GM BPChocobo's Thornkeep Level 4 - The Dark Menagerie (Inactive)

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

As Julian opens the door, a large earthen fist smashes through it, showering splinters everywhere as the blow continues towards the alchemist!

Earth Elemental slam @ FF Julian: 1d20 + 9 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 4 - 2 = 17
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 6 = 22

The audible sound of a rib cracking can be heard as the earth elemental's strike severely wounds Julian, the door nearly ripped in half in the process!
Julian, 22 damage to you!

Jostrum, you may make your readied bow strike.

Init Order:
Elemental
Julian
Elindriel
Jostrum
Miss Dominique
Ki/Ears

Round 1 Begins!

The elemental continues its assault, this time stepping forward to clobber the singing half-elf!

Elemental slam @ Elindriel: 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 2 = 26
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 6 = 17

The blow knocks the wind out of the bard, her music still lingering in the air.
17 damage to you Elindriel!

Right after the strike, a blobous man appears behind the elemental's original location. It looks to the right, nods, then coughs out a blob towards the party that expands into a sickly green gas!

@Elindriel & Jostrum: It's a stinking cloud!

The putrid odor fills everyone's nostrils, but amazingly, everyone overcomes the initial reaction. In fact, only the elemental seems fazed by this, clutching its stomach.

Amazingly, everyone passed their Fort saves! The elemental didn't though... guess that plan backfired :P

Don't have map access atm.

Jostrum fires an arrow as the door opens.

Readied Attack, Inspire, PBS?: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 8

Jostrum, I forgot to add something for the beginning of round 1. As far as map goes, you do have PBS; the elemental is 10 ft away. However, the stinking cloud counts as fog cloud so you cannot see anything past 5'. You can still fire, but the elemental will get total concealment. At least your last sight is that the elemental getting nauseated A new target is farther behind it, though.

@Jostrum: Seeing Julian get attacked, you immediately release the arrow which imbeds itself deeply inside the elemental.

Don't forget your round 1 action now Jostrum!

Also, don't forget fog cloud from the stinking cloud is in effect.

Miss Dominique will channel positive engery to heal for hp: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 2) = 13

Then she will move out of the cloud

Elindriel tumbles past the elemental and into the next room, dropping her bow and drawing her katana, then imbues her blade with arcane power and swings at the blobous creature.

Free action: Drop bow
Move action: Tumble past earth elemental, drawing katana
Acrobatics (ACP): 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 1 = 16
Standard action: Attack blobous creature
Attack (Katana, Inspire Courage): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24
Damage (Katana, Inspire Courage, Arcane Strike): 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 8

@Elindriel: No need to make your acrobatics; the elemental is nauseated so he can't strike back! Your attack strikes the creature, but its rubbery skin heals up the brunt of the cut. Damage reduction

Yeah, I remembered. Was holding to see the map and see if the arrow did full damage.

Rapid Shot, PBS, Inspire: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 6) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 13
Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 60

Rapid Shot, PBS, Inspire: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5, 2) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 11
Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 19

Jostrum looses two more arrows in quick succession at the elemental.

It looks like Jostrum is within 5'?

Sorry... I have been absent, Been busy filling out a personal history statement for entrance into the police academy.

Ow! That hurt. MAUL ANGRY!

drinking mutagen, and inciting rage
HP 23->31

Bite 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 181d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Claw 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 211d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Claw 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 201d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

I don't know if the guantlet will have any effect, lets call it the first claw roll.

@Julian, typically, you can't combine natural attacks and weapons; if you do, natural attacks are made a -5 penalty I believe. However, if you get he Multiattack feat (not sure if you can qualify in PFS rules due to Additional Resources), then those other natural attacks are only at a -2 penalty. Don't ask me why, thems the rules. Because of this, I'll leave you at your current rolls for optimal benefit.

Also, don't forget that Miss Dominique healed you for 13!

And thanks for the heads up... and good luck to you :)p

Concealment miss chance 21+ to hit -bite: 1d100 ⇒ 71
Concealment miss chance 21+ to hit -claw 1: 1d100 ⇒ 28
Concealment miss chance 21+ to hit -claw 1: 1d100 ⇒ 85

Your muscles almost seem to double in size, and you tear into the earth elemental.

With your last claw, the elemental starts to fall apart, but it then disappears out of existence.

@Jostrum: Julian finished off the beast, you may change your action/target. I"ll keep your roll and damage, modifying accordingly if you move and thus only get 1 shot.

That works GM. Can't access map atm, to move him. If you or another could, that'd be awesome.

Having a hard time with the map on my phone. Please move Ki out of the cloud and to where he can attack and then attack for both he and Ears. He is fine pulling a close range weapon if he cannot charge a foe and must close. Note he will do his best to move out of the fog and to an enemy enven if he has to provoke.

@Jostrum: Alright, you'll have to move somewhat close since you have a rough idea where the thing was, but you'll still be in Stinking Cloud and thus have to make a save beginning of next round. Moved you down a bit so you could get into a firing position and keep Ki's charge lane open

Jostrum miss chance ala fog: 1d100 ⇒ 32
And the arrow goes wide, hitting the bookshelf behind the blobous thing.

Will do Ki! Because you have Ride-by-Attack, you can still charge the only foe you could see before crazy happened, then move past it, without the AoO :)

Ki Charge of death @ blobous thing: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 1 = 21
Damage on hit: 3d6 + 21 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1, 2) + 21 + 3 = 28

As with the elemental, the creature disappears once Ki's lance runs through it.

Round 1 Recap!

The elemental, after its surprise attack, then smashes Elindriel.
A strange humanoid shaped person appears and summons forth a stinking cloud; everyone resists it!
Maul... mauls the elemental after Jostrum softened it up with a readied arrow. Elemental disappears
Elindriel attacks the blobous man, wounding it slightly (DR prevented full damage)
Miss Dominique heals some of the elemental's initial assault, then gets out of the gas.
Jostrum moves to fire an arrow and misses due to the fog.
Ki charges forth, causing the humanoid to disappear.

Round 2? Oh yes!

Ki begins to wipe what trace of black blood off of his lance until something above him appears out of nowhere and begins to rake with out with multiple claws!

Claw 1 @ Ki: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 14 + 4 = 26
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + (2, 4) = 12
Claw 2 @ KI: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Claw 3 @ Ki: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Claw 4 @ Ki: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Grab @ Ki: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Damage on success: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6
Ki Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Str Damage on failure: 1d4 ⇒ 3

A horrific looking creature with wings and sharp, pincered claws assaults the unsuspecting wayang. Elindriel sees the thing pincers moving with near surgical precision and aiming for Ki's tendons to weaken the fighter. Luckily, he resists the pain, but he is still trapped in the thing's clutches!
@Ki: The creature, presumably invisible, attacked you Ki... sneak attack, grabbed and grappled you, then tried to surgically eviscerate parts of your body! Currently have the grappled condition and at 3 HP.

Anyone looking at the thing may make a Kn: Nature or a Kn: Religion against it.

Map updated, description below!
Although the screams of Ki getting cut up by the bizarre monster flying overhead, Elindriel notices that the room they're in consists of two wings; to the east, a low workbench wraps around the walls. To the west, a larger wing opens into what appears to be a strange laboratory. A curving workbench covered in gory heaps of flesh and bone sits against the lab's wall. Alcoves to the north and south house strange contraptions that will require further inspection...

Jostrum moves into the room, past Ki, then turns in the doorway and fires an arrow at the creature.

Attack, PBS, Inspire: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5, 4) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 13

KN: nature: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

@Jostrum: You know it's actually a plant based creature, but what it is beyond your knowledge. Whatever it is, it is intelligent and deadly. You also note that your arrow had less effect than it should have, the creature's fibrousy skin cushioning the arrow strike.

First blood dealt to thing!

Elindriel, realizing Ki is grappled by the creature, immediately casts liberating command to aid his escape.

Immediate action: Cast liberating command
Ki can roll an Escape Artist check with a +8 to the roll from the spell.

That done, she tumbles to a flanking position with Jostrum and begins singing once more, katana held at the ready.

Move action: As indicated on map
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Standard action: Begin Inspire Courage (10/12 rounds remaining)

@Elindriel: This actually poses a very interesting scenario: If Ki does make his Escape Artist, then you may receive an AoO; if he doesn't then you're safe. The Acrobatics is noted though because you can stand on the work bench and the Acrobatics could be used for climbing up with relative speed :)[/ooc]

Botting Ki's escape artist to resolve the action
Ki Escape Artist: 1d20 + 2 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 8 = 29

....on the dot.
Inspired by Elindriel's words, Ki manages to shrug off the alien entity above him.

Ki no longer grappled!
@Elindriel: With the creature now free, you are now the obvious threat and it moves to strike you as you leap to the nearby table.

Claw AoO @ Elindriel: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Elindirel, you take 8 points of damage, but don't forget that Miss Dominique healed for 13 earlier!

The thing swipes one of its bloodied claws at the half-elf woman, serrating her shoulder as she moves to the nearby table.

Waiting another couple of hours for other people's reactions, then moving on!

Who is up?

Haven't had Julian, Ki, or Miss Dominique's round 2 actions yet! For the most part, it's strange monster, followed by you guys.

Miss Dominique will tie one of her scarfs in front of her nose and mouth and bless herself with a bit of luck.

Noted, will continue this next later today!

hmm. Gonna likely ramble here but I am just not realizing how much trouble we are in. Dominique, you are outside the cloud so you do not know exactly what is going on. But I think you did hear Ki's screams of both terror and horrible pain. Now that I am back in the country and can better post I'd like to add to that by his actual call to you for help. Something like: "Dominique, the creature has me! Ahhh! Its slicing me up! By the gods its dissecting me! Help!!!" This cloud, I guess its still here, may be the death of us, since it separates the group and is concealing and to enter it squires a fort save. This is a wicked tough creature and seems to be using kick ass tactics. Because the creature is over Ki he cannot withdraw and will likely die next round, even with your help if he is targeted. If he is hit even once he gets the damage plus the sneak attack if grappled and then another DC 18 fort save to avoid ability damage (and he cannot count on rolling another 19 to get out of the grapple). So, maybe with the input of Ki's exact screaming and its magnitude perhaps the DM would let you change your action, that is if you want to and have something better to do (I may be reaching here). And Ki is last so I am going to wait for Jullian to act before deciding what to do. This is likely already too much of a spoiler but knowing that the creature did 36 points of damage last round to him and basically auto grappled him Ki may have to run on his turn (I hate to run!) and hope the thing does not have combat reflexes.

Botting Julian
Maul, hearing the screams, moves into the room and unleashes his beastial fury upon the strange creature.

5' step in, then full attack
Julian bite @ thing: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Julian claw @ thing: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Julian claw @ thing: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Going all out, Julian teeth sinks into the beast, but it snaps back into the air to evade the other two attacks.

All yours Ki!

You did not move Julian, so I moved him to the only place I think he could have moved and still attacked.

Even gravely wounded, Ki is not willing to abandon his friends to this monstrosity. He and Ears 5' shift and both attack the creature, Ki dropping his lance and pulling his trusty long sword and challenging the creature. I shall have my vengeance! he yells after being the focus of such a devastating attack.

Bite from Ears: 1d20 ⇒ 161d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Longsword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 301d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 Ki has no idea what the thing is.

Confirm the crit Ki! Thanks for moving him; on mobile and couldn't do so.

Thanks for botting Julian.

Maul continues the assualt 3 rage rounds used
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 231d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 161d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 281d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Oh, crit… Did not see. Thanks!

Confirm Crit with longsword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 281d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

There. That ought to make Ki a target. :P Come on Miss Dominique, I am counting on you!

Bah, Paizo lost my post, so dropping recap. Ears barely missed, and Ki did crit the thing. Oh yes, there will be blood.

Round 3 start!
The stinking cloud starts to melt away into the air, its noxious odors no longer suffocating the party. Can't access map to remove the green circle.

The thing, hovers over Julian now, determined to eliminate all of the foes below it... starting with the plucky cavalier! It pauses to grab a strange rod strapped to one of its leg, but decides to rend with its claws once again.

Thing claw @ Ki: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Thing claw @ Ki: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Thing claw @ Ki: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Thing claw @ Ki: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

The first claw comes in and Ki raises his shield to block it. He ducks under the second strike and barely brings his shield in to stop the third blow. However, a final claw jabs him in the stomach. As Ki falls upon Ears motionless, dripping dark blood on his mount, the creature doesn't dive in to further rend the wayang, not wishing to encumber itself with a helpless target with so many threats available.
Ki down at -2... but he took attacks that would have dropped any other PC. Can the party strike vengeance against the alien foe?

Hey,just saw that Ears was short changed - somehow I rolled a 16 but did not add the +6 to hit. If a 22 hit, that bite landed. also that last attack of yours is messed up, only showing +4 to hit, not +14, with no damage.

Rapid, PBS, Inspire: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 7

Rapid, PBS, Inspire: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 2 + 1 + 1 = 28
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 12

Seeing Ki go down, Jostrum fires two more arrows at the creature.

All arrows are cold iron if it matters.

Knowledge Religion (bit of luck): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 151d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 to identify the creature

I need the information and the effects of the actions of the others before determining what Miss Donimique will do.

@Ki: I noticed that about Ears; but even with the +6 for a 22, it was a miss. As far as the to hit/damage... well, shoot, I was rushing and frustrated after Paizo ate my last post. But I recall out of the 4 rolls, that was the only one that hit, and the damage roll was a 1+4, so 5 damage, putting Ki down to -2.

@Miss Dominique: You do not know what the creature itself is... but you can tell that the unholy symbol around its neck is that of one of the Elder Gods of the Great Beyond... Shub... something-something.

@Jostrum: The first arrow is deflected by the creature's bark-like exterior, but the second arrow lands with a solid thunk despite the creature's resilience to piercing weapons.

[ooc]7 damage dealt overall!

@Julian: Your bite doesn't get through the woody-exterior, and it outright dodges the first claw. Lunging over, Maul happily sinks your extended claws into the creature, wounding it.

I do hope that's just 7 damage from that arrow strike, not overall from all sources...? Also, I've lost track of what round we're in, etc.

@Elindriel: 7 damage from the single arrow... it's been 61 damage total, and this thing is still going strong!

This is also round 3.

With the poisonous mist gone Miss Dominique can see the fight!

"Oh! That's a weird looking insect! Squash it!"

Miss Dominique will move and channel positive energy (excluding the creature) Channel: 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 4, 1) + 1 = 12

Elindriel moves around the creature, imbues her blade, and swings at the creature.

Free actions: 5' step as indicated, continue bard song (9/12 rounds remaining)
Standard action: Attack creature
Attack (Katana, Inspire Courage, Flanking): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 29
Damage (Katana, Inspire Courage, Arcane Strike): 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 7

Critical Confirm (Katana, Inspire Courage, Flanking): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 17
Critical Damage (Katana, Inspire Courage, Arcane Strike): 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + 1 = 8

Hate to keep going back, but Ki also forgot the bard song for both hit and damage. :( - I hereby promise to do better. We need all the help we can get. With the bard song Ki does an additional amount of double the inspire courage damage mod of what, 1 or 2? and Ears gets a 23 to hit. If it hits that vicious bite does 9+ inspire courage damage. I guess I could use a reminder over these long combats of what buffs are up. And I understand if the DM wants to say no going back at this point, but thought I'd ask.

@Ki: I did forget about that... 2 more damage to the beast! Ears... still BARELY misses (hint hint to the AC :P) And as far as going back, for the most part I'm ok with it since I'd rather do things correctly and I understand that things get lost over a combat that goes on for days :P

@Elindriel: No crit, but a solid hit!

@Ki: You should be conscious and stable at this point, although your sword is dropped on the floor. (I believe the saddle you have prevents you from falling if knocked out while mounted; if I am incorrect, then you are prone on the ground.[/ooc]

Yep, Ki is at 10 points and conscious. His sword is on the ground, but he can still pull a weapon and attack. And Ears can still bite.

Ears snaps at the creature, trying to pull it down and trip it. Then Ki guides Ears back through Jullian's square, potentially provoking from the creature. If Ki is still up after the move he will attack it with his lance. I am assuming that Ki cannot 5' step to his new location because of the entryway/archway/doorway thing. Not totally sure though.

Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 111d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9

Trip Attempt: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Lance thrust: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 = 261d6 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 = 14

next round
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 241d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 291d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 231d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

@Ki: That is correct that you cannot 5' step anywhere.

The flying abomination easily evades Ears' teeth once more, and it takes a swipe at you as you try to escape!

Thing AoO @ Ki: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Damage on hit: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Ki is wounded once more, the sharp claws puncturing your armor again. However, Miss Dominique's curative aid is enough to keep you up and with a mighty thrust, your lance pierces the side of the being. As Jostrum has noted, the plant-fibers of the beings exoskin seems to be resistant to your attack, but it is once again wounded.

Recap:
Thing aims to attack everyone, but wastes all of its time going after Ki, but succeeds in dropping him.
Julian gets a claw in.
An arrow from Jostrum wounds it further.
Miss Dominique heals most of the party, making Ki conscious again.
Elindriel wounds the beast with her blade!
Ki is wounded as he tries to back out, but lances the creature! Ears misses its bite prior.

Round 4! Go!

Grabbing an eccentrically designed rod at its side, the alien entity shakes it and touches itself.

Assuming for Julian that Elindriel announces this
Julian miss chance bite(high good): 1d100 ⇒ 5
Julian miss chance claw(high good): 1d100 ⇒ 8

@Julian: What should have been solid hits against this thing only nets air. I imagine Maul is even angrier now.

Er, that's not good. Ki is at 5 hit points, which means he is down 34.

Its full attack from invisibility is damn devastating. Ki warns. Miss Dominique, I have a wand of Infernal Healing on my belt there. Feel free to grab it from me if you like.

Repeating Init Order for GM purposes :)
Thing
Julian
Elindriel
Jostrum
Miss Dominique
Ki/Ears

Hey, rods are not specifically weapons. Would using that rod provoke? I can hope… :)

As an immediate action Miss Dominique will try and use her Adoration ability to protect Ki from the AoO. (DC18 will or lose the attack).

When the creature goes invisible she'll shout!:

"HOLD YOUR ACTIONS, I CAN MAKE IT VISIBLE AGAIN!"

Assuming her students will indeed delay she'll cast invisibility purge,

She looks at the creature and says in a stern voice:

"Cheating is not allowed!"

Take a 5 foot step and channel as a move action (Excluding the creature).

Channel: 3d6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4, 6) + 1 = 14

Miss Dominique, I have a wand of Infernal Healing on my belt

"Ki Amon, such a wand uses evil to power itself. Those things are not allowed on school premises. I'll have to talk to your parents about this!"