GM Bret's Outpost I: The Flesh Collector (Inactive)

Game Master BretI

Thanks for finding the links, Dr. Strang.

@Johann: How high up? You are in a courtyard so there is no ceiling to worry about.

Johann quaffs a potion and then flies straight up!

Pradnyana goes into the room to the east of the entrance. She shouts something.

Having felt the effects of Grimaldus's attacks, Jathyl looks a little less confident.

She tells Grimaldus "That one is your real enemy, kill them!" while pointing directly at Chaul. She then steps through the wall.

@Grimaldus: DC 25-2 Will save. The -2 is because I assume it is against your character's nature to attack other Pathfinder agents you are working with.

If you make the save, you would get an AoO against Jathyl.

Round 2:
Effects active:
Johann: See Invisibility (30/80 minutes)
Dr. Strang: Air Walk 40/90 minutes , Locate Object (1/9 minutes)
Chaul: Magic Vestments (8 hours), Firewalker's Meditation, Rites of Bodily Purity (All day)
Johann: Antitoxin, Antiplague (40/60 minutes)
All in group: Haste until round...who am I kidding! Until the battle is over.
Grimaldus: Smite Fey!

Jathyl -109 hp
Dr. Strang
Johann
Grimaldus Will save and possible AoO
Chaul
Lurgh
Pradnyana & Monk

Chaul continues to push forward, heaving as if against great invisible doors that threaten to slam shut.

"Sarenrae help this poor dead spirit realise eternal rest." he cries out. The withering blast of holy energy that comes through the doors seems somehow less keen on redemption and more on retribution.

channel will DC22 for half, no CR: 6d6 + 8 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 6, 4, 5) + 8 = 38

Ha! Now I remember. There was a reason I wanted to go first if she popped in again! And I totally forgot. =)
Lets try it now, though noticeably not as effective now that everyone spread out.

"Oh dear... I knew I was forgetting something!" He exclaims, disappointed in his poor memory.

He quickly pulls an elaborate rod off of his belt, and intones a quick prayer.

Using his versatile metamagic rod, to cast a reach communal protection from evil on everyone!

Little late for Grim, sorry... but at least he'll get another save if he fails the first one =)

Realize I forgot to roll the reflex save last round.

REFLEX: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

DC 25-2 Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
DC 25-2 Will 2nd chance: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Grim stops dead in his tracks, his mind fighting, but losing against, the compulsion from Jathyl. The hellknight moves towards Chaul and swings his greatsword at him!
Sorry dude...: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
Electrical damage: 2d6 + 19 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 19 + (4) = 28

Gah!! This is like the 5th time Grim has had his will taken by an evil undead creature! =(

Technically, you got a +2 morale bonus on the second save from the protection from evil... but I think you still end up 2 short!

Sorry, this one's my fault... I totally intended to cast it first thing... but forgot, and did the haste instead. 8P

No worries. Improved Iron will is your friend!

Chaul steps away from the wall and readies an action to channel when he sees the ghost.

Grimaldus takes half a step towards Chaul.

Dr. Strang casts a spell in hopes that Grimaldus can break free, but still he advances on Chaul!

Chaul feels the bite of Grimaldus’s sword! Ouch indeed!

Round 2:
Effects active:
Johann: See Invisibility (30/80 minutes)
Dr. Strang: Air Walk 40/90 minutes , Locate Object (1/9 minutes)
Chaul: Magic Vestments (8 hours), Firewalker's Meditation, Rites of Bodily Purity (All day)
Johann: Antitoxin, Antiplague (40/60 minutes)
All in group: Haste until round...who am I kidding! Until the battle is over.
Grimaldus: Smite Fey! Dominated by Fey!

Jathyl -109 hp
Dr. Strang
Johann
Grimaldus Killing Chaul
Chaul Ready to Channel!
Lurgh
Pradnyana & Monk

Johann would have stayed within 20ft from the ground so that he could get point-blank shot bonus.

"By the Gears!"

Johann tosses a tanglefoot bomb at Grimaldus.

vs. touch AC, range penalty, point-blank shot: 1d20 + 14 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 14 + 1 - 2 = 29 That oughta hit! Grimaldus must make a reflex save, DC 20, or be entangled and glued to the floor. If he makes it, he's still entangled. This effect will last 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4 rounds. If we can get him un-dominated, I have universal solvent to free him immediately.

As Grim attacks before Chaul takes his action, I think Chaul would do a withdrawl to behind the other pathfinders rather than ready a channel

Johann entangles Grimaldus.

Chaul you had already declared your action and taken the 5’ step from the wall. I would really prefer people not change actions unless they are declared invalid or obviously wrong. I gave you a freebie with the channel because it is a mistake that I can easily see a player making but not something a character would do,

Round 2:
Effects active:
Johann: See Invisibility (30/80 minutes)
Dr. Strang: Air Walk 40/90 minutes , Locate Object (1/9 minutes)
Chaul: Magic Vestments (8 hours), Firewalker's Meditation, Rites of Bodily Purity (All day)
Johann: Antitoxin, Antiplague (40/60 minutes)
All in group: Haste until round...who am I kidding! Until the battle is over.
Grimaldus: Smite Fey! Dominated by Fey!

Jathyl -109 hp
Dr. Strang
Johann
Grimaldus Killing Chaul, potentially entangled until round 6, need Reflex save
Chaul Ready to Channel!
Lurgh
Pradnyana & Monk

Lurgh smashes out the window in an attempt to draw it out of the room.

Lurgh is easily able to smash out the window.

From the southern room, you hear Pradnyana tell someone “Don’t!” followed by a confused “What? How did I get here?”

At this point I’ll quit updating for Pradnyana and the monk. Although you currently have no way of knowing it, the paper workshop is no longer in danger of being burned down,

Jathyl moves through the western wall to attack Chaul. As soon as she comes through the wall, Chaul unleashes his channel which seems to further enrage her.

Will: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

She then uses her corrupting touch on Chaul. “Die!!!”
Melee touch: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Damage: 10d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 4, 4, 1, 6, 5, 3, 4, 4) = 40 DC 24 Fort for half

Round 3:
Effects active:
Johann: See Invisibility (30/80 minutes)
Dr. Strang: Air Walk 40/90 minutes , Locate Object (1/9 minutes)
Chaul: Magic Vestments (8 hours), Firewalker's Meditation, Rites of Bodily Purity (All day)
Johann: Antitoxin, Antiplague (40/60 minutes)
All in group: Haste until round...who am I kidding! Until the battle is over.
Grimaldus: Smite Fey! Dominated by Fey!

Jathyl -128 hp
Dr. Strang
Johann
Grimaldus Killing Chaul, entangled, may be glued in place until round 6, need Reflex save
Chaul
Lurgh

Note: grim isn't potentially entangled... the entangle is automatic if the bag hits. The reflex save is to see if he gets glued in place.

Strang gives a displeased frown, as his protective spell does not seem to help, and Grimaldus attacks Chaul anyway.

If Chaul makes his save, and is still conscious:

"Well, that won't do." He mutters. He quickly says a few more arcane phrases, pointing one hand towards the hellknight.

OK, lets try this then: casting pilfering hand on Grimaldus, using the abrupt maneuver

Disarm vs entangled Grimaldus: 1d20 + 10 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 6 = 30

His CMD will 2 less from the entangle, so that should help!

If successful, he will pull the sword all the way into his hand, then move enough to be 15' up, out of his reach.

If Chaul fails his save, and falls unconscious, I will do something else instead!

Updated status above. Will wait to resolve Dr. Strang’s actions.

OK - here goes the catch-up post ;-) Do I get another save from the compulsion, or do I have to keep trying to kill Chaul?
DC20 Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

With his mind muddled by the undead fey, the human Hellknight is caught completely off-guard by the tanglefoot bag, and is glued into place. Then, without warning, his magic greatsword is ripped from his hands and floats upwards towards the floating Doctor!! He tries to break free of the sticky goo...

DC17? Str check to break free: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

...and will move towards Chaul, unhooking a heavy flail from his belt as he goes!

Grimaldus gets caught in the tanglefoot bag, but is able to quickly break free.

As he breaks free, Dr. Strang yanks his favorite sword away from him!

Intent on murder, Grimaldus moves towards Chaul. At least he is slowed down now!

Round 3:
Effects active:
Johann: See Invisibility (30/80 minutes)
Dr. Strang: Air Walk 40/90 minutes , Locate Object (1/9 minutes)
Chaul: Magic Vestments (8 hours), Firewalker's Meditation, Rites of Bodily Purity (All day)
Johann: Antitoxin, Antiplague (40/60 minutes)
All in group: Haste until round...who am I kidding! Until the battle is over.
Grimaldus: Smite Fey! Dominated by Fey! Entangled Move half speed until round 6.

Jathyl -128 hp
Dr. Strang
Johann
Grimaldus Killing Chaul, entangled until round 6
Chaul
Lurgh

fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Chaul stands firm against the corrupting touch, although he is seriously weakened. Faced with twin threats of ghost and dominated Grim, he withdraws from the combat.

Sorry, difficulty of PBP and ordering of initiative. I think I have got Chaul more than a double move at half speed from Grim, but my screen is a little small, if this isn't right, he'll instead go out the main gates and try to draw the warrior away from that battle.

I did a quick count and got a distance of 65’ from Grimaldis but there may be more direct routes.

Chaul retreats from the double threat of Grimaldus and the insane ghost.

Jathyl laughs and says “Running isn’t going to save you, meat! You will pay for using that unnatural energy against me!”

Round 3:
Effects active:
Johann: See Invisibility (30/80 minutes)
Dr. Strang: Air Walk 40/90 minutes , Locate Object (1/9 minutes)
Chaul: Magic Vestments (8 hours), Firewalker's Meditation, Rites of Bodily Purity (All day)
Johann: Antitoxin, Antiplague (40/60 minutes)
All in group: Haste until round...who am I kidding! Until the battle is over.
Grimaldus: Smite Fey! Dominated by Fey! Entangled Move half speed until round 6.

Jathyl -128 hp
Dr. Strang
Johann
Grimaldus Killing Chaul, entangled until round 6
Chaul
Lurgh

On the contrary, his energy is quite divine. It is mine that defies nature.

Out in the open again, Lurgh unleashes another set of force darts at Jathyl.

empowered magic missile
Missile: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Missile: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Missile: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Missile: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Missile: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Total: 9 + 7 + 4 + 6 + 9 = 35

Lurgh's darts hit Jathyl!

As she dies, she whispers, “Your corpses will burn when I return from death.” Her body dissolves into a pinpoint of ghostly light that drifts toward the temple.

Still need to keep Grimaldus from killing Chaul, but hopefully you've a solution for that.

Ya, it shouldn't be too hard now... Are we still in init?

No reason. Chaul moves faster than Grimaldus. He can run around the quad out of his reach. Just solve the condition in three rounds and everything is fine.

Johann casts shield on himself and flies down near to Grimaldus. "You look very thirsty, wouldn't you like some tea?" He holds out the flask of mediation tea, hoping to entice the hellknight.

Strang can just dimension door Chaul away somewhere (on top of a building perhaps). Then Chaul can heal himself, and we can deal with Grim at a more leisurely pace.

He has two castings of protection from evil (that he can do at range if needed) and can drum up a third (though would have to get up close and personal for that one).

No need to chase anyone.

Blow the D-Door or Protections. It is up to Grimaldus, but if Chaul is out of reach it seems perfectly reasonable that he would take some tea while waiting for his prey to come on down.

I am also open to other solutions.

Lets do it then.

Strang will air walk over to where Chaul is. "Let's just give him some time to come to his senses, yes?"

He places one hand on the priest, and says a quick arcane spell, and the two of them wink out of sight.

There! Dimension Door, and take him to the highest inaccessible roof in the place, well out of sight of Grimaldus

He then hands the man Grim's sword, and says another spell. "Give it a few minutes, while you fix yourself up, then hopefully we'll have this sorted. That'll help you get back down."

Then cast Fly on Chaul, so he can get down.

Then head back to the courtyard, via a more circuitous route, to see if Grim needs more tending to.

Two protection from evils ready to go, with an resave available on each, if the tea doesn't do the trick. =)

Also, need to keep on the locate object before it expires! We're still searching!

Everything you have here is fine. Grimaldus do you take the tea? Go ahead with your saves.

Locate Object still has time left. So far, you might have used two minutes at most. Is there any significant prep time for the tea? It doesn’t appear to.

No, it's already made. The item description doesn't indicate that the form is dry tea requiring brewing, just saying you can drink it.

Awaiting Grimaldus to accept the tea and make (emphasis on MAKE) the saving throw.

DC 25-2 Will: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23

When Chaul winks out of sight, Grim looks all around, but not being able to find him, the giant of a man assumes he has completed his quest and gratefully accepts the tea from the gnome. Thinking it is a healing draught, he sucks it down all at once. "Hmmm - this doesn't taste nearly as nasty as your usual concoctions, alchemist!"

As the effects wash over him, his face falls and he looks at his hands in dismay. "Oh no...not again! Did I kill Chaul? I felt this overwhelming need to destroy him. I couldn't fight it!! And where is my sword?!?"

Yay! Glad you made the save Grimaldus!

Johann wipes his brow in relief. "Meditation tea to the rescue!"

"Now, let's hurry to the location where the spell found the wand. I suspect it's somewhere close to the 'tree' -- possibly inside or under it."

Johann will hand out another flask of meditation tea to Grimaldus for use if the ghost comes back, and keeps one at hand for himself. "Would be terribly useful to have another hand or two..." he mutters to himself. "I think ghosts usually can come back after a period of days, but we should never assume things are as they commonly are. For all we know, we could face her again in hours, or minutes."

Johann and Grimaldus have the worst will saves among the party. If we drink the tea, we can get the +2 to saves for 10 minutes. Of course, the protection is currently active as well, but it will be expired by the time the ghost reappears.

Pradnyana comes out of the building she was in and sees the group hurrying off.

---

You go into the temple and Dr. Strang's spell leads you directly to the pillar. The wand seems to be some distance under the pillar.

"I guess we had best start digging." says Chaul.

He looks worriedly at Pradnyana, wondering if she was now under the ghosts influence.
Surely not, it will take time to reform after that.

When Strang finally comes wandering back to the group, he takes a moment to make sure Grimaldus really is free of the compulsion.

"You'll have to talk to Chaul about the sword." He says, with a faint smile.

Eventually, they get back on the search for the wand, surprising no one when they end up back in the temple with the patchwork tree.

"Definitely under the tree." He says, with a frown. "Of course, now we have to get down there."

Can he triangulate roughly how far down we might have to go?

He ponders the situation for a bit.

"Well, this abomination has to go." He points at the strange 'tree'. "Though that might not get us where we need to go."

"I suppose a little help can't hurt." He mutters, as he raises his staff, and concentrates for a long while.

OK, I'd like to use my arcane bond to cast Summon Monster IV
Will call up 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 small earth elementals

Eventually four creatures, seem to form from the very stone of the floor, and he starts talking to them in a strange gravely language.

He speaks terran.

Will get them to go find anything not made of dirt or stone, in the approximate area we're looking for below the 'tree', and bring them back up. See how much stuff 4 of them can find in that small an area in a minute. Hell, he'll haste them all if it might help!

Johann could also summon some elementals for about the same purpose.

Oh! Forgot you were a preservationist!

Dr. Strang estimates it is less than 10’ below the surface.

Sending the earth elementals down, they quickly return to report there is a room down there under roots. The room is about 3’ diameter and had two objects in it — a branch and a cone.

The branch is the wand that Jathyl was carrying. The cone appears to be a pinecone.

Knowledge (engineering): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Can they bring the stuff up? At least the wand! Can get to the rest with that.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38

I couldn't find anything in Earthglide or Burrowing that would prevent them from bringing items with them. They brought both items up.

Grim would have cautiously approached Chaul and begged for his forgiveness, explaining that the spirit tainted his mind and he was not under his own control...then politely asked for his greatsword back. =)

"My friend, to fall is our nature. Forgiveness is the gift of Saeraen, and my pleasure to bestow. The light of the Dawnflower grows brighter with every soul redeemed, and seeking forgiveness is the first step of that."

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

"A pinecone -- ah, that makes sense. The great pines form massive, straight trunks, like the pillar we see here. Hmm, yes? I recognize this species. It is serotinous -- the seeds must be triggered by fire to sprout. A sensible adaptation, as in dense forests, the time after a forest fire may be the only opportunity a seedling has to grow in sunlight. If these seeds are viable, and it is quite likely that they are, we could singe the cone in fire and then plant the seeds all over the island to regrow the forest."

"Then let us do just that, and see if we can finally put this tortured soul to rest." says Chaul.

"Perhaps then we will be able to find the last part of the book."

We have all the manual parts. There were just the three, I think.

Dr. Strang nods, as Johann explains about the seed. "Indeed. Now we just have to figure out a good spot to plant it, where it can be tended properly and they won't be tempted to turn it into lumber.

He frowns at the fake tree. [b]"As much as I'd like to destroy this symbol of death here, it is highly likely doing so would bring the whole ceiling down." He pauses, thoughtfully. "Though I suppose that would open up the roof to let the sun in."

"If the pinecone has many viable seeds, then we can plant several trees. Perhaps a copse in one place and a few isolated ones. With the ghost now gone - at least for the moment, let us talk with the Master again and get his ascent."

Chaul heads over toward the tied up master and loosens his gag to explain and discuss the situation.

The master spits a few times after the gag is removed, then says "Thank you for releasing me! It seems that ghost's influence left me shortly before you came out of the library."

Looking towards where she went, he asks "Any idea what caused the ghost to appear?"

About that time, Pradnyana comes up and releases the other monk. She provides healing to the master and the injured monk. She looks with sadness at the monk that got beheaded.

Strang notices her look.

"Nothing that can't be fixed." He offers. "Though I do not have the materials for the spell. But, should they be available, I think I could get him up and sparring again.

"Can probably fix up those folks in the temple as well." He adds, "Though all that will have to wait until tomorrow."

"Until then, we need a good spot to plant these seeds."

The Master asks that you follow him into the library. “Should be able to find something about how to get seedlings out of the pinecone.”

He and Pradnyana look through the stacks and ask various questions. Pradnyana advises the Master of the promise they made to you. They discuss various ideas and settle on one.

“It saddens me that our order unknowingly destroyed that which the dryad had sacrificed so much to preserve. If I understand you correctly, you think replanting the trees will allow her to pass on?”

They show you a crude map of the island and suggest a good location for the planting. They have some kindling they can provide so you can burn away the bushes and other plants.