(PFS) GM Alice's First Steps Part II: To Delve the Dungeon Deep [Group 1] (Inactive)

Game Master Alice Margatroid

As Trig asks his question, Elysia contemplates how novel and refreshing the direct approach is. I must try it some day. She smiles encouragement at the bard.

Tarka looks to Trig. "Fire Speaker is liar! He colour change man, say talk to great spirit of fire dragon, but Tarka no believe."

Trig sees Elysia's smile and blushes ever so slightly, but the kobald's answer refocuses his attention.

Color change man? An illusionist? A chameleon? Trig can envision this as a very long conversation indeed. He tries to ask the next questions encouragingly.

"Tell us about this color change man. What did he look like? Where did he come from?"

"Fire Speaker come from outside, say he bring to tribe power of fire spirit. He make fire from shrine, so maybe he right. But he no good! Tarka know! Why he no kobold or no dragon but rule kobold? No matter if talk to fire dragon spirit!" Tarka stomps her foot in irritation. "Why he so good but not Tarka?"

"He... he colour change man. You height. No hair. But colour change skin." It's obvious she doesn't really know much more than that.

Know (Local) Take 10 +6 = 16

"Thank you, Tarka." Trig turns to the others. "If he can change his skin color, he may be nearly invisible if it comes to a fight."

Bendaxalon would've gotten a crafty, mischievous look in his eyes, but that's just normal for the gnome. "Ah! Ah! But what if I change his color too?" He reaches inside for his innate gnomish magic, and turns Trig's head an eye-searing shade of orange with bright green polka dots.

Use prestidigitation spell-like ability, duration one hour.

Li, uncharacteristically, snorts in laughter.

Fortunately I can't see it or we'd have minced gnome! ;-)

Arithas stifles a chuckle as he thinks about this Fire Speaker. "Trig," he says through another stifled laugh. "Do you know what this creature is? Is it evil? Could it be enslaving these kobolds?"

"There's stories about man-like beings called skulks. They can change their skin color like a chameleon. That's all I know. "

"So we watch carefully," says Li. "Let's go."

"Well, Tarka, if we fight the Firespeaker will you and yours fight beside us?"

It's through the door to the Firespeaker, or back the way we came. I vote Khale leads us through. I'd rather lead with our strong right uppercut than with our collective chin.

"Altar room is just in there. But Tarka no fight kobold brother and sister," she responds to Trig's last question; further requests get similar answers out of her. The kobolds move out of the way to let you pass, and Khale leads the band of Pathfinders in through the door.

This large room was once two, but the wall between them has been partially torn down, and the broken door now serves as a makeshift altar. The candles and strange statues that decorate it all face the dark alcove beyond the broken wall. Four kobolds of the same russet-red scale colour of Tarka kneel before the altar, chanting some kind of ritual in Draconic to the "great fire". The red glow of fire flashes intermittently in the darkness from behind the corner, briefly illuminating what appears to be a large statue of a muscular kobold.

With the sound of the door opening behind them, and of course the clank of armour and weapons, the kobolds stop their ritual, turning around to face you. A thin, whispering voice from the darkness calls out, and the kobolds draw their weapons in response.

Initiative: Elysia | Trig | Arithas | Bendaxalon | Khale | Li | Kobolds

Heroes are up.

Trig assumes Elysia has the grease covered this time and instead begins a song about a young sorceror and his brave companions setting out to clear a bridge of the ogres based there who raid the countryside.

Inspire courage: +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Elysia casts grease on the area indicated by the square (Messrs Green and Orange kobold), then steps back into the room.

Arithas moves into the doorway and throws a bomb (targeting the green kobold).
Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Miss: 1d8 ⇒ 6 I believe that either still hits him, or hits the wall behind him?
if it hits him Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

A missed bomb will never directly hit, you roll the 1d8 to determine the square AROUND it that it falls into (and dealing splash damage there). f'rex:

1 2 3
8 X 4
7 6 5

Even if it hits the wall it'll still only do splash damage if there are any creatures nearby.

Also, Elysia, I just checked the map, and you're casting on the wrong kobolds :P The ones lined up against the wall are the ones you guys made friendly...

Yikes!

Revised action: Casting grease on the blue square that always covered Messrs Red, Green and Blue Kobold. And Oceania has always been at war with Eastasia.

Elysia ain't moving nowhere. She is staying right where she is. In other words, the spot where she is now, is a good spot. It is her spot

As it may be relevant:

Two of the kobolds remain standing - only the green one falls over.

I also attacked the wrong kobolds haha. I will still attack the green one, but there was no reason to move. The bomb would hit the square with the red kobold, dealing 5 (6 if point-blank shot applies to splash damage) to the red, green, and blue kobolds. DC 15 reflex save for half.

Li shoots them both.

Li's First arrow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 201d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Li's Second arrow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 211d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

I'ma guess those hit. But both were mere grazing hits.

Khale moves then attacks red.

Attack, glaive 2h: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

I'm going to assume that misses.

Li, don't you get an extra 1 on those damage rolls?

D'oh! Yep

Initiative: Elysia | Trig | Arithas | Bendaxalon | Khale | Li | Kobolds

Status

Kobold (Red): Dead
Kobold (Blue): Dead
Kobold (Green): Prone, staggered; 5 damage

OOC
Moving for Bendaxalon.

Elysia wavers for a moment, almost feeling like she wants to douse the friendlier kobolds with slippery grease, but changes her mind at the last moment. For now, at least. Still, her indecision makes the spell a little sloppier than usual, and only one of the kobolds actually falls over in the mess. Trig inspires his companions with tales of greatness, while Arithas tosses a bomb, but his aim is clumsy and it lands in between his target and the others in front of it. Luckily, the kobold on the ground isn't able to roll out of the way quickly enough, and it wails loudly as the fiery explosion rolls over it. When the smoke clears, it seems to be quite charred - not quite dead but certainly on the verge of it.

Acid Splash: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Bendy hurls a small globe of acid at the back-most kobold, but his aim is juuuust slightly off, instead eroding a little bit of the stone wall behind it. Khale attempts to take down the nearest reptilian, but he overestimates just how small the thing is and cuts through empty air over its head. But never-the-matter - Li is quick to fire off two arrows into the chests of the front-most kobolds, knocking them to the ground with chokes of pain.

The near-dead kobold gingerly stands up in the messy grease, its breathing haggard. It barely has the energy to do that, let alone anything else. The remaining kobold seems determined to do what its kin could not, and fires off a sling stone that pinks off of Khale's shoulder. It's more of an irritation than anything, really.

There's suddenly a strange movement from around the side of the alcove, almost like the stone itself was moving. As the creature leaps over the patch of grease, you catch sight of definite humanoid features: a strange, totally hairless humanoid with skin perfectly matching the patterns on the wall behind him. You also notice that, hung about his waist, is a rather outstanding jade katana...

Before you can think too much on it, the skulk mutters a few words and a sudden blast of multi-coloured, vibrant light bursts from his fingertips.

Khale, Arithas, and Trig, please make a DC 13 Will save.

Sorry, collapsed after an unexpectedly long workday. Spellcraft vs. DC 16: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25 Success

Round 2

Briefly put out at his poor aim, Bendaxalon turns his frown upside down and giggles at the cosmic joke that is being played on the kobolds and skulk. Oh, if only they knew! Fate has delivered unto them precisely the right person to bring them the fire that they apparently worship. The inappropriately cheerful gnome dances a couple of yards to the northwest, and with a few arcane words and gestures, he lets loose a gout of flame to the west.

NA: 5' step to the left and up (moved myself already)
SA: Cast burning hands (Reflex DC 15 for half damage) in a 15' cone to the left
Fire damage (pyromaniac gnome + brass draconic bloodline): 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 3) + 2 = 9

Elysia moves as indicated and then shouts her battlecry, as well as casting a spell.

Spellcraft 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Elysia casts Colour Spray

By the purest of happy happenstances, the individualist gnome has no idea what Elysia just said.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13
Will: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Arithas is not having a good day. While he is trying to figure out what spell the skulk was casting, he gets hit by it full force, and falls to the ground unconscious.

Will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Sigh. ;-(

Will save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

I assume the skulk cast defensively?

Khale responds to the bright colors washing over him by slashing at the creature!

Attack, glaive 2h, power attack, inspire courage: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 1 + 1 = 7

Bah!

Turns out I need to read the whole post. Li wasn't in the area of effect. Thanks, Bendaxallon!

Li expresses his disapproval of the skulk's method of introduction by imparting considerable kinetic energy to two feathered dowels.

Li's First shot: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 131d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Li's Second shot: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 51d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

You have GOT to be kidding me... :-)

I know the feelin buddy. Arithas hasn't rolled good pretty much this whole scenario so far lol

Initiative: Elysia | Trig | Arithas | Bendaxalon | Khale | Li | Kobolds

Status
Arithas: unconscious, blinded, stunned (7 rounds); blinded, stunned (4 rounds); stunned (1 round)

Kobold (Red): Dead
Kobold (Blue): Dead
Kobold (Green): Dead
Skulk: 20 damage

Trig Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15

Khale: Actually, I totally forgot that you provoke at that distance. So you do get an AoO.

Khale AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 Alas...

Khale attempts to disrupt the skulk's magic with a quick glaive attack, but the bright light bursting from his fingertips makes seeing the target quite difficult. At least he managed to shield his eyes - he can't say the same for Arithas, who falls to the ground, completely unconscious. Elysia attempts to assert her will over the proletariat, but the slippery skulk is quite familiar with her tricks, and shuts his eyes against the effect.

Bendy throws a gout of flame over the skulk while Li peppers him with arrows and Khale attacks from afar. Though only some of the attacks hit, it's certainly causing a lot of blood loss. Panting and looking quite desperate, the mage throws up his hands in surrender.

"Alright, alright! I give, I give! I don't want to die here! Look, I'll give you anything you want, just don't kill me!"

Long day in the garden yesterday. Thanks for the save, Alice!

Trig stops singing to listen to the offer of surrender.

Sense motive 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

2 rounds of bardic performance used.

"I believe you. And it's funny you should make that offer. We're looking for the jade sword you're wearing. It belongs to someone we know. How did you come by it?"

Sense Motive vs. DC 14: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (15) - 1 = 14 Success

For what it's worth, Bendaxalon thinks that he's telling the truth too. (It isn't worth much, since he's often wrong about such things.) He waits for the skulk to answer Trig's question, then makes an offer. "Hand over the katana, leave, and don't come back. In that order."

Arithas snores.

Elysia listens to the men (and skulk speak).

After a bit, she stirs and looks around carefully

Perception 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Li leaves the talking to his far more glib allies. He covers the room's entrance.

Khale glares at the creature and maintains his position before finally asking, "And what of the others who came here before us? A group of explorers and adventurers - we found one of them outside these ruins, changed into an undead monster. Do you know the fates of her allies?"

Elysia notices that the final kobold seems to have clued in that his boss isn't doing much anymore and is trying to quietly sneak out of the room. When it meets her gaze, it freezes and whistles innocently.

The skulk seems incredibly happy that you're all willing to spare him, and he immediately removes the jade katana, sheath and all, and tosses it in your direction. "That's it? God! Take it! I've had enough of these stupid kobolds anyway!"

He looks to Khale and shrugs. "Don't know what you're talking about, really. Look, I just came here and conned the kobolds into doing stuff for me, that's all. But I think it's certainly time that I made my leave."

Arithas grunts in his sleep.

Perception 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Trig picks up the green stone katana.

"What sort of things, skulk?"

Er, can we aid Perception checks?

Khale pulls his glaive back, but continues to glower at the skulk. He then turns and moves over to awaken Arithas.

Khale: Yes, although this is a very particular kind of Perception check, so I'd only apply the aid if you were doing a certain type of search (and described it as such) rather than just being generally aware of stimuli. Yeah... that's kinda vague, I know... :P

"Eh? Nothing much, really... just goin' out and doing stuff for me. They do the hard work of getting food and goods, and I sit back and am worshipped for being the 'flame speaker'. It's a pretty awesome life, really."

So, since we are out of combat, and there has been quite a bit of searching and talking, can we assume that a minute has gone bye and Arithas is awake and no longer stunned/blinded? I know Khale mentioned waking him up, but I just realized how much time has probably elapsed. If so, I would like to examine the katana.

Oh, yeah, you can assume the effect wears off shortly. :)

Yeah, suitably vague. :) But I'll go with the obvious choice and hope it works...

Khale joins Arithas in examining the katana. "Look at that!"

Perception (to aid): 1d20 ⇒ 15