PFS PbP Gameday 3 #3–25: Storming the Diamond Gate (3-7)

Game Master slin2678

Don't think there is. A single move straight forward will put you at 35' from front rank but they are both in melee with Roary.

Don't think there is. A single move straight forward will put you at 35' from front rank but they are both in melee with Roary.

Then swift my wand of magic missile and cast at guy in front of Rotary. Forgot only either standard or move in surprise round so no move anyway.

magic missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Surprise round

Skipper is busy fumbling in his pack for something, it seems, after they have stepped through the portal, muttering to himself about how they're right here, somewhere, just hang on one moment--

He blinks as he realizes they're actually in a fight. Woops.

"Oh. Um. Sinashaktispeedmysteps--"

(Casting Longstrider on self.)

On the map, the number of lines shows what number baddie they are. Number one (the one directly next to Roary) is the one that was targeted by Magic Missile.

Turn Order: Baddie 1, Jakarno, Skipper, Baddie 3, Gabriel, Roary, Baddie 2, Morrolan, Logain.

The first Aspis agent seems surprised, but quickly gets over it, and now seems to be waiting for something. (Ready Action)

Jakarno, Skipper, you're up.

Okay, sorry, I'm running into some confusion here because of the discrepancies between the Roll20 map, and the Google map, and the lack of names on the Google map. On the Google map, is the red-light-saber-wielding token Morrolan? If so:

Seeing how the sand bogs down the feet of his friends, Skipper points at Morrolan swiftly. The dwarf finds the sand doesn't hinder him now, at least for the next 6 seconds... (Ignore difficult terrain for one round, Morrolan)

Skipper then darts forward over the sound, his own blessed speed only somewhat hampered by the sand, to stand behind Logain. He draws his bow as he moves, and fires a surprisingly well-aimed shot at one of the Aspis agents.

Bow attack on the Aspis agent in the back (not the one in combat with Roary), cover penalty: 1d20 + 9 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 4 = 24
Damage! So much damage!: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 TINK!

The stealthy Tengu emerges from hiding, pointing a finger at one of the guards. A beam of shadow shoots forth.

Blinding Ray at the closest guard.
1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 ranged touch. If 6 HD or less, blinded for 1 round, no save. Otherwise Dazzled for 1 round.

Jakarno, as you attempt to speak the magic incantation necessary to complete the spell... You find thatyou simply cannot make a sound (yes, you are indeed within the 20 foot radius that silence provides... You would have missed anyways though. I'm not adding it to the map since the radius isn't something you could see, but just know it is centered on Roary).

One of the Aspis agents decides to move around Roary, attempting to use acrobatics to avoide the AOO

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 Add 2 to the DC, if he fails, take your AOO.

Once centered behind Roary, he gives a wicked grin and signals to the other guard with a swift motion of his hand, and they let out fierce slashes from their rapiers.

21 or better is bad for you: 1d100 ⇒ 33
21 or better is bad for you: 1d100 ⇒ 53

Attack 1: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 2 = 13
Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

damage 1: 1d6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 2 + (6, 1) = 11 HAH! 2 misses.
damage 2: 1d6 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (6) + 2 + (6, 3) = 17

Gabriel, Roary, your turn.

When it's Roary's turn he attacks the one in front of him twice..

Attack 1: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32
Attack 2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
Confirm 2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Assuming all those hit/confirm..

Dam 1: 2d4 + 19 ⇒ (4, 3) + 19 = 26 +2 if casts spells/sla's
Dam 2: 2d4 + 19 ⇒ (1, 2) + 19 = 22 +2 if casts spells/sla's
Dam Crit: 2d4 + 19 ⇒ (1, 1) + 19 = 21 +2 if casts spells/sla's

AoO: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
Dam: 2d4 + 19 ⇒ (1, 4) + 19 = 24

21 or better is good for Roary (AOO): 1d100 ⇒ 100
21 or better is good for Roary Attack 1: 1d100 ⇒ 63
21 or better is good for Roary Attack 2: 1d100 ⇒ 24

Hehehe... and both of them are down due to the massive power of the Barbarian.

Logain moves his lips, and though no sounds comes out, you are sure he is saying something sarcastically.

Since it seems they have the situation under control, I will move around this pond in case he tries to escape or if anyone else happens to come out.

Weird. I tried moving my icon but it says I don't have permission. Could be a work computer issue.

Is the sand considered difficult terrain? If so, I can only double move 30 to the square 2 left/5 up from my current position. Otherwise, I can move 60 to the square just north of the pond. Can someone move me for me?

It is indeed difficult terrain... And now that this last guy saw his two allies just bite the dust... He is going to run the hell away.

Cab someone move me 2 left and 5 up please?

Roary will double move be adjacent to the man running.. If he runs again he should get an AoO.

Jakarno, Skipper, Gabriel, you are all up before this guy's second turn.

Okay, we're playing a little fast and loose with initiative which means that we're not actually playing to our strengths. In round one, I gave Morrolan the ability to ignore difficult terrain for one round, and Roary spent his turn attacking. I should have gone again before Roary's second turn (his double move), meaning that I could also have given HIM the ability to ignore difficult terrain, so he wouldn't have needed to double move, and could have attacked.

I'm not suggesting we retcon-- it looks like we're going to take this guy out regardless-- but, eh, this is one of the inherent issues of PBP-- where a clear initiative order and a clear understanding of who's going when, is at war with the desire to keep the game moving overall.

Morrolan still hasn't acted in Round 1, for instance, and his ability to avoid difficult terrain is still up for that round.

Round 2, Init 21

Skipper races after the fleeing opponent and the big man. As soon as he's near enough to Roary, he points at him and grants him Sinashakti's grace as well.

Double move to get within 30' of Roary. Free action (Su, if I'm within the silence), to give him the ability to avoid difficult terrain for ... round 3, I guess, even if it should have been round 2.

Yeah, I'm in the last section for round 1. Just waiting my turn, but it looks like things may be over by the time it gets to me.

I'm still in my original position on the map. I should be 2 left and 5 up from my current position.

Gabriel moves 15 west towards the pond and casts grease on the agent (DC 16 reflex).

Reflex: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
And it looks like the guard slips and falls! (I moved you Gabe) He will try stand up, provoking an AOO from Roary...

Roary will swing with the flat of the blade to try and take him alive for questioning..

Non-Lethal attack: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
dam: 2d4 + 19 ⇒ (1, 4) + 19 = 24

-4 for nonlethal, +4 for being prone evens out

And seeing as you didn't crit him, he is still up, and able to take the rest of his (15 ft) movement! Everyone, you are up again, and it is the top of a new round (I will make combat more orderly after this is done.)

"Oh let's just end him already, poor chap has seen enough scares as it is." Logain says as he places an arrow on his bow and shoots it at the man.

arrow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
confirm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
dmg: 2d8 + 6 ⇒ (8, 8) + 6 = 22

In case he is not dead, Morrolan will drop his sword to also take a bow shot.

bow attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 if hits arrow damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

I hope the poor guy's dead after all that but if he's not:

Skipper races over the sand, keeping pace with the fleeing Aspis agent, more or less.

(Double move on the map)

Logain, your shot actually makes it so that he falls unconscious, meaning that he is suddenly prone... which means Morrolan's shot misses.

Even better, we get someone to question if we want.

Morrolan stabilizes, binds, and gags the last Aspis. Then drags him over behind the rocks out of site. Roary, please get those other bodies out of site. One of you with sharp eyes keep a lookout on the entrance so someone doesn't come out to surprise us.

Morrolan loosens the gag, but keeps a hand on his throat to push down if the Agent tries to cry for help, then wakes him. heal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 If necessary, Morrolan will use a charge off the click stick to wake him up.
In a very threatening whisper he says, Look pal. You have very few options at this point. All of them are bad, but some are worse than others. My friends and I are going to ask you some questions. I will be very unhappy if I don't get honest and complete answers.
intimidate: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16 crap! I got a +14 and roll a stupid 2. The virtual dice hate me today.

The Aspis agent groggily opens his eyes and looks up at you. "You... you bastards! You killed Kylar and Elene!" He strains against his bounds angrily. "One last job... one last job and me and Elene were gonna get hitched. But you took that away from me! YOU!" He shoots an angry glare at Roary and tries (unsuccessfully) to bite at him. "You were the one who did it! You cut her in f***in half!" Tears well in the man's eyes as he slumps over, broken and defeated. Hyperventilating, he lets the tears flow and says. "Just kill me and get it over with. Gut me like you did them."

Roary drags the pieces down to the watering hole and covers them with some debris.. Once he returns. "Im not much of a talker. Ill dispose of him if he's not gonna talk."

Gabriel catches up with the rest of the group and pulls out a pearl of power to restore grease.

Upon seeing that the other party members have the situation under control, he uses a tree or bush as cover and keeps an eye on the Sphinx entrance.

perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Please move me behind the tree 1 square up and 2 squares right of Rotary.

What? An enemy NPC with actual feelings and human stuff? What's up with that?

Skipper promptly feels guilty. Approaching the restrained man, he crouches down by him.

"I'm... sorry for your, um, loss. In a war, there are always casualties. Killing isn't my preferred way to solve things, but... we were following orders. I'm sure you've done the same, for your masters..."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 Lol.

Aware that his awkward words are completely useless to assuage the man's rage and grief, Skipper trails off and looks up morosely at the sky overhead. He likes a lot of things about being a Pathfinder, like the chance to help his friends and spread Sinashakti's message. He's not so happy about the killing stuff all the time.

Skipper sighs. "I suggest we just knock him out. I don't think he's going to talk to us, I wouldn't want to if I was him either."

Kiklit approaches and with an odd tilt of his head he studies the guard. After a moment, his body shifts and he takes on the appearance of the Aspis agent. "Useful this one's face may be." he says.

Use Stalker's Mask to duplicate the guard's appearance for 1 hour.

Roary slaps the man into unconciousness, or perhaps death depending.. He shows no remorse for his actions.. Barbarians seldom have time for it.. "You play with fire your gonna ger burned."

With that taken care of he moves to the entrance of the Sphinx and has a look.

Perc: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

"That's a neat trick," Skipper says at Jakarno's stunt, his blue eyes innocently wide. "Maybe a little unnerving, too, but neat!"

He gives the unconscious Aspis agent a slightly apologetic look as he sees if the man has anything useful on his person-- like keys, or an Aspis badge, or, well, anything handy. If he finds a badge, he hands it to Jakarno to don as well.

I suppose we should loot them..

That's what Pathfinders do!

And if you decide to loot them, give me a fort save...

Eh, just kidding, this is what you find (multiply this by 3):
Cold iron arrows (10); masterwork chain shirt, masterwork longbow with 20 arrows, rapier, masterwork thieves’ tools.

The other thing that they are all wearing is a talisman with a bloody Pharaoh's headress displayed with strange runes written on it. On the side opposite the runes, you see the symbol of the Demonic Goddess Areshkagal. Small square holes seem to have been punched into the talismans at seemingly random patterns, yet the pattern is the same for all the talismans.

Morrolan will first check the talisman's with detect magic. If they don't light up, he will take one and split the arrows with anyone that is interested in taking a few.

Roary has no need for any of the items.

Oh, it definitely lights up with magic. What kind... you can't tell.

linguistics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
unless someone can assist, no go
spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

"Curious little trinket. But then fanatics always have curious items on them..."

Can I at least tell ballpark how powerful it is in relation to other things I've studied?
spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Hey folks, these talisman's are magic but I don't know what they do. I'd suggest we take them with us, but I'm not sure if I'm willing to risk putting one on yet.

There is a moderately powerful aura about them. They definitely do SOMETHING useful, else the Aspis agents would not have been wearing them, but you are not quite sure as of yet.

"Oooh," says Skipper in response to the pointing out of the magical qualities. "Hang on a tick!"

Linguistics: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Failing to decipher the script by sight alone, Skipper then pulls several scrolls out of his pack (in the process spilling out several sheets of thick parchment that have been folded in three). "Okay, let's see here..."

Casting Comprehend Languages from a scroll (duration 10 minutes) and then Detect Evil from a scroll as well.

Skipper reads aloud the curious inscription, in Common:

" 'Above me is the Mother, below me impure blood.' Well. That sounds... cheerful."

He looks the talismans over, squinting, to see if they radiate evil.

(If evil) "Ick! Nasty bad auras all over it. I wouldn't use them myself."

(If not evil) "Hmm... well, I'm not seeing actual EVIL associated with them... I mean, it's no great leap of logic to say they're likely connected to the worship of Areshkagal, but I think the talismans themselves probably won't suck out your souls."

Kn Religion, if applicable (to know anything further about the talisman?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Anybody who doesn't have those cold iron arrows should probably grab some! Too big for my bow."

You are getting an small evil aura off of them, though whether or not it is because you are holding the unholy symbol of a demonic goddess, or whether it's because you picked them up off a bit of evil guards remains to be seen. That being said, putting them on would NOT constitute as an evil act.

(I will let his 'if evil' dialogue stand! Skipper thinks they're nasty.)

Alright, we'll bring them with us. Let's move out. Morrolan readies himself to head over to the sphinx entrance staying off to the side to not be quite so easily visible to anyone lurking therein.

Linguistics 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

"Above me is the, Mother, below me impure blood." says Kiklit out of the guard's mouth after looking at the amulet. "That's what it says. Might be a call and response, or a clue to a trap. The amulet itself might be a key. I'll take one." he says before moving on.

Roary leads the way into the Sphinx.. I got a DC 24 perc..

Gabriel finds a spot somewhere in between the rest of the pathfinders as we make our way to the sphinx.