[PFS - PbP Gameday 5] GM Skipper's #4-04 King of the Storval Stairs (tier 7-11) (Inactive)

Game Master SkipperD

With the prisoner safely out of the way, Rognak took to the air in order to rain down a blast of cold on the giants, coating the cave and snuffing out the fire under the cooking pot.

Not sure how high the entrance is so let me know if I need to make a concentration check since I need to get next to the giant. Move to gain height (30') and cast cone of cold using one of my focused spell uses (+4 CL) along with the +1 for the tattoo. DC 24 reflex save for half
cone of cold: 15d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 5, 2, 1, 1, 5, 1, 1, 3, 5, 6, 2, 6, 1) = 46

Taking advantage of the megalithic construction of the building, Rognak flies up and douses the giants with frigid air. The giant who had taken a beating from Marta collapses, and the fire under the cauldron is snuffed out.

Reflex, red: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Reflex, green: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 6 - 4 = 12
Reflex, yellow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Reflex, blue: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Combat Round 1/2
Bold may act
Party-wide buffs: Haste
___________________________________________
Rognak, Ozak (4 damage), Marta
Barbarians (red: 46 damage)
Sabrina
Giants (yellow: 46 damage; blue: 46 damage)
Bizzle, Magna

@skipper
Thanks for the clarification AND the rule book reference.

"Good work there, Ozak!" Magna rumbles with an approving nod. Now that the prisoner's out of the way...

She takes a small step forward and sketches in the air the plan she'd dreamed of earlier in an odd delusional moment.

5-ft forward, defensive cast level 2 spell, can't fail concentration check. Create Pit goes off at the red square on the map, 30 ft deep, DC 20 Reflex save for yellow, and a reflex save for Blue if he ends his turn adjacent to the pit. The cauldron might conceivably also fall in. >___>

Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 6) = 15

Reflex, yellow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

The giant plummets into Magna's conjured pit.

The giant in the entryway roars in anger and takes two mighty swings at Magna.

Attack: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (16) + 19 = 35
Damage: 2d8 + 26 ⇒ (2, 4) + 26 = 32

Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

Magna's training only lets her dodge one swing, and she weathers a bone crunchingly hard hit.

Combat Round 2
Bold may act
Party-wide buffs: Haste
___________________________________________
Rognak, Ozak (4 damage), Marta
Barbarians (red: 46 damage)
Sabrina
Giants (yellow: 61 damage, prone; blue: 46 damage)
Bizzle, Magna (32 damage)

Can Marta make any knowledge rolls on these giants? Special attacks or weaknesses, particularly on those nasty looking barbarians.

As if giants don't already dish out huge damage, they made some into barbarians. I could be wrong, but I'm wincing in advance.

Preemptive roll...

Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Ick.

You know nothing, Marta Snow...

"---nngghhh." Magna gets a heavy blow despite her defensive stance and spits blood out onto the stones. "Alright, you hit hard, don't you, ugly."

It's bottin' time!

Sabrina moves up in front of Magna, drawing an opportune attack from the giant on the way.

AoO: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (17) + 19 = 36
Damage: 2d6 + 26 ⇒ (4, 5) + 26 = 35

Weathering the blow, she retaliates.

Attack, haste, PA: 1d20 + 15 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (20) + 15 + 1 - 3 = 33
Crit confirm: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

Damage: 2d8 + 10 + 12 ⇒ (1, 8) + 10 + 12 = 31

The blue giant tries to get to Sabrina, but settles for its disadvantageous position.

Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Since it isn't the smartest creature, it dosen't realize it's on sloping ground.

Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

It slips and falls right down on top the the other giant.

Falling Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 1) = 5

The giant already down in the pit stands up and tries to climb up.

Climb DC 25: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Combat Round 2/3
Bold may act
Party-wide buffs: Haste
___________________________________________
Rognak, Ozak (4 damage), Marta
Barbarians (red: 77 damage)
Sabrina (35 damage)
Giants (yellow: 66 damage, squeezing; blue: 51 damage, prone, squeezing)
Bizzle, Magna (32 damage)

Marta takes a 5` step out from behind the wall leaving her just within reach of the long spear she carries. As a swift action she activates judgment (destruction +4 damage and protection +2 AC)

Bizzle sends force missiles at the red giant!

Toppling MM!: 5d4 + 5 ⇒ (3, 4, 3, 2, 1) + 5 = 18
Trip?: 1d20 + 10 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 7 = 19

Ozak moves to the red foe and attacks!

Attack: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 15 + 2 = 37 vs flat footed
Damage: 1d6 + 7 + 5d6 ⇒ (4) + 7 + (6, 4, 1, 4, 1) = 27

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 15 + 2 = 28
Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Magna snaps her wrist and drops a wand into it, with which she touches Sabrina.

CLW on Sabrina: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

"...cheap thing," she grunts at seeing the little bit it does. "Ah well. Still here, ugly! Come on, try me again! I'm the one you want-- a dwarf, challengin' you!"

Gonna save spells in case the other giants manage to climb out of the pit, it looks like we should be able to drop this one without too much hassle. (famous last words...)

I remembered that Sabrina is a paladin after I went to bed last night, so I'll roll a retroactive Lay on Hands. 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 3, 5) = 12

Marta manages to get a single stab in on the giant, while Bizzle pummels it with magic and finally it falls to the invisible ninja's blade.

I'll hand wave the last two giants, unless you you want to take them prisoner, since they wont surrender.

Combat Round 2/3
Bold may act
Party-wide buffs: Haste
___________________________________________
Rognak, Ozak (4 damage), Marta
Sabrina (20 damage, 1 Lay on Hands used)
Giants (yellow: 66 damage, squeezing; blue: 51 damage, prone, squeezing)
Bizzle, Magna (32 damage)

Hand wave so it will save me a spell.

Waving is good with me as much as it is fun to smack down giants.

thanks for the bot, got real busy with work and lost track of what day of the week it was let alone what was going on. Also, I have greater Mercy which adds 1d6 to my LoH if not using a mercy effect

additional healing: 1d6 ⇒ 3

I'm fine with a handwave, since they'll be in that pit another 9 rounds or until they manage to climb out.

While you dispatch the last giants, the man you saved turns to you.

Thank you for saving me! How can I repay you?

Marte, having come from the Wounded Lands for a few missions immediately checks him out.

She uses the inquisitor ability to nail his alignment then starts up a discern lies for the conversation.

The man does not register on any of the Detect (alignment) spells.

Staying off the ground for the time being, Rognak looked over the guy. "Sorry about the spell there. I was hoping to blind them all before they could do anything. Are you okay? Someone will need to check him out." he asked.

Sabrina makes her way to the prisoner, her first priority to check his physical condition

heal check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

So, how does one end up in a boiling pot? Tell us your story!

Apart from some minor scalding from the quick dip in the pot, he is fine. He takes one look at the party and decides to come clean.

"I am Tatho, an Aspis Consortium agent who was traveling with the caravan when the harpies attacked. Shortly after King Formoch took possession of the stairs, the Aspis Consortium approached the king with a bargain: Rather than pay tribute in gold and livestock, the Consortium would provide the giant chief with captives for his sacrificial rituals. In exchange the Aspis Consortium and their allies could travel unhindered upon the Storval Stairs, assuming they led enough unsuspecting victims along with them."

Marta removes her earplugs for the talk, but will replace them when they move on. Her face grows grim and even more serious after his admission that they were providing sacrifices.

"You do not seem like an evil man. Why would you go along with this? Even a self-serving man like yourself must have SOME boundaries? Andy why did you end up as a sacrifice if you are one of the Consortium - did the giants break their deal?"

Tatho shrugs.

"I guess the grunts of the King's army don't understand the concept of an agreement. If you don't mind, I'd prefer to descend from this hellish place..."

What a story! Are you sure you didn't do something to displease the locals? Were you betrayed? It can't be that easy to end up in that pot unless you were actually trying to get there.

" When the caravan was attacked, what direction did the Harpies come from? What about King Formoch? Where is his camp?" Rognak asked.

"I don't think the giants understand the agreement when the king isn't here to keep them in line. The harpies came from the direction of the stairs when they attacked. I haven't seen the king yet, but then again, I haven't been able to move about freely."

Ozak nods as he begins to make tea.

"The problem with just letting you go is that you are a criminal that participated in sacrificing innocents. Just letting you go is not an option."

Magna finally speaks up. "What's the deal with the giantess outside? Did they turn on each other? Never heard much of giants doing that sort of thing to their own kind, usually they save it for us little folk. And aye, just cuz we've saved your hide don't mean we care much for the taste of the bargains you made, 'friend'."

Tatho raises an eyebrow at Marta.

"We're in Varisia, outside the sphere of influence of a city state, so the nearest thing to laws around here are King Formoch's decrees. The Consortium is just attempting to play by the king's rules, though it's unfortunate that his subjects are less cunning and open to discussion."

The mention of the crippled giant does not faze him.

"It's more likely the work of harpies. There seems to be some form of turf war going on."

"I'm not a hellknight. Evil rules are meant to be changed and good rules should apply wherever you go. Not sacrificing innocents is one of what I call universal laws. But I take your point. If its legal here you could hardly be called a criminal. But must I point out that you are standing before an Inquisitor of Ragathiel and we do not much care for letting a country's boundary get in the way of justice?"

Rognak shook his head. "We can stand here all day debating the purpose of laws but time is of the essence as we do not know what to expect as we climb the stairs. Lets get moving." he said looking at the members of the group

"Tatho, you are welcome to join us as we climb these stairs. If not, then you are on your own. However, I will suggest that you seek a more peaceful profession and better people to associate with. Your former "friends" might take umbrage for you to be the only survivor, they might even think you have something to do with their demise. the Half-orc said with a toothy grin.

"If you happen to make it to a Pathfinder Lodge or Temple of Nethys, tell them that Rognak the Thrice Dead sent you to reflect on your past behavior. Follow what they say." he added.

"I'll be checking up on you, Tatho. If you do not do as he says, I will hunt you down and bring the wrath of Ragathiel down on you. Mark my words."

Marta is ready to move on. How long did that entire exchange take. I need to decrement my spells.

@Marta: You've only been talking for a few minutes.

Tatho is about to object, when a hauntingly beautiful song can be heard from the building on the other side of the plaza.

Will, Marta: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (19) + 18 = 37
Will, Rognak: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Will, Magna: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
Will, Ozak: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6
Will, Bizzle: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Will, Sabrina: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32
Will, Tatho: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Rognak, Ozak and Tatho's faces take on a dazed look and they immediately move south. Rognak reaches the darkness of the southern building, but the others are still in the plaza.

Marta immediately takes the earplugs she has been holding in her hand during the conversation and tries to insert them into Rognak's ears.

Where is Rognak by the way. I only see 6 icons on the map. I recommend that someone gets between the enchanted players and the door/entrance and attempt to trip them as they go by.

Alas, Rognak is flying, so he moved at a leisurely pace into the room where the singing is coming from.

Bizzle will cast Fly, retrieve his earplugs and then try to do with Marta could not and try to assist Rognak.

not to be a problem, but before combat, is there a chance to detect evil on the Aspis guy?

Marta tried the whole alignment spectrum on him, but detected no auras. He's either neutral, or has too few HD to register.
So, Bizzle flies after Rognak. What do the rest of you do? Just so I know where everyone is when things inevitably go bad.

Since Ragnok already flew in, Marta will do a full move action to get near the entrance and base her swift action on what she sees.

{ooc]Please reroll the save as I have a physical copy of the character portfolio. Hoping not to become "Rognak the quadruple dead."[/ooc]

If Rognak makes his save that will change Marta's actions to stuff earplugs in Ozak's ears if possible.

Will, Rognak: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21

Rognak made the save after all. What's the plan for Tatho and Ozak who are still going south? Putting plugs in Ozak's ears won't make a difference, since he has already failed his save.

I'll probably regret blowing this spell now but what the hell, heh. Rule of amusing imagery:

Magna growls as one of their number, and their rescued "friend," succumb to harpy song. Damnation! She strides forward, scanning the sky for harpies. "I've got scrolls of protection from evil in my pack, if nobody has the spell handy.

"So just stay put a moment, lads."

She gestures-- and the stone rises up in response to her commands, forming a barrier around Ozak and Tatho to stop their direct progress outward-- it doesn't entirely trap them, but it will necessitate either attempts to climb or a doubling-back.

(Casting Wall of Stone as shown on the map; the doubled-line section indicates an area where it is 10 feet high rather than 5 feet high. Trying to make a 'corral' that impedes the progress of our charmed peeps. Since it isn't 'trapping' them they doesn't get the reflex save, I believe.)

Ok, time to improvise.

Most of the party spot the flight of harpies swooping down from the tall statues, and Marta even sees the tell-tale signs of an invisible creature among them.

A voice, perhaps the invisible creature, makes an incantation, but without the physical aspect of the spell you can't identify it.

Surprise Round
Bold may act
_______________________________________
???
Rognak, Magna
Harpies (50 ft up)
Marta, Sabrina, Bizzle, Ozak

Marta has See Invisible up so she should be able to see the casting and do a spellcraft - unless something else is involved. But just in case here is her spellcraft roll.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 4 + 2 = 16