Sorry for the delay, am back on my feet now! Taking a double move.
With danger encroaching, Gridger aware of his shortcomings, wastes no time. He immediately moves closer towards the enemy, gripping and drawing his greatsword hurling some words in Terran to throw the enemy off their guard.
Gridger moves in as the Hellknights mostly move to either side to keep the rest of the orcs at bay.
Hellknight actions:
The Hellknights can actually aid you if you call for their help. However, each time one of them aids you there is a cumulative 10% chance that this distracts them away from their own fight enough that an orc is able to strike them dead. Use it wisely!
A Hellknight hurls a magic missile at a foe,
dealing 3d4+3 points of damage.
A Hellknight casts cure serious wounds and
heals a PC for 3d8+5 points of damage.
A Hellknight cast shield other on a PC. After
taking 30 points of damage from the spell, the
Hellknight dies.
A Hellknight casts scorching ray at a foe (+8
ranged touch attack, two rays).
The orc mystic wastes no time sending a curse at Evad...
DC 16 Fort save or permanently blind.
The orc warlord swings his falchion at Evad and then steps back, trying to block the monk's path to the orc shaman.
Cirri's Familiar | Spells -/6/5/4/2 | Arcane Pool 11/11 | Flight Hex minutes 10/10 | GM Folio Reroll +2 | HP 86/86 | AC 21, T 12, FF 20 | Saves 11/6/8 | CMD 23 (25 vs trip) | Perception +7 | Init +1 | Female Human Magus 10 | Alignment NG |Ward not set
Cirri lands near the altar and readies her staff. "Bah! So close."
Cirri reads from her book, reads a spell and feels strength course through her muscles. "Okay, I'll try to slow down that mystic back there."
Move Action: Fly and land.
Standard Action: Cast Bull's Strength on myself.
Swift Action: Spend an Arcane Pool Point to give my staff the Frost property, dealing 1d6 cold damage.
Free Action: Cirri will spend an Arcane Pool point to parry and riposte any melee attack. This works just like the Swashbuckler's Opportune Parry and Riposte Deed, except I spend an arcane pool point instead of panache.
To be more effective in battle, learn to move faster. Gridger drags his heavy feet further in, hoping his pace does not put to risk the outcome of battle.
Male NG Halfling Druid 11 | HP 80/80 | AC 22 T 13 FF 20 | CMB +12, CMD 23 | F: +12, R: +5, W: +13 | Init: +2 | Perc: +21, SM: +12 | Speed 30ft | Wild Shape: 5/5 11 hours | Spells: See Stat Block | Active conditions: Barkskin (110 minutes)
Rufeo guides the tigress into combat, casting a spell to help protect her in combat.
Guide with knees, can not fail the ride check. Casting barkskin, targeting Ki'lala. Can not fail the concentration check to cast while mounted, DC 12, Concentration is +13.
Half-Elf Monk (Unchained) Lvl 10 HP 78/94 | AC 33 FF 29 Touch 25 CMD 40 Init+3| Saves Fort+11, Reflex+12, Will+11| Per +21, SenMot +19| Spd 60' Effects Active: Panther Style, Mage Armor, Barkskin, Darkvision, Death Ward, Prot Evil Tracked Resources: Ki Power 6/11, Stunning Fist 10/11
DC 16 Fort save:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
Evad shakes off the effects of the curse, assuming his Panther style fight stance. He steps forward and unleashes a flurry of blows on the Chieftain, the first a particularly savage punch.
swift - panther style, 5' step, flurry of blows, first one a stunning fist (on hit DC19 Fort or stunned for 1 rnd).
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
Sorry Missed that.
Ariana moves toward the battle as quickly as she can. "This battle could be over by the time I get there." She lines up for a possible run next round.
Meanwhile the shaman moves up behind the warlord and heals his wounds.
4d8 + 8 ⇒ (8, 1, 2, 8) + 8 = 27
The pit of bugs and worms then begins to writhe even more, bubbling up and then cresting to reveal some terrible squid monster underneath rising to the top of the disgusting pit. It reaches a tentacle up to the top of the pit to grasp at Evad's leg.
touch attack:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 Boo!
DC 19 Knowledge (planes):
This is a type of qlippoth known as a shoggti. To wound it effectively you need cold iron or lawfully-aligned weapons. Cold damage and mind-affecting effects do nothing to it and it can resist acid, electricity, and fire.
Initiative:
1. Varian, Gridger, Cirri, and Evad
2. Orcs (r 29 dmg) and That Which Peels Flesh
3. Rufeo, Ki'ala, and Ariana
Male NG Halfling Druid 11 | HP 80/80 | AC 22 T 13 FF 20 | CMB +12, CMD 23 | F: +12, R: +5, W: +13 | Init: +2 | Perc: +21, SM: +12 | Speed 30ft | Wild Shape: 5/5 11 hours | Spells: See Stat Block | Active conditions: Barkskin (110 minutes)
Rufeo dismounts ki'lala Move Action and cast another spell standard running his hands down the tigress's jaw line. Once the spell is completed, Ki'lala's fangs lengthen and the muscles around her jaw bulge larger. Her claws also seem thicker.
"Ki, go make this a fair fight"
Rufeo seeing Ki'lala prepare like this, he realizes what is about to happen and gives his comrades up front a warning.
Female N TIgress | HP 94/94 | AC 33 T 14 FF 28 | CMB +24(+28 to grapple), CMD 35(+39 vs trip/overrun) | F: +13, R: +11, W: +7* | Init: +3 | Perc: +10, SM: +3 | Speed 40ft | Active conditions: Barkskin (110 min) Greater Magic Fang +1 to all (11 hours) Shield Companion (11 hours) ; Resist Fire 30, Animal Growth
Ki'lala moves herself into position, giving her a good line to charge. She gets down low to the ground, and starts to dig her rear claws into the floor. He eyes are laser locked onto the warlord, after all, the last orc she took down was not too much of a fight.
Move Action: Fly to position.
Swift Action: Arcane Strike
Stanard: Attack with Combat Expertise for +1 AC.
Free Action: Prepare to parry! Take -2 off my Parry roll if the Large creature attacks me.
With every breath he takes, every move he makes, every bond he breaks, and every step he takes, he watches close the enemy. And gets himself closer in on the action.
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
Ariana runs toward the fight. She stops near the action her sword out and ready to attack.
Run action. I wasn't sure if that first crack was difficult terrain if it is I can back up.
Half-Elf Monk (Unchained) Lvl 10 HP 78/94 | AC 33 FF 29 Touch 25 CMD 40 Init+3| Saves Fort+11, Reflex+12, Will+11| Per +21, SenMot +19| Spd 60' Effects Active: Panther Style, Mage Armor, Barkskin, Darkvision, Death Ward, Prot Evil Tracked Resources: Ki Power 6/11, Stunning Fist 10/11
So many questions
Was the commander stunned by my stunning fist?
If I stand on this ledge do I need to make any type of check? If I stand on this ledge can I attack the big monster? If I jump in the pit can I attack the monster.
Might be better if I just jump into the worms, but I would only do that if I think I can attack while in there.
If I can stand on the ledge and attack:
Evad moves onto the ledge, to battle the hideous squid, he unleashes a flurry of blows, the first of which is a shattering punch; the next a stunning fist on the strange creature, he channels his ki to give him an extra attack.
5' step, flurry of blows, first punch will be a style strike (shattering punch- which bypasses any DR or hardness), the second punch will be a stunning fist, ki flurry, spend a ki point to get an extra attack
Sorry, forgot about Stunning Fist last round: Fort:1d20 ⇒ 11 Made it anyways so no harm done!
---
Rufeo and Ki'ala ready to charge into the fight as Cirri flies around and hits the shaman in the back! Meanwhile Gridger keeps moving and Varian runs past him to hit the warlord! As Ariana also runs to catch up, Evad decides to jump into the pit after the Monster!
Yes, the monster is large-sized with reach so it can reach you from the pit but to fight back you pretty much need to jump in or use ranged attacks. So I'll assume Evad jumps in then, which is really more fun and cinematic anyways!
damage from bugs:2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6 And DC 18 Fort save against their poison; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d3 Dex damage; cure 1 save)
The multiple applications stuff is not relevant here but the big thing that most people miss (and I'm guilty of it too) is that you make a save upon application (at the moment the attack happens) and then again at the end of your turn. So if you fail the first save you take 1d3 Dex damage, then you have to save again at the end of your turn and if you fail that one you take another 1d3 Dex damage.
Flying through the air, Evad lands with his knee in the qlippoth's side then quickly follows with his fist to break a few bones. Unfortunately the sparks flying from his arms and legs have no effect but nonetheless he leaves the squid creature quite wounded.
---
That Which Peels Flesh turns to Evad and lashes out:
Finally the shaman follows the warlord and ignores Cirri for the moment, making a quick illusory copy of himself and then sending a wave of chaos on the party!
Hitting Varian, Gridger, Ki'ala, and Ariana: 4d8 ⇒ (1, 4, 4, 6) = 15 damage and slowed for 1d6 rounds
DC 17 Will save halves the damage and negates the slowing effect.
If you are lawful, the above effects apply.
If you are chaotic, the spell does nothing to you.
If you are neutral, you automatically take half damage and are not slowed. With a DC 17 Will save you can reduce it to 25% damage.
Initiative:
1. Varian, Gridger, Cirri, and Evad
2. Orcs (r 42 dmg, b 14 dmg copy) and That Which Peels Flesh (52 dmg)
3. Rufeo, Ki'ala, and Ariana
Cirri's Familiar | Spells -/6/5/4/2 | Arcane Pool 11/11 | Flight Hex minutes 10/10 | GM Folio Reroll +2 | HP 86/86 | AC 21, T 12, FF 20 | Saves 11/6/8 | CMD 23 (25 vs trip) | Perception +7 | Init +1 | Female Human Magus 10 | Alignment NG |Ward not set
"Hey! Don't ignore me!" Cirri cries out at the shaman as he runs away.
Cirri takes a look and notices all of her targets are in a convenient 15 foot cone formation. While she prefers water and wind, she made sure to be prepared...
Spell Combat!
Casting Defensively, Concentration DC 17:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Remembering one of her first spells, she conjures a wave of flames to burn the shaman, chieftan, and the squid thing.
Burning Hands:5d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 1, 1) = 6Reflex Save DC 14 for half damage.
More like, singes them. Yikes that was a bad roll
Then she steps up to the shaman, trusting her frosted staff to do the job.
Frost Silver Quarterstaff, Spell Combat:1d20 + 8 - 0 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 0 + 2 - 2 = 9 1H Damage:1d6 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 + 2 + 2 = 13Cold Damage:1d6 ⇒ 6
Obviously disappointed in her weak burning hands attempt, Cirri feebly smashes the staff against the ground.
will:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 Am Neutral good, so taking half damage
Gridger feels the effects of the waves but undeterred by it, he calls upon a Hellknight to provide him cover as he goes in for the strike. "Cover me!". He swings his mighty sword at one of the enemy orcs.
Move and attack blue orc. Ask Hellknight for shield.
But his attacks are pathetically weak, maybe from the affects of not fighting off that spell effectively... or just plain bad dumb luck... whatever the cause, he misses twice, the warlord easily evading his hammer.
Half-Elf Monk (Unchained) Lvl 10 HP 78/94 | AC 33 FF 29 Touch 25 CMD 40 Init+3| Saves Fort+11, Reflex+12, Will+11| Per +21, SenMot +19| Spd 60' Effects Active: Panther Style, Mage Armor, Barkskin, Darkvision, Death Ward, Prot Evil Tracked Resources: Ki Power 6/11, Stunning Fist 10/11
Dang it -- my post got eaten when I tried to edit it. Will see if the rolls come out the same.
First - oops, I accidentally add an extra +2 to my attacks last round, sorry, the correct rolls should have been 34, 28, 29, 31
6 bug dmg + 5 dmg from nat 20=11 damage
Feast of Ravenmoor boon gives me a +1 saves v. poisons.
DC 18 Fort v Poison:1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 = 16
Character folio reroll + 3 gm stars, let me know if I need to show you the folio
reroll:1d20 + 9 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 + 3 = 30
good the rolls came out the same.
------
Evad almost succumbs to the poison from the hundreds of small bites, but manages to quite his mind against the attacks. Having avoid the worst of That Which Peels attacks, he knows he must finish it before it had the chance to finish him.
First on a Stunning Fist, Ki for an extra attack, not rolling for the electricity damage.
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
Ariana pulls out and drinks her potion of Fly. She slowly rises a foot or so into the air. She's very wobbly, and moves toward the squid creature.
Fly:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5 Will:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 Neutral Take Half Damage and not slowed.
Ki'ala charges in and bites at the warlord, keeping ahold of his leg! Rufeo hits the shaman with two jolts of electricity as Kirri hits the orcs from behind with fire.
Gridger moves in, calling out to the Hellknights for aid. One of them is able to step back and cast a quick spell, lending some support to the oread. Note that it is shield other, not shield. Unfortunately Gridger is unsure which shaman to attack and accidentally only pops an illusory image.
Ariana takes flight and heads towards Evad and the squid creature. Meanwhile Evad continues to put quite the hurt on That Which Peels Flesh, leaving the qlippoth very obviously wounded.
---
That Which Peels Flesh is now intent on returning harm to Evad, despite his quick reflexes and uncanny ability to dodge each attack.
The orcs are also quite wounded but in their manic fervor they are determined now to kill those trying to interrupt their ritual. The shaman steps over to Cirri swinging his battleaxe:
Cirri's Familiar | Spells -/6/5/4/2 | Arcane Pool 11/11 | Flight Hex minutes 10/10 | GM Folio Reroll +2 | HP 86/86 | AC 21, T 12, FF 20 | Saves 11/6/8 | CMD 23 (25 vs trip) | Perception +7 | Init +1 | Female Human Magus 10 | Alignment NG |Ward not set
"Bah! You're getting in the way, buddy." A gust of wind erupts as Cirri's staff parries the Shaman's battleaxe and then counters.
As per the Swashbuckler's Opportune Parry and Riposte ability, Cirri will spend 1 Arcane Pool Point and an AoO from the previous round to parry and counter the attack. Her parry was 17, beating the Orc's 16. I'm reprinting the parry so it's easier to find.
Riposte:18 = 18 1H Damage:9 = 9Cold Damage:6 = 6
His second blow glances against her magic shield, which she's thankful for every day.
She decides to trip him. With magic!
Then she concentrates.
Concentration Check, DC 17:1d20 + 5 + 3 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 3 + 4 = 22
No problem! Her staff stretches across the shaman's legs, trying to trip him.
Improved Trip, Combat Expertise, Bull's Strength, Spell Combat, Blade Lash:1d20 + 10 - 0 + 2 - 2 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 - 0 + 2 - 2 + 10 = 24
Immediate Action: Parry and Riposte.
Full Action: Spell Combat. Standard Attack then casting Blade Lash to trip the Shaman.
Free Action: Prepare to Parry and Riposte.
"And stay down so I can squish that squid thing!"
Cirri will wait to parry and riposte, or take an AoO if he provokes while standing. You can use my Parry roll if he provokes while standing.
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
Ariana flies around trying to avoid an attack of opportunity from That which Peels Flesh to get into a flanking position with Evad. She speaks the work to active the cold on her bastard sword, and swings with all her power.
Female N TIgress | HP 94/94 | AC 33 T 14 FF 28 | CMB +24(+28 to grapple), CMD 35(+39 vs trip/overrun) | F: +13, R: +11, W: +7* | Init: +3 | Perc: +10, SM: +3 | Speed 40ft | Active conditions: Barkskin (110 min) Greater Magic Fang +1 to all (11 hours) Shield Companion (11 hours) ; Resist Fire 30, Animal Growth
The orc breaks free from ki'lala teeth for a brief second before she goes in with another bite, while she stand up on her back legs trying to sink her claws into his back.
And you have to continue to save each round as you are continuously hit with a new "application". Sorry about that!
Cirri isn't able to hit the shaman but at least puts him on the ground! Ariana then moves in and finishes off the warlord, allowing Varian and Gridger to move in and take down the shaman!
The low thrum echoing through the chamber from the ritual now begins to falter without the energy of the orcs feeding it power....
Down in the pit, Evad lands a pair of punches on either side of the squid monster's head, collapsing some vital part. A horrifying death screech echoes through the chamber as it sinks back down into the bugs and the ritual is thwarted completely!
Out of combat!
The portal they had been opening then completely and suddenly closes, sending a shockwave into the ground and wall, likely felt and hard through the region for miles around....
AC 24(26 BOF), T 15, FF 23 | hp 83/114 | Fort +12, Ref +7, Will +10 (+3 vs. fear) Human Garundi Fighter 10 Init +2; Senses Perception +14 Base Atk +10; CMB +15; CMD 30
"That was interesting. How did the Hellknights fare?", she says as she slowly lands with a bit of a wobble.
Varian breathes a sigh of relief... "Anyone need some healing?"or are we done? He offers to heal via wand anyone who needs it, especially Evad who seems to have taken the brunt of the damage, taking on both the bugs and the beast in its pit.
Cirri's Familiar | Spells -/6/5/4/2 | Arcane Pool 11/11 | Flight Hex minutes 10/10 | GM Folio Reroll +2 | HP 86/86 | AC 21, T 12, FF 20 | Saves 11/6/8 | CMD 23 (25 vs trip) | Perception +7 | Init +1 | Female Human Magus 10 | Alignment NG |Ward not set
"Whew! What a hoot!" Cirri trips the shaman and watches the party finish the foes off. "Good job, everyone!" She flies down and helps Evad up. "Sorry I couldn't help more. I need to work more on my swings."
She flies back up and looks around. "That's it for the ritual, right? Looks like it. Are the Hellknights okay? What should we do about the temple, or is it too late?"
Gridger sighs again at himself disappointingly feeling he could achieve more only if he moves faster. "I had thought that monster would be more difficult to defeat, we should make haste to the temple, there might still be time."
Signifier Karva and the other Hellknights send a few more spells to beat back the orcs and, with their leaders defeated and their will crushed, the orcs retreat and stop their assault.
Everyone breathes a sigh of relief. Karva says, "I thank you for accompanying us. We could not have stopped that ritual without your help and if the ritual had completed this entire region would have been overrun with qlippoth and chaotic influence."
"We will lead you to the Temple, as was our deal, but I fear the disruption of the ritual may have had far-reaching effects that will leave little left to discover..."
----
As it turns out, Signifier Karva's words are depressingly prophetic. The Temple is nothing but rubble and ruins; supposedly the ritual had a link to the area and there are corpses of orcs found within and around the collapsed area. This is a sad loss to the historians and archaeologists in the Society but hopefully the leadership will understand the tough decision you had to make for the safety of the region.
---
Indeed, when you return the Society is grateful that a great evil was cleansed from the world. You have also earned the respect of Signifer Karva, and she has written a favorable report to her superiors regarding the Pathfinder Society. Zarta Dralneen is disappointed about losing the knowledge from the Pillars of the Sky, but commends you for making a tough choice and maintaining a good relationship with the Hellknights.
And with that we are finished! I will send out chronicles shortly.
Thanks for playing, everyone! I hope you all had fun with it. You guys were a great group!
