GM MattMorris Doom of Cassomir (Inactive)

Game Master ChesterCopperpot

Mirza follows Doryg's swordtip and scowls, preparing himself emotionally for the task of crossing the slime.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

The slime is too gross.

Izkazk Strides forward 1 action, eying the large frog. "Your pet is big. But we have bigger in Absalom's sewers."

They raise their shortbow and take two shots in rapid succession. First Strike: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 1 = 91d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
First Strike Hero Point: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 = 151d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
Second Strike: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 + 1 = 141d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

You close in on the pair, but they seem unshaken by your attempts at intimidation.

Izkazk sinks one arrow into the slurk, which cloaks in pain.

There's no evidence of Ahksiva, but Little Zura hops toward the crew and spits a ball of slime at Izkazk.
slime squirt: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

The slime sticks to the kobolds clothes, weapons, and skin! Gross.
A creature struck by a slurk’s slime squirt
becomes clumsy 1 and takes a –5-foot penalty to Speed
for 1 hour or until the slime is removed. The slime can
be removed with a total of three Interact actions by the
entangled creature or creatures adjacent to the creature.
These actions don’t need to be consecutive or made by the
same creature.

Bold May Act
Group Buff: Inspire Courage
~+~Combat Round 2~+~
Mira
Doryg
Cultist
Izkazk
Pyrexius (-6)
Ahksiva
Little Zura (-6)
Ink

~+~Combat Round 3~+~
Mira
Doryg
Cultist
Izkazk
Pyrexius (-6)

Battlefield Conditions: Green squares are uneven ground due to the slime that is in them. Acrobatics DC 17 to Balance across them. (Success=Move as if they are difficult terrain, Failure=No progress, Critical Failure=You fall and your turn ends.)
Map

"...we creep with bated breath..." Ink continues, her voice rich and musical despite her obvious uncertainty as she recites her poem. She hesitates for a moment upon seeing the slime splatter Izkazk, but her fastidious nature asserts itself—that stuff looks disgusting! Instead the gloomy gnome decides to put a different talent to work. Ink moves closer to the action despite her trepidation and sniffs at the air, trying to pick out the scent of the mysterious prophet.

Ink casts inspire courage, then moves up and Seeks. If she gets a pinpoint fix on the prophet, she'll pass that information on to the others as accurately as possible.

Reactions: If an enemy uses a harmful auditory or visual effect on Ink or her allies, she casts counter performance (Performance +7). If Ink is attacked directly, she uses Empathetic Plea to try to halt the attack.

Effects: Ink and all allies within 60 feet gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects.

Mirza braces himself, putting a tentative foot down into the slime again.

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Ready to successfully move across the real nasty slime ground, Mirza Seeks (1-action) out the prophet.

Perception to Seek: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22

(I think that succeeds?) He Strides (1-action) across the slime next to the prophet and makes a Strike (1-action) against her.

Strike with Rapier: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

(Pretty sure that misses, but if it doesn't...) Rapier Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 = 10

(Map updated.)

Ink continues to encourage the party, and Mirza manages to locate Ahksiva and attack--though his rapier strike misses.

~+~Combat Round 3~+~
Mira
Doryg
Cultist
Izkazk
Pyrexius (-6)
Ahksiva
Little Zura (-6)
Ink

Battlefield Conditions: Green squares are uneven ground due to the slime that is in them. Acrobatics DC 17 to Balance across them. (Success=Move as if they are difficult terrain, Failure=No progress, Critical Failure=You fall and your turn ends.)
Map

"The dragon is coming from you!" Pyrexius roars. He launches himself across the slime, nearly falling, before catching himself and closing on the prophet.

Action 1: Demoralize
Action 2: Slip 'n' Stride
Action 3: Stride

Intimidation (trained) to Demoralize; +1 vs. creatures my level or lower: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Let me know if that gets me panache, please
Acrobatics (trained): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Acrobatics (trained): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

I'm assuming I know vaguely where the prophet is, based on others' actions. If not, you can relocate me.

You are fine assuming you know where she is, as Mirza just stabbed at that square. Unfortunely, no panache. She's a hard one to scare.

Bit crowded over there...
Doryg slides behind a nearby corner, hoping to draw Little Zura out and strike at the beast.
Action 1: Stride

"Ha! You think slime bothers the Ankle Biter? Sewer Dragons bath in goop worse than this!" Undeterred by the mucus, Izkazk marks Little Zura as their hunted prey 1 action and fires their shortbow twice, picking arrows through the muck.

First Strike: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 7
Second Strike: 1d20 + 1 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 - 1 = 2

As the arrows clatter uselessly to the floor mere inches from leaving the bow string, the kobold hisses. "Well, I suppose it has been a while since I did train..."

From out of the veil of invisibility, Ahksiva strikes at Pyrexius with a clawed hand.
claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 for slashing: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

She hisses as her strike goes wide. "You DARE to threaten me?!"
claw: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 4 = 10 for slashing: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9
claw: 1d20 + 12 - 8 ⇒ (5) + 12 - 8 = 9 for slashing: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Her wild attacks miss you!

Little Zura, meanwhile, hops on up to Doryg. The investigator connects with his rapier, but there's little force behind the blow.

The giant frog bites at Doryg.
tusk: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15 for piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
tusk: 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 9 - 5 = 12 for piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
I think those are both misses!

Bold May Act
Group Buff: Inspire Courage
~+~Combat Round 3~+~
Mira
Doryg
Cultist
Izkazk
Pyrexius (-6)
Ahksiva
Little Zura (-6)
Ink

~+~Combat Round 4~+~
Mira
Doryg
Izkazk
Pyrexius

Battlefield Conditions: Green squares are uneven ground due to the slime that is in them. Acrobatics DC 17 to Balance across them. (Success=Move as if they are difficult terrain, Failure=No progress, Critical Failure=You fall and your turn ends.)
Map

Ink pauses in the middle of her poem as the prophet shimmers into view. Improvising a new pair of stanzas on the spur of the moment, the gloomy gnome more rapidly recites, "...and all around the corpse-lights flit, leading fools to death!"

Around Ink, three wisps of pale green-blue light flicker into existence, floating almost leisurely—yet with a grim inevitability like that of Groetus himself—to impact the increasingly monstrous prophet with implosive blows of spectral energy.

Ink spends three actions to cast magic missile, all targeting Ahksiva!

force damage: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3, 2) + 3 = 9

"You DARE to attack me?!" Pyrexius retorts. "I'm going to get you, and your little slurk too!"

He directs the latter toward Little Zura as he slashes again at the cult leader.

Intimidation (trained) to Demoralize; +1 vs. creatures my level or lower: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Rapier: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11
Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Action 1: Demoralize vs. Little Zura
Action 2: Strike
Action 3: Dueling Parry (+2 to AC)

Yeah, looks like I can't Demoralize anything, which means I can't get panache. Grr! Also need to remember that enemies become immune to Demoralize for 10 minutes after an attempt, which will affect how I use panache...

Mirza holds his rapier upright and clasps his hands together at its hilt, casting Bless (2-actions). "Everbloom, steel our courage and guide our blades against Cassomir's architect of doom."

He returns to a dueling stance and Strikes (1-action) while the prophet has her back turned.

Rapier strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 (flanking) for Slashing: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 3) + 3 = 12

(Bless is only a 5-foot emanation for now, so it won't reach Pyrexius until I can extend its reach on my next turn. I will be extending Bless unless things go majorly sideways and I need to do a 3-action Heal, though.)

Izkazk gnaws at the slime on their body, lapping some of it up 1 action twoard clearing the clumsy. They then turn their attention back to Little Zura. "Leave the smart one alone, frog!"
First Strike: 1d20 + 6 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 - 1 = 121d6 ⇒ 1
Second Strike: 1d20 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (7) + 2 - 1 = 81d6 ⇒ 5

"Sorry, big boy, you're just too predictable."
Doryg ducks and weaves around Little Zura's tusks, sliding to the left for a better angle. "Too predictable, and too tender... right... there!"
He jabs the sword cane into the soft flesh where the creature's leg meets its abdomen.

Action 1: Step
Action 2: Devise a Stratagem plus Inspire Courage: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14 Gonna hero point that...
Reroll!: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22
Action 3: Strike!: 1d6 ⇒ 2 piercing plus 1d6 ⇒ 1 precision damage. (don't have to roll to hit 'cause I use the result from Devise a Stratagem)

Magic flares from Ink's fingers and strikes Ahkshiva, while Mirza strikes the momentarily distracted foe. The two kobolds and the gnome concentrate their attention on the sticky slurk. Pyrexius shakes the creature, while Izkazk fires at it and Doryg finds a sensitive spot to stab.

That does successfully Demoralize the slurk, who isn't as strong willed as the prophet.

Not liking the position she's in, the prophet Strides back, then opens her mouth wide, unleashing a foul cloud of vapor that washes over Mirza and Pyrexius.
Fortitude saves, please.

Little Zura chomps at Doryg again, striking out with her tusks.
Frightened 1
tusk: 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 9 - 1 = 26 for piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 2 = 7
tusk: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 5 ⇒ (14) + 9 - 1 - 5 = 17 for piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
tusk: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 10 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 1 - 10 = 15 for piercing: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Does that 17 hit, Andrew?

Bold May Act
Group Buff: Inspire Courage
~+~Combat Round 4~+~
Mira
Doryg
Cultist
Izkazk
Pyrexius (-6)
Ahksiva (-21)
Little Zura (-10)
Ink

~+~Combat Round 5~+~
Mira
Doryg (-7, -5?)
Izkazk
Pyrexius

Battlefield Conditions: Green squares are uneven ground due to the slime that is in them. Acrobatics DC 17 to Balance across them. (Success=Move as if they are difficult terrain, Failure=No progress, Critical Failure=You fall and your turn ends.)
Map

It does not! And thankfully that 26 doesn’t crit, either.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

Mirza grits his teeth, steeling himself against the cloud of vapor. He concentrates on the Blessing spell, extending its reach (1-action), then Strides to close with the prophet again (1-action), Striking with his rapier (1-action).

Rapier strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 for Piercing: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 4) + 3 = 10

(We're probably close to the end so I'm going to use a hero point to reroll this strike)

Rapier strike: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25 for 10 piercing damage

(Fingers crossed Pyrexius can tumble through to the other side of the prophet, get panache, and then attack from flanking)

Effects: Bless, +1 status bonus to attack rolls for allies within a 10-foot ematanion

Noting how heavily things have tilted into close combat, Ink revises her strategy. Tapping into her occult learnings, Ink begins to speak another poem... and then stops. The words do not stop when her lips stop moving, though; instead, the shadows around her coalesce into a shadowy parallel-Ink who continues to recite the poem. "Search for me when sun is gone... and moon has donned his veil..."

Ink spends a free action casting lingering composition, followed by one action casting inspire courage.

Performance: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21 Should be easily a success, but not a critical one.

Then Ink refocuses her attention on the prophet. She doesn't expect much of the spell, but it might work until she can summon more ghost-wisps. With a cold murmur and a flick of her fingers, Ink sends a pulse of mental energy into the prophet's mind.

Ink spends two actions casting daze on Ahksiva. Will DC 17!

Reactions: If Ink is attacked directly by Little Zura, she uses Empathetic Plea to try to halt the attack.

Effects: Ink and all allies within 60 feet gain a +1 status bonus to attack rolls, damage rolls, and saves against fear effects for the next three rounds.

Will: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Ink's spell and Mirza's strike both do some damage to the prophet.

Bold May Act
Group Buff: Inspire Courage, Bless (Attack bonus does not stack.)
~+~Combat Round 5~+~
Mirza
Doryg (-7)
Izkazk
Pyrexius (-6)
Ahksiva (-33)
Little Zura (-10)
Ink

Battlefield Conditions: Green squares are uneven ground due to the slime that is in them. Acrobatics DC 17 to Balance across them. (Success=Move as if they are difficult terrain, Failure=No progress, Critical Failure=You fall and your turn ends.)
Map

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Ouch. And no hero point

Pyrexius gags as the vapor catches him, and is still feeling weak as he starts to slide in the slime.

"Do not think you will escape so easily!" he declares and brings his sword to bear, deciding that's more important than catching her between them.

He drives it home into her side and then, quick as a dragon, strikes again!

Action 1: Stride
Action 2: Confident Finisher (finisher), +2d6 precision
Action 3: Strike

Acrobatics (trained): 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 7 + 1 = 12 Ouch again. And no hero point

Rapier: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 - 1 = 25
Piercing: 1d6 + 1 + 1 - 1 + 2d6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 1 - 1 + (1, 5) = 11

Rapier: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 - 1 - 4 = 17
Piercing: 1d6 + 1 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 - 1 = 4

This frog is still alive? Let's fix that, can we?

First Strike: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 - 1 = 231d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2
Second Strike: 1d20 + 2 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 - 1 = 41d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Izkazk chews a bit more through the slime clinging to their frame. 1 action, 1 action remaining to remove it.

Doryg's rapid analysis of frog physiology fails, and one of Little Zura's tusks drags a wicked line up his leg. The raven-haired man grunts in pain, but still has the presence of mind to strike at the creature's now-exposed neck.

Action 1: Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 6 + 1 = 17
Action 2: Strike for 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 piercing plus 1d6 ⇒ 4 precision damage.
Action 3: Strike: 1d20 + 6 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 1 - 4 = 11

Great round!

With astonishing attacks, the team of Pathfinders take down Ahksiva and her pet!

A silver religious symbol of Groetus, well-polished and heavy, is the prophet's sole interesting possession. A quick survey of the building finds several bags stuffed with magical reagents and curios.

The return journey through the swamp is uneventful. When you return to the city, Venture-Captain Hestia Themis is waiting for your report.

"Well, how's your progress? Any idea what is behind the events in Admiral's Fen?"

"Yes, we have dealt with the problem" Pyrexius says with complete confidence. "The moon god wanted to destroy it, and started a cult telling the people that it would lead to a paradise. But then their leader attacked us, and we made sure she would never see that paradise!"

The kobold stops to think for a moment, coming to a realization: "Of course, the cult might continue without her..."

Doryg pokes at the tear Little Zura's tusk left in his trousers with a curious index finger.
"More than just Groetus; it seems you have a cult of Groetan Arodenites in your city. Something about Aroden fusing with Groetus. Quite interesting, really! Though the organization itself seems like a bog standard—" Doryg snorts at his unintentional pun, "—group of doomsday nihilists."

A puzzled look settles onto his face, and a long eyebrow twitches. "Which leaves something missing. I know Groetans are an erratic bunch, but I don't see how they jump from 'embrace the end, for a fancy human and a grinning moon await us in paradise' to 'let's actively tear down our neighborhood.'" His eyes slowly slide into the middle distance as he becomes lost in thought. "Curious, curious... There was that eye peering at the meeting house—perhaps that's related?"

The Venture-Captain nods her head. "So, a cult was based out in the swamp, and preying on the desperate people of the district? Typical, I suppose. I can't speak for all worshipers of Groetus--they're an eclectic bunch, and you'll seldom find two that agree on anything--but tearing down the district certainly increases the level of entropy and chaos in Cassomir. You say you've dealt with the cult's leader? Do you think there will be trouble from anyone else?"

"...quite honestly, I took their motives to be pure religious zealotry," Ink sheepishly admits. "The fault lies most readily with me, Venture-Captain... I took the lead in the investigation and led the agents straight to the cult's leader, not thinking to gather all the necessary details for our report. I most sincerely apologize." The gnome looks, somehow, even gloomier than usual; clearly preparing to beat herself up over this for a while.

Mirza hangs back while they report, hoping perhaps to avoid doing the work of sharing their findings. He frowns at Ink's apology and finally steps in with his summary of events.

"Their prophet Ahksiva, a woman living in a dilapidated cottage in the swamp, was responsible for corrupting the Arodenite church worshipping from Guiding Light; we secured one of their recruitment pamphlets and infiltrated the congregation. This prophet subverted a former cleric of Aroden, a man called Reast Mycer, corrupting his faith such that he devoted himself to the Harbinger of Last Days. Reast is still in the Fen, alongside the remainder of their apocalypse cult. He sent an acolyte to escort us to the prophet's cottage. The congregation became swayed to the belief that Aroden's death was a step of significance in fulfilling a destiny of apocalypse, and that the Harbinger brought not the end of all but instead a change. A new, better world would be created for them once this one had been dismantled, and their prophet called on them to bring that future about for themselves. So their priest spoke at their service, 'We must be as the swamp and drown out the world so that something new may grow in its place.'"

Themis waves off Ink's objections and offers her congratulations. "Don't beat yourself up. You ended the source of the threat, and I'll meet with the city guard to make sure the Reast is taken into custody, on the weight of the evidence that you have found. That "church" seems more like a violent criminal organization than a religion. Without the guidance of their leaders, I imagine the organization will dissolve quickly."

Venture-Captain Hestia is ecstatic with the Pathfinders' work. "I will do all I can to keep hope alive in Admiral’s Fen and ensure that monsters who would prey on the downtrodden can’t find their way into the city. So long as people have hope and faith, they won’t turn to anger and false prophets."

Excellent work! You were ace investigators, and talked your way through 3 possible combats. You earn 4 reputation for your faction and full treasure rewards. Hope everyone had fun! I really enjoyed your characters!

Could everyone post their faction, their PFS # and character #, and make a roll for Earning Income for your downtime? I'll put up chronicle sheets in a Google Drive folder.

Horizon Hunters

146605-2002

Tanning Lore: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (14) + 3 = 17