PFS Scenario #8-02: Ward Asunder (Inactive)

Game Master R D

Harrow, when did you want to cast shield of faith and invisibility? At the start of your acrobatics/climb? Or at the end of it?

At the end, please.

An invisible Harrow takes point, but isn't all that skilled at being stealthy.

"Gah! Who put rock there!" he complains. "Harrow can't see feet, and stubbed toe!" Still, he makes his way toward the complex ahead.

GM Engleaktig wrote:

Harrow, when did you want to cast shield of faith and invisibility? At the start of your acrobatics/climb? Or at the end of it?

At the end, please.

Which do you cast first? Invisibility or shield of faith?

Invisibility

Cool.

Anyone else doing any other actions whilst Harrow goes invisible?

"Harrow is your toe ok?

"Shhh!!!" Harrow whispers harshly. "Harrow invisible!!!"

Mareq casts Bulls Strength upon his thrall, Husarq.

Uthred just follows along looking for any traps...

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15 +2 to detect traps

OK. Harrow, before you get to cast shield of faith, you are set upon by 4 medium-sized snake creatures!

(They know you're there because they have scent. Invisibility will grant you a miss chance. There's no real context to perceive them beforehand because (1) they were "around the corner" (the top of the stairs) and out of line of sight, (2) party members were casting spells, and (3) their stealth bonus starts at +17 BEFORE taking into account distance, etc...)

Harrow stubs his toe and complains loudly. However, due to his invisibility, he's still remarkably stealthy. As he crests the stairs to the temple, 4 snake-like creatures lash out at him. These are fiendish young emperor cobras.

SURPRISE!

Red Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20, miss
Green Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26, Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13, 50% Miss chance (high is good for Harrow): 1d100 ⇒ 27
Blue Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23, Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12, Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 8

Yellow can't really do anything as the rest of the party is below, on some stairs.

Harrow Fort Save vs poison: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12 <== Harrow, do you wish to use a re-roll here?
Harrow Fort Save vs poison: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19

Harrow suffers 25 HP of damage as the snakes each 5-foot-slither forward and strike at him. He feels them injecting fiendish poison into his veins.

Awaiting the re-roll decision before continuing.

do we know of what occurred?

Harrow grunts as the snakes swarm him, using their scent to locate the pie-scented half-orc.

"Hey! Harrow can't see toes, how you see Harrow!?" he cries.

Breaking his invisibility, he lashes out at the snake on the landing. If it is killed, I'll 5' step to Red's location

fort: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15 Yeah, I'll try a reroll

knowledge (arcana, dungeoneering, nature, planes, religion): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

+1 keen nodachi (adamantine)(studied target, precise strike, sneak attack): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 1 + 2 = 291d10 + 8 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 + (1, 3) = 14 If hit, 43 dmg total

do we know of what occurred?

Sure. Since Harrow is invisible, you have a clear view of the enemies biting at him.

ROUND 1

The party goes first.

Harrow recognizes the enemy as fiendish young emperor cobras (DR 5/good; Resist cold 10, fire 10; SR 10). They have a climb speed, and they have poison.

The half-orc smacks the crap out of one, and it drops.

The remainder of the party is up!

Mareq pulls a scroll out and intones the words quickly.

Husarq's arms stretch, becoming stronger and bulkier, until his sword arm is freakishly long!

Casts Long Arm upon Husarq. If Husarq is able to reach the yellow snake with only his normal extended reach (10ft), and does not need the Long Arm spell to reach the snake, then Mareq casts Glitterdust instead (DC18).

[dice=fort]1d20+10 Yeah, I'll try a reroll

Harrow, don't forget the +1d3 you can get from Mareq's Insights of the Iridian Fold boon. In the context of Play-by-Post, I leave it to YOU to decide when to use. It would be impractical for me to interrupt game flow to do it myself.

Insights of the Iridian Fold: Although you are far from mastering the supernatural coordination demonstrated by the Iridian Fold, you are able to form a temporary link to a favored teammate. You can use this boon to perform a one-minute ritual with an ally whom you have assisted by using the aid another action in combat and who has done the same in return to you; you cannot select your animal companion, eidolon, familiar, or similar creature as your bonded ally. Once per day when you can see your bonded ally and he attempts an attack roll, saving throw, or skill check, you may add 1d3 to the ally’s roll as an immediate action before the result of the roll is determined. Whenever you begin a combat encounter adjacent to your bonded ally, you regain your daily use of this ability. Source: Pathfinder Tales, Volume V, Chronicle #10

Husarq attacks the nearest snake (yellow), his incredibly long arms swinging his blade at the thing.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34 Slashing dmg: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (6, 5) + 19 = 30 Fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4 Bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 2 **Crit threat!**
Power Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15 Slashing dmg: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (4, 6) + 19 = 29 Fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Total dmg: 32

Lilli casts a spell to help the party.

bless

"Poor snake..."

If Husarq is able to reach the yellow snake with only his normal extended reach (10ft)

Husarq is roughly 20 ft down a set of switchback stairs. Longarm is needed.

Reveling in his freakish power, the eidolon decapitates one of the enemy!

Thanks, Mareq. With the break, I forgot about that. So do I get one each combat then? It resets?

Thanks, Mareq. With the break, I forgot about that. So do I get one each combat then? It resets?

Once per day. But, to regain this daily use, you must begin a combat encounter adjacent to your bonded ally. Not so difficult.

The remainder of the party is up.

Not seeing the invisible Harrow but knowing he is there, get bitten, Uthred takes some swings against the blue colored cobra...

+1 Adm STS1+TWF FIRST: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
STS1 DMG: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

+1 CI STS2+TWF FIRST: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19
STS2 DMG: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

+1 Adm STS1+TWF SECOND: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
STS1 DMG: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

+1 CI STS2+TWF SECOND: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
STS2 DMG: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Uthred gouges deeply into his intended target. The snake hisses in pain.

Just waiting for Avril.

"AVRIL!" shouts Mareq. "Are you OK? Do something before that snake attacks you!"

"Damn stealthy snakes. If we had seen them ahead of time, I could have charged them or we could have avoided them entierly." She bemoans as she gets out her hammer and tries to smash the creature. Meanwhile Cryxial tries to tear into it with his claws, teeth and sharp ridges along his head.

Cold Iron Earthbreaker: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1) + 6 = 12

Bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8 damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Gore: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Claw: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 damage: 1d4 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Does Cryxial have reach? Remember, you're on switchback stairs.
__________

Two cobras bite at Harrow:

Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26, Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 38, Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Bite: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23, Miss Chance: 1d100 ⇒ 57, Miss!

Harrow Fort Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

One of the snakes bites deep into Harrow's flesh, delivering 14 HP of damage. Though, due to his unique physiology, the half-orc feels no pain. He also shrugs off the effects of the creature's poison.
__________

The party is up, again!

Uthred takes a move action to study the target to his fron and then does a singe two weapon attack vs the foe...

+1 Adm STS1+TWF FIRST: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 = 12
STS1 DMG: 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10

+1 CI STS2+TWF FIRST: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 = 14
STS2 DMG: 1d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11

"We need to flank these bastiches somehow!"

Husarq, unable to reach the snake attacking Harrow or Uthred from his current position on the switchback, grips the uneven surface and begins climbing as quickly as possible.

Accelerated Climb: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33

Once to the top of the ledge, he heaves himself over and draws his Al-Saif again, its flames flickering up and down the great curved edge. He positions himself opposite Harrow, hoping that he will distract the snake enough that the half-orc can strike successfully.

I recall a time I would have simply flown up here, thinks Husarq, remembering a distant time when the elemental powers flowed through his sinews more strongly.

Climb, then move five feet. I think that's it for Husarq, since he's got to sheath, climb and then draw.

Harrow, you've got a flank now.

Mareq summons into his mind the glittering of mica in cooling magma and, with sheer force of will, casts it forth upon the two snakes!

Glitterdust DC18

Harrow doesn't feel that he's wounded, but can see his arm bleeding and venom bubbling up.

"Bad snake!"

Now flanking with Husarq, Harrow lashes out in retaliation, and his nodachi swings in a razor-sharp arc. He then steps back to clear a space for someone else.

+1 keen nodachi (adamantine, power attack, furious focus, studied target, flanking, precise strike, sneak attack): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 12 + 1 + 2 = 261d10 + 14 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (1) + 14 + 1 + (3, 4) = 23

Lilli tries to hit a snake with her sling.

ranged sling: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21

damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1

"Harrow watch out!"

Between Harrow and Uthred another of the snakes is gone.

Will Save vs Glitterdust: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

The final snake, wounded and confused by the small stone and the glittering motes of light dancing about its head, attempts to withdraw.

Husarq can AoO the snake, if he wishes.

Husarq grins gleefully, and swings his scimitar downwards on its head.

Power Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18 Slashing dmg: 2d6 + 19 ⇒ (6, 3) + 19 = 28 Fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5 Bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 4

With a satisfying WHACK! the final snake is dispatched.

Combat over!

Where to next?

"Is anyone hurt? Lilli says moving towards Harrow "Gather around"

channel anyone?

"Is anyone hurt? Lilli says moving towards Harrow "Gather around"

channel anyone?

Just Harrow. He got bit three-ish times.

"I am fine Lilli. Bog oaf got hurt, but I think he can manage." Uthred says and then scampers off to scout ahead hugging the walls until he gets to the first staircase.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Revealing a bit more of the map for Uthred.

"Looks vacant... three sets of stairs go up... to stone platforms... good place to ambush us if you ask me...but none of you did..."

Harrow prepares to heal his wounds with his wand, unless Lilli offers to step in to help.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"Harrow not like snakes anymore, even green ones," he says sourly as they move toward the complex ahead. Once everyone is gathered, he takes a look down the hallway on the west side of the complex, and then the west room.

perception: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

Harrow I'll help

Lilli presents her holy symbol.

channel: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 5) = 15

In the courtyard where most of you are right now: Three sets of stairs lead up to a ten-foot-high stone platform surrounding this courtyard on three sides. Several buildings stand upon the platform, some of built directly into the mountain face.

The ground and walls bear signs of centuries of combat practice. The most recent weapon marks are from spears and arrows, though no arrowheads are present. There is also a curious set of burn marks on the ground.

In the structure that Uthred and Harrow have begun to investigate:
Rows of columns divide this spacious room. A pile of blankets lies in the southwest corner, but otherwise, the room is bare.

"This place really old," Harrow says, oblivious to any of the clues that might be seen.

"Guess snakes sleeping here. Snakes use blankets?" he wonders.

arcana: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
survival: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Mareq examines the odd burn marks on the ground.

Knowledge (Arcana): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

"Hmmm. These marks seem like what a scorching ray would make. And from the char still evident, I'd say this ray was recently cast."

I moved Mareq and Husarq up. HOpe that doesn't spring a blade barrier.

More of the map has been revealed.

"Good job dealing with the snakes everyone. I'm sorry I couldn't contribute more. Me and Cryxial work the best if we have open space to charge across, but this place was very cramped."

After seeing the scene of battle, Avril comments. "Getting up some magic protection is probably not a bad idea after all." Where she proceeds to cast shield upon herself.

She then rides into the room revealed by Mareq to investigate.

Perception Avril with guidance: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Perception Cryxial with guidance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

survival: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

"I don't have a lot of protection to spread around. I hope it isn't too bad."

Lilli looks at the blankets. "Hmmm 60 people could be in there...only 3 have been used"

"Good eye Lilli" Uthred says after the gnome discloses the information on the blankets. "60 is a lot to fight" he says as he passes by the gnome and ruffles her hair on the way next to Avril.

Harrow counts a few of his fingers but loses track.

"Yeah, 60 lots. Harrow only handle maybe seventy-five by self."

The super-smart half-orc makes his way to the north. The chamber just seems to go on and on.

I'll keep working my way to the north and will check out the hallway to the east half-way through the room.

In the upper left corner of the map: Old clothes, barrels, large sacks, rusted pickaxes, and other miscellaneous junk lies in piles in this room.

In the upper middle of the map: A polished, fifteen-foot-tall stone statue of a coiled snake sits at the center of this room.