GM Debug's PbP PFS 7-08: To Judge a Soul Pt 2 (Inactive)

Game Master DebugAMP

"Karg can perform the ritual."

The half-orc shows a lack of enthusiam at the suggestion.

"He is strong and can take more hits than most."

The half-orc doubles down on his distaste for heading the charge.

"And he does want to hit it with his sword quickly."

Karg's disgruntled demeanor does break for a moment to at least acknowledge that is true.

"But if I go in, unless portal this magically solves the problem, Shear will return to his plane as soon as I get sent off to gods-know-where. No matter who goes through first, I can cast some wards to give an easier time with everything."

Once you are all set on a course of action place yourselves in the room as you see fit.

"I could also read the runes and get you all there as I believe Shear and Karg are dependant on each other in a way." Lars offers himself after a brief study of the runes.

"Our choices are slightly limited in this regard. Especially in dealing with this demiplane." Lars explains

Am I safe in assuming it'll more than 4 minutes between the fight with Mata and the conclusion of the ritual? Just seeing if the Shield duration will be over.

Using his Discerning Wayfinder to cast Detect Magic, Reavis looks over the jade wolf and soon announces, "If you wear it around your neck, it'll stop you from running away when something spooks you."

Spellcraft on Wolf: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Afterwards, he stifles a yawn while the others try to work out who's casting the ritual.

When the ritual starts, Reavis will wait until near the end of the minute before drinking an extract of Shield and then an extract of Bomber's Eye, trying to time them so that he finishes drinking the last one right before the portal opens.

"Thank you Lars. I would not be able to fight if not for your help. Karg will use his magic on you, ward you against any dangers before we can follow."

Barkskin and protection from evil on Lars before he starts the ritual. Protection from evil on Reavis as the ritual nears the end.

Are we still within the boundaries of Amanandar, Jinin, Wanshou, or Zi Ha for the moment for the benefit of the ley line bonus?

You are still within the boundaries, so you still get the +1 CL bonus.

Was I able to spot anything else in the room? And the hare and what other figure were missing?

There was nothing else you noticed in the room. The hare and the wolf were missing but you have them now. The wolf acts as an amulet that wards off fear.

Oh I missed the bit that we found both.

"Guys I have an idea." Vash says picking up the hare. "Remember those tapestries that we found. Well in the one it kinda looked like the evil guy shattered the good guy to open a portal. So lets give this a trying." With that he shatters the hare figure against the portal.

The hare shatters into pieces, then disappears, reappearing in the same slot it was found.

"Maybe we need to do the ritual first?" Vash muses.

Is it know arcana for the ritual? And I will re up our barkskin.

"Magic is all your specialty. Couldn't hurt to try though. Except for being sent at an ancient undead."

To be clear, we know the ritual that will open the portal and, as far as we can tell, it doesn't involve using the jade to send that first person?

The ritual to open the portal simply consists of reading the runes inscribed around the arcane circle. Nowhere in the ritual are any of the jade pieces used, nor is the shrine to Fumeiyoshi even mentioned in it or in any of the runes.

I have no new suggestions to how to approach this without opening the portal.

Karg will double check the shrine to Fumeiyoshi to make sure all the details are set, but Shear and Karg are ready for the ritual to begin.

What are you checking on the shrine?

What are you checking on the shrine?

I will assume that Lars is beginning the ritual and people are making their preparations. I will say that assuming nobody yells STOP the ritual completes tonight at midnight PDT. Any other preparations or actions you'd like to make, feel free to do along with whatever rolls may accompany them. Also place yourselves where you want to be on the map.

Examining the inner hollow for anything else out of the ordinary as well as the gravestone engravings on the wall. Seeing if any show any sign of hidden compartments or keyholes.

perception?

If possible take 20 for a 21 (even though that might not find anything) because Karg isn't likely to find anything at a glance. If not...

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Karg sighs and waves over Shear.

Shear takes a look at the engraving.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Shear asks if he should be looking at the engraving or the giant trap concealed within the shrine.

"Karg that trap does seem dangerous, but I don't notice anything odd about the engraving."

Karg slowly backs away.

"What trap? And why didn't we already set it off?"

Trap marked on map

There appears to be slight gaps in the floor and ceiling tiles that blend in with the carvings of the shrine and magic circle. You're not entirely sure what would cause it to trigger, but it seems to be covering the focal point of the magic circle. Once it's triggered, it seems as though a large quantity of Naginatas will come swinging through the area acting as a barrier of sorts... a rather painful barrier.

"Ok. So we can open portal. Just halberds get launched in our way at us if we don't do the ritual right."

Is anyone capable of disabling the trap? And by anyone I mean Reavis. It is also reasonable we just activate the object and attempt to smash the jade into the circle following.

Activating portal still seems like right plan. Just with people in positions to not get hit by the trap and someone with new jade hare in hand.

While the trigger to the trap appears to be tied to the ritual in some way, the trap itself is mundane. Reavis would be capable of disabling it... or at least attempting to.

We could also try smashing every single jade piece and see what happens next? I mean so far its only the jade hare that we tried. Maybe one of the other pieces?

Reavis pulls out his thieves' tools, cracks his knuckles, and starts in on the trap, "Okay, I'll take care of it."

Disable Device + Mutagen: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 2 = 33

"Reavis 1, Naginatas 0."

Excellent Job there.

Lars's incantation approaches the end, Karg distributes protective wards and Reavis prepares himself for the fight with a few potent potables. The final word is spoken and all of a sudden a bright emanation of energy covers the eastern wall forming a giant portal. A tendril of energy arcs out from the forming portal, touching Lars and immediately pulling him in. There is a loud clunk and a couple of loose naginatas fall from the ceiling, clattering on the ground harmlessly.

Will update map soon...

I'm assuming everyone is going to go directly through the portal and not leave their good dwarven friend behind.

23 Jujanil
21 Vash and Millie
20 Normal Monk
15 Reavis
15 Lars
14 Green Monk
12 Orange Monk
11 Karg (Teleporting)
9 Blue Monk
8 Shear (Teleporting)
5 Enora (Teleporting)
0 Sharaheen (Teleporting, and totally not listening to any advice to the contrary)

Lars's Turn!

You can put Karg on Shear's initiative as they are attempting to enter the portal at the same time.

From the buffs given by Karg, Lars will have a +3 natural armor bonus to AC and a +2 deflection bonus against evil creatures.

In addition Lars has a +2 resistance bonus on saving throws against evil creatures.

Good to know. For a moment there I thought Lars was all alone with her.....
Attack with Naginata, the magical +2 weapon; target monk 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 2 = 201d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Lars walks forward opting instead for the Naginata to give himself reach, striking out at the monk seeing that he's the closest.

So do we all go through at the same time or staggered on our Init?

Vash and Reavis take your actions as well. I misread the portal actions.

Vash burst through the portal on his faithful stead! After briefly taking in whats going on they CHARGE!

Charge: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 = 16 Ride by Attack
Damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (6, 3) + 8 = 17

Vash flies over and makes a charge at the horrid hovering mass of entrails, however her speed and awkward form makes it too difficult to land the attack.

Lars pushes forward and strikes at one of the advancing monks, but as he moves in for the strike it becomes more and more difficult to focus on his target, and all of a sudden there are 2 mirror images accompanying the monk! Image (1 is the real one): 1d3 ⇒ 3

One of the images shatters.

Reavis is up!

Assuming Reavis already teleported over, otherwise that's his action.

Moving forward 15 feet, Reavis pulls out the Slaying Arrow with his tail, then fires the arrow at the floating head which he assumes must be undead.

+1 Composite Longbow + Mutagen + PBS: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 19

Folio Reroll + GM Stars: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 2 = 23

Damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

If it hits and the head is undead, it needs to make a DC 20 Fort save or take 50 damage.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

As the arrow flies towards her, anyone who is watching notices their vision get a little hazy, and the arrow seems to go right through her and veer slightly, running straight into Millie. She smirks at you, but all of a sudden the smirk turns to a look of horror and she starts screaming as the magic holding her together starts to give way, but she manages to hold herself together... mostly.

Jujanil take 50 damage, but Millie needs to make a Will save DC 17 or have 7 of that damage redirected from Jujanil to her.

Karg, Shear, and Enora finish shaking off the effects of the teleportion and can act now.

Karg casts expeditious retreat and runs full around the undead passing by one of the monks in the process in his focused effort to get into melee with the monster.

Provoke from Blue moving in position

Instead of attempting to strike you to harm he makes a grab for you as you pass.
AoO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 vs CMD

The eidolon coordinates movements with Karg, positioning him in such a way to attack Jujanil from both sides.

There is no hesitation as Shear brings down his hoof on the creature.

Claw Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 2 + 2 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 4 = 8

Provoke from normal monk during movement.

Enora lifts her staff. She uses up its last two charges to send four magic pellets flying into Jujanil.

4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 4) + 4 = 14

The other monk attempts to halt Shear in his tracks as he passes by.
AoO (Stand Still): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 vs CMD

Jujanil resists some of the damage from Shear's powerful blow, but still suffers some minor wounds. The magic missiles begin to tear her floating innards apart and she collapses to the ground in a horrible pool of entrails and gore.

As she falls to the ground, the monks suddenly change demeanor and begin making a panicked run for the portal.

Karg yells at them in Tien.

"If you are evil cultists, run out there if you want, but if you aren't, you are about to run onto a high snow covered mountain with a bunch of creatures that can rip you limb from limb. We will be happy to help you down. Unless you are evil cultists."

"If you are, just keep running."

A dark miasma erupts from Jujanil's corpse and the spirits of Sharaheen's many former lives manifest, coalesce around the inky stain, and absorb it into their brilliance. A bright cloud surges into Sharaheen's mouth, and she seems suddenly invigorated. The room begins to shake and crumble, cracks begin to appear in the floor and walls, and a dark void can be seen through the cracks.

"Or how about we join you?" Karg yells as he runs into the portal, just waiting a moment longer to ensure Shear makes it out with him.

Enora goes through the portal with her companions.

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16