DM Corerue's Carrion Crown

Game Master DM Corerue

Eloise stands ready, one hand on the hilt of her longsword. The other hand dips into her pocket and her fingers close on... a gold coin.

The non-fascinated trollhound snort-barks as it charges Sour Heck, looking to drag the human to the ground.

Bite @ Sour Heck-17 AC: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 2 = 26
Mirror Image: 1d7 ⇒ 6

The hound bites through an illusory Sour Heck with its teeth, ripping the magic to shreds as it growls. The other sits and watches intently.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck
2nd: Trollhounds (Red; Blue)
3rd: Amaia; Kaven; Gruoch; Iesha; Eloise
4th: ???

Status
Trollhound (Red) - Fascinated

Ignoring everything Sour gibber-gabbers about in his epic long rants (posts), Gruoch laughs hysterically at the animal attempts to much through the long-winded Sour.

"Munch on, old boy! Munch on!"

"Yes, hilarious, I'm sure, Gruoch, is it?" she snaps at the snickering witch.

"Can these things be stunned?"

Iesha readies her glaive, and moves next to Sour Heck. She's moving to the square to the north of Heck's position.

Gruoch and Iesha banter a bit as Amaia, Kaven and Eloise are caught off-guard by the sudden attack of the trollhounds, despite a lengthy warning from Sour Heck as to the plan.

Either way, the slow to act party is greeted by the sight of three tusked giants cresting the top of the watchtower. One of them has a bone necklace whose centerpiece appears to be a human skull with a fist-sized ruby encrusted to the forehead.

The grouping of giants choruses after the one with the necklace yells to them, but the language isn't Common.

The trolls pick up large rocks from the ground and launch a salvo at the party.

4d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 6, 6) = 23
Rock @ Eloise-15 AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14
Rock @ Iesha-14 AC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Rock @ Eloise-15 AC: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 8 - 4 = 22

One rock clatters down the sharp escarpment as two others slam into Eloise and Iesha.

Damage @ Eloise: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Damage @ Iesha: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck
2nd: Trollhounds (Red; Blue)
3rd: Iesha
4th: Trolls (Red-Leader; Blue; Green)
Hold: Amaia; Kaven; Gruoch; Eloise

Status
Trollhound (Red) - Fascinated
Eloise @ 39/51 HP
Iesha @ 24/39 HP

Eloise grumbles a curse and charges the trollhound attacking Sour Heck. Shimmering force surrounds her as she goes - and her sword's edge suddenly gleams a fiery crimson!

As she puts the hound between Sour Heck and herself, she shouts: "Diplomacy is out! Gruoch, any area spells you have on those giants! Someone kill that trollhound before it wakes up!"

Spell combat: casting Shield and attacking at the same time. Black blade spends a pool point to deal fire damage. Eloise spends a pool point for +1 enhancement. Flanking attack roll 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 - 2 + 2 + 1 = 15 for 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7 fire damage.

@Eloise: The trollhound is taking up the whole path. How are you getting to the other side of the creature?

*sigh* No flanking, then. :(

Is the ground by the paths completely impassable, or is it difficult terrain?

The path is flanked by escarpments with the higher ground to the left. Acrobatics or Climb checks will be needed to go around, but it would be more like scrabbling up the side of a hill (2x movement, need check to make it [not a high DC]).

Sour Heck watches glumly as the trollhound snaps his figment into vapor. "Could that have been the original? The thought will haunt me."

Sour Heck has begun an Inspire Courage performance as a standard action.

Then the bard ducks as stones whir through the air nearby. "What in the nine hells...

Knowledge: Nature to recognize trolls: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"Anyone think they're trying to hit the dogs and missing? Me neither. Can one of you heroes raise a mist to block their view of us? " Sour Heck pulls out his longspear and banner and uses them to balance as he clambers around the trollhound, opening a path for his allies to advance.

Climb check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Party buffs are now in effect: +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage (+2 competence from Inspire Courage, +1 morale from Flagbearer)

Sour Heck scrambles around the trollhound, drawing the ire of the creature as it snaps at him.

AoO @ Sour Heck-13 AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Mirror Image: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Another one of Sour Heck's illusions succumbs to the sharp teeth of the hound as the man starts another performance, rousing the other hound out of its stupor.

Eloise decides to jump in to the fray as she tosses up a Shield and lashes out at the trollhound with the blue eyes barely cutting into the creature's flesh.

The previously fascinated hound charges the bard as the other continues to focus on the man.

AoO @ Sour Heck-13 AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Mirror Image: 1d5 ⇒ 4

AoO @ Sour Heck-13 AC | Charge: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 2 = 20
Mirror Image: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Damage: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 Fort Save against Disease.
Trip @ Sour Heck-16 CMD: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 = 18

The first unlucky hound keeps choosing the wrong Sour Heck to target but the frustrated one that is not freed from his fascination of the man, finds the right target and drags him to the ground.

On its turn, the injured trollhound doesn't seem to regenerate.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck; Eloise
2nd: Trollhounds (Red; Blue)
3rd: Iesha
4th: Trolls (Red-Leader; Blue; Green)
Hold: Amaia; Kaven; Gruoch

Status
Sour Heck-Prone @ 46/48 HP
Trollhound (Blue) @ 10 damage

Active Effects
Inspire Courage - +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage
Mirror Image - Sour Heck (3 images remaining)

Pending
Fortitude Save against Disease - Sour Heck

Iesha strikes at the trollhound attacking Sour Heck.

attack: glaive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 for damage: glaive: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Gruoch moves up to the blue doggy and with a glowing blue hand touches him on the nose.

Chill Touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Dam: 1d6 ⇒ 2

"Oh, wait. I don't think I did that one right. Oh, well."

Ladies, don't forget to factor in Sour Heck's inspire courage buffs!

Too late to edit previous post

Adding Sour Heck's buff: attack=16, damage=12.

Before we get too much further, may Sour Heck take an AoO with his longspear on the trollhound charging him?

@Sour Heck: Sure, but you don't need to ask. Just roll for it.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sighing, Amaia throws her Tanglefoot Bag at the blue hound.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 3 - 2 = 20

She then adjusts her scythe firmly in her hands.

Sour Heck struggles to pull his spear into line with the onrushing trollhound.

AoO on charging trollhound: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Longspear damage if successful: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Though pulled to the ground, the bard seems to barely feel the hound's jaws tearing at his leg. "Hey! Ow! Stop! Bad dog!"

Fortitude save vs. disease: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Sour Heck delays his action until just after Eloise's next action, which I suspect will dispatch trollhound blue if Iesha and Gruoch's attacks didn't.

From the ground, Sour Heck grimaces at the remaining trollhound. "Not looking good for you, is it? Too many people, too much steel, and now your friend is down." Still on all fours, the bard arches his back and bares his teeth, snarling like he's a hound himself. "RrrrrrrRrrrrRRRrrrun!"

Intimidate to demoralize trollhound red: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (2) + 16 = 18

He then stands cautiously, takes a step back and draws his longsword.

Sour Heck stabs the rushing trollhound before he is dragged to the ground. Amaia throws an exploding bag of goop at the nearest trollhound, which entangles it as Gruoch and Iesha both stab and shred the creature with spear and magic.

The three trolls on the ramparts continue to lob stones at the adventurers. "YO NO KILL STINKY!" yells the one with the necklace.

Rock @ Iesha-14 AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Rock @ Eloise-19 AC: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Rock @ Amaia-17 AC: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 4 = 14

The rock aimed for Amaia clatters down into the waters below as Eloise and Iesha take large rocks to the noggin.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck; Eloise
2nd: Trollhounds (Red; Blue)
3rd: Iesha; Amaia; Gruoch
4th: Trolls (Red-Leader; Blue; Green)

Status
Sour Heck-Prone @ 46/48 HP
Eloise @ 29/51 HP
Iesha @ 13/39 HP
Trollhounds - Blue @ 27 damage; Red @ 12 damage

Active Effects
Inspire Courage - +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage
Mirror Image - Sour Heck (3 images remaining)

Eloise grunts at the impact, shakes her head to bull through the pain, and chops at the trollhound savaging Sour Heck once again! The Magus raises her voice in harsh-sounding song as the battle-fever fully grips her...

Perform (sing) 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4. Black blade attack 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 3 + 1 = 28 for 1d8 + 2 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 3 + 1 = 11 fire damage.

Iesha channels energy to heal her friends (excluding the trollhounds).

Channel to heal: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 2) = 13

The trollhound falls to the ground as Eloise buries her blade in its back while its attention is focused on Sour Heck, but the other hound is free to savage the fallen man with its teeth as he stands up. Unluckily, he chooses the correct Sour Heck and the dark comedian feels his flesh rend.

AoO @ Sour Heck-13 AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Mirror Image: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Damage: 1d10 + 6 - 3 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 3 = 10 Adjusting for too much damage last time.

As Sour Heck steps back, the hound follows and bites at him again.

AoO @ Sour Heck-13 AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Mirror Image: 1d4 ⇒ 4

This time, Sour Heck's defensive illusions aid him, causing another figment to burst as the hound bites deep into it as Iesha lets loose a blast of healing magicks as the standing trollhound regenerates.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck; Eloise
2nd: Trollhounds (Red; Blue)
3rd: Iesha; Amaia; Gruoch
4th: Trolls (Red-Leader; Blue; Green)

Status
Sour Heck-Diseased @ 48/48 HP
Eloise @ 42/51 HP
Iesha @ 26/39 HP
Trollhounds - Blue-Unconscious @ 38 damage; Red @ 9 damage

Active Effects
Inspire Courage - +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage
Mirror Image - Sour Heck (2 images remaining)

Tired of this tomfoolery, Gruoch steps back, away from fallen trollhound and Sour. "Pathetic."

She unleashes a bolt of lightning from her hands toward the trollhound with the red tint.

Electricity Dam: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 6, 1, 5) = 15
DC 17, Reflex half

Amaia moves to stand on top of the blue trollhound's unconscious form. Looking up at the trolls in the tower, she goes into total defense.

AC: 21

Reflex Save - DC 17: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

As the trollhounds get blasted by weapon and magic, the bedecked troll hurls another rock, targeting Gruoch as the other trolls move down from the top of the tower. You hear a large wooden thud just before the door creaks open and one of the trolls walks out wielding his greatclub.

Rock @ Gruoch-15 AC: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck; Eloise
2nd: Trollhounds (Red; Blue)
3rd: Iesha; Amaia; Gruoch
4th: Trolls (Red-Leader; Blue; Green)

Status
Sour Heck-Diseased @ 48/48 HP
Eloise @ 42/51 HP
Iesha @ 26/39 HP
Gruoch @ 25/40 HP
Trollhounds - Blue-Unconscious @ 38 damage; Red @ 24 damage

Active Effects
Inspire Courage - +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage
Mirror Image - Sour Heck (2 images remaining)

Are the trollhounds both dead now?

Red is still standing. Blue is down, but it still seems to be breathing.

"Someone finish that beast off before it regenerates!" Eloise shouts, briefly flicking her sword at the blue trollhound before sweeping it at the red hound, her full strength behind the blow.

Black blade on Red: 1d20 + 8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 3 + 1 = 23 for 1d8 + 2 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 3 + 1 = 9 fire damage.

The trollhound falls under Eloise's attack, but only appears to be unconscious, not dead, though the fiery attack has left it vulnerable.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck; Eloise
2nd: Trollhounds (Red; Blue)
3rd: Iesha; Amaia; Gruoch
4th: Trolls (Red-Leader; Blue; Green)

Status
Sour Heck-Diseased @ 48/48 HP
Eloise @ 42/51 HP
Iesha @ 26/39 HP
Gruoch @ 25/40 HP
Trollhounds - Blue-Unconscious @ 38 damage; Red-Unconscious @ 33 damage

Active Effects
Inspire Courage - +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage
Mirror Image - Sour Heck (2 images remaining)

Two coup de graces for Messrs. Red and Blue, please! ^_^

Sour Heck frowns at a bloodied sleeve where moments before the hound bit him. "Don't think I'm not grateful, Iesha, but something tells me we should have cleaned that wound out before we healed it shut." The bard then jabs his longsword into the vulnerable trollhound's heart as it burns.

Coup de gras.

Spotting the troll coming out of the gatehouse, Sour Heck does a double take. "Don't look now, Eloise, but I think the tower captain wants to have a word with us about his dogs. Hail, friend," he shouts at the troll. "Looks like we've killed two of your dogs, and your dogs have killed four of me. So we're pretty much even. How about we just go our separate ways?"

Sense Motive to see if the troll understands Varisian: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"If he has a problem, we-I have more fire," Eloise says as she shifts into the en garde position. Red lines blossom all over her sword's blade, looking almost like... eyes. "So that works out just fine."

@Sour Heck: Are you speaking in Varisian? If so, make sure to spoiler as not everyone understands Varisian, I think. Also, you need to roll for a Coup De Grace on damage as it sets the DC.

Damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 3) + 10 = 17
Fort Save: 1d20 ⇒ 13

Sour Heck runs his blade through the trollhound and the creature slumps and the beast's body stops breathing. The other hound slowly begins to mend, however.

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck; Eloise
2nd: Trollhounds (Blue)
3rd: Iesha; Amaia; Gruoch
4th: Trolls (Red-Leader; Blue; Green)

Status
Sour Heck-Diseased @ 48/48 HP
Eloise @ 42/51 HP
Iesha @ 26/39 HP
Gruoch @ 25/40 HP
Trollhounds - Blue-Unconscious @ 35 damage

Active Effects
Inspire Courage - +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage
Mirror Image - Sour Heck (2 images remaining)

My mistake--it's Taldane (Common) Heck addresses the trolls in to see if they speak it. Does he see a reaction to his gibes that suggests they can?

Ah. You wouldn't need to Sense Motive. One yelled out earlier in Common. "You no kill Stinky!"

Initiative:
1st: Sour Heck; Eloise
2nd: Trollhounds (Blue)
3rd: Iesha; Amaia; Gruoch
4th: Trolls (Red-Leader; Blue; Green)

Status
Sour Heck-Diseased @ 48/48 HP
Eloise @ 42/51 HP
Iesha @ 26/39 HP
Gruoch @ 25/40 HP
Trollhounds - Blue-Unconscious @ 35 damage

Active Effects
Inspire Courage - +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage
Mirror Image - Sour Heck (2 images remaining)

Dotting for a post cause, you know botting or delaying over half the party isn't exactly something I want to do.

Iesha sighs and channels again, hoping to get the group up to full health before the trolls arrive.

channel energy (2 remaining of 4): 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 1) = 5

Initiative:
Party -
Enemy - Trolls (Red-Leader; Blue; Green), Trollhounds (Blue)

Status
Sour Heck-Diseased @ 48/48 HP
Eloise @ 42/51 HP
Iesha @ 26/39 HP
Gruoch @ 25/40 HP
Trollhounds - Blue-Unconscious @ 35 damage

Active Effects
Inspire Courage - +3 to attack rolls and weapon damage
Mirror Image - Sour Heck (2 images remaining)

So no response as of yet from Paizo on how to become a DM for this. Will send another Email tomorrow morning and hope for a quick resolution. Worse come to worse we start fresh in a new thread.

Also changing up the initiative order, I tend to simplify things when it comes to posting. So If a party member beats the enemies ini then the party goes first followed by the enemies turn. The order of posting will be dependent on who goes first. So like Iesha did above, if she posts first then she acts first in the Parties turn. Simplifying it helps speed things up and less time waiting for me to post the monsters inbetween and waiting on party members.

So since the current party members have all gone it is the trolls turn and next round we will start the new initiative. Hopefully that is fine with you guy. :) Post on the way!

The Troll that stepped out looks angry, it slams its greatclub to the earth and roars in a guttural language. Shouting something before point a claw at the lot of you. "Yas humes gon get it now."

Sour Heck It then pulls something that had been slung across its backside, which appeared to be a form of Ballista with the rough size of the heavy crossbow the troll revealed. It takes aim at Sour Heck with a bolt the size of a small tree. After taking a brief moment to aim the troll pulls the trigger with a clawed finger...

... this action is followed by a rage filled cry as the shot launches far off target. Imbedding the bolt, deeply into the escarpment off to the far left from Sourheck. The Troll appears to be already trying to reload from a nasty, half rotted sack hanging off its back. Pulling out another sharpened tree bolt in preparation to fire at Sour Heck again...

Eloise The Troll up in the tower shifts tactics and aims for the closests threats to them and Roars in outrage as the rock sails passed, narrowly missing Eisha and Grouch as it rolls pasts them. Its impact causing dust and soil to move along the escarpments around the group.

The reloading troll yells something incomprehensible, stepping back as it growls in anger.

A third troll emerges from the tower, greatclub in hand and menacing the group as it takes position at the top of the path...

Updated Map

Party Is up, order of actions decided by order of posting!

"Here's me, hoping we won't need this spell later," Eloise sighs. "Tempestas ex sectura!"

A cilinder of wind, gravel and falling rocks envelops the trolls as soon as the Magus finishes her spell!

Stone call for 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7 damage. No saves. No resistance. The spell is aimed to hit the Trolls but exclude the party. The green one is 20 ft. up, I see, so your call whether he gets hit or not. Area within the cone becomes difficult terrain for the next 6 rounds.

Angry howls and shouts in their rough language are the immediate answer to the sudden wind, pounding rocks and blinding gravel that Eloise unleashes on the Trolls. The one up in the tower takes the blunt of it as gravel and falling rocks cover his throwing area in slip inducing pebbles.

Party is still up!

Corerue, did you catch Iesha's Channel? if so, is this a new round?

Sour Heck hunches warily. "Any of you folks know what in the nine hells kind of dog fanciers we're dealing with here?"

Sour Heck delays his action until just before the trolls act--hopefully another character will make a successful Knowledge (Local) roll to identify trolls before then.

Apologies for being unclear! :( Yes, I caught your channeling and will try to remember to include it in my Round wrap up posts. And also it is a new round with Initiative in the parties favor as I posted above.

Party is up, all members minus Eloise and Sour Heck.

Adelram feel free to post and you guys can initiate first contact in spoilers in a random bar or street side I will letyou guys set the stage as I am haggard today. Sorry :(.