[PFS1e] GM Deussu's #2-03 The Rebel's Ransom CORE (Tier 5-9) (Inactive)

Game Master Deussu

Khelleck joins Tere in an involuntary shudder.

"Who were the people who sealed you in there? And how did they do it?" he asks.

As he talks, he keeps Bessie pointed... at the other passage. Then, after a moment wiggles his fingers. A quartet of small lanterns appear and dance down the side passage, providing illumination for it, and hopefully preventing any sudden sneaking attack from that direction.

There's a tangible sense of relief in the woman's voice, "Pathfinders! Goodness!" she says with almost a giggle, "the scepter we have here is for the center altar, there should be only one spot left. Just a moment..."

After a bit of shuffling a scepter peeks out under the door.

"Bandits sealed us here. They must have overheard us either in Sothis or Eto, and followed our trail. We were in this chamber when they arrived... five of those bandits fought us here, but the main culprit was cunning enough to take one scepter and lock us in here. As if to mock us, they gave us the scepter we can't use... where this bandit is now, I don't know. Probably further down the tomb."

"Take the scepter" suggests Khellek to Irizati.

Then quietly adds. "But don't put it in the altar yet."

"Give us a moment while we check for any other traps they may have added to the central altar." he continues, louder.

"Norden also has a message from your son. It didn't make much sense, but he indicated you would want to know it. I think he worried we might only find your body.." adds the scholar.

"Anyway, the message from Zrani was 'The Caravan is late'"

Bluff, massive +2, +4 with heroism. Mostly he wants to see how the voice reacts to a message from a presumably non existent son.

"Do you have Jojack and Jason with you still?" he adds casually, misnaming one of the other three pathfinders who were in the original team.

"Oh?" the woman's voice says in surprise, "thank you for bringing the message. And yes, Jojack and Jason are here with me, fortunately."

Irizati looks at Khellek for a moment then nods.

He holds the scepter but searches the center alter for traps.

perception with Heroism: 1d20 + 15 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 15 + 2 = 27

The altar doesn't hold any traps, just some overcomplicated mechanism for opening the doors once all four slots are pushed down.

Stepping back Khellek shakes his head. "That is not Jilarni.[b]" he whispers.

"[b]But they do know her name.. an interesting dilemma." he adds.

He backs away from the door and makes sounds as if trying the sceptre on the altar. "I have no magic to let me see in there.. if we open the door, we should be prepared for trouble." he mentions quietly.

Doodle hesitated wondering if the group wanted her to open the door or not. ”Do we leave them be, or prepare and then open the door?”

"Why is it taking so long?" the woman asks, with a slight frustrated tone, "it's barely a puzzle. The scepter I gave you fits only one of the slots."

I added the picture of the fourth scepter. I'll add the description to the scepters as comments.

"There is another problem with the altar" says a muffled Khellek.

"We're going to try the other path and see if there is another clue down there. We'll be back soon. We'll not leave you, don't worry. If necessary we can break down the door. How are you doing for food and water? We can pass some under the door if you are short. Oh I suppose Jason is keeping you supplied anyway."

Tere emerges from hiding, smiling slightly at the bard and taking the lead down the other passage.

The rightward path leads to a staircase leading some feet down, then turning left to reveal a truly scary sight. The short corridor reveals a wall of whirling blades that blocks the path. Built into the wall on both sides of the corridor are small stone tablets made from marble, each bearing an inscription, in ancient Osiriani, of course.

New map revealed, please see [u]slide 10[/u] for details.

An audible sigh can be heard from the closed chamber, "Are you going to stall some more?" she says with a very disappointed tone, "I feel I should mention that we have one body here who is breathing, barely. She could stop breathing at any given time." She lets the last words linger.

"Well... that puts a different perspective on things." mutters Khellek.

"What an unpleasant quandary to be facing."

He eyes up the inscriptions. "I'm guessing we will need more scepters to go down here anyway. And that is going to mean solving those other puzzles and riddles. "

Looks like we are going to have to face them bandits. Any buffs folk want to get up before we try the scepter on the altar? I'll haste right before we put the last scepter in place. But the rest of you may have extra prep to make.

"Maybe just tell them the truth. We don't believe them. I'm not worried about bandits and they gave us the scepter. Let them rot. Once we solve these puzzles we can deal with them."

Irizati casts Barkskin on Baloo then waves Tere away so Baloo can take her place in front of the double doors.

Doodle casts Shield, just as the group places the last scepter.

AC would be 25 with shield.

Incidentally, the Pathfinders—except for Khellek, of course—can hear similar magic spells being cast behind the double doors.

Methinks they passed a sense motive check of their own. Irizati is in no rush to let them out.

"I don't think we will be in any position to get further in without an additional scepter. And that is likely within that room." sighs Khellek.

Once everyone indicates they are ready, he puts the scepter into place.

Drawing his sword again, Tere observes absently, "Another two, at least."

Irizati nods to Khellek his readiness. Though I thought we were going to wait out the enemy spells.

Tere holds up a hand to shush the rest of the party.

@Irizati I suspect the threat to our fellow pathfinders is going to force our hand.

As the double doors to the chamber open, a group of four is revealed. The tanned woman, who had been talking to the Pathfinders all the while, is dressed in a blue and gold Thuvian robe, has a scimitar on his belt, and has a heavy steel shield bearing a symbol of a flame strapped to her arm. The three men standing behind her bear almost identical equipment, signifying their status in the group's hierarchy. All of them have a scimitar on their belts, breastplates, and similar heavy steel shield strapped on their arms.

A body of a female human rests against the wall. She seems motionless.

"Tidings to you, I suppose," the woman says, "I feel like it is unnecessary to keep the facade up, as smart as you are. But there's absolutely no need to be hostile anymore, we've been here for days and just want to see the Sun, and leave all of this behind. Will you let us pass unharmed?"

The chamber behind the group—obviously not Pathfinders—is bisected by a pit filled with burning coals. On the far side of the room is an altar, on top of which rests a scepter made of pure silver. At its tip is a large emerald.

A map has been revealed! Please see [u]slide 7[/u] for more details.

I presume a female is speaking to us and all of the hims are a typo. Knowledge what to see the spoiler?

"You are not acting like you want to cooperate. Even if you got by us Baloo would hunt you down and tear you to shreds. But we are not the law. Tell us what you know of this place and what happened to our fellow Pathfinders. Then we will consider your request."

diplomacy aid with Heroism: 1d20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 + 2 = 16

I presume a female is speaking to us and all of the hims are a typo. Knowledge what to see the spoiler?

Ah, yeah that was a typo. My native language doesn't have genders in grammar, and at times I default to using "he/him" instead.

Khellek can make that knowledge check regardless of what it is

"We have no desire to fight you either. But you'll not be surprised if we see you off to make sure our own horses and such... ahh.. remain."

He eyes the shield with interest though.

"What does the symbol on your shields represent?" he asks as he moves aside to allow the bandits to exit.

He then pauses.

"Of course, maybe we should ensure you don't have any scepters left with you - we are going to explore the tomb and will need them all."

Bah, it was Knowledge (religion).

The woman looks at Irizati. "We had arrived here before the Pathfinders got here, since the information was on sale. Our discussions didn't go as one would hope and battle ensued. We outnumbered them and came out victorious. Two of us perished, two of the Pathfinders died, we dumped them all into the burning coals," she points at the pits, as the whole group moves forward, slowly, "there's just one Pathfinder who's still alive, barely. She's back in the chamber."

She shifts her focus to the elderly man, Khellek, "surely our camels are still there? Regardless, we'd manage even without them."

"The flame represents our devotion," she answers, not really telling about the meaning in detail, "and we have none of the scepters with us. One remains on the altar. We figured taking it out of the altar could trigger a trap we couldn't run away from."

Doodle kind of understood the woman’s attitude. ”Id want to get outside straight away as well after being trapped here for weeks. I don’t have any quarrel with you, ma’am.”

Tere frowns. "You killed two of ours, and I don't believe you got here first. Lay down your weapons and stay here until we can heal the last Pathfinder and learn the truth."

Khellek sighs, but nods. Bessie ready for action if necessary.

”Alright, seems like we’re going that path,” she says with a smug grin, ”you’ll face and feel the wrath of Alarka, Queen of the Scorching Dunes!” Her eyes flash in flames, and her lackeys know this is the moment to spill blood.

Since everyone was on their toes to begin with, no surprise round for anyone.

Round 1
Link to combat map is here
Bold may act

Tere
Alarka
Irizati
Doodle
Raiders
Khellek

The map has been bisected into two slides, but I hope you can still manage with them. The double door seen in both maps is the connecting point.

Tere takes a quick step forward, drawing his longbow. He leans around the corner and sends an arrow at the woman in the lead.

Arrow vs. FF AC, including heroism: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 11 + 2 = 15

However, it goes nowhere near her.

Tere's arrow indeed barely hits the stone wall.

Alarka waves her hands in the air, saying a few words in obscure tongues. An immobile, blazing curtain of shimmering violet fire springs into existence in the middle of the Pathfinders! The red line represents the wall, and the yellow line represents the directions where the heat goes.

Fire damage to Khellek: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 4) = 7
Fire damage to Tere: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
Fire damage to Doodle: 1d4 ⇒ 3
Fire damage to Irizati: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (1, 6) + 11 = 18
Fire damage to Baloo: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (3, 3) + 11 = 17

As if the dunes' scorching day time heat wasn't enough, Alarka has summoned sweltering conditions to the tomb!

Round 1
Link to combat map is here
Bold may act

Tere (6 damage)
Alarka
Doodle (3 damage)
Khellek (7 damage)
Raiders
Irizati (18 damage)
Baloo (17 damage)

The elderly scholar backs up quickly from the flaming wall, patting at his scholars robes as he does so.

Feel free to move me a little further if the square I am in is still in the painful area.

"Why that was most unfriendly" he calls out.

"Friends, Pathfinders. Let us fight fire with courage. Aggression with Scholarship. And let us quickly recover our fallen companion!" he calls out.

Inspire courage +2 to hit and damage, and saves vs fear and charm.
Remember, you are also hasted +1 to hit, to AC and to reflex saves
And those who are feeling heroic... +2 to attack, saves and skills. The saves bonus doesn't stack with the saves bonus from IC, but the others do.

Doodle and her seven images take a 5’step north (if someone would move me please), and casts Resist Energy Fire on herself.

Do you actually mean north, or do you mean away from the flames?

As Khellek speaks wise words, Doodle backs away from the fiery wall while casting defensive spells. (I moved Doodle 5ft diagonally away from the wall of fire.)

The raiders advance, drawing their scimitars and attacking Baloo.
Green Raider atk w/ Vital Strike @ Baloo: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 212d6 + 7 ⇒ (6, 2) + 7 = 15
Purple Raider atk w/ Vital Strike @ Baloo: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 242d6 + 7 ⇒ (5, 1) + 7 = 13
Despite their best efforts, only the purple raider is able to penetrate the thick armor, cutting a relatively deep wound with his mundane sword.

Round 1
Link to combat map is here
Bold may act

Tere (6 damage)
Alarka
Doodle (3 damage)
Khellek (7 damage)
Raiders
Irizati (18 damage)
Baloo (30 damage)

Sorry, I forgot to add the buffs to our stats. Baloo's AC is 33 including Barkskin and Haste. 27 AC flatfooted so they still missed.

"Get em Baloo."

Irizati moves out of the firewall and Wild Shapes into a Leopard.

Baloo goes to work full attacking starting with the top enemy.

Bite include Haste, Heroism, Inspire Courage, Greater Magic Fang: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (5) + 19 = 24
damage: 1d8 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

Claw #1 include Haste, Heroism, Inspire Courage, Greater Magic Fang: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (4) + 20 = 24
damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Claw #2 include Haste, Heroism, Inspire Courage, Greater Magic Fang: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (6) + 20 = 26
damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Claw Haste include Haste, Heroism, Inspire Courage, Greater Magic Fang: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (10) + 20 = 30
damage: 1d6 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

If enemy is still up on the last attack grab in preparation for mare damage next round.
Grab including Haste, Inspire, Heroism, GMF: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (18) + 26 = 44

Tere snatches up his curve blade from where he dropped it and retreats from the wall of fire, watching Baloo go to town on the enemies.

The poor sod thought he hit, but it was all a dream. And now it has become a nightmare, as the green raider is torn into shreds by the vicious attacks of an overgrown tiger!

Alarka sighs, knowing her lackeys are just a bump in the way. She has to do all the work now. With that in mind, she launches a fireball at the center of the room. (The target intersection is on the lower left corner of the alter. It hits everyone but Khellek.)
Fireball (Reflex DC 19): 11d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 5, 6, 1, 3, 6, 5, 6, 3, 1) = 40 (20 damage with a successful save)

Round 1
Link to combat map is here
Bold may act

Tere (6 damage)
Alarka
Doodle (3 damage)
Khellek (7 damage)
Raider, green (54 damage, prone, dying)
Raider, purple
Raider, blue
Irizati (18 damage)
Baloo (7 damage)

Actually I forgot we picked Irizati and Tere for Heroism so -2 to Baloo's attack rolls.

Baloo's Reflex DC 19 including Haste: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19 Evades.

Irizati's Reflex DC 19 including Haste and Heroism: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29 20 damage.

I think we had a bonus herism from Doodle didn't we?

Khellek continues to offer encouragment.

"As the Taldane phallanx from the 23rd legion recovered after being ambushed by the nascent Eagle Knights of Andoran, so must we fight on against these upstart bandits! They fall before us, as our fellows fell before them!"

The scholar then steps forward to offer a hand of healing for his injured companions.

Tere if he failed his save vs the fireball, otherwise Doodle who I suspect lacks evasion

CLW: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

Ah a post from 2 weeks ago about sparing an extended Heroism. Cool. So Baloo does have Heroism then.

Reflex with Haste and Heroism 1d20 + 1 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 9 = 13

Doodle has Resist Energy Fire, so by my count she would take 30 damage from the fireball. I could use the heal I suppose, Khellek.

"Well, I could fire my bow. But Bessie here has some history with bears.. and I'd hate for there to be an accident..."

Reflex save, including heroism and haste: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 + 1 = 27

Tere flattens himself against the wall, and the wave of fire passes over him harmlessly.

Reflex save vs. breath weapon, including heroism and haste: 1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 11 + 1 + 1 = 30

In the eruption of frost that follows the fireball, Tere once again dances nimbly out of the way.

Doodle uses her innate abilities of draconic lineage to extinguish the wall of fire
As rolled on the Discussion thread, 30 cold damage, Reflex DC 19 for half

Purple thug reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Blue thug reflex: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10
Alarka reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
The tomb raiders all suffer immensely as the freezing winds blow on their face, chilling them to theirs cores!

After Baloo tore the unlucky raider into shreds, his withering body is flashfrozen dead. He froze to death in the desert.

Seeing his colleague fall down so effortlessly doesn't sway the purple raider's conviction. He tries his darnest to wound the huge tiger.

Purple atk w/ PA @ Baloo: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 13 - 2 = 241d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 = 10
Purple atk w/ PA @ Baloo: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 2 = 141d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15

The blue raider joins the fight, coming where green fell, and strikes Baloo with his scimitar!

Blue atk w/ PA, VS @ Baloo: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 13 - 2 = 262d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (1, 1) + 7 + 2 = 11

Unsurprisingly, the raiders are unable to do anything to Baloo. And the tiger is in the way for them to advance against any other!

Irizati and Baloo may roll their reflex saves. I'm hesitant to do it myself due to all those buffs in effects.

Round 2
Link to combat map is here
Bold may act
Haste active, heroism on Baloo, Irizati and Tere, Inspire Courage +2 in action!

Tere (6 damage)
Alarka (30 damage)
Doodle (26 damage)
Khellek (7 damage)
Raider, green (84 damage, dead)
Raider, purple (30 damage)
Raider, blue (30 damage)
Irizati (38 damage)
Baloo (7 damage)

Khellek also has heroism active.

"They fall before us like wheat before the farmers scythe. Speaking of which, did you know that the grain harvest of northern Taldane.. oh yes, a battle.. "

With the wall of fire gone, Khellek decides to risk a shot from Bessie at the blue bandit

attack, heroism, haste,IC, into combat, past ally: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 4 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 2 + 1 + 2 - 4 - 4 = 18
damage?IC: 1d8 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 2 = 8

He then fumbles around at his belt looking for another bolt. "I'm sure I put them here somewhere.."

Irizati reflex save vs cold breath including heroism and haste: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 2 + 1 = 22 15 cold damage.

Baloo reflex save including heroism and haste: 1d20 + 10 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 2 + 1 = 15 30 cold damage.

Irizati delays until one of the bandits goes down.

Baloo focuses on the blue enemy then switches to purple if blue drops.

bite including heroism, inspire, haste: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 20
B/S/P dmg: 1d8 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 8 + 2 = 14

claw #1 including heroism, inspire, haste: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 14 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 35
B/S/P dmg: 1d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 = 11

claw #2 including heroism, inspire, haste: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 14 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 33
B/S/P dmg: 1d6 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 8 + 2 = 11

Haste bite including heroism, inspire, haste: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 26
B/S/P dmg: 1d8 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 8 + 2 = 17
grab if the target of this attack is still up, including heroism, inspire, haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 34

If one of the bandits drops Irizati moves in and up to Alarka.

bite including heroism, inspire, haste: 1d20 + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 13 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 38
b/s/p dmg: 1d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14
crit confirm?: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (1) + 18 = 19
extra damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11

grab: 1d20 + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 17 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 27