Setting the Stage's page

...Dread Pirate Roberts? Really? I must have missed that scene where he disguised himself as Wesley to win over the soldiers.

Wesley isn't Roberts's alter ego. Wesley is Roberts*. He's an ordinary, "mild-mannered" farmboy only at the start of the movie. Then he becomes a pirate. They aren't alter egos—if anything, they're just character evolution.

That said, I do think the comparisons to Batman are making people focus way too much on the "superhero" side of things. But that's probably just because of the very concept of the secret identity.

*I know, I know, but you know what I mean.

The old one retired and wesley took his place. It is a persona each dread pirate roberts takes and leaves behind for the next so it is an alter ego that they spend their lives in and discard when they retire. So he is an example of wearing a costume always. Eventually inigo will take on the costume and become the dread pirate and wesley and the princess will go on to live happily ever after.

I like dual identity. But the speed needs to be tweaked. 5 mins is way too long. Yes it makes sense but it is not something that works in an adventure.

Maybe they get an item or spell that allows them to either instantly change or keep their gear with them.

The problem is that this isn't modern day with spandex, so you can't wear your chain mail and scale under your pantaloons and doublet. Think about the logistics of hiding a great sword under a ball gown. It doesn't work.

So the question that needs to worked out is how do they change not just a blanket time.

I think the same way wizards have familiars vigilantes should have some magic item or gear that allows them to travel with their persona hidden. Or it could be a higher level thing and they just have to get into persona long before they go out

Vigilante can be more than just batman.

Most obvious is Zorro, which fits the world perfectly
Dread pirate roberts is another one.

League of extraordinary gentlemen. ALthough Jekyll and hide is only one really with an alter ego.

Now at really high level you get Game of Thrones like transformation ability, or at least really damn close. That whole religion that aria joins is all about being vigilantes. Changing shape and assassinating villains then returning to a humble life of a priest.

So I can see vigilantes working quite well in pathfinder. Just have to look beyond the standard super heroes. Although i've seen great art of batman in the middle ages as a knight and even a steampunk version. So if you can imagine it you can do it.

The room stands quiet again. The remaining statue does not react. It stands in the corner

He can charge in. The creature hasn't seen Darius

Darius sees movement of something low to the ground near the back of the alter. A short black shelled body of a giant beetle of some kind.

The acid splashes across it eating into the stone with a hiss. Faffnyr lunges in and stabs the statue in it's glowing heart, shattering the stone.

The statue slows. The mana of the red stone leaks from it's joints in waves of glowing red smoke. Finally it stops, now inert.

Ayedan's dagger hits the left arm finally shattering the stone and clay the glowing crystal fully exposed now it lurches off balance.

Akina pushes the door the rest of the way open and peers into the room. Pillars line the walls of this rectangular chamber, interspersed with stone jackal heads extending from the walls. A stone altar, covered in a layer of dust, sits at the eastern end of the room. All across the dust it is easy to see tracks. Most of them seem to be around the altar across the room from the doors.

The alter is about eight feet long and along one side sit various tools and a open box that has what looks like bandages sitting in it.

Make perception checks along with anything else you want to do

The statue is almost dead, bleeding mana and half shattered. It's very quiet for a party one round from kick some butt.

The figure in the mirror reminds you of the sculptures of Akhentepi.

Anyone that wants to act, can. The statues have returned to their stands and the the figure in the mirror bowed in welcome. It seems you have deactivated the traps in the room.

you'll have to step back behind the other members of your party since all of you are at the door. So yes you can step back into the crowd

The jackal faced statue lurches forward raising it's spear to attack.

The dagger flies true and hits it the shoulder joint and gets logged there with a screeching noise as the stone drags along the blade.

The magical energy slam into the chest blasting chips from him.

The crossbow bolt also hits his chest and the bolt causes an explosion of stone chips as a hole opens into the statue, its hollow. A glowing crystal that seems to be its heart glows with an angry red light.

The screeching of the dagger caught in its arm reaches its height as it causes a massive crack that runs along it's chest and left shoulder.

The Satari, shoving through the crowd at the door, stabs out at the statue, her spear jostled hits with a glancing blow.

Its chest compromised and the left arm spider webbed and ready to fall off it looks for a target. With Satati up front from praying to Pharasma he swings at her with his spear.

Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Also post your actions

The room seems rather barren for the amount of security though there are doorways to the left and right. The doors in both directions are open and you can see faint tracks in the dust.

The strangest thing is what looks like an Osiriani man in padded armor bowing and spreading his arms in welcome. He fades along with all the reflections in the mirror.

The jackal headed statue continues forward. He raises his staff to swing at the party.

Roll init. It's init is 5.Let me know what you want to do or try

As Anapa prays to his god The statue of Pharasma raises it's lantern like a flail. Gin yells out as the lantern begins to swing. Akina yells out the prayer. The lantern stop landing on Darius' hammer. It's at this point that Anapa looks up to a statue and a the massive tiefling holding off the head of a flail.

The statue of Pharasma stops and turns returning to its stand.

As Anapa recites his prayers Anubis stops and returns to his stand. The hooded woman doesn't stop and raises her lamp to smash Anapa.

[ooc]Anapa's eyes are closed so it is up to the rest of you to act or the statue of the hooded woman gets a free hit on him.[ooc]

As soon as Anapa starts walking into the room both statues start forward with a stiff slow gait. Anubus brings his short staff of stone up and Pharasma raising her lantern which you realize would make a short but formidable flail since it is made of stone.

roll init. Let me know what you are doing or saying. From what they are saying it sounds like they are expecting you to actually recite the prayers.

The statue of Pharasma settles back onto her stand. The statue of Anubis still looks at the team with malice. It looks ready to strike anyone should they venture into the room.

Akina has heard of the prayer and knows enough to recite it.

would have to roll religion to know of the Pharasma prayer. Anapa would know the Anubis prayer. It's a common one

Akina steps up and identifies the statues as Anubis and Pharasma.

Akina,who speak ancient Osiriani, hears the statue of Anubis "say my prayer to release the spirit". The statue of Pharasma says "Speak my prayer to quiet the troubled spirit". She actually remembers hearing the Pharasma prayer. Though she knows Anubis she doesn't know the prayers of his faith. It sounds like they are asking for you to recite specific scriptures

Nobody took Ancient Osiriani

Anapa doesn't get two steps into the room before both statues turn their head and speak in ancient tones in an even more ancient Osiriani tongue. The words lost to you sound like a dire warning none the less.

Satati recognizes the hooded woman as the same woman found in the entrance hall, the Goddess Pharasma.

The prayer she has heard at every funeral in these parts. The statue of the jackal headed god she knows is an ancient Osiriani god but not much more.

Darius proceeds to open the door to see an armed Tiefling staring at him from the other side of the room. It takes him a second to realize that a massive mirror stretches across the southern wall.

Flanking it are two statues. The statue to the east depicts a tall, gaunt woman in a flowing, hooded gown, holding an hourglass. The figure to the west is that of a jackal-headed man carrying a short staff in his hand.

Stone double doors, standing slightly ajar, lead to the east and west.

Torch holders sculpted in the shape of bird skulls are built in each corner, and a thin layer of dust covers every surface.

The Map

Akina takes a look around seeing no traps and finding nothing unusual about the tapestry or behind it. The two urns are commonly used for mummified cats. A common practice among the rich.

The tapestry shows the family in front of their manor house.

Both statues turn their head and speak in ancient tones in an even more ancient tongue. The words lost to you sound like dire warning none the less. Satati and Faffnyr, who speak ancient Osiriani hear "say my prayer to release the spirit" said by the Jackal headed statue. The hooded woman says "Speak my prayer to quiet the troubled spirit".

Ayedan doesn't get two steps into the room before they speak. Though he didn't find any traps it seems the statues are aware of all of you and look right at everyone at the doorway.

Ayedan doesn't find any traps and proceeds to open the door to see an armed Sylph staring at him from the other side of the room. It takes him a second to realize that a massive mirror stretches across the southern wall.

Flanking it are two statues. The statue to the east depicts a tall, gaunt woman in a flowing, hooded gown, holding an hourglass. The figure to the west is that of a jackal-headed man carrying a short staff in his hand.

Stone double doors, standing slightly ajar, lead to the east and west.

Torch holders sculpted in the shape of bird skulls are built in each corner, and a thin layer of dust covers every surface.

see the map at top of page.

Darius opens the next door to see a faded tapestry with a portrait of Akhentepi, his wife , and two children before a small estate. On either side of the tapestry are two pedestals. Upon each is a small burial urn. From the size they would contain the families mummified pet cats.

To the left and right are short hallways leading to doors. These doors are made of thin sheets of patterned metal in frames. They can be easily opened by anyone.

no prob.

The doors at the end of the hall do not look like they're sealed and actually look light enough that anyone could open it. They are not trapped as Mak'e took care of all of the traps in the hall.

the tapestry hangs from the wall and has nothing hidden behind it.

Ayedan takes a look around and finds no traps. The room looks safe.

Satati opens the door into the next room.The door opens to reveal a faded tapestry with a portrait of Akhentepi, his wife, and two children before a small estate. On either side of the tapestry are two pedestals. Upon each is a small burial urn. From the size they would contain the families mummified pet cats.

To the left and right are short hallways leading to doors. These doors are made of thin sheets of patterned metal in frames. They can be easily opened by anyone.

Mak'e spends a few moments before disabling the trigger rod the tile is on. It takes him half an hour to go through and disable all of the trapped tiles in the corridor.

The hall free of traps Anapa can take a look at the walls. The walls have depictions that seem to flow in a chronological order. The ones near your door show Akhentepi journey out into the desert with his loyal band of soldiers. They journeyed across the desert to a city of people among the reeds then into the sculpted desert to a sphinx with what looks like a golden mask covering it's eyes. From there he traveled on to fight people with pyramid shaped heads below a floating pyramid. In the last panels it seems he was brought down with most of his forces, but slaughtered all but one of the pyramid headed people. The three remaining members of his force took up his body and brought it back along with two items. A chest, which was placed someplace within ancient Wati, which is the current necropolis. The other chest went on to a tomb in the desert. Akhentepi's body was placed in this tomb. The writing talks of an epic battle under The Shadow of the Eye but does not explain what it is.

Satati, since you had the venom sucked out, make another save vs DC 9

The next door is not heavy and Faffnyr can open the door easily.

Time wise it should still be late morning. You had the lottery at 8AM. it took you an hour to reach tomb and another hour to dig down. Between taking out traps and opening doors and wheels it's been about hour and twenty minutes. It's 11:20.

Darius finds a rock to toss down the hallway and it clatters along the floor without any effect.

Mak'e looks over the tiles and finds that they are not secured into the floor, after a few moments he is able to lift it up and sees that it is trapped with a pressure trigger under it. Many of them are going to be trapped that way.

Roll to disarm device or any other action you want to take.

Looking in the hall you notice the floor is made of tiles instead of the marble like the room you stand in now.

Make any rolls if you decide to do something

unless anyone decides to do more. Make any rolls. It is a straight corridor

Darius easily pushes the door open to reveal a thirty foot long corridor.

you see a ten foot wide corridor with walls covered in bas-relief carvings of great battles. Armies with spears and shields clash at the direction of generals, while other leaders direct troops from chariots that are ruthlessly overrunning their enemies. At the far end of the corridor stand engraved stone double doors. The inner side of the doors you opened are also carved with pictured of Akhentepi with his padded armor, scarab shield and wielding a kopesh. The scenes on the wall seem to tell a story.

map updated

The first thing Ayedan sees is that the floor is made of a different kind of patterend tile. Looking closer at the tiles he finds that they are loose. A few minutes with his tools reveals that there is a pressure trigger under it. A few more tense seconds eventually reveals that the trigger rod can be pulled out of the hole and the tile set back in place to be walked on safely. It takes an hour to remove dozens of other rods from under tiles. He finally declares the hallway safe and has a pile of 73 two foot long rods to show for his work.

The walls have depictions much like those in the first room, but these seem to flow in a chronological order. The ones near your door show Akhentepi journey out into the desert with his loyal band of soldiers. They journeyed across the desert to a city of people among the reeds then into the sculpted desert to a sphinx with what looks like a golden mask covering it's eyes. From there he traveled on to fight people with pyramid shaped heads below a floating pyramid. In the last panels it seems he was brought down with most of his forces, but slaughtered all but one of the pyramid headed people. The three remaining members of his force took up his body and brought it back along with two items. A chest, which was placed someplace within ancient Wati, which is the current necropolis. The other chest went on to a tomb in the desert. Akhentepi's body was placed in this tomb. The writing talks of an epic battle under The Shadow of the Eye but does not explain what it is.

The double doors are heavy although not as heavy as the outer doors and require a str check to push them open.

lol I kind of guessed it was either a play on Make a roll or Makerel.

Mak'e Ral is a bit small to use a medium rapier.

On his back is a backpack. There are shattered bottles and glass. Ryuu does find a bundle of cloth thats crumbling to dust as he touches it. Inside of it are two vials of red liquid. They look very much like alchemist fire. There are also five more pitons and a hammer in it. His pouch has silk string, chalk and finely crafted thieves tools in a rolled sleeve that still looks as new as the day it was made. The scabbard for his dagger although it is ruined is on his belt and a bent short sword is on his other hip. The rapier and dagger are both some of the finest craftsmanship you have ever seen.

Ayedan and Askaya heave on the crowbar and the door pops easily. It is much thinner than the one outside. The inside of the doors has the same sculpture as your side.

In the light you see a ten foot wide corridor with walls covered in bas-relief carvings of great battles. Armies with spears and shields clash at the direction of their leaders, while other leaders direct troops from chariots that are ruthlessly overrunning their enemies. It tells a story the way it is laid out. At the far end of the corridor stand engraved stone double doors. The inner side of the doors you opened are also carved with sculptures of Akhentepi with his padded armor, scarab shield and wielding a kopesh.

With the knots and correct length Faffnyr has a easy climb down.

With the knots and length corrected anyone can make it up or down without a roll. Just post where you are and what you're up to. The doors aren't locked but require a strength check to open

You bring the rope back up and ties knots along it's length and adds additional rope to get it to over sixty feet. Then it's tied back to the piton and it now reaches the floor.