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

Game Master cartmanbeck

"We have encountered several of these towers in our travels, and they have all been very dangerous. Could we perhaps take a look at it and make sure that it has been property disabled?"

"'We' means me, doesn't it?" Abalyn says with a groan.

"I assure you, I was quite capable of disabling it. I shot it with my gun several times from a safe distance until its eyes started flickering, and I've had no trouble with it since... other than the effort needed to knock it over, of course." Gerhard flexes, seemingly showing off his strength in knocking it down.
"I assure you, this thing is of no danger to you, and I wouldn't want it to be accidentally damaged, no offense of course!"

"Sir, I do not doubt your competence in firearms, and I have become something of an expert on these towers in our travels. I would love the opportunity to examine this one briefly, to further my own research."

Deception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

"Ah, for your own research, you say? Hmm... would you be willing to write up a chapter on what you've learned to include in the book I'm working on? Of course, world-wide rights to distribution would be mine, and this would be PURELY for the purposes of sharing information, so I won't be able to offer you any compensation, but I will happily list your name in the acknowledgements!"

He does seem willing to let you examine it, if you'll agree to write a short essay on what you've learned about them so far.

Abalyn's face lights up at the idea of someone wanting to include her theories in an actual book. "I would LOVE to write a chapter for your book. Goodness, what to include...?

Abalyn is able to examine the totem, and finds that while it is not fully active and is not currently able to attack those around it, its magic seems to still be persisting.
You can show Gerhard how to disable it completely, and you think it would be good to do so, for both the safety of Gerhard and his colleagues back at his hometown, but also because it's likely still affecting the surrounding area in some way.

Abalyn shows Gerhard how to disable the tower, and gets his address, promising to mail him a chapter after they finish exploring the area.

Gerhard kisses Abalyn's hand in a clearly deferential but also vaguely patronizing manner, and the party helps him get his now-inert tower into the boat. He waves goodbye as he sails down the river, hoping to display his trophy in the museum he wishes to build, and eagerly anticipating a letter from Abalyn.

The group takes a few moments to collect their thoughts, and starts to notice a different feel to the jungle... perhaps the magic of the totems is finally dissipated, with the disabling of that one? Perhaps it's time to explore the fortress, with the hopes that any protections that the totems granted have been lifted?

Find out next time! BIFF! BAM! WHAM! Same Bat-time, same Bat-channel! LOL

Almost forgot, you guys level up!

"Something feels different...." Isiros muses before quickly jumping, "Like this!!!"

Isiros is leveled. He took Quick Jump skill feat and Mortification archetype feat. He now has Piercing resistance in addition to slashing and mental resist!

Hawk is leveled up.

Thick roots of gnarled trees crisscross this portion of the jungle, as the sodden earth gives way to the waters of a darkened swamp. A squat fortress made of red clay rises out of the murky water, surrounded by towering dragon-shaped pillars topped with blazing bonfires.

How would you all like to approach?

Abalyn bends over and greets a frog. "Hello, Mr. Frog! Can you tell me anything about any big creatures other than me and my friends you've seen around this area?"

Diplomacy if necessary: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (13) + 13 = 26

The frog ribbits uncomfortably. "Big gator. Eats things like you. We stay away."

Abalyn beams at the frog. "Thank you so much for your help!" She turns to the party. "Guys, there's apparently a gator in the water, so flying might be a good bet."

So, tell me how you're building your raft. :)

The group will search for large branches they can lash together with rope to fashion a raft. The most perceptive of us would also probably stay on watch while the others worked.

"I have some rope in my pack, and I imagine so of you do as well. A raft should not be difficult to construct, assuming that some of you will be able to do the heavy lifting."

Aid (Craft + Cooperative Nature): 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Craft: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

Abalyn keeps a very careful lookout.

Perception: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21

Crys doesn't really understand the concept of keeping watch, but she tries.

Crys Perception: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23

The group is able to find a dozen decent-sized logs and lash them together tightly into a pretty nice raft.

What now? Are you ready to start rowing? If so, with what? :)

Isiros jumps into the raft to test if it floats, and if satisfied he'll draw his halberd and use the non-pointy end to push against the bottom of the murky swamp. If he can't reach the bottom, he'll use the pointy end to paddle as quietly as he can.

Alternatively he can make a sail out of his Order of the Nail Banner, and he can ask Zim to blow really hard into the sail to propel them forward. (mostly) a joke

Isiros is able to push the group forward on their makeshift raft.

Do you have a specific direction you want to approach from, and any special way you want to approach in general? I don't want to jump right into description without asking. :)

Sounds like the group is okay with full-paddle-ahead!

The party hops on their makeshift raft, which is actually quite well-constructed. They start heading toward the fortress, watching carefully for dangers.

Luckily for everyone, Isiros sees the ripples in the water coming toward the raft before whatever it is actually gets near.

Isiros, you have a surprise round action PLUS you go first. You see ripples heading toward the raft, from what looks like something fairly large. You remember that Abalyn was warned by a frog that there is a big gator around.

Round 1 -bold can act
Isiros
Monster
Hawk Grenek
Abalyn Tisane
Crys
Ash
Zimbartel

Isiros nods towards the rippling water with his shiny bald head, then he continues to use his halberd to push off against the bottom of the swamp water.

Athletics: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21
Athletics: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

Isiros struggles to change the direction of movement of the raft, but is only able to mostly arrest its momentum, stopping it from moving toward the ripples. Unfortunately, those ripples coalesce into a REALLY STINKING BIG crocodile-like thing that rises from the water and tries to chomp on the raft.
jaws: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (18) + 22 = 40 damage: 2d10 + 13 ⇒ (2, 9) + 13 = 24 -Hardness 8 for sturdy wood construction = 16 damage

A chunk of the raft is ripped off, and it becomes a bit difficult for all of the party to stand on it. I've added the raft to the list just to track its damage.

"

Unfortunately, everyone except for Zim falls off the wobbling raft into the water.

At the same time, the two nearest guards up on the wall of the fortress notice the commotion, and knock arrows to start firing arrows at Zim, as the easiest target.

Round 1 -bold can act
Isiros Swimming
Monster
Hawk Grenek Swimming
Abalyn Tisane Swimming
Crys Swimming
boggard red
boggard blue
Ash Swimming
Zimbartel
Raft -16 hp

"Eep!" Abalyn growers at the croc who knocked her in the water. She plans how to best hit him.

1d20 ⇒ 5

She realizes her odds from this angle are less than she would have hoped. She recommends that Crys take her vengeance instead. Crys moves 5 ft up to the spaces it croccupies and bites!

1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

"It's okay, Baby Bear! You did your best!" Abalyn pulls out her rapier.

Zim glances back and forth between the boggards on the wall and the croc, and quickly decides that the croc is the more immediate threat.

Cast Phantasmal Killer. Croc gets a Will save

The Zim quickly casts a second spell to help someone act in the water.Cast Physical Boost on someone, likely Isiros.

Will: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (5) + 15 = 20 Fail.

Croc damage Mental damage: 8d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 1, 3, 2, 1, 6, 3) = 23 + Frightened 2.

Hawk rallies his comrades, "Do not worry my friends. Just like these rocks, we shall strike this crocodile, and indeed strike all evil from this place.

Inpsire Courage

He then casts a rock at the crocodile.

Produce Flame (rocks), with Inspire Courage
Spell attack: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 16 + 1 = 20
Dangerous Sorcery, Bloodline Magic
Damage: 4d4 + 4 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2, 3, 1) + 4 + 4 + 4 = 19

◆Cast a spell,◆◆Cast a spell

Hawk's rock misses the croc.

I just realized Zim went a bit early because of the boggards I added to the initiative order, but that's okay.

The two boggards move closer to get better aim, then fire a few bolts at Zim.
red, light crossbow: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27 damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Hit.
blue, light crossbow: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 Hit.

Round 1 -bold can act
Isiros Swimming
Big croc -23 hp Frightened 2
Hawk Grenek Swimming
Abalyn Tisane Swimming
Crys Swimming
boggard red
boggard blue
Ash Swimming
Zimbartel -15 hp
Raft -16 hp

Swim: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15
Ash treads water and grabs onto the nearby raft or tree, whichever seems more eminently grabbable.

Speaking quickly in gasps when his mouth is _entirely_ clear from the muck, he gets out. "Fix this!" as well as the incantation for the Haste spell, for Isiros.

"Please." He finishes.

"On it! Isiros replies.

He then attempts to swim into a flank and finds himself more easily cutting through the water thanks to Zim's spell.

Athletics, physical boost: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 16 + 2 = 30

Then under Hawk's inspiring words and Ash's magic, Isiros begins striking with a flurry of stabs towards the massive creature

Strike w/ Halberd, inspire: 1d20 + 19 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 19 + 1 = 32 vs FF and Frightened 2 P dmg: 2d10 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (2, 6) + 7 + 1 = 16

Exacting Strike w/ Halberd, inspire: 1d20 + 19 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 19 - 5 + 1 = 24 vs FF and Frightened 2 P dmg: 2d10 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (10, 5) + 7 + 1 = 23

3rd strike is +5 to hit if exacting strike missed.
Strike w/ Halberd, inspire: 1d20 + 19 - 10 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 19 - 10 + 1 = 26 vs FF and Frightened 2 P dmg: 2d10 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (8, 9) + 7 + 1 = 25

◆swim, ◆Strike, ◆exacting strike ◆Strike

Isiros hits the creature with all three swings, finding purchase and clearly dealing it damage. The first swing, in fact, seems to really dig into the creature's belly, opening a huge gash. Critical hit with that first one!

Emboldened by pain, it swings its massive head toward Isiros and tries to eat him... perhaps in a single bite.
bite: 1d20 + 22 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 22 - 1 = 38 damage: 2d10 + 13 ⇒ (2, 6) + 13 = 21 plus Grab Crit.

It then tries to swallow him whole.
Athletics: 1d20 + 20 - 1 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 20 - 1 - 5 = 33 vs. Reflex DC 22. Isiros is swallowed.

swallow damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (8, 4) + 7 = 19

Round 2 -bold can act
Isiros -40 hp Swallowed, Slowed 1
Big croc -103 hp Frightened 1
Hawk Grenek Swimming
Abalyn Tisane Swimming
Crys
boggard red
boggard blue
Ash Swimming
Zimbartel -15 hp
Raft -16 hp

Don't lose heart my friends. We'll get Isiros out of there. I believe in you all!" Hawk shouts to continue inspiring his allies.

Inspire Courage

He then strikes at the crocodile.

Produce Flame (rocks), with Inspire Courage
Spell attack: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 16 + 1 = 26
Dangerous Sorcery, Bloodline Magic
Bludgeoning Damage: 4d4 + 4 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (4, 3, 3, 2) + 4 + 4 + 4 = 24

◆Cast a spell,◆◆Cast a spell

Hawk hits the croc right in the face with a blast of rocks, making it see stars.

Round 2 -bold can act
Isiros -61 hp Swallowed, Slowed 1
Big croc -127 hp Frightened 1
Hawk Grenek Swimming
Abalyn Tisane Swimming
Crys Swimming
boggard red
boggard blue
Ash Swimming
Zimbartel -15 hp
Raft -16 hp

Abalyn devises a strategem.

Strategem: 1d20 ⇒ 1

"It's all you, Baby Bear!"

Crys bite: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
piercing damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 1) + 4 = 8 x2=16

Crys claw: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Abalyn attempts to climb on the raft.

Athletic: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Crys takes a nice bite out of the croc, and Abalyn tries to hoist herself back on the raft but her hand slips and she slides back into the water.

The two boggards croak loudly, likely an alarm of some sort, and then fire two more bolts at Zim.

red, light crossbow: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 Hit
blue, light crossbow: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9 Hit

Round 2 -bold can act
Isiros -61 hp Swallowed, Slowed 1
Big croc -127 hp Frightened 1
Hawk Swimming
Abablyn Swimming
Crys Swimming
boggard red
boggard blue
Ash Swimming
Zimbartel -30 hp
Raft -16 hp

The arrows continue to rain down on Zim, but he remains focuses on the massive crocodile who has consumed Isiros. "Let him go, beast!"

True Strike, Chromatic Ray
Attack: 2d20 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6. 5 + 16 = 21.
Color: 1d4 ⇒ 1: 30 fire damage.

After the boggards shoot some more, Ash climbs onto the raft. Athletics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15

"Hang in there, Isiros!"

From the raft, he begins to hurl out rays of fire, aiming at both the crocodile and the boggard on the wall.

Croc: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 16 + 1 = 20
Damage: 4d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3, 5, 6, 4) + 1 + 1 = 20
Red Boggard: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 16 + 1 = 36
Damage: 4d6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4, 6, 2, 4) + 1 + 1 = 18

Alas, if only I could swap those. That's probably a crit for 36 on the boggard.

Ash, somewhat less enthusedly adds. "Or punch your way out, like a boss."

Zim's spell misses the croc.

The red boggard is singed pretty badly by Ash's spell, but he also misses the croc.

Round 3 -bold can act
Isiros -61 hp Swallowed, Slowed 1
Big croc -129 hp Frightened 1
Hawk Grenek Swimming
Abalyn Tisane Swimming
Crys Swimming
boggard red -36 hp
boggard blue
Ash Swimming
Zimbartel -30 hp
Raft -16 hp

Isiros takes a deep breath after being bitten and subsequently swallowed whole, That....hurt.....

Isiros just hears muffled shouts from inside the massive beast. Just like that time I was...Hm. Well. actually, this is a first... He begins reaching for his trusty shortsword Almost...got...it....

Draw (Manipulate DC 5) Sword: 1d20 ⇒ 6 success!

The creature shifts suddenly to dodge ash's flames giving isiros the tiniest opportunity to grab the sword. Not my halberd but here's goes nothing... Sweat and slime cover isiros as he hears Hawk's muffled shouting and Isiros begins slicing with the sword.

Strike vs Crocodile: 1d20 + 16 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 16 + 1 = 31Vs FF and frightened 1. IS IT A CRIT?!?! Slashing: 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 1 = 10 please be crit..please be crit...

Strike vs Crocodile: 1d20 + 16 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 16 - 5 + 1 = 18Vs FF and frightened 1. Slashing: 1d6 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 9

Isiros isn't immediately sure if he's really doing all that much...

◆Draw shortsword while grabbed (Success!) ◆Strike ◆(Hasted) Strike

Breath remaining: 7/8

Isiros is able to do some damage to the creature from inside, but doesn't cut himself free yet. The crocodile then digests him slightly. damage: 2d8 + 7 ⇒ (8, 7) + 7 = 22

The croc then tries to bite Abalyn.
bite: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (9) + 22 = 31 damage: 2d10 + 13 ⇒ (4, 7) + 13 = 24 and Grabs her, then tries to swallow her as well Athletics vs Reflex DC 27: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26 but is BARELY unable to!

Round 3 -bold can act
Isiros -61 hp Swallowed, Slowed 1
Big croc -129 hp
Hawk Grenek Swimming
Abalyn Tisane Grabbed
Crys Swimming
boggard red -36 hp
boggard blue
Ash Swimming
Zimbartel -30 hp
Raft -16 hp

Glimpsing Isors inside the croc, Hawk moves to make the meal more the the creature can digest by casting Enlarge on Isiros.
Cast Enlarge on Isiros as a level 4 spell. Isiros is size Huge. Clumsy 1. +4 bonus to Melee damage. +10ft to his reach
The very elements lend their energy to Isiros, causing him to grow.

"Looks like the crocodile bit off more than he could chew... Or at least digest. Cut him down Isiros!

Inspire Courage

◆◆Cast a spell,◆Cast a spell

As the poor crocodilic creature feels its stomach suddenly getting extremely full, it involuntarily gags and tries to keep Isiros down.
Fortitude vs. DC 26: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 20 = 39 It's able to keep him in its belly, but as he grows, Isiros also pushes his sword really hard against the gash that he had already cut in its stomach lining.
Isiros Athletics vs. DC 30: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31 And he ruptures the creature's belly, popping out its side, and then continuing to grow to Huge size!
sword damage plus rupture (gross): 1d6 + 6 + 4 + 2d10 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 4 + (4, 6) = 26

Round 3 -bold can act
Isiros -61 hp HUGE!, Prone
Big croc -155 hp
Hawk Grenek Swimming
Abalyn Tisane Swimming
Crys Swimming
boggard red -36 hp
boggard blue
Ash Swimming
Zimbartel -30 hp
Raft -16 hp

Abalyn feels like this time she's definitely got a shot at hitting the croc. It's so close! And pointy!

Strategem: 1d20 ⇒ 20

Abalyn stabs with all her might!

Piercing: 4d6 + 4 + 1d8 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 1) + 4 + (8) = 18 Total of 28, plus 1d12 bleed

Abalyn's precise stab finished the huge croc off.

Not entirely sure what the plan is, Abalyn battle medicines Isiros.

Heals: 2d8 + 10 ⇒ (7, 1) + 10 = 18