The 6 Seasoned Pathfinders , Episode 2 - The Wounded Wisp (Inactive)

Game Master PJP

Serak moves across with no difficulty, but Elvik is a strange sight. No one is quite sure what he was attempting, but he steps up, spins, flails, and then falls into the crevice.

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

@Elrik - Make a DC 10 Climb check to climb back out.

Dusklord's face is a mix of concern for his own safety crossing the rickety plank, and amusement as the others struggle.

Can I just take 10 on acrobatics for a 12? If so, I'll cross. Also, I think crocodile animal companions are medium, not small, are they not?

Climb: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

You hear Elvik cursing while he tries to get out and finally makes it up with a very red face.

They become medium at level 4.

I've got too many editions of games swirling around in my head! You're right!

Yes, you can take 10 here, for either the acrobatics to jump over or for the climb up (or down).

Starling looks around, then begins slowly crossing the plank, carefully placing her balance on the less-creaky areas. "Why would the bar have such a plank in its basement?", she says to nobody in particular.

Heryn, who is right behind you, says "Sorry, dear. We don't come down here much, and the cost to fix this big hole is more than I can afford."

Eventually, you all manage to cross the chasm, and move on into the next room.

"The bottle you seek is on the top shelf on the back wall, all by itself."

Sure enough, you see the bottle.

Dusklord moves into the room, perusing the various wines like a connoisseur.

"A fine selection..."

When he makes it to the bottle in question, he pulls it off the shelf for delivery.

"Ahisss..."

"Yes, perhaps you may have some later," the wizard says to his familiar.

Sometimes I have to work this in so I remember it's there!

Well, grab it and lets get out of here. This place is... boring.

Serak grumbles as he idly flips his coin in the air.

When Dusklord tries to pull the bottle of the shelf, it triggers something that causes the wine rack to slide back into a short
stone tunnel that leads into the hidden room.

A sturdy silver chain jutting from the ceiling ends in a glowing orb that radiates yellow light across the rectangular room. A simple desk of polished wood, stacked with documents and scattered notes, shelters a pair of wooden chests against the south wall. A series of cracks along the eastern and western walls form makeshift entrances into exposed caverns.

Dusklord's face twists into a smirk.

"What have we here? Our simple courier mission has changed, my good fellows. Obviously this is some kind of test. We should go in," he suggests.

Serak grunts in agreement.
Sounds like Dreng, even, to give us something like this to keep us busy. Oh well. Let's get on with it.

The gnome moves forward, to the desk, and starts rummaging through it and the two chests.

OK, we all knew combat wsa coming! Let's have everyone decide where they are going to be when we roll initiative...

Map

Looks good to me. So we don't have to resolve this each time, we should probably have a standard marching order. Best AC is Elvik and Nago (front line). Maybe bards in the middle, then Dusklord and Serak in the back? Animal companions of the front two guys could be right behind them?

"So this mission might not be as boring as we thought. Good to know!" Starling says as she steps forward and prepares for combat.

What happens if we are flanked if all the high ACs are up front? Maybe one in the rear and keep the low AC characters in the middle? Should Elvik then be in front because he moves the slowest and has darkvision?

Hey guys, I'm back and will be posting regularly again!

Taking 10 to get across, so I don't slow things down.

Aeleth makes his way across the plank carefully and without mishap.

"A hidden room? I agree...you can bet your last copper Dreng meant for us to find this room. To what end though, I wonder..."

That position looks fine for Aeleth.

We could have someone else in the rear. I suppose we could have Elvik + animal companion in the front, you + animal companion in the rear. Though I think bards are usually strong enough to handle rear guard.

OK, been over 24 hours, and no objections to current placement, so we will continue.

As Serak approaches the desk to check it out, you all suddenly hear a sick, slobbering sound, as two hideous creatures appear from the large cracks in the walls. They are hideously malformed, hairless, pustule-covered corpses, moving and snarling like hounds.

Round 1: (bold may go)
Nago, Elvik
Monsters
Dusklord, Starling, Aeleth

"Attack." Nago tells Nagi. Handle Animal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 Nagi advances then Nago advances. Nago sees the undead creatures and calls out "What are thessse thingsss?" holding his shield like he is trying to keep them away.

Elvik moves up to the creature. double move

The first monster, seeing Elvik move in behind it, turns and attacks.

Claw Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Miss
Claw Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Miss
Bite Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

It takes a massive chunk of Elvik's flesh in its bite, and perhaps even more disturbingly, chews it up and swallows it. It looks to growing stronger (more HP) before your eyes.

The second creature charges out of the crevice on all fours and straight at Sevak. It bites him in the leg, and brings him to the ground. (Sevak is prone.)

Bite Attack: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Trip: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 + 4 = 23

Round 1: (bold may go)
Nago, Elvik
Monsters
Dusklord, Starling, Serak (prone), Aeleth

Starling feels like she's about to throw up as she observes with horror how the creatures simply chews off part of Elvik's flesh and seems to grow in front of her eyes. An involuntary thought comes to her mind, now that this thing ate part of Elvik, is it partially Elvik as well? She shakes her head to get rid of the thought and instead tries to concentrate on playing a battle tune. She chooses the tale of Bridget and beings to recite right at the part where the heroine fights a group of six skeletons singlehandedly and defeats them all:
And Bridget raised her sword,
in front of the skeleton horde,
a skeleton warrior at her slashed,
while another his teeth gnashed,
but Bridget stood fast,
knowing that she would the battle outlast!
Inspire Courage, +1 to attacks and damage.

Dusklord steps into the room. "As I said previously, this is an academic issue. If I had the ability to control fire, and your house was burning down, you would expect me to utilize my power to extinguish the fire. In this case, I understand the magic that harnesses the minds of these sad creatures." The wizard puts forth his hand and attempts, through his magic, to control them.

Command Undead, DC 14 Will save for all undead within 30'. I can control up to 5 HD of undead because of Undead Master.

Interesting...

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

The first monster continues his onslaught, but the second creature suddenly stops feasting on Serak and waits for Dusklord's command.

Which is the one under Dusklord's control? The nearer one or the further one?

The one in the main room is controlled, the other in the side crevice is still attacking Elvik.

Aeleth runs up into the roomdraws his whip. Noting that the first of their opponents had been subdued by Dusklord, he moves towards the second one and lashes out with his whip, trying to pull the creature's legs from out under it.

trip: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Five Foot Step diagonally down and right, Cast Burning Hands.

Serak rolls out of the way, and grins evilly.
Let's see how you like this!

He opens his mouth, and a blast of flames pours out!
Burning Hands: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 2 = 8 DC 15 Reflex for Half

By my calculations, that should actually work perfectly, as the cone will miss every single party member by one square. Unless that frog thing is one of ours, in which case Serak will shout out what he is going to do and delay until it moves.

Aeleth just manages to pull it down (prone).

Serak - I think the "frog thing" is an animal companion, so it my not understand. Also, the one on the right is under Dusklord's control - the one on the left side of the map is still attacking.

Lol the frog thing would be Nagi the crocodile.

Oh, I had the two mixed up. In that case, he'll step into the square adjacent the left one and do the same thing. Being right beside it means his ally won't be in the way.
Concentration: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
GM Star Reroll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

I'm sorry Serak - you can't stand up, move and cast this round (you were prone). You can keep the roll if you need it, though...

On the plus side, although Dusklord can't bring the beastie into the next scenario, he gets to use it for the rest of this scenario!

I'm sorry Serak - you can't stand up, move and cast this round (you were prone). You can keep the roll if you need it, though...

Oh, I was prone, wasn't I.... Yeah, keep the rolls, and he'll do that next round, provided it's still alive. Sorry I forgot about the prone-ness...

Dusklord commands his new minion to remain still. The wizard's face is one of barely-disguised glee.

"You see...it is just like controlling a flame, or the wind. Only these are bones."

Delay for now.

Nago draws his weapon and before he can move forward to attack the creature attacking Elvik, Nagi rushes forward and takes a bite out of the creature. Bite+IC+PA: 1d20 + 3 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 3 + 1 - 1 = 181d6 + 3 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 + 2 = 11

Bad guy back up?

Sorry for the delay - I trashed my back yesterday and was out of commission.

Nagi has perhaps the most disgusting meal of its life, but makes quick work of destroying the creature with powerful jaws.

Out of combat.

Serak continues his search, and finds some very interesting, and apparently old, documents. The papers chronicle the personal exploits of Selmius Foster, a famous Pathfinder whose name some of you recognize from early training as Pathfinder agents.

Note of particular interest.

Appended note penned by Adolphus, Selmius's assistant.

"Interesting. There's apparently some rot in our valiant society," Starling says dryly, as if the information doesn't really surprise her. She sighs, "We should take this to the venture-captain, although I'm not sure how relevant these would be now. Whatever, it's for the brass to decide now."

"Are there any dates on these notes? How old might they be? Do you think Adolphus or Eylysia are still alive?"

Dusklord looks positively excited as the undead creature stands silently and docile.

"A fascinating specimen! I am not sure I have seen this subtype before! I must document its behavior and present my findings to the university!"

After some time of examining the creature, he seems content to let it stand a silent vigil, and he moves to look at the papers they have found.

"A trove of documents...rot in the Society indeed. We have a few leads we can follow. We could investigate this mausoleum or this Fimbrik fellow. The mausoleum sounds like a good start..." he says with a sidelong glance at his minion.

Heryn says she didn't know anything about this secret area, and that she has never met Adolphus before. That, coupled with the dust and other clues in the room, suggests these are pretty old.

Pretty sure the creature also makes an appearance in Godsmouth Heresy.
"Yesss, the mausssoleum sssoundsss like a good idea. Maybe more undead for you." Nago agrees with Dusklord.

"A good a plan as any, I reckon."

Serak grins.
A mausoleum, eh? Sounds like an interesting place to explore. Let's be off then!