[PFS] GM Lithrac's Cairn of Shadows (#5-23) (Inactive)

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

No SR for the Shaes, SR 24 for the Hag. Luckily for Thorgrim and his companions, the hag's tactics don't include using deep slumber! For a creature with 18 Int, I don't think her tactics are very well-written.

You can roll miss chance everytime you try to hit one of the Shaes by the way.
Miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 95
Miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 71
Grimnir's first blow cleaves the wounded Shae in two, whereas the second wounds the other one seriously.

The two remainin Shaes snap out of their shadowy reverie. The first draws a falchion and retaliates against the dwarven terror.
Falchion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 222d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 2) + 4 = 8

The other one draws his bow and shoots at Kayluss.
Bow: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 271d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Ambushing the cairn's guardians
1. Grimnir
2. Shaes
3. Bart, Penelope, Vladek
4. Night Hag
5. Thorgrim, Kayluss

Vladek warps time for Thorgrim, just enough to bring multiple possible courses of the his next few seconds to reality...

I'm giving you your 2 rounds of Fortune for the day, Thorgrim. Use them wisely.

...while Qadathra blasts the more wounded shae with some of his own magic.

magic missile: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8

Bart tries to sneak through the middle of the enemy line.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32

Once in the back he casts vanish!

Penelope still has little room to move upward, so he decides to move the life links to siphon damage from those that have been injured.

Move life links to Keyless and Griming

Each gains five hp, while Penelope loses 10 in total

Kayluss and Grim didn't take any damage. The attack didn't hit Grim's AC and Kayluss shrugged off the damage due to his DR. Thanks for thinking of us though!

Qadathra's missiles finish off the second shae! Only one remains, as well as the sinister hag.

Seeing a tasty dwarf at her level, she rushes towards him and lacerates the inquisitor with her pointy fangs.
Bite: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 182d6 + 5 ⇒ (3, 5) + 5 = 13

Ambushing the cairn's guardians
1. Grimnir
2. Shaes
3. Bart, Penelope, Vladek
4. Night Hag
5. Thorgrim, Kayluss

Thorgrim flanks the beast, draws his piston maul and tries to bring it down on the hag's head as his muscles bulge and the maul slams into the wall as she ducks, sending a spray of rock across the room.

Piston Maul - Power Attack/Flank: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 12 - 2 + 2 = 13 Critical Miss

Thorgrim flanks the beast, draws his piston maul and tries to bring it down on the hag's head as his muscles bulge and the maul slams into the wall as she ducks, sending a spray of rock across the room.

[dice=Piston Maul - Power Attack/Flank] 1d20+12-2+2 Critical Miss

** spoiler omitted **

You SURE you don't want to reroll that?

Grminir ducks all attack thrown at him and swings back hard at the hag.. Burning another bane and rage round..

Attack: 1d20 + 17 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 17 + 4 = 38 +4 flanking via outflank feat
Attack: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 4 = 31

Dam: 4d6 + 20 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 5, 5) + 20 + (6) = 43 +1d6 via precise strike
Dam: 4d6 + 20 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 2) + 20 + (1) = 31

Grimnir's blows are deadly, but the hag's still standing!

Ambushing the cairn's guardians
1. Thorgrim, Kayluss, Grimnir
2. Shae
3. Bart, Penelope, Vladek
4. Night Hag

Apparently, I forgot that Vladek gave me Fortune for two rounds, thus I get to roll twice on that attack roll and take the better. That ok Lithrac?

Piston Maul: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 12 - 2 + 2 = 25
Damage: 1d10 + 9 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 6 = 23

Fly: 1d20 + 4 - 3 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 4 - 3 + 5 = 15 Son of a...!
Fly: 1d20 + 4 - 3 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 4 - 3 + 5 = 22 Finally

Kayluss continues to awkwardly flail in the air for a couple seconds before he finally grasps a hold of one of the chains and pulls himself up to landing.

Sure, no problem Thorgrim.

Thorgrim's massive maul was about to shatter the floor open when Lady Luck smiles to the Ulfen, barely managing to hit the cackling crone. The blow was far from deadly, but it managed to wipe her grin off her face.

The last shae grabs his falchion and swings at Kayluss.
Falchion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 172d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9

Ambushing the cairn's guardians
1. Thorgrim, Kayluss, Grimnir
2. Shae
3. Bart, Penelope, Vladek
4. Night Hag

With the path above her clear, Penelope tries to climb up to get in to a better position.

Climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
Climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Trying to move onto the ledge, but not going so far as to provoke

Qadathra levels a wand of simple lapis at the remaining shae, and what looks like a tiny star from the heavens blasts forth.

magic missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Vladek sets his attention to the night hag: The labyrinthine catacombs of the night hag's next few seconds reveal themselves to him, and he sets to sabotaging them.

Unravel Puzzlebadly needs to make a DC 21 Will save or suffer 2 rounds of Misfortune.

Bart pulls a dagger from his belt as he pops back into visibility next to the shae!

+1 mithral dagger: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 2 = 26
miss chance?: 1d100 ⇒ 80
damage with sneak: 1d3 + 2 + 4d8 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (1, 6, 2, 2) = 15

The shae suffers two blows, one magical, the other from a knife in the back, but remains standing.

Will DC 21: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25
The hag resumes her cackling, laughing at Vladek's petty curses. She attempts to lacerate the ironclad dwarf.
Bite: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 272d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 6) + 5 = 17
Claw: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 271d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Claw: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 211d4 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Three misses, by the look of it.

Grimnir hacks at the hag twice more.

Attk 1: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (7) + 21 = 28
Attk 2: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Confirm 2: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

Dam 1: 5d6 + 20 ⇒ (4, 6, 1, 1, 3) + 20 = 35 Dam is +5 so will overcome all DR minus /-
Dam 2: 5d6 + 20 ⇒ (5, 3, 5, 5, 4) + 20 = 42

Dam Crit: 4d6 + 20 ⇒ (1, 3, 6, 5) + 20 = 35

He ends his rage as a free action..

Grimnir slays the hag swiftly!

I wish you had told me about the +5 equivalent earlier, please call it next time, thanks!

With their major opponent dead, you make short work of the remaining shae, who won't live to see another night.

End combat.

The whole level is quickly explored, though a persistant chant now echoes through the cairn. It's hard to say where it comes from, save from the shadows themselves.

To the north
Near the top of the chains a massive platform juts from the wall, filling the center of the chain-filled shaft. The platform has a walkway along its outer edge and a hole in the center, both allowing chains to stretch up past it to the ceiling fifty feet above.

To the west
This large chamber—roughly thirty feet by thirty-five feet—is accessed by a long tunnel at one end. It has four wide alcoves containing tables that appear to have been used for cruel experiments and torture. Each is surrounded by a variety of surgical implements, while straps, hooks, and chains on the surfaces have clearly been used to restrain subjects during procedures. A pale, gray body lays on one of the tables, its skin flayed from its body.

"Well that was exhilarating but where is that chanting coming from? I don't have a good feeling about it and I'm sure it should be stopped...."

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

The chanting could well come from downstairs.

"Back down!" Bart urges everyone towards the chanting before it's too late!

Any applicable skill checks to identify anything about this chanting?

Knowledge (arcana) would be appropriate, I guess.

Grimnir smiles as the heat of combat is where he's most at home..

"Gorum! Lets go to work!"

Rage as a free action, Bane as a swift.. Attack the one damaged by Bart first..

[dice=Attack 1]1d20+17
[dice=Attack 2]1d20+12

[dice=Dam 1]4d6+20 Dam is +5 magic and good
[dice=Dam 2]4d6+20

Switch targets if the purp one dies.

I did on my first attack. No worries, When raging and using bane its +5 for future reference. If one or the other is in play but not both its +3 :)

"Wait, so we're going back down now?"

Know Arcana: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (7) + 20 = 27

Thorgrim hears the suggestion to descend and scoops up his halfling compatriot before grabbing a chain in his other hand. He begins to rappel down the chains.

Take 10 for a 19.

"This is much easier than climbing, eh Master Flaxseed?" Thorgrim beams at the halfling he is carrying under his arm.

Chanting! No good can come of this. What evil sermon is afoot here?

Penelope descends with care (Take ten, for 12)

After a quick explanation from Vladek and Grimnir, the party now knows that a dark ritual has begun downstairs. From what you can tell, this ritual should allow someone to ascertain mastery over this place through an artifact called a shadow obelisk. If it isn't stopped soon, all will be lost for you. With that in mind, you return downstairs and face your enemy, Lord Maravan. He's currently holding a pitch black obelisk in his hands, and has his full attention focused on it. Unfortunately for you, he has three guards of sorts, creatures covered in chains. All of them - including Maravan - are deep within the dense forest of chains, which now seem to have a life of their own and will seek to prevent you from reaching your quarry.

Environment: the chains cause 20% concealment between two creatures one square apart, 50% if more than one square. Also the chains hinder anyone trying to move west (treat movement westward as difficult terrain movement. Eastward is normal)

Final showdown - round 1
1. Bart, Grimnir, Kayluss
2. Enemies
3. Vladek, Thorgrim, Penelope

Well that was quick lol..

Know Planes: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29 DR and Resistances

His flying spell still active Grimnir casts Divine Favor as a standard, activates judgement of justice/destruction as a swift and moves up to meet the Kytons..

Fly spell will negate the difficult terrain yes? If not ill need to retcon my actions..

It doesnt negate the difficult terrain, since the chains are hanging from the ceiling down to the ground. Feel free to retcon.

DR 5/silver or good, no resistances.

Ok so he has a 20' normal speed, 50' with expeditious retreat up.. So its actually better for him to run on this one..

Cast Divine Favor as a standard, burst of speed as a swift.. Move 30'

Bart moves up with Grimnir and pulls a pair of mithral daggers along the way. Double move.

Your not going to get to have all the fun this time Grim! Kayluss calls as he pushes through the chains towards the dwarf.
Double move

As soon as Bart and Grimnir set foot on the bridge, the chains lash out with great strength! I need a DC 15 Ref save from both - take Slashing damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2 if you fail.

Lord Maravan glares at you icily before casting a shield spell.

"So you are here to rob me of my prize? Not a chance..."

The kytons gather near the end of the bridge and lash out at Bart and Grimnir with their chains, seemingly unimpaired by the hanging chains!
Chains vs Bart: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 312d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 4) + 4 = 13
Chains vs Bart: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 222d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9
Chains vs Bart: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 282d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11
Chains vs Bart: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 292d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 6) + 4 = 13
Chains vs Grimnir: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 242d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

Final showdown - round 2
1. Vladek, Thorgrim, Penelope, Bart, Grimnir, Kayluss
2. Kytons, Lord Maravan
Remember the 20% miss chance if you're within 10 feet of your target, 50% (total concealment) if you're further.

Knowledge (Planes) plus Secrets of the Sphinx: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19 Well, gee...SR? Special attacks?

And for my next trick: Something I've been wanting to try for a long time...

Vladek struggles a ways through the chains before mouthing the same silent incantation as before to Qadathra, and suddenly, all around them is dead silence. Qadathra disappears, and the silence begins drifting westward....

I cast silence on Qadathra, who uses greater invisibility and begins flying as quickly as he can manage in the direction of Lord Maravan (he has a fly speed of 60 feet with perfect maneuverability), careful to avoid the kytons, as well as doing his best to silence the party as little as possible. All this means he should probably wind up 1 square behind and 4 squares above Kayluss for now.

Qadathra's full-movement Stealth check, for what it's worth: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (11) + 32 = 43

Pushing through the chains Kayluss reaches the first Kyton and slashes at the monster with Ixthalos.
Attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (15) + 15 = 30
Miss High is good: 1d100 ⇒ 16 Well crud...
Damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (4, 3) + 7 = 14

Ref: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Took 37 dmg

"Ow! Ok, ok!" Bart backs up, despite the chains pulling at him.

Grimnir steps up and uses bane on the Kyton, as well as activating judgement of justice/destruction.. Destructive smite as well.

Attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (16) + 20 = 36
Damage: 4d6 + 27 ⇒ (3, 3, 4, 5) + 27 = 42 Weapon is +3 so will override DR/silver

Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 22 barely makes it..

Penelope switches her life link to Bart, and slowly starts healing his damage, while she keeps the other on Grimnir. She then slowly trudges forward through the jungle of chains.

Penelope takes 5 damage to heal bart for 5 at the end of the round, same for Grimnir.

Hp 103/104, at end of round 93/104

Vladek doesn't recognize those creatures covered in chains, and thus is unable to recall any interesting bit of information about them. He starts casting a complex spell. The silence spell has a 1 round casting time, so you'll need to wait a bit before having it coming into effect. In addition, Qadathra must now make a Fly check to navigate the chains. Also remember that difficult terrain applies to fliers as well.

Kayluss's blade only meets the forest of chains and misses the kyton.

Grimnir, please roll the Reflex save I've asked you for.
Grimnir swings a deadly blow, yet the devil remains standing.

Final showdown - round 2
1. Vladek, Thorgrim, Penelope, Bart, Grimnir, Kayluss
2. Kytons, Lord Maravan

Missed that sry.. And penelope i haven't taken any damage so far..

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Thorgrim leaps into action, rushing through the chain as he gets ready to crush the devils with his piston maul.

Lord Maravan bids the kytons to halt, and the chained beings obediently nod, bidding their time. The shadow master empowers himself as well as his servants with incredible speed, casting haste.

The kytons then unleash their full power. Two of them take a step backwards to put some distance between themselves and you. Remember that you can't take a 5-ft step in difficult terrain. Unfortunately for you, they can.

Ten chains are aimed at the hardened dwarf, whereas five of them lash out at Kayluss.

Vs Grimnir
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 252d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1) + 4 = 9
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 272d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1) + 4 = 7
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 202d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 192d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2) + 4 = 10
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 202d4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 4 = 11
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 202d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 222d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 162d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 222d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 302d4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 2) + 4 = 9

Vs Kayluss
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 152d4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 312d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 262d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 = 6
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 252d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1) + 4 = 6
Chain, haste: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 172d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2) + 4 = 7

Then Vladek's silence spell goes off.

Final showdown - round 3
1. Vladek, Thorgrim, Penelope, Bart, Grimnir, Kayluss
2. Kytons, Lord Maravan

Bart winces as the party keeps taking damage. This is not looking good he thinks as he casts a spell on himself.

Casting shield.

You appear to have moved me wrong - I didn't move any further than I had previously, and I have taken the liberty of placing another (improvised) "figurine" for Qadathra.

last round's Fly: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (13) + 25 = 38

this round's Fly: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (6) + 25 = 31

Qadathra had been 3 spaces up from where Bart is now. Assuming he's made both his Fly checks, he should now be where I've placed his marker (with improved invisibility and silence).

Meanwhile, I cast black tentacles centered on the tile 2 down and one behind from Lord Maravan, meaning its radius should just manage to engulf he and the kytons while leaving room for Grimnir and Kayluss (again, I've tried placing this on the map).

Tentacles!: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Let me know who that manages to grapple. Here's damage for whomever it applies to: :E

tentacles V kyton 1: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
tentacles V kyton 2: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
tentacles V kyton 3: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
tentacles V Lord Maravan: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Good thing none of the chains got past Grimnir's defenses.. He moves up 5' and swings once at the same one he struck before.. Using bane and destructive smite..

1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32
Dam: 4d6 + 27 ⇒ (5, 6, 1, 5) + 27 = 44 +3 weapon

Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 78

Good thing none of the chains got past Grimnir's defenses.. He moves up 5' and swings once at the same one he struck before.. Using bane and destructive smite..

1d20+20
[dice=Dam]4d6+27 +3 weapon

[dice=Miss]1d100

*grimace* I think you're entering the tentacles by doing that. I'm afraid they don't take sides...I'd opt for my ranged weapon for now.

The tentacles' CMD is 19, so some of the kytons may well be able to wrest free of them on their turn, so you can stay ready for them.