GM Brunoreturns' Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master brunoreturns

Celia starts to get excited about the plan and begins to cut up a length of rope. When quizzical eyes are turned on her she shrugs and laughs nervously, For all the prisoners we're about to take!? She says with a strange mixture of hope and doubt.

to be clear..I'm using some of the existing rope we posses and cutting 18' off it (leaving us with one length of rope only 32'). I'm then cutting the 18' length into six lengths 3' long.

Barkot glares menacingly at Embyr. "You're gonna leave an' stay outta our way, right?"

I'm going to assume that we let Embyr go. If we think she gave us enough to warrant payment, that's fine.

Barkot watches Celia for a moment. "What're we gonna do wit' half a dozen prisoners?"

He draws a wand, gives it a little twirl, and activates it. "Soralyon, help us pertect yer city from dese knuckleheads who are messin' wit' ancient magics dey don' unnerstan'."

Barkot casts Bless on the party just before Reillana activates the illusion, assuming we're going to have some combat no matter how well it works.

Shifting from foot to foot, Embyr looks from Barkot to Reillana. "And the gold? You said you'd make it so I could leave this life behind. Well, that sounds pretty good right now.

I'll take a boat and make my way to Riddleport or Sandpoint, anywhere but here."

Paëral shrugs. "You may go as far as I'm concerned. Reillana, how much gold is she due?"

"A moment please, Paëral, this isn't has easy as it looks." Reillana stares intently at the Pride Shard for long moments until she's is confident in the power it grants. Nodding to herself, she addresses Embyr.

"You have my word as a Pathfinder that you will be paid, but at the moment we have a more pressing concern. Wait here, and when we've finished you'll be well taken care of."

She turns back to the others. "Very well, what's all this about a Thassilonian wizard? Seems easier to just tell them we're Pathfinders and we want the other Shard and called up a wizard to help us get it, but I'm willing to try something else if someone will teach me a few phrases in Thassilonian. Or would someone else care to spin the tale?"

"Nah, yer da storyteller, Reillana. Cee's got a good idear, but I t'ink it's too complicated. Seems ta me dat da simplest lie is da easiest ta believe. Yer a wizard, we're yer helpers. Ya want da dingus, an' yer takin' over da Crow here fer yer creepy wizard lair. Let dem fill in da details, dey don' need da wizard's whole life story. An' don' say we're Pat'finders, dey'll jes' assume we're tryin' ta trick 'em."

Garduk shakes his head. "Thassalonian, Schmassalonian - ain't nobody gonna believe dere's anudder ten t'ousan' year-old mope runnin' aroun' Varisia tossin' spells who jes happened ta come back a few years after da last one."

Squint grimaces and looks around at his companions. He then touches Ulyi with the wand once more.

Cast mage armor from the wand on Ulyi again.

"I think we're going to need the protection," Squint frowns.

With a petulant look, Embyr shuffles backwards and slumps against a wall, watching the party.

Quietly, the party proceeds back to the room above the stairs where Squint activates his wand and Barkot prepares to activate his as soon as Reillana is ready to step forward.

I have positioned the party on Slide 5, in what makes the most sense to me. Unless you intend to extinguish your lights, Stealth is irrelevant.

Reillana raises her chin defiantly, just in case some of the Tower Girls can see her. "I am Reillana Myerishil of the Mordant Tower, defenders of the ruins of Old Azlant, and your leaders have something that does not belong to them," she lets her voice take on a cold, imperious tone, letting her people's reputation burnish this little lie.

"I have been tasked with retrieving this item, the Spire cares nothing for your trifling criminal sisterhood. Had I wished you dead I'd have stormed in here with another dozen mercenaries. Instead, I offer you a chance to surrend the relic peacefully, and you shall never hear from me again."

"My powers are considerable, but do not think to win your way free with violence. Even if I should fall more agents of the Spire will hound your for all your miserable days. Lay down your arms and surrender, or be CRUSHED!!"

On the final word Reillana draws upon the Pride Shard's power, stomping her foot with a resounding BOOM, then following it up with a deep, grinding rumble that seems to resonate from within the Irespan. A heartbeat later the stonework appears to split with a thunderous crack, the jagged edges hissing and glowing orange with heat. The split widens and spiderwebs towards the spot Sasha's voice had originated from even as the grinding roar intensifies and a wave of hot air buffets the Tower Girl's presumed hiding spot. The rumbling slowly dies away, and Reillana allows the silence linger for a long dramatic moment, concentrating on no letting the illusion slip.

"I trust I've made my point," she calls finally, letting the unspoken threat of further destruction hang in the air.

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Paëral, impressed with Reillana's oratory but with little skill to complement it, will stay unseen behind the wall just before the flight of stairs leading to the Tower Girls position, bow drawn to cover her in case things go bad and they're attacked...

Point of order: You'll need to see the room in order to create an illusion there.
So, you'll need to step around the corner, at which point you will plainly see Sasha. She is not hiding. She will also plainly see you.
We are on Slide 5, just in case anyone is confused.
I'll allow some time for others to attempt aiding / positioning before resolving.

I will do so. At work so can't open the Google Slides file right now, feel free to place me just around the corner.

As the floor starts to shake, Barkot backs up against the staircase wall and leans against it for stability.

I know dis is Reillana castin' a spell. I know dat's what it is, but -- Barkot staggers as a thunderous CRACK booms through the stairwell -- did she hafta make it so REAL?

Well, at least I ain't gonna hafta try too hard ta act scared!

"Boss? Boss? Doncha wanna lighten up a little? Ya don' wanna burn up da Dingus, do ya?"

Bluff, AA: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Impressed by the might of the illusion, Squint almost forgets to supply assistance to Reillana's spell by trying to mimic Embyr's voice.

I will use my adaptable luck to get a +3 to this aid another roll.

(as Embyr)"Oh please, Sasha! They're going to feed me to that bird ------AHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHH! AHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

Bluff AA: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 2 = 18 SUCCESS! +2 from me!

Squint's high-pitched impersonation of Embyr screeching fades away. The halfling blinks at the blank stares from all of his companions.

"What?!" he whispers defensively.

"Ridiculous," the eidolon shakes its head at Squint's antics.

As heat and the appearance of lava fill the room, the rats squeal in fright and dart off to the north as fast as they can move.

Sasha, appearing visibly affected by the manifestation of power yells, "Scatter!" and darts off to the East.

The other wererat manages to think more tactically and instead decides to try to nullify the threat. "No! Take out the mage before she can kill us all!"

With the confusing orders, and the fear of the moment, the majority of the Tower Girls decide to follow Sasha's lead, darting toward the nearest exits.

One follows Sasha to the East, Four dart off to the North after the rats, and two run off to the South.

The three remaining combatants nervously raise crossbows and point them at Reillana as they shuffle backwards.

Their moment of indecision allows the party to act quickly.

Round 1
Bold may act
Bless in effect. 9 rounds.

Reillana
Squint/Ulyi
Paeral
Barkot
Celia
Pink Shaken
Teal Shaken
Wererat Shaken

Barkot moves down the staircase, still bemused by the realistic illusion. Before he gets all the way into the room, he stops in front of Reillana.

"Da city of Magnimar is done wit' youse! Put down yer weapons now, or we're gonna curb-stomp ya!"

Casting Bane - it's a 50' radius, so it looks like orange and blue are definitely caught, not sure about pink.

Squint urges Ulyi into battle with a yell.

"For Chaldira! For Desna! Yaaaaaah!" Squint yells as he prepares his lance.

"For the sake of my ear drums," scoffs Ulyi as he rushes down the stairs.

40 foot movement speed for Ulyi. Double move as per the map towards the orange figure.

"Yahhhhh!"

Squint lowers his family weapon, Refrain of Silver, at the figure he recognises from the previous battle - Sasha.

I'll use my last +3 of the day from adaptable luck on this attack roll.

Melee Attack, Silver Weapon: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 3 = 231d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

!!!!!

Paëral will move 15' and fire at blue...

Longbow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 25

Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + (2) = 6

Voice rising in an elven battle hymn, Reillana draws her blade and advances on the three Tower Girls who stood their ground.

Inspire Courage, Move towards them (at work, could someone move me?) while drawing the short sword.

What is the scale of the map? looks like each block is 10' square is that correct? cause if it's only 5' I can reach teal this round and attack...if not I'll double move up to teal. Celia shifts the ropes from her primary hand to her off hand and grasp the mithral short sword in her main fighting hand anticipating combat. She sees her friends make their move and soon she rushes into combat herself.

As I mentioned unsure of the scale..if I can move and attack I do so...if I need a double move to reach teal so be it..either way I end up next to teal

Voice rising in an elven battle hymn, Reillana draws her blade and advances on the three Tower Girls who stood their ground.

Inspire Courage, Move towards them (at work, could someone move me?) while drawing the short sword.

Remember, you need to concentrate on the illusion if you want to maintain it, which requires your standard action.

If you don't concentrate, it will be static for the next three rounds, then dissipate.

Your call, naturally, but I want to be sure that is explicit

@Celia, all maps for the rest of the AP (as far as I know) are 10 foot scale

Oh right. I resuming concentration isn't an option I'll forgo Inspire Courage to keep the illusion active.

@Squint I meant to mention this in my last post.

The red squiggle is where the illusory crack in the floor it. Your current path takes you directly across this crack. You can do this, but it might spoil the illusion.

Ulyi has enough movement to avoid it. I’ll simply have Ulyi go around it.

Guessing it won't matter this round, but I didn't factor Bless into my attack roll...

Wererat Will, Shaken: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 - 2 = 3
Teal Will, Shaken: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 - 2 = 7
Pink Will, Shaken: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 1 - 2 = 13

Barkot's spell takes effect, and the combatants feel even more uncertain than they did before.

Squint and Ulyi ride forward, stabbing the wererat and dealing a serious wound.
@Squint, I placed you at 10 ft from the Wererat along the path that would avoid the illusion. Note that this is not Sasha. She fled East.

Paeral strikes one of the Tower Girls, causing her to call out in pain.

Reillana advances menacingly, while keeping a firm grip on the illusion.

Celia moves into melee range.

The Tower Girls nervously attempt to withstand the onslaught.

Dropping her crossbow, Teal draws her shortsword and takes a swipe at Squint, but can't pierce the magical barrier. She then attempts to move back to avoid being surrounded.

The nervousness of the situation allow Celia and Ulyi to get in attacks, but she is able to keep out of reach of Squint's lance.

@Celia, I used your attack above as the AoO. It missed.

Sword,Shaken,Bane: 1d20 + 1 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 - 2 - 1 = 12
Acrobatics,Shaken: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 2 = 17
Acrobatics,Shaken: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 2 = 22

Pink move back and takes aim at Reillana, causing a small wound. The wererat also takes a small step back and fires at Reillana, but misses badly.

Reillana needs a DC 14 Concentration check

Crossbow, Shaken, Bane: 1d20 + 3 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 2 - 1 = 18
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Crossbow, Shaken, Bane: 1d20 + 4 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 2 - 1 = 4

Round 2
Everyone may act
Bless in effect. 8 rounds.

Reillana -1 DC 14 Concentration
Squint/Ulyi Ulyi AoO against Teal
Paeral
Barkot
Celia
Pink Shaken, Bane 9 rounds
Teal -6 Shaken, Bane 9 Rounds
Wererat -8 Shaken, Bane 9 Rounds

Glad for the mask that hides her startlement at the shallow wound, Reillana keeps a firm mental grip on the illusion and even adds a hiss of hot, sulfurous smoke belching forth from the illusory cracks.

"BRING ME THE RELIC," she screams, enjoying her role as greedy and vainglorious mage ordering her minions about. "TAKE IT FROM THEIR BLOODY CORPSES IF YOU MUST!"

Concentration: 1d20 + 2 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 3 = 22

Paëral will fire at teal again...

Longbow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 29

Confirm: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 18

Damage: 3d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 7, 6) + 3 = 20 (only 5 if not confirmed)

Off-turn actions.

The eidolon slashes reflexively with one of its foreclaws at the Tower Girl who attempted to attack Squint (Teal)

AoO vs Teal, Claw, Bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 81d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

”I am NOT biting her. I don’t want rat fleas!”

On turn

After charging, Ulyi takes a swipe at the new target.

Melee Attack, Charge, Bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 151d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

AC 18 until the end of next round due to charge.

As Ulyi completes his reflexive missed swipe at the Tower Girl greedily gobbling all of Päeral’s arrows, Squint adjusts his lance and hastens the eidolon to redirect its attention to the left, spurring it into a charge.

”For Reillana the Wrathful!” Squint calls out playfully.

Melee Attack, Charge vs Orange, Bless, Silver Weapon, Lance: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 132d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 = 9

AC 15 until the end of next round due to charge.

Celia shouts, For my family and Shelyn! as she rushes forward trying to skewer the teal tower-girl. MW mithral S sword: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 = 7dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5 Celia's AC: is only '15' till the beginning of next turn because of the charge.

Squint, I assume you're closer to orange than your token appears?

Barkot double moves into the room towards pink. He glares at the shaken Tower Girl. "Ya must have a pretty damn good reason ta hang around," he growls. "If I wuz in yer shoes, I'd be usin' 'em to beat feet outta here right about now."

@Celia, since Teal took an arrow straight through the eye and dropped without even a twitch, I'll redirect your charge toward Pink

@Reillana, Are you intending to do anything other than concentrate this round? Movement perhaps?

Moved up

Paeral's arrow skewers the Tower Girl, leaving her very dead.

Squint and Celia move toward different targets, each missing with their hasty attacks.

Barkot attempts to catch up with the maneuvering Tower Girl.

Now that she is engaged, the Pink Tower Girl seems to shake off her fright and focuses on the threat in front of her. She drops her crossbow, draws a shortsword and engages.

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

The wererat backs up again, attempting to stay away from the hated silver weapon. She responds to Reillana, "The relic was stolen by a traitor. Search for her in the city, not here."

She sends another bolt toward Reillana, scoring another minor wound.

Crossbow,Shaken,Bane: 1d20 + 4 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 2 - 1 = 19
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Round 3
Everyone may act
Bless in effect. 7 rounds.

Reillana -2 DC 14 Concentration
Squint/Ulyi
Paeral
Barkot
Celia
Pink Bane 18 rounds
Wererat -8 Shaken, Bane 18 Rounds

"Thank you, Miladistra, and thank you for helping Trofimir!"

Arkandru steps forward again, and redoubles his attempts to slay the elemental.

+2 flaming greatsword, Heroism: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 16 + 1 = 283d12 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (7, 10, 1) + 4 + (1) = 23

+2 flaming greatsword, Heroism: 1d20 + 16 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (10) + 16 + 1 - 5 = 223d12 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (9, 11, 11) + 4 + (5) = 40

Hunt Target: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Shit!

Oh, crud. Sorry about the Arkandru post - that was meant for The Frozen Oath, but I must have pasted it onto the wrong page. Brunoreturns, when you have a moment, please delete Arkandru from the Characters tab - otherwise he will show up above Barkot on my "Post As" list from now on and make it likely I'll mess up again.

Barkot, seeing that Celia has the remaining human Tower Girl engaged, steps up to the wererat in orange, drawing his silver light mace as he does.

"So ya say. Let's see if ya say different once yer missin' some teeth."

Barkot strikes at her with his mace.

Silver light mace, bless: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 61d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Brilliant.

Either she's lying or they don't even know it's here. Hopefully the latter...

Paëral will move 20', jumping over the 'chasm' to maintain the illusion, and fire a silver arrow at the orange wererat...

Longbow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 19

Silver Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Could she be talking about Natalya? Squint thinks briefly as he spurs Ulyi again in another charge, this time ending outside of Ulyi's range (and regrettably, right in Päeral's line of sight).

Melee Attack, Charge vs Orange, Bless, Silver Weapon, Lance: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 102d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4) + 4 = 13

AC continues to be 15.

"I will not bite that thing!" Ulyi says imperiously.

No attack; AC continues to be 18 due to charge.

Celia faces off with her foe and winks, Nice to be in a stand up battle for a change! Celia then flips her shortsword to her off hand whilst drawing her longsword with the other (letting go, the lengths of rope she held in the process). Celia lunges at her opponent in a mock attack feint: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9, to try and get the girl's guard to drop a little.

@Barkot I'll do that tomorrow when I have my computer. The submit button is off the screen on my phone.

@Reillana In case you missed it, you need another Concentration check

Reillana Concentration: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

The illusion is maintained, but the party's attacks all miss. Paeral's arrow seems as if it would strike, but the wererat's weaving to avoid getting hit causes her to move out of the way at the last moment.

Shaking off her fear, the wererat snarls at Barkot and calls out to the other Tower Girl. "Come flank this dog with me!"

Pink looks at the battle and refuses to move into a flank herself, but does move over to attack Barkot as ordered.

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

With complete disdain for Uyi, Sasha drops her crossbow and draws a shortsword of her own as she moves in front of the eidolon, setting up the flank on Barkot herself.

Sword, Flank, Bane: 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 - 1 = 12

As their strikes miss, a familiar voice sounds from the Eastern hallway as Sasha and the tower girl who fled with her return.

"A vengeful wizard would have killed someone by now."

Round 4
Everyone may act
Bless in effect. 6 rounds.

Sasha -8
Purple
Reillana -2
Squint/Ulyi
Paeral
Barkot
Celia
Pink Bane 16 rounds
Wererat -8 Bane 16 Rounds