GM Blood's Age of Worms in Golarion

Game Master David James Olsen

"It's more complicated than that..." Trevor says, aware of possible prying ears.

He looks at the narrow passage, scratching the lethal wounds he sustained just minutes ago: "Best would be to have someone stand on that end, then the rest should cross. I can do it." There is a slight tightening in his voice as he says the last part.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

"Rowena, can you go up and over the stacks to scout for an ambush?"

"I'll go instead, but do we have a way of making something appear there? Real or not?"

"No offense, Trevor, but I think Rowena can climb better than you. If we have some time I could do something about your other idea."

Rowena agrees to that plan, as she has already been eye-balling the stacks, looking for a stable avenue.

Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24 in case that's more appropriate

"She's right Trevor. We can charge in when its more straightforward, but this calls for a little more talent than our bull rushing." Kelkzar listens and watches for trouble or hidden foes.
Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Trevor shrugs, unhappy but acquiescing. He grabs a javelin and keeps his eyes on the path, ready to send one flying.

Quintus takes the opportunity to tag Kelkzar with the wand.

CLW on Kelkzar from wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Eh. Better than another 1.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Jirin watches for trouble with keen senses that seem particularly well-attuned to the current environment.

Rowena climbs and scampers over the boxes, almost spilling them over a number of times. Reaching the opposite side there is a short 15' hallway going north that leads to another door.

Steadying herself, she peers into the hallway, and if it's clear, motions Trevor to move forward.

Worried that the tengus might attempt to use the divided group as an opportunity for a renewed attack, Kelkzar puts his falchion away and readies the longspear in case of an attack.

Three of you get to the other side and now the hallway is filled up. You will have to open the door and move through to make room to get anyone else through.

Probably ought to send Jirin for help with traps and locks and leave Kelkzar as a rearguard.

"Rowena? Does it look like there's room to push some of this stuff out of the way, so we're not so cramped? Or we could move it out here."

"You could move it back. No room up ahead. Jirin, they need you at the door."

"Huh, alright," she replied before squeezing her way down the narrow passageway to the other end of the room.

Checking out the door,

Perception (look for traps, etc): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 = 27

Jirin feels confident that there is/isn't a trap on it. If it's locked,

Disable Device (pick lock): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

It would take some time and effort to move enough boxes to make a difference. Something that isn't appealing while knife wielding tengu keep appearing and sticking you with them.

Door is unlocked and untrapped

"Alright, boys, you're up!" says Jirin, pushing the door open just a hair so they know it's safe to go through.

I think our order is single file, Trevor-Rowena-Jirin-Rauno-Quintus-Kelkzar; sound OK?

Works for me

Absolutely. I think we are set.

This room is cramped with two sets of bunk beds, a small writing table, and several stools. A single torch casts light across the room from a sconce between the beds.

There is a short hallway going north/northeast that leads to a door while a short passage heads to the east into a larger room that has an acrid smell coming from it.

"I mis-like the smell from the east passage... if we're looking for trouble, I suspect we're more likely to find it there," observes Jirin quietly in an effort to avoid notice.

Kelkzar strains his ears to hear Jirin and replies, "Well, we're looking for trouble. Let's go that way."

Trevor smiles at Kelkzar's summary and leads the way if no one wishes to scout.

An acrid, almost metallic stink fills the air of this chamber. The walls here consist of a strange, green rock with purple veins that writhe and dance within it. Six black pillars form two rows along the length of this chamber. They have a tar-like appearance, and what looks like human hands push at their surfaces from within, as if a crowd of humanoid creatures was trapped within each one. A plain basalt altar rests at your end of the chamber.

At the end of the chamber you see 2 human cultists wearing ragged purple robes. Behind them is one of the two tengus that fled (Not the leader) and a human dressed in wizard's robes with the hood completely concealing the figure's face.

OMG that's a big cultist there in the middle :)

I added that guy in and he disappeared and I couldn't see it on my map. Had to open in a different browser to notice Gargantuan cultist!

Round 5

Initiative Order - Jirin, Rauno, Quintus, Rowena, Kelkzar, Bad Guys, Trevor

Tengu #13 AC 19 T 15 FF 16 CMD 16

Tengu #15 AC 19 T 16 FF 15 CMD 20

Human Cultists AC 19 T 15 FF 17 CMD 17

Robed Figure ??

Round 1

Jirin, recognizing trouble when she sees it, reaches out to Rowena and with a gesture Wards the monk in front of her.

Ward: +2 AC deflection bonus and +2 resistance bonus to all saves until damage is taken or a save is failed. Since you already have +1 AC deflection, I think your AC will only go up by +1 by taking the single highest bonus.

Yup. Definitely trouble. Even Rauno can tell that!

Rauno shakes his head in disbelief. How has this grown so much, so powerful, undetected? The power of the mine owners must be vast indeed!

Calling on his remaining reserves of arcane power, Rauno casts Bull's Strength on Kelkzar.

Round 1:

Quintus moves up into the room to G-7 and casts guidance on Trevor.

Rowena moves up to H12 and, fighting defensively, grabs at cultist 2.

Trip: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 10 - 4 = 15 Given that he's flat-footed, that should be good enough. She sends him up and over into G12.

Note: she still has the longspear, so threatens 10 feet.
Also, with the ward and defensive posture, her AC is currently 24 (touch AC of 23).

Round 1

Kelkzar follows Rowena into the room and stops near the center. G8 "Heretics and followers of dark gods, your time preying on this town are over! Your tengu lie broken and bleeding in the halls behind us. Your gods desert you!" Casts blistering invective., Intimidate check to demoralize foes (all of them should be within range of 30 ft.) 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 DC I need to succeed is 10 + the target's Hit Dice + the target's Wisdom modifier. Success leaves them shaken for 1 round, plus additional round for each 5 by which I beat the DC. Additionally, any demoralized foes take 1d10 ⇒ 3 fire damage and if they fail a DC 14 Reflex save, they catch on fire.

Rowena trips a cultist while Kelkzar's spell seems to rattle all but the robed figure. The still standing cultist bursts on fire.

The standing, on fire cultist stops, drops, and rolls on the ground and puts himself out

Reflex Save Cultist #2 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 4 = 16

Cultist #1 casts from Prone defensively 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

Streams of colors come out of his hands Rowena make a Will Save DC 16 or be blinded and stunned for 1d4 ⇒ 3 Rounds and then stunned for 1 extra round

After he casts he will stand up and either be ok if Rowena fails or takes the AoO

The tengu shoots his crossbow at Kelkzar

Attack 1d20 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 4 = 19
Damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

After everyone attacks, the robed figure begins to mutter and speak incoherently. His volume grows until everyone can hear it. Nothing it says makes any sense, but it is becoming hard to concentrate on anything but the babbling.

Everyone make Will save DC 15 or be fascinated for 2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8 rounds

Trevor is up then top of round 2!

DC 15 Will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Quintus is unmoved.

ETA: For future reference, would Quintus' birthmark save bonus have applied to this one? It nominally gives "+2 trait bonus on all saving throws against charm and compulsion effects."

Will save: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15

I hate to do this, but I think I shall burn a Hero point to boost her Will save enough to pass that one. Having her go blind and stunned in her current position is basically death. So add +4 to that roll.

Rowena, ready to pounce on the cultist as he stands, takes the full brunt of the clashing colours. She feels her sense of reason leaving her, but grips down tightly onto her spear haft, anchoring herself in the present situation, and fights off the effect.

Second Will save: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 2 = 22

AoO on the cultist: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

She retaliates, slamming her foot into the man's gut as he rises.

The cultists grins as he sees you affected by the spell but then is taking by surprise as you kick him as the spell fades.

Unfortunately, d20pfsrd is blocked at work. They're really unreasonable sometimes.

** spoiler omitted **

The cultists grins as he sees you affected by the spell but then is taking by surprise as you kick him as the spell fades.

"Good always wins out over evil, fool. Didn't your mama teach you that?"

Will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 +1 from Guidance, +2 from Birthmark. saved!

Trevor frowns at the robed figure: "We'll talk later..." and moves up to the closest cultist (G11), shield high, and swings at his head.

PA: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 251d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Will save 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13. I think I'll burn a hero point here to add +4 to the roll and make that save.

I'll wait and see what Jirin does before posting for Rauno's actions.

Round 2

Will Save against DC 16: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

"Shut up, you creep!" Jirin growled, ignoring the robed cultists' casting. Yet another flash of insight gives Jirin a wicked idea, and she grins and casts her own spell at the robed, chanting cultist before drawing her bow.

Standard Action: cast Hold Person on DC 16 Will or be paralyzed 3 rounds... they'll probably save against it, but there's always the chance they won't!

Move Action: draw weapon

Rauno will ready his wand of enlarge person and step to F7.

Rauno murmurs to himself "This should help with Trevor's axe..."

He casts Enlarge Person on Trevor.

Active Effects: Bulls Strength (on Kelkzar), Enlarge Person (on Trevor), See Invisible and Mage Armor.

Enlarge Person is a round to cats.

Round 2:

Status:

HP: 20/29 AC: 20 Conditions: None

The priest advances into the room to H-11 and makes a tentative swipe at the cultist on Rowena.

Scimitar attack on #2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Trevor steps and and nails the cultist, wounding him severely.

Jirin casts hold person on the robed cultist, having no effect on him.

Rauno pulls out a wand and begins to use it 1 round casting

Quintus advances into the room and misses the wounded cultist.

Kelkzar and Rowena up before the bad guys!

Round 2

For a moment, the mage's trance captivates Kelkzar and then he thinks back to his glorious speech in admiration of Ragathiel and shrugs off the effect.
Will save (DC 15) 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 I'll add the +4 after the roll for a 17 to make it.

For a moment, Kelkzar remains in the center of the room, casting another spell. Moments later, everything goes quiet for the entire party. Casts Silence on himself. Then, Kelkzar draws his falchion and rushes forward to stand amidst our foes. Move to F12 and I will take an attack of opportunity from #2

Rowena takes a 5-foot step to H13 and attempts a Ki throw on Robes.

Ki throw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

She drops him in H12, saying, "Trevor, present!"

Then she grabs 13...
Ki throw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

And throws him at Cultist 2, spending a Ki point to get two rolls
Bullrush: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 10 - 4 = 26
Bullrush: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 10 - 4 = 23
putting Cultist 2 on the ground in F11, and 13 in G12.

AOO stunning fist on Robes.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Fort DC 15 for Robes or be stunned.

Yikes, that's quite a string of successes!!

Ro is no longer fighting defensively, though in hindsight, the penalty wouldn't have been an issue! Oh we'll!:)

AC is 21