Chaosorbit's PFS #1-39: The Citadel of Flame (Inactive)

Game Master Chaosorbit

Cizish, nows the time to use Barboo's wand on her. And then you can use mine on me as well. Great job team! We about all got scorched on that one! Oh, forgot, did the skeleton go away over there Cizish?

clw wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
clw wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Since I felt so well after the first touch of my healing wand, I wouldn't have used the second preplanned roll. Ok? I'll take one off my character sheet

Now Zamar, can I help you look over that mage and begin to start searching these rooms more thoroughly?

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Cizish trots into the secret room and scratches Bruce behind the ears for a few moments before he vanishes back to whence he came. There, there. He whispers. It will be just fine and you shall be back to rest soon, you're quite the good boy and I look forward to the next time we shall fight.

Once Bruce disappears, Cizish moves into the room with the large throne-like chair and has a look around. He also uses detect magic as part of his perception check.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Cizish also uses any healing wands as needed as he goes.

Assuming someone has used their wand on me or I use my own wand to cure myself, I also use the wand on Lem.

Well that was a close one! I thought for sure I was going down in a blaze of glory! Pun intended.

Barboo looks around for any advantage she can find. Looking for any exits, treasure, hiding creatures or special things in the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Knowledge(engineering): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Knowledge(arcana): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Lem and Barboo see to their wounds.

Will roll a heal for Barboo

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Zamar and Lem look over the mage and find he has the holy symbol of Moloch, two potions of cure light wounds, 2 smokesticks, a dagger, a key; and then a feather and what looks like a mummified hand on a gold chain, both these are magical.

Spellcraft to identify

In the room with the caster, you notice the maze-like geometric pattern of scarlet flames on the floor, is actually a map of the nearby mountains.

Cizish and Barboo look around the throne room. Cizish finds a not well hidden secret door behind the throne, it's clearly locked. Barboo's knowledge tells her the tapestries that line the walls, depicting a grand battle between soldiers of flame and the dervishes of Sarenrae, do not depict any known actual battle.

Ooo! a magical feather and a magical dead hand!! I've never seen anything like those, I'd love to know what they are, can I see them?
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Hmm, i'm not really sure what those things are, but oh well. Hey! There is a secret door over here! Can anyone unlock it though? it seems to be locked, I think it is anyway.
Cizish continues to bounce around the room, touching and peeking at everything as he goes. He will also cast Guidance on Lem so he has an additional +1 on his Disable Device check.

Looks like some good stuff here. A couple of potions of cure light wounds. And a couple of other interesting items.

Feather Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Hand Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

I wonder if this key will fit the door that Cizish and Barboo just found. Hey Cizish, Barboo, Let's try this key on that door!

Lem, maybe you should take one of the potions. Maybe Barboo can hold on to the other and hand to someone if needed.

Zamar walks over to the secret door and tries to key to see if it opens.

I also fetch my dagger that I threw at the priest.

Whooo there big man, let me check out that door before you going sticking anything into it. We don't have much we can do about poison, do we?

I'll pocket one of the CLW potions and then go check out the secret door. I make sure we're all buffed back up before I go messing with the door just in case I set something off or let something bad loose. Maybe after the magic items id'd and distributed. I'll also look at the key if I have to, taking insult in the idea of even needing one. Ruins the surprise using a key!

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

disable device: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

The items are feather token (whip) and Hand of the Mage.

Lem ignores the key all together and easily picks the doors lock.

The secret door opens onto a covered bridge forty feet across. The entire structure appears to be carved from a single red stone, but the centuries-long burial in sand has levied its toll. Long cracks line the walls and ceiling, and twenty feet along the bridge a seven-foot gash splits the floor in two, through which the dark orange stone of the valley below is visible. Spaced every ten feet on the walls are a series of massive carved heads: a pair of screaming fire elementals, a pair of humans clad in armor, and a pair of bull-headed men, each flanked by massive torches. The arch’s far end is carved into the shape of a massive leering face, with golden double doors in place of its mouth.

Map

Oh nice. Here's a feather token (whip).

It's a token that forms into a huge leather whip and wields itself against any opponent desired just like a dancing weapon. The weapon has a +10 base attack bonus, does 1d6+1 points of nonlethal damage, has a +1 enhancement bonus on attack and damage rolls, and a makes a free grapple attack (with a +15 bonus on its combat maneuver checks) if it hits. The whip lasts no longer than 1 hour.

This could come in handy later. I think I'll hang on to it for now.

and the necklace is the Hand of the Mage. This mummified elf hand hangs by a golden chain around a your neck. It allows the wearer to utilize the spell mage hand at will.

Lem or Barboo, do either one of you want to wear the Hand of the Mage? You can then cast Mage Hand at will to move things around which is probably what that caster did with the skeleton

Zamar and Shadow move out onto the bridge.

Zamar casts Detect Magic for anything of interest.

Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Shadow Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Zamar lets Lem take a quick look for traps.

Once any traps are found/disarmed or none found then

Hmm. That's a pretty wide gap for me but not for you Shadow. What do you think?

Shadow looks back at Zamar and gives what could be called a snicker if tigers could do that.

Zamar pulls out his grappling hook and gives it to Shadow who takes it in his mouth.

Shadow, how about hooking that up over there? as he points to one of the carvings on the other side of the gap.

Acrobatics/Jump: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14 Looks like DC10 for 10ft long jump

Shadow takes a leap over the gap with ease.

Shadow Handle Animal: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

Once on the other side, he puts the grappling hook over the statue and Zamar pulls the rope taught and ties a slipknot over one of the statues on this side of the gap.

Well, that should hold most of us as we shimmy across. Wouldn't want one of our smaller friends to not make it as he smiles at Barboo and Lem.

LOL, sorry for the long post. Just lots to do here 8)

Ooo! How exciting!! I wonder what would happen if one of us should fall, would it hurt or would the sand just get in our shorts and become itchy? All so interesting, but I don't like the look of those carvings, are they dangerous? But I can resist a good leap into the AIR!!
With that, Cizish takes a running jump. But when he jumps, his jump looks less athletic and more like he just floated up and over the gap like feather on a breath of warm air.

Jump/Fly: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Oh my, that was closer than I thought! Oh well, while i'm here, I might as well detect for magic and look at these doors, but without touching them Mr Lem!!

Casts Detect Magic
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

I'll look on both sides of the gap for any traps then work on shimmying across the gap. I'll tie the rope to myself on this side and then jump across and if I fall the grapple will catch me. Then I untie and throw back over.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 +1 more for trap finding if needed.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31 have to have 30 foot running start to not get penalty so I'll be back in other room and run thru!

Cizish calls back to Barboo: Oh yoohoo, little gnome. Tie the rope around you and we can pull you across. In fact, let me help you! With that, he floats back across the gap and then touches Barboo with Guidance, giving her a +1 on her acrobatics roll. He will wait until she's across and then glide back over the gap. Wheee! I love being in the open air with nothing below my feet!

I'm using my Fly skill in place of Acrobatics (Sky Druid ability). If you need me to roll the 2 jumps separately:

Oh thank you Cizish!
Barboo had thoughts of another time when falling into a chasm did not end well. With that thought pushed back in her mind she takes hold of the rope and signals for the group to pull her across.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Whoa, hope I haven’t gained too much weight so that you can get me across!
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

@Barboo, as we have time and not in a rush, take 10 to get across the rope so you would have gotten a 12 on acrobatics and I think with the rope, it would only be a DC5 so you would make it with ease.

Zamar takes his time going across the rope and makes it to the other side.

Acrobatics: 10 + 1 = 11

If roll required because something happens

Once everyone is on the other side, Shadow leaps back across the gap, pulls on the quick release of the knot and lets Zamar reel it back in.

Acrobatics w/ take 10: 10 + 12 = 22

Shadow then jumps back across the gap.

Acrobatics w/ take 10: 10 + 12 = 22

Excellent planning sorry I need to move things back a bit.

Shadow leaps the gap and begins to tie the rope into place when something hidden moves, and begins swoops down from above.

Currently 10 feet above the bridge.

Round 1
Map

Zamar
Shadow
Cizish
Flying Menace
Lem
Barboo

Zamr, Shadow, and Cizish all react quickly and may go.

Zamar sees something move as Shadow jump across as he is trying to put the grappling hook on the statue.

Look out Shadow! Be gone beast! Shadow Attack!

Handle Animal Companion: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20

Zamar casts Snowball at the beast.

Snowball (Touch): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 2, 2) = 12

Looks like a crit! Doubling damage! Damage: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 4) = 10
LOL wow what crappy damage rolls!

Shadow drops the grappling hook and leaps up at the beast and takes a bite at it.

Assuming that the leap is 5 foot above Shadow, DC is 20

Shadow Acrobatics/Jump: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
Bite to Hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Shadow keeps his mouth clamped to attempt to bring the beast to the ground with him!

Grab: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Just as Cizish is about to leap across the gap, he sees the strange creature emerge and stops just short of the gap.
Goodness me, that's an interesting thing. I say, hello! Would you like to chat for a bit? Oh, you're attacking Shadow I see. Well that isn't very nice at all!
With that he casts Storm Burst to cause a miniature storm to appear on the creature and buffet it with winds and rain.

Ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Storm Burst damage (non-lethal): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Wow Tom! A 4d6 damage spell, that's incredible! Too bad about the cruddy rolls

@Cizish, you know that spell that kept hitting everyone in the last battle? You can cast it as well 8) .. it's a good one for Druids, look it up

@Zamar - Still need to roll to confirm. Go ahead and roll it.

Zamar's snowball hits the creature, the cold doesn't seem as effective as it should be against it. Shadow leaps into the air and bites the creature, but it doesn't seem to damage it, and he fails to hold his bite on it. Cizish's storm misses the elusive flier.

Who flies down toward the landed cat and exhales a noxious breath onto Shadow.

Shadow needs to make a DC14 Fort Save or become sickened.

Round 1
Map

Flying Menace x dmg
Lem
Barboo

Round 2
Zamar
Shadow Need DC14 Fort save
Cizish

All Pathfinders are up

LOL, I knew I was forgetting something. Was just too excited about possible double damage

Crit Confirmation: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

BAH, still lots of crappy rolls

Shadow Fort Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

The noxious breath covers Shadow but he just shakes it off.

@Barboo, don't forget to do Knowledge (Planes) to see what the heck this thing is

Barboo ses the nasty beast and tries to figure out what it could be.
What a nasty beast. How dare you knock down our precious kitty, Shadow!
Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Barboo looks the beast in the eye and unfurls her flag and sings her song of courage.

Great Knowledge check, Mom! Do we all get to look at the monster info (assuming Barboo calls it out). Depending on what we learn, I’ll act.

I'll assume Barboo would call it out.

Barboo calls out, It's a Gaav, a lesser host devil!

Barboo gets to ask one question about a Gaav. The guys can make some suggestions.

@Barboo, a good question is always Special Defenses and damage resistance. Other questions if you get higher scores are special attacks

A devil?!? That sounds incredibly dangerous!! But, on the other hand, I've never met a devil first hand before. Cizish waves to the devil. Hello little devil, are you a friend? I certainly hope we can have a little chat, it would be... <Shocked face and turns to Zamar> Did he just belch poison into your poor cat's face? That's untenable!

With that, Cizish begins to cast Summon Monster II

@Barboo - Agree with Tom. Ask about damage resistance or special defenses.
@Chaosorbit - Is it wearing metal armor? It doesn't look like it, but if it is, I will summon an electricity elemental. If not, then an air elemental

Lem mumbles under his breath, What is that creature? How do I harm it?

I'll try and attack with my short bow. I think move action to ready it, then can attack.

attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 151d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Barboo jumps back as she recognizes the beast as a Gaav.
Do I need to do a Knowledge check to ask the question? If so, I will do it. Wasn't sure.
Knowledge(Planes): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Barboo questions what damage resistance the beast has. What will harm this creature?
It's a Gaav, a lesser host devil. Hopefully you will be able to defeat it quickly!!
Barboo continues to sing her song of courage to the group.

Zamar yells Go back to the Abyss where you belong you abomination!

Zamar casts two Magic Missles at the beast hoping for more than just a grazing shot this time!

Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 Not sure if needed or not but just in case
Magic Missle Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Magic Missle Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Get him Shadow!
Handle Animal Companion: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20

After the Gaav lands near Shadow to cast its noxious breath and he shakes it off, he goes for a full out attack no it.

Shadow Bite to Hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Shadow Claw to Hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Shadow Claw to Hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23 Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

No need for another knowledge planes roll. Gaav's have DR 5/good; Immune fire, poison; Resist acid 10, cold 10
No armor

Lem arrow whizzes passed the devil. Barboo begins her inspiring song. Zamar's magic missiles strike the devil and Shadow's attack all hit, but don't seem to harm the Gaav very much. Cizish begins to summon aid. The devil unleashes a trio of attacks on Shadow. The spear drives in and is followed by a claw; though the last claw misses. The two attacks damaging the big cat.

Round 2
Map

Flying Menace 14 dmg
Lem
Barboo

Round 3
Zamar
Shadow 13 dmg
Cizish

Pathfinders are up.

@chaosorbit: Is Inspire Courage and Flagbearer up? I wasn't putting those in the numbers for attack or hit

It looks like Barboo said she was singing and waving the flag so adding in attack and damage bonus. Also, does DR affect magic too?

Zamar sees Shadow get hit and fires off his crossbow at the Gaav hoping to get through its damage resistance.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 1 = 17 Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Shadow grunts under the hits, snarls back at the devils, and goes right back at the beast!

Shadow Bite to Hit: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 1 = 25 Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6
Shadow Bite Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 = 23 Crit Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

Shadow takes a huge chunk out of the Gaav as revenge against the spear and claw attacks.

He then slashes the beast with his claws attempting to finish it off.

Shadow Claw to Hit: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 = 15 Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9
Shadow Claw to Hit: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 = 12 Damage: 1d4 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

Ok, seeing our faithful friend getting shredded up real good enrages the diminutive halfling. With a high pitched scream of defiance he leaps across the divide drawing his rapier mid-air, landing to engage the mighty devil.

attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 271d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Upon completing his summons, Cizish points at the Gaav as a Small Air Elemental appears and Cizish shouts to it in Sylvan: Bruce! This devil is causing us problems and has attacked us without provocation. Please defend us with your elemental might!

With that, Cizish casts Storm Burst on the devil while the air elemental goes in for a slam.

Storm Burst (touch): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 -Non lethal damage and, if hit, the devil takes -2 on attack rolls for 1 round.

Elemental Slam: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Barboo cannot stand to see the beast go after the poor kitty. She leans back and sends a chord of shards to damage the beast.
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9
Take that you horrible creature!!

@Barboo, the Chord of Shards is probably not a good idea as you won't hit the monster but you will hit either Zamar or Cizish due to the 15ft cone from you

@Zamar - Yes, inspire courage and flagbearer are up, added in 6 damage for Shadow last round. DR does not apply to spells, but resistances do, thus the reduction of damage from your snowball in rnd 1. Magic Missiles did full damage.
FYI - jumping the gap takes and acrobatics check, Matt and I texted last night and determined Lem could auto-succeed.
@Barboo - so the Chord of Shards spell, is a 15 foot cone burst, I've put a little graphic on the map to show where the spell would effect from you current location. You would have to be across the gap to hit the devil, and then it would also hit Shadow and Lem. I would hang onto that for later, cause Shadow has it covered :)

Lem dives across the chasm, and drives his blade into the devil, who lets out an unholy squeal. Zamar's crossbow shot narrowly misses, but Shadow's viscous, retaliatory bite shakes the devil like some old doll, he drops the devil lifelessly to the rocky slope below and it lands with a hard thud.

Combat over
Status
Shadow 13 dmg

The group quickly works to get everyone across the gap in the bridge.
Using your techniques posted before.

Sorry, thought about that later that I should have mentioned about David and I texting about the jump. Was trying to speed things along....

Wow, that was an ugly beast! Great job everyone; now let's get everyone healed up before we stumble into some other quagmire!

How far down did he fall? If not too far I can go down a rope and search his body, would hate to miss the item we're looking for on him.

No need to climb down, the devil has nothing on it, was being cinematic with Shadow's killing blow.

After Zamar crosses the gap, he uses 2 charges of his Wand of Infernal Healing on Shadow.

Here you go Shadow. This will make you feel better!

As the healing takes effect, Shadow's wounds close and Shadow shows signs of improvement. Zamar pets Shadow and says Let's see if anything can be found

Zamar casts Detect Magic and searches the area for anything of interest.

Shadow Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Once everyone is across and Shadow is healed up, Zamar sends Shadow over to retrieve the end of the rope. Shadow easily leaps over and unhooks the end of the rope and jumps back over so that Zamar can put into his bag.

Need me to re-roll the door check and trap check or use the prior to battle discussion?

@Lem - Don't think you roll on this door yet!?

As Shadow heals, Zamar doesn't detect any magic or find anything of note.

I'll check out the doors and see if we can make it in.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 +1 for trap finding if needed.

disable device: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

If I'm completely bamboozled I may try the key we found, as I suspect none of us have big enough buts to push the doors open. :)

Barboo is glad for the help getting across the gap.
Thanks to all of you for your excellent marksmanship. That devil is now down below where he belongs.
She looks over at Lem holding the key.
Good idea, Lem. Let's see if that key will open the doors. Those doors look too big for wee me.
Barboo does a quick check.
Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Knowledge(Engineering): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Knowledge(Arcane): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Barboo notices that a shield, decorated as a bull’s head, is rested in one of the bridge's windows. It turns out to be a masterwork heavy steel shield (non-magical). Behind the shield is bag. The bag contains shiny baubles and bits of smooth stone, but also a book. The book, written in Common, seems to be the journal of one of the ancient cult’s slaves. It describes her recruitment, enslavement, and the initial assault of Sarenrae’s crusaders on the Citadel. None of the bag's contents are magical.

----

Lem finds no traps on the doors, but he does notice that they are warm to the touch. Using the key, he opens the door to find the red glow of lava dimly lightning a vast room. Rivulets of molten rock thread the hall’s floor, fed by streams of lava flowing down the walls. Four enormous forges are spaced evenly around the room, with large hammers, bellows, anvils, and tanks of water dripping on the lava below. A circular ramp rises gently near the center of the room, looping above the lava channels before disappearing into the gloom above. A one-eyed dwarf, is finishing a spear point on the southern anvil, hammering away noisily.

Hmm. Interesting information in that book you found Barboo!

After Lem opens the door and notices the temperature, Zamar says Hmm. As we will be in a volcano, why don't I cast Endure Elements on everyone?

Zamar pulls out his Wand of Endure Elements and taps a charge on everyone including Shadow.

Just in case it gets a little TOO hot.

After noticing the dwarf, Hmm. Maybe we should try talking to that guy to find out any information or if he would just surrender instead of just attacking especially since he is alone. If he yells out for help, then we can take him down. I can try talking to him if needed unless Barboo is better at it

My skills are Bluff+10, Diplomacy+5, Intimidate+9. @Barboo, @Lem, what are yours? Also, what are others thoughts about trying to talk with this guy since he's alone?

@Zamar my skills are Diplomacy +9, Intimidate +8, Bluff +5
I could ask him if he knows anything about the idol of Moloch and tell him he needs to get it for us or lead us to where it is. I'll let you all decide what would be best.

@Barboo, you have much better Diplomacy. Just write what you would talk to him about and do a diplomacy roll of 1d20+10 as let's have Cizish cast Guidance on you prior to talking about the first part of the conversation.

Hey Barboo, how about using your gnome charm and see if the blacksmith might give us some useful information. Maybe he isn't here of his free will since the doors were locked and the guards outside. He might be able to provide us some useful information on the area as well as what we might expect going forward. He might even have some info on what we might be able to use against whoever is running this place. I'm always ready to help free slaves or those that are who are in need.

Sounds like a good plan! Cizish doesn't have good charisma, so do NOT let him do the talking (Diplomacy -1). I will cast Guidance for Barboo and can speak Dwarven, so will translate as needed.