GM BPC TK2's Excellent PFS Adventure

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

Nilfyr motions Thunderstealer back into the alcove, then opens the secret door.

Nilfyr opens the door, revealing a short passageway that leads to an open room with weapon racks, wooden wardrobes, and training dummies. Masks hang on the wall near the door, each consisting of a brass nosepiece with cheek guards, from which a veil of red silk hangs.

Map updated

Artemus congers his dancing lights and sends them into the now open room as he moves to peer in.

Faeros studies the shooter, if he can see him, before moving into the secret room.
If he can't make out any targets to study, he will move into the room and ready a shot on any hostile targets that he sees.

@Faeros: You couldn't see the shooters from your original position, so no study targets. Readied shot noted and preferably, spoiler your readied attack roll, too!

Meanwhile, Artemus brings more lights into the room, presumably an armory of sorts. A number of viable weapons seem ripe for the taking, along with several suits of leather armor and a number of the aforementioned bronze-nosed masks.

Before Thunderstealer can move to safety, another crossbow bolt fires at him, but the smoke now provides some cover!

Crossbow bolt @ Thunderstealer: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Miss chance > 20 = hit: 1d100 ⇒ 6
Damage on hit: 1d8 ⇒ 7

And thanks to the smokey veil, a dangerous attack is avoided!

"Can barely see the bloke!", Thunderstealer hears. "Get outta here you mangy gits!", another voice shouts towards the party.

Init Order: Round 1 (bold = up!)
Faeros
Nilfyr
Artemus
??? 2
Thunderstealer (1 damage)
??? 1

"Tribute!"

Thunderstealer throws the expensive tome into the fire.

"I hope Fireshaker like this gift!"

"Belcher! Go open door!"

Handle Animal: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 4 = 20

Crazily close there!

The fire roars, illuminating the room greatly, almost more than a single tome should.

"What the? It's coming for us!", a voice shouts as Belcher pounds against the door, the sound of timbers creaking and iron bending slightly echoing in the hall.

A crossbow bolt is shot at the dino at the door.

Crossbow @ Belcher: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage on hit: 1d8 ⇒ 4

The bolt bounces off of Belcher's hide, seemingly oblivious as he claws and pounds against the door.

Init Order: Round 2 (bold = up!)
Faeros
Nilfyr
Artemus
??? 2
Thunderstealer (1 damage)
??? 1

Well this is certainly starting off "differently". lol

Do you guys want to continue in both directions at once?
Faeros delays until he knows his allies' reactions.

No one seems to be shooting from this direction. I prefer the secret door. Though I recommend we leave this potential loot alone until we have dealt with our shooters.

Nilfyr nods at Artemus' assessment, and proceeds to make his way to the door opposite the one they entered through, then open it quickly.

Faeros will follow behind Nilfyr, taking position in the next room dependent on what it looks like in there. (or possibly attacking, depending on what he sees)

Nilfyr opens the door, exposing the junction of a hallway to his right that continues east, to the other side, he can hear the two men shouting at each other about the dinosaur trying to barge in. "Think there's more of 'em?" "You'd think so..."

"Wait, the armory door just opened!", a man exclaims. The sound of footsteps moving away from the party can be heard.

Init Order: Round 2 (bold = up!)
Faeros
Nilfyr
Artemus
??? 2
Thunderstealer (1 damage)
Belcher
??? 1

Was Faeros able to move in and attack, then? From the description it sounds like there might be a visible target at this point.

Whoops, you be correct! I misread your line first pass!

Faeros immediately follows up and sees a pair of men in cloaks and the same bronze masks as in the armory. He reactively fires at the closest one, landing a solid shot in the chest of one of them.

The room they are in has an iron lever set into the northwest corner and a rope pulley in the northeast corner.

Wounded, one of the men moves over to a rope pulley and pulls twice.
This is his same action, but now with 10 more damage to him!

Init Order: Round 2 (bold = up!)
Faeros
Nilfyr
Artemus
Guard Blue (10 damage)
Thunderstealer (1 damage)
Belcher
Guard Red

Map updated!

Thunderstealer walks towards the people firing at him, horsechopper in hand.

"Stop firing, so I can finish ritual in peace!"

"Blecher, OPEN door, not attack door! You not a clever girl!"

Hendle Animal: 1d20 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 4 = 26

Oh! Open the door! Let's try that!

Belcher uses his massive jaws to try and turn the door handle and finds the door is secured quite well, as if it was locked on the other side and the wooden door was reinforced somehow.

With Thunderstealer adjacent to them, the unwounded man drops his crossbow and grabs a shortsword, aiming it for Thunderstealer's neck and sneak into a potential flanking position.

Blue sword @ Thunderstealer: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

However, Belcher's attempt to open the door frightens the man enough that his attack goes awry.

Also got my colors mixed up; Red is the injured guard, blue is healthy.

Init Order: Round 2 (bold = up!)
Faeros
Nilfyr
Artemus
Guard Red (10 damage)
Thunderstealer (1 damage)
Belcher
Guard Blue

Let's use some force!

Strength vs Break DC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Belcher slams against the door, but finds it secured extremely well.

Thunderstealer can see from his end that the door is reinforced with three strips of heavy iron to give it increased durability from battering rams or dinosaurs.

Taking Advantage of Coordinated Shot, Faeros steps up and fires 2 arrows at Guard Blue, who is distracted by Thunderstealer.

Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot, Coordinated Shot
First Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 261d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Second Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 101d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Edit: Cover may apply...

Nilfyr moves in and attempts to trip the nearest guard.

Move action: As indicated on map
Standard action: Trip blue
Improved Trip: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Yup, cover for 20% miss chance!

Miss chance via Faeros arrow 1: 1d100 ⇒ 37

Faeros shoots the man once in the back, although the guard then leaps over the blade aiming to trip him.

Init Order: Round 2 (bold = up!)
Faeros
Nilfyr
Artemus
Guard Red (10 damage)
Thunderstealer (1 damage)
Belcher
Guard Blue

Artemus moves up and dashes his lights into the room to illuminate it. He will ready to cast Magic Missile at any new enemy that shows itself.

Injured and seeing a lot more people than he was expecting, the guard in the corner tries to avoid the party by hoping on top of crates.

Acrobatics vs Thunderstealer: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Acrobatics vs Nilfyr +2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Acrobatics to hop on crates: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

He slinks past Thunderstealer, but Nilfyr gets a chance at him as he approaches!

If he survives/isn't tripped, he'll be on the location marked on the map, otherwise he'll just below blue.

Init Order: Round 2 (bold = up!)
Faeros
Nilfyr (AoO @ Red)
Artemus (readied MM)
Guard Red (10 damage)
Thunderstealer (1 damage)
Belcher
Guard Blue (6 damage)

Nilfyr attempts to bring the guard down quickly.

Improved Trip: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

About to leap for the boxes, Nilfyr doesn't miss this one and uses his fauchard to catch his leg, slamming him to the ground.

"Who are these bastards?"!, he yells out.

Init Order: Round 2 (bold = up!)
Faeros
Nilfyr (AoO @ Red)
Artemus (readied MM)
Guard Red (10 damage, prone)
Thunderstealer (1 damage)
Belcher
Guard Blue (6 damage)

Thunderstealer steps Down/Left and removes the bar from the door and opens it.

Surrender, or Belcher attacks!

The guard on the floor drops his crossbow. "I give!" The other is still defiant and moves to stab Thunderstealer. "You think we're alone, the boss'll take care of you!"

Blue shortsword @ Thunderstealer: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage on hit: 1d6 ⇒ 1

He acts quickly, but can only scratch Thunderstealer's might muscles! "You bleedin' dolt!", the one on the ground argues back. "They look to kill us all!"

Init Order: Round 3 (bold = up!)
Faeros
Nilfyr
Artemus
Guard Red (10 damage, prone, surrendering)
Thunderstealer (2 damage)
Belcher
Guard Blue (6 damage)

perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23

Something approaches from the hallway!

Faeros will once again delay until after Nilfyr has had a chance to act.

That one attacked my stupid friend!
bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

The man, given the warning from Thunderstealer is prepared and dodges the bite at him!

Init Order: Round 3 (bold = up!)
Nilfyr
Faeros (delayed to after Nilfyr)
Artemus
Guard Red (10 damage, prone, surrendering)
Thunderstealer (2 damage)
Belcher
Guard Blue (6 damage)

Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

The claws, they do nothing without damage rolls :P Still think Blue is about to have a bad day, though.

Couldn't see if I was just 5 feet away, but yes, so full attack!

damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Poor blue, thinking that the dinosaur was a Trex with the big head and little arms... no, Belcher, showed him the error of his ways with a pair of deep slashes, the first bringing him to his knees and the other rendering him unconscious.

"Clever girl...", speaks the guard in red.

Init Order: Round 3 (bold = up!)
Nilfyr
Faeros (delayed to after Nilfyr)
Artemus
Guard Red (10 damage, prone, surrendering)
Thunderstealer (2 damage)
Belcher
Guard Blue (20 damage, bleeding, unconscious)

Nilfyr holds his attack. "If you don't want to end up like your comrade, you will tell us all you know of this place. Who is your "boss"? How many of you are there, and where are they stationed?"

When the archaist's turn comes up he will re-ready to cast a spell at any new enemy that shows itself.

Faeros will move to look around the next corner in the southeast hallway. If he sees something, He will move back and ready. Otherwise He will just ready to attack a hostile creature that presents a clear shot.

readied attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 261d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

Making an Intimidate roll for Nilfyr with a +4 bonus for the situation :)

Intimidate vs Guard: 1d20 - 1 + 4 ⇒ (15) - 1 + 4 = 18

Seeing that his survival with the party would be greatly improved by dialogue, he reluctantly talks. "Tarrin runs this lot of bandits; been using this place as a stronghold fer a while. She calls us the 'Splinters' and you're now invadin' Splinterden!"

Both Faeros and Artemus prepare to blast the first things that come around the corner. However, as Faeros passes the first corner, a statue of a woman with a water urn releases a gas!

Faeros, steadfast in taking position, seems to otherwise ignore what the gas may have done.

Almost immediately after readying their attacks, three men come from around the corner, crossbows drawn.

Faeros' arrow lands squarely in the chest of one and Artemus' magical bolt renders him unconscious.

The two remaining bandits return fire at Faeros!

Yellow crossbow @ Faeros: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Damage on hit: 1d8 ⇒ 2
Faeros Fort save on hit vs DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Green crossbow @ Faeros: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 13
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Faeros Fort save on hit vs DC 11: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Both crossbow bolts hit a barrel next to the Kelish man!

Init Order: Round 3 (bold = up!)
Nilfyr
Faeros (delayed to after Nilfyr)
Artemus
Splinter Red (10 damage, prone, surrendering)
Splinter Green
Splinter Yellow
Splinter Purple (12 damage, unconscious, bleeding)
Thunderstealer (2 damage)
Belcher
Splinter Blue (20 damage, bleeding, unconscious)

"Blecher! New chew toys!"

Belcher and Thunderstealer double move towards the approching enemy

Careful, gas and poison up here!

Silly me, Blue should be removed at this point... not much going to save him and he's pointless for the rest of this combat!

Init Order: Round 4 (bold = up!)
Nilfyr
Faeros
Artemus
Splinter Red (10 damage, prone, surrendering)
Splinter Green
Splinter Yellow
Splinter Purple (12 damage, unconscious, bleeding)
Thunderstealer (2 damage)
Belcher

Faeros fires 2 arrows at yellow (with a presumed -4 already included for cover and a +1 for coordinated shot.)

arrow1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 111d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
arrow2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 151d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Then he steps back into the hall.

Faeros launches another pair of arrows; the first bounces off of the wall, but the second lands with a thud into the nearby bandit, nearly staggering him!

Just realized I forgot to move Faeros and Artemus on the initiative until after the bandits due to their readied action... leaving it alone this time, will correct later.

Init Order: Round 4 (bold = up!)
Nilfyr
Faeros
Artemus
Splinter Red (10 damage, prone, surrendering)
Splinter Green
Splinter Yellow (9 damage)
Splinter Purple (12 damage, unconscious, bleeding)
Thunderstealer (2 damage)
Belcher

Nilfyr glowers at the surrendering Splinter, "Stay there." He then makes his way up to the conflagration.

Full-round action: Double move, as indicated on map

Believing that his friends can handle the new threat Art moves to disarm the two bandits that have surrendered. Smart of you to surrender. he says. We will likely let you go later. For now though I need to insist you drop your weapons and step away from them.

"Give 'I'm the potion on him so he ain'dead, or let me do it!" he pleads to Artemus.

More later.

-Posted with Wayfinder