[PFS] PbP Gameday 3: GM Harker Presents #3-23 The Goblinblood Dead (Inactive)

Game Master Justin L. Warren

Twitnit would gladly sit in front with the driver and continue to occasionally swallow a coffee bean, inbetween a constant barrage of random questions about the surroundings, horses, people, food, politics, magical beasts, fine art, magic, horse features, fashion, ect... ect.... ect...

As you continue to travel and Kazrin begins to repeat stories, you see that there is evidence of the war everywhere—discarded and rusted armor and weaponry, numerous displaced trebuchet-hurled boulders, and occasionally the remains of a hunter’s trap, only recently triggered by an unfortunate forest animal. Even in the light of day, the blackened trunks of the Chitterwood trees, still bearing the scars of the great fire that marked the end of the Goblinblood Wars, loom menacingly over the narrow forest path.

Eventually, the thud and crash of boulders launched from Logas can no longer be heard. Even the sun struggles to penetrate through the canopy at times, leaving dark pools of shadow stretched across the path.

As the day finally reaches it's end, Kazrin announces that you'll be reaching the first planned campsite soon. Ahead of the wagon, Menarul, Tusk, Twitnit, and Valik see some disturbed soil in the road.

Map is up Here. The big square most of the PC's are on top of is the wagon, while the oblong is the horse. The square further away is the location of the disturbed soil.

Valik will draw his weapon and move a little closer to the soil.

move 20' straight ahead

Tusk will get a closer look at the soil I'm assuming that since we are not in combat, we are not limited by our speed, in other words, I don't have worry about moving 40 speed as if counting out a round of combat.

he had his gun loaded and drawn in case it is a giant worm or something he is excepting.

Smarmy hops out of the wagon and moves up to the lead horse, to observe, crossbow in hand.

He stays back out of the way, watching the nearby woods, just in case.

Those who initially spotted the dirt mound can act in the surprise round, everyone else will have to wait until the next round, including the NPC's on the caravan.

As Tusk nears the mound of dirt, suddenly a skeleton bursts out of the loosened soil! For those of you with a more discriminating eye, it appears to be the skeleton of some larger gobinoid. Its ill intent is obvious as it begins to claw the air towards Tusk.

Player Initiative
Menarul's Initative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Moadis' Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12
Smarmy's Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Tusk's Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Twitnit's Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Valik's Initiative: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Initiative (Surprise Round)
Twitnit <= Up
Valik <= Up
Tusk <= Up
Camon (Surprised)
Goblinoid Skeleton
HS
Kazrin (Surprised)
Moadis (Surprised)
Smarmy (Surprised)
Jandri (Surprised)
Alek (Surprised)
Menarul

Twitnit, Valik, and Tusk may act in the surprise round. Please remember: one move or one stardard action only in the surprise round.

in the surprise round, tusk is very close to the creature. he will fire his gun at it. hit: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (20) = 24 vs touch and maybe ff.
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 6 piercing and blunt.
confirm crit: 4 + 1d20 ⇒ 4 + (14) = 18 crit damage is x4
extra crit dmg: 3d8 ⇒ (7, 3, 2) = 12 holy crap, I'd be surprise if it is still alive as that makes a total of 18 blunt and piercing damage assuming 18 to hit confirms.

Valik, not very surprised by the skeleton, as he is used to random things wanting to devour him. He shudder at the thought of the scaly bastard from his previous mission. He can only look on as Tusk's reflexes, cause his arm to raise, aim and fire in a smooth motion into the enemy.

Valik, can only catch his jaw, as a perfectly aimed shot blows into the skeleton.

If still standing...a big IF

Valik, steps up to stand in front of the skeleton, hoping to draw any retaliation it may have towards his comrade. He draws his weapon as he moves.

Moadis is suddenly awaken from his daydreaming by the loud sound of a firearm being shot.

Twitnits token is not on the map, so please move him when it becomes available. he will move as far as possible in a straight line from the front of the wagon, on the direction the wagon is travelling. Getting a flanking position (clear line of sight and line of effect) and trying to get within 30' south of the soil.

"Whoa! What's going on over there? I don't wanna miss it. What do you think it is? Maybe it's buried treasure? Maybe it's something to eat? A mole? I can't wait, I gotta go check it out!" Twitnit jumps off the seat and dashes straight out in front of the wagon, trying to get a better look at whatever has rallied his travelling companions' interest!

With a loud bang echoing through the dark forest, Tusk's bullet strike the center of the skeleton's skull, causing the head to explode into a thousand small pieces and the bones to collapse in an inert pile.

Valik and Twitnit move towards the commotion!

Although the first skeleton is clearly destroyed by a well placed bullet, three more skeletons emerge from the surrounding forest and make their way towards the party, two coming from the north to move adjacent to Tusk and Valik while a third makes its way straight to Smarmy.

Initiative (Surprise Round Continued)
Twitnit
Valik
Tusk
Camon (Surprised)
3 Skeletons
Kazrin (Surprised)
Moadis (Surprised)
Smarmy (Surprised)
Jandri (Surprised)
Alek (Surprised)
Menarul <= Up

Menarul has a surprise round action, then we'll move on to the next round.

Ooops, how'd I end up on the front line?! =) Stupid hidden skeletons!

Climbing out the front of the carriage is a no-go, I assume...but if it isn't:
The blue Menarul Grumbles slightly as he notices the 'pretty dwarf' has attracted attention and then clambers out the front of the carriage and moves closer to the goblinoid skeleton.
If it is:
The red Menarul rushes out the back of the wagon and steps around the corner. He grumbles slightly as he notices the 'pretty dwarf' has attracted attention.
Just delete the blue token if not viable, or the red token if the blue token is viable...

I'm posting my round 1 actions to speed things up so the DM will have them.

Tusk will drop his gun. And as a move action withdraw his two-handed axe.
Then he will swing at the thing in front of him and if the thing in front of him is dead before it becomes his turn, Tusk can swing at the other enemy in melee.
hit: 3 + 1d20 ⇒ 3 + (4) = 7
dmg: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 slashing

pretty dwarf.... yes, that's me! =)

Hoping down off the front is fine with me.

Jumping off the wagon, Menarul begins to make his way closer to the conflict.

With fear flashing in his eyes, Camon sees what's going on and opts to hide behind some large unlabeled trunks.

Tusk pulls out his axe and slashes at the undead foe before him, but only hits empty space between its bones.

Initiative (Round 2)
Twitnit <= Up
Valik <= Up
Tusk
Camon
3 Skeletons
Kazrin
Moadis
Smarmy
Jandri
Alek
Menarul

Twitnit and Valik are up!

Ha... I read Tusks: "withdraw his two-handed axe" as "withdraw his two hand axes" ... and was wondering why he rolled a d12 for damage with a hand axe =)

Yay reading comprehension!

Oh, and Boo still being flat-footed!

Valik, enters a defensive stance, then swings his weapon at the skeleton in front of him red

crane style AC 19: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 221d10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

possible crit?: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 111d10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

I was trying to figure out what weapon you used, then I looked and saw Sansetsukon. And the damage is blunt, yeah.

Seeing abominations of undead in 2 directions, Twitnit looks back and forth 3 times trying to decide which one to worry about. He raises a hand with the index finger pointing straight out, thumb straight up and the other hand holding it like a gun. He aims down his thumb sight and speaks an incantation...

"অনিশ্চিত, সুন্দর জিনিস, আমি আদেশ!"

An orange-red ray fires from his fingertip and streams towards the enemy closest to the wagon (3 squares down from him). Fire Ray

Fire Ray: Ranged touch: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8 fire damage

Valik strikes the skeleton north of him with his sansetusukon, knocking a few pieces of bones off of it. Sorry, that did not confirm.

Twitnit shoots a ray of flame from his fingertips that just barely misses the skeleton south of him.

Clothed in rotten tabards and carrying broken scimitars, the three skeletons attack Tusk, Valik, and Smarmy with both weapon and claw. Even with two attacks each, none of them are able to penetrate the Pathfinders' defenses.

The three caravan members go into high alert in response to the undead threat, with both Kazrin and Jandri getting out of the wagon and positioning themselves to defend both the front of the vehicle and the horse, while Alek places herself in front of Camon's hiding spot.

Initiative (Round 2 Continued)
Twitnit
Valik
Tusk
Camon
3 Skeletons
Kazrin
Moadis <= Up
Smarmy <= Up
Jandri
Alek
Menarul <= Up

Moadis, Smarmy, and Menarul are on deck.

Do skeletons fall under common undead? Would their DR be within the DC 10 knowledge check anyone can make? (from the guy currently holding a crossbow)

in case it is...
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

edit: ok, guess he doesn't remember that lesson from Pathfinder class... =) Ha

Smarmy steps back, away from the skeleton, instinctively firing the crossbow in his hand as he does so.

Ranged Attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17, for 1d8 ⇒ 6 piercing damage.

He then drops it, and draws a warhammer.

5' step, then fire the crossbow, mostly ineffectually. Then move action to draw a weapon.

Menarul moves to draw his large hammer before he catches Smarmy backing up. He instead switches course and pulls out two different vials, swirls them together and the tosses them at the skeleton.

Touch attack bomb, PBS: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
He then draws his hammer, just in case.

Yes, skeletons are common undead for the purposes of untrained knowledge checks.

Smarmy's crossbow bolt strikes the nearby skeleton, but does little damage to a creature composed of bones. Menarul's bomb, however, engulfs the monster in flame and quickly destroys it.

Only two skeletons remaining

Moadis is up, then onto Twitnit, Valik, and Tusk for round 3.

posting round 3 early

Valik, sidesteps the creatures attacks, and retaliated with one of his own.

AC 19: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 121d10 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

me too posting early, I'm in melee with 2 creatures

so I will hit the one in front of me and if that one is dead before I go, I will hit the other one.

hit: 3 + 1d20 ⇒ 3 + (4) = 7 figures, I bet I'll get constant misses the rest of the game, it usually happens for me after a crit.
dmg: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 slashing

but when he swings the axe down chops just an inch away from the creatures left arm.

Moadis drops out of the wagon and moves to the fray.

Get out of wagon and move drawing his weapon to Twitnit's side.

The weapon attacks of Valik and Tusk both miss their targets, while Moadis exits the wagon and moves closer to the remaining undead.

Twitnit is up.

Twitnit move to get a clear line of sight, and repeats his same attack with a fire ray

He raises a hand with the index finger pointing straight out, thumb straight up and the other hand holding it like a gun. He aims down his thumb sight and speaks an incantation...

"অনিশ্চিত, সুন্দর জিনিস, আমি আদেশ!"

An orange-red ray fires from his fingertip and streams towards the enemy closest to him.

ranged touch: 1d20 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 1 = 17

damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 9 fire damage

Another skeletal threat is destroyed, this time thanks to Twitnit's fire ray incinerating the skeleton north of Tusk.

The remaining skeleton attacks Valik again with his broken scimitar and a claw, but cannot penetrate the monk's defensive posture.

Camon continues to bravely hide in the cart, while Alek remains by his side to defend him. Jandri and Kazrin maintain their positions by the wagon in case more skeletons emerge from the undergrowth.

Initiative (Round 3-4)
Skeleton
Kazrin
Moadis <= Up
Smarmy <= Up
Jandri
Alek
Menarul <= Up
Twitnit <= Up
Valik <= Up
Tusk <= Up
Camon

Everyone can go, you seem to have this well in hand.

Smarmy maneuvers around to help on the last skeleton, but unfortunately, is not quite mobile enough to get in a position to help this round.

And it won't last til next!

Valik, waits for Tusk for aid him in the removal of the undead threat before them. He than takes another defensive strike at the enemy.

Tusk, move slightly to your left, lets works together

delay to gain flank, ac 19: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 141d10 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Tusk does his shift to gain flanking hit: 5 + 1d20 ⇒ 5 + (17) = 22
dmg: 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 slashing. and he lands a good blow with his axe to the skeleton ribs, breaking a few. I know skeletons have dr/blunt but no possible way it would have dr/12 which is why I choose the flavorful text I choose.

And if that is the end of the battle, Tusk will recover his dropped gun, reload and get back into the wagon. I doubt it will live past this round.

Menarul moves up next to where Tusk had been standing and tries to swing his long hammer onto the skeleton.
Melee hammer attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17
Damage (?): 1d12 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12

The combined attacks of Valik, Tusk, and Menarul break the last skeleton into an inert pile of bones.

Combat Over.

Once the fight is over, Camon slowly emerges from his spot in the wagon and the other caravan members begin to breath a sigh of relief, "I'm glad they sent all of you along, I'm not sure we would have made it!" Kazrin observes with a nervous laugh.

Anyone getting a close look at the skeletons' tabards can make either a Knowledge (history) or a Knowledge (local) check. Also, if you are surveying the area, you can make a Survival check.

history, local: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 111d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

Valik recognizes that the skeletons are dressed in the remains of Mercenary League gear. He also recalls that the Mercenary League engaged in several battles in this section of the Chitterwood, and that one of the more famous of those battles occurred a short distance north of this area.

Menarul looks around at the forest hoping no more of the skeletons are hiding out.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

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

"Well done everyone." Smarmy says, although its hard to tell if he actually means it or not.

"Certainly could have been what was waylaying caravans," He continues, retrieving his crossbow. "Though seems odd that skeletons would be setting up an ambush without guidance."

He pauses for a moment, before adding. "At least that felt like an ambush. I could be wrong of course."

What sort of goblinoid was that first skeleton?

"Likely no end of resources for these sorts of things to the north."

history: 0 + 1d20 ⇒ 0 + (3) = 3 +2 if it pertains to dwarves or their enemies. but did not study this part of history in school. Or didn't study it well when this topic was covered.

The first skeleton was a goblinoid larger than a goblin, a Knowledge (local) check is necessary to identify the humanoid race more specifically. Alternately, I'll give it to you with a sufficiently high Knowledge (religion) check, since it was undead.

Smarmy, you concur with Valik's recollections above.

As Menarul searches the area for any additional hidden skeletons, he discovers some recent tracks leading from the north. The tracks include both skeletal and booted footprints.

These bodies, they are from a Mercenary League, a bit due north of here is where a big battle took place. Shall we proceed North, since that is where the footprints seem to have originated from, if Menarul is correct. Someone or something I presume would have sent them this way.

"oooooooo.... tracks! Should we see who they belong too? Where they came from? Who's directing these abominations?" Twitnit throws a coffee bean to the back of his mouth and keeps going without a pause, "Have y'all seen this before?" pointing at the non-pathfinder travelers. "You seemed to be expecting something earlier? Are we still camping here? Do we need a fire? I can start one."

"No, it's all new to us." Jandri replies, speaking more now than she has for the entirety of the day's journey, "Our next campsite is a half an hour away. If you can escort us there, we should be safe there for the night if you want to go exploring."

Menarul gives a cough before suggesting, "Twitnit, it's still light out and we should probably not camp on known hunting grounds... Maybe we see how extensive this operation is or should we find a safe place to camp first? Either way not camping here sounds like a good idea, we never noticed the three in the trees and they would have the cover of night as well... Moving onto the campground sounds like a good idea but splitting the groups might not be... the best. We have no idea how far their attacks extend." Menarul comments as he cleans the dust off his hammer and gathers what he can of the glass from his vial to hopefully melt and re-use.

We'd be glad to escort you.

Assuming half hour to the campsight, setup, and trip back to here... what time of day will it be by then?

The law of dramatic tension says that it should be dark before we wander into the old haunted battle graveyard =)

It's twilight now, so, Smarmy, you are exactly right.

"Well, lets get our charges set up and secured at this camp sight." Smarmy suggests. "A fine idea!"

"Then we can come back here in the dead of night to assault these undead assailants." He smirks slightly. "Another fine idea!"

Lets do it!

The caravan travels another half hour to the first designated campsite without any trouble. As the caravan members begin to set up the camp, Jandri pulls out a number of simple traps from the back of the wagon, "If you can help us out with setting these traps, it'll go along way to keep us safe while you're gone."

Crafts (traps) or Disable Device to assist them setting up traps.