A quick search of the room reveals a crumpled and roughly folded canvass with a full-length artistic rendition of Zarta in scanty red apparel, along with several other pieces of art apparently considered too lascivious to remain. The bucket holding the door open appears to be a mixture of varnish and turpentine.
Detecting no dangers from the open door, the group progresses to the next room. This extravagant bedchamber is dominated by a massive four poster bed that takes up half the room. Red-varnished wardrobes and vanities complement the black silk sheets on the bed, which appears to be in the process of being dismantled. The walls of the room have been stripped of the portraits that once hung there, faint outlines of the art pieces being all that remain. The exception to this is the eastern wall, which is occupied by an elaborate woodcutting depicting but a single nymph in a seductive pose, garbed in nothing but a necklace bearing an amulet shaped like the Asmodean star. An unexplored door stands to the north of the room.
Perception DC 15:
The amulet in the woodcutting is actually a keyhole that appears to fit the Asmodean cross-style key you found earlier.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Valik beats that DC without even rolling, so... let's open the thing.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella looks over Lyanif's shoulder with curiousity.
Valik should probably also check for traps before we blow everyone up or something?
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
spot? Huh?
my point was that there is no such thing as a critical failure for skill checks (UMD excepted). Therefore if you add 1 to a skill modifier then you have the minimum possible value you can roll. In Valik's case, he automatically succeeds on any Perception Check of DC 17 or less because it is impossible to fail.
EDIT: Oh, you're talking about trapfinding. I think in Pathfinder that anyone can intentionally look for traps. Rogues have an instinct about traps and so they get a check automatically, along with a bonus to the roll.
Valik points out the keyhole in the painting and the group's rogue retrieves the keys and tries the lock. As Lyanif turns the key, the woodcutting pops open like a door, and, unfortunately, a diabolical creature also pops into existence next to the kitsune. The red and black creature carries a saw-toothed glaive and has a long twitchy beard.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella wrote:
Quiella looks over Lyanif's shoulder with curiousity.
| Per +22 | F/R/W 9/9/14 | CMD 23-32 Human 8.1 Monk (sensei/Ki mystic) HP: 54/54 | AC 20 (MA 24) (MA + CW 33) | TCH 29 | FF 23 | Init +7
Guys, its a bearded devil.Use silver or good aligened weapons to get past its defenses.
He drops his ancestral weapon, grabs his silver nunchaku then attempts to bash the devil with them, all the while protecting his squishy parts, while focusing his ki.
T'kk'tck hits the Bearded Devil with his spell, but the acid appears to do no damage to the creature whatsoever.
The devil drops his glaive as all of his targets are immediately in front of him. He then attacks Valik, Quiella, and Lyanif with his claws, moving at a speed no doubt enhanced with magic. The veterans are able to avoid the attack, but the devil's claws take a substantial chunk out of Lyanif. Lyanif takes 10 damage from the claw.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
A wave of healing washes over Lyanif as a similar splash of pain hits Quiella. She shrugs it off as she takes a step back from the creature and draws her long-handled hammer, then strikes for the creature's head.
Crunch:
Notes: don't know if it makes a difference but my AC with the Kikko armor is only 17. I hadn't gotten around to changing it for this scenario. If Quiella would have taken a hit, then she probably will add a swift-action lay-on-hands into the mix here. Let me know.
Round 1 action: life link automagically heals Lyanif of 5 hp and gives Quiella 5 wounds
5' step diagonally away
move action to draw silvered lucerne hammer
standard action to attack bearded devil
Male Human Ranger 7 | HP 61/61 | AC 18 | T 15 | FF 13 | CMD 24 CMB 9 | Fort +7 | Ref +10 | Will +4 | Init +7 | Perc +12 | Sense Motive +3|Low Light Vision| Frostfur: HP 57 AC 23 Large
Halkale fires a silver arrow at the devil and then follows with another silver arrow.
Quiella, the attack would have missed AC 17 as well, so no worries there.
Lyanif withdraws to a safer distance away from the devil, while T'kk'tck remains back and considers his next move.
The two paladins attack, but neither is able to penetrate the defenses of the outsider, but both come fairly close.
Halkale's second arrow does manage to find it's mark, and the Bearded Devil snarls in pain.
The outsider retaliates by attempting to claw Valik. When it comes nowhere close to hitting the well defended monk, the Bearded Devil takes a 5' step and attacks Halkale. It hits the ranger with both claws, holding him just long enough to try to infect him with its disgusting beard. Halkale takes 29 damage in total from two claw attacks and the beard. I also need a Fort save vs. Disease DC 17.
Initiative (Rounds 2-3)
Valik <= Up
T'kk'tck <= Up
Bearded Devil
Lyanif [5 Dmg] <= Up
Halkale [29 Dmg; Fort save needed] <= Up
Quiella [5 Dmg] <= Up
Moadis <= Up
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Lyanif finds the last of her wounds closing as new wounds open beneath Quiella's armor. Quiella climbs onto what's left of the bed, healing herself in the process. Then she faces the devil and says "You are going down, ugly". Then she takes advantage of her higher footing to attack the devil.
Crunch:
Notes: Three 1s in a row. :(
Round 2 action: life link heals Lyanif another 5 hp
swift action LoH
move action climb onto the bed
standard action attack devil
Valik, Halkale isn't threatening with his bow, so you don't get the flank bonus. I left you in the square you started in, let me know if you still want to move a square to the right.
Valik barely misses the devil with his nunchaku, while Quiella climbs up on the bed and tries to bludgeon it, but miscalculates her footing on the soft bedding and her blow somehow strikes the ceiling instead.
Male Human Ranger 7 | HP 61/61 | AC 18 | T 15 | FF 13 | CMD 24 CMB 9 | Fort +7 | Ref +10 | Will +4 | Init +7 | Perc +12 | Sense Motive +3|Low Light Vision| Frostfur: HP 57 AC 23 Large
oof, why oh why do i always end up in melee???
Fort Save:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Halkale steps back behind Moadis hoping the paladin will stop the devil from following.
Lyanif wisely remains in the back, although all her wounds are now healed by Quiella's oracular abilities.
Moadis takes a 5ft. step back and with a powerful blow cracks the outsider's ribs or whatever devils possess in lieu of them. Despite the injuries, the Bearded Devil remains standing, but his attention now appears focused on the older paladin.
To attack with your reach weapon, Moadis, you had to be 5 feet from your position adjacent to the devil. I took the liberty of moving you, if there's any issues on your end with that, just let me know.
The wounded Halkale steps away from the devil and fires an arrow, but misses.
You've contracted a disease, Halkale, but the onset is outside the temporal scope of this scenario. We'll deal with it at the end.
T'kk'tck summons an eagle that wastes no time attacking the outsider. Despite hitting once with its talons, the claws are unable to injure the devil's supernaturally tough skin.
Just to be clear, the eagle did not get a flank bonus either, because Halkale doesn't threaten with a bow (yet?).
Cursing in Infernal, the Bearded Devil takes a 5ft step and focuses its 3 claw attacks on Moadis. One claw does manage to make it past the paladin's defenses, moderately injuring him. Moadis takes 11 damage from the claw attack.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
the eagle was in the space formerly occupied by Halkale. Post coming later. Probably a 5' and attack again. I can move life link over to Halkale as a standard action if it becomes necessary
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella takes a step back to make room for using her hammer, then swings it at the devil.
Crunch:
Notes: I am actually at 6 damage. I took 10 damage from life link and healed 4.
T'kk'tck's post would suggest the eagle is in the proper space, although if that's incorrect, please move it to the appropriate space. In either case, it would have just hit once.
The Bearded Devil just dodges out of the way of Quiella's hammer, with whatever magical effect making him slightly harder to hit.
Yeah, I have the proper damage listed in my notes, I just wrote it down wrong on the init order.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
you are correct. I misread his post as saying "ranger" instead of "devil"
Male Human Ranger 7 | HP 61/61 | AC 18 | T 15 | FF 13 | CMD 24 CMB 9 | Fort +7 | Ref +10 | Will +4 | Init +7 | Perc +12 | Sense Motive +3|Low Light Vision| Frostfur: HP 57 AC 23 Large
Halkale steps back again, the fires another arrow.
With a decisive blow of his hammer, Moadis finally defeats the creature. Instead of collapsing, the devil and its glaive are sucked back into the woodcutting and disappear.
Combat Over
There's no loot to be had here, just let me know where you want to move next. Your choices are the north door or the room to the east behind the woodcutting.
Male Human Ranger 7 | HP 61/61 | AC 18 | T 15 | FF 13 | CMD 24 CMB 9 | Fort +7 | Ref +10 | Will +4 | Init +7 | Perc +12 | Sense Motive +3|Low Light Vision| Frostfur: HP 57 AC 23 Large
Halkale pulls out his wand and taps himself six times.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
"What was that thing, guarding?"
well done Mo. Quiella has a lot to learn from you ;-)
Quiella leads the way past the secret door and into the next room. In contrast to the large and lavish rooms that make up the rest of this side of the embassy, this secret study is cramped, utilitarian, and sparse. Almost all of the room is taken up by a long desk topped by a series of cubbies full of papers and curios. The desk itself is clear except for a piece of paper and a small, framed portrait of Venture Captain Ambrus Valsin with a lipstick kiss-mark on it. The walls of the room are irregular and look as if the room was shoehorned into wasted space between other rooms. Like the rest of the personal chambers, this room is windowless, and is pierced only by the secret door and an air vent in the southern corner.
If you examine the piece of paper, it looks likes this.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
what do we find from searching the rest of the desk?
Please post doing so in character and make a Perception check. All actions take some time, so I'm not assuming anything since you have a time limit in game.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella tries to help. Perception, aid Valik:1d20 ⇒ 19
