[Outpost II] GM PaleDim's PFS#10-10 The Shattered Shield [Tier 1-5] (Inactive)

Game Master PaleDim

fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

"This smell is disgusting. I have to vomit."

fort: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

"HUUUUUUURRGGHHHHHH"

"This *retch* smells so bad I *retch* can taste it! *RETCH*"

Gint notices that the statues, are in fact stone. He makes no further determinations about them.

As Bartolomey and Kyunjiro cross the bridge they begin to gag. It's all they can do to hold it down and reach the other side safely.

To keep us moving along, as the outpost II deadline looms :)

The rest of the team follows them across to see if they are okay, but also because they're eventually going to have to!

Gint is the only (corporeal) member of the party who crosses the bridge with his intestinal wellness intact.

As I said, this place is intense! You all might take a short break to gather yourselves!

At his direction, the party sits near the cadaver tables at the far side of the bridge, trying to not look at what is around them so as to let the nausea pass.

Ten minutes later, they're able to continue through the door to the south...

------

This room holds four sarcophagi arranged around a large statue (very similar to the ones in previous area), this one broken off just below the knees so only the feet remain. The rest of the fragments are missing from the room.

Along the room’s western wall, two small crypts, each adorned with a swinging bronze gate, no longer containing any humanoid remains. Now, their sarcophaguses have been turned into playing surfaces for various casino games.

Three dwarves with stained teeth and deft hands stand behind the sarcophagi here, serving as the dealers for various casino games. The lids of each coffin have been overturned to serve as playing surfaces for various games. There are currently two Rahadoumi citizens here playing games. These gamblers are gaunt and thin, with frantic, desperate expressions on their faces. A dwarf at an unattended table is eager for more players, and he motions for you to join him for a game.

Slides updated! Pathfinders, what do you do?

Bartolomey sits down and joins the game.

"Well don't mind if I do"
Gint holsters his pistol and sits at the table.

"I am not very fond of the games of chance. I don't think we have the time for games, we must find the woman who stole the shard."

Uroon, what would you like to convince the others to do then? Continue to the next area? Gambling definitely won't get you any closer to her. Who else would like to weigh in?

"Guys. We aren't here to play games. Make it quick!"

Nalaia also sits down at the table to join the game, assuming it's as quick as, like, a hand of poker.

You notice that the two Rahadoumi citizens seem to have lost a lot of money and their respective tables. They have small piles of coins in front of them while the dealer seems to have collected much bigger piles from them.

At the table you've taken a seat at, the dealer admits, My cards and chips are in the process of being replaced. I don't know what's taking so long! Would you settle for a friendly game of Settler's of Varisia? We can probably knock out a game in 3 hours. What do you say?

"That is to long! Ok guys, we have to go!" Bartolomey stands up and moves to the south.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

As you approach the southern exit, the dwarven dealer at the nearest table bellows a sharp order to back off and come play a game.

Obey or proceed?

"I will not play anymore! We don't have time to play!"

The three dealers look at each other and then Bartolomey, as he continues to approach the door at the south of the room. They abandon their games at the table and advanced on all of you from their different points in the room...

This is as far as you go...

Battle theme!

Round 1
Bold may act

Kyunjiro
Gint
Nalaia
Uroon
Styrian
Brun
Bartolomey
--------
Blue dealer
Red dealer
Green dealer

Amazingly, the worst rolls in the party were still "beat" by the dealers. The whole party is up!

Note to Nalaia: as this is a den of illegal activity, and a tomb hidden away from routine civil observation, there are no consequences to using divine abilities and spells here.

Bartolomey takes his scythe, comes closer to the enemy and swings.

mwk Scythe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (2, 1) + 6 = 9

Brun steps 5ft closer to the red dealer and strikes.

1st slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

2nd slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

confirm crit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

great damage rolls

Gint jumps up from his seat and let's out a laugh that shouldn't come from such a small gnome and looks around wild eyed at the commotion. He spots Bartolomy at the other end of the room, runs his way, until he is across the table from the dwarf and draws his pistol.

Kyunjiro steps up to the Dwarven foe and attacks!

rapier + sneak attack + bleed 1: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
damage + sneak attack + bleed 1: 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (5) = 7

if it hits they have bleed 1.

Bartolomey slashes at the dealer near him, putting a sizable gash across his front. The dealer glares at Bartolomey. Meanwhile Brun slams into the nearby dealer, but doesn't seem to have the space and angle for a good running start. He does manage to annoy that one.

As Gint runs across the room, Kyunjiro gets the jump on the third dealer and stings him quickly with his small blade.

The dealers are clearly frustrated and ready to return the favor.

Round 1 continued
Bold may act

Battle theme!

Kyunjiro
Gint
Nalaia
Uroon
Styrian
Brun
Bartolomey
--------
Blue dealer -9
Red dealer -4
Green dealer -7, bleed 1

Nalaia, Uroon, and Styrian are up to finish the player block for round 1

Nalaia points menacingly at the red one, chanting some demonic prayer.

Casting Forbid Action. DC 15 Will save. Forbidding "Attack" (see the spell description.).

After that, she'll move so that she threatens the green dealer with her reach weapon. (5 foot step)

Uroon makes a quick side kick right at the dwarf dealer's(green) head.
side kick: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Red Will, DC15: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

The dealer at the far west of the room grits his teeth as it resists some divine force that is preventing him from doing what he intends...

Uroon throws a kick at the dealer that Kyunjiro stabbed, but getting his foot over the table and accurately targeted seems to be difficult at the moment. miss

Styrian is still up. He has until late this evening to post. Otherwise, I'll bot him either late tonight or first thing in the morning to keep us moving.

Styrian steps toward the green dealer to help take him out after Nalaia partially disables the other nearby one, then he swings at green.

Lucerne Hammer +1: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
B/P Damage (magic): 1d12 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Styrian slams his hammer into the head of the dealer next to their Kitsune, and that dwarf falls over dead.

One down! Dealer turns!

The dwarves snarl at the party.

This calls for the heavy clonkers!

They reach under their card tables and each retrieve a heavy pick, looking to impale their nearby foes.

Move action each to retrieve item, this provokes. Bartolomey and Brun can resolve an AoO each before the dwarves' turn finishes.

AoO

mwk Scythe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (3, 4) + 6 = 13

AoO

slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Bartolomey slashes again, causing the dealer nearest to the door to accelerate bleeding. His eyes dim as life leaves him, and he drops to the ground.

Brun again bashes at his dealer, but it's not quite enough to put him down for the count. He now has rage in his eyes. He swiftly lifts the heavy pick and brings it down towards the phantom.

mwk heavy pick attack: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18
P damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The phantom is surprised to have a new hole in his chest!

--------------
Round 2
Bold may act

Battle theme!

Kyunjiro
Gint
Nalaia
Uroon
Styrian
Brun -5
Bartolomey
--------
Red dealer -10

The whole party is up! Finish this one strong. The end is near...

Kyunjiro steps up to the dealer and attacks!

attack: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 5 - 2 = 13
damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Kyunjiro's rapier glances off of the dwarf's leather armor.

Barm strikes again.

1st slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

2nd slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

With two more jolts Brun brings down the third dealer.

Out of combat!

With the dealers defeated, the Rahadoumi gamblers attempt to flee the casino, pausing only to scoop up loose coins from their tables.

"Using dealers as guards. Shame."

Nalaia checks to see if the bodies had anything useful on them.

They had pretty much what you saw: the heavy pick, a dagger, and leather armor (now bloodied from your attack).

With this behind you, you proceed through the door to the south...

Slides updated with new map!

A grand burial chamber with a large dais in the center appears to have been converted into a ritual chamber. Two concentric circles of ornate runes have been scrawled in chalk atop the dais. The dais itself is surrounded by four obelisks, each of which is topped with an inverted tetrahedron clasped by a black stone claw. Each of the crystals emits a strange, crimson glow.

When you first enter the room, the mysterious woman you've been pursuing appears to be conversing with a small poppet made of flesh, in hushed tones that echo throughout the chamber.

“Soon my little friend, soon we will ascend, and we will finally have the power to reach beyond this world!” The poppet responds to her statements in a sweet, almost childlike voice, murmuring hopeful encouragements.

When she notices you entering the room, she smirks at you and says “Well, found us, have you? It’s too late now. As soon as my employer gets here I shall become something more powerful than you can possibly imagine!”

As she cackles madly at her own declaration, the poppet interjects “Not fair, sweet queen, not fair! A game must be played before you can be declared the victor!”

At this, she stops cackling and a strangely serious look comes over her face. “Quite right, quite right. Well, would-be heroes? Shall we play a game for the shard?”

She considers some possibilities thoughtfully for a brief moment before continuing. "I shall spin the shard upon the ground. If it comes to rest pointing at me, you must agree to leave this place and the Alhanzir Cemetery and not return for exactly one day. Exactly."

She lets the detail linger in the air for a moment.

"If it should come to rest pointing at any of the lot of you, then you must assist me in completing my ritual, after which I will relinquish the shard to you."

She then nonchalantly defers to the group for a response.

"What do you say, heroes." She does not hide her disdain in uttering that last word.

Pathfinders, how do you respond?

sense motive: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Gint throws his hat down.
"No way we make a deal with this crazy lady!"
He says pointing his pistol in her direction.

sense motive: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

"Surrender or die!" Bartolomey shows his scythe and moves closer.

Brun follows his master.

She rolls her eyes at Gint and Bartolomey and sighs slightly.

Come no closer before you make your decision, or you will regret it.

She slowly ascends the steps to the platform in the center.

You get one more chance. Perhaps the rest of you are more level-headed.

She scans the full breadth of the group.

sense motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
"I believe we should hear her out. We do not even know what her ritual will entail."

SM: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 25

"Guys, she's being sincere. Im not sure what to do. Fight? She may be too powerful. Game of chance? She may just win."

"Sincere or not, whatever is going on here is no good, we shouldn't take her deal."

Intrepid heroes, I need a decision.

She looks to the lone Pathfinder who has yet to speak up... Nalaia.

"Speak up!"

"Nothing should come in the way of our mission. If we leave for a day, that shard will be used for something, and we won't get it. I'm not one for gambling the success of my mission on a coin flip."

Nalaia readies her spear as she speaks, if you'll allow.

Yes, Nalaia, you can have your spear drawn before initiative.

Very well, I can see the hostility in enough of you to understand that we will not be able to come to an arrangement. Her words drip with resent.

You can barely make out a high pitched voice originating from the small poppet she holds. Deal with these quickly! The ritual cannot be delayed! Soon you will have powers that these insects cannot appreciate!

She points at a crystal located just behind Gint, and a sickly red ray flashes out of it towards him...

Ranged touch vs. Gint, flat footed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 hits for...
STR damage, DC14 Fortitude for half: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 half is 3 if you make the save. if not, your strength drops to 1 (the stated worst possible effect of the spell). if that happens we'll work out the effects)

The party seems surprised and stunned by the instant, offensive capability of the crystals that they now notice are arranged just outside of the four corners of the ascending stairs. You're all a little slow to react as your foe gets the jump on you in initiating combat.

Having just weakened one of your number, she then points at Styrian and gives an evil smile.

Battle theme!

Round 1
Bold may act

Zaashakar
--------
Bartolomey
Brun
Styrian (DC14 will save to avoid hex)
Kyunjiro
Nalaia
Uroon
Gint (DC14 fortitude save to halve the STR dmg)

The whole party is up!

Bartolomey comes closer to enemy and strikes.

mwk Scythe: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (1, 4) + 6 = 11

Brun follows his masters lead.

slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

fort save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Gint is caught off guard by the sudden pain from behind but steels himself.
"Not today lady!"
He rushes adjacent to her, braces himself and fires a shot at Zaashakar.
pistol shot: 1d20 ⇒ 12
reg. bullet damage: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Seeing no other course of action Uroon runs up to Zaashakar and makes a quick jump kick at her.
jump kick: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

[Dice=fort save]1d20+3

Gint is caught off guard by the sudden pain from behind but steels himself.
"Not today lady!"
He rushes adjacent to her, braces himself and fires a shot at Zaashakar.
[Dice=pistol shot]1d20
[Dice=reg. bullet damage]1d4

Fortunate, and glad. I didn't want you to spend the rest of the battle as a STR 1 puddle on the ground :) So, -3 STR, -1 to str-based checks.

Bartolomey and Brun approach as soon as she takes her first hostile actions, conducting their usual effective routine of slash and slam from two sides. Surrounding her as they do, she's unable to easily determine who will strike first and where.

She glares at Bartolomey, understanding that the phantom is merely subservient. She taunts him under her breath, for only him to hear. I didn't come all of this way to have some sanctimonious society whelps foil my plans...

Just as quickly, fully understanding and seeing the coming assault, she turns just in time to watch Gint line up his shot and easily dodges it, spinning around to see Uroon approach so that she can also avoid his jump kick!

The poppet squeaks again. They are mean! Hurry and dispatch them!

Good start team!

Battle theme!

Round 1 continued
Bold may act

Zaashakar -17
--------
Bartolomey
Brun
Styrian (DC14 will save to avoid hex)
Kyunjiro
Nalaia
Uroon
Gint

Styrian, Kyunjiro, and Nalaia are up to finish round 1! Styrian, please make your will save before taking your actions.

Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Styrian feels a curse comes over himself, and starts casting a spell instead of trying to overcome his disadvantage.

Start casting enlarge person.