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Hi everyone, Really sorry for my absence lately. Bit of a perfect storm of health/work/life stuff spilled over all together. Sorry for not notifying you all earlier, but things are going to need to go on hold for a little while. Thanks for your patience. I’ll send PMs when things have calmed down a bit.
Hi everyone, Really sorry for my absence lately. Bit of a perfect storm of health/work/life stuff spilled over all together. Sorry for not notifying you all earlier, but things are going to need to go on hold for a little while. Thanks for your patience. I’ll send PMs when things have calmed down a bit.
The raving man has slipped into unconsciousness. Searching him reveals a dirty hankerchief. Inside is an eye, about the size of a gold piece. Its X-shaped pupil winks shut every few moments, and the eye pivots to focus on whoever is closest. When you do return to the barricades, Winter will gather you all close, raising her holy symbol. "Pharasma, these souls have fought to cleanse the taint of corruption and undeath from these halls. Reward them with the gift of vitality!"
When you tell her about your discoveries, she is horrified to hear of what the doppelgangers have been up to, and distraught that there doesn't seem to be an easy way to reach the rest of the facility. One of the nurses identifies the man as Juglan Rivercane. After nearly drowning in a Lake Encarthan shipwreck, he suffered from a sever case of aphasia, uncontrollably repeating the first word of each sentence, and wracked by nightmares about the incident. His vocabulary seems even more restricted now, and he never showed any signs of religious devotion before. Winter will tell you, "You have already done much to make us safer. Thank you. I was hoping you'd find access to the rest of the facility, but there is another option, which we have been unable to bypass. I know you are likely tired and want rest, but I should show you this first, so you know what face." She gestures to the curtain blocking off the other hallway. " That way leads to the main entrance. Assuming everything remains as it was, you could access the front door. I don't recommend that. We don't know what lurks out in the mists. You should be able to access the library, the east courtyard, and the east ward from there, if the paths are undamaged. The library should lead to the staff offices. Unfortunately, there is an unusual obstacle between us and there." She peels back the curtain. The hall ends just beyond the dingy curtain, but the wall here suffers some sort of otherworldly parasitism. A mass of stringy, yellow fungus stretches across the stone blocks. At its heart bulges and blinks a watery eye the size of a wagon wheel.
As Damien is resuscitated, Faust and Navin cut down the doppelnurse. With her gone, you're able to get a better view of the room beyond. Several wide tables and gigantic washbasins ll a laundry equipped to service hundreds. The place looks as though it were repurposed as a failed surgery, though, with at least one table heaped with remains while corpses lie discarded in corners. A stained sheet hangs between two of the basins, dividing the room roughly in half. A lantern shines on the far side, near a six foot tall freestanding mirror. Three 6-foot-tall, 10-foot-diameter washtubs stand in alcoves along the west walls, two short folding ladders leaning near each. The tables here have been cleared of their mundane work and used as surfaces for operating and dissection. The remains of several humans and doppelgangers lie spread across these tables, butchered beyond simple scientific inquiry. Three pull chains hang from the ceiling along the south wall. A snarling sound can be heard from the center washtub. Peering over reveals a heavily wounded, emaciated ghoul trapped inside. She seems too weak to clamber out. The doppel-nurse herself carried 72 gold pieces, an unlabeled potion, and a dagger that radiates a magical aura.
Potion ID DC 16:
Cure Light Wounds Dagger Spellcraft DC 16:
Just a +1 dagger Near the lantern is a set of high quality surgeon's tools, bloodstained but of high quality. A satchel nearby also radiates a magic aura. Within the extradimensionally large space, you recover 4 platinum pieces, a lustrous pearl, and a leather headband with a small wooden box attached. The box is inscribed with a Pharasmin spiral. Bag Spellcraft DC 24:
Handy Haversack Headband DC 16:
Phylactery of Faithfulness Pearl Spellcraft DC 16:
Pearl of Power (1st) Unfortunately, there is still no sign of an exit, either to the exterior or the remainder of the asylum.
The eastern half of this room is a tangle of gray metal, strange engine parts, and rubble, all of which was subjected to great heat long ago, judging by the metal’s melted and scorched surfaces. Here and there, softly glowing residues are caked onto bits and pieces of the metal. Though they look radically different, it seems these residues could function as the same unpredictable Numerian fluids that you first found back on Torch's peak. A glowing yellow skull floats in the air, bobbing around the machines. It winks out of sight as the door slides open.
Continuing on to the site Redtooth indicated, you come to a large, glaucite structure jutting out of the ground at a strange angle. It resembles a streamlined bird, crashed nosefirst into the dirt and detritus of Scrapwall. An intact pair of double doors sits above one wing. They sit open, and the otherworldly mists that fill this area seem to billow silently out of its interior. Clambering up and inside reveals a short corridor. The pathway to the nose of the craft has collapsed, forcing you towards the tail. The short hallway has doors to both sides, as well as another directly at the end.
Our local PFS lodge started up a Ladies' Night a while back, and it's been a big hit, with way more interest than we'd initially expected. Inspired by that, I'm taking the lead on an LGBT edition. I'll be talking to the coordinator for the ladies' night tomorrow about her experience, but I was hoping to get some more perspectives. For people who've done this sort of thing before, are there lessons you've learned about what does and doesn't work? If you haven't, are there things you'd want to see?
The chains begin to wrap around the abomination's leg, but it manages to kick its way free. This time, only HP is successful in attacking the creature, acid sizzling away at its strange, pale flesh.
This time, as it lunges at Navin, the combination of the slick grease on the blade and distraction provided by the chain causes it to stumble, missing entirely.
The party may act
It's too bad he didn't get a chance to cast any of them... (though his highest spells had already been cast due to 4-player adjustment...) If anyone does want to take the GM seat, I'd be willing to tag out and play. My lower level core character (I believe now level 5) will be free starting Saturday.
Yes they should. OOT must not have saved properly. Corrected version is now available. His spellbook only contains the spells he had prepared, apparently:
In addition to a number of magic items and a silver Aspis badge, you uncover an encoded journal and a strange metal badge, shaped like a gear. Local DC 15:
This is a symbol of the Technic League, an organization of spellcasters that serves as one of the foremost political powers in distant Numeria. Linguistics DC 25:
The notes reveal Na'alu was keeping an eye on both Aspis and Pathfinder activities in the Mwangi expanse. It seems the League has taken an interest in the Society's attempts to collect the fragments of the Sky Key...
Navin can't quite connect with the creature, but its illusory duplicate disappears.
Morrick continues calling on the favor of Asmodeus to inspire you in the fight. He advances, mace at the ready.
The doppel-nurse struggles to maintain her grip on the dagger, but ultimately proves successful. She then drives the blade back at Navin.
GM Dice:
Another tortured scream echoes through the canyon. No debris flies your way. Dr N only:
Through the mist, you can make out a large shape about ten feet above Seri's head. Though it's hard to tell for sure, it looks somewhat jellyfish- or squid-like. Seri Only:
An indistinct shape manifests in the mists, well above your head. As it does so, you begin to see manifestations of your worst fears. These halluncinations cause points of Wisdom damage, and you are now frightened of the blue square. The party may act[/b]
A doppleganger dressed in a medical outfit, making no effort to hide its nature, manifests out of thin air next to Damien, slashing with a dagger.
Marconias launches an arrow in response. As the arrow nears, however, everyone begins seeing double, as a second version of the doppleganger manifests. It fails to protect her, striking the true creature.
The party may act
Seri:
Though you don't see anyone or anything in the mist, you get the sense that something is not only watching you, but seeing inside your mind. You can also give me yet another Will save.
Selkainia's fireball clears out much of the necromantic mists, though it begins filling back in quickly. Dr. N's bullet seems to connect with something, and Ray detects a faint shimmer in the air, bringing his blade down upon it. GM Dice:
Red 13 Green 19 Blue: 5 Selkania feels a strong pulling sensation, as a force tries to drag her toward the toxic pond, without success.
Flying debris fills the air once more, missing both Dr. N and Ray.
The party may act
Doctor N fires off a bullet. The gunshot echoes through the misty canyons, leaving no sign of connecting with its target. She also recognizes this as the trademark behavior of poltergeists, location-based incorporeal undead. Pieces of rusty junk rise off of the canyon floor and fly towards you. One narrowly misses Dr. N, flying over her head. Seri takes off running, scattering the party across the mist. Spoiler:
Another jagged, piece flies at Ray. An even larger, gnome-sized block of concrete barrels towards Selkania.
Dice:
Seri:
Please give me an additional will save. Mind-affecting (not fear or enchantment) The party may act
"Ah, ah! Zandalus sees! ZANDALUS SEES!" the man screams as Marconias shoots him in the leg. He writhes in pain. In his contortions, one hand slips free from his bindings. Nothing immediately comes through the now open door. GM Dice:
As chadius mentioned, PDF-Images is what I use, though it does extract a lot of junk along with the real stuff.
Viv takes off, darting into the mist Viv:
These are poltergeists. Being both incorporeal and naturally invisible makes them difficult to kill. Even more problematically, they rejuvenate when destroyed unless laid to rest in ways unique to each. On the other hand, they are generally confined to a limited area, and cannot directly harm creatures, only causing them to panic or using telekinesis to throw objects.
GM Dice:
Ray casts his spell, and golden flakes cascade through the air. They gently waft to the ground, revealing nothing. Vaughn and Dr N may act
Returning back down the hallway, Sturdy racks and toppled tables suggest this space once served as a sizable laundry. Much of the northern end of the room is filled with rubble. A wall of pipelike crossbeams fills the western alcove of this room. Three figures are manacled to the rack here, from south to north: a human wearing stained yellow sheets as robes and bearing a flame-shaped chalk mark upon his forehead, the corpse of a partially eaten patient, and a man with bluish skin, a mouth full of fangs, and a long, lashing tongue. The living man is horribly wounded. He turns to you, calling out "Praise! Zandalus sees!"
Thorn: I have a copy of the scenario, but it looks to me like the boon is only valid for part three of that series. You have received the blessing of the Ruby Sage, who granted you some of her power so that you might retrieve the stolen sage jewels and find the Diamond Sage. When you begin Pathfinder Society Scenario #5–16: Destiny of the Sands, Part 3: Sactum of the Sages, you gain two of the following abilities for the duration of the scenario so long as you have the Exceptional Deeds ability from the Mythic Power 1 Chronicle sheet.
Weaving your way through Scrapwall proves simple, in large part because you're passing through now-friendly territory. As you walk, thin white mists congregate at your feet, before thickening to the point of blocking almost all vision. You can detect a strong necromantic aura. The spellcasters get the sense that positive energy effects will still work normally when healing the living, but have a harder time than normal when harming the undead. Weaving through the canyons of debris, you pass a small pond of noxious chemicals. Suddenly, as you pass by, a hideous undead visage manifests in front of you, reaching out menacingly.
Will DC:
DC 14. Frightened for 1d4 rounds on failure. If you fail, you're fleeing only from the one adjacent to you. GM Dice:
Dragging Damien back to the barricade, Winter rushes out to heal him. "Pharasma's Spire! They really did a number on you, didn't they? I know you weren't out there long, but did you learn anything about what's going on?" As she speaks, she retrieves her holy symbol, and casts a spell to mend Damien's wounds.
If you've found items you don't want, Winter will reward you for turning them over.
Lots of stuff here. Getting fully caught up, but in the meantime:
I thought the gold for that was worked into some of the earlier shopping and gold distributions. Go ahead and assume that you do have that. Other things of note:
Doubtful grabs hold of Naa'lu, but Thorn's rapid slashes miss the half-orc. One of Wyatt's arrows hits the man, but only lightly wounds him. D'lack's ray doesn't meet the same resistance, and seems much more effective
The half-orc retaliates against Thorn. Two powerful blows knock Thorn to the ground.
Despite Doubtful's hold on Na'alu, the man is still able to manage the gestures necessary to cast a spell, as he tells Doubtful, "Your friend needs help. Tend to him!
This list, specifically the left column, is probably the most comprehensive. It is worth noting that this list doesn't reflect changes that happen, most commonly when Venture-Captains die during the course of a season's plot. Consider that just another part of the big timey-wimey ball that is PFS.
This does make a lot of sense to me, especially as a GM. I find myself building up a stack of 3 XP credit babies, pretty much entirely from 1 XP replayables. I'm creating them faster than I can actually play them. I'd much rather have a few 6 XP babies than a swarm of 3 XP ones. I'm not sure when the "only once at 2" rule originated (it's been around at least since the Confirmation), but now that we have so much content under that umbrella, I'd appreciate it being revisited.
Metallic Woman ID Arcana DC 15:
She's some sort of exotic Numerian construct known as a "robot." Anything else would require Engineering and the Technologist feat. Thorn's blade meets an unnnatural amount of resistance as it connects with the woman, but forcing the blade through regardless yields a shower of sparks, as she collapses.
D'lack's ray goes wild, but Na'alu goes limp after Doubtful's punch, though his skin seems resistant to a significant amount of the damage. The Half-Orc spins back towards Doubtful, chopping twice in quick succession, but failing to connect.
Everyone may act
Spoiler:
Retracing your steps through the city, you get a taste of different opinions on the Aspis. Novaria comments that “The Consortium has been exploiting the people and the lands of the expanse for too long. We at House Cartahegn oppose their continued expansion and seek to rein in their excesses.” Dunkel suggested talking to the innkeeper. His comments are that "the Consortium is the best thing that ever happened to this place. This used to just be a pirate hideaway, now it’s the center for trade in the region! D'lack and Thorn each speak to general passers-by. The Bonuwat man D'lack speaks to denounces the Consortium, accusing them of, strangling our nation and our people, robbing us of our culture and selling it piece by piece to rich people in the north. If I didn’t need their money to feed my family, I’d have nothing to do with them.” The Bekyar man Thorn meets is entirely more positive. "“They keep money and stable work owing through the area. I’ve never been able to eat as well as I have since I started working for them.” Exiting Bloodcove is relatively easy, but less than a mile from the city the road leads to a narrow bridge crossing a small tributary of the Vanji River. On the other side of the bridge stands the Consortium agent, Na’alu, accompanied by a strange, artificial looking humanoid, and a half-orc man. “I’ll be taking those documents back now.” he says smugly, “My employer would very much like to know their contents.”
The woman introduces herself as Sevroth Slaid, the senior member of the real Steel Hawks. Birdfood imprisoned her so that she couldn't lead a revolt against his rule, and so that he had extra leverage over the others, threatening to execute her if they disobeyed. She's extremely grateful that you've freed them from Birdfood's rule, and that her men who were under Birdfood's command weren't killed. She'll let you keep everything above as a token of her appreciation. She's confident she can rally the rest of her people manning the gate, assuming she can bring Birdfood's head as proof of his defeat. She promises whatever aid she can in your fight against Hellion, including refuge at Hawk Palace or the front gate, and unlimited passage through the gate.
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