GM Blood's Age of Worms in Golarion #2

Game Master David James Olsen

Kilthan nods at Skorhald's suggestion, then pauses to ask, "Are we sure these are just statues?"

Aarakess casts Detect Magic as well and attempts to discern anything about the magical items:

Knowledge(arcana): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25

Aarakess reaches up and scratches Cieslx's chin.
Looks like a distant relative of yours.

At this, Cieslx sticks out her tongue at Aarakess.

Yup, it is a peudodragon, distant relatives of true dragons. They also serve powerful good spellcasters as familiars. Often they can speak telepathically just like my friend here.

---------

Spellcraft(dagger): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
Spellcraft(griffin): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
Spellcraft(something behind books): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (10) + 18 = 28 <-- when someone moves the books
Spellcraft(doll): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
Spellcraft(sword): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
Spellcraft(chain with gem): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
Spellcraft(anything else I missed): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24

Nice, double 1s. Good thing there is no auto-fail, although I am sure I missed on them. The 2 is not much better. At least I should know what is up with the sword and doll.

Skorhald scans the room for magic, pointing it all out to the others. He takes position at the next door as Aarakess goes to examine the dagger. The others are filling in as the Vrock comes to life, turning from stone into real life.

Round 1

Initiative Order - Kilthan, Aarakess, Vrock, Skorhald, Justin, Rohara

Vrock AC 22 T 11 FF 20 CMD 27

Kilthan points at the thing with his axe, shouting, "I blasted knew it!". In dwarven, he then calls out, "Jagbach, guard Aara."

I assume, since I'm right next to the Vrock I can full attack (and that the statue's no longer there?)

Correct on both accounts. The map has it hard coded on it, but the vrock will be where the picture I added is and not the statue

Would Aara have mentioned the damage resistance? I'm thinking if she did, I'd power attack and forgo off-hands.

Kilthan plants his foot and lashes out at the demon thing, his axe connecting and biting deep once, but then second attack bouncing uselessly off the thing's thick hide. He snarls, "Blasted Spawn of the Abyss! I'll make armour outta your skin!"

Waraxe (PA): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 Threat
Confirmation: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 Woot!
Critical Strike Damage: 3d10 + 33 ⇒ (9, 2, 5) + 33 = 49

Waraxe (Iterative,PA): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 Miss.

To be fair, I'd confirm the crit either way and miss on the second attack either way -- I suppose I could roll off-hand attacks if Kilthan doesn't know better, if you'd like.

Kilthan's uninjured, has the natural armour adaptation, and is hoping that he's inside the aura against evil surrounding Justin

She did not mention it.

She would probably know about Demons' general damage resistance. However, GM Blood did not list it, so I assume she did not know about it in this case.

Round 1
Seeing the vile creature come to life, Aarakess concentrates on the thing making it feel the despair that it undoubtedly intends to inflict on others.

Misfortune Hex: DC20 Will or have to make all d20 rolls twice and take the worse.

Move: Cackle

My browser crashed as I was typing a response but, to find out DR you need to be successful at a DC of 10+CR+10 which would be 29. Oddly enough I missed putting that info in that spoiler, but Aarakess didn't get that high of a check anyways.

I would have thought the general demon properties (eg - immune to poison, resist cold, etc.) would be known (since they're available from Dretches at CR 2... or Imps at CR 1/2) -- however, no problem. Been power attacking a fair bit lately (though here I did it without a flanking buddy or a bard song) -- and as I said, no difference in terms of success if I had done TWF as -2 to those attacks still results in a crit and a miss -- but I can roll to hit with the Klar if you'd like. ;)

Klar (PA): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Klar (PA, Iterative): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

See! No difference at all! Just more opportunities to miss.

Kilthan you are correct, with a 10+CR (19 in this case) one should know the general properties of all demons. (listed in the demon part in the glossary). Immunity to electricity and poison, Resistance to acid, cold, and fire. Demons share the ability to summon others of their kind, typically another of their type or a small number of less powerful demons. Telepathy. Demons typically speak Abyssal, Celestial, and Draconic.A demon's natural weapons, as well as any weapon it wields, is treated as chaotic and evil for the purpose of resolving damage reduction.

Whenever I list spoilers for knowledge checks I will normally say its time in the first one, like this is a demon or this is an undead. Unless stated explicitly that the person rolling the knowledge check isn't telling the others, or they cannot tell the others (in silence say) I am ok with everyone clicking on the spoilers that the knowledge check covered and checking the type

Waiting for the big ugly, then will go.

Well, we've never before faced a demon, I have no ranks in Knowledge (Planes) and am still 2 levels away from deciding if I hate evil outsiders or not -- and I imagine there's limits on how much Aara can inform us in a round -- so I wasn't expecting the full exposition dump -- but at the same time, I was how much of the "base demon" abilities she knew beyond the specific Vrocky (Vrockish?) ones... especially since for people with axes, DR is a big deal (in the same way that warning another spell caster about elemental immunities is good).

Of course, to be fair, Vrock are sufficiently powerful that cold iron doesn't affect them, so the "base demon" stuff would be somewhat wrong. But hey, that's even more interesting, I'd think. And we all know Justin's going to bypass DR by smiting anyway. ;P

The vrock lets out a screech and releases spores into the air

Everyone, include the horse, needs to make a Fortitude save DC 21 or be stunned for 1 round.

For the Spores, everyone adjacent to it (Kilthan, Jag, and Skorhald but NOT Justin) takes Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1 this round and more damage in the coming rounds as little vines start to grow on and under your skin.

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

The dwarf recoils from the horrific sound, unable to act...

At this point, I think you just don't like me actually holding my waraxe.

Fort (Kilthan): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24 Pass. *whew*
Fort (Jagdbach): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 Nice. Also passed.

At this point, I think you just don't like me actually holding my waraxe.

That could be a fair assumption! Have you seen the damage you do! It appears, however, the random dice roller has other plans for you and that waraxe. At least I got Skorhald to drop that dorn derger before he smashes anymore of this dungeon!

Delaying everyone to top of round 2 to make future rounds go smoother

Round 2

Initiative Order - Skorhald (stunned), Justin, Rohara, Kilthan, Aarakess, Vrock

Vrock AC 22 T 11 FF 20 CMD 27

Round 2 Justin
enlarge, circle of protection, shield
fort: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
mount: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"Your time is ended fiend."

Justin burns with divine fury as he calls on Iomedae to strengthen his arm.
smite evil swift + step to flank, full round pa
power attack/damage/ lning: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 2 = 223d6 + 21 + 16 ⇒ (5, 4, 6) + 21 + 16 = 521d6 ⇒ 1

iterative: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 8 ⇒ (7) + 18 + 2 - 8 = 193d6 + 21 + 8 ⇒ (3, 3, 5) + 21 + 8 = 401d6 ⇒ 4
bite: 1d20 + 17 - 8 ⇒ (3) + 17 - 8 = 121d3 + 7 + 3 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 3 + 8 = 21

Don't forget that the Vrock needed to make a DC20 Will save or be effected by the Misfortune Hex.

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 <-- hah, dwarven constitution does have its benefits.

Round 2
Assuming she has a clue about the spores.

Seeing the spores blast from the demon and the strange growth begin to infect her companions, Aarakess calls upon her patron to cleanse the area about her.

Standard: Aura of Purity <-- negates inhaled poison, diseases and noxious gasses in a 10' radius, which should be everyone. Not sure about Skorhald due to his size and being partially in the area.
--> negates up to level 4 spells. I know this is a Su power, but assume it is not the equivalent of greater than level 4.

Move: Cackle

Its technically an EX power, but let's go with it!

Aarakess's aura relieves the little vines of those around her, stopping the annoying spores from continuing to grow.

Justin's smiting attack severely wounds the already hurt vrock, but it is not dead yet.

Yeh, the description could be better for the Aura of Purity. It says that it negates all diseases, inhaled poisons and noxious gasses, and then continues with the spell stuff. Thus, I would assume it works for everything except the exception, which is spells of a level higher than 1/2 my level.

Crap. Realized I forgot Rohara's Bull's Strength in the earlier attack. Should have hit 3 points harder.

Kilthan snarls and throws himself at the Vrock again, hoping to add to the damage that he and Justin already delivered... piercing the thick hide, but barely. "It's like cutting through stone... Anyone have a trick for that?"

Waraxe (PA): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 for 1d10 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Klar (PA): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 for 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Waraxe (PA, Iter): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Klar (PA, Iter): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Round 1

Fort Save 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Stunned

The Cleric is about to give one of her blessings to Kilthan when she is stunned and frozen in place by the horrid shriek

Will Save vs Hex (Last round): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 *FAIL*

The Demon dislikes Aarakess's affect on its limited emotional range, and chooses to rip her apart. Despite its more clumsier attacks, it still manages to gash her with a claw and a talon. 29 damage

Attack Claw #1: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 13 - 3 = 12 *Miss*
Attack Claw #1: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (17) + 13 - 3 = 27
Damage: 2d6 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (6, 6) + 5 + 6 = 23

Attack Claw #2: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (18) + 13 - 3 = 28
Attack Claw #2: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 13 - 3 = 18 *Hit*
Damage: 2d6 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 5 + 6 = 16

Attack Bite: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 13 - 3 = 12 *Miss*
Attack Bite: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (10) + 13 - 3 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 6 = 18

Attack Talon #1: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (18) + 13 - 3 = 28
Attack Talon #1: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 13 - 3 = 17 *Hit*
Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 6 = 13

Attack Talon #2: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (5) + 13 - 3 = 15 *Miss*
Attack Talon #2: 1d20 + 13 - 3 ⇒ (5) + 13 - 3 = 15
Damage: 1d6 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 6 = 14

Stun is off for everyone this round.

Round 3

Initiative Order - Skorhald, Justin, Rohara, Kilthan, Aarakess, Vrock

Vrock AC 22 T 11 FF 20 CMD 27

That'd trigger Jagdbach -- he was told to guard her.

Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 *Miss*

Round 3 Justin
Effects: Featherstep, enlarge, smite evil on vrock, shield, expeditious retreat, circle of protection from evil 0 smites and 5LoH 83/86hp
Justin follows his need to hit the abomination. The second hit isn't as loaded with divine might.

hit/dmage/lightning: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 18 + 2 = 303d6 + 21 + 8 ⇒ (2, 1, 5) + 21 + 8 = 371d6 ⇒ 5
iterative hit/dmage/lightning: 1d20 + 18 - 8 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 18 - 8 + 2 = 243d6 + 21 + 8 ⇒ (2, 6, 5) + 21 + 8 = 421d6 ⇒ 1
bite: 1d20 + 17 + 2 - 8 ⇒ (4) + 17 + 2 - 8 = 151d4 + 10 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 8 = 22

Added 2x level on first hit with smite in damage, 1xlevel in damage after

Justin successfully kills the Vrock, the body crumples to the ground instead of returning to whatever plane it came from.

Combat Over

You probably have less than 10 minutes left on the extended spells Aarakess did and your per minute or less buffs will expire before the next fight. So the decision needs to be made if you will keep going and ignore what has been found here until later, or spend more time here and figure everything else out before moving along

Kilthan says, "I know we've been rushing to take advantage of the spells, but we need to at least heal Aara before we go."

Skorhald will use the wand as needed/directed.

Justin replaces his shield and fast movement while the two taps of healing are performed.

UMD shield/exp retreat: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 321d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

Justin adds:
"If we examine these because the threat is too great to push on, we will be resting for a full day. My abilities to smite evil are all expended."

Edit: We continue and keep our buffs or look through this place and retreat. But letting buffs expire and then continuing is the worst of the three alternatives.

Shaking off the effects of the demon's screeching stun Rohara looks about the room with more interest. She comments as some of the other party members look antsy to continue on. "It may prove beneficial to discover what is going on here, rather than pushing on into the unknown. We may gain some boon if we look at some of these things more closely. Surely we will need the advantage to face down whatever dwells within this place, just below the city."

She looks about the room at each of her companions to see if her comments have swayed anyone.

Kilthan nods at Rohara's statement, "Aye, I thought that might be the case too, especially with as much magic about as Aarakess mentionned."

Justin stops before refreshing his magical protection.

"OK then, we are done for the day. Pack up everything that is not nailed down for study and we are out of here. Hopefully the evil will be around tomorrow."

Saving the three channels for our rest in case we are stalked by enemies in town then.

Everyone has a sense of foreboding with not taking care of this great evil that can appear at anytime and kill you. Rohara gets a sense from the circlet of Zosiel that you are close to your moment against a great evil. Retreating is not really an option, but the question of whether if something in this room can aid you in that moment. If so you may or may not find something to give you an advantage, but at the cost of the enlarge spells that Aarakess cast.

Aarakess looks at the wounds raking across her shoulder.
I really need to remember to step back. And getting some better defenses would be wise.

She then hears what the others are saying.
I still have a fair number of spells, but understand if the others would prefer to rest and heal before continuing on. I just hope that whatever is next in this dungeon does not have too much chance to increase its defenses before we return.

All my spellcraft checks are above. If we rest, I can recheck on those I missed tomorrow.

I can cast two more enlarge person spells if we want to investigate these things.

Healing Hex(Aarakess): 2d8 + 9 ⇒ (3, 5) + 9 = 17
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Someone deduct the charges from the wand.

Kilthan offers gently, "Either that, or learn to cast spells in armour?"

Assuming we have someone else tapping Aarakess with the wand...

He then says, "While you're being healed, Aara, can you point out anything we should grab and that would be useful? If the evil is still building, I'd rather get it now, before it's reached its peak... but rushing in unprepared to keep a spell effect -- well, that's not the sort of tactics that Angradd woud appreciate."

Waiting on GM Blood to know what to point out.

I have no skill using armor. It would slow me even more than these slow dwarven legs.

"OK, we wait if we have two more enlarges coming. Kilthan only loses the giant strength while I lose the protection from evil. Let us see what we can find."

Justin thinks and responds to Kilthan:
"Waiting for beneficial spells to end to read books and then go in and not grab the opportunity to engage evil on favorable terms is a tactic Iomedae would scoff at."

The Freedom of Movememt lasts 80 minutes, so it should be good for a while.

((Protection from evil 10ft radius is an 80 minute spell as well.))

"I am not for departing, merely looking over the items that may be of some benifit to us against whatever it is we are to face." The woman shudders, "And I think we need to stay and continue, if we leave now, I have a feeling that things may be worse if we let it regain itself."

"I am not asking for hours... just a short time to look over what is here. I still think that this is an invisible creature in here as well." she points to the chains that move on their own. "And Aarakess mentioned a pseudodragon. Was it alive?

Kilthan shrugs, "Better to go in with spells that have been renewed than have them expire mid-combat, I would think... and I was thinking that we might find something we could use against the evil rather than stopping to read... even if information is power, in its own way."

Case #1

Sitting on the top shelf of this case is the preserved head of a small black dragon whose eyes glow a faint green. This case also contains an odd black metal cage, covered in thorns, with nothing inside. Resting on a large velvet pillow is a jewel-encrusted dagger. On the bottom shelf are some chains that twitch and wiggle of their own volition.

Investigating this case reveals that the dagger is magical (moderate evocation).

Case #2

The top shelf of this case contains four books labelled "Unspeakable Tome." Beneath these is a weathered and tarnished statuette of a griffon. This case also contains four jars, each containing a preserved eye on a stalk. There are six other empty jars behind these.

The books labeled "Unspeakable Tome." are actually all blank, but there is an unlabeled book behind it that detects as magical (strong enchantment). The griffon statuette also is magical (Moderate transmutation).

Case #3

A small, stone dragon sits on top of this glass case. The top shelf of this case contains a stuffed doll that bears an uncanny similarity to Trevor - the doll is pierced with twenty spikes. A 4-inch-thick tome wrapped in chains sits next to the doll. On the bottom shelf is a battered greatsword and a golden gem on a chain.

In this case, Kelkzar already identified the stone dragon statue as a petrified pseudo dragon. The Trevor doll radiates strong necromancy. The book is not magical. The sword (moderate evocation) and the gem on a chain (moderate abjuration) are magical.

Rohara begins to examine the items within the room. She shrugs her shoulders as she looks over the Dragon Head. She looks over the dagger and immediatly puts the object down on the shelf and shudders. "That is a powerful weapon, yet serves an evil purpose." She then explains the unholy nature of the item. Still shaken up form the dagger's presence she is unable to get a read on the chains and puts them back as well.

Moving on to the next case she looks over Book but is unable to make anything of it. The Griffon though does seem to peek her interest. "Upon command this small statue will animate into a full sized griffon and can be used several times a week."

"And these, are preserved eye stocks from a beholder." she motions to the the item on the shelf.

Moving to the last shelf she examines the doll. "The spikes are from a spiked devil."

She points to the great sword, "This as a moderately powerful enchantment on it."

And she again shrugs her shoulders at the gem in the chain as she is unable to get a read on the item.

Knowledge(Arcana)(Dragon Head): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Knowledge(Planes)(Chains): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
Knowledge(Arcana)(Eye Stalks): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Knowledge(Planes)(Doll): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

And the stellar rolls continue.

Aarakess nods in agreement.
And, the dragon head is of no danger. Just some harmless magic making the eyes glow green. It might be worth something to sell when we are done.

Kilthan suggests, "If the sword is mightier than his axe, Justin may want to take it.... And if the griffon will fight for us, that could also be very useful."