[PFS] GM Skipper's Blood Under Absalom (tier 5-6) (Inactive)

Game Master SkipperD

His faced covered in white makeup, Auric looks utterly ridiculous, even more with a broomstick in his hands. He chooses to fully embrace the part as he steps on the comfortable purple couch resting on stage and hops on it as if he was a child boucing on his parents' bed to wake them up. He suddenly addresses a wide smile to the audience and yells. "Tally ho, companions! Look at these sour-faced excuses for drab. They need to be swept away by our shining example!" Waving the broom at the contestants, he casts a spell to undo the evil that was done to his fellow Pathfinders.

Casting haste on the party.

Rules question, now that I have been slowed and hasted. Do I move at normal speed? I will just assume so.

Not quite used to the heavy armor, Eramos moves stiffly to the stage. His face painted red and wielding a giant club and looks at the others on stage.

He charges forward slamming his club down

charge+bless+power attack+furious focus+non lethal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
non lethal damage: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

AC is 16

I think that both effects will cancel each other out for those who were slowed.

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Auric counteracts the Monkey King's spell, but Eramos dosen't manage to hit his mark, even with Caduceus' blessing.

The Warrior Woman gets to his feet and strikes at Braxus.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Attack: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

The Chou steps back and casts a spell, causing a greatsword of pure force to appear and strike Taika.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Comat Round 2
Bold may act
Buffs: Bless (all), Haste (Braxus, Taika, Auric, Caduceus)
___________________________________________
Braxus (15 non-lethal), Taika, Jal
General (pink), Monkey King (green)
Auric, Caduceus, Eramos
Warrior Woman (red), Chou (blue)

Doesn't the warrior woman(red) use a bladed pole arm, which I assume has reach? If so she needs to move further away to attack with it, or use unarmed strike or the haft of the weapon as an improvised weapon. Moving away will take into account the grease spell so she won't be able to 5 foot step. If I'm being a pain, I'm sorry and I will be still from now on. This is more about me just clarifying for when I run my own games as I'm not worried about the damage to Braxus.

Braxus ignores the warrior woman for the moment and faces off against the enemy general. Wary of the patch of magical ice nearby, he steps to flank the general with Eramos and attacks with a furious focus on his enemy!

"You will lose this challenge snake!" he shouts into the face of his enemy!

PA+FF+flank+buffs/NL: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34
NL Dmg: 1d8 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
PA+flank+buffs/NL: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19
NL Dmg: 1d8 + 18 ⇒ (5) + 18 = 23
PA+flank+buffs/NL: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
NL Dmg: 1d8 + 18 ⇒ (7) + 18 = 25

Jal gives the Aspis a wicked smirk, then turns briefly to the crowd and holding a finger up in front of his lips. ”Shhhhhh!” he hisses to them with theatrical energy as he ducks under the curtain, rushes across backstage, then re-emerges next to the Aspis Monkey King.

Who gets a fake knife to his ribs, as well.

I’m hoping it’s just movement to do this, but I’m not sure if ducking under the curtain costs anything more than movement. If that’ the case, Skipper, let me know how far Jal can get. The plan is to move: up/left > up > up > up > up/right > right. I’m hoping the curtain provides Jal cover from AoO’s from Red. That’s six squares and puts Jal in flanking on Green with Braxus. Jal will make Green his Studied Target. And, if he’s still got a standard left, he’ll go ahead and Sneak attack Green. If that movement actually costs double or something, he’ll actually move one more square right to limit Green’s tactical choices this coming round. Let me know which is the case, Skipper.

And here’s the attack on Green, if it’s possible.
bonk dagger: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 1 + 2 + 2 - 2 = 30
nonlethal damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2 + 4 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 2 + 4 + (2, 1) = 15

Taika considers the battlefield and turns back once more to the "audience", her hands and cane raised dramatically.

"Let the storm blind my enemies," she intones. This is a very cheesy line, surely, but audiences like cheese? Perhaps?

In answer to her shouting and hand-waving, a burst of twinkling crystals explode midair above half the stage, shimmering blue-white-gold in the stagelights briefly before settling down over two of the other team.

(Casting Glitterdust, will save DC 20, hitting both red and green)

@Braxus: The curse of lacking information strikes again... It's an undefined polearm, so with red's last action I'll rule that it's more of a halberd than a longspear.

Braxus answers the General's challenge by pummeling him to unconsciousness with three mighty blows.

@Jal: The curtain neither hinders you nor provides cover, so...

AoO: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15 Mobility saves you.

Jal dodges the Warrior Woman's polearm as he passes by and "stabs" the Monkey King.

@Taika: You can't hit both without hitting either Jal or Braxus as well. I've made a 10 ft radius thingy on the map and marked green's former position, if you want to figure out how to place the spell (or perhaps change your action).

The Monkey King steps behind the Chou and creates a slippery path to match Taika's.

Reflex, Braxus: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Braxus' footing doesn't fail him, though.

Comat Round 2
Bold may act
Buffs: Bless (all), Haste (Braxus, Taika, Auric, Caduceus)
___________________________________________
Braxus (15 non-lethal), Taika, Jal
Monkey King (green, 15 non-lethal)
Auric, Caduceus, Eramos
Warrior Woman (red), Chou (blue)

Boo, sorry about that. In that case I'll just start casting adhesive spittle rather than glitterdust (had it pointed out at a convention this last weekend that I was using adhesive spittle wrong-- it basically takes two rounds to use, not one, because it requires you to use 2 standard actions. So! This round I'll cast the spell, and on a potential following round I'll hock a loogie at someone.

*Looks around at all the grease on the stage*

I'm not cleaning this up.

Auric's beam doesn't fall flat - on the contrary it becomes even wider. He points at the warrior woman's weapon and suddenly, grease (DC 13) coats her blade!

With so much grease I almost would like to start singing!

"This monkey wants to make sure everyone hears no evil, sees no evil and speaks no evil! Then I do a tricksy of my own."

Move action to activate Detect Evil, standard to Selective Channel (Oracle Channel) to exclude all the Aspis.

Oracle Channel: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 3, 2) = 10

I am operating under the belief that Life link does not activate for non-lethal damage. If someone knows otherwise, let me know.

@Taika: Magically enhanced drool it is then!

Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

The Warrior Woman maintains a firm grip on his weapon.

Caduceus senses no evil amongst the rival troupe and removes some of Braxus' bruises. It is also my understanding that Life Link has no effect on NL damage.

Comat Round 2
Bold may act
Buffs: Bless (all), Haste (Braxus, Taika, Auric, Caduceus)
___________________________________________
Braxus (5 non-lethal), Taika, Jal
Monkey King (green, 15 non-lethal)
Auric, Caduceus, Eramos
Warrior Woman (red), Chou (blue)

Eramos shifts to get closer to red. But the armor is so restricting that it prevents him from his normal swinging motions.

club #1: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

club #2: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (7) - 3 = 4

The Warrior Woman dodges Eramos' blow and retaliates.

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

The Chou swears to himself and redirects the floating greatsword to attack the curtain. He then steps back and casts a spell.

Will, Braxus: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

A loud ringing noise causes Braxus' sword to vibrate slightly.

Comat Round 3
Bold may act
Buffs: Bless (all), Haste (Braxus, Taika, Auric, Caduceus)
___________________________________________
Braxus (5 non-lethal), Taika, Jal
Monkey King (green, 15 non-lethal)
Auric, Caduceus, Eramos (16 non-lethal)
Warrior Woman (red), Chou (blue)

The loud ringing noise causes Braxus to shrug his shoulders uncomfortably and grunt as the wooden weapon twitches in his hand. He tightens his grip on the sword and locks eyes with the Chou before stepping toward him, bringing the very real threat of wooden splinters and deep bruises swinging before him.

"Woe to our enemies! Feel our steel upon your necks!" He says fiercely.

Attack PA+FF+Stuff!: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23 Blue Chue! I choose you!

Damage!: 1d8 + 18 ⇒ (8) + 18 = 26

Not sure if it is a 5' step or not, since movement usually counts where you are going and not where you start, but I will play it as if it is still slow movement and use a full move action to shift the one space.

"Where ya going, Monkey Boy?" Jal taunts as he takes a following step and stabbing once again with the blunt stick. He casts an eye over at the Aspis Chou, "And if Big Guy doesn't totally brain you, you're next."

Swift to make Blue a Studied Target. 5' step up to Green. Full attack him (w Power Attack, Bless, and Studied Target)
Bonk dagger: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 15
NL damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 + 4 = 14
.
Bonk dagger 2: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 16
NL damage: 1d4 + 4 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 2 + 4 = 11

The Monkey King falls to Jal's "blade", and Braxus delivers a bone rattling blow to the Chou.

Comat Round 3
Bold may act
Buffs: Bless (all), Haste (Braxus, Taika, Auric, Caduceus)
___________________________________________
Braxus (5 non-lethal), Taika, Jal
Auric, Caduceus, Eramos (16 non-lethal)
Warrior Woman (red), Chou (blue, 26 non-lethal)

Auric glances at the warrior woman, and makes a face at her!

Casting daze, Will DC 12 negates.

"The King forbids you from falling asleep. Keep fighting or no bananas for you!"

LoH, Eramos: 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 1, 5, 3) + 2 = 13

***Overseer post***

"CURTAINS!"

Braxus throws down his wooden sword with force at the call for the curtains, splintering it upon the stage floor.

"You deserve worse!" he yells at the opposing group. He backs away, a threatening look still firm upon his face, and nearly slips in the grease before correcting his direction.

Once a good distance away he turns to his group and let's his blood cool, feeling the intense fatigue wash over him that always comes after a touch with his distant heritage.

He smiles through the fatigue as he looks toward his team and says, "So that's opera. Who else wants a drink? "

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A final channel to be rid of the NL damage.

Pally Selective Channel: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 5) = 14

"Knew this would be a bad idea." Eramos throws the club down and starts pulling at the heavy, constricting armor.

Taika frowns slightly as the mock-fight is called before she can rid her mouth of the disgusting taste of sort of sticky ice. She shrugs to herself and winds up sending a stream of it at the falling curtain (legally not possible, can only target creatures, but it seemed funny), using the moment of time it buys to bow to the audience, before moving offstage after her colleagues.

"Oh, I don't know it was so bad. Didn't you all enjoy waving around sticks?"

Jal—clearly waiting for any excuse to continue beating down on Aspis—holds onto his weapon as his eyes remain suspiciously locked on the remaining opponents.

Kiang Zhen rises from her seat, stating, "Unless you can end a battle decisively, the winds of chance may ever shift against you."

She produces a coin and decides the winning team at random.

2=succes: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Backstage, you are met by Kankai once more.

"Time for your costume change," she caws as she hands over a stack of black funerary robes.

"Once you get suited up, throw these over your clothes; you'll need them to enter the next event. Then head to the Petal District. You'll know the way once you get there."

Eager to get back to his own clothes Braxus sighs and shrugs off the stage costume. "Relax friend Jal. Soon enough we will face another challenge. Save your energy for then." Braxus says to his half elven friend.

Donning the funerary robes over his normal gear as instructed, Braxus looks around at his friends as they do so as well, "Do you think we are going to a funeral for contestants that failed? "

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"That little fight, barely got bruised."

Backstage Eramos rips off the rest of his armor and props the club against the wall. He dons his armor, relishing in the freedom of movement it provides. He picks up his blade and swings it, making sure to avoid people of course.

"Never liked funerals. So you think it is going to be crypt or a pyre?"

Jal drops the fake knife and quickly changes back. He gives Braxus a mirthless laugh, ”When it comes to Aspis, I always have some energy.” He pulls his katana’s sheath over his shoulder, shrugging it into place, ”But point taken, Big Guy.”

He looks at Eramos, ”Crypt. Pyre. Hole in the ground with no name … as long as it’s not for us, I’m good. And if it is for us, I guess we’ll just have to disappoint some people, eh?”

rises from her seat, stating, "Unless you can end a battle decisively, the winds of chance may ever shift against you."

"With three down and two more of the snakes on the ropes? Seems fairly 'decisive' to me. I tire of these games. The price we pay had best be worth it for the Society."

***OVERSEER ANNOUCEMENT***

Overseer thread

A crowd of black-robed mourners gathers in a small, grassy square near the edge of the cemetery. The assembly forms a procession, which winds through the cemetery to one of the oldest and most opulent plots. There, the entrances to an entire row of aging marble mausoleums stand open. Before each rests a coffin.

The procession stops, and a woman in the robes of a Pharasmin cleric steps forward. She approaches the various groups of mourners and, speaking in a solemn tone, requests each of them to hoist a casket and carry it into one of the mausoleums. Then she adds the following instructions: “This next competition is the final one of the qualifier. The Emissary lies somewhere in the catacombs below. All you must do now is seek him out and touch his robes. Good luck.” Then the woman nods and leaves, without further explanation.

Braxus hoists the coffin up and carries it into one of the mausoleums. He sets the heavy casket down and turns to his group saying, "What are you all standing around for? Let's get this done."

"Well, I guess the sooner we start...however, this seems somewhat ...blasphemous. I take little pleasure in any of this." The half-elf comes to terms with his decision to join in. His tone quickly changes, "We will need to be well lit! Though I pray I am wrong, the dead are not always at rest. If any of you have protections against their touch, now would be the time to make certain they are in place." With that, Caduceus steps toward Braxus and maw of the mausoleum. He draws his blade, thankful for the enchanted flame that dances along the steel.

Enchanted with Continual Flame 4th Level

Auric steels himself for the challenge to come, bolstering his spirits with a spell, then follows his companions, his bow tightly kept in his hands.

Casting heroism.

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"I'm curious... one moment."

Taika tries to open the lowered coffin that her colleagues have discarded, checking it for magic first and then testing the lid, wanting to see what- if anything at all- was inside the coffin in this macabre little play.

If there is nothing of note inside, she willing follows the others, refreshing a charge of mage armor on herself.

Jal’s actions reflect Taika’s, but in his own way. He quickly, efficiently inspects the coffins.

Any indicator of traps, or of what’s inside?
Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38
Disable Device (if applicable): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Slightly embarrassed at forgetting such basic steps, the paladin seeks out the presence of evil.

Detect Evil

Curious with the scrutiny by the three party members, Braxus mimics their actions though not really looking for anything in particular as much as agreeing with their findings.

"Uh huh..." he says nodding his head sagely, his eyes narrowed in thought.

"Well, just as I expected." he nods again for a moment looking at his friends. He gets out his flask and takes a long draw from it before continuing. "It's a coffin."

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And just for proactivity's sake, if nothing is in the coffins (or nothing is revealed by our various inspections of them), Jal will take point as we head in, stealthing as usual.

Perception: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24
Stealth: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (16) + 18 = 34

Defying your caution, the casket is empty, untrapped and unwieldy.

The stairs empty into a long hall of cool gray stone. On both sides of the smooth, polished walls open deep, narrow arches that recede into straight, dark hallways. A gold-skinned humanoid sits in a trance like state in the middle of the room like a great silent statue. Across his lap is a massive spiked club. Behind the creature, on the far side of the hall, a small brass gong hangs still upon a lacquered wooden frame. Beside the gong rests a large mallet, its beater wrapped in cloth. Shortly after you enter, he opens his eyes and speaks.

"Greetings, esteemed competitors. Allow me to introduce myself. I am called Heng-the Sifu's Judge. Within this room you see eight arches; however, only one leads to the final competition. While I can show you the correct path, you must first prove yourselves worthy before I reveal the answer."

The oni nods and without warning, all eight entrances erupt into impassible whirlwinds of lashing sword shards and colored smoke. Calmly, he continues.

"Beyond me hangs a small gong. In order to pass freely, you must properly sound the gong using the nearby mallet. While this task sounds easy, I assure you it is not, for it must be struck perfectly in order to get it to sound. Hit it too softly and it will fail to echo, too hard and it will crack. Furthermore, I shall do my best to prevent anyone from sounding it."

The judge bows, his heavy gaze relentless. Then slowly his body coils into a combat stance as he signals the start of the fight with a simple nod.

The judge's shape morphs into that of an rugged Tien-La steppe rider, though his equipment is unchanged.

Combat Round 1
Bold may act
_______________________________________
Judge Heng
Auric, Braxus, Taika, Caduceus, Eramos, Jal

"I hope this is the last meaningless combat we shall have. Still, I hope The Inheritor watches over us."

Casting Bless.

So, is the smoke thick enough to grant cover? Basically, are we walking in blind? Can we use it to grant us cover?

Don't disregard the "lashing sword shards" in the colored smoke. It is only in the side hallways and not in the central room we are in with Heng, at least from the way I read it. Contrary to how I have posted in the past, I will wait for the group to post actions since Braxus' initiative was really low this time(no offense Caduceus).

CAn we get clarification on that, Skipper? Are the smoke/blades in the main room? Or off in the side chambers?

Quietly, Taika whispers: "It may be possible to cut this challenge short. I can make someone unseen so that they may approach the gong without incident... assuming the judge here has no precautions against it, which he well may. Caduceus or Auric might be our best hands at ringing the gong, perhaps?"

(Hazarding an educated guess that the gong might be a Perform check, which may boil down to a raw Charisma check without the correct Perform, but I don't know this for a fact. Note Taika is saying this via the message cantrip which she will keep refreshed every hour, so a DC 25 Perception check from Heng to overhear the plan (+ any distance or sound modifiers you feel fair with the clashing blades ;) )

Waiting to hear back from her colleagues if one of them wishes to try this, Taika still is not completely idle. She assesses the judge critically, considering his person in this changed form, and whether there are still clues as to his true nature... and vulnerabilities... like this.

Readied action to cast vanish (5-rd duration) on Caduceus or Auric if they agree; she can take a 5-ft step as part of a readied action in theory to touch Auric without his needing to move back towards her (if Caduceus is not in that square).

Few other questions: can Taika identify the nature of the judge, going off his original gold-skinned appearance? If so, here's a knowledge check: 1d20 ⇒ 7 +12 for Planes, + other for other categories.

Secondly, is the whirling blades a Spellcraftable occurence? (Taika has a suspicion they might be illusory, but has nothing solid to base that on yet. If Spellcraft would be applicable: Spellcraft: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

The smokey blades are only in the hallways, and they block line of sight.
It's indeed a Perform (percussion) check to ring the gong. Speaking of perform...

The judge is another kuwa oni, though he seems tougher than the ones you met in the arena. Two questions.
Taika can't recognize the blades as a spell effect.

Combat Round 1
Bold may act
Buffs: Bless
_______________________________________
Judge Heng
Auric, Braxus, Taika, Caduceus, Eramos, Jal

Questions: any special attacks, and any DR?

Through the magical messaging, the paladin whispers, "I would be willing to try. Can you first check to see if there are other magics at work, as I doubt it would be that easy."

Hearing the plan, Braxus says roughly under his breath, "I'll keep him distracted. Just know, these oni call to my blood to be put down."

Forgoing defensive tactics, Braxus grabs a vial from his belt and quickly downs it's contents, stepping forward as he does, allowing his rapid size increase room to grow.

He steps in front of Jal, knowing the nimble half-elf can easily dip under and around his growing frame and hoping to give Eramos a clear lane to rush the oni.

Trying to grab the oni's attention, he bellows, "If you want a fight, I'll take you on, demon!" As he says that, his skin starts to take on just the slightest shine.

Move action=grab potion, standard=drink it, free=5' step, free=yell and act tough...and activate bloodrage. For now he is just trying to be enough of a target to maybe conceal the actions behind him. Braxus figures he left room for Eramos and Jal to engage in melee, and then Auric can move to the side and shoot without being blocked.

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