[PFS] GM Socrates presents Master of the Fallen Fortress (Inactive)

Game Master caps

I think that is the first time he has hit with this :)

The Armenian Man steps into the room, then turns his attention to the door where reinforcements were just called from. He begins to focus on a spell should someone enter through that door.

Glok moves into the room and attacks the last troglodyte, but his arrow bounces harmlessly off the edge of its scaled shoulder. Roland takes up a position between Graktul and Gnickygnack and beats the troglodytes head into pulp with his holy book. Suspecting something is coming, the Armenian Man prepares to cast a spell.

Botting Hekran moves into the room to join the action, and is perhaps disappointed to see it seems to be finished...

Until into the room bursts a larger, more mature Troglodyte! The Armenian Man casts a spell and it settles into the troglodyte. Its eyes roll back in its head for a moment before it seems to search the room for something. Seeing its allies on the ground, it screams in frustration before swinging a clawed fist at Roland! The fist rebounds off of Roland's armor, staggering the cleric for a moment, but he quickly recovers.
It failed the save, but with no allies to murder, I decided it made the most sense for it to attack someone else

Initiative Order
Gnickygnack <= Up
Glok <= Up
Roland <= Up
The Armenian Man <= Up
Troglodyte
Graktul <= Up
Hekran Mesra <= Up

Glok turns around and shoots another arrow at the big one.
attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 51d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Roland looks up and down at this new threat, before again swinging his iron book at the large trog.

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Damage 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

It failed the save, but with no allies to murder, I decided it made the most sense for it to attack someone else

The Armenian Man's readied action called for there being a target available. If there was no target for the new troglodyte to attack, then The Armenian Man didn't cast the spell.

Frustrated that his plan wouldn't work, The Armenian Man saves his spell for later, instead stepping up to attack the new, larger troglodyte.

The little gnome runs up and will try to poke the trog
1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

lol

"Well, I guess I gotta try something."

Hekran moves into position and draws a vial of acid.

move and a move

Finally seeing something actually worth fighting. Graktul moves into a flanking position with the Armenian man and allows the fresh blood spilled to awaken the fire within his own.

Attack, BAB, Str, PA, Flank, Rage: 1d20 + 1 + 4 - 1 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 4 - 1 + 2 + 2 = 20
Damage, Str, PA, Rage: 1d10 + 6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 3 + 2 = 20

[ooc]HP is 14/16 with AC of 16[/dice]

Graktul and The Armenian Man make short work of the troglodyte.

On the troglodyte's body the party finds a set of keys. In the next room they find a brazier of glowing coals. The acrid stench of the smoke from the coals blends with the residue of the trog's natural stench to make a truly horrific combination. A few knives, pokers, and other metal implements lie atop a rusty iron box near the brazier. In the back of the room is another door.

Inside the rusty box, they find a suit of masterwork studded leather armor, a masterwork buckler, a masterwork rapier, a shortbow with 15 arrows, a scroll of cure moderate wounds, a scroll of invisibility, a wayfinder, and a climber’s kit.

After opening the door to the next room, Gnickygnack's lights reveal a flinching human in manacles. After a moment he seems to realize you're not troglodytes. "Oh, thank the gods! Please set me free!"

"Are you a prisoner of the trogs! Shall we free you!"
Quickly the grippli moves forward to free the man with the found key.

The gnome looks at the new guy with doubt Hey, whatcha doing in here? he inquires.

"Yes! Please free me! They have been beating me and I think they were planning to sacrifice me soon."

"My name is Balenar Forsend, and I'm a Pathfinder. I came here to explore the tower after the earthquake cracked it open. But I should have known better than to come alone..."

Some of you may remember that Venture Captain Dreng sent you to find a Pathfinder named Balenar Forsend.

"Yes, friend Balenar. It would have been better for you to seek help, but then we would not have had this rescue mission! You have been Magdh's tool, and you have done it well." He works to help Glok free the Pathfinder.

"Now that we have a key, we should make sure nothing remains up here, then open the door on the level below. Balenar, you may help if you like. I assume most of this here is yours?" He indicates the chest that they've opened.

Is this the guy we are looking for? he asks.

Ignoring the one that was dumb enough to get caught Graktul sees nothing else to hit over the head before heading towards the other door in the tower.

The key worked to free Balenar from his bonds, but you find it does not work on the locked door you found earlier.

"Yes, friend Balenar. It would have been better for you to seek help, but then we would not have had this rescue mission! You have been Magdh's tool, and you have done it well." He works to help Glok free the Pathfinder.

"Now that we have a key, we should make sure nothing remains up here, then open the door on the level below. Balenar, you may help if you like. I assume most of this here is yours?" He indicates the chest that they've opened.

"Well, I suppose that is one way to look at it, but I still find it kind of embarrassing. And yes, that is my gear! I'll take it and help you finish exploring the tower."

I'm sorry I'm moving so slow, y'all. Work wiped me out this week. Next week will be the same. The week after we should be able to wrap up. I will post the next room later this weekend.

We smiles at the new guy.

Not necessarily a welcoming smile or an unwelcoming smile, but a smile. :)

The Pastor was pleased to see that the main objective of sending the group all the way out here had been met. But as a fledgling Pathfinder, he knew that he and his mates would not be through until they found all the secrets this fortress held.

The party makes their way to the next door. Graktul opens the door and Gnickygnack's dancing lights reveal a man-sized frog eyeing the party and licking its lips hungrily.

Initiative Order
Gnickygnack <= Up
Man-Sized Frog
Roland
The Armenian Man
Graktul
Balenar Forsend
Glok
Hekran Mesra

LOL, I remember seeing the giant frog picture from the 1st E MM with the frog eating a little guy, lol

Seeing the frog the little gnome gets a little more panicked or excited than usual Uh huh, No way! No how! I am not getting close to that giant frog, those things eat gnomes he says as he throws a bomb at it.

BURN FROG! he says as he launches it

1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 rta
1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Gnickygnack's bomb goes wide and explodes harmlessly elsewhere in the room. please include your bomb range increment on your stat sheet

The giant frog sticks Graktul with its tongue, but doesn't manage to yank him any closer as it pulls its tongue back.

everyone is up!

Roland double moves to just south of the frog.

Would someone please move me? Thanks.

The Armenian Man makes his way into the room. "Magdh, help me show this crazy frog not to mess with Pathfinders. Bless my weapon to sow ill favor on the critter; it's too big!"

"Even though that's kind of cute," he adds, under his breath.

Hekran begins casting a spell.

casting enlarge person on Graktul. It'll take effect next round.

Oh you want to play...Well here I come.

Charging after the tongue fails to pull Graktul off balance he takes a swing with his heavy flail.

Attack, BAB, Str, PA: 1d20 + 1 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 + 4 - 1 = 19
Damage, Str, PA: 1d10 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 3 = 19

Graktul moves up and turns the frog into squishy pulp with his flail.

The party opens the last door on this floor and finds another empty ledge.

Making their way further up the stairs, the party finds something new...

The four wings of the tower are completely open on this level, forming one great, cross-shaped chamber with arched ceilings. The decayed remnants of a carpet run from the doorways at the end of each wing, meeting in the center, where a spiral staircase drops out of sight below. A large, throne-like chair stands in the middle of the eastern wing next to a big chest.

Standing behind the throne room, looking through one of the doorways, stands an adult troglodyte. On the right side of the throne sits an albino crocodile.

The troglodyte turns to face you and grumbles loudly before declaring to you:

Initiative Order
Gnickygnack <= Up
Adult troglodyte
Albino crocodile
Graktul
Glok
Hekran Mesra
Balenar Forsend
Roland
The Armenian Man

The gnome will move up and drink his extract of shield.

His AC goes up to 21 :)

I guess that the trog and croc are in awe of Gnickygnack the Mighty and ran away :)

The troglodyte begins casting a spell, while the crocodile moves in front of the throne and snaps its jaws at you.

Initiative Order
Gnickygnack <= Up (round 2)
Adult troglodyte
Albino crocodile
Graktul <= Up
Glok <= Up
Hekran Mesra <= Up
Balenar Forsend <= Up
Roland <= Up
The Armenian Man <= Up

Glok takes a five foot step aside and takes careful aim at the caster, activating as a free action his judgement of justice. +1 to hit
Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 251d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Spellcraft 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22

”The troglodyte is summoning a swarm. Remember what works versus a swarm and what does not!”

Roland casts Divine Favor and holds his ground, waiting for the beast to come to him.

The Armenian Man moves a little forward, then fixes his gaze on the troglodyte. "Magdh have fun plans for you, you smelly creature. Magdh bless me to mess with you!"

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Confirming what Roland says, Hekran realizes that he really doesn't want to deal with a swarm if possible.

He casts acid splash.

Acid Splash attacks vs touch: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
damage with acid focus: 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

trying to force him to make a concentration check

I hope his concentration is broken

Having a flashback to his time fighting a spider swarm from a trap. Graktul navigates around the edge of the room and throne while drawing his heavy flail to take a swing at the caster. As he covers the last of the distance he allows the haze to cover his vision entering the rage that is always just below the surface.

Pretty sure I can travel that path and avoid the Croc.

Attack, BAB, Str, PA, Rage: 1d20 + 1 + 4 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 1 + 4 - 1 + 2 = 21
Damage, Str, PA, Rage: 1d10 + 6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 3 + 2 = 16

AC is 16 for the duration and HP is 14/16

The little gnome concentrates and a little ball of fire erupts in his hand as bright as a torch.
As the flames illumine his face a broad smile erupts across his face as he chuck a little ball of flame at the trog
1d20 + 1 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 3 - 4 = 1 RTA

Graktul breaks the troglodyte's concentration with a solid hit. Glok punches an arrow around the throne and through the troglodyte's armor. Hekran adds a dash of acid, tweaking the troglodyte's scale-tone. Balenar begins encouraging the party, while The Armenian Man casts a spell on the troglodyte. The troglodyte's eyes glaze over in rage as it seems to give in to the spell. Finally, Gnickygnack throws a ball of magical flame at the ceiling.

None of you are up yet, but if I post piecemeal I may get you up in the next day or two. :)

Maybe the ceiling was cold :)

My conference was awesome but obviously I was very busy. The next week should be a little more normal, although I am traveling several times. Shouldn't be more than one missed day in a row at worst, though

The troglodyte leaves Graktul behind as he makes his way around the throne to attack the crocodile. The crocodile, confused, moves away from the troglodyte and snaps at the air by Graktul.

I forgot to mention this, but last round Balenar began using Inspire Courage
Balenar casts a spell at the troglodyte, but it appears to have no effect.

Initiative Order
Gnickygnack <= Up
Adult troglodyte
Albino crocodile
Graktul <= Up [AoO vs. troglodyte]
Glok <= Up
Hekran Mesra <= Up [AoO vs. troglodyte IF armed w/melee weapon]
Balenar Forsend
Roland <= Up
The Armenian Man <= Up
NOTES: Inspire Courage is active!

Glok attacks the enemy once more.
Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 231d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

The little gnome lobs another fire ball at the trog
1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 16 rta
1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Looking like it connects this time

Roland moves ahead and flanks the crocodile.

Flanking Attack with Divine Favor 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 2 + 1 = 27
Damage 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

Possible crit 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Damage 1d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 + 1 = 5

Is the troglodyte holding anything, like a weapon or a spell component pouch or holy symbol? If so, read the following spoiler

Hekran takes a guarded step away from the troglodyte

I want to see the result of Graktul's AoO before resolving anything else. bzl109 still has a good 17 hours left to post before I bot Graktul.

Surprised the Trog ran away from him. Graktul still is able to get an attack off before turning and putting the wall at his back taking a swing at the croc.

AoO, BAB, Str, Rage, IC: 1d20 + 1 + 4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 4 + 2 + 1 = 15
Damage, Str, Rage, IC: 1d10 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 12

Attack (Croc), BAB, Str, Rage, IC, PA: 1d20 + 1 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 4 + 2 + 1 - 1 = 12
Damage, Str, Rage, IC, PA: 1d10 + 6 + 2 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 + 1 + 3 = 15

AC is 16 while rage is active and rage is 3/6