Adventure Path Reign of Winter

Game Master Almonihah

Clutching a bone rattle, Tezuzu moves up to the bend in the corridor and peeks around the corner, his golden eyes glinting in the shadows...

Ready an action, cast Misfortune on the first giant that comes into view, Will Save DC 17

Findurêl wrote:

Damage Mods: Magic, Strength, PBS, Deadly Aim

[dice=Magic/Cold Iron Damage]1d8+1+1+1+4

correct me if I'm wrong, but if your BAB is now +8, doesn't that make your Deadly Aim -3/+6 now? :)

You’re right, Q, it is, don’t know how I missed that. I’ll correct it in future posts. Thanks!

GM, might be too late to change that now but, if not, that could mean 4 to 6 more points of damage to the frost giant…pretty sure my first attack hit (should be a 31) and my last shot missed…not certain with my second shot…if my second shot hits (a 21) that’d be 6 more but if only my first attack hits (the Manyshot), then it’d be just 4…if it’s too late, no worries, I’ll make sure it’s correct in my next post…

At the first sound of combat a surge of adrenaline floods through her body nearly overwhelming her with anxiety. She shakes herself to action and races through the corridor to catch up with Fin, Maka, and the others. They are all clumped together at the entrance to a larger chamber. Obviously something dangerous is in there.

She reaches to touch Fin's bow. "Here Fin. More magic for your bow." The bow is immediately covered in a thin layer of frost.

Frost ability for 4 rounds or 50 arrows (which ever comes first). Does 1d6 of frost damage on a hit.

Two of Fin's three shots strike home And I did take into account the corrected damage, as does Maka's blast of fire, and the giant bellows in rage. It charges forward, drawing Tezuzu's attention.

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

The tengu can feel the giant shake off his curse.

The two giants close in on Bulvi and chop with their axes.

Axe: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32
Axe: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
Damage: 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (1, 6, 3) + 13 = 23

One of the two attacks breaks through the warrior's defenses.

Back to you guys

Thanks for including the damage, GM…

Fin continues to concentrate his fire on the southern Frost giant…

To Hit Mods: BAB+Dex, Magic, Weapon Focus, PBS, Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Point Blank Shot, Clustered Shots, Manyshot, Rapid Shot
Damage Mods: Magic, Strength, PBS, Deadly Aim, Frost Damage

Magic Longbow (Manyshot): 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 32
Magic/Cold Iron/Frost Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + (6) = 16
Magic/Cold Iron/Frost Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + (1) = 12

Magic Longbow (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 31
Magic/Cold Iron/Frost Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + (2) = 16

Magic Longbow (Iterative): 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 11 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 21
Magic/Cold Iron/Frost Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + (4) = 20

Total Damage (if they’re not immune/DR to cold): 64
Total Damage (if they’re immune/DR to cold): 51

Perfect Strike: 1/4

Selena gathers herself, walks calmly down the hallway, then looses a pair of dark purple bolts of energy at the two giants.

Spending an arcane point to raise DC by 1 (free action), Cast Gloomblind Bolt, one bolt at each giant, Reflex Save DC 16 or Blinded

Ranged Touch vs South Giant: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 5) = 14
Ranged Touch vs North Giant: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 2) = 13

Quasit spots her opening, she leaps from behind Bulvi, dives and somersaults between the South Giant's legs, then pops up and slashes at the giant's achilles tendon.

Acrobatics to avoid AoOs. Quasit has Mobility feat. She's going through the south giant's square, so increase DC by 5. She's potentially going to provoke from the North Giant as well, so that's an increase of DC by 2 for him. No guts, no glory!

Acrobatics vs South Giant: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33
Acrobatics vs North Giant: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (10) + 19 = 29
BACKSTAB!: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 12 + 2 = 34
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (6) + 6 + (6, 2, 5, 1, 5) = 31
Confirm?: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 12 + 2 = 15
Crit Damage, if Applicable: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Tezuzu looks at his bone rattle with some disappointment when his hex fails to work, conks it a few times against his palm to loosen up the little knucklebones within, then shakes it at the North Giant.

Casting Misfortune Hex vs North Giant, Will DC 17

"Don't let them squish you Bull!" Maka shouted before sending another blast of fire at the giant.

Standard action fire blast, empower metakineses for 1 burn, move action gather power reduce 1 burn.

Fire Blast vs Touch AC; EO, Defensive: 1d20 + 13 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 2 - 2 = 18
Fire; EO: 4d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (5, 4, 2, 4) + 2 + 6 = 23
Empower Dmg: 11 = 11

Fortunately for Quasit, the southern giant dies from Fin's arrows and Selena's bolt of darkness. I assume she switches targets to the north giant? I just need Sakitu's action to finish this round out.

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

The northern giant is badly wounded and blinded after the attacks aimed at him strike.

Sakitu sights the remaining giant and points a hand in its direction. A moment later 5 bright missiles fly from her hand and slam into its chest.

Magic missile

dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
dmg: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Bulvi tries to strike at the blinded giant but is clearly still winded after the blow that had landed on him. He called back to Maka "I'll outlast him yet don't you worry!"

Power Attack +1 Longsword: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Power Attack +1 Longsword: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

Bulvi's attacks don't penetrate the chain armor the giant wears. In response the blinded giant flails wildly at Bulvi.

Miss chance (1 is hit, 2 is miss): 1d2 ⇒ 1
Miss chance: 1d2 ⇒ 1
Axe: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21
Axe: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23

It scores a couple of glancing blows on the warrior's armor, but its blind strikes are too poorly aimed to penetrate in spite of the power behind them.

Who gets to finish it off now? :D

Fin unloads on the remaining frost giant...

To Hit Mods: BAB+Dex, Magic, Weapon Focus, PBS, Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Point Blank Shot, Clustered Shots, Manyshot, Rapid Shot
Damage Mods: Magic, Strength, PBS, Deadly Aim, Frost Damage

Magic Longbow (Manyshot): 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 15

Magic Longbow (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 32
Magic/Cold Iron/Frost Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + (5) = 20

Magic Longbow (Iterative): 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 15
Magic/Cold Iron/Frost Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 + 1 + 6 + (4) = 14

Assuming only Fin's second shot hit...

Total Damage (if they’re not immune/DR to cold): 20
Total Damage (if they’re immune/DR to cold): 15

Perfect Strike: 1/4

Quasit tries to finish the giant!

Attack #1 vs FF AC: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 2 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + (3, 5, 1, 4, 3) = 24
Attack #2 vs FF AC: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 6 + 5d6 ⇒ (3) + 6 + (1, 3, 3, 4, 2) = 22

EDIT; Fin beat me by a few sec lol!

It takes both of them together, but Fin and Quasit bring down the giant.

Having delivered the killing blow to a fearsome giant after her death-defying tumble and virtuoso knife work, Quasit can’t help but feel a little inappropriate. She leaps up onto the exsanguinating husk and jumps up and down a few times, giving a few fox-like yips for good measure.

”Suck it, giants!”

Selena just stares at Quasit with Wednesday Addams energy.

”Our leader.” she observes to the people around her. ”Clearly a future member of the Taldan senate.”

She leaps up onto the exsanguinating husk and jumps up and down a few times, giving a few fox-like yips for good measure.

”Suck it, giants!”

"Yeah suck it!" Maka joined in Quasit's celebration. "...Wait what are they going to suck?"

Quasit wrote:

”Suck it, giants!”

"Yeah suck it!" Maka joined in Quasit's celebration. "...Wait what are they going to suck?"

Quasit flexes heroically, one leg posed on a giant bicep.

"Whatever we tell them to."

"Raise you chin a little and tilt your head slightly to your left, you'll look more dynamic." Bulvi says half heartedly. "I'll take a dozen more like him over more birds."

"We should check and see if they have any magical or useful items... I might be able to find the later but the former will require some finger wiggling."

Quasit flexes heroically, one leg posed on a giant bicep.

Fin manages to suppress a chuckle, tipping the top of his hood to Quasit, ”Nice pose, Q, and we’ll deserved; you dropped him like a wet blanket…”

"...Wait what are they going to suck?"

…but he loses his composure at Maka’s query, snorting loudly. ”Aye, Maka, what indeed…”

Fin will take a look around at the chamber, to include the bodies of the Frost Giants and the door to the west…

Perception: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 15 + 2 = 27

The two giants have nothing of value beyond their greataxes and chain shirts. They are, of course, far too large for any of you to use.

The doors into the next room are huge and decorated with a relief carving of an aged woman leaning on a staff under a waning crescent moon. There's been a bit of damage to the doors, but it looks incidental rather than due to the doors being broken open. A tentative attempt to open them reveals they're barred from the other side.

Quasit looks at the doors for a few moments, then turns suddenly back to the group.

"Hey, don't we have a potion of gaseous form?" she asks.

"One of us could take that, smooj under the door, then clear whatever is barring the door on the other side."

Fin glances at the broken pieces of statue as he answers Quasit. "I think we do, Q...but could any of us physically unbar the door in gaseous form? And would we be allowed to? I think we're in the room which Jadrenka mentioned with the guardian...she said it had been defeated by our enemies and I think these pieces lying here are its remains...

"It's your call, Q...but whomever is beyond the door likely heard our fight and know we're here anyway...we could always let Bull give the door a few whacks with his adamantine hammer and be prepared to fight when he brings it down..."

"I dunno Fin. I think if they felt the need to leave a couple guards out here, they might not have planned to be paying too much attention to this door any more. And we actually took out those giants pretty quickly, and we did it well away from that door. But if we start whacking that door with an adamantine hammer, I can guarantee they'd hear that."

"Look, it's simple enough. One of us takes the potion, goes under the door and looks around. If the other side is being guarded, the person just smoojes back under the door again to this side, and then we do it the old fashioned way. But if the door isn't being watched, the person resumes solid form, removes the barricade, and opens the door."

"I like your idea Quasit. Who can do it? Can the spell be cast on anyone?"

Looks like Gaseous Form can be cast on any willing creature.

"Yeah, it's a potion, so anyone can do it."

Fin shrugs. ”I defer to your judgment, Q. I can see your logic and t’would seem a safe way to scout out the room…

“So, who did you have in mind?”

“But, as spells are not my specialty, I must ask…can one resume solid form whenever they wish?"

The tengu speaks up. "From my understanding of the magic, the effect is dismissible. At least when cast normally. Assuming the potion was brewed properly, the person who drinks it should be able to shift back to their solid form when they wish."

The duration of the spell is "2 min/level (D)", which typically means the effect is dismissible early.

“So, who did you have in mind?”

"Well, that's the big question, isn't it?"

"On the one hand, we aren't sure what the barricade on the other side is. They had giants with them. They might have decided to throw a half-ton boulder in front of the door. And on the other hand, if they have a priest, he might be able to put a magical demonic trap spell on the door as well."

She thinks for a moment, then shrugs. "I should go, I think. If there's a trap to disarm, I'll be able to try it. If there's a huge giant-size weight against the door, none of us would be able to move it anyway, and we'll have to break through the door. And if we have to break through, the person on the other side might be able to do some good if they could hide and observe the baddies."

Cool, not being able to dismiss it was my primary concern…

She thinks for a moment, then shrugs. "I should go, I think…."

Fin frowns. ”You could consider sending either me or Tez. I’m used to scouting and Tez might be able to identify any creatures that may be in the room…

“But I won’t gainsay you, if you choose to go…but you had best be most careful…we cannot afford to lose you…”

”And if we have to break through, the person on the other side might be able to do some good if they could hide and observe the baddies."

Fin nods. ”That would be an advantage to you…your sneak attacks have proven deadly in the past…but would you be able to talk and let us know what is on the other side in that form? I assume once the spell is dismissed, there’s no going back to gas…”

“But I won’t gainsay you, if you choose to go…but you had best be most careful…we cannot afford to lose you…”

Quasit smirks.

"I am going to try and ignore the irony of you warning me to be careful about scouting ahead on my own." she says.

"Look, it would be great if we could all just teleport to the other side or something, but I think this is our least worst option."

"Bull, how are you doing? Is that ring healing you up ok, or do you need Dr. Feathers to pay another house call?"

She's already reaching for the bag of holding.

Quasit smirks.

"I am going to try and ignore the irony of you warning me to be careful about scouting ahead on my own." she says.

Fin arches an eyebrow. ”I’m a scout…it’s what I do. Besides, I’m expendable, you are not…”

”…but I think this is our least worst option."

He nods. ”You may be right…but I don’t have to like it. We’ll await your return; if our enemies await us, just slip back under the door and tell us what we face, don’t try to be a hero. Bull will be ready to batter down the door with his war hammer…”

Selena rolls her eyes and sighs loudly.

"Well somebody go please."

Quasit will drink the potion of gaseous form and try to slip under/through the door.

Roll Stealth please

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18

?: 1d20 ⇒ 19
??: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Quasit has only a moment to take in the vast, dimly lit room beyond the door. In spite of the size of the irregularly-shaped room, the only item of interest in it seems to be a ring of standing stones surrounding a vast pit, around which a blood-covered centaur was trotting. Said centaur is now staring straight at the insubstantial rogue and raising his hammer.

Roll init, if you meet or beat 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 you can escape before he acts... which given his roll is very likely. Go ahead and roll perception too.

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Jeepers. This is going well.

So about the door? What are the chances of getting it open before the centaur can get to me?

Well you go before him, but you don't know if he has any ranged abilities. He's a centaur so he can cover that ground pretty fast--he could definitely reach you in a single charge attack.

Quasit can see that the door is barred by a giant's greataxe. When she moves to lift it her insubstantial hands simply flow around it.

In her ghostly form, Quasit looks back and forth quickly between the menacing centaur and the door. She exhales deeply though she doesn't really need to, and wispy parts of herself drift away from her mouth before curling back into her.

She dismisses the spell and goes to yank the great axe out of the door.

"He's spotted me! I'm unbarring the door!" she calls to her friends on the other side.

Fin yells, ”Bull, open the door, quick!”

When Bull opens the door, Fin will be ready to fire…

Initiative: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Somehow I just knew that Quasit wouldn't come back if there was an enemy on that side of the door...

Sakitu takes a deep breath and holds it when Quasit turns into gaseous form then slides under the door. A few moments later Sakitu pales. What if she sucked in some of Quasit in the air! Sakitu blows out her breath quickly. At the same time she hears Quasit's voice from the other side.

"Oh no! Faster Bulvi. The door."

initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

To speed things along, I’ll roll the initiative for Selena, Tez, & Bull…

Selena (Initiative): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Tez (Initiative): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Bulvi (Initiative): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Hearing the urgency in Quasit’s voice, Bulvi will quickly open the door now it’s unbarred…

Bulvi will still have either a standard action or a move action left, I believe…

Oh no!

Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

"Leave Quasit alone! I'll give you a fight!"

?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

I'm treating it as if there's a surprise round where only Quasit and the centaur act.

Quasit begins to lift the greataxe barring the door as the centaur raises his giant hammer... but rather than charging her with it, he smashes it against the ground. A bolt of ice flies from the impact point towards the human.

Touch attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Quasit is narrowly able to dodge the bolt, which makes a huge patch of frost on the door where it strikes. Before she can even breathe a sigh of relief, a massive, blue-furred, eight-legged centaur trots around the corner and lowers a lance, tensing to charge.

Everyone except Tez and Sakitu can go now. Opening the doors is a move action for Bulvi.

As stated above, Bull will open the door since he was next to it ready to break it down if needed...he'll still have a standard action left...

Relieved to see Quasit unharmed, he barks out, "Maka, light up the blue creature; it looks frost-gianty and might share their vulnerability to fire," just before unleashing a barrage at the centaur with the hammer...

Losing last use of Perfect Strike for the day...

To Hit Mods: BAB+Dex, Magic, Weapon Focus, Deadly Aim, Precise Shot, Improved Precise Shot, Point Blank Shot, Clustered Shots, Manyshot, Rapid Shot
Damage Mods: Magic, Strength, Deadly Aim

Magic Longbow (Manyshot): 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 16 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 23
Magic Longbow (Perfect Strike): 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 16 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 32
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 + 6 = 11
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 + 6 = 16

Magic Longbow (Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 16 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 26
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 + 6 = 11

Magic Longbow (Iterative): 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 3 - 2 = 9
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 + 6 = 15

Assuming my first two attacks hit, Total Clustered Shot Damage = 38

...and then he moves back 5', saying, "Fire, if you can, and fall back; don't leave them a charging lane...let them come to us..."

Perfect Strike: 0/4

Are these 5 foot squares on the map?

Sakitu spots the blue centaur and gasps. It is going to charge Quasit. She has to stop it. Immediately she casts in the centaur's direction and a pit opens up underneath it.

Casting Acid Pit under the blue centaur. That creates a 10x10 pit that is 40 feet deep. DC20 reflex save to avoid falling in. I'm assuming that the blue creature is "large" size and therefore Sakitu knows that there's a chance it could fall in. If the creature is obviously too big, Sakitu wouldn't use this spell.

They're 10' squares