DM Carbide's PFS Emerald Spire

Game Master John Woodford

There's an aura of magic around its head.

Senja joins Nuria in studying the magic, waving his long, slender fingers in the air and concentrating fiercely.

What kind of magic?

Senja, it's a moderate aura.

Oh, better at that than spellcrfat
arcana: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

One can always take 10, no? Well, not always, but. Gets me a 21.

"Hmph. Illusion. I guess it just means the flames aren't real flames."

"So are we all going to pile in and deal with whatever this statue's got or do we try to find another way around?" Kali asks with mild impatience.

"I'd guess we pile in, Kali," Senja replies, "I'll bring up the rear."

You enter the room, and nothing apparently happens.

"Well that was underwhelming", Asvald gripes.

Kali chuckles to herself as she checks the room for traps and other items of interest. If none of are found, she checks the doors for traps/noises. She then waits for someone heartier than her to open the doors.

Perception on room: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Perception on door: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Kali notices nothing on the doors, but manages to find a concealed door off to the side.

"Oh, that looks promising. Lets go in there!"

"Oh yeah, it wouldn't be secret unless there's something juicy behind it. Let's go through that one first." Kali says with excitement as she checks the secret door for traps/sounds.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

The door is apparently untrapped but locked; Kali can easily unlock it with time, though. On the other side is a hallway that curves to the north, ending in another door.

Kali skips ahead and checks the next door, unlocking it as necessary, but not opening it herself.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Disable Device, if applicable: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

Senja urges the rest of the party to move along, as he bravely brings up the rear of the group.

Asvald eventually opens the unlocked and untrapped door.

Kali does not notice any traps on the door, nor does anything happen when she picks the lock.

As Asvald opens the door, Eva thinks she hears something from the other side. As a result, she's able to react to the presence of a tall serpentfolk. It has black robes with red trim, and holds a rapier in each hand.

The room itself is an octagon whose middle section is sunken down about a foot. In the center are a desk and chair surrounded by four candelabras. To the west, the walls are lined with bookshelves. To the north, a bed rests against the wall. To the east are a pair of basalt statues that but for being rather smaller bear a more than passing resemblance to the large statue in the last room, down to the flames wreathing their heads.

Surprise Round:

Initiative order
Foe
Eva

The serpentfolk casts a spell, then speaks in somewhat sibilant Common. "You have come here for one of two things: to join me in the adulation of Kro'akoth the Awakener, or die. Which is it?"

Eva can take an action in the surprise round.

"You're a fool if you think those are the only two options," replies Eva, a deadly edge in her voice.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

The serpentfolk shrugs off Eva's threat. (DC 23 to demoralize him.) At the end of the surprise round a red-and-black-scaled snake emerges from under the bed.

Round 1:

Initiative order
Senja
Nuria
Snake
Kali
Asvald
Serpentfolk
Eva

Senja and Nuria can act!

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

"Hmm, I'm not sure what spell he just cast," Senja mutters, "but I doubt he means us any good."

He conjures up a peculiar shadowy skeleton, shaped vaguely like Eva, which moves forward and stands by her, ready to help in the fight to come!

Fortune Hex on Eva.

Any Knowledge checks we can apply to the snake?

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

"And that, my friends, is a snake, of the constrictor variety," Senja offers. "Though I must say it's a particularly robust specimen, and appears to have been infused with the power of the Abyss."

Advanced and Fiendish templates!

Nuria?

"In the heart of the earth lives one strange snake,
never goes slithering on its belly but worships demons instead!

Show him our worth, and our heart's fire burns in our wake,
surge forth, sally - and like Ydersius, we'll have his head!"

+2 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +2 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Back among the living...did archery Saturday for the first time in a couple of decades (I think my arms and shoulders have forgiven me), and went to a movie yesterday with Loving Spouse.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Senja-acted
Nuria-acted
Snake-acted
Kali
Asvald
Serpentfolk
Eva

Senja and Nuria buff the party! The snake emerges from its lair under the bed, slithers towards Asvald with malicious intent, and then tries really hard to trip.

Kali and Asvald are up!

Kali uses her Ki to make herself invisible, clicks her daredevil boots together to activate them, then attempts to make it past the fiendish snake blocking access to the room.

Acrobatics + Daredevil boots: 1d20 + 13 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 5 = 34

Swift: Activate Vanishing Trick to be invisible. Free: Activate Daredevil boots. Moving beyond the snake takes two move actions assuming that acrobatics roll was high enough. If that's not enough, will cast Snowball as a standard action.

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Senja-acted
Nuria-acted
Snake-acted
Kali-acted
Asvald
Serpentfolk
Eva

Kali vanishes and moves past the snake!

Asvald, over to you.

After booting the malicious snake away, Asvald gives it a chop of his mighty blade. Poorly.

Chop (inspire): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 4 + 2 + 2 = 18

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Senja-acted
Nuria-acted
Snake-acted
Kali-acted
Asvald-acted
Serpentfolk-acted
Eva

Asvald misses as the snake ducks out of the way. The serpentfolk steps forward and casts another spell, this one on the snake.

Eva is up!

Eva focuses for a moment, then reaches past Asvald and jabs the snake in the eye! Marid Style and Unarmed Strike; +5ft range and deals cold damage.

Boop (inspire): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9
Cold Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Eva's Fortune: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 2 = 12

Despite Senja's hex helping her, Eva misses the snake. It's quite agile and well-armored.

Round 2:

Initiative order
Senja
Nuria
Snake
Kali
Asvald
Serpentfolk
Eva

Senja and Nuria are up!

Snake: AC 19 T 15 FF 14 +2 vs. good opponents

A sinister laugh comes from Senja's small frame, beginning quietly and building to something approaching a mad cackle as he moves forward.

Move action to cackle to maintain Fortune hex on Eva, move action to get right behind Eva. Can't move token at the moment.

I moved Senja up. Just waiting on Nuria.

And I just remembered Nuria is off traveling. Anyone want to suggest a course of action for her?

How about a five-foot step forward while maintaining Inspire Courage and casting cacophonous call on the serpentfolk?

The serpentfolk are immune to mind affecting - i.e. bards. Thanks for the suggestion thought. I'm bestirring myself to post tonight.

Seeing no other recourse in the tight packed hall, Nuria pulls a bow and fires over the heads of her allies as she continues her song.

1d20 + 7 + 2 - 8 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 2 - 8 = 14
1d6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) - 1 + 2 = 4

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Senja-acted
Nuria-acted
Snake-acted
Kali
Asvald
Serpentfolk
Eva

Nuria's arrow sails over the heads of the party, and her intended target. The snake again bites at Asvald, but misses the skald.

Kali and Asvald, have at!

Snake: AC 19 T 15 FF 14 +2 vs. good opponents

Kali backs up 5 feet while invisible and casts Snowball, firing the icy projectile at the snake. Sadly, she misses. "Oh crap."

Snowball has no SR

RTA vs Snake + Invisible + IC - Melee: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 12

Asvald bats the snake away and strike again.

Chop (inspire): 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 4 + 2 + 2 = 18

Round 2 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Senja-acted
Nuria-acted
Snake-acted
Kali-acted
Asvald-acted
Serpentfolk-acted
Eva

Kali and Asvald both fail to hit their unexpectedly agile ophidian opponent. The serpentfolk sees Kali appear and advances on the ninja, blades flashing and fanged mouth gaping wide. She manages to avoid one of the blows, but is struck multiple times nonetheless. This won't be pretty, I'm afraid. Luckily, although it's pretty accurate it's not very strong, and it's using low-damage weapons. Take 18 HP, and DC 18 Fort save or lose another 2 points STR.

Eva, you're up!

Snake: AC 19 T 15 FF 14 +2 vs. good opponents

Eva darts forward and attempts to slip past the snake into the room, but it blocks her at every turn.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

Fort Save + Antitoxin (lasts 1 hour): 1d20 + 4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 5 = 10

3 Strength Damage. -2 Str Modifier.

Hey Kali, I can let you reroll that if you'd like.

Yes, please! Thank you!

Kali reroll thanks to Eva: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23

You're welcome!

The snake is too quick for Eva, and the monk is unable to slip past it.

Round 3:

Initiative order
Senja
Nuria
Snake
Kali
Asvald
Serpentfolk
Eva

Senja and Nuria are up!

Senja keeps up his slightly twisted laughter, which seems to grow in intensity as he conjures up a big, spiky ball of shadow and bounces it off of the serpentfolk's head!

Cackle, Misfortune hex on serpentfolk (DC 18 Will save)

Round 3 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Senja-acted
Nuria
Snake
Kali
Asvald
Serpentfolk
Eva

The serpentfolk shrugs off Senja's hex.

Nuria is up. Any suggested actions?

Nuia stares in disbelief at the tiny snake which stymies the band of heroes. At wits end, she unleashes a cacophonous call upon the familiar.

DC 17 will save or be nauseated for 6 rounds. This is an enchantment (compulsion)effect, if it matters.
SR: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13