For years a Pathfinder team has surveyed Qadira’s Zho Mountains in an attempt to reconcile its twisting valleys with a series of old maps recovered years ago on the Silken Way. When the team disappears soon after reporting a strange illusory effect in a mountain pass, the Society sends the PCs—funded by an unusual benefactor—to uncover whatever is hidden in those peaks and rescue the agents.
Lem's exuberant confidence isn't wrong, as despite feeling off his game August lands most of his blows. In three quick jabs, the laughing ifrit stops laughing and starts napping.
The second guard certainly isn't laughing as the first drops, and calls back to the woman as he cautiously strikes at August. "I certainly wish I had some cover here!"
The woman for her part takes a step towards him and makes a few quick motions and mutters while trying to avoid the cat of the elf's response.
Concentration:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
A biillowing cloud of mist and fog erupts out from around her, engulfing her and the other ifrit in an Obscuring Mist.
Hey, that's the name of the spell!
Initiative Haste is up
Inspire courage is up.
August -27hp
Ifrit woman -22hp
Green ifrit, hasted -29 hp
Red ifrit, unconscious Amiri
Talevia
Lem
Jarlaxle
Neha
Arthac
Lem continues his banter about the unlikely escapades of Wet Noodle, the sodden Ifrit.
Free action maintain Inspire Courage
He moves 20' and squints to make certain that's an ifrit at the edge of the mist, and then tells the hilarious story of how an ifrit fell over and laughed himself unconscious.
Standard action, cast Hideous Laughter on green. DC: 16 Will save, but gets +4 on save if non-humanoid.
Since green is at the edge, he has partial concealment, but can vaguely be seen (i.e. targeted), right? If not, then Lem will take a second move, going 3 diagonals NE assuming N is up (i.e. 20' of movement)
Current Buffs: Party::Haste, Inspire Courage +2
+3 to hit (+1 Haste +2 competence)
+2 competence bonus to damage
+1 AC & Reflex Saves
+2 Morale bonus on saves v fear and charm
Amiri & Lem: +2 Morale on all attacks, saves and skill checks
Dupine smiles when he sees the mist, believing his opponents just gave him another advantage. He skirts around the edge of vision to close in on the woman (I think red and green are both down, right?), flanking with the cat.
Female Human Druid 5; HP 33/33; AC 20 (t 11, ff 19); F +6, R +3, W +10; CMD 16; Spd 20 ft.; Init +1; Perc +13
Neha reloads her sling with another magic stone and moves to the edge of the mist, listening for combat. Arthac still sees the female ifrit, and presses his attack.
Neha: move to reload, move to edge of mist. Arthac: full attack.
You can make attacks of opportunity through partial concealment, just not total.
August tumbles forwards, trying to get around the mage to try and knock her out. His movements are clumsier than normal, but a key bite from Arthac distracts her long enough for the monk to also land a blow (both claws miss however).
Badly injured, the woman steps back into the mists and disappears. Her position is somewhat easy to guess however as a bead of flame shoots through the fog and erupts behind Jarlaxle. The half-elf, monk, and cat find themselves engulfed in flames.
FIREBALL! fire damage:7d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 3, 4, 3, 4) = 22 August, Arthac, and Jaraxle can make a DC 20 Reflex save for half. Also, fire damage, so resistance will reduce it further.
Initiative Haste up
Insprie Courage (+2) up
August -27hp, need REFLEX Ifrit woman -22hp Green ifrit
Red ifrit Amiri
Talevia
Lem
Jarlaxle, need REFLEX
Neha
Arthac, need REFLEX
Female Human Druid 5; HP 33/33; AC 20 (t 11, ff 19); F +6, R +3, W +10; CMD 16; Spd 20 ft.; Init +1; Perc +13
Reflex (Arthac, 60 points fire protection):1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 Remaining protection: 38 points Should that fireball burn away some of the obscuring mist? Even if not, Arthac can still detect her by scent, but if it does then Neha can also take a shot at her. I'm going to write out my action as though Neha can see the spellcaster because of the mist burning away.
Neha, seeing the spellcaster emerge from the fog, flings her second magic stone at her. Arthac's magical ward absorbs the fire damage, leaving him unscathed as he presses his relentless attack.
As the fireball does indeed burn away some of the mist, the Pathfinders regroup and strike back. Taking blows from Gamin, claws, bites, and fist, she slumps down, unconscious.
Lem whips out his wand of CLW and starts healing the party.
Just roll your own die for CLW. 16 charges left in the wand. Use them all up first.
Once the party has searched the bodies and is ready to open the door, Lem will cast extended Haste again. "No time for subtelty. Just roll right through her remaining forces and bring 'em down fast and hard."
Looks like 6 charges. Is this a scenario wand? If not, I am happy to use my own, but if it is a freebee, I'll take it.
After healing and regrouping a bit, August concurs with Lem. "Yep, now point in wasting time, let's be on with it."
He moves up to the door to listen, check for traps, disable if any are found and unlock the door if that is necessary too. "Hey, check those guys in case they have any left over potions or such, and disarm them too. I think they'll all survive and wake up eventually."
Female Human Druid 5; HP 33/33; AC 20 (t 11, ff 19); F +6, R +3, W +10; CMD 16; Spd 20 ft.; Init +1; Perc +13
Neha calls Arthac back to her side and loads her final magic stone into her sling. "A spellcaster, yes, but not an efreeti. This is not Tygora. Keep your wits about you." She works her way to each of the ifrits and tries to stabilize them if they are still alive.
As August heals himself, Neha tries to at least stabilize the fallen. Two of them seem knocked out but breathing. Amiri's target...less so.
One of those cases where one hit drops them very low but not out, then the next kills outright
August listens at the door behind the unconscious caster. He does not hear any movement of noises from the other side, though he does still her yells and clanging from behind him down the path into Crystalcrag. A tentative twist of the handle shows the door does not seem to be locked.
Patting down the dropped guards, the warriors each have a sharp +1 scimitar, and a quarter of knives to go with their chain shirts and bucklers. The woman is armorless and unarmed except for a mundane but well-made dagger. She does however have a glistening cloak and a nice ruby ring.
Cloak of Resistance +1, ring of protection +1
"It would have been too good to be true had that been Tygora." Talevia says, moving into the room to meet up with the rest of her companions. "That would not have been a very interesting tale for Bards to tell. Through the doors then?"
"Indeed. And let's move quickly. This is my final Haste spell, so waste no time searching rooms for loot. We must find and defeat Tygora as quickly as possible. Ready?"
As soon as the party is prepared to go in, Lem will cast an Extended Haste.
14 rounds of Haste. Remember doubles movement rate as well, up to +30' enhancement
Lem cast a spell and the door is thrust open, to reveal:
A large chamber decorated wall-to wall in elaborate tapestries and artwork. Many of them show a large and regal efreeti woman striking down her enemies before adoring forces, but some appear simply to be rare and detailed pieces of artwork depicting flames and mountains.
Two large solid bronze columns flank a set of brass double doors set into the northern wall, and short hallways extend to the east and west.
"Pick a door. Open it. Gogogo!"
Worst Inspire Courage Perform Oratory, EVER! Move action
Readies an action to follow whomever takes the lead moves up to 40' following party
Round 1/14 of Haste
Party Buffs: +3 to hit (Haste & +2 competence)
+2 competence bonus to damage
+2 Morale bonus on saves v fear and charm
Amiri & Lem: +2 Morale on all attacks, saves and skill checks
Augus steps in, and seeing no one around, quickly checks the double doors for sound or if locked.
Perception:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26
Having a speed of 80 right now, he is able to zoom to each door and check pretty well. So here are more perception checks to see if we can avoid too much delay.
Perception North hall - doors back west:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27 Perception North hall - doors North:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33 Perception North hall - doors Easst:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 33
Perception South doors to west:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22 Perception South hall - doors South :1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22 Perception South hall - doors Easst:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27
Each active perception check is a separate move action, i.e. takes 1 round: move to door (move action), make perception (move action), end of round. Don't think we want one person taking the time to check all the doors. Too much time. If you want us to check all the doors, each person should pick a door.
Let's say a round to move up, check the door for traps (August thinks it looks fine), and dramatically burst it open:
The party races forward between the statues and throws the set of double-doors open. They swing into a magnificent throne room, with bronze walls sweeping out to the east and west. The chamber is decorated with metallic mosaics that seem to shimmer and glow with their own incandescence. The throne itself is a large chiseled mass of obsidian, and it rests upon a solid brass dais shaped like a fiery sun.
Seated atop it is a large efreeti, bedecked in fine crimson armor studded with emeralds while a crown adorns her head. Two winged imp-like creatures flit about the chamber near her. Against the back wall, you see four bruised figures standing, their arms bound in front of them. Three - a dwarf man, a human woman, and a half-elf man - have Wayfinders hung around their necks. The fourth is a middle-aged oread.
As you open the doors, the efreeti woman sits up in her chair but allows you to approach for a moment before holding up a hand to halt. She then gives three. Slow. Claps.
So. We meet at last I am Tygora Cinderfury, 7th of the Sultana's Pyre, Savior of Crystalcrag. And yet despite your inferior forms you have achieved much in a day here. For the moment. I have not caught your names however: it would be rude to negotiate even with rivals without some formalities and respect.
Sense Motive:1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 2 = 27
If Lem gets any hint she's stalling/lying/hiding anything at all, he'll yell out: "She's stalling! Take her down before reinforcements can arrive!" I realize Lem may not know what she's trying to hide, but he's looking for an excuse.
If Lem detects no sign of prevarication, he says, "I am Lem, and these are my stalwart companions. You are the Tyrant of Crystalcrag. Step down, order all your troops to cease immediately cease all hostilities, and free all who you've enslaved and imprisoned, and you may leave unmolested with only what you first brought with you to Crystalcrag. Failing that, you will be removed from your throne of tyranny." Diplomacy:1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 15 + 2 = 28
And that's how you Inspire Courage, Perform Oratory.
Party:Haste, 12 rounds
+3 to hit (Haste & +2 competence bonus)
+2 Competence bonus to damage
+2 Morale bonus on saves v fear and charm
Amiri & Lem: +2 Morale on all attacks, saves and skill checks
Dupine looks around the room as Lem speaks, and then says "August Dupine, ma'am. We need not kill anyone here, but it is time for you to renounce your claim on the throne. We are here to help you fight past that pride, and do the right thing."
Neha begins whipping her sling around as Arthac snarls at Tygora. "We are not here to entertain the schemes of a warmongering despot. As my comrade says, you have but one option: surrender your ill-gotten throne and depart these lands for good. You have one chance to agree to our terms peacefully, before we decide to better the world at large by permanently expunging you from it."
Talevia still held her bow low, and several arrows clutched close. Her eyes darted about the room, looking for any threats beyond what was obvious in front of them.
Using Detect Evil on the Efreeti
"Tygora Cinderfury. I am Talevia of the Pathfinder Society. My companion Lem has delivered our terms. We would rather resolve this without any unnecessary bloodshed, but as our actions can attest, we are able to respond in kind if provoked. I'm sure that some mutual agreement can be reached.
Pathfinders then. Of course. You are not the first of your legion to come here. The efreeti gestures towards three of the figures standing against the back wall.
As you can see, they are unharmed, mostly. As the guardain of this village I offer protection for the oreads within, and the includes from invaders like you. If you had not intruded, there would be no quarrel.
She looks at the loaded and moving weapons around her. And you are proving my concern tenfold! Jumping to violence, thinking that after an hour or two you have the right to shatter the stability of this town that has lasted for centuries! I see the years have not made mortals any less impetuous and impulsive.
Lem, Neha, and everyone else who makes a DC 15 Sense Motive check:
You notice Barnaby - the half-elf - wiggling his bound hands in an oddly measured way: the Pathfinder hand signals you all learned in training! These types of symbols are only useful for simple messages, but this one seems simple enough: 'TRAP'
Tygora stands up, towering in her full 12-foot frame. You insist I step down, leaving with only what I brought with me? I brought this town with me! Restored through my might, my benevolence! But perhapsmy subjects have come to take my power for granted. Well, after this perhaps they will understand Tygora's authority is absolute!
While some very nice rolls up above, ultimately she is not willing to actually peacefully give up power, you are not willing to let her remain in charge, and both of you are saavy and sense motivey enough to realize that. So...
Tygora takes to the air with a roar of fury as she draws out her massive scimitar. Pointing one hand at Lem, three fiery bolts shoot out at the halfling. Then, a roaring wall of flame erupts around Lem, August and Jarlaxle, even as waves of heat blast the rest of the party.
Scorching Ray touch attack:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 for fire damage:4d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 2, 1) = 9 touch attack:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29 for fire damage:4d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 1, 3) = 11 touch attack:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (10) + 12 = 22 for fire damage:4d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 5, 2) = 10
And Wall of fire. August/Lem/Jarlaxle you can choose to be on either side of it: for the rest the opaque wall is blocking view of Tygora: and the other Pathfinders.
Wall of Fire (in it):2d6 + 11 ⇒ (2, 6) + 11 = 19 Wall of Fire near it:2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7
Initiative
[ooc]Haste up for all
Inspire Courage +2 up for all
Tygora Jarlaxle -9hp
Neha -7hp
Talevia -7hp
Arthac -7hp Fire flying thing
August -19hp
Amiri -7hp
Flying fire thing
Lem -49hp
All damage so far has been fire damage, so reduce if you have any resistance to that up. I know Jarlaxle has some (accounted for above): I may have missed others
Female Human Druid 5; HP 33/33; AC 20 (t 11, ff 19); F +6, R +3, W +10; CMD 16; Spd 20 ft.; Init +1; Perc +13
Neha's magical wards shield both her and her animal companion from the roaring flames. She holds up her shield arm, revealing the holly berries clutched in her fist, and cries out, "Your unclean fire shall harm these good people no longer!" She commands Arthac to attack before speaking a druidic prayer and releasing a surge of divine power.
Move action to Handle Animal (take 10) on Arthac to attack the nearest fire thing, standard to cast quench on the blue squares, affecting Tygora, both fire creatures, the wall of fire, the central sigil, and the rear platform. Was a 32 Perception enough to see the trap? If so I'd like to catch that in the area too if it's possible.
Arthac: full-round to charge the blue fire thing. He knows he has fire protection, so he'll go through the wall of fire (although he'll take more damage off his protection from it).
Dispel vs. Wall of Fire:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 Quench damage (Tygora):5d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 4, 6, 5) = 19 Quench damage (Green fire thing):5d6 ⇒ (6, 3, 5, 1, 5) = 20 Quench damage (Blue fire thing):5d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 6, 3, 2) = 13 Dispel vs. Trap with Fire Spell Effect? (just in case):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Arthac's fire protection: 31 points remaining. No damage to Neha from fire resistance 10. If the wall of fire blocks her line of affect so she can't hit that area, Neha will use her standard action to move past the wall but away from Tygora first and try quench next round instead.
The wall does block line of sight, but I'm going to rule not line of effect here. Wall of Fire is a weird spell, but it is not solid and you did see the room before it erupted. Not 100% sure I'm right in this ruling but I'll allow it. (But watch yourself Counselor)
As Tyogra sprang off her throne, Neha thought she noticed pressure plates underneath each of the other Pathfinders and the oread, pressure plates that seemed to be connected to some sort of explosive material.
As the wall emerges before her, the druid concentrates and drenches the room in water. While the wall stays (as do the pressure plates) and she can't see the results of her actions, Lem, August and Jarlaxle see all three fiery figure writhe in pain.
One flying imp-thing drops outright, shriveled on the ground. The other remains hovering off the ground just long enough for a charging Arthac to maul it further. It stands, barely.
Initiative Haste up for all
Inspire Courage +2 up for all
Tygora -19hp Jarlaxle -9hp Neha Talevia -7hp Arthac 14 fire protection remaining
Fire flying thing August -19hp
Amiri -7hp Blue Flying fire thing -18hp
Lem -49hp
Also, Know Planes of efreeti and the other thing (one each)
Talevia, out of instinct, stepped back from the wall of flames, to stand on the other side of the open doors. She lightly touched a necklace bearing the holy symbol of Erastil dangling from her neck and confidently spoke aloud, calling upon her divine patrons power to heal her companions.
"By Erastils grace, we will not fall while this community suffers."
Channel Positive Energy:3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 4) = 10
That should catch everyone hit by the wall of flame
With little else to do, Jarlaxle goes for broke, casting a spell at the Efreet.
"Someone so powerful as yourself doesn't need to take to the air; you are more than capable of destroying us on the ground. I Suggest you come down here, and then lay waste to us."
Suggestion. DC 14 negates.
Hopefully, that counts as a 'reasonable' suggestion ;-)
While the fact Tygora is an efreeti is both known and obvious, Jarlaxle recalls that while they are immune to fire damage, they find themselves vulnerable to cold attacks. The flying genies also have a variety of spell-like attacks (of which you suspect you've seen some of). The other creature is a fire mephit - pest who can fly, are immune to fire, slowly heal from wounds, and have fiery attacks.
August peppers the queen with his shuriken, but only two seem to leave a mark. Tygora smirks at his efforts, and at the half-elf's goading taunt. You are so eager to meet your death? Well, let it never be said Tygora is unkind to those who ask for her aid,
As this happens, the mephit drags itself carefully away from Arthac and towards the oread captive. It looks terrified at the flameproof cat even as it launches a red bolt at August.
ranged touch:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 for fire damage:4d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1, 6) = 12
Initiative Haste up for all
Inspire Courage +2 up for all
Tygora -19hp
Jarlaxle
Neha
Talevia hp
Arthac 14 fire protection remaining
August -21hp
Amiri
Blue Flying fire thing -16hp Lem -49hp
While the wall of fire is opaque, blocking line of sight, the channel positive energy burst would've still affected the other side of the wall, correct? Luckily, Tygora was too far away.
Kn-Planes Tygora:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 Kn-Planes other blue fire:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22 Lem is interested in one thing, and one thing only. Can either creature normally see invisible.
if Tygora can see invisible:
Lem maintains inspire courage (vocal), and pulls out wand of clw while moving back away from the wall a good 20 feet, then heals himself. CLW:1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
if Tygora can't see invis, or Lem isn't sure:
Lem shouts more encouragement to his teammates. [ooc]free action maintain Inspire Courage +2
He then casts invisibility on himself and moves toward the pathfinder prisoners at hasted half speed (i.e. normal speed), pulling out his wand of clw as he goes.
Stealth:1d20 + 13 + 2 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 2 + 20 = 41 Perception:1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 + 2 = 22 Heal:1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10 trying to gauge status of 2 nearest prisoners, health, what's restraining them, any booby traps, etc. Current location reflects this latter.
Current Buffs: Party: +3 to hit (Haste & +2 competence bonus
+2 Competence bonus to damage
+2 Morale bonus on saves v fear and charm
Amiri & Lem: +2 Morale on all attacks, saves and skill checks
Lem vanishes from the rest of your sight as he moves forwards towards the closest Pathfinders (Barnaby and Vetis). He approaches them carefully, but between the halfling's eyes and Neha's yelled warning he notices that each captive stands atop a ten foot square set of tiles that seem somewhat loose. If pressure is changed on any of them, the panels are set to erupt into flame.
Tygora, for her part, fires three quick bolts towards Jarlaxle as she descends in front of August. As she does so, the fire wall unleashes another pulse of heat out towards Amiri, Neha, and (to a lesser extent) Talevia.
Scorching Ray:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 for fire damage:4d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 1, 6) = 18 Scorching Ray:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24 for fire damage:4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 6) = 12 Scorching Ray:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13 for fire damage:4d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 1, 5) = 15 Wall of Fire (Airi and Neha):2d4 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7 Wall of Fire (Talevia):1d4 ⇒ 1
Alighting, she lashes out at the monk with her scimitar.
You see mortal upstarts, my skill with blade can cut you down just as quickly as the cinders of my rage. Submit, and perhaps I will make your deaths quick and spare your colleagues as messengers to your legion.
Initiative Haste up for all
Inspire Courage +2 up for all
Tygora -19hp Jarlaxle -15hp
Neha
Talevia -1hp
Arthac 14 fire protection remaining
August -34hp
Amiri -7hp Blue Flying fire thing -16hp
Lem -49hp
Female Human Druid 5; HP 33/33; AC 20 (t 11, ff 19); F +6, R +3, W +10; CMD 16; Spd 20 ft.; Init +1; Perc +13
Neha places a blessing of strength upon Amiri before plunging through the fire to rejoin her companion, who presses his attack on the mephit.
Neha: standard to cast bull's strength on Amiri, move to move through the wall of fire with fire resistance 10. Arthac: 5-foot step and full attack the mephit.
Male Half-Elf Bard 7 (HP 45/45) (AC 20/11/19) (CMD 20) (Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +3) (Init +3) (Perception +13)
I don't; I'm next to August, who is in melee with her...? If I'm not in melee, then I will go total defense, and walk around to a flank, instead of attacking.
Ah, got it.
August attached her with thrown shuriken last round, and while Tygora is now grounded her large size means she struck August from 10 feet away.
While Neha plunges though the flames and takes fire damage:2d6 + 11 ⇒ (6, 2) + 11 = 19 pre-resistance, her companion finishes mauling the mephit until it lies still.
Jarlaxle moves around to try and aid August's assaults. As he does so, the Queen lashes out with her scimitar, just barely striking the elf.
AoO:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (12) + 16 = 28 for Damage:2d6 + 9 ⇒ (6, 1) + 9 = 16
Amid his oration, Lem shouts out, "Don't move the captives, and don't go near them. The ten foot space around them is rigged to blow if the weight on the floor tiles shifts at all."free actions: speak, and maintain Inspire Courage +2
He then takes a 5' step, then pulls out and drinks his potion of cure serious.
CSW:3d8 + 5 ⇒ (3, 3, 3) + 5 = 14 Stealth:1d20 + 13 + 2 + 20 ⇒ (17) + 13 + 2 + 20 = 52
