Hmm’s Race for the Runecarved Key (Tiers 10-11) (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

"It certainly sounds like something angry and not-as-dead-as-it-should-be. I won't be far behind you Eadie with bow at the ready." says Vashara as he gets her bow from her magic quiver.

No prep spells for Vashara.

Alrighty then, let's play What's Behind Door Number One!

Touching the door, it swings open without much effort. There is a lock on it, but it was not engaged. The room is hemispherical, looking like the sort of place a scholar might spend their time while working on an intense bit of study. Dirty plates sit on the floor, the bed is mussed and unmade and the table being used as a desk is piled high with books and papers. The woman's slumped body however is NOT the sort of thing most scholars have in their dens. She looks be middle-aged, trim, with brown hair that seems to be greying. The smell, however, tells you that she's been dead for some time.

You pause a moment to look around, taking in the sight and smell of the place when suddenly the air around you seems to drop in temperature 30 degrees. Your breath steams the room and the hair on the back of your neck prickles.

Rising from the body is a spectral form of the dead woman, though its features are contorted in pain and confusion and its feet face backward. "HATE YOU! KILL YOU!" it shrieks as it plunges forward to attack!

I moved you into the room as you were standing outside. If that's not kosher, reposition yourselves as you need to.

Round 1:
Ghastly Ghosty
Heroes!

The creature howls with anger and rushes forward to attack Eadie with claws outstretched!
Incorporeal Claw vs Eadie Touch: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25 for 5d8 ⇒ (1, 8, 1, 3, 4) = 17 damage plus 1d8 bleed!
Incorporeal Claw vs Eadie Touch: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35 for 5d8 ⇒ (8, 8, 3, 8, 7) = 34 damage plus 1d8 bleed!

Heroes are up!

Eadie takes a chance and steps in close to the Caydenite.

Eadie did say she was sidling up next to me and my anti-incorporeal shell...

Ach! Sorry, work got crazy busy, which is when I usually post and my reading-is-fundamental skills paid the price.

REVISION The creature slides across the floor at Eadie, its claws outstretched, only to SPLAT on the incorporeal shell! It howls in frustration!

Be sure to clarify where you all are standing so I know where the shell ends and who it doesn't cover...

Sorry, I had been intending to make it more clear that I was casting that and mark it on the map once everyone was ready.

What is this thing? Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

"By the Hero's foam, stay back!" Gunner raises his tankard, emanating a burst of positive energy that washes over the creature.

Channel to harm undead, DC 18: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 3, 4, 2, 2) = 15

Yanndu applies his mind powers unto the dead woman, calibrating his mental frequency to that of undead and spirits!

Standard Action; Mind Thrust IV; Will of the Dead Phrenic Amplification to affect undead with spell (using 2 pts. from Phrenic Pool): 10d8 ⇒ (8, 4, 7, 3, 2, 6, 3, 7, 4, 3) = 47 damage and fatigued for 1 round. (Will Save DC 20 for half damage and no fatigue)

Channel Will Save: 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 4 = 32
Will Save vs Phrenic Mind Thrust: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

The ghastly ghoulie seems to avoid most of the damage from the holy channel, but its defenses are lowered when the mind thrusting begins! It reels back, momentarily fatigued!

Aegis II, Bruxo, Eadie, Myrdon, and Vashara are up!

knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

"Well it's certainly undead... I Will Smite Thee Like Torag's Hammer Strikes The Anvil!" yells Vashara.

Smite gives +4 to hit and +10 damage on the first attack, then +5 damage on each attack after that. I'm not sure how this interacts with Manyshot feat but i'll apply to each arrow. Feel free to take the damage off if it does not apply to both arrows.

Vashara fires arrow after arrow at the undead creature from her magical bow.

Full Attack (with Rapid Shot and Manyshot and Hasted attack)
+2 Adaptive Composite Longbow attack 1, point blank, haste, smite: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 15 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 38
arrows damage, point blank, smite: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 10 + 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 + 10 + (3) + 4 + 1 + 10 = 35

+2 Adaptive Composite Longbow attack 2, point blank, haste, smite: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 15 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 36
arrow damage, point blank, smite: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 + 5 = 18

+2 Adaptive Composite Longbow attack 3, point blank, haste, smite: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 34
arrow damage, point blank, smite: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 5 = 11

+2 Adaptive Composite Longbow hasted attack, point blank, haste, smite: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 15 + 1 + 1 + 4 = 27
arrow damage, point blank, smite: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 + 5 = 12

Holy S*@&!!!!! unleash the kraken!!!!

Thank-you, Gunner + Our other GM ☺

Round #1: Touch (Incorporeal) 19; shield, haste

“Bourbon, beer and apple schnapps! That’s a good spell, Gunner!”

Eadie doesn’t flinch as the hungry spirit crashes against the holy shield, like a Great White against a shark cage.

Staying out of Vashara’s firing line, the warrior steps up 5’ and raises her oil-drenched blade. “Please allow me to respond.”

ghost salted magic CI falchion + Power Attack (PA) + Furious Focus (FF) + haste: 1d20 + 19 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 19 + 1 = 30
ghost touch, magic, cold iron, slashing damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (4, 1) + 21 = 26

Iterative CI magic falchion + PA + no FF + haste: 1d20 + 14 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 14 - 3 + 1 = 28
magic, cold iron, slashing damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (3, 1) + 21 = 25

hasted CI magic falchion + PA + no FF + haste: 1d20 + 19 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 19 - 3 + 1 = 28
magic, cold iron, slashing damage: 2d4 + 21 ⇒ (4, 1) + 21 = 26

@GM, first hit is ghost touch, the rest are magic weapon damage only.

Vashara's arrows hit, but seem to only half-affect the incorporeal creature! Eadie's first hit slams like a hammer into the ghastlie ghosty, while the second and third hit, but not as hard! The ghastly thing's form wavers as it seems to be having trouble holding itself together!

Aegis II, Bruxo, and Myrdon are up!

Bruxo draws on the power of his ancestors, staring the unholy spirit with an unwavering eye. Zool! he utters, and the bane of his ancestors washes over the apparition!

Retribution hex, DC 21 Will to negate.

I really need to pack something to deal with incorporeal creatures. It's really nice to see all that damage adding up though even if only half of it efects the ghosty.

Myrdon starts gesticulating in the air in the direction of the ghostly creature, and yells out, "දිලිසෙන දූවිලි!" A mass of glittering dust settles around the creature, threatening to blind it.

Cast glitterdust (DC22) with persistent metamagic (i.e. save make 2 rolls and take lower result. As incorporeal, only 50% chance of affecting it.

With a signal from its master, Aegis flies overhead and as it lands, reaches out with its terrible beak to tear into the inconstant form.

talon, PA: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 13 - 2 = 18 for dmg, PA: 1d6 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 4 = 17

magical attack from amulet of mighty fist so half damage

Bruxo's hex hits the incorporeal ghastie! Will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 vs DC 21.

Myrdon's glitterdust explodes over the thing! Miss chance (1-50 misses, 51-100 hits): 1d100 ⇒ 1 The spell seems to miss the creature!

Aegis II's mighty beak tears at the ghastie, but it slips to the side, seemingly like water!

Round 2:
Ghastly Ghosty
Heroes!

The creature, still clinging to unlife, slashes at the only target still outside the sphere of protection - Aegis II!

Claw vs Touch AC!: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33 for 5d8 ⇒ (4, 5, 4, 6, 7) = 26 damage and 1d8 ⇒ 5 bleed!
Claw vs Touch AC!: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (7) + 17 = 24 for 5d8 ⇒ (2, 8, 1, 2, 2) = 15 damage and 1d8 ⇒ 3 bleed!

Heroes are up!

Yanndu's left eye flashes briefly, and five mental missiles composed of pure force fly unerringly towards the apparition.

Magic Missile: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (1, 1, 4, 1, 3) + 5 = 15

If Yanndu's magic missiles don't destroy it:

Gunner sends forth another burst of positive energy, once again channeling the power of Cayden Cailean to destroy this undead creature.

channel to harm undead, DC 18: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 5, 2, 5) = 20

The magic missiles do the trick and the phantasm opens its mouth in a silent scream as it explodes into fragments of form, then to mist and then is gone forever.

COMBAT OVER!

The room is silent again, save for the sound of your beating hearts.

What now?

GM, Aegis has got 5 mirror images. I'll roll below? Or if you wish to roll, just ignore. Oh, unless it's got truesight?

1st attack, 1 = hit Aegis: 1d6 ⇒ 4
2nd attack, 1 = hit Aegis: 1d5 ⇒ 4

No truesight. So it missed with both attacks, eliminating 2 images!

"So now we know what happened to our debtor, though it doesn't help us find the funds our departed lady owes the society. This place hasn't had a living occupant in some time so maybe there are valuables here we can take back."

Vashara moves over and checks under the bed, even going as far as to look for hidden compartments to store valuables.

perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34

Vashara's searching is both thorough and productive! She finds two locked boxed hidden under loose floorboards. Each one is locked tight.

“Watch out for greasy puddles! Some idiot’s dripped oil all over the floor.”

Eadie checks the locked boxes for traps, before rattling her skymetal blade in its scabbard.

Take 10 Perception: 10 + 18 = 28

“Gunner, do you want to try unlocking them, or do you want me to use my adamantine ‘lock pick?’”

"Sure, I'll give it a try. Are they safe?"

Perception, looking for traps, chest 1: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9
Perception, looking for traps, chest 2: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9

Wow, those are some rolls.

⁢

Both Eadie and Gunner examine the chests and pronounce them safe, yet still locked.

"Alright" Gunner says, rubbing his hands together. "Let's crack these things open."

Starting with Chest 1:
Disable device, chest 1: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

As the lock is popped, Gunner opens the chest to reveal a face full of gas! Gunner Fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30 Fortunately, he holds his breath at the right moment and manages to avoid being poisoned!

Inside the chest is 1,000 gp.

Opening the second chest or doing anything differently?

"Well, that was a surprise! Can everyone else give the second one a once-over before I try it? I'm not seeing any traps, but then again I didn't see any on this one either."

I'll wait for others to look for traps on the second one before I try to crack it open.

Yanndu looks for traps. Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (18) + 17 = 35

"Gunner! You ok?" After being satisfied of his welfare, Myrdon turns to the remaining chest, and again calls on his arcane sight to detect magical aura. He also studies the chest carefully.

cast detect magic

perception: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 14 + 2 = 26

"I'm alright, Myrdon, thanks. Cayden's blessings keep me strong of liver. Feelin' a bit foolish, though, for missin' the trap on that chest."

Yanndu notes that there is an identical gas trap on the other chest. It does not appear to be magical. Do you try to disable it? Any special precautions or preparations before you have a go?

Just barely in before midnight. Thank you, OMB. You did a lovely job!

"The other chest is trapped as well," says Yanndu, taking a few steps back.

Well, it seems like a bit of overkill to use a 5th level spell, but then again I don't want to count on rolling another 20 so...

Gunner says "Gather round so I can touch you all. May as well make the most of this" and then casts life bubble, giving us 18 hours of protection split up among the party. I'll say 2hrs each to Yanndu, Vashara, and Myrdon, since they seem to be the least likely to be in the middle of stuff, and 3 hours each to everyone else, including Aegis.

Once the spell is in place, Gunner opens the chest without bothering to try and disable the trap.

Poisonous gas fills the air! A cockroach who was crawling across the floor dies!

And his phantom haunts you! Click. Click. Click. You see the phantom roach’s mandibles twitch as it plots its revenge upon you, Sheila Heidmarch, and the entire Pathfinder Society.

This chest contains 3000 gold.

MISSION SUCCESS!

NEXT MISSION: UNDERBRIDGE EXPORTS

“So the Society was paying money to a dead woman all this time?” Sheila asks, thoughtfully. “Well, I am glad that you were able to put her to rest.”

She pulls out a map and hands it to you for your next mission. “It seems the Runecarved Key has attracted the attention of a small exporting company run by the dubious Vaor family of Underbridge. Why the Vaors are interested in the key, or even how they came up with the deposit, is beyond my imaginings. I doubt they have much in the way of finances, but one can never tell. Perhaps they represent someone else more powerful, perhaps not. In any event, I need someone to head down to Underbridge and find out. This map should get you to their warehouse quickly. Best of luck, Pathfinders.”

You find the decrepit looking warehouse easily. There is a sign for Underbridge Exports upon it. What do you do?

"Suspicious indeed. Whoever runs this run down warehouse would not seem to likely to have the funds for the auction." Myrdon studies the warehouse a bit longer. "So how should we do this, the direct approach through the front, or to scout it out first?"

"Well, forwarned is forearmed, right? Let me take a look." As is becoming his MO, Gunner will touch the door for a minute, concentrating on the other side until it becomes clear in his vision. Door sight.

Yanndu enhances himself with a few psychic advantages as the party arrive at the warehouse.

Fly, heightened Detect Thoughts 3rd level slot Will DC 19, Vanish using a 2nd level slot due to being out of 1st level ones...

Disappearing for about 30 seconds, Yanndu flies over the warehouse, scanning each section of it methodically with his thought detection powers which easily pierce the decrepit thinly boarded structure and concentrating longer on any section containing sentient minds.

Inside, members of the Vaor family bustle around cases of supplies hauled in from their various business operations. Most of the open crates contain salvaged junk, various items pilfered from homes in wealthier neighborhoods, currently set to be packed up and shipped off for sale in the black markets of other cities. The storeroom itself is poorly organized. All the workers bear a strong personal resembance to each other, with pointy noses and twitchy behavior. There are also a bunch of dog-sized rats wandering through the warehouse. As one passes by, a worker whistles and gives it a treat.

“Gunner, from what you’re describing these people sound like wererats.”

Eadie gazes up at the dark underside of the Irrespan as she thinks. “And their name is ‘Vaor…’

“Hmm … Remove the ‘o,’ substitute a ‘T’ for the ‘V’ and spell it backwards and you get … OMG Abadar … rat!”

Eadie presses a finger to her lips. “So how do we want to deal with these folks? Find out who they’re working for and offer them a heap of cheddar to swap sides?”

"I think there are too many steps in your logic to make that work Eadie. Even so, i think your first idea certainly sounds like a possibility. This wounds like a lot of were creatures in one place. If they infect even more people this could be a big problem for the city!"

Yanndu flies to the top of the warehouse, counting ten sentient minds and twelve animals.

There are tons of stray thoughts in their minds.

Trash. Trash. Trash. Is there ANYTHING worthwhile in this box?

Ooh, pearls! Ha! The boss is not looking this way, so in the pocket it goes!

The seeds have already been planted. If they’re not ready for it, it’s their fault, isn’t it?

Do these pants make me look fat? I think they make me look fat.

How are you approaching?

Yanndu relays these thoughts verbatim to the others through his mind link.

***...peculiar, these thoughts of 'seeds already planted'... I wonder what this refers to? oh, and make sure to search their pockets for pearls, once we're done...the giant bird should circle the skies and pick up any stray rat attempting to flee the scene...tis best we keep this mission...contained...other than that, I recommend shock and awe and busting the front door open...I will fly in and try to mind stun as many as I can...***

Wait a minute. How do we know this isn't a legitimate business going about their day? Why don't we just knock on their door and ask them? I mean, I guess some of this stuff is probably stolen, but is that our mission here, or are we just looking for information?

***OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT***

"Ladies and gentlemen, the Cathedral of Abadar will soon open its doors for the public auction! Anyone interested in participating must be within the cathedral in fifteen minutes. Once the auction starts, the doors will close. This is not an open door auction and no one will be admitted to the auction once the bidding starts"

We have approximately 48 hours to complete this mission or abandon it. Do you want to complete this mission? If so, you need to go into action mode!

What are you doing? Knocking on the door, or doing the Shock and Awe?