GM Valen's PF 2e Quest 6 Archaeology in Aspenthar (Q6)(11 Challenge Points) (Inactive)

Game Master Lysle

After weighting the potential choices of what team member to give his potion to, Gromfur finally decides to give the potion to Faethor.

Afterwards He slings a bullet in the slings leather cup and slings it at the constructs center mass.

Bogard dreams of his life as a child, picking flowers...

lmao

After weighting the potential choices of what team member to give his potion to, Gromfur finally decides to give the potion to Faethor.

Afterwards He slings a bullet in the slings leather cup and slings it at the constructs center mass.

Minor healing potion to Faethor: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Gromfur, Strike (sling) v construct: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15
Damage bludgeoning: 1d6 ⇒ 5

The sling stone fails to do any damage to the construct.

I don't want to interfere with player agency, but I will remind Gromfur that he has a selection of spells and that Dorian's bludgeoning hammer has been rather effective against the construct.

The construct again attacks the Pathfinder in front of it!
Melee (syringe)(magical, reach 10 feet) v Dorian: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Damage plus alchemical injection: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Alchemical injection: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Melee (syringe)(magical, reach 10 feet) v Dorian: 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 14 - 5 = 17
Damage plus alchemical injection: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Alchemical injection: 1d6 ⇒ 1

But, the dwarf manages to stay ahead of the lunging needle!

[b]SYRINGE-WORTHY! Round Six Cont'd/Round Seven Begins!

PCs in bold may act

Dorian Gravendak -33 HP
Round Seven
Gromfur
Zoosh (unconscious, wounded 1, enfeebled 1)
Bogard Sanderstone (unconscious, wounded 1)
Faethor Silverbrow (prone, slowed 1)
Construct -35 HP (slowed 1 for 4 rounds)

As The Odd contraption lunges at him twice spraying some odd chemicals down his back and on his leg, Dorian feels his speed coming back, if at least temporarily. His head is still swimming from the damage hes taken. His vision blurry and his feet unsteady, he once again grips his hammer and puts all of his might into the attack, while holding the clan dagger ready to parry an attack. Once again he feels his hammer smash into it.

power attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 262d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 6) + 4 = 18

actions: 1. Parry with dagger 2/3 power attack with hammer

Dorian delivers a powerful blow to the construct. Yet, despite its dented and partially mangled frame, the mindless automaton continues to menace the party!

SYRINGE-WORTHY! Round Six Cont'd/Round Seven Begins!

PCs in bold may act

Gromfur
Zoosh (unconscious, wounded 1, enfeebled 1)
Bogard Sanderstone (unconscious, wounded 1)
Faethor Silverbrow (prone, slowed 1)
Construct -53 HP (slowed 1 for 4 rounds)
Dorian Gravendak -33 HP

Faethor's eyes snap open and he notices the thing is still attacking his comrades. He stands up and conjures a shield over his left arm.

1 action to stand, 1 to cast Shield.

Gromfur starts speaking in another language other than common.

Gromfur is somatically casting Produce Flame but he is influenced by an earth elemental, this spell is more like Produce earth and gets bludgeoning.

A ball of rock starts atomizing in Gromfurs hand and he launches it at the automation.

range roll: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22

damage roll: 1d4 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

if critical success target takes double damage

A ball of rock starts atomizing in Gromfurs hand and he launches it at the automation.

Sorry, I must apologize. I realize that I very strongly hinted that Gromfur should use magic. However, at the time, I had competely forgotten that this construct is immune to nearly all forms of magic.

Of course, Gromfur knows that Dorian's hammer has been effective, but he does not know that the construct is immune to most forms of magic since no PC has been successful in identifying the automaton.

So, in an effort fix my error, and since Gromfur could have used an action to try and identify the creature before attempting to cast his two-action spell, I will make a check to identify for Gromfur. If the check fails, then I will take Gromfur's action as posted. If the check is successful, then I will allow Gromfur to alter his action this round accordingly...

Gromfur, Crafting to Identify (DC 18): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Unfortunately, that is a failed check.

Gromfur's sentds a hail of magical stones, pelting the construct's frame with sufficient force to utterly demolish its metal and glass form. However, the magical spell has no effect.

Still cornered by Dorian, the construct attempts to bring the Pathfinder down!
Melee (syringe)(magical, reach 10 feet) v Dorian: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Damage plus alchemical injection: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Alchemical injection: 1d6 ⇒ 6

The dwarf manages to raise his dagger to lessen the blow, but its force still drives him to the ground, bleeding out.
Fortunately, the parry saved it from being a crit!

Dorian must make a DC 15 Fortitude save or be slowed for 1 round (2 rounds on a crit fail).

Turning its attention to the next closest foe, the automaton lunges toward the now standing Faethor.

Melee (syringe)(magical, reach 10 feet) v Faethor: 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 14 - 5 = 29
Damage plus alchemical injection: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Alchemical injection: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Alas, not even a parry could have stopped a nat 20.

The well-placed needle pierces deep and the Pathfinder immediately drops for a second time.

Faethor must make a DC 15 Fortitude save or be sickened 1 (sickened 2 on a crit fail).

Due to the residual ice crystals from Faethor's icy claws, the construct is not able to immediately turn its needles on Gromfur.

Victory for the Pathfinders, if it is to be had, has now fallen solely upon the shoulders of Gromfur!

This fight has indeed taken a harsh turn, but Gromfur is a gambler, right? I realize that my hints are now suspect, but my bet is that our hero, Gromfur, has what it takes to win this fight and to save the entire party!

SYRINGE-WORTHY! Round Seven Cont'd/Round Eight Begins!

PCs in bold may act

Dorian Gravendak (Fort save needed, dying 1)
Round Eight
Gromfur
Zoosh (unconscious, wounded 1, enfeebled 1)
Bogard Sanderstone (unconscious, wounded 1)
Faethor Silverbrow (dying 2)
Construct -53 HP (slowed 1 for 3 rounds)

You guys sure know how to make this fight exciting! But, why must you put all the pressure on the new guy?

P.S. - Hero Points are handed out to be used!

Dorian tried to block the descending needles again, and lessened the penetration but it was still enough to cause enough damage to take him down. He felt the hot liquid being injected into him first as hhe started to black out, but resisted its effects. He collapsed to the ground. His hammer falling onto the hard ground. The darkness took him....

fort save dc 15: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

recovery dc11: 1d20 ⇒ 7

If only Produce Mud had worked!

Fort: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17

Recovery: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Dorian fights off alchemical toxins, but slips further towards Pharasma's court.

Bogard dreams of picking flowers and a world where golems have no form of magical immunity (at least none against magic mud)!

Faethor, though fallen, clings to life.

SYRINGE-WORTHY! Round Eight Cont'd!

PCs in bold may act

Gromfur (holds the power between life and death)
Zoosh (unconscious, wounded 1, enfeebled 1)
Bogard Sanderstone (unconscious, wounded 1)
Faethor Silverbrow (dying 1)
Construct -53 HP (slowed 1 for 3 rounds)
Dorian Gravendak (dying 2)

Dorian fights off alchemical toxins, but slips further towards Pharasma's court.

Bogard dreams of picking flowers and a world where golems have no form of magical immunity (at least none against magic mud)!

Faethor, though fallen, clings to life.

SYRINGE-WORTHY! Round Eight Cont'd!

PCs in bold may act

Gromfur (holds the power between life and death)
Zoosh (unconscious, wounded 1, enfeebled 1)
Bogard Sanderstone (unconscious, wounded 1)
Faethor Silverbrow (dying 1)
Construct -53 HP (slowed 1 for 3 rounds)
Dorian Gravendak (dying 2)

I generally bot PCs after 24+ hours of not posting. However, as this has the potential of being the final round of actions, I am VERY reluctant to do so.

If Gromfur does not post in the next 48 hours, then I will bot his PC and, potentially, resolve the combat accordingly.

BOTTING Gromfur - No post in 4+ days

Facing the mechanical menace and seeing how it has handily dispatched the rest of his companions, Gromfur has no desire to fight toe-to-toe with the construct.
Load action
The dwarven Pathfinder loads a stone to the sling he has in his hand. Little more than a leather cup attached to a pair of straps, he knows a sling stone cannot have as great an impact as Dorian's hammer and he hopes to Torag that a single stone will be enough.

After all, should he miss, he will be forced to flee, not having enough time to reload the sling before the golem makes a move towards him.

Gromfur whirls the sling around his head four times--once for each of his fallen allies--then lets it loose towards his lumbering foe!
Ranged Strike (sling) : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
Damage (B): 1d6 ⇒ 3
A miss! Time for that Hero Point!

Ranged Strike (sling) : 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Damage (B): 1d6 ⇒ 5

A hit!

The stone smashes against a portion of the golem's metal frame, one already badly battered by Dorian's hammer. The metal buckles and the golem crashes down to the stone floor. It's alchemical chambers, some already partially drained in his allies, crack and shatter upon impact, spilling their contents harmlessly across the dusty, ancient floor.

COMBAT OVER

With the defeat of the alchemical golem, Gromfur can turn his attention to his allies, many of whom are already beginning to recover.

Faethor Silverbrow, Recovery check (DC 11): 1d20 ⇒ 14

Faethor Silverbrow is unconscious, but stable.

Though at dying 2, Dorian has Hero Points for Heroic Recovery, so it looks like we can wrap this one up!

No more threats lie within the ruins and the party, though it takes some time for them to recover and regain consciousness, are soon able to return up the rope ladder the Pathfinders had secured. The full excavation team arrives the next day, and your s are free to return to the docks for a ride home after they report their findings to Kyreen Tael, a half-elf ranger who leads the excavation team.

Based upon the information that you have been able to gather about the true nature of the site, Kyreen infers from your report that this site is not the Osirian ruins they had hoped for, but more likely a Jistkan laboratory. Luckily, the site should still prove interesting and useful with its connections to Jistkan alchemy and mechanical crafting. After Kyreen Tael explains all this to you, he thanks you all for your work. He is truly happy that you are alive and have a marvelous, harrowing tale to tell of your discoveries and victory!

Well done, Pathfinders!

Feel free to post any role playing for the conclusion and please make sure that your information in the Recruitment thread is correct. Due to the holiday, as my family is celebrating Easter this weekend, I don't expect to report the game or get chronicles out until sometime Monday.

Bogard sleeps throught the weekend, still blissfully unaware how close the party came to dying. Once he awakes, and someone recounts the details, he whistles low and mutters "Guess I'm glad I slept through that one..."

It's fun to sometimes not be guaranteed of victory. Thanks for the game, GM! Even though I was out for much of the end, it was thrilling to see if we would survive! Hope you had a nice Easter weekend.

indeed. Thanks GM. very touch and go