GM Otha’s The Moonscar (Inactive)

Game Master Otha

An invisible Flint leads the party to the vrock's lair.

I want to keep this game rolling and have everyone engaged so I don't think we should necessarily try to get the drop on the vrocks by having only the stealthy people lead the way. Pacing in PbP is more important than min/maxing every combat. Besides we should be able to handle four oversized demonic chickens anyways! :)

Agree. Let's bum rush them.

With Flint invisible, I’m assuming he leads them to the vrocks by his voice?

As you approach the passage guarded by the vrocks, one of them awaits you…

It looks curiously at those of you it can see, speaking in common. ”Greetings mortals, you wish to enter the next stage to meet our mistress? Of course, of course…just speak the password and you can pass…”

20’ behind him, you notice the other three vrocks are chanting and performing some sort of ritual dance…

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-37)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Obedience (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Marta is quite sure that battle is about to erupt in the form of a swarm of arrows, but she can't resist an opening verbal salvo of her own

"You do not belong here. I would wipe your kind from the universe if possible. What could your mistress possibly offer that would deter me from my mission?".

The vrock arches an eyebrow. ”Mission? What mission do you have other than supplication to the Mistress? Did you not complete the supplication ritual? Again, I ask you…what is the password?”

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-37)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Obedience (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Flint is not about to disappoint Marta. The invisible dwarf attempts to piece the demon with arrows. Clearly the demon is attempting to stall while the other vrocks attempt to complete their ritual dance.

"I got your password right here," says Theodric, reaching for his sword and flying right in the middle of all those vrocks.

Move so that Theodric is adjacent to all vrocks, and attacks one of them; Power Attack, Combat Expertise, and Pin Down feat in effect (5-ft steps or withdraw actions from vrocks provoke AoOs; see spoiler below

1st attack, Two-handed Power Attack +5 adamantine Impervious Keen Falcata, Combat Expertise, Heroism, Haste, Hunter's Blessing: 1d20 + 35 - 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 35 - 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 = 55
epic adamantine magic slashing all alignments dmg: 1d8 + 45 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 45 + 2 = 51

@GM: please remove any of the above-listed bonuses that do not apply

Combat Expertise + Haste in effect: AC 44/ touch 20/ ff 35; Senses: All-Around Vision (cannot be flanked)

====================================================

CONFIRM CRIT, CRIT FOCUS: 1d20 + 35 - 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 35 - 5 + 2 + 1 + 2 + 4 = 56
additional dmg if crit confirmed: 1d8 + 45 + 2 + 1d8 + 45 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 45 + 2 + (4) + 45 + 2 = 102 plus permanent blindness, Fort DC 27 to reduce to dazzled

Roger that…this map is not conducive to combat so I’ll put a map together. Should have the initial combat post in the morning. Flint, you can post your surprise round attack at your leisure…

Changed my mind. We’ll handwave this combat; rechecking their stats, they’re not equipped to give you any trouble other than that dance and Theodric broke that up in time. Going into initiative would be a waste of time and would provide the same outcome…

While Flint skewers the demon bird up front with an arrow, Theodric crashes the vrock’s lethal dance party, beheading one of them outright. Marta rushes in with her spear with Zaarah tagging along and, with Alie and Agata in support, you make quick work of the vrocks, they all lie dead…

Combat over! Pathfinders victorious!

As Flint saw before in this area, you see four alcoves flank the end of this corridor, which terminates in a ten-foot-wide hole plummeting down and out of sight…

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-37)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Obedience (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Flint checks the alcoves and bodies for anything of interest. He also attempts to detect any traces of magic in the area.

46 Perception on a take 10 (including planar penalties)

Detect Magic is cast.

"We still have two dead bodies to investigate, the crowns on the statues and an inscription at the entrance."

"And then we can proceed down the hole."

"How apropo, down the hole. You do know that the statues are probably a trap? Part of me wants to just head on down the hole and confront this mistress."

For a moment Marta has the horrifying thought that this mistress is, in fact, Janira somehow converted to a mastermind emissary of evil and she shakes her head to clear it of the paranoid thoughts. Though it is a very real possibility that she has been dominated and will want to fight the pathfinders.

"At the risk of being obvious, when we do remember that we want to rescue as many subjugated innocents as possible. If they are dominated they will be forced to attack us and we will need to fight defensively or until the enchantment is neutralized. That or knock them out."

”Im pretty decent a dispelling nasty magicks. Hopefully, if we find any good creatures being controlled, I can snap them out of it!”

"Well, we should examine the bodies first at the very least. There might be useful information that we are missing."

"It should not take very long at all."

The now visible Flint leads the party to Pendrel Zarafari of Oenopion.

He uses his Sift spell to magically examine the corpse without actually touching him. He learns about all the equipment that the corpse is carrying.

41 Perception on a take 10 with the Sift spell (seeing and touching only).

Backtracking to the pool after your victory, you check out the rotting corpse; the body is too decomposed to identify, but thru Flint’s sift spell, you find and identify the following items:

+2 cold iron warhammer
a headband of alluring charisma +2
4 oils of bless weapon
a potion of neutralize poison
a set of celestial armor

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-37)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Obedience (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

"Valuable stuff, but quite useless to me. You all take what you want."

After stowing any unclaimed items in the portable hole for storage Flint leads the party to the deceased wizard.

If anyone wants any party loot then claim it. Otherwise assume that it is in the portable hole. :)

"This poor soul was drained to death. These succubi are not to be underestimated."

He again does a magical pat down to see if the deceased wizard has any usable gear.

41 Perception on a take 10 with the Sift spell (seeing and touching only).

"I wonder what they were doing here. Were they just brought here to be drained or did they suffer a mishap while exploring?"

Other than a modest robe, you find nothing else on the corpse of Pendrel Zarafari…you surmise that he was performing the trial of supplication and died in the attempt…

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-37)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Obedience (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Flint nods.

"All right. We should check out the crowns on the succubi statues. Perhaps they open a secret door, perhaps not."

Flint leads the party and examines the crowns on the statues heads. He examines them magically (Detect Magic) and then checks to see if they are trapped before trying to remove them from the statues.

46 Perception on a take 10 including planar penalties

Marta stands ready to help. She also examines the statues and will use her disabling skills if needed.

perception, heroism, heightened awareness, planar penalty: 1d20 + 29 + 2 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (6) + 29 + 2 + 2 - 4 = 35
disable device, heroism: 1d20 + 25 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 25 + 2 = 38

The entire statue emanates necromancy magic. You detect no trap to disable, but can deduce that the magic is likely triggered by touch as Flint recalls the etching on the ledge upon first entering:

“Lay your hands upon me. Suffer at my command. Your Supplications earn my favor, and bring glory to the Shadow.”

You also see that the crown is a permanent part of the statue that cannot be removed without destroying it…

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-37)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Obedience (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

"I'm not about to do this supplication thing, so we should just go to the hole and confront whoever this mistress is. Unless we want to destroy these statues first. I'm not opposed to taking some time off for some good old fashioned vandalism."

she quickly adds, "Well, at least not in this case."

Or perhaps one of the others would like to do the supplications?

Flint nods. He has no wish to add to the power of the shadow.

"Agreed. Let us go below then. Destroying these statues are not a priority."

You travel back to the vrock room; peering down the hole you see…

…what appears to be another huge chamber. While you can’t make out much at the moment, straight down, ‘bout a hundred feet, you see another ledge/walkway, similar to the one you flew down to in the previous chamber…

Flying down again, I presume?

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-37)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Obedience (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Theodric asks for someone to use his wand of healing some more...

clw: 7d8 + 7 ⇒ (4, 8, 2, 4, 1, 3, 6) + 7 = 35

"I wonder how deep this place goes. Perhaps it ends at a portal to the Abyss. Somehow that would not surprise me."

Marta flies down, provided the others go too.

Flint helps Theodric with his wand and then flies down to the next level bow in hand.

You all fly down 100’ to the walkway directly below the hole in the ceiling…

A five-foot-wide ledge follows the wall of this tall cylindrical room, connecting three identical iron archways. In the open arches of these passages are carved images of intertwined humanoid forms engaged in erotic acts. A ten-foot-wide catwalk extends from the wall into the center of the room, ending directly below a ten-foot-diameter hole in the high domed ceiling. A ring of rune-etched iron is embedded in the edge of the encircling ledge, and is completely legible from the end of the catwalk.

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-2)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Seduction (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

"These nice flowing runes are pretty decorations! what does it say, Sweet Mawd?"

Flint nods.

"Good idea Theodric. We should at least find out what it says."

"If you all would not mind, I would prefer to take a rest before we advance any further. I'm getting close to the end of my reservoir of spells."

”A rest might not be a bad idea. We have to be nearing the end of our journey. Janira can’t be too far away!”

Flint nods.

"Very well. Whenever Agata is ready to cast her spell we can take a break from the Moonscar."

Botting Agata…

Agata casts her retreat spell and you spend a most welcome restful 8 hours sleep with no interruption…

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-2)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Seduction (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Before retiring Marta casts the usual Delay Poison, Hunter's Blessing - evil outsider, underground (caves and dungeons), Hunter's Blessing - Aberration / Desert (sand and wastelands), GMW, and GMW, as well as extended see invisible though that totally exhausts her remaining spells. Which is very unusual. This has been a demanding mission.

Marta awakes refreshed and has Mage Armor cast on her and then adds on heightened awareness, extended freedom of movement, ablative barrier (from wand), extended see invisible, extended heroism, extended corruption resistance (evil), and extended keen edge (on spear).

Are these cast on any of the party?
mind blank, heroic invocation, fly

Theo will take any flying and/or mind buffs you may have... you do 'not' want some kind of crazy mind controlled Theodric coming at you...

Alie casts her usual mage armor, overland flight and false life for 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16. She will also cast fly on whoever needs it.

Theodric will take the fly; thanks! if no one has anything against mind-control he will revert to his usual SOP of casting protection vs. evil via his slotted ioun stone at the beginning of the dungeon.

Marta will take a fly.

"These nice flowing runes are pretty decorations! what does it say, Sweet Mawd?"

Sweet Mawd's Truespeech ability apparently does not include writing, alas.

Agata casts the same buffs as on prior days, including Heroic Invocation and Communal Mindblank, Heroism on whomever needs it, and the same ones previously noted.

Zaarah speaks Abyssal and I’ll assume she reads it to you…

Theodric de LaMontagne wrote:

"These nice flowing runes are pretty decorations! what does it say, Sweet Mawd?"

Sweet Mawd's Truespeech ability apparently does not include writing, alas.

Fotunately, Marta always packs a scroll of comprehend languages.

"I have a scroll for that, but only one. We can use it if nobody has a better alternative."

Marta examines the writings anyway, even if she does not know the language.

linguistics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21

After studying the etchings, Marta can understand the general meaning if the message…

Marta can read the spoiler

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-2)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Seduction (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Flint wakes up and prepares for another day in the Moonscar.

"Is everyone feeling refreshed and ready to go?"

Flint will also take a Fly. Thanks. :)

After struggling with the writing, which is obviously abyssal by its chaotic and jagged lines, Marta's face grows disapproving.

"I can't tell you exactly what it says, but the general gist of it is to suggest we give in to the sins inside us, rest in this room, and something about possession and shadow. Not. Sooner we move on the better I say, and giving in to my baser impulses is not my style."

She stares daggers at Zaarah as occurs to Marta that Zaarah might just dos something so idiotic.

half hearted intimidate attempt, heroism, planar penalties: 1d20 + 26 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 26 + 2 - 4 = 26

Are we ready to press on? No rush, just checking if you’re thru buffing…

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-2)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Seduction (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

her invoc temp hp: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 = 11

After expending a charge from the wand of ablative barrier she announces

"I'm ready. Shall we head that way?"

Marta points off to the west area and starts heading that way.

We’ll streamline this a bit to save time…

Heading west, you come into a series of mazelike passages. They each come to a dead end and at each terminus, similar to the previous chamber, you find a large object; but in this case it is not statues but sarcophagi…

Also, just glancing north and south, the north hallway ends in a door and the southern one appears to lead to more passages…

Status:
Marta (-1)
Theodric (-2)
Zaarah (-5)
Agata (-1)
Sweet Mawd (-1)

Ring of Seduction (Slide 1)

Strongly Chaos-Aligned and Evil-Aligned: Nonevil or nonchaotic creatures take a –2 circumstance penalty on all Intelligence-, Wisdom-, and Charisma-based checks in the Moonscar. This penalty stacks with itself for creatures that fall into both categories (-4).

Impeded Magic: To cast a spell or use a spell-like ability with the good or lawful descriptor, a caster must make a concentration check (DC 20 + the level of the spell).

Marta nudges the others to explore to the south and leaves the sarcophagi alone. When encounters she mutters "Traps, probably."