JCServant's Council of Thieves (Inactive)

Game Master JCServant

As the director pushes you to get out on stage on time, he says, I've found your performance to be... acceptable. From me, that's high praises. Be careful out there. I want to make sure you get the final bows you deserve.

Act 6: Trial by Combat and Love
Thesing delivers his lines with a passion you haven't seen up to this point. His character's hatred for your characters (in the play) almost seems to come across as personal!

As this act ends, the curtains along the back portion of the stage part to reveal a second stage beyond, decorated as a swampy, dreary hellscape. Beyond you see large skeletons with bones of giants reaching towards you about 40' away. Two smaller (Med) sized skeletons stand behind them.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

I am not done with you yet Thesing...

"Well boys, here it is, and there they are..."

Tessai casts Protection from Evil and stands guard with her spear.

Status

5' Kyle (20/20 ), Aemon (27/28 Drovalid),
PFL Beppo (28/31), Tessai (26/26 Dentris), Brandon (30/30 Tybsin, Shield of Faith), B Devil (25/25 ), Corellon
40' SkeleA (Perfect, Lg,Reach), SkeleB (Perfect, Lg,Reach),
50' SkeleC (Perfect, ), SkeleD (Perfect, ),

Oooo....quieet. Where is everyone?

sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Kyle consumes his shield potion.

"Let them come to us."

I am here but ye, today is kinda quiet :D

Brandon tries to ham it up portraying the ravages hell has on his poor sensibilities.

This place is changing me, tearing me apart. What am I becoming!??

He drinks his mutagen.

been busy, short around here, half the team at PAX East.

"Yes, let them come to us. And if they don't come far enough for some of us, wait for me to try and draw their attention."

Crane&Snake Styles (but no free hand for Crane Wing, using Bill), and Bill is Arcane Pooled. Saving my action to set vs. Charge, medium skeles might provide AoO fodder meantime.

ninja'd by Brandon>Edmond

Horrified at the twisting of his companion, the firebearded dwarf nearly bolts, but steels himself, and digs in again on the line.

"Ye cannae twist our hearts!", he shouts to the surrounding Hells.

perform -1 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Edmond howls in exaggerated painful ecstasy as the metamorphosis is complete.

He stands, a sinewy muscled menace of tooth and claw and yet somehow his elongated arms and pointed fingers accentuate a strange regal air in him.

See what you have made me! he screams, seemingly at a frightened woman in the front row.

Then he turns and whispers to devil;

I thought skeletons never came to the theatre... Because they have no body to go with! Nice to see you again by the way.

{And don't forget your performance checks, hahahah)

I guess the performance bit was by Brandon.

perform: 1d20 ⇒ 8

well, that explains the bad perform...

The mad dwarf cackles madly at the whispers of his twisted companion.

If you're setting a weapon for bracing, make sure you state that as your readied action. You would go ahead an roll that when you declare it. If it doesn't happen at all (in other words, if the enemy does not charge), the standard action is wasted, as normal.

Alright, Braced Bill +3 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
(wiff!)

Armon seeing for what's head of him switches to blunt arrows and readys him self for their next challenge.

"Lets show them how we perform."

perform: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Tessai is done with performing...

Performance: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (11) - 2 = 9

perform: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Round 1
Some buff, as Black Devil braces. The audience collectively gasps as Tybsin changes into someone else. One of them faints. (+100 pts).

Enemy Turn
The two smaller skeletons each cast a spell.

Stones fall from above you!: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 2) = 10
This spell does not allow a saving throw.

Aemon: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 Hit
B Devil: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 Hit
Beppo: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 Hit
Brandon: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 Hit
Corellon: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 Hit
Kyle: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Hit
Tessai: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Out of AoE

The debris around all of your feet, right up to five feet in front of you is now difficult terrain.

The two larger ones charge, stopping 10' out, and attack with reach after dodging BD's braced attack.

1 Bite (20crit) on BD: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 131d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Misses
1 Bite (20crit) on Edmond: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 271d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Hits

Some of the audience gasp and scream as the undead casters unleash their horrific attacks on the group. It almost appears that, if not for the heroes, the larger creatures would have charged into the people behind them.

Status

5' Kyle (10/20 Shield), Aemon (17/28 Drovalid),
PFL Beppo (18/31 ), Tessai (26/26 Dentris, Protection f/Evil), Edmond (14/30 Tybsin, Shield of Faith), B Devil (15/25 ), Corellon
10' SkeleA (Perfect, Lg,Reach), SkeleB (Perfect, Lg,Reach),
50' SkeleC (Perfect, ), SkeleD (Perfect, ),

Keep in mind, the debris goes five feet in front of you to the larger Larger skeleton's feet. It's difficult terrain. If you step up, you provoke unless you have a feat that allows you to move through difficult terrain normally.

Devil tucks the haft-end of his bill under one arm, and spins forward across the stone-strewn ground, to kick out at one of the giants.

Chain FD, Crane, Snake, CE: AC 23, -3 on attacks, can Crane Wing and Snake.

Kick -1 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
:/

Happy to provoke. :)

Summoning her inheritage, Tessai steps forward easily - unnatural nimbleness allowing her to navigate the treacherous debris without a moment's pause.

Using Agile Feet - free action.
If protection from Evil prevents the creatures from attacking her, she will hold the spear in one hand and cast Divine Favor - if it does not...

She thrusts her spear forward at one of the creatures.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 - 1 - 1 = 6 Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Geeeez...

"Boys! Get those casters!" - she shouts.

Now standing in front of the creatures, she tries to ascertain their strengths and weaknesses.

Knowledge (Planes?): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

HOLY SMOKES!! I hope Prot Evil allows me to cast safely...

"I'll take the casters out!"

bow one: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 - 2 - 1 = 10
damage one: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 8

bow two: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 - 2 - 1 = 18
damage two: 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 + 2 = 11

HOLY SMOKES!! I hope Prot Evil allows me to cast safely...

The protection against contact by summoned creatures ends if the warded creature makes an attack against or tries to force the barrier against the blocked creature.

She thrusts her spear forward at one of the creatures.

HMmmmMmmm.... :P

Edmond steps forward, heedless of the danger from the looming skeletons.

claw 1 pa: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13
claw 2 pa: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13
Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11

Edmond, since you're stepping through difficult terrian, you use a move action to move 5'...so you only get one attack.

Round 1 Beppo chugs his other Enlarge Person potion.

Round 2 Large Beppo takes another big swing of the big blade. I assume I have the same reach as they. If not, I'll take the step up and take a risk.

attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 1, 2) + 6 = 15

confirm critical hit: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
crit damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 4, 6) + 6 = 19
Rolling to confirm critical hits is dumb. Unless NPCs are doing it :P

cleave attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
cleave damage: 3d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 4, 6) + 6 = 18

Ah well I missed in that case. I thought it was a 5ft step that provoked but I could still have a full attack. Can I keep my 26 and 18 for my next attack? :p

Suuuurrre...just remind me.

These guys will probably knock me on my ass before I get to lol

Channel: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4

To heal the party

Party's Turn
Black Devil steps up.
1 Bite (20crit): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 231d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

And is struck for 10 pts. He attacks and misses.

Tessai attacks and misses. And doesn't know much about these undead (It's a Know: Religion, BTW. ) Aemon shoots to the casters in the back and hits on the 2nd shot, causing the caster to fall back from blunt arrow. Edmond moves forward, provoking.
1 Bite (20crit): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 101d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Edmond pushes the beasts gaping maw aside through raw power, but it knocks him off balance just enough to miss his next rake attack.

Beppo hits one of them hard with his longer reaching sword, though he finds the bones to be somewhat resistant to his sharp blade. (5/Bludgeoning). Kyle channels.

Enemy Turn
The casters hit a couple with magic missles.

Aemon: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9
Edmond: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6

One of them tries to bite Tessai, but recoils when trying to bite her. He focuses his remaining attacks on Beppo instead. The other, however, is able to attack her.

1 Bite (20crit): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 171d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 (Auto Miss on Tessai)
2 Claws (20 crit): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 261d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Beppo Ouchie
2 Claws (20 crit): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 181d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Beppo Ouchie

SkeleB's attack on Tessai
1 Bite (20crit): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 91d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Miss
2 Claws (20 crit): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 191d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Miss
2 Claws (20 crit): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 231d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 Ouchie
Status

5' Kyle (14/20 Shield), Aemon (15/28 Drovalid),
PFL Beppo (6/31 ), Tessai (9/26 Dentris, Protection f/Evil), Edmond (19/30 Tybsin, Shield of Faith), B Devil (9/25 ), Corellon
10' SkeleA (Good, Lg,Reach, Flanked), SkeleB (Perfect, Lg,Reach),
50' SkeleC (Hurt, ), SkeleD (Perfect, ),

(edited to add in Kyle's Heal)

GM-JC I gotta retcon here... "If protection from Evil prevents the creatures from attacking her, she will hold the spear in one hand and cast Divine Favor - if it does not... as I stated, so the attack would only happen IF the Protection from Evil does not allow me to cast without worrying about eating an AoO - if it does prevent it, Tessai would cast Divine Favor, and would not attack. So I guess I did not eat that "Ouchie" ;) YaY me!!

Have the skeletons moved back or can I now full attack?

another retcon: Devil has a Crane Wing chambered, he takes no damege from the AoO. His hope eas to get them both, in fact.

Tessai, you you can't really contingent your command on something your character doesn't know (Is the undead summoned or not?). I think that's why I glazed past it in my rush to post and went right to resolving the melee attack I saw. (To know they were conjured without seeing them conjured, you would need to cast and foucs detect magic for a round or three to determine its concentration magic). The reality is, your character did not know at the time. I usually try to post on that stuff in between rounds as I notice it, I'm not sure why I did not.... but it would be a lot of retcon. So, I'm not really going to go back and retcon that....just going to go with what I read (sorry).

NOW you know because you saw a blow deflected.

BD, the wording on that one says "melee weapon attack' which is why I ruled it a hit. However, a little further digging when I got home found a post by SKR that says it basically means all melee attacks except for melee touch attacks. So you get the 10 hps back.

Edmond, yes, full round.

Edmond brushes the attack aside and then launches his own assault, driving claws into the things ribcage and biting at its clavacle, trying to disable the thing.

All attacks on A, taking attack rolls from earlier and adding 2 for flanked condition.

claw 1: 20 = 20
damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 2 + 1 + (2, 5) = 18
claw 2: 28 = 28
damage: 1d6 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 1 + (6, 1) = 21
Bite: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 - 1 + 2 = 19
damage: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 + 1 + (4, 3) = 21

Hp=27/30 (edit after Kyle's channel below)
Ac=20

Knowledge Enemy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

Channel to Heal Allies: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 5) = 13

BD, the wording on that one says "melee weapon attack' which is why I ruled it a hit. However, a little further digging when I got home found a post by SKR that says it basically means all melee attacks except for melee touch attacks. So you get the 10 hps back.

BD also had the Snake Dodge chambered. He was fishing for both AoOs. I mention it now so it's less surprise in future.

And re:summonings, it doesn't seem to be a great leap to expect summoned creatures for a stage presentation, unless you see great cages or such.

BD also had the Snake Dodge chambered. He was fishing for both AoOs. I mention it now so it's less surprise in future.

Ah. You may want to post exactly what you are fishing for in the future :P....with that being said, there's no way in PF to really "Fish" for AoO's aside from provoking attacks in and out. And there's no way that I know of to get 'aggro' so to speak.

And re:summonings, it doesn't seem to be a great leap to expect summoned creatures for a stage presentation, unless you see great cages or such.

Maybe, maybe not. There were some things that were captured and brought in from the outside. Anyways, if Tessai believed they were summoned , she should have said so. I don't presume on the part of the players.

Re: planning to soak AoO 'aggro': "You may want to post exactly what you are fishing for in the future :P....with that being said, there's no way in PF to really "Fish" for AoO's aside from provoking attacks in and out. And there's no way that I know of to get 'aggro' so to speak."

Thank you, I'll keep that in mind. So, without an aggro mechanic, I made sure to post first, ready to Crane one and Snake another (if both hit), and clear the AoOs for the party. Devil had said he'd do that. I'll try to be clearer next time. I did not expect any enemy to 'bank' an AoO when offered one. I can see that they might.

Re: guessing the giant undead are summoned: There were some things that were captured and brought in from the outside. Anyways, if Tessai believed they were summoned , she should have said so. I don't presume on the part of the players.

I can't guess what the player meant Tessai to believe. But the player spoke of planning for the Prot.Evil to work, so they at least had the concept in mind.

Aemon clearly in some pain from the hit's he's be taken.

I need to take those casters out.

First shot MW longbow: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 - 1 - 2 = 19
First Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 11

Second shot MW longbow: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 1 - 1 - 2 = 7
Second Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 12

"I'm trying to take them down"

I have the feeling that Tessai's longspear will be less than optimal against these guys...

Tessai will keep attacking skeleton B - I am assuming this is the one not subject to Prot from Evil to touch me.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 1 - 1 = 21 Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

I gotta say, the HITS you guys dish out. Devil is in awe.

The clownfish dwarf tumbled between the two greater skeletons, only narrowly sheltering himself from one great blow by interposing his cherished bagpipes. The howl and screech and final pitiable moan of the crushed instrument might have brought a grin to the faces of the enemy, if they had faces. It brought a scowl the the face of the dwarf...

perform -1 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

...which the fire-red beard mostly hid from the audience.

"Ye divils!", the dwarf raged, "Them's m'pipes!" Transfixed, or so it seemed, by rage, he set like a boiling kettle to an increasing litany of polyglottal profanities, languages of men, monsters, elves, devils, dragons, and magic...

Casting via 'Spell Combat': True Strike. Expecting AoOs, have Crane Wing and Snake Dodge queued up. AC 23 as before, -3 to hit and -2 from SC, but +20 from True Strike, +15 total, and base +2.

AoOs might come in here, likely blocked/dodged.

Trip the least damaged giant, +17 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (11) + 17 = 28

Kicking out the anklebone, (connected to the footbone...), the dwarf turned a fire-browed eye at the lesser skeletons...

Player's Turn
Edmond totally tears up a skeleton, tearing from from rotted ligament with vicious strikes. Tessai hits the remaining one as Black Devil trips it up. Aemon hits the skeleton again, and it looks like it will fall with one more hit. Kyle heals everyone.

Baddies Turn
The two mages in the back cast a spell. A small orange orb comes forth from their hands and the audiance feels the heat (litterally) are two fire balls blow up only yards away from them!

10d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 4, 1, 6, 1, 1, 6, 4, 1) = 31

Aemon: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
B Devil: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Not in AoO, no save needed.
Beppo: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Brandon: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Corellon: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Kyle: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Tessai: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Everyone but Black Devil, Reflex save DC 16 for half. The spells do come from evil creatures.

The large creature on the ground takes swipes at Black Devil.

1 Bite (20crit): 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 4 = 61d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
2 Claws (20 crit): 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 4 = 201d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
2 Claws (20 crit): 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 8 - 4 = 81d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
And misses.

Status

5' Kyle (20/20 Shield, Save), Aemon (28/28 Drovalid, Save),
PFL Beppo (19/31 Save), Tessai (22/26 Dentris, Protection f/Evil, Save), Edmond (30/30 Tybsin, Shield of Faith, Save), B Devil (25/25 ), Corellon
10' SkeleA (KO'd, Out), SkeleB (Perfect, Lg,Reach, Prone),
50' SkeleC (Critical, ), SkeleD (Perfect, ),

reflex to stay conscious: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

channel party: 2d8 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

"I hate to rain on everyone's parade. But one more hit like that may be our last."

You swear you see one of the wizard skeletons crack his knuckles after casting that spell.

Who put level 5 fireballs in the script?

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Tessai shrugs away most of the damage from the incoming explosion. Gritting her teeth, she makes a decision.

Tessai will use Agile Feet - please check if my assumption is correct: Tessai's base move is 40' because of the Traveling domain, so she can close with the casters, and since she has a reach weapon, she should be able to attack them. Will probably eat an AoO from the fallen skeleton?

Moving forward with surprising nimbleness, Tessai moves on the casters at the back - "Lets see how well you cast those funnies when I am sticking a spear up yours!!"

Attack Skele C: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 - 1 = 17 Damage: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

I expect I will still be threatening Skele D also?

Question: if it was two 5d6 fireballs should we make two reflex saves or did they somehow do a weird dragon ball z combo attack?

relex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

With the blast of fire, Aemon goes up like a match and slumps to the ground.

-9 (+3 from kyle) Current: -6. I also hope it's two fireballs as stated but you called for one save?