DM Panic's PbP Gameday 4 Siege of Serpents (Inactive)

Game Master wakedown

Preparing new map, check back in a few.

You are all quickly caught up in the surge of Pathfinders spreading out all over the campus. Quinn begins heading towards the wooded area to the northwest and Cirri calls out the destination as you all head that direction.

It takes roughly twenty minutes before you find yourselves standing outside Starhall, its doors thrown open haphazardly and the sounds of something[ transpiring within.

As Telos and Cirri crest the doorway and look to their right, they observe two draconic creatures, each about six feet tall, tossing books and scrolls aside, apparently in search of something.

They immediately recognize your arrival, gesture, and pull out falchions as they snarl, baring long wicked teeth.

A mere DC11 Knowledge Local will identify these as wyvarans. They are '1' and '2' on the tactical map, standing near the book shelves and table.

Initiative
Cirri: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Keeya: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Kyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (20) + 0 = 20
Quinn: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Telos: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Wyvaran: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Round 1
20 Kyra :
17 Quinn :
15 Wyvarans :
14 Telos :
6 Keeya :
5 Cirri :

Both wyvarans appear poised to engage, but there also seems to be the briefest moment where Kyra or Quinn could call out them and engage them in some form of dialogue.

Now Up: Kyra, Quinn

Tactical map link in game header fixed!

Kn.local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 damn, what a waste...

"Watch out! These are Wyvarans!"

What do I know about them?

Quinn is always ready to try to talk his way out of a fight...

"Hold, this does not need to end in blood. The voice spoke of grievances-- what are your complaints? What do you seek here?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (12) + 8 + (5) = 25 1 inspiration use

Kyra takes a step forward and says:

Stop fall beasts! You are trespassing, I urge that you stop with it and lay down yours weapons. If you don't stop the Dawnflower will bring justice upon yourself.

If they come against us trying to attack Kyra will say:

Sarenrae, give us strength to purge the evil in this place. Give us dexterity to land our attacks true. Give us constitution to endure our wounds

And will cast bless in her and her friends.

The wyvarans hesitate as Quinn speaks.

We will drop out of initiative - for the moment.

The first one looks confused.

"Voice?"

The second one clarifies for the first.

"Our Aspis allies. Some theatrics of theirs."

Nodding, the first one explains, choosing brief words and keeping his falchion ready.

"We were your prisoners inside the Tapestry. Your enemies, our allies - the Aspis - have freed us."

The second adds more.

"Your people took maps from us. Maps to treasures sacred to all wyvaran. We seek those here. You can help us find them, or you can die for standing in our way."

So we can be productive within the purveyance of the special's timed conditions...

They are only allotting the briefest moment for you all to decide your course of action. If you stow your weapons and stand down, they will apparently do so as well. But that's assuming some promise of helping them find treasure maps stashed here in the Starhall.

If you do not immediately take a position of a diplomatic resolution, we'll resume initiative and they will attack for you standing in their way. :)

@Anyone: Feel free to talk here (to them, or each other) as we basically halt the init timer for a moment.

Cirri, caught off guard by all of this (and with terrible initiative, as usual) relaxes as the Wyvarans.

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (7) - 1 = 6 Sounds legit!

"So many questions I want to ask, but-" she shakes her head. "I understand that sometimes the Pathfinder Society stumbles upon great finds that other societies consider sacred. I also know Aspis are up to no good, and are probably using you for some nefarious means."

"So, I'm going to propose we all relax and you help us understand what we took from you. 'Cause right now, people on both sides are getting hurt, and the sooner we end this squabble, the better."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Cirri fiddles with her staff, subconsciously showing that she's quite potent with it. Now was not the right time for a display of force!

Quinn re-sheathes his sword in the cane.

"So, If we help you find these maps, you will return in peace? Just you two? Will any of your fellows leave with you?"

With so many lives at stake, Quinn is willing to give up the maps. And OoC, the more encounters we can resolve in the limited number of IRL days the better, so a quick, diplomatic resolution when we can get one is to our advantage.

Cirri would buy anything from this pair. :)

The pair of wyvaran shift anxiously as Cirri speaks, but the calm, even voice of Quinn is enough to keep them from attacking.

"Yes, help us find the maps, and we and our brethren within this building will depart in peace. Perhaps not all in your Society are as bad as these Aspis paint you."

You can use your choice of Knowledge (geography), Knowledge (history), and Knowledge (nature) to represent your searching effort. This will take a little time (in game).

Keeya is not very happy to help them to take away the maps. Who says the Pathfinders took them, who says they did not buy them or gave them something in return? she thinks.
Kn. geography: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Kn. history: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Kn. nature: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Cirri spends the time trying to talk to them.
"Do you know why you were stuck in the tapestry? What are these maps you are looking for? Who told you the Pathfinders stole them? Maybe you can just list the items you want reclaimed. I'm sure the society will return it if you just ask. No need to attack, right?"

Knowledge(Geography): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Knowledge(Nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Cirri spends her time trying to strike a conversation. Usually this ends up with her quarterstaff against someone's head, but she's gotta try, dammit!

Telos, reluctant to help the raiders accomplish their task, says quietly to the others, "I do not like this course of action...there are many invaders, and working with these two is keeping us from helping elsewhere."

Keeping a wary eye on the creatures, and making no sudden moves, Quinn looks through the archives.

Know.Geography: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 8 + (4) = 22 ...assuming we need more good rolls

Keeya and Quinn turn up the maps the wyvarans are hunting for, while Cirri finds a few more as they review them.

The pair bow reverently, thank you all and walk outside before taking to the sky with little extra to say beyond...

"This is good. Thank you."

Chaos continues rampant throughout the campus.

You always have a choice of where to go, but I'm going to assume you stay NW as it's still red, and it saves you going elsewhere at this stage. :)

Next post coming shortly.

The beauty of the Grand Lodge’s well-manicured grounds is shattered by the sounds of shouts and screams from panicked initiates, support staff, and visitors.

Frightened innocents trip over hedges and stumble through fountains and pools in an effort to get to safety by the most direct means possible, especially when the landscaping otherwise leads them to certain peril.

One cries out.

"The menagerie! Everything within is loose!"

He ducks around of the towering trees in the northwestern campus and you all spot a pair of creatures hot in pursuit.

The two brightly-colored feline blurs resemble a cheetah with longer fur and lynx-like ears, and seem to scorch the air as they moves.

Map updating. One more post with initiative is coming.

Initiative
Cirri: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Keeya: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Kyra: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (10) + 0 = 10
Quinn: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Telos: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Pards: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

As the two pards advance, the others quickly flee. Keeya sprints to action, apparently faster than the felins.

Round 1
23 Keeya :
21 Pards :
20 Telos :
18 Cirri :
11 Quinn :
10 Kyra :

Now Up: Keeya

Keeya daleys

"Your welcome. W-wait!" Cirri outstretches her hands as the two figures fly off into the sky.

She sighs. "I'm happy we didn't have to come to blows, but I had so many questions to ask. Maybe we could have convinced them all to stand down. Maybe talk our way out of this mess."

Cirri's contemplation abruptly ends as she hears people screaming from the nearby menagerie. "Gosh, more people in danger!"

---

Cirri has no idea who that man is, but something feels familiar about those cheetahs...
knowledge(Arcana): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

Any special attacks?
Any special resistances?

I moved everyone down 1 square since it was easier than putting a fig off the mini map or drawing a row of squares free-hand.

@Cirri: Feel free to pop the above spoiler and follow the link to answer your questions. With your roll, you know two things of your choosing.

Telos, Cirri: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11 damage and stunned 1 round

Both of the "cheetahs" shimmer out of existence as you all observe them phasing in and out of reality as they bear down upon you.

The first "blinks" through Telos and Cirri, seeming to partially materialize into reality as it moves through them, reappearing as pieces of their insides appear several feet away from them, splattering on the ground. Both shudder and don't feel quite right (and are stunned 1 round).

The second moves through reality and Quinn and Keeya, but seems to have less of an effect in either damaging or stunning those two.

Round 1
23 Keeya : Delays
21 Pard #1 : Tramples Telos, Cirri for 11, stunning them 1rd
21 Pard #2 : Fails to trample Quinn, Keeya
20 Telos (11dmg):
18 Cirri (11dmg):
11 Quinn :
10 Kyra :

Now Up: Everyone!

Quinn effortlessly maintain a suave exterior as the two weird felines rush at them, and pass through his allies.

bluff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Identification:

Arcana: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (20) + 8 + (2) = 30

Quinn studies the nearest cat (P1), slides forward and attacks.

swordcane-2handed: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 = 23
damage: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7

He feels sad destroying such an exotic creature, but there's no time for dawdling.

Cirri stares at the cheetahs. "Oh wow. Pards! Don't let them run through-" One of the creatures runs right through Cirri, causing her to drop her staff. "through, you...ugh..."

Cirri wobbles in place as she's set ablaze by the phasing panthers.

Telos, stunned by the creature, drops his polearm to the ground. Clearly, the warrior cannot do anything.

Kyra start making a prayer:

Sarenrae, please heal the wounds of my friends...

And will channel a positive energy

Channel Positive Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7

Since I got Selective Channeling I will not include the Pards

Quinn strikes the second cat while Kyra does what Kyra does.

Telus and Cirri drool a bit.

Keeya prepares to... :)

(she's out at a tournament until Sunday)

Your GM is torn on expending a sizable resource of hers if you all believe this fight will be tough, versus playing her conservative here.

Please chime in after checking out Keeya's prepared spells and give me your thoughts on her action. I'll take one for her tomorrow morning worst case.

Still Up: Keeya

If you think the fight is tough, Keeya would cast haste. She can do it only once a day. If it's not too tough she will use daze or ray of frost.

Keeya takes a step back and releases a ray of icy air at the Panther R1.
Ray of Frost: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Keeya attack roll: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Keeya shoots a ray of frost, but fails to connect with the agile felines. Both erupt in flames and begin to wink out of reality once again as the barrel through the Pathfinders.

When you are phase-charged, you can make an attack of opportunity, but at a –4 penalty. If the target forgoes an attack of opportunity provoked by this maneuver, it can try to avoid the pard by attempting a DC 19 Reflex save; if successful, it takes only half damage.

P1 and P2 both provoke from Quinn and Keeya, or Quinn can attempt to make the save as above to negate the damage and stun.

P1 CMB vs Q,T: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
P2 CMB vs Q,C: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

The two felines make their way through the trio of Quinn, Telos and Cirri, stunned all three of them.

P1 damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6
P2 damage: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 3) = 5

Quinn takes 11 damage. Telos takes 6. Cirri takes 5. See above about avoiding the stun and/or taking half damage.

If they beat your CMD by 5, that's what causes you to be stunned. If they just meet or beat your CMD, you are knocked prone.

Round 1
23 Keeya : Delays
21 Pard #1 : Tramples Telos, Cirri for 11, stunning them 1rd
21 Pard #2 : Fails to trample Quinn, Keeya
20 Keeya: (out of delay) Ray of frost vs P1 for 1, but misses
20 Telos (11dmg): (stunned)
18 Cirri (11dmg): (stunned)
11 Quinn : Strikes P1 for 7
10 Kyra : Channels for 7

Round 2
21 Pard #1 (7dmg) : Charges thru Q,T for 6
21 Pard #2 : Charges thru Q,C for 5
20 Keeya :
20 Telos (10dmg):
18 Cirri (9dmg):
11 Quinn (?dmg):
10 Kyra :

Now Up: Everyone!

Quinn will take the attack of opportunity vs P1

swordcane: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 - 4 = 13

dmg: 1d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11

When the pard charges Quinn he flails ineffectually with his weapon, before having a profoundly disturbing experience: being knocked down by 100 lbs of semi-incorpreal feline.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Cirri attempts to roll out of the way, but is trampled again and stunned.

Kyra will move to P1 and attack it.

please move my character in the tactical map, I am using my smartphone and couldn't do here

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Critical Confirmation: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Damage: 1d6 + 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + (2) + 2 + 2 + 2 = 13

Quinn fails to stop the feline charging through him while once again bits of each of the three Pathfinder's innards appear splattered about the garden as the two cats phase in and out of their quarry.

Kyra, apparently having enough of this, advances and nearly cleaves the first of the two creatures in half.

Round 2
21 Pard #1 (7dmg) : Charges thru Q,T for 6 (Q misses AoO)
21 Pard #2 : Charges thru Q,C for 5
20 Keeya :
20 Telos (10dmg): (stunned)
18 Cirri (9dmg): (stunned)
11 Quinn (11dmg): (stunned)
10 Kyra : Moves up, slashing P1 for 13

Not GMPCing Keeya, as I see she's checking in, and given she's 50% of the non-stunned party, want to ensure she's taking the actions upcoming (and I suspect it being Sunday eve, the tourney is over?)

Now Up: Keeya

Keeya takes a step to the front and releases a lightning bolt at the Pard #2. Reflex 18 for half
Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 1, 4, 1) = 16

Keeya's bolt of energy seems to pass through the creature entirely, not even damaging it.

The two cats begin a slow circle around Kyra, lashing out with claw and tooth. Both manage to navigate the cleric's defenses (12 damage to Kyra)

Round 3
21 Pard #1 (20dmg) : Bites and claws Kyra for 9
21 Pard #2 : Bites Kyra for 3
20 Keeya :
20 Telos (10dmg):
18 Cirri (9dmg):
11 Quinn (11dmg):
10 Kyra (12dmg) :

Now Up: Everyone!

"Spread...out!" Telos gasps as he is finally able to come to himself. He lifts his dropped pole arm, and then with a smooth action lunges to the side on one knee while bringing the weapon in an arc against one of the creatures.

MW Bardiche (power attack, overhand chop): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 261d10 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
CRIT?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 241d10 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 22 dmg total

Cirri shakes the intense heat off of her and grabs her staff.

Now that she has a chance to talk, she finally talks about their strengths and weaknesses.
"Pards! Don't let them run through you..." Cirri coughs. "And they're extremely agile. Use magically enhanced weapons!"

Cirri steps up to the second creature, enchants her staff and maintains a defensive position.

Spending 1 Arcane Pool Point to enchant my staff so it's a +1 staff. Also using Combat Expertise to put my AC at 15. The threatening defender trait means I reduce my Combat Expertise penalty by 1, to 0.

Quarterstaff, +1, Combat Expertise: 1d20 + 6 + 0 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 0 = 22
2H Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

@Telos: That's 32 damage with the crit! Or 27 after the DR5/magic.

Telos, finally shrugging off the otherworldly sensation of having a phasing cheetah pass through his body, picks up his weapon and stops at least one of the pards from continuing its assault.

Cirri, realizing she needs to take quick and decisive action, steps up and does the same with her quarterstaff.

Out of combat!

Feel free to heal now, too. :)

You are in the NW section. Stay here, or head elsewhere?

(at this time, all regions are still considered code red)

Telos fails basic math! Thanks for catching that!

Telos looks weary and disconcerted. "We should heal before we go on..." he says.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 If someone doesn't mind activating my wand for me...

"Yeah, that...wow. It's like a hurricane force wind ripping through your torso. But a hot wind, like the desert?"

Cirri gets lost in her own metaphor.

"Okay, right. Could someone heal me? Then maybe we can find more stuff to handle."

Cirri is fine in the NW section.

As you continue your patrol of the northwestern campus, a short hike leads up The Mausoleum.

This enormous, columned stone structure is both temple and fortress. Two wings flank an open courtyard. The imposing structure is adjacent to a thick copse of trees.

You recall from your time with the Society that The Mausoleum serves many functions from temple to museum to research laboratory, all dedicated to the greatest mystery of all: death. The left side of the building houses the more academic areas, while the western side is used for more spiritual purposes.

Spotting shattered statues and debris strewn about the courtyard, Telos and Cirri lead the way up and in for a closer look.

Beyond the shattered statues and religious sculptures pertaining to death and the afterline strewn about, you spot two bodies, recognizable as a pair of The Mausoleum's caretakers slumped at the open western doors, apparently dead.

(The stone eastern doors are barred shut beyond the scope of the special we're playing)

Feel free to apply more healing/wand charges/etc as you check in for the latest post. ~25 minutes will pass between the battle with the pards and stepping foot in The Mausoleum's courtyard.

Map updated.

Yeah, by all means stay here until there's a reason we might want to choose something else.

If someone doesn't mind activating my wand for me...

Quinn activates Telos' wand, and then uses his own on himself.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"That.. was profoundly disturbing. Good work Pathfinders-- you pulled my feet out of the fire on that one."

When arriving at the manasoleum, Quinn quickly drinks two potion, and his skin turns to dark wood.

chug barkskin and heroism

Cirri will ask Quinn to use Telos's wand on herself

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Thanks guys! Feeling much better now."

Cirri, I'm always happy to chip in on party healing, but could I ask why you would use my wand when you have one of your own?

Cirri, I'm always happy to chip in on party healing, but could I ask why you would use my wand when you have one of your own?

*checks inventory*

Cirri thinks about it, hands Telos his wand back and pulls out her wand. "Wait, I got one of my own."

Cirri uses her wand a few times before it activates.

UMD: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
UMD: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
UMD: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11
UMD: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
UMD: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
UMD: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
UMD: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
UMD: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Heh...no worries.

A light breeze makes its way through the courtyard as the five Pathfinders stand, bodies of caretakers near the western door, their intentions to investigate unclear.

*ahem*

Kyra sheathes her scimitar and take her CLW wand in her bag, she uses to heal herself or cure anyone that still need.

Feel free to roll the dices, I will gladly use the wand to cure you

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Why these monsters were here? We need to keep helping! I think there are more in need of our assistance! Let's go!!

Since here still a red zone I think we should continue investigating here...

Keeya approaches the two bodies and tries to find out if they are dead for sure.
Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

If they are, she has a look around for any evidence what killed them or other unusual things.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Cirri scratches her head, staring at the caretakers.
"Oh no...what happened to these guys?"

Heal: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

Cirri takes a look around, for any clues, but she's scatterbrained as usual.
Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (9) + 0 = 9

She also readies her wand of shield, just in case.

"We should try these open doors. Surely the caretakers died first defending their work. Let us proceed with haste," the warrior suggests.

Keeya finds that neither of the caretakers are quite dead yet. But it's just a matter of time before the life leaves their bodies.

Telos steps up and looks through the doors.

Beyond, the room appears dark and smells of embalming fluid. Likely this area is where bodies may have been prepared.