Cartmanbeck's Age of Ashes - PF2 Play-by-post

Game Master cartmanbeck

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

"Crap!"
Hawk quickly casts heal on Abalyn.
Heal: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Religion: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Heal (x2), Recall Knowledge

Zim tries to look beyond the others standing in his way to line up a shot at the blue undead monster.

Cast Ray of Frost
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 (Crit: double damage and a 10 foot Speed penalty for 1 round.)

Unfortunately, ZIm's attack misses.

Alak, hoping to save poor Abalyn, steps forward, standing over her prone form.

Surprisingly, there are no penalties to doing this in PF2, as long as one ally is prone!

greatsword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19 damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
greatsword: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 10 - 5 = 10 damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

He hits the (blue) undead creature a glancing blow, then misses with his second swing.

Round 1 - bold may act
Abalyn (10 hp, wounded 1)
undead blue (-5)
undead red (+6)
Zim
Hawk
Alak
Ash
Isiros

Hawk is 100% convinced that these are very undead-looking demons, not actually undead creatures, and that if he attempts to use positive energy to hurt them, they'll actually heal.

Isiros watches as Abalyn fall to the ground. This doesn't look good....

Isiros is slow to act but waits patiently to make a calculated blow with all his might that nearly stops one of the undead in their tracks. He attempts to follow-up with another strike but he had little force left after the first strike.
Power Strike Blue w/ Halberd: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28 Damage: 2d10 + 4 ⇒ (8, 8) + 4 = 20 x2 = 40

Strike Blue W/ Halberd: 1d20 + 10 - 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 - 10 = 4 Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

The undead creature reels as Isiros slices it almost in twain with his first strike. He somehow misses with the second, but the creature looks VERY injured.

Round 1 - bold may act
Abalyn (10 hp, wounded 1)
undead blue (-45)
undead red (+6)
Zim
Hawk
Alak
Ash
Isiros

Ash dashes forward once there's an opening. "Get away from Abalyn!"

Just in case these strange creatures are resistant to fire, he telekinetically grabs a nearby chunk of rock from behind the undead and flicks it at the one that somehow survived Isiros's mighty strike.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Ash's attack misses the creature.

Round 2 - bold may act
Abalyn (10 hp, wounded 1, prone)
undead blue (-45)
undead red (+6)
Zim
Hawk
Alak
Ash
Isiros

Abalyn stands up, moves to the back of the group, and battle medicines herself.

Medicine 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Heals: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 3) = 8

The two creatures look puzzled for a moment as they note Alak's armor, but attack him anyway.

blue claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
blue claw: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 12 - 5 = 27 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 x2 = 18
blue claw: 1d20 + 12 - 10 ⇒ (11) + 12 - 10 = 13 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

red claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
red claw: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 5 = 11 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
red claw: 1d20 + 12 - 10 ⇒ (6) + 12 - 10 = 8 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Fort DC 17: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14
Fort DC 17: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24
Two claws gets past Alak's armor, but when the claws rake his flesh, he shivers involuntarily as some of his life force is sapped from him.

Round 2 - bold may act
Abalyn (10 hp, wounded 1, prone)
undead blue (-42)
undead red (+9)
Zim
Hawk
Alak (-28, drained 1)
Ash
Isiros

"We're dealing with demons here. They've only disguised themselves as undead. Don't be fooled!"

Hawk casts Produce Flame, of the rock variety at blue.
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Bludgeoning damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10x2=20
Also 1d4 ⇒ 3 Persistent bludgeoning damage but I don't think that will matter.

Hawk hits the undead creature with a major blast of rocks, which is so strong that it also hits his ally!

Crit on the blue one, who dies very quickly, and also 10 damage on the red one!

Alak then moves past the other one to make room for his allies, and swings twice at it.
greatsword: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25 damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
greatsword: 1d20 + 10 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 10 - 5 = 16 damage: 1d12 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

He only hits once, however.

Round 2 - bold may act
Abalyn (18 hp, wounded 1)
undead red (-8)
Zim
Hawk
Alak (-28, drained 1)
Ash
Isiros

Isiros gives a perplexed look at Hawk's comments, but he doesn't stop to think much more of it. He steps forward and lands another mighty blow trying to make himself an attractive target
Power Strike w/ Halberd: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 damage: 2d10 + 4 ⇒ (10, 9) + 4 = 23

Ash pauses in his preparation to do an area heal at Hawk's words. "Got it. Killing it the old fashioned way."

He grins at the creature. "If Isiros doesn't filet it before my spell finishes."
Intimidate: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

He hurls the same sharp rock at the lone remaining undead-demon.
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Rock: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Zim moves forward just enough so that he can see the other monster through the doorway, then casts Ray of Frost at it.

Ray of Frost
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 (Crit: double damage and a 10 foot Speed penalty for 1 round.)

The undead creature hisses at Ash, clearly not intimidated, and rightfully so, as both Ash's and Zim's projectiles miss it.

Round 3 - bold may act
Abalyn (18 hp, wounded 1)
undead red (-31)
Zim
Hawk
Alak (-28, drained 1)
Ash
Isiros

Abalyn moves through her allies and past the monster to stand next to Alak.

Battle Medicine: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Heals: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7

The creature swipes at Alak three times.

claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
claw: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (16) + 12 - 5 = 23 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
claw: 1d20 + 12 - 10 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 10 = 21 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

It rakes its claws across Alak's skin three times, drawing blood.
Fortitude: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 1 = 25
Fortitude: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 - 1 = 15
Fortitude: 1d20 + 9 - 2 ⇒ (20) + 9 - 2 = 27

He falls to the floor unconscious, after being drained of his vitality by the claws.

Round 3 - bold may act
Abalyn (18 hp, wounded 1)
Alak (0 hp, drained 2, dying 1)
undead red (-22)
Zim
Hawk
Ash
Isiros

"We need to end this quickly!"
Hawk casts Produce Flame, but replaces the flames with rocks.
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Bludgeoning damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
Then he helps Isiros, hoping he'll be able to do some damage.

Cast a Spell (Produce Flame), Cast a Spell (Guidance: Isiros)

Zim casts Telekinetic Projectile, grabbing the rocks Hawk just produced.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Ash moves forward. "Isiros, these demons seem immune to our spells. It's up to you!"

He enchants Isiros's weapon, to maximize its demon-slaying capabilities.

+1 to hit, +d10 damage. Bring it home.

Isiros watches the undead down Alak. Why not me!?. His face visibly shows a hint of anger.

"Consider it done! he replies to Ash and strikes again with all his might.
Power Strike w/ Halberd, guidance, magic weapon: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23 damage: 3d10 + 4 ⇒ (8, 3, 8) + 4 = 23

As Isiros' strike splits the creature in two, it screams with an unholy sound and swipes at him with the last of its undead energy.
claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15 damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 But its claw scrapes against Isiros' armor, and its unlife ends.

Out of Combat.

"That did the trick, thanks Hawk, Ash." He says turning to each of them. He tries to see if he knows anything about the stone coffins, and then takes a moment to search the room
Recall knowledge hell: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22

"Those were some nasty demons."
Assuming Ash casts Stabilize on Alak...
Hawk casts Detect Magic all around the room.

Now that things are a little less crazy, Ash inspects the corpses to see if he can figure out what these are.

Religion: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13

Definitely something.

Abalyn tries to get Alak conscious again.

Medicine: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Heals: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 3) = 10

Ash at least recognizes that these are, in fact, undead, despite what Hawk keeps spouting off. He knows nothing else about them, though.

After healing:
Religion Alak: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"Those were Wights, friends. Intelligent undead fiends that suck the life out of you. As I'm proof of. Thank you for bringing me back to the land of the living... otherwise I would have turned into something similar to them after a few hours!"

"I could have sworn they were demons. Maybe some new kind of crossbreed of Demon-Undead hybrid?"

Hawk continues to cast Detect Magic.

After finishing to detect any magic, Hawk will examine the runes on the wall.

Zim tries to make out what the inscriptions mean.
Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27

Humming to herself, Abalyn tries to bind some more of Alak’s wounds.

Medicine: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
Heals: 4d8 ⇒ (4, 5, 3, 1) = 13

"Thank you, once again, lady Abalyn. Your care has saved me several times now. You have my thanks, and respect." Alak bows to Abalyn, then winks at her after rising from the bow.

The runes on the wall clearly are magical in nature.
Hawk, can I get an Identify Magic check from you to learn more? Arcane or Occult would make the most sense.

Zim recognizes the runes as a manifestation of a necromantic ward the Order of the Nail placed long ago on this area. It is clear that the ward caused several bodies in the crypt to animate as undead guardians in response to an attempt by someone else to use necromancy to despoil the dead—a sort of necromantic “fight fire with fire” tactic.

You think you could potentially dismantle this ward, if you felt the need, by dispelling the magic on it, or by attempting to carefully disrupt the runes themselves using Thievery.

Occult: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18

"Huh. If that ward creates undead, I wonder how the demons got in here?"

Hawk will look into the two open coffins to see if he notices anything.
"I guess the question is whether it was the cultists or Voz that set this trap off? And did they get away with anything?"

Abalyn turns about twenty different colors, then whirls around to face the group. ”Did I hear someone say they needed a trap disabled?” She heads over to the sigils and attempts to rub out the triggers.

Thievery: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

As Abalyn starts fiddling with the necromantic ward, she is thrown back against one of the stone coffins by a discharge of necromantic energy.
negative energy: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 2, 3) = 7

It does not look like she was able to disrupt the magic, though.

Hawk looks into the two open coffins and sees two halberds, clearly well-wrought and magical according to his detect spell. He also sees four more glows of magic coming from each of the other coffins.

"We've got some magic halberds here that Isiros might find useful. I'd hate to desecrate these graves, but given how close some of us have come to joining those buried here, I think we'll need what advantages we can get. Is that ok with you Alak? There are also some hints of magic from the other four coffins."

"Try not to disturb the bodies... though this ward clearly has already been doing so. If there are more magical weapons, though, I agree that we may need them. We should try to destroy the ward, perhaps by returning later with more powerful magic?"

"Agreed. Isiros, want to see if you can get those lids off those other coffins?"

Thievery or Athletics checks to open the coffins.

"Certainly." Isiros moves to the other coffin lids and tries to respectfully lift them

After a few tries, Isiros is able to open all the coffins. Inside, there are of course four high-ranking Hellknight corposes, interred with their favored weapons: a greatsword, a rapier, a heavy crossbow, and a war flail. All are magical. Identify checks for all 6 weapons, if you please.

Abalyn heals herself while others are looting.

Medicine 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Heals: 2d8 ⇒ (4, 5) = 9

While Isiros works on getting the 4 coffins open, Hawk will gather the remains of the wight's and return them to their coffins, using any clues from their clothing to identify which body belongs where as best he can.

Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25
Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Occultism: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12