GM BPC TK2's Excellent PFS Adventure

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

With Greater Trip when you trip all who threaten should also get AOOs, right?

I'll take a bite too!

Bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Threat!
Confirmation: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (4, 3) + 14 = 21
Crit Damage: 2d6 + 14 ⇒ (2, 2) + 14 = 18

Grab: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

The serpentfolk just barely leaps over the tripping swings! So close!

Nilfyr Acid damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

The acid on Nilfyr burns a little bit more before dissolving away.

Init Order (bold = up)
Uzar-Kus (43 damage)
Faeros
Nilfyr (11 damage, acided-1)
Zisska (SW)
Thunderstealer/Belcher
Artemus

Any chance I can get my shots in pre-trip?

As the stars align on buffs / conditions, Faeros unleashes a furious volley of arrows.

Bane rapid shot full attack
(same as before + bane + rapid + coordinated shot + enfilading fire)

arrow1: 1d20 + 20 + 2 - 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 20 + 2 - 2 + 1 + 2 = 381d8 + 2d6 + 14 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (8) + (3, 3) + 14 + 2 + (5, 6) = 41
arrow1: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (5) + 23 = 281d8 + 4d6 + 16 ⇒ (8) + (6, 4, 2, 3) + 16 = 39
arrow1: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 251d8 + 4d6 + 16 ⇒ (6) + (2, 2, 5, 4) + 16 = 35

Still flat footed because of total concealment from buff.

Still flat footed because of total concealment from buff.

I'm not sure shield of darkness works against creatures with darkvision.

And the trip seems to have been unsuccessful.

Thunderstealer is correct. If the creature has the See in darkness power or something similar to see in magical darkness, it will ignore the concealment and Faeros loses his sneak attack. Also a daylight spell would instantly end the effect.

If it ends up mattering, the loss of sneak attack would result in 11, 5, and 9 damage reduced.

Honestly, I want to check that later. The weird thing is that it says it's "magical darkness", which is a new term to me as I thought the illumination levels were bright light, regular light, dim light, darkness, supernatural darkness. I'll go with the idea that the writer meant "supernatural darkness" for now, since the last sentence of the spell doesn't make sense otherwise.

And a hail of arrows from Faeros does the job, ending the upstart!

So... as everyone suspected, this is the point where Zisska would turn on you... except he honestly isn't a dummy and after seeing what the party just did, despite what the written tactics are, I just can't see him actually thinking that betraying you is a smart move... at least right now. So, dialogue!

Zisska steps into the room with Uzar-Kus's demise and strips the holy regalia off of the slain serpentfolk's body. "I thank you for lending me your strength. As a gift, I will not slay you and I shall command my followers to leave you be as well. Do not abuse this generosity, sons of Aroden. Now leave; your human-blood desecrates this place.", Zisska hisses, seemingly ignoring the party as he continues to go through Uzar-Kus's belongings.

Art gets a strange look on his face.

Er, Kitty, Kill! Lion pounces. Do you want me to roll this out.

"I think you misunderstand. This all belongs to us now. We tried it the nice way, but we can do it the hard way if you want!"

Dino Thinderstealer tries to be intimidating!

Initimdate: 1d20 - 2 + 4 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) - 2 + 4 + 4 + 2 = 18

I have no problem with any ruling, GM. I just wanted to try it out because it was on the INQ list from a new book I got. What boils down to Greater Invisibilty except everyone knows what square you are in seems about right for the spell level (3) to me, but I'm not attached to it by any means.

In case you haven't been paying attention, you are the one who should leave now, and make the most of our generosity, serpent.

intimidate assist: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 2 = 20

Well, the power of the spell REALLY changes depending on that one wording; if it's supernatural darkness, it's a rogue (or inquisi-slayer)'s best friend. If it is basically regular darkness, it's potential is far lower. And oddly, I think given the number of things out there that also nerf invisibility, the spell may be a bit overpowered as a 3rd level if it is supernatural darkness. But as compared to Greater Invisibility, it would be fair at 4th level. But that's me :P

And... do you guys want celestial lion to pounce? He can't survive the pounce, but he will regretfully flee, biding his time until some point outside the scope of Emerald Spire :P

It's new enough of a spell that i'm hopeful there will be clarification.

I say we make him tell us his plans, if we believe him to remain malicious, we just kill him. Otherwise we let him go. We can use our sense motives and discern lies.

Any other ideas?

Nilfyr would be okay with letting Zisska leave with nothing (leaving us to take the gear...), but would balk at killing in cold blood.

Kitty has pounced. That should save all your consciences. I expected that to result in a grappled traitor, but if it kills him (her?) I am ok with that. Out of character the snake person was suppose to turn on us so this resolves that. Not very interested in getting less gold because we let him go.

Kitty has pounced. That should save all your consciences. I expected that to result in a grappled traitor, but if it kills him (her?) I am ok with that. Out of character the snake person was suppose to turn on us so this resolves that. Not very interested in getting less gold because we let him go.

if you don't have a way to communicate with the summoned, it will only attack actual enemies, not 'allies that are too rude for their own good

Enemy by whose definition? Stealing from us makes it an enemy in my book. :) If I magic Missile it I think that too would make it an enemy. Note I do not care how its resolved as long as the creature we saved does not get to walk away with our treasure.

I think we can resolve that part with social skills and sense motives, but I agree that if he doesn't want to fight us out of fear, at this point the method doesn't really matter... Especially if we go ahead and resolve it now while buffs are running. I guess the easiest way is to just ask, GM is this skip-able? Will he surrender his treasure and agree not to show up again?

I wouldn't penalize you guys for diplomatically (or intimidately) resolving the encounter. I was only going to have him run because to me, in character, he would be stupid to attack such a powerful group, and not because of something directly that you the party did. And reviewing Zisska's stats... there is a slight chance he could survive a full pouncing, but Zisska is weaker than Uzar-Kus was, so things do look grim!

So, I'm going to assuming kitty attacks and give Zisska a 1/6 chance of surviving

Zisska survive 6 = yes: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Much to the party's chagrin, the celestial lion makes short work of the Ysersiusite, leaving another bloody serpentfolk dead in the shrine.

The party realizes quickly that moving back and forth through the row of facing snake head statues causes them to spit acid out, although each one only gets a single shot off before they seem to be empty.

The only other item of interest in the room is the large emerald that is wrapped inside the large serpent statue in the back. Inspecting it, it looks like the fangs are missing as there is a pair of indents where they should be.

Appraise: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Art casts Detect Magic and surveys all the items, including that gem. That gem is the real thing. I's say is worth a good 5K.

Seems like we have run across at least 1 fang. Have we?

Why don't you put it in and see what happens? :)

GM plotting-finger-rapping behind the screen

The base of the statue has a magical aura, although the statue itself does not.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

This statue's base is enchanted with an Unhallow spell that also blesses its allies. Might bless everyone passing by it. Unsure. Lets get the gem and other valuables and wrap this place up.

Faeros wants to deface the unhallow if possible and make some effort at a small shrine to Abadar in its place.

@Faeros: I'll take a Kn: Religion check on that :)

Artemus checks and it does appear that the stone fang found in the floor above would work in the statue, but that still leaves another elsewhere...

And you guys haven't come across it yet, :P There are a couple rooms to the east you haven't explored, although Zisska's demise does leave you blind to what may be there.

OK. Was thinking we were done. Time to explore some more.

Nilfyr begins preparations to open the door to the east.

Sorry I was under the impression that we were done as well. Faeros will deal with the evil shrine once we finish the level.

Faeros check door quickly but thoroughly
perception: 1d20 + 41 ⇒ (2) + 41 = 43
And informs his companions of his findings.

Yeah, I realize that thanks to the fact that I had the entire map exposed. I'll be sending out Chronicles middle of next week btw with the holiday weekend coming up and my silly decision to take some retail shifts for Black Friday weekend :)

Real update in a couple of hours

Okay, so my personal stuff should be squared away enough for now. I appreciate you all waitimg, especially with the holiday season ramping up! I apologize for being vague about things.

The last chamber of this floor is to the northwest, a green light bathing the area in a sickening hue. A column of the Emerald Spire is the light source, and around the pillar are large nests carved into the walls bearing pearly eggs.

A massive serpent with unnaturally fiendish features guards the eggs.

And yeah, with lion and transformations around, the single large snake is not going to do any significant to the party.

After a short battle, the hell snake is dispatched, leaving the party free to explore the chamber. Around one of the egg nests is a gold chain with a large stone fang wrapped around it.

Heading back to the altar chamber, the party adds the new fang and the snake uncoils partially around it, allowing easy access to the valuable gemstone.

Also, bad GM forgot to mention that underwater in the sauna is a lever. Pulling the lever hides the statue that causes the compulsion and teleportation effect. It also opens a passage to swim underneath and emerge from the pool near the statue.

The party eventually makes their way back to the other side. The route down secured, the party makes their way back up and prepares for the next foray into the Emerald Spire....

Also means chronicles by tomorrow, then starting next floor! So level up and do you good stuffs :)

Day Job!

profession: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Reroll + 3 stars
profession+3: 1d20 + 6 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 9 = 25

Also Day job

Craft Alchemy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

Craft Alchemy reroll: 1d20 + 15 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 15 + 3 = 34

Alright, chronicles have been sent! I want to start things up by next Tuesday, Dec 5th, maybe Monday before if I can help it.

Alright, finally have the time to get started on this. Let's start this!

Incidentally, I may handwave some of the combats. The power level of this module is fairly low I think outside of a couple of battles, but the DPR of you guys is insane :P

The party heads down the stairs, but shortly down the path, the wall ripples and takes on the shape of a human mouth about a foot across. In a feminine voice, it whispers, "I, Tiawask, a mage of the Goldenfire Order, leave this message for any who are exploring the Spire. I escaped from Klarkosh and the serpentfolk, but am continuing my descent in the hopes that I will find a way out somewhere below. If you have come this far, I beg you to help me escape. You shall be richly rewarded."[/b]

As the mouth disappears, Artemus easily identifies it as a magic mouth.

Insert any dialogue/comments here, but continuing :)

It is a long walk down, but eventually the party makes their way to the bottom of the stairs. The passage leads off into a strangely angled foyer. Most of the walls have been reduced to rubble. One of the walls connects to a small corridor, but the passage ends in a collapse after a few feet. In the southern wall of rubble, a small dark hole int he rock is the room's only exit.

For everyone aside from Belcher, you will have to try and squeeze through if you try to go through the southern hole.

Map updated!

First, can you sense motive on a magic mouth? Second you forget Lyr, Art's tiny familiar.

Two of us can Dimensional hop to get through if necessary.
Faeros reapplies his heroism and perceptive spells before examining the room and the hole.

Knowlegde Tiawask?

Local? (untrained): 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (4) + 0 = 4

"I can change into a tiny lizard and scout ahead. I can also change someone else into tiny lizard, but then he might think he actually is a lizard, so maybe that's not a good idea."

"I would be fine squeezing through...but I don't believe I should be first. Let those who are smaller move through first, and we will follow after."

Lye (flying and with Darkvison) will scout forward using both Detect Magic and Detect Evil as she quietly moves forward.

Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

@Thunderstealer: Kn: Local to get more info about Tiawask :)

@Artemus: I'm going to say no on the Sense Motive. And I did forget about familiar.. :P

The party looks through the opening and those with darkvision or if Artemus sends his dancing lights through..., noticing that the next chamber is also severely damaged. Rubble torn from the excavated walls lies everywhere. Across the room stand the remains of a dividn wall now torn down to its foundation. The far wall is piled with slabs of broken stone In a few places, badly damaged remains of ancient glyphs can still be seen.

Map updated!

does Lyr pick up any evil or magic?

@Artemus: Are those abilities constant or does he fact to concentrate? Just so I know in the future.

And no evil or magic

Constant. Also constant Freedom of Movemment

Since nothing jumped out and ate the scouting archon, Faeros will squeeze through the hole and look around on the other side.

An Azata is not an Archon, even Thunderstealer knows that!

So does faeros - Oops! I thought it was a lantern archon, somehow

Good to know ARtemus! Your summons/familiar are going to break so much :P

Also, darn super Faeros Perception :P

As Faeros slips into the other side, he notices several small humanoid tracks.

Bit more map exposed now, moved Faeros!

Lyr stands hidden in the rocks on guard as Faeros pulls himself through. Once he is through she salutes him, and pointing to the tracks she mouths morlocks

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

"More locks? I don't even see any doors!"

tracking: 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 19 + 2 = 30
Faeros doesn't recognize those tracks. Must be something we dont have in Katapesh...
Not sure what a Morlock is, but it went that way
Faeros quietly mentions to his companions