PbP Gameday IV: 6-97 Siege of Serpents Special [GMTrex Tier 1-2 Normal Mode] (Inactive)

Game Master Andrew Trexler

Sure! They are ectoplasmic humans, a form of undead. You get one question.

Do they have any unusual defenses or resistances?

Besides typical undead traits, they have DR/slashing.

Corrrr... Saluoris curses to himself. Calling out to the party, he cries: "Ectoplasmic humans. They're remenants, we've come too late. Watch it: anything but a slashing attack won't disrupt their form enough."

Wheeling to his skeleton, he orders "Hand me the sword. Then advance and slash the spirits." Dutifully, it obeys and shmables forward as Salouris heads towards the side of the room, longsword back in hand.

At Salouris's information, Hush grumbles and sheaths one of his swords before pulling out a thin wooden wand. Always have to make things difficult...

Move to sheath one weapon, move to draw a wand of cure light wounds.

Daragor curses as he hears Salouris words... his favorite weapon would be useless. He then draws his greataxe and moves sideways.

"Well, let me see what I can do to help..."

Without many options to deal with ghosts, Rimble looks to Antoniollus's backs...

Waiting the ghosts' turn to act.

A trio of ectoplasms ooze forward and attack the party's skeletal minion! The skeleton bobbles out of the way!

Slam @ Skeleton: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 MISS
Slam @ Skeleton: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 MISS
Slam @ Skeleton: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 MISS

The last one heads for Daragor! It's slimy appendage leaves a foul-smelling muck all over his bruised chin.

Slam @ Daragor: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 HIT Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 Make a Will save!

Round II - bold may act!
1. Sidney, Hskoro (21/22hp), Daragor (6/12hp, Will save!), Salouris, Hush
2. Ghosts
3. Rimble (7/9hp, Antoniollus 5/7hp)

The skeleton slashes twice at the Green spectre before him with his claws.

Claw 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 for damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Claw 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16 for damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Meanwhile Salouris lumbers forward himself to strike inexpertly at the Purple enemy.

longsword: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11 for damage: 1d8 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Did Sidney get off a botted fire blast last round?

Hush moves forward beside their skeleton ally, lashing out with his wand. Fighting with a corpse against a corpse, he muses. How odd.

Wand touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Cure light wounds (DC 11 Will half): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
Darn, and that was a good damage roll too.

Did Sidney get off a botted fire blast last round?

Oops, my bad, forgot to bot 'im. Thanks for reminding me!

Sidney trudges into the room. Undead are no friend to the Dawnflower, so he doesn't bother with chastisement. He just burns.

Blast @ Purple: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 4 + 1 = 16 HIT Fire Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Hopefully he's back now so I'll let him post Round II.

Salouris's bony counterpart slashes into the central figure before it, making ribbons out of goop. The creature doesn't quite dissipate, however.

Salouris himself and his companion Hush both advance to strike their own blows, but suddenly feel violently ill! Make a Fortitude save, one each!

Round II - bold may act!
1. Sidney, Hskoro (21/22hp), Daragor (6/12hp, Will save!), Salouris (Fort save!), Hush (Fort save!)
2. Ghosts (Green @ 6dmg, Purple @ 4dmg)
3. Rimble (7/9hp, Antoniollus 5/7hp)

Round 2 Holy Weapon Balm treated arrows
Hskoro fires a 1/10 blessed arrow into the northern ghost Purple
Mk Comp Lg Bow: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 4 = 6 for Piercing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
and Holy: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6 with another Holy: 1d4 ⇒ 2 next round if it fails Ref DC10.
... And the arrow flies by all targets :-(

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

A wad of bile lurches into the back of Salouris's mouth. Sickened for 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds. Hush manages to calm his stomach from behind his mask, although the room's sudden cramping and relaxation certainly wasn't comfortable. Something about that pedestal in the center... Overhead, an arrow from Hskoro whizzes by.

Round II - bold may act!
1. Sidney, Hskoro (21/22hp), Daragor (6/12hp, Will save!), Salouris (sickened [4]), Hush
2. Ghosts (Green @ 6dmg, Purple @ 4dmg)
3. Rimble (7/9hp, Antoniollus 5/7hp)

Will: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

"Argh... why always me?"

Before stepping behind, Daragor tries to hit the creature with his greataxe, even though it is not his favorite way of fighting.

Attack (Greataxe): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Damage (Greataxe): 1d12 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Round 1 GM missed me... :(

Rimble mounts on Antoniollus and draws an alchemist's fire from his bag, "let's go, my friend", he says while his companion starts to fly.

Round 2

The Sorcerer throws his alchemist's fire at the red ghost and draws an acid flask from his bag.

Rgd touch atk: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
Fire Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Every creature within 5 feet of the point where the flask hits takes 1 point of fire damage from the splash.

Antoniollus is protecting himself while his master throws his bombs.

The roc is using the Total Defense action, his AC now is 23.

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Overseer Announcement
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Table GMs – The Restricted Library [Area E1] is now CODE YELLOW

Round 1 GM missed me... :(

I didn't, you just go after the baddies for Round I. It's an imperfect way of marking what round it is. I will hold your Round II action until after the ghosts.

Daragor doesn't let the ooze faze him! His axe makes a wide arc well over his target's head, however. Behind him, Rimble takes to the air!

Sidney-bot burns away at one purple ghost! The creature dissolves in the fiery embrace!

Burn @ Purple: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 1 = 23 HIT Damage (Fire): 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

The ghosts try to envelop their targets in their phlegmatic forms. The skeleton's limp jaw proves too distracting. Unfortunately, Cyclops appears tastier. He goes down from the blow. The blue form turns to Hush...

Slam @ Skeleton: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13 MISS
Slam @ Skeleton: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 MISS
Daragor: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17 HIT Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Seeking revenge, Rimble sets fire to the center red foe! The contact heat is enough to destroy the green one to its north!

Round III - bold may act!
1. Sidney, Hskoro (21/22hp), Daragor (-1/12hp, bleeding out, unconscious), Salouris (sickened [3]), Hush
2. Ghosts (Red @ 6dmg)
3. Rimble (7/9hp, Antoniollus 5/7hp)

Bringing his other sword to bear, Hush strikes with the wand in one hand and his sword in the other.

Wand touch: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Shortsword: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Some crap-tastic rolls right there.

Salouris' skeleton mindlessly claws at the red Phantom before him.

claw 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 for damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
claw 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 for damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Meanwhile, the elf hacks to himself as bile builds in his throat. Seeing his colleague fall, he makes his way towards him, drawing out his healing wand as he does so.

Move action to draw a CLW wand, then move action to...move

Round 3 Holy Weapon Balm treated arrows
Hskoro fires a 2/10 blessed arrow into the northern ghost Purple
Mk Comp Lg Bow: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 5 - 4 = 15 for Piercing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4
and Holy: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 3) = 4 with another Holy: 1d4 ⇒ 2 next round if it fails Ref DC10.

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Overseer Announcement
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Table GMs – The Tapestry Room [Area E3] is now CODE YELLOW

Much to his surprise, Hush actually connects with his wand! The jolt of energy begins to unravel the foe, just in time for Hskoro to land a holy-infused missile and obliterate it!

Salouris's companion has less luck with the last target. Sidney circles around and blasts at it and reduces it to ash.

Blast @ Red: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 = 24 HIT Damage (Fire): 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

Stabilize: 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 1 = 15

Meanwhile, Cyclops stops bleeding out! Salouris eventually stops feeling sick, too.

Out of initiative!

Status:
Daragor (-1/12hp)
Hskoro (21/22hp)
Rimble (7/9hp, Antoniollus 5/7hp)
Everybody else is full

It's evident that the Sky Key is not here. Descend to the archives, or up to the Tapestry chamber?

Hacking out the remainder of the queasiness, Salouris applies some healing to Daragor.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Looking up at his colleagues Assuming searching the room quickly turns up nothing he speaks with a concerned tone.

"We're too late here. But if that...ghost's?... words were true then this disturbance may increase until we can shut the tapestry down. Farabellus said Aram Zey may have written notes describing how to disable it, correct? Perhaps we should make haste to the archives to see if we can learn his methods."

My suggestion would be to hit the archives first. Could have a better shot then at the Tapestry.

I have a doubt: are we still in the red area?

"Argh... thanks Salouris... how many times I'll get hit until the day is over?"

Daragor gets up and draws his crossbow again.

"Agreed, so, to the archives?"

Though he managed to hit with it, Hush stashes his wand back into his belt and draws his other sword. Much better. He didn't like fighting with the wand; the balance was all wrong. He nods to the others. The archives.

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Archivesss ... yesss."

@ Rimble: you are now leaving a Red zone to go to a yellow, all within Skyreach, but there's only one encounter per area for this go round.

The party decides on the Archives and begins barreling down a long-spiral staircase. A few turns down they run smack into another Pathfinder crew and exchange Pathfinder hand signs to verify identities.

"Brewer Entmont," nods one of the pack. "Where you headed?"

"Archives!"

Entmont shakes his head. "Just came from there. Bloody mess. Aspis be dead, tho'."

"Where are you off to, then?"

"Tapestry."

"So are we, then!"

The larger group turns around and heads back up the stairs, climbing toward the Tapestry chamber mid-way up Skyreach's vertical expanse. However, after just a few turns past the floor for the Sky Key, a door opens and a scree of screaming Serpents comes pouring out, splitting the party and their new companions. "Get to the Tapestry! We'll handle this lot!"

Apologies for rail-roading, but there's an important revelation in the Tapestry Chamber and I don't think we'll get through all three encounters. Speaking of...

The Pathfinders hurry up the steps and then through a network of hallways, taking out a Serpent here and there. 10 minutes pass. Salouris, your minion has returned to dust. Finally, they burst into room host to the famed Hao Jin Tapestry: a table at the center of the room is completely contained within a rune-inscribed circle set into the floor, and atop the table lies a Kelishite man’s body, spread-eagled and bloodstained. At the far end of the chamber hangs a ragged tapestry torn down its center. A peaceful wood with trampled undergrowth is visible through the tear, though the tapestry clearly hangs against a solid wall. Four syrinx circle the table, chanting in jubilation, "Aram Zey is dead! At long last, our jailer is dead!" They turn, weapons drawn, and screech in their avian tongue, "PATHFINDERS!!!"

Round I - bold may act!
1. Salouris, Daragor (10/12hp), Hskoro (21/22hp), Hush, Sidney, Rimble (7/9hp, Antoniollus 5/7hp)
2. Syrinx

Note on map/terrain: the grey circles are solid columns. The ceiling is 20 feet high. The tapestry hangs on the far wall, with a rift down the center.

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Overseer Announcement
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Table GMs - The Sky Key Chamber [Area E2] is now CODE YELLOW

Salouris moves and draws out his crossbow, then fires at the closest (yellow) Syrinx. "What have you done with Zey!?" he cries out at his bolt speeds out.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23 for damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Daragor enters the room and fires his crossbow at the closest target (red).

"You will pay for this!"

Attack (Heavy Crossbow), deadly aim, point-blank shot: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 - 1 + 1 = 10
Damage(Heavy Crossbow), deadly aim, point-blank shot: 1d10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5

Aram Zey... dead? It can'tbe... Swords flashing, Hush closes to the first creature and strikes.

Shortsword vs red: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Round 1 Raging HP 25 AC -2; Charging AC -2
"Time to get angry!"
Hskoro draws his Urgosh, then charges yellow in a rage (1/8)
Urgosh: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 = 17 for Slashing: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Rimble just don't believes that corpse is really Aram Zey.

"Aw, c'mon, it's just an illusion!", he thought.

Will (disbelief illusion): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Mounted on Antoniollus, the gnome flies up near to one of the pillars, using it as cover and shoots a bolt against the blue Syrinx.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 161d6 ⇒ 3

Rimble doesn't perceive any illusion! His shot is accurate, though, as the missile from Salouris and Hush's slice. Hskoro barrels toward a foe and cuts the bird down with a single strike!

Cyclops is thrown off by poor depth perception and his shot flies high. Sidney steps in front of Salouris and sends a wave of fire at a bird in the back.

Blast @ Green: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 4 + 1 = 18 HIT Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

Hush's target steps away and points a commanding finger at him! "Flee in the face of our victory!" it screeches. Will save!

The other two avians take wing, one charging for Rimble and his mount. A heavy quarterstaff finds only air!

Charge @ Rimble: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10 MISS

The final foe flies above Aram Zey's blood-stained body. "Come to trap us in your prison again, Pathfinders?! I THINK NOT!" A pulse of pain passes through the group... Negative Energy: 1d6 ⇒ 5 DC 12 Will save for half!

Round I - bold may act!
1. Salouris (12[15]/17hp), Daragor (5[8]/12hp), Hskoro (16[19]/22hp), Hush (12[15]/17hp), Sidney (18[21]/23hp), Rimble (2[5]/9hp, Antoniollus 0[3]/7hp)
2. Syrinx (Red @ 3dmg, Blue @ 3dmg, Green @ 7dmg, Yellow)

Will: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Great, more of these... Salouris thinks to himself as he braces from the wave of negative energy. Reloading his bow, he fires a s~&# at the Red Syrinx.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 for damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Will vs spell: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Will vs channel energy: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

Great... why couldn't those have been the other way around...

Run! I have to RUN! a voice in Hush's head cries.

It's a spell, dimwit, another part of him says. Fight it!

But it was too late. Of their own accord, his legs turn about and run in the opposite direction. He barely maintains enough control over his fingers not to drop his own swords.

Round 2 Raging 2/8 HP 23/26 AC -2
Will DC12: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14
Hskoro attacks green
Urgosh: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 for Slashing: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Salouris plugs a syrinx on the far side of the room! Hush runs away, avoiding a quarterstaff by pure accident! Just one round. It will take a second round to get back to where you were.

Quarterstaff AoO @ Hush: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13 MISS

Hskoro clambers atop the table to reach at the syrinx flying high above. He reaches up, hooks the airborne enemy, and yanks. A shower of blood is his reward, and the avian crashes to the tabletop.

Round I - bold may act!
1. Salouris (12/17hp), Daragor (5[8]/12hp), Hskoro (23/26*hp), Hush (15/17hp), Sidney (18[21]/23hp), Rimble (2[5]/9hp, Antoniollus 0[3]/7hp)
2. Syrinx (Red @ 7dmg, Blue @ 3dmg, Green, Yellow)

Daragor? Sidney? Rimble?

Rimble's Will DC 12: 1d20 ⇒ 9 2 hp
Antoniollus's Will DC 12: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18 3 hp

Rimble was more damaged than Antoniollus with the pulse of negative energy.

"Let's get back to our friends, Antoniollus. In safe!", told the gnome while reloading his crossbow.

Antoniollus will withdraw.

Will (DC 12): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Daragor saw the black energy washing over him, but he managed to resist it. Once again he aimed at an enemy and let loose a bolt.

Attacking the Blue one.

Attack (Heavy Crossbow), deadly aim, point-blank shot: 1d20 + 5 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 1 + 1 = 16
Damage (Heavy Crossbow), deadly aim, point-blank shot: 1d10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 1 = 13

Daragor sends a powerful shot at the blue syrinx, dropping it to the floor! Rimble beats a quick retreat just in time for Sidney to finish off the final foe!

Sidney (Will): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20 SUCCESS

Blast @ Red: 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 1 = 14 HIT Damage (Fire): 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

Out of initiative!

Status:
Daragor 8/12hp
Hskoro 19/22hp
Hush 15/17hp
Salouris 12/17hp
Sidney 21/23hp
Rimble 2/9hp, Antoniollus 3/7hp
One ripped Tapestry

Once the last avian falls, Salouris rushes over to the fallen body. It certainly looks like the Master of Spells, but magic is nothing if not capable of unexpected twists.

The elf utters a quick incantation to himself, then uses his finger to take a congealing drop of blood from the Kelishite and brings it to his lips.

Salouris is using his ability to cast Blood Biography on the corpse. It should get him 1) The man's name; 2) What the man is; 3) A brief synopsis of how he died as best he can remember; and 4) When he dies.

Hush returns to the room, a bit annoyed with himself at having succumbed to the bird-man's magic. You've trained for that. He looks at Zey's body.

Heal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

-Posted with Wayfinder

"Good job, buddies", says Rimble to the others.

"Can somebody provide some heal for me and Antoniollus, please?", he asked to his fellows.

Once they are healed, Rimble will check the body to see if he is dying or dead.

Heal: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (5) - 2 = 3

Hush determines the man to be dead, no more than a few hours. An etching writes itself into the table:

ARAM ZEY

MASTER OF SPELLS

FELL IN BATTLE WITH SERPENTS

TODAY