GMTrex's PFS [Normal Mode] 05-21 The Merchant's Wake (Inactive)

Game Master Andrew Trexler

Petrus doesn't get any odd feelings about the priest.

"Like I had time to look!" Umut says with an exasperated tone. "Now are you going to help me or not?!"

Petrus draws his sword and stands.

"In we go then.

Polo nods and leads the way.

"We'll need to inspect them." Obviously, Meredith. "I'll take a look, but Dieb is certainly better at this that I am."

If it's obvious we'll enter combat, Meredith will cast Shield before we get there.

"That is...incredibly intelligent," says Dieb with a hint of admiration. "To know that your mourning rights would necessitate placing items before a thane, and then rigging one of said items to activate the contents therein. Impressive. Whoever did this had some knowledge of both your House and of the ritual observed. As well as, it goes without saying, was no complete fool.
Of course, good Meredith, we must making investigations of the item that originated this tumult. Lead on!"

Sorry for the lateness. Wednesdays can be bad for me.

Will update tonight.

Feeling more than a little indimidated by all the prowess and powers on display amongst his fellow Pathfinders, Cesare follows along behind, working on lines of an epic poem he might write about all this one day.

Torsk snorts, and follows along with the others.

Before heading in, Polo turns to Petrus.

"Petrus, I'm so anxious to crush more skulls that I've nearly forgotten my recent injuries. Could you use my healing stick on me?"

Wand CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Wand CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

The stone door to the crypt opens easily into a small room with stairs descending deeper. Polo leads the charge down the steps into a larger room, the walls of which are lined with the interred bodies of many generations of the Bahjari family, tracing back all the way to era of the first Qadiran satraps. A dying torch dimly illuminates the room.

From the stairs behind you comes a decidedly evil laugh. "he hee HE HAAA HAHA HA! Right into my trap!" 'Umut' has a scythe in her hands now--from where she got it, you can't say--and summons another of pure force to carve into Torsk! "May the Pallid Princess feast upon your lives!"

Spiritual Scythe @ Torsk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 HIT
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Simultaneously, several skeletons burst from the walls with unholy moans. One looks beefier than the others, and wears the magical ring you gifted in Zarmina's honor. They rush the group!

Round I - bold may act!
1. Cesare, Dieb, Petrus
2. Skeletons
3. Torsk (10/17hp)
4. 'Umut'
5. Polo, Meredith

By the way, Petrus: your SM roll was pretty good, but my Bluff roll was better (just barely). :P

Eclipse licks his chops and howls in delight.

"Ho-Ha! Exploding half to death hasn't affected Eclipse's love for feasting on living skeletons!"

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"Oh confound!" shouts Dieb as he withdraws into a corner of the room, frustrated to no end to -again- be facing the kind of undead that are immune to Sleep spells (very rude of them). Especially the kind that pop up right next to him. No manners at all!

"I would just like to say that this is another reason why the ring is the better choice. It makes it that much harder to be beaten to death by your own gift."

Withdraw action.

Meredith's grin turns a bit sadistic as Umut lays her trap. "Oh, I'm going to enjoy crushing you for this, Umut."

No, calm down. That's how you lost. That's how you were captured.

Meredith is a bit wrapped up at the thought of punishing the defiler of the dead to react in a timely manner, however.

Cesare is startled by the wall of foes approaching him and quickly follows Dieb in withdrawal.

"Those are skeletons!" he exclaims to no one in particular. "I mean, they're moving! On their own!"

Realizing he's babbling, the bard takes a deep breath and gets himself together.

Petrus tries to recall anything useful about fighting undead
Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

He orders Tipple to attack the risen corpse of the Trade Princess.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
damage : 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Trip: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Petrus himself takes a five foot step NE, then makes a conservative swing at the risen princess. Fighting defensively, +2 ac till next turn.

Greatsword : 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 4 = 2
damage : 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9

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Wow... that was bad

Shocked and shamed by the Priest's betrayal, and his failure to see it, Petrus fumbles uselessly as the battle erupts around him.

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Cesare and Dieb beat the retreat while Petrus and his wolf make a few ineffectual attacks that send shadows flying in the dim light. The skeletons close in...

Claw @ Petrus: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 12 MISS
Claw @ Petrus: 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 15 MISS

Claw @ Polo: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 1 = 13 MISS
Claw @ Polo: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 2 + 1 = 20 HIT Damage: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Claw @ Torsk: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 2 + 1 = 15 HIT Damage: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4
Claw @ Torsk: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11 MISS

Claw @ Meredith: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 1 = 14 HIT Damage: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5
Claw @ Meredith: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8 MISS

...sharps claws dig into Polo, Torsk, and Meredith and leave long red slashes!

Round I - bold may act!
1. Cesare, Dieb, Petrus
2. Skeletons
3. Torsk (6/17hp)
4. 'Umut'
5. Polo (18/22hp), Meredith (6/11hp)

Polo's equipped his scizore when he met up with Eclipse so his AC is currently full at 21-how'd he get hit? FF?

You haven't acted yet, so yeah, FF seems likely. Also, whoever has access to the map, please move Petrus one step NE.

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If that's the case Polo isn't FF if he rolls an 11 Initiative or above:

Neato. That's handy.

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Torsk, freely drops his katana, and grabs his falchion as he moves closer to the backstabbing woman. He grip his weapon, and swings as hard as he can. He doesn't feel too good, but if he can get one good blow in, at least he won't go down without a fight. He spends the last bit of his inner arcane power and enchants his flachion.

+1 falchion - PA: 1d20 + 4 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 1 + 1 = 21

dam: 2d4 + 4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 + 3 + 1 = 13

Polo: good to know, thanks! Unfortunately, you rolled a 9 and were therefore still flat footed.

"From life to undeath! Feel the power of Urgathoa!" 'Umut' winces heavily under the spell-fighter's blade and calls out for help from her god. A wave of deadly energy washes over the room. Negative Energy: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11 Yikes.

Rolling Will saves for everybody because it matters tactically. If you have a legal re-roll, please feel free to use it and I'll retcon.

Will (Cesare): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 FAIL
Will (Dieb): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 FAIL
Will (Meredith): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 SUCCESS
Will (Petrus): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 SUCCESS
Will (Tipple): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 FAIL
Will (Polo): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10 FAIL
Will (Eclipse): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 FAIL
Will (Torsk): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 FAIL

Cesare, Dieb, and Torsk fall to the Pallid Princess's power while Meredith only clings to consciousness. The battle looks much more desperate now!

The betrayer redirects her scythe of force at Meredith, but 'Umut' is distracted!

Scythe @ Torsk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 MISS! a critical miss in every sense of the word :)

Round II - bold may act!
1. Cesare (-2/9hp, bleeding out), Dieb (-5/6hp, bleeding out), Petrus (17/22hp, Tipple 11/22hp)
2. Skeletons
3. Torsk (-5/17hp, bleeding out)
4. 'Umut'
5. Polo (7/22hp, Eclipse 8/19hp), Meredith (1/11hp)

Additionally, I need stabilize rolls from Cesare, Dieb, and Torsk. Cesare and Dieb, please make a second one if you fail the first to see if you take additional damage on your turn.

My one-round diehard kicks in. I refuse to go down this round ?!

Didn't anybody tell her, don't piss off a big green guy?! Lol. I may go down but I refuse to go down quietly lol XD

Thank goodness you got that attack out! I felt I would have gone for her otherwise. Bravo, sir. Posting after I see the outcome.

not yet, since I have to survive the skeletons attacks. But if it gets around to me...I WILL EXACT MY ANGER XD XD

Totally forgot you're a half-orc. I should know, it's all that green in you icon... lol. Please put your attack in a spoiler, though, since you do have to live through the skellies. :)

EDIT: shocked to see the half-orc still standing, 'Umut' takes a step back up the stairs. This also means the spiritual weapon attacked Torsk (but still critically missed) and she'll need to re-direct it once he goes down.

Both Polo and Eclipse howl in pain as the negative energy rushes through them.

"Alright, boy! You can have one bone. Choose wisely!"

With his master's permission, Eclipse snaps at the western skeleton's femer, but is still too dizzy from the magic attack to connect.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Polo's eyes catch Umut making her way up the stairs.

"Umut! You won't get away that easily!"

This could be an insanely bad decision, but:

Polo digs his heels into Eclipse's sides and takes off toward the priestess. 21 AC for the movement.

He zips past the staggered Torsk and comes face to face with Umut.

"You won't rise like your minions after facing me!" he challenges swiftly before clobbering Umut with his scizore.
Scizore: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
EDIT: Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 2 = 7 Forgot the +2 for challenge!

20AC now, unless she's still up so the challenge is in affect and Polo would be at 19AC.

Meredith is almost brought to her knees by the negative energy, but she recovers.

"If you wish to donate your body to Urgathoa, be my guest! But I am my own! You'll never claim me!"

Stepping over Cesare, Meredith casts Shield then pulls out her light mace.

Shield provides +4 AC, Verdant Bloodline increases her natural AC by 1 for 1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds.

AC is now 16.

Four, count 'em, four skeletons try to stop the cavalier from reaching their master. Three scrape useless off his armor, but the fourth nearly unseats him. Still, muscles clenched against the furious pain, Polo crashes into 'Umut' with considerable force--she looks about as alive as he does. EDIT: you justed added in +2 to damage for the Challenge, which I didn't account for! Polo's scizore slams into her throat! She topples and slides down the stairs! At the bottom, a holy symbol of Urgathoa falls out of her hand onto the flagstone!

Claw (AoO) @ Polo: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11 MISS
Claw (AoO) @ Polo: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9 MISS
Claw (AoO) @ Polo: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 1 = 10 MISS
Claw (AoO) @ Polo: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 1 = 23 CRIT THREAT Confirm (AoO) @ Polo: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9 not confirmed Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Meanwhile, Meredith makes a valiant attempt at staying alive!

Round II - bold may act!
1. Cesare (-2/9hp, bleeding out), Dieb (-5/6hp, bleeding out), Petrus (17/22hp, Tipple 11/22hp)
2. Skeletons
3. Torsk (-5/17hp, ORC FEROCITY!!!)
4. 'Umut' @ 20 dmg (bleeding out!)
5. Polo (1/22hp, Eclipse 8/19hp), Meredith (1/11hp)

Cesaare bleeds in interesting and artistic ways.

"Well struck!" Shouts Petrus, as Torsk and Polo collaborate to drop the traitorous priest with a pair of mighty blows.

Turning his attention back to his own foe,

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

he refocuses, and attempts to dodge out of reach then circle around the pillar to flank her with Tipple. E, N, N, W, W, SW

He orders the wolf to attack, while he makes another guarded swing with his greatsword.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 = 23
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Trip: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 3 + 2 = 14

Greatsword: 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 + 2 - 4 = 19
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 3) + 3 = 12

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Meredith cheers as Umut falls. "Well done, Polo and Eclipse! We'll put these skeletons to rest soon! Seek safe ground, Torsk, you've done well!"

EDIT:

If Torsk gets hit attacked:

Sleepy me likes to metagame-ignore the striked out portions:
Only if Aid Another will save him:
Without command, Eclipse snatches Torsk back, just out of the Skelton's reach! Using up an AoO to use Bodyguard.
Bite: Aid Another: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Once again, only use this if Torsk gets hit by a factor no more than 2.
Torsk+2AC

Nevermind the acrobatics. I couldn't move far enough that way. Petrus takes the AoO.

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And now I just realized Eclipse isn't close enough to aid Torsk. Ignore those last two posts.

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Dieb is incredulous that he might meet his end against so base a trap.

1d20 - 5 ⇒ (12) - 5 = 7 = fail. 1 pt damage -6hp

1d20 - 6 ⇒ (15) - 6 = 9 = fail (Oh Confound!) 1 pt damage -7 hp

@ Cesare: you still get stabilize rolls!
@ Dieb: just 1 dmg so far -- the first roll was to see if you stabilized as soon as you went down, the second was on your turn.

Although Petrus confuses his target with the doubly dead Trade Princess a half mile away, the teamed assault of his sword and wolf destroys the newly risen Bahjari scion. No AoO because Polo sucked 'em all up.

The remaining skeletons, freed from the false priestess's command, mindlessly assault the nearest living creature. The Gorumite and his pet each take a blow, but Meredith's defensive spell wards off any attacks!

1d2 + 1d3 ⇒ (1) + (3) = 4

Claw @ Petrus: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18 HIT Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Claw @ Petrus: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 MISS

Claw @ Tipple: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12 MISS
Claw @ Tipple: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 HIT Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Claw @ Meredith: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 MISS
Claw @ Meredith: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11 MISS

Torsk immediately steps up and crits a skeleton into a sad pile of shattered bones! The effort of the heroic strike overwhelms him, and the half-orc passes out.

Round II - bold may act!
1. Cesare (-2/9hp, bleeding out), Dieb (-6/6hp, bleeding out), Petrus (14/22hp, Tipple 8/22hp)
2. Skeletons
3. Torsk (-5/17hp, bleeding out)
4. 'Umut' (dying)
5. Polo (1/22hp, Eclipse 8/19hp), Meredith (1/11hp)

Meredith silently thanks herself for casting Shield instead of Long Arm.

Meredith takes a 5 foot step to flank with Tipple. She swings her mace at the skeleton.

Light Mace with Flanking: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 + 2 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Meredith's skin returns to normal and softens. AC is 15

stable: 1d20 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 2 - 5 = 13

Round II

AC back up at 21

His challenge completed, Polo's wounds finally start screaming out to him: So much that Meredith's praise is barely a murmur to him, even if it is all in his own head.

He turns around and picks his next target, dropping his lance as he does so. He squeezes his legs to get Eclipse to take him back into the frey, drawing his Halfling Sling Staff on the way to flank the northwest skeleton with Petrus. Moving 2N, 2NW.

Eclipse immediately chomps at the skeleton, eager to finally find a bone in his jaw.

Bite: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Trip Confirm?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Polo takes a wide swipe with his make-shift club.
Halfling Sling Staff(Melee): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Claw (AoO) @ Polo: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22 CRIT THREAT Confirm: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 not confirmed Damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Stay in Saddle, Higher is Better: 1d100 ⇒ 1 FAIL Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Polo guides his mount past one of the remaining skeletons, taking a claw in the face and finally succumbing to his wounds. Falling from the saddle, he crashes to the stone floor with a sickening crunch, joining his other companions in a growing pool of blood. The wolf, furious, bites down on the assailant--and is followed shortly by a courageous swing from Meredith's mace, which destroys the undead horror. Only one skeleton remains.

Round III - bold may act!
1. Cesare (-2/9hp, bleeding out), Dieb (-6/6hp, bleeding out), Petrus (14/22hp, Tipple 8/22hp)
2. Skeleton
3. Torsk (-5/17hp, unconscious)
4. 'Umut' (dying)
5. Polo (-6/22hp, bleeding out, Eclipse 8/19hp), Meredith (1/11hp)

Need stabilization saves from: Cesare (x3), Dieb (x1), and Polo (x1).

Goodness you and the crits!

Stabilize: 1d20 + 2 - 6 ⇒ (7) + 2 - 6 = 3 Fail

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Petrus orders Tipple to attack the remaining skeleton and swings at it himself.

Greatsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4) + 3 = 11

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Trip: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Assuming he drops the skeleton...

He then immediately rushes to his companions sides and casts stablize on each of them.

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Gorum nods in approval as the last skeleton falls! The reward is no dead Pathfinders. Out of initiative! Nobody would bleed out before Petrus could get there, so we're all set.

On the body of 'Umut' is a journal which illuminates some of today's events. The journal details how Shirin, presumably the woman, waylaid the real Umut on her journey to Katheer and impersonated her, aiming to conduct a great act in the name of her own goddess--Urgathoa. As Shirin conducted the ceremony, she likely raised Zarmina as an undead monster during the supposed rites of Pharasmin burial and later raised a horde in this graveyard.

With the help of the wolves, Meredith and Petrus manage to drag their unconscious companions back to the manor. There, a shocked and stunned Aaqir sees immediately to getting them aid and listens carefully to the tale of the two conscious Pathfinders as healers dress their wounds.

Consider everyone conscious and healthy. If you have unfinished business, now is the time! And of course, Aaqir is always happy to hear a tale well told...

With the help of the wolves, Meredith and Petrus manage to drag their unconscious companions back to the manor.

Lol. Alright, saves me charges on my wand. Petrus isn't much of a healer anyways. Anything else of interest on the corpses, besides the ring?

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Meredith exhales deeply as the final skeleton collapses. Despite her wounds (and desire to stomp Shirin's face in) she grabs her party members and helps carry them back to the manor.

She thanks Aaqir for tending to their wounds. See? They're not all bad.

"The good news, Aaqir. We've found who was actually responsible for desecrating Zarmina and that attack upon the manor." She hands Aaqir the letter. "A follower of Urgathoa took Umut's place and set up this attack." Meredith coughs a bit as the healers dress her wounds.

"The bad news is that she's dead- she ambushed us and tried to corrupt our bodies entirely. We barely made it out alive and didn't have time or luxury for mercy. May she rot at her god's side." Meredith spits some blood as she says it- mostly spitting upon Shirin and Urgathoa's name.

"That doesn't really explain the assassins, though." Turning to Petrus. "The Cult of the Dawnflower- would they help raise the undead? I'm not sure if they were cooperating with the zombies or just taking advantage of the confusion."

Petrus nods along with Meredith's telling.

"I'm shamed not to have seen through her deceit, although I suppose, neither did anyone else here so at least I am in good company in having been so deceived.

Great thanks and aplomb are due to our injured companions. Polo and Torsk fought especially valiantly, and through grevious harm to strike down the vile Urgathoan priest. I'm certain I'll never hear the end of it from the halfling. He'll be telling this story until the day he dies. And maybe then some."

"That doesn't really explain the assassins, though." Turning to Petrus. "The Cult of the Dawnflower- would they help raise the undead? I'm not sure if they were cooperating with the zombies or just taking advantage of the confusion."

"I doubt it. They're radicals, but they are still followers of Sarenrae. The raising of the dead would seem not in keeping with their faith. Sarenrae and her disciples loathe the undead. It would seem likely that they were merely taking advantage of the situation, though I could not claim this to be certain fact.

Might you have uncovered anything more about the assassins my lord? "
Says Petrus to Aaqir

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