[PFS - PbP Gameday 5] GM Skipper's #4-04 King of the Storval Stairs (tier 7-11) (Inactive)

Game Master SkipperD

Ha! I'm good at speeding things up, if you'd like! Bizzle is willing to cast Haste when the party requests it. He'll be sure to have Mage Armor up on himself also.

"Now would be good. This smells like a fight about to happen."

@Magna: Any retroactive preps is fine with me.

Apart from the massive bulk of the Storval Stairs themselves, Magna sees one interesting detail about the giants; their ears are plugged with some unseemly substance.

cast overland flight along with extended mage armor (20 hr) before traveling

Rognak looked around the area. "Yes, let's get ready to battle. he said before turning invisibile

init: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
cast greater invisibility

Bizzle casts Haste as requested.

Also cast Mage Armor (20 hrs) on Marta

Ozak casts barkskin and then blend from wands and moves forward.

Stealth: 1d20 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 17 + 4 = 29

You advance on the giants who realize to late what is happening.

Surprise Round
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta, Magna
Giants
Bizzle
Giant Leader
Sabrina

First Marta activates bane. I assume these are monstrous humanoids? Let me know if I actually need to make a knowledge roll.

I've been holding on to this thing long enough. Marta swallows a potion of enlarge and trundles forward 60', readying her now 20' spear for the giants to advance. She has combat reflex and 3 AoO if needed.

@Marta: Their type is Humanoid (Giant). We are currently in a surprise round, so it's either the potion or the move action.

Bizzle will cast Black Tentacles so that it will capture the three giants grouped together. I'll position it so that it is on the edge of the one closest to us in case someone wants to go and melee him.

CMB: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

The tentacles grab on to the two giants furthest from the action, but the apparent leader resists their grasping limbs.

Damage, yellow: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage, blue: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Surprise Round
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta, Magna
Giants (yellow: grappled, 9 damage; blue: grappled, 10 damage)
Bizzle
Giant Leader
Sabrina

Potion it is then and a swift action to activate the bane. I see you put me back. Good.

Giving the spell casters some time to cast, Sabrina carefully advances toward the giant not trapped in the spell.

only move or standard in surprise I believe so turn done

Before combat starts:

Magna sucks on her teeth as she squints at the giants. "They have something in their ears," she rumbles. "Doubt they can hear us. Wonder if that's because of the harpies that are supposed to be about...?"

She shrugs at the desire to go engage the giants in melee. "Suit yourself..."

In a flurry of spells by her allies, combat is joined! Magna studies the field of combat for a moment, then beckons and gestures, her dwarven voice ringing out a powerful chant. In response, a burst of light erupts over two of the further giants.

Std action to cast burst of radiance, at the yellow spot on the map, targeting yellow and grey. I don't think I can get all three giants in it, alas. If targets are evil, take 5d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 4, 3, 4) = 17 damage automatically; DC 20 Reflex save or also blinded for 1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds. (Save reduces that to dazzled instead of blinded.) She also takes a 5-ft step.

Reflex, giant leader: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Reflex, yellow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Both the giants take the full force of Magna's spell, while Sabrina inches forward.

Surprise Round
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta, Magna
Giants (yellow: grappled, blind, 26 damage; blue: grappled, 10 damage)
Bizzle
Giant Leader (blind, 17 damage)
Sabrina

Rognak took to the air to keep out of the giants way as he rained down fire from the skies.

Cast fireball on the back group (dc 20 reflex) Currently 30' off the ground)
fireball: 10d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 1, 5, 5, 4, 3, 1, 3, 2) = 34

Reflex, leader: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Reflex, yellow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Reflex, blue: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Fire engulfs the unprepared giants.

Surprise Round
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta, Magna
Giants (yellow: grappled, blind, 60 damage; blue: grappled, 44 damage)
Bizzle
Giant Leader (blind, 51 damage)
Sabrina

Sorry i havent been on much this week. I had a family emergence and forgot to take my surface when i left in a rush. Im really sorry!

Pzak moves forward still under the effects of Blend.

Stealth: 1d20 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 17 + 4 = 33

With the initial onslaught over, the stumped giants have more in store.

Combat Round 1
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta, Magna
Giants (yellow: grappled, blind, 60 damage; blue: grappled, 44 damage)
Bizzle
Giant Leader (blind, 51 damage)
Sabrina

Rognak hovered over the wagon, clutching a flask of alchemical fire, as three blasts of fire flew from his outstretched hand.
Cl 11 due to the tattoo and +1 to hit for using the flask as a focus (Adventurer's Armory) nat 1 misses the leader.
red giant: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 134d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 3, 2) = 12
yellow giant: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 254d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 4, 4) = 18
Leader: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 84d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 1) = 5

This is too easy. And those plugs look suspicious. I should probably put my own plugs in but everyone is rushing forward. Oh well, here we go again!

Maintaining bane, swift action to activate dragon style, charge action to engage red (dragon style allows this). Solo Tactics and Escape route will allow Marta to avoid any AoO.

To Hit: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24 meh
damage: 4d6 + 16 ⇒ (5, 1, 1, 3) + 16 = 26 non-lethal
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3 acid

If a hit connects and I make my intimidate check it will cause the opponent to be shaken for as many rounds as damage, provided non-lethal damage works on it because of the Enforcer feat.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (13) + 29 = 42

Normally one to throw out a quip for amusement and to rile the enemy up, she forgoes the pleasure due to the ear plugs.

Two of Rognak's rays find their targets, while Marta bashes some fear into the nearest giant.

Combat Round 1
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta, Magna
Giants (yellow: grappled, blind, 78 damage; blue: grappled, 44 damage, red: 15 damage + 26 non-lethal, shaken)
Bizzle
Giant Leader (blind, 51 damage)
Sabrina

Does Red have an actual metal weapon in hand? If so, Magna will cast Burning Disarm; if not, we'll go with option B.

Magna stomps forward, her spell of long striding letting her feet carry her forward past normal dwarven speed, and gives an assessing look at the fight. The three giants in the rear seem to be being dealt with handily; the one in the front is the only immediate threat. She calls out words of a spell in her deep voice, gesturing with the hand not gripping her shield.

The giant is wielding a wooden great club, so option B it is then.

Magna hurls a conjured blob of acid towards the giant, but her comrades get in the way and she misses.

Combat Round 1
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta, Magna
Giants (yellow: grappled, blind, 78 damage; blue: grappled, 44 damage, red: 15 damage + 26 non-lethal, shaken)
Bizzle
Giant Leader (blind, 51 damage)
Sabrina

Ozak moves around red and attacks!

Attack: 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 15 + 2 + 1 = 28
Damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5d6 ⇒ (6) + 7 + (5, 1, 4, 6, 4) = 33

Ozak stabs the giant to great effect.

Going by the tactic of "biggest enemy is best enemy", the red-clad giant attacks Marta.

Attack1: 1d20 + 14 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 14 - 2 = 28
Attack2: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 = 27
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Due to Marta's current, cumbersome size, the giant lands two blows with its club.

Damage1: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (3, 3) + 10 = 16
Damage2: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 4) + 10 = 19

The two others try to break free from the tentacles.

CMB, blue: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
CMB, yellow: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19, but to no avail.

Combat Round 1
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta (35 damage), Magna
Giants (yellow: grappled, blind, 78 damage; blue: grappled, 44 damage, red: 48 damage + 26 non-lethal, shaken)
Bizzle
Giant Leader (blind, 51 damage)
Sabrina

Ouch, that charge was what put his AC in range. Still, a paltry 35 damage which he will not get to do again!

Tentacle Damage to the giants: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Bizzle beams happily as his spells seem to be quite effective! He decides to aid Marta and casts Toppling Magic Missile: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 4, 3) + 5 = 19 at the red-clad foe! Trip: 1d20 + 10 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 7 = 30

Bizzle then flies up 30' further up, hoping to get out of the reach of anything.

The tentacles continue to squeeze the life out of the giants, and one of them goes limp and collapses into the squirming mass.

Bizzle's forceful spell knocks the giant prone.

The giants' leader bellow with, literal, blind rage and charges in your general direction.

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (8) - 4 = 4

It doesn't get far, though, as it trips over its own feet.

Combat Round 1/2
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta (35 damage), Magna
Giants (blue: grappled, 54 damage, red: 67 damage + 26 non-lethal, shaken, prone)
Bizzle
Giant Leader (blind, 51 damage, prone)
Sabrina

I almost feel sorry for what I'm about to do!

Marta 5` steps and with the extra reach provided by enlarge is able to get off a full attack/flurry on the fallen leader. While the giant is prone.

yayy, finally Sabrina's turn, I hate getting bad initiative rolls

Sabrina finally makes her way out of the brush toward the prone ginat (red).

attack prone target & power attack: 1d20 + 15 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 15 + 4 - 3 = 35
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 6 = 19

crit confirm?: 1d20 + 15 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 15 + 4 - 3 = 30
Crit damage?: 1d8 + 5 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 6 = 13

she thrusts her sword into the prone giant.

Marta delivers two nasty blows to the leader, but that just seems to make it angrier.

AoO, prone, shaken: 1d20 + 14 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 4 - 2 = 14

The prone giant flails out at Sabrina in vain as she moves in closer and puts it out of its misery.

Combat Round 2
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta (35 damage), Magna
Giants (blue: grappled, 54 damage)
Bizzle
Giant Leader (63 damage + 56 non-lethal, prone, sickened, shaken, blind)
Sabrina

Magna nods approvingly at the quick work. She sees no reason to spend strong spells they may need later, so she tromps into position for a clear line and sends acid at the next giant.

Vs Grey Touch AC, haste, into combat: 1d20 + 9 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 - 4 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Magna hits her mark, but the giant just wont realize it is beaten.

Combat Round 2
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta (35 damage), Magna
Giants (blue: grappled, 54 damage)
Bizzle
Giant Leader (74 damage + 56 non-lethal, prone, sickened, shaken)
Sabrina

Rognak continued to bring fire down on the giants as he scanned the skies to make sure there were no other threats.

Giant leader: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 174d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 3, 1) = 10
Blue Giant 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 214d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 2) = 11
Blue Giant 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 254d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 6, 6) = 22
perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Ozak unloads on the Giant.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 13 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5d6 ⇒ (1) + 7 + (3, 1, 6, 5, 6) = 29
Attack 1b: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 2 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5d6 ⇒ (2) + 7 + (6, 2, 4, 2, 5) = 28

Attack 2: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 13 + 2 = 29
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 5d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (4, 5, 3, 2, 6) = 23
Attack 2b: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 = 12
Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 5d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (1, 5, 5, 1, 4) = 18

Rognak's fiery barrage eliminates another giant, but the leader just won't go down.

@Ozak: The giant you attacked last turn is down, so you'll need to get closer to the leader first.

Combat Round 2
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta (35 damage), Magna
Bizzle
Giant Leader (84 damage + 56 non-lethal, prone, sickened, shaken)
Sabrina

Almost done, fellows! Almost! Now, what shall I do this time? Seeing the lone foe is already down on the ground, Bizzle elects to go with the simple approach.

Magic Missile: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 4, 3) + 5 = 16

Bizzle pelts the last giant with his arcane bolts, but it's still frothing at the mouth with unbridled anger.

Combat Round 2
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta (35 damage), Magna
Bizzle
Giant Leader (100 damage + 56 non-lethal, prone, sickened, shaken)
Sabrina

I'd just have Ozak move to the giant and use his first attack. I sincerely doubt he would do differently. My bet is that he missed your asking him for a rewrite on his move.

All the other giants are in a black tentacles right? If so I will delay until one breaks free.

Actually no. Check out the map. the black tentacles are in the area outlined in purple. There is a giant outside this area.

Also, pathfinders has these two annoyingly similarly phrased things 'hold', and 'delay'. When you delay you specify a standard action you will do when the condition is meant. When you hold you wait until the person has gone before taking your entire turn. You did not specify an action so did you mean 'hold'?

Well, the difference is between "ready" and "delay", but whatever... I'll delay Ozak then.

The last giant thrashes about, not knowing it's a hair's breadth away from death and lashes out at Marta with its club.

Attack: 1d20 + 22 - 8 ⇒ (14) + 22 - 8 = 28
Attack: 1d20 + 17 - 8 ⇒ (13) + 17 - 8 = 22

Damage: 2d8 + 17 ⇒ (5, 8) + 17 = 30

Combat Round 2/3
Bold may act
Current party-wide buffs: Haste
__________________________________________
Ozak, Rognak, Marta (65 damage), Magna
Bizzle
Giant Leader (100 damage + 56 non-lethal, prone, sickened, shaken)
Sabrina

Ack! After that clarification I feel like an idiot. Why can I never keep those terms straight!? I was hoping he would kill the giant before it could act but no luck :(

I'd still like to see Ozak deliver the killing blow, so I'll give it a bit before unleashing Marta.

Seeing Marta has a score to settle with the giant leader, Sabrina sheathes her blade giving Marta the chance to deliver the final blow.

Instead she goes about searching the already fallen giants.

I think that hit missed. I had my AC wrong, probably dues to the charge last turn. I think it should be AC 30=10 +2[dex] +6[monk/wis] +1[drp ioun stone] +4[mage arm] +3[shield of faith] +4[shield spell] +1[haste] -1[enlarged])

Time to put a nail in this guys coffin.

Dropping the bane since I don't think it will be needed. Full round attack flurry + haste.

@Marta: Disregard that attack then.

Marta knocks out the last giant.

----Combat Over----

So, do you wish to search the caravan (which will take some time), or will you approach the looming bulk of the Storval Stairs?

"Those giants hit hard - when they hit. Any of you have any low level healing spells prepared or should I just use my wand?"

Marta pulls out her wand of CLW and will use it if no one steps up, BEFORE doing anything else. I'd rather not pay a stupidity tax, thank-you.