[PFS] The Orphans' Lodge - The Slave Master's Mirror (Inactive)

Game Master Cyril Corbaz

Wulfren, when you ready an action you can already roll it, for example within a spoiler tag. It usually helps with the pace of the game.

A ragged-looking female gnoll emerges from behind the heavy curtains, and curses Ic, then cackles madly!

-2 to Ic's attack rolls. Will DC 12 reduces the duration to one round, but her cackle increases it to 2 rounds even if Ic succeeds at the saving throw.

Wulfren can take his ready action now. Actually he acts just before the female gnoll curses Ic.

Initiative - round 2 - bold may act!
1. Gert & Old Lace, Ic, Liam, Anaristiel
2. Chau
3. Wulfren
4. Rothur

Wulf takes a shot at the new arrival!

Attack, PB, Deadly Aim: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 10
Damage?: 1d12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 2 = 5

-Posted with Wayfinder

HP 3/24

His head ringing from the the blow, Ic wipes the blood off his face. That's lady-dog is spooky!

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13

He steps back up, and starts using his full magus abilities. Unfortunately, the blow to his head was so bad that he fails to concentrate on his spell

Shocking Grasp, Defensive casting, Conc DC 17: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 CR*P!

Attack, hex: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 2 = 211d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Wulfren's shot wounds the gnoll witch!

Ic's spell fizzles, but the swing is a formidable one nonetheless, and wounds the flind deeply.

Initiative - round 2 - bold may act!
1. Gert & Old Lace, Ic, Liam, Anaristiel
2. Chau
3. Wulfren
4. Rothur

Attack (Gert): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Attack (Old Lace, bite): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 2 = 18
Attack (Old Lace, claw): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12
Attack (Old Lace, claw): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Only one of Old Lace's attacks manages to hurt the flind! As for Gert, her club swings past the dire gnoll with little consequence.

Initiative - round 2 - bold may act!
1. Gert & Old Lace, Ic, Liam, Anaristiel
2. Chau
3. Wulfren
4. Rothur

Deciding that Ic is more suited to combat that he is, Liam moves out of Ana's way 5ft step and tags Ic with his wand.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Anaristiel, seeing this new threat, rushes the witch.

Full-round action: Charge witch (if allowed, given positioning - if not, move then attack without the +2 bonus)
Attack (MW Glaive (2H), Charge): 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12
Damage (MW Glaive (2H)): 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

You can't charge her since you don't see her from where you're from (there's the curtain on the map). However you can certainly move, then attack.

Anaristiel seeks out the witch and strikes at her, but misses.

Ic's wounds are cared for by Liam and his trusted wand.

After a step aside to avoid being flanked, the flind savagely attacks Ic again, seeking to put the magus down.
Flindbar: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 2 = 301d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 = 15
Confirmation: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 = 131d8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 2 = 11 *luckily not a crit*

"Har har! Humans be so weak! Never 'derstood why dem be so feared!" taunts the bloodied flind. His first attack knocks Ic unconscious, while the massive shield the flind is bearing comes down on Liam. "You dem nurse? You need good beating!"
Shield Slam: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 261d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Bull Rush: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25 Your CMD appears to be 14, not 13 I thinks, since a 3rd-level investigator has BAB +2.
The flind knocks Liam 15 feet away!

Initiative - round 2 - bold may act!
1. Gert & Old Lace, Ic, Liam, Anaristiel
2. Chau
3. Wulfren
4. Rothur

Wulf reloads and takes another shot at the gnoll witch!

Attack, PBS, DA: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 23
Damage?: 1d12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 2 = 11

-Posted with Wayfinder

A loud BANG echoes in the Pasha's luxury suite, and the gnoll witch finds herself badly wounded by Wulfren's well-aimed shot. She curses the gunslinger in return, then cackles madly.

-2 to Wulfren's attack rolls. Will DC 12 reduces the duration from 2 to 1 round, but cackle will extend it by one round regardless of the result.

Initiative - round 3 - bold may act!
1. Gert & Old Lace, Ic, Liam, Anaristiel Stabilization check needed by Ic if Gert doesn't manage to stabilize him first.
2. Chau
3. Wulfren
4. Rothur

That last knock on the head was too much, and Ic goes down.

Stabilize: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 DC 16

HP -7/24 (Con 14)

Gert and Old Lace both 5' step then attack

"You disgusting brute, stand down or be destroyed!" Gert shouts after seeing Ic go down.

Attack (Gert): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Attack (Old Lace, bite): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 2 = 22
Attack (Old Lace, claw): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 2 = 29 *threat*
Attack (Old Lace, claw): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Attack (Old Lace, claw): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 = 11 *no confirm*
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Old Lace and Gert focus their efforts on the flind, but it remains alive and even more furious!

Initiative - round 3 - bold may act!
1. Gert & Old Lace, Ic, Liam, Anaristiel
2. Chau
3. Wulfren
4. Rothur

Anaristiel swings her glaive at the witch again, with much more success.

Standard action: Attack witch
Attack (MW Glaive (2H)): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Damage (MW Glaive (2H)): 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

You are correct about the CMD; I will update that.

Liam grunts as he's pushed back, but as soon as he regains his balance, he launches himself back at his fallen friend to tag him once again with magical healing.

CLW for Ic: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"C'mon mate, now's not the time ta be takin' a nap."

I'm here, Liam Ic says hazily, my shirt is sticky.

Anaristiel fells the witch! The female gnolls now lies in a pool made of her blood, whereas Ic regains consciouness, still dizzy from his near-death experience.

The flind is furious, and slams twice at Liam, cursing the nursing tiefling and pushing him back on the other side of the heavy curtain.
Flindbar: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 141d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
Shield Slam: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 231d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Bull Rush: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Initiative - round 4 - bold may act!
1. Wulfren, Gert & Old Lace, Ic, Liam, Anaristiel
2. Chau

Gert and Old Lace do the 5' step dance again...after waiting for Wulfren to take a clear shot!

Attack (Gert): 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Attack (Old Lace, bite): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13
Attack (Old Lace, claw): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 = 11
Attack (Old Lace, claw): 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 2 = 28
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Anaristiel rushes over to Ic and touches his shoulder. As she utters an incantation, warmth flows through her touch and heals his wounds.

Move action: As indicated on map
Standard action: Cast cure light wounds on Ic.
Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Old Lace grazes the flind with one claw, but the duet doesn't manage to find a weak spot otherwise!

Initiative - round 4 - bold may act!
1. Wulfren, Gert & Old Lace, Ic, Liam, Anaristiel
2. Chau

Wulf steps up 5' loads and shoots!

Attack, PBD, DA: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 16
Damage: 1d12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8

-Posted with Wayfinder

Realizing that falling unconscious would help no one, Liam moves away from the flind and uses his wand on himself.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Meanwhile, he desperately hopes that the creature chooses to go after someone still standing rather than his prone friend. "C'mon ya big lout! Not goin' ta take me down with wimpy moves like that!"

Wulfren's musket unleashes a short flame as well as a loud noise, and the gnoll finally crumbles, struck dead.

End combat!

Among the books on the bookshelf are several hundred pages of notes written in Kelish. These are al’Jakri’s scrying records, a cross-reference of the slaves whose blood samples are in the chest (and which
noble houses they serve), and a timeline of specific events she observed while watching them—all written in her own shorthand and describing only a fraction of the observations suggested by her marked map of Absalom Her desk also contains several large blocks of beeswax dyed a variety of colors. There is also a large map of Absalom covered with pins, string and color codes.

You may attempt to decipher it with a Knowledge (geography, local or nobility) check. If you try to roll up the map to take it back to Absalom for further studying, it'll require a Dexterity or Sleight of Hand check.

Searching the room, you find a secret door behind the northern bookshelf, leading to a small, unlit room carved out of the hill. The room is unadorned and only contains a large mirror.

At that moment, Anaristiel receives a telepathic message from Lady Darchana. "What is your status? Have you accomplished your objectives? Please reply in no more than twenty-five words."

Wulf examines the map. Kn Local : 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

-Posted with Wayfinder

Gert studies the map in fascination.

Knowledge (Geography): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Knowledge (Local): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14 (+1 if it pertains to elves)

Anaristiel casts a spell to detect magical auras as the orphans investigate the area. As she does so, however, Lady Darchana's words speak in her mind. She gasps in surprise, then, after a couple of slow breaths to steady herself, she says to the others, "Apparently, we're supposed to give a report to Lady Darchana in twenty-five words or less. I'm thinking, 'Gnoll guards dead. Found al'Jakri's scrying records, slaves' blood samples, colored beeswax blocks, marked map, and large mirror.'. Is there anything else we should mention?"

Shirt sticky Ic adds unhelpfully.

"Right - I'll see what I can do. Anyone else?"

"No al'Jakri, found scrying records." Gert offers. "Otherwise, I think it sums up this little trip nicely."

Barring additional input from her companions, Anaristiel responds to Lady Darchana with the following message: 'Gnoll guards dead. No al'Jakri. Found scrying records, slaves' blood samples, colored beeswax blocks, marked map, and large mirror. Please advise.'

Local: 1d20 + 10 + 1d6 ⇒ (12) + 10 + (3) = 25

Liam nods at Ana's words as he studies the map. He twirls his wand idly. "Ic, how ya doin' now? Need more healin'? Or anybody else, for that matter."

I'm a bit woozy, and there's bits of me outside of me.

I'm at 2/24hp

He then looks up at Liam

..thank you for saving me. That dog was strong.

With considerate study, Liam is able ascertain major patterns in the placement of pins and string suggesting al’Jakri has foundways to spy on not only a dozen Absalom families but also a large number of the city’s more prestigious institutions, such as the Forae Logos and the Arcanamirium. Decoding the map entirely would take days and would still rely on considerable speculation without additional data—especially thanks to someone’s removing a large number of pins—but Liam's discoveries provide an essential first step in cracking the pasha’s plans.

Another sending then comes, ordering you back with the map, the mirror, as well as everything of importance that you can find. You have little difficulty securing enough basic provisions to get yourselves and any liberated slaves to Okeno. There, a ship awaits you to take you back to Absalom.

Once you return to the Grand Lodge, Ambrus Valsin debriefs you and lets you know that you have accomplished a great deal despite al’Jakri’s escape. He then debriefs you for several minutes about how the enchanted cedar chest performed in the field before concluding the meeting. He advises everyone to remain in Absalom for the next several days as he works with Lady Darchana to ensure she has all of the information she needs to predict the pasha’s next step.

This concludes this adventure. I hope you enjoyed playing it! Chronicle Sheets will be posted shortly in the Discussion thread.

This also appears to mean the end of the Orphans's common adventures, unfortunately. I'd like to take some time to thank you all for taking part in this experiment, it was fun to attempt it.

Thank you very much, Lithrac! A very smooth game. As always, you have my admiration.

And many thanks, also, to the Orphans. It's been a fun run, and a great experiment. I sure hope to see more of Wulfren, Liam, Anaristiel, and perhaps even Gert or Veviane. You are always welcome at the DMK games!