GM Paladin's Among The Living [Core PFS] (Inactive)

Game Master Paladin of Baha-who?

I'll keep a better list in my posts. Current enemies: Zombie (yellow), Fel Bustrani (black)

Darkwood bow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Arrow: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 Though I very much doubt it's a hit with the soft cover and firing into melee mods.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Kastarr looses an arrow at the death cleric, trying to time it so as not to hit his friends. Then he tries to advance. Unfortunately he can make no progress on the slippery floor.

Note: moved Fatham back to his previous position as per his post above.

Kastarr looses an arrow that flies over Fel Bustrani's head, impacting on a slab of black stone resting on the altar behind him. The stone briefly glows an eerie green, as if in response to being touched.

Bustrani steps back from Tim and Bertha, starting to cast a spell. First, Betsy takes advantage of his distraction by trying to gore him, but his armor is too strong to penetrate. Then Thergrom's readied spell hits him, upsetting him and causing him to lose the spell he was trying to cast. "Accursed dwarf!!" he screams, and draws his heavy pick from his side.

The zombie swings a rotting arm at Fatham, continuing the attack that Bustrani ordered before. He slams the druid across the face, loosening his teeth and sending him staggering. 4 damage to Fatham. Fatham is staggered and disabled at 0 HP.

Fatham
Thergrom
Kastarr
BABS
Tim
Zombie (Yellow)
Bustrani (black)

Tim leaps forward after Bustrani, determined to press the attack. He swings two more times with his axe. "His armor is strong. Try to surround him."
Attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage 1: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage 2: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Bertha would like to comply with Tim's orders, but the zombie is still a threat and in the way.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 2 = 14
Damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9

Betsy would also like to comply, except she is a pig, and doesn't understand what Tim is saying. So she continues to try to gore the spellcaster.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13 Doubt if that hits
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Thergrom smiles as the foe's spell is wasted.

"I only see one who is cursed in this hall, and it is not me."

Thergrom blasts the man again.

magic missile damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Bertha cuts the zombie down, leaving it in rotting gibbets of flesh across the cavern floor.

Still staggered from his near-death experience, Fatham can't get out of the zombie's way.

Barely maintaining his feet, it is all he can do to activate his wand again.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8 With the zombie down, I'm safe to activate this here, right?

Spell trigger items don't provoke, so you're safe either way.

I'll post for Kastarr if he hasn't by tomorrow evening.

Moving for Kastarr.

Kastarr fires at Bustrani, but misses entirely.

Bustrani shrugs his heavy shield off his arm and grips his pick with both hands, swinging powerfully at Tim, wounding him painfully. 9 damage to Tim.

All PCs are up!

Tim keeps pursuing Bustrani. "Could definitely use some help here!" He swings again a pair of times with his axe.
Attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage 1: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage 2: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
HP 9/22.

As he moves out of view, Thergrom struggles to move forward.

acro 1: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 - 2 = 10
acro 2: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 2 = 19

Gulled into overconfidence by his armor easily deflecting Tim's strikes earlier, Bustrani leaves himself open after swinging his pick, and with a quick spin and double-strike with his axe, Tim opens massive wounds on the dark cleric's body. Choking on his own blood, Fel falls.

Now that you have a moment to look around this dimly-lit room, you see that the walls are smooth and covered with strange glyphs, and given an eerie cast by the green glow of the boulder on the dias in the center.
A closer look reveals that the boulder is carved with the symbol of Zyphus, similar to the holy symbol hanging around the neck of the fallen man.

What actions do you take? Do you end Bustrani's life now, allow him to bleed out on his own, or revive him for questioning and to face justice?

Thergrom steps into the room and casts a simple cantrip.

Cast detect magic and scan the room, concentrating on the strongest auras

"We should probably turn Bustrani over to the authorities so they can learn if there are more cultists involved." Tim bends down over the dying priest and attempts to stabilize his wounds.
Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 1

"Nature has come for him," Fatham frowns, still shaken by how close it came for him at the hands of this dark cleric.

The druid seems to have no intention of healing the man, but does not stop others from doing so.

The old man looks around. "This is not what I expected to find beneath the opera," he scowls. "I cannot believe they stopped the production...for this!"

"Hmmm" Thegrom intones as he circles the stone on the dais. "Seems we will need to keep this a secret from the nobles upstairs, I'm sure the Society would like first dibs on studying this monstrosity."

"As for him, I would prefer we bring him to justice. Even though he has deserves this fate in the long run, I'm sure we could learn more from him."

spellcraft 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
spellcraft 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

"Umm, he still seems to be bleeding Thergrom. Do you think you could help me?"
You don't have to be trained in Heal and there is no limit on the DC so anyone can potentially make a DC 15 to stabilize. Definitely understand Fatham's POV.
I'll give you a few more Heal checks to stabilize him in case no one else tries.
Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 20 and stable if he's not dead by Round 4 after I dropped him.

"I'll see what I can do." Kastarr tells Thergrom. "There's no need to take justice into our own hands, here in the city."

Kastarr tries to stabilize the wounded death cleric. Heal: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Just in case Bustrani was going to bleed out before Two Tall rolled his nat 20. ;)

Spellcraft: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

Bertha, being bullied and misunderstood her entire life, is not inclined to let the man die without hearing his side. She also doesn't feel like death is the worst punishment for the autrocities this man has committed, and thinks the families of the people who died upstairs deserve more.

She heals the death priest - enough to keep him alive. After binding him, his wounds, and gagging him, she will bring him around. (Unless negative channeling can't be stopped in which case she only keeps him from dying)

Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Even after 4 rounds, he'll still be alive, so yes, you are able to bring him around.

He opens his eyes, blinking in apparent surprise, and glances around wildly. If you had to guess, you'd say he didn't expect to wake up in this life.

Now what do you do? Take him upstairs?

Fatham spits.

"We should turn him over to the authorities, at least. Then he will have to answer for those he and his abominations killed here today. Nature may yet claim him," the druid growls.

I think upstairs is good.Was there anything else to explore down here?

"I definitely agree Fatham. Hopefully they'll be able to get information from him about any other cultists loose in the city." Once we've finished searching the basement, Tim helps to drag him upstairs.

"I'll wrap this up for the Venture Captain."

Biting his lip, Thergrom will concentrate on transport of the artifact, slipping it in his backpack if it will fit.

"Yeah, he has many crimes to answer for." Kastarr keeps a close watch on the evil cleric, axe at the ready to brain the vile fellow, should he try something funny. The ranger has a frown for Bertha. Precious healing magic should always go to injured allies before any enemies receive healing. Kastarr keeps these thoughts to himself, however.

The boulder is too big to fit in a backpack. Two strong individuals might be able to carry it. Four would definitely be able to.

There's nothing else of note in the room. The glyphs would be interesting to a student of ancient history, which none of you are.

Assuming you bring Bustrani upstairs, you find the survivors, including Consul Hustavan and many others, trying to force their way out of a door. "It's no use!" they explain, "These doors are shut tight and refuse to open!"

Bustrani starts to moan loudly behind his gag, as if he's trying to yell something.

Fatham ungages the man with a growl.

"This had better be good," he blurts impatiently. "What do you want!"

I don't mind carrying the boulder with someone.

I'll aid with the boulder but we'll need a few more strong arms.

When his gag is removed, Bustrani begins to cackle wildly. "No escape! No escape save death!" he raves.

Hustavan scowls. "If we're going to be trapped in here at least we can have a trial and execute this murderer."

Fatham promptly returns the gag to its original, albeit tighter, position.

He then kicks the door forcefully.

str: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

It's like kicking a wall. Actually, a wall might have more give to it.

Careful inspection reveals that attempts to strike the door actually stop a tiny fraction of an inch in front of the door. Clearly, some sort of magic is at work.

Thergrom steps to the door and tries to discern what is happening.

Detect Magic and Arcana check for spell in place.
know arcana on spell: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
know arcana on aura: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Did we search the final room thoroughly?

Bertha checks the captive for any hidden wands or scrolls, or even maybe a ring to activate.

Tim also assists with the boulder. "I think we killed all of your minions Bustrani. If you don't want to join them, tell us how to get out."
Intimidate (preferably to assist): 1d20 ⇒ 10

Bertha will also help with the heavy lifting.

Thergrom detects a very strong abjuration aura from the walls of the building, and finds it distinctly similar to the aura he detected on the boulder downstairs.

You've taken everything from him already.

"I really don't want to be trapped in here." Kastarr tells Hustavan. "Let's put our efforts into finding a way out."

Kastarr is clueless when it comes to matters of magic.

"The specific magic at work on the door is a little beyond me..." Thergrom admits with a frustrated laugh "but it does have the mark of abjuration, which means protection, and it is very similar to this blasted stone. Perhaps, the two are linked?"

To be clear, is there just a single door of this place blocked by the spell? Are we able to get out without bypassing the obstacle?

Thergrom detects a similar magic at every door and window (there are many) and someone even tries using one of the enemy's discarded picks to make a hole in a wall, but can't break through.

Thergrom realizes that a spell of this power would be far beyond the power of the man you just defeated, although he might have been able to use the power of the artifact to produce the effect.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Babs tries to puzzle out the boulder as she helps carry it, but it just doesn't make any sense to her.

Spellcraft: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11

"Kill him or break the stone. Those are the only ideas I have to open the doors."

"We all know his guilt. It would not be such an injustice to kill him..." Kastarr's mood brightens as he has a thought. 'Perhaps the barrier is held by his will. If so, then merely knocking him out might work. I like him better when he's sleeping anyway."

Tim knocks him back out.
Non-lethal (assuming he's helpless): 3d8 + 18 ⇒ (6, 2, 6) + 18 = 32

Well. That's very interesting. The rules don't really allow for a non-lethal CdG, which is kind of a omission since it's the kind of thing that people do in fiction a lot. However, assuming that's what you intend to do... that damage, even nonlethal, is enough to kill him outright. Do you want to go with that, or use a different weapon, like your fist?

"I think I jogged him too hard, Inigo..."

I'll just knock him out with my fist. All we're really trying to do at this point is to see if knocking him unconscious temporarily disrupts things. I don't have a lot of hope since we knocked him out once before.

Tim clonks Fel on the head, and he falls unconscious. A check of his vitals indicates that he is still alive.

Unfortunately, the barrier is unchanged.

"I am empowered to act as a judge for the King," says Hustavan. "We could have a trial right here and execute this monster."

-Posted with Wayfinder

"As a faithful follower of Abadar, that would suit me." Thergrom speaks solemnly.

I'm beginning to think we won't get out of here until he is dead, or worse, once the stone is destroyed.