Siege of Serpents (Inactive)

Game Master DrParty06

As the second snake is dealt with, a man who was hiding in the shrubbery behind you approaches you, "Thank you. I wish that we could have kept them alive, but perhaps having seps around was not the best idea. They came from the Menagerie. There are more invaders there trying to loose other beats on the campus!"

The Menagerie is in the south campus.

Renyrd yelps a challenge to the shrubbery-man, but Genta picks up the fox and strokes him to calm him down. To the man, she asks, "Do you have any idea who or what is behind all this?"

@Ksarress: "I think the bladeguard will keep... and I guess I'll keep it then!" Gaevus recaps the pot of bladeguard.

Gaevus waves to the fleeing initiates. "Go to Starhall for safety! Or, uh, wherever you were going if someone told you otherwise!"

Turning back to the party, and the shrubbery-man, he asks, "How many more beasts are there? Are they even worse than these seps...es?"

In that case Ksarress wipes the acid off on the ground, pours some water over the blade and dried it before returning it to his efficient quiver.

"I'm beginning to question the wisdom of having such dangerous creatures in an open menagerie at all. I doubt the menagerie is the true purpose of this attack but it may be the most efficient place to restore order. On the other hand, animals can only kill you and the dead can do worse." Ksarress eyes the mausoleum...

though if we can actually get into the mausoleum faster ..

It arbitrarily takes the same amount of time to get to either place.

"It was some of those creatures that were flying from Skyreach. Some of the beasts escaped almost as soon as they started arriving. While we were trying to contain them, the flying creatures started trying to let more out, and it's devolved since then. I don't know how many more they've freed, but we had all sorts of beasts imported for the Convocation."

"Oh no, Mr. Scaly-fang Fluffers! We should go help. Er, unless there was a pressing need to get to the mausoleum? It's just books, right?" Realizing what she said, Yitza glances at Genta with a chagrined look, and then tries to pretend nothing happened.

"yes, while undoubtedly nefarious deeds occur within, let us assit with the menagerie"

"Hooray, the menagerie! I'm allowed to murdernate some of the beasts that are loose, right? Or are we supposed to be saving all the animals....? Gaevus looks more excited about fighting the animals, as long as they're not awful and acidy. "I think we're also a bit better suited to fighting the living than the dead, right? I seem to remember some spectres that sucked.... They sucked the positive energy right out of you too!"

We might be better suited to fighting animals with our spells and weapons? Unclear!

"A mausoleum is for holding the dead. A museum is for holding old books and relics. I can see how you might be confused," Genta says, peevishly, giving a mildly dirty look (although of course Genta is capable of much more acidic glares, reserved for true foes). "But anyway, you're right. Let's secure the menagerie first, with whatever force we need to," she adds to Gaevus. "If you see anything foxish, let us handle it, though." She scritches Renyrd, then lets go of him. He momentarily hovers in the air, but then hops down.

"All right, off to the menagerie then! Remember to let Genta take care of the foxy things!" Gaevus happily and obliviously shouts as he runs off in whatever direction someone pointed last.

Max pauses a moment, wielding his Extend Rod and casts something. ((extended Magic Circle vs Evil on himself. 10'radius Protection from Evil centered on him, it should last for 3 hours/180 minutes). He blinks a moment at Genta and thinks better of making any comments about foxiness. He reflects on his performance earlier with the animal challenge "It'd be nice if we could not kill the menagerie, but I doubt we're the ones to play wranglers"

"Quick rules for dealing with a menagerie in a crisis: If it's a harmless animal, ignore it. If it's a dangerous animal, kill it or subdue it, whichever is convenient. If it's a magical beast, and evil, ask it to surrender, if it doesn't: kill it. If it's a magical beast, and neutral, ask it nicely to stop attacking people, and we'll help it leave. If it's a magical beast, and good, kill the pathfinders trying to restrain it."
You're left wondering if Fetch was joking while Ivan picks up those who can't keep up with his flight, and takes off toward the menagerie.

"Errr... hrm. Hey, Gaevus? Don't actually kill Pathfinders. We can use words instead of swords to convince them of the error of their ways. Leave the talking to Genta or I." She glances down at the ground zipping past below them, and her pale skin takes on a green undertone. "Uh, thanks for the lift, Ivan!"

Between the occasional "Wheee!" and "Whoooooo!", you hear Gaevus say, "I'll leave the talking to you guys, and you can trust me with the sword swinging! Just tell me if there's a baddy you don't want karked!" Gaevus then resumes his first gleeful experience at flight since he and Max fell into a pit after Max's fly spell was dispelled....

While being ferried to the menagerie, do we see anything exciting or particularly troubling?

A reminder: I do have a 30 ft move speed, thanks to Fleet of Foot!

A helmeted dwarf with a tangled beard stops running to look up. "Whit th' hell is tha?" he blurts, rubbing his eyes and squinting at the brightly colored, feathered monster overhead and the Pathfinders in its talons. "Ah must hae had one bevvy too many!" He takes a swig of rum to clear his head, then lowers his head like a bull to charge in another direction.

Transit to the Menagerie takes ~10 minutes. You swat a few lesser enemies out of the air on your way as Genta throws a few well-timed hexes to help out other groups that are fighting across the grounds. When you arrive, you see a shifting mass of tents and canvas tarpaulins covering dozens of pens and enclosures of varying sizes is pressed up against the lodge’s western wall. Wagons bearing food and supplies brought in from the city are parked nearby. Other wagons contain caged enclosures like those that used in a traveling circus. Larger tents cover metal cages of enormous size. To the east, the grass is compacted from regular foot traffic to the training grounds.

You see three wyvaran congregated around a very large cage, one of whom is quickly trying to use a set of keys to release the beast within. As they become aware of your presence, one readies his sword and shield to strike out at you WC1, while another starts to gesture as if to cast a spell WS. The third continues trying to unlock the cage.

Roll20 updated.

Initiative
Gaevus: Go
Genta: Go
WS/WC2
Max
Yitza
Ksaress
Fetch
WC1

"Ahhh! Spellcasters are the worst! I'm going to get him, and try to get closer to that other one. Oy! You over there!" Gaevus shouts, referring to the one he can barely see over the edge of a tentpost, trying to unlock the cage.

Gaevus will hop slightly, activating his Boots of Speed (9 rounds left), and charges the caster (WS), trying to get a good slash in, putting himself in danger.
Including charging, haste, heroism:
Charge Attack: 1d20 + 29 ⇒ (2) + 29 = 31 vs. WC's flatfooted AC
Damage: 1d4 + 14 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 5 = 21 total damage (16 magic slashing, 5 precision)

Afterwards, he grabs his blue scarf, and warns the caster, "They told me to tell you to give up! There's no escape!" Gaevus activates his Blue Scarf Swordmaster's Flair using a panache point (as before) and gains 10 foot reach.

Current AC after charging + haste: AC 28, Touch 20, FF 19

Genta, who had been keeping pace flying alongside Ivan (with Renyrd clinging to her back), now breaks away, zooming ten feet above the ground towards the one who's fumbling with the keys. Inspired by the sight of its wings, she whispers, "Can't see what you're doing if you're blind as a bat..." as she casts a spell at it.

Blindness cast at WC2, Fort save DC 22 negates.

Gaevus rushes forward easily stabbing into the wyvaran, while Genta blinds the wyvaran trying to open the cage.

Fort Save vs. Blindness: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

"No escape? You are a fool little one!", says WS "There is always an escape!" as it disappears from sight.

Concentration vs. DC23: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33

The other wyvaran continues blindly fumbling with keys.
Right Key? On a 3.: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Initiative
Max: Go
Yitza: Go
Ksaress: Go
Fetch: Go

Ksaress spends a ki point and charges WC1.

"Did not expect one so large to move so quickly?" he says as he cuts at the flat footed wyvaran.

charge!: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (20) + 16 = 36
Crit!: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (9) + 16 = 25
damage: 1d8 + 2d6 + 15 ⇒ (8) + (3, 5) + 15 = 31
crit bonus: 1d8 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

[occ]AC -2 for the round[/ooc]

Did WS cast a spell that I can Spellcraft? It would help to know if it's invisible or if it has teleported. If so:

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (1) + 22 = 23

Ksarress critically slices into the wyvaran.

How tall is the tent Genta is hovering above?

"Ah! I think the casterman ran away! What'd he do, Genta?" Gaevus blinks confusedly. "Should I stop the one with the keys, or should I help Ksarress? D'you think you have that bloke, Ksarress?" Gaevus glances back at his friend before worriedly eyeing the huge toothy thing in the cage. "Maybe I should do something about the guy with the keys.... Does anyone know who these guys are? I have SO MANY QUESTIONS."

"Stop them from letting the dinosaur out. I'll be fine.

"They're wyvarans - technically a kind of dragon. He cast greater invisibility. He can attack unseen and stay invisible. Let me know if you get a clue where he is," says Genta.

It's safe to assume that Genta always attempts Spellcraft whenever an enemy casts a spell. She gets 8th-level and lower spells automatically, and 9th-level spells on a 2. It's also safe to assume that Genta shares anything she knows from Knowledge checks about monsters or Spellcraft checks about enemy spells with the party. Normally I'd be happy to do all that in character, but I don't want people to be left in the dark just because I haven't had a chance to post yet.

not recalling if I have Heroism or not
Max moves over by Ksarress to try and help him with WC1 in a timely fashion and swings his hammer as an Attitude Adjuster
Hammer strike: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15 (+2 if I have Heroism). Ugh. Maybe a warning shot :-P
damage: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24 Blunt magic/CI/S

"D-dragons? Owls, dragons, and snakes, oh my!" She casts Displacement on herself, and then begins singing merrily to inspire the party: "What do you do with a drunken wyvaran, what do you do...?" She comes up with some interesting if impractical solutions on each verse. One of them involves a spoon and peanut butter.

@Max: You, Ksarress, and Gaevus all have Heroism, and now Inspire Courage (+2).

The tent Genta is above is 15 ft.

Max takes a swing at the wyvaran, but he easily deflects it with his shield.

Yitza continues singing and gets harder to place.

"I have an idea for the dragonbirdman with the keys! I promise that it's not too trippy, and is mostly well thought out?" Gaevus's confidence peters out briefly at the end of his statement. He then steels his nerve, and says, "Yeah! I just won't hurt him! And then you guys can ask him questions! Yeah!"

Once Fetch finishes her action, and WC1 take sits turn, the following can be resolved:

Gaevus rushes toward the blind enemy with the keys (moving 30 feet, hopefully not running into the invisible caster). Then, using his sword, he attempts to trip the enemy to stop him from unlocking the door!
Trip Attack: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (4) + 28 = 32 vs. WC2's flatfooted trip CMD (because of blindness)

Upon tripping the enemy, he takes the opportunity to strike out at the falling wyvaran (via Greater Trip)--but now how one would normally expect!
Disarm Attack: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (6) + 24 = 30 vs. WC2's flatfooted disarm CMD (because of blindness) to try to disarm it of the keys
Gaevus risks an attack of opportunity here, as he does not have Improved Trip. WC2 shouldn't be able to make an attack because it is blind, but if the caster is around, it can.

The keys drop from the wyvaran's hand with a plop into the dirt, a brief moment after the wyvaran itself plops onto the dirt. "Aha! How do you expect to find your keys now? You don't have a Genta or a Yitza or a Max like I do when I lose my keys!" Gaevus gloats.

"Ivan, get the one with the keys!"
Ivan hurtles across the battlefield, maintaining his 15 ft altitude, and strikes out at the Wyveran with the keys:
Bite Attack: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (15) + 27 = 42presumably against flat footed AC-2
Damage: 1d6 + 31 ⇒ (5) + 31 = 36

Ivan grips the Wyveran in his teeth and shakes it in an attempt to cause it to lose it's balance.
Trip Attempt: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (10) + 27 = 37

I suspect this is futile, but maybe they are so bad at flying they can be tripped. And if not, maybe Gaevus will notice the flaw in his plan

Fetch readies to cast glitterdust if she can identify the location of an invisible enemy.

Oh. Are they flying? I didn't realize they were flying. Sorry.

Ivan takes a big bite out of the creature holding onto the keys, who clumsily flaps his wings around to avoid falling over as he is released.

The remaining fighter sees Ksarress as a threat and unleashes a full attack against him. While it strikes very hard with one attack, it bounces harmlessly off of Ksarress's armor.

Longsword: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (8) + 17 = 25
Longsword: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
Longsword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Shield Bash: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (3) + 18 = 21
Shield Bash: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Initiative
Gaevus: Go
Genta: Go
WS/WC2

"Awww, my plan won't work!" Disappointed, Gaevus moves forward and tries to simply disarm the enemy, thinking that to be more useful than attacking it, especially while it is blind.
Disarm Attack: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (5) + 24 = 29 vs. WC2's flatfooted disarm CMD (because of blindness) to try to disarm it of the keys
Gaevus risks an attack of opportunity here, as he does not have Improved Disarm. WC2 shouldn't be able to make an attack while blind, but if the caster is around, it can.

"Aha! What will you do now without your keys? Can you even find them?"

Sorry again. I never actually looked at the enemy portraits and there was no mention of flight that I saw. Hopefully this works!

Ksarress is hit by a lucky long sword shot due to his reckless charge.

Genta flies a bit higher to survey the menagerie. "Do you hear him anywhere? Or smell him?" she asks softly. Renyrd barks in a warning tone, and looks with Genta.

Genta's Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (11) + 16 = 27
Renyrd's Perception: 1d20 + 20 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 20 + 2 = 37 Using competence bonus from crime scene challenge

The witch keeps a spell on the tip of her tongue to reveal the caster...

If that Perception is good enough to find WS immediately, Genta casts glitterdust at it. Otherwise, she readies to cast glitterdust if she or Renyrd figure out where it is, either from hearing it or smelling it or someone being attacked by it. She will try to aim the 10-foot radius so as to miss her friends, but if the only way to be sure is to include an ally in the spell radius than so be it.

Ksarress, you're in my Magic Circle/PoE radius. Presuming WC1 is evil, would the +2 Deflection help you there?

No, because it would bring my charging adc to 30 even, since I already have a +1 deflection bonus, which they hit.

The wyvaran striking at Ksarress gets very lucky to hit him, but not lucky enough to critically damage him.
Crit. Confirm: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Gaevus slaps the keys out of the wyvaran's hands with his scimitar.

Genta looks around, but is unable to immediately see the caster.

Stealth: 1d20 + 3 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 3 + 20 = 42

Soon though, it becomes painfully obvious that the caster has moved behind the wyvaran fighting Ksarress as a cone of cold erupts from that space hitting Max, Genta, Gaevus and Ivan.

Cold Damage: 10d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 4, 3, 6, 6, 1, 4, 4, 5) = 39
DC 19 Reflex save for half.

Genta targets a glitterdust there revealing the caster and blinding him.
Will Save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Miss Chance (high hits): 100d20 + 21 ⇒ (14, 2, 11, 7, 11, 11, 12, 13, 4, 7, 12, 16, 3, 6, 11, 11, 19, 4, 20, 17, 18, 7, 7, 9, 3, 5, 19, 16, 12, 3, 9, 5, 15, 6, 3, 5, 6, 14, 9, 8, 14, 17, 5, 1, 9, 11, 2, 5, 9, 17, 8, 16, 1, 19, 15, 5, 6, 6, 17, 15, 2, 2, 2, 19, 6, 1, 19, 16, 6, 7, 5, 3, 11, 3, 4, 3, 9, 19, 15, 12, 18, 7, 2, 13, 8, 14, 18, 16, 10, 18, 19, 3, 18, 6, 16, 12, 10, 19, 16, 12) + 21 = 1028

Initiative
Max: Go
Yitza: Go
Ksaress: Go
Fetch: Go

Max tries to duck from the blast, teeth aching with shivering
Reflex: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 5 + 2 = 23
He grits his teeth at the glittering form, adjusts his stance up and tries to teach him? a lesson about good manners
Hammer: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32
damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27 Blunt (M/CI/S)
and again
iterative Hammer: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
damage: 1d12 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20

"Gah! Cold!" Gaevus also shivers, despite avoiding most of the chilly spell.
Reflex: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (14) + 22 = 36
HP: 60/79

Gaevus carefully eyes the blinded wyvaran to see what it does, prepared to make an attack if it reaches down to grope blindly for the keys. Does the wyvaran do anything?

On another note, what's with all the miss chances?

Ksarress steps forward and attempted to eviscerate the blinded wyvaran, switching his attacks to the other if he falls.

attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (20) + 20 = 40
crit confirm: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39

damage: 1d8 + 2d6 + 17 ⇒ (6) + (2, 4) + 17 = 29
crit damage: 1d8 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20

attack: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

damage: 1d8 + 2d6 + 17 ⇒ (8) + (5, 4) + 17 = 34

attack: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35
crit confirm: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (8) + 20 = 28

damage: 1d8 + 2d6 + 17 ⇒ (8) + (6, 4) + 17 = 35
crit damage: 1d8 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23

(107 from 2 crits, if 22 hits blind flat footed then 141 total)

Yitza keeps singing, and does a disorientating two-step up towards Ksarress and Max.

For what it's worth, you both now have the Discordant Voice damage bonus. (That was a double move, and I'm done.)

Reflex save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
Genta swivels in midair up and out of the way, dodging the worst of the ice blast.

That miss chance is something I didn't notice was still in the post after waltzing through Bonekeep 3, also it did something weird with what was there.

The wyvaran next to Gaevus had attempted to attack Ivan on its turn with its longsword.

Yitza moves up and continues to sing.

Max lands a couple of solid body blows to the caster, who isn't looking so hot anymore... because he used cone of cold, also not many hp.

Ksarress finishes off the caster in a single blow, before striking a blow against the fighter that would not have hit were it not for the fact that he was trying to scrape glitter from his eyes. Ksarress kindly helps with the glitter by liberating the wyvaran's head from it's body.

Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

The remaining wyvaran realizes he's blind, lost the keys, and far outnumbered. He drops his longsword, throws down his shield and says in Common, "Okay, you win! I'm just going to go sit over here now. " He walks to the side of the tent (nowhere near anything that would allow aggression) and curls up wishing he were a true dragon with blindsense.

You look into the cage and Genta can tell you that the creature inside is a spinosaurus. As she does so, a couple zookeepers who were hiding in the bushes emerge and thank you for not harming it, providing you with some "emergency supplies". This isn't any actual supplies, but allows more Aid Tokens to be distributed once enough are gathered.

"That was frosty cool... Nice swinging of the sharp pointy things, boys. So, we're ready to tackle the dead things in the mausoleum? No animated copies of the Necronomicon to be faced there, right Genta? I hope."

Do I/we see any other 'hot spots' on the grounds that could use our talents?
Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (3) + 17 = 20

I'll make another post later about other things happening.

Genta takes one of the potions. If no one objects, she gulps it down.

Cure Moderate Wounds: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (8, 7) + 3 = 18

"Someone tie this guy up. Or get someone to cover him, at least," suggests Genta. "Anyone mind if I take this scroll of false life too?"

I don't think anyone else can use it.

False Life: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

I can, but I don't mind. I think we have 3? people who could use the scroll of haste? I recommend whoever is running out of hastes take it. Or I guess spontaneous casters don't so even Ksarress could take it just in case.

Ksarress ties up the blinded wyvaran (CMB+16).

"Can you guys secure the rest of the animals?" Gaevus asks the zookeepers. "We can even lend you some of the stuff these dragobirdmen had!" Gaevus looks around. Are there any more animals running amok in this area?

If the coast looks clear, Gaevus will partake in second lunch finally, drinking the Potions of Cure Light Wounds from before.
Potion of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Potion of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Potion of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
HP: 76/79

3x Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds remain.

"Did someone say that one of these wands protected us from arrows? I hate arrows! I can't parry them." Gaevus visibly pouts. "How long does the magic last for? Can we use it?"
I think only Fetch can use it from our party, or Ksarress with UMD.