GM Thrawn's PBP Gameday VI - Tome of Righteous Repose (Inactive)

Game Master Thrawn007

The main hall is 15' wide, and leads to the southeast. About 50 more feet ahead, the passage widens out in that direction, where the source of the flickering light seems to be beyond your view. Two passages branch off to the left, and one to the right.

Map updated

Lucita will wait for some to go down, and then follow, stopping in the stairs, in the midst of people, to better reach them in case of need.

If anyone needs my spot, move Lucita a square back up the stairs. Put her there for her reach weapon, and to touch most I imagine for spells etc.

"perhaps we should start with the left tunnel to make sure nothing sneaks up behind us"

"Excellent idea Sir Gorumbound! It am pleased to have a devotee of the god of war and tactics by our side!" Raynor spurs Mozza to the ceiling.

Map Updated

The room to the northeast has stonework suggesting a dwarven architect, but the floor and walls display carvings of Tien design. Carvings of a swimming carp cover the western wall, the eastern wall depicts a katana over the sun, and the northern wall shows a carved mural of two elven women in Minkai dress standing before a funerary pyre. The floor boasts carvings of some kind of long serpent-like reptilian beast.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

"An imperial sky dragon," Notes Xukong as it looks at the floor carving. "Allies to Shizuru, no doubt."

Barl is quite impressed with Raynor's mount. "Where did you find such a creature?"

knowledge (religion)+free inspiration: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (13) + 7 + (1) = 21

"This carp is a symbol of Shizuru, as is the katana over the sun. Unusual considering the dwarven architecture. Shall we continue along the leftward path?"

Left it is. Grag says as he begins to move down the indicated corridor. Following the green arrow. If someone wishes to take point, he will let them otherwise he will go first looking for traps along the way. perception for traps: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

There is obviously no traps. Or is there?

As the shadows shift and change as you walk through the room, the light the shadows seem to reach out with arm-like appendages that seem to swipe and then disappear back into the pillars. One of the pillars swipes at Lucita, and she can feel a cold energy going through her. It would almost be comforting except she realizes it is sapping her strength, not strengthening her lifeforce. Barl also sees an appendage reach out, but it seems to swipe a second too late as he walks by, and it has nothing but air to target.

Conditions
Shadows are currently inside of solid objects

Round 1
Glorne
Barl
Grag
Lucita (2 strength damage)
Shadows
Raynor
Xucong

Glorne moves where I placed him and readies a cold blast at anything leaving the pillar near Barl

Grag hefts his axe and prepares to swing at the next opportunity. Readied action to attack once one attempts to attack. Five foot step as needed.

+1 greataxe: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 301d12 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

This comforting touch... suddenly reminds Lucita of what she feels as her stain, the fact her mother was a toy-slave to the Vampire Lord.
But, once again, this curse given her by her Vampiric father, saves her, since her lifeforce is close to that of the Undead, and the similarity of energies block this dark tendril from sapping her strength.
Kn' Religion capped at 10: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13 Does her 10 in Religion tell her, not that it is a Shadow, but that these are Undead?

Trying to determine how the Darkness could coalesce and strike out like that, Lucita gets ready to fight back.

If unable to determine these are Undead, or if no one speaks out naming what this is Lucita swings her Cold Iron Longspear into a readied position, prepared to strike if these black-arms come out again.
Spear strike: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 Readied action vs. any Shadow appearing
Ouch?: 1d8 ⇒ 1

[ooc]If she learns these are Undead Lucita keeps her Longspear in one hand, and readies herself to react if these Shades appear again, liberating a wave of Positive Harmful energy, but focusing her mind so that it will avoid her kin Xukong.
Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 6 [ooc](Readied action) Positive Energy for Variant Channeling, using Selective Channeling to exclude my fellow Dhampir - DC13 Will save to avoid being Nauseated for 1 round (but not to get 1/2 dam'). My understanding is Undead can be Nauseated since in this case it is a Will save not a Fort' one

If Lucita channels A wave of invisible energy radiates from Lucita, rippling through the air, leaving a powerful smell of saké, the fermented rice wine from Tian Xa.

They haven't been identified as undead as of yet, so going with Lucita's spear strike this round. Skeletons and zombies I would have at 5+CR to identify without religion ranks. Shadows are slightly rarer (but not super rare.

One shadow swipes blindly where Lucita was previously standing, but fails to hit anything. Lucita counters stabbing it with her longspear, but the spear passes right through the creature's arm without it seeming to notice. Grag's strike at the arm seems to be more effective leaving a trail of shadow behind as it swipes through the creature. Having missed previously, the second shadow steps out of its pillar and attacks Barl, sapping his strength.

[I]
Conditions
one shadow is currently inside of solid object

Intitiative (bold may act)

Round 1
Glorne (take readied action)
Barl (before str dmg)
Raynor
Xucong

Round 2
Glorne
Barl (6 str dmg)
Grag
Lucita (2 strength damage)
Shadows (red 8 dmgs, blue 0 dmg)
Raynor
Xukong
[I]

Round 2 - Lucita will delay, hoping someone will see that these are Undead, even identify them as shadows
Lucita wonders how the darkness can thus come together and strike out, yet seem invulnerable..

Glorne focuses is energy, reaches out his right hand and a beam of cold energy at the now visible creature made of shadow (blue)

cold blast: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 192d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 1 = 3

cold blast: (sp); ranged touch attack; damage type: energy(cold); consider magical for damage reduction puposes

Xukong hefts its massive sword - an extraordinary bastard sword as black as obsidian, yet riven with cracks through which eerie green and violet hues can be seen to emanate - and advances on the pillar hiding the one the shadow Grag hit, the blade becoming even darker and colder as it waits in Xukong's deathgrip....

Spending 1 Arcane point to make it +2 for the next minute.

[dice=readied action, Shard +2, Spellstrike, chill touch vs whichever shadow is first to come within range]1d20+9[/dice]
damage: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
rounds of chill touch effect (DC 15 Will save to resist): 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Free action: "Sir Gorumbound, what are these things we're fighting?"

knowledge (religion)+free inspiration: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (9) + 7 + (6) = 22

"They are shadows!" He expounds quickly. "Unfortunately I don't think my weapons will work against them." When they first appear, he quickly opens a flask of acid and throws it at the blue one.

Not sure what the arrangement was then. If it would splash a team member then he will just try to move away for now.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Not knowing what to do, Lucita holds her action, calling out: "Shadows? And what are they: from the Plane of Shadow? Undead?... What weapons can hurt them? Do they resist any energies?".

"Shadow? Undead?" hears Raynor throughout the din, "In the name of the Harborwing, I shall pour light into your emptied vessels so that your shackled souls fly into the heavens and reach the angels!"

Raynor keeps his mount on the ceiling to avoid AoOs and direct Mozza to climb down the west wall to position himself in a flank with Lucita:

Round 1, Lay on Hand, melee touch, mounted, flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 15 Touch AC for 2d6 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6 positive energy damage (no save).

After checking the updated map I changed my post slightly after realizing one of the shadows has emerged from the pillars

Barl's acid seems to go right through the shadowy creature, splashing the pillar and floor. It could be positioned to miss others. Glorne blasts the other shadow with cold, and it seems to have some effect, but not much. Raynor's holy magic seems to be much more effective against the creature, and it pulls back from the attack for a moment, before striking back at the paladin, sapping his strength. The second shadow steps out of the pillar, touching the halforc that had previously struck it, but Xucong manages to strike it with a magically charged blow, doing significant damage. The creature doesn't seem to be slowed by the cold effect of the attack though Immune to str damage

Conditions
None

Round 3
Glorne
Barl (6 str dmg)
Grag (3 str dmg)
Lucita (2 str dmg)
Xucong
Shadows (red 16 dmg, blue 7 dmg)
Raynor

Hearing some information about these moving shadows, Lucita calls upon the Divine powers of Trickery and Drunkenness of Sun Wukong, the Monkey God... and a wave of Positive Energy ripples out from her - Lucita makes sure that this energy does not harm her friend Xukong.
A smell of fermented rice liquor explodes in the air.

I am a Negative Energy Cleric, so using my Versatile Channeler to channel positive.
Excluding myself, and using Selective Channelling feat to exclude Xukong.
My channel is Ale/Wine Variant Channelling thus:
1d6 Positive Damage (no save) and DC14 Will save to not be Nauseated - since it is not a Fort' save, the Shadows can be affected
If Lucita sees it affects the Shadows in round 2, she will do the same in round 3.
Doing both rolls:
Channel round 2: 1d6 ⇒ 3 (DC 14 Will save or be Nauseated for 1 round)
Channel round 3: 1d6 ⇒ 2 (DC 14 Will save or be Nauseated for 1 round)

...but Xukong manages to strike it with a magically charged blow, doing significant damage. The creature doesn't seem to be slowed by the cold effect of the attack though Immune to str damage

You totally missed the part about what chill touch does to undead. If it fails a DC 15 Will save, it will be pushed into an undead version of 'panic' for (in this case) 5 rounds. I'll wait to see what comes of that before I post this round's action.

And you're still spelling my name wrong, for some reason.

"Stop feeding upon the living, spirits! awaken! and step into the light at once!!"

Round 2, Lay on Hand, melee touch, mounted, flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 30 vs. Touch AC for 2d6 ⇒ (2, 4) = 6 positive energy damage (no save).
confirming crit, Lay on Hand, melee touch, mounted, flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 15 vs. Touch AC for 2d6 ⇒ (6, 1) = 7 positive energy damage (no save).

Grag grunts at the loss of some of his strength. If you will take my power, I will take your life.
Grag swings his hefty greataxe into the offending creature. +1 greataxe: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 12 - 1 = 201d12 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 14 - 1 = 22

If the shadow survives, on turn three

Grag brings his axe once more to bear on the creature, +1 greataxe: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 1 = 131d12 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 1 = 19

In a flurry of positive energy (2 channels and a touch) the shadows dissipate into nothingness, leaving the room suddenly silent.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 w. +1 from Guidance

Seeking the Monkey God's Guidance, Lucita looks around the pillars, to try and notice anything particular...

"Well, though none are wounded, most are weakened by these mysterious Undead Shadows... protectors of the fallen Elven Samurai, or desecrators of her tomb? So, seeing as time is not of the essence, I am for us going back down the slope a bit, to set up camp and rest for a couple days. I can tend to our muscles, and speed the recovery up".

"That is a good idea, milady, although I would settle for the cave entrance: more defensible and we can hide our fire from the orcs of Belkzen... I would also beg you to explore a few additional rooms to secure our rest; if we see more shadows, we can leave, but if we find more mundane threats, I would rather deal with them now than see them crawl to our bedrolls at night..."

"That was just my thought, and I will of course defer to what the group desires... but that is sound advice, Master Knight. To explore some, and rest in the entrance."

"I feel greatly weakened but I could do a bit more exploring before we rest."

"Onward, then! Who shall lead the way?".
Lucita will follow the group into whichever part is to be explored first...

Glorne moves north, then east to the indicated position on the map

Climbing back to the ceiling upside down, Raynor and Mozza move to the front of the party.

Grag moves up to the room with the blood altar and looks inside. perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 very rarely does a place like this exist quietly.

Raynor casts detect evil in the room ahead.

A charred orc corpse is hanging over a pool of redish black liquid (blood?). The pool, the corpse, and the accompanied shrine at the top of the stairs across the room give this room a grizzly atmosphere. The ceiling in this room is 20 feet high (double the height of previous rooms and passages), and there seem to be the remains of a number of bloodlessing and torture implements scattered around the altar.

Religion (capped at 10): 1d20 ⇒ 3
Lucita has no idea if this has any specific significance, but she sure does not like it.
She looks around, trying to spot any detail that might shed some light on what is going on here...
Perception: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Lucita is very sure the substance in the pool is mostly, if not all blood. It took a lot to fill that area, and it isn't fresh.

religion: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 This was once dedicated to Torag. But someone seems to have had an issue with that.

Satisfied there are no evil in this room, Raynor directs Mozza across the room via the ceiling, and detects evil down the side passages along the way.

knowledge (religion)+free inspiration: 1d20 + 7 + 1d6 ⇒ (20) + 7 + (5) = 32

"I believe you are correct, Grag. In fact, it appears this has become a shrine to Nulgreth, the orc god of bloodlust and fighting."

Glorne move into the room as well.

No evil creatues detected, but the altar and pool themselves detect with an aura of evil.

Lucita frowns: "Do you think those Shades we battled were fallen Dwarves, made restless and lost by this Evil Orc magic?".
Lucita enters the room, moving along the wall, peering into this ancient pool of blood.
"Wise Pendergast, know you if this is usual Orc rituals of Nulgreth, and what they aim to do with such blood-sacrifices?".

Thanks GM Thrawn -based on this new info I will undo my last move and convey the info to the party instead.

"Pathfinders! the foul pool of blood and altar both ooze with evil! arm yourselves and be ready!"

Barl with your huge religion roll you know...
Blood sacrifices would be a normal practice for Nulgreth followers
Worshippers believe slaughter is it's own end, not means to an end
Nulgreth is actually opposed by Lanishra the orc god of slavery, because Lanishra believes Nulgreth and his followers waste potential slaves by brutally slaughtering everyone and everything.
You also believe the shrine can be cleansed, but it would take time and positive magic.

Barl shares all he knows with the group. "Do those with the proper powers wish to cleanse this altar?"

"I for my part do not truly care, except that if this is an Ancient Dwarven Altar, then, out of respect to your kin, I will do what I can to cleanse it".

"It would be my honor Master Kestad. Tell me what I have to do!"

Without spending significant time and spells such as concecrate (which I believe is beyond the current abilities of the party) the best that can be done right now is to destroy the altar to Nulgresh, to disable the evil magics from the room.