[PFS] GM Derek W's Decline of Glory #24 (Inactive)

Game Master Derek Weil

Muluk immediately interposes himself between the humanoid and his companions, scimitar at the ready.

Norine moves away from the center of the commotion, pointing her crossbow in that direction, and asks Calanthe, "Living or undead?"

"Need to be able to see it... to be sure," she murmurs in response, "but my heart... doubts that it's living..."

(As soon as Cal has line of sight to the humanoid, she'll let everyone know if it's alive or dead.)

As the thing struggles under the rubble, Calanthe looks closely. One of its arms bursts out for a moment, and in that instant, she feels a lump rise in her throat. She sees as plain as anything that it's a fully 'un-alive' ghoul!

The creature struggles to break out, and it nearly does. Just before it can stand to attack, the ground underneath it gives way, and it falls down into the stairwell!

"Well... it's certainly not alive," Calanthe says grimly, gripping her crossbow tightly and loading a bolt in the holder. "I suppose it will be waiting for us... down there... in the darkness."

"If it is a mindless undead, maybe we can lure it out into the open and deal with it up here. I mean it is driven by hunger right?"

Saying that, Targost readies his bow just in case the creature rushes out from the hole.

"Perhaps I should go first," Muluk offers, moving towards the hole.

With Muluk intent on leading the way, Mez follows close behind to offer assistance as needed. He does offer the man a bit of Cayden's Guidance, "Don't let them bite or claw you!" he says with a nod.

Muluk and Mez lead the way down the narrow and precarious stairway. A sour smell of death leaks through a large, murky limestone cave. Thick shadows splay from the rough, natural columns bracing its low, curved ceiling. Dark waters flood the caves and everywhere rotten casks bob slowly, as slow drips from the ceiling smack the surface with eerie dissonance. The quagmire is waste deep, possible deeper. Farther in, a cage-like fence of iron divides the caves. In the center of the fence, a barred door hangs bent, partially torn from its hinges.

The ghoul rises from the bottom of the stairs to strike, while three more shapes can be seen behind the iron fence!

Round 1:
Norine
Mez
Calanthe
ghouls
Targost
Ebon
Muluk

Map will follow during lunch break today! Just wanted to get this post up 1st.

Map updated! The dark blue areas are waist-deep water (3-4 feet). The pale blue is knee deep (1-2 feet). Both of these count as difficult terrain - move through at half speed. The pale brown is dry ground. Muluk and Mez are on the stairs, the rest of you are behind them, outside the cave.

Going to wait until after Norine/Calanthe before I act, just in case there are buffs/debuffs.

Hearing Muluk's warning of danger ahead, Calanthe steps aside to allow the rest of the party passage. As she does so, she quietly murmurs a prayer to Pharasma, drawing the iconic spiral in the air before herself. A semi-opaque force-field surrounds her for a moment before disappearing.

Casting mage armor - I don't have LoS so I can't use my hexes. :(

If Norine can switch places with Calanthe (she tends to be behind Ebon, as a rule).
Norine slaps Ebon on the back with a bit of Desna's luck, and wishes she could have gotten farther forward in the cramped quarters.

I should have cast Bless before we went down, and possibly a Protection from Evil or two. Need to be smarter.

Calanthe can always switch with you, she didn't use her move action. And yeah, I should've hit mage armor earlier. Keep forgetting it has a 3 hours duration now, haha.

Mez laments the cramped quarters and the fact none of his support allies can support HIM When will Mez get lucky? ;) and steps up to try and skewer the ghoul. Seeing the cluster behind the first, the wary inquisitor fights defensively, which hinders his swing immensely.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 2 = 101d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
AC is 25

Ebon will wait impatiently til Muluk andMez move into the room. He will then move in and swing at the first ghoul if it is still up, or ready an attack vs approaching enemy, if it is not.
attack with greatsword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 3) + 4 = 12

Ebon, remember that you have a "Bit of Luck" for this round.

Not seeing a clear space to aim his bow, Targost relies on his magic to send a vibrant cobalt dart past his allies and into one of the undead creatures.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Did I miss the Ghouls going, or is everyone pre-posting their actions?

I think I pre-posted mine...as I saw Ebon had posted...my bad

My bad. Meant to post ooc that it was a hold action till others moved.
bit of luck reroll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Calanthe and Norine cast their spells while switching places in line. Mez wades into the water, but his rapier slides past the ghoul as it twists out of the way.

It then tries to bite and rake its claws at Mez!

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Claw #1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Claw #2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

While the creature is clearly enraged, it cannot pierce the inquisitor's strong armor!

The other ghouls move closer!

Targost sends a bolt of arcane force into the ghoul's chest, and then Ebon moves in. As he swings his father's sword, a butterfly floats in front of his eyes. Somehow, Ebon realizes his intended slice would miss, and he corrects his action in an instant, slicing the creature apart!

One ghoul down!

Round 1/2:

Muluk <<
Calanthe <<
Norine <<
Mez <<
ghouls
Targost
Ebon

Muluk moves up to stand beside Ebon and readies for an attack with his scimitar if/when a ghoul steps close enough.

Muluk vs. Ghoul: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage (scimitar): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Calanthe steps aside for Norine to take a position ahead of her.

Not much space out there with you guys clogging the doorway! I'm delaying until some people move forward enough for me to slip in behind them.

I'll try and flank them!" says Mez as he darts to the side. R7 Keeping his shield up, Mez waits to see what the ghouls do. Do they go for the meatier target, or follow his distraction and open themselves up to a counterstrike from behind.

total defense again

Norine moves ahead of Calanthe to where she can see everyone and casts Bless from the wand she drops into her hand.

The party responds to the action, and the ghouls close in! One moves in on Ebon, and takes Muluk's sword across its chest for its trouble! The creature presses on and bites at the Shoanti warrior!

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

The big man is able to twist away from the rotting teeth of the ghoul!

The other creatures can't get close enough to attack right away, but they swarm everyone, ending up in front of Ebon, Muluk, and Mez.

Round 2/3: The party is up!

Following up from his first attack, Muluk attempts to finish off the ghoul in front of him.

Muluk vs. Ghoul: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage (scimitar): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Mez slashes as the ghoul who thought him a tasty snack, hoping to open the way forward so he might be able to flank and finish off the other foes.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 81d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Instead, Mez nearly runs himself through his foot as he puts too much emphasis in his flourish and not enough into stabbing the ghoul.

Norine touches Ebon again for a bit of luck, dreading the possibility of having to swim herself.

Still delaying... wake me when the combat is over, I suppose. :P

Calanthe sighs, trying her best to peek around the edge of the stairs but having very little luck of it.

Ooh, actually, nevermind. Almost forgot that I can do fun things with healing hexes to undead. :P

Deciding that it would be better to put herself in danger to fell the foul unrisen beasts than to simply stand around here safely in the corridor, Calanthe decides to make her way down into the pool of water at the bottom of the stairs. The bottom of her robes immediately drenches as she wades into the water, but her hands glow with a pale silvery light of holy energy...

"May Pharasma take you," she murmurs, reaching out to touch the ghoul on the shoulder. Her gentle and pitying caress leaves the ghoul's flesh sizzling and searing.

Moving next to Ebon and using my healing hex on the ghoul just near me.
Melee Touch: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Damage (Positive Energy): 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11 Will DC 15 for half

Round 2

Targost makes room for Calanthe to squeeze in and strike at the closest ghoul. With little clear space, Targost fires another magic missile at the same creature Calanthe struck.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Raising his arms above his head, so that his birthmark shows, Ebon channels positive energy to damage undead.
channel: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Will save DC 10 for half.

The Pathfinders mount a furious attack against the ghouls!

Muluk cuts another gash in his foe, but it still doesn't fall!

Calanthe touches the ghoul in front of Ebon. She causesit to writhe in pain, but it seems to resist her powers somewhat. Targost's magic hurts it some more. Norine slaps Ebon, then He channel the power of he Lord of Iron. The creatures seem to fend off much of this damage as well. Nevertheless, the ghoul in front of Muluk crumples to the ground, destroyed!

Ghoul E (11 damage)
Ghoul M (unharmed)

The two ghouls unleash their own full assaults against Ebon and Mez!

Ghoul E bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Ghoul E claw #1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Ghoul E claw #2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Ghoul M bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Ghoul M claw #1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Ghoul M claw #2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

The beasts shriek in impotent fury as they can't land a single blow!

Party is up! Ghoul in front of Muluk is gone, and Calanthe is standing next to Ebon. Can't update map well at moment, so please make do with verbal updates if possible.

Channel Energy (Harm Undead), DC 14: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

Norine follows Ebon's lead and channels a burst of positive energy against the undead, hoping to weaken the creatures for the fighters.

Calanthe decides to make it even harder for the ghouls to hit. She glares at the one just before her, channelling all her church's rage and hatred into its very core. "Return this vessel to the ground... return this soul to Pharasma's embrace..."

5-foot step to S11, cast Misfortune (doesn't provoke) on the ghoul next to me and Ebon, and cackle to continue it. DC 15 Will save or roll 2d20 for a long time.

Muluk sweeps in a quick slash in between Ebon's channeling and strikes to hit the ghoul in front of the Shoanti warrior. Unfortunately, the ill-timed strike misses the intended target.

Muluk vs. Ghoul: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Damage (scimitar): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Not wanting to be left out of the fun, Mez continues his dance of death Undeath? with the ghoul facing him.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 141d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Partial round update!

Norine calls forth the power of Desna. The ghoul in front of Ebon turns to ash!

Ghoul M will Save v. channel: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 2 = 9

The ghoul near Mez is burned badly by the divine power as well!

Calanthe casts her Hex on the last ghoul!

Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

It doesn't feel particularly unfortunate, especially when Muluk's wild swing misses. It does no have time to consider its existence for long, however, as Mez deftly stabs just right. His rapier sends this ghoul back to Pharasma!

Out of combat! Ghoul E was dead regardless of making its save. And Mez hit ghoul M's Ac EXACTLY and brought it to EXACTLY zero HP since it failed the will save on Norine's channel! sorry it wasn't tougher guys! I had six attacks last turn that all missed you!

You DID roll like utter crap... :P

Calanthe sighs as the combat draws to an end, but doesn't stop there. She immediately begins intoning sacred verses of Pharasma, clutching her holy symbol as she performs a rite to sanctify the dead ghouls.

"May you never rise again..."

Nothing magical here, just figured there would be some simple mundane things the church would do.

I could melt them again....ewwwwwww..lol

Yeah, you did roll really poorly, and ghouls always worry me: three attacks each potentially causing paralysis - helplessness - can go badly really quickly.

Norine breathes a deep sigh of relief, then casts Detect Magic and begins scanning the room, leaving the physical search for the taller members of the group.

Muluk begins a search of the area from whence the ghouls came.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Targost gives each of the creatures a quick search before he moves into the main chamber.

"Blast! This water is going to ruin my boots!"

After destroying the ghouls' bodies, the group moves through the murky flood waters cautiously. Fortunately, no other threats appear at the moment.They find nothing but rotten old barrels south of the iron fence. The team then passes through the gate into the northern section of the chamber.

Once through, Muluk notices a small, dry alcove raised slightly above the mire. There is a shelf here with a variety of junk, but you can clearly see an outline in the dust where a small chest probably stood.

There are dozens of crates of wine corks and moldering labels. One of the crates contains a couple of interesting items among moldy old clothes and a pair of rusty daggers. You find two items that the spellcasters among you identify as bracers or armor +1 and a handy haversack.

A little more exploring reveals a short tunnel branching off to the left, and the Pathfinders gratefully step out of the mud to investigate. This leads to a small, dry chamber. Mez and Muluk help Ebon clear away some old crates and barrels to gain entrance.

The room has nothing of further value, and a quick search reveals a small iron door. The door is not locked or trapped, and reveals a ladder leading down into a dry, narrow tunnel. There are some fresh footprints at the bottom of the ladder, leading out of the chamber.

Mez calls upon Cayden's grace to ward him from harm as he heads down the ladder, moments after any prepatory spells have been cast by the others.

Giving people time to buff if they want. Mez is casting shield of faith just before heading down the ladder in case of ambush. AC 25

Targost will cast mage armour before going down the ladder

Muluk will led the way down the ladder, unless Mez insists on going first.

Mez will let Muluk go first if Muluk makes it known he wants to go first, Mez is just used to going first due to his higher survivability.