PFS #55: The Infernal Vault Gameplay (Inactive)

Game Master Jamesui

What a terrible roll. LOL

Anyone object to us pushing forward into the next area?

Sorry for delay, guys.

I'd remind the group that searching slows you down by half, so you do not catch up to the Captain before he opts to stop.

I'm assuming your continuing up the staircase until something interesting happens.

You can probably guess what this is. Just rolling it out here for transparency's sake: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

The party climbs up the staircase and finds themselves nearing the Deckland family's crypt.

The entire party can hear a loud argument between the captain and two of his men before cresting the staircase. Hangust can make out the actual words.

"I'm not paying you to loaf around sucklin' your thumbs with your hindparts, men, I'm paying you to defend this thrice-damned vault! If you're not weapons-ready within three seconds, I'll put a quarrel through your eye before you can dream of derelictin' your duty!" the captain roars.

"The blood on your armor tells me that we are beyond defending this vault and well on our way to defending you, sir." replies one of the men.

"ONE!"

"I mean, you just ran away, didn't you, Jank- uh, sir? Isn't that 'derelictin' your duty?'" adds the other.

"THAT IS COMPLETELY IRRE-uh, TWO!"

"You're barely paying the going rate for 'sucklin' our thumbs,' sir."

Hangust hears the captain inhale sharply.

Hangust turns toward the party and motions for them all to lean in while he whispers.

We may be able to take them unaware. Seems they're fighting among themselves. All prepared for another fight?

"My rapier is sharp, I am behind you,"Flyn say's as he inspects his blade, finding it satisfactory he readies himself to fight.

Meant to add that I'm good to enter the room, just figured I'd check with the party, presumably were in our similar straight line marching order so if anyone that's combat starved wants to get ahead of me I figured this would be a good opportunity.

Rathor nods and whispers, [b]"We're right behind you."

Puk smiles big nodding that he is ready.

The warpriest will get his little sling ready to fling.

Satisfied that the party is ready, Hangust creeps towards the top of the staircase, weapons drawn, to assess the situation.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

So... is this game dead?

quick look at gms profile shows him telling another thread he's swamped at the moment. Probably just needs some time.

A little communication with us would be nice as well. I understand being busy but communication is helpful.

More than half of the posters in this pbp have taken a day or two between posts without warning, I think we can extend GMSui the same courtesy he's shown us.

Unacceptable!

Im around and keeping updated, just hasn't seemed to be much that needed a post from me at least

Well, the only actionable item was Hangust's post on Monday, so the delay isn't so bad.

Perception rolls: 3d20 ⇒ (3, 8, 15) = 26

Hangust peers out to find the mercenaries' argument largely resolved, with the captain, Janks, reaching into his pockets and handing his men each a healthy handful of assorted coins before gesturing towards the door. While no one spots the halfling, they are preparing to engage whomever comes through.

Hangust, it would have taken multiple rounds to ascend the stairs even without slowing to search, plus the delay near the top. How are you on rage rounds and fatigue?

I don't remember the rest of the marching order, beyond Hangust then Rathor. I'll as Hangust is the only one who can feasibly take a surprise round, it doesn't matter. Scout's honor as for properly positioning yourselves once initiative is rolled, I guess.

Might as well roll that now...

Captain: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Guards: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Flyn: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Puk: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Rathor: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Hangust: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Adriana: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
E'li: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Round 0: Party
Standard action only, only Hangust has eyes on, and the staircase precludes more than one person being able to see them from the cover necessary to hide.
Puk, for the sake of fluidity, the captain will retroactively delay to initiative 21 if you beat me to the post after the surprise round.
Round 1: Captain, Puk, Guards, Rathor, Flyn, Hangust, E'li, Adriana

I'll use my Round 0 action to slot in third from the front in marching order. IIRC there isn't much I can use my standard on anyway without seeing anything.

I am unclear as to how we enter into the room.

Rathor whispers a prayer to Erastil and touches Hangust on the shoulder. "Grow strong, healthy... And large, my friend!"

Assuming Hangust accepts it, Rathor casts enlarge person on him. If not, the cleric will hold his action.

I dropped rage at the end of the previous encounter since we didnt pursue immediately. I've been assuming it's taken a minute to get where we are now, otherwise I'm still fatigued and largely useless for this encounter. So given that information I'll move about 15 feet foward, to get out of the way of the stairwell.

Puk cracks a joke about the captains mother. Starting a stream of insults.

Start preform

Enlarge person is a full rounder.
We'll assume enough of a delay that Hangust isn't fatigued.

Enlarge person is a full rounder.

Oh, I was assuming that was for the first non-surprise round because you said only Hangust got to act in the surprise round. No worries.

Frack, I shoulda edited better. That was the initial thought, but then I realized the rest of you can still use the surprise round to position yourselves. I realize now that I neglected to remove that line. Apologies.

EVERYONE GETS ONE STANDARD ACTION BEFORE ANY OF THE BADDIES GET TO GO!

Apologies for confusion. Bit of a hasty post.
That said, it's not a full round action spell, it's a one round spell. i.e. you start casting it and it fires off at your initiative next round. Like summoning. It's still a full round action, but apparently you can split the actions - standard one round, and a second standard the next.

A spell that takes 1 round to cast is a full-round action. It comes into effect just before the beginning of your turn in the round after you began casting the spell. You then act normally after the spell is completed. (p.213)

Start/Complete Full-Round Action
The "start full-round action" standard action lets you start undertaking a full-round action, which you can complete in the following round by using another standard action. You can't use this action to start or complete a full attack, charge, run, or withdraw. (p.186)

Start/Complete Full-Round Action

The "start full-round action" standard action lets you start undertaking a full-round action, which you can complete in the following round by using another standard action. You can't use this action to start or complete a full attack, charge, run, or withdraw. (p.186)

Hmm, okay. Well, I'll start the spell then and hope Hangust sticks around to receive it. Or, the way that rule is written, it sounds like I could use my move action next round to try to catch up to him, then use the second standard action to finish the spell. If all that sounds doable, try not to get 20 ft. away from Rathor, Hangust!

I am still trying to figure out how we enter the room/

The staircase right above Rathor.

I couldn't see that. So we move up and in?

Yes.

The warpriest will move up the stairs and propel the sling bullet towards the one in front of him.

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

So the bad guys go now, right?

With a correction, yes. E'li, you don't get a full round. Only a standard. So you can move into place but you don't have the actions left to attack.

The captain shouts his men to attention, sets his crossbow, and fires at Hangust.

Crossbow Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Crossbow Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Ouch. Rolling to confirm.
Confirm roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Crit Damage: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Fuuuuuuuuu...

"About time things went my way!" shouts the captain as Hangust falls. The bolt has sunk so deep into his chest that the fletching is only half-visible. The halfling gasps for air, but soon falls unconscious, his wound bleeding profusely.

Janks reloads his crossbow and steps back among the two guards, each of them bearing a short sword. "Stow your weapons, leave now, and I might just let you leave with your fallen friend!"

Round 0: Party, less Flyn (1 day has passed)
Captain, Puk, Guards, Rathor, Flyn (can move into room before turn to represent surprise round), Hangust (-7 HP, roll to stabilize on your init), E'li, Adriana
Bold may post, i.e. Puk.

I feel bad now.

Can I move in and attack or, just move in

Just move, it counts as your surprise round action. Your first full round will be after the guards go.

On his turn the slinger will fire another volley. 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Regardless of what the guards do on their turn...

Rathor rushes forward to shield his fallen companion from further harm, finishing the spell he was casting on the way. As he grows to twice his normal size, he stands over the halfling, brandishing a longsword the size of a greatsword in one hand.

"You just made a fatal mistake, you scrawny little bastard. Last chance to surrender or I'll tear you apart before you're halfway through reloading that crossbow."

Sorry, Hangust, but enlarge person is a domain spell I can't convert to cure light wounds, otherwise I'd have used it to heal you. Next round I'll stabilize you, assuming the guards don't waste me before then. If anyone else wants to step up and help on the front line, we'd really appreciate it!

I can spontaneously cast can't I?

I can spontaneously cast can't I?

Yes, warpriests can spontaneously turn memorized spells into cure spells.

"That wasnt very nice we only wanted to talk!" Puk says as he rushes into the room drawing a wand.

Double move. Keep performance going

Rathor, your pre-planned turn is no longer feasible. You'll need to select a different course of action.

Mechanically, one of the guards moves up below Puk (provokes if Puk is wielding an appropriate weapon) and readies an action to attack when his buddy gets into position. Then the other moves above Puk (provokes, same restriction), the lower one's ready goes off, and the top one then attacks.

The two guards move astride Puk and try to stab the bawdy gnome, but Puk manages to dodge and contort around their blades in between choice barbs regarding their manhood.

Flaaaaaank!: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Miss.

Flaaaaaank!: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Miss.

Round 0: Party, less Flyn (1 day has passed)
Captain, Puk, Guards, Rathor, Flyn, (can move into room before turn to represent surprise round) Hangust, (-7 HP, roll to stabilize on your init) E'li, Adriana
Round 2: Captain, Puk, Guards, Rathor, Flyn, E'li, Puk
Bold may post, i.e. party minus Puk.

Wait, Rathor isn't even in the room when the guard takes his turn. Did he come up the stairs during his charge?

Wait, Rathor isn't even in the room when the guard takes his turn. Did he come up the stairs during his charge?

Ugh, got confused by the map - you appear next to the stairs though you are truly still below this level. In that case, they're moving to flank Puk. One moves up, readies an attack when the other is in position, and the second moves up and attacks. Same rolls, same result - both miss.

I have combat reflexes so that means I get to....oh....right, I'm dying.

Attempt to not be dying!: 1d20 + 2 - 7 ⇒ (4) + 2 - 7 = -1

Oh geeze, that's some failure!

Hangust twitches almost imperceptibly as the blood pooling in his mouth drips to the floor.

I believe that puts me at -8. Good luck guys!

No worries!

Rathor completes his spell as he emerges into the room, growing to twice his size. With his menacingly large sword gleaming in his hand, he stares down at the guard before him. "Last chance, buddy."

Adriana pops her CLW wand in Hangust's direction.

Heal: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

CLW is a touch spell.

So whats the problem, can I not just walk up and touch the guy?

If that's your intention, it would help to reflect that on the map. While it's possible for you to get into position, doing so would provoke an AoO from each of the guards.

Oh wait, those two people are enemies, so I cannot move through their squares period. If we want to heal Hangust, someone needs to attack (and kill) them so I have the space to move through them. Delaying my action until someone does the above, since there isn't space for me to participate in combat. Alternatively, Puck can 5 foot step out of the way and enter a flanking position, although I'd still take at least two AoO's I believe if I try healing with those enemies standing there.