[PFS] GM Lithrac's The Witch Queen's Revenge (AP#72) (Inactive)

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

Fine to continue.

Since we have the time to rest id like to.. I have plenty of spells to continue on but if we're under no rush atm id like to rest..

Majority seems to be okay to continue.

The ancient witch's young voice guides you through halls of ice and snow, until you reach a frost worm's head. "Don't kill, don't kill!" the shrill voice says. "Let it eat you!" Reluctantly, you let yourselves be subjected to a happy feast for that frost worm, and find yourselves once again teleported into another area of the Dancing Hut.

The virgin trees of an old growth forest tower high into the air, their dense canopy almost completely blocking the sunlight from reaching the forest floor. Very little undergrowth grows in the gloom of the forest floor, just a carpet of old leaves, black with mold, and pine needles dried to a white brittleness. The tree trunks are a dozen feet in diameter or more but have plenty of room between them, making the forest a spacious, if dimly lit, place. A soft, crisp breeze blows through the air. A faint trail, just visible through the carpet of leaves, wends between the trees until it reaches a quaint cottage set back between the trees. The cottage is neatly built of timber with a thatched roof that is in good repair. No light shines from the cottage’s windows, but a small plume of smoke rises from the hut’s stout stone chimney, giving off the scent of wood smoke and the pleasant aroma of baking.

A short stair next to a woodpile climbs up to a veranda surrounding the front and one side of the cottage, its railing and roof decorated with intricate gingerbread woodwork, as are the shutters on either side of the cottage’s windows. The windows themselves are composed of rows of triangular panes of thick, opaque glass set into lead frames. Two comfortablelooking wooden rocking chairs sit on either side of the cottage’s front door, which is itself a triumph of woodwork, complete with scrollwork along its arched top and carved images of birds and small animals happily playing. An old straw broom called a besom leans against the railing in the corner of the porch to the left of the front door. Despite your best efforts, you cannot see the interior of the cottage through the windows.

Cottage in the Dark Forest

"A line of breadcrumbs!" Trotter points out. "Just like in the old stories! How fashionably quaint! Let's follow!"

Trotter marches forward, keeping a watch out for anything suspicious.

"Right. Breadcrumbs. This is just hokey. " and he will lead the way up to the door looking for anything amiss.

perception: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (1) + 29 = 30

The door creaks and opens into a room that looks like a child’s wonderland. A skilled woodcarver has been hard at work carving and painting all manner of wooden toys, ranging from small animal figurines to lifesized mannequins with articulated limbs painted to resemble beautiful princesses, armored soldiers, and regal kings wearing crowns of gilded foil. The smaller pieces clutter tables, shelves, and even the floor. A small fireplace, its ashes cold, occupies one corner, while next to it stands a comfortably padded chair. A small table holds an assortment of small carving knives and a half-finished wooden figurine. Wood shavings cover the floor in drifts and piles.

Vars starts hearing strange noises in there, a click of wood, and when he turns around some of the figures are looking in a different direction that moments ago... or does his mind play tricks on him?

"Ok, I think some of this junk is animated. We're looking for a lady or something right? " and he will move into the room ready to break things.

"Try not to break everything Vars.. Some very unique toys in here.."

"You're no fun. "

"Agreed! Fine specimens. . . of course, if they fight back you can go ahead and smash them. But if not, they would likely make an interesting exhibit, don't you think?"

Trotter follows behind as the party moves into the house.

Vuvu moves in and uses detect magic to see which toys are magical, he will identify the auras can do that it he takes 1 on spellcraft

Let's see if anything might be worth taking with is for a "study"

Devin will cast a few spells.

Magic Circle against evil
Fire Seed (Holy Berry Bombs)

Seeing what Devin is casting, Vuvu walks over and stands in his circle

Despite much searching, none of the toys are magical. Vars enters the northern door, reaching the kitchen. A great cast-iron stove in one corner keeps that room pleasantly warm, its stove pipe extending upward through the ceiling. A plate of cookies sits atop the stove’s cooling shelf, filling the room with a delicious aroma. A small paper placard stands next to the plate. A table with two tall stools stands next to a door to the south, and another door exits to the east. In the far corner of the room, a child-sized wooden cage hangs by a hook from the rafters. The cage is empty, its door hanging open. The small placard next to the plate of cookies is scribed in Common and reads, “Welcome to Granny’s kitchen. Thank you for coming for dinner. Please come in, have a cookie, and make yourselves at home.”

Suddenly the great furnace starts moving, and attack Vars! Simultaneously, six of the many remaining dolls animate and start trying to get a hold of you to push you in the furnace!

Initiative - round 1 - bold may act!
1. Avoreal
2. Dolls
3. Devin
4. Furnace
5. Vars, Duhwoo, Vuvu, Trotter
Knowledge (arcana) to identify, DC 29 for the furnace, 19 for the dolls.

1d20 + 22 ⇒ (13) + 22 = 35 furnace
1d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 23 dolls

Questions start with Resistances, Immunities, vulnerabilities

Arcana Furnace: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (15) + 35 = 50
Arcana Dolls: 1d20 + 35 ⇒ (9) + 35 = 44

The dolls are apparently possessed by an evil spirit. They are resilient to weapons not made of adamantine, vulnerable to fire, immune to magic (except fire magic, though cold magic empowers it), and can shoot a barrage of splinters.

The furnace golem is another matter entirely, though it shares its physical resistance to weapons with the dolls. It is immune to fire, magic (except cold magic, though fire magic empowers it), can breathe fire, shove people inside its furnace to incinerate them.

"Burn the little ones, freeze the big one.."

Avoreal auto defenseive casts Firesnake(DC 28 Reflex) and snakes it all around the room hitting the 4 dolls to her right..

SR if needed: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (12) + 24 = 36
Dam: 15d6 + 26 ⇒ (6, 5, 4, 6, 1, 4, 5, 1, 1, 3, 6, 2, 1, 6, 2) + 26 = 79

"I assume hacking to pieces works too eh?"

"Indeed.. Probably want to avoid getting swallowed as well.."

when Vars sez stuff may be animated, Duhwoo promptly activates his Ring o' Blinkin'...

Ref DC 28: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22
Ref DC 28: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
Ref DC 28: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Ref DC 28: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

The four dolls burn bright with the slithering column of flame! The snake leaves a trail of cinders, the dolls destroyed in its wake.

The remaining dolls attack Duhwoo and Avoreal, respectively.
I assume a CAGM AoO from Duhwoo, but still rolling the attack since it's unlikely the doll will be taken down by a single attack.
Grapple vs Duhwoo: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (13) + 25 = 38
Grapple vs Avoreal: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (15) + 25 = 40
Looks like both are grappled, unless I'm missing something.

Initiative - round 1 - bold may act!
1. Avoreal
2. Dolls
3. Devin
4. Furnace
5. Vars, Duhwoo, Vuvu, Trotter

Vuvu looks impressed, or would if any of you could see him.

so interesting question DM. How would Shadow Evocation effect the furnace? Does it automatically make the Will save portion? Or does it still work as normal.

Avoreal wears a Ring of Freedom of Movement.

The golem is actually a creature, so I don't see why it wouldn't work. The spell only mentions that objects automatically make their Will save.

Duhwoo hasn't acted yet, so no AoO...

I reckon even grappling has a 50% miss chance with the Blinking going (20% if they can see invisible)...

works for me, I wasn't sure because of the only cold magic effecting it, so if I did a cold shadow spell, I wasn't sure if it would work because of the illusion part. But I am glad that I can do something to effect it

Doesn't Duhwoo have Combat Reflexes? That feat allows him to take AoOs even if he's flat-footed, if I recall correctly.

Duh does indeed have Combat Reflexes; he just hasn't had a chance to start raging yet, so "Come and Git Me" isn't in play yet. Did something else provoke an AoO? (I assume the dolls have Improved Grapple, so no AoO there...)

Ah yes, it's linked to raging. Yes, they do have Imp Grapple.

Still waiting on Devin to act!

Sorry about that, bad weather here in California turned my low internet long weekend into a no internet weekend.

Devin will 5ft step float away from the doll and begin casting Summon Monster 8. For his swift he will activate Aura of Heroism Heroism while within 30 feet of Devin.

No worries, welcome back!

The furnace breathes a line of searing flames upon Vars, Trotter, Vuvu and Avoreal. Since there's the doorframe, everyone except Vars is considered as having cover for that Ref save.

Fire damage, Ref DC 19 halves: 10d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 1, 6, 5, 4, 2, 2, 1) = 28

Initiative - round 2 - bold may act!
1. Vars, Duhwoo, Vuvu, Trotter, Avoreal
2. Dolls
3. Devin
4. Furnace

Assured at the imminent death of everything Avoreal will delay her action..

Reflex: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27 takes 14..

reflex save: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (12) + 17 = 29 ring of evasion, no damage.

Vars will step forward to put out the furnace- by cutting. He will wait for Vuvu to start his inspire courage.

power attack, heroism, inspire courage
to hit: 1d20 + 37 ⇒ (10) + 37 = 47 damage: 1d8 + 35 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 35 + (6) = 44
to hit: 1d20 + 32 ⇒ (1) + 32 = 33 miss
to hit: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (8) + 27 = 35 damage: 1d8 + 35 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 35 + (1) = 40
to hit: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (7) + 22 = 29 damage: 1d8 + 35 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 35 + (5) = 47

(last d6 is sonic, weapon is adamantine and +5)

Ref: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (19) + 21 = 40

Activate Luck as a swift action.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 31 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 31 + 3 = 51
Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 31 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 31 + 3 = 51

Trotter calls out everything he knows about the dolls and furnace as he casts abundant ammunition and loads an adamantine cartridge in his pistol.

1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 17 + 2 = 31 takes 14

Vuvu begins his performance, then summons up three shadow scorching rays.at the dolls, Shadow Evocation: Will 25 to take 1/4. Also note that Vuvu was invisible, so the first Ray gets an additional +2 and the foe should be FF

1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 19 + 2 = 25 for 4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 3, 3) = 14
1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32 for 4d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 5, 1) = 13
1d20 + 19 ⇒ (13) + 19 = 32 for 4d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 1, 1) = 9

He starts on the one next to the chair and if it falls he moves to the one next to Devin.

Things are starting to heat up in here!

I assume Duh gets burned by the furnace blast as well, since he's right there in the doorway:

Duhwoo's Reflex save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19

he takes 14 points of burning damage...

Duhwoo likes grappling ("rasslin'"), so he'll rage, and try to counter the doll's grab:

grapple check: 1d20 + 33 ⇒ (19) + 33 = 52
20% miss chance due to blinking: 1d100 ⇒ 85
if 52 somehow manages to beat its CMD, the grapple situation has reversed...

per combat rules: "Alternatively, if you succeed, you can become the grappler, grappling the other creature (meaning that the other creature cannot freely release the grapple without making a combat maneuver check, while you can)."

As Vars cleaves through the furnace, he realizes that his might won't be enough to dispose of the furnace so easily... yet.

Vuvu's three rays scorch the doll, but it isn't enough to take it down.

Duhwoo, you're not in the line pattern so no, you don't take any fire damage.

Duhwoo grapples the doll! Will the furnace live long enough to incinerate its unfortunate companion?

Trotter knows all there is to know about these creatures.

Trotter is up, then the dolls. Avoreal, feel free to chime in whenever you want.

Trotter already took his actions (cast abundant ammunition).

"Ah! A unique type of wood golem! Fire will hurt them best, and use adamantine weaponry if you have them!"

He then moves on to lecture about the furnace, "The furnace will also require adamantine weapons and, of course, fire will not hurt it at all. It's iron exterior will also resist cold damage, but if you have enough cold power you might freeze up its joins and slow it down. Watch out, for it can breathe fire and gobble you to cook you up inside!"

Ah yes, sorry!

The doll grappled by Duhwoo slams into the barbarian as best as she can.
Slam: 1d20 + 23 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 23 - 2 = 402d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 6) + 6 = 14

The scorched one slams Avoreal twice.
Slam: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (12) + 23 = 352d8 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 6 = 12
Slam: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 312d8 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 6 = 11

Initiative - round 2 - bold may act!
1. Vars, Duhwoo, Vuvu, Trotter, Avoreal
2. Dolls
3. Devin
4. Furnace

Devin finishes summoning a T-Rex into the empty half of this room before calling it closer and having it grab at the the furnace with its teeth.

Bite: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 20 + 2 = 35
Damage: 4d6 + 22 ⇒ (2, 3, 5, 2) + 22 = 34

Grab: 1d20 + 32 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 32 + 2 = 38

Meanwhile Devin will manuever to the door and and unleash a cold ice strike on the furnace.

Cold Damage: 15d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 1, 6, 5, 2, 2, 2, 6, 3, 6, 5, 6, 6) = 62 Reflex DC 24 for half.

SR: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (19) + 19 = 38

Aura of Heroism still active.

Under the pressure of the T-rex's massive maw, the furnace explodes into a thousand burning embers! It is only a matter of time before the remaining dolls are taken care of. When the furnace is destroyed, though, the most perceptive among you perceive a ghostly form leaving it and leaping through the eastern wall.

End combat.

While searching the kitchen, you stumble upon the charred remnants of a few child-sized bones as well as a singed but still intact sapphire ring. A quick magic detection reveals it isn't magical, but something pings as such in the area: an apple sitting on a nearby cupboard turns out to be an apple of eternal sleep.

How droll. Hey Woo, hungry? Vuvu holds up the apple.

Trotter puts his hands on his hips and taps his foot, giving Vuvu that look like a parent to an unruly child.

Not having any idea about the apple, and having been around the block enough times, Vars avoids it.

"OK, that was a bit weird. Did you see that thing go through the wall? Think we better follow it. "

and he will examine the door to the east for traps.

perception: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (13) + 29 = 42

Avoreal recasts False Life before continueing.. 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17

"I saw it as well.." Avoreal follows the brutes..

"Dang, Ah'm *always* hongry!"

He reaches for the apple, but notices Trotter's reaction and thinks better of it. He'll put a dose o' tobacco twixt cheek and gum instead, as he heads outside.

Perception check: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30

"Ah done saw ya smack the spirit outa that there stove, but it din't head up toward heaven or down for heck -- jus' went through th' wall. Mebbe it's headed somewhere ta where we'all oughta be a-followin' it..."

Duh stands outside looking east, thinking the ghost-thingy left the building and continued going east-bound...

"Uhhm Duh, that's west, east is in this room over here. You still have trouble with left and right as well?"

You are no fun. Vuvu sighs, turns invisible and follows from the rear