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Believer offers Tessa a tight smile and a nod of approval. She gives Rexus much the same look, "Thank you, Rexus. This is definitely something that must be handled by the book." She says with some warmth, giving his shoulder an apologetic squeeze.

Glancing down at herself, she realizes she is still only partially dressed. No time to don her full disguise, so she slung her bag off her shoulder and shimmied quickly into her breeches and shirt, tying her hair scarf to cover her feathery locks.
Disguise: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Then she heads upstairs to see her customer. "Here is your tea, Madame. It's my own special blend. I do hope it will give you some re-leaf." She says, smiling at her own bad pun. "Is there anything else I can do for you?" She asks and searches the woman's face for signs of what might be ailing her.

Profession(Herbalist): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Are we just on the main floor amongst the other customers or on the 2nd floor where we've been sleeping?

Zem claps a gloved hand over her mouth to stifle her laughter at Dirk's antics. Still shaking with giggles, she gives Pertinax a thumbs up approval for the cover music.

"Congratulations!" She tells Zephyr, glad that two of their membership had received such rewarding offers.

"Dirk, is there anything published in the Infosphere about Kreel's demise yet? If not, I feel like we should send a warning to his contact. Let them know that he's gone."

A wave of paranoia washes over Zemfira and she suddenly feels inhibited about speaking any further suspicions out loud here. Remembering speaking with the Director earlier and something Zephyr had said before, she taps the elf's shoulder and then her temple, pantomiming that she wants to speak to him telepathically.

Do you think it's possible the corporation planted a bug in this apartment? Maybe we should be careful what we say here... if we don't want to be next on their hit list.

Believer narrows her eyes at Llewela's discovery, sniffing and wrinkling her nose at what she smells. There is a certain familiarity here and she thinks back to their exploration of the Livery.

The group notices two things in this last chamber: first, a small nest in the northeast corner that seems to have been used at one point by a small humanoid creature—perhaps another grimple gremlin—but not enough material remains in the nest to reveal more. Second, three seemingly untouched crates sit in the northeast corner of the ruined chambers, largely intact.

Casting guidance she considers the problem from multiple angles.

Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10
The Grimples were tiny creatures, but while they were stealthy, she did not think they were capable of evading notice so completely. Not to mention they would carry their accursed lice anywhere they inhabited. No, she suspected they were dealing with something else now.

Knowledge(Planes): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 = 23
Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21
Knowledge(Nobility): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 1 = 17
This is literally all her knowledges, hopefully something clicks. If the nobility check isn't relevant at all, apply to Rexus since she's a little suspicious of him now too, lol!

Rexus stammers for a second, seemingly not having realized just how bad this situation looks. "Ah, yeah, you all got back so late last night, and we couldn't do anything for her immediately without disturbing the scene..." his words trail off, obviously not finding a good excuse for their actions. He looks hurt as Believer uses her detect evil power, wounded you'd even try. "We only wanted to give you your rest, what would you have done for Jay? She died instantly, there was nothing either you or I could have done for her. Be upset if you wish, but focus that anger on whatever or whoever caused this, not me."

Believer's burgundy eyes flare with anger, casting a fiendish glow as if lit from within. But her voice drops low as she speaks through her gritted teeth. "How would you know what I could have done? From your long years at the elbow of a Sacred Healer of the people? From the countless fevers you have broken and bones you have set? From the hands you have held when all hope has fled? No? How could you know when you're so worried about disturbing the bloody scene. Next time you can't be bothered to dirty your hands, call someone who damn well cares." She knew she was likely being unfair to the former noble. Likely there hadn't been anything she could have done. But she was a goddess cursed Healer for Milani's sake! Nothing hurt her worse than the loss of a young life when help was within reach. Now it was far too late and she would never know. And sometimes anger was easier to bear than the hurt.

"You saying someone did this on purpose?" Korva says, her voice as strained as an avian's can be.

Believer shook her head. "We can't say for certain that anyone meant to hurt Jay. But someone definitely tampered with the wall. Is this where she always slept? You never heard anything like a tapping sound? Not even when you were in another room?"

If Laria followed us down, she will turn to her, if not she will ask her later:
"Is there anything behind this wall that someone might want to access? Could the wall have been destabilized from the level above?"

Her heart broke a little more to see Tessa humming a lullaby to Jay's poor broken body. "C'mon... Let's get her out of there. We'll wrap her in her blanket." She said gently, stroking the girls golden hair. "We can say a blessing for Jay. We'll all help."

Later, when the body is as reposed as they can manage. She put on gloves and retrieved the tools. Using what she had in terms of resources, her healer's and disguise kits, items from the kitchen. She tested for any residue left on them.
Profession(Herbalist): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
I realize this is a CSI-fantasy longshot but maybe she can dust for prints or recover a hair, get a whiff of brimstone or something... XD Also willing to let Rexus try first if he things he can glean some info.

Believer shakes her head with a rueful but affectionate smile as Tessa fell asleep. "By Milani, she has the tolerance of a mouse. We really must make sure to never leave her unattended at a party." She reaches down to scoop her up and carries her to Tessa's bed so she would rest well.

Remembering how susceptible Tessa was to alchohol, she stuck to herbal tea and blended chamomile with rose petals and just a little soothing valerian with a touch of cinnamon to cover the rather pungent smell of the medicinal root.
Herbalism to blend tea: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

And bonus, rose petal tea doubles as an obeisance to Milani, iirc.

When she saw Tessa spiraling she shook her head in bemusement. "I'll brew some tea. Coffee seems like a bad idea."

The leader of said smuggler group doesn't deny that they are indeed smugglers, introducing himself as a druid by the name of Forvian Crowe. When asked, he says that's how they get their small time smuggling done: wild shaping into aquatic creatures and swimming out through the river or through one of the city's many sewers. The group is willing to at the very least work with you, although they have matters of their own to attend to before they can actually join you at the Wasp Nest.

"Innovative!" Believer comments regarding the smugglers' methods.

She made sure to stabilize the guards and offer healing, if needed, to the former prisoners. "Seems so, let's give this place the laugh." She says in answer to Maccha.

She could not help but be a little disappointed and offered Llewella a sadly sympathetic smile. No sign of their missing Milanite mentors and this had been their most promising lead. It became more apparent by the day that Father Blom was likely lost among the ashes of Thrune's violent occupation, though she still stubbornly refused to believe it.

❦❦❦

She ate with gusto beside her friends and nodded along amiably with Maccha's Shop Talk. "We could look into the stolen cache Korva mentioned. With the ban on buying new weapons and increasing our numbers, we need to make sure we can arm our new friends. And maybe upgrade our own." She suggests, "We also might help Rexus with the decoding. Maccha and I both speak Celestial so it might make the process go faster."

She chewed slowly, considering Tessa's suggestion. "It is a concern. Llewela's family is certainly vulnerable. But for myself, I think it's important to be seen and heard for who and what I truly am. My kind are looked on as a sort of unfortunate cost of doing business. But it is a price deferred onto us to pay. We are discarded and despised for circumstances beyond our control, while those responsible enjoy only the benefits of their fell bargains. I will be seen for what I am and what I stand for so that all of Kintargo knows that the bill has come due." She pronounced decidedly.

If we have enough downtime to craft, would like to start accumulating some helpful remedies.
Profession Herbalism to Craft Antiplaugue: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Zemfira inputs some notes through her com device to refer to later. She nods her agreement with Dirk's sentiment. "I think we should speak with Hesara Bhas as well. If she was not conferring with Kreel, she at least saw the event from a different perspective. And I don't think she was interviewed by station security. Should we contact her directly and request a meeting, or try to drop in for a surprise visit?" She was unsure of the protocol and did not want to alienate anyone who might be of aid in the investigation.

She considers their dilemma and decides to try and clarify their situation. "I think we are all glad to be of service in this investigation, Director. But if we are going to be poking our noses in, we're going to need some measure of authority to protect us from having them snipped off. It doesn't seem like you're offering us positions with the Starfinder Society so much as an audition. We're just Academy graduates, fresh off the ship and green as new grass. If we're going to be investigating local gang activity, we're going to need all the help we can get. Can you explain to us what the Starfinder Society will do to support us in this?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

So sorry to hear that, it's a difficult situation. Will be happy to support you to continue here or withdraw as you need.

1d100 ⇒ 19

Some heads turn and you hear some shouts in the distance, but it seems that Parenna's flight moves beyond the scope of your influence as the chaos of the crowd presses in to ogle the spectacle of the burning Ash House and former Sheriff being strung up by the Enforcers of Longacre.

How would you like to carry out the execution?

Sorry for my delay here, guys. Dealing with pain from multiple sources and not feeling well to boot. >.<

Zemfira was looking forward to the meeting today almost as much as breakfast. She had eaten little the night before, treating her system delicately while she coped with the shocking and uncertain circumstances of their arrival to the station. After an evening of contemplation and rest, she was feeling much more herself and thusly famished.

She joined the others in the lobby, greeting Sparks and Dirk as she joined them. "Good morning, I hope you slept as well as I. I expected my dreams would be troubled, but I suppose I was so exhausted I drifted right off. Excellent beds, I must say." She ordered a full breakfast and set to with gusto.

Tessa looks up at Believer like a lost puppy for a moment before she looks back at her writing with a sigh.

"I wasn't even trying to make anything coded. I wanted to write something that inspired and gave others hope, but--" her voice trails off as she shrugs. "I'm just a sheltered noblewoman. I know of nothing, really, outside of the walls of my room. I'm not even sure I can be of any help." Her voice is soft as she expresses her doubts.

Believer frowns slightly at the defeated tone in Tessa's voice and sits down near her, reaching out to take her hand and give it a reassuring squeeze. "I'm not sure sheltered is the right word. From what you told us, imprisoned and neglected is much more accurate. And it sounds to me like they still have a hold on you, right here." She said tapping her temple in illustration.

"Think about it, Tessa. They kept you in a box and made you feel small. Then they made you into a trap. You felt helpless, worthless. But was that the truth? What happened next? Your will became manifest. You stopped them from hurting you. You bonded your soul to Aoede to save her. Blood and bloody thorns girl, you even kept them from enslaving the Fury!" Believer shook her head, ironically enough, in disbelief.

"Look at what Barzillai Thrune is trying to do. Doesn't it feel familiar? Curfews to lock us up in boxes, bans on gatherings and communication so we feel isolated and alone. Death warrants on creatures that serve us as symbols of hope. Denying us finery so we feel small and unimportant and taking away our mint so we all have sour stomachs and terrible breath!" She exclaims dramatically, laughing at her own joke to break some of the tension of the moment.

She composes herself and waits until Tessa meets her eyes before she continues. "My point is, you may be the most experienced rebel of us all. You've been through this before. And not only did you survive, you escaped your oppressors and saved lives that should have been forfeit. You did that, Tessa. Not Aoede, she was at death's door. It was all you."

Zem smiled warmly, Congratulations!" She says, raising her tea for Spark's toast. "Don't feel bad, someone had to get the news first. I'm very happy for you. I'm not really sure what I'm hoping for either. 'Gainful employment' as my father would say. Respectable enough for him to be proud, cool enough that my younger brother will want to hear about it," And be a touch envious of his sister, if she were being completely honest with herself. "And something... meaningful, I guess. Fulfilling, you know?" She shrugged, and sipped her soup.

Believer compliments Laria on the delicious food again. "Poetry? Well, I'd be happy to read some. Unless, of course, it's too private a hobby?" The thoughts in her head were whirling about though. "Actually, verse is an excellent method to encode secret messages... Yes, I may indeed ask you to write something for me, Tessa. Like most physicians, my penmanship is abominable." She adds with a laugh.

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
"Hmmm, the Silver Star. Why does that ring a bell? Oh, that's an old shrine to Sarenrae. Where that performer set up shop, right? What was her name? Shensen, I think. Yes, that sounds right. Has anyone heard from her since the fire?"

Paloma passed the wands she had borrowed back to their owners. Assuming we spread out the charges, 2 off each.

She enjoyed her time celebrating their mission success and beamed with pride at her Confirmation ceremony. A group of Shoanti, clearly her relatives look on with somber but dignified expressions, save for a young girl who grins and chatters excitedly at Paloma in their native tongue. The elders waste no time in gathering up their belongings and Paloma bids her companions farewell.

"Keep yourselves in one piece, eh? Don't make Cortina work too hard to patch you up." She advises, as she and Cheeper hurry away to catch up with her family.

Sparks emerges from the pool area after an invigorating two-hour frolic in the water, toweling his head dry while wearing a robe.

He has his phone in hand and asks the others, "I got an message from the Starfinders wanting to set up a meeting. It was just addressed to me, but I wasn't sure if we were all meant to come. Did anyone else get a message or a similar invite?"

He shows others the text of the message. See spoiler above.

Zem shakes her head in reply to the question. "Likely they simply replied to you as you were the one to initiate the contact. I think we should stick together, though, for safety."

Zemfira brightens some at the beautiful scenery but still walked with her arms crossed over herself as if she felt a chill. She requests that her room be adjacent or across the hall from at least one other of her friends.

She orders soup and hot tea, following her impulse to treat her shocked system as if she were ill. She knew she likely needed rest but did not wish to be alone. She sent a brief message to her family, letting them know she had arrived safely and her room number if they needed an alternate means of contacting her.

Believer makes a sound of disgust at the smell. "Faugh! Are we doomed to enter the Bog of Stench every time we stick our noses out? Milani's Thorns, where is it coming from?" She was going to have to make some sort of salve to smear beneath her nostrils for just such an occasion. And she knew just what she should scent it with... mint!

Perception(to pinpoint stench): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18
Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"Well, there's Calistria, just as Laria reported." She added, gesturing to the statue.

Zem nods her agreement with Zephyr's idea. She really did want to investigate, though it wasn't a skill she excelled at. She still had a nagging feeling that the dwarf had been targeted for some reason. And with only 50 credits to her name and no idea when more would be incoming, bypassing costs was an attractive option too. But mostly, she just didn't want to separate from her friends. Absalom Station felt very big and lonely in the aftermath of the battle. She felt vulnerable, like she might turn a corner and be lost forever.

"Shame we didn't get paid for our shifts on the Excelsior. I'm afraid I'm running too low on credits to pay my own way. Let's go... I don't like this place, it's too exposed."

She kept a wary eye out for trouble along the way.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

To break the heavy silence she turned to Zephyr as they walked. "What did you mean by client? Did you tutor other students at the academy?" She asks innocently.

Sorry for the backlog here, I thought I posted most of this, but it's been sitting in preview a while, apparently. >.<

"I-- I think I can manage. I'm sorry about how I acted," she tells the others quietly.

"You're fine," Aoede tells her. "I do think we all learned a lesson about letting you drink, though."

"Nonsense!" Believer disagrees, "Laughter is the best medicine. I would prescribe levity for us all, as often as we can find it in these dark days. Not to mention that her smile is quite lovely and all too rare a sight." She said to Aoede, smiling warmly at Tessa to allay her worries.

"But yes, we may as well get on with it now. Can you give us an idea of the layout below? Maybe sketch a quick map?" She asks of Laria as she gathers her things.

❦❦❦

Observing the missing foodstuffs, Believer remembers what Laria had said. "Unless the staff is skimming, or Nan is hungrier than usual, we're going to find more than one anti-social friend down there." She comments as she nodded her readiness to follow.
Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

He suspects that he is used for amusement, and that his demonic parent is watching him, for fun, not watching over him.

I like to write in such "outsider connections" to have plot hooks for the GM. You could have his "demonic family" as either antagonists or extremely risky allies of conveniance.

Ah, I see, you want to give me more work. =P

Your background fluff is yours to craft as you wish, but if it's going to be brought forward to affect the game mechanics or plotline, then it needs to make sense by RAW or at least RAI. So here are some issues I see off the bat:

1) A true sire devil always sires tieflings and they don't actually need to couple with the target to do so, a touch is sufficient. This is not true of a succubus. Their direct offspring with a human are either half-succubus or alu-demons. So I'd be more inclined to say that the fiendish parent could be a half-succubus. That would make you only 1/4 fiend which is more in line with demon-spawn tiefling.

2) Alter Self lets the caster take a humanoid form for a few minutes. A Sire Devil is not a humanoid form. Not even Greater Polymorph can do what you are suggesting. I can't find an existing spell that could pull this off. Much more reasonable to say that the fiendish parent worked some mind-altering spell to leave the mortal parent with a confused memory of the event.

3) What means of communication is the fiendish parent using to contact Aurelius? I've honestly been taking it all as dreams or ravings because it doesn't make sense to me otherwise.

4) I feel like you might have misunderstood Cheliax's outlook on tieflings, even of the infernal variety. They are looked on as "unfortunate side-effects" of compacting with Hell and still treated like second class citizens or even enslaved. As individuals, they have to try twice as hard to prove themselves useful. They are not desirable as noble offspring. Your mother could have had a different outlook, but it would help if she had a reason.

So I'm not saying no, precisely. But I don't see a way to utilize it as it stands. To be frank, I had to look up Nocticula to even know what you've been referencing all this time. So I might be the wrong GM to try this as a sub-plot.

I like APs because I don't have to invent plot hooks and try to motivate players to invest in the storyline. It's already set up. I'll also add that Wrath of Thrune has sort of done away with all the GM training wheels. I don't get any cute little opening scripts for any of the MANY NPC's I'll be introducing, so I will already have plenty to do with what's already in the AP.

I hope that isn't too disheartening. I still want you to play and have fun but I might need more guidance and some tweaking of the backstory to make it work for me. ^_^

In my opinion, this dungeon is one of the hardest Paizo ever made.

We ended up skipping the super dryad (who is a near guaranteed TPK if played by a nasty GM, unless one party member is a CMB specialist),
but yeah, I kind of think it would be more in line with normal paizo balance if the party was level 4.

Not an offense to the GM at all, it is as written.

Oh no, I agree completely. I feel like the Hound Archon, followed by the Dryad (which has level in Swash, iirc) o_O , and then facing the Hound and the level 5 paladin together is seriously meant to kill you all. Especially since it is very possible depending how you progress to face them all at the same time!

In light of how underfunded and underequipped you dudes were, I couldn't in good conscience, do that to you. That would be a CR 12 encounter for a level 3 party. Iomedae does not play fair, lol.

BTW, am I supposed to approve of Aurelius' spoiler as a fever dream or as an origin story? Because I'm not giving you a half-succubus template no matter how interesting you write it! XD

Zemfira aligns her shield toward the greatest threat and resumes her defensive stance, doing her best to protect her comrade from further harm.

I think the map got off kilter again, I did my best to put it how I remembered based on Sparks' and Zem's positions, but it might not be quite right for others.

Believer moves off some distance to sit down on one of the spare beds. She had regained her composure and listened quietly to Tessa's explanation. She tried to recall something she might have heard about this Sarini family.
Knowledge(Nobility) Untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 5

But drew a complete blank. Running her hands through her lilac locks that really did look more like feathers than hair, she tried to understand what Tessa was saying. "Forgive me, I can see this is hard for you. But Aoede has already proven herself. I don't think anyone here is the least bit concerned about her nature. What is concerning is... the Fury." She spat with distaste, unwilling to give the thing's name.

"How is it connected to you? Are you in some sort of compact with it? Is it a patron of some sort? How does it take over your body like that? And is there anything we can do to prevent it from doing so?" Her manner was crisp and businesslike now, lacking her usual warmth and compassion.

Believer burned with humiliation and rage at the Fury's words and she bared her teeth in response, a magenta flush painting her cheeks and flowing down her throat. Of course the devil knew what she was... the dark impulses that bloomed in the neglected recesses of her fiend-tainted soul, but to suggest she intentionally suffered others to remain in pain, that was beyond the pale. She backed away slowly, unwilling to allow the thing to violate the shy girl’s wishes with the unwanted contact.

And then it forced her hand. Of course it did, she thought bitterly. She caught Tessa rather than let her fall. She swept the girl's slight frame up into her scarified arms and called to the others, ”Get something to cover her before she comes around, a blanket or sheet or something.” B quickly deposited her on the closest bed, backing away and averting her eyes to try and spare them both embarrassment, while she made a concentrated effort to remaster herself by taking deep, cleansing breaths.

Zemfira exits the Docking Bay a beat behind Dirk and rushes worriedly to his side at his apparent injury only to snort a laugh at his comical wink. She swats him again with a gloved hand in a motion that is fast becoming a routine between herself and the prankish Dirindi. "Come on, Dirk. There will time for mischief later!" She tells him in mild reproach, though still smiling.

She approaches their contact respectfully, planning to make a good first impression. "Sir, I am graduate Zemfira reporting for duty. Consider me at your service." She greeted Kreel with a deep bow.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Downstairs

Believer plucks out the signet ring from the payment Rexus offered and takes his hand to place it on his palm and fold his fingers back over it. "Do not be so quick to pawn away your keepsakes. Decisions made in grief can be rash and sorely regretted later." She advised him gently before taking her leave with the other ladies to see where they would be staying upstairs.

Upstairs

B was so glad to see a washstand that she went straight to it, pulling off her kerchief. The makeup was a necessary evil of her existence and though she had long since made her peace with wearing it, she was always eager to take it off once she was behind closed doors. She poured the water into the basin and disrobed to the waist to keep her shirt and vest as clean as possible, given that she was going to need to wear them again tomorrow, though she did keep on her undergarment wrapping so as not to shock anyone with a lack of modesty. The skin revealed on her upper torso was so riddled with scars it was hard to distinguish where one ended and another began. But there were also designs there, images of roses and thorny vines wrapping around her biceps and down onto her forearms. Some even gave the appearance of piercing her flesh and depicted blood dripping down from the feigned wound. But given this imagery has been sculpted, carved or branded into her skin, you realize they must have been true wounds once.

Believer was just scrubbing away the last of the paint and toweling off when she became aware that something was dreadfully wrong with Tessa. ”Llewella, did you heal her? I think the blow she took was starting to pain her again downstairs.” But then the girl’s hair changed and Believer was suddenly at loss for what was happening. "Aoede, what..." But then the stalwart twin was down, Believer moved to kneel by her side with concern but raised her narrowed burgundy eyes to this darker version of Tessa.

Knowledge(Planes): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

"My name is Believer, but Tessa knew that. So who, precisely, are you?" She inhales, "I smell the taint of Hell on you."

Believer frowned with concern over the little she gleans from the perfunctory examination of Rexus. "I see. I might like to revisit this, when we have the luxury of more time and supplies." She gives him a companionable pat on the shoulder to alleviate some of the awkwardness of enduring the close attention of someone he had just met.

She blinks in surprise at the sight of the coffer. That's more gold than I would see in a month of Toildays. She thinks, resolving herself not to touch it. Working for donations was not particularly lucrative, but it kept you in people's good graces, which was perhaps worth more given her obvious heritage and history.

She seems worried at Tessa's agitation. "Are you feeling worse, Tessa? Any nausea? That can be a sign of damage, up here." She said, tapping one shiny black nail to her temple to illustrate. "I humbly request you consider healing again, if not from me, perhaps from Llewela? I can see you trust her." She urged the girl, trying to convey only warmth and concern.

She believed she might know one way to brighten her mood. "You are not the only one bereft of night clothes. If we are provided fresh linens, I can show you a trick. A sheet can be draped and tied around the body in such a manner to appear much like a gown. It is quite comfortable, so long as you do not sleep on the knots." She added with a wink.

Believer took the letter and quickly reviewed it before passing it along. There was that pesky assumption of death again, well, it had nothing to do with her, so she ignored it again.

"So this letter seems to imply that your mother went to this place, leaving the letter behind for you to find and then did not return. That indicates that if it was ever a bastion of safety, it is not any longer."

She considers the rest. "I believe the Silver Ravens have associations with the Rose of Kintargo. Though I confess, I know nothing of this... Order of Archivists."

She sighs, "I suppose I should be flattered that you consider us heroes. So far, the most compelling thing I have done is publicly champion mint. Though if you wish us to fight by your side, I would like to hear something of your capabilities... should we call you Rexus?"

Believer's eyes tightened, her gaze falling on Maccha at the description of what went on during this so called Night of Ashes. She gently brushed some dust from her friend's back, smoothing the fabric back into place as an excuse to offer her silent support.

She tried to recall if she had ever heard anything of Rexus Victocora or his family, though she knew it was unlikely if they were nobility.
Knowledge(Local) Untrained: 1d20 ⇒ 2

"I heard word at the protest that the Dottari have taken more prisoners than they can house. They are said to be making use of empty warehouses and the Sallix Salt Works. We may find our missing loved ones there." She offered, choosing to ignore the suggestion that they might be dead. She absolutely, positively refused to believe that.

This should be fun, let me swing my negative modifier around...
Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16
O_o Can't believe that worked.

Reaching up, Believer unhooked the blood encrusted chain from first her nose ring and then the ear and deposited it into a pocket. She likely still had some blood on her face, but made no move to dislodge it as it would likely remove her makeup as well. She said not a word about it, though. Pressing on to get off the streets before something befalls their party yet again.

Seeing she has the younger girls attention, Believer swears in Celestial which sounded a bit like a bronze gong being dropped down a short flight of stairs. As they are clear of any danger for the moment, she makes a hand motion to urge them on, waving them away from this place and find safety.

Then Maccha fell and the world seemed to tilt on it's axis. A soft wordless sound of distress was heard as she tried and failed to reach out to her friend to soften her fall as she crumpled to the cobblestones. Cursing herself for having stepped away to free herself up to cast, she had foolishly left Maccha exposed as their only target. She grasped her hand and pulled her limp form away from the threat.

Then she lifted her friend into a fireman's carry over her shoulder and took another step back from their assailants.

Unfortunately that's the best I can do. Had I healed her in place, she'd be facing AoO's upon standing. And drag maneuver uses up my standard and the lift my move. I can't move Maccha's token, but she's currently a passenger aboard the Believer express! Plan is to withdraw on next turn.

Believer cursed herself as she struggled to remember the half-elf girl's name, but she was coming up short. "Elaria!" She called out, hoping her mother's name would draw her attention at least. She tried to elaborate that she knew Elaria, but it was too late. Her voice came differently now, higher and with an almost musical lilt. But none of it made any sense, at least not to anyone nearby, based on the puzzled looks on their faces.

But then the enforcers moved on them and drubbed them all soundly. Maccha was struck hard and seemed to be having difficulty trying to use her dagger hilts as bludgeons. Believer's eyes flashed with a deep red glow, something dark stirring in the normally mild mannered healer. She took a step back to give herself some room and bit sharp teeth into her lower lip and caught the trickle of blood with a finger, smearing it onto the delicate chain that ran from her nose-ring to the largest of her earrings. Then she murmured in the strange language and reached out with her fiendish blood to a plane of pain and bondage. She flourished her hand in the direction of the Citizen who hurt Maccha and made a fist. A wicked chain, black and barbed, bursts out from the ground and wraps itself around the man's feet.

Chain Trip Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 Shaken Rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 2
If that succeeds, he must make a will save vs DC 16 or be shaken for 2 rounds.

Then she taps her bitten lip and heals her own damage.
Swift action to heal self of 9 damage, so back to full. Using previous roll under the spoiler.

The countdown to the jump into the Drift is almost out, and for those that have completed the orientation courses, a notification alerts you that access to virtual consoles is enabled. Walking through the virtual setup of the Drift preparations, Zemfira plots a course that gets highlighted, checked, and then incorporated as the new jump path for their trip! A note is added that a commendation will be appended to her license.

Zem was so proud of her perfect performance she practically preened. A commendation so soon after graduation? She was already picturing her father's pleased expression when she gave him the news. She found she was feeling much more positively about the still pending results of the interviews.

Off shift, she found herself staring off into the Drift, mesmerized by the play of color and light. It was as if she could feel the vastness of the planes in this place. She felt both infinite and infinitesimal simultaneously. She giggled to herself as she remembered a joke her father favored.

What did the monk of Irori say to the hot dog vendor?
'Make me one with everything.'

Zemfira spent her waking hours in equal parts socializing with her fellow graduates, exploring the ship and continuing her studies. Though considering her "study" time usually involved logging hours in her flight sim pod while blasting through her playlist, she felt substantially recreated as a result.

She sent queries to her new friends for samplings of their playlists as well, since it seemed another good way to get to know them better. She was especially interested to hear the Eoxian Death Metal that Pertinax had expressed such an interest in.

She was particularly proud and honored when she was invited to take a shift at the Helm again. Maybe she'd performed better than she'd thought!

Piloting: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28 W00t! *dances*

Paloma dipped her head in return to their new acquaintance. "A man of letters! It is good we have you along. On our last assignment, I daresay we did not even know what we were fighting half the time. And that was in a museum, where everything had labels!" She laughs, able to look back on those perilous times with good humor now.

"This is Cheeper. She will want to take in your scent so she will know you better." And indeed the cheetah was doing just that, sitting back on her haunches and leaning toward the wizard with her nostrils flaring. Soon, the cat seemed satisfied and Paloma fed her a meaty treat from her pouch and moved closer to Janira for the same feline introduction.

When everyone is out in a common area, Sparks asks if anyone fancies of game of Two Truths and a Lie. [Players take turns stating three things about him/her/them self, two of which are true and one is not. Then the other players try to identify the lie.]

Zemfira dismisses her audio with a tap to her earbuds when she notices Sparks trying to attract the group's attention. Her eyes brighten again to cyan as she contemplates his proposal.

"Sounds fun, why not? I..." she pauses and then grins, holding up one finger before continuing. "Before this very moment, I have not ever played this game." She raised another digit as she spoke again, "I was just listening to Sun Tzu's 'The Art of War'." And finally she extends another, culminating in a trio of phalanges as she tosses her head, flinging her multicolored tresses over her shoulder. "And this is my hair's natural coloring."

Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 For her one lie. XD

Zemfira twiddled her fingers at the Lashunta in greeting but her eyes rapidly darkened to a steely blue and her sharp teeth flashed in an expression that was more grimace than grin. "Yes, we... ah, thank you." She said, awkwardly echoing the Brenneri's statement as she pressed her gloved hands together as if in supplication and bowed to the two new arrivals.

Zem quickly seized on the opportunity to speak with the Captain, resuming her much more typical enthusiasm. Her eyes brightened to a shade of periwinkle as she began to speak of the ship. "Oh the Excelsior is such a beauty! It must give you great pride to be her Captain. I do so love my rooms. The flight sim pod with the integrated 4D immersive soundscape is almost as good as the real thing." She gushed excitedly before clasping her hands behind her back and twisting back and forth while she worked up her courage to ask a boon of the exceptionally fit half-orc.

"That said, I would still really like to see the real thing. Do you perhaps offer tours of the Excelsior? I would be grateful for any exposure but I would so dearly love to see the Helm as well as... well, everything, really! Even the tiny obscure corners and gritty, greasy maintenance shafts." Her eyelashes fluttered demurely and she cast her eyes down as if she had just said something positively salacious.

Zemfira met the Captain's eye again, "I'm sure you're far too busy for such a task, but I'd regret missing the opportunity to learn more about the Excelsior and her proud Captain and crew." She finished her request and sank sharp teeth into her bottom lip as she anticipated his answer.

Diplomacy(Untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

With the destruction of the idol, a great howling wind blows through the museum, stirring up and removing the fell mist.

For a moment, all of the gathered apes and monkeys are stunned, and then as one, they all flee into the night.

Paloma watches in amazement as the primates disperse. "Where did they come from? And where do they go?"

She gratefully accepts Jack's offer, as well as any residual healing Cortina had saved up, and sips her drink with Cheeper comfortably asleep across her lap.

Sparks thinks back, then smiles. "Zem! Of course. You had red hair coils of blue back then, yes? Yeah, that was a snoozer. Most of what they said I learned from my father and mother growing up. My father's a great diplomat and my mother's a priestess of Seranrae, so they know how to make friends and influence sentients."

Zemfira nodded eagerly, "My roommate was studying to be a stylist, she did like to experiment with her vict- em, volunteers..." she quickly corrected. She absently stroked a hand soothingly over her tender feathers as she tucked them gently behind one ear.

"That has GOT to have been better than Elven Imperialism of Early Golarion! But they don't let you take IH101 if you're humanoid already: I petitioned that I found that a little alienist, but sadly, I was overruled."

Zem blinked at the elf in surprise, "Really? I had no idea, but no, Sparks has the right of it. The professor had this monotonous cadence. It was like being lulled by Delta Waves.” She feigns nodding off and snapping awake with a glazed look in her eyes..

She smiled and looked the elf over with an appreciative expression as he introduced himself and extended his hand. Her eyes swirled into a shade of turquoise as she tentatively grasped his hand with her heavily gloved one to return the greeting. Her movement was slow and methodical, as if she had only ever seen this custom performed but never participated in it herself. She watched interestedly as the elf performed his tricks, but clapped her hands to her mouth in mild shock as he changed the color of the garments, her eyes flashing a shade of blue so bright they glowed like neon. He had said he wasn’t an adherent but it still struck her as vaguely sacrilegious. Then again, she wasn't sure where she stood in regard to the Prophecies anymore either.

"Technically, that was probably two tricks. I guess I should go check in. Hope to see you later!!"

”Oh, I should do that too. I can’t wait to see my quarters!” And with a quick salute in reply to the Dirindi’s tip o’ the hat, she hustled off to do just that.

Computers Untrained: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17
Is it like knowledge skills in Pathfinder, where you can only access up to DC 10 untrained? Or is it completely unusable untrained?

Cortina, Cheeper and I can't go in the Men's Room! Scandal! Maybe you guys can lead whatever it is out of there. =D

Ganzi Shield maiden it is! Was the point buy a 13? I cant see how to get the Hephaistos sheet to figure that in.

How bad do Crit Fails tend to be? Like the weapon jams and has to be serviced before it's used again, or it blows up in your hand, destroying it and doing damage to the wielder?

Edit: I think I've done all I can at this point. Selected Armor Avatar and Bolstered Anatomy. Also the Electrical Attunement. Feat is Shield Wall and put my limited skills into Bluff, Piloting, and Perception. Bought Freebooter Armor I and now I'm broke. XD

Character Sheet

Can Fellzir stand in the brown square or is that part of the tree and he needs to remain in the yellow/gold squares?

Thank you.

The darker brown squares are indeed impassable as they are tree trunks that the platforms are built around. I repositioned Fellzir to the square that he could 5' step. Orange will fall from his crit.

I was meaning to hit the blue colored humanoid enemy about 30 feet from me, but I was unclear about that, will improve next time.

Whoops! My mistake, I think it was the word "closest" that confused me as Cyan is a shade of blue and was closer. Thanks for being a good sport about it. I'm sure you know why command doesn't work on that particular enemy, but Aurelius doesn't! XD

I will refund you the spell slot, though, as you have a ways to go before you rest.

So the railings and the branches won't be effective as cover but the heavier trunks or walls will, thus Aurelius attempt at cover is valid, but The Shrike's is not. I have started on your update, but as I refunded Guillaume's Round 3 action, we still need that retcon.

It may be several hours before I post as I will be chauffeuring a kid back and forth to their game session. ^_^

A word of caution: as you might expect, this lofty tree fort has multiple encounters that trigger based on your progress. Rushing ahead may flush out combatants who are lying in wait which could raise the Challenge Rating beyond what the AP intended. Fair warning!

I will be interested to hear more about how you guys generate your chronicles. I used to produce beautiful chronicles. But now I seem to have forgotten (or the process has changed?!) how to rip a quality map from a pdf... >_<

I will also be starting from scratch with a new character. I only had one core character and he only earned one chronicle... in 2016. I haven't the slightest clue where it is... XD

Ok, so I perused enough to be getting on with and cobbled together your next Combat Map.

Took the liberty of moving everyone onto the map for simplicity, though technically Aurelius and Fellzir will have to spend the current round's movement to climb and obtain their position. Under fire, most likely. XD

^Also, this is Cimri. "Hi." Did my best to match her art, but it doesn't appear that Paizo uploaded her. =(
Her proper art is viewable on the second slide.

If this is agreeable, she will slide on over to gameplay and get to business.

Hello!

After taking a peek, looks like your group is still in book 1 but nearing the end? I've been in a group of committed AP players that just can't hold on to a GM before, so you have my sympathies.

I will look a little closer and try to get up to speed. What sort of pacing does your group prefer? I am back on the boards after an extended absence, so I may need to pace myself. ^_^