GM TOP MOD: Gallows of Madness Parts 1-3 (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

[dice=Survival]1d20+1

The half-orc studies the ruins. "I say let's check it out. I'll watch the rear!"

Was that supposed to be the rear of the group? Cause it didn't seem like that at all. If it was rear of the group instead of the building just place yourself where you would have been on the map and act.

That's my bad Kasvot, I'm pretty sure my brain just told me you were trying to go cover the back of the cottage instead of acting as a rearguard for the group. I moved you up to the front of the cottage, you can still take your round one action and even take your round two action as well if you wish. I'm going to move ahead with the enemy though just to keep things going.

The pretty plant tries to slam spiny tendrils against Liet-Gar and attach to his body. It does so with ease, causing large welts to form where it is wrapped tightly around his chest (4 damage, LGZ is grappled).

Round 1
Kasvot
Enemy (-7 HP, grappled)
Niza & Albis
Dimple
Liet-Gar (-4 HP, grappled)
Fromagalli

Bold are up!

"Hey you evil salad, Legion Guy is our elf! Let 'im go!" Dimple pulls off a little chunk of butter that has been stuck on her sleeve since breakfast. She rolls it into a ball and flicks it at the warrior. It hits, covering the elf in a slippery sheen.

Casting Grease. Long story short, LGZ gains a +10 circumstance bonus on Escape Artist checks and combat maneuver checks made to escape a grapple, and to his CMD to avoid being grappled.

Knowledge: Nature: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Niza, seeing the flowery creature attack LGZ, rushes into the room with her club out. Using both hands, she swings the club as hard as she can at the flower's bright pink pistils. "What is with the killer plants?! Are we in the 'Little Shop of Horrors'?!"

2-Handed MW Club: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21 for Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Anish Macor Taking stock of the plant Fromagalli moves in and attacks it hoping to get it to release LGZ

Oh Pish and Posh! I'm playing too many bards right now! You're right. cast this round, IC next (as needed). Edited the post above.

Although, thanks to Pbp, I will have a CORE, Standard and Mythic {PFS legal} Bard going all at once here in a week or so.

"A plant?!?" the half-orc ponders, aloud. "I don't think there's much I can do against a plant..." His voice trails off as he ponders his options. He retrieves a wand, casting it quickly to protect himself, then stows the wand and comes up with his dagger. He holds it out, unsteadily.

Save your charge of Mage Armor, no reason to waste it. Critter is dead.

Fromagalli charges up his sword with arcane power, stepping past Liet-Gar and slashing at the creature. Niza does the same, though without the arcane power or slashing. Both fighters connect, slashing and whacking the little plant to a pulp. A greasy Liet-Gar goes to slip out of the grasp but simply finds the tendrils are limp and lifeless, he tosses the whole mess to the side and takes a deep breath.

Final Tally, Liet-Gar -4 HP.

Searching the ruins, not much is found except a small metal box hidden under a stone in the corner. Inside is a magic emanating feather.

___________________________________________________________

Getting back under way, the group continues following the goblin trail. A couple hours later they hear a rustling in the trees and a strange creature lowers itself from a long thing tendril of silk (See Picture page 2). The light is dim in this part of the forest, as the interlocking branches of the trees form a thick, shadowy canopy. The creature speaks in a smooth tone, obviously curious, "Well hello there, what do we have here entering my kingdom?"

A (familiar) look of confusion sets on the bard's face. Your Kingdom? But I thought this land was a part of Saringallow. Are we lost? Or maybe you're lost. Are you lost? We might be able to help you." Then a look of concern settles upon her. "Wait, you're not one of those 'tainted' insects are you? I mean, you are kinda pudgy. That could all be evil filling. Anyhoo, those other bugs were icky...and gross...and BAD! Very, very bad." The rapid flow of emotions continue to surprise, "Hold on...are you a king? I've never met a king before. I don't know if I'm supposed to curtsy to a slug with legs. Or are you a snail with arms. Actually, can you explain the difference between snails and slugs? I really can't tell you guys apart. Which ones hate salt?"

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

In the cottage

Kasvot examines the feather, casting detect magic to see more about its aura.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

On the trail

Kasvot's eyes widen at each unrecognized insult that Dimple hurls towards the strange creature standing before them. He steps up quickly when she runs out of breath, trying to halt and hopefully reverse any damage she might have done.

"Yes, please do tell us more about yourself and your kingdom, and pardon my friend; she really means no offense. It's just that you are a very unusual creature for us, and we have been fighting too many strange creatures that have been tainted with a purplish fiendish goo. It's been a bit unsettling; we mean nothing but respect to you."

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

While it answers, Kasvot tries to determine what this creature could be.

Knowledge: 1d20 ⇒ 12 (arcana +6, nature +5, planes +2, all others +1 untrained)

Feather Token - Bird

This is a Katroome, a highly intelligent CN Magical Beast.

It smiles at you, "Well, I don't know if anyone has deigned to specifically grant me kingship of these lands, but there isn't much I don't know and most of the intelligent creatures recognize my greatness. I'll have to think on the king thing, though it is a good title. King... Asiclassus, it does have a royal ring to it."

He turns to the half-orc, "My my, a well spoken green-skinned humanoid? That is quite odd! Tall or short, they all seem to only want to destroy things and leave their foul goo all over. And fear not, you all intrigue me much more than anything I've seen in these woods for a long while. How did such a varied group of beings come to work together? What is your purpose here? These woods are wild and hold minimal value for city folk, as I assume you all are, judging by the clothes."

Niza wanders off behind a large bush, out of site from the strange creature and her more diplomatic allies. Pulling a wand from her pack, she taps herself with it. She then returns her wand to her pack and wanders back out with the group.

Wand of Mage Armor cast on herself.

"Yes we come seeking the smaller greenskinned ones they have a tendency to want to destroy and leave their foul goo all over. If left to their own devices they will eventually cause everybody trouble So we seek to deal with them at source before they become everyone's problem

"Niza seen any sign of that goo?"

"Um...tall or short blah blah blah...goo. Have you seen a lot of tall green guys? Cuz we have not. And you are right, we are from a city, a real one. Not that the nearby village isn't cute and all, but it's not really a city. Also, speaking of clothes, why are you naked? Did those nasty gobos steal your shirt and pants?"

Diplomacy was already succeeded on during the first dialogue with the creature.

The creature strokes a nonexistent beard in thought, "Hmmm... this is excellent. Most fortuitous indeed. You seek to end the goblin threat and I am sick of them tromping through my kingdom leaving their waste around and not giving me the respect I deserve."

It descends to the ground on a thing silk strand and moves over to the group, "So, I think we can come to some mutually beneficial agreement. You all help me clear out a nasty little infection left by the goblins nearby and I'll give you very detailed instructions as to where the goblin camp is located, plus answer any questions you might have about the forces I've seen come through this way. Deal?"

Keeping a safe distance from the beast, LGZ stays ready for a fight. 'Bugs...why did it have to be a bug...judging by the chatter I shouldn't kill this one, yet.'

"Really? That seems simpler than expected from your kind!" blurts out LGZ.

"I think that sounds like an excellent plan; thank you for seeing the mutual benefit." Kasvot approaches closer. "What can you tell us about their forces? Are the goblins working alone, or do they have other allies?"

King Asiclassus seems to smile ignoring the half-elf's outburst, "Tut tut tut, answers after you clear out the little problem I've found. See, one of the gooped up goblins died in a clearing a little ways away. I didn't worry too much about it, until I saw a crow pecking away at the body get infected with the purple stuff. You all clean up the infected body and goop, then track down any critters that ate on it, killing and purifying them as well. Then, I'll share what I know."

He starts leading the way down the path you all have been following, waving a slimy appendage to follow.

The creature leads you down the path and points ahead into a small clearing, "There it is!"

The rotting corpse of a goblin occupies the center of this small glade. Its eyes and face are missing, as if they were chewed or pecked off by wild animals, and its corpse is covered in purplish, festering goo that seems to be liquefying the body.

Map is up.

Kasvot wastes no time in casting the mage armor that he should have cast before investigating the cottage. He scans the open field. "I don't like this clearing... anything could be in those trees. There's no way to hide if we want to approach that body."

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

"Yes way too much clearing for my liking Fromagalli pulls out his wand of longstrider and taps himself with it

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

"Agreed...Way too open." replies LGZ with a nod. "Unfortunately, I don't see a good way to deal with this issue."

Taking in the clearing, he sighs softly. Drawing his blade, the half-elf wanders forward. "I'll draw them out for you. Be ready."

Move 30ft into the clearing

An exasperated Dimple blurts out, "Nag, nag, nag! Alright! I hear you. Dimple's got the answer. No need to keep pouring it on. I get it." She draws out a wand and starts waving it about. A moment later, a building appears right over the corpse. It looks similar to the cobbler's shop from Saringallow, save for the fact that the windows are boarded over. In rapid succession, a veritable block of the shops pop into existence drawing a line from the body to the tree line. "Sheesh! I hope you guys are happy now." She shoves the wand in her belt, then looks at the others. "Oh pish and posh!" The gnome turns and walks through the illusionary wall. "C'mon. It's not really real you guys. Everything else will think you are inside a building."

And this is why I believe Silent Image is one of the best spells in the game. It looks like three charges should do the trick.

"A most elegant solution" Offers an impressed Fromagalli

Sadly that spell has a duration of "Concentration" which means you have to spend a Standard action each round to keep it up, so multiple castings would not work. But I have a solution! Cast one building at the edge of the clearing and then move the building with you as you go out into the middle. So, I'll assume Dimple knows how magic works and would only spend one charge of her wand... at most two once she realizes the first building disappears when casting the second.

Even with the incredibly intelligent and subtle movements of a building appearing out of nowhere and slowly moving itself into the clearing, certain creatures take notice. A single Raven (See Spoiler) flaps out of the trees and attempts to land on the new perch.

The raven screeches in anger as it fails to perch on the building and then sees the hidden morsels of really big food. It ATTACKS!!!

And is slaughtered by Liet-Gar's blade hacking it in twain. A flock (5) of other similar birds rises from the woods, ready to swarm down upon the building.

Round 1
Dimple (Standard to keep concentrating?)
Liet-Gar
Niza & Albis
RAVENS YAR!!!
Fromagalli
Kasvot

Bold are up! All ravens are currently 30 ft up in the air.

Knowledge: Planes: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

"Oh, look at the pretty... YUCK! Nevermind! That raven," Niza continues pointing to the one that was attacking LGZ, "has been infected by the purple goo! It is not a pretty bird!" Her voice gets softer as she mumbles, "... and I like birds more than most people!" She gently strokes Albis who is perched on her shoulder. Raising her voice again, she tells her friends, "The bird is like those bugs and goblins we saw earlier. They are resistant to cold, fire, and spells! Their bite can hurt you more if you're good!"

Niza holds her club tightly with both hands. She gets ready to bash any foe that comes within her range.

2-Handed MW Club: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15 for Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Dimple focuses on maintaining the building intact.

Quickly the half elf readies to end another bird.

"We got this!"

MWK Cold-Iron Ranseur: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 for Piercing: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (2, 4) + 3 = 9 x3 crit

I cropped and adjusted the map.

The birds swarm towards the building where they heard their ally's death squawk. All birds... except the one that notices Niza chattering in the woods. It bolts directly at her, mouth open to take a nice chunk of gnome with it. Sadly though it doesn't notice her readied bat which whacks it out of the sky with a puff of gooey feathers.

Two of the birds don't even make it far enough to investigate the building. The other two get there and one seems confused, trying to perch on the outside. It does not go inside. The other sees through the illusion and goes inside and deftly dodges two strikes from Liet-Gar and ends up flapping around, all up in his face.

Rounds 1 & 2
Dimple (Standard to keep concentrating?)
Liet-Gar
Niza & Albis
FIENDISH RAVENS YAR!!!
Fromagalli
Kasvot

Bold are up! All ravens are currently 10 ft up in the air, except for the dead one by Niza and the one inside LGZ's square.

Kasvot remains in the cover of the trees, but begins the motions of a spell. Whispers its words of power, he points at the bird farthest from him.

Niza moves out into the open. Her club hanging loosely at her side, she makes a fist and punches the air at a diagonal by her head. Waves of energy leave her fist and head towards the bird flying in the air nearest her.

Telekinetic Fist vs. Touch (vs. Green): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 for Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Sweating with effort, the cobbler's hut stands intact. Ooo! Maybe I should set it on fire. One of these times I will get it right.

It seems to be giving us some protection for the moment. NOT SETTING IT ON FIRE!

The not yet burning shed remains in place, confusing the birds quite a bit. Niza attempts to take advantage of that to knock one out of the sky, but misses the small target. Kasvot begins channeling his sorcerous energy into a devastating FIREBALL!!! (or maybe something else, we'll see)

Rounds 1 & 2
Dimple
Liet-Gar
Niza & Albis
FIENDISH RAVENS YAR!!!
Fromagalli
Kasvot

Bold are up! All ravens are currently 10 ft up in the air, except for the dead one by Niza and the one inside LGZ's square.

"I've got a sword that can fly. Anish Macor!"

sword attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
sword damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Botting!

Liet-Gar steps back from the nasty little oozing bird, takes a hand off his polearm and pulls his warhammer out, whacking at the fiend. He holds the hammer ready in case any more birds make it inside the shed.

Warhammer: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20 for Blunt: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7 x3 crit

Liet-Gar's strike slams into the bird, reducing it to goop that would be splattered on the walls of the shed, if they were real. Outside you all see a few feathered chunks of dead raven fly through the shed wall.

Fromagalli sends his sword flying. It has a nice long flight and then returns to his hand, never even coming close to hitting an enemy. That ability has a 30 ft range and you aren't within 30 ft of any enemy. It doesn't matter too much since you missed anyway, but you might want to consider moving next round.

The bird Niza swung her fancy air-fist at turns from the shed and zips towards her, attempting to remove a decent chunk of her body. Niza gets an AoO with her club before it gets to bite her, if the bird dies the bite attempt won't occur.

The last two birds finally make it to the shed, attempting to land upon it. They quickly recognize it as being an illusion and dart through to swarm at the half-elf inside as he is the closest and largest target. With practiced expertise, he swats both of them out of the air. Only one bird remains, outside attacking Niza (AoO or followup attack might end combat).

Rounds 2 & 3
Dimple (Standard to keep concentrating?)
Liet-Gar
Niza & Albis (AoO pending)
FIENDISH RAVENS YAR!!!
Fromagalli
Kasvot

Bold are up!

Niza sees a bird quickly flying at her. She grips her club with both hands and swings at it when it's close enough.

AoO 2-Handed MW Club: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17 for Bludgeoning: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Swinging like her hero the famous gnomish athlete, Babe Ruth, Niza whacks the last bird cleanly out of the sky. The only thing remaining to do appears to be getting rid of the purple goo and finalizing the deal with the King Caterpillar.

Out of Combat

As the group wanders around poking purple goo with cold iron weapons and watching it satisfyingly dissipate, King Asiclassus slips out of the tree where he was hiding and comes up. "My my my, you all sure know what you are doing! Excellent, I knew I was a good judge of character. So, here is what I know about the goblins. Their leader is a big ole bugbear and he is definitely infected with that goo like the others. They have a pretty tough second in command goblin who is pretty darn sneaky and ruthless. She got really mad once and gutted a goblin for stepping on a twig which made a small noise. Made me reconsider introducing myself to them. Anyway, the bulk of them are holed up in a place that used to be called Highfort. It was an old hobgoblin camp from the days before they were wiped out of this area. Anyhow, here is how you get to it... He follows with detailed instructions with landmarks to use to get to the fort.

If you use these instructions, no need for survival to track the goblins anymore, you can just simply get there in two and a half days time. You are welcome to attempt survival checks to 'get along in the wild' and provide food/water for yourselves or as a group if you wish. Though I think even if those all failed no one would even be into penalties by the time you all got to the fort.

"Do you know where the 'goo' is coming from? It sure is making its way around if it got from town to here, or vice versa."

Wiping the goop from his weapons, LGZ stows them accordingly. He continues to keep his distance from the talking bug thing as Dimple presses for information.

"Yeah. She's right. I was thinking the kid in town made the stuff...but there's no way he did it on his own as fast as it's spread. What do you know about the purple stuff?"

Note: we all started out with 4 days of trail rations from Gunty's Hearty Breads

Kasvot has no further questions beyond Dimple's query. After learning what they can, Kasvot thanks the creature. "This has been most interesting. Thank you for showing yourself to us, and allowing us through your domain. We will end this goblin threat that you may retake control."

Survival, aid another, day 1: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19
Survival, aid another, day 2: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Survival, aid another, day 3: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

The King seems to think for a bit. "Hmmm, so you encountered this back in the town you came from? When was this?" When you answer with 'about six weeks ago' then it surmises that the goblins haven't been active with the goop in the area until about three to four weeks ago. He also adds that when they last went through, heading towards highfort, they had a tied up human with them

_________________________________________________________________

Fromagalli easily finds enough food and water to save the group's rations for a possible return trip home.

_________________________________________________________________

Arriving within sight of the fort, the group begins making a battle plan based upon what the see before them.

Soft light filters through the branches of the forest, which is still and silent. A rough platform formed of interlocking hexagonal stone columns rises thirty feet above the forest floor, abutting the foot of the mountain. A rickety wooden staircase attached to the side of the cliff leads to the top of the platform, which is covered by a ramshackle collection of boxy wooden buildings surrounded by a patchwork steel fence.

Map is up, what do you all plan to do? If a course of action is agreed upon, I'm more than happy to use the SOP. If not, let me know your alternate plan. The red X is the bottom of the stairs at the base of the cliff.

"Hey, can you describe the human? The town just kicked out the guy who knew how to make the stuff. So, it can't possibly be him. He should be miles away by now." She looks toward the team. "So, who do you guys think the prisoner is?"

SOP is good by me!

-Earlier-

"Well...maybe the kid wasn't working alone after-all..." muses the half-elf. "Perhaps the real troublemaker, his teacher, has been captured."

-Now-

Eyeing the setup from the relative safety of the woods, LGZ frowns. "They're going to see us long before we make it to the top of those stairs. I don't suppose any of you lot have high-powered magics? I heard of something that would pick people up and place them places...I think it was called tele-portable location or something."

Standard SOP is fine. I don't think we have a good way of getting up there undetected

Fromagalli casts longstrider on himself from his wand (Probably should add check long lasting buffs are active before opening the door on SOP)

Resources Used
Fromagalli: Longstrider Wand (1)
Liet-Gar: NA
Kasvot: Mage Armor Wand (1)
Dimple: NA
Niza: Mage Armor Wand (1)
Albis: NA

______________________________

Liet-Gar moves forward quietly, the group following behind, some of them quietly, some less so.

As he is about to leave the cover of the forest and move up to the rickity steps, he hears a loud snapping sound from behind him as Fromagalli steps on a dry stick. Everyone freezes for a second to see if someone noticed, then their question is answered as three goblin arrows quickly zip down towards Fromagalli from the trees above Liet-Gar.

Goblin Ambush Surprise Round!!!

A couple arrows connect, but because of the cover provided in the forest they just thud against his thick armor and bounce off. The group can see three goblins carefully perched in the trees fifteen feet off the ground. The trees don't look excessively stable though and might even be able to be shaken from the ground, knocking the goblins down (Strength Check as a Standard if w/in five feet or under the goblin is an option available, as well as normal combat).

Round 1
Dimple
Liet-Gar
Kasvot
Goblins Three!
Niza & Albis
Fromagalli

Bold may Act!

"Found some scouts." announces LGZ as he pulls his favored weapon out. Eyeing the beast above, he scans the tree before taking a swing.

"Come down here and fight like you've got a pair!"

MWK Cold-Iron Ranseur vs Tree w/red Goblin: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18 for Piercing: 2d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 = 8 x3 crit

"Oh puh-LEEZ! I'm pretty sure they found us."

Start the bard song. 1 of 11 Rounds. 10 remain