GM Endless Forms' PFS 01-55 The Infernal Vault (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Quillen nods approvingly as Mohok sorts out the puzzle and prepares himself to follow the larger warriors downward. Before departing, he reminds Mohok and Germaine to keep their eyes open for trip-lines like the one that secured the alarm to the home's front door.

Ennoia follows the sturdy fighters in the depths of this place, bow in hand.

"And the Angel will descend into the bowels of the Dragon. Where darkness hath made its way into all hope, but that of a single candle. . ."

Mohok looks at Saint Germaine with a slightly startled expression, "Angel? Which one of us is the angel? And I didn't hear anything about a dragon down here..." He shrugs and descends through the trap door, drawing his sword again as his feet reach the floor, and looking around carefully.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

This room is split by a long, ten-foot-wide stone walkway, extending sixty feet east to west between two spiral staircases. Two ladders rest on the north side of the walkway and two more on the south, leading down into a fifteen-foot-wide trench twenty feet below. These sub-rooms are filled with objects ranging from decrepit suits of rusted armor, to piles of rotting furs, and to various over-stuffed footlockers.

A portcullis blocks the way at the far end of the room.

"It's a passage from (I'm making it up) the Rage of the Inferno. The Angel, is Ragathiel, as he descended into Avernus, and laid siege to Hell itself before proving himself worth of joining the celestial hosts and becoming their general. Our trial is but an homage, as we step below into the darkness that waits. . ."

"But you see, it is fitting. One must not fall, but journey, willingly downward in order to climb up to a greater height. And when the time comes, to be that final flickering candle, lost in the darkness, never compromise. Even in the face of Armageddon!"

Mohok listens, eyes slightly agog, as Saint Germaine explains what he said earlier, though it appears that the explanation may have left Mohok even more perplexed than before.

When Mohok reaches the bottom of the ladder he looks around. "Hmmm," he rumbles, "this is a strange, creepy place. I wonder what's up with these big moats they store their junk in?" He moves to the top of the closest ladder on the south side of the walkway and studies the floor, looking for any threats or surprises.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Mohok listens, eyes slightly agog, as Saint Germaine explains what he said earlier, though it appears that the explanation may have left Mohok even more perplexed than before.

"Crush the evil-doer, see them driven before you, then hear the lamentation of their hell-whores. . ."

Mohok notices that there are four levers in the four corners of the room, mostly buried behind the junk in the room.

Ennoia looks surprised at Saint Germaine's verses, her eyes wide open. "Oh sorry, I though you were talking about me. Which wouldn't have been correct since I descend from Azatas, not Angels." says the paladin in a genuinely innocent kind of way.
Before you ask: yes, she dumped Int...

Quillen frowns at the sight of the two long trenches filled with crates and barrels.

"Feh. I hate ze crates and ze barrels. Zo much to zearch through just in case there is zomething that would help us..."

The halfling marches to the first ladder on the north side and narrows his eyes to ensure there is symmetry and there are in fact four levers (the map shows rugs and no lever in the NW corner).

"I wonder if zis is such a nuisance that it would require us to pull all four levers at ze same time, lest ze trenches fill with hot lava or worse..."

As we have no spells we're currently worrying about durations on, Quillen will take his time examining this ladder for dangers before he climbs down and then take his time again examining any NW lever.

Sorry in advance - but the sound strategy here is taking 20 again on Perception for both the ladder and lever again for 24 on each.

Quillen only half-heartedly cares about the crates and barrels and merely glances over them for indications of their contents.

Perception (crates and barrels): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Before you ask: yes, she dumped Int...

You and me both, Ennoia...

Once Quillen has checked out the ladder to the north, Mohok climbs down and studies the levers as well. As he and the halfling study the arrangement of levers, Mohok says, "You seem good - well, pretty good - with contraptions like we're looking at here. Any ideas on how this one should work?"

Take 20 on Perception for a 27.

Corrina makes her way to the portcullis, and tries to see or hear anything beyond. Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

Seeing Quillen take his time on the puzzling levers, she joins those who have descended, but she uses her time searching through the footlockers and other goods.

T20 Perception = 20

Yes, there's a lever underneath the pelts.

Quillen determines that the ladder and levers are safe. Corrina does not hear or see anything beyond but notes that the portcullis is very heavy and sturdy. The party guesses that all four levers need to be used in some way to raise the portcullis.

Ill climb down the near ladder and head for the SE corner.

Quillen poses for a moment as he studies the first lever, his chin set upon his fist.

"Well, well... it zeems zat zese levers are safe to pull. I cannot zay how zey work, just zat we will need to pull zem in zome way to lift zat portculis..."

Shrugging, he marches over to one of the untended levers.

"Perhaps ze Saint here can stand guard at ze gate while ze rest of us pull on a count of trois, ah... three."

Picking Germaine to stand at the gate since he's got all that armor and HP. :)

Fine by me. Im going to look for something sturdy real fast on the way uo I can use to block the portcullis open incase it falls back down once the levers are released.

Ennoia nods at Quilien, her hand on one of the levers. "Ready when you are."

Mohok moves to the eastern end of the north trench (assuming Quillen is at the other end) and stands by one of the levers. When the imperious halfling finishes his feat of counting, Mohok pulls the lever in concert with his fellow Pathfinders.

Corrina jogs over to the unattended lever, and pulls it on the count.

The party takes their positions, Germaine standing near the portcullis with a crate ready to push beneath it. Just as the party readies to pull the levers, however, two flying devils with scorpion-like tails pop out of invisibility as they lash at Quillen and Corrina!

sting on Corrina: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
DC 13 Fort save against poison or take 1d2 ⇒ 2 Dex damage

sting on Quillen: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
DC 13 Fort save against poison or take 1d2 ⇒ 2 Dex damage

Initiative:

1. Ennoia, Mohok, and Corrina
2. Devils
3. Germaine and Quillen

Ennoia, Mohok, and Corrina are up!

2+dumpstat+crappy skills me nogo for me :)

Seeing the nature of the attacker, and recalling the conversation about devils and silver, Mohok drops his sword and moves quickly towards Quillen, drawing his silvered mace as he approaches the imp. He takes advantage of having the creature flanked to hit it, and hit it hard.

Move action to get into flank, standard to attack.

Silver Mace attack, 2H, Flank, FE: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 2 + 2 = 27
Mace damage, 2H, FE: 1d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 = 13

-3 damage = 7/10 HP; -2 dex damage
Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Kn (planes): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

"Ow! Little bugger!" Corrina calls out as she draws her new longsword: "Yeah, these are little devils! Silver or good-aligned weapons, and they heal fast! They're resistant to acid and cold, and immune to fire and poison. Be careful of these effing stingers but try to tie 'em up or kill 'em quick - they can turn invisible at will!"

Move action: draw weapon; swift action: charge weapon from arcane pool, +1 magic for 1 minute
2H power attack, longsword +1: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 1 = 22
Confirm?: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5
Damage, pre-DR: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 + 3 + 1 = 12

Enoia reacts almost instantly, drawing the bow she had put aside and shooting an arrow at the devil threatening Corrina.

Composite Longbow (cold iron , DA, PBS): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 1 = 151d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 = 10

Mohok moves in to assist Quillen and nearly takes out one of the devils. Corrina's weapon does less damage, not being silver, but hurts nonetheless. Ennoia's arrow flies errant.

stinger on Mohok: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
DC 13 Fort against poison or 1d2 ⇒ 1 Dex damage

stinger on Corrina: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Corrina needs another DC 13 Fort against poison or 1d2 ⇒ 1 Dex damage

Initiative:

1. Ennoia, Mohok, and Corrina
2. Devils
3. Germaine and Quillen

I1: 11 dmg
I2: 5 dmg

You guys are up!

Draw blade as movement, and move to Corrina. Standard Action activate Good Blessing on her (+1d6 vs evil, 1 min).

One small note on this ability that was brought up in the playtest and never answered. The ability does add +1d6 damage to attacks vs evil, but does not actuallh say it overcomes DR as a Good aligned weapon. This was never answered or clarified, so its a DM call).

Damage -3 = 4/10 HP
Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Casting defensively vs DC 17: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Corrina takes a hand of her blade and uses it to begin a spell as she swings the sword. "Foudre toucher!" Following through after the swing, she reaches out with a hand crackling with electricity.

Non-power attack, spell combat: 1d20 + 3 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 3 - 2 = 19
Damage before DR: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 + (2) = 7

Touch attack: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 - 2 = 6

Quillen gives the imp a look of inconvenience as he sighs.

"Very well, devil. Let it be known, you 'ave brought zis fight to yourself..."

Hearing Corrina's words, the halfling brings his bow to his hand (move action) and aims a silver arrow at the imp attacking Mohok.

Longbow: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 - 1 = 20 for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Ennoia aims carefully, then shoots a pair of silver arrows at the creature.
Composite Longbow (cold iron , RS, DA, PBS): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 201d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Composite Longbow (cold iron , RS, DA, PBS): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 231d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Shooting at the one on Corrina first, and if the first arrow takes it down I'll shoot the other arrow at the other one.

Since it does not say it makes your weapon good-aligned, I would rule that you do not pass the DR/good. But the +1d6 certainly helps.

Germaine moves up to imbue Corrina's weapon with extra power. Corrina casts a spell and hits the devil with her sword but fails to get her spell off fully. Quillen puts an arrow in the little flying monster and Ennoia brings down the devil near Corrina but cannot see the devil near Mohok in the other trench.

Initiative:

1. Ennoia, Mohok, and Corrina
2. Devils
3. Germaine and Quillen

I1: 13 dmg

Mohok is up!

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Mohok feels the prick of the little devil's stinger, but grins fiercely as he disregards the effects of the poison. "Gonna have to do better than that," he says, then raises his mace and brings it crashing down on the imp.

Mace attack, FE: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 = 27
Mace damage, FE, 2H: 1d6 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12

Status: 21/22 hp

Mohok quickly destroys the imp!

Out of combat!

Quillen advances towards the latest fallen imp like a relentless army before inserting several inches of his rapier in what he believes would be an approximate location of the devil's heart.

"And just zo, ze flying devils 'ave been defeated."

Sheathing his weapon, he dusts off his hands and looks about the room at the others, getting straight back to business.

"I believe we 'ave zome levers zat require pulling, no?"

"That was unexpected. . . Does anyone require healing?"

-Posted with Wayfinder

If so, and we have time, just roll d8+1 and Ill subtract charges from my wand, if thats cool with the DM.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Corrina shakes her hand, as if shaking away the electric charge she was carrying and then wipes her brow. She gives a thumbs up to Ennoia, and a pat on the shoulder to Saint Germaine nearby.

When healing is offered, Corrina raises her hand. "He got me a couple times. Thanks."

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

I realize Quillen is still at 15/20 from the first fight, so he'll hand his wand to Germaine to activate.

Cure Light (wand): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

19/20, good enough.

Quillen hesitates on his march to the lever, handing Germaine his wand and gesturing to his earlier wounds.

"Merci."

Mohok lifts his arm and studies the tiny pinprick the imp gave him, then shrugs and says, "I'm not hurt enough to worry about. Let's try these levers."

He sets his meaty hand on the lever he was standing by when the imps attacked and says, Ready when you are." When Quillen calls out the count again, Mohok pulls the lever and looks up at the portcullis to see what happens.

"I'm ready as well." indicates Ennoia. The Aasimar will use the level whenever everyone is ready.

The party pulls all four levers and the portcullis opens, allowing you to pass through and down the spiral staircase beyond.

At the end of the stairs, you find a corridor. This long hallway stretches sixty feet east to west between two spiral staircases. The walls of this hall contain deep notches and cuts at five-foot intervals, and a lever lies in the down position beside the western staircase. Skeletal remains litter the floor, and among them rests the recently slain corpse of an elf, his arms torn off and several feet from the body.

As the party files into the corridor, however, a man reveals himself from one of the alcoves and raises his crossbow at Mohok!

Initiative:

1. Mohok and Corrina
2. Janks
3. Ennoia, Germaine, and Quillen

Mohok and Corrina are up!

Mohok takes in the scene in the hallway, and can't help but wonder what will come sliding down from the ceiling in those odd notches and cause them to join the corpses on the floor.

Perception to understand slots on walls: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Before he can answer the question to his satisfaction, however, he sees a crossbow being leveled at him, and he charges at its bearer, driving his wicked, curved blade before him.

Falchion, PA, Charge: 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 - 1 + 2 = 27
Falchion damage, PA: 2d4 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3) + 6 + 3 = 15

Crit confirm, PA, Charge: 1d20 + 6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 1 + 2 = 20
Crit damage, PA: 2d4 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 6 + 3 = 14

Quillen's eyes dart to and fro across the skeletal remains littering the hall, and quickly focus on the notches as the likely cause.

Before he can open his mouth (to suggest only a fool would go running across the hall before they have a closer look), he watches as Mohok dashes deeper into the oven...

Gotta love having a fairly good Init and consistently going last. . .:) Paizo dice Roller, I hate you so much. . .

With the distraction penalty for being in combat Mohok is not able to work out anything about the hallway ahead of him in the heat of the moment. As he charges forward, an axe swings down from the ceiling!

attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Mohok charges forward even as the blade bites into his flesh and deals a heavy blow (not confirmed though) to the assailant.

Initiative:

1. Mohok and Corrina
2. Janks
3. Ennoia, Germaine, and Quillen

Corrina is up!

Corrina looks suspiciously at the cuts in the wall. When the crossbowman emerges, she holds while Mohok charges in. "Wait-" She cringes as the axe drops from the ceiling and injures the half-orc.

With a sigh of relief (and resignation), she drops her longsword and pulls out her sling and loads it.

Free action: drop sword; move action: draw sling; move action: load sling.

Miss the good old days when you could just hunch down and avoid traps like this. :)

Unless it's positioned vertically or sideways or something. PF is very vague on how its traps actually function sometimes.

Corrina is about to stop Mohok but can't hold him back. Instead she pulls out a stone and sling and prepares to attack from range.

The man drops his crossbow and pulls a short sword, stabbing into Mohok before stepping back.

mwk short sword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Initiative:

1. Mohok and Corrina
2. Janks
3. Ennoia, Germaine, and Quillen

J: 15 dmg

You guys are up!

Mohok easily sidesteps the man's fumbling attack, then steps forward and makes a poor attack of his own, both weak and inaccurate.

Falchion attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Falchion damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9

Status: 16/22 hp