GM Endless Forms' PFS 03-16 The Midnight Mauler (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

I didn't know we could. I could have sworn someone said we couldnt find any. Oh well. :)

We need to take him alive. He is a friend of the Society and an afflicted man. Thats also why we are here.

Is Wolvesbane not available generally? Were we able to buy any before we left Absalom?

Ackuda activates his scroll, resulting in a matrix of force surrounding him before it fades, then moves towards Maarv and Yanos.

Cast Mage Armor from the scroll, current AC 16

You could have bought some in Absalom, yes, but no one did. They said you couldn't buy any in town because it's been bought up but that you could probably find some in the wilderness. It's ok; it's actually written that it's not necessary but if you don't go into the wilderness and do the encounter there, the gelatinous cube encounter becomes mandatory instead of optional.

Also, you guys have caught up at this point; no more need for chase stuff.

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

The Mauler doesn't seem to get Vasilios' humor. Ackuda puts armor of force on himself before repositioning.

The wolf emerges from the alley and goes after Danyn.

bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Initiative:

1. Ackuda, Vasilios, Maaarv
2. Wolfhounds
3. Yanos and Danyn
4. The Midnight Mauler

Mauler: 15 dmg
Wolfhound:

Yanos and Danyn are up!

Ill strike at him for nonlethal.
Longspear: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 and 5ft step back.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Yanos tries to knock the Mauler out.

Initiative:

1. Ackuda, Vasilios, Maaarv
2. Wolfhounds
3. Yanos and Danyn
4. The Midnight Mauler

Mauler: 15 dmg, 6 nonlethal
Wolfhound:

Danyn is up!

Is Danyn still a tripper? Have really cool spell if so.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Yes he is. Sorry guys, I'm getting a new job, new house, and new baby. Been a little busy.

Danyn flurries at the presumably hostile wolfhound, tearing at it in true boar style.
Flurry 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Flurry 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14, Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 2d6 bleed next turn if both hit
He then shifts away and wields his spear defensively. Not really, just setting up for a spear AoO.

Understandable; no worries.

Danyn gives the hound a few quick kicks. The Mauler then makes his move against Maaarv, who is looking awfully tasty.

short sword power attack: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 2 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 4 = 9

short sword power attack confirm: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 - 2 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 4 = 7

Initiative:

1. Ackuda, Vasilios, Maaarv
2. Wolfhounds
3. Yanos and Danyn
4. The Midnight Mauler

Mauler: 15 dmg, 6 nonlethal
Wolfhound: 8 dmg and 2d6 bleed

Ackuda, Vasilios, and Maaarv are up!

Ackuda points at the Mauler and says, "Just surrender, friend. It will be easier..." Ackuda then closes one eye and opens his palm, and laughs.

Hex, Evil Eye give -2 to saves for 8 rounds. DC 16 Will save reduces this to 1 round. Then Cackle to extend it to 9 rounds or 2 rounds.

Vasilios whips out his whip and whips the mauler trying to trip him from 15 feet awayish.

CMB: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

I would like to use a reroll if permitted
CMB: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

It must be meant to be...

Maaarv draws his silver rapier and stabs at the werewolf, careful to aim for less vital organs.

Mwk. Silver Rapier NL Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 4 = 15
NL Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

-Posted with Wayfinder

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Ackuda gives the Mauler a bad look but the Mauler does not seem terribly off-put by it. Vasilios tries to put the wolf on the ground but fails. Maarv stabs at him but misses.

Does bleed go off on Danyn's turn or the wolf's turn? If on the wolf's turn, at the beginning or end? The bleed is enough to knock it out but I'm not sure when it goes off. Doesn't matter because the attack won't hit anyways:

bleed damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

The wolf then falls over bleeding on the ground.

Initiative:

1. Ackuda, Vasilios, Maaarv
2. Wolfhound
3. Yanos and Danyn
4. The Midnight Mauler

Mauler: 15 dmg, 6 nonlethal, -2 saves for 1 rounds
Wolfhound: 15 dmg

Yanos and Danyn are up!

I believe bleed happens at the beginning of the bleeding creature's turn. Usually until stopped, with the exception of boar style.
Danyn charges forward and tries to trip the mauler. assuming that works
trip: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

-Posted with Wayfinder

I'll grow large once more and attack, again for nonlethal against the Midnight Mauler.

Nonlethal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 6) + 5 = 14

If Danyn's trip goes off, I'll then use that spell above, assuming he is still up. :)

Danyn moves up and trips the Mauler while Yanos casts a spell on the creature.

Will: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 2 = 17 Not sure if that makes the save against staggered. Won't matter too much because he's just taking a standard

Yanos then enlarges himself but swings and misses. The aged Pathfinder howls and then strikes out with his short sword again.

attack on Danyn: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 4 = 8
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Initiative:

1. Ackuda, Vasilios, Maaarv
2. Wolfhound
3. Yanos and Danyn
4. The Midnight Mauler

Mauler: 15 dmg, 10 nonlethal, -2 saves for 1 round, prone
Wolfhound: 15 dmg

Ackuda, Vasilios, and Maaarv are up!

Will activate inspire courage! +1 attacks / damage

Now we will persevere! Quickly bind him, show him our mighty might so be can know he is safe in our arms. Treat him as your brother so we may heal him. We have overcome.....Preform Oratory can get weird for inspire courage...

Do not have the map up, Vasilios will position himself to flank with as many party members as he can with his long spear (10 ft reach).

Ackuda draws out his dice and rattles them in his hand, squinting at the Mauler, and continues to laugh.

Cackle, extending Evil Eye. Use Misfortune, DC 16 Will or reroll all d20 rolls and take the lower.

Vasilios encourages his companions while Ackuda laughs at the Mauler's plight.

Will: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 5 - 2 = 15

Initiative:

1. Ackuda, Vasilios, Maaarv
3. Yanos and Danyn
4. The Midnight Mauler

Mauler: 15 dmg, 10 nonlethal, -2 saves for 1 round, prone, misfortuned

Maaarv, Yanos, and Danyn are up!

Maaarv takes a careful step and makes another stab at the mauler, again aiming for less-vital organs.

Nonlethal Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 4 = 21
Nonlethal Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Crit. Threat: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 4 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Maaarv gives the Mauler a good stab, seeming to hurt the man quite a bit.

Initiative:

1. Ackuda, Vasilios, Maaarv
3. Yanos and Danyn
4. The Midnight Mauler

Mauler: 15 dmg, 19 nonlethal, -2 saves for 1 round, prone, misfortuned

Yanos and Danyn are up!

Letting myself shrink back down, Ill Ready an Action to attack for nonlethal if he gets back up. (5ft step if needed)

Leveling my spear, "Stay down friend, and we will get you through this."

Nonlethal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

AoO for standing Nonlethal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

-Posted with Wayfinder

Alao that should make the Save.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Danyn kicks the mauler while trying to avoid killing him.
Flurry 1 (Nonlethal): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14, Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5
Flurry 2 (Nonlethal): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13, Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Yanos readies his spear against the man while Danyn kicks the man while he's down, hitting both times! The Mauler falls unconscious!

Out of combat!

As he lays on the ground, his body begins to convulse violently. His coarse fur begins falling out in clumps as his body writhes and warps to eventually reveal a withered old man.

It looks as though he will need assistance or his body may shut down and succumb to the illness.

Danyn tries to determine what kind of assistance the man needs.
Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
He takes a quick glance and shrugs casually.

Maaarv sheathes his rapier and tries his best to comfort the ill man, brushing aside the loose fur that he has shed.

Maaarv places a hand to the old man's forehead and holds his wrist, trying to determine what can be done.

Heal: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Maaarv can tell that simple mundane healing will certainly help in immediately keeping him alive but is not going to cure his ailment once the next full-moon rises. Wolfsbane will be required to remove the curse, although it will act like a poison and the man will need medical and magical aid to stay alive through the process.

Just out of curiosity, where are we? The middle of the street?

I'll attempt a heal check to help him now, fearing that magical healing might cause him to wake and resume attacking.

Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

And also move his body out of view as appropriate.

Danyn will help move him.
"Spozikun wachim wilinyuz offin giddinsum woovzbayn."

"You guys watch over him, I'll try to find some wolfsbane." Maaarv leaves the old man to Yanos, as Danyn seems to offer to help the cleric.

Survival (to find a way out of town): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Maaarv heads down the main thoroughfare, hoping that it is the most direct route to the woods outside of town. Once he is out in the woods, the alchemist does his best to find any unpicked patches of wolfsbane.

Survival (foraging for Wolfsbane): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Bardic knowledge / various knowledge skills to know how to apply wolvesbane to infected people and what to expect for dangers and aftercare.
1d20 ⇒ 7 please add appropriate bonus
Knowledge Arcana +7
Knowledge Dungeoneering +7
Knowledge Engineering +7
Knowledge Local +7
other knowledge skills unlisted +3

This is where a mean GM would make Maaarv begin the forest encounter alone because at the beginning of the adventure you're supposed to go searching for wolfsbane and fight some plant creatures along the way. But that encounter is now optional because you fought the cube* and I try not to be a mean GM.

The party pulls the Mauler off to the side and out of view while Maaarv runs through the woods. It takes him some time but he eventually finds a small patch of wolfsbane. (takes about 30 minutes)

Maaarv makes his way back to Vilk and administers the wolfsbane to try to cure the old man.

Basically how this works is that wolfsbane is a poison to Vilk and he will need to start making saves. You guys need to keep him alive before the poison outright kills him.

After about ten minutes, the wolfsbane begins to kick in and Vilk begins to shake, his body temperature rising rapidly.

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Edit: unless he makes his first save.

Vilk seems like he was able to prevent the wolfsbane from completely taking over his body. In theory he should be cured but it is apparent that the old man has been through a lot and is very weak.

Assuming that means "in a low HP kind of way"
Danyn channels energy to assist Vilk in regaining his strength.
channel: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Well yes, you guys did do damage to him. But more in an "he's an old man and is still fighting off the curse" sort of way. I was just giving you guys some time to react and do what you want with him before I post the wrap-up.

Chronicles will be sent soon.

"Well, I think he's going to be alright," Maaarv says with a sigh of relief. He looks around the streets.

"Does anyone have a blanket for him? Mr. Vilk? You're going to be alright."

Maaarv turns to his fellow Pathfinders, "Think we should take him to see Rutowski?"

GM - I got the chronicle, thanks. So, I'm not sure whether or not we have the penalty for future Diplomacy checks in Ustalav. Does the 'x' in the box mean that we're stuck with it, or that we avoided it?

X means you did not get that one so you do not take the Diplomacy penalty. Sorry if it's not clear, I was having trouble completely crossing it off after I scanned it; should have just crossed it off before hand I guess.

That's cool. I know Rutowski knew that we were Pathfinders, so I just wasn't sure.

Ackuda stands by and with a shake of his dice, he grants Fortune to Vilk. He maintains a low chant for as long as necessary for the old man to overcome the poison and the curse in the short term.

Use Fortune on Vilk and Cackle long enough for the poison to work its way out of his system.

"We are lucky! That is why I like being a Pathfinder. I feel strongly that the organization is blessed by chaos." he comments as they transport Vilk to a place of safety.

Rutowski takes Vilk in and puts him in bed, staying up all night to care for him. Vilk recovers consciousness around sunrise. He thanks you, but otherwise remains silent and withdrawn, ashamed of his actions. Within a week, he leaves Ustalav for Varisia, where he eventually settles into the hustle and bustle of Korvosa to live out his final years.

While saving Vilk and his victims from the Mauler’s rampage is certainly important, the Pathfinder Society’s primary mission was to prevent the former Master of Blades’ identity from being discovered. In this your superiors at the Society feel that you have all performed admirable and were pleased to hear that you were not only able to keep things quiet but that you were able to save the man in the end.