Liam Prentiss's page

"Oh. Well done Teja, Zabu."

Liam moves to start examining the warshard, to determine how to safely transport it. "I've never actually seen one of these." He tries not to look embarrassed about how little he accomplished in that fight, focusing on the task at hand.

Liam watches Teja work, a little embarrassed by how much more effective she's being at that.

But it seems Manny's earlier advice was incorrect, so the giant ooze probably isn't immune to fire. Probably. At least, he has no particular reason to think it is or isn't.
So it's time to smash something. That's generally less intellectually impressive, but, well, not how he does it. The first step is to get his armor and other combat gadgets working in concert, and then that will make the smashing more impressive. ...when he gets to that part.

Unfortunately he has to pause to pick up his fallen weapon, too.

◆ Interact to pick up weapon
◆ Raise Shield
◆ Overdrive Crafting: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 31 Success

Right, my name was only mentioned because I took damage. Doi.
And I can plainly see that Teja critically succeeded.
Maybe I should try to post less in the middle of the night.

"That is becoming... most irksome." Electricity is one thing he isn't protected against. Foolish!

Wincing, Liam sees that the others seem to be doing better than he is (except Zabu, but he can't approach without tending to himself first). He hasn't really accomplished anything in this battle save for drawing fire, which is a little embarrassing but taking hits isn't nothing either.

With his armor out of commission, his only healing option is alchemy. Which is troublesome as his hands are full. He lets his custom weapon fall to free up a hand, quickly mixing and consuming a concoction with a foul taste that at least does the job.

◇ Release weapon
◆ Raise Shield
◆ Quick Alchemy to create a moderate elixir of life
◆ Use elixir of life Healing: 5d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 6, 4) + 12 = 27

"I'm pretty sure that one is already dead, Zabu." Liam focuses on the ooze in front of him, trying to work with Teja.

...she did it better.

He does manage to keep his shield up this time, at least.

◆◆ Disable Red Occultism: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
◆ Raise Shield

Liam moves up, studying one of the smaller oozes. He doesn't know if it's really any more efficient than just smashing them, but he does know a little about magic, after all. He tries to unravel the magic holding it together.

"Hmph. Simpler may be better."

◆ Stride
◆◆ Disable Red Arcana/Occultism: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

"Fire healing it is a problem, but I can do some electricity."

Liam moves forward. But... the little one just discharged electricity. Is zapping it going to be bad? Well, one way to find out.

◆ Stride
◆◆ Unstable Megavolt, hits Red and Oozeshard. DC 27 basic Reflex against electricity damage: 4d12 ⇒ (11, 9, 6, 11) = 37
Stable?: 1d20 ⇒ 7 Hero Point: 1d20 ⇒ 5 Oof. Liam's fire resistance means the critical failure isn't actually any worse than a failure, but still.

"Hm. Have you considered..."

Scouting Lore (Aid the next attempt): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Guess I should have gone for it. Untrained so the crit gives +2 to the next attempt someone tries.

Liam pries his weapon free. He offers to lend one the injured pathfinders his healing aeon stone while he patches his armor.

With that done, he's ready to help treat people faster... and patch his armor again, as needed.

As the party looks for the best path, Liam says, "Well, I can try." He doesn't sound terribly confident.

Liam isn't proficient in either skill, but he has Untrained Improvisation so his untrained Scouting Lore isn't bad. He'd prefer to Aid someone else, though.

Liam starts a new project: Greater healer's gloves.

He spends one day setting up thanks to his Crafter's Workshop boon, along with 350 gp. Crafting: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40
Nice. As a level 9 Master, that crit earns a value of 6 gp per day. 6 gp x 7 days = 42 gp.
392/700 towards greater healer's gloves.

Liam fires another bolt into the ooze, then snaps his mace at it. Even if the weapon isn't effective, at least the fire might work.

◆◆ Megavolt DC 27 basic Reflex against electricity damage: 4d4 + 1 ⇒ (2, 3, 4, 4) + 1 = 14
◆ Strike 1 Striking Astral Cold Iron Flickmace: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31 for bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 1) + 6 + 1 = 11, spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1, and fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
And then I make an Athletics: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23 check automatically, or is that a separate action?

Karando is looking pretty rough, and while Liam isn't the best in-combat healer, his weapon isn't very effective here anyway.
"Alchemical healing is a little awkward with my hands full," he says, "but rest assured I will revive you if it comes to that."

Maybe it won't, though. Liam unleashes another lightning bolt. With only one foe to target, and with his armor out of commission, it's rather unimpressive compared to the first one.

◆ Stride
◆◆ Megavolt. DC 27 basic Reflex against electricity damage: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 1) = 9

"Hm. Unfortunate." Liam looks down at his weapon as Teja gives her analysis. At least fire seemed like it was working?

But perhaps better to try something else. He moves around to the edge, though closer to one of these things then he'd like, and unleashes a lightning bolt from his breastplate.

There's a crack like thunder, too, but that part wasn't supposed to happen and is followed by smoke.

◆ Stride. Triggers RS from Red if applicable.
◆◆ Unstable Megavolt. Red, Blue, and Yellow can make DC 27 basic Reflex saves against electricity damage: 4d12 ⇒ (12, 3, 9, 1) = 25; Stable?: 1d20 ⇒ 4 Critical Failure deals Liam 4 fire damage, but his resistance blocks it entirely

Liam doesn't see the attack coming, but he has good reflexes and pushes the knife away with his shield.
↺ Shield Block

"Y'know, I almost feel bad about this," Liam says as he looks at the single, surrounded foe, "Thank you for making it easier."

◆ Raise Shield
◆ Strike (flanking) Flickmace: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 18 + 1 = 33 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 18, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 1, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
◆ Strike (flanking) Flickmace: 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 18 + 1 - 5 = 22 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6, 1) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 18, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Will: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Liam has completely lost track of the invisible foe. He may not even remember there is one.

But that's fine. There's still an enemy directly in front of him, so he focuses on that one.

◆ Raise Shield
◆ Strike Red Flickmace: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 6) + 6 + 4 = 17, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3; total of 26
◆ Strike Red Flicmace: 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 18 - 5 = 18 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 4) + 6 + 4 = 16, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Will: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Liam focuses on the enemy still between himself and Teja.

"Why aren't you moving? A little overconfident, are we?

"Oh no, nevermind, I guess you're exactly the right amount of confident."

◆ Raise Shield
◆ Strike Red Flickmace (flanking): 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 1 = 24 for bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6, 6) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 23, fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
◆ Strike Red Flickmace (flanking): 1d20 + 18 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 18 + 1 - 5 = 15 for bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 19, fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Will: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

With a pillar in his way, Liam really needs to move. And since he has to move anyway, he sees a perfect position that would help Teja. But it would also put himself at a big defensive disadvantage. Well, maybe between the two of them they can handle this guy before it matters.

Keeping his guard up, he circles around, attempting to hit while his foe is distracted by Teja.

◆ Raise Shield
◆ Stride
◆ Strike Red Flickmace: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 18 + 1 = 22 for bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3) + 6 + 4 + 1 = 15, fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Liam reaches towards Teja, the vambrace on his arm starting to glow red-hot. "This'll sting," he warns her as he touches it to her wound. It cauterizes, but also releases a puff of steam infused with medicinal herbs.

It's less effective then he'd hoped, but he's also surprised that everything seems to be holding together even though intentionally heating his armor to use this tool pushes it pretty hard.
So he does it again. This time there's a loud BANG and the chamber bursts open. He'll have to patch that later.

Returning his attention to the enemies, he snaps his flickmace towards the closest foe--but with that pillar in the way...

◆ Searing Restoration on Teja Healing: 5d10 ⇒ (1, 1, 7, 2, 10) = 21 Stable?: 1d20 ⇒ 17
◆ Searing Restoration on Teja Healing: 5d10 ⇒ (4, 5, 5, 1, 8) = 23 Stable?: 1d20 ⇒ 12 Dang, that's barely better. Well, total of 44.
◆ Strike Red, though it definitely has cover from that pillar Flickmace: 1d20 + 18 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 18 + 1 = 28 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 + 4 = 16, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6. Total of 24.

Liam has to watch for an opening to attack past Teja without hitting her, but the weapon master is also distracted by Pathfinders on all sides. It still seems to be an advantageous position over all.

So he attacks, though he decides not to push his armor just yet. He might still need it.

◆ Raise Shield
◆ Strike Blue (cover but flanked, so net gain) flickmace: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 + 4 = 15, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 5, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
◆ Strike Blue flickmace: 1d20 + 18 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 18 - 5 = 23 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 + 4 = 16, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Reflex: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23 Failure. 19 damage - 6 resist = 13 damage

Liam isn't quick enough to avoid the fireball, but his armor is well-insulated against heat. Mostly because it was easier to do that then to solve the overheating problem.

Liam shifts to his left so there isn't a pillar between him and his target (and to protect Manny, why not?).

Having a few moments warning was nice. Since he's already got his armor in gear, he can keep his defenses up (important with all these spells being slung around) while also striking at the enemy who foolishly approached them.

◆ Raise Shield
◆ Step
◆ Strike Blue +1 Striking Astral Cold Iron Flickmace: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33 for bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 6 + 4 = 16, fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Fortitude: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33 Success, 8 damage

I didn't count the first one, because I attempted something someone else had already attempted, and then you told us only one PC could attempt each thing.

"Technically true," Liam agrees, readying his shield and kicking his armor into gear, "But their leader appears to be some kind of devil priest so... can't say I'm too concerned about her well-being."

Assuming we have a few moments to get ready here, Liam will ready his shield, draw his flickmace, and attempt to enter Overdrive: Crafting: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34 Success.

Liam examines the alchemical inks. "I recently took up alchemy, you know. I don't know how to make this, but I think I do recognize it."
Find the Hidden Ink:
Crafting: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
Hero Point: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

"Ah, ritual magic. I did read about that a little..."
Completing the Formulas:
Occultism to Aid: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (14) + 15 = 29 Only trained, so +2

Arcana/Occultism/Society at +15 is Liam's best modifier for most of these.

Liam is a little doubtful about being able to tame the oozes, but offers some advice from what he knows about the strange creatures.

Aid (Occultism): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23 Ah, only a success. +1 to whoever wants to try it.

Also easier with a mace, probably.

Liam tries to press some of the oozes together. Using a reach weapon to direct them away from himself at a safe distance helps.

Let us Herd the Oozes. Athletics: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24
Hero Point: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30

Thank you, dice bot, for not embarrassing me.

Liam rolls his eyes and shakes his head in disappointment at the showy display. "See, this completely undermines the purpose of this 'test.' If anyone can't deal with these, they die. What's the point of avoiding sending them on the mission if you kill them anyway. Besides, the poor craftsmanship on display here is just embarrassing."

Swinging Guillotines: Athletics +20
Acid-Spewing Nozzles: Crafting +20
Grinding Columns: Athletics/Crafting +20
Spinning Blades: Thievery +13
Pit Traps: Athletics/Crafting +20
This is a very Inventor-friendly challenge.

After examining the assorting hazards, Liam nods and points at the spinning blades. "I could shut it down, but the problem is that the blades are in the way... It would be best if someone nimbler were to try, though I can assist. The rest I can handle."

He sets to work on the acid nozzles, while offering suggestions for disabling the spinning blades for someone else (he looks expectantly at Teja) brave enough to try reaching past them.

Crafting: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40

"Oh for--look at this, you can just pinch them shut. They'll probably burst later if I don't shut them off properly, but we'll be long gone by then. This is appalling. Lethal but no challenge at all if you know what you're doing. It's the opposite of how this should work! I'm filing a formal complaint."
Thievery (Aid): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 +1 if a you'll count a bonus to Disable a Device on a check to Aid Disabling a Device.

Liam faces his own doppelganger, and looks over his equipment with a look of pitying disappointment. "Shoddy. And I assume it doesn't function at all? Not difficult to prove who's who, hm?"

Athletics and Crafting, both at +20.

I suppose I should do "He'll do it..." then.

"Sounds like a warshard... I was following his logic about testing people before sending them out to make sure they can handle it, until he said the tests may themselves be lethal. What's the point, then? Well, I'm sure we'll pass, we've handled worse. But it does kind of defeat the purported purpose."

Liam is well-equipped to threaten a room full of innocents, but he isn't about to do that. Instead he attempts to improve on Makai's method. "Try more like this," he says, before falling over.
Athletics: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23
Hero Point: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23

Liam is a human in rather unusual piecemeal armor that occasionally emits steam from various joints. He's familiar with most of the team. On the way to the estate, he talks a bit about his family. His mother was a Pathfinder agent herself when she was younger. "She taught me to fight. I was never quite the warrior she is, but I've managed to get by with my gadgets."[b] He also explains why he's fairly knowledgeable about magic, despite having no ability with it himself. [b]"My younger brother is a sorcerer, and when he was a kid he had a lot of trouble controlling his powers. I studied a lot of magical theory to help him."

He presents the letter, nodding in agreement with Makai. "It is difficult to read--but I think the seal and signature are the parts you care about in any case? The text is really addressed to us, with instructions."

Liam imagines the ooze is probably the fault of the fleshforgers in the first place. He does not vocalize this assumption.

Let me double-check... Oh, Liam's not even in the level range for anything I signed up for on PaizoCon. No conflict there.

So sure. There is a particular adventure I'd like to play with this character eventually (4-17: Trapping the Hag's Claw), but that won't put him out of the level range.

Heh, I was kind of the other way.

"Well, I think it should be contained as much as possible, but... the best way to face a threat is well-informed. I think you should study it--with as much precaution as possible."

"If she can wait 10 minutes, I can once I've patched--okay, that's much faster."

Will: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19 Critical failure
Hero Point: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32 Success! Good Hero Point

"Nobody else read that. Oof."

Liam stows his weapon and quickly brews some healing elixirs for Kohl and Zabu before going to check the tapestry.

Healing: 5d6 + 12 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 2, 2) + 12 = 25 and Healing: 5d6 + 12 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 1, 3) + 12 = 24
Occultism/Society: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
"It's referencing a specific location related to the Dark Tapestry: the Citadel of the Black on Aucturn. It's related to Nyarlothotep."

He also checks the book Manny found.
Society: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Liam continues work on his current project, crafting a lesser reinforcing rune.

Since he's continuing a current craft, he doesn't make a new check but continues using the result from his previous check (that's right, isn't it?). He's a level 9 Master who succeeded, so he earns 4 gp per day for 32 gp towards the complete rune.

With its illusions gone, they might be able to take this thing off the board.

Though as he wallops it with his mace, Liam sees that the Librarian is looking pretty battered--and so are some of the other Pathfinders. He might have to redirect his attention.

◆ Raise Shield
◆ Stride (if that round thing on the map is a pillar or something I can't stand over, he'll move up to flank Pink from the adjacent space instead)
◆ Strike Cold Iron Flickmace (Flanking, enfeebled): 1d20 + 18 - 3 ⇒ (17) + 18 - 3 = 32 for bludgeoning: 2d6 + 6 + 6 - 3 ⇒ (5, 4) + 6 + 6 - 3 = 18, fire: 1d6 ⇒ 2, and spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Liam uses his heated armor to cauterize a wound. While painful, it's effective, especially with the medicinal herbs mixed into the steam. Though the chamber bursts open with a small explosion.

Well, time to get involved more physically then. He steps forward and snaps his mace at one of the images. At least he should defeat the illusion, if nothing else.

◆ Searing Restoration healing: 5d10 ⇒ (3, 2, 4, 3, 2) = 14 Stable?: 1d20 ⇒ 1; well, luck ran out there--fire damage doesn't get past resistance
◆ Step
◆ Strike Pink +1 Striking Astral (Ghost Touch) Cold Iron Flickmace: 1d20 + 18 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 18 - 3 = 25 for bludgeoning damage: 2d6 + 6 + 6 - 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 6 + 6 - 3 = 15, spirit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3, and fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Will: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 14 + 1 = 27 Likely +2, but failure either way.

They're still lined up, so Liam fires another bolt of lightning through the enemies in front of him.

Everything holds for now, but his luck can't hold out. He also draws his weapon.

◆◆ Unstable Megavolt. Hits Blue and Black, DC 27 basic Reflex vs electricity damage: 4d12 ⇒ (9, 9, 1, 9) = 28
Unstable: 1d20 ⇒ 11 Hero Point: 1d20 ⇒ 16
◆ Draw weapon

A clear opening! Liam fires a bolt of lighting through the brain-thing and the Librarian, cutting close to several of the other Pathfinders. "Oh, um--heads up!"
And then nothing goes wrong!

His armor has had long enough to cool off, so he kicks it into gear again. Everything works perfectly.
Wow, everything is going well. "Electrical output could have been better." Almost everything.

◆◆ Unstable Megavolt, hits Blue and Librarian DC 27 basic Relex against electricity damage: 4d12 ⇒ (6, 1, 6, 10) = 23
Unstable?: 1d20 ⇒ 15 Success
◆ Overdrive (that sounded like it took a couple of minutes before we got into it; if not, draw weapon) Crafting: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 20 = 37 That's a critical success

Oh yes, I meant to say: That map link is wrong, but the Slides link at the top seems to work.

Liam moves to where he has a clearer shot. He quickly catches some excess energy in a bottle, which he hurls at the... brain?

That seemed like it would take a couple of minutes, so Overdrive isn't active.
◆ Stride
◆ Quick Alchemy
◆ Strike Blue Bottled Lightning: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33 for electricity damage: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 = 5 and 2 lightning splash damage to Blue and Pink. On a hit, Blue is also Off-Guard until the start of Liam's next turn.

"The warning said not to eat or drink. We haven't done that, so we've honored your warning. Isn't the point of a library to share knowledge?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13
Hero Point: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

It seems unlikely that the Waterfall has a malevolent god in her mind, so the Librarian doesn't really seem to know everything... but they might not appreciate that argument.

"The library makes sense. Some other details are, uh, confusing. Should we... say something?"

The most surprising thing is really that the creatures aren't reacting to their entrance.

Even if nobody else wants one, Liam makes and drinks a cheetah's elixir. And since everybody seems to expect things to go bad immediately, he also gets his gadgets in gear. He can always restart them later if they're jumping the gun (unless it takes more then one but less then two minutes for things to go bad).

Crafting to Overdrive: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33 Success

He keeps his weapon stowed for now. Weak as he is, he might try to see what he can do from a distance first.

Liam returns to normal size presently. He has no need of medical attention due to aeon stone in his wayfinder, but patches his armor and repairs his shield.
He consults his alchemical recipes, but confirms that there's nothing in there to deal with strength drain. "I can help with healing," he offers weakly, "but I can't do anything about... this."

He looks over his allies, not expecting any of them to offer an easy solution, but hoping they surprise him.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Liam squints at the statue, then points. "I think there's some kind of mechanism here. I say we try it--once everyone is ready for things to get worse, of course. ...I can make some cheetah's elixirs?"