GM Bold Strider's Dragon's Demand - Flaxseed Lodge (Inactive)

Game Master rpblue

As you enter the cave system, you see that cavernous tunnel leads 750 feet back to a fork in the road. During daytime, sunlight reflects in from the east. The ceiling height here is 20 feet.

Wait here. Does her voice sound...dusty???

Sarasha skirts the Southern wall as she quietly scouts the cavern.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 +2 if there are any traps

If she makes it unmolested, she looks Dark + Low vision 60ft up the passage to the North and into the cavern? exit? to the West.

Alrik waits patiently as Sarasha dissappears.

I hear slaying a dragon is no small task. I have brought a few precautions to aid us in our battle...before we enter it's layer I can grant protection from it's breath to some of us with some magics I have prepared.

I have 3 scrolls of resist energy. Who else wants one?

I have scrolls of mass resist energy, communal pro. evil among other buffing options.

In the vast cavern Tessa points to the east. "There is sunlight coming from there. Let's check that way first. Her breath chills in the air as she protects herself with the arcane arts.

Mage Armor

Cobb hesitates at the cave entrance, squinting at its unknown depths.

"Too bad we don't know how deep this goes. Could go on for a mile or two and all our wards and spells might wear off."

He gestures to Sarasha.

"You've gotten quieter... I can't even really hear you breathing no more. Perhaps you can take a few dozen paces over there real quiet like and then check back?"

Can we hear a dragon breathing? Sounds of coins tinkling from its massive gold hoard as it stretches out upon them? :)

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Sorry to be absent from the planning discussions, my work trip has been busier than expected, with poor connectivity as well.

Lukas calls on his inner discipline to protect himself from violence, then nods at Tessa's suggestion to explore to the east.

Use 1 ki point (1/5 used today) for barkskin.

@Cobb, if you mean the passage to the North, I'm down with that. Waiting for GM description of what we see in both the cavern and the passage before proceeding.

Letting Sarasha do her Rogue thang would be a good start to set us up for this encounter...

You mean blundering into rooms rolling 1's on Stealth checks, then taunting the overpowered monstrosity within? Right, I'm on it!

Sarasha scouts to the east at Lukas and Tessa's bequest after exploring the empty cavern that they currently reside in.

To the east, the group finds another larger room. The ceiling of this enormous cavern looms 50 feet overhead, pierced at many points by large openings to the surface (the outlines of these openings are represented by white lines on the map). Layers of earth cover the ground here, and grass, moss, and fungus grow on the floor in a thick, verdant layer.

To the north, the group sees a long passageway that terminates in darkness and even those with darkvision would need to move down the hallway to see what lays in wait in that direction.

Cobb, trying to listen for any sounds that he might deem odd, hears the slight sound of chittering to the north, but the sounds to the east are much louder, though these are the normal sounds of nature, such as birds, gusts of wind and such, likely due to the open holes in the ceiling of that cavern.

Hearing that there is nothing but indigenous wildlife Tessa creeps forward towards the dge and peeks around the corner.

Is the dragon even here?

She places her back to the wall as she crouches down low, out of sight.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Stealth: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Sarasha whispers her findings, ever careful of the keen hearing of dragons, especially in their echoing, cavernous lairs.

I deem it likely a dragon would want ceiling openings, so we are likely to find it to the East. But the passage to the North may grant us a better chance at surprise. If all agree, I will scout that way and report my findings.

Alrik nods solemnly to Sarascha.

Cobb gives a nod to Sarasha while moving along with Tessa to keep an eye on her.

Sarasha quietly moves up the Northern hallway, watching carefully for ambush or traps.

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19
Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 +2 against traps

I moved her the farthest she will go before returning to report. She will stop wherever she finds something.

Lukas gives Sarasha's proposal a nod, adding quietly, "I can come with you, so you don't die again. If you can die now."

Lukas has a +11 to Stealth and Perception, so is nearly as sneaky as Sarasha. Whether he goes along or not, I would advise Sarasha to take 10 on Stealth, as those low rolls could get you killed.

The map is everyone's starting point for this fight.

The group fails to see a dragon or any sort of reptilian in the giant, lush cavern.

Sarasha and Lukas move northward down the tunnel and hear the low chittering get a bit louder, but as Sarasha moves, she accidentally hits a rock, sending it careening into the darkness ahead.

Perception: 3d20 ⇒ (4, 17, 12) = 33

As the rock careens into the next room, the pari hears a trio of voices shout in an unfamiliar, yet familiar language. The other four hear a vague shouting from their standpoint and everyone thinks that this will draw the attention of the dragon.

This seems like a good enough time to go into Initiative.

Initiative:
Katja: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Lukas: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Alrik: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Cobb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Sarasha: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Tessa: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
???: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
???: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Initiative:
1st: Katja; Cobb; Sarasha; Tessa
2nd: ???
3rd: Lukas; Alrik
4th: ???

Current Buffs
Tessa-Mage Armor
Lukas-Barkskin
Spider Climb and Fly would have worn off by now.

Status
Katja @ 37/37 HP
Lukas @ 49/49 HP
Alrik @ 52/52 HP
Cobb @ 52/52 HP
Sarasha @ 48/48 HP
Tessa @ 32/32 HP

Pending

Good point, Lukas. Juuuuust a bit too late. :-)

Edit: rest of post removed since it broke soooo many rules. :-)

@Sarasha: See the Discussion about the Flurry. Also, you can't ready a Full Attack, only a standard Attack action. Also, this would put you about 20' up.

Sarasha readies her weapon and attempts to blend into the shadows. Move Action

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

CE+ROFS == AC 19

Tessa draws her bow awaiting for whatever the chittering draws in.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Turning back she glares.

What is going on?

Sarasha prepares herself for an assault as she hides in an alcove along the side of the cave, while Tessa looks in all directions for an idea of what is going on, but she can't make out the enemies' next move.

Initiative:
1st: Katja; Cobb; Sarasha; Tessa
2nd: ???
3rd: Lukas; Alrik
4th: ???

Current Buffs
Tessa-Mage Armor
Lukas-Barkskin
Spider Climb and Fly would have worn off by now.

Status
Katja @ 37/37 HP
Lukas @ 49/49 HP
Alrik @ 52/52 HP
Cobb @ 52/52 HP
Sarasha @ 48/48 HP
Tessa @ 32/32 HP

Pending

I would have cast Mage Armor once we got to the top of the cliff, since it would have lasted 6 hours if that is allowed retroactively

Katja, tries to figure what to do, as all of her spells require her allies to be closer to her than they presently are.

Damnit, if we group together, we become easy targets, but if we spread out, some of my spells become less effective. Okay, think Katja, how best to help everyone...?

She has a flash of insight, although it will lose some of its potency, she decides to move in the center of the allies she is surrounded by. She then makes a few motions, and the group feels lighter on their feet as it seems time has speed up briefly for them.

casting haste from prepared spells. Lasts 6 rounds, targeting Cobb, Tessa, Alrik, and Myself. +1 dodge to AC and Reflex saves, Extra attack when making full round attack

This is events happening in the room Sarasha has gone to, not Tessa's room right?

Cobb inhales sharply as his eyes narrow at the lush cavern. He gives a nod to Tessa.

"That's gonna draw something out..."

Wanting to be prepared in case it is the dragon, he unfurls his newest scrolls and quickly reads the words upon it.

Scroll of heroism.

The spell can only hit Cobb, Tessa and Katja, not Alrik as the distance between Cobb/Tessa and Alrik is >30 ft.

Ketja blesses the trio near the entrance to the 'greenhouse' with an enhanced speed that they have never experienced before. Cobb, in particular, believes this will help him fight a dragon immensely.

Cobb, in turn, pulls out a scroll that he just purchased and blesses himself with the gift of Heroism.

As everyone prepares, Tessa feels a sense of dread as a giant sphere of pure darkness erupts from the north and appears to be moving east. You can hear the sounds of the chittering in the sphere and they are in full force.

Initiative:
1st: Katja; Cobb; Sarasha; Tessa
2nd: ???
3rd: Lukas; Alrik
4th: ???

Current Buffs
Tessa-Mage Armor
Katja-Mage Armor
Cobb-Heroism
Katja/Cobb/Tessa-Haste
Lukas-Barkskin

Status
Katja @ 37/37 HP
Lukas @ 49/49 HP
Alrik @ 52/52 HP
Cobb @ 52/52 HP
Sarasha @ 48/48 HP
Tessa @ 32/32 HP

Pending

Alrik is within 30 feet of Katja on the map...he will drink a potion of fly and then move closer to the tunnel.

Alrik hearing something scary approaching calls out to the vanguard.

Quick! get back here...

Lukas whispers fiercely to Sarasha, "Come on, we've got to get back with the others!" He waits a moment for her to move, then hurries back towards the rest of the party.

Will delay until Sarasha's turn, so as not to leave her alone in this hallway. Assuming she's willing to move back towards the party, Lukas will do the same. If not, I'll come out of delay at her turn and do something else.

Major bummer that Sarasha and Lukas missed the casting of haste.

If possible, Sarasha will follow Lukas back to the others.

I'll update tonight.

@Alrik: No two targets of Haste can be farther than 30ft. apart, thus it is either Cobb/Tessa or you. Katja can make the call.

@Sarasha: You can move on your turn.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Karja would do the three of them. Sorry Alric you're out

As Alrik moves down the hall a bit to call to Lukas and Sarasha, Tessa recoils in horror as she sees their target fly from around a corner in the 'greenhouse' and move up to speak with the giant ball of darkness, however the language is unknown to her and it is much to far to make out the nuance of the conversation. The green dragon seems to hover as it speaks, though even Tessa can see that it is agitated.

Initiative:
1st: Katja; Cobb; Sarasha; Tessa; Lukas
2nd: ???
3rd: Alrik
4th: ???

Current Buffs
Tessa-Mage Armor
Katja-Mage Armor
Cobb-Heroism
Katja/Cobb/Tessa-Haste
Lukas-Barkskin

Status
Katja @ 37/37 HP
Lukas @ 49/49 HP
Alrik @ 52/52 HP
Cobb @ 52/52 HP
Sarasha @ 48/48 HP
Tessa @ 32/32 HP

Pending

I am wondering if I am allowed to cast a the Communal Resit spell as a standard action, then move around touching people to "discharge" up to the max allowed before the spell goes poof? My plan would be cast as a standard, then move up to my speed to give it to Cobb, Tessa, Myself, and then make my way up the other corridor to give it to the others, up to the max allowed, or do we all have to be holding hands?

It occurs to me that Sarasha is small and light enough that Lukas should be able to carry her and move them much faster than if he just moves along with her, since he has a 50' move and she has a 20' move speed.

Lukas says, "Sorry about this, but I think it's the best way." He scoops up Sarasha's small figure in his arms, only hesitating slightly at her not-quite-dead nature, and hustles down the hall toward their friends.

Move action to pick her up, move action to go 35', which is what an encumbered person with a 50' move would have for a move speed.

Sarasha - that should still leave you with actions this round, if you can do anything while being carried. I'll double move next round to get us back to the gang.

Tessa hisses behind her with wide eyes. "It's the dragon!It seems agitated and hovering near a portal. Get down there now. I will provide cover from here!

She continues to ready her bow, not wanted to draw the dragon's attention to herself.

Fly down into the greenhouse now! She slowly begins to panic as everything falls apart.

Delay as me shooting the dragon would be bad.

If needed Cobb can step closer to Katja for the spell.

Cobb narrows his eyes at the dragon in the distance, giving a nod to his allies as their magic wards wash over him.

"There's a big ball o' dark the dragon's talkin' to."

Cobb follows that intel with some work of his own.

Move action to study the dragon. Standard action to cast divine favor.

Sarasha, abruptly freed from the effort of walking, pulls a scroll of Comprehend Languages out of a scroll case Move action and attempts to read it.

UMD DC21: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31

Katja blesses herself with the power to resist the effects of acid and is able to move to give the blessing to Cobb and Tessa as well.

Sarasha pulls a scroll free from her waistband and reads it aloud, giving herself the ability to understand all forms of speech, but she is a bit far and around too many corners to make out what the enemies are saying.

Lukas grabs the woman and quickly hustles her down the tunnel as she does this as Tessa merely keeps a lookout.

Cobb decides to study the dragon's actions to bolster his effectiveness in the fight and calls down for a blessing from his patron, empowering him even further.

As the group casts spells and yells out to each other, the orb seems to shift its movement towards Tessa's lookout. From inside the orb, Tessa can hear three distinct voices chanting, though she can't make out what is being said. Additionally, the visage of the dragon becomes obscured as the orb blocks your view.

Initiative:
1st: Katja; Cobb; Sarasha; Tessa; Lukas
2nd: ???
3rd: Alrik
4th: Huge Green Dragon

Current Buffs
Tessa/Katja-Mage Armor
Cobb-Heroism
Katja/Cobb/Tessa-Haste (2 of 6 rounds)
Katja/Cobb/Tessa-Resist Energy Acid (10 resist)
Lukas-Barkskin
Sarasha-Comprehend Languages
Cobb-Divine Favor (1 of 10 rounds)

Status
Katja @ 37/37 HP
Lukas @ 49/49 HP
Alrik @ 52/52 HP
Cobb @ 52/52 HP
Sarasha @ 48/48 HP
Tessa @ 32/32 HP

Pending

Alrik moves and activates Weapon Bond to make his sword keen. He's now close enough to Tessa to be touched.

Alrike strides forward speaking a prayer to Iomedae.

And here I was thinking that slaying Dragons would be easy...

As Alrik moves into the alcove with Cobb and the rest, Tessa spies a stick falling out of the orb of pure darkness. Alrik blesses himself with his divine powers to enhance his weapon in the process.

Initiative:
1st: Katja; Cobb; Sarasha; Tessa; Lukas
2nd: ???
3rd: Alrik
4th: Huge Green Dragon

Current Buffs
Tessa/Katja-Mage Armor
Cobb-Heroism
Katja/Cobb/Tessa-Haste (3 of 6 rounds)
Katja/Cobb/Tessa-Resist Energy Acid (10 resist)
Lukas-Barkskin
Sarasha-Comprehend Languages
Cobb-Divine Favor (2 of 10 rounds)
Alrik-Divine Bond (Keen)

Status
Katja @ 37/37 HP
Lukas @ 49/49 HP
Alrik @ 52/52 HP
Cobb @ 52/52 HP
Sarasha @ 48/48 HP
Tessa @ 32/32 HP

Pending

@GM, am I correct that the dragon is at the center (or at least within) the ball of darkness? Can you summarize the dimensions of the cavern again, please? I'm trying to figure out of Spider Climb will be useful.

Lukas continues to hustle down the hall carrying Sarasha as she squirms and wiggles to pull out scrolls and use them.

Can't manipulate map at the moment, can someone move Lukas and Sarasha 70' closer to the party, as Lukas' double move?

@Lukas, done. And thanks for the ride. :-)

Having little else to do but enjoy the ride, Sarasha fishes another scroll out and tries to cast it.

UMD DC21: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27 Damn, wasting all my good rolls on level 1 scrolls!

Alarm cast in hallway behind them, set for audible alarm.

I have never used Communal spells before, so I am unsure the parameters of the spell itself in terms of dividing. Am I able to walk around still and touch my allies, or is the spell wasted. If I was only able to touch those listed, I would have gone with the Abundant Ammo option. I would have saved my Communal Resist for a larger group. Is that okay with you GMBS?

So, if allowed, Cobb will have Abundant Ammo. Then for this current round, Katja, would move next to Cobb, as she pulls out another scroll and casts it upon him. She would cast Cat's Grace, CL 7

Cobb looks over his shouldr at his allies.

"So, we got a big ball of darkness coming this way - we got something to deal with that?"

He fires off a pair of arrows at what he imagines is the center of the ball.

Target the dead center. Will roll 50% conceal, high always good? I suspect it's not the dragon at the middle, so not including studied target

+1 keen longbow (rapid, heroism, deadly, DF): 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 2 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 2 + 2 - 2 + 2 = 17 for 1d8 + 3 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 4 + 2 = 15
Conceal (high=good): 1d100 ⇒ 51

+1 keen longbow (rapid, heroism, deadly, DF): 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 2 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 2 + 2 - 2 + 2 = 12 for 1d8 + 3 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 4 + 2 = 14
Conceal (high=good): 1d100 ⇒ 79

Cobb fires off a pair of arrows into the darkness as Katja blesses him with the reflexes of a cat. When Katja touched his quiver earlier, he mistook it for protection from acid, but it actually seems to have replenished his two arrows.

@Katja: 1) You didn't waste the spell. You would have applied it to half the party. 2) Also, I linked what happens with Communal spells above in the spoiler with your name on it. Essentially, you can only touch people in the round that you finish casting, so you could not give the spell to others this round if you had cast it. For the purposes of this fight, I will let you retcon the spell.

Lukas carries Sarasha as she pulls out another scroll and casts a protective ward in the hallway to alert the group to possible intruders from the north.

Initiative:
1st: Katja; Cobb; Sarasha; Tessa; Lukas
2nd: ???
3rd: Alrik
4th: Huge Green Dragon

Current Buffs
Tessa/Katja-Mage Armor
Cobb-Heroism
Katja/Cobb/Tessa-Haste (3 of 6 rounds)
Lukas-Barkskin
Sarasha-Comprehend Languages
Cobb-Divine Favor (2 of 10 rounds)
Alrik-Divine Bond (Keen)
Cobb-Abundant Ammunition
Cobb-Cat's Grace

Status
Katja @ 37/37 HP
Lukas @ 49/49 HP
Alrik @ 52/52 HP
Cobb @ 52/52 HP
Sarasha @ 48/48 HP
Tessa @ 32/32 HP

Pending

Tessa continues to watch the dragon's movements, not wanting to draw any attention to herself in the slightest.

It's coming closer. You need to hurry up and get down there! She hisses between her teeth.[/b]

Continue to delay

Ack, I thought we had protection [irl=http://paizo.com/campaigns/GMBoldStridersDragonsDemandFlaxseedLodge/gameplay&page=45#2237]from acid[/url].

If that's not the case, can Cobb instead of firing two arrows into darkness have applied resist (acid) to himself (non communal version)?

DMBS Alrik also has fly activated...

This is why I don't like to allow retcons because then everyone wants to retcon actions based off the changes. This is the last retcon! :D

Probably not, though.

Cobb, a master of illusion, shows that the two arrows are still in his hand and actually decides to protect himself from acid since Katja deigned not to do so.

Tessa, ever patient, decides to wait to see what happens.

As she waits, the giant sphere of pure darkness moves ever closer and actually envelops Tessa, Alrik and Katja, though Katja appears to be half in and half out of the sphere. None of the three can see in the darkness and Tessa and Alrik see their light sources extinguished as the globe washes over them.

Initiative:
1st: Katja; Cobb; Sarasha; Tessa; Lukas
2nd: ???
3rd: Alrik
4th: Huge Green Dragon

Current Buffs
Tessa/Katja-Mage Armor
Cobb-Heroism
Katja/Cobb/Tessa-Haste (3 of 6 rounds)
Lukas-Barkskin
Sarasha-Comprehend Languages
Cobb-Divine Favor (2 of 10 rounds)
Alrik-Divine Bond (Keen)
Cobb-Abundant Ammunition
Cobb-Cat's Grace
Cobb-Resist Acid (10 resist)
Alrik-Fly

Status
Katja @ 37/37 HP
Lukas @ 49/49 HP
Alrik @ 52/52 HP
Cobb @ 52/52 HP
Sarasha @ 48/48 HP
Tessa @ 32/32 HP

Pending

Alrik steps out of the Darkness and cast yet another spell.

What shall we do about the darkness? We cannot fight the Dragon if we cannot see it!

The hero in shining armor calls out in frustration.

Cast resist energy from scroll. Also as stated above your list of Buffs is missing Alrik's Fly spell. Assuming darkness blocks out Darkvision?