GM Chadius's The Traitor's Lodge (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

S~&! ! thinks Jair when the statue begins to speak and she almost drops it of surprise.

She puts the statue on the ground and says.

If the creature is the same of the statue, it's time to get as far away of this cursed place as possible !

Jair calls for Norgorber's help and becomes invisible.

Let's go by the way we came !

"Hurry! Let's get out of here!"

Back to entrance.

The party begins their tactical retreat to the entrance. The watery pools where the globsters resided are boiling, and small rocks from the ceiling fall in.

The party sees the stairs in sight, they see smashed glass and two more angry eidolons, roaring angrily.

"No time. We need to leave!" Valais heads toward the stairs.

Fight or Flee?

"Sounds good to me!"

Giovanni follows Valais up the stairs.

"Join us? Like -- oh..." Caerwynn begins to ask before being yanked out the door by the sleeve.

On the run back through the lab, Caerwynn stops to grab a ledger or three from the library and a few pieces of chalk from the weird summoning room.

"Eeep! More... things!" she shouts, seeing the newly freed creatures. She holds her shield high and waves the others behind her up the stairs, following as a rearguard.

Do they follow? I may have a trick for that.

The party quickly runs up the stairs. The creatures give chase but stop at the top of the stairs, seemingly laughing as the party flees.

What were once ruins of the maze are seemingly restored. Some of the walls are illusory, but some seem real.

Because maze navigation is very hard to do in PbP, I instead built a fixed maze. You can only move into revealed portions of the maze, but your movement will reveal more.

As you emerge from the laboratory into the maze, you notice the walls extending into the horizon. A beast roars. As you travel through the maze, the source of the roars become clear:

A ghost of a minotaur emerges. "Hear me, enemies of the beast! I am Karsos, and you will pay for threatening my master!"

Some of you have a chance to convince him to prioritize other teammates first. Any takers?

I'm sorry Karsos but we are not your ennemies. We are Thurl's servants. He send us to clean his laboratories from any evidences before true Pathfinders come to investigate.
Please, for the Master's sake, guide us to the exit. In Baphomet's name, hurry !

Says Jair

Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
will use my reroll on that ! Bluff (4* reroll): 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 4 = 26

Know. (religion): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

Can it be identified?
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Jair manages to mimic one of the symbols she saw in a book, The Grimoire of the Beast.

He hefts his axe and then laughs. "Haha, good! Help me kill these fool and we can continue cleaning the remains. I will calm down the things below once we are done here."

He turns his attention to the others and snorts. "This should be fun!"

While there is talking, Gadget would probably try to cast Magic Weapon on Giovanni's Curve Blade.

"It's incorporeal! Use magic or magic weapons!"

As Jair and the minotaur discuss the best way to punish the defilers, Gadget uses this chance to magically enhance Giovanni's weapon.

"Haha! Look at them squirm! To battle!"

Round 1
Valais
Caerwynn
Bullwhip
Giovanni (Magic Weapon)
Gadget
Jair
Karsos

Valais screams and cowers.

Non Action
Gadget takes a step back.

Full Attack
She tries to shoot the ghost twice. Assuming the ghost would have cover where he is.

Longbow Attack 1 (Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot, Cover): 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 1 - 2 + 1 - 4 = 19
Longbow Damage 1 (Deadly Aim, Point Blank Shot): 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 9

Longbow Attack 2 (Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot, Cover): 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 2 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 1 - 2 + 1 - 4 = 16
Longbow Damage 2 (Deadly Aim, Point Blank Shot): 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 8

Cold Iron & Magic

Giovanni moves to attack the ghost cow.

Adamantine ECB, Magic Weapon: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9, for 1d10 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13 damage.

Miss chance, low is bad: 1d100 ⇒ 30
Miss chance, low is bad: 1d100 ⇒ 82

One of Gadget's magical arrows goes right through Karsos, bouncing off the wall. The other scores a solid hit.

Giovanni closes in and almost stumbles in front of the minotaur.

"Ah, Giovanni di Pietro di Bernadone! We meet face to face!"

Sure it's a miss chance? Usually incorporeal is half damage from magical attacks. ;)

"Ooh! I've got something for that!" Caerwynn twists the wood of her walking stick, which hardens and petrifies. Shillelagh.

She advances next to Giovanni.

Jair casts prayer doens't works on undead

May Secrets and Lies help my allies and condemn my ennemies

Oh sorry ! I forgot it doesn't works on you !

BLuff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Then she calls for the protection of her god and a second self appears.

Prayer : +1 luck bonus to attack, damage, skills and saving throws.

Gadget: You are correct, I was looking at magical spells. Karsos should take half damage from each magical arrow.

Also, I forgot the AoO Giovanni provoked while closing in on Karsos.

Karsos Touch Attack vs Giovanni: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Fort Save DC 14 to halve: 6d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 6, 5, 6, 4) = 30 Yikes that was a good damage roll

Karsos reaches forward reach into Giovanni as he approaches, but Karsos's gloating gets the best of him. "I have all the prayer I need right here! Those soldiers thought death would take me from my maze, haha! Fools!" Karsos doesn't seem to see through Jair's bluff.

Bullwhip waits for an attack to come... but it doesn't happen.

"Giovanni di Pietro di Bernadone... how kind of you to tell me your name. Wander my labyrinth, any way you desire!"

With that said, he falls back through the walls, leaving himself open to Caerwynn and Giovanni (if Giovanni resisted the lure of the maze).

Round 1 - Prayer
Valais
Caerwynn
Bullwhip
Giovanni (Magic Weapon, Will Save DC 14)
Gadget
Jair
Karsos (8 damage)

Party is up. Caerwynn gets an AoO. Giovanni gets an AoO if he makes the Will Save.

"The benefits of being a ghost...."

Move Action
Gadget takes out her Wand of Mage Armor.

Standard Action
"Hey, Bullwhip. This should help against it."
She uses the Wand of Mage Armor on Bullwhip.

Jair continues to bolster her allies

May the Knowledge of Maze, bless my allies

Bluff: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

====== Actives Spells ========
Prayer : +1 luck bonus to attack, damage, skills and saving throws.
Bless : +1 moral bonus to attack and against fear effect

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17
"Haha, yes, the Maze- wait a minute!" Karsos snorts. "Are you mocking me!" he roars!

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 +2 if it is an Enchantment effect.

Giovanni shakes off the creature's attack.

As it retreats, he takes a swing.

Adamantine ECB: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 25, for 1d10 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 10 *magical* damage.

"Perhaps we should just make a bee-line for the exit?"

AoO @ Karsos: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2, 6) + 2 + 1 = 11 (magic)

"And which way is that, exactly?" Caerwynn asks politely of the man with the obvious solution. She hefts her walking stick as the ghost retreats. "Hmm."

A quick string of unintelligible words pours from beneath the woman's tongue. An array of tiny black barbs extend from her pores, allowing her to hastily scale the wall in front of her. Spider climb. What do I see?

Another 10 damage from the AoOs. 18 damage total on Karsos.

Bolstered by Jair's words, Caerwynn and Giovanni slice into Karsos as he retreats through the wall. Caerwynn uses magic to quickly scale the wall and sees Karsos on the other side. She looks further out into the maze and sees Bullwhip is closest to the exit. They could retreat westward.

"Hey, Bullwhip. This should help against it."

She uses the Wand of Mage Armor on Bullwhip.

"Oi'm al' minty fresh lookin' nigh!"

Bolstered by Jair's words, Caerwynn and Giovanni slice into Karsos as he retreats through the wall. Caerwynn uses magic to quickly scale the wall and sees Karsos on the other side. She looks further out into the maze and sees Bullwhip is closest to the exit. They could retreat westward.

"Gran' so yer lot, git ter movin'!"

He takes a step 5-move off to the side.

With a nod, Giovanni starts heading for the exit.

Giovanni heads toward the exit of the maze as the party gets their bearings. Karsos emerges through the wall, grinning. Bullwhip was waiting for this opportunity, but a ghost cow emerging through the wall throws off his aim.

Karsos shrugs and reaches to touch Bullwhip.

Karsos Touch Attack vs Bullwhip: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Fort Save DC 14 to halve: 6d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 4, 2, 3) = 25

And rolls poorly And fails to penetrate the magical armor Gadget raised.

Round 3 - Prayer, Bless
Valais
Caerwynn
Bullwhip (Magic Armor)
Giovanni (Magic Weapon)
Gadget
Jair
Karsos (18 damage)

Party is up.

Free Action
Gadget drops her Wand of Mage Armor...

Non-Action
steps back...

Full Attack
and fires away!
Longbow Attack 1 (Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot, Bless, Prayer): 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 - 1 - 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 10
Longbow Damage 1 (Deadly Aim, Point Blank Shot, Prayer): 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 9

Longbow Attack 2 (Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot, Point Blank Shot, Bless, Prayer): 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 - 1 - 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 25
Longbow Damage 2 (Deadly Aim, Point Blank Shot, Prayer): 1d6 + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 12

"Not so fast!" Caerwynn cries, skittering down the wall and up over another in a most unsettling way. Now out sight, her comrades her a *whoosh* on the far side of the wall.

Shillelagh @ Karsos, Prayer, Bless, Flanking: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 15
Damage: 2d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 + 1 = 9 (magic)

After Caerwynn and Gadget's assault, Karsos's ghostly visage hangs on by a thread. "I...will...not falter!"

"Don't stay on our account! We can show ourselves de way oyt!"

+1 waraxe (bless, flanking, prayer, power attack): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 20 damage: 1d10 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 1 = 12

Jair casts cure serious wonds and moves to touch the ghost.

Touch Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 12
Positive Energy Damages (save DC18 for half): 3d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7, 5, 4) + 5 + 1 = 22

Bullwhip's axe cuts into Karsos. Jair's positive energy disrupts him entirely.

"This maze is mine! A gift from Demon Lord Baphomet! It is mine, eternal!"
Karsos fades away, seemingly confident despite his defeat.

Combat Over

Valais lives so you get 2 more Evidence points!

Without his profane influence, you are able to escape through the basement entrance. Valais hesitates.

"No, I cannot. I don't...I don't know what I am anymore. How can I face the outside world?"

What will you do with Valais? She clearly doesn't want to leave. You'll want a Diplomacy check to convince her.

"Valais, please, come with us - the Society may be able to fix you (or at least stabilise your condition); I don't think that it is safe to leave you here..."

Diplomacy: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (13) - 2 = 11.

Caerwynn nods agreement. "You are a Pathfinder. The Society looks after its own."

Diplomacy (Aid): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

"Well, that ghost was terrifying..."

"You should definitely come with us Valais. The Pathfinder Society is nothing without its diversity!"

Diplomacy (Aid Another): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

You are once and for all a Pathfinder Valais. What happened to you in this cursed place is not your fault. Your current situation with the notes we founds is not incurable and I'm sure, the Dark Archive, the Master of Spell or the Master of Scroll will be able to find some sort of cure.
Quit this dark tomb, come back to the light where you will be welcome by your fellow agents.
We leave no agent behind, come with us to the Starrise Spire. I'm sure Venture Captain Jorhal will be happy to see you again and will find a solution.

Says Jair will warm smile.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20 +1 if she could be attracted to Jair

diplomacy (probably hinder): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1

"Besides if yer go al' natty dare 'ill be people raun who can kill yer.... WAAAT!?"

Inspired by (most of the) party's kind words, Valais regains some confidence. "Y-yes, you're right. I am a Pathfinder. Maybe someone will be able to help me..."

As you leave Thurl's lodge, Valais hesitates, unsure if she made the right decision. Some people do look at her with a mix of confusion and fear, but you are able to reach the Starrise Spire without trouble.

---

Venture-Captain Jorsal offers his hand to Valais. "Valais. I promise you we'll do everything in our power to help you. I don't know if we can restore you, but you are a Pathfinder. We don't let anyone behind." She replies with a clawed hand, which he shakes without an ounce of hesitation.

"Yes. I am a Pathfinder." She grins before leaving the briefing room. You have never seen her walk with such enthusiasm before.

Jorsal turns to you. "Good job, Pathfinders. Your act of humanity has impressed me. Thank you."

Venture-Captain Jorsal looks out the window and clears his throat. "Your research confirmed my worst fear; Thurl is a traitor, my hunch was correct. But I did not expect this level of corruption. How many years did he know about Sky Citadel Jormurdun? Must have been years before the Society did."

"Ugh. And the experiments he performed. Dealing with fiends like that...what evil has he unleashed?" The captain paces the room for a bit, deep in thought. One of the cursed books falls over and breaks his concentration. "Rest for now, all of you. You deserve it."

The sun rises the next morning. You live another day, but the experience in Thurl's lodge is not easy to forget.

The End

That's it, folks. Thanks for playing!