[PFS/DMK] 5-02-II The Wardstone Patrol (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

"Not cultists. Demons, at least three. The two beating the other two are scared out of their minds, while the Demons sit back and enjoy it. No doubt once this beating is over, the vermlek demons will get more skins to wear."

Her father turned away from someone in need, once and only once, and came to regret it. Mother would turn away until she realized they were demons, then she'd mess with them.

"It may not be your business. But it's mine, now." Unless stopped, Swayaah makes her way down the hill.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14 ...quietly.

"I agree with Swayaah, patrolling means we have to do something about it if we can... and we will! Sir Ilivan, you have a good soul within you, even if it has become marred with grief and loss. Come, let us rescue these poor souls." she tries to convince the knight.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

aid Aetherys' diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Krux loads his crossbow with a cold iron bolt and smiles. "We could use your strong hands."

Diplomacy, aid (+1 Mendevian Commendation): 1d20 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 + 1 = 12

"The basic idea was to stop evil from spreading, wasn't it? Then let's do that."

Saera moves slightly to the east before she moves down the hill. She tries to sneak closer to the demons and villagers, drawing her musket as she does, in an attempt to get the nearest demon within the range of her weapon.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

Wadi sighs inwardly as his fellow Pathfinders move toward the villagers. This just smells like a setup here...Thrune agents would pull these stunts all the time to root out supposed traitors. He grimaces and pulls out his crossbow, loading it with an cold iron bolt.

I hope this works out for the best...

He then moves as quietly as he can behind the others. Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Curses. Yes, you go ahead, but beware the demon's guile. There is no stopping you, anyway. His demeanour remains cold, but he is clearly humbled by the decisiveness in Aetherys' voice, and the unity with which her companions respond.

Wadis starts moving out, but is quickly spotted by the commoners, who move out.

Blue areas are flooded and count as difficult terrain. Moreover, on any of the sandy banks, you have a higher ground advantage with respect to the flooded areas

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Demon
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant(prone)
Peasant(prone)
---

Aetherys beams a gentle smile at the knight. "Thank you, Sir Ilivan. We shall save them."

Aetherys moves down the hill, drawing her sentient blade while doing so.

"By the Dawnflower, leave those people alone! Fear us instead, for we are your bane!"

Double move, jumping across the difficult terrain.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 Jumping 15 feet, DC 15. I'll auto succeed the second check (DC 5).

Realizing stealth is out of the question since they are in an open field, Swayaah decides the hunt is on. She howls in the demons' direction and runs on all fours through the flooded land.

Double move.

Krux follows closely behind Aetherys. Double move

Round 1 Masterwork Comp Lg bow; Medium Range; Cold-iron arrow
Seeing his companions rush toward the encounter, Dvalin sends a cold-iron shaft towards the demon to announce the coming battle ...
Comp Lg Bow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 - 2 = 18 for Piercing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Wadi brings up the rear, crossbow at the ready, keeping an eye out for any further ambush.

Double Move.

Aetherys, Swayaah, Wadi and Krux do their utmost best to close in on the group of demons and peasants. Dvalin lands an arrow in the bloated peasant. The tip hisses slightly at is bores itself into the bloated flesh.

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Demon (4)
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant(prone)
Peasant(prone)
---

Saera moves up on the bank she's already next to and moves to its northern edge.

Nice, he's just in range!

She aims her musket at the newly risen and shoots a cold iron bullet at it.

Touch attack: Cold iron bullet, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 1 = 16 Damage, DA: 1d12 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

A bullet hits the frontmost demon, who moves to the edge of the flooded area, and releases a wave of necromantic energy

Mass Inflict LW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 Saera and Aetherys, DC 16 for half

The rest of the peasant group move against the pathfinders as well, although the more bloated of the peasants seem to hide behind the two that were beating up the people on the ground.

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Demon (3)
Bloated Peasant
Bloated Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant(prone)
Peasant(prone)
---

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Aetherys suffers from the wave of negative energy that washes over her. However, that doesn't diminish her resolve - quite the opposite! She clicks the heels of her red leather daredevil boots together and prepares to jump across the possessed human.
Acrobatics (jump) DC 15 (3 squares): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Acrobatics (avoiding AoO while going through an opponent's square, DC CMD+5: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

Hopefully landing on the other side of the possessed human, she calls upon Dawnblade to sharpen!
Swift action: spending 1 arcane pool to increase Dawnblade to a +3 keen scimitar, which will bypass the DR/cold iron or silver.

Round 2 Masterwork Comp Lg bow; Short Range; Cold-iron arrow
Dvalin takes a 5ft step closer to reduce the range and sends another cold-iron shaft towards the demon ...
Comp Lg Bow: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 = 19 for Piercing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Swayaah closes the distance and draws her Earthbreaker.
"The bloated cowards are demons, as well. They love to dish out torment but they can't take it."

Double move

Wadi steps forward a few feet and sends a crossbow bolt at the wounded demon. Unfortunately, he trips in the sticky mud and his shot goes awry.

Round 2:
5' Step forward
Crossbow bolt, Cold Iron: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4; damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Krux steps forward and begins to cast Sleep (1 round) centering the spell on the demons but away from his companions.

Arcane Failure 10%: 1d100 ⇒ 15

While Aetherys acrobatically lands on the opposite side of the bloated demon, Dvalin lands an arrow of this side of it, which sinks into the bloated flesh with a slight hissing sound.

Swaayah closes in, and Wadi fires a crossbow bolt, which just flies harmlessly overhead.

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Demon (13)
Bloated Peasant
Bloated Peasant
Peasant
Peasant
Peasant(prone)
Peasant(prone)
---

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

Saera reloads her musket with another dose of black powder and a cold iron bullet, then shoots at the same demon as before.

Touch attack: Cold iron bullet, -1 Deadly Aim, -4 Melee: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 7 - 1 - 4 = 8 Damage, +2 DA: 1d12 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

"Only those prone aren't demons?!" Saera yells at Swayaah. "Or those as well?!"

"Two of them looked alright to me. I'm pretty sure the fat guys are demons, using them as living shields. Not gonna help them much..."

Saera's shot hits the ground harmlessly, while Krux make the two peasant on the front line fall asleep

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

The bloated peasants move up and starts hacking at Swaayah and Aetherys with their scythes:

Scythe, Swayaah: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 152d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 = 8
Scythe, Aetherys, Flanking: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11
Scythe, Aetherys, Flanking: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Demon (13) -Green
Bloated Peasant -Blue
Bloated Peasant -Purple
Peasant (sleeping) -Red
Peasant (sleeping) -Orange
Peasant(prone)
Peasant(prone)
---

Aetherys easily dodges both clumsy blows aimed at her, then counterattacks devastatingly, empowering her blade with crackling electricity before striking down the bloated peasant inhabited by the demon.

Spell combat, casting shocking grasp defensively.
Concentration DC 17: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18
+3 keen Dawnblade, Arcane Strike, Spell Combat: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 12 - 2 = 281d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12 +3 to hit if they have metal weapons or armor, but I doubt that's the case for peasants.
Confirmation: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 12 - 2 = 221d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15

Shocking Grasp: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 6, 4, 3) = 17
Shocking Grasp extra damage if it's a crit: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 2, 2) = 11

+3 keen Dawnblade, Arcane Strike, Spell Combat: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 12 - 2 = 171d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10

Aetherys stabs the peasant-demon through its black heart. Expecting the tell-tale jittering movements that the shocking grasp would cause on a human, Aetherys sees that nothing actually happens. Still, the stab is sufficient to eliminate the demon. The flesh of the peasant outer hull falls away, revealing a worm-like demon inside.

Turning around, Aetherys manages to use her momentum to also swipe at the infested peasant behind her.

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Bloated Peasant -Blue
Bloated Peasant (10) -Purple
Peasant (sleeping) -Red
Peasant (sleeping) -Orange
Peasant(prone)
Peasant(prone)
---

Religion, ID undead: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

"Goodnight, sweet peasants. May hosts of angels sing you to sleep."

Krux casts another Sleep (DC 18) centering the spell on the prone peasants (unless they are undead) and away from his companions.

Arcane Failure 10%: 1d100 ⇒ 56

If the remaining targets are undead, then he will fire and reload his crossbow instead. Below does not include penalties for cover or firing into melee.

xbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
cold iron: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Swayaah giggles as the peasant's scythe misses. "Oh, what's wrong? Did we interrupt your feast? Feeling a little tired? Thought your humans would make good shields? Poor babies!"

Mwrk Cold Iron Earthbreaker, Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 7 - 1 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 + 3 = 14

Swayaah seems a bit too giddy however, and she swings wide. "I guess your failure is getting on me. Filthy!"

Saera reloads her musket with anoter colrd iron bullet and dose of black powder. With Aetherys in between her and the purple peasant, Saera aims for the blue peasant instead.

Touch attack: Cold iron bullet, -1 Deadly Aim, -4 Melee: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 1 - 4 = 12 Damage, +2 DA: 1d12 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"Slightly more accurate, but still a lousy shot..."

Wadi quickly reloads his crossbow with another cold iron bolt but elects to hold his fire until one of the demon-peasants breaks off the attack.

Round 3:
Move: Reload crossbow.
Standard: Ready action to fire at one of the demons once it is no longer in melee.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12; damage: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Round 3
Dvalin will draw and applly 1 use of holy weapon balm to 10 cold iron arrows

Crux concludes that, whatever is going on, these peasants are not undead. Sure enough, his spell sends them straight to sleep, leaving only the two bloated peasants unaffected

Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Saera manages to hit the bulky peasant, and she smells scorched flesh as the bullet marks the peasant. Wadi keeps an eye out for an opportunity to fire, while Dvalin starts preparing arrows.

The purple peasant steps back, and promptly draws an arrow from wadi, which whizzes overhead. The demon-peasant releases a wave of dark energy. Barely noticeable, the two closest sleeping peasant stop snoring..

Mass Infl LW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11DC 16 will for half, Aetherys, Saera and Swayaah

The other demon cuts away at Swayaah, drawing a deep wound, then follows up with a vicious bite.

Scythe, Swayaah: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 222d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 3 = 9
Bite, Swayaah: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 171d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Bloated Peasant (0) -Blue
Bloated Peasant (0) -Purple

Peasant (dead) -Red
Peasant (dead) -Orange
Peasant(prone, asleep)
Peasant(prone, asleep)
---

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Aetherys's mind is more ready this time to resist the demon's vile spell. She takes a step back to flank it, and slashes at the blue peasant very deftly, slicing its throat.

By the way, Dawnblade is +3 (raw bonus), which makes her count as cold iron, if that helps.

+3 keen Dawnblade, AS: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 291d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 = 11
Confirmation: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 291d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14

Aetherys puts in another strike with deadly precision, slicing at the throat of the bloated skin-wearing demon. With one stroke, she nearly takes it out.

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Bloated Peasant (25) -Blue
Bloated Peasant (0) -Purple

Peasant (dead) -Red
Peasant (dead) -Orange
Peasant (prone, asleep)
Peasant (prone, asleep)
---

Will Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 +2 if the spell is evil...doesn't matter in this case

"D-Damn...keep it together, woman!"

Mwrk Cold Iron Earthbreaker, Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 1 = 26
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 5) + 4 + 3 = 15

Confirm: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 - 1 = 10 Nope.
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 3 + 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 + 3 + (5, 6) + 4 + 3 = 31

This time, Swayaah focuses and clobbers the demon in the head with her hammer.
"Hoo! That felt good!"

Round 4
Dvalin casts True Strike ...

"They are fully alive and not undead...whatever is affecting them must be planar in nature. I hate it when innocent lives are taken!"

Krux moves 30 north (please move my token) and casts Daze (DC 17) on the lesser injured (purple?) conscious bloated peasant.

Arcane Failure 10%: 1d100 ⇒ 15

Swayaah hit the demon in front other over the head, and with a sickening crunch, the peasant head is splattered into pieces, revealing the wormlike demon below. The blow is truly too mighty for the demon, and it remains motionless on the floor, smitten.

Dvalin concentrates on getting that perfect shot, while Krux notices his opponent isn't human, as his spell fails to take hold.

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Bloated Peasant (25) -Blue
Bloated Peasant (0) -Purple

Peasant (dead) -Red
Peasant (dead) -Orange
Peasant (prone, asleep)
Peasant (prone, asleep)
---

Wadi mutters a vile curse under his breath as his last shot goes wide. C'mon...keep it together here! The others are counting on you!

He loads another bolt, waiting to fire when given the chance...

Round 4:
Move: Reload crossbow.
Standard: Ready action to fire at one of the demons once it is no longer in melee.
Attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17; damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Saera takes the full hit when the negative energy hits her.

To avoid shooting with Aetherys as the purple demon's cover, Saera moves to the same patch of land as the remaining demon. Now having a proper line of sight, Saera uses a paper cartridge with a cold iron bullet too reload her musket faster. Saera then tries to shoot the purple demon.

Touch attack: Cold iron bullet, -1 Deadly Aim, -4 Melee: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 7 - 1 - 4 = 14 Damage, +2 DA: 1d12 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Wadi bides his time again, while Saera hits the last demon on the chin. The demon, in return, hacks and bites at Aetherys, drawing a deep gash, and sinking its teeth into the neck of the magus.

Scyther, Aetherys: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 252d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4) + 3 = 10
Bite, Aetherys: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 201d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Bloated Peasant (3) -Purple

Peasant (dead) -Red
Peasant (dead) -Orange
Peasant (prone, asleep)
Peasant (prone, asleep)
---

Round 5 True Strike, Holy Weapon Balm, Comp Lg bow, Cold Iron, Firing into Melee
Dvalin let's fly another cold iron arrow at purple ...
Comp Lg Bow: 1d20 + 7 + 20 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 20 - 4 = 35 for Cold Iron: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 and Holy Weapon: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2
For min damage and a DC10 reflex save or another Holy Weapon: 1d4 ⇒ 1 next round. Akh ... Seriously?

Swayaah carefully circles around the demon. She doesn't have enough movement to flank and attack, however.

"Hey! Keep those fangs to yourself! At least until the second date, yeesh!"

Mwrk Cold Iron Earthbreaker, Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 1 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 + 3 = 12

That 1 damage might just make the difference ;-)

Dvalin launches a cold iron arrow, with magical precision and holy coating, hitting the demon peasant straight between the eyes. Unfortunately for Dvalin, there's not much left there to damage.

Swayaah follows up with a strong blow to the peasant's abdomen, breaking the skin to cause a strange blackish trickle of blood.

---
Dvalin
Saera
Aetherys
Krux
Swayaah
Wadi
---
Bloated Peasant (21) -Purple

Peasant (dead) -Red
Peasant (dead) -Orange
Peasant (prone, asleep)
Peasant (prone, asleep)
---

Wadi glances around him making sure no other threats appear, then maintains his aim on the lone Peasant-demon.

Maintain readied action. If he needs to roll again, here it is: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6; damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3. All in all, I would prefer to keep the other roll, he he.

Aetherys takes a light step aside, assuming a defensive stance as she strikes the demon.

Fighting defensively
+3 Keen Dawnblade, AS: 1d20 + 11 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 11 - 4 = 91d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14

AC is 24 (got 3+ ranks in Acrobatics).

Krux fires his crossbow at the demon but does not expect to hit.

xbow: -4 melee: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 3 - 4 = 18
cold iron: 1d8 ⇒ 6
confirm crit: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 3 - 4 = 1
cold iron: 1d8 ⇒ 7

EDIT: Removed cover penalties.

Saera reloads her musket with a new dose of black powder and a cold iron bullet. Only if the demon hasn't yet dropped does Saera fire her weapon.

Touch attack: Cold iron bullet, -1 Deadly Aim, -4 Melee: 1d20 + 7 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 7 - 1 - 4 = 21 Damage, +2 DA: 1d12 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Wadi still waits for his opening, while Aetherys keeps up the pressure. Finally, Krux lands a bolt in the arm of the demon, giving Saera enough room to finish the Abyssal creature off with a well-aimed bullet.

Again, the flesh shreds of the demon, leaving an ugly, wormlike husk.

Combat over

Sir Ilivan grumbles Cultists. I told you. That was dangerous too, you could've gotten us all killed there.

"But we did the right thing." replies Aetherys with a kind smile. "Thank you for listening to our plea."

She then asks Krux or Dvalin to heal her wounds with her own wand.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Dvalin is happy to heal Aetherys with her wand once the party joins back up.

"Cultists? So the peasants were not victims? Very strange.
I would have thought this was a simple possession and not
something they brought onto themselves."