[PFS2] Q13 Falcon's Descent (GM Watery Soup, Table 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Watery Soup

Lokaloka and Gaby translate the script into Goblin, which is useful to them and nobody else. Eldon translates it into Common, which is more useful.

The text draws heavily on Successful Methods for the Enslavement of Lesser Races, but between quotations, text alludes to two hidden switches near the grate that, if pushed at the same time, cause it to open.

Pushing the switches causes the grate to swing open.

---

A low rumble can be heard nearby as a spider the size of a halfling is blown against the wall, reeking of corrosive stench and clearly dead. The duergars placed some bombs nearby in a makeshift trap, and now the Pathfinders have to make their way past them!

Only one PC can attempta check, though other PCs can Aid: Crafting to Recall Knowledge regarding the bombs’ composition, Perception to Seek where any hidden bombs might lie, or Thievery to disable the obvious traps.

Lokaloka lets out a startled squeak as the large spider hits the wall. She looks at her companions, clearly unsure of what to do.

Eldon looks thoughtful. 'I'm willing to assist someone disable the traps, but I don't think I should lead. Marigold, you seem to have a lot of tools, is there something that can help us here?'

His Thievery modifier is +6 if I need to make an Aid Another check

Cletus makes a face at the mashed spider. "Gross." He glances uncertainly at the others. "I ain't much fer bomb disposal, but I'll lend a hand if ya want."

I can aid Perception maybe, but none of those skills are great for Cletus. Crafting +1, Perception +4, Thievery +4. Even rolling to Aid Another is risky. I have a very good chance of crit failing and giving a penalty instead of helping. But if the primary roller wants me to risk it, I'm willing!

Eldon looks thoughtful. 'I'm willing to assist someone disable the traps, but I don't think I should lead. Marigold, you seem to have a lot of tools, is there something that can help us here?'

His Thievery modifier is +6 if I need to make an Aid Another check

Marigold grins at Eldon. ”On it!”, she says. ”Just keep that light steady”

Taking out some snips and other doodads, she focuses on the duergar hazards, while muttering under her breath.

”Sneak into the hidden room,
Make the spider go kaboom.
Raise a ruckus and a fuss,
But I betcha won’t catch us…”

Thievery: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Do I need to Hero that?

Thievery: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

Do I need to Hero that?

That will be a Success. Do you want to Hero Point that?

Since rerolling a Success would be unusual (I just had it come up as a player in another game, though, haha), I'm going to assume no reroll.

Marigold disarms the bomb trap, and the group moves on.

---

As the Pathfinders traverse farther into the tunnels, they hear the sounds of pitched battle between the Eagle Knights and the duergars far in the distance, but they’re at a risk of becoming lost if they charge forward too hastily!

With time pressure bearing down, one hero must take the lead. Only one PC can attempt the check to guide the party there, though other PCs can Aid. Nature (higher DC) check, Underground Lore (lower DC), or Survival (higher DC).

Don't you need to be expert to aid?

Lokaloka casts Summon Instrument and conjures up a flute to lend musical aid in the upcoming battle.

Eldon will gravitate towards the centre of the group, following whoever decides to lead. He takes a drink from his waterskin to make sure he has a clear voice for casting when the time comes.

Following Eldon's lead, Lokaloka takes a sip of pickle brine to fortify herself for the coming fight. She feels both anxious and excited at the same time, not knowing what to expect. She reaches for her daggers, making sure they can easily be drawn and thrown if need be. She also touches the hilt of her rapier and draws it slightly, feeling reassured by its weight.

Gaby isn't afraid to lead the group into battle, but the echoes throughout the tunnels make it hard to choose the right path.

She waits to see if someone has a clear direction.

I only have a +4 Survival but if nobody else has a better modifier, I can roll it.

Gaby, your Bardic Lore can be used in place of Underground Lore since this is a Recall Knowledge check.

Recalling a bit of knowledge Gaby charges ahead! "Bardic lore to the rescue!"

bardic lore: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Lokaloka trots after Gaby, flute in hand ready to provide musical courage if need be.

Cletus has no idea who GM Glyn is, but they seem to know where they're going so he follows them.

I actually thought I was in the wrong game when I saw it :)

Gaby leads the group through the tunnels, following the directions laid out in the old dwarven song Momma Got Taken by the Duergar.

As the Pathfinders exit the winding tunnels, they enter a large cavern that is barricaded at several points. See Slide 3.

Environmental Effects:

The black areas are cave walls and are inaccessible.

The blue shaded areas are a raised platform. There is a ring 5' high, and the inner platform is 10' high.

The cyan circles are impassable stalagmites. PCs and creatures may Take Cover behind them.

The entire cave is pitch black. Eldon has a lighted fork, so 20' around him is bright light. There is another 20' of dim light (not shown because it's getting too cluttered). Eldon, Cletus, and Marigold are blind outside the 40' radius - the duergar, although visible on the map, are Undetected to those three. Those who can see can use an action to Point Out, which will make them Hidden (DC 11 flat check to target) rather than Undetected. Otherwise, the light source will need to be closer to the duergar for the rest of the group to efficiently target.

The Eagle Knights are fighting the duergars in one corner of the room.

Round 1: The bolded may act!

Marigold (LLV)
Dursk (DV)
Lokaloka (DV)
Squire Gaby (DV)
Red Duergar
Yellow Duergar
Eldon (NV)
Cletus (NV)

Putting her mouth to her flute, Lokaloka plays a tune that inspires her companions to action, removing fear and strengthening their resolve. She finishes her song with a flair that allows the tune to linger even after the song has finished. Afterwards, she mutters arcane words under her breath and conjures a mystical shield to ward off enemy attacks.

◇ Lingering Composition
◆ Inspire Courage
◆ Shield
◆ Point out targets to companions

Lingering Composition, Performance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Everyone gets +1 bonus to attack, damage, saves vs fear.

"Duergars" Lokaloka cries, "Theys on a high place about a bowshot to the north and east. Theys have sideways bows!"

If the Performance check fails (which it probably does), bard bonus is 1 round but I don't lose the focus point. Btw, can we with DV see the baddies on the platform?

Eldon is a Twilight halfling with low light vision.

(My apologies, GM Glyn is my default name and I have to remember to change it manually to Gaby. Edit - Duh - found the set default alias button!)

Gaby charges forward into the room yelling " For Andoran!" moving behind a stalagmite and casting a shield cantrip.

2x stride, shield

Marigold makes her way to the curve of the entrance, taking cover from the open chamber she can’t see into yet, and draws her bow.

Stride, Stride, Interact

Btw, can we with DV see the baddies on the platform?

[/ooc]

Yes, those with DV can see everything.

Eldon is a Twilight halfling with low light vision.

My bad - updated.

Stride, Stride, Interact

My assumption is that everyone has their weapons out - you were expecting combat. You can take a different third action, if you'd like.

---

Round 1: The bolded may act!

Marigold (LLV) 1 action
Dursk (DV)
Lokaloka (DV)
Squire Gaby (DV)
Red Duergar
Yellow Duergar
Eldon (LLV)
Cletus (NV)

Am I right in assuming the Performance check fails?

Yes, the Performance check failed. The DC at level 1 is 15.

Dursk moves headlong into the cavern ahead. His shield is strapped to his left arm and his morningstar is in his right fist.

That looks like a dwarf on a mission 'there is work to be done, hold my ale'

Dursk moves up. Since Marigold can't see the enemy, I'm going to move on in initiative.

The duergar each pull a vial out of their bandoliers and throw them at Dursk.

Red Bomb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
Fire: 1d8 ⇒ 5 plus 1 splash fire plus 1 persistent fire

Yellow Bomb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Fire: 1d8 ⇒ 1 plus 1 splash fire plus 1 persistent fire

Both hit and explode with a firey boom, splashing him with burning liquid. Then, the duergar gesture with their hands and say some arcane words, and disappear. Duergar are now Undetected to everyone, even those with Darkvision!

Now is a good time to look up Seek rules if you're unfamiliar with them. Invisible creatures, which are Undetected, become Hidden if sought successfully. Seek is normally a secret check, but for the sake of expediency, please just go ahead and make the Perception check.

Round 1/2: The bolded may act!

Marigold (LLV) 1 action
Dursk (DV) (-8 hp, 1 persistent fire)
Lokaloka (DV)
Squire Gaby (DV)
Red Duergar (undetected to all)
Yellow Duergar (undetected to all)
Eldon (LLV)
Cletus (NV)

Lokaloka runs up to stand beside Marigold, softly speaking to the gnome so as not to startle her. Putting her flute once more to her mouth, she plays another tune to bolster her companions' morale, again finishing with a flourish. Murmuring words softly, she then conjures a mystical shield to protect herself.

"Marigold, Lokaloka here besides you."

◆ Stride
◇ Lingering Composition
Performance: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17
◆ Inspire Courage
◆ Shield

Bard Bonus: 3 rounds.
+1 to damage, attack and saves vs fear

Eldon moves around the corner, bringing the light with him and Seeking the Duergar.

Stride

Seek (+2 circumstance bonus for being a halfling) Percption: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

I'll do my last action depending on the success of the Seek.

Eldon takes cover.

Cletus hustles forward, peering listening into the dark to find any clue as to where these things are.

♦ Stride 25 ft.
♦ Stride 25 ft.
♦ Perception (Seek): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

EDIT: Edited for clarification.

Cletus, note that you can only see a few feet in front of you. The dotted yellow line is the limit of your vision (40' from Eldon). Everything beyond is pitch black.

True, but seeing as they're invisible to everyone, a Seek action could still theoretically offer the square they're in regardless, right? I think I might have given the wrong impression with my description. I'm not trying to visually locate them, that's impossible. I'm just trying to move them from undetected to hidden. I also forgot to aim my Seek action; targeting a 30ft cone directly east of him.

I can’t select my token. Please move me 25’ toward the center

Marigold turns to Lokaloka. ”Good, watch this!”

She charges out of cover. ”Hey! Broad side of the barn over here! Show me whatcha got, ya freaks!”

True, but seeing as they're invisible to everyone, a Seek action could still theoretically offer the square they're in regardless, right? I think I might have given the wrong impression with my description. I'm not trying to visually locate them, that's impossible. I'm just trying to move them from undetected to hidden. I also forgot to aim my Seek action; targeting a 30ft cone directly east of him.

They're undetected to you for two reasons - one, because they're invisible, and two, because you can't see. For others, like the goblins, they're only undetected because of the first reason (they're invisible). Lokaloka Seeking will make them Hidden, because she can otherwise see. For Cletus, they'd have to be within at least the dim light for him to successfully Seek.

I can’t select my token. Please move me 25’ toward the center

Not sure why that's the case. It's possible that you caught it at a point where I was putting in the 40' emanations - when I first paste it, the object goes on top, and everything behind it becomes unclickable. I've ordered the layers so that the emanations are on the bottom (just above the map), and your icon should be clickable now.

Gaby bets they haven’t had time to move from their initial location, so she fires two arrows at the Lower-left square of the topmost platform where one was standing.

She then uses the take-cover action to hide behind the stalagmite.

Dursk drops to the ground, rolling to extinguish the flames.

One action to drop prone, one to roll? Not sure what to do with the third, continue to roll probably

One action to drop prone, one to roll?

That would be fine. Anything that requires two actions would fulfill the requirement for Assisted Recovery. But the DC of the flat check is still 10 ... and if you want, you can do two actions standing up (like patting yourself).

Not sure what to do with the third, continue to roll probably

If you're prone, you can stand up.

---

Lokaloka moves and begins singing! Lingering succeeds - 3 rounds of Inspire Courage!

Eldon moves up and Takes Cover.

Cletus peers ahead, but does not see the duergar in the lighted part of the cave.

Marigold moves up.

Gaby's arrows both miss, and she takes cover.

Dursk tries to put out the fire. Dursk, still need a DC 10 flat check.

A bottle comes flying out at Marigold. Gaby, Lokaloka, and Dursk see the Red duergar appear behind a stalagmite.

Bomb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Acid: 1 = 1 plus 1 splash acid plus 1d6 persistent acid

Marigold gets splashed a little, but dodges the bottle.

Another bottle flies out, the Yellow duergar appearing behind a stalagmite on top of the platform.

Bomb: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10
Acid: 1 = 1 plus 1 splash acid plus 1d6 persistent acid

Again, Marigold dodges most of it, but gets splashed a little. It tries to hide behind the stalagmite.

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

It doesn't fool anyone.

Round 2/3: The bolded may act!
Universal: Inspire Courage (+1 attack, +1 damage) 1/3

Marigold (LLV) (-2 hp)
Dursk (DV) (-9 hp, 1 persistent fire, DC 10 flat check from last round)
Lokaloka (DV)
Squire Gaby (DV)
Red Duergar (unobserved to M/E/C, observed to D/L/G, cover)
Yellow Duergar (unobserved to M/E/C, observed to D/L/G, cover)
Eldon (LLV)
Cletus (NV)

Lokaloka lets out a cry of anger as she sees Marigold get splashed by the acid.

"You no do that to my friends!" the goblin yells and points at both dark dwarves. Calling to her friends, she calls "Shoots where I hit them!"

She cries words to a spell and points in the direction of the duergar. Two bright trails appear from her fingers and streak at one duergar (Yellow) while a third bright streak goes flying at the other.

◆◆◆ Magic Missile
Magic Missile(2; at Yellow): 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 2 = 6
Magic Missile(at Red): 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Essentially the strategy is from the 1991 movie Star Trek: The Undiscovered Country wherein the arriving USS Excelsior targets an explosion caused by the USS Enterprise torpedo on the cloaked Klingon ship.

Looking at the alchemical bombs inflicting pain on his new friends, Eldon declares 'I was going to be sooo subtle and cunning! Never mind!'

He dashes forward (◆ Stride), intoning arcane phrases with lightning sparkling around his hand. A blue-white line arcs between the two slavers, ionising the air.

I cast ◆◆ Electric Arc, targeting both of the Duergar. They can both make a reflex save.

Electric Arc: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Edit: Do I get +1 damage from the Inspire Courage? If so, it's 6. Also I'm presuming I can see them now I have moved forwards.

Holding her bow in one hand, Gaby moves forward to another stalagmite and uses her magic to telekinetically hurl a rock at the red Duerger

Telekinetic Projectile
Telekinetic rock w/+1bard: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 = 22 to hit
bludging damage w/+1bard: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

Lokaloka sends magic missiles, slamming into the duergar. Adding 1 to your first roll for Inspire Courage.

Eldon moves forward, casting dim light on both duergar. Now observed by Marigold and Eldon, and concealed to Cletus.

Red Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Yellow Reflex: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Yellow manages to dodge half the blast. Adding 1 to the damage for Inspire Courage.

Gaby moves up and slings a rock, hitting Red.

Round 2/3: The bolded may act!
Universal: Inspire Courage (+1 attack, +1 damage) 1/3

Marigold (LLV) (-2 hp)
Dursk (DV) (-9 hp, 1 persistent fire, DC 10 flat check from last round)
Lokaloka (DV)
Squire Gaby (DV)
Red Duergar (concealed to C, observed to D/L/G/M/E, cover, -16 hp)
Yellow Duergar (concealed to C, observed to D/L/G/M/E, cover, -10 hp)
Eldon (LLV)
Cletus (NV)

Cletus hustles forward and settles into a firing stance. He can't see the duergar very well, but at least he knows where they are.

♦ Stride 25 ft.
♦ Enact Point Blank Shot.
♦ Strike vs Yellow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17 P Dmg: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 2

Cletus spits out a curse under his breath as his shot pierces the duergar's shadow instead of flesh. "Could use a little more light!" he calls out.

'Sorry Cletus! Just give me a mo!'

DC 10 Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Fail

Dursk is standing and holds his mornignstar looking for a target.

Dursk, you have darkvision, so you can see both targets clearly.
Only Cletus is hampered by the light level right now.

Dursk approaches one of the enemy and swings his morningstar.

Morningstar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Damage: 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Two actions to get to red, one to swing

”Ow! OW!”, cries Marigold, as she catches the splash from the thrown acid. ”Good thing you guys are lousy shots!”

Circling around the platform, she draws her empty bow. A red arrow with a burning head appears, which she lets fly at the duergar on top.

Stride, Cast produce flame
Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Damage: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5 Fire