Varisian Chronicler's Skinsaw Murders

Game Master Guy Player Man

Round 1

Tomaru brings the blessing of Desna to the fight, while Praxim fires an arrow and hits his mark in the arm.

Round 2

Rhianni is compelled to follow the elf's command, taking multiple injury from one of the cultists (1 dmg). The elf yells out to the others, "Let deceit be your protection!", and each member of his group simultaneously duplicates themselves into two. Three of cultists converge onto the bard and attack, two connecting (4 dmg, 2 dmg). The leader himself calls forth negative energy into his blade before slicing into Rhianni (4 dmg + 10 negative energy dmg, Will save DC 14 for half)

The rest stay out of the way, trying to recover from the glitterdust.

Lym, Praxim, and Tomaru

Map

Tomaru casts Summon Monster III.

Praxim solidifies his stance, takes a deep breath, and becomes one with his bow. He continues to target the elf cleric.

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 15
Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 15

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 12

Unfortunately, not as much with his bow as he would have liked.

Save vs negative energy 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20 saved for half takes 5 damage.

Round 3

Rhianni, cut and covered in blood, steps to the side as she manages to speak words of arcane vengeance and points at the elf once more.

5ft step to E,6
Casts Blindness at the elf, Fort save DC=17 or the creature is permanently blind.

"Aranea arcanorum rescindenda est!" Lym chants, directing her power at Rhianni.

Lym casts [i]Dispel Magic in an effort to end the control effect. Level check to overcome: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11.

Lym, Rhianni's controlled effect ended already. You can take another action.

"Ignem iubeo!" Lym chants, and a beam of sizzling hot energy flies from her hand, aimed at the mystery Elf. "Cut off the serpent's head, and the body falls to useless writhing."

One helping of Scorching Ray; ranged touch attack 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 for 4d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 1, 2, 1) + 2 = 12 damage.

Round 2

Tomaru starts casting a spell.

Praxim's arrow hits one of the elf's images, drawing blood. Lym's ray hits one of the forms as well, but that form turns out to be an illusory clone, causing it to disappear.

Round 3

Surrounded by enemies, Rhianni steps away and attempts to cast a spell, leaving herself open to another slash from one of the masked villains (4 dmg, make a concentration check).

Lym grumbles under her breath about 'wasted spells' and steps forward again. The Wizard holds her hands up and outward while she chants, trying to angle them just right... "Impugnatio venti!"

A cone of wind blasts out from the palms of her hands.

Lym moves to D2 and casts Gust of Wind. She tries to angle it so that she can catch Mystery Elf and the cultists around him, but not Rhianni.

Round 3

Rhianni casts her spell, but the Norgerber priest resists and blinks away its affect. He then channels positive energy through himself, healing nearly all the damage he's taken.

The mirror image of each of the cultists fades away, but all of them reactivate the ability, then reposition themselves. Two of them go after Rhianni and slice more wounds into her (2 dmg + 1 nonlethal dmg). Another confronts Praxim, his blade bouncing off the paladin's buckler.

Tomaru and Praxim

Map

Spell Effects
- Prayer (You and each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a –1 penalty on such rolls.)
- Summon Monster III 1d3 ⇒ 3 small earth elementals summoned round3.

Tomaru finishes casting and the elf is surrounded by 3 small humanoids that look like they are out of a clay-mation movie. (A at G4, B at H4, and C at H5) They pummel their target with powerful fists.

A Slam 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
B Slam 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
C Slam 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Meanwhile, Tomaru steps back to D2 and begins casting another summons (Summon Monster II).

Praxim takes a 5-foot step to C5 and attempts to feather the elf with another trio of arrows.

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 10

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 33
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 17

Rapid shot attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 28
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 17

With a much better result, Praxim allows himself a small, grim smile.

Round 3

Lym blows a gust of wind towards the elf.

Three earth elementals surround the elf and begin hammering him, and one of them connects.

Praxim fires three arrows. The first fails to hit anything and the second hits the wrong elf, causing the illusionary copy to dissipate. The third imbeds itself into actual flesh, piercing through the side of the target's ribcage.

Rhianni is up.

Tomaru, roll an AoO for each of your elementals.

I like AoOs
A Slam 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
B Slam 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
C Slam 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

Rhianni steps back as she calls on the whispering arcane of midnight to breathe the calmness of sleep on the cultists in front of her.

Round 3
5ft step back to D,6
Casts sleep on F,5 Will Save, DC=17

Round 4

Rhianni falls back and puts and casts a spell, putting one of her targets to sleep.

The elf begins chanting the words to a spell and gets clubbed over the head with a rocky fist before vanishing from sight.

Two of the robed enemies converge on the Tomaru and attack, one of them cutting a shallow wound (2 dmg). Two more of the heroes' adversaries recover from their blindness.

Tomaru, make a concentration check DC 14.

Tomaru, Praxim, Lym

Map

Praxim steps to C6 and fires at the cultist in D4.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 10
Arrow 2: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 1 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 7
Arrow 3: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 19
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 1 + 1 = 10

If any of those arrows drop the cultist in D4, Praxim uses the rest on the cultist in A5 and F6, in that order.

[ooc]Spell Effects
- Prayer (You and each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a –1 penalty on such rolls.); ends round 7
- Summon Monster III 3 small earth elementals; ends round 9.
- Summon Monster

It's probably a small detail, but Tomaru took a 5'step last turn to D2.
Concentration 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 2 = 28 In spite of being struck, Tomaru finishes his spell and another claymation figure rises out of the wood and strikes at the cultist attacking Tomaru.
D Slam 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 = 11 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 includes flanking

The elf vanishes from sight, but the elementals have other senses to use to target him (tremorsense). They give chase, if necessary, and continue to attack him. I realize they may not have enough movement, but they will at least let us have an idea where he's at.
A Slam 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
B Slam 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
C Slam 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 damage 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

With his spell cast, Tomaru draws his morningstar and begins to explain to the cultist why attacking him was a bad idea.
Morningstar:
to hit 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9 Damage 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9 includes flanking

Round 4

The elementals head northward.

Tomaru summons another and they attack one of the cultists to no benefit.

Praxim downs one of the cultists with two arrows, then hurts another with a third.

Lym, Rhianni

Map

"Do the sparkly dust thing again, even if I have to be in it. Don't let that elf escape!"

"Hoc quod non est visum, videbio," Lym chants, frowning. "Save your spells if you wish, Rhianni. I will ferret the scum out."

Lym casts See Invisibility.

Rhianni starts to orate once more about the strengths underpinning her friends values in their fight for good.

Bardic Performance 1 of 9: Inspire Courage, +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls.

Lym finds her target standing next to Praxim.

Round 4

Rhianni speaks and inspires her companions.
The elf reappears just as he cuts into Praxim (5 dmg + 11 negative energy dmg, Will save DC 14 for half). He then creates another double of himself.

The cultist in the center of the room expels a burst of negative energy, hurting every ally and enemy around (6 dmg, DC 9 for half).

The Norgerberite near the north wall yells a compulsive order to Praxim to drop his bow Will save DC 14 to negate or lose your turn), then steps forward. Finally, the one in the southwest corner moves toward the fray and issues a command to Rhianni to flee the battle (DC 14).

Map

Will save versus elf: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Will save versus cultist: auto-pass
Will save versus command: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 21

Praxim suffers the AoO's and fires arrows point blank at the elf.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 26
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 11

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 10 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 23
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 13

Arrow 3: 1d20 + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 2 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 18

If any of those are superfluous, direct them at the cultist adjacent to the elf.

He also uses a swift action to heal himself: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 5) = 8

This happens after the AoO's.

Spell Effects
- Prayer (You and each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a –1 penalty on such rolls.); ends round 7
- Summon Monster III 3 small earth elementals; ends round 9.
- Summon Monster II small earth elemental; ends round 10

Will sv v negative energy 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 = 16 includes prayer

Tomaru and the elemental D continue to beat upon the cultist at E4. Elemental D flanks with Elemental C.
D Slam 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 8 + 1 + 2 - 1 + 1 = 27 damage 1d6 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 3 = 12 includes bless, flank, power attack, bard music

Morningstar: prayer, bless, and bard music
to hit 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 21 Damage 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 9

One elemental moves to C5 and attacks the elf
A Slam 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 19 damage 1d6 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 3 = 16 includes bless, power attack, and bard music
Another bull rushes the culist in B5, taking that spot
B Bull Rush 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 + 1 = 27 includes bless and bard music
The last one pummels the cultist at F6
C Slam 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 12 damage 1d6 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 3 = 11 includes bless, power attack, and bard music

Round 4, Rhianni's response to the cultists actions.
Will save vs neg energy 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Will save vs flee 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

Despite the pain as some of her life force is extinguished, Rhianni stares back at the cultist who tried to command her. Her eyes mesmerise him for a second, long enough for the words to flee to echo in her mind and fade to nothing.

If Lym can see which of the Elves is real - bleeding and still being there after Praxim has shot at them seems like a good clue - she calmly pulls a scroll from her sleeve and incants a deadly spell: "Arca urens."

Lym casts Spontaneous Immolation from her scroll, but only if she can see which enemy Elf is real. 3d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 3) = 10 fire damage, Fortitude save 13 for half damage and to avoid catching on fire.

How's everyone holding up? With all these elementals going, Tomaru is free to dish out some healing if needed.

I don't have a scratch on me yet. ^^ This fighting as artillery backup from behind the lines is working out well for me.

Rhianni is a little bit hurt .... but I'm waiting to see what's happened after all that damage being dealt out...

Round 4

Praxim takes another a small wound while aiming his bow (3 dmg). He fires three times, first into the priest's gut, the second shot dispelling the clone, and the third missing.

Tomaru and one of the elementals nearly bludgeon their target to death, but the cultist remains standing. Another elemental bull rushes, while the other two do nothing of consequence.

The elf takes minimal damage from Lym's flame, but the attack is nearly enough to drop him.

Map

Round 5: Rhianni

Spell Effects
- Prayer (You and each of your allies gain a +1 luck bonus on attack rolls, weapon damage rolls, saves, and skill checks, while each of your foes takes a –1 penalty on such rolls.); ends round 7
- Summon Monster III 3 small earth elementals; ends round 9.
- Summon Monster II small earth elemental; ends round 10

Tomaru and the elemental D continue to beat upon the cultist at E4. Elemental D flanks with Elemental C.
D Slam 1d20 + 8 + 1 + 2 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 + 2 - 1 + 1 = 26 damage 1d6 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 3 = 14 includes bless, flank, power attack, bard music

Morningstar: prayer, bless, and bard music
to hit 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 20 Damage 1d8 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 + 1 = 10

The elementals strike out at the elf.
A Slam 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 28 damage 1d6 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 3 = 15 includes bless, power attack, and bard music
The next elemental does the same.
B Slam 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 29 damage 1d6 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 3 = 14 includes bless, power attack, and bard music
The last one pummels the cultist at F6 he should have not moved and should still be at E5 to give the flank bonus to elemental D
C Slam 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 21 damage 1d6 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 3 = 15 includes bless, power attack, and bard music

Elemental B Confirm Critical
Slam 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 24 damage 1d6 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 3 = 15 includes bless, power attack, and bard music

Fortitude save 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6.

Lym contemptuously sweeps her hand at the staggering Elven cultist, and a single dart of force buries itself in his chest.

Seeing as I am now out of attack spells, I use one Force Missile for 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 force damage, guaranteed hit.

Rhianni takes out her whip and attempts to trip the cultist fighting the stone-like elemental, whilst she continues to exhort her fellows to greater efforts.

Whip trip attempt against F,6 1d20 + 0 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 0 + 1 + 1 = 8 Prayer, bardic courage
Free action continue bardic performance 2/9

Which cultist do you mean?

The leader; the Elf.

If it's me you're asking ... then it was the cultist in F,6 .. which you might have missed in the description of the whip trip attempt.

Round 5

Rhianni lashes her whip to little effect.

The elf floods the room with more negative energy (13 dmg, Will save DC 14 for half), killing two of his subordinates and destroying the elementals.

Lym's bolt is enough to put the elf in his death throes.

...

The remaining cultists fight to the death and are easily defeated.

End of combat.

Will save 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18.

"Sore loser," Lym growls after the battle has ended, when she is checking the wounds dealt to her with negative energy. She winces. "That was painful. I suppose our next step is to check the corpses for more information; I, for one, do not have a Speak with dead-spell handy to interrogate these fools."

"Let's see if any them are merely unconscious. We can bind and question them. We can search this place for evidence of what they were up to. I can also heal everyone."

Take 20 (24 total) to search the building. Detect Magic all over the place. Question the prisoners. And oh yes, loot!

Tomaru gives Bit of Luck to whomever questions the prisoners.

Note I am assuming we have prisoners.

Will save 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22 succeed save, takes 6HPs damage

Rhianni feeling a little weak from the fight, sits down in the middle of the carnage, "Yes Tomaru, some healing would go a long way to making me feel better." Once healed, she helps search the bodies of the elf and cultists, before continuing to search the room. Especially looking for some secret stash/door where these people might have stored their evil gods relics. Once complete, she follows the others out of the room, as they start to search the rest of the building.

On 17HPs so could do with 20HPs back please.
Takes a 20 for the search for a total of 25.

2 uses channel energy 3d6 + 3d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5) + (5, 4, 3) = 23

Each cultist has a masterwork war razor, leather armor, a hand crossbow, 10 bolts, 20 gp, and a mask with a faint necromancy aura.

The elf has a magical buckler, magical war razor, mithral chain shirt, masterwork hand crossbow, 10 poisoned bolts, a key, a wand, and a mask with a moderate enchantment aura.

A foot locker in the room contains books, sea charts, etchings of vast rock formations with maps, pamphlets discussing a forgotten school of magic known as Alchymyc, and a painting of city carved from a vast frozen waterfall with towering ice cathedrals and domes.

The double doors in southeast corner of the room are locked.

One of the lower floors has a barrel that contains three bags of 100 gp, three potions, a crystal decanter with an obsidian stopper, and a tiny wooden box containing three poorly cut diamonds.

Lym studies the pamphlet on "Alchymyc", puzzled.
Knowledge (arcana) 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21.
"Is anyone here any good with maps and charts?" she asks. "These might contain a clue of some sort."

The war razor and buckler are +1 equipment.

The potions are barkskin +3

The wand is cure moderate wounds with 12 charges.

The 13 masks are Skinsaw Masks and the other is a Reaper's Mask.

The key doesn't go to the foot locker.

"Stuff and nonsense," Lym says as she scornfully scrunches up the pamphlet and tosses it away.

What now?