Dave the Dwarf Presents: Legacy of Fire!

Game Master Gandrik Th-kar

Gunk you take 2 damage from falling into cactus.

Grim
Akim
Hajar
Gunk

That is the order of people made it to the center. Shortly after Grim makes his way into the clearing with the goat. What the 4 of you see is as if the world’s most revolting lapdog had somehow learned to walk on its back legs, and picked up a bow and shot at Nemaides who was flying overhead.

The goat is now completely frantic and pulls the stake out the ground, impales itself on the cactus and falls to the ground.

Combat actions.
The pugwampi goes second.

Round 1

Grim will wait until someone else is in melee combat with a pugwampi then he will move and engage the same target (if it didn't die with his comrade's attack).

Dagger Flanking: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 51d4 + 1d8 ⇒ (2) + (4) = 6

and misses his target by a mile

WHOA, WATCH WHERE YOU'RE AIMING THAT THING FUZZBRAIN! hollers Nemaides as the arrow zips by.

He continues flying up above.

Al-Akim charges the Pugwampi monster, drawing his Falchion and swinging hard at the wretched creature.

attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
damage: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 = 13

Raj feels, then hears Nemaides' distress and quickly dips his hand into a pocket and produces a small bag. He starts speaking an incantation, and a candle inside the bag lights. It burns brighter and brighter, until at the end of the incantation the fire launches off from the candle towards the area Nemaides is circling, forming into a large eagle above the cacti. As it flies, Raj directs it in the celestial tongue to charge and attack the furry creature below Nemaides, and Nemaides does a fly-by to highlight the 'pugwampi'. The eagle's talons and and beak begin glowing, and it executes a perfect corkscrew to dive bomb the creature with a cry of power.

Celestial Eagle Attack:
Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23 + smite evil
DamageBite: 1d4 ⇒ 1 + smite evil

Talon1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 + smite evil
DamageTalon1: 1d4 ⇒ 2 + smite evil

Talon2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 + smite evil
DamageTalon2: 1d4 ⇒ 2 + smite evil

Raj has cast Summon Monster 1, which will last for two turns instead of one because Raj is a conjurer. The eagle has the following bonuses to its attack: +3 base, +2 flank, +2 charge, +1 elevation bonus, and smite evil (not entirely sure how the bonuses work for smite evil, so I didn't include them in the rolls). If the creature is evil, those will have to be added on top to both the damage and attack rolls. Loving the house rules for actions and flanking!

Note the celestial eagle has a -2 penalty to AC till its next turn.

yeah, because summon spells are a full round action so... Also isn't it just the people in the clearing who are taking actions right now? And also how are you and Nemaides communicating so effectively?

Hajar uses his action to shout at his companions.

Peace! Peace! We do not know this creature had anything to do with the fire. Hamzah can you see about the goat good friend.

Hajar moves towards the Pugwampi attempting to calm everyone down.

He addresses the creature.

My name is Hajar nar Jundi, and I am here to see that my friend's goat is returned. What say you in anaswer?

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

I don't think there are full round actions in Dave's campaign. Going to make it nice for someone casting summoning spells.

Hamzah listens intently.

Hajar is speaking in common, not sure what the creature speaks. How do we know that this is a Pugwampi, could just be an ugly dog. Also, Dave said make 2 d20 rolls and take lowest so I'm rolling diplomacy again

diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"Hey, Ho... We didn't mean any harm. We just want the goat to be returned."

Hamzah cannot see what is occurring where the others are.

Hajar, do you tell Hamzah what is going on?

yeah, because summon spells are a full round action so... Also isn't it just the people in the clearing who are taking actions right now? And also how are you and Nemaides communicating so effectively?

Hajar uses his action to shout at his companions.

Peace! Peace! We do not know this creature had anything to do with the fire. Hamzah can you see about the goat good friend.

Hajar moves towards the Pugwampi attempting to calm everyone down.

He addresses the creature.

My name is Hajar nar Jundi, and I am here to see that my friend's goat is returned. What say you in anaswer?

[dice=diplomacy] 1d20+9

I did in this post. That was a shout, I'm thinking your only 30-50' away so Hamzah should have heard that. Ahh ok, you can't see the goat.

"Hajar, I cannot see the goat. What do you need?", Hamzah looks through the cactus forest trying to determine what is occurring.

Lot questions here and a lot of good points. I will think on it and make a ruling In the intrest of keeping things ballanced I may have to start using combat actions.

Summon Monster I

School conjuration (summoning) [see text]; Level antipaladin 1, bard 1, cleric/oracle 1, sorcerer/wizard 1, summoner 1, witch 1

CASTING
Casting Time 1 round
Components V, S, F/DF (a tiny bag and a small candle)
It clearly states that it takes a full round to cast summon monster I'm not going to change that. To be fair though if an action is full round from now on it Will take the full round. We will continue to adjust combat rules until everyone is happy, so if you have concerns or ideas please let me know.

While Raj and Nemaides do not possess telepathy, they do have an empathetic link. Raj was able to sense Nemaides' fear when he was shot at, and the fact that Nemaides was under attack from a furry creature was confirmed by Nemaides' hollering. In response, Raj summoned an eagle and directed it to attack the furry creature below Nemaides, since he only knows that it is 1) hostile, 2) furry, and 3), somewhere in the general area below Nemaides' flight pattern. Nemaides then; both in the interest of being helpful and of saving his own tail feathers by making sure the creature had as little time to shoot as possible; pointed out the exact location of the creature to the eagle. The eagle then used a full attack on the creature. Under normal rules, this would have occurred in two rounds, the first round spent on the spell, and the second round the eagle flying to the target and making a standard attack (just two claws), since Raj is both out if range to summon the eagle right next to the creature and he does not know the creature's exact location.

EDIT: Ninja'd! So with clarification, just ignore the Bite attack, and the attack happens the second round of combat. (I'm assuming the creature's shot and Nemaides' outburst were the surprise round? If they were the first round the eagle should arrive roughly the same time as Grim, I think.)

Gunk will ready an action (crossbow loaded and ready to fire) to await the outcome of the diplomacy check.

Though in reality I think that trying to be diplomatic AFTER you've attacked someone is kind of backwards. Plus the fact that the creature attacked first. And, if the creature is sentient, it is now wanted for arson, theft, and also possibly murder. Moreover, it appears to have set a trap to create more unlawful mayhem. I'm thinking diplomacy after all such activity, is spectacularly inappropriate in this case. Can't imagine too many codes that would argue for mercy in this circumstance.

The light shed from the light sources goes 20 feet. Gunk has a light in the cactus patch and Hamazah has light outside. The patch is 25 feet deep and you have 40 feet of light. Everyone is in bright light. Hamazah can not see the goat because of the hight of the cactus.

Combat order!
Akim attacks and misses.

Grim flanks, attacks and misses

Hajar asks his question, but the creature snarls and climbs a large cactus, it did not appear to understand your language, nor did it get pierced or cut by the sharp cactus spines Hajar can sense the evil intent of this creature.

Raj sees his familiar being attacked casts the summon

The pugwampi let out a screeching noise. Akim you sword begins to vibrate to the point it may break from the noise! Will save Akim one roll.

Yes the bow attack would be a surprise round.

Hang in there guys I get it down. I want the combat fast, fun, and fair.

I'm good Dave. I don't mind fast and loose combat on a PbP. It's much harder to do round by round combat in this format.

Hamzah hears battle. He will plunge into the cactus forest. "Hajar, I'm coming

He moves 20 feet into the cactus patch. Or half that if difficult terrain.

Acrobatics this round:1d20 - 4 ⇒ (6) - 4 = 2
1d20 - 4 ⇒ (2) - 4 = -2

Gunk will ready an action (crossbow loaded and ready to fire) to await the outcome of the diplomacy check.

** spoiler omitted **

Though in reality I think that trying to be diplomatic AFTER you've attacked someone is kind of backwards. Plus the fact that the creature attacked first. And, if the creature is sentient, it is now wanted for arson, theft, and also possibly murder. Moreover, it appears to have set a trap to create more unlawful mayhem. I'm thinking diplomacy after all such activity, is spectacularly inappropriate in this case. Can't imagine too many codes that would argue for mercy in this circumstance.

I have like exactly the opposite view of yours. It was being chased, so it lashed out at the bird following it. It missed. We have no idea if it committed arson, no idea murder but a pretty good idea about theft. Theft is punishable by death? I'm pretty sure not in Katapesh, in fact the splatbook lists the punishment if found guilty as loss of hand, branding and 25gp fine. Hajar would probably find that extreme. The only mayhem is the mayhem we brought with us, no one forced us through the cactus, there was probably a better way through it. Spectacularly inappropriate, not really. Think about this, you see someone who stole a goat....your first action is to attack with lethal intent?

Hajar, sensing his companions bloodlust charges the creature and strikes to incapacitate.

attack1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
damage1: 2d4 + 5 ⇒ (2, 2) + 5 = 9
Second roll
attack2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Hamzah, the goat we came this way to save has stuck itself upon the spines. Can you check it please?

Gunk shoots his crossbow but it jams and misses.

Where's Leyli in this instance? Would she be able to help them?

I'm good Dave. I don't mind fast and loose combat on a PbP. It's much harder to do round by round combat in this format.

Hamzah hears battle. He will plunge into the cactus forest. "Hajar, I'm coming

He moves 20 feet into the cactus patch. Or half that if difficult terrain.

Acrobatics this round:1d20-4
1d20-4

Thank you that is my thought on it as well.

Leyil never went through the cactus.

Hamzah takes one damage from the cactus.

Hajar strikes the creature and incapacitates it. (Speaking is free so he still had actions to take)

Now anyone can walk through the cactus no problem.

What a freeking train wreck that was. Sorry guys.

"Now what do we have here,"

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 is that the appropriate check?

It was fine Dave. Hajar is just troubled by his companions actions. Time to roleplay.

Hajar disarms the creature and examines it closely. take 20 perception

Hajar then admonishes Grim and Akim.

Good friends, the lady Sarenrae says in her most holy book The Birth of Light and Truth that all must be shown mercy. We do not know this creatures heart, and although its visage seems evil, we must not judge it based on our eyes alone but on our hearts. I am ashamed that I might have struck this creature without cause and for that I will do penance

Also, party name "Goat Saviors" anyone?

Raj your eagle searches the area for danger and finds nothing.

"Now what do we have here,"

[dice=Knowledge Nature]1d20+5 is that the appropriate check?

Maybe? Maybe not. Natural 20 here is what you gather.

The creature is Fey in origin, and it is of the gremlin variety.

"You maybe right Hajar, now I'm starting to wonder on why did it do those acts." says Leyli as she stoops down to closely examine the creature more, "We may never know."

Oh dearest Leyli, it is not dead. Merely unconscious. My training allows me to strike to incapacitate rather than to kill. However, we must decide what to do with it.

Dashki:

Almah demands that we bring this creature to her. Or else I will be killed for murder! Sir these things are evil! They cause misery everywhere they go. This is what killed the fortune teller!

"When you guys were talking to the villagers, who has the most knowledge on this creature? I don't think the villagers would want to keep it. Do we really have proof of what evil this creature did?" as Leyli contemplates on what needs to be done, "I don't think it would follow us either, it would be nice if it will."

You propose an interesting question mistress Leyli. Do we bind the creature or not? It should stay unconscious for a while as in my haste I struck a telling blow.

To Dashki, Hajar responds

Never fear friend. We will do what we can to prove your innocence in this matter. Do you perhaps know the language it speaks since you know so much about the creature?

Dave, I took 20 in a perception check. Did he carry anything in particular that would seem incriminating?

lets bring the creature and the goat back and be done with it.

Be done with what sir? We took justice into our hands so we must see justice done.

The creature carries a crude dagger and bow.

Dashki:

I know they can speak to the vile Gnolls they worship!

Akim's Will save

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Akim your sword survives the sonic attack intact.

"Why don't we ask our only witness here." says Leyli as she goes into her meditation.

Leyli casts Speak with Animals.

"Tell us what happened my friend. You may not have understood what we have said earlier, we just want to know whether this creature did you any wrong."

"Why don't we ask our only witness here." says Leyli as she goes into her meditation.

Leyli casts Speak with Animals.

"Tell us what happened my friend. You may not have understood what we have said earlier, we just want to know whether this creature did you any wrong."

The goat needs to be revived before you can do that.

Who would've survived being impaled by a cactus, a killer cactus.

Leyli will try to revive the goat using her restorative magic.

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

Hajar, I think you misread the situation. Imagine the following scenario:

1. you arrive home from work to find your house on fire.
2. one of your family members is dead
3. your car is missing
4. and when you follow the trail after only a few hundred feet you see your car still running with the doors open and approach it.
5. you hear laughter and then someone shoots at you unprovoked.

*one point of order where my metaphor falls apart is your car is tied to a telephone pole and there is a sign on the windshield that reads come and get it butt munch!

1+2+3+4+5 = pretty fair argument for guilt.

Gunk goes over to calm the goat down and extricate it from the cactus thorns. As he heads towards the goat, Gunk says to Hajar the creature set a trap to ambush us. If it is only a thief trying to get away with a simple meal, why take the time to tie up your stolen goods and then hide nearby in ambush when someone comes after you? Would it not be more prudent to simply set the goat free and run for it? This seems a deliberate tactic to me.

Gunk attempts to calm the goat with handle animal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
If he manages to calm the beast he casts speak with animals and says the following to the goat

There there.You are safe now. That creature cannot harm you anymore. We will return you to your home. Can you tell me what happened back there at the camp? Did that creature make fire?

Edit: doh! Ninjad. Good idea Leyli

Hamzah stumbles through cactus. He enters the clearing and seeing the goat fallen, he raises up his holy symbol, "Sarenrae, Heal us with your light."

Channel Energy:1d6 ⇒ 5

Now we can have a party with the goat Gunk! Aha!

"So this is the gnoll worshipper? This tiny creature. It is like a dimunitive, deformed gnoll." Hamzah studies it. "Very ugly creature."

its exactly as i said lets bring the goat and the creature back. well i am done with it as far as i am concerned

after the channel energy

that felt rather good thank you Hamzah

Hajar, I think you misread the situation. Imagine the following scenario:

1. you arrive home from work to find your house on fire.
2. one of your family members is dead
3. your car is missing
4. and when you follow the trail after only a few hundred feet you see your car still running with the doors open and approach it.
5. you hear laughter and then someone shoots at you unprovoked.

*one point of order where my metaphor falls apart is your car is tied to a telephone pole and there is a sign on the windshield that reads come and get it butt munch!

1+2+3+4+5 = pretty fair argument for guilt.

It didn't shoot at me. It shot at the raven. Had it shot at a person, Hajar's response would have been much much different. Also, presumption of innocence is just as much a part of Golarion as it is Earth. My problem is the rush to attack something that isn't necessarily evil or guilty. Had the thief shown itself to be an evil outsider, aberration or undead Hajar would have smote first and asked no questions, those things cannot be redeemed, everything else should be given the opportunity for redemption. Also, in your scenario, if the police catch the person, do they fire first? Or do they command the suspect to stop and affect an arrest?