The Price of Immortality+ (E6) (Inactive)

Game Master Brian Minhinnick

Unless someone makes a knowledge religion roll, you guys don't know sh*t. You've never seen an incorporeal creature before, and don't know that this one is undead without the roll. So it'll be trial and error.

Round 1
Initiative 20

Bruden reaches into the fire to grab the dagger, burning his hand.

Fire damage 1d6 ⇒ 4

Then he swipes at the creature with it, but he misses horribly. The pain, smoke and surprise of the attack compromising his accuracy. He stumbles back from the thing towards the door.

Initiative 17

The shadowy creature still halfway out of the floor glides forward towards Bruden, reaching out for him again.

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

The half-elf moves nimbly out of the way.

Malzuket, Tyr and Rale are up.

Map

has Bruden screamed like a little girl so the rest of us know something is wrong or are we all just standing around like a bunch of dopes while the thing kills him.

I hope Bruden doesn't run into any trouble while he is scouting ahead.

Tyr paces back and forth in front of the door bruden went through.

LOL. I assume Bruden would have said something. Or at least grunted loudly enough to warrant investigation.

Bruden hisses through his teeth as the dagger burns in his hand. It was about time to get out of there. He looks for an opening from the creature and makes a break for it. As he bolts through the hallway, he shouts to the group. "Black Ghost!

When he comes into view, his skin is pale and he is shaking a bit. He looks more ill than afraid though, and he doesn't know which might be better.

Withdraw action

Ghost, huh? Rale?

I'll delay until Rale goes. Hopefully he can get a good Know (Religion) roll to give us some info. I'll try one untrained to see if I can at least realize it's undead. And Rale, yes, others can use your stones after you enchant them. As for hide from undead, I'd hold onto it for now, personally.

Know (Religion), max result = 10 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Bruden! What in the nine hells? You look like a shriveled ...Black Ghost? What did it look like?

Rale listens attentively to his description.

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 ⇒ 14

noobness mistake, no ranks in Know(religion)

Round 1
Initiative 13

Malzuket delays.

Initiative 10

Tyr hears Bruden's cry of "Black ghost!"

So Tyr, how do you react? I also need an action from Rale before I can move this on. Bruden won't be able to withdraw until after Tyr and Rale act. Also Malzuket might step in after Rale depending on what he does.

Rale delays until he hears Bruden's description and can identify the spectre.

But he's not trained in Knowledge (Religion), so he can't. Also he needs to see a creature to try and identify it.

So basically, Bruden goes inside, about ten seconds later you guys hear him call out "Black ghost!", then all of you just stand by the door waiting for him to come out? -face palm-

Sorry, DM, I just misread the order of what happened--I saw that Bruden withdrew and the ghost attacked him, but didn't realize that Bruden hadn't actually withdrawn yet. So I thought we could all see the monster. I'll end my delay now.

Malzuket hears Bruden's cries for help and hurries over as fast as his tiny legs will carry him, peering around the corner and casting a spell.

Move action: to W15

Standard: From that spot, can I look around the corner and see Bruden and the ghost? If so, I'll make a silent image of two human crossbowmen, one at X15 and one at X16. They will fire at the ghost, reload, and next round fire again. When the one in back fires, the one in front takes a knee, etc. If that's not allowed I'll take a total defense.

C'mon Bruden, get outta there!

Rale rushes right behind Malzuket after retrieving his loaded sling and runs into the next room.
Rale moves to X17 and prepares to fire his second magic stone at the "black ghost" if he sees him.

Tyr follows Rale and Maluket pole hammer at the ready.

what the devil is a black ghost he asks the cleric and the sorcerer.

Okay, we'll say Malzuket never delayed. Lets try this again.

Round 1
Initiative 20

Bruden got his sh*t rocked and grabbed the dagger from the flames, calling out the ghost's presence.

Initiative 17

The monster followed Bruden, attacking and missing.

Initiative 13

Malzuket enters the room, and creates his image. Bruden sees two human crossbowmen step into the hallway ahead of him, firing past him towards the shadow. He does not recognize the men. Malzuket's voice follows them saying, "C'mon Bruden, get outta there!"

The magenta square thingy is the illusion.

Initiative 10

Below edited:Ninja'd by Tyr.

Tyr moves into the hallway behind Malzuket, readying his polehammer.

Initiative 4

Rale moves into the room, right next to Bruden and fires his sling at the shadowy thing.

Attack 1d20 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 1 - 2 = 12

His aim is ruined by the thick smoke in his eyes, and the difficulty of the target. The glowing stone ricochets harmlessly off the floor.

End of Round 1
---------------------
Begin Round 2

Initiative
Bruden 20
Monster 17
Malzuket 13
Tyr 10
Rale 4

Anyone moving as far as X16 into the room can see the shadow, however it is still halfway in the floor so it has cover. Also don't forget the -2 to attack rolls from the smoke.

Initiative 20

Bruden stumbles from the room past Malzuket and Tyr, clutching the dagger.

Initiative 17

The creature moves up to Rale, reaching out to touch his chest.

Attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage 1d6 ⇒ 1 strength damage.

The shadowy hand passes right through his armor to brush through his chest. The brief touch still sends searing cold through the cleric, and he can feel his pectorals aching as if he'd been lifting sacks of grain for a whole day straight.

Okay, Need Malzuket, Tyr and Rale's round 2 actions.

Map

Round 2
8/9 HP 13/14 Strength

We must retreat! I have no defense against this unholy creature! and the smoke is too thick.Rale states with a frightened certainty.

Rale retreats to U16.

Malzuket watches Rale's retreat and weaves another illusion in an attempt to occupy the monster.

Die! the illusory warriors shout, dropping their crossbows and charging the "ghost", drawing blades and attacking (though missing).

Satisfied with his spell, the gnome retreats as well.

Swift: Maintain concentration on the silent image

Cast Ghost Sound to make the images "talk"

Move: To T17

I'm not sure if that will work--we should probably get out of here. Of course, if you ask me how to run away from something that walks through walls, I don't have a good answer. . He raises his arms and shrugs to punctuate his point.

Tyr falls back to the door way and sets himself to defend his companions.

Are you alright? What did you see? he calls to Bruden.

move to U15

Initiative 13

Malzuket does his magic and retreats.

Initiative 10

Tyr also retreats.

Initiative 4

Rale also retreats.

End of Round 2
---------------------
Begin Round 3

Initiative
Bruden 20
Monster 17
Malzuket 13
Tyr 10
Rale 4

Need Bruden's action.

Map

Bruden motions at Rale to get him away from the walls in response to the gnomes declaration. "Came out of the floor. Sucked the strength right out of me." His eyes are a bit wild, he continues to scan the walls and floor to see if the shadow is pursuing them, but it is pretty obvious that he is a bit too paranoid to do a thorough check. He takes a step back even further from the shadow's lair.

Perception check:1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Five foot step back, ready action to attack shadow if it comes out at him.

Initiative 20

Bruden stumbles back another few feet, waving the still steaming dagger around in his burned hand. Terrified eyes staring at the doorway.

Initiative 17

None of the group can see what happens in the room, but nothing emerges from the door, the floors or the wall.

End Combat

The group waits tensely for something to happen, but only the sound of their breathing breaks the silence of the crypt. Apparently the black ghost is content to haunt its lair.

You may act freely.

After a bit of frenzied anxiousness, Bruden calms down and takes a look about him. No one else is terribly hurt, and so he calms down and sticks the dagger in his belt. He looks a bit pale, but he puts on a brave face. "Well, How 'bout the stairs?"

Perception check for traps: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Breathing heavily and suddenly completely exhausted, Rale looks over at Bruden and attempts to break the tension by inquiring about the dagger in Bruden 's hand.
Bruden, how did you manage to hold onto that sizzling dagger?

Do you need to be healed? Rale asks Bruden.

Bruden shrugs just a bit, and checks himself over. "Yeah, probably. I just didn't want to have gone in there for nothin."

Rale immediately casts a healing spell on Bruden.
CLW on Bruden 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Bruden, did its hand pass through you? What did it feel like?

The dagger is really nice. Much higher quality than anything you guys have seen before.

The half elf nodded his thanks to the cleric as he healed him. His hand in particular looked quite a bit better, as did his acid burns from the beetle. But he was still pale and a little unsteady. Bruden moved a shaky hand to the spot where it had touched him, a couple inches below his heart. "It felt like death."

He made a fist and put it down by his side. He really did not want to think of it anymore. He raised his eyebrows as if to ask if that was enough questions, gave Rale a weak smile, and turned to go over the stairs.

I'll use the rolls I made earlier for this if you don't mind

The stairs are untrapped, proceed over?

Yes, please.

Rale will follow Bruden with his mind engaged in a myriad of scenarios that they could have executed differently to defeat the dark spectre. Then suddenly he gains focus on the task at hand realizing the true danger of this place.
DM, clarafication please: did we just suffer an ability drain or ability.damage? Also, what time of day is it?

Damage. I dunno, morning? You rested once outside, then explored a few rooms. It's probably like 10:15 or something.

One half of this lofty chamber has a lowered floor, with stairs on either side to reach the bottom. Standing opposite the door is a tall wooden statue of Kassen grasping a gigantic wooden shield in each hand. One of the shields is inscribed with the word “home,” while the other reads “family.”

Map

Bruden moves through the room toward the south door, keeping a wary eye out for traps. Also, he had heard of statues coming to life in some barroom stories. Since then he had never trusted a statue. He kept his spear in his hand, but it felt heavy to him.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Sorry, I was having trouble accessing Paizo. When we get a minute to rest, Malzuket will politely ask if he can inspect the dagger and, if Bruden complies, will use Detect Magic.

Spellcraft, if needed 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Bruden would hand it over if Malzuket wanted to look at it. We could say it happened before the stairs if GM is okay with it, otherwise, we can wait.

Rale follows Bruden into the room and cautiously peers around for any surprises.
Perception : 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

The dagger is magical. Though with that check you're not sure how. DC is 18 to identify, you can try again tomorrow.

Bruden sees no traps, but when he begins to descend the stairs the statue steps forward, off of a pressure plate that causes the steps to individually rotate 45 degrees, turning the stairways into two long slides.

Anyone on the stairs when this happens (Bruden) slides to the bottom and must make a DC 10 Acrobatics check to avoid falling prone. Climbing up the slide requires a DC 10 Climb check, while scaling the wall is a DC 15 Climb check.

Initiative
Tyr 19
Malzuket 15
Bruden 10
Rale 6
Statue 5

Map

so the way I understand it is the statue is at the bottom of the slides with Bruden and the rest of us are at the top

acrobatics 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Tyr trys slides down what were the stairs to help Bruden fight off the statue only to lose his balance and fall down.

Rale yells out to the statue in the common tongue and with confidence .

Wait! We have come here to honor Ekat Kassen and likewise our home.and family.

Diplomacy : 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 2 = 12
Acrobatics : 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (12) - 5 = 7

According to the map placement, the statue's movement would have provoked an attack of opportunity from Bruden, with his Combat Reflexes. I'm sure with his diminished strength, he will not be terribly successful, but he will still try.
Attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Bruden stabs instinctively at the statue when it starts to move, although he hardly seems able to scratch it.

RL=coaching the season opening basketball tournament today, I won't be available until tonight.

Rale, I think you only need to roll acrobatics if you try to go down the stairs. Were you trying to go down?

I stated that I would follow Bruden into the room, so I am letting the GM decide if I need it, hopefully not because it is a weakness

It is holding shields with positive messages, so I think that if we can get it to listen to us, maybe we can avoid a fight. If not, maybe it is Tyr's time to shine. He has a hammer thirsty for action! Rale has never seen nor heard of an animated statue, so there is an awestruck factor going on with him.

I agree, if we can avoid fighting the statue that would be good. It seems that there are harmless obstacles here setup by the people of Kassen, and then real threats from this undead creature. The statue appears to be a Kassen thing, so I'm guessing, and hoping, that it's harmless. Now, if the statue itself is harmless but the stair slide dropped y'all into a room with more undead or something, well, that is obviously a problem.

Yes, he would have provoked if you had your longspear out. Only Bruden was on the stairs when the trap triggered.

Bruden acrobatics 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

So in the surprise round, Bruden slides down the stairs and the statue steps forward. Bruden takes an AOO, and hits, doing no discernible damage. He slides down the slide without falling. The statue also takes an AOO on him.

The statue slams Bruden with one of its shields as he comes down the slide.

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
Damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Round 1
Initiative 19

Tyr goes after Bruden, falling down the slide and landing on his bum next to the half-elf. The statue also slams him with a shield as he falls.

Attack 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Tyr perception check 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Okay, I need actions from Bruden and Malzuket for round 1. The statue is obviously hostile.

Map

The dotted red line is the edge of the 10' drop.

Malzuket sees that the statue is a real danger and runs to the edge, throwing a vial of acid at the construct.

Move to U4. (If I can see the statue from T4 I'll go there instead)

Standard: Throw acid, touch attack 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Acid damage 1d6 ⇒ 1

Bruden tries to move dexterously over to the plate the statue was on to re-institute the stairs. With Tyr's fall down the hill, he figured he could use the help.

(Assuming that stepping on the plate actually gets the stairs up again...)Once there he shouts to Tyr "Get out of here, I'll keep it busy!

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Fighting Defensively: 1d20 - 3 ⇒ (9) - 3 = 6
+2 AC up to 14.

Initiative 15

Malzuket splashes the statue with acid.

Initiative 10

Bruden tries to distract the statue while Tyr gets away. However he finds that he's not heavy enough to depress the pressure plate.

Bruden Perception 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Bruden notices a small keyhole on the golem's back.

Okay, Rale's up. I'm assuming you don't want to still try diplomacy.

Map

Reminder of something Roldare said earlier, "The talking dead one took her! You need the keys and the shields. You also need to swim. I can't remember...."

Oh, hells.

"There's a keyhole on his back. Just retreat. We'll get the key." Bruden hoped they would get through the next few seconds.

DR 3 so down to 5 hp unless I am figuring that out wrong

Tyr scrambles to his feet and moves away from the statue