GM XaveTheNerd's Emerald Spire Full Run (Inactive)

Game Master X Hums

"This just ain't right!" Torrak grumbles as he finds himself in a fight with stinky bathwater. Risking bodily harm (perks of reach fighting in a 20ft square!), he swims with magical fluidity to the other side of the room and stabs again.
________
Mwk Nodachi (Overhand Chop, Power Attack) vs Water Elemental: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 151d10 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Swim and strike. Movement will provoke!

Zelphar peeks around the corner, waves his favorite little wand, and a PEW! sound rings through the moist chamber as a little missile of magical force hits the foe.
MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Torrak again seems to flail aimlessly at the water as it lashes out back at him.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

The water again finds nothing but armor.

Zelphar contributes!!!!!

The creature then lurches for Merritt, frustrated with its inability to hit the dwarf.

Attack FF Merritt after 5 foot step: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 7 - 2 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 4 = 13

WHAM! Merritt's breath is knocked from him as the water blindsides him.

The Water Itself
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 2 foot deep water;
-----------------------------------------------
Torrak
Zelphar
Water elemental (-3)
Tseghet
Merritt (-13)

Tseghet sloshes backwards to make space for Merritt to retreat. "Stay strong, my fellows in faith! When the Inheritor's faced the might of the Abyss, she stood strong like a rock in the storm! Let her will and her strength bolster your own!" He draws his morningstar, ignoring the wetness invading his boots.

5 ft step, begin Inspire Courage +1, draw weapon.

Torrak dutifully thrusts his weapon at the elemental again. "I'm doin' mah best! I swear! The motion just isn't right, I want tah swing, not stab! GAAAAHH!"
________
Mwk Nodachi (Overhand Chop, Power Attack) vs Water Elemental: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 91d10 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15 ...Guess It's just y'all fighting this thing, damn.
Assuming Merritt isn't threatening right now, so no flank included.

Merritt backs away as quickly as he can.

Full round: withdraw 20', swim speed 30

Zelphar contributes.

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Tseghet inspires, Merritt withdraws, and Torrak continues to stab at the WRONG WATER!

And then there's Zelphar, whose magic missile flies around everybody and strikes the water just to the right of Torrak's weapon.

The elemental sloshes towards Torrak and goes for a slam.

1d20 + 7 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 - 2 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 4 + 1 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 + 4 = 17

CRUNCH! rings through the air as a piece of Torrak's armor flies across the room and sloshes into the water, lacerating the dwarf as it leaves. (Just flavor for damage. That wasn't a sunder or anything!)

The Water Itself
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 2 foot deep water;
-----------------------------------------------
Torrak (-17)
Zelphar
Water elemental (-8)
Tseghet
Merritt (-13)

”Now we take the battle to them! Ready your weapons and let your fear wash over you - and when the storm has passed, you will remain!” Tseghet charges sloshes forward and swings at the watery creature.

Silver Morningstar, IC: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 + 1 = 25
Silver Piercing, Bludgeoning damage, IC: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 1 = 11

I don’t know if Torrak threatens that square right now, so I didn’t include any flanking bonus.

"Confound it all!" Torrak shouts as Zelphar's magic shows him exactly how far off he was.

Furiously (and with the help of Tsghet in more ways than one), he steps back and tries to stab it again. I'm holding a giant straw and gotta put it in mah drink!
________
Mwk Nodachi (Overhand Chop, Power Attack, Flank, IC) vs Water Elemental: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 241d10 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 13 + 1 = 15
It's about time! Torrak doesn't have a means of threatening within 5ft. Should have spiked up his armor!

Merritt, having caught his breath, moves back up so he can see through the doorway. Drawing his new crossbow, he tries it out.

And with a quick one (Tseghet) two (Torrak), the water stills.

Out of initiative

You're free to look around now. Let me know what you want to look at.

"Never liked the water..." Torrak grumbles as he gives the general area around him a few cursory prods. "Now I don't even trust it to be water!"
________
CLW (Wand) vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW (Wand) vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW (Wand) vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Assuming there is a portcullis to the east, let's go north before taking the other way east?

Merritt hands his wand to Tseghet for healing as well.

cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

"You're not wrong, Torrak. That was... unexpected." Noting the direction of the dwarf's gaze, Merritt agrees with the unspoken suggestion; he nods to the north.

North it is!

A half-submerged shimmering area on this room's north wall occasionally spurts out water. Sturdy tables stand about a foot above the water level. Some are stacked with crates, others with bedding.

As the Pathfinders get their bearing, the water once again begins moving, but instead of something vaguely humanoid appearing for a moment, the water forms into the shape of a shark-like creature! And this one is BIG.

Note, the weirdness in the hallway is showing that the horizontal hallway passes underneath your current hallway. It is inaccessible without going around.

Shark of the Water
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 2 foot deep water;
-----------------------------------------------
Merritt
Torrak
Water Shark
Zelphar
Tseghet

"WHY CAN'T THE WATER JUST BE WATER?!" Torrak shouts at the water shark in annoyance, readying his polearm for action. "Should we leave and bring cups to fight it with? Several empty waterskins?"
________
Readied vs Water Shark: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 231d10 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
AoO?: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 111d10 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16

I just noticed that Merritt is low on ammunition. Can we retcon and say that he purchased more bolts when he purchased his underwater crossbow? If so, he'll grab 50 each of normal and bludgeoning, both made with cold iron.

Merritt steps forward into the room's entrance, loading a blunt-tipped crossbow bolt and firing it upon sight of the creature.

Sounds like a reasonable enough retcon, Merritt. I'll allow it. Characters are sometimes less forgetful than their players.

Torrak readies.

Merritt launches a crossbow at the water creature and watches as the bolt flies completely through, seemingly ignoring the creature. (Damage Reduction)

The creature roars like a wave crashing to the shore as it moves forward, dodging quickly out of the way of Torrak's readied action and returning it with two quick flips of its tail.

Attack: 1d20 + 12 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 3 + 1 = 14
Attack: 1d20 + 12 - 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 12 - 3 + 1 = 21

Torrak dodges the first one, but the second one catches him unaware as the creature seemingly shifts what water it's made of and attacks from below.

Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 6 + 1 = 18

Shark in the Water
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 2 foot deep water;
-----------------------------------------------
Merritt
Torrak (-18)
Water Shark
Zelphar
Tseghet

Oi... If this thing’s avoiding a 23 to hit, we might have just found the boss of this floor.

”Stand strong, and know that Iomedae herself has washed your soul clean and purified you!“ Tseghet proclaims as he advances.

Begin Inspire Courage +1 and move.

OH. Oh. I used the AoO hit. That's what's up. No, a 23 hits.

Retroactive: Torrak skewers the water as it comes up to hit him, trading blows with it. (But, DR)

Tseghet performs and moves on in.

Shark in the Water
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 2 foot deep water; Inspire Courage +1
-----------------------------------------------
Merritt
Torrak (-18)
Water Shark (-15; DR once)
Zelphar
Tseghet

Lol I was thinking the same thing XD

"I'm gonna drink so much water when we get out o' here!" Torrak warns the Water Shark. That ought to shake it! He shifts to the side and tries to skewer it again.
________
Mwk Nodachi (IC) vs Water Shark: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 211d10 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 1 = 22

Merritt steps further into the room, firing another bolt. "This isn't doing much! Torrak, this one might just be yours again!"

Zelphar contributes from afar.

Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Torrak threatens the water, which appears to have been enough to land another solid hit! (That DR, though). Merritt launches a crossbow bolt and appears to do something, but not much. (DR, again).

And Zelphar adds just a little bit of force damage.

The shark once again goes to beat the snot out of Torrak.

Attack: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 12 + 1 - 3 = 29
Attack: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 1 - 3 = 16

Damage: 1d8 + 5 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 + 6 = 18

THWUMP! the creature sends Torrak skyward for a moment. The dwarf lands back in the water and scrambles to his feet. Just flavor.

Shark in the Water
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 2 foot deep water; Inspire Courage +1
-----------------------------------------------
Merritt
Torrak (-36)
Water Shark (-50; DR thrice)
Zelphar
Tseghet

"See the power of Her faith in you!" Tseghet points intones as he points dramatically at the watery creature. "See how She has lent us Her sword!" A translucent longsword appears next to the half-orc, flying at the elemental and cutting at it as though wielded by an invisible hand.

Spiritual Weapon, IC: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 + 1 = 24
Force Damage, IC: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 + 1 = 8

Casting spiritual weapon.

Torrak groans as the water assaults him again. With the Water Shark resisting the thrusts from his Nodachi, he throws it away from him and unchains Skullcrusher. "Yer in trouble now!" he shouts.
________
Skullcrusher vs Water Shark: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 91d10 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 13 + 1 = 19 Nope, nope, nope!
Reroll (2 Stars): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28
I'd roll the remaining dice, but I'm pretty sure I generally know what this is, so I'm sparing myself the disappointment.

"Screw this. Let's see if you really can't set water on fire!" Dropping his crossbow to his side, Merritt retrieves a bomb and throws it deep at the center of the water shark's mass.

Zelphar goes "pew".

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Tseghet spiritual weapons the water, finding the force damage effective!

Torrak readjusts after starting a small stab, this time skewering the creature real good. It is immune to crits, yeah. Sorry!

I'm....not sure what to do here for Merritt's thing. The Water Elemental puts out all non-magical fires and possibly dispels magical fires. I guess this counts as a non-magical fire, so it wouldn't work.

Zelphar's pew seems effective as well.

The water shark again attacks Torrak.

Attack: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 1 - 3 = 13
Attack: 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 3 ⇒ (8) + 12 + 1 - 3 = 18

And it misses twice!

To speed things along because of how low it's hitpoints are...
Tseghet's spiritual weapon: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19

Tseghet's spiritual weapon cracks down on the creature's head before the water returns to being, well, actually water and the room sloshes back and forth for about a minute before returning to its calm again.

Merritt looks at the others. He inserts "I had to try!" before anyone can say anything about his bomb attempt. Not like I'm going to run out of them on this level....

Merritt begins poking around the nearest alcove.

Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27

"And you were right to do so! A weapon unused for fear of failure is no weapon at all!" Tseghet declares confidently. He salutes the translucent sword, which returns the gesture before ascending through the ceiling to the heavens once more.

Wand charges for Torrak?

With the water calmed, Torrak decides to stow his Nodachi. "Unless tha water gets deeper, I'm gonna just use Skullcrusher!" he declares to anyone who cares. Even if it's just him...
________
CLW (Wand) vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW (Wand) vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW (Wand) vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW (Wand) vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW (Wand) vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW (Wand) vs Torrak: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
Perception (Aid) vs Merritt: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 Success
Full! Marking 6 charges off my wand.

Merritt's poking reveals a secret passage underneath a statue. At this point, we're purely underwater if you proceed downward.

Revealed on map. What's next?

I say we take the underpass to the east first, then go for a swim!

Sigh. The post was swallowed. I'd posted Tuesday...

The Pathfinders continue down the underpass, now completely underwater for a moment, before making it to another room.

This room is filled from wall to wall with water that reeks of dead sea life. A cascade pouring from the northern wall churns up silt and other filth in the water, creating a murky mess. Both doorways out are underwater. The water provides concealment to anything in it, or total concealment to anything more than 5 feet away, just like obscuring mist. The water in this room is 8 feet deep, while the room itself is 15 feet tall.

As Torrak enters the room, the gunk in the water begins to churn before a portion of it seems to retreat into the center of the room.

I rolled initiative for this already in the swallowed post, so you'll just have to trust that this is the order.

Suddenly, Torrak finds himself completely surrounded by rapidly solidifying mud in the vague shape of a human arm.

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

But Torrak manages to quickly swim out of the way, directly into a second.

Attack: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (6) + 13 = 19

Torrak's armor brushes up against the mud, but doesn't let it in.

Mud is Thicker than Water
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 8 foot deep water; All water in room is as per obscurring mist;
-----------------------------------------------
Mud
Tseghet
Zelphar
Merritt
Torrak

Merritt swims up behind Torrak, hoping that the crossbow will be an effective tool here.

"The Inheritor does not allow such treachery to stand unpunished!" Tseghet proclaims, swimming into the room with his morningstar in hand and trusting in the falling water spray to obscure his movement.

Begin Inspire Courage +1 and move.

"The f##$ing dirt too?!" Torrak burbles in angry disbelief. Since stabbing worked with the first annoyingly sentient foe, he stabs at it!
________
Nodachi (IC, Overhand, PA) vs Brown: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 1 = 201d10 + 13 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 13 + 1 = 24
GM, what area is this pseudo obscuring mist covering?

Zelphar summons a water elemental in the room.

Water Elemental Slam: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 + 1 = 11
Miss

Miss chance Torrak, concealment. Miss on 5: 1d5 ⇒ 3
Miss chance Merritt, total concealment. Miss on 2: 1d2 ⇒ 1

The "mist" fills the entire rectangle of the room.

Merritt quickly moves in and skewers the mud, but as the crossbow bolt strikes the creature, the mud solidifies and it ignores the damage.

Torrak moves in as well and stabs at the mud. Though he feels like it wasn't entirely effective.

The mud again attempts to attack the dwarf.

Mud slap vs Torrak AC 21: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21
Mud slap vs Torrak AC 21: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (16) + 13 = 29
Miss chance, concealment, miss on 5: 1d5 ⇒ 1
Miss chance, concealment, miss on 5: 1d5 ⇒ 1

The mud thrusts both its arms at Torrak, discombobulating him with a quick slam to both sides of the head.

Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5) + 3 = 12
Damage: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1) + 3 = 7

Grab vs Torrak CMD 19: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26
Grab vs Torrak CMD 19: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

And the mud solidifies within Torrak's armor, grappling him.

Mud is Thicker than Water
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 8 foot deep water; All water in room is as per obscurring mist;
-----------------------------------------------
Mud (-24; DR 1 time; Grappling Torrak)
Tseghet
Zelphar
Merritt
Torrak (-19; Grappled)

”The wicked shall not hold back the faithful!” Tseghet intones as they mud surrounds the dwarf. ”So rise up, children of the Inheritor!”

Casting liberating command - Torrak May make an Escape Artist check with a +8 bonus as an immediate action.

”Now see how She protects those who seek to rid the world of wickedness!” The half-orc holds up a scrap of wet parchment that flares with holy light for a moment, enveloping the priest with its glow. Confident in his defenses, Tseghet swims around the creature. ”Zelphar, what is this foul creature, and how might we slay it?”

Letting the performance linger, casting shield of faith and moving - AC currently 16. GM, how might we identify this creature?

"Why does everythin' want to hug me? I HATE HUGS!" Torrak shouts as he gets grappled by the Mud. "Don't even THINK about eating me! I'll give ye tha worst indigestion ye've ever had!"
________
Escape Artist vs Grapple: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 2 = 13 If the thing's CMB is +12, I'm not going to bother to look up the ACP for his armor with a roll like that! Thanks though Tseghet! :)
CMB (Break Grapple, IC) vs Mud: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 = 22 Ooh! Maybe?
He will 5ft back if he breaks free. If the attempt doesn't work, he is going to drop the Nodachi and draw his Heavy Pick.

Grabbing a handful of different bolts, Merritt loads one up and fires again at the creature. "I am not equipped for this, not at all!"

Zelphar moves closer to the thing to maybe figure out about it.

Kn Planes: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Zelphar relays that this is a "Mudlord". They are a mixture of a water and earth elemental. They are capable of engulfing as per a slime, have an attack that causes blindness, have DR 10/magic, and are particularly vulnerable to Transmute Mud to Rock.

The water elemental attacks.

From there, Zelphar knows his elemental doesn't have much of a chance, but it fights anyways.

Slam: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 1 + 1 - 1 = 11
Miss.

Tseghet tries to free Torrak, but the mud is too solid. Torrak tries to free Torrak, but the mud doesn't give, so he pulls his pick.

Merritt fires again, but finds his crossbow useless. This thing is stupidly nasty.

Zelphar identifies, and the elemental fails to hit.

The mudlord lets go of Torrak before mud just begins pouring into Torrak's space.

The creature is using engulf. You are allowed EITHER an Attack of Opportunity or a reflex save (DC 17 for the mudlord). If you succeed at the reflex save, you are moved to an adjacent square of your choice. If you fail the save or take the AoO, you are now engulfed and take 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 bludgeoning damage.

The mudlord attempts to engulf Torrak and Zelphar.

Mud is Thicker than Water
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 8 foot deep water; All water in room is as per obscurring mist;
-----------------------------------------------
Mud (-24; DR 1 time;)
Tseghet
Zelphar (Engulf?)
Merritt
Torrak (-19; Engulf?)

Since that's not a 5 ft step and it's leaving a square that Tseghet threatens...

Morningstar, IC, Flanking: 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 + 2 = 24
Silver Piercing, Bludgeoning damage, IC: 1d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Tseghet strikes, but the creature's muddy hide is too thick to penetrate. The half-orc pauses for a moment before swimming around the creature. "Torrak! Hold out your blade that it might receive the Inheritor's blessing!" he commands.

Casting magic weapon and moving. If Torrak is able to be touched, he will cast it on the dwarf's weapon. Otherwise he'll use it on his morningstar. Also, does the water elemental get an AoO from the creature leaving a threatened square?

Torrak's eyes go wide as the Mudlord tries to eat him. "WHAH DID I JUS' SAY?!" he shouts into the water incredulously. Quick on the draw, Tseghet blesses the heavy pick before the Dwarf starts trying to chip away at their foe. "Im buyin' a battle-shovel next!"
________
Reflex, DC 17: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
20% Sadness?: 1d100 ⇒ 23 Close, but not an automiss!
Heavy Pick (Magic Weapon, IC, PA) vs Mudlord: 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 121d6 + 4 + 1 + 1 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 + 1 + 6 = 15 Probably won't cut it though :P
Whoa! That's a nasty bugger, love it! Clutch spell Tseghet, that's what I'm talking about!

Tseghet's weapon fails to damage the creature, and Torrak ends up missing.

Mud is Thicker than Water
Initiative - the BOLD may act!
Active effects: 8 foot deep water; All water in room is as per obscurring mist;
-----------------------------------------------
Mud (-24; DR 1 time;)
Tseghet
Zelphar (Engulf?)
Merritt
Torrak (-19;)

Merritt drops his crossbow, seeing already that it will be no use here. Instead, he draws his dagger, and swishes it around in the water, trying to create some kind of opening for Torrak to take advantage of. "Torrak, follow my lead; strike here!"