Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris
Game Master Chris Shannon 719

Round 3
Drakthar - Stumbles away
Glimmil = 23 - Pursues and hits for 10 damage
Toffitt = 15 - Tumbles up
Dyrant = 9 - move, alchemist fire
Atol = 4 - double moved and spiritual weapon (I don't think it automatically follows, so I moved you once and the weapon)
Silfir = 3 - moves, goop
Round 4
Finneas = 26 - moves, starts casting

Some of Drakthar's wounds mend, but he withdraws again at half speed--provoking from Toffitt. He spider climbs along the wall and now ends up in Q8 in the fourth square vertically (15'-20').

"This is not over pup. I shall gnaw on your bones and suck the marrow from them."

This is the last round of Glitterdust I believe. Grumble.

1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 4 = 4 - acrobatics
1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 - glitterdust

New Map

Party's turn.

Spiritual weapon doesn't attack if opponent is out of range or sight of. Aster, but it does keep attacking opponents who move if those conditions are met. It's a move action to redirect to a new opponent.

Glimmil, do you have magic oil to apply to these arrows on my quiver?"

Round 4, Initiative 4, Location W12 -> T6

The Spiritual Weapon should move on it's own without my losing a move action. Assuming that my move was OK it still would put me only to W12 due to the choke point hallway. :(

Atol huffs and he puffs, and he moves doubly, straining against his armor to T6 where he again directs the Spiritual Cudgel against his foe.

Spiritual Cudgel 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 points of damage.

St. Cuthbert curse these dice!

Need a couple of hours to post AoO.

Attack of opportunity

"Stop!"

Toffitt attempts to grapple the vampire as he starts to move away.

Grapple 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 2 = 20 flank bonus

I feel hopeful, assuming blindness penalties apply. And terrified if and when he counter grapples.

Round 4, init 3

Now that Silfr is outside the magic circle, he obeys the compulsion of domination and attacks Dyrant, dropping the silversheen to really get a strong two handed swing and do some damage...

zzz.. Oh! I was having the most wonderful dream... I'll work on my round 4 post once I see about the grapple.

Round 4, Init 23

"Not so fast, mister buggy-pants!" Glimmil jeers, not remotely able to comprehend the danger a vampire poses.

AoO if he failed the acrobatics check to move at full speed and fell prone/had-to-get-up?

Glimmil attack (silver sword, smite, challenge, power): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Glimmil damage (silver sword, smite, challenge, power): 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

-*-

"Oil? For Arrows?" Glimmil shakes his head at the swiftly departing doctor.

Also will await the outcome of the doctor's grapple?

Dyrant definitely awaits the outcome of the grapple attempt. Go, Toffee, go!

Dr. Toffitt resists the urge to face palm, which would cause him to lose whatever tenuous hold he might have on the vampire. His face grimaces in a barely suppressed snarl. How many times did we discuss the godsdamned oil? How many bloody times?!? Traveling with imbeciles is going to get me killed. "Stop moving, corpse. We've got argent and mean to use it."

Working backwards, I didn't realize the fall prone part, so he would just go half speed and wouldn't risk it.

In regards to the grapple, I'm assuming Toffitt doesn't have both hands free so takes a -4 and misses. If his hands were free then he can't take an AoO because he doesn't threaten.

I think he slips by this time.

Does Glimmil (and Cog now that I realize it) still get an AoO? The withdraw action isn't available when blinded... or where is this guy now if he's moving at half speed?

Round 4, Init 15

Curse you and your rules, Chris!

Toffitt drops his light mace and moves to Q6, drawing his bow as he goes. He fires a blunt silvered arrow at the hobferatu.

Comp Longbow 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 v. the still blind vampire.
1d8 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + (5) + 1 = 10

"Would someone pick up my mace, if you get a chance? Yes, you, Silfr! It's silvered. Thanks!"

Does Glimmil (and Cog now that I realize it) still get an AoO? The withdraw action isn't available when blinded... or where is this guy now if he's moving at half speed?

To Glimmil's point about movement, does half speed really get him into the other room and up the wall?

Dyrant still waits to see what is happening in the room.

"Would someone pick up my mace, if you get a chance? Yes, you, Silfr! It's silvered. Thanks!"

Silfr looks at the oil of magic weapon, still glistening on his greatsword.

Mostly my fault, but this is dragging on a lot. The vampire is an intelligent creature that would not risk going prone against a smiting paladin. So, he would not have tried a full speed move either time. This time a 1/2 double move withdrawal gets him to the spot. Room 22 is already 10' above 19A. He only had to go up 5'. Please proceed.

Round 4
Drakthar - Stumbles away again
Glimmil = 23 - Still to go
Toffitt = 15 - Hits, but does no damage
Dyrant = 9 - Still to go
Atol = 4 - Double move and miss with spiritual weapon
Silfir = 3 - Still to go
Round 5
Finneas = 26 - Still to go

Round 4, Init 9

Dyrant will move to T8 and pull out a scroll.

Alchemist fire in one hand, scroll in the other.

Round 5, Init 15 {>P6}

We're just doing what we can to keep the big bad guy from running away. Sorry that means a bit of rules lawyering, Mr. GM.

Dr. Toffitt pulls out oil of magic weapon and applies it to his quiver. He edges a bit closer in the direction where the vampire is likely to head.

Someone please make Dryant facepalm. We have a 50% chance of a humorous result.

Round 5 Init 26

Finneas will change directions, running past Atol with a wild grin on his face.

"We have him now."

Male voice: Careful son, don't let him crowd us.
Huh?

Double move to S13. If that requires an Acrobatics check I'll post that here just in case, though with my -8 I'd rather avoid having to do that if possible. 1d20 - 8 ⇒ (12) - 8 = 4

Round 4

Silfr, remembering now that weapon blanche (silver) requires an open flame to apply to a weapon, will instead sheath the goop and move to the ladder at T8.

"You'd better pray you can kill us all here, Drakthar, because we will find you and destroy you wherever you try to run."

@Chris: Did I get confirmation on my AoO against the big bad guy?

Blinded creatures cannot take the technical "withdraw action" (and avoid an AoO). However, they can literally withdraw (it just provokes an AoO).

(It's possible I'm also behind and have an AoO from Round 3 and Round 4 both to roll... although I rolled one back here which I suppose was my official action before Round 4 (so in between Round 3 and 4).

As for Round 4's action... here's what I understand:

Room 22 is 10ft above Room 19a, so there's a 10ft drop at the ledge at (U,7).

The vampire began at (V,7) based on this map and I'm guessing Glimmil last attacked from (W,7) with Doctor T at (U,7) right at the ledge.

In round 4 just before Glimmil, Drak used a move action to go (U,8)>(T,7) ~15ft (half movement of 30?) around Doctor T.

From (T,7) his climb speed took over for his second move action and he went (T,7)>(S,7)>(R,7) ~10ft (half movement of 20?) and ended in (R,7) above the ground by 10ft?

Sorry for requesting clarification on where he is... I just need to sort out if he's in reach for a melee attack or not based on Cog's movement.

Glimmil and Cog can make it to (R,7) - presumably an Acrobatics check for Cog to drop down to (T,7) and a Ride check for Glimmil is required? Then it's a question if Glimmil can attack something 10ft above him in the same square without reach. (And then there's also the question of where Glimmil's lance is since he was DMPC'd the first round and it wasn't clear if he dropped his lance way back in Round 1).

/deepbreath

I'll just post on my assumptions - take which actions are appropriate.

Blinded enemies spider-climbing over ledges makes my head hurt.

Round 4 - AoO?

Presuming an AoO. If there isn't one, just ignore this.

Fight with combat-trained mount (Ride DC10): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Glimmil will attempt to trip Drakthar as part of his AoO:

Glimmil trip (vs Drak CMD, provokes an AoO): 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 2 + 3 - 1 = 25

Cog attack (bite, power): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Cog damage (bite, power): 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Cog trip: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Round 4, Init 23

Based on my understanding of Drak getting away, he will be 10ft up at (R,7). Cog and Glimmil pursue the evil vampire.

Glimmil - Ride to Jump With Mount DC15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Failed - 1d6 ⇒ 6 non-lethal damage

I'm unclear if Glim and Cog both end up prone, and how many actions either have left.

I'd guess that Cog stops short at the edge, and Glimmil flies off (and only he takes the falling damage). If Cog went over too, I'm guessing he also took the damage and is laying prone with Glimmil (and would use a remaining move action to stand - need a DM ruling here since it's not stated in rules)

If Glimmil has a move action left, he will use it to stand up in (S,7).

See OOC thread for more.

It's a bit amusing as the blind Drakthar has fear in his eyes. A quick trip to taunt the heroes has gone terribly wrong. He tries to slip away, but has no luck as Glimmil cuts him down. Drakthar transforms into gaseous form and continues up the cavern.

Previous checks would let you know: If reduced to 0 hit points in combat, a vampire assumes gaseous form (see below) and attempts to escape. It must reach its coffin home within 2 hours or be utterly destroyed. (It can normally travel up to 9 miles in 2 hours.) Additional damage dealt to a vampire forced into gaseous form has no effect. Once at rest, the vampire is helpless. It regains 1 hit point after 1 hour, then is no longer helpless and resumes healing at the rate of 5 hit points per round.

Kick starting the story again.

The party tries to follow the gaseous form, but it slips through cracks much too small for even Glimmil. The party will need to find his coffin the hard way. Tick, tock, tick, tock.

New Map showing what has been found so far.

"We should follow him. We should follow him right Silfr? Which way did he go Glimmil?"

Dyrant looks at the gassy cloud and loudly thumps Atol on the back, smooshing his scroll against Atol's body.

"Did you see the power of St. Cuthbert, Atol!?! DID YOU SEE!?! The angels lent themselves to us, Atol! They blinded him so we could stop his unholy blight upon this city."

Dyrant smacks Atol on the back again, exultant.

"Huzzah! Well, struck Glim! Well struck, Dr. Toffitt" Dyrant looks at each in turn before looking at Finn.

"Yes, Finn, we must find his coffin, as I was saying earlier. He will try to reform in that space. He might regain full form if we do not find it soon enough."

GM Chris, to what direction did the gaseous form go? Toward what numbers on the map?

Dyrant examines the crevasse that the gaseous form escaped to.

"If it went this way, we should explore this way. I hope we can find the location of the coffin. Glim, Cog, your noses (one for evil and one for sniffing) might be our best tools for locating it. Lead on!"

Dyrant is happy about his Angel lending aid to the battle.

The vampire leads the party on a winding course through territory they've already explored until he can lose them and work his way back to his coffin in unexplored space. No clues for youse.

"I suggest we continue exploring as we were, and quickly. Now we can do so without fearing his attack, at least for a while." Toffitt moves back out into the caverns, but remaining close.

"Did you see that? Cog, did you?"

Glimmil shakes his silvery sliver around in celebration.

"We hit him so hard he turned into a puff of smoke and blew away!"

After coming to understand that the vampire merely retreated to somewhere safe in gaseous form, Glimmil bites his lip.

"Blasted vamp-bear and his tricky trickeries!"

The gnome paces back and forth several moments before climbing back on Cog's back

"No, I didn't see where he floated off to... we should hunt every last corner of this place for him!"

Dyrant tries to lead the party to the -90 section of the map.

"Shall we start down there and work our way back?"

"We should follow him. We should follow him right Silfr? Which way did he go Glimmil?"

"Oh, absolutely. We have him on the run."

After Dryant has finished gibbering like a goon, Silfr adds "How nice your angel provided a useful scroll. I look forward to appreciating this exultant when it shows up and help track down vampires."

To the group, he proposes a course of action.

"We have no reason to think this creature floated downward. It could easily be hiding behind evil minions, such as perhaps the teifling and goblins. We should go east and see if the goblins screen their master's resting place."

I'm figuring one minute per room with the detect evil, detect magic routine. Even allowing for a battle at one minute each, that still allows for 30 rooms to be checked in the next hour. So, unless there is a retreat, I'm not going to start calculating.

1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20 Dryant - Oh sure. Now the 20 shows up.
1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17 Silfir

Still impressed by the angel dust, the party begins to follow Dyrant.

New Map

Ah, what the heck, countdowns are fun. 57 minutes to go.

"Well done Dyrant! Truely St. Cuthbert is shining on you. Well done all!"

Atol considers his role in the battle and shrugs.
Can't contribute every time I guess. Next time...

He works hard to keep up with the party and keeps his eyes open for any obvious dirt-filled coffins. He renews the light spell on Glimmil's shield at regular intervals and cracks a Sunrod for additional light just in case.

Toffitt retrieves his weapons prior to following Dyrant.

"Well done, everyone. Dyrant, I tend to agree with Silfr. I find it more likely that he would hide behind his servants. Don't you? I believe they were congregated that way." Toffitt gestures up the slope of the cavern, wence the party came.

"Although this area also seems to be populated. Perhaps a back entrance to their complex." He moves to the area that seems to have garbage or stored items, wary of vermin or otyughs.

"I agree with Silfr, let's go to those sections we haven't visited yet, where the second group of goblins shot at us. We haven't been there and if he's using the cracks to escape that's where he'd be."

Finneas shakes his head, sweat forming on his face.

"What?"

Female voice: Good son!

"Dyrant do you have a scroll handy, I'm feeling very wet."

"Goblins? Tieflings? Vampires?"

Glimmil begins a series of shadowboxing maneuvers from his position on Cog's miniature saddle.

"No problem for the Cauldron Six!"

Glimmil heads off to room 30.

Dyrant looks and the old man and smiles. Going over to Silfr, Dyrant extends his hand and pats Silfr on the back.

"Yes, yes, Silfr you did good, too." Dyrant says in a droll tone. "I'm sure your prayers contributed to the Doctor and Glimmil's success as well."

The old man is too proud to acknowledge the work of others. Couldn't even thank others for doing what he could not.

* * *

Dyrant looks around at their location (map 3853).

"Do you think the vampire would willing put his coffin near his goblin allies rather than as far away from them (and the sunlight) as possible? You think the coffin would be close to where an interrogated goblin might give away its location."

"Hmmm....This way looks as if it could go on forever. Let us find a quick way up there (area 30) and check that area out like Finn suggests. He's a good leader."

Dyrant harumphs emphatically to punctuate his point.

"I have no problem with checking out the goblin area, but logic would tell us he would be lower, farthest away from his hated enemy, the sun, as possible in the most dark, dank area of this place...which is down."

Dyrant shakes his head looking further down the tunnel and not seeing much.

GM Chris, Dyrant will attempt to lead the group to the Area marked 28 on the map.

"Dyrant do you have a scroll handy, I'm feeling very wet."

Dyrant looks confused at Finn.

"You're wet? I thought you acted bravely in the fight. How could you have wet yourself? Come, maybe this way we will find goblin clothes for you to dry yourself."

Dyrant will put away his alchy flask and scroll, instead draw and load his crossbow.

Forgot the box text.

27A/B - Two irregular alcoves appear in the walls of the tunnel, across from one another. The western alcove has a ceiling only five feet high. The eastern alcove has a ten-foot-high ceiling and sits atop a ten-foot-high ledge. The ceiling of the main tunnel is thirty feet high at this point.

30 - A large section of this room has fallen away, forming a gash in the south wall and a forty-foot-high precipice overlooking a rough-hewn tunnel (where the party is). The ceiling of the tunnel is the same height as the roof of this chamber. Three moldy straw pallets are heaped in the corner of the room.

34 (down into the depths) - The sloping passage narrows at this point, forming a natural archway a little over five feet wide and ten feet tall.

This should help in decision making since the ledge is 40' up.

OOOH...trusting his 'logic', Dyrant would try to steer the group lower (down to 34), even if it is just a quick peak to see what is down there.

Atol follows Dyrant's gestures and heads in the direction of room 34 - assuming the party follows.

"How long do we have before he re... er, re... becomes whole again? I don't remember."

Area 34

Not taking the party this way yet, just giving more info. I'll go with whatever appears to be the party's consensus in a couple hours.

Dyrant looks and the old man and smiles. Going over to Silfr, Dyrant extends his hand and pats Silfr on the back.

"Yes, yes, Silfr you did good, too." Dyrant says in a droll tone. "I'm sure your prayers contributed to the Doctor and Glimmil's success as well."

The old man is too proud to acknowledge the work of others. Couldn't even thank others for doing what he could not.

Oh Dryant thinks he physically interacts with Silfr moments after we are all keyed up from combat and chasing vampires? (Well some of us chased vampires, others tried to recreate the Twlight movie franchise).

I think what really happens is Dryant goes around to pat Silfr's on the back while the paladin is considering that magic weapon oil will last only a minute.

Before making his condescending comment, Dryant is instead surprised to find his provokative action intercepted as he is pushed away. Far away.

CMD +7 vs CMD 11 (10 -2 from str, +3 from dex) 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Silfr will dramatically push Dryant just 10 or the possible 15 feet on the move and not follow.

"Keep your wizardling hands away from me, you charlatan. Glitterdust's provenance is with arcane casters, and no clerical domain grants that conjuration. I want none of your lies, spells or physical affections."

If Dryant wants to have those "droll" comments happen next he can of course do what he wishes... so long as he doesn't interact with my character and you don't narrate my characters actions or choices.

I think Dyrant's comment stands, he made it in the surprise round. :)

"Keep your blah blah...metagamey stuff that Silfr doesn't really know...blah blah...affections."

I, for one, am glad to have St. Cuthbert's love and affection. He has blessed me with Angel.

Dyrant reels back from Silfr's push.

"Ah good, Silfr! Now, if you could just focus that energy onto our opponents! We'll get you into the good light of St. Cuthbert soon enough!"

Nothing meta-gamey about it. See ooc thread.

As Dyrant and Silfir argue--either now or in their heads--goblins peek over the 40' ledge and fire their crossbows at the party.

Perception
Atol1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Dyrant 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Finneas 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Glimmil1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Silfir 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Toffitt 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Goblins 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Stealth - Goblins 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 + distance

1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 13 - At Dyrant
1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 27 - At Silfir
1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 8 - At 1d2 ⇒ 2 - Silfir

1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 25 - Confirm
3d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 3) = 10 - 2d6 crossbow plus sneak

Initiative
Atol1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1
Dyrant 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Finneas 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Finneas Bonus roll 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Glimmil1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Silfir 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Toffitt 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Goblins 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

Round 1
Toffitt = 25
Finneas = 22
Goblins = 21
Dyrant = 18
Silfir = 13
Glimmil = 4
Atol = 1

New Map