Ith's Pallid Plague (PFS) (Inactive)

Game Master ithuriel

Fog> Casting a spell and firing a crossbow (even preloaded) are both standard actions. Have to pick one or the other.
Considering you rolled a 1 on the attack I think it is safe to assume you'll pick the casting ;)

Fog> Casting a spell and firing a crossbow (even preloaded) are both standard actions. Have to pick one or the other.

Considering you rolled a 1 on the attack I think it is safe to assume you'll pick the casting ;)

FFS, why do I always get that wrong?

Once it is clear the jig is up, Kayluss comes charging out of the forest sword drawn. Sekhemre takes advantage of the distraction to quickly down a couple of flasks transforming his body into a bestial fighting machine. Wadi lies in wait, ready to incinerate the first person unlucky enough to cross his path while Alie boldly steps into the clearing already casting... At the same time Fog calls on Sarenrae's divine guidance to inspire his allies and lines up a shot with his crossbow.

The majority of cultists on seeing a man with a sword charging at them out of the woods shriek and scatter- none faster than the man Kayluss was bearing down on. Another streaks past Aldred before he even has a chance to react. Wadi's ray of concentrated flame lances out just a moment to late to catch him. The fleeing cultist screams and plunges into the woods. Others are a little more bold and congregate around Vondrella urging her on.

Kayluss: AoO

MAP UPDATE
Blue area shows most likely target for Alie's sleep, though some of those will be moving again before the spell goes off.

Active Effects:
Difficult terrain: within the treeline
Bless: +1 morale attacks & saves vs fear (all but Sek)
Shield: Sek 10 rounds
Mutagen: Sek 10 minutes

Init
Priestess 21 @J22
Other Cultist 18 @M20
Yet another cultist 17 @N21
Kayluss 16
Sekhemre 15
Wadi 11
Alie 9
Fog 8
Cultists 4 @ all over the place
Aldred 3

Aldred is next, then back to the top

A.O.O:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Damage1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
As the cultist turns to flee Kayluss take as swing

... and lays him open. The man goes down gripping his belly gasping, "No... don't..." before he passes out from the pain.

Perfect spot to target right now, DM.

Not much time to post, but Aldred starts an inspire courage song in round 1.

“Into the fray good fellows!”

+1 to hit and damage everyone.

"Our Lady of the decayed flesh, protect your humble servant as she lives to enact your will!" The fit blonde priestess continues to stalk forward giving her scythe a couple of warm up swings along the way. As she closes Kayluss in the half-light Kayluss notes a couple of things. One- she appears to be in perfect health, her smooth pale skin completely unblemished, her hair neatly combed with the crown of flowers artfully prepared. Two- she seems manic, her eyes sparkle and her chest heaves as she draws in a deep breath, she licks her lips as she gives the scythe another swing. You would guess she's quite mad and appears to be sexually aroused as she heads into battle.

Priestess: Cast & Move 20 to N22
Normal cultist: Move + ready @ Q18
Shambler: Move to S19
Spellcraft DC 15 to ID the spell.

Kayluss is next

Spellcraft 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Kayluss charges forward to attack the remaining cultist, when suddley he stops short.
Whats the hold up everyone!?! Alie, Sek, Wadi I'm not going to get in your way am I?
Move to Q,15 ready attack
Attack:1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12
Damage:1d10 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 1 = 12

Fog double moves out into the clearing, which takes all his movement. (R10 I think I can get to...)

Fog can manage one more square for S11 or Q11 if you want.

Everyone except Aldred can go now. (That's Sekhemre, Alie and Wadi.)
Alie's spell is about to go off. Her two best targeting choices:
1) the blue area marked on the map. Does not include the priestess now, but hits 4 cultists.
2)Or... the priestess + 2 cultists (not the ones advancing on Kayluss).

Wadi hefts his crossbow, and moves around Alie, next to her in O5. He fires at the cultist in N21.

Attack Lt. Xbow 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 + 1 = 16 inspire.
target is at 80'.
Damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 inspire

DM, let me target the 4 cultists without the priestess.

Wadi>>
You have another +1 (you are blessed [morale] and inspired [competence]), but the target is 85 ft away from O5 (she is in N22, not N21).
Also as you are well into difficult terrain you won't be able to move 30 ft to O5 and fire. The map is a little misleading here. Part of the woods are brushed out to provide contrast for the text which is there in the pdf. I should have said something about this to explain, but:
All of Row 3 is difficult terrain.
Row 4 is difficult terrain starting from N heading right.
You can see a little hint of where the woodline is at M/N-4.

Accounting for difficult terrain, you could use a move action to clear the woods making it to R7 with an ability to line up a shot on the same target, but it is still 85 ft range. If you don't want to take the range increment penalty, the two advancing on Kayluss are targets. You could get to and target either one without range penalty from U7. Keep in mind allies in the way are soft cover (+4 AC to target AC) and trees can block line of sight. U7 avoids both of those. Just noticed U7 also just barely manages to avoid cover/trees for the priestess as well, but still leaves her at 85 ft.

Alie also has her round 2 action coming now.

Ok then Wadi will move to U7 and target the nearest cultist advancing on Kayluss. With the bless added in, the total to hit is 17.

Waiting for Sek & Alie's round 2 actions to resolve this block of actions.

Alie moves forward 15' to better survey the battlefield and determine who was effected by her spell.

Just take a move action this round...

Will Saves:
1 1d20 ⇒ 16
2 1d20 ⇒ 8
3 1d20 ⇒ 15
4 1d20 ⇒ 18

I'll resolve it IC once I know what Sek is doing, but you took out three of four there. The fourth does not look like he's inclined to stick around.

Where is the cultist holding the basin? If he has *not* been targeted by Alie, I will move into the clearing (to J16), and throw a bomb at him... Otherwise, I will double-move into the clearing to get adjacent to the leader.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 1 = 22, for 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7 fire damage.

Alie puts the cultist with the basin down, but it doesn't happen until init 9. You act before that on init 15. As far as you are concerned this round he is up.

Well then, I guess he is in flames, then. Sorry Alie :-/

Anyone adjacent to him can take 4 points of damage, DC 13 Reflex save for half.

pKaluss edges forward sword held at the ready and calls his team out for their hesitation. Almost on cue some kind of monstrous mutation that was once Sekhemre comes charging out of the treeline on the other side of the bone banquet table and hurls a flask at the cultist bearing the basin. There is a thunderous explosion on impact and the cultist is consumed in flames. Meanwhile, Wadi creeps out of the treeline and lines up a shot on the cultist about to engage Kayluss. The crossbow snaps but lining up a shot on a cultist in poor light at twilight proves trickier than expected. The bolt hits the banquet table and tiny bone shards explode everywhere. The cultist draws up short, reconsidering his approach...

Alie's draws her fey blooded enchantment to a close and all but one of the cultists gathered around the basin stumble and drop silently into a deep slumber on the grass. The last one standing looks around in a panic and turns to run. Fog comes huffing out of the treeline in what must be a hustle for a dwarf.

Apparently attackers bursting out of the treeline all over the place and the impressive explosion of the bomb was more than most of Urgathoa's faithful were prepared to deal with. The congregation scatters, breaking for the woods.

Reflex 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Wadi's miss chance: (1-20 miss, 21-100 hit) 1d100 ⇒ 9

Active Effects:
Difficult terrain: within the treeline
Dim lighting: 20% miss chance (Those with low light vision or darkvision within their range are immune)
Bless: 9 rounds, +1 morale attacks & saves vs fear (all but Sek)
Inspire Courage: +1 attacks / weapon damage, +1 vs fear / charm
Shield: Sek 9 rounds
Mutagen: Sek 10 minutes

Init
Priestess 21 @N22
Other Cultist 18 @Q18
Yet another cultist 17 @S19
Kayluss 16
Sekhemre 15
Wadi 11
Alie 9
Fog 8
Cultists 4 @ asleep, dying, or off the map.
Aldred 3

Aldred is up

I imagine Mothy is crazy busy with a new baby, but I want to keep up the pace. Aldred continues Inspire Courage as a free action and Moth can step in at any point to take his action.

Now that Sekhemre has revealed himself to be alone on the other side of the table, Vondrella leaves her minions to deal with Kayluss and heads for the mutated alchemist. She raises her scythe and invokes Urgathoa again, "Mother above, let them know the futility of their cause as I strike them down and prepare their bodies for you!"

Kayluss & Sekhemre: Will DC 14
This is enchantment (compulsion) [fear, mind-affecting] if that matters for your save... In fact inspire courage is going to give you a +1 if nothing else. Bless and inspire courage do not stack in this instance (both morale bonuses for the save)

The cultist with the blade hesitates looking at his dead companion. "What are you waiting for dummy! Get him!" On cue the dead man surges forward at Kayluss and draws back a fist that punches a dent so deep in the warrior's metal armor that Kayluss is pretty sure he broke at least one rib. The cowardly guy with the blade bolts off toward the tree line. At first Kayluss thinks he's making a run for it, but then he rounds a tree and closes in behind the warrior to flank him.

Priestess @N18
Living Cultist @Q14
Dead Minion @Q16

Charge/Slam 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24 (darkvision: no miss chance)
Damage 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Kayluss is up. All PCs are free to post.

Will save: 1d20 - 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) - 2 + 2 + 1 = 17.

Sekhemre sneers at Vondrella.

"Neither you nor your foul goddess holds any sway over me, or my allies! However, I can promise that you will soon be joining your mistress..."

With that, he draws his ivory-hilted longsword, 5' steps to K17, and throws a bomb at her!

Bomb, Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 27.
Bomb, Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 17, for 2d6 + 4 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 + 2 + 2 = 13 fire damage.

Working out your damage modifiers-
+4 is your lowered intelligence bonus to bombs x2
+2 for inspire courage to damage x2
I can't figure out what the other +2 is. Bless doesn't give you a bonus to damage if you doubled that. It only helps your chance to hit and fear/charm saves.

Also-

On a direct hit, an alchemist’s bomb inflicts 1d6 points of fire damage + additional damage equal to the alchemist’s Intelligence modifier. The damage of an alchemist’s bomb increases by 1d6 points at every odd-numbered alchemist level (this bonus damage is not multiplied on a critical hit or by using feats such as Vital Strike).

I think that is a total of 9 damage unless I was missing something that accounted for the second +2

I had to read up on bomb criticals to work that out. My first reading above is incorrect. I assumed the Int bonus to damage was what does not get multiplied on a critical. Apparently it is the additional d6's of damage dice that do not multiply. So a 3d6+4 bomb on a crit would do 3d6 + 1d6 + (4x2). That brings you up to 11 damage. Let me know about the other +2.

Sorry Ith; I was a bit distracted when I made that post, and was thinking of another Alchemist I have that has Point Blank Shot (hence the extra +1 to hit and damage). Once again, Sorry :-/

EDIT: I agree, the crit is for 11 fire damage.

No worries. I'm being a stickler in an attempt to keep this fight interesting. ;)

Did Kayluss miss with his readied attack?
Will:1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 16
Will: 2 Wis, +2 Feat, +1 Trait, +1 Bless
Unable to curse due to the wind being nocked out of him, Kayluss retunes the blow with a upward slice from Ixthalos.
Attack:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Damage:1d10 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Kayluss> My mistake. Forgot about the ready. Treat the above as that and make another as your attack for this round.

Edit: wait that's not right. Your init changed due to the ready, but that was your action for this round.

Init
Priestess 21 @N22
Kayluss 17.5
Dead Cultist 17 @Q18
Live cultist 16 @S19
Sekhemre 15
Wadi 11
Alie 9
Fog 8
Aldred ON DELAY

Wadi is next

Wadi calmly loads his crossbow and fires at the live cultist in S19

Attack Xbow 1d20 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 22 bless, inspire
Confirm crit? 1d20 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 11 bless, inspire
Damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Crit Damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Miss chance 20% 1d100 ⇒ 65

Just so I have this straight... There is a dead cultist, still acting? And it's within 30ft of Fog? (who would have stopped in Q11 from the options above...)

If not, Fog will double move again, towards the Center (N19)

"Abomination of undeath! Go now to be judged!" Fog screaches, pointing a finger at the undead cultist, a small fireball flies from his finger at it.

Ranged Touch(+inspire, +bless) 1d20 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 12 DMG: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Despite being ready for the dead man's approach, Kayluss' opening slash does little to deter its approach even after ripping its chest cavity open. The explosion from Sekhemre's bomb rocks the clearing and the roaring flames briefly light the garish banquet table of raw meat- some of which appears to be disturbingly human in the light.

Wadi slams another bolt into his crossbow, cranks it into place, and fires. The bolt buries itself deep in the lower back of the man trying to take Kayluss from behind causing him to seize up in pain.

Fog's faith manifests in a jet of flame roaring across the clearing. In his rage he nearly roasts Kayluss, but the warrior ducks back just in time.

Aldred darts from one tree to the next and stops to conjure a thick layer of grease coating the grass around Vondrella. She curses as she sees it seeping up from the grass, but manages to keep her footing for now. In response, she focuses her wrath on Sekhemre, "Mother above! Open his eyes and show him who he dares to stand against!"

Sekhemre only:

Fog> bad choice on targeting there. Hitting the dead guy from the position you named incurs penalties for both soft cover and being in melee. Either one would have caused you to miss since you don't have precise shot.

Reflex 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 1 + 2 = 19 vs DC 13 (including Aldred's Cha damage)
Grease @ M-N/18-19
Aldred moves to M12

Sekhemre: Will save DC 14. You'll get a +1 bonus from active spells here.

EDITED

Thanks Ith, had a busy day and night with the baby, and still a bit too busy to really figure out everyone’s placements and such with this fight, so I appreciate you taking the action so as not to hold things up. I was thinking of using a grease spell anyway!

Always a winner for a low level bard. I figured you might be exhausted with new baby-ness. Sorry to dmnpc you but I was bad with letting the pace slack recently so I wanted to keep it up.

Kayluss is up now. The dead guy is pretty badly hurt and the guy Wadi hit in the back is staggering around at the moment.

Seeing his opponent weakened from its wounds Kayluss throws his shield to the ground, then gripping Ixthalos with both hands he bringing the blade down in a great overhand chop.
Attack:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
Damage:1d10 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Will Save: 1d20 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) - 2 + 1 = 19.

Sekhemre stops short, regarding Vondrella with fear in his eyes, and a tremor in his voice...

"She...she's not human! She's some sort of intelligent Urgathoan undead abomination! Kill her, quickly!"

With that, he then follows his own advice, and throws another bomb at the inhuman thing that was once 'Vondrella'...

Bomb, Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 1 - 2 = 13, for 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 = 8 fire damage.

Seeeing her friend, Sek in trouble against the spellcaster, Alie runs to a position behind the evil lady.

Dm, I've lost track of things on the map a bit. If I can get there in a full run this round let that be my action. I want to try to get into position for a touch ability next round, if needed.

With his full applied might and a target with no interest in protecting itself, Kayluss nearly cuts the zombie in half. It drops to the ground with a moan and goes still. That proved to be enough for the other guy, who stumbles and staggers away trying to make it into the forest.

AoO from Kayluss.

At the look in Sekhemre's eyes, Vondrella was sure he was sufficiently cowed enough to buy her some time. She takes a moment to survey the battlefield just in time to see her minion trying to make a run for it. In a fury she manages to shout, "Get back h-" before the next bomb hits her unawares. The resulting explosion lights the clearing again as fire blossoms around her- horribly burning her already grievously burned body.

Alie was just rounding the the bone banquet table when the explosion hit and Vondrella went down, crumpled into a blackened smoking form. She sees the white eyes amid a blackened face and is just close enough to hear her last rasping words, "Pallid Mother, take your humble servant" before she sighs and her eyes close.

If Kayluss doesn't drop the last cultist on his AoO Wadi has an action. If the guy was able to move he is now 30 ft from Wadi @ T13

Assuming Kayluss does not drop the cultist...

Wadi sees the cultish approaching, and summones his elemental heritage, and fires a ray of cracking heat at the cultist!

Attack Elemental Ray ranged touch 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 + 1 = 18 bless, inspire
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 fire, inspire

Catching the fleeing cultist out of the corner of his eye Kayluss piviots and swings his now gore covered blade.
AoO:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Damage:1d10 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Sorry Wadi I think I got him

...and the blade swings wide catching the guy right across the throat as he turns. His head flies clean bouncing across the banquet table and rolling past Alie in the grass.

An unnatural silence settles over the clearing. Other than the buzz of flies around the table the natural sounds of the forests have ceased after the flurry of fire and explosions. There is no one left to oppose you. The only cultists able have fled and the three left behind are fast asleep, one curled around what must be Isandrea's basin.

Alie knows you have less than a minute before they'll wake.

Remembering what happened the last time he encountered a shape-changing woman, Sekhemre makes sure that Vondrella is actually dead/no longer animated, by chopping off her head.

He then turns his attention to the sleeping cultists...

I assume that, unless interrupted, we will loot everything of value that we can, and *carefully* lay claim to the basin as well...

Alie casts Detect Magic looking at all the corpses and all around the clearing. "Do we keep them alive or finish them?" she asks, pointing at the sleeping cultists.

DM:

Sekhemre pauses.

"They will simply be executed when they get back to town. I think that it would be far more compassionate, and certainly quicker and less painful, to end them here, whilst they sleep, rather than tying them up, and walking them back to town, allowing them to undergo the psychological torture of knowing that their end is coming, and forcing them to go through the pain of death, conscious..."

Sekhemre will cope de grace all three unless stopped.

Its a lot better than they deserver but your right Sek lets get this overwith.

Kayluss assits in Exicuting the prisoners.

"Sek, I don't know if it is right to simply pass judgement on these cultists. Sure they are probably guilty, and should be executed, but I cannot say they ARE guilty. They may just be misled. We should give them a chance to repent, at least, before slitting their throats. If you do that too much, you may find you like it too much."