fine idea to me.

Daathiel will not make a deal with devils. He is one of the best negotiators but this he is unwilling to do. Someone else can if they want.

"I think Thrag has the right of it.
I suggest violence."

"I agree, Sayna."

Daathiel is quiet otherwise, and continually re-activating his Ring of Blinking.

"I still don't trust the devil. Attacking us to 'test our strength' and then offering to help us? This seems like a trick. Nothing good comes of dealing with devils."

Sorry, was on Thanksgiving travel.

"No, sorry, I don't need to prove anything to you."
Daathiel at this point is in favor of killing rather than freeing the Handmaiden Devil, since she apparently moved to attack the party before Rognak did anything?

"Handmaiden devil! Use weapons of Good, or electricity! Beware her grapples!"

He begins his Naturalist performance, offering everybody a +3 insight bonus to Attacks, AC, and saves against the Handmaiden Devil's abilities, as well as +1d6 sonic damage per attack from Discordant Voice.

He then casts Good Hope on the party for a +2 morale bonus to attacks, damage, saves, and skill checks.

Should anybody be grappled by the Handmaiden Devil he will cast Liberating Command as an immediate action granting then an immediate-action Escape Artist check at an extra +20; and if anybody fails a save against any of her abilities he will use Saving Finale as an immediate action to grant them a reroll, ending Naturalist. Both would be immediate actions so he can just do whatever happens first.

Knowledge (Planes), Heroism, Heightened Awareness: 1d20 + 31 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 31 + 2 + 2 = 53

Daathiel probably knows what this woman is...

He doesn't see any need to step on Sayna's toes, so he remains quiet. I don't think Aid Another is needed.

Initiative (if needed), dismissing Heightened Awareness: 1d20 + 9 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 4 = 28

"I think something terrible has happened to her. She wishes to follow us. We can keep her relatively safe, I think. Safer than she would be without us."

Daathiel favors letting her accompany us, but he is NG with an 8 Wis.

Daathiel moves into the room and starts unlocking the chains.

Disable Device, Heroism: 1d20 + 35 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 35 + 2 = 50

Boon?: 1d20 ⇒ 9

No boon for Daathiel.

Daathiel is positively delighted at this challenge.
"Ah! A library! Most wondrous of realms. Tell me, good sir, is there a particular book you are looking for? As I am an Archivist, I hope I will be able to help you."

Daathiel knows Common, Celestial, Draconic, Dwarven, Elven, Sylvan, Ancient Osiriani, Kelish, Azlanti, Giant, Aklo, Goblin, Aquan, Undercommon, Jistkan, Polyglot, Vudrani, Infernal, Thassilonian, Varisian, Abyssal, Tien, Ignan, Hallit, Tekritanin, Terran, Dark Folk, Sphinx, Necril, Auran, Cyclops, Halfling, Shoanti, Shory, Skald, Gnoll, and Orc.

The aasimar waits while Rognak looks over the Infernal scroll.

Heal, Heroism: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 2 = 15

Daathiel takes a look at the body, but he has only the most rudimentary knowledge of the healing arts.

He activates his Ring of Blinking.

Daathiel will wait while Rognak puzzles out the mysteries of the demiplane.

Daathiel has a +35 Knowledge (Planes) and can Take 20 3/day, so if it is simply a matter of an extremely high DC let him know and he will make the attempt. But Rognak is on it for now.

Daathiel looks at the body. Knowledge (Planes), Heightened Awareness, Heroism: 1d20 + 31 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 31 + 2 + 2 = 53

"No, Thrag, I think we can puzzle our way through this instead of destroying the Academy.
That outline of a door? There may be some way to open it. Perhaps a command word."

He looks at the vials closely, trying to read the writing on the labels.
Perception: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 17 + 2 + 2 = 38

"My hunch is that the outline of the door to the north is the key somehow."

No worries about the statues if they are a moot point.

Daathiel still has Heroism and Heightened Awareness active. He does not cast any other spells at this time.

Daathiel activates his Ring of Blinking.

What sort of Knowledge check is it to ID the statue-monsters? He will Take 10 on the check, with an extra +4 from Heroism and Heightened Awareness.

"Perhaps, Rognak, they are waiting to ambush us and take our keys.
That would be an option for those who lack the skills to solve the traps and puzzles themselves."

Daathiel would try Rognak's solution but will instead watch while the wizard attempts it.

Daalthiel, with a bit of help from Aria, is easily able to disarm the trap. That just leaves the puzzle of how to find the keylight.

@GM, can you tell me if Daathiel actually needed help? I got a 40. I would like to know if my character is actually capable of disarming traps in this tier or if I have even over-optimized in that regard. This is something I have always wondered about in PF - how much is 'enough' relative to expected challenges. Implying that a 40 (on a 3) was insufficient is rather astonishing, unless you just did it for flavor.

"Or me."

Daathiel sets to work on the trap.
Disable Device, Heroism: 1d20 + 35 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 35 + 2 = 40

Daathiel moves to disable the trap on the crate.

Disable Device, Heroism: 1d20 + 35 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 35 + 2 = 57

By the way, for Perception rolls, his Perception is currently +41, or +43 vs traps (forgot the Luckstone in my previous post). I updated the statblock on the slides.

Then he will open the crate and take the key light.

Daathiel will cast Heightened Awareness, Heroism, and Acute Senses. He will use a charge from his wand of Find Traps (wand at 40).

This gives him a passive check for any traps (even when moving at full speed) at a +42. (+16 base, +2 competence, +20 enhancement, +2 insight, +2 morale).

He will walk up front alongside Aria, and will be Blinking from his ring.

"Happy to do any of the halls. Summoning first if you wish, Rognak."

"A wise choice, Rognak. Knowledge is a potent weapon."
Daathiel will await the results of Rognak's spell before making any recommendations.

He's got a number of 10 min/level spells, but no hour/level ones to use at this time.

He will take an hour to read from his Book of Puzzles while Rognak is preparing spells.

DC 10 Intelligence: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Only needs 40 minutes. 6 puzzles left in the book.

Daathiel defers to Sayna as she has expressed an interest in leading the conversation with the headmaster.

He does not see any need to bolster her arguments, finding Sayna to be exceptionally persuasive as is.

Skipping Aid Another because I think (OOC) and Daathiel thinks (IC) that Sayna has this, and jumping in to her conversation with the headmaster would be unnecessary.

"Hmm... who knows that you stole the scroll? And did this retriever kill anyone?
I am not inclined to try to get you off the hook if it did. But if you were the only one harmed, then I can try to appeal for leniency.
If that is the case, to whom would I speak? Headmaster Toff? You would need to come with us and make a full confession."

I am assuming we do not make Diplomacy checks to convince her of anything, but rather the headmaster.

Daathiel watches with interest. Rognak seems to have figured out what transpired and is examining the room.
The Shelynite's mercy is perhaps more than most Pathfinders would have offered, but not surprising, the aasimar thinks.

Knowledge (Arcana), Lore Master Take 10, Heightened Awareness: 10 + 22 + 2 = 34

Daathiel knows basically what Rognak knows, maybe a bit more.

"On your guard! Beware its eye beams!"

Daathiel starts his Naturalist performance (swift action), giving everyone within 30' the following benefits against Retrievers specifically:

Daathiel casts Heightened Awareness and moves with Thrag and Rognak.

Daathiel has no particular questions.

"Traps and tricks are no problem. I am ready. Looking forward to the challenge.
Thrag, I am absolutely confident that we will not need you to smash any doors, walls, chests, or traps. Against enemies, smash away to your heart's content. But we can deal with the Acadamae property in a civilized way as befitting the Society."

"I too can handle a diplomatic role, in a multitude of languages should that be required.
And, should we need knowledge of the arcane to help at the Academia, I may be of assistance."

Daathiel will spend 700 gp and 5 prestige for retraining, switching Pallavi of Nirvana's Blossoming for Skill Focus (Disable Device).

He will also spend 20,000 GP on a Stone of Good Luck.

This boosts his Disable Device to +35 (+39 with Greater Heroism) and I would really like him to be allowed to handle at least some such checks. Happy to trade off with Aria if she wishes.

I was quite comfortable with his Disable Device skill as it was (having invested an archetype choice, 14 skill points, and 2500 GP in being good at it) but now it is even better.

The aasimar is tall and slender, with feathered wings folded on his back. He has a vaguely Ifrit look about him, suggesting he is in fact one of the Emberkin.

He wears a mithral chain shirt and carries a buckler. Hanging from his belt are a whip and dagger, and outside his backpack is a light crossbow. None of the weapons look particularly impressive, although they do seem to be almost brand-new and unused.

He sees the half-orc's obvious magic items. A Pathfinder, I assume. The muscle, probably.

He hears the commotion and sees the armored woman. Grey Maiden? As she begins to speak to the half-orc he realizes, Oh, that's right. The Scarlet Rose are the reformed ones. So more Society muscle. I wonder what they expect?

The aasimar wanders over. "Ah, greetings. I assume you are the worthies that the Society has sent in case this mission requires more than just reading old inscriptions. I am Daathiel, and my specialty is the more academic side of Society work."

PFS#: 108731-3
XP: 41
Fame: 72
Prestige: 35

The one tricky rules question is the Lore Master ability provided by his archetype. It is titled the same as the standard bard ability, and gained earlier, with the only change noted in the text in the frequency of being able to Take 20. The archetype text says nothing about the Take 10 option. A few GMs interpret this as meaning that he loses the Take 10 option, but nearly all in PFS have followed the author's comment that the Take 10 option is supposed to be unchanged (this is, after all, among the most Knowledge-y of bard archetypes). I am fine with your ruling either way.

Other than that, he has solid Knowledge skills, a defensive-buff bardic performance, a number of buffing spells (Saving Finale, Gallant Inspiration, Heroism, Haste, Good Hope, Grand Destiny) numerous defensive options (good saves, Ring of Blinking, Boots of Escape), and a couple of Bardic Masterpieces. He flies with Angelic Wings, and has a +28 Disable Device that he can easily boost to +32 and either roll twice (Book of Puzzles) or Take 10 (via Probable Path). He has Soothing Performance if the party wants to save wand charges (3d8+14 to everyone for 4 rounds of bardic performance). He speaks an amazing number of languages, and his Diplomacy is reasonably good.

If he absolutely must directly engage in combat, the True Strike/Whip combo to Trip is one option, and Dispel Magic to strip away enemy buffs is another.

Checking in here.

Daathiel has a ton of support abilities though very little direct damage.

He has excellent Knowledge skills and can disarm magical traps. I'll get the rest of the details up tomorrow.

I will note that Daathiel can disarm magical traps, if that is a reason for the Rogue need.

He also has a wand of Find Traps that he uses if we are in a hurry and can't take the time to make active Perception checks.

I should note that Daathiel's bardic performance stacks with that of most other bards (it provides an Insight bonus) in case you thought of taking two bards.