GM Fuzzfoot's S01-41 The Devil We Know, Part III - Crypt of Fools (Standard PFS) Tier 1-7/Subtier 1-2 (Inactive)

Game Master PJP

It sounds like you have it, or are trying not to jump right to it, but then I just realized that the map of the city I posted actually labeled the entrance to the Crypt of Fools for you as well! Ooops....So, let's move forward.

LOL!

Bernard simply pushes the loose brick and waits for what is coming...

Yeah, I've been holding off on saying "Um, I think we should just investigate area 5. No real reason, just call it a hunch."

Nikolai settles into a defensive crouch, ready to leap at whatever might be beyond the portal.

Pushing the brick causes a 2 ft x 4 ft section of the wall to swing open, revealing a set of stone stairs that descend beneath the streets of Old Cassomir.

As you descend, the temperature falls rapidly (until it stabilizes at 40 degrees Fahrenheit - about the same as a refridgerator.). The stairs are in complete darkness. Light source?

"Oh wow, that's chilly." Sheela whispers as her vision turns monochrome. "Reminds me of when this fisherman and I- maybe not the right time." She shakes her head.

Sheela has Darkvision.

As the sun's light fades from view, Nikolai pulls out a torch and lights it with his flint and steel. "Colder than a jadwiga's tit in here," he says, his breath steaming in the cold air. "Hope you all brought fire."

Alaneo seems well at ease.

"Ah, finally a climate I'm comfortable into... No need for fire."

Darkvision here

"Thank you for the light, Niko", Bernard greets the brawler.

"I have one or two sunrods here too, if needed", the halfling complements.

Despite the cold inside the chamber, Bernard stands firm with his crossbow in hands, following the others in the back of the march.

Bernard spends a charge from his wand of gravity bow before enter there.

After a number of quick turns and further descent, the you find yourselves in a small chamber 200 feet beneath the city streets.

An ancient fountain decorates this open tunnel intersection. Many chipped sculptures provide spouts which drizzles water splash into the basin below. The fountain’s cold concrete edges have carved symbols that adorn its sides in three distinct bands. A set of stairs leading down from above empties into the room from the south, while two 5-foot-wide tunnels exit the room to the east and west.

Nik and Masa hear noises coming from the west. It sounds like moaning and shuffling, and maybe the clanging of chains. Suddenly there is a flurry of motion before the door opens.

Nik and Masa get one free round of prep time, and then we are into initiative.

Nik - after you determine your free round, then open this spoiler.

Round 1: (Bold may act)
Nikolai
Opponents
Masa, Bernard, Sheela, Alaneo

I should mention Sheela would have used her wand of mage armor before entering.

Nikolai moves adjacent to the western doorway, setting up an ambush for whoever may be coming down the hall.

Just moving into position during my free round.

His eyes widen as he notices the group entering the room, and looks to his friends, trying to silently convey the targets.

Bluff, secret message: 1d20 ⇒ 18

GM, up to you if the PCs can figure out what I'm trying to do. Usually it's a 15 for something simple and a 20 for something difficult. I suspect that since it's a silent message, I needed a 20.

Nik and Masa hear noises coming from the west. It sounds like moaning and shuffling, and maybe the clanging of chains. Suddenly there is a flurry of motion before the door opens.

Masa moves to the doors, standing firmly in the entrance as Nik makes weird eye movements towards the group. "Look at the enemy." he advises as he waits for the door to open.

@Bernard - yes, sorry - it was a DC 12 perception check, which actually means everyone but Sheela passed. I am not sure what I did there...I think maybe I was looking at Initiative rolls instead.
@Sheela - mage armor is fine - you would have cast before entering from outside, right?
@Nik - I am not sure what you were trying to convey, but I figure this is easier to approach this way. (I was just thinking you would ready an attack).

The door opens, and there are derros and mites leading slaves into the room.

Round 1: (Bold may act)
Nikolai
Opponents
Masa, Bernard, Sheela, Alaneo

Sheela would have cast it back at the entrance, before entering.

Sheela is oblivious to the noise, but gasps in surprise when she sees the slaves.

@GM Fuzzfoot, gravity bow is still up? If not, Bernard will spend another charge on the turn before the combat starts.

No worries, it was a weird thought I had and wasn't even sure if it would work. PbP is hard enough.

Nikolai sighs as the warrior stands directly in the door. "Dammit, Masa, don't you know an ambush when you see one being set up before you?" He reaches around the corner to strike the mite in the skull, but the awkward angle makes it impossible to strike the lead slave.

They've got DR, but barely. I'll just make a flurry of blows on them.

Attack 1, nonlethal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage 1: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Attack 2, nonlethal: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Damage 2: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Jabbing Style?: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Nicholai fights with the door, missing the opportunity to hurt the slavers before they can act.

The mite in front attacks Masa, his only real target. It is a very clumsy attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2

Round 1: (Bold may act)
Masa, Bernard, Sheela, Alaneo

Round 2: (Bold may act)
Nikolai
Purple Derro, Yellow Mite, Blue Mite

Bernard moves forward and tries to hit the mite with his cestus.

cold iron cestus: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 171d3 ⇒ 3

"If you don't let they enter, I can't shoot them", the halfling says to his friends.

Due to the cover provided by the corner, Bernard fails to land the blow.

Cover? But it was a melee attack...

Yah, sorry - but there is a rule for melee around a corner.

When making a melee attack against an adjacent target, your target has cover if any line from any corner of your square to the target’s square goes through a wall.

Wow! I didn't know this rule. Thank you for the clarification. :)

Sheela begins casting her good old reliable sleep spell. Full Round casting. Will Save DC 17

Alaneo slips behind Masa and throws ice under the mites' feet.

Slick utility wild talent (it acts like the grease spell). Ref DC 15 or fall.

Masa listens to the complaints of Niko and shrugs. "Be more clear with your plan in the future and I will abide." he says succinctly as he deftly draws his katana and slashes at the mite in a single slash.

Katana @ Blue: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage | PA/FF: 1d8 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 3 = 12

Regardless of the outcome, he will step backwards to bottleneck the slavers.

Masa slices the first mite right down the middle with little effort.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

The second mite promptly falls asleep.
Will Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Ref Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

The derro slave master keeps his feet under him.

Round 2: (Bold may act)
Nikolai
Derro
Masa, Bernard, Sheela, Alaneo

Masa bows as the mite falls to the ground, bisected. "An unworthy opponent should still be shown honor." he states before rising back up and looking at the sleeping mite disdainfully.

Botting Nik...

Nik sees Masa step back, and waits for the enemy to come out. Readied action to pummel anyone that comes out of the hall.

The derro casts another spell. Suddently, the area centered in front of the hallway is filled with a tremendous cacophony. Eeveryone but Sheela takes 1d8 ⇒ 2 points of sonic damage and must succeed on a Fortitude save DC 15 to avoid being stunned for 1 round.

Round 2: (Bold may act)
Derro
Masa, Bernard, Sheela, Alaneo, Nikolai

Sheela moves in and tries to distract the derro.

Casting Daze. Will Save DC 16

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

As the sound blasts him, Masa stands firm. "Begone with your feeble magic!" he bellows as he strides over the fallen mites and lashes out with his blade at the derro.

Katana @ Derro: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Slick should have dissipated by now.

Yes, it's one round.

Alaneo waits to see if Masa takes the creature down.

Delay

fort. DC 15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Bernard waits to see if Masa takes the creature down².

Looks like I forgot...

Fort save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Sorry, I thought I had already acted. My bad.

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

While he waits for the derro to leave the confines of the hall, a blast of sound shocks the room, disorienting the burly warrior. He shakes his head to clear his senses and rejoin the fight.

Well, I guess that's why I didn't do anything.

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Masa does slice into the derro pretty good, but not enough to take him out of the fight. The derro, dazed, fails to respond.

It sounds like Alaneo and Bernard were both delaying, so they could still take a round 2 action if they like. Since the Derro is dazed, it won't affect anything.

Round 3: (Bold may act)
Derro (16 dmg, dazed)
Masa (2 dmg), Bernard(2 dmg), Sheela, Alaneo(2 dmg), Nikolai(2 dmg)

Bernard steps forward and makes a sharp shoot against the derro.

Sharp Shoot (rgd touch atk): 1d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 211d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Crit conf.: 1d20 + 10 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 10 - 4 - 4 = 111d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Masa, content that his blade found purchase, repeats his assault, trying to fell the beast.

Katana: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 3 = 14

As he swings, his blade catches on the small, underground tunnel wall and he nearly loses hold of his blade. "Curses..." he remarks.

Alaneo stays in delay, waiting for the derro to fall.

Bernard puts a bolt dangerously close to the derro's heart, wounding him severely. Stumbling as he walks, the derro retreats back into the darkness. The remaining slaves cheer, "Hooray!"

The combat is effectively over. The derro is disabled at 0 hp, and tries to escape. You can pursue if you like.

He's staggered, so we could catch him easily.
"Now now, friend." Sheela laughs. "We need the keys to unlock those terrible shackles you placed."

Whether the derro gives it willingly or unwillingly, Sheela gets the keys and tries to unlock the shackles. "Is everyone alright? Is this all of you? Are any of you from the engineering guild?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Sheela rambles on, excited to save so many lives.

Bernard pursues the derro and shoots against him again.

+1 light crossbow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 271d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

I need my grit point back. :D

Haha evil Bernard! xD

Oh, sure, when I kill a guy, it's a bad thing, but when Bernard does it, it's played for laughs. It's fine, he's just killing a guy to recharge his class feature! ;-)

Nikolai shakes his head as his senses return, slightly dismayed that the combat is over before he was able to join it. "Hmmph," he says, mostly to himself. "That could have gone worse, I suppose."

@Alaneo and @Nikolai: you are breaking my heart, saying these words. u.u

EDIT: In my defense, I say that the others were defenseless slaves, and this derro is an evil slaver. :x

When Sheela frees the slaves, the Cassomirites immediately head to the stairs and make for the surface. In response to Sheela's question, one reports that he is an engineer, another is a city planner, and another is a mason; that they were all kidnapped in the last week; and that they were led to believe someone named Dalirio was going to turn them into skeletons. They are eager to escape!

Masa ignores the plight of the slaves as he is accustomed to their particular caste in his hometown, but he has no care to stop his comrades from applying their belief system to the world around them.

Instead, Masa carefully examines the fountain they found before they were rudely interrupted by the slaver.

Interpretting "Masa carefully examines" as "Take 10 on Perception"...

Each of the three tumblers has hundreds of symbols inscribed on it and none of the symbols repeat themselves. He finds the previously-located symbols (see handouts 1–3), one on each tumbler. The symbol from the statue (handout #1) adorns the top tumbler, the symbol from the Imperial Hall of Records (handout #2) adorns the middle tumbler, and the symbol from Quickfall Abbey (handout #3) adorns the third tumbler.

Turning them is a bit difficult. DC 15 Strength Check or a DC 12 Disable Device will do it.

Sure! ;-)

With a Take 10 from Masa and a Take 10 to aid from someone with a positive or neutral Strength, the party can move the tumblers.

Masa gestures to Nikolai. "Here, help me push these tumblers into place with the symbols we found." he remarks as he sets his shoulder against the low ring around the fountain.

"Ew, Skeletons." Sheela shudders. "Remember to tell your friends at the engineering guild that we saved you!" Sheela helps them out of the room.

She frowns as she sees the group move the tumblers. "Blech. More puzzles."

I don't think you can take 10 to aid, but honestly, if there's not a time crunch, we're going to eventually succeed.