GM Blake's PFS(2) Introduction to PbP (Q2: Unforgiving Fire) (Inactive)

Game Master Blake's Tiger

"No," Sanvara says. "I brought it with me. It belonged to my ancestors and was used in learning this very technique. These ruins must have belonged to an ancient monastery at some point before the decline of Vedeesha. I found them when I came here, began to clean them, and made it the grounds for my future monastery. I had to establish my school so far from the Houses of Perfection or the masters from the Unblinking Flame might come to destroy my ancestor's teachings. I cannot have them disrupting my work until I have established a school worthy of a position among the other Houses."

She looks at you all, "Now. Who is challenging my students?"

Nal glances around at her group, looking for someone who looks like they could be convinced. Wow. I didn't realize that having so many gnomes in the group could be a problem. Lightheartedly, she quips: "Well guys, the first trial wasn't so hard. I bet this won't be, either. Elariel? Esha? I mean, I'll do it, but I don't want to hog all the fun," she adds with a wink.

If no one volunteers, Nal will do so. She's not one to pass up an opportunity to look awesome, or get on Sanvara's nerves. Now that's funny!

"Same here, Nal. I'd be happy to have another go, but only if noone else wants to."

Tawny is pretty good at Performance.

"You stole it, you mean. It is not simply yours to take because you want feel like it. Do you know that phoenix you so revere was corrupted by evil? Did you ever ask why your masters forbid the practice of these techniques? We are not interested in learning from you. We are simply here to reclaim what was stolen."

She turns to her friends. "Be careful. She carries magic."

Can she ready an action to cast Shield if Sanvara or her students become threatening?

Not in PF2. Action Economy is strict in PF2. Your exploration activity/initiative your preparation for an encounter. However, your option for keeping shield or an actual shield at the ready are pretty obvious and overt (e.g. Repeat a Spell and Defend, respectively). Even when the villain monologues like is about to happen...

PF2 does accommodate other initiative modifiers depending on your exploration activity, including during social encounters. I'm not going to slow it down to ask you to choose because I know which modifier is better for you. However, you could, in theory start combat with a Intimidation as your initiative modifier with an opening such as that. More an FYI for those who have or build characters more likely to do so in the future. Sometimes you don't get a choice and your actions define your initiative for you. E.g. Nal and Grex are no longer sneaking.

"Did you really think that I didn’t know why you arrived at my temple in the first place? The Monastery of Ignorance with its lies about the past. Did you every question how she was corrupted? She blocked the rift to the Abyss with her own body so that the crusaders could finish their wardstone blockade. She died in the Abyssal flames, which corrupted her rebirth. The Pathfinders will never take anything that rightfully belongs to my family ever again. They’ve already stolen too much!"

So in PbP, GMs will often run Block Initiatives. So Elariel is in the first block by herself. The next block is the Yellow NPC. The block after that is every other PC. When that block is up, players post when they have a chance. The GM then implements the declared actions in order posted or in initiative order. I usually do in order posted and adjust if necessary for targets or paths becoming invalid. Basically, I will play out the order in the most favorable way for the players.

I moved the map slide to the top of the set: MAP

Encounter Mode! Round 1. Bold may act.

Elariel
Yellow
Grex
Nal
Tawny
Pan
Meleeka Sanvara
Blue

"Nal, there is a magical trap right in front of you! Just to her right!" She points directly at the location of the trap.

She indicates the square just below the red and to the left of Nal.

She then addresses Sanvara's students and takes a gamble. "Did you know that she broke into a Pathfinder Society vault and took not only this statue, but many other items as well? I see that you both have potential - is this really who you want to lead you?"

Make an Impression: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Make an Impression is an Exploration Activity that takes a minimum of 1 minute so it cannot be used in combat.

Point Out takes 1 action, so you have 2 more actions available. If you want to forgo them, that's fine, but combat banter is usually a free action.

Ahh, okay. I thought we could still try as long as actual fighting wasn't happening yet. I guess that's PF1.

So, I think now she can ready an action to cast shield? The trigger would be any threat toward her or her companions. If not, then I'll just leave the other two actions unused as she doesn't want to do anything aggressive yet since no one has attacked her or her friends.

Once Initiative has been rolled, it's a sign combat (or something rapid paced and probably dangerous) is about to happen.

Yes. You can Ready.

Elariel points out the trap on the floor--it's hard to see, but you know where not to step--and makes one final plea to the disciples.

"Um, yeah, she is!" Yute says as he rushes to pin Tawny Deer between himself and Sanvara and reaches into a pouch at his belt. He removes his hand and flings sand at Tawny Deer's face, but the Pathfinder sees it coming and dodges, and well that he did as the sand bursts into a cloud of flame behind him.

In response to the aggression, Elariel conjures a shield of force to protect herself.

He then draws his scimitar.

I'm listing the action points used for each action to aid with learning: (1), (2), (3), (free), (reaction). Cool GMs have the actual action icons on standby. I'm not that cool yet.

Encounter Mode! Round 1. Bold may act.

Elariel (shield) (point out (1), ready (2))
Yellow (dirty trick (2), draw weapon (1))
Grex
Nal
Tawny
Pan
Meleeka Sanvara
Blue

*Grex sends a blast of water into the student in front of him.*

Grex is casting Hydraulic Push at blue

Hydraulic Push is an attack spell, so you would roll a spell attack check. It's 1d20+7 in Grex's case. You can also roll the damage with the attack roll; that speeds things up in play-by-post.

"Did you know that she broke into a Pathfinder Society vault and took not only this statue, but many other items as well? I see that you both have potential - is this really who you want to lead you?"

Nal dryly remarks: "Sure they do. They're famous bandits." She takes a step to the southeast, back from the student in red ◆, then cautiously walks around to flank Sanvara ◆. Knowing the reputation of the students, she has no reason to believe they'd take orders from someone less ruthless than them. This is going to get bloody fast. Drawing her shortsword ◆, she takes a defensive stance (just for flavor).

I copied these ◆ icons from someone I played with in a previous quest. They stand out so much that it's easy to count how many actions I've used at a glance.

was not sure if you were rolling it or not

hydraulic push: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18

damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 6, 6) = 13

crit success: 6d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 6, 3, 6, 3) = 28

@Grex: A crit success doubles the damage result of the normal success; it's not rolled separately.

@Blake: I will be using Nimble Dodge (+2 AC as a reaction) against the first attack against me each turn.

Tawny looks around bewildered. Wow, this turned sour fast. "I guess there was no avoiding this..." He draws his rapier and swivels toward Yute, feigning an attack from the left but at the last moment flicking his wrist to change the trajectory.

Feint: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
If this is a critical success, she is flat-footed against all melee attacks until the end of my next turn. Otherwise, just mine.

Noticing his perilous position, he grits his teeth and holds his ground, although concern is plainly visible on his face as his eyes dart between Yute and Sanvara. He stabs at Yute.

Rapier vs flat-footed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Damage (piercing): 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + (2) = 8
If this is a crit, deadly d8 gives another 1d8 ⇒ 6 damage.

Not expecting a combat to break out rather unexpectedly, Pan is taken aback momentarily. He recovers eventually, and quickly whips out his shortsword. Keeping close to the wall, he runs a few steps to flank Yute with Tawny Deer, then strikes with his weapon.

vs yellow (flat-footed): +1 shortsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 slashing dmg: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (1) = 6

draw weapon, stride, strike

then it needs to be expressed as such instead of giving a new die amount. I will admit I have only skimmed the CRB

You did fine Grex. Hydraulic Push is one of the different ones. Most Attack Spells will state "you do double damage on a critical hit and <something else happens>," where you would merely double the number, but some, like hydraulic push, list a different set of dice (not always twice as many). However, what I have suggested is just rolling the additional 3d6 separate (you don't need to do anything different now).

And look at Nal showing me up. ;)

Grex unleashes a torrent of water into Uskrani (blue) and driving her back across the floor. Meanwhile, Tawny draws his rapier and befuddles the bandit with his fancy blade work before driving the tip into his arm. Pan draws his sword and steps behind the confounded Yute and pokes him in a weak spot, though not very deeply.

Nal circles around the back to keep an eye on her foes and prevent herself from being pinched.

Meleeka raises her hands and holds her fingers like rigid talons while beginning to move in quick, furtive twitches. Her left arm snaps out toward Tawny Deer. Her hand bursts into flame as she reaches for his neck. Tawny Deer dodges at the last moment, and all she grabs is his shoulder, but it is searingly painful nonetheless. He also finds her grip to be iron-strong and relentless (6 fire damage, grabbed).

Uskrani draws her blade moves to keep Nal occupied and away from her master. The bandit slashes her scimitar in a powerful arc that cuts the half-elf deeply across the abdomen (12 slashing damage, sorry, natural 20).

Encounter Mode! Round 1. Bold may act.

Elariel
Yellow (-14 hp) (dirty trick (2), draw weapon (1))
Grex (cast (3))
Nal (-12 hp) (stride, stride, draw weapon)
Tawny (-6 hp, grabbed) (draw weapon, feint, strike)
Pan (draw weapon, stride, strike)
Meleeka Sanvara (stance (1), blazing-talon surge (2), grab (free))
Blue (-13 hp) (draw weapon, strike, strike [nat 20])

Elariel gapes at the battle in front of her. She's never seen anything quite like this before. Her heart is beating so hard she feels like everyone in the room must be able to hear it. She takes a step closer to Nal and casts heal from a distance, then recharges her shield spell.

1) Step and 2) two-action heal.

Heal: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Yay!!

After the painful slash, Nal almost immediately feels the pain vanish as Elariel channels restorative energies into the rogue.

With Tawny Deer firmly in his master's clutches, Yute turns his attention to Pan. He sweeps his blade around in a dazzling figure eight, striking the gnome and then striking again with more force. Fortunately for Pan, the final sweep misses (hit x 2, 6 slashing and then 7 slashing).

Encounter Mode! Round 1. Bold may act.

Elariel
Yellow (-14 hp) (flat-footed until Tawny's action)
Grex
Nal (-11 hp)
Tawny (-6 hp, grabbed)
Pan
Meleeka Sanvara
Blue (-13 hp)

I forgot to post the definition of Grabbed earlier:
Grabbed

Tawny takes another stab at Yute, hoping to get rid of one target he needs to track.

Rapier vs flat-footed: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Damage (piercing): 1d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (5) = 7

After failing to connect, he turns toward Meleeka, squirming in her grasp. He tries to throw off her balance by moving around.

Feint: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

"You're outnumbered", he shouts through the din. "You should give up now while you still can!"

Demoralize: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
DC is her Will DC; Frightened 1 on success, Frightened 2 on critical success

Is Nal still down 11 HP? She was at -12 and then I healed for 16, so I think she is at full? Or am I missed something?

No, that's Pan's damage. Apologies for the confusion.

All right. One on one. I can do this... Nal was *really* hoping to be able to flank Sanvara and stab her from behind, but that *clearly* isn't going to happen. What else is there to do? Slash and poke her with the business end of her sword. ◆◆

short sword: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 201d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
short sword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 71d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Well, *that* didn't work. She steps ◆ closer to the column, hoping it'll cramp Sanvara's style. Here's hoping it gets in her way!

Pan gasps in pain, but doesn't retreat. He strikes again with his shortsword in two rapid successions then gestures, pulling up a magical shield in front of him.

vs yellow (flat-footed): +1 shortsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9 slashing dmg: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (4) = 11

vs yellow (flat-footed): +1 shortsword: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 8 - 4 = 14 slashing dmg: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 4 + (5) = 10

draw weapon, stride, cast spell: shield (+1 AC, hardness 5)

Grex produces a ball of water and throws it at the man he just attacked

Produce Flame-water bludgeoning : 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Yute ducks out of the way of Tawny Deer's awkward thrust. While Sanvara's only response to the rogue's threat is a fiery glare, she does seem slightly stymied by his jerking about in her grasp.

Nal retaliates against Uskrani with an overhand slash that cuts the woman down. (You have one more action left, if you'd like to Stride or some such thing before your next turn).

Pan stumbles--likely from blood loss--as he stabs at Yute. As he makes his second stab, the man just misses parrying with his scimitar, but turns to the side so that all the gnome accomplishes is a scratch across the larger man's leather vest.

Grex speaks words of elemental power and hurls a ball of water at Yute. The student looks up with only enough time to widen his eyes before the swift moving sphere strikes him in the face and snaps his neck backwards. Yute drops like a lifeless sack of rocks (critical).

Sanvara's feet burst into flame as she leaps nearly ten feet in the air, dragging Tawny Deer upwards in her iron grip where they both hang for a moment. With mystical speed, she turns him over in the air so that he is head down and then begins to rapidly spiral. She slams the rogue down over the barely perceptible rune that Elariel had pointed out with a plume of smoke and fire. When the fire clears, Tawny Deer is awake but lying face down on the floor(Bludgeoning 4, Fire 3). Then a white hot gout of flame erupts beneath him, accompanied by a jaw-rattling shriek of a phoenix (Fire 8). Now, he is covered in blisters and no longer awake (Dying 1).

With one threat down, Sanvara rushes towards Pan.

Encounter Mode! Round 3. Bold may act.

Elariel
Grex
Nal
Pan (-11 hp)
Tawny (dying 1: flat check vs. DC 11 or Hero Point to stabilize)
Meleeka Sanvara

Recovery: 1d20 ⇒ 15
As long as noone resumes punching me...

Previous round: Nal strode 25', mostly north and a little east.

Nal watches in awestruck horror as Sanvara obliterates Tawny Deer. ! Whoa! She's more dangerous than I thought! She strides ◆ to flank her with Pan and does her level best to land a hit on the much more experienced opponent. ◆◆

short sword: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 101d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 1
short sword: 1d20 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 3 + 2 = 211d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
sneak attack: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Includes flanking bonus

@GM Blake: The rules state that the target of the attack gets a -2 penalty to AC due to being flanked. Would I put a +2 in my attack roll, or is that something that is up to the GM to track? I did include the flanking bonus in these attack rolls.

Pan growls as he sees Sanvara charging towards him. "You don't intimidate me!" Well, actually she does, but I'm not going to let her know that!

Feeling himself weaken, he continues to strike with his shortsword, before again calling forth magical protection.

vs yellow (flat-footed): +1 shortsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12 slashing dmg: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3) + 4 + (1) = 8

vs yellow (flat-footed): +1 shortsword: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 8 - 4 = 10 slashing dmg: 1d6 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 4 + (2) = 11

draw weapon, stride, cast spell: shield (+1 AC, hardness 5)

Sigh, I need new dice...

@Nal: Normally the GM tracks it (different from PF1) as a penalty to the target. Some variation may occur because functionally it's the same. I appreciate reminders like Tawny and Pan used: "vs. Flat-Footed."

Like Nal, Elariel is horrified by the scene in front of her. Other Pathfinders spoke of battle, but somehow this is so much more...real...than she ever imagined. Grateful that Nethys has granted her with divine healing, she inhales deeply and chants rhythmically on the exhale.

She's going to cast a two action Heal again, this time on Tawny. She'll follow it up with a renewal of Shield again.

Heal: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Curses! Sorry, Tawny!

Nal fumbles her first strike, possibly rattled by how swiftly Sanvara dealt with her companion. However, she recovers and stabs the monk in the back.

"May I should deal with you next, instead!" she snarls at the half-elf.

Pan, for all his effort, fails to strike as Sanvara's body seems to twitch and jerk at just the right moments, throwing off his aim. He quickly speaks a word of power and summons an arcane shield.

Elariel calls upon Nethys to bring consciousness back to Tawny Deer's concussed mind.

Encounter Mode! Round 3. Bold may act.

Elariel
Grex
Nal
Pan (-11 hp) (shield)
Tawny (-8 hp; prone, held items dropped, wounded 1)
Meleeka Sanvara (-10 hp)

Grex sends a stream of water at Meleeka

hydraulic push: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

damage: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 6) = 10

critical damage: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 3) = 10

Tawny, still dazed from his recent whacking, pushes himself up and takes a moment to gather his rapier and retrieve his minor healing potion.

Grex fires a stream of water that buffets the Vudrani martial artist. The water seems to have doused her literal and emotional flames as she drops to her knees, soaking wet. She rips off her hand wraps and throws them forcefully away from herself with a emotional scream. "I am an impostor! Not worthy of being called a master of anything!" she wails. "Not worthy to inherit my family's secrets! Go! Take it all back! I will go find some hole to bury myself in."

Balls in your court.

Out of Encounter Mode. Status

Elariel (full hp)
Grex (full hp)
Nal (full hp)
Pan (-11 hp)
Tawny (-8 hp, wounded 1)
Meleeka Sanvara (-20 hp)

"Well, at least you realize it now. That's one step up from living in a fantasy world. Where is the rest of it? In that same room you retrieved the statue from?"

The elf looks around at the others. "I suppose we should secure her somehow?

Yeah we should. then we can take her back to answer for her crimes

... What? Sanvara's 180 degree turn leaves Nal incredulous. She holds her fighting stance for several moments as she processes what the heck is going on.

"I will go find some hole to bury myself in."

Finally realizing that this isn't some ridiculous ploy to trick the Pathfinders into letting their guard down, Nal fetches the rope from her climbing kit, muttering: "We'll find it for you. Now! It's time to tie you up. No more funny business." Well, at least she didn't make us kill her. That, I... still don't know how I feel about it. Nal makes sure that the self-proclaimed impostor is tied up securely, but not harshly.

Her gaze falls on the two students, her eyes narrowing as she weighs whether or not to let them go. On the one hand, she's trying to straighten out her life and all, so she *ought* to report criminals, right? On the other hand, she's trying to straighten out her life and all, and maybe they are too, right? Hmm... Well, they haven't done anything bad here that *I* know of. (Stupid, yes, but not bad.) Eh, I'll let 'em slide. With a slight, dismissive shrug, she turns away from them to listen to the conversation that has been flowing past her.

Thank the gods Nal has the 'tying up' business covered. I wouldn't even know how to begin doing that!

She looks at Nal and makes an awkward gesture. If she knew what guns were, it would be a finger gun, but since she doesn't, it's more like drawing and releasing a bow string with a goofy look on her face.

Great - now we're really connecting and becoming a team!

"Yes. The scrolls and tomes are in the room behind the brass door," she says flatly. The key hangs from her neck as she kneels on the floor. Sanvara manifests only token protest as you bind her wrists and whines piteously, "Fine. Take my freedom. Pathfinders* have taken everything else, why not that?"

* reference to a scenario that I haven't run or played.

Tawny groans as he fumbles with the stopper of the vial in his hand, then drinks the potion.

Minor Healing Potion: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Well, that didn't do much...

He looks down at his scorched and tattered garb and gives a wry smile. "Looks like I could definitely use some new clothes now..." He picks at some shreds of cloth, ripping them away so they don't chafe against his burnt skin. "And some healing, preferably."

He helps the others gather the stolen valuables.

She looks at Nal and makes an awkward gesture. If she knew what guns were, it would be a finger gun, but since she doesn't, it's more like drawing and releasing a bow string with a goofy look on her face.

Uh, what? I am so confused. Unsure if Elariel is joking about finishing off Sanvara, Nal makes a point to say, a little too loudly: "We're taking you back to face justice. The local authorities don't like to let people get away with robbery. It's bad for business. I don't know how long you'll be in jail, but you'll have plenty of time to feel sorry for yourself there." To take the potential sting out of her words, Nal gives Elariel a small smile and a nod of respect.

Pan sinks to the floor after the battle ceases, pressing his hands against his wound, and just stares blankly as the rest of the team busy themselves tying up things, searching things, and asking things.

If someone approaches, he simplies grins and says, "Whew, just catching a breather! Whenever we're ready to bring back the stolen goods."

He nods at Tawny. "Yeah, me too!"

Thanks for the game, everyone!

"That's right! Jail for you! You tell her, Nal!"

Looking around at the rest of the group, Elariel is jolted back to the harsh reality of their current situation and prays for healing energy once more. Now that the monk is fully secured, she doesn't worry about including her in the net of healing as well.

Heal: 1d8 ⇒ 4

Wow. That was much more brutal than I expected, but it turned out pretty well in the end. I can't wait to get back to the city and do some shopping!

Yes, thank you! I really enjoyed it!

Looks at the monk shaking his head. If he wasnt involved in her capture he might of represented her at her trial but he knows she is guilty so he will make a write up for the royal attorneys and be done with it.

Yes thank you it was fun

Beyond the brass doors is a large room that looks like it once served as the baths for the ancient monastery. To the far left there is an empty pedestal. Beside that is a large trunk. Inside are a variety of relics: an iron scepter topped with a sculpture of a talon clutching an orb that continually glows white-hot as if it is still being tempered in a forge, two leather bladders, a journal, and a set of six scrolls.

The journal looks to be a personal journal.

With the stolen statue recovered as well as a few other things not taken from the vault, you return to the shore and board the Obsidian Owl.

Venture-Captain Melipdra beams as you return with the statue of the One-Who-Waits. "I am certain that the return of their treasured relic will allow me to preserve the agreement between the Monastery of Unblinking Flame and the Pathfinder Society. Thank you," she says. She hands each of you a small pouch of rough-cut garnets.

"What will you do with the thief?" she asks.