GM Dak - Shattered Star 1

Game Master Dakcenturi

Esrisi avoids looking at the bodies everywhere, purposefully looking the other direction. "Blech. Disgusting! Couldn't they use graves or dispose of teh bodies? This is horrific!"

Seeing the elf appear, Sapher sighs in relief. She half worried Veltariel had decided to go to the trogs, assuming the rest of them would come to the same conclusion.

"A battle between the troglodytes and boggards? You are right, of course. Hurrying." the dwarf agrees and starts a bit of hustle.

Alright so leaving the field of dead and heading toward where the boggards are then?

Sounds like. I’ll resume scouting:

Stealth: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (3) + 16 = 19

Drask nods to Vel's assessment. "Strike while the iron is hot." Drask nods, moving forward.

Mokhasi retrieves one of his blank journals and jots down some notes, "first, boggards are humanoids who look like frogs, but are not amphibious for some reason. They can hold their breath well, extend their tongues, and can live in swamps quite ably. They also can croak in a frightening way. If I remember, it was described as 'horrible'."

He jots some notes, and then moves down to a next page, "troglodytes are a subterranean reptilian species, but they are more separated from what we consider to be 'humanoid', though such a moniker seems too human-centric... regardless, they seem somewhat distinct from the typical humanoids we think about, such as most of who are collected here. They have thick armor, and they can emit a stench which can nauseate non-troglodytes."

He pauses writing, "If I recall, both have... extremely violent cultural tendencies, likely due to the adversarial environments and significant societal traditions towards resolution of conflict with violence. Negotation may be difficult, but if we can offer one or the other something of safety or food, we may be able to get them to help us."

He pauses, and takes a breath, "hmm, as for this knight. It does not sound as if you all have heard of what may have transpired in Korvosa. We should tread cautiously, we may not be able to rely upon these knights."

"so, it sounds like other than our friend the witch, none of the people we are to encounter are particularly friendly." He shrugs, and the color returns to his face. He finishes writing some notes, and continues to walk along, slowing his pace to match the others.

"Us verses everybody? Sounds like a normal day." Sapher gives a weary smile. 'At least we're not at each other's throats anymore' she adds inside her head.

Vel leads the group onward. Crossing another stream the group continues west following the basic directions given by the half-orc. The Lady's Light grows ever closer but still looms in the distance. You pass by a rough dirt road leading north to south along your way. After a bit of walking you notice a wide cave entrance yawns at the base of a stony outcropping overlooking a wide bog. The cave is nearly forty feet wide and twenty feet high, and slopes up into darkness. A wide assortment of bones lies scattered about in front of the cave itself, and here and there something shiny glitters among the bones.

Based on the half-orcs description this isn't yet your destination but definitely appears to be of some interest.

Continue toward the boggards or investigate the cave? Map updated.

The glinting among the bones catches Drask's eye. "Could be worth it to stop and scrounge around a bit..." He says with an edge of avarice.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32

Esrisi looks around at the bones and shinies to see if any of them are especially interesting.

From a distance it is hard to tell, Es would need to get closer to get a better look.

Sapher stops, looking up at Drask, and knowing without a doubt Mok will be suggesting that pathfinders explore and record everything, so she sighs and starts moving toward the cave.

perception to look out for danger, horrible animals about to eat them, or large puddles of water: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Fine. I'll move closer. But I want you to use that nat20 for whatever save I am going to need when I get pummelled for going closer! :)

Esrisi moves closer to inspect the shinies, WARY OF DANGER.

Mokhasi nods at Drask, and simply says "indeed."

Moving closer to the cave entrance where most of the bones and shiny bits lay, you can feel the humidity emanating from the cave and a vague odor of sulfur floats on the air. An investigation of the bones reveals that most are boggard or animal bones, and all have bite marks from sharp fangs and scorch marks as if they’ve been burnt. As you approach the mouth of the cave and start examining the various bodies you see there coins of gold, silver, copper and platinum as well as some jewelry and other small items in the muck. Gathering it all up is going to take at least a few minutes.

Map updated, it's not super clear, but you are essentially at the mouth of the cave.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Drask looks over the area for a moment, but his ears perk up and he looks at the cave. "Something big in there, moving towards us. Get ready." He raises his axe.

Veltariel steps to a spot for a clear shot at the cave entrance, her bow drawn and arrow knocked, ready to open fire on anything that poses a threat...

Sapher grunts at the revelation, moving in front of the others and hunkering down with her shield, ready to take the brunt.

Perception: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Mokhasi looks around and begins itemizing the value of the things they spot, when he hears the distant noise of something approaching.

"It sounds as if a monster is coming." He pops their wand of mage armor out of his wrist sheath, wiggles it, and imbues Esrisi with some defensive magic with a gentle 'boop' on her arm.

He then takes a moment to cast a few spells.

Cast Heightened Awareness. Cast Barkskin, with an arcane reservoir point to boost the CL to 7, on Drask, Drask gets +3 to his Natural Armor for an AC of 21, lasts 70 minutes.

Mokhasi nods at his friend, and replaces his spear with his crossbow, currently unloaded.

"Something large right here, ready to face down whatever it is!"

Caroliss begins a long incantation, and at the end, Drask becomes much larger! Enlarge person on Drask.

"It is rather slow" Sapher whispers to those behind her "Maybe we should just leave?"

The group prepares themselves for whatever it is that is coming for them.

Mok, you would only have time to cast one preparatory spell.

Moments later coming around the corner is a multi-headed serpent rushing toward the group, it is so big it almost takes up the entire width of the cavern.

Round 1
> Sapher/Vel, Enemy, Mok/Caroliss/Es/Drask

"Spoke too soon..."

knowledge arcana?: 1d20 + 5 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 5 + 3 = 11

"I feel I should know what it is, other than dangerous." Sapher's studies have fallen short apparently. She's not about to charge the thing though "Hold the line and let Vel's pepper it as much as possible." Sapher suggests.

full defense

Esrisi gets the mage armor, then.

Does mage armor dance.

Veltariel utters some words in Elven as her hawk on her shoulder screeches out at the serpent in challenge!

Cast Gravity Bow, Martial Flexibility for Deadly Aim.

The serpentine creature lumbers forward toward Sapher its multiple heads glaring at her in hunger.

Round 1
Sapher/Vel, Enemy, > Mok/Caroliss/Es/Drask
Round 2
Sapher/Vel, Enemy, Mok/Caroliss/Es/Drask

"This thing is big and hungry... what is it?" Sapher calls back to the people behind her.

Drask being enlarged should have a bigger token now, for what it's worth.

K. Arcana?: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29. Or some other check as appropriate.. Caroliss thinks she might know what it is!

She gives Vel the benefit of Calistria's fortune, while a shadowy duplicate of Sapher appears!

Bit of Luck on Veltariel, Copycat on Sapher

knowledge arcana?: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

Mokhasi shrugs, "I have never heard of such a thing. A lizard? Perhaps we should just hit it with swords over and over, yes?"

NOW Mokhasi gives drask a CL 7 barkskin. +3 Natural armor!

Caroliss recognizes it as a 5 headed pyrohydra, knowing just about everything there is to know about the beast.

"A 5-headed fire-breathing pyrohydra!" cries Caroliss as recognition sinks in. "It heals very quickly! Fast healing 5. You can cut off the heads but two will grow back unless you hit the stump with enough acid or cold!"

So . . . I will post the rules for severing heads for fun, but I'm not sure that's a party optimal strategy for us.

Hydra Traits
A hydra can be killed by severing all of its heads or slaying its body. Any attack that is not an attempt to sever a head affects the body, including area attacks or attacks that cause piercing or bludgeoning damage. To sever a head, an opponent must make a sunder attempt with a slashing weapon targeting a head. A head is considered a separate weapon with hardness 0 and hit points equal to the hydra’s HD. To sever a head, an opponent must inflict enough damage to reduce the head’s hit points to 0 or less. Severing a head deals damage to the hydra’s body equal to the hydra’s current HD. A hydra can’t attack with a severed head, but takes no other penalties.

Regenerate Head
When a pyrohydra’s head is destroyed, two heads regrow in 1d4 rounds. A pyrohydra cannot have more than twice its original number of heads at any one time. To prevent new heads from growing, at least 5 points of acid or cold damage must be dealt to the stump (a touch attack to hit) before they appear. Acid or cold damage from area attacks can affect stumps and the body simultaneously. A pyrohydra doesn’t die from losing its heads until all are cut off and the stumps seared by acid or cold

"What the WHAT?! We're fighting DRAGONS now?!" she blurts out, flabbergasted. She blesses her companions and asks "Should I go in there to punch it?! It looks like a bad idea!"

Bless is up!

Veltariel's eyes went wide when she saw the behemoth slithering their way! She quickly fired her first arrow, somewhat wildly, before composing herself a bit for her second shot.

Attack, Bless, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, PBS: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 12
Attack, Bless, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, PBS: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 13
Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 4) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 15

Attack, Bless, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, PBS: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 14
Attack, Bless, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, PBS: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 13

"Fire breathing" Sapher groans realizing they are in an enclosed death trap when it comes to fire breathing. "Break up! Vels, Cars and Mokget as far back as your range allows, Drask, Ez, we need to get close and fan out. We have to limit how many its fire can get us at one time."

Sapher is worried, casting holy magic on herself to hopefully protect herself more, she'll move forward hopefully drawing its ire.

cast shield of faith, AS is 23, 5 foot step forward

Drask feels his form engorge and grow. For a moment he's shocked as the magic takes such a dramatic effect, but then he realizes the power it just imposed on him, and gives a wicked grin. Hearing the creature has a breath weapon, he waits no longer and charges towards it!

Attack (Bless, Charge, PA): 1d20 + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 11 + 2 + 1 - 2 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 7 + 6 ⇒ (5, 6) + 7 + 6 = 24

Drask will charge attack, ending 10 feet away due to his new reach. However if the creature still gets an AoO even ending 10 feet away, then Drask will get entirely adjacent to it before attacking.

Mok casts a spell on Drask as his skin begins to harden like tree bark. Caroliss gives a minor blessing to both Sapher and Vel to aid each of her friends.

Es, hesitant to move up and engage this huge creature stays back as she calls on a blessing for herself and her companions but as Sapher calls for everyone to spread out she rushes toward the front line provoking an attack along the way.

AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
AoO: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

Two of the heads lash out and bite Es as she passes by, but it leaves an opening for Drask. He rushes forward into the fray, striking the huge serpent, leaving a nasty blow across its body. Vel looses two arrows, but only the second hits the huge serpent as it lets out an anguished hiss from the pain. This thing is bleeding from the gut but you see some of its wounds heal back up.

After the brutal attack from the Drask all the heads turn their attention on him and the dwarf as the breath out fire in turn.

Breath1: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 2) = 9
Rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Breath2: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 3) = 11
Rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 1
Breath3: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 6) = 18
Rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Breath4: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 6) = 13
Rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Breath5: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 2) = 11
Rounds: 1d4 ⇒ 3

Sapher and Drask get 5 Reflex saves DC15 for half

Group is up!

reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11
reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16
reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9
reflex: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Just as she predicts, the heads rear back and baths her in fire. Raising her shield is not enough. The flames engulf her completely spiking pain so terrible it could drive someone mad... but only for a second. Then there is nothing.

I'll use misfortune on the second attack against me Dak.

Ez watches Sapher go down in a burst of flames. Swallowing hard, she steps up to the creature and tries to slam her fists into it and stun it. DC16.

AC23 until next turn. @25HP.

Fight Defensively, Bless, Stunning fist: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 - 4 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Reflex DC 15: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 - 1 = 22 4 damage
Reflex DC 15: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 6 - 1 = 23 5 damage
Reflex DC 15: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 1 = 24 9 damage
Reflex DC 15: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (13) + 6 - 1 = 18 6 damage
Reflex DC 15: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 1 = 12 11 damage

Total of 35 damage taken. Very beaten up but still standing.

Drask avoids the worst of the fire, despite his size, but the smell of burnt orc flesh fills the air. His adrenaline spikes up as the situation gets so dire so quickly. We have badly underestimated this creature.

The elven archer clenches her teeth when she sees the sheer amount of devastation this thing was capable of. She looses two more arrows at it to try and bring it down...

Attack 1, Bless, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, PBS: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 22
Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 10

Attack 2, Bless, Rapid Shot, Deadly Aim, PBS: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 11 + 1 + 1 - 2 - 2 = 12
Damage: 2d6 + 3 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4, 1) + 3 + 4 + 1 = 13

Caroliss did not realize how dangerous this creature really was! She blesses Drask with Calistria's favor, hoping that he can strike the hydra down before it did even more damage.

Bit of Luck on Drask

Sapher spends her round smoldering.

*cracks knuckles* Alright let's see what magically-powered Drask can do.

Drask feels his brother's rage boil over so quickly that it makes his vision flutter. The pain brought it to the surface at an alarming rate. Drask roars, voice deepened by the transmutation magic, but even then it sounds off. His flurry of attacks comes down on the hydra!

Rage.

Raging Attack (Bless, PA): 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 1 - 2 = 17
Raging Attack (Bless, PA): 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 1 - 2 = 26
Raging Enlarged Damage (PA): 2d6 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 7 + 4 = 17

Going off the assumption that a 26 hits, FtF will kick in:

Raging Attack (Bless, PA, FtF): 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 30
Raging Attack (Bless, PA, FtF): 1d20 + 12 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 12 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 27
Raging Enlarged Damage (PA): 2d6 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3) + 5 + 4 = 16

Secondary Raging Bite (Bless, PA, FtF): 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 17
Secondary Raging Bite (Bless, PA, FtF): 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 11 + 1 - 2 + 1 = 15
Secondary Raging Enlarged Damage (PA): 1d6 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 4 = 11

Es misses while Vel puts an arrow in the beast. However, as Drask unleashes his rage he slices and dices the hydra until its bloody corpse lies at his feet.

Out of Combat

Mokhasi looks like he’s about to cast a spell, but then thinks better of that, and rushes over to Sapher. He nods at Drask quickly, along the way.

heal check: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

But he fails to stabilize her. ”Would someone heal sister Sapher please?”

Vel slinks off deeper into the cave, lighting a torch as she heads in to scout leaving the rest of you to gather loot and tend to Sapher. After getting Sapher healed up it takes about 5 minutes for you to gather all the various items of value up. All together you find 2,400 sp, 1,230 gp, 91 pp, a gold ring worth 250 gp, a silver necklace worth 100 gp, a crystal wand of acid arrow (25 charges), an amulet of mighty fists +1, and a ring of swimming. You sit there and wait another five minutes and still no sign of Vel from deeper in the caves.

As Mok comes up next to Drask to check on Sapher, the immense half-orc turns and looks at him, but his face is filled with anger and confusion. However when he sees Mok kneel down to take care of Sapher he blinks a few times, exhaling as the enlargement magic wears off. "Urrghh...ugh." He tries to lean against the wall but his burnt skin stretches painfully. "Ow." He says blandly.

Caroliss channels some healing to stabilize Sapher.
Channel: 2d6 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

And then uses a wand to cure a lot more damage.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
45 total including channel.

Same for Drask.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
32 total including channel.

Spent 13 charges, 10 remaining..
"Sorry, I probably should've warned you that all five heads breathe fire. I'm glad you both are so tough."

Sapher groans as she wakes "bad dreams" she mutters "Thank you Caroliss. I am very glad you came with. Very." pulling herself up she adds "Good work everyone!" seeing huge ax hacks and arrow wounds across the creature's body.

Not an expert in boggard diplomacy the dwarf asks "Would it help to bring one of its heads or some of the scales with us? This being a dangerous beast so near their home, and we... well you... killed it."