GMG's PbP: Shackles adventures (Inactive)

Game Master Magabeus

Next area or do you want to do anything here?

"Are we hearing ghosts?"

Emmett keeps his pistol ready, but eases his way up to the altar to take a look around it.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

"I 'erd somethin' 'round dat altar... wanted me to do a thin', but now I can't remembah.", Scratcher comments. "Gave me da 'eebie-jeebies."

I'd assume it is a haunt, not sure how to tackle it other than throwing some holy water or channeling.

Emmett hears the sound of low chanting, which seems to be coming from the altar.

Surprise round, Emmett can act.

Emmett tries to pinpoint the chanting, and if he can get close, he will drop an alchemist's' fire on the space.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Touch attack vs AC 5: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 1 = 28

Splash damage: 1

Emmett moves up to the altar and covers it and the strange implements on it with fire.

Emmett: Will save please!

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Woot! I am sure that did it, no problem.

Nope, nothing bad can happen with a roll like that, no sirree! :)

Scratcher and Tori watch on as Emett sets the altar on fire

Anything you want to do while watching? Obviously you have no idea that Emmett failed his save

Initiative
Scratcher
Tori
- - -
Emmett
Grisaia
Xasay

"Why are you setting the altar on fire?" Tori asks with confusion.

No actions unless/until there is an obvious enemy target.

"Oy! Whatcha doin' mate?", Scratcher exclaims, unsure of Emmett's new pyromanic desire.

Assuming that there wasn't anything truly valuable on the altar itself

Scratcher then creates water to douse the fire 4 gallons worth

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Emmett climbs on top of the now doused altar and lays down. The six implements on it float up and then strike down at his exposed flesh!

Initiative
Emmett can make a new will save as a full round action, 30/34 hp
Grisaia
Scratcher
Tori
Xasay
- - -
GM

"Cor blimey! Wot da 'ell is dat?", Scratcher asks, now just trying to yank Emmett from the altar.

Will do this assuming Emmett is still on there... if he feels like moving on his own, then will change action.

Not sure if this a reposition or bull rush maneuver either. Same roll, but just noting.
Reposition/Bull Rush on Emmett: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

Scratcher pulls Emmett from the altar

"Whatever this is, it isn't the captain! We should fall back!" Grisaia calls out.

With Emmett off the altar, Tori follows Grisaia's sound advice and moves out of the room and 30 feet down the stairs.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 Not sure that was still needed...or if Will decides to climb back up?

Emmett climbs up on the altar again...

Xasay can still act

Far from certain what to do, Xasay tries to study the haunted altar with more than just his mundane sight....

detect magic/Spellcraft, if pertinent: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Knowledge (Religion) to identify/study/understand haunt: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29 -2 if you don't consider Haunts to count as "Undead" for purposes of Secrets of the Grave

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 1

Emmett climbs on top of the now doused altar and lays down. The six implements on it float up and then strike down at his exposed flesh! The implements continue their horrible job

Initiative
Emmett can make a new will save as a full round action, 29/34 hp
Grisaia
Scratcher
Tori
Xasay
- - -
GM

Emmett seems to have no clue what is happening to him, but something in the back of his brain is struggling. Way back in his brain... far, far back.

Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

"Yee-ha! Umph."

Emmett seems not to care that torture implements are carving up his flesh. What will the other pathfinders do about the situation?

Scratcher grapples Emmett, trying to keep him from crawling back on the altar.

Grapple @ Emmett: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 + 4 = 34
Adding 4 as I assume Emmett is prone on the altar

Grisaia moves up to assist in dragging Emmett away.

Grapple Assist: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Emmett is currently on the altar, grappling him there would just keep him on the altar (but will give you the option to move him next round as per the grappling rules)

Could Grisaia then try to reposition the grappled Emmett?

No, main reason: Scratcher is grappling Emmett, trying to keep him in place. The grappling rules allow for moving. Reposition is a different combat maneuver and repositioning someone in a grapple is a pain within the rules.

How about some insights for/from those lovely Spellcraft/Knowledge rolls I made last post?

whoops, missed that, thanks for reminding me

Xasay sees that there is magic in the area, whether that is from the magic brought into the area by Emmett or was already there is something that will need to be analyzed Detect magic round 1: know if there are magic auras

He knows that this is a haunt and it seems to want to dismember Emmett. The others don't seem to be affected by it. The implements obviously play a part in it, so destroying those is likely a good idea.

Tori pulls out a coil of rope then moves back up the stairs. "Here, use this to bind Emmett until he stops trying to get himself killed."

Tori takes a rope while Scratcher and Grisaia grab Emmett. Are they helping in getting him sliced up?

Initiative
Xasay
- - -
GM
- - -
Emmett can make a new will save as a full round action, 29/34 hp
Grisaia
Scratcher
Tori

Xasay?

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21
Damage: 1d10 ⇒ 4

Xasay studies the magical auras detect magic round 2. The altar is not magical, but the implements are. The strongest aura is one that you brought in.

Initiative
Xasay
Emmett can make a new will save as a full round action, 25/34 hp
Grisaia
Scratcher
Tori
- - -
GM
- - -

Emmett continues to have an internal struggle between his desire to ride the altar to hell and, you know... continuing to breath.

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

Grapple maintaining: 1d20 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 5 = 30

Scratcher maintains his grip on his bewitched ally and drags him away from the altar.

Tori moves up the grappled Emmett and begins to tie him up with her rope, "Sorry, but you'll thank me for this later."

bump

Xasay studies the magical auras detect magic round 2. The altar is not magical, but the implements are. The strongest aura is one that you brought in.

Sorry for my extended absence; to what are you referring? Is there a particular implement we brought with us, or are you just talking about our own magic? That'll help me know what to do.

If I myself am any indication, I think we're floundering on what we possibly can do about all this. We don't even know WHY or FOR WHOM/WHAT these things are collecting sacrifices.

"Umm, did I drink too much and get unruly? Why the heck are you all trying to tie me up?"

There are six torture implements that are attempting to carve up Emmett, they are currently hanging in the air above the altar. And indeed: your characters have no idea why these things are trying to cut up Emmett.

"Get him off of there, the compulsion has abated!" Grisaia tries to help pull Emmett away from the torture tools.

If it seems apparent that Emmett is back to normal, Tori begins to untie him.

You draw Emmett away and he stands up

Out of initiative

"What did I do?!? Why are you all trying to carve me up?"

After someone explains the situation, he calms down and considers the events. "Before this all started, I heard some voices chanting or something. Could someone be in here with us?"

"No one 'ere but us, Emms."

You carefully attempt to approach the altar again, but it now seems safe. Xasay finds a giant dagger on the ground that is magical. It could be wielded like a scimitar for those of medium size.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

"It's an ugly weapon, but it will serve as a fair tool if one of you need it." Grisaia looks about the room. "I think there is nothing else for us here. We should move on to find the captain."

Stairs from the northeast descend into this octagonal room. Against the walls sit a carved stone weapon stand, a broken stone table, all scaled for creatures twice human height. The southwestern wall is covered in an unusual black substance that looks like coral, and massive formations of the material choke the exit to the southwest. A narrow path seems to have
recently been cut through the mass into a room beyond.

Medium PCs can attempt to squeeze through the path: acrobatics (Xasay can just walk through). Or you can work on widening the path, but that will take time

"Looks like they went through here. Shall we?"

Emmett tries to squeeze through.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17