Melicertes Palaemon's page

"We will convey the truth of events that took place here, Amentius, though descendants of Syagra Tetranella and their allies might not want these facts known," Melicertes assures the clockwork owl while conveying his own fears as well.

"Some will no doubt fail to appreciate the revision of history," the aquatic elf says, speaking from personal experience. "Why, my own mother refused to believe it was my younger sister that kept stealing the cookies. It wasn't until Sissie's burgeoning backside let the proverbial cat out of the bag, that my mother caught the real thief."

The oracle shudders at the hurtful memory. "My sister still accuses me of body-shaming her."

"I am always prepared to offer guidance to the poor in spirit. Blessed are they." Melicertes offers guidance to Ijo. Repeatedly.

Melicertes stands just outside the corrosive effects of the cloud, channeling, as necessary, to heal any damage Ijo sustains.

Channel Positive Energy to Heal with Blessed Touch trait. (Rolling all of them at once to expedite play.)
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Knowledge (arcana) DC12: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Knowledge (nobility) untrained DC15: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Melicertes peers through the open door and into the chamber. "That clockwork owl must be some spell caster's familiar. It looks pretty badly damaged, maybe by a longsword. It's immobile and looks barely able to speak. I don't think it can defend itself."

The aquatic elf sniffs the air, gills rippling. "It's leaking corrosive acid. We probably should take precautions if we get closer. Ten feet's probably a safe distance."

The oracle frowns, puzzling out a possible solution. "We could try to neutralize the acid. Of course, we could just destroy the familiar, but I'd rather not."

"Anybody a construct craftsman? Or we could try to disable the device, or use our skills with magic devices." Melicertes shakes his head. "Not my skill set, I'm afraid."

He looks at his companions. "If one of you can try, I can channel healing to help you cope with the exposure to acid damage."

Reflex DC13: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
"Motherf--!!" Melicertes winces as the stone dog explodes in a shower of charged sparks.

"Great job, friends. Thanks for the healing, Dol"

The aquatic elf climbs the stone steps, joining everyone near the locked door.

Melicertes gulps through his gills, steps up and stabs at the stone dog with the Alcasti spear.
Fighting Defensively, Attack; Damage: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (5) - 4 = 11d8 ⇒ 1

Knowledge (arcana) DC10: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

"Looks like the puppy left his ears and paws back in the corridor of Alcasti statues," Melicertes says, looking up at the broken statue. "Well done, all. Those animated hands looked creepy."

The brave oracle holds out his spear, advancing into the room, hoping the stone dog is friendly. Spear in one hand, he casts bless on the party.

Allies gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saves vs fear effects.

"So, nothing's jumped out and yelled 'Boo!' yet. Anyone a little sturdier than an elf oracle want to peek into the room beyond the open door?"

Are they waiting for me to be the canary in this cursed mausoleum? The paranoid aquatic elf wonders if it's too soon to bolt outside.

"This weapon has a faint aura of evocation magic." Melicertes shifts his gaze to encompass the rest of the room, including the stone dog bits, the statues and the other weapons.

Then the oracle tries to identify the magical properties of the spear.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Perception DC13: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Perception DC15: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Melicertes stoops down, examining the debris. "Look, here, in the rubble. There are distinct features in the shape of the stone. See? This looks like a paw and an ear, maybe part of a statue of a dog? The weapons all came from the hands of the Alcasti statues—four spears from the statues on the south wall, and three swords from the statues on the north wall. And look, all of the weapons bear a pegasus crest upon them, same as on the wax seal on Remaio's letters. Three longswords and four spears." He counts the statues. "One sword seems to be missing."

The oracle picks up one of the Alcasti weapons, casts detect magic and examines it. "I'm going to hang onto one of the spears."

Knowledge (engineering) untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Take 20 Perception for 22 or: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

"Ah, another pegasus. We must be in the right place." Melicertes searches the room.

Melicertes shuffles forward and stops near the stone tablet. After reading the list of Alcasti names, he turns to Ijo. "My guess? She'll probably be interred in the last place we look."

He takes a look around.
Take 20 Perception for 22 or: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

"So, the note from Numb-Nuts, em, our employer I mean, said we're supposed to pour the holy water on the door."

Melicertes looks it over. "Any ideas about how to apply the holy water? Up the pegasus's nose à la neti pot?"

Knowledge (history) untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Melicertes scans the note the page delivered. "Now Remaio wants us to rob Honoria's tomb. Wonderful. At least he included the holy water and key. But another trip out into the hinterlands? Lovely."

The oracle nods in agreement with Ijo. "As the empire began to crumble, Taldan nobles increasingly began to build tombs in remote locales to avoid the depredations of vandals and scavengers."

"If we get jumped by a lich, I can channel positive energy." The paranoid elf doesn't sound confident about the party's prospects.

Tubman?

"And not yet entirely house-broken," Melicertes adds. "Quite the mess we had to clean up."

Seated in a secluded corner of the bar with an unobstructed view of all entry and exit points, Melicertes sips a chilled mojito, chewing on a large, velvety mint leaf.

Remaio, you spoiled brat. What shall we fetch for you this time? Something from your mother's dressing room? Honoria's mummified pegasus mount? Your soiled laundry?

The paranoid aquatic elf scans the inn's unfamiliar faces, looking for assassins, traveling salesmen, and other evil predators lurking in the unkempt, dingy, and shadowy world of men.

Melicertes scans the papers near the burn barrel, as he helps stuff them in their rucksacks. He looks over the wax seal, then down at the little figurine, and some of the other items they've collected in Old Lady Alcasti's cottage.

"Seems the family's got a thing for the mythical pegasus. Bet there's a story there, eh?" The aquatic elf wags his eyebrows and chuckles. "Yes, let's tag it and bag it, then head back to civilization, please."

He swats at a lazy fly that lands on his sleeve.

Detect magic, guidance and Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 12

Melicertes steps aside and watches the kobold scoot out the door, and then tries to identify the magical properties of the pegasus figurine. "Not sure what we've got here, but I kind of like it."

"Let's take a careful look around this place. Don't want to leave anything important behind."

Take 20 Perception for 22 or: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

"I'm afraid these 'treasures' are the property of our employer, the rightful heir of the deceased. The objects in the estate are not ours to give or yours to seize. If you'd like, we can forward your claim to the authorities, and you can seek arbitration," Melicertes pronounces with an air of litigious condescension.

The aquatic elf shakes his head. Giving away hard-won loot is not my idea of fairplay. It's laughably ludicrous!

Melicertes slips into Madame Alcasti's boudoir to see what the bachelorette hid beneath her bed.
Take 20 Perception for 22 or: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Melicertes steps toward the table, loads another bolt in his light crossbow, and squeezes the trigger. "That's right! Who's your daddy, punk?"
Attack; Damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 231d8 ⇒ 6
Crit!?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Additional Crit Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

"Oh, dear." Melicertes fires his light crossbow at the green kobold. The oracle's eyes widen in surprise, when his bolt actually hits his target. Master Farabellus would be so proud!
Attack; Damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 221d8 ⇒ 4
Crit!?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Additional Crit Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

(Melicertes used his wand to cast bless just before the negotiations began. Not sure how many rounds, if any, remain. If it's expired, he'll activate the wand again. Otherwise...)

Melicertes creeps over to the corner of the room, casts guidance, and reaching one skinny arm through the open door, touches Ferdrin.

"They're kobolds," Melicertes reminds everyone. "Still, it was worth a try."

The oracle casts guidance on Ijo, then he readies a bolt in his crossbow.. "Ready when you are."

"I abhor unnecessary violence, especially given my rather limited experience as a field agent. If we can avoid bloodshed, and I'm referring mostly to my own, then we should try to do so."

The always-paranoid Melicertes does his best to offer the kobolds a friendly smile and a wave.

"Tell them we need to search the place thoroughly, top to bottom, for anything that belonged to the Alcosti woman."

"Perhaps, you should knock first, and introduce yourself?" the paranoid Melicertes whispers.

Melicertes casts detect magic and examines the objects he's picked up from the floor, including the silver signet ring bearing the pegasus sigil of House Alcasti, as well as the gilded buckler and the mahogany case of calligraphy pens bearing the same Alcasti symbol.

Then he takes the time necessary to scan the rest of the room for any magical auras.

Spying Ijo suddenly make like a ninjja, the aquatic elf whispers, "Oh, dear. A fight?"

The oracle casts bless, just in case his fears are realized.

(Bless: Allies gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saves vs fear effects.)

"Thanks for giving me a hand across the pit, Ijo."

Stepping inside the quaint farmhouse/museum, Melicertes takes a look around.
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Melicertes eyes the corpse-communing spiritualist with a nervous expression. "Natural causes, eh? Recent? Wonder who buried the woman. Think she's Remaio's cousin?"

He squats down and looks over the body, wrinkling his delicate nose, concurring with Ijo's forensic assessment as to the cause of death. "If so, Vereena seems to share few qualities with Remaio."

The oracle rises to his feet. "Remind me to see to her tomatoes before we leave."

Melicertes follows Ijo, examining the house and yard with care. "Trap? Oh, dear."
Perception, Take 20 for 22 or: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Spotting the sloppy graffiti, the aquatic elf asks, "Anybody know what's written there?"

A museum on a farm?

Melicertes grimaces, "I'm sure Andoran is lovely this time of year, and visiting a farm sounds so, em, rustic."

I'll bet two coppers Remaio's more worried about getting a little manure on his velvet slippers, and that's why he won't come with us to visit his cousin Vereena.

(Info entered on slides.)

"Hello? Anybody here?" Melicertes calls out. The only thing worse than being alone is being around other people.

"Em, Glory, I hate to break it to you like this--I know it's not polite to ask or remind a lady of her age--but I'm afraid a rather long period of time has passed in this realm, since you knew Honoria."

Melicertes gestures at the would-be nobleman. "Young Remaio here is indeed a descendant of the famous general, but not her son. He's hoping your testimony will restore her reputation--and thereby his own good fortune."

Melicertes grimaces, his delicate elf's ears ringing. "Glory, your magnificent voice is quite stunning." How can I put this diplomatically? "Perhaps dialing back the volume a bit would demonstrate your mercy on mere mortals such as we."

"Why, yes, em, the Pathfinders have a long history of service to Golarion, em, vanquishing foes, and, em, preserving the historical memory of the world."

Melicertes stumbles for personal triumphs to share. "Yes, em, while I happen to have only recently achieved Field Agent credentials, I did, em, get a participation trophy in an intramural swim day event as a child."

The aquatic elf shuffles his webbed feet, uncomfortable admitting his lack of professional experience.

"So, em, Soldier's Glory, you've probably led a storied life. Care to share?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

"Well done, lad!" The aquatic elf congratulates the young man. "Aayef, my name is Melicertes Palaemon. We are Pathfinders and acquainted with your family. Your mother will be so proud of your heroics and the members of your household impressed by your victory. Come, let us accompany you home, where we can join you in the celebratory feasting!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Melicertes goes bug-eyed when he sees the scorpion monstrosity looming over the ruins."Bless me, Yuelral--and my friends--and the Ghazali boy, too!"
The oracle heads for a portion of the ruined temple's walls to hide behind and casts bless.
Allies gain a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves vs fear effects.

"Excuse me, Mr. Ghazali Household Guard, sir. Might we borrow a bloodhound?"

Melicertes looks around at his comrades, much like himself, having a great deal of trouble finding their own backsides. "Maybe a seeing eye dog, too, if you can spare one."

Survival DC10: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Perception DC15: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Melicertes calls out, "Hey y'all, over here. Looks like young Aayef tried to build himself a fire." He points to the bits of charred wood. "Not the outdoorsy type, it seems."

[ooc(Can't make a DC25 Survival or a DC28 Perception)[/ooc]

Melicertes examines the scrap of Aayef's clothing. "Well, it looks like he left the estate, probably going in this direction. Anyone spot his tracks?"

The aquatic elf looks to the Ghazali family's men-at-arms. "Don't suppose you have a skilled tracker in your ranks, do you? Otherwise, we'll just have to break the bad news to the Lady of the house."

"If your son can be found, then we will find him. It seems you're not sure where he went, or you'd have already brought him back yourself."

Melicertes rubs a rough patch on a dry cheek, cursing the hot, arid climate. "May we have your leave to look in his room and around the grounds of the estate? Perhaps, we can find a clue as to his intentions or to his destination."

(If permitted, Take 20 for Perception 22 to search for clues.)

Sense Motive DC10: 1d20 ⇒ 13

"Good day, Lady Ghazali. Thank you for seeing us. My name is Melicertes Palaemon."

Melicertes nods, when Ferdrin notices her distress. "Something troubles you, yes? Is there anything we can do to set your mind at ease? We're here to discuss an ancient sword we believe to be in your possession." The aquatic elf hands here the documents Ramaio had given them. "Our business can wait, if your concerns are serious."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 (An oracle with cursed dice. What a cliché!)

With a vigorous nod, the aquatic elf agrees with Ijo, "Indeed, the heat causes us outlanders some discomfort."

I may be amphibious, but this dry air has doubled the amount of moisturizer I've been using. Should have packed more for this trip.

The oracle bows, "I am Melicertes Palaemon. My colleagues and I seek an audience with the Ghazali family's matriarch, Arajida. We have some documents we would present to her regarding an ancient and storied sword we believe to be in her possession."

His clumsy attempt to bow in the Qadiran fashion undermines his attempt at courtesy.
Diplomacy to Aid Dol: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Beneath the Basilica

Melicertes shakes his head, delicate gills fluttering, in wonderment when Bobbi pays restitution to the ratfolk thieves. Apparently an oozemorph shares an ooze's mental traits, as well. Or maybe it was just a blow to the head as a young child.

Arodenite Conversations
"We're glad we could return the items stolen from your temple. You might still experience occasional trouble with your rat infestation in the basement. Perhaps, leasing an otyugh for a few days would eliminate the problem."

Labor Relations
"Ramaio Alcasti, your cause must be just. You certainly exhibit all of the qualities expected of a Taldan noble."
Bluff: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Melicertes steps back from the ratfolk, slips another bolt into the slot, and squeezes the trigger.
Light Crossbow; Damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 91d8 ⇒ 4

I'll be traveling to and from Gen Con this coming week. I will post when I can, but it will unlikely be every day.

Larry
aka Melicertes Palaemon
aka GM Lorenzo

Melicertes shuffles away from the ratfolk figure, locks and loads another bolt, and squeezes the trigger. "Are you Bikka or Thessel? How does your mother tell you apart?"
Light Crossbow; Damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 121d8 ⇒ 5

"Oh, you dirty rat!" Melicertes steps away from the filthy creature, loads another bolt in his crossbow and fires. The twang of its launch and the satisfying thunk of the bolt sinking into the vermin's flesh is sweet music to the aquatic elf's pointed ears.
Light Crossbow; Damage: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 211d8 ⇒ 6

After Ramaio stomps off like a petulant dilettante, Melicertes scowls. "What a charming fellow. Not. I think the term rhymes with 'stick.' If he's the descendant of Honoria Alcasti, the apple has indeed fallen far from the tree."

The oracle nods at Dol. "We told the Arodenite we'd recover the stolen items. Let's keep our word."