GM Bold Strider's PFS 01-53 Echoes of the Everwar, Part IV - The Faithless Dead (Subtier 10-11) (Inactive)

Game Master rpblue

"Didn't we hear about things falling from the sky? I would suppose that is what caused the craters. Perhaps they will give us some insight here-like why the orc attackers then died and became skeletons. Doesn't that seem strange?"

Atum leads the way over to the craters, kicking over a few walls on the way just to make sure they don't start attacking the party.

The first two craters appear to be formed from objects tumbling from the sky. These objects crashed into several farm houses and other structures that used to stand here. Debris, mud, rocks, and dirt are strewn in a northwesterly direction from the craters.

Both of those craters are about 20 feet deep with steep, muddy slopes down to the bottom. Nothing of interest seems to be in the wreckage after a half hour of searching.

"Indeed, Atum, you speak truly. It does seem strange. However, it also seems we have exhausted the bailey in our quest for answers. Shall we try the keep?"

"Doesn't seem there's much else to see here, " Terrill concurs. "Let's see what the keep holds. "

"Agreed. We may find answers there." rumbles the oread.

"What about that one?" Atum points to the next crater and leads the way. There are more than two craters right? Can't see the map atm but GM only said the first two had nothing.

I believe the third is at the base of the keep.

I see only two craters.

Desmond nods at Terrill's assessment. "Yeah, don't look like there's much here. Let's head 'cross that bridge." Desmond, his bow still drawn, steps timidly on to the bridge, giving it a quick once-over to check that its construction is sound.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

Sahrek follows close behind.

I return!

"Aye," Halbarad states without further comment, and follows Desmond over the bridge.

Dragorin will follow the rest of the party over the bridge.

Sorry for the delay! Been travelling non-stop for four days! Thought I would have Wi-Fi at the hotels, but they wanted cash for it and I ain't about that.

A sturdy wooden platform runs up from the base of the bailey’s road at a 45 degree angle to the motte gate above. The platform is crossed with thick boards at even intervals to provide a kind of step for climbing up. The motte gate is blasted open, both of its doors lying on the motte’s hillside nearby. The motte’s drawbridge is down.

Looking through the open gate, it is plain that there are corpses scattered about the motte yard, arms and armor broken or rended, and, oddly, the gate appears to be smashed open from the inside.

As stated by Halbarad, the third crater is inside the motte.

Flinders raises his hand to halt the party. "Whoa! Hold a moment. The drawbridge is rigged to collapse when tread upon. Let me see what I can do."

Moving up and studying the bridge for a minute, Flinders removes some tools and tries to disable the triggering mechanism.

Disable T10 : 10 + 25 = 35

Flinders pulls out some sovereign glue and lightly dabs two corners of the gate, positive that the tower shouldn't fall from the trap.

Flinders stands and wipes his hands off on his pants. "That should do it. Carry on!"

Terrill moves across the bridge and up the slope below the fort, eyes and ears alert.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37

Where do you move to?

Flinders taps Terril on the shoulder and points to the crater. "Want to examine that first?"

Why don't we just move into the keep. I'm sure that what ever answers there are to be had will be found inside. Dragorin says dryly, obviously tires of looking around in the mud.

"Excellent idea, Dragorin!" Desmond slings his bow back over his shoulder and strides up to the front door of the keep. He shushes Sahrek and the rest of the group as he places an ear to the door to try and listen for any notable sounds.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

If he doesn't hear anything alarming, he'll go ahead and open the door.

Had already moved on the map, but I wasn't sure if the gatehouse was going to present any challenge, so that was as far as I went. Just repositioned next to the crater.

"On my way, Flinders," Terrill replies as he moves to examine the crater. "Won't take a moment, Drag."

Got two people voting for keep and two for crater.

Keep was seconded first, thus we are on to the keep!

A 10-foot-tall palisade (wooden log wall) rings the entire motte-and-bailey with a separate palisade surrounding the motte to wall it off from the bailey below. At several points along the wall, specifically in the southeast corner of the bailey and along the southern palisade of the motte, crude ladders lean against the palisade that provide easy climbing access to the other side.

As the group enter through the motte gate they find a large, three-story timber tower rises from the center of the motte and ends at a pointed roof above, ringed by wooden crenelations. A gaping hole in the motte appears to have collapsed the outside wall of the southeast corner of the tower exposing several rooms across all three floors. The steep front stairs that lead up to the timber tower’s door are covered in blood stains and the front door of the tower has been smashed in from the outside. A thin tendril of smokes wisps its way skyward from the tower’s chimney.

The Pathfinders continue forward and find that this room is all that remains of the timber tower’s defensible entryway. Arrow slits line the west and east walls and a portcullis lies ruined on the floor. Part of the east wall has collapsed, spilling rubble into the nearby crater that caused the collapse. The room is littered with rubble and the floors are stained with blood at periodic intervals.

The door to the left is cautiously examined before the group explores. This new room was what housed the timber tower’s weapons, but most are missing now, the empty weapon racks and shelves bare of armor exhibiting evidence of the orc’s thievery. Several broken bits of armor and weapons as well as a dozen or so broken crates litter the floor. There is nothing of value here.

The next doorway leads to a room that once served to house archers who protected the entrance to the timber tower. The room is currently empty except for two orc corpses stripped of their weapons and gear.

This leaves one set of double doors.

This is the main hall of the timber tower. It contains a large table made of an enormous tree cut in half lengthwise and laid down on the floor. It’s framed by two long wooden benches along the side and two stylish wooden chairs at each end. A fireplace stands against the north wall and two sets of stairs frame the fireplace and rise up to the second floor. There are a dozen or so corpses here, most of which are seated at the table, heads resting on the table. Atop the fireplace is draped a large flag of Cheliax.

The group filters in to look around, when two of the corpses rise up, lashing out at anyone nearby.

Perception:
Basalte: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Desmond: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35 (+4 Urban, +2 Underground)
Halbarad: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
Atum: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Terrill: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35
Dragorin: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Flinders: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20 (Trapspotter)

Initiative:
Basalte: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Desmond: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 (+4 Urban, +2 Underground)
Halbarad: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Atum: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19v
Terrill: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Dragorin: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15
Flinders: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Surprise Round:
1st: Desmond @ 92/92 HP; Sahrek; Halbarad @ 72/72 HP; Terrill @ 69/69 HP;
2nd: Skeletons (#1-Red; #2-Blue)
3rd: Basalte @ 70/70 HP; Flinders @ 73/73 HP;

1st Round:
1st: Desmond @ 92/92 HP; Sahrek; Halbarad @ 72/72 HP; Terrill @ 69/69 HP; Dragorin @ 100/80 HP; Atum @ 104/104 HP;
2nd: Skeletons (#1-Red; #2-Blue)
3rd: Basalte @ 70/70 HP; Flinders @ 73/73 HP;

"Won't take a moment, Drag."

Don't call me that. Dragorin says over his shoulder as he heads into the keep. As the exploring of the keep turns up little of interest Dragorin starts to grow more and more irritable.

As the undead rise up to strike at the party, Dragorin slumps his shoulders and reaches for his mace.

I think he prefers, Orin. ;-)

Surprise Round

Spotting the stirring skeletons swiftly, Hal nudges Th'reiwa-don a bit east (5 feet, free action) and casts aspect of the falcon on himself (standard action). He instructs Th'reiwa-don to attack, pointing at Red (swift action). The bird lashes out hastily with its bladed beak (standard action for the pet).

Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Meanwhile, Hal's bones grow thicker in his features--giving him a vaguely undead visage of his own. +2 natural armor. AC 30 for 10 minutes.

KN: religion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Terrill attempts to identify the creatures stirring, and decides it’s better to just destroy them. He stomps a foot on the floor, causing his black boots to glow silver for an instant, and begins to move with astonishing speed. Once again, his blade is an invisible whirl of steel as he strikes at the undead next to him.

Free action to activate boots of speed, round 1/10 today. Swift action to activate undead bane, round 2/10 today. Full attack vs red.

+1 Curve Blade, Power Attack, Bane: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 28
Curve blade damage, Power Attack, Bane: 1d10 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 6 + 2 + (5, 4) = 31

+1 Curve Blade, iterative, Power Attack, Bane: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 17
Curve blade damage, Power Attack, Bane: 1d10 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 6 + 2 + (2, 4) = 29

+1 Curve Blade, Power Attack, Bane: 1d20 + 14 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 14 - 2 + 2 = 25
Curve blade damage, Power Attack, Bane: 1d10 + 9 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 6 + 2 + (6, 4) = 28

Desmond curses under his breath, "Put blunt arrows on the shopping list..." as he quick draws his bow and fires off an arrow at the skeleton in red.

Ranged, Deadly Aim, Fav. Enemy: 1d20 + 16 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 16 - 3 + 2 = 35
Piercing Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 6 + 2 = 19

Confirm? + Critical Focus: 1d20 + 16 - 3 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 16 - 3 + 2 + 4 = 20
Damage: 2d8 + 12 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (5, 3) + 12 + 12 + 4 = 36

SHAZBOT! Does a 1 automatically fail a Crit Confirmation roll? It does, doesn't it.

Character Folio Re-roll on that Crit. Confirmation

Confirm? + Critical Focus: 1d20 + 16 - 3 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 16 - 3 + 2 + 4 = 22

Well, better. At least the thing is flat-footed, so I have a chance.

@Terrill: It's is a surprise round. Do you have some way to perform a full attack in the surprise round?

Correct, Desmond.

Desmond and Terrill each strike a vicious blow into the skeletons, however Halbarad's mount Th'reiwa-don isn't as lucky.

The two skeletons rise up and slash at Basalte and Terrill with their claws.

Claw @ Terrill-25 AC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
Claw Confirmation @ Terrill-25 AC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Claw @ Basalte-23 AC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Terrill Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Basalte Damage: 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Surprise Round:
3rd: Basalte @ 61/70 HP; Flinders @ 73/73 HP;

1st Round:
1st: Desmond @ 92/92 HP; Sahrek; Halbarad @ 72/72 HP; Terrill @ 59/69 HP; Dragorin @ 100/80 HP; Atum @ 104/104 HP;
2nd: Skeletons (#1-Red @ 50 damage; #2-Blue @ 26 damage)
3rd: Basalte @ 61/70 HP; Flinders @ 73/73 HP;

As the skeleton chips away some of Basalte's stony flesh, the oread lets out a surge of furor and slashes at the blue-boned skeleton!

Rage against the skeleton!
+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion, Power Attack, Rage: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 292d4 + 18 ⇒ (2, 2) + 18 = 22
Confirmation: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 1 = 152d4 + 18 ⇒ (4, 1) + 18 = 23

AC 23, Will 10, Hp 73/82 (12 from rage)

Dragorin will draw his mace again, stepping up to swing at the skeleton with blue flames in its eyes.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Confirm Crit
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

@Terrill: It's is a surprise round. Do you have some way to perform a full attack in the surprise round?

No, I don't, but I do have some skill at missing clearly-presented information, apparently. :(

Terrill attacks the undead before him fiercely, calling out, ”Nice shot, Orin!” as the cleric smashes the blue-tinged foe.

Free action to activate boots of speed, round 1/10 today. Swift action to activate undead bane, round 2/10 today. Full attack vs red.

+1 Keen Curve Blade, Power Attack, Bane: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 13 - 2 + 2 = 21
Curve blade damage, Power Attack, Bane: 1d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 6 + 2 + (5, 1) = 26

+1 Keen Curve Blade, iterative, Power Attack: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 2 = 8
Curve blade damage, Power Attack, Bane: 1d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 6 + 2 + (6, 6) = 31

+1 Keen Curve Blade, Power Attack, Bane: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 13 - 2 + 2 = 17 Haste attack
Curve blade damage, Power Attack, Bane: 1d10 + 8 + 6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 6 + 2 + (4, 2) = 32

Bummer...

Sorry, Dragorin took all the good rolls for his 13 points of damage.

Round I

Why do skeletons never stay dead? Why? Hal asks himself as he unleashes wood and feather and (cold) iron on Red, giving Th'reiwa-don a nudge to do the same...

Attack: +9 BAB, +5 Dex, +1 Enhance, +2 Favored Enemy, +1 Point Blank Shot, +1 Aspect of the Falcon, -3 Deadly Aim, -2 Rapid Shot = +14
Damage: +2 Str, +1 Enhance, +2 Favored Enemy, +1 Point Blank Shot, +6 Deadly Aim = 1d8 + 12

Manyshot (Cold Iron): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Damage (Cold Iron): 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14 and Damage (Cold Iron): 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Rapid Shot (Cold Iron): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
Damage (Cold Iron): 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Iterative (Cold Iron): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Damage (Cold Iron): 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Even with large elven eyes grown to even more unnatural size, Hal's aim is thrown off by the discombobulating transmutation... mine too, apparently! :P

Flinders draws his whip and takes a step northwest, while calling on his luck, as he tries to trip the skeleton.

Trip: 1d20 + 12 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 2 = 20

Desmond points at the close skeleton with his bow, "Get in there and attack that thing, Sahrek!" The wolf licks his chops as he complies with the command.

Attack, Fav. Enemy: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 = 35
Damage, Fav. Enemy: 2d6 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (2, 5) + 10 + 2 = 19
Trip, Fav. Enemy: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 15 + 2 = 31

Crit?: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 13 + 2 = 31
Damage: 2d6 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6) + 10 + 2 = 23

Desmond, not feeling in any particular hurry, slings his bow back over his shoulder (move action), quick-draws his falchion (free action) and moves over to the skeleton (move action).

Uhh... these guys are dead (redead?) if I apply it properly I think. So much math and I'm 99% sure they are dead. Dead, it is.

"Eeny, Meeny, Miny, Mo!" states Atum. "To the right stairwell!"

As the Pathfinders ascend the stairs, they smell something awful—something akin to bad body odor but much, much worse. As they get closer to the room, the tower gets a lot warmer and much more humid.

When they enter, they find a typical kitchen with three tables for food prep, shelves, and a large fireplace. The smell is coming from three large cauldrons sitting over an open fire in the fireplace, boiling and covered in a white froth and containing what appear to be human heads.

Standing in front of the cauldrons is an orc. He appears to be a shaman, based on his markings and gear. He is boiling the heads of the slain Chelish men. Krug is not immediately hostile towards you--in fact, he’s quite friendly!

"Greetings, guests! Soup will be ready shortly. Please wait in the dining room. The Master Sky Plant will need sustenance as well!" proudly claims the orc.

Status:
Desmond @ 92/92 HP; Sahrek; Halbarad @ 72/72 HP; Terrill @ 59/69 HP; Dragorin @ 100/80 HP; Atum @ 104/104 HP; Basalte @ 61/70 HP; Flinders @ 73/73 HP;

Before moving up the stairs, Terrill taps himself with a healing wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Once in the ghastly kitchen, where the shaman stirs the soup pot, Terrill takes a step back and unobtrusively calls on Desna to bless him in the combat sure to come.

Cast heroism, +2 on attacks, saves, skills for 90 minutes.

Status: 68/69, spells left: 2/5/6 hp

Hal feels he is in a bit of a moral pickle. He does some thinking aloud, not caring about its effect on the attitude of the orc. "Hmph. I really want to kill you for the atrocities you commit before us. But you also might have useful information... or you might be a puppet." He spits. "Well I doubt that last one. Hmm."

As he nocks an arrow, the elf asks "What do you mean by 'Master Sky Plant,' and what do you mean that it will need sustenance?"

Hal doesn't think he would really mind having to kill this orc post-haste.

Before climbing the stairs, Basalte asks someone to use his wand on him.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Basalte looks skeptical, as ever. "Mrrr... Are we to be the next meal? Who is Master Sky Plant? Explain."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

"Good day master chef!" Flinders remarks. "I see you are preparing something special for the master! Where is the master at the moment?"

Knowledge
Planes: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Religion: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Eyeing the orc suspiciously Dragorin racks his brain for any information that might be at all relevant. In preparation for battle that will most likely come he will start to cast some preparatory spells.

He will cast these spells in order until combat starts:
1. Invisibility purge (50ft radius, 10 min)
2. Cats's Grace (AC 31, 10 min)
3. Bless

Dragorin casts magicks in the corner and the orc smirks. "I don't know what you hope to find with that spell. The Master Sky Plant sees all and is all. He is everywhere and he needs his human brain soup." gleefully states the sorcerer.

"This is the recipe that the great orc explorer, Belkzen Jones, learned of when he ventured east to the Temple. He was served this by the secretive orc tribes in the jungles. It is only fitting that it be made for guests and it is Master Sky Plant's favorite!" the orc explains slowly so everyone *cough* Atum and Basalte *cough* understands.

Flinders seems the nicest and the orc ignores the mean Pathfinders. "Master Sky Plant is a plant. This is obvious. We came from the north to put these treacherous humans to death for their betrayal, but then Master Sky Plant arrived and evvvvverything was better. My men were transformed into better men and I now serve the Master Sky Plant."

The orc ponders his question a bit more as he realizes his story was off-topic. "Master Sky Plant is plant. Plants grow in ground."

Desmond rests his hand on Sahrek's neck, softly ruffling the fur. At the mention of putting humans to death, he speaks up.

"We're actually looking for someone here - a Pathfinder by the name of Heralt. Any chance you or your fellow orcs came across him? Probably killing him..." That last part is muttered under his breath.

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

"Sky Plant, huh? Sounds like something to do with those craters, then. Minds sharp." Hal turns his feathered visage to Flinders. "Ask him about the betrayal. Why did they attack? Besides being orcs, I mean."

Diplomacy: If you fail the check by 4 or less, the character’s attitude toward you is unchanged. If you fail by 5 or more, the character’s attitude toward you is decreased by one step.

The half-orc bristles at Desmond's failed attempts at Diplomacy. "I don't know the names of traitorous humans. We were promised weapons and we paid for them, but these humans betrayed us. Silly Chelaxians. But we showed them! And if you mutter under your breath again, I shall show you personally how we took care of those traitors." He ends with a snarl.

As quick as he threatens Desmond, he turns back to the rest of you, toothy smiles all around. "Soup should be done soon! Should I prepare large bowls for each of you?"

”I think you know we won’t be eating your soup,” Terrill replies calmly. ”You say Master Sky Plant grows in the ground. Where can we find him…it…whatever?”

Dragorin pauses a moment then casts detect chaos on the Orc.

Where are your men that the Master Sky Plant made 'better'? Dragorin asks as he slowly moves closer. Are they guarding the Master Sky Plant? Perhaps in the crater outside this building?

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Terrill belatedly uses his Desna-granted ability to sense evil and good in others.

Detect Alignment on the orc chef cook butcher.

Dragorin's attempts at diplomacy seem to fall on deaf ears.

"Plants grow in ground. Are you people stupid? I mean, I know orcs are the superior intellect, but I thought humans had some sense." the orc chides.

"Okay, I'm done." the elf announces to his companions. Unless somebody stops him... Hal pulls back his bowstring and shoots the orc in the face. IN THE FACE.

Single Shot, Deadly Aim, PBS, Aspect of the Falcon: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 3 + 1 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16