[OSP] GM PaleDim's Master of the Fallen Fortress CORE (Inactive)

Game Master PaleDim

Ulis will try to shoot the red dog;

[dice=attack]1d20 + 2 +1 -4
[dice=damage]1d8+1

and finally Rapid Reload

Uh-Oh!

The final dog's fear boils over and it turns to bolt NW...

Erica and Theron, each of you take an attack of opportunity.

aoo: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 6 + 1 = 231d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13

As the dog turns to run Theron slashes a huge gash in its back. It drops to the ground, bleeding out.

Victory! Out of combat.

As you approach the ruins you note that due to the fully destroyed East wing, entry can be gained via what used to be interior doors into the North and South wings. It’s apparent that the South wing is entirely filled with rubble, making passage prohibitively difficult. Before you enter the North wing the team looks through the doorway.

The northern wing of the tower seems to have escaped the worst effects of the collapse, but rubble still litters the floor and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hang down the walls like gossamer tapestries. A single archway stands open in the southwest wall.

Nobody notices anything...

Map updated! Pathfinders, what do you do?

"Ha! Well done friends, they stood no chance. If this is what Cayden has chosen to test our mettle against then we are victorious already." He flings up a mug, sloshing the amber liquid into the air.

As the team moves forward he remembers himself and runs up after the group, panting as he catches up.

"Ulis, I know you are excited. But they were just starving dogs. I am pretty sure we could have defeated them with some jerky" Silas says feeling a little guilty of the animal slaughter, but he moves on and heads inside the ruins.

Just as Silas steps into the north wing of the fortress, a bolt of web comes flying out from the webbed canopy at him!

Surprise round
Web attack vs. Silas, ff: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (18) + 5 - 4 = 19

Just before it reaches him it begins to spread out, enveloping and entangling him in the entryway where he stands. Immediately after, you see the source of it: a giant black spider, suspended at least ten feet off the ground in the web canopy.

Battle Theme!

Round 1
Bold may act.

Desynthia
Theron
---
Giant Spider
---
Ulis
Silas Entangled
Erica

NOTE the spider is suspended and cannot be melee-attacked until it drops to the ground (got ranged weapons?) I'll keep a red border on him when he's off the ground, and change it to green if/when he drops (and you could attack with melee from an adjacent square).

NOTE Rubble is difficult terrain!

Desynthia and Theron are up!

Theron moves into the room, careful to leave a path for any missiles from the others to miss him. He points at the spider and spits at it.

Come at me, beast! I have a stinger of my own... as he waves his sword at it.

Crossbow: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 3

Desynthia switches weapons, taking her crossbow. She sends a bolt.... far, far away from the spider.

She shudders

I hate spiders. They are really icky!

I assume Silas is in the way and we can't get past him?
Ulis will follow Desynthia's example and shoot at the spider with his crossbow;
attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Ulis, you can move through allies squares unhindered

Also, Ulis' turn is not up until after the spider.

The spider skitters along the web canopy in the ceiling, dropping down next to Silas. Clearly it's following up on its entangled victim....

bite attack vs. Silas, ff: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

For some reason the spider lands a bit oddly and its face and mandibles smash directly into the stone floor. This gives Silas just enough time to maneuver about in the web and dodge when it lunges upward at him from its fallen position.

The spider is now on the ground an susceptible to melee attack from adjacent squares.

Battle Theme!

Round 1 continued, Round 2 start
Bold may act.

Ulis
Silas Entangled
Erica
---
Round 2
---
Desynthia
Theron
---
Giant Spider

The whole party is up! Ulis given the spider's actions and Silas pointing out that you can move if you like, I'll like you adjust or re-take your turn if you like.

Theron gets opposite Silas and aims his blade for the beast's soft underbelly.

attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 - 1 = 81d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 4 + 2 = 13using power attack]

Erica watches as the skinny elf heads first into the dangerous-looking room.

In retrospect, someone probably should have realised that it was not a good idea.

She swears under her breath when Silas suddenly gets covered from head to toe in a sticky web, but doesn't notice the giant spider until it drops right in front of the poor bard.

Erica grabs the handle of her warhammer.

"I don't like spiders either. Let's crush this one."

Attack (Power attack): 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 - 1 = 4 A fumble for BOTH fighters?
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 3 + 2 = 12

"What are you two doing...hit the thing."

str: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

Silas pops the webbing off and then step back away from the spider. He then retrieves his crossbow.

"It moved," Erica begrudgingly protests.

"By Cayden's everflowing amber ale, that is one ugly spider!"
Do you want me to roll again

Erica and Theron swing and miss, as the spider still seems to be dancing around and shaking off the pain of its odd landing.

Silas breaks out of his webbed entanglement on pure strength, dusting off his shoulders afterward as if it was nothing. The fighters look at each other, their pride bruised.

Ulis, we could keep your previous roll, but since it couldn't happen until later, you'd have a -4 to hit a target engaged in melee, and your teammates are standing between you and the spider. Given how much has changed, you might want movement too.

Desynthia is still up!

Knowing she is more likely to hit one of her partners than the spider itself Hey, there's only ONE spider, and I have FOUR Partners, it's mathematical, if not ethical!, Desynthia once again decides to switch weapons, putting down her crossbow and picking up her spear, hoping to stab the ugly creature as soon as possible

No more action for me I guess this round, but if I'm wrong

Stab: 1d20 ⇒ 2
dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Mr. PaleDim, if you allow it instead of taking the shot earlier;

Ulis will move through the door and skirt around behind Erica, taking an aoo from the spider. He will end his turn behind Erica and cast Strength Surge (4/6 left) and end his turn there. +1 to attack and damage and strength based cmb until the end of her next turn.

Knowing she is more likely to hit one of her partners than the spider itself Hey, there's only ONE spider, and I have FOUR Partners, it's mathematical, if not ethical!, Desynthia once again decides to switch weapons, putting down her crossbow and picking up her spear, hoping to stab the ugly creature as soon as possible

Since stowing would be it's own move action, I presume "Putting down" is dropping in the current square? (not that the spider is going to take it and use it :P)

No more action for me I guess this round, but if I'm wrong

Recall that this is the top of the second round, so your last turn was for the previous round.

Mr. PaleDim, if you allow it instead of taking the shot earlier;

Ulis will move through the door and skirt around behind Erica, taking an aoo from the spider. He will end his turn behind Erica and cast Strength Surge (4/6 left) and end his turn there. +1 to attack and damage and strength based cmb until the end of her next turn.

Sure thing.

As Ulis skirts by the spider jabs its mandibles at the drunken cleric!

bite attack: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21 so this ends your movement
P damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

After getting it's jaws on Ulis, it then turns to Erica...

bite attack vs. Erica: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

but it only gets a mouthful of her scale mail! It then takes a 5' step back from both of its recent victims.

Battle Theme!

Round 2 continued, Round 3 start
Bold may act.

Ulis -5
Silas
Erica
---
Round 3
---
Desynthia
Theron -4
---
Giant Spider

The whole party is up!

Erica follows the spider's movements, determined not to let it escape.

Attack (Power Attack): 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 4 - 1 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 3 + 2 = 8

A successful AOO from movement does not stop the movement. Unless the attacking creature is using the Stand Still feat and succeeds or if the spider's bite also has grab and it makes the successful CMB check.

Silas moves around to the side and fires a bolt at the spider's hind quarters.

Penalty from melee only
crossbow: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 2 - 4 = 131d8 ⇒ 4

Stab the icky spider: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Desynthia manages to hit the spider, but the wound is small

One hit for the Paffies!

Theron shifts position to trap the spider between himself and Erica. He brings his sword down with a grunt and a curse.

Stupid bug!

attack: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 6 + 2 = 211d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Ulis Udic wrote:

As Ulis skirts by the spider jabs its mandibles at the drunken cleric!

FORT DC 11

FORT DC11: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Ulis immediately regrets his decision, he blanches as the spider sinks its fang into him.

As a free action he'll throw up on the ground near him from the combination of the alcohol and spider venom. Was he able to cast Surge of Strength on Erica or did the aoo stop this action too?

A successful AOO from movement does not stop the movement. Unless the attacking creature is using the Stand Still feat and succeeds or if the spider's bite also has grab and it makes the successful CMB check.

Yes, thank you, my mistake.

Ulis immediately regrets his decision, he blanches as the spider sinks its fang into him.

[ooc]As a free action he'll throw up on the ground near him from the combination of the alcohol and spider venom. Was he able to cast Surge of Strength on Erica or did the aoo stop this action too?

No, you should have been able to finish that whole turn. So the casting occurred then.

The group continues slashing and shooting at the great spider, largely missing it as before. However, Theron and Desynthia finally connect with their blades as it runs out of space to dip, dive, duck, and dodge!

Ulis is up! Hopefully that clarification helped!

Ulis moves 10ft to the left to stand between Silas and Erica, out of the way of the spider, and shoots with his light crossbow;

attack: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 2 - 4 = 14
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 3

The group starts to gain momentum against the giant spider, as Ulis lodges a bolt in its bulbous body. It shrieks and violently shakes about in reaction to the pain. It backs up next to Theron and tries to bite him.

5' step
bite attack vs. Theron: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

You can clearly tell it's fighting through pain now!

Battle Theme!

Round 3 continued, Round 4 start
Bold may act.

Ulis -5
Silas
Erica
---
Round 4
---
Desynthia
Theron -4
---
Giant Spider -11

The whole party is up! FINISH IT! :)

I trust you guys to get it before me, but just in case:

Attack (Power Attack): 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 - 1 = 8
Damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 2 = 11

As the spider shrieks, he yells in triumph; "Come friends, by Cayden the creature will die by our hands today!
Perspiration on his brow, blood and dust stain his vestment, Ulis takes a 5foot step, will rapid reload and let-loose another crossbow bolt.

attack: 1d20 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 2 - 4 = 3
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Theron curses unintelligibly and spits at the spider. He brings hos blade down with a loud grunt.

attack, PA: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (14) + 6 - 1 = 191d8 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 2 = 10

More attacks come that the spider misses by dancing about nimbly. However, these cause it to inadvertently lean towards Theron as he brings his blade down upon the arachnid. With a gush of black, ichorous blood, it drops to the ground.

Victory! Out of combat/initiative.

Decide whether you want to do a bit of healing up before you proceed.

I assume you'll want to move on through the south-western door into the west wing...

As your party moves into the Western wing you find it mostly impassable due to rubble. There is just enough space to move through and find a doorway to the east, leading to the small area at the center of the tower.

Opening that door you find a spiral stairway leading upward through the center of the tower. However it is entirely clogged with rubble and cannot be ascended from here.

That spider was harder to kill than the dogs.. Give me a minute before we press on, Paffies.

Desynthia speaks a strange langage, full of musical sounds, and a shimmering, transparent armor appears around her small frame

Speaks Celestial, Cast Mage Armor, +4 Ac for 1 hour

As the spider dies Ulis stumbles back, he fumbles with his mug and holds it up, toasting Cayden silently. His mug glows softly and his allies can heal for Channel Positive: 1d6 ⇒ 1.

"Umm.... ahem..." Ulis is feeling rather embarrassed. He holds up his mug again.

Channel Positive: 1d6 ⇒ 3

2/4 Channels left

Erica grumbles in frustration when the door opens to a dead end.

"Looks like the Western wing won't lead anywhere. Maybe there's a way up through the Eastern one?"

Though they probably have not reached the most interesting part of the building yet, Erica can't help but pay attention to her surroundings, letting her gaze roam other each room. Even if the building is mostly in ruins, she is curious about its original function and how old it is.

Besides, knowing whether it was meant to be a watch tower, a turret or the remains of a keep could give a general idea about how it was built.

Knowledge (engineering): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Well, I tried!

Use my wand freely, fellows. It would do not good sitting full of curative magicks while we ache. Theron says before looking around the room as te others heal.

perc: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

[dice=Knowledge (engineering)]1d20+4 Well, I tried!

Yeah, sorry, this wouldn't be enough to recall anything interesting.

Use my wand freely, fellows. It would do not good sitting full of curative magicks while we ache. Theron says before looking around the room as te others heal.

After Ulis' channeling, it looks like you're down to just one 1hp of damage on Ulis himself, everybody else is back to unharmed.

[dice=perc]1d20+3

Finding passage blocked seemingly in all directions from the inside, Theron begins to look around more closely. The stairs are in fact full of large boulders and rocks. Despite the extensive rubble, the outer wing rooms have impossibly high ceilings and no way to get up. Then he backtracks to the open-air of the former east wing, and looks up to see a way! It seems that rubble from that collapsed wing of the tower provides a tough, but possible climb up to the second level.

Ulis walks around looking for a route through the fractured building.
perception: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

He comes to stand next to Theron, following his gaze up, along the rubble and to the second floor. He goes pale as he realises what he is thinking; "Theron, I'm... um... not much of a climber."

Well, if somebody has rope that could help any subsequent climbers :) But, everybody does have to get up there eventually.

Desynthia get a good look in her backpack

Nope, no rope here.Sorry. And too late to ask politely to the spider for some silky rope...

I have some rope....here...Theron says as he grabs a coil from his pack.

Erica looks down at her equipment, and sighs. Her armor and shield are ridiculously heavy, highly impractical, and the exact opposite of what one would wish to wear for this kind of aerial acrobatics.

But as Sister Sophia the Divine Act of Keeping On For Surrendering Is For The Weak and The Wicked and an Abomination in the Eyes of Thrice Blessed Iomedae: "Get back on yer feet, Bobbie, 'less ye want yer pretty face of yours to scrub the whole training room! I ain't teaching to quitters!"

Erica did wash the floor after that. For two weeks. While the other trainees were fighting. There was not a single recruit in the convent that remembered Sister Sophia fondly, but all of them had to admit that the thought of backing down from a fight never even crossed their minds after completing their training (Side effects included having no problem getting out of bed in the morning, and always feeeling some kind of irrational guilt whenever idly lying down for more than a few seconds).

"I can go first," Erica offers.

It will be easier if you drop your armour...and pass it up. If you go first, just take your shield and a weapon...then send someone else up...I will go last....be the anchor. Theron volunteers as he starts putting knots into the rope.

Erica, if you're going first, I'll need a climb roll. Your armor is "heavy", but that manifests in the game as an armor check penalty. If Ulis has "guidance" prepared, that's a free +1 to the check. Maybe his strength surge can help too? Frankly though, I suggest the person with the highest climb skill (after accounting for armor) go first and take the rope up.

NOTE Climb speed is one quarter normal, and a climb check is required per movement action. So, 30' movement gets you 7.5' for a single move action or 15' for a double move. 20' base movement gets you 5' for a single move, and so on. The surface is 15' up, so multiple checks will be needed. If you fail your check after the initial one by enough, fall damage is possible. So, take 10/20 is no good here.