Human Male - Evangelist of Pharasma 9 HP 69/72 | AC 21 T 16 FF 15 | F +6 R +11 W +6 | Init +16 | Perception +13 | Always acts in surprise Prescience (6/9) | ISA (1/1)
Darkvision is good for 9 hours, 1 casting on myself and 1 casting on El Garrapata. I'll also enchant Gorf a bullet of his choice with named bullet (Dureagar 90 minutes). So 5 rounds of Imrpoved Invisibilty remaining on Jean, 4 rounds remaining on me, 3 for Gorf and only 2 for El Garrapata. 4 charges remain on the wand.
I'll also Mage Armor myself from a wand for 1 hour, and See Invisibility for 90 minutes and Tongues for 90 minutes
Named Bullet:
When used against the selected creature, the ammunition never misfires and is unaffected by concealment (but not total concealment), and at a range of 30 feet or less, the attack targets the selected creature’s touch AC.
When the target hits the selected creature, you must overcome that creature’s spell resistance, or this spell has no effect.
A normal hit scored using the target against the selected creature is considered to be a critical threat and deals 1 extra point of damage per caster level (9), which is not multiplied on a critical hit.
A natural critical hit deals the same extra damage, but that damage is multiplied due to the critical.
Once the target is used to attack the selected creature, successfully or not, this spell is discharged.
Theodric takes advantage of his invisible start to cast haste on his party before making haste up the stairs to his left, trudging up the first few tall steps.
As Theodric makes his way up the stairs, he spots a single duergar doing the same, almost at the reach of his darkvision. The grey dwarf carries a crossbow in his hands, and has a hammer slung at his hip.
From Gorf's new position, he can also see the single duergar climbing the stairs below the northwest tower. Glancing down, Theodric sees that the floor below him has fallen away, revealing a seemingly endless pit (the dark, cross-hatched thing on the map immediately north of Theodri). About twenty feet below ground level, a rough lattice of thick chains crisscrosses the pit, presumably to catch anyone who falls in.
It occurs to me that since the a couple of the elements in the initiative order are really just triggers for some description, El Garrapata can act now also.
Human Male - Evangelist of Pharasma 9 HP 69/72 | AC 21 T 16 FF 15 | F +6 R +11 W +6 | Init +16 | Perception +13 | Always acts in surprise Prescience (6/9) | ISA (1/1)
Unfortunately they are both an enhancement bonus and don't stack :(.
Jean-Claude moves further into the outpost, staying at ground level in hopes of catching the duergar on the stairs from behind. As he gets closer, he notices two other duergar on the opposite stairs, as well as a powerfully built dwarf – a true dwarf this, no grey dwarf - who manages to look both noble and miserable at once. El Garrapata can see them as well, just forgot to include that fact in my last post.
As Jean-Claude notices the other figures, Old Ironfin erupts from beneath the ground and bites fiercely at one of the duergar on the stairs! The bulette nearly tears off the grey dwarf's arm, wounding him badly!
The battle between the mongrelmen and the main duergar force begins in earnest, and from both of the side tunnels the Pathfinders can hear screams of deeply-felt rage, cries of bloody anguish, and the occasional shout of triumph!
The dwarf, clad in beautiful plate mail, slips a warhammer from his belt and moves to join the duergar on the western steps.
This movement will provoke an AoO from Jean-Claude, if he wants to take it.
Human Male - Evangelist of Pharasma 9 HP 69/72 | AC 21 T 16 FF 15 | F +6 R +11 W +6 | Init +16 | Perception +13 | Always acts in surprise Prescience (6/9) | ISA (1/1)
Theodric moves up, taking advantage of his haste before casting Fiery shuriken and tossing 2 at the yellow dureagar.
ff touch vs yellow:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 fire damage:1d8 ⇒ 1
ff touch vs yellow:1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16 fire damage:1d8 ⇒ 8
sneak attack damage if at least 1 hits:4d6 + 8 ⇒ (2, 4, 6, 1) + 8 = 21
Theodric’s flaming shurikens strike the duergar out of nowhere, taking him completely by surprise! He takes a shot at where they came from with his crossbow, then clambers up the stairs and ducks into the tower for cover! On the opposite stairs, the duergar nearest the top continues upward, then moves quickly along the rampart towards the central tower. The duergar lower on the stairs comes back down and hustles along the floor, pausing to take a shot at Theodric as well!
Crossbow vs Theodric:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 Damage:1d8 ⇒ 5 Miss chance, 1-50 hits:1d100 ⇒ 9
Crossbow vs Theodric:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 Damage:1d8 ⇒ 6 Miss chance, 1-50 hits:1d100 ⇒ 12
Gorf quickly scampers up the tower, drawing his musket as he moves away from the Duergar. Gorf has a 40ft climb speed right now, because of the haste, and a take-10 Climb of 29. Since I only have to use half of my climb speed to get to the top, can I use some remaining movement to move away from the edge? I've never seen it spelled out anywhere either way.
If so:
Moving away from the edge and drawing his musket would be part of the original move action, leaving him a standard action to fire.
HP 93/93; AC 20, T13, FF16; CMD 26 (32 vs grapple); F+9, R+9, W+4; Init +2, Perc +4 Human(?) Brawler 10
Invisible Garrapata charges the Duergar (yellow) in front of him!
Hasted Charging Power Attacking Non-Lethal Blow FOR JUSTICE!:1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 2 + 1 = 18 for 1d10 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19 damage! If that hits, I'll declare a KNOCKOUT blow; Fort Save DC 17 or unconscious for 1d6 ⇒ 3 rounds!
Sure, Gorf, if you’ve still got movement left it can be used for something other than continuing to climb.
Gorf’s musket-ball takes the startled duergar square in the shoulder, knocking him briefly against the stone rail of the bridge! The invisible blue brawler darts forward and connects with the unsuspecting duergar, knocking him out cold!
Fort, DC 17:1d20 ⇒ 6Fails
El Garrapata – it looks like you didn’t include the +2 on your attack roll from being invisible. If that’s so, then you hit. If that was already included in your bonuses, ignore the above, you missed.
Jean-Claude is up, still has an AoO he can take vs the dwarf if he wants. He let me know he’ll be back online tonight, so I’ll let him decide on the AoO and his next action rather than botting again.
Human Male - Evangelist of Pharasma 9 HP 69/72 | AC 21 T 16 FF 15 | F +6 R +11 W +6 | Init +16 | Perception +13 | Always acts in surprise Prescience (6/9) | ISA (1/1)
Jean-Claude thwacks the dwarf hard on the temple as he moves past! The dwarf shakes his head once or twice and looks around for whatever just hit him, but he does not see the suave grippli standing nearby!
Question for you gents, since I think you may smoke this encounter: how would you feel about skipping the 4-player adjustment on the next one? I can go either way, I just want to be sure it's exciting for you.
I'm not feeling a lack of excitement or danger, so far (especially considering the way the bulette battle started). I'll go along with it if folks want, but I'm fine leaving things as-is.
Fair enough. I think you'll find this fight not so very challenging, since they can't see you. But I'm glad you're feeling some danger!
Also, Jean-Claude, you're up! Though you're probably busily celebrating your birthday with bone-marrow port shots and larks' tongues in aspic, or similar decadence.
Jean-Claude shakes his head to himself, unable to determine what would cause someone to do such things, but resolved to sort it out after the melee is complete. A flurry of attacks attempting to subdue the opponent, stopping once the dwarf is unconscious, if that happens.
Human Male - Evangelist of Pharasma 9 HP 69/72 | AC 21 T 16 FF 15 | F +6 R +11 W +6 | Init +16 | Perception +13 | Always acts in surprise Prescience (6/9) | ISA (1/1)
sense motive:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24
Theodric shouts, potentially giving away his invisible position "The real Dwarf is mind-controlled, knock him out!"
Jean-Claude connects twice with his rapier, the third stroke blocked by the dwarf’s armor! The dwarf manages to keep his feet, though he seems to sway a bit under the grippli’s onslaught! A moment later, Old Ironfin surfaces again, biting at the same duergar he attacked before. The massive chomp leaves the grey dwarf bleeding on the cavern floor as the bulette moves away, bellowing in rage at his tormentors. The giant beast’s rage has an unexpected consequence, however, as its bulk crashes into the western bridge and sends it crashing to the floor in a heap of rubble, leaving Gorf standing by a jagged edge of stone!
At the same time, the desperate battle between the mongrelmen and the main force of the duergar rages on, with captive dwarves joining in, bravely attempting to hamper the duergar despite the thick chains binding their wrists and ankles.
The ensorcelled dwarf spins and swings his warhammer once, twice at his invisible attacker! He's unable to connect with the nimble, unseen foe!
Human Male - Evangelist of Pharasma 9 HP 69/72 | AC 21 T 16 FF 15 | F +6 R +11 W +6 | Init +16 | Perception +13 | Always acts in surprise Prescience (6/9) | ISA (1/1)
Theodric moves around to behind the yellow duregar and fires an acid splash at point blank.
Theodric moves around behind the duergar that El Garrapata knocked out, burning the grey dwarf with acid! It is clear this foe will not be returning to the fight.
The last duergar standing drops his crossbow and charges toward where Gorf last fired! Drawing a hammer as he moves, he swings at Gorf!
Gorf weighs about 30lbs, and has about 20lbs worth of gear.
More surprised than hurt by the duergar's blow, Gorf returns fire from point-blank range, firing four times then stepping away. If the one near him goes down, he will switch targets to the one on the stairs.
...his gun misfiring on his first shot! He curses, quickly trying to clear the jam as he steps away to obscure his location. Misfire, spend grit to quick-clear, 5ft step.
The duergar looks around in confusion as Gorf's gun fails to kill him. Garrapata's reluctant thump sends the dwarf slumping to the stairs, unconscious!
Jean-Claude continues his non-lethal assault on the dwarf. Also, neglected to mention the effects on my debilitating attack on this one - made him Bewildered (-4 AC vs me, -2 AC vs everyone else).
Sorry, I totally missed that. Didn't realize it was the same dwarf.
Jean-Claude goes to smack the dwarf but realizes he's already down. Instead, he heads towards the remaining duergar, pulling a Tangleburn Bag out as he does so. When he gets a clear shot on the grey dwarf, he lobs the bag at him.
Just to be clear, everyone, the grey walkways and grey central tower are 20’ higher than the dark grey floor area. I’ve added a note to the map. Jean-Claude’s shot with the tangleburn bag will be tricky, and is too far away to do sneak attack damage.
Jean-Claude just manages to hit the duergar in the tower with his flaming, sticky bag, entangling the grey dwarf in hot goo! It's a tricky shot, however, and he fails to set the duergar on fire, or stick him to the tower roof.
Reflex vs catching on fire, DC 20, Improved cover:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16Succeeds Reflex vs sticking to floor, DC 20, Improved cover:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27Succeeds
60% chance of a thing!:1d100 ⇒ 69
Old Ironfin surfaces again, searching for duergar to eat! Unable to reach any of his hated foes, the massive bulette smashes against the tower near where Gorf stands, causing the stone to crack and chip! The creature then dives back below the cave floor, hunting again in the stony dark. The massive crashing sound causes the fight between the mongrelmen and duergar to pause for an instant, then resume with even greater intensity!
Human Male - Evangelist of Pharasma 9 HP 69/72 | AC 21 T 16 FF 15 | F +6 R +11 W +6 | Init +16 | Perception +13 | Always acts in surprise Prescience (6/9) | ISA (1/1)
Theodric moves south and fires off a fiery shuruiken at the blue dureagar, following up with an acid splash if needed.
Turning visible at the start of my next turn.
If the duregar is stil up, Theodric follows up with a fiery shuriken.
Theodric’s flaming shuriken causes the entangled duergar to flinch in pain, and the splash of acid drops him to the stone roof of the tower! Old Ironfin surfaces once again, sniffing the air and looking about for duergar to kill. Finding none, he gives a bellow of rage and moves off down the large passage, shattering a small copse of stalagmites before he dives down out of sight, swimming through the floor of the cavern. Combat over!
The battle between the mongrelmen and the rest of the duergar continues for a few more brutal moments, but with the duergar lieutenants and the dwarf defeated, the Pathfinders are able to help turn the tide in the fight! By some miracle, all of the dwarven captives have survived the battle, and plead to be released from their chains.
One of the dwarves, a stout woman with multiple lash marks on her exposed skin from the whips of the duergar, sees the unconscious dwarf by the stairs and says, ”Is that Dornarnus? Does he yet live?” On learning that the dwarf has not been killed, she breathes a sigh of relief and says, ”His actions, whatever he did to you, were not his own. We were all captured by a duergar cleric, a fell servant of Droskar named Thulmaga. She captured all of us, even the mighty Dornarnus, and forced us into servitude, using her god’s magic to bend Dornarnus to her will. I wondered why we were not killed outright, but came to understand through the cleric’s indignant rantings that Thulmaga’s intention was to slay us in Hagegraf, the duergar capital, to regain her status there. I don’t know the whole tale, but Thulmaga and her people were driven out of Jormurdun several years ago, by your Pathfinder Society, I believe. She sought refuge in Hagegraf and they laughed at her and drove her away, for being bested by demons and ‘surface scum’, as she put it. Her hope was to show herself worthy in the eyes of her god, and the rulers of Hagegraf, by killing all of us, all the dwarves she had captured, in a public way – and by showing she could control even as good a soul as Dornarnus.”
Raising her wrists to show the dark, heavy chains put on her by the duergar, she says, ”Now, can you help me get these off? And tell me, is Dornarnus himself again?”
Gorf carefully examines his musket, frowning as he works loose the last remnants of the jam and checks the action. He then reloads with a ball and some powder, and slings it over his shoulder as he climbs down fromt he teetering tower.
Phew! Was lookin' for a moment like I'da haveta jump offa there.
When he reaches the bottom he saunters over to the captives. "Ah'd be happy to, ma'am. 'Fraid we don't know the fella like you do, so we may need yer help determinin' such a thing, though ah suppose it might be a bit obvious if'n he keeps tryina kill us when he wakes up."
Is there a check to remove the chains, or do we just need to unbind them?
Gorf removes the chains from the bound prisoners, then saunters over to the unconscious Dornarnus. Not wishing to look too threatening, he leaves his musket slung over his shoulder, though he does draw a folded net into his hand.
"Well, whatya say folks? Time to see if this feller's his old self again?"
Gorf grabs the dwarfs weapons, then stands, waiting for one of his more magically-inclined friends to wake the dwarf, ready to entangle him with a net should he show signs of hostility.
Human Male - Evangelist of Pharasma 9 HP 69/72 | AC 21 T 16 FF 15 | F +6 R +11 W +6 | Init +16 | Perception +13 | Always acts in surprise Prescience (6/9) | ISA (1/1)
Theodric will use Detect Magic on the dwarf to see if an enchantment lingers.
Theodric’s spell reveals that the dwarf carries a magic warhammer and ring, and also detects an aura of enchantment around the unconscious form, of moderate strength.
Human Male - Evangelist of Pharasma 9 HP 69/72 | AC 21 T 16 FF 15 | F +6 R +11 W +6 | Init +16 | Perception +13 | Always acts in surprise Prescience (6/9) | ISA (1/1)
spellcraft hammer:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22
spellcraft ring:1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
arcana ongoing aura:1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32
doesn't look like I have anything helpful, I do have dispel magic in my spellbook, so I may be able to help tomorrow.
As the Pathfinders study the problem of what to do with Dornarnus, a new problem presents itself, as the duergar outriders return to the outpost! Sturdy duergar, mounted atop fearsome, red-carapaced beetles, ride in from three directions! They are accompanied by a duergar woman, clad in dark mail and carrying an iron staff with a heavy chain attached to one end, which is also attached to a manacle secured to the woman’s wrist.
”You’ve spoiled my slave!” the woman cries out. ”For that you will pay!”
