GM Carimac's (PBP Gameday VI) #2-15: Shades of Ice—Part I: Written in Blood (Inactive)

Game Master CariMac

"Well now, 't seems a boyo by the name o' Hjort wants ta go about hurtin' 'n harmin' the folks in this here arm'ry. Then he plans on blamin' us 'n ours fer what 'e did. We just wanna make sure ev'ryone's okay in there."

Diplo: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

"Bad customer, that Hjort. Uses people like they are disposable feminine napkins, if you'll pardon my language."

Diplomacy aid: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

Prothero can't help but cringe a bit at Solstice's language, having been raised in the Taldan court and spent many years in a monastery, in the company of very few women. Still, she's right.

He does his best to contribute to the conversation, "It's as they say, a foul plot is afoot."

Diplomacy, Aid Spackle: 1d20 ⇒ 8

Carina suppresses a snicker from Solstice's colorful analogy. "And if you're concerned about what we'll do, you can always come with to keep an eye on us."

Diplomacy, aiding Spackle: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Your rolls were almost enough. Botting Archon

Diplomacy Archon: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Archon points out that if the group goes inside they can take care of whomever is there, and the guards can wait and sort it out after. That's enough to tip the scales and the guards let you go inside. They will wait outside for you to bring out the thugs.

A short hallway greets the PCs as they enter the armory. Bits of shattered wood and iron are strewn across the floor and disappear into darkness. All of the lights have been doused, casting the armory into total darkness (it has no windows on the ground floor).

Map Updated

As she said earlier, Carina taps Zero with his wand before returning it to him. She then reachs into her bag and draws out a small pearl for a moment before returning it and casting a spell on herself.

using my pearl of power to recover heightened awareness, then casting it again.

Satisfied with her preparations, Carina pulls an already lit torch from her bag and gestures forward.

-Posted with Wayfinder

good idea.

Solstice follow suit and breings out a wand and does the same to boost her awareness. And another to cast mage armor on herself.

Sorry, I didn't think you where waiting on me. I was sort of trying not to speak, as a follower of the patron deity of guards and security, I didn't want to lie or tell half truths to guards. Advising or suggesting that they ignore their duty and let us through because ______ seems sort of questionable to me, and was thinking simply staying back and saying nothing would be less likely to lead to party conflict.

"Can someone make a little light in here?" Prothero says quietly, "Can't see a thing."

DM - are there walls to either side of us or do those pieces covering the map just represent darkness?

I saw it suggested by one person in Flaxseed, and I thought it a good one, that you post your thoughts using the 'I' tag and describing your posture (such as a look of concern or doubt) or something. That way you get in a little role-play showing off your character's personality and also let the GM know you have nothing to add mechanically.

Yep, that's the usual format for inner monologue: Archon isn't saying a thing, Prothero thinks, glancing at the servant of Arqueros, and he's standing with his arms crossed and a scowl on his face. I wonder what he's thinking?

Zero looks about, hoping his natural senses will be of avail in this darkness. He waits on the others for direction, if they can see.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Is Darkvision of use here?

Carina pulled out her everburning torch for light.

Sorry, I didn't think you where waiting on me. I was sort of trying not to speak, as a follower of the patron deity of guards and security, I didn't want to lie or tell half truths to guards. Advising or suggesting that they ignore their duty and let us through because ______ seems sort of questionable to me, and was thinking simply staying back and saying nothing would be less likely to lead to party conflict.

I didn't mean to cause your character to do something he wouldn't normally do. I don't see any half truths in what was said, and the guards aren't all that interested in sticking their necks out if someone else is interested in dealing with the problem.

There is a doorway to the right and to the left.

Round 1 Party Up
Initiative ?: 25
Initiative Spackle: 16
Initiative Archon: 14
Initiative Solstice: 13
Initiative Carina: 12
Initiative Prothero: 12
Initiative Zero: 9
Initiative ?: 9

Zero, Solstice and Spackle hear a scraping sound from the room to the right as the Everburning torch is brought out. I put a circle where the light spell is. Outside that circle is dim light or dark in the corners.

The party hears a grating voice speaking in goblin saying the words of a spell.

GM - I forgot that Prothero has an ioun torch, so he's got light also. Light is a 20' radius, so the light circle should be twice as big as it is.

Prothero, his glowing stone spinning around his head, moves into the room. Seeing the goblin casting a spell, he looses an arrow at the ugly creature!

Move action to get into room, attack blue.

Longbow attack, PBS, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 11 - 1 = 16
Longbow damage, PBS: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 9

Zero rushes in and, not entirely sure what is going on, does what he can best.

Unarmed Strike vs. Green: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Solstice has no idea what the goblin is about to cast - she just know that it needs to stop and hits him or her (and everything south of her) with a Burning Hands.

Damage: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 4) = 7, DC 19 reflex for half

Sorry, I was on the road yesterday. I will spend my round starting Inspire Courage. +1 to hit, +1 to damage, +1 to will saves.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Moving in, but not attacking outright, Archon looks on at each of the Goblins as he calls back to the group, "Some sort of flame, or less likely a light spell."

Turning his attention back towards the Goblins, "There is no need to die here. Not when there is shiny gold" shaking his coin pouch, "and fame to be had."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

-Posted with Wayfinder

"I think it is a little too late for diplomacy."

Carina moves forward after the others, keep her torch high for the others. Seeing the goblins in the room is a little much though...

"Goblins? Hjort hired Goblins?!?!?" she cries out, half in disgust, half in disbelief. " And he thought this would work?" Almost dismissively, she reaches into the shadow of her scarf, and pulls out a inky black ball, which she hurls at the goblin in the corner.

Binding Darkness vs.Green: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11 Ranged touch attack. If it hits, Green is entangled for 1 Round, but gains concealment

Maybe, but maybe they would be willing to give us information. You never know.

Round 2 Party Up
Buffs: Inspire Courage +1 to Hit +1 To Damage +1 Saves
Initiative Druid: 25 7 DMG
Initiative Spackle: 16
Initiative Archon: 14 2 DMG
Initiative Solstice: 13
Initiative Carina: 12
Initiative Prothero: 12
Initiative Zero: 9 3 DMG
Initiative Goblin: 9 Blue 7 DMG, Green 10 DMG 2 Bleed, Purple 7 DMG

Prothero’s arrow misses the goblin in blue. Zero hits the green goblin causing him damage and to bleed. Spackle starts to tell stories and jokes inspiring his allies. Solstice casts burning hands at the spellcasting creature, and hits two other goblins at the same time. None of them can get out of the way and take all the damage from her spell.

Archon tries to talk to the goblins but they yell back in goblin. It’s clear they aren’t interested in not fighting. Carina’s attack misses the goblin in green.

With shrieks two more goblins come out of the darkened room to the left. Yellow attacks Archon and red goes for Spackle.

Green stabs at Zero, Blue at Prothero, Purple can’t decide and after a minute attacks Prothero.
The druid with her hands wreathed in flame fires a bolt of fire at Prothero. All the attacks at Prothero miss. Zero is hit hard. Yellow manages to give Archon a scratch.

Zero recoils slightly, grins, and lets loose with two mighty haymakers. His utter silence in combat and ability to ignore, or even relish, his wounds is eerie.

Unarmed, Cruelty, IC vs. Green: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Unarmed, Cruelty, IC vs. Green: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 4

If the first strike drops Green, I will move west one square. It doesn't look to be a place I can 5' step to, so disregard the second attack if that happens.

DM - if blue made a ranged touch attack, Prothero should get an AoO with his unarmed strike. I'll roll it here just in case:

Unarmed Strike AoO vs blue: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Unarmed Strike damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Prothero, facing an onslaught of goblins, calmly continues to fire arrows at the nearest foes!

Flurry, aiming at blue, then black if blue goes down.

Flurry with Longbow, PBS, Deadly Aim, Inspired: 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 11 - 1 + 1 = 22
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 14

Flurry with Longbow, PBS, Deadly Aim, Inspired: 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 11 - 1 + 1 = 20
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15

Solstice gives it another try, sending another wave of flames over the trio of enemies, provoking an AoO.

Concentration if hit: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
damage: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 2, 1) = 7, DC 19 reflex for half

Blue has a sword. Black is the one who cast the spell.

AOO Purple: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Reflex Purple: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Purple swings and connects with Solstice, but falls from her wave of fire. Zero and Prothero attack and kill their chosen enemies.

Round 2 Party Up
Buffs: Inspire Courage +1 to Hit +1 To Damage +1 Saves
Initiative Druid: 25 Dead
Initiative Spackle: 16
Initiative Archon: 14
Initiative Solstice: 13 3 DMG
Initiative Carina: 12
Initiative Prothero: 12
Initiative Zero: 9
Initiative Goblin: 9 Blue Dead, Green Dead, Purple Dead

Solstice also caught... Hey, who shot my targets? Waste of a good burning hands :(

Planting his spear in the ground, Archon attempts to pole-vault through the remaining Goblin to help Spackle, having given them a chance at a different path.

Acrobatics vs CMD+2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30 <Failure stops me>

LongSpear vs Red: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

The bard draws his blade and tries to lance it through the crimson coated goblin.

Rapier: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 3 + 1 = 17 for Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Oy now, nun o' that!"

Oh! Waiting on me.... sorry.

Carina looks at most of the goblins were dealt with, and glares at the remaining one in sight. She flips out a wand from her wrist, and launches a mote of light at the goblin, before stepping back behind Zero.

Swift action - retrieve wand from spring-loaded wrist sheath
Standard action - Use wand to cast magic missile for: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
5 foot behind Zero.

Round 3 Party Up
Buffs: Inspire Courage +1 to Hit +1 To Damage +1 Saves
Initiative Druid: 25 Dead
Initiative Spackle: 16
Initiative Archon: 14
Initiative Solstice: 13 3 DMG
Initiative Carina: 12
Initiative Prothero: 12
Initiative Zero: 9
Initiative Goblin: 9 Blue Dead, Green Dead, Purple Dead, Yellow 2 DMG

Archon vaults over the goblin with no issues. He makes it look like he does things like that every day. However his attack just missed hitting the goblin. Spackle draws his blade and draws an attack from the goblin in front of him. The goblin misses.

Spackles attack misses. Carina pulls out one of her trusty wands and hits the yellow goblin for just a couple of damage. The goblin squeaks, and attacks Archon. Red swings at Spackle. Both miss their targets.

"Yer knowin' yer gonna loose don'cha? Why not scamper off back tur yer hole?"

Rapier: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 = 24 for Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

canfirm: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7

"There's no point, Spackle. We'd just cut them down as they left I expect."

Solstice, showing her ruthless side, dishes out more fire on yellow

Elemental Ray ranged touch: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 3 - 4 = 4
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

but her aim is quite wide, partly due to the distracting antics of Archon.

Prothero steps to the doorway and puts an arrow in the ear of the closest goblin, the arrowhead protruding from its opposite ear as the goblin crashes to the floor! He then fires at the last remaining target, saying, "If they're too stupid to give up, we might as well end this quickly."

5-foot step, flurry. First arrow at yellow, second at red (assuming yellow is very, very dead due to the crit).

Flurry with Longbow, PBS, Deadly Aim, Inspired: 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 11 - 1 + 1 = 31
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 10

Flurry with Longbow, PBS, Deadly Aim, Inspired: 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 - 1 + 1 = 19
Longbow damage, Deadly Aim: 1d8 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 14

Crit confirm: 1d20 + 11 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 11 - 1 + 1 = 26
Crit damage: 2d8 + 14 ⇒ (7, 5) + 14 = 26

Yellow is very dead. Red is also dead due to Prothero's arrow.

Combat over. A soon as I get situated on the plane moving forward post incoming.

Ninja'd! Nice shooting, Prothero!

Once the battle is over and you get a look at their surroundings, you see that the room to the west of the main hallway contains six bodies wearing the same armor and livery as the guards out front.

Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25 Not sure what the DC was, but I bet that will do it.
Take 10 on Perception for a 23.

"Well, you can all tell the bodies are dead," Prothero offers, "but you might might not have noticed that they appear to have recently been chewed on-" He interrupts himself to say, "I heard something. The scuff of a boot on the floor above. There's someone upstairs."

"Do goblins eat people? They seem like they might. Just look at those teeth! Do you think they were the ones to chew on the bodies?"

Solstice prods one, as if making sure it won't lurch to its feet and take a bite out of her leg.

"Maybe we should search the bodies for a clue before we head upstairs."

In spite of her words it seems evident that the 'we' in her statement did not actually mean to include her, as she keeps a decent distance between her and the goblin corpses after the initial prod.

Solstice does fire up a detect magic and give her surroundings a good scan. Before heading up the stairs she will also grace herself with another heightened awareness flick from her wand.

Bending down to inspect the bodies as well, Archon is a little saddened at the bloodshed. Indeed, they where just Goblins he thinks, but why so foolishly throw one's life away with so little need Taking a moment to clean himself and his spear off, he follows Protero's glance towards the ceiling.

If we have time, I'll go ahead and take the opportunity to cast a few buffs before we head up. In order: Magic Circle vs Evil, Barkskin, Bull's Strength, and Shield.
AC: 26 || FF: 23 ||Touch: 15, Longspear: +7, 1d8+10

Zero prepares to head upstairs, thinking to lead the way in case of danger.

"Let's get this over with. Whether they wish to discuss this civilly or have information clobbered out of them is their decision to make."

"If they're up there...." Carina begins, before raising her scarf and casting a spell to defend her.

Casting Mirror Image for images: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Archon I'll let you stay downstairs to buff as the others go upstairs to check it out if you would like. It would probably be no more than a few seconds before someone gets upstairs and notices something.

As Solstice heads upstairs she feels a cold draft coming from the southwest room. The window is open, and no one else can be seen on the second floor. Maybe they jumped?

The bard casts a quick spell as he heads to the window and looks for anything out of the ordinary.

Casting Detect Magic.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17

Solstice rushes over to the window to take a look.

"Over here, an open window!"

I'm sorry the thread didn't notify me there were new posts.

A small, frozen yard stands between rickety fences to the east of the armory. Target dummies, both for melee and archery training, stand at the far eastern end of the icy field. There are four people in the yard. Hjort Fastaxe, a woman you can probably assume is Runa White, and two more men one dressed in monk's robes and another dressed as a sorcerer or wizard.

Anyone who attempts to take more than a single move action during a round must succeed on a DC 15 Acrobatics check to avoid falling prone.

I'm a little unclear on our positions. The frozen yard is on the ground floor, right? And we're now upstairs? Is there a staircase outside or another way down to the yard, or do we go back downstairs and outside? Or do I just fill them all with arrows from here?

Edit: oh, I think I get it - the yard is the covered spot on the map, right?

I moved my icon next to the window. Should the rest of the icons be put upstairs too? They are all still positioned at their last location after the downstairs battle.