DM Goat's Echoes of the Overwatched (Inactive)

Game Master Capricornus

Bom's mighty swing, with the aid of Shel and Oswin, spells doom for the statue, which crumbles under the weight of his blow.

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Sigrun exhales deeply as the tension leaves the scene, but she does not allow herself a moment of rest until she's checked to see that Rook is fine. She leans up against a wall and attempts to clean some of the stone dust off of herself.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Kargen does a quick double take, looking back to the other statues and then to the shattered one. "Hey..." he pries off one of the statue's eyes. "I think this is what we're looking for." He holds the piece of the amulet up.

"Those other ones have rubies as eyes. I wonder what they're worth."

Appraise (untrained): 1d20 ⇒ 5

"I definitely say we take those rubies before we leave, no doubt. Do we want to press on and complete our original task before getting to them?"

Assuming the others want to proceed, Shel advances continuing to look for anything out of sorts.

Perception 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Making your way into the Southern room you find a staircase, and climb up to the third level.

The stench of decay fills the air of this cavernous chamber, a vast hall taking up over half the tower’s area. The withered corpse of a human sits in a marble chair fixed to the floor, which is made of the same material. The body is clad in ragged but sumptuous black and white vestments worked with the design of a mask. In its right hand, the corpse grips a staff of immaculate design.

As you stand, looking at the macabre scene, Kobad, Shel, and Oswin feel something land on them from above!
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 1d1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 1d20 ⇒ 11
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 1d1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 1d20 ⇒ 13
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 1d1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 1d20 ⇒ 3

A crawling, severed hand has landed on each of you, scratching and grabbing. The one on Kobad manages to crawl up to his throat and takes a grip around his neck.

2 damage to Kobad and Shel. Kobad is grappled and cannot speak due to being strangled.

Initiative Round 1
Kobad, Shel, Bom, Oswin
Hands
Kargen, Sigrun

Doing without map for this one.

Oh no! It's a Wallmaster! ;)

Can we attack the grappled hand normally? If so...

Bom pulls his sword and tries to hack the one around Kobad's throat.

Longsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Kobad is wide-eyed when he ses what Bom is trying to do. And waldo shrieks in dismay! The dodo tries to bite his master free!
Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d3 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 01 point of nonlethal... yay.
Kobad tries to escape the hand!
Escape Artist: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Escape Artist 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 to break free.

HP 15/17

Bom winks at the witch, "Hold still Kobad, you wouldn't want me to miss what I am aiming at!"

Oswin swings his sword at the hand that tried to grab him.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Crit confirm.: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Crit dmg, if applies: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Shel and Kobad shed their ghastly attackers and Oswin and Bom strike two of them, and though they are clearly damaged they continue to crawl, attacking again.

Kobad 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
Shel 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Oswin 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Crit confirm 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Kobad and Oswin are clawed by the hands!

2d1 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 2 = 4 damage to Kobad.
1d1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 damage to Oswin.

1d20 ⇒ 8
1d20 ⇒ 20

One clamps itself onto Oswin's windpipe.

Round 1
Kobad, Shel, Bom, Oswin
Hands
Kargen, Sigrun

Attack (Power Attack): 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 1 = 21
Damage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 3 = 18

With the trained precision of someone who has spent many long years practicing with their weapon, Sigrun cleaves the hand grasping at Oswin's throat with a roar. The cleric may feel the whoosh of cold steel go past his chin and very lightly shave the downy hairs that grow there.

I remembered I had my feat! Yay!

Kargen's hand move initially to his bow but with the creature as close to Kobad's throat as it is, he decides against it. Instead he fires the acid at it again.

Touch Attack (PBS, cover?): 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 21
Damage (PBS): 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 17
Damage (PBS): 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Kobad and Waldo both take Withdraw Actions and move 20 feet back if doing so would not provoke an AOO.

She swings at the strange hands that were threatening her.

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Damage 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Possible crit. 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Damage 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Sigrun neatly slices the hand attacking Oswin in two pieces, while Kobad's well-aimed acid splash melts the one on Kobad. It drops to the floor unmoving.

Shel slashes the one attacking her and keeps it at bay. Kobad retreats from the one remaining hand, Waldo following him.

One left. Oswin and Bom up.

Oswin gasps for air as Sigrun slashes the hand away from his throat. He tries to speak, but his voice fails him for a moment. Then he tries to help Shel by attacking the last hand.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Bom unleashes his shield and sword

longsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Shield: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

damage longsword: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
damage shield: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Oswin's swing misses by a hair, but Bom lands a double hit with sword and shield, squashing the ghastly animated limb like a bug.

Searching the room, no other exits are found. On the body on the dais are a slightly faded, yet still valuable set of priestly robes, and an ornate carved staff. But more importantly, you find the third piece of the amulet. Re-assembling it, you find it now will fit the recess in the mosaic in the room below. Climbing back down to the chamber, you place the amulet in its slot.

A rumbling begins to build until the mosaic itself begins to part down the middle, revealing a... pile of rubble that spills into the room. The remains of a spiral staircase. The shaft itself seems to be accessible, however, and you can see the lip of a landing one story above.

"More climbing..."Kobad hangs his head in exhaustion, though his expression remains hidden beneath his mask. "By the way, can I get some healing? I used my only spell on Sigrun earlier."

"Of course, glad to help. Everyone, just stand over here by me for a moment."

"Iomedae, we ask for thy blessing to be upon us. Please grant us the strength to endure further adversity and overcome the wicked."

Channel Energy #2: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Channel Energy #3: 1d6 ⇒ 5

I was actually at 13 HP, so back to full now. I'm out of channels for the day, but still have spells and wand if needed.

Kargen looks up at the broken landing and then inspects the walls. "You think someone can climb up there with a rope tied to them? Then the rest of us can have the rope to help."

Looking for rough spots for hand holds.
Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"Thanks for the healing, Oswin."

Shel looks at the newly revealed climb, checking for any signs of traps, or the rubble being unstable.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Looks to be about a DC 10 to climb up.

Bom was also grateful for the healing. Regarding the climb,

"I have a grappling hook and rope. Might as well make it easy on ourself."

Bom hands the hook tied to his knotted 50' rope for Shel to toss.

Culd Shel take 10? If so that would give her an eleven, and she would scamper up with the rope in hand.

Taking 10 is perfectly acceptable. Taking a light source up?

"Anyone cast a light spell for me? I don't think I can use a torch while trying to climb up this rubble..."

"So much climbing..." Sigrun sighs again.

Once someone goes up and dangles a rope down, she'll go through the usual antics of ferrying the animals up with them.

Kobad will happily cast light on whatever Shel wants to be her lightsource. When it comes his turn, he will thank Sigrun for getting Waldo up, and then take 10 on his climb for an 11 total.

Shel asks for the light spell to be placed on the grappling hook that she will hold on the way up. When she finds something to latch it to up above, hopefully she will still be able to see the light.

Shel scrambles up the shaft to the landing and affixes the grappling gook. From her position in the doorway she can see inside the room. This room appears for all intents and purposes to be a vault, containing various crates and shelves stocked with countless papers, scrolls, tomes, and other wizardly items.

The Pathfinders make their way into the room and marvel at the myriad items on display, but before anyone can touch anything, there is a gurgling chuckle that seems to come out of nowhere, followed by a blast of flame that engulfs most of the party. Oswin is standing at the origin point of the blast, and finds himself speechless as all the air is sucked from his lungs, and he is face-to-face with a hideous, gray-skinned, long-tongued fiend.

Kargen, Kobad, Oswin all take 7 fire damage.
Bom and Sigrun take 3 fire damage.
Oswin is Silenced for 1 round.

Initiative Round 1
Kargen, Kobad, Oswin, Shel
Devourer of Reason
Bom, Sigrun

MAP

Bom knows these first few seconds are the most critical, "Clear a path for Sigrun and I."

@GM, is the Devourer flat footed?

No. He acted in the surprise round. Hence the Burning Hands in your faces.

Kargen steps away from the Devourer, trying to gain some distance as well as help Bom clear a path. He prays for divine guidance from Old Deadeye to aim his bow true.

5 foot step back and cast Divine Favor. +1 to attack and damage.

Oswin tires to incant a spell, but his voice is gone! He hears Bom's request and takes a short step to begin moving around the creature. Hoping to keep it distracted and buy his friends some time, he attacks!

Longsword Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

You didn't describe it as fire coming from his hands or prompt us for Spellcraft checks, so I thought it was just a trap.

As the others move about,

"Shel, let me take your spot."

@Shel--Shel can still attack and then take a 5' step back. Next round, she could possibly flank. After, she can swing around to flank

Kobad takes a 5'step back to give Sigrun some running room. He then pulls out his crossbow, and loads it.

Shel attacks and follows Bom's advice. She takes a 5' step back after her swing.

Attack 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

He cast the spell while he was invisible.

Oswin and Shel both land their attacks, slashing the Ghoulish spellcaster, who then steps back to attack Oswin with tooth and claw, but all its attacks scrape harmlessly off the Cleric's shield and armor.

1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Round 1
Kargen, Kobad, Oswin, Shel
Devourer of Reason
Bom, Sigrun

Map

Bom pulls his longsword as moves to position himself so that the ghoul is backed up against an outcroping. Using his shield as a ram, Bom attempts to slam the ghoul agaisnt the wall.

Shield Attack (and slam): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage: 1d3 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Shield Slam Benefit: Any opponents hit by your shield bash are also hit with a free bull rush attack, substituting your attack roll for the combat maneuver check (see Combat). This bull rush does not provoke an attack of opportunity. Opponents who cannot move back due to a wall or other surface are knocked prone after moving the maximum possible distance. You may choose to move with your target if you are able to take a 5-foot step or to spend an action to move this turn.

Assuming a 23 exceeds the ghoul's CMD...

Bom grins, this is the first time he's been able to use his new shield technique successfully,

"Sigrun, now is your chance! Everyone, surround him!"

@team: While Prone, the ghoul gets -4 to its attack in melee and has -4 to its AC. Plus, if it chooses to stand up, everyone within reach will get an AoO. Also, the ghoul probably gets only one AoO so after it swings at one person, everyone else can move around it without provoking an AoO which means we can have it completely surrounded before it moves next round.

Very nice maneuver, Bom!

Thanks. I've been waiting all mission to try that! With any luck Shel can swing around to flank with Oswin and get +6 to hit on the start of the next round! Or better yet, Sigrun and Rook could take the backside for you and Oswin.

"Very nice," Sigrun grins - just a little - at Bom, impressed by the ranger's skill with his shield. Calling for Rook to follow her, she boldly jumps over the prone ghoul's claws, although her nimble maneuver results in her downwards swing lacking much force at all.

Acrobatics: 1d20 ⇒ 19 To dodge AoO

Greataxe Attack (PA): 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 1 = 9
Damage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 3 = 12

The dark-furred wolf follows less cautiously, snarling at the unnatural thing's horrible stench. He rips at its flanks with fervour.

Bite Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Rook provokes an AoO in moving to where he is (AC 16). Rook probably isn't smart enough to move over any further than the closest square he can go to attack the ghoul, alas. Still, where I am now should provide Shel with a flanked full attack next round.

Bom clobbers the Ghoul who rebounds off the wall and falls to the ground. Sigrun leaps over the prone Ghoul while Rook draws a swipe from it, causing a nasty gash on the Wolf's flank and Rook immediately stiffens and stops moving!

6 damage to Rook, and he is Paralyzed.

Round 2
Kargen, Kobad, Oswin, Shel
Devourer of Reason (17 damage)
Bom, Sigrun

Damn! Thought he'd have a good chance of avoiding the AoO with him being prone. Poor Rook! Stay safe buddy!

Now that the ghoul has used an AoO attack, unless it has combat reflexes (which would be unlikely) everyone else can move do anything they want without provoking an AoO, including shooting/casting spells into melee

Kobad delays action.