Pathfinder 1E IC - Tideruler: The Fall of Laholt

Laholt/Alessia
Afternoon
Round 0

Daxio smiled at the amorous nymph. He cupped her face in his hand. “Alas, I apparently have no time to spend in your lovely company any longer,” he said, making sure to include all the nymphs in his look as his bedroom eyes took them in. “But perhaps when all this is settled, we can meet again.” He gave the nymph a long, lingering kiss to remember him by before backing away. He smiled, and then turned to follow the others.

[sblock=Actions and Rolls]
Move:
Action:
[/sblock]

[sblock=Ministats]
HP: 122/122 NL: 0
AC: 19 FF: 14 T: 15
CMD: 20
Fort: 10 Ref: 10 Will: 13
Armed: Dagger
Arcane Reservoir: 9/15/day
Consume Spells: 5/5/day

Conditions:

Spells Prepared
0 (9): Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Message, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost, Read Magic
1 (4/4/5): Burning Hands, Charm Person, Disguise Self, Magic Missile, Vanish
2 (4/4/5): Darkvision, Hideous Laughter, Invisibility, Scorching Ray, See Invisibility
3 (4/4/4): Dispel Magic, Hold Person, Suggestion, Fly
4 (4/4/3): Charm Monster, Confusion, Greater Invisibility
5 (4/4/2): Dominate Person, Hold Monster
6 (2/2/1): Mass Suggestion

Spell Book:
0: All
1: Burning Hands, Charm Person, Disguise Self, Enlarge Person, Featherfall, Grease, Liberating Command, Magic Missile, Obscuring Mist, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shield, Silent Image, Vanish
2: Darkvision, Hideous Laughter, Invisibility, Scorching Ray, See Invisibility
3: Dispel Magic, Hold Person, Suggestion, Fly
4: Black Tentacles, Charm Monster, Confusion, Greater Invisibility
5: Dominate Person, Feeblemind, Hold Monster
6: Greater Dispel, Mass Suggestion
[/sblock]

An annoyed owl and a heart-broken nymph later, the heroes are taken to the old center, a once thriving set of streets and houses, now abandoned to the hazardous invasion of nature. Trees sprout through collapsed roofs, while roots reveal now purified sewer paths here and there;grass blades swallow stones as vines climb through old walls. Nature made haste to retake the lands once occupied by men. And it's clearly not alone: as they traverse the area, the heroes have the uncanny feeling of being watched.

Towering above the forsworn city, the old castle rests in a similar state. From it, though, an impressive oak rises, rivaling the heights of the proudest towers up above. The gates to the inner area are twisted and ruined, the wood crushed by thick branches, and the bars bent open by inhuman strength. As the heroes cross the entrance, they see owls bunching here and there, passively observing their steps. At this time of the day, their concentration is somewhat alarming. Still, they watch with apparent indifference.

Amidst the many samples of flora, sediments and leftovers suggest a sum of many rituals. The very air around the heroes seem to be distinct, as if to demand solemn respect. Fruits, blood, ashes, flowers, candles, perfumes, oils, all seem to mix up around groves and upon stones. Small animals make a fuss here and there, finding their way through the cracks in the walls, clearly moving deep within the earth.

Around a few areas, remnants of old sacrifices can be found. Mostly bones and various dust gatherings over improvised altars. In the center of the patio, the statue of a horned goddess rises. In front of it, most of the sacrificial marks are placed. In fact, many offerings are still there, laying over a stone slab: fruits split in half, honey, wine, herbs... A pyre still burns, right in front of it, probably on its way to die out. In front of it, several bones are sprung out, including... a skull!? Maybe the siege of an ancestor, or the prize of a humanoid hunt.

Beyond, the castle doors are obliterated by a series of vines and branches, preventing passage, but allowing someone to peek through. Above, barbican's windows follow the very same pattern.

[Ok, guys! Time for some good old tests! Anyone interested can give me Arcana or Religion rolls for this one. Any survival and even some dungeoneering are welcome as well, if you want to explore the area a bit more. Aside from that, feel free to add anything to the mixture!]

AREA MAP

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-HkUERv_GECGNhLeb6c1C6UnRfRJEZa9tBYjhy5nP_w/edit

@Neurotic @MetaVoid @Shayuri @Charlotte of Oz @KahlessNestor

Is it protected from the entrance from above and what kind of roll I need to get rid of the owl if it wants to follow? Preferably without killing it.

Moss flies up as soon as the group starts. At first he flies low and away to keep the bushes between him and the dryads. Immediately afterwards he banks suddenly left through the grove, makes a tight turn around the tree and shoots up into the sky hopefully invisible to owls light sensitive eyes. Squinting his own eyes he flies over the group and circles downward watching if they are watched by anyone else before continuing toward the tower. He finds suitable lookout where he can both see the entrance (and the group coming) and not presently being occupied by an owl.

[sblock=Actions]
Stealth to leave the bush unnoticed: 1D20+25 = [3]+25 = 28
Fly to evade the owl: 1D20+17 = [15]+17 = 32
Perception to notice other observers and find landing spot: 1D20+17 = [12]+17 = 29
Stealth to drop down unnoticed: 1D20+25 = [20]+25 = 45 INVISIBLE! I landed right next to our hostess
[/sblock]

Arduniel looks around with interest, he is native here, but until now wasn't up to the tower in long time. He leads the group through ruined city, enjoying internally the end of human city and the nature that is taking over. His wrath may be spent, but it is always present.

[roll0]
[roll1]

Moss manages to slide from the branch without being noticed, but soon after the resentful owl follows suit. After a brief - albeit agitated - chase, the creature is left behind by the dragonnette's maneuvers. Moss finds a spot above the castle door, atop the barbican, and perches there, commanding a complete area view. No one observes at first, except for the already present owls that glance at the arrivals as they approach - while ignoring Moss' presence in a higher area.

Within the abandoned courtyard, light seems to grow thin and white, as if some unseen thickness pervaded the air around. Zyara's senses are immediately caught by the remnants of old rituals, as well as the centerpiece statue - surprisingly similar to Aranel, as it goes. The statue came with the Fae, of course. Before that, this place served to feed the east lines with troops. Inside, it is said, the old lords kept a collection of strange trophies, conquered by hunting expeditions led to the jungles beyond the realm's frontiers. The castellans took pride in being great hunters - and great lovers, as it was said. Their cruelty led their city to such a state, when the vindictful woodfolk came to avenge a dead damsel and razed the land, turning it into an otherworldly savage land. Now, the area serves as an open temple to the Dragon Queen, one of the many faces to the God of Nature. This particular interpretation of the deity shows a matron of fertility and seduction, bent towards the wrath of great, destructive phenomena. Somehow, it is accepting of the bone remnants laying around. The remnants found by the monk tell a different story, though. Some of the signs left behind speak of marrow bone and obsidian, stuff that might appear in the Goddess' rituals... But in here they look suspitiously close to necromantic devices... Every aspect of the red obsession placed within this old sanctum bruises Zyara's conscience, for she knows how hate can invite destruction into one's life, leading so many others down with it's own chosen plaything. Tales of noble hearts surrendering to hate were abundant amidst her masters, and they always ended tragically.

Ardaniel's trained eyes confirm Zyara's suspitions. He knows for a fact that the priestess has always been inclined towards the vindictive nature of the Goddess, instead of the celebratory aspects of fertility, usually led on by Allanor and the satyr druids. That statue speaks a lot to him, and more than once he heard his name arise from oracular chants, from the mouths of the nymph seeresses under Gallena's service. Truth be told, Allanor's coterie tends to ignore the Goddess' demands, enjoying the fertility celebrations and the fruits of the land for the most part. The druids tend to consider her another entity, as a living spirit that crosses the area and blesses those generous enough to defend the sprawling vistas and the savage hideouts of the old world - from before Laholt, the humans and the angels. Ardaniel also tries to recall the nooks and crannies used by children to play around, as well as the hidden paths once trailed by the humans. He seems to recall some forgotten path behind the old blacksmith, as well as a set of barracks below the watchtowers. Those areas are mostly used by priests in service now, as far as he knows.


[Even with a low roll, you guys still have a wealth of points. In this case, no harm done. I'm using this part to introduce our new characters, allowing for some roleplay as the story takes it's first steps into the action. Hope you'll enjoy!]

AREA MAP

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-HkUERv_GECGNhLeb6c1C6UnRfRJEZa9tBYjhy5nP_w/edit
[MENTION=24380]Neurotic[/MENTION] [MENTION=6801311]KahlessNestor[/MENTION] [MENTION=87106]MetaVoid[/MENTION] [MENTION=4936]Shayuri[/MENTION] [MENTION=6847138]Charlotte of Oz[/MENTION]

Laholt/Alessia
Afternoon
Round 0

Daxio eyed the courtyard of the castle, taking in the offer, the sacrifices, the sealed entrances. It was certainly well fortified. He gazed at the horned goddess, studying that, as well, trying to learn what he might about this priestess Galena with whom they were to treat.

Arcana: 1D20+24 = [8]+24 = 32
Religion: 1D20+24 = [18]+24 = 42
Survival: 1D20+4 = [18]+4 = 22

[sblock=Actions and Rolls]
Move:
Action:
[/sblock]

[sblock=Ministats]
HP: 122/122 NL: 0
AC: 19 FF: 14 T: 15
CMD: 20
Fort: 10 Ref: 10 Will: 13
Armed: Dagger
Arcane Reservoir: 9/15/day
Consume Spells: 5/5/day

Conditions:

Spells Prepared
0 (9): Acid Splash, Detect Magic, Ghost Sound, Light, Mage Hand, Message, Prestidigitation, Ray of Frost, Read Magic
1 (4/4/5): Burning Hands, Charm Person, Disguise Self, Magic Missile, Vanish
2 (4/4/5): Darkvision, Hideous Laughter, Invisibility, Scorching Ray, See Invisibility
3 (4/4/4): Dispel Magic, Hold Person, Suggestion, Fly
4 (4/4/3): Charm Monster, Confusion, Greater Invisibility
5 (4/4/2): Dominate Person, Hold Monster
6 (2/2/1): Mass Suggestion

Spell Book:
0: All
1: Burning Hands, Charm Person, Disguise Self, Enlarge Person, Featherfall, Grease, Liberating Command, Magic Missile, Obscuring Mist, Ray of Enfeeblement, Shield, Silent Image, Vanish
2: Darkvision, Hideous Laughter, Invisibility, Scorching Ray, See Invisibility
3: Dispel Magic, Hold Person, Suggestion, Fly
4: Black Tentacles, Charm Monster, Confusion, Greater Invisibility
5: Dominate Person, Feeblemind, Hold Monster
6: Greater Dispel, Mass Suggestion
[/sblock]

Aranel followed Daxio in and swept her eyes around the courtyard. What she saw brought a faint crease to her forehead, an expression of consternation. Her gaze lingered on the statue in the center as well, and its obvious similarities to herself.

What was this?

Knowledge: Religion [roll0]