CN Male Halfling Cleric of Calistria 1/Rogue 1 | HP 15/15 | AC 18, touch 13, FF 16 | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Speed 20 ft | Perception +9 (+10 traps), Sense Motive +7 | Spells: 0 - 3, 1st - 3/3 | Channel 3/3 | Bit of Luck 3/6, Copycat 6/6 | Active Conditions: none | Reroll used
I was waiting for Red, but we should move forward.
Milo opens the other door, to see if there's a way to the source of the screams that way.
CN Male Halfling Cleric of Calistria 1/Rogue 1 | HP 15/15 | AC 18, touch 13, FF 16 | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Speed 20 ft | Perception +9 (+10 traps), Sense Motive +7 | Spells: 0 - 3, 1st - 3/3 | Channel 3/3 | Bit of Luck 3/6, Copycat 6/6 | Active Conditions: none | Reroll used
The cries that Milo hears from inside the estate seem to be growing more frantic; they are definitely coming from the other side of the wall, with no door to get into that part of the building, it seems.
Based on what you saw in the two storage rooms, you would guess that this is a staff area for gardeners or groundskeepers, that the owners don't need to access.
CN Male Halfling Cleric of Calistria 1/Rogue 1 | HP 15/15 | AC 18, touch 13, FF 16 | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Speed 20 ft | Perception +9 (+10 traps), Sense Motive +7 | Spells: 0 - 3, 1st - 3/3 | Channel 3/3 | Bit of Luck 3/6, Copycat 6/6 | Active Conditions: none | Reroll used
Milo stifles a blasphemous oath. "I think we need to go in the front door," he says to Zim and Red, as he dashes that way. "If we don't get in soon we may be too late to help! And what in the Nine Hells is everyone else doing?"
Iladora still fails to calm the horse. It rears one more time and bursts free from the stall, barreling past the pathfinders and out the eastern door into the courtyard. (Iladora, make one final Reflex save with a +2 circumstance bonus, please) Milo, Red, and Zim, on their way to the estate's main doors, see the horse snort and whinny as it looks at the house with concern before it bolts out the open gate.
The child picks herself frantically up from the straw and hay and rushes to the Pathfinders, trying to lead them to the stable's southern double doors. "I think something's wrong with my mommy! I think the house is on fire; please save her!"
You all gather together at the front door of the house, converging together from your separate investigations. The little girl watches from the stable doors, tears of worry running down her face.
Milo quickly determines that the door should be safe to open, and it being unlocked, he does so.
This large room is filled with lavish furnishings, including several expensive antique sofas, beautiful oil paintings, and hand-woven rugs, all spattered with the blood and remains of what seem to be a number of house servants. Two double doors, one on the eastern wall and one on the western wall, lead to each wing of the manor.
The sounds of screaming can be heard over the crackle of flames from western. Of more pressing concern, though, is the humanoid standing in the center of the room. Wrapped from head to toe in gold-clad cloth wrappings, this creature shuffles from foot to foot with an awkward gait as it stands, seemingly waiting for you!
Knowledge (religion) DC 15:
This is a mummy! They are most famously feared for the cursed disease they carry, mummy rot. You can ask for one category of information about their stats/abilities for each 5 you beat the DC by.
CN Male Halfling Cleric of Calistria 1/Rogue 1 | HP 15/15 | AC 18, touch 13, FF 16 | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Speed 20 ft | Perception +9 (+10 traps), Sense Motive +7 | Spells: 0 - 3, 1st - 3/3 | Channel 3/3 | Bit of Luck 3/6, Copycat 6/6 | Active Conditions: none | Reroll used
Milo can't discern anything new about the creature beyond what they've already learned, and feels strongly adverse to engaging it, so he heads towards the western door instead. He takes cover behind one of the couches, where a second image of the sneaky halfling appears beside him.
Move to move 20 ft., move to use copycat (single mirror image for 1 round).
You see another creature hiding behind the eastern couch closest to the door. This hideously malformed, hairless, pustule-covered corpse moves and snarls more like an undead hound than an undead man; it is similarly covered in a golden sheen.
Knowledge (religion) DC 11:
Spoiler:
This is a festrog! They are known for feeding on the flesh of their prey, gaining temporary hit points from the damage they do.
CN Male Halfling Cleric of Calistria 1/Rogue 1 | HP 15/15 | AC 18, touch 13, FF 16 | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Speed 20 ft | Perception +9 (+10 traps), Sense Motive +7 | Spells: 0 - 3, 1st - 3/3 | Channel 3/3 | Bit of Luck 3/6, Copycat 6/6 | Active Conditions: none | Reroll used
Knowledge (religion):1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15
"Another gold undead behind that couch! A festrog!" Milo alerts the others, pointing at the eastern couch closest to the door.
Perception checks are no longer required; they were for detecting the festrog, which has been pointed out.
Milo slips into the house carefully, putting a couch between him and both threats that he sees in the room; he warns the others of the festrog hiding behind the other couch as he activates a single mirror image of himself.
Theron bursts into the room after Milo, attacking the festrog he'd been warned about and delivering it a powerful wound--though not enough to put it down. Unfortunately, Theron's bastard sword bursts multiple nasty pustules, splashing the warrior with a disgusting pus! Theron, make a Fortitude save vs disease, please!
The gold-cloth-wrapped creature moves through the center of the room and then over to the door that Milo was appoaching. When the creature reaches the center of the room, everyone--even those still outside--feels a gloomy sense of despair wash over them. Why did the Society send you on such a hopeless mission; you can obviously only fail! You've been sent to your death; there's no hope! Everyone needs to make a DC 19 Will save vs a mind-affecting, fear-based paralysis effect! If you fail this save, you are paralyzed and won't be able to act for at least one round.
Round 1 (bold may act!)
Theron (Fort and Will saves pending)
Milo (Will save pending)
???
Menudo (Will save pending; delay)
Iladora (Will save pending)
Red (Will save pending)
Zim (Will save pending)
Festrog
CN Male Halfling Cleric of Calistria 1/Rogue 1 | HP 15/15 | AC 18, touch 13, FF 16 | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Speed 20 ft | Perception +9 (+10 traps), Sense Motive +7 | Spells: 0 - 3, 1st - 3/3 | Channel 3/3 | Bit of Luck 3/6, Copycat 6/6 | Active Conditions: none | Reroll used
"Wasp in a wig, it's coming closer," Milo whimpers as the horror blocks his way.
Will vs. fear:1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12
Using my reroll on that! (3 GM stars) Will vs. fear:1d20 + 8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 3 = 16
We're playing Tier 4-5 with the 4-player adjustment; that adjustment typically only modifies the number of enemies, not the DCs unfortunately.
GM Screen:
rounds, Milo:1d4 ⇒ 2 rounds, Iladora:1d4 ⇒ 2
Round 1 (bold may act!)
Theron (Fort and Will saves pending)
Milo (paralyzed 0/2 rounds)
???
Menudo (Will save pending; delay)
Iladora (paralyzed 1/2 rounds)
Red (Will save pending)
Zim (Will save pending)
Festrog
CN Male Halfling Cleric of Calistria 1/Rogue 1 | HP 15/15 | AC 18, touch 13, FF 16 | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Speed 20 ft | Perception +9 (+10 traps), Sense Motive +7 | Spells: 0 - 3, 1st - 3/3 | Channel 3/3 | Bit of Luck 3/6, Copycat 6/6 | Active Conditions: none | Reroll used
BTW, Menudo should be giving a +4 to everyone within 10 ft. (aura of courage), but Milo moved too far away, and Iladora was just unlucky, so it won't help them.
Oooof, sorry, Menudo! I think this scenario wants to kill us all. Isn't the aura 30 feet though? Theron should be fine if that's so.
Nope, it's just 10' and--surprisingly--that doesn't even expand as you level up.
Theron feels something disturbing and icky settle in before he's frozen with the fear that grips Milo, Red, and Iladora as well. Theron has contracted a disease from the festrog's necrotic boils; the onset is 1 day, so it will have no effect at present
Menudo moves into the room with confidence, laser focused on the gold-wrapped undead; such horrors are no threat to one of Erastil's faithful!
Zim recognizes the horrific undead as a mummy! Feared all over Absalom for the horrific disease they leave behind in their foes, mummy rot is both a disease and a curse, which makes it very difficult to remove. Resisting the mummy's aura of despair, she moves into the room and calls on the full strength of Abadar to fight these creatures!
GM Screen:
rounds, Theron:1d4 ⇒ 1 rounds, Red:1d4 ⇒ 3 Will DC 14, festrog:1d20 ⇒ 11 Will DC 14, mummy:1d20 ⇒ 10 bite vs Theron AC 14, festrog:1d20 ⇒ 6 claw vs Theron AC 14, festrog:1d20 ⇒ 14damage, P/S:1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 claw vs Theron AC 14, festrog:1d20 ⇒ 7 slam vs Menudo AC 24:1d20 ⇒ 16damage, B:1d8 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12
Both undead resist some of Abadar's lawful pain, but the positive energy still pushes through their defenses partially.
The festrog latches onto Theron with both teeth and claws, but the warrior's armor defends him when his limbs won't; the festrog only leaves a single scratch, though not a shallow one.
The mummy slams into Menudo, bludgeoning him and leaving a smear of golden flakes across his front. Erastil continues to protect his paladin, however, as neither the gold nor the mummy's curse can affect Menudo with his patron's protection.
Round 2 (bold may act!)
Theron (-6/40 hp; paralyzed 1/1 rounds)
Milo (paralyzed 1/2 rounds)
Mummy (-2 hp)
Menudo (-12/28 hp)
Iladora (paralyzed 2/2 rounds)
Red (paralyzed 2/3 rounds)
Zim
Festrog (-13 hp includes Theron's damage from previous round that I forgot to include earlier)
Status/Conditions Paralyzed: A paralyzed character is frozen in place and unable to move or act. A paralyzed character has effective Dexterity and Strength scores of 0 and is helpless, but can take purely mental actions. A winged creature flying in the air at the time that it becomes paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A paralyzed swimmer can’t swim and may drown. A creature can move through a space occupied by a paralyzed creature—ally or not. Each square occupied by a paralyzed creature, however, counts as 2 squares to move through.
(Theron) Necrotic Boils: contact; save Fort DC 11; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Con damage; cure 1 save
CN Male Halfling Cleric of Calistria 1/Rogue 1 | HP 15/15 | AC 18, touch 13, FF 16 | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Speed 20 ft | Perception +9 (+10 traps), Sense Motive +7 | Spells: 0 - 3, 1st - 3/3 | Channel 3/3 | Bit of Luck 3/6, Copycat 6/6 | Active Conditions: none | Reroll used
I think Zim was asking about the mummy's fear aura. I guess it depends on what path it took to the door. If it went through the center of the room, rather than around the circle of couches, it could have easily hit everyone with the fear.
I think Zim was asking about the mummy's fear aura. I guess it depends on what path it took to the door. If it went through the center of the room, rather than around the circle of couches, it could have easily hit everyone with the fear.
Ahh yes, I understand now. The mummy definitely circled through the middle of the room (I made sure to explicitly mention that in the post: "The gold-cloth-wrapped creature moves through the center of the room and then over to the door that Milo was appoaching."). The mummy knows about its own aura, and strategically moved so that it affected everyone.
Menudo leans on the power of Erastil to push his damage through, and Erastil provides! He delivers a powerful blow with his elven curve blade, opening the wrappings on the mummy's belly such that they now hang loose, and the dry, dessicated flesh of the undead creature is exposed; gold flakes cover all of the cloth and flesh, and flutter to the ground in the wake of the blade.
Zim uses Menudo as a distraction, coming up behind the mummy and driving the point of her longspear at the mummy. Her shaky attack is made worse by her concern over her personal defenses; the spearpoint doesn't come close to the mummy at all. Assuming--from the -4 to the attack and the +2 you noted to AC--that Zim is meaning to be fighting defensively?
GM Screen:
bite vs Theron AC 14, festrog:1d20 ⇒ 11damage, B/P/S:1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6 claw vs Theron AC 14, festrog:1d20 ⇒ 2 claw vs Theron AC 14, festrog:1d20 ⇒ 12damage, B/P/S:1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
The festrog returns to gnawing and clawing the paralyzed Theron, and has more success this time, leaving multiple gashes across the warrior, and rejuvenating itself as it feeds on Theron's flesh!
Theron's fear releases its grip while the festrog is still gnawing. Theron's paralysis has worn off! (the whole "while it's still gnawing" thing is just flavor; you're not grappled or anything like that)
Status/Conditions Paralyzed: A paralyzed character is frozen in place and unable to move or act. A paralyzed character has effective Dexterity and Strength scores of 0 and is helpless, but can take purely mental actions. A winged creature flying in the air at the time that it becomes paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A paralyzed swimmer can’t swim and may drown. A creature can move through a space occupied by a paralyzed creature—ally or not. Each square occupied by a paralyzed creature, however, counts as 2 squares to move through.
Necrotic Boils: (Theron) save Fort DC 11; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Con damage; cure 1 save
Theron splits the festrog in two, splattering gold-covered undead flesh all over the immediate area. Having experienced the burst of the necrotic boils already, the warrior is ready for the diseased spray and successfully avoids it.
GM Screen:
slam vs Menudo AC 26:1d20 ⇒ 6
The mummy again slams forward at Menudo, but the clumsy attack would have been easily deflected even without Erastil's protection. In this case, Erastil has his eye on this fight and the mummy had no chance.
Status/Conditions Paralyzed: A paralyzed character is frozen in place and unable to move or act. A paralyzed character has effective Dexterity and Strength scores of 0 and is helpless, but can take purely mental actions. A winged creature flying in the air at the time that it becomes paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A paralyzed swimmer can’t swim and may drown. A creature can move through a space occupied by a paralyzed creature—ally or not. Each square occupied by a paralyzed creature, however, counts as 2 squares to move through.
Necrotic Boils: (Theron) save Fort DC 11; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Con damage; cure 1 save
LN (she/her) gnome cleric of Abadar 2 | HP 13 | AC 21/12/20; -6 ACP | Fort +3, Ref +2, Will +6; +2 vs. illusions | Perc +5 (low-light vision) | Stealth +5 | Speed 30 | Spells: 1st 3/4 |
Zim waves her longspear in a "threatening" manner, hoping to help Menudo with their attack. She calls out, "May the Two-Headed Eagle bless your attack."(Inspiring Word - +2 on attack, skill checks, ability checks and saving throws for 1 rd.)
Status/Conditions Paralyzed: A paralyzed character is frozen in place and unable to move or act. A paralyzed character has effective Dexterity and Strength scores of 0 and is helpless, but can take purely mental actions. A winged creature flying in the air at the time that it becomes paralyzed cannot flap its wings and falls. A paralyzed swimmer can’t swim and may drown. A creature can move through a space occupied by a paralyzed creature—ally or not. Each square occupied by a paralyzed creature, however, counts as 2 squares to move through.
Necrotic Boils: (Theron) save Fort DC 11; onset 1 day; frequency 1/day; effect 1d4 Con damage; cure 1 save
CN Male Halfling Cleric of Calistria 1/Rogue 1 | HP 15/15 | AC 18, touch 13, FF 16 | Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +6; +2 vs. fear | Init +2 | Speed 20 ft | Perception +9 (+10 traps), Sense Motive +7 | Spells: 0 - 3, 1st - 3/3 | Channel 3/3 | Bit of Luck 3/6, Copycat 6/6 | Active Conditions: none | Reroll used
When Milo finally breaks free of the paralyzing fear gripping his heart, he drops his crossbow, draws a wand, and steps in front of Zim to flank the mummy. ”This might sting a little,” he says in Elven, commanding the wand to charge with positive energy as he thrusts it at the undead creature.
Free action to drop crossbow; move to draw wand; 5-ft. step; standard to activate cure light wounds wand (CL 1st). Using Combat Expertise for +1 to AC (now 19).
Milo steps in between Zim and the mummy, delivering a touch attack of positive energy from his cure wand. The mummy clearly resists some of the damage, but not all.
With the festrog taken care of, Theron circles in and delivers a powerful blow to the mummy, but not all of his damage gets through either.
Iladora enters the house, scope out the battle before picking her spot to enter it.
GM Screen:
slam vs Menudo AC 26:1d20 ⇒ 7
Though it clearly recoils from the sting of Milo's attack, the mummy still must see Menudo as the bigger threat. It lunges forward at the paladin, but fails to leave a lasting mark again.
