[Outpost][PFS] 01-56 The Jester's Fraud by DM DoctorEvil (Inactive)

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

The Ruined Locks - Round 2

24 Wit
13 Valandil
11 Sindelle
10 Touchy
10 Stugbu
7 Giant Slug

Bless is up for the party. They all act before teh slug goes again. Black Tentacles grasps on VAlandil's turn.

The tentacles again try to restrain the slug..
grasp: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22
But likely again fail

Valandil raises his staff and sends twin snakes of light and darkness hurting into it.

MM: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 4) + 2 = 10

The Ruined Locks - Round 2 -continued

The tentacles graps and tug at the creeping gastropod, but they do not stop it. The force missiles from Valandil's staff do slam into the slug, causing it's first wound.

Rest of the party is up.

"It ain't stoppin'." Touch mutters. "And looks even bigger the closer you get."

"Kinda like me, in that regard." He adds, though his heart doesn't seem in it. He is warming to Stugbu's plan more and more, as he tries to make his way along the difficult terrain of the causeway.

Double Move

"Yeah, why close things always bigger than far things?" Stugbu scratches his head, looking down at Touchy. "Although, some things always look small no matter how close they get.", he unintentionally insults the dwarf.

Finally reaching the chest, the half-orc reaches down to try and lift it. "How close slug now? We got time to get this back to other side before he get too big?"

Strength: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

If not a real bridge, Val would not have headed along it to begin with. He should be back on shore. Okay to move him there?

Sindelle has absolutely nothing useful she can do right now so she'll raise her shield in total defense and follow behind the others.

If not a real bridge, Val would not have headed along it to begin with. He should be back on shore. Okay to move him there?

Not really, that's where the bodies are and where he said he was looking. Can't undo all that now.

The Ruined Locks - Round 2 - concluded

Wit throws another javelin at the oncoming gastropod, but again the fleshy skin of the creature keeps the thrown weapon from penetrating. The halfling then moves to the edge of the debris laden causeway as best he can.

With her blessing already on the party, Sindelle can only raise her shield in defense as she moves along with the rest of the group.

Touchy, depsite his better judgement, follows Stugbu to the chest. As he nears where Valandil stands, he also sees the acid-pocked satchel amongst the body parts lying within reach.

Stugbu moves to the chest and prepares to lift it, and then move back across the debris field as quickly as possible.

The slug is inexorable, but by double-moving clears the area of effect from the Black Tentacles, but is still short of reaching the causeway.

End of Round 2

"Seen uglier sacks." Touchy says, at the sight of the satchel.

"And grabbed those ones too!" He adds, with a laugh, as he grabs the satchel then continues trying to get across the causeway before the slug can catch up.

Its a causeway, which means it crosses something, so we want to continue across, right? Not go back the way we came?
Been a little confused on the geography.

This from the GM, suggests we need to head back from where we came if we want to escape:

Sorry, there is no map provided for this encounter, so we are making due. The "bridge" is really a mass of debris and the remains of the ruined locks which is why it is difficult terrain. The area under the bridge is boggy mud where the water is still and fetid. Also difficult terrain. The dead bodies are at the far end of the causeway. Best to return to the north side to escape. Hope that's clear.

So did Stugbu manage to pick up the chest with his last Strength roll? He took one move action (10' in difficult terrain) and then tried to pick up the chest. I'll assume he's got it and can start moving back.

Grabbing the chest in his big hands, Stugbu turns around and starts the laborious process of making his way back across the debris

"Stugbu grab big chest, you grab old sack...me glad it not other way round!", he calls back to Touchy, clearly commenting on the tactical advantages of him taking the heavier object.

As he starts to move, he casts a worried looks across to the huge slug! "You right, that thing a lot bigger now! Me liked it much better when it was smaller!"

Val lifts his robes and scurries back as fast as he can.

"We need space if we are to see that monstrosity off."

Ya, I'm not sure which direction is away. Reread all the descriptions a few times, and am still confused.
Have not moved Touchy, not knowing which way we need to go!

I moved up, thinking it was toward the shore, but if down is towards escape, val would have gone that way.

As I mentioned before and Stugbu linked above, you have to go down the broken rubble filled “bridge” to get to the bodies. Then to get back on the path toward Sabas, you have to return to the north side (up) safely. Once on solid ground, you outdistance the slug if you don’t want to fight. The map is not ideal, but consider that the far end does not reach the south shore and I think it will be more clear what you need to do.

Yes, Stugbu picked up the chest.

OK, then consider us making for the open road!

The Ruined Locks - Round 3

24 Wit
13 Valandil
11 Sindelle
10 Touchy
10 Stugbu
7 Giant Slug

Valandil hustles back across the debris strewn locks as fast as he can. Touchy snags the acid-scarred bag, leaving the heavy box for Stugbu who heaves it. They all turn for the safety of solid ground.

Still need a Round 3 action from Sindelle and Wit. I will run Wit tonight, if no other action posted since he gave a heads up.

Wit turns to follow the group, moving slowly through the difficult terrain and ensuring that he stays between the creature and his companions.

Double move in the same direction as the group, but not moving faster than them so he can stay between the slug and the party. He's still in Tiger Style, in case he needs to do slashing damage.

Ruined Locks - Round 3 - concluded

Wit backs away from the slug, keeping his eye on the slippery behemoth as he shuffles along with the party.

Sindelle also hurries as much as the treacherous footing will allow.

The slug slowly crawls up the pile of rubble positioning itself near the place where the ruined locks meet the land.

End of Round 3

The Ruined Locks - Round 4

Bless is in effect, +1 on attacks

24 Wit
13 Valandil
11 Sindelle
10 Touchy
10 Stugbu
7 Giant Slug (10hp dmg)

Touchy keeps slogging through the debris, almost getting back to the path!

20' move in difficult terrain is not a quick way to travel =)

full withdraw?

full withdraw?

You can certainly full withdraw, the bridge squares are difficult terrain. The green grass squares are not.

Stugbu, his speed not great at the best of times due to his heavy armour, continues to lug the chest across the ruins, keeping pace with the rest of the group.

Double Move

Sindelle full withdraws since the range on her life link is big enough that she can keep her friends healthy even from a little bit further away.

"รีบ! อาจจะไม่ไล่เราไปไกลจากโคลน!"

"What pretty lady say? She talking to slug?" Stugbu pants as he labors through the muck, chest in hand.

"I think she said she has a special present for you if you get there quickly." Touchy says from behind the paladin, grinning as he struggles along through the muck.

"Why she give slug present? He not being very good!" Stugbu shakes his head, once again confused by the dwarf.

The Ruined Locks - Round 4 - continued

Sindelle withdraws to the apparent safety of dry land, moving away from the ruins as quickly as possible.

Touchy and Stugbu continue to work their way slowly to the north end, but the giant slug looms over the far end dangerously.

Haven't seen actions for this round from Wit or Valandil. I will GM-PC them tonight if no action. To be clear, Wit is in a threatened square right now.

Sorry

Valandil continues to make his way as quickly as he safety may toward the safety of the shore.

Double moves at half speed

The Ruined Locks - Round 4 - concluded

Valandil evacuates to the safety of dry land.

Wit, looks back and sees Stugbu and Touchy struggling to get off the debris pile quickly, and knows he must act to get them from getting cut off. With Tiger Style active, he throws his javelin looking for slashing damage. He then steps back a bit, provoking from the slug, but trusting his mobility to keep him safe. The javelin hits the spongy creature, causing some slight damage.

Wit can't avoid the acidic tongue that flicks out next, burning him for 28hp dmg. On its turn, the slug spits a stream of acid at Wit that misses, sizzling the ground next to him instead.

End of Round 4

The Ruined Locks - Round 5

Bless is in effect, +1 on attacks, 9 rounds

24 Wit (28hp dmg)
13 Valandil
11 Sindelle
10 Touchy
10 Stugbu
7 Giant Slug (13hp dmg)

All the party is up again. Sindelle, it's unclear to me if you still have the whole group on shared damage, but if so, you might get some of Wit's hurts.

Valandil continues to provide covering fire, as yet more snakes fires off his staff and into the blob.

MM: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 1) + 2 = 6

"Keep both those hands on the chest, big guy." Touch says to Stugbu, as he huffs and puffs his way off the causeway.

"Time to make like you're in the middle of devotions, and her husband comes home!" He calls, as he finally gets some solid ground under his feet, and makes a bit better progress along the path, away from the slug.

"Dawnflower have husband? Me not know gods even got married!" Stugbu replies, casting an anxious glance back at Wit as he gets lashed by the big tongue of the slug.

Double move. First 10' in difficult terrain, 2nd 20' in normal.

Sorry I thought my tagline and what I wrote hinted that I was keeping life link up on the whole party yes.

Sindelle absorbs some of the pain Wit had experienced (Wit heals 5 Sindelle takes 5).

Her eyes will flash silvery-gold for a moment as she channels energy in order to heal Wit even further while remaining far away from the slug (selectively excluding the slug just in case somehow it moved inside 30feet and I miscounted).

Channel to heal: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2) = 12

She will then move as fast as she can along with the others away from danger!

So my plan here is to keep my defenses up as high as possible and absorb attacks until everyone else can get pretty far away, and then increase my speed to 70 feet and catch up. So maybe one more round of defending, and then I'll head with the group.

Turning quickly back to the group, Wit shouts his intentions.

"Run! I'll catch up soon!"

Returning his focus to the giant slug, Wit takes a step back (looks like I'm out of difficult terrain now?) and leans back into a defensive stance.

Swift Action: Spend 1 Ki point to increase AC by 4
Standard Action: Total defense

AC 31, HP 41/51

The Ruined Locks - Round 5 - concluded

As Touchy and Stugbu both get clear of the floating pile of debris, Sindelle sends some healing Wit's way as the halfling digs in to make a determined stand against the slug, at least until everyone else is well clear.

The slug sends its nasty acidic tongue at the defensive minded halfling once again. This time Wit avoids the bad touch.

End of Round 5

Slug tongue: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

The Ruined Locks - Round 6

With everyone safe on dry land, they are able to evacuate the area without incident, except Wit who stood brave rear-guard. He must either move and provoke or try to avoid AoO. If he gets away, the encounter will end.

"While I am hesitant to slay a dumb animal.." states Valandil.

"Is it safe to leave that giant slug? Will he not eat the local farmers, as he did those men?"

Once he sees that others a clear from harm, Wit shifts his balance to a running stance. He keeps his eyes on the slug as he tries to make his way swiftly away.

Swift Action to spend a Ki point to make my movement speed 70 feet, and then Withdraw action should get me 140 feet away. Any reason I can't do that?

Acrobatics if needed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 and I can move full speed using Acrobatics without a penalty (it's an Underfoot Adept ability)
AC vs. AoOs if needed: 27

Nope, withdraw action gets everyone clear. You can go back for the attack, if you like, but the slug will not pursue you on dry land. So, for now, combat over.

The chest that Stugbu recovered from the ruined causeway is locked.

The acid-scarred bag holds a single item. A golden necklace adorned with intricately worked rose motifs. It radiates a strong conjuration aura, and you have every reason to suspect it is one of the missing artifacts from Tribune Bourtze's stash.

Reviewing the scene at the edge of the water again, you recall seeing the dead bodies of Wager and his men, and few others. It appeared a brief battle was fought there, which attracted the murderous slug, which apparently did the rest of the men in.

Within eyesight of the ruined locks, more crumbled ruins, this time of a town, are present. It appears the village of Rhoetius was once prosperous but Taldor's slow decline, the wasting of the canal here, and the rise of bandits have left the place a ghost-town.

ON the muddy shores of the lake, formed by the damming of the canal, jut parapets of crumbling limestone, their stones missing and walls broken in many places. A massive gateway yawn open, its original doors long since lost to decay, but its vacant expanse is blocked by an improvised barrier of lashed wooden stakes, ten feet high.

A few sentries stand watch on the towers above the gateway, and its clear those fellows must have seen you by now.

Up to you how you approach this place for now. The sentries have seen you, clearly, but have not raised any kind of alarm or made any overtly threatening actions.

Once they're clear, Touchy grins. "Reminded me of a party I went to once... though that one got messier... and there was cheese."

"Now then." He adds, pointing at the chest Stugbu is lugging around. "That doesn't look too difficult. Lord Touchy and chests... we kinda have a thing. It's all in the fingers."

He winks at the paladin, then pulls out some tools and attempts to open it up.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18

He whistles quietly at the site of all the gold ingots. "Not what I usually see, but beautiful nonetheless."

"That necklace is surely one of the items we must retrieve. We had best be careful of it, lest it's cursed nature affects us too."

He inspects it carefully with detect magic, trying to ascertain if there are any risks associated with it.

Happy to take ten for 27 on either spellcraft or arcana

Wit is still breathing heavily from his run away from the slug. He pulls out a wand from his belt.

"Would someone mind . . . helping me out with this . . .?"

I'm down 10 HP, so I'll take as many charges as needed to get back to full. And then Wit is willing to lead the party into the village, if that's what we decide to do.

CLW: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (7, 2) + 2 = 11

Touchy will cheerfully fix up the worst of Wit's wounds, though his hands tend to linger a little longer then might be strictly necessary with each casting.

"Well, if the Fool is hiding out in there, I suppose it behooves us to go in and find him!" He adds, looking at the ruined village. "Place has obviously seen better times."

"Doubt he's expecting us, anyway." He nods towards the guards in the towers. "They don't seem to be on any sort of alert, anyway."

Sindelle would offer to help with the healing since it's her primary skill but doesn't mind letting Touchy handle it while she catches her breath from the run.

"We definitely need to be careful with that necklace. As for the guards, if they don't care that we're here, maybe it's some sort of town or encampment that's just not on the map? If nothing else maybe they've seen the jester we're after?"

Valandil stashes the necklace where it can do no harm, quickly scanning the area for any further signs of magic that may have been lost in the ambush.

"Let us then see if they are willing to talk." he asks, obviously not expecting a positive answer.

"I'll settle for not shooting at us." Touchy offers.

"We might want to be subtle here." He adds, with a slight grin. "Luckily, subtlety is Lord Touchy's specialty!"

Sindelle smiles wryly and comes over to Touchy putting one hand on his shoulder and running a single finger through part of his beard "Or we could just approach within earshot and talk rather than trying trickery right away if it's not needed? Lying is easy but once you start, everything you say after that has to match up. Telling men *exactly* what they want to hear is something I have some experience with."