[PFS/DMK] 6-98 Serpents Rise - Table I (Inactive)

Game Master Kludde

Works for me.

Zurnzal still pretending to be Skaarr, allows himself to be 'taken prisoner'. Hope these guys haven't seen a certain Illusio-Drama with a wookie in it...

Marnarius opens the door with 'Skaarr' as hostage. An unremarkable tapestry bearing intricate but heavily worn geometric patterns along its length hangs on the far end of this meeting room. A rune-inscribed circle set into the floor completely contains a table at the room’s center.

There's three people in the room, a man - the self-righteous voice, a half-orc woman - obviously the one that caused the trouble, and a woman holding a musket, which he quickly raises toward Marnarius as he steps in.

Halt! Let Skaarr go, immediately. she shouts.

Could we get a map up, GM? Trying to see if there's any cover I could use, or whether there are any clear lines to charge.

Marnarius slowly steps forward with 'Skaarr' in front of him, Longsword on the half-orc's neck. Firearms? This could get nasty. Seems we have to take out that one first. Keeping the same steady pace, Marnarius presses forward towards the Pathfinder with the musket. "Don't do anything stupid. No one has to die here." Yeah, right. You're going down, all of you. Just a few more seconds, 'till the rest gets in place.

Ideally, I'd like to take one round to end about 20 feet away from the Musket-wielder. If that succeeds without incident, I'll shove Zurnzal into her, so he can take her out. I already rolled a Bluff in my previous post. If you need another, please feel free to roll for me.

Map is up. The brown bar is the entrance door, which is open now

Stay right where you are! the woman shouts, taking aim.

I just realized that I was thinking about this in terms of movie-physics, where having a hostage meant that people wouldn't shoot at you for fear of hitting the hostage. In pathfinder, she'd just take a -4 for partial cover and fire away. :)

Showtime! Marnarius gives Zurnzal a shove to indicate he's up, and then dives for cover behind the nearest column.

You do get a surprise round, though

---(Surprise - single move or standard only)--
Zurnzal
Marnarius
Rataji
322
Joliryn
Shohiraj
---
Ralirio
Loshari
Telandril
---
Zurnzal
Marnarius
Rataji
322
Joliryn
Shohiraj
---

"Shohiraj quickly before they can react!" Rataji casts telekinetic charge on Shohiraj.

Shohiraj gets to make an immediate attack on either the Male or Gunslinger with a +2 Bonus. Hopefully we can down one with your 2 sneak attacks before the fight begins. Pick which one you prefer but, it looks like marnius and Zurn have the gunslinger in their sights. I am unsure what the male looks like or is wearing.

Also Shohiraj's character sheet seems to have weird damage calculations and I believe should be doing much more damage with the Rapier. Unless she doesn't get DEX to damage with it. You might want to use your Sap since you do 1d6+6+8+4d6 for damage on sneak attacks with it.

With only a standard action, 322 would try to stealthily move into the room. She'll take a -5 penalty to move at full speed.

Stealth, fullspeed: 1d20 + 10 + 4 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 4 - 5 = 25

Sneak, sneak, sneak! Wait, what did she say?

Zurnzal moves up to the gunwoman and tries to kick her in her face.

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

The leader brings Shohiraj straight into the fight, while 322 takes her own route. Zurnzal, already close, kicks Ralirio in the face.

I've added name tags

---(Surprise - single move or standard only)--
Zurnzal
Marnarius
Rataji
322
Joliryn
Shohiraj
---
Ralirio (10)
Loshari
Telandril
---
Zurnzal
Marnarius
Rataji
322
Joliryn
Shohiraj
---

Should have been a standard action charge, forgot we were in the surprise round. Thanks for the autocorrect, DM!

Marnarius stands pressed against the column, hoping that the gunshot won't come (yet). As soon as he hears Zurnzal making his attack, Marnarius weaves around the other side of the column and moves in close to the musketeer, pressing her against the chair.

Haven't heard from Shohiraj in about a week. Here are the rolls for my plan and her attacks. Applying Debilitating Injury to Attacks to hopefully stop any retributions if it fails. -4 to attack Sho

ShohirajTeleCharge: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 2 = 231d6 + 6 + 8 + 4d6 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 8 + (6, 1, 1, 3) = 30
StandardStrike: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 301d6 + 6 + 8 + 4d6 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 8 + (4, 4, 4, 1) = 31

surprise round

Under the cover of her invisibility the Artist sneaks into the room

Marnarius moves in, trying to surround the musket-wielder. Joliryn moves in under stealth, while Shohiraj - in two swift blows - knocks Telandril on the ground

What's this the heated voice from earlier - Loshari - shouts, a trick! We've been set up!

Ralirio takes a step back, and fires her musket (Marnarius gets an AoO).

Die Skaarr! You filthy traitor! she shouts, as she fires her musket in rapid succession.

Musket, Skaarr: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 291d12 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Musket, Skaarr: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 271d12 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16 Ouch
Musket, Skaarr: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 183d12 + 15 ⇒ (4, 5, 7) + 15 = 31 Ouououch

The other woman moves over to the professiona, and cover her in a spray of fire

Damage: 5d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 3, 4) = 12 RFX DC 15 for half

---
Zurnzal
Marnarius
Rataji
322
Joliryn
Shohiraj
---
Ralirio (10)
Loshari
---

Marnarius grins as the woman fires her gun despite being pressured. He spots and opportunity when she fires the musket and takes a swing with his longsword.

Attack, AoO: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Damage, AoO: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

His smile quickly fades when he notices the accuracy of her second shot at Zurnzal. "Oh no, you didn't," he snarls. Marnarius moves with the woman to keep up the pressure, drops his longsword and takes his new flail from his belt. Holding the weapon in both hands he sweeps it in a mighty arc, swinging once and once again.

5 ft step, drop sword as free action, draw flail as free action. Study as swift action. Full attack with Power Attack.

Attack +2 Study -2 PA: 1d20 + 14 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 14 + 2 - 2 = 23
Damage +2 Study +6 PA: 1d10 + 9 + 2d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 9 + (5, 4) + 2 + 6 = 33
Damage to self: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Iterative +2 Study -2 PA: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 2 - 2 = 21
Damage +2 Study +6 PA: 1d10 + 9 + 2d6 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 9 + (3, 4) + 2 + 6 = 32
Damage to self: 1d6 ⇒ 4

If Ralirio is human, I deal +2 damage with each hit, because of the Seething hatred feat.

322 emerges from the shadows and fires a ray at Loshari.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9 Man, casters...

Her ray goes wide. She frowns as it misses.

Zurnzal dies horribly in a rain of bullets.

Worst pregen EVAR.

Are you sure about that? I counted 59 damage from the musket shots. Still rough, but not lethal.

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There's few pregens that stand up to a crit like that. Still it pays off to hang around for a while.

Marnarius tries to prevent the funslinger's shot, but cannot stop her from hitting Zurnzal/Skaarr between the eyes. As Skaarr drops dead - again - Marnarius takes his scythe and reaps the woman in front of him with two vicious slashes. Bleeding severely, the woman goes down.

The experiment tries to hex down the caster, but her ray goes wide.

---
Zurnzal (Dead)
Marnarius
Rataji
322
Joliryn
Shohiraj
---
Loshari
---

I was already hurt from before.

Shohiraj uses her sap to hit Loshari on the head.
Sap: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

sorry for my absence, the last thing I read was the map discussion on wednesday, I had some long days at work and since beginning of the week they log all entries we do on office PCs :/ Thanks, leader, for botting Shohiraj!

Since we know that the Ambitious get's critted and splattered all over the floor before we take our actions would it be possible for the experiment to do something else? She does carry a scroll of breath of life (for occasions as this)..so instead of doing the ray..use a move to get the scroll out, standard to cast, 5ft step to get closer...I'll admit I'm not entirly sure how far she needs to move to be in touch range..but I think Jolyrin should be able to preform a drag or reposition combat maneuver vs Zurnzal CDM with an effective dex of 0 to move him 1 square if needed..it would giving up my round to make an attack..but if it saves his live...I'd do it

Ouch! The dice gods really hate you, Zurnzal!

If I am allowed to retcon, now is definitely the time to use my Breath of Life scroll.

"Dammit 322 try to save him. I'll be dammed if I let his death stain my perfect mission records!" Rataji starts shouts and casts scorching ray at Loshari.

I act before Shohiraj could have gotten into melee by initiative. Also my pregen is not much better.

ScorchingRay: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 244d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 6, 3) = 16
ScorchingRay: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 234d6 ⇒ (6, 5, 3, 6) = 20

ScorchingRayCrit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 134d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 1, 6) = 11

I'm fine with retconning 322's actions

322 sneaks up to fallen zurnzal, and breathes life back into him, just at Rataji turns the fiery enemy sorceress into a grease stain on the floor.

Combat over

Looks like it's just the Aspis agents and the tapestry now.

Anyone with spellcraft or K(arc) as trained skill can perform the ritual

Moving quickly incase the battle had been heard Rataji tries the ritual using the notes obtained.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

As soon as he realizes that the Pathfinders are down, Marnarius stalks up to the tapestry, prowling before it from left to right. He seems to have forgotten about the rest of the room, and about Skaarr, whom he saw falling only a while ago. Wiping the sweat from his face, he mutters to himself. "Finally, free. I promised I'd get you out. We'll burn this place to the ground, together..." He waits impatiently for Rataji to complete the ritual.

322 is quite pleased as Zurnzal breathes. She decides to pull out her scroll of heal and close all his wounds quickly, rather than waste her own precious gifts.

I'd probably burn through 2 of my Cure Serious Wound spells healing you to full. Now's the best time to spend the scroll, I say. That's 110 HP, so you should be back to full.

Once he is restored, 322 skitters over to the leader to watch his ritual, and offer what little help she can.

Aid Spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Zurnzal rises slowly to his feet. "Thanks, 322," he says with a bow.

As Jolryin turns visible again the rest of the party can see her go through the pathfinders pockets

Do they carry anything of interest? For example something to heal with?

Joliryn searches the fallen pathfinders, while Rataji performs his ritual.

The paladin had a magical breastplate and greatsword. The gunslinger carried a potion and a magical mithral shirt, while the sorcerer carried severals scrolls (six in total), two wands and three tangelfoot bags.

A thin slit appears down the middle of the tapestry, and then its whole center tears open in a deafening rip and a crack of thunder. Planar winds whip out from the frayed fabric for several seconds as purple lightning dances in the tattered wound. The gusts die suddenly, and the fabric stretches painfully to create an aperture nearly 10 feet wide, revealing a peaceful woodland occupied by a growing army.

A woman bedecked in chainmail and scars steps through into the room and then motions for those behind her to remain still. She surveys the chamber for a moment before a broad, genuine smile cracks her tough expression. “By Hanspur’s soggy hide, I never thought I’d see this world again.” She shakes her head and wipes away a tear before it can quite form. “The name’s Wolona, bronze rank. We’ve got good news and bad news on the other side. The good’s that everyone we expected to show up did, plus some more besides. The bad news is that some of them are starting to believe we’ve set them up.” Wolona clears her throat loudly as though no more need be said.

“The only thing keeping them from just killing each other and the rest of us is my promise that there would be a welcoming committee who might prove this place exists and that it’s not all a trap.” She starts to turn back to the portal. “Think you can give them a little pep talk?”

“I hope they haven’t killed each other already” she says, and steps back into the demiplane. She returns a moment later leading an eclectic entourage of about fifteen delegates and war leaders, including humans, a halfling covered in bright war paint, a hag, a wyvaran, a yeti, a pony-sized green dragon, and more. They jostle one another while inspecting the room. The wyvaran pokes at the bits of dead sorceress, The only good pathfinder is a dead pathfinder.

The wyvaran then sneers, looks to the group, and asks, “So which of you is the Aspis king?”

Marnarius keeps silent during the briefing, but relief flashes on his face when Wolona emerges from the portal. I promised I'd get her out, and I did. With her on the other end, things should work out juuust fine. He gives her a short nod and a tip of the hat in greeting. Everything else could wait until later...

He smirks at her mention of the reinforcements killing each other as easily as the Pathfinders. Morons. They'd throw it all away, because they're impatient. I've waited long enough. No matter though, we'll use them to tear this place down.

As the delegates enters the room he tries to inspect them all carefully, trying to figure out who they're dealing with. The mention of an 'Aspis king' causes his eyebrows to shoot up, but he tries to compose himself quickly, coughing to cover up his surprise. From the corner of his eye, he looks at Rataji to act. Kings rarely have an easy -or long- life. I wonder what Wolona had to promise to get these people to cooperate.

After seeing Maranrius' sideways glance the wyvaran bellows at Rataji, You! apparantly not used to courtly customs you are the Aspis King? Why do you wear no crown? Tell me, what plan do you have? We long to kill pathfinders, share us your strategy, so that we may shed the blood of a thousand humans.

Marnarius stifles a sigh, holding back the curses he would like to utter. So much for keeping my mouth shut. Ugh! I really hope Wolona had good cause for this nonsense.

Trying to make the best of the situation and thinking it wise not to contradict the creature in front of him. He gives a moderately deep bow, taking in all of the delegates, and takes off his head. "Well yes... We are deep in the belly of our enemies' fortress. Wearing a crown doesn't seem fitting for a battle, does it? Besides, I think a king would have reason not to stand out too much to his enemies, if you know what I mean." Let them chew on that for a moment.

Bluff: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

"Please let me introduce my advisor," he continues. "Rataji will explain our plans to you." You'd better not stuff up, Rataji, or I'll kill you myself. Marnarius wants to growl and bash someone's skull in, but he keeps his composure.

Rataji looks increduously at Marnarius but, accepts that he has a way with words. Rataji reveals his silver Aspis Badge before he begins speaking.

"We are currently inside one of the hated Pathfinder Strongholds. We have slayed the pathfinders guarding the tapestry to set you all free." Rataji jestures at the downed guards. "I believe one may be still breathing if you need to start the bloodshed earlier than expected but, in any case they do not know you are here. You have the element surprise and their backs are turned. I will provide general directions out of the keep then you are free to deal out vengeance to all pathfinders in sight." Rataji takes in a deep breath "ARE YOU READY TO MAKE THE GRAND LODGE SHAKE WITH YOUR MIGHT!"

Dilpomacy: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

A deafening roar spreads from the army commanders, and in turn, from the army beyond. It might just be the spur of the moment, but you can actually feel the the ancient tower shake in it foundations. Masses of creatures start pouring out the gates, ready to spread carnage on the grounds below.

Then, a restless looking green dragon approaches the group. Wolona spoke of a group. Tasked to neutralize the mage that command the tapestry. A powerful mage, one that owns all arcane books. I want to kill this man, I want to be part of your expedition!

But Gazwyr, Wolona says, overhearing the conversation we need you as an army commander, or else someone should take your place!

I'm offering the rare opportunity to play a Green Dragon(link) as a player character. You'll be giving up your current character for the rest of the scenario, though. If you're interested, roll a d20 (if you're not, say so!). Highest roll gets it.

Sweet, but I'll pass on the dragon. I'm happy with Marnarius (even if I got conned into having to be king. ;p ).

-Posted with Wayfinder

Cool, I'll pass unless nobody else takes the dragon..cause I have a metagamey feeling they wouldn't hand you a dragon if you don't need a dragon...

To be honest, I think they included the dragon because they thought players would enjoy playing a dragon ;-)

I don't like Zurnzal, but I'm going to busy with RPG SS still. So someone else should play it.

I wouldn't mind playing the Dragon. Maybe this Apsis King can take command since I am merely an advisor now.

I finally got 322's personality down (and I'm travelling), so I'll stick with her. (Plus you guys need a healbot :P) Rataji, go!

Rataji, I hope I didn't step on your toes by going with the idea of me being 'king'? That wasn't my intention, in the least.

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No worries merely an excuse to play a dragon.

Good, the dragon grins. Let the king's jester lead the army. But don't betray us, jester!

The leader gets it. Just poking a bit of fun :)

Rataji eagerly takes the head of a troupe of reptilian slaughterguards, as the army keeps pouring out of the tapestry. Gazwyr, with equal eagerness, takes his place.

Let's go kill a wizard!

The crude map that the Professional has in her possession points to the Selmius Foster library as the location of the Sky Key. Her map leads to a set of heavily reinforced wooden double doors, bulging outward slightly. One of them has a small mail slot roughly
three feet off the ground, and a buzzing can be heard from the opposite side of the doors.

Jolyrin casts keen edge on her kukri before moving with the others

"Anyone want any of the things we just found? If nobody wants any of them I'll take them all"

Spellcraft take 10+10 = 20 ..I think that's enough for most items since it's enough for items with a caster lvl of 5 or less

Spellcraft scrolls: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Spellcraft scrolls: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Spellcraft scrolls: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Spellcraft scrolls: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Spellcraft scrolls: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
Spellcraft scrolls: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

So everything but 1 scroll of invisibility

"Aspis king which one of these minions can check the doors for any surprises." Gazwyr asks with obvious tones that you are all beneath him in his eyes.

Marnarius looks annoyed at the dragon's words, but it's not clear whether it's due to the tone or because of the fact that he's in charge now.

"Yes, of course. We have an excellent professional for tasks like these," he replies in a hushed voice. "And keep you're voice down, will you? I won't have you jeopardizing my team!"

"Shohiraj, you're up," he says as he gives her the signal to check the door, trying to make it appear as if his orders have nothing to do with the dragon's suggestion only a moment earlier.

Botting Shohiraj
Perception, check for traps. Take 10.: 10 + 14 + 3 = 27

"Everyone, make your final preparations. Put those scrolls we found to some good use if you can."

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