PFS - PbP - Gameday IV - Siege of Serpents - Start November 5th 2015 (Inactive)

Game Master Revvy Bitterleaf

As Buri and Kajar climb up at the back of the building (@Velinov. You can take 10 for a DC 5 for the rope, so with str 8 you make a 9)But I'd like to point out that you guys will be hanging from the window ledge by your arms, so you can watch inside..but it will be pretty hard to do anything using your hands unless you drag yourself further up which will cast shadows inside.Myrayah knocks at the front of the door to draw the hostage takers attention back-ed up by Ulfgar

As you look inside you see ten initiates who are bound and gagged around the center table under the window above them hangs a wire attached to ceiling suspends a wine goblet 10 feet off the ground.

There is a single human (wearing a chain shirt and with a belt holding 3 daggers) in the room who when he hears Myrayah walks towards the front door.

"Go away! Or I will kill all the hostages!"

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

and then looks around over his shoulder as if he heard something. His hand goes to a muffied hand he's wearing on a string aroudn his neck

I was under the impression the back window was on the second floor and he was in the first one, no?

aiddiplo: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (8) - 1 = 7

"We're here to talk, we can get you out of here, alive. There is no need for violence. We're stepping closer, so we can talk more easy. Don't do anything you'll regret later?"

Ulfgar and Myrayah quietly approach the door while speaking further.

"Is there anything you wish in order to release the hostages? Maybe we can come in and talk about it. You don't have to die today. Nobody needs to get hurt."

Ulfgar shouts loud enough in order to mask any sounds from Buri and Kajar.

I was under the impression the back window was on the second floor and he was in the first one, no?

That is correct; what I failed to convey is that the main hall is one big open space. So you climb up to that window and look down into the main hall. There isn't an actual second floor, you have to climb up to get to the only window that's not covered by a curtain

"You get away from here now! Or the hostage get it! I'm not kidding around here."

I imagine the view gets reported back to us.

Ulfgar whispers: "Marayah, do you have a spell which can make sure the goblet doesn't fall and spill?"

In the meantime he tries to keep the Aspis agent busy.

"Talk to us man, what do you want? Show us possibilities you see to get you safe and sound out of there."

Would we be able to storm the place and catch the wine goblet if dropped?

DM is the front door made of wood? I may be able to quickly open it with a spell and somebody grapple the guy. It would work better if we can keep the goblet from spilling at the same time.

Easy there, easy there. No need to get violent. Let's talk this over, and no-one needs to get hurt. I'm not here to harm you. Myrayah says while secretly wishing she could do just that. We are among civilized people here, see, I'm unarmed. She is. I just want to talk. Tell us what you desire, and we can work things out.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

If things get out of hand, Myrayah will rush the agent in an attempt to grapple. (Unless Ulfgar does it first) If Myrayah ends up grappeling with the guy, Velniov may involve her in the area if that helps stun the guy.

CMB to grapple: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

If Ulfgar grapples the agent before she does, Myrayah will use Acrobatics to dive into the room, and attempt to catch the goblet before anything else happens, spending a point of Panache to activate Derring-Do

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (4) + (1) + 9 = 14

Back to posting properly. Thanks for your patience.

The door is made out of wood (it's locked though as is the other door on the south side, also made from wood) I'll go with my assumption that you guys climbed down and updated the others and left the rope hanging there so you can choose where you want to be when we continue

Myrayah manages to somewhat calm down the hostage taker, who has moved closer to the door - but occasionally still looks over his shoulder.
"Yeah..no need to get violent. Just remember that..or the hostages get it! I'll just sit here and wait till I get word that we've won and it's save to come out. And don't try to trick me, cause I know your voices now."

@Ulfgar; no clue if you guys can :) It seems possible. It's 55 feet to get there. As far as I know there are no real rules to catch anything (unless you have the snatch arrows feat or a very specific mesemerist trick)...so ruling that with either a readied attack or a reflex save you'd be able to catch it

If Buri opens the door with spell (warp wood I'm assuming?) we'll go into initiative from there

I'll go with my assumption that you guys climbed down and updated the others and left the rope hanging there so you can choose where you want to be when we continue

Does that mean we are inside the building or outside?

I'd assume outside? GM says we've given the others our recon...

Also assuming the wine glass holds a chemical reagent centered on the table...

Bear with me here, Team-

If diplomacy fails, and we bust in, that wine glass on the wire is either the real deal or a red herring. Perhaps it's a trap, perhaps not. Anyone have traps or alchemy skills? Might tell us how it's triggered...

@Revvy, how is the goblet suspended? Were we able to discern that from our brief time in the window?

I wonder if it's triggered by opening the door or a window. Maybe a surprise strike from the South door from three of us...

OHOHOHOHOH! And he knows Ulfgar and Myrayah's voices, but does he know Kajar's, Buri's or Velinov's? We could play out a scuffle where the "Aspis Agents" (K, B &V) "win" thereby getting access to the hostage taker... He said he needed to hear his side had won and it was safe to come out, and so I'd guess he's not heard any sounds of any battles nearby...

What do my fellow Pathfinders think? We'll need a united strategy here, I think. Kajar is down for either mayhem or a ruse.

Does that mean we are inside the building or outside?

@Velinov;Outside, since you never made it inside. You just managed to climb up to the window to take a look inside

@Kajar;hangs a wire attached to ceiling suspends a wine goblet 10 feet off the ground. If you want more detail; the wine goblet is right side up, the rope is around it so that a bit of a tap will cause it to tilt over (spilling anything that may or may not be inside it) and the rope it self is attached to one of the roofs support beams. It does not look like it's connected to anything else, but if it were it would be a trap and you'd need to beat the traps DC with perception to be able to figure that you

As far as I know he only knows Ulfgar's and Myrayah's voices (and just so you know it's possible to fake another voice if you have a good enough bluff)Faking a battle and then convincing him the Aspis have won will be a bluff check made by all people participating btw

Myrayah likes the plan of tricking the hostage taker into believing the Aspis have won. The look on his face when he realizes what has been going on will be totally worth it, she believes. She wonders if the others are as good at lying and acting as she is.

Ok, I open the door with warp wood, you guys move in and try to grapple the guy. Velinov do you have any save or suck" spells we could try on the enemy as I open the door? If so readied them.

With all the party ready for action Buri casts warp wood on the door, thousand years pass in a split second for that object and only bent splinters are left to tell the tale of what once was a door.

Buri, hold that thought-

@Myrayah, Revvy- my Bluff is bad but could I use Intimidate to sound like a threatening Aspis thug? Like all half-orc roaring and smashing of stuff with my axes and such? (If the agent is Human my Bluff is only +1)

What do Velinov and Ulfgar think? Our best bet would be to play to our strengths as a whole; you guys any good with Bluff or acting? Drawing him out of the room might be safer than storming the room is my only hang-up.

[/ooc]I'm with the bluff scheme, it seems like a good idea. Ulfgar will stand ready.[ooc]

OK, so if Buri and Velinov are on-board here... It would be us 3 (B, V, K) "attacking" Ulfgar and Myrayah, Kajar can Intimidate if possible...

Maybe a fog cloud for effect or another spell to aid our Bluff? I think it would look cool if for example V cast Fog Cloud, the "fight" ensues, and Buri blows the door off as an Aspis savior after "we win" to spring the Hostage-taker into our arms.

with the fog cloud up, it might get tricky, but if we are all surrounding the door after Buri blows it off its hinges, we could take him alive?

Just a thought, everyone add to and revise please!

I'm fine with you guys substituting something else in if it makes sense (vs a slightly higher DC) such as intimidate if you can give me a good reason on why it should work in this situation

In order of keeping the game pace going; I'm going to want to have a final descision on what you guys are going to do by tommorow though. so either shock and awe or try to bluff your way through (or something else if you can come up with anything even better). I'll roll initiative tommorow and you can post your actions in game and we'll see what happens (after you've finished preparing/coordinating if you manage to do so on time)

Sure, I'll play along. I'll start with ghost sound for a round or two to add the clash of steel resonating from a few locations and then I'll cast Silent Image to obscure the "battle" with a fog so it'll be harder for him to confirm who's battling.

********************
Overseer Announcement
********************

Quick, Ulfgar, that way. More Aspis are coming!

Once they are out of sight, but within earshot: Myrayah makes noise with her scimitar and buckler to simulate sounds of battle.

Here, take this, scum!

And then, later, while still making noises of battle:

They are too many! Retreat! Retreat!

A bit later:

We should have brought a cleric! Aaargh.....

Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Kajar joins Myrayah in the mock battle, doing his best to sound really intimidating and in control of the situation.

"Surrender, you pathetic Pathfinders! We already control the gate! Red team, follow the dwarf!

Kajar roars a guttural, primal battle-cry, striking his short sword against the flagstones.

"Surrender scum! I'll chop off your hands if you try that move again!"

Kajar scuffles and scrapes his weapons to increase the sound of battle.

Again, Kajar roars orders as if he were a battle-hardened sergeant-

"Gold team, stay here and secure the perimeter! We have a friendly inside, let's keep him safe!"

Could I substitute Intimidate for Bluff here, using the demoralizing an opponent angle? Kajar is not a subtle linguist, but the half-orc can sound pretty badass if need be. I am OK to reroll a Bluff check if that's the GM's ruling, of course.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 (additional +2 for human, if that makes any difference) perhaps not badass enough...

Velinov casts ghost sound to add to the sounds of battle - metallic rings of the clash of battle that approaches from a distance. After a few moments of that, he'll then add to the battlefield a billowing grey mist on the group per the plan.

Ulfgar joins Myrayah in her attempt to persuade the Aspis agent that the society is losing grounds.

aidbluff: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

He slams the side of his axe gently, but loudly on his breastplate several times and grunts, seemingly in the effort of combat.

NPC-ing Buri in
Aid roll Buri: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Sense motive: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Breakdown; if we factor in the -10 that the scenario says to add for when you guys try to trick him after you've already interacted with him before and the bonus of up to +5 I as a GM can give for a particularly good idea you barely make it..since you guys roll pretty badly, but so did the hostage taker. Need a 9, roll a 11-10, with 3 assists (Buri doesn't assist - I'm ruling Velinov magic use as an auto assist0..so you guys need the circumstance bonus

The hostage taker unbars the door and steps outside convinced that the Aspis have won and are ready for him to join again..he's somewhat surprised to see you guys standing there instead.
You guys receive a surprise round, map updated

Init Buri: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Init Kajar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Init Ulfgar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Init Myrayah: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Init Velinov: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Init Hostage taker: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

init
(Surprise round)
Myrayah, Velinov
Hostage taker
Party

So everyone can take 1 standard action

Are we taking him alive? I doubt I'll drop him in one hit...

"SURPRISE!"

5' step and orc double axe both hands*: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

damage*: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

(*+2 if the hostage taker is human)

Kajar dances a bit as a prize-fighter would, before expelling an enraged howl from his primal being, all the while staring at the Aspis agent.

Intimidate* to demoralize: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 (*+2 if hostage taker is human.)

NPC-ing Buri in

Sorry, didnt realised you guys were waiting on me. I was waiting on you. Buri has a negative bluff skill so he is a terrible liar, cant really help with that. Will post my action to avoid delaying the game again.

Buri charges the man but his hammer seems off balance today.

Attk: 1d20 + 5 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 2 - 1 = 7
Dmg: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10

Tossing sand in the air with a quick chant, Velinov casts color spray to try to take him down quickly.

DC 17 Will

attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20 + bonuses if the character failed the will save vs flat footed
damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Hidden by the spray of colors follows a large dwarven axe. It hits the agent with the blunt end, but seem to hurt none the less.

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Overseer Announcement
********************

Myrayah 5' steps into flank with a large grin. She nods in approval of Kajar's taunts and show of bravado.

Cold Iron Scimitar: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 291d6 ⇒ 2

to confirm: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 231d6 ⇒ 3

Dodge the axe, only to step into the scimitar!

With a swift movement Myrayah carves an "M" across the agent's cheek.

Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

@Kajar, you can speak as a free action and you can even intimidate him if you want for flavor...but using intimidate to demoralize is a standard action..so it's either attack or intimidate..unless you have some sort of special feat/ability that let's you intimidate on an attack or something similar?
As you being your attacks the human is remarkably difficult to hit at first..Kajars swing goes right in front of him and Buri's attack isn't that much better.

The human manages to close his eyes just as Velinov's spray hits

Ulfgar clubs the man soundly with his axe..but it's almost as if he's trying to hold back or something (minimum damage), possibly trying to take the man alive?

But then Myrayah steps forward and impales the mans face as she carves an M across the man's face

init
Myrayah, Velinov
Hostage taker
Party

Damage hostage taker: 10

@Revvy- Oops! OK, so I just wanted to sound like a tough guy there, sorry. I'll be sure to use it correctly next time (I rarely play the Intimidate skill, my error!)

Emboldened by Myrayah's praise, Kajar bellows again,

"Surrender or be flayed alive!"

Still flanking the agent, Myrayah continues to attack:

Scimitar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 181d6 ⇒ 6

Myrayah quickly strikes again before the human is even able to register that he's being hit and he goes down as her scimitar slices into him

Fast forwarding a bit since we only have a few days and you guys might be able to pull of 1 more encounter. It's a general one so any location you choose will apply

Venture-Captain Valsin thanks you profusely for their efforts when he returns to see everything here went fine.
The initiates hail you as heroes and your personal legend grows, at least among the ranks of new Pathfinders.

After you free all hostages the initiates are impressed beyond
their words to convey, and give you some of their own possessions. They rush around the dormitory and hastily gather everything they can find which may be of help.

This counts as 1 Supply Point

You hear people shouting nearby and bit your farewells as you rush to where you are needed

The beauty of the Grand Lodge’s well-manicured grounds is shattered by the sounds of shouts and screams from panicked initiates, support staff, and visitors. Frightened innocents trip over hedges and stumble through fountains and pools in an effort to get to safety by the most direct means possible, especially when the landscaping otherwise leads them to certain peril.

There are 6 housecat-sized beetle with a dull brown color brightened by two glowing green-yellow spots on their carapace who are harrasing the people here.

Init Buri: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
Init Kajar: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Init Ulfgar: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Init Myrayah: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Init Velinov: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Init Beetles: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

init
You guys
Beetles

New map linked up top. We have 2 days till the next part of the special starts

Myrayah moves in such a way as to give Buri en Velniov a clear shot with area attacks on "green" and "blue",

and proceeds to carve into "green".

scimitar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 111d6 ⇒ 2

As that doesn't make much of an impression, and other beetles are soon closing in, she prepares to parry/riposte

Ulfgar sees the beetles and in an attempt to make short work of the pests, takes an extra powerful swing at the beetle that was creeping up from the rear.

LongAxePA: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 4 - 1 = 20
Damage: 1d12 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 3 = 15

Myrayah's scimitar slices across the beetles though carapace without penetrating it (doesn't hit flatfooted AC)

But Ulfgar's attack splatters one of the beetle's insides all over the park (removed red, since it makes the most tactical sense right now and could be the one he was aiming for based on his description )

init
Buri, Kajar, Velinov
Beetles

Velinov moves into position behind Buri and uses his bonded object to cast color spray.

I'm now out of 1st level spells; but it seemed like Myrayah wanted an AoE? Note: I drew up the cone template to show which two I could get.

I changed the template a bit, now it has no fill so the beetles can be seen. I also rearranged the orders so the beetles can be clicked outside the triangle shape. Just let me know if I shouldn't do that again. :)

Kajar will 5'right and smack Orange Beetle, roaring savagely as he does so.

Orc double axe, both hands: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

********************
Overseer Announcement
********************

Stepping forward Buri attacks the nearest beetle. (blue)

Attk: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 1 = 24
Dmg: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6

I changed the template a bit, now it has no fill so the beetles can be seen. I also rearranged the orders so the beetles can be clicked outside the triangle shape. Just let me know if I shouldn't do that again. :)

No complaints here ;)

Velinov moves and goes fully on the defensive
Save your spell Velinov, I'm going to assume that you as a wizard would know that beetles are immune to mind-effecting stuff like the color spray..so it would have done nothing to them

Kajar steps forward and tries to smack the Orange Beetle, roaring savagely as he does so. But the hard outerlayer of the creature prooves too much for the half-orc to crack.

Stepping forward Buri attacks the nearest beetle causing it to fall to the ground....dead

The beetles then click and clatter and attack back

Green vs Myrayah AC: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21
Green vs Myrayah AC confirm: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Damage Myrayah: 1d4 ⇒ 2

But the creatures attack is intercepted by a scimitar which slices it's mandibles clear off..and it's sudden blood loss causes it to die

Orange vs Kajar AC: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Purple vs Myrayah: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

The other 2 beetles which are close enough fail in their attacks as well and the farthers beetle just scuttles closer (double move)

init
You guys
Beetles

I think Myrayah's parry/riposte should have avoided the hit and done 5 damage to the little bugger instead. Not sure if it survives, Buri killed one while doing 6 damage. I'll attack another one.

Ulfgar swings his axe at the beetle with an evil orange glint in its eyes.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

He moves up behind the beetle, which seems stronger than the others, since it was able to dodge 2 attacks so far...

Myrayah spends a Panache to Parry, and recovers it on slaying the beetle.

Myrayah proceeds to slice into the next beetle:

scimitar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 151d6 ⇒ 3

As is was quite effective last round, Myrayah prepares to Parry/Riposte again.

Is the Blinding Ray school ability considered mind affecting? I couldn't find a type listed for it. I assume it impacts them normally since it's just trying to blind them, not confuse them. If it does, Velinov will fire one off at the beetle on Myrayah. Otherwise he'll just move to flank the beetle yellow beetle and poke at it with a dagger.

Changing to the next target Buri press on with his attack. Yellow
Attk: 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 - 1 = 12
Dmg: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 2 = 6