[PFS - PbP] PF Module - Master of the Fallen Fortress (Inactive)

Game Master DFang

"Be careful" she softly warns her companion. Even if she does stay a few feet away from him

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Brand hands Isabella all three keys. "Will one of those work?"

Isabella will find that one of the keys works on the door, and another for the prisoner's shiny menacles. The last key, well... you tell me where you want to try it on.

Isabella opens the door and then walks in. She frees the prisoner and removes his gag.

"Good day to you sir! My name is Isabella and me and my companions are exploring this tower. I assume that you where captured by those troglodytes?"

"Ye- yes, when I heard that this tower opened up, I immediately came up here looking for relics for the Pathfinder Society. My... my name is Balenar Forsend, a member of the Grand Lodge in Absalom." he says, standing up slowly then bows gratefully at Isabella.

"My gear are kept in that chest near the brazier, would you mind if I get them back? If you have some fresh food to spare as well..." Balenar breaks off as he sways on his feet and steadies himself on the wall with a hand.

She looks around nervous. Not sure if he could be trusted, or what ever captured him is still around

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Brand pulls out a few rations from his pack. His foot taps the ground constantly.

"There you are, friend." He gives him a moment to snack.

"Can you tell us who captured you, and if any further dangers lay in waiting for us in the level above?"

The man ravages through the food, wolfing them down like a man who hasn't eaten for weaks. Then his eyes suddenly open wide as he recalls, "Yes... Their master, Tasskar is on the floor just above us with his pet crocodile. He was the one who bound me in these chains after his crocodile locked me down with his jaw."

Minutes later, he regains a bit more of his strength and is able to stand up straight. "If I can get my gear back, I am more than willing to pay back this favor and help you take him down." Balenar says with conviction, something he lacked with an empty stomach. "I'm a minstrel for most groups in the Grand Lodge and I believe your group could use a tune or two..."

A minstrel carrying a jaunty tune sounds like it would be most welcome.

"Welcome to the party." Brand responds. "Let's go see if we can't return the favor Tasskar gave you."

Balenar starts fidgeting a bit and looks down at his only piece of clothing, a loincloth. "Uhm... my gear is still inside that chest near the brazier. Has anyone of you managed to open it yet?" he asks.

"Just let me try that third key from this keyring on that lock" Isabellla says, annoyed at herself that she did not think of that earlier.

She moves back and tries to unlock the chest.

Yey! I thought you'd forget about that...

Isabella finally unlocks the chest and inside you find the following:
a suit of masterwork studded leather armor, a masterwork buckler, a masterwork rapier, a shortbow with 15 arrows, a scroll of cure moderate
wounds, a scroll of invisibility, a shiny compass of some sort, and a climber’s kit.

"Yes, that's it. My scrolls are at your disposal, should you be able to use it" say Balenar who moves forward to start wearing the rest of his gear.

Brand continues to tap his feet and takes a moment to examine Isabella, "I see that you have taken a scratch or two. I can provide aid, but my power dwindles with every use."

Do you want to get healed now or after you take another hit (saving spells)?

"I can use the one scroll" the pale woman offers

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Balena looks at Ashen appraisingly, "Hmm... I don't think you powerful enough to use these effectively yet" then he looks around more carefully "nor are the rest of you guys... but I suppose I can do so for you instead. I requisitioned to use them myself anyway. Let me know when you want the invisibility or some strong healing." he says as he tightens the last strap on his leather armor.

"So! I'm all set, ready to go?"

"I feel quite allright Brand, these are just scratches. Let's go and see what else this tower has to offer. Glad to have you with us Balena."

Isabella moves to the previous room and opens the other door there

I agree Brand, let's preserve spell power.

Isabella opens the doors without trouble and sees the contents of the room beyond. Cracks in the walls and ceiling of this chamber have allowed rainwater to collect here, flooding the room and giving rise to a profusion of mold and fungus along the walls and ceiling.

The door at the south east side stands open, showing a big hole in the small room towards the outside. In the middle of the room you see a giant frog. It doesn't move though but simply stares at Isabella who stands just outside the door.

Brand stops tapping his foot as he peers through the doorway. "Is it.... hostile, or can we make a new friend to go along with the lizard-pup?"

Isabella moves into the room, sword in hand
"We will know quickly enough, we need to explore everything though"

Moving Isabella's token into the room to reflect her action.

The frog looks at Isabella for a second as she steps in and the next thing she sees, as if in slow motion, is its tongue already halfway between it and her.

Surprise Touch Attk: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Grapple Attempt: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

She was too slow to react as it wraps around her chest, sticky saliva flying outwards.
You gain the grappled condition, but the frog doesn't. I would allow you to move, but only towards the frog.

Everyone may act before the frog.

RTA: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Dark energy flows from her as she moves forward to help her friend, and as she points her finger, it envelops the big toad thing

DC16 or become sickened for 3 rounds. Hope it works, will help her escape the grapple

Frog Will Save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (14) - 1 = 13

The ray passes by Isabella's ear, almost hitting her but it strikes true against the frog. It starts barfing, some spittle splashing on Isabella's boots but does not let go of her.

Brand runs into the room, using his speed to get behind the frog.

"ਉਸ ਨੂੰ ਜਾਣ ਦਿਓ!"

He takes a swing at it with his morningstar.

Attack: 1d20 ⇒ 13for: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Gross!" Isabella tries to break free from the tongue, but fails

Elsabeth will move up and attempt to pierce the torso with her blade.
1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 211d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Ha! She exclaims, I think I finally figured this thing out!

@Elsabeth: You're too far from the frog to be able to slice at it directly. It's a good roll though, so I'll throw in a variant rule for this but no damage.

Brand smashes its morning star at the frog's head as Elsabeth runs into the room. She finally clearly sees the thing that has Isabella in its grasp. Instead of going for the frog, she stabs at its exposed tongue, cutting it off and freeing Isabella with a spurt of blood.

The frog's skin looks paler as it turns to the first person that hurt it. It jumps up high and tries to bite Brand at the head on the way down...

Bite w/ Grab: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

... but Brand had enough time to lean back to avoid being bitten.

Your turn: Copper

Remember to -2 from everything ;)

Considering that Copper is AWOL since August 29th I will post an action for her to keep this moving, this is Isabella's player

Copper moves up tot the frog while readying her longspear for an attack.
Move action - move 20'
Move action - draw weapon

Oh crap. My bad... after the frog's bite attempt EVERYONE MAY ACT.

Moving to the frog. 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 181d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

I moved Elsabeth on the map

Isabella moves around the frog, to a space opposite Elsabeth and attacks

Slash, Flank: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

if from is still up and up... She raises her hand as yet another beam of energy arcs toward the frog's tongue

1d20 ⇒ 10
Cold: 1d3 ⇒ 3

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Isabella makes use of the frog's confusion between her and Elsabeth who cuts a long wound around its side to strike. Although her blade almost slipped along the slimy creature's skin, she managed to push it through and penetrate its skin, cutting it from mouth to rear like a slashed coin purse. It flaps weakly before stopping.

Combat is over.

"Wow! You guys are fantastic combatants! I've got half a mind right now to send a recommendation to the Grand Lodge for your application. If you're interested that is..." quips Balenar who was watching from outside the room.

"Why don't you tell us later, over a nice meal and a glass of wine?" Isabella says as she explores the room

Brand takes a breath, and begins to tap his foot as he looks over the beast. "So sad." he remarks. "A recommendation for the Lodge? That sounds exciting!"

He also looks over the room before moving towards the next door. "Whenever you ladies are ready." he says. "Oh wait, is anyone injured?"

Isabella Perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17

Isabella finds that a small jade statue of an angelic being lies among the rubbish under a broken table. It looks like it would be worth something. When Brand opens the door to the next room, all he sees half a room where the other half has collapsed to the lower floors. From this height, you can see the shadow of mountains in the distance.

"Look at the view, it's wonderful!" Isabella lingers for a moment to absorb the view and then turns towards the stairs.

"Just some scratches Brand, I will be fine. Shall we continue to the next level?"

Taking in the view, he shares a moment with the swashbuckler. He stands still, if only for just a few seconds. "Pretty scenic." he acknowledges.

Then he nods and moves towards the stairs.

Balenar speaks up as he senses that you're about to go upstairs. "Wait!" he says. "Tusskar is up there with his pet crocodile. I don't want to be exposed to them again... please give me a few seconds to use my Scroll of Invisibility."

He takes out his scroll, allows one side to drop and chants the spell he had written upon it. As he nears the finish, Balenar starts fading until he's completely invisible.

"Ready now! I'll support you from behind." Balenar's voice comes from somewhere behind Isabella.

And yes... a wonderful view indeed.

A dirty mind is a joy forever ;-)

Isabella opens the door to the staircase and ascends the stairs, trying hard not to think about the leering bard just behind her.

But... he was talking about the mountains.

The group assembles onto the staircase, with light spilling in from the top. You guys realize that there is no door at the end of the stairwell, instead it exits directly on the top floor which is the last step itself. Isabella, who is leading the group, stops short of exposing her head.

"This seems to be the top" Isabella whispers "Maybe I will take that healing now Brand, an encounter with a crocodile could be nasty"

After she has received healing she will move up, facing their final challenge.

It's okay, Brand might have been enjoying both!

Brand whispers a response, "Okay. But our presence will not be hidden once I begin to cast." He gives a second for the party to ready themselves, hefts his morningstar, then casts Cure Light Wounds on Isabella.

Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"Erastil ਸਾਡੇ ਹੱਥ ਨੂੰ ਸੇਧ ਦੇ ਸਕਦਾ ਹੈ."
Infernal: "May Erastil guide our hands."

Sorry for the slight delay. I didn't expect I would be totally offline during my visit to our province this weekend. But... onwards!!!

The four wings of the tower are completely open on this level, forming one great, cross-shaped chamber with arched ceilings. The decayed remnants of a carpet run from the doorways at the end of each wing, meeting in the center, where a spiral staircase drops out of sight below. A large, throne-like chair stands in the middle of the eastern wing next to a big chest.

The ceiling is 20 feet high in this room and the room is dimly lit by the daylight shining through the archways.

As Isabella climbs up the stairs, she immediately sees Tasskar. He is the largest troglodyte you've seen so far. He stands at the eastern archway, gazing longingly at the city in the distance and daydreaming about his future surface empire. His animal companion, a stunted albino cave crocodile named Snapjaw, stands nearby. Also, you see Kazkaz snoozing at the south-eastern wall.

With no attempt at stealth, Tasskar hears Isabella as she steps off the stairs, points his fingers at her and growls at Snapjaw and Kazkaz:

Turn Order: Brand, Snapjaw & Kazkaz, Balenar, Ashen, Copper, Tasskar, Elsabeth, Isabella

To make it simple, you guys need 5ft increments to get to to Isabella's current square (3 squares below the big #12). You all need to pass through that square to get into the top floor and the arrangement is as follows:
Brand, Balenar, Elsabeth, Copper, Ashen.
(e.g. Elsabeth needs 15ft to move up to the top floor)

Brand, you have to kill them all ;-)

GM, Isabella will use parry and riposte on the first creature to attack her, she only gets to make one AoO per round so can only do that once.

lol

Brand steps forth from the stairwell, his morningstar in hand. He readies it against the first thing that should try to attack him.

"ਕਿਰਲੀ ਦੋਸਤ, ਸਾਡੇ ਤੇ ਹਮਲਾ ਨਾ ਕਰੋ!" he says to Kazkaz.

Infernal: "Lizard friend, don't attack us!"

Snapjaw opens it's jaw wide and attacks the nearest creature, Brand!
Brand's AoO applies here...

Bite Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

However Brand swings his morning star and deflects the attack! In the meantime, Kazkaz was forcefully awakened from his sleep, shakes his head and charges at the enemy being attacked by Snapjaw...

Bite Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

... but he slips to the side and completely dodges the shocker lizard. Balenar climbs up behind Isabella and starts singing. A glorious sound fills the room as he Inspires Courage. (+1 attk/dmg to allies within 30ft)

Turn Order: Brand, Snapjaw & Kazkaz, Balenar, Ashen, Copper, Tasskar, Elsabeth, Isabella

Brand takes his readied attack at Snapjaw.
Attack!: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (13) + 0 = 13 for: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Wow, my bad. I meant readied attack not AoO. Same effect though :)

Brand slams his morning star against the side of Snapjaw's snout weakly, but just enough to force the attack away from himself!