Test number 322, The Experiment's page

After the lantern does its work, 322 bends over Zey's body and reads the words of a scroll. Before everyone's eyes, the wizard's flesh melts away, leaving nothing but bones and a smear of blood on the ground.

Decompose Corpse

As is her custom, she says little of what is on her mind, but still the Experiment looks into the distance and reflects, His flesh is gone, and his soul trapped, leaving nothing but a mystery. Through this, I have proven my worth, haven't I Professor? I know now nothing I do will release me from the hooks you have in my life, but perhaps this will earn me a future with some small measure of autonomy.

Thanks everyone, and great job to the GM.

The Experiment briefly considers helping one of the others before reconsidering. She draws out a scroll and reads it, determined to end this.

Level check vs. DC10 to read Slay Living scroll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Melee touch via spectral hand: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
damage with save: 3d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 6, 4) + 9 = 25
damage if save fails: 10d6 + 9 ⇒ (2, 2, 4, 2, 3, 3, 4, 1, 6, 6) + 9 = 42
Fort DC17 for the scroll

The best of the creepy spells would probably be Ghoul Touch, hoping for paralysis and then a CDG. That would be foiled by a DC16 Fort save, a miss with the touch or a ring of Freedom of Movement.

She can do direct damage via a Slay Living scroll (DC17, 10% failure chance from level check plus have to make a touch attack). Upside is about 50 damage average and maybe dead, downside is maybe 20 average.

Players: Should I attack, heal or try to wake Marnarius?

322 reels indeed from the mage's attention. She holds her place and speaks the words of healing, channeling the light side of the void's emptiness into her body healing her own wounds.

Cure Serious Wounds: 3d8 + 7 ⇒ (3, 4, 8) + 7 = 22

Sorry, it occurred to me late that you might have been waiting on my action. I was waiting on the initiative round to Roll over, but that's pretty silly because rounds are cyclical...

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Time Shudder: 1d100 ⇒ 88
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Finally

As one used to pain, 322 takes the shock of the lightning in stride and, with their hated enemy finally visible, she grows wings of inky blackness and inches forward, away from the others to avoid another clustered attack.

She watches for his next move, hoping to catch him in the moment of concentration. The moment he moves (mouth, hands or body), she will focus the void upon him to steal his breath and injure him with the pressure of emptiness.

(Swift) Wings of darkness, (move) 25' east, (standard) Ready action to hit Zey with Interstellar void as soon as he does anything (hopefully as he is casting).
Interstellar void (Dc17 Fort for half): 7d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 4, 3, 2, 4, 5) = 26

Sadly I used 322's one and only heal scroll in the Lizard fight when Zurnzal was in serious danger of going down. The only thing else she has in that tier is Breath of Life, but that doesn't help, nor does dispel magic.

Thinking ahead here, boss. What do you think about Dust of Darkness versus an invisible person?

http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/wondrous-items/wondrous-items/c-d/dust- of-darkness

This shimmering black dust causes one creature to be coated in a layer of darkness for 1 minute.

This first sentence seems to imply it would outline him as a shadowy form and might elevate him from total concealment to just regular 20% concealment that everyone would see as a shadowy figure in the normally lit room.

322 continues to concentrate on the zone indicated by the dragon. She hopes that she can pinpoint the invisible man through his auras enough to target him with... something, or at least to help the others.

Yeah, I should have mentioned that I don't give a hoot about this round...

Not really bothered by the effects of the time shudder either way, 322 continues her focus on the magic auras and spellcasting coming from above in the hopes she can pinpoint their target.

Time shudder: 1d100 ⇒ 83
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Continue with detect magic, round 2

322 shouts something, but it is not in a commonly spoken language. Strangely though, she turns her back on Zey and begins scanning around, high and low and no longer paying attention to the wizard before her.

She stops, casts a spell and looks around, starting by looking overhead above Zey and the others.

322 has the tongues curse. If anyone speaks Aklo or Auran, I have something to share...

Will vs. slow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

All her premonitions and her Professor's plans had come to fruition. 322 knew this was her moment, her chance to shine. She speaks an incantation and reaches out towards the hated Zey using a piece of her own life force as a conduit.

Ghoul Touch, Melee touch via Spectral Hand DC16 Fort or paralyzed for X rounds: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 231d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

She then moves into the room, circling to the north corner as she draws out her most valuable possession, a scroll of Slay Living.

I forgot that Spectral Hand was level 4 spells and below only, so had to switch to a cast spell, in this case Ghoul Touch via Spectral Hand and a move to the NW corner of the map.

322 has some tricks - Slay living on a scroll if she can make the level check (DC17 Fort or loads of damage, ok damage on a save), and Ghoul touch (DC16 Fort or be paralyzed for 1d6+2 rounds). Both could take him out. If 322 gets an action in the door-opening round (and she might because of her position in initiative), she'll probably try the Slay Living. Also, I silenced Shohiraj so if she moves quickly, she can mess up Zey's casting for a couple rounds.

322 steps into view (more than 20' away). Seeing trouble she draws out a scroll and says, "This will deaden the sound of the door for a few seconds." She reads the words on the scroll and targets Shohiraj, cloaking her in divine silence.

Scroll of Silence (3 rounds' duration.)

While others deal with the door, she begins casting, focusing to extend a part of her life force beyond her mortal body.
will save to cast Spectral Hand: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Spectral Hand damage to self: 1d4 ⇒ 4

With that done, and outside the radius of the silence, she pulls out her wand and activates it and through the extension of her life force, touches Shohiraj to complete the healing ritual.

Cure Moderate Wounds wand: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 4) + 3 = 15
Healing Shohiraj through spectral hand. She'll heal anyone else who's hurt if she has time.

322 couldn't quite join in the others' joy in the reunion or in causing destruction as her consuming motivations were far beyond those of this mortal realm. She instead watches the exchanges with the dispassionate mien of a scientist, for that was all she knew beyond the Tapestry - and that all-consuming maelstrom and void was for her dreams, waking and otherwise.

Caught somewhat by surprise, she starts at Marnius' question but quickly composes an answer, "Just the one and it's meant for Him..."

With that, she returns the device to the folds of her cloak and resumes her study, ever patient.

"It cannot be me," Says a voice from the shadows. 322 emerges and pulls a small lantern out of a nook beneath her shadowstuff cloak, for al to see, "If we are destined to kill Aram Zey, I am to activate this on the moment of his death so his soul never finds its way to Pharasma's Boneyard, and can never be returned to his mortal body. That is my mission and I must not stray..."

What would she do if I did? She always finds me, no matter where I hide...

Shush, you.

Yeah, I'm sure.

Her options are pretty much limited to literal bad touches, and now that I've been through a combat with her, I'm ready with the good tactics (get out of the way, fire up Spectral Hand, touch baddies/allies as needed).

The Experiment smiles silently to herself as it occurs to her that this is another sort of Dark Tapestry that calls across the planes to the beyond. She's not sure that this is exactly the same, but to her slightly cracked mind, the similarities are close enough to elicit some tittering on her part, though for now she holds it together and remains silent and watchful and crouched, ready to pounce if needed.

And hopefully we don't bump into someone who just saw Shelia in a previous room...

This seems to be going well.

Sorry 322 isn't adding much at times here. She knows just about nothing about the mission other than what she has been told by you guys (other than knowing we will be facing Aram Zey, which she has already shared) so she can only react.

What does that even mean? We're here now, so what's next?

Feeling like an accessory among a group that knows entirely more than her and isn't forthcoming with information, 322 waits instructions, hiding in the shadows and watching for trouble. She wasn't here to know, it seems, just to prove herself and help when needed.

322 takes to the shadows like one born to it. Her hand still tingles with remnant negative energy, ready to strike if one of these Pathfinders needs it...

Not much for skills that way. I think I'll hold onto this Inflict spell rather than healing with 322's wand for the time being.
Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

Worried that the fight is taking too long, the Experiment speaks the language of the beyond again and makes her hand a living conduit of the negative energies of the Dark Tapestry. She steps forward to deliver a terrible blow, but misses.

Her hand, however, remains charged with the fell energies of the Void.

Cast Inflict Serious Wounds, step up to deliver the touch. Will DC17 for half damage

Melee touch, damage: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 83d8 + 7 ⇒ (7, 6, 2) + 7 = 22

After Zurnzal's attack, 322 concentrates on the chaos and mind-warping infinity of the Beyond and focuses that on the lizard thing before him. If nothing else, this may delay the thing's assault.

Having another thought, she draws forth her wand and steps out of reach in case the half-orc needs to be healed once more.

Gift of Madness on F2, draw healing wand, 5' step south

Seeing that things are now going quite badly for Zurnzal, 322 thinks she can prove her mettle by helping to keep the man alive for another few seconds. She pulls out a scroll and reads it.

Caster Level check to activate Heal (DC12): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

She darts forward to deliver the healing energy to the embattled man.

Read scroll, move straight north to touch range, deliver the Heal to Zurnzal (110 hp healed)

The Experiment ducks into a safe space between bookshelves and begins to chant in an ancient and eldritch tongue. Pointing at the nearest of the beasts, she fills its mind with hate and chaos and the desire for pain.

5' step as needed to get out of trouble and cast Murderous Command Will DC15 on the closest lizard thing.

Focused on the auras, 322 barely sees the creatures themselves for what they are...

Knowledge: Planes (and a second roll if you actually want 2): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 141d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

In a quiet voice, 322 speaks the gibbering language of the beyond and concentrates, looking into the room with her eyes glittering.

Probably should have done this earlier, but, Cast Detect Magic ahead. She'll hold concentration while the others move ahead.

As foretold, the item of this Society's unravelling is in my hand. Portents and tests are everywhere... Is it time?

As they approach the doors, 322 speaks quietly to the others, clearly affected by some recent event and once more withdrawn into her strange inward focus, "I should say, I have reason to believe that we will have an... encounter with the Master of Scrolls himself while we are here. All of my Professor's other Prophesies have come exactly true, so I have every reason to believe this one as well. Prepare yourselves."

322 concentrates silently and cloaks her body in a mantle of shadowy darkness, the light-sucking Void made solid.

Burn another hour of Cloak of Darkness

That order looks lovely to me.

"Though of course, that can also be activated once we need a big distraction, like when it's time for us to go. Maybe I'll wait..." 322 drifts away, as though she had never said a word to any mortal ear. She patiently waits for their Leader to tell the group when to move, her eyes now focused on the infinity.

"Yes, if the time is now, I will need to "activate" the statue. Tell me where we are meeting."

I know the feeling. I've taken to saving in a separate document, just in case the post gets eaten.

I now post in Firefox with the Lazarus extension running. It remembers everything you've written and allows you to fill-in forms and to regenerate server-eaten posts.

In the times before Lazarus, I tried to do CTRL-A, CTRL-C before posting to put everything in my clipboard, but I had to remember and am fallible.

322 moves among the handlers and what crowd is present intervening with innocent seeming questions or comments meant to draw the eyes away when it seems that someone's glance might be moving to the wrong place.

Aid another on Stealth?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

43875-3 For Aestrid Tularssan

Yeah, I'm quite enjoying this story and the interactions despite twiddling my thumbs a bit in this phase.

While this happens, and following orders, 322 makes her way over to one of the handlers and, playing the part of a wide-eyed neophyte (not that far off for her), she engages one of them, asking about what the animals are, and how they were captured and so on.

She is a rather attractive specimen, when her mind is on earthly affairs and not on the void of the great beyond...

322 overheard Rataji's comment and, stepping up, answers, "She and I," indicating Shohiraj, "are done our parts I think and are here for orders or to help... What we are helping with is unknown because nobody talks to anybody, but that's not my job."

She gazes back towards the statue and counting on the anonymity of strangers, says, "For my part, and when the time is right I will be able to 'Activate' the Founder over there which should be interesting. She has the keys she came for, but what they are keys to is again unknown to me."

As far as I can tell, 322's secret mission is in the bag (and the other one is unattainable just yet) so if anyone wants some help, she'll help if she can and is asked.

"So, do you have anything else to do?" The Experiment asks Shoriraj as they approach, "I was told something about a lantern, but I'm supposed to just come across it and use it when it's time."

322 isn't really the chatty sort, but it was novel to have someone new to talk to.

"Should we try the menagerie? I think some of the others were headed there and we should report our success..." The Experiment's voice trails away as it often does, in alien and eldritch thought.

While Shohiraj presses the Pathfinder Janira, 322 nonchalantly circles around the statue, patient and careful as she waits for the exciting tale to reach its height of distraction. Her eyes search the statue itself to see if there is an obvious way to attach the device as she eyes the crowd, studying for a way to do the deed without being seen.

Analytical and studious as the Professor would have it, she considers whether there ways to position herself out of line of sight with the crowd. Ideas she considers include moving out of sight and sneaking back, simply moving to a part of the statue that is out of line of sight and sneaking it there, maybe something with her dust of darkness to give herself concealment and sneak in in more plain sight. All avenues remain open and possible...

Not sure what to try here as the descriptions have been a little sparse vis a vis her desire to attach this thing somehow without being seen. Is it a question of pressing it somewhere and activating it some way? Is there a particular niche that the device should be lodged in? Does she know anything about how it works like her briefing intimates? Should I be rolling anything?

"I will come. I would like to look on this statue..." The Experiment answers, her voice trailing as if thinking of something else far away as her gaze raises to just above the horizon.

Is a founder of the Society a grand enough receptacle, Professor? Will it take to the resonance of the Beyond like your homunculi did?

Her eyes drop to the current place and time and she follows Shohiraj toward the statue to look on it and see if there is a chance to leave her mark. As she walks, a cloak of inky darkness settles over her shoulders, blurring her form somewhat. She catches up to Shohiraj and asks her, "Do you know anything of Aram Zey? I had a... dream?... about him."

No Know:Local for me. Activating the first hour of Cloak of Darkness since she has many of them.

Should I tell them about my Benefactor, my Professor? Should I share my secret missions? No... not until the time is ripe.

When a plan crystallizes, the experiment pops out of a reverie of sorts, "I will need some supplies before we hit the wall of names. Shall I meet you there?"

Gonna buy a scroll of Silence (L2), Obscuring Mist x2 (L1), Comprehend Languages (L1), Decompose Corpse (UM, L1) = 250 gp of 295 gp starting cash

"Indeed, is our infiltration meant to be one of stealth while our brothers attack or are we to hide our identities and move in plain sight? Also, do we have any intelligence on who or what may be guarding these targets?" 322 probes, her inflection, vocal cadence and word choice continuing to be somewhat... alien.