The Year of Our Lord 1437 Pathfinder RAW PBP (Inactive)

Game Master Michael Johnson 66

Johann doesn't even know if he can damage this iron monstrosity, but he steps forward and bites and claws as hard as he can!

power attacking!
Bite Attack & damage: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 - 1 = 101d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6 str 2 bab 2 patt -1; str 2 patt 2
Claw Attack 1 & damage: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 1 = 71d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5 str 2 bab 2 patt -1; str 2 patt 2
Claw Attack 2 & damage: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 4 - 1 = 171d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5 str 2 bab 2 patt -1; str 2 patt 2 yay, rolled above a 10!

yay, rolled above a 10!

Blessings! You need blessings!

Johann doesn't even know if he can damage this iron monstrosity, but he steps forward and bites and claws as hard as he can!

power attacking!
[dice=Bite Attack & damage]d20+4-1; d6+2+2 str 2 bab 2 patt -1; str 2 patt 2
[dice=Claw Attack 1 & damage]d20+4-1; d4+2+2 str 2 bab 2 patt -1; str 2 patt 2
[dice= Claw Attack 2 & damage]d20+4-1; d4+2+2 str 2 bab 2 patt -1; str 2 patt 2 yay, rolled above a 10!

Johann makes very little progress in destroying the animated cage and skeleton...

REPOSTED HERE SO CAN SEE!! Eeeek!! IRON MAIDEN CONCERT! ROUND ONE!! DING! DING!

QUINLAN! Recalls lessons about animating simple objects...
JOHANN! Bites and scratches like mad at the animated Iron Maiden...
ZAGATHOTH!
CARDINAL LUCIUS!
OGON FOX!
ARC!
ANIMATED IRON MAIDEN!
BOGA!

EEEEK!!!

POSITIONS

DRAMATIC ZOOM IN

Unsure of what the cage is, or how it relates to the bones, but certain that bearman will need help, Zagathoth steps up alongside his companion and hacks at whatever it is.
power attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24, for: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (1, 1) + 9 = 11
confirm?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25, for another: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (2, 2) + 9 = 13
lol- still rocking low rolls on the crits, but that’s 24 damage before any potential DR

Unsure of what the cage is, or how it relates to the bones, but certain that bearman will need help, Zagathoth steps up alongside his companion and hacks at whatever it is.

[dice=power attack]1d20+6, [dice=for]2d4+9
[dice=confirm?]1d20+6, [dice=for another]2d4+9
lol- still rocking low rolls on the crits, but that’s 24 damage before any potential DR

Zagathoth begins to make a dint in the cage...

Lucius joins his fellows, circling the cage until he can strike with his longsword.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 2 = 25 Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Confirm?: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 2 = 6 Daamge: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Lucius joins his fellows, circling the cage until he can strike with his longsword.

[dice=Attack]d20+3+2 [dice=Damage]d8+2
[dice=Confirm?]d20+3+2 [dice=Daamge]d8+2

Quickly moving around to flank the abomination with Zagathoth, the cardinal lands a mighty blow with his longsword! CLANK!!

RON MAIDEN CONCERT! ROUND ONE!! DING! DING!

QUINLAN! Recalls lessons about animating simple objects...
JOHANN! Bites and scratches like mad at the animated Iron Maiden...
ZAGATHOTH! Hacks the animated Iron Maiden!
CARDINAL LUCIUS! Flanks and attacks!
OGON FOX!
ARC!
ANIMATED IRON MAIDEN!
BOGA!

EEEEK!!!

Boga does not recognize the unnatural composite creature. Is it undead? The product of perverse arcane magic? He takes a moment to study it, wondering whether his spells and scrolls will help at all.

I do not know what this creature is, so please let me know what Boga can tell about it. Internally, he's wondering if "Hide from Undead" of "Protection from Evil" will have any impact.
Kn (religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Quinlan! Arc! What is this obscenity?"

"An Iron maiden they call it, normally just your average torture device. It seems someone has has magically animated this one to serve as a guardian. As far as I know it doesn't have any special weakness. We just need to destroy it."

The iron maiden lashes out wildly with manacles at the end of chains 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14...but Johann ducks just in time, dodging the rattling manacles!

Round 1

Boga readies himself for combat and blesses Johann, "Johann, try again, but with the aid of the Lord!"

Snake Style, Blessing of the Faithful -- +2 attacks for 1 round

EDIT: Shrug backpack to the ground.

IRON MAIDEN CONCERT! ROUND ONE!! DING! DING!

QUINLAN! Recalls lessons about animating simple objects...
JOHANN! Bites and scratches like mad at the animated Iron Maiden...
ZAGATHOTH! Hacks the animated Iron Maiden...
CARDINAL LUCIUS! Flanks and attacks...
OGON FOX!
ARC!
ANIMATED IRON MAIDEN! Misses Johann...
BOGA! Assumes snake style stance, casts blessing of the faithful on Johann, drops backpack...

EEEEK!!!

Arc does his best to get within striking distance, but the crowded hallway makes it difficult. He resorts to throwing a spell at the animated object, hoping to do some damage of his own.

Ray of Frost: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14 against Touch AC
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3 cold

The Ogon Fox moves past his companions, out of the hallway and into this room, and moves around the iron maiden.
If Lucius is already in the far corner to flank, I'll go to either of the other corners to begin setting up a flank with someone else. I'm not using acrobatics this time, so I provoke an attack of opportunity.
At the end of his movement, the Fox swings at the iron maiden with a lightning-shrouded fist.
Melee Mystic Bolt (normal AC): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Electric Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

round 2

"GRRRRAWWWWW!" Johann is feeling frustrated. His bite and claws, so powerful in a forest, don't seem to be serving him well here!

Johann will take that flank from the Ogon Fox, and along with the blessing really plans to dish out some damage this turn!

power attacking
Bite Attack & damage: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 1 + 4 = 231d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10
Claw Attack 1 & damage: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 1 + 4 = 111d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5
Claw Attack 2 & damage: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 1 + 4 = 101d4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7

**round 2**
Zagathoth grins as the priest moves to flank the cage with him, but stops in bemusement when he sees how much less effective his attack is than the previous one which had impressed him. Pressing on, he raises his sword and strikes again.
power attack, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 = 16, for: 2d4 + 9 ⇒ (1, 3) + 9 = 13

round 2

"GRRRRAWWWWW!" Johann is feeling frustrated. His bite and claws, so powerful in a forest, don't seem to be serving him well here!

Johann will take that flank from the Ogon Fox, and along with the blessing really plans to dish out some damage this turn!

power attacking
[dice=Bite Attack & damage]d20+4-1+4; d6+2+2
[dice=Claw Attack 1 & damage]d20+4-1+4; d4+2+2
[dice= Claw Attack 2 & damage]d20+4-1+4; d4+2+2

Johann breaks off a chunk of iron in his mouth, causing the iron maiden to wobble unsteadily for a moment...

As the Fox darts past it, the iron maiden swings a manacle his way... 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12...but the agile Fox dodges under it... The Fox jabs at the contraption with a lightning-shrouded fist, but misses!

**round 2**

Zagathoth grins as the priest moves to flank the cage with him, but stops in bemusement when he sees how much less effective his attack is than the previous one which had impressed him. Pressing on, he raises his sword and strikes again.
[dice=power attack, flank]1d20+6+2, [dice=for]2d4+9

Zagathoth lands a mighty blow, caving in one side of the Iron Maiden, and causing it to crash motionless to the floor!

The animated Iron Maiden is defeated!

The orc's smile returns.

this is better than the fighting pits... more allies than enemies in these fights, and they never let me use a sword like this in the pits... serving the human-god is good...

"I like this place," he says giving the bearman a pat on the back, "I'm glad Father Cortez sended me to kill things for the Pope."

A search of this small chamber reveals nothing of value or interest, only the skeletal remains of Romans in shallow alcoves, as is common throughout the catacombs...

Onwards up the north corridor?

CATACOMBS SAN CALLISTO

The corridor leading north from the small chamber is narrower than previous catacomb corridors, being only 5-feet-wide-by-10-feet high...

Single file marching order, please...

Boga picks up his pack, relieved that once again, no one was injured. He crosses himself, "The Lord is paving the way for us to find the lights and perform His will."

"Great teamwork! We can make great progress working together like this. Come, let's find one more light." He pauses, "In spite of my desire to move on, I believe we should proceed with some caution. These crypts are old and who knows what other dangers they hold to protect their dead."

Assuming this marching order Fox suggested is okay with everyone:
Johann, Zag, Arc, Ogon Fox, Quinlan, Boga, Lucius

Johann leads the way north up the narrow passageway, followed by Zagathoth, then Arc, then Ogon Fox, Quinlan, Boga, and Cardinal Lucius last...

The corridor diagonals northeast briefly before straightening northwards again, finally opening into a rectangular chamber with a twenty-foot-high ceiling, and a dark archway opening in the west wall, 5-feet-wide-by-10-feet-high... Area 11...

Other than skeletons in alcoves, the only thing of apparent interest here is a glowing golden chalice resting upright at the center of the floor...

"THE HOLY GRAIL?? UNDERNEATH ROME ALL THIS TIME?" Johann pauses to consider.

"Fox, maybe you should pick it up."

The Bear smirks a bit as he says this, but he does inspect the area for traps.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

"Completely safe, Fox."

Lmao @ Bear and Fox :-D

Yup! The room and grail seem perfectly legit, and not at all a trap, to Bear...

Boga's halo seems to glow a little brighter as he rejoices and bends the knee. He sheds his pack and circumspectly approaches the chalice, crossing himself. "Lucius! Could this be? It does not seem possible!" "Could the Church have had this here all this time?"
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Boga's halo seems to glow a little brighter as he rejoices and bends the knee. He sheds his pack and circumspectly approaches the chalice, crossing himself. "Lucius! Could this be? It does not seem possible!" "Could the Church have had this here all this time?"

[dice=Perception]1d20+9

It indeed seems too good to be true... Boga notices a rectangular seam in the masonry of the floor, the central 15-feet-by-10-feet...

"What's a holy grail?" Zagathoth asks nonchalantly as bearman and the new guy react to the cup.

Boga's expression falls. "Hmmm. Careful everyone. All is not as it appears to be. Look at that suspicious seam surrounding the chalice. Likely a trap of some sort. Anyone have experience with this sort of thing?"

After a strong exhalation, he continues, "What kind of evil tries to lure one in by presenting a false image of his hopes?" Boga shakes his head.

Putting his hand on Zagathoth's shoulder, Boga addresses his question, "Zagathoth, the Holy Grail is a cup, a relic of our Lord Jesus Christ. It has great power and may teach us of God's mysteries or allow us to perform miracles in Christ's holy name. Finding it would be the greatest thing we could ever do."

The Ogon Fox transforms into a little fox again and trots up ahead, quickly moving around the feet of his companions, and tests the floor beyond that seam by pressing on it with a front paw.
In this form my Reflex saving throw mod improves from +5 to +7.

"Its almost like someone doesn't want us to be here. Strange."
Quinlan scans the chalice and trap for signs of magic.

The Ogon Fox transforms into a little fox again and trots up ahead, quickly moving around the feet of his companions, and tests the floor beyond that seam by pressing on it with a front paw.

In this form my Reflex saving throw mod improves from +5 to +7.

In fox form, Fox feels that the floor will support his weight, but heavier creatures would surely cause a counterweight to fail, resulting in a fall into unknown depths...

I'm ready to go pick the Grail up in my fox mouth, but I'd like to hear the results of Quinlan's detect magic, first.

"Its almost like someone doesn't want us to be here. Strange."

Quinlan scans the chalice and trap for signs of magic.

Quinlan’s divination reveals a faint aura of illusion on the grail...

I'll start just putting a spellcraft check in with detect magic for streamlining.
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

"Hold on fox, its some kind of illusion. I'd like to figure out what before we do anything with it."

I'll start just putting a spellcraft check in with detect magic for streamlining.

[dice=Spellcraft]1d20+10

"Hold on fox, its some kind of illusion. I'd like to figure out what before we do anything with it."

A permanent illusory image of the Holy Grail lures the gullible to certain doom...

Little do the intrepid adventurers know, that beneath the counterweighted floor lies a ten-foot-deep pit... as if this weren’t cruel enough, a ladder ascending the far wall of the pit is merely the lure for another pit in front of the ladder...

Boga was right! What kind of evil... (Looks askance at GM)

Boga was right! What kind of evil... (Looks askance at GM)

Boga can’t unsee the arching eyebrows, the sparkling gray eyes, the devilish grin of the GM... it is an image of diabolical evil forever burned in his retinas! Lol

There is a safe path, five-feet-out from the walls of this chamber, to get to the western archway...

CATACOMBS SAN CALLISTO

Here is the relevant map image for the next section. The illusory grail and pit(s) trap is area 11.

Perception checks from everyone, please...

I thought eating the human-god's flesh was the best thing I could do... I'll have to look for this cup...

Zagathoth becomes even more vigilant as the group moves on...
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
...though, in his eagerness to find a cup he is scarcely aware of much else.

Good point. I suppose salvation would rate over finding the cup.
Though the cup is definitely a close second.

To perceive or not to perceive...
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Good point. I suppose salvation would rate over finding the cup.

Though the cup is definitely a close second.

To perceive or not to perceive...
[dice=Perception]1d20+9

From the west, Boga notices the clatter of dry bones and jangle of rusty mail...