GM Doug's The Arclord Who Never Was (Inactive)

Game Master Doug Hahn

Unable to see, Domwurd wastes no time speaking the command word to activate the magic in his Wayfinder. The object, which hangs on a necklace, glows with a gentle white light. The wizard pulls it out from under his shirt, letting the rays wash over the chamber.

"Well Bob, seems like you and I could be better placed," he says to the skull, running back toward the hallway. He spares a quick glance back to bark a quick arcane word, unleashing a sudden bolt of electricity at the masked foe!
Flat check, DC 5: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Sudden Bolt vs Mask, DC 20 Reflex: 4d12 ⇒ (2, 10, 8, 4) = 24

Realized I forgot about haste! So one more action to Strike.

Maxwell's silver morningstar: 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 1 - 5 = 8 Might as well have left it forgotten...

"Bob who!?!"

Alyreha's skull vibrates once more and Domwurd becomes blurry. blur

Grams has problems striking. Domwurd leaves the masked leader woozy. They do not give up on trying to get the skull, once again trying to dusarm their target:

Flat: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Disarm: 1d20 + 3 - 1 ⇒ (3) + 3 - 1 = 5

Flat: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Disarm: 1d20 + 3 - 5 - 1 ⇒ (1) + 3 - 5 - 1 = -2

Raider 2 moves in and tries to down the Dom:

Flat: 1d20 ⇒ 5
Shortsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Flat: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Shortsword: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 8 - 4 = 23
P: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Not really doing all that much, but drawing a little blood.

★★★
Library of Reflection Round 1

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Arclord Alyreha (-0 HP) │ In Domwurd's hand
Masked Leader (-43 HP) │ Concealed DC 5 to everyone (even those with darkvision), Flat-footed, Fright 1
Raider 2 (-9 HP)
➤ Snarlfist (49/52 HP) │ Hasted
Stalker (-0 HP)
Kralgang (34/48 HP) │ Hasted
Princess Sunset (22/22 HP) │ Hasted
Haggra (44/44 HP) │ Hasted
Domwurd (26/34 HP) │ Hasted, Blurred
Grams (36/36 HP) │ Hasted

──────────
RECALL KNOWLEDGE:
──────────

──────────
CONDITIONS & EFFECTS REFERENCE
──────────

Snarlfist takes a hasty step to the south west before stabbing at the masked leader again.

flat 5: 1d20 ⇒ 15
Longspear Stab vs Mask FF: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
piercing+SA: 2d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (1, 6) + 4 + (1) = 12

Snarlfist then growls at Raider 2.

Demoralize vs R2 will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

frusturated, Snarlfist stabs at the leader again instead.

Flat 5: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Longspear Stab vs Mask FF: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (3) + 11 - 5 = 9
piercing+SA: 2d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 7) + 4 + (1) = 16

Shadows roil and rush out from the slash opened by Snarlfist's spear; the masked being drifts dead to the ground.

The stalker moves for a better shot, reloads her crossbow, and fires at Domwurd…

Blur flat: 1d20 ⇒ 3

… but the bolt clatters against the ground at the pug's paw!

★★★
Library of Reflection Round 2

Terrain: Dark
Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Arclord Alyreha (-0 HP) │ In Domwurd's hand
Masked Leader (-43 HP) │ Concealed DC 5 to everyone (even those with darkvision), Flat-footed, Fright 1
Raider 2 (-9 HP)
Snarlfist (49/52 HP) │ Hasted
Stalker (-0 HP)
➤ Kralgang (34/48 HP) │ Hasted
➤ Princess Sunset (22/22 HP) │ Hasted
➤ Haggra (44/44 HP) │ Hasted
Domwurd (26/34 HP) │ Hasted, Blurred
Grams (36/36 HP) │ Hasted

──────────
RECALL KNOWLEDGE:
──────────

──────────
CONDITIONS & EFFECTS REFERENCE
──────────

Kralgang enters his mind palace and looks for an effective shot against the remaining raider.

Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 18

18+11= 29 to hit!

Piercing: 3d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 4) = 6
Deadly d10 if needed: 1d10 ⇒ 3

He shoots a second time! And a third!

Shortbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Piercing: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 1) = 6
Deadly d10 if needed: 1d10 ⇒ 6

Shortbow: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10
Piercing: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 3) = 9
Deadly d10 if needed: 1d10 ⇒ 7

The occult energies within Sunset let loose as the entire surrounding landscape vanishes from view. Instead the rooms objects turn into something from a toy castle. Toy blocks replace stacks of crates and a looming toy house rises in the distance just behind where the wall once was.

"I said don't hurt!" One of the wooden blocks breaks apart as splintered chunks fling into the Raider before her.

Psi Burst Damage (Bludgeoning): 1d4 ⇒ 2 DC 18 Basic reflex

The psychic energy begins to drag into the raiders mind as it pulls at the threads and fabric of its thoughts.

Amped Daze (Unleashed Psyche: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3 DC 18 Basic Will. The weakness below applies before daze deals damage.
Failure is also Weakness 1 Mental and -1 Will Saves
Crit Failure is also Weakness 3 Mental, Stunned 1 and -1 Will Saves.

◇ Unleash Psyche
◆ Psi Burst
◆◆ Amped Daze

Haggra contemplates attacking the frightened leader.
+1 striking cold iron spiked chain, Strategem: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

Society(E): 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Conceal: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Liking the opening she left him, he strides up and strikes.
Slashing Magic Cold Iron, Strategem: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 = 9
18 if that was a crit vs her frightened AC, plus her frightened doesn’t go down below 1 until after my next turn

If she is still standing, he calmly asks, ”Why would you do this? Surrender now before we kill you. ”
Intimidation(E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15

ref vs unleash: 1d20 ⇒ 3 Fail
fort vs daze: 1d20 ⇒ 7 Fail

The Stalker suffers under the doll's psychic fury. She barely has time to recover from fun in toyland before she's slashed across the throat by a hobgoblin's chain. RK is a success this was a derro stalker and they like to use envenomed weapons.

It looks like there are no enemies around, but it doesn't feel like it's over yet.

★★★
Library of Reflection Round 1

Terrain: Dark
Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Arclord Alyreha (-0 HP) │ In Domwurd's hand
Snarlfist (49/52 HP) │ Hasted
Kralgang (34/48 HP) │ Hasted
Princess Sunset (22/22 HP) │ Hasted
Haggra (44/44 HP) │ Hasted
Strangler 1 (-0 HP)
Strangler 2 (-0 HP)
➤ Domwurd (26/34 HP) │ Hasted, Blurred
➤ Grams (36/36 HP) │ Hasted

Domwurd quickly casts a spell to shield himself, then says, "Wait, they want you. Let's go incognito, Arclord."

He casts a spell and disappears from sight. And moves away.
Shield, Invisibility, and Stride

Grams notices two Hidden creatures near where Domwurd was standing!

Grams has 2 actions left. She can Point out a creature with 1 action each. Hitting a creature is a DC 11 flat check.

Spotting a disturbance in the air, Grams closes in, swinging her sword. "They're just behind you!" she calls out.

Seek, Stride, Strike, Point Out (the one I'm NOT attacking)
Maxwell's silver morningstar: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 7 + 1 = 16
2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 4) + 3 = 12

DC 11 Flat: 1d20 ⇒ 15

When targeting a Hidden creature you need to make a DC 11 flat check or it misses.

Grams gets a good idea where the creature is, but she can't quite connect. Passed the flat check but missed the AC.

I've got the skulls to see all!

Alyreha glows as she casts out a vision to Snarlfist, Kralgang, Haggra, and Grams. They see the possible futures of the invisible target (for the sake of argument, let's call that target "Stangler 1" in the tracker.

True Target: The first time they attack that target they can roll twice and use the better result; they ignore circumstance penalties to the attack roll, and any flat check required due to the designated creature being concealed or hidden.

★★★
Library of Reflection Round 3

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Arclord Alyreha (-0 HP) │ In Domwurd's hand
➤ Snarlfist (49/52 HP) │ Hasted, Truly Targeting Strangler 1
➤ Kralgang (34/48 HP) │ Hasted, Truly Targeting Strangler 1
➤ Princess Sunset (22/22 HP) │ Hasted
➤ Haggra (44/44 HP) │ Hasted, Truly Targeting Strangler 1
Strangler 1 (-0 HP) │ Invisible, Truly Targeted
Strangler 2 (-0 HP) │ Invisible, Pointed Out
Domwurd (26/34 HP) │ Hasted, Blurred
Grams (36/36 HP) │ Hasted, Truly Targeting Strangler 1

──────────
RECALL KNOWLEDGE:
──────────

Hidden Flat Check DC 11: 1d20 ⇒ 7
Hero Point: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Amped Daze (Unleashed Psyche: 1d10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6 DC 18 Basic Will. The weakness below applies before daze deals damage.
Failure is also Weakness 1 Mental and -1 Will Saves
Crit Failure is also Weakness 3 Mental, Stunned 1 and -1 Will Saves.

Princess Sunset searches and searches for the creatures mind and is unable to fully connect with it. As she begins to come to and her own mind fizzles needing a rest she gives a mental hug to Kralgang.

Restore the Mind (+6 HP to Kralgang)

◆◆ Amped Daze (Strangler 2)
◆ Restore the Mind (+6 HP to Kralgang)

Kralgang moves and looks for a good opening against Strangler 1.

Devise a Strat: 1d20 ⇒ 5
Devise a Strat: 1d20 ⇒ 15

15+11= 26 to hit.

Piercing:: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 2, 1) = 8
Deadly d10 if needed:: 1d10 ⇒ 2

Remembering that he is hasted, Kralgang shoots again!

Shortbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Piercing: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10
Deadly d10 if needed: 1d10 ⇒ 9

Flat Check: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Snarlfist looks in the general direction of #1 and growls.

flat check to intimidate: 1d20 ⇒ 16
demoralize vs #1 will DC: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (7) + 12 = 19

Snarlfist then stabs them, taking advantage of both the skull's haste and true target.

Frightened Targets are flatfooted to Snarlfist from Dread Striker
Longspear vs #1: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
True Stab: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23
piercing+SA: 2d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 + (6) = 18
Frightened Creatures hit can’t reduce frightened condition below 1 until my next turn.

Snarlfist then swaps and goes for the invisible pointed out target.

flat to intimidate #2: 1d20 ⇒ 14
demoralize #2: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21

Snarlfist follows up by stabbing #2
Frightened Targets are flatfooted to Snarlfist from Dread Striker
flat vs #2: 1d20 ⇒ 3
longspear vs #2: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
piercing+SA: 2d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (5, 8) + 4 + (2) = 19
Miss from flat.

Princess has problems finding her target.

Kralgang capitalizes on the buff with two arrows before Snarlfist frightens his target but misses the invisible creature.

★★★
Library of Reflection Round 3

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Arclord Alyreha (-0 HP) │ In Domwurd's hand
Snarlfist (49/52 HP) │ Hasted, Truly Targeting Strangler 1
Kralgang (34/48 HP) │ Hasted, Truly Targeting Strangler 1
Princess Sunset (22/22 HP) │ Hasted
➤ Haggra (44/44 HP) │ Hasted, Truly Targeting Strangler 1
Strangler 1 (-36 HP) │ Invisible, Truly Targeted, Frightened 1
Strangler 2 (-0 HP) │ Invisible, Pointed Out, Frightened 1
Domwurd (26/34 HP) │ Hasted, Blurred
Grams (36/36 HP) │ Hasted, Truly Targeting Strangler 1

──────────
RECALL KNOWLEDGE:
──────────

Haggra looks to the location where he knows #2 to be. "You'd best not be here when I swing."

Intimidation(E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13
Naw, let's reroll that
Intimidation(E): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

However, he does not wait.
+1 striking cold iron spiked chain, Strategem: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13

He decides against striking, but instead Strides to #1's supposed location and Seeks it.

1d20 ⇒ 5

Haggra fails to scare is target or see anything new.

Haggra has 1 action left!

Haggra hears the invisible creature walk around him — it appears — another pale, bug-eyes creature — trying to strangle him with a weapon that looks like a javelin with a hook on the end.

Strangle vs fort DC: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Strangle vs fort DC: 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 13 - 5 = 23
B: 2d6 + 6 ⇒ (3, 4) + 6 = 13

A second one appears and casts Darkness, counteracting Domwurd's light spell.

Grams is up!

★★★
Library of Reflection Round 3

Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Arclord Alyreha (-0 HP) │ In Domwurd's hand
Snarlfist (49/52 HP) │ Hasted
Kralgang (40/48 HP) │ Hasted
Princess Sunset (22/22 HP) │ Hasted
Haggra (31/44 HP) │ Hasted
Strangler 1 (-36 HP) │ Frightened 1
Strangler 2 (-0 HP) │ Frightened 1
Domwurd (26/34 HP) │ Hasted, Blurred
➤ Grams (36/36 HP) │ Hasted

──────────
RECALL KNOWLEDGE:
──────────

Whoops, sorry I'm late on this. I somehow missed it yesterday!

Feeling the effects of Alyreha's magic, Grams raises her shield and rushes to the attack.

"That's quite enough of that!" she instructs the strangler.

Raise Shield, Stride, Strikex2 (I'm assuming I don't need to Seek, since others are attacking that square, but I can skip the last Strike if I do need to)
Maxwell's silver morningstar: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 7 + 1 = 15
Reroll from True Target: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 = 25 Thanks, Alyreha!
2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 2) + 3 = 10

Flat check for hidden: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Maxwell's silver morningstar (iterative): 1d20 + 7 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 - 5 = 14
2d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 4) + 3 = 12

"I'm no empty-headed arclord; I prep the basics too! Even a mighty wizard brings light for her buddies."

Alreha glows, shedding a 60' radius of pink Light! Of course, being higher level than the Darkness spell, it counteracts it easily.

Grams smacks her target upside the head, taking it our. There is but one left — and this Strangler will fight to the death!

★★★
Library of Reflection Round 4? Whatever

Terrain: Pink Light
Battlemap

──────────
BOLD IS UP!:
──────────
Arclord Alyreha (-0 HP) │ In Domwurd's hand
➤ Snarlfist (49/52 HP) │ Hasted
➤ Kralgang (40/48 HP) │ Hasted
➤ Princess Sunset (22/22 HP) │ Hasted
➤ Haggra (31/44 HP) │ Hasted
Strangler 2 (-0 HP) │ Frightened 1
Domwurd (26/34 HP) │ Hasted, Blurred
Grams (36/36 HP) │ Hasted

──────────
RECALL KNOWLEDGE:
──────────

Kralgang looks at this creature and calculates his best attack.

Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 3

Free Recall Knowledge: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

Kralgang moves in and uses Battle Medicine on Haggra with assurance.

Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 7) = 14

He does the same on himself.

Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

Kralgang knows This is a dero starangler. They can strangle you when their hands are free or when holding an aklys, with an Athletics check to Grab. You saw the interesting things they can do already

Still invisible, Domwurd moves closer to the fray and quietly whispers a spell. The magic settles over Grams, causing her to more than double in size!
Stride, Enlarge on Grams

Snarlfist takes advantage of his foe's fear to go all out, stabbing repeatidly until his foe falls.

stabbing vs S2 FF: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26
piercing: 2d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2, 7) + 4 + (4) = 17

stabbing vs S2 FF: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 11 - 5 = 17
piercing: 2d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (8, 5) + 4 + (1) = 18

stabbing vs S2 FF: 1d20 + 11 - 10 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 10 = 11
piercing: 2d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (6, 4) + 4 + (4) = 18

hasted stabbing vs S2 FF: 1d20 + 11 - 10 ⇒ (12) + 11 - 10 = 13
piercing: 2d8 + 4 + 1d6 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 + (6) = 16

Frightened targets are flat footed to Snarlfist and frightened targets can't reduce frightened below 1 for a round.

Princess Sunset's mind becomes confused and muddled. Reaching out se shares some of the pain she has felt all those years in the dark.

Stupified Check DC 5: 1d20 ⇒ 16

Phantom Pain (Mental): 2d4 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2 +1d4 Persistent Mental Will DC 17

◆◆ Phantom Pain
◆ Step

Snarlfist decimates his foe while Princess makes their eyes bleed. The creature falls.

If you recall Sebnet mentioned Aslynn was after the skull too. It seems like her forces tracked down the skull as well. Typical for them to show up at the last minute and attempt to throw a wrench in your plans.

______

You are victorious — but the library is wrecked! Later that morning, Later that morning Sebnmet returns. "I apologize for the contingency spell that whisked me away — did you know that I had to retire from Pathfindering because of an accident? I'm unable to be healed by either positive or negative energy. This makes situations like the attack extremely dangerous for me."

"Anyway, we need to clean up!"

"Uhhh I feel empty-headed all of a sudden. No more magic. Put me on the pillow there, Domwurd, I'll 'supervise' your work."

Like a dog with a bone, Domwurd does not want to put the Arclord down. "Are you sure? I'm happy to carry you. We don't want some minion of Aslynn stealing you away."

Later that morning Vrisk shows up with many animated brooms and mops, ready help clean up. So does the gang. somehow they all felt the resonance too, and knew something important happened here.

Vrisk gives them dirty dirty looks and the gang members return the favor. While the two factions you befriended don't like each other, but for now they have an uneasy truce.

As they sweep broken glass off the floor and scrub bloodstains, they ask "What happened here, anyway?"

The gang will not be satisfied without an answer. You can tell the truth (the Society found the Arclord's skull in a horde of treasure and Aslynn wants it back) to automatically succeed. If you want to lie, you need to make a Deception or Performance check, DC 20. Remember your faction missions.

Grams pauses, remembering they were supposed to be discreet. She's not sure they've managed that, but it's not too late to try.

However, those are not skills I'm good at. I apparently didn't sing to my children when they were babies.

"Put it down Domwurd. Down. Leave it. Leave iiiiitttt. Good boy."

Kralgang is also not skilled at Deception either.

Domwurd tells the truth about what has gone on. But he does not let go of the skull, despite Kralgang's cajoling.

"And that's the story. So, please don't take offense but I'm going to keep holding onto the skull. I don't want to let it go, and you can't make me."

Snarlfist gives Domwurd a dirty look before turning to the gang and chuckling "Rhnrhh Haha, Domwurd really had you going there didn't he. We did find a skull but it turned out just to be some old warlord's favorite pike decoration. Did assemble enough bones to make a staff of necromancy though, those things are creepy."

deception: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25

Hey I'm no pile of bone— Sebnet throws a cloth over the arclord, who's still in Domwurd's hand, muffling her voice.

Rrrmmmph!

The gang buys Snarlfist's story. The gang leader laughs. "Wow that's a ridiculous story, Domwurd. As if a skull with pink eyes could ever be an arclord. Everyone knows they'd be a scary black skull with red eyes, like our badge! He polishes his own lacquered gang badge. "And what a dumb name is Zykyryz!?"

Mfrfermmph frrmpherrf…

Anyways, if you ever need a hand in the city, look us up. We're the black skulls! Now that the gang has helped you with chores and gotten the deets on your mission, they depart. You've secured an ally.

Vrisk too takes his leave. "Thank you for bringing me friend back. I hope you can reassemble her in die time." He winks and teleports away, back to the Sunmist Stele.

______

Later that morning the vash-vatom summons you to her office.

"First, I'm putting in a request for Toldrar, Head of Security for the Grand Lodge in Absalom, to give Nexus House his “special touch.” Thank you for helping Arclord Alyreha remember her identity, as well as her research into the magic of true names. Thanks to you, the investigation can continue in the near future at the arclord's abandoned home, which I've managed to triangulate! I hope all of you can stay here in Quantium to help out, but I understand if you have other missions."

She looks at the skull. "Say thank you, Arclord Alyreha."

Glowing pink eyes roll up at the ceiling.

"Ugh. 'Thank you, Arclord Alyreha.'"

Thank you for playing! This is the end of the scenario. Feel free to post any coda you like, and I hope some of you can stick around for part 2 in February!

Princess Sunset give Zykyryz a small hug. "Sounds like we will see you soon friend."

"It was our pleasure, dear."

Grams thinks for a moment, but then decides she's best off staying in Quantium to help out -- and keep an eye on Alyreha -- until the vash-vatom's next mission. Don't think Grams will go on another mission in the interim, though it's always possible.