A parasitic faction known as the Korholm Agenda has tried to corrupt the upstanding Aspis Consortium from the inside out, all in the vain pursuit of revenge and profit. Now one of the powerful Aspis Patrons has learned that the Korholm Agenda has siphoned the Consortium’s funding to build a base of operations in Nidal. This shall not stand. He has assembled a team of top agents—including both new faces and veterans of the attack on the Grand Lodge a year ago—to infiltrate the operation and shut it down by any means necessary.
In this adventure the players portray agents of the Aspis Consortium using 8th-level pregenerated characters. Content in "Serpents’ Ire" also ties into a special metaplot element from Pathfinder Society Special #6–98: "Serpents Rise." Players who have completed that special event are encouraged to bring its Chronicle sheet when playing this adventure.
Saturday, August 20, 2016 at 7am MDT (GMT -6)
We will be using Roll20 as VTT with G+ as voice chat.
Sign up by emailing me at ssior [dot] 27 [at] gmail [dot] com with the following information:
- Player name
- PFS ###-## (for character this will be applied to)
- Which pre-gen you wish to use. Give top three choices. (I can send the pregens before you decide if you desire.)
Pre-Gen options:
ERAMAY - Female half-elf cavalier (constable) 8
FALTH - Male tiefling inquisitor of Zyphus 8
RATAJI - Male human enchanter 8
SHOHIRAJ - Human unchained rogue 8
THESTIL SHADOWTONGUE - Female doppelganger mesmerist (toxitician) 4
ZURNZAL - Male half-orc brawler 6/assassin 2
Any questions? Feel free to ask either here or via email.
As you go about, you realize that the priests are really just using you as a distraction to pickpocket the locals! Knowing this, you are able to use your skill check to instead draw attention to their efforts.
Krant enters the courtyard clapping. He gives a hearty pat on Ferabras' shoulder for the performance and informs him that he is excused from his duties for the rest of the day. He also later brings Ferabras a bottle of his finest Chelish wine from his own private stash
As Krant leads you out, some of you see and point out seeing the head cultist, Egarthis, looking out at you from a window. The window belonging to the chamber of one cultist, Iramine. How long as he been watching?
6d20 ⇒ (7, 6, 14, 12, 3, 18) = 60
In the middle of the next day, while the streets around the temple are filling with merchants, shoppers, and other folk. Egarthis, along with a trio of priests, gathers up you and Evlar and informs you that you will be assisting in today’s sermon to the masses.
"Your job is to move through the crowd and extol the virtues of Razmir. Feel free to use your talents to gain the attention of the crowd in any way possible so that your fellow priests can look for more potential followers."
Once outside, Egarthis stands atop a small crate to speak to the masses, drawing a large crowd around him. While this is going on, the priests instruct you to work around the edges to keep people interested.
How you interact with the crowd is up to them, and may range from using skills such as Perform and Diplomacy to showing off talent with weapons or magic.
- To distract the crowd with a skill, make a DC 15 skill check.
- To distract them with weapons, make an attack roll vs an AC of 15.
- To distract them with magic, cast a spell and list any relevant DC, even if not targeting folk.
Additionally, please make a Perception check as you patrol the crowd.
Despite Sarah's comment, Ferabras is looking pretty beat up as he and the magus exchange blows! Your mentor keeps calling for one of you to pick up the flail and finish it. "Don't worry, we won't let you die. For good, anyway!"
Did Darren want to stay there while nauseated or move away from the swarm? It only matters for placing since they'd follow for a meal.
Blossym comes out of delay to prepare an oil flask like Darren did.
The swarm continues to bite and scratch at Darren!
Damage:1d6 ⇒ 5
The bites and pecks put Darren to the ground, bleeding out from the wounds!
Blossym throws the oil at the swarm, trying not to hit Darren! But the flask misses and only splashes the bats!
50% success? High is good:1d100 ⇒ 52 RTA:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14 Miss:1d8 ⇒ 7
Soran hits Ferabras with a worthy clonk before the tiefling puts him to the ground! Again, clerics rush in, grab the slayer's body, and rush off to heal his bruises.
Zolarus finds no love with his sap trying to push his own advantage.
Hoshiko continues to be defensive while Mikail and Zolarus exchange swings. The kitstune is able to get under the nagaji's defenses before dodging out of reach.
Soran, however, goes up to Ferabras and cracks a good one on the tiefling's noggin!
Krant shouts his encouragement. "One down, who'll be next? Pick up the flail! Use it!"
Soran slowly moves in, but decisively strikes the half-elf fellow. He reels a bit, but maintains his hold on the flail.
Meanwhile, Zolarus lands a fairly decent blow on Mikail!
Evlar turns on Soran, a new fire in his eyes. He steps out of the flanking position, dropping his sap to get a firm two-handed hold on the flail, and swings at the Slayer!
Flail:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 for 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
The heavy flail's head whooshes past Soran's head, which is good because it was moving at a pretty decent speed!
1 damage + 1 bleed + 4 damage + 1 bleed = 7 points of hurt. The bleed is recurring until you do either a heal check or receive magical healing, so every turn until then.
The oil flask splashes harmlessly at Kuran and singes the bats a little bit.
Since it misses, it only deals splash damage to any creatures in the square it lands in (as well as those adjacent, of course). So no worries to Kuran who does not need to worry about being on fire, even with his resistance.
Evlar moves in away from Ferabras and bends down to pick up the flail. He holds it, turning back and forth between Ferabras and Zolarus. "Nothing personal, you lot. I need to stand out!"
Party up! Also, I'm trying to decide who I'm putting my money on here.
Mikail, delay or total defense? Both are standard actions. As for sneak attack... I don't know, honestly. Let me look into it a little and I'll get to you.
Hey have taken your gear, so you rely on your Dex and feat choices. You'll get your gear back after you're confirmed. I think this is the only combat you'll see until then, though.
Thank you all for your patience. I've been in a bit of a funk for the past month or so and am just not regaining some of that steam. I am truly very sorry for leaving you hanging. Thank you to those who did PM me over the last few weeks to see what was up. I regret not responding to those missives.
The gameplay page has been updated (with some more info dump... sorry about that) and into an event of note. Hopefully we can push through this together and find out what this damnable cult of Razmir is up to.
Do note this is one instance where the anti-PvP rule does not apply! To have at it! Don't hold back! This will go until one man stands, whether by your own hands... or Krant's.
The following days follow the same schedule and it quickly becomes second nature, such is the repetition. Since it does not really have any bearing with the module, I will post it in this manner:
Daily Schedule for the curious:
7:00 a.m. Arise. New acolytes are wakened by Krant and taken into the dining hall for a simple breakfast of bread, water, and old fruit.
7:30 a.m. Simple labor in the yard. This usually involves cleaning up the stables, splitting timber, unloading deliveries for the kitchen or the private use of the heralds (these are taken to the stairs leading to the second floor, but not actually carried up them by the acolytes), and weapon and armor maintenance.
11:00 a.m. Prayer and tutelage in the temple. Egarthis descends from the second floor to instruct the acolytes (new and old) in the power and glory of Razmir, telling about his mighty deeds, his generous gifts, and his incredible power.
12:00 p.m. Lunch. This is half a loaf of bread, some fatty meat, a thin slice of cheese, and potato stew.
12:30 p.m. Cleaning. The new acolytes must clean the first floor of the temple, using small brushes, harsh soap, and water.
3:30 p.m. Afternoon prayer. Half of the congregation attends this session in the main hall; all acolytes must attend. One of the heralds leads the prayer, which includes a number of rather pompous
litanies and psalms to the Living God. In time, you realize that even the heralds find this rather dull. A number of acolytes nod off during it, but Krant is quick to punish them afterward.
4:30 p.m. Training. The new acolytes are taken out into the yard and trained how to interact with the public. This starts out as simple ways to walk as a group, keep composure, and not reveal one’s identity. After a while, it moves to less savory training, such as how to force someone to donate, how to mock other faiths to make Razmir seem more powerful, and how to deal with local guards and others who would interfere with the temple.
7:00 p.m. Dinner. This is usually made up of a simple vegetable stew with some inexpensive meat tossed in, coarse bread, and ale or wine.
7:30 p.m. Evening prayer. The other half of the congregation attends this session. Evening prayer resembles the afternoon prayer, except Egarthis usually leads the procession, and those in attendance must participate. Those who try to fake it or pay little attention are swiftly punished afterward.
9:30 p.m. Transcription. The PCs spend their final 2 hours of the day copying holy texts by candlelight. One of the priests oversees this process.
The basis of the routine, you gather, is to force acolytes to learn and live Razmir at all times, inundating them with teachings and writings, as well as putting down other gods and services. Evlar laps it all up and is soon as zealous as many of the other similarly ranked followers.
One day, things take a turn for the odd when Krant leads you out for training, but hands you each a sap.
He then tells you that you must fight one another, and that the last man standing will be excused from transcription duties for the night and win a bottle of fine Chelish wine from his own private stash (worth 50 gp). You can use any tool at your disposal, and to make things interesting, Krant tosses a heavy flail into the center of the courtyard before sending each of you (and Evlar) to a separate corner or wall to start.
Blossym high-tails it out of the room in fright before realizing there is nothing to fear but fear itself.
The bats move in as one, swarming around Kuran, Darren, and Nijena! Kuran tries swiping at them, but his blade passes harmlessly through the flapping masses!
Swarm damage:1d6 ⇒ 1and bleed 1 at start of your turn. Also, Fort save or be nauseated for a round
Blossym comes back and takes in the scene. "Great! A swarm, too?! Who's got the alchemist fire? Do we have any?"
The man, calling himself Roldare, wearily relents and lays his crossbow down.
He relays to you that he, among others, were sent ahead of you to set traps for you to overcome. Pillows in pits, padding on statues' swords, leaving carepackages for you to find, that sort of thing. But it seemed like someone else had been here first! Corpses of robbers and bandits rose up against them, and a bigger, much older fiend of the undead attacked them. He was only just able to escape, but not before seeing his sister, Dimira, being dragged off further into the crypt!
Seeing the man is not good for much more information, you head further into the crypt back to the door you last visited down there.
Opening the door with one of your found keys, you see a long passage with a reflecting pool running down its center. The water looks cloudy and stagnant. What must have once been marvelous murals covering both walls are now scorched and ruined, the original subject lost in the destruction.
As you enter the room, you see something strange in the water's surface. Your reflection seems to turn to you, then your companions. In a grizzly show, you can see your own reflection moving to maim, murder, and other unmentionable things to your teammates before turning to you!
Thankfully, the illusion is just that, and you are unphased by this.
Except for Blossym. The wee sneak screams from terror at the vision before her and books it out of the room as fast as her legs will carry her.
Her shrieks, sadly, bring in some new dangers. Through the gated portcullis at the far end of the room, a massive amount of bats can be heard.
No words strike greater fear into the heart of a Pathfinder!
*evil laugh!!* And apparently I am running a scenario next month at the FLGS where the gear is taken as well.
After 24 hours, the black-clad priest comes to you, along with a group of priests to release you from the cells. "The time has come to swear you in as members of the faith. Follow me."
He escorts you to a room leading to a large auditorium, where many temple members wait for you, sitting on the pews. Your guide enters, but tells you to wait until called for. He then enters the room and shuts the door. After a few minutes, the priests summon you, along with Evlar, to enter the room.
A large crowd of masked priests waits in the temple. While white robes shroud most of them, some wear gray, and a few wear black. In the center of the chamber rises a gigantic staircase, atop of which glitters a porcelain and gold mask, the holy symbol of Razmir. On the eighth step of the stairs stands a black-robed priest, who says gravely, “Come forward.”
When you reach the bottom of the stairs, the priest asks you one at a time to stand upon the first step, but no higher than that. Here other priests hand you iron masks and white robes—required attire whenever you are on the first floor or outside the temple. After you accept his mask, the entire congregation chants, “All hail Razmir” until the next recruit steps upon the first stair. Once all of you don the masks to signify your acceptance into the temple, the black-clad priest welcomes you to the faith and declares that Krant will tutor you in the ways of the Living God. You are overjoyed to see the larger man from the Ranger's Lament is the one named Krant.
Once you prove yourselves worthy and capable, you will become free members, able to do what you please and given all of your possessions back. Until that time, you must follow Krant’s teaching to the letter.
With that, the ceremony comes to a close and the other cultists file out of the room. Krant waits for everyone to leave before explaining all of the rules that an acolyte must follow (see below). After this, Krant takes you out into the yard for a series of exercises, drills, and other relatively boring manual labor. He explains that the ordinary routine will start tomorrow, and allows you to eat with the others, after which they are shown where to sleep.
Acolytes' Rules:
• Razmir is the god above all other gods. Those who would claim otherwise are jealous of His glory and spread lies in an attempt to tarnish his mask.
• Those who follow the steps of the Living God will be rewarded with glory and riches. Those who turn from His path shall have neither.
• Razmiran, the realm of the Living God on this world, is sacred ground, and it is the duty of every believer to protect and enrich this sacred place. Every temple to Razmir is an extension of this sacred realm.
• Those who have ascended the steps speak with the authority of the Living God. Failing to obey them is akin to disobeying the will of Razmir Himself.
• Tithing to the faith is a holy responsibility. The faith of Razmir must have the resources to fight against His enemies, who use their vast sums of ill-gotten wealth to spread lies and deceit.
• Those who do not believe must be converted to the faith of Razmir by showing them the glory and wealth that awaits them in His service. Those who refuse are corrupted by the unfaithful and should be denied such luxuries.
• Only those who believe in the Living God deserve a life of plenty and pleasure. Others must suffer and toil until they see the light of Razmir.
• The mask of the Living God is a divine vessel. Behind its protective embrace, His followers can speak the will of Razmir without fear of rebuke. His followers must wear the mask whenever they deal with nonbelievers, so that they might come to fear His image.
• The followers of Razmir act as one. Through anonymity comes solidarity, with each part working together to further His glory.
You wake up the next morning separated into cells. You have been stripped of your gear and left here. You do, however, seem perfectly fine and healthy.
In the morning, you can hear footsteps. The masked, black-robed priest paces down the narrow stone hallway, looking in each of the cells. “I must apologize for the way that you were brought here,” he begins with a calm, even tone. "Though you cannot say some of you did not deserve it. Now, however, we must be sure that you are pure and properly prepared to join the faith. Today you shall fast and meditate on the glory of Razmir. On the morrow you shall be sworn in and given your masks, made one with the body of Razmir; one piece of the greater whole. You shall become acolytes, and be allowed upon the first step of enlightenment. Rejoice! The path of glory and fortune shall be open to you.”
He leaves you once again, and it is some six hours before you see anyone else. A grey-robed herald, complete with mask, comes by and sets a bowl of water in each cell.
Ferabras' sword slash cuts the big cultist briefly. The man removes his mask and simply laughs at Ferabras!
Grahnd tries to put down the acolyte between he and the tiefling as he looks at what's going on.
Tetsubo:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 for 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
He knocks the man's head and he crumbles to the ground.
Orange on Grahnd:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 HIT
Confirm on Grahnd:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 No
Red on Ferabras:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 HIT
The acolytes continue, encouraged by two blows delivered to the rebelling recruits!
Blue on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 2 = 8 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 MISS
Green on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 = 23 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 HIT
As Ferabras falls to his wounds, the acolytes stay their blades.
Lime on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 = 26 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 HIT
Confirm on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 = 11 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 No
Pink on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 2 = 27 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 HIT
Confirm on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 YES
Purple on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 MISS
But the big man looks sad, but moves over Grahnd and swings his club down on the dwarf! He seems to be lost in a rage of bloodlust!
Stuff happens at the end of this round, so if you still feel like doing that, just roll out 4 turns or something and I'll do the same and compare the two.
Grahnd tries again to pound on the priest, drawing his tetsubo with this taking a turn for the lethal.
Tetsubo:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 for 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 MISS
Green on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 MISS
Blue on Grahnd:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 MISS
Orange on Grahnd:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 HIT
Red on Ferabras:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 MISS
As the current priests wrap up their fanning of the air (with a slight thud on Grahnd), more cultists walk through the southern door! They file out to surround Ferabras before trying to pummel him!
Their movement provokes AoO's for two of them if you so desire.
Green on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 2 = 8 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 MISS
Pink on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 = 22 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 HIT
Purple on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 MISS
Yellow on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 = 14 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 MISS
Big guy greatclub on Ferabras:1d20 + 13 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 - 2 + 2 = 18 for 1d10 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 6 = 15 MISS?!
Grahnd (18/22) and Ferabras (18/28, 8 pts non-lethal) up!
With heaving convulsions, the man in front of Ferabras collapses in a rather lifeless form.
Grahnd rears back and punches the priest in the throat. But he's a little too short to reach and falls short.
Wooden fist, NL:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
The priests and acolytes look at their fallen friend and look quickly back at the man still on the podium. "It would seem a harsher lesson is in order for you two." Raising his hands, he claps loudly once.
The priests and acolytes drop their saps and draw rapiers and shortswords respectively.
Blue on Grahnd:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 MISS
Green on Ferabras:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 MISS
Orange on Grahnd:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 MISS
Red on Ferabras:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 HIT
Confirm on Ferabras:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 for 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Not Confirmed
As the party drops like flies, the black-clad leader says from his stage, "Your fellows know well to prostrate themselves for the Living God. It is a shame you do not. Oh well. Let your training begin now." With a smooth wave of his hand, he signals his priesthood to gather and bear saps. Despite the uniform masks covering their faces, it is clear at least one is looking forward to this lesson.
