Thrawn's Gallows of Madness (PFSRPG) (Inactive)

Game Master Dennis Muldoon

"Interesting substance. I'd probably need more time to study if fully, but it doesn't seem to be natural. It seems almost alive. I'd love to study and see if it is sentient. Wherever did you find it, and do you learn anything about it that might help my examination of it?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 1 = 20

"We've ran into two different giant insect groups that were covered with it...it appears they were normal size insects until contacting this substance...

Now, my other question 'bout yellow footwear...from your reaction I assume you know of someone, yes? It's very important to our investigation..."

"One of Gellion's friends made him some yellow boots? Did you find him? Is he alright?"

"No ma'am, just a clue at the cemetery concerning someone wearing yellow boots. Where does Gellion live? Does he have family in town?"

The gnome sighs. "His house is up north a bit. He lives with his mother and father. Their house doubles as their place of business. They run some kind of mercantile exchange."

"Thank you, ma'am, we'll head there shortly. When do you suspect you might know something of the substance we brought to you?"

"I'll need to run a few tests. Could be hours for preliminary results."

Ingrge gives a curt nod. "Thanks. We'll be back."

To his companions, "Shall we be off to see Gellion's parents? I highly doubt we find Gellion at home..."

Ingrge turns and walks out the door of the shop, heading north to the mercantile exchange...

Map Updated

Gellion's home is a simple, well-kept, two-story structure of bricks, wood, and plain shingles. Smoke billows from a brick chimney, and minimal light escapes from the windows, from which partially closed, thickslatted shutters hang. The front door bears a tarnished brass knocker.

Ingrge walks up cautiously to Gellion's home and notices something strange...

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30

Heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

"We must tread lightly...'ware the dark stain oozing through the shutters there...and this looks like dry blood on the door knocker, just a couple of days old, at that..."

Alarmed by the blood stains on the knocker, Ingrge eyes the door checking to see if there's anything odd odd 'bout it before attempting to open it...

@GM: Does my Perception check notice anything suspicious 'bout the door or knocker (like a trap) or will that require another roll?

Upon closer examination, there seems to be some kind of vial visible inside of the keyhole of the door, along with a delivery device that is created to spray out a liquid.

Ingrge will attempt to disable the trap...

Disable Device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Ingrge isn't able to disable the trap, but manages to not set it off in the process of trying.

@GM: I'm assuming this is not a trap I can take my time with (aka take 20), is it? Am I allowed any further attempts?

Take 20 wouldn't be possible, because take 20 basically assumes you are ok rolling all numbers from 1-20. Many of those numbers would set the trap off. You can attempt again however.

Gotcha, makes sense, I'll try again

Ingrge frowns and tries his hand at the trap again.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Ingrge is able to disarm the trap on the second try. The vial has blood in it, which seemed to be superheated by the devise before it was meant to be sprayed over the area in front of the door.

He has no problem unlocking the lock after the device has been disabled. Take 10 gets the door unlocked

Hasmed, bewildered at the half-elf's skill, whistles with admiration. "By the thousand gods, that was most impressive to look upon! Truely, your must be blessed by Tirlipaj the Attentive" he offers, before drawing his weapon slowly. "I am shamed by this, but did anyone find anything that can be used as succor? I am still badly wounded from our previous fight."

Did we recover anything that looks like a potion of ClW?

Ingrge nods to Hasmed. "Thanks, friend...and forgive me. In my excitement for a lead, I forgot that you are still gravely wounded. We must try to take care of that before proceeding."

Evernight has a wand if cure light wounds, but he hasn't posted in weeks. @GM: Are we still botting him? If so, he could use it on Hasmed...

Up to this point, you've only fought bugs, recovering melted candles, some purple goo, and a masterwork sap.

We need to figure out if we should bot or drop at this point. I'm in favor of healing everyone up, and then taking him out of rotation altogether. Any objections?

Sounds good to me, GM...

I'm not opposed to that either.

Not that I'm married to the thought of a healer but I don't have a wand of cure light. I don't think any of us do. Would it be appropriate to look for a replacement? Because Hasmed is going to end up very dead if he keeps rolling like he has.

"I will go in first once we are ready," Khafra offers.

Ingrge nods to Khafra. "I'll cover you..."

Not very well versed in casting but don't Inquisitors have access to healing spells?

Truddig nods. "I'll follow you, Khafra."

@Thrawn, have you PMed Evernight? It looks like real-life may have interrupted; his main alias hasn't posted to any board since May 1.

Quazel nods. "I can cover the rear."

And yes, I can cast cures with a wand.

"Then by the gods that were and are yet to be 's mercy, let us make our way forward" says Hasmed.

Sorry about out the delays. I don't know how many posts Paizo ate this week, where I typed up lengthy posts and Paizo was back down when I submitted. It was frustrating, but I hope that things get smoother, and the game can pick back up better.

With the door open, you get your first look inside. Scratches and dark stains cover nearly every surface in this spacious living room. To the right, paintings and other once-fine objects give fuel to a fire roaring in the hearth. Bent, broken, and bloody cutlery juts at odd angles from the table in the center of the room. Books lie scattered in heaps next to broken shelves, and shards of shattered dishes spill forth from their cabinets. An open door to the left looks into the filthy kitchen, and stairs to the left lead up to the next floor. Tiny bloody footprints cover the stairs, heading in both directions.

Hasmed steps in, blade at the ready to support his fellows. "Gods of mercy and succor, what has happened here?" he asks softly, pondering within if he should be calling upon the essence of Shatranji, the air-dancer, whose presence makes the hairs of man and beast rise.

Truddig's eyes grow wide on entering Gellion's home. "This.... doesn't look good at all." He moves slowly into the house, taking care to examine the scratches and stains--and to keep an eye out for whatever caused them. He moves towards the kitchen, wanting to make sure there are no surprises there before making an attempt to follow the footprints where they lead upstairs. He puts his ear to the door and listens before attempting anything else.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24

With a nearly reflexive drive, Quazel rushes over to the books to examine them. "I hope they aren't too damaged," he mutters as he starts gathering them up.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

As everyone rushes in to start searching the room a flurry of things happen. Truddig discovers a terrible smell emanating from the kitchen, mix of rotten food and death. It is overpowering as he gets close to the door. Quazel meanwhile goes to the books, finding that the room has been trapped, and a silver fork comes flying through the air to embed it's tongs into his arm. A fit of laughter can be heard from a small humanoid figure covered in a mixture of purple goo and blood, standing on top of a bookshelf. It flings a tiny dagger at Quazel, but fortunately misses. Truddig locates the being immediately, in spite of the foul smell.

The small being has partial cover from anyone attacking from the ground. Climbing up would remove the cover, but is precarious. The creature is tiny, so can't make AoO's.

Initiative (bold may go)
----------------
SURPRISE ROUND (move or standard action)
Truddig (fort save dc 12 needed)
Evernight (surprised)

ROUND 1
Ingrge
Hasmed
Khafra
Enemy
Quazel (3 dmg)

Aren't I inside the house?

Whose turn is it? I don't see anyone in bold...

Since there's no single creature giving him partial cover, I'm assuming Deadeye Bowman won't apply in this case...is that right?

Fortitude DC 12: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 additional +2 if vs. poison or spells/spell-like abilities

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 to identify the creature, if it applies

Not taking my action yet because I can't find the tiny creature on the map.

Yes you are inside the house going after books and dodging cutlery.

Deadeye bowman takes away cover from allies. He has cover from shelving.

Map updated.

Truddig draws himself up on noticing the creature, and moves towards it, pointing and alerting the party. "Up there, on the shelf! Some mischievous.... something!"

Surprise Round: move action

Initiative (bold may go)
----------------
ROUND 1
Khafra
Truddig (fort save dc 12 needed)
Quazel (3 dmg)
Enemy
Ingrge
Hasmed
Evernight

Not sure why my init track was messed up earlier, but fixed now

Fort save was rolled, above.

Truddig climbs up on the chair next to him to get a better angle on the creature, then draws a throwing axe, ready to throw.

Move action to step onto chair, move action to draw axe; would Truddig be able to throw from here without a cover bonus to the creature's AC?

Quazel draws his greatsword and moves to corner the figure. "You've tried enough, now stand down."

He is positive that the maddening effect of the purple goop is going to prevent what he says from mattering.

Is Khafra still with us?

I'm wondering the same

Sorry, like I said my trip had much less downtime than I'd hoped. I'm back now and will be regularly posting.

Khafra draws his pole arm and leaps toward the danger. double move

As everyone rushes in to start searching the room Truddig climbs on a charge to get a better angle, taking away the cover from the creature. Meanwhile, Khafra and Quazel draw weapons and head towards the threat.

The tiny creature throws a dagger at Quazel giving him a small gash, picking up another dagger as he prepares to be attacked.

Initiative (bold may go)
----------------
ROUND 1
Ingrge
Hasmed
Evernight

ROUND 2
Khafra
Truddig (fort save dc 12 needed)
Quazel (5 dmg)
Enemy

Hasmed calls upon the essence of Shatranji, whose fury makes the air sizzle, and moves on up to land a bladed punch upon the creature.

The mighty FIST!: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 4 + (1) = 11

Wo-hooo! Finally a hit!

The tiny doll-like creature falls to a single blow as Hasmed hits it hard. If falls from the book case with a thud on the floor.

Out of initiative

Hasmed goes to grab the small person. "By all that is holy, please someone help me stop the bleeding! Or we have killed our only potential lead!"

GM is there a skill we could roll to identify this creature?

When Hasmed goes to grab the creature, Truddig calls out, maybe a little too loudly. "Watch out for that goo! Don't get any on you!"

"Bleeding?" Khafra responds to Hasmed. "I can help..."

heal: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 1 = 21

Quazel snaps his fingers. "I can help, by Gorum."

Cast stabilize.