Wraith dismounts and kneels next to the fallen warrior. "A man's strength is not held in his arms. Much of what we face outmatches us. We get knocked down. Where our strength lies is getting back up. We persevere when those we face do not. Duty. Honor. Courage. These are the foundations that hold us up. That allows us to stand against the spawn we face and continue the challenge for our brothers and sisters who no longer can."
With patient words from Ny'a and Wraith, Sir Ilivan slowly comes to his senses. At least to a degree.
The knight stands up and shakily tries to mount his horse. Slipping in the stirrup, his feet hit the ground and he stumbles, barely keeping his footing.
"no, no, I am fine," he mumbles, as he once again tries to mount.
This part is an RP encounter of course... what do you do?
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Pau will silently help the man onto his steed. He wasn’t one for soothing hurt feelings, especially when the man offered no help to when they lost their friends earlier.
Wraith moves her mount to the other side of the veteran's horse, holding the reins. Other than that, she merely offers silent support so as not to shame the man.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Iomedae 5 | HP: 44/44 | AC: 24 23 (13 12 Tch, 22 Fl) | CMD: 18 17 (16 Fl) | F: +12 +11, R: +9 +7, W: +10 +9 | Init: +2 +1 | Perc: +1, SM +4 | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: cloak of resistance +2, belt of incredible dexterity +2, nexus crystal, protection from evil
"Sir Ilvan," Ny'a says from the ground, doing the best she can to help him into the saddle. "We're all here for you, this is going to be fine. Iomedae watches over all her followers, and she won't abandon you. I'm here, and it's becoming clear to me that this is no mistake. I can tell that the enchantment is done, both with my poor little doggo here, and with you--but you're still in distress. My words seemed to comfort you earlier, so keep focusing on my voice. I'm here to help; what can I--what can Iomedae--do for you?"
I'm kind of grasping here. Short of magical aid, which doesn't seem to be this group's strength, I'm hoping that Sir Ilvan can help us help him. This is quite the scenario, for sure!
Sir Ilivan takes note of Ny'a. He sits down heavily on the ground and begins to talk, choking back tears.
"This is not... not the first time the Worldwound has... got into my mind..."
He breaks into sobs. After a few moments he regains enough composure to continue speaking.
"I killed them. Two of my own platoon. A married couple, a wizard and a ranger, dedicated to the Crusades and to each other. It was in the Fourth Mendevian Crusade. Possessed by a Shadow Demon.
The rest the platoon should have killed me. Instead they restrained me.
Priests of Iomedae were able to exorcise the fiend. Part of the ritual... sprinkling with holy water like the dwarf did." He nods to Silgil.
"But holy water can't fix what is wrong with me now. Spells can't fix it. I still hear their screams. I still see their faces as I cut them down. Every night. My will was not strong enough. And they are not the only ones I failed. Everybody else I lost, before then or since..."
He stands, wiping his eyes. "I am not fit for command. Haven't been for a long time. I have walls... no empathy... cut myself off from it... I just couldn't handle the pain anymore. But without empathy, my decisions are flawed. We are not automatons. We are supposed to have souls. I will tender my resignation at the end of the mission."
So, this is what the scenario is all about. Sir Ilivan has extensive psychological damage from 17 years of war against demons, but most notable are his lack of empathy and his fear of losing control. He did not merely have hurt feelings from failing a save, but pretty much a fantasy analogue to a PTSD flashback.
Treating him with compassion helps avoid the worst outcome.
He mounts up, successfully this time. "Let us continue on. Thank you."
He does seem better now. At least able to continue on the mission.
As you continue your trek, the ground beneath you begins to blister and form sickly flesh-like pustules as large as 3 feet in diameter, coinciding with a light rain of human teeth from the sky.
The optional encounter is a pair of wasp swarms. Anybody want to do this one? No? They are specially modified, they take damage from Holy Water! Still no? Okay. Stupid swarms.
The demon lord Deskari sends his regards, as biting flies and wasps harass you. Their bites and stings are not numerous enough to cause injury, but are still painful.
A dry, narrow gulch follows a dried-up creek bed appears to have been the site of numerous battles. Rusted weapons, broken arrows, and the occasional skull are strewn about the landscape. The walls of the gulch narrow, creating a natural choke point about 40' wide. A small army could hold off a larger one here, and by the debris, such conflicts likely happened many times in the past.
You can't see the demons and prisoners yet, but from the tracks, you can tell you are getting close. The tracks are very recent. They show the prisoners first stumbling and staggering, then being dragged. There are some blood trails and spatters as well.
Do you approach with speed - openly and on your mounts, to catch up as quickly as possible - or with stealth? Or do you do something else?
If you ask Sir Ilivan:
"I would say speed is of the essence. But I will defer to your decisions here."
Once I know how you approach, I will set up the encounter.
"Though I am usually a proponent for stealth, I believe our earlier encounter shows just how quickly these monsters can ruin a man. We need to risk exposure if we are to have a chance. What say the rest of you?"
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Pau closes his eyes, trying to ignore the insects feasting on his flesh. ”You know that there’s probably an 80% chance the demons are luring us into this kill zone to spring a trap. But, wraith is right, the longer we dally, the more likely our rescue will not result in anything but failure. I say we speed ahead,” the monk says, hating his decision already.
"Well, I am certainly not trained in that sort of thing. Of course, I am not going to try to get close this time. What I can do is provide one of you with a morale boost that will help you do so and also help you in combat. It lasts a couple of hours. I can also use that spell I used before that speeds you up, though it lasts less than a minute. And I have a single casting of the spell that boots your strength. That one will last a little over 10 minutes. But after that I will be of very limited benefit. The point is, I do not factor into your deliberations."
Hmm, well, see the situation and decide. Don't forget that readying to interrupt SLAs is an option.
Everybody else, please say what you would like from Silgil before you move into the gulch. It sounds like he is offering one Heroism and one Bull's Strength, as well as a Haste on the party on the round you move in.
The party has 3 potions of Shield of Faith (CL6, so +3 for 6 minutes; Pau already claimed one) and 2 potions of Cure Moderate Wounds. Wraith and Ny'a both bought Oil of Bless Weapon, which will last for 1 minute. Pau bought two Oil of Align Weapon (Good), which will last for 3 minutes.
You know that the lead demon, the Brimorak, has DR 5/cold iron or good. I think you can all bypass that DR, so the Bless Weapon would be most useful for the auto-confirm ability.
Yep. what he said about the spells. I'm thinking Nya is the best bet for the bull's strength as she is strength based and has no enhancement. I'm thinking Pao for the heroism because of the sheer number of attacks it will help and the fact that he is most likely to survive with the biggest HP.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Iomedae 5 | HP: 44/44 | AC: 24 23 (13 12 Tch, 22 Fl) | CMD: 18 17 (16 Fl) | F: +12 +11, R: +9 +7, W: +10 +9 | Init: +2 +1 | Perc: +1, SM +4 | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: cloak of resistance +2, belt of incredible dexterity +2, nexus crystal, protection from evil
"Some kind of enhanced strength would definitely help me. Iomedae will be behind my blade as well, but anything helps."Ny'a would love the bull's strength you mentioned earlier, and she will definitely drink the shield of faith potion provided, but not until their foes are in sight.
Prior to moving in, then, when it looks like they are but a minute away or so, Silgil will cast a heroism on Pau (1 hour duration) and an extended Bull's strength on Ny'a (12 minute duration). When the demons come in view, he will cast an extended haste (12 round duration) on the group (thus using up the last chare in his LMR of extend).
Once you can see the demons, they can see you and initiative is rolled. Just the way this scenario is set up. If Silgil and Ny'a still wish to take their 'once the demons come into view' actions, of casting Haste and drinking the potion, they can, but they will not be obligated to. Circumstances may suggest a different course of action.
Arrange yourselves in the black square as you see fit to start.
Two Dretch demons guard eight manacled Mendevian soldiers. The soldiers look exhausted, bloody, and only semi-conscious. They are Helpless.
A smaller fiery demon that appears to be the leader sees you. He shouts at one of the Dretches and points at the captives, then shouts at the other and points to you.
Abyssal:
"You - kill the prisoners. You - kill the new ones."
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Iomedae 5 | HP: 44/44 | AC: 24 23 (13 12 Tch, 22 Fl) | CMD: 18 17 (16 Fl) | F: +12 +11, R: +9 +7, W: +10 +9 | Init: +2 +1 | Perc: +1, SM +4 | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: cloak of resistance +2, belt of incredible dexterity +2, nexus crystal, protection from evil
Before the group is quite in sight of the demons and prisoners, Ny'a turns to Sir Ilvan from her mount. "Sir Ilvan, I think we have an idea of what we're going to do; what is your plan? We should coordinate as much as possible."
Can we get an idea of what Sir Ilvan plans to do for his actions in the combat, at least here in the first couple of rounds?
Ny'a downs her potion when she sees the demons. "In the name of Iomedae, The Inheritor, Light of the Sword, I will strike you down!" On "you," she leans the tip of her lance towards the dretch at the front.
Quickly turning to her companions she makes a request. "Whatever you do, leave me a charging lane!" Tightening her grip, she prepares to charge.
The haste should the 4 PCs, Sir Ilvan, and get Ny'a's mount as well. but I'm not seeing Sir Ilvan on the map or in the initiative. Is he not participating?
Wraith and Pau evade the flames entirely.
Ny'a and Sir Ilivan's mount take the full force of the blast.
Ny'a's riding dog and Sir Ilivan dodge somewhat, but not entirely.
The hair on Silgil's beard is singed, as he is just beyond the edge of the Fireball.
Sir Ilivan looks to charge the Brimorak, but then he hears something and turns his head.
"Do you see that?"
He points to the north. A dust cloud seems to be moving. There is a faint rumbling.
Everyone except Silgil can see discernable figures in the cloud - a gang of oncoming demons.
"Perhaps it was a trap. Or just bad luck. Rescue the soldiers. I will hold off the reinforcements."
"For Mendev and Golarion!" he shouts as he rides off, his lance lowered.
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Pau accepts the heroism spell and also quaffs the potion of shield of faith. He moves 10’ to the south and then 20’ west towards the demons. He’d learned about running off completely ahead of the party and wanted to leave the charge lane open.
The Dretch in back claws at the neck of one of the prisoners.
CdG damage:2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 4) + 2 = 8 Fort Save DC 18:1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24
The captured crusader thrashes, but his body is still moving.
The Dretch looks to try again.
The other Dretch starts concentrating on a spell-like ability.
While he does have Stinking Cloud and that would be advantageous, he also has an Int of 5, and I assume you the players are sick of cloud spells at this point. So he will do a different thing.
Once agan Silgil finds himself in the unusual position of having to get into melee range in order to protect innocents. He rushes forward but finds himself unable to get anywhere that might do some good, so he pauses for a moment to prepare a magic missile spell.
if that annoying fellow with the spells tries anything, well, spell like, he will blast him with a magic missile spell.
mm damage:3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 3, 2) + 3 = 12
If he is engaged he will cast defensively.
concentration, DC 17:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15
character portfolio reroll if needed
concentration, DC 17:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Ny'a lowers her lance to charge even as the fireball explodes over her and her dog. As the smell of severely burned hair wafts up, she almost arrests the charge, but the fireball didn't magically cause the soldiers to be rescued. Some actions are just worth the risk.
She pinches her knees together and guides the dog forward, swiftly, her lance point bearing down unerringly on the dretch in front.
Actions:
Free: Ride (guide with knees) DC 5:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7 Double move (riding dog): charge 80' Full round (Ny'a): charge attack vs. red
I think I have that math right. There's a small chance I interpreted the doubled paladin level from a first attack with smite evil a bit leniently... but I also checked a rules forum post and I think it does multiply from the lance charge and crit the way I have it calculated. Too bad the crit likely doesn't confirm.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Iomedae 5 | HP: 44/44 | AC: 24 23 (13 12 Tch, 22 Fl) | CMD: 18 17 (16 Fl) | F: +12 +11, R: +9 +7, W: +10 +9 | Init: +2 +1 | Perc: +1, SM +4 | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: cloak of resistance +2, belt of incredible dexterity +2, nexus crystal, protection from evil
Since (almost) everyone described in their post that they were avoiding her charge lane--as requested--I didn't check the map before posting. I just put her movement on the map, and it looks like Silgil's little magic missile pause is RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HER CHARGE. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Maybe Silgil just got a PvP lance (minus the smite evil) in the back.
Silgil is indeed blocking your charge lane, and I tend to resolve "block initiative" in posting order. However, you can still have your mount take a double move and you get a single attack. That will not get the double damage, but you still do enough to kill the Dretch. The crit does in fact confirm.
Ny'a has to move around Silgil, but still manages to skewer the Dretch, killing it.
Ny'a, with the reroll, you took 11 damage rather than 22 from the Fireball.
The Brimorak inhales and breathes out a line of boiling blood at Ny'a.
Breath Weapon, not a (Sp), so Silgil's readied action does not trigger. This is not because the Brimorak knew that Silgil was readying (he doesn't know that), but because his breath weapon is his second-best attack, and in his tactics.
Ny'a again dodges some of the attack, but her poor dog is killed instantly. It would now be at 32 damage taken, and has only 13 HP.
The Brimorak howls with laughter.
Recharge:1d4 ⇒ 3
Ny'a Ride:1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15
Ny'a lands on her feet, ready to avenge her faithful steed.
However, she cannot wield the lance one-handed on foot, so next round she will need to either drop the shield, or drop the lance and draw another weapon.
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Iomedae 5 | HP: 44/44 | AC: 24 23 (13 12 Tch, 22 Fl) | CMD: 18 17 (16 Fl) | F: +12 +11, R: +9 +7, W: +10 +9 | Init: +2 +1 | Perc: +1, SM +4 | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: cloak of resistance +2, belt of incredible dexterity +2, nexus crystal, protection from evil
GM Aldizog wrote:
...
Ny'a again dodges some of the attack, but her poor dog is killed instantly. It would now be at 32 damage taken, and has only 13 HP.
...
Ny'a lands on her feet, ready to avenge her faithful steed.
However, she cannot wield the lance one-handed on foot, so next round she will need to either drop the shield, or drop the lance and draw another weapon.
Original plan was to send the dog away after the charge, and the lance was only intended as a single attack, followed by a switch to her longsword. So not much change to her tactics from a practical sense... but Ny'a will have some conflicted emotions in this battle now!
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
For some reason, my map hasn’t changed since I posted. But it sounds like Nya is in melee after her double move, so assuming that is right, Pau will double move to support her. I don’t think I can attack after double moving with Haste bonuses.
Since (almost) everyone described in their post that they were avoiding her charge lane--as requested--I didn't check the map before posting. I just put her movement on the map, and it looks like Silgil's little magic missile pause is RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE OF HER CHARGE. Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr!!! Maybe Silgil just got a PvP lance (minus the smite evil) in the back.
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
GM Aldizog wrote:
@Pau, your Hasted move is 80'? A double move would get you to the Brimorak, and it looks like you have a charge lane if you want to charge and attack.
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Pau sprints forward with his magical cold iron sai and swings it at the lead demon.
Silgil makes his way towards the dretch on assassination duty, but does not attack. Once again he prepares to cast a MM on the caster in an attempt to interrupt anything he might try.
concentration, DC 17:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14
character portfolio reroll if needed
concentration, DC 17:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25 mm damage:3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 2, 3) + 3 = 12
Female LG Gnome Paladin of Iomedae 5 | HP: 44/44 | AC: 24 23 (13 12 Tch, 22 Fl) | CMD: 18 17 (16 Fl) | F: +12 +11, R: +9 +7, W: +10 +9 | Init: +2 +1 | Perc: +1, SM +4 | Speed 15ft | Active conditions: cloak of resistance +2, belt of incredible dexterity +2, nexus crystal, protection from evil
Ny'a lets her now useless lance clatter to the ground, pushing thoughts of her poor little pupper out of her mind. Can't think about that now. He's fine. Just singed and scared. I'd play dead too, if I didn't have the spirit of Iomedae driving me. Seeing that Pau was engaging the leader, she tries to get over to the executioner, stumbling through and over the huddled prisoners.
Actions:
Free: drop lance Double move: 30', drawing longsword
Moving as if the prisoners are counted as allies with regards to moving through their squares. If they are, instead, difficult terrain, please move her back a square.
@Silgil, never mind, I thought you were placing yourself adjacent to the Dretch on execution duty.
@Ny'a, that is fine. I believe helpless creatures do not impair your movement. I think a reasonable GM could rule differently, especially given a significant size difference (like Ny'a needing to climb over a sleeping ogre), but in this case it is fine. The soldiers don't entirely fill a 5' square.
Wraith hits the lead demon hard.
The Brimorak steps out of the flank and tries to use a spell-like ability.
Silgil's spell goes off, and darts of force streak towards the demon...
Silgil SR check:1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
...to no effect.
Core Monk 7 | AC (24/25v Evil)/19/(23)17 | HP 59/59 | Ki pool 6/6 | 50’ Movement | F+9, R+9, W+9 | +2 vs. Enchantment spells and effects)(immune to all diseases) | Init+2 |Perception + 13| Evasion |
Pau keeps up the assault on the demon With his cold iron blade,hoping if nothing else to provide a good flank so Wraith can keep dishing out the damage.
Do I need to take a 5’ step to the south east, to flank I will.
Does Silgil have a weapon in hand to threaten the Dretch?
He has a masterwork battle axe, which he exchanged for the rod of extend as soon as it was possible. Though he will probably drop it and pull his wand of magic missiles as soon as his own MM run out. And, as you noticed, he did not have the movement to threaten the dretch and ready his MM attack too so it is moot at this point.
since he did not need to make a concentration check to fire off the MM spell, I will use his portfolio reroll on the caster level check to get past the SR.
Sadly, the prisoner who made the Fort saves on 2 Coup de Grace attempts does end up bleeding out from the raw damage. He had 2 HP before the CdG attempts started, then took 15 damage, and only had 14 Con.
