GM Endless Forms' PFS 07-12 The Twisted Circle (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Necress closes her eyes for a moment, listening to the voices around her.

"Help me...and I will help you!" she calls out.

The ground around the enemy creature begins to tremble, and bony claws begin to emerge from the ground.

Begin casting Summon Monster II

Jiro moves into the middle of the room, choosing to let the creature come to him. "Whenever you wish to battle, fiend." he says as he unsheathes his sword and shield.

Total Defense: AC 27.

DC 15 Knowledge (dungeoneering: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Tin scowls as he doesn't recognize the alien creature before him, but he gives Jiro an understanding nod as he recognizes the warrior's taunt and defensive pose.

He takes a step to the south, doing his best to angle his spear for any approach that the fiend may take towards Jiro or Old Iron (or anyone behind them).

5ft step, move action for Studied Combat.

Readied action to strike if it closes into melee.

Readied Power Attack, longspear: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 2 = 25 for 1d8 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 13

AoO (if provoked) Power Attack, longspear: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 = 18 for 1d8 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 13

Old Iron takes his lucerne hammer in both hands, stomping the ground as he steps forward and takes a wide stance. He grins a mad grin.

"LET'S SEE WHATCHA GOT, BIG GUY!"

It sounded like the creature was on the ground, so he can hit it now, I'm guessing? If not, consider this a readied attack for if it comes within range

He pulls his hammer back in a wide arc, swinging it around like a sledgehammer, putting his whole body into it.

Attack with +1 Adamantine Lucerne Hammer (power attack): 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 10 - 2 = 21
Damage (2hpower attack): 1d12 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 6 = 15

It can fly but it is close enough to the ground now to hit in melee.

1d4 ⇒ 1

Necress begins a complicated spell as Jiro holds his ground. Tin sets his spear and Tyr leaps into action and swings hard, hitting the creature!

Initiative:

1. Jasmine and Cade
2. Not-a-vampire (15 dmg, 3 images)
3. Jiro, Tyr, Tin, and Necress

Jasmine and Cade are up!

Jasmine, against all sane logic moves forward, and tosses her newly bought alchemist fire at the creature. Her aim is off, and it narrowly hits Tyr in the scaly skull.

ranged touch, no range penalty: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

miss: 1d8 ⇒ 4

I think I'm going to hang back until it engages someone. I'd rather not put the group into save the grappled halfling mode yet.

Cade unsheaths both kukris and starts to slowly circle his way around the room.

Cade will again ready an action to move, flank, and attack once the opportunity presents itself.

Jasmine's alchemist fire only singes the creature as it splashes against the rock wall. The thing begins to let out a horrible, nauseating moan...

30' cone hits everyone but Jasmine: DC 15 Fort save or fall prone and be nauseated (move action only) for 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 rounds

At this, Nira lets out a shriek and leaps off of Jiro's shoulder. She runs at the beast and unleashes a barrage of splinters and brambles from her body!

damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2) = 8

Ref: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Initiative:

1. Jasmine and Cade
2. Not-a-vampire (20 dmg, 3 images)
3. Jiro, Tyr, Tin, and Necress

You guys are up!

Fort DC15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Tin looks like he's about ready to lose his lunch at the unnerving sound of the monster's moaning, but seems to swallow it back in and double down on his determination to see it felled.

Keeping his eyes trained on it, he begins circling it, jabbing his spear in for a vital spot.

Power Attack, longspear: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 = 23 for 1d8 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 = 16

Fort Save vs Cone Thingy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 (I believe nausea effects count as poison effects, so add +2 if that's the case, not that it appears to matter here)

Old Iron sniffs the cloud as it passes over him, then shrugs, continuing to grin.

"That the best you got, big guy? I stood in four stinking clouds at once back when I did a supply detail in Mendev, and that was back in Fourth Crusade. Hope the four of you can come up with something better."

Attack with +1 Adamantine Lucerne Hammer (power attack): 1d20 + 10 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 10 - 2 = 10
Damage (2h power attack): 1d12 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 6 = 17

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Jiro doesn't even bat an eye as the beast howls. "I guess that we should put this creature out of its misery." he reasons aloud as he moves to cut it down with his katana.

Katana: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

If it has reach, I provoke from movement.

fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Cade recoils back from the creatures moan, "Have you tried any herbal remedies for that? Peppermint or sage work wonders."

Cade will move in closer, starting to position around the creature counter clockwise, and attack. That move may provoke if it has multiple AoO.

Attack + Risky Striker

Kukri: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
damage: 1d3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5

1d4 ⇒ 1
1d3 ⇒ 3

Tin stabs past the images and puts another wound in the flapping creature! Tyr, however, misses completely and while Jiro misses, he at least destroys one of the images. Cade then follows suit and also pops an image!

Initiative:

1. Jasmine and Cade
2. Not-a-vampire (36 dmg, 1 image)
3. Jiro, Tyr, Tin, and Necress

Necress and Jasmine are up!

Jasmine, steps up and tries to stabd at the creature using the distraction of her allies in an attempt to better land a blow. Her swing tries to adjust for the blurry image in front of her, and she misses my a large margin.

flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9

The nauseating moan the creature sends out, despite Necress's deafness, permeates her very soul.

fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Actually, now that I think about it, does a sound-based attack like a moan affect a deaf character? Also, does my full-round spell fail if I failed my save?

@Necress: I didn't think about that but it probably wouldn't affect a deaf creature. So you can finish up your full-round spell and take your action but I'm going to move ahead to the next round so just retcon those actions when you post next.

Jasmine slips as she tries to stab the thing but it only rises into the air and spreads itself out, exposing the deep darkness of its being!

Hits everyone but Necress; DC 15 Will save or panicked for 2 rounds.

Initiative:

1. Jasmine and Cade
2. Not-a-vampire (36 dmg, 1 image)
3. Jiro, Tyr, Tin, and Necress

You guys are up!

will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Bummer. Path is random, so I'll let EndlessForm bot for the rounds. Oh, just in case, is it a fear affect? Bravery+1 would make a difference here.

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
GM Star Reroll: 1d20 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 = 10

Blech, guess Old Iron's panicked D:

Will DC15: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Tin joins his allies in fleeing from the strange being. His scowl is deeper than usual, as he apparently appears none too pleased by its supernatural fear abilities.

Round 1 of 2.

will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

Jasmine hears the wail, and it shakes her to her very core. Hairs stand up on the back of her neck, and she can feel her legs start to pump as she runs from the very sight of this twisted creature.

I will also let the DM bot my running as need be

@Cade: yes, it is a fear effect. So you are ok. For running away purposes, down the northwestern tunnel you came from is probably the best option.

Everyone starts to turn tail and run from the creature!

Initiative:

1. Jasmine and Cade
2. Not-a-vampire (36 dmg, 1 image)
3. Jiro, Tyr, Tin, and Necress

Jiro, Necress, and Cade are up!

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Jiro flees at the sound, dropping his katana and shield into the room and running for his life.

Stupid dropping my gear... :D

Jiro follows his companions in running away from the totally-not-a-vampire-thing!

Initiative:

1. Jasmine and Cade
2. Not-a-vampire (36 dmg, 1 image)
3. Jiro, Tyr, Tin, and Necress

Cade and Necress are up!

Ok, Cade made the save then... barely.

"Um, guys? Where are you going?"

I believe the metagame move would be to run with you guys, as I have a bad feeling about this. But the heroic thing to do is to stay and fight.

Cade will 5' step in a meaningless attempt to get flanking and attack twice with his kukris.

Attack + Risky Striker
Main Kukri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Main Damage: 1d3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6

Off Kukri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Off Damage: 1d3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Previous Round

The soil at the enemy's feet abruptly opens up, and some sort of tormented spirit bursts from the ground, buffeting the air around it.

The creature attacks the terrifying enemy.

slam attack, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 2 = 281d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Summoning a small air elemental, re-skined as a spirit.
CRIT?: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 = 221d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 If crit, 5 dmg

From her position in the corridor, Necress holds her ground despite the fearful moan, having not even heard it. She slings a stone at the creature, hoping to help her summoned creature.

sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 161d4 ⇒ 1

Current round

slam attack, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 = 121d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

sling: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 71d4 ⇒ 1

To make it easy, the air elemental and Necress will do the same things both rounds.

1d2 ⇒ 1

Necress' elemental hits the monster! Cade isn't able to hit the creature but he is able to rid it of its annoying illusions. The flapping thing whips about and smacks at Cade:

bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

tail slap: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
damage: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Initiative:

1. Jasmine and Cade
2. Not-a-vampire (41 dmg)
3. Jiro, Tyr, Tin, and Necress

You guys are up!

Tin continues to flee the scene, cursing as he departs and in complete disbelief that he dropped his spear back before it began.

Frightened round 2 of 2.

Old Iron lumbers away at top speed, his mind filled with hated memories of his childhood in Nagajor, suffering at the hands of the naga matriarchs.

Old Iron continues running as well

The summoned spirit continues to buffet the enemy.

Necress makes her way toward it and tries to strike it with her bone club.

slam attack, flank: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 211d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

bone club attack, flank: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 131d6 ⇒ 6

I think Cade is the only other one standing his ground this round.

As everyone else continues clambering up the slope to get out of the ravine, Necress' elemental again hits the creature!

Initiative:

1. Jasmine and Cade
2. Not-a-vampire (43 dmg)
3. Jiro, Tyr, Tin, and Necress

Cade is up!

Assuming folks are still in place like the map shows for flanking; else, Cade will move to flank with the elemental.

Cade continues to stand defiantly, swinging his kukris in a frenzied state, desperately trying to bring down the creature.

Attack + Risky Striker + Flank
Main Kukri: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 2 = 20
Main: 1d3 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6

Off Kukri: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Off Damage: 1d3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 = 6

"OH MY GOD! THERE'S A FIRE! sale..."

Jiro takes this very seriously as he runs for his life from the cave, starting an ascent up the rocky exterior of the area, seeing Honor in the distance.

Jasmine runs, as inside her head she can hear a merchant catch her as she tried to steal a loaf of bread when she was 7.

Cade steps over to flank with the elemental and with two mighty stabs from his kukris he takes down the flapping creature!

Out of combat!

Little Nira pretends to dust off her doll hands and says, "Well! Despite everyone running for their lives, that was marginally successful! We've taken care of the murderer; well done!"

Old Iron rushes back into the room as soon as he is freed from the fear effect. He roars in frustration as he sees that the fight is over.

"GODSDAMN FLAT NOT-VAMPIRE THING."

He scoops up his lucerne hammer with a jerky motion, then stomps up to the deceased murderer. He takes the butt of his polearm and jabs at the creature, flipping it this way and that.

"Finally get a chance for a decent fight, and I gotta spend it running like an idiot."

He shakes the butt of his hammer at the creature's face, like a parent lecturing a child.

"Serves you right."

He finally turns back towards Nira.

"Gonna take a look around, make sure there aren't any other ones flapping about. He looks pretty flat. Maybe there's some more hiding in some cracks or something." With the lack of energy in his voice and the way his mouth shrugs to one side, it appears he doesn't have much hope that will happen.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

"Nira, why do you call it the murderer? Did you witness it kill anyone else?"

Jiro, realizing the threat has passed, quietly moves to pick up his shield and katana. "I..." he starts, but never finishes.

Shaking his head, he moves further into the cave, silently daring another challenge to come.

The spirit that had come to assist Necress dissipates into the air, apparently released from its bondage.

The deaf oracle seems to be having a hard time following what the doll is saying, unable to read the words coming from its tiny mouth.

She looks down the passageway to the east.

"Perhaps this is not the only force at work here," she suggests.

Tin returns, scowling and furious and picks up his spear.

He manages a complimentary smile for Cade.

"Yea, you did good kid."

He observes as Old Iron flips the strange creature around.

"So, the pancake demon is no more, but I agree with my man Cade here... what makes you so certain this creature's behind all the woes plaguin' Mercy?"

"Nira, why do you call it the murderer? Did you witness it kill anyone else?"

"You mean besides myself? I think that's enough to warrant calling it a murderer...." The doll cross her arms and refuses to speak for a few moments. Finally she says, "Well, I don't know it's behind all that's going wrong in Mercy but take a look at its cave here! There's certainly something strange about it, right? Trees growing underground and all and the children back in town sprouting branches and leaves... there's got to be something here! Come on, let's go!" Nira begins waddling into the side tunnels to explore further.

---

To the south is a small side chamber half hidden by vines. A circular length of vine holds two spherical seedpods. One of the seedpods contains a potion of desperate escape, a bright purple liquid that functions simultaneously as a potion of cure light wounds and a potion of vanish. The other holds a gray potion of protection from alignments, which has the properties of all of the protection from chaos/evil/good/law spells.

Continuing further in, the temperature rises toward the back of the cave. A tangle of vines spins and twists out of the rocky ground to cradle an enormous seedling. Both the seedling and the vines glow with a vibrant green light.

Old Iron throws his head back in laughter at Cade's question.

"Stop interrogating the poor girl, Cade. Pretty sure she's got a point there. I'd sure damn hope she knows who killed her."

He breathes in deeply of the hot air and smiles.

"Gotta love this heat! An old cold-blooded lizard could grow a few inches in weather like this." He straightens his back and stretches as if growing.

He stops as he sees that they have found nothing but plants, setting the butt of his lucerne hammer on the ground and leaning on the polearm.

"Just more plants. Maybe some killer plants? Any of you guys--" he nods to Nira "--and dolls--know anything about plants like this?"

Perception to see if there's anything strange/notable: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Am I crazy, or didn't we find a scroll of speak with plants or something earlier?

We did.

"Hmm... perhaps we should converse with these plants. Can anyone use that scroll we found?" remarks Jiro as he sees the natural oasis in the underground tunnels.

"I don't know," Nira says, "but I have a feeling this is the source of Mercy's woes. If you have the means to speak with it and find out what is going on, by all means do so!"

The scroll is bard/druid/ranger, which I believe means we're going to need to UMD it. I think Necress has the highest UMD at +7 unless I overlooked someone. She's also +8 Diplomacy once she starts speaking, which is also likely our best bet.

Tin frowns at the sight of the alien plan, but he nods as the scroll is mentioned.

"Yea, we should probably bring that scroll out and see what this beanstalk might say..."

His eyes come to rest on Necress, the meaning of his gaze fairly clear.

RE: the enormous seedlings, Are we talking humanoid-sized pods here?

"Do you think anyone in town is using the potion of protection from alignments from the plant? Was it bred to do that?"

Hmm... perhaps we should converse with these plants. Can anyone use that scroll we found?

Cade shakes his head side-to-side as Jiro scans the room.

RE: the enormous seedlings, Are we talking humanoid-sized pods here?

As in, does it look like there are human(oid)s trapped in them? No, not quite like that.

"I don't know," Nira says, "I don't like the look of this place but we'd better talk to it and see what it's up to first. If this is the source of Mercy's trouble though, I think we'll have to do something about it."

Necress waits for the others to explain what is happening, then nods resolutely.

"I am accustomed to speaking with the lost, the tormented, and the damned. This will not prove a challenge; the worst it can do is not respond, I suppose."

The oracle takes the scroll and attempts to activate it.

UMD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
UMD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
UMD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
UMD: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

After several attempts, she seems to figure out how it works. Once activated, she attempts to talk to the plant stalk.

"Can you hear me?" she asks the creature, unsure how she would even know if it responded.

"What troubles you?" she asks.

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 Hmmmph.

Jiro stands by, waiting to either conclude the mission or draw his blade to deal with the plants.

Jiro is useless here.

Old Iron rests his hammer in the crook of his arm, folding his arms and exhaling slowly, a low rumbling grumble accompanying the breath. In the absence of much else to do while the oracle communes with the plant, he appears to be focusing on trying to keep himself relaxed.

Seems like Old Iron is in the same boat. Idk, could he maybe assist on the diplomacy by suggesting things to say?

Just in case people are waiting on Cade - he doesn't have much to add here either so I was waiting on the response to Necress' actions.