[PFS] Season 0 run, mixed with Dragon's Demand

Game Master Irish202

Thanks! That does help.

Sounds like most of the nasty things are on second and third floor.

So we just came up the stairs F13.

F6 is the entry hall, I don't think there was anything there.
F7 and F8 are cleared. That was the shrine with the mummy monk.
F10 is Azmur's area -- we hopefully don't have to clear that.

I would rather clear an indoor area since less things can see us there. It would be easy to see us from a different floor while we are in an outdoor area.

I think our next area should be one of F9, F14 or F15.

Go for F15? Any of the three are fine with me, just picked one.

Indoors sounds good.

Hey everyone.

I know I haven't been around even more than usual. Unfortunately the reason for that is I failed my fort save and caught the plague. I'm one of the "Lucky" ones in that so far my symptoms are mild, but i did manage to pick up one of the rarer effects of dizziness and confusion. It's taking some time and effort just to type this paragraph because I keep forgetting what I'm doing. It's very irritating.

So feel free to bot me for as long as needed, and I will not expect any credit for letting testudo be a damage cannon to keep you guys alive. Please, have fun, be awesome, and maybe someday I'll be able to come back, but right now RPGs just aren't in the stars.

Aw man. :(

I'm rooting for your recovery. Take care of yourself.

Sorry to hear that. Take care of yourself. Hope that you recover without incident and hope to see you back soon.

Get well soon, Testudo! I hope you are able to make a complete recovery.

I'm so sorry to hear that.
Lots of people I know from work have had family sick with this plague... I dont' think any of us can wait for it to end.

Take care of yourself and know that you'll be in my prayers.

Hope your recovery goes well, Testudo. If the group finishes the module, you have participated in enough encounters to get credit; so there will be a chronicle at the end if you want it.

Good question. I would probably have to make Testudo do a Handle Animal check with some penalties to push it to do something it otherwise would not do. However, it is not the turtle's attack you should be worried about ;)
**queue evil DM laughing in background**

If he is mind controlled, he can probably make the check. If he is confused, I don’t think that would be allowed.

—

Where the heck did we take all that NL damage? I ask because a confused person that is attacked just attacks the last person to damage them. The plus I like to know what happened when my character loses about 65% of their hit points.

The tree-thingy unleashed a mental blast that caused both the confusion and the non-lethal damage.

How long does the confusion last?

GM, question or 2, now that i think of it.

Generally, Testudo walks around weapon drawn, yes?
Since he made that grapple, i assume he didn't now.
Humanoids without 2 free hands take a -4 to grapple checks.

As Testudo is wearing a shield, and given the description he grabbed for me with a single gauntlet, he has but one free hand, making the result a 16.
Which would imply i was not grappled, right?

How high is the ceiling here?

Which would imply i was not grappled, right?

That is a good catch (pun intended?). To cause the least amount of ret-con, Testudo will have to had dropped his weapon to have grappled you; requiring him to use a move action to pick it up this turn. This will limit him to only a single attack instead of two, leaving you still conscious since he could not full attack.

A gentle reminder on confusion: you must attack the last thing that attacked you while you had the condition.

How high is the ceiling here?

Let's say 20 feet.

How long does the confusion last?

10 rounds.

A gentle reminder on confusion: you must attack the last thing that attacked you while you had the condition.

So i and Testudo are locked in mortal kombat for a full minute..... XD

Testudo will have to had dropped his weapon to have -almost- grappled you

Depends.

If the mind control somehow prevented him from becoming confused, then he could stop it. If his animal companion is not immune to the confusion, it should also need to make a save against the confusion.

If both he and his turtle are subject to the confusion and the turtle attacks him between the time you do and the time he acts, that would break the confusion lock on his side. You would still be locked on him.

If someone else hits you after he does, you would go after that person. A confused person doesn’t get attacks of opportunity, so it would be good if Testudo was not immune to the confusion.

Confused yet? Yeah, as a PC I never use the spell because it causes all these weird rules to pop up that massively slows down the game.

So, if we are retconning the grapple, can I change my action as well as it was in response to that situation?

Would it be misplaced to say withdrawing would be the most favorable to our survival? Were Testudo not dominated, i would guess our chances higher than they are currently.

I have no way to withdraw, being grappled with realistically zero chance to escape and taking enough damage next turn to put me under.

If the mind control somehow prevented him from becoming confused, then he could stop it

Testudo made his will save versus the confusion (rolled a 21). I did miss making the save for Roshi, however.

Roshi Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
Confusion for Roshi: 1d100 ⇒ 31

So turtle is confused, but turtle babbling will have no effect on turn action.

So, if we are retconning the grapple, can I change my action as well as it was in response to that situation?

It appears that we are. It will be my official stance that Testudo did not perform a grapple, and did not drop the lance, and will have instead lanced Locke twice. I was attempting to subtly give the group time to react to the situation to avoid an immediate surprise kill, but dropping his weapon to perform a grapple would have been out of character for the PC given the command being imposed on him by the alien.

Grapple vs. Locke: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

I will give Locke the choice of either keeping the grapple roll die result for the attack (resulting in a lance attack roll of 6+11=17) or having me re-roll Testudo's attack for that turn. If a hit occurs, the damage would be 1d8 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21. His second lance attack would be as follows:

Lance Attack 2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Resulting in a miss for the 2nd attack that round. With this in mind, Locke and Melisande may ret-con their Round 2 actions. I believe Tereze's action would have been the same in either situation to attempt to end the mind control. Post what actions you wish to do in discussion, and I will do a ret-con post in the main game thread afterwards.

I was attempting to subtly give the group time to react to the situation to avoid an immediate surprise kill, but dropping his weapon to perform a grapple would have been out of character for the PC given the command being imposed on him by the alien.

I was wondering about that. Would it not be even more against his character to outright start killing us?

'Defend me', was the command given, right? Instead of the more direct 'kill your friends for me'.

Dominate allows a new save if the character would be doing something strictly against his nature, afaik. Attempting to murder us seems to qualify?

I'm just very worried for our safety. :o

@ Melisande,
What are your thoughts on a new round 2 plan?

Dominate allows a new save if the character would be doing something strictly against his nature, afaik. Attempting to murder us seems to qualify?

This is not a domination effect. It actually is worse, it is a suggestion effect delivered by a demand spell; which doesn't allow a save out of the spell once failed. With the way the combat block is written for the monster, the writers for the module consider "defend me from attacks" is considered reasonable enough for the spell to be used to have the PC to participate in the combat against their allies since it does not intrinsically cause harm to the PC directly.

My gut at reading that...

So what has Testudo done in the past when he didn’t want to kill someone? Does he have a sap?

I would need to look at the effects involved, but there is also the problem that the person asking to be defended is killing his acquaintances— Kegan and Melisandre— while asking Testudo to prevent the others from killing them.

Having Testudo take the penalty for non-lethal damage would be reasonable. So would him risking doing the grapple, disarm, or other combat maneuvers against those less martially inclined. Would he really feel threatened by Melisandre with a dagger or something?

I don’t know all the factors involved. I am just trying to suggest things that Testudo in his right mind might have done if he felt that the group was mind controlled or something and he had to prevent them from killing someone important.

So what has Testudo done in the past when he didn’t want to kill someone?

I believe he tried to non-lethally charge someone and they ended up as a bloody mist when he "accidentally" crit the charge. XD

Having Testudo take the penalty for non-lethal damage would be reasonable. So would him risking doing the grapple, disarm, or other combat maneuvers against those less martially inclined. Would he really feel threatened by Melisandre with a dagger or something?

I would agree with the non-lethal damage approach. There is a reason why he attacked Locke, and that is because he was the only one that actually landed a hit on the alien with his bomb. The -4 penalty would result in both attacks from round 2 missing and only 1 attack from round 3 landing on Locke, if he is amenable to that adjustment.

Yeah, Locke certainly made themself a target with their successful attack. Especially since Testudo has seen the amount of damage Locke can put out. I agree that he would be a priority.

If he has made a bloody mess of people with the lance even when trying not to kill them, seems he would want to use something else here. I haven’t really looked at what he can do, but know how devastating a lance charge can be.

Then again, I have a different character where his first two kills were both when using a sap and trying to take the person alive...

Looking at Testudo, the only weapon I see is the lance. Where is the rest of their equipment? I don’t even see a ranged combat option.

Looking at Testudo, the only weapon I see is the lance. Where is the rest of their equipment? I don’t even see a ranged combat option

Who needs a ranged weapon when you have a turtle cannon?

You know, if i got a dime every time for [insert specific] i'd be having a double strawberry sunday.

Assuming we realize that he was mind controlled, I think either greasing the Lance to make him drop it or greasing under the turtle to make it trip would be the best options I have. Will be a DC 18 reflex

Well he only does massive damage on a charge, and given the turtle is just babbling he can't be charging. So he shouldn't be doing a huge amount of damage. on a hit.

CRAP, I totally forgot about my Ritual of Stardust Boon! That also would have been the smart thing to do. Locke maybe you want to do that, as I believe you have that boon too.

I think our only chance of getting out of here is to have Testudo break that domination, and the +2 luck would stack with the +2 from Pro Evil.

What chronicle would that be on, top of your hat?
I'll check my sheets tonight.

It was a holiday boon, I forget exactly when it was given out. Only get one and you had to choose which character. I have it on my seeker level cleric.

Not sure it is worth it, but you can decide that for yourselves.

Greasing his lance would give better chance to get away, true.

Assuming his lance is the grease target:

Testudo Reflex DC 18: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

Locke, did you settle on your ret-con action?

I think i lost that boon during a PC crash some time ago, so i don't have access to it anymore. :(

What is the text on it?

As for current turn, since he didn't grapple, Locke would fly 5ft away from him (diagonally upwards), down an extract of adhesive spittle, which thankfully doesn't require an attack roll, and try glue Testudo down onto Roshi & the floor.

In the least he'd be entangled. DC 16 reflex save to avoid getting glued down.
Goo becomes brittle in 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5 rounds.

Dicebot please, please have mercy.

Adhesive Spittle is similar to Burning Gaze, unfortunately, in that you do not get a free use of the spit attack after you cast (or in Locke's case, drink) the spell. It requires a separate standard action to actually use it.

Additionally, this is something I am a little unsure of, but can he be glued to the floor if he is on Roshi? Would he just be glued to the turtle since he is not in contact to the floor? I couldn't fine any threads on this particular nuance. In any event, here is his Reflex if needed:

Testudo Reflex DC 16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

I swear I am not hacking the website to roll exactly the DC's needed for the past 2 rolls. XD

Ritual of Stardust: Guiding Stars: Once as a standard action, you can throw the handful of sand into the air, causing the air
to sparkle faintly for 1 minute in a 40-foot radius centered on your space. All creatures in the area gain
a +2 luck bonus on saving throws against any effects that would give them the confused condition, and
any confused creature in the area that would act normally or babble incoherently on its turn receives a
new saving throw against the confusion effect; if successful, the creature ends the effect for itself only.

That would at least help most of us. But reading it again Testudo may not be affected.

GM, drinking the extract would be the move action.
Standard to actually spit at him.

You know, perhaps we could activate that boon to have that kobold help us?

That boon is perfect for this scene. But ye gods, first we need to get distance. :(

GM, drinking the extract would be the move action.

The act of using an extract is a standard action. Do you have an ability that allows you to do so quicker?

Ugh.... -.-

And i thought it was like using a potion.

Alright, i'll get something else tomorrow morning. It's late and there are still things i need to do.

Last ditch effort, as nothing else comes to mind not putting myself at mortal risk.

I'd like to use my boon from the Dragon's Demand 1 chronicle, to call for the aid of Nighttail and Hak.
According to the text, they appear adjacent to me.

I ask them to draw Testudo's attention by moving past him, towards the squares blocking the exit.
In effect: draw the attack of opportunity, so anyone able to, can flee past them.

Fly over Testudo into the exit, and lob a frost bomb at him, to slow him down, hopefully buying summoned allies some time for further withdraw.
All the while heartbeat going fast from anxiety.

Excluding Roshi and allies from the blast radius. Roshi is innocent.

Rt, 1 increment: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 - 2 = 25 Cold: 4d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 1, 1, 3) + 6 = 16
Calling out to Tereze and Melissande:
"Move, move!"

He passed the save anyway, but i think it'd be logical to do, to try slowing him down.

Locke was that supposed to be in gameplay?

And even if we reckoned grapping you, I think that Tereze and Melissande still got attacked by the tree, and I'm down/Melissande is grappled. Or did we retcon all the way back?

I believe we are ret conning the grapple and only Locke and Melisandre are allowed a chance to change their actions.

The assumption is that you would have still tried to break the mind control, which seems reasonable to me.

My character is unconscious at the time this is happening.

What sir Kegan said.

I'd like to use my boon from the Dragon's Demand 1 chronicle, to call for the aid of Nighttail and Hak.

Interesting use of the boon, certainly a good time for it. However, as of your initiative you would be the only one able to escape. Kegan and Tereze would be unconscious due to the alien attacks, and Melisande would be grappled by the Yangethe. Nighttail has not attacked the yangethe yet, so Testudo would not have viewed them as a danger and would not attack with an AoO.

I offer a trade, of sorts, instead. If you and anyone in the party who has that boon on their PC cross off that boon off of their sheets, I will allow you to use Nighttail and Hak to allow the party to escape from the combat. This, of course, will result in the pair sacrificing themselves for me to enact the deus ex machina needed to do so; but the group will avoid the inevitable TPK that will be coming shortly. Is this perhaps something you would consider?

Nighttail has not attacked the yangethe yet, so Testudo would not have viewed them as a danger and would not attack with an AoO.

Nighttail could have been asked to make a ranged attack against the Yangethe, to confirm them as a threat, before moving.

In regards to the pair's death,
I had anticipated that possible to happen. I would be ready to mark off the boon.

I would mark off my boon, but i'm not conscious, so I assume I can't.

That wouldn't matter, would it?

Merely our two chronicles get edits, and we could be saved, to my understanding.

I'll let the GM rule, but if I can use the boon I would use it to save us. We are in VERY big trouble.