GM Abraham's Emerald Spire

Game Master Abraham Z.

Conditions:

=== 12:35 Out of initiative ===
Uhvat - dmg; 6 temp hp; false life (18:10);
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00); heightened awareness (12:45);
Kala - dmg;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51); magic fang (12:25);
Tofang - dmg; cognatogen (13:05);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;

The group makes its way down the hall and finds that the next door is locked.

Tofang rides forward and tries to pick the lock.

disable device : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
disable device : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
disable device : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
disable device : 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Conditions:

=== 12:35 Round 1 ===
Green - dmg; charging;
Orange - dmg;
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00); heightened awareness (12:45);
Uhvat - dmg; 6 temp hp; false life (18:10);
Tofang - 13 dmg; cognatogen (13:05);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;
Kala - dmg;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51); magic fang (12:25);

Tofang successfully picks the lock on his first attempt and the door opens with no further difficulty. Chains dangle from four iron rings set into the stone of this room’s eastern wall, and small knives and hooks hang from pegs nearby. Blood stains the floor beneath the chains. There are four doors to the north and four more to the south, each with a small, barred window.

Two serpentine humanoids with bright scaly skin, long sinuous tails, and fanged serpent’s heads, stand in the room and immediately move to attack when the door is opened.

Green mace, charge: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
dmg: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
The first (Green) charges forward and just manages to hit the flat-footed Tofang.

... while the second (Orange) does not act. Yet.

Pathfinders are up. The bold may act. Note that the door is a classic pathfinder chokepoint - due to hard corners basically only Green and Tofang can attack each other at the moment - these always drive me crazy when I GM, but I've yet to figure out how to avoid them in situations like this (e.g., initiative is triggered by opening the door, bad guys win initiative, run to - and block - the door) - suggestions welcome!

Nature DC 14: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

I'm going to assume it's been at least 5 minutes since Kala cast Magic Fang on Stinky.

Kala cranes her neck to see past Yanda and Tofang into the room. "Tofang, step aside after you hit 'em so we can flank 'em or push 'em back!"

@GM Abraham: It looks like Kala would be able to see an open space to the east of green. If so, she'll start casting Summon Monster 1 this turn. If she can't see it, she'll delay until there's room for her to get into position for either an attack or a bull rush. What's your ruling on her line of sight?

Yep, I ruled that it took you about 15 minutes to search the barrels in the last room. You can see what "time" it is, and the expiration times of your various buffs, in the initiative card that I put at the top of my posts.

And yes, no problem with casting a summon spell into that square.

First to react, Yanda dashes past Tofang and then lobs a bomb at the serpentine creature in the back (yellow).

***************************************************************
+13/4d6+6, 10 splash bomb [rng: 20 ft; 20/x2*; fire] {+5[BAB] +4[dex] +1[throw anything] +1[pblank] +2[mutagen]/4d6 +5[int] +1[pblank}

Uhvat quickly moves forward to the door.

"Pull back, Tofang! Maybe we can draw them out."

Would Uhvat be able to attack green through the door, even with cover bonus to its AC? If so...

Power Attack, Furious Focus, Chill Touch
+1 ectoplasmic lash: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 - 2 + 2 = 13 dmg: 2d6 + 8 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (5, 3) + 8 + 6 + (2) = 24

If not, he'll cast Shield on himself.

Conditions:

=== 12:35 Round 1 ===
Green - dmg; charging;
Orange - 15 dmg; on fire (1d6);
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00); heightened awareness (12:45);
Uhvat - dmg; 6 temp hp; false life (18:10); Shield (12:40);
Tofang - 13 dmg; cognatogen (13:05);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;
Kala - dmg; casting Summon Monster 1;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51); magic fang (12:25);

As Yanda rushes by, Green tries to take a bite out of her...

Yanda expertly tosses a bomb through the open doorway and hits Orange squarely. This creature does not appear to have any of the fire resistance or immunity of their other other recent foes.

Uhvat bolsters his defenses with a Shield spell. I'm going to say that you can't attack around the hard corner of the door, even with cover. Seems only fair since I didn't let Orange attack y'all for exactly that reason. I hate it when fights get bottlenecked like this though - maybe I should have just moved you into the room before rolling initiative, but that doesn't seem fair either since none of you said you were going to do that - it's one of those things that can be a little tricky in PbP.

Tofang is up!

Tofang withdraws with his dog back.

Withdraw.

"Hold on, Stinky. Heel." Kala begins chanting and gesturing, staring intently at a spot just inside the doorway.

Since Kala's not moving, there's room for Uhvat to 5' step and use that attack if he wants.

Aww, come on! I wanna taste these ones! They smell different. Kinda similar, but not as spicy as that last one. Pleeease? Stinky whines and gives puppy dog begging eyes at Kala, but she doesn't even look at him. Shucks.

A silent-but-deadly bloom begins to fill the hallway behind him.

Does green avoid the splash?

Conditions:

=== 12:35 Round 2 ===
Green - 10 dmg;
Orange - 18 dmg; on fire (1d6);
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00); heightened awareness (12:45);
Uhvat - 3 dmg; 6 temp hp; false life (18:10);
Tofang - 13 dmg; cognatogen (13:05);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;
Kala - dmg; casting Summon Monster 1;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51); magic fang (12:25);

A couple minor retcons:

When Tofang withdraws, Uhvat steps into his place and swings, but misses. (It would have been easy to sort that out if all sitting at a table together, so I'll assume that is what would have happened, though unfortunately Uhvat's low roll (of which you have had many recently!) makes it all for naught. It does mean that Uhvat's Shield spell has not been cast.)

Green Reflex DC 18 vs bomb splash: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Yanda, thanks for catching that - I completely overlooked the splash. Green takes the full splash dmg.

Start of Round 2

Green swings his mace and then tries to bite Uhvat...

hvy mace: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31
dmg: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

CRIT CONFIRM? hvy mace: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
EXTRA CRIT dmg: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

9 dmg vs Uhvat, of which 6 are absorbed by his remaining False Life temp hp.

Then Green steps back 5' and his Orange comrade steps forward and attempts the same.

hvy mace: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (10) + 11 = 21
dmg: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Orange on fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Pathfinders are up! The bold may act!

Tofang drinks and extract of ablative barrier.

25 hit points converted to nonlethal - 5 hours duration.

Yanda pulls out a wand and makes ready to heal Uhvat the next time he is hit.

Readied action:
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

As Kala finishes chanting, a giant centipede appears in the corner between the two foes. Well, that was poorly planned. Oh well. "Attack them!" Kala shouts at it.

The giant centipede, summoned facing the spot in to doorway, attacks the first creature it sees (orange).

Bite: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 181d6 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5
DC 13 Fort save or be poisoned (1d3 Dex damage, once per round, until they save)

Just then, Kala tries to slip in between Uhvat and the orange clad foe, but in her cumbersome new armor it's more like a shove. "Ugh. Sorry." She mumbles as she braces herself to try to shove the baddie back into the room.

Bull Rush: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
This provokes an AOO from orange.

Instead, the orange thingie (whatever it is) shoves her back so hard she ping-pongs back against Uhvat and then the wall of the hall, almost back where she started. "Crap!" Is it strong or am I weak?

Trying to solve the bottleneck problem, but failing miserably.

Kala's frustration is clearly apparent to Stinky through their link. Aww, don't worry, Kala. I still love you. He steps closer to her to lick her hand. Mmm! There's a little of their flavor on you. Interesting. Is that a hint of pine? Where would that have come from?

Conditions:

=== 12:35 Round 2 ===
Green - 10 dmg;
Orange - 23 dmg; on fire (1d6);
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00); readied action to heal Uhvat 8 hp;
Uhvat - 3 dmg; 6 temp hp; false life (18:10);
Tofang - 13 dmg; cognatogen (13:05); ablative barrier (0/25, 17:35);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;
Kala - 9 dmg;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51);
Giant centipede - dmg;

Tofang and Yanda both make defensive preparations, while Kala's centipede manages to bite the Orange foe...

Orange AoO Bite: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
dmg: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Kala Fort: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16 +4 vs. cold conditions & +1 vs. cold effects
Kala tries, and fails, to push her way into the room. She is repaid for her efforts with a bite that wounds her; for a moment she senses some poison in the bite but she manages to fight it off.

Uhvat is up!

Yeah, Uhvat’s rolls on this level hasn’t been that great. I could try to bullrush through but thinking better to do more damage.

The stoic read continues to swing down his lash upon the creature in front of him.

Power Attack, Furious Focus, Chill Touch
+1 ectoplasmic lash: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 2 + 2 = 16 dmg: 2d6 + 8 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 5) + 8 + 6 + (5) = 30
Or maybe not…

Tofang shoots the opponent in the door and reloads!

+1 pistol, Cold iron bullet, touch attack, pbs : 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 201d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Conditions:

=== 12:35 Round 3 ===
Green - 10 dmg;
Orange - 26 dmg; on fire (1d6);
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00); readied action to heal Uhvat 8 hp;
Uhvat - 3 dmg; 6 temp hp; false life (18:10);
Tofang - 13 dmg; cognatogen (13:05); ablative barrier (0/25, 17:35);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;
Kala - 9 dmg;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51);
Giant centipede - 14 dmg; dead;

Uhvat swings at Orange and misses.

Start of Round 3

Green tries to get rid of the centipede in their midst...

heavy mace: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
dmg: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

... smashing it to bits.

Then Orange swings at Uhvat...

heavy mace: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
dmg: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

... uselessly. He steps back 5' to enable his comrade access to the fray, as the fire continues to burn him.

fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Pathfinders are up! Tofang, you no longer have line of sight to either foe from your current position, so I haven't processed your attack and you still have your actions available.

Uhvat doesn't hesitate when he sees the opening. He quickly moves into the room, trying to cover the wide openings he is giving both of the enemies, although he is not hopeful. He then swivels around, bringing his lash down upon the one on his right.

acrobatics (move through threatened squares): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

vs orange: Power Attack, Furious Focus, Chill Touch
+1 ectoplasmic lash: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 11 - 2 + 2 = 20 dmg: 2d6 + 8 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 3) + 8 + 6 + (3) = 22

Alternative action for last round: Drink an extract of barkskin. Delaying this round until the path is clear.

Yanda follows in Uhvat's wake, taking up position by his side to prevent a flank. Seeing that the wand is not going to be of much use she stows it back in her spring loaded wrist sheath.

Relieved that this bottleneck is finally opening up, Kala surges (well, carefully surges, if that's a thing) through the hole to flank the orange foe. "Stinky! Go there and attack that one!" She shouts, pointing to green enemy and a spot just past the doorway.

Animal Handling (push DC 25): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22
To get Stinky to move over so Tofang has room to get in there. (Edit: Dang. Sorry, Tofang.)

Acrobatics to move through threatened square: 1d20 + 6 - 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 6 = 6
Includes armor check penalties for armor and shield

Activating her Animal Focus to give her extra strength, Kala attempts a mighty swing at the orange-clothed lizardy-thing's torso.

Mstwk Cold Iron Warhammer: 1d20 + 6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 + 1 = 201d8 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7
Includes regular flanking bonus and Animal Focus (Aspect of the Bull; STR +2) bonus

"Stinky! Go wah wah attack wah wah!"

Yay! Got it, Kala! Oh boy oh boy oh boy! Stinky lunges into the doorway and goes to sink his teeth into the green foe, not even realizing that he missed an important part of her instructions.

bite: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 + 1 = 211d6 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8
Includes Animal Focus (Aspect of the Bull; STR +2) bonus

Conditions:

=== 12:35 Round 4 ===
Green - 25 dmg;
Orange - 52 dmg; on fire (1d6);
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00);
Uhvat - 3 dmg;
Tofang - 13 dmg; cognatogen (13:05); ablative barrier (0/25, 17:35); barkskin (13:25);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;
Kala - 9 dmg; Animal Focus Str;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51);

Uhvat, my understanding is that you make two separate Acrobatics rolls (1 vs each of the two foes whose threatened squares you are moving through) and the second one is +2 to the DC (due to it being a second opponent). Or at least that's how I've always seen it run at tables I've been at. I'll roll your second Acrobatics check for you.

Uhvat Acrobatics DC +2: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Uhvat darts past both of the enemies and they each try to bite him as he goes by. I'm ruling that they would each attack you at their first opportunity, which means that they don't get a flanking bonus.

bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
dmg: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12

bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
dmg: 1d6 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

... neither is able to take advantage of the opportunity, however.

Uhvat's strike is better timed and drops Orange to the ground.

Tofang fortifies his defenses with barkskin. Tofang, you had actually posted your last action a bit early - which was fine - so your barkskin action *is* for the current round - no need to delay.

Yanda also moves into the room and, lacking Combat Reflexes, the one remaining enemy does nothing about it.

Since Orange is already down by the time Yanda moves in, I've changed her position so she can provide flanking for Kala (whose position I've also changed).

Kala bludgeons Green and Stinky takes a bite out of him as well.

Start of Round 4

Nevertheless, he fights on like a true zealot!

Green target: 1d4 ⇒ 2 ... determined to punish Uhvat for what he's done to his comrade!

heavy mace: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
dmg: 1d8 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

... but the stars are not aligned in his favor today.

Fire dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3
And his dying friend continues to burn up.

Finish him, Pathfinders!

Yanda pulls a dagger so she can provide that aforementioned flanking bonus, but decides she is just better at range and backs off, instead throwing her dagger at him.

To hit dagger: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27
Damage dagger: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

She waves Uhvat into the position of honor.

Re acrobatics roll, yeah I've seen GM ruled it both ways. Reading it through again, would say I also agree that it should be one roll per enemy.

Uhvat acknowledges Yanda, again with a stoic emotionless face, as he steps into "the position of honor" and strikes with his lash, this time flanking with Kala.

vs orange: Power Attack, Furious Focus, Chill Touch, Flanking
+1 ectoplasmic lash: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 11 - 2 + 2 + 2 = 27 dmg: 2d6 + 8 + 6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 + 6 + (5) = 24

Conditions:

=== 12:35 Round 4 ===
Green - 52 dmg;
Orange - 52 dmg; on fire (1d6);
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00);
Uhvat - 3 dmg;
Tofang - 13 dmg; cognatogen (13:05); ablative barrier (0/25, 17:35); barkskin (13:25);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;
Kala - 9 dmg; Animal Focus Str;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51);

Yanda hurls a dagger, wounding the creature, and then delivers a final blow and the creature crumples at the floor.

Combat over - pathfinders are victorious!

Tofang again hands his wand to Kala to heal herself and Tofang.

Tofang CLW: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 8) + 2 = 13
Kala CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Conditions:

=== 12:36 Out of initiative ===
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00);
Uhvat - 3 dmg;
Tofang - dmg; cognatogen (13:05); ablative barrier (0/25, 17:35); barkskin (13:25);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;
Kala - 2 dmg;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51);

What next?

Each of the doors in the room (there are 8 in total) has a small barred window. Looking through these windows, each of the rooms appears empty, except for one, in which a creature - who looks much like the two you have just defeated - is cringing and whimpering, slumped in a seemingly catatonic stupor.

"Thanks, Tofang. Good boy, Stinky! What's it taste like?"

Stinky tears a chunk out of the green one's torso. Hmm... That *is* pine! Huh. Strange.

As Stinky chomps and drools in the corner, Kala begins peering into the cells on either side of the room.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

"I'm sensing a reptilian theme here. Wonder why that guy in the cell is in such a bad state.?"

"HEY! Reptilian guy?"

Of course, being somewhat of a language expert, she just yells it in inguan, there also being a fire theme.

Kala doesn't notice anything besides the prisoner already mentioned. He does not respond to Yanda's call.

She shrugs.

Might as well leave it there. Might spare us some trouble. Shall we move on, or does someone want to try getting something out of it?"

Tofang casts detect magic and looks around.

”Should we heal the man?“ he asks his companions.

He approaches and tries to speak to the prisoner in the languages he knows.

Tien, Wayang : Undercommon: Abyssal, Aklo, Draconic, Infernal

When Tofang enters the cell (your fallen foes had a set of keys for each cell) and speaks with the prisoner, he cries out in anguished Common: "I have given myself to you, Kro’akoth! Ydersius is a living corpse and not fit for worship. Not like you, my lord and master! Give me freedom and I will fight in your name!"

Ydersius? Taking advantage of that fortuitous name drop, Kala inquires: "What can you tell us about Ydersius?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 ⇒ 11

"Ydersius is dead! Kro’akoth is all!"

kn religion : 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

"Yea, got that from the living corpse comment. Though that 'living' part disturbs me. Don't know that I've ever had a pleasant encounter with a corpse, living or not. Sooo..., what is your beef with the one and your fascination with the other all about?"

Yanda decides she is not EVEN going to try to pronounce those names.

Uhvat brow furrowed, not liking the sound of a living corpse, as he nods silently in agreement with Yanda.

Uhvat stands guard outside in the hallway, while his party questions what seems to be a lunatic. While waiting, having exhausted the enchantment on his lash, he concentrates briefly, sheathing it again with negative energy. He follows that with another spell to grant him additional vigour.

Cast Chill Touch for another 6 uses.
False Life: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Just in case I miss the posting later, just before we move off, Uhvat will also cast Shield, which last 6 min.

Conditions:

=== 12:36 Out of initiative ===
Yanda - dmg; ant haul (02:00); mutagen (13:10); protection from arrows (19:00);
Uhvat - 3 dmg; 8 temp hp; False Life (18:36); Shield (6 min from leaving jail);
Tofang - dmg; cognatogen (13:05); ablative barrier (0/25, 17:35); barkskin (13:25);
Tofang's dog (13 hp, AC 13) - dmg;
Kala - 2 dmg;
Stinky - dmg; barkskin (12:51);

In responce to Yanda's inquiries: "Kro’akoth, the Fire Serpent, is the true god of my kind! Ydersius is dead! Kro’akoth is all!"

Uhvat, note that you can't cast another spell, or really do anything else, while holding the charge from Chill Touch (or, you can, but Chill Touch will then be lost). No problem in this situation: you can simply cast Chill Touch *after* casting False Life and Shield, but just fyi. (Incidentally, is your caster level 6 for everything, or just for Chill Touch?)

Ah, keep forgetting about the touch spell holding charge thing. :) Uhvat has Magical Knack trait, which raises his spiritualist caster level by up to +2 (+1 in this case) up to current hit die.

Knowledge (religion) DC 20: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

"Okay, so Ydersius is undead, and Kro’akoth is a fire serpent. Great. Let's leave this one locked up here so he doesn't attack us from behind, and let's go kill some bad things." Kala fingers the head of Orc Brains, hoping her tool is good enough for the job.

I'll take that as one vote (Kala) for moving on. I'll go with the rule of two for advancing the action.

I'll take that as one vote (Kala) for moving on. I'll go with the rule of two for advancing the action.

*slam*

"Agreed," she exclaims as she slams the cell door shut again, casts heighthened awareness on herself from a wand, and moves off down the hall to the next door.