GM Sior's Second PFS Crypt of the Everflame Module (Inactive)

Game Master Sior

Sorry, I don't post after 10 pm EDT. Flagbearer bonuses included.

Lini casts Guidance on Droogami and he moves to the front of the battle nipping at the skeleton's ankles.

melee: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 + 1 = 24
CMB trip: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24
bite dmg: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

No worries. That's when I get home from work typically, so some overlap is to be expected.

Droogami moves forward and fells the skeleton as it stands there!

The two remaining skellies converge on the animal companion and start swinging! Thankfully, they both miss!

Brown on Droogami: 1d20 ⇒ 13
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Purple on Droogami: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Party up!

Taliesin cringes and stabs tentatively at one of the creatures with her longspear.

"I'd rather fight the living than the dead!" she mourns.

Attack: 1d20 + 0 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 0 + 1 = 141d8 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) - 2 + 1 = 4

Not going to use any resources here since it seems this is well in hand. Lini, thanks for remembering the flag bonus! Remember guys, you always have a +1/+1 as long as I'm with you! When I inspire courage, it will be +2/+2, so don't forget it! :)

Taliesin stabs tentatively, but is unable to strike the skeleton!

Lini casts Guidance on Craggor. Droogami full attacks (purple then brown).

melee: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 1 = 23
CMB trip: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9
bite dmg: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

claw: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 1 = 11
claw dmg: 1d2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4

claw: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 = 25
claw dmg: 1d2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Inspired by the swirling of Taliesin's banner, Ferabras steps up and smashes the closest skeleton!

5-foot step, full attack on Brown.

MWK Cold Iron Greatsword, Banner: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16
Greatsword damage, Banner: 2d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6) + 6 + 1 = 14

Bite attack, secondary, Banner: 1d20 + 6 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 5 + 1 = 15
Bite damage, Banner: 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10

"You might be tough you sack of bones but, not nearly enough. My hammer breaks stone!" Craggor quips as he steps up and swings again.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 2 = 161d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 = 9

Forums ate my post after that downtime last night...

Through an onslaught of tooth, nail, sword, and hammer, the final skeletons fall, leaving the room in an eerie silence. Something is missing...

Then the wailing starts again even louder than before, still coming from the same direction.

In the room beneath your feet are still the two dead men.

Additionally, there are two backpacks at the south end of the room, tossed in a corner. One of the packs contains a large pillow and two quivers (each containing 10 blunted arrows). The other pack has 2 days’ worth of rations, a full waterskin, and a pair of smokesticks.

Taliesin cheers the others after their victory.

"You all did so great! Those things are scary, but no match for all of you! You make me feel very safe, despite what is obviously not the mission we anticipated."

Once the wailing starts, the bard's eyes grow wide. "What is that!? I'm not sure I want to find out!"

As they examine the loot and gear they have found, Taliesin eyes the large pillow.

"Is anyone wanting that? It can be my share of the loot..." she says.

knowledge local: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

"Aye grab it quickly lassy. Sounds like there be more savin' n smiting to come" Craggor says a quick prayer to Torag and continues forward.

Ferabras studies the pillow as well, thinking out loud in his somewhat ponderous fashion, "Pillows..there were a couple of pillows in the saddle bags outside as well. Why would you bring pillows to a place like this...unless you knew there was a reason you might need them. Taliesin, you grab that pillow you've got your eye on, I'm going to get the two from outside, just in case."

Kicking scattered bones from his path, he walks out through the doorway and collects the two pillows from the saddlebags of the slaughtered horses. On coming back in, he crams one into his backpack and hands another to Soran to carry. With a shrug, he adds, "You never know, right?"

He then takes a moment to respectfully arrange the fallen men's bodies, closing their eyes and crossing their arms over their chests. "Craggor, perhaps you could say a few words?"

Someone should grab the smokesticks - Taliesin, Krestin, Soran?

Soran takes the pillow, and hands the blunt arrows to someone with a bow. He then takes the smokesticks. He inspects the skeletons before moving forward to check way ahead.
I'm sure we'll find out anyway, Tal. Best be on our guard.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

"Thell be enough time for that after. Can yeh not hear tha wailing?" Craggor asks Ferabras.

"Very well, you're right," Ferabras acknowledges. "Forgive me, I was distracted by thoughts of pillows."

He steps up to the door where the wailing can be heard and opens it.

Holding his side, Krestin chuckles a bit before following Febabras. "Krestin likes pillows too, but not so much in scary places," he says, trying to not whimper as he moved about.

Dark and dirty dungeon, undead attacking already, wailing coming from the east, and the party focuses on... the pillows, hahaha. Priceless!

The party gathers outside the door to the east and opens it.

This large chamber contains a maze of pillars that obscure the far side of the room. Next to the door is a pile of empty saddlebags and three brooms.

The wailing sound is even louder in this chamber and seems to be coming from the south.

Ooh, a maze of pillows…oh, pillars, you say? How disappointing.

Ferabras enters the maze, heading south toward the wailing sound.

I’m sure this is a perfectly safe course of action. I will wait until some of the others move forward as well, so as not to be quite as isolated as I appear on the map - but I'll still go first.

As Ferabras moves along, he notices a switch in one of the alcoves marked as an "S" on the map. However, he does not get much time to identify it or look closer since the floor opens up beneath him to swallow him!

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
1d6 ⇒ 4 non-lethal damage from fall

He plummets through the hole a whopping 10 feet and lands.... on pillows??? Yes, that is correct, the bottom of this pit is lined with pillows much like the ones you found previously!

Getting to the edge of the pit, Krestin looks down at the tiefling, "Is Ferabras oka.... Pillows!"

Soran snaps his fingers.
I get it. Those men outside... They were here to "set up" the "trial". The illusions, the pit trap with pillows, this must be why they trust young ones with this task, it's all set up to be an obstacle course with a safety net! Something went wrong, though. Something they didn't expect, and whatever it is, I bet it's the source of that wailing. Be ready, if it took out that many men, it may prove troublesome.

He hefts his pack, draws a blunt arrow, and aims toward the sound as he moves to help Fera out of the pit. Once finished, he offers the paladin his curative wand from his bandolier and smiles.
So... Harmless traps and undead that slew and entire group of armed men? Sounds like a pathfinder assignment to me.

Hey, have you been reading the scenario???

DC 10 Climb check to get out.

Okay, so it would seem the most direct path has a pit blocking the way. How would you like to proceed?

Ferabras, alarmed to find himself plummeting through the air, is more than a little confused by his soft landing. "What in the the dev..." he says before stopping himself. "Pillows!" he says, in unison with Krestin. Relieved to be relatively unharmed, he tosses a pillow at Krestin, laughing a bit and showing his pointy, black teeth in a rare smile.

He accepts Soran's help in climbing out of the pit, saying as he does so, "That's a pretty good theory, Soran, it explains a lot. And it does sound like something we should take care of. Think the rest of you can get around this pit and we'll go take a look? You think that switch turns off the trap, or does it do something else?"

Nope, just makes sense. An illusion, pillows in a pit that match pillows found on dead people, and the fact that they are kosher with sending kids in here makes me think so. Lol

1d20 ⇒ 16

Soran helps Ferabras out of the pit, though the question remains where to go from here.

"Haha! Pillows!" Taliesin laughs.

"Still, if this is some initiation test gone wrong, we need to figure out what's going on here."

The bard begins walking forward carefully, tapping on the floor in front of her with her longspear.

take 20 perception on each 5' square before moving to the next. If it is a trap, I'll avoid that square and move to the next one. Looking for doors out or a way to disable the trap, and I'll keep moving in this manner until I find it. 26 Perception with take 20. I'll start coming in the door and moving toward the north.

Taliesin moves to the north (see pink line on map) and finds no traps in her way. Also, no doors or anything line the walls.

Ferabras taps himself with his healing wand, then puts it away. He ponders Taliesin's approach a moment, then says, "I still think this switch on the wall has something to do with it. I bet it turns off the trap."

He reaches out and flips the switch.

If that doesn't do anything:

He then walks around the pit and the adjacent pillar and approaches the door from a new direction. Following yellow line on map.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

The switch moves easily and latches into place. A few seconds later, however, it clicks back into its original position.

1d20 ⇒ 8

Ferabras moves away from the wall.

But doesn't get very far. It seems he has found another pit trap and falls down it! Thankfully, there are pillows down here as well, though he manages to fall right in between two rather than on them.

non-lethal falling damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Ferabras manages to scramble out of the pit, saying with a good deal less excitement in his voice, "Looks like there's pillows in this one too..."

He heals himself with his wand again, then decides to try a different path around the pillars, since the shortest path does not seem to be working out.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Ferabras, aka "The Probe" will walk the yellow line until he falls in the next pit. He's definitely an expert trap-finder!

Holding onto the pillow that Ferabras threw at him earlier, Krestin laughs slightly as he follows the paladin. He may have looked scary, but the kitsune seemed to have seen something that he thought was humor come from the tiefling. "Maybe you shouldn't fall in holes. Krestin thinks maybe not all will have pillows at the bottom."

All of this pillow talk is making me sleepy. Did anyone bring blankets? Lini asks with a wry smile.

"Aye I be thinkin that too Krestin. Also be thinkin I can give yeh a bit of aid Fera." Craggor places his hand on Ferabras back and spouts of a short concise prayer.

Craggor casts guidance. +1 to next Attack, Skill or Save in the next minute.

Ferabras moves along his course and spots another switch in an alcove as he passes. Then promptly finds another pillow-padded pit...

1d20 ⇒ 3
Non-lethal falling damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Taliesin looks with concern as Ferabras falls for the third time.

"Dearest paladin, are you all right?!" she says with genuine concern. "If I may, I think you are moving too fast! Take your time and I think you will see the pits!"

Taliesin continues moving carefully along the wall to her east now, tapping each area of floor in front of her with her longspear.

I'll continue to take 20 on perception and avoid any trapped squares, I'm looking for any other doors or levers that might help us.

Soran follows behind Fera, his bow ready for an attack if necessary.
I think Tal's right, Fera. That looks a little painful.

"Oh, it doesn't hurt so much," Ferabras grunts as he struggles to his feet amidst the latest pile of pillows he's landed in. He flails around a bit trying to get out of the pit, but manages it. He then studies the path he's taken so far, and considers how the others might be able to get through, and takes a slightly different route to the door. "Maybe that wailing is from someone who was tired of falling on pillows and just snapped? Though I guess all these pits would be open, in that case, and I wouldn't have to find them all."

As he walks carefully along the hall, he says, "There should be paths cleared to the two switches I've found in the walls, maybe someone can figure out what they do?"

Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 6
Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Will follow green line from latest pit. I'll save that guidance for my next Reflex save, DM, if you'd be so kind as to apply it.

Taliesin does not go far before she detects her first pit trap! (Shown on map)

Ferabras goes for another stroll finding another trap with his feet!
Reflex: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Yeesh, my e-dice hate you!
Non-lethal falling damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
P: 1d20 ⇒ 20

This pit trap, however, holds something different than the rest. Yes, there are pillows to soften the fall, but there is also a small sack tucked beneath the pillows.

Inside the sack is six platinum pieces, one for each of you, and a small scrap of parchment that reads “three to open, but be quick, for the door will only open for those who work together”.

BTW, leaving the lines there so you can refer to where you've been safely.

Making her way carefully back around, Taliesin continues forward with her technique of finding the traps.

I'll make my way north from my position on the map (taking 20 perception), then east again, looking for doors/levers, etc.

Taliesin is quick to find another pit trap! Shown on map

Ferabras collects the bag of coins and calls up to his companions, "I've found something a bit different than the pile of pillows. It's a bit of a riddle. I'm guessing there's another switch somewhere - 'three to open' must mean three switches needed to open the door, and they all have to be flipped at the same time. But first I think we need to find the safe path to the door. "

He tucks the pouch inside his shirt and clambers out of the pit, calling down the hall, " Taliesin, keep an eye out for a switch on the wall, I've found two of them! And how come you're not falling in these pits?" After healing himself once again with his wand, Ferabras decides to take a more careful approach, moving very slowly and studying the floor for any indications that there might be a pit.

Climb check: 1d20 ⇒ 13

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 Back to full HP

Take 20 on Perception for a 21, following blue line towards door.

Taliesin continues her method, moving east, then north to investigate the outer walls of the room.

Continue taking 20, move east, then north along the wall...trying to get all the way around this room.

Taliesin continues along the path but finds no other traps as she meets the wall.

Ferabras moves a little more cautiously, which is good, because his path would have gone right over another pit!

"Dam this infernal room. Whoever be making this must'a been daft." Craggor complains

Soren continues following Fera, aiding the paladin whenever he can.

Ferabras is pleased not to have fallen into another pit, and decides to keep up the new approach. He tries a new path toward the door, moving carefully.

Take 20 on Perception, moving along the red line.

Ferabras moves along the designated path and comes across no more traps, but does come up to the door.

"Hey!" Ferabras exclaims excitedly, "I found a safe path to the door! One that doesn't involve falling in a bunch of pits!" He holds the bag of coins aloft, saying, "But we still need to find the last switch. And hand these out." He gives everyone a coin, careful to only walk on portions of the hall he knows to be safe, while waiting for Taliesin to finish her sweep and find the last switch.

Sior - since Taliesin is being careful and not falling in pits, would you be okay with just telling us where the last switch is (assuming it's findable by that method), rather than having us draw lines on the map?

By the way, did everyone notice what a quick learner Fera is? He only fell in four pits before changing tactics!

Aww, but don't you like stumbling in the dark? No? Okay then.

Taliesin has to go all the way around the room again before finding the alcove she did not pass in order to find the final switch at the north end of the room.

"I found another switch!" Taliesin yells out to her companions. "Do we pull these at the same time or something? Only one didn't seem to work!"

5th time's the charm, Ferabras! XD

Soran takes the safe route to the switch not occupied by Fera and Tal, and gives it a look over.
Alright, on three I suppose? One, two, THREE!

On three, he gives his switch a mighty flip and then immediately takes aim at the door with his bow, in case it opens to spill out some kind of nasty beast.