DM Carbide's PFS Emerald Spire

Game Master John Woodford

A bummer indeed, EF. I understand about too many games, though. Sadly, we're all now going to die...

No, you'll just have to be a little bit more cautious, and not let Kragnor get quite so low on HP.

As you study the door, a voice rings out from the north. The first few words are in a language none of you understand, and then it continues in Common: "Leave this place immediately! Your magical auras interfere with my study of the Spire!"

"Uh, who are you? What are you studying?" Kali replies in a loud voice back to him.

Kragnor's eyes widen, then furrow into a squint. "Helluva welcoming committee."

"Indeed..." mutters Eva, gripping her sword tightly and pursing her lips.

Senja knows he hasn't much of a way with people - if that's what's down here studying the spire. In any case, he decides to wait quietly and see what sort of answers they get to Kali's questions.

Down the steps in the water, you see a blue-skinned man in chain armor, accompanied by an orange-shelled crab creature with a small blue winged humanoid on its back.

I'll have some spoilered info up for people to learn via appropriate Knowledge checks tomorrow...been a couple of insane days at work. Too much going on.

These are three separate checks.

Knowledge (Planes, untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Knowledge (Planes, untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27
Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Senja says quietly under his breath, "Interesting...he's an undine, a humanoid native outsider with strong ties to elemental water. The blue winged one is a water mephit, a minor freewilled elemental spirit. The orange crab - don't know what it is, but it's some kind of outsider as well."

More loudly, he says, "As my friend says, who are you? And I'm most curious to hear what you're studying!"

Asvald silently judges the outsider.

sense motive: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Asvald, he's angry with you, and you get the idea that he won't hesitate to attack if you don't leave (though he's not likely to give chase if you retreat, even after fighting).

”Look, we’re here for the same thing. You’re studying the Spire and we’re here to explore. If you just give us a few minutes to check the area out we’ll be on our way and you can continue in peace”, the young ulfen explains. "I enjoy a good brawl as much as the next man but there's no need for that now."

Diplomacy: 10 + 10 = 20

Plus some potential aids.

"Yeah, we're not here to cause trouble or interfere with your research. We're just explorers. If you can tell us what you know about this place and what you're studying, that could save us both a lot of time and aggravation. We could even help you out!"

Diplomacy Aid Asvald: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Diplomacy, Aid Asvald: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

"I asked you a question," Senja says impatiently. "Two questions, in fact."

So helpful!

Eva frowns slightly at Senja's tone. "Shh, questions can wait."

Diplomacy, Aid?: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

Kragnor grumbles.

DiploAid: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

We are a charming bunch!

Thought I had a post up in response, and was wondering why no one was saying anything. It was that sort of weekend.

The blue man shakes his head angrily at your attempts to sway him. "I gave you a chance to leave peacefully!" And with that, we're into combat. Unfortunately, I have a meeting to run off to at the moment, and all of my folks go before any of you. More to come!

Round 1:

Initiative order
Crab
Jorqual
Mephit
Senja
Kali
Eva
Kragnor
Asvald

Some very long meetings today....

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Crab-acted
Jorqual-acted
Mephit-acted
Senja
Kali
Eva
Kragnor
Asvald

The crab swims and scuttles forward and bites at Eva, who is momentarily taken aback by a crustacean with fanged jaws. Eva, take 7 HP. The undine swims backwards and begins to cast a spell.

The water mephit surface-dives and swims away rapidly.

Party up!

Kali tries to use her skill in acrobatics to avoid leaving herself open to attack as she moves around the crab to flank it with Eva. She then attacks the aggressive seafood with her wakizashi.

Acrobatics to avoid AoO: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

Wakizashi attack + Flanking: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 = 23
Damage + Sneak Attack: 1d6 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + (5, 3) = 9

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Crab-acted
Jorqual-acted
Mephit-acted
Senja
Kali-acted
Eva
Kragnor
Asvald

With preternatural swiftness, the crab is able to twist so that Kali's wakizashi fails to penetrate its heavy carapace.

HP: 29/35

Eva lifts her sword and brings it down repeatedly at the creature before her.

Flurry (flank): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Flurry (flank): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 12

Asvald joins his companions in smashing the villainous crab.

Sword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Crab-acted
Jorqual-acted
Mephit-acted
Senja
Kali-acted
Eva-acted
Kragnor
Asvald-acted

Asvald's sword glances off of the crab creature. Slacker. Eva's first blow, though, is on target, and the crab can't dodge that one.

Crab: AC 24 T 14 FF 20 -9 HP

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

"He's summoning something!" Senja cries out. He takes a deep breath and opens his mouth as if he's shrieking, but no sound can be heard coming out.

Cast ear-piercing scream on Jorqual (I assume that's the guy we're talking to, the caster?). Move forward a bit.

Scream damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4 DC 17 Fort save for half damage and no daze.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Crab-acted
Jorqual-acted
Mephit-acted
Senja-acted
Kali-acted
Eva-acted
Kragnor
Asvald-acted

The undine manages to resist the worst of Senja's spell.

Crab: AC 24 T 14 FF 20 -9 HP
Jorqual: -2 HP

Does he manage to keep his concentration?

That's the main thing I was hoping to affect, Eva, but my d6's had other plans.

We'll see, won't we?

Kragnor draws his hammer, steps back and swings at the crab.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Kragnor misses the crab. Although it was a near thing, the undine manages to keep from being distracted by Senja's magic.

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Crab-acted
Jorqual & Frog-acted
Mephit-acted
Senja
Kali
Eva
Kragnor
Asvald

The crab continues to attack Eva with claws and fangs, but the plethora of opponents confuses it enough that it only manages to bite her once for another 10 HP. The undine finishes his spell, and with a blaze of color and light a giant frog appears in front of him. Its skin carries an odd echo of the colors that heralded its arrival; it leaps forward and bites Kali for 7 HP. With his summoning complete, the undine sidesteps and sends a blast of water towards Asvald. It misses the skald completely.

Party up!

Power Attack vs Crabby: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 8 - 2 = 17
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 6 = 21

Kragnor snarls and swings again at the crab. "Gonna eat some crab legs fer dinner!"

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Crab-acted
Jorqual & Frog-acted
Mephit-acted
Senja
Kali
Eva
Kragnor-acted
Asvald

Kragnor misses it again.

Ow. HP: 20/35

Eva grits her teeth and begins slicing and dicing in a dizzying pattern, but the pain from her wound proves too distracting.

Flurry (flank): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 21

Flurry (flank): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 = 19

Despite her frog bite, Kali presses her attack against the crab thing, albeit with even less success this time.

Wakizashi + Flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

Asvald scowls at the splashing undine. "Hey, quit it!"

Seeing that his companions were lacking proper encouragement, the young ulfen begins his rousing battle-chant.

Seeing the trouble his friends are having in piercing the crab's thick carapace, Senja resolves to do something about it. He hurls a conjured handful of shadowy nails at the strange orange crustacean, piercing its shell in dozens of places!

Evil Eye for -2 to AC for 7 rounds, DC 15 Will to resist.

Senja's hex bites on the crab creature, but despite the assistance everyone still misses it.

Round 3 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Crab-acted
Jorqual & Frog-acted
Senja
Kali
Eva
Kragnor
Asvald

The crab presses its attacks on Eva, but misses with all of them. No roll over 6.... The frog misses Kali, and the undine fires a crossbow at Asvald. The skald's armor protects him from damage, though.

Back to you!

Eva continues swinging, though the pain of her wounds is very distracting. Drawing on an inner reserve of calm, she focuses her mind and drives her blade home. Eva accepts Asvald's song.

Flurry (flank, rage): 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 16
Flurry (flank, rage): 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 14

Ki Flurry (flank, rage): 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Senja conjures twin bands of shadow and tosses them at the crab-thing! They wrap around its snapping claws, hampering its attacks!

Evil Eye for -2 to attacks, DC 15 to resist.

Continuing his raging song, Asvald hacks at the weakened crustacean.

Sword: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Attack!: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 - 2 = 19
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 6 = 13

Kragnor swings again at the crabby crustacean.

Kali attacks the crab once more with her weapon, and almost drops it again. "It's hard to concentrate with a frog breathing down your neck." She explains with a disgusted look.

1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

Everyone but Eva misses the crab creature. Senja's second evil eye bites on it, though.

Round 4 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Crab-acted
Jorqual & Frog-acted
Senja
Kali
Eva
Kragnor
Asvald

Entangled by the wayang's hex, the crab misses Eva with both claws, but bites her twice for 6 HP and 11 HP. The frog fails to bite Kali again, and the undine misses Asvald and retreats down the passage.

Crab: AC 22 T 12 FF 18 -17 HP
Jorqual: -2 HP

HP: 13/48

Eva bites down on the urge to cry out in pain, but can't help wincing as the crab wounds her deeply. Hanging on to Asvald's rousing cry, she swings her sword at the monster again!

Boop (flank, rage): 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 11

Boop (flank, rage): 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Accepting the Raging Song until further notice

Quickly learning from her errors, Kali leans into her wakizashi strike and actually hits the crab thing, maybe even hard!

Wakizashi go!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26
Critical Confirmation, go!: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Wakizashi + Precision Damage + Potential Crit damage: 1d6 + 1 + 2d6 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + (6, 4) + (2) + 1 = 15

Senja, since you're nominally up before everyone else, what were you planning on doing this round?

Senja piles further misfortune on their foes, since the undine has moved beyond the reach of his hexes!

Evil Eye on frog for -2 to AC, DC 15 Will save.

Kragnor keeps swinging his hammer.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 2 = 26
Damage: 1d12 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 6 = 14

Kragnor will swing at the crab if it is still up, otherwise will step into the crab's spot and swing at the frog.