GM thunderspirit's PFS PbP Game Day 5: Beyond Azlant Ridge (high sub-tier) (Inactive)

Game Master thunderspirit

Clutching his metamagic rod, Markolf utters a few incantations and gestures quickly before tapping Amenhotep on the shoulder.

He looks at Jaysin, "I'll quicken you next. Unless you'd prefer gills or monkey feet.."

Extended Cat's Grace on Amenhotep with Powerful Change for a +6 Enhancement bonus to Dexterity for the next 16 minutes.

Oh, and dropping some knowledge...

Kn:Arcana (best of two): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

Kn:Arcana (best of two): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

"Oh, they're amphisbaena...fiendish amphisbaena, if I'm not mistaken (and I'm not). Careful cutting these things in half; they'll just multiply. Actually, do that if you can...I'd like to study the effect."

ETA: I believe I'm at 5 of 7 for my 'best of two' from Investigative Mind.

Amenhotep nods his thanks to Markolf, and starts shooting at Black (since he can't see White).

+1 Mighty [+2] Darkwood Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 + 3 = 21, for 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 = 13 damage.

+1 Mighty [+2] Darkwood Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 + 3 = 27, for 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 = 14 damage.

To help with the initiative business, Kirana will delay until after the woman goes (so she'll be clustered with the rest of the group.

Jhalan takes a step inside the room and curses the snakes for the lack of legs to trip. He swings twice at the closest snake, having studied him briefly beforehand.

Swift action: Study; Full-round action: Full attack (sneak attack since it's flat-footed I believe).

+1 Adamantine Fauchard, Combat Expertise, PA, Study, Sneak Attack: 1d20 + 14 - 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 1 - 2 + 2 = 321d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 6 + 2 + (3, 2) = 30
Iterative: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 9 - 1 - 2 + 2 = 181d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 6 + 2 + (4, 2) = 25

Confirmation: 1d20 + 14 - 1 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 14 - 1 - 2 + 2 = 141d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 18

AC is 22

Jaysin's first two shots go wide, but his last finds its way home!

Jhalan steps in and lands two attacks, though the beast remains stanging!

Markolf cats up Amenhotep, who then machine guns fires at Black, hitting twice!

White lashes out at Jhalan, smiting good as it attacks!
bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
dmg w/smite: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 plus Fort save vs poison if a hit
White then falls to the ground, bleeding!

Black takes a five-foot-step and full attacks Jhalan, also smiting good as it attacks!
bite 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
dmg w/smite: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 plus Fort save vs poison if a hit
bite 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
dmg w/smite: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 plus Fort save vs poison if a hit

The woman moves toward the party, sobbing and wailing, until she suddenly throws back her cowl to reveal strangely glowing eyes and a full head of hissing snakes for hair!

You guys are up!

50% chance to not need saving throw (high=good for me): 1d100 ⇒ 53
Fort Save in case I need it: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Kn:local (best of two): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18
Kn:local (best of two): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

As promised, Markolf will give Jaysin a Powerfully Changed Cat's Grace. Unless Jaysin has been turned to stone. In which case he will do something else.

+6 enhancement bonus to Dex for Jaysin

Fort Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Damnit GM Thunderspirit, that was close. Teach me to be polite. And you already made me use my re-roll too!

Kirana casts Ball Lightning. Two globes of lightning appear where the snake-headed creature is!

Globe of Lightning 1: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 4) = 12 DC 18 Reflex negates.
Globe of Lightning 2: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 5) = 17 DC 18 Reflex negates.

She'll then move into the nearest side room. "If we need more allies, I'll call upon nature to support us!"

Markolf looks longingly at the sword and flail on the shelf.

"What do you think the odds are those would help us here?"

Fort: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Cutting that a bit too close

Bookkeeping

Move the Lifelink from Markolf to Jhalan. Jhalan heals 5, Caduceus takes 5. Currently at 53 HP.

The paladin moves up
acrobatics: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (3) - 5 = -2 (apparently accepting any AoO's)

and attacks the snaked haired siren.
sword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Not enough actions to get Smite Evil off. Will avert my gaze as soon as someone knowledgeable tells me what's up.

Kirana casts a spell!
Goodness gracious: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Nope.
Great balls of lightning: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 Nope.

AoO on Caduceus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 So much nope.
The snake's bite bounces off the pala-tin can !

Caduceus' attack does hit the medusa, however!
Roll for damage...? Or are you forgoing that just to be nice? Asking for a medusa friend. ;-)

Jaysin, Jhalan, Amenhotep!

"I assumed you all knew this, but that's a medusa. It has a stony gaze and those snakes on her head are poisonous."

"And unruly. Lady, would it kill you to run a brush through that every once in a while?"

Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 Yay!

Wait, that's no woman! Jaysin resists the urge to harden to stone and decides that he should do something about the creature! Assuming its safe to look at her to aim, that is.

Bow: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36 for Manyshot: 2d8 + 24 ⇒ (4, 7) + 24 = 35
Bow: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28 for Arrow: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19
Bow: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32 for Arrow: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Bow: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30 for Arrow: 2d8 + 24 ⇒ (5, 4) + 24 = 33

I honestly thought I missed! Serves me right. Even if I get max damage, it will be nothing compared to the true strikers we have.

lame damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
...aaaand there it is, lol.

Fort vs Poison : 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Fort DC 16 vs gaze: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Fort DC 16 vs gaze, reroll GM 3 stars: 1d20 + 9 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 3 = 28

Jhalan grunts as he feels his body weaken because of the poison. Barely escaping the Medusa's gaze, he steps towards her after a brief study of her anatomy, and sweeps her legs to make her fall while averting the Medusa's gaze

Miss chance 50%, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 23
Trip, study : 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 17 + 2 = 34 If successful, target provokes AoOs, including (but not limited to) mine: AoO, +1 Adamantine Fauchard: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 14 + 2 = 191d10 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 = 19

Miss chance 50%, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 37
Iterative: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 = 121d10 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 = 12

-Posted with Wayfinder

Jhalan makes judicious use of his reroll but can't strike the beast while averting his eyes! He can feel the poison coursing through him, however, as he takes 1d3 ⇒ 3 Strength damage!
Poison Fort save is DC 18; 1/round for 6 rounds; cure 2 consecutive saves.

Jaysin will have a 50% miss chance for each of his attack rolls.
Jaysin attack roll #1, high=good for party: 1d100 ⇒ 73
Jaysin attack roll #2, high=good for party: 1d100 ⇒ 34
Jaysin attack roll #3, high=good for party: 1d100 ⇒ 48
Jaysin attack roll #4, high=good for party: 1d100 ⇒ 62
Jaysin's first and last shots are accurate, despite averting his eyes, and the medusa falls!

Just need Amenhotep's Fort save and his attack, presumably on the amphisbaena. Unless he's very tired of his PC and decides to turn on the party. LOL

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15.

Feeling his flesh start to harden, Amenhotep briefly opens himself more fully to the Spirit of General Akhentepi...

Spirit Surge: 1d6 ⇒ 2.

...and continues to remain flesh!

He then focuses on finishing-off the black snake.

+1 Mighty [+2] Darkwood Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 + 3 = 29, for 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 1 = 11 damage.

+1 Mighty [+2] Darkwood Composite Longbow: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 + 3 = 16, for 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 = 10 damage.

Amenhotep, by opening himself up to all kinds of GM shenanigans with his Medium his channeled spirit, staves off the medusa gaze and, once she falls prey to Jaysin's arrows, finishes off the last amphisbeana!

Out of combat!

Markolf would like to investigate the shield and flail, deteckting magicks. He'd also like a lock or two of Medusa hair-snake.

Amenhotep breathes a sigh of relief.

"Well, that could have been a *lot* worse..."

He then consults his Spirits, and attempts to use Object Reading on the shield and flail (if Markolf is unable to identify them).

Jhalan heals 5 more points (which should leave him at 60 HP?). One minute later, Caduceus has healed up the 10 HP damage he has taken and returns to full health.

Jhalan immediately downs an antitoxin to help his body fight off the poison.
Fort DC 18: 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 5 = 28
Fort DC 18: 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 5 = 31
Looks like it wasn't necessary, but better safe than sorry.

"Thank you, Caduceus. Any chance your prayers could return my body to its full strength? "

Such as with lesser restoration.

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Alas my friend, so far I am only adept enough at sealing wounds. With hope, the Church will one day deem me both worthy and ready to have that much of Iomedae's power funnel through me, but I have not yet been ordained through ritual. My sincere apologies that my faith has left you in such a condition."

With this build, I'm still a few levels (or 10,000 gold/Bracers of Merciful Healing) away from that. More of a combat medic. Sorry.

Kirana steps toward Jhalan. "I believe I can help. The ancestors of the undine people are capable of funneling the..." She trails off. "Well, nevermind the how. Hold a moment."

She lays a hand upon Jhalan. He feels a momentary dampness suffuse him as she casts Lesser Restoration.

Lesser Restoration: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"I'm starting to sound like Markolf..."

Jhalan bows to Kirana. "I am most grateful, revered one. May Sarenrae bless you with extensive progeny and a long life!"

-Posted with Wayfinder

With Jhalan's wounds and poison addressed, Markolf investigates the flail and shield.

(Markolf will take 10 for both).

Markolf looks at the shield and flail and then at Jhalan.

"I could make you large enough to wield these..."

Wanna bet that weapon is intelligent?

Jhalan grasps the flail, amazed at its craftsmanship. "... A true wonder to behold... and to wield. I'd gladly accept your blessing, friend."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Amenhotep stares at the flail reverently.

"This weapon was used by the builders of this place to fight fiends and serpent-descended humanoids. It is most definitely sentient - I could hear its voice in my mind. It has an especial hatred for serpentine foes, and can cast Neutralise Poison at will when in combat with them. It can also cast Liberating Command three times per day."

Just to be clear, does it mean that the weapon can cast these spells of its own will, or that the wielder casts them?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Well that's going to cost a fortune on the chronicle sheet!! I still have not been able to afford Gamin (let alone repair him, lol).

Jhalan looks very much impressed and follows Markolf insight. No, he doesn't run away. The other piece of insight!

He tries to communicate with the weapon known as Slitherbane, instilling his thoughts inside the weapon. "Err... is there anyone in there? I'm sorry, I'm not used to dealing with intelligent weapons. Can you tell us how to came to rest here?"

I'm guessing this flail has a lawful alignment, which might mean it bestows a (temporary) negative level to any non-lawful creature that tries to wield it. In which case Caduceus may have to hold on to it for now.

For the purposes of this scenario only, however, I will rule that the dispel chaos effect provided by the ivory sphere is sufficient to protect Jhalan if he wishes to wield it during the remainder of the scenario.

Thanks, GM!

Jhalan looks amazed by what he has seen. "It makes sense. Master Shaine always spoke of the ancient rivalry between the serpentfolk and the cyclops, and the Azlanti too. Something has awakened this weapon - Slitherbane - and its power. While the threat remains, so will Slitherbane. Onwards, companions! Markolf, did you want to enlarge me once more?"

"Rise, my pet. RISE!"

Markolf casts Enlarge Person on Jhalen, with a Powerful Change for a total Size bonus of +4 to Str (duration of 8 min).

I'll let Jhalen decide whether he wants to be holding the flail as he's enlarged so it remains a 2H weapon or if he wants to leave the flail and shield on the ground so he can use them in each hand.

Jhalan will keep the flail as a 2H weapon.

Duly noted

What's the next move?

Explore down the other corridor?

Moved tokens and added arrow on the map to clarify. Glancing through the western door to make sure there's no immediate danger coming from there, but otherwise heading northward.

The crashing sound gets louder as the party rounds the corner from east to north. The rhythmic reverberations here are loud enough to make normal conversation difficult, and thinking a chore.

A pair of doors leads back south, presumably back to the room with the sphere, while to the north another corridor stretches. The east wall of this hall bears numerous mosaics of cyclopes astronomers in battle with smaller, serpent-headed humanoids. Along the opposite wall, stylized humans with conical hats debark from graceful ships; these humans lift up packages of spears, swords, and stranger weapons to the cyclopes battling the serpent-headed creatures.

The doors to the west at the end of the hall have been battered open like the ones nearer the archaeologists. The walls of the large, vaulted room are carved with stylized astronomical symbols. The south wall contains a pair of immense doors made of stone. The wall opposite contains four large panels, each eight feet above the ground with a central gap about seven inches wide and an inch deep. Above the four panels are blocky letters, and below them, mosaics featuring sway-backed cyclopes. There is writing above the panels that can't be easily seen from the doorway; the chamber's floor displays a stylized depiction of Golarion and its moon traveling around the sun.

Of more immediate concern, however, is the enormous blue-gray automaton relentlessly pounding on the southern stone doors...and slowly, deliberately, cracking them.

"I do not think I can talk him down. If this is the guardian from the first camp, perhaps we should be ready to assist it once it breaks through the door?"

Kn:Arcana(?) (best of two): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23
Kn:Arcana(?) (best of two): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

(and that's his last use of Investigative Mind)

For the construct, I presume?

For the construct, I presume?

Yes, please.

"Do we want it to go in?" Kirana asks the group in a whisper. "If so, I may be able to open the door from the other side. Though if someone can make heads or tails of the writing, we might know better what to expect on the opposite side."

"I think the security system has been activated for a reason. Probably safe to assume there's something on the other side with one or more snake parts where its human parts usually go."

He looks at Jhalen.

"I'm not done with you yet".

Consuming a third-level spell, Markolf recovers three Arcane Reservoir points. He uses one to cast Bull's Strength on Jhalen with Powerful Change for a +6 Enhancement bonus to Str (on top of the +4 size bonus from Enlarge Person).

He also casts Shield on himself and re-applies Investigative Mind.

Markolf will then enter the room to inspect the panels and glyphs.

2 L1 and 2 L3 spells left