PbP GameDay 3: PFS #5-99 Paths we Choose (3-4) (Inactive)

Game Master -Karma-

"Peace! We are fellow Pathfinders, here to sort things out! Are you hurt? Let us help you get out of here..."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

Moving swiftly into the room, hand on scimitar, Finarin readies for the woman's crazy approach, and is willing to begin combat.

"Woman. stand down. We come to ... help."

Seriously, 50% of the encounters we have we try the nice approach. We should all reroll as paladins.

"Hold for now, friends," says Lort resolutely holding his greatsword, "Woman, we have no wish to do you harm. However, if you come any closer, harm will indeed come to you."

Lort steps 5ft forwards to allow his companions to get past should they wish. Not sure if a diplomacy or intimidate check will even help here. Readying an attack action for if she aggressively comes within range (ie. not walking casually but trying to attack Lort or a companion).

Technically, you cannot ready out of combat. However, I would for sure rule that this would mean you aren't surprised. It also, unfortunately, won't prevent you from being flat-footed. Silly rules.

Gunari steps in, rapier hand but point down, watching her closely. He is concerned that she might be infected as well, so looks her over.

heal check: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Now THAT is a wasted roll!

Technically, you cannot ready out of combat. However, I would for sure rule that this would mean you aren't surprised. It also, unfortunately, won't prevent you from being flat-footed. Silly rules.

We rolled for initiative, so I assumed combat had started. If that is not the case (ie. if I can't ready an action).

Lort issues the above warning, then steps forward and slaps the woman with the flat of his blade.

Lort attack, nonlethal: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 4 = 17
Nonlethal damage: 2d6 + 7 ⇒ (1, 3) + 7 = 11

oops. My bad, I thought we were still talking, but you are right.

Gunari cannot see any visible signs of the tumor infestation, like he saw on the tiefling. But he can see that there is something deeply wrong with her.

Lort's blade hits the woman, but he thinks the blow was absorbed by her armor. Dalva turns her mad gaze on the half-orc and screams: "Your claws cannot pierce me! I am stronger than you, abomination! Stronger!"

Cyrus had a ready action, but Dalva doesn't move to his reach.

Dalva steps back, and grabs some vial from her pockets. Lort notices, that the woman looks even more bestial than a moment ago, growing sharp claws and teeth to match. And then the vial is flying towards Lort, exploding loudly. Lort finds himself in middle of thick smoke.

Smoke bomb @Lort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10 Impressive, she manages to miss a touch attack... :)
Scatter, 1=west: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Lort takes 6 fire damage, Ref save DC 15 for half

Next up: everyone

Lort reflex save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 2 = 17

Seeing his best blow rendered ineffective, annoyed by flames, and sensing the blood of the Linnorm Kings growing hot beneath his skin, Lort instead goes all out with his attack.

Greatsword attack, power attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Damage if successful: 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (3, 6) + 10 = 19

Position updated on the map. If she doesn't have a weapon drawn, Lort will instead move in to flank with Gunari.

"Guys, she isn't in her right mind. We need to take her down, but be careful as to not kill her!"

Gunari moves up to her, drawing his rapier. He will then cast Divine Favor as a swift using fervor. He will then attack her, non-lethal.
Rapier Attack (Divine Favor, Bull's Strength, non-lethal) (#1): 1d20 + 7 + 3 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 3 + 2 - 4 = 10
Rapier Attack (Divine Favor, Bull's Strength, non-lethal) (#2): 1d20 + 7 + 3 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 3 + 2 - 4 = 28
normal dakage: 1d6 + 2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 3 + 2 = 12
Let's see if I crit!
Rapier Attack (Divine Favor, Bull's Strength, non-lethal) (crit confirm): 1d20 + 7 + 3 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 7 + 3 + 2 - 4 = 18
crit damage, if applicable: 1d6 + 2 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 3 + 2 = 11

"We are Pathfinders, you fool! Here to save you!"

"Seriously woman."

Moving swiftly through the fog, drawing his scimitar and imbuing it with arcane energy with one hand, and holding the brim of his new hat with the other, Finarin begins to cast Frostbite. Uppon reaching her, he extends his hand gently to brush her check delivering the spell. A small, blue snowflake crystallizes on her check where moments ago the elf's fingers brushed her.

Frostbite vs Touch AC: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Frostbite Nonlethal Cold damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

If successful, she becomes Fatigued until she heals her nonlethal damage.

Can someone please move me to the square just above Lort?

Can someone please move me to the square just above Lort?

done

Hearing the conflict quickly breaking out in the next room, Ibid quickly moves to help out in the struggle. Once his motion has stopped, the old man quickly raises his longbow and fires, but his aim seems to waiver as the arrow leaps from the bow, perhaps due to being afraid of killing the woman outright.

Ibid ends his movement in the square north of Cyrus' current position *token not yet moved*

attack(longbow): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
damage(+2 str, +1 PBS, +2 deadly aim, +1 magic weapon): 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Miro moves into the room, seeing the situation rapidly degrading. Furrowing his brow, he mumbles a spell. A pool of slick grease appears under the woman, cutting off retreat.

Please move me into the room. Cast Grease, Dalva's square is upper left section of 10' square. Reflex DC 15.

Please move me into the room.

Done, and added grease

"Oh no... not another alchemist..." Cyrus shudders as he remembers the vivid description of the awful encounter with the cook as described by Ibid and Finarin...

"Gunari, you better be ready to stabilize this woman, because I'm not holding back now! I suppose if things go south... then hopefully she has enough prestige within the society to.... uh... get her life back... Heh" He chuckles at his not very funny pun.

So I lose my action because the readied condition never occurred, but at least I get to keep my spot in the initiative order.

"I shall do my best, Cyrus. Wait... stabilize? Should I have asked The Accidental Hero for that orison? Sweet barleywine! I wish you would have told me that earlier!" Gunari looks concerned that he has erred once again. "I suppose I could always just cast Cure Light Wounds, right?"

Gunari thinks he found a weak spot in Dalva's defences, but the woman's hard skin seems to deflect the worst of the blow. Nonetheless, his strike leaves a nasty bruise. =didn't confirm

Finarin delivers his spell, frostbites appearing on the woman's cheeks. She looks like she's shivering from the cold.

Ref save: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 - 1 = 14
Fatigued, the crazed alchemist does not notice the slippery grease being conjured under her feet. Suddenly, she loses her balance and is lying flat on the ground.

Cyrus still has an action in round 2 before Dalva

Next up: Cyrus

It just dawned on me that you are all waiting for me... so sorry!!!!

Cyrus sees an opportunity with the woman down from the grease, and trusts in his acrobatics to get him close, despite the slippery floor.

He runs around the table, leaping into the air as he comes around Gunari, hoping to get high enough to be out of reach of the prone woman's reflexes.

Acrobatics to avoid AoO at full speed, DC=CMD+10: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

As his feet come down on the slippery surface, he leans back and bends his knees, expecting to slide right into position to make his attack.

Acrobatics to not fall, DC 15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

And promptly falls on his keister anyways, the floor being more slippery than he originally thought. Not wanting to waste his opportunity, he lashes out at the fallen woman from his prone position.

Attacking from prone, flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 2 - 4 = 21 for Damage w/SA: 1d6 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + (6, 1) = 10

No worries, Cyrus

Cyrus' monkey style seems to work. Even when lying flat on the greased ground, the ninja's blade finds it's way past Dalva's armour, and the black colour of the grease is mixed with red of blood.

Covering herself, the alchemist tries to stand up, even when surrounded by enemies. using Total defence

Lort, Finarin, Gunari and Cyrus can take AoO's. Decide whether you want to do nonlethal or lethal

Next up: everyone

Seeing the woman struggling to get up, Finarin lashes out with his magically imbued scimitar.

AoO Scimitar Attack W/ Arcane Pool Point: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 15
AoO Scimitar Damage w/ Arcane Pool Point: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

Since I missed, if she is still up and seems in reasonable condition:

With the woman's wild gesticulations, Finarin again swings his scimitar.

Scimitar Attack W/ Arcane Pool Point: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 6 + 1 = 27
Scimitar Damage w/ Arcane Pool Point: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

Crit confirm

Scimitar Attack W/ Arcane Pool Point + Anatomist trait: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 25
Scimitar Damage w/ Arcane Pool Point: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

So 17 total damage

Lort, being in no mood to slap her with the flat of his blade, takes full advantage of the situation to slice at the woman.

Greatsword, power attack : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage : 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (2, 4) + 10 = 16

"Just. Stay. Down!" screams Lort, frustrated by her stubbornness.

Greatsword, power attack : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Damage : 2d6 + 10 ⇒ (2, 3) + 10 = 15

Needless to say, we stop attacking when she falls unconscious (ie. please don't tally all the damage and just say she's dead).

Cyrus reaches to take advantage of the woman as she stands.

Attack from Prone, flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 2 - 4 = 22 for Slashing Damage w/ SA: 1d6 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (3, 3) = 11

Seeing his companions over the wild-eyes woman, the old man watches to see if she can survive the coming onslaught...

If she is still standing after the AoO's and everyone's turns, the Ibid will fire twice. If she falls to the group's pack attack, Ibid will hold from firing.

attack(longbow): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

attack(longbow): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Now THAT is brutally efficient... wow...

Miro starts to move forward after the beating his companions walloped on the woman, prepared to use his curative magics to staunch her bleeding if needed.

"Well done, everyone!"

If the others haven't dropped her, Gunari will AOO nonlethal
Rapier Attack (Divine Favor, Bull's Strength) (#1): 1d20 + 7 + 3 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 3 + 2 - 4 = 12 I hope this isn't needed.

Once she is down, he says, "Lort, please cast Stabilize on her if you can! Otherwise, I will have to cast Cure Light Wounds, which will likely cause her to wake up!"

Once the woman has been stabilized (and if Lort won't cast Stabilize Gunari will cast CLW (spell, not wand) -- GM you can roll it), Gunari will start scanning her, and the room, with Detect Magic.

I am doing terrible at reading... I just realized I still have an actual action this turn... Posting it here now, in case she isn't down. If she is down, please ignore the attack part of this post...

Cyrus takes a moment to stand up on the greasy floor, Provoking, if she can take an AoO while being total defensive.. Acrobatics, DC 15 for grease: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18 and then reaches out to make sure she goes down and stays down. While his heart wants to make sure this fellow pathfinder lives to be cured, he cares far more for the men he has shared the trenches with, and doesn't hesitate to finish this once and for all.

Attack, Flanking: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 2 = 27 for Damage w/ SA: 1d6 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (4, 2) = 11

She might be innocent in all this... taken by some crazy infection of her mind, why should she have to die? Should I have taken more care to use the flat of my blade? But what if she isn't innocent? or what if that doesn't matter, and in her crazed state she blew Ibid up? Or Gunari? or any of these guys? So many questions... but... why don't I care more that she might die? Is something wrong with me?

Despite the storm of blades, Dalva stands up. She manages to ward off all blows, except Cyrus' - the ground-hugging combatant finds another opening in the alchemist defences. The wound is nasty, but the woman still stands. Looking angrier than ever, she prepares for an attack. But then Finarin steps in, his light blade cutting through the womans ribs. Dalva stares at the elf, then the blade in her chest, and collapses.

Lort rushes to cast stabilize on her, but notices it was not needed; the woman is merely unconscious.

Combat over. I'll post more later

Heh. Of course Lort has stabilize! I just forgot he was also a cleric for a little while there. :-) And she must have had a crazy good AC for tier 3-4! Happy we've got Finarin and Cyrus on our side.

"Exceptional work, my friends, she was a worthy opponent," says Lort as he first makes sure the woman is stable, and then makes sure she is bound, "Do you suppose she is the one who created the horrid weapon in the first place? I wonder if its creation came before or after her madness. In any case, once we are done here, we can defer her treatment to priests of more skill than I."

Lort will sweep the room for any further evidence of what happened here before growing anxious for more combat and eying off the doors leading elsewhere - potentially to more battle!

Adjusting his hat, wiping his blade on the woman's cloak, Finarin stands up. "Let us conclude this ... situation. I know little of this woman's .... arts. I am sure that someone can give us an insight on her behaviors?"

Gunari checks the health of the woman (Heal: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12) and then makes sure that anything dangerous looking has been removed from her. He will use detect magic to make sure that all of her magical gear is removed.

"Friends, check the room to make sure that we've cleared out everything of interest. We need to bring back all evidence we can for the Venture-Captain!"

'Who said that? When did Gunari Maximoff, Priest of the Drunken Hero, suddenly become responsible.'

After a moment of looking deep in thought, Gunari pulls his tankards off his belt, and starts filling them. "A toast to Victory, and a job well done!"

Gunari scans the room with Detect Magic, and notices a magical aura emanating from Dalva's belongings.

Now that they have better time to look around them, the group can see that this room is a dissection room with numerous observation windows. There is nothing particularly of interest in the room, just the unconscious woman. She is wearing a studded leather armour and a masterwork sickle is lying by her side.

Spellcraft (If it is not a magic item -2 to my roll): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

shucks

Gunari watches Finarin puzzle over the items, and then takes a look himself.
spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

"Finarin, from what I can tell, this is magical studded leather armor... with a second tier enchantment. Unless you, or Cyrus, has better, maybe you should borrow it, until this woman is feeling better. For safekeeping, of course."

We'll make an additional set of sweeps through the room (taking 20, etc), bind the woman after taking her gear off of her, and then head back to Venture-Captain Ambrus Valsin... unless anyone thinks we should do something else?

spellcraft(DC 21): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19

Ibid will burn 1 use of Inspiration to add 1d6 to the roll: inspiration: 1d6 ⇒ 2, so 19 + 2 = 21 total for spellcraft check

"Her leather armor, it's quite impressive," Ibid says, pointing to the unconscious woman's leather armor, and continues to explain further.

She's wearing a studded leather +2

Bah! Cyrus'd!

Bah! Cyrus'd!

BWAH HA HA HA! Hic!

"Friend Gunari, I once donned the armor of a fallen foe. I have no wish to ... repeat that. Cryus, you are welcome to it, if you are interested."

Once the pathfinders are ready, Finarin moves out with the rest.

Just as the group is about to leave, Ambrus Valsin arrives with several additional agents. ”I managed to conclude the visit, and send the guests on their way. Then I came here soon as I could… What the hell happened here?” the Venture Captain asks.

Responding to Finarin, before the venture captain arrives, Cyrus politely declines the armor.

"Its not really any better than my chain shirt here, and I am a bit partial." he says.

Once the venture captain arrives, Cyrus is found crouched down near the tied up, crazed woman. He turns to look over his shoulder and up at the captain and his compliment of other pathfinder agents.

"We are still trying to figure that out sir. We destroyed a couple of Tumor-ridden beasts, Ibid can tell you in detail what they were. We came in here to investigate further, and found this woman, seemingly possessed. She attacked us after we gave her an opportunity to surrender, so we brought her down. She isn't dead, and as soon as we can bring her around, we should be able to ask some questions. I don't want to speculate too much, but I would guess an experiment went woefully wrong in here..."

"Excellent summary, Cyrus," says a truly impressed Lort, "Yes, Ambrus, whatever experiment was going on down here went very severely wrong. I would hope it wasnt sectioned research! Our initial findings are that it was some kind of alchemical bomb. I guess that makes Miss Smokes - for want of a better name - over here the prime suspect. We could do nothing for the pathfinders who fell victim to the disease completely.

"Oh, and if he hasn't already been treated properly," continues Lort, "I suggest the man who alerted us to this tragedy be cured immediately to prevent his death and any further spread of this ailment.

"So, Ambrus, anything else you'd like to know?" Lort leans casually against a wall, polishing his sword.

”This woman attacked you? She’s Dalva Aiger, one of the researchers here… And you say she’s still alive? Augusto, try to help her” Valsin commands one member of his entourage. The commanded man steps closer, calling divine power to remove diseases. After casting the spell, Augusto studies his patient, shakes his head, and casts another spell. ”That seems to have done it. It was no mundane disease, but remove curse worked” the man reports and casts a healing spell to bring Dalva back to her senses.

”No, no, stay away from here! The disease!!” Dalva awakens, screaming. Then she stops, looks around her and seems to calm down. ”You… you look healthy… Not infected… It was the agents… coming back from Bonekeep… Were infected… Quarantined here.. Suddenly went mad… Attacked everyone..” Dalva tries to tell her story, still weak from the ordeal. ”You must… place me in quarantine… In case the healing was not enough… Best you submit to examination, too… In case infected… The disease maybe a weapon from Bonekeep.. Must not spread..” She continues, looking worried.

”That we don’t want indeed,” comments Valsin after hearing the woman’s story. ”Everyone here is placed in quarantine, immediately. I’ll see you later, agents.”

"See us later? I think not, Ambrus," says Lort casually, "You've been exposed to the same air and toxins we have. If it is to be a quarantine, then you'll need to join us. I, for one, am confident in the remove curse spell. If you say it's not enough, though, I know some games to help you pass the time with us. We'll have some fun."

"Such insolence!" Valsin bursts, turning red. "I think it's time your next mission is to a boarding school to learn some manners and respect for your superiors."

"Very well, I'll join your quarantine, and we'll have a long talk about behaviour!"

"Just looking out for the populace," says Lort, almost apologetically, "The quarantine was your idea. As for the lecture, I had a different kind of endurance test in mind. How long has it been since you've left your desk and exercised those muscles of yours? There are some test dummies in the next room - could be a great opportunity for all of us to get in shape."

Lort remains oblivious to the finer points of politics.

Cyrus bristles at the unveiled rage of the venture captain.

Not very fitting of what we are supposed to take as a leader... to afraid to adhere to your own edicts? Quarantine everyone else but go back to your office and enjoy your wine? I guess I shouldn't talk much, I'm too afraid to say that out loud...

Instead, Cyrus tries to diffuse the situation somewhat, and perhaps take a little bluster out of the captain's rhetoric.

"Ibid and I have actually been to a boarding school before. Creepy place, actually a necropolis now, though we managed to eradicate the evil within. Poor souls, so many children, trapped in eternity, stuck in time. The groundskeeper was so nice though..." Cyrus trails off in thought, remembering another aasimar that caught his attention.

So... angelic...

"Quarantine is it?" Frowning, Finarin looks about. "I will need 2 bottles of ... Chelish red, a balloon goblet, a quill, ink, and a small stack of parchment so I may catch up on ... correspondences." Finarin looks expectantly at the Venture captain, expecting him to command someone about to get the elf's required materials. Turning to Lort, "After your .... exercise, you and I shall have a .... talk. One must lead in, gently."

"Quarantine, is it?" The halfling seems gloomy about the subject, until suddenly a thought occurs to him. He had never had a captive audience before! It might be time to try out some of his more daring songs he composed in all the time spent at sea, listening to the sailors on board.

"My lady has the sea legs!
They're bandy, wide, and sure!
My friends they think she travels much,
But I know the truuuuuth!"

Ohhhhh....she got with a man with enormous girth!
Thick as a limb, long as one too!
Parted her legs like a hot knife through butter,
Till she got the sea legs yeah!"

And of course, it will just get progressively worse.

The old man laughs under his breath at Miro's seemingly vulgar song, not expecting the halfling to sing such a salty ballad.

I wish I had brought a good book with me for some light reading to pass the time, Ibid thinks to himself. Perhaps, Pathfinder Society Journal: Kuru Migration Patterns Due to Shackles Expansion, would have been a good choice... but alas, I've only got my own dull notes to pour over.

"The hell with it," the old man exclaims aloud, probably meaning to keep this outburst to himself, and then begins to laugh.

"It seems we survived another adventure. Finarin, I'll take some of that wine if it shows up.... and let's have another verse, Miro!"

An hour passes, Miro is singing and Valsin is scolding. Finarin gets writing supplies he wished for, but is still waiting for the wine. Finally, the Society researchers confirm none of the agents carry the disease, and they are free to go. Once released, Valsin seems to relax a bit.

"In the past three years, the Pathfinder Society has embarked on as many significant expeditions. We’re about to claim the dwarven sky citadel Jormurdun as our own—a major accomplishment. As you can see, though, these discoveries come at a cost in mortal life, and I need agents who are sharp enough to get the job done, get out alive, and pull out any Pathfinders who aren’t as lucky or capable. Keep up the good work, and you’ll go far. Explore, report, and cooperate,” Valsin quotes as he gives an uncharacteristic, honest smile.

Mission complete. Continuing to the last one later today

After the pathfinders have taken their leave of the captain, Cyrus quips to his companions, "I think I'd rather stare at that statue in seven finger's tomb all day than have to get locked in a room with him again for an hour. Glad that's over..."

I wonder if I should have held back more back there. Dalva, she could have died. I know that bothers me... why doesn't it bother me that in the moment, there was no hesitation? I suppose I did try to hit her with the flat of the blade to start... Maybe that's something.