Life @ +2 (Lan, Religion CS)
Matter @ +1 (Auntie Wu, Nature S)
Mind @ +2 (Sigurd, Occult S; Vekka, Arcana S)
Spirit @ +2 (Sigurd, Religion S; Vekka, Occult S)
Awaiting Kazuki allocations...
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Life @ +2 (Lan, Religion CS)
Awaiting Vekka and Kazuki allocations...
Life @ +2 (Lan, Religion CS)
Awaiting Sigurd, Vekka, Kazuki allocations...
The party is no stranger to magic, but no less, the Wall of Ghosts which they have just stepped through is strange. They put their heads together and combine their understanding of the supernatural to understand just where they are, what this place is, and importantly, how they could escape!
Life Essence (2 points):
All Vitality effects here are dimmed. Treat any vitality effect as one Rank lower for all purposes (rolled damage, healing, counteract level, etc). Spell slots are still expended at their normal rank, they just have a lesser impact (as if they were cast as lower rank spells). All Void effects here are amped. Treat any void effects as one Rank higher for all purposes (rolled damage, healing, counteract level, etc). Spell slots are still expended at their normal rank, they just have a greater impact (as if they were cast as higher rank spells).
Spoiler:
Everyone gains access to the following ability while here: Brighten Vitality (◆)
Matter Essence (2 points):
You are no longer "in" the Wall of Ghosts per se, or even on Golarion, but, somewhere else, transported by the "Tunnel of Ghosts" to this current destination. That your surroundings appear to resemble the forests around Willowshore may or may not be deliberate, but wherever you are, you are nowhere close to Willowshore nor the Pilgrim's Path.
Spoiler:
The physical rules that normally dictate how the world works (physics, magic) are altered here. You reckon that with enough willpower, you could impose an alternate gravitational pull against a sufficiently large object, and "walk" upon it vertically as one would walk on ordinary ground. Perhaps a large tree or a rock. To try it, you'd have to walk up to a large tree or rock, and just do it!
Mind Essence (2 points):
You are neither asleep nor awake, but, somewhere between. This realm is "real" for practical purposes (walking, fighting, casting a spell), but, you feel as though it exists primarily within your mind, divorced somehow from your physical body.
Spoiler:
You are in an Immersive Mindscape! The mysterious architect of this mindscape has opened the door, and you have stepped through. Whether this "opening" was intentional or not is unclear. Who it is is unclear. And you are unsure if there is a way out. Spirit Essence (2 points):
You are within a "pocket" of the Astral Plane, but unable to explore this transitive plane further than the confines of the pocket.
Spoiler:
This "pocket" was created by the spirit of a powerful entity whose influence extends beyond the planes, and it "traps" you here. If you intend to escape, you must somehow contend with that spirit to do so! Final Discovery (after all 8 earned): Before opening, verify that all 8 other points have been learned first! Spoiler:
You are inside of someone (or something) else's dream! Whoever (or whatever) it is, they are currently experiencing a "good dream", and you are currently experiencing a "nightmare"! Furthermore, somehow, you were "hijacked" here while you passed through the "Tunnel of Ghosts" (which left you vulnerable in crossing), and instead of arriving at your destination, you became trapped here. You can identify the Dreamer by finding some "mark" or "impression" within the dream, whose subconscious leaves such a mark or impression as part of the act of being the architect of the dream! But where to look?...
Yami steps back "Okay, one back scratch before we go - for good luck!" she curls up to Lan, and lets the party do their thing! Level: 2
Outcome of Secondary Checks: Secondary casters attempt their checks before you attempt the primary check; no matter their results, the ritual proceeds to the primary check. Secondary checks affect the primary check depending on their results. Critical Success: You gain a +2 circumstance bonus to the primary check.
And so, Yami and the party fully cooperate to perform a ritual strong enough and weird enough to break a tiny crack in the mysterious "Wall of Ghosts" that surrounds - traps! - the town of Willowshore from it's neighboring geography! Cast: 1 day
She agrees to be a secondary caster to the strongest party member who is at least an expert in Occultism or Religion! Party Primary Skills:
[ dice=Ho Lan's Occultism (T)]1d20+7[/dice] [ dice=Sigurd Kolphan's Occultism (T)]1d20+7[/dice] [ dice=Auntie Wu's Religion (T)]1d20+12[/dice]
Near-Final Progress: 1) Stable Fire (5) @ ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Awaiting:
Quick Progress: 1) Stable Fire @ ⭐
Awaiting:
Busy Week! 1) Stable Fire
☆☆☆
Willowshore Stables had a rough time of things during the summer, and unfortunately for its proprietor Kum Soon-chong , fall has more peril in store. Near the end of this week, a plume of dark smoke starts to rise from the main barn of Willowshore Stables. Arriving shortly, the fire has engulfed the barn and the employees have managed to save the livestock by leading them into the pasture. However, the fire now threatens to spread into the pasture and potentially further into
➤ Level: 4 (base DC 19)
☆☆☆
While the PCs are going about their downtime, they hear from one of the villagers that one of the village cats, Kimchi, has gotten herself stuck up in a tree. The fluffy orange and white cat chased a squirrel up to the highest branches of a tree just outside of town and has been meowing loudly enough for nearby villagers to hear. The cat is easy to spot from the ground, but she’s 30 feet up, and it’s too dangerous for the villagers to try and help her
➤ Level: 4 (base DC 19)
☆☆☆
Goh approaches the PCs, shaken and scared, with a story of feeling hands grabbing at his ankles earlier in the day after he got into the water to pull his skiff ashore. He’s convinced that these hands belong to his brother’s spirit, returned to Willowshore to carry him away for letting his brother drown...
➤ Level: 4 (base DC 19)
What started as a little untended tea kettle soon splatters wrong and catches blaze. Kindled by material inside of Ho Jeong-hui's house, while the party was outside dealing with the ghost, the fire had a couple precious moments to spark further! Each round, it doubles, until it consumes the entire structure! ➤ Level: Four plus Hazard (+2); base DC 21
A pincir threat twice the first, the party realizes that a few days time will converge the two bands of undead upon Willowshore, so they split up to route both, hoping to at least lessen their numbers! ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
➤ Walker List of R1 Skills: Athletics (hard), Nature, Survival (easy); Forest Lore (easy), Hunting Lore, Scouting Lore
➤ Phantom List of R1 Skills: Athletics (hard), Nature, Survival (easy); Forest Lore (easy), Hunting Lore, Scouting Lore
Thresholds ➤ Critical Success @ (80% rate), Success @ (60% rate), Failure @ (40% rate)
A pincir threat twice the first, the party realizes that a few days time will converge the two bands of undead upon Willowshore, so they split up to route both, hoping to at least lessen their numbers! ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Thresholds ➤ Critical Success @ (80% rate), Success @ (60% rate), Failure @ (40% rate)
Routing the Giant Tarantulas (Open):
From the West, a Clutter of Giant Tarantulas - possibly fleeing some greater menace? - are spotted heading straight for Willowshore. Can the party route them in time!? ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Skills not described as "easy" or "hard" are moderate by default! Thresholds ➤ Critical Success @ (12 points or 80% rate) ☆☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆/☆☆, Success @ (9 points or 60% rate) ☆☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆, Failure @ (6 points or 40% rate) ☆☆☆☆☆/☆
Sigurd and Kazuki arrive at the threshold between tamed and untamed wild in easily half the time it's "supposed" to take, buying them several "extra" hours to prepare their ambush!
From the West, a Clutter of Giant Tarantulas - possibly fleeing some greater menace? - are spotted heading straight for Willowshore. Can the party route them in time!? ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Skills not described as "easy" or "hard" are moderate by default! Thresholds ➤ Critical Success @ (12 points or 80% rate) ☆☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆☆/☆☆, Success @ (9 points or 60% rate) ☆☆☆☆☆/☆☆☆☆, Failure @ (6 points or 40% rate) ☆☆☆☆☆/☆
A nervous looking man introduces himself as Matsu and approaches the party, claiming a nest of vipers has taken up residence in his outhouse. He offers money and to cook dinner if the party can remove the infestation. ➤ Level: 4 (Base DC 19)
Special Limit: Each type of check can only be tried once!
A child named Minhwan approaches the party - he has been taking care of a fix in the forest. Dejected after discovering the makeshift shelter he built for it was abandoned this morning, he went home and had strange dreams wherein the fox touched him on the nose. He comes to the party asking what offering he should leave for the departed fox, unsure of spiritual matters himself, and wanting to pay his respects. ➤ Level: Trained (base DC 15)
Final Progress Tracker (Open):
➤ Level: Four (base DC 19) ➤ Complexity: 5 rounds ➤ Timeframe: 30 minutes (so, about 2.5 hours altogether) ➤ Synergies: Group Impression, Group Coercion ➤ List of Skills: Warfare Lore (very easy), Diplomacy (easy), Intimidation (moderate), Society (moderate), Survival (moderate), Perception (hard), Performance (hard), any Tradition skill (hard) Thresholds
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Auntie Wu w/ Unknown Moderate Favor (☆☆)
Progress Tracker (Open):
➤ Level: Four (base DC 19) ➤ Complexity: 5 rounds ➤ Timeframe: 30 minutes (so, about 2.5 hours altogether) ➤ Synergies: Group Impression, Group Coercion ➤ List of Skills: Warfare Lore (very easy), Diplomacy (easy), Intimidation (moderate), Society (moderate), Survival (moderate), Perception (hard), Performance (hard), any Tradition skill (hard) Thresholds
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Auntie Wu w/ Unknown Moderate Favor (☆☆)
Progress Tracker (Open):
➤ Level: Four (base DC 19) ➤ Complexity: 5 rounds ➤ Timeframe: 30 minutes (so, about 2.5 hours altogether) ➤ Synergies: Group Impression, Group Coercion ➤ List of Skills: Warfare Lore (very easy), Diplomacy (easy), Intimidation (moderate), Society (moderate), Survival (moderate), Perception (hard), Performance (hard), any Tradition skill (hard) Thresholds
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Auntie Wu w/ Unknown Moderate Favor (☆☆)
Progress Tracker (Open): ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Thresholds
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Pledges
Progress Tracker (Open):
➤ Level: Four (base DC 19) ➤ Complexity: 5 rounds ➤ Timeframe: 30 minutes (so, about 2.5 hours altogether) ➤ Synergies: Group Impression, Group Coercion ➤ List of Skills: Warfare Lore (very easy), Diplomacy (easy), Intimidation (moderate), Society (moderate), Survival (moderate), Perception (hard), Performance (hard), any Tradition skill (hard) Thresholds
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Progress Tracker: ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19) ➤ Complexity: 5 rounds ➤ Timeframe: 30 minutes (so, about 2.5 hours altogether) ➤ Synergies: Group Impression, Group Coercion ➤ List of Skills: Warfare Lore (very easy), Diplomacy (easy), Intimidation (moderate), Society (moderate), Survival (moderate), Perception (hard), Performance (hard), any Tradition skill (hard) Thresholds
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Progress Tracker: ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19) ➤ Complexity: 5 rounds ➤ Timeframe: 30 minutes (so, about 2.5 hours altogether) ➤ Synergies: Group Impression, Group Coercion ➤ List of Skills: Warfare Lore (very easy), Diplomacy (easy), Intimidation (moderate), Society (moderate), Survival (moderate), Perception (hard), Performance (hard), any Tradition skill (hard) Thresholds
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Lan terrified Granny Hu with his obstinance and sheer presence. So. Having a contingency plan, she relegated him to the other room in an attempt to isolate and divide. Unfortunately, her own plan may be experiencing a backfire, as the party's counter proposition that the Willowshore Ghost Army be equally conscripted and stationed on both sides of the bank seems to be resonating with folks on account of it's own merit. Can the party pull off the negotiation without an Additional Provision working it's way unintended into their Tentative Agreement? ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Thresholds
➤ Level: Four (Base DC 19)
Previous Influence
Outcomes
Final Party Progress @ ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️, ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️, ♥️♥️ Description and Stat Block:
The Governor's missing mansion being somewhat lost in the chaos of the Downtown Occupation - verily ended by the PCs with the slaying of Mo Douqiu, leader of the monster insurgency - it begins to slowly become apparent that there is a political power void at the highest level of leadership within Willowshore, with two clear contenders to rise to the mantle: Shou "Old" Matsuki and Ban-niang “Granny” Hu, the respective leaders of the Southbank and Northshore sides of the Ceiba River that bisects the town geographically, as well as culturally and ideologically. And so, each leader begins working to muster their "base" as towards ushering Willowshore into the Autumn months, preparing to rebuild and reprioritize town efforts to weather what might become the longest Winter in the settlement's history. And so. Will the party pick a side? ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Progress:
R1 Auntie Wu w/ Diplomacy vs DC 19 @ 27+ ♥️♥️ Kazuki w/ Willowshore Lore vs DC 17 @ 21 ♥️ Lan w/ Willowshore Lore vs DC 17 @ Sigurd w/ Diplomacy vs DC 19 @ 12 Vekka w/ w/ Diplomacy vs DC 19 @ 19 ♥️ R2
R3
Weakness
Thresholds:
Influence 3 Old Matsuki revises his initial assumption that the PCs have no respect for tradition and admits (if only to himself) they’re likable sorts. The start of this better impression grants the PCs 1 Reputation Point with Southbank. Influence 6
Influence 9
Shou for Mayor? Description and Stat Block:
The Governor's missing mansion being somewhat lost in the chaos of the Downtown Occupation - verily ended by the PCs with the slaying of Mo Douqiu, leader of the monster insurgency - it begins to slowly become apparent that there is a political power void at the highest level of leadership within Willowshore, with two clear contenders to rise to the mantle: Shou "Old" Matsuki and Ban-niang “Granny” Hu, the respective leaders of the Southbank and Northshore sides of the Ceiba River that bisects the town geographically, as well as culturally and ideologically. And so, each leader begins working to muster their "base" as towards ushering Willowshore into the Autumn months, preparing to rebuild and reprioritize town efforts to weather what might become the longest Winter in the settlement's history. And so. Will the party pick a side? ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Progress:
R1
R2
R2
Current Progress @ ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️, ♥️♥️♥️
Old Matsuki had the respect of the Southbank, not only as Willowshore's eldest member, but also one of it's most generous, lending his own mansion as a site to take in those pushed from their own homes during the time of the Downtown Occupation. But. He is also a man of tastes, and rumor has it, too a bit of a hedonist in his heyday, known to frequent the Cerulean Teahouse when it operated as a brothel in an earlier era of Willowshore. But today? Today he maintains his love of the senses in the form of food and drink: the finer the better. And the party decides, before meeting with him, to cater to his senses, preparing a provincial yet gourmet meal, over which they could share the time honored tradition of where to steer the village next... ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Thresholds:
Description and Stat Block:
The Governor's missing mansion being somewhat lost in the chaos of the Downtown Occupation - verily ended by the PCs with the slaying of Mo Douqiu, leader of the monster insurgency - it begins to slowly become apparent that there is a political power void at the highest level of leadership within Willowshore, with two clear contenders to rise to the mantle: Shou "Old" Matsuki and Ban-niang “Granny” Hu, the respective leaders of the Southbank and Northshore sides of the Ceiba River that bisects the town geographically, as well as culturally and ideologically. And so, each leader begins working to muster their "base" as towards ushering Willowshore into the Autumn months, preparing to rebuild and reprioritize town efforts to weather what might become the longest Winter in the settlement's history. And so. Will the party pick a side? ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Progress R1
Total Progress @ ♥️♥️♥️♥️♥️ PAUSE!!! R2
The Governor's missing mansion being somewhat lost in the chaos of the Downtown Occupation - verily ended by the PCs with the slaying of Mo Douqiu, leader of the monster insurgency - it begins to slowly become apparent that there is a political power void at the highest level of leadership within Willowshore, with two clear contenders to rise to the mantle: Shou "Old" Matsuki and Ban-niang “Granny” Hu, the respective leaders of the Southbank and Northshore sides of the Ceiba River that bisects the town geographically, as well as culturally and ideologically. And so, each leader begins working to muster their "base" as towards ushering Willowshore into the Autumn months, preparing to rebuild and reprioritize town efforts to weather what might become the longest Winter in the settlement's history. And so. Will the party pick a side? ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
It's probably a ploy, but, is the party willing to take the risk? Were the prisoners on the first floor the only prisoners, or a trick? Who is that screaming for help upstairs? Where even is Mo Douqiu? If the party takes a quick rest, will an innocent person die?... ➤ Level: 5 (base DC 20)
Thresholds of Success (Open only after all five players have rolled!): You need a simple majority to outwit Mo Douqiu: ☆☆☆ If you win, you call his bluff, and may take a brief rest.
Outcome (Open):
Thresholds Critical Success @ ☆☆☆☆☆, ☆☆☆ Success @ ☆☆☆☆☆, ☆ Failure @ ☆☆☆☆ R1
R2
Knocking a shelf over, which crashes into another, and another, falling like dominos, the prisoners all eyeball the main door with increased fear and expectation, as if something would come forth at any minute!
Fortunately, despite making a loud mess, nobody is hurt... ...and all is silent...
Guarded behind a sturdy lock, the victims of Mo Douqiu, bound and terrified, try to urge the party into silent caution. Can they spirit them away without alerting to their presence whomever or whatever is deeper in the teahouse? ➤ Level: 4 (Base DC 19)
Thresholds
Outcome (Open): R1 Auntie Wu @ ?? w/ sickened 1 Kazuki @ ?? w/ sickened 1 Lan @ 13 w/ sickened 1 Sigurd @ ?? Vekka @ 9- ❌ R2
Kazuki tries the lock...
Pick Locks w/ rolled less than 10:
Critical Failure. The Lock jams! Pick Locks w/ rolled a 10, 11, or 12:
Critical Failure. The Lock jams! Pick Locks w/ rolled a 13, 14, or 15:
Critical Failure. The Lock jams! Pick Locks w/ rolled a 16, 17, or 18:
Failure. Pick Locks w/ rolled a 19, 20, or 21:
Failure. Pick Locks w/ rolled a 22, 23, or 24:
Failure. Pick Locks w/ rolled a 25, 26, or 27:
One Success! Pick Locks w/ rolled a 28, 29, or 30:
One Success! Pick Locks w/ rolled a 31 or more: One Success!
The party stands behind Sigurd as he opens the door... but it is Locked!
Anyone adjacent to the door...: The inside smells faintly of... Perception DC 15 (olfactory) or Scent (automatic)
Spoiler:
...ammonia...
Chanting... what could it be? Kazuki, a ghost himself in the forest, scouts ahead once more to learn about the new encampment ahead... ➤ Level: Four (base DC 19)
Thresholds:
Auntie Wu's intuition proves strong - Sigurd and Lan begin to maybe understand - Vekka and Kazuki have yet to gain purchase on the Statue Guardian's strange words... Decoding Ugly Cute (Prompt):
➤ Level: 5 (base DC 20) ➤ Complexity: 3 rounds ➤ Timeframe: 10 minutes ➤ Synergies: Oddity Identification, Multilingual, fluency in 5 or more languages ➤ List of Skills: Arcana (hard), Occultism (easy), Nature (hard), Religion (easy), Society (moderate)
Party Progress: Synergies Sigurd @ ⭐ Round One
Round Two
Round Three
Current Total
...Just on the verge of understanding one sliver, two more slip from grasp, as the party tries to make sense out of the Beneficent if Strange town guardian's words... Decoding Ugly Cute: Speaking in obscure phrases, alluding to things non-tabgible, and positioning query at times from a narrative omniscient perspective more akin to reading a story than having a conversation, it turns out Ugly Cute, despite speaking the common tongue, is difficult to understand! ➤ Level: 5 (base DC 20)
Synergies
Round One
Round Two
Round Three
When Sigurd looks as Ugly Cute, some of the things he says seem like they might actually make sense... Decoding Ugly Cute: Speaking in obscure phrases, alluding to things non-tabgible, and positioning query at times from a narrative omniscient perspective more akin to reading a story than having a conversation, it turns out Ugly Cute, despite speaking the common tongue, is difficult to understand! ➤ Level: 5 (base DC 20)
Synergies
Round One
Round Two
Round Three
➤ Level: 5 (base DC 20)
Progress Tracker: List of Questions
Number of Decoded Answers: ??
A couple hours in, and the party’s progress seems pained and strugglesome… …the soul of Ugly Cute slowly begins to slip beyond their grasp… …unless…
Kazuki Aids Vekka by lifting some stone for him. Ritual to Restore Ugly Cute's Spiritual Vessel:
➤ Level: 5 (base DC 20)
Round One
Round Two
Current Progress: ⭐⭐⭐⭐
Ugly Cute's spirit seems to be lingering on the threshold between planes of reality... ...will the Party pull though?
Kazuki: As the outcomes of everyone's checks are already know, if you choose to Aid for round two, I will apply it to a random teammate.
➤ Level: 5 (base DC 20)
The figure attempts to skulk away...
...does the party give chase?
The party "sneaks" up to the Lumber Camp - perfectly confident that they remain totally and completely unseen! - in roughly two groups, with Vekka going his own way, Auntie Wu, Lan, and Sigurd clustering together, while Kazuki...
Party Progress (Open):
Part One Auntie Wu w/ Stealth vs DC 23 @ 18 Kazuki w/ Stealth vs DC 23 @ 15 Lan w/ Stealth vs DC 23 @ 21 Sigurd w/ Stealth vs DC 23 @ 15 Vekka w/ Stealth vs DC 23 @ 22 Auntie Wu w/ Stealth vs DC 24 @ 4 ❌
Current Progress
Part Two
Part Three
Auntie Wu w/ ?? vs ?? @ ??
Arriving close, they begin to cross the breach, keeping a lookout for the ambush they are most certainly walking into...
Return to Noperra-Bo Lumber Camp (Part Two): ➤ Level: Three (base DC 18) ➤ Complexity: 5 rounds total, broken up 2/1/2 ➤ Timeframe: 10 minutes Part Two (1 check): Locating a Point of Entry
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