GM Endless Forms' PFS 01-51 and 01-52 The City of Strangers Parts I and II (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Vesparo takes three of the potions throwing them back until his wounds close, "Ouch, anybody mind me taking the rapier for the time being?"

Cure Mod: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4) + 3 = 8
Cure Light: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Cure Light: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Move back to the sw door/room we haven't explored and look there when everyone is healed?

Perception for traps on the door: 1d2 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

"Enjoy the rapier, it seems to match your fighting style"

Wait up. I'll help you look Sutekh joins his gnome friend
Perception: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 = 14 +1 for traps

"Please do, Vesparo. In the meantime, we should interrogate them." says Ennoia as she stabilizes Guarin, ties him up with a rope, then heals him to bring him back to consciousness.

CLW, wand: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 39 charges remaining.

"Now I think you'll find it's in your best interest to talk and tell us what you were planning, Shadow Lodge pawn. We'll let you live if you spill the beans, you have my word."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Farg likewise gulps down a potion.

Moderate Wounds2d8 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 3 = 9

And another.

CLW 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Full again...

Ennoia brings Guarin back up. He relents and answers, "Pah! We've got lodges in Almas, Whitethrone, and Sothis by now and we're targeting dozens of other cities hoping to establish more. The Shadow Lodge comprises hundreds of former and current Pathfinders. Collgardie was killed because Sussworth and Pratt thought he would either get in their way or write to Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng and get Pathfinders involved. Of course, that happened anyway and Pratt was too late, and had you not taken Pratt out, Sussworth would have likely killed him. The Society has immense power it neither wants to use or knows how to use and that the Shadow Lodge is what the Society should have been. You're on the wrong side, my friends."

Further interrogation reveals that he has no other specific information.

Ash and Sutekh go to investigate the next door and find no traps, leading the party in to investigate the room beyond. It appears to be a former armory that has been cleared out.

Farg joins his fellow Pathfinders in opening the next door with his vicious longspear at the ready.

Answers at last...

"Very well. These informations will serve us well. Your life is saved, and you will be brought back to Absolom and given a chance for redemption, I promise you that."

Before leaving and following Farg, Ennoia gags Guarin so that he doesn't warn his accomplices.

Ash searches the room for useful stuff.

Perception check in the armory: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 11 + 1 = 13 Using guidance

(Assuming nothing tries to attack him while he's doing that) Ash then moves to the next door

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Check for traps: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 = 26 using guidance

Vesparo narrows his eyes, "No we are not on the wrong side, we have not murdered innocents, we do hide like cowards. I may be a fool but I know wrong when I see it and you and yours are wrong. The Shadow Lodge is only the scum separating itself from the Society, useful really as it allows us to cast you aside and be better for it. I shall make sure your rapier atones for the crimes you have used it for."

Guarin rolls his eyes at Vesparo and Ennoia but does not resist against his bonds. Ash checks the next set of doors and finds them unlocked and untrapped. The party heads through two sets of double doors and appears in an office proper that has a rug laid out on the floor over rotted carpet, two salvaged bookshelves, and a small desk with a simple wooden chair behind it.

A man behind the desk calls out, “Who is it?” as the door opens. As you enter and he realizes that you are not allies, he stands up quickly and draws his rapier.

Initiative:

1. Farg, Ennoia, and Vesparo
2. Kormiggon
3. Sutekh and Ash

Farg, Ennoia, and Vesparo are up!

Vesparo dashes forward leaping onto the desk and attempting to disarm his foe.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Disarm: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 = 21

Ennoia immediately darts into the room and shoots an arrow at the man.

Composite Longbow (cold iron, PBS): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 111d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Activate luck as a swift action. Move and power attack with reach. threatening AoO

Farg surges forward and attempts to scewer the man with a powerful stab relying on luck to guide his way.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12 Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Vesparo jumps in the room and tries to disarm the man but he holds a firm grip.

Ennoia fires a show but misses.

Farg moves in but also misses.

---

Kormiggon steps back and stabs at Vesparo!

+1 rapier: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Initiative:

1. Farg, Ennoia, and Vesparo
2. Kormiggon
3. Sutekh and Ash

You guys are up!

Trying to aid Vespero, Sutekh also attacks the man, rapid shot!
Attack 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Ennoia shoots at Kormiggon twice, but both shots are too hasty and never reach their target.

Composite Longbow (cold iron , RS, PBS): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 71d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Composite Longbow (cold iron , RS, PBS): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 91d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

21 fails to beat his flatfooted CMD? I was presuming he was flatfooted at least and people often seem to forget that you loose your Dex to CMD when flatfooted so I thought it worth checking.

Also crit threat there, so more potential ouch time for poor old Vesparo.

Ash seeing Vesparo take a rapier hit to his kidney moves forward while producing a wand with a flick of his wrist and uses it to touch Vesparo

Cure light wounds for Vesparo: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Not sure if the dude took only a 5ft step but anything more would have provoked an AoO. Archalogists luck lingers. Move.

Farg kicks aside the armchair and thrust at he man once more with his spear.

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

21 fails to beat his flatfooted CMD? I was presuming he was flatfooted at least and people often seem to forget that you loose your Dex to CMD when flatfooted so I thought it worth checking.

Sorry, I was in a bit of rush yesterday. Had to double-check this because it doesn't come up very often but you are correct. In that case, the disarm was successful so I'll retcon a little but it won't change much yet.

---

Having been disarmed by Vesparo, Kormiggon reaches under his desk quickly and then steps to the side. You all hear a loud clanking from the hallway.

---

Sutekh puts an arrow into the man!

Ennoia fires but misses.

Farg stabs into him with his longspear!

Initiative:

1. Farg, Ennoia, and Vesparo
2. Kormiggon
3. Sutekh and Ash

K: 9 dmg, disarmed

Ash and Vesparo are up!

Instead of healing Vesparo
Hearing the loud clanking coming from the hallway Ash decides it's better to try to finish the fight in here so we can concentrate on what ever is outside.

To hit touch AC of Kormiggon: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 4 = 7 pbs, precise and cover
Fire damage for Kormiggon: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Vesparo leaps down moving around to flank with Farg attempting to skewer his for.

I generally find maneuvers much more viable vs flatfooted foes, no AoOs and lower CMD. Could someone move me on the map please?

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Rapier: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18 Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Ash throws more fire but misses!

Vesparo jumps down and stabs at the man but his blade bounces off of Kormiggon's armor.

---

Of course they never give NPCs backup weapons for some reason. . .

Kormiggon steps out of flank and takes up a defensive position.

Four goblins and a goblin leader (shaman) come running from the room beyond once the gate is opened. double move to their position in the hallway.

Initiative:

1. Farg, Ennoia, and Vesparo
2. Kormiggon
3. Sutekh and Ash

K: 9 dmg, disarmed

You guys are up!

Ennoia moves back to catch a glimpse of the incoming goblins, and uses her innate powers to cover them in a scintillating dust.

Casting glitterdust (sp), Will DC 15 negates the blinded condition, all the goblins should be in the 10-ft radius spread.

Ash looks at Farg and Vesparo
"You guys got this right?"
Ash takes a step toward the door and draws in a deep breath, gathering all the energy he can find in the surrounding ley lines and puts his thumbs together as he wills all the energy out in a fiery burst.

Taking 5 foot step, using place magic as a free action for +1 caster lvl and casting burning hands (should hit g1, g2, g3 and g4)

Fire damage for g1,g2,g3,g4: 5d4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 4, 4) + 1 = 15 Dc 14 reflex save for half damage

He focuses his attacks on the task at hand, he really didnt like how humans put their minds to work sometimes...

Attack 1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Attack 2: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Attack 1 Crit Confirm!: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15 if it hits, take roll 2

Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage Crit: 3d8 + 18 ⇒ (4, 8, 2) + 18 = 32

if it misses... GM reroll +1

Vesparo feints right and then throws his rapier to his left hand skewering his foe, "I would appreciate your surrender Sir, this does not feel a fair fight."

Rapier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Crit Conf Rapier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 Ex Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

I believe shirt/folio rerolls have to be called before the result of the first roll is announced.

@Endless Forms Farg was threatening and AoO and I had explicitly called this out... here's my roll:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Farg closes with the man hiding at the wall not giving the goblins any head as he attempts to drive his Spear into the man's heart with vigor.

Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

He 5ft stepped and has done nothing to provoke Farg.

Goblin 1 Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0
Goblin 2 Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (9) - 1 = 8
Goblin 2 Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
Goblin 2 Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
Goblin Shaman Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Goblin 1 Ref: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Goblin 2 Ref: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Goblin 3 Ref: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Goblin 4 Ref: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Ennoia blinds most of the goblins! They yell out in fury!

Ash then blasts them with fire and knocks three of them out!

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Sutekh fires his bow and puts an arrow into the man, taking him down!

Redirecting:
Vesparo moves up and stabs into the blinded goblin!

Also redirecting:
Farg moves up and stabs into the goblin, finishing it off!

---

The goblin shaman casts a spell and sticks his hands out, letting out a burst of flame at the party!

fire damage: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 2) = 4
DC 12 Ref save. Everyone but Ennoia will be in the blast.

Initiative:

1. Farg, Ennoia, and Vesparo
2. Goblin Shaman
3. Sutekh and Ash

You guys are up!

"By the grace of Falayna, you shall fall, spawn of darkness!"

Smite evil against the goblin shaman, next rolls assume he's evil.

Invoking the holiness of her goddess, she strikes down the goblin shaman with two arrows. One of them misses, the other is directed straight at the shaman's head!

Composite Longbow (cold iron , RS, PBS, smite): 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 3 = 281d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5
Composite Longbow (cold iron , RS, PBS, smite): 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 3 = 101d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12

Reflex save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Ash dodges the brunt of the flames and seems untouched by the rest (Half damage 4/2 = 2 Ash has Resist 3 fire, so no damage)

Ash giggles and hen casts guidance on Farg.

Vesparo stabs at a convenient goblin, wearing a frown, his heart clearly not in the uneven contest as his blade goes well wide of the mark. The flames have no effect upon the fire resistant tiefling.

Rapier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Just in case you haven't done the goblin in yet.

Farg steps up in an attempt to take out the pesky green skin.

Attack 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 Damage 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

With an arrow from Ennoia and a stab from Farg, the goblin goes down!

Out of combat!

You also find three letters in the office:

The room beyond where the goblins came from is full of dirty cells stuffed with straw, tattered clothing and garbage, and the entire area stinks like a wet dog and garbage.

Man this scenario is just full with potions of cure light/moderate ;), nice if you don't have a dedicated healer

Ash searches all the rooms to see if we missed something somewhere
Taking 10 for search, for a 21 total.

Ash wonders why anyone would have to have some trained goblins

Remember the first encounter in the previous scenario? I think they were using goblins as henchmen to attack their enemies, in that case - us.

Catching her breath, Ennoia looks around her, wary of any remaining enemies. When she realizes there aren't any left, she takes a few moments to read the letters carefully, then shakes her head.

"These fanatics have to be stopped. Our masters must get these letters to know what the Shadow Lodge is up to. Let's leave this forsaken place."

Taking the letters with her, she prepares to leave when the others are finished as well.

Agrred! This madness must stop! the Tiefling grumbles as he leathes through the letters.

The Ardoc family and the Commerce League are both appreciative of your success and both take time to inform you that the Pathfinders are still welcome with the walls of Kaer Maga. The Duskwardens also thank you for uncovering the source of the goblins that were causing a ruckus in the Halflight Path.

On your return to Absalom, you’re summoned to a meeting with Venture-Captain Drandle Dreng, who listens to your story intently and expresses consternation that, day by day, the Shadow Lodge is becoming more than a rumor—it’s a reality and one the Pathfinder Society is going to have to deal with. Dreng then tells you that you’ve done a great service for the Lodge and that you should stay in Absalom for a while. He imagines that missions against the Shadow Lodge should become plentiful very soon.

And that's it! Thanks for playing everyone!