Shackled City (Pathfinder) - GM_Chris

Game Master Chris of the Clouds

This is probably a bit of a complex question - but the beholder probably can't keep its anti-magic field going at the same time its doing something like disintegrating its passage, right?

The reason I'm asking is if it's possible to use a move action to say fly up to I,50 and then ready an action for when the beholder shuts down the anti-magic ray to then use the readied standard action to fly up and land at L,37.

Repost from a couple pages ago: The beholder can only fire 3 rays per 90 degree arc. However, the antimagic field is also 90 degrees. Hence, he can fire three rays per 90 degree arc not covered by the field.

Glimmil's plan seems reasonable.

Consider that Glimmil's action then. He'll fly up on Cog and ready a standard.

Glimmil glances upward at the shaft providing the eye-monster escape and cover, and tries to determine the next best course of action.

Guiding Cog upward into the fog, he impatiently waits for an opportunity to soar upward when the fog has returned, believing Cog's flight can propel him closer.

Finneas' spell works, so Toffitt is no longer slowed and still needs to go this round.

Round 10, Init 32

Toffitt nods his thanks at the unseeing Finneas, then drinks his extract of invisibility and circles around and up to J6 +50'.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 20 + 2 = 49

Atol fails to dispel the beholder's magic, but Finneas frees Toffitt from the slow spell. Technically, Finneas was first and succeeded. If Atol has another action, let me know.

Dyrant renews the blessings of St. Cuthber. Glimmil and Cog move up and wait for the beholder's eye beam to move. It does and they dash up to the ledge.

Toffitt becomes invisible and moves up to the top of the ceiling just outside the cone of antimagic.

The beholder turns his large eye away from the shaft to blindly shoot again, but Glimmil emerges from the fog onto the ledge. With no fog to impede him, the beholder takes fires three rays at Glimmil before spitting on him.

Finger of Death: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26
Death or DC 24 FORT save for only
damage: 3d6 + 13 ⇒ (3, 2, 3) + 13 = 21
-
Flesh to Stone: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 DC 24 FORT negates
-
slow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27 DC 24 WILL negates
-
spit: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
damage: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5 and DC 23 FORT save vs. paralyze

The beholder then tunnels another 10' into the ceiling and moves upward.

Round 10
Finneas = 23
Dyrant (-1 CON, displacement) = 17
Arralyn (-2 CON)
Atol (-1 CON) = 10
Round 11
Toffitt = 32
Glimmil(-1 CON) = 27
Cog (-1 CON)
Beholder = 26 (-6 STR, 80 dmg)

I have to keep stretching the bottom map to allow for the disintegration, but am careful to keep people in the same spot.

Round 10/11 Map

Fort DC24 vs Finger: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (7) + 19 = 26
Fort DC24 vs Stone: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37
Will DC24 vs Slow: 1d20 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 13 + 1 = 31
Fort DC23 vs Spit: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

26 damage (21+5) that round, takes Glimmil to 85/130.

Am I correct that we're not currently in an anti-magic field? If so, then Cog and Glimmil are going to go all out and aeriel charge the monster with his lance, finally getting a chance to employ spirited charge for triple damage.

Glimmil, seeing the angelic wings still surrounding him and Cog, leans down and smiles at his companion.

"Cog! NOW! CHAAARGE!!!"

Tossing his longbow onto the ledge, Glimmil retrieves his lance as they soar upward at the giant eye as images of a cocktail olive on a stick dance through his gnomish mind.

I'm doing research on swift actions during a charge - I think they'd be allowed, if so Glimmil would add Litany of the Righteousness to his damage (which instead of being a 6X hit, I believe is additive and becomes a 5X hit). If not, he'd lay hands prior to this charge.

Lance, Power Attack, Charge, Spirited Charge 3X: 1d20 + 19 + 1 + 2 - 0 ⇒ (16) + 19 + 1 + 2 - 0 = 38 for 3d6 + 21 + 33 ⇒ (4, 5, 1) + 21 + 33 = 64

If Litany is OK, additional damage: 2d6 + 14 + 22 ⇒ (3, 3) + 14 + 22 = 42

If Litany is not OK, lay hands: 7d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 2, 3, 5, 5, 3) = 26

Seeing Dr. Toffit freed from the slow, Atol would have shot his crossbow and saved the spell for later use. Compared to Glimmils charge is laughable, but it's what Atol can muster.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 10 - 4 = 22 (cover) damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Pew pew pew

At Glimmil: I'm assuming you dropped the bow and drew the lance last turn.

On a side note about flying and charging, I did some more research and the fly spell simply says in part, "The subject of a fly spell can charge but not run..." So, I think the only check is whether or not Glimmil (or I guess Cog) can make the DC 20 fly check to ascend at an angle greater than 45 degrees. The fly skill itself does not mention charging.

Thinking further about charging, the extra damage is caused by the extra 'a' in the F=ma equation. So the question is, when you fly upwards, are you still moving as fast, but just can't do it for as long? Or, are you actually moving more slowly?

Regardless of all my musings, I'm going to allow the charge if Cog can make the fly check.

Also, I'm checking on casting and charging, but you'll need an SR check for that.

It seems your fine with charging and litany. " A full-round action consumes all your effort during a round. The only movement you can take during a full-round action is a 5-foot step before, during, or after the action. You can also perform free actions and swift actions." A charge is a full-round action.

Round 11, Init 32

Toffitt drinks his extract of fly and moves up to M7:42. He's invisible, flying, and not particularly trying to be stealthy. He heals a bit more.

Stealth: 1d20 + 10 + 20 - 20 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 20 - 20 = 22
Fly: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 16 + 2 = 31

Round 10, Initiative 10, Location:I9 or best angle for a shot...

Atol loads and shoots his crossbow one more time… (if there’s a shot. I can’t tell from the map if there’s an angle.)

Rolling two D20’s per Dyrant’s hex. (+2 blessings of fervor, -4 cover)
Crossbow: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 11 or Crossbow: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 23 damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Atol uses Blessings of Fervor for +2attacks/AC/reflex saves this round.
Remember, anyone who had breakfast with Atol has 11 temporary hit points, +1 (morale) attack rolls/Will saves, and +4 (morale) on poison/fear saves from the heroes' feast for 12 hours.

Round 10, Init 17

Are youse guys forgetting bard song? +2 to hit and damage? /me casts an eye at Atol and Glim. What do you guys have against bards and music? Would it better if I posted in iambic pentameter to get you in the mood?

Dyrant will double fly straight up to J46.

Everyone but Dyrant, Glim, and Finn: Reroll a pre-called d20 one time for this round and next.

Round 4/5 Displacement (Dyrant), 9/13 Azata.
BOF to AC/Ref.
+2 to attacks and damage via the Azata.

All bards should roleplay their performance. Especially in PbP. Though I suppose doggerel would be more appropriate for Dyrant (and Cog).

Cog has +8 Fly, and Sky Steed grants a +9 bonus, so here goes.

Cog Fly Check: 1d20 + 8 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 9 = 23

Also, Dyrant is correct, +2 damage from the Azata inspire, along with whatever multiplier Glimmil is using (so potentially another 10 damage)

I'm totally fine with toning down Glimmil's action if anything is on the verge of "cheesy", just figuring this is our best shot to try to end this combat! :)

The beholder's smaller eyes open wide in surprise as it realizes too late its mistake in backing away from Glimmil. Vhalantru turns his main eye toward Glimmil as he charges up the shaft in a desperate attempt to end Cog's flying. Cog's momentum is already there though as he charges up the side of the wall as if it were the floor. The beholder's main eye turns to face Glimmil and the lance pierces straight through it. Only the size of the beholder keeps the lance from coming out the other side and sticking into the ceiling. With the beholder dead, the antimagic field fades before Cog and Glimmil go crashing back down.

Dyrant charges out of the fog, intent on finding the right magic with which to end the Beholderen threat, and is dismayed by the ichor and gore raining from above.

What effect is this? Rain of gore!?

Dyrant huzzahs as it finally dawns on him what has happened...what always happens: the brave heroes of the Cauldron 5.2 have surmounted another obstacle, felled another foe, and saved the day yet again. Cog, aided by his mighty gnomic companion, ended the beholder once and for all.

And for that, Dyrant huzzahs. And Huzzahs. And HUZZAHS! while spinning in the air, with fists pumping.

He will only stop fist pumping to remove bits of retina, iris, and fovea from his gore shower, then again to ensure that the beholder is dead-dead.

"Nice work, Cog! And Glim! Bravely fought! I feared we would never catch this one."

'Atol, Dr. Toffitt, Finn...come up! Come up!"

Toffitt taps on Dyrant's shoulder from invisibility. "Excellent well done, friends! Finneas, your fog thrice allowed me to catch the fiend off guard. Glim, your bow and lance shall be legends for many generations of Cobwaddles. I shan't declare victory until we've freed the boy, but I am certainly pleased to have you as allies!"

He begins to search the blob of flesh that was Vhalantru, then eventually returns to the room below.

Yay! For a moment I thought Glim was suiciding! He was just one roll from being a statue or dust.

Glimmil wiggles his lance around a few times before finally dislodging it and flying back down astride Cog, "beholder-pop" in hand.

With a grunt, he sets the massive orb of eyes onto the ground before leaping off Cog and onto the massive creature and planting his plate boots into a pair of the smaller eyes. With some effort, he tugs his lance free and shakes the gore and gristle from it before setting it on the ground next to Cog.

"We did it! Does this mean Cauldron is saved? Again?"

Sweaty and drained, Atol puts his ill-used crossbow away in his pack. He looks around the room and up at the ceiling as he goes over the battle in his mind. He leans heavily against the wall as he peers into the holes the beholder made.

whew

"Is that it? Are we done now? Can we go home? Oh, hey, is anyone injured or still suffering any ill-effects?" Atol's stomach grumbles with the efforts of they day, but healing his friends comes first. ...and we may yet not be done.

"Nay. We've yet to save the child and others bearing the Carceri mark. Let us hope we find clues nearby." Toffitt submits himself for minor healing by placing his invisible hand on Atol. He then returns to searching for clues and treasure.

Atol lays his hands on the good Dr. for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 healing.

"I've got the wand here if you need more. Just let me know."

Toffitt takes some more charges of the wand, with gratitude.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

89/90

Dyrant continues to remove bits of beholder from his hair.

I thought there would be beauty here,,,in the Eye, but no.

Surprised and shocked that the party lives, Dyrant is in uncharacteristic good humor while he searches the place for loot and/or clues about what is going on.

The more we learn, the more confused I get.

While Dyrant searches about, he trusts Aralynn to warn of any evil nearby.

Finneas stows his bow and draws the greatsword of the former high priest of Kord. He then silently floats up the tunnel carved by the beholder and begins chopping the beast apart. When nothing is left or his levitate begins to run out, he will float back down and stab the sword into the beholder's remains, leaving it there.

"Now I can mourn."

Fifth: Uh...well...done?
Male: Let's go find her.

"I need to find my mother. Let's go."

Dyrant slows down his triumphant whooping and twirling in mid-air to look at Finneas, a look of confusion on his face.

"What do you mean, Finn? What are you talking about? What about your mother? Huh?" Dyrant asks.

Toffitt continues searching the beholder's lair for clues and treasure. "Let's take a few moments, that our path might become clear."

Dyrant looks to Finneas for his answer.

Finneas shrugs at Dyrant.

"Somebody has taken my mother. I can't sense her any more. I need to find her. If this beast didn't have her, then she must be in here somewhere."

"If someone has taken your mother, we must find her.", Atol comforts Finneas.

He gathers his things, collecting any crossbow bolts that may remain unbroken, and prepares eagerly for a further search of the complex.

Drip...Drip...Drip.

Beholder guts drip from the shaft in the ceiling as the party examines the room. Draped over the chair of the desk is Vhalantru, or at least the skinshell that he once occupied.

Aside from an errant bolt sticking almost straight up and down, the desk is an orderly collection of notes and journals. If he wasn't already a pile of goo, the contents would surely lead to Vhalantru's demise. They record Vhalantru's arrival in Cauldron and his plans to take over the city.

In a separate pile is a less orderly stack of papers. It seems to be current research for a place called the "Fiery Sanctum." It has maps and notes about the ruins beneath Cauldron including the Malachite Fortress, Jzadirune, and the Kopru Ruins.

The beholder's body is a treasure trove unto itself as several of the eyestalks bear magic items. Dyrant easily identifies them as Bracers of Armor +3, a ring of protection +2, a ring of mind shielding, and a scarab of protection (6 charges left).

Toffitt attempts to ascertain where the Fiery Sanctum might be, and any notes there might be about the whereabouts of those who bear the mark. He then folds the skinshell into his haversack.

Dyrant takes his time in taking apart Vhalantru's lair, still quite stunned at the victory they had achieved. His mind slowly works around to the future...and how to balance helping Finn find his mindmother and helping the statues outside.

"There is much to do," Dyrants holds up the rings, explaining what they do. "Do we take the statues back or leave them here? I might be that we hole up here for a bit, doing research and reviving the stoned. What we need is time...time to save and speak with those that were deemed too dangerous to roam free. Time to unravel these plans."

Time to eat some gristle stew.

Dyrant sighs and facepalms, knowing there are no good answers.

"I will rest here tonight, doing what research I can and working on freeing those outside. Maybe that's for the best?"

Dyrant looks to see if anyone wants the scarab before donning it himself.

When that is done, he will get to work reading and unraveling all of Vhalantru's paperwork.

The rings, bracers, and orc gear can be sold, I think.

Toffitt's strange eyes flick up from the paperwork.

"Rest must wait a bit until we've ascertained Terrem's location. Find him, and we verify whether the ritual's been stopped. These papers contain notes about a 'Fiery Sanctum.' I'm still verifying whether it's the destination we seek. If it's possible, I suggest we find and purchase wares to revive those statues most likely to have information. As well, it may be helpful to attempt scrying on the boy, if it's in our power."

His eyes flick back down to the paper, hunting for the information he seeks.

Starting on the more recent journal entries, Toffitt finds an interesting bit:

These Cagewrights are crazy, but it will be good to be Lord of this city in my true form once they are done. Now that they have secured the boy and the dwarf in their fiery sanctum things should be close to completion. They have kept their word so far, but still they hide themselves from me. It seems we each lack a bit of trust in each other.

"I will rest here tonight, doing what research I can and working on freeing those outside. Maybe that's for the best?"

"There will be no rest for me in this place. All those statutes. Do you think they're still awake under all that stone? Staring off into space for days, months, even years?!"

The thought of going without food that long makes Atol's stomach groan with anger.

"I think we need to finish searching this place and get out. Then we can find this fiery sanctum thing and make and end of it."

The rings, bracers, and orc gear can be sold, I think.

Atol agrees.

"They still have Terrem in their fiery sanctum. Have we means to scry? Let me keep looking for a location." Toffitt searches for any indication of where the sanctum is.

"Don't forget Celeste."

Are there other rooms we haven't explored here?

"Hm. All of these other sites are subterranean. If the fiery sanctum were... Um. Cauldron. Fiery doom. I think they're in the heart of the cinder cone."

The party is on the second level. The entrance shaft descended to a third level as yet unexplored.

Looking over Vhalantru's notes and drawings, it appears that he was convinced that the fiery sanctum was somewhere beneath Cauldron. He has extensive maps of the tunnels, complexes and even the lake, which appears to be about 4,000 feet deep. There are many routes that Vhalantru had yet to explore before his demise.

"There will be no rest for me in this place. All those statutes. Do you think they're still awake under all that stone? Staring off into space for days, months, even years?!"

Dyrant returns Atol's speech with a steely-eyed look, his hands going to cudgel.

"Atol, they need *you*. Those statues are quiet, but they still scream for your help. You would deny them the gifts of St. Cuthbert?! You may not want to stay here, but you *will* lend your strength to them," Dyrant warns, unable to finish the task alone.

"The only question is whether we take care of them first, or go find the fiery rectum."

Dyrant stares at the note.

"Sadly, with the boy and dwarf in hand, we might need to go to find the Cartwrights first. However, I worry that the St. Cuthbertine church has the power to revive them should we fall. That is worrysome."

Pretty sure that both Stone to Flesh and Break Enchantment fix the stoning.

Dyrant rubs his belly, wishing he had some bowls of gristle stew with which to eat while he 'stews' upon the issues at hand.

"As for staying here, Atol. We might be safer here than at home...and with less threats to the innocents above. Here, we are defensed and can fight without danger to harming others. In addition, the Cagewrights might not know we are here...it is clear that neither Vhalantru nor the Cagewright trusted each other. If they seek us, they would not search here, would they?"

Dyrant muses, looking at Finn.

Toffitt leaves the papers. "Even Vhalantru had difficulty finding the path to the Cagewrights, despite his ample magics. Hm. I wonder if we might collectively have better options... I fear we haven't much time to interrupt their ritual. Perhaps a day, perhaps moments."

Forgive me if this seems like too much metagaming, but GM_Chris said Find the Path would be acceptable at this juncture. Toffitt does not, in fact, know that anyone in the party can cast that particular spell...

Toffitt tests Celeste's weight to see if he might be able to fly with her. Failing that, he refreshes his elixir of ant haul and offers it to Finneas. Ant haul gives Toffitt a heavy load max of 400 lb., and Finneas 800 lb.

She's stuck in a painting, shouldn't weigh too much.

Oh right. Losing track of who's transmogrified how....

Toffitt takes the painting off the wall, gauging if it will be possible to carry it. "I suggest we leave the petrified ones for now, and return later. Forestalling this ritual is of foremost importance. But perhaps we can at least free Celeste and learn what she knows."

"Atol, they need *you*. Those statues are quiet, but they still scream for your help. You would deny them the gifts of St. Cuthbert?! You may not want to stay here, but you *will* lend your strength to them," Dyrant warns, unable to finish the task alone.

Me?!

"Me?! How can I help? I cannot cast Stone to Flesh - that's a wizard spell... uh, isn't it?" Atol looks nervously like he's missing something obvious. I just want to garden a bit.

"As for staying here, Atol. We might be safer here than at home...and with less threats to the innocents above. Here, we are defensed and can fight without danger to harming others. In addition, the Cagewrights might not know we are here...it is clear that neither Vhalantru nor the Cagewright trusted each other. If they seek us, they would not search here, would they?"

"Oh. OK." Atol gathers his robes around him as if protecting himself from the cold as he thinks about the statues - then about the missing boy and Finneas' mother.

"We should search downstairs first. Maybe they're right here under our feet."

He holds his cudgel up and prays to St. Cuthbert for guidance.

"No, Atol. His notes say he could not find them, and I daresay he searched below. Well, unless the shaft leads to the impossibly confusing maze that lies beneath Cauldron. At any rate, it seems his magics were weaker than I expected. All eyes, that one."

Dyrant will explain to Atol what might work (Break Enchantment).

"...given the nature of their stonage, it's my best guess at a solution."

Dyrant will continue to work on going through the notes and will take time to examine all the statues again to see which might be once-alive yahoos.

"These statues concern me. If they were stoned, they must have been a threat...or have knowledge that might aid us. That is another path to consider."

GM Gristle, from the above, which might be de-stoned?

Glimmil trots up to the statue of the gnome, recognizing the stone medallion around his neck.

"A priest of Garl!"

Excitedly he points. Cog leaps ahead and begins sniffing the statue, clearly sensing his master's own enthusiasm.

"He can help, maybe... if we can free him?"

As Glimmil makes a few treks up and down the line, he finds others he deems a priority.

"And this elf here, she's pretty and some sort of priest too. Maybe her, she looks a bit like a wizard... it sure would be great to have a wizard on our side!"

"Right then. I'll be going to ask the Striders if they have the sort of divinatory magics we need. Meet you back here, then?" Toffitt begins to leave.

"Oooohhh. Break Enchantment. I can cast that. I think I can safely memorize three of those tomorrow and still have a few tricks up my sleeve. Should I start with Celeste in the painting? She should know something."

"Right then. I'll be going to ask the Striders if they have the sort of divinatory magics we need. Meet you back here, then?" Toffitt begins to leave.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

He looks around nervously however, "I don't think we should split up. They're probably waiting for that so they can take us out when we're weak. We should definitely stick together."