PbP Gameday VII - #7-21: The Sun Orchid Scheme - GM Nowruz (Inactive)

Game Master noral

”HOOO!” Bobby warns

Fuzzzy scratches his beard. ”Auw. Are you sure? Well, alright! I fight it is, then.”

When the secret door magically opens Ruslo chuckles. "Nice job, old man." Ruslo quickly puts his tools away and follows his reckless friend into the room. Knowing the altar is going to attack he has the adamantine morningstar already in his hands and ready to swing. He's right beside Fuzzzy when Fuzzzy grabs the vial....

The little plant people tightly grip their spears, waiting to see what happens.

The altar holding the fake vials is an animated object programmed to kill any intruders. You know that the altar cannot be controlled, but anybody holding a glowing vial draws its attacks above any other potential targets in the area.

Dylph is the first who sees the true from of the construct come alive.

ROUND 1

1. Dylph -> GO!
2. Altar
3. Ranus, Fuzzy, Lady Naysha, Ruslo, Suna

GM: Looking for a place to move and fire from with a good line of sight. I'm assuming the construct is the 'X" in the corner next to Fuzzzy...how high is the altar? Could Dylph fire over it?

The Altar is the A on the map! See legend. ;-)

Oops, my bad GM...should've remembered what they say about making assumptions...

Dylph takes a couple of quick shots, using blunt arrows, at the altar...

Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 13 (vs. flat-footed AC?)

Damage+Sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 + (3, 4) = 11

Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 26 (vs. flat-footed AC?)

Damage+Sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 + (6, 1) = 13

"'Ware the altar!"

ROUND 1

2. Altar

The altar is caught flat-footed but nonetheless the first arrow does not hit. The second arrow on the other pierces one of constructs legs but you all witness how hard it is.

The animated object ignores Dylph and concentrates on Fuzzy.

slam 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 211d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7, (plus trip if hit)
slam chain trip: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

slam 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 221d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3, (plus trip if hit)
slam chain trip: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

It uses its chains to hit Fuzzy right in the abdomen and then successfully trips him. The moment Fuzzy lands on the floor a second chain slams into his torso!

3. Ranus, Fuzzy, Lady Naysha, Ruslo, Suna -> GO!

* * *

ROUND 2

1. Dylph -> GO!

Altar: 8 damage

Fuzzy: 8/18 HP, prone

Dylph takes a couple more shots at the altar...

Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 15

Damage+Sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 5

Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 8

Damage+Sneak: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 4

Forgot to include the +1 Magic damage last attack...

Dylph's arrow hits the altar but it is just reflected due to the hardness of the object.

Noted 1 more damage from last attack.

Altar: 9 damage

Fuzzy: 8/18 HP, prone

Ranus swings his scimitar in a two handed power attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 - 1 = 7
Damage, cold iron slashing: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 = 10

Apek dutifully attacks his companion's foe, even if it seems stupid to attack a rock.

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

He is as off-target as Ranus however

The little plant people pelt the altar with their spears.
Suna throw: 1d20 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 1 - 4 = 4
Sita throw: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 2 - 4 = 11

Lady Naysha waves her arms around and calls something out loud in the creepy language.

Casting summon minor monster. Takes one full round.

"Ooof! You'll pray for that!" Fuzzzy groans. "Silly cabinet! you're supposed to hold my socks, not attack me!"

He waggles his finger as he stands up. "Bad cabinet! Cut that out!"

He takes a step back.

"Pay for that! ...Attack me! ...Cut that out!" the hat echoes. It seems confused.

"Hoooooo..." Bobby groans.

Ruslo swings his adamantine morningstar at the altar!

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Adamantine Bludgeoning Piercing Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

"Hey! Over here! Come on, you hunk of junk! Come and get me!"

With his off hand Ruslo pulls out a vial of acid. "Light it up!" Ruslo urges his pals.

Anyone want to light up my acid so it attacks me instead of Fuzzzy?

Fuzzy, was taking a step back your only action?

None of the Pathfinders except of Dylph can penetrate the Altar‘s defenses.

ROUND 2

2. Altar

The animated object cannot reach Fuzzy and moves over to him!

Ruslo and Ranus have AoOs vs the altar.

The altar tries to immobilise Fuzzy!

slam 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 241d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 , (plus trip if hit)
slam chain trip: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

slam 2: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 241d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8 , (plus trip if hit)
slam chain trip: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

It uses its chains to slam into Fuzzy twice and the shock is too great for the wizard’s body ... Fuzzy sinks to the ground unconscious.

3. Ranus, Lady Naysha, Ruslo, Suna -> GO!

* * *

ROUND 2

1. Dylph -> GO!

Altar: 9 damage

Fuzzy: -4/18 HP, dying, stabilisation needed

Suna moves a bit, and then reaches down to try to stabilize Fuzzy.

heal: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Ranus takes his AoO and then he and Apek step up so they can attack.

Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 1 = 5
Damage, cold iron slashing: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 3 = 12

Attack: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 - 1 = 9
Damage, cold iron slashing: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 3 = 10

sigh....

Apek also takes his AoO and then attacks on their turn.

Attack of Opportunity: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16
Damage, cold iron slashing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Bite: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Crit Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

Hey that might work! Potentially one hit for 7 and another for 20. Go go dinosaur!

Fuzzzy also stood up that turn. Then he took a step back. Although I think he forgot taking a step back was a free action.

How Many?: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Suddenly three tiny celestial rabbits appear around the altar as if by magic! They try to bite the altar!

Bite 1: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (2) - 2 = 0
For 1 damage!

Bite 2: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (4) - 2 = 2
For 1 damage!

Bite 3: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (15) - 2 = 13
For 1 damage!

But mostly they just get in the way. Lady Naysha seems very proud of them! Then she steps forward carefully and casts a spell on Fuzzzy.

Concentration to Cast Defensively if I need to: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Healing Fuzzzy: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

I only have 14 hp, not 18, so I was at -8 hp, not -4. But after the healing he is at -3. Also: NOOOOOOO!

Bobby hoots very angrily! "HOOOOOOOOT!"

He grabs the glowing vial from Fuzzzy's pocket and tosses it at Lady Naysha with his beak.

Sita comes behind Lady Naysha, ready to grab the vial and leave the room as soon as Lady Naysha can hand it to her.

Dylph fires twice more at the altar/construct...

Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 20

Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8

Shortbow: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 21

Damage: 1d6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 8

Ruslo swings his adamantine morningstar at the construct as it moves over to Fuzzzy.

AoO: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Adamantine Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

---

When Fuzzzy falls unconscious Ruslo leaps into the fray, swinging his morningstar and shouting angrily. "NOOOO! Stay away from HIM!" (Making the altar my studied target as a move action, then attacking).

Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 1 = 17
Adamantine Bludgeoning Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9

You were all shocked to see Fuzzy fall ... but the determination to save your ally drove you to hit and hit and hit the altar so hard that you see it sink back to the wall and ... stop moving!

You won! ;) What do you do now?

Suna tries to detect magic on the vials. She knows they are not the actual elixer, but she thinks she remembers being told that the substitutes were supposed to be magical, too. It's possible that the vials on the altar were a double layer of fake.

Suna immediately realises that all vials are magical.

No further vials than those you see can be felt through detect magic.

Suna nods and conveys her conclusions to the others. "If you are done looking around here, we should report our conclusions."

Was that the vials from the secret compartment too? Also:

Fuzzzy still lays unconscious....

Bobby hoots loudly and flaps his wings around!

"HOOOOOOOT HOOOOOOT!"

Lady Naysha quickly passes off the vial, then she hurries over to Fuzzzy. She pokes him with a magic wand. "I'm a healer," she tells everyone.

Healing Fuzzzy: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Healing Fuzzzy: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Fuzzzy is at 13/14 now.

"There! You're welcome." Then she puts away her wand and quickly cuddles the bunnies before they vanish! "I'll miss you! And I'll miss you! And I'll miss YOU, too! Auwwwww! My cuties! You are so cute! Oh! You are gone."

The rabbits vanish in a puff of sparkles.

"Good job, Miss Whiskers! Thanks for summoning those for me!"

Lady Naysha collects her things and helps get Fuzzzy out of here.

Was that the vials from the secret compartment too? Also:

Fuzzzy still lays unconscious....

The vials openly visible were fake. The vial Fuzzy retrieved is the one you seek.

Where to now?

Ruslo helps Fuzzzy up to his feet. "Hey, Old Man. You had me worried." He grins, then he pats Bobby on the head, ruffling his feathers. "Good job, Bobby."

Ruslo leads the group out of the transport and -- if they can -- high tails it out of the area so they can go report to their boss.

As they leave the transport, Dylph keeps a sharp eye out for any signs of the Aspis...

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Ranus looks for signs of anyone approaching as well.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Almost as soon as the elixir is back in your hand you get out of the transport, triumphantly.

The group makes their way back into the desert.

One Hour Later

********************* TRIUMPH *********************

Soon after, the group arrives at their rendezvous point with Lady Ziralia.

"Congratulations, Pathfinders! Lady Glorianna was right to recommend you, and she certainly is well on her way to gaining my trust. However, your suspicions that another team was spying on the convoy was correct. The agents I hired to monitor the heist spotted another team lurking around the route. I hope they're merely travelers lost in the desert, but I'd like you to discreetly track them back to their camp and catch them off-guard. You can wait to make a full report of the weaknesses you discovered until after you've dealt with these potential thieves. Do you want to go now our during nightfall?"

There are two options here. The other group can be easily tracked back to their camp during the day. Alternatively you can wait until nightfall.

"Apek and I aren't so great at seeing in the dark. Plus his scent might help the sooner we get on their trail."

Dylph shrugs. "I prefer the cover of darkness as we have a better chance of surprise and I think I can follow these tracks by night...but then again, I see well in the dark. If the rest of you have trouble seeing at night, then we should follow the tracks now..."

"Little Sister and I can see in the dark, but if not everyone can, we agree that moving in the daytime would be better."

Fuzzzy grins.

Daytime please.

"Come along then! Let's go."

"Bobby? Where are we going again?"

"Daytime? Oh, I love daytime. That's a great time to do things. Nighttime is for sleeping, you know."

Fuzzzy nods wisely.

"You know." the hat tells Fuzzzy.

Fuzzzy grins. "Come along then! Let's go."

"Bobby? Where are we going again?"

"Going again!"