[Outpost 2018] #9-04 The Unseen Inclusion (Inactive)

Game Master Paladin of Baha-who?

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (18) + 8 + (5) = 31

"This is a shrine to Ahriman, the lord of the divs," Mekhu says as they pass by. "I suspect his cult has been resurrected down here." He follows Ash and Andor as they move towards the southernmost door, sword at the ready and his left hand resting on an extract in his belt.

The Lord of Divs? Seriously if these cultists have summoned a Div we could be in over our heads.
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

The elf peers ahead as he follows the others with caution.

Rugs and cushions lie on the floor of this large room; they are covered in overturned dishes and spoiled food. Several humanoid corpses lie about. Deep wounds and copious blood speak to their violent deaths.

The door on the west wall is unlocked and leads to a bare entry chamber and the other door from the outside porch.

The muttering and groaning comes from the first door on the southern wall. It is locked from the inside, but is a very simple lock that will pose not challenge at all to Kridash or Mekhu. The other doors either stand open or are closed but unlocked.

The second door leads to a wardrobe of a wide variety of clothing, most of which looks entirely ordinary, but some of which looks expensive.

The third door reveals an armory, containing ordinary leather armor and several maces, morningstars of cold iron, spears, and sickles.

The fourth door has a single, simple bed, a chest with ordinary clothes, and a thick book full of vile prayers to Ahriman written in a variety of fiendish languages. Careful examination discovers that there are no spells or secrets written within, though it may be of interest to scholars.

The doors on the east and north walls are locked, and you hear the chanting coming from the north door.

"You guys know anything about this Ahriman fellow? Because I have no idea.", Ash prods the minds of the pathfinders, but doesn't seem to be overly worried otherwise.

It is obvious that Andor is a little frightened. Nonetheless, his goddess commands him to always put fear aside and be at the front of batte. He walks to the northern door and tries to open it slowly.

"Ahriman, known as the Lord of All Divs, desires the complete destruction of life, culture, and civilization. His nihilistic cults feed on suffering and pain, use corruption and murder as their tools, and plot towards bringing about the end of all things," Mekhu replies, trying to keep from divulging himself with a lecture on comparative theology. "If we are dealing with a cult of Ahriman, they pose a grave threat."

Mekhu reluctantly follows Andor towards the northern door, having wished to investigate the southern door before confronting whatever ritual is being undertaken by the chanting voices.

"Guess We should be getting about dealing with the threat than." says Grey while balancing the weight of his great sword.

"This one thinks that that weapons of cold iron may come in useful though this one isn't skilled in those. This one suggest bursting door open and dealing with them before they summon whatever this Div is."

Shin is more then eagar to continue......

The northern door is securely locked.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Mekhu need only glance at the type of lock - a sturdy 5-pin device normally seen protecting things of great value - to know that it wouldn't be easy to defeat. "This is a particularly challenging lock," he whispers to the others. "It may take some time to pick. We might be better served going south first."

"Good to know! Thank you Mekhu. Then let us look at the southern door as you suggested." and Andor starts walking in that direction and slowly opens the door.

Andor opens the door to reveal a human male in a state of what appears to be severe delirium. He mutters and moans, repeating several sentences in random order. Listening to him briefly, these are: “Yes, all else must wait. The Black Moon rises! She shall bring glorious ruin upon the world. I can hear her—she is almost here! Ahriman, look upon our great work, and grant me a place in the House of Oblivion!”

He ignores you completely. His dark brown robe shows several darker stains, indicating he has been stabbed repeatedly, but survived. A dried pool of blood on the floor suggests it happened here, and whoever did it abandoned him to live or die.

If you move to search him, he ineffectually tries to squirm away from you, but you can easily find a brass key in his belt pouch. This looks like it might fit the door to the north.

"I am no healer but this man is obviously unwell ."

Ecthelien moves closer to get a better look at the room.

heal: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Andor is shocked and will try to stabilize him.

Then Andor searches the room.

Perception : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

“These people are animals! He will have to wait until we are finished with the rest of the gang. Oh look. A key. Let us try that.“

Nothing Andor does seems to have any effect.

The room contains a bloodstained sleeping pallet and torn clothing in piles on the floor.

Andor suggests to search the area afterwards also with detect magic. He starts to walk back to the northern door and tries the key to open it.

heal 1d20 ⇒ 14
Shin observes the man's wounds and blood spilled.
"This one is amazed this man is still walking. That looks like a full gallon of blood lost."

The key slips into the keyhole easily, and turns with a soft *click*.

Andor opens the door very slowly and tries to be very silent and peaks in.

Roll a stealth check please.

Eight stone pillars stand around this room. At the center of the room, a five-foot-diameter spiral of twisted arcane glyphs is charred into the floor. Broken bones stained with blood encircle the spiral, and an onyx gem sits in the center.

Three humans stand in the middle of the room, two in nondescript, blood-spattered robes, and the third in a robe that is somewhat more ornate, but likewise blood-spattered. This third, a short but dangerous-looking dark-skinned man, is leading the chant, while the others perform ritual gestures with bloodstained daggers.

A banner, threadbare and faded but showing a clear design of a charging leopard on a background of tan and black hangs from a pole leaning against one of the pillars.

stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Lol what a time to get that 1.

Heal: 1d20 ⇒ 1

The man is beyond Mekhu's limited help. As the group moves to leave he turns back and whispers "We'll be back to help you as soon as we can," before closing the door again.

The volume of the chanting increases as Andor opens the door and Mekhu listens to try and make out what they're attempting to do.

Not sure what kind of check that would be so I'll roll a few dice and see what sticks.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + 8 + (2) = 12

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 + 1d6 ⇒ (19) + 8 + (6) = 33

Ecthelien advances to get a better look
perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

kn:arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

I moved Andor, Mekhu, and Ecthelien near the door because the posted specifically saying they were going there to look at it. Everyone else can move their icon one square to indicate position before combat begins.

Andor opens the doors and pokes his head in, just as the leader of the chant happens to be looking directly at him. He stops the chant and says, "Brothers! We have intruders! By the power of Ahriman!"

He and one of his fellows begins casting spells.

Initiative order:
Shin
Green Cultist
Kridash
Cult leader (yellow)
Andor
Grey
Pink Cultist
Mekhu
Ecthelien

Shin looks slightly stunned at the way Andor anncounced their presence but he takes his shot anyway.

Shoot 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 71d10 ⇒ 7
However with all the bodies in his way, his shot never makes it as it embeds itself into the ceiling.

The cultist to the left finishes his spell, draws a morningstar from his belt, and steps forward.

Initiative order:
Kridash
Cult leader (yellow)
Andor
Grey
Pink Cultist
Mekhu
Ecthelien
Shin
Green Cultist

Oh right, Ash is away. Botting!

Kridash approaches to see the nature of the foes, and grins as he sees some targets for his punches. He makes tight fists with each of his hands, cracking his knuckles as he contemplates how to swing them in concert. Using Martial flexibility to gain Two-Weapon Fighting as a temporary feat.

The cult leader finishes his spell, and grabs the staff with the banner on it, stepping forward as well.

Initiative order:
Andor
Grey
Pink Cultist
Mekhu
Ecthelien
Shin
Green Cultist
Kridash
Cult leader (yellow)

Andor is trembling a little but he sees the lead cultist and runs to him and attacks him with his Rapier.

Guys, I cannot move on the map on my phone. Can you please move him.

Rapier attack roll : 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Damage roll : 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Guys, I cannot move on the map on my phone. Can you please move him.

Done.

Seeing Andor run ahead, Grey leaps forward after him. Grey pulls up at the Green Cultist and brings his sword to bear. "Lucy!"

GS Attack, AF: Bull: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19
GS Damage, AF: Bull: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 4) + 6 = 15

Lucy hears Grey command and is instantly at his side throwing her tusks into the cultist.

Gore Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Gore Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Andor sees the leader lower his guard for a split second, and reacts, stabbing the man painfully in his gut.

Grey thinks his strike with the greatsword should surely be enough to finish the cultist, and if not, the goring from Lucy should be, but some unknown force seems to be granting him unnatural vitality. Despite grievous wounds, he still stands. Oddly, he seems to be trembling, not as much from the pain as from -- fear?

The remaining cultist steps back, away from Andor, and casts a spell that sounds like a tolling bell echoing through the room. All PCs, and the animal companion, need to make a DC 14 Will save or be affected by Bane. Bane is an enchantment, compulsion, emotion, fear, mind-affecting spell, if any of that matters to your rolls. If affected, you take a -1 to all attack rolls and a -1 to saves against fear effects, basically the exact opposite of Bless.

Will save: 1d20 ⇒ 8

"Oh Chaldira, help me .."

Andor uses his trait 'Lessons of Chaldira' to reroll the save.

Will save - Chaldira reroll: 1d20 ⇒ 20

"Chaldira, thank you!"

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Nice use of the power there.

Botting Kridash:

Kridash rushes into the room, skirting the right-hand wall as he closes in on the cultist who cast the spell on him. He feels the supernatural fear beating in his chest but knows there's no turning back from this fight.

Initiative order:
Mekhu (need will save)
Ecthelien (need will save)
Shin (need will save)
Kridash (baned)
Green Cultist
Cult leader (yellow)
Andor
Grey (need will save from Grey and Lucy)
Pink Cultist

Will : 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 vs bane

"Fear not! These lunatics have met their certain demise ."

The elf rushes into the room opposite the column from Andor.

Unable to line up more than one enemy, He calls forth an arcane arc of fire diagonally to bathe Ash's foe if flame.

Flame Arc (1d6+1 fire damage, DC 12) (Su) Use 1 reservoir, deal fire dam in 30 ft line (Ref half). .

Fire arc : 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

on phone so cannot update map - move to east wall flame on purple foe .

I put you where you need to go I think.

The cultist screams in pain as the arc of flame sears his flesh.

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Will Save 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Attack, cover, bane 1d20 + 5 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 4 - 1 = 151d10 ⇒ 6
Shin finds the hair on teh back of his neck standing but he focus his concentration and fires at the one infront of him directly.

Unfortunately as the bolt leaves his groove, Shin has a sinking feeling that it'll not find its target.......

He has cover and you're shooting into melee, so you don't hit.

Shin's bolt goes over the cult leader's head and sticks in the wall.

Just Mekhu remaining to go. Need a will save from him.

Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Mekhu feels the cultist's magic wash over him and a sense of unease fills his mind. Somewhat shaken but nonetheless focused on their mission Mekhu strides through the room, pulling out a flask from his belt. He pops the stopper off with his thumb and drinks the blue liquid down in one gulp.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

As he approaches the ritual circle Mekhu senses a change in the air currents. "There is something else here," he calls out to his comrades, pointing with his sword, "lurking somewhere up there."

Move Action to move 30ft, Standard Action to consume an extract of shield.

Will Save, Grey: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Will Save, Lucy: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Kind of expected.
Shin's feelings are right as his bolt flies way off target........

Actually I'm going to have the cult leader and green cultist delay so they can all act together. Andor, you're up.

Andor attacks the leader with his Rapier.

Guys, I cannot move on the map on my phone. Can you please move him.

Rapier attack roll : 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15
Damage roll : 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

I'll assume you want him to move 1 square to the north. Let me know if that was incorrect.

Andor stabs the leader again, causing another nasty wound.

Mekhu, keeping an eye on the location in which he sensed movement, sees a floating head with horns appear 15 feet above Andor.

One cultist takes his morningstar in both hands and swings it with all his might at Grey. However, the cagey hunter avoids it with ease, and the cultist steps back warily.

The leader holds up his holy symbol, casting a spell while keeping a wary eye on Andor.

He completes his spell and a horrible din of sound explodes from the center of the group of Pathfinders. Andor, Ecthelien, Mehku, and Lucy take 2 sonic damage and need to make a DC 15 Fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round.

The other cultist steps back and strikes out with his whip, trying to trip Andor.

Andor, if you do not fail the above fortitude save, you can attempt to parry. I will let you know if you succeed.

Kridash steps forward and attempts to give the cultist with the whip the ol' one-two. Unfortunately, it appears that he needs to count a little higher next time.

All PCs are up, but we need DC 15 fortitude saves from Andor, Ecthelien, Mehku, and Lucy to avoid being stunned.

Sorry about this post taking a while. I had it written up and then realized I was violating the listed tactics for the NPCs -- namely, I was having the leader do melee attacks instead of casting spells to debuff the PCs.

Ecthelien smiles as the fire bites but then gasps as the sonic boom assaults his ears.

fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19 vs DC15

What villany is this?

spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

Ecthelien points upward and releases another fire arc, this time at the strange creature above.

fire: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

DC 12) (Su) Use 1 reservoir, deal fire dam in 30 ft line (Ref half).

The fire washes over the creature but does nothing to harm it at all.

Has Ecthelien previously made a Knowledge (planes) roll regarding Doru Divs? I know some of you have but I don't recall who did what.

Will save DC 13 whisper: 1d20 ⇒ 19 Success!

Fort save DC 15 stun: 1d20 ⇒ 3 Player T-Shirt reroll!
Fort save DC 15 stun: 1d20 ⇒ 19 Success!

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Opportune Parry vs. Whip attack (2/5 Panache remaining): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 No success probably. So I assume he is prone now.

------

Andor stands up after being tripped and attacks the leader again! Or if the leader is not in range someone else standing next to him.

Rapier attack roll (+4 dex, +1 BAB, +1 Weapon Focus): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Rapier crit confirm roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Damage roll: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

------

Should Andor receive an AoO when standing up or be attacked a later point in this round he will try to parry and reposte.

Opportune Parry vs. potential AoO (1/5 Panache remaining): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

In case Andor successfully parries if the opponent rolled 12 or below then he uses 'Reposte' as an immediate action to attack the opponent that attacked him..

Rapier attack roll (+4 dex, +1 BAB, +1 Weapon Focus): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Damage roll (+4 dex from Fencing Grace Feat): 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

A noise like a clap of thunder physically strikes Mekhu, slapping into him with great force. He recovers quickly and moves across the room, weaving through the columns to strike at the leader of the unholy cult. He ducks as Ecthelien unleashes a burst of flame at the div floating maliciously overhead before slicing with his sword at the chief cultist.

Move Action to move 10ft, Standard Action to attack the cult leader.

Short sword attack, bane: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 1 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4