[PFS] PbP GameDay 4 - Master of the Fallen Fortress ***CORE*** (Inactive)

Game Master Luke_Parry

Kailun nods to the rest of the group, indicating that they should be ready for anything, then motions for Gratius or Caelben to open the door. "This ruin is no place for manners, at least not that we've seen."

Fellstone takes a few breaths to try and shake off the sickness. "If the lads in the pub...monastery heard that a smell was turning my stomach, they'd be laughing for a week." he says.

Stepping further into the room he goes to the door. "No matter where we are, there's always a cause to be civil." Fellstone says. "My name's Fellstone of the Pathfinders. You are among friends Balenor. How'd you end up here?"

Being civil is never a bad thing. said Gratius who moves with Fellstone to try to open the door where the voice come from.

The door is locked.

The voice sounds puzzled.

"Drangle...? Oh, do you mean Drandle? The old codger had nothing to do with me being here. I was sent in to explore by myself - used my climbing kit to get up to the second level, bypassed a trap... and then ran afoul of some troglodytes, who brought me up here."

Gratius moves over to investigate the door, and discovers, much to his consternation, that the door is locked.

When whatever is beyond the door hears you playing with it, it helpfully adds:

"I believe the big fellow that was living in this room had the key... I don't suppose you happened to find any of my equipment anywhere around here...?"

Caleben goes to retrieve his spear and stowes his mornging star again at his belt before getting ready for what ever is behind the door.

"It can't hurt to search the big guy I suppose"

Caelben moves over to see what the big guy (and the little guys) was carrying

On the big guy:
Three javelins, a poker, and two keys.

On the little guys:
A total of nine javelins, three clubs (all small sized), and 6d4 silver pieces of unusual manufacture

There is also a rusty iron chest over against one wall of the room (A10)...

"Look people, I've found 2 keys...we can try to see if one of them opens up the door"

"That sounds like a good idea, but everyone stay ready for anything."

Using one of the keys, Caelben is easily able to unlock and open the door.

Upon opening the door, the party finds a small cell, and shackled to the wall, a disheveled-looking man, clothed in a tattered explorer's outfit, who perks-up considerably when he sees that you definitely aren't monstrous.

"Thank the Gods! Could you get me out of these? They aren't exactly haute couture, and chafe abominably to say the least..."

"Try the other key on his restraints, otherwise we'll have to find a way to bypass or break them."

Sense motive to see if the man won't attack us if freed: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

"Sure, he doesn't look like he will attack us if we set him free"

Caelben looks for a lock that will fit the other key he found on the man's restrains

Obligatory d20 roll: 1d20 ⇒ 14.

Caelben tries the key on the man's restraints, and they open easily.

He collapses to the ground, then picks himself up with a wan smile, rubbing his wrists.

"Thank-you for my release!"

He then does a little jig, and hums a catchy tune...

1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

...and his wounds completely heal.

Cautiously moving out into the main room he takes stock of the party, and moves over to shake everyone's hands, effusively expressing his gratitude for being released.

When espies the rusty chest, he gives it a calculating look...

1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15.

...and a swift kick which breaks it open.

Inside is a suit of masterwork studded leather armor, a masterwork buckler (emblazoned with the Glyph of the Open Road), a masterwork rapier (with the initials 'BF' engraved into the hilt), a shortbow with 15 arrows, two scrolls, a heavy, ornate compass, and a climber’s kit.

Balenar spends a few minutes putting on and/or stowing his equipment, before turning to the party with a smile.

"Well now, I could go home, but it would be a shame not to see the entire tower... and I have a bone to pick with the leader of this lot... unless you have already encountered him? Big Trog? Feather headdress? Goes around with a pygmy crocodile?"

Ignoring the martial items, Kailun picks up the scrolls and inspects them.

Take 20 on Spellcraft for a 29, unless we're suddenly in a hurry to move out, in which case he'll do his best to skim them quickly.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Happy to meet you Balenar, I'm Gratius Laelius. I was a soldier in Her Majestrix Army and a guard at the Egorian School Academy of Magic.
I don't think we have yet the pleasure to meet the leader of this Troglodyte's tribe.

Looking at the compass Gratius asks

Is this, one of the famous wayfinder ?

No rush.

When Kailun picks up the scrolls and starts to look over them, Balenar frowns, before the corner of his mouth quirks up in a smile.

"You know, you could have just asked..."

Scroll of Cure Moderate Wounds, Scroll of Invisibility.

In response to Gratius' question, Balenar smiles, and nods.

"Indeed it is! I received it after finishing my Confirmation; that was nearly two years ago, though - I have had a number of different adventures since then. On to other matters, however; if you haven't found the troglodyte leader, I recommend we do so, and bring and end to this infestation..."

Let me know what you want to do ;-)

Let's find him

-Posted with Wayfinder

"By all means, yes. Let's find their leader and get out of here."

Exploring all the tower is one of our mission

says Gratius

But finding the leader first could be of great help if we want to explore the rest of the tower.
Let's find him and give him Pharasma's gift.

Well, let me know *where* you are going ;-)

If that's it for this level, we'll head back to the stairs and keep heading up.

It isn't - you haven't gone into 'Area 8', but if you want to skip that, you can; this isn't a railroad ;-)

Good call, totally missed that.

"Wasn't there another door back there? If so, we should investigate before continuing up."

desna why?

"ok"

-Posted with Wayfinder

"So we go check that out first? Are you joining us...? I'm sorry, I seem to have missed to catch your name. I am Caelben"

Caelben extends one hand towards the recently freed man

Balenar nods.

"I intend to, although since there are so many of you, I will be content to adopt a supporting role." He then grins. "As I mentioned before, my name is Balenar."

Moving around to the remaining door on this level...

1d100 ⇒ 26

The door opens easily.

Cracks in the walls and ceiling of this chamber have allowed rainwater to collect here, flooding the room and giving rise to a profusion of mold and fungus along the walls and ceiling.

Crouched in one of the limpid rainwater pools is a frog the size of a pony, which glares at Caelben balefully through rheumy eyes, clearly sizing him up as a potential meal...

Round 1: Caelben, Kailun, GF, Balenar, Gratius, Guybord, Fellstone

Caelben and Kailun are up.

Kailun slinks into the room and skirts the wall, confident that his companions will occupy the creature in melee to cover him once he's exposed.

Longbow attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Longbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

"We want to try to distract this one again with pieces of dog meat?"

Caelben steps in front of Kailun and readies his spear in case the frog attacks

Readied attack vs frog AC: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Damage if hit: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Unfortunately, this one isn't really tame...

Kailun fires an arrow, which sails clear over the frog's head, to clatter against the wall.

Caelben steps forward and readies an attack, skewering the frog as it closes into melee range.

Undaunted, the frog attempts to bite Caelben...

Bite: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 = 5, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 damage.

...but try as it might, it is unable to chew through his armor.

Balenar starts singing a rousing ditty.

+1 to hit and damage.

Round 1: Caelben, Kailun, GF(-10), Balenar, Gratius, Guybord, Fellstone

Party is up!

Fellstone grabbed several of the Javelins and fell in with the others. He wasn't going to step through the door, not with the frog being close and him still being wounded.

"Let's see how the frog likes javelins." he mutters and lets loose a javelin.

Javelin to hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Gratius who changed his sword and shield for his Glaive take a 5ft. step to stand between the two rooms and strike at the creature attacking his comrades.

Glaive: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 = 12
Damages: 1d10 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9

Gratius steps forward and takes a swing, cleaving a great furrow through the frog's skull.

Combat over.

Let me know what you wish to do next ;-)

Is something of interest in this room ?

asks Gratius while taking a look in it.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Gratius searches the room thoroughly, a process which turns up a (non-magical) small jade statue of an angelic being with five wings, wielding what appears to be a miniature bastard sword.

What now? :-)

Is this a statue of Dispater's son ? asks himself Gratius when he found the small statue.

Mothing more here. I suggest we continue up he says while taking back his sword and shield.

"yeah"

-Posted with Wayfinder

"There's one more door leading out of this room; we should check it before we go. There might be more prisoners."

Checking beyond the final door reveals a small ledge, all that remains of a larger room that has fallen away when part of the tower collapsed.

Standing in the doorway, Kailun looks out on the landscape, searching the horizon for anyone approaching the tower.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Assuming he doesn't see anything...

He turns back to his companions and suggest, "Well then, back to the stairs and up the tower?"

Caelben nods

"Yes, but lets be careful of the pygmy crocodile and big troglodyte"

"a crocodile should be easy to touch."

-Posted with Wayfinder

Heading up the stairs...

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 next to the throne is a big troglodyte, who reaches down and strokes the back of an albino crocodile squatting beside the chair as Caelben crests the top of the stairs.

Clearly unconcerned, the big troglodyte snorts, and unmistakeably gestures for Caelben to 'bring it'!

Round 1: Fellstone, Balenar, Gratius, T, Kailun, Guybord, Caelben, S

Fellstone and Gratius are up!

Just to be clear as to what the map represents, you are arranged in a single file, which indicates your position on the staircase. To reach the top (where Caelben is), you need to pass through the square of everyone in front of you.

When it will be his time,Guybord cast bless to everyone.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Still with his sword and shield, Gratius moves towards the two creatures.

Double move in front of the king and his white elephant crocodile

Fortitude: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18 I suppose one of the creature is a troglodyte

Still hurting from the previous encounter, Fellstone moves up enough to get a clear look at the Crocodile and let's loose a Javelin at the creature.

Javelin to hit: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Fellstone moves forward and tosses a javelin, which slams into the flank of the crocodile with a satisfying thud.

Balenar begins singing.

+1 to hit and damage with weapons.

Gratius moves forward, getting up close and personal with both enemies.

The big troglodyte grins, steps back and casts a spell, causing a scimitar of pure flame to appear in his hand.

Guybord casts a spell, calling down the blessings of the Gods on his allies.

Round 1: Fellstone, Balenar, Gratius, T, Kailun, Guybord, Caelben, S

Kailun and Caelben are up.

Emerging from the staircase, Kailun appraises the situation and chants an arcane spell.

Grease, Reflex save DC 17.

Caelben moves up so he can reach the crocodile and stabs his spear at it

To hit AC crocodile: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 7 (if the crocodile is prone; add another +4 to hit)

but ends up just sliding the tip of his spear across the slippery , grease covered scales.

AOO in case it comes up to hit AC: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 + 1 = 17 (if the crocodile is prone; add another +4 to hit)

Kailun emerges from the staircase, and casts a spell, causing grease to appear across a large chunk of the floor...

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8.
Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15.

...causing both foes to fall prone.

Caelben then steps forward and takes a swing at the crocodile...

...but his spear simply slides across its scales.

The crocodile then stands up (provoking from Caelben, who scores a nasty blow to its flank 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 damage), and attacks Gratius...

Bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9, for 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 damage.

...but it is unable to find a chink in his armor.

Round 2: Fellstone, Balenar, Gratius, T, Kailun, Guybord, Caelben, S

Fellstone and Gratius are up!

@GM Gratius is with sword and shield, so I think he has an AoO against the crocodile.
If it's the case :
AoO (Sword): 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 1 + 4 = 11
Damages: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Unable to reach the shaman trough the grease Gratius try to hit the crocodile.

Longsword: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 = 11
Damages: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Fellstone lost his clear line of sight to the crocodile, and with Gratius fighting it he didn't trust his ability with the Javelin to not hit his companion. Instead, the dwarf moved up to just in front of the throne and threw a Javelin at the Shaman.

Javelin at Shaman: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Confirm Critical: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6
I'm not including any negatives to cover from the throne as I'm not sure if there are any.