[PbP Gameday VI] GM Dennis - #8-99 Solstice Scar (Session 2; Tier 1-2) (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

"I missed! Arrrgh! I will try again!
Fluffy lion help me!"

inspired rage smite evil: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 16
1d6 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 11

Alphonze runs in to aid his comrades, infusing his blade with magic as he slashes at the fiend.

Move, arcane strike, attack

Scimitar: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 1 + 1 + 1 = 16
Dmg: 1d6 + 6 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 3 + 1 + 1 = 13

★★★OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT★★★

As Medda and Anok join your group of Pathfinders around the stone circle, she assists you with the binding ritual. Medda thrusts Ivvora’s hilt into the portal, calling on Vildeis for aid. The shadow rift shrinks and closes, releasing a massive shock wave that knocks the Pathfinders, the Twinhorn warriors, and Medda to the ground. A field of dark, rippling energy remains, suspended above the stone altar. As Medda reaches out to pick up Ivvora’s hilt—the already broken blade now spider-webbed with new cracks—a supernatural silence descends. Only the telepathic rage of some unseen menace cuts through the quiet. “You dare to shut me out?” it rages. “I see you, but I do not see her. Where is the dwarf woman, Ivvora, who fought me so long ago? Has her mortal body failed at last? Has the realm of the living at last lost its protector? Know this: when the long shadows reach out again, I will grasp them and claw my way back into your world to see your flesh devoured by my children.”

Sound returns to the Realm of the Mammoth Lords, and Medda cautiously stands. “It seems that Eshimka still lives and has even left this foul scar on our world,” she declares. “If we are to believe its promises, the fiend will attack on the next winter solstice. If we are to survive, we must be ready. Nearly a millennium ago, Ivvora held the key to defeating Eshimka. By following her legends and discovering her fate, we may harness the same holy power that banished this fiend—and together end the beast entirely.

“When we set out, it would be the privilege of this following to have the Pathfinders at our side. But that is a trial for another day. Tonight, at last, we rest.”

@Table GMs: If you haven't already, please report your games and boons here. A roll of 19 or 20 wins a boon, and a d4 should then be rolled to determine which one.

Stonelance moves forward and reloads.

Alphonze and Babine both miss the armored skeleton.

I'm happy to finish out the encounter if you'd like, or we can call it here, your choice.

Well this is the last skeleton. Let's finish this!

I'm OK calling it here. I am curious about Medda and the phantom-whose-name-I-keep-forgetting, their backstory 'n stuff—don't know how kosher it is to share that stuff after the fact in PFS.

I'm happy to answer any lingering questions you have about the plot, Oiur. What would you like to know about Medda and Anok?

I'm most curious about Medda and Anok's relationship—is Anok an ancestor? Some other spirit drawn to Medda?
Similarly, what's the deal with the "dark force" whose spooky telepathy we hear? We got some idea that a dwarf showed up and helped the Twinhorns learn how to fight it, but what's the origin/what does it want/all that stuff?

Haska throws a bomb at the skeleton's feet, in such a way as to shape the blast away from his allies.
bomb 3/6, pbs, targeting the grid intersection between Oiur and the skeleton: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 1 = 9
splash damage: 1 + 3 = 4
reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15 <-- 2 damage

JUSTICE FLAME! steps up following the blast, once again swinging his greatsword, this time landing a crushing blow, though not all of it seems to go through. The skeleton seems to be just barely hanging on.
attack, inspired rage: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21
two-handed damage w/ inspired rage, brazen flame: 2d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 5) + 6 + 1 = 18

-----

Initiative:

I'm most curious about Medda and Anok's relationship—is Anok an ancestor? Some other spirit drawn to Medda?

Anok is the spirit of an ancient kellid warrior, bound to Medda. I assume he's an ancestor, though it's not explicitly stated, I don't think. It seems like the implication is that he is bound to each generation's protector of the hilt. He definitely comes across as fiercely protective and even somewhat boastful of Medda.

Similarly, what's the deal with the "dark force" whose spooky telepathy we hear? We got some idea that a dwarf showed up and helped the Twinhorns learn how to fight it, but what's the origin/what does it want/all that stuff?

The "dark force" is Emshika, some sort of creature from the negative energy plane, described only as a nightstalker. It wants to enter our world and get revenge for its defeat. Ivorra (a powerful Paladin of Valdeis) tracked it here during the Shining Crusade (there's a brief mention of it being connected to the Whispering Tyrant) with the intention of trapping and destroying it. The Twinhorns in the area helped her to bind it, but she was only able to wound it, snapping off her blade in its flesh, before it was able to escape to the negative energy plane.

Haska says, "That is one tough skeleton." I am back. Looks like we are still fighting.

Feeling his moment of greatness fast approaching, Alphonze grips his blade tighter and swings it at the skeletal figure with all his might.

Swing, arcane strike, moment of greatness(does the moment of greatness also work for the damage roll)
Scimitar: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 20
Dmg: 1d6 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 15

Doubles the morale bonus on one roll or check, so it'd either be the attack roll or the damage roll, but not both.

Alphonze's blade flashes in the dancing lights, its bright reflection briefly banishing the armored skeleton's looming shadow. Oiur's throat is made raw by a song born from weeks of frustration and strain. They wish for nothing but an end to this ordeal: a long journey to far away place, an engagement with a scale the likes of which they've never seen, and forces at work they barely understand.

Their arms burn, and the earth breaker smashes against the creature's armor: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Possible damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 = 10

Alphonze swings, his sword just glancing off the armor covering the creature. Oiur's swing is more easily deflected.

Haska, it's your turn if you would like to throw. We're just wrapping up the last encounter, though the event is officially over. If you have any lingering questions about the scenario, I'm happy to answer them.

Haska, Stonelance, Babine, and JUSTICE FLAME! may act.

Haska will throw another bomb. He quickly pulls out a clay ball and smashes something in it. He throws at the square behind the skeleton and excludes Ouir.
bomb4 of 5 with pbs: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 splash damage is 4 or 2 with DC14 reflex save

Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

The skeleton moves quickly to avoid the worst of Haska's blast, but is unable to dodge it all. As it moves, pieces begin to fall from it until nothing is left but a pile of bones!

2 is enough, the skeletal champion is defeated. We are out of combat. Given that other Pathfinders have already closed the portal, I think we'll call that the end. I'm happy to answer any lingering questions you may have, and I'll get your chronicle sheets posted in the discussion thread in just a moment.

The scenario doesn't actually say for the moment what emshika is. My instinct tell me that she's in fact a mythic psychic vampire.