[PFS PbP] GM Debug's Trial by Machine (6-01) (Inactive)

Game Master DebugAMP

Just as Yagi is about to step forward, Korad notices that the walls aren't as solid as they seem. As he rests up against one of the walls, he notices a thin tripwire (marked in red on the map) right around ankle level that is incredibly thin and difficult to see in the dark, but the movement of the wall causes it to move around a bit, making it much more noticeable.

Assuming Yagi does not move forward until inspection is complete.

After a thorough inspection, it appears that the walls are in fact illusory walls that hide a variant on a crushing wall trap. The normal deadly spiked solid walls that would crush the party (marked in blue on the map) are instead made of wicker and coated in wet red dye. It seems as though this trap is likely not particularly deadly, however rather embarrassing. So long as everyone is careful stepping over the tripwire, it is fairly easy to avoid.

Which passageway would you like to take?

"Our fellows have put much effort into these traps. I almost feel bad not setting them off. Still, it is for the best. Although marking the hallway makes it much easier to know where to search."

Korad takes a look down each of the unobstructed hallways for any further sign or indication to proceed. If nothing is founed he suggests, "I like the idea of heading west best. Takes us farther away from blocked area that is full of danger."

Yagi tsk-tsk-tsk's to himself at how he almost walked into the "trap".

West is good-dt-dt-dt. Perhaps Korad should lead, your eye is sharp.

Yiel-Dan cocks his head at Yagi's antics, and flutters his wings a bit as Yagi helps him avoid the tripwire.

"Good eye," the half-orc nods to Korad. "I'd rather not get coated in anything red today, unless, of course, it ends up being the blood of some filthy creature..." He briefly fantasizes about battle, then comes to, drool having formed in the corners of his mouth. "Yes, lead the way. Let's continue west."

"Thank you, I had enjoyed working in the family business prior and I needed to be able to keep a keen eye for cataloging," the outsider clearly enjoys the compliments as he starts heading that direction.

"I never trained though, I surprised myself finding this one. You might want to keep a few steps back. I'll be fine if I'm the only one coated in red today."

"With the red dye it is apparent the people setting the traps want to be clear on their potential deadliness. Fortunately we have been better at finding them. Let's hope our perceptiveness continues." Omar continues with the others, careful to avoid the wires.

The path wanders on circuitously for about 10 minutes of walking. Eventually it joins paths with another, and you see the the ink-marked tracks of the previous group rejoin your route. Just ahead the L-shaped corridor makes a right angle from the east to north. Just around the bend a dead half-orc sprawls on the ground. Above the corpse, a wooden sledgehammer dangles from a rope beneath an open ceiling panel. Though the head of the mallet is padded, the trap was apparently still lethal to the unfortunate half-orc. A few feet up the corridor another chalk “X” is scratched on the floor.

Many questions spring to mind, yes-tk-tk-tk?

Who is the unfortunate victim? Why did the padded hammer kill him? Is the trap already sprung, or is the sledghammer trap only the bait used to throw us off?

He clicks to himself as he peers intently.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Our trapmasters are well skilled indeed, indeed.

Is it really a corpse, or someone pretending so?

If he sees nothing, Yagi uncoils a length of spiked chain with the intent of snagging some part of the corpse to drag it closer. The chain is 4 feet long.

"I don't know what to think. I'm worries because this was only supposed to test us, right? There should be no dead here."

He watches patiently as Yagi Mi carefully recovers the body.

"Could this be a fellow Pathfinder?"

The only trap here seems to be the hammer trap, and it has already been sprung. The body in in fact dead, however an examination of the corpse makes it quite obvious that the cause of death was in reality the large number of lacerations around his body, possibly compounded by being struck by the swinging hammer trap, which left lime green marker dye on his head and face.

On his body can be found a masterwork adamantine dagger, masterwork studded leather, a pair of regular daggers, a quarterstaff, a sap, and 2 manacles. While a lack of a wayfinder does not necessarily indicate that one is not a pathfinder, this corpse does not possess a wayfinder nor anything else indicating that he may be a pathfinder.

Yagi communes quietly with his Spirit Guide. Casting Guidance

Survival, Guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13 Still not enough. Dang.

An "assist other" might put us over the top.

Yagi tosses the quarterstaff to land at the next "X", unless prevented.

Let's see what this does, hmmm-mmmm?

The quarterstaff bounces and rolls to a stop.

"I'm happy to help assist you. Here I don't know, I hope I can learn from you."

Aid Survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Survival: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"He was running away. But, as we see, not escaped."

Quiet and silently followed the company Kiddir looks tense. You don't see fear in him, but still and all bravado is gone too.

"He fled from the North. There are led away the traces of six people. But he returned alone. I have a bad feeling about the five bodies found."

He's a little more thoughtfully looks at the body.

"Fine. To the North?".

Then the hunt is on, on. Yagi actually seems a little excited, despite the obvious danger.

To the North, let us go, go.

Watchful for traps, and keeping an eye on the footprints, Yagi will lead unless someone else wants to.

The passage to the north continues for another 300 ft, then terminates in a doorway.

Map updated, feel free to reorder yourselves.

I see no reason not to suspect a trap, trap, whispers Yagi.

He examines the doorway for traps or clues.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

He listens at the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

If he finds nothing, he will wait for the others to try if they wish.

There is certainly something moving in the next room.

Yagi readies his three-section-staff and prepares to open the door when everyone is ready.

"While this is more exciting, I help but wonder if we get in over our heads."

The stone warrior holds an axe ready in one hand and a vial of acid in the other as he readies himself for whatever is beyond the door.

"Only one way to find out though."

== Before ==

Survival: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Zavubak kneels down, examining the half-orc and paying close attention to the tracks. "This must have been one of the six..." He stands back up. "That type of damage... A poor fate to meet, but what a worthy foe to have done it." He stands back up and follows the party north.

== Now ==

Nodding at the Tengu and Oread, Zavubak readies no weapons, but begins to focus his anger in preparation of what may lurk beyond the door. "Whatever it is... Let's be ready," he mutters, his eyes closed and focused.

The dungeon’s red hue is dramatically accented here with a fresh coating of blood. Three corpses lie scattered around the room, all hacked apart with great force. The arterial spray from the last moments of their lives spatters the walls and ceiling and pools on the floor. A dim crimson glow spills from a wide archway to the north, casting a garish light upon the faces of the dead. An open chest sits against the eastern wall, with broken links of chain scattered on the floor around it.

In the center of the room stands a strange sort of automaton. It appears to be damaged, missing one arm and having its exposed gears and legs gummed up by some sticky substance. As soon as the door is opened it aims its shoulder mounted crossbow at you and prepares to loose a shot!

Round 1:
Myrd, Omar
Baddie
Korad, Yagi, Yiel, Zavubak, Kiddir

Omar reacts to the strange creature.

"Well that certainly is not a trap - but some strange golem thing. One that seems to have have deadly intent. Let's rock its world!"

Omar draws his naginata and starts a battle song.

You have to choose to accept the rage bonus and penalties - or ignore it

♪♫♪♫ Fight the good fight every moment
Every minute of this day
Fight the good fight every moment
Make it worth the price we pay
♪♫

As long as we stay Allied Forces, we shall surely Triumph!

Myrd cannot see anything and waits for the more martial inclined to enter the room first

Delay

As Omar begins his war chant inspiring all of you to rage against the machine, the mechanical solider lurches a bit as its gears attempt to grind through the adhesive binding it in place. Unable to move from the spot, it fires off a single shot at Yagi with its shoulder mounted crossbow.

Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Knowledge (Arcana) can be made to identify the creature.

Party's turn!

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Zavubak attempts to identify the creature but fails to do so. He moves ahead into the room and prepares to attack near the creature. Double move

As Zavubak approaches the creature, an odd alarm starts to sound, and a series of arcing needles attached to cords fire out of slots in the ceiling.

attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 231d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
electric damage: 3d3 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2, 2) + 3 = 9
2 Fort saves, DC 13 or be staggered 1 round

Ouch... Sorry.. Also, everyone do me a favor and note if you're accepting the rage bonuses.

Wavering between caution against this strange enemy and the drive of Omar's song against Korad's soul the outsider debates on which impulse to follow.

He gives into the latter and moves forward slowly but with with a clear purpose as he accepts Omar's raging song and roars at the construct.

At least, that was what he was going to do prior to attacks launching from the wall. That enough to calm him and he refocuses himself to move to defend Zavubak. He sets his axe aside as he moves forward and readies his free hand to block any further projectiles.

Martial Flexibility to learn Deflect Arrows for the next minute. Not accepting rage as of yet.

The strange device up above seems to be in the process of preparing another volley, but does not immediately fire upon Korad entering its target area.

Initiative:
Zavubak (Raging?, Took a taser for his friends)
Korad (Raging, Learned how not to take a taser for his friends)
Myrd (Probably not raging?)
Yagi and Yiel (Raging?)
Omar (Raging?)
Kiddir (Raging?)
Trap
Machine Soldier

Also as a note to you bloodragers. If you accept Omar's raging song, you can use your Strength/Con/Will bonuses and AC penalties in place of the ones Omar listed, however as long as you are using Omar's performance you cannot use any powers that specifically require you to be in your bloodrage. Full discloser: I love Skalds and play one in PFS.

Ouch. For now, I will not accept the rage.

Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Zavubak remains silent but winces from the great deal of pain caused by the electric arrows.

Hell yes... Raging!

Good song, musician! Let's do it.

Kiddir rushes to the attack but not mindlessly. He goes around the automatic creation, moving along the wall, and with the fury lunges at the enemy's back!

Great Sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 82d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8

Kiddir moves into position, however is unable to land the blow.

Note, since you get to use your Bloodrage's Strength bonus, your attack should be at an additional +1 and damage at an additional +2, however the attack would still miss anyways.

Initiative:
Zavubak (Took a taser for his friends, staggered 1 round)
Korad (Learned how not to take a taser for his friends)
Kiddir (Raging, move + attack)
Omar (Raging)
Myrd (Probably not raging?)
Yagi and Yiel (Raging?)
Taser Trap
Machine Soldier

I meant "Inspired Rage" as the answer to your question. Next time I will clarify because Yes, it is not clear what I mean .)

If you use Omar's Inspired rage you get your rage bonuses instead of his. You just don't count as being in a bloodrage for the purpose of activating class abilities that call it out specifically. Check the spoiler tag in my post a few posts back for Inspire Rage. It's weird, confusing, but incredibly helpful. You get to use your rage bonuses, but his rage powers (if any), and his rounds of performance.

Other interesting notes about raging song:
1 - You choose to accept it as soon as he activates it, and again at the start of each of your turns. You can effectively turn it on and off on a turn by turn basis without suffering fatigue.
2 - If you fall unconscious you automatically accept it at the start of your turn, which may wake you up based on the con boost.
3 - You can change over from his rage to your rage on your turn without becoming fatigued, but changing from yours back to his causes you to become fatigued.

I think it took me 4 levels of playing a Skald before I figured out exactly how raging song interacts with various class abilities.

Yagi and Yiel-Dan accept the rage, and move in to engage the construct.

Sansetsukon, flanking, raging: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 21 Damage, raging: 1d10 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 1 = 14

Bite, raging: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 1 = 16 Damage, raging: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

While both attacks land solidly, the exterior of the creature is incredibly hard and resists the blows. Yagi's strike deals a hefty blow to the construct nonetheless, however Yiel-Dan's bite is unable to penetrate its shell.

Initiative:
Zavubak (Took a taser for his friends, staggered 1 round)
Korad (Learned how not to take a taser for his friends)
Kiddir (Raging, move + attack)
Yagi and Yiel (Raging, move + attack)
Omar (Raging)
Myrd (Probably not raging?)
Taser Trap
Machine Soldier (9 dmg)

Omar continues the song as his allies rush into the room.

♪♫♪♫ Know we're nobody's fool
So welcome to the machine!
♪♫

He moves up and stabs at the mechanoid with the reach of his naginata.

CI naginata, rage : 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 4 + 1 = 19 for dmg : 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 2 = 9

Myrd does not accept the song ;-)

Myrd walks forward where he can see the thing and flips out his wand of magic missiles from its wrist sheath. He points it at the thing while trying to remember what he knows about these automations.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

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

"Use the adamantine dagger against it, it will go through it's plating more easily!"

Reading through the history, it seems most likely I would have the body's possessions, including the dagger. I have several good weapons already, so if anyone wants to retconn a reason to have it themselves feel free. GM approval pending, of course.

-Posted with Wayfinder

I'm good without the dagger, I feel confident that I can contribute damage even without the dagger.

The construct's hard shell is even able to resist force and elemental damage and the magic missile has no effect, however Omar's naginata is able to pierce it's plating and leave some lasting damage to the machine.

The cords attached to the darts stuck in Zavubak suddenly go taut and pull the needles out of his skin, retracting to the ceiling. At the same time another pair of darts come shooting out from the remaining two slots.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 at Yagi
1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 at Korad

The machine draws a longsword and attempts to plunge it deep into Yiel with all of it's strength.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 at Yiel

The darts shoot wild, and the machine's strike goes wide, however it appears as though the resin coating it's gears and joints has finally splintered off.

Party's turn!

Machine Soldier Damage: 13

"It is invulnerable to my magic! If you give me some room to cast a grease I can topple it if you want that"

delay for now

Let's assume that I took that adamantine dagger. It's in the spirit of Kiddir.

Kiddir grabs the dagger with two hands when hears the words that this weapon can help and tries with all his strength to thrust it into the iron soldier.

Dagger: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 81d4 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6

Damn dice bot ))

Hearing Myrd's call out, Korad moves around to a corner to try to keep out of any spells the wizard might try to cast. Even with the Omar's song in the background, the oread still opts to assist Kiddier to land a decisive strike with the dagger rather than pummel the metal beast himself.

Aid Another to Attack for Kiddir: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 1 = 21

Exceedingly angry from the trap he'd stepped into, Zavubak flies into a rage Not Omar's rage. His draconic blood begins to rush through his veins, tinting his skin black. As his eyes turn blood red, he takes a five foot step and brings both of his claws down hard on the robot.

Claws: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 281d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 91d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Crit?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 Damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Kiddir's stab goes wild as he attempts to use the new weapon, and Korad deftly maneuvers himself to help Kiddir drive his next blow home when all of a sudden Zavubak's claw sweeps through and tears a bundle of cords and cogs out of the back of the creatures neck, crumpling it to the floor.

Zavubak, you're staggered from the taser last round and only get 1 attack, however that first attack alone kills it.

The mechanical soldier collapses to the ground, however the dart launcher is still prepping another volley of darts.

The shoulder mounted crossbow can be easy removed and is a masterwork light crossbow with 9 bolts remaining. The longsword that it wielded is of masterwork quality. On the eastern wall of the room, a small chest wrapped in chains sits with the chains broken and strewn about, and the lid left open.

Korad lets the rage calm and slows his breathing, but remains in the center of the room rather than show intent to move.

"Move quickly, I'll draw the darts until you all can get away."

"Well. Grab everything valuable for you and move on. By the way... As I understand, we found not all bodies?"

Kiddir thoughtfully inspects the field of the massacre and quickly headed to the next exit.