Into the Desolation

Game Master Zorblag

Khoran says "Wait a breath or two", and casts Detect Magic...

Should've thought of that earlier

There is no magic aura other than what the party produces in your vicinity right now.

Groff continues following the trail.

Tristan appreciates Auleths caution, but we're gonna investigate this area regardless, so... Auleth forget about circling around. We need to check this out regardless. If there are tracks leading out, fine. We'll follow them , after seeing what's going on here.

we need to/should investigate all these "set pieces/areas", may as well dive straight in

"Auleth, we're at least a day behind our quarry. If they have left, they have left. I see no percentage in circling; either they have paused in this oasis, or I think we're done following them... So I'm with Tristan, in we go."

You follow the tracks east, into the dense foliage. They lead about 40 feet before they become hard to find. Another survival check is needed to tell where they lead next. The lush foliage and undergrowth becomes an impossible tangle here. The trees and plants are now intertwined with a thick hedgerow of vines and thorny plants. It stretches in either direction as far as you can see gradually curving away from you and stretches over 30 feet high. From within this tangle, trees still rise above, though their trunks are obscured in the thicket. Dangling on the face of this hedge wall is a horribly twisted and distorted skull of possibly demonic origin. Vines grow through the eye sockets and gaping maw and firmly affix it to the hedge. To the left and right you can see other white spots on the hedge wall in the gloom beneath the tree canopy. Apparently these skulls are placed at intervals along the hedge.

11:30 AM on Djinsdag, the eleventh of Eostre, 3517 I.R.

survival: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25

Add another +1 from guidance

detect magic on the skulls

The skulls do not seem to be magical, just foreboding. After some examination Groff does manage to find faint signs of the the trail you've been tracking. After reaching the very edge of the tangled hedge in front of you it backtracks slightly and heads to the north. Following it for a while through the dense jungle, Groff finds a spot where the tracks seems to disappear again after making a couple erratic movements.

Before he can determine anything else about the tracks though, Auleth's sharp eyes pick up some subtle movement in the trees just in time to warn the party about a pair of dire tigers that seem to be about to attack the party.

Everyone can roll initiative!

11:40 AM on Djinsdag, the eleventh of Eostre, 3517 I.R.

Init: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Init: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6
+3 (Dex) +1 (ioun stone)

Init: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Wow, we are really rolling low as a group here...

Initiative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

Yeah, wow, all low.

init: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Assuming that Grimm wins initiative, he will cast create pit under one or both tigers, if possible (DC 17 reflex).

init: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Dire Tiger Initiative: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Grimm manages to act before the tigers have a chance to close on the party, and summons a pit beneath the feet of the one approaching from the west.

Orange Dire Tiger Reflex save vs DC 17: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

The huge beast leaps out of the way and pounces at the larger, non-flying target.

Full Round Action to Charge with Full Attack Action (Pounce) against Khoran.

Orange Dire Tiger Claw: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 18 + 2 = 27 hit
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 1) + 8 = 13
Orange Dire Tiger Claw: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 18 + 2 = 38 hit
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 2) + 8 = 14
Orange Dire Tiger Bite: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 18 + 2 = 31 hit
Damage (B, P and S): 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (5, 5) + 8 = 18

45 damage total

With the first claw attack the Tiger attempts to hold Khoran in place.

Orange Dire Tiger Grapple Attempt: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (10) + 23 = 33 succeeds

Khoran finds himself held tight by the feline foe.

The other tiger similarly launches itself at Groff from the northwest, covering the ground in great leaps and bounds.

[ooc]Full Round Action to Charge with Full Attack Action (Pounce) against Groff.

Blue Dire Tiger Claw: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 18 + 2 = 21 miss
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 8 = 15
Blue Dire Tiger Claw: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 18 + 2 = 32 hit
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 8 = 15
Blue Dire Tiger Bite: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 18 + 2 = 33 hit
Damage (B, P and S): 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (3, 5) + 8 = 16

25 damage after DR

This tiger also tries to lock down his opponent with a claw attack.

Blue Dire Tiger Grapple Attempt: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (7) + 23 = 30 succeeds

Round 1 Initiative Order

Grimm: Cast create pit
Dire Tigers: Attacked, both grappled
Bannog
Tristan
Auleth
Khoran: Grappled
Groff: Grappled

Round 2

Grimm

The entire party can act.

11:40 AM on Djinsdag, the eleventh of Eostre, 3517 I.R.

are we sure that lvl 7 is the starting point for this AP?... lol

Posting now because I'm fairly sure there's nothing Bannog will do that'll change my actions

Tristan is shocked at the ferocity of the Tigers attack and as a result completely misses the mark with his attacks

Starknife 5bab +6Cha +1Starknife, (Risky Strike -2,+4), Flurry-2
attack #1: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
damage #1: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

attack #2: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
damage #2: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

I will note that rake triggers on a successful grapple... and thus I suspect that I might just be not conscious to act.

If you're still grappled at the start of next turn and the Dire Tiger makes a successful grapple check to maintain the grapple then the rake (if any) kicks in.

A monster with the rake ability must begin its turn already grappling to use its rake—it can’t begin a grapple and rake in the same turn.

https://aonprd.com/UMR.aspx?ItemName=Pounce

"When a creature with this special attack charges, it can make a full attack (including rake attacks if the creature also has the rake ability)."

Right, that would apply, good catch. It's not triggering on the grapple, it's extra attacks with the pounce.

Orange Dire Tiger Rake Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 2 = 24 hit
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 4) + 8 = 15
Orange Dire Tiger Rake Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 18 + 2 = 35 hit
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 2) + 8 = 14

29 more damage to Khoran who is indeed now unconscious.

Blue Dire Tiger Rake Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 18 + 2 = 25
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 3) + 8 = 15
Blue Dire Tiger Rake Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 18 + 2 = 24
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 3) + 8 = 15

24 more damage to Groff

Round 1 Initiative Order

Grimm: Cast create pit
Dire Tigers: Attacked, both grappled
Bannog
Tristan: Attacked
Auleth
Khoran: Grappled, unconsious, dying, disarmed, not prone because the tiger is holding him more or less upright
Groff: Grappled

Round 2

Grimm

Bannog, Auleth, Grimm and Groff can act. Khoran can make a Constitution Check to stabilize.

11:40 AM on Djinsdag, the eleventh of Eostre, 3517 I.R.

Groff can act, that's rich. This adventure is a sadistic deathtrap.

Groff will try to break the grapple since that's the only option.

CMB: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31

Breaking grapple is an option, but you can also attack if you like (with a -2 to hit and using the dorn-dergar as a one handed weapon.) It's the pinned condition that stops you from doing much of anything else.

Con Check to stabilize: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14 vs dc 17=(10+7)

Bleeds
HP = -8

Prescience: 1d20 ⇒ 18

Bannog peers into the future and sees a successful hit coming soon. Given that, he steps up and away 5-foot-step up and away from the tiger, then starts to swirl aetheric energy around him. That energy settles down to the ground beneath his flying feet, where a small rock floats gently up into the air and then goes flying toward the tiger grappling poor battered Khoran.

Using my prescience roll for my telekinetic blast attack roll, using deadly aim and empowered blast.
Attack is 18+14-2 or 30.
Damage, Deadly Aim: 4d6 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (1, 2, 3, 5) + 14 + 4 = 29
Empowered adds another 14 points of damage, for a total of 43 damage

Breaking grapple is an option, but you can also attack if you like (with a -2 to hit and using the dorn-dergar as a one handed weapon.) It's the pinned condition that stops you from doing much of anything else.

A dorn dergar is a two handed weapon, it cannot be used one handed without a feat which I don't have. Hence I can break the grapple or fight a giant tiger unarmed.

Zorblag wrote:

Breaking grapple is an option, but you can also attack if you like (with a -2 to hit and using the dorn-dergar as a one handed weapon.) It's the pinned condition that stops you from doing much of anything else.

A dorn dergar is a two handed weapon, it cannot be used one handed without a feat which I don't have. Hence I can break the grapple or fight a giant tiger unarmed.

I was thinking you could do that now, but it's using it for reach or not that you can manage now which is less helpful.

@everyone, I'm just getting in the car for camping, so the rest of the party can act and then I'll resolve it probably on Friday when I get back. Have a great, tiger-free week!

if either of you have ranks in escape artist Liberating Command (immediate action) would be worth casting. But without ranks its likely not worth wasting a spell vs such tough grapple opposition

if either of you have ranks in escape artist Liberating Command (immediate action) would be worth casting. But without ranks its likely not worth wasting a spell vs such tough grapple opposition

being unconscious, Khoran is a poor target; he can't take actions.

if either of you have ranks in escape artist Liberating Command (immediate action) would be worth casting. But without ranks its likely not worth wasting a spell vs such tough grapple opposition

Not a class skill, and generally not really worth taking on fighters since they usually have decent enough CMB. In theory my 19 on the die should have broke the grapple.

Zorblag wrote:

A dorn dergar is a two handed weapon, it cannot be used one handed without a feat which I don't have. Hence I can break the grapple or fight a giant tiger unarmed.

that's why I prefer 2handing a one-handed weapon. I hate getting grappled with the 2hander and not be able to attack. But you're going for the reach build so it can't be helped

Groff the glib wrote:

Zorblag wrote:

A dorn dergar is a two handed weapon, it cannot be used one handed without a feat which I don't have. Hence I can break the grapple or fight a giant tiger unarmed.

that's why I prefer 2handing a one-handed weapon. I hate getting grappled with the 2hander and not be able to attack. But you're going for the reach build so it can't be helped

Yeah, the only reach option for 1 hand is the whip, and I've already got an active campaign with a whip tank.

Tristan Luckbringer wrote:

Groff the glib wrote:

Zorblag wrote:

A dorn dergar is a two handed weapon, it cannot be used one handed without a feat which I don't have. Hence I can break the grapple or fight a giant tiger unarmed.

that's why I prefer 2handing a one-handed weapon. I hate getting grappled with the 2hander and not be able to attack. But you're going for the reach build so it can't be helped

Yeah, the only reach option for 1 hand is the whip, and I've already got an active campaign with a whip tank.

One handed reach.

Grimm will cast haste on the group.

Apologies for being away, traveled this weekend and then today was a mountain of work.

Auleth will cast Stabilize on Khoran, hoping that the tiger ignores the Aasimar in favor of more threatening prey. Then he moves diagonally farther from the tigers, swiftly invoking the Judgment of Destruction (+3 damage to his attacks).

Auleth will cast Stabilize on Khoran, hoping that the tiger ignores the Aasimar in favor of more threatening prey. .

Round 2

haste+1
Starknife 5bab +6Cha +1Starknife, (Risky Strike -2,+4), Flurry-2
haste attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 1 = 23
damage: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

attack #1: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 1 = 18
damage #1: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

attack #2: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 1 = 13
damage #2: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Tristan's first round of daggers miss, but Bannog hits the tiger with rock and Groff does break free from the tiger's grasp. Auleth's spell stops Khoran's bleeding and Grimm's incantation causes everyone to move at an accelerated pace.

@Auleth, which direction did you want to move? There are tigers to your northeast and southwest, so there's not an obvious away from them direction.

I was going to move away from Bannog on the diagonal (southeast).

Auleth, after stabilizing Khoran, moves to the Southeast, away from both the tigers.

The dire tiger that has Khoran in it's paws releases the shaman, now that he is no longer moving, and focuses it's attention on the goblin that seems to have made a rock fly towards it.

5 foot step to the northeast, full attack on Bannog

Orange Dire Tiger Claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20 Miss
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 = 13
Orange Dire Tiger Claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19 Miss
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 2) + 8 = 12
Orange Dire Tiger Bite: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31 Hit
Damage (B, P and S): 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (6, 1) + 8 = 15

Bannog can use Roll With It here, but if he doesn't (or it doesn't succeed, or the movement leaves it within range) the Tiger will attempt to grapple with the bite attack. If Bannog uses the Roll With It feat and moves, then let's set north as 1 on a d8 and go clockwise from there (so 2 would be northeast and so forth) for the direction.

Grapple Attempt: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (11) + 23 = 34 succeeds if applicable

The other tiger, having had it's grip on Groff broken, attacks the dwarf once more.

Blue Dire Tiger Claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (6) + 18 = 24 Miss
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (1, 4) + 8 = 13
Blue Dire Tiger Claw: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19 Miss
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (4, 4) + 8 = 16
Blue Dire Tiger Bite: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (13) + 18 = 31 Hit
Damage (B, P and S): 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 1) + 8 = 10

7 Damage after DR

With it's bite, the Tiger once again tries to hold the dwarf in place.

Grapple Attempt: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43 Succeeds

Tristan then throws his starknife once more at the tiger now attacking Bannog, this time faster, thanks to Grimm's spell. The first two knives hit and the tiger howls furiously.

Round 2 Initiative Order

Grimm: Cast Haste
Dire Tigers: Attacked, at least one grappled
Bannog: Possibly Grappled or Staggered?
Tristan: Attacked
Auleth
Khoran: unconsious, disarmed, prone
Groff: Grappled

Round 2

Grimm

Bannog can act after resolving his potential reaction and Auleth, Grimm and Groff can act.

11:40 AM on Djinsdag, the eleventh of Eostre, 3517 I.R.

Auleth activates Bane: Animals, and turns and fires three shots at the tigers (preferentially the one grappling Bannog, but if Bannog has escaped then the one grappling Groff).

Attacks: +10, +1 Haste, +2 Bane, -2 Rapid Shot, -2 Risky Attack
Damage: 1d8+1, +2d6 Bane, +4 Risky Attack, +3 Judgment

Attack 1: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18
Damage 1: 1d8 + 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (4) + (1, 4) + 8 = 17

Attack 2: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Damage 2: 1d8 + 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (8) + (4, 2) + 8 = 22

Attack 3: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13
Damage 3: 1d8 + 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (6) + (4, 3) + 8 = 21

With the scrum around the tigers and trying to avoid hitting his allies, his shots are slightly off target.

grapple: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17 nope

Stops bleeding...

Using Roll With It, DC is 5+damage dealt, so 5+15=20. If successful, I move 15ft.
Rollin With It, DC20: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (15) + 17 = 32 Trounced it!

Bannog easily dodges both of the tiger's reaching claws, cackling madly as he does. The bite looks like it is about to hit, but Bannog actually kicks off the tiger's teeth seconds before it closes on him, and instead he goes flying off in a twirling jump off to the west. As he flies off, you here a delighted "Wheeeee!"

He comes to a stop, a manic grin exploding onto his face. "My turn!" he says, and a lightning bolt flashes out from the palm of his right hand without any hesitation, cracking with a loud blast of thunder.

Staggered, so no gather power. Using standard for a Thundering Electric Blast. The tiger will also be deafened as long as it hits.
Attack vs Orange Tiger Touch AC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Damage: 4d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 4, 3, 5) + 7 = 25

Grimm moves behind Tristan and then summons a flaming sphere on top of the tiger mauling Groff.

damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 6, 3) = 14; DC 19 reflex

Auleth fires a round of arrows at the Dire Tiger grappling Groff, but all three miss. Groff tries to break free again from the Tiger's grasp, but this time it holds on tight with it's jaws.

Bannog meanwhile does bounce free to the west and then fires a bolt of electicity at the tiger that had attacked him.

Fort Save vs DC 19: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18 fails

The tiger is deafened by the thundering blast.

Grimm then conjures a flaming sphere on the tiger that has Groff grappled.

Ref Save vs DC 19: 1d20 + 11 - 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 - 2 = 16 fails

The tiger smoulders as the flame burns it's striped fur.

With a snarl of rage the dire tiger which Bannog hit with lightning pounces at the goblin, an enraged ball of claws and teeth.

Orange Dire Tiger Bite Power Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 18 + 2 - 4 = 25 hit
Damage (B, P and S): 2d6 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (6, 5) + 8 + 8 = 27
Orange Dire Tiger Claw Power Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (8) + 18 + 2 - 4 = 24 hit
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (2, 1) + 8 + 8 = 19
Orange Dire Tiger Claw Power Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 2 - 4 = 18 miss
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (1, 2) + 8 + 8 = 19
Orange Dire Tiger Rake Power Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 18 + 2 - 4 = 28 hit
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (3, 1) + 8 + 8 = 20
Orange Dire Tiger Rake Power Attack: 1d20 + 18 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 18 + 2 - 4 = 18 miss
Damage (B and S): 2d4 + 8 + 8 ⇒ (2, 1) + 8 + 8 = 19

The tiger attempts to grapple the goblin with it's bite.

Grapple: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (8) + 23 = 31 succeeds

That's 66 damage if nothing changes that and will be disabled. Because of the grapple with the bite attack that's the only one that Bannog will be able to attempt Roll With It on if he chooses to use it.

The dire tiger with Groff in its jaws attempts to maintain it's grapple.

Grapple Attempt: 1d20 + 23 + 5 ⇒ (20) + 23 + 5 = 48

The tiger's teeth sink in further and Groff finds himself pinned while the rear claws rake at the restrained dwarf.

Rake Damage: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (3, 3) + 8 = 14
Rake Damage: 2d4 + 8 ⇒ (2, 2) + 8 = 12

20 damage total after DR. Groff is now Unconscious and at -10 hp.

Round 3 Initiative Order

Grimm: Cast Flaming Sphere
Dire Tigers: Attacked, at least one grappled
Bannog: Possibly Grappled, Disabled or Staggered?
Tristan
Auleth
Khoran: unconsious, disarmed, prone
Groff: Grappled, unconsious, dying, disarmed, not prone as the tiger is holding him up

Round 4

Grimm

Bannog can act after resolving his potential reaction and Auleth, Tristan and Grimm can act. Groff can make a DC 20 Constitution check to Stabilize.

11:40 AM on Djinsdag, the eleventh of Eostre, 3517 I.R.

Roll with it, DC is 5+27=32
Roll With It, DC32: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (19) + 17 = 36

Once more, the little goblin gives out a delighted squeal as he jumps with the tiger's bite, giving a friendly wave as he once more goes sailing away - this time rolling 30 feet!

He reorients himself, and this time instead of attacking he sails straight up into the air, getting himself well out of range of additional tiger attacks. He gives a little giggle and waves a hand gesture at the tiger that would be considered impolite by many of nicer temperaments than the cackling goblin.

Move action to move straight up, normally have a 60ft fly speed, so I should be able to get up to a height of 30ft.

Auleth casts Stabilize on Groff and then moves south. Like to draw them off and circle back around to heal our wounded folk. Wonder how fast those things are, and if I can outrun them if they chase me.

Would a Knowledge(nature) check tell me how much faster a dire tiger is than me?

Tristan attacks the Orange Tiger hoping to eliminate one threat with his attacks

haste+1
Starknife 5bab +6Cha +1Starknife, (Risky Strike -2,+4), Flurry-2
haste attack : 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 8 + 1 = 19
damage #1: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

attack #1: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 1 = 10
damage #1: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

attack #2: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 8 + 1 = 11
damage #2: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

And he must have a fear of cats or something because his aim is just not that good.

Grimm keeps the sphere in place while he draws his wand of magic missiles and fires on the same tiger.

Flaming Sphere damage: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 5) = 9; DC 19 Reflex negates

Magic Missile damage: 4d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 1, 1, 3) + 4 = 10