GMG's PbP: Shackles adventures (Inactive)

Game Master Magabeus

Xasay looks up at Grisaia. "What did you have in mind to parley for? As they said, we are not enemies; they are here, we are there."

"Safe passage, at least. We should declare our intentions to travel to the monastery and ask if they know what dangers we might face."

Xasay addresses the lizardfolk again.

"Are they friendly?"

"Not bein' stabbed by lizahdfolk sounds like friendly ta me.", Scratcher answers.

Xasay turns to Emmett, nods eagerly, and holds up a long finger in a 'one moment' gesture before returning his gaze to the lizardfolk.

Tori stands quietly to the side, looking back and forth as Xasay converses in Draconic.

Xasay turns back to the party with a wide smile that the ignorant might consider menacing. "They have invited us to their village! They have a leader named Krentak who would like to speak with us, and they say she even speaks Wayang!"

"Or maybe they mean she knows Common," He adds after a moment's consideration.

"Great, let's go. Hopefully this isn't some kind of trap." Tori replies, sounding more pessimistic then she intended at the end.

"Sounds promising so far!"

Emmett holsters his pistol and is ready to follow.

The lizardfolk bring you to their village, which consists of several treetop platforms. It seems these are the dwellings of a dwindling tribe. A powerfully built female lizard climbs down from the trees, accompanied by ten other lizardfolk. She addresses you in common

"Welcome, I am Krentak. Please accept some dried meat, nuts and coconut water. Can I ask you what you are doing here on the island?"

"Aye! Tanks for da grub!", Scratcher waiting a second for the others before he becomes the first to take the offering.

"Xassy, let 'em know what we're 'ere for.", Scratcher says with a mouthful of jerky and macadamias.

"You are welcome, I heard there is a small boat in the lagoon, is that yours? Were you shipwrecked?"

"We were not, mighty Krentak. We come seeking a relic said to rest here." Grisaia answers, now that the conversation is open to the party. "I am known as Grisaia, and we are of the Pathfinder Society. We seek lost histories and knowledge, and our mission has directed us to the ruins on the cliffs. If you can help us succeed, even with just warning of dangers, we will be grateful." The half-orc raises a coconut to sip at the water within.

"Ya! 'ow rude a me. I'm Scratcha'", the Scratcher thumping his chest proudly.

"The monastery is taboo to us, we do not venture there. Although I do know that entering it without the custodian’s symbol is dangerous."

"Custodian's symbol? What's that?"

"We are accustomed to danger. But if this symbol is something you could share with us, we are not so foolish as to ignore your counsel."

"I could share the symbol with you if you would be a member of the tribe."

She holds up her hand and continues "I know what you will say, 'how could you become a member of our tribe?' For that you would need to undertake the traditional rites. We are beset by nasty creatures, called keches, that steal our eggs. One can become a member of the tribe by bringing back the ears of a dead kech."

"That doesn't sound very pleasant, but we'll do it. Do you need an ear for each of us?" Tori asks now that the pleasantries were out of the way.

"Ears? Really?"

"When in Taldor..." Grisaia murmurs at Emmett's question. "I will gladly undertake this test. What may we know of these keches?"

"Yes, really. If you were to return with two sets of ears we can make you members of the tribe. Keches are akin to apes, as we are akin to reptiles. The nasty creatures steal our eggs and eat them. We can't have that! They can normally be found in the northern part of the island"

You head out to the norther part of the island, where you enter the jungle. While the canopy of the trees is lush and dense there is not that much light that pierces to the ground, which makes the jungle easy to traverse. You have your eyes on the ground to search for trails when two arrows come down! One hits Xasay's buckler while the other pierces Grisaia's shoulder. You immediately look up and see two monkey-like creatures that try to hide in the the canopy.

Grisaia does not see red, if someone spends a move action to point it out she will also see it. Obviously the others do not know she does not see red.

Initiative
Keches are at 70 feet high in the trees
Emmett
Tori
Xasay
- - -
Blue
Red (hidden for Grisia)
- - -
Grisaia 38/45 hp
Scratcher

Spotting the enemy in the trees, Tori quickly moves to find cover behind a tree trunk before firing at arrow at the blue kech.

+1 Longbow - DA: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 2 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 4 = 13

Xasay goes to the base of the tree holding the other kech, pulls out one of his specially-made stencil, and from out of the shadows of the canopy comes a darkly iridescent giant gecko, which races up the tree and snaps at the mean monkey-man!

You get the idea, conjuring a shadow Celestial giant gecko, who,
between the range at which I can conjure it and its speed, just makes it 70 feet up and Smites Evil. DC 18 Will save to reduce it to 20% reality...

bite, Smite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
Damage: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 1) + 3 = 5

...that is, as soon as it hits or gets hit.

Emmett draws his pistol and fires at blue.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Emmett and Tori shoot through the leaves and branches and hit the blueish kech! Xasay's gecko fails to hit. The kech near the gecko moves slightly away, both then drop a round object on the ground, one near Tori and the other near Scratcher. Both burst when they hit the ground, spraying rash-causing black juice and festering rind over everyone but Xasay. Grisaia also notices the second kech

Attack Blue: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Attack Red: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Sniping Red: 1d20 + 19 - 20 ⇒ (1) + 19 - 20 = 0
Perception Grisaia: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

Initiative
Keches are at 70 feet high in the trees
Grisaia 38/45 hp
Scratcher
Emmett
Tori
Xasay
- - -
Blue -20 hp
Red
- - -

Fort Save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

"Shelyn, let my faith be a shield against evil." Grisaia moves around the trunk of the tree as she intones her prayer, brilliant colors shrouding her form.

Shield of Faith and move action.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

Tori tries not to think about whatever that black juice could be as she fires more arrows at the blue kech.

+1 Longbow with Manyshot and Rapid Shot and Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 14 - 2 - 2 = 30
Crit confirmation: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 14 - 2 - 2 = 25
Damage with Manyshot: 3d8 + 18 + 12 + 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (8, 2, 7) + 18 + 12 + (2) + 6 + 4 = 59

Assuming that kills the blue kech, Tori takes a five foot step to the west and fires her remaining arrows at the red kech.

Iterative attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 2 - 2 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 = 16

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 - 2 - 2 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 4 = 11

Scratcher moves closer to the probably last kech on the left, grabbing a chakram and chucking it at the foe!

Chakram @ red: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
Damage on hit: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Tori fires two arrows at once, followed by a crash as the first kech drops to the ground. Two arrows and a chakram later there is another crash as the next kech also drops. A few cuts later you hold two grissly sets of ears.

You return to the lizardfolk village and present the ears to Krentak. She asks you to wait until nightfall. At nightfall you are made into honorary members of the tribe during a long feast and wild celebration featuring dancing, pounding drums, and copious amounts of potently alcoholic fermented coconut milk. After a few hours of festivities, Krentak takes you aside and presents each of you with a crudely carved wooden talisman. She explains that presenting these talismans at the ruined building safeguards the bearers from the guardian spirits there. The revelry goes on deep into the night, but you manage to extract yourself at a certain point and get some sleep. Halfway during the next day you wake up, ready to tackle the monastery.

Kn: Religion: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (17) - 2 = 15

"Man, gotta say, dem lizahdfolk know how to partay."

"Huh, dat be Gozreh's mark there.", Scratcher commenting on the talisman.

You head into the deeper jungle, towards the monastery. You make sure your talismans are visible above your armors. Entering the monastery you find a courtyard.

A trickle of water flows from the damaged stone fountain at the center of this open courtyard. A muddy morass surrounds the fountain, flowing across a path bordering the courtyard and flooding a small side chamber. Two recessed areas at the courtyard’s northern end hold tall statues and steps up to a small landing. On the west side, a statue depicting a bearded old man with wild hair stands before a landing with a shattered circular window. On the east side, a female statue lies smashed on the floor, and the landing and exterior wall have crumbled away. From the muddy morass a roughly humanoid form rises. It is composed entirely of thick gobbets of soggy, brown mud and it flicks a ball of mud at Grisaia, covering her armor in the same sticky brown mud!

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24

Feel free to buff before entering the monastery

"Interesting choice of guards..." Tori murmurs as she moves 5 feet to the south, then unleashes a volley of arrows at the mud creature.

+1 Longbow with Manyshot and Rapid Shot and Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 14 - 2 - 2 = 25

Damage with Manyshot first arrow: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 4 = 13
Damage with Manyshot second arrow: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 = 14
DR is applied separately to each arrow, so just in case I split them for GM ease.

Iterative attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 - 2 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 4 = 12

Crit Confirmation on Iterative attack in case it's not immune to Crit damage: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 2 - 2 = 13

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 14 - 2 - 2 = 27
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 4 = 11

Know Planes: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Unsure of what the mud creature has done besides dirty her armor, Grisaia murmurs "Shelyn, be my shield." before moving to circle around, forcing the aggressor to move through a clear stretch of the ruin.

Barkskin up before entering, casting shield and moving.

Tori answers the splash of mud with a volley of arrows, all hit their mark and do considerable damage to the muddy creature. Grisaia decides to start with defensive actions.

Initiative
Emmett
Scratcher
- - -
Muddy McMudface - 50 damage
- - -
Grisaia
Tori
Xasay

Scratcher steps forward 5' step unless those pillar-like things are blocking a diagonal 5' step.

He then stabs at the creature twice if allowed.

If single attack only, add +2 to hit
Tekko flurry CE: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 1 = 16
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Tekko flurry CE if allowed: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 1 = 20
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

AC is currenty 25

"Are we sure we want to kill this thing?"

Emmett levels his gun and joins in, but his indecision costs him his shot.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Scratcher carefully steps into the water, making sure he keeps his footing. It might be that which causes his strike to go wide.Emmett misses. The muddy creature steps back and tosses another ball of mud. This time at Tori's face, which blinds her!

Ranged Touch @Tori: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Initiative
Watery squares are difficult terrain
Emmett
Scratcher
Grisaia
Tori - Mudfaced! (The target or an adjacent creature can wipe off the mud as a standard action)
Xasay
- - -
Muddy McMudface - 50 damage
- - -

The Scratcher takes the long way around to give Tori more of a clear shot, stabbing once against at the elemental foe!

Tekko Kagi CE Stab: 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 - 1 = 11
Damage on hit: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

AC is still 25

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

As Tori quickly scrapes the mud out of her eyes, she dryly observes, "It slimed me."

"So, this might be pointless discussion since I already shot it full of arrows, but do we continue attacking this thing or what? The mud thing is annoying, but not life-threatening."

I'll wait to act until after the other PC's have a chance to react to Tori's question. She will still take her actions before mudbaby acts again.

Scratcher moves away from the mudman. It tries to strike at the nimble human and fails to hit. Likewise Scratcher fails to hit the mudman.

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20

Initiative
Watery squares are difficult terrain
Emmett
Grisaia
Tori
Xasay
- - -
Muddy McMudface - 50 damage
- - -
Scratcher

"Someone should decide soon!" Emmett shouts as he reloads and fires.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Grisaia moves to guard Emmett from the mud monsters attacks, swinging her glaive to keep it at bay.

Glaive on Mudman: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"Okay, I guess we're going with destroying it." Tori observes with a shrug as she fires more arrows at the mudbaby.

+1 Longbow with Manyshot and Rapid Shot and Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 14 - 2 - 2 = 28

Damage with Manyshot first arrow: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 4 = 14
Damage with Manyshot second arrow: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 = 16

Iterative attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 2 - 2 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 4 = 15

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 14 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 2 - 2 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 4 = 12

Although Emmett manages to shoot a bullet through the muddy man the hole closes right after the bullet has passed through. Tori's magical arrows don't have that problem and the mudman splashes down and does not rise again.

Out of combat, where do you go?

Xasay catches up from...somewhere.

"My apologies; damned afternoon's so bright I couldn't see where I was going."

That, and I apparently stopped getting updates from this thread for a while; I completely missed that mudlord. :P