[PFS] GM Derek W's Night March of Kalkamedes 4-19 (Inactive)

Game Master Derek Weil

Malfeas would take a 5' step north to get out of LoS of the dragon after firing, hoping that will protect him from the breath weapon. This will allow Naurin to cast and then move wherever she wants.

Gunther and Walter take 5' steps and ready their weapons to strike as soon as the enemies come within range.

Mal shoots twice at the dragon. His first arrow sinks deep into the beast's side, but it doesn't seem to hurt him as much as Mal woul dhave expected.

Mal ducks behind a column as Naurin casts her spell on him.

Johann throws his bomb, striking Illvaster directly. Again, the wound looks less serious than usual for such a hit.

The dragon has taken 9 damage.

Illvaster lumbers forward, moving quickly if awkwardly, and bites at Gunther!

Gunther and Walter strike at the dragon!

Gunther greatsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11

Walter longspear: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 4 - 2 = 10

Gunther's sword slices neatly into the dragon, leaving a deep wound, but it does not bleed.

Walter, still shaken, stikes the ground with his spear tip.

Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

The dragon's bite just manages to catch him around the waist, and the beast clamps down hard with his jaws, leaving Gunther just barely standing.

Would our Arcana checks have told us about the dragon's breath weapon shape, or other capacities/vulnerabilities?

Walter--still feeling not himself--
declares Abadar's judgment on the Dragon!

He takes a step back (5') to prepare another thrust at his foe!

longspear: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 101d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Damn, I had been hoping they'd take away the DR when they made a dracolich.

Malfeas steps out and fires two shots at the beast, hoping to prevent it from killing Gunther.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 81d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 221d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Bombs do fire damage and are not subject to damage reduction. Now if he has fire resistance, that's fine.

Good catch, Johann. Sorry I couldn't remember the rules. Do undead have fire resistance? Naurin, as to your arcana check it let you know that something was up. I should have called for a religion check, so go ahead and roll. The dragon's taken 25 points of damage - 5 from Mal, 9 from Johann, 11 from Gunther. I still need to pop up a new map and have the hands go, then it's back to you guys.

Fortunately, undead do not normally have fire resistance. I should have also mentioned, since it looks like the hands are adjacent to the dragon zombie (or whatever), who is apparently medium-sized, they should take 4 points of splash damage.

Ah, I see why we think it is undead, lol. I missed Derek's post.
Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Finally, a good roll!

Naurin rushes behind Gunther and, drawing on her mysterious magical energies, casts a spell and touches him on the back.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Woohoo!

Yeah, if you have the appropriate skill the recognize it, I ought to give you a shot at it.

The little hands crawl forward, getting near to the party.

Each hand has 4 damage.

Round 1 is over.

Round 2:

Gunther
Walter - attack
Malfeas - attack
Naurin - Cure
Johann
dragon
hands

I've got to try to wrap things up over the weekend. If I don't hear from you by the time I go to sleep Gunther, I'll DMPC you again.

Johann reaches into his alchemy pouch, running his fingers swiftly along his carefully-organized vials and finding the one he wants almost instantly. He draws a vial with a tiny, dessicated, preserved eagle in it, and tosses it just behind the dragon. Summon Nature's Ally I for an Eagle (click for stats).

Alchemist extracts are standard actions, even if they duplicate a spell that takes longer! :D

Johann also draws his dagger in case he needs to defend himself against the hands.

The eagle is in a position where it is flanking with Gunther. Since this follows normal summon rules, I'm going to assume it can make a full attack. If you decide otherwise, just take the first attack. All attacks count as slashing.

Eagle Talon, Talon, Bite: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 191d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 211d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 21d4 ⇒ 31d4 ⇒ 1

have I gone for round 2 already?...
Walter is confused from being intimidated!

Feeling life enter his body from Naurin, Gunther swings at the dragon again, putting his power into the swing.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 1 = 11
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 + 3 = 10

Gunther might also get the flanking bonus, if that helps.

I haven't re-set the order due to readied actions!

Mal sends another arrow into the creature, managing another slight wound. 4 damage

Naurin heals Gunther. Now at 9 HP

Johann tosses his flask, and an eagle springs to view! It strikes at the dragon viciously. 6 damage

Gunther and Walter make their attacks, but both bounce off the dragon's tough hide.

The dragon tries to bite Gunther again!

Bite: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

The bite digs deeply, but not as much as the first one. Gunther is still on his feet.

Dragon has taken 35 damage.

Did my Knowledge (Religion) roll tell us anything?

Naurin rushes behind Gunther and again casts healing on the ranger. I got to get ahead!

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
The die is a fickle mistress, indeed.

Malfeas continues to fire arrows at the dragon-thing, knowing there is not much else he can do at this point to try and save Gunther.

Attack 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 211d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Attack 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 71d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

The two clawed hands advance on Walter, trying to reach him for a strike!

As they near him, Walter takes an attack of opportunity in one.

Walter AOO: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 2 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Walter neatly skewers one of the hands, causing it to crumble into dust.

The second hand reaches Walter and claws at him!

Claw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

The claws rattle off Walter's armor.

Mal shoots at the dragon again, with one hit striking and causing damage.

Dragon at 37 damage.

Naurin cast her healing spell, giving Gunther a bit of a boost.

Round three:

Johann
Gunther
Walter
dragon
hand

Nauirn, I spoilered something for you upthread for your religion roll. There's some magic afoot that limits what I can tell you.

Thanks, Derek. Sorry I missed it!

Naurin, analyzing the reactions and movements of the creature, says - pausing for spellcasting - that, "There's magic - some glamer - about it but I think it is a undead - maybe a zombie! ... Hit it with slashing, if you can!"

"I'm trying to hit it as hard as I can," Gunther replies.
"It just keeps biting me!"

Power Attack again: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 1 + 2 = 26 (Power Attack and Flanking)
Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 + 3 = 14
Crit chance: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 - 1 + 2 = 22
Crit Damage: 2d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 + 3 = 12

Walter backs up a step (5') and thrusts at the hand.

longspear: 1d20 + 4 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 - 2 = 71d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Wow! Good thing undead can be crit'ed now.

Eagle attack first:

Eagle Talon, Talon, Claw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 181d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 161d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 31d4 ⇒ 41d4 ⇒ 3

Johann tosses another bomb at the dragon, angling the toss so that it will avoid Gunther and the eagle. Precise bombs allows me to avoid up to my INT modifier in squares on a successful hit.

ranged touch attack, into melee, less than 30 ft: 1d20 + 3 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 3 + 1 - 4 = 20
Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 = 10
Bombs don't crit. :(

Are you sure they don't? It sounds like just the bonus damage isn't multiplied. Can't stop to check the boards/FAQs right now, though.

Bombs DO crit!...20/x2

That still doesn't address criting, just about them as weapons.

Edit: Looking further, it appears that the best answer is that the first 1d6 and the INT bonus are multiplied but the bonus damage at higher levels isn't.

The dragon succumbs to the eagle's talon's and Johann's bomb. As the explosion clears, the group can see the wrecked carcass. The dragon has clearly been dead for some time. A mithral band on the left horn of the dragon slips off, and it is now easy to see that the remains have been zombified. The band changes shape too, turning into a large, pointed hat.

Gunther redirects his attack against the remaining hand facing Walter. His mighty slash causes the hand to explode in a cloud of decay.

Victory! Combat rounds are over.

Naurin summons her healing energies again for Gunther, and seems apologetic that she cast her protection spell on the wrong individual.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Naurin then scans the scene with Detect Magic, focusing in on the hat, and then carefully approaches the pool of water. "Let us continue to follow Kalkamedes and we can explore the depths further later."

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Where was Kalkamedes during all of this?

Swimming?...lol!

Yes, Thanks Naurin, but it'll be better to protect the melee people. The day I'm holding the line is the day we're in serious trouble. You said the magic circle things are designed to keep our Abysmal Gnome contained right? How is that broken? Does it prevent anything from going in?" asks Malfeas, a sinister look in his eye.

Says the man with 12 HP and AC23...
I don't think I learned anything about the 'magic circles'; I was going to ask again about that, though.

"Let's follow Kalkamedes to see where he will go, but keeping him away from the 'gnome' at all costs."

oh right, johann mentioned the circle stuff.

Yeah, the circles will admit most anyone. Getting out is the trick, if the ward applies.

Kalkamedes steps around the scene of the fight, making his way to the third chamber at the far end of the cavern. In this area, the party spots another circle like the one holding the "gnome" prisoner. In the center is a golden-haired female humanoid. She is lying on the ground, unconscious. Kalkamedes walks right up to her, and stands, as if waiting for something.

Roll Knowledge Religion and Knowledge Planes, please.

The summoning circles can be destroyed by dealing normal damage to them (made of metal)

Walter stands next to Kalkamedes, looking for any signs of danger.

perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Malfeas stays outside the circle, wary for signs of new enemies that may threaten the group.

Kalky entered the circle, but did not disturb it?

Edit: Given my previous knowledge(arcana) result, would Johann know whether shooting missile weapons, or using reach weapons, to attack someone inside the circle, would disturb the circle?

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

"I have two scrolls (which I should have mentioned before, but events progressed too quickly), one that allows me to detect good and one that allows me to detect evil. I do not know if they will work through these circles, nor do I know if they will be fooled, but it is worth a try."

Naurin reads her Scroll of Detect Good and looks to the angelic figure before her.

Naurin can tell that the creature is in fact good. She recognizes that the figure is indeed angelic. It is an azata, a celestial being from the plane of Elysium.

I think ranged weapons can enter the circles. Everything I've read makes it clear that creatures and people can enter unhindered. I don't know if it would disturb the circle.

"Since this creature is good - from all that I can tell - I say that we should risk destroying the circle, so freeing the angel."

If others agree, Naurin will try entering the circle to pick up the angel and take her out. If that doesn't work, she will take out a hammer and pitons and start chipping and chiseling away at the circle, to see if that might destroy or deface it, deactivating it.

Naurin also releases a burst of positive energy to see if that helps heal or revive the angel.

Channel heal: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Johann perks up when he hears the creature described as an Azata, and begins working on destroying part of the circle as well, trying to scratch it away with his dagger.

Naurin's channeling improves the azata's appearance, but she still remains unconscious. Naurin and Johann are able to damage the circle enough to cause a break. From what they understand, its magic should no longer be effective.

Johann crosses the circle and kneels to examine the being. Heal check: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12 If it appears she needs it, he will try to give her some water from his waterskin.

Now that we can walk back and forth with assured safety, Naurin suggests, "Let's all pick her up carefully and take her outside the circle."

Naurin will channel up to three more time (her limit).
Channel energy: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Channel energy: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Channel energy: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Naurin's second channel does the trick (first of this set). The woman's eyes flutter open. She accepts the drink from Johann, and looks the group over quickly before speaking, in Common.

"Many thanks to you. I was in quite a spot! Please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Sulianna. What brings you to this accursed place?"

Walter nods over to Kalkamedes.

We were guiding this fellow. He seemed determined to arrive here!

Yes, and he seems to have taken a fancy to you. Do you know him? Why was he determined to stop at your side?" Asks Malfeas, keep his bow nocked and ready, but slightly pleased this elven lass hasn't ripped of their heads yet.

Naurin can't believe she is actually talking to an angel and sits stunned for a moment. Hearing the questions, she then asks questions herself, feeling almost as if someone else was speaking.

"Sulianna, do you know who the pretend 'gnome' is in the other magic circle? When we didn't release him, he tried to destroy us with an undead dragon."

"It's a bit of a story, but I think I can explain. In ages past, this edifice was home to a group that called themselves the Thrallkeepers. These were servants of the ancient Thassilonian Runelord of Sloth. They summoned many creatures here to do their bidding. One creature survived the Thrallkeepers' reign: a demon known as Koth'Vaul. Mighty in power, he chafed at being trapped here. I came hoping to destroy or at least banish him. When I arrived, I was blindsided by his dragon henchman, who forced me into Koth'Vaul's circle. He got the better of me, but I managed to escape to this circle, where the dragon could for some reason not reach me."

"I lay here, as if in a dream. When I found the mind of this man, Kalkamedes I believe, wandering nearby, I reached out to him and sought to call him to my aid. Koth'Vaul interfered with my message, however, and only now, with your help, was he able to reach me. I fear my own power and strength are yet weak. I can grant one of you the power to cast the spell to banish Koth'Vaul from this plane. I fear, however, that his destruction is beyond us at present. I think that once he is banished your friend here may perhaps return to normal."

Naurin looks to her friends to see if any others seem eager to volunteer. "I would be honored to cast the spell to banish Koth'Vaul."