GM R Box - Iron Gods AP

Game Master Twistlok

"an accepting heart Elkin. I know the Kellid well, but I am not of the tribe. I was born into a dark place. Slaves of all races, much orc-blood. He looks intensly into Elkins dark witchy eyes
"Slthtstua aelstona" he says in Aklo. "Dark Place. When I was a child we rose free, and many died."

Unronzeer takes off his gauntlet and shows Elkin scarification of a winged being in the shape of a sword, a Dawnflower.

"Many of us landed in a cloistered community far north. Devout to Sarenrae. We provided protection, they provided home, discipline."

As the others start to filter in from their own endeavors Uronzeer asks about their mission. Learning about this Khonir, about the disgusting frog-like things, the strange moldy bodies, the skulks.

Auronzeer addresses the room, primarily to Elkin. He commits to lend his aid in bringing the council member back.

"This place means much to you and I owe you a debt to protect it. I expected no full share, only vengeance and provisions for the journey back home, should I escape with my life."

Xander if you want to roll to assist or for your own look at the gun when you get back to the foundry that works for me. I will give an auto-asist from Val as well as she was a student in technology.

Augar strokes his beard and looks out contemplating the offer.

"The offer is a gesture one would be found rude to refuse. However, this might be a hidden invitation for us to give information on our local whereabouts or our encounter. It might also be another party vested in the missions downfall, or possible try to profit off our knowledge. So I suggest we proceed to the offering with caution"Augar suggested not one for sugar coating the obvious truths to such an offer.

I am not sure as to the partys direction at this point. Resting or accepting the offer of free credit at the gaming hall. Continue wth the roll-play or work out consensus. Also Xander and James have not come back yet I believe.

When Augar and Vedia show Elkin the invitation, he raises an eyebrow. Early to celebrate our success yet, isn't it? Since we haven't quite had any?

"Augar, if you say we can't refuse, then we probably shouldn't, though I think I'd rather rest. A nice meal would be... well, nice. We could at least show up for that much, if nothing else. We shouldn't have to stay the whole evening, anyway; we haven't even found Khonnir yet. We need to be sharp tomorrow still."

Had trouble all weekend to get into Paizo.com. I beleive we are resting to have a fresh start in the morning to look for Khonnir.

Xandar gives the gun a quick study, once they are back and the foundry. Engineering: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
When shown the invitation Xandar responds. "I'm not a gambling person, but I could do with a good meal before we go to bed, and go out to look for Khonnir in the morning. If anyone want to gamble you can have some of my credit if you run out."

Same here. Servers have been sporadic, but my times to check in have unfortunately mostly coincided with server problems.

"For myself, I love to gamble the night away. But I fear for the safety of my friend, and would prefer to send a note in response offering to accept in a day or two. I feel we were getting close, but Crystal's return was critical. Let's rest and head back out in the early morning, no?"

"That sounds like a plan James. I'd like to rest, and head back early."

Augar taps his chin and strokes his beard for a second taking in the observations of the others. It takes a moment before he speaks.

"That seems to be a wise and thought out plan James. We do not loose face and still honor our current commitment.Let us then retire for food libations and a good nights rest to restore our energies for the next outing"

"Yes let's focus our minds on finding Khonnir and get him back hopefully with what is left of his expedition intact. And learn more of these strange ruins along the way would be most joyous."

"That sounds fine to me." Ivar says, seeing no need to rock the boat.

"I'll write a note sending our regrets, and offer to come by on a different evening that's more convenient." Vedia writes a lovely note, and tries to find a young person to deliver the message for them. "Who is cooking tonight? The Foundry was empty when I arrived."

When the note is complete Val volunteer to run it over so you can remain focused. She also informs you that you are welcome to the food in the store rooms and there is some fresh chicken as well as vegetables available for you.

Val is gone about an hour and comes back with a simple message for you. They completely understand and the offer will remain open for the duration of their quest. They wanted me to let you know that they are just trying to help the town in the way they can."

She also adds that she saw some known rope-fist gang members gambling in the building.

Anything else that needs to be done before going to bed? Or returning. Was anything actually purchases? If so please enter it in the pink section of the loot sheet with its cost. That will keep your available gold for the party up to date.

You still have time to edit the Loot Sheet for purchases, if not then you have what you have

You eat, maybe drink a little though Val did caution you against this but you are she understands there some are dwarfs. There is probably some more small talk or bring up to speed of your new member or examining of the gun you found and did not sell. feel free to ret-con to before this post

You sleep and most of you dream, some of the dreams are a bit unusual:

In the morning Augar begins his morning prayer, pulling out a piece of metal to work on as he began the repetitive chants for Torag.Once done he left his room to get food and then be off on the adventure once more.

Ret-con
Uronzeer stands at Val's mention of this Rope fist gang. He realizes he may have come off as aggressive and takes a lighter tone.

"The Ropefists will be at this Silverdisk Hall?"

Without a proper introduction Uronzeer decides he will still probe Val for more info about the gang. The supposedly trustworthy priest, Kyte told him about this gang and the name shrouds the circumstance of Parda's death.

diplomacy: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (19) - 1 = 18

He may have come on too strong to the young girl, and also knows that staying up all night to investigate the Silverdisk Hall would likely lead to trouble.

Zeer decides to catch as much sleep as possible. The Ropefists will need to wait.

James wakes up, a little disturbed by his dream, but not so much to slow him down. He re-packs his gear, finds a place for this strange pistol, and joins the others for a quick breakfast.

"Back to the underground desert, then?"

"Good morning James, I think that's the plan once all are up and running again. Let's hope we can find some clues as to Khonnir's whereabouts beyond the desert." Xandar says going around practising his singing voice to be ready to support the others in combat.

I am operating under the idea that you are all ready to move back into the cavern / whatever it is. Again feel free to ret-con.

As a group you find Joram at the pool which appears to be his normal operating procedure. He smiles when he sees you, asks about anything interesting you may have discovered and cast water-breathing.

You move back though the tunnels sticking to your previous path. When you get to the large chamber with the huts only one Skulk is visible. He looks up, hopeful, but getting no encouragement puts his head back down.

The way to the desert is open and you meet no resistance.

From this point on I am handwaving this interaction unless there is an objection.

Tokens are placed at the entrance to the dome.

What would you like to do? Same path. Different path. Taco party?

Tacos sounds great. lol

Before heading to the desert.

Vedia moves back to the table she was working on the night before, and prepares her spells for the day. She thinks back on her dream, and looks pensive at breakfast that morning.

In the desert.
Vedia has been quite most of the morning. "Did everyone sleep well last night? I had an odd dream."

Let's go to the right this time, but a taco party sounds awesome.

"Hmm I don't remember any dream, think I slept like a child. But I like to hear about it sometime, strange dreams can come to you when you explore ruins like these." He responds to Vedia looking interrested in the subject at hand. "Should we take the same way around? At least that way we have some idea of what to expect for part of the treck."

"Yes, let's move to where we met Uronzeer, here. We can proceed from there. Uronzeer, you found us from a different direction than we came. How did you come to be inside this desert? Did you see anything of interest before you found us?"

"I slept well. Very well. But I'm still uneasy, for some reason I can't place."

Uronzeer looks to Elkin and the group "With the help of some wicked aid I sense. I cannot know for sure."

Uronzeer suspects Vedia wants to travel to the right and he agrees. She has shown wisdom since their meeting, he follows the wizard.

Uronzeer kneels and lifts a handful of sand with his gauntlet. He stops and watches it sift through the armoured fingers. "I dreamt of the dead. nothing new."

Augar walks without his helmet on periodically rubbing his temples.

"Sounds good" admittingly replied to the travel plans and ingress. As for the dreams he winces and sighs.

"I dreamt of a machine attacking me and I hammered it over and over and over again, ALL NIGHT LONG! it has admittantly left me a bit irritable as I have a pounding headache."

Elkin ponders the dreams people are describing. I recall no dreams from last night.

"It seems strange that so many of you had... unusual dreams last night. I recall nothing of mine; I slept as well as normal. If it had anything to do with this," he waves his hand, indicating the strange interior desert they stand in, "you might think we'd all have odd dreams."

Feel free to continue discussion with each other.

The party moves to the right from the entrance to the desert this time <South East> and finds much of the same situation. As before sand, stone wall leading up to a dome and then the dome. You travel what appears to be half the distance across the desert before a large shape appears in front of you. As it comes into view it becomes clear it is a large stone with a 5ft path on the south side and an open area on the north.

Further north you can make out another large stone hill.

Which path around the hill if that is the direction you want to continue?

As the group walks along in the inside desert she tells them what she recalls of her dream. "I was sitting at the table trying to scribe a scroll when I kept writing down the wrong words. It was very frustration, and didn't make sense." She suddenly looks up and sees the hill. Creatures could ambush us if we follow the small path, but we might lose the wall we've been following if we go around to the left. Do we want to to take the path or take the chance the way around the hill doesn't meet up with the wall on the other side?"

Xandar thinks on what Vedia descrips of her dream. "Hmm that seems very strange indeed. Could mean something but I wont pretend to understand psychology..." He doesn't finish as he is amazed at the size of the stone. "I think the safer way around here is to be within clear sight of the outer wall. Let's follow the small path I say. I know it might be a good chance that we encounter an ambush on it. But I think we might have a chance to discover something, if it's hidden at the end of a small obscure path."

Augar rubs the bridge of his nose before he set his helmet on his head and pulled out his hammer.

"I say the small path. If we leave the sight of the wall we should mark it and then decide to continue on."

"Agreed. Small path seems the right choice."

James makes sure his pistol is loaded, and leads the way, checking for any safety concerns.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

After some discussion the party moves through the narrow passageway so as not to get lost. The passage is narrow so movement is single file but not confining.

I have ordered the party putting one of the heavier armored melee folks in the rear.

You pass though the passageway without incident. As the party moves out you see that about 40ft in front of you is a wider cave and the desert opens back up to the north of your location. The cave in front is about five feet wide and the opening to the north is roughly 40 feet from where you entered to the eastern wall. You also can see a path in the sand that has been worn over time heading form the small cave to the north.

James hears a familiar sound moving though the sand in plenty of time to insure the party is not surprised by the trio of skeletons that emerge from the dark to the north. One of the skeletons {purple} again has the glowing eyes as one skeleton in each of the last attacks has had.

Bold May act
Uronzzer, Ivar, James, Xander
Skeletons
Vedia, Augar, Elkin

James steps forward, fires at the yellow one, and then reloads. "What is up with those glowing eyes?"

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 1 = 20
B&P Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Uncoiling his dorn-dergar, Ivar shuffles past James and Uronzeer, battlecry on his lips "By the holy name of Trudd the Mighty, I will smash you!"

double move

Well the boards have been a ton of fun the last few days havent they.

James draws a bead and take a chunk out of one of the skeletons as it comes into view. At the same time Ivar steps forward, dorn-dergr in hand, to meet the coming assault.

Bold May act
Uronzzer , Ivar, James, Xander
Skeletons
Vedia, Augar, Elkin

Uronzeer heeds the Ivar's blasphemous call and rushes ahead with him

"huahhhhrrrr!"

Rage Free action

With great sword in both hands horizontal to the creatures, Zeer utters some vile in the language of his past slavers. "lashjeekt iklhoa"

takes defensive stance

"Let's see if we can slow them down a little." Xandar says going up behind Ivar and Uronzeer. Drawing his whip as he moves he aims at one of the skeletons to pull it's legs away from under it.
Trip yellow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

I still have 5 foot movement if I'm to far away feel free to move me the last square."

Xander knocks the yellow skeleton on its back with a deft flick of his whip while Uronzeer advances on the parties foes.

One skeleton steps up and attacks the raging barbarian.
Claw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Claw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Claw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Claw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The second skeleton moves towards Ivar and attacks.
Claw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Claw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Claw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Claw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

The Party may act.

Wouldn't Ivar get an AoO due to the dorn-dergar's reach?

Elkin takes a single step forward, needing to get just a little closer to try a new tactic. Having worked out a way to affect even these mindless creatures, he uses his strength of will to change the creature's luck. He giggles to himself as he imagines the skeleton's ensuing errant swings.

Not on a 5ft. step, that's why they also have a full attack on both.

I have not found where a reach weapon extends your threatened squares. All that means is if it is in the RAW I have not found it. I am happy to be corrected and will look again when home.

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12

The glowing eyes of the skeleton fix on Elkin and it suddenly feels very unlucky.

Oh I am not looking forward to all those rolls if it gets to attack again.

You threatened the areas you can hit, except for ranged and whips. But since you took a 5 ft step it doesn't matter.

"Threatened Squares: You threaten all squares into which you can make a melee attack, even when it is not your turn. Generally, that means everything in all squares adjacent to your space (including diagonally). An enemy that takes certain actions while in a threatened square provokes an attack of opportunity from you. If you're unarmed, you don't normally threaten any squares and thus can't make attacks of opportunity.
Reach Weapons: Most creatures of Medium or smaller size have a reach of only 5 feet. This means that they can make melee attacks only against creatures up to 5 feet (1 square) away. However, Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten more squares than a typical creature. In addition, most creatures larger than Medium have a natural reach of 10 feet or more."
From the combat chapter in core rulebook

That is what I get for trying to remember rules at work.

Party may act.

James takes another shot at the skeleton he damaged, and then reloads again.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 1 = 22
B&P Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Augar moves towards the fighting trudging up to get near.

Ivar rumbles past the half-orc next to him, risking attack from the skeletons to open up some distance. The he unleashes his weapon.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Vedia casts Iron Skin on herself, and moves near the skeletons. She has her quarterstaff out.

Xandar takes a step back and tries to sweep the legs away from the other skeleton also.
Trip: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13