GM Endless Forms' PFS 01-48 The Devil We Know Part IV: Rules of the Swift (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

And we found no keys anywhere along this place? Hrm...

No worries, guys, I have a "key" that ought to fit.

Oswin steps to the front, drawing his magical adamantine sword as he goes,

"Get ready everyone. Any spells to cast before I cut through this door?"

He waits for a response, then begins to strike the door, using his most powerful blows!

"A most excellent key that is, Oswin. Open away."

As Oswin uses his "destroy device" skill, Maximo plucks the vial from his belt that he used previously, fills it with some water from another small flask, then drops a bead into it. Swirling the liquid within for a moment it flashes and changes color.

Using my boro bead to restore my shield extract. Not using it yet though.

As an aside, the expected value of my power attack is 4.5 + 8 = 12.5 damage. That said, it would take 5 rounds, on average, for me to destroy the door.

"Before you start, though, do you think the door might be a shrine to the painter's demigod? He warned us about damaging shrines."

Oswin stays his hand just as the first blow is about to fall!

"Good point, Killian. Well, I can magically enhance my strength if you just want to break the lock. With some help from Max I bet we could force the doors."

"I have never heard of any faith that prays to a door." Maximo chuckles. "And if those that stand responsible lie beyond, then I am sure Groetus would make exception in the odd chance his followers are mad enough to do such a thing here. I say cut it down."

"Cut out the lock and avoid the image, then."

I just had the image of me trying to lightsaber the lock. I don't normally get that mental image when I think of how an adamantine blade works. But maybe if I aim my blows directly at the lock, we can damage only that part of the door? I'll wait for an official determination.

Place blade against the lock, use Baern's hammer to drive it through?

You can attack the lock directly, yes.

Oswin uses his blade to damage the lock enough that the doors can be easily swung open. A purple radiance washes over this cold chamber from a variety of lichens and fungi that grow on the walls and ceiling creating an otherworldly sheen. Straw-filled cages line the north and south walls. In the room’s center, a strange pedestal, carved in the likeness of dozens of grasping tentacles, sits fixed into the stone floor.

The bodies of six people lie in the cages against the walls.

Initiative: Surprise Round!

1. Ghast
2. Oswin, Maximo, Baern, Alie, and Kilian

Everyone within 10' needs to make a DC 20 Fort save or be sickened for 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 minutes

Oswin and Baern realize there is a creature hiding around the corner. It steps around and tries to bite into Oswin!

bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
DC 19 Fort save or be paralyzed for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 rounds
DC 19 Fort save against disease (ghoul fever)

Initiative: Surprise Round!

1. Ghast
2. Oswin, Maximo, Baern, Alie, and Kilian

Oswin and Bearn are up with a surprise round action!

Fort Save #1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Fort Save #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Fort Save #3: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Oswin feels the creature's jaws clamp down hard on his arm. He tries to fight back, but his limbs are too numb! He also feels a sense of illness creep over him...

No actions possible.

Fort save vs. Sickness 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Fort: 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 3 = 26
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 5 = 18 Assumed Religion as it's a ghast

Baern throws up a hand and Blesses the party before shouting "Get him out of there! We must either push in or bring it out!"

Kilian turns green and gulps, trying to keep from vomiting at the unnatural stench.

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Fort Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28
Knowledge Religion to Identify: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"For the love of Shelyn! That stench is ghastly!"

Baern blesses the party as Oswin's muscles seize up. Baern and Maximo recognize it as the undead abomination known as a ghast; a more ferocious form of ghoul.

---

The ghast continues to go after the paralyzed Oswin. (your effective Str and Dex scores are 0 and you are considered helpless, so remember to adjust your AC accordingly.

bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
DC 19 Fort save against disease

claw: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

claw: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Initiative:

1. Ghast
2. Oswin, Maximo, Baern, Alie, and Kilian

You guys are up!

"Get him--" *urp* "--out of there, Max."

So it basically needs to beat my FF AC, right? 10 + 10 Armor + 3 shield + 1 deflection?

Oswin fights the paralysis, but can't get his muscles to respond! Still, his armor and shield (fortunately frozen in a defensive position) offer him a good deal of protection. Not enough to stop one of the claws, though!

EDIT: Ok, so my AC is at 19 now. At least the bite still misses!

"Withdraw!" Maximo calls back with the bearing of a military officer. "Lady Alie! We require magical haste!"

Delay for Alie to act then declare a smite evil on the Ghast and drag Oswin out of the room.

Oswin, paralyzed is worse than FF.

Helpless: A helpless character is paralyzed, held, bound, sleeping, unconscious, or otherwise completely at an opponent's mercy. A helpless target is treated as having a Dexterity of 0 (–5 modifier). Melee attacks against a helpless target get a +4 bonus (equivalent to attacking a prone target). Ranged attacks get no special bonus against helpless targets. Rogues can sneak attack helpless targets.

However, there is a little good news.
Ending Your Movement: You can't end your movement in the same square as another creature unless it is helpless. (This means we can move into your space and fight from it if needed.)

Alie is more than happy to cast Haste on the group and allow them to regroup. "Get Oswin out of there!"

Alie hastes the party!

Oswin stands paralyzed but Maximo moves him out of the way as he declares a smite on the ghast!

Initiative:

1. Ghast
2. Oswin, Maximo, Baern, Alie, and Kilian

Baern and Kilian are up!

Kilian holds to see where Baern ends up moving to.

Refusing to leave Oswin alone to a grisly fate (one could say a ghastly fate), Baern moves right up to the Ghast by Oswin, filling his scimitar with a bane against the undead.

Scimitar: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 1 = 23
1d6 + 3 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 3 + (5, 3) = 15

I mean to drag Oswin out to the sewer and force the ghast to fight us there where more than one of us can attack it. I moved my token, but let me know if this is not possible.

Assuming that Max's move and Baern's attack went off as anticipated....

Kilian steps up behind the dwarf, pauses to line up his shot, and expertly reaches past Baern to dump the ghast on the floor. He manages a slight smile through the greenish cast of his features at the moment.

Trip attempt on ghast, including haste, sickened, and soft cover from Baern: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 26

@Max: yeah, that's fine.

Baern slices into the ghast!

Kilian then trips it and puts it on the ground!

---

The ghast attacks Baern from the ground!

bite: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 14 - 4 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
DC 19 Fort save against disease (ghoul fever)
DC 19 Fort save or paralyzed for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 rounds

claw: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 14 - 4 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
DC 19 Fort save or paralyzed for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 rounds

claw: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 14 - 4 = 22
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
DC 19 Fort save or paralyzed for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 rounds

Initiative:

1. Ghast
2. Oswin, Maximo, Baern, Alie, and Kilian

G: 15 dmg, prone

You guys are up!

Fort 1 (fever): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 = 18
Fort 2 (paralyzed): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8
Fort 3 (paralyzed): 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16

Baern goes to retaliate against the prone ghast, but finds himself unable to move like Oswin before him!

"Clear the way!" Maximo calls as he swiftly strides past Kilian and back into the fight. Raising Big Love high, he brings it down on the prone ghast with all his might.

Power Attack Greatsword + Bless + Smite: 1d20 + 8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 5 + 1 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 13 + 8 ⇒ (2, 2) + 13 + 8 = 25

Alie uses her magic missiles against the undead.

Damage 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2, 1) + 3 = 9

Baern's muscles clench up!

Maximo moves back in and cuts into the ghast!

Alie then pounds it with magic missiles!

Initiative:

1. Ghast
2. Oswin, Maximo, Baern, Alie, and Kilian

G: 49 dmg, prone

Oswin and Kilian are up!

Kilian tries to reach the prone ghast, but between his sickness and Maximo's presence is unable to connect.

PAttack on prone ghast, incl. haste, bless, sickened, and soft cover: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 13
PAttack #2 on prone ghast, incl. haste, bless, sickened, and soft cover: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 13

Oswin, now able to move again at last, calls upon the divine power of Iomedae to heal his injuries.

Converting Daylight to Cure Serious.

CSW: 3d8 + 6 ⇒ (3, 6, 6) + 6 = 21

Kilian swings and misses!

Oswin heals himself!

The ghast attacks Maximo from the ground:

bite: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 14 - 4 = 25
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
DC 19 Fort save or paralyzed for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 rounds

claw: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 14 - 4 = 12
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
DC 19 Fort save or paralyzed for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 rounds

claw: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 14 - 4 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
DC 19 Fort save or paralyzed for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 rounds

Initiative:

1. Ghast
2. Oswin, Maximo, Baern, Alie, and Kilian

G: 49 dmg, prone

You guys are up!

"This is turning into a ghastly situation, boys!"

See what I did there?

Alie uses her wand and lets off a missile at the undead yet again.

Damage 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9

39 charges left.

"Max and Killian, hit that thing and clear the way! Give me a clean shot for a spell!"

Assuming they comply, Oswin will ready himself to cast Searing Light at the ghast as soon as the way is no longer blocked (and if the creature yet "stands").

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Well, hopefully that won't even be needed/wasted

Kilian misses both attacks again, then sidesteps 5'.

PAttack on prone ghast, incl. haste, bless, sickened, and soft cover: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 10
PAttack #2 on prone ghast, incl. haste, bless, sickened, and soft cover: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 4 = 10

Alie hits the ghast with more magic missiles!

Kilian swings and misses again.

Initiative:

1. Ghast
2. Oswin, Maximo, Baern, Alie, and Kilian

G: 58 dmg, prone

Max and Baern are up! Oswin has a readied action.

With Smite and Haste, Maximo's AC is 25. Bite hits.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

The ghast bites into Maximo's leg, but he kicks it off unaffected. "Oswin, save your magic! This abomination will fall to steel!" He then brings Big Love around twice, slashing at the foul creature.

Baern is under Maximo. Don't want to leave him open to the Ghast's attacks.

Power Attack + Smite + Bless: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
Damage: 2d6 + 17 ⇒ (2, 5) + 17 = 24

Haste Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25
Damage: 2d6 + 17 ⇒ (1, 3) + 17 = 21

Baern can't seem to shake off this paralysis. He can't really seem to shake anything, actually.

Baern is still paralyzed!

Maximo brings his blade down upon the ghast and it finally stops moving!

Out of combat!

Kilian advances into the room, looking around for anything of interest.

Oswin looks to his friends.

"Do any of you require some assistance with healing? In any event, I'd like a few minutes for prayer so that I utilize all of my abilities.

CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW Wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Using 4 charges on myself.

After a few more seconds, Baern is able to move again. He shakes his limbs, but notices a stiffness still present. "Hmm, I don't like the feel of that..."

He similarly retrieves a wand and starts using it on himself as he surveys the party's wellbeing. "Just Oswin and myself, eh? Well, good. If I may take the infirmities for my companions, all the better."

CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
4 charges on self, 29 remain

Once the ghast falls Maximo takes a moment to give a short prayer to Shelyn, asking for her to heal their wounds.

"In the name of love, bless these brave souls with your beauty."

channel energy: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6

He then bolsters his health with his wand.

Wand of CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

HP Full
LoH 6/7 used
Wand 8 charges used

"That was just a nasty undead. I'm glad I've never seen one before,a nd I hope I never see one again. Let's keep moving once you all get it together. That was creepy!"

@Max: it will be soon, especially after you search about this room.

A large chest rests in an empty cell containing 2,600 gp worth of Cassomir trade bars. On the floor next to the chest sits gear from the last thief-taker captured. The gear consists one +1 longbow with 20 +1 arrows*, bracers of archery (lesser), and one slaying arrow (derro).

*Why would you do that? Ammunition and weapon bonuses don't stack. . .

There are several people still locked up in the cages.

"Take these arrows, especially the special one against the derro. We will no doubt need that one, when we encounter those icky baddies."

Kilian lets the others deal with the items, and goes over to check the people in the cages. If they aren't slavering and moaning for brains, he'll let them out. "You'd best be getting to someplace safe."

Oswin will assist Killian in tending to the needs of the prisoners.

"I'm not much good with a bow. But hopefully I can be of some help to these people."

My ranger's going to be getting those bracers next time he plays. But yeah, at least make them +1 bane or +1 seeking arrows.