GM Crunch, Before the Dawn (CORE) (Inactive)

Game Master Saving Cap'n Crunch

Khellek continues to offer advice to the team.

"Apes could not stand against the old mage, and they cannot stand against pathfinder either. See how they fall! Strike well my friends, they have four arms, but don't have skill at arms."

Continues to inspire, uses last heroism on Tere

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

"Gaaak!" Wrigsolar gets wrapped up in grass and vines. He tries to wriggle out.

reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Ēoswulf shouts in rage and assaults the Charau-Ka before him.

longsword, attack, rage, twf, power attack, heroism, inspired: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 = 13
cold iron, magic, slashing: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 2 + 4 + 2 = 22

mwk armor spikes, attack, rage, twf, power attack, heroism, inspired: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 = 31
piercing: 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 13

Remember that heroism adds to yours saves too!

doesn't help me with a natural 1 though

Ēoswulf manages a heavy hit on his quarry, but it still stands. The plant life starts causing problems indiscriminately.

Two Blades to act.

The massive four-armed Angazhani turns its own assault on the golem. While surely strong enough to rend any of you apart with such fury, your apparent ally only suffers a few minor dents.

Still need saves against Entangle from Alaric and Shredder.

Round Three:

Party Buffs: Inspire Courage +2

Two Blades -7 (-4 Con, heroism)
Angazhani Champion -97
Alaric (-1 Con)
Wrigsolar (mage armor, entangled)
Charau-Ka
Tere -6
Charau-Ka Chieftain
Leopard -16
Ēoswulf (-3 Con, heroism, rage, entangled)
Khellek

So sorry, made the save but forgot to post
Two Blades stabbed at the foe he was next to. The rapier was defected but the shortsword struck true.
Rapier: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 111d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Shortsword: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 211d6 ⇒ 6

Wrigsolar, utterly helpless by the entanglement, tries to wriggle free. Do you suppose there's an etymological connection between Wrigsolar and wriggling?

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

He tries again.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7

Apparently, there is no connection.

You got better rolls botted, Two Blades; I'll stick to those.

Botting Alaric.

Alaric finds himself stuck in the twisting grass, as does one of the charau-ka soldiers. Shredder is not so hindered and swiftly dispatches the leopard, while Ēoswulf is clubbed over the head.

Round Three:

Party Buffs: Inspire Courage +2

Two Blades -7 (-4 Con, heroism)
Angazhani Champion -97
Alaric (-1 Con)
Wrigsolar (mage armor, entangled)
Charau-Ka
Tere -6
Charau-Ka Chieftain
Leopard -16
Ēoswulf -6 (-3 Con, heroism, rage, entangled)
Khellek

The golem flinches before the flurry of blows from the Angazhani champion. When the monster pauses, though, the great construct looks down at itself. Then its head raises slowly, though, and something about its immobile face suggests that if it could it would be smiling. It steps ponderously a little closer to the gorilloid and exhales a choking cloud onto the creature before punching it again. The first blow rocks its target back, but the followup sails past the beast.

Slam #1, incl. IC: 1d20 + 36 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 36 + 2 = 50
Slam #2, incl. IC: 1d20 + 36 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 36 + 2 = 39

Slam damage, incl. IC: 4d12 + 27 + 2 ⇒ (5, 12, 1, 9) + 27 + 2 = 56

Also, DC 19 Fort save vs. poison or take 2 points of CON damage.

Potential CON damage, if applicable: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The punch rocks the champion. It doesn't seem to care about the gas, though - some benefit of demonic blood? But it rolls over onto nearby charau-ka as your side, which isn't constantly running headlong into danger, can back away from.

Seeing her backup quickly decimated by the dinosaur that's drawing ever closer to her, the chieftain summons a ball of fire above Shredder and causes it to plunge down at him.

Shredder, make a DC 15 Reflex save or take 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 5) = 17 fire damage.

Round Three/Four:

Party Buffs: Inspire Courage +2

Two Blades -7 (-4 Con, heroism)
Angazhani Champion -153
Alaric (-1 Con)
Wrigsolar (mage armor, entangled)
Charau-Ka
Tere -6
Charau-Ka Chieftain
Ēoswulf -6 (-3 Con, heroism, rage, entangled)
Khellek

Khellek continues to offer words of wisdom. "If they are apes, then perhaps offering them some food may be helpful. Although with four arms, they might be faster at eating than normal ones... "

Inspire course +2 to hit and damage

With a sigh he sites Bessie on the nearest Charau-ka.
attack,inspire, into melee: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 + 2 - 4 = 15
damgae: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4

Stepping up, Two Blades stabbed at the foe that was near him.
+1 Rapier: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 251d6 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 + 2 = 7
+1 shortsword: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 181d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 2 = 4
Use Agile Feet. Is orange the Chieftain?

Ēoswulf shouts and tries to cut down the Charau-Ka in front of him with sword and shield.

longsword, attack, rage, twf, power attack, inspired, heroism: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 = 31
cold iron, magic, slashing: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 2 + 4 + 2 = 21

mwk armor spikes, attack, rage, twf, power attack, inspired, heroism: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 = 28
piercing: 1d6 + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 9

confirm crit: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 2 - 2 - 2 + 2 + 2 = 32
cold iron, magic, slashing: 1d8 + 6 + 2 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 6 + 2 + 4 + 2 = 18

Right, Orange is the chieftain.

Ēoswulf slices his target clean in half, which draws whoops from a band of Pathfinders now pushing back against other charau-ka closeby.

The champion barely manages to connect with the golem with teeth and one fist, but the damage is negligible, if at all there.

Round Four:

Party Buffs: Inspire Courage +2

Two Blades -7 (-4 Con, heroism)
Angazhani Champion -153
Alaric (-1 Con) (pending Shredder's save)
Wrigsolar (mage armor, entangled)
Charau-Ka
Tere -6
Charau-Ka Chieftain -11
Ēoswulf -6 (-3 Con, heroism, rage, entangled)
Khellek

Wrigsolar again tries to get himself free.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22

He then tries to get out of the entangling vines!

Okay, I couldn't select my token without moving the vine's outline. I think I got it back in the right spot.

Sorry... was caught up with SkålCon and never quite got caught up

reflex DC14 for entangle: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
reflex save DC17 for fire: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 Evasion, take nothing

Shredder steps up and attacks (once, as it is difficult terrain)
talon PA, GMF: 1d20 + 11 - 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 2 + 1 = 20 S/P PA, GMF: 1d8 + 5 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 4 = 16

reflex DC14 for entangle: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Reflex DC14 against entangle: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Alaric also steps up and attacks once.
talon, PA, GMF: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 - 2 = 11 talon, PA: 1d8 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 4 = 15

Shredder tears into the chieftain, ending her life. Alaric isn't as on target, but his mark is now feebly trying to run. It isn't having any more luck than it had in its assault thanks to the vines.

Though the battle still rages around you, you are left free to focus all your power on the Angazhani champion for a few moments. Not that your new ally needs much help, as it's about to reiterate....

Round Four/Five:

Party Buffs: Inspire Courage +2

Two Blades -7 (-4 Con, heroism)
Angazhani Champion -153
Alaric (-1 Con)
Wrigsolar (mage armor)
Tere -6
Ēoswulf -6 (-3 Con, heroism, rage, entangled)
Khellek

Khellek continues to offer words of advice. "Giants by their nature are think skinned. However their great height, while giving them a reach advantage, also means you can target them with missile fire without risking hurting a companion!"

Continues inspire
attack with Bessie,into melee: 1d20 + 6 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 2 - 4 = 23
damage: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 2 = 10

With no foes near him, and the two big creatures slugging it out, Two Blades made his way out of the area of the spell.

Entangle: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 10 + 2 = 18

The golem smashes both fists down on the four-armed giant, driving it to its knees.

Slam #1, incl. IC: 1d20 + 36 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 36 + 2 = 58
Slam #2, incl. IC: 1d20 + 36 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 36 + 2 = 46

Confirm slam #1, incl. IC: 1d20 + 36 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 36 + 2 = 42

Base damage, slam #1, incl. IC: 4d12 + 27 + 2 ⇒ (9, 4, 7, 3) + 27 + 2 = 52
Base damage, slam #2, if applicable, incl. IC: 4d12 + 27 + 2 ⇒ (2, 7, 1, 7) + 27 + 2 = 46

Crit damage, slam #1, if applicable, incl. IC: 4d12 + 27 + 2 ⇒ (3, 9, 1, 6) + 27 + 2 = 48

Ēoswulf stows his longsword and draws his longbow.

You need not have worried - between a pair of crushing blows from the golem, the only significant foe is nearly beheaded! Its body hits the ground with a massive thud, again causing more casualties to its own, unaware side than yours. Further charau-ka reinforcements are arriving, but each new wave sees what awaits them and promptly retreats without warning their replacements. Nearly a minute of frantic swapping later, all of the ape-men are unified in retreat.

Your own gigantic protector suddenly seems more rigid in its movements. The nearby sphere's glow dims, and it marches straight back into the underground complex, situating itself on its plinth before going still again. Only then does Tere's body stir, restored to consciousness.

What do you do?

Alaric rushes over to Tere, followed by Shredder. He shifts back into his normal form.

"Tere! What happened? Are you ok?"

Tere stands up, smiling broadly (unusually so, for him). "That was amazing! Did you see that?" He mimes a couple of punches. "Too noisy, but who needs stealth when you can do that?" Calming down a bit, he asks, "Is everyone all right?"

"Um, see what?" asks Alaric, obviously confused. "You collapsed at when the fight started. Then one of the statues came out to fight, and you missed that. "

Alaric checks Tere over.

heal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

"I was controlling the statue. Somehow this--" He holds up the cube. "--put me in it. I'm no wizard to know how it was done, though."

"Oh my!" says Khellek. He carefully examines the sphere.

"That is impressive. A golem of unprecedented size and power, and able to be directly controlled."

He starts to quickly sketch the sphere.

"This is amazing. What a discovery. Finally, I'll get my place on the cover of the Chronicles!"

"We should tend to our wounded. Who knows if the baboons will make another strike?

"Juliet should get the control talisman. First, though...." Tere approaches the body of the four-armed primate. "Wrig or Khellek, can you check this for magic?" The elf begins to search the body, alert for any movement.

As the fight dies down entirely, Juliet approaches. "We've taken losses, to be sure. Not much we can do to avoid that completely. But whatever you dredged up took what would've otherwise been our downfall and turned it into what I'd tentatively call a good day. Desna was surely smiling on us with this one."

"I can't say I quite get this, though," she says when offered the talisman. "It's not close enough to any of our other finds. Maybe with some time and effort. But we'll have those to spare after packing up and leaving this expedition. We've seen all there is, let's take what we can. Maybe the sphere, but not the monoliths. Those we'll secure with a burial, and hopefully next time we pass through we can reactivate them fully."

"You've done the Society a great service today, Pathfinders. The Azlanti and perhaps all Golarion over, too, if any of this shines more light on the past. And I'm sure your coffers won't be ignored as a result, either." She winks, then turns to the assembled survivors to call for a break before the packing begins.

We are honored, we hope you have a safe journey. Two Blades said, happy that the group survived the challenges.