GM Bold Strider's PFS 01-50 Fortune's Blight - PbP Gameday IV (Subtier 8-9) (Inactive)

Game Master rpblue

She's dead Jim.

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Let's search the area for clues, but if we don't find the location of the fragment, I'll need a dagger and a few minutes with the hag's body..."

Going to assume that the lot of you take 10 to search the clearing, hut and shrine.

You find a fragment similar to the one in the Physician's possession buried underneath the shrine to Gyronna. Once you examine the shrine further, you also find a significant amount of abjuration and unholy magicks surrounding the shrine.

Finally, a thin booklet, no more than a dozen tattered pages sewn with browned sinews, sits next to a pile of rags. On its pages in a spidery hand are poems or hymns to Gyronna. Sketched among the text, a host of bloodshot eyes peers back at the reader. Themes of betrayal and spite thread through the vile and overindulgent prose, each stanza ending with praises to the Angry Hag.

Who takes the second fragment?

Now that you have recovered the second fragment, you know that you are to return to the barge, unless you have other things you wish to do at the hut.

No sign of other treasure?

The Physician dutifully takes the other fragment and stows it in his bag. "Anything else, then?"

Pai will take the second fragment, assuming it's not too heavy.

She casts Detect Magic as everyone searches the area.

I mean, the Hag had treasure that was listed above, but nothing else of value is found here.

Ill make sure I destroy the shrine. Planned to from the start, but Ill post more when I get off work.

After dealing with the green hag Aelzeldra and destroying her shrine to Gyronna, you board the barge again and travel farther upriver, headed for the town of Sevenarches. The journey takes a few days, so the barge pilot Jolson stops close to sunset the first day and anchors the boat in a shallow cove next to a wide beach.

"This is my favorite campin' spot. Yer welcome t' join, but me crew will stay behind t' watch the ship." the halfling says as he grabs his bag and tent.

There are no sleeping quarters on the barge. You would likely have to sleep on the deck.

Mohok hoists his pack and says, "I've slept rough plenty, and I'd be happy to sleep on dry land 'stead of a boat. The rest of you up for some camping?"

"I'm feeling a bit queasy from these fragments and the boat. A night on dry land would be nice."

Pai wasn't terribly happy with either option. She followed the group, and if they decided to camp on land, she follows.

Dr. Vitruvian begins silently packing his things in preparation to follow the pilot.

Kryssa says, "A night in the wilderness would be a gods-send. I've been spending too much time in cities."

After making certain to destroy the dark shrine, as well as any unholy symbols, Yanos will offer a few humble prayers to drive what taint might still remain from the land. Afterwards, he suddenly shifts back to his normal appearance, the pitchfork returning to a well cared for, though well used Longspear. Taking out a small knife, he carves another notch into the shaft, just below what seems to be some Celestial glyphs

Either way, he is no stranger to such accommodations, "It builds character" and "It's a simple test of one's mettle. Not even a hard one. . .", but is willing to do whichever the rest decide, (which sounds like making camp on land). "I promise you youngsters, I've an excellent pilot."

If we have a chance to rest, I'll reprepare my spells, but, fill in a 4th Level spell with Summon Monster 4 (previously Level 1-4 had one slot unused).

Pai, can I assume you're keeping me mage armor'd?

By this point all non-hour/level+extend metamagic will likely have worn off.

Assuming 3 shifts of 4 hours each.

First Shift: 1d6 ⇒ 11d5 ⇒ 4 Pai and Physician.
Second Shift: 1d4 ⇒ 31d3 ⇒ 2 Mohok and Zephyrus.
Third Shift: 1d2 ⇒ 21 = 1 Yanos and Kryssa.

The first shift goes fine as Pai and the Physician trade stories about growing up with nicknames that start with the letter 'P'. They wake the half-orc and elf for their shift before quickly retiring to their own bedrolls.

At exactly midnight, though there is no reason you would know it since I doubt one of you has a watch, the sound of wailing erupts from the bag of the Physician. A green hag that looks eerily similar to the one you just killed appears above the bag. You see the translucent mimicry of her horrid and disfigured physical form, but with her head split open from the top of her skull to the top of her nose, screaming "Foul vicious temptress Tylaca! You slew me! You betrayed me! I shall slay you all!"

Your halfling captain quickly leaps from his bedroll and flees towards the barge, screaming about ghosts invading his campsite.

Initiative:
Pai: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Yanos: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Mohok: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Physician: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Zephyrus: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Kryssa: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Ghost Hag: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Initiative:
1st: Zephyrus; Yanos
2nd: Ghost Hag
3rd: Pai; Mohok; Physician; Kryssa

Status:
Pai (Prone/Armorless) - 73/58 HP
Mohok - 66/76 HP
Physician (Prone/Armorless) - 59/59 HP
Zephyrus - 31/30 HP
Yanos (Prone/Armorless) - 59/59 HP
Kryssa (Prone/Armorless) - 48/48 HP

Pending:

Can I assume Mohok noticed he was wounded before going to bed and used his wand of CLW?

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Also, thank you for noticing he's got Endurance and would be sleeping in his armor.

I think the assumption was that we both donned our armor at the start of our watch, but more power to you.

Before retiring, Dr. Vitruvian notices Mohok about to tend his burns, but Dr. Vitruvian stops him.

"That's my mess; I'll clean it up."

He touches Mohok's burns, and the veins in his delicate hands momentarily glow a fierce, cold blue, as do the veins in Mohok's body. The burns recede in a matter of seconds.

Save your wand if it comes to that; I use 2 rounds of my Healing Touch, which heals you exactly 10 points.

Fast-forward...

"Interesting," states Dr. Vitruvian as he tests one of his bombs against the ghost, something he's never gotten to do before.

Bomb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
scatter die, because that looks like I missed; 1 is the square closest to me, proceeding clockwise: 1d8 ⇒ 1
miss chance, if necessary; high is desirable: 1d100 ⇒ 48
fire damage: 3d4 + 7 ⇒ (1, 3, 1) + 7 = 12

Splash damage is of course 10, Reflex DC 20 to halve.

I did notice the Endurance, but I also figured even if you took it off to sleep, then you would still put it on for the watch at least! :D

Reflex: 1d20 ⇒ 15

The bomb flies wide as the ghost recoils from the blast, protecting itself from most of the damage.

Initiative:
1st: Zephyrus; Yanos
2nd: Ghost Hag @ 2
3rd: Pai; Mohok; Physician; Kryssa

Status:
Pai (Prone/Armorless) - 73/58 HP
Mohok - 76/76 HP
Physician (Prone/Armorless) - 59/59 HP
Zephyrus - 31/30 HP
Yanos (Prone/Armorless) - 59/59 HP
Kryssa (Prone/Armorless) - 48/48 HP

Pending:

Rising to stand, and holding out a hand to offer peace. "Wait, spirit. We did not slay you. We are not the Harpy. We would kill her though. Help us, and we will help you."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

My armor is also light, so could sleep in it. Not sure just how great it would be against a Ghost, though.

I just assumed you guys wouldn't sleep in armor with a stout watch going! Also, not really gonna help much. ;-)

Gonna go mapless combat. There are three positions for this: Melee, Ranged, Trees. Melee is melee. Ranged is Ranged. Transitioning between the two is easy. Just a move action that provokes. Withdraw takes you between without provoking. Trees can be moved to as well to give cover from either position. All AoEs will be considered most beneficial to the party (not blasting your friends), unless it is a missed bomb (then we roll 1dX where X is the people in melee) or there is an inordinate amount of people in melee (like let's say 4+). Once you move into melee, your subsequent round you can move into flank if there is at least two people in melee. Sound good?

The ghost howls against Yanos' claims! "Death to my sister from your kind! Death to the harpy from me! DEATH TO ALL!" it bellows.

The creature stares down Yanos as he feels unnerved by her sight. This rapidly becomes pain as he doubles over, feeling his face deforming.

Damage: 2d10 ⇒ (8, 4) = 12
Charisma Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2 Fortitude Save DC 20 to negate Charisma Damage.

Initiative:
1st: Zephyrus; Yanos
2nd: Ghost Hag @ 2
3rd: Pai; Mohok; Physician; Kryssa

Location:
Melee: Physician (Due to the ghost erupting from your pack)
Ranged: Mohok, Pai, Doctor, Yanos, Kryssa
Trees: --

Status:
Pai (Prone/Armorless) - 73/58 HP
Mohok - 76/76 HP
Physician (Prone/Armorless) - 59/59 HP
Zephyrus - 31/30 HP
Yanos (2 Charisma) - 47/59 HP
Kryssa (Prone/Armorless) - 48/48 HP

Pending

Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Taking a small step back, "Very well, spirit-witch, . . ." I'll egin to Sacred Summon Monster 3 a Lantern Archon to appear right next to me and fire off two beams of pure holy energy.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Light Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Light Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 2

I think the assumption was that we both donned our armor at the start of our watch, but more power to you.

And here was Mohok, trying to be nice... but you appear to be correct.

Once again, Mohok uses his best judgment, stepping up to the ghost as he draws his blade and slicing through its insubstantial form! "I'm not sure she feels like talking, Yanos," he comments mid-swing.

+1 Falchion, PA: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31 Argh! Keen falchion and the thing's immune to crits...
+1 Falchion damage, PA: 2d4 + 10 + 9 ⇒ (4, 1) + 10 + 9 = 24

Dr. Vitruvian contemplates ways for him to be more prepared for this sort of phenomenon in the future in the back of his mind while he opens a small jar of red, nut-like capsules, which begin smoking languidly upon exposure to air, and puts them next to his explosives supply for expedient reach.

I am using my targeted bomb admixture infusion, which is unfortunately all I can do this round. It will last the next 6 rounds.

Pai knew her magic missiles would do very well against the undead, so she fired away.

Damage 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 2) + 3 = 10

She also moved back to the trees, knowing range from the ghost wouldn't be a problem for her.

@Pai: You were prone, so you can't stand, fetch your wand from your pack, move to the trees AND fire the wand at the same time. That's like three moves and a standard.

Scroll of Cure Moderate Wounds offensively? The main issue is, I don't believe your bombs would count as magic vs Incorporeal, which may mean you can't even target her. Not sure, honestly, but even if so, I believe she ignores all the extra damage you normally would do for being Incorporeal and automatically takes half damage before saves. I could totally be wrong, though, and I honestly don't know.

How many "trees" do we see?

@Party if you can, try to leave one of them intact. It might be awesome to actually be able to use this spell for the first time ever. :P If not, no big deal.

Bombs are a supernatural attack, thus it is halved against the incorporeal subtype, but still does damage. Also, you see lots of trees. You camped on a camping area in the middle of a forest.

Kryssa stands up and draws energy from the ancient protectors of her bloodline to summon a thin, but sturdy wall of force to protect her.

Stand up. Cast shield on self.

@Pai: You were prone, so you can't stand, fetch your wand from your pack, move to the trees AND fire the wand at the same time. That's like three moves and a standard.

My bad, DM, read too quickly and missed that part.

Pai jumps to her feet, hearing the ruckus around her. She reaches in her pouch and finds her trusty new magical wand. Knowing its use here, she pulls it out, ready to blast the evil spirit next round.

The Physician shouts encouragement, and attempts to hasten his allies.

Inspire +2. I think I have to cast Haste defensively.

Concentration: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28 vs. DC 21

Yanos fends off the disfiguring gaze as the rest of the party rushes into action. The Physican hastes the party as Kryssa shields herself. Pai scrounges for her favorite wand as the Doctor consumes an extract.

Yanos summons a few Lantern Archons, but their rays miss the floating ghost as Mohok joins the party with his falchion.

The falchion cuts through the ghost brutally but she responds by reaching out and passing her hand through Mohok's chest, briefly grazing his heart before drifting down into the earth. "DEEEEEAAAAA..." the sound cuts off abruptly as she merges with the ground.

Disfiguring Touch @ Mohok-15 TAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Damage: 10d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 2, 5, 6, 6, 3, 1, 5, 2) = 37 Fort DC 20 to halve.

Edit: I can't find anything that says incorporeal undead are immune to crits. Where did you see this?

Crit-Mohok: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (4) + 16 = 20
Damage: 2d4 + 19 ⇒ (1, 3) + 19 = 23

Initiative:
1st: Zephyrus; Yanos; Pai; Mohok; Physician; Kryssa
2nd: Ghost Hag @ 25

Location:
Underground: Hag Ghost
Melee: Physician, Mohok
Ranged: Archons (x2), Pai, Doctor, Yanos, Kryssa
Trees: --

Status:
Pai (Armorless) - 73/58 HP
Mohok - 76/76 HP
Physician (Prone/Armorless) - 59/59 HP
Zephyrus - 31/30 HP
Yanos - 47/59 HP
Kryssa (Armorless) - 48/48 HP

Pending
37/18 Damage @ Mohok

That's f+&#ing bizarre about incorporeal creatures still being vulnerable to critical hits. I can see extending critical/precision vulnerability to undead, but this is going too far.

Dr. Vitruvian deftly sweeps one of the smoldering capsules into his explosive flask, tosses in the catalyst, and throws the bomb, the fluid inside sooty rather than clear, at the ghost.

Thanks to the admixture, my bombs now do more damage, with no splash.

Bomb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
miss chance, if necessary; high is desirable: 1d100 ⇒ 69
fire damage: 3d4 + 14 ⇒ (3, 4, 4) + 14 = 25

The resulting explosion is smaller than before, but much brighter.

DMBS - I misremembered about incorporeal creatures and crits, they are not immune to them. Thanks for rolling the confirmation for me.

Fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 Half damage on disfiguring touch.

Mohok grimaces in agony as the ghost touches him, his already ugly face growing truly hideous as the evil magic takes effect! He digs deep inside himself and manages to shake off the worst of the spell's effect, then retaliates, his blade moving with blinding speed and slashing through the ghost over and over!

+1 Keen Falchion, PA, Haste, Inspired: 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 16 + 1 + 2 = 34 Crit threat
+1 Keen Falchion damage, PA, Inspired: 2d4 + 10 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1) + 10 + 9 + 2 = 26

+1 Keen Falchion, PA, Haste, Inspired: 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 16 + 1 + 2 = 29
+1 Keen Falchion damage, PA, Inspired: 2d4 + 10 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 10 + 9 + 2 = 25

+1 Keen Falchion, PA, iterative, Haste, Inspired: 1d20 + 11 - 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 11 - 3 + 1 + 2 = 19
+1 Keen Falchion damage, PA, Inspired: 2d4 + 10 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1, 3) + 10 + 9 + 2 = 25

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 16 + 1 + 2 = 36
Crit damage: 2d4 + 10 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 10 + 9 + 2 = 27

Where are you both attacking? The ghost is now under the ground.

Also, yes. I agree that incorporeal should be immune as they have no particular soft spots to strike, but it is what it is.

Pai delays, hoping her friends could finish the spirit before she needed to do anything. Assuming the ghost wasn't finished, she readied an action to blast the thing when it reappeared from the earth.

Damage 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1, 1) + 3 = 6

Immunity to crits comes from the incorporeal subtype, not the incorporeal universal monster rules. So if you become incorporeal from a spell or something and don't gain the subtype, you're still vulnerable to crits. But an incorporeal monster should have the subtype, and be immune.

The Physician continues to encourage his teammates, but has little else to offer, and so simply attempts to defend himself in his bedroll.

Inspire +2. Full Defense.

Well that's confusing.

Initiative:
1st: Zephyrus; Yanos; Pai-Ready; Mohok; Physician; Kryssa
2nd: Ghost Hag @ 14

Location:
Underground: Hag Ghost
Melee: Physician, Mohok
Ranged: Archons (x2), Pai, Doctor, Yanos, Kryssa
Trees: --

Status:
Pai (Armorless) - 73/58 HP
Mohok - 58/76 HP
Physician (Prone/Armorless) - 59/59 HP
Zephyrus - 31/30 HP
Yanos - 47/59 HP
Kryssa (Armorless) - 48/48 HP

Pending
Pai-Ready(Hag Appears) 6 force damage

Can we say that last attack was/is/will be my readied action for when she shows back up? That's probably what I would have done anyway if I'd understood.

Kryssa says, "I don't like this. Not one bit." She activates her wayfinder and uses it to cast a spell.

Protection from Evil on self. Then moving to spread out a little.

Can we say that last attack was/is/will be my readied action for when she shows back up? That's probably what I would have done anyway if I'd understood.

I'll go with the same approach, though I'll only get my first attack.

The Lantern Archon slams it's body of light into Mohok, imparting a small measure of "healing", but also teaching him a few tricks with the blade from the heavenly realms <casting Aid>, . . .

Temp HP, +1 Morale on Attack and Save vs Fear: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

. . . while Yanos closes his eyes, focusing his will on the deeper mysteries of existence, and calls on the inner power <casting Blessing of Fervor> to reach out and empower the group.

Taking +2 AC this round.

Taking +2 AC this round.

Me too.

+2 bonus to AC and Reflex

Ditto

The group readies their attacks as the creature's hand appears below the Physician, reaching out to torment him as he lays on the ground.

He feels a cold presence enter his body as the hand rips through his intestines, causing his great distress.

Corrupting Touch @ The Physician-14/16 TAC: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Damage: 10d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 3, 5, 4, 2, 5, 1, 1) = 29 Fort DC 20 to halve.

As the hand appears, the group bombards it with attacks, doing a good chunk of damage to the hand as it looks a bit more wispy and ethereal.

Initiative:
1st: Zephyrus; Yanos; Pai; Mohok; Physician; Kryssa
2nd: Ghost Hag @ 45

Location:
Underground: Hag Ghost
Melee: Physician, Mohok
Ranged: Archons (x2), Pai, Doctor, Yanos, Kryssa
Trees: --

Status:
Pai (Armorless) - 73/58 HP
Mohok - 58/76 HP
Physician (Prone/Armorless) - 59/59 HP
Zephyrus - 31/30 HP
Yanos - 47/59 HP
Kryssa (Armorless) - 48/48 HP

Pending
Physician- 29/14 Damage

Dr. Vitruvian presses the assault, emboldened by both his explosives' apparent effectiveness and the clear lethal power of the enemy.

Bomb: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
miss chance, if necessary; high is desirable: 1d100 ⇒ 17
fire damage: 3d4 + 14 ⇒ (1, 1, 1) + 14 = 17

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

"Blargh! Good work guys, keep it up!"

Continuing Inspiration. Blessing of Fervor to stand up as a swift without provoking. Move action, retrieve wand of Mage Armor, try to use it.

UMD: 1d20 + 15 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 15 - 2 = 24

I'll cast Magic Circle vs Evil, targetting whoever would offer the best area to include us all, while the Lantern Archon floats over to help The Prof out.

Aid (Temp HP): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

-Posted with Wayfinder

3rd round of Haste, BTW. Don't forget your buffs, people.