GM BrOp - Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master Branding Opportunity

As he reloads and fires again Milo replies to the Chelaxian, "Let us hope those are not 'famous last words', my friend"

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

"Flee, you bothersome creature!", Um'bala cries out to the cave fisher, arcing another blast of electricity at the creature.

Attack, touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage, electricity: 1d3 ⇒ 3 + 1 force

Both Mach and Milo's missile's miss, while Um'bala's magical attack hits true.

You've been in combat long enough that you know it's AC/Touch AC: 19/13.

Quintus and Standing Bear are up! Also, congrats to all of us for our 2,000st IC post!

"Why won't it just die!" Quintus feels a bit angered by the creature's continued resistance and tries once again to bring it down with a ray.

Ranged touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Quintus's bolt hits the creature in the head, nearly knocking it out; nearly, but not quite.

Standing Bear is up!

Another move to reload the sling, Standing Bear growls rather fiercely. "Wish I had more bolas..."

1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 2 = 9
1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Standing Bear's sling bullet goes wide. The cave fisher once again tries to hook Petronicus and finally is successful, pulling him 10 feet up in the air.

Ranged touch attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21,CMB check vs DC 20: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

The party is up!

Round 4: Actions
Standard Action: Shoot it!

"Hey! No no no--you put that man down right now! You have no idea where he's been!" The tiefling chastises the cave fisher before shooting at it again.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Petronicus tries to pull himself free of the filament, but is unsuccessful.

"Kill it!" he screams, "Kill it!"

Strength check: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Dang, I thought we might have had a chance to beat this thing without it catching us.

"Trying!", Um'bala screams back at the flailing warrior. "You're blocking my shot!" He flings another blast of electrical power at the cave fisher, but the bolt only blackens the ceiling nearby.

Attack, ranged touch, in melee?: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 3 - 4 = 5
Damage, electricity: 1d3 ⇒ 1 + 1 force

Milo fires again:

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Damage: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21, crit confirms!, Crit damage: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + (3) = 9 (Since Milo rolled a d20 for his damage :)

Milo's bolt hits the cave fisher in a soft spot underneath its skull, with a last spasm, it drops from the ceiling toward the rest of the party.

Everybody except for Petronicus please make a Reflex save, DC 10, to avoid being hit by the falling creature. Petronicus takes 1d6 ⇒ 5 points of damage from the fall.

Combat is over!

His relief at seeing the thing's last spasm is quickly disrupted by the things plummet, "Watch out!

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Mach steps to the side and lets the dead creature fall down.

Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Already somewhat distant from the fight, Um'bala takes a large step back as the cave fisher drops Petronicus to the floor - followed shortly by the cave fisher itself.

Petronicus lies on the floor holding his head. "Ow, ow, ow, ow. Good shot though from ... whoever that was. I was too busy watching my life flash in front of me as the creature's claws got closer."

Milo had flipped aside gracefully to avoid the falling creature and the Chelaxian. That he was speaking indicated that the warrior was okay despite everything, which is something of a relief.

Moving to the dead creature in order to recover some of his bolts he responds, "You are welcome."

Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 Quitnus grunts as the creature falls on top of him. "Ouch." Climbing out from underneath the creature Quintus looks around a bit before turning to give the creature a few swift kicks for falling on.

Quintus takes 1d3 ⇒ 1 point of damage from the falling cave fisher.

Taking a closer look at the body of the dying cave fisher, it seems to have a tiny saddle on its back, with a small bag tied to it.

1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Standing Bear, not known for his agility or grace manages to dodge...right into the falling creature. With a huge heft of his strength he mutters constantly as he gathers his fallen weapon and some stones to replace those he had used. Then he seems to pause, looking at his large weapon and whispering for his grandfather to aid him with it once more. With that done, he looks to the rest...noting the saddle, he quickly casts Stabilize on the creature.

"This is what we were looking for...no doubt."

Only when Standing Bear makes his observation does everything click into place for Um'bala, and he laughs despite himself. "OH! Of course! Clickylegs, King Zuuga's mount! Yes, we should take it back to him - he might have valuable information about the rest of this site." Out of curiosity, he peeks inside the bag tied to the cave fisher's saddle.

Having gotten back a the bolts that he could Milo stands scratching his head, "Clickylegs? I have to admit that I'd forgotten about all of that.

"I presume that bag contains the King's 'sleeping crown'...", Milo trails off.

1d20 +2

Standing Bear takes 1d3 ⇒ 2 points of damage from the falling creature. Inside the bag, Um'bala finds a dozen polished stones, 23 tiny teeth, and magical bracer.

Petronicus groans as he stands up, using his polearm as leverage.

"Standing Bear, give me a tap from the magical wand."

Taking 10 gets that for me.

Um'bala gives a low whistle as he studies the magic bracer. "Well now, looks like King Zuuga has no idea what he's wearing. His crown is a match to this, and together they create a suit of force armor, weighing nothing and about as protective as leathers. I'd be lying if I said I wasn't tempted by it, but I'm also not especially interested in betraying him for it. We might be able to barter continued safe passage through his realm, for ourselves and future Pathfinders, if we return all this to him."

Milo considers, "I suppose we might also wonder if we want him to have such protection... But if we do not now have the power to destroy his kingdom then your idea of diplomacy is wise."

"It's not a question of whether we have the power to 'destroy his kingdom,' as you put it, Milo," Um'bala says, leaning on his staff as he speaks. "Who are we to condemn this creature to death? We're the invaders here. These mites haven't bothered anyone in Magnimar, so it's not like we're doing anyone a favor by killing them. But you're wise to be wary - mites aren't exactly trustworthy. He might see what we did to Clickylegs and attack, and if he does, I'd have no qualms about defending myself. But I don't think we have the right to ambush this mite in his petty fiefdom, just because we'd like to take the crown he's wearing."

He looks at the rest of the group. "What about you? What should we do here?"

Petronicus cocks his head at the conversation going on. "What? You want to bargain with him? You did notice that he is as nutty as a holiday pudding, right? And when have we had any trouble getting through his territory? I haven't seen a mite ever since we entered this level."

Um'bala smiles despite Petronicus' confused invictive. "That's about what I thought you'd say, my friend. Anyone else?"

Petronicus smiles at Um'bala's comment. "Well, at least one of us have to have some sense about him. Might as well be me."

He walks over to the comatose cave fisher and tries to lift him. After struggling for a few moments, he looks over to Standing Bear. "This thing has bene eating a lot of spiders. I think it will take at least three of us to carry it."

This is a moment in which Milo is glad to be as small and (relatively) weak as he is, "Erm... Look, I'm not going to be much help carrying this thing. I do have a concern though, related to the corpse.

"What's the point in wearying ourselves bearing forth the thing's corpse in the meanwhile?"

"While he might be willing to betray us I hope that we can at least have him show us this diamond. Who knows it might just be a bit of colored glass for all I know but I'd rather have the chance of getting the diamond and the crowns rather than just one or the other."

Petronicus nods. "Makes sense to me. After all, he found his "crowns", who knows what else he might have uncovered."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Um'bala shakes his head as Milo suggests that King Zuuga knows the bracers are magical. "I doubt that. If he knew they were magical, why would he wear one on his head as a crown? They don't do anything unless you secure them around your forearms. I sincerely doubt he realizes what he's wearing."

Standing Bear listens for a long time, even after the bulk of the conversation has moved to the rewards, and then with a nod to his side, he speaks, "It seems to me, that if these creatures are evil, then we hold no reasons to leave them infesting this area. However, if they are not evil...then we should let them be. Small, worrisome, and a bit on the odd side, but if they aren't evil, I say they stay...also...it's not dead," he says as he nods to the cave fisher, and taps Petronicus with the wand.
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Milo is considering the King's motives as Standing Bear taps the creature with his wand and snaps to immediately, "Perhaps we should be careful with this, eh?d

Mach looks up from poking the dead cave fisher with his sword.

"So... should we take them back now?"

Milo is considering the King's motives as Standing Bear taps the creature with his wand and snaps to immediately, "Perhaps we should be careful with this, eh?d

"We don't know how to control it and it's already caused us enough trouble."

Petronicus chuckles and thanks the Shoanti for the healing. He then turns back to Milo.

"No, you daffy halfling. He tapped me with the wand, not the creature."

"So I guess we take the bracer by the the King and see what reward he has for us. Is that the consensus?"

I blame my aging eyes... It seems as if every other post I misread something here! I'm going to have to work this in as an element of Milo's personality.

"The bracer and dear Clickylegs?"

Petronicus shakes his head. "You can carry him if you like, Bandersnatch. It's not worth the effort to me. If he wants him, he can come here and get him himself."

"Well, the agreement was 'bring back Clickylegs and sleeping hat for diamond,' so we'd be reneging on the deal if we don't bring the fisher back with us. I'd be willing to help. Mach, could you assist as well? If this deal goes sour, then I'd like you as close to the cave fisher as possible, just in case."

"Alrighty then."

Petronicus throws up his hands. "Fine, fine, I'll help carry the blasted thing."

-Posted with Wayfinder

With a great deal of effort, you lift the unconscious cave fisher and drag it back down the hallway to the stairs. Getting it up the winding staircase is particularly difficult until Petronicus pulls out some rope from his backpack and you end up dragging it up.

As you approach the room where you first encountered King Zuuga, he suddenly jumps out from behind a column. Upon seeing the body of Clickylegs, he shrieks and points an accusing finger at all of you.

"Assassins! They have killed my Clickylegs, the sweetest mount a king ever knew! Executioner squad, behead these blackguards!"

There doesn't seem to be anyone else around.

Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Steeling himself against dealing with the twisted fey creature again, Um'bala raises a hand in defense. "Please, a moment, great King Zuuga! Clickylegs is not dead! We tried calling out your name to him, but he did not abate his attacks, and we were forced to defend ourselves. We have magics that can bring him back around for you, though. With your permission, we can bring him back to the realm of consciousness."

King Zuuga seems unaffected by Um'bala's please, and continues shrieking for his "executioner squad" while hopping up and down.

Mach rolls his eyes. "Someone want to stab him or heal his pet for him?" He whispers.

Milo nods in agreement with Mach as he readies himself to move into action, if necessary.