GM Harker's PFS Season 4 Campaign

Game Master Justin L. Warren

As the Pathfinders travel up the tunnel leading east, they begin to hear the faint sounds of combat and a familiar woman’s voice half-shouting and half-reciting, “As the legendary Gregaro Voth successfully battled the wild beasts in the deepest reaches of the Mwangi Expanse, so shall I defeat you, foul servant of Lamashtu!”

Belroar hearing the sounds of battles holds his sword high and says, "To battle my friends, let's go see if we can help the little bard!

He moves forward more quickly.

Moadis follows Belroar close behind, polearm in hand.

Aurelia makes sure that the mage armor scroll is cast on Valik before proceeding, lightly touching the monk on the arm and surrounding him with a semi-translucent suit of chainmail for a few moments. If she has extra time, she also casts the same spell on Malgorrak, her hair catching alight as she channels her innate magics into her devil companion. Mal's force armour is an onyx-black breastplate with flaming pauldrons that almost immediately disappears into the aether. Only then does she run after the others in an attempt to catch up.

Valik, is mere seconds away from rushing to give aid to their guide and fellow Society member when he feels a gentle hand on his shoulder. Seconds later, he feels a buzzing around him, but then it fades as quickly as it came.

He rushes with Aurelia towards the sounds of battle, hoping they are not too late.

The young elf, still full of (himself) over confidence pulls out his hand axe and as he prepares to rush into battle. As he passes Aurelia and Valik, he throws his arms wide in a sideways leap (so he can keep facing them while running past) with a huge, mischievous grin splitting his face, "What, no lovin for me?"

Acrobatics?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 (OMG! I wasted a 20 on roleplay foolishness!)

The elf lands on one foot with the divine grace associated with his kind, spins, and continues on down the passageway to battle.

If that 'pride before the fall' saying carries any weight, Mel will have to borrow some of those "Help!" signs from Mr. Wile E. Coyote

"Lady's grace, she's alright!" Ophelia sighs in relief, before hurrying after the others. She clutches her holy symbol in one hand and her morningstar in the other, ready to heal if need be.

The group follows the sound of the voice through a maze of tight passages that include steep ascents and short climbs that wind from west to east. As the party makes its way, everyone can hear the sounds of a distant battle echoing through the caves, intermixed with Janira's inspirational tales of famous Pathfinders and their heroic deeds.

The voice eventually becomes louder, filling your hearts with courage and valor. At the same time, however, Belroar in the lead first notices two strange bags of quivering protoplasm reacting to the group's presence, one to the south in a side tunnel, the other straight ahead. Upon closer inspection, they appear to have a dark nucleus in the center, along with undigested bones floating inside them.

Knowledge (Dungeoneering) is the check needed to identify these.

Janira's words of inspiration are suitably audible to provide Inspire Courage to the group.

Initiative (Round 1)
Valik <= UP
Belroar <= UP
Aurelia/Malgorrak <= UP
Moadis <= UP
Melufiuos <= UP
Ophelia <= UP
2 Bags of Protoplasm

==Current Map==

Note on Map: The slick floors and steady incline from west to east increase the DC of all Acrobatics checks by 4.

Effects
Inspire Courage (All PC's): +1 morale bonus on saves vs. charm and fear effects, a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Shepherd bonus (All PC's): +2 insight bonus on a single check made to perform the aid another action in the next 24 hours.
Farmer bonus (All PC's): +1 luck bonus on Fortitude saves against poison for 24 hours
Tailor bonus (All PC's): +1 bonus on a single attack roll made against a flanked target within 24 hours.
Fisherman bonus (All PC's): +2 insight bonus on a single combat maneuver check made over the next
Mage Armor (Valik, Malgorrak): +4 Armor bonus to AC.

Party Up!

Belroar, you think you can take care of the one directly ahead while I cut off the one south of us? as he moves past Belroar.

Valik moves to cut off the bag of protoplasm from directly reaching his companions by moving directly in front of it. He takes up a defensive stance to protect his squishy bits, not knowing the capabilities of the enemy or went before him.

crane defensive fist, AC 23: 1d20 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 - 2 + 1 = 181d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Having spent the frantic moments before casting spells, Aurelia finds herself without weapons in hand, and so has to waste some time drawing her crossbow and loading a bolt within it.

"Πηγαίνετε βοήθεια Φαληκ," she says to Malgorrak distractedly as she fiddles with the lock on her crossbow's loading mechanism, waving her hand to send the devil off. Nodding in acquiescence, the devil plots off down the wandering tunnels until he emerges behind the ooze to the south.

Aurelia draws/loads her x-bow. Mal double moves.

Belroar charges the protoplasm that Valik pointed out. Or maybe not, depending on if it's difficult terrain?

Attack, IC, charge: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 2 = 10
Damage, if hits, IC: 2d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + 6 + 1 = 15

obviously, if i can't charge, I can't move all the way to the protoplasm, stupid medium armor. Anway, if that's the case, move me 20 feet and ready attack. And subtract the charge. Of course..doesn't matter much I don't think..

Valik moves to intercept the closer creature, hitting it with his fist despite his defensive stance. It almost feels like a punching bag.

Aurelia reloads her crossbow and dispatches Malgorrak through the southern tunnels. Following her orders, the Eidolon finds himself flanking one of the enemies with Valik.

Belroar charges the other strange translucent bag, but his weapon scrapes against the side of the tight passage and misses its target.

Moadis, Melufiuos, and Ophelia are up!

I misread something, so here's a correction to my previous post. My apologies for the error.

Belroar's weapon does scrape the side of the tight passage, but the frustration of that empowers the half-orc to bring it down hard on the bag of jelly, nearly severing it in half.

Belroar's enemy is down.

Moadis, Melufiuos, and Ophelia are up!

Mel steps up to the southern passage that Valik went down. Wishing he had is bow out, the magus resorts to flicking his wrist (like an underhanded softball pitch) at the combat. A green glob spurts out from his extended hand and arcs over Valik's shoulder toward the southern bag.

ToHit(Acid Splash): 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 4 = 15
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Moadis moves behind Valik and attacks the remaining monster.
Lucerne Hammer: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 16
Dmg: 1d12 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 1 = 14

Melufiuos, I need to know where you moved to use your acid splash in order to determine if Moadis can make his attack. Could you please move your icon on the map or indicate where Mel would be?

Just to let everyone know, you're free to move your icons on the maps provided to place them in the proper spots. If you're unable to do so, or prefer not to, please indicate where you move each turn, if applicable.

I do most of my posting from mobile devices, either phone or ipad. So usually I cant move Moadis on the map. I will try to always specify where he is going.

That's fine Moadis. I just wanted to make sure everyone knew that it was an option, since different PbP GM's have different policies.

Usually placement isn't a big issue, but in this case, it would appear that Mel will be positioned in a way that would prevent Moadis from attacking. Since it could make a difference in this combat, I'm just asking for verification to remain fair to everyone.

Seeing Beloroar take down one of the bizarre creatures, and the other trapped in a space she can't get to, Ophelia begins moving up to Valik, hoping to heal him if he gets injured.

Can't alter maps from my tablet - could someone please move me up to Valik? Double-move if necessary; if not, move and ready an action to channel positive energy if Valik gets hurt. No offence, Aurelia, but Ophelia doesn't see Malgorrak as essential just yet. ;-)

Sorry, made that update from work, so I couldn't update the map. However, I may not have anyway, since it looked like Moadis was ahead of me in the initiative order. Also, I remembered the hallway to be longer, so I wasn't even thinking about blocking other chars.

I'll move Mel where I would have moved him (yes, blocking Moadis, sorry). Please un-move me if Moadis would have gotten there first. In that case, can Mel fit in the partial square north of that. If so, he'll move there and toss his acid. If he cannot, he'll stand around useless. :)

Melufiuos moves behind Valik, casting a spell and tossing acid over the monk's shoulder to hit the protoplasm bag in front of him. The creature's skin membrane sizzles painfully as the acid hits it.

Ophelia moves through the tunnels to become adjacent to Valik, making herself available for first aid if necessary.

Moadis, it looks like you won't be able to attack from behind Valik, would you like to take a different action?

I think he needs to cuff that stupid elf on the back of his head! :)

I will double move to Belroar then.

Moadis advances east to back up Belroar.

Janira's voice echoes through the cavern, “And it was Selmius Foster’s race against a marid and efreeti on the isle of Jalmeray, which taught us that nothing is truly impossible and every situation can end in victory.”

The remaining blob reacts to the damage it has taken by lashing its body out towards Valik, but the magically armored monk is far too proficient in his defensive training and the strange creature misses him.

Initiative (Round 2)
Valik <= UP
Belroar (1 dmg) <= UP
Aurelia/Malgorrak <= UP
Moadis <= UP
Melufiuos <= UP
Ophelia <= UP
Bag of Protoplasm

Effects
Inspire Courage (All PC's): +1 morale bonus on saves vs. charm and fear effects, a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Shepherd bonus (All PC's): +2 insight bonus on a single check made to perform the aid another action in the next 24 hours.
Farmer bonus (All PC's): +1 luck bonus on Fortitude saves against poison for 24 hours
Tailor bonus (All PC's): +1 bonus on a single attack roll made against a flanked target within 24 hours.
Fisherman bonus (All PC's): +2 insight bonus on a single combat maneuver check made over the next
Mage Armor (Valik, Malgorrak): +4 Armor bonus to AC.

In case it comes up in your dice rolls, the creature is immune to flanking and crits.

Party Up!

Mel drops his hand axe, pulls out his bow, and launches a shaft at the freaky bag of protoplasm.

ToHit: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 3 - 4 = 15
Dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Bite: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22 Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 1 = 7
Claw: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8 Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9
Claw: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 1 = 20 Damage: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

Malgorrak rips and tears into whatever is left of the protoplasmic ooze after Melufiuos has had his way with it. Sticky goo goes flying everywhere.

The combined efforts of Mel and Mal turn the remaining creature into a terribly disgusting, yet dead, mess.

Combat Over

Janira's voice continues to echo through the chamber, although now it's beginning to take on a note of desperation. At the eastern end of these tunnels, a faint trace of light can be detected further east.

"Awesome, guys and gals, now lets go rescue the damsel in distress!" shouts Melufious as he rushes eastward. "Yell, Maggy, let her know help is on the way!" (Actually, the devil's roar would probably have the opposite effect, but Mel didn't think that through. Just like it didn't occur to him that Malgorrak would obey anyone other than Aurelia.)

Belroar roars and heads to find the little bard as quick as he can, motioning to Moadis to follow.

LOL, my sincerest apologies, I forgot about Belroar's roar! :)

Valik will rush towards the sound of Janira's voice, hoping he reaches her in time.

Malgorrak stares at Mel with one arched eyeridge, and then smirks, displaying the large fangs in his mouth. It's clear he finds it quite funny that a young mortal would dare to order him around...

In any case, as Aurelia jogs off after the others, Mal follows, still appearing quite bemused.

Moadis advances one more time shadowing Belroar.

Ophelia hurries after the others, keeping her holy symbol clutched tight and her morningstar drawn. "Oh Lady of Graves, protect our ally! Let this not be her year!"

After traversing another 120 feet of somewhat slick tunnels, the group finally makes it to the surface. The light of the moon above provides a welcome reprieve from the blue and green fungus of the caverns below, and the moonlight illuminates a stream whose water is hastened by runoff from a recent storm further up the mountains. A ledge to the west rises up to the nearby forest canopy.

Nearly 100 feet from the cave’s entrance, Janira is locked in combat with her minotaur foe in a clearing on the southern bank of the stream. Both combatants appear injured, the halfling especially. She shouts, “You vile beast! I know not what drives your black heart, but I shall not fail in my duty. I shall see you driven from this forest, back to the hills from whence you came!”

The plucky bard then steps further away from the minotaur and cracks her whip in an effort to disarm him. Unfortunately, the minotaur easily jerks his battleaxe away from the whip.

The horned monstrosity snorts, then steps forward and brings his weapon down hard into Janira, who immediately collapses and begins to bleed out!

Initiative
Janira
Minotaur
Ophelia <= UP
Valik <= UP
Aurelia <= UP
Melufiuos <= UP
Moadis <= UP
Belroar <= UP

Effects
Inspire Courage (All PC's): +1 morale bonus on saves vs. charm and fear effects, a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Shepherd bonus (All PC's): +2 insight bonus on a single check made to perform the aid another action in the next 24 hours.
Farmer bonus (All PC's): +1 luck bonus on Fortitude saves against poison for 24 hours
Tailor bonus (All PC's): +1 bonus on a single attack roll made against a flanked target within 24 hours.
Fisherman bonus (All PC's): +2 insight bonus on a single combat maneuver check made over the next
Mage Armor (Valik, Malgorrak): +4 Armor bonus to AC.

==Current Map==

Notes on the Map:
The wooded undergrowth (i.e., the green areas) is considered difficult terrain, and so costs two squares to move through and no charging. It can also act as concealment.
Squares with trees in them can be moved through and provide partial cover.
The water is deep and fast enough to require a swim check.
The log over the river is slick and requires an acrobatics check to cross it and you can only move half speed over it.
The slope to the west gradually rises up 20 feet.

Party Up!

Aurelia turns the corner just in time to see the minotaur drop its axe deep into Janira's body, and she gasps in abject horror. Even before she realises what she's doing, her feet are moving, dashing across the opening as fast as she can take them. Her devilish companion seems a little confused, but shrugs and follows along with her.

Aurelia and Malgorrak both double move forward.

Ophelia's mind kicks into religious fervour. "Oh Pharasma, do not take this soul yet. The world has need of her!" She hurries forward, scaled coat flapping heavily about her legs, in hopes of stopping the bleeding before it's too late.

Double-move!

Belroar roars at the minotaur. He then moves as quick as he can toward the river. Double Move, 8 squares due south

He yells, "Come on minotaur, pick on someone closer to your size!!

Valik, moves out of the cavern exit, just in time to see Janira fall due to the blow of a large greataxe. He doesn't think twice, but full out sprints to get closer to the beast that has troubled them so.

When he gets to the treeline, he notices that getting through the thick underbrush is going to be a pain, but he presses forward, keeping his balance even if difficult at times.

full out run, 4x30=120, I think I did my math right. The black line represents the path I took, so if it needs correcting you can see which way I went.

Valik, I believe to run you have to move in a straight line. Also, you can't run through difficult terrain. Would you like to change your action?

Oh, well poop...I will double move then...corrected on map :)

While you cant run in difficult terrain I believe only charges have to be in strait lines. No? Dont have my books with me now.

Moadis moves out of the cave and fires his sling at the beast.
Hey ugly!

Sling: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 1 = 20
Dmg: 1d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8

Not sure what are the penalties for the shot, since the halfling have fallen the minotaur is no longer engaged in combat by my round. Would that be correct? I put a line in the path of the bullet (hope it was alright).

Mel is so far back in the cave, I think he needs to double move just to get to the mouth. Go ahead and move me out as far as possible. Mel would run too, but I doubt he can do that in the cave :(

-Posted with Wayfinder

Double moved you to Ophelia's side Mel. Is that a good position for you?

Moadis, there is a range penalty of -2 since minotaur is more than 50 ft. away. Also, looking at your character sheet, I'm afraid I don't see any sling bullets, so I'm assuming Moadis used a stone he found in the cave, which gives another -1 penalty to the attack roll. I'm taking both those circumstances into consideration on your roll.

After witnessing Janira being cut down by the minotaur, everyone moves closer to try to engage the creature and save the halfling bard. Moadis pulls out his sling and hurls a stone at the would-be bard-slayer, clearly getting its attention when it is struck.

With a bestial roar, the minotaur plods towards the group, seemingly annoyed that there's a river in the way of its bloodlust. Pulling a javelin from its back, the creature hurls it at the closest target, Aurelia, but lucky for her its aim is off and the weapon only strikes the ground.

Inspire Courage is still active

Initiative (Round 2)
Janira (Unconscious, stopped bleeding out)
Minotaur
Ophelia <= UP
Valik <= UP
Aurelia <= UP
Melufiuos <= UP
Moadis <= UP
Belroar (1 dmg) <= UP

Effects
Inspire Courage (All PC's): +1 morale bonus on saves vs. charm and fear effects, a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.
Shepherd bonus (All PC's): +2 insight bonus on a single check made to perform the aid another action in the next 24 hours.
Farmer bonus (All PC's): +1 luck bonus on Fortitude saves against poison for 24 hours
Tailor bonus (All PC's): +1 bonus on a single attack roll made against a flanked target within 24 hours. Fisherman bonus (All PC's): +2 insight bonus on a single combat maneuver check made over the next
Mage Armor (Valik, Malgorrak): +4 Armor bonus to AC.

Party Up!

Valik, will continue to move through the thick brush, trying to get to the savage beast.

double move to end of thicket...AC 20

"Eeeek!" Aurelia shrieks as the javelin embeds itself in the ground before her feet. Trembling, she dashes forward and ducks behind a thin and spindly tree, hoping that would dissuade the minotaur from attacking her again. Steadying her breathing, Aurelia closes her eyes and begins concentrating on the fiery globe hanging around her neck. In her mind's eye she visualises Belroar becoming huge and powerful, rivalling even the child of Baphomet in height... small motes of fire begin to dance around the half-orc as he feels his muscles begin to engorge!

Using my efreeti magic SLA to start casting enlarge person on Belroar. He'll be enlarged at the beginning of my next turn for 1 minute.

Malgorrak snorts as the minotaur dares to attack his mistress, and the devil turns fire-rimmed eyes upon the bull-man. "Filth-ridden abortion of Baphomet, you shall suffer for that," he snarls, picking his way through the thicket with bloodlust rising in his chest. (Not that a devil needs much of an excuse to want death and pain to reign...)

Double move.

Belroar continues hurling insults at the minotaur, speaking about how he must be the runt of the litter and probably not good for anything, picking on such a small creature. As he continues to move as fast as he can through the difficult terrain.

Double move, I am pretty sure I figured it right. Belroar will be still wielding his greatsword. Bring me mah largeness!!!

Ophelia continues hurrying forward, stumbling slightly in the undergrowth.

Double-move!