Redelia's MotFF [PFS] (Inactive)

Game Master Redelia

Hi, everyone! We will get started in a week or two. For now, please post here and then delete your post. Then come over to the discussion thread and we can get everything set up there.

A fierce-looking young female gnome, with a massive coif of bright blue hair on her head, walks in wearing well-crafted but well-worn hide armor.
Behind her obediently follows a wolfdog wearing a saddle and bridle, and a lance twice as long as the halfling is tall sits in a holster at the dog's side. On the opposite holster is a tall stick with a pennon waving at its top, showing the beautiful rainbow-plumed bird that is instantly recognizable as the holy symbol of Shelyn.
"Hi all, I'm Raz! That's short for Razmatazz, but no one calls me Razmatazz, because it takes longer to say, and also I'll probably stab you because it's kinda a silly name, but it's still my name. So... you can call me Raz, is what I'm saying. This is Zora," she says, indicating her hound. "She's the best pup ever. She's the goodest boy, even though she's a girl, because that's just how we roll. I just joined the Pathfinders, because I heard they needed muscle, and I've got that for days."
Raz winks at the group and strikes a pose that shows just how awesome and strong and fearless she is.
"I'm a Paladin of Shelyn. In fact, I've been CHOSEN by Shelyn! She came to me and told me to defend my allies, so that's what I do!"

A human sized man dressed in priestly vestments enters. He carries a barrel on his back by means of a silk rope harness. He also carries a shield with a spiral design caved into its wooden surface. Two daggers are tucked into his belt.If he is actually human he has been covered in blue body paint but his manner and garb suggest that is not the case. He raises his hand in greeting to the gnome and it displays the same spiral design as on his shield on his palm.

"I am Ghik Vrizei servant of the Lady of Graves. it appears our paths cross this day"

"Those are some nice blades you have there Ghik" says a voice from the shadows.

A slim elf figure steps out from the corner while scanning the room. She is wearing studded leather and is adorned with half a dozen daggers within easy reach. She introduces herself, "You may call me Merisiel, collector of knives and thrill seeker extraordinaire! Like Raz, I am also new to this whole Pathfinder thing. I was promised gold and lots of adventure, both of which tickle my fancy."

She again looks around the room, "What's this about anyway?"

Valeros is already halfway into his tankard when the others walk in. He quickly drains the cup before standing to introduce himself.

"Grik. Meri." He nods to each of them in turn greeting them with a friendly smile. His smile grows a little mischievous as he listens to Raz's long-winded introduction, finding an instant affection for the chatty gnome. "Tazzy," he says, teasingly.

"Name's Valeros." He shifts to adjust the sheathed swords on his belt. He grabs his tankard off the counter, gives it one good shake to spray the last few drops onto the floor, and clips it back at his belt. "I don't know anything more than you, Meri. Whatever it is, it had best be worth it."

The adventure begins in Skyreach, the majestic, white, five-towered palace on the campus of the Grand Lodge in Absalom.

You are led through the Great Hall of Skyreach past a large table with a shifting illusionary Inner Sea map on its massive surface. Standing around the Hall are dozens of pathfinders of various races exchanging stories of their exploits. You are directed towards a smaller meeting room, past an ornate fountain with crystal clear water. You can feel the chill from the cascading droplets as some splash you on their decent to the pool.

The placard before the room reads, “The Pipeweed Nook”. Opening the door you see a long table, chairs, and an imposing looking man sitting before a fireplace. He taps the ashes from his mahogany pipe into his palm and then throws them onto the flames. He smiles.

"Welcome initiates," he says in a friendly, laid-back manner. "I am pleased you could come so soon. I am Venture Captain Adril Hestram, and I have a task for you. Recently an earthquake struck the city, costing countless gold in damages as you can imagine. But it also caused a sealed siege tower from one of Absalom’s many, past, would-be-conquerors, to crack open like an egg."

"Word on the street is that no one has yet searched ‘the Fallen Fortress’, as the locals are calling it. However, against my commands, a young Pathfinder like yourselves, named Balenar Forsend, set off to explore the ruins alone. Now he is missing."

"While I applaud Balenar’s intentions, by going off against my words, he has violated the Pathfinder Oath, to explore, cooperate, and report. Hopefully he is still alive to full fill the last part of that oath."

He clears his throat and stands, handing over a map of the Cairnlands marked with the location of this 'Fallen Fortress.'

"Don’t forget initiates, during your explorations, keep your eyes peeled for anything that could be of interest to the society, especially historical or religious artifacts. Do you have any questions before you go?"

"Ooh, a fallen tower? That sounds like it'll be fun... but also dangerous. How old was the tower? Are there any specific dangers we should be looking out for? What about the locals... why has no one explored it before now? How was it sealed? Should we bring extra food for Balenar? I think we probably should... I'll share my jerky with him! How new is Balenar to the Pathfinders? Is he a total n00b like us?"

"Those are some nice blades you have there Ghik" says a voice from the shadows.

"This one is to cut the umbilical of newborns"He pats the hilt of one of the blades. "This one" He draws the other "is for when some need reminding they will face the lady's judgement" he offers the blade for Merisiel's inspection

Later in the office

"Are you saying this Balenor Forsend is an Undine like myself? What does he look like? I do not think I have head his name before"

A old man with long white hair wearing blue arcane vestments steps in, nods to everyone in the room, and says, "Good day! The name's Ezren." He faces the venture captain. "How are we sure the young lad has not simply run off?" He shakes his head and muses a bit. "I suppose the only way to find out is to head to the fortress and see for ourselves, then."

He sits himself down and lits a pipe.

The venture captain looks a bit overwhelmed at Raz's flood of questions. "Balenor is a human lad, and he evidently bragged to some other novice Society members that he was going to the Fortress."

"I'm surprised he's the only one - all these kids have more bravado than brains."

Valeros takes the offered map and begins to study it. "Any idea what we can expect to find? Why has it been left sitting there for so long?"

"Up until the recent earthquake, no one could get inside."

Merisiel by redeux wrote:

"Those are some nice blades you have there Ghik" says a voice from the shadows.

"This one is to cut the umbilical of newborns"He pats the hilt of one of the blades. "This one" He draws the other "is for when some need reminding they will face the lady's judgement" he offers the blade for Merisiel's inspection

Merisiel enjoys Ghik's description and inspects the blade. Remind me to stay on the lady's good side I suppose, yeah? She then returns the blade.

-Later in the office-

Surely the fallen fortress has some treasure thinks Merisiel while observing silently.

"Sounds interesting... When do we start? says Merisiel. She tries to contain her eagerness but the excitement can be heard in her voice.

Without looking up from the map, Valeros shrugs, accepting Hestram's simple response. "Good enough for me. I'm ready, if the others are."

We should go now while there is hope we can still find the boy alive. He blows a whiff from his pipe, packs it away, and stands up.

Ready?

"You start as soon as you leave my office."

any last questions before I move you on?

none here, thanks!

Nothing that I can think of, or that Valeros cares about. :)

Valeros knows where the nearest tavern is already? No questions from Ghik

No questions from Ezren.

You follow the Venture Captain's instructions. A few hours' journey finds you outside the siege tower.

The ruined siege castle now being called the Fallen Fortress rises out of the churned earth of the Cairnlands. No doors or windows mar the otherwise smooth expanse of the tower’s walls. The tower is quatrefoil in plan; its eastern wing has largely collapsed, exposing the interior floors to the open air. Only the topmost level seems whole, though its eastern portion hangs precariously over the mountain of rubble left by the collapse. At ground level, the rubble frames a gaping hole in the side of the building that provides access to the tower’s darkened interior.

I'll set up a map in the morning. For now, go ahead and do anything that you want in sight of the tower, but not yet trying to enter the tower.

Ghik put the barrel down and removes the lid and gets in. Pasties the rope and grappling hook to Merisiel and asks her to put some knots in it and attach grapple hook to rope Casts create water at least three times until water fills the rest of the barrel. Then cats ice armour on himself with head poking out the top of the barrel. Gets out of the barrel wearing a breastplate of ice

If barrel full after only two casts will get out and create armour in the barrel and put it on

Takes a minute or two

"This outta be useful" says Merisiel as she begins to tie a double overhand knot to connect the rope and hook. She keeps the hook at her side while Ghik is busy. What a weird barrel Ritual Merisiel thinks.

Ignoring Ghik for a moment, "Whose got a plan?" says Merisiel as she surveys the surrounding area for traps.
Perception/Locate Traps: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Did i do that right?

Yep, that's right, although in general you need to be a lot closer to things to find traps, so you were looking around the field, not at the building this time.

Ghik prepares for battle, and Merisiel practices her trapfinding skills on the grass, and does not find anything.

Raz, riding on her trusty mutt steed Zora, looks the picture of a knight in... well she doesn't have shining armor, but she at least has some well-polished hide. Her pennon of Shelyn whips through the wind, and her lance is ready for battle. She turns to Merisiel. "What do your elf eyes see?" :-P

Valeros watches Grik's unusual routine with interest, then shakes his head somewhat dismissively as he finishes. If you wanted some armor, just wear some armor, he thinks. He checks that his swords are free in their scabbards.

He walks a short distance in either direction around the tower, verifying that there is no other entrance, and nothing lurking about that might follow them in, then returns to the group.

Satisfied that no dangers are presenting themselves outside the tower, Raz points to the entrance. "Shall we? I'll lead. I don't like allies getting between my lance and the baddies!"

"Looks clear so far. I'll be beside you Raz." says Merisiel. She is on the lookout for traps as the party moves.

"Everyone else ready?" Merisiel asks

--Once Party is ready to enter--
Merisiel is ready to stealth as they enter.
Stealth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

As you approach the tower, you hear howling and barking sounds. Soon, a small pack of fierce little dogs attacks you.

bold may post (in any order):
Ezren
Ghik
Merisiel
Valeros
dogs
Raz

Ezren sees the mangy dogs and throws his staff towards the closest one. Hand of the Apprentice: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

I'm going to explain the details of what I'm doing, since some of you are new to the RPG

Ezren, you forgot the penalty for using a ranged weapon into melee. I'm not familiar with the ability you are using, but I can't find anything to say it doesn't take this penalty; if anyone knows otherwise, please let me know.

With that penalty, his attack is 9, which is less than the flatfooted AC of the dogs, so it does not hit.

Ezren's cane flies over the head of the nearest dog.

It's been months since I played the RPG. Forgive me! Also I made my move before looking at the map.

Erzen grumbles at the miss and catches his trusty staff on the comeback. Enjoy you existence, b*tches, while it lasts!

Raz's faithful steed takes a bite at the other dog, trying to grab one of its mangy legs and flip it over.
bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 plus trip: 1d20 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 4 = 25

The other dog falls prone, then Raz guides Zora backward just a few feet to where she can use her lance, and stabs at the dog.
lance, vs. prone: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Looks like raz was supposed to wait until after dogs :p

Merisiel attempts to remain unseen as the Dogs approach her
Stealh: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

She then attacks the dog closest to her
rapier: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
plus sneak damage?: 1d6 ⇒ 3

did i do this right?

Ghik edges away 5' step from the dog with the blue collar and mutters a quick prayer to Pharasma to cool it off and an icicle streaks towards the dog He then draws his dagger

ranged touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
cold damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Valeros steps in between the blue-collared dog and Ghik and attacks.
longsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22
crit damage: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (6, 2) + 6 = 14
shortsword: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

So, I think that's all correct - attacking with both swords is a full round action, but I can still step diagonally and not take an AoA. rolled a crit on the longsword for double damage.

Ah, crap. Sorry about that Redelia!

Merisiel, that attack is done correctly, but the stealth doesn't make sense; you can't use it on an enemy that can see you at the start of a turn, without a few special abilities. The reason the sneak attack applies is that the enemy is 'flat footed' because it hasn't gotten to its first turn yet.

As Merisiel's blade swings, the first dog falls.

Ghik's icicle dagger strikes the ground between the dog's paws.

Valeros, that's almost right, but the 19 isn't a critical hit yet, it's a 'critical threat.' You still need to roll another attack to confirm it. I'll take your shortsword roll and change the bonus and use that as your roll to confirm. That roll to confirm would hit the dog, so it was a critical hit.

Valeros's swing is powerful enough that he takes the head off the second dog.

The remaining dog rushes towards Merisiel, growling. He tries to sink his teeth into her tender elven flesh.

attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

However, he seems to launch himself at a place about a foot to the side of her.

I'll use Raz's attack now, since she's up next.

Zora's teeth bite hard into the attacking dog's legs, and it lands on its side. Raz's lance then finishes it off.

out of combat. I would normally move you on to the next area, but I want to give you a chance to interact in character and also to ask any questions.

Raz, breathless from the excitement of battle, raises her lance into the air in triumph. "We finished those mutts off quick, yeah?! I hate to hurt animals, but they looked like they were ravenous, and might have tried to eat us if they got the chance! Their pelts aren't worth a lick, though... look how much hair is missing! Mangy things. Anyway, should we go in now? I think we should. This is fantastic!"

"We were just getting started! Poor creatures. Should know better really!" says Merisiel with a hint of disappointment in her voice.

"Yes, let us move on. I'll try to keep a better watch for traps and things unknown this time!"

You move forward into the ruined structure, Merisiel keeping a sharp eye out for traps. The first room you enter is ruined, because some of its wall tumbled to provide your entrance into the siege tower. You first look at the door to the south, but cannot go through it because of the amount of rubble on the other side. You turn your attention to the door to the north. Before you enter the room, the whole team looks through the doorway.

The northern wing of the tower seems to have escaped the worst effects of the collapse, but rubble still litters the floor and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hang down the walls like gossamer tapestries. A single archway stands open in the southwest wall.

Valeros follows Raz and Merisel to the doorway, then sticks his head in and looks around before continuing in. "A couple of dogs, and then an empty room? I expected worse than this after what the Venture Captain said." He nods towards Merisiel. "See any hints of Forsend coming this way? Maybe he never even made it inside and is just hiding out in the city."

"Look how big that spider is on the north wall" who has replaced his dagger back in its sheath

I think it is a golarion sized spider of about the same size as the dogs we just fought

"A spider, eh? Get it to come down here on the ground where I can stick it through! I hate vermin."

Is anyone going to try to do anything about the spider?

I'm thinking of using Burning Hands to try to kill it.

"look at that! Ezren, i think it's your turn for some glory!" says Merisiel.

can/should i be doing a stealth check to prevent the spider from seeing me once/if we start combat?

Ezren walks confidently up to the spider and uses Burning Hands when it is in range. Burning Hands DC 16 Ref for half damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Ezren steps into the room and sends a wave of fire at the spider.

ref save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

bold may post:
Merisiel
Raz
Ghik
Valeros
spider (-4 HP)
Ezren

Being too far away to engage the spider with his swords, Valeros moves to the other side of Ezren (Assuming I have line of sight from this position, otherwise I'll move right beside Ezren) and shoots at the spider with his shortbow.
Attack (shortbow): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3