GM Khouri's Murder's Mark (PfS 1e module) (Inactive)

Game Master Khouri P.

Nilah frowns in disappointment that her deception couldn't work.

How could they have known that easily...that usual works.

For the first time, the tiefling seems a little insecure with her normally-strongest capabilities.

She just hears Molvil and snaps too, quickly and carefully moving to follow the man.

Stealth: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

D3. File and Records Room
File cabinets line the eastern wall of this room, while doors lead north, south, and west. A single oil lamp is set in the wall. The man from before is approaching a second man standing by the filing cabinets with his back turned.

She decides to:
1) catch the door and listen behind the door (using door as cover for stealth, no additional check required)
-or-
2) ducks behind him into the small room before the door closes. The only objects in the room to hide behind (filing cabinets) are behind the 2 men. You could open another door (separate move action), or Create a Distraction (using Bluff or a cantrip)

I doubt they're going to light documents on fire *inside of* the building, so it seems safe to give it a bit more time...

Nilah just catches the door and uses it as cover. She suspects they're going to say something critical soon...

The man you spoke with says "Byrten, the targets are here. Claiming to be sent by Borvius, of all things!" He snorts. "Warn Robella, and get the boys from the warehouse for backup."

Byrten drops the files he was organizing, nods, pulls a short sword from where it was leaning in the corner and heads toward the North door. The other man starts rifling through the files, muttering to himself, his back is to you.

Nilah squints to look closely at details about the doors, and whether this room can be shut off from the warehouse.

I.e., can the North door be *locked*, and if so without a key. Is the diversion/stealth option still available?

Only the external doors appear to have locks. So no, the room cannot be shut off from the warehouse (besides blocking the door with your body). But Diversion/Stealth is always available.

Ejtehah definitely follows Nilah!

“It is time to attack now he whispers to Nilah! They can’t call reinforcements!“

At this point Ejtehah initiates combat with the law and the sheriff’s message to find evidence backing the group!

Ignorant of the interior proceedings, Professor Masaendri re-enters the office. "Outside it's currently clear. What's the status in here?"

Excellent - since they are aware you are in the room, but not aware anyone is skulking behind the door ready to pounce, if you want in on the surprise round roll a Stealth to see if they can hear you approach! Since this all happens very quickly I will just keep their perception rolls (from Nilah's stealth so she doesn't have to roll again). Which were very low and in your benefit. Roll 12 or more to surprise them both

@Molvil re-entered just in time to hear @Ejtehah's comment, so she is also aware combat is imminent.

~*INITIATIVE!*~ (Surprise Round)
23 Ejtehah
21 Bryten & Ferdis (surprised, flat-footed)
17 Magdelina
10 Salmok
9 Molvil
5 Nilah

Stealth Ejtehah: 1d20 ⇒ 2

No surprise round.

Stealth: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Nope!

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15

Not great, but she didn't manage to kick a bucket down the stairs at least...

@Molvil still needs a stealth roll to see if she can act in the surprise round. @Magdelina is up first.

~*INITIATIVE!*~ (Surprise Round)
23 Ejtehah (surprised)
21 Bryten & Ferdis (surprised, flat-footed)
17 Magdelina
10 Salmok (surprised)
? 9 Molvil ? (still needs stealth roll)
5 Nilah

Magdelina begins to cast a spell of sleep, telling Nilah to hold her ground but go no further...

Will Save DC 16; centered on the wall behind B and F; will take effect just before Magdelina's next turn (1 round casting time)

Stealth: 1d20 ⇒ 20

~*INITIATIVE!*~ (Surprise Round)
23 Ejtehah
21 Bryten & Ferdis (flat-footed)
17 Magdelina
10 Salmok
9 Molvil
5 Nilah
(round 1)
23 Ejtehah

@Nilah is still up in the surprise round, then @Ejtehah starts off the official round 1.

Oh, apologies, somehow I read some of the above posts as saying nobody got a surprise action. Posting both now.

Well, I guess it begins then...

Surprise round: Step through the door (unclear how 5' steps and swift actions work in the surprise round, but you get a move or standard, so I think that's it)

Nilah's eyes light up, as she enters her mystical focus. The claws elongate as she slashes at the thug in front of her before stepping out of the way.

[swift] enter mystical focus, 2 rounds
[full round] full attack B (hopefully flat-footed)
[5' step] W

claw attack B, S damage: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 171d6 ⇒ 5
claw attack B, S damage: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 81d6 ⇒ 5

@Nilah - 5' steps can be done in ANY round you don't move otherwise - because it's not technically a type of action. So that's fine. Hypothetically I think you can trade down from a move/standard to a swift action during the surprise round, but I don't think that would give you any benefit to do a round early. Will hold your full action attack til initiative 5 at bottom of round 1 - that means for the surprise round you would need to move 5' NW through the doorway instead of straight N (current position is fine) to not get caught in the sleep spell before your next turn (round 1).

Spellcraft Magdalena: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Ejtehah moves forward and stares at the left man.

Swift action on B: Has -2 to all will saves.

Ejtehah then looks at the other man to the right and shouts!

"You are dead!"

Standard action demoralize on F: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23

Both of @Ejtehah's attempts succeed.

Bryten opens the door he's at (move), makes two quick whistles, then turns and strikes at Nilah with his shortsword (standard).
attack shortsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
shortsword damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Ferdis panicks, drops the papers he was rummaging through and runs out the open north door and behind some shelving filled with containers so he is no longer visible, while yelling "They are here! Delay them!". (Eliciting an AoO from @Nilah - which would be the only time it matters if you entered mystical focus in the surprise round or not)

Then the Sleep spell goes off - Bryten was already primed to be sleepy, so he drops like a literal pile of rocks (After the -2, he got a 0 LOL), but Ferdis is too far away to be affected.

~**INITIATIVE!**~ (Surprise Round)
23 Ejtehah (stare & demoralize)
21 Bryten & Ferdis
17 Magdelina
10 Salmok
9 Molvil
5 Nilah (already declared: mystical focus, full-attack)

Party (other than Ejtehah) is up!

(I assume @Nilah will want to redo her turn for round 1 since her target is unconscious and helpless - unless you want to Coup de Grace him instead? Either way you can keep the same rolls from before if you'd like.)

Magdelina casts Mage Armor on herself and steps forward.

Salmok holds on to his mattock tightly. "Excuse me, excuse me. Oread coming through." He passes Ejtehah up to Ferdis. "Can you hold this for me?" he asks rhetorically as he swings his mattock down.

Mattack attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
damage: 2d4 + 6 ⇒ (4, 3) + 6 = 13

Sorry, forgot to move Ferdis! He did a double move on his turn (North, out of the door and behind some shelving filled with containers so no longer visible), so he won't be accessible to you this turn, @Salmok but you can double move in the same direction as him if you'd like instead?

Sure, will double move towards him. Forgot where I started, but I *think* I moved 40 ft.

@Salmok you started sitting in the chair, so perfect.

@Salmok and @Molvil, you are directly beneath the catwalk that runs the width of the warehouse, just so you are aware what those dotted lines mean. The catwalk is 15 feet above you. There are 3 men atop the catwalk, wearing heavy jackets but they do not appear to be armed. There are ropes dangling off the catwalk that can be used to climb up (with a DC15 Climb check) or a ladder all the way to the right on the wall.

As one thug runs out the door, Professor Masaendri mutters: "Shoot!" She swiftly follows him, glancing up to see the now-alert workers on top of the catwalk. Changing tactics, she positions herself under the catwalk, stretches up on her tip-toes, and casts Color Spray upwards, targeting as many of those burly men as she can. (DC 15 Will save to negate)

D1. Shipping and Receiving (Ilsurian Storage & Hauling)

The interior of this large building appears unfinished, with a wooden frame that could have housed two separate floors but is instead open to the roof like a barn. Sliding bay doors stand to the south, where a serviceable wagon is parked. Across the center of the warehouse, a catwalk hangs fifteen feet off the ground, with 3 burly men raising and lowering cargo using ropes and a block and tackle. In the northeast and southwest corners, rooms have been framed in and walls erected. Shelving lines most of the walls, and crates and boxes are stacked in many places on the main floor.

Since the catwalk is 15' off the ground, the Professor should be able to just barely reach them with a 15' cone by casting the spell from the top edge of her square and pointing upwards. I've drawn the outline of her cone on both levels for your convenience, but the lower level is dashed to indicate that Salmok isn't in the line of fire.

@Molvil it looks like you are trying to Color Spray the guys on top of the catwalk - since it is 15 feet above you, you will only be able to reach them if you are DIRECTLY below the center one (because I assume you will stretch your hand up and you are taller than 5 feet) I see you figured it out - top down view would be a 1x3 line though. Updated the shape of Color Spray and your position (assuming you had enough movement)

Will Save (1): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Will Save (2): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
Will Save (3): 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16
One of the men falls unconscious - the other 2 shake the spell off.

~*INITIATIVE!*~ (Round 1)
23 Ejtehah (stare & demoralize)
21 Bryten & Ferdis
17 Magdelina (mage armor)
10 Salmok (chase F)
9 Molvil (Color Spray)
5 Nilah (already declared: mystical focus, full-attack?)
(Round 2)
23 Ejtehah

@Nilah is up and then top of the round with @Ejtehah!

Ejtehah moves forward on his dog and stares at the man that is fleeing!

Double move and stare swift action -2 to Will saves.

Sorry for the delay. Long day! It looks like the AoO is gone.

With her teammates having "cleared the room" almost as soon as she entered it, Nilah steps through the door.

[move] 30'

After arriving next to Molvil, she notices the ladder and continues heading that way.

[move] 30'

No mystical focus for now.

@Nilah I don't know what you mean by the AoO is "gone" but if you choose not to use it, that's fine. (The target elicited the AoO by leaving the room.)

@Ejtehah you still can't see the man fully from your position, but you understand why he was so hard to see - he's on one knee fiddling with something on the ground.

@Magdelina you said you step forward, but didn't move - is your current location where you wanted to end up after your last turn?

Aaaaah. Then I misunderstood (thought it was the one that was 'down'. If I can take that back then, mystical focus on surprise round, and claw AoO as that foe leaves the room.

claw AoO attack, S damage: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 71d6 ⇒ 4 Haaa!

Ah, well you tried. I'll assume Magdelina is where she wants to be.

~*INITIATIVE!*~ (Round 2)
23 Ejtehah (stare)
22 Thugs
21 Bryten & Ferdis
17 Magdelina
10 Salmok
9 Molvil
5 Nilah

Two of the three thugs atop the catwalk move into action, leaning down to retrive bows that were hidden on the catwalk. Then one shoots at @Nilah (and misses badly) while the other kicks a large ceramic pickling jar off the catwalk towards @Ejtehah. When it shatters on the warehouse floor, it releases a swarm of what appears to be several hundred palm-sized blobs of viscous, translucent fluid. (DC 10 Dungeoneering to identify - untrained allowed)
@Ejtehah, @Salmok, & @Molvil these blobs in your space are very annoying and distracting - you will require a concentration check to cast spells while standing in them.

Ferdis finishes fiddling with the thing on the floor and the floor drops out from underneath him! It is a secret trap door in the floor! (Marked on map by red "S") As he drops into the hole @Ejtehah loses line of sight on him, but he hears a *thunk* as Ferdis hits the ground somewhere below. The trap door begins to close.
This trap door was getting me hung up for a long time - I finally decided that the trap door would follow the same rules as regular doors - take a move action to open and closes after use unless propped open. HOWEVER *see discussion*

~*INITIATIVE!*~ (Round 2)
23 Ejtehah (stare)
22 Thugs
21 Bryten & Ferdis
17 Magdelina
10 Salmok
9 Molvil
9 Swarm
5 Nilah

Knowledge (dungeoneering), untrained: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23

Salmok moves up, trying to escape the swarm of viscous blobs. "What are those things! I believe I've heard about something like them before..."

The oread follows up to where he heard Ferdis go. Can Salmok see the secret door? If so, he'll attempt to open it as an action.

The secret door is not immediately apparent. But Ejtehah just saw it used so can reasonably call out directions to you OR you can make a DC15 perception check to find it yourself.

Salmok remembers that this must be an alchemical ooze swarm, formed from accumulations of runoff from arcane laboratories and regions of magical calamity. Based on the color, this one is probably a Sanguine Ooze Swarm formed from congealed euphoric toxins which will make you laugh uncontrollably if you get any of their sticky globules on you. Regular ooze and swarm traits - only tiny sized though so physical damage can still affect it somewhat

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

Salmok finds the trap door and opens it up. "Be careful. Those are a type of ooze. They make you laugh uncontrollably if they stick to you! Stay far far away from them."

Once you open the trap door you see a ladder going 10 feet down, and the man getting up from the floor near the base of the ladder. Revealed SECOND MAP!!! oooooooh

~**INITIATIVE!**~ (Round 2)
23 Ejtehah (stare)
22 Thugs
21 Bryten & Ferdis
17 Magdelina
10 Salmok (open trap door)
9 Molvil
9 Swarm
5 Nilah

"Be careful. Those are a type of ooze. They make you laugh uncontrollably if they stick to you! Stay far far away from them."

"Lovely." The corners of Professor Masaendri's mouth pinch downward as she steps out of the slimy oozes, shaking and running her hands over herself to make sure none of them are stuck to her. She lines up another shot of Color Spray at the thugs with bows, because they seem to be the bigger threat right now. Hmm... Do I have anything in my pack that will damage all of them at once? Or a spell?

DC 15 Will save to negate.

Memorized sleep x2 + mage armor; leaving charm in there as placeholder for other days not to forget formatting because it has special DC due to feats/abilities. Casting second sleep now.

Magdelina tippy toes quietly into the next room next to the sleeping man, and peers out of the office into the warehouse, dropping to her knees. Spotting the archers, she begins to cast her second sleep spell on them.

Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19

Casting sleep, Will DC 16 on all 3 archers

Remaining behind office wall to gain cover (+4 AC vs. ranged) and kneeling (+2 AC vs. ranged); Currant AC: 16 normal; 22 vs. ranged.

Magdelina Sleep does not target unconscious creatures (2/3 of the archers are currently unconscious), do you still want to do that?

Oh! we're doing better than I though then! instead I'll misfortune the remaining archer from her position. Will DC 14 instead. Thanks!

~*INITIATIVE!*~ (Round 2)
23 Ejtehah (stare)
22 Thugs
21 Bryten & Ferdis
17 Magdelina
10 Salmok
9 Molvil
9 Swarm
5 Nilah

The swarm don't bother to chase anyone outside of their area because they find an easy meal in @Ejtehah while his back is turned staring down the fleeing office manager. Swarms automatically deal 5 damage to you this turn for being in their square at the end of your turn. Make a DC13 Reflex save or be covered in patches of sticky ooze globules. See rules text below. @Salmok also remembers (and I assume shares) that cold damage is especially effective in removing the globules.

~*INITIATIVE!*~ (Round 2)
23 Ejtehah (stare)
22 Thugs
21 Bryten & Ferdis
17 Magdelina (sleep?)
10 Salmok (find/open/move trap door)
9 Molvil (Color Spray)
9 Swarm
5 Nilah
(round 3)
23 Ejtehah

Salmok tries to jump down!

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 1 = 18

The stone man lands on his feet.

Nilah speeds to the ladder and climbs up it.

[double move] 15' to the ladder, not sure about movement up it, and whatever is remaining along the catwalk.

Climbing is at 1/4 speed (so 15ft up would take 60ft of movement), but there are also ropes dangling from the catwalk you can climb (DC 15 I believe) without going all the way to the wall if you are good at climbing

Climb: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Not good at it, but good enough at it now :D

5 damage for Ejtehah AND his riding dog.

Reflex Ejtehah DC 13: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Reflex Riding Dog DC 13: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

"Get off me you strange things! Agghhh .... " he shouts in disgust.

Ejtehah cannot move properly anymore but he directs his dog to follow Salmok and jump down the secret door.

Riding dog Acrobatics +6 (+14 jumping) : 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26