Gestalt Carrion Crown

Game Master bigrig107

Horm gets up slowly, wiping the slime off of himself. "That thing hit hard! Thank you all for saving me." He looks the others over for any wounds and realizes that he seems to be the only one still hurt. He casts two spells to bring himself almost back to fully restored.

CLW twice: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 81d8 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

Sacrificed Protection from Evil and Magic Weapon. 25/28 HP

Rajuna is going to offer one of several healing potions he has in his bandolier when the point is made moot by Park and Horm's quick work. "Right. Let's press on."

With everything squared away, the thief creeps forward into the secret passage again.

I have 1 CLW and 3 CMW, if anyone wants to save a valuable spell slot in future.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 (+2 vs surprise, +2 to detect invisible or incorporeal creatures, +1 vs traps)

Several iron doors line the walls of this partially ruined cellblock—the doors themselves hang askew on their hinges, revealing empty cells beyond. Partially burnt wooden support timbers still function to the north, while to the south they’ve collapsed and caused cell walls to crumble as well. Rivulets of water drip down the southwestern wall to create a shallow pool in this ruined portion of the room, with overflow filling an oubliette hole in the middle of the room nearly to the rim.

The room you exit the secret passage into doesn't seem to be an actual cell, instead serving as a small holding room (most likely holding prisoners to be transferred into the torture chamber you just left), though the door is still a typical barred prison door.

Raj readies the potion of Cat’s Grace in one hand… but he can’t resist pushing his luck just a moment longer. He scans the room for any hint of trouble before creeping across to the door and testing it gently to see if it is locked.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 (+2 vs surprise, +2 to detect invisible or incorporeal creatures, +1 vs traps)
Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Disable Device: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22 (+1 vs traps)

Park follows Rajuna, keeping back enough to not spoil the stealth of the man. He also keeps the potion ready, but doesn't take it quite yet....

Stealth: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20

Zhandar follows them into the room. She speaks in hushed tones: "That pit there is likely another oubliette. Could that have been where they kept this 'Splatter Man'?" She scans the area furtively, half-expecting a haunt to begin to manifest, and because her senses are on high alert, she is particularly jumpy.

"That's my worry too. Pretty sure the bloody spell book was the Splatter man's, so his haunt might have magic. Down in a deep hole would be a good place to keep him. Better yet if it was permanently sealed!"

The door isn't locked or trapped, luckily, and it opens easily. As you all enter the room, however, Zhandar's fear appears to come true.

Rajuna notices drops of blood beginning to well up along the walls around you and each of you feel an unnerving sense of panic as he points it out to you.

Will Save, Park: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Will Save, Horm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
Will Save, Rajuna: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Will Save, Zhandar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10

Zhandar sees a large blood painted letter appear on the wall next to the door before stepping into the larger room: the letter Z. Luckily the rest of you resist the panic and keep yourselves together.

Init, Rajuna: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Init, Park: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20
Init, Horm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18
Init, Zhandar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

Init:
21- Rajuna
20- Park
18- Horm
11- Zhandar
10- haunt

Party is up!

Zhandar takes 2 Wisdom damage from the haunt.

Having seen the first letter of her name appear on the wall (and remembering the story of how Vesorianna’s name was spelt out in blood on the monument in Ravengro), Zhandar is convinced that her sanity and/or soul is being consumed by the wall. She knows that the only way to stop it is to destroy the letters on the wall before it can spell out her entire name.

"We have got to destroy those letters, or my soul will be consumed completely! Horm! Horm, please, for the love of your goddess, channel! I-- I don't think I can do anything against it!" She gibbers, terrified, her mind racing to think of something she can do about a haunt. I should have asked for another one of those ghost-trap things... she realizes, listening to her heart race. Or held on to those potions and used them on my allies myself...

Deciding that there is a good chance that this room contains a ghost as well, she decides to cast obsuring mist, knowing that herself and two of her allies will be able to see through it, and hoping that the ghost will not.

Seeing no good way to attack the haunt, Raj pulls and unstoppers the haunt siphon from his bandolier.

Haunt Siphon Damage: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 3) = 10

Not seeing the enemy but knowing it must be there somewhere Park sings out a battle song to inspire courage.

+1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects and a +1 competence bonus on attack and weapon damage rolls

Hearing Zhandar's concern, and seeing no target Horm steps forward and channels energy to harm any undead in the area.

Channel to harm undead: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5 DC14 for half

Luckily haunts don't get saving throws against channel energy.

A haunting wail emanates from the walls as it is attacked with both the siphon and the channeling, and blood pours even more freely.

Will Save, Park: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
Will Save, Horm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24
Will Save, Rajuna: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Will Save, Zhandar: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (17) + 7 = 24

Park and Rajuna see the first letter of their name, P and R respectively, appear on the wall in the rivers of blood pooling along the wall. Zhandar sees the Z, but another letter doesn't appear yet.

The group hears the sound of an eerie voice seemingly chanting words from deeper inside the prison room, almost seems to be some sort of spell?

Init:
21- Rajuna
20- Park
18- Horm
11- Zhandar
10- haunt (15 damage dealt)

Party is up again!

Apologies, Park and Rakuna also take the 2 Wisdom damage and the knowledge that destroying the letters will end the terror. I knew I forgot something!

Feeling the terror but knowing that destroying the letters will end the magic Park pulls a dagger in each hand and starts scratching at his and any other letter that he can reach.

Do I need to rill anything?

Just make an attack roll, the haunt can be harmed by hitting it.

Raj delivers a series of stamp kicks to the letter J desperate to wipe it off the wall!

SWIFT: Ki Flurry
FULL: FOB @ Wall Haunt

Hoping that positive energy will harm the haunt, Zhandar tosses a vaporous potion of cure light wounds at the Z on the wall.

Throw potion (DC 5?): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Damage (positive energy): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Can you critically hit with a potion? I don't imagine so, but I can't find anything for or against. Up to you! I'll roll it just in case.
Confirm critical: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Additional damage (positive energy): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

You can crit with thrown weapons, which is what harmful potions act as when thrown at a target that will be hurt by it.

Rajuna hurts the haunt but doesn't quite finish it off, until Zhandar's lucky strike with a vial of healing liquid explodes across the wall. Even as the bloody letters fade away and the blood pooling down the wall and on the floor disappears, a rush of spiritual energy flows through the room. It seems as if the energy of the spirits here were keeping the walls up, and now that they're gone the walls and ceiling are crumbling.

Reflex save, Zhandar: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22
Reflex save, Rajuna: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Reflex save, Park: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Reflex save, Horm: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

DC 16 to halve damage, and the room is now difficult terrain. Not enough to stop movement completely, but still difficult.
Damage, collapse: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7

1d3 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Dispel check DC 14: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16
As the room collapses and you begin to deal with the consequences of the rubble falling around you, Zhandar's obscuring mist disappears and reveals the source of the dispelling magic: a horrific ghost with haunting green eyes. At the same moment, four spiritual-looking eagles appear out of seemingly nowhere and race to attack you.

Init:
21- Rajuna
20- Park
18- Horm
11- Zhandar
10- ghost and birds

Party is up again! Horm has an action left over from last round before the ghost and birds appear, if he wants to cast a buff or something like that.

Park feels the claw from the bird dig in to his skin and strikes it.

Attack the ghost: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Soulblade lets me attack haunts with a regular weapon. Would that count against this ghost?

HP: 23/28
Horm finishes the previous round with a Bless for the party. It gives a +1 morale bonus on attack rolls and on saving throws against fear effects. The bonus stacks with Park's bard song for the attack roll.

Feeling the bird strike him Horm attacks with his Falchion. Isn't there a feat for using a bow in melee and not provoking an AoO?

Attack: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (15) + 6 = 21
damage: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1) + 2 = 7

Damage totals… -7 rock fall, -0 for eagle

Raj ignores his instinct to jump the ghost instead of dealing with its minions. The decision is helped along by the fact that he’d be open to attack by two of the eagles as he moved toward the ghost over the uneven terrain.

SWIFT: Ghostslayer (to affect incorporeals)
FULL: FOB @ Eagle

Zhandar moves away from the eagle attacking her (provoking an attack of opportunity, since she can't five-foot step) and throws her last remaining magic stone at the ghost.

Ranged attack (magic stone), bless, Deadly Aim, enhancement, inspire courage: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 - 1 + 1 + 1 = 9
Damage (bludgeoning, magic), Deadly Aim, inspire courage: 2d6 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6, 3) + 2 + 2 + 1 = 14

Soulblade lets me attack haunts with a regular weapon. Would that count against this ghost?

Unfortunately that is specifically for haunts. There are other options for hurting incorporeal creatures, like Rajuna's Ghostslayer. If you want to change your action with that knowledge, I'd understand.

Isn't there a feat for using a bow in melee and not provoking an AoO?

Yes there is, but it's only available to fighters (requires weapon specialization) or certain archetypes. Point Blank Master

Rajuna is able to take two of the birds out of the equation in quick succession with his fists and Horm follows it up with a kill of his own, but Zhandar misses the ghost with her stone. Curiously, the 'dead' birds seemingly instantly pop out of existence instead of falling to the ground dead.

The last bird continues its attack on Zhandar, trying to claw her eyes out.
Attack, talon 1: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Attack, talon 2: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (20) + 3 = 23 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
Attack, bite: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12 Damage: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Even as the bird assaults Zhandar, the ghost emits an eerie screech from its mouth that may be an attempt at speech? You're not sure what he says, but mere moments later four magical darts made of pure purple light strike out from his finger tips towards the four of you. The darts don't focus on one target, instead splitting evenly amongst the group.

Each of you take 5 damage from a single missile hitting you.

Init:
21- Rajuna
20- Park
18- Horm
11- Zhandar
10- ghost and birds

Party is up!

Down to 9 HP

The thief closes in on the ghost and tries to deliver a kick to its gut but he stumbles over the pile of debris.

SWIFT: Ghostslayer (to affect incorporeals)
MOVE: on Map
FULL: Hit Ghost

Zhandar grits her teeth, taking the damage. Then she draws out another potion with her tail and casts a spell, then hurls the potion at the rubble beneath the ghost.

Swift action to draw a vaporous potion of cure light wounds, full action spell combat. She first casts the shield spell defensively, taking an additional -3 to her attacks this round to boost her concentration check by 3. If she succeeds, she casts the spell without provoking an attack of opportunity. If she fails, she loses the spell.

Cast defensively (DC 17): 1d20 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 3 = 15

Then she throws the vaporous potion at the ghost's square, using her staff. This has a range penalty of -2 because she is 30' away, and it provokes an attack of opportunity.

Ranged attack DC 5 (flask thrower), attacking into melee, range increment, spell combat: 1d20 + 5 - 4 - 2 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 - 4 - 2 - 5 = 0
Damage (positive energy): 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Random direction lands: 1d8 ⇒ 5

Sigh. Not much I can do about bad rolls. :) Looks like the potion lands in the pit.

Yes, please change my attack to be against the birds. No point waving my weapon in the face of the ghost. Would that have killed the last bird that attacked Zhandar?

Remembering that his bardic performance would be expiring Park takes the time to re-new it. Standard action. Bardic performance Inspire Courage. Lingering performance extends it to 3 rounds.

HP: 25/28

Seeing the blood flowing from pretty much everybody Horm channels healing energy. Possibly making himself a target, but....

Channel to heal everyone: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 3) = 7

One channel left if I remember right....

Would that have killed the last bird that attacked Zhandar?

If yes, then Zhandar wouldn't have had to cast defensively, and thus would have succeeded at both the casting and her ranged attack (since I forgot to include bless and Inspire Courage.

Park did finish off the last bird, so Zhandar wouldn't have had to make the concentration check and hit the ghost. But doesn't aiming for the ground (DC 5) only give you splash damage, which is just the minimum?

The ghost flies a short distance out of Rajuna's range before firing off another barrage of missiles, gleefully laughing as he sees the pain inflicted on the group.

"How does it feel, to experience the pain you visited upon me, old man?!"

Each of you take 5 damage again from the missile.

Init:
21- Rajuna
20- Park
18- Horm
11- Zhandar
10- ghost and birds

Party is up!

Rajuna presses forward, firing rapid punches at the ghost.

SWIFT: Ghostslayer (to affect incorporeals)
FREE: 5’
FULL: FOB

But doesn't aiming for the ground (DC 5) only give you splash damage, which is just the minimum?

A vaporous potion isn't a splash weapon, it's a spell that affects a creature in the targeted square as if it had drunk the potion.

On impact, the vial breaks and a cloud of barely visible potion vapor fills the square it lands in (this vapor does not obscure normal sight in any way). If a creature is in that square, it gains the benefits of the potion immediately as though it had imbibed the potion.

Also: is this magic missile doing the damage? If so, the shield spell negates that damage for Zhandar.

Seeing the ghost sending magic attacks at the group Horm casts a spell at it, trying to make it vulnerable to regular weapons.

Casting Ghostbane Dirge Will Save DC15 to negate

Park moves up behind Rajuna and sings a tune of healing to help him with his wounds.

CLW on Rajuna for CLW: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (1) + 3 = 4

Will save: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24
Spellcraft, identify DC 17: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (10) + 16 = 26

The ghost laughs before speaking, taunting you as he pushes aside your fragile magic.
"Ah, you fools, daring to try to use magic against me! Then I shall engage you in your physical combat in turn."

Corrupting Touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (16) + 5 = 21
Damage, touch: 6d6 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 5, 3, 5) = 21
Fort, Rajuna: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18

The ghost lashes out with a lightning-fast ghostly hand, and Rajuna feels the cold touch of death as it passes through both armor and flesh to chill his skin unnaturally. Luckily he manages to fight off the cold.

Rajuna takes half damage, for 10 total.

Init:
21- Rajuna
20- Park
18- Horm
11- Zhandar
10- ghost (18 damage dealt)

Party is up again!

Zhandar mutters to her familiar, pointing at Rajuna. Fingers screeches like he doesn't understand. She glares, and begins casting a spell with her left hand while drawing a flask with her tail and throwing it with her right.

She casts disrupt undead, using spell combat, draws a potion with her tail as a swift action, and throws another potion of cure light wounds, this time at Rajuna's square.

Ranged touch attack (ray), bless, inspire courage, spell combat: 1d20 + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 6
Damage (positive): 1d6 ⇒ 4

Throw potion (flask thrower), bless, inspire courage, spell combat: 1d20 + 5 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 18
Hit points healed: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Rajuna slides away from the ghost. The situation was getting desperate. He growls, ”Tear a page out of his spellbook!” then pulls out a potion and chugs it, trying to heal himself even as Zhandar's flask crashes at his feet.

FREE: 5’
SWIFT: Adopt Snake Style
MOVE: Grab Potion CMW
STAND: Drink it!

CMW Heal: 2d8 + 3 ⇒ (4, 7) + 3 = 14

Who has the book, by the way? For completely unrelated reasons, of course.

Not sure. I just read the last few pages of game a discussion. Nobody specifically 'claimed' it. Zhandar was interested in it, but only if we could confirm that it isn't cursed. So.... We decided that it shouldn't be carried by anyone that could cast wizard spells. That rules out Zhandar.... So:
1=Horm?
2=Park?
3=Rajuna?

Who has it?: 1d3 ⇒ 2

Hearing the ghost's words Horm calls out a prayer and steps forward. "OK ghost! Face me. Feel the power of Sarenrae end your pathetic unlife!"

I can't move the Horm icon. He casts holy weapon on his falchion and moves in by Rajuna.

Hearing Rajuna's words Park drops his pack to the ground to try and dig the book out.

Not sure what action it takes but I don't think I could get the book out and tear pages out.

I’ll say you can use a move action to ‘draw’ the book, since you knew it was relevant and likely have it on hand. It’s a standard action to rip out any pages from the book, but you must declare which pages you wish to rip out of the book.

For reference, the spells contained in the book are: comprehend languages, dispel magic, false life, gust of wind, illusory script, levitate, mage armor, magic missile, and summon monster IV. Ripping a page out would obviously destroy the page with the spell on it, as well as decrease the value of the book once you find a buyer. So choose wisely!

Once he has the book out Park opens it and rips out the first still good page(s). If they are in order in the book that would be comprehend languages.

BTW: Park wasn't concerned about the value of the book. To him it is bloody, nasty, and should be burned!

Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (4, 5) + 1 = 10

The ghost howls in pain as some of the swirling ghostly pages stop floating around it, and it turns to face Park before rushing off to swipe its claws through him.

Attack, touch: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14
Damage: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 5, 1, 3) = 24
Fort save, Park DC 17 half: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19

Park 'enjoys' the same cold feeling of the ghost passing through his armor and skin.

Park takes 12 damage from the ghost's touch. Its movement provoked an AoO from Rajuna.

Init:
21- Rajuna
20- Park
18- Horm
11- Zhandar
10- ghost (28 damage dealt)

Party is up!

AoO: Unarmed Strike (crit: 20/2x | B/P)
Mods: Bless, PA, Inspire
HIT: 1d20 + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 - 1 + 1 = 14 | DAM: 1d6 + 5 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 2 + 1 = 12

Zhandar squints. "That seemed to do something, Park!" she cries. She draws a scroll out from her pouch and reads it. Another copy of magic stone, giving her three magic rocks she can throw on future rounds.

Park screams in pain as the claws of the ghost rip through him. His vision goes dark red for a second as he nearly drops. "Did that hurt you monster? You've hurt so many that all you deserve is final death!" He holds up the book and rips out the next spell....

Horm steps after the ghost and swings his enchanted blade at it, hoping to finish the thing!

Correction on the previous post. The spell is Bless Weapon
To Hit: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
damage if this hits?: 2d4 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 2 = 5