#55: The Infernal Vault (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master Yiroep

Hellany's meaningful look was a little bit too subtle for Smiley to catch.

Smiley pokes his head down from the upper room.

Hey! Nice job! It was girl-city-devil, wasn't it? Or maybe city-devil-girl. Or devil-city-girl. That was it, wasn't it? I knew I was close, I have a knack for these things y'know. I'm quite lucky that way.

Have I mentioned I'm the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son?

Have I mentioned I'm the Seventh Son of a Seventh Son?

"And I am an Iron Maiden", she winks to him.

Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Tchucko dusts off his slightly singed feathers.

"No worries, Smiley - you were closer to the right answer than I was. I thought the devil went on top..."

You head down the spiral staircase.

This room is split by a long, ten-foot-wide stone walkway, extending sixty feet east to west between two spiral staircases. Two ladders rest on the north side of the walkway and two more on the south, leading down into a fifteen-foot-wide trench twenty feet below. These sub-rooms are filled with objects ranging from decrepit suits of rusted armor, to piles of rotting furs, and to various over-stuffed footlockers.

There are two creatures in front of you on the platform! They look like fleshy lard monsters. Amid the fatty surge wriggle half-formed limbs and a dripping tumorous face. They attack on sight.

MAP UPDATED!

Monster knowledge checks below. If you roll a high roll, feel free to open the spoilers for the lower DCs. REMEMBER: Unless you have that Knowledge trained, you cannot get above a 10 on Knowledge checks, which is too low for all of this information.

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Initiative Order - Bolded characters may post their turn.

Seren (-1 or 2?) Reflex Save Needed from Trap Before (DC 11)
Smiley (-1)
Hellany (-1)
Red
Argazhon (-1)
Faellynn (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-1 or 2?) Reflex Save Needed from Trap Before (DC 11)
Blue

For those with Reflex Saves still needed, I'm OK with you healing up before heading here.

Smiley remembers how his brother Fellgar would put his head down a certain way and push Smiley away from the dinner table. Sometimes Smiley would get a good shot in, but most of the time Fellgar ended up with the sticky-sweets and Smiley went hungry.

No Martial Flexibility as I don't have the prereq for what I want to do. Just flavoring. I expect I'll get some AoO's out of this.

He surges forward heedless of the danger and attempts to headbutt Blue off the walkway.

Bull Rush: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

@GM, do I still have my Shadow Splinter from Tchucko? I suspect I may need it.

Smiley charges at the one closest to him and tries to knock it off. The lardy creature feels gross and heavy, but not heavy enough to prevent itself from being knocked over from the impact. The creature gets hurt by the fall and is knocked prone!

Fall Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

Lard spreads all over the ground at the bottom!

No AoO, they are flatfooted because they have not acted yet (and clearly don't have combat reflexes). Added back the Shadow Splinter. I should have just copied that last one. XD

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Initiative Order - Bolded characters may post their turn.

Seren (-1 or 2?) Reflex Save Needed from Trap Before (DC 11)
Smiley (-1) - Shadow Splinter
Hellany (-1)
Red
Argazhon (-1)
Faellynn (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-1 or 2?) Reflex Save Needed from Trap Before (DC 11)
Blue (-9) - Prone

Hellany crosses the way till the creature with a red bandana and tries to strike it with her blade.

greatsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 62d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8

"Flames." the normally smiling gnome states as the flames wash over him.
Reflex save vs DC 11 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Knowledge (Planes) 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Double roll of 2s so 2 2s?
Slightly smoked but still fine.

Upon the creatures appearing however, Jadger feels the thrill of flame once more!

Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

She knew as soon as people wanted to start fiddling with a trapped door that she shouldn't have been down in that room, and because of that she was flying up the ladder as Smiley set off the fire trap. Her clothing became singed, but she'd felt worse.

When the door opened and Smiley charged forward at the lard monster she couldn't see a option but to follow along, letting steps turn into a dance as her movements become someone else's.

Jadger's words are gibberish to her, and she steps around behind the monster Hellany is facing to strike at in a blind spot.

"I think Smiley has the brighter idea!" Hoji's voice bellows out of Seren as she strikes.

Free action Spirit Dance, Move action to flank red while drawing 2 wakizashi, standard action to attack red.

Wakizashi(Cold Iron): 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 18
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Spirit Dance: +2 bonus damage to all non-spell damage within 30 ft. of Seren.

Hellany charges up, but the lard proves itself to be very thick.

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Seren's wakizashi strikes true, but doesn't feel the blow dealt as much damage as it should.

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Red's Turn
It will try to hit the one who hit it, and attacks Seren!
Claw Attack 1: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Claw Damage 1: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Claw Attack 2: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Claw Damage 2: 1d4 ⇒ 4
But flails around and misses twice!

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Initiative Order - Bolded characters may post their turn.

Seren (-1)
Smiley (-1) - Shadow Splinter
Hellany (-1)
Red (-2)
Argazhon (-1)
Faellynn (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-2)
Blue (-9) - Prone

Group Buffs: +2 bonus damage to all non-spell damage within 30 ft. of Seren.

"What?", Argazhon screamed to Jadger, then he murmurs... "I can't understand a word..."

Then the aasimar position himself and tries to strike the foe with his longbow.

longbow: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 4 = 51d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

broken % for the missed arrow = +50% is broken: 1d100 ⇒ 91

Faellynn takes a small step to her right to get a better view of the mongrel, then fires her bow.
5' step right and forward to be next to Argazhon.

Longbow, Rapid Shot, PBS: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16 for damage of: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5
Longbow, Rapid Shot, PBS: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7 for damage of: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12

Argazhon tries to shoot the creature, but the arrows goes off target.

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Faellynn tries to strike the at the creature twice with better aim, but unfortunately there's too many people in the way that they both miss.

Cover made the first arrow miss. Unfortunately, these are not the best of battles to be an archer.

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Initiative Order - Bolded characters may post their turn.

Seren (-1)
Smiley (-1) - Shadow Splinter
Hellany (-1)
Red (-2)
Argazhon (-1)
Faellynn (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-2)
Blue (-9) - Prone

Group Buffs: +2 bonus damage to all non-spell damage within 30 ft. of Seren.

Jadger screams as he dances around towards Smiley and with another round of perfect Ignan, he casts a spell. A whoosh of flames emit from his hands and forms dancing flaming pixies around Smiley.
Shield of faith +2 Ac

Tchucko moves over to the other edge of the platform so he can get a clear shot at the creature Smiley shoved onto the lower level. He locks his eyes on the creature and attempts to weaken it with his mesmerists glare, and then he fires his crossbow.

I know that shooting at a prone target normally gives a -4 penalty, and I'm factoring that into my roll. But I wasn't sure if shooting at a prone target from 20' up in the air might not cancel that penalty out.

vs. blue
Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 3 - 4 = 14
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

My Mesmerist Stare is a mind-altering effect, so I assume that it doesn't affect the lemure, though Tchucko wouldn't know that. I have an ability called "Painful Stare" that lets me increase damage against my Mesmerist Stare target by 1 once per round. That ability doesn't specify that it is a mind-altering effect, but it relies on the Mesmerist Stare to work. I wasn't sure if being immune to Mesmerist Stare also means you would be immune to Painful Stare.

If I am able to use my painful stare ability, I'll trigger it on the first successful hit against blue, adding 1 extra damage to the attack.

Jadger helps Smiley get more defensive.

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Tchucko tries to hypnotize the creature, but it doesn't seem to work. He shoots down at it and hits! However, it doesn't seem to do any damage...

It's weird, but prone still applies even from above. You still hit, however.

I researched the topic of Painful Stare and mind-affecting briefly. I came up with this post about it, so I'm going to rule that it can't be affected by the Painful Stare. Very interesting though. At first glance before I saw that I thought it might work too. :)

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Blue's Turn
The creature gets up and goes to the closest ladder. Unfortunately for it, it's out of movement for now.

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Initiative Order - Bolded characters may post their turn.

Seren (-1)
Smiley (-1) - Shadow Splinter, Shield of Faith (+2)
Hellany (-1)
Red (-2)
Argazhon (-1)
Faellynn (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-2)
Blue (-9)

Group Buffs: +2 bonus damage to all non-spell damage within 30 ft. of Seren.

Thanks! That makes sense why it wouldn't work, I just wanted to make sure. :-)

Taking advantage of being flanking the lemure, Hellany tries to hurt the devil with her blade and a slam!

greatsword + flank + PA + buff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 222d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 6) + 9 = 21
slam + flank + PA + buff: 1d20 ⇒ 101d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

When the steel cuts the devil's skin, Hellany delights with its scream of pain, "go back to hell, damned creature!"

Hellany strikes with her blade, and that along is enough to defeat the creature. As the greatsword pierces through the fat, the creature disappears!

Hellany is free to move if she wants. The first attack was enough by itself.

Makes initiative easier. :)

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Initiative Order - Bolded characters may post their turn.

Seren (-1)
Smiley (-1) - Shadow Splinter, Shield of Faith (+2)
Hellany (-1)
Argazhon (-1)
Faellynn (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-2)
Blue (-9)

Group Buffs: +2 bonus damage to all non-spell damage within 30 ft. of Seren.

Hellany is free to move if she wants. The first attack was enough by itself.

So...

After she slain the devil, Hellany goes down as fast as she can, using the ladder.

"I'm coming for you too, loathsome devil!", she taunts the remaining lemure.

Argazhon just takes a step aside, and shoots another arrow against the fiend in the bottom.

longbow + party buff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 61d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 why God, why?

broken % for the missed arrow = +50% is broken: 1d100 ⇒ 42

Tchucko curses, realizing that his glare and his crossbow bolt both failed to affect the hideous creature. He moves slightly down the ramp looking for a clear shot to try again to pierce the beast's flabby hide.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage + Group Buff: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Broken % for a Missed Bolt = +50% is Broken: 1d100 ⇒ 67

When the bolt strikes true, Tchucko lets out a Squawk of glee.

Tchucko strikes the Lemure and does just enough to send it back to its home plane.

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Out of combat!

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Status Wrap-up

Seren (-1)
Smiley (-1) - Shadow Splinter, Shield of Faith (+2)
Hellany (-1)
Argazhon (-1)
Faellynn (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-2)

The way to the staircase is blocked by a portcullis. You see three levers on the bottom of the 20 ft. deep chasms.

As for loot, as you search around, eventhing seems to be tattered, rotting, or broken. There's nothing really of use here, but you can plainly see a large Andoran flag on the south side of the south chasm that seems to be already bundled for transport, and masterwork short sword on the south side of the north chasm of the room. The short sword is rusted, though, and gives a -2 penalty on damage.

You can do a more thorough search with Perception checks.

After they defeat the beasts, Argazhon starts to look for anything useful between those tattered, rotting and broken things... With the aid of Detect Magic.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Like her master, Hellany also makes search in the place.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Faellyn thoroughly searches the area.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Seren let's the spirit flee from her body with a shudder, dropping to her backside to sit on the walkway as the others search. She's looking a bit pale, but makes a cursory effort to scan the room for valuables from her perch, mimicing Argazhon's use of detect magic to do so.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 - 2 = 9
-2 to most rolls for 1 minute from ending Spirit Dance

"What -were- those?"She prods at the one that fell in front of her with the tip of her blade.

Hellany and Faellynn, admist their searching, find that there's actually a 4th lever in the room hidden under a blanket. All levers are currently pointed east. There's no other worthwhile treasure in here.

"Odd to find an Andoren flag in a vault of nobles from Cheliax, no? Strange bedfellows. If no one objects, I'll take the flag along, as a souvenir if nothing else."

Tchucko examines the levers and the portcullis. "Maybe this is too easy, but I suggest that we pull the levers. Though we should probably only have one person standing by each lever, in case they explode like the last door did. I'll volunteer to pull the lever that was under the blanket."

"I would suggest that we pull all 4 levers simulum... sumula... samilutan... at the same time.! Dammit!" Faellynn says as she hustles over to lever opposite of Tchucko.

"Sounds good to Smiley!"

Smiley takes the third lever.

"Ready when you are."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Jadger nods and scoots over to the next available lever, ready to pull as well. He hops in order to get to it.

"1.. 2.. 3.. NOW!"

It takes a couple tries (In order words, Strength check, but not gonna worry about them), but eventually you are all able to pull the levers to the west, and the portcullis opens.

You head down the staircase.

This long hallway stretches sixty feet east to west between two spiral staircases. The walls of this hall contain deep notches and cuts at five-foot intervals, and a lever lies in the down position beside the western staircase. Skeletal remains litter the floor, and among them rests the recently slain corpse of an elf, his arms torn off and several feet from the body.

I placed you guys in a semblance of order for this one. It's just gonna be cramped here and that's how it is for this part. You can head from the staircase upstairs from the room you were just in to the staircase downstairs in the new hallway with 5 ft. of movement.

You see a Devil's Claw mercenary with a crossbow at the end of the hallway. You must have gotten my comrades, but you won't get me! He points his heavy crossbow to the party. He is wearing a chain shirt as armor.

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Initiative Order - Bolded characters may post their turn.

Argazhon (-1)
Hellany (-1)
Blue
Faellynn (-1)
Seren (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-2)
Smiley (-1) - Shadow Splinter

Upon hearing the threats coming from downstairs, Argazhon quickly down the stairs, passing by his companions, to reach a point where there was nothing between him and the enemy.

There he stops and shoots an arrow at the opponent before he had time to react.

longbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d8 ⇒ 6
broken % for the missed arrow = +50% is broken: 1d100 ⇒ 63

Hellany follows her master and stands behind him, using her sword to try to deflect any incoming bolt.

Aid Another (Argazhon's AC): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Argazhon's AC for this turn is 19.

Argazhon heads down to shoot at arrow at the assailant, but misses. Hellany comes to backup her master.

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The man tries to fire a shot at Argazhon.
Heavy Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Heavy Crossbow Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
But misses! He stands his ground and reloads. Yes, he has the feat for it.

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Initiative Order - Bolded characters may post their turn.

Argazhon (-1)
Hellany (-1)
Blue
Faellynn (-1)
Seren (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-2)
Smiley (-1) - Shadow Splinter

With how crowded the hallway is going to become Seren decides discretion is the better part of valor and steps 5 feet back up the stairs to give the archer and casters room for line of sight without blocking Smiley's inevitable barreling down the hallway. "Chaucer, I need a hand! It's too crowded down there!"

She twirls as she moves, taking on a more fluid posture than she did in the previous two battles before leaning back against the wall above the stairs. "Come on now, lads, give them the old what-for, take the to task, and remember all that good old training you've probably had at some point!" This new masculine tenor rings out like a practice orator to the ears of her party.

Move action back up the stairs, free action to spirit dance, activating the martial spirit.

Seance Boon: Choose a seance boon from any of the other legends to benefit from. When using the spirit dance class feature, each ally can choose a different boon.

Faellyn rushes down the stairs after Argazhon. She tilts her head to the left allowing the crossbow bolt meant for summoner to pass her as well. She stops just after the summoner and lets lose two arrows from her longbow.

Longbow, PBS, Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5for damage (Seance): 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7
Longbow, PBS, Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23for damage of (Seance): 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 = 14

Her race down the stairs elevated her breathing causing her to misfire terribly with the first arrow. Take your time... breath... aim... steady... fire.

Would someone be so kind as to move me to the square just beyond Argazhon? Thanks.

Tchucko hears the sounds of fighting coming from downstairs and heads down the spiral staircase.

He sees the mercenary at the other end of the hallway and fixes him with a Mesmerizing Stare. Tchucko then takes aim with his crossbow and looses a bolt.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 4 = 0 -4 for cover
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 2 = 10 +1 from Painful Stare, +2 from Seance Boon

Broken % for a Missed Bolt = +50% is Broken: 1d100 ⇒ 47 At least I get my bolt back. I suspect that with a nat 1 it just fell out of my crossbow and landed on my toe or something...

Since the attack didn't hit, Painful Stare will take effect on the next successful attack against the mercenary, providing a +1 bonus to damage.

Seren channels a helpful spirit to enhance the party's abilities.

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Faellynn shoots the man, and the second arrow hits him hard. He staggers back from the blow, but still looks fully capable of fighting.

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Tchucko shoots at the man and it goes wildly off target. FYI, hypnotic stare has a 30 ft. range. Lots of nuance to that class. :p

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Initiative Order - Bolded characters may post their turn.

Argazhon (-1)
Hellany (-1)
Blue (-14)
Faellynn (-1)
Seren (-1)
Tchucko (-1)
Jadger (-2)
Smiley (-1) - Shadow Splinter

GROUP BUFFS: Within 30 ft. of Seren, one of the following:

@GM Andrew, may I post or I have to wait for Jadger and Smiley?

I swear I'm going to hypnotically stare successfully at someone before this scenario is over. :-)

@GM Andrew, may I post or I have to wait for Jadger and Smiley?

Yeah sorry, got ahead of myself. Would be good to have everyone post before a new round. Thanks for asking. :)

I swear I'm going to hypnotically stare successfully at someone before this scenario is over. :-)

And I swear that I'll hit a shot with my bow at someone before this scenario is over. :)

Argazhon wrote:

@GM Andrew, may I post or I have to wait for Jadger and Smiley?

Yeah sorry, got ahead of myself. Would be good to have everyone post before a new round. Thanks for asking. :)

So, I'll wait for them. :)

You still have no idea how someone with such wide shoulders managed to squeeze past you to get to the crossbowman, but somehow Smiley emerges on the far end and barrels down the hallway, just as predicted.

Prob'ly sixteen kinds of trap between me an' him, but I'm lucky!

From where he was, Smiley has just enough movement to double move and end up in Crossbowman's face.

He jumps over the corpse of the elf

Acrobatics, long jump: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

and lands crouching low to avoid any dart traps.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

With Smiley's (actual) luck, he'll land on the only remaining trigger plate that hasn't been set off.

If he makes it all the way to Crossbowman, he will demoralize his opponent with a witty quip.

uh...

umm...

(crickets)

Har!