[PbP Gameday V][PFS]GM Zoomba's 7-23 Abducted in Aether (Inactive)

Game Master Zoomba

"A rose by any other name sounds much better right now," Vad calls to Muthrazi as he moves around her (provoking, AC 31 (Mobility)) and tries to knock her off her feet (provoking again, if applicable, AC 27).

Trip: 1d20 + 18 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 4 = 26 (+2 if she's CE, less if she hits me with the second AoO)

Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

Liam’s newest gout of fire breaks past Muthrazi’s defenses, marring the fiend for the first time.

Meanwhile, as Vad passes through the door and into the room he feels a permeable resistance for a moment. He easily breaks through, but the effort unleashes an unholy blast upon his soul.

There is a forbiddance effect around the ballroom. Vad takes half of damage: 6d6 ⇒ (2, 4, 2, 4, 3, 5) = 20 (so 10) as he enters. A DC 19 Will save will halve that again.

Also, the caster among you may recall that forbiddance blocks inter-planar travel, which likely both explains why you couldn’t enter it from the ethereal plane, and why Muthrazi’s blink seems to be occasionally failing her.

Gritting through the unexpected pain, Vad continues forwards. Muthrazi lashes out with an unexpectedly lengthy claw, and another claw lashes out when the crusader tries to knock her off balance. The oread’s leg sweep fails to trip her she is not Chaotic Evil, and Vad unfortunately finds himself struggling to avoid being caught and cut by the vines surrounding the fiend on all sides.

AoO v movement: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (2) + 17 = 19 for damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

AoO v trip: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (9) + 17 = 26 for damage: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

The vines around her form an entangling train. Vad needs a DC 20 Reflex save or is entangled, stuck to that square, and takes damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7, 1d4 ⇒ 4 bleed damage, and needs a DC 22 Fort save to avoid being poisoned (which will deal 1d3 ⇒ 1 Wisdom damage and cause your paranoia to treat no other creature as an ally.

Initiative

Liam, 6nl, hasted, Stoneskin (72 DR remaining)

Muthrazi -27hp, not blinking right now

Dailung, hasted, 17 nl, Stoneskin (64 DR remaining)

Torean, 25/52 hp, 11 nl hasted

Vad, 10 nl, need Will Save, Need Reflex save, may need Fort save

Moving forward and parrying the attack Dailung charges the evil thing once before going in for the kill.
ParryRiposte/intimidate: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (1) + 20 = 21
Charge: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (18) + 20 = 381d6 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 211d20 + 17 ⇒ (17) + 17 = 34
Conf: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (11) + 20 = 311d6 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
IF attacked she will parry riposte
Parry: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 321d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 341d6 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 191d20 + 17 ⇒ (16) + 17 = 33

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
Fortitude: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Against his better judgement, Torean charges into the room opposite Vad, whipping his warhammer at Muthrazi. "Die! Witch!"

Attack (PA, FF, DF, Judgement, Bane, heroism, Haste, flank): 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 41
Damage (PA, DF, Bane): 1d8 + 14 + 2 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (4) + 14 + 2 + 1 + (4, 6, 4, 5) = 40

Crit Confirm: 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 11 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 36
Extra Damage: 1d8 + 14 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 14 + 2 + 1 = 23

Will Save vs. Forbiddance (SS, heroism): 1d20 + 9 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 5 + 2 = 22

Torean is at 30/52 with 6NL since he healed himself for 5

Dailung forbiddance: 12d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 2, 2, 1, 2, 2, 1, 4, 4, 5, 4) = 37, half is 18, DC 19 Will for half would be 9
Torean forbiddance: 12d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 2, 1, 1, 5, 1, 6, 2, 4, 4, 1) = 29, half and then half again because of the save is 7

Dailung and Torean both rush forwards. Each of them feels the sting of the forbiddance effect, but rushing forward anyway they strike at Muthrazi. The full force of their blow seems to be somewhat blunted by her unholy hide, but the pair risk it all to get one good blow on the fiend. their gambit appears to pay off, as with a succession of critically damaging strikes the pakalchi is left reeling, even as Troean is stuck within her vine train.

As Liam recalls, the pakalchi's extended reach only works on one attack a round, so Dailung doesn't need to parry an AoO and thus doesn't spend the panache.

Also, Torean will take damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 and 1d4 ⇒ 1 bleed damage and needs a DC 22 Fort save or be poisoned for 1d3 ⇒ 3 Wisdom damage and suffer the same paranoia affecting Vad above. If I missed a bonus to reflex saves or re-roll opportunity let me know. I rolled for you as...

Dailung Reflex: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28
Torean Reflex: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 = 11

Thing: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

Bleeding and battered, Muthrazi turns to the four of you with pure rage in her eyes.

"So, you want your friend back that badly then? Fine, take him. Treasure your bond while you can. This will not go forgottern."

With a final his, she seems to shift onto the ethereal plane, but this time does not return.

OUT OF COMBAT!!!

Liam, 6 nl, hasted, Stoneskin (72 DR remaining)
Dailung, hasted, 17 nl, Stoneskin (64 DR remaining), Need will save or take 18/9 damage
Torean, 19/52 hp, 1 bleed, 11 nl, hasted, Need Fort save
Vad, 47/85, 4 bleed, 1 Wis damage, 10 nl, poisoned (need Fort save, 2 needed to cure it)

Combat is over here, but those of you poisioned will need to keep making Fort saves, taking 1d3 Wisdom each round If you failed the intiial resistance like Vad, you'll need two consecutive saves to cure yourself. After 6 rounds, the poison will run its course either way.

Will, charmed life: 1d20 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 4 = 12 "OUCH, that hurt, b#%&!! Yes, run, run, I won´t forget you neither!"
Looking around she will politely ask for some healing.

"I got you." Liam says nodding to Dailung.

I have a wand of lesser restoration with some charges if one of them gets close to 0 wisdom.

This seems like a thing that will end poorly. 5 more, maybe they'll clear beforehand...

Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Fort Save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Wisdom Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1
Wisdom Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1
Wisdom Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 1
Wisdom Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2
Wisdom Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 3

Muthrazi's thorns do a number on Vad, but he remains conscious.

Keep in mind Vad, you're still bleeding 1d4 hp a round during that time, but won't be able to willingly accept healing from others (they'd need to hit your AC and you'd try to save against it). I don't think that will drop you, but just curious how it would be resolved or if you'd wait until the 5 more rounds are over.

Fort Save vs poison: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 = 30

Torean shakes off the poison's effects like a good dwarf and pulls out his wand of healing.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Then he tries to heal Vad, even though the man doesn't seem to want it.

Touch attack (heroism): 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 2 = 20
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Even if he fails the DC 11 will save, that will stop the bleed and cure some of the non-lethal too

"Come on, we have to find the soulstone." Torean searches Muthrazi's room.

Perception (heroism): 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 = 18

As he searches, Torean heals himself again.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

With Muthrazi gone, Vad will consume a potion of cure moderate wounds (from Aslynn, if that matters) to stop the bleeding, trying his best to keep himself between the pedestal and the rest of these schemers the party.

1 round of bleed: 1d4 ⇒ 1

CMW: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 = 7

Will Save v. Torean: 1d20 + 4 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 4 - 3 = 4

Possibly a lesser resto as well once the paranoia wears off.

Perc: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Dailung joins in the search.

As the adrenaline begins to wear away (and with it a fair amount of Vad's willpower), the three of you search around the chamber.

Moving straight towards the dais, Torean reaches up to lift up a spherical rock that rests impossibly well-balanced atop the plinth. Holding it, faint thoughts run through his head. The dwarf feels relief, wounded pride, and a vague sense of...annoyance. Aram Zey certainly feels like he's in there.

Looking around the rest of the ballroom, Dailung spots a small pouch hidden within a patch of the ringing briars, as well as two magical sticks a wand of inflict moderate wounds and a Rod of Thunderous Force. The pouch itself contains five diamonds and a sizeable stash of gold.

Back in the dining room, Liam notices that one of the corpses in the corner appears to have been only half-eaten. The shirt he wears is mostly intact, and magical unfettered shirt, and his pockets still hold some gold.

You have Aram Zey's soulstone! Would you like to explore the rest of the manor, head back to civilization, or just do victory cartwheels everywhere.

Torean tucks the soulstone into his belt pouch where it will be safe. "Well now that that bit of nastiness is over, let's take a look around. We can always get back home if we need. Who know what else she had in here." Torean moves to open the doors to the north.

Torean is up for some exploration. Hopefully nothing too deadly is left.

"Yea, let's do that. Maybe it'll make this trip worth it."

"Indeed. It looks worthy of exploration."

"Worth it besides reclaiming the soul of the ex-Master of Spells? So long as we're not taking too long- -Kreighton Shaine looked Boneyard-bound when we left," Vad recalls, looking a bit haggard himself. "And I'm not sure I'm up for a bunch more excitement. 322, Aslynn, Muthrazi, and a bunch of Maneads? I'm partied out."

Moving into the neighboring room, Torean finds himself in a once-well appointed sitting room. From the disused fireplace against the western wall to the rotting upholstered chairs and hundreds of mouse droppings on the bookshelves the dwarf sense that it has not seen much traffic in quite some time. Meanwhile, a careful examination of the house reveals a partially closed-off door leading from the dining room that enters into a low-ceilinged smoking room. the mounted heads of an elk and a feline creature still adorn the walls in here, and a nice looks rapier lies propped up in a corner +1 cold iron rapier, while musty bottles of liquor line sets of shelves.

When eventually you four feel you have examined as much as you dare in your tired stand within the villa, you make your way outside the estate's front doors - this time on the Material Plane. An overgrown trail winds a ways away from the manor, but it eventually reaches a dusty but well-worn road, which following brings you to the cloest town: Dabril. From there, you book passage south before finally arriving at the Woodsedge Pathfinder Lodge, where a surprised Eliza Petulengro greets you.

"Well, this is unexpected. I'm more used to summoning Pathfinders than being called on out here. You four certainly seem the worse for the wear. Come in. What are you doing out in Galt - I should have been notified about any agents in the region?"

"No one, including us, knew we'd be here. We were on the ethereal plane. Things don't exactly...make sense there. I'm happy to be out of there. We need to get to Absalom as soon as possible."

Torean pulls out the soulstone from his belt. "This is all that's left of our former Master of Spells. I think Sorrina Westyr needs to see this immediately."

"It's just nice to see a friendly face, after the day we've had. Rough, but victorious." Vad grins, despite the lingering effects. "Saving a soul is never easy work."

"That, that's Zey?!?" Eliza says, uncharacteristically shaken. "Then get him inside. Quickly, quickly!"

She ushers you into the Woodsedge Lodge and hurriedly calls servants to tend to your needs as she rushes into a back office. Within an hour, Sorinna Westyr and Kreighton Shaine come rushing in through a door to the rear of the lodge. Behind them, being carried along atop a translucent disc, lies the deceased body of Aram Zey, perfectly preserved. Shaine carefully accepts the soulstone from Torean as brings it and Zey into a back room, while Sorinna lingers just long enough to give a heartfelt thanks.

"So, I wasn't wrong in getting you four together. Well done. Well done!" With a warm nod, she then excuses herself to join Shaine.

---

Some time later, the pair of them emerge, accompanied by a living, breathing Aram Zey. The wizard seems healthy, but the look in his eyes is haunted. He steps forward and shakes each of your hands, solemnly.

“It seems I have you to thank for my continued existence. You have my eternal gratitude."

"I thought you should be among the first to hear this news: I will not be returning to my post as Master of Spells right away. Master Westyr has done an excellent job in my absence, which is not surprising as she was not new to the appointment. I myself have much to think about concerning my time as Aslynn’s ‘guest,’ and I fear the extent of the secrets she extracted from my soul may compromise my position. I will remain at the Grand Lodge, of course, and if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

"Zey, is that really you?!" Torean jumps up and goes to greet the man. "We thought we had lost you for good!"

He nods at the man's comments. "Sounds right. You went through quite the ordeal. And I can't imagine what Aslynn did to your soul. But it's good to have you back."

"Welcome back to the land of the living."