GM Zer0darkfire's The Lost Star (Playtest) (Inactive)

Game Master asdffghjkl01

Xune steps out from around the corner and flips a spinning silvery dagger towards the skull of one of the nasty creatures...

Attack vs Flat Footed, Thrown Dagger: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Sneak+dmg: 1d4 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (4) = 11

Sorry for the absence. We had a few days of holidays here which took me out quite a bit.

I’ll need to hold the line or Xune would be swamped.

Andreas moves past Xune to the other side of the small chamber, then swings his glaive at the (orange) goblin.

move, move, strike

glaive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Hmm, I was thinking people could walk through my space, is that not the case?

Oh yeah, in fact that is what Andrus did. What I meant is that quite a number of the goblins are after you in initiative, so Andrus moved to the other side to stop them from surrounding you on all sides.

Olise is up!

Elise moves through the tunnel, reaches out and lightly touches Xune on the forearm. With a mumbled incantation and contact with the small bundle of holly and mistletoe she carries with her, she gives the elf guidance as she continues in the fight.

Action 1: Move 25ft
Action 2+3: Verbal and Somatic casting actions to cast Guidance on Xune, who gains a +1 conditional bonus to one attack roll, Perception check, saving throw, or skill check the target attempts before the duration ends (the start of my next turn). The target chooses which roll to use the bonus on before rolling. If the target uses the bonus, the spell ends. Either way, it’s bolstered (see CRB page 319 - basically means I can't use this on you again today).

I like that bolstered concept. I'm in a game right now where the witch casts guidance on everyone for everything-- it gets old.

I don't see it mentioned anywhere, but you guys are welcome to confirm either way. I don't think you are flat-footed until you act in this edition.

Xune's dagger goes flying past a goblin, but Andrus' glaive easily cuts into one, badly wounding it.

Both the orange and yellow goblin draw their dogslicers and rush forward to kill the intruders, in this case, Andrus.

Orange strike, Dogslicer: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Orange strike, Dogslicer (Agile): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Yellow strike, Dogslicer: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Yellow strike, Dogslicer (Agile): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Only a single blow manages to hit Andrus for decent sized gash.

The red goblin draws his dogslicer and rushes toward Xune, swinging it wildly on the way.

Red strike, Dogslicer: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3
One of the wild swings connects and leaves a nasty cut on Xune.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Olise
Andrus -5hp
Xune -3hp
Orange Goblin -4hp
Yellow Goblin
Red Goblin
Vardigas
Biffin
Mona
Black Goblin

Vardigas tries to fling himself into the thick of the fight, but his excitement quickly turns to disappointment when he can't get a clear swing at the goblins. Making his way behind Andrus, he yells, "You're keeping me from the fight, little priest! Let me help you!" Brandishing his gigantic axe with a murderous gleam in his eyes, he barely holds back the reckless laughter bubbling to the surface.

2 move actions to get through the passage and up by Andrus, and the last action to Rage.

I don't see it mentioned anywhere, but you guys are welcome to confirm either way. I don't think you are flat-footed until you act in this edition.

Yes, I believe that is the case. Only rogues have the default ability to treat those who haven't acted as flat-footed.

Huffing and puffing, the slow Biffin manages to get into melee range, and he raises his shield and swings at the red goblin!

Warhammer Strike: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 251d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
another critical hit! extra damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

If red lives through this, I'll try to plan on using his retributive strike if he targets Xune. Just gotta remember!

Biffin slams a goblin into the ground with a massive blow, killing the creature.

The black goblin steps into the hallway, draws his shortbow, and unleashes a hail of arrows.

Strike 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 vs +1 AC
Strike 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10 vs +1 AC (1 from in melee "screening")

Both arrows strike into the stone wall near Andrus, sending sparks flying in every direction.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Olise
Andrus -5hp
Xune -3hp
Orange Goblin -4hp
Yellow Goblin
Red Goblin -dead
Vardigas
Biffin
Mona
Black Goblin

Mona who is very annoyed you skipped her moves into position behind her team members and points at the goblin in the back. Her other arm reaches into a pocket. Whatever it is she pulls out, her hand is empty when she opens it. "Check behind your ear," she snickers, as suddenly a popping sound-the sound of a small, magical firework-goes off behind it.

One action move, two actions to cast Daze. DC 15 Will save, failure means flatfooted and critical failure means flatfooted and Slowed 1.

Olise brazenly charges into the room and raises a hand toward one of the goblins as she chants and connects to her divine focus once again. Sticky vines seem to sprout from the dirt caked in the lines of her palm and beneath her fingernails. The vines explode from her hands toward the nearby goblin, attempting to wrap up the creature.

Action 1: Move 25 ft
Actions 2+3: Cast tanglefoot vs yellow goblin
Success: The target is entangled. It can attempt an Acrobatics
or Athletics check against your spell DC (14) to remove the
entangled condition (and immobile condition, if necessary).
Critical Success: Per success, and the target immobile as long
as it’s entangled.
Failure: No effect.

Tanglefoot range touch attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Andrus shifts his grip winces and swings at the goblin in front of him but the wound on his leg throws him off balance. He is glad that Vardigas is finally here to hold down the fort. He takes a step back away from the goblins, then quickly hobbles to the side passage where he can still strike at approaching goblins while opening tactical space for Biffin as well.

Strike, Step, Move

glaive vs orange: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Xune follows Olise's lead to the black goblin in the rear, and takes advantage of its dazed state to strike...

Dagger Toss vs Flat Footed: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Dmg+Sneak: 1d4 + 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + (4) + 3 = 10

...frustrated at another whack throw, she tears her shiny silver short blade off her beautiful exposed back.

Will save vs Daze: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (12) - 1 = 11
Yellow Goblin looks utterly flabbergasted by the magical trick Mona pulled, he can't help but constantly try to look behind his own ear, but his goblin head shape makes it extremely difficult. He doesn't get to look long before he becomes wrapped up in vines from Olise. "Ah, ear vines! They be locking me up!" he says as he rolls around trying to pull them off.

Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Athletics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

He finally manages to get free from the vines while his friend, the orange goblin, gets cut down by Andrus.

Xune's dagger gets stuck into one of the walls near a goblin, causing him to yelp in fear as it clips his ear.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go!

Olise
Andrus -5hp
Xune -3hp
Orange Goblin -dead
Yellow Goblin -Flatfooted
Red Goblin -dead
Vardigas
Biffin
Mona
Black Goblin

Seeing the goblins fall, Biffins yells in triumph. "Always forward!

He approaches the final goblin and tries to end the battle with two swings.

Warhammer Strike: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 231d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Warhammer Strike: 1d20 + 5 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 5 = 41d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Um, Andrus rolled a 7. Not sure how that could have hit? :)

"That's more like it!" With a triumphant cackle, Vardigas runs right past the yellow goblin to his right, his rage-induced tunnel vision directing him toward the black goblin straight ahead. He hefts his axe and goes in for the kill!

Move action, then 2 strikes against black.

Greataxe Strike 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Strike 1 Damage: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Greataxe Strike 2: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Strike 2 Damage: 1d12 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Um, Andrus rolled a 7. Not sure how that could have hit? :)

It wouldn't have, but I misread the number and I'm not going to retcon it now lol.

"You guys have this! Let's finish them while they're down!"

Inspire, then two shortbow attacks
Shortbow attack vs. Black: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24

Second shortbow attack vs. Black: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
If that crit: 1d6 + 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (6) + (4) + 1 = 11

Vardigas runs into the room swinging, but only manages to hit the goblin still looking for the object behind his ear. He quickly finds his search over as he easily gets hacked in half.

Meanwhile, Mona sends an arrow straight into a goblin's head with Biffin coming in behind slamming the arrow the rest of the way through.

Combat Over!
Andrus -5hp
Xune -3hp

Your goblin guide comes out from behind the corner, "Other mudchewers. Fight for Drakus for fear of neck biting. Drakus scary, but you guys strong. Can kill Drakus and save mudchewers!"

On the dead goblins you find 4 small Dogslicers and 4 small shortbows with 38 arrows.

"I'm sorry that had to happen," Olise says to the group's goblin guide. "Maybe we can find a way to convince any other Mudchewers we find that we will help get rid of Drakus, and they'll join us!" Despite her optimism, Olise has little hope that the group will actually manage to convince anyone to turn on the leader they feared.

Resigned to these doubts, she begins to look around at the various burial niches lining the walls.

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

"Oh! Look what I found," she calls out at finding a small treasure trove in one of the niches. "An old ring and a magical potion! Andrus, you look like you could use it." After offering the potion to Andrus, Olise turns her attention back to the ring. "Hmm...I wonder if it's magical or something fun like that!" She waggles her fingers and grabs onto her holly and mistletoe as she searches the ring for a magical aura.

Casting Detect Magic with the ring in the area of effect.

percep: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

Biffin takes a look around at the burial niches too, but comes up empty-handed.

Andrus hands the vial over to Xune instead. "Here you keep it. Shelyn willing, I can heal myself easily if I need to. You would have greater need."

perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Vardigas comes down off his combat-high and looks around the cavern, wary of (and definitely hoping for) the appearance of further threats. "If they're too afraid to face him themselves, maybe they'll follow someone brave!" He chuckles and rests the haft of his greataxe on his meaty shoulder.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

"Ohoho! What's this, now?" He strides over to the back wall and plucks the owlbear claw out of its niche. "Fancy meeting whatever left this here?"

Assuming that would take a Knowledge (Nature) check, I probably won't do so hot...

@Vardigas it probably would take a check to identify it specifically as a claw from an Owlbear, but I'll just remember that for next time I run it.

The ring does not detect as magical in any way.

If you glance into the bottom left cavern you see a roughly carved chamber that looks to have once been much larger, but now the entire southern half is choked with rubble and debris.

Your Goblin guide, Talga, mentions that there were always big bugs that bite in that chamber when she was still a part of the mudchewers.

Looking into the middle left chamber reveals a narrow passage that opens up into a small burial vault that has been ransacked. Shattered remains of skeletons lie on the floor in twisted heaps among scattered rocks and debris, but the bodies of four recently killed goblins on display in the four niches are much more intact.

Talga looks very scared of this room, "Drakus 'motivimation' room. Kill bad goblins that no listen to Drakus or fail to please..."

Looking into the top left room, you see walls of a gently curving passageway that are covered in thin, fibrous tendrils that connect to a large mass of red fungus growing in the center of this small vault. The central mass is almost three feet high, from which several long, pale
gray stalks have extended upward to brush against the ceiling.

Talga looks at the map, then at the long hallway going to the right. "Drakus rooms beyond door. Talga never friends with Drakus and not want to be, never been through hall doors. No drawing on the map what lies beyond."

"Bugs, eh! This dwarf isn't afraid of any bugs. Let me squash them! Could be treasure mixed in with this rubble!"

With his shield raised in front of him, Biffin enters the bottom left chamber.

I believe that you are able to enter a room with shield raised, thus having it already up if a battle starts.

I was going to work on those checks, but I'm not sure if that would put me too far away from Biffin in case a battle does break out in that lower left room.
In case I had a chance to do those checks prior to whatever ramifications go down with Biffin, I'm going to roll them.

Olise steps into the "motivatimation" room and moves toward the goblins in the niches. "These poor fools. If only they had escaped like you, Talga!"

Medicine (untrained): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

Seeing the wounds on the goblins, Olise sighs sadly. "These ones were killed within the last few days. It's pretty easy to see what killed them, too. Look, there's a hole in the neck the size of Big Person's finger! Oh, and they've been completely drained of blood. That's why they look so pale."

After checking on the goblins, Olise moves to the passageway leading to Drakus's room. "Oh! What interesting fungi," she says excitedly as she carefully looks at the coloration and shape of the expansive fungus.

Nature (trained): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Suddenly, Olise jumps back from the fungi lining the walls of the passageway. "This is a mindfog fungus! We could destroy it with fire, but then it would just release a cloud of spores on us, and I can tell you that we don't want that." She passes and thinks for a moment, then goes on, "Then again, if we're careful, we could sort of block its reaction to release the spores. I think I may have some experience that could be helpful with that. Do any of you know anything about surviving in the wild?"

I wasn't intending to stop people from doing other things in other rooms! I'm guessing the GM threw all three rooms at us at once to get through things faster so it makes sense to just do all of this simultaneously with the understanding that in the adventure it happens sequentially.

Well, I didn't really expect anyone to choose the bug tunnel, but I wanted to give all three since you can easily see all three from the central room. Your guys' choice on what order to investigate them in.

Nothing jumps out at Olise when she checks the motivation room or the fungus room.

Biffin hears the sounds of scuttling towards him from all over the room. Something, or perhaps lots of things, are coming towards him...

"I got some action here! Back me up!"

Biffin keeps his shield up and his warhammer at the ready!

"Action?!" Vardigas stows the claw in his breastplate somewhere and charges toward the sound of Biffin's voice. "I am at the ready, little friend!"

Biffin & Vardigas, the latest buddy comedy from Paizo Forums. Coming soon to a tabletop near you.

Lawful good cop and chaotic neutral cop???

Xune flips her daggers into palms, ready to chuck them at whatever approaching danger as she slinks into the shadows.

medicine: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Andrus moves up to study the dead goblins together with Olive. ”In case anyone was wondering, this is not the work of a vampire. The dead goblins have not arisen. Besides, there is just one hole. But it does beg the question who has been draining the blood of them.”

But he hears Biffin’s warning, and moves in, making space for Vardigas to move up to the front, as he tightens his grip on his glaive.

I swapped Andrus’ and Vardigas’ postions.

And we are back!
The rubble in this chamber is difficult terrain, costing 10 feet of movement for each square entered (or costing 15 feet on a diagonal).

Six human sized bugs with hundreds of legs come crawling out of hidden tunnels in the chamber, the chittering of their legs rapidly running towards the group is a sound you'd like to have never heard in person.

Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Olise
Bug 4, Black
Vardigas
Biffin
Mona
Bug 1, Red
Bug 3, Orange
Bug 2, Yellow
Bug 5, Blue
Andrus
Xune
Bug 6, Grey

Olise concentrates so hard it seems to break the world. After all the effort, a sting of lights appear in the air, and she moves them into the tunnel ahead of her to shed light for her friends.

Actions 1&2: Cast Dancing Lights
Action 3: Concentrate to move lights into tunnel

Some lights appear in the tunnel, shredding away the darkness.

Black and red bugs try to bite Biffin many times as they try to swarm over him.

bite, action 1, black: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21 damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2 Make a fortitude save vs poison, DC 13
bite, action 2, black: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
bite, action 3, black: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (16) - 4 = 12

bite, action 1, red: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
bite, action 2, red: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
bite, action 3, red: 1d20 - 4 ⇒ (13) - 4 = 9

Only one bite manages to get past Biffin's armor and shield, but he can feel that one bite delivering venom into his bloodstream. One bite may be all it takes.

The Orange bug then climbs up on to the ceiling and attacks Biffin from above! I don't see any bonus from high ground in this edition, but please let me know if you find rules on it.

bite, action 1, Orange: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 Make a fortitude save vs poison, DC 13
bite, action 2, Orange: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

Another bite manages to land from the bug on the ceiling while Biffin is busy with the bugs on the ground.

New Initiative Order, Bold May Go! Split into two groups since there are 6 enemy creatures which seems like a lot to go all at once, but allows many of you to act at the same time.

Olise
Bug 4, Black
Bug 1, Red
Bug 3, Orange
Vardigas
Biffin -3, 2 fort saves DC 13 vs poison (venom)
Mona
Bug 2, Yellow
Bug 5, Blue
Bug 6, Grey
Andrus
Xune

Eberick uses his shield to fend of the blows! Eberick entered the room with his shield raised, giving him a +2 to AC, so the second bug missed him This is doable on page 317, "Defending" exploration mode, where you can walk about with your shield up and get the benefits of raising your shield before your first turn begins. Makes sense to me that this is the type of mode you would go into before stepping into an unknown room. For the first attack, Eberick uses his shield block reaction giving him 5 DR and blocking the hit and poison.

"You canna fell a dwarf! Forward!"

Biffin swings twice at the centipede directly in front of him, and then raises his shield to fend off their blows.

Warhammer Strike 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 201d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Warhammer Strike 2: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 5 - 4 = 81d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

edit: Sorry, I typed out one thing, and then realized he should have been missed altogether, so I didn't end up using the shield block reaction.

edit edit: OMG I messed it up again. The first bug DID hit me, but the second didn't with the To-Hit of 15. So I used my shield block on the first bug, blocking the bite and poison.

Shield block sounds good to me, although I've seen a lot of confusion on how it works and the erratas haven't mentioned it yet.

Both of Biffin's attacks miss, but behind his shield, he is mostly unharmed!

Sorry- i changed my post above. Please re-read it!

Sounds good Biffin, I had misread your AC as 13, but 15 with the shield instead of it being your AC and TAC originally.

One good warhammer hit, but it doesn't kill the bug creature.

Olise
Bug 4, Black -6hp
Bug 1, Red
Bug 3, Orange
Vardigas
Biffin
Mona
Bug 2, Yellow
Bug 5, Blue
Bug 6, Grey
Andrus
Xune

bump-- website is back up, let's keep moving

Vardigas grunts in frustration at the tiny, confining walls of the cave. "Everyone, stay behind me! Dwarf-friend, lead them outside so we can help!" He moves back a little while motioning for the rest of the party to do the same so we can open up the field and give everyone a chance to do something.

Biffin nods in agreement, though he is too tied up to move.

I will on my next turn

Mona inspires and then fires her shortbow twice at the critters.
Shortbow: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 Critical Hit!
Shortbow: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (2) + 0 = 2
damage: 2d6 + 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + (12) + 2 = 21

Mona shoots the bug that was crawling on the ceiling with a well placed arrow.

The other three bugs climb onto the ceiling and swarm past Biffin towards the rest of the group.
Bite vs Andrus: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Bite vs Vardigas: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15Damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3 DC 13 fort save vs venom
Bite vs Olise: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15damage: 1d4 - 1 ⇒ (2) - 1 = 1 DC 13 fort save vs venom

Initiative Order, Bold May Go!
Olise -1, Fort save
Bug 4, Black -6hp
Bug 1, Red
Vardigas -1, Fort save
Biffin
Mona
Bug 2, Yellow
Bug 5, Blue
Bug 6, Grey
Andrus
Xune

I'll try to keep an eye but please holler if you need healing.

Andrus rears away from the bug just in time. He shortens his grip on his glaive and jabs at the bug in return.
vs blue: glaive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 dmg: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Then, he releases his right hand, grasp the medallion of the songbird around his neck, mutters a quick prayer and a blast of holy blessings wash over the party.
1: strike; free: release hand, 2&3: cast bless

Raising her sword in a terza guard briefly, Xune slashes as the creature engages Mona...

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Multi Attack 2: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (12) + 0 = 12
Dmg: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
Multi Attack 3: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (12) - 5 = 7