The rain of blood is but a refreshing summer shower to the hardened Pathfinders, who forge on ahead without a wayward glance!
There are safe-looking caves ahead, but reaching them requires climbing and leading the animals up the slope. Climb or Ranged Attack. Alternatively, you may use a spell or other ability if you think it might be helpful.
Sajan scampers up the mountain side as if he were a mountain goat and quickly fixes the necessary ropes and hooks to enable the animals to maneuver up to the hill. The camels watch him, first in seeming amazement, and then with the placidness of camels accustomed to many strange sights, as if he is the new lead camel, and then calmly follow him up the hillside, into the cave, and out of danger.
*** Chase concluded ***
The storm is still some ways off and you have the sense that you have avoided the worst of it.
Ranger 2/Rogue 10 | HP 85/99| AC 29/ 22(23) touch/23(24)flatfooted | Sneak Attack +5d6 | Resiliency 1/day F+16,R+22,W+13 ((1/day can reroll Will save)| Init. +10(+12)| Perc +19/24*(+21/26)| Evasion | Trap Sense +4 | Improved Uncanny Dodge
Awesome! You guys crushed the chase while I was at work today!
”We need to gather some wood and start a fire. We will miss most of the storm but it is going to get really cold and every piece of wood in the area will be wet. Let’s get enough wood to last for several hours, so we don’t freeze half to death,” Shel commands as she look around at their cave.
From within the caves, you are able to watch the sandstorm howl past you in relative security and comfort, warming yourselves by Shel's fire. The storm is truly ferocious and everyone is relieved not to be in the midst of the maelstrom. When the wind and dust finally settle, you peek out of the cave entrance and realize that a faint path - perhaps no more than a goat trail - descends from here towards a narrow canyon. Furthermore, you note that the signal from the seeker stone seems to be leading in this direction. And it appears to be getting stronger.
Just a note about time - the storm began to chase you around noon and about 5 hours have passed since then. It takes you a further hour to descend into the canyon floor, so our story resumes at about 6 pm. Please be aware of any spells or other buffs that may have expired.
The entrance to the canyon consists of fine-grained sedimentary rock rich in iron oxides, giving it a smoothed appearance and reddish hue.
Knowledge (Geography or Nature) DC 20:
The soil type and rock formations suggest this geographical feature was a riverbed thousands of years ago. Now only barren, rocky terrain remains, and you recognize that the canyon was once green with vegetation.
The path that descends into the canyon is narrow but then begins to broaden. The rocky sides are approximately 100 feet in height, and, ahead of you, two weathered stone columns stand 50 feet tall.
Please place your icons on the western (i.e. left) edge of the map, in the canyon, in either of the leftmost 2 columns of squares.
Male N Elf Psychic 13 - Init. +4, Senses Low-Light Vision Perception +22 detect scrying, HA, AC 26/ touch 16/ ff 23 Deskari's Wing; hp 80/80 temp 14/14; F+11, R+11, W+14, Speed 35 ft., Climb 20 ft., Fly 60 ft. Carried: LogicRod, StaffMinArc, LckyHrshoe, Fr-LfClvr; Buffs: shield, fly, resist fire 30, det scry, mg armr, flse life, see invis, hghtnd awrnss, telbnd x2; Alc: antitx/plg/verm/syrup
Yanndu renews his see invisibility and heightened awareness enchantments; he also activates a fly spell and a message spell to keep in touch with the entire party quietly.
***...on your guards, agents...this canyon may have sustained life in the past...perhaps undead or constructs have survived the long-dead mortals who may have dwelt here...***
I've been advised that it's easier for mobile users to use Google Slides so I've created a new map. Please go ahead and put your tokens on this new link. I'll delete the old one once everyone has done that. Thanks and sorry for any confusion.
As you approach down the canyon, a javelin suddenly flies through the air! As the weapon thuds into the rocky soil just in front of the PCs, a large (blue) creature steps out from behind one of the columns and shouts a dire warning: “Turn back! Weaklings like you find nothing but death here!” A second (red) creature steps into view as well and adds, “And you have no right to enter this ancient place!”
Yanndu, you recognize these creatures as the girtablilu, or scorpionfolk, that you asked about earlier. You also recall that girtablilus are devoted guardians of ancient secrets, and as such, they may have useful information about the ancient ruins.
"I am Ardashir," says the (blue) fellow, "and together with my sister, Anahita," - here he gestures to his (red) companion - "we guard this place. You are not permitted here, outlanders! Begone!"
Male N Elf Psychic 13 - Init. +4, Senses Low-Light Vision Perception +22 detect scrying, HA, AC 26/ touch 16/ ff 23 Deskari's Wing; hp 80/80 temp 14/14; F+11, R+11, W+14, Speed 35 ft., Climb 20 ft., Fly 60 ft. Carried: LogicRod, StaffMinArc, LckyHrshoe, Fr-LfClvr; Buffs: shield, fly, resist fire 30, det scry, mg armr, flse life, see invis, hghtnd awrnss, telbnd x2; Alc: antitx/plg/verm/syrup
Yanndu casts greater invisibility on himself, and tells the others via message spell:
***...careful...they are girtablilus, and their tail sting is poisonous...their claws can also squeeze you to death...use a weapon that can be used in only one hand...***
[move action to retrieve an antitoxin vial]
[free action to take a 5-foot step down]
As Yanndu shows the first signs of casting a spell, Anahita cries out, "Hold, outlander, if you will magick us then we will surely know that you are foes and must be destroyed!"
Male N Elf Psychic 13 - Init. +4, Senses Low-Light Vision Perception +22 detect scrying, HA, AC 26/ touch 16/ ff 23 Deskari's Wing; hp 80/80 temp 14/14; F+11, R+11, W+14, Speed 35 ft., Climb 20 ft., Fly 60 ft. Carried: LogicRod, StaffMinArc, LckyHrshoe, Fr-LfClvr; Buffs: shield, fly, resist fire 30, det scry, mg armr, flse life, see invis, hghtnd awrnss, telbnd x2; Alc: antitx/plg/verm/syrup
Yanndu pauses. curses on those 'visible' manifestations of an 'invisibility' spell! lol
"Sheathe your weapons then. You have something we need. We can parlay or we can take it by force. Your choice. You threw a javelin at us. This was not very nice."
"Sheathe our weapons?!? Ha, what sort of guards do you take us for? You are interlopers here and not permitted to pass. You may return the way you came or we shall slay you. Your choice."
At the first sign of Yanndu once again beginning to cast a spell, the scorpionfolk leap to defend their charge.
Yanndu, your actions will not take effect until your turn in the initiative, at which point you can choose the same actions or do something else, as you choose. i.e. you are not yet invisible, no antitoxin in your hand yet, and still 5' further up than you were. Sorry... :-)
Initiative, please check to make sure I've got the correct modifier for you:
Male N Elf Psychic 13 - Init. +4, Senses Low-Light Vision Perception +22 detect scrying, HA, AC 26/ touch 16/ ff 23 Deskari's Wing; hp 80/80 temp 14/14; F+11, R+11, W+14, Speed 35 ft., Climb 20 ft., Fly 60 ft. Carried: LogicRod, StaffMinArc, LckyHrshoe, Fr-LfClvr; Buffs: shield, fly, resist fire 30, det scry, mg armr, flse life, see invis, hghtnd awrnss, telbnd x2; Alc: antitx/plg/verm/syrup
My apologies GM Abraham - I realize that I posted several times today and should have waited for the diplomatic folks to at least try that approach. Until Yanndu's turn, if the others don't take hostile actions, assume Yanndu is not casting anything... Apologies to everyone but I was in the middle of a bunch of things at work and didn't really check if others had posted or not. So, thus far, please assume he has just exchanged some clumsy words with the scorpionfolk thus far. So no need for initiative if the rest of the group wants to talk. If the group wants to fight then Yanndu's actions to turn invisible will come in effect.
Hmm, well, I'm new to GM-ing PbP and I can see that this is one of the ways that the medium differs significantly from a face to face table, where other players would have had an easier time jumping in to propose diplomatic options. On the other hand, they did warn you and it is a 7-11 scenario. My inclination is just to keep things as they are and avoid retconning except when it's really needed. Unless anyone protests strenuously by this evening, we'll continue on with the battle as joined.
Male N Elf Psychic 13 - Init. +4, Senses Low-Light Vision Perception +22 detect scrying, HA, AC 26/ touch 16/ ff 23 Deskari's Wing; hp 80/80 temp 14/14; F+11, R+11, W+14, Speed 35 ft., Climb 20 ft., Fly 60 ft. Carried: LogicRod, StaffMinArc, LckyHrshoe, Fr-LfClvr; Buffs: shield, fly, resist fire 30, det scry, mg armr, flse life, see invis, hghtnd awrnss, telbnd x2; Alc: antitx/plg/verm/syrup
To be clear, in-character Yanndu don't mind fighting or talking. Out-of-character, I feel bad about posting three times in a row before the whole table had at least one go at the situation. Your call though.
Ali was just about to fish out his Sage Jewel and show that he was allies with the Amethyst Sage, whom they are probably guarding but then lets out a long, sad, sort of frustrated sigh when Yanndu and Enora decide to provoke them instead.
More unneeded bloodshed caused by the impatient acts of impulsive adventurers. Such is life in the Pathfinder Society.
While Ali mentally counts down the days to his retirement, he prepares to act
It is actually pretty important for me to know if the haste spell went off. Given that it triggered the combat, my inclination is that it did but I want to be sure.
Also, while I am frustrated that my highly diplomatic and pro-peace character didn't get a chance to do anything, I am just roleplaying here and am not actually mad
Also also, as I move up, my familiar's constantly active Detect Evil spell is going to be able to read these guys so information on whether or not they are evil would be appreciated
Male N Elf Psychic 13 - Init. +4, Senses Low-Light Vision Perception +22 detect scrying, HA, AC 26/ touch 16/ ff 23 Deskari's Wing; hp 80/80 temp 14/14; F+11, R+11, W+14, Speed 35 ft., Climb 20 ft., Fly 60 ft. Carried: LogicRod, StaffMinArc, LckyHrshoe, Fr-LfClvr; Buffs: shield, fly, resist fire 30, det scry, mg armr, flse life, see invis, hghtnd awrnss, telbnd x2; Alc: antitx/plg/verm/syrup
Ali: nothing has happened yet. You're first in initiative. Both Yanndu and Enora are after you, and Yanndu's spellcasting is purely mental i.e. he wasn't fishing for components either.
Just addressed the question of whether I should have delayed the combat in a long post over in the discussion tab. Please take a look at that and then check back here for more fun combat action.
My understanding is that you cannot take readied actions out of initiative, so haste has not yet been cast, nor has it been readied. Instead, Enora has indicated that she is planning to cast haste when her turn comes around (though she will of course be free to choose another action at that time if she wishes).
@Ali, combat was not triggered by haste being cast, but by Yanndu beginning to cast his spell (greater invisibility) - just clarifying in case it matters.
@Ali, they are currently outside the 60' range of detect evil. However, once you move up, your familiar will still need to concentrate to detect evil, which will, as usual, in the first round simply detect the presence or absence of evil, in round 2 the number of auras, etc. Alternatively, you, as a paladin, can use a move action to detect evil on a single creature within 60 feet and gain the 3 rounds equivalent knowledge.
Enora sees that Ali is waiting for Enora to act and hopes that she will be able to cast her haste spell before the enemy has blown them to bits and pieces.
Enora will cast haste directly after Anahita has acted. Just so you know. @GM: Enora will try to get as many martial characters in the area of effect but it is your decision who will be affected, especially with all these flying PCs. ;-)
Ardashir (blue) seems to absorb the full brunt of the gentle fireball but his sister Anahita (red) twists herself out of the way so quickly that it appears to do nothing to her at all!
I need a DC 15 fly check to Hover from Sard. Yanndu, it looks like you also have a DC 10 fly check for moving less than half your movement, but I think you can’t fail? In which case just ignore.
Ali moves forward and draws Gamin who demands we be careful. He uses his Detect Evil. If they ding as evil, he will smite Anahita otherwise he will do nothing.
I don't see people taking the total defense action very often, so I looked it up and was surprised to see that if you have 3 or more ranks in Acrobatics (which both Shel and Sajan do), the dodge bonus is +6, rather than +4. Nice.
Ali, the paladin's ability to detect evil as a move action only lets you check a single individual; since you mentioned Anahita, I'll assume you did it on her. She does not detect as evil.
Ardashir momentarily delays to allow his sister unblocked shots at their enemies.
Anahita scowls at the charging invaders. "Outlanders, our kind has guarded this site for millennia! Do not think that we do not know how to defend ourselves!"
She steps forward 5' and lets loose a volley of arrows directed towards the oncoming Sajan!
Composite Shortbow Attack Rolls:
Attack:1d20 + 22 ⇒ (19) + 22 = 41 Dmg:1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 I assume that you are using Deflect Arrows to negate the first hit?
Assuming that Sajan uses Deflect Arrows to negate the first hit, he takes 21 points of damage and I need a Fort save from him.
Ardashir appears furious and he now leaps into action, moving towards the nearest target and angrily swinging his greatclub at poor Sajan!
Greatclub Attack, Power Attack, Vital Strike:1d20 + 20 - 3 ⇒ (9) + 20 - 3 = 26 Damage:2d10 + 14 + 9 ⇒ (6, 10) + 14 + 9 = 39 Oof, very close, might be a hit, depending on the result of Sajan's Fort save... Y'all may want to wait on your actions until seeing the result of his save, because if this is a hit, he'll be at -1 hp, unconscious, and dying!
Male CN Ifrit Sorceror 9 | hp 64/52 NL: 0 | AC15 T14 F12 mage armor: AC18 T14 F15 | Fort +10 Ref +10 Will +9 | Init +3 | Perc -1 (Dark 60'), SM -1 | Spells Lvl 1 3/9, Lvl 2 0/8, Lvl 3 1/8, Lvl 4 4/6 | Elemental Ray 12/12, +7/1d6+5 | Elemental Blast 0/1, 9d6 Fire + vuln., 20ft burst, DC 23 Ref. halves/negates | Active spells: fly, mage armor, false life (+12hp), see invis | Active conditions:
Sard loops around in a lazy circle, looping down to a hight of 30ft (moving at least half-speed; I can't fail that check). Seeing how little effect his fireball seemed to have, he changes his tune, firing off a ray of black energy (enervation) at the melee foe (from 30' up, I don't think I should have any cover against them. By the pythagorean theorem, I'm at 42ft away, within my 45ft close range).
