GM Endless Forms' PFS 02-10 Fury of the Fiend (7-11) (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Let's see, with flying you ascend at half speed but the top tower is only 20' above the lowest level so I think Bruxo can get there with one movement.

Everyone move up to the top while Bruxo flies past them and tries to hex the morlock.

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

. . . AAAAAnnnnnd the morlock falls asleep.

Out of combat!

It takes the party another round to gather at the top of the tower. The morlock, who appears to have been a cleric of Lamashtu, carried a wand of cure moderate wounds (50 charges), +2 studded leather armor, club, golem manual (clay), ring of maniacal devices, and a ceremonial Jistkan head dress.

As you are gathering up the gear and looking out over the rickety walkway that leads to large wooden platform over the water, you note that the many people you have been searching for have been tied to said platform, apparently as sacrificial offerings to some unknown source. However, before you can make a move, you hear a loud THUD issue from the cavern beyond. Clearly something big is approaching.

You have three rounds to do what you like (buff, move, untie captives once you get there*, etc).

*I can't find anything specific that says what kind of action it would be to untie someone. I would think that to untie someone would take at least a full-round action but if you have a slashing weapon it would simply be a standard to 'sunder' the rope.

If it can be a Disable Device Check, Weiman (as all Archaeologists of his level) are really good at making those checks in less time.

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What was that noise? Kyra turns toward the source of the thud Perception?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 and turn to the others. We do not have much time. Quick, untie these people! I'll see what I can do to protect us. Kyra also notes the sleeping morlock. And what of him? Tie it up or destroy it?

If we indeed have three rounds before a fight, Kyra will cast Protection from Evil-Communal, then Shield of Faith on Valeros, and finally right before the battle starts Blessing of Fervor.

As he reaches the top of the stairs and sees the morlock asleep on the floor, Valeros slows his pace, visibly relaxing. He slaps Bruxo on the back and says, ”Very nice work! You saved us a fight for sure.” He raises his sword-point to put an end to the morlock, but before he can do so, he hears a mighty “THUD” and looks around in alarm. He quickly drives his blade into the morlock’s chest and says, ”Looks like we’ve got another fight coming, though. Better get those folks untied.”

Coup de Grace: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (4, 5) + 18 = 27

He then begins to hurry across the rickety walkway towards the captives.

First of three rounds: kill morlock. Second and third rounds: double move towards captives. I assume all are going that way, so Kyra's spell areas will include us all?

DMEF: Which direction on the map is the noise coming from?

Cut them free, Bruxo says, motioning to the captives. He grabs Weiman and gives him a wicked grin. We'll take care of the morlock.

He motions to the halfling to give him a hand pushing the morlock off the platform into the water below.

*Splash*! He'll live.

Sorry, Bruxo. I already killed him (unless he makes a DC 37 Fort save), so I don't think he'll live. Might want to try a different action.

Aw, but ours was fun! LOL

Bruxo will cast mage armor during the interim, though, and ready his wand of bless.

Raphael will face towards the sound and ready himself.

Btw Kyra, Blessing of Fervor = Awesome!

As good a time as any to use it. Sounds like the Balrog is coming.

Enrik drops out of his rage, grinning broadly.
"Sound like something big's coming."
He casts a spell on himself, suddenly increasing in size.(Enlarge person of course)
"This is gonna be fun."

Yay, Blessing of the Fervor! BTW, Anyone else fancy an Enlarge Person?

Yay, Blessing of the Fervor! BTW, Anyone else fancy an Enlarge Person?

Agreed about Blessing, it's awesome. I thought we were going to end up fighting out on the wooden platform, but if we're staying at the top of the stairs, I'll probably drink my potion of enlarge person and join you in bigness.

What do y'all think? Fight here, or run to the rescue? I'm still not clear which way the Giant Thudder is approaching from. I guess "from the cavern beyond" means the poor captives are between us and the Thudder, so we should get moving that way.

To clarify: the sound is coming from beyond the platform where all the archaeologists are tied up.

@Weiman: DD works too. Standard action I guess, if that's typical (I think)?

Round 1:
Valeros: coup de grace on the morlock
Enrik: enlarge person (full round, so no move)
Raphael:
Weiman:
Kyra: protection from evil, communal (and presumably move)
Bruxo: mage armor (and presumably move)

Round 2:
Valeros: move towards captives
Enrik:
Raphael:
Weiman:
Kyra: shield of faith (and presumably move)
Bruxo:

Round 3:
Valeros: move towards captives
Enrik:
Raphael:
Weiman:
Kyra: blessings of fervor (and presumably move)
Bruxo:

--------------

I'll wait to hear what everyone is doing with the rest of their actions. Please update your movements on the map, as your positioning and whether or not you can make it to the platform and untie any archaeologists before combat starts is important. When you're moving, don't forget that everyone (except Enrik I think) has haste for a while longer. And Bruxo is still flying. I'm not going to start combat until everyone is finished and satisfied with their actions because there are lives at stake here. When I played the high-tier (granted, I was playing up), we almost had a TPK and the only reason we survived at all was because the pregen samurai held his ground and sacrificed himself for all of us.

I said I was moving to face whatever was coming. I thought it was coming from behind, but if it is on other side of captives, I will move to interpose myself between them. Also, I think Kyra would probably cast the Blessing of Fervor before everyone moved?

Arch takes opening a lock down to a Standard. Sounds fair to me, since I won't be sundering anything any time soon.

But as for Haste, if we ID'd anything, we won't have any more. Only 7 rounds per cast, and I used my two for the day.

If the rickety bridge looks like something that might be Difficult to cross, Weiman will simply double move each round his 40-ft double movement.

If it doesn't, he'll move adjacent to the Ulfen and try to climb on his back, attempting to both start giving him a full-Run lane at Barbarian Speed and get there faster simultaneously.

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ARRGH! PAIZO POST MONSTER ATE MY POST! BORROW ENRIK'S RAGE!

Round 1: Bruxo casts bless via wand, fly 60 (+30 for haste) feet.

Round 2: Bruxo casts mage armor, fly 60 (+30 for haste) feet.

Round 3: Bruxo moves to spot on map. If unseen servant can help free the captives, Bruxo will cast that; if not, he will use his dagger for the first time in ever.

Moved myself on the map, per request. I can't help but wonder if we should be moving a bit slower, so Kyra can move and do her standard action casts on us. But that's not how we save the prisoners, eh?

For the less savvy, don't forget that if you have anybody in your way (and is why Weiman isn't actually moving in the right direction in scenario 1, a Full-Run (as a full round) is an option if the bridge isn't difficult terrain. X4 movement if you're in light armor, X3 for heavies!

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Full-Run (as a full round) is an option if the bridge isn't difficult terrain.

Thanks! I'm quite consistent in forgetting this, will re-position and cut someone free. I assume my armor training lets me move 4x my speed, since I move at my full speed when armored?

A hasted Run will get me across the bridge in one round, so my actions will actually be:

Round 1: Kill da morlock!
Round 2: Run across bridge.
Round 3: Std action: Cut loose Karn and encourage him to run away; Move action: draw potion of enlarge person from belt pouch.

I was trying, without knowing how movement would be coordinated, to save as much of the duration of the Blessing as I could. If I can only get everyone within the diameter of my spell in the first round then I'd have to do it first. I could possibly do it at the end of my second round since I can get two move actions in and the range is 40'.

Its a bit messy doing three rounds at once time via PbP.

EDIT : OK, now that I know where we are on the map and where the monster is coming from I can make more sense of it. I believe Kyra (who can only move 20' I now notice) would run the first round (with haste that is 120' correct?) Round two she could move and cast Blessing of Fervor (she should be in range of everyone at that point) and then round three she can get to the platform and touch everyone for PFE-C. Does that work, EF?

At the end of round three could we get a list of the spells on us?

Bridge is not difficult terrain. You guys can update your positions/actions if that means it would take less time to get to the bridge.

Yeah, sorry, doing three rounds worth of stuff at a time is kinda confusing, I probably should have done it one round at a time. We're getting it figured out though.

So Raphael, are you able to run across in the first round? It looks like you placed yourself near Grone to cut him loose. Just making sure before I start guessing at your actions for you.

--

Round 1:
Valeros: coup de grace on the morlock
Enrik: enlarge person (full round, so no move)
Raphael:
Weiman:
Kyra: run across bridge
Bruxo: mage armor (and presumably move)

Round 2:
Valeros: run across bridge
Enrik:
Raphael:
Weiman:
Kyra: move and cast blessing of fervor
Bruxo:

Round 3:
Valeros: cut Karn free and draw potion of enlarge person
Enrik:
Raphael:
Weiman:
Kyra: protection from evil, communal
Bruxo:

--

Everyone has:

blessings of fervor, protection from evil-communal

And we'll say for ease that haste runs out after that first round (since it probably took you several rounds to look through the morlock's stuff). Conveniently Kyra puts up blessings of fervor at the same time.

I move to that position if it is between the approaching enemy and the prisoners. I will wait for it instead of untying prisoners.

Enrik double moves to the bridge, then runs towards his allies.
Token moved.

I think I've got it sorted out. If you're ready I'm ready.

Sorry for the delay. Back in Bloomington and settling into the routine again.

--

Round 1:
Valeros: coup de grace on the morlock
Enrik: enlarge person (full round, so no move)
Raphael: move to platform
Weiman:
Kyra: run across bridge
Bruxo: mage armor (and presumably move)

Round 2:
Valeros: run across bridge
Enrik: double move to bridge
Raphael: move and wait
Weiman:
Kyra: move and cast blessing of fervor
Bruxo:

Round 3:
Valeros: cut Karn free and draw potion of enlarge person
Enrik: run across
Raphael: wait for enemy
Weiman:
Kyra: protection from evil, communal
Bruxo:

---

Ok. I think I just need to know what Weiman and Bruxo are doing for the rest of their three rounds-especially because Weiman is likely to run up there and potentially untie a couple people before we start combat.

Honestly, Weiman is only in the way of run paths, taking 2 rounds to get there with his run of 80 feet anyways. He will stick with his "climb onto the now large Enrik, likely delaying to free someone on upon arrival.

Sorry, used my 3 hastes for today.

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Ok. I think I just need to know what Weiman and Bruxo are doing for the rest of their three rounds-especially because Weiman is likely to run up there and potentially untie a couple people before we start combat.

Gotcha here; reposted below with slight modifications based on actions outlined above. :-)

Recap:
Round 1: Bruxo casts bless via wand, fly 60 (+30 for haste) feet.

Round 2: Bruxo casts mage armor, fly 60 (+30 for blessings of fervor) feet.

Round 3: Bruxo moves to spot on map. If unseen servant can help free the captives, Bruxo will cast that; if not, he will start freeing others by use of his dagger for the first time in ever.

Round 1:
Valeros: coup de grace on the morlock
Enrik: enlarge person (full round, so no move)
Raphael: move to platform
Weiman: climb onto Enrik
Kyra: run across bridge
Bruxo: bless, fly

Round 2:
Valeros: run across bridge
Enrik: double move to bridge
Raphael: move and wait
Weiman: ride across
Kyra: move and cast blessing of fervor
Bruxo: mage armor, fly

Round 3:
Valeros: cut Karn free and draw potion of enlarge person
Enrik: run across
Raphael: wait for enemy
Weiman: ride across
Kyra: protection from evil, communal
Bruxo: unseen servant to help untie

--

Ok, looks good to me. @Bruxo: that sounds like an excellent use of Unseen Servant to me.

A loud noise issues once more from the cavern beyond and a spider the size of a bull elephant rears up on its back four legs in a violent challenge, eyes shimmering with magical energy. It moves towards the platform holding its sacrificial offerings!

Initiative:

1. Bruxo, Raphael, Enrik, and Kyra
2. Spider
3. Valeros and Weiman

Bruxo, Raphael, Enrik, and Kyra are up!

Kyra will listen to her friends for instructions as to how to best defeat this creature. If plausible once getting this advise she will cast Holy Smite on the spider-like being! She'll use the extra benefit to her defenses from her Blessing of Fervor for this round.

DC 18 Will for half and to avoid blindness, if applicable. I do not know what damage to roll since I do not know enough about this thing so you may roll damage for me.

Ok, I'm confused. Where exactly is the spider? Also, are we in the air or on ground with it? And I should be between the spider and the prisoners.

Kn (arcana): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
Critted the knowledge check, LOL. That means Bruxo may even know this one's name! :-D

Friends, we face a retriever — a construct from another plane of existence! Constructs do not think like you or I do; you cannot affect their minds! And beware their eyes, they are its most dangerous attack! Energy damage and, what's worse, petrification! WE MUST SPREAD OUT!

Bruxo flies to the far corner of the platform (using fervor speed boost) (as shown on map — he is technically below the platform in order to get cover from the construct) and readies a Misfortune hex on the retriever should it come into range (30 feet). DC 18 Will

Noticing the distance of the oversized spider, Enrik decides to take care of one of the archeologists, since they're in the way.
With a grunt, Enrik crosses the bridge to one of the bound archeologists. Using his reach, he cuts the person free.

To clarify: The prisoners and yourselves are on a wooden platform that extends out over the water. The retriever is walking on the water and coming up the platform.

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17
damage: 3d8 ⇒ (6, 8, 3) = 17

Kyra uses divine power to smite the retriever, blinding it with holy light. Oh, blinding it was such a good idea. It's eye attacks are so nasty.

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Bruxo's hex won't go off just yet but I rolled it already. Bruxo readies his hex for when the retriever gets closer. Looking into the future, he has a feeling it is going to work.

Enrik cuts one of the archaeologists free!

Initiative:

1. Bruxo, Raphael, Enrik, and Kyra
2. Retriever
3. Valeros and Weiman

RT: 17 dmg, blinded 1 round, (will be misfortuned)

Raphael is up!

I can't access map where I'm at (get errors), but I will activate my celestial armor to cast fly on myself and then move to a spot between the spider and the platform

Raphael begins to fly and moves to defend the helpless archaeologists.

The retriever easily ascends the platform and Bruxo brings misfortune down upon it.

The retriever reaches the top of the platform and blindly swings at Raphael, who stands in the way of his sacrifices.

claw power attack: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 17 - 4 = 19
misfortune: claw power attack: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 17 - 4 = 27
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 8
damage: 2d6 + 7 + 8 ⇒ (4, 6) + 7 + 8 = 25

Being blind currently it is not able to use its eye attack.

Initiative:

1. Bruxo, Raphael, Enrik, and Kyra
2. Retriever
3. Valeros and Weiman

RT: 17 dmg, blinded 1 round, misfortuned

You guys are up!

Kyra calls on her divine powers once more and summons a ray of Searing Light from her hand!

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 = 23
Damage: 3d8 ⇒ (8, 4, 3) = 15

Using the +2 thingy from BoF

Valeros considers the potion bottle in his hand, and decides there's simply no room for another giant on this battlefield. He drops it back into his belt pouch and hustles over to face the retriever, drawing his second blade as he moves.

First move action: put away potion. Second: move, with +30' from BoF, drawing shortsword as part of move (already have longsword in hand).

Acrobatics for AoO (if necessary vs a blind spider): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Or not...

Bruxo will cackle to keep the Misfortuned retriever, well, misfortuned; will take a five-foot, er, fly; and then ready a glitterdust triggered by another attack by the retriever. DC 17 Will

Weiman will move up untie the Grone person.

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Raphael steps to the Retreiver and attacks, making sure to block it from the helpless prisoners.

attack 1 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33
damage 1d8 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

attack 2 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
damage 1d8 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

haste attack 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32
damage 1d8 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21

searing light: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 5) = 10

Kyra hits with searing light but it is not as effective as she expected (this thing is a construct).

@Valeros: it was only blind for 1 round and I don't think you can acrobatics to avoid AoO unless you are wearing light or no armor anyways.

As Valeros moves in, the giant spider beast claws at him.

claw AoO, power attack: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 17 - 4 = 23
misfortune: claw AoO, power attack: 1d20 + 17 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 17 - 4 = 29
damage: 2d6 + 4 + 8 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 + 8 = 16

Bruxo laughs at the retriever's misfortune while Weiman unties that Grone person you were supposed to be saving.

Raphael steps forward and lands two attack that seem to hurt the retriever quite a bit.

Initiative:

1. Bruxo, Raphael, Enrik, and Kyra
2. Retriever
3. Valeros and Weiman

RT: 74 dmg, misfortuned

Enrik is up!

@Valeros: it was only blind for 1 round and I don't think you can acrobatics to avoid AoO unless you are wearing light or no armor anyways.

I knew it was only 1 round - I just missed that the round in question had already passed. Oops. And I had completely forgotten about the armor limitiations of AoO avoidance. I don't play a lot of heavily-armored characters. Thank heavens (and Bruxo) for misfortune!

Enrik gives a roar, entering another rage as he hurls himself at the retriever.
Raging Power Attack Greatsword: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 332d6 + 19 ⇒ (5, 3) + 19 = 27
Woops, I forgot to add benefits from being enlarged (Damage should have been 3d6+21)
Extra damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
So that's 35 dmg.

Aw man! I didn't even get to permanently petrify anyone. Good work with the blinding.

Enrik moves up and with a mighty heave of his greatsword ends the beast and sends it crashing into the water below.

Out of combat!

With your enemies vanquished, you may rescue the rest of the archaeologists without any deaths. Surprisingly not the secondary objective. Marianix Karn is touched that Maladin Bane was thinking of her enough to send you down after her. Grone warns, "Although Rachikan seems quiet at the moment, thousands of morlocks still creep amid the forgotten city's shadowy ruins. Come this way, I found a secret staircase earlier."

Grone leads you to his find and helps you exit Rachikan's ruins. The staircase steadily rises until it pierces the side of Anferita's central pillar. Here, a boat that Grone uses to reach civilization for supplies and respite is moored to a crude dock. Grone happily ferries you up the Maiestas River and into Belde, from where you can return to Absalom.

Meanwhile, Karn offers to guide the remaining Chelaxian archaeologists back to the Hellknight lift and up to the Hellknight camp.

Congratulations! That about does it! I'll get chronicle sheets out shortly.

I thought it was spelled out more clearly in this scenario but I guess not. So here is a passage from the Pathfinder Campaign Setting: Lost Kingdoms (excellent book, by the way, if you're interested in Golarion history):

In what is now southwestern Cheliax, monstrous beings of flesh and stone alike plague the ruins of the legendary artificers' golemworks, including those foundries in the buried cities of Rachikan, Perovar, and Hekastol. After divine earthquakes buried the Jistkans of these and other Avistani holdings and brought ruin to their forge-cities, some of the imprisoned citizens slowly evolved into morlocks over the millennia. SUch monsters still dwell near their crumbling temple-foundries, worshiping foul ancestor-spirits they scarcely understand.

Thought that was a neat tidbit.

Hope everyone had fun with the series! Minecart races and wild elevator rides! It's a fun series, in my opinion.

Third part comes out, what, two months or something?

Thanks for runnjng regardless! 22357-12.

craft food: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Did I use my shirt?: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 = 13

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Yeah, we've got a while for the newest installment. I'm willing to run it for this group when it comes out but especially via PbP there is a decent chance one or several of these character may be tied up elsewhere. But we can try!

I doubt Kyra will be too busy. But, who knows, maybe I'll actually have a character of my own high enough to play by then. Thanks for another great game, EF!