GM TOP #4-02: In Wrath's Shadow (Standard, Outpost IV) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

Fortunately, we won't have to worry about it this round. Both saves pass! I'll let you do your own googling for cool leshy ghoul art. :D

"RRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAGGGGGGH!!!!!!!!!!!!!"

Zzorn begins to rage, heading directly for ugly with with the red vest, and following the example of his tree friend, brings down his falchion in a large overhead chop!

+1 Falchion, incl rage and power attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
magic slashing dmg: 2d4 + 16 ⇒ (4, 4) + 16 = 24

Finnius andvances in past Zzzorn and attacks.

Mwk dagger, power attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
slashing damage: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

i do provoke to get there, but I want to get an attack in

Zzorn just barely manages to obliterate this slightly stronger ghoul. But why was he slightly stronger? HMMMM....

A third ghoul wearing some sort of clerical vestments stands up from behind the altar, "Why you! YOU JERKS! THOSE GUYS WERE SUPPOSED TO LAST SEVERAL ROUNDS ATTACKS AND KEEP YOU AT BAY SO I COULD DO FUN MAGICAL THINGS TO YOU! NOW YOU JUST GET TO DIE EARLIER!!!"

He begins casting a spell, though has to decide which angry barbarian to target. In the end he simply chooses the closer one.

Zzorn, please make a Will Save vs. a Necromancy/Emotion/Fear/Mind-Effecting Effect. I will provide the results as quickly as possible. You are welcome to use a re-roll at any point before those results are given, unless said re-roll specifically grants you the ability to do so after the result is given.

I told you they weren't the endboss! Muahahahaha... (yeah this guy will probably die soon too)
Birseko
AMT (-3 HP)
Blue
Red
Finnius (extra move?)
Zzorn (Will Save)
A Ghoul that can CAST?!? AAHHHHH (aka, yellow)
E. Smagg
Goe Lem

Bold may act!

Finnius Ninja'd me, but his attack wouldn't have hit the ghoul so we'll just write off that. If he would have wanted to double move instead, I'll allow the adjustement.

yes I will double move to base with it in front then

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Eredur moves too late in the room to see the spell being cast.

He casts a cantrip to hurt the undead, but his aim is off

Disrupt undead vs Touch AC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 2

yes I will double move to base with it in front then

The creature would have stepped back to get its spell off unbothered so I adjusted everyone.

The dwarven wizard moves in and fires a blast of positive energy, just a bit high!

Rounds 1 & 2: I told you they weren't the endboss! Muahahahaha...
Birseko
AMT (-3 HP)
Finnius
Zzorn (Will Save before declaring actions)
A Ghoul that can CAST?!? AAHHHHH (aka, yellow)
E. Smagg
Goe Lem

Bold may act!

"Chooooooooop!!" Angry Magic Tree reaches towards the new threat with arms that twist and lengthen to an absurd length before charging after it on still-tiny legs. "Chop Choooooop!"

Casting longarm and moving. If the ghoul tries to cast a spell defensively while within AMT's threatened area (currently 10 ft), they'll find the DC to do so is +2 higher than normal due to AMT's Arcane Bloodrage.

Finnius 5 ft steps up and full attacks with power attack and two weapon fighting.

dagger, pa, 2wf: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
damage: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12

dagger, pa, 2wf: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
damage: 1d4 + 9 ⇒ (4) + 9 = 13

Lot happening fast!

Goe Lem wordlessly lumbers clanking toward the foe.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (15) + 13 = 28

"Zzorn, it's trying to scare you!" Birseko shouts, perhaps rather redundantly.

Then he shoots at it with his wand.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Goe Lem lumbers into the room, darn that armor for making him so slow!

Birseko correctly identifies the fear spell, hopefully someone ate their will save wheaties today! He also draws first blood on this guy, blasting away with a trusty magic missile wand.

Angry Magic Tree sets up a nice little reachy patrol, ready to strike down any more puny magic.

Finnius steps and stabs. And stabs again. The creature cackles as he swats both strikes to the side (This one has much better ac).

Rounds 1 & 2: I told you they weren't the endboss! Muahahahaha...
Birseko
AMT (-3 HP)
Finnius
Zzorn (Will Save before declaring actions)
Yellow Caster Ghoul (-3 HP)
E. Smagg
Goe Lem

Bold may act!

Oh yeah, this guy is actually a slightly different undead creature. You all can roll knowledge religion again to learn what the differences might be.

Zzorn looks at the weird ghoul guy moving its arm frantically, and prepare his sword for more more butchering.

Rage against the machine!, i.e. Will save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 16

Suddenly, Zzorn is taken by a sudden fright that he cannot suddenly explain, therefore he suddenly departs this hall back the way he so suddenly came!

"Huh... Make way! make way! huh... need to take a leak!"

Zzorn is also fatigued for 1 round, so he cannot run or charge.

The mighty warrior runs off to find a bathroom. Apparently going to the bathroom in public is his greatest fear!

The bastard hisses as he is sortove surrounded, "YOU THINK YOU HAVE ME CONTROLLED! BUT YOU HAVE JUST WALKED INTO MY TRAP!!!" He screams in rage and steps into the middle of the pathfinders, biting and clawing at all of them!

Bite vs. AMT: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32 for BPS: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
1-20 miss?: 1d100 ⇒ 66
Claw 1 vs. Finnius: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (10) + 13 = 23 for BP: 1d4 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12
Claw 2 vs. Goe Lem: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31 for BP: 1d4 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

Blood soaks his face and claws and he cackles, "NOTHING SHALL STOP MY RAGE!!!"

Multiple FORT Saves will be needed here. They are all DC 15. AMT has 2x saves to make. The first is vs. Paralysis and the second vs. Disease. Finnius and Goe Lem need to make a single save vs. Paralysis. If you succeed on those saves vs. Paralysis, you may take your normal action. The disease is more of a long term concern, it won't effect this combat, but still needs to be rolled.

Rounds 2 & 3: Dang, that ghoul-like undead creature is scary!
Birseko
AMT (-14 HP, 2x Fort Saves due)
Finnius (-12 HP, Fort Save due)
Zzorn (fear done, but it'll take this round to get back)
Yellow Caster Ghoul (-3 HP, 1 rd ability tracked)
E. Smagg
Goe Lem (-12 HP, Fort Save due)

Bold may act!

Oh yeah, this guy is actually a slightly different undead creature. You all can roll knowledge religion again to learn what the differences might be.

Fortitude vs Paralysis: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16
Fortitude vs Disease: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

"CHOOOOOOOOOOOOOP!!!" the leshy roars back!

Greataxe, PA: 1d20 + 12 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 12 - 2 = 11 Folio Reroll - we can't take too many more of those hits!
Greataxe, PA, GM Stars: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 12 - 2 + 4 = 28
Magical Adamantine Slashing damage, PA: 1d10 + 10 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 6 = 18

Fort: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16

Finnius attacks again, this time a little less powerfully.

Dagger 2WF, Flank: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 8 + 2 = 24
Damage: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Dagger 2WF, Flank: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d4 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Birseko fires another bolt of force at the monstrosity.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Know religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Battleaxe to the face: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
dmg: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Battleaxe to the face Crit?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14
dmg: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (2, 7) + 2 = 11

Tired of casting spells maybe, Eredur aims at the ghoul's head, and his battleaxe flies from his hand, before returning to its owner's possession.
With pride, the dwarf says

Always aim for the head.

Busy weekend (as usual) for me, but let's get back to it! Mayhaps we can finish off this little scenario soon.

The dwarf wizard recognizes that this is a ghast. It's pretty much like a super powered ghoul, so most of the things a ghoul can do, it can also do (paralysis, disease, channel resistance). But... this one CAN paralyze elves, so Birseko beware!

He sends his axe right at the creature's head. At the last second though, he gets a partial deflection, only taking a grazing wound (Hits, not even close to a confirm though).

Birseko doesn't actually recognize the difference between ghouls and ghasts, but the dude is ugly so... magic to the face is a good call. His magic missiles snap some ribs when they hit.

The leshy and the Armiger manage to resist the disease AND the paralysis, yay!

And AMT even decides to show the dwarf how to use an axe. You don't throw it, you CHOP! She carves a large slash into the ghast, though it doesn't seem to be that concerned yet.

But then the armiger manages to connect with a dagger strike and the wounds grow bigger. Hm.... what shall the ghast do next? We shall see!

Rounds 2 & 3: Dang, that ghoul-like undead creature is scary!
Birseko
AMT (-14 HP, 2x Fort Saves due)
Finnius (-12 HP, Fort Save due)
Zzorn (fear done, but it'll take this round to get back)
Yellow Caster Ghoul (-45 HP, 1 rd ability tracked)
E. Smagg
Goe Lem (-12 HP, Fort Save due)

Bold may act!

Calling upon his faith in Anubis, Goe Lem attempts to tangle the creatures legs.
Swift action fervor to give another +1 to the flail the trip attempt.
trip CMB: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20

Goe Lem Fort Save DC 15 vs. Paralysis: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Goe Lem resists the paralysis of the claw, but is unable to sweep the leg!

The creature screeches in total rage and attacks the three around him again!

Bite vs. AMT: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30 for BPS: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
1-20 miss?: 1d100 ⇒ 38
Claw 1 vs. Finnius: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (4) + 13 = 17
Claw 2 vs. Goe Lem: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21 for BP: 1d4 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

The bite and one claw connects, but the other claw just scrapes across the Armigers thick breastplate!

Multiple FORT Saves will be needed here. They are all DC 15. AMT has 2x saves to make. The first is vs. Paralysis and the second vs. Disease. Goe Lem needs to make a single save vs. Paralysis. If you succeed on those saves vs. Paralysis, you may take your normal action. The disease is more of a long term concern, it won't effect this combat, but still needs to be rolled.

His bloodstained face smiles, "FRESH MEAT!!!"

Rounds 3 & 4: Dang, that ghoul-like undead creature is scary!
Birseko
AMT (-24 HP, 2x Fort Saves due)
Finnius (-12 HP)
Zzorn
Yellow Caster Ghoul (-45 HP, 2 rds ability tracked)
E. Smagg
Goe Lem (-22 HP, Fort Save due)

Bold may act!

Fortitude vs DC 15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
Fortitude vs DC 15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

"ChoooOOOOOOP!" The leshy spins around in a circle for extra momentum as she swings her axe!

Greataxe, PA, Flanking: 1d20 + 12 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 12 - 2 + 2 = 23
Magical Adamantine Slashing damage, PA: 1d10 + 10 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 6 = 26

Birseko plinks away with his wand, sending another blip of force at the creature.

Magic Missile: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Finally returned from his pee break, Zzorn says, "What did I miss?" as he 5-ft steps next to the ghoulish host and attempts to contribute another cut into AMT's already impressive slash marks. "RRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHGH!!!!!!!!" (Rage)

FALCHION TIME: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
slashing dmg: 2d4 + 16 ⇒ (3, 2) + 16 = 21

========================

CONFIRM CRIT: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26
additional dmg: 2d4 + 16 ⇒ (4, 1) + 16 = 21

Finnius stabs twice more again.

Dagger, 2WF, flank: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 8 + 2 = 16
Damage: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Dagger, 2WF, flank: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 = 11
Damage: 1d4 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

fort save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
Goe Lem shrugs off the effects of the claw, heals himself, and again tries to knock the creature to the ground.
free action fervor self heal and trip attempt.
fervor healing: 1d6 ⇒ 5
trip CM: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22

HP: 18 of 35

The Oread resists the paralysis of the ghast, he's pretty tough! A quick self-heal later and then a strike to the leg the ghast is... still standing.

Another blast from the psychic's wand leaves a nasty welt on the creature.

The leshy laughs in the face of disease and paralysis, swinging around for the final chop! But she shouldn't have taken her eye off the target during her spin, as he ducked down to barely avoid the strike.

The heavily armored dagger user strikes twice again! Now if only he could hit something, his daggers would be a lot more dangerous.

As things seem like they are trending towards another round of combat, Zzorn saunters in and brings his blade up quickly towards the creature!

Something like this happens (about the 3:05 mark, specifically), enjoy!

__________________________________

Combat is over!

Alright, so that is about all there is for this module. Unless you want to take on the optional combat? If I have all six of you up for it, I'll run it. Otherwise we can wrap things up with some conclusion stuff and RP and I'll start working on chronicles.

AMT, I still need your info on the slides (it is currently slide #7). Now would also be a good time for dayjob rerolls or FJC rolls if you have anything available to do.

Meh, I'm fine to skip the optional encounter unless everyone else wants to do it.

Angry Magic Tree finally stops shaking after several seconds, though he gives the fallen ghoul a few extra chops just for good measure. "And stay dead!" he orders. "Or else!"

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Wisdom vs DC 15: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (15) + 0 = 15

The report is filled with lots of extra scribbles and a few holes, but it is a full page long and includes a list of everything found at the dig site - including more rocks and pieces of rubble than Ambrus Valsin would really need to know about. But Angry Magic Tree is very proud of her work, and he can't bring himself to tell the leshy otherwise.

Foregoing day job to Finalize a Report for a Faction Goal! Info in slides has been updated.

I was told the option encounter kills a lot of characters, so I am fine with skipping it. However, if others want give it a try, Goe Lem will attempt to pound something to smithereens!

I'm fine either way; Finnius is always wanting to fight.

I'm ok to stop here. I would rather play another scenario with the same group instead! :)

I'm flexible.

I can either continue and do the optional encounter (haven't used most of my spells) or stop here and do another adventure with the team

I would vote to do the optional encounter

By the way, I never understood scenarios with 'optional encounters'. If they were related to 'random encounters' while you travel to a destination, I get it, but 'optional encounter' for the sake of extending the scenario time to fill a whole 4-hour slot at a convention is just annoying. Haven't they heard of pee breaks and snack times? NO! your butt must remain firmly glued to that chair FOR FOUR HOURS otherwise you're NOT WORTHY of getting that chronicle sheet!

Let's make this a better world and firmly refuse optional encounters that destroy an already thin suspension of disbelief! :)

it’s usually presented in the book the opposite way- as an ordinary encounter but with a sidebar that if you are short on time and won’t be able to finish otherwise you can skip it

The pathfinders loot the crap outta the ghast. After all, he tried to kill them AND probably isn't carrying anything that important for the society's archaeologists to investigate.

One other room lies unchecked and blocked off. As it is quickly opened by AMT's chopping, it lies empty. A tiny little rat hole has been chewed into the back corner and some completely scoured free of organic matter bones and armor remain on the floor. Perhaps whatever it was left long ago, squeezing through the rat hole.

Nothing else of importance happens as the group exits. They find the bodies outside have been prepared for transport back to the beach.

Halla and the surviving workers greet the party with great enthusiasm when they return to the seaside excavation camp. The archaeologist provides food and drink, insisting on a full account of their adventure and details on the location.

Halla and the surviving laborers accompany the party back to Magnimar aboard the Winking Wyvern. During the voyage, Halla examines any artifacts that the Pathfinders have collected, exclaiming that they are amazing finds that will surely yield much valuable information on Bakrakhan with further study. If the party has not yet identified the acrimony veil, Halla does so at this time and also assembles it if the device is still in its separate parts. Halla explains that she has every intention of returning to the dig at the earliest opportunity in order to study the temple complex—it’s obvious from the party’s description that the most valuable information is painted and chiseled on the temple’s walls. Magnimar’s venture-captain is certain to recruit a new archaeological team now that the group has cleared out the obvious threats.