GM Blood's Age of Worms in Golarion #2
Game Master David James Olsen

To ID the flask, you need an alchemy check, it isn't magical

The creature holding the platter with the head is a monkey that has been mummified (not in the undead way)

Nothing else makes any sense, you feel like it is all random things with no theme or purpose.

Justin detects evil upstairs and shares any readings.

You sense one moderate and one faint evil aura upstairs

It's smiting time."

Justin encourages everyone to go upstairs.

"Can I be enlarged?"

The stairs are wide enough for you to go up enlarged

I can only use it once, but here it is. Remember, it only lasts 2 minutes, so I we do not find our foe quickly, then you will return to normal size and the spell will be wasted.

I ready an action to cast Enlarge Person as soon as we see anyone or anything hostile.

"Aarakess, I defer to your judgement about magic over mine. But, I would think the two evil sources upstairs I detected will be quickly engaged and enlarging me now would be better."

Just trying to optimize action economy -- the key in tight encounters.

Justin follows Kilthan up the stairs with his trident in hand.

As you wish good knight.

When Justin gets before the door to the room containing the evil, or most of the way up the stairs if there is no door, I cast Enlarge Person on him.

Then there is a locked door that takes two minutes to open :-) Up we go.

No door, just up the stairs

Observatory

A single chamber dominates the observatory's entire upper floor. Light filter through the wide slit in the roof, bathing the center of the room in illumination. Four large mirrors set along the outside wall reflect bright beams into the direct center of the room, a recessed operating theater accessible via two short sets of stairs. The beams specifically target a blue-skinned humanoid figure splayed out upon an operating table, its chest completely opened and pinned back against the table with long metal needles. Two long shelves cluttered with piles of papers, rotting organs and instruments comprise the east and west extend of the operating theater, and are only a few inches lower than the chamber's outer floor.

Four metal and glass tanks, each easily large enough to hold a human, flank the short stairs leading to the operating theater. Each tank is full of yellow liquid streaked with rust. Indistinct, vaguely human silhouettes bob silently in the soupy fluid.

A man, one that looks like the one named Filge on the statue downstairs, says, "At last more bodies for experiments. Arise my beautiful monstrosities!" The glass tanks explode out revealing a scaly humanoid with a large metal pipe. Another creature, with dark fur that doesn't look quite right, also stands near the table with a large metal pipe. A skeleton seems to be following Filge around that is carrying a tray of equipment and has a scimitar.

The top of the stairs is at J and you cannot see anything until you get to that level. Also you connect move from the stairs before J into the room unless you do a climb or something similar. Ingrid, you are right behind Dryn on the steps

Round 1

Initiative Order - Aarakess, Zombies, Justin, Filge/Skele, Rohara, Dryn'taka, Ingrid, Kilthan

I will not be posting the stats for this fight

Knowledge Checks

Scaly Humanoids in Tubes

Big creature with dark fur

Both of these creatures are not quite right

Know Religon: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Whoa got them all

Know Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Know Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Know Arcana: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Just remember those won't count until you can see them

The last dc 10 religion should be arcana

Knowledge (Local) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 Failure
Knowledgde (local) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24 Success
Knowledge (Religion) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 Success

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Ingrid goes up the stairs and get a look at everything

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Knowledge(arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Are you sure the knowledge(local) is the correct check? Seems that a knowledge(nature) would be more accurate. I always thought local was for things in a city, where taverns are, who lives in this house, etc.

I will delay until Justin goes so that the way is clear.

Local is for humanoids as well

Filge barks out orders to the zombies

Zombie 1 step forward (it is 5' but the remains of the tube they were in count as difficult terrain)

Zombie #1 Bite 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 *Hit*
Damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Zombie #2 moves to block Justin off at the top of the stairs and attacks

Zombie #2 Bite 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17 *Hit I believe since you are enlarged, -1 AC for size and -2 dex)
Damage 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The other zombie move around in a defensive position.

Round 1

Initiative Order - Zombies, Justin, Aarakess, Filge/Skele, Rohara, Dryn'taka, Ingrid, Kilthan

Justin and Aarakess before Filge and his skeleton butler

14/22 HP Conditions; enlarged, diseases
Justin drops his trident and lashes out hard (PA) with his enlarged claws and teeth after quickly healing himself with a touch.
He goes for the smallest zombie first.
LOH/claw 1/claw 2/bite/damage
1d6 ⇒ 41d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 101d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 241d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 211d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 = 101d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 131d4 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
18/22 HP; in hands=empty

I have not looked this up, but I think that natural weapons count as piercing, slashing, and bludgeoning in order to overcome and DR.

bites are b s p, claws are b s

I thought they were all b/s/p as Aarakess. So much for keeping them at a distance with 20' reach.

Justin fights in close quarter scoring massive hits with one claw and a bite. Fighting using his claws and teeth was always frowned on by his teachers. But one day an ancient elf paladin that used predominantly a bow said, "To not use a gift of Iomedae is to waste it. Fight in the best way to further good and thwart evil."

Bite is the only one all three. Update in a bit for Filge then the rest if you can go

Justin bites and claws one but somehow the things still stands, though you are not sure how. didn't specify which one you were attacking so 1d2 ⇒ 2 zombie 2.

Filge growls and casts a spell while retreating to the back

Round 1

Initiative Order - Zombies, Justin, Aarakess (Delay), Filge/Skele, Rohara, Dryn'taka, Ingrid, Kilthan

Justin said he was going after the smaller one. Obviously the plan to put at least one down has failed.

"Talk to me ladies, this thing isn't going down. What do I hit it with?"

Justin is distressed at the zombie's staying power.
Any noticeable damage done?

They are both the same. You did quite a lot of damage to the zombie and it looks in bad shape

If it is a zombie, just keep hitting it with your claws and bite. You gotta push them back, or we can all back up as we cannot help you right now as we are all blocked.

I will move back to the next level to allow an orderly retreat to a better location to fight.

((Hope Rohara can see the zombies from where she is... ))

"Those are fast zombies. They are enhanced to move faster and you will need slashing weapons to deal any significant damage to them." She comment from behind Justin.

"Some luck for you Justin." she says touching a large lizard leg as she calls forth her Goddess' power.

Rohara will follow Aarakess' lead and move back down into the previous room to allow better fighting conditions.

A Bit of Luck for Justin

Spellcraft check on hearing the verbal parts of a spell... 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 (no joy)

"I have to agree with Rohara slicing weapons will work better against the zombies."

Round 1

Dryn attempts to heave a bomb over Justin at the zombies.

Bomb at J5, precise to miss Justin.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Scatter: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Par for course. Lands at I3. Kilthan, Rohara, Justin, and Number 1, 5 fire damage, DC15 reflex for half.

Justin Reflex 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 1 = 18

-1 for disease, 3hp damage taken

Justin, You only take 2 damage not 3

Rohara you moved before Dryn'taka threw so no damage for you.

Kilthan and Ingrid are up before the zombies at the top

Round 1

Initiative Order - Zombies, Justin, Filge/Skele, Aarakess, Rohara, Dryn'taka, Ingrid, Kilthan

If I'm at H3,
Can I hit J4 with my whip?

No that puts you half-way down the steps with an impossible angle. From where you are they would have to be at the top of the steps (J2 or J3) or you would have to be at least to I2

Everyone keep backing up. We don't need Justin to get ripped to shreds. The zombies will most likely follow so that we can surround and crush them.

I could use a CLW

she'll cast cure light on Justin.
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Kilthan is left to go in round, Ingrid's spell puts Justin at full hit points again.

Can Ingrid still use her move to drop back so I can withdraw 40 feet move-move? I think the plan was to pull back with Justin supporting Kilthan with reach.

She had to move up to heal. I think you can still withdraw however (though that would leave her in the front lines)

Should have requested move with readied action to heal on Justin's retreat

Ah the heat of battle! By the way, the fight won't be coming to you as I am not doing another map ;)

Hmmm, now I feel bad for requesting the withdrawal. Tactically it seemed like a good idea at the time.

Don't let the limits of technology and time stop you from doing what you think is the best move. But I am warning you, Filge is defending the upper level and will let you have the lower stuff!

How many of those are close by the stairs Justin? Could Rohara get most of them in her holy energy?

Unless I'm reading the map incorrectly, I'm blocked from attacking by an enlarged Justin, unless I want to fire through him? Is that right? Or can I step into K3?