GM Captain Trip's Giantslayer Adventure Path - Now with 50% more calories!

Game Master Chad Newman

Going to go ahead and roll for Giz.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Gizsmith confirms that it appears to be a Potion of See Invisibility.

Somewhat relieved. It did occur to me that this elven lady might be an evil fey herself and had found a tricky way to poison me. :) I do not plan to drink it until needed.

Looking towards his companions they seem ready and so Corentin moves to the door, opens it and steps back out.

Corentin moves out and readies to attack if an opponent makes itself known and is in range.

Going to just do this as an us vs them sort of initiative flow, since there's an obvious response to Corentin stepping through the door.

As the cavalier steps back into the bridge, the heat of the room once again washes over the man, the heavy smell of vegetation thick in the air and the humidity almost unbearable. Just as he moves in he hears the high pitched buzzing sound again followed by nearly imperceptible movements on each side of him, as the unseen weapons slash out once again. To his left he feels the bite of one of the tiny weapons, which manages to find an opening in his armor and the vulnerable flesh beneath, tearing open a wicked wound.

Corentin takes 15 damage from the attack. He can make his readied attack in response to the hit at the 50% miss chance.

The party is free to act now before the baddies go again!

And what does Johan see?, Oh crap. I posted from my phone last night that I was surprised we were going back into the room where we know invisible foes were and I would go ahead and drink the potion. But I do not see that post now. Somehow it was eaten. I was holding off on drinking because I thought we were going through the unexplored doors. I posted to three different threads last night from my phone and none went through. :( So, either I get this "go back" or Johan drinks the potion this round.

The current positioning makes little sense to me. Corentin and Szacha should hold the doorway, with Johan right behind and firing, instead of venturing on the bridge. Sacha can switch with either one of us if we suffer from heavy damage.

"Hold the doorway! Kneel to allow Johan to fire freely! Be ready to slash them down!!!" urges Szacha, imbuing his words with raging passion.

Raging song with spirits! They might help against the attackers.

If anyone is between Johan and the enemies, he takes -4 to hit, due to cover.

Giz does not venture back onto the walkway. Assume Giz just takes total defense, unless I say otherwise.

My thinking was that we need to be able to threaten the whole area or they can just fly out of Johan's sight.

The buzzing wings alert Corentin of the fey's approach and he tightens his grip on his morning star. Though not as well made as his axe the weapon's heft felt right in his hand and he knew it's cold iron would give the creatures of the first world pause. When the attack came he was surprised by the power of it but still managed to return the strike.

Attack w/ CI Morning Star: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Miss chance, High hits: 1d100 ⇒ 23
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

The spiked head of the weapon found nothing but air so the cavalier reversed the blow as Szacha began a battle chant.

Attack w/ CI Morning Star + rage: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 = 29
Miss chance, High hits: 1d100 ⇒ 82
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8

Confirm: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9

Spirits: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Miss chance, High hits: 1d100 ⇒ 80
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

AC 19, HP 35/50

I'll give you a freebie, as to avoid extra rolls in the future. These little buggers are using Fly By Attack each turn, so while I am allowing for readied actions, follow up attacks are just going to hit empty air.

@Johan - Since I don't know what you meant to do, I'm going to ask you do the whole potion thing this round.

I suspected they might be but didn't know if Cor would realize that yet (and thus would have swung at where he thought it was). I suppose if he can hear the buzzing wings he'd know they zipped by and would have readied for the next time around rather than swing at air he knew was empty.

Johan drinks the potion and moves up into the doorway.

Please let me know what I see.

Sasha loads a rock into her sling and waits for an opening. If one of the pests makes itself visible, she will fire at it.

Sasha vs. pests: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 4 = 11 (-4 because she lacks Precise Shot)
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

I'm going to reveal the creatures on the map so Johan can properly assess his options. Keep in mind that to the rest of you they are invisible and moving around each round, pretty much thwarting most attempts to target them with anything but a reactionary strike.

@Johan - Its a bad angle, so your line of sight is nearly blocked from their current position, but the enemies are the yellow balls of light you will see near the walls on either side of Corentin.

The creatures, completely unaware of the ranger's sudden ability to track their movements, rush forth once more, zipping past the cavalier and jabbing their tiny daggers into his form as they flit past him. He feels one of the blades cut into his flesh as it passes, and he quickly lunges out with his morningstar, hitting something solid and drawing forth a high pitched scream of pain that trails away quickly.

Corentin takes 14 damage from the sneaky strike. He returns the favor and manages to hit one of the creatures.

The party is up and Johan can definitely make out the little fey monstrosities now.

Sasha will take her shot (and miss, probably).

Johan moves onto the bridge and after trying to identify the enemy fires a single arrow at the wounded fey using Deadly Aim.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

mwk composite longbow: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 2 = 291d8 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 4 = 7

Do the raging spirits get a shot?

Johan does not typically accept your rage Szacha, unless he is in melee. Plus I am pretty sure they only attack things adjacent.

Giz pulls out a scroll of infernal healing Just in case.

"Gah!" Corentin grunts as the invisible blades find another gap in his armor. Feeling his morning star find purchase does a bit to dull the pain however. Steeling himself he listens for the telltale buzzing and prepares an attack.

Attack w/ Rage: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
High hits: 1d100 ⇒ 56
Damage w/ Rage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

AC 19, HP 21/50

Szacha moves in to cover Johan: "Take them down! Fast!" he urges as the spirits roar around him and he prepares to hit at invisible foes coming close.

Readied strike: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 9 + 1 = 242d6 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (4, 5) + 11 + 1 = 21
Spirits: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 91d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

As the evil fey circle for another round of strikes Johan steps into the room, his magically enhanced eyes now able to make out the tiny attackers. Unsure of exactly what the creatures are, he takes aim at one of the flying creatures and lets an arrow fly at it. The shot strikes true, startling the tiny being who seems surprised that the archer could track its movements. The arrow doesn't seem to deal as serious of a wound as the ranger would expect, and it becomes evident that the creature possesses some sort of resistance to weapons. The rest of the group stands ready, waiting to strike once something comes within range and makes itself known.

Once more the creatures circle, Johan tracking their movements as they dart in and strike at the archer, who appears to be the biggest concern. One of the creatures manages to sink a weapon deeply into the ranger, but they both look shocked and dismayed as he is able to move to try and avoid their attacks. Their normally precise strikes don't seem to be as effective and they quickly retreat to rethink their strategy. Hearing the sound next to him, Szacha swings at the air with his weapon, but does not manage to connect with anything but air.

Johan takes 7 damage from a critical, but they can't manage to sneak attack the ranger.

Johan can now identify that they are using a fly-by-attack based strategy, and its apparent that they are not staying within melee range.

The party is up!

Note that all of Johan's arrows are cold iron, if that makes any difference.

It definitely does. Ignore the damage resistance wording. :)

Sasha scowls and loads another rock, hurling it towards the fey.

Sasha vs fey: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 6 - 4 = 10
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Come on Johan! Now is the time to show us you can hit the broad side of an invisible barn!" shouts Szacha, covering the archer.

Readied: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 1 = 152d6 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (2, 2) + 11 + 1 = 16
Spirits negative energy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 121d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

It definitely does. Ignore the damage resistance wording. :)

cool. Arrows are cheap and at twice the cost Cold Iron arrows are still cheap so that is all I buy for stock arrows. I guess the extra damage did not do enough to drop the little devil or to change his tactics...

Firing again at the wounded fey Johan fires two arrows. If the first creature were to drop he will switch to the second target.

mwk composite longbow, Cold Iron Arrow: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 261d8 + 2 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 4 + 1 = 9

mwk composite longbow, Cold Iron Arrow: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 231d8 + 2 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 4 + 1 = 9

Giz hunkers down. Total defense

They are actually pretty stout for fey, although that one has had enough.

The group maintains a defensive stance as the archer lets his magically enhanced eyesight guide his aim. He releases another pair of arrows into the air, both slamming home into the tiny flying fey and driving it back into a wall. Its form goes limp as it tumbles from the air and plummets down into the dense vegetation below.

The remaining fey, realizing the danger it is in immediately flies upward towards the high glass dome. The fragile surface of the glass panes shatter as its form bursts through the dome and into the air beyond, sending tiny sharp slivers showering down to the bridge below.

End combat!

Corentin stretches his side uncomfortably where the fey's blade cut into him. "What's above the dome?" he asks their druid companion.

"It looks like it's fled for now anyway. I'd say we double back and try one of the other doorways. Martuk could I ask for some of the flames blessings to heal these wounds?"

16/45 HP

As Corentin turns to question the woman, requesting aid from the dwarf, he sees Martok struggling against the grasp of a horrifying looking woman, twisted and hunched over, her skin a sickly green color and covered with bumps and scars. Across Martok's throat is held a wicked looking sickle, the blade biting lightly into his skin. "Powerful you are, too much risk. Thwarted the Lurkers with ease you did. Now, if you would kindly place your weapons on the ground, and back away from them, your companion need not lose his life." the creature says with a gurgling voice. As if to emphasize the point, the woman tightens her hold on the dwarf and draws a thin line of blood against his neck with the surprisingly sharp implement.

I'm assuming our elf "friend" is showing her true colors?

"You know better." Sasha says clearly, her eyes narrowing dangerously.

"I'd have to agree with my friend. It would seem to me you're surrounded by foes you acknowledge as powerful. Perhaps it would be best if you lowered your weapon and we talked about this. What is this risk you speak of? We have no interest in this place beyond what we've come for. Once we've retrieved that we'll be on our way."

Know(Nature): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 Hag?

"I don't really see that happening. Why don't we all just discuss this like civilized people."

I'm assuming our elf "friend" is showing her true colors?

If it is the elven lady then I am confused. Why give us the potion to defeat the fey's invisibility if she planned to attack us?

Could it be that the evil that lurked within her mind has taken hold of her?

Without giving the actual story away, yes, the elven woman is nowhere in sight, so one could only assume that this creature and her are one and the same. There's an actual motive in play, but because of the need to work in a replacement character and retire another I am using the plot point a bit differently than is written.

@Gizsmith - Green Hag, bingo.

"ENOUGH TALK" the creature screams, its high pitched voice echoing through the room, an odd supernatural quality behind it that makes it sound like several voices of differing tones speaking at once. "You will disarm yourselves, or the blood of this stumpy little runt will stain these hallowed halls." the creature croaks, letting the light play off of the curved blade in her hand.

I am sorry my friend. Johan says to Martok. Should we agree to this evil creature's terms it would only mean all our lives. With those words Johan draws a cold iron arrow and fires it at the hag.

Longbow: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 1 - 2 = 281d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 4 = 12

"Release him and you might live to see another sunrise," Sasha says, her voice dangerously low.

Things are quiet, so I'm going to move forward with Johan's pew pew action.

Unwilling to deal with the creature or submit to its demands, from the back of the group Johan takes aim at the hag and fires a single arrow at the creature, the missile zipping through the empty space between her and the party and slamming into her with tremendous force. Flailing backwards, the hideous woman draws the weapon across the throat of the dwarf, sending a crimson spray into the air towards the party as she plants a foot in his back, kicking him forward and onto the ground.

Initiative

Corentin: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Sasha: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Johan: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Gizsmith: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Szacha: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Hag: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Completely shocked by the sudden attack, the hag recovers slowly from the shot, giving the party a precious few seconds to react.

The group has the drop on the woman and can act accordingly.

"MARTUK!" Corentin calls out as he rushes to defend the fallen dwarf.

Double move up

Johan will 5' step forward if Sasha moves up (which he will ask her to do) and fire two arrows at the hag. You will not live to regret that. he manages, his face a mask of rage and loss.

Longbow: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 111d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 4 = 15

Longbow: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 261d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 4 = 15

Sasha dashes towards the hag, her face a mask of rage. "To the death, then!" she snarls, her blade swinging. As she does so, she snaps her fingers and orders Galor into the the fray as well.

Sasha vs. hag: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 12 (+2 for charge)
Damage (+1 longsword): 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Galor vs. hag: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 = 23 (+2 for charge)
Damage (bite): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Trip attempt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Giz falls back and draws his crossbow.

Going to bot Szacha, he hasn't checked in since last Wednesday so not sure whats going on there.

Corentin, Szacha, and Sasha rush forward to the downed dwarf's side. Galor manages to bite into the woman, tearing open a small wound in her leg as the halfling tries to strike at her with her sword, failing to connect. Johan fires off a volley of arrows, one of them striking the hag and knocking her back slightly once more. Gizsmith moves beside Johan and readies his crossbow.

Snarling in anger, the creature steps away from the group and moves her fingers through the air in an arcane gesture as her ragged and torn clothing whip and flutter in a sudden breeze. She draws a slender rod from her belt and raises it in front of her in a defensive manner.

The group is up!

Going to bot Szacha, he hasn't checked in since last Wednesday so not sure whats going on there.

Corentin, Szacha, and Sasha rush forward to the downed dwarf's side. Galor manages to bite into the woman, tearing open a small wound in her leg as the halfling tries to strike at her with her sword, failing to connect. Johan fires off a volley of arrows, one of them striking the hag and knocking her back slightly once more. Gizsmith moves beside Johan and readies his crossbow.

Snarling in anger, the creature steps away from the group and moves her fingers through the air in an arcane gesture as her ragged and torn clothing whip and flutter in a sudden breeze. She draws a slender rod from her belt and raises it in front of her in a defensive manner. From her lips she issues a loud whistle.

The group is up!

"No! No! No! No!!!" membles Szacha, circling cautiously around the killer to find an opening.

"FOR MARTOK!" he roars, filling his companions with great fury.

Raging Song, don't forget the spirits!

johan steps 5' closer trying to avoid cover and continues fire. Tears brim from his eyes but he holds back the emotion for now.

Longbow: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 13

Longbow: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 23

Damage if that hits: 1d8 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 4 = 15

Stepping up Corentin levels an attack at the hag.

Attack w/PA and rage, CI: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 - 2 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 15

Spirit: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

AC 20, HP 21/50