PFS: Crypt of the Everflame (Inactive)

Game Master R D

"Stratagic repositioning would be wise at this time!" Arak says in horror as Harrow's strength withers.

You'll be just like Lumnessa! Don't worry about it too much Harrow the\ adventure takes the Shadow's Str damage into account.

I think withdrawal would be very smart here...I'm last in initiative, but everyone should pull back. Fighting it in the smoke would not be wise.

if I move through him to the other side, I'd provoke an AOO?

Yup

Wow guys...looks like I'm out for the whole adventure. I'll be pretty much useless except for comic relief from here on out. :(

Naw. Sorry about the rolls, but, on Harrow's turn, he will notice something very important. In fact, I'll tell you now: Next to the fire is a scorched key... I've added it to the map.

You also see a really nice dagger IN the fire.

Which deity does Harrow worship? If any?

Harrow doesn't currently follow any deity...though there may be a conversion in his future. :) (assuming he lives through the next few minutes). Also guys, remember that healing spells damage undead! Might be useful!

EDIT: On my turn I will take the withdraw action to get behind everyone.

A voice in the back of Harrow's head speaks to him, "Hey you! Pick up key. Might be important. Then run. Run like Harrow going to eat not-illusion pie!" The half-orc doesn't recognize the voice of the not-yet-designated deity.

Just having some silly fun, guys. I just did 11 Strength damage to Harrow. I think he can have a little "divine" inspiration.

Initially, Harrow ignores the voice...just because that's what Harrow does.

But in his weakened state, he is unable to follow his usual anti-everything behavior, and gives in.

"Fine! I be oracle now! I listen to dead people! But better be worth it!" he yells in absolute anguish as he moves to the key.

I agree on the divine inspiration... I also think that you should get to choose his deity, cause that would be fun.

Harrow doesn't have to move to the key; he's already adjacent to it. :-)

I won't pick his deity. You can't tell a player how to play. Besides, I would do something silly like pick Arshea, the spirit of Abandon.

Oh...my...goodness. You want Harrow to be even MORE of a train-wreck of a character?! ;P

Naw... Well... Yes... Well... Maybe? :-D

It *would* be funny, though.

Girion will push his way forward to the point where he can see what is going on, and try to identify the threat.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

I'll wait to see what I learn, but assuming I identify it as a seemingly-incorporeal undead that drains strength, I will call out, "Fall back! This is a foe beyond our ability!" I will remain in the room to cover the retre.., ah, "strategic repositioning", of the others, sheathing my sword, casting cure light wounds and holding the charge, to attack the thing if it approaches. (That's probably more than a round's worth, but there's the plan.)

Despite his misgivings, Arak moves back away from the creature toward the sound of Girion's voice and goes into a defensive stance.

Move: move east, north, north, north, northeast, northeast
Standard: total defense

Yep! It's a shadow.

OK. At this point, I presume everyone takes a full withdraw action to get out of the room with the shadow. I'm going to say that Harrow grabs the key and gets out. Somebody shuts the door. Amazingly, the shadow does not follow the party out of the room. There is still loot in the room, but there is also still a shadow.

I don't know if we were going shut the door or if we were trying to draw it out.I was kind of planning on hitting it with burning hands as soon as it was within range.

Once the door is safely closed, Girion shares what he knows about shadows, including how their resistance to corporeal damage, how they drain strength, and how they can move through solid objects like doors if they choose.

"I have only positive energy to combat such a creature," he finishes. "Does anyone else have magical weapons or spells which can harm it? If we choose to engage, we must be able to kill it outright, or at least one of us will die."

It will likely make its save against burning hands and CLW from a wand... so, half of half damage. Can we kill it?

OOOO! I can burn it! That would work right? Also I think I have a scroll... Lumnessa starts digging through her gear triumphantly pulling out a scroll case Here they are! I have one that will help you understand what people are saying, something to protect someone from getting hit, another one that can keep you safe from bad things, and... AHA! one for making a weapon magical!

Scrolls of Comprehend Languages, Mage Armor, Protection from Evil, and Magic Weapon

Harrow, holding the key, looks incredibly upset as he stands behind the group.

"Now I haunted oracle, and I WEAK like haunted oracle!!! I don't want to see spirits anymore! I want to have big sword and huge biceps!" he yells.

Harrow punches the stone wall with repeated futility. His 7 strength shouldn't allow him to do much harm to himself or the wall.

"There was a dagger in the fire. Perhaps Irori placed it there as a means to overcome this challenge? If we could lure it out, I could try and run in there and retrieve it." Arak suggest.

Harrow picked up the key. Or at least he moved to it. I presume he picked it up.

Harrow has the key, yes. I'm really trying to not meta- this encounter, since I have played and run this one...

"Lumnessa, you are well-prepared indeed! Now, who would be able to deal the most damage to the thing, now that poor Harrow is weakened? I can supplement my strength through Iomedae's favor to some degree."

I can: channel positive energy, fire bolt, or burning hands, so we do have options.

Let me know how you guys would like to tackle this. :-)

I've taken the liberty of moving everybody out of the room.

The shadow goes back to its fire.

The party has a key.

Girion considers the situation for a moment. "We have to destroy this thing, or it will rob the villagers of one of their oldest traditions," he begins. ... and one of us must die for that to happen.

"Lummnessa, if you can ensorcel my sword, I will engage the shadow directly. Tan'ia and Berosius, your holy channeling should affect it. Lummnessa, your mage armor will protect against its incorporeal attacks, and protection from evil should also help. I will try to prevent it from reaching the rest of you as you attack it from range. Arak, if you believe the dagger will be useful, go ahead, but I suggest you stay back."

Girion turns to Harrow, and he speaks as gently as he can. "Harrow, I think your part in this battle has passed. I suggest you stay here, so that if we fall you can bring news to the villagers." (7 Str is still functional... 1 Str is not!)

If people are up for this plan, Girion will cast divine favor on himself (losing the held charge from the wand) and then wait for whatever buffs are provided. We will all ready, and get Harrow to open the door so we can attack it immediately. Just before we open the door, Girion will activate his Blood of Heroes revelation as well.

Thinking upon the last encounter with this thing, the aprty realizes that it did not strike until Harrow entered the room. Around that corner. It cannot see you till you clear the corner. It also came from the fire.

Yes sir Mr Plan Man! Lumnessa says as she reads off the scrolls

It was in the fire so fire won't hurt it? What if its really big fire?

Mundane effects won't hurt it. But, magic will likely have some success.

Magical fire should do half damage... if that is not my understanding based on my Knowledge check, please tell me since the plan is based on that!

"Maybe my new oracle powers help somehow," Harrow says dejectedly. "I watch for ways to help if can."

Yes, with your 21 Knowledge Religion check, you know all about Shadows. Players should feel free to reference the entry in the PRD.

Arak nods in agreement with Girion's plan. "If this would be of help, by being enchanted I will gladly take Girion's place attacking this...shadow so his strengths may be put to better uses." Arak pulls his temple sword off his back.

"I can use divine power against it, as well, Arak, but only up close. You and I together should be able to occupy it?" Girion forces a half-smile at the nagaji.

I am fine with using the magic weapon scroll on Arak. I will still sue divine favor on myself, and attack it hand-to-hand with my wand.

Pondering the situation further, the nagaji poses this question, "What is a shadow without light?"

"The spirits are exhausted," says Berosius. "But I still have my wand."

I burned through my channels, but I still have a wand of cure light wounds. I'll stand by to keep Girion topped off so far as hit points go and also do some attacking. Can't do much about the strength loss.

Tan'ia, are you following the strike team to channel?

Ready when you are, boss(es).

Are Girion/Arak leading with attacks? Is Tan'ia going to channel first? Let me know. :-)

Feel free to arrange yourselves on the map, too.

OK. I presume a marching order of Arak, Girion, Tan'ia, & Berosius.

I'll skip the surprise round because you all know what's coming.

Initiatives:
Shadow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
Arak: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Berosius: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Girion: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Harrow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Lumnessa: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Tan'ia: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

All the party is up first. Shadow is last. I've moved you all on the map.

This is round 1. Everybody, go! :-)

Before we open the door, Girion casts cure light woundsfrom his wand, holds the charge, and puts his wand away. He then advances to the shadow, light streaming from the halo around his head. "Begone, foul servant of Urgathoa! Let Iomedae's light shine upon your soul and release you from this torment!"

touch attack, divine power, blood of heroes: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 2 = 20
positive energy damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

The shadow screams with pain and rage. (Shadow Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24) Unfortunately for the party, the shadow's strength of Will prevents it from taking full damage from Girion's attack.

Sorted Initiatives:
- The Party (I don't care what order you go in, because you can easily delay for each other.)
- Shadow (2 HP damage)

This is round 1.

Arak moves 5' southeast and quickly looks into the fire before taking a decisive action.

I'll Channel Positive on the shadow to try to injure it. DC 12, hopefully it doesn't roll another 20.
Channel: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Well, that sucks.

Lumnessa rushes around the corder right up to the Shadow and unleashes a wave of fire. Begone shodow thingy!
Burning hands bumped to CL 2 with Pyro
damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7 Reflex DC 17 for half

Berosius charges around the perimeter of the room and attacks with his wand of cure light wounds.

He draws an AoO for moving through a threatened square.

Touch Attack with wand, plus flanking: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 2 = 181d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

4 points, Will save for half damage (DC 11)

Unwilling to sit on the sidelines, Harrow follows the group into the room.

The half-orc waves his hands and arms mysteriously and peers into the fire.

"Oh, great good oracle haunted spirits! Help new oracle with new powers to kill the bad oracle spirits! Help oracle get strength back! Bad oracle spirit...be GONE!"

Tan'ia channels:

Will Save + Channel Resistance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The shadow fails its save and takes 2 HP of damage! (4 HP total so far)
__________

Lumnessa lights it up!

Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

The shadow fails its save and takes 3 HP of damage! (7 HP total so far)
__________

Berosius draw the AoO, but the shadow is flat-footed since it hasn't yet moved. He pokes it with his wand:

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

The shadow makes its save and takes 2 HP of damage! (9 HP total so far)
__________

Arak sees a really nice dagger in the fire as well as humanoid remains that look like they might be from the village. He has a standard action remaining.
__________

Harrow intimidates the shadow:

Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

The shadow shrinks a bit before the crazed half-orc's verbal barrage.
__________

This is still round 1. Arak gets to finish his action, then the shadow is up!