GM Brunoreturns' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master brunoreturns

After Natalya is through mumbling her spell and the ladder is covered with grease...Celia shrugs her shoulders and walks back towards the elevated passage and sees Reillana cresting the passage. You should head back..we're not welcome here. Celia pointed looks up at the adversaries in the rafters and *whispers*Another day another time sister... they have the advantage..let us regroup and gather our strength. Celia then starts to climb back up the wall to get to through the elevated door..
climb: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Here everyone, I'll hold the rope on the other-side. Says Celia as she starts to climb.

I'm leaving Celia in this room for now (unless more than 2 rounds go by without anyone acting hostile) I want to give everyone a chance to well...do something rash...Celia is not bluffing her willingness to leave..that should be apparent to everybody (ie. she automatically submits to sense motive regarding her immediate purpose.) I've made my argument for why I think a fight shouldn't be pushed in these circumstances. All I can do now is react to what transpires.

Anger passes over Natalya's expression as Celia tries to start climbing back to the doorway.

"Yes, masked one. You and the small one may leave to bring back Sheila. The rest of you will need to replace my sentries and defend me."

Staring daggers at Celia, she again starts casting.

As this spell is obviously being cast at the party, I'll roll initiative now. You may still try to escape, of course...

Round1
Bold may act

Swiftly reacting, Paeral readies a bowshot to attempt to disrupt Natalya's spell.

Reillana
Paeral Ready
Barkot
Blue Goblin
Natalya
Snake
Squint
Red Goblin
Celia

OK, then, game on.

Barkot glares up at Natalya and her goblin sidekicks.

"Lady, you had good t'ing goin' wit' Da Heidmarch. Ya blew it," he growls. "Magnimar ain't gonna be a good place fer ya any more. Da spirits of da city, dey curse ya, yer gobbo buddies, an' everyone wit' ya now!"

Barkot casts Bane (DC 14 Will save negates). I assume she and the goblins are within 50' of Barkot; if not, he will move into position before he casts.

Natalya Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Snake Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Blue Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10
Red Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Round1
Bold may act

Reillana
Paeral Ready
Barkot
Blue Goblin Bane 10
Natalya Bane 10
Snake
Squint
Red Goblin Bane 10
Celia

Reillana has just finished clambering up the ledge to the doorway when Natalya and her bizarre entourage appear. The masked elf glares at

"Using the royal 'we', hmm? For someone kicked out of her little band of ruffians and now stuck lording it over goblins in open sewage you certainly have a high opinion of yourself!"

As the ex-Tower Girl starts to work some sort of magic Reillana's eyes narrow. "Oh no you don't!" the elf shouts, nocking an arrow and taking aim.

Activating Archeologist's Luck 2/7 plus Standard Action to shoot

Attack vs Natalya: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24 Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

GM: Just got back, thanks for botting me...does ready mean that you've readied an action for me this round? No worries, just wasn't sure if I was supposed to post now or wait till next round...

Reillana holds her attack to disrupt Natalya's spell as well.

Meanwhile, Barkot invokes the negative emotions of the city, casting a heavy pall over the enemies.

The blue goblin delays, waiting for a signal to attack.

Natalya begins the motions to cast her spell, and two arrows streak at her. Each is deflected from its course by a magical barrier, but not enough to save Natalya.

Her Concentration broken, the spell fizzles and she hisses with anger.

"Fools! Once the Tower Girls have been punished for denying my Leadership, I will turn them on the lot of you! The Society will crumble under my might!!

Guards, Kill Them All!"

The Blue Goblin targets the archer who injured Natalya first, just missing her as his hands waver with trepidation.

There is no motion from the thing hiding in the fireplace.

Paeral Bow,PBS: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 1 = 25
Damage,PBS,Sneak: 1d8 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (5) = 8

Goblin Bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16 -1 for Bane
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Round1
Bold may act

Reillana -2
Paeral -1
Barkot
Natalya -16 Bane 9
Blue Goblin Bane 9
Snake
Squint
Red Goblin Bane 10
Celia -3

Spellcraft Check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

"She was trying to charm one of us! I'll do my best to harry her from casting more spells!" Squint yells, pulling out a potion and then summoning Celeste, the celestial eagle, to appear just behind Natalya's left shoulder.

Move action: pull out potion of invisibility. Standard action: summon celestial eagle (Celeste). My range for Summon Monster I is 25 feet; I'm assuming the second floor is 10 feet above us. It is further than that, then Squint will take a 5 foot step to be even with Paeral. Celeste appears (as on the map) and, as a swift action, triggers her smite evil power (as per her template) to get a +1 to bonus and damage on the following attacks (assuming that Natalya is evil).

Talon Attack #1: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 = 241d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 CRITICAL THREAT!
Critical Confirm: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 71d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 NO CRITICAL - just 3pts of damage.
Talon Attack #2: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 71d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Beak Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 = 111d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The smite does not appear to have any effect.

BTW: Smite applies CHA to the attack roll, and the Eagle's CHA bonus is +0 (actually -2, but there is no penalty ;) ). For future reference, it would only get +1 to Damage.

Natalya reels from the continuing assault, and is looking quite bad.

The red goblin fires an arrow at Paeral, wounding the rogue.

Bow,Bane: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 1 = 21
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1

Round1
Bold may act

Reillana -2
Paeral -2
Barkot
Natalya -18 Bane 9
Blue Goblin Bane 9
Snake
Squint
Red Goblin Bane 9
Celia -3

Celia sighs in resignation, they may be fools but they're fellow pathfinders...I'll not leave them to die alone...even if does mean I momma is sent a letter of condolence from lady Heidmarch... Celia grits her teeth...Fools! You'll get us all killed! And for what your foolish pride! We could have come back another day!Imbeciles! Celia whips the bow off her back careful to keep the string clear of the waist high water. She notches a rather wet arrow and takes aim at the goblin with a bit of red scarf sticking out of it's odd pieced-together armor. short bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4

"Hey, Celia?" Barkot growls. "Shaddup an' fight, will ya?"

He glares up at the red goblin, then shouts to get its attention.

"Hey, gobbo!" Once the goblin turns to look at him, Barkot speaks in a strange rasping whisper words that only the archer seems to understand.

Casting Sotto Voce - DC 13 or Shaken for 1 round.

Once he finishes the spell, Barkot pulls his crossbow off his back.

"Really, Celia, you're being ridiculous." Reillana draws another arrow and takes aim at Natalya. "I don't understand why you've taken goblins as your allies. If you surrender now you can avoid an ignoble death and fall into filth."

Luck 3/7
Attack vs: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11 miss

Scowling as the arrow goes wide, the elf reaches for another. "That was your last warning, the next one will go through your throat!" she promises.
Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

Wincing just a bit from the arrow, Paëral returns fire...

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 - 4 = 12

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

A barrage of arrows arcs up from the party, all of them embedding harmlessly in the roof, and the goblin shakes off Barkot's threats.

Will,Bane: 1d20 - 1 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 - 1 = 13

Natalya listens to Reillana's boast, but is not overly impressed. Warnings or not, she remains confident.

Laughing maniacally, she backs into the corner. "You insignificant bugs have not even seen the full extent of my powers! Behold!"

She reaches up to a small metallic pin which suddenly shoots forth flames in every direction. Some land on the beam in front of her, others on the walls and ceiling of the ramshackle dwelling.

With a WHOOSH, the building catches on flame, which quickly starts to spread. The smell of burning wood and refuse fills the air as a haze of smoke licks up from the flames.

The blue goblin, cut off from the party and facing horrible fire, shoulders his bow and turns to move down the ladder, managing to somehow make it down without slipping.

There is still no motion from the snake thing.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Round 2
Bold may act

Reillana -2
Paeral -2
Barkot
Natalya -18 Bane 8
Blue Goblin Bane 8
Snake
Squint
Red Goblin Bane 9
Celia -3

@Squint, the eagle is not going to want to enter those flames. You would need to Push it, which would require a shared language at this point. You can redirect it to either goblin, but attacking Natalya is not currently an option (unless you have some idea of how to make that work)

The eagle chooses to target the remaining goblin within the rafters as the flames bar her flight path to Natalya.

5 foot step diagonally in the air so as not to be adjacent to the flames. I'll need to have Celeste make a Fly check so that she can get her full attack on the goblin.

Fly (Hover) Check (15): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 SUCCESS!

Talon #1 vs Red: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 201d4 ⇒ 2
Talon #2 vs Red: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 171d4 ⇒ 2
Beak vs Red: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d4 ⇒ 3

With a high-pitched SCRAWWW!, Celeste the celestial eagle swoops down and harries the hapless goblin in a flurry of scratches and pokes!

Squint marvels at the summoned eagle's fury, brought back to his surroundings by the splash of the goblin descending the ladder.

"There's one on the ground!" Squint sings out, unshouldering and loading his light crossbow.

Draw and load crossbow.

The eagle's talons scratch deep furrows in the goblin.

The goblin looks around for a way to escape the flames, but can't figure out a way to get past the eagle.

Dropping his bow into the muck, he pulls his shortsword and attacks, missing badly.

Sword,Bane: 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 2 - 1 = 10

Round 2
Bold may act

Reillana -2
Paeral -2
Barkot
Natalya -18 Bane 8
Blue Goblin Bane 8
Snake
Squint
Red Goblin -4 Bane 8
Celia -3

Paëral fires again at red...

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 - 4 = 16

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

noting the blue Goblin's progress, Celia takes aim with her bow and draws a bead on the little Gob descending. short Bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 2

The red goblin pitches over and lands in the sewage, no longer moving.

Celia's arrow takes the blue goblin in the arm.

Round 3
Bold may act

Reillana -2
Paeral -2
Barkot
Natalya -18 Bane 8
Blue Goblin -2 Bane 8
Snake
Squint
Celia -3

As the building explodes into flames, Barkot growls in surprise and annoyance. "What da f$*#? Ya crazy dame, ya set da place on fire while yer stuck in it wit' us!"

Barkot is a little slower to react than Celia is, but when he spots the blue goblin slinking down the ladder, he immediately fires his crossbow at it and reloads.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 201d8 ⇒ 6

Shaking her head to clear away the preternatural focus, Reillana aims her next arrow at Natalya, but doesn't fire. "You don't have to die here!" the elf shouts at the other woman. "Surrender to us, and we'll take you to safety and get you some proper servants! No more need to dwell in filth with mere goblins, but first you must cease this madness!"

ending Archaeologist's Luck for now, still have 4 rounds today.
Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Yeah...I wouldn't have believed me either.

Barkot's bolt drops the goblin, while Reillana's words simply anger Natalya.

The fires intensify, heat becoming uncomfortable, while some flaming wood starts to fall from the rafters into the pool below, sizzling as it extinguishes.

"HAhahahaHA! You will BURN, but I will be just fine!"

Natalya takes no further action. Through the flames, it appears that she is concentrating on something.

The snake finally moves, attempting to climb the ladder, but it is unable to get a grip.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Round 3
Everyone may act

Reillana -2
Paeral -2
Barkot
Natalya -18 Bane 8
Snake
Squint
Celia -3

Paëral takes aim and fires at Natalya...

Longbow: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 - 4 = 19

Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Paeral, was there a specific purpose to the Perception roll?

My bad, had a brain fart...cut and pasted the roll from another post and forgot to change it to Longbow...just edited my previous post...

Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Barkot shifts his crossbow up and aims at Natalya as best he can through the flames, then fires.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 31d8 ⇒ 1

He quickly reloads, and tries to keep an eye on the erstwhile Tower Girl.

"So mebbe now we oughtta start backin' outta here? Not because we can't handle two goblins an' a street thief, but on account a' she's nutso an' set da joint on fire!"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Know (Dungeon): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Reillana's voice softens, barely able to be heard over the crackling flames above and the screeching of raptors and goblins. "Very well, Natalya, may Pharasma guide you to your final reward," the elf says sadly. Trusting Paeral's arrow to finish that particular fight, the elf instead turns her aim on the serpent attempting to scale the ladder.

"Beware, companions, that is no ordinary animal but a goblin-snake! They're intelligent, but lack a naga's magical power!"

Swift to put Luck back on, Standard to attack Goblin-Snake
Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 2 = 25 Confirm?: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 2 = 24
Critical Hit!: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1, 5) + 6 = 14

"Beware, companions, that is no ordinary animal but a goblin-snake! They're intelligent, but lack a naga's magical power!"

Celia nods and takes aim at the ugly elongated monstrosity. short bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 2

I'm not going to assess a cover penalty. There is just not enough floor between Natalya and Paeral. However, I am going to assess a concealment miss chance

1d100 ⇒ 95

Paeral's arrow flies through the flames, piercing Natalya's deflective barrier, and driving deep into her chest. She falls to the ground and begins bleeding.

Reillana's arrow pins the goblin snake to the wall, where it hangs limply.

The flames continue to lick at the walls and ceiling.

Round 3
Everyone may act

Reillana -2
Paeral -2
Barkot
Natalya -27 Bane 8
Squint
Celia -3

wisdom: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 Celia brushes the smoke out of her face..instinctively wanting to cough..however when she attempts a breath...she's surprised to find the air not as acidic as she anticipated. She watches first the magic-using lady fall then the goblin snake to her companion's missile fire. She ventures the courage to take a slightly deeper breathe...nothing! nothing! it's not 'real' smoke just some kinda of magic trick! Celia moves forward to the ladder coverd with grease and looks up at the ugly Goblin snake hanging limply above, to make sure it's truly dead. When she's satisfied she test the rungs of the ladder with her hands to see if they're still slippery. Maybe when the Wizardress fell her magic failed as well reasons Celia.

We are staying in initiative for now.
Grease does not go away when the caster is unconscious (as far as I can tell) and lasts for min/level, so it is still there.

Paëral will approach the ladder and attempt to climb it to try and reach Natalya...

Climb: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 (If also needed for the climb since the ladder's greased)

Let's not get too far ahead. Squint hasn't taken his Round 3 action yet, and Paeral has already taken his Round 4 action.

Paeral, you can save those rolls for when you get to attempt the second ladder.
If you want to drop the bow, I'll let you climb to the top in Round 5.
Otherwise, Round 5 will be: put away bow and climb the first ladder.

Wisdom (15) Check: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4 FAIL!

Squint grunts with consternation as Paeral's arrow crumples Natalya's form.

"What in Abaddon are you doing? How are we supposed to find out what happened to Natalya if you go and kill her?"

Squint looks around in alarm at the flames spreading across the rafters.

"We have got to get out of here!"

Squint thinks for a moment before murmuring a word of arcane magic.

If this Natalya has some form of an ancient Thassilonian magic item on her, I should be able to locate it if I concentrate.

Cast detect magic.

Holding his breath against the smoke, Squint takes a moment to puzzle through the situation before turning to flee.

Squint casts his spell and directs his attention in Natalya's direction.

A sudden glare overtakes his senses from Natalya's direction. The magic is so potent as to produce physical pain, breaking Squint's concentration as he reels back, attempting to blink the glare away from his eyes.

Squint is Dazzled for one round

The fires continue to burn.

Squint is up again for round 4.
Celia has already posted a round 4 action (climbing up next to the second ladder and examining the grease).
Paeral has posted a Round 5 action, but I need confirmation if he is dropping his bow or shouldering it.
Everyone else can act.

Round 4
Everyone may act

Reillana -2
Paeral -2
Barkot
Natalya -27 Bane 6
Squint
Celia -3

He'll drop it...

"Squint, what is it?" Reillana's alarmed gaze turns from the halfling to the prone form of Natalya, wary of further magical tricks. "What are you, uh, squinting?"

GM - can you show where Natalya landed on the map? I assume it is roughly below where she was in the rafters?

Wisdom: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Everything is still on fire!

"Celia! What're ya doin'? First ya didn't wanna stay, now ya won't leave when da whole place is burnin' down around ya?"

Barkot calls forth healing energy from the bowels of the metropolis to keep Natalya from bleeding to death.

Casting Stabilize.

He hustles over to Vancaskerkin and bends down to lift her head out of the muck.

"Paëral, Squint, gimme a hand - we gotta get her outta here and back to Da Heidmarch."

Natalya had moved into a corner. She is still in the rafters with a bit of floor underneath her.

Barkot's spell makes sure that Natalya is stable. After another round of effort (whatever it is you guys choose to do), the flames wink out, taking the smoke, heat, and burning sounds with them.

Looking at the walls and rafters shows no signs of any burns.

We can leave initiative now.

Paeral is the first to reach Natalya in the rafters.

@Paeral please describe what you are doing.

Anyone else is free to join Paeral up top. Going slowly up the ladder will allow you to bypass the Grease outside of combat, I'll say

Barkot hoists himself up onto the rafters and moves over to the bit of floor where Natalya fell.

"I'll check da Vancerskin dame, make sure she don' have no weapons or nuttin. Mebbe tie 'er up ta carry back to Da Heidmarch."

He checks her for weapons, loot, etc.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

He scratches his head.

"Huh. Better look again."

I keep forgetting to take 10!

Perception, take 10: 10 + 5 = 15

Paëral will carefully search Natalya...

Take 10 for 17 Perception

Paeral and Barkot team up to turn out Natalya's pockets.

I'll send a full list after work, as I neglected go put it into my dropbox

Barkot then ties her up, in case she wakes up.

What now?

Squint shakes his head as the combat and the illusory flames fade out. He purposefully dismisses his arcane tools (apart from mage armor) before daring to glance up at where Paeral and Barkot crouch inspecting Natalya's prone form.

There's something wrong here, Squint thinks. That flash of light - that was more powerful than I have ever seen...

"I'm coming up!" Squint announces, moving to the ladder to join the others after a pause.

He will go up slowly. Once up, he will look at Natalya to try to work out what it was that flashed so brightly. If needed, he will cast detect magic again with his eyes closed and try to find the item, only opening his eyes a tiny fraction as he looks.

Celia hoist herself up to the rafters taking the rope with her. what’s up guys, she alive? Find anything useful on her?

The goblins have short swords, leather armor, short bows, and light wooden shields (all small), as well as a total of 38 small arrows.

The goblin snake has nothing.

From Natalya, you find:
1 Scroll, 1 Wand, 1 Smokestick, 1 Tanglefoot Bag
A Masterwork mithral short sword, climbers’ kit, secondstory
harness, and 55 gp.

Barkot, while patting her down notices that her boots seem t be of exceptional quality and are very clean.

@Squint, I need to figure a couple of things out before processing your action

Celia ask to inspect the Mithral short sword. She turns it over in her hands once or twice then slashes it through the air. I like the balance not as heavy as my gladius ... Celia looks around at the others, Do you mind if I keep this blade? Seems good for work up close and personal like! Celia smiles with a wry grin while admiring the blade.