Spica is able to make it to the top of the pillar without incident, and pulls on the manuscript pages there. It takes some careful doing to remove it from the resin that glues it to the pillar without tearing it, but a little patience and steady force does the trick. It looks like about a third of the entire manuscript--the centre section--is there.
Meanwhile, Tull confronts the red-robed priestess. At a closer proximity, the voice seems to be coming from beneath her somehow! "Don't take that tone with me, you ruffian! This gnome got what she deserved, and if you try to steal my tree from me again, meat, I shall destroy every building on this island and control all flesh. Destroy my vessels and I shall find another and another, perhaps yours. Destroy my essence and I shall arise three days hence, ready to tear apart your boats, your homes, and your flesh!"
Theo makes an imposing figure, staring at Grunph and the two azers until they're out of sight.
Pursuant to Zharis' suggestion to find a safe place to examine Leirol's body, a quick survey of the area around Stadium Anassan shows a bombed-out structure nearby that looks deserted. As you walk, Nib's brow is furrowed in deep thought, and she continues muttering to herself.
If someone wants to examine the body, Medicine would be appropriate to roll.
Pai slowly spirals downward to the ground, fortunate that whatever magic allowed her to ascend with such grace brings her back down safely even while unconscious.
Nikita rushes to examine her.
As he does so, a voice emanates from the red-robed priestess even though she makes no movement and doesn't even open her mouth. "You and I should parley."
@Spica: I'm not sure if you wanted to keep flying up after Pai fell, so let me know and I'll tell you what happens.
Pai:
Hm, I'm not sure either. Usually in such circumstances where there's viable arguments either way, I give the benefit of the doubt to the PC. As you can't make Fly checks to Hover while unconscious, we'll just assume you drift down to the ground in the same way as when a fly spell ends.
Nikita:
She doesn't have any visible wounds (slashes, cuts, etc.) but her skin has taken on a pale tone, as if the life has been leeched out of her! In mechanical terms, she has taken an extraordinary amount of negative energy damage that, combined with her nonlethal damage, has led to unconsciousness; however, she is Stable.
The giant furrows his brow, trying to keep three questions in his mind at once before giving up. "We Jurn tribe! We walk lots. Then sometimes stop. Then walk more. Then stop. Chief and Ramma say when." He shrugs.
Grunph nods at Zharis and heads for the exit silently, wisely realizing that anything he might say would only make things worse. The two tense azers follow him.
As you get ready to leave, Nib and Taeress emerge. Taeress looks stricken. "I don't know how we're going to tell Vessue. He was so . . . hopeful . . . this morning."
Even the usually garrulous Nib seems subdued. "I still can't figure out what their whole scheme was. They had to know we'd open the pod here to check, so it's not like that transmission would reveal the resistance's headquarters. And they already know we're here now, so it couldn't have been to signal an attack or something. Well, whatever it was, it didn't work--maybe the occupiers aren't as smart as they think . . ."
After calling out below, Pai continues ascending towards the top of the pillar. Meanwhile, Nikita examines one of the four figures more carefully.
Pai:
You see the walls of the temple fade away, replaced by a thriving pine forest filled with birdsong. Instead of the pillar, a mighty pine towers over the peninsula! In the distance, a dark wave of necromantic energy rapidly approaches, instantly felling trees and blackening greenery in its path. A naked feminine figure works desperately, sparks of elemental magic flying off her wands. She obliterates the isthmus just in time, isolating the peninsula to create an island, but stranding herself on the mainland. There’s an instant of calm before the blight crashes over her! You've been affected by the equivalent of a harm spell. Please attempt a DC 19 Will save. If you make the save, you take 55 points of negative energy damage. If you fail the Will save, you take 110 points of negative energy damage. Either way, as per the spell description, this damage cannot reduce you to less than 1 hp. However, if your nonlethal damage exceeds current hit points, you will fall unconscious and you'll have to let me know whether your kinetic flying will persist or turn off. A moment later, the . . . vision? . . . fades away, and you find yourself back in the temple.
Nikita:
Like the others, the woman that detects as evil has a shaven head, dirty robes, and a necklace of braided hair. As she seems to be meditating, you can't get any read off her with Sense Motive (which requires interaction). However, this close examination allows for you to make a Heal check to discover something.
With his incredibly advanced ecocortex providing artificial intelligence-guided insight, Xylian is able to attune the signal jammer perfectly to stop the burst transmission! But sadly, when the silver tube is opened, only a human corpse is inside. Leirol's hands are still bound with restraints, and there are third-degree burn marks all over his body.
"Uh oh," says Grunph, as he and the azers instinctively tighten their grips on their weapons.
Amhesha:
You don't detect any magic.
Folks, hope you don't think I'm being a jerk with Leirol being already dead--his fate is predetermined in the written adventure even if you launch a more traditional rescue mission.
@Xylian: Yep, technically the Aid Another comes first, though in practice it doesn't usually matter. I'm not sure what you mean about your ecocortex getting its own roll though--is that a special Mechanic option you've selected? (it doesn't matter for this check--nice result!--just curious)
As you get within 20' or so of the ceiling, the strong aroma of being in a pine forest fills your nostrils--it seems quite strange, as there's no obvious source for it. Do you want to continue with what you were doing, or do something different?
Zharis' excellent recollection allows her to find what may just be the perfect tool for the job: a signal jammer! Yet, a high-frequency burst transmitter like the one integrated into the silver tube's opening mechanism is specifically designed to penetrate interference (whether environmental or artificial), so adjusting the jammer to fully block the signal won't be easy. Still, it may just be worth a shot . . .
Clever idea! As the description above indicates, success won't be automatic. I'll ask for a single Engineering check (one person can roll and another can Aid Another), because you'll only get one chance to get it right and won't know if it'll work until you open the mechanism. (You can Take 10 but not Take 20) This task will be Difficult, so the DC will be 34.
You believe the silver tube is made out of polycarbon plate. Easy to mold but extremely tough, polycarbon plate is constructed from a polymer that is shaped at extremely high temperatures. A stronger form of plastic, polycarbon plate can also be transparent (though this particular example isn't), making it a good choice for the viewports of military starships. Your evaluation matches Xylian's statement that the pod contains some sort of signaling device. More specifically, there is a single burst transmitter intricately integrated into the opening mechanism. In short, if this tube is opened, a short high-frequency signal burst will be sent out.
Xylian:
Thinking it through, you realise that because the transmitter and the opening mechanism have been intricately integrated, you won't be able to overload one without overloading the other.
Despite Pai's shout, the four figures remain completely still.
As the gnome circles the tree thirty feet above the ground, she can't help but notice some interesting items hanging off the pillar as if leaves on a tree . . .
Pai:
There are literally thousands of small objects, with the bulk being made of paper and wood, attached to the pillar with what looks like a resin of some sort. Among the items that stick out to you are a small, iron-bound book, a beautiful masterwork shortbow, a green scroll with arcane runes on it, a tiny scroll with the holy symbol of Irori marked on it, and, most intriguingly of all, attached to the pillar just 5' below the ceiling, part of a book that matches exactly the description Wystorm Telfyr gave you of the Fleshforge Manuscript!
With Xilt translating, the brutish hill giant eventually understands enough to give a coherent reply, which essentially amounts to a shrug: "Chief got big rich for sending us ta wreck this place."
As Grunph moves to check over the stasis tube containing Nurleth, Xylian makes his way down from the stands and looks over the silvery tube.
Xylian:
You don't detect any explosive residue in the tube, but you can tell there is a single burst transmitter intricately integrated into the opening mechanism. In short, if this tube is opened, a short high-frequency signal burst will be sent out.
As Tull prepares protective spells and Lorian shouts a battle cry, Pai ascends over the strangely-unmoving figures. Meanwhile, Nikita extends his mystical senses towards them . . .
@Pai: The roof is a full 90' up, so it's easy for you to be 30' above the group.
Nikita:
One of the four figures, a malnourished-looking woman Red, detects as evil.
Grunph nods along to Zharis' statement. "It's smart to be careful. I didn't see this tube get loaded, and I can't say for sure what's in it. I was just told to bring it here and trade it for Nurleth. Sounds like that message I passed along eventually worked its way up the chain. But yeah, that sounds like a plan--I'll look over your stasis pod, one of you look over this one under the watchful eyes of the firetops," he motions back to the two azers, "And if both check out, we'll all leave in peace instead of pieces."
Pai looks at the bizarrely-decorated pillar and muses quietly.
Pai:
You've never seen or heard anything like this before, and it doesn't seem to have any particular resonance with what you know about the tenets of Irori.
Nib reports back to Zharis through the comms: "It's big enough for a person . . . or a torpedo!"
Anxious moments pass in waiting and then the occupation team enters the field through the northern access corridor. A seven-foot-tall horned humanoid with a bovine-like face--Grunph--leads the way, the floating silver tube flanked by a pair of azers holding weapons and looking tense. Grunph looks all around before his eyes settle on the part of the stands where Amhesha is hiding. "No need for that, yeah? We left things square, right?" he shouts.
Despite the range penalty, Grunph's Perception check beats Amhesha's Take 10 on Stealth.
@Xylian: The southeast gravity projector has been disabled; it would take another Engineering check to fix it.
"We also have a set of boons for our PFS1 players. Each GM and Player of a PFS1 game has a 10% chance to win one of our lovely boons at random. Have everyone at your table roll a d20 and a roll of 19 or 20 wins."
(Please make sure your e-mail address is included on the convention sign-up sheet so a boon can be sent to you if you win one)
Farrokh examines the enchanted items carefully . . .
Farrokh:
You identify a +1 frost spear, a potion of cure serious wounds, +1 large-sized full plate, a large-sized giant bane +1 greatsword, and large-sized +1 half-plate.
@Everyone: For the purposes of buff tracking, we'll say the conversation with Zoarth and the searching through the various giants' possessions takes 10 minutes.
Although unwilling to enter the temple himself, the master offers up a key to the temple's heavy wooden doors. He hangs his head in shame as Pai asks him what his name is, saying that he is no longer worthy of bearing a name!
Tull opens the doors to show that the huge temple encloses a peaceful, echoing space. A faint aroma of old incense lingers here. Polished blue flagstones decorate the floor. Where the walls meet, the corners curve gently so that nothing jars the eyes.
At the temple’s center, a round wooden pillar rises out of the floor, stretching up to support the roof ninety feet above. Bizarrely, the pillar bristles with a motley collection of lumber, as if someone were building some horrific mockery of a tree. Joists, beams, a door, and a ship’s figurehead--an angel holding twin scythes--all hang off the pillar like branches. Thousands of scrolls and books hang from every surface as if they were leaves!
Between the door and pillar sit four priests--two men and two women--facing one another as in in meditation; in front of each is a teacup.
Farrokh searches the fallen giants through means both mundane and magical for anything of note!
Farrokh:
Most of the giants carry mundane equipment--stuff like clubs, bags of rocks for throwing, hide armor etc. The following items detect as magical: a masterwork spear (used by the ice devil down below); a dark orange potion, large-sized masterwork full plate, and a large-sized masterwork greatsword with an inscription in Giant (from the rider of the triceratops); large-sized masterwork half-plate (from the stone giant). The only nonmagical items of particular interest are 10 gems carried by the stone giant.
Unintentionally working at cross purposes, Zharis tries to disable the Zero-G projectors as Amhesha tries to remotely operate them!
Meanwhile, monitoring Stadium Anassan's surveillance system, Nib and Xylian see something important: a small shuttle has landed outside to the north, and a small detachment of occupation forces led by Grunph are starting to move in! On a small repulsor sled is a silver tube . . .
Okay, one final round of preparation or placement, and then we'll get this party started. Assume the other side will be entering through a concourse from the direction of the new big yellow arrow.
Zharis' checks are successful in disabling two of the projectors, and Amhesha is successful in getting remote access. To simplify things, I'm going to say the one projector that is still active is the one that Amhesha has gained access to, and that's the one I've left the Red X on (as Amhesha has to be within 20' of it to do remote access). Amhesha, with this projector, you can extend a Zero-Go field over roughly the left third of the stadium).
The old master says "You will find Priestess Isa and the other clergy in the temple." He points to the large pair of double-doors on the east side of the quadrangle. "I will not accompany you. I am not worthy to enter such a sacred space." Tears of shame begin welling up in his eyes, as his students look on with feelings of concern.
@Lorian: A skill check isn't needed at this point (the old master has been made Helpful already), though you'll need to ask specific questions if there's something else you want to learn.
The three zero-G field projectors are marked with a red X on the map. If you want to use (or try to disable one), I'd need a Computers check to operate or an Engineering check to disable.
Nikita's soothing gestures and Pai's kind embrace finally seem to settle the overwrought master. He speaks in a sad whisper "I do not know why I have acted the way I have . . . Everything has become so strange over the past year, about since the papermaking workshop shut down. I believed, like many of us, that sacred visions and the presence of Irori were guiding my words and hands--but now . . . I don't have confidence this was true. For some reason I can't fathom, I decreed that only myself and the senior priests would be allowed inside the temple, and I sent many of the priests to the far corners of Golarion to return with documents to study."
The old master looks over at Nikita and tears begin to well up in his eyes. "I owe you a deep apology. I do not remember why you were marked as a thief. Priestess Isa returned several days ago from a trip to Ecanus and Andoran. She carved the bust of you soon after returning. Our library has been plagued by the theft of dozens of books and scrolls, and yet I know you were not even present in the monastery during this period!"
The students nod in Lorian's direction, indicating they know enough Taldane to understand his question, but then they return to anxious glances at their master's bizarre behavior. The old man seems incredibly agitated--besides himself with dismay and regret.
It's going to take either a Diplomacy check to calm down the old man enough to speak, or a Diplomacy/Intimidate check to convince one of the students to speak with you.
Upon arrival, Xylian moves quickly to one of the luxurious skyboxes overlooking the stadium. There, in personal holoterminals provided for patrons, he's able to easily hack into the stadium's security camera feeds.
Meanwhile, Zharis leads Taeress (and Nib, who insisted on coming along if Taeress was) to a changing room near the playing field where she can try to "listen in" on telepathic conversations.
@Xylian: Yes, you can access camera feeds.
@Zharis: You can bring Taeress, but Nib will come to (they're a package deal when going into danger at this point). Offices and changing rooms aren't on the map, but I'm happy to assume you're able to find them without difficulty and we'll say they're about thirty feet to the right of the playing field (underneath the seating).. The zero-G fields are controlled at the three projectors I've marked with a red X.
Ha, my bad--for some reason I was thinking Grunph was still in the Sun Diver (in fact, he was released to explain the deal to begin with). It looks like the GM's the one who needs a recap :) I'll take Grunph off for now and get to your other questions tonight.
The master stirs as Nikita strides over, blade in hand. The old man looks groggy and confused, and then it's as if the world comes crashing down on him in a moment. He wails in Vudrani and rolls on the ground gibbering. His students suddenly stop fighting, looking at their master with confusion and compassion.
Speak Vudrani:
"Shame! Why have I treated guests so!"
@Tull: Officially it "generally takes at least 1 minute, and you could spend a whole evening trying to get a sense of the people around you." My general approach is to require some interaction with the person (like Pai had in speaking with him) and then I allow a check.
"Enemies? I live a quiet life of study, contemplation, and experimentation. In recent years, I have rarely left this place or my beloved cats. No, no, there must be a reason for the attack, but I am at an utter loss as to why. All I can surmise is that the invaders' purpose was not simply to ransack and steal, but to destroy my home! Why else would they have attacked the very foundation magic of my castle?
@Zharis: Of course, no worries. I've had periods in my life where leveling up was awesome and I would spend hours trawling through the various options, and periods (more recent of late!) where it's another chore added to the end of a very long to-do list . . .
Once all the preparations are ready, the anassanois send a strike force led by Zhyffor on a mission to retrieve sacred Protector relics while simultaneously ensuring a science team from another part of the galaxy is able to slip into Stadium Anassan.
For the latter group, it looks as if your plan to arrive early has paid off. There's no sign of occupation forces. The stadium is completely empty and shows signs of not having been used in the months since the occupation began.
Okay, please feel free to move your pawns to Slide # 2. I've placed Grunph and Nurleth (in a stasis tube) there already, but please feel free to move them wherever you would like. Is there anyone else from the Sun Diver you would like to come with you?
Also, I realise it's been a long time (in the real world) since these NPCs and this subplot have appeared, so if anyone needs a quick recap on who's who or what's happening, just let me know.
That's an excellent question--I forgot to describe the effects of the channel on the NPCs. Here is the run-down:
White is no longer dying (was 1 round away!), and is actually conscious now at 1 hp.
The master monk is now in positive hp and conscious as well.
Blue's current hp now exceeds his nonlethal damage (magical healing also removes an equal amount of nonlethal damage) and is conscious again.
Yellow is now conscious again as well.
Zoarth's eyes go wide. "The Book of the Titan, you say? I have come across references to it in my studies, but never imagined I would see it! I know the ritual to unlock it is a long and complex one. I'll get started immediately. In the meantime, please investigate why my quiet castle was invaded. If it were to happen again in the middle of the ritual, the results could be dire indeed!"
Ah, okay, right. So we'll make sure Grunph is present and factor in something like arriving early so those of you good with computers can figure out the controls.
If there's anything else any of you want to do, throw it out now, and then I'll move us on in about 24 hours.
@Zharis: From the last XP post a couple of weeks back, it looks like you can go ahead and level up to 10.
As Spica sends magical missiles of pure force at the monk wrestling with Pai in mid-air, on the other side of the quadrangle The Rock and Lorian work together to pummel another monk into unconsciousness!
Spica's magic missiles does full (nonlethal) damage to Black.
Pai's blast misses Black's modified touch AC.
Ginger's and The Rock's and Lorian's attacks all hit Blue, who is knocked unconscious by having more nonlethal damage than current hit points.
After making the potions available, Zoarth returns to the grand hall and resumes his seat in the singed armchair. Cats begin rubbing themselves on your ankles as he says "Now, tell me about this ritual you need help with? And I believe one of you suggested asking a surviving invader why they attacked--an excellent suggestion. I surmise they came from the north--many of the brutish giants lair there--but otherwise I am at a loss as to why they would attack me."
Okay, summing up potions:
Farrokh: cat's grace, invisibility, water breathing
Adeah: protection from energy (fire), owl's wisdom, fly
Xilt: displacement, invisibility, eagle's splendor
Berato: protection from energy (acid), protection from energy (cold), protection from energy (fire)
Anthys: fly, see invisibility, gaseous form
Everything checks out.
Sorry for the slow posting--training course over the weekend.
Sorry I was away for the week--on a training course. So looking at Gameplay, it sounds like current plans include:
* Bringing Nurleth in a stasis pod (or doped to the gills with sedatives);
* Having Amhesha sneak into the stands to provide sniper support;
* Checking over Leirol for hidden surveillance tech, etc.
Is all of that right, and is there anything else you'd like to do before we move on?
Also, you can now take a 10-minute rest and spend 1 RP to regain SP. If anyone has other negative conditions affecting their PC, let me know and I'll check the duration.
Zoarth can only shrug in confusion. "I cannot fathom who these invaders are or why they would attack my castle! And a ritual, you say? I think we may have much to speak of! But first, I must show my gratitude in actions as well as words."
The cloud giant gets up from his carriage-sized armchair (scattering cats everywhere) and leads you to an alchemical workshop. "I have been spending too much time recently brewing potions. Please, take some as a reward for your service to me this day."
Each of you can choose three potions from the following list (but when one is gone, it's gone unless multiples are listed): bear’s endurance, bull’s strength, cat’s grace, displacement, eagle’s splendor, fly (x2), fox’s cunning, gaseous form, invisibility (x2), owl’s wisdom, protection from energy (acid), protection from energy (cold), protection from energy (fire, x3), see invisibility, and water breathing. (of course, as with all treasure in a PFS adventure, you don't get to keep anything left over after the end of the adventure unless you pay for it with your own money later)
Off-hand I'd say the easiest solution is to put the efreeti into one of the stasis pods from the Sun Diver. (that avoids the problem of me having to make up a new sedative medicinal that may not really fit with how the game scales other sedatives at your level)
Zhyffor listens to the discussion and adds in a useful point here and there.
To Xylian's suggestion of landing a ship in the stadium, he says:
Now that the occupation knows the ship identifier codes you used to enter Kahlannal, they will have reprogrammed their anti-ship batteries to target it, making an aerial approach extremely dangerous. The message is accompanied by an image of the Sun Diver coming in for a landing in the stadium only to be met with scores of rockets.
Later, he responds to Zharis' questions about gravitoss and having an audience. Since the occupation, recreational activities have been suspended, and I think it will be difficult to arrange a match at short notice. And in any event, we would be loathe to put civilians at risk if it is a trap. Gravitoss is normally played by those able to control gravity through mastery of solar winds--those whom your Nib and Taeress call 'solarians'. And yet, the machinery exists to enable the zero-gravity field over the playing area . . . perhaps that could be useful to you in some way?
Meanwhile, Tulgram takes Vessu aside. The man is rapt that a deal is underway to get his brother back and willingly (and apologetically) repeats his role in the sabotage scheme.
