Retrocon Elinnea's Legacy of the Stonelords (Inactive)

Game Master Elinnea

Esmeralda drops one end of the scarf to pop out her own healing wand and immediately use it on herself.

"If I need to be the keeper of the wands for this trip, so be it," she nonchalantly says as she takes Kahwin's wand as well.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

(I moved your tokens so the people who were giving each other things and healing are next to each other.)

From overhead comes the sound of breaking glass, followed by a rain of shards from the sunlight-reflecting mirrors above. Gloom floods the chamber as more of the attackers shimmy down the ropes. Fighting from the dais where he addressed the Pathfinders, Kreighton Shaine shouts, “Our assailants seem unwilling to negotiate. Someone capture one and get some answers!”

Three more duergar drop down the ropes and land beside you. This time two of them are larger than normal dwarves, and all three pull out heavy shields as they prepare to attack.

The duergar have shattered the mirrors, so you’re now in dim lighting (20% miss chance if you don’t have darkvision or your own source of light).

Round 3
Thadeaus
Yanda
Balin (-11)
Red duergar
Blue duergar
Kahwen
Ashwell
Orange duergar
Esmeralda (-5)

Thadeaus raises the vial in his left hand to his lips and swallows. He gets a funny look on his face and burps. Those near notice a puff of smoke escape his mouth. Turning his head so as not to catch any of his team mates, he belches out a cone of flame engulfing the Duergar in front of him!

extract of fire breath(DC16): 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 1) = 10

Thadeaus then moves to take cover behind the statue.

acrobatics if needed: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19

"My, how quickly things are moving!"

Yanda ducks behind Balin and tosses a mutagen down her throat. After she consumes it she grows a good 6 inches becoming even more thin and spindly. Her fingers produce additional joints and it looks like a stiff breeze would carry her away.

Thadeaus, which duergar did you catch in your fire breath? I'm not sure where you were before you moved.

Botting Balin, as requested.

Balin swings his axe at the duergar who landed next to him.

Attack Blue, power attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 24

The gray dwarf, mighty as he looks, drops to the ground in one powerful hit. Nobody is within reach to cleave, alas!

The other large duergar, seeing his ally collapse, decides to take his revenge on the tengu in front of him.

Attack Kahwen, power attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Kahwen doesn't even have to dodge a lunge that inaccurate.

Round 3
Thadeaus
Yanda
Balin (-11)
Red duergar
Blue duergar
Kahwen
Ashwell
Orange duergar
Esmeralda (-5)

Save pending from Thadeaus's attack.

Kahwen cocks his head curiously at the poorly aimed blow, wondering what he was trying to accomplish. Then, because he can't seem to help himself, he slips between the Duergar and takes a shot at the orange garbed one.

He does use all his agility to avoid incoming attacks.

Elven Curve Blade Fighting Defensively: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 10 - 4 = 20
Slashing: 1d10 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

AC is 24, this round.

Ash pulls his new wand of magic missiles and fires one at the large sized evil dwarf.

Damage 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Kahwen's blade again strikes home, leaving the duergar bleeding badly but still standing. Ashwell's missile plinks into the larger one, though he barely appears to react.

The orange duergar, finding himself nearly surrounded, takes a step toward the outside wall of the cathedral, and then grabs a symbol hanging around his neck while trying to call upon some unholy magic.

Attempt to cast defensively: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Unfortunately the attempt fails. He looks around a little wildly at his larger companion and draws a heavy mace.

Round 3/4
Thadeaus
Yanda
Balin (-11)
Red duergar (-2)
Kahwen
Ashwell
Orange duergar (-13)
Esmeralda (-5)

Still pending a save from Thadeaus's fire breath maybe? For now I'm assuming it was the blue duergar who has already died. If it was the other two I can retroactively apply the damage.

Yanda decides to go easy on the pitiful pair and, instead of a bomb, takes out a vial of acid and throws it at the x (which I placed on the map).

To hit acid ranged touch,-2 range penalty, mutagen: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 21
damage acid: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8, 6 splash damage

I hit the blue one, I was in front of Ashwell

Thadeaus moves towards the Duergar in red, stopping at the limit of his breath range and unleashes another, albeit smaller, blast of flame angled to avoid the valiant tengu!

extract of firebreath(DC16): 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9

Yanda's acid vial crashes directly into the large duergar's chest, burning him with acid and splashing onto his smaller companion, who falls to the ground in pain and then quickly stops moving. Suddenly Thadeaus releases another burst of flame, and the duergar tries to dodge out of the way.

Reflex save: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (17) - 1 = 16

His bulky frame is cumbersome but he manages to avoid the worst of the blast. It still leaves singe-marks on his beard.

Round 3/4
Thadeaus
Yanda
Balin (-11)
Red duergar (-14)
Kahwen
Ashwell
Orange duergar
Esmeralda (-5)

Esmeralda scowls at the second wave of duergar, even if they died as swiftly as the first group. quickly dropping the pair of wands in her hand, she steps forward and begins to bind and blind the remaining threat like she did the last one. As she does so, An afterimage flows from her, leaving a second image of her nearby.

Free action - drop wands
5-foot
Move action -Trickery Blessing(double)
Standard action - Dirty Trick vs. Red. Same Trick as before.

Dirty Trick(WF): 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 1 = 30
Miss chance,1-20=miss: 1d100 ⇒ 60

Esmeralda steps up and nimbly wraps her scarf around the duergar's head, and it is just as effective as the first time. He thrashes around slightly, trying to disentangle himself.

Botting Balin with the same tactics as before

Balin takes advantage of the confusion to walk up to the duergar and smack him with his axe.

The duergar does not take an attack of opportunity due to being blinded.

Attack Red, power attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20
Damage: 1d12 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

His attack carves deeply into the duergar and drops him in a heap next to the others. The fighting still continues all around the cathedral, intensifying in some corners and winding down in others.

You're again out of immediate combat and are free to take a round's worth of actions.

Round 4
Thadeaus
Yanda
Balin (-11)
Kahwen
Ashwell
Esmeralda (-5)

Kahwen is panting slightly with exertion but his mouth is also slightly open in a grin.

"We make a good team, do we not, Companions?" he says, looking at the gathered team.

Esmeralda effortlessly untangles her scarf from the duergar body, and goes back over to retrieve the 2 dropped wands. she goes to tap Balin with her own wand before going to stow the pair. "It's a good start, yes," she agrees.

CLW on Balin: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

”Just how many evil dwarves have tried to take this place,” Ash wonders out loud.

Thadeaus takes out his crossbow and loads it while looking for more threats.

”Well, I don’t know how many there are, but I know how many they are going to use!” Thadeaus relies with a grim smile.

Yanda looks to the heavens as if expecting another round of sky dwarves.

"Rather suicidal bunch, no?"

Yanda takes the break time to tab Balin again with the cure light wounds.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

As if on cue, another trio slide down the ropes and land nearby, brandishing their weapons at you. This time only one of the three is unnaturally large.

Round 5
Thadeaus
Yanda
Balin
Kahwen
Ashwell
Red duergar
Blue duergar
Orange duergar
Esmeralda (-5)

Upon landing they all look a little taken aback by the number of dead duergar lying here and there, and need a few moments to collect themselves. (aka they had terrible initiative rolls)

A reminder that we've been passed an aid token! Review the effects it has in the slides and use it if you see a good opportunity, so we can pass it along to another table. You can take it to the discussion tab if you want to talk about it out of character.

Yanda drops another acid in the midst of the three foolish invaders (or are they defenders, not sure).

to hit ranged touch, mutagen, range, inspired: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17

Even with the sub-optimal throw, the target is large and slow.

damage, inspired: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7, 7 splash

Thadeaus swiftly studies his target, takes aim with his readied crossbow and looses the bolt at the largest of the Duergar!

miss chance: 1d100 ⇒ 100

Studied Target attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Crit Conformation: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Dam: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Seeing his bolt strike home, Thadeaus moves to cover behind the southern statue.

Ash picks up another piece of rubble with his mind and flings it at the closest unattended dwarf.

Ranged attack with IC 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 3 + 1 = 15
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Balin moves to hit the closest one red

attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

damage: 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

Yanda's acid explodes over all three of the latest duergar, then Thadeaus follows up with a bolt to the large one. Ash flings a piece of debris but it bounces off the duergar's shield without making much impact. At that point Balin the Finisher steps up and with another mighty swing he brings down the duergar with a loud crash of heavy armor.

Balin, it looks like you didn't add the inspire courage bonus, but it was enough damage to kill the duergar anyway.

Round 5
Thadeaus
Yanda
Balin
Kahwen
Ashwell
Red duergar
Blue duergar (-7)
Orange duergar (-7)
Esmeralda (-5)

Current effects: dim light, Inspiration +1 attack/damage (round 1 of 3)

His companions annihilate the giant dwarf and soften up the others. Kahwen cannot stand by and watch them do all the work. He rushes past Balin.

"Nice blow, Friend Balin. Please excuse me."

Coming adjacent to one of the remaining Duergar, he takes a swipe at it.

Elven Curve Blade plus Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 1 = 27
Slashing plus Sneak Attack plus Inspire Courage: 1d10 + 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + (3, 2) + 1 = 12

Kahwen's strike is enough to slay the duergar in front of him.

The remaining gray dwarf looks around at all his fallen companions, then smirks spitefully at all of you. With a loud voice he takes a small step forward, cries out, and releases a wave of dark energy that washes over all of you.

Channel negative energy: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Everyone needs to make a DC 13 Will save for half damage.

Round 5/6
Thadeaus (need will save)
Yanda (need will save)
Balin (need will save)
Kahwen (need will save)
Ashwell (need will save)
Orange duergar (-7)
Esmeralda (-5, need will save)

Current effects: dim light, inspire courage +1 (round 2 of 3)

"Ah! Rude!" Kahwen exclaims as the dark, invisible energy washes over him.

Will Save: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10

He then Charges the Duergar, using his speed and a strangely erratic bobbing and weaving motion to catch him off guard.

Elven Curve Blade Plus Inspiring Courage Plus Charge: 1d20 + 10 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 + 1 + 2 = 25
Slashing Plus Inspiring Courage Plus Sneak Attack: 1d10 + 9 + 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 1 + (1, 1) = 15

Using the Scout's Charge ability which lets him deliver Sneak Attack Damage whenever he charges. Assuming that's a success, I apply the Disorient Debilitating Injury which gives the Duergar a -2 to hit next round and a -4 total to hit against Kahwen. AC this round is 19.

Kreighton Shaine steps over the bodies of fallen duergar and addresses the hall. “I’m stating the obvious when I say we are not alone. Some of our comrades managed to capture one of the attackers, a cursed dwarf known as a duergar. It seems the citadel was once in their hands, but a demon they call ‘The Horned One’ wrested Jormurdun from them and now rules from the sky citadel’s throne room. Our mission has not changed. It is still imperative that we study what we discover—not only for posterity but also in case the dwarves who built Jormurdun left behind any tools that we might turn against the demons and duergar. Now where was I before being interrupted? Ah, the stairways! Our early reconnaissance shows that the stairs to the north lead to what we’re calling the temple district, and those to the south lead to the armorer’s district. Spread out, help to secure the district you’re investigating, and find the path to that throne room. Above all: explore, report, and cooperate!”

GMs, you may now begin part 3. The cathedral is claimed, and the armorer’s and temple districts have been discovered, and so are available to your tables. We will move on to Part IV on approximately February 4. Please make sure the map of Jormurdun which I have posted in the GM thread is in your campaign header so your players can see it.

Thadeaus grits his teeth as the cold of the grave wash over his body.

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

With a shiver and a wry smile he looks at the Duergar and says, "Rude indeed!"

Flicking his left wrist again places the wand in his hand, shouting the command word two motes of magical force steak towards the final foe in orange robes!

Wand Magic Missle 3rd: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 21d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Thadeaus, you can keep the charge of magic missile, since the target was down before you cast it. The rest of you still need to make the will save.

Kahwen launches himself at the last standing duergar and deals the death blow. You pause once more to look around, and find that the fighting has stopped. You finished just in time, as Kreighton Shaine stands up to make an announcement.

After hearing his words, several Pathfinder scribes scurry around the cathedral, handing out quick transcriptions of the marching orders from the Master of Scrolls.

Most of the citadel is likely in ruins, so as you make your way to the Throne Room, stop only when you come upon an area well preserved or possessing some feature of special interest. The dwarves of Jormurdun were remarkable in many ways: unusual divination rituals, ceremonial appeasement of malevolent beings, fabled forges that burned hotter than the sun, and more. While primarily devotees of Torag, the residents of this citadel also subscribed to a number of eccentric mystery cults long faded from practice. Remnant evidence of their rich mythology and talents must lie scattered among the crumbling stone. Gather what you can.

I have added this handout to the slides as well. In addition, there's an overall map of Jormurdun linked in the header of this thread, to show what areas of the citadel are available to us. When you're ready to move on, you need to choose whether to go explore the temple district or the armorer's district.

Are those GUNS on the compass rose of the map? Asking for a friend..

Kahwen's strike comes just as Shaine begins to talk. He pays little attention to the falling Duergar, knowing from how he struck that the Duergar actually would fall.

He turns his attention to the Master of Scrolls, instead.

"Do the Armorers!" he declares, brandishing his sword. "We can find that great great axe!"

That's my vote, anyway. Kahwen will follow wherever other folks want to go."

"I agree with my fine feathered friend, to the Armorers! Perhaps we can liberate a fine weapon for Balin or magical armor for some of us!" Thadeaus exclaims as he reloads his crossbow and replace the wand into his wrist sheath.

Will save 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

”Either district is fine. Each sounds just as miserable as the other,” the undine says in a huff

Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

"The armorer;s sounds fine ta me"

Status after the battle
Thadeaus (-2)
Yanda (need will save)
Balin (-2)
Kahwen (-4)
Ashwell (-2)
Esmeralda (-5, need will save)

Are those GUNS on the compass rose of the map? Asking for a friend..

Why yes, I do believe they are! I didn't even notice until you asked.

Kahwen is so eager to move on, he's halfway to the entrance to the armorer's section before remembering that the Duergar might have useful stuff.

The weapons and armor are useless to him and the holy symbols distasteful but he will take what he figures is his share of the healing potions (3) and grabs one of the Vanish potions, too, when it is identified.

"Does anyone mind?" he asks while it is still in his hand. Cooperate is very important to him as a Pathfinder but he's still a tengu and has to fight the urge to snatch first and ask questions later.

"Kahwen tis fine wit me. I'm anxious to see if the grey dwarves are still around"

Will ST: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17

Wow, that's a pathetic Will ST mod. I am going to have to figure out how to get that up some. Mountain of healing potions? Enough to waste on 2 HP of damage?

"Gods bore and confuse me. I prefer mechanical devices myself. I vote for the armory."

"I wouldn't mind a share of the healing potions (3), for later of course. I would also take enough bolts to top off my bolt case, one of these fine rapiers and a tangle foot bag! If there are no objections?"

Thadeaus says as he looks around at his fellows before helping himself.

Sheesh, I go to work, and everything happens...

Will save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Which is enough for half.

Esmeralda shrugs as she pulls out her ioun torch and sets it floating. "Enough folks want to go into the forges, that what I want doesn't really matter, does it?" she says with a playful pout on her face. "Just as well, that I don't really care either way." She adds, after a moment to re-load her wand into the wrist sheath that she has on and to properly stow Kahwen's wand.

As the duergar bodies are rifled though, Esmeralda swipes her own three healing draughts, and downs one immediately, before placing the others in her belt pouch.

CLW Pot: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Ashwell also takes three healing potions and drinks one down.

Clw 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

All of his damage went away.

You head down the stairs, deeper into the mountain. After spending 15 minutes following a dark and winding tunnel, you still see no further sign of duergar, or any other attackers. Suddenly the ones traveling in front notice that the rocky, rubble-field tunnel corridor opens into a larger space up ahead. (Map added to the slides)

There is a great circular chamber here, beneath a domed ceiling twenty-five feet above. At the center of this space crouches a sturdy round edifice of stone, rimmed with a collar of dark metal, a chimney directly above it in the ceiling overhead. A pungent smell clings to the chamber’s walls. This must be one of Jormurdun’s fabled forges.

What do you do?

Thadeaus starts his own Ioun torch circling his head, then leans forward to look into the chamber. He peers intently at the floor, walls, and ceiling of the entryway.

Perception to find traps: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

Shaking his head he says, "Well I don't see any obvious traps, but with the poor lighting in here I can't be total positive."

Looking first at Balin and then the other he asks, "Balin, would you look at this stonework? Your practiced eye may find something I missed. Can anyone else shed more light on the area?"

"Aye...I'll look around" Balin surveys the area.

Perception with stonecunning: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Yanda also takes 3 CLW potions but leaves the rest. She cannot carry much more (.2.5 lbs) before she starts slowing down.

There are two left after everyone takes three. Let them be the ones drunk by Ashwell and Esmerelda.

Yanda is unable to resist the lure of her curiosity and approaches the forge, though slowly and carefully (double move at half speed with stealth).

stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

Thadeaus doesn't see anything unusually suspicious about the small room, nor does Balin with his inspection of the stonework, other than the fact that it is obviously in rough condition but not unstable or structurally dangerous.

Yanda very quietly gets a little closer to the forge itself and notices that the metal along the rim of the forge is inscribed with runes of some kind, but they are badly obscured by a heavy layer of caked-on soot and she can't make out any details.

Yanda continues her approach under stealth but not finding much cover after she clears the rubble.

stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

I would like to see the other PCs move up a bit in case something pops out of the woodwork and attacks, so Yanda will do her actions after the other PCs have had a chance to move.

"Should we press onward?"

Kahwen hurries to catch up to Yanda. His face shows obvious disappointment as he realizes what he is looking at.

"I was hoping to see a forge hotter than the sun," he says.

Nonetheless, he examines the runes on the edge of the forge.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21

"Does anyone know about magicy stuff? Maybe the runes are magic. That happens, right? Magic runes?"