The open courtyard is strewn with pools of acid and piled with rubble and other debris. It is lorded over by a rather large dragon, likely the same one that took the cage and Charvion from the Irorium.
Knowledge (Arcana) DC 13:
Yep... that's a black dragon. All black dragons may breath a line of acid. Like most dragons they can see in the dark, are immune to sleep and paralysis effects, and generally use their claws and fangs to fight. You aren't sure about this one's age, but the older they get the tougher they tend to be.
Knowledge (Arcana) DC 18:
Yep... that's a big black dragon. They are known to be immune to acid. You still aren't certain about it's age.
Knowledge (Arcana) DC 24:
That is a particularly old Black Dragon judging by the size. Black dragons are known to be formidable swimmers and able to deal effortlessly with most terrain hazards. Note the 'old' keyword.
Place yourselves in the first few rows of the courtyard.
The huge dragon is an imposing site, and has brought the small army to a bit of a standstill, some start trying to work out a way around – seeing a chance to make a break for the single door and hopefully passing through it to the safety of the mausoleum.
A half a dozen of the most seasoned Pathfinders instead ready to make their stand, drawing swords and casting spells – their faces set in grim masks of steely resolve.
Alie Saechel
Boswick Bumbleberry
Dwayne the Rock
Oxirane
Rogar Stonehand
Sareth
This is the vanguard leading an assault on the dragon, each one of them heroes towards the twilight of their careers – leading what may be their final charge into glory. Should they fall this day their names will live on in song – and forever be engraved on the Wall of Names.
A small number of other journeymen Pathfinder seem equally set on following up on the charge with their steel also at the ready.
Still waiting on reports, so let your GM know your intent. More to follow...
The battle is joined with ferocity, he show is far more spectacular than the entertainment in the Irorium earlier.
The most seasoned Pathfinders appear to be faring well, and a small cohort of around a score are in lending them aid and trying to harry the dragon.
One enterprising group has simply abandoned all due care and has crashed the gates into the mausoleum, leaving the entrance wide open for any who can make it across the courtyard!
GM:
Good morning! :) I have done the rounds of the tables to make sure I have everyones input. Run encounter as normal. Door to mausoleum has been opened
From Fingalad's knowledge of these beasts, your best bet is to perhaps try to distract the creature as it engages with the more seasoned veterans. This creature would likely kill any of you with a single bite.
Fingalad:
You also know that it has incredible spell resistance. Other than it's acid immunity, spell resistance, and ability to kill most of you with a single chomp, you think you've got a handle on this.
As it notices the lot of you making a brave stand, it swoops near and swings its tail wide, bringing up a spray of acid and rubble.
Gabrielle, Francois, Balzanno, Fingalad, and Joe take the brunt of the blast! Bludgeoning:2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5DC 14 Reflex for half.
Under heavy attack, the mighty black dragon falters, blood spilling from dozens of wounds. She staggers forward, raises
her wings, lets out an ear-piercing roar, and takes flight, headed for the harbor.
GM:
Dragon is out of the combat from the end of whatever round you are resolving
HP 27/ 54 | AC 17 (T12/FF16) | F: +8 R: +3 W: +4 | Perc +7 | Init +1
Reflex DC14:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Balzanno stands amid the acid and rubble and shakes his fist at the dragon as it takes to the sky.
41/44hp.
"Yeah! Dat's what I thoughts! Ya big chicken!"
Flapping his arms like a chicken, Balzanno taunts the elder draconic terror, oblivious that he poses little threat to it, before gesturing to his companions.
"Well, maybe dat Bone Eata' won't run away when he sees us comin'!"
"Bah! Zhere are too many people out in zhe Lodge! We are doing nothing out here! Let us proceed to zhe mausoleum, it is likely where Charvion has gotten to."
Feamle Human (Ulfen) Init +2, Perception +8 AC 21 (T12 FF 19) HP 26/26 CMD 18 CMB +6 BAB +3 WIL +4 (+2 vs. Mind affecting) FORT +6 REF +5
Brunhilde is rather proud that she has survived a confrontation with a mighty Dragon unscathed but is realiustic enough to know she only played a minor part in the fight. As now is no time for boasting she moves on with her companions in the search of Chavrion.
Henrick keeps his crossbow ready as he enters the building. "Joe, wait out here, unless the dragon comes back. Then trot inside and let me know, right?" Whether the camel understands these instructions or not, Henrick simply pats him on the side of the neck and moves in.
FYI, the dragon itself is in fact a CR14 huge black dragon.
You let a few arrows fly, hurl objects, and make quite a scene, steering some of the dragon's attention away from the fight at hand... and unfortunately some of its ire... it jumps into the air, attempting to retreat from the onslaught. It drops, just a stones throw from the mausoleum entrance, blasting a shower of rocks, and then leaps off towards the harbor.
How many hit?:1d6 ⇒ 2 East or West side?:1d2 ⇒ 2
Andruss and Brunhilde take the brunt of the blast.
Damage:2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6Reflex DC 14 for half
It dribbles acid and rubble across the courtyard to cover it's retreat, and the exterior of the building is looking less than structurally sound.
The entrance to the building reveals a twisting set of hallways containing several lab-like rooms. They each contain large, steel surgical tables, with several texts, dissection instruments, and texts. The smell of embalming fluid permeates the area as the cabinets of chemicals seem to have been shaken open during the assault. The west leads into a large hallway, and the north to a second westbound hallway, or a door.
AC 15 T 11 FF 14 | HP 24/34 | F +4 R +3 W +5 | Init +5| Perc +0
Spells Remaining:
1st 4/4 2nd 1/2
Spells Active:
mage armor - 1hr
west is good. Marching order is good, though Francois would prefer not to be dead last, if at all possible. 11 AC not good for sneak attacks. I'll mage armor if that ends up being the order, though.
Balzanno and Gabrielle notice a snickering sound from around the corner and emerge just in time to see a pair of goblins shoving over a large tank full of some sort of bugs!
The Brown and Green goblins spend a surprise round action shoving over their tube of beetles, and the Blue goblin takes a total defense. Balzanno and Gabrielle can also take an extra action for the surprise round, and if it changes anything majorly I'll retcon.
Round 1:
Fingalad
Francois
Henrick
Black Beetles
Balzanno (Surprise action only)
Blue Beetles (Ted Kord et al)
Andruss
Blue Goblin
Green Goblin
Gabrielle (Surprise action only)
Brown Goblin
Right... some of you might want to know something about the beetles.
Knowledge (Nature) DC 11:
This is a swarm of Dermestid Beetles. The swarm consists of so many creatures that that conventional means of assaulting them will not work. They are immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures, immune to all mind-affecting effects, and immune to weapon damage. For every 5 points that you beat the DC by, read 1 spoiler from those below.
Weaknesses:
This mob of hungry critters is susceptible to damage from any attacks that affect an area. Additionally, high winds are particularly debilitating to them.
Special Qualities:
The bite of these creatures contain a poison that can slowly sap away at your strength. Additionally, being swarmed by these creatures can be quite distracting, and can result in nausea to the victim.
For those who have read all boxes and still are owed more info (DC 26):
Your knowledge of these creatures is so encyclopedic, that you can feel free to read the bestiary entry for a Spider Swarm and use all info there without fear of metagaming.
Fingalad moves quietly down the hallway to the right, hoping to circle around behind the goblins. As he goes, he pulls out a flask of alchemist's fire.
double move to go 50', drawing an alchemist's flask as he goes
Know Nature:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7Strange, I can't seem to recall a darn thing about beetles...but I assume fire will fry em!
Henrick, despising goblins as he does, reluctantly drops his readied crossbow in order to pull out an alchemist's flask. He steps into the room and throws it at the lower left corner of the black swarm.
Most of the area is difficult terrain which prevents a charge, however since the goblin's action to shove over the swarm chamber provokes an AoO, Balzanno's action is virtually the same. And also misses all the same.
Balzanno, quick on the draw darts into the room to engage the goblins, but his excitement gets the better of him and he swings wildly, narrowly missing the goblin. The 2 chambers come crashing to the ground, and the swarms of beetles erupt from them, skittering around the room madly, looking for something to devour.
Fingalad quietly disappears around the corner, and as best as you can tell, the goblins make no notice of the impending attack from the rear.
Francois and Henrick both move forward, flasks of alchemist fire in hand. Francois prepares himself to hurl the flask as soon as one of the swarms moves forward, but Henrick takes a closer point and pitches one around the corner. Despite the cover of the tables, the flask lands squarely where intended, and the beetles face immediate conflagration, promptly dispersing the swarm.
The second swarm moves quickly forward to engulf Balzanno, but just before it does, Francois hurls his flask of alchemists fire with no risk of hitting allies, and disperses it quite efficiently.
Wow, both damage rolls of 6, a perfect knockout.
Round 1:
Fingalad
Francois
Henrick
Balzanno (actual turn)
Andruss
Brunhilde
Blue Goblin
Green Goblin
Gabrielle
Brown Goblin
The goblin near the entryway closes in on Brunhilde and screams while chopping away with his sword.
Attack:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14Miss
Perception:1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2
The farthest goblin, apparently oblivious to those moving around the side hallway, decides to take a shot with his bow at Brunhilde, despite the desk in the way and the other goblin in the melee.
Feamle Human (Ulfen) Init +2, Perception +8 AC 21 (T12 FF 19) HP 26/26 CMD 18 CMB +6 BAB +3 WIL +4 (+2 vs. Mind affecting) FORT +6 REF +5
Piece o s+#$! You wan it I got it! Brunhilde roars as she whacks the goblin with her shield.
Begin Controlled Rage and attack
Attack1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28 Damage 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11 Goblin is also bull rushed and attacked as a swift action with my shield spikes Attack1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 Damage 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8. If it's dead I'll also move otherwise move goblin back by 5 feet and +5 feet for every 5 30(my bull rushs CMB) exceeds it'S CMD. If it hits the wall it also falls prone.
Balzanno and Henrick swing ineffectively at the goblins, but an incredibly angry Brunhilde swings so hard with her shield that the goblin bounces off of the wall and crumples into a barely recognizable heap.
Gabrielle moves into the room and holds the line.
@Fingalaad, I'll say with a DC 16 perception check you do.
Just waiting on Fingalad and Andruss's actions. If anyone else wants to post what they are planning to do on their next turns and put their rolls in spoiler tags I'll incorporate all of that into the next monster post.
