GM Lithrac's Shattered Star (Inactive)

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

How did I miss that post? Sorry.

Zeltyieli says,, "It doesn't look terribly hospitable on the other side, but as near as I can tell, there's noone to take offense at our presence either."

"I suspect us being upon it while they fire from above is the trap. We have seen it and may be able to counter it to a degree, but I see no means to side step it neatly."

Morrigan kneels down and begins instructing Chitterspite as to her wishes. It seems to take the gnome a significant period of time to communicate with the young spider.

Sorry, I've been traveling and house-shopping for the last few days!

Ramenhotep looks questioningly at the group. "Ranged abilities? Pah! Well if you say so." The Osiriani takes a small crossbow off his back and blows some sand out of the moving parts.

Zeltyieli wonders aloud, "Could we bring in some sort of cover? All carry in a stout wooden table, for instance?"

Vandilo casts dancing lights, then true strike as he opens the door sends his dancing lights whirling in and up and steps back. Then once he is ready again he waves the group forward.

Hoping to vaguely follow the plan from before with the higher AC people entering first. Trying to open the door while being in a position where he believes nobody in the rafters will be able to hit him.

The entire floor of this chamber has collapsed into the pool of water five feet below. The earthen walls of this flooded subcellar ooze with foul rivulets, and the smell is abominable. Two oozing sewer pipes protrude through the east wall of this pit just above the level of the sewage. Part of the ceiling above the entrance has collapsed, revealing an attic crawlspace above; a rickety ladder leads up from the water into the crawlspace. A door stands in the far wall across the sludge pit. A wooden plank balanced between both doors makes a precarious bridge between the two doors. No creatures are in sight, neither on the ground floor or on the rafters.

Map updated

Disdainful the refuse of cities, Telka strides forward onto the plank. Her weapons are secure, as she is concerned with falling more then foes.

This sounds like acrobatics
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

It absolutely does! Acrobatics DC 10 checks are necessary to move onto the plank. Are you moving stealthily or not, Telka? Also, for each person who enters the room, please let me know if you're using stealth (in which case you can make a skill check) or not.

Telka will attempt to move her bulk with some manner of grace and stealth, although she is trained as a singer not a hunter.

stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Zeltyieli, at Vandilo's warning, draws his bow and nocks an arrow before stepping carefully into the room, trying to stay in the shadows, though he's not terribly good at it.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Ramenhotep hacks and wheezes behind his clunky companions.

Vandilo steps out carefully after the others, directs his lights further up into the rafters to ensure all their attackers are illuminated and then fires a crossbow bolt into the most impressive looking of their number.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Crossbow TS: 1d20 + 2 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 20 = 26 Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Zeltyieli, you'll need an Acrobatics check if you're walking on the plank, or risk wading in the foul water below.

Vandilo, there's no one you can see up there.

Snickering, Morrigan sends Chitterspite off to the rafters to hunt down lunch. Stepping into the building, looks down, sees the plank and sighs. "Yeah, some idiot actually put a plank across this cesspit. What's wrong with people that they can't make a decent floor.

Acrobatics: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (18) - 2 = 16

Expecting the worst, Morrigan slowly, cautiously inches out onto the plank. Suddenly remembering the archers in the rafters however, she chances the dunking, scurrying across the plank and heading for the ladder.

Taking 10 on Acrobatic for 14.

Sighing Vandilo makes his way over to the door and subjects it to a detailed examination. Then he recasts dancing lights choosing the form of a glowing figure and cautiously opens the door sending the glowing figure ghosting through before him, providing illumination and hopefully attracting the ire of anything waiting.

Take 20 on perception to examine the door for traps, etc.

Seeing at least two of her companions cross Telka examines the door for defenses. She will open it if she finds none, after unstrapping her axe.

perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Right, sorry. As requested:
Acro: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

As Vandilo takes his sweet time inspecting the door, a pair of smelly goblins suddenly emerge from the sewer pipes to the east, and start attacking the Pathfinders.

Vandilo may act in the surprise round, reacting before the goblins start their mischievous mayhem!

EDIT: See post below.

Spinning Vandilo casts color spray sending a torrent of coruscating brilliance forth to envelop the goblins.

DC 15 Will.

Actually, forgot to roll init and used your Perception skill check as your init, sorry!

The sewer goblins take the Pathfinders completely offguard. One of them starts throwing a small pouch at Telka, who still tries to keep her balance on the plank. Fortunately, the pouch misses the half-orc and falls in the disgusting watery refuse.
Pouch (vs. Touch, FF): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

Meanwhile, the other goblins attempts to dislodge the plank using a broom handle. Its aim is good, but he's in no position to mobilize enough force to knock the plank down.
MTA: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Strength check: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Vandilo reacts quicklier than his companions, and is able to conjure a torrent of bubbles of light stunning all the goblins but one. "So shiney! Must grab'em all!" maybe thought the one wielding the broom, shortly before collapsing into unconsciousness.
Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18
Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Will: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (10) - 1 = 9

"Longshanks! Defend the mistress! Fry them all and eat them good!"

The heroic resistance of the sewer goblin allows him to aim and throw another pouch, this time aimed at the wizard. The projectile hits the Varisian in the chest, covering him with filth, refuse and broken glass.
Pouch (vs. Touch): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13
Vandilo, you take 1 damage to broken glass. Please make a Fortitude check DC 12. Failure sickens you for 1d6 ⇒ 2 rounds, whereas success reduces that number to 1 round.

Initiative - round 1
Sewer goblin(s)
Morrigan
Vandilo
Telka
Ramenhotep
Zeltyieli
The group is up!

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Telka begins to hum loudly.

"Brave warrior, now is the moment of your glory! Let the blood sing, let the spirits guide your hand!"

Round 1/10
+1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects
+1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

"Bah! Hmph! Just let me know when you've taken care of the goblins."

Holding until room opens up (not smelly water, room on the plank).

Morrigan hops up and down in place, cursing.

Ohhh, just you wait, you little stinky, green...uhhhh.....goblin! Don't think that you can just bugger your little way in here and push me off this tiny, fragile...ack...probably dry rotted piece of second hand garbage!"

Realizing that a dunking may very well be in her future, Morrigan desperately sets about finding a weapon other than her sword to throw at the thing.

I am holding my action. If the goblin is still up before its turn at initiative, she will find and throw her dagger. I am including that roll if needed.

Held Action: Dagger Throw: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 91d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 = 6

Let's hope someone else kills it, because I'm not getting that dagger back. 8(

Vandilo and Zeltyieli are still up (Ramenhotep and Morrigan delay)!

Using his prescience to picture the bolts path, and picking the more desirable route Vandilo fires his crossbow at the goblin.

+2 to hit 1d8 damage.

Crossbow, Prescience: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Thanks to his divinatory ability, Vandilo strikes true, and kills the goblin!
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

End combat... for now.

Zeltyieli calls ahead, "Did you deal with them? I'd rather not jump into the midden, but I don't want you to die, either."

"Yes. Prepare yourselves." Telka brusquely answers. She opens the next door.

Vandilo carefully leaps over to the goblins position and bashes the dazed goblins in the head with the stock of his crossbow until he is sure they are unconscious. If there is still time after he is certain the goblins are out cold he begins trying to stop the one he shot from bleeding out, though his efforts are largely ineffectual and he is not sure if he stopped the bleeding in time.

"If they really are Natalya's gang we will be on surer footing if we leave them alive. You cannot unkill something."

Then he searches the goblins thoroughly passing any weapons and valuables across to his companions.

Can you do a nonlethal coup? I think so looking at the rules, nothing seems to prevent you doing non lethal, but it does not say you can, etc.

Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

The goblins are in pipes that protrude from the wall at the eastern side of the room. You'll have to jump there (DC 10 without jumpstart, taking 10 does the trick for you) first. The goblins "clog" the pipes because they are inside, not on them, so you'll have to take them out of the pipes first, which shouldn't be a problem since one is helpless, the other dead. CDG with nonlethal damage is doable, but remember that since he's already unconscious from your spell (and not dazed as you said), it'll be hard to know when to stop hitting him. All damage in excess to his hp are lethal damage, so there's a good chance you'll kill him anyway in the process. That's a lot of trouble for no gain.

By the way, I tend to consider unnamed monsters ('mooks') whose hp reach below 0 as dead to simplify things. No point in keeping them alive, unless you deal nonlethal damage to them, or use nonlethal spells like color spray or sleep.

As Vandilo removes the two goblins from their respective pipes, he finds out that it leads somewhere, at least for someone willing to crawl through refuse and dung. The first goblin is dead, the second one's skull is badly bruised, maybe broken, by Vandilo's zealous crossbow stock.

When the deed is done, Telka opens the northern door. The floor of this room has fallen away, leaving a narrow, charred ledge along the south and east walls. To the northwest, a ledge heaped with crates and barrels sits, while above the rafters of the attic lay bare to view. Three sewer goblins immediately attack the half-orc from their positions.

Everyone is surprised! Vandilo can act thanks to Forwarned.

The goblins immediately react to the opening of the door by shooting their crossbows at Telka.
Heavy Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 31d10 ⇒ 8
Heavy Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 181d10 ⇒ 2
Heavy Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 111d10 ⇒ 3
Two bolts end up in the wooden door frame, whereas the third manages to scratch the half-orc's skin. 2 damage.

Initiative - surprise round
Sewer goblins
(Telka) (2 dmg)
(Ramenhotep)
Vandilo (1 dmg)
(Morrigan)
(Zeltyieli)
Vandilo can act (standard action only)!

The ledge is safe to walk on, but is sloped dangerously at places, and requires a successful DC 10 Acrobatics check to navigate.

"Someone could crawl through this pipe, but unless there is a far more compelling reason than I see now that someone is not going to be me. Help me back up?" Vandilo says as he hops back up onto the plank.

Is that your surprise round action?

No sorry don't know if I missed or was reading before edit, but I did not see the door opening bit. I hope its reasonable to assume Telka would not open the door without waiting for me to get up - Vandilo would ask her to wait if she did not.

Waiting until the goblins have fired Vandilo reloads his own crossbow.

What is the ceiling like between rooms? Can Chitter climb over the walls into the next area? I am holding my action until I learn the answer to this question. 8)

No sorry don't know if I missed or was reading before edit, but I did not see the door opening bit. I hope its reasonable to assume Telka would not open the door without waiting for me to get up - Vandilo would ask her to wait if she did not.

No worries, I moved you back on the plank. By the way Telka posted she'd open the door about two hours before your post on CDGing the goblins.

Vandilo reloads his crossbow, and so do the goblins, hiding behind their crates in so doing. They now have total cover.

The ceiling is almost nonexistant, with apparent rafters that are the only thing above your head. Iirc Vandilo shot a bolt with light on it so there is some light shed on the rafters. Does Chitter have a climb speed? I can't see it since her character sheet (and yours) aren't in your profile. Could you post your entire char sheet, please? If she has a climb speed, then sure, she could easily climb and reach the rafters.

Initiative - round 1
Sewer goblins
Telka (2 dmg)
Ramenhotep)
Vandilo (1 dmg)
Morrigan
Zeltyieli
Everyone can act!

I think I can circle around on the right, jump and attack? It looks like maybe balance (for the ledge) and jump are needed. My goal is to jump on the crate just south of the east goblin and attack.

acrobatics (balance?): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
acrobatics (jump?): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
greataxe: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

AoO if they use crossbows in melee
greataxe: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
damage: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

"Bah! Out of my way, out of my way!"

Ramenhotep pushes past his companions along the plank into the next room, landing around the ledge.

I think I can get there with 30' movement. Let's see if I fall in first though:
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Can't remember the DC. Assuming that gets me across, I'll fire my crossbow at one of the goblins.

light crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Confirm:
light crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

It was DC 10

Moving up behind Ramenhotep Vandilo moves to through the door stepping out to the west of the door and readying to fire a bolt once the goblin surfaces from behind its cover.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

Using Prescience +2 to hit 1d8 damage.

Telka heroically jumps on the crate and hammers down her axe on the goblin cowardly hiding behind it, but she only manages to smash a nearby barrel. Splinters of wood fly everywhere, only managing to make the goblin realize that his doom is imminent.

Ramenhotep crosses the plank hastily and reaches the room where the fight erupted. Unfortunately, the three goblins are out of sight (They have Total Cover, as indicated in my previous post, would you like to change your standard action to something else?).

Same for Vandilo, do you wish to take another action instead? You could use the Ready action to shoot at the moment they emerge to shoot their crossbow, for example.

That is what I meant by readying to shoot once the goblins emerge from cover :)

Alright, great! Will roll with Prescience then.

Sorry, forgot about cover. I'll just ready that shot for when they pop out.

Zeltyieli heads forward across the plank and through the door, happy to step onto solid ground, and brings up his readied shortbow.... and waits for one of the goblins to pop up.

From what I can see of the map, Zeltyieli should be able to cross the plank and get to the SE corner of the room (next to Ramenhotep) with the new goblins...

The plank still requires a DC 10 Arcobatics check I'm afraid. Please make that check.

Waiting on Morrigan before the goblins act.

Is this in addition to the one he made in post 168?

It does sound so Monty Python: "the old man from scene 42" ;) And yes, I believe he has to make one everytime he walks on the plank. Besides, he wasn't on the plank at that time, since there wasn't enough room (Telka, Vandilo and Morrigan were on it).

Sorry, I didn't make a new one because I wasn't sure the old one wasn't still applicable. Here you are:
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14