The 6 Seasoned Pathfinders, Episode 7 - The Midnight Mauler (#3-16) (Inactive)

Game Master FiddlersGreen

As her friends begin chasing the mysterious figure Starling begins to sing a rhythmic tune, inspiring them to excel in whatever they choose to do, and encouraging them to reach the Midnight Mauler as quickly as possible. She also draws her rapier, even though she realizes she won't be using it soon.

Inspire Competence, +2 to all skills for anyone 30 ft from Starling. This should help almost all rolls in this chase.

Initiative order:
Yndra (No progress)
Starling (?????)
Elvik (No progress)
Stephani (Progress 1 square)
Ducklord (Progress 1 square)
TMM

Stephani, one check per round, unless you are attempting to jump 3 squares, which has its own risks if you fail...

Waiting on Starling before I start describing.

FYI, Starling posted just above you and 1 minute before.

FYI, Starling posted just above you and 1 minute before.

Gah! Starling, you're supposed to warn the GM when you take a level in ninja!

Stephani barrels through a door in the collapsed building and Dusklord takes the opportunity to follow close behind. They Maular is now clearly in their sights, but blocking the way between them and the bridge is an overgrown reserve of vegetation that they will need to navigate to progress. As Elvik moves to follow, the crumbling masonry gives way and blocks his path, compelling him to find an alternate route. Further to the side, Yndra sees a dip in the ruins and attempts to climb over them. Starling sees this and attempts to inspire the dwarf to greater heights (literally!). However, the dwarf's short stature puts a couple of handholds just out of her reach, and she is unable to make progress.

For each 10 feet slower than 30ft a character moves, he suffers a cumulative –2 penalty on any check made to navigate obstacles.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 16 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 16 + 4 = 38

A character may attempt to move three squares during his turn by taking a full-round action. (See spoiler in previous post for details.)

Initiative order:

And the PCs are up again!

Sorry GM! Also, I thought it would be best if we could exploit the rules a bit, by using delays to have anyone in Starling's square make their attempts before her, then have her try to advance, and if she succeeds, have those in the square she gets to make their own rolls. This will maximize the +2 benefit her singing gives. Note that the bonus applies only for skills, not for the CMB checks and the like.

So following on the above, Starling will delay and act after Yndra and Elvik, and then:

Starling attempts to force open the door - which somehow became shut tight after Dusklord passed through it - and just barely manages to squeeze through.
CMB: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Nah no worries, I was just humorously noting the fact that I didn't notice your ninja-post 1-minute before mine. I applied your inspiration bonus to all the checks, but unfortunately it was not enough to put Yndra and Elvik over the threshold. Chase scenes are rather harsh on shorties. XD

Yndra and Elvik will get your singing bonus if they attempt to climb again.

The door didn't become shut, the crumbling masonry collapsed over the doorway. But Starling will be able to find another door and force her way through that one. ;)

Dusklord's skeletal form easily makes it through the thorny thicket, hardly even snagging his black robes.

escape artist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

Yndra harrumphs loudly, comments on the fact that speed-enhancing magic should have been the first thing she should have learned, and then tries again to climb over the wall.

Climb: 1d20 + 6 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 - 2 + 2 = 7

Yeah... no. :/

Stephanie tries to weave her way through the obstacles, finding the clearest path.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 5 + 2 = 21

Yndra continues to struggle with climbing over what she thinks should be a low mound of rubble, but the handholds she needs continue to prove out of her reach. Desperate, she tries to jump for one, but misses and lands rather ignominously on her bum.

Starling on the other hand spots an opening propped up by a relatively thin wooden beam. Bracing herself, she charges shoulder-first through the wooden beam to the other side, but the masonry that had been propped up by the beam collapse behind her, preventing any others from following through that way.

Already on the other side, Dusklord and Stephanie each manage to find their ways through the overgrown greenbelt, but it will take a great feat of athletics to follow the Mauler the way he went...

Meanwhile, Elvik....

Elvik, you're up.

Elvik tries again to get through the door.
CMB: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 5 - 2 = 23

not sure if I'm allowed to do a second move action to get through a second square
Perception: 1d20 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 - 2 = 14
nevermind

It's one standard action to make a check, and then one move action to move to the next square, unless you're attempting two checks to jump three squares (with penalties if you fail).

Despite the crumbling masonry, Elvik barrels through after Starling and forces his way through. Unfortunately, his dynamic entry dislodges destabilises the structure even further and pulls a large portion of the second floor down behind him.

In the distance, the Mauler rounds a corner and sees a mob that has gathered together to search for him. Realising the folly of trying to talk down a mob out for his blood, he instead tries to sneak past them, ironically relying on the skills he'd gained as a Pathfinder Society agent to evade the Pathfinder Society agents now trying to help him...

stealth: 1d20 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 4 = 21

He slips past them like a shadow, unseen, unheard and undetected. Dusklord and Stephanie are barely able to make out the silhouette of a lupine form preparing to scale the wall to the nobles' district where Markov Rutowski lives...

Yndra
Starling
Elvik
Stephani
Ducklord
TMM

The PCs are up again.

Stephani sees the crumbling bridge, and her quarry's huge lead, and she makes a leap of faith.

1d20 + 0 ⇒ (1) + 0 = 1

Unfortunately, she trips and sprawls into the brink!

Yndra hollers over the wall. "Don't wait for me. Catch him. Go!" She spits in her hands and tries once again. This time, she finally finds a decent way across.

Climb: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 - 2 = 21

Dusklord watches as Stephani stumbles on the crumbling bridge, and as she falls he makes an incredible leap, perhaps aided by magic or adrenaline.

His frail form hurls through the air.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 = 24

Escape Artist: 1d20 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (8) - 4 - 2 = 2
Elvik desperately looks for the path, but can't find a passage.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 + 2 = 13

Starling just barely manages to move through the thorny thicket, pursuing the mauler even if from a distance.

Yndra finally makes it over the rubble and joins Elvik as he tries to find a way through the thicket, but in vain. Starling on the other hand slips through the thicket, her slimmer frame allowing her to move through openings that stouter dwarves cannot. Stephani attempts to leap off the bridge, but doesn't make it far enough and falls into the water, but fortunately is able to clamber back up the bank and make her way back up the bridge for another try (or attempt to swim). Dusklord, on the other hand manages to make the jump and lands on the embankment that the Mauler had jumped clean over. A block of buildings blocks his way from following the Mauler's direct path, and as he rounds the block, he finds his way barred by a group of guards.

"Hey! You there! What are you up to running around like that at night, hmm? Get yourself over here. We wanna ask you some questions..."

acrobatics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

Meanwhile, from atop the bridge, Stephanie sees the Mauler make a series of jumps from one roof to another higher roof before making a final leap that gets him just within reach of the district wall. He pauses for a brief moment before pulling himself up the wall and running along the top for awhile before disappearing from view as he lowers himself over the other side.

Yndra
Starling
Elvik
Stephani
Ducklord
TMM

The Mauler is still ahead! You guys are up.

Stephanie tries to wade through the water in pursuit.

Swim: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 2 = 22

Starling reaches the bridge and begins crossing as it crumbles after every step she takes. She quickly realizes the bridge will not carry her weight and instead easily leaps and reaches the other side.

In front of the overgrown greenbelt, Yndra takes a breather with her hands on her knees, wheezing from the exertion of climbing the rubble. "No way I'm going through there!"

Perception: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 2 = 22

Luckily, she spots a shortcut.

EscapeArtist: 1d20 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (19) - 4 - 2 = 13
Elvik follows Yndra though the shortcut.

Dusklord's luck finally runs out as he tries to slide out of their view.

"What do you mean, why am I running around? I'm trying to catch the Mauler, which I wouldn't have to do if you did your job!" the wizard says, exasperated.

stealth: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 2 = 8

Taking advantage of Yndra's keen eyes, the two dwarves navigate the shortcut and reach the bridge as Stephanie and Starling navigate their way from it.

Dusklord is already having trouble with the guards he is faced with, but it is made all the worse when Starling unexpectedly jumps across the bridge and lands in their midsts.

"What's this? An accomplice!? That's it, you two. I want your hands right where I can see them."

Meanwhile, Stephanie finally finds her way through the water and is wading up the bank when she is accosted by another group of guards that had heard the commotion caused by Starling and Dusklord.

"We got another one here swimming out of the river. Something is definitely going on here!"

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Meanwhile, on the other side of the wall, the Mauler has dropped himself in the midst of a hedge maze, but the night is his time, and he easily spies a way through it.

Yndra
Starling
Elvik
Stephani
Ducklord
TMM

Party is up again. The Mauler's quite ahead...

Starling realizes the Mauler is about to reach the house and begins sprinting, hoping to reach him on time. Unfortunately, she is noticed by the locals and stopped almost immediately by both the guards on duty and those who were just returning from patrol.

Stealth: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 2 = 13
Bluff: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 = 14
Almost... and now Starling is mired for the next turn as well.

Starling realizes the Mauler is about to reach the house and begins sprinting, hoping to reach him on time. Unfortunately, she is noticed by the locals and stopped almost immediately by both the guards on duty and those who were just returning from patrol.

[dice=Stealth]1d20+7+2
[dice=Bluff]1d20+9+2
Almost... and now Starling is mired for the next turn as well.

Starling makes a desperate gamble to try to give the guards a slip, but slips on an errant banana peel inconsiderately left behind by some random commoner earlier in the day. She stumbles and is quickly grabbed by one of the guards.

"Hey! Where do you think you're going!? Trying to slip away from the city guard? Now we REALLY want to bring you in for questioning!"

Yep...mired for 1 round...

What about the others?

At the crumbling bridge, Yndra realizes that she's out of her elements. "Blessed Nethys, I pray for the day that I understand the secret to flight. Please aid me in my efforts, so that I won't drown before that."

She takes a deep breath, and takes the plunge in the water. Surprisingly, she manages to make it across with lots of sputtering, with the aid of Starling's inspiring words.

Swim: 1d20 + 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 + 2 - 2 = 16

Actually that reminds me. That's another reason Starling would have failed... If Starling is maintaining her bardic music to inspire competence in all her allies who can hear her... She'd also be suffering a penalty to stealth...

"And why are you constantly singing that song anyway? I mean it's catchy, but do you get that we're trying to interrogate you here?"

Preoccupied with Starling, the guards to not yet notice Yndra's sputtering as she pulls herself up the river bank.

That just leaves Stephani, Elvik and the Duckie for this round.

Bluff: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

"Excuse me, but you are hindering an important investigation with your superior's full support, and our suspect is fleeing the scene! We will discuss this later, but you must let us act quickly!"

Like a ghost in the night, Dusklord is gone, having simply disappeared while the guards are speaking with Starling.

stealth: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 + 2 = 24

The guards look Stephani over for awhile before one of them notices and recognises the holy symbol of Ragathiel that she carries.

"Hey Sarge? That looks like a holy symbol of Ragathiel there. I hear that if you piss those guys off, they go all crazy and break your faces. Maybe we can let just that one go?"

"What you mean like Tex-crazy?"

"Yes Sarge exactly like that."

"Hmm....alright. You can go. But only you!"

Meanwhile, the guard who was supposed to be watching Ducklord turns to watch the discussion, and surreptitiously pulls a baked pastry wrapped in brown paper from his pocket and starts eating behind the backs of the others. He lets go of Ducklord to eat with both hands, and the wizard takes the opportunity to slip away unseen.

"Grif! Where's the guy you were supposed to be watching!? And why does it smell like gravy all of a sudden around here!?"

"What? What guy? I don't see any guy!"

"THAT'S PRECISELY THE PROBLEM! You had just one job! To watch that guy!"

Yndra
Starling
Elvik
Stephani
Ducklord
TMM

We're just left with Elvik for this round, then the Mauler and then a new round.

Waiting on Elvik.

I just want to say, this is the most entertaining chase scenes I have participated in... kudos, GM!

It's definitely entertaining, although the Mauler was way ahead of us throughout the chase and had a series of great rolls... Looking forward to see how this is going to end!

Swim: 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 1 - 2 = 3
Acrobatics: 1d20 - 4 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 4 - 2 = 10

Elvik desperately tries to follow the group, but somehow stumbles from the bridge into the water and gets cought by the weed.
mired again XD

I just want to say, this is the most entertaining chase scenes I have participated in... kudos, GM!

Thanks, but don't thank me just yet. My team didn't catch the Mauler in time when I played this, but it's only now that I'm on this side of the GM screen that I'm realising how hard this chase scene is. =(

One of the guards hear a loud splash in the distance.

"Hey did anybody hear that?"

"Hear what?"

"It was like... I don't know, like something big and heavy just dropped into the water near that bridge over there."

"What, like a big dwarf wearing a breastplate?"

"Yeah, excatly like that."

Both guards look over in the direction which the first guard heard the splash coming from.

"Dude, what sane dwarf would jump off that bridge into the water while wearing a breastplate?"

Meanwhile, down at the bottom of the river, a dwarf wearing a breastplate suddenly feels in inexplicable urge to punch someone in the face...

---------------------------------------------------------------------

Far in the distance, the Mauler continues to race towards Rutowski's townhouse. Perceiving that he has a considerable lead on the rest of you, the Mauler looks over his should for a moment to gloat over just how far behind he has left you. However, when he turns his head back to see where he is going, he finds that he has almost run face-first into a stack of crates piled outside a bakery.

reflex: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 4 = 11 Oh! Hello!

As Dusklord and Stephani look this way and that to try to work out where the Mauler has run to, they hear the sound of crashing wood in the distnace, and turn in that direction to see a cloud of a white powdery substance floating up into the air...

And with that, it's now actually still possible for you to catch him in time!

Go team Pathfinder!

Hearing the guards discuss about him the dwarf grunts back "Have you ever tried running with a breastplate?! Believe me, swimming is much better! All the fleas die and the bath is really refreshing!"

He tries to get rid of the weed around his ankles.

Surprisingly, or maybe not, another dwarf in a breastplate, still soaking from her swim, strides up to the guards. She wrings out her braid as she talks. "Listen, you must have seen some pretty crazy things tonight already. I'm going to tell you that this means two things. One: there's stuff going on here that you don't get paid enough for to want to meddle in. Two: It's stuff that even I don't want to be involved in. But I am, and it's not making me a happy dwarf, so you'd best consider whether you want to cause trouble..."

Bluff: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (12) - 2 = 10

Stephani continues her pursuit, surprised at her ability to not fall further behind. "Ugh, what is that stench?" Ignoring it, she barrels through.

Fort Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Unfortunately, Steph just isn't well suited for chases. Someone should probably be trying ranged attacks or spells or even jumping 3 squares at a time, but too many of these obstacles are poor skills for her.

Indeed, this has been a super fun chase scene. That said, I give us a very low chance of catching him...he's way ahead. And I've only missed one check.

The frail Dusklord continues to remain in the lead. Though breathing deeply, he does not 'inhale' as he passes an open cesspool.

fort: 1d20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 + 2 = 23

I think the main problem is that the writer did not realise how much of an advantage he gave the Midnight Mauler by giving him a 50ft movespeed. Also, now that I think of it, a potion of expeditious retreat might just be the greatest secret weapon to beating chase scenes...

Stephani and Dusklord manage to keep their dinners down as they hurry past the open cesspool. Meanwhile, the guards gathered around Starling continue to debate the probability of a dwarf in a breastplate having jumped into the river when one appears from the river before them.

"See, I TOLD you I heard something like a dwarf in a breastplate dropping into the river."

"Yeah, but there's no way she could have been that dwarf. Nobody swims that fast. And what are the odds of there being TWO dwarves running around in breastplates and jumping into rivers on a night like this?"

"Will you two numb-nuts stop talking about the suspicious dwarf and GO GRAB HER ALREADY!?" their sergeant yells from behind them.

Lost in their own little world, the two guards barely pay attention to Yndra's little speech. Starling sighs as she continues vainly to protest her innocence to the other group of guards whilst, at the bottom of the river, the other dwarf running around in a breastplate and jumping into rivers on a night like this finally manages to free his leg from the seaweed and begins paddling towards the surface for some sweet, sweet air.

Meanwhile, in the nobles district, the Midnight Mauler sputters as he picks himself up from the broken crates and dusts off the flour from his fur as best he can.

"Curses. I'm the Midnight Mauler, not the White Wolf! That damned monster hunter can keep his stupid name..."

reflex: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 4 = 26 That's not good.

The White Werewolf sweeps aside the broken crate panels angrily as picks himself up from the floury floor. A scream sounds out from the nobles district as he is spotted by one of the locals as he smashes his way through the window of Rutowski's townhouse.

You technically have one more round, but from the map, even if Dusklord or Stephani succeed at a triple-square advance, they would still be one square shy of reaching him in time. =(

The sounds of screaming finally catch the guards' attention, and they finally leave Starling and Yndra alone to investigate. Sadly, they will never learn the truth about the number of breastplated dwarves one might find jumping into rivers in a single night, as they are gone by the time Elvik pulls himself up the the bank on the other side.

Meanwhile, Dusklord and Stephani continue to make their way towards the townhouse, but both share a nagging feeling that they might already be too late to save the courtesan...

As you navigate the streets in search of the werewolf, you manage to spot each other and regroup moments before you finally spot the old wolfman. He is hunched down on the cobblestones, panting from the chase and glaring with fiery red eyes.

“So, you’re the lap dogs the Decemvirate sent to cull me? Pathetic. All of your cut throats will barely slake my thirst from our little run.”

Low, feral growling can be heard coming from the shadows of a nearby alley. The Mauler grins, bearing ragged, yellow fangs.

“How shall we do this, little ones?”

"Carefully, I would think. So, tell me... what are you doing here?"

"A ridiculous question! You have followed a wolf to his hunting grounds, and ask him... it... me... what I am doing here? I am strong now, strong enough to right the wrongs of the past! The hunt is not yet over, no, far from over..." he growls as he licks a blood-soaked claw... before quickly spitting it out again when he realises that it is mixed with raw flour. He shakes himself off, releasing a small cloud of white flour around himself.

"The more important question, young one, is whether you are foolish enough to try to stop me."

Remember you can re-read the mission briefing to refresh your memory on your objective here.

Starling looks at the Mauler's bloodied claws in disbelief, then raises her eyes to meet the wolfman's. "You killed him. You killed your past lover. I...," she wipes a tear from her eye, "I really hoped we could reconcile things. But you've chosen otherwise. You will not leave this place alive, fiend. Prepare yourself, you shall run no more.

Starling draws her rapier and begins to him a lamenting tune in memory of Rutowski.
Inspire Courage, +1 to hit/+1 damage to everyone.

Yndra sights. "You've done so much in your lifetime. Would you throw all that away for revenge over things that happened a lifetime ago?" Her soothing tone makes it clear what she thinks about her own questions, even if she's doubtful that Vilk will reconsider his actions, given his present state. She takes a firm stance. "You must know that we can't allow this to continue. We're bringing you in, one way or another."

One hand rest gently on her axe, while the other subtly feels for the manacles that she had brought earlier. Let's hope Dusklord kept the Wolfsbane dry...

Starling looks at the Mauler's bloodied claws in disbelief, then raises her eyes to meet the wolfman's. "You killed him. You killed your past lover. I...," she wipes a tear from her eye, "I really hoped we could reconcile things. But you've chosen otherwise. You will not leave this place alive, fiend. Prepare yourself, you shall run no more.

“My... my past... yes. Yes I killed him. I killed him! My one and only Markov. My shining light. My... Markov... who pulled away in the darkest of days. The one shred of my old life I could have taken with me to Absalom, who denied me to keep dallying with the sons and daughters of my exilers! Yes I killed him! His every breath offended me! They all do! They banished me from my territory, and so I banish them in return! Their hot, red, sticky silence speaks volumes about who truly is master of Ardis!”

Despite his general hostility, he appears to hesitate a little when reminded of his past, and when Yndra appeals to him to remember the man he once was, his shoulders droop just a little, just for an instant...

Yndra, you may roll a diplomacy check.

Here it goes...

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

"I... am... Vonran Vilk... I am... was... am... was... WAS Vonran Vilk... Poor pitiful Vilk, abandoned and betrayed by all, trapped in a withered husk. But now the moon brings me strength and vitality that I haven’t felt in thirty years! I’m strong enough now to do what I always should have done, to be what I always should have been! Vilk is no more! I am the Alpha! I AM THE MAULER!"

To be fair, you needed a very dedicated diplomancer or a very lucky roll to have made this check.

Yndra: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Dusklord: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Elvik: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
Starling: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13
Stephani: 1d20 ⇒ 12
The Mauler: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (16) - 1 = 15

Wow.

The Mauler rushes forward suddenly, making as if to run past Yndra before suddenly changing directions and thrusting a shortsword at Yndra's gut.
attack roll: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
damage with vital strike: 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 5) + 2 = 13
He manages to find an opening in the dwarf's armor and sinks his blade deep into her side.

The Mauler
Starling
Stephani
Dusklord
Yndra
Elvik

You guys are up

Before I go...the wolfsbane we found is something we would have to administer to this guy after we beat him, right? It's not really something to use as a weapon if I understand it right. It would just give him an additional save to try to cure it. Is this interpretation correct?

Dusklord shakes his bony fist at the Mauler. "Finally, our plans come to fruition! This long time we have tracked you, just one step behind. We knew where you would go! You were so easy to find! You did not realize you faced the--#*$&#@--monologue again!"

The wizard throws some ground mica into the breeze, and a glittering burst explodes in the Mauler's face.

Casting glitterdust, DC 16 Refl.

Yndra nearly doubles over from the pain as the sword slides in. She feels at her side, finding the familiar warmth of blood. "Oh, you've done it now. Don't say I didn't warn you. We're taking you with us, dead or alive!" Yndra takes the alchemically treated warhammer from her back, takes it in both hand and swings it in a mighty attack.

After seeing the results of her attack, Yndra takes a step back to recover from her wound. "Rough him up, guys. We'll see if we can take him peacefully after we've taken some punch out of him."

Swift action for Judgement of Destruction for +2 damage. Move action to draw weapon. Attack, then take a 5 foot step back.

Attack -PA: 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 4 - 1 = 15
Damage +PA +J: 1d8 + 3 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 3 + 2 = 11

Did Starling act before the battle? Or is her song her action for the first round?