Cwethan's Siege of the Diamond City (Retrocon! Tier 7-8) (Inactive)

Game Master Cwethan

Kargen inspects the portrait. "What do you make of this?" He carefully touches the painting to search for any traps before he peers back through the eyes to see what may lie in the space beyond.

Perception: 1d20 + 13 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 = 35

Its a slightly awkward view from this side, you get the sense that the angles would be much better from the other room. Still, you can see that there's another, more richly appointed bedroom on the other side of this wall.

You guys should feel free to read that spoiler :-)
Also... what next?

"There's another room back there. Let's go see what's inside." Kargen waves everyone over to explore the other door. He tries to see if there's a way back toward the other room.

Alexandra puts the creepy books into her bag.

A secret lab maybe? Thurl was definitely up to something.

Garrapata tries to remove the painting to crawl through to the other side!

Strength: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21

After checking it, the archer goes through the other door.

El Garrapata bonks his head on the wall, which save for two small holes is quite solid. The actual door to the room, however, is locked.

"The WALL is the NATURAL ENEMY of the GARRAPATA. Most distressing." He offers to break down the door if no one has tricksy thieving skills.

The elf looks for some trap and tries then to open the door (if no trap, of course).

Perception.: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

Disable Device: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

If it doesn't open the door, I try again taking 10.

Styfis undoes the lock at his second attempt, revealing a more sumptuously appointed room, that in many ways mirrors the last bedroom you had examined. But the differences are telling.

A well-made bed lies against the eastern edge of this room. Beside the bed is a small table. A piece of parchment rests on the table, the edges of which are embedded in cooled wax. Above the table hangs a framed portrait of a howling minotaur depicted as floating above a labyrinth made of pure ivory.

He wouldn't be a distinguished elf, he would unleash a crude word.

Well we haven't anything more to find here. Thurl isn't here anymore. He took advantage of the cover of the Pathfinder Society. He will have to pay for that, one day. For now we have something more urgent to handle with.

Back at the lodge, Venture-Captain Jorsal takes the news like a blow. "We'd never gotten along, but I never thought... Well. No time for recriminations now. I'll pass the word along subtly so that those in positions of authority can take precautions, but for now, I ask that you keep this information to yourselves unless it is truly necessary to tell someone. This... this could be a death knell for the morale of the other Pathfinders. Still, it is better to know."

Where to?

What about Woundward district this time?

Sounds good to me!

Assent.

You arrive at the famed Woundward tower of Nerosyan, where the defenders are hard at work trying to keep the skies above the city clear.

A gnome in a soot-stained tabard greets you with a look of weary excitement on his face. "“Ah! I can see you’re tried and true soldiers! We can put you to a lot better use than simple archers. The Woundward Tower has stood for years in service of Nerosyan, keeping her skies safe, and we have a few tricks up our sleeves. Let’s get you up there, fighting off these damned demons.”

He quickly passes around a few potions of flying - "Since it doesn't look like any of you have wings!" - and sends you up to the battlements. And not a moment too soon; a flight of tremendous demonic looking wasps is already approaching!

The Bees are 100' from the front of the walls
Kargen
Styfis
Dax
El Garrapata -1
BEES
Alexandra

No need to fly for now. The archer begins to fire arrows against the bees.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Damage 1: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

Damage 2: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Are we seeing three giant wasps or three swarms of wasps?

Kargen quickly drinks his potion and lifts 20 feet into the air.

Three Giant Wasps. Absent a specified target I'll pick... Red.

Styfis's arrows fly true, but some sort of fiendish resilience shields his target against the worst of his shots.

The Bees are 100' from the front of the walls
Kargen - Flying
Styfis
Dax
El Garrapata -1
BEES (Red -12)
Alexandra

Garrapata nods when he sees the wasps. "Demon Insects. Seems right." He readies an action to grab one when it comes close enough!

Grapple the Wasp!: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35

Seemed like a blast them before they sting me kinda situation for Dax, so focus fire without spending burn seemed like the call

Dax's blast smashes heavily into the already wounded bug, but nonetheless, the bees swarm forward to attack! The injured one swoops up at Kargen while the other pair buzz the battlements, baleful energies coalescing around their stingers.

El Garrapata quickly secures a new playmate, but is unable to keep its stinger from his flesh...

Empowered Extended Cold Blast @ Red: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Cold: 9d6 + 12 ⇒ (5, 3, 1, 3, 3, 2, 3, 6, 3) + 12 = 41

Sting @ Kargen: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 27
Piercing: 1d8 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 7 = 19

Sting @ El G: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 + 1 + 1 = 30
Piercing: 1d8 + 6 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 7 = 19

Sting @ Dax: 1d20 + 8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 + 1 = 18
Piercing: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

The Bees are 100' from the front of the walls RIGHT HERE!
Heights are relative to the wall
Kargen -19, DC 17 Fort or Con Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 2, Flying +20'
Styfis
Dax -11
El Garrapata -20, DC 17 Fort or Con Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 1
BEES (Red -43, +25'; Blue +5', Grappled; Green +5')
Alexandra

Fort Save: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 2 = 28

Kargen pushes back away from the demon bee. He draws his bow with a cold iron arrow and it shines with Erastil's holy fury.

Swift Action to activate Bane

Attack (RS, PBS, Bane): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 12 + 1 + 2 = 18
Damage (PBS, Bane): 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 4d6 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 + 2 + (1, 2, 5, 1) = 17

Attack (RS, PBS, Bane): 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 1 + 2 = 21
Damage (PBS, Bane): 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 4d6 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 1 + 2 + (1, 6, 3, 3) = 26

Attack (RS, PBS, Bane): 1d20 + 7 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 + 2 = 14
Damage (PBS, Bane): 1d8 + 3 + 1 + 2 + 4d6 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 + 2 + (6, 1, 3, 1) = 22

Horrible string of rolls. In the event Kargen can kill the red bee, he shifts his fire to blue.

Kargen's first pair of arrows, though hasty, still manage to hit the large, charging bug, sending it spiraling to the ground. His last shot however, skitters off the other's carapace.

Heights are relative to the wall
The Bold May Go!
Kargen -19, Flying +20'
Styfis
Dax -11
El Garrapata -20, DC 17 Fort or 1 Con Damage
BEES (Blue +5', Grappled; Green +5')
Alexandra

The archer fires two cold iron arrows at the blue one.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

Damage 1: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Damage 1: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

One of Styfis's arrows strikes home, but even the cold iron tip does not easily pierce the vermin's hide.

Heights are relative to the wall
The Bold May Go!
Kargen -19, Flying +20'
Styfis
Dax -11
El Garrapata -20, DC 17 Fort or 1 Con Damage
BEES (Blue -8, +5', Grappled; Green +5')
Alexandra

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
Damage: 6d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 2, 4, 6, 4, 2) + 9 = 32

Dax steps back and fires at green, another blast of cold energy to slow its reactions and hopefully end this brief encounter.

Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Garrapata grunts as the demon bee stings, but he doesn't slacken his grip, choosing to pin the demon bee!

Grapple: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (17) + 21 = 38
Grapple: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (10) + 21 = 31

I am casting Burning arc at the Blue Wasp, then bouncing to the Green Wasp.

Dax and Alexandra unleash a magical barrage as El Garrapata secures his new prize. The bugs seem vaguely resistant to the spells, but that feeble resistance is easily swept aside.

Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Reflex: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Escape: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 1 = 25

Sting: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 1 = 28
Piercing: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

The only free bee continues to harry Dax, piercing the little gnome's defenses with its stinger!

Heights are relative to the wall
The Bold May Go!
Kargen -19, Flying +20'
Styfis
Dax -18 DC 17 Fort or Con Damage: 1d2 ⇒ 1
El Garrapata -20
BEES (Blue -47, +5', Pinned; Green -41 +5')
Alexandra

The archer continues to fire cold iron arrows at the blue one.

Arrow 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20

Damage 1: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Arrow 2: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Damage 2: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Pinned as it is, Styfis is easily able to put two more arrows in the giant bee, but its struggles continue, despite visibly weakening.

Heights are relative to the wall
The Bold May Go!
Kargen -19, Flying +20'
Styfis
Dax -18 DC 17 Fort or 1 Con Damage
El Garrapata -20
BEES (Blue -58, +5', Pinned; Green -41 +5')
Alexandra

No Overseer's announcement for this transition, but trust me - it's happening :-p
Dax's Fort: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

As the last bee is picked off when it flees the walls, trumpets blare, announcing the arrival of Venture-Captain Jorsal.

Arriving at breakneck speed, Jorsal gives a quick nod as he brings his steed to a sudden halt. “The demonic threat within the walls is relatively contained,” he announces, “but we’ve received word of additional demonic reinforcements coming from the Worldwound itself. We need every able-bodied person on the walls to repel this attack; however, word has reached me that several patrols of crusaders outside of Nerosyan are making their way back to the city. We need some of our more experienced agents outside the walls to defend the crusaders as they return.

“No doubt the demons plan to run down these reinforcements before they can get back within the safety of the walls. We need these crusaders to supplement our own number on the walls, and I can think of none better suited to aid them. Make with all haste to the Woundward gates!”

As you arrive at the gates, an injured commander of the crusade meets you and brings you up to speed. "With those damned demons mounting a surprise attack, a lot of good crusaders were caught outside the walls. We've gotten word that they're making fighting withdrawals toward the city, but advance units of the demonic army have moved ahead to intercept them.

"We need you to move out into the field of battle to find any wounded survivors and help them get back into the fight. The army will be out there with you, but we won't be able to hold all of their attention. You'll have to fight, but the more troops you can save from this slaughter, the more support we'll be able to send to defend Nerosyan."

Outside the gates, the battle rages, but as the commander said, her troops' efforts are enough to keep you from the very worst of it during your approach.

Demonic Reinforcements: 1d6 ⇒ 41d8 ⇒ 5

There are injured crusaders near you who don't seem beyond help, but certainly won't make it back to the lines without it. However, as you spot them, you also spot a demon seeking to hunt such wounded prey! It's an emaciated figure, like a horned human skeleton smothered within a bone-tight hide of slimy red leather.

Crusaders can be helped either by healing them, or by making a DC 20 Heal check as a full-round action.
The Bold May Go!
Styfis
Bloody Demon
Alexandra
El Garrapata
Dax
Kargen

Feel free to retcon in heals or buffs in your first post. It's been another 5 minutes since leaving the Woundward gates

I'll ask for everyone else. Do they still have their potions of Fly that they didn't use from the last encounter?

They do. Also, I'll be botting Styfis in a couple hours before I head off to sleep.

Went conservative with Styfis's turn, but did bot him since having him not delay and get sneak attacked seemed like a pretty baseline decision to make.

Styfis looses an arrow at the sudden demonic arrival, then darts back behind El Garrapata and Dax.

Longbow: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27
Cold Iron: 1d8 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 1 = 9

The arrow's head is immediately pitted by the fluids seeping from the demon, but it carves a bloody furrow in the demon's side before the arrow corrodes entirely.

The demon hisses at the elf, but bounds forward, lashing out with its spear for Dax! The spear whispers past the gnome's defenses with an assassin's precision, but the strange makeup of Dax's partly elemental form keeps the demon from striking a truly vulnerable place.

Longspear: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Fortification: 1d100 ⇒ 3
Sneak Attack Piercing: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Crusaders can be helped either by healing them, or by making a DC 20 Heal check as a full-round action.
The Bold May Go!
Styfis
Bloody Demon -9
Alexandra
El Garrapata -20?
Dax Definitely -11, -18 more?
Kargen -19?
???

Four charges from my wand in the downtime.

Garrapata cries out in shock and anger as the horrid demonic thing spears the smaller blue person! "DEMON CUR! YOU FACE THE WRATH OF EL GARRAPATA!" As a swift action, he enters Dragon Style and charges the demon!

Charging Grapple!: 1d20 + 21 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 21 + 2 = 41

Let the demon! Go to save the crusaders!

The demon manages to bring its spear to bear against El Garrapata as he surges forward, slicing into his side as he wraps the demon up in a constricting embrace. But a flash of new discomfort begins as the oozings that had corroded the arrow that had struck the demon begin to burn the boisterous brawler as well!

AoO: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Piercing: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Acid: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Crusaders can be helped either by healing them, or by making a DC 20 Heal check as a full-round action.
The Bold May Go!
Styfis
Bloody Demon -9, Grappled
Alexandra
El Garrapata -14
Dax Definitely -11, -18 more?
Kargen -19?
???

Garrapata rolls his eyes while grappling the demon. "IF I DON'T HOLD ONTO THE DEMON, IT WILL KILL THE CRUSADERS. I HAVE IT, GO SAVE THE OTHERS!"

They can handle this, I'll can zip around and get the injured ones back on their feet.

"Help is on the way!"

Alexandra pulls the potion of Fly out of her pockets, drinks it and then starts floating off the ground.

Uggh, it tastes like licorice and gym socks.

Kargen used his wand of CLW to heal himself. CLW: 4d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1, 2, 8) + 4 = 18

Knowledge, Planes (ML): 1d20 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 4 + 2 = 24

Kargen looks at the demon, trying to identify it. Then he nods at Alexandra. "Right!" He pulls out another potion of Fly and drinks it. He darts through the air just a few feet off the ground. As he does so, a holy light burns around him.

60 foot fly move can put him adjacent to one of the crusaders. Swift action to activate judgement (justice/destruction)

The demon is a Babau, an assassin, a murderer, and a sadist, formed from the soul of a lone killer. Aside from typical demonic traits and tricks, and the layer of acidic slime that El Garrapata has just discovered, you know that they can dispel magic and summon darkness to veil their evil.

Crusaders can be helped either by healing them, or by making a DC 20 Heal check as a full-round action.
The Bold May Go!
Styfis
Bloody Demon -9, Grappled
Alexandra - Flying
El Garrapata -14
Dax Definitely -11, -18 more?
Kargen -1, Flying
???

Dax heals the crusaders! If they are willing, Dax uses Kinetic healer to heal them with ease, as it would provide 6d6+8 healing at the low low cost of one point of burn to the recipient (1 NL / HD), elsewise...

UMD: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21

Dax pulls out a wand of Cure Light Wounds and activates it.

Dax, you're not currently adjacent to (or within a single move action of) any of the injured crusaders, but are within the reach of a particularly angry babau. Thankfully, it's grappled, so I'm going to delay you for now, since that won't automatically and obviously put you in more peril.

Reinforcements: 1d6 ⇒ 21d8 ⇒ 41d6 ⇒ 3

A herd of those awful goat demons breaks off from the frontlines towards you, but is swiftly met by a cavalry charge. They've bought you some more time.

Crusaders can be helped either by healing them, or by making a DC 20 Heal check as a full-round action.
The Bold May Go!
Styfis
Bloody Demon -9, Grappled
Alexandra - Flying
El Garrapata -14
Dax Definitely -11, -18 more?
Kargen -1, Flying
???

The occultist uses one point of mental focus to get Sudden Speed (Sp) swift action and makes use of his new speed to move. He takes out his cure light wounds wand.

The Babau flings aside its spear and lays into El Garrapata with fangs and claws!

Bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10
Claw: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Claw: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
Damage: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Crusaders can be helped either by healing them, or by making a DC 20 Heal check as a full-round action.
The Bold May Go!
Styfis
Bloody Demon -9, Grappled
Alexandra - Flying
El Garrapata -33
Dax Definitely -11, -18 more? - May go twice
Kargen -1, Flying
???

I am going to cast mind thrust 2 on Mr Hotdog skin, then move back a bit and pull a wand out of my bandolier as I do so. DC 18 Will Save for half.

If the others have the wounded then I might as well stay here.

"Keep holding his brain still!"

Spell Resistance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Alexandra's mental attack diffuses into the unholy defenses of the babau, eliciting only an ugly wet laugh that echoes through her mind.

"Keep trying - Once I've eaten my way through your brute, I'll teach you the agonies a mind can hold!"

Crusaders can be helped either by healing them, or by making a DC 20 Heal check as a full-round action.
The Bold May Go!
Styfis
Bloody Demon -9, Grappled
Alexandra - Flying
El Garrapata -33
Dax Definitely -11, -18 more? - May go twice
Kargen -1, Flying
???