Hekau's page

"I concur with your conclusion, Zelvin. I do not believe we can evade this creature given its speed and senses."

Think we need to take it down.

You might try PM'ing the player and/or instituting a botting rule.

Such as if the party is in combat and it has been your turn for 24 or 48 hours, you will be botted to delay.

And, out of combat, the "rule of two" works great for exploration. If 2 PCs agree on a course of action and there are no objections, that is where the party goes.

Those are just my suggestions. There are many other options you can employ.

Hekau sees the strange creature and accesses his memory banks.

Knowledge (Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Senses and movement, please.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Assuming combat has paused and he can talk a bit more...

"The robot is merely a tool. It has a purpose and as such should be relatively predictable. In this case, its purpose is repairing damage to this structure. I do not believe that its primary purpose involves repelling invaders. Should we cause no further damage to the structure, we may be able to pass undisturbed.
The robot refers to this structure as 'the starship Divinity', as Zelvin noted. This reference warrants further investigation. I have only speculation at this point.
If you wish, Grezzak, you all can fall back. I can attempt to pass by it, exposing my back to it in doing so. We can thereby test your hypothesis that it will attack as soon as I turn my back. Hekau is rather literal.
It is, after all, my hypothesis that it will not harm us. It would be improper for any of you to suffer if I am in error.
Alyn, may I request that you holster your weapon? I wish to help free you from the net without alarming the robot."

Normally a net can be escaped with a DC 20 Escape Artist check or broken. Is that the case here?
If Alyn holsters her firearm, Hekau attempts to help free her.

Escape Artist DC 10 to Aid Another: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

As a round is only six seconds, I'm going to assume that Hekau won't have time to respond before something happens. Was probably already pushing plausibility with my original comment...

Hekau uses Total Defense as his action.

Hekau addresses the group. "I believe if you stand down it will not attack.
We initiated hostilities unnecessarily.
It will likely seek to restrain Zelvin after that shot, however."

Hekau will try speaking to the robot.

Headache: 1d100 ⇒ 58

Fort DC 11, Constructed: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 4 = 19 I think we did established that Constructed applies here for a +4? Not needed anyway.

Knowledge (Engineering): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Hekau has his crossbow in hand, loaded.

Hekau finds the whole clan ceremony intellectually curious, but is otherwise unmoved by it and feels no different the next day.
He receives no benefit from Morale bonuses and so the Flag will not affect him.

"I am ready to proceed."

Hekau leaves the gambling hall to go back to the Foundry.

Do Androids need to sleep? I have seen conflicting material here from Paizo. As Hekau is 'not subject to fatigue or exhaustion' - beyond just being immune to spells that cause those conditions - I might expect that he does not need rest per se, but might still have some regular internal maintenance routines that take a similar amount of time. Your call.

He goes to his quarters and begins running equations in his head, calculating the motions and incantations that will unlock the next more powerful set of spells that he will master.

Hekau decides to try some gambling. Even though he knows logically that he is unlikely to come out ahead financially, he also knows that if the Thieves' Guild is running this establishment, they will be more favorably inclined to 'customers' who lose money here. Casinos like their high rollers who lose money.

So, for the sake of maintaining good relations with one of the power bases in the town of Torch, he gambles. And he does so badly.

Hekau is lacking in interpersonal skills, but makes his best attempt to seem like he is genuinely trying to win.
Bluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

The Bluff isn't crucial - if they think him intentionally throwing his money away rather than inadvertently throwing his money away, they would probably still like for him to remain around.

He keeps playing the "slot machine" until he has lost all of his share of the credit, and then another 20 gp besides.

"I thank you for entertaining pastime. Perhaps when I have some downtime, I can attempt to construct that Alkenstari invention. Should you have schematics or diagram, that endeavor would be more likely to succeed."

Realized I forgot to reply to Zelvin earlier.
"Zelvin, Kevoth-Kul is the Black Sovereign, the ruler of Numeria."

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Is it one check for both spoilers? Will proceed as if I know the first for now, and you can tell me if I should open the second or roll again.

"Many residents of Torch owe money to Garmen Ulreth. This suggests that his gambling establishment is very successful at attracting business, and that the residents of Torch habitually over-estimate the probability of their success at gambling.
It is also probable that Garmen Ulreth is the leader of the Ropefists. Influence over such a group would be necessary to operate the card room, in my estimation."
There is no judgement or disapproval in Hekau's tone.

"We completed our initial excursion successfully, Master Kyte. We have not yet located Khonnir Baine, but to our knowledge he still lives.
We eliminated numerous threats, and negotiated passage with others, which should make the early stages of our next excursion proceed more rapidly."

Hekau is not very interested in gambling himself, but he will accompany the party if others wish to go.

@GM, Hekau would have an 18 on Knowledge (Local) with Take 10. Is that enough to know the name of the ruler of the land that he lives in? Kevoth-Kul is the Black Sovereign but I am not sure how widespread that knowledge is.

Yes, Hekau is willing to scribe scrolls for Zelvin, and also to trade spellbook spells.

I would suggest first divvying up all of the loot and then asking everyone how much they wish to contribute to a wand.

I can contribute my entire share of 362 gp, and can thereby cover those who cannot be so generous, but I do not wish to make a wand contribution obligatory on anyone - which is what a pre-split deduction does.

That being said, if everyone else wants to have mandatory (rather than voluntary) contributions to a CLW fund then I will go along with it.

A wand of CLW would require a huge chunk of our wealth right now, and if someone else thinks they need that coin for a MW weapon or something, then I would be willing to cover their share. I can contribute up to 300 GP for such a wand right now if there is a desire to acquire such a thing.

Looks like Alyn took the MW Thieves' Tools?
Otherwise good to sell everything you noted.

Thanks, Zelvin! I will put my info in there.

Hekau's level-up:
+1 BAB
+1 Will
+1d6 ⇒ 1 3 HP (and +2 Con and +1 FCB, so new total 15)
Spell Study 1/day
+2 spells known: Feather Fall, Liberating Command
+1 cantrip prepared
+1 1st-level spell prepared
+6 skills (Knowledge-Dungeoneering, Knowledge-Planes, Knowledge-Religion, Knowledge-Local, Knowledge-Nature, Linguistics-Undercommon)

"I thank you for bequeathing to us these items that are useless to you," Hekau responds with a fair imitation of politeness.

Diplomacy for RP: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

He turns to the others.
"I can proceed if you wish. I have only minor injuries, which should heal rapidly. As well, my magical resources are not depleted at all."

4 NL damage, but full up with spells.

IC I don't have any real reason to fall back, but OOC it makes sense for the reason you mention.

And Zelvin's cartridges are at least an IC reason that Hekau can understand. If someone puts out an IC reason the Gameplay thread then Hekau will agree to it.

Creatures with a reach of 0 feet can’t flank an opponent.

Here.

"I will hold it pinned while one of you run my cold iron dagger through its brain. This seems likelier to succeed than trying to strike them in motion."

Pinned is not helpless, so cannot CdG, but it is denied Dex and Dodge bonuses. Could tie it up and then CdG.

Hekau will Pin the gremlin that he is grappling.

Grapple to Maintain and Pin: 1d20 + 3 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 3 + 5 = 22

"I have found this approach effective," the android states.

When the wizard succeeds at a combat maneuver on a 2 on the die...

I don't think that Yellow hit Alyn - it only hit AC 13, and Alyn is AC 18.

Hekau attempts to Grapple one of the gremlins in Penka's space.

Grapple vs Purple: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"I believe we will find it easier to grapple them than to strike them."

Actually... that might hit, given that it is Blinded. No Dex to CMD, and an additional -2 to AC (which applies to CMD). I haven't even applied Flanking as I am unsure if it applies here.

Hekau will try a Dirty Trick to blind a gremlin (Purple), kicking sand in its face.
Tiny creatures often have poor CMD, and since they don't have any reach they can't take an AOO on Hekau for attempting it.

Dirty Trick vs CMD: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Hopefully that makes it easier for the others to hit.

I took my turn already.

Hekau stows his crossbow and draws his dagger, which happens to be Cold Iron.

Hekau stows his crossbow and draws his dagger, which happens to be Cold Iron.

Hekau follows along, in the middle of the group.

Hekau takes his crossbow in hand, making sure it is loaded.

"I am ready to proceed."

Hekau is not particularly fragile as wizards go (Str 14, Dex 16, Con 14) but he is still a wizard so is content to be in the middle. Your marching order looks good to me.

"This agreement sounds mutually beneficial. I support this course of action."

"This does have the appearance of a trap, Zelvin, but why spring it now in an open cavern where we can bring our numbers to bear? The skulks have surrendered their advantage by leaving the narrow corridor.
I am relatively certain we could kill them now if we suspected them.
Perhaps they are not very intelligent.
Or perhaps they are sincere."

Hekau will go with Zelvin if needed, to offer his unique charm.

Hekau nods. "Yes, let us go to speak with Sef."

Zelvin is good at Diplomacy and Hekau would normally defer to him. But I thought perhaps I had been too lax in posting so I chimed in.

Hekau is not intimidated in the slightest. While he intellectually realizes the slight possibility of his destruction, he does not feel fear, and so confidently asserts his analysis of the situation.

"Tactically, I would advise you that the mere fact of having us surrounded does not guarantee victory, given our numerical advantage. I would advise against instigating violence.
I would suggest that you explain your problem. We have traveled here in search of a human who may have passed by here several days ago.
If you can provide information on surface-dwellers who have passed this way, then I would attempt to assist you with resolving your problem."

"I will follow her," says Hekau.

Hekau does not yet have Knowledge (Local), and he's not going to take the time to sift through the technological debris at this time - not until he determines whether or not the humanoid represents a threat.

The android awaits the humanoid's response to Zelvin. He unloads and stows his crossbow.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Hekau is alert, but not as quiet as Zelvin.

"We can bring their remains back to Torch for a proper burial on our way out. As Khonnir Baine does not appear to be among the victims, I suggest we move deeper into the caverns."

Hekau will proceed with his crossbow out, although not in the front of the party.

"Zelvin, do you know what these creatures are? If they are a prior expedition, what transformed them? Is there perhaps a patch of stationary mold that could have turned humanoids into ambulatory slime-mold creatures?
Are their remains safe to touch and examine?"

Zelvin got a very good Dungeoneering to ID them. Hekau does not have that skill trained yet.

Hekau will move and ready to shoot any enemy that presents itself.

Don't expect this to come into play given the shape of the space, but Grezzag is rolling well and we may be done here soon.

As it does not seem like there is any space for Hekau to move up, he will remain where he is.

Total Defense.

Hekau does not wish to be a leader. It is not in character for him. But I don't think the party needs one.

And if there were to be one, Khoran would be my absolute last choice. His age, his class (as you see shaman implying leadership, which I don't), and his Flagbearer feat (or specifically, that it is the flag of his clan, so anyone who accepts the benefit thereby declares their allegiance to his clan) all seem like power plays to establish himself as leader. So he is the one PC that I absolutely will not follow.

I'll just do my own thing. Don't try to "organize" or "lead" me. If everyone else wants to take orders from you, I suppose that is their right.

Hekau will follow along, with his crossbow loaded and in hand.

I have to say that OOC I am not thrilled with Khoran taking charge and giving tactical orders to the party.

Hekau is very unlikely to object IC but I as a player do not wish this to be a pattern.

Hekau follows, listening for sounds either down the stream or down the passageway where Grezzag is.
Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

"I too heard the voice, but I did not recognize the language. It is fortunate that you did, Zelvin."

Hekau will draw and load his crossbow.

@GM - having GM'd a PbP campaign and played in many, I do understand the need for momentum. I do not see a need for an extensive RP back in Torch. Fortunately, Hekau is not a sentimental sort and will quickly get back to the task at hand.

Hekau returns the body back to Torch. Fort #1, Constructed: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 4 = 18

He listens politely as the townsfolk tell him of Parda Garr.
"Please see that she receives a decent burial. Should we be able to determine who killed her, we will return with that information."

He then turns about, heads back to the lake, and swims back through the underwater passage.
Fort #2, Constructed: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 4 = 16

Emerging no worse for the wear, he rejoins his companions and shares the basics of what he has learned.

"The half-orc was Parda Garr, a brawler. She was well-liked in town."

The android cocks his head and listens. Tilting his head has no particular impact on his ability to hear; it is a human affection that he has picked up through mimicry.

Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

"Grezzag, please help by lowering the body down to me. I will take it back to Torch while we wait for Zelvin and Penka recover from the blindness."