Scenario 20 - King Xeros of Old Azlant (Inactive)

Game Master Tarondor

I'm not sure Aquila would still have turned into an enormous bird, but what're you going to do?

I would still be changing into the roc! I actually found out about the new FAQ ruling today, so no way I wouldn't! With the fiendish template I also get SR5/evil and by being huge very hard to grapple! :-)

Move Action E-E-E

Free action Rage

Standard Action flanking power attack with rage. +powerful blow & auspicious mark
attack: 1d20 + 15 + 2 + 1d6 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 2 + (5) = 29
damage: 2d6 + 20 + 3 ⇒ (6, 4) + 20 + 3 = 33

13 rage rounds left

I'll let the GM roll the miss %

Bishop continues with the rain of arrows on Xill B: Deadly Aim, Imp. Precise.

ATK 1: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27 DMG if Hit: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (6, 4) + 11 = 21
ATK 2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 DMG if Hit: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 5) + 11 = 20

If Xill is still up: Timber, take him down!

Move SW
Bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 Miss: 1d100 ⇒ 40 DMG if Hit: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Trip if hit: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

If Xill B is down: "Timber attack!"

Double move: 9 squares (90') W.

Savage's Miss chance (Vines): 1d100 ⇒ 92
Savage's Miss chance (Entropic Shield): 1d100 ⇒ 68

Savage mounts the stairs and finds a heavily-armored xill atop the strange plant's taproot, somehow manipulating the plant. The creature is surrounded by some sort of coruscating field of colors. The barbarian attacks without hesitation, injuring the Xill captain, but not killing him.

Bishop fires on the remaining Xill in the lower hold, striking it once. Timber then leaps in and attacks, injuring it a second time.

Seeing from where the wind blows and not being suicidal, the Xill warrior begins to fade into the ether.

PARTIAL MAP OF KING XEROS

Gerri, Aquila, Merisriel, go!

Garra will attack the plantkeeper.

Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 171d4 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15misschance: 1d100 ⇒ 83
Claw: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 211d4 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13misschance: 1d100 ⇒ 60
Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (18) + 15 = 331d4 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13misschance: 1d100 ⇒ 31

Aquila will attack the fleeing Xill

Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 111d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4misschance: 1d100 ⇒ 29
Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 161d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7misschance: 1d100 ⇒ 27
Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 91d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6misschance: 1d100 ⇒ 51

Round 2

Tic, Tic

Gerri seeing the xill beginning to fade out of existence decides to help with the action in the upper hold area.

Double move through the Aquila/Roc and the vines. W-W-W-W-NW

Toc, Toc

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
On Going Effects: Mutagen +4 Con|-2 Cha|+2 NA, 100 min; Echolocation, 100min;Heroism, 50 min; Seek Thoughts, 10 min

Merisiel feels no inclination to punish the buggy soldier for doing its job. Instead she follows Gerri, watching his back. The doubts about support from the party still rankle.

Garra's miss chance from Entropic Shield: 1d100 ⇒ 76

Plant Keeper's attack on Savage {hit, damage, miss chance): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 341d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 91d100 ⇒ 59
Plant Keeper's attack on Savage {hit, damage, miss chance): 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (6) + 19 = 251d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 101d100 ⇒ 56
Plant Keeper's attack on Savage {hit, damage, miss chance): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 171d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 111d100 ⇒ 22
Plant Keeper's attack on Savage {hit, damage, miss chance): 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 331d4 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 81d100 ⇒ 77
Plant Keeper's attack on Savage {hit, damage, miss chance): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 231d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 41d100 ⇒ 64

Garra the eagle bites the xill chieftain, while his master, not as comfortable in avian form, claws and bites at the fading xill without effect.

The xill captain abandons its efforts to control the alien plant and, taking up a glittering array of weapons, lays into savage with a veritable storm of steel, claws and bites.

Savage took 17 points of damage (13 after DR)

PARTIAL MAP OF KING XEROS

Bishop and Savage, go!

attack 1: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 15 + 2 = 24
damage: 2d6 + 20 ⇒ (4, 1) + 20 = 25
attack 2: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 2 = 26
damage: 2d6 + 20 ⇒ (3, 1) + 20 = 24

12. Rounds rage left

Gerri seeing the xill beginning to fade out of existence decides to help with the action in the upper hold area.

She's not fading out of existance, she is retreating back to the ethereal plane.

Merisiel feels no inclination to punish the buggy soldier for doing its job

Her job is to use the bodies of other living sentient beings as incubators. It's an inherently evil creature (evil subtype!).

"Not on my watch!" Bishop again shoots twice with deadly aim. Hoping to get the Xill before escaping. (If the first arrow passes through, he'll abandon the full attack and make a move W.

ATK 1: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20 DMG: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
ATK 2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 DMG: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

ATK 1: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33 DMG: 1d8 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Not sure if Bishop's Improved Precise Shot negates the miss chance from the xill's Planewalking ability. I'm going to rule that it does.

Savage's 1st Miss Chance, Vines: 1d100 ⇒ 24
Savage's 1st Miss Chance, Entropic Shield: 1d100 ⇒ 99
Savage's 2ne Miss Chance, Vines: 1d100 ⇒ 29
Savage's 2nd Miss Chance, Entropic Shield: 1d100 ⇒ 72

Bishop's first arrow strikes the disappearing xill, but bounces off its carapace. The second pierces it solidly.

Up by the root crown, Savage utters a fierce cry and hacks down the Xill Captain, who collapses in a widening pool of gore. The vines of the alien plant suddenly grow still.

The xill warrior fades even further into the ether but is still partly present on the material plane.

Gerri, Aquila, Merisriel, go!

PARTIAL MAP OF KING XEROS

"Gerri, can you talk to it? I'll cover you."

Merisiel follows Gerri (presumably to the plant root) and is prepared to pierce anything threatening Gerri.

I think we'll be spending this turn moving through the difficult terrain again. I also don't think Merisiel is going to be the appropriate first contact specialist to interact with the alien inter-dimensional plant.

Aquila will move N N NW.

Then he will try and cast Baleful Polymorph DC 22 on the last Xill. (I'm thinking chicken... That shape seems appropriate)

Casterlevel check: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

He will command Garra to engage the last enemy.

Garra will double move fly and set up a flank for Merisel

E E E E E E E E SE SE

Round 3

Tic, Tic

"Talk to it? I think they are all dead or leaving this plane or existence, but I will try", replies Gerri to Merisiel question.

"Can you understand me?" Gerri asks. He will repeat the question in each of the languages he knows.

Abyssal; Aklo; Aquan; Auran; Azlanti; Common; Daemonic; Dark Folk; Goblin; Ignan; Infernal; Jistka; Kelish; Osiriani; Osiriani, Ancient; Polyglot; Sahaugin; Shoanti; Thassilonian; Vudrani

While asking these questions he will continue moving forward to the humanoid lumps in the taproot.

Not sure where they are but will only make a single move in their direction, so he can maintain concentration of the Seek THoughts spell.

Toc, Toc
_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
On Going Effects: Mutagen +4 Con|-2 Cha|+2 NA, 100 min; Echolocation, 100min; Heroism, 50 min; Seek Thoughts, 10 min;

Has anyone NOT seen the movie Alien? If one of those things gets away there's no telling of what can happen...

Savage rushes down the stairs and blows by Gerri and Merisiel, attempting to assist the giant bird, archer and wolf in vanquishing the last foe.

Savage, overjoyed in the throws of melee smiles as he runs past Gerri

"Hahaha, Move eunuch."

NE-E-E-E-E-E-SE

The enormous plant responds to Gerri's diplomacy in no way whatsoever. Gerri can see the humanoid forms within its taproot in the two squares immediately west of him and Merisriel. It would seem to be a simple matter to cut them out.

Xill Fort save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Xill Will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

The huge feathered bird that is in some way also Aquila caws out a few words of power. In a comic puff of smoke, the fading xill is replaced by a small, white chicken.

End of combat.

Bishop will quickly check on the humanoids, looking to ascertain their status (and race etc). Also, CLW on Timber 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

the fading xill is replaced by a small, white chicken.

Aquila changes back into his halfling form.

"This seemed an appropriate form. It wanted to lay eggs and was quite cowardly"

Bishop, they're still inside the plant, from which vantage point you can do no assessing.

What does it take to free them?

I'll CAREFULLY (How do I take 20 on cutting something out of an alien pod? Either way I'll then perform some triage. If they look like they have "chestbursters" in them, I'll carefully cut them out. Heal?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Aquila will help Bishop

You probably can't take 20 on cutting something out an Alien pod as it can fail. We probably can take 10 if there is no combat going on.

Heal taking 10: 10 + 11 = 21

That's why I rolled instead of Taking anything. :-)

Gerri will also help cut the humaniods out and take some samples of any liquids or goo that may be in with them.

Heal: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 13 + 2 = 21

_ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _
On Going Effects: Mutagen +4 Con|-2 Cha|+2 NA, 100 min; Echolocation, 100 min; Heroism, 50 min; Seek Thoughts, 10 min;

savage will end his rage and recuperate from his fatigue.

Merisiel will corral a chciken for later fricasse.

'turnabout is fair play - I have no interest in playing nursemaid and main course for some alien bugs. But magic chicken might be good for dinner.'

"I'd offer to help, but my terribly pointy rapier does not do well as a cutting tool. Poking precise holes, yes. Precision woodworking (plant-working?) is not a forte."

Peeking over Bishop's shoulder (chicken head poking over Merisiel's shoulder, out of her backpack), "So what you got? What's in the package?"

Cutting open the taproot is a simple matter, and soon eleven humans are freed. They are dark-skinned Garundis and they soon begin to recover their senses. Three of them have been implanted with large black xill eggs and look very ill.

Cutting open the taproot kills the enormous plant, causing it to wither visibly.

Suddenly, the bulkheads and decks begin to shimmer and shift out of phase. For an instant, you can see water below you and the city of Absalom around you. Gerri theorizes that, freed from the alien plant, King Xeros is about to resume its original programming and head for the deep ethereal.

Whaddya do?

Merisriel Perception check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28 While chicken-chasing, Merisriel notes that someone...maybe the xill... have left some valuables laying about on the deck beneath the enormous vines.

Savage yells to the Garundis and his companions.

"Time to get going."

Savage begins heading towards the stairs.

Take the survivors! All you can carry. Dismiss the spell, let Timber take them!

IF possible Gerri will get out his bag of holding (type 1) and have one of the humanoids get into it.

Currently have 207lbs free will approximately 25cu ft open. One living creature can be in the bag for 10 minutes. Prefer one of the frailer ones that can move on their own power.

Then will hurry to the sliding door to get it open. IF possible will stand in the door to keep it open.

Intel Check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Aquila will dismiss the reduce animal and Timber returns to his normal size.

"Ok, let's get out of here!"

'loot, survivors; loot, survivors. I guess survivors can care for themselves. Loot needs help.'

"Don't forget some of the irreplaceable artifacts we were intended to recover!" As Merisiel chases the chicken, while the others fiddle with the taproot, she collects a number of promising-looking artifacts and shinies on the deck.

'gonna catch that chicken. SHINY! chicken's gonna fry up good. SQUIRREL! ah ha! chicken! WAIT, SHINY!'
it can be very distracting to be ironically minded and acquisitive, at the same time...

As the party flees for the exit, escorting the prisoners slaves survivors, she uses some of her greater dexterity and movement speed to gather up some additional shinies, pressing some of the more able survivors into carrying items too bulky for her to manage.

While Merisriel gathers a few ancient trinkets from the hold, the remaining Pathfinders hustle the bewildered Garundis towards the upper deck. The ship undergoes increasingly rapid fluctuations of translucence.

The Pathfinders arrive on deck in time to learn that the Harbor Guard has abandoned King Xeros and are rapidly backing away from the ship. The immense spike at the front of the ship is pulsating as brightly as the noonday sun. As the Pathfinders abandon ship into the cold water of the harbor, the spike grows blindingly bright and the whole ship disappears just as Merisriel hurls herself over the side, ancient treasure in hand.

______________________________________________________________________

Okay, that's where I'm calling it. Well done and congratulations. Unfortunately, you didn't learn much of what was going on. The only source for that would have been releasing the Night Hag from stasis and conducting diplomacy with her. She could have clued you in to the backstory.

Even more distressing, you found no Azlanti treasure. But that's because none was present in the scenario, which I think was a real mistake on the part of the author. Just about any item of Azlanti magic would have been cool to have.

You more or less avoided the one truly killer encounter when you chose not to mess much with the glowing cube. It was the ship's helm and reacted poorly to being screwed with.

Thanks for playing! I'll be getting the chronicle sheets to you sometime in the next 24 hours. Please make sure your PFS number is on your character sheet. Savage Vengeance, this means YOU.

There may be some sort of PFS boons available when the PBP Game Day is over. If so, I'll be sure to PM you about it.

Best Regards,

Tarondor

Thanks for running!

Let's make sure we kill all the eggs!

All the Chronicle Sheets have gone out except Savage's. Need that PFS Number. I PM'ed them to the characters, not the players.

Sorry 44666-3

Everyone should have their sheet now.