Soosan's page

Having roused her team long enough before breakfast to practice drilling some tactics, Soosan is entirely unconcerned with their opinion of her audacity. She eats quickly and efficiently, and keeps one eye roving between the door(s) and windows for any potential threats to the tranquility of their breakfast.

Tactics Prepared: Mountaineering Training, Pincer Attack, Tactical Takedown

Soosan's eyes gain a faraway expression, softening her normally stern features. "Hmm... Much of my last two hundred years have been spent traveling the Mwangi Expanse, training isolated villages to defend themselves from whatever local threats they faced. It was...demoralizing, seeing the same gruesome reality, over and over. So I trained some people to be my replacements and came north for a change of pace, to refresh and reset myself. Hopefully I'll be able to rejoin them someday. It will...be good to see family again. ... Or at least, what's left of it." Memories of a little human boy growing into a man and dying of old age surface, but she shakes off the melancholy quickly. "Anyway, I appreciate the structure and goals of the Pathfinder Society. It allows me to help others, as is my calling, but gives me more flexibility in how to do so, as well as granting me less depressing missions, such as this one. It has been a good change for me."

Soosan channels her inner drill sergeant: "Left! Left! Left, right, left!"

Warfare Lore DC 14: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Success for 4 sp

Sure, let's make the toy dragon another toy dragon (or whatever) to keep it company. Of course, Soosan would NOT feel confident to make the primary roll.

Humiliation blooms across Soosan's cheeks. She picks herself up, and nods sheepishly at Henit's proposal.

Crafting to Aid: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Cue sad trombone sound effect. At least it's not another crit failure.

<sigh> Pity it isn't swimming. Soosan shrugs and begins slinking across the room.

DC 16 Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Hero Point reroll DC 16 Stealth: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Well, folks. I apologize. Looks like it was meant to be.

During a brief ten minute lull, Soosan drills the group on a new set of Tactics. Now the team will be able to climb, form a pincer movement, and swim with ease.

Current prepared Tactics: Mountaineering Training, Pincer Attack, Naval Training

OHMYGOSHYOUGUYS! I came prepared!

The corner of Soosan's lip quirks up. "Everyone: remember your Mountaineering Training? Let's go!" She grabs the immovable rods and the rope and begins climbing up one of the pillars, using the immovable rods like hooks in the wood. Once she's at the top, she sticks a rod vertically against the floor of the platform. After affixing the rope to the loop, she drops the rope down for anyone else to climb.

Everyone within 30 feet of Soosan has a 20 foot climb speed. Woo!

@GM: Will we have 10 minutes between challenges?

If anyone is out of Hero Points, speak up!

My vote is first to give one to whoever's out of them. If everyone has one, I vote Lephos and Bustral.

"Sure, might as well." It seems pointless to dither when there's no way to determine anything useful.

Hm. Yes. Focus on me, while the others whittle you down. Soosan's not exactly thrilled about being the group's meat shield, but if it works it works. She might as well play the part, even if it means getting knocked out of this fight. Staring down her attacker, she stabs her shortsword straight at its face.

Shortsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Piercing damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Then she slaps some salve on the bite marks so they don't get infected and raises her shield.

Battle Medicine DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Soosan's HP healed: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6

Soosan will ↺ Shield Block the first attack that would damage her. Hardness 4 (+2 vs. bludgeoning)

[ooc]◆ Strike, ◆ Battle Medicine, ◆ Raise Shield (AC 18), ↺ Shield Block

"Ah. It's a river drake. Well folks, we've been made aware of its 'breath weapon' already. Spread out so it's less efficient to use that. Also beware the teeth and claws, though I suspect they won't hurt more than expected," Soosan informs her team.

She holds her position for a moment, waiting until Lephos is finished hurling shreds of metal at their foe. Then, taking her own advice, she strides confidently across the sand. Raising her shield up to her nose, she peeks over the rim and draws her shortsword.

Soosan will ↺ Shield Block the first attack that would damage her. Hardness 4 (+2 vs. bludgeoning)

◆ Stride, ◆ Raise Shield (AC 18), ◆ Interact, ↺ Shield Block

Oh, bother. Soosan's stomach drops, but only slightly. This will not be a fight to the death. And since this creature seems peeved, perhaps it will talk. "Hello! You wouldn't mind telling us something about yourself, would you?" She calls out as she raises her shield.

Recall Knowledge to ID the creature: +7 to Arcana, Occultism, Society.

She steps a little closer, aware that being bunched up against anything dragon-like is generally a poor tactic.

Soosan will ↺ Shield Block the first attack that would damage her. Hardness 4 (+2 vs. bludgeoning)

◆ Raise Shield (AC 18), ◆ Recall Knowledge, ◆ Step

"Kobolds bleed, sir, and as brooms feel no pain." Soosan replies dryly as she patches her wounds.

Treat Wounds on self, DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Again, it doesn't work. I need to replace everything in my healer's kit, don't I? This stuff is a bunch of duds. Disgusted, she drinks her potion.

Minor Healing Potion: 1d8 ⇒ 5

13/14 HP. Gonna have to be good enough.

DC 15 Fort vs. Dust: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 ...Success
DC 15 Fort vs. Dust: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 ...Failure

Suddenly overcome by dust, Soosan nearly hacks her lungs out trying to clear them so she can breathe. Raising her shield, she shouts out: "Pincer Attack!"

Everyone can Step as a Reaction. Those who end up next to a foe make it off guard to them. Prynn and Henit stand the most to gain by this. I'll grant Prynn an extra reaction to do this.

Soosan will ↺ Shield Block the next strike that would hit her. Shield hardness 4 (+2 vs. bludgeoning)

◆ Cough, ◆ Raise shield (AC 18), ◆ Pincer Attack, ↺ Shield Block

"Pincer Attack!" Soosan commands, shifting a bit so she and Prynn can flank the red broom.

Everyone within 30 feet of Soosan can Step as a Reaction. If you end up next to a enemy, it's Off Guard* until the start of my next turn.

* See link for more details.

Curling her fingers just so, she casts Live Wire at the red broom.

Live Wire vs. Red, off guard: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
See link for CS,S,F,CF details
Slashing damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Electric damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

◆ Pincer Attack, ◆◆ Cast a spell

At this point, perhaps a bot of Prynn is warranted.

@GM Tiger: Would you like me to do it? If so, is it safe to assume she had a weapon already drawn? She cast Electric Arc on her last turn, and didn't explicitly draw a weapon during this combat, though with 10 minutes between combats it seems likely that she'd have had either her bow or her scimitar drawn at the start of combat. Thoughts?

Great! Thanks!

@Prynn: You get an extra attack, and an extra reaction to do so.

Elemental blast is (unfortunately) not a strike, so you probably want to pick another ally for Strike Hard.

If a retcon is allowed, I'd like to switch the extra reaction and Switch Hard! to Prynn. If not, that's okay. It's a learning experience.

Well, poo.

It doesn't take an experienced fighter to realize that these self-mobile brooms don't seem bothered by most types of damage. At least they can burn. First, though, it pays to get into proper position.

"Pincer Attack!" She shouts, stepping to the side so it's more difficult to flank her, then commands the kineticist: "Lephos, Strike Hard!"

Pincer Attack: All allies can Step as a Reaction. (I'll grant Lephos an extra Reaction to do this.) See link above; this can make foes off-guard.

Strike Hard!: Lephos can attack as a Reaction.

◆ Pincer Attack, ◆◆ Strike Hard

"Great work, team! Who needs healing?" Soosan glances around and notes the wounds on Lephos and Prynn. Grabbing her healers' toolkit, she wraps a bandage around the worst of Prynn's wounds.

Treat Wounds on Prynn, DC 15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Unfortunately, she doesn't wrap it tightly enough, and it bleeds through the cloth too quickly. "I apologize. It looks like we're about to start again. I need to get into position." She trots back to the center so that everyone is within 30 feet of her.

Can anyone else heal Lephos and Prynn? Per the most recent combat tracker, they're down 7 & 8 HP, respectively.

I've seen GM Tiger post on the forums and in one of my other games, and I PM'd him a few days ago. He hasn't responded to that.

Happy New Year, everybody! Who's still alive? ;D

Sounds good. Happy holidays and New Year, everyone! See you on Jan 02, 2026!

Works for me. When should we check back in?

"Pincer Attack!" Soosan shouts, stepping to the side, then drawing her shortsword and snapping her shield up. "Lephos, hang in there!"

Pincer Attack: Everyone gets to Step as a Reaction. See link above for details.

Drilled Reactions: Prynn gets an extra reaction this round to Step for the Pincer Attack.

◆ Pincer Attack, ↺ Step, ◆ Interact, ◆ Raise shield

I will be unable to post on the 23rd and the 29th. I will likely be able to post from the 24th through the 28th, but it's not guaranteed. Please bot me as needed. Thank you!

With her banner visible on her shield*, Soosan strides to the center of the arena and shouts: "Henit: Strike Hard!"
Henit gets to make a Strike as a Reaction. Soosan grants him a free extra Reaction to do this (and only this) this round, per Drilled Reactions.

* all allies in a 30-foot emanation a +1 status bonus to Will saves and DCs against fear effects

"Ranged combatants: Fire at will! Mind your allies! Melee fighters: Charge!" She seems in her element directing the assault.

◆ Stride, ◆◆ Strike Hard!

Soosan makes her way to the back of the group, eyeing their preparations with the practiced eye of a commander. "Remember our drills. You know what to do when I shout 'Pincer Attack' or 'Strike Hard!'." She raises her shield and readies her shortsword, though in truth it makes more sense for her to aid others' strikes than to flail ineffectually on her own.

Once per turn, I can grant one PC an extra reaction to use on the Tactic currently in play.

"Oh, I think we'd all like to actually *do* something after all that, so let's go to the Swords school."

"Well, we may as well engage in some training exercises." Soosan happily offers to boss lead the group in learning the ins and outs of the tactics she favors. It gets a bit tedious after a while, though.

Soosan glances around at the other Pathfinders, wishing she was any good at swiping things (or that someone else would swipe it while she's distracting the quasit with her dithering). "Well, I'm not overly fond of gambling. Is anyone else interested in the offer?"

"Oooh! I thought you wanted *us* to give you an hour of good luck, not the other way around. Now come the questions: What do you know about what will happen to and/or around us in the next hour? And what lengths do we think you'll go to, whether direct or otherwise, in order to increase the likelihood that whoever takes your boon will die within the hour?" Soosan replies, giving Yrgacix a piercing look.

Perception +6: Does she see the amulet (or anything that could be the amulet) on Ygracix's person? Or anywhere?

Deception +2, so let's try Diplomacy:

"Well, Ygracix, I am called Soosan. How will you ascertain that the boon of good luck works as you intend? I assume you're wise enough to avoid being fooled by charlatans."

Diplomacy DC 15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"Yes," Soosan replies, keeping it brief. Realizing that it didn't answer her question, but rather introduced itself, she reciprocates. "I'm Soosan." Okay, this may be less simple than I thought. Still, the last two weren't hard.

"Hello. You seem impatient to get somewhere. How can we help?" Soosan figures that an impatient individual would prefer to skip the pleasantries.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"True. Since the order doesn't matter, we'll just do the first one anyone mentions. So, the lowliest demon. This ought to be interesting."

Soosan raises her shield, on which is drawn her Commander's Banner icon: crossed swords over a sunburst.

Not that it pertains here, but all allies in a 30-foot emanation a +1 status bonus to Will saves and DCs against fear effects.

She calls out in a clear, ringing voice: "Excellent strike, Bustral! Now Brokout: Strike Hard!"

No mechanical benefit, since we're not in initiative, but she only has +5 to hit. Her best way to help is to let the hard hitters do their thing.

"Well, that'll be interesting." Soosan pulls out a handful of chalk and some candles. "These'll make a fantastic mess, all ground together. How about it?"

Accepting the assessments of her teammates, Soosan replies to the void worm: "Yes, in fact we are. How would you like to handle this?" She's ready to volunteer the group for a silly face contest to entertain this thing if that's what it takes.

Following the others to the yellow portal, Soosan muses on proteans. I know I've heard that term before, but in which context? Hmm...

Arcana & Occultism +7

Ooo, well done! Soosan nods appreciatively at Prynn's suggestion.

"Oh, goodness! Oughtn't we go around to all the creatures and ascertain if this is indeed the one we're supposed to work with? What if it's a different one and we fail because we just grabbed the first thing we saw?" Soosan's exasperation is held in check relatively well, despite how annoyed she is at being tested this way.

DC 13 Deception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Soosan tries to look like she's exactly who Observer 1221646 wants to talk to. It clearly doesn't work.

Soosan has +2.

Looking at everyone else's character sheets, it appears that she might have the highest modifier, though I couldn't access Henlit's sheet.

Wish me luck!

Greetings!

Oh, bother. Is there a loophole? "Ah, Observer 1221646. How do you do? I am called Soosan. My associates and I would like to know the exact phrasing of your contract with said Kreighton Shaine. If said contract does not explicitly prevent you from doing so, that is."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Ooo, impressive. A being of law and order will respond positively to that tactic. Soosan awaits the being's response.

"perhaps an examination of the runes might provide insight into which to choose first.", says Bustral as he steps forward to examine them.

Attempting Knowledge checks on the runes. Arcane/Occultism both +7; Nature/Religion both +4. If anyone has higher, please feel free to try instead.

"Good idea. Let's see what we can figure out. If we can't parse it from here, Brokout's idea is a good enough way to start the process of elimination." Soosan joins Bustral in inspecting each of the circles.

Soosan will Aid Bustral on any Arcana or Occultism rolls with a +7 in each.

"And I am called Soosan." An air of command is exuded by this dark-skinned elven woman. She takes the time to meet each of her teammates in the eye and memorize their names.

"Henlit, in my limited experience, this seems like a remarkably simple assignment, which means it will challenge us in unexpected ways. Now, everyone: to whom should we report to first? I suggest Kreighton Shaine, the Master of Scrolls, because I believe his office is the closest." She glances around to gauge everyone's reactions. This part of her job is the hardest: gathering input and allowing her team to help make decisions. When one is being attacked, there's no time to take a vote; the most capable should make the necessary decisions quickly and everyone else should follow them. That's the best way to stay alive.