"Uh, sure", Iddo smiles at Obahar awkwardly, "we can do that for you."
Iddo follows the partly quietly, absentmindedly noting the smell of dust and cold earth. He stops suddenly when the voice appears in his head, his mouth agape, then proceeds to think hard.
"I'm sorry Miss, but I'm afraid I don't know what you're talking about. I'm not a slave, I'm a Pathfinder, and my love for secrets is well founded", he says to no one in particular.
Going to try to get us going at least into combat before I make my work trip. If one of the Melee characters would take up Benedict's offer of the shield or CLW, just retcon that into your post.
Iddo's musings are only met with silence and echos of the ruins. The voice that reigned in your mind was only for a fraction, and it seems whatever caused it, faded back into the silence as the ruins calm down to a equilibrium state.
Led by Benedict, the group decides to walk down the longer chain of chambers, according to the blueprints. Broken marble litters the southern corners of this room, where a pair of toppled statues brandishing curved stone swords must once have reached nearly to the ceiling. Many broken weapons lie scattered about the room. The ceilings in this room are 20 feet high, while the stairs here rise to a platform 10 feet high.
Wandering aimlessly in the chamber are three skeletons, who all simultaneously turn their heads to greet you with their evil looking faces. The armored skeleton stands in a battle-ready pose, its weapon held high as cold blue light shines in its eye sockets.
Kn Religion DC12 to identify the skeletons, every +5 gets you one question!
Iddo peeks over the corner, quickly retreating at the sight of the skeletons.
"These are but skeletons; each of us must have already slain a couple of those. This should take no more than twelve seconds; fight, Pathfinders, to victory!"
Standard action: start bardic performance, inspiring courage for +1/+1.
Iddo recognizes the undead to be a better form of skeletal reincarnation, also known as skeletal champions. He knows that they have no from of special attacks, but are very formidable fighters!
Edmund attempts to take advantage of his enemies slow reaction times- moving gracefully into the room and sliding down the north wall. Once established he draws a blunt arrow and nocks it- firing at the blue skeleton.
Edmund is able to hit the mark knocking an arrow bluntly in one of the skeletons temple. It's disorientated for a moment but turns his attention back to menacing the living.
In a uniform formation, the undead warriors pick themselves and move forward, and attempt to cleave everything in their way. With quick reaction, Kissan pounces on the already injured skeleton, plummeting it to the ground.
The remaining two skeletal champions swing their swords hard. The frontline finds themselves heavily wounded as a result.
After looking at the AC, I don't think Benedict would have opted to be the leader in the marching order, that is my mistake. If we want to retcon order, please let me know...
Eamon sees his comrades are hurt badly at the beginning of combat and ask for Iomedeas healing touch to mend some of their wounds. He then draws his mace. channel:1d6 ⇒ 3
Human Empiricist 5 HP: 39/39 AC:16 FF:15 T:11 F:+3, R:+6, W:+4 Init:+1 Perception +14(+16 vs traps) (Effects:None)
Yea, I don't think I opted to be the leader. My main weapon has reach so 2nd rank is preferable.
Religion:1d20 + 14 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 14 + (1) = 17DR, special attacks
Caught in an unoptimal situation, Benedict puts on his brass knuckles and throws a punch at the skeleton.
|AC 18, T 10, FF 18 (+4 vs SA/AoO)|HP: 31/31|F +3, R 0, W +8 (+2 vs Illusion)|Init +3, Perc +6|CMB +1 CMD 10|Wagon 1/1, Mystery 1/1, Stardust 5/5, Starburn 2/2, Guiding Star 1/1
Now pinned against the back wall, Edmund has a tough choice to make. It's too late to reconsider now. Sometimes you just have to 'dance with the girl you came with'. Drawing another blunt arrow, Edmund looks directly into the Green Skeleton's eye before releasing the arrow into his chest.Edmund provokes an AoO
Mst Bow, PB, Precise :1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 21+1 if inspiration is continued Damage, MC +2, PB, Blunt Arrow:1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10+1 if inspiration is continued
Ouch! I really messed up the tactical part of that first turn.
Move: None, Standard: Attack, Free: Regret
Eamon offers some healing hands while Alexis prepares some sort of concoction. Iddo continues to tell tales of inspirations about how Undeads are easily vanquished by Pathfinders alike. Alani and Benedict fight through but aren't that prepared at such close distance.
Perhaps in fear of it's own (un?)life, the remaining skeleton loses the concentration to follow through on it's attack, and swings right past Benedict.
Having dropped the most immediate threat, Edmund makes a 5 foot step along the north wall in order to open up a clear shot at the remaining skeleton. He draws his bow back to his cheek and sends another arrow down range toward the undead creature.
Eamon moves in to the room past Benedict. Shouting, Our comrades are in need! Let's aid them!(provoking up to 2 AoOs from the Skeleton champ Eamon's AC:18) He moves next to diagonal from the investigator's position and attempts to shield bash the skeletal champ. s bash:1d20 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 12dmg:1d3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5
Note Eamon's AC: is only '17' now until the start of his next turn.
|AC 18, T 10, FF 18 (+4 vs SA/AoO)|HP: 31/31|F +3, R 0, W +8 (+2 vs Illusion)|Init +3, Perc +6|CMB +1 CMD 10|Wagon 1/1, Mystery 1/1, Stardust 5/5, Starburn 2/2, Guiding Star 1/1
Alani Fox, you saw that I gave you two magic stones to use as bullets, right? Hopefully it won't matter for this fight, but bear in mind they're only good for 30 minutes....
Seeing the savaging the remaining wretch is receiving, Alexis draws her own seldom-used weapon - a rather beautiful thing that would more resemble a scepter if not for the spikes - and boldly piles on to help put it down swiftly and permanently.
Gunslinger 9 | AC 24 T 18 FF 16| HP 94/94| F 9 R 13 W 7| Init 14| Perc 14
not to burst a bubble, it states in the description Thrown or Slung, not fired and I dont use a sling as much as I would like to do 1d12+1d6+1 damage I dont see it viable
|AC 18, T 10, FF 18 (+4 vs SA/AoO)|HP: 31/31|F +3, R 0, W +8 (+2 vs Illusion)|Init +3, Perc +6|CMB +1 CMD 10|Wagon 1/1, Mystery 1/1, Stardust 5/5, Starburn 2/2, Guiding Star 1/1
Well, the magic stone spell preceded firearms, so that might be why the possibility isn't explicitly mentioned, but if it's normally at all possible to substitute sling bullets for firearm bullets (even if, I'd imagine, at a small penalty), I'd think the transitive rule applies.
I did a bit of searching and I have to lean towards Alani. So with the spell's wording, I've come to believe that it works only on "stone", therefore you wouldn't be able to enhanced firearm bullets, arrowheads...etc this way. I'm sure though that any of the range types would be happy to throw it! Although, I'm happy to retcon that you did not spend that spellslot if you had believe you would not with the current ruling placed.
With only one standing, the Pathfinders jump on the offense with full force. The skeleton holds itself as it attempts to block out every strike that comes it's way, but with the barrage of attacks, Kissan's second claw lands nicely into it's side, momentarily giving an opening to Benedict to deliver a strong right hook that knocks the head of the skeleton right off the body!
Combat over. Feel free to do any healing.
The crawl westward leads into an large chamber that acts somewhat like a decorative hallway. At the end of the passage, statues of men with hyena heads block the passage leading north from this room. The statues seem to have wore down over time covered in cracks.
With a step towards the entrance, it becomes apparent that the statues move as the dust falls off it's sides, almost as if to inform you that it is guarding the place, telling you not to come any closer.
Monster Lore: Kn. Arcana DC12. As usual every +5 gains you one questions.
I've not updated map at this point. How do you approach? If nothing else we'll go straight into initiative
|AC 18, T 10, FF 18 (+4 vs SA/AoO)|HP: 31/31|F +3, R 0, W +8 (+2 vs Illusion)|Init +3, Perc +6|CMB +1 CMD 10|Wagon 1/1, Mystery 1/1, Stardust 5/5, Starburn 2/2, Guiding Star 1/1
GM Batpony wrote:
I did a bit of searching and I have to lean towards Alani. So with the spell's wording, I've come to believe that it works only on "stone", therefore you wouldn't be able to enhanced firearm bullets, arrowheads...etc this way.
My thought was, perhaps sling bullets (and hence, anything that could be used as them) could be used as cut-rate firearm bullets. I looked at the OGC's "Firearms" section about that and didn't see anything, but maybe I wasn't looking hard enough/in the right place.
GM Batpony wrote:
Although, I'm happy to retcon that you did not spend that spellslot if you had believe you would not with the current ruling placed.
That certainly sounds fair.
@Benedict: You can give me that heightened awareness infusion after this encounter.
The skeletons taken out, Alexis draws a wand consisting of a slender reed tipped with an ovoid ruby, and begins waving it over the others' injuries.
That's 6 charges; let me know if anybody else has a wand they'd like me to use instead of my own for any of this (though that would be entirely your prerogative; healing's one of the things I'm here for).
____That was then, this is now...____
Knowledge (Arcana):1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11 Mystery Initiate reroll:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11FFS. At least I didn't use my FOLIO reroll just to get two '1s' in a row...like I just did YESTERDAY.
Before they go any further, Alexis addresses Edmund, and then Eamon, and finally Kissan with the Dandelion's Riddle.
As the skeleton falls, Edmund sinks to his knees. In the chaos of combat, he failed to realise just how much blood he had lost. While feeling for his own wounds, his eyes dart to the wounded and hurting jaguar.
Taking Kissan's head in his arms, Edmund fumbles for the wand that he keeps close to his side. He whispers into her ears, as he tries to calm her. "You did well Kis. You did really well." Wand finally in hand, he is able to dull her pain...
Before he is able to consider his own dire need, Alexis has appear with her own healing. As the wounds heal, he turns toward the Gnome. "Thank you very much, I am quite appreciative." Edmund stands to address her, and despite overshadowing her, gives her a formal bow. A smile crosses his face as the gnome provides him the blessing of the Dandelion. "My gratitude indeed.
I have my own wand, and certainly don't expect party members to provide healing for my AC. I'll take at least 3 of those 5 charges used on Edmund. GM: If it is OK, I will just use Alexis' rolls, but credit the charges to my wand.
Immediately a cool feeling of relief washes over the cat's body, and the gash she was tending to has closed up almost entirely.
As Alexis approaches, Kissan watches the small creature carefully, ready to defend her master. Seeing her human's posture relax, Kissan too relaxes- only slightly pulling away from the gnomes outstretched hands.
Another burst of energy enters the cat, and she is suddenly overwhelmed with affection for the gnome. Bouncing up, she playfully swats at Alexis' hand before attempting to lick it- her tongue lolling and joy on her face.
Upon seeing the statue move Eamon calls for a halt, Hold up everybody! Let's try and figure out what we're up against before we proceed. Inheritor, show us what we must do? Eamon implores his deity. Eamon again cast guidance. If we break to initiative please roll Eamon's twice GM thx.
Benedict regonizes the statues for what they are for. Carytid columns, magical constructs, however he knows these are also damaged over time. They are treated as if they have hardness so they have DR5/-, no resistances, no SLA. (The damaged version starts at a lower HP, weaker attack, and loses some special attack/abilities.)
I am good to go. Does the party want Kissan to lead- I can command her to defend Benedict? She will have a lot of problems getting past the DR, but can at least serve as a HP buffer...
Eamon cast bless on everyone before combat begins. Let us ask Iomodea for victory and she may yet be merciful. GM don't forget to roll twice for Eamon's initiative thx
Don't forget! I've cast bless everyone gets +1 to hit and +1 save vs fear.
Eamon knows very little about such creatures. How are we suppose to fight living stone? Eamon ask no one in particular. Eamon takes out his oil of magic weapon and draws his sword.
Alerted to the 'living' statues, Edmund enters the room cautiously behind the black jaguar. Pointing to the top of the stairs he calls out to Kissan "Down! Hold!".
He pulls back his arrow and looses it down toward the red statue.
|AC 18, T 10, FF 18 (+4 vs SA/AoO)|HP: 31/31|F +3, R 0, W +8 (+2 vs Illusion)|Init +3, Perc +6|CMB +1 CMD 10|Wagon 1/1, Mystery 1/1, Stardust 5/5, Starburn 2/2, Guiding Star 1/1
The light around Alexis mysteriously dims into an eerie gloaming as she points at the nearer caryatid column, which is suddenly surrounded by a swarm of miniscule pale stars.
Stardust: The red caryatid column sheds light as a candle, cannot benefit from concealment or any invisibility effects, and takes a –1 penalty on attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks, all for 1 round.
"Ah, yes! We all remember how bravely the Pathfinder Haul Ceffyls fought the caryatid columns beneath the streets of Korvosa; let us channel his might in our similar struggle!"
Standard action: start bardic performance, inspiring courage for +1/+1. The +1 morale bonus against fear effects doesn't stack with Bless, the rest does.
I'll assume Alani also attacked the Red. My posting rate should be normal now!
Edmund and Alani begin the combat by firing at the stone creatures. It's almost impossible to miss the oversized and slow statue, but their ammunitions barely penetrate their thick stones.
Alexis cast light upon the red hued caryatid column as it sheds light like a candle, illuminating the dimly lit chambers. Meanwhile Iddo starts a inspirational speech to assist the group with challenging the statues.
As you approach, so does the statues, directly towards Kissan who holds the front line! The swing their stone weapons with great strength! They knock the jaguar as he is barely able to keep his balance after the knocking.
Blue Slam vs Kissan,Charge:1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 = 26B:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Red Slam vs Kissan:1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23B:1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Seeing Kissan take another flurry of attack from the enemies is too much, and the distraction causes his arrow to fly wildly off into the chamber. Edmund calls out to the jaguar "Come!"
|AC 18, T 10, FF 18 (+4 vs SA/AoO)|HP: 31/31|F +3, R 0, W +8 (+2 vs Illusion)|Init +3, Perc +6|CMB +1 CMD 10|Wagon 1/1, Mystery 1/1, Stardust 5/5, Starburn 2/2, Guiding Star 1/1
Bonus to hit is +2, and bonus damage is +1! Both indeed charged! I forgot to -1 to the attack, but it would seem it still hit.
Alani sets off another shot, the loud bangs reverberate off the walls as the bullet knocks itself into the living rock woman. The red hued statue looks close to crumbling over. A couple good blows would send it right down!
Edmund is forced to retreat his companion as it's suffered too much, along the way back, Alexis tends to the wounds to enable it a better fighting chance, should the jaguar return to combat. Edmund slightly distracted by all of this, finds his shot surprisingly missing the seemingly easy mark.
