GM Elberion's Gallows of Madness (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

Carson, with Kay's help, that's a hit. Roll damage, including sneak attack.

Backstab: 1d6 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + (1) + 1 = 7

Precision seems to trump fierce power as Harada's powerful blows swing as wildly as the great beast's.
Meanwhile, the more calculated blows of Carson and Grel, aided by distractions from Kay and Harada, strike true.
However, the great ant still stands, bloodied but unbowed...

The creature, focuses again on Carson, the foe who struck it deepest.

bite attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
bite damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Once again, powerful jaws clack through the air wildly.

The gang may act again.

Harada steps to the north so that everybody can flank and tries to finish off the nasty critter.

Taiaha: 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 1 + 2 = 21
damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

light hammer: 1d20 + 5 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 2 + 2 = 10
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Harada's blows finish off the strange giant ant.

Combat is over

Grel takes a step back and surveys the carnage and the group that stands over it. "Not bad. We didn't even practice." he says with a smirk. "Let's go see about this mausoleum."

The raven atop the mausoleum swoops down to land on a nearby gravestone, one which is stained with some of the purple/pink goop, and begins cawing frantically.

Below the bird, something glints amongst the goop.

Harada takes a minute to recover his thrown hammers, and clean the muck off his taiaha while Grel surveys the carnage.

Int: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Stupid bird.

int: 3 + 1d20 ⇒ 3 + (20) = 23 Can we examine the glint without disturbing the bird

Kayan lets out a big hmph after the ant dies, I feel better after seeing how these ants swing, atleast I know I'm not the only one that's not good at it Kayan does her best not to trip and fall while staring at the ant.

heal on ant to notice anything about it: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

After the bird lands and seems to be doing something interesting, Grel if that bird is sitting there do you really think it is stupid? It's probably doing it for some reason. I mean I flunked school and was told I was dumb on multiple occasions and cried a lot and eventually fled to the woods ... but even I notice something odd about that ... Kayan still sticks her tongue at it.

aid Grel +4 if 10+: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (18) - 1 = 17

[dice=int]3+1d20 Can we examine the glint without disturbing the bird

stealth or handle animal

Kay examines the ants and there are no unusual signs of trauma before you slew the creatures apart from the oozing goop.

Kay, you can help Grel and attempt the check yourself as two separate actions.

I appreciate the offer, however my character operates by assisting through aiding as much as possible. At later levels this becomes essential, I prefer Grel gets it. Plus I had much of the lime light early on.

Well I can click and bawk like a bird if someone wants to try to get the object or examine it without desturbing the bird ... as I have no idea what object you are talking about. Kayan is still staring at the ant intently ... she hmphs at the green looking slime.

Aid Another Handle Animal, +4 if 10+: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

int: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (9) - 2 = 7

Harada comments "I don't know an awful lot about ants, but I don't think they are normally goopy like that... or this big."

Hence why I'm looking at it Harada, but I'm no knowledge guru ... ugh I should have listened more to that animal tree teacher person back in the day, alas hibiscus healing properties were so much more interesting. Kayan clasps her hands together like she is in a better place.

Handle animal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Shhh, birdie. Stay right there.

linguistics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
intelligence: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

post when I get home

"That old man that saw Nolaria enter the graveyard said that she was talking to a bird. I wonder if it is this one. It almost seems that he is trying to tell us something"

Carson looks at the raven and says, I am not sure what you mean my fine feathered friend. Yellow Foot? Do you mean Nolaria?

Grel slowly approaches the bird and, despite a few flaps, it merely hops from foot to foot.

Below the bird is a pool of foul goop. A bundle of objects is embedded in the goop but only one can clearly be seen: a Morningstar.

The goop surrounds the chain and head of the Morningstar but does not touch it, maintaining a uniform gap of around a centimetre around the metal parts of the weapon.

I can't find any rules for identifying special materials. If anyone knows any, please let me know.

You realise, with your profound understanding of ore, that these untouched metal pieces are made of cold iron.

Appears to be a cold-iron weapon. It repels the muck. May be useful.

Grel extracts the morning star from the goop. Who would like to carry this?

Grel, as you move the morningstar, it brushes against more of the goop and that goop fades into mist in an instant.

The goop on the handle sticks to your hand and feels sticky and unpleasant but does not have any obviously harmful effects.

As the morningstar brushes the goop, you can see that one of the objects in the goop is a bottle.

When Carson talks to the bird, it does not seem to understand or react, just continues its harsh call and, after a few more moments, flies back to the mausoleum where it was perched earlier.

Kay, aid another checks are meant to be made before you know if (or how far) a skill check has succeeded. As I am posting targets in spoilers to speed up pbp, this doesn't seem to be working as it should. I'm open to suggestions for how to make this work fairly?

Grel rescues the bottle as well.

Another bottle and a small, ash wand come free with the bottle.

Trinkets. What do you make of these? Grel offers the items to the group.

I made an error, the skill checks above should be arcana or nature

Harada looks at the vials and shrugs but will gladly take the morning star.

Harada hefts it up and frowns slightly, obviously slightly disapointed but trying not to be. "Not a bad balance really... I'm sure we'll run across some horrible goop monster later where it'll be useful."

nature1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
nature2: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
nature3: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

This wand will provide aid to a weapon in battle. Kay this appears to be aligned to your methods.

[dice=nature1]d20+4

[dice=nature2]d20+4
[dice=nature3]d20+4

This wand will provide aid to a weapon in battle. Kay this appears to be aligned to your methods.

You can have that but, not those checks they are spellcraft only. The things above that which I marked as 'arcana or planes' should have been 'arcana or nature'

ack! apologies for misreading.

i understand, how about if anybody wants aid another for a roll then ask and roll and if they don't make it then I'll attempt aid another. Or if no one has rolled yet I'll aid another for the next person to roll

Grel I appreciate the offer very much. Kayan looks at the wand looking at it as if it was alien.

Kayan looks at the other two bottles in attempt to assist someone.

Aid Another next spellcraft roll, if 10+ receive +4: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

For the Arcana/Planes

Aid Another next Arcana or Planes, if 10+ receive +4: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14

While the others discuss the items Carson follows the bird.

Grel, just for clarity, would you make a separate knowledge nature check for that arcana/nature check?

Carson follows the bird to the mausoleum, the tomb seems undisturbed.

nature: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Grel shrugs and pockets the 2 bottles for when he can have them identified. He walks over to join Carson by the bird and mausoleum.

perc: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
track: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Strange for a place for birds to roost often. Can't be much food around here.

Grel, Kay's +4 aid another means you have a15 for that check.

Just so I'm clear, that would qualify me for the DC12 Knowledge (arcana or nature) check allowed above?

peprception: 1d20 ⇒ 3
trained survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Harada shrugs "Mausoleum seems undisturbed at least. Undead are the worst."

Just so I'm clear, that would qualify me for the DC12 Knowledge (arcana or nature) check allowed above?

Yep.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Carson examines the area below the bird.

"Someone has been using this spot to experiment with alchemical agents. My guess is that it was Nolaria."

Looking up from that spot he notes that it is the perfect spot for it if you don't want to be seen.

"I wish we could talk to that bird. I am sure that it could tell us what is going on."

Talk to the bird, you mean no one here has speak with animal or another magic spell that could?

If we were to rest here until tomorrow. I could call upon the Earth to allow me to speak with it, were it to remain.

That is an idea to rest up, it would also give me a full compliment of heals, as it seems trouble is finding us.. Kayan continues to follow the group.

Grel walks over to the other mausoleum for inspection. Think we can post up in here for a stretch?

Harada looks confused "We're welcome to nice hot rooms in the inn when we're ready, why would we camp in the graveyard?"

"We need to keep an eye on this spot until we can talk to the bird. We could watch in shifts.