GM Deneve's The Fall of Plaguestone (PFS 2e) (Inactive)

Game Master redeux

(Heh heh. Meant you'd need to have done a flat check if Sinan didn't stabilized. Will use that flat check for the bleeding)

Simon somehow stops bleeding as Gracie bites down on the ooze, her muzzle covered in blood as the creature deflates just slightly before a blood clot immediately forms on the place she bit! (Reaction Clot. No damage)

Kunsheng's flask once again strikes the jelly-like thing as fire washes over it! (6 Fire Damage, sorry, Kunsheng, it doesn't stack)

Initiative Tracker - The bold may act!
Round 3 - Active Conditions: Inspire Courage (4r)

The Sculptor (-22 hp) | Persistent Mental 4 | Sickened 1
Kunsheng (-14 hp)
Gamble
Deerslicer (-22 hp) / Gracie (-14 hp)
Simon (0 hp) | Unconscious | Prone | Dropped weapon
Blood Ooze (-30 hp) | Persistent Fire 1 Damage
Sinan

"Hey!" Gamble follows the orc through the door. "The lives you tortured demand justice," he says and makes a sign in the air.

To the others he calls, "Trap it on its own in this room, if we can!"

Stride, Cast (V, S): phantom pain

Mental (Special Will Save vs. DC 17): 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 + Persistent: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Fail prolongs the Sickened potential duration of the original. Critical Fail ups the Sickened value and prolongs the potential duration.

Will Save: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8 (Fail. 5 Mental Damage, 4 Persistent Mental Damage)

As the orc runs away, he clutches his stomach just as he turns the corner towards the secret door. He gives a dry heaving sound as bile raises to his mouth. Gamble would probably then turn his head back to the larger threat in the room.

The blood ooze trembles as undulating blood ripples through its body and a pseudopod reaches out and strikes out at Sinan grabbing him by the waist (27, Grabbed) as a second one curls around Gracie(25, Grabbed). With both grappled, it lazily attacks with a third pseudopod while another hurls itself at Deerslicer, narrowly missing the goblin! (Miss)

Initiative Tracker - The bold may act!
Round 3 - Active Conditions: Inspire Courage (3r)

The Sculptor (-27 hp) | Persistent Mental 4 | Sickened 1
Kunsheng (-14 hp)
Gamble
Deerslicer (-22 hp) / Gracie (-14 hp) | Grabbed
Simon (0 hp) | Unconscious | Prone | Dropped weapon
Blood Ooze (-31 hp) | Persistent Fire 1 Damage
Sinan | Grabbed

Not that it will probably matter, but that was a critical fail, so sickened should be 2.
And I first read those numbers as damage!

"Ah, no! So much for trapping it in the room," he says, largely to himself.

Deerslicer's eyes go wide ... wider than normal, that is ... as the blood ooze grabs people with pseudopods. "D'at not good!"

"You've left me little choice, my monstrous friend," the priest grumbles as he struggle to earn his release from the pseudopod grasping him.

(1 action to try to escape)
Unarmed: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

probably not even close

"I suppose I'll be forced to draw her grace from you." At the priests words, a chill darkness begins to form on the ooze's limb as the Dawnflower's grace is drawn away from the creature.

(2 action casting: Chill Touch. DC 17)

Basic Fort. Save: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12 (Crit. Fail! Double Damage and enfeebled 1! @Sinan, please roll for damage)
Flat Save: 1d20 ⇒ 14

With everyone busy with his little creation, the orc keeps running away!
(Stride x3. Removing him from the initiative)

Initiative Tracker - The bold may act!
Round 4 - Active Conditions: Inspire Courage (2r)

The Sculptor (-31 hp) | Persistent Mental 4 | Sickened 1
Kunsheng (-14 hp)
Gamble
Deerslicer (-22 hp) / Gracie (-14 hp) | Grabbed
Simon (0 hp) | Unconscious | Prone | Dropped weapon
Blood Ooze (-31 hp) | Persistent Fire 1 Damage
Sinan | Grabbed

Kunsheng sidesteps, draws his last lesser alchemist's fire, and hurls it directly at the ooze. Still more flaming fluids flow across the enemy.

Bomb to bloody blob, incl. IC: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24
Bomb damage, incl. splash and IC: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 = 6

Step-Interact (draw)-Strike

woohoo! Cantrips for the win!

Damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 (then double that because I can't figure out how to make the boards do multiplication)

Sinan barks out "Someone get Valor out of here! I'll hold this thing while you do!" as he says more to himself, "for the Dawnflower shall be my guide."

Deerslicer snaps at Gracie, "Gracie, run! Grab Simon your way!" The bear doesn't need to be told twice, slashing to free itself from the pseudopod and then bolting toward the door.

I believe an Escape roll is just an unarmed attack, right? Both Gracie's attack and Athletics are +7

Gracie's escape from Grab, inspired (Escape has attack tag): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 = 17

Crossing my fingers that's a success. I moved Gracie on that assumption, next to Simon so she can drag him out. If someone else has a means to get Simon out, then Gracie does have the movement to get through the door this turn instead.

Deerslicer moves toward the door, sheathing his dogslicer. "Hurry up an' I'll slam the door!"

Command Animal: Escape, Stride. Stride. Interact (Sheath dogslicer)

"Get out of there!" Gamble calls into the room. "I'll stay and shut the door behind you!"

Step, Read Action (Interact: Shut Door)
Reaction: Readied Action, trigger: last conscious person out the door

A voice barks out, "Someone get Valor out of here! I'll hold this thing while you do!"

...with all the noise, Simon slowly returns to consciousness, his eyelids heavy and body sluggish as he takes in what's going on.

From the ground, he sees Sinan and poor Gracie are grabbed tightly by crimson pseudopods of the towering blood ooze. The small bear tries to tear itself free to no avail. (Miss) Kunsheng tosses another red-orange flask at the... thing. It explodes on contact, but the creature seems if slightly singed, still in great shape. (6 Fire Damage)

Deerslicer snaps at Gracie, "Gracie, run! Grab Simon your way!" The goblin says this as he head toward the door, sheathing his dogslicer. "Hurry up an' I'll slam the door!"

"Get out of there!" Gamble calls into the room. "I'll stay and shut the door behind you!"

Knowing things are going south, Simon...

Initiative Tracker - The bold may act!
Round 4 - Active Conditions: Inspire Courage (2r)

The Sculptor (-31 hp) | Persistent Mental 4 | Sickened 1
Kunsheng (-14 hp)
Gamble | Readied Action
Deerslicer (-22 hp) / Gracie (-14 hp) | Grabbed
Simon (1 hp) | Wounded 1 | Prone | Dropped weapon
Blood Ooze (-37 hp) | Persistent Fire 1 Damage
Sinan | Grabbed

RUN!

Also, did the Chill Touch damage not affect it?

(Yes, it did. My mistake. I forgot to add it. It should be at -51 hp)

Simon blinks awake as he's being dragged across the threshold.

"Did ... did we win?"

Simon sees Gamble and Deerslicer next to him, and Kunsheng leaps across his field of vision as Gamble begins closing the door.

"Sinan ... where's Sinan?"

The dawning realization of the situation jolt him to full consciousness.

"No ... NO!"

He tries to stand up, but he's still gravely wounded, and Gracie continues to pull him away from the door.

Simon, I think the situation is that no one was in a position to drag you this turn, but you came to consciousness and still have actions.

Since Gracie failed the Escape check, I moved Gracie back to her grappled position ... Given my command, I guess she'll do a second escape action, instead of her Stride.

Gracie Escape #2: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (17) + 7 - 5 = 19

Simon is probably not going to leave Sinan voluntarily. If he's given a full set of actions, he's going to grab his dagger to try to cut Sinan free.

"No!" Deerslicer yells. "He doin' fine! Save Gracie first! She just a baby!"

Simon will grab his dagger and try to set Sinan free by throwing his dagger.

"Let ... them ... GO!"

Interact, Stand Up, Strike

Dagger: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28
Slashing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Norns! Valor, you're just throwing your weapon away," Gamble curses and laments.

Deerslicer nods with Gamble, but mutters, begrudingly, "Was good throw at least."

"We're not leaving Sinan here to die."

He pauses to make a strategic assessment, then revises.

"I'm not leaving Sinan here to die alone."

"The Dawnflower is with me, Simon!" barks the priest. "You bring her love to the people like you were meant to. I was meant to make sure you can."

Despite his predicament, Sinan smiles with his Lady's fire in his eyes.

"Let me do for you what was done for me. Bring her light."

Simon's weapon strikes the crimson pseudopod, splattering blood on the floor as it its torn and ropey tendrils cling on to Sinan. (Escape DC lowered)

The blood ooze, releases Gracie (Free action, Release), sending a large pseudopod after Simon and missing by just a hair's breadth.

Sinan isn't so lucky, as the grabbed priest of Sarenrae is struck with such violence that you all hear the cracking of bones, the Qadiran's body hanging limply, as the pseudopod holding him can no longer hold his weight and he collapses on the floor in a bed of congealed blood. (16 Bludgeoning, 6 persistent bleed)

The ooze slurps closer to the entrance, and all those nearby see it begin to quiver in ts place, you feel an itching under your skin as blood calls blood to the surface...

Pseudopod Simon: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18
Bludgeoning Simon: 1d12 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Persistent Bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 2
Pseudopod Sinan: 1d20 + 15 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 15 - 5 = 25
Bludgeoning Sinan: 1d12 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
Persistent Bleed: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Flat Check to stop Fire Dmg: 1d20 ⇒ 7

(Release Gracie, Strike x2 - Stride)

Initiative Tracker - The bold may act!
Round 4 -> 5 Active Conditions: Inspire Courage (2r)

Kunsheng (-14 hp)
Gamble | Readied Action
Deerslicer (-22 hp) / Gracie (-14 hp)
Simon (1 hp) | Wounded 1
Blood Ooze (-57 hp) | Persistent Fire 1 Damage
Sinan (-16 hp) | Grabbed | Persistent Bleed 6

"Get out now! Or you waste his sacrifice!" Gamble shouts at those lingering in the torture room.

Sinan gives a hard look at his newest convert then back at the monster that holds him. It is as if time stands still. "You will make me proud, Simon." He tosses his Holy Symbol to Simon with a solemn "Farewell."

With fiery determination in his eyes Sinan turns his broken form once again to face the blood ooze. "I am not a morsel for the feast, creature. We shall both perish this day." He barks as he brings his blade to the creature. As Dawn's Light connects, a calm comes over his face and he says a soft prayer to Sarenrae in kelish. "Asmaeni ya Sayidati , sa'akhud alyawm maerakatan dida 'aedayika. ln 'akun khayifana 'aw khayifana. wala takhafuu wala tufsih lahum almajal 'amamahuma. li'anak maei lilqital min ajl 'aedayik lamanhini alnisr."

(Interact, Strike, Strike)

Scimitar: Dawn's Light: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Slashing Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Scimitar: Dawn's Light: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Slashing Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Based on the healing we had done earlier, Sinan was at 18 HP coming into this room, so he is only at 2 now. He'll be at -4 after the bleed. Still, this was a good death for him :) )

Flat check vs. persistent bleed: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Simon's anger and resolve melt away as Sinan hands him his holy symbol.

"I will see you again someday ... brother," he whispers quietly amidst the chaos.

He'll wait for everyone else to leave the room, and then follow quietly.

Cut off from the only exit, Kunsheng hesitates only for a moment. "It is slow--if I can get it away from the door, I will join you!" Then he hurriedly drops a few grains of powder into a small vial, which begins to drip with condensation. When he hurls it at the ooze before retreating, the vial breaks with a burst of freezing vapor.

Lesser frost vial to ooze: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Frost vial cold damage, including 1 point of splash damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

It will also take a 5' penalty to its movement this round.

Manipulate (create bomb)-Strike-Stride

Why can't Kunsheng just Stride x3 to exit?

Because I'm still stuck in PF1e mode, and thought it would get an AoO.

Deerslicer yells, "Run, Gracie!"

Looking forlorn at Sinan, she lumbers out of the room.

Since Gamble has the door, Deerslicer drops his kukri and grabs his bow, firing at the ooze through the crack, hoping to make some modest help before they have to close it.

Shortbow attack, inspired: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28
Shortbow damage, inspired: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 piercing

I think we established it was immune to precision, but not sure if that applies to critical and the deadly dice, so I'll roll it anyway ... although it doesn't look like it took Simon's critical damage earlier, so probably immune to that as well

Shortbow deadly die: 1d10 ⇒ 3

Retconning:

Kunsheng flees out the door.

"Blast it all," Gamble slams the door shut and retreats away. "Too much to hope that half-orc's brains melted?"

Interact, Stride, Stride

You run and escape from the blood ooze. As the door slams shut you hear the sickening ripping and tearing of skin and a sound akin to the sucking of liquid as you can all picture Sinan's body ravaged by the ooze, his blood becoming part of the ooze's body.

(Encounter Mode Over!)

You find yourselves back in the Sculptor's lair.

Post-Encounter Report
4 Rounds - 24 seconds

Kunsheng (-14 hp)
Gamble
Deerslicer (-22 hp) / Gracie (-14 hp)
Simon (1 hp) | Wounded 1
Blood Ooze (??? hp)
Sinan (0 hp) | DEAD & DEVOURED

(WOW! That is disgusting, but also awesome!)

"We must rest, then return here to deal with the ooze before it can kill anyone else. Sinan would want us to see to the safety of others."

Deerslicer nods, wiping a large glob of snot from his nose as his eyes begin to water. "Yeah, let's burn d'at t'ing to da ground, once we find da orc."

The orc is still my prey, so get a +2 to follow his tracks. Sounds like we find him dead. We go ahead and explore around a bit, I assume (after I spit on his corpse). There are still those rats in the courtyard to deal with, right? Can we carry the alchemical supplies back, or will we need to come back with a wagon to get them?

"I am not certain we can kill that abomination," Gamble says with evident worry in his tone. "This is not particularly close to any town. I fear we will break our wave upon that particular stone. Maybe we can collapse the cave. Or at least seal it."

"There should be something in the orc's notes about it. Can any of you read the language?"

"Should we barricade the door? I don't suppose anyone is ... coming out."

The Sculptor's room is empty. From behind the door you hear the ooze moving. The iron door is thick and has a heavy bar that can be slid to bar it. Looking through the desk, you find the detailed notes and journals, all in Orcish. While you might not be able to read it, you know there is someone in town who might: Tamli. I imagine you take the papers.

Peeking outside into the main laboratory area, you see the cauldrons are still boiling. If not put out, they'll spill their contents onto the floor. The alchemical reagents and lab equipment is simply too much and too bulky. You will definitely need a horse and wagon to bring them back. Perhaps Kunsheng could use them, or perhaps they could be sold.

If you were to head back outside, the bright sunlight would blind you and remind you of how short your time inside the blight's lair was. At most 15 minutes have passed. Just 15 minutes ago Sinan was alive.

The rats are still stuck in their pen. They angrily chitter at you as you approach, but that's not what really catches your eye. As you adjust to the change from dim light to bright light, you find the body of the orc you fought moments ago. He's lying face down in the sludge. He did not die from Gamble's magical assault. All over his back you see vicious claw marks that raked through his studded leather armor and reached the flesh. Worse, he has several burns that have shriveled his skin and his hands are melted away, perhaps in an attempt to defend himself. If turned over his face has been torn off and he's unrecognizable. On the ground lie an eyepiece, a dagger similar to the ones the other orcs were using, an alchemical elixir of some kind and the bad of dust he used on the ooze.

There are no signs of the orc's assailant. Yet to the south you see a small cave you never explored in your rush to stop the orcs from raising the alarm.

Deerslicer's eyes go wide and he draws his kukri. "D'is guy run into sumt'in nasty. Glad of it, but don't want to run into it, too. Lemme go peek in d'at cave down d'ere."

Can I see any tracks of anything around here that might have caused these wounds? I'll try Survival +7 for that. If I find it, I'll designate it my Prey. Then I'll Avoid Notice down to look into the cave, with a Stealth +8 (or +10 vs. Hunted Prey)

Deerslicer spots several tracks, coming from the cave and then heading back into it. Stepping inside the cave, a cloud of smoke hovering around the ceiling becomes visible. Curled up in the back of the cave is a cat that looks to be on fire. It turns its eyes towards the cave mouth and sniffs the air, glaring at Deerslicer. It lets out a weak snarl that fades into a plaintive yowl. It's mouth and paws are covered in blood.

The alchemist eyes the cat from a safe distance, and tries to determine whether it's injured.

Are we 3rd level yet? If so, add +3 to this roll to diagnose.

Craft check in place of Medicine: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26

The creature is in far too much pain to put up a fight unless provoked. It's also in dire need of water as it looks severely dehydrated, perhaps no one paying it any attention in several days. Worse off, the animal is wounded, probably by the orcs when they were handling it.

The creature is frightened and will probably run away at its own peril if it's approached unless it's calmed down. (Wild Empathy or Nature check) Waves of heat roll off it as its hide burns with dark red flames, faintly illuminating the cavern.

"Bank the fires under the cauldrons. I will see to this little one." Kunsheng finds a shallow plate, fills it with the cleanest water available, and sets it near the cat before retreating a good distance.

Nature(Command Animal): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

Deerslicer tries to help out by commanding the feline to "Stay." and "Be still." while Kunsheng places the water.

The feline is frightened, but remains still as Kunsheng approaches. (Medicine Check, please)

In the meantime, I imagine one of you goes off to make sure the cauldrons don't explode.

Gamble kicks out the fires beneath the cauldrons, keeping a wary eye on the door (hopefully) holding back the ooze. "Whoever orchestrated this corruption needs to pay sorely," he mutters.

Medicine check (if I can use Crafting instead, add +5: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18