Absalom Abberations - A Pathfinder Society Tale

Game Master Brian Minhinnick

Roll 20 Campaign


201 to 250 of 9,619 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | next > last >>

He could move up to 55' feet with a double move (not counting difficult terrain) and still be only at a -5 to stealth. At least that's how I read "When moving at a speed greater than half but less than your normal speed, you take a –5 penalty."


Hrim has short legs so only 20 ft move, so 35 ft. That's how I read it, too. Cheers


Ah, it says 30' movement on your sheet. I figured you had some increased speed ability.


DM Jelani wrote:
Ah, it says 30' movement on your sheet. I figured you had some increased speed ability.

Holy smokes! You're right! I forgot about the travel domain. He could have been motoring around this encounter. Ah, play and learn. Cheers


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

Going to hold my action until after Grommuk makes his turn. If the undead still stands after that, Argor will do the following...

Argor repeats the minuscule but of magic he uttered earlier, and again flings a small stream of acid at the monster before him.
__________
Touch Attack: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (15) - 4 = 11
Acid Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Move to Q10


HP: 36/36  |  Martial Maneuvers: 5/5
Stats:
AC 23, T 14, FF 19; CMD 23 (25 vs. Grapple); Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +0; Init +2; Percept +6

Grommuk continues striking viciously at his remaining opponent, hoping to end it before he succumbs to death himself.
______________________________

HP: -9

Power Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 2) + 11 = 17

Sorry for the terseness, but conditions don't allow otherwise at present.


Grommuk is able to smash the last foe before Argor even gets his spell off.

End Combat

A meow penetrates the granary as Yargos and Cole peek in cautiously to see what's going on. "Did you stop the Black Echelon? Are you okay?" the fat historian calls into the granary.


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

DRINK THE POTION! Cladissa shouts to Grommuk as the sound comes rushing back.


HP: 36/36  |  Martial Maneuvers: 5/5
Stats:
AC 23, T 14, FF 19; CMD 23 (25 vs. Grapple); Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +0; Init +2; Percept +6

Grommuk makes to speak, but a blood choked gurgle is all that he manages. He seems confused before glancing down to something his fist clenches. Not certain when the potion had appeared there—not certain of much of anything at the moment, actually—he obeys the witch's instruction in a stupor that belies how dangerously close the orc is to death.

cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Puts me at -3 I think, unless the round in which the potion is quaffed incurred an additional point of damage.

Ferocity's name implies that the orc in question is sustained by rage alone. Given that the fighting has halted, I'm going to have Grommuk collapse unconscious. Walking around enraged until further healing manifests (natural or otherwise) just seems stupid to me.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

As the fighting ends, Argor lets out a sigh of relief then walks to the doors. At Yargos' inquiry, he responds, "Yes, we did, while the shadow gnome was busying himself with collecting the poison."

Looking over the many gashes on Grommuk's body, he says, "You might have to actually help him with that, my dear."

He then walks over and squats beside the melted form of the doctor, and examines the remains without daring touch them. "Surely this is a side affect of mixing both the original formula with his own experimental extracts. If it were a general flaw, it should have likely had this affect near the same time..."


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

Cladissa sees with great relief the orc slug back the potion before finally collapsing under the weight of his injuries. She ignores Argor for the time being as she kneels over the orc, checking to make sure the potion's magic did its work.

Heal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

I-- I think he's still alive. Does anyone have another healing potion? she asks, while Cole moves up to her and mews softly.


Hrimnagel rushes to his friend's side as he slides unconscious to the floor ignoring the human. His longbow clatters next to him. No. No. No. No. No. Not again, races through his mind as he fights back tears.

He takes a deep breath at the cat lady's proclamation and finds his center. With a quick prayer to Count Ranalc, he heals a fellow exile.

cure light wounds 1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
cure light wounds 2: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9


HP: 36/36  |  Martial Maneuvers: 5/5
Stats:
AC 23, T 14, FF 19; CMD 23 (25 vs. Grapple); Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +0; Init +2; Percept +6

Grommuk stirs and rises up. The last vestige of his thoughtless crushing-spree seems to be totally spent. He looks down curiously at the drying coat of his own blood that covers his forearms and torso, but is not perturbed enough to dwell long on it. Fragments of the fight come back to him, but most of it is lost to frequent blackness brought on by his fit of rage. He grunts at Hrimnagel and Cladissa. It might be a thank you, but it's hard to tell.

"Bones dead?" Grommuk asks finally, giving one of the nearby skulls a brief poke with a finger the size of a small bratwurst. Seeing it roll lifeless on the ground before him, the orc reaches over and fetches all of the intact skulls, stuffing each in his pack. He seems oblivious to the fact that he's lucky to be alive.

I intend to kinda feed into his Barbarian levels a little with his fights, blacking out and whatnot. Also totally intend to make a belt out of these skulls.


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

Cladissa sits back on her haunches and breathes a sigh of relief when Grommuk wakes up. To his question, she looks around, and nods. Yes. I mean, I think they were dead before, but they're really dead now. Good job. Really good job.

She pets Cole and stands up, swaying slightly. Thank you, she says to Hrimnagel.

Moving toward the exit, she gives the remains of the doctor a wide berth. What do we do now? she asks.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

Standing facing his...companions...Argor says bluntly, "We need to regroup and better prepare. None of us were expecting a siege this morning. Now that we know our enemy, we need to prepare for them adequately."


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

She frowns and looks up at the wizard. Do you think we should go home now? Cladissa glances down at Cole and scoops him up into her arms. As her familiar settles down, she tries to adjust nonexistant glasses, then recovers the motion by rubbing her eyes briefly.

I don't really have a whole lot I can do against undead. But I can come up with a couple spells that might work, if I had a little time, she offers.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

"My magics are nearly spent, Grommuk nearly died, and the doctor is dead, albeit by his own experimentations I presume...but that isn't the point. We are low on resources to go after the head of this matter, while he is likely entrenched and bracing for opposition. Let alone the fact we have no idea as to his where abouts yet..."

Argor reaches out and puts a hand on Cladissa's shoulder and says, "I'm not saying we should give up. But that we should do this intelligently. And to do that, we need to make some preparations."


With the difficulty of that fight and Cyrill out of the picture, do you guys want to go back to Tier 1? The end of the module will be very hard otherwise. I underestimated the effectiveness of their mist and silence aura, and was expecting Cryrill to be around when I said I thought you could handle it.

Yargos wrings his hands nervously. "Prepare if you must, but make it quick. We've got to go to the Siphons and find Grandmaster Torch. I can't think of another way to find Nessian, and if we don't stop him the whole city will fall to those terrors," he says pointing to the crushed Black Echelon agents.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

Argor tightens his grip on his staff, the frustration of dealing with the dullard responsible for all this nonsense growing. He manages to bite back the harsh words he was about to say.

"Then by all means, let us move on, as the preparations I had in mind would take some time. But if we are able to find this Nessian's location, we need to move against him directly. We haven't the resources for a prolonged fight."


Hrimnagel - Here's the poison you have now:Gut Wither Poison
Type:Ingested
Onset:10 minutes
DC:14
Frequency:1/Round for 4 rounds
Damage:1d6 Con
Price: 150 GP

You don't know that without an DC 14 Craft Alchemy check though.I think that's the rule for identifying poisons anyway, can't find it.

PFS doesn't normally do this, but in the interest of giving you guys a little more to work with...

Cladissa notices a fat purse scattered in the grain near the skeletal remains. Inside are 134 platinum coins and 4 pieces of gold. The coins are ancient and Taldan. Perhaps the Black Echelon were to pay a bribe as part of their mission.

That's the loot from the two encounters so far. I'd suggest pitching in on a wand of infernal healing or cure light. I also need an answer about what tier you guys are willing to risk.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

I think we should reign it in to Tier 1 again, definitely, for the very reasons you listed. Pretty sure Grommuk feels the same way, lol. I agree on the wand of CLW, it would free up the others from having to memorize healing non-stop.


Infernal healing is technically more bang for the buck, and you can use it Argor. But I guess you can't beat CLW for those "oh shit, I'm going to die in 1 round" moments.


Without five PCs and severely low on melee, I vote tier 1. How many doses of the poison does Hrim have? And that 150 gp is per dose? Maybe we can trade Grandmaster Torch the poison for an Infernal Healing wand? Or we have enough platinum to throw, but we need healing.

Hrimnagel nods to Grommuk and Cladissa and does not spare a look toward Argor. "Yargos, please lead us to this Grandmaster Torch, the deep gnome politely requests in his small, thin voice. He recovers his arrow that went through the skeleton and readies his longbow into his left hand in case the trip doesn't go as planned.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

I'm fine for whichever wand, just as long as we get one. If the others don't mind keeping spot CLW's on hand for the "oh #$@%" moments, the Infernal Healing wand is the way to go.


There are enough shops and markets on the way to the Siphons that you can find any relatively common item you might want to purchase with the money. This is the city at the center of the world after all :)

Grandmaster Torch is just an information dealer. It's unlikely he'd have a wand of infernal healing. He might however have interest in buying the poison.

"Certainly! Right this way..."

I'm going to leave time for a consensus on purchases before I move on. It breaks down to 336 GP each. A first level wand is 750 GP. So it would take 187.5 GP of everyone's 336. A little more than half.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

Yes, but well worth it.

As the party prepares to leave, Argor bends down and collects a few choice bits of the bones of the Echelon agents. He then looks over the puddle that is Cyrill one last time, before picking out an empty vial from the man's belongings and collecting some of the remaining sludge that is on the floor.

He then tucks them away in his pack, and follows along with the rest.


vote to buy wand of infernal healing


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

I'm in agreement on the tier question, and in favor of buying a wand. I think Clarissa would be a little hesitant to use the infernal healing, but she'd go with group consensus.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

Then just trust Argor with the purchase...he will go with the superior choice despite morals. Did the math, after the wand purchase, we will each gain 14pp, 8gp, 5sp. Going ahead and adding that amount to my sheet.


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

"Superior choice despite morals." That sounds like a recipe for disaster. :) No worries. It'll give me some nice fodder for descriptive storytelling.

Clarissa looks sick as Argor collects his sample. She forces herself to view the remains one last time, and whispers a quiet prayer to Nethys, assuming that the god of magic would appreciate Cyril's reckless experimentation into alchemy. Then she draws a deep breath and follows the others into the night.


HP: 36/36  |  Martial Maneuvers: 5/5
Stats:
AC 23, T 14, FF 19; CMD 23 (25 vs. Grapple); Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +0; Init +2; Percept +6

+1 to Tier decrease. I didn't realize Grommuk would be the lone crusader on the front lines, haha. Fine with Infernal Healing, certainly on an IC moral ground as well.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

Noting Cladissa's look of disgust, he responds, "For study, to hopefully determine exactly what caused his demise, so we do not errantly replicate the conditions."


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

Cole meows irritatedly while Cladissa seems abashed and looks away. But under her breath she mutters to no one in particular, I know that. It doesn't make it less sad, though.

She pets her cat as she walks, head down and watching the ground before her.


After a brief stop in a less than reputable magic shop for the purchase of a wand of infernal healing, Yargos leads the Freaks into the sewer maze of the Puddle District, a waterlogged labyrinth of dangerously flooded tunnels known as the Siphons. There they find the receiving room of Grandmaster Torch, one of Absalom’s most notorious information brokers.

Before going in, Yargos turns to them, holding his hands up in a sign of caution. "Grandmaster Torch has powerful friends and bodyguards. It would be wise of us to leave any weapons sheathed, and not make any threatening moves here. We need Torch's help."

Upon entering the outer room they come face to face with two heavily armed and armored half-orc bodyguards. They stand cross armed in front of a wooden door leading further into the complex. "You here to see the Grandmaster?" the taller one asks. Both his tusks are broken off and capped with gold nubs, and there are decorative acid burn scars around his eyes. He has a heavy looking spiked ring pierced through his septum.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

"Indeed," Argor replies bluntly.


Hrimnagel remains nervously scarce.

Stealth take 10+20=30


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

Cladissa only nods, and tries to remain in the shadow of Grommuk.


"Come," the large half-orc says. He opens the wooden door and leads them down a hallway past some side doorways and into relatively large chamber. A man covered from head to toe in horrible burn scars lounges in a shallow pool of water. Two beautiful woman in loose diaphanous robes kneel next to the pool, gently scooping the water up in jugs and then pouring it over the man's scarred body. The two guards remain in the room, standing behind the Freaks, in front of the exit.

"Hello, I am Grandmaster Torch. Who might you all be?" the man asks in a soft charming voice.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

Argor steps forward, scanning the room rather than looking at any one person in particular, though his eyes did linger on the scantily clad female forms for a bit longer than would perhaps be appropriate.

"My name is Argor, and we come in search of information. Specifically, the whereabouts of a man by the name of Nessian."


HP: 36/36  |  Martial Maneuvers: 5/5
Stats:
AC 23, T 14, FF 19; CMD 23 (25 vs. Grapple); Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +0; Init +2; Percept +6

"Grommuk. Nice puddle." The flat expression on his face tells those who know him that the comment is meant as a genuine compliment.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

Imperceptible to most, thanks to his new eye coloration, Argor rolls his eyes at Grommuk's simpleminded compliment.


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

Umm. Cladissa. She wonders if she should say more. She glances around, and takes a moment to regard the guards standing behind them. Then she turns back around and looks at Grandmaster Torch.

Hi.


Torch nods to all of them. "A man who gets straight to the point. I like that, Argor. I know where to find Nessian, but it'll cost you a pretty penny. 6,000 pieces of gold to be precise." The information broker doesn't even hesitate to name the outlandish sum. His tone of voice indicates he's quite serious.

Yargos blanches at the figure. He certainly doesn't have that kind of money.


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

If we can't find Nessian, we'll need to get on the first boat out of Absalom, she thinks bitterly. I wonder what that information is worth?

We don't have that. Maybe we can trade? We have some information you'll want to know. Plus, we're Pathfinders.
__________________________

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 19


"What information is that, Cladissa?" he asks in a neutral tone. Skill combined with the fact that his face is a mass of burn scars make his expression nearly impossible to read.


HP: 14/14;
Stats:
AC 18, T 12, FF 16; Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +4; Init +4; Percept +9, low-light vision
Human Witch 2

What will happen if we don't stop Nessian, she says bluntly.


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

Argor turns his head towards Cladissa when she responds with a...for her...witty response. At first he assumed he would have to lead the negotiations, but seeing Cladissa come out of her proverbial shell, Argor decided to remain silent and see how well she handled the situation. Besides, despite her social awkwardness, she could very well have more experience at this sort of thing than he, and the man clearly had a soft spot for the feminine form. Argor just hoped her recent...changes...didn't negate that advantage.


"Which is...? I have little patience with riddles. If you have something for me, speak clearly. What is Nessian up to?" Torch waves his female attendants off and sits up in his pool. He focuses his attention on Cladissa, tenting his fingers while resting his elbows on his knees and waiting for her response. The two women move back to stand demurely behind the pool, their eyes downcast. The two guards behind the Freaks shift from having their arms crossed to tucking their thumbs into their belts. The shorter, fatter one openly undresses Cladissa with his eyes, while smiling at her sadistically.


"Nessian has stolen ancient Taldan magic that threatens all of Absalom. We just barely prevented the granary from being poisoned." Hrimnagel says in his small, thin voice as he steps from his shadow to stand next to Cladissa. He holds up and shows one of the bottles of poison. "He can destroy the city's bell towers and more. We must stop him before he wreaks more havoc."


Current AC: 37 (39 vs Evil) HP: (16/16) 224/224
Stats:
AC 33, T 18, FF 25; (All saves +2 vs Evil) Fort +16, Ref +18, Will +22; Init +2; Percept +36
Current Buffs: (Permanent: Darkvision, See Invisibility, Arcane Sight), Heightened Awareness, Shield, False Life, Tears to Wine, Invisibility Sphere

As almost all of their cards had been laid on the table now, Argor attempted to win the man over by a appealing to his business sense.

"With the forces he now commands, he poses a serious threat to this city. These forces are not living, and are programmed to fulfill their ancient mission at all costs. They will not take the time to determine if one is a civilian or a soldier: to them, any living soul in this city is opposition. So, it is in your best interest to give us this information so that your own interests in this city remain unaffected."

201 to 250 of 9,619 << first < prev | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | next > last >>
Community / Forums / Online Campaigns / Play-by-Post / Absalom Abberations - A Pathfinder Society Tale All Messageboards

Want to post a reply? Sign in.