Lords of Themselves: A Kingmaker Adventure Path.

Game Master Red Ramage

Mikmek flinches at Pretty's words, and hastily explains himself

Draconic: "The red-scaled ones are young kobolds who have not taken our sacred rites as hatchlings and instead follow the teachings of the new shaman. Look at my scales! Observe their hue! You see why we are named Sootscales, yes? Why would a red-scaled one be a Sootscale? They are hatched of my tribe, it is true, but no true worshipper of Cervus allows his scales to form unduskened!"

Mikmek seems to be telling the truth this time. None of you recognize this diety "Cervus".

Mikmek is visibly glad to change the subject when the bandit medallion is shown.

draconic:"Yes, that is one. No, we do not serve him. He told us he would pay gold for us to mine the silver to make those, but when our trading party delivered the silver his troops fell upon them and let none survive. We hide from him now. "

"Pretty or Kivan, can you ask him more about this new shaman? "

Seraphina listens attentively to Pretty's translation, her bright copper colored eyes locked on the kobold. She addresses him directly in common even though she must wait for Pretty or Kivan to translate her words.
"You have been beaten... tortured. What information were they trying to force out of you?" She came close enough to the dusky reptilian creature to give him a sympathetic smile.
Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Kivan shrugs.

Draconic "So who exactly is this shaman, and why were they torturing you?"

Mikmek squints his good eye.

Draconic:"Information? No. They were drawing out my death for fun. Mites kill kobolds, kobolds kill mites. No information needed."

The kobold waits for the translation and continues.

Draconic:"The shaman... Is a long story. One better suited for a warm fire in a snug cave, not held to a wall in the den of the enemy! Suffice to say his name is Tartuk, he was not hatched a Sootscale, and he is tearing the tribe in two! Let me down, let us slaughter these mites, and all will be made clear! "

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Draconic: "Well Mikmek, so let's make a deal. You come with us, we finish cleaning this place of the mites, and later on we sit by the fire and have a long conversation, and then you can go free as the hero who got rid of the mites once and for all. What do you say?"

While this lengthy conversation is ongoing, Maja puts the remaining mite out of its misery.

She then examines the kobold for remaining wounds. Can I get a sense of how many HP it's still down? Heal check if needed. Heal check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Draconic"I agree to your terms. I can sweeten the deal too, Lords-of-your-selves. The Sootscale home is rich in silver. I must bear the bodies of my brethren home, yet I am but one and they three. If you bear the fallen home with me, I shall give you each two claw-weight of pure silver and the Sootscales will call you friend. You can then see the lies of Tartuk the False for yourselves."

Mikmek still appears badly injured, though not in danger of dying any more. 2/8 hp. His eye would require expensive regeneration magic to repair fully.

When freed: Mikmek limps over to one of the dead bodies and turns it over with a vicious kick. Stooping over the mite, he picks up several of the sharpened sticks with which he had been tortured.

Draconic: "To business, then. The chief of these mites is a nasty warrior who rides to battle on a giant tick. He is guarded by six retainers who are much better fighters than these scum. They are the main danger, and the head we must sever to break this infestation. There are perhaps six or eight more of these low mite warriors, and some brood mothers with their whelps. We know the mites have befriended a giant worm-of-a-thousand legs, but I have not seen it. The chief wallows in a cave to the east, past that ravine."

Pretty explains to the group the army they will have to fight with, and smiles. "I consulted my agenda and have no appointment for today. Shall we move?"

Idris shudders in disgust as she hears the translated warning about a giant tick and a worm-of-a-thousand-legs, which she figures must be a centipede.

"I hate bugs! Let's kill them!" She draws her sword carefully in the enclosed space. "I rather like this fellow's attitude. Kivan or Pretty, maybe one of you could tutor me in Draconic at some point so I can talk to these kobolds directly."

Will the sharpened stick work effectively as a weapon? If it would be an improvised weapon, Idris will offer the Kobold her dagger instead. A -2 from being oversized will be less than a -4 for an improvised weapon.

"Sure, not a problem at all, but let's leave that for when we are by a fire at night." She waits until everyone is ready and moves forward, asking the kobold to follow right after her and warn her if there's something dangerous.

Kivan makes sure to stay in the middle of the group for his own safety.

"Tell the kobold to hold still." Maja reaches out and offers healing to the injured creature. Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9.

Mikmek gratefully accepts Idris' dagger and Maja's healing, then motions you all over to the ravine.

I saw a marching order somewhere but can't find it now. I put you in an order that makes sense to me, feel free to re-arrange yourselves.

You are standing at the edge of a dark and ominous chasm that splits the passage. It is a few yards wide, and twice as deep, but thick ropes of tangled roots fill the entire area. The passage continues on the far side of the chasm, and between the two ledges, numerous loops have been tied into the roots to serve as hand and footholds.

Maja peers ahead in the passage and sees the bulbous blue head of a mite peeking around the corner at her. When it sees that it's been noticed, it shrieks and ducks back into cover.

Idris can clearly hear a click-click-clicking from the depths of the ravine, but can't see anything through the gloom.

map!

"We need to get over there. Are these roots safe?"

Here's the watch and marching order info.
Seraphina peers nervously at the dark ravine and pales at Idris' words.
"Oh... I never was very good at climbing..."
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Climb: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (18) - 2 = 16 (Here's the roll, though she won't go first!)

Pretty lowers her voice trying no to warn the Mite about what she would do. "Watch out not to pull this one" - she warns to the others. See spoiler for Pretty above "It will not sustain your weight. You better jump, if you can."

She takes some steps back, asking the group to step back, and then goes for a jump over the chasm.
Jump: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

"I'm not sure we could all pull that off. We should brace each other with some rope, in case we slip" suggests Maja, fetching some silk rope from her bag. She will look for something to tie the rope to in case people slip while climbing.

When her turn comes, she'll climb on over. Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

With the balance afforded to her by her tail, Pretty takes a graceful leap across the chasm. She lands nimbly on the opposite edge with a slight crouch. Mercifully, this side is much less cramped and has halfway decent headroom. From her new vantage point, Pretty can see four mites gaping at her acrobatics while clutching rusty knives.

10/10 from the kobold judge

With much less pizazz but much greater safety, Maja and Seraphina start making their way across the chasm, avoiding the trapped root and keeping a wary hand on Maja's silk rope.

The clicking sound grows louder. It almost sounds like dozens of spiny legs clambering up a chasm wall. Mikmek goes pale at the sound, and ducks behind Idris.

" 'ware the hole!" he squeaks... in common.

With the slick clicking of supple chitinous body segments, an enormous centipede rears its ugly head from the darkness engulfing the lower portion of the chasm.

once again, the entire party has beaten the enemies in initiative. You may act in any order. Maja and Seraphina are climbing, but no longer squeezed. Pretty is no longer squeezed, and is only taking a -2 to attacks for stooping

map!

Kivan looks disgustedly at the centipede that is currently advancing on the group.

"Watch out! That centipede has a venomous bite, it's fiercely territorial, and it can't be affected by illusions!"

Kivan knowing that he doesn't have a good shot right now waits until the creature gets closer to fire.

Readied action to use Acid Splash on the centipede if it attacks one of my allies.

Attack vs. touch -4 for squeezing: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 4 = 9
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

Maja clambers up the remaining distance to the other side, going past Pretty. Seeing the mites, she takes a defensive stance. "There's a bunch of mites here!" she declares.

Total Defense action. AC+4 = 18. She doesn't have a weapon in hand after climbing.

Idris puts both hands on her sword and readies an attack as soon as the centipede gets within range of her strike.

Seraphina gasps as the clicking draws nearer beneath her, she hurries to cross the gap, reaching for Pretty and Maja on the other side.
Not sure if that's a double move or not, if she has a standard action left, she'll color spray the mites.

Color Spray DC:15 (Will)
Rolls for first effect in rounds on creatures with 2HD or less: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6
unconscious, blinded, and stunned duration
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Roll for second effect in rounds on creatures with 2HD or less: 1d4 ⇒ 1
blinded and stunned duration.

Then stunned for one round.
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Roll for first effect in rounds for creatures with 3 or 4 HD: 1d4 ⇒ 3
blinded and stunned duration.

Then stunned for one round.
--------------------------------------------------
If 5 HD then stunned for one round.

I would like to know if there are any mites still standing after Sera's color spray, or if that did not happened, before doing my action.

Also, are the mites surprised?

Seraphina, it's a full round action to climb across at regular speed. If you use accelerated climbing (dc 10 check here) you can make it across as a move and have your standard left for the color spray.

Pretty, the mites are not surprised. If seraphina gets that color spray off, only one will be standing.

Climb(accelerated): 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14
Seraphina moves as quickly as she is able across the gap and blasts the cluster of mites on the other side with a spray of brilliant colored light, knocking out 3 of them.

A little backup would be nice from Kivan and Cassius...

Kivan readied an acid orb. Cassius will shoot it. At this moment I'm waiting for Pretty to act so we don't get hopelessly confused on initiative

Oh, ok. sorry. :D

Oh me? Sorry

Pretty moves, surrounding the remaining Mite, and attacks it with a dagger:
Dagger: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 21d4 ⇒ 1

NICE attack.

The elephantine centipede slithers out of the ravine with terrifying speed and grace. An uncomplicated combatant, it picks the first intruder it sees and lunges straight for Idris.

Idris readied attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
mechanically, you don't have a reason not to swing two-handed, right?
Cassius readied attack: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 4 = 11
whiptail bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Whiptail tail lash: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Mikmek attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Idris raises her sword in the 5th position parry, interposing steel between her face and the venom-dripping fangs of the monstrous vermin. The impact drives her back a step but she quickly reverses her blade and slashes the vermin's head. Kivan's acid splash sails past Idris and sears the centipede's carapace. Cassius looses an arrow with a twang, but it deflects harmlessly off thick armor. Mikmek leans out from behind Idris and hurls a sharpened stick at the centipede, but his weak toss falls far short and he dissapears behind Idris once more. Screeching with primitive rage, the centipede whips its enormous tail over its head and lashes at Idris, who nimbly dodges.

Seraphina's color spray blasts into the mite group, leaving only one standing. It blows a sharp whistle with its fingers and takes a defensive pose, menacing Pretty with a rusty knife.

Begin round 2!

Pretty's moves to flank the remaining Mite with Sera and delivers a quick thrust to it: I'm not sure which one is still standing at the map.
Dagger: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 1 + 2 = 14! Damage: 1d4 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + (8) + 1 = 13 Or 12 to hit and 4 damage if I cannot flank it.

Correct, Idris will generally use her blade two-handed unless she needs to hold something in her other hand. I plan on taking Crane Style at some point, but up til then she'll keep both hands on the hilt.

Idris laughs with the joy of battle and follows up with another slash at the centipede. Her initiative is now just before it, if it matters.

1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage if that hits: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Round 2!

Not sure if the remaining mite is down yet; if not, that's Maja's target.

Maja draws her longspear and thrusts the point toward the whistling mite. Hopefully flanking with Pretty - still has a 5-foot step if that's helpful. Attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 2 = 14; Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

The centipede remains out of your reach, Idris. You'll need to ready the attack each round to strike it. Lets say that's what you did this round as well

Pretty and Maja swiftly surround the remaining mite. It doesn't know who to pay attention to, wavers for a moment, then shrieks with pain as Pretty's dagger finds his heart from behind.

Maja, that target is dead. Do you want to finish off an unconscious mite or change your action?

Map!

Kivan once again readies a spell in case the creature attacks Idris again.

Readied action acid splash

Attack vs. touch -4 for squeeze: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 4 = 9
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

The exact same rolls :( this dice roller doesn't like Kivan.

Ah, yes, that's what I meant to do...

-Posted with Wayfinder

Round 2
Seraphina leaves the mites to Maja and Pretty as she turns and steps closer to target the monstrous centipede with an acid splash.

Ranged Touch Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 Damage: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Revised Round 2!

Maja finishes off another mite. Coup de grace. She remains vigilant for any additional mites who might find them with all the commotion.

centipede bite attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
centipede tail attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

The centipede rears back and lunges at Idris with lightning speed. Her years of intense drilling serve her well, as she steps aside to evade the poisonous fangs, retaliates with a strike of her own, and spoils the whipping tail with an overhead parry.

Kivan and Seraphina both find their marks with acid spells, leaving caustic scars down the centipede's sides.

Cassius attack: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 4 = 3

Cassius's arrow flies into the ravine and is lost to sight

mikmek attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Mikmek throws another stake and misses badly again.

Pretty, Seraphina, and Maja hear mites yelling and running footseps. It seems reinforcements are on the way.

round 3 begins

Readied attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 Waiting for Power attack at level 2...
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 What's with all the damn 1's?

Pretty coup de grace the third mite, leaving only one unconscious and on the floor.
Damage: 2d4 + 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4, 4) + (7) + 1 = 16
"Incoming!"

Kivan gets himself ready for another attack from the monsterous insect.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 - 4 = 11
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

"Currently killing mutant insects!"

Seraphina moves toward the path the mites approach from, preparing to colorspray as soon as they come close enough.

Color Spray DC:15 (Will)
Rolls for first effect in rounds on creatures with 2HD or less: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2
unconscious, blinded, and stunned duration
-------------------------------------------------
Roll for second effect in rounds on creatures with 2HD or less: 1d4 ⇒ 2
blinded and stunned duration.

Then stunned for one round.
-------------------------------------------------
Roll for first effect in rounds for creatures with 3 or 4 HD: 1d4 ⇒ 4
blinded and stunned duration.

Then stunned for one round.
--------------------------------------------------
If 5 HD then stunned for one round.

Maja moves toward the sound of footseps, with a spear readied to strike at any who endure the color spray!

With the pattering of horrid little feet, a squad of mites bursts around the corner, waving crude daggers and cheering raggedly. They are met with yet another blast of overpowering colors from Seraphina.

using the 15 foot cone template, you can hit four of them

Three of the mites go down senseless, but the one in the front continues to charge - straight into the path of the waiting Maja, who spears it in its ugly face, stopping its charge rather abruptly in a spray of blood. The three who were out of range of the color spray skid to a halt, turning an unhealthy shade of "tiny pale coward" and look at each other, unsure of what to do. Direction is provided by the guttural snarling and rasping of what is obviously the chieftain of the mite tribe. The Chieftain is mounted on the back of a giant tick that bristles with spines and eyes. He is flanked by six mites that seem a bit taller and more heartily built than the dross that you've been wading through with such utter abandon. They are wearing proper leather armor instead of the gross felt and linen 'armor' you've seen, and their short swords are well-maintained and shiny. The guards look on grimly as the chieftain waves his trident in the air and angrily shouts orders at the routed mites. The survivors do some hasty calculus to decide who's scarier, and turn to face you again, obviously scared out of what passes for their minds.

The centipede, oblivious to such advanced tactics as "kill the one in the robes first", continues to attempt great violence on Idris. As it rears forward, Idris strikes it yet again, and another acid splash from Kivan hits it.

cassius attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 1 = 20
cassius damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
centipede bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
bite damage: 2d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 4) + 5 = 10
centipede tail lash: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
mikmek attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

This time, the centipede's bite finds its target, and Idris staggers under the massive blow! Idris disabled at 0 hp, and give me a fort save

Cassius looses another arrow, which sticks in the creature's carapace. Mikmek continues to be useless.

you guys are having the most terrible luck with damage rolls. The centipede has been hit 8 times for 20 damage - 2.5 damage/attack average!

CRISIS MAP

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

-Posted with Wayfinder

Idris coughs and winces at the sudden strike. I knew I was taking a chance at having a lower CON, but I felt it reflected her upbringing which focused on agility and striking power, but not on endurance. "Maja! Can you channel? I'm hurt!" Maja could move to just north of the dead mite on her side of the chasm and channel, which would avoid healing the centipede, but would get Idris in the blast.

Knowing that the she is really hard to hit, Pretty takes two steps forward, to bottleneck the incoming mites and use the bodies to spoil their movement.
"Help Idris, Maja. Me and Sera will hold them."

Standing on the perfect spot, she assumes a defensive position and tosses a dagger on the closest mite, retrieving another one right after, with her tail:
Defensive Dagger throw: 1d20 + 4 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 4 = 18! Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

AC 22 for fighting defensively.

"Coming!" Maja hurries over to the edge. "Mighty Erastil, grant us healing!" Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 4