[PFS/Shifty] 50: Fortune's Blight (Inactive)

Game Master Nik B.

Toral also takes the ring and potion off her before she awakes.

"We should go before we are forced to fight. Might not be a positive thing for our mission. Let's hope the bonds hold long enough for us to make a clean getaway."

Orst will help with gathering the loot. He will say, "Toral, get the ring please. I'll take the potion. Now let's move away."

Orst will help so both Toral use only a move action to get items and can use a move action to move 20' for the first 6 seconds. Then a double move away the next 6.

Walla nods in agreement and leaves.

Lissa follows Orst and Toral, with her glaive at the ready.

After successfully invading her home, stealing the artifact, and robbing the woman of her personal worldly possessions, you make good your escape; in the distance you can hear her blood curdling screeching and threats of revenge.

You make it back to Jolson and the barge and begin the journey farther upriver, headed for the town of Sevenarches.

***
Ring of protection +1, Potion of Cure Moderate wounds
***

Who is carrying the second fragment?

Lissa takes the second fragment from Walla when they take a moment to rest, "Walla, you don't look so well. Would you like me to carry both fragments?" Lissa offers.

"Thank you, I have not been feeling all myself since we left Abasalom."

"Well, we didn't kill her; we just mugged her instead." "I have really made my heroic legacy shine today." Orst shakes his head trying to rid himself of the degrading thoughts.

Orst sighs and shrugs, "Let's find this pathfinder fella and be done with this crazy task."

Orst hearing Lissa's offer to Walla, "Boy what a self centered ass am I?" "Walla, is there anything we can do to help? Maybe we should share the burden of these cursed shards in shifts?" "I wonder if the curse lifts when you are separated from the shards?" "Toral, do you think the curse is permanent or just active while you are in position of the shards?"

"Love and beauty belong to all. So too should we share this burden." Trill advises.

"Orst, please relieve Walla of her shard. Lissa will carry this new piece, for now."

Lissa takes a shard, as does Orst. Before long Walla feels like the sun is finally shining after the rain, a burden lifted from her shoulders.

Orst and Lissa now carrying the relics.

It isn't long before they feel a creeping sense of unease - Mugged her, took the shard that - that is one thing, but her personal posessions? Such blatant and unnecessary theft, a dishonourable action from one of the chosen, are you a failure? Should you fall? Yes, yes you should - and Toral MUST have known that when he took the item. Maybe that's why he did it - to make you squirm, to lead you astray, to ensure you fall and get the comeuppance he thinks you deserve. To put you back in your place, to prove to all and sundry that given the slightest opportunity you are just a petty thief at heart, happy to share the wealth of the ill-gotten gains without so much as a word against the crime. You were weak when you should have been strong, and now Toral is laughing behind your back. How long will it be before he says something in a bar? How damaging to ones reputation might that be? Does something need to be done?

The two Paladins now feel deeply disturbed. Trill seems to spend a bit too long staring at Lissa (accusingly?).

Both suffer a –1 penalty on attack rolls, saving throws, and skill checks.
***

The barge pilot Jolson stops close to sunset and anchors the boat in a shallow cove next to a wide beach. "My favorite camping spot is just a short walk into the woods, the crew will stay behind and keep an eye on the barge - it isn't very comfortable to sleep on being big flat and open, and we're certainly not putting a camp fire on it!"

Jolson then starts wandering up a path towards a clearing in the woods to set up camp.

Over to you all!

Orst takes the shard from Walla in his gauntleted hand. "It's like holding a dead fish, it is cold and clammy and it will leave a stink."

Perception tall folk?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26

Fox had noticed a slight change in demeanor in the two righteous fighters.
Skittering past Lissa and Orst's legs, it darts slightly ahead and scratches five things in the ground.

[ U 2 OK ? ]

Love the descriptions GM!! ;-)

Toral nods at Jolson.

"Yes, yes, I want to have earth under my feet again! So let us go to find a good resting place!" the chubby dwarf says and follows their pilot.

"Just nagging dark thoughts, Fox. Nothing the shining light of Iomadae can't sweep away." "I just need to keep things in perspective." "The shard seems to pry at fears and worries."

At the campsite, Orst pulls out his sword and sharpens it. The feel of the familiar action soothing his mind giving it something else to concentrate on. He then works on cleaning and repairing other pieces of equipment. Lasty, he pulls the sword again and traces his fingers over the hilt and rubbing the holy symbol designed into the cross guard and slowly resites his paladin code.

As if awakening from a dream, Orst gets up and asks, "How can I help? I will gather firewood and take the first watch if you like."

Lissa shudders, "Rose's thorns, I do not like this feeling."

As Orst sharpens his sword, Lissa sings softly to herself. At first, her voice falters, but Trill takes the form of a songbird and begins to accompany her. With her familiar's accompaniment, Lissa's voice gains confidence and warmth.

Looking refreshed, the halfling checks on her allies before settling herself in to camp for the night. "Third watch for me and Trill. We like to greet the dawn together."

The fox looks observantly at Orst as he responds.

As Lissa has company from Trill, fox accompanies Orst for the remainder of the day. It volunteers to keep watch with Orst.

While the firewood gathering is going on, fox will casually try and pick up traces of small wildlife fit to kill for supper.

Perception?: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27
Stealth to kill?: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (13) + 22 = 35

I assume Orst and Lissa are feeling the affects of a negative level. This sword must be really nasty evil to have that penalty even in broken pieces. What in the heck are we doing reassembling it? Who is and what does Orst know about this venture captain? Is this the old lantern lodge lady? In the society narrative, does she run off and does something terrible? I only started playing society play in session 6. If there is an interesting conclusion here to this Vc, I would be inerested in a short summary should you all know it.

Orst does his guard duty to the best of his limited ability. He moves away from the fire and stands still and quiet watching and listening. He knows his skills are not the best at this not having darkness vision and being limited by his clanky armor. But he hopes Fox can fill in the holes as needed.
perception: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (13) - 1 = 12

It does all seem rather nasty, luckily you are taking it to an expert to sort out. That's a good question, what does Orst know about this Venture Captain? Might have been a good question to ask when in civilisation - who she is and what was known about her, might have given a little insight - hindsight though is always twenty-twenty and now you are half way up a river in the River Kingdoms (also an interesting area with some interesting history with Hags and worshippers of Gyronna, might have been some good things to know before going boating...especially things like the 'River Freedoms') :)

I'm tracking - first watch = Orst & Fox, second = Toral & Walla, Third = Trill & Lissa

”Well, this is truly a dangerous item. But we have to concentrate on the tasks! Let’s sleep and get the fragments to our expert. Can you endure carrying the pieces Orst and Lissa?“ he asks carefully.

Orst addresses Toral's concerns, "It is not even as bad as having a cold." "I can manage." But he goes on to add, "Just thinking strategically, you don't think that hag will give chase, do you?" "Or, has friends in this area?" "It's no secret we are on the river and the river probably isn't hard to find." "All you have to do is follow it and look for the barge." "Maybe a sending to friend up the river to give a girl a hand, and suddenly we are surrounded by hags and clerics of Gyronna."

Orst paces around a bit, but pauses and adds, "Toral, do you have any way to set up an alarm or shield our campsite from view? Might be prudent." "If not, I am sure we can handle it should it." And He settles back into his post.

1d2 ⇒ 1

The campsite established, and with Toral having set some basic wards, you begin your watch in the forest.

***

The first watch is uneventful, Lissa appears to be sleeping restlessly, but sleeping nonetheless.

The campfire provides a welcoming glow as your shifts continue into the night, and Orst and Fox are eventually relieved by Toral and Walla.

***

gentle dreaming music

What did the Venture Captain say? 'Pretend to be fooled by her disguise and try to get her to tell you where the other fragment is—she likely knows more about the history of the sword', Toral didn't though, he went against the Venture Captains directions, then silenced the hag immediately by putting her in that deep slumber, why would he do that? Was he hoping we'd kill her quickly before she got to speak? And now 'miraculously' the holy devotees are carrying the sin items, the stolen goods from a hag - it all points to him, he's setting us up, trying to get our gods to deny us! He is trying to cover up the history of the sword, he knows things, he's in league with dark powers!

At least this campfire is warming, I just need to sleep...who is that...a hag? By the gods what has happened to her face! Her eyes, the hatred in her eyes, they burrow into my soul! She is pointing at me accusingly! What is she saying? Am I being judged by the gods!?

***

Toral and Walla look up in time to see a spectral form standing above Lissa, it is pointing at her accusingly, judging. It appears to be a green hag, looks just like the one you met earlier - but with her head split open from the top of her skull to the top of her nose.

Surprise round
Walla
ENEMY
Then Toral

Everyone else asleep

cute little kitty snores sleeping soundly

Eep!

Cute fox likewise sleeping soundly.

"Intruder!" yells out Walla as she draws her rapier and lunges at the ghostly creature.

+1 Adamantine Rapier: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21 Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15

The rapier mostly goes through the aparition.

Everyone awakens to the loud noises, and Walla's shout is drowned out by the earsplitting and soul rending shriek from the ghsotly figure as it screeches accusingly at Lissa.

“Foul vicious temptress Tylaca! You slew me! You betrayed me! I shall slay you all!”

Lissa
Damage 2d10 ⇒ (9, 10) = 19
+DC18 Fort save or 1d4 ⇒ 4 Cha damage.

Toral up

Fortitude: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Lissa's eyes flutter open as the ghostly creature strikes her sleeping form. "Rose's bloody thorns!"

Toral immediately steps back in fear.

"Thi .. this is ..." but he cannot continue to speak.

He immediately starts casting a spiritual weapon spell.

A short sword made of force appears and attacks the incorporeal creature!

Wis +8, BAB +6: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 271d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

R1 begins party up, Toral is still after the enemy. Remember you still have to stand, draw swords etc if you are now awake as you are starting prone (and likely unarmoured)

R1
Walla
Fox - now awake
Lissa - now awake
Orst - now awake
ENEMY

Enemy 12

"I am not Tylaca! My name is Lissa. Maybe you made a mistake/ You don't need to get angry with us, we can help you."

Lissa prepares to dodge another strike from the creature as she stands up.

Total Defense before standing from prone. Unarmored AC is 14 base +4 for 18

Trill uncurls her sleeping form and looks around blearily after being so rudely awakened.

Knowledge(religion): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

"Lissa, I don't think it wants to talk!"

*eyes open*

*blink, blink*.... eyes turn WIDE open.

Fox jumps to its feet, but it knows it cannot hurt something ghostly.

GM, is the hag occupying the square right next to Lissa, or is she floating 1 up in height? If she is next to her, i can help, if not....then i can't. :)

Orst takes a good look at the ghostly hag, "Undead thing, I thing?"
Orst attempts to figure out if this creature is undead and what he knows about it. knowledge religion: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (2) + 8 = 10

If Orst confirms the hag thing is undead, Orst will grab his sword, holy symbol on the cross guard and channel positive energy to harm undead.
channel positive energy, dc17: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 3, 3) = 12

Else Orst will grab his sword and stand up.

I think he does the latter based on the extremely low roll.

"What in the heck is that thing? Is it undead?"

@Trill - the creature is a 'Unique' Ghost - what fact would you like to know?

Lissa stands up, trying to avoid further attacks - the ghost reaches out.
AoO 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18 vs TD/Prone Touch AC
Damage 10d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 1, 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 1, 4) = 30
DC20 Fort for half

Tiny Fox can see the creature is at ground level.

Orst blasts it with energy...
The party now 100% knows it is undead
Save 1d20 + 10 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 4 = 21
It shrugs off most of the energy.

R1
Walla
Fox - now awake (pending action)
Lissa - Fighting Defensively
Orst - Channeled
ENEMY

Enemy 18

It realizes it can, thinking for a moment.
It moves into the hag ghost's square.

Acrobatics vs aoo for entering her square: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34
From the square, it bites at the ghost.

Agile amulet +1.
Bite, flank, fight defensively: 1d20 + 14 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 14 + 2 - 4 = 27 Dmg: 1d3 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

No sneak damage, since it isn't ghost touch.
All my allies that are adjacent to me and the hag, are considered to have flanking with me as well. +2 to attack!
The hag takes a -4 attack penalty against all targets other than me, while i am in the same square as her.

After the attack, the fox vanishes from sight.
Vanish trick.

The Fox starts nipping at the ghosts heeels!

R1
Walla
Fox - 'Flanking'
Lissa - Fighting Defensively (saving throw required)
Orst - Channeled
ENEMY

Enemy 23

Walla up!

Walla focuses on her assault against the creature.
Attack 1: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25 damage 1: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Attack 1: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17 damage 1: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

Fortitude: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25 takes 15

Walla, you get the flanking bonus while i am in her square. Unsure, but maybe it would help land attack #2.

Walla gets in two decent thrusts.

The ghost rises outside of Fox's reach then lashes at Lissa once more.

Attack 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 vs Touch AC
Damage 10d6 ⇒ (3, 4, 6, 5, 6, 4, 3, 2, 5, 6) = 44
DC20 Fort for half

R1
Toral

R2
Walla
Fox
Lissa
Orst
ENEMY

Enemy 35

The short sword made of force attacks the incorporeal creature again!

Wis +8, BAB +6, round 2/7: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 311d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Toral immediately starts casting his second spiritual weapon spell.

A second short sword made of force appears and attacks the incorporeal creature!

Wis +8, BAB +6: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 331d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
Crit: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 331d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

The spiritual weapons are surprisingly effective and begin to chip away.

R1
Toral - acted.

R2
Walla
Fox
Lissa
Orst
ENEMY

Enemy 53

Orst stands and moves closer to the action. "Here ghosty, ghosty...that's a good ghosty," Orst shouts out to get her attention. "You have the wrong folks." "No one here by that name." Orst keeps his weapon at the ready.

Orst is trying to draw its ire. "We don't want anything your selling lady, thanks."
Stood and moved 20'

Fortitude: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22 takes 22 damage

"Ouch! Stop that you mean ghost!" Smite Evil

Lissa picks up her glaive, takes a step back and strikes at the foul creature.

Attack: 1d20 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 10 + 5 = 33
Damage, +1 glaive: 1d8 + 13 + 9 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 13 + 9 + 9 = 33

AC 18

Trill darts behind Lissa's leg and paws up at her, worriedly.

Lay on Paws: 6d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4, 6, 1, 1, 3) + 4 = 23

Lissa backs off and slashes, whilst Trill lays paws.
Great ability they have - great for action economy, and double cost is a good trade off!

R1
Toral - acted.

R2
Walla
Fox
Lissa - acted.
Orst
ENEMY

Enemy 69

I believe Walla and Fox are up. Hope the kill this ghost. Though it can probably rejuvenate. Anyway, get it Walla and Fox.

"Leave us alone! You have the wrong group!"

Holding action to when Walla steps forward to attack.

Auto-pass for a 5ft vertical jump.

Bite from invisible, flank for me: 1d20 + 14 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 2 + 2 = 23Gnaw: 1d3 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

After landing, the fox darts past Walla's legs to safety.
Acro vs aoo: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (20) + 22 = 42 Heck yes!

...ok we're going to need to unpack this one - you are moving at half speed, whilst tumbling, and doing a 5' jump from a standing start.

Jumping and Falling
You can use the Acrobatics skill to make jumps or to soften a fall. The base DC to make a jump is equal to the distance to be crossed (if horizontal) or four times the height to be reached (if vertical). These DCs double if you do not have at least 10 feet of space to get a running start. Summary - the DC for a standing 5' leap is DC40.

You are also moving IN to the opponents space, attacking, and then moving OUT of the opponents space - so that's multiple potential AOOs (and you have to move half speed to tumble, all of this is eating the 40' of move you are working with :)

Ok then. Well not too much i'll be able to do, aside from moving away unseen.

I was invisible when jumping up. If i can't reach her square, i am unable to break invisibility too.

Up to you, it comes down to whether you want to make attacks (at the risk of AoOs... With 40' range you could move away then jump which would only be DC20 (easy pass) but once you attack and aren't invis you are falling, not tumbling :p