DM Panic's Emerald Spire

Game Master wakedown

Slaagh looks a bit concerned.

"What... what would that do? Would that make Skraa-orm thagh happy, or hurt Skraa-orm thagh?"

He doesn't physically stand in your way. The doors are heavy and will take a combined Strength 27 to move and insert. It's definitely doable.

"I do not know, Slaagh. But it would be... interesting to find out!"

"Then let's try it out." The Maiden helps the party move the doors.

Bonaventure attempts to get the trogs to participate in the 'great undertaking' by playing up the momentous significance of making the Godbox whole.

[dice=Diplomacy (sickened)]1d20 + 11 - 2[/dice]

Failing that, he lends his meager strength to the task.

Hopefully the trogs buy in to this and actively participate. If not, Charis has Str 14, Bonaventure has Str 8, which is combined 22. If Zora helps with her Str 10 that would get a combined Strength of 32, which is more than the 27 specified.

Slaagh seems unwilling to participate, but Bon finally coaxes him that inserting the doors will be a "good idea" and the trog reluctantly assists Zora and Bon in dragging the heavy copper doors to the Godbox.

A few other trogs gather at a distance and watch with suspicion and doubt, and unlike Slaagh (who speaks Common), they do not participate and instead ask Slaagh various questions like "what are you doing?" and "will this anger the Godbox?".

The first door proves to be an exact fit. It clicks into place and a strange, high-pitched humming begins to emanate from deep within the machine.

Slaagh gives a worried look to Bon.

"No! We must stop, we are making Skraa-orm thagh anxious!"

Several more doors to go if you wish to proceed. :)

BTW Bonaventure speaks Draconic, and has been talking to various other trogs and hopefully influencing them as well.

Bonaventure's voice becomes more strident than you have ever heard it and his eyes go wide, whether wth excitement or madness it is difficult to tell.

"Are you sure, Slaagh!?! Do you know the mind of Skraa-orm thagh!?!"

[dice=Diplomacy (sickened)]1d20 + 11 - 2[/dice]

You're good on the Diplomacy for now, you've got Slaagh to Helpful, which is as high as he goes. The other assorted trogs are Friendly (or Indifferent to ones you have yet to meet).

"No... Slaagh knows not, but why is Skraa-orm thagh making unhappy noise?"

He's referring to the high pitched hum that began after inserting the first door.

Bonaventure's voice resumes its normal tenor and volume.

"I also do not know the mind of the Godbox. But look at these slots and the doors. It is like a man and a woman, ja? Maybe there will be a... baby Godbox?"

I'll take that as you continue to insert the remaining door-plates into the slots...

Bon, with the help of his allies, continues inserting the heavy copper doors into each slot. With each subsequent insertion, the high-pitched humming gets louder and louder.

Finally, as the last plate is inserted, the Godbox and the room shudder violently simultaneously as all the metal items affixed to it clatter to the ground.

Slaagh grabs his head and screams at the top of his lungs. The handful of trogs watching each scream in turn.

"YOU'VE KILLED SKRAA-ORM THAGH!"

Turning hostile, the trogs rush to grab weapons to murder the vile intruders who have killed their "God".

Tears flood Slaagh's eyes as he drops to his knees, rocking back and forth repeating the same word over an over again - "Why, why, why, why..."

You've got a few seconds before all the trogs try to murder you all.

To be fair, I said we would stop if the trogs started getting agitated. Should we take a pause in case Charis or Zora want to say something about continuing? I don't want to be the jerk that drags the party into a conflict they don't want to have.

(Draconic) "No, everything is fine! There is no need for violence!"

[dice=Diplomacy or Bluff as appropriate (sickened)]1d20 - 2[/dice] 10 Diplomacy or 7 Bluff

Bonaventure weeps, "I did not know it would lead to this..."

Bonaventure looks distraught at what he has wrought.

"Well, I didn't want to harm these creatures, but now I am intrigued by what this thing is. I never once believed it to be a god, but was willing to leave well enough alone before. But this is just too perfectly lining up to be a puzzle, so if we can't calm them down, we will need to defend ourselves."

As the trogs get agitated, she turns to them. "Mighty beings, we are not here to hurt Skraa-orm Thaugh, but to complete him so that he can ascend to his rightful place! As loyal followers, you should rejoice! And help us to complete the ritual."

Bluff: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 2 = 15

Desperately Bonaventure latches on to Zora's words.

"Ja! Skraa-orm Thaugh ascends!"

[dice=DC 10 Bluff to aid another (sickened)]1d20 + 8 - 2[/dice]

Wow, the dice bot hates me today.

As the party inserts the plates, The Maiden takes a careful look at the godbox. She never studied mechanical workings beyond the basic trap or lockpick, though.

Glad to hear Zora start first, The Maiden joins in the story- anything to avoid hurting them. Rejecting their hospitality is simply too rude.

Bluff (Aid): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (19) + 0 = 19
"You should be joyous that Skraa-orm Thaug is near completion! All this time he has tried to reach out to us for help, and you have kept him active long enough for us to arrive. Now he sleeps peacefully. Your duty is done!"

I know that I am not there, but how about quickly removing the plates, to see if that brings the 'God' back to life?

The way it's written, the trogs simply watch in bated concern until the last plate is inserted and the "Godbox" deactivates, at which point they turn hostile, so there's really no material difference between inserting 2 plates and all the plates.

The troglodyte clan assembles, grabbing weapons and ready to punish the invaders that "killed" their "deity".

The plates are supremely heavy, so sadly they won't be removed quickly; it'd probably be a minute per plate as they are a few hundred pounds each and the trogs intend to skewer you before that time elapses.

You basically are left with two options since a home run on Diplomacy failed to adjust them from hostile - fight or flee.

Unwilling to abandon the treasures littered around the Godbox, Bonaventure prepares to defend himself.

"My apologies, Slaagh. I'll try to use nonlethal means. When you recover, please tell your clansmen to leave us be." The Maiden assumes a horse stance.

Clubs in hand, the troglodyes hiss at Bon and the heathen before them, stepping forward with a snarl. They scream, shout and call to one another, their voices echoing throughout the level that their God is dead and that punishment must be given for such.

Slaagh continues to rock in place, holding his head repeating, "No no no no..." continuously.

Round 1
16 Giovanni :
14 Maiden :
10 Trogs :
8 Zora :
3 Bon :

Now Up: Giovanni, Maiden

Not that it made much difference, but I adjusted my initiative for being sickened, I hope everybody else did! :)

Wow, there are a lot of trogs here. Maybe we should fight towards the exit?
"Quickly, my friends. This way!"
Charis steps through the door and prepares to disable the first hostile trog who comes her way with a well placed kick.

Shaking his head, Giovanni continues down the stairs to the next level.

Did nothing else happen with the godbox?

Zora rushes back towards the way down (double move) pulling her short swords as she goes.

"The way down was fairly defensible, so let's get there and narrow the number we need to encounter!"

Several of the trogs are still reacting to the news of the death of their deity, but those who witnessed the deactivation collapse upon the perpetrator (Bon) with haste, swinging their clubs in rage. Slaagh continues to cradle his head in despair while another moves up and receives a swift kick from the Maiden.

Two of the ones that close in upon Bon make contact, striking the desecrator with two telling blows (13 damage to Bon).

Round 1
16 Giovanni : Moves to stairs
14 Maiden : Moves readies, strikes trog#5 for 5
10 Trogs #1-#4 : Move up to Bon and strike him for 13
10 Trog #5 (5 dmg) : Misses Maiden
8 Zora : Double moves away
3 Bon :

Round 2
16 Giovanni :
14 Maiden :
10 Trogs :
8 Zora :
3 Bon :

Now Up: Bon, Giovanni, Maiden

Giovanni heads down the stairs.

BTW Zora moved out of turn (her initiative is after the trogs). She was standing where trog 3 or trog 4 was, so I probably shouldn't be quite as surrounded as I am and/or might not have received quite so many attacks (depending on whether they would have ignored Zora).

Bonaventure bobs and weaves as he attempts to extricate himself from his situation, retrieving his wand of cure light wounds as he moves.

Total defense and single move, provoking various AoOs as I move.

With Bonaventure behind her, Charis simply takes a defensive pose. "Keep going."

Total Defense puts my AC to 24.

If you're making a hasty, tactical retreat, then I won't have us roll it out since Maiden's got enough defenses to "cork" a hall against a bunch of angry club-wielding trogs. We can assume we drop out of combat.

Bon makes a hasty retreat, passing the Maiden who takes up a defensive pose in the hall. A half-dozen more trogs join their brethren, continuing angered shouts at the four Pathfinders and promising punishment for the slaying of their god. However, as the four descend into what looks like a humid, wet level of the Emerald Spire, the troglodytes stop just short of descending and following in their pursuit.

Check the OOC thread for some OOC discussion of how you wish to proceed.

With "Godhome" in their past, the four Pathfinders descend to the next lower level, discovering they can take the central "Emerald Elevator" up to the surface. Returning back to the Hellknight town, they rest and recover, resupplying themselves for their return to the Spire for further exploration.

Before departing, they do observe this next level appears very wet and partially flooded, indicating some sort of preparation to deal with such may be in order.

Feel free to make purchases, knowing this next level is the "Drowned Level".

I'll take advantage of my ACG boon from 0-3D: Going Under to purchase a potion of water breathing for 375gp. I also changed my mind about slow-tracking Godhome. I'll slow-track The Drowned Level instead.

Map Link updated. Switched to Google Slides as I understand that's better for some folks on some mobile devices.

After a brief return to Fort Inevitible to restock and resupply, the four Pathfinders return back to explore their most recently discovered part of the Emerald Spire...

The ramp winding down from the level above ends in a flight of stairs leading to a dank, low-ceilinged room. The curved surface of the Emerald Spire takes up the northwest corner, and to the east is a broad stairway leading down to a dark passage from which the soft sound of lapping of water emanates. A small, closed door stands in the south wall. Several toad-sized crabs skitter about.

Once again, your entrance to a new section of the Spire is immediately stopped as you are approached by one of its denizens.

The blue-skinned "man" first addresses you all in a language that sounds vaguely aquatic, but then seeming angered you do not understand, shifts to a bit awkwardly spoken Common tongue.

"Ugh... we do not have time for your sort here. Please take whatever half-baked ideas you have for exploration and employ them elsewhere..."

A DC6 Knowledge Local will identify this man as an undine.

As if to punctuate his words, a rather gigantic crab with wicked claws, click-clacks in shared annoyance at your arrival while a smaller blue-green imp-like creature peeks out from behind the fishman's leg.

A DC11 Knowledge Local will identify the crab as the undine's eidolon (pegging him as a summoner). While a DC13 Knowledge Planes will identify the smaller creature as a water mephit.

BTW I do speak Aquan.

Knowledge (local) untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Aquan "We are Pathfinders, and would love to share information with you, if you would share yours with us!"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

I will buy 2 elixirs of swimming.

Charis is pleased to finally make peace with the troglodyte clan, as she spends her time begging for forgiveness. They finally get passage to the new level.

Disguise: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
The Maiden spends her time marking herself with more Troglodyte features, with varying levels of success.

Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Knowledge(Local): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
Ah, an Undine. What is that crab creature? His partner, summoned from somewhere.

"We are here to rescue some travelers who passed here. May we pass?" Please, no violence
Diplomacy, Aid: 1d20 ⇒ 12

@Bon: Ah, he repeats it in Common for everyone else to understand when you don't immediately turn around and leave.

The undine seems even more annoyed at your attempts to request passage.

"No, our research cannot be interrupted! Turn around immediately, or I shall have to force you to leave!"

The crab steps forward a few inches, its claws clacking in anticipation to "force" someone to leave.

No amount of assists on the Diplomacy will enable him to allow you passage at this point.

"How unfortunate. And the residents above were so kind..."

Charis stares at the summoner and takes a step forward, ready to fight.

Bonaventure reaches for his wand of bless.

Bon reaches for his wand while the undine recognizes that forceful means will be required to prevent Pathfinder meddling. He grins, apparently not finding violence an unwelcome option while he calls out to his crab companion in Aquan to attack the intruders.

Round 1
23 Maiden :
21 Enemies :
19 Zora :
13 Bon :
9 Giovanni :

Now Up: Maiden

My initiative modifier is +2, not +0. It was +0 while I was sickened. BTW I forgot to mention, before entering a new level of the spire I tap myself with my wand of mage armor. I'll tap Charis as well if she would like.

Recognizing the tight quarters, Charis decides to make this quick and defeat the crab as soon as possible.

Flurry + 1 ki point for an additional attack

Flurry 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Flurry 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Flurry 3: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

All of this is nonlethal damage
"We will have to subdue you."

@Bon: Got it, will fix my macro I use. Luckily (unluckily?), you're still at the same spot at initiative count 15.

Only a single of Maiden's hit the crab, even though she catches the strange crustacean unaware (aka flat-footed), yet her attack that connects is a solid one (12 damage).

The blue-skinned man waves his arms and weaves a spell, and you observe as all three of your opponents begin moving quicker, faster. The mephit finally releases the undine's leg and flits off down the corridor calling to him in their strange aquatic tongue.

The crab clicks it claws together eagerly and snaps at the Maiden, as it begins to disassemble her with both claw and mouth (15 damage from two hits)

Round 1
23 Maiden : Punches crab for 12
21 Undine : Casts haste
21 Mephit : Flees down hall
21 Crab (12 dmg): Bites and claws Maiden for 15
19 Zora :
13 Bon :
9 Giovanni :

Round 2
23 Maiden (15 dmg):

Now Up: Everyone!

"The mephit is leaving to warn others!"

Bonaventure draws his wand and casts bless.

+1 morale bonus on attack rolls and saves vs. fear.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Bonaventure tries to remember what he heard about summoners, but fails.

Charis shakes her head as her fist and shoulder bounce off the carapace. "There is little I can do to stop the Mephit. Let us subdue the summoner, at least."

She focuses her energy on the summoner.
Flurry, burning another point of Ki to hit the Summoner again. All nonlethal damage. Blessed!

Flurry 1: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Flurry 2: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Flurry 3: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

As Bon blesses his companions, the Maiden finds once again a single of her trio of strikes connects with her intended target, this time the "summoner behind the crab".

6 damage to Mr. Undine.

Still Up: Zora (who can delay for the bless to init 12), Giovanni

Giovanni steps up, and takes a swing at the crab.

MW Cold Iron Elven Curve Blade: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11, for 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 damage.

Since Zora wasn't acting quick in this encounter, she holds off to see what everyone else does. Once the Bless takes effect, though, she decides it is time to act.

Knowledge, Local: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Not really knowing what this person is they are facing, she concentrates on flanking the crab with Maiden, taking a 5'step to get into position, and then attacking with both weapons.

+1 Short Sword Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

MW Cold Iron Dagger Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Damage: 1d3 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + (2, 2) = 7

Giovanni and Zora both discover the combination of a hard shell and magically enhanced reflexes make their crablike adversary rather difficult to strike. Meanwhile, the aquatic summoner maintains his effort, mends his pet's wounds and takes a step around the Maiden where he assists the crustacean in landing a pair of strikes against the monk (11 damage to Maiden).

The mephit disappears around the far corner at the end of the hall (and is likely out of this combat at this point).

Round 1
19 Zora : Stabs twice, misses twice
13 Bon : Bless from his wand
9 Giovanni : Swings at crab and misses

Round 2
23 Maiden (15 dmg): Flurries, hitting undine for 6 dmg
21 Undine : Heals eidolon for 11, 5ft, flanks with dagger
21 Mephit : Disappears down the hall
21 Crab (1 dmg): Flurry of snaps and bites for 11 dmg
19 Zora :
13 Bon :
9 Giovanni :

Round 3
23 Maiden (26 dmg):

Now Up: Everyone!

Zora continues her onslaught, hoping to find a crack in the crabs shell.

+1 Short Sword Flanking Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 2 = 20
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (2, 5) = 12

MW Cold Iron Dagger Flanking Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d3 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + (4, 2) = 9

Bonaventure moves up, drawing a wand of mage armor and taps Charis with the wand.

+4 armor bonus supersedes Charis's +1 armor bonus from bracers of armor +1, increasing her net AC by +3 points.

Zora continues her onslaught, hoping to find a crack in the crabs shell.

Zora, I don't see that you added the +1 from bless to your attacks.

"Take out the healer!"

With a frown, Giovanni steps up, and takes a swing at the Undine.

MW Cold Iron Elven Curve Blade: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28, for 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 damage.
Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21, for 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 damage.