[PFS] Game Day 3: G.M.E.W's King of the Storval Stairs (Inactive)

Game Master Evan Whitefield

FYI. I'm going to say that it has been about 20min since the fight ended. That puts us at 90+ min since you teleported in.

GM: Just rough estimates, but about how long does it look like it would take for a human to walk from the top of the stairs to the post we now occupy? How long does it seem like it would take a giant to walk the same distance?
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Group, any of you have the message spell or something else that could be used to signal the high lookout?
The person up top can just drop some coins (if they don't want to fly down) the clinking should get our attention. But, I'm not seeing a good way to alert the person up top. I have a signal whistle, but that won't be very secretive.
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Edit: an IDEA occurs!
GM: Would you agree that the spell Speak With Animals would make me sound like an animal, not make the animals understand my normal speech? If so, do you see any reason I couldn't use my wand of Speak With Animals (assuming I don't roll a 1) to speak with hawks. I couple of rapid and very loud hawk screeches should be able to get the lookout's attention and shouldn't seem out of place on a cliff face.

It took you guys about an hour to climb the steps, You think coming down would be easier and take probably 45min. You guess that Giants could do it in like 20min.
Idea: I'd let you sound like a hawk but you'd still need to make a bluff check (with a bonus from the spell). Also just to point it out the roust is like 100ft to the north of the landing so the coins might not work that well.

George will consume several potions and extracts over the course of the preparation rounds and would be willing to take a Greater Invisibility.

George flutters down to the group as the wings recede back into George's body. He finds a flat bench-like area and begins to arrange potion vials.

It appears that we will have time to buff. Here are George Actions.

Round -5: Drink Alchemical Allocation (Standard); Pick up Potion of Magic Circle (Evil) (Move)
Round -4: Drink Potion of Magic Circle (Evil) (Move-Trait); Drink Alchemical Allocation (Standard);
Round -3: Pick up and drink Potion of Strong Jaw (Standard and Move)
Round -2: Drink Alchemical Allocation (Standard); Pick up Potion of Displacement (Move)
Round -1: Drink Potion of Displacement and Extract of Heroism (Standard/Move)

If Lavode will provide Greater Invisibility, then George will drink an extract of Shield instead.

Buffs As Of Round 0:
Displacement/Shield: 0.7/6.7 minutes
Magic Circle Against Evil: 49.7 minutes
Strong Jaw: 6.8 minutes
Heroism: 69.9 minutes

George offers up two extracts of Shield if people would like them. (He has Infusion).

It took you guys about an hour to climb the steps, You think coming down would be easier and take probably 45min. You guess that Giants could do it in like 20min.

Idea: I'd let you sound like a hawk but you'd still need to make a bluff check (with a bonus from the spell). Also just to point it out the roust is like 100ft to the north of the landing so the coins might not work that well.

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Are the King and his witch coming now? If not I suggest we leave the buffing to later. By the way, if it takes 20 minutes for a giant to cross the whole stairs, it would take about 10 minutes for the King to reach us (since I'm guessing we're about halfway down), thus giving us ample time to buff and prepare.

Boswick doesn't have a lot of buffs on his own. But if more harpies are spotted he would cast prot from evil from his beacon of good. If the king is coming he would activate divine bond to keen his weapon right before he arrives.

"I have plenty of these Shield infusions. Feel free to use them. If you would be so bold as to provide me with your disappearance magicks once more, then I would be grateful, however I don't think the giants will be as thankful." George states, sweeping his hands in the directions of the proffered vials.

I assumed the King and Witch are coming? Isn't that what we are waiting on?

... I assumed the King and Witch are coming? Isn't that what we are waiting on?

We are supposed to hold the stairs until relieved. Metagaming a bit, we expect the King and witch to show up. I would expect them to be accompanied by minion giants. Less sure about harpies. They might be a separate attack or try to take advantage of us fighting the giants. But we haven't seen them approaching yet.

If we haven't seen anything, then...

George does nothing but mill about organizing his potions and dealing with Mr. Chips hiding things.

Nope nothing yet.
Also the times I gave were for your current location not the bottom of the stairs. Sorry about the confusion.

Ok Kynrac, here's what I'll do.
1 really loud hawk screech like this {SCREE} will be an alert. Just means to look around we saw something potentially concerning.
2 really loud hawk screeches like this {SCREE SCREE} will mean we've seen the enemy.
3 really loud hawk screeches like this {SCREE SCREE SCREE} will mean serious danger, get your butt down here.
4 really loud hawk screeches like this {SCREE SCREE SCREE SCREE} will mean the situation has gone totally FUBAR, save yourself.
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You have any ideas on how to communicate with us other than flying back or would you rather I take the perch?
I will use a charge to demonstrate.
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I don't think you can get a page of spell knowledge for a cantrip, so I should probably retrain to replace on of my others. It's not like I use any of them very often except detect magic.

"I got it. Now all we have to do is wait and be on the lookout."

When the buffing cycle starts, Alie will use her scroll of Fly, Stoneskin, and cast Mirror Image. Alie also had Silent Image as a spell known, if anyone can think of a clever usage for it. Maybe creating an image of a missing stair to slow down the progress of any Giants or humans.

Boswick offers Tatho a choice of either a short bow or a long bow and hands him 6 +1 giantbane arrows, and 2 sleep arrows.

He then helps Ravo into the back of the area where the cook fire is.

Ravo just stay back here, we'll protect you from anything that comes and we'll be out of here soon.

Boswick takes his dagger from it's sheath and hands it to Ravo.

Take this just in case, you won't need it, but better safe than sorry.

Want to make sure we maximize all the things we got. I tried to capture everything and who got it, but probably missed a thing or two.

Should we cast the mass bear's endurance and mass enlarge person before we fight the king? If some more harpies show up maybe we can deep slumber them?

Displacement being cast on either George or Boswick would also be nifty. A 50% miss chance could really be helpful for one of them. Alie would be happy to cast it off the scroll for one of them.

Boswick speaks up in an attempt to finalize the teams battle plans.

I guess the simplest plans are usually the best in these situations. Let's arrange the dead giants and harpies over toward the wall the harpies erected. Then whoever arrives will be attracted to the far side to try to find out what happened. Meanwhile, we will be in the alcoves to the left.

Boswick motions to the alcoves and areas near the cook fire.

If we are blessed, we will gain some surprise over them, and we might get a few ranged attacks in, before they can meet us in melee. Also we'll be able to take advantage of any cover the alcoves provide. While our foes will be right out in the open.

Boswick spins his arm around in a circle above his head. Pointing wildly.

If are scouting efforts are fruitful, we should be able to add all our buffs and enhancements before they get here.

Then putting his hands on his hips.

How's that sound?

Displacement being cast on either George or Boswick would also be nifty. A 50% miss chance could really be helpful for one of them. Alie would be happy to cast it off the scroll for one of them.

George should be invisible. So give the displacement to Bos.

Sounds like a plan to me. If we get a few rounds notice, remember this buff, Bozzie.

As you make your plans and wait for the enemy the minutes turn to hours and the sun begins to slide down towards the horizon.

There has been no sign of giants or harpies for 3 hours now and soon it will be getting dark. What are you plans now?

Shortly after his Mutagen wears off, George will brew another as he waits. Takes one hour.

"It appears that word has not reached the capital of our decisive win. We should wait for reinforcements as we have been directed to." George states at an hourly meeting between the Pathfinders.

"I don't suppose there is anything to do, but to wait for the time being."

This could be a problem for us. If they are coming after sunset, we will have little to no warning to get our magic prepared. I don't suppose any of you know how to set a trip wire or something to make noise and alert us? I certainly don't. Though I suppose I could try to cobble some thing together, I don't feel like I could count on it working.
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The best I can think of is to try and set up the bodies of the giants so they look like they are passed out drunk. Spill a bunch of what ever kind of alcohol we have for the scent. Then set up all of the caltrops, alchemist fire, sunstones, etc... that we have, so that if someone disturbs the bodies they fall and break/burn.
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GM, are there any similar guard posts, ruins, or any other kind of cover that could conceal a person between hear and the top?

halfway up the stairs from your current position there is another landing. This on is slightly smaller than the landing you are on but it it flanked by stone structures with open doorways.

I agree it's probably not safe for us to stay here. But then again traveling to another level of the stair after dark is probably even more dangerous. I think we should stay here and defend the best we can. If nothing comes in the night, then we'll move further up the stair at first light.

"Agreed. Finding a defensive position and setting up watch is our top priority. I'll take first watch. "

-Posted with Wayfinder

... But then again traveling to another level of the stair after dark is probably even more dangerous. ...

I was actually thinking more along the lines of me hiding at that point. When they show up, I would fly off the side of the cliff and back to warn you guys. I don't have dark vision, but I can't imagine a bunch of giants will be very quiet and if nothing happens, I only need a couple hours of sleep at night (ring of sustenance). I don't really like that idea either, but it was the only other one I could think of.

I'll take last watch. George, you willing to take middle watch since you can see in the dark better than us?

As the sun sets and Boswick realizes they are likely there for the night. He addresses his porter Tholl.

Set up the tent and make Ravo as comfortable as you can.

He then turns to his squire Carrick.

Carrick fix us a light supper. All this battle makes me hungry

After eating Boswick moves off to a corner by himself to spend time in pray to Iomedae.

Stick me on whichever watch you want.

I agree with the idea of arranging the giants to make it look like they are drunk and "booby trapping" the area as much as we can.

As the night passes the ruins around you come to life with all sorts of horrible noises and shadowy forms.

OK so I'm going to say each shift takes 4 hours and it looks like the schedule is:
Kynrac- Dusk
George- Night
Lavode- Early Morning
Boswick- Dawn
I'll need perception checks from these 4, the position(s) they will be watching from, and any other activities they will be doing while on watch.

Kynrac, wake me up when you wake George. I have something I want to try.
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Before it gets too dark I will assist Bos in setting a tableau of the giants looking like they are passed out drunk a couple stair steps above our location. (Anyone else is free to help if you want.) I'll use prestidigitation and mending to clear up the blood and obvious battle damage. We'll spill some alcohol around the area. If any will donate them, we'll also try to balance alchemist fire (with stopper loosened)or similar on them so if someone comes along and tries to kick them awake it might fall and go off. If the local wind/weather seems likely to set something off, we won't do that part of it.
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Before Kynrac's watch starts, I will recast mage armor on Alie, Bos (assuming he takes off his armor to sleep), and myself. (Kynrac has some good defensive buffs already.)
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Between Kynrac's and George's shift. Lavode will summon the smallest fastest intelligent creature that he can. (I don't have my sheets in front of me right now, but I think it is the air elemental. I will double check which creature is fastest when I get home.) I will cast haste on them. And vanish (using a second level slot) on the one in front.
Then send them racing up the stairs to see if something is coming down toward us. I'll have them spread out so the furthest can relay what it sees back to me without having to return. Full hasted quadruple flying move will get them a long ways up the stairs. I speak all the elemental languages.
George's shift will be more than enough to regain all my spells.
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Lavode will sleep behind the wall the harpies created and watch from atop that wall. (The portion of the wall of stone overlapping the existing wall not in the opening. I don't want to silhouette myself.) I will also take my watch with my oil of daylight in hand.

perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19 half-elf with low light vision

George shrugs. "I can take any shift."

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

GM, unless it is the middle of the winter and even further north than I think, we probably don't need 4 shifts of 4 hours each. I would think 3 should be plenty. That would give each of us 8 hours to rest (assuming nothing happens) and replenish any abilities/spells.
I would suggest Alie double up with Kynrac for first watch. Bos double up with me for the third watch. George has darkvision and a familiar to help him watch in the darkest hours.
If we really do need to 16 hours to get to dawn, ignore all that.
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GM, what is the distance to the next watch point and then to the top from where we are? A hasted air elemental can move 520' per round for a total of 4860' in 9 rounds. That is 0.9 miles.
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If we're lucky, they will be carrying a torch or lantern and can be seen a long way off. I can't remember if giants have lowlight or dark vision. Anyone have knowledge local?

Bos takes dawn watch or watches with Lavode if only 3. He positions himself in the opening, using the existing shadows as best he can.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Alie is happy to help with the first watch, if needed.

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17 What senses do hill giants have?
Perception: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32 With Low-light vision

Kynrac takes the first watch, trying to position himself where he can see whoever comes down the stairs.

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Lavode will ... watch from atop that wall. (The portion of the wall of stone overlapping the existing wall not in the opening. I don't want to silhouette myself.) ...

Ignore that part. For some reason I was thinking the wall of stone was 5' thick not 1 inch thick. I'm not going to try and balance for 4 hours. I will still sleep in area E on the map, but will watch from where I currently placed my icon on the map.

Sorry for the delay, Holidays and a burnt out power supply kept me from getting on the boards this past week. That is all in the past now so lets get things moving again.

The night passes uneventfully though a few of the people on watch notice scavengers, ranging from vultures to large vermin, have been drawn to the smell of blood and have begun eating the corpses. The new day dawns bright and clear with no signs of giants or Harpies.

Please recap your plan for watching the stairs.
You a 150ft climb away from the top and bottom of the stairs. There is another landing about 75ft up the stairs which has large doorways on either sides leading into large stone changers about the same size as area E.

Horay...glad to be getting back to it. Hope you all had good holidays!

Others can correct me if I'm wrong, but our concentration was on watching the stair we are on. With Kynrac watching from the harpy liar up and down the stair. However....

As morning breaks, Boswick wonders whether a more thorough exploration of the stair should be undertaken.

What does everyone say we continue up the stair and hunt for this King. He may have his liar on one of the 2 landing above.

Welcome back!

Kynrac will take his watch in the harpy's nest if his companions are okay with it and provided that point gives a good sight of the surroundings (mostly the top of the stairs).

I don't think I understood that the upper level had an unexplored area or two. We should definitely go investigate those spots, imho.

Agreed Alie, for awhile I thought we were just suppose to stay put. But at some point I realized there was more to explore, but it was getting dark so waiting till morning made sense.

Kynrac can watch as we climb up and swoop in if he see's trouble. That sounds good.

Agreed. If we are to hold the stairs I suppose we need to see what the rest of it holds.
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Excellent to have all my spell slots back. I will renew the mage armor on myself and Alie.

Unless George objects, we start up the stair; with Kynrac up in the harpy lair.

My vanity porter can carry up to 300 pounds, right now he has 87. So if the one-legged man ways less than 213, my porter will carry him if he allows it.

"Tatho, what do you say want to hunt this King?"

Then turning to Ravo.

"Good sir, I think it not safe for you to remain here while we hunting down the rest of the scum on this stair. Will you allow my man to carry you?"

Looking to Tholl as he speaks. The ulfen is more than ready to serve.

I'm game. Tatho replies, reading his bow.

I don't know if I want some Ulfen hauling me around like a sack of potatoes. He can give me hand up the stairs but I'd prefer not to become luggage. Ravo says grimly. He is using one of the spare longbows as a makeshift crutch.

I'll give George a couple hours to post and then we'll move on.

The stairs lead up to a second landing littered with debris, though much cleaner than the one you were on. The northern chamber reeks of body odor and rotting food. The floor is covered with a massive pile of furs and cloth making a giant sized bed. Tucked in the corner of the room is a small wooded chest and a table with a singe chair. Inside the chest is a collection of woman's clothing and cheap jewelry. The table holds a half eaten meal covered in flies and a handful of papers, most of which are crude maps of the stairs and what look like ill thought out plans for building an 'kingdom' around the ruins.

The other chamber is completely empty save for a small crude pen built in the back corner. The pen is empty but a thorough search shows you that the pen was used to hold humanoids recently (probably with in 4-5 days). The floor around the pen shows signs that it once was the resting place for boxes, barrels, and chests.

Doesn't look promising, but I suppose that while we are here we should give all this a thorough investigation.
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Detect Magic
Detect Poison
perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

George follows the group to the next landing, insisting that he keep watch for reinforcements or other fighters. He will find a suitable hiding spot to keep a lookout.

Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Full up on Extracts and Mutagens. Extracts of Shield are available for anyone who wants one.

Boswick investigates the scene.

Are the table, chair, women's clothes, and jewelry giant sized?

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

The table, chair, clothes, and jewelry are all human sized.

Lavode's search of the area turns up one item. A giant sized holy book dedicated to Minderhal. The book is written in blood on pages of cured human skin.

If anyone wants to read the book it is in giant.
After 1 hour of reading you can make a geography or religion check.