The riders seems to be spectres, powerful incorporeal undead. These creatures are vulnerable to sunlight (not daylight, though), can drain the energy from living should and create spawn like themselves when they slay any humanoid
Kosuke:
The skeletons are huge skeletal mammoths, huge skeletons that are resistant to slashing and piercing weapons.
A bright burst of light visibly sears the mammoths and spectral riders caught within it. Kosuke attempts to undo som of the corruption of the land, while Therisah casts a protective spell, while Voros silently gets ready for battle.
The mammoth riders move up, though one of them seems to struggle in the blinded haze caused by Avelina. Tusk pierce the armor of Avelina, and nearly throw over Basalte.
Noisy gets a grim look on his face, as he steps up beside Basalte.
He starts to stomp one foot on the ground, although the beat is more insistent this time.
He shouts something in Hallit at the oncoming undead creatures, as he swings his drum around and starts beating a slightly different cadence on it.
Hallit:
"The land of living is no longer for you... Your battles have long since ended here. Begone, or worse will befall you!" He shouts
The two beats seem to mingle and create something entirely different and even more ominous.
5' step, then move action to perform a Dirge of Doom (30' radius should get all 3 riders and mounts). Then standard action to cast Fear defensively, 60' cone, which will also hit all 6. (drew the cone on the map)
Casting Defensively vs DC 21:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Noisy's Secrets of the Grave ability allows him to use mind-affecting stuff on undead as if they were living creatures.
No Save on the Dirge (so they are all shaken automatically), DC 20 Will save on Fear (and they get a -2 for being shaken, and a -2 for the consecrate). The top mammoth and rider are not in the concecrate, so they won't take the second -2 on their saves, unfortunately
Hell, with 6 of them, I might get one for a change! (I've never gotten a spell to land on an undead despite being able to try) If the riders fail, hopefully they'll take their mounts... if the mounts fail, hopefully they'll take their riders! Double the chances! 8P
Noisy works a demonic impending doom from to beyond the confines of the grave, and the Kellid warriors relive the terror that once was their undoing. The mammoths rear: it's an impressive sight seeing the skeletal beasts standing on their hind legs, then turn and flee.
I'll call combat over here, as you can easily evade the threat now
On other parts of the battlefield, spectral Kellids remain interlocked in a fight with echoes of demons, until they crumble down and return to the ground of the battlefield.
The path leads on, just as Thannock's directions predicted, so the site of the graveyard that houses the demon of filth.
The air is heavy with the sickly sweet scent of putrefying flesh in this ancient graveyard. The source of the smell is quickly discernible: eight ancient crypts stand opened to the elements, several stuffed from floor to ceiling with rotting, putrid corpses.
As the party approaches the graveyard, the weather takes a sudden turn for the worse as the gray clouds that have loomed above for most of the day burst open with a crack of thunder and a hail of frozen eyeballs.
In the hailstorm, two lumbering figure can be made out: massive, decaying mammoths that trumpet as soon as they spot the party. In a mausoleum on the west side, a terrible deformed shape, a formless mass of eyes and limbs, with two batlike wing sprouting off the back, start flapping it wings at it sees the adventurers approach.
He then casts a spell at the terrible beast while throwing up an aura to bolster his allies with the strength of Shizuru before moving towards the demon.
StandardHoly Smite SR check:1d20 + 8 + 1 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 + 7 = 36 (+2 if Kosuke successfully identified it as a demon.)
Damage:9d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5, 5, 6, 1, 1, 1, 6) = 27 (Will 16 half. Blind for 1 round if save fails.)
Swift Aura of Heroism (+2 morale to attacks, save, and checks within 30 ft.)
GM, the directions were a two day journey. Is this the same day as the Mammoth riders? Or the next?
Am going to assume we saw the graveyard coming a bit ahead of time, and were able to throw up some buffs and the like?
Noisy would like to request the afore mentioned bless weapon (or align weapon) if available, for his musket, if possible from either Miyamoto or Avelina before they walk into this.
For his part, he will ensure Triple Time is active, so everyone gets a +10' enhancement bonus to their movement rates, and Heroism on himself... in case he's not 30' from Miyamoto
Noisy starts up a beat to buoy his companions spirits.
Move action, inspire courage! +2 to hit and damage and +2 vs charms and fear
He also starts to bang the butt of his musket up against a nearby headstone, faster and faster. It quickly almost perfectly matches his companions heartbeats, and their blood starts to flow just a little quicker... and their movements along with.
Standard action, cast haste on everyone while they're still within range. (extra attack, +1 to hit, +1 to AC, and extra 30' movement) (this does not stack with the Triple Time movement increase)
The travel time from the battlefield to the graveyard was about three hours. You can cast your buffs before you enter
Kosuke, Noise:
Kosuke recognises that the rumours were true: this is a gebrilith demon. It is a great mass of tumorous flesh, that it can rip from its body and throw around. Like most major demons, it is resistant to weapons that are not good-aligned. You can each ask a question
The mammoth looks to an undead thrall, but a kind specific to the world wound. They're rather powerful, and their bite inflicts demonplague disease, a disease that affects plants and animals alike. In more intelligent creatures, the demonplague causes madness, then death. Kosuke gets two questions, noisy three
Kiosk calls down a blast of holy energy, searing the demon. Noisy hastens the party, while Therisah prepares to protect herself.
AC 20 T 16(20 incorp. touch) FF 15 | HP 140/140 | F +20 R +18 W +16 (+27 vs charm/compulsion) | Init +14| Perc +14
Spells Per Day Remaining:
6-5/5 5 8/8 4-8/8 3-8/8 2-8/8 1-9/9
Spells Active:
Mage Armor, Heroism, Clay Skin, See Invisibility
Avelina will spend an immediate action to use Heroic Echo when Kosuke activates his Aura of Heroism to increase the morale bonus for everyone by +1
As soon as she hears confirmation that the group is fighting a demon, Avelina rushes forward. Her mouth twists in disgust at the foul creature she sees before her, a demon she has yet to encounter herself.
She casts a spell, pointing at the demon, then drawing the same finger across her neck.
"The Inheritor has sealed your fate, demon! Succumb to Her Judgment!"
She cast Pugwampi's Grace. The demon has to make a will save, DC 21, or have to roll every d20 twice and take the lower for 10 rounds
Adeline's spell does not seem to take hold, and Voros' arrows flutter everywhere in the hail storm - only his third arrow hits the tumorous flesh of the vile demon.
The demon glances at the approaching pathfinders, and just exhales, breathing out slowly. A cloud of stinking, noxious vapours forms around the group, sending them into a coughing and wheezing fit.
Stinking cloud, DC 16 Fort save or be sickened
Kosuke:
Demon: Contagion, grease, teleport, holy blight (all at will), stinking cloud (3/day), summon (1/day), wave of fatigue (1/day)
Mammoth: disease, trample, no dr
AC 20 T 16(20 incorp. touch) FF 15 | HP 140/140 | F +20 R +18 W +16 (+27 vs charm/compulsion) | Init +14| Perc +14
Spells Per Day Remaining:
6-5/5 5 8/8 4-8/8 3-8/8 2-8/8 1-9/9
Spells Active:
Mage Armor, Heroism, Clay Skin, See Invisibility
Fort Save:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26
Avelina covers her mouth the second she sees the demon begin breathing on her and her allies.
She steps out of cloud, retrieving her metamagic rod from her gloves of storing once more. She points it at the demonic mass of flesh.
"You dare resist the Inheritor's Judgment, demonic obscenity! Burn in the Blinding Light of the Inheritor's Radiant Dawn!"
SR Check:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Radiant Dawn of the Inheritor Intensified Burst of Radiance:10d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 2, 4, 2, 4, 4, 3, 3, 4) = 33 Blind Duration (Reflex Save DC 22 to reduce to dazzled:1d4 ⇒ 4
Male Human Cleric 8/Holy Vindicator 4 HP 91/91 | AC 29 (37: Vindicator's Shield), T 11 (19: VS), FF 29 (37: VS) | F: +13, R: +6, W: +14 | CMD 23 (31: VS) | Perc. +15 | Init. +0
Tracked Resources:
Channel Energy: 9/10, Touch of Glory: 6/6, Touch of Good: 6/6, Holy Lance 1/1, Aura of Heroism 8/8
Fort Save:1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 4 = 22
Kosuke is also able to avoid inhaling the gas. He moves towards the demon with a purpose, his speed bolstered by Noisy's magic. He prays for Shizuru's holy power to burn the demon with the light of purity.
Swift: Activate Aura of Heroism.
Move Standard: Channel Positive Energy using Alignment Channel to harm evil outsiders.
Damage:7d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 6, 1, 2, 3, 3) = 22 Will DC 24 half.
Kosuke and Avelina bather the demon in bright righteous light and positive energy, irradiating the tumorous flesh and causing burn marks to appear on the outside.
Basalte, Male Oread Fighter (Unbreakable) 4, Bloodrager 2, Living Monolith 10, Unchained Monk 1 | HP 219/219 | AC: 34 T:19 FF:34 CMD: 39 (+1 AC/saves when FF/surprised, +4 CMD vs BRush/Trip, +2 vs Sunder) | DR 3/- | 30% fortification | F+25 R+15 W+15 (+3 vs Mind-Aff; +2 vs Death, Fear) | Init +2 | Perc +27 (Darkvision, Tombsight, Tremorsense)
Retcon healing after the previous fight, CLW wand:4d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5, 2, 6) + 4 = 20
Fort:1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Basalte manages to block out the terrible stench that threatens his nostrils, then goes straight for the mammoth, slashing at it violently as he doubles in size!
Basalte moves up to the mammoth in anger. Before he gets to his powerful strike, though, he has to navigate the tusks of the mammoths, something he does with ease. He then slashes hard with his falchion, cutting through the putrid flesh, all the way to the core.
Only Noisy's dwarven fortitude manages to keep him from being overcome by the noxious fumes, but his ability to see either of their foes is still blocked.
Not maintaining inspire courage... will continue to linger for 2 rounds
Seeing Basalte rush past to engage the mammoth, he instead cuts to his right, and comes out of the cloud on the opposite side from where he was.
It has wings, is it flying? How high up?
Once more he whispers into his musket's breach, before firing a single barrel and sending a wave of sound towards the demon.
Move action to get out of the cloud, standard action to fire a single bullet (counting as good aligned) sending a super-charged weird word along with via the conductive property
Also burning a grit point to add charisma to the firearm damage.
From the side, the sonic bullet sounds a bit like a >whoop< as it moves toward the target, but the demon seems to hear something far worse. A shockwave visibly ripples through the creature as Noisy's bullet hits.
Voros douses the undead furry creature in flame, scorching fur and tusk alike.
The huge mammoth rears, and then straight over Basalte, bashing him with its large, prehistoric hooves.
Trample damage:2d8 + 21 ⇒ (2, 2) + 21 = 25 Trample: either take and AoO at -4 or make a DC 31 RFX for half damage Fort for mammoth:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
The demon brandishes a scorpion whip, and lashes out at Kosuke repeatedly, though with little success.
Male Human Cleric 8/Holy Vindicator 4 HP 91/91 | AC 29 (37: Vindicator's Shield), T 11 (19: VS), FF 29 (37: VS) | F: +13, R: +6, W: +14 | CMD 23 (31: VS) | Perc. +15 | Init. +0
Tracked Resources:
Channel Energy: 9/10, Touch of Glory: 6/6, Touch of Good: 6/6, Holy Lance 1/1, Aura of Heroism 8/8
"The power of the Empress of Heaven shall cleanse your stain from this land foul spawn!"
With that pronouncement, Kosuke advances on the demon, channels more positive energy and then draws a potion all while keeping up Shizuru's bolstering.
Free: 5-foot step
Standard: Channel Positive Energy to harm evil outsiders.
Damage:7d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6, 2, 6, 4, 2) = 26 (Will 24 half)
Move: Draw potion of Fly
Swift: Maintain Aura of Heroism.
Basalte, Male Oread Fighter (Unbreakable) 4, Bloodrager 2, Living Monolith 10, Unchained Monk 1 | HP 219/219 | AC: 34 T:19 FF:34 CMD: 39 (+1 AC/saves when FF/surprised, +4 CMD vs BRush/Trip, +2 vs Sunder) | DR 3/- | 30% fortification | F+25 R+15 W+15 (+3 vs Mind-Aff; +2 vs Death, Fear) | Init +2 | Perc +27 (Darkvision, Tombsight, Tremorsense)
As the mammoth tramples over the oread, Basalte chooses not to dodge, but reamins steady and aims an attack at the back leg of the mammoth, hoping to cut it down.
AoO:1d20 + 20 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 20 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 342d6 + 29 + 2 ⇒ (3, 3) + 29 + 2 = 37
Male Human Cleric 8/Holy Vindicator 4 HP 91/91 | AC 29 (37: Vindicator's Shield), T 11 (19: VS), FF 29 (37: VS) | F: +13, R: +6, W: +14 | CMD 23 (31: VS) | Perc. +15 | Init. +0
Tracked Resources:
Channel Energy: 9/10, Touch of Glory: 6/6, Touch of Good: 6/6, Holy Lance 1/1, Aura of Heroism 8/8
Not sure if it matters in this case, but Basalte's falchion was enchanted by Kosuke's bless weapon spell, so if the mammoth is evil, the crit is automatically confirmed.
At which point he hurries to reload one of the barrels.
if the demon still fights on at this point, he will spend his move action reloading a paper cartridge into one of the barrels. If the demon is down, he will use a regular bullet and powder instead, taking slightly longer =)
fyi: inspire courage's lingering effects end just before my next turn
Adeline's angry motions do not do the spell any good, and the power she produces lacks focus, washing harmlessly over the demon.
Basalte takes a furious stand, not quite cutting down the mammoth as it tramples him, but coming awfully close. His raging followup cuts down the undead creature, leaving only the demon.
Kosuke calls forth positive energy, while Noisy fires hit shot straight into the amorphous mass.
Will:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Another ripple of sonic energy undulates through the demon, and this time, it proves too much for the abyssal creature. It explodes in a shower of flesh globs, its wings the only trophy left to be gathered.
Combat over!
And a trophy it is, proof of the demise of the demon of filth, and something that is welcomed by the Red Winter tribe with much admiration. The journey back through the worldwound was as depressing and unnerving as the way in, though this time the prospect of leaving lightened the burden somewhat. Uneventful, fortunately, and the crossing back into the pale, cold lands of the mammoths lords felt as a relief.
Thannock Sundered Bear exclaims:
Hallit:
You are true warriors, and an ally with prowess like that is a good ally. We welcome you then, as allies of the Red Winter tribe. May all of your enemies fall as this demon did!
Congratulations! You have the demise of a powerful demon on your curriculum, a feat that would earn you a certain medal in the crusader army. On top of that, you've managed to secure a spot in the realm of the mammoth lords as a base of operation, and most importantly of all, you got an approving nod of Aram Zey, which is as rare as... well... a snowflake in the worldwound.
I'll try and convince Jesse to open up reporting, while I prepare chronicles.
Don't we have one more possible site to examine, then make a decision on which to recommend?
Also, how would you like to handle faction card stuff? Am curious if any of these folks count as the Kellid version of 'NPC aristocrats, nobles, ambassadors or similar figures'
Oh, yeah. Let's look at that last location, shall we?
Starting for the camp of the Red Winter tribe, and with an honorary guard as temporary protection, the adventurers set out to the last site in the realm of the mammoth lords.
Although nowhere near as high as the Tusk Mountains’ snowcapped peaks, the location provides a commanding view. The Thunder Steppes and Sarkorian Steppe are both visible to the east. To the west, a canyon of red rock forms an ugly scar across the grays, browns, and greens of the mountains.
DC 20 Knowledge (geography):
The red rock formation is the Red Rune Canyon, a corrupted place that some hypothesize is connected to the Worldwound and drives any animals brave enough to enter it mad.
Survival DC 15:
The cave network is dry, sheltered, and spacious, but provides little else. The space can easily accommodate a few dozen Pathfinder agents, a handful of large animals, and the supplies necessary to support them.
DC 20:
The cave network sees frequent use as a campsite by others, evidenced by the remains of fires and litter. Some of the tracks left in the dust, though old, are large enough to belong to humanoids that could be at least 15 feet tall.
As for faction cards: I enter faction goals as a remark on the chronicle, so let me know if you want something ticked off your faction sheet. In the spirit of the SvCt trying to find allies for its cause, I'd say the Red Winter leaders count.
AC 20 T 16(20 incorp. touch) FF 15 | HP 140/140 | F +20 R +18 W +16 (+27 vs charm/compulsion) | Init +14| Perc +14
Spells Per Day Remaining:
6-5/5 5 8/8 4-8/8 3-8/8 2-8/8 1-9/9
Spells Active:
Mage Armor, Heroism, Clay Skin, See Invisibility
That's a good idea.
Avelina will carve off some of those vestigial arm thingies from the gibrileth to take back as bounties to Mendev. If you could mark that on her chronicle, I would appreciate it.
Noisy can make no useful observation on the suitability of the camp, but does point out the rather ominous Red Rune Canyon not far off.
Yes, Avelina was annoying =) But in the entertaining, well role-played way.
And yes, that went quick! 9 days, for a high tier game is amazingly quick. And without glossing over things either.
Which just goes to show how these can flow when everyone responds in a relatively timely manner.
Faction Card Stuff:
And yes, Noisy would like to attempt to get one of the the Red Tribe elders... lets go with Velka... to agree to assist Gloriana in the upcoming fight.
Am hoping to check a second box on the "Recruit a named NPC aristocrat, noble, ambassador, or similar figure to cooperate with the faction" (Diplomacy vs DC 26:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32) without actually ever mentioning the faction, merely Lady Gloriana Morilla herself... (as she's leading part of the foray!)
So as to hopefully check one of the three boxes for the goal of: "Fulfill one of the goals above without revealing your faction affiliation to anyone other than a present or future member of the Sovereign Court. Checking one of this goal’s boxes doesn’t prevent you from checking one box for a different goal."
Not sure if that's possible or not. That second set of checkboxes seems rather complicated given what the first set is trying to accomplish =)
Also, Game Day comes with the chance to win a boon. I'll roll in alphabetical order, GM first (as instructed, I would of course normally put myself last)
Boon Rolls: GM:1d20 ⇒ 1 Avelina:1d20 ⇒ 17 Basalte:1d20 ⇒ 20 Miyamoto:1d20 ⇒ 6 Noisy:1d20 ⇒ 14 Therisah:1d20 ⇒ 15 Voros:1d20 ⇒ 17 Boon of players choice on a natural roll of 1 or 20 **Re-Rolls not allowed on boons**
Basalte gets a boon and 1d5 ⇒ 1 -> Avelina gets a boon.
You've got a PM
Basalte, Male Oread Fighter (Unbreakable) 4, Bloodrager 2, Living Monolith 10, Unchained Monk 1 | HP 219/219 | AC: 34 T:19 FF:34 CMD: 39 (+1 AC/saves when FF/surprised, +4 CMD vs BRush/Trip, +2 vs Sunder) | DR 3/- | 30% fortification | F+25 R+15 W+15 (+3 vs Mind-Aff; +2 vs Death, Fear) | Init +2 | Perc +27 (Darkvision, Tombsight, Tremorsense)
Very nice! Thanks a lot for running this one, DMK, it was much appreciated. I also enjoyed the RP very much, even if Basalte wasn't the best character to take part in it.
Yes, thanks GM for the quick and adept work. I'm sorry I couldn't contribute more to the combats but this scenario was completely perpendicular to my build. In my defense, I was told there would be no mammoths treading. :)
