GM Endless Forms' PFS 07-19 Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Jaysin starts climbing out the pit while Sickly Sam cowers beneath his shield and waits for the horror to end. The undead swipes it arm at Druthane:

touch: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
aging damage (bypasses DR, etc): 8d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 2, 4, 5, 2, 4) = 33
Fort DC 19 for half

Initiative:

1. Jaysin
2. Undead (50 dmg)
3. Druthane, Sickly Sam, Adishrii, and Sundr

You guys are up!

The creature's malevolent touch falls just shy of the magus. "SUNDR! TRY IT AGAIN!" Delaying until Sundr tries the dirge again.

Druthane takes a deep breath ignoring the skald's chant for now., "I'm running out of tricks!" He makes a quick cut downward, paying more attention to defense than a solid hit: Fighting Defensively: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 10 - 4 = 21 for DMG: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 and Fire: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 6) = 17

After the hit, he brings the shield back up. Touch AC is currently 19.

Jayson will try to finish climbing.

Climb: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

"On it!" the skald sings. The melody ripples into the ghostly specter with the power of the wand once more.

Trying it again! Still Inspiring Rage, too.

Sam remains a weak, cowering heap at the bottom of the pit. Coming to the top is likely a death sentence so he stays safe in the bottom. "You can do it, team!" echoes from the 30' deep hole.

@EF Is Adishrii out of the pit ? or do I need another climb check ?

It's 30 feet deep, so you should be out in one turn with a successful accelerated climb. Or two turns with regular climbing.

There's only one rope hanging into the pit and not everyone can use it at once. Looks like Adishrii got to it first last round and Jaysin successfully climbed halfway out without the rope. So Adishrii can easily get out the pit this round using the rope, and we'll assume Jaysin then grabs it and follows closely behind. I've placed you two next to Sundr, as she's holding the rope.

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Adishrii and Jaysin climb out of the pit, leaving Sam crying by himself below. As Sundr tries the wand again, the undead's form seems to solidify and Druthane takes the opportunity to dig his blade into the spirit! The creature snarls and steps away from Druthane, trying to grease the warrior's weapon. DC 17 Ref or drop your weapon.

Still corporeal for a few rounds.

Initiative:

1. Jaysin
2. Undead (76 dmg)
3. Druthane, Sickly Sam, Adishrii, and Sundr

You guys are up!

REF: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 = 17 I have not regretted the use of a single boon thus far!

The magus keeps his tenuchi proper and tries to close first with a ray to the face! Disrupt Undead: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
~@#$W@#$^%W@#$@!Q# Come for my body if I die!" The magus thinks, "Desna weeps, these are the Gloomspires, they'll never find me.

Using Arcane Shield.

Adishrii moves toward the undead now more solid than before, trying to recognize what it is.

Know. Religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Once in front of the creature she strikes with her saber.

Achaekek guides my weapon !

sawtoothsaber: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 13
damages (two handed): 2d6 + 6 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 6 + 2 + 3 = 18

I have had ENOUGH of this nonsense! Jaysin proceeds to fire arrows at the enemy! Can I see him from where I am? If I have to 5' step I will unless that means I fall in the pit again, otherwise I can move to behind Adishril and fire once.

Using ghost salt arrows at the undead since Jaysin wants to be sure. Its the last 4 in the quiver though they are all durable.

Bow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 for Arrow: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20 and Manyshot: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Bow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15 for Arrow: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Bow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 for Arrow: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

The undead is down the hall and Jaysin does not have line-of-sight from where he is now. There is room behind Adishrii if you don't mind being closer. I'll let you decide before I process your action.

Druthane fires a ray but misses and Adishrii charges in to his aid but likewise misses.

Initiative:

1. Jaysin
2. Undead (76 dmg)
3. Druthane, Sickly Sam, Adishrii, and Sundr

Sam, Sundr, and (maybe) Jaysin are up!

Sam is starting to realize that he is not a primary target at this point and decides to keep his yelling to a minimum and only tactics-related. "Oi! Can you tell me when it's safe to come up?!" he yells to a team he can't see.

Get up here and fight! Jaysin sounds even more annoyed than usual.

Just as I thought, they are trying to get me killed!

"I'd probably just die! That creepy lady said so!" he bellows back to Jaysin.

@EF : does Adishrii's Knowledge Religion roll give her some info about the creature ?

Not high enough for a unique creature. You've already seen most of its tricks anyways.

I'm guessing Jaysin is moving into the hallway to have line-of-sight then? Just to move things along:

Jaysin decides to rejoin the fray, running around the edge of the pit to take position in the hallway. He aims an arrow over Adishrii's shoulder and hits the undead directly in the head, exploding the spirit into a fine spray of dust and mist....

Out of combat!

On the bodies of the mangled Pathfinders, the PCs find two masterwork rapiers and a scroll case containing a scroll of darkvision, a scroll of glitterdust, and a scroll of mirror image (CL 9). the case also contains a scroll of dimension door and a scroll of enervation.

The Pathfinders’ armor is shredded beyond repair. Stacked behind the black curtain are several crates containing various spices and seasonings worth 100 gp. The Orb of Stars is lying on the floor in front of one of the crates, along with a bottle of nightmarish pigments. Nightmarish pigments function as marvelous pigments, except the items they create subtly bend, warp, and discolor, and they occasionally show reflections of horrific vistas or screaming maws. As a result, they cannot be mistaken for objects made of standard valuable materials like gold. One pot of nightmarish pigments is sufficient to create a 125-cubic-foot object by depicting it two-dimensionally over a 25-square-foot surface. The pigments can create a collection of mundane items whose value does not exceed 500 gp. one of the crates also contains a pouch of void dust.

"This... This is horrible. Well done everyone. That fight had me truly worried. How is everyone? Any major trauma?"

Druthane looks over the Pathfinder's remains. He then looks at his teammates, still alive. He takes an extra long look at Sam. "We've got 1 more door. How are you?"

Well done Jaysin ! says with a relief Adishrii when the head of the undead explode in shadows.

She turns to Druthane and says. Thank for continuing the fight while we all were blind or in the pit. Without you we will not have prevailed !
I'm good, but I need some healing and my wand is in the pit... for now.

"Once in my career I failed at a mission. It has eaten me since, as I survived and others did not. I vowed that I'd rather die than fail."

Druthane's speech seems more to be for himself, but after a moment he gives a genuine smile at the thanks. It may be the first smile he's had in a long time.

EF was the GM. First room TPK. Ouch.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Yes, I implied that would be the case, thanks EF.

Of course it was! Nice work keeping that thing busy until I could get into position to slay the creature! Jaysin then visibly sighs while he goes about collecting his arrows.

Must I do everything when called into a mission? Without me they would have surely gotten killed!

"Once in my career I failed at a mission. It has eaten me since, as I survived and others did not. I vowed that I'd rather die than fail."

Druthane's speech seems more to be for himself, but after a moment he gives a genuine smile at the thanks. It may be the first smile he's had in a long time.

EF was the GM. First room TPK. Ouch.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Was that the Silver Mount Collection? EF killed Jaysin in that one, that might have been it.

Oh, I totally forgot you were in that. It was such a short game, lol.

Soon the pit pops back up to reform the floor, exposing Adishrii's wand and the sad Sickly Sam quietly crying to himself.

Once everyone is feeling a bit better, you move to the next and last door in this horrifying labyrinth.

The room beyond is mostly empty except for a yawning pit full of crackling back energy fills the southwest corner. Which descends to another level and which I'm sure will provide yet another installment in what been a really great series so far!

Is that it? I don't want to descend any further than we have to.

I never can keep track of what is linked to what. What other scenarios are part of this "series"?

The first level of this place was explored in Hall of the Flesh Eaters last year.

maybe. Druthane ran away after everyone else died. I regret running.

"I've had enough of this place. Pathfinders, is there more here we need to see? We have items, observations, and bodies."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Ah! Joesef, my multi-multi-multi-class fella, played that one.

Jaysin suddenly wonders if he recognizes Druthane from his "bad experience". The answer is yes... yes he does.

Ha!

"Jaysin, after all the missions, all the deaths and blood, it took another near killing to recall. By Nethys I'm glad this mission was a success. "

-Posted with Wayfinder

As Sam is raised to the top, he pulls out his trusty mahogany wand and offers it to Sundr. "A little help, please?" he asks as she heals him up.

3 charge to full! (Silently weeping over here that my HP is so low.)

Once his wounds are healed, Sam stows the wand and bows. "Thanks."

"Wait, does that mean we are done?" he asks the team.

Sündr drops her rope and bear-hugs Druthane. "A mighty battle-mage you are, elf! The songs shall ring in the Chronicles for the ages!"

With Sam finally freed from the pit, Sündr claps him jovially on the shoulder with a grin. "Of course, Sam!" Realizing she just smacked a wounded man in need of help, she winces and smiles an apologetic shrug.

She also produces a wand of her and stabs Adishrii with it before she can collect her own.

CLW @ Adishrii: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 take one from mine

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17 plus detect magic anything to see in the final chamber?

Thank you Sündr. Says Adishrii when the ulfen healed her.

I agree, you keep us all alive in this fight.

She calls for Achaekek power over death to stabilize if possible Jaohd. stabilize on Jaohd

Adishrii looks around to find anything unusual or valuable.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 2 = 24

Do we find any other corpse of our teammate ? Something giving them the hope to be raised ?

Is Jaohd still alive ? she asks going near the corpse and trying to determine if he's dead or alive.

Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

At least, we found the Orb of Star which give us time to come back af search for anything else.

Druthane looks at the body, "I'm sorry, I had no choice. I had to cut him down." The elf goes about a strange ritual of respect. It's a melange of traditions from Kyonin and Minkai.

"I want to leave."

Adishrii stabilizes the paladin, who is indeed not actually dead. Actually I don't remember now but I'm pretty certain he was just knocked unconscious. You gather the fallen warrior along with the artifact you sought, the Orb of Stars and head back to your boat to meet the Grinning Pixie nearby.

Before ordering the Pixie to return to Drenchport, Benarry congratulates you for your heroic efforts. As you return with Jaohd Ilzinian alive and well, the paladin offers his sword Ether’s Kiss to you (remember that ghost-touch sword you found and no one used? The fact that he didn't recognize his own sword was supposed to be a clue there was something going on with him), and he insists that you take it as a token of his gratitude. He tells you that he plans to travel to a nearby temple of Shelyn to recover from his trials. Benarry is especially pleased to see Ilzinian. She apologizes to him for everything that he has gone through in the spires, and promises to sail him to the temple of his choice herself.

When you mention and describe the Oblivion Shaft, Benarry can barely contain her enthusiasm, and she hints strongly that she may have another mission for you in the near future.

And that's a wrap! I hope you all enjoyed it! I will get chronicles sent out right away! Thanks again for playing, you were a great group!

I remembered the sword, but I didn't want to spend the time to get it from Sundr, I was worried that it'd put others in danger. :-)

Druthane spends most of his time after the debriefing with a pen in his hand. He has spent much of the last year or so in study, trying to perfect his technique after the disaster with the Silver Mont collection. The presence of another survivor, coupled with his own near death experience in this place has him more determined than ever.

To Minkai I must travel. I must return to O-Sensei and finish my training in the Kirin style...

Thanks EF! That was one of the best I've played in a while, and that's saying something.

It was fun despite being useless! Thanks for running!

Thanks again EF for a great game :) I was quite fun to play with you all ! and the scenario is as scary as the first one.

Adishrii don't forget to disperse the ashes of the Lady in the see, as promised.

I must continue my practice of the blades. I'm not qualified enough to become a true servant of my God. thinks Adishrii remembering her fall in the pit and her inability to fight the creatures she meet in the spire.

We're alive, and that's all that matters to me at the moment.

Jaysin still seems to have a look of satisfaction on his usually gruff face, perhaps he is actually proud of the accomplishments that the group was able to achieve. Perhaps.

"Ha ha! Tell me about this new mission you have in mind, Captain!" Sündr takes a big swig of any/all offered rum bottles, and soon spends a long evening drinking and laughing with Benarry and the crew. She raises her beverage to Adishrii for remembering to pour out the ashes, to Ilzinian for his continued presence among mortals, to Sam for his health, and to Jaysin and Druthane for their mighty prowess with bow and blade.

Huzzah! I can hardly believe we survived, haha. Thanks for running EF and thanks for playing, everyone.