GM Mauve - PFS 1e Module: Master of the Fallen Fortress (Inactive)

Game Master MauveAvengr

Someone put it out of its misery, please? I'll tend to the wounds here.. he says as he checks to make sure the wounds aren't likely to get infected. He then calls a wave of healing energy to close them.

Ken'ichi kneels down to the wounded creature and seems to be muttering a prayer of some kind. As he does so, he gently lifts the dog into a better position, and when he finishes, he quickly pierces the animal's heart before gently laying it back onto the ground.

He wipes his blade clean as he stands up, then guides the blade back into the sheath with practiced movements.

"It is a shame that this had to happen, but they are better off as spirits now, where hunger can not reach them."

He thanks Petro for the healing and adjusts his coolie, indicating that he is ready to proceed.

With the last remaining dog put down, the Pathfinders start moving towards the Fallen Fortress. The 80 ft tall tower stands before them. The walls are quite smooth and look near impossible to climb. Though the east wall does look a bit more climbable.

Rubble surrounds the fortress (the patch of dirt you are on - treat as difficult terrain) and it is hard to move through it. There are two entrances, one to the northwest and one to the southwest. Neither have doors and are wide open. Unfortunately the entrance to the southwest is blocked by rubble.

"Perhaps we should try the northwest entrance since the southwest entrance is blocked by rubble?"

What are the light conditions outside the fortress? Is there enough shadow for Stealth checks or is it full daylight?

Kell slides the wand back into place, then reloads his crossbow. With a nod to Evelyn, "Nice shot!"

"Great work everyone. Petro, thank you for your curative efforts."

Due to the earthquake breaking open the fortress, there is enough light inside that it's considered normal lighting.

"I agree, Sombra," Orla says with a nod, "northwest is best." She then giggles and adds, "That rhymed!"

Here, I can gelp with the darkness... Petros casts a minor spell and light appears on his shield.

Petro casts a spell and immediately his shield sheds a glowing white light. He looks through the opening. The northern wing of the towers seems to have escaped the worst effects of the collapse, but rubble still litters the floor and everything is covered in a thick layer of stone dust. Thick cobwebs cloak the ceiling and hang down the walls like gossamer tapestries. A single archway stands in the southwest wall.

Who will go in first? Or are you wanting to climb? There is a small landing on the second floor.

Orla absolutely does not want to lead the group in, but she does very much want to keep them safe, so she quietly gestures for everyone to wait for a moment and she quickly casts a spell ghost sound.

Inside the room they're about to enter, a voice comes from the rubble saying, "Everything looks clear over here, guys," and she waits to see if anything reacts.

In case you need a bluff check for her to make it convincing
Bluff: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Sadly Ghost Sound can't be used to make intelligible speech. source

I'd say either the best melee character or if we have a 'scout' among us, they'd be the choice to go in first.

Or toss in one of the dogs? It might trigger any traps.

Kelleran also shields himself in a cloak of mystic armor. Mage Armor

I'll go in first...since I have the light...makes sense, right? Petro says as he reaffirms his grip on his morningstar and moves in.

Petro slowly steps in to the room - his shield lighting the way for him. The moment he steps in, something flies at his face. Luckily for him, the thing lands inches away from him. Taking a closer look, he notices that it was a blob of webbing. And then he looks where it came from - giant spider! You've entered her lair.

The spider is near the ceiling and the ceiling is 15 feet tall. The green line marks difficult terrain (any of the rubble).

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Round 1

Sombra
Orla
Petro

Spider

Kelleran
Evelyn
Ken'ichi

Sombra, Orla, and Petro are up!

DC 11 Knowledge (nature) to ID the spider

Petro moves up and readies to strike at it if it leaves the web.

readied attack: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 81d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7ready an attack if it comes to contact...

There's a spider here...I'm going to need help.

Man you guys are going hard!:D I would have gone in. Ken'ichi wouldn't shy away from moving forward, onless there was obvious danger that a sword can't deal with. I'll assume that he's at least near the entrance way.

Huh, I'd played at a table with someone a couple of years ago (back when playing in a store was a thing) who played her character as mute and used ghost sound to speak. Guess the GM didn't know that rule or just let it go as flavor for the character. Thanks for that.

Moved Orla up so that her starting point was behind Ken'ichi, just fyi, since she would have been following the group, as she does.

Orla steps just into the doorway and spots the spider. "I'll save you, Petro!" she calls out to the cleric.

And with that, her eyes gloss over with a blackness and a small orb of light grows in them even as she extends her hand at the arachnid.

Moonbeam vs. touch AC: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 5 = 251d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

If it hits, the spider must succeed at a DC 15 fort save or be blinded for 1 round.

crit confirm?: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 151d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

Sombra channels arcane energy to fire an Acid Splash at the spider.

AcidSplash: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 141d3 ⇒ 2

Petro moves in closer to the spider. He raises his sword to prepare an attack. Behind him, Orla spots the spider. Pure energy glows from her finger tips as the spider slowly fizzles in the moonbeam. On the other side of Petro, Sombra steps up. A glob of acid bursts forth and mars the spider's side.

The spider is momentarily stunned as it can't see. All of its eyes have been singed by the moonbeam. It shoots a web at the group but the webbing just hits the ground beneath it.

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Round 1

Sombra
Orla
Petro

Spider (-10 HP)

Kelleran
Evelyn
Ken'ichi

Kelleran, Evelyn, and Ken'ichi are up!

DC 11 Knowledge (nature) to ID the spider

Ken'ichi repositions himself to get a better location while drawing his blade once more. He holds the sword over his head in a ready stance, anticipating the creature's need to close into it's prey.

Move Action

Standard Action: Readying an attack for when the spider closes into melee.

While he stands ready, he examines the spider to better know his enemy.

Knowledge (nature): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Specifically to know any special abilities outside those of the normal (giant) spider.

Ken'ichi knows this is a variety of giant spider known as a Scaleback spider. It shoots webs at its victims, then once its victim is entangled, it crawls down to bite and poison the creature.

Realizing what he knows, Ken'ichi frowns and says, "Ware! It will probably prefer ranged attacks until someone is caught.

Knowing this, would he be able to switch to Total Defense, instead of readying?

Again the mage slides his hidden wand into his hand. Without really aiming, he launches an unerring bolt of energy at the creature.
Wand of MM: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Yeah, that's ok with me.

Ken'ichi hunkers down, prepared for any webbed attack coming his way.

With a look of disgust on her face, Evelyn quickly aim at the spider and release her bolt.
Maybe she aimed too quickly? Let's hope the spider's blindness will help the sailor!

shoot the blind spider: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 7

I may not like dogs, but I hate spiders...What is this place? A museum of all things I despise?

The tengu prepares himself in case the spider shoots webbing at him while two of his companions attack. Using a hidden wand, Kelleran blasts the spider with a missile. Then Evelyn pulls back her bow and lets a bolt fly. The bolt pierces the head of the spider and it falls down to the ground. It's legs twitch a bit before all movement stops.

The Pathfinders stop and take in their surroundings. Near the spider's lair, a small cocoon hangs in the web. There is another opening to the room's southwestern side.

Sombra draws a dagger and goes to check what is in the small cocoon that hangs in the web.

"Careful now. It may be an egg sac." The wizard shivers at the thought.

Watch out for any other spiders. Petro says as he loads his crossbow to cover the wayang

Sombra approaches the cocoon and sees the desiccated carcass of a dog. Around it's neck is a leather collar studded with precious stones and a name tag.

Nice teamwork, crew! Is there some loot in that cocoon?

Seeing the dog carcass with the collar, Orla sniffles a bit and wipes at her eyes as she says, "That was somebody's dog. Not a nasty, wild beast, but someone's pet..." and she sniffles again, wipes harder at her eyes and tries to compose herself before saying, "Well, let's take the collar back to town and see if we can at least return it to the owner."

She's trying to look confident, but it's fairly clear that the sensitive gal is just mortified by the idea of someone's pet becoming spider food.

And as the rest of the group loots and plunders, Orla turns her attention to the southwestern opening to keep watch.

Perception: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (14) + 0 = 14

Sombra carefully extricates the collar, being mindful of any other spiders (or other creatures) in the area.
"Off to the next room then?"

Sombra carefully removes the collar from the deceased dog. The precious stones look like lapis lazuli and has a silver tag reading "Kita." He values it at around 50 gp.

Orla examines the southwestern opening of the room. Peering in to it, she doesn't see any more spiders or traps or anything else for that matter.

"Looks safe in there from here," Orla says, pointing, "but sometimes bad things are really good at hiding."

The small Halfling stand ready to follow the party into the room.

After sheathing his sword, Ken'ichi starts moving towards the next door. "We should move on. The spirits are restless."

Sombra follows Ken'ichi into the next room.

It is true that the loss of the pet is sad, Orla. But I think if we bring the collar back, the owners will have some closure. A small consolation, but a welcome one I believe. And I am sure Kita is off playing in a field somewhere in the next world. Petro says as he follows Ken'ichi.

Orla nods in understanding and appreciation as the cleric offers her some comfort about the dog. She moves beside the cleric as the follow the Tengu into the next room.

She's a weepy little thing. Maybe that fey has something to do with it? Influencing her to extremes. It's a possibility.

But.. but.. it's only a dog! Who cares for an half eaten dog anyway? And half eaten by a big, GIANT, ugly spider? And that collar might be worth something!

No chance that doggy wandered up there. It's an house doggy, with a collar, not a feral hound like we've just meet! It was with someone who came here, and who's probably dead too, so he won't need that collar..

As the group chat about the dog and what to do with it's collar, Ken'ichi wanders into the next room. Similar to the spider room, the chamber is dark and damp with some spider webs and plenty of rubble. As the groups slowly peak in, nothing comes out to attack. The tengu can clearly see the room now. The southeast passageway is blocked by rubble. And there is a red door on the east side of the room. The door is made of strong wooden construction and is currently unlocked.

"Hang on, let me look for any magic. Might be traps or runes or things," the tiny gal says. Her eyes then gloss over with that black tone from earlier and she scans the room.

Detect magic

The oracle detects no magic coming from the room.

Ken'ichi waits until those more skilled can make sure that the door is safe before trying to open it.

Trap detection: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
DD, Msw thieves tools: 1d20 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 6 + 2 = 9

Eager to use her brand new tools, Evelyn check the door, but in her haste, nearly break her tools

The door does not seem to be trapped or anything.

Given the all clear, Ken'ichi attempts to open the door.

And Ken'ichi opens up the door with a soft tug. There are remains of a stone spiral staircase that runs through the center of the tower. Unfortunately, the stairway is blocked with fallen rubble and is impossible to pass. The staircase used to lead down to an underground level but the exit collapsed from aftershocks, sealing the underground.

If the Pathfinders want to get to the second floor, they must climb the outside of the tower! There seems to be a small landing on the second floor that is somewhat accessible by climbing. Second floor map here. DC 15 Climb check to climb the eastern part of the tower to the landing.

Looking up at the collapsed stairway, Ken'ichi says "It seems that we must travel as the spirits do." He then points up, looking at the others, "Up," he adds for clarification.

Unless someone has any better ideas, the former samurai heads outside to start the climb.

Climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22