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Finding the Spark (Pathfinder 1E Quest)

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DragonParadox said:
Kori gets the feeling these are not the jailer bots, if they had been made for this kind of thing they would have been much more through.
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Did we get to keep our Unfettered Shirts, though? From your earlier answer I didn't think we had, but if we did, I would have used them instead of trying to Sunder the chains earlier.
 
Unfortunately due to unforeseen technical difficulties (i.e. it being very late for me and not trusting myself with the dice) the update will be delayed until the morning. Still I will say you guys have done very well so far, not fighting the constructs in the tunnels means you did not draw them away from the undead, now lets see if you can get your stuff and get to the core before anything else changes... in the morning I mean, much as I would love to write it :oops:
 
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Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Mar 30, 2025 at 3:46 AM, finished with 15 posts and 3 votes.
  • [X] Prison Break
    -[X] Sirim uses Wild Arcana to cast Confuse Constructs on the attacking Constructs. Next, he casts Shadow Conjuration to resummon Avarice, this time as a Time Dragon.
    -[X] Kori uses Inspired Spell to cast Liberating Command on Cob as an Immediate Action, allowing the Goblin to attempt an Escape Artist check as an Immediate Action with an additional +18 bonus, then uses Inspired Spell to cast Free Spirit on himself. Once free, he casts Searching Shadows, either to help restrain the Constructs in this chamber or to aid Pepper in distracting reinforcements, as the situation dictates.
    -[X] Mina uses Wild Arcana to cast Free Spirit on herself. Once she is free, she casts Summon Monster IV to empower Pepper as a Guardian Spirit.
    -[X] Gorok expends one Mythic power to use Fleet Charge as a Swift Action to attack the Construct that disarmed him, Power Attacking with his claws, then continues to attack it.
    -[X] Cob expends one Mythic power to use Surprise Strike as a Swift Action to Sneak Attack the Construct attacking Kori, then continues attacking.
    -[X] Pepper casts Grease through the open doorway the Constructs entered through. As soon as he is empowered, he uses his Greater Invisibility SLA, flies out of the chamber, and acts as a distraction, casting Grease and Create Pit spells to hamper any Constructs that are approaching the group. He uses telepathy to keep them informed of what is happening outside.
    [X] Prison Break
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Arc 10: Post 87: Life Flashing By New
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    • Life Flashing By ​

    20th of Abadius 4708 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)

    Sirim strings together syllables ill-fitting to each other, like the orphan shards of a dozen different languages, anathema to ordered thought, but while it might make your ears itch it seems to have a much stronger effect on the animate mound of bloody strap in front of you, its hands begin to jerk, its fingers clink. You act, a single syllable that rings in your bones emerging from your lips, its meaning clear the sound of scraping metal on stone: 'Free'. In a flash, or rather its opposite, almost turning unseen before your eyes, Cob obeys and he is behind the thing that had tried to beat you into submission.

    Unlike the rest of you Cob is armed and it shows. Once, twice the adamantine dagger forged of a broken star-ship sparks against the strange mechanisms of the constructs innards where its pelvis should had been were it a living man and all the chamber alight with flaring arcane fire as words of warning mix with blaring warnings.

    None of the foes notice you or Mina slip your own chains and little wonder. Unnoticed, Oriel had flown into an oblique angle not to hide, but to call upon what powers his faint spark of divinity granted, a tongue of cherry-red flame like a memory of the forge emerges from the mouth of his helm striking both of the warrior constructs, followed a moment later by a spark of arcane fire issuing forth from the hand of a girl chanting, eyes closed in concentration, the first spell she had flung in anger, a mere spark of arcane power. It flies true through one of the rents Cob had made in the brass armoring, disrupting the already chaotic energies of its form. With a great clang it, crashes to one knee and then falls over.

    Construct Will Saves: 2d20 (+2) = 14, 18 (Success, Failure)
    Confusion: 63 (Attack Self)
    Cob Escape Artist (DC 30): 1d20+16 +10 (Liberating Command) = 31 (Success)
    Cob Attack: 1d20+17+4 (Heroism) = 31
    Cob Attack: 1d20+17+4 (Heroism) = 40 (!25) (Crit)
    Clockwork Soldier takes 53 Damage -> Now at 9/62
    Construct Reflex Saves (+6): 12, 7 (Success, Failure)
    Clockwork Soldier One & Two Takes 6 & 3 Damage -> Now at 3/62 & 59/62
    Anippe Concentration (DC 16): 1d20+6 = 17 (Success)
    Clockwork Solider Takes 3 Damage -> Destroyed

    Unfortunately, Gorok isn't having a lot of luck trying to claw and bite his way through his own opponent. Enough to make your jaw twinge in sympathy.

    "Pardon for the interruption, but I would suggest haste, the big one just said: initiating purgation procedures!" Oriel shouts over the din, his voice nonetheless containing an edge of excitement. He is meant to be a warrior after all.

    "I am attempting haste!" Gorok grinds back as his battle with the remaining construct leads him to the body of the fallen. Trying for the fallen halberd.

    Gorok Attacks 20, 22, 17 (2 Successes, 1 Failure)
    Gorok Attacks 24, 17, 17 (1 Success, 2 Failures)
    Clockwork Soldier Takes 0+1+0 Damage -> Now at 58/62

    There's a flash of lightning and the smell of burnt ozone fills the air. When you can see again it is with great relief and almost equal surprise that you see the little girl, still chained to her seat, still alive if twitching as she gulps down air. All three eyes are staring up at the spider construct with sheer, desperate focus: "Screw...y-you, defective p...piece of overwound clockwork!"

    With the detachment that you know won't outlive the battle, you have just enough time to note the scorch mark next to her head where the stone had taken a great deal of the blow before a high pitched wail, rage, and grief together echoes through the stone.

    Anippe Reflex Save (DC 17): 1d20+4 = 22 (Success)
    Anippe Takes     30/2 = 15 Damage -> Now at 2/17

    Without really thinking about it you rush to her side... not that you can do much with her still bound so you contend yourself with binding the one who had just struck Gorok in place, allowing the iruxi to recover the fallen halberd from the wreck of its companion just as Cob slips in behind it and tries to repeat his earlier success. Though he isn't quite a devastatingly effective as last time it's more than enough to distract the thing as Gorok prods it from the front. There's a clang as one blow deflects and then a hiss of venting steam as the second blow near takes its head off, only for lighting to land where it had stood a moment later.

    Pepper, his proportions most un-cat-like, glares at the pile of smoldering brass.

    Construct Attacks: 29, 34 (Success, Success)
    Gorok Takes     33 Damage -> Now at 58/91
    Cob Attack: 1d20+17+4 (Heroism) = 36 (Success)
    Clockwork Soldier takes     20 Damage -> Now at 38/62
    Gorok Attack: 15, 29 (!21) (Miss, Crit)*
    Clockwork Soldier Takes 30 Damage -> Now at 8/62
    Clockwork Soldier Reflex Save: 1d20+6 =     11 (Failure)
    Clockwork Soldier Takes 14 Damage -> Destroyed
    *I had forgotten to include the +2 from flanking here

    Seeing its allies vanquished the blazing spider construct appears to reassess the threat you pose to its directives, instead of attacking with light or lighting again it scuttles back along the ceiling and out the room... or tries at least. Sirim had been waiting for it. Even as Pepper had greased the floor before Mina graced him with his present form your shadowy companion now spills out a sheet of viscous shadow-stuff onto the ceiling, though it starts to drip instantly it serves its purpose. The spider construct crashes to the ground in a pile of twitching metallic limbs.

    That is all the chance you need to grab for the other halberd and start hacking alongside Cob and Gorok. If you do not acquit yourself quite as well as the others you must say that you answer Pepper's shout of 'Clear' with admirable speed as another thunderbolt lands on the prone thing before its cracked gemstone eyes reflect each of you in turn, alien intelligence still calculating odds that has long since turned against it.

    Spider Construct Reflex Save (DC 26): 1d20+10 = 23 (Failure)
    Spider Construct is Prone -> AC vs Melee attacks reduced to 22
    Gorok Attacks: 28, 23 (Hit, Hit)
    Clockwork Spider Takes     14 Damage -> Now at 93/107
    Cob Attack: 1d20+21 = 34 (Hit)
    Clockwork Spider takes     22 Damage -> Now at 71/107
    Akorian Attack 1d20+8 =     24 (Hit)
    Clockwork Spider takes     4 Damage -> Now at 67/107
    Spider Construct Reflex Save (DC 18): 1d20+10 =     19 (Success)
    Clockwork Spider Takes     6 Damage -> Now at 61/107

    In a flash it charges Cob, the blades of its mandibles shining with an unearthly green of impossible sharpness. Armor and skin alike are peeled off the top of Cob's head as he ducks under it alongside the tip of one ear.

    "Speed!" Gorok calls back to Mina who answers with a familiar spell and all of you redouble your efforts.

    Cob does as he is bid, slipping under one of the flaying limbs as he pries apart armored plates between it and the main mass of the spider... before almost getting the weapon stuck in something trying to repeat the trick just as Annipe's reaches you ear. At least it has the tone of compliance rather than pain, you note thankfully, as she struggles to her her self in the proper position to aim the arcane dart spell she had used before.

    This time, when Pepper calls clear Mina adds her own lightning bolt to the barrage and the eight legged construct finally, mercifully goes dead, though you note with some interest the jaws are still burning with that terrible power, half of sharpness impossible half of fate implacable.

    Clockwork Spider Attack: 1d20+16 = 28 (Hit)
    Cob Takes     19 Damage -> Now at 56/75
    *Mina casts haste*
    Gorok Attacks:     25, 25, 20 (Hit, Hit, Miss)
    Clockwork Spider Takes     5 Damage -> Now at 56/107
    Cob Attacks:     40 (!40), 22 (Critical Success and Critical Failure)
    Clockwork Spider Takes     37 Damage -> Now at 19/107
    Annipe Concentration: 1d20+7 =     10 (Failure)
    Clockwork Spider Construct Reflex Save (DC 17): 1d20+10 = 22 (Success)
    Clockwork Spider takes     3 Damage -> Now at 16/107
    Clockwork Spider Reflex Save (DC 20): 1d20+10 =     11 (Critical Failure)
    Clockwork Spider Takes     24 Damage -> Destroyed

    As Mina busies herself with healing everyone, including the girl who she mind-whispers had come perilously close to having her heart stopped by that bolt, Anippe herself seems more interested in the constructs: "We should take them apart," she proclaims calmly looking down at the destroyed constructs, the work of Nex, archmage and Founder. "The spears of course, they have to have some kind of focusing crystals inside, that's what was making all the sparks, and master Gorok can use those jaws as a weapon as well I think."

    Cob looks at her approvingly. Gorok looks at where she had pointed. He shakes his head, though not unkindly. "Not balanced."

    At this the child nods then starts digging around its guts for a trophy to claim. As reactions to feeling death's cold breath on the back of one's neck go you've seen worse, you've seen much worse. You put it out of your mind, at least until she exclaims a few moments later: "Oh, I think I know where they put your stuff!"

    That gets her all the attention in the room and an approving look from Sirim to boot. "Where?"

    "See, there's a compartment here at the bottom, but it can only activate when the legs are splayed out..." She demonstrates by putting her whole weight on the most intact of said limbs until a hidden opening creaks open in the belly of the thing. "The way it walked on the ceiling, but not on the ground, it is designed to open the bottom only when it walks on the ceiling, just like the other one opened its top when it was on the floor, but it could walk on walls too so maybe..." her confidence wobbles just a little when she gets to the 'maybe', but Sirim 'nods' sinuously.

    "Your theory is that there are compartments in the ceiling of these chambers where these maintenance constructs are designed to deposit their contents during regular operations."

    "Yes sir," the answer is faintly clipped, the air of an apprentice speaking to an elder wizard, whatever their form might be.

    Anippe Arcana: 1d20+7 = 17 (Success)

    "It seems I have some searching to do," he says faintly. If one did not know him well it would have been impossible to catch the faint undertone of annoyance, not with the girl, or even the circumstance, but with himself for falling for the library trap.

    "I can come with," Cob says and soon enough, having established no more of the constructs are coming, at least for now, you are planning the best way to go about checking for empty spaces in walls that does not leave Sirim face to face with any potential occupants of those spaces.

    "Ah..." Anippe breathes, barely a sound really, as she tugs at Mina's arm. "Lady Mina, you know the undead, right?"

    "Yes." Mina's trying and failing to not sound guarded. The idea of speaking of such things with a child still doesn't sit as well with her as with the rest of your company.

    "What was that wail when I... just after I got hit?"

    "No way to tell really, a lot of things can make strange noises in places as overflowing with magic as this one even when everything is in working order." She looks down at the constructs ruefully, though one might guess to hide her eyes. "This one definitely isn't."

    Alas, a child of ten doesn't become a wizard by being slow of wit.

    "Do you think the Gebbites killed mother and... bound her soul?"

    Does Akorian say anything?

    [] Try to comfort the child
    -[] Write in how

    [] Leave this to Mina, even Sirim in a pinch, you have no idea what to say

    [] Write in

    OOC: Been a while since an update broke 2K words. Enjoy. It was really fun making that spider, even if it didn't get to use all its tricks.
     
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    • That was a nice meaty chapter, @DragonParadox. Great fight, too!

    Anippe almost got crisped. Damn, that was close.

    I don't think the wail, if it was related to hear near death, had anything to do with Eshe's soul being bound or even turned into an Undead. Either of those options would mean Eshe was either unable to even notice what was happening, unable to care, or even would actively enjoy the sight, depending on how her soul is contained or what manner of Undead she might be.

    More likely, it is tied to whatever the Mockingfey from earlier noticed. Anippe isn't Undead, but there is something fishy going on with her. Could she have some sort of spirit protector, or Haunt linked to her?

    Regardless, Kori really doesn't seem like the best one to try to comfort her right now. Mina is who she first turned to with her concerns, and Sirim had the whole master-apprentice bond going on with her, so they are better for this, IMO.

    [X] Leave this to Mina, even Sirim in a pinch, you have no idea what to say
     
    [X] Try to comfort the child
    -[X] Don't appeal to emotion, try to reason this through.
    -[X] If that is actually the case, and we don't know it is, then that means he soul is close enough to notice you being in danger and capable of basic communication. That makes finding and rescuing her easy enough, after that helping her is just a matter of finding a powerful priest and offering some gold or favors.
    -[X] More likely this is unrelated though, and we'll find her mother somewhere in this sanctuary.

    Little wizard deserves the full answer. Death isn't that meaningful and issue.
    A captured soul can be, but only if it's properly hidden.
     
    Oh jeez, so glad Anippe wasn't killed there.

    Fight was tough but fun to read.

    @DragonParadox Cob still has spiderclimb slippers, yeah? So he can help easily scale walls and ceilings looking for secret compartments for stuff.

    [X] Artemis1992
     
    [X] Try to comfort the child
    -[X] Don't appeal to emotion, try to reason this through.
    -[X] If that is actually the case, and we don't know it is, then that means he soul is close enough to notice you being in danger and capable of basic communication. That makes finding and rescuing her easy enough, after that helping her is just a matter of finding a powerful priest and offering some gold or favors.
    -[X] More likely this is unrelated though, and we'll find her mother somewhere in this sanctuary.

    Kori tries his tongue at diplomacy! I want to see that.
     
    It does not much matter in the long run. Sirim is the person to go to if you want your soul strapped or unstrapped to all kinds of things, and even his circumstances are on the verge of being overcome. We are people of means most can only dream about; we'll find a way out of any conundrum so long as we ourselves stay alive.
    DragonParadox said:
    Cob looks at her approvingly. Gorok looks at where she had pointed. He shakes his head, though not unkindly. "Not balanced."
    [...]
    "Oh, I think I know where they put your stuff!"

    That gets her all the attention in the room and an approving look from Sirim to boot.
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    Tell you what, kid. Earn approval from Pepper, and we can talk about naming you an honorary Ghostess.
    I think that was what, her first major battle? Mockingfey don't count. Hope she gets some sweet XP to complement the scars.

    Kori isn't good with conventional cheering up. But we are a party where two mages have an out-of-body experience going on, and another one of us is a dream figment.

    [x] Try to comfort the child
    -[x] A soul is all you need. You can look to Master Sirim for confirmation, and he isn't planning on staying like that for long, either.
    -[x] Not that we should be making plans around it, but it would be to our advantage if she is around and conscious. So long as we keep coming out on top, we can figure out almost anything.
     
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    [x] Try to comfort the child
    -[x] A soul is all you need. You can look to Master Sirim for confirmation, and he isn't planning on staying like that for long, either.
    -[x] Not that we should be making plans around it, but it would be to our advantage if she is around and conscious. So long as we keep coming out on top, we can figure out almost anything.

    I like this more
     
    Vote closed.
    Adhoc vote count started by DragonParadox on Mar 31, 2025 at 11:59 AM, finished with 8 posts and 6 votes.
    • [X] Try to comfort the child
      -[X] Don't appeal to emotion, try to reason this through.
      -[X] If that is actually the case, and we don't know it is, then that means he soul is close enough to notice you being in danger and capable of basic communication. That makes finding and rescuing her easy enough, after that helping her is just a matter of finding a powerful priest and offering some gold or favors.
      -[X] More likely this is unrelated though, and we'll find her mother somewhere in this sanctuary.
      [X] Try to comfort the child
      -[x] A soul is all you need. You can look to Master Sirim for confirmation, and he isn't planning on staying like that for long, either.
      -[x] Not that we should be making plans around it, but it would be to our advantage if she is around and conscious. So long as we keep coming out on top, we can figure out almost anything.
      [X] Leave this to Mina, even Sirim in a pinch, you have no idea what to say
    Click to expand...
     
    Arc 10: Post 88: The Trouble with Triangles New
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    • The Trouble with Triangles ​

    20th of Abadius 4708 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)

    "I think it's unlikely to be that, she would have to be close enough to notice, but unable to act or show herself in the time since..." and also sane enough to care, but that is a thought you will not be sharing with a child, no matter how precocious.

    A moment passes, two as the girl digests your words, not convinced, but willing to. "But that if it is though?" The question is almost accusing, but thankfully you do have an answer for it.

    "Then it means her soul is within reach to be rescued, you've seen Sirim ride around in my head..." At the resulting exclamation from your shortest friend, in stature, definitely not deeds, you add: "And Cob's. While I won't lie and say finding a soul that needs re-housing would be as good as a mage that just needs freeing, there's a way around it."

    "That's... that's a lot, time and spells and rituals maybe. Why would you...?" Her voice trembles a little on the last word, so very far from the one that had hurled spells and insults moments ago.

    "I've always wondered why the adventurers in stories did what they did. It always seemed a little mad, even the heroes, how eager they were to get in trouble and slow to back out of it." Mina muses and it's clear she's trying to come up with an answer comprehensive enough to satisfy the girl while also speaking truth. "I think I understand now, a little at least. When you can snap your hands and make lighting, when you can take up the blade of a fallen servitor that's been there since before your kingdom's founding and break the next one over with it... it seems more madness to turn back than to go forward." She glances at Pepper, who was batting at one of the loose brass springs as though offended at some part of its shape or substance. "Impious too, in my case. It's nice doing the right thing, but better still do be doing things you know no one else could do."

    "On that, we are agreed," Sirim speaks, aloud for once, a tingle of amusement to his whispered words.

    "Sometimes the root most twisted drinks from the cleanest stream," Oriel offers, though he's out the door already following Cob.

    Thus resolved, Cob and Sirim throw themselves into the task of discovering hidden passages in the ceiling with a will. One that, alas, is met only with frustration. It's not that you can't find the openings above, though Cob's power 'hide-hole-sight', as he had dubbed the power of his cloak reveals nothing, eyes alone mark the seams in the stone.

    Attempting to pass through them either has Sirim either finding nothing for tens of meters or discovering regularly shaped openings, some too small for even Cob to stand in, others barely larger. Yet these are not the fault lines causes by stresses in the rock nor yet natural openings, if such could even be said to exist in a place forged by the old Archmage's will. Their form is geometric, always triangular, and some of them at least are filled with brass pillars and gears that remind one of the constructs, built into the walls

    Perception Cob (DC 28): 1d20+19 = 36 (Success)
    Perception Sirim (DC 20): 1d20+1 = 6 (Failure)
    Engineering Cob (DC 25/30): 1d20+13 = 17 (Failure)

    "A vampire would be of more use than I am," Sirim notes with frustration as he withdraw from the last opening.

    Looking only vaguely horrified at the words Mina asks what he means.

    "One of them can stretch out their mist form for miles, where as I am confined to always remain the same length," he explains before turning to you: "Akorian?"

    With company he could be more darin,g of course, but not without risk, not in this place is. Alternatively, you could simply open up one of the nearer air pockets so the rest of you can get a better look at what only he had seen, though it wouldn't surprise you if this place responds badly to having its walks knocked down.

    What do you do?

    [] Use Shadow Projection to join Sirim in a deeper delving of the strange openings

    [] You have adamantine and the material above you is only rock, open one up

    [] Backtrack to the prison and find some other way from there

    [] Write in

    OOC: Enjoy.
     
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    • Could we use stone shape again to move stone?

    Also, @DragonParadox shouldn't Cob have passed the lower engineering DC at least? It was 15 and he got a 17, so while not a full success should give something.
     
    It's a bit wasteful, and I don't like splitting up, but we don't have a lot of time. Who knows how long it will be before the Constructs mount a search for us, or what their next response will be? And we still have Undead to deal with, along with whatever other issues crop up.

    Even if Sirim's spell isn't immediately useful, he might be able to find a spot that is unshielded, assuming there is anything blocking Divination effects locally. He will still have three Mythic power after casting Locate Object, but Kori is already down to two. Kori has plenty of spell slots, though, and his Shadow Projection can be used for several hours without any trouble.

    [X] Double the Shadows, Double the Fun
    -[X] Sirim uses Wild Arcana to cast a Locate Object spell targeting Kori's Azlanti headband.
    -[X] Kori casts Dark Whispers on everyone to maintain communication, then uses Shadow Projection to assist Sirim in finding a path to our equipment. He will also use a Searching Shadows spell to investigate areas within range, if he judges it would be quicker than checking them in person. If the group comes under attack, he will dismiss his projection immediately and return to his body.
     
    Mina's point boils down to this one meme.
    No wonder Sirim is supportive.
    DragonParadox said:
    Their form is geometric, always triangular, and some of them at least are filled with brass pillars and gears that remind one of the constructs, built into the walls
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    The entire tower is a clockwork mechanism and a ritual circle? Wouldn't surprise me if it were so. I wonder about the purpose though.

    Is there a system to where the triangles are pointing? Are they anything like spaces where teeth from some massive plane-spanning gear might go?

    [x] Double the Shadows, Double the Fun

    I worry about the undead more than the constructs. Clearly we arrived at the Most Appropriate Narrative Moment, and the Wall of Construct will be breached soon. Hopefully we'll find whatever control center this place has.
     
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