[PF2e] The Fall of Plaguestone (Inactive)

Game Master GM Red

The leopard snarls as Gillian begins to move towards it, but her slow approach, and her reading of its body language proves to work. It plops its head onto the cave ground, listlessly watching her with a nervous gaze, but allowing her to approach.

Beads of sweat form on Gillian's forehead as she gets to work patching up the fire leopard, some of the flames painfully biting at her skin. It takes a full ten minutes and a bunch of gauze and bandages, but when Gillian's through, the leopard rises to her feet, snuggling it head against her arm. Cute as it is, Gillian takes 2 damage

The perked-up leopard paces in a circle as if it's eager to escape the pen, if the party will allow it to. Perhaps they'll see it again some day.

____
Anyone who is able to can now technically befriend and train this fire leopard as an animal companion over a period of downtime days. Even if no one specifically chooses to do so, there will be a future reward in the adventure for having saved the leopard here.

"Good kitty," Gillian smiles in spite of the burns. Glancing over at Scratch, she calls out, "You sure you don't like cats? It might make a good hunting companion if you wanted to take the time to work with it. Or maybe our friend could train....him? Her? I'm not gonna worry about getting close enough to that end to have a look!"

She scoots back out of the pen, glancing down at the burn marks on her hands. "Eh...I've had worse workin' in labs and over campfires."

"So, what's the plan, then? Are we checking north? Do we rest for a bit, heal our wounds and then head north? Or are we done for today?"

Celvi pauses. "We still need to hydrate that kitty."

"Eh?" Scratch grunts as he looks up from his stitching. "A pet flaming cat? You think I'm a nummah? What's the point of a pet that ya can't pet n play with? I'd scorch my whiskers every time I went to feed the dang thing!" He snorts and gets back to stitching, at least until Celvi chimes in.

"Well, prolly take another few minutes fer me to finish up this stitchin'. Then maybe I was thinking we could take a quick bite and wrap some bandaids, then if we're feelin' spry check out that north cave?" He head nods in its direction. "If that sludge makin' woman is in there we can't let her run off while we nap out in these weird willy wags... er, nah, no way am I sleepin' out in that s@$+."

This set up really seems to dictate we carry on through if at all possible. It was a long trek here and resting in those woods just doesn't seem reasonable.

"Maybe if we turn it loose now it can fend for itself...or go eat those ice rats," Gillian remarks. "And yeah, I think I'm with you on this one Scratch - this'd probably be the safest place out here to catch a nap and that's a pretty sorry state for us to be in. Let's eat a bite, you finish sewing up your armor, then we can head in further."

Gillian finds a place to sit and begins pulling various reagents out of her pack. "May as well use these now since we're still pretty banged up. If it turns out we didn't need them then it's no big loss."
______________

If folks want, Gillian will use her last two Infused Reagents to make two more Elixir of Life (Minor); feel free to roll the healing if you want to make use of one.

The leopard circles a little bit more, then turns and darts past you in a warm rush. Its flames illuminate the night as it dashes past the sludge pit and off into the woods. Perhaps you might see it again some day.

The party takes stock of what's happened so far, with most of agreeing that resting here just doesn't seem like a good idea. Besides, the chittering ice rats scrambling around in their cages would probably be annoying to sleep next to at best. For now, Gillian prepares two more elixirs, while Scratch finishes repairing his armor.

___
Need new exploration mode activities. Given the torchlit path leading into the cave ahead, I didn't want to go with your defaults.

Celvi shrugs. "Time for me to Scout again?"

"Best make sure no magical surprises await us here..."

Detect Magic, as usual.

"Scouting seems like a good idea, yeah," Gillian nods. "Hopefully if there's anything else lurking in there it's not aware of the ruckus we made out here...or if there is, let's hope it's not smart enough to lay any traps for us."
______________

Gillian will Search this time around~

"Good as new. Mama did a good job teachin' her kids to cook, clean, and SEW." He tugs on the stitchings to test them.

Thoughts on waiting for the hour timer to be up on our medicine checks from the fight at the gate? Be nice to have a chance to heal up a bit more before we head in...

"Mmm you take point Celvi and I'll help keep an eye out fer traps and junk. Can't be too careful." Scratch keeps his clan dagger and a hammer in hand at all times. Search also.

I'm fine with waiting around if everyone else is. Guess that also gives the chance for anything lurking in there to come to us instead :3

You can wait an hour. Let it be up to the dice if something comes venturing out...

Before heading inside, you take about an hour to reprepare first aid materials, and Scratch further mends his wounds using them. Luckily, nothing seems to venture out and check on you during this time.

Afterwards, Celvi takes the lead in entering the cave. Beyond the narrow passageway, the passage opens into a broad natural cavern containing a series of large tables on the far side of the room. A series of alchemical experiments, most bubbling and frothing as they cook, are arranged atop the work spaces.

Two orcs are standing here, watching over the bubbling cauldrons.. but as the party enters the room, they turn, startled, and howl in rage as they prepare to attack!

Round 1
Gillian
Scratch
Celvi
Green
Ed
Red

Party Buffs: None

Celvi, Scratch, and Gillian are up!

Combat Map

Bah, I just realized this would have been a great chance for Illusory Disguise.

Celvi sees more orcs. She moves towards the Red one in the back. "Boo."

She casts Fear to scare the daylights out of him. Will Save DC 17 to resist

Seeing more greenskins triggers Scratch to go all bonkers again "Big surprise seein' more of these behind our problems!" He hustles into the room and tries to dump the cauldron over onto the extra green greenskin.

"Must be a stew pot right? Nothin' bad in here is there?" He gives it a shove... it barely rocks. Embarrassing.

Athletics DC15: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Stride, stride, Athletics

Rolling for those elixirs from earlier since Scratch didn't end up needing them.

Elixir of Life, Minor: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Elixir of Life, Minor: 1d6 ⇒ 1

SMH. Okay, rolling for Treat Wounds on myself...

Medicine - Treat Wounds (DC 15): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Lol okay, at least it wasn't a critical failure.
______________

"Great, more alchemists I bet," Gillian sighs as she hustles to the left, taking some cover behind a nearby boulder. She then stows her longspear and prepares to pull out the crossbow.

Stride, Take Cover, Manipulate (Stow Weapon)~

Will Save, Red: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Looks like Critical Failure to me!

Given Celvi's signature death stare, Red begins shaking in his boots

"qet, qet! legh mIn! ghaH watlh mIgh!"

Scratch rushes the cauldron and pushes with all of his might, but it proves heavier than he thinks, and it doesn't budge. The green orc shouts a warcry, and lobs a bottle filled with sparks back at the dwarf.

Alchemical Bomb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Lesser bottled lightning: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Scratch is flat-footed until the start of Green's next turn

Round 1
Gillian
Scratch (-4, FF)
Celvi
Green
Ed
Red (Frightened 3, fleeing)

Party Buffs: None

Environmental Conditions: See above spoiler

Ed is up!

Combat Map

Ed sees one of the orcs is fleeing here and decides to incapacitate the remaining orc. Moving into the cavern he chants an arcane spell, calling on his arcane mastery to extend it so it catches the green orc in its effects!

Stride, Cast Spell w/Reach (Sleep) Will save DC 17 to resist

"What the s~@~ttttttt!" Groans Scratch has his body convulses in the worlds worst carpet shock.

So do I lose my turn or just get the -2 penalty to AC for a round?

I believe it's just the -2 AC Penalty, Scratch, unless there's an effect I don't know about...

Will Save vs Sleep: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
The Green orc yawns luxuriously, Ed's magic invading his mind. He stumbles forward onto the table and then falls back against the wall, snoring loudly.

The other of the pair can't get away fast enough. He hops the counter and sprints off to the west, screaming in fear of Celvi.

With one having fled, and the other unconscious, I think we're effectively out of combat. Nice shutdowns here, guys!

"Well, that went better than expected," Gillian laughs as she stands up from behind her rock. "And Ed was even nice enough to leave us a spare to interrogate! Good work, man."

Whistling cheerfully, Gillian sets about securing the sleeping orc before the spell wears off.

"Thank you Miss Gillian," Ed replies humbly. "I certainly hope we can get some answers from this orc about the plague infecting this area." He adds as he continues to examine the area further.

Cast Detect MAgic for his Exploration activity.

Ed scans the area for magical auras, which is disappointingly lacking in any of them. While Gillian gets to work binding the sleeping orc using discarded lab supplies, Celvi and Scratch examine the area. Both tables are covered in partially finished alchemical goods which survived the battle, and it would be possible to finish their mixing with a little time and skill.

Which goods can be finished?
1d20 ⇒ 11
1d20 ⇒ 19
1d20 ⇒ 7
1d20 ⇒ 17

A lesser acid flask, minor elixir of life, lesser alchemist's fire, and a lesser tanglefoot bag can be taken, but each requires a DC 15 Crafting check to finish properly.

"Haha! What a hoot. Ask the orc if they want an all-you-can-eat buffet. All the sludge they could want to drink. Of course we'll stop once we get our answers."

Celvi feels great and chuckles to herself. This couldn't have gone any better.

After the remaining orc is secured, Gillian moves to examine the partially-finished alchemical goods that Celvi and Scratch point out.

"Well! I might actually be able to make use of these - for our benefit. Finders keepers in this case, eh?"

Figuring that they're not in any big hurry, Gillian rolls up her sleeves and gets to work...

Craft - Acid Flask, Lesser (DC 15): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Craft - Elixir of Life, Minor (DC 15): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Craft - Alchemist's Fire, Lesser (DC 15): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Craft - Tanglefoot Bag, Lesser (DC 15): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

...but it's always tricky working with someone else's equipment.

"Damn...how did those orcs work in these conditions? I was only able to finish one of these projects but at least it was probably the one that matters the most right now!"

By the time Scratch finally stops shaking from electric shock the others have completely subdued the threats. "Where'd that other go to? Gotta be careful, it might bring some friends!"

After a short time if it doesn't appear to happen, he sees if he can't help Gilly with her work. "Want a hand? I guess Ma was quite the cook too, I know my way around this sorta stuff a bit..."

Dunno if I can make attempts or not... I'll spoiler the rolls just in case.

Failure on the check = failure to identify how to finish the potion properly, Critical Failure = BOOM! In this case, Gillian didn't critically fail, so Scratch can also try.

The orc alchemists clearly lacked in their attention to preventing contamination among the reagents, and Gillian finds their formulas are wrong, all wrong! She gets to work, and manages to complete the Minor Elixir of Life, but can't piece together the recipes for the rest of them.

Scratch has better luck with the Lesser Acid Flask, mixing the fizzy green bottle with the warm, milky one.

Both are added to our Loot Tracker, please claim 'em when you get a chance.

After the potions are completed, it's been long enough that the orc slowly opens his eyes... and pushes himself back against the wall in a startled frenzy.

"nuq Davang? HoSDo'Hey loDnI'wI'? ngong chen SoH maHvaD? qatlh?! SoH 'Iv nuvpu'"

.... He screams in Orc, but with no one able to understand the language, the party finds themselves in quite the predicament.

"Pretty sure he just said 'screw off. Feed me to the rats!'." Scratch says, before the orc can even finish screaming.

Deception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

"I am pretty certain that is not what this orc meant to say here." Ed says doubtfully, "I have no way to translate its words however. Perhaps Noala knows the Orc language, yet I believe continuing our search here may also bear fruit."

"Not sure if you've heard the old addage Ed... but ya bears do s~%@ in the woods, so I'd be avoidin' that 'bear fruit' you keep lookin' fer." Scratch points at the orc and raises his clan dagger menacingly. Intimidate: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (11) - 1 = 10

"Just ignore him; if there were anyone else lurking around they would've come running at the ruckus we made when we first walked in here," Gillian remarks. "But if the screaming gets too annoying then I have no problem gagging him. Like Ed says, maybe Noala or someone else back in town can speak Orc and get something out of him. For now, we need to keep looking around."

She gestures towards what looks like a small alcove to the east. "How about that first, since it looks like it's probably a dead end?"

Celvi notices the plan's weakness almost immediately. So she just stares, wide eyed at the orc. And smiles.

Intimidation: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23

She wants him to shut up and stop yelling.

"Yeah, East? East is good."

"wej ghIj, dwarf!" The orc spits at Scratch and his not-so-scary clan dagger.

Celvi walks up to him and stares. And stares. For long enough that it's beyond awkward, it's entirely creepy. The orc is silent, after that.

The party heads east afterwards, checking out the alcove. Gillian calls it right: it's a dead end. The area primarily holds alchemical gear and reagents. It's not hard to tell most of the barrels and crates are quite old, but the gear and equipment in the laboratory is of the same style and make and looks as if it may have once been stored here.

Even if it's old, the gear here could be valuable to the right buyer.

Going to push us a little further on here, given it's a "dungeon."

Heading back southwest, a door opens to a small pit to the west strewn with refuse: bones, broken equipment, and other garbage. Scattered amongst the bones are a few trinkets, including a low-grade cold iron dagger, a wolf fang talisman, and 8 gold pieces.

But that's not all: Celvi also locates a secret door in the northern section of the room.

Current Map

"Yeah. I thought so." Celvi finally stops smiling and stands up. "That should shut 'im up for a while."

"Huh. More money here." Celvi notes the coins. "And another dagger. Nice."

"Hey. Secret door." Celvi looks at the northern section of the room. "See? The wall is thin here... there's a handhold. I think we can push it back. Er, whenever you're ready."

"Huh, anyone need some cold iron? Might not hurt, considering some of the stuff we've been running into," Gillian remarks. "I normally don't fight with a dagger but I can carry it if none of you want to hold on to it."

When Celvi points out the secret door Gillian smiles grimly and nods. "I bet the really good stuff'll be back there - evidence or supplies. Or more experiments, except those may not be so good."

"Scratch, I'm ready when you are," she adds, carefully eyeing the door for any shenanigans.

Ed looks over the dagger with a look of doubt on his face before he pockets it, reluctantly, before nodding. "Well I can hold onto it for now, but I really think if I take up arms here, then we are truly doomed."

Scratch ducks under an orcish lunger, not the first time that's happened. Usually he'd respond with a knuckle sandwich, this time he settles for a kick to the groin for the tied up Orc. "My bad." Is all he mutters as he heads off with Celvi.

"Quite the pile of loot there girly. Someone should put that dagger to use, I got that Nancy rapier already, you take it Gilly." Scratch does pocket his share of the gold coins: 2.

Once the others are ready though he takes a close look at the secret door then eases it open, clan dagger at the ready. What's another bottle of shock therapy to the skull?

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

The door opens to a room containing more lab supplies and barrels. On top of a desk in one corner is a stack of paper with handwritten notes. There's no time to investigate the room, however, because soon after you open it, you see the same frightened orc that had fled from Celvi earlier! ... And further in stands a much more well-dressed orc who wears a set of goggles.

"And who might you be? My worker here tells me you barged into our lab. And for what, to sabotage our experiments? Not if I can help it," the orc points at you, and yells something in his native tongue at the other before turning away towards another door leading west.

Goggle-face opens the door leading to the west, and rushes through it.

Round 1
The Sculptor
Gillian
Scratch
Ed
Red Orc (again?!)
Celvi

Environmental Conditions: Barrels are difficult terrain

Gillian, Scratch, and Ed are up!

Combat Map

"Actually...YES we will help it!" Ed exclaims as he concentrates on his arcane powers here allowing him to strike the red orc again here!

Telekinetic Projectile vs. Red Orc: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8; damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Concentrate (Reach Spell), Cast Telekinetic Projectile.

"Gilli here said your equipment sucks!" Celvi shouts as the fancy orc runs away.

Scratch races after fancy pants, running into the room and slinging a hammer at the back of his head. "Ain't no one gettin' away from no Steeltoe ya filthy animal!"

Ranged Light Hammer: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 181d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

Stride, stride, quick draw/strike

"That's right," Gillian hollers as she hustles forward and into the room beyond. "You can't run, you may as well give up now!"

Skidding to a stop near the Red Orc that had fled earlier, Gillian jabs at him with her longspear.

"And you had your chance too; now it's time for snitches to get stitches."

Strike vs. Red (Longspear): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6
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Stride x2, Strike~

When Gillian and Scratch rush into the room, they hear whimpering moans from the center of the chamber... and when Scratch goes inside, he sees a human man strapped into a rack. The man's flesh is missing in places, replaced with large glass and metal cauldrons that seem to be extracting blood from him, mixing that blood with other stuff, and them... pumping it back into him. Yikes... Poor guy.

Worse still, when Scratch enters the room, the prisoner begins screaming in pain, his stomach expanding rapidly. The screaming reaches a crescendo as his belly bursts open.. and out crawls a slimy, crimson red ball of ooze!

It doesn't stop Scratch from lobbing a hammer at the well-dressed orc, bruising his head, while Gillian tears a new wound in the once-frightered orc.

The orc moves back, and throws a vial of acid at Gillian...
Lesser acid flask: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
The bottle sails just past her shoulder and smashes into the cave wall.

Round 1
Blood Ooze
The Sculptor (-5)
Gillian
Scratch
Ed
Red Orc (-6)
Celvi

Environmental Conditions: Barrels are difficult terrain

Celvi is up!

Combat Map

Celvi walks in and hurls a wooden plank at the Orc in the corner. "So, you had the chance to leave and this is your plan? A tattletale, eh?"

A Telekinetic Projectile flies at the orc.
Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Celvi stamps a plank with the orc's address, then sends the special delivery flying at his face.

Inside the room, the ooze lurches forth towards the exit, sloshing along the ground and leaving a trail in its wake. It stops at the goggle-faced orc, and lashes out with a pseudopod, wrapping around its leg...

Pseudopod vs Sculptor: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 221d12 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18
Bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Pseudopod vs Sculptor: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (1) + 15 - 5 = 111d12 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

"No, no, stop it, my precious! I am not your enemy!" The orc pleads, reaching into his pocket and pulling out a satchel of what looks like powdered blood. "The dwarf. Go for the dwarf! His insides will nourish you much more than I ever could!"
Crafting: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

It seems to have worked, as the blood ooze shifts its mass towards Scratch.

Flat D20 vs Sculptor bleed: 1d20 ⇒ 19

Round 2
Blood Ooze
The Sculptor (-28)
Gillian
Scratch
Ed
Red Orc (-15)
Celvi

Environmental Conditions: Barrels are difficult terrain

Gillian, Scratch, and Ed are up!

Combat Map

"Ah hell no. You can play with yer little buddie here by yer self!" Scratch moves back out the door, slams it shut then braces/locks it shut.

Athletics if needed for door: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25

"Guys, not sure what it is in there 'xactly, but its a giant bloody oozy thing that likes to eat people..." Beads of sweat form on the Dwarf's brow as he braces the door shut as best he can.

"This is what happens when you play around with diseases - you get unruly slime monsters! You should've studied the healing arts, you idiot!" Gillian yells after the Sculptor as Scratch bolts out of the western room and slams the door shut behind him.

Now downright angry, Gillian pursues Red and delivers two quick jabs as she tries to skewer his midsection.

"No more playing around! Every damn one of you give alchemy a bad name!"

Strike vs. Red (Longspear): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage (Piercing): 1d8 ⇒ 2

Strike vs. Red (Longspear): 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3
Damage (Piercing): 1d8 ⇒ 6
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Stride, Strike x2

"Okay then I'll give it something to snack on!" Ed moves into the room and not seeing the ooze decides to take out the orc instead.

Telekinetic Projectile vs. Orc: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12; damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Stride, Cast Telekinetic Projectile.

Terrified of the ooze, Scratch charges out of the room and uses his bodyweight to hold the door fast. Gillian wounds the orc once more, but Ed's gotta work on his aim!

Now in melee range, the orc attempts to use his dagger in a more crafty manner...
Orc knuckle dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 131d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
Athletics to Disarm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Orc knuckle dagger: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 8 - 4 = 51d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Athletics to Disarm: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8
.. But Gillian shifts her body as the orc comes at her, and she avoids the strikes.

Round 2
Blood Ooze
The Sculptor (-28)
Gillian
Scratch
Ed
Red Orc (-17)
Celvi

Environmental Conditions: Barrels are difficult terrain

Celvi is up!

Combat Map

Celvi hurls another plank of wood at the orc, turning it into a Telekinetic Projectile.
Telekinetic Projectile: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

She draws her morningstar. "Silly orc. Now you're making Scratch look right."

The orc grits its teeth as it takes another plank to the face, shouting a ferocious war cry back at Celvi.

From inside the room that Scratch bars shut, the sound of sloshing is heard once more... and then Scratch feels his hair stand on end..

A powerful shudder causes the wooden door to buckle behind Scratch. The ooze rears up again, and its big red tendril plows through the bottom of the door, just between the dwarf's legs. The door won't hold much longer!

Muffled laughter comes from within, followed by the same zany voice of the well-dressed half-orc, commanding his 'pet'. "Yes, that's right! Break down the door and feast!"

Round 3
Blood Ooze
The Sculptor (-28)
Gillian
Scratch
Ed
Red Orc (-23)
Celvi

Environmental Conditions: Barrels are difficult terrain

Gillian, Scratch, and Ed are up!

Combat Map