Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella looks at Growler for a moment before going to the door, turning something over in her mind.
--
Quiella draws her hammer as they reach the door. When Xien kicks it open she shouts "Surrender or meet steel!"
Everyone rushes into the room, readying to ambush one or more cultists only to find....no one in the room.
Although formerly full of finery, this large hall has been completely ransacked. Scarlet drapes lie in tatters on the floor, obsidian pedestals are smashed, and shards of red and black clay cover the floor. The southeast corner is the only exception—a large table sits there undisturbed. On it, the cultists have reconstructed an idol of Moloch: a large, armored flame creature with the head of a bull.
Three torches line the chamber, but casting only dim light.
Suddenly from the north wall, a spray of color assaults the senses of Xien, Quiella, Alexandria, and Ib! Those four PC's need to make a DC 15 Will Save
If you fail the Will save:
Level 2 or below are rendered unconscious, blinded, and stunned for 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 rounds, blinded and stunned for 1d4 ⇒ 2 additional rounds, and then stunned for 1 round.
Level 4 is not rendered unconscious, blinded, and stunned, but is blinded and stunned and then just stunned as above.
Faint mocking laughter can be heard beyond the north wall afterwards.
Initiative (Round 1)
Ib [1 dmg, Will save needed] <= Up
Laughter?
Quiella [Will Save needed]
Muirdarcaien
Alexandria [Will Save needed]
Xien [Will Save needed]
Growler
Ib is up, everyone who needs to make a Will save please do so now.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
How did the Color Spray hit Quiella when she was standing in the doorway? I never said she entered the room.
The effect is coming from somewhere in the north wall near the door, and is a 15' cone. If you were all planning on attacking as was stated, the door would be not be closed to shield anyone from the effect in that area.
PbP works a bit different than real life, I think is good the GM assumed we were going in to not delay things.
Even accepting that spell shape I reserve my opinion, because casting requires 1 foot open space to allow line of effect, and such an opening we would have noticed.
Will DC:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11thanks to +2 vs mindaffecting
All what Xien sees are colour going out of a point in the wall. He the loses his mind.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
I'll try to be more explicit next time. Although the plan was ultimately to enter the room I had envisioned Quiella standing in the doorway, waiting to see what was on the other side and whether it would respond to her threat before taking any further action.
Whether or not you would have entered the room from the doorway, the space through which the spell was cast is very close to the door, ergo the spell would have still been cast whether or not you entered. The space through which it is was cast is also concealed, hence why no one was able to see it without an active perception check. I know this is an annoying situation to walk into, but I'm following the set up the scenario gives me.
Alexandria also falls pray to the color spray ambush.
Ib's Perception:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17
Looking for the source of the laughter/spell, Ib notices that there is a viewport hidden inside a nearby torch sconce. From his vantage point, he cannot see anyone peering through it at the moment.
Initiative (Round 1-2)
Ib [1 dmg] <= Up
Laughter?
Quiella [Unconscious/Blinded/Stunned 5 rounds]
Muirdarcaien <= Up
Alexandria [Unconscious/Blinded/Stunned 5 rounds]
Xien [Blinded/Stunned 2 rounds]
Growler <= Up
Muirdarcaien and Growler are up, then Ib can go again.
Male Half-Orc Hunter 1 | HP 13/13 | AC 15 | T 10 | FF 15 | CMD 14 | Fort +5 | Ref +3 | Will +4 | Init +0 | Perc +6 | Sense Motive +2
Growler and Tiger move into the room and look for something to attack. Double Move into the room, if I am reading the map right, I am moving into the big throne. I don't really see anyone to attack and it's a long way from the back to the front of the group with only 20ft movement.
The unaffected Pathfinders ready themselves for an attack, but the seconds slowly tick by before a secret door behind the tapestry on the west wall of the throne room opens up to reveal a smirking, unarmored man with a desiccated hand necklace and a unholy symbol of Moloch both hanging around his neck. Escorting him is a large leather whip floating in the air, that immediately lashes out at Ib, hitting the halfling and grappling him! Ib, your readied action goes off first, feel free to roll it. The whip will attack you regardless of what happens to the man. You take 7 nonlethal damage and you have the grappled condition.
Grappled Condition:
Grappled creatures cannot move and take a –4 penalty to Dexterity. A grappled creature takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and combat maneuver checks, except those made to grapple or escape a grapple. In addition, grappled creatures can take no action that requires two hands to perform.
Muir, you cannot see the enemy from your current position, so I'm afraid your readied action does not go off.
Ib takes his five foot step to hit the man. Then he will be caught up by the whip. As the whip wraps him hey yells Kill the whip
To hit 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10 dmg 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
You can just roll and state what would you do if you succeed and what would you do if you don't. Harper will then decide what to execute.
In PbP, because questions can delay the game during hours or even days, it is better you always try your action and use contingencies actions to react to different results, as you cannot get immediate feedback from your GM or fellow players.
Xien starts to see something more than colour lights but still feels stunned.
Halkale, attacking the whip is actually a sunder combat maneuver, but the attack bonuses are the same and the whip is grappling so it does not get attacks of opportunity.
Growler hacks at the whip with his greataxe, almost severing it in half. Although clearly mostly broken, it still continues to stay together when a regular whip would have been destroyed.
Tiger bites and claws at the remaining parts, but despite hitting it three times doesn't make much progress in destroying the hard object.
The robed man backs away from Muirdacaien and concentrates briefly to produce a gout of flame. It then strikes the barbarian, causing some nasty burns. Muir takes 7 points of fire damage from an elemental ray of fire.
Ib wastes no time breaking free of the damaged magical whip. What's left of the weapon returns to the side of the robed man. Ib is no longer grappled by the whip.
Xien is finally able to see again, although the rest of his body is yet to cooperate.
The man ducks away from Muirdacaien's scythe, only to run into Growler's massive greatsword. He takes some significant injury, but is still up on his feet and able to dodge Tiger's bite.
The damaged whip lashes out at the one who nearly destroyed it, wrapping itself around Growler's upper body! Growler is grappled by the whip.
The man himself backs up 5 feet and casts a spell defensively, snarling afterwards, "Burn for Moloch!" A longer and wider fan of flame erupts from his outstretched hands, burning all those within a 15 foot cone. Muir, Growler, and Tiger, all please make a DC 14 Reflex save. If you fail, you take 11 fire damage. If you succeed, you take 5 fire damage. Since Growler if grappled, he takes a -2 to his Ref save due to the -4 to penalty to his Dexterity.
The fire immolates the whip as well, however, finally destroying it. It disappears in a puff of white smoke. Thus, after the burning hands, Growler is no longer grappled.
Meanwhile, Xien finally finds himself free of the color spray's effects.
Initiative (Round 4-5)
Ib [1 dmg] <= Up
Robed Man
Quiella [Unconscious/Blinded/Stunned 2 rounds]
Muirdarcaien [7 dmg, Ref Save pending for further damage] <= Up
Alexandria [Unconscious/Blinded/Stunned 2 rounds]
Xien <= Up
Growler/Tiger [Ref Save pending for further damage on both] <= Up
Muirdarcaien, Xien, Growler/Tiger, and Ib are up in initiative.
Sorry Ib, the bust was welcomed, but my 20 feet medium armor movement does not give me much attack opportunities unless I place the group in area spells danger
Finally recovering his senses and the control of his body Xien double moves placing himself behind the caster, out of his area spells, threatening his spells and giving a flank to Muirdarcaien"Let's see who smiles now" the nagaji shows his tongue to the enemy in bloodlust desire "Pray to Moloc cultist. Where is the idol?"
As he advances through the room, he tries to avoid any incoming attack. Although whips don't usually threaten or get any AoO, and I don't know if the wizard is holding any melee weapon
Acrobatics (avoid 1st):1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 Acrobatics (avoid 2nd) DC +2 for second enemy:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
In case the caster tries to cast or provokes AoO in other way:
The nagaji stabs his trident in his body without pity, angry at the colour spray.
mwk cold iron trident+flanking:1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 2 = 23 Cold iron/Piercing damage:1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Growler dodges most of the flame but still takes a bit of damage, then steps up and as he swings his Greataxe, says, "Where is the idol?" Greataxe Attack:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6Damage, if hits:1d12 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
The enemy, in his hubris, forgot to pull out any weapon so no worries about provoking AoO's this round. Since Ib said he was going to follow Xien wherever he goes this round, I just double moved him into the middle room.
Also, just to clarify, the whip is now destroyed.
Muirdarcaien takes the full force of the fire spell, while Growler and Tiger manage to dodge the worse of it.
Distracted by being burned alive, the barbarian's blow misses the spellcaster completely.
Xien and Ib move into the room to threaten the robed human, but he does not yield.
Growler and Tiger advance and attack, but even in the hot, crowded conditions, the spellcaster's magical defenses are powerful enough to protect him from injury.
In response to the idol questions, the man only responds with an obscene gesture. Finally remembering to draw a dagger, he then tries to cast a spell defensively, but this time cannot properly concentrate and loses it. Only now, surrounded by melee fighters, does he begin to show any fear.
GM Screen:
Concentration:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Initiative (Round 5-6)
Ib [1 dmg] <= Up
Robed Man
Quiella [Unconscious/Blinded/Stunned 1 round]
Muirdarcaien [18 dmg] <= Up
Alexandria [Unconscious/Blinded/Stunned 1 round]
Xien <= Up
Growler/Tiger [5 dmg/5 dmg] <= Up
The nagaji tries to stab the man with both trident and shield. In a great rage, he doesn't appear to realize about the magical defenses of the enemy and misses the hits horribly.
mwk cold iron Trident-2WF+flanking:1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 = 16 Cold iron/Piercing damage:1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 spiked shield-2WF+flanking:1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13 Cold iron/Piercing damage:1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
If he has too much AC perhaps we can try to get him down through grapple. Casters aren't good at that usually.
Backed up by pure rage, Muirdarcaien cuts the man down where he stands.
Combat Over
After about half a minute passes, Quiella and Alexandria finally recover from the terrible effects of the color spray spell.
On the man's body, you find two potions, a scroll of Flaming Sphere, two smokesticks, a dagger, a mummified (elf?) hand, an unholy symbol of Moloch, and a key.
Perception on potions DC 16:
They're both potions of Cure Light Wounds
Now also getting the chance to look at the middle room itself, you see that it is a richly decorated passage, the floor covered by a maze-like geometric pattern of scarlet flames. Looking over the pattern for more than a few moments, it quickly becomes clear that the pattern is actually a map of the nearby mountains. Sputtering torches line the passage, providing normal illumination throughout. Small viewpoints can also be found in different parts of the chamber, allowing one to see and cast spells in all the other rooms on the first floor.
Picking up the mummified hand Xien places it over his neck as a token of victory "No more ambushes for you."
He also picks the symbol of Moloch and the key, and tries to identify the potions.
Perception:1d20 + 0 ⇒ (17) + 0 = 17
"I still remember the familiar taste of cure light wounds potions. Take them and drink them." he hands them to Ib who looks barely standing.
"So he has been using this room to spy on us... so deceptive... Anyone has an idea of what all those mountains here mean?" after the room investigation the nagaji approaches the throne room.
"We have seen there is another part to the east connected by a bridge. The must be another entrance right here. Perhaps some stairs under the throne? I have heard some stories with stairs below the throne." the nagaji pushes the throne. If that does not work, he looks around in the eastern side of the building, looking for a way to cross to the other module.
Perception (take 20):20 + 0 = 20
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella points up. I think the stairs going up are the way into the next building.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
If we've found everything we want to find down here, I believe I'm ready to go up those stairs. I am glad to know this trickster will not be behind us.
Searching behind the throne, Xien does indeed find a secret door hidden there. He discovers it is locked, but the key retrieved from the spellcaster easily unlocks it.
Ok, I'll give the other players time to respond in case there's any healing that you all want to do. In the meantime, did you all want to investigate the stairway or go through the secret door that presumably leads to the bridge?
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella is good for health still. She'll offer to heal others if they ask.
"I want to see what's at the top of the stairs, Xien. Good thinking about the throne though."
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Erastil/Life Oracle 7/4 | HP 88 | AC 28 T 13 FF 27 | CMB +14, CMD 26 | F: +16, R: +12, W: +15; +2 vs. illusions, death, and haunts | Init: +1, addtl. +2 vs haunts | Perc: +0, SM: -2, Low-Light Vision, Darkvision, blind past 60 feet, +2 on skill checks to notice a haunt | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: Life Link on 4 of the party. Probably wand of shield for +4 AC.
Quiella touches Growler with her hand. He feels all of his wounds close up.
Lay on Hands:1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
[ooc]I'm going to assume someone else gets tiger simultaneously, to spread the healing usage around. If they don't for some reason then roll the 1d6+1 again from me.
