[PFS] 6-99 True Dragons of Absalom by GM Upaynao (Inactive)

Game Master Upaynao

"Friends? Fah! More meat..."

Engashes pulls out a bag of Caltrops and spreads them around near the entryway. "Slow em down, bunch em up, and then Athrax make em go boom? We should probly hide in the tunnels while they figure out what's goin on."

Once the trap is complete, Athrax hides in the tunnels and attempts to contain his giggles of glee at his awesome chance to blow up more idiots!

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

Cleaning his blades on the unbloodied portions of the big mens clothing, Faz looks around the tunnel, eyes half lidded. "Should have set surprises. Too open to defend. Stupid smoothskins, dying in the dark." Moving down to follow Athrax, he looks for other exits. "Where they come from?"

The Kobolds make quick preparations for an impending wave of intruders! Pinkskins with no honor! However, as a couple minutes pass it becomes clear that perhaps you have a little longer to deal with these prophesied enemies as you hear no heavy leather-soled boots coming down upon you.

Taking the time to look over the items found on the humans, Varanog is displeased by the fact that they had no magical items on them.

Will have to double check that, I just wanted to post so that you don't start thinking that I've become deceased.

However, the room they came from pulses with magic, as do the bodies as after a few minutes their skin becomes grey and colorless.

I'll try my best to post something more satisfying tomorrow around noon EST.

"Meh."

So much for noon... Or the same day...

Advancing towards the room the grey-skinned non-humans were guarding, the kobolds come upon a foot-tall semicircular dais which rests in the eastern end of the room. Atop the dais is a structure comprising a duo of black metallic rods connected by a series of inch-thick gray metal shafts, making it resemble a squat ladder whose steps are far too close together to be usable. Varanog gets hints of Conjuration and Transmutation. Furthermore, in spite of its rather fragile appearance, the Sorcerer Supreme of the Sewer Dragons instinctively knows that this portal is sturdy. Strong enough to withstand any violence the assembled kobolds can bring upon it.

But the portal is perhaps a concern for later. Right now, the kobolds must contend with potential reinforcements.

Alright. So you are aware of the impending "allied" assault. And you are kobolds. What do kobolds do when possibly outnumbered? Trap the ever-living hell out of the land of course!

In the discussion tab, I am going to post a listing of all the traps that you could possibly construct with the materials you have at hand here. However, this scenario is designed to reward creativity! So do not view that list as the end-all, be-all. Look at the map! Re-read my descriptions! I will be posting a better formatted list when I can get to my home computer so that I can extract the "standard traps" sheet from the pdf.

Obviously, some of you have abilities that allow you to make traps manifest through less than natural means (Varanog, Athrax, ...) You can and should use those abilities in conjunction with the timeframe you have to deploy the regular traps/make use of your environment. What is that timeframe? Thirty minutes, broken down in five phases of 6 minutes each. How are we going to do this? You are going to make a list of traps you wish to construct. Once this list is complete, we will go through them one at a time in a pseudo-initiative during which you will make the rolls to actually build these traps. Once I have indicated success or failure, you can decide what to do next. You can keep working on the same trap again and again if you fail to deploy it properly the first time. You can also take 10 on the Craft (Traps) check you will need to make for these things. If I indicate success, I will place a trap icon which I will color code to match the border on your token. Place it in the location you best see fit to have this trap.

Finally, please feel free to ask for any clarification on the process; I suspect that this is not as clear as I would like it to be.

Phase 1, Athrax will leave up his already placed bomb trap. He will also work to construct an Arrow Trap to trigger in the square between the bomb trap and the portal.

Phase 1 & 2 will be looking to create a Pit Trap.

Engashez will spread her caltrops where noted on the map, then build a pit trap where she is currently standing in the hopes of channeling the foes down a specific corridor.

"Varnog! Imma try to make them go thataway... wanna put a big magic boom trap over the other way superhiddenlike?"

Sure, but that takes all of one whole standard action per trap and last for 24 hours. So if the idea is that they are coming out of the portal it would probably be best to get them to chase us a bit through the passageways. As we are kobolds and actually the right size and proportion for thinking beings and not huge unarmored mockeries of people like everyone else is (EXCEPT HATED GNOMESES! *pituoy* I spit on you gnomeses!). We should probably engage them here and then fall back through our traps (with our rogue attacking from behind in the narrow spaces). All the way back to the entrance. I'm looking at that 20' tall scaffolding personally and the enormous pit of flammable waste. Has anyone actually seen what are in the caves to the south? Anyone have access to silent image? I have the alarm spell necessary to make the alarm-triggered spell trap. What sort of area does the bomb trap have? Would a 7th level fireball be better? Maybe closer to where we make our exit?

So GM, fellow masters of all we are tall enough to surveil, I put some questionable traps on the map. How feasible are they?

Pethjun grins in anticipation when she finds sufficient material to create a jabbing spear trap. Perfect to place right around a corner!

2 phases for Jabbing Spear Trap. I'm thinking right around one of the sharp corners, say just after where the magical traps are set now. That might channel them them up into them?

Pethjun can also lay a 10x10 sheet of ice, which becomes difficult terrain and acrobatics check to charge across. Not very game changing though, so not sure what's a good location.

OK, so in phase 1 we have :

-Pethjun (Red): Jabbing Spear Trap (1/2)
-Skyrack (Blue):Pit Trap (1/2) - Where did you want it? The icon for it is placed right next to your token
-Engashez (Green): Pit Trap (1/2)
-Varanog (Purple): ??? - Lotta questions. Will answer them after this.
-Athrax (Orange): ??? - Bomb trap only takes a standard, you can deploy it and then do some heavy-duty trap-making.
-Fazgyn (Yellow): ???

The bomb trap functions like a bomb: the square its on get hosed, the adjacent squares get a little love. Most of those questions are question your fellow players should answer.

The exploding poo-water trap would not deal any damage, but would expose anyone in the chamber and the last five feet of the corridor in to a fine mist - an aerosol really - of poo water. Everyone would have to make a check against its effects. That would take 3 phases.

Collapsing the scafold? Certainly! One phase and if a medium-sized creature gets on they immediately fall down, taking 2d6 damage and ending prone. Of course they would get a perception check against that, but it would be a check opposed by the trap-maker's Craft (Traps) check. Anyone around the base when the ladder collapses will take 1d6 from falling debris.

Caster level 7 fireball in a trap? I won't dissuade you, but if these guys are mooks, that might be wasted. Is this inspired by Explosive Runes?

Keep them coming. Noone has a 1 round trap listed yet, so no checks needed at this point. If you want to aid one another, you need to be clear about it in your post.

Phase 1, Athrax will leave up his already placed bomb trap. He will also work to construct an Arrow Trap to trigger in the square between the bomb trap and the portal.

Moved pit trap where I think it would be good.

Arrow Trap is 1 phase to complete so I'll roll for it. Craft (Traps): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24

Creft (traps) Scaffold Trap: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Update:

-Pethjun (Red): Jabbing Spear Trap (1/2)
-Skyrack (Blue):Pit Trap (1/2) - Where did you want it? The icon for it is placed right next to your token
-Engashez (Green): Pit Trap (1/2)
-Varanog (Purple): Scaffold Trap (1/1)- Craft Check 20.
-Athrax (Orange): Arrow Trap (1/1) - Craft Check 24.
-Fazgyn (Yellow): ???

Fazgyn, waiting on you; I'll move us on a smidge if there is not reply by Friday, and will begin to harass him through messaging applications.

Having sat back and watched his fellow kobolds pick out their preferred traps, Fazgyn sets to work patching the holes. Seeing one path unguarded, he covers his nose and sets to work on a hidden dart launcher by the poo lake. Only the best, strongest poison would do!

Setting up a giant wasp poisoned dart, taking 10 for 27. Faz don't mess up when there is plenty of time!

Phase 1 Recap:

-Pethjun (Red): Jabbing Spear Trap (1/2)
-Skyrack (Blue):Pit Trap (1/2)
-Engashez (Green): Pit Trap (1/2)
-Varanog (Purple): Scaffold Trap (1/1)- Craft Check 20.
-Athrax (Orange): Arrow Trap (1/1) - Craft Check 24.
-Fazgyn (Yellow): Dart trap, Giant wasp(1/1) - Craft Check 27

Without further delay, the kobolds begin setting their defenses; traps so deadly they are certain to wreak havoc. Engashez and Skyrack both go about creating deadly pits to contend with any new arrival from the currently inactive gate while Pethjun, not to be outdone, lines hers with vicious looking sharpened sticks and metal.

Meanwhile, opting for quickly deployed traps, Fazgyn leaves a tender surprise by the rocky overhang that leads directly from the waste chamber to the abandoned sewer. Varanog, miffed that they could try and go around by simply climbing up the scaffold unharmed saws out through enough of the wood to make things... Interesting. Finally, Athrax deploys a rather immediate trap. Whoever steps out of the portal first better like arrows!

Current Traps
Scaffold Trap
Arrow Trap Dart trap, Giant wasp poison

Well Friday turned into a s$**-fest. Onwards!

Phase 2 :

-Pethjun (Red): Jabbing Spear Trap (2/2) - Craft Check Needed
-Skyrack (Blue):Pit Trap (2/2) - Craft Check Needed
-Engashez (Green): Pit Trap (2/2) - Craft Check Needed
-Varanog (Purple): ???
-Athrax (Orange): ???
-Fazgyn (Yellow): ???

"Careful, careful now..." the white kobold mutters to herself as she sets the spear upon the swinging support. It sets with a satisfying click. "Yes..."

craft(traps): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Skyrahk goes about digging her pit but doesn't seem to make a headway.

Craft (Traps): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Um, build alarm trap with no input from anyone else.... I wonder if I should at least tell them the password to bypass it is BABOON? Hmm, decisions decisions. Nah. Why spoil the surprise?

Craft (traps): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Athrax starts trapping the side tunnels to discourage enemies from taking those paths.

SWINGING AXE TRAP (red rectangle)
Type mechanical; Perception DC 20; Disable Device DC 20. Set-up Time 1 phase; Size 5 ft. by 10 ft.
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset none; Effect: Atk +10 melee (1d8+1/×3); multiple targets (all in 10-ft. line)

Craft (Traps): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16

Fazgyn moves back up and around through the tunnels, looking to see how the other kobolds are doing. After pointing out a few minor corrections, he skulks down the side tunnel to the north, setting another slow fang at the entrance to guard against any fools that think themselves a kobold.

Granting Skyrahk and Athrax a +2 from Trapsmith Savant in case it helps them succeed. Setting up the second dart trap the same as the first.

"Imma make some illusions to make them come down the supertrapped hall... we can hide int he tunnels on the sides and flank em once they fall for the traps because they are all big stupids."

As she watches Varanog pull out the fireball scroll she raises an eyebrow. "Overkill much?"

Craft (Traps): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14

Engashez wrinkles her snout as she looks down on her 'handiwork.' After a bit she wanders over to Varanog. "Need a hand?"

Offering to aid Varanog for the next stuff.

Phase 2 Recap:

-Pethjun (Red): Jabbing Spear Trap (2/2) - Craft Check 25
-Skyrack (Blue):Pit Trap (2/2) - Craft Check 12 + 2
-Engashez (Green): Pit Trap (2/2) - Craft Check 14
-Varanog (Purple): Super Awesome Fireball trap! - Craft Check 20
-Athrax (Orange): Swinging Axe Trap - Craft Check 16 + 2
-Fazgyn (Yellow): Poison Dart Trap - Craft Check 27 - Aiding w/ super powers

Pethjun looks upon her trap and can feel pride: perfectly concealed, it holds the promise of a world of hurt.

Skyrack and Engashez however have mixed feelings about their traps. Will they work? The release mechanism that collapses the floor beneath unsuspecting intruders is sticky. Nonetheless there is no time to waste on this, and the kobolds move on.

As Varanog finishes placing his fireball trap, he looks on to see Fazgyn giving advice to Athrax that the kobold takes to heart. And a good thing too: the swinging axe trap is now primed to inflict maximal damage.

Phase 3:

-Pethjun (Red): ??
-Skyrack (Blue): ??
-Engashez (Green): ??
-Varanog (Purple): ??
-Athrax (Orange): ??
-Fazgyn (Yellow): ??

With one done, Pethjun points at the junction at the south. "Need to slow them down here. Many paths for them to go!"

Pit trap as indicated on map. My concern is that the area to the south has multiple branching paths which is difficult to trap. So possible strategy is to slow them down so we can get there to attack them directly. Pethjun can lay her slippery ice area there later.

Skyrahk next start working on a swinging axe trap in one of the narrow passages.

As Varanog finishes placing his fireball trap, he looks on to see Fazgyn giving advice to Athrax that the kobold takes to heart. And a good thing too: the swinging axe trap is now primed to inflict maximal damage.

Phase 3:
-Varanog (Purple): ??

It takes 2 phases to pull off that trap so Varanog is done ("pencils down") except for maybe placing one more rune blast trap just south of the alarm trap, to stall out whatever front line enters the room and maximize the number of possible targets.

With his prior experience building a swinging axe trap, Athrax moves to the east tunnel system and drops another one of those in there.

Take 10 for 24 on this one.

Skyrahk next start working on a swinging axe trap in one of the narrow passages.

Will Take 10 also, making it an 18.

Seeing all the avenues protected, Fazgyn moves up the side tunnel and begins preparing an arrow trap on the main thoroughfare. If they are somehow able to climb the collapsing scaffold, a good arrow in the gut will help punish them!

Taking 10 again and providing bonuses to the two with the lowest Craft bonus.

Engashez is using aid another on whatever Varanog is doing.

"I love it when a plan comes together."

Phase 3 Recap:

-Pethjun (Red): Pit Trap (1/2)
-Skyrack (Blue): Swinging Axe Trap - Craft Check 18 + 2
-Engashez (Green): Aid Varanog -
-Varanog (Purple):Super Honest about traps - Craft Check 22 + 2(w/ aid)
-Athrax (Orange): Swinging Axe Trap - Craft Check 24
-Fazgyn (Yellow): Arrow Trap - Craft Check 27

As Pethjun begins digging the pit for her next trap, Skyrack tightens the leather on the counterweight to her swinging axe trap.

Place your trap as you see fit; it is in blue.

As she looks out of the narrow corridor where she works, she spots Athrax stepping out, rubbing his hands gleefully. Apparently, his trap is set to his deadly specifications.

Fazgyn, thinking of ways to improve upon the deadly scaffold, places an extra arrow trap to greet those who make it to the top, before going around and inspecting his fellow kobold's traps. His words of advice prompt Engashez and Varanog to pause, before retracing the outer edge of the alarm/fireball trap. They may not want to admit it, but his advice just avoided them a world of disappointment.

Phase 4:

-Pethjun (Red): Pit Trap (2/2) - Craft Check Needed
-Skyrack (Blue):
-Engashez (Green):
-Varanog (Purple):
-Athrax (Orange):
-Fazgyn (Yellow):

Skyrahk uses the time left to work on her last trap.

Will use the last 2 phases to make a Jabbing Spear Trap. Will take 10 for 18 result.

Athrax also spends more time (2 rounds) building his last trap, a pit trap (shown on map). Take 10 for 24.

"Yes, I think this should do it..."

craft(trap): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

"No! No! No!"

Phase 4 Recap:

-Pethjun (Red): Pit Trap (2/2) - Craft Check 18
-Skyrack (Blue): Spear Trap (1/2) - Craft Check 18
-Engashez (Green): ???
-Varanog (Purple): ???
-Athrax (Orange): Pit Trap (1/2) - Craft Check 24
-Fazgyn (Yellow): ???

Skyrack and Athrax then begin work on a series of complex traps for their would-be attackers as Pethjun looks over her work. Crude, but it will suffice!

Seeing the defenses coming together, Fazgyn moves among the rest of the party to assist in completing the remaining traps.

Granting Trap Savant and Aid Another for +2 to three others.

Engashez steps back down the hallway and does her best to scope out the area for different approaches their foes can take. Moving back and forth between the entrance and their ideal point of ambush, she notes the best locations for magical concealment.

Scouting out an ideal location to use her scroll of minor image. Not sure how many phases that would take, but if she has a spare phase she'll aid another on... um... Skyrack!

Engashez, do you need me to point out a place in particular, or do you need to have done that in character to have an advantage over your future foes?

I figured that placing a carefully planned illusion rather than a haphazard one might be a good idea. Was really just hoping to guide them down as many traps as possible.

Is sounds like everyone is all set/out of ideas for traps. Shall we just resolve the last round and move on to the easily predictable assault by the smoothskins?

Varanog doesn't have anymore chunks of time available.

Did Fazgyn's aid help Pethjun with her pit trap?

No more chunks of time for my character either.

Alright. Let me know if you want to bring someone else in to replace DebugAMP/Engashez. Debug won't be penalized by getting partial credit, and the next person will get full. If you have any suggestions, I welcome them, but I won't be picking just anyone.

As the Sewer Dragons finish their preparations, a noise - or rather noises - catch their attention.

-"Hey, what's going on? I though the others would be here to greet us?"
-"Something's fishy boys. Keep your eyes peeled. And stay frosty."
-"Easy for you to say."

The intruders have finally arrived. Perhaps it is now time to greet them as befits such honored guests.

Place yourselves in those places you think befit you! On my next post, I will be rolling initiative.

I assume we can move safely through the squares that we trapped?

Both the scenario and I assume that you aren't dense enough to get trapped by your own work. : )