[CORE] GM Chadius 's 7-12: Twisted Circle (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

Nerisiel moves forward drawing her bow. If she can see anything of Nira she will cast grease on the doll if not she begin singing to inspire courage

I haven't heard from Creat, but the show must go on.

Remember, light sources give about 20 ft of bright light and 20 ft of low light conditions. Durin, Nerisiel and Prisim have active light sources.

Durin moves up and hurls a spear that drives itself into the ground. Nerisiel draws her bow and focuses, seeing splinters from Nira fall out as the Cloaker's maw closes about her. Nerisiel speaks a few words and covers Nira in a slick, black oily substance.

Pau moves up, ready to bludgeon the beast. Prisim has to compensate, but her aim is good enough to scar the fiend. Despite all of the Pathfinder's work, the Cloaker seems to focus on Nira directly.

Round 1
Nerisiel (you cast grease)
Creat

Round 2
Lannior
Cloaker (35 damage, engulfing)
Nira (10 damage, engulfed, greased)
Creat
Nerisiel
Prisim
Durin
Pau

Lannior and Creat are up, but I'll move on as soon as Lannior posts an action.

Double (Family Circus) move.

Lannior laces another arrow between the two lovely ladies at the Cloaker.

Bow+PS/PBS: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14
damage, cold iron arrow: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

The cloaker continues to wrap around her, even as Creat closes in.

Grapple, maintained vs Grease: 1d20 + 10 + 5 - 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 5 - 10 = 22
Bite: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

The party hears another crunch as the beast locks down on Nira and bites again.

CMB to escape: 1d20 + 3 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 10 = 31
Nira struggles to escape. The cloaker grabs her arm, but slides off of Nerisiel's grease. She slips out from its grasp. Cracked, broken, almost shattered, she retreats. The cloaker moans in anger as she flees.

Round 2
Lannior
Cloaker (35 damage)
Nira (18 damage, greased)
Creat
Nerisiel
Prisim
Durin
Pau

Pau punches at the beast twice in succession.

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Attack 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Nerisial drops her bow draws her rapier and moves to provide a flank for Creat (more so she can see what Creat and the cloaker are up to rather than provide a flanking buddy) and begins to sing Inspire Courage "Don't fear the rapier"

"Come over here Nira, where we can protect you!" calls Prisim.

She continues to summon acid over the top of the creature - wary of using more powerful magic in this area.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
damage: 1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Did Prisim smell pine or sense another effect when she used the cantrip last round?

"Oo! That's my favorite song--well that and Proud Mary.... And Blue Moonday.... And When I Grow Up.... Oh and anything by that bard in black! .... And-"

rapier (flanking, inspired): 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 10 damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 + (3) = 8

"It's flapping around too much!"

Lannior moves over to get a better angle, then fires another arrow at the beast.

Bow+PS/PBS+Inspire: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 21
damage, cold iron arrow: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 9

Luckily (or unluckily) for Prisim, she does not burst into pine needles as she throws another well-aimed glob of acid.

Round 2 (Inspire Courage)
Lannior
Cloaker (48 damage)
Nira (18 damage, greased)
Creat
Nerisiel
Prisim
Durin
Pau

Durin to finish round 2 (and maybe the cloaker, it's almost dead)
Lannior, not to be outdone by Prisim's fine aim, also fires another arrow that hits true.

Round 3 (Inspire Courage)
Lannior

Round 2 Inspired
Durin moves up into melee with the Cloaker ...
Spear: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 for Piercing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Durin just can't finish the cloaked yet.

Durin closes in, but his spear doesn't pierce the cloaker's hide.

The cloaker ignores the party and tries to fly over them, towards Nira.
Fly, DC 20: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

It begins to fly over the party, provoking from Nerisiel, Pau, Creat and Durin.

AOO with IC 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21
Damage 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

Round 2 AoO; Inspired
Spear: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 for Piercing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

Rapier stab stab: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
All including flank and bard song

Before the Cloaker can get far, Pau and Nerisiel clobber and impale it, it collapses, seemingly dead.

Out of Combat

Nira kicks the cloakers remains. "Murderer." She turns to the party, shaking off the splinters she accumulated during the fight. "Thank you. I thought it had me, but you saved me... Where do we go next?"

There are two areas of interest. One is all the way south, and the other is a small alcove on the south west side of the map (outlined in blue.)

"Thank you. I thought it had me, but you saved me... Where do we go next?"

"Yeah. Sort of...."

Creat lights his torch and heads off south, looking around.

perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

"South it is then ..."
During follows Creat ...

Vine covered walls obscure a nearby chamber. You see a dead body, draped in the
bright orange clothing of Mercy's residents. It's almost certainly Amenira's body.

Nira kneels down at the body, forlorn. "Me."

Inspecting some of the seedpods in the chamber, you notice two sealed potions
inside.

Prisim looks at the potions
spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
spellcraft: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"These are unusual... combination of spells rather than single ones."
She explains what they do.

"Nisa, do you think we can heal you in that body? And do you know how you got into it?"

Lannior does know much about healing but kneels down and examines the body.

Heal v DC 15: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Looks dead?

He then stands and looks around for anything useful.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

heal check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

"Yes dead about two months bitten to death. By the cloaker I think ".

Or have I got hold of the wrong end of the stick and she looks like she has been swarmed to death. Do bites match cloaker or something a lot bigger/smaller?

[b]"Interesting Prism. I carry too much I will let you carry those for now. We should come back for Amenira's body later but first let us see if this Cave holds the secret of how Mercy is protected. It certainly keeps mana effects away like in Mercy."[/ b]

Nerisiel notices Cloaker bite marks on Amenira's body. Nira looks up as Prisim asks her about the body.

"I-I don't remember everything, but I think this is important." Nira removes a small locket she kept hidden under her dress. Certainly magical in nature, it's not clear to her why it works. "If I break, find another doll and I will talk to you through it." Nira shudders, a bit uncomfortable over viewing Amenira and talking about spare dolls.

Nothing more of interest here, so let's head to the next spot

The temperature rises toward the back of the cave. A tangle of vines spins and twists out of the rocky ground to cradle an enormous seedling. Both the seedling and the vines glow with a vibrant green light.

What will you do with the seedling?

Talk to it?

Caster level check to activate scroll

cl check: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

"Are you the one that protects Mercy?"

happy to relay answers back and ask any follow up questions from everyone else here

"Nisa, are you aware of other Dolls around here we could use?" asks Prisim.

"Where did you get the locket from?" she adds.

Casts detect magic on amulet
spellcraft on amulet: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

--=-=-=-=-=

"Do you think this is the same sort of tree as the one in Mercy?" she asks.

Lannior examines the seedling as the others use there magical abilities.

Know Nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Are you the one that protects Mercy?"

happy to relay answers back and ask any follow up questions from everyone else here

"Yaawwwn...my children protect the nearby fleshy people. One day I will change everyone like their children have been changed." The seedling mumbles to Nerisiel, as if talking in its sleep. "Sadly the cave will wither, but someday all will be under my protection. Mmm..."

"Nisa, are you aware of other Dolls around here we could use?" asks Prisim.

"Where did you get the locket from?" she adds.

"She...I" Nira pauses to collect her thoughts. "Made dolls for the children. And some of the dolls in the cave, above..."

Casts detect magic on amulet

[dice=spellcraft on amulet]1d20+5

Prisim notes necromancy magic in the amulet. "The amulet is hers. I mean, mine."

"If this is what is protecting Mercy ... and the current incarnation is sick, perhaps would should ask about transplanting the seedling back in town? Especially if staying in the cave will eventually kill it? Or am I not understanding the situation correctly?"

"Nira ... why are there dolls for the children? Is that how the plant has been protecting them? It 'transforms' them into the dolls or so the dolls protect the children from the change the plant is talking about?"

Lannior whispers under his breath..

I'm not sure I would want my fleshy transformed into a doll? Not sure what to do here, but I don't know if this is a 'good thing'

"What are you doing to the children of Mercy?" asks Prisim.

"We didn't see many up close, and many had bandages. Are they becomming your children too? Trees?"

Pau remained silent. He was torn on whether or not this seedling was doing good or doing evil. Should it be returned or not? He wanted more information before deciding.

"What are you doing to the children of Mercy?" asks Prisim.

"We didn't see many up close, and many had bandages. Are they becomming your children too? Trees?"

Neresiel seems to mumble her question in the seedling's direction. The seedling seems to reply: "Yes, the children of Mercy have my protection! They will not be trees, they will move and be free."

"Nira ... why are there dolls for the children? Is that how the plant has been protecting them? It 'transforms' them into the dolls or so the dolls protect the children from the change the plant is talking about?"

Nira turns to the Dwarf. "No, Amenira made the dolls for the children to play with. But she could use them to observe, and to hide. She was desperate when the Murderer attacked, and she...hid herself in one."

"How is it that you protect the children of Mercy?" asks Prisim.

And then adds to Nira

"Would you want to come back with us and see if your body can be restored and your ...soul..to it?"

"How is it that you protect the children of Mercy?" asks Prisim.

"All of them have my loving embrace! The sun is warm! The sun is bright!" Nerisiel replies. It seems like it doesn't fully understand Prisim's question.

And then adds to Nira

"Would you want to come back with us and see if your body can be restored and your ...soul..to it?"

Nira nods. "Yes, I'd like to go with you. Maybe I can heal from...this..." She looks at her cracked and splintered form.

"Is that what is slowly happening to the children as well?" asks Prisim.

"Do you mean the dolls? No, only Amenira can use that." Nira replies.

Lannior attempts to follow along to the plant and doll. Thinking out loud he attempts to summarize.

Amenira lived in town, she liked the kids and made dolls for them, the town was consistently plagued by 'vampire--murderer' attacks, that's why the children in town had injuries?

He pauses, So then Amenira, tracks the murderer to this cave, she fights with it, it wins and just when she's about to die, the plant here 'protects' her, by putting her life essence into the doll.

He's now getting dramatic as he tells the story.

The doll, Nira, heads back to town to watch over the children. We show up and kill the murderer! Now we have a doll, a body, and a 'protective' plant.

Back into town we have the 'tree god' which is corrupted...and down here we have the plant. Plus something prevents the town from mana storms. Could be the tree could be the plant, could be neither.

He looks around to his fellow Pathfinders, the doll, and the seedling.

That sound about right?

He gives Prisim a wink, even though he isn't sure what to do, hoping one of his wiser friends will know the right course of action.

"Nerisiel, is the tree in town completely corrupted? Is it too far gone? Do we need to destroy it and put you in the ground in its place?" Pau wasn't sure, but he was making a stab in teh dark.

Hey! That's my job.

"Can you add a bit to the story where I kick the sheriff's ass too?"

"Honestly these people are a bunch of savages. Can't they worship proper fickle, imperfect, uncaring, anthropomorphized beings like sensible folk?" Then after a moment of consideration, he adds: "Oh, and there's more cave we should be getting to too."

Prisim shakes her head

"There is more here... if the children had just been attacked by the "Vampire" why would they be hiding them from us. Nerisiel...what are you doing to the children to protect them?"

Nerisiel asks the plant creature some questions of her own

"Are you a seed of Robori the big tree in Mercy?"
"Is the cloaker your protector?. Or do the gnolls protect you? If this cave is dying do you want us to move you from here?"

"That tree never talks to me or my seedlings!" The seed replies, somewhat annoyed.

"Protectors? What are you talking about? The sun protects me with its warmth!" Nerisiel notes it seemed confused about her questions about the cloaker and gnoll.

"Move me or leave me here, it doesn't matter. Someday the entire world will have my protection."

It's up to you if you take the seed or not. That decision will affect the end of the scenario.

"Well ... the tree is definitely in trouble and the town may need a new protector. I think we should take a seedling back ... after we finish with the rest of the cave of course ..."

"I agree, Durin. Let's take this tree back when we return."

Lannior will honor the request of his fellow pathfinders, but adds:

I don't like the look of this seedling...

I got a bad feeling about this.

"Move me or leave me here, it doesn't matter. Someday the entire world will have my protection."

sense motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

"That doesn't sound sinister at all. Let's go."

"If we take the seed back, it might be that the priest can help divine whether it will be helpful. I'm still curious about who was poisoning the Mercy tree. Nisa... do you know anything about that?"

Asks Prisim.