Search Posts
Hi all, Sorry I haven't posted for awhile. As I may have mentioned, I have been having some back problems that have cut into my sleep and general well-being. So, I am probably going to have to take a break from the game for the time being. I'm sorry that it is in the middle of the scenario. :( Thanks for the great games, Matt
"As the discovery of the greater part of these secret doors, I believe that I would be the most qualified among this group group towards finding additional secret doors, at least of the same make and manner, and, most probably, secret doors of other designs."
"Hmm. In any event, we have several good reasons to suspect that this statue has concealed behind a secret door of some sort, and may wish to proceed accordingly, despite the lack of an immediately-apparent secret door (to use an oxymoron). Perhaps, this time, there could be the use of a system of ropes, instead of post hoc system of curative magics."
I would say we just continue, then. Although it is sometimes seen as anti-climactic after the BBEG is dealt with 'early' (always a potential problem with scenarios where you aren't forced always in one direction), I don't really see it as any less fun or challenging now than it would have been then. And, even if death couldn't come anywhere with an unlucky critical hit, knowing a potentially TPK is out there still maintains the sense of danger and expectancy. Also, with this mission and being a Pathfinder (and the whole 'Explore' thing), it does make sense to be thorough. I am a bit of an OCD completionist, though, so opinions may differ.
OK, total mischievous metagaming here, but we haven't (it seems) encountered the mentioned TPK potential encounter. Now, if the results were already reported and we were just playing the rest 'for fun', then maybe we wouldn't all die in PFS when/if we encounter that encounter... ;-) Hey, I can't help it! I'm always thinking. :D
The page for the event is here. The possible boons were in an email to GMs; I'm not sure if they are anywhere else. Unfortunately, you only win something of your choice on a natural 20, and something random on a natural 1, so you didn't win anything.
I hadn't noticed the GM boon when I went through it the first time. I'm not really that interested in Oreads, just like I wasn't very interested in Ifrits last time. Oh well!
First, I'll just say that I will be happy with whatever the group decides. The boons, in my opinion, were pretty minor, and the chances of getting one were small, except that the GM gets one - of what type, I am not sure. It might be legit to roll for boons and see if anyone got any that were worth reporting for.
"As I feared, it is a resource limited in some fashion. If we are fortunate, it is limited along the line of 'only once per person per day', or something similar. Someone who has not touched the statue and so received the blessing during the previous period should now touch the statue, using the temporary aid from it to withstand the probable electrical barrage coming from the runelord statue or statues touched and moved, although even then we will have to determine a way to move seven statues with the aid of only a few benefits of Pharasma's aid. Unless, of course, we can determine some way to disarm or bypass said statues and their deleterious deterrence; presumably there would also be some catch, password, or the like that would keep the Pharasmin priests and workers of old safe while they accessed the areas behind. I have also considered laying a rope around a statue and dragging, so gaining the protections of some distance and the electrical non-conductivity of silk."
"I do have a Wand of Disguise Self with five remaining charges, each lasting 10 minutes. I would be willing to exchange the use of such for all equipment belonging to yourself and all knowledge you have regarding the ossuary complex, along with a solemn promise that you will not trouble the Pharasmin's or the Society again, nor cause harm to any innocent persons. Additionally, I shall request a small lock of hair from each of you, such that our diviners may keep abreast of your doings and find you again, if such actions warrant. You may then leave the complex when we do, properly disguised as hapless victims or minor miscreants, and then you will quickly 'escape' our custody, from which you can find a new life (or unlife, as the case may be), perhaps only so far as a different district of this very city. That is, assuming that this plan is agreeable to my companions and to yourselves. The skeletons will have to 'remain behind', speaking euphemistically."
Perfect! Thanks. :) It was reminding me of when I was a kid and I knew I was supposed to be quiet, but it was a really long time for me to be quiet, so I'd eventually make some sort of cough or something just to break the silence.
"Diplomacy, bluffing, and similar nonsense, potentially leading to negotiations and the non-violent resolution of the inherent problems, at least to the maximally non-conflicting - Yes, I believe that the interests of everyone are likely to be best served if I remain silent during this period. Probably for the rest of this encounter, as it were. Mmm. Unfortunately, there appears to be developing an unwanted, nagging itch in my throat - probably the result of the decrepit air, not aided by motes of blasted skeletons and the vapors of necromantic reagents - and I believe that I will have to, quite involuntarily, clear it about now-" "Uhh-huhmm-cough!" "... Hmm. Unfortunately, although it was not meant to be productive of more that sputum, I harbor some anxiety that that sounded like a 'meaningful cough'. I shall now attempt to look away, casually and innocuously, so as to not draw further attention to the cough and any covert meaning in might be misinterpreted as to have held. Perhaps if I feign to show a particular interest in the texture and material accumulations on the floor and/or walls..."
"Hmm? Oh, yes, ... My mind has temporarily reallocated that space for other matters, but do not worry: it will come to the forefront of my consciousness at the appropriate time. See, while most everything I say is, ultimately, both informative and important, carefully judged so by myself, some matters are more important than others given the particular circumstances of the moment."
"I am fairly certain that name 'Esme' does not belong to a goddess or prominent extraplanar figure, at least one that I remember hearing or reading of, which should be fairly definitive, given the prodigious extent of my knowledge. (Additionally, he was protecting something, some creation he did not want destroyed, which would preclude something of such status being the primary recipient of the name, although one could certainly, name a mortal creation after an immortal entity.) The name is quite unfamiliar to me in any such context, although, I will admit, it has a certain vague, indescribably familiarity (well, except to the extent, logical and obviously, that I am able to describe it as such), and, to quote the common idiom, the name ..." Garedon trails off before finishing the thought. "Hmm. Interesting. I wonder why the gap would have existed previously, although the boards crossing the gap would be a practical necessity connecting the two regions currently, of course, and perhaps may serve a defensive function, allowing the boards to be pulled up or aside in the case of a threat, similar to the manner of operation of a drawbridge." "In any event, I believe we chose the incorrect direction initially and, if we want to solve the issue of 'Esme', we should return to the alchemical necromancer's room and head northward."
"That was a remarkably good performance destroying the skeletons, even given that they are the weakest of the undead species and mindless."
Garedon will cast Detect Magic and inspect the two alcoves, one of which he realizes connects to the other secret door most recently found.
"Now, we will have to be particularly careful, since this corridor may connect, directly or indirectly, to the area on the map indicated by the goblin snake, however untrustworthy the source, as places where we 'do not want to go there, filthy nasty place, very dangeroussss', which, given the state of hygiene and general disposition of a goblin snake, itself, it may be a particularly filthy, nasty place." He then leads ahead to the next set of stairs, stopping to listen carefully, and then goes down the stairs and peers around the corner.
"A feather token!" Garedon exclaims with unusual enthusiasm. "I have longer wondered why the famous wondrous items, the 'feather tokens', took the form of feathers, positing their origin to be from a feathered, magic-item enchanting race or entity, perhaps even celetial in origin. Now I wonder whether the origin, lost in time, has something to do with this Peacock Spirit, a deity who's nature and worship has also been lost to time, but one we find here in this place harkening back to a time of extreme magic powers!"
"As we have satisfied the connection of the southward passage to the original chamber, thus obviating the need to open one of the sealed doors, and so allowing the reallocation of one charge of the chime of opening, we may now proceed north again, either: 1) back to the central room of runelord statuary; 2) north from the alchemist's chamber; or 3) north along this new passageway." "I would think choice '2' would be most pressing, although choice '3' might allow a let expect route towards 'Esme', if 'Esme' should lie north, as is now expected as she or it did not lie south."
Garedon relates that 'the statue is an obsure deity known as the Peacock Spirit, a god of mind, body and soul whose worship ended with the Thasslionian empire'. Reading the inscription, he continues, "Obscure in multiple senses of the term. I shall have to think about this for some time. Presumably, 'the Three' are the three aspects of Pharasma, although tripartite deities are not unknown in other belief systems. Most probably, it inscription relates to the dead, 'the Sleepers', reawakening (or resume some form of sentient aspect) at the end times, the apocalypse when, if memory serves, even Pharasma and her boneyard are consumed." With Guidance summoned by his jade wayfinder, Garedon attempts to identify the feather.
Garedon sits puzzled for a few moments regarding the doors, trying desperately to forced them into so sane category. "Hmm... Something like... Hmmm... Very ... um, anatomical?" Garedon tries to identify the statue, consulting his Pathfinder Chronicles, and then casts Detect Magic, scanning the statue and then the room, before searching the statue and the room.
"Indeed, Tuich, you will, I entreat - and am hopeful and relatively certain based on the experiences I have had with your reactions and attitudes - that you will be so kindly disposed as to excuse me for not properly indicating the position and appearance of the mechanically-triggered device in question; as is well known - and generally uncontested, to my knowledge, which is itself considerable - I am not the kind of individual naturally inclined towards belaboring what should be obvious to the careful observer."
"It appears that there may be a trap or - to not prejudge the situation, despite the likeliness of such - other mechanism set to activate once this door is opened. Tuich, would you come and inspect this door?" Garedon then casts Guidance and Resistance on Tuich before standing back his customary considerable distance.
Garedon inspects the southern door and listens to it. "I continue to hold the southward progression of the party of particular importance, and, while leaving a secret entrance unexplored toward our rear may be unwise, in theory, we have, essentially, left many doors unexplored towards our rear every time we have chosen one direction over another, in practice, and, as such, it may make little difference, in fact, so that we may as well continue south, for now." Casting Guidance on himself, he then inspects the southern door, listens at it, and then gestures to the group's favored door opener, Vyk Tyr, casting Guidance and Resistance on him before he opens the door.
So far, we have been pretty good about not being "murder hobos", for better or worse, not killing the dark folk guy (?), the goblin snake, or Dr. Creepy himself, despite all of them likely being, at least technically, 'evil'. To be complementary to our august GM, I think the portrayal of the NPCs through behavior and dialogue has made them more complex, and so allowed other solutions. :) Garedon feels kinda sad, though, about killing Mr. Marrow, who seemed unusually sentient and restrained compared to the average zombie, and apparently was Dr. Creepy's 'friend'. (Garedon doesn't have a lot of friends either, and would be making constructs if PFS rules allowed.) So, I was wondering just how evil and/or unlawful making undead is (something I asked about in a spoiler that might have been missed). Certainly, the Pharasmin's have a very strong opinion on it, and the animate dead spells have evil descriptors and even mindless undead, like skeletons, have alignments like "NE". But, overall, I was wondering how bad Dr. Creepy's crimes really are in the Golarion canon. As OOC knowledge (I think from playing the two part City of Strangers PFS set), I remembered that Kaer Maga has an odd relationship with undead, with some of the city having undead more or less openly. If so, it might be possible to just relocate Dr. Creepy and his creations. Garedon might know about this, too, given some good Knowledge (Local) rolls.
"I would suggest a continuation of our previously-chosen southwardly progressive exploration, with the aforementioned intention of determining whether there is a connection between one or more of the southward corridors to one or more of the sealed doors of the original, entry chamber, thus allowing us to save usages of the chime of opening, a scarce and irreplaceable resource," Garedon offers with some uncharacteristic hesitancy. "We will need to find a more secure location wherein to leave the necromantic alchemist, however, since there are two additional corridors leading away from this insignificant outpocket of a chamber" - Garedon pauses for another petulant sigh - "and, presumably, the entity known as 'Esme' is likely within the distance from which the necromantic alchemist's exclamations could be heard and so, if we should pursue one, incorrect path, then the Esme-entity (or some other servant or creation) may come along from the other path, so finding and releasing the necromantic alchemist from his restraints." Garedon continues to gather up the volumes of forbidden lore, putting them in his backpack ... for safety. "Yes, for safety..."
Garedon gives what he hopes is a sufficiently-pointed, exasperated sigh, which, although arrived at by careful calculations and a focused performance, stills sounds more like a child's ball being forcibly deflated. "Perhaps not. I was indeed very interested in who or what 'Esme' is or was, but your reply was not forthcoming, however, and more information would better allow such to be determined. As the situation currently stands, we will continue to clear this level of the ossuary complex, and most certainly intend to destroy all undead and other threats that we may find." "Although the opinions of the Pharasmin authorities on the undead are quite clear and well-known, I shall consult my chapbooks and attempt to determine if there is some remedy that would not result in their destruction and your punishment for your crimes, if crimes they indeed be here, however much they are considered crimes against the natural world almost everywhere."
Turning and away from the others and burying himself in a book, Garedon finds himself pitying the fellow misfit. "Were it not for a history of good guidance and exceptionally good judgement on my part regarding what schools to focus on and which to abandon, I could very well have taken the same misguided path this pitiable individual has taken, lured on by my my keen intellect, the search for knowledge, and the promise of discoveries - however forbidden." Even so, he finds himself tempted by the volumes of lost and forbidden lore, and it is only the limitations of time and circumstance (and scrolls of Kreighton's Perusal) that keep him from doing so. GM: I'm sure the Pharasmin's would have his head, but I vaguely remember that Kaer Maga has an undead-friendly district, and so might be locally considered different.
Also, while those who raise undead are committing a technically "Evil" act, I don't have a good feel for whether this guy would be Hitler-level evil or just misguided. We wouldn't let a lich waltz out of here, but how much evil/harm has this guy really done?
"Hmm. It is true that the leadership are often fools and he does have a point about the efficient use of available resources..." Garedon pauses, briefly considering the myriad possibilities. "However, the last would-be necromancer we found was a corpse, killed when his own creations turned on him, creations which then tried to kill us. I would suggest an improved version of the spell commonly known as 'Unseen Servant': fewer religious complications, and essentially no hunger for brains that I am aware of." "As Vyk Tyr has called attention to and attempted to rectify the apparently-deliberate unmentioned state of your name, I would also so note that you appear to be deliberately not forthcoming in explaining the identity and nature of the person or entity with the name of 'Esme'. I would thus also strongly recommended that you ... 'so out with it' ... since we are likely to be much more sympathetic towards any matters of importance to you than would be the Pharasmin authorities."
"We are Pathfinders (i.e. individuals belonging to and acting under the auspices of the Pathfinder Society) working with the Pharasmin authorities to clear this level of the ossuary complex and to determine the cause or causes of missing corpses. The latter would seem to be something that you may have particular knowledge regarding." "Additionally, the reanimation of the dead (as opposed to resurrection, raising or reincarnation, or as I have formulated a mnemonic phrase, the "Three "R's" of Good Clerical Practice") is universally considered an evil act (invoking and powered by evil energies and forces), even in these days of moral relativism..." "More additionally, given the myriad types of evil undead choices already available to the average necromancer, the creation of a new type of zombie seems ... unnecessary. I would thus imagine that the aforementioned Pharasmin authorities will be most interested in your efforts and persistent in the inquiries." "Before pursuing such unpleasantries, however, I would care to hear your explanation of who you are and why you are doing this, to turn the questioning phrase back to yourself. Among topics you may wish to touch upon are the identity and nature of 'Esme' and whether you consider yourself an alchemist, a cleric, a wizard specializing in necromancy, a practitioner of another class, or some mixture of the previous..." At this point Garedon stops, feeling someone's elbow jab him in the ribs.
"At the risk of denying him the second best gift in life, would someone have the power to stabilize (preferably) or, possibly, simply heal the doctor?" Garedon tries his best, however.
"... Hmm. That may be sufficient to the task at hand... It seems that controlling the 'spurting' wounds is generally an important, first step towards stabilizing a dying individual." After he is stabilized, Garedon casts detect magic and scans the 'doctor' and the room. He then searches the prone form and helps secure him with ropes, and searches the room and inspects the papers afterwards.
Not sure how many of you have a free level 3 but I put Kawrock in for a Traitor's Lodge game here. So far it's Kawrock a level 3 summoner and a level 3 cleric/monk. One of many I'd have liked to join. Ironically, I actually have a just-turned level 4 cleric (Knorrin) that has been sitting idle since the Thornkeep near-TPK GMed by Lithrac. I would like to get him going again somehow since I may have found a group with which to try to finish Thornkeep but he'd need to be a level or two higher. I might try to get in a live game now and then, if the local PFS does scenarios for level 4 characters. (I finally figured out at least something regarding the local PFS scene: both contact emails were defunct, the Facebook page wasn't maintained, etc.) This is really subtle but back at the mirror rooms I actually flipped Vincents and Garedon's map tokens so they are mirror images of their avatars here on the boards. Yeah, I love the occasional 'real life' perception check, which I fail. In one case, I (accidentally) posted a map with a secret door showing on the overview but not on closeup views, but no one ever noticed it.
|
