GM Bauers PFS 6-08 The Segang Expedition (Inactive)

Game Master mbauers

Wilm hurrdily climbs down the ladder.

climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

so does that mean i fail to climb down? or that i fall?

If you fail by 4 or less (like this case) you just make no progress. If you fail by 5 or more, you fall. But that is one move action. So you could still try again with your other move (though you'd only move 5 ft on a success). I think the DC 10 is too steep, but as that's specified in the adventure I'm not allowed to change it in PFS. If this were not PFS I'd make it DC 5.

It's not too bad before the fight when you can take 10, but during the fight it can be rough. I guess it makes sense, though. I could ascend or descend a rope ladder without too much difficulty in my back yard or something. But if I was fighting a tiger in the pitch black jungle it would be a different story. And you guys are fighting something much smarter and tougher than a tiger. But yeah, it stinks. Honestly, I'd rather try an acro and jump down, and use my second action to stand up (which you'd have to do on a success or failure, either way). But I can see how that could be bad with low HP.

So, ... the Crocotta made a really good Climb roll to get up there so quickly *and* have an attack? ;^)

Troubled by the lack of light, which puts the two humans in range of the beast at a significant disadvantage, Sahba casts light on the nearby tree trunk.

Concentration(cast defensively v DC 15): 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 4 = 22

She then attempts to climb down (slowly) to make way for someone more suited to front-line combat.

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4 <-- Oh, humbug.

Maybe one of these will mitigate any falling damage, or allow chance to grab on (like a missed jump in Acrobatics does)?
Acrobatics(untrained): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Faellynn studies the beast a moment then fires her bow.

Longbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Miss(20%): 1d100 ⇒ 65

Although unfazed by the dim light, her shot fires wide.

So, ... the Crocotta made a really good Climb roll to get up there so quickly *and* have an attack? ;^)

Nope, the Crocotta has a really high base move speed and a climb speed, so no roll needed. It double moved to get into its position. Then the Baron fired a ranged weapon at point blank range and provoked an AoO from the beast. It's all correct, I assure you. Hey, I like the baron, I don't want him to die! Save him! ;-)

That is successful enough to negate 10 feet of falling, so Sahba takes...

lethal falling damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

and is prone.

Wilm gets another standard action from earlier—it looks like that will be a climb or acrobatics check so I’ll take the crocotta’s turn as it doesn’t affect it.

Wilm is having trouble climbing out of the machan in the dark, much preferring to charge into battle.

Sahba throws some light on the area, illuminating a harrowing scene of the crocotta snapping at the fearless baron. (Note--you no longer need to roll miss chances as Sahba cast Light) She slips back and falls of the tree but catches herself on the way down and doesn't hurt herself too badly.

The beast shouts Help me, Help me, Baron Bomande! as it bites the baron again and knocks him down. The gunman reloads his weapon and rolls off the machan, suffering another bite wound and landing hard on the ground, falling unconscious.

Baron -34 hp (plus 4 nonlethal)-prone and unconscious, Crocotta -10 hp, Erevan -2 hp (also 2 nonlethal), Sahba -1 hp and prone

Next up: Wilm still has a standard action left, then you all get to go (including Wilm).

”Great shot, Raman! But save the kill for me…” the baron exclaims.

Raman smiles competitively as she squints down another shaft at the newly-illuminated predator. ”But where is the fun if I let you win?”

As the Baron rolls free, she looses twice more.

Full attack to rapid shot

Raman snipes the Crocotta expertly again, feathering it with two more arrows. In response, the beast growls back in the direction from which the arrows flew.

Baron -34 hp (plus 4 nonlethal)-prone and unconscious, Crocotta -23 hp, Erevan -2 hp (also 2 nonlethal), Sahba -1 hp and prone

Dang nam it. I'm built for open plains not tree houses!

Wilm jumps over the side of the machan trusting to his halfling reflexes to win the day... and spectacularly falls flat on his face...

acrobatics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 using adaptable luck +3 (2nd use today)

Wilm also falls ungracefully, but doesn't break any limbs.

lethal: 1d6 ⇒ 1

nonlethal: 1d6 ⇒ 2

He stands up and draws his slingstaff. You were prone but still had a full round of actions. Since you have to stand up as a move, I figured you'd want to draw your ranged weapon. Let me know if I'm wrong.

Next up: Sahba, Faellyn, Erevan, Max

Baron -34 hp (plus 4 nonlethal)-prone and unconscious, Crocotta -10 hp, Erevan -2 hp (also 2 nonlethal), Sahba -1 hp and prone, Wilm -1 hp (and 2 nonlethal)

Is the croccotta at -23 or -10? Is it healing or was that a typo?

Sahba stands and clears the mud out of her eyes. "Damnable trees," she mutters.

She sees the Baron lying next to her, not moving. Hurriedly, she pulls out her potion of cure light wounds, hoping to administer it as soon as she can.

Stand (move); draw (move)
Next round, if not threatened, administer (full round to unconscious person)

Sorry, Crocotta is minus 23. Typo.

It's raining Pathfinders! Hallelujah!

Erevan, now standing and ready for battle, draws his dueling sword as he moves to protect the Baron. He stands guard over the fallen man, readying himself to attack the tricky creature.

"Come fight me, vile beast!"

MW Dueling Sword (cold iron), readied attack, attacking defensively: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 251d8 ⇒ 2

Faellynn draws another arrow and lets it fly!

Longbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Dam: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Faellyn shoots an arrow that narrowly misses as the crocotta ducks at the last second. It accepts Erevan's challenge, crying Fight me! Kill, kill! in Erevan's own voice. As it nimbly walks down the tree, the swordsman quickly slashes the monster before it bites him, throwing him to the ground.

Erevan takes 11 damage and is prone. I shunted you over one square because I don't think you and the baron can occupy the same square.

With the crocotta's attention drawn elsewhere, Sahba pours a potion down the baron's throat, reviving him. He blinks a few times and looks around.

Next up: Wilm, Raman, Max (if Wilm orders him)--I honestly don't know if Erevan gets to go now. He had a readied action that triggered during the crocotta's turn, so I don't know how that would move his init order. Let's say Erevan gets to go now, too.

Baron -27 hp and prone, Crocotta -25 hp, Erevan -13 hp (also 2 nonlethal) and prone, Sahba -1 hp, Wilm -1 hp (and 2 nonlethal)

Yes, but in this case your readied action occurred in the same round during the crocotta's init. So on the next round do you go on the crocotta's init? So you get to go now before it goes again, right?

I think that since my action is readied, it occurs right before the enemy can act. That means that I am now right before it in initiative. Otherwise it gets to act twice without me doing anything.

Yes, so you get to go now.

Okay, I might wait to see what the others are doing before I go, since I'm kind of in bad shape. :)

EDIT: Oh, and for ending my turn in the same space as the unconscious Baron: Ending Your Movement: You can't end your movement in the same square as another creature unless it is helpless.

Yeah, but I moved you because Sahba was healing him, make him not helpless anymore.

All good...I just wanted to say why I was on that square. :)

”This beast is resilient,” Raman observes, somewhere between a curse and praise for the tough predator. Two more arrows streak through the air.

Wilm has been away for 30-ish hrs, and said to bot him... so if there are no objections...

Is it possible to have Max jump down into the water to potentially save him some damage? (This seems the easiest way to get him down.) Then charge the crocotta as he is best able. Don't forget his free trip attack after the bite.

I suggest Wilm let fly from his sling staff, then use his remaining move action to get as close as he can.

Sure, that sounds good.

Sling: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 4 = 19

Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Acrobatics Max: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Nonlethal to Max: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10

Wilm fires a sling bullet, pegging the the crocotta in the skull. It reels from his attack, extremely hurt.

Max, attack! he yells and the wolf jumps into the water, hitting the surface hard and engaging his quarry as Raman buries two arrows into the nearby tree.

Next up: Erevan--finish him!!!!!

Baron -27 hp and prone, Crocotta -29 hp, Erevan -13 hp (also 2 nonlethal) and prone, Sahba -1 hp, Wilm -1 hp (and 2 nonlethal), Max 10 nonlethal

The water isn't deep enough to require a swim check--it's just difficult terrain

Now on his back, Erevan still wields his blade with skill.

He slices at the beast, warding it off.

"Fight with honor, you cowardly menace!"

MW Dueling Sword (cold iron): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 181d8 ⇒ 3

Erevan slashes the crocotta, not deeply but accurately, nicking its throat and sending it bleeding into the dirt.

The baron hobbles over and places the barrel of his musket on the dying creature's head, pulling the trigger.

The blast is deafening and it's clear he is not looking for a trophy as there is not much left of the beast.

I thank you, not only for saving my life, but for helping me exact revenge for my comrades when you had no need to do so. I am forever in your debt and shall count you always as friends. Here, take these, he says, handing over two potions (of CLW).

See to your wounds and rest. Come first light I will take you to the temple myself, if you wish, or we can rendezvous with Count Matsanda and you can journey there on your own. Let me know what you decide.

Combat over! Note that when you heal, it heals an equal amount of both lethal and nonlethal damage. Also, you will heal 6 nonlethal damage from resting the remainder of the night. Let me know what healing you want to do and if you want to meet up with the count first or go right to the temple.

Erevan -13 hp (also 2 nonlethal), Sahba -1 hp, Wilm -1 hp (and 2 nonlethal), Max 10 nonlethal

I would take one of the potions if no one minds, since I am the most wounded. I'll also tick off charges of my wand for the rest.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Erevan stands and examines his bloody blade, obviously glad to have contributed to the fight, despite his serious wounds.

"A nasty creature, that one!" he says. "No match for my--our blades--I should say, though!" he adds.

"We should rest tonight and go to the temple in the morning," Erevan agrees.

Go ahead, Erevan. Makes sense for you to have at least one of them.

If it's okay, I'd like one, since I used mine on the Baron, and that was my only healing. But if someone else wants it, I'm okay with that. Erevan can take both of them even. Just let me know.

"We would be honored, dear Baron, if you were to accompany us to the temple as our guide. I am afraid I am unaccustomed to this jungle, and would otherwise lose my way."

Take it...I'm fine.

Fine by me, Erevan and Sahba.

Ok, since the time here is a little vague, I'm actually going to rule that you can rest for 8 hours before leaving. That way everyone is healed except Max still has 2 nonlethal damage on him.

The baron keeps watch during the night, claiming he can't get any sleep tonight anyway.

In the morning after everyone's much-needed rest, the group sets out to the temple with Baron Rudyahm.

A large freshwater swamp dominates the Lowlands, making travel through the region difficult. The baron has an uncanny sense of direction, though, and leads you to the temple skillfully as the sun is close to setting.

The site is almost completely overgrown by vegetation, and only bits and pieces of its brown sandstone exterior are visible from the outside. The weight of the massive roof and the passage of centuries have caused the ceiling to collapse near the building’s center. Unless otherwise noted, the ceilings of the temple are 20 feet high. The interior is dark.

The jungle around the temple is exceptionally thick and requires a full-round action just to move 5 feet. Creatures able to move through natural vegetation unhindered can traverse this area easily.

I will wait for you out here--it is not my place to intrude upon your exploration. Good luck, friends, the baron says, hiding near a tree a short distance from the temple.

Assuming you enter--just let me know who has what light source

Columns line the walls of this small room, each decorated with a high-relief carving of a monkey in a different pose. Some of the monkey sculptures sit serenely in meditation or reach out with their hands as if to deliver blessings to the viewer, while others adopt more naturalistic poses. The floor is littered with decaying plant matter and mud, and the stench of rotting muck pervades the area. An open archway leads south out into the jungle, while a second leads north deeper into the temple.

Before you can explore further, 3 travelers approach from the north towards the exit/entrance that you just came from. The one in front, a tattooed woman, speaks up forcefully: Get out of our way or you'll be sorry!

sense motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 bah

Erevan shakes his head in defiance, obviously not one to back down from such talk.

"You speak with Erevan Stormstride, swordsman of the Aldori school of combat. I do not stand aside for any who address me thus."

intimidate: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Sahba is willing to cast light for whomever wishes. (Hopefully, it's one of the meat shields .. they make better targets.)

If no one takes her up on light, Sahba somewhat grudgingly casts it on one of her sling bullets.

Sense Motive: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

As Erevan steps up in confrontation, Sahba moves in behind him, in as threatening a manner as a petite 16 year-old can be, and allows fire to dance across her hands.

Intimidate(aid): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

"State your business here," she challenges.

The woman's fear shows plainly on her face now, clearly not wanting to fight you.

We--we just want to leave, ok? Let us go and you can have what we took from the temple. Here, it's not worth our lives! she motions to one of the men who responds by dropping a large sack on the ground.

"Why not begin by telling us what is going on? What have you discovered in the temple that makes your exist so hasty?"

Something evil lurks within. There's two of them--little demons with crowns of horns and eyes that glow bright red. Go on to your death if you must, but we're leaving!

She moves towards the exit and her companions follow suit.

You can let them leave, or roll init if you continue to bar their path.

Knowledge(planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Yay, I get to be something other than eye-candy!

"Hmm, that sounds like the Tripurasuras."

I'd rather just learn whatever a 21 gets me that the GM thinks is relevant ... Makes PbP faster. But, if you insist: What are it's special abilities, if any?

That's cool, I just like to give choice. But if you want me to pick for you, I'll tell you it's defenses. I think that would be easier to learn with a knowledge check in this case, and it's certainly more useful information than its special abilities.

Sahba shares what she knows about the Tipurasuras. @All, check the "Sahba" spoiler from the GM, above.

Thank goodness they aren't resistant to fire!

Yeah, she pretty much told you what it looks like. A tiny little creature with the body of a well-muscled man, a crown of frilled horns, and eyes that glow like rubies.

I'll have Wilm go along with the majority, so the first two agreeing votes we get will determine what you guys do. Let the looters go, or bar their path?

let them go.

let them go, keep their loot. :)

Concur with Erevan and Faellynn.

The looters run out of there as fast as they can once you move aside.

The loot consists of six jeweled tiles worth 5 gp each, a small coral statue worth 70 gp, and an alluring golden apple

There is nothing here other than the monkey sculptures, so moving along...

A mosaic of a monkey-faced figure decorates the floor of this room, though the tiles that would form its eyes are missing. The north end of the room is filled with rubble blocking an arched passageway. To the west, vines and foliage intrude into the temple through an open-air balcony, while a similar balcony to the east remains relatively clear of plant life. An open archway leads south.

I should have 2 arrows I can recover from that last fight.

And Raman will carry a torch, her bow in her other hand.

Raman is quiet through the exchange, and nods encouragingly at her companions’ efforts after the strangers leave. At the mention of the tripurasuras, however, her features become stony and her eyes become alight with an inner power as she watches for the little wretches.

Activating Detect Evil and keeping it running, scanning the areas we encounter for their evil little auras.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

So, we came from the South, right? It seems then that the only unblocked way forward is East.

Seeing the passage forward blocked by rubble, and the corridor left blocked by vines, Sahba points right. (East) "This way?"

If it's the only choice, it's probably a trap, she muses.

I believe we did come from the south.

Raman shrugs then nods, ready to move on as she continues to scan for evil's foul presence.

Erevan draws his blade without his usual show of bravado and soberly leads the way to the east.

perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Raman quirks a smile at the elf, "No brave quip, Erevan?" She shakes her head with maudlin regret, "I was just beginning to enjoy that about you, too."

Erevan returns the smile and performs a series of cuts through the air with his blade.

"Let's do this thing!" he says as he marches forward.