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Chronicles have been mailed out. Session reported to HQ.
Thanks everyone!
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Oh my. I appear to have not posted this link for the Chronicles.
GM Screen (Bot Saves):
Maneki has trouble making contact with the bleeding bug. However, she provides a distraction that allows Sanja to obliterate the thing. They turn to deal with the weaker bug but move too quickly and miss by a fair bit. J'ndar takes care of that problem by shredding the remaining bug with a bevy of needles. Perian gets woozy in the aftermath but manages to keep his wits about him. Goupour, unfortunately, slumps to the ground. He manages to survive the poison, though . The guests are impressed by your quick thinking and swift resolution of the assault. Those who were still somewhat cold toward you after Lady Emberspitter's accusations are noticeably less so. Ulthun provides you with a carriage and armed escort back to the Grand Lodge. "You have my thanks for your many timely interventions," he gives you a grim smile. "I hope you rest well after this." Once you arrive at the Grand Lodge, Csilla meets you. She has stayed up waiting for you, it seems. "Ulthun sent word that there had been an incident," she says as she assesses your state. "You have been through the fire. Let me tend to those wounds." The Decimvirate moves quickly to begin tending to each of your wounds and to restore the vigor lost to the poisonous cicadas. "I apologize for sending you to such a difficult event. Please, tell me what happened."
If you would like me to record your Downtime on your Chronicle, state/roll them now.
J'ndar's conjured needles punch through the dry, white carapaces. Milky ichor oozes from the wounds. Maneki strikes the weaker bug with a blow that nearly-but-not-quite crumples it. Her following strike glances off the side of its abdomen. The bug continues to limp along with malevolent intent. Perian and Goupour suffer the mind-altering effects of the bugs' poisonous dust. The bleeding bug flutters after Sanja to take advantage of its remaining companion's distracting presence. The first strike just makes it past their defenses. The stab wound burns just a little. Sanja nimbly ducks out of the way of the next bite. The crumpled bug says in Perian's voice, "Get out. Get out." Then it tries to bite Sanja. It manages a lucky stab with its proboscis. This bite does not burn like the other. An Unexpected Course! Round 4. Bold may act.
Blue Circle (-34 hp; bloodied) (bleed 1)
Goupour Fails Fortitude Save?:
2d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 + Stupefied 1 Goupour Succeeds Save?:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 Spoiler: 1d6 Poison Damage +Slowed 1 Perian Fails Fortitude Save?:
2d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 + Stupefied 1 Perian Succeeds Save?:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 Critically Succeed: Spoiler: 1d6 Poison Damage +Slowed 1 GM Screen: +
Here is my most recent profile template. It has historical remnants since I have old characters, but you can delete what you don't need.
Bramblespine's forcebolts prove more effective than the lightning but not quite enough to destroy the bug. Sanja moves around and finishes it off before assisting Perian. An Unexpected Course! Round 3. Bold may act.
Blue Circle (-11 hp)
Goupor Fails Fortitude Save?:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 Critically Fail Fortitude Save: Spoiler: 2d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 + Stupefied 1 Perian Fails Fortitude Save?:
[spoiler=Critically Fail Fortitude Save] 2d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 + Stupefied 1 Perian Succeeds Save?: 1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 1 Critically Succeed: Spoiler: Cured
The bugs seem rather resistant to Bramblespine's efforts. Probably bad luck. J'ndar recovers from the poisonous dust. They continue to inspire their companions and send a soothing wave to Perian. This is fortuitous as the sprite suffers under the bug's poison. He tends to himself to keep up with his failing vigor. Makeni finds the bug frustratingly agile. Goupour at least manages to wing the bugs with his electricity. Sanja gets one good blow in and then chases his bug about before warding himself. One of the bugs nearly manages to pierce Goupour's clothes, but so far he is keeping its proboscis at bay. The other, large bug flutters around Maneki and stabs at her, driving its drinking straw into her. The smaller of the still oversized bugs presses its advantage against Perian. But fails miserably. An Unexpected Course! Round 3. Bold may act.
Blue Circle (-11 hp)
Goupor Fails Fortitude Save?:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 Critically Fail Fortitude Save: Spoiler: 2d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 + Stupefied 1 Perian Fails Fortitude Save?:
[spoiler=Critically Fail Fortitude Save] 2d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 + Stupefied 1 Perian Succeeds Save?:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 1 Critically Succeed: Spoiler: Cured GM Screen: +
Maneki's first blow glances against the ghostly bug. The bugs try to flutter out of the way as Bramblespin summons lightning . Perian's spark loses luster before it makes it to the bug. J'ndar inspires you all and raises his defenses, which is probably a good idea as he is looking a bit sickly. Sanja hears a satisfying crunch with their first, but their second strike is repelled by the white exoskeleton. Maybe they grew wise after Bramblespine's assault, but they manage to completely escape Goupour's electricity . The smaller, weaker looking bug finally takes flight and chases after Perian. It jabs its sharp proboscis into the sylph twice, leaving deep, bloody wounds. The bug positioned between J'ndar and Maneki flutters away from the pain and slams itself into the shoony. The white dust falls off of it and into the shoony's face. Goupour does manage to evade the bug's sharp beak. The other bug starts saying in a perfect mimickry of Perian's voice, "No, Gerie, not food! No, Gerie, not food!" This continues even as it stabs at Sanja's thigh. The gnome is too quick. An Unexpected Course! Round 2. Bold may act.
Blue Circle (-6 hp)
Goupor Fails Fortitude Save?:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 1 Critically Fail Fortitude Save:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 J’ndar or Perian Fails Fortitude Save?:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 Critically Fail Fortitude Save:
2d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 + Stupefied 1 GM Screen:
The guests murmur and consider among themselves as Maneki attempts a defense. "Maybe it was a false flag," says one drunken socialite at the inopportune dimming of the general chatter. However, as the other Pathfinders make their cases, the murmurs shift from dubious grumblings to noises of assent and agreement. As the guests calm, Ulthun nods and says, "I believe that is enough gloominess for today. Let us have dessert!" He claps his hands and sits down. Lady Embersplitter's expression is notably pouty, and she says nothing more. As the well-dressed caterers bring covered trays to the table, a buzzing fills the room. A nearby server lifts the lid on the plate he carries—releasing an insect into the room! The server screams in fright! The socialites scream. This is really too much for them for one day. One of the bugs leaps off its tray and dives for J'ndar. It's sharp proboscis drives into the android's shoulder. Then it beats its wings with a mad buzz, and a cloud of dry powder covers J'ndar and Sanja. Another bug leaps from its tray and attempts to do the same to Maneki. The monk manages to dodge the proboscis, but the following cloud of dust covers her, Bramblespine, and Perian. Another, smaller but still giant version of the bug is still trying to get its wings to work. An Unexpected Course! Round 1. Bold may act.
Blue Circle
Fail Fortitude Save:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 1 Critically Fail Fortitude Save:
1d6 Poison Damage + Slowed 2 GM Screen: + +
I'm hoping my wounds count as an "objective piece of evidence." I don't know... you might have bit yourself to make it *seem* like you fought a giant rat and little clay constructs. Very suspicious.
Guests are ushered through a portal opened next to the central fountain. Entering the dining hall feels like descending into hell. Illusory flames rise between platforms and the entire area feels oppressively hot. Placards around the hall explain that this is a recreation of Vigil after the radiant fire destroyed the city. Additional donation boxes are spaced around the hall. You find that you have been assigned to the chef's table. The final touches to the meal are prepared here, and the food you receive will be the choicest and freshest. "A reward for your quick thinking and valor, " Ulthun explains to you. "I hope you will enjoy!" Unfortunately, shortly after dinner begins, the mood is soured once more by that woman who was looking for you earlier. In the intervening time since she caused the panic, you learned that she is Fawlynd, a member of the Peacebuilder's Alliance. She pushes back her chair loudly and stands. "The WatcherLord may not be bothered by the Pathfinder Society attending this event, but I am. Every event they appear at, something goes wrong. It’s simply not safe to have them in polite company!" she acridly declares. There is a buzz across the hall as dinner guests murmur in a mix of disapproval at the breach of decorum, shock, and, worringly, agreement. Watcher-Lord Ulthun begins to stand. However, Lady Embersplitter quickly speaks up with a sly smile, "If they are indeed innocent, they can present their case to everyone present. I believe we all deserve answers for what happened tonight."
Bold may argue. Bramble Spine
J'ndar appeals to the better natures of the panicked socialites and manages to stop them from crushing each other in their dash for the door. They calm down enough to listen to reason as Ulthun takes control of the stage from Lady Embersplitter. "Honored guests," Ulthun says with worry evident on his face, "I apologize that this evening has not gone as planned. We planned this dinner to be in a well-decorated planar palace. This is a secure place, where we can catch our breath, enjoy our meal, and come together as a community. While we dine, I will make arrangements for everyone to be escorted back to their homes this evening." As the crowd begins to shuffle toward where the knights guide them, Ulthun adds, "Due to the quick action of the Pathfinders in attendance, we were able to save the attendee we thought had died. Please express gratitude to them this evening." Perception DC 18:
Lady Embersplitter seems quite pleased with something.
Apologies for returning right in time for the website downtime. Cliffhanger!
Bramblespine reads the incantation from the scroll. The power in the scroll unravels the ritual's diabolical machinery. The runic circle disintegrates even as the other Pathfinders begin scrubbing at key points, and the demon trapped in the center stops writhing, blinks a few times, and then explodes in grayscale confetti. With the interloper slain and the ritual interrupted, you rush back down to the bailey to see how things stand. Recall Knowledge (dagger): Religion DC 20 or Demon Lore/Sarkoris Lore DC 18 or Worldwound Lore DC 16:
The locust on the dagger is the symbol for the slain demon lord, Deskari, who once tormented Sarkoris after the opening of the Worldwound. On the stage, Lady Embersplitter dabs at her eyes with a handkerchief. The crowd nervously watches her, in stark difference to the merriment from just hours earlier. She gives a final and theatrical sniff before making her address. "Guests, it is with my great sorrow that I must announce one of our fellows has died." She pauses as a gasp works through the crowd. "However, in their memory and to support the cause of the Knights of Lastwall, we will continue with our planned evening. If you wish to give an additional donation in their memory, please find me." "It’s the Pathfinders’ fault!" comes a call from the crowd. The woman who was looking for you steps forward, making notes on a wax tablet. "Events with Pathfinder Society agents in attendance end in tragedy. Either they leave, or we all face grave danger!" Panic ripples through the crowd. Nuar Spiritskin is the first to boil over. He pushes toward the gatehouse and its exit, declaring, "I didn’t come here to die!" The rush of bodies toward the gatehouse turns into a stampede, capturing all in its path.
Round 1. Panic at the Disco! Bold may act. Bramble Spine
A few moments later, the homunculi are piles of clay on the floor, and the rat lies belly-up and rigid after electrocution. The demon bound in the ritual circle continues to writhe and moan as the magic seems able to sustain itself once set in motion. You will need to find a way to stop the ritual's effect beyond slaying the caster. Erasing the ritual circle will work, but it will take time and physical effort A quick riffling through the cultist's belongings yields an ornate dagger with a hilt shaped like a locust--the extended wings are the crossguard--and a scroll. Quickly passing the scroll around, both J'ndar, Bramblespine, and Goupour recognize the magic instilled within it as dispel magic .
Apologies. House fell apart. Literally. And work this weekend fell apart, figuratively.
You would need remarkably poor luck to not finish off the remaining minions before they act. Would you like me to wrap the battle up? I don't want to deprive anyone of the fun of hitting things with spells and such. :)
Perian throws a luminous spark into the cultist's chest. After it explodes in a flash of white light, the robed man falls to the ground. His eyes are open, staring at the ground, and unblinking. The sylph tries to strike down one of the other foes, but the trajectory is too wide. A Rite Most Foul! Round 3. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine (Bless 25 ft radius: +1 status bonus to attack)
Sanja finally catches hold of the wily cultist. He frowns a moment before they pound him in the side. He lets out a breathless cry of pain as they strike again and break the rib. He looks a little startled that he is still alive, then gives Sanja a delusional smirk. A Rite Most Foul! Round 2. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine (Bless 25 ft radius: +1 status bonus to attack)
GM Screen:
J'ndar demonstrates that one does not need to make noise to perform. Goupour conjures lightning. He strikes the first of the small, earthen creatures with the bolt . The other one flutters somewhat out of the way as the energy arcs toward it . The winged dirt devils continue to harass Sanja despite the distracting assault. The one bites Sanja's leg again but fails to chew it further. The other accomplishes the same. Both of the creatures' heads seem to compress and expand like a sheep's stomach balloon in between bites. The rat continues to hold the line despite all reason, logic, or probability. It furiously bites at Sanja. One of those nips makes it through their clothes and hurts especially much . The rat swallows a chunk of gnome before its next, far less effective bite. A Rite Most Foul! Round 2. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine (Bless 25 ft radius: +1 status bonus to attack)
Sanja: Fail Fortitude DC 15 once or twice:
Sanja: Fail Fortitude DC 14:
GM Screen:
Thank you. It is >16. I read the posts as they came in, but I forgot to describe the result of the grapple when I finally sat down to post. :)
The cultist is too canny (or insane) to fall for Perian's ruse . However, the sprite is still accurate with his divine strike, which burns a small hole in the cultist's robe and scalds his skin. Sanja's body counters the venom so quickly that the memory of the sting is soon gone. The first strike lands with a satisfying crunch. However, the cultist is quick to learn and backs out of the way of the second strike. Bramblespine conjures a sudden, jarring sound. The first clay creature cracks a little as it proves rather solid . By some profane intervention, the other clay creature and the rat withstand the hymn no worse than if struck with a faint breeze . Maneki drops her bow and moves forward. Too swiftly. The rat skitters out of the way of each strike. The cultist cackles at the fumbling heroes and seems to grow hardier. He points a finger at J'ndar and speaks in a commanding tone bolstered by dark power, "Be silent!" Then he stabs the wicked locust-themed dagger into Sanja's shoulder. Shallowly. A Rite Most Foul! Round 2. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine (Bless 25 ft radius: +1 status bonus to attack)
GM Screen:
Busy day today. I wasn’t able to carve out time during work. This afternoon is busy. So update will come very late today.
I'm back from vacation. Thank you for your patience.
The shooney's force darts crack the one-eyed creature's hide. The creature on the couch waddles back to defend the ritual. It bites Sanja on the leg twice, but it only draws blood once. However, that bite stings. The other one moves to the other side of the rat and bites at Sanja's other leg. This bite hurts more, bolstered by the cultist's dark magic. The giant rat nips and bites at Sanja, but the gnome proves too nimble for the animal. Sanja: Fail one or more Fortitude saves:
Enfeebled 1 A Rite Most Foul! Round 2. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine (Bless 25 ft radius: +1 status bonus to attack)
GM Screen:
J'ndar conjures needles to pierce the clay-like creature. A Rite Most Foul! Round 1. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine (Bless 25 ft radius: +1 status bonus to attack)
Perian's spark flies too much to the left. "Ha!" scoffs the cultist. He looks at one of the one-eyed clay beings and says, "Fight!" He then turns toward Sanja and speaks a crooked, diabolic chant that reaches toward the gnome's heart. A Rite Most Foul! Round 1. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine (Bless 25 ft radius: +1 status bonus to attack)
GM Screen:
The cultist's black heart rebuffs Bramblespine's malevolent gaze . A Rite Most Foul! Round 1. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine (Bless 25 ft radius: +1 status bonus to attack)
GM Screen:
The cultist completes his chanting as you burst through the doorway. His eyes widen as Sanja dashes past his line of magical defenders, but he proves spry and agile. He skips over Sanja's sweep of the legs. His triumphant smirk is quickly erased as Maneki pegs the giant rat with an arrow. "Squelch!" Through the immediate tense moments, Sanja intuits that the ritual is designed to kill the devil bound at the center of the eldritch circle. Once the devil is destroyed, whoever is bound to the ritual will also die. The effects must now be automatic and merely a matter of time. A Rite Most Foul! Round 1. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine
I'll be leaving for vacation on Saturday to return on Friday. Posting will be very sparse during that time.
Depending on Perian's tolerance for risk, he might be sweating as disarming the second blade takes considerably more concentration and time than the first blade. All the while, he can hear the ritualistic chanting through the door, punctuating the imperativeness of speed. However, in the end, the sylph manages to disable the second blade. Maneki opens the door once given the all clear by Perian. Comfortable couches and side tables create a pleasant lounge for knights to receive various visitors. Unfortunately, the room is also occupied by villains. Past two clay-like humanoids roughly as tall as Sanja and a growling rat of unusual size, a man in purple robes stands within a ritual circle. He brandishes a dagger crafted in the shape of a locust over one of those small, chain-wearing gray devils you encountered on the tower. The demon writhes in pain as the cultist chants. A Rite Most Foul! Round 1. Bold may act.
Bramble Spine
GM Screen:
Perian disables one of the deadly blades hidden in the ceiling in such a way that nobody would know he was there or that it was disabled. However, he fails to disable the second blade that was clearly designed to finish off whoever survived the first blade.
Sanja recognizes that their head would not fit through the arrow slit.
You climb the stairs to the second floor of the keep. There, you can easily hear chanting through the thin wooden doors. You also hear the frantic chittering of a squirrel coming through the arrow slit and the occasional feral hiss. A moment before Maneki pulls open the door, Perian stops her with a warning. Above you all is a groove on the ceiling that most certainly hides something devilishly painful. There is a trip wire connected to the door, designed to snap if the door is opened.
GM Screen:
Having done what good Maneki can for Gnethe and with Bramblespine's dire warning, you consider where such a foul ritual could be taking place. The only clue you have is the strange trail of smoke made by dispatching the imp earlier, so you hurry toward the keep. On the first floor, you soon make it to the dining hall. Catering for the fundraiser’s dinner was originally set up on the tables, although the stone table at the northern end of the room has been cleared—spilled vegetables and oil coat the ground nearby.
Gnethe lies sprawled on the ground in the middle of the bailey. Maneuvering through the crowd of panicked socialites is easier as guests with more experience with violence are beginning to calm them and guide them to safer corners of the yard. Nobody has touched Gnethe's body, and she lies face down with no obvious wounds. When you turn her over, her eyes are open and stare blankly at the sky. However, after a moment, you do notice the slightest rise of her chest as she breathes exceptionally slowly. Meanwhile, Zagnut has climbed the side of the keep to the window where the smoke flew. The squirrel seems to be menaced by something on the other side of the window. (Optional Investigation: 10 minutes) Medicine, Religion, Occultism, Ritual Lore DC 15; Forensic Acumen feat applies:
Gnethe's soul is being slowly ripped out of her body. She will perish imminently if not stabilized, and even then, if the ritual is not stopped, she will die.
Oops. I shorted you 1 imp. I'm sure you're heartbroken. :)
Maneki's crane wing strike explodes the fiend into confetti of various shades of gray. With the last of the fiends destroyed, you have a choice to make. Do you rush back to the courtyard to see what you can do to help? A small clearing has formed around the fallen dwarf, Gnethe, ringed by guests entranced by morbid fascination, paralyzed by fear, or locked into indecision by panic. Still more guests cry out and hasten to-and-fro in confusion. Or do you try to track the strange smoke trail formed by the imp's destruction while the memory of the window it snaked through is still fresh?
Perian lashes one of the demons mercilessly. It blanches as the Bramblespine turns his gaze upon it. When the ghoran conjures another arc of electricity, the two fiends manage to roll their way out of a direct hit. Sanja unleashes fury upon the demons. The covering demon explodes into drab, gray confetti that gradually melts away. The remaining fiend manages to backpeddle out of reach just in time to avoid being sent back to the Outer Planes, but not far enough to escape being knocked on its face. "Uuggh..." Clear the Tower! Round 2. Bold may act. Stairs require 10 ft of movement to move from one floor to the other.
J'ndar
GM Screen:
Sanja's body fights against the torpor. J'ndar continues to inspire their colleagues and then casts a spell to summon a bevy of darting needles. The clumsy, little devil nearly trips on its face a moment before J'ndar's needles pass right over its shoulders. It straightens up, blinks once, and then snaps at Sanja with its shark-like mouth. The halfling proves too quick. The shame of failure is overwhelming, so the demon cowers against the corner of the tower and tries to look as small as its pudgy form allows. Clear the Tower! Round 2. Bold may act. Stairs require 10 ft of movement to move from one floor to the other.
J'ndar
GM Screen:
Maneki claws at the pudgy, gray demon and bloodies it. It manages to wobble out of the way of her follow-up slash. On the other side of the tower, the demon lying down suddenly opens its eyes wide and hops to its feet with uncharacteristic vigor. "I'm awake!" He turns its gaze toward Sanja and scrunches up its face as it stares at them. Sanja begins to feel a yawn coming on. Clear the Tower! Round 2. Bold may act. Stairs require 10 ft of movement to move from one floor to the other. J'ndar (shield raised)
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Sanja slams her fists into the sluggish fiend on the other side of the tower. The spiritual bloom burns at the devil's flesh, but the vital flare seems to have a negligible effect. Her foot, however, has a great effect as it meets the fiend's face. The devil flips over onto his belly. "Immagunasleppeer," he mumbles. Goupour Dune hides out on the stairs and sends a couple of force bolts to further punish the fat demon lying down on the job. Clear the Tower! Round 1. Bold may act. Stairs require 10 ft of movement to move from one floor to the other. J'ndar (shield raised)
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