GM BPC's Deepmarket Deception PbP (Inactive)

Game Master Black Powder Chocobo

Assuming you're using cold iron arrows, Hakime.

Hakime lands a single arrow, causing a minor wound.

Gob focus on the other easy target and sends the next volley of missiles at the remaining hyena.

MM: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Benson decides it's time to get a strategic advantage for both himself and Marduk. He makes a distracting whirl with his sword while simultaneously twisting past the reach of the beast's bite and circles behind the gnoll to attack with his curve blade.

MWK Elven Curve Blade, Flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29
Confirm Critical Threat: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 = 24
Damage, critical, sneak attack damage: 2d10 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (7, 8) + 6 + (6) = 27

As the creature bleeds Benson gives Marduk a salute with his long, elegant blade.

Nice boom roll! I'll check the CMD later as that roll is borderline.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I'll be curious to see how you handle the determination of the DC for a case with two opponents. Do you start with the higher CMD and then add +2? If the hyena manages to bite him and trip him, he'll still attack from the ground. And if he misses the DC by 1, do both get an AOO or just one? If just one, how do you determine which? This has been hard for me to figure out when I've had to DM similar situations.

If the roll is low enough to trigger an AoO from each foe, I'd trigger then in Init order. Seems like the most sense. In Benson ' s case, I know he beat the Hyena, even with the +2; it's the gnoll I don't know off the top of my head.

-Posted with Wayfinder

If the stats are the same as in the SRD, I think he beat both, even with the +2 for the extra threat. Hyena is 16, mutant is 17. I see the method now. I was somehow thinking he would either trigger both or none, but this makes more sense. Thanks.

This is no normal gnoll though :) I'll get to a PC by tonight.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Nicely done, Benson!

Benson decides to get into a suitable combat position, darting quickly enough to evade the hyena's jaws.

Gnoll AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 Damage on hit: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

The gnoll's reflexes are too great and Benson takes a heavy cut to his chest. Undeterred, he returns the strike and then some with a slice that sinks deep into the gnoll's malformed shoulder.

missed the Acrobatics by 2!

More tomorrow morning!

-Posted with Wayfinder

Benson's gamble seemed to have paid off as the gnoll staggers for a second before slumping to the ground after his powerful swing, the sailor barely standing himself.

Botting Aspex

Aspex moves closer into position, firing another bolt at the other gnoll!

Aspex crossbow @ gnoll: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Damage on hit: 1d8 ⇒ 8

The wizard's arrow goes wide!

Seeing a chance for an easy kill, the wounded hyena nips at Benson again!

Hyena orange bite @ Benson: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Benson, slowed from his previous injury, only has enough time to slow the hyena's advance, turning what could have been a tear into the femoral artery into a savage thigh wound. Nonetheless, the blood loss kicks in and Benson falls unconscious near Marduk.

I have you at -8 Benson!

The remaining gnoll tries to pick off Wyeth again!

Gnoll Blue arrow @ Wyeth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

The arrow lands harmlessly in the ground!

Init Order (Round 5 - bold = up!)
Hakime (5 damage)
Benson (35 damage, unconscious, bleeding out)
Aspex
Marduk (18 damage)
Wyeth (8 damage)
Gob
Hyena Orange (8 damage)
Gnoll Blue (17 damage)

Hakime fires at blue again... then steps up

to hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
dmg if hits: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

to hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
dmg if hits: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Sorry, don't post much on weekends.

Aspex slaps another bolt into her crossbow and fires again.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Arrow: 1d8 ⇒ 8

I don't either obviously :P

The ranged support seems to have taken a turn for the worse as both Hakime and Aspex miss their targets!

"I... have had... enough... of you!"

Finally near enough to close on his enemy, Wyeth clambers part way up the slope...

Climb vs. DC 13: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

... and takes a swing with his Fauchard.

Fauchard (Cold Iron) => Blue: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Damage: 1d10 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 = 16

Unless you were saying it'd be a Full Round Action to climb... in which case save that attack for next round, I guess. :o/

Yeah. Full round to climb 1/2 your speed. I'll save that roll though :)

-Posted with Wayfinder

Benson has a wand of cure light wounds with 4 charges left.

To preserve suspense, I haven't looked at the results.

"No sense in letting these hyenas run loose." Gob says as he fires another volley at the remaining hyena.

MM: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7

Benson, perhaps driven by a sense of duty to remain on, breaths easier; with Gob finishing off the hyena that took him down, his safety is secured. Only a single gnoll remains.

Init Order (Round 5 - bold = up!)
Hakime (5 damage)
Benson (35 damage, unconscious)
Aspex
Marduk (18 damage)
Wyeth (8 damage)
Gob
Gnoll Blue (17 damage)

"Oh right, that saves Benson too. That was my intention all along."

Marduk runs over to flank the gnoll with Wyeth.

Moved you as close as you could be with a double move action. You're within charge range for this round, though, and depending on where Wyeth moves, you can delay until he goes to get a flank with him, too.

The gnoll barks something at the party but I don't believe anyone here speaks Gnoll, and draws his longsword, defiant against the swarm of human-bloods coming after him. Before Wyeth can after after climbing the mountain, the gnoll steps opposite of the land edge and tries to push the Rahadoumi man off!

Gnoll Bull Rush @ Wyeth: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Wyeth Reflex on success: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Wyeth Falling Damage on failure: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Digging his peg leg to into the ground and bracing himself with the butt-end of his polearm, Wyeth manages to hold his ground!

Wyeth: Because of the positioning, you'll have to provoke an AoO to get into an attack position. Do you wish to do so? As noted, I'll let you keep your previous attack roll.

@Hakime: Note that with the current positioning and the height difference, unless Wyeth moves out from being between you and the gnoll, it'll get effectively a +2 to +4 cover bonus to its AC

Init Order (Round 5 - bold = up!)
Hakime (5 damage)
Benson (35 damage, unconscious, stable)
Aspex
Marduk (18 damage)
Wyeth (8 damage, action pending movement)
Gob
Gnoll Blue (17 damage)

Running allows up to 4 times speed, no difference?

Typically, running has to be in a straight line and cannot go through difficult terrain, because of the mixed elevations going from your original position towards Wyeth, there is not an area that would not involve super high Acrobatics DC for me to think you just parkoured that; the DC would be about 40 and even with using a ki point to get a +20 to that roll and your above average speed, you are simply unable to make that DC. Run rules

Wyeth: Because of the positioning, you'll have to provoke an AoO to get into an attack position. Do you wish to do so?

You'd better believe it! He has a +2 Unorthodox Strategy bonus for moving through threatened squares for just this sort of tactic, and he hasn't gotten to use it much yet!

Immediately after the brace, Wyeth drives forward with his fauchard, treating it almost as a pike. While the quarters are too close for an effective strike, the oracle's goal isn't damage, but to force the gnoll off-balance so it has no chance to attack as he tumbles past it.

Acrobatics w/U.S. bonus: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 2 = 19

Hmm... not sure if that's good enough... Wyeth's just not very good with his fauchard in so close!

Move to new position (map updated) and apply previously rolled attack, as is possible.

@Wyeth: You actually hit the CMD ON THE DOT! So your Unorthodox Strategy really did pay off!

Propelling himself into a new position with his polearm, Wyeth then spins around and cuts into the gnoll who howls out in pain from the blackened steel causing a wound that sends the mutated foe the ground unconscious!

Nevermind, combat over :)

On each gnoll is a powerfully built longbow composite longbow of +5 Str mod, a masterwork longsword, a masterwork chain shirt with an extra large shoulder section, and a potion of cure moderate wounds. Between both gnolls there are 35 arrows remaining.

Wow... I'll take it! :o)

"See?" Wyeth says to Marduk as the half-orc slows and trots up. "This is why I prefer the direct approach. Been pinging this thing with crossbow bolts all the way here and it hardly phased him. One shot from a proper weapon," he says, pausing to pat his fauchard, "and the abomination's done for."

He quickly scans the area. "We'd best get over there pronto," he says, ducking his head in Benson's direction. "It looks like Mister Gangtee's down."

Wyeth will do the CLW thing unless somebody else gets to our fallen comrade first. Marduk, you can plunder the gnoll, Wyeth's too concerned for Benson to take the time to scavenge.

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Hmm, a bonus?

Marduk relieves the gnoll of his possesions.
Showing the items as the others close in: "Anybody interested in these items? They are of no interest to me, save this healing potion."

Survival, mystery bonus?: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Survival: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Aspex approaches the group, gathering up wayward crossbow bolts as she goes, and frowns down at the gnolls. "Does anyone know anything about gnolls? Did we wander into their territory or are they simply opportunistic raiders? Attacking a larger, well armed party seems like folly to me, but if this is their land it might make more sense."

Guess I could roll Kn:Local to see if Aspex knows anything, now that I've mentioned it.

Kn:Local re: gnolls: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

"Perhaps we wandered into their territory. Or maybe this place has driven them mad. These aren't exactly your run of the mill gnolls." Gob says as he pokes one of the tentacle appendages with his staff.

Wyeth, you better take care of Benson :P

@Gob: Your previous roll notes that while gnolls are territorial, they are often cowardly when a fight doesn't go their way, yet these, even if mutated, gnolls stayed until they were defeated. Something spurred their ferocity, but you otherwise have no idea what.

I was just waiting to give anyone else who wanted, a chance. :o)

Reaching the fallen Benson, Wyeth drops to his knees beside the fighter and begins administering charges from his trusty wand.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Down 30
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Down 26
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Down 18
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Down 15
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Down 10
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Down 3, and leaving well enough alone

Wyeth helps Benson to a sitting position. "Feeling better, friend? Nice work earlier."

After confirming Benson's alright, Wyeth patches up Marduk...

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 Down 10
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Down 3, and well enough alone again.

... and Hakime...

Honestly going to give her one shot and move on, regardless of the results.

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

... and finally, himself.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 Down 1

And that worked out so well I know it looks dodgy. Sigh.

"Since we went through all the trouble of taking these things out. Shall we see if they have anything good in that cave?" Gob says as he starts walking back to the cave.

Benson sits up and grasps Wyeth's hand appreciatively, smiling weakly, as he feels the pain receding. "This magic is amazing, but it doesn't dull the pain. Yi! That hurts. Thank you. Feel free to use up my wand when next we need healing. It is nearly used up and I can get another when we get back to civilization."

Regarding the behavior of the gnolls, Benson muses as he pours some ale into his mug to have a drink in honor of Cayden Cailean, "Maybe that recent storm affected them, made them extra worried about new threats."

Then he goes and checks that his horse is okay and prepares to continue.

Benson and the others gather their animals before the party inspects the cave, Gob's curiosity piqued.

Pictographs on the walls of this shallow cave show an indistinct winged creature navigating through a sea of swirling patterns and black dots. A clumsily constructed altar sits at the center of the cave. Dozens of small niches are carved into the wall, most filled with an odd assortment of items; teeth, scraps of clothing, a jar of white liquid, a wooden staff, several pieces of parchment, a cloth pouch, a leather satchel, and several identical wooden dolls.

Looking through the valuable items, the dolls are of exceptional quality and could be sold at a fair price elsewhere. The wooden staff is also masterwork quality.

Also, two pieces of parchment are magical; they are a scroll of speak with plants and a scroll of mount. The leather satchel contains an oil of silence, three +1 seeking bullets, a tracer bullet, and a lesser burrowing bullet.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

"Nice nest. For a nest."

As the others survey the room and its contents, Wyeth's eyes are drawn to the jar of whitish liquid. Picking it up and swirling it to judge viscosity, he then tries removing the top to cautiously examine the contents.

Alchemy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

@Wyeth: It is rancid cashew milk. Eww.

Regarding the kn. Religion, that one is actually CN, and according to PF wiki, totally uninterested in anything.

Kn. Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Kn. Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

"I'm no expert, but it's as if this is dedicated to chaos, madness maybe?"

Bah, well perhaps that's the altar-maker's view... yeah, that's it! <_<

Know religion altar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Know religion staff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

"Don't know much about the altar, but I know the markings of Nethys when I see them." Gob says as he stows the staff with his gear. "Might have belonged to someone important that went missing. We'll ask around town about it."

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Benson's senses are apparently still a bit scrambled by his near death experience. He lets others makes sense of the strange drawings and such. "Creatures normally cowardly and reclusive inspired by a strange creature to be aggressive and attack those they would usually leave alone. Hmmm. Sound familiar?"

"Nethys," Wyeth says dismissively as he pops the top from the jar to take a sniff. "And altars. Nothing but woe comes of striking deals with gods."

As he says the last word his nose wrinkles and he squints as his head jerks sharply away from the jar. "Phew... okay, that's useless. Except maybe for turning someone's stomach," he adds as he places the container back on the shelf.

He turns to study Benson as the fighter comments. "You don't suppose it's the same dastards involved again, do you?" he asks.

"Surely not the gnolls? Given their state of physical and mental condition, i'd skip them as priests."

"I was thinking Aspis, though I can understand your confusion given the striking similarities."

know religion dc 15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

know religion dc 20: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

perc dc 18: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

know religion dc 15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Thank you for the healing... and just so you all know the altar seems dedicated to madness and is covered in the blood of these mutant gnolls... see it's got that greenish tint. Foul goings on."

"This is my first time putting into port in this part of Golarion. I've heard strange tales about Nex, Geb, and this wasteland." Benson cocked his head in Wyeth's direction. "Seems this place has suffered more from the abuse of arcane magic than the pursuit of divine objectives. If ever there was a place where chaos would be revered, it seems it would be here."

Anything else you guys wish to go over? Otherwise, we'll move on later this afternoon!

Having put the jar back, Wyeth pokes about to be sure nothing of value has been missed.

I don't see that anyone's mentioned it so, just to cover the base, Wyeth will check the cloth pouch and leather satchel to see if there's anything of interest inside. Also, are the dolls more like figurines or totems or children's dolls? Finally, he'll sling a Detect Magic just to see if anything lights up.

Sorry for the delay, we'll continue on tomorrow!

@Wyeth: I already noted the sweet loot from the pouch and the satchel. The dolls look like handmade children's dolls. The detect magic will not detect anything I hadn't already noted (ie, the magic items).

Fairy nuff. I figured as much but just wanted to cover the base.