Chaosorbit's PFS PbP - #8-03: Captives of Toil (Inactive)

Game Master Chaosorbit

I'm not sure what action the cleric has taken, but if it is a spell, it needs a concentration check, so I'm guessing its not, but instead a spell from her staff, which apparently has downsides for being used in a grapple as far as I can tell.

move action to maintain for a choke: 1d20 + 28 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 28 + 7 = 44
Well, there is one downside, staves need command words, which she can longer supply.
swift action to maintain for a stunning pin: 1d20 + 28 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 28 + 7 = 37
DC 17 fort save or be stunned for 1 round.

Each successful grapple check will also deal 5 non-lethal damage from kraken style automatically.

"No more foul magic for you." Menas says as he binds her throat tightly on the floor.

Standard action, 2 ki points for wholeness of body to heal 9 damage.

@Menas Red - No worries will hold your actions for your next turn, actually waiting on Enora, who is up.
Thulmaga actually took no action on her turn, because she initially failed her Will save to a spell from Ansha and reacted to it. She basically lost a turn to it. Ansha is a sneaky caster.

Enora delays.

Whoops, sorry. Saw my name in between the active players and thought it was my turn.

Ranalus dismisses the shadow elemnentals, having served there purpose. While Kalangkang and Enora watch and wait. Old Ironfin also doesn't appear this time around.

The duergar and beetle continue to struggle in the pit, all tangled up.

Dornarnus steps forward with two mighty swings of his warhammer. As the first on pummels the cleric, a look of satisfaction crossing his face. He really tries to go for it with the next swing, but misses!

Round 5 Effects: Prayer/Haste
Map

Wembly
Archon
Menas Red
Thulmaga (purple) 22 dmg - grappled, staggered, -2 AC
Kalangkang DELAY -27 dmg
Old Ironfin
Enora DELAY
Ranalus 4 dmg
Red, beetle 6 dmg - in pit and entangled
Red, Rider 40 dmg - in pit and entangled
Dornarnus 29 dmg
Ansha

Round 6
Wembly
Archon Can use extra move action from last turn
Menas Red 42 dmg - Already have actions

Ansha, Wembly are up, Menas Red have you turn already (feel free to amend if needed), Kalangkang and Enora are on delay, feel free to come off if you want.

Wembly and the archon will move down to the area near the red pit...staying back 10’ from edge and looks down.

” So how are we doing? Looking like this is about a wrap, yes? Or Menas do you think she has some fight left in her? I am not sure this luckless fellow will be a problem.“ indicating the pit.

Will update map once tablet is charged. If phone does not do well with map.

"I'll knock her out, Ranalus can decide her fate." Menas says while holding a flailing Thulmaga to the floor.

Ansha smirks as Thulmaga smashes herself in the face at the unseen enchantress's bidding. She looks around the battlefield and chooses to bide her time to see if another opportunity to decisively influence the outcome presents itself. Delay.

"I'll knock her out, Ranalus can decide her fate." Menas says while holding a flailing Thulmaga to the floor.

Ranalus looks quite surprised at being asked to take charge of anything.

Kalangkang move down the stairs. (double move)

"Let's see how this will go."

"Impy follow me!"

Menas Red wrote:

"I'll knock her out, Ranalus can decide her fate." Menas says while holding a flailing Thulmaga to the floor.

Ranalus looks quite surprised at being asked to take charge of anything.

"Perhaps you mean Dornarnus?"

The fallen Paladin is Dornarnus right? Then yeah, that guy.

Ansha bids her time. Wembly, the archon, and Kalangkang all head down toward the action.

Menas Red moves to choke the cleric, but his hand suddenly slips off the target!

So last round Freedom of Movement was suppressed, that ki effect ended at the start of Menas Red's turn, Freedom of movement was back up; went for choke you suddenly realize this. Menas that was your move, I'll let you retcon your standard and swift if you want.

Round 6 Effects: Prayer/Haste
Map

Wembly
Archon
Kalangkang 27 dmg
Menas Red 42 dmg - std and swift left
Thulmaga (purple) 22 dmg - staggered, -2 AC
Old Ironfin
Enora DELAY
Ranalus 4 dmg
Red, beetle 6 dmg - in pit and entangled
Red, Rider 40 dmg - in pit and entangled
Dornarnus 29 dmg
Ansha DELAY

Menas Red up standard and swift; Enora and Ansha are on delay.

Waiting on Menas Red, what he does will impact Thulmaga, so will wait a bit longer for his actions.

Sorry, I forgot you were waiting on me.

Menas uses his swift action to suppress freedom of movement instead of pinning Thulmaga.

@Menas Red - So I would guess with your standard you would reestablish the grapple as opposed to wholeness of body? I'll just use your previous roll. Let me know if that is no the case.

Menas Red suppresses the cleric ability to get free and then grabs hold of her once more. Thulmaga does the only thing she can and summons negative energy in waves.

Menas Red need DC14 Will for 1/2

The beetle continues to attempt to get out of the pit but is unsuccessful.

Round 6 Effects: Prayer/Haste
Map

Wembly 13 dmg -saves noted
Archon 13 dmg
Kalangkang 27 dmg
Menas Red 42 dmg + 13 or 27 dmg
Thulmaga (purple) Grappled - 22 dmg - staggered, -2 AC
Old Ironfin
Enora
Ranalus 4 dmg
Red, beetle 19 dmg - in pit and entangled
Red, Rider 67 dmg - in pit and entangled - DEAD
Dornarnus 56 dmg
Ansha

Round 7
Wembly 13 dmg -saves noted from below
Archon 13 dmg
Kalangkang 27 dmg
Menas Red 42 dmg + 13 or 27 dmg

All Pathfinders are up

Wembly tries to resist the negative vibes from the evil minion.

Wembly will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Archon will: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 5 + 2 = 16

@Menas Red - So I would guess with your standard you would reestablish the grapple as opposed to wholeness of body? I'll just use your previous roll. Let me know if that is no the case.

Move action to maintain the grapple and choke, standard to wholeness of body, swift to suppress freedom of movement. Is the cleric now holding a holy symbol to channel energy or is it something else like a birthmark symbol?

The hound archon does not take the negative energy damage without insult.

You shall pay for that, heathen!

Mwk Sword: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 2 = 29 for dmg: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 3 + 2 = 9
Mwk Sword: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 2 = 24 for dmg: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (4, 6) + 3 + 2 = 15
Mwk Sword: 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 = 11 for dmg: 2d6 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (1, 5) + 3 + 2 = 11
Melee bite: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 3 + 2 = 15 for dmg: 1d8 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 2 = 10
Hound: Haste AC19(20), HP38/51 DC10/Evil, SR15

Enora delays ... watching the Menas spectacle.

"That's enough!"
"Sorry, Menas but I have to try this. I've never done this successfully, and now it's an ideal opportunity."
Kalangkang casts Phantasmal Killer on Thulmaga. DC 22 WILL and FORT

"Yes! A nearly-helpless foe provides the perfect opportunity to experiment with your spells!"
Bluff to appear sincere: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Ranalus skirts the edge of the pit don't need a save unless ending a turn adjacent and casts Cure Moderate Wounds on Dornarnus, sacrificing Bull's Strength.
CMW: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (7, 7) + 8 = 22

Targeting both of a cleric's good saves, but at least you've got high DCs.

will save: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Menas, not feeling very healthy anymore from the battering he has taken this battle, decides he better take away the cleric's holy symbol before he takes much more damage.

"I have taken many wounds this battle that need to be closed." he says as he bleeds profusely from cuts and holes in his body.

move action to pin: 1d20 + 28 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 28 + 7 = 45
standard action to disarm/steal holy symbol: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20 vs CMD -Dex bonus and an additional -4 from being pinned.
Swift action to suppress freedom of movement.

If he has something other than a holy symbol to channel with, my action will be slightly different.

Ranalus can heal Menas with a CCW next round.

The unseen enchantress glances down at the duergar in the pit and shakes her head. "So much potential wasted. You just couldn't get the job done," she laments softly. Ansha then lifts her gaze to look around the chamber vigilantly. Delay.

I feel like there has been some miscommunication, my apologizes if so...don't really belaboring anything, so I'll just press on.

Menas Red realizes the cleric's holy symbol is her staff.

Old Ironfin appears taking a bite at the glittery invisible form.

Bite: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (4) + 15 = 19
damage: 2d8 + 12 ⇒ (3, 7) + 12 = 22

The bulette takes a big chunk and divesx below the earth once more.

Enora continues to look on, as Ranalus heals Dornarnus. Who bolster by his new allies healing attacks the cleric with revenge in his eyes.

Dorn warhammer 1 + prayer - PA + flank: 1d20 + 15 + 1 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 15 + 1 - 3 + 2 = 35
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 + 6 = 16

Dorn warhammer 2 + prayer - PA + flank: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 10 + 1 - 3 + 2 = 13
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 2 + 6 = 16

Dorn warhammer HASTE + prayer - PA + flank: 1d20 + 15 + 1 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 15 + 1 - 3 + 2 = 27
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 2 + 6 = 19

Dorn warhammer HASTE (from last round that I forgot) + prayer - PA + flank: 1d20 + 15 + 1 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 15 + 1 - 3 + 2 = 20
damage: 1d8 + 5 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 2 + 6 = 21

Confirm Crit: 1d20 + 15 + 1 - 3 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 15 + 1 - 3 + 2 = 32
add damage: 2d8 + 10 + 4 + 12 ⇒ (3, 2) + 10 + 4 + 12 = 31

The first blow is a mighty one as the howl of torment is very real, Dornarnus misses the next attack, but his final blow makes the cleric go limp in Menas Red's arm! The look of revenge is replaced by a strange forlorness, when the ex-paladin realizes his captor is no more.

Ansha wonders what might have been as she stays vigilant.

The hound archon arrives but the job is done, as Wembley watches on.

Kalangkang readies to casts his spell, but once again it's too late for the illusionary killer. (Was immune to phantasms anyway)

The dead cleric reappears moments later and Menas Red realizes the only way to remove the holy symbol which is manacled to her wrist is with a key perhaps or perhaps just with strength. (Effective can only be removed with a strength check, disarm will not work)

The beetle is easily dispatched.

Combat over

Status
Ranalus 4 dmg
Dornarnus 34 dmg
Wembly 13 dmg
Archon 13 dmg
Kalangkang 27 dmg
Menas Red 46 dmg

With the duergar destroyed, the freed captives can finally and most profusely express their gratitude to the Pathfinders. Which they do.

Felgriss and the mongrelmen thank you as well!

A ---- great vic-tory has been won this day. But other dangers lurk. I would make haste for Jander-hoff the leader encourages.

The mongrelmen then collect themselves and bid you farewell, Old Ironfin is not seen again either.

The scenario is not yet over! Go ahead and post any post battle details you wish, and then we will move on.

"Well done, warrior. May the night restore you."
Ranalus sacrifices Sound Burst and Silence to cast a pair of Cure Moderate Wounds on Menas.
It's not like we know in-character that we have however long it would take to use wand charges, so some stronger healing right away is probably called for.

CMW: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (1, 3) + 8 = 12
CMW: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (2, 7) + 8 = 17

Kalangkang takes out his wand of cure light wounds and starts to heal himself.

Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

"Who else need healing?"

Ansha fades back into view, hovering on the far side of the pit the beetle-riding duergar had fallen into. "You know, we're going to have a hard time trying to get dwarves past the checkpoints on the Long Walk," she observes, slowly drifting down until her booted feet are bare inches off the ground. "So we'll be needing to take those side-tunnels after all."

Enora nods.

"Yes, and we are more numerous and definitely will attract attention. Can we somehow disguise the dwarfs? Maybe as mongrelmen?" she asks?

The enchantress shakes her head. "I certainly couldn't disguise that many people at once," she says. A thought occurs to her, and she taps her chin with one slender digit before continuing. "I do have a spell in my spellbook that may at least help, though. It makes everything seem completely innocuous, but the range is a bit limited--it's what I used to get us past the checkpoints on the way here." Aura of the Unremarkable might work.

"No need for further expenditures."

Ranalus calls upon the power of his fey lord. Tendrils of shadow reach out to him, Menas, Wembly, and Dornarnus (making sure they are all far enough away from Thulmaga, although he won't have objected if anybody has made sure she is dead in the meantime).

Channel: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 3) = 8
Channel: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 6) = 13
Channel: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 3) = 8

All of these are halved due to Variant Channel, so 4+6+4 = 14 healing.

You also notice that with each wave of shadowy healing, things in the dark become visible to you (recipients gain Darkvision for 1 round with each Channel).

Wembly nods in appreciation of the healing.

” Well, I guess we are done with my archon friend. Rex thanks for your help again.“
The hound bows and departs.

He will then touch the green gem on his forehead and re-summon Whiskers the eidolon.

"I can make 6 persons invisible for a short period of time. "

I can cast 4 times Invisibility, 2 times greater invisibility.

I assume you collect the fallen foes gear, for the most part a collection of +1 type stuff; including +1 Full Plate, and a +2 Dwarven waraxe, also a Wand of Remove blindness/deafness with 7 charges.

Menas Red and Wembly take a special note of Thulmaga staff a terrible item designed enslave minds. That's cursed to bend the will of any non-duergar to Droskar's will, but only if manacled to the wrist.

You do your best to disguise and travel safely through the darklands with the several dozen freed dwarves. The liberated dwarves trudge through the tunnels, eager to be returning home but are exhausted after weeks of travel. Despite that most of the return journey is uneventful. However, with only a few dozen miles left between the dwarves and Janderhoff, a scout reports that a duergar raiding party followed the group from Fellstrok. The raiding party is far too large to fight, and there are many dwarven stragglers who will certainly die unless someone takes quick and decisive action.

You must collectively come up with a plan to get the rest of the way safely. The scenario gives some suggestions: You might find an alternate route through Nar-Voth; use force to create a blockade; intimidate the duergar into backing down; inspire the dwarves to pick up the pace; or use some other tactic of your own design.

After the plan is made, there will be a series of skill checks. So if you indicate as part of your plan how various skills apply that would be best.

Wait, does the scenario just say 'far too large to fight' or is that your interpretation? If the former, has the author ever played an RPG before? PCs are well known for trying to tackle challenges way too big and sometimes succeeding...
"I can create darkness so deep that even Duergar cannot see through it, though Impy could. He can carry a rock carrying the Deeper Darkness and stay just ahead of the duergar. That would give us 80 minutes of them moving at half speed while we are not slowed. We might gain a mile on them or so. And then when the magic nears its end, Impy can drop the rock and catch up with us.
Perhaps we can create a blockade? Or a cave-in to collapse some tunnels behind us? Or we could escape through an alternate route."

Ranalus is not stellar at any skill other than Perception, but his Survival (finding an alternate route) and Disable Device (jamming a gate somewhere) are decent. He doesn't have Knowledge (Dungeoneering) which might be more relevant here. He has Bestow Insight to give the lead skill person a +4 bonus (on top of Aid Another) and the ability to roll twice, as long as it is a skill Ranalus is trained in. He also has two scrolls of Bestow Insight for other casters to help out with skills where they are dabblers, but those would only give a +2 bonus (plus the roll-twice option).

Menas isn't good at much other than fighting, but if it comes down to it, he'd be up for a last stand distraction to save the slaves.

"Give me some time for the casting, and I can set a wasp's nest the size of an ogre for them to stumble into,[b]" Ansha suggests. "[B]Or I can try to bluff them that they're outmatched, but I wouldn't count on me being very scary."

Could set a Calistria's Guardian Wasps spell behind us, or else Ansha's Bluff is at a +25. By comparison, her Intimidate is an untrained +11.

@Ranalus -- right out of the red text...yeah when I read that I was like, or is it...lol

”I can summon a few things but only one at a time. And have invisibility for a couple also “

Enora does not have invisibility but she could copy the spell from someone else spellbook but then the GM would need to allow us to have the special materials to do so here and pay the scribing cost. Then she could cast 4 invisibility spells.

Using invisibility can be part of your plan, but keep in mind there are more than 36 dwarves. So I doubt you can cover them all. In discussion, Ansha mentioned using spellcraft, that's fine just explain how it's part of the plan. I'm all for getting creative. Please continue to collaborate on your plan, once you have some agreement, have someone sum it up.

How concrete does the plan have to be? Without knowing how many duergar are following us and at what distance, and the geography of the tunnels, it is hard to be specific. My plan is "use our spells to delay them so we can stretch our lead" and the Spellcraft check could be to abstract that part, judging how effectively we use our spells. Focusing on battlefield control that is 1 min/level or more.
Ranalus has Deeper Darkness SLA and Obscuring Mist.
Kalangkang has Wall of Fire which could hold off the entire duergar group no matter how many they are. And Web, Fog Cloud, and Obscuring Mist.
Ansha has Wall of Ice in her spellbook and can do a bonded item spell if she hasn't today.
Wembly's summons last 8 minutes and he can do several more, and he has Grease.
Enora has Grease and Pyrotechnics.

Menas has some muscles that last all about 16 hours before wearing out ;P. He's also got 50ft of Mithral chain that you could use to block a tunnel or something.

I agree with Ranalus.

I agree with Ranalus' general plan as well, being 'Use our spells to stretch our lead.' I had forgotten about having Wall of Ice in her spellbook, so for her part, Ansha can try to find a narrow-enough area of tunnel (70 feet wide or less) and anchor a Wall to it to slow the duergar down or even create a barricade with said wall of ice.

agree with the delay and block tactics

After some discussion the group decides the best way to buy time for the escape is by delaying and blocking the duergar forces, bringing to bear Menas Red's muscle and all the magical acumen your can muster. When you are almost ready to begin your preparations, Dornarnus who seems to have been brooding since news of the duergar pursuers was discovered, speaks up.

The plan might work, but there are so many stragglers, I fear it won't buy us enough time. A fiery glimmer fills his eyes.

Unless, I take a small band and circle around, take them grey bastards by surprise and hold them off even longer. Some of the us are up for it. Grim, Jagnorf, Young Strorfolin, and Old Strorfolin. Let us go take the fight to these devils. Then set your magical barriers and obstacles for them, that should give the stragglers the time they need to make it back to Janderhoff. He defiantly cross his arms and waits for your consul.

A tough choice indeed you know that your current plan will most likely save most of the dwarves, but some of those worst off could die if things do not go just right. You also realize if Dornarnus does go and try to buy more time it's likely certain death for him and the other with him.

So do you: 1) allow Dornarnus to sacrifice himself in order to buy time for the stragglers; 2) leave the stragglers to fend for themselves against the duergar and ensure the safety of the rest of the dwarves, if thing go poorly; or 3) leave no dwarf behind including the defiant ex-paladin.

Please feel free to discuss and then vote for which of option you choose. The choice will impact the upcoming skill checks.

No one will die today!
I am for 3rd option.

Menas shakes his head, "Eveyone must choose their own path, so I wont stop you from finding your own, but know that I would take your place to save everyone."