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

Game Master rpblue

I don't mean to be a pain about it, but with fast healing Terrill is now at 39/77 hp.

A lot of numbers flying around, sorry Terrill.

Basalte swings thrice at the red-skinned barghest!

"RAAAAAAGH!"

+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion, Power Attack, Rage: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 15 + 1 = 222d4 + 21 ⇒ (3, 3) + 21 = 27

Iterative: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 1 = 162d4 + 21 ⇒ (2, 4) + 21 = 27

Haste attack: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 15 + 1 = 242d4 + 21 ⇒ (4, 1) + 21 = 26

I'd like to move forward Hal, but then I'd take three AoOs which would be kinda improductive. If someone else makes a 5-ft step forward, then I can 5-ft step on his square and make some space.

I'd like to move forward Hal, but then I'd take three AoOs which would be kinda improductive. If someone else makes a 5-ft step forward, then I can 5-ft step on his square and make some space.

Yeah, that's what I'm hoping for. Although, if Atum is indeed unconscious, you could move into his square with a 5-foot. Definitely not asking anybody to take AoOs though! :)

I was under the impression that the +1 AC thanks to haste would spare him that dreadful fate, but if he is indeed unconscious, then please move me to his square. I'm at work now and can't display maps.

That explains my confusion, I didn't know they were enlarged. So they get the benefits of enlargment, without having to deal with being huge, sweet.

Flinders casts another spell, bringing hope to the party. He then begins moving down the hall to make room for Hal.

Good Hope

With haste, Atum's AC is at 26. So one of those claws misses me. Not sure how much that was but Atum should still be in the negatives. And he has Diehard if he does go negative so he would have been conscious anyways.

Atum shouts out, "I could really use a heal!"

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack: 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 16 + 1 + 2 = 23
miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 85
damage: 2d8 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (5, 1) + 20 + 2 = 28

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 1 + 2 = 27
miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 96
damage: 2d8 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (7, 7) + 20 + 2 = 36

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack: 1d20 + 16 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 16 + 1 + 2 = 21
miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 53
damage: 2d8 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 20 + 2 = 26

Nice.

Get your own d@#% healing! Snarls Dragorin, growing more and more frustrated that his channels have been so ineffective. Stepping to the side to make room for Hal, There! Now there is space get in here and shoot these Beasts! Keeping an eye on the flickering beast Dragorin attempts to focus energy on improving his attacks and armor.
Casting Cat's Grace
Concentration: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21 DC 19
AC is now 32
@Flinders
What Spell did you cast?
@Atum,
Sorry I don't have any healing spells at the moment. Best I can offer is a wand of CMW or infernal healling.

Flinders cast Good Hope It's listed at the bottom of the post.

good hope: This spell instills powerful hope in the subjects. Each affected creature gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.

PRD wrote:

good hope: This spell instills powerful hope in the subjects. Each affected creature gains a +2 morale bonus on saving throws, attack rolls, ability checks, skill checks, and weapon damage rolls.

Ah, sorry, didn't read the question like that. Thanks Halbarad!

Desmond takes a careful 5-foot step and keeps up with trying to bring down the green beast.

Haste, Good Hope and Flanking added to rolls.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 31
Damage: 2d4 + 7 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 7 + 9 + 2 = 25
Miss (High is a hit): 1d100 ⇒ 67

Hasted Power Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 33
Damage: 2d4 + 7 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 + 9 + 2 = 22
Miss (High is a hit): 1d100 ⇒ 99

Iterative Power Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 32
Damage: 2d4 + 7 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 7 + 9 + 2 = 21
Miss (High is a hit): 1d100 ⇒ 27

Crit Confirm, Crit. Focus: 1d20 + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 15 - 3 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 4 = 24
Damage: 2d4 + 7 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 7 + 9 + 2 = 22

@Atum: I did put the (?) because I was almost positive you had something to keep you standing even if you went into negative HP. Even better now that you aren't in negative HP!

Atum keeps up his assault on the greater barghests, however his wounds have slowed him to the point where his attacks are easily dodgeable by their phasing.

Basalte is equally unlucky as his attacks are avoided by the phasing.

Desmond however is able to cut down the severely wounded barghest with his blade in a single strike. His final strike cuts down the nearby barghest as well.

Seeing his brethren fall, the Barghest recoils and vanishes from sight.

---

The steps into this cellar are smeared with the offal of some wild animal and the stench at the bottom is eye-watering. Some kind of beast now lives here and the rancid, half-eaten carcasses of deer, boar, and even some humanoid-looking remains lie scattered about in disarray. Two stout pillars hold up the brick ceiling and the masonry of the walls, though cracked and worn, appears to be stable.

This chamber was a storeroom in the Halls of Zuberi that managed to survive the destruction of the fortress intact. It was thoroughly searched and looted of anything of interest by adventurers over the years, though its current inhabitants have accumulated a small hoard since then.

The greatest item of interest within the chamber is a riddle, written in Common and chiseled into the back wall of the eastern alcove.

The riddle states, “He who seeks Findarra’s heart must first drink of Gozreh’s blood.”

There is a small smattering of gold coins across the northern alcove.

Status:
Terrill @ 39/77 HP; Atum @ 8/104 HP; Dragorin @ 28/80 HP; Flinders @ 73/73 HP; Desmond @ 70/92 HP; Sahrek; Halbarad @ 72/72 HP; Th'reiwa-don; Basalte @ 77(61)/94(78) HP;

Knowledge (religion) : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Another busy day, feel free to read the spoilers.

Alright, now we can worry about healing. Grumbles Dragorin. He then retrieves a want and taps each of the wounded party member who, with the blessing of Hell, begin to slowly heal.
Minute 1: Infernal Healing
Terrill @ 39+10= 49/77 HP
Atum @ 8+10=1 8/104 HP
Dragorin @ 28+10= 38/80 HP
Desmond @ 70+10= 80/92 HP
Basalte @ 61+10= 71/78 HP

While under the effects of the fiendish healing Dragorin also give everyone a charge of more powerful healing wand.
Minute 1: Cure Moderate Wounds
CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5) + 3 = 12
Terrill @ 49+12= 61/77 HP
CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 = 8
Atum @ 18+8= 26/104 HP
CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 7) + 3 = 18
Dragorin @ 38+18= 56/80 HP
CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (7, 8) + 3 = 18
Desmond @ 80+12 92/92 HP
ClW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 6) + 3 = 13
Basalte @ 71+13= 78/78 HP

With some of the party still wounded Dragorin continues to heal their wounds.
Minute 2: Infernal Healing
Terrill @ 61+10= 71/77 HP
Atum @ 26+10= 36/104 HP
Dragorin @ 56+10= 66/80 HP

Cure Moderate Wound
CmW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2) + 3 = 6
Terrill @ 71+6= 77/77 HP
CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5) + 3 = 12
Atum @ 36+12= 48/104 HP
CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 1) + 3 = 12
Dragorin @ 66+12= 78/80 HP

Flinders digs into his pack and removes a wand, holding it out. "You can use this as well." CLW

Reading the riddle, Flinders ponders for a moment. "So we need to drink sea water to enter the depths of the eart?"

Dragorin will use one more charge from his infernal Healing wand on Atum while using Flinders and/or someone else's CLW wand(s) to heal the fighter.
Atum @ 48+10= 58/104 HP
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Atum @ 58+45= 103/104 HP

"Hrrrm, thanks Dragorin. Much appreciated. Findarra seems a worthwhile goddess to follow, color me interested. But where is the sea?"

Most of my characters don't like infernal healing but Atum would be fine with it. 103/104 is close enough. Those clw charges can come from Atum's wand. Thanks!

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Atum stays quiet but nods in thanks to Dragorin. Atum nods in agreement with Terrill and the others. A fighter with Knowledge skills! Imagine! "Maybe it's just any old water?"

Atum takes out his waterskin and starts splashing it around the cavern.

"Hmmm. I have a potion of touch of the sea. I wonder if drinking it would help."

Hal also searches the room for water of any kind. Perception: 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 19 + 2 = 38 +2 from Good Hope, if still active.

"What about water from your body?" Atum spits on the wall and then thinks about dropping trou before he has another thought. "Blood is kinda salty when you think about it." He then pricks his finger with his bec de corbin and wipes the blood on the wall. If that doesn't work, he really will drop trou and start pissing on the damn wall.

Terrill grits his teeth in distaste as Dragorin's infernal energies knit his wounds back together. He considers refusing further treatment from the man, but stops himself. "It seems your god does come through on some of his deals," he says begrudgingly. "I thank you for patching me up."

After telling his companions what he knows of Gozreh and Findarra, he moves to the alcove on the north side of the room and carefully studies it, wondering why the coins are there.

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36

When Atum attempts to make water, Desmond remarks, "The riddle says to drink Gozreh's blood. You got a cup to piss in so's you can drink up?"

Desmond thinks some more. "Nobody wants to drink sea-water, but maybe the earth needs to drink it? Like we need to drain some puddle of seawater to find a secret entrance or something?"

You see a salt-encrusted wall next to the riddle. There doesn't seem to be any water in the room.

"The earth has to drink it right? Not us?" Atum is disappointed that his blood sacrifice did not work on the wall and takes his other polearm and starts making his own saltwater on the wall.

"Well, I suppose that's a way to go about it. But, what if we brought some water from the river? It ain't seawater, but maybe it'll do..."

Desmond scratches his cheek as he tries to rack his brain about what the riddle could mean. Should'a paid more attention to what my folks tried to teach me about Gozreh.

You see a salt-encrusted wall next to the riddle. There doesn't seem to be any water in the room.

Just to be clear, I was looking in the northern alcove, where the coins are, not the eastern alcove where the riddle is.

@Terrill: You are right. I was mixing up the alcoves. The salt-encrusted wall is near the coins alcove.

Hal takes a dagger from his side and scrapes some salt off the wall, which he mixes in a mug with some water from a canteen. He tries to approximate the saltiness of seawater as best he can.

Standing in front of the riddle, he takes a hearty swig and dumps the rest on the wall and the floor.

Halbarad tries to mix saltwater and pours it on the floor. It splashes on Atum's greaves. Nothing appears to happen.

Terrill investigates the salt-encrusted wall and sees that the salt seems to be limited to this area for unknown reasons and that the salt seems to permeate the seams of the tiles and rock that form wall and floor.

"Atum, you're up," says Hal, pointing at the wall in front of Terrill. "Smash."

Frowning at the various attempts and their dubious result, Basalte itches to do this in a more messy way. Once all the possibilities have been exhausted, he draws his adamantine scimitar and starts hacking at the salted wall.

+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion, Power Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 282d4 + 18 ⇒ (4, 2) + 18 = 24
+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion, Power Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 292d4 + 18 ⇒ (1, 1) + 18 = 20
+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion, Power Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 312d4 + 18 ⇒ (1, 2) + 18 = 21
+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion, Power Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 282d4 + 18 ⇒ (1, 2) + 18 = 21
+1 Keen Adamantine Falchion, Power Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 222d4 + 18 ⇒ (3, 2) + 18 = 23

If the wall can be critted, there are four threat rolls there.

"Finally," Atum grunts as he lifts his polearm-no, not that one again-and moves up to the wall. "Mine's bigger." he notes before helping Basalte smash through the wall.

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (5, 4, 4, 8, 1, 7) + 20 = 49

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (2, 2, 1, 6, 7, 1) + 20 = 39

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 1, 2, 7) + 20 = 35

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 25
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (1, 1, 5, 7, 2, 6) + 20 = 42

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (8, 5, 3, 8, 6, 7) + 20 = 57

Confirming:
+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38
damage: 6d8 + 60 ⇒ (1, 6, 8, 5, 4, 2) + 60 = 86

Desmond cheers on Basalte and Atum, "Ooo-woo! Smash it up guys!"

Though Terrill doesn't shy away from a fight, he's a little more accustomed to the quiet approach. Still, he can't help but smile at the sheer enthusiasm Basalte and Atum bring to the task at hand.

If the wall can be critted, there are four threat rolls there.

Nice!

Two Living Monoliths: 1
Wall: 0

@Basalte: Can't crit a wall. Sorry. :-(

Between the onslaught of Basalte and Atum, the wall is completely broken down revealing hard-packed dirt and rough stone, likely what the cellar walls were made of before the addition of bricks.

"Maybe another wall, then?" suggests the Living Monolith, a tad frustated to have achieved so little by bringing down the wall.

"Huh. I really thought that was going to work." The elf tilts his head a bit in thought. "Hmmm. Did we ever figure out why those coins are here? Maybe..."

Hal fishes out some coppers and silvers (worth 1gp total) and tosses them on the pile. "Perhaps we have to pay for Gozreh's blood."

Nothing happens as Halbarad tosses a few copper and silver coins on the ground.

Maybe more? I keep dropping coins until the pile is doubled. Copper, silver, gold, Varisian, Katapeshi, Tien, Kelish... etc. etc.

Terrill scrunches his face up in thought, pondering the wreck they've made of the wall and wondering what they're missing, then says, "If we're seeking Findarra's heart - the depths of the earth, in other words - then we want to go down. Through the floor, not the wall, right? So we could try smashing our way down through the floor, or we can figure out where this seawater is supposed to come from, so we can drink some." He glances at Atum and Basalte, fairly confident what their answers will be.

He gestures at the salt on the wall and says, "Though why drinking seawater would make this wall all salty is a mystery to me."

Terrill scrunches his face up in thought, pondering the wreck they've made of the wall and wondering what they're missing, then says, "If we're seeking Findarra's heart - the depths of the earth, in other words - then we want to go down. Through the floor, not the wall, right? So we could try smashing our way down through the floor-

Before Terrill can finish his though, Atum starts smashing the floor.

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (8) + 19 = 27
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (6, 1, 3, 1, 5, 4) + 20 = 40

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (20) + 19 = 39
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 6, 6, 3) + 20 = 48

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 5, 3, 5) + 20 = 43

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (6, 5, 7, 1, 4, 3) + 20 = 46

+3 impact adamantine bec de corbin, power attack sunder: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (11) + 19 = 30
damage: 6d8 + 20 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 6, 8, 4) + 20 = 52

"Hey, hey hey - don't go throwing away all your treasure, Halbarad." Desmond collects the coins that the elf dropped down. After thinking about it, he collects up the gold coins that were already there.

"The gold's just sitting out here, might as well take it and keep it for something good when we're done," he says with a grin.

Ninja'd - Desmond will keep clear of Atum's smash-o-matic and collect the gold later.

Perplexed and having nothing to offer, Flinders stays quiet and watches the destruction.

Dragorin, not one for puzzles or smashing, stauys towards the back of the group, refocusing his energies for the next fight.
Pearl of power to regain cat's grace.

@ Desmond: lol, my reserves were wiped with the oathbow purchase so the max I could drop would be... 122gp :)

Edit: if this floor-smashing doesn't work, my next response will probably be to start licking the salt wall remains.

Edit edit: Hal moves out of Atum's way and takes a seat on the staircase by his bird.

@ Desmond: lol, my reserves were wiped with the oathbow purchase so the max I could drop would be... 122gp :)

Edit: if this floor-smashing doesn't work, my next response will probably be to start licking the salt wall remains.

Edit edit: Hal moves out of Atum's way and takes a seat on the staircase by his bird.

Even if it does work, I want to see Halbarad lick the walls!

Halbarad keeps tossing coins on the ground, much to Desmond's chagrin.

Atum takes the initiative and begins to hack away at the floor with his bec de corbin. He slams the weapon into the floor twice and the floor gives way.

Reflex Save from anyone next to the now demolished salt wall: Atum and Basalte, I believe.

Halbarad's coins and the coins that were already there plummet into the darkness.