Adventure Path Reign of Winter

Game Master Almonihah

Enjoying the banter between Tez and Sakitu, Fin looks up momentarily from his ‘autopsy’ of the huge plant.

”Ah my feathered friend, you could trust Saki most amongst all of us, methinks; she hasn’t a devious bone in her body. And you forgot one other attribute of a fox as well, they’re as graceful as a sunrise. Saki here is very light on her feet; she glides across the dance floor as a swan swims across a lake…”

"Indeed. Too bad she'd end up dead at parties. I'd love to see her in a real dress taking a little princling for a dance."

Bulvi moves up behind Fin looking into the corridor. "I'm thinking the door on the right?" Bulvi moves up towards the door making surprisingly little noise with his armour before pausing and checking the door for traps and listening.

Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

Perception: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 16 + 2 = 20

If he finds nothing hinky about the door, Fin draws his bow and nods to Bull to open it…

Quasit shoves the breastplate and the flail into the handy haversack and follows the others.

Bulvi and Fin can hear some scraping and shifting sounds from behind the door, like someone is moving items around on shelves or something.

Going to assume you still open the door

This room has a few barrels and crates scattered haphazardly through the room, mixed with mounds of moldering herbs, bales of moth-eaten cloth, and the like. A humanoid wrapped in red robes looks up as the door opens.

"Ah, greetings," he says, giving a slight bow. "I see we are not the only people here. Come, my master would like to meet you, I'm certain." He gestures at the door you just opened, as if asking permission to pass you.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Fin shrugs as he can’t read the guy and looks to Q to follow her read…

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Quasit squeezes to the front into the path of red-robed gentleman. She paints on her smile for strangers.

"Hi there. Say, maybe before we meet your master, you can tell us who you are and what you're doing here." says Quasit, all steely charm. "We found some quinces outside in the garden. Want a quince?"

Diplomacy (if necessary): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

?: 1d20 ⇒ 7
??: 1d20 ⇒ 3
???: 1d20 ⇒ 15

As far as Quasit can tell he's well-intentioned. "What is a quince? As for myself, I am a humble servant. My master and I are planar explorers, recently come to this place. The foliage here is quite inhospitable, is it not? My master is far more friendly."

"You are quite welcoming, hospitable, trusting, and friendly. Not exactly normal when encountering strangers in a dangerous place like this. I'm all for diplomacy, but you act like we just happened to meet at the local market. Why is that?" Selena asks as innocently as you've ever heard her speak.

"You are quite welcoming, hospitable, trusting, and friendly. Not exactly normal when encountering strangers in a dangerous place like this. I'm all for diplomacy, but you act like we just happened to meet at the local market. Why is that?" Selena asks as innocently as you've ever heard her speak.

"What!? You've been yelling at us all day for not doing that. In Irori's name I do not understand you." Maka threw her arms in the air before turning to face the newcomer.

"No, no, let's let Selena take the lead on this one. She's the one with the expertise in judging character. Have at it, milady." says Quasit, who retires to the back of the party.

"What!? You've been yelling at us all day for not doing that. In Irori's name I do not understand you." Maka threw her arms in the air before turning to face the newcomer.

Selena quirked an eyebrow at her, "You do realize that I follow Irori as well? You should follow his example and listen. I have not said to do otherwise. I have said to not make assumptions. That goes in both directions. Don't assume a need to kill from a creature's form, nor assume a friend from a few kind words. Don't assume anything. No expectations. Have you not read Unbinding the Fetters?"

Unbinding the Fetters is a major work for the followers of Irori.
To quote the wiki: This is a lengthy tome describing meditation, physical exercises, dietary regimes and other methods to help mortals transcend their limitations.[25] It is a difficult book, full of aphorisms, metaphors, and riddles designed to challenge the reader's preconceptions.

Never taking his eyes off of the mysterious newcomer, Fin whispers to Selena, ”Selena, your time would be better served talking with our new acquaintance as opposed to lecturing Maka about Irori, don’t you think?”

He keeps a close eye on the dude for any tells or sudden movements…

Perception: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 16 + 2 = 35

The humanoid seems to view the squabbling with amusement. "You scarcely seem the sorts to rob me. Much friendlier than those plants, yes? Are you from this plane?"

Selena gives Fin a look, then turning to the person with her 3c face, calm, cautious, and collected, "Well, it seems I'll talk today. As we arrived via magic, I am not certain if this is the same plane we were on a little while ago. What plane do you and your companions hail from?" She gestures for the person to lead the way while answering. Selena watches carefully, both the being and the path they take.

"Why, the Prime Material of course!" The stranger replies.

He waves at the door in response to Selena's gesture. "My master is in the other room. I'll need to get past you," he says, almost apologetically.

Fin nods and moves out of his way; he then heads towards the back of the party, next to Quasit, whispering, ”Something’s off ‘bout this guy, Q…not human and he’s hiding it…I don’t trust him nor this master he speaks of…be wary of an ambush…”

"You scarcely seem the sorts to rob me. "

"There doesn't seem to be much worth robbing..." comments Tezuzu quietly to Quasit as he looks over the crates and barrels in the room.

Fin nods and moves out of his way; he then heads towards the back of the party, next to Quasit, whispering, ”Something’s off ‘bout this guy, Q…not human and he’s hiding it…I don’t trust him nor this master he speaks of…be wary of an ambush…”

Quasit shrugs.

"I'm sure Selena can handle it." she says as she fiddles with a hangnail.

Sorry I missed finishing out the dialog earlier but life got crazy for a couple days. Moving on now but if I recall correctly, Sakitu wasn't that great at dancing with Fin. I'll have to go look back at the postings.

Sakitu steps out of the way to let the stranger pass. She isn't sure what to think of the situation.

"Ah, the prime plane is quite large. So where do you hail from? The underground? I haven't seen the likes of you before, and the underground is one place I haven't seen much of." Selena asks.

If he is headed for the door we entered from, Selena will move out the door holding it open, looking for threats as she does so, including from this new guy. And yes, she does look up.

"Oh, I doubt you've heard of it. It's a rather remote place. Probably not even the same world as yours," the stranger says, walking out into the hall and to the other door. "Now, my master is in here. Please, come in and meet him."

He opens the other door and waves you in.

@Sakitu: Fin would've said the same whether you danced grandly or poorly; he hadn't danced in many years (since his 'exile') and he was happy to have a willing partner...

Quasit shrugs. "I'm sure Selena can handle it." she says as she fiddles with a hangnail.

Fin raises his eyebrows as he is taken aback by Quasit's response. He murmurs, "But Q...you're our leader...not her..."

The Elf watches Quasit fiddle with her hangnail, for a second or two, and then backs away shaking his head slightly. I know better than to mess with her when she's in a mood like this...but I'm pretty sure this stranger is no friend and there's no use telling Selena that...

With his bow still in his hand, Fin moves towards the opened door; he whispers to Bull, Maka, and Saki, "Be wary; I suspect an ambush..."

Once the stranger and Selena enter the room, he'll move to the doorway and observe but keep his distance from the stranger and his master...

Perception: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 16 + 2 = 26

"You seem to be quite wary of revealing your origins. Why is that?" Selena asks as she gestures for him to lead the way. She will not be the first to enter.

"My master is a very private person," the red-robed being states. He doesn't hesitate to enter the room ahead of you. "But he is curious to meet other planar travelers. Please, come in."

"What's your call, Princess?" calls out Quasit from the back as she yanks the hangnail loose. "Leaders lead."

Sakitu nods at Fin's warning and continues to hold back. She is curious to see where Selena is leading them.

"If we're proceeding I can move through first, just in case... but I don't want to be accused of stealing anyones thunder or barging in. On a related note I think Issalisk should be our leader, salt of the earth that reptile."

Fin nods to Bulvi. "Aye Bull, follow in behind Selena, and I'll cover you both from the doorway..."

As Selena and Bulvi enter in the room, Fin will move to the doorway, ready to fire if things go south...

Whoever goes through the door first, make a will save.

"Well Bull, if you'd like to enter the possible trap first, go ahead." Selena waits only a second, not expecting him to go, but if he does, she'll let him.

When he doesn't, she looks inside then warily enters. Her remark about the trap being based on her actual expectation.
save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

I'm not metagaming, even if the asking for a save makes it seem like it. I've been expecting something since we met the guy, but also joping the suspensions were unfounded.

Also, +2 vs fear and death.

To be clear, is Bulvi entering immediately after Selena?

Bulvi is entering immediately after Selena in case it's a trap. I rolled a total of 19 in the deleted post

"I'm right behind you Selena but you're running point on diplomacy for good or ill." Bulvi gestures towards the door but moves in close behind her just in case.

Selena steps through the doorway, stops for a moment looking at the roof, then spins around and hands across the doorway as she leans back through the door looking up at Bulvi "I think it's safe in here, so safe that perhaps birdie should keep watch for threats out here while the rest of you come meet Froggie." Selena says as she steps back into the room leaving the doorway clear.

"I think it's safe in here, so safe that perhaps birdie should keep watch for threats out here while the rest of you come meet Froggie."

Quasit, who has drifted to the far side of the doorway, glances back toward her colleagues.

"Huh?" she queries, genuinely puzzled.

Tezuzu stiffens a little. "I believe she's referring to me as 'birdie'. I'm guessing 'Froggie' must be our new friend's master." He uses a claw to scratch under a neck feather. "This is a most peculiar meeting."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Tezuzu leans toward his companions and whispers.

"I think I see now why our new friend wants us to meet his nice, sweet, kind, CHARMING master..."

"Oh balls..." groans Quasit.

"All right, this ends now. Fin, you and Maka go for The Master. Bull, you and me will take Jeeves. Feathers, you and Saki make sure the Princess doesn't do anything stupid."

"Move!"

Quasit intends to wait until Bulvi engages, then move to flank on the guy in red robes

I’ll roll initiative since I’m firing as I’m guessing it might be needed?

Initiative: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

Not surprised, Fin nods but says, ”Can’t see the Master, Q, I’ll unload on the strange dude, I got eyes on him…”

He unleashes a volley of cold iron at the mysterious dude in red…

Burning a use of Perfect Strike

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

Magic Longbow (Manyshot) vs FFAC: 1d20 + 16 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 16 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 = 30
Magic Longbow (Perfect Strike) vs FFAC: 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 16 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 = 20
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 6 = 16
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 6 = 15

Magic Longbow (Iterative) vs FFAC: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 = 29
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 6 = 14

Magic Longbow (Rapid Shot) vs FFAC: 1d20 + 16 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 ⇒ (16) + 16 + 2 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 = 31
Magic/Cold Iron Damage: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 + 1 + 6 = 16

Clustered Damage before any DR (if all shots hit): 61

Perfect Strike: 3/5

Will save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Well if you're going to jump right to attacking, I suppose I'll go ahead and roll initiative

Bulvi Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Maka Init: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
Quasit Init: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Sakitu Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Selena Init: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Tezuzu Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Robed guy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Master: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

As soon as it becomes clear that you're not fooled, the red-robed being moves to block the door. Up close, now that it's taking no pains to hide itself, you can see it's only vaguely humanoid, with horns on its head and tentacles around its mouth--which are currently trying to attach to Bulvi.

Bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 Additionally make a DC 19 Fort save or take 1d6 ⇒ 6 Dexterity drain. Take only 1 if you make the save.

The tentacles rip at Bulvi in spite of his armor, and he can feel his muscles starting to lock up as it does.

Selena will post, then Bulvi, Tezuzu, and Sakitu can move.

"The surprising part is it's starting to paralyze me not that it attacked."
Fort Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Waiting for Selena's post then I'll move/act.

Selena starts casting a spell, looking intently at her companions, then at the last moment she looks up at the wall as she finishes the spell. Tentacles of what looks like dark shadowy ice sproat from the wall and wrap themselves around the enemies, entangling and strangling them.

dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
grapple: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

"FEEL MY TENTACLES!" Selena shouts with anger and a crazy laugh that sounds strangely evil.

Black tentacles, flavored a bit for an ice witch.
cmb=+14 (+19 vs opponents already grapled)
cmd=24
1d6+4 dmg
.
Every creature within the area of the spell is the target of a combat maneuver check made to grapple each round at the beginning of your turn, including the round that black tentacles is cast. Creatures that enter the area of effect are also automatically attacked. The tentacles do not provoke attacks of opportunity. When determining the tentacles' CMB, the tentacles use your caster level as their base attack bonus and receive a +4 bonus due to their Strength and a +1 size bonus. Roll only once for the entire spell effect each round and apply the result to all creatures in the area of effect.
.
If the tentacles succeed in grappling a foe, that foe takes 1d6+4 points of damage and gains the grappled condition. Grappled opponents cannot move without first breaking the grapple. All other movement is prohibited unless the creature breaks the grapple first. The black tentacles spell receives a +5 bonus on grapple checks made against opponents it is already grappling, but cannot move foes or pin foes. Each round that black tentacles succeeds on a grapple check, it deals an additional 1d6+4 points of damage. The CMD of black tentacles, for the purposes of escaping the grapple, is equal to 10 + its CMB.

Bulvi looks leerily at Selena and then back at the others before deciding just focusing on the deceptive servant before him was the wisest course of action.

Power Attack +1 Holy Longsword: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 14 + 2 = 29
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Bonus Damage if Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3
Power Attack +1 Holy Longsword: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Bonus Damage if Evil: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10

Bulvi kills the red-robed being, but the frog-thing avoids the tentacles.