GM Lithrac's Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

Zeltyieli once again directs a sliver of the Walker of World's inspiration into the half-orc.

Guidance...

Hralyk sees Ramenhotep's ray shoot over his shoulder and screams, "I can do this alone! I'll not suffer your attempts to dishonor me!" However, his frustration and exasperation causes his blow to not be as well-aimed as before.

Free action: Maintain rage (+4 Str/Con, AC 17, 23/26 HP, 7 rounds remaining)
Standard action: Attack rat-faced girl
Attack (Falchion, Rage, Single Combat, Power Attack, Guidance): 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 14
Damage (Falchion, Rage, Power Attack): 2d4 + 4 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 + 3 + 3 = 13

Hralyk, despite being guided by the gods, misses the strange humanoid creature, causing Jordan to start opening a gate to the outer planes.

Jordan, please keep in mind that from where you are, you won't be able to make the creature appear in the room where the rat is.

The rat creature doesn't let Hralyk disengage though, and follows him. She strikes again, and this time she manages to wound the enraged half-orc twice.
Shorsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 171d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Bite: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (20) - 1 = 191d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Confirmation: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4 Not a crit, but you'll have to make a Fort save, please.

Initiative - round 7 - bold may act!
1. Hralyk, Ramenhotep, Zeltiyeli
2. Rat-faced girl, Tower Girl
3. Jordan & dog, Telka

Actually, you'll need two Fort saves Hralyk.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Zeltyieli mutters, What's the point of outnumbering them if we can't use our numbers? ", then casts guidance again.

Jordan brings a celestial eagle into being from nothing and points out a natural prey. The eagle attacks and tries to smite the rat-faced creature.

I asked to move 15' south dragging my dog a while ago. If that movement was allowed, I should be able to see the rat creature now and put a creature right behind or above it. I will wait for confirmation before doing so. From round 3 >> 15 feet move south (3 squares)

"If you wanted to fight things by yourself, you should be a gladiator and not a Pathfinder. I judge this duel over and the rat the winner."

"Confound this blasted magic! Nethys, help me out here!"

ray of frost
ranged touch: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 3 - 4 = 1
cold: 1d3 ⇒ 3

You have to move your own token, Jordan.

Gotcha--thx will do when I get home -- can't on phone

Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Fort Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Hralyk's rage and pride continue to drive him to attack the rat-faced girl.

Free action: Maintain rage (+4 Str/Con, AC 17, 12/26 HP, 6 rounds remaining)
Standard action: Attack rat-faced girl
Attack (Falchion, Rage, Single Combat, Power Attack, Guidance): 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 17
Damage (Falchion, Rage, Power Attack): 2d4 + 4 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 + 3 + 3 = 14

Hralyk doesn't feel well... again. Guess who just caught filth fever again? ;) Luckily you succeeded on your second save, which would have been way more problematic if you had failed it!

Did you count the +2 from flanking with the eagle? Thanks to that, your attack hits!

Hralyk's blade once again opens a wound on the ratfolk's arm, but like the first time, the wound is by far lesser than it should have been.

The eagle can attack on the round it arrives, by the way.

Ramenhotep's ray goes wild and finishes its course in the ceiling.

Initiative - round 7 - bold may act!
1. Hralyk, Ramenhotep, Zeltiyeli
2. Rat-faced girl, Tower Girl
3. Jordan & dog & eagle, Telka

Once Telka is done binding the tower girl she begins her oration again.

Inspire courage

"The Iron God bless Hralyk,
His axe sharp and bright
Blood will salt the earth
and foes soon take flight"

Jordan forms his eagle of celestial beauty behind the rat.

The eagle attacks and flanks with a flurry, inspired by the animal-talkers sweet song. His natural, feral, flurry is on target.

bite/damage: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 241d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 +1 damage if evil
talon/damage: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 211d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 +1 damage if evil
talon/damage: 1d20 + 3 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 2 + 1 = 211d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 +1 damage if evil

Jordan notes the timely distraction at least bought their warrior a needed distraction.

Jordan attempts to get his dog moving again.
handle animal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Finally the dog sheepishly looks at his master and moves to stand over the tower girl with a snarl. Obviously the dog would rather be somewhere else, so when Jordan is distracted watching the eagle, the dog winks at Telka.

The eagle tears through the rat-woman as if her hardened skin was nothing but mere paper!

Surprised by this sudden onslaught, the rat person turns to the eagle and attacks it, realizing the potential for destruction of the celestial bird of prey.
Shortsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Bite: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5

Initiative - round 8 - bold may act!
1. Hralyk, Ramenhotep, Zeltiyeli
2. Rat-faced girl, Tower Girl
3. Jordan & dog & eagle, Telka

Zeltyieli continues to call of his Empyreal Lord to aid the barbarian in his fight.

Guidance

"I've never been very good at this spell...."

ray of frost
ranged touch: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 4 = 11
cold: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Hralyk's face turns a purplish-green as his frustration mounts to all-new highs at the celestial eagle's interference. His body refuses to cooperate for a moment as his mind tries to deal with the outrage, throwing off his rhythm and causing him to miss.

Hralyk's AC and attack rolls are reduced by 2 for 1 round because of the eagle's attack - not a bad tradeoff for something that can bypass DR...

Free action: Maintain rage (+4 Str/Con, AC 14, 12/26 HP, 5 rounds remaining)
Standard action: Attack rat-faced girl
Attack (Falchion, Rage, Single Combat (Disrupted), Power Attack, Guidance): 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 2 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 - 2 - 1 + 1 = 9
Damage (Falchion, Rage, Power Attack): 2d4 + 4 + 3 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 4 + 3 + 3 = 16

Eagle round 2 of 3 = 1 left

The eagle resumes his assault.
bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 91d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6
talon1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 231d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4
talon2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 171d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

The eagle's talon rakes the she-rat, felling your opponent!

End combat.

Jordan summons his eagle and gives it a thankful pat before sending it back to the celestial plane.
"I hope that nonsense doesn't continue."

Zeltyieli nods, "Me too. Now let's gather together so I can heal us all. "

Jordan looks at the loot and carefully selects:
2 tanglefoot bags, one smokestick, the light crossbow, and a set of thieves' tools.

"We need to stop this everyone stand around and watch me fight attitude--I think we are a team and in this together. I made a nasty necromancer very upset many years ago. If he comes looking for me and wants one of those wizard duels, we all go after him and bring him down."

He gives his analysis:
"That rat creature would have kicked your a$$ without any help from us."

"The warrior issued a challenge to single combat. It is dishonorable to get in the way of such a fight."

Telka returns to the prisoner.

"Shall we talk? We wish to know about your leaders, why they are here, and their defenses. You wish to life and freedom, like all creatures under the great sky. We can join purposes, I hope. Or not; it's your choice."

The Tower Girl seems to be dead scared of Telka, and doesn't resist long before she spills the beans.

"Alright, I'll talk! Just let me leave this place when I'm done, I want nothing to do with you people. You probably already know that we're the Tower Girls. Sczarni gang, though we're only accepting women. Our leader is Ayala Javeski-she's also a wererat, like Sasha here." she motions at the rat-faced woman whom the summoned eagle just tore apart.

The girl continues "Ayala reserves the privilege of turning to the most skilled among us, an incentive to deliver more to our cause, so to speak. We took refuge here a few weeks ago, when one of us-Natalya-discovered a secret entrance where no one had found any since the Crow got raided for the first time."

"The rest of us, a dozen in all, are resting further in the ruins, though if you approach, an alarm will ring, triggered by a string near the ground just before the lair. That's all I know. Will you let me go?"

Zeltyieli asks, incredulously, "The only defense is a tripwire we can step over? Surely some of them are on watch?". He doesn't give the prisoner a moment to respond before adding, " And where is the secret entrance that Natalya found? "

"There are other groups to watch, but they're less on edge than we were, since any intruders would need to pass us first. You have already used the entrance on the ground floor."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Zeltyieli turns to the others and says, "I'd say she's being forthright... And I've had years of experience with Sczarni half-truths... My only worry about letting her go now is what she does with herself while we're going deeper... Least thing we need is her sounding an alarm... Or even bring spotted where she isn't supposed to be.."

As the rat-faced girl falls, Hralyk's rage leaves him, and he staggers as the power leaves him. However, at Jordan's words, he turns quickly. "You dare to mock me!? The old man had yet to strike a blow against that thing, while I took care of the other two! My blade and arm were ready, and I did not see any others stepping forward to take my place! Perhaps I should have stepped back, let her have at you?!" He pauses, looking the mage up and down. "I think not."

Sorry, pride drawback - gotta play it up, I hope you understand. :-)

Then, in a complete reversal of attitude, he turns to Zeltyieli. "Thank you for your healing; those crossbow bolts almost did me in, but you made me almost whole. I had no idea you were so skilled."

As the others question the prisoner, Hralyk shrugs. "If you have a boat in which to leave without stranding us, or if you can swim the distance, then I take no issue with your leaving." He steps forward and brings his face close to hers. "If I see you again, however, our next meeting will end much like the first could have, were it not for the skill of our healer."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21

Jordan shrugs: "It is fine if you want to fight, it is probably better if you do. But we should be acting together. The Pathfinders have this Cooperate thing they throw around."

He adds: "You forget that challenging someone to single combat hogs all the honor for yourself and leaves none for anyone else. So I think we have found out today we are all accomplished professionals and deserve our spots on the team. We don't need any glory hounds."

So he looks moves up to the half orc with a weary shuffle. "So let the healer keep you healed, I'll keep you giant-sized when I can, and we can let our enemies fear what we can do together."

Jordan holds takes off an embroidered glove and extends a perfectly manicured and somewhat flabby hand.

As shown on the map, there were several rowboats at the docks before you arrived.

Quivering with fear, the Tower Girl runs away where you came from as fast as she can. A few minutes later, you can hear the sound of rowing and heavy panting. She probably had the scare of her life!

The murals in the next room are scratched and faded. Several portions of the wall and floor show signs of past chipping. An empty plinth where a statue once stood rests by a small alcove. A once-secret door is open there.

A ledge festooned with old bird nests looks out over a shaft dropping nearly two hundred feet to sea level below. A large coil of rope sits on the ground near the shaft, one end anchored to a large piton driven into a crack near the wall. Opposite the shaft is another ledge with a window looking out over Magnimar’s harbor. The ceiling is a mere ten feet above, and crisscrossed by a complex tangle of stone arches that support the roof. Between the two ledges, a five-foot-square wooden platform hangs from four thick ropes that hang from the stone arches. The platform is further anchored by two thick ropes to spikes hammered into the walls near the edge of the western ledge, while another pair of ropes hang from the ceiling above, anchored to a hook driven into the wall near the same ledge.
I agree the description may sound a bit confusing, but the map clears everything up I think. Basically, there's a way to continue where the map indicates.

Hralyk looks at the proffered hand and crosses his arms. "You insult me, then expect me to shake your hand?" He shakes his head, then continues, "I am no 'glory hound'. I am, however, the best suited for close combat, and that is why I did as I did. If my challenge was not to your liking, you did not have to honor it. Which, if you'll recall, you didn't. So, then, what does it matter to you who I challenge? If you'll not respect it, then it is a mark on your honor, not mine."

I don't want to get derailed on this, but if Hralyk issuing challenges to get a little benefit in combat is going to be a big issue, then I won't do it too often. It is in his character, though, to do so, so unless you've got a real issue with it, just accept that it's going to happen and let's move on. Understand, though, that at this point he feels his honor is called into question, and he'll hold a grudge until he gets an apology - not that it matters too much in game terms, since he won't be trying to use any social skills on Jordan, but still...

With no enemies nearby, Zeltyieli reaches out and draws in empyreal energy, filling himself with a sense of freedom, as if he were running on a vast plain and not inside a strange, ancient building, his heartbeat starting to speed up.... and then releases the energy outward, flowing over his companions, invigorating them and closing up their wounds.

Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 1 Wow, that was a lot of buildup for nothing.

Ramenhotep shakes his head at the wizard and barboracle. He rolls his eyes at Zelty and moves into the next room, detecting magic and making notes along the way.

As the wave of channeling reaches him, Hralyk's eyes roll back once more, and, as before, his body goes rigid and an incantation flows from his lips. As it completes, his wounds knit together once more.

Cast cure light wounds

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Again, Hralyk's features return to normal, and he shakes his head briefly in confusion. Then, as if nothing had happened, he grunts once more at Jordan and follows Ramenhotep.

Jordan follows silently.
Obviously I didn't miss my calling in the diplomatic corps.

After various acrobatic antics and with the help of the second-story harnesses and ropes in place, you manage to venture past the shaft apex and you reach a narrow hallway. The walls along this short passage bear murals showing strangely dressed Thassilonian priests placing bodies into crypts. Several niches in the walls may have once been burial crypts themselves, but today, the hall is strewn with bones and the niches lay empty.

A little further down the hallway, you easily spot the twine just above the ground level that the Tower Girl told you about. How will you deal with it?

As before, Hralyk goes through a transformation, body rigid and eyes rolled back, and another incantation flows from his lips. Afterwards, he goes to work on the tripwire.

Cast guidance
Disable Device (Take 10, Guidance): 10 + 7 + 1 = 18

I'm hoping that it's DC 20 or less...

As they navigate the difficulties of climbing the shaft, Telka listens to the angry banter between warrior and and wizard.

"Hralyk's battle was well fought. Let us not belittle his skills, or any our strengths. Each of us has our own piece to play in our great story. Hralyk of the Blade and Jordan Servant-Caller will both be remembered in the stories or the Pathfinders."

She also considers the matter of the rat.
local: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

"It is known that weres are weak to silver or that strange metal... I believe the dwarves call mithral. When we face their leader, we would do well to remember this fact."

*********

When they come upon the murals she considers them with a curious eye.

history: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
bardic/arcana: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
bardic/religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Zeltyieli draws the dagger and hands it to Hralyk, "This would probably help out next time."

A simple trick allows Hralyk to disable the trap, allowing you to continue to the next room. By the way, you can take 20 on a trap disable, provided you're trained in DD, have enough time and are willing to spend it.

Telka inspects the murals, but nothing strikes Telka as unusual or makes her remember anything particular at this stage.

A hooded lantern sits on the lip of a fountain in the west wall. A tinkling rill of water runs from a demon-shaped mouth on the wall into the fountain. A bedroll and several bags of rations sit on the floor just to the north of the fountain. As you walk in, two Tower Girls are currently there, one asleep while the other one is on watch duty. You can easily guess from her surprised look that she didn't expect to see you.

Initiative - round 1 - bold may act
1. Ramenhotep, Zeltyieli, Telka, Jordan & dog
2. Tower Girls (one of them asleep)
3. Hralyk

Telka moves up quickly to take advantage of the tower girls unprepared state, striking out at the first with her axe.

vs. FF?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23
Whoops, so much for disabling instead of killing...
3d12 + 9 ⇒ (6, 8, 1) + 9 = 24

Telka kills the first girl before she could even react or shout to raise the alarm! The other one is still sleeping peacefully at the half-orc's feet, albeit splashed with the blood of her companion.

End combat.

Zeltyieli suggests, "We should wake her and convince her to leave like the one downstairs... Though make sure she can't shout an alarm before we do. "

"Can't we leave her a note?"
Jordan get out parchment and paper.
"We get time on our side if we leave her a note."

Zeltyieli says, "No guarantee she wouldn't set of the alarm or attack us from behind if we do that. We could just bind and gag her here, I suppose, for the sake of expediency. "

Jordan laughs:
"I assess the probability of her trying to dupe us as greater than that of her waking prematurely. Leaving someone bound and helpless in a dangerous area unattended is not something I like to do."

"Hralyk? Can you get ready to bind her up before she wakes and starts moving too much? Here's some rope."

Hralyk nods and readies himself with the rope. He steps over the girl and wakes her roughly, placing his hand over her mouth. "If you alert anyone to our presence, you will die. If, however, you stay quiet and still, you may yet live. The choice is yours."

Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Assuming that all goes well, Hralyk begins binding the girl's hands.

Hralyk doesn't have improved grapple, but his CMB is +4

Grapple, if needed: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

The Tower Girl wakes up in terror, then nods to the half-orc brute handling her.

Telka takes a moment to cast message upon everyone. She whispers into the wind.

"Let us keep the element of surprise, and keep on moving"

She will attempt to pad silently behind Hralyk's bulky form, keeping a keen eye for the reported nest of tower girls.