GM_DBH's Shattered Star

Game Master DBH

Nodding as the Ettin fall quickly, Elathras comments, "Well done Dwarves." as he moves towards the southern door on the west wall. Shifting his guisarme to his left hand, he attempts to open the door with his right.

A16. GUARDROOM
A grand stairwell to the upper floor is set along the west wall,
splitting to the north and south in flanking ascending flights. An extravagant headdress consisting of a veil hanging from a silvery crown is draped over the north banister at the foot of the stairs.

Map updated, sad there was no trap on the door. :)

What now?

"Maybe all I really need to do is be a cheerleader..." Elena thinks as the rest of the group absolutely destroys the opposition in mere seconds. She clasps her hands and mutters a quick prayer to her goddess in having granted her such stalwart allies for protection.

In the next room, she watches the strange crown and veil hanging from the banister. What was it and why was it there?

"What's that over there...?" She wonders as she attempts to study the item from a distance.

I'll refresh heightened awareness from the wand here, assuming it was used in the last fight on an init roll.

perception?, good hope, heightened awareness: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (17) + 28 = 45

If no immediate threats present themselves I will spend three rounds to detect magic the headdress/crow/veil and attempt to spellcraft it if magical.

spellcraft, good hope, can I identify it without touching?: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (20) + 18 = 38

Elena immediately sees that there is strong Abjuration magic on the crown and veil.

It is obvious to her that there is a powerful Glyph of warding set on it.

What are you doing now?

As the Ettin falls in a massive heap, Vhane calmly watches it collapse. "I told ya, I hate giants," he states plainly, switching his unlit cigar to the other side of his mouth. Reloading his crossbow, he follows after the others.

------------------------------------------------------------

"What's that over there...?"

Narrowing his eyes as he focuses on the item, "By me guess, it looks like an extravagant headdress consistin' of a veil hanging from a silvery crown. But that's just me guess." He shrugs. ;)

"By me guess, it looks like an extravagant headdress consistin' of a veil hanging from a silvery crown. But that's just me guess."

Elena facepalms mid-divination. "And, by my guess, the creature standing in front of me has miraculously found a way to smoke a cigar with his ass. Oh wait, that's his face." The priestess thinks, but her patience prevails and instead she shares her findings.

"It's enchanted with a Glyph of Warding, a magical trap that can be triggered in a variety of ways. It can do anything from blasting the area to triggering any spell up to the third level. I don't know which or what would set it off. That requires Read Magic to learn more. It can also be dispelled. But I only have one dispel and I don't have the Reading spell at the moment. Maybe Axton can help us here?" She wonders, and looks at the now-arcanist.

Chuckling at Vhane's gift for stating the obvious, Elathras realizes it's no 'laughing matter' as Elena explains the 'glyph of warding.' Hearing Axton should be able to resolve the spell, he turns, watching the mustachioed pathfinder.

Botting Bharak to move things on.

perception Traps: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (17) + 23 = 40
disable device: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (14) + 18 = 32

"Before he does that lets get this fixed." Says Bharak who disables the poison pit trap under the trapdoor, suspiciously set so that someone hit by the Glyph would land on it.

"Now you can unmagic that thing."

Axton?

Sorry for the delay. Work stuff is keeping me busy.

Axton casts read magic on the glyph to try and understand its specifics.

Axton's Knowledge (arcana) is well over the DC. If the glyph needs dispelling, and we can't set it off more easily for some reason, here's the roll for that. I'm spending an arcane reservoir point to increase the caster level:

Dispel check: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 11 + 2 = 20
2nd attempt, if necessary: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 2 = 19

If that fails, it looks like the DC for a character with Trapfinding to disable the glyph is 28. But let's wait to hear what the glyph does before committing to that. I may risk a 3rd casting of dispel magic.

Here ya go

HEADPIECE BOOBY TRAP
Type magic; Perception DC 31; Disable Device DC 31
EFFECTS
Trigger location; Reset none
Effect spell effect (greater glyph of warding, sonic blast glyph,
7d8 sonic damage, DC 21 Reflex save for half damage);
multiple targets (all creatures in area A16)

It's A Greater Glyph. 6th level spell. So I believe your Dispel failed as you'd need at least a 21? Hint, you need higher than 21. :)

Elena facepalms mid-divination.

Vhane catches Elena's actions and looks curiously upon her. That was odd. I've never seen her do that before. Possibly a mosquito landed on her face? I don't see her wiping anythin' off. Hm. Odd. May have to keep an eye on her. It's possible the lot of this is gettin' to her. I've seen it happen. To me fellow dwarves, no less. It's not pretty, he thinks to himself as he moves the UNLIT ;) cigar back to the other side of his mouth.

It's A Greater Glyph. 6th level spell. So I believe your Dispel failed as you'd need at least a 21? Hint, you need higher than 21. :)

3rd attempt at a Dispel check: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 11 + 2 = 23

Axton's mediocrity saves the day!

@ Vhane I don't think holding a cigar with one's ass is a significant upgrade but to each their own ;)

After seeing Axton try and dispel the glypsh unsuccesfully twice, Elena puts her hand on his shoulder. "Wait, I'll help you. The gods don't look kindly on those who turn their places of worship into deathtraps."

"...Well, most of them, at least."

She channels a bit of divine power into his third dispel attempt, which seems to gain significant strength.

Bit of Luck dispell second d20 roll: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29

That should be enough for the dispel? Also, rolling any d20 roll twice for a round is such insane utility for a basic domain power. BoL uses left: 7/11.

With Elena boosting him Axton finally manages to dispel the Glyph.

DC26 baby!

What are you doing now. Two sets of stairs heading up, or the courtyard behind you?

"Well done, Axton." The priestess says as the enchantment dissipates. She walks to the headdress to exame it further, Is it a mundane item now? and takes it along just in case. Faced with the ever-present dilemma of 'now what?' She turns around. "I think it's probably wisest to clear out the ground level before we go anywhere else. Shall we deal with the redcaps now?"

The headdress still radiates magic.

What now?

religion? Not spellcraft? GH,
heightened awareness: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (11) + 18 = 29

In that case, before she suggests clearing the redcaps and according to the Pathfinder wiki:

"Th- this is..." Her throat is dry upon the realization, her hands sweaty and trembling as she holds the crown and its veil. "This is the headdress of the Masked Abbess, the religious leader of Windsong Abbey. Many great priestesses have worn it through time to lead the clergy here. Well... until now i suppose." She glances around the ruined cathedral and looks up at the group. "Should I take it...? I'm not sure of I would qualify as worthy enough to don it. But it *is* more powerful than what I have..."

That stat combination is perfect for Elena, and it has cool flavor and storyline potential. I didn't know of the position of the apparently specifically female Masked Abbess existing! If anyone would benefit from Elena's old +4 wis headband or the +2 charisma ioun stone she had, she could give those to others, if the group allows her to take it. As a side note, FML for spending almost all my money to buy a headband and ioun stone of my own only to find a superior version immediately after -_-

I'd say you're safe to use until you find out the fate of the Abbess. Remember the Abbey was fading away and only had about 5 faiths still here. You can always return it if needed, until then use it to save the abbey. :)

Yeah. I spent something like 30000gp on a weapon for a character. All the gold he'd saved for abut 3 levels to get the perfect weapon for his build. Of course I immediately found a better one two encounters later!

watching and listening as Bharak and Axton removes the trap, Elathras considers Elena's question. Shrugging, "More qualified than I, why don't you wear it and return it to the 'leader' if and when we find them."

He gestures towards the stairs, "Do we continue up or deal with the Redcaps?"

"Take it." Bharak said. "If the Gods say that ye're not worthy then they'll let ye know. And besides, I think that the late Abbess would rather ye put it to good use than the Redcaps add it to their wee hats after they water them with our blood. Speaking of which, we should deal with them."

Nodding in agreement with Bharak, "The redcaps first." Elathras pauses for a moment considering how to attack the dark fey up on the balcony, he turns to Axton and asks, "Axton, would you be able to make me large?" Smiling, "It would make it easier to reach the little monsters."

After two unsuccessful attempts and dispelling the glyph of warding, Axton gratefully accepts any assistance from Elena.

It says something about his intellectual growth that once he figured out what would set off the defensive spell, he did not voice the idea that a judiciously placed summoning spell would solve their problem. It's a good plan, of course, but he's learned what Elena's "look" afterward means.

Regarding the headdress, Axton adds, "Additionally, if we do what we've come here to do, we'll have saved the Abbey. If there's no longer an Abbess, it seems appropriate adornment for a Savior of Windsong Abbey."

"Axton, would you be able to make me large?" Smiling, "It would make it easier to reach the little monsters."

"Of course. I have an appropriate spell prepared. Watch your head."

When Elathras is ready, Axton casts enlarge person on Elathras. He raises his eyebrow (and one side of his mustache) at Bharak in a gesture meant to invite him to receive the same spell.

Nodding at the support of her friends, Elena takes a deep breath and dons the crown, fully aware of the weight of respondibility its previous wielders would have held. How did you even begin to lead a religious conglomerate of so many conflicting ideologies?

But... at the same time, it had truly been a great initiative. A place where people of all fates could study and debate religion freely and without prosecution from others.

"Let's hope the abbess is still alive. And... if they're not, I will wear it in defense of this place." She nods, feeling the slightly too large crown shift on her head and has to immediately readjust it. "Right. Redcaps. Let's go. Surely there is a way up to their battlements from inside the cathedral-"

She stops when the enlarging begins and grins. "I suppose that works too. Let's see if we can clear out the entire base floor before Good Hope runs out."

Elena is ready to go.

Feeling Axton's spell take hold, Elathras nods and smiles, "Thanks Axton." As he turns towards the door he notices Elena putting the 'crown' on, smiling he adds, "It looks good on you Elena, very mysterious."

Pausing at the door, he turns towards Bharak, waiting to see if his friend will also 'go large.'

Bharak shook his head. ”Harder to scout. And it feels wrong. I’ll stay as I am.” He replied.

"It looks good on you Elena, very mysterious."

She grins. "Though I'm sure that's just me having to get used to it. Or maybe it was donned in conjunction with some spell..." The priestess wonders as the group goes to engage the Redcaps.

Nodding his head in agreement, Elathras would normally eschew the larger size, but he wanted to hit the redcaps without trying to find the stairway. Gesturing towards the door, "Shall we go then?"

Knowing his dwarven friend would be able to move much faster than him, Elathras moves through the door from A15 first, past the pillars and the doorway A3 into the great hall.

Use the Windsong abbey map.

A2. COURT YARD
This large, stone-paved courtyard is dominated by a one hundred-
fifty-foot-tall tower constructed of pure white marble.

Other than a set of white double doors set at the tower's base, the structure's walls present no windows or openings except for at the peak, which is constructed after the fashion of a lighthouse.

The immaculate tower makes a stark contrast with the devastated appearance of the courtyard, whose pavement slabs are cracked and disconnected on the south and covered with ash and soot to the northwest where the great thatched roof of the guesthouse was consumed by a huge fire.

During the day, the balcony on the southwest corner of the courtyard attached to area A20 serves as a sentry post for a group of four redcaps armed with crossbows

They have a good view over the courtyard and are alert. Climbing up to the balcony is a DC15 climb check.

What are you doing? Currently I have you peeking into the courtyard from the passageway. You haven't been seen yet.

Where is A20? I don't see it on the map.

Indicating the tower, Axton states, "Those narrow confines will make it difficult for many of my spells. I'm glad we are not entering it first. But I'm going to have Intrepid watch the tower as we go in case anything comes out from either the top or the bottom."

A20 is on the floor above you. You'd need to go upstairs and find a way to reach it.

"Okay. Intrepid watching out for intruders sounds good." Elena says as the group surveys the courtyard. As Axton notes that the enemy position was hard to reach for both spells and weapons, she thinks a moment. "Hm... you know, I have an idea..." She says, and shares it.

If no one objects to the idea:

Drawing on the power of the shard of Pride, Elena conjures three large illusionary duplicates of the ettins the group had just slain. They stagger into the courtyard all drunkenly and advance on the tower, the front one shouting: "US HUNGRY! US EAT GOBLINS WITH FUNNY HATS NOW!"

"I wonder if they're scared enough to just run away and jump off the other end? Goddess knows I would be in their shoes..." Elena thinks as she concentrates on the illusion and making it look and sound real.

"I could just shoot 'em. With the fake giants out there, maybe they'll be distracted enough ta where I can just shoot 'em." He shrugs, peeking in the direction of the redcaps. "Don't want ta hit the big fella, though, when he goes out there."

Ok, give me your actions please. Can't do anything until you act.

Vhane peeks around the corner to get a bead on the redcaps. He takes careful aim at one... and fires!

Okay, Vhane is going to move to that corner wall. That wall that is directly left of Bharak. Looks like a "Tetris" piece. It goes 3 squares left, 2 squares up, and then one square left. Vhane will stand behind the corner where the "2 squares up, and the one square left" meet.

Or, in a much simpler way to explain it, 2 squares north of Bharak, and then 3 squares going left from there. (Why didn't I just start with this? :P)

As far as which one to attack, if you go 1, 2, 3, 4 from the bottom to the top, he'll shoot at "4". The furthest one. That way, Elathras can get to the closer ones.

Also, I've no idea if Good Hope is still active. So, I did not add it. IF it is still active, that would be a +2 to attack/damage

Deadly Aim
+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
Damage: 1d10 + 13 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 13 + 5 = 22 +5 is bleed damage

(Rapid Shot)+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Damage: 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Damage: 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14

+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
Damage: 1d10 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Crit confirm
+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 14 + 4 = 20
Damage: 2d10 + 26 ⇒ (2, 1) + 26 = 29

Such crappy rolling. Ugh.

1 grit point for bleeding wound. (On the 1st attack since I know that hits)

AC 24; Hp's Hp's 130/130; Grit (2/5 left)

Ok, give me your actions please. Can't do anything until you act.

Surprise round or full round action? I'll assume surprise round and just take one move, if it's a full round I'll make a second post attacking.

Moving into the larger room Elathras readies to attack the redcaps.

Seeing Vhane use the illisionary giants as a momentary distraction to open fire, Elena decides to begin singing. She just left the illusions out in the field, making them act all surprised and stumbling over Elathras and Vhane suddenly bursting into the scene. Would that make a difference? Probably not, but it was a waste to just dismiss it when she didn't really have to.

I'll use my action to start inspire courage, assuming the party gave the giants the previous round to walk into the courtyard. For future reference, Elena has Flagbearer + the banner of ancient kings, so even if good hope ran out, everyone within 30 ft still has the +2 morale to hit and damage rolls. Total buffs as always +5 hit/dmg and +1d6 sonic.

Bharak advanced alongside Elathras, standing next to his comrade so they could await the assault together.

Vhane pins one Redcap to the wall behind him with three bolts.

AC20 for the Redcaps.

Elathras & Bharak advance.

Elena sings.

Use the Abbey exterior map for this fight. Sadly they did not put the balcony in any of the maps!

Waiting on Axton's action.

Axton had tapped Bharak with a fly wand so that he can get up to the redcaps.

Bharak advanced alongside Elathras, standing next to his comrade so they could await the assault together.

*********

With Vhane hogging the good spot, Axton cuts through the room the party has previously cleared (A15) to find a better position.

Bharak & Vhane can now act!

Hit: 1d20 + 20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 20 + 5 = 38
Damage: 1d6 + 20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 20 + 5 = 30
Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6
Sonic: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Iterative: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (20) + 17 = 37
Damage: 1d6 + 25 ⇒ (3) + 25 = 28
Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 1
Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Sonic: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Confirm: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (4) + 17 = 21
Crit: 1d6 + 25 ⇒ (3) + 25 = 28

Iterative: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Damage: 1d6 + 25 ⇒ (1) + 25 = 26
Acid: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 4
Sonic: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Rage gives +2 AC

With his blades whirling, Bharak came with lethal intent. Inspired by Elena’s song and filled with courage, he did not hesitate to throw himself into the fray.

Question: Did #4 die? Just want to be sure.

Vhane, glad he was able to take the best spot and not let Axton have it, quickly reloads, takes aim, and fires at the next one.

Attack #3

Deadly Aim/Good Hope +2/IC +3
+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (3) + 19 = 22
Damage: 1d10 + 18 + 1d6 ⇒ (5) + 18 + (3) = 26

(Rapid Shot)+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (4) + 19 = 23
Damage: 1d10 + 18 + 1d6 ⇒ (4) + 18 + (1) = 23

+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
Damage: 1d10 + 18 + 1d6 ⇒ (6) + 18 + (5) = 29

+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Damage: 1d10 + 18 + 1d6 ⇒ (1) + 18 + (1) = 20

Crit confirm
+2 Repeating heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 14 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 14 + 4 = 35
Damage: 2d10 + 36 ⇒ (1, 7) + 36 = 44

BOOM! 122 damage.

AC 24; Hp's Hp's 130/130; Grit (2/5 left)

As he continues to use the wall for cover and keep an eye peering around the edge of it, "That's two."

Yes, 4 died in your opening attack.

Bharak shreds Red and then finished up by wounding Orange.

Vhane ends Orange and then casually puts a bolt through Green's eyeball, killing him as well.

All four Redcaps died quickly and quietly. The courtyard is silent.

What are you doing now?

So much for their DR!

Seeing the enemy fall before her in seconds yet again, Elena feels a bit stupid for even suggesting trying to trick the redcaps instead. Apparently she was either way underestimating her own team, overestimating the enemy or both. It wasn't even like they needed much resources to do it.

"Good. Let's keep up momentum and try clearing out the floor of enemies before we search their tower. Maybe we can find more of them off-guard," Elena suggests, pointing towards the north.

Seems like there are unexplored buildings/doors to both the north and west of us. Either is fine by me, I just think we should press on quickly before either good hope runs out or the enemy discovers their dead fellows and raises the alarm.

Torn between congratulating the dwarves on a well placed attack and apologizing to Axton for apparently wasting a spell, Elathras does neither. Instead, he nods in agreement with Elena and moves towards the northern door that Elena had pointed out. He quicky inspects the door (if it is free of traps) he will attempt to open it, so Bharak can advance.

Taking 10(26) on perception.

The door isn't trapped and Elathras opens it to reveal.

A11. CHARRED DORMITORY
Once a three-story-high building, this structure is now little more than a charred pile of ruins surrounded by a twentyfoot-high enclosure of blackened wall.

A few smaller rooms remain along the walls, but even these are partially collapsed. Fragments of furniture suggest this was once the abbey guesthouse before the fire ruined it all.

Windsong abbey map updated.

What are you doing now?

Furrowing his brow, Elathras asks, "Looks mostly burned out, do we want to take the time to search the few small rooms remaining along the wall?"

"I guess it wouldn't hurt to quickly check, now that we are here anyway," Elena figures and moves to follow Elathras and Bharak, should he advance too, into the room. "Do you want us to shrink you back down first, by the way...?" she asks the enlarged hellknight.

I'll take 10 on perception too as the group moves around around the place to check the small rooms if that is possible. With good hope and feightened awareness, if good hope is still active (probably is since we searched nothing except take the headdress and all fights were less than 1 round but correct me if so), that is 38 perception. If Elena can't take 10 I'll roll below:

perception, heightened awareness +2, good hope +2?: 1d20 + 28 ⇒ (4) + 28 = 32

Taking 10 on each small room’s door and looking inside

If a roll is needed add + 1 traps, +2 stone: 1d20 + 22 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 22 + 2 = 40

”Never know what might be hiding. Would be had to get surrounded because of unneeded haste.” Bharak rationalized.

"Do you want us to shrink you back down first, by the way...?" she asks the enlarged hellknight.

"I hope not!" Axton offers as he walks past.