GM The Masked Ferret's 05-08 The Confirmation [2019-02] (Inactive)

Game Master The Masked Ferret

This is the initial post in a run of PFS 05-08 The Confirmation. We have 5 players, we will be looking for a 6th.

Hello

The invitation delivered last night was remarkably simple, especially given the importance of the occasion: “Start where it all began. Meet us at the Pig’s Paunch one hour before dawn.” Now here it is, the Eastern sky beginning to glow as you stand before a run-down building with a faded sign of a large pig standing on its hind legs, arms folded above a corpulent belly. Inside, the air is thick with the scents of human sweat, stale tobacco, and leftover food. In the center of the room, surrounded by inebriates sleeping off their revelries, a familiar elven man stands high upon top of a large round table.

“Welcome! Welcome, my students! Please, have a seat!” With that, Kreighton Shaine, the Pathfinder Society’s Master of Scrolls, nimbly drops down to sit cross-legged on the table before looking about the tavern with a sense of reverent wonder. “Can you believe it? It all started here years ago—well, over four hundred of them at least. Despite what others might tell you about the Wounded Wisp, it was under this very roof the Pathfinder Society was born!”

”But today! Today you will begin your Confirmation! Master Farabellus, Master Zey Westyr, and I all agree you each have shown your worth and dedication to the Society, so there’s no better time to see if you can handle becoming full field operatives. Allow me to introduce you to Janira Gavix,” he says as he motions for an excitable halfling woman to approach. She wears a large backpack and carries all manner of tools, pouches, and scroll cases around her waist. Shaine continues, saying, “Janira here will be going with you on your Confirmation. She was one of my brightest pupils and will no doubt be an invaluable resource on your journey, for she discovered the caves you are about to explore during her own Confirmation.”

Janira speaks up in an enthusiastic and cheerful voice, “Greetings, aspiring Pathfinders! Six months ago, while I was mapping cave entrances in the foothills of the Kortos Mounts, witnessed a lone gillman entering a concealed cave. I thought little of it at the time, but I saw another one enter the cave again a month later as my Confirmation stretched on. A few days later, after I completed my assigned task, I entered the cave system, but was unable to find the gillmen.”

Master Shaine hops to his feet. “Initiates, for your Confirmation, you will travel to these caves to explore and document its many passages. Additionally, and most importantly, you are to learn what the gillmen are up to in there. Oh, and you need to come back alive as well.” With these parting words, the Master of Scrolls jumps off the table and strolls out of the building while humming to himself.

You have a moment to ask Janira questions before she begins briefing you on the specifics of the mission.

-----

You may know things about the Isle of Kortos and the Kortos Mounts:

-----

You may have read about the origins of the gillmen in the libraries of the Grand Lodge:

Does Kreighton Shaine always act like that?
“Master Shaine is brilliant, if not entirely focused. He has lived a very long time and seen things we could only dream about. I’ve learned to just accept his peculiarities and value any knowledge he wishes to share.”
What’s a gillman?
“The gillmen are a humanoid race much like humans save for the three piscine gills on both sides of their necks. They’re a little secretive but not outright hostile. Most live in or near the water.”

Why would gillmen be going to these caves?
“That’s exactly what you are being asked to find out. The only known permanent surface settlement of the gillmen is in Escadar. Why they’re venturing into the foothills of the Kortos Mounts is a mystery.”
How will we know whether we’re successful?
“A Confirmation can last for weeks or months—or could be completed in a few days. Your resolve combined with your ability to fulfill the three duties of a Pathfinder will determine your success.”
What are the three duties?
“Surely ‘Explore, Report, Cooperate’ have become second nature to you, right?”

Who are Marcos Farabellus and Aram Zey?
“Are you one of those adventurers who was brought in through a field commission? Master Marcos Farabellus is the Master of Swords for the Pathfinder Society. He’s responsible for teaching every initiate the fine art of combat. Master Aram Zey is the Master of Spells for the Society. As his title suggests, he’s in charge of teaching would-be Pathfinders to use and defend against magic.”

A flustered and out of sorts looking halfling sits wide eyed at the minor pomp and circumstance. He is clothed in some semi-shoddy clothes and loose fitting armor. he also has a fairly holey backpack slung across his back. Every so often he seems to notice that his mouth has dropped open and closes it with a hand (though unnecessary). Once it is all over he walks up to Janira with his hand extended, "It is so lovely to meet a free halfling. And one who has accomplished things too! I'm excited to work with you!"

To the halfling's right, sits...

Well, absolutely no one. The chair seems to be completely empty. To make things worse, there's a complete mess on the floor. A gooey pile of what surely must be bright-red strawberry jam is sitting on the floor just by the chair's leg.

And then the pile of jam moves.

Two arm-length pseudopods extend from the pile, clumsily wrapping around the legs of the chair. The quivering pile of ooze clumsily hoists itself up onto the seat, drawing itself into a near-spherical form as it settles in. Its body twists slightly, as if acknowledging Figg, before wobbling in a very welcoming and cheerful fashion.

To the opposite side of the pile of goop sits a blob that is a dark cloudy purple in color. It jiggles and writhes upon being informed of any and all information presented to it. The ooze seems to shift most of its mass towards the halfling and from it can only be heard a wet, bubbling noise.

"It looks like you have had it rough, Mr...?"
Janira's voice trails off.

'Figg!" he says excitedly, "And definitely no mister. I am still a slave. My master would find me if I ever tried to leave him. He is very powerful." He says the last part with a bit of hopeless reverence. "Anywho! Master saw it fit to have me join the Pathfinder society for influence and charity. The good news is that I'm here!" He then looks to the two blobs, "Umm...what are those?"

Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27

Janira looks.
"They appear to be ... oozes, of some sort. But they are not trying to eat us or the furniture, so that is good."

The ooze jiggles and makes some squirt noises. It's mannerisms resemble a happy canine.

Janira pulls out a large leather-bound journal and opens it on the table. “Before we set out, we should all get to know each other and review our plan. After all, the most important factors that determine whether an expedition will be a success are cooperation and preparation! I’ll go first!

”I grew up with six siblings, in the Eastgate area of Absalom. When I came of age, I knew I wanted to see more of the world, so I joined the Pathfinder Society! That was about four years ago, now, and while I joined up to travel (and try all of the exotic foods I could find), I’ve really grown to love learning and the processes of preserving knowledge. I hope to one day have my work published in the Pathfinder Chronicles!

”Now it’s your turn. Please, tell me a little about yourselves!” This is your chance to introduce your character to Janira and the rest of the party.

Out of what appeared to be a large mug of water comes a light blue, almost clear ooze. As it approaches and gives a jiggly gesture the smell of alcohol can be smelled coming from it implying ale had previously been inside the mug.

A green blob slides off a chair before jiggling and wiggling violently, pausing slightly at several intervals, before finally coming to a stop.

the blob the aims several jiggles towards Janira.
Take 10 Secret Message: 10 + 6 = 16
The message is "In short Oliver Frank."

The blob then climbs back up onto the chair.

From a seemingly empty high backed bar stool a rainbow of colors gracefully arcs to the floor, reforming into an orb as it lands. Its colors shift and swirl as it rolls to join your table.

Figg waits for several minutes to see if the blobs produce any meaningful communication.

"Review: Follow you!" Figg says confidently.

The black slime wiggles and wobbles in response, extending a spiked pseudopod and curving it around to point for itself. It then trembles with an internal rumbling, bloating as something within begins to rise. A voice, perhaps? A mouth? The black slime straightens up as it releases its response.

*blorp!*

*Blorp!* the cloudy purple ooze also makes this noise as though it were conforming to the other. A tentacle then protrudes its way from the ooze's body and stretches straight up, it almost looks like a student raising its hand in class.
*Bppppppppt!* it calls out to seemingly Janira.

"Taldane, please. It is rude to communicate in languages that others cannot understand."
Janira admonishes.

Jiggle, wobble, blorp, wiggle
Pantomime to Janira:
Take 10 Secret Message: 10 + 6 = 16
Message Translation: "We cannot speak."

**"That does pose some challenges for you to communicate. How have you communicated with others before?"**

"We can go?" Figg asks excitedly.

Take 10 Bluff for result 16 to deliver multiple secret messages

To Janira:
"Like this."
"Like them before."
"Don't understand them."

To Figg:
Let's Go!"

So...I'm pretty sure that doesn't work the way you think it does. Passing a secret message seems to require the ability to communicate to begin with. The secret message utilizes the nuance of the language to say one thing, and mean a different. As you all cannot have the base level of communication, I do not believe you'd be able to pass secret messages. I am amused to be in a party full of oozemorphs, but being oozemorphs was your decisions, so you will have to live with all aspects of it.

That said, I'm more than ready to proceed on with this. I'll happily play with this party.

It has been brought to my attention that I accidentally mixed up Mukbid's coloration. And since I can't go back and edit old posts, I'll just say we should go with oily black instead of chunky red and declare that as canon.

The roiling black slime wiggles about a little more, perhaps in agreement? Either way, it hops off of the seat and plops onto the floor, ready to scoot its way out the door. It looks back at its fellow smiles and jiggles.

If possible, Mukbud will use Ooze Empathy to express a general sense of excitement to the other slimes!

GAB jiggles in response, whether or not it understood. It seems to be just the happiest little abomination ever!

Lets begin our adventure :D

"Well, this is uniquely challenging."
Janira pauses, then looks at Figg.
“On to the details of the mission at hand,” Janira says with an eager grin. “After reviewing my mission reports personally, Master Shaine believes it is no coincidence that each time they entered the caves it was during a full moon, so it is also no coincidence that you have been called here now, just a day before the moon is full again. We both believe that tomorrow night is our best chance to find out why these caves are important and what exactly the gillmen are doing in there.

“The caves we’ll be travelling to lie under the base of the Kortos Mounts. We’ll need to spend every minute of daylight possible to reach the caves by foot, crossing over the Cairnlands, taking the paths to Diobel, and finally making our way through the wilderness. With any luck we won’t run into any of the local inhabitants. Once in the caves, we’ll need to work together to explore and determine whether any gillman are present or have been recently. Keep an eye out for any other clues that might hint at the caves’ significance, too.”

Why don’t we travel by horse?

How long will it take to walk there?

What else are we likely to run into on the way?

If the gillmen go there on the full moon, doesn’t that mean...?

I can think of a few reasons we arent riding horses lol

“Now, before we head out, if there aren’t any more questions, we should take a moment to go through your gear and make sure nothing important gets left out. Do you have food? Does someone have a way to make fire? How about a light source? Does anyone have a means of magical healing? How about alchemical items? A flask of alchemist’s fire or acid can be a life-saver in some cases.”

Review your inventories. Not everyone needs to have all of these things, but Janira will make sure that at least one of you has them, and will encourage those of you with a little gold to spare to purchase some alchemical items like alchemist’s fire, acid, and antitoxins, if you don’t already have them.

Let me know if you bought anything on your way out of town.

The Green Blob produces the objects floating in its mass: 5 vials of Acid and a finely crafted flute.

The cloudy purple blob rolls into the streets of until it gets to a vendor. The man has a wagon full of useful supplies, and upon seeing the strange blob he is clearly confused and slightly concerned.

*PBBBT PBBT PBBBT!* The ooze cries, as it takes out a coinbag of 100 gold and tosses it in front of itself. The man still stares, confounded and wondering just what is going on.

The ooze then reaches up to the Cure Light Wounds potions, and grabs two. Then it stuffs the bottles into its body and rolls away.

The cart owner stares, dumbfounded, before picking up the bag of coins and counting it. "Kids these days..."

And now for the fun part. Oozemorphs can't carry items. Sooooo anything we have is either carried by Jineera or melded into our bodies (and thus unavailable until we shapeshift.)

Mukbud responds with a bit of jiggling and wiggling, followed by a roiling motion that makes it look like dough being kneeded by invisivle hands.

Janira pauses a moment and pulls out an intricate silver compass emblazoned with the Pathfinder Society logo: the Glyph of the Open Road. “I received this wayfinder when I successfully completed my Confirmation. Should we be successful on our journey, you will get your own as well.” She flips open the device and holds it in front of her; the initials J. G. are engraved into the inside of the device’s lid. After studying the compass inside for a moment, she remarks, “We’re on the right path. We need to keep heading northwest past those large rocks up ahead.”

Your first day of travel is interesting, if uneventful. Janira points out broken siege towers as you pass through the Cairnlands, explaining what she learned from Master Shaine about the many times Absalom has been unsuccessfully assaulted. You make camp in a pleasant, sheltered hollow in some low hills, taking turn at watch without incident. You have time to prepare new spells, if you would like.

Janira wakes you up early the next morning and you press on towards your destination. As you progress deeper into the forest, the trees towering overhead begin to shield most of what remains of the day’s sun and the vegetation beneath grows denser.

Mukbud blops along with the group, mostly creeping along the ground while keeping a low profile. During the day of travel, the oily ooze sneaks off for a moment.

Survical: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Soon after sneaking off, Mukbud returns, nudging the rrmains of a small woodland animal. The vlack slime descends upon its catch with a pair of sharpened pseudopods, cleaning out the kill before slithering over it and devouring the meat.

The ooze lets out a belch-like noise, now happily following along with the team.

GAB continues rolling along with the group, seeming like the happiest little abomination to ever exist. The day is beautiful, the night is peaceful, and it makes blorp noises in some sort of harmony as if it were trying to sing a merry little tune.

*Blorp Blorp Blorp Blorp*
*Blorp Blorp*
*Blorp Blorp Blorp Blorp Blorp*
*Blorp Blorp Blorp*

Ahead of you, slightly off your path, a large tree falls. The loud booming noise as it strikes the ground causes animals all around to scatter and run. As you look at the tree, it appears that there was a nest of some sort. As you watch, a large, white, horse-like creature that has a hawk’s wings, talons, and hooked beak emerges from the remains of the nest, followed by a smaller, slightly pink one. The smaller one begins making a pitiful mewling sound.

They seem to zero on you as the center of their woes.

The large, white, horse-like thing flies over to you and bites at Figg.
Bite Attack on Figg: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20Damage to Figg if it hits: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Borbert Initiative (+7): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Mukbud Initiative (+6): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
small, horse like thing Initiative (+4): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Oliver Initiative (+3): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
GAB! Initiative (+2): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Stuu Initiative (+1): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Figg Initiative (+1): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
large, horse like thing Initiative (+2): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Bobert and Mukbud may go

Borbert rolls around the creature, striking out with a blue tendril.
morphic weaponry: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
damage(P): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Mukbud wobbles and trembles, producing two pseudopods from its body. Both of them flatten unto edge blades, and one of them comes down on the horse-like creature in front of him!

Morphic Weapon attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

The small, white, horse-like thing flies over to you and bites at Muckbud.
Bite Attack on Muckbud: 1d20 + 5d1d4 ⇒ (1) + (1, 1, 2, 3, 1) = 9

Oliver Initiative (+3): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
GAB! Initiative (+2): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Stuu Initiative (+1): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Figg Initiative (+1): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Janira
large, horse like thing Initiative (+2): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Borbert Initiative (+7): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Mukbud Initiative (+6): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
small, horse like thing Initiative (+4): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Oliver, GAB!, Stuu, Figg may go

Sliding into place next to Mukbud Oliver forms Two blade like objects out of its form: a smallish dagger like blade and a long thin curved blade. The flute getting caught in the slime forming the dagger.
"Blrrpt!" a noise erupts from the ooze as it strikes the white horse-bird.
Mophic Dagger: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
MD Damage (P): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Oh if it's not too late I'd like to have Mukbud make a Knowledge Nature check in an attept to identify the monster in front of him. Sadly he cannot speak to share his findings.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

GAB rolls around to the far side of the younger creature. "BPPPPT!" GAB seemingly calls out as it's tentacle strikes!
Tentacle Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Tentacle Damage(B): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
If Blorbert shifts we can flank the smaller one.

Figg, significantly wounded, stumbles backward with caution. He raises his hands up in a useless defense.

5ft step back -> swift: Figg begins staring at the creature (-2 will saves) -> standard: halfling jinx, creature needs to make a DC 16 will save or be jinxed (-1 to all saves)