Retrocon 2019 - Year of the Shadow Lodge 1-2 - GM Ietsuna (Inactive)

Game Master Ietsuna

The Balrog again casts Detect Magic and then prepares to move on.
Whichever way the party wants to go, he will stop and listen at doors first.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Rynbec looks around the room. "What's through this hallway up here?
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Sorry, didn't realize we were on a map.

Rynbec looks through the doorway and sees a chamber. Within this vast chamber, rows and rows of dark-lacquered mahogany shelves hold thousands of texts.

Peering over Rynbec's shoulder, Manthos lights up. "Oh we should go this way, look at all the books!"

Xavier also peers over Rynbec's shoulder. "Sure, maybe they can tell us something about what's going on."

Manthos, I moved you up on the map.
"What's in this library, I wonder? Rynbec goes into the room to check the stacks and see what the topic of the library is.
Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

"I watch this door while you register this library"
perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

The scope of the collection is limited to morbid topics of concern to necromancers. It contains standard texts on undead studies and anatomical references as well as books on the subject of the funerary rites of various cultures, death ceremonies, serpent toxins, necromantic tinctures, and similarly morbid works.

The Balrog takes notes about the things to be found here.
Zarta might find this stuff interesting.

"Should we go back and check the west side of the building, to not have enemies behind us?"

Put a red arrow on the map where I think we should go.

Ruinor turns up his nose at the morbid topics of the texts, disappointed there was nothing to his liking, but not surprised given their location. "Sounds like a reasonable plan," he says in response to Balrog.

ok u lead, we follow

"That seems like a good idea. This library gives me the creeps anyway." Xavier is quick to leave the library, not looking back.

This cavernous hallway is contains a number of elaborate skeletal displays. The reassembled creations consist of both accurate assemblies and imaginative creation built from the bones of multiple specimens. Several large, glass cylinders contain colonies of dermestid beetles for cleaning bones. Several have actively decaying specimens. Arches along the side lead to small workstations. Near the back sits another, larger work area filled with kilns, a hearth, and some large iron vats. In the middle of the floor, six corpses lie piled together is a pool of blood.

Xavier's eyes go wide at the sight of the bodies. "Oh, man." He rushes over, drawing his wand of cure light wounds as he goes. "Are they alive? Can anyone tell? I... may have fallen asleep during this lesson at school."

The Balrog follows along with Xavier, although he is looking for the assailants - looking for footprints in the blood.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

The Balrog looks around but cannot see any footprints on the floor.

Not wanting to walk into the room of skeletal displays for fear they will animate, Ruinor watches from the doorway, loading his crossbow just in case. He tries to watch out for anything, but he seems fixated on the skeletons.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Manthos tried to divine the nature of what took place. Are these specimens or Pathfinders or both?

Looking at clothing and marking to see who they were

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16

Manthos thinks that he can see a couple of wayfinders sticking out from the pile of corpses.

Are these pathfinders recently dead or been here for a while?
Heal: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

Rynbec thinks that these corpses have not been corpses for very long.

Rynbec thinks that these corpses have not been corpses for very long. As Rynbec is looking at the corpses there is a crash and the tank full of beetles is toppled over, revealing two goblins behind it. The glass tank smashes and a swarm of beetles quickly forms. In addition the decomposing flesh and the like from inside the tank coats the floor in a slippery film of viscera.

The entire room is treated as if under the effects of grease (DC 11).

The goblins try to move toward Ruinor and Rynbec.

Red Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Green Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Both goblins slip and fall prone.

Combat Round 1 Bold May Act

Goblins
Xavier
Ruinor
The Balrog
Ichio
Rynbec
Beetles
Manthos

Since Xavier and the Balrog were searching the room, I put them inside the doorway. Hope that's okay.
The Balrog laughs as a goblin falls, then moves over to kill the wretch.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
He just barely manages to keep his footing.

Attack vs Prone: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 + 4 = 28
Confirm: 1d20 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 + 4 = 20
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Crit Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

He delivers a gruesome blow to the Blue goblin.

"Fire on me to kill the swarm - I can take it!"
No problem with taking from friendly fire from Alchemists' Fire or Burning Hands if the swarm is sharing my space.

Rynbec heads around the corner to get to the goblins from the other side. "I gotta do something to move faster. Maybe I should just start flying. Do Gnomes get wings? That would be amazing!"

Before anyone gets in his way, Ruinir shoots a jet of flame at the swarm of beetles. Will move closer if have to

Fire Jet Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 Reflex save (DC15) for half. Failed save = catch fire for 1d6 damage following round. Avoid with full-round action Reflex save.

Xavier draws his rapier, steps five feet toward the goblin, and stabs him.

Rapier: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12, 1d4 ⇒ 4

Nearly forgot the acrobatics!
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17
alchemist fire: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2
critical??: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
crit damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Swarm Reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 22

The swarm dodges the worst of Ruinor's flames.

The Balrog eviscerates the blue goblin

Xavier misses the Red goblin.

Ichio tosses a flask into the heart of the swarm and it explodes.

The swarm moves toward Ichio and swarms him.

Swarm: 1d20 ⇒ 12

Combat Round 1 Bold May Act

Goblins (Blue, Red)
Xavier
Ruinor
The Balrog
Ichio
Rynbec
Beetles (-5)
Manthos

Manthos draws down on the remaining goblin and fires his crossbow.

Light Crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 211d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

With a thunk the bolt flies for Manthos' crossbow and ends the poor goblin.

Combat Round 1 Bold May Act

Xavier
Ruinor
The Balrog
Ichio
Rynbec
Beetles (-5)
Manthos

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Xavier drops his rapier, and draws what looks to be a sling with the pouch sealed off. "Haven't used this yet, but might as well take it for a spin." He gets it spinning, and brings it crashing down on the beetle swarm.

Halfling Rope Shot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17, 1d4 ⇒ 2

As Xavier swings the rope shot down at the beetles they seem to flow around it, taking no damage.

Rynbec rounds the corner, coming up to see the remaining goblin fall.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Ichi moves and Thrown another alchemical oil to the swarm
acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
alchemical oil: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

The Balrog tries to move.
Acrobatics: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Fail, so...
Reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Well those aren't great rolls.
He falls prone.

Assuming Ichio backed away from the swarm and I have a clear 20' line that won't hit anyone ...

Ruinor sends another jet of fire at the swarm, trying to fry them all.

Fire Jet Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 Reflex save (DC15) for half. Failed save = catch fire for 1d6 damage following round. Avoid with full-round action Reflex save.

**OVERSEER ANNOUNCEMENT**

A loud crash shakes the whole building, followed by a triumphant cry.

"RED AAAAAARRRRRMMMMM!!!!"

The constant sounds of the dragon moving about on the roof have gone quiet. The beast is dead!

GMs, the dragon is dead. The courtyard (D3) is now safe.

Swarm Reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21

The swarm is scorched by Ruinor's flames, hundreds of tiny legs curl up as the beetles fall.

Combat over

The Balrog picks himself up off the ground, then moves over to stand near the flames as they die out.
"Ahhhh... that's good."

Then he begins searching the goblins' bodies as well as the room.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

Each goblin carried leather armor, a light wooden shield, a short sword and a short bow with 20 arrows. Around the room are scattered bones but nothing much of interest to a group of Pathfinders such as yourselves.

"Which way now? North?"

Ruinor turns around and inspects the door. "It would seem to be the next logical step. I don't see anything out of the ordinary here, but someone else can take a look if they'd like," he says as he steps aside.

Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

North seems reasonable. Now I wonder if this door is trapped. Would just like Zarta to put traps in the Grand Lodge... Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20
If it's not trapped, Rynbec opens the door. If it is, he will try to disable

Disable Device: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

"Although, if there's anyone in here, they would have had to get past it themselves. On the other hand, I wouldn't put it past whoever's organizing this to have a way past it, or set a trap afterwards."

This huge chamber is entirely tiled with plain gray flagstones. It’s uncannily cold, and only a trickle of light slips through a trio of tiny windows, one set into each adjoining wall, just below the eaves. The room is lined and partitioned with rows of massive stone cubicles. The cubicles stand twice the height of a grown human. Each cubical has an iron door with a brass plate on it. The plates are labeled and numbered with a black wax pencil.

Wander around this room are 6 skeletons. As you enter they turn toward you.

Combat Round 1 Bold May Act

Ichio
Rynbec
Xavier
Manthos
Ruinor
The Balrog
Skeletons

I just realized I forgot to grab my rapier after I dropped it, but now I'm feeling ok about that cause it means I still had my halfling rope shot!

Xavier runs into the room, spinning his halfling rope shot. He jumps up and brings it down on the red skeleton's head!

Halfling Rope Shot: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23, 1d4 ⇒ 2

Xavier swings his rope shot at the red skeleton and it's skull cracks, but it still stands ready to fight.

Combat Round 1 Bold May Act

Ichio
Rynbec
Xavier
Manthos
Ruinor
The Balrog
Skeletons (Red -2, Blue, Green, Yellow, Purple, Orange)

"Skeletons! No fun, they don't get scared."
The Balrog has a club (The Ugly Stick), but decides to try a different tactic first.

"BREAK THEIR SKULLS! CRUSH THEM TO POWDER!"
INSPIRE COURAGE +1!

i delay action

Watching the Balrog wading forward with his ugly stick, Manthos pulls his mace and a small doll made from straw and rags. Shaking the doll, his image begins to shift and distort. "Onwards to the fight!"

Close with purple skeleton. Invest two points of Mental Pool in Distortion to gain a 10% concealment