GM thunderspirit's Reign of Winter AP

Game Master thunderspirit

Edward's spiffy XP tracker is linked on the Campaign Info tab.

The rogue takes a moment to clean the ettin blood from his short sword.

Then he goes over this room once more just to be sure they have properly searched it, not just for treasure but for any clues or information.

Perception 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15

Kappi is clearly distracted by the mystery of this female ettin. With Ali here he is too embarrassed to go check under the dead woman's clothes to see if she had other "double" body parts...

After room is checked, the light stepping rogue will scout out the passage way.

Stealth 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25
Perception 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32

Davosh wipes the wand down with a part of his cloak which is at least as dirty as the wand itself. He then hands it to Ali. "I can bob in the air like it's a bath already. You take this. Anyone mind if I keep this potion? If I'm small my Eye still works, and it's a harder target to hit."

Vojtek nods assent through his exhaustion.

Kappi nods and heads off on his scouting mission

Kappi winds his way down the darkened chasm (I'll assume someone has a sunrod or some such, since Kappi is going beyond the dancing lights illumination) and finds steps that wind deeper into the cliff. He comes across a door to his right after a second flight; a third winds further down up ahead.

The rogue listens at the door

perception 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

Then scoots back and gets his comrades.

Then with them close but not too close, he checks the door for traps.

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

Kappi hears nothing beyond the door, but his sharp eyes note a magical trap on it!

Liska delivers a spell of Guidance on the lad before scurrying away.

Liska delivers a spell of Guidance on the lad before scurrying away.

The lad accepts the blessing of the Ancients. He lets out a deep breath and moves in to work on the trap.

disable device 1d20 + 21 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 21 + 1 = 38

Vojtek grips the haft of his greataxe with firm pressure and shifts his stance slightly to better prepare for any eventuality. He interposes his body between the door and the other members of the party; should the worst happen while Kappi is disarming the magical trap, he and the lad should bear the brunt of it.

Kappi easily disables the trap. Davosh and Ali both discover it is a fear trap on examination. Satisfied, the rogue opens the door.

A wash of humid air, quite apart from the icy-cold cavern they are in, rushed out as the door opens. It has the odor of stagnant water.

Kappi peers into the darkness and a high-pitched, haunting melody begins far ahead, wrapping itself around everyone's mind.
Ali: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Davosh: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Edward: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Kappi: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Vojtek: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Vojtek shrugs and starts wading into the water.

"Seems legit." Davosh follows Vojtek.

Kappi and Edward both watch in shock as their companions walk past. They look at each other, then hurry after.

The room is fetid and damp, with water vapor rising from the surface of a murky morass of fungus. A handsome, grinning man with the legs of a goat and a set of curling ram horns extending from his temples is playing the lovely music, a black as midnight set of wings sprouting from his back and his eyes as red as fire. Rising from the swamp is an enormous thick trunk capped by a crown of wide leaves, whipping vines, mushrooms, and a ravenous purple maw. Separate Kn (nature) checks for both.

Slowly, it begins to occur to Vojtek, Davosh, and Ali that perhaps they were tricked.

Round 1
Edward (not under suggestion) — GO
Vojtek (under suggestion) — delay
flutist — TBD
Ali (under suggestion) — TBD
Audrey III — TBD
Kappi (under suggestion) — TBD
Davosh (under suggestion) — TBD

Audrey III, nice!

Round 1

With a look of horror on his face, Kappi watches his friends walk strangely spell bound toward the fetid water and the insane terror show that must be an EVIL tree monster.

The Varisian lad takes a few quick breaths and bounces on the balls of his feet. Then he runs up the wall parallel to the ground, he makes a leap to the other side of the narrow hall and keeps running along the wall. Then leaps over (luckily he is rather short) Vojtek and lands at his feet. Like a small child Kappi leaps and wraps himself around his best friend's shin, Stop! Stop! What are you doing?!?!

Acrobatics to ninja up to the front of the line 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31

Thank you for sorting through my typo to realize that Kappi is, in fact, not under the suggestion SLA. Cut and paste is your friend, except when it's not. LOL

Can’t manipulate the map on my iPad so I can’t even see where everyone is. Please work with me and put Ed as close to where he describes.. note that Ed doesn’t want to be within a move action of the baddies unless necessary, and won’t go within a 5’ step of them.

Ed watches his friends act out of character and rushes forward trying to place himself between his friends and the water. (If there is a choice, he will save Ali and Davosh first). He reaches out and implores them stop this is a trap don’t fall to it’s suggestion. (Maybe my aura will give them another save?)

know nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
know nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Moved Edward to best fit his description. I'll give PCs a +2 bonus on upcoming saves vs. SLAs based on Edward's action.
EDIT: no, sorry, my mistake — this is not a fear effect, so the aura of courage does not apply.

The piper suddenly takes to the air with his bat-like wings, about halfway between the marsh turf and the ceiling some forty feet above. His tune changes slightly, and targets 1 V, 2 D: 1d2 ⇒ 2 Davosh!

Will save w/suggestion and paladin aura: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Both Ali and Vojtek move into the warm, inviting water, whereupon the fungoid beast lashes out at both with fibrous tentacles!
Bite vs. 1 V, 2 A: 1d2 ⇒ 1
bite vs. Vojtek: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
tentacle 1 vs Ali: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
tentacle 2 vs Vojtek: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
All three attacks miss, and suddenly both the elf and the Northman come to their senses knee-deep in the swampy mass (difficult terrain in the aqua area of the room), and the goat-legged fellow seems much less friendly!

Round 1
flutist — TBD
Audrey III — TBD
Edward — GO (no full-round actions, though)
Vojtek — GO
Ali — GO
Kappi — GO
Davosh (charmed) — GO

Ali shakes off the magical reverie. Stepping as lightly as a feather, she's able to nudge in close enough to attack (feather step slippers yo!). She enhances her weapon to Flaming Burst hoping that fire will harm this not-so-fun-guy.

attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
damage: 1d10 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + (2) = 8

attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
damage: 1d10 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (10) + 4 + (4) = 18

Point of order: activating the slippers is a standard action.

"GUYS! Stop that! Stop that right now!" Readied action, Healing hex if anyone hurts by good buddy.

Point of order: activating the slippers is a standard action.

d'oooohhh... i'm used to the Travel domain's "this turns on when it's needed!" So my choice is turn on slippers & step, or move (drawing AoO) and 1 attack. I choose the former. Ignore the rolls. Biotch.

via my phone, Im having the same issue Adam is w/ the map. I cant move it down to see what is happening. TS, judge my actions as you see fit

Round 2

The Varisian lad is very annoyed with this situation. Though he IS happy his friends are no longer marching to their deaths. Kappi moves forward into the water. He hurls one of his tomahawks at Audrey III.

Throwing deadly aim. 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 13 - 2 = 27
Tomahawk 1d6 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 4 = 10

Healing hex! Kappi, please he's my friend!: 2d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 8) + 5 = 15

Ooc- Google Drawings is great. I can see everything. Slides, still the same.

Round the Second
• Current HPs: 93/93

Vojtek takes a step towards the freakish plant-monster and slashes at its fungal tentacles with his axe. He leans in and chomps on some roughage as well. OMG this freaking ONE time I hit with a bite it better not poison me lol

Great Axe: 1d20 + 17 - 3 ⇒ (2) + 17 - 3 = 16 for Damage: 1d12 + 12 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 12 + 9 = 30

Great Axe: 1d20 + 17 - 3 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 17 - 3 - 5 = 27 for Damage: 1d12 + 12 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 9 = 31
And Wartooth Gnash!: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31 for 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 damage.

Confirm! And Wartooth Gnash!: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 for 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 damage.

Okay, for the rest of this encounter I'll run concurrent maps, and we'll talk about the options after that. Those having trouble with the Slides map, I played about with the permissions so I would ask you to try it again when you can.

d'oooohhh... i'm used to the Travel domain's "this turns on when it's needed!" So my choice is turn on slippers & step, or move (drawing AoO) and 1 attack. I choose the former. Ignore the rolls. Biotch.

Point of order #2: the slippers only overcome difficult terrain, not attacks of opportunity. link

Verifying Ali's course of action before Audrey III takes the AoO.

Kappi's tomahawk and a pair of Vojtek attacks land on the huge plant-thing, though the wounds appear to heal up almost as soon as they occur!

Round 1
flutist — fly, charm
Audrey III — lots of missing
Edward — GO (no full-round actions, though)
Vojtek — full attack
Ali — GO (redo pending...?)
Kappi — fling
Davosh (charmed) — Readied action to heal (since no one has yet damaged Poryphanes)

Point of order 2.5: they allow a 5' step, which precludes the AoO as I was only 5' away.

Yeah, my bad — I was looking at an unreloaded page.

Management regrets the error. Carry on.

Round 1
flutist — fly, charm
Audrey III — lots of missing
Edward — GO (no full-round actions, though)
Vojtek — full attack
Ali — activate magic item, 5 ft step
Kappi — fling
Davosh (charmed) — Readied action to heal (since no one has yet damaged Poryphanes)

Edward 5’ steps and looses two arrows at the shambling mound.

Longbow+pbs: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 1 = 18
Damge: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
longbow +pbs: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 1 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Nobody is injured as of yet, so no lifelink damages totrack.

Edward's arrow bounces harmlessly off the plant creature's bark!

The flying flutist changes his tune again, and the song is drawn out, like it's lasting a full six seconds or so...

The huge plant full attacks the raging barbarian!
bite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
tentacle 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
tentacle 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
All three miss!

Round 2
flutist — spell
Audrey III — lots more missing
Edward — GO
Vojtek — GO
Ali — GO
Kappi — GO
Davosh (charmed) — GO

"STOP I SAY!"

Readied action:

Round 2

Kappi tries throwing an alchemical fire at Audrey III

throwing attack 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
Molotov cocktail 1d6 ⇒ 6

Second round damage 1d6 ⇒ 4

Ali, recognizing the danger of a spellcaster casting a complex spell, changes her focus. she draws out her Staff and fires off magic missiles, trying to disrupt the spell!

MM: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 2) + 4 = 16

Ali needs an SR check for the magic missile!

Ess Are: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 = 29

That'll do, pig.
Concentration check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19 Fizzle!

Ali's spell penetrates the piper's spell resistance and he can not concentrate enough to get the spell off! Davosh's hex replaces much of the wounding, but the damage, as they say, is done!

Kappi's alchemist fire explodes on Audrey III's bark, and a small patch catches fire!

Round 2
flutist — spell (fizzle)
Audrey III — lots more missing
Edward — GO
Vojtek — GO
Ali — spell
Kappi — fiery boom
Davosh (charmed) — healing hex

DAMMIT DAVOSH!!! gotta stop THAT from continuing...

"NOT AN ENEMY!"

sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 4

then why is he summoning monsters??

Round the First
• Current HPs: 93/93

Vojtek steps in a few hasty shuffled steps and hacks his axe at the flora, hoping to fall it quickly!

Great Axe: 1d20 + 17 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 17 - 3 = 20 for Damage: 1d12 + 12 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 12 + 9 = 31

Great Axe: 1d20 + 17 - 3 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 17 - 3 - 5 = 27 for Damage: 1d12 + 12 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 12 + 9 = 28
And Wartooth Gnash!: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 for 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 damage.

Wondering what the bloody heck is going on in the chaotic mind of Davosh, Ed tries a different tact.

Davosh, you know I have never lied to you. You know my healing abilities are greater than yours. If you help to kill Audrey III, I promise to defend your new friend until you can continue the job after Audrey is dead, and your new friend stands down from harming us or hindering us from our task of killing Audrey. I also beseech the rest of your friends to not harm Davosh’s friend until the task at hand is done.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

With that Ed walks towards Porphanes (appropriate weapon in hand, bow or sword) and readies to disrupt any spell he can tell is harmful to our purpose, or take an AoO if the conditions aren’t met.

Votjek's savage axe blows cut the plant monster down to size, but it is his toothy maw that lands the final blow! With Kappi's alchemist fire still burning, its gaping wounds no longer regenerate!

TIL: Paizo's Diplomacy rules no longer have a rushed Diplomacy option — that's an artifact left over from 3.5 rules. (I am gonna do SO MUCH of this rules cross-pollination in PF2E.)

I'm not letting a roll like that go to waste, though. Cos, even for the -10 on a rushed Diplomacy check (usually takes a minute to make one), that's pretty freakin' good. :-)

Davosh hesitates, hearing Edward's words and considering. At last, someone sees it my way!

Davosh gets a bonus Will save vs. the suggestion!

Ahh sweet, and thanks GMTS

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 DAMMIT

Sad trombone.

Davosh merely smiles at Edward's words. Meanwhile, the piper pipes some more, and the room is shrouded in darkness!

Round 3
flutist — darkness
Edward — GO
Vojtek — GO
Ali — GO
Kappi — GO
Davosh (charmed) — delay

Ali shouts out I CAN FIX THE DARKNESS, wait a sec!!

that means “if you need to see, delay til I go

Very well...

Ali casts a spell, and her sword becomes the center of a Daylight spell!

I srsly didn't think that would come in handy THIS soon after choosing/prepping it yo!

Ali's spell overcomes the darkness!

Round 3
flutist — darkness
Edward — GO
Vojtek — GO
Ali — darkness DENIED
Kappi — GO
Davosh (charmed) — delay

Ali's spell overcomes the darkness!

Revved up like a douche, another runner in the night. I mean, deuce.