Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris

Game Master Chris Shannon 719

Hearing Atol chant his prayer, Toffitt sighs in relief. He puts his hand on Atol's shoulder, indicating for him to back away. "Ser Percival, do you think it may be possible you were tricked by the hags? They were incredibly convincing. Powerful magics concealed their true natures—so powerful that even a strong willed holy warrior like yourself could be fooled. We would have been tricked ourselves, if Nidrama herself hadn't warned us of her false sisters."

Dyrant turns his attention from Alex and towards the mirror.

Cast Detect Magic.

1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 17 + 2 = 27 Know (Arcana)
1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 11 + 2 = 29 Know (History)
1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 18 + 2 = 31 Know (Planes)
1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 15 + 2 = 22 Know (Religion)
1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 17 + 2 = 39 Spellcraft

Dyrant will take a long good gander at the mirror, trying to determine what it might be. Also happy to burn an Identify if Dyrant thinks it will help.

* * *

Dyrant will draw the holy orders from Jenya and hold them in hand.

"Aralynn, any evil here?"

Willpower save 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Relieved that Alex accepted the Protection from Evil, Atol then shudders a bit when it becomes clear to him that Alex did as the Hags wished.

"Dyrant No! Don't look in the mirror! I don't like it. There's something evil here even if Aralynn doesn't sense it. That mirror is wrong."

Does Alex look or act any differently under the protection from evil? Atol hopes it breaks whatever enchantment he may be suffering under at the moment though he knows it's not a fool-proof solution.

He edges for the door and gestures for the party to follow.

On Atol's advice, Dyrant avoids looking too much into the mirror, mostly focusing on the magic and auras.

Atol gulps as he backs to the door.

Bluff 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

He panics and begins casting while shouting, "What have you done with Alex you fiend!?!"

He turns to the others in Celestial like he's being sneaky...

Knowledge Religion or Aracana to know what it is? Same roll for either...

Knowledge check 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Nope, no clue!

Atol is casting Bless if he gets it off. He's sure combat is about to ensue with the unholy creature.

If he can, Toffitt steps between Atol and the imposter before things take a violent turn.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

'Alek' sees the surprise in Atol's eyes and stabs him in the gut.

The rest of the party sees Alek's 'arm' go through Atol's stomach and can make will saves to see what Atol sees (DC 15).

Initiative
Atol1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Dyrant 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Finneas 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Finneas Bonus roll 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Glimmil1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Toffitt 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Alek 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 hit
1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 crit
1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 sword
2d6 ⇒ (2, 6) = 8 sneak
and 2 points of bleed

Surprise
Alek
Atol
Round 1
Finneas = 25+
Alek 25
Atol = 23
Toffitt = 21
Glimmil = 15
Dyrant = 8

Sorry. Off to the movies. No time for a map yet. Alek will be just north of the throne in H6. Everyone else can pick a reasonable spot.

Round Surprise, Initiative 23, Location I6->J6

In the surprise round Atol attempts to step back 5' (to J6) and still get the Bless off.

Concentration check 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 vs DC 12 (ongoing damage from bleed)

Concentration Check Rules

So everyone is blessed! +1 to hit and saves vs fear.

Round 1, Init 23 {J5}

"Atol!"

Toffitt was just by Atol, probably J5. Will wait until Atol, Finneas and Alek go.

Will 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Glimmil is instantly chatty upon spotting Alec in the throne, forgetting about any possibility of evil or trickery.

"Hurray! Another paladin! It's good to meet you, Alec! We simply must discuss strategies for dealing with big bad dragons. How many have you had a chance to fight? I've fought a few now -- oh yeah, good idea to take that spell from Atol, there were these hags who weren't really hags, or rather archons who weren't really archons -- hey what's going on? No, no! Don't do that!"

Will DC15 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 (add +2 if illusion)

If that Will save wasn't to disbelieve an illusion, Glimmil will rub his eyes and attempt to do so separately.

Will (to disbelieve any illusion on Alec) 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Dyrant turns his attention from the interesting and magical mirror to the screaming young priest.

What the--?

Finneas still to go, but here's a map.
Map

Round 1 Init 25

"That wasn't very nice."

Female: Must be a paladin of Kord.
Male: Bite your tongue.

Finneas steps forward to place himself between Atol and his attacker.

Move to I7, not sure if I take an AoO moving past the throne but I need to make sure Atol doesn't take any more damage unless it's directed at me.

Greatsword Power Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 192d6 + 13 ⇒ (2, 4) + 13 = 19
Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Atol's stab wound continues to bleed profusely, but he is able to take a step back and bless the party. Finneas steps up between the two and puts an equally large gash into Alek's side. Alek sidesteps past Finneas, apparently to pursue Atol, but then stabs at Toffitt.

The others are still trying to figure out what has happened to Alec when three hairless humanoids with mirror-like skin emerge from the mirror. Each one wears only a loin cloth with a leather belt. However, each one also wields a wicked-looking shard of mirrored glass the size of a longsword in each hand.

The first one walks up to Finneas, but doesn't swing either of his swords. Instead, his body seems to explode and shards of glass cut into Finneas, Atol, Toffitt, Glimmil, and Cog. The wounds are vicious and bleed quickly. The second one walks up next to Toffitt and catches Toffitt, Atol, Glimmil and Cog in the cone of glass shards. The third one just cuts Dyrant with one of his swords.

Damage edited for Atol/Finneas link
Round 1 (2nd half)
Atol (-40 & 6 bleed) = 23
Toffitt (-17 & 4 bleed)= 21
Glimmil (-17 & 4 bleed)= 15
Cog (-17 & 4 bleed)
Dyrant (-8 & 2 bleed)= 8
Round 2 (1st half)
Finneas (-8 & 2 bleed)= 25+
Alek (-19) = 25 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13 miss
K1 shard spray: 3d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 2) = 9 damage plus 2 bleed cummulative(no save)
K2 shard spray: 3d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 1) = 8 damage plus 2 bleed cummulative(no save)
K3 mirror sword: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8 +2 bleed

Party up.

New Map

Planes DC 18 for knowledge check

Only throne is blocking. The other colors on the floor don't seem to have any affect at this point.

1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 18 + 2 = 37 Know (Planes)

Son of a diddily! What are these things?!

Round 1, Initiative 23, Location J6->K7

owowowowowowow! Glass hurts!

Atol 5' steps back again (to K7) and channels energy for 4d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 6, 5) = 18 worth of healing avoiding Alek in the burst. He then tries to get a hold of himself.

(I think I take the 6hp bleed at the start of my round. However the channel energy should negate the bleed for everyone else. Bleed Condition)

Dyrant wasn't sure if the author who wrote about these things might have only dreamed them up, but here they are.

Round 1, Init 21 {>H4}

Toffitt tumbles around Alek and readies himself to strike at the false paladin once Glim is in position. He gives a little hand motion to his gnomish friend.

Tumbling 1d20 + 17 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 17 + 2 - 4 = 17 heroism, 2 extra foes

Dueling blade 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 14 + 2 + 1 = 31 heroism, crowd control
1d8 + 2 + 4d6 ⇒ (8) + 2 + (1, 3, 3, 4) = 21

Round 1, Init 8

Aralynn moves away into Atol's square. 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 healing (may provoke on move)

Dyrant dances away from K3, moving to L7. 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 2 = 24 Acrobatics to tumble

Dyrant glares at K1, showing his holy symbol. (8 rounds/1round on Will save DC 20) Inflict penalties (-4 to AC, attacks, saves, or skills). Choosing -4 on all its attacks.

AoO Dyrant: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Will save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Toffitt avoids one, but two strike at him.
AoO Toffitt: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
AoO Toffitt: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
AoO Toffitt: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12 no crit
damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 and 2 bleed

Tofffitt instantly heals most of the damage.

Glimmil gives the doctor a nod, closes his visor and guides Cog ahead as their wounds begin to mend from Atol's channel.

Which will I strike? The false paladin? Or the man-in-the-mirror?

Glimmil moves to J,5 to take Toffitt's old position

As he watches Alec turn into thousands of glass shards, he nods to himself and instead directs his hammer into the other available target (K2).

Cog attack (bite, power, bless): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 1 = 20 for 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 1 = 11
Cog trip: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Glimmil attack (+1 hook-hammer, power, bless, divine favor): 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 12 + 1 = 27 for 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Glimmil attack #2 (+1 hook-hammer, power, bless, divine favor): 1d20 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 4 + 1 = 14 for 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Round 2 Init 25+

Finneas weathers the storms of glass while silently cursing their attempts to kill Atol.

"Kord says leave him be!"

Greatsword Power Attack Bless @K1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 242d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 4) + 13 = 201d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 112d6 + 13 ⇒ (1, 6) + 13 = 20

Atol manages to take another 5' step back before closing up all the bleeding wounds of the party with a channel. Toffitt waits a brief moment for Glimmil before killing Alek's impersonator. Glimmil moves onto another mirror-skinned creatures and together with Cog is able to take him down. Both swords shatter upon hitting the ground.

Aralynn manages to avoid being hit as she rushes to heal Atol. Dyrant twirls like Aralynn and doesn't provoke from the dual swords as he backs away and gives his attacker a scornful look.

Finally, Finnneas chops the creature before him into two pieces while the two swords burst into fragments.

The last creature jumps back into the mirror.

Out of initiative

On a side note that no longer matters, Glimmil actually had to move to J6 for the flank. He can then continue to J5 for the attack on K2. Only a single attack, but the second missed anyway. By RAW I don't think this is allowed (changing a 5' step to a move), but I've alway allowed it. Just wanted to note it.

Going back to what Dyrant would have seen just prior to combat.

Dyrant looks at the bodies mirrored bodies with disdain.

"Meh. More illusions and tricks. This place must be full of them." Dyrant returns to looking around the room. "Don't let me forget to sketch this place when we leave. Might be an interesting addition to the Cuthbert libraries."

Re-cast Detect Magic. Look around again. Bring the plate back out. Begin to re-puzzle.

Dyrant ponders the mirror, the metal plate, and his knowledge of the nerra. The six-armed creatures obviously built the mirror, but it's unclear if they enlisted the help of the nerra, encountered them after building the mirror, or if the nerra took up residence after the ancient race disappeared.

There are no numbers or writing in the room so Dyrant is unsure what to do with his existing set of numbers at this point.

Toffitt examines the mirrors.

"I hope he's on this plane. I'm not sure I want to climb into that mirror."

Atol picks the last of the glass out of his injuries and heals himself up with the wand.
Cure Light Wounds for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Cure Light Wounds for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Cure Light Wounds for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

He also uses his pearls of power to get back both Bless and Protection from Evil spells.

Each person who looks into the mirror sees the same thing.

"What the heck were those things? Atol are you ok?"

Despite wearing plate boots, Glimmil treads carefully amid the shards of broken glass after dismounting from Cog.

"Careful boy, we won't want to be pulling these out of your paws later..."

Glimmil kneels next to each of the colored shapes scratching his head as he examines them.

"Feels like a puzzle. I hate not solving a puzzle. Although there's not really anything for them to unlock that I can see? Maybe if we press them in the right order, this whole room will fly us somewhere where Alec is kept?"

Glimmil moves and kneels next to the purple shape and works furiously to interact with it... pushing on it, pouring some water from his flask on it, and speaking gnomish at it.

Glimmil ends up with a rather striking mixed-media artwork as the water and glass shards are arranged over the purple, but nothing happens.

Dyrant strokes his chin.

"Come now, Glim, Doctor. Let's puzzle this out." Dyrant holds out the metal plate. "Is there something here? Or just more illusion?"

A string of ciphers under the depiction of the Starry Mirror represent numbers. In order, they are 3, 4, 5, 1, 2, 3.

1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 Intelligence Check: Correlation between plate and the floor? Trying to figure out which one is one.

"If I surmise correctly, this may lead us to another place. Perhaps we should first check the westerly room, in case there are hags there with our staff."

"Of course, Doctor, maybe there is another throne with mirror for us to beat our heads upon," Dyrant says dryly before turning to Aralynn.

"Aralynn, would you stay here and let us know immediately if anything emerges from the mirror? I don't expect trouble, but this mirror is not something we understand."

To the other room.

"Five mirrors, five colors... that must be something. Maybe there's five throne rooms, too?" Glimmil offers in a cheerful note, as he examines his "mixed media artwork" fondly.

Some day we'll need a throne room in Jzadirune. And I can sit upon it with Skie by my side!

Glimmil almost walks into the wall on the way out of the room, lost in thought.

The party leaves the mirror untouched as it explores a bit more. They walk past the other throne and head west. A couple more door swooshes and the party finds itself at a room with three large beds. Along the north wall hangs a set of golden baboon masks. The smooth, stone walls and the floor are covered by colorful and bizarre tapestries and carpets. An elaborate weaver's loom occupies teh southwest corner. Various skeins of wool of many different colors are piled near the lom, next to a basket of sewing tools. A wooden chest sits in the southeast corner.

A six-armed skeleton stands in each corner of the room holding a 6"-diameter disc of an unknown substance; it glows with a bright light that slowly shifts through the visible spectrum, becoming red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet in a matter of seconds.

The skeletons each hold onto their disks with two hands, but move up and try to claw at the party with their four remaining hands. One finger manages to scratch Glimmil across his cheek.

Initiative
Atol1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Dyrant 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23
Finneas 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Finneas Bonus roll 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Glimmil1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
Toffitt 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Skeletons 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

S1
Claw at Glimmil: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 5 - 4 = 12
Claw at Glimmil: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 4 = 14
Claw at Glimmil: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 4 = 5
Claw at Glimmil: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 5 - 4 = 18
S2
Claw at Glimmil: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25
damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1
Claw at Glimmil: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19 no confirm
S3
Claw at Toffitt: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
S4
Claw at Toffitt: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 5 - 4 = 7
Claw at Toffitt: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 4 = 14
Claw at Toffitt: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 4 = 11
Claw at Toffitt: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 5 - 4 = 10

Party is up
Round 1
Skeletons = 26
Finneas = 23+
Dyrant = 23
Atol = 22
Glimmil = 18
Toffitt = 15

Map

Round 1, Init 23

1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30 Know (Planes) on skellies
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17 Know (Religion) on skellies

Dyrant delivers a mean stinkface to the skeletons.

We are here on archon's business and you seek to deny us?

5' step to K29. Dyrant will draw a scroll and begin to read.

Prayerscroll of Embiggen.

Round 1 Init 23+

Seeing their foes are skeletal and unable to close with them immediately Finneas sheathes his greatsword and draws his morningstar.

Knowledged Arcana Dyrant: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21

Aside from having six arms, Dyrant doesn't notice anything different about these skeletons. At best he can assume they have the same attributes as any other creature that has been turned into a skeleton. The disc they each hold is obviously magical, but Dyrant doesn't recognize it.

Round 1, Initiative 22, Location L30

Skeletons! How hard can they be? Although they do have 6 arms and magic items…

Atol casts Bless from his Cassock of the Clergy.

"May the blessings of St. Cuthbert be upon us all." Atol says evenly.

Round 1, Init 18

Glimmil hesitates for a moment as the skeletons close, glancing towards the doctor and awaiting Toffitt's predictable acrobatics.

Defer to Toffitt to see if he tumbles in for the flank. If he doesn't then Glimmil will move back 5ft to I,29 in the hope that one of the skeletons advance into the pocket he creates.

Glimmil once again drops his lance, and aims the blunt side of his hammer at the nearest skeleton.

Cog attack (bite, power, bless): 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21 for 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 = 8
Cog trip: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Glimmil attack (+1 hook-hammer, power, bless, flank?): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 12 + 1 + 2 = 24 for 1d6 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Round 1, Init 15 {>F29}

"So many arms, but can they use them?"

Toffitt does indeed attempt to tumble through the line of skeletons (F29).

Acrobatics 1d20 + 17 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 17 + 2 = 35

He flashes his hammer into hand and strikes.

Silver hammer 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 27 flank, heroism, crowd control
1d4 + 1 + 4d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + (5, 6, 5, 4) = 25

Finneas changes to a more appropriate weapon as Dyrant begins a spell to help him out. Atol also blesses the party and the choices seem wise as the skeleton withstands all three attacks. Toffitt smashes his hammer on the back of the skeleton's skull; it cracks in several places, but does not break. Cog crushes its ankle enough to trip it and Glimmil smashes it also before guiding Cog back a few feet.

The skeletons decline Glimmil's invitation and instead all turn on Toffitt. They claw and scratch at Toffitt from head to toe, but Toffitt remains unharmed. The glowing disks continue their rhythmic pulsing and color changing.

Party is up
Round 2
Skeletons = 26
S1
S2 (-44)
S3
S4

Glimmil's move actually complicates the enlarge. I'm going to assume Glimmil moves up and Finneas delays. With reach he will still be able to crush things from behind Glimmil.

New Map