[AP] The Shackled City Adventure Path by GM Rutseg (Inactive)

Game Master Balacertar

The 5'step doesn't. But with reach, if you are next to a creature, that 5' step doesn't take out out their range, so things like spellcasting will still provoke.

Ah, looking at that part of it, of course. Spellcasters... ;)

Juraan focuses to keep dodging the ettin while he casts, and when the ettin attempts to attack again, he completes his spell touching the flail with his bare hands. A burst of energy crackles in his hands as it passes to the flail, and from the flail to the ettin, that suddenly starts to burn in acid!
Despite his awful state, the giant stubbornly holds on foot decided to finish his punisher.

A grinding machine, JJ's swords stab one after the other in his own ettin, the beast looks down, his eyes injected in bloody desire while it keeps swinging his flails to finish his attacker.

Maxim rolls in the ground trying to get out of the ettin's reach, but the head in the back notices, and barely manages to bump its flail on the dwarf.
AoO: flail+prone: 1d20 + 12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 12 + 4 = 18
P/B damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 4) + 6 = 12
Please, confirm Maxim does not have Defense training against giants, or any other bonus that might save from this near fail

Ryan advances himself and slams his mace on the ettin, whom barely manages to stand in front of the group.

Kikinnin rushes over the giant whom responds with a swing of his club. The dwarf lowers his head avoiding the deadly massive wooden stick, but the movement leaves him off balance and his axe is deflected by the giants tough skin. His next swing does not fail though and slashes all through the waist of the giant.
AoO: Greatclub: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
B damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (6, 7) + 10 = 23

Too aggressive and angry to notice their defeat, the ettins start battering Juraan and JJ with their flails.
Flail vs Juraan: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30
P/B damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (4, 6) + 6 = 16
Flail vs Juraan: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
P/B damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 6 = 11

Flail vs Juraan: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
P/B damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 = 8

And when Juraan falls to the ground unconscious with half skeleton cracked, the ettin steps back and crashes his flail on the still trying to stand Maxim.
Flail vs Maxim + prone: 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 4 = 26
P/B damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (2, 2) + 6 = 10

Meanwhile JJ succeeds at dodging two of the attacks of his ettin, while Marigold's faith deflects another of the blows, but one of the flails scratches the ranger in his left arm.
Flail vs JJ: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
P/B damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 6 = 14
Flail vs JJ: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
P/B damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 6) + 6 = 18

Flail vs JJ: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 24
P/B damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1) + 6 = 8
Flail vs JJ: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
P/B damage: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (6, 5) + 6 = 17

Despite all his training, Kikinnin finds no way to block the greatclub of the giant, that cracks on his skull with tremendous strength. The dwarf though, succeeds at dodging a second swing despite his considerable dizziness.
Greatclub: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
B damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (5, 8) + 10 = 23
Greatclub: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
B damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 7) + 10 = 24

Green ettin: 61 damage, barely standing
Red ettin: 62 damage, barely standing
Yellow giant: 18 damage
---------
Party buffs: prayer r9
JJ: 50/66 hp, shield of faith +3 (1 does not stack with current ring) (8 min)
Juraan: -3/44 hp, unconscious
Ryan: 59/61 hp, bull's strength 8 min
Marigold: 65/80 hp, shield of faith +3 (8 min)
Maxim: 29/53 hp, prone
Kikinnin: 61/84 hp
Round 6: Juraan, Maxim Round 7: JJ, Kikinnin, Marigold (x2), Ryan, Giants

Round 7

"OOOOOOWWWWW!!! DAMN, YOU'RE STRONG!! I'LL REMEMBER THAT!!"

The only reason Kikinnin's voice has grown louder is the massive ringing between his ears. He meant to think the words to himself, but that filter is currently sloshing around his brainpan.

The black beard regains himself, and connects the dots, between the tree of a giant in front of him, and the Axe in his hand.

+2 Dwarven Greataxe, Power Attack, Prayer: 1d20 + 14 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 3 + 1 = 31 for 1d10 + 5 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 6 + 1 = 13 damage

Second Swing: 1d20 + 9 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 - 3 + 1 = 10 for 1d10 + 5 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 6 + 1 = 15 damage

Something flashes behind his eyes, and reminds him that blood should probably not be leaking from his ear, so the ratcatcher quietly asks Abadar to heal and seal. Swift Action- Lay on Hands

LoH, Greater Mercy: 5d6 ⇒ (2, 3, 2, 2, 6) = 15

Round 6 . . OWIE! I [u]definitely[/u] want my Mum!
Juraan lies prone and groans a bit
CON check to stabilize, DC 10: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20
Phew!

Marigold's Round 6

Not particularly eager to taste what the ettins have to dish out, Marigold takes a step back and adopts a defensive position as she begins casting...

Cast Defensively (DC 19): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

...but isn't able to maintain her focus! She's just too wary of those flails swinging about to do any proper casting just yet.
________

Marigold's Round 7

Upon seeing Juraan drop under the ettin's assaults and Maxim not faring much better, Marigold tries once more to focus her mind and cast...

Cast Defensively (DC 23): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

...but still can't keep her mind focused!

JJ, hearing his friends falling one by one around him grits his teeth.

"Not this day, and NOT ON MY WATCH" he all but shouts at the Ettin in a red kilt. "I'm coming Juran.."

JJ's icon somehow ended up on the Pink Ettin's icon.
I took the liberty of moving forward, so it's visible now.

JJ got eaten by a dragon :-) He also 5' stepped

and..
crit?: 1d20 + 15 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 15 - 2 + 1 = 31
extra damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

GM, please look at Sacraficial Bond, would like to use it on as much of Juraans's damage as I can, also half of Kikinnin'damage goes to Ryan as well. He'll Dimensional hop down to Maxim's location to heal this round. No AoO generated.

As both Juraan and Kikinnin get wailed on blood begins to flow freely down Ryan's face. A blue nimbus surrounds Juraan and he doesn't hurt near as much as that should have
"Sorry JJ gotta go" Ryan says critically as pain wrack his voice, one moment he's standing next to JJ the next beside Maxim.

cast cure spell depending on how much damage taken from Juraan

@GMR: Alas Maxim does not have Defensive Training racial ability, nor anything else that'll avoid him being pulverised :)

Round 6 Cond/Buffs: Prayer (+1 luck bonus to all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks); Prone (-4 AC penalty vs Melee attacks)

Repeatedly battered as he rolls across the cavern floor, Maxim spits blood and swears profusely.

With gritted teeth he tries once again to put precious feet between him and the twin-headed brute (Full Round Action);

Acrobatics while Prone - 5ft Move (vs Ettin CMD): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 FFS!

... but fails once again to slight gradient. With a scowl, the dwur waits for the proverbial hammer to fall...

As the ettin batters on Juraan, Ryan raises a quick prayer and the first attack is soaked into himself, open wounds suddenly appearing on the clerics own flesh. Seeing the sorcerer alive, the ettin continues to batter him instead of the prone Maxim. Thanks to Ryan's intervention Juraan survives on feet to the ettin!

Shouting back at the giant, Kikinnin buries his axe on the giant, chopping his femoral and grunting as his second swing goes wide into the air.

Acknowledging the ettins' menace, Marigold attempts unsuccessfully to cast her spells, but the presence its so intimidating she fails to gather enough focus.

Angry, JJ rolls forward with his swords, his first stab reaching the ettin's heart, who suddenly starts coughing blood and falls to the ground dead!

Deprived of the ettin's menace, Ryan casts a heal spell on himself, then appears and reappears next to Maxim! Feel free to chose spell

Let's hold to see if the now barely conscious Juraan finishes the ettin, and if so what Maxim does, before the ettin attempts to reclaim his stolen prey

Green ettin: 61 damage, barely standing
Yellow giant: 31 damage
---------
Party buffs: prayer r9
JJ: 50/66 hp, shield of faith +3 (1 does not stack with current ring) (8 min)
Juraan: 3/44 hp, conscious!
Ryan: 43/61 hp, bull's strength 8 min <- + a cure spell
Marigold: 65/80 hp, shield of faith +3 (8 min)
Maxim: 39/53 hp, prone
Kikinnin: 61/84 hp
Round 6 (retcon): Juraan, Maxim Round 7: JJ, Kikinnin, Marigold, Ryan, Giants

Completion of Ryan's round

GM, Kikinnin is at 73/84, Ryan took 12hp of his damage due to Shield Other, putting Ryan at 31/61

As Ryan appears in a somewhat clear section, he quickly converts his prepared Dispel Magic into Cure Serious Wounds trying to staunch the bleeding from the quickly appearing wounds.

CSW: 3d8 + 8 ⇒ (2, 6, 1) + 8 = 17 now 48/61

@GMR: Just run with the above for Maxim - happy to take my lumps :)

Round 6 (retcon)
Amazed he's still standing, Juraan realizes now is do or die for a spell: « მდნარი მჟავა » . . "scorching ray (acid damage)", in draconic
cast defensively (dc 19): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21 … hooray!
scorching ray (acid damage), 1 of 2: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 22
scorching ray (acid damage), 2 of 2: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 14
Both point blank, with bless, ranged touch, no save
damage, 1 of 2: 4d6 + 5 ⇒ (5, 2, 2, 4) + 5 = 18
damage, 2 of 2: 4d6 + 5 ⇒ (6, 5, 5, 3) + 5 = 24

@ GM Rusteg: I just realized my cast defensively modifier should be 10 (level 7 + 3 for CHA), not 8

Unfortunately Range touch attacks provoke as projectile weapons in addition to casting

As Juraan finishes his spell and launches both rays, the ettin swings his flail profiting the opportunity, but fortunately for Juraan his mage armor deflects the flail just effectively. The rays scorch the ettin that falls dead and burning in acid!
AoO: Flail: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17

Without the menace of the ettin, Maxim is able to just stand up and ready his preferred weapon.

Completely out of himself in angriness, the giant just swings once and again on Kikinnin, but the noble dwarf just blocks and parries the massive greatclub with ease! "You gaizto txiki! Gelditu! Muggo haserre!"

Green ettin: 103 damage, dead
Yellow giant: 31 damage
---------
Party buffs: prayer r9
JJ: 50/66 hp, shield of faith +3 (1 does not stack with current ring) (8 min)
Juraan: 3/44 hp, conscious!
Ryan: 48/61 hp, bull's strength 8 min
Marigold: 65/80 hp, shield of faith +3 (8 min)
Maxim: 39/53 hp, prone
Kikinnin: 73/84 hp, shield other
Round 7: Juraan, Maxim Round 8: JJ, Kikinnin, Marigold, Ryan, Giants

Round 7
Glad to still be standing, just, Juraan targets the last giant standing (yellow) his bow:
long thorn (+1 comp longbow): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Trying to save on spells here, now that the fight's mostly over

Ranged touch attack spells provoke as missile weapons in combat. So you actually provoke two AOOs in using them. Only one is avoided by the concentration check. Normally they only swipe you once as any given action will only generate a single actual AOO (in the same way that movement past someone gives them only one AOO, even if you walk through multiple threatened squares.

JJ hurries forward to engage with the last giant. Knowing it will get a swing at him anyway, he takes the time to go around the back of it and help Kikinnin.

As he moves, blue glowing light spills from his wounds
LoH: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 1, 1) = 8
Thanks Grandma

Acrobatics to avoid AOO?: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Round 7 Cond/Buffs: Prayer (+1 luck bonus to all attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks)

How horizontal Maxim dusts himself down, then scoops to retrieve his dropped short sword with a scowl. (Move Action)

With his other hand the gun-mage points toward the last jotunn with a gun like gesture and uttering the words of arcane power;

"Toverkracht Projectiel" (Gnome: Magic Missile)

Cast: Magic Missile (Standard Action)

Upon completion of the words three glowing bullets streak from his hand into Muggo ;

Damage: Magic Missile (x3): 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 4) + 3 = 12

Marigold's Round 8

Though she suspects her companions will finish the job before it really makes a difference, Marigold draws her longspear and advances towards the lone giant...

Round 8

Kikinnin enjoys the breeze created by the giant's swings, his grim calculations simply laid before him- hit the giant more than the giant hits him.

When the giant is injured more by magic over his shoulder, only then does the black beard realize that the others have leveled the field, and can join him in this branch of the fight.

+2 Dwarven Greataxe, Power Attack, Prayer: 1d20 + 14 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 14 - 3 + 1 = 23 for 1d10 + 5 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 5 + 6 + 1 = 13 damage

Second Swing: 1d20 + 9 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 - 3 + 1 = 23 for 1d10 + 5 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 6 + 1 = 21 damage

"Plenty of giants around here, eh? Respect to Alek for braving these halls, but he should have brought friends."

"Uncle Alek!" says JJ in alarm as he tries to avoid the giants swing.

"Even he would be hard pressed down here I imagine. Not that we have seen any sign of him since that other cave. Guess the giants moved in here."

With the giant towering over Kikinin, Juraan finds it ease to draw his bow and place a shaft on the creature's shoulder.

JJ tumbles around trying to reach the giant while avoiding the club. The giant notices it and reacts just on time to hit him, but in the last moment Abadar's prayer gives JJ and insight of the attack and jumps to the other side, reaching the giant side unharmed!
Giant CMD 24, with prayer you reach it!

With a gesture, Maxim sends a trio of force bolts that burst at the giant's chest!

Marigold moves fast trying to approach with her spear.

Kikinnin slashes twice, both times cutting deep into the giant's skin, whom does not seem to contemplate retreat.

Instead the giant swings his club twice more at the source of his pain, the dwarf this pain while spitting some words in a horrible Common "Da Aleck. Not you. You not Aleck, you cannot pass! You don't mislead Muggo! You cannot pass!"
Greatclub: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
B damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (1, 1) + 10 = 12
Greatclub: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
B damage: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (4, 3) + 10 = 17
But Kikinnin knows well how to avoid the giant's swings and none of them scratches him again!

Yellow giant: 80 damage
---------
Party buffs: prayer r9
JJ: 50/66 hp, shield of faith +3 (1 does not stack with current ring) (8 min)
Juraan: 3/44 hp, conscious!
Ryan: 48/61 hp, bull's strength 8 min
Marigold: 65/80 hp, shield of faith +3 (8 min)
Maxim: 39/53 hp, prone
Kikinnin: 73/84 hp, shield other
Round 8: Juraan, Maxim Round 9: JJ, Kikinnin, Marigold, Ryan (x2), Giants

Marigold's Round 9

As Marigold advances and draws close enough, she attempts to jab the giant with her longspear!

Attack vs. Giant (MW Cold Iron Longspear; Prayer): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

Round 8
Not being in a mood for parlay, Juraan shoots his bow at Muggo again:
long thorn (+1 comp longbow): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Round 9

Kikinnin hears understandable speech coming from the giant, and almost stops his combat. "You Muggo? Who told you Alek, not us? You fight, you die! Like them!" The black beard points at all the dead, then points at Muggo. "You fight, you die! Talk Alek!"

Kikinnin brings his Axe up, threateningly, and readies a swing, if Muggo keeps swinging his club.

Ryan reaches Juraan and converts a prepared spell into healing energies for the scholarly archer.

convert Spiritual Weapon to Cure Moderate Wounds

CMW: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (5, 6) + 8 = 19

Afterwards he moves forward and calls out to JJ as he engages the giant, "Nice moves JJ, duck and weave and cut him down to size."

Inspiring Word +2 attack/save/ability for 4 rounds

JJ almost drops his swords when the giant mentions Alek.

He delays striking the giant, holding his blows until the giant has a chance to talk.

As the party stops startled by the giant articulating a few words in Common, Marigold charges over sticking the large humanoid with her spear, followed by Juraan's thorn that sticks on the right shoulder.

The giant snaps the arrow to remove it from his shoulder but it breaks as it does so "Muggo..." unable to hold under the terrible pain, the giant finally faints falling unconscious to the ground.

Ryan heals Juraan with his spell, and some of his wounds disappear making him feel much better.

Combat is over!

JJ: 50/66 hp, shield of faith +3 (1 does not stack with current ring) (8 min)
Juraan: 22/44 hp
Ryan: 48/61 hp, bull's strength 8 min
Marigold: 65/80 hp, shield of faith +3 (8 min)
Maxim: 39/53 hp, prone
Kikinnin: 73/84 hp, shield other

"Thanks, Ryan! I thought I was done for, there.
"These giants are not quite as stupid as I thought.
"I'll have to be more careful if I meet their like again.
"And anyway, I think we need to learn this Muggo was talking about Alek.
"That alone sounds ominous."

Juraan will then go to inspect the four large sack on the west wall:
"I just hope these bags don't contain disgusting larder for giants!"
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

Marigold blinks as understanding rushes back to her mind as the cloud of combat clears. "W-wait...was I not s-supposed to stick him? Oh n-no! I'm s-s-sorry!" she gasps. "M-maybe I can k-keep him from b-bleeding out-!"

She quickly tries casting a minor spell on the fallen giant, one designed to stop bleeding, hoping that it'll still work.
________

Marigold will try casting Stabilize on Muggo!

JJ looks around for giant sized ropes to tie Murbo up with. If none are around he settles for slitting the giants armor and pulling it down around his lower arms, making a make-shift pair of restraints out of it.

"No worries Marigold.. I though we were a gonna then." admits JJ.

Maxim dusts himself off and collects his dropped pistol, then walks to where the fallen jotunn-kin lie strewn across the chamber.

"Did I hear that brute right? Surabar's uncle was allowed to pass..?"

The gun-mage raises an eyebrow as he grimaces from his wounds and the revelation;

"Now why in Nine Hell's would he be allowed to pass uncontested like? He renowned fer his jotunn-diplomacy or some such? Reckonin' not... Got me wonderin' what's goin' on here..."

Suddenly understanding the giant shouts where something relevant for the party that she did not grasp on the mist of her combat curse, Marigold reaches the giant, and her magics immediately stop the bleeding.

JJ tears the hide armor in two pieces and creates an improvised restraint on the giants limbs.
JJ Craft: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (11) + 0 = 11

Opening the burlap sacks, Juraan starts retrieving giant underware, flint and steel and some other mundane possessions of the giants. Among them there are some other richness.

Kikinnin lowers his Axe, as he watches the giant succumb to the wounds of the others, then perks up as Marigold stops Muggo from bleeding out altogether.

"Glad to see we might be able to get a little more information out of him, as he recognized a name, and stuck to instructions regarding who comes and goes in these dark halls." The black beard nods to the blond beard.

Kikinnin waits for Muggo to regain consciousness, but there are two halls from which poured both giant and ettin, and he's not interested in getting jumped while they attempt a giant interrogation.

"Hey guys! Found some loot here!

« აღმოაჩინე ჯადოსნური » . . "detect magic", in draconic

Juraan tries to see if the gilded halfling skull or the ring are magic at all.

spellcraft: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21 … if needed

"Um...d-does anyone speak their t-tongue?" Marigold asks. "It'd b-be quicker than t-trying to decipher his C-Common!"

"I didn't really understand a word any of the giants said.
"Except for the name 'Alek'."

"I've picked up a few languages over the last few months.." admits JJ. "But not Giant, I hope he understands some others."

Once the group has brought him around, JJ tries:
UnderCommon, Abyssal, Celestial, Dwarven, Sylven, Draconic, Gnome, and finally Infernal, to see if he gets a reaction. If there is no success with any, he sighs and returns to common.

Juraan does not detect any magic in the stash.

The giant will surely take hours to regain consciousness unless the group administrates him proper alchemicals to force him wake up, or heals him.

Once they're certain they've got the giant restrained as well as they can, Marigold channels a small healing spell into him...and quickly steps back!

Cure Light Wounds (Muggo): 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

As Marigold prepares her spell, "Maxim, do you still have the tongues spell prepared? I can Comprehend what he says but not speak in his own language in return"

"Just talk slow to the giant. You know, the way you have to sometimes when Maxim gets that look like a dog that heard something far off."

As the wounds are healed, the giant slowly wakes up. He fights against the hide armor restraints for a second, then stops, stupidly looking at the party "Muggo?"

Ryan cast Comprehend Languages as their giant prisoner is brought back to some semblance of consciousness.

Holding a hand against his own chest "Ryan" pointing at the giant "You Muggo?" making it a question of his own.

Spreading his arms wide and looking both ways "Where is Alek"

Muggo scratches his head "You not Alek. Only Alek can in" the giant hits the ground with massive force "Muggo talk not! You attack! You die!"
Please, provide diplomacy, bluff, intimidate or any relevant roll with your questions ;)

Kikinnin allows the others to speak a little, weighing what the giant might understand if a relative of Alek's speaks up, and confuses the lummox.

"Muggo, you attacked first, we defended. We Alek's friends, and look for him to help him"

diplomacy: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

"Yeah. You giants attacked first. We fight back."

Aid Another, Diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 Uh, I guess I auto-succeed at Aid Another from now on...

Finding nothing magical in the giants' loot, Juraan starts patching himself up a bit with one of his wands of CLW:
use magic device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
use magic device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

cure light wounds (wand): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
cure light wounds (wand): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

"That feels a bit better", he says to nobody in particular.

==========< After Muggo comes to >==========

"If we lie, why Muggo alive?"
diplomacy, aid Ryan: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Oh well, I tried...