[PFS] PbP Gameday 3: #5–09: The Traitor’s Lodge (3–7) (Inactive)

Game Master bluedove

hmmmm. Perhappppssss it would be better to study these and go carefully. something we find out here may illuminate what was going on here, and give us a more educated guess on what went wrong.... if no one objectssss i will study some of the textsss in the room. While some of us do that, othersss can look at the exchange in abyssal and try to make out what its saying

if there's no objections he'll sit down and start reading in the library. there's plenty of time to interrupt him if they object. after half hour of reading: (it may go faster if some others help with the research... )

"The Elixir I drank only last an hour, so we should probably wait to do the reading.. Id rather get this placed cleaned out before if you dont mind."

Ahh right the elixir. sure, i'll come back to this later.
sets down his books

i'll refer back to that post when making my checks later.
I'll cast detect magic and get a view at the cases or a little bit down the hall.

I don't know what those larvae do, but are we sure the'll remain contained and that this isn't a trap for interloperssss? I'd just like to summon a critter to walk the hall and trigger it, if it is going to happen, just so it doesn't trigger on us. If nothing happens I should have enough time to test the critter by getting it to go into the ranssssid water as well.

begins spontaneously casting Summon Nature's Ally I , losing his prepared mage armor, to summon a pony. it appears in front of Gronk, i command it to go walk to the end of the hallway and back. if nothing happens, i send it into the water room.

Turk watches the druid with fascination. Non-critically he comments quietly Thought druids were friends of animals. Did not know they would use um to find traps. Pretty smart really. he adds approvingly.

it has no scales! it can work no magic! it's life has no meaning. , Pentor says in a monotone whisper.

Random makes sure he passes the test, "Well, I can work a little magic. I don't know if any of your lives have any meaning...

He shrugs, and waits for the pony to get attacked or trot through the library back to the flooded room.

The pony trots through it's allotted path simply enough, meeting no traps or troubles along the hallway. The stairs prove a bit more difficult, her wide eyes rolling nervously as she nears the water. She wickers softly as she awkwardly descends the steps into the water.

The slightest flicker of shadow fails to provide adequate warning as a massive, blubbery form surges up from the water and slams into the unsuspecting pony. She screams in terror and pain as a terrible maw of teeth envelops her body, rending and crushing the poor equine before consuming her whole!

Valais claps her hand over her gaping mouth in shock and revulsion as a wave of nauseating stench rolls over you in the disgusting creature's wake. She masters herself and asks, "Do we face the HORRID thing? Or slip away and leave it to it's meal?"

Initiative Order
--------------------------------
Turk
Gronk
Valais
Sir Pentor
Enemy
Random
Delphinia
Shamak

Yes, very sound tactics... But I can't believe you made me do that to Rainbow Dash! Noooo! o_O

Now see. This is what I was referring to. A lesser druid would show remorse at sending an animal to such a fate. I could not resist. :P

Knowledge (dungeoneering): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Turk sees the fleshy blob of a creature but is unsure what it is. He decides he should try to inspire his party and begins to sing a song of putting down abominations. As he does so he pulls his sword and takes a 5' step.

Turk offers you Rage. You can accept or reject it every round. In fact you must choose each round. If you accept the rage you gain +2 Strength and Con and +1 to will saves. But you also take -1 to AC. And you are raging, so no spell casting and such. if you have a rage ability of your own, you can use those benefits instead without using your rage rounds. And you also gain my rage power of Spirit Totem, Lesser (+5 Attack, 1d4+3) (Su) Spirits attack 1/round at +5 to hit, dealing 1d4+3 negative energy damage. Perhaps, best of all, you are not fatigued when the rage ends.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14 Don't forget that Random suggested using the sleet storm in this room. Not sure if the water will increase the effectiveness but it's gotta be better than getting swallowed whole by this thing.

can Nagini accept your rage? or would that be a trick / require pushing my animal companion?

A look of horror crosses Pentor's face as he sees the maw swallow my little pony whole
it has scales, perhaps we should leave it in peace until we need to cross that area. I'd feel much less comfortable sending Nagini to grapple such a .. a.. monstrocity. What on Goliarion is that thing?

if i can see down the hall a bit with a 5 ft step, I'll use my move action to push, and then ready to drop a flaming sphere on it if that enemy moves out of the water onto the stairs up towards us , as long as there's a clear space not occupied by a friendly. [DC 18 negates. 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 5) = 16 fire ]. Otherwise i'll move and ready and not push Nagini this round.

How did the beef get to the back of the party? lol..

"Whats going on? Are we fighting?" He will not accept the rage this round since he can't see whats going on yet..

To Gronk:

"I don't know... What's happening?"

Shamak will accept the rage when he acts.

Valais Knowledge(Dungeoneering): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Valais hisses with discontent as she realizes what you face. "It is a fleshy ooze, Patfinders! They are unaffected by many kinds of damage, we must SLASH AND SLICE it apart!" She moves up into the northern hallway, preparing to slash at the disgusting mass with her claws. She chooses to accept Turk's Rage this round.

As the creature's freshly summoned meal disappears from it's gullet, it surges up the stairs into the narrow hallway in search of another. It's greasy, putrid flesh squeezes into the narrow space, taking up every inch from floor to ceiling. Sir Pentor evokes a flaming sphere to roll over the top of it as it emerges and the the smell of rancid rendered fat spreads from the abomination as it sizzles and cooks. Valais slashes with her claw around the corner, ripping a wound in the thing as Nagini strikes. The great snake coils around the blubbery mass and constricts, but the oozy flesh just slides away from her powerful muscles, bulging out like a grotesque water balloon squeezed in the middle. The creature's mass roils, trying to reverse the grapple, but it flops ineffectively in the narrow space.

Valias nods approvingly of the Druid' flaming sphere. "Fire works well! Good job, my minion! But your pet will be unable to crush it."

Initiative Order
--------------------------------
Turk - begins performance, draws sword and 5 ft step.
Gronk - delay (may still act this round)
Valais - moves into hallway, readies attack Claw attack; Damage: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 281d4 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 claws for 8 damage
Sir Pentor - evokes flaming sphere on creature, dealing 16 fire damage
Nagini - bites for 11 damage
Enemy - Reverse Grapple: 1d20 + 15 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 15 - 4 = 13
Random
Delphinia
Shamak
---------------------------------Round 2
Turk
Gronk
Sir Pentor
Nagini
Valais
Enemy

Everyone is up! Moved Valais down in the order just to simplify my own posting.

Shamak moves forward, draws his falchion and begins to sing. Well, more like yelling.

Inspire courage, please note that you all have +1 hit/dmg and +1 against charm and fear effects.

Shamak rejects the rage for this round since, sadly, he can't go slashing the thing.

woot. rage and inspire courage? nice.
Fire works... hmmh. I don't feel like using a fireball yet... slash and slice it boys and girls!

druid cheer

Finally, something to hit in this awful place! Random drops his bow and draws his longsword. He waits for Delphinia to get out of the way and for Shamak to offer his encouragement, and then slashes at the blob with both hands, tapping into the rage inspired by Turk.

Raging, +2 Str, +2 Con, +1 to will saves; -1 AC; Spirit Totem, Lesser (+5 Attack, 1d4+3) (Su) Spirits attack 1/round at +5 to hit, dealing 1d4+3 negative energy damage; courage inspired +1 to hit/damage, +1 to charm and fear.

Longsword (masterwork) raging, inspired attack: 1d20 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 17
Cold iron slashing damage, 2H, raging, inspired: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9

Spirit totem attack?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17
Negative energy damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

AC is 14, HP is 26.

I'll get Nagini out of there so you all can get a better shot at it.
hisses command, ineffective until my turn

Having no way to get at the beast Gronk will watch from afar and be inspired..

oh. it just occurred to me that the end of round 1 people and the start of round 2 people are all up. so ... Pentor does his thing now. and moves his snake out of the way. Gronk or Random can move up to actually attack.

We should lure it out into this large room so that we may all slice at it. Turk says, incorporating the idea into his song.

in singsong lissssp
it might dessstroy some valuable information if we dooo. But if some of you wait in the other hall where Valais is and we lure it past the hall opening, more of you can ssssurround it

Finally something I can burn! exclaims Delphina as she shoots a jet a searing hot flame at the antagonists before retreating behind the party.

burning hands: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 1, 2) + 5 = 14

Sorry for the delay, had a nasty headache knock me down last evening. Looks like I forgot to roll the creature's reflex save vs flaming sphere but since it's impossible to make the DC, I won't sweat it. Doing these correctly though.

1d20 - 3 ⇒ (14) - 3 = 11
1d20 - 3 ⇒ (12) - 3 = 9

Initiative Order
--------------------------------
Turk - begins performance, draws sword and 5 ft step.
Gronk - delay
Valais - moves into hallway, claws for 8 damage
Sir Pentor - evokes flaming sphere on creature, dealing 16 fire damage
Nagini - bites for 11 damage
Enemy - attempts to reverse grapple and fails
Random - moves in, hits with longsword for 9 damage
Delphinia - casts burning hands for 14 damage
Shamak - draws weapon and begins inspire courage
---------------------------------Round 2
Turk - delay
Gronk - delay
Sir Pentor - directs flaming sphere for 10 fire damage

Combat Over!

The party's assault of fire and sword soon reduce the the corpulent ooze to a greasy, charred sludge of decomposing foulness that soon has many of the party gagging with physical revulsion. Random and Valais hold their stomachs well considering their proximity, as do Sir Pentor and Nagini. But the rest of the party feels the strong need to retch violently.

Random Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Turk Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Delphinia Fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Sir Pentor Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
_Nagini Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27
Gronk Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Shamak Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Valais Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Without the threat of the globster in the water any longer, you are free to investigate it's former domain. Stairs descend from the west into this flooded chamber. Stagnant water opaque with grime and scum fills the room,
which is featureless but for a rusting metal door to the north and several eroded runes near the waterline.

The cavern beyond this one is also completely flooded. Investigating here will require anyone entering to swim and hold their breath for a time while they make use of Perception and/or Survival.

Turk ends his song as the catches the vile smell full in the face. He retches at the oder and is somewhat embarrassed that he is not made of stronger stuff but eventually recovers. He will cast Detect Magic as he approaches the water filled room. Looks like someone will have to swim to go farther. Hey these runes are some type of evocation focus that might allow two individuals to communicate across great distances.

Knowledge (arcana): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

"Hmm.. Well lets look into this more after we look into the other rooms shall we?" Gronk heads back to the demon larvae hall and awaits his companions.

Shamak's growling performance ends as he's retching in a corner of the room. Eventually, he recovers and goes back to the larvae hall, not very interested in the flooded room.

Yeah. Sorry about that, at least I'm reasonably sure the hall with the abyssal... larvae? wasss it? issss clear.

The party decides to continue, moving down the hallway of encased larvae. Valais stares with sad fascination at the imprisoned creatures. "I remember something... Thurl uses these Abyssal MAGGOTS in his experiments somehow. He... he forced me to consume one when I first became aware. It was a terribly sweet flesh memory."

She looks down at her patchwork of flesh, touching each scrap of pale human skin like one might when testing the tenderness of a wound. "How much of me is still left inside? Can I even call myself Valais when there is so little of her here? CURSE THAT TRAITOROUS FOOL, he has unmade and rebuilt me into an ABOMINATION! Will I ever be myself again fully, or will I be forced to remain in the shadows, always lurking?" She tries to shake off these unhappy, unproductive thoughts, but soon she turns to Random, her human eye streaming tears. "I am still myself though, am I not? I am still a Pathfinder?"

The door at the end of the larvae hall is unlocked. The popping and fizzing of bubbling liquid echoes throughout this rectangular chamber. To the west, a platform towers fifteen feet over the rest of the room. A steel grate extends from this platform like a bridge to a large metal cauldron suspended by rusty chains above the floor. Steep steps descend around support pillars to the level below and a pair of iron doors to the east.

oh this doesn't look good...

does it seem... stable? perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Moved everyone up to the room..

Gronk moves up the southern stairs slowly..

Yes, it does seem stable.

Valais moves into the room cautiously, gazing around dazedly before she focuses on and stares at the bubbling cauldron. Even though this room is a good deal warmer than the rest of the laboratory, she shudders and wraps her mismatched arms around herself. She speaks low, in a shaky whisper, "I woke up here... like this. Thurl was still here then... he looked at me with his SMUG BLACK eyes and laughed at my horror when I saw what he had done to me. He told me “It seemed like you wanted to learn what I was up to, Pathfinder. Think of this as the first step in teaching you." She shudders again, looking down at herself and contemplating the cost of this cruel lesson.

There are no books or papers here to investigate, just the cauldron and the doors to the next room.

"I am still myself though, am I not? I am still a Pathfinder?"

"Well, you do kinda look more like one of the bad guys, but I'm sure the Society could find something for you to do. What are you good at? How's your punctuation? Maybe you can edit Chronicles? You couldn't lurk in the shadows if you wanted to, if that was your job. You need some light to read by, unless that one demon eye lets you see in the dark."

"So... does anyone want to see what's in the cauldron? I don't, but I'll wait here if any of you want to."

Random looks down through the grate to the floor beneath the cauldron. "What's heating it?"

Investigate the cauldroun. Take 20 on perception for 23.

I don't know why, but i have a fear that its going to pour down on ussss if we go to the doors, or dump us in if we go to look....

Pentor hangs back, wrapped in a bit of paranoia as the others look around.
Hissssss

he sends Nagini to scout the ground level down the stairs using the scout trick

Gronk moves over to the double doors and has a listen..

Perc: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27

Of course you are still a pathfinder. Turk adds to Randon's response to Valais question. You get to pick what you will do and how you will act. You are not controlled by what you the dwarf did to you. You are a creature of free will. He says this firmly, as if he is also trying to convince himself.

Delphinia observes it closely and so she is the first one to spot a flicker of movement as a pair of strange small heads rise up out of the boiling ichor and hiss at the sight of the intruders. The impish creatures spring to edge of the container and scoop up large handfuls of the boiling sludge of blood and fling it at those closest to them, scalding both Valais and Shamak as it hits them.

Initiative Order - Surprise
------------------------------------
Enemies - Red Fling attack on Valias: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 2 = 22 Fire Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8
Black Fling attack on Shamak: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 = 27 confirm?: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 - 2 = 18 Nope. Fire Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4
-----------------------------------Round 1
Random
Shamak
Sir Pentor and Nagini
Valais
Enemies
Delphinia
Turk
Gronk

Shamak takes 4 fire damage and Valais takes 8, although she does not seem as effected as one might expect. Random, Shamak and Sir Pentor are up!

Pentor hissses at Nagini to heel so she stays out of the way
Mephits? what are these things? I guesss its obvious that fire is usssselesss on them.
Pentor casts a magic missile at the "red fling" ? [magic missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2, 1) + 3 = 9 force ]

Shamak tries to recall from his studies what creature it can be.
Knowledge (Planes): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Shamak vanishes, moves forward and starts to growl.

Inspire courage, 1 hit/dmg and +1 against charm and fear effects.

Random pauses as he reaches for an arrow. "Y'know, nobody answered my question about demons. It's actually serious now. Do we need to use any special weapons to hurt them?"

He waves his fingers over his quiver in indecision, and then pulls a normal arrow with a shrug. He finishes his shot, sending it hurtling toward the red creature.

Deadly aim, courage inspired: 1d20 + 5 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 - 1 = 17
Normal damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 2 + 1 = 7

Will cast magic missile on my turn, moving if needed
2d4 + 2 ⇒ (3, 4) + 2 = 9

I just read again my post, Shamak doesn't "vanish", he moves and starts to sing :p

was wondering... :)

:: pokes gm :: Valais is up, 'den de enemies

Initiative Order - Surprise
------------------------------------
Enemies - fling boiling blood for 4 damage on Shamak, 8* on Valais
-----------------------------------Round 1
Random - fires, misses
Shamak - moves, begins performance
Sir Pentor and Nagini - MM on red for 9 damage
Valais Gore: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27 Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Acid Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Enemies:
Red Claw 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 201d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Red Claw 2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 91d3 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Red Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 161d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Black fling attack on Valais: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24 Fire Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4
Delphinia
Turk
Gronk
-----------------------------------Round 2
Random
Shamak
Sir Pentor and Nagini
Valais
Enemies

A guttural snarl rips up Valais' throat. She shouts to the strange creatures. "MINIONS OF THURL! The traitor is gone, you need not obey him now. Stand aside or be reduced to the parts from which you were built!" She stalks forward, lowering her horns instinctively and gores the red creature viciously as it screams in pain.

Shamak cannot even guess at what the creatures are and as Valais speaks, he realizes why. They are like the other creatures in the vats and Valais herself, some sort of mismatched, patchwork monstrosities created by fell magics and the devious mind of Thurl. He does note that the pair of them have wings.

The red creature strikes back at Valais with everything it has, clawing and biting at her desperately, but it seems to do little damage in return despite the sparks of flame that burst from every blow. The black one moves back to splash Valais again, but she does not even react to the boiling sludge this time.

Sorry again for the delay, we had a super busy Thanksgiving with two dinners and travelling between. Back on task now, hope everyone had a good holiday, or at least a nice day if you don't celebrate. =)
Party is up!

Delphinia already made his attack :)

Turk advances 10' feet and begins to sing, offering Rage to any who wish to accept.

reiterating my 10; of movement with a damage of 9 done by magic missile.

Random frowns as his shot misses its target. He moves up a few steps, blows a raspberry and then points his finger at the red creature again. A ray of green acid shoots toward the stitched up little menace.

Move forward 10'.
Precise shot, acidic ray, ranged touch, courage inspired: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Acid damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Shamak accepts the rage and moves forward 20', drawing his falchion and hits the creature with all his strength, screaming to inspire courage.

+1 Falchion Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 132d4 + 10 ⇒ (3, 3) + 10 = 16