[PFS1] 7-17 Thralls of the Shattered God (GM Watery Soup) (Inactive)

Game Master Watery Soup

Fifi hangs by the door and says-"Is the room copying us? Let's see if stepping in is the trigger!"-grabbing some fire from her hair and lobbing it at Shadow Patros. She yells-"I will attack from here! Don't want to add to our ambushers!"

Fire bolt vs Touch: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 4 = 18
Fire bolt dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 fire damage

Fifi sends a fire bolt in, dissipating Shadow Patros!

Valais, seeing her friends in danger, rushes into the room, lowering her head to gore Shadow Ghostwriter. A Shadow Valais steps out of the shadows next to Reggie.

Gore: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 6

Shadow Orin looks Orin in the eye, with the same quizzical expression. Shadow Orin draws a +1 adamantine wakizashi, and attacks Orin. Orin parries, and stabs the shadow back.

Shadow Ghostwriter steps back into the corner, and fires its bow at Valais.

Bow: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Piercing, cold iron: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Will DC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

Shadow Valais attacks Reggie with everything it has.

Gore: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Not enough!

---

Round 2

Ghostwriter
Orin
Reggie
Patros
Fifi
Valais (-9 hp)
Shadow Reggie
Shadow Patros
Shadow Orin (-6 hp)
Shadow Ghostwriter (-15 hp)
Shadow Valais

"Leave mine own shadow to me, friends!" Orin clucks as he strikes out against the evil mirror image of his own person.

Full Attack

+1 Adamantine Wakisashi: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

5 ft step back after melee attacks

MWK Hand Crossbow, PBS: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

The Ghostwriter drops his bow and prepares to shred Valais's shadow with beak and talons.

Claw 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Slashing, magic: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Claw 1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Slashing, magic: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Bite: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
S/B/P, magic: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

"Get ride of my doppelganger Reggie! I can take this one!"

Wow, at least I'm being consistent, I guess.

Fire bolt vs Touch: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 4 = 13
Scimitar dmg: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Fifi lobs another fire bolt at shadow Valais, yelling-"We can do this! Let our light dissipate the darkness!"-and pulling out her scimitar to get ready to enter melee.

Patros slices at the shadow of Valais.

attack: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (12) + 12 = 241d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Reggie is very glad he invested in the best armor and shield he could get his hands on.

"Aight, sounds like a plan to me," he says to the Ghostwriter then has Rowdy shift close enough so that he can stab at the other Ghostwriter with his lance.

+1 lance: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Just think, Ghostwriter, there's only a 1 in 400 chance you'll roll the same thing 3 times in a row on a d20!

Orin attacks up close twice, then steps back and puts a bolt into his shadow self, but the Shadow Orin still stands.

Ghostwriter, Fifi, and Patros team up to take down Shadow Valais.

Reggie stabs Shadow Ghostwriter, dissipating it.

Valais cheers on Orin.

Shadow Orin smirks wickedly. It pulls out a hand crossbow and shoots and arrow at Orin, which he smacks out of the air.

Then it steps forward, slashing with a wakizashi. Orin attempts to parry, but misses. Can you Deflect Arrows and Parry in the same round? It doesn't matter this time but it may in the future.

Shadow Wakizashi: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
DC 16 Will save to disbelieve.

It then bites.

Bite: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage: 1d3 ⇒ 2

The Pathfinders are feeling pretty confident about their chances in this fight. Everyone is watching Orin take down his shadow self, and nobody is watching the far wall ... where another Shadow Valais steps out behind Orin!

Gore: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23 vs FF
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 2
DC 16 Will save, -1 hp on success

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 vs FF
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 2
DC 16 Will save, -1 hp on success

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (5) + 10 = 15 vs FF
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4
DC 16 Will save, -1 hp on success

Round 3!

Ghostwriter
Orin (4 Will saves! -5, -9, -10, -9 hp on fail; -1, -1, -1, -1 hp on success)
Reggie
Patros
Fifi
Valais (-9 hp)
Shadow Reggie
Shadow Patros
Shadow Orin (-17 hp)
Shadow Ghostwriter
Shadow Valais

The Ghostwriter takes a running start and does two backflips in a row as he tumbles into position to strike at the Shadow Orin.

"Imposter! Mountebank! Charlatan!" he cries as he slashes at the illusion.

Acrobatics, tumbling to avoid provoking: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Slashing, magic: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14
Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Will: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Fail, Save, Save, Fail so looks like 5 +1 + 1+ 9= 16 leaving me 20/36

"My my indeed! I shall have to return the favor to you, good, errr, bad sir!"

Orin steps back from the Shadow Vallais to stab at his own shadow self:

+1 Adamantine Wakisashi: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Then, preparing for the Shadow Orin to stab him, fires his crossbow:
MWK Handcrossbow: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 9 + 1 = 22
Damage: 1d4 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Firing my crossbow in melee DOES provoke, I will use a Panache Point to either parry the AOO or parry the first attack in the shadow's next action

20/36 HP, 2/4 Panache

"Can't say my Mama didn't raise no fools, but I ain't one of 'em, y'all. This is really startin' to look like one of them 'this ain't gonna stop' situations," Reggie calls out as another Valais appears.

"Can anybody grab one of them two stones and deactivate whatever's goin' on or do we just gotta smash 'em?"

You have to make hay while the sun shines, though and, since he can't grab either stone, he stabs at the new shadow Valais.

+1 lance: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

"The stone! Somebody get that stone out of the wall!" the Ghostwriter calls out, pointing to the fist shaped black stone wedged onto the wall.

It will take a standard action and a successful Disable Device check to free the black stone (actually, the tip of a wand). Anyone can just grab the pink stone (move action).

Fifi gasps and says-"Reggie's right! The black stone must be causing this! Cinders, I don't think I'd be able to. Let's cover Ghostwriter!"-her last firebolt going for Shadow Orin, this one emanating holy positive energy-"That was the last one! Should I enter?"-asking the group, her scimitar and shield gripped tightly.

Fire bolt vs Touch: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 7 - 4 = 23
Fire damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Fire bolt confirm?: 1d20 + 7 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 4 = 19
Fire damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Ghostwriter takes down Shadow Orin, so I'm redirecting everyone else at Shadow Valais.

Both shadows fall from the onslaught of attacks.

I'm keeping you in initiative even though there are no active combatants.

Round 3!

Ghostwriter
Orin (-16 hp)
Reggie
Patros
Fifi
Valais (-9 hp)
Shadow Reggie
Shadow Patros
Shadow Orin
Shadow Ghostwriter
Shadow Valais

Patros moves to the pink stone and grabs it.

Quickly, Ghost...see what you can do about the other one...

The pink stone can also function as an ioun stone, but since you're in combat, you'll need to make checks to find out what it is.

Shadow Ghostwriter steps out of the shadows once more to face his non-shadow self.

Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Slashing, magic: 1d3 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Shadow Valais steps out of the shadows and faces her non-shadow self.

Gore: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Claw: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 plus Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Will DC 16: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

Her shadow skewers her with a horn.

Round 4!

Ghostwriter
Orin (-16 hp)
Reggie
Patros
Fifi
Valais (-19 hp)
Shadow Reggie
Shadow Patros
Shadow Orin
Shadow Ghostwriter
Shadow Valais

"What Patros said, Ghostwriter. We'll take the heat off. You do what you can with that other stone. An hurry it up, please, my arm's gettin' tired from all this stabbin'."

To put point to point, he stabs at Shadow Ghostwriter after getting Rowdy to move to a more advantageous position.

+1 lance: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Piercing: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

Just checking if Orin didn't happen to get the final blow to get a panache back? Or Patros might have? Just relevant with several swashbucklers.

"Foul shadow Ghostwriter, strike me, not your wholesome mirror self!"

Orin stabs at the new shadow Ghostwriter, then steps back and fires his crossbow.

+1 Adamantine Wakisashi: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

MWK Hand Crossbow: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 + 1 = 28
Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Confirm Wakisashi w/ trait bonus: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 9 + 1 = 17
Extra damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

The Ghostwriter writer steps away from his shadowy self and fishes a set of out of his bandolier.

"Make sure you're hitting the right one!" he shouts as he tries to pry the stone from the wall.

Disable Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

If a prybat looks like it's be more effective, he'll take of his handy Any-Tool instead

Unfortunately, Fifi got the last blow in, so nobody gets panache.

Ghostwriter steps up, and nonchalantly rips the wand off the wall.

The shadows vanish.

End of combat!

---

The wand is a wand of shadow conjuration with 3 charges remaining, and the pink stone is a dusty rose prism ioun stone (+1 AC to the wearer).

Since these items are likely to be useful, I'll let you discuss what to do with them.

"Whoa, Orin! Oh...you said he was 'wholesome' I thought for a second you called him a 'who...' you know what? It don't matter. We won! Sometimes you just gotta know where to apply the pressure," Reggie says.

He shows no interest in the wand but he'll take the stone if no one else wants it. He's pretty hard to hit already, though.

"Aight, then, looks like we got our keys. Back to the locked room?" he says when the loot's been sorted.

Fifi will be glad the trap was disarmed, and enter the room hesitantly-"In the end, sharp wits beat brute force!"-she smiles as she inspects the room, wondering out loud-"Who would trap a room that leads nowhere? Maybe this used to be a vault of some sort?"-taking the time to check for any hidden panels or levers.

Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Not noticing anything, she then approaches Valais and Orin, pulling out her own wand of healing to close their wounds. Her particular wand is made out of copper and has a simple metal flame on the handle. She says-"Let me take care of that, friends. I may have been to slow to react, and let you come in harm's way. Next time I will try to be in the frontlines."-she says as she channels the healing powers of the wand.

CLW Orin: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
CLW Orin: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW Orin: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
CLW Orin: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
CLW Valais: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
CLW Valais: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7
CLW Valais: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

(7 charges marked off!) Fifi agrees with Reggie's proposal and suggests doubling back to the room of illusions.

If multiple people want the ioun stone, I'd be happy to make a roll for you. Or you can just roll a d100 each or something and the highest number gets it.

OR I CAN SET UP PARAMETERS FOR A FREE FOR ALL DEATHMATCH BATTLE ROYALE.

FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT FIGHT

Fifi's healing brings me back to full HP; 6/8 rounds bardic music left, and since I didn't get attacked either of the last two rounds or regain panache still at 3/4

I wouldn't MIND an extra 1 AC, and would roll on it, but I don't need it if the party thinks it would be more useful on someone else.

"Ah, yes, thank you my friend Fifi, for the healing! Yes indeed, I am glad my feathered companion was able to take care of that- we could have prevailed against the shadows anon, but perhaps not ever and anon!"

"Yes, if there is something behind us that may be dangerous, doubling back to take care of it now may be wise."

Ghostwriter could certainly use it also. Maybe the fairest and fastest way to handle that would be just to roll off. Its on the bard list, so Orin can use it. You can throw out so many good spells with that; summon monster, glitterdust, spiked pit, stinking cloud, web, phantom steed. I'm psyched about it.

Well, its saying something that this was probably the least disturbing of all the rooms we've encountered so far. I'll be glad to be away from this place."

Aye...let's get clear of this place...

someone else can use the ioun stone...i'm good...

Reggie: 1d100 ⇒ 71
Fifi: 1d100 ⇒ 4
Orin: 1d100 ⇒ 10
Ghostwriter: 1d100 ⇒ 69

---

The party returns to the inner door.

Crafted of iron and bone, a massive door blocks the way west. A mural of human and animal bones on the walls depicts humans and woodland creatures in a forest. On the left side of the door, humans kneel before a massive tree. Between them is a thumbsized hole. On the right side of the door, a man slits his own throat, blood pooling on the trunk of the tree. In the carving of the bloody pool is another thumb-sized hole.

When the party puts the ioun stones into the sockets, a portion of the tree carving opens to reveal a 4-inch-wide opening, 20 inches deep. At the back of the opening is a handle.

Just as someone is about to reach in and turn the handle, Patros grabs their arm.

"Blades," he points out. A set of well-concealed blades lurks inside the opening, ready to sever the hand of whoever reaches in.

"I suppose I can disarm it, but I might lose some fingers if I mess up. And I happen to be rather fond of my fingers. Anyone have any bright ideas before I stick my hand in there?"

"Anybody got that spell that makes that invisible hand thing?" Reggie asks.

"Or maybe somethin' outta that wand we found?"

Seeing random dice rolled...and getting the highest number...makes me nervous.

"Ah, yes, let me see- if we all back up here I can send something in to handle this!"

Looks like Unseen Servant is the best option since even up to Summon Monster 3 its sketchy on things having hands; use 1 charge from the wand to mimic Unseen servant and command the illusory servant to trigger the trap with the party standing back

Orin summons a shadowy unseen servant, who reaches into the door. It turns the handle, unlatching the door, just before the blades scissor across and slice its arm off. It looks back at the party with puppy dog eyes and mouths, "Why?" as it dissipates.

---

Scorched earth and burned grass cover this round chamber’s floor. In the center of the room stands a tall tree, its blackened bark seeping blood-red sap and its branches twisted and thorny. Glowing silvery runes circle the base of the tree. At the base of the tree lays a lithe, bronze-skinned man missing his left arm, a puddle of blood pooled beneath him. His right hand lies just inside the circle, and a single word is scratched in the dirt near his fingertips.

"How did a tree grow in here? Or grass, for that matter? And what burned it?" Reggie says as he takes a look at the room.

He rides around the perimeter to get closer to the corpse on the floor. It might be rude but he prods the body with his lance, just seeing if it's really dead (and not undead.) Before trying to read the word etched into the dirt.

The Ghostwriter uses one of his shield scrolls on himself before opening the door.

Linguistics: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (12) + 18 = 30

The Ghostwriter takes out his bow, nocking the demon slaying arrow as he skirts the opposite edge of the room.

Stealth if there is concealment or cover: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

There is absolutely no cover in this room, aside from the giant tree in the middle which gives cover to the far side of the room.

Reggie circles around the room, poking at the unconscious man with his lance. He appears to be unconscious, but stable. From a closer distance, Reggie can make out the scrawled word in the dirt - "gretaak."

Orin follows into the room, cautiously, juggling the wand along with his sword and crossbow, keeping all three at the ready.

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

"Ah! I do not believe that this gentleman was the one who wrote the word?"

Sorry, map is not loading for me right now- I'm intending to move forward about a single move into the room in the direction of the writing

Fifi will enter the room right behind Reggie, and check the man for any signs of who he is. She stabilizes his head and checks for weapons, notes or tattoos which might show light on what he'd be doing here.

After putting his weapons behind her and making sure she's not standing in front of someone dangerous, she will ask the group-"I will try to bring him back to his senses. Let's try not to alarm him."-as she draws her wand and applies it to his wounds.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
(Fifi knows this might cause trouble, so if any of the party opposes to her healing the man, she will hold off for the moment.)

LOL, more of you have Knowledge (nobility) than Knowledge (planes)!

None of you are able to identify the "person." He seems like an outsider.

Fifi taps him with her wand of cure light wounds, which heals his wounds a little, but not enough to bring him to consciousness.

A voice echoes throughout the chamber.

“Mortals, bow before the sacred heartwood tree. Touch the bark and utter the sacred incantation written in the dirt. Then retrieve my staff, leave the circle, and present it before me. Only then can I take corporeal form.”

In case there's some confusion as to when you failed a Will save, it was the DC 19 Will save when you first entered the left corridor ... quite the long con.

Patros and Valais watch in horror as Reggie, Fifi, Orin, and Ghostwriter all approach the tree to obey. However, as Ghostwriter approaches within 10' of the tree, he bumps into a wall of force that prevents him from getting any closer.

See Slide 7. I found it too difficult to move Rowdy and Reggie, so I created a zoomed-in map. I'm also rolling for initiative and putting people into initiative order, although combat has not begun.

Round 1

Patros
Ghostwriter (charmed)
Orin (charmed)
Valais
Reggie (charmed)
Fifi (charmed)

Patros, if you want to delay to see what the charmed individuals do, I'm fine with that - and also, if everyone wants to vote on what Valais should do, I'm okay with that as well (she succeeded her Will save so she's not charmed).

This charm makes a humanoid creature regard you as its trusted friend and ally (treat the target’s attitude as friendly). If the creature is currently being threatened or attacked by you or your allies, however, it receives a +5 bonus on its saving throw.

The spell does not enable you to control the charmed person as if it were an automaton, but it perceives your words and actions in the most favorable way. You can try to give the subject orders, but you must win an opposed Charisma check to convince it to do anything it wouldn’t ordinarily do. (Retries are not allowed.) An affected creature never obeys suicidal or obviously harmful orders, but it might be convinced that something very dangerous is worth doing. Any act by you or your apparent allies that threatens the charmed person breaks the spell. You must speak the person’s language to communicate your commands, or else be good at pantomiming.

Emphasis mine just so everyone is clear on what the exit criterion is. Right now, you are not being threatened, and you haven't been asked to do anything absurd; you'll get an opposed Charisma check if the requests get funky, and the spell will break if you are threatened.

"This should be Lakarthis! Is he trapped inside the tree? We should free him, and let him speak to us in the flesh"-she says smiling.

Perception: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16

Yeah, I haven't seen a lot of scenarios use charm person. Kind of exciting.

"What do we have to lose? We should at least see what Lakarthis has to say. I feel like we owe him that much, at least."

The Ghostwriter is surprised when he runs into the wall of force. "I can't seem to get past this...it may be some kind of force effect."

Perception: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

"Curious, Ghostwriter. . . some force is preventing you. It has judged your soul, perhaps?"

Orin stows his crossbow, continuing to flip the wand and sword between his two hands as he approaches. Kneeling, he reaches out and touches the bark of the tree, feeling it beneath his talons.

"Yes, Fifi, Lakarthis is our dear friend, we should be glad to see him as he suggest. . .gretaak?"

Orin frowns, "I am not certain I am saying this correctly? Greetack?"

"Aw, Man! I think you're right! I think Lakarthis must be trapped in this tree! Who would even do that to him? He's such a good guy. Sure, he has his faults, but don't we all?"

Reggie guides Rowdy up to the tree (or force field if it's between him and the tree) then slides out of the saddle.

"I think it's like this 'greetaaahk'" he says, kneeling and reaching out, his drawl rounding out and lengthening all the vowels an extra little bit.

Going to delay Patros.

The tree groans and shudders as it begins collapsing on itself, condensing from a magnificent tree into a twisted staff. Picture of the charwood staff on Slide 3.

Orin, the quickest, snatches the staff and brings it outside the circle, laying it on the ground.

"That should do it!"

Valais watches the party retrieve the staff and starts to object.

"I don't know about this, maybe YOU SHOULD GIVE IT TO ME."

Her kalavakus arm reaching forward, Valais lurches toward the staff, snatching it from Orin, and raising it triumphantly.

"BOW BEFORE LAKTHARIS! BOW BEFORE YOUR GOD!"

Reggie and Fifi immediately get down on the ground and bow. Mechanically, you'll begin the fight prone.

"YES, BOW BEFORE ME, MORTALS. THOSE WHO DO NOT BEND THE KNEE WILL HAVE THEIR KNEES REMOVED."

A kalavakus demon appears, clinging to the ceiling (+30') on the far side of the room. He waves his hand, and Orin feels himself being pulled in Ghostwriter's direction.

This is an aggressive action, so I'm breaking Laktharis' invisibility and all the charms. Orin will need to make a Will save to resist being thrown; if he fails, Ghostwriter and Orin will both be prone.

Round 1

Ghostwriter
Orin (DC 18 Will save)
Valais (controlled)
Reggie (prone)
Fifi (prone)
Laktharis
Patros

Bringing Patros out of delay.

huh...thought i posted on the weekend...might have been dreaming...lol

sense motive: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

She's succumbing to the taint of her demon parts. Snap out of it, Valais! You can do this. Fight it with all you have!

diplomacy: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24

Patros then readies to fend off any attack. after moving up.

I'm just going to roll Valais's Will saves in the open, there are too many secret rolls in this scenario!

Valais Will, 1 aid: 1d20 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 7 + 2 = 11

Valais opens her mouth, but she and Laktharis speak simultaneously. "VALAIS IS WEAK. MORTALS ARE WEAK. I AM STRONG."

Round 2

Ghostwriter (pending Orin's Will save)
Orin (DC 18 Will save)
Valais (controlled)
Reggie (prone)
Fifi (prone)
Laktharis
Patros

Will Save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

Sleight of Hand Check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30

Looks like I fail the will save to fall prone, but maintain juggling the wand & sword. Do I need to make some sort of check to break out of charm now or was that hostile enough that I automatically do?

That was an aggressive action, nobody is charmed. Both you and Ghostwriter are prone.

Round 2, the fight can actually begin now!

Ghostwriter (prone)
Orin (prone)
Valais (controlled)
Reggie (prone)
Fifi (prone)
Laktharis
Patros

Orin stands up, "Wait! This isn't friendly at all!?! I have been deceived!"

He then taps the wand and casts shadow conjuration duplicating summon monster iii. So- Shadow Conjuration seems to have casting time of 1 standard action even if duplicating a spell with longer