GM Endless Forms' PFS 07-11 Ancients' Anguish (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

@ GM: Shouldn't the wall I marked in green block line of sight? I think that is what Hal is refering to. Maybe I'm not understanding your description above.

It's cool if it has line of sight. Just wanted to confirm. If I get unfrozen that means I can shoot back. :)

Ryster has a critical threat in there! :)

Alas, tis an elemental, thus no crits.

Bruxo's next action — besides crying like a five year old, I mean — will be based on EF's decision on Hal.

@Hal/Cosmo: Ah, I see what you mean. It was unclear to me which parts were open to the sky but I think you guys are right. Unfortunately, she had a move action so (despite the black tentacles) could still have moved over enough to see Hal (especially perched atop a giant bird, he's not exactly inconspicuous).

Ryster lets off a series of explosive blasts that nearly knock the air elemental from the sky, even despite that each bullet is not fully effective against such a creature! (DR/-)

Initiative:

1. Bruxo and Bizzle
2. Surma (32 dmg) and elemental (80 dmg)
3. Cosmo, Hercule, Ryster, and Halbarad

Cosmo and Bruxo are up!

Bruxo decides that being in the air elemental's reach is an unhealthy place to be, so he flies past it (provoking, AC is 17 so just don't roll a 1 and the elemental hits) out into the open air. Once out of reach of the elemental, he fights through the tears in his eyes and uses his rod of grasping hexes, attempting to put the div to sleep (Slumber hex, DC 21 Will to negate).

Cosmo continues to delay.

"Psst. Ryster. If you step back, I can take a shot."

AoO slam on Bruxo: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 2) + 6 = 11

Will: 1d20 ⇒ 1 Lol!

Surma the div collapses down onto the rubbery tentacles covering the pillar! The elemental Steps up and hurls its windy limbs at Th'reiwa-don!

slam: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 6 = 13

slam: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23
damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 2) + 6 = 12

Initiative:

1. Bruxo and Bizzle
2. Surma (32 dmg) and elemental (80 dmg)
3. Cosmo, Hercule, Ryster, and Halbarad

You guys are up!

Tentacle Damage, if any applies: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Bizzle will continue to attack the closest enemy!

Magic Missile!: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (2, 2, 4, 2, 1) + 5 = 16

Poirot grins at Bruxo.

"Oh, I say! Well played!"

He then fires a wand from a spring-loaded sheath at his wrist, steps through a crack in reality to appear outside the complex (spending 1 point of Arcane Reservoir to Dimensional Slide), and activates it...

UMD: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31.

SR: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21.

Ill Omen. Surma can roll twice for her next d20 roll, and take the less favorable result...

Unable to resist such a tempting target, the kitty then attempts to tear Surma's throat out.

Coup-de-grace: 2d8 + 18 ⇒ (7, 2) + 18 = 27 damage.

So, a DC 37 Fort save (less whatever her DR is) or die, rolling twice and taking the lowest option.

Hopefully, that should do it!

Hal mutely bears an expression of prideful self-confidence. His default expression, actually, now made permanent. Underneath him, Th'reiwa-don anxiously awaits a command but decides to retaliate once attacked.

Bite @ Elemental: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Hasted Bite @ Elemental: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

DC 32 Fort: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34
DC 32 Fort: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31 Haha! If only you hadn't used Ill Omen she actually would have made it!

Bizzle's missiles send the dust and sand outlining the elemental whisking away in all directions as it falls apart and returns to its home plane! Meanwhile, Hercule forces ill luck upon Surma as his conjured kitty bites at her neck and finishes off the devious div!

Out of combat!

Defeating Surma ends her control of Sinuhotep, who is now free to depart the ruins and return to Osirion. From his prostrate position near the door where he tried unsuccessfully to exit earlier, he slowly places his hands on the ground and pushes himself up until he stands before you again. He lets out a lich-ly sigh of relief and lightly dusts the sand from his cloak. He bows his head and remarks, "You are all quite an adept team. I am honored that you support my reinstatement into the Order. I am truly sorry about your friend. I know that such conditions can be reversed, but I have not studied such magic."

As you make to exit the temple area, the girtablilus raise their spears in a token of good will and praise your deeds. "You have cleansed this place of a great evil! We will forever be indebted to the Pathfinders! Perhaps one day we shall restore this place to its former glory, thanks to you! Farewell!"

---

Back in Katapesh, Tahonikepsu debriefs you. “Pathfinders, thanks to your efforts, the amethyst sage jewel is now safe, and it fills my heart with joy to welcome Sinuhotep back to the order. I am eternally grateful to you, Pathfinders—you have made it possible for the Jeweled Sages to grow and prosper.”

Sinuhotep seems equally pleased to meet Tahonikepsu; he wears a faint but confident smile the entire time. Badru is overjoyed when the sage returns, and the construct tells you he wishes to help you become immortal, too.

Congratulations! That's the end of Ancients' Anguish! I hope you enjoyed it! This was a great scenario with a fun group and after a few less-than-stellar groups (and honestly some not-so-great scenarios) earlier this season, this game was a welcome relief to me and was probably one of my favorite sessions so far this season. Thank you for a great game, everyone! I will get chronicles out later today. . . as soon as I can figure out how to connect my new laptop to the scanner. . . .

"Imagine how much research I could get done if I was a construct! Badru, you don't need to eat or sleep, right? Hmm..."

Thanks, EF! That was a great game!

@ Halbarad: I assume you have the prestige to get that taken care of. Let me know if you don't, and I'll chip in gold if you want. :)

Well, we apparently have a CL 10 wand of Break Enchantment; let's try using that first...

CL check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12.
CL check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13.
CL check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19.
CL check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12.
CL check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18.

Hmmm... Probably not...

I am happy to spend the Prestige for Halbarad.

CL check: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29.

Hopefully, CL 18 is enough ;-)

Poirot beams when Surma dies.

"I love it when a plan comes togezer!"

He then helps Sinuhotep back to his feet, and beams.

"Let's get back to ze rest of ze Order."

Back in Katapesh, Poirot is sorely tempted by Badru's offer.

"Zat sounds like an excellent idea! Tell me more..."

Normally, I just retire/kill-off my PCs once they hit level 11, but this sounds like a wonderful way to go out. Feel free to mark this character as 'dead' (since I am fairly certain constructs aren't playable in PFS ;-))

If the wand of break enchantment somehow succeeded:

Hal quickly takes stock of the situation and, out of sheer spite, unleashes a furious volley into dead Surma. In unison with his bow, of all things, he screams a ringings shout, "DEATH TO THOSE THAT HAVE WRONGED ME!!!"

Oathbow: 1d20 + 18 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 18 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 = 31
Damage: 2d6 + 13 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) + 13 + 1 + (3, 1) = 26

Rapid Shot: 1d20 + 18 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 = 33
Damage: 2d6 + 13 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) + 13 + 1 + (2, 1) = 28

Hasted Shot: 1d20 + 18 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 18 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 = 32
Damage: 2d6 + 13 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 13 + 1 + (3, 6) = 29

Iterative: 1d20 + 13 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 13 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 = 33
Damage: 2d6 + 13 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 13 + 1 + (3, 1) = 26

Iterative: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 = 29 THREAT Confirm: 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 3 + 1 + 3 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 13 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 13 + 1 + (4, 1) = 27
Crit: 4d6 + 26 + 2 + 4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3, 5) + 26 + 2 + (2, 5, 1, 1) = 56

The body now well eviscerated, he then calms down considerably and bows to Sihunotep. "Welcome back to the Order, great one."

Just had to make use of those buffs somehow. :)

If not:

Although Hal himself is now a heavy burden to carry back to Sothis, Th'reiwa-don proves a more troublesome companion, constantly fawning over the statue and cooing miserably all through the night. Nothing seems to calm him down. The walls of Sothis are a welcome relief, though the bird still won't shut up.

After a visit to a wizard, Hal feels himself return to normal. He bows deeply to Hercule and refers to himself in the third person (of course) to say thanks. "Pasha Halbarad is in your debt, Hercule Poirot. May it be repaid a thousand-fold. Would you care for a hunt? My lodge is well furnished, and there is ample game. We could even pay a visit to Katheer to get you a bow, if you'd like..." He invites the rest to join him as well.

@ Hercule: I won't say no if that's what you want to do! Many thanks. I'll be sure to repay the favor if I have a chance.

Although Badru's offer is intriguing, he has many centuries left to his own lifespan (he hopes). He will wait and see.

Bruxo exhales audibly when Hercule's pet finishes off the div, and nods as Sinohotep is reinstated with the Jeweled Sages. He politely declines Badru's offer, but thoroughly understands the temptation that Cosmo and Hercule feel for such a "gift". Now is not the time for me, he thinks to himself.

This table was a blast, guys. Thanks a bunch to all, and to EF (who is the PbP GM I aspire to be someday). :-)

Also more than willing to pitch in coin for Hal's return. Let me know.

Couldn't Bizzle simply use the wand? I'm not sure what the rules are exactly but as a sorcerer I thought I'd be able to use it.

@Bizzle: I *did* use the wand - unfortunately, I rolled atrociously (the highest CL I cleared was 8).

I know you did, I'm asking why can't I? The spell is on the sorc list, isn't it? Seems like I'm missing something here.

Ummm... Sure, you *could* use it (if Poirot had not), but if the charges have been used up (which they have), you can't exactly keep trying!

@ Bizzle: I think you may be mistaking the CL checks for UMD checks. Hercule has already cast all five charges on the wand, but per the spell he needed to roll high enough to beat 11 plus the caster level of the flesh to stone effect. Since the highest he rolled was a 19, it's unlikely that it succeeded--but the wand is still expended.

Aha, yes I was. I feel better now.