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

Game Master Derek Weil

Norine casts Bless over the group again with her wand.
I'm never going to use up all of the charges at the rate I'm going... 1 minute.

Muluk gives Mez a nod and says, "Please, my friend. Allow me to go before you, unless you fear that there will be nothing left for you to slay." He gives a broad smile to show that he is being humorous.

Mez looks a bit surprised that someone else would blaze the trail, but he acquiesces to Muluk's wishes. "At least let my faith in Cayden Cailean protect you a bit." he says as he grants the Qadirian Shield of Faith.

The team follows the tunnel for nearly a mile. Eventually, the passage ends as it opens out into the basement of some kind of building. The basement room is full of nothing but moldering, empty wine racks. A flight of crude wooden stairs lead up towards what must be ground level. They see a wounded man hunched over, sitting on the bottom stair, clutching a small chest.

So much for those buffs, lol

"Sir, are you OK?" ask Mez from a distance, while glancing back at Calanthe to see if her deathsight can clue her into whether or not this is another undead beasty.

Calanthe moves cautiously up behind Mez, trying to determine whether the man is merely injured or beyond this mortal coil...

Muluk moves closer to the man, trying to determine if he is in need of aid. If the man yet lives, Muluk will attempt to detect evil.

" huh. I was hoping for .... more..Zing! from the positive channel." Ebon frowns at his holy symbol birthmark.
"Ahh.... well, I'm pretty sure Gorum would rather I hit it with my sword anyways..."
His preoccupation with his power leaves him somewhat behind the group instead of near the front.
" Hey!! Wine... Aww. they're all empty. What's everybody starin' at??"He asks as he notices their interest. Ebon swings his sword up off of his shoulder and holds it in readiness to swing.
"Is he alive?"

As the group nears, they recognize the nature of his wounds. The man looks positively ghoulish.

Thank you, thank you. Don't forget to tip your server! Hey, at least he doesn't seem ghastly!

He liftes his head and looks at Calanthe, perhaps knowing that she can sense what's happening to him.

"Please...help me! All my friends...eaten...by those horrid creatures!"

"My name... is Becher Railford. I'm an important man in these parts. I'll make it worth your while if you help me!"

Calanthe takes a tentative step forward, though doesn't leave the side of the more heavily-armoured types in the party. "Sir... I... We would like to help you... but I'm concerned about your own state of health..." She hesitates a moment, considering whether to continue. "You may not have long before you lose your mind to the ghoul fever as well..."

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23 Do I know anything about turning back the progression of ghoul fever? Is it possible to save him?

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21

Norine tries to think of anything, too, but knows that this is Calanthe's area, and she keeps thinking back to poor Maurit Zergo.

"Umm..would the potions or scrolls they gave us earlier have any effect on him?". Targost asks watching the injured man warily.

Calanthe and Norine get the idea that they may yet be able to help him.

Heal checks to grant him a bonus on his next saving throw. DC is 13.

Heal (w/ healer's kit): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Calanthe gingerly approaches the man, wary for any signs that he might regress back to a more feral state. She reaches for her medical kit once more; luckily, she still had some of the herbal concoction she had made earlier that day. "Here... try taking this..."

Fort save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Calanthe hands Becher the medicine, and it appears that her healing skills are getting better all the time. As soon as the man downs the herbal concoction a bit of color returns to his cheeks and he smiles at the young witch.

"Thanks my dear. I feel much better. Now, I want to help all of you out, but even though I'm starting to feel better there is another problem. Perhaps on your way into into you ran into some soldiers? I think their leader wants to claim Railford for himself. Without the deed in this chest, I can't prove my case in court. They could run me off and claim squatters' rights. Will you help me deal with them? Is there iany way I can repay you for your healing, and for this assistance against the soldiers?"

Going on the assumption that the detect evil came back negative.

"No payment is necessary, my friend," Muluk smiles, "At least not for me." He gives a glance at his companions, not wanting to speak for them.

Relaxing somewhat after Calanthe's assistance to the man, Ebon replies" I'll help for free, too! Long as it's a good fight."
Grinning he swishes his sword around and flexes a lot.

"I actually have something of a favor to ask. We represent the Pathfinder Society, and we are interested in starting the beginnings of a lodge in your brewery, a better place I cannot think of." says Mez as he polishes his holy symbol of Cayden Cailean. "So after we help you, and we will, we'd like your permission to formally establish that lodge with your blessing."

Well, he did not detect evil. But he is the man that you cam ehere to find. He owns the distillery the Society wants to use for a lodge. It sounds like he might not be too hard to convince, but he's not going to come up with it on his own.

"Well, fair enough then. Follow me!"

He leads you down another tunnel a short way. From there, you ascend a ladder and find yourselves in the Distillery itself!

Taproom: The taproom of the distillery has tall 20-foot ceilings and 8-foot high climbable scaffolding surrounds the walls laden with massive barrels filled with liquor. The barrels on the ground floor level are tapped and can be opened and closed.

Stillroom: A massive exhaust chimney occupies the center of this brick room, while complex coils of glass piles and alembic tubes, vats and beakers chug and burble, powered by a smoldering hot iron stove.

As Becher leads you upstairs, you hear shouting and fighting sounds coming from outside. Soon after, you hear a voice call out:

"Railford! We know you're in there! Come quietly and we won't hurt you!"

Becher Railford turns to you: "No way they'll let me live. They might even kill off the townsfolk too to eliminate witnesses. You said you'd fight. Now's the time!"

With that, you hear something slam into the front doors!

Damage?: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Round 1:

Grald Kretchmoor
Ebon <<
Soldiers
Calanthe
Targost
Norine
Muluk
Mez

Map will be up by end of business day. Ebon is up!

" Hah! They hope to breach!"Ebon moves to the door, and readies to attack the first enemy to break thru.
readied attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 5) + 4 = 15
If he is close enough. If not he will still move to the door going total defense. It's sad when his damage roll is higher than his attack roll.

Not if both the too hit and damage are in the 20+ range :D

"We may want to keep that door intact?" says MEz looking at Railford, Or do we thnk that door can be repaired easily enough.

Who is Grald Kretchmoor?

"Keep yourself alive and that deed safe as your first priorities," Norine cautions Becher, and then adds with a wink, "And maybe there will be free drinks at the new Lodge?"

It's me you're waiting for. I'll look at the map permissions today.

Becher says: "Don't worry about the damn doors! Just keep us safe!"

With that, you hear the sound of metla striking wood not only at the front, but also at the side doors on the north and south ends of the building!

Damage 1?: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Damage 2?: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Damage 2?: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Damage 3?: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Damage 3?: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

All three doors seem a little weaker!

Everyone except Ebon may go! This fight has you on a "timer", so we'll need to track rounds closely if we can. Still in Round 1.

Muluk follows Ebon's lead and moves to the door, where he assumes a ready position to attack the first enemy through the portal.

Muluk vs. Opponent: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Damage (scimitar): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Mez calls upon his balessing from Cayden and imbues a magical shield about himself. He then digs deep to channel the deepest desires of his god of Freedom. These intruders will pay for thinking themselves superior men. Their judgement is at hand. Mez begins to slightly glow as his flesh hardens and all sense of humor is lost. "Open the door Ebon. Let them come. The doors cannot hold for long, ruining them would be a waste. Let us see how the hunters like becoming the hunted."

Shield of faith on, judgement activated, DR option.

Norine rushes to Mez's side, casting a spell and blessing him with the strength of a bull, her shillelagh ready in her other hand. "Indeed, before they are all on us at once!"
Move to space E of Mez, cast Bull's Strength (+4 Str) for 2 minutes.

W00t, Super Mez!

Mez nods in thanks to the little cleric before focusing on the door.

I'm GMing locally tonight, so if there are no objections within the next hour, I will move ahead to having Ebon open the door. Anyone who hasn't readied an action will be able to take two actions on their "next up".

Morrigan flutters over Calanthe's head as the two prepare themselves for battle. Remembering the tortured souls of the ghouls they had met shortly before, she conjures the nightmares of their soul-stuff into her mind's eye and holds it there, ready to thrust into the first enemy she spies... Her one gold eye flickers with dark energy as the devilish curse lingers on the edge of her lips.

Readying a Misfortune hex on the first person I see come through the door. DC 15 Will or roll 2d20 take lowest until I stop cackling...

Targost tries to keep a clear shot to the door so he can fire on whoever breaks through.

Ok, I cannot move my figure on the map, but I would like Targost on the walkway over those barrels along the east wall. That way he is elevated and can fire down on the melee and keeps out of harms way...could you please move him there...right at the top of the ladder, or stairs or whatever those are :-)

I'm ok with opening the door, just didn't want to break my readied action. XD
Nodding at Mez, Ebon will jerk the door open and yell.....

"Come in my pretties!! The door is open!! Party time!"

The team hears more thumping on the doors, and they take up defensive positions. Then Ebon opens the door, and a tall man rushes in, sword drawn! He shouts as he moves: "The way is open! To me, men!"

The lightly armored man (yes, his AC is really just 13 :p ) then takes two swords two the chest, as Ebon and Muluk nearly shred him in half. He remains on his feet, if only barely.

Another man step in front of Mez, and Calanthe sends her hex his way.

Will Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

The man seems to be rather unfortunate, but tries to hit the powerful Inquisitor with his sword.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Misfortune!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

The man feels the eldritch forces of fate push his blade away from Mez even as he swings! The team hears the other mean outside rushing around towards the door.

Second round of break-in. Group is up. I've updated the map. will re-set access permissions. Let me know if it works!

Map movement seems to be working.

Muluk swings again at the leader, unless Ebon has already downed him, in which case his wrath will go to the man next to him.

Muluk vs. Opponent: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Damage (scimitar: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

"YOU!!!"
Ebon screams out the single word as he swells with anger. Heaving his bulk into a powered over hand swing, his muscles bulge with the effort.
attack on leader: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (2, 5) + 7 = 14

psst, you rolled a 20....

Attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 = 191d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

Mez lashes out at the nearest bandit, eager to join in the justice being handed out.

Norine springs a wand into her hand, casts Bless over the group, and replaces it in her belt.
So, Bless for 1 minute. You know the drill.

A twisted smile graces the corner of Calanthe's lips as the witch begins to murmur wordlessly, although the unfortunate victim of her hex hears the stream of disconcerting and discordant words quite perfectly...

Move: Cackle to extend the misfortune.

She raises her gaze, seeking out her next target.

Calanthe turns her attention to the leader (or, if he's dead from an Ebon-crit, then to the uninjured man at the back). For a moment, he feels compelled to look in her direction; and just at that moment, the tiefling whispers three short words: "See no evil..."

Standard: Cast blindness/deafness (specifically blindness). DC 16 Fort save or he becomes permanently blinded.

sorry, posted on break from work n didn't check.
threat confirm roll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
crit damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 3) + 7 = 14

Arrgh..post monster ate my post from this morning!!!

Targost points and a stream of acid leaps from his fingers and strikes at one of the invaders.

Ranged Touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Th Pathfinders mount a furious assault on their foes!

Ebon's blade cuts clean through the lead soldier, cleaving his body fully in twain. Muluk and Targost bring down a second solider while the third advances, only to fall from a blow dealt by Mez's rapier.

You hear the other men rushing towards the open door. But now they don't seem to be so much in a hurry to attack you as they are to get away from something else...

At least these stiffs weren't the whole boss fight! Sheesh, 13 AC on the leader, and 7 hp each for the henchies...

The first four men reach the door, looking desperate to get in. They've come too far to strike, but they look as they'd go to any lengths to avoid something else...

Perception checks?

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Whoo!

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Awwww...that is my first 20 and it goes to a skill check..lol

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

"Wait! These men do not seek to fight; they run from something else! Let them pass and make ready!"

As the men reach the door they shout: "They're coming. Help us! Let us in!"

The soldiers throw down their weapons and try to push into the room. In the distance, Norine, Targost and Muluk notice a half a dozen ghouls closing in!

Ghoul Init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Ebon <<
Calanthe <<
ghouls
Targost
Norine
Muluk
Mez

Ebon and Calanthe may go - ghouls just jump into initiative. Assuming you let the soldiers pass unharmed! New map as soon as you decide on fate of soldiers.

Mez sees the men fleeing the ghouls and conflict is apparent on his face. Freedom demands these aggressors be taught a lesson, but to be feed to a ghoul is a fate I’m not sure even they deserve. Setting his jaw in grim determination, Mez speaks loudly enough for those dashing forward to hear. ”You may keep your weaponry for the time being, use it to defend yourselves from the undead. But be warned, if you stab us in the back, becoming a ghoul will be the least of your worries.” he says, leaving no doubt of his intent. ” Norine, Calanthe, and Targost, keep a watchful eye on our newest wards, and ensure they stay away from our most important one. If they cause trouble, let those at the front know so we might deal with them.”

Norine nods to Mez and, with a bit of a scowl, emphatically motions for the soldiers to get in and out of the way while preparing her next spell...

Struggling to understand his friends thru the red haze of his rage, Ebon checks his swing and prepares for the next foe...Ghouls!!
readied action to strike first ghoul through the doorway: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (3, 2) + 7 = 12
" Hurrkk. Gah! ghulll!"

Calanthe nods, coming up alongside Ebon and drawing latent positive energy from the yeast in the brewery and the life-forces of the attacking men into her hands.

Healing Hex on first ghoul that comes into reach (melee touch): 1d20 ⇒ 13
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8