GM Endless Forms' PFS The Harrowing (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Last round he hit you and moved 5' away. So last round all he had to do was 5' step to close in and then full attack.

Fletch swings but misses. He hears Brambleson nearby casting a spell but without being able to see the motions, you are unsure what he just did.

Fletch!

Is it good enough to know where he is?

@Fletch: you can take a guess in the general direction.

"Hrrmm, Master Fletch, while very honorable of you to spot the rabbit-prince
a false sense of confidence...
it appears to be growing into a more genuine sense.
Although, I see no honor in the prince using invisibility in this contest,
I do not dictate the rules."

First Attack: +1 Cold Iron Greatsword, lead blades, Land's Challenge and Power Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (18) + 15 - 3 = 303d6 + 7 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 6, 1) + 7 + 6 + 1 = 24

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 44

Second Attack: +1 Cold Iron Greatsword, lead blades, Land's Challenge and Power Attack: 1d20 + 10 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 10 - 3 = 103d6 + 7 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2, 5) + 7 + 6 + 1 = 24

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 2

Fletch lunges forward, swinging for the fences.

Oy.

Fletch swings wildly but can't seem to find Brambleson anywhere. Fletch feels a poke from behind.

broken +2 short sword: 1d20 + 15 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 15 + 20 = 51
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

broken +2 short sword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Fletch!

What's that +20 for in the first attack?

Gritting his teeth in pain, Fletch swirls around, his greatsword flashing through a wide arc.

Use Boots of Speed to get a round of haste

First Attack: +1 Cold Iron Greatsword, lead blades, Land's Challenge and Power Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 3 = 293d6 + 7 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6, 1) + 7 + 6 + 1 = 22

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 98

Second Attack: +1 Cold Iron Greatsword, lead blades, Land's Challenge and Power Attack: 1d20 + 10 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 10 - 3 = 133d6 + 7 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 6, 5) + 7 + 6 + 1 = 28

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 40

Haste Attack: +1 Cold Iron Greatsword, lead blades, Land's Challenge and Power Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 15 - 3 = 143d6 + 7 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3, 2) + 7 + 6 + 1 = 22

Use Combat Boon from "Blood Under Absalom" for a reroll.

Haste Attack: +1 Cold Iron Greatsword, lead blades, Land's Challenge and Power Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 3 = 313d6 + 7 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (5, 3, 5) + 7 + 6 + 1 = 27

Critical Hit Confirmation: +1 Cold Iron Greatsword, lead blades, Land's Challenge and Power Attack: 1d20 + 15 - 3 ⇒ (15) + 15 - 3 = 273d6 + 7 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6, 1, 3) + 7 + 6 + 1 = 24

Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 95

I believe that's two hits for 73 points of damage.

What's that +20 for in the first attack?

I would guess true strike

Watching the big man get poked from all angles and whip his sword wildly around is quite comical to Ace. "There should be a song in here somewhere. Fletch and the Rabbit... it's a working title."

Fletch feels his blade finally connect with the invisible Rabbit Prince and a few seconds later you hear Brambleson's voice calling out, "Ok, ok, I yield!" He appears out of invisibility, wounded heavily, but he bows to Fletch and pulls a small item from his pocket. "You won fairly so I present you with my token. What a marvelous duel, don't you think? Fantastic!" He hands Fletch a tiny shoe carved from green feldspar. He then takes another bow.

That wasn't so bad, no. Interesting token. Maldoc then asks his travelling companions, What's next, friends? A game of cards with wild dogs?

Well done Fletch, we were right to choose you

Fendahl bows in respect to both contestants.

"Hrrmm, well done both of you. Good sports both. Master Fletch, congratulations. Master Brambleson, what can you tell us of other owners of these tokens? We seek each of them and it would be most helpful for any information you can share. Our last host was much less honorable than you are, sir ."

"Ah! Yes, well, I do my best to be honorable, as they say! Now, the other Conspirators. . . well, I haven't seen some of them in ages, you know that?"

"You've seen Bernaditi already then, have you?" the Rabbit Prince asks. "I'm sorry. A powerful ally, yes, but a treacherous one as well. Gives me the creeps."

He bounces on his hind legs and taps his chin. "Now the Mourning Choir was once a Conspirator but passed; she lives out on the way to the Barrow Island where the Barrow King lives. Right depressing place, that is, I don't go there myself! They say the Barrow King is the Harrowed Realm's master of death and caretaker of lost souls. Nasty stuff. Don't expect a warm welcome from him, although you might be able to get on Mourning Choir's good side if you can soothe her broken heart with a song or two." He gives a wink to Ace.

He shakes his head. "Now there's some bad blood between Marzalee the Weaver, the Ticktock Man, and the Nightpeddler. Something about her grubs. Marzalee is always ranting against them and has quite the bad temper. Be careful going to speak with her, she'll likely strike first and assume you're with the Ticktock Man or the Nightpeddler."

Brambleson's voice becomes very serious for a moment. "Be careful in the Sanguine Playhouse. I'm not sure exactly what goes on there but the tales are dreadful."

Brambleson smiles again though and shakes his head, as if trying to forget something. "I'm sure I could talk to you for days about the history of this place, but I think you mentioned you have a friend to save so this is hardly the time or place! I suppose you best be going! Good luck to you!"

So where to next? Lots of options.

Hmm, quite a few options. Want to try this playhouse first? Maybe it'll be more straightforward...

"If you insist, Maldoc." Ace laughs, unsure if his friend knows what 'Sanguine' could potentially mean... He thinks a bloody playhouse is straightforward?

Int check: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

Sanguine Playhouse is "F" on the map, just to orient yourselves.

The theater is an old disused-or at least rarely used and not kept up-structure. Seeing naught else to do and no one there to greet you, you make your way through the front entrance.

The red velvet covering nearly every surface of this lobby is threadbare and faded. A cracked mural on the ceiling depicts debauched acts between satyrs and all manner of mortal women. Two sets of double doors to the north lead into a massive chamber, and between them golden bars protect a ticket office. Smaller doors occupy the eastern and western walls.

Pacing frantically along the cornice is a dapper little creature with an embarrassing problem. The tiny fey has an elven upper body, two long antennae protruding from his forehead, and the lower body of a cricket, complete with spindly legs and a pair of gossamer wings.

The reason for his pacing and fretting appears obvious: his little red fiddle has gotten away from him, floating through the air unassisted, playing itself perfectly. The music is such a joy to behold, listeners literally can’t help but dance along!

DC 18 Will save or begin dancing as if affected by the spell irresistible dance. This is a sonic mind-affecting effect that lasts until the fiddle ceases playing or a character passes out from exhaustion.

Several cards to be played here. You can (if you are unaffected) destroy the fiddle to stop it or you can try to outperform it in a dance-off (using Perform: dance).

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 9 = 21 Trait bonus to Will Saves (Swap Wis and Cha for Compulsions)

Ace will summon the Cricket card to be played as he draws his mandolin and begins to fiddle against the rogue instrument.

He jumps up on the nearby hickory stump.

"You probably didn't know it, but I'm a fiddle player too. And if you care to take a dare, I'll just make a bet with you. Now you play a pretty good fiddle, fiddle, but give Ace his due. I'll bet a masterwork bow against you that I think I'm better than you" Ace says as he launches into an upbeat, backwoodsy melody.

Perform(String): 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (17) + 24 = 41

Countersong: You can use my perform check in place of your Will save against the musical effect.

Yep! The Cricket: there is a 25% chance each round that (the creature) himself if affected by his fiddle’s powers for the duration of the round. Not that it matters now:

Ace gets out his mandolin and shows the fiddle how it's done! After a few moments the fiddle grows bored at being out-shown and drops to the ground in a fit. "Oh! Thank you!" the cricket creature responds. "I'm sorry about that," he says with a blush.

Ace looks disappointed that the fiddling contest was cut short after a few seconds. "Well, that was anti-climactic."

He remembers their purpose. "We are looking for the Conspirator of the Sanguine Playhouse. Can you help us?"

Catchy tune, glad it stopped though. Maldoc then waits to hear the answer to Ace's question.

Hawk feels his feet begin to tap to the jig before Ace's music intervenes. Crass sounds that barely pass for music, but is suppose it has its purpose....

On the hike over, Fletch uses his wand of cure light wounds to heal himself of the beating Brambleson administered.

Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Wand of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
_____________________________________________________

Fletch begins to dance one of the many fiery halfling dances of old Cheliax which have come to signify a yearning for freedom in the halfling refugees of Andoran. His great wolf Romulus barks and capers around his feet. When Ace's music works its way into his mind, he slowly stomps and claps to a halt, seemingly unsure of where to put his hands for a few seconds, then grips his bowstave tightly. Romulus seems to pout that the fun was so short-lived.

"Mmmm-hmmm, but that boy can play," says the ranger to no one in particular.

Seeing that the Cricket has already been played, Fletch tosses out "The Dance" Harrow card.

Fendahl and Kirrah will listen to Ace and resist the urge to join the dance.

Hrrmm, lively little bug-man. "

The Dance (not quite relevant now, unfortunately): any creature attempting to outdance the fiddle gains a +2 bonus on its Perform (dance) check and a +2 bonus on saves against the fiddle's effects.

The cricket creature responds, "Erm, yes! I am Mr. Softshoes, by the way-" he takes a quick bow [/b]"-but I not, as you say, a Conspirator. Now, you'll want to go into the theater and speak with Balimar and Balio. They are down in the theater proper I believe."[/b]

In what mood are Balimar and Balio ? If we want to secure their token how can we proceed ?

asked Tolgarov

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (1) + 24 = 25

They all want to attack us, but this cricket is being super nice... Also, why are they called Conspirators? Is there some giant conspiracy afoot? Are we Conspirators now?

Ace's mind begins to wander before shrugging and meandering into the theater.

You were told that they are called Conspirators because they all conspired in the death the previous inhabitant of the Striding Fortress (and presumed leader of the Realm) Sonnorae. In order to locate the Fortress again when needed, each of the Conspirators took a token from her shawl and when brought together the tokens will point the way to the Striding Fortress.

Now Zassrion lives in the Striding Fortress and you have learned that he took your scholar friend and plans to sacrifice him in some ritual to break free of this immortal realm and gain mortality.

"Oh!" Mr. Softshoes looks surprised at the reason for your visit. "Oh my! Well, good luck with that! Ha! Hahaha!"

Oh, sorry. I know that OOC. I was just putting a bit of Ace's personality into the action.

Fendahl waits to see how the cricket responds.

Mr. Softshoes just softly laughs to himself and goes to sit in the theater, so you decide to follow him in to investigate.

This bulging auditorium offers an excellent view of the stage from any of its dozens of seats. Dust and cobwebs cling to everything. A half-dozen glassy-eyed bodies lie in the northwest corner like discarded props.

A strikingly handsome Varisian man who insists on speaking solely through a marionette carved to look just like a blonde version of him stands on the stage. "Eliara has stormed out again!" the puppet informs Mr. Softshoes as the Varisian man moves the strings around to make the puppet gesture with the words. "And all of the costars are indisposed now. I guess she didn't care for any of them again."

"Where am I going to find a replacem-hey!" the puppet points to Maldoc. "What about you, huh? Romantic lead? With the lovely Eliara as your love interest? What do you say? Ever acted before? Nevermind! Just try it! Won't you?" The puppet gets down on its knees and puts its hand out to Maldoc in a pleading gesture.

You must be out of your mind. Maldoc objects. I am not one for the arts. Ace, however, he seems to have a penchant for the dramatic.

He's creepy.... Watching the man, Hawk pulls out the Theater card and tosses it down. The Twin as well, perhaps....? Arching an eyebrow, he watches Maldco squirm, then switches his gaze to Ace, waiting to see what the man says next.

"Oh look, they are twins..." Ace comments as he grabs the deck from Fletch and finds The Twins before tossing it into the air.

"Greetings, Twins. I assume you are Balimar and Balio. We have come for your Conspirator's token in order to right a wrong committed by old Zazzles. You can have it back once we are done... I think... Care you offer yours freely?" Ace asks quite nicely.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (13) + 24 = 37

if pleasant words doesn't work, we will do my way, with unpleasant ones

Tolgarov looked at the man and at Ace, waiting for the "twin"'s response

Fletch has stood against giants and dragons and Runelords, but this guy gives him the creeps. He fingers his greenwood longbow and waits for whatever unpleasantness is to follow.

Fendahl stands by Fletch, watching as the scene unfolds with Ace.

The Theater: +2 Perception and Survival while in the Sanguine Playhouse.

The Twins: They can no longer occupy the same space as they have been, but must occupy adjacent spaces instead.

"Why yes, I am Balimar" the puppet says. Pointing to the man, the puppet continues, "and this is Balio. Nice to meet you."

"But now young Mr. Elf Sir!" the puppet turns back to Maldoc. "I really think you ought to at least try. I have an eye for things like this and I really think you could be a star!"

Responding to Ace, the puppet nods. "Ah! I see! You need my token? Well, why didn't you say so! Yes! But on one condition: we really must see the elf over there act alongside our lovely lead Eliara. We have a feeling it would be absolutely brilliant!"

Mr. Softshoes applauds quietly from a seat off to the side.

Kaer-Maga is more fun thinked Tolgarov

But while they asked him nothing, he stayed silent.

Maldoc rolls his eyes, obviously not happy with the turn of events. The $#!^ I do for the Society, I swear...

Right, very well. If you insist. However I must see the token first. Do, umm, either of you have it on your person?

Balimar the puppet pokes Balio, who reaches into his pocket and draws out a dazzlingly beautiful diamond. "That's the token! For just a bit of acting, that's all!" The two step off to the side of the stage and wait for Maldoc to take center-stage.

After Maldoc prepares himself, they call they leading lady Eliara back out. She proves to be a beautiful Varisian woman. "And let's start the scene over again, shall we?" the puppet asks as the lady moves closer to Maldoc, holding a bouquet of roses.

Eliara looks Maldoc up and down before sighing and saying, "Fine!" She clears her throat and straightens her posture before reciting, "Oh, but such is the forbidden love, is it not?"

Before Maldoc can even react or try to think what his next line might be, she stomps her foot angrily. "No, no, this won't do! He's no better than the others, I can tell." As she starts her tantrum, you notice that her legs have begun to sew themselves together, forming one appendage, lengthening into a long serpentine tail supporting her feminine torso. "No, I told you I need someone above average, I need brilliance!"

At the last word, as if it were a command word ;) he bouquet of flowers turns into matching scimitars and you see the lamia matriarch that is Eliara standing before you in all her glory, ready to bring her scimitars down upon Maldoc!

Mr. Softshoes, Balio, and Balimar do not seem surprised by this sudden turn of events.

Before Maldoc can react, she begins whirling and dancing around him, swinging her scimitars with graceful beauty!

+1 scimitar: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

+1 scimitar: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

+1 scimitar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

+1 scimitar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

+1 scimitar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Plus 1 Wis drain on the first hit.

Eliara whistles and from off-stage coming running four strange creatures: hideous avian things with the body of an emaciated rooster, the wings of a bat, and a long, scaly tail! They swarm towards Maldoc!

bite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
DC 12 Fort save or take 1d4 ⇒ 1 Dex damage as your flesh and bones stiffen and harden

bite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2
DC 12 Fort save or take 1d4 ⇒ 1 Dex damage as your flesh and bones stiffen and harden

bite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 3
DC 12 Fort save or take 1d4 ⇒ 4 Dex damage as your flesh and bones stiffen and harden

bite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
damage: 1d4 ⇒ 1
DC 12 Fort save or take 1d4 ⇒ 1 Dex damage as your flesh and bones stiffen and harden

Confirm:
+1 scimitar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Initiative:

1. Eliara and her pet cockatrices
2. Hawk, Fendahl, Maldoc, Ace, Fletch, and Tolgarov

You guys are up!

Ace is surprised by this turn of events. "This will not stand Malvolio!" he yells at the puppetmaster.

He sings out loud and clear, interjecting grating syllables into his aria. Dirge of Doom; All Enemies are Shaken (Move Action)

He weaves his hands as he brings down the tempo of the song. Overwhelming Grief against Eliara; DC 24 to negate. (Standard Action)

Oddly, his song begins to feel uplifting to his compatriots as his magic seems to bolster them. Inspire Courage +2 (Swift Action; Harmonic Spell)

Ah ! It's time to act !

Tolgarov, his staff in hand began to cast a mighty greenish fireball on the lamia, the green and the yellow avian things

Intensified (Permanent) Fireball (2 reflexes DC21 for half): 12d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 5, 4, 1, 3, 2, 1, 3, 5, 5) + 13 = 51
RM: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

used 2 charge of my staff of the master to add Permanent to my Fireball

Then he looked at the puppet master

The next is for you if you don't give us NOW your stone !

if needed Intimidate: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (11) + 27 = 38

Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 41 damage takem, 1 point of Wisdom drain. Leaves me at 15/56 HP. I knew this was a bad idea...

Maldoc, severely wounded from the surprise assault and finding himself in a very bad position, steps away from avains and tries to cast Mirror Image as a form of defense!

Concentration: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Images: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Fendahl will wait to see if anything survives the fire blast before he ventures an action.

@Tolgarov: I'm not sure what you mean by Permanent on your fireball. I have a feeling you meant Persistent since you called for two saves so I'll go with that.

Eliara resists the temptation to feel bad about what she has done. Tolgarov easily takes out the cockatrices and badly wounds the lamia. Maldoc, badly wounded, creates several images to protect himself.

Initiative:

1. Eliara (51 dmg)
2. Hawk, Fendahl, Maldoc, Ace, Fletch, and Tolgarov

Hawk, Fendahl, and Fletch are up!

@EF Yes, sorry, it's Persistant, may be it's the french name of the feat :P (I must find a good explanation for that !)

Tolgarov smile was ugly, but it was one of satisfaction.

"Son of a..." Hawk curses, as he grabs his bow and fires an arrow at the lamia.

Attack, PBS, Inspire: 1d20 + 14 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 1 + 3 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 7 Improved Precise Shot

Fendahl will do likewise

attack bow : 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24 for 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

He will call Kirrah up to guard near the puppeteer in the event he turns hostile.

cannot adj map . Not sure if lion has to squeeze to move up...so either double move or single with readied action to attack any foe threatening party .