PbP GameDay 2: PFS (module) The Midnight Mirror (3-5) with GM Endless Forms (Inactive)

Game Master Mike Tuholski

Hiram stows the whip as they make it out of the room, and continues onward, moving half speed through the spiked floor room!

1d10 ⇒ 7

As the party picks their way across the spiky floor, you eventually reach the room with the portal. Thankfully the demiplane has not yet eroded here yet. You are able to jump through the mirror, landing solidly back on the Material Plane in the cellar of Boroi Manor. You can see a number of fetchlings and the shae Nicasor following close behind.

As you stand up and dust yourselves off, you are able to return to the main cellar chamber with the iron maiden where resides the spirit of Evgenia Boroi. Exiting the mirror just behind is Nicasor, his mirror mask gleaming as brightly as ever. His longsword and shortsword are already drawn when he lands behind you. "I am sorry my friends," he begins as several fetchlings tumble out behind him and cower away against the wall, "but our deal is up now. I could never fully trust someone so closely associated with Stepan anyways. So now I must turn on you before you do as he did to me and leave me betrayed once again."

Nicasor approaches down the hallway from the mirror room, shooting out a shadowy at Wilhelm!

ranged touch: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
DC 15 Will save; made save means you take 20% damage, failed means you take full
fire damage: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 4, 4) = 12

Initiative:

1. Nicasor
2. Fredrik, Wilhelm, Bizzle, Terrill, Hiram, and Chasik

You guys are up!

I assume we've been running for the mirror long enough that all our buffs are gone except Protection from Evil, which is min/level.

Terrill cries out, "We just freed you from a prison you've been trapped in for an eternity, and you attack us? You utter fool!" He steps toward the doorway, calling on Desna to grant his blade extra power against this creature of shadow and strikes at Nicasor.

I can't recall if we did any Knowledge checks on Nicasor or shae, but it's pretty clear to all at this point they're creatures of the Plane of Shadow, so he'll make his sword outsider bane (round 3/5 of bane for today).

+1 Curve Blade, Bane, Power Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 - 1 = 25
Curve blade damage, Bane, Power Attack: 1d10 + 2d6 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (4) + (1, 5) + 7 + 3 = 20

Status: 26/41 hp

The Lady will see you judged for your crimes shadow.
Fredrik channels energy to heal his companions one more time.
CMW: 1d6 ⇒ 3
Selective channel to exclude Nicasor.

You spent several rounds running from the mirror, so minute long buffs are definitely still up, although some of the shorter buffs may have run out.

I can't remember about knowledge checks either but we'll assume you did. Shae are outsiders from the Plane of Shadow with immunity to cold. They are amorphous and their forms are constantly blurry. They can use shadows to mimic common magics.

1d100 ⇒ 56

Terrill's blade his the side of the shadowy foe and digs into his skin shadow? Fredrik channels the energy of his goddess to heal his companions who are still injured from the Heart.

Initiative:

1. Nicasor
2. Fredrik, Wilhelm, Bizzle, Terrill, Hiram, and Chasik

30 dmg

Wilhelm, Bizzle, Hiram, and Chasik are up!

Hiram shakes his head. "I pity you, Nicasor. To live for so long with betrayal and paranoia does not make for much of a life. We offered you freedom and now we must slay you. Let it be done." Hiram steps up and draws his whip, standing behind Terrill. CMB Trip with whip: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Sorry for the brief absence, was quite busy with tabletop gaming the last couple of days!

If Bizzle can see a point to center Glitterdust behind the enemy he will use that, otherwise he will try Hypnotism and command him to drop prone. DC 16 on Glitterdust, DC 17 on Hypnotism (+2 to the roll since he is in combat).

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Hiram tries to trip the shae but finds that Nicasor is far too quick on his feet. Bizzle covers the shadowy figure in glitter, some of the glitter getting into Nicasor's mirrored mask and blinding him!

Initiative:

1. Nicasor
2. Fredrik, Wilhelm, Bizzle, Terrill, Hiram, and Chasik

30 dmg, blinded

Fredrik, Wilhelm, Terrill, and Chasik are up!

By the way, here is Nicasor. Had to share that, it's one of my favorite PF pictures. He looks bad ass.

EF - I think you may have a typo in the damage done to Nicasor. As far as I can tell, only Terrill has hit him so far, and only did 20 damage, but you have his damage listed as 30. Perhaps he takes extra damage from half-elves, or was already wounded or something, but I thought I'd point it out. Now I just hope we don't die at the hands of this badass.

Seeing Nicasor blinded, Terrill concentrates on hitting the shae as hard as he can, using Desna's gifts to further add to the power of his weapon as he strikes. He says to his companions, "Someone get behind him!"

Judgment of Destruction for +2 damage, Bane round 4/5

+1 Curve Blade, Bane, Power Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 - 1 = 25

+1 Curve Blade, Bane, Power Attack: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 2 - 1 = 26
Curve blade damage, Bane, Power Attack, Judgment: 1d10 + 2d6 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + (1, 2) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 20

Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 96 I assume that's what 'blurry' meant above.

Status: 29/41 hp

Indeed it he does.

Bless is a /minute buff guys so remember to add it to your attacks because it is still running.

Getting closer to Terril, Fredrik heals the inquisitor.
CLW: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

"Righty-o Terrill! I'll see what I can do."

Wilhelm draws his rapier as he shuffles past Hiram and Terrill. As he dodges around Terrill, Wilhelm ducks down and makes a try to tumble through Nicasor's space to flank him with Terrill.

Move, then Acrobatics move to avoid AoO.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Hrmm... that probably doesn't beat CMD + 5.

Thanks for the bless reminder and the healing, Fredrik!

Status: 40/41 hp

@Terrill: yep, typo! Thanks!

Terrill digs his blade into Nicasor again while Fredrik heals the inquisitor. Wilhelm tries to push past Nicasor but, even blinded, Wilhelm is not able to get by.

I'll be honest, even with a 20 you couldn't do it. Four of his stats are above 20 and the others are 15.

Initiative:

1. Nicasor
2. Fredrik, Wilhelm, Bizzle, Terrill, Hiram, and Chasik

40 dmg, blinded

Chasik is up!

By the way, here is Nicasor. Had to share that, it's one of my favorite PF pictures. He looks bad ass.

That's exactly what Bizzle looks like, except his half that size, has blue hair and doesn't have the mask or any of that cool looking armor, weapons and shadowy stuff.

Is it possible to stand on the "stairs" on the map and swing around the corner even if provided soft cover?

if I cannot stand on the stairs I will spend a double move to put away my hammer and draw my longbow.

@Bash: No, especially with the railing in the way.

Chasik puts his hammer away and gets out a longbow.

Nicasor blindly swings at Terrill with both weapons!

+1 longsword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 21 Miss! And on a crit threat.
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
cold damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

+1 longsword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 6 Miss.
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
cold damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

+1 short sword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 48 Miss.
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
cold damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

+1 short sword: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
50% miss chance, high hits: 1d100 ⇒ 47 Miss! And on another crit threat.
damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
cold damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 Still blind. Sheesh, everyone thank Bizzle, that could have been really nasty if he weren't blind right now. I'm counting 44 damage on Terrill not counting potential crit confirms if it hadn't been for the miss chances.

Initiative:

1. Nicasor
2. Fredrik, Wilhelm, Bizzle, Terrill, Hiram, and Chasik

40 dmg, blinded

You guys are up!

Hiram lets out a breath as the blind shadow warrior misses Terrill! Seeing how close he came, he attacks with the whip, trying to distract Nicasor and defend Terrill! Attack, Aid Another to Add +2 AC to Terrill: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Drawing his longspear Fredrik attacks the shae.
Attk: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Attk: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Yay, I helped!

Bizzle suddenly remembers he has a scroll of Flaming Sphere. Seriously, I just happened to see that I have it.

DC 16 Reflex negates: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 1, 5) = 12

If there is spell resistance you can roll it to save time.

Terrill sees the flashing blur of Nicasor's weapons, and feels the breeze as one passes right in front of his throat and another slips between his arm and his heart, and he makes a mental note to buy Bizzle a drink for blinding the deadly shae. He swings his curved blade at Nicasor once again, imbuing it with the last of his baneful power for the day.

Round 5/5 of Bane

+1 Curve Blade, Bane, Power Attack, Bless: 1d20 + 9 + 2 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 2 - 1 + 1 = 22
Curve blade damage, Bane, Power Attack, Judgment: 1d10 + 2d6 + 7 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + (3, 3) + 7 + 3 + 2 = 21

Miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 57

Terill, take a step back you proud fool. My father and teacher trained me to take a hit

If an opening pops up, Chasik will take a shot as a standard action, then move into the open square in front of Nicasor and draw my hammer/shield as I move there.

bow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 241d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

miss: 1d100 ⇒ 23

1d100 ⇒ 12
Ref: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

Hiram distracts Nicasor and Fredrik stabs only to miss the blinded shae. Bizzle slams a ball of fire into Nicasor while Terrill slashes through shae's side. Chasing puts him down with an arrow to the chest!

Out of combat!

Chasik, watches as the shae falls, hoping he stays down. He puts his bow away, and strips the man of all his possessions (essentially down to his underwear), not wanting any surprises down the road.

Well, looking back to Bizzle, thank you for blinding the guy, it sure gave us an upper hand. Now, do we finish him off ourselves, or let the town deal with him?

"Indeed, Bizzle, that made the difference," agrees Terrill, "he came very close to hitting me with a couple of deadly shots, might have killed me in seconds if he could see me. I owe you for that."

Turning to Chasik, he says, "In spite of Nicasor's treachery, it's hard for me to feel good about freeing him from ages of imprisonment only to kill him. But I'm not sure what'll happen to him if we turn him over to the Baron. I say we bring him along, talk to the Baron about this, and tell him what we found through the mirror.

If you want him dead we have a ball of fire for a few more seconds. If not, I will dispel it. Bizzle seems indifferent on the matter.

Hiram stares at the shady man. "Both he and the Baron deserve each other. Both are treacherous and hard to trust. But I think he deserves justice. Let his peers judge him." Hiram turns to the fetchlings and gestures. "You knew him best. What is your decision?"

As the party debates what to do with Nicasor, many of the fetchlings being shunted out of the mirror are scrambling towards the staircase to move away from the prison that has haunted them for so many years, hopeful in moving on with their new lives. Most do not acknowledge you in any way, although a few give you simple nods or meaningful looks. Doubtless they will soon move into Shade Row or elsewhere in Nidal to make new lives for themselves.

What do you want to do with Nicasor?

After Chasik has stripped Nicasor of his weapons and anything of value, Terrill sheathes his sword and examines the unconscious shae's wounds. He'll do what he can to stabilize him, asking Fredrik to assist. "Given his weird shadowy magic, I'd rather keep him knocked out and deliver him to the Baron's justice that way."

Once the unconscious figure is no longer likely to bleed to death, Terrill lifts Nicasor onto his shoulder and says, "Let's get moving."

Wilhelm watches Nicasor get stripped, "If we're keeping him alive, let's make sure he can't say anything - don't want him makin' any incantations."

He has no rope to offer.

I have rope, someone with a higher dex should take 20 tho

I do not belive in chance, magic do not happen by its own, neither does magical diseases. This shae is responsible for a lot of innocent people's deaths in Karpad. Tallowthroat was no accident as he claimed. He played his hand, a treacherous one, and lost. I say let nature run its course, Pharasma will know what to do with his soul.

"We have suspicions, but no proof. A trial is needed, and I believe the fetchlings of this town ought to decide his fate. The Baron is a known liar, so I say we bring him to the fetchlings and let them decide. He's of their kind, after all." Hiram sets his jaw.

The party apprehends Nicasor. The Baron thanks you for your help, disappointed that his brothers could not have been saved. The trial of Nicasor breeds equal outrage among the townsfolk as several of the fetchlings who came out of the mirror testify against Nicasor and claim that he indeed caused Tallowthroat to seep from the mirror and into Karpad in retaliation against the Baron's betrayal. Nicasor is sentenced to be locked up again, this time in a prison on the Material Plane.

As the truth of Stepan's involvement in the murder of his brothers, spread of tallowthroat, and abductions of townspeople are leaked during the upcoming trials and made public by the fetchlings who came from the mirror, the town now turns its rage towards him and demands justice.

Within a few days it is apparent that no new cases of Tallowthroat have appeared and those still carrying the seeping shadow essence seem to be recovering. The Baron's trial continues for some time as the town scrambles without a strong leader. Debate has ensued as the fetchlings put forth a young boy named Sorin, whom they claim is the illegitimate fetchling son of Iozif Boroi and a now-deceased fetchling prisoner. Stepan and Anya naturally reject this claim and the town's mistrust of fetchlings in general sows discomfort in this option for a ruler. The trial seems likely to end in Stepan's imprisonment, however, and as an outsider Anya does not seem to have the support to maintain her status as nobility in this town for long.

Is there anything left for we to do?

Pathfinders: bringing the community together since AR 4032!

Hiram, disturbed by the dissolution of the nobility under the actions of himself and his fellow Pathfinders, will stay during the trial and afterwards, when the community is gathered, will attempt a speech to calm the furor and create a solution.

"Friends, you know me. I am not of your land, but I come from a place where questions of nobility have a long and storied past. Taldor has struggled through good times and bad, but we have emerged stronger for the struggle. You will emerge stronger as well. Baron Stepan made mistakes. They were terrible mistakes and he will pay for them, but his wife and child were not privy to those mistakes. Baroness Anya is not of your village; I understand how outsiders can be seen as different, strange or threatening. But are we not outsiders as well? Did we not stand up for you, for your peoples, both fetchling and human? I would like to propose a solution: The Baron's son. He is but a babe and he will need raising and protecting, but he is the rightful heir. So I propose this: Baroness Anya will act as regent for her son, but she will be aided by a council of six. Three humans and three fetchlings will aid her, and a majority of the council must decide on any decisions. When the young Baron turns 18, he will be sworn in as rightful ruler and the Council will become his advisers. From here on out, let both the fetchling and human populations of Karpad have a say in how their combined community is run. When Council members step down, an election will be held among the humans or fetchlings to replace them. And in the meantime, let this sad story be an inspiration to put aside the fears of the past and embrace a future of unity. I am Hiram Kell, proud Taldan and Pathfinder, and I have said my piece."

Perform Oratory: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24 Using a bit of the Bardic fascination to help nudge people into unity.

That's about it; we're finished with everything in module! You can stick around in the town and clean up however you want but I'm going to get chronicles out right now.

And you really only bypassed one combat encounter; there were some ghostfire elementals in a fireplace in one of the rooms. Other than that all the other rooms just had fetchlings and one shae and none were instantly hostile; most just wanted to be left alone. There was a little subplot with Iozif becoming involved with a fetchling woman and leaving a son behind that I threw in above that you could have discovered while investigating and talking to the other people in the mirror but other than that you got about everything you needed to.

What he said.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Bizzle looks on as if his approval would be of paramount importance in the matter at hand. He is a gnome after all.

The crowd reacts favorably to Hiram's solution and although the Baron is sentenced to prison for a time and forbidden to take up rulership when he is eventually released, the town is able to move forward. The human population is loath to give up power to the fetchlings but in light of the circumstances, most realize it is a better concession than putting an illegitimate fetchling heir in power. Anya reluctantly takes lead of the town and begins to organize elections.

As the weeks, months, and years pass by, the racial tensions in Karpad wane, though fetchlings are still forced to live in Shade Row rather than Karpad proper. The fetchling councilmembers' opinions are treated fairly and some rights and privileges are won for the fetchlings, though. Trade between the fetchlings and humans is better than ever and there are rumors that several human inhabitants have become romantically involved with fetchlings, which serves to keep the fetchling population alive as there seem to be fewer fetchlings born from human parents now that the Mirror no longer leaks shadow essence through the town.

Hiram smiles, somewhere.

Good game, EF! I had a lot of fun and thoroughly enjoyed it. If you ever decide to run another module/scenario, I'd love to be a part of it!

Terrill listens to Hiram's speech, truly impressed by his delivery, but even more so by the thought behind it. "Well done, Hiram, well done indeed. Oh, and you too, Bizzle."

Nice wrap-up there, gang!

Thanks for the game, I added Chasik to one of your queued mid level games, will work on updating him so he is available for that.

Chasik will stay around, until the chaos has dies down a bit and the town has returned to some sense of "normal".