DM Dr Evil's PFS - 01-47 The Darkest Vengeance (Inactive)

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

"Yes...yes...lower the device on a rope. That is the wisest course of action." Silverback yawns. He looks like he is ready for a nap, but nevertheless soldiers on.

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Sure, a rope!"

Bernard stops for a while, looking for something in his pack...

"Does anybody have a rope?", the halfling smiles.

Silverback frowns at Bernard.

"Always carry a rope, young Pathfinder!" he scolds. "Always! Over the last millennium I have found that a ten-foot pole is optional, but never rope!"

The ancient elf removes his own coil of silk rope from his pack and secures the device.

"Now...if the rest of you would be so kind as to lower it while this stripling half-orc descends."

Alright, I guess I'm carrying this sucker. Kicking question still stands, but let's move on into the darkness!

No particular rule to go by, but IMO you would still take an attack penalty for kicking while holding the delicate machine, let's say -2 to attacks. Also, if you took a hit, it may become damaged or broken.

Using the rope to lower down the still draped apparatus, Orovan begins to climb down the chain to the wooden platform below.

Per the scneario, that is a DC 16 Climb check.

I'm good with that.
Climb T10: 10 + 7 = 17

Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 5 Well...

Silverback peers skeptically down the hole.

"Why don't you just see what's down there and report back?" the ancient oracle asks Orovan.

"I'm not feeling up to climbing down right now, and might just take a nap while you check things out!"

Orovan successfully lowers himself hand over hand down the rusty chain to the wooden platform at the bottom of the dark hole. His darkvision kicks in allowing him to scan the surrounding area. He sees the platform on which he is standing is surrounded by a series of limestone stalagmites which protrude from a seemingly endless subterranean lake. The only light is from the small hole above, and what escapes from under the hood of the gently lowered sunrod apparatus. Past the limits of his darkvision, the lake stretches in all directions. Three ornate, ivory gondolas float nearby, tethered to one of the planks forming the haphazard platform. A rope tied to the tallest stalagmite stretches taut into the darkness to the south.

Trying to follow the massive orc down the chain, Bernard slips on the wet and rusty chain and falls most of the way to the bottom, just missing the apparatus and crashing to rest on the wooden platform, bruised and emabarrased.

Bernard Fall dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Ruinor watches Bernard try to climb down the chain and fall. He grimaces and gulps noticeably. "What do you see down there? I'd rather not try climbing down if I don't have to," he calls down to the half-orc.

"WOOooooowww... Ouch!", screamed Bernard as he falls disastrously.

@DM DoctorEvil: Bernard sees something more than Orovan, due to his low-light vision and the light of the apparatus?

Orovan has darkvision...

"Say!" Silverback calls out. "I don't suppose we can avoid climbing down, can we?" the ancient lorekeeper wonders.

"Nope, it looks like we need to take a boat ride. Use that rope, tie some knots, brace yourself against the wall, and climb on down. This is going to be fun." Orovan says with a mischievous smile.

"I have not done this in ages," Silverback says wryly.

Nevertheless, he does exactly as Orovan has prescribed, and despite weak body, somehow manages to get down without hurting himself.

DC 5 for a knotted rope or wall, so even with -2 climb I can still take 10.

Orovan has darkvision...

I know it, and that's why I asked the DM if Bernard could see something more. With the darkvision, Orovan can see everything until 60 ft. I don't know the range of illumination of the apparatus, but supposing that it provides a 40 ft. radius of bright light, Bernard could see clearly everything until 80 ft. due to his low-light vision that doubles the range of the illumination, so, it will be more than the 60 ft. of the half-orc. And the halfling can see even more than the 80 ft., with less clarity, for sure.

And yes, if you have a light source, low-light vision could be better than darkvision. :P

The underground lake is large enough that even with good illumination (as if you uncovered the sunrod machine), all you can see in any direction is the gently rippling surface of the water. The gondolas and rope are also clearly visible and don't seem to be trapped.

You can see the dome-shaped ceiling of the chamber, and there appear to be thousands of bats scuttling around the surface disturbed the bright unusual bright light from below.

Yes, everyone is going to need to climb down, but there are precautions against falling. Taking 10 and using a noted rope should allow most everyone to descend safely.

Orovan works on drawing in one of the boats. "Bernard, you take the wizard in another boat, I'll take the dusty old elf in this one."

Silverback laughs.

"'Lusty elf'...I haven't been that for some time!" the lorekeeper says with an elbow to Orovan's ribs and a smile.

He climbs into one of the boats with the half-orc.

Ruinor watches the elderly elf knot the rope and climb down. "Of course, why didn't I think of that. If he can do it, surely I can too," he says to himself before following down the hole.

Will also take 10.

"I don't have good feelings about it..."

"Aw, yes, for sure", answered Bernard to Orovan while goes to the other boat, waiting for Ruinor.

Eventually the party all descend the knotted rope and end up on the makeshift wooden platform which rests against the visible stalagmites. The moored gondolas are quickly loaded, Orovan and Silverback in one, and Ruinor and Bernard in the other. Dithering at first, Maximilian ends up getting in with Orovan and Silverback.

The boats don't have oars or any other readily visible means of propulsion.

Not sure if Max's player has fled, but his last post was 11/16. Will play him out as DM-PC until the finale, which isn't that far away.

"Confound it!" Silverback exclaims. "I tire of misplacing things...where did I put those oars!"

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20 Also looking for any other way to work these with detect magic

Can we reach the rope to pull ourselves along it?

@DM DoctorEvil, is there any map, so I can position myself?

Really sorry about dropping off recently, things have been a bit hectic leading up to the holiday season. Can't believe it's been that long though. Should be returning to normal schedule now though.

Maximilian looks around for some kind of pole to punt the boats along with, all the while quietly humming to himself something about "music of the night".

Yes, if we can pull ourselves with ropes, let's do that.

The only means of propulsion readily available is the guide rope which is a few feet above the surface of the water, and easily reached while seated in the gondolas. Using the rope as a guide, the two boats set off into the inky blackness of the subterranean lake, slowly moving in a generally southern direction.

The light and movement from below seems to greatly disturb the numerous bats on the cavern ceiling and after you've moved about 125' or so to the south of the wooden platform, clouds of the small vermin alight from the roof, and swoop through the cave, intermingling and mixing with the floating party.

Bat Swarm - Round 1

24 Ruinor
17 Bat Swarm
15 Maximilan
11 Orovan
10 Bernard
5 Silverback

Quick to see the trouble coming, Ruinor can act before the bat swarm. I will try to get a map up, but it's a rather difficult one. Let's assume the swarm is 40' away from the lead gondola when the action starts. You guys are in a straight line in the gondolas. The bats are also in the air just over the surface of the water.

I know this is hard to remember, but I roll initiative 2x and keep the best result. I'll go ahead and adjust to the new position.

init: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Silverback had been dozing off on the dark ride, but perks up as the others motion to the bats.

"Can't get two minutes of rest around here," he says. He raises his hands at the bats, and a sheet of fire erupts in the near-darkness.

burning hands, DC 15 reflex: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5 Not seeing a map, so I don't know if they are in range. If not, I'll ready an action to do this.

I know this is hard to remember, but I roll initiative 2x and keep the best result.

Gah! Ok, will you put a note in your stat line next to your INIT modifier that says (luck) or something else so I will trigger next time?

Sure...I added that, though I also don't mind rolling the second one and adjusting my initiative afterward.

Waiting for an action from Ruinor still. Trying to get a map ready, please bear with me.

Map is added at the top. Note the scale is 1 square =10ft, not the usual 5'. If I don't see something from Ruinor by this evening, I will run him to get things moving. Silverback may need to delay to unleash his burning hands until the bats are in range, so I will consider his action a "ready" for now.

Perfect

Round 1

Bernard pulls off his alchemist's fire and waits 'till they come close enough (10 ft.) and then he throws it at them.

Rgd touch atk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
If hit...
fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4
For the next turn...
fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Ruinor scans the water for signs of trouble. His keen ears pick up the sound of bats as he peers into the darkness to find them. "To our right, just above the water. A swarm of bats is coming. Get ready," he says to his companions as he starts focusing his own power.

Ready Fire Jet 20' range.

He waits for the bats to get closer and then unleashes a jet of fire at them.

Damage (Fire Jet): 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 DC15 Reflex save for half.

Bat Swarm - Round 1 - continued

The elven casters ready their fire spells as the swarm closes within range. Once the cloud of bats gets close enough, Ruinor sends a jet of fire at the swarm which cannot avoid any of the blast.

A sheet of fire erupts from the venerable elf as well, but the bats veer away and only the edges of the swarm are seared.

The swarm envelopes the second boat, Ruinor and Bernard smacked and bitten over and over again, the dozens of tiny wounds bleeding copiously

Bernard launches an alchemist fire, but in the blurry mass of bat wings, he misjudges and the vial splashes into the lake without bursting on a bat form.

Swarm DC 15 Reflex, Jet: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Swarm DC 15 Reflex, BH: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Ruinor Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Bernard Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Bernard and Ruinor need a Fort save each vs Distraction (DC 11)

Fort DC 11: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"I hate these pieces of s~#+!", says Bernard while is engulfed by the swarm.

Orovan tosses an alchemist's fire into the mix, hoping to burn the bats and not his companions.
Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15, Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Damage Rnd 2: 1d6 ⇒ 2
"Fire in the... air?!"

Maximilian also digs in his pack for a vial of alchemist's fire, and throws it at the swarm.

Alchemist's Fire (vs touch): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16 for: 1d6 ⇒ 5 splash: 1 = 1
Second round fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

2nd rd dam due to failed save: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Fort save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

I have fire resistance 5. If swarm is not killed ...

"Ugh, get these filthy things off of me," Ruinor screams as he lets another jet of flame go at the bats around him.

Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 DC15 reflex save for half.

Silverback sends a second sheet of flames into the swirling swarms.

"Back, little buggars!"

burning hands, DC 15 reflex half: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3 Not sure if I can delay until the others move their boat away?

Bat Swarm - Round 1 - concluded

Orovan and Maximilian both toss their vials of explosive jelly at the oncoming bats and both score direct hits. The ensuing explosions along with the fiery spells of the elves are enough to drive the bats back away from the surface of the lake, and up into the rafters where they belong.

End of Combat

After the assault of the bats is foiled the party continues to pull themselves through the dark lake using the guide rope. After another 200' or so, the shore is sighted. The rope leads the little group to a low bank covered with fine black sand. A narrow passage through the close stone walls can seen leading away from the lake.

Need to know light sources and marching order, which can only be single file through the narrow crevasse.

"Well, let's keep going," Silverback says as they reach the shore.

"It's cold down here, and it's making my joints ache..."

How about Orovan, Max, Ruinor, Me, then Bernard? I can cast light whenever we need it. I'm assuming Orovan still has the device.

"They hit me hard, men... Do you have anything that can help me with this wounds?", asked Bernard to the others, before they arrive at their destiny.

I agree with Silverback's suggestion.

Having just essentially thrown a bomb at Bernard, Maximilian is happy to follow it with a healing spell.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Marching order looks good to me.

You're putting me in front with the apparatus? Someone else should carry this thing.
Orovan nods at Bernard, praying to his god and presenting the dark moon birthmark on his hand.
Channel positive: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Did I use the second Fire Jet? And I'm fine with order.

"I wouldn't have expected all of this down here," Ruinor says looking around the large cavern.

"Thank you for the heal, buddies", greets Bernard.