The Dead Roads[

Game Master Seldlon the Swift

Walhart tries to tear the scroll from his face. Break Free: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

You could also reverse the grapple.

Walhart is unable to remove the scroll from his face even with tally's aid.

bleed: 1d2 ⇒ 1
constrict: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Round 4
Current Effects none
Tally 34/35 (4 cp), Walhart 11/36 (5 cp) drowning (round 2), Valdis 29/29 (6 cp) -3 wisdom, Donovan 32/35 (3 cp)

Walhart, Tally, Valdis, Donovan <=======
Scroll

He does not need to lose consciousness while drowning. You die immediately iirc

Grapple: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Valdis rips the scroll off of Walhart's face. "Help please. I don't think, I can hold down that thing on my own."

Through with the whole grappling thing, Tally simply blasts it with a burning hands.

fire damage: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 3, 3) = 8, DC 14

Unwilling to swing a sword at the face of Walhart Donovan drops 'Silver Fang' and reaches to pull the scroll free.

CMB Grab: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

We have two successful aid another at this point.

Tally, Walhart <=======

Oh god here goes

Break Free: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 26

The father can breath again.

reflex: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

The paper manages to dodge some of the flame but seems to take more damage than normal.

It tries to cut the grappling wizard before it.
Melee slice v AC 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

damage: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 plus bleed: 1d2 ⇒ 1 and grab v cmd 13: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
constrict: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Walhart continues to bleed.

Round 4
Current Effects none
Tally 34/35 (4 cp), Walhart 10/36 (5 cp), Valdis 18/29 (6 cp) -3 wisdom, Donovan 32/35 (3 cp)

Walhart, Tally, Valdis, Donovan <=======
Scroll

Walhart wastes no time and attacks the parchment after a quick glance of study.

Study target, attack.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 = 25
Damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8

Donovan reaches over to touch the Father, filling him with positive energy.

Lay on Hands+ Greater Mercy: 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + (5) = 8

He then reaches down to pick up his sword.

Walhart feels like he wounded Valdis as well as the scroll. He feels better and stops bleeding.

Valdis crosses his arms and waits how that plays out.

Tally 34/35 (4 cp), Walhart 18/36 (5 cp), Valdis 14/29 (6 cp) drowning (rd 1) -3 wisdom, Donovan 32/35 (3 cp)

Tally decides to give his dagger a try, figuring a piece of paper is not likely to be impacted much by a blunt or piercing object.

To Hit Dagger, The Reclaimer: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14
Damage Dagger, cold iron, The Reclaimer: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 5 + 1 = 8

Tally feels like he hurt Valdis as well as the paper. Valdis takes 4 hp of damage.

Next round?

Next round?

You are up Valdis.

I know. I'm not doing anything. Next round?

The scroll squeezes.
constrict: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6
Valdis continues to bleed.

Round 5
Current Effects none
Tally 34/35 (4 cp), Walhart 18/36 (5 cp), Valdis 03/29 (6 cp) drowning (2 rd) -3 wisdom, Donovan 32/35 (3 cp)

Walhart, Tally, Valdis, Donovan <=======
Scroll

Break free: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 2 = 10
Valdis tries to wriggle free but fails miserably.

Donovan sheathes 'Silver Fang' and reaches out to heal Valdis.

Lay on Hands+ Greater Mercy: 2d6 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 2) + (6) = 12

Does it seem like attacking the scroll will also damage the victim?

It already has. See this post.

Not seeing much of an option, Tally continues attacking

To Hit Dagger, The Reclaimer, flank: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 5 + 1 + 2 = 25
Damage Dagger, cold iron, The Reclaimer: 1d8 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 5 + 1 = 12

Loathe to attack Valdis further, Walhart grabs him by the arm. "Keep trying! We'll get you freed up!"

Light glows from his arm, much to his own surprise, and Valdis' wounds heal slightly.

Using Lay on Hands from my The Word trait.

Lay on Hands: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Sadly, that's all I've got

What a wonderful way to welcome Valdis to our game.

Tally kills the construct which releases its suction as it falls to the floor. Valdis can breath again.

End Initiative.

Tally 34/35 (4 cp), Walhart 18/36 (5 cp), Valdis 12/29 (6 cp) -3 wisdom, Donovan 32/35 (3 cp)

Valdis sucks in a lot of air. "Wow. That was an unpleasant experience." It takes a few more breaths until Valdis breathing calms down. "Thank you for saving me there."

"I'm totally unprepared to fight such a thing." This is an unpleasant realization, which doesn't get better by not being able to change that in the near future.

Donovan closes his eyes and a pulse of energy flashes forth.

Channel Positive: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Well, ain't we the healing machines!

Tslly chips in with a channel too, making sure the evil paper is out of range or blocked by a wall.

channel: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 3) = 6

Because of her Sun-Blessed trait she stores up 4 temp HP that lasts for a whopping minute.

"You have my gratitude just as well, Valdis. Somehow, this piece of parchment has been more harrowing than most of the other things I've encountered here."

He pats him on the shoulder. "You're not alone now. Between the four of us, I think we should be able to stand up to whatever this place will throw at us."

"I like your confidence." Valdis replies with a smile. "I feel misplaced here. I'm used to fight minor undead, but that kind of specialization is not a big help here. To no one's surprise."

He picks up his staff. "Beating things with a stick also seems to work sub par here."

"But, I need to remember to keep a positive outlook, like you do. Between the four of us we can take by the horns what comes our way."

"Another thing - because it tends to disappoint people I meet, and it's in situations like these, that it comes up. I serve Pharasma, and wear her holy symbol proudly, but I can't do cure wounds spells. If I had to fight and got bruised, I simply went home and slept it off."

Tally waves Valdis' concerns away.

"No problem. Between Don here and me we can do the minor healing. And some of the bigger stuff too. We shaman's can call upon our spirits to do a lot of the same things as your common cleric."

"That's a relief."

"So what now? I don't feel that courageous anymore to check what waits behind the next door. And I still don't feel well. But I don't believe sleeping it off is an option here, or is it?"

Marching order, please. I do not think Valdis will lead this one or ever should. Parchment proves.

Don, Tally, Wally, Valdis

As you slowly make your way up the narrow, steep stairs you get half way to the top when a hand reaches out from under the stairs and grabs Donovan's leg.
cmb v cmd 19: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (12) + 15 = 27

This lanky ebon humanoid has batlike wings and a long prehensile tail, yet its most unsettling feature is its lack of a face.

Knowledge planes to identify.

Round 1
Current Effects none
Tally 35/35 (4 cp), Walhart 26/36 (5 cp), Valdis 20/29 (6 cp) -3 wisdom, Donovan 32/35 (3 cp)

Walhart, Valdis, Donovan <=======
Thing
Tally

kn planes: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

"Ick. What the heck is that thing?"

Naturally Tally reacts violently and lashes out at the arm, denting the stairs instead.

To Hit Morning Star: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Damage Morning Star: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Know(Planes): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

Walhart drops his sword, rushes to switch to his bow and attacks.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Valdis knows this to be nightgaunt. Being faceless, they are immune to cold, gaze attacks, inhaled poison, scent-based attacks. They attack with claws and are good at grappling foes.

Valdis passes on what he knows about the creature and waits to see how Donovan handles the situation.
Delay

Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Donovan catches what he thinks is a note of apprehension in Valdis' voice and calls on Andoletta’s grace.

Smite
+3 deflection bonus to AC
Swing hammer + Power attack: 1d20 + 9 - 2 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 9 - 2 + 3 = 23
Bashing Damage (Adamintine): 1d8 + 4 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 4 + 4 = 13

As the strategy seems to be 'bash it until it stops moving' again and the creature looks sturdy, Valdis decides to try to weaken the thing, to make it less painful. He casts a spell and shoots a ray of dark energy at it.

Ranged Touch/Str Dmg: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 221d6 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Fort DC16 for half

I do like that spell. Underutilized if you ask me. Though did you account for cover and/or firing into melee? Those are killer penalties for a mage using that spell.

He had partial cover and was grappling.
The ray hits the nightgaunt. Fort v DC 16: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11

The weakened spook attempts to maintain its grasp on Donovan.
cmb v cmd 19: 1d20 + 13 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 13 + 5 = 21

It takes to flight with Donovan in tow and drops him.

Donovan seems to fall for a terrifyingly long distance before landing where he started. This odd landing deals no physical damage, but deals 1d4 points of Wisdom damage instead.

The first time a creature experiences this fall, she may attempt a DC 15 Acrobatics check, earning 1 Clarity Point on a success.

Wis damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

Round 2
Current Effects none
Tally 35/35 (4 cp), Walhart 26/36 (5 cp), Valdis 20/29 (6 cp) -3 wisdom, Donovan 32/35 -2 wisdom (3 cp)

Walhart, Tally, Valdis, Donovan <=======
nightgaunt

As the creature flies to the other side of the room, Walhart gives chase and takes another shot when he reaches the top of the stairs.

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

cp Acrobatics: 1d20 - 5 ⇒ (17) - 5 = 12

Donovan stands and waits for the creature to come for him again, prepairing to strike.

"Is that all? I can do this all day."

Does the AC bonus from Smite add to CMD?

I do not believe so as CMD does not use AC in its calculation. CMB, yes as you get bonus to attack. Just pulling that from memory.

A creature can also add any circumstance, deflection, dodge, insight, luck, morale, profane, and sacred bonuses to AC to its CMD. It's in the rules here.

Tally tries to position himself to get an attack on the thing when it flies by again.

To Hit Morning Star: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage Morning Star: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8

Valdis decides for full defense (AC21)

Nice find Tally. Thank you.
1d4 ⇒ 2

The nightgaunt heads back for Donovan.

Donovan's readied action harms the spook.

Melee claw v AC 24: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Round 3
Current Effects none
Tally 35/35 (4 cp), Walhart 26/36 (5 cp), Valdis 20/29 (6 cp) -3 wisdom, Donovan 32/35 (3 cp)

Walhart, Tally, Valdis, Donovan <=======
nightgaunt