PbP Outpost VI - Heroes for Highdelve - GM NOWRUZ (Inactive)

Game Master noral

daze will: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19

She can push the daze effect away.

Kyomi crumples to the ground. The unexpected blade going in deep. Her lifeblood just slipping out onto the ground. She had Rochelle cornered. She and her companions had the advantage -- and that situation should have aroused her fox senses. It was going "too well". Alas, Kyomi is young and sometimes you learn the best by making mistakes. Hopefully this mistake is not fatal.

stabalize: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (3) + 0 = 3 DC 13.

Kyomi slips to -4. Her Con is 10, so her threshold is -10. Next DC will be 14 to stabilize.

Tuke fires a shot at orange hit: 1d20 + 3 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 3 - 4 = 6 vs touch includes melee penalty since he doesn't have precise shot dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Well, now things are different. I'd kinda like to have you live- but that Tiefling over there just lost his lease on life.

Torgen swings his sap at the young, and stupid. But he also takes a step to the side and pulls out his war hammer with his other hand.

swing, move 5 feet and as a part of move action draw weapon.

attack!: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 3 + 1 = 16 damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5 non-lethal Inspired courage

Sorry I was gone so long, folks! Been a hectic month! But I can help Kyomi, easily!

”Not! Like! THIS!!!!”Kyomi shouts, as a burst of unstoppable raging energy surges through Kyomi just enough to auto-stabilize her with “Resolve”! Though she immediately puked blood, and stands up staggered.

Sorry I was gone so long, folks! Been a hectic month! But I can help Kyomi, easily!

”Not! Like! THIS!!!!”Kyomi shouts, as a burst of unstoppable raging energy surges through Kyomi just enough to auto-stabilize her with “Resolve”! Though she immediately puked blood, and stands up staggered.

I assume 5 ft step and full defense as your action. .

Tolwin again is hit by the sap!

The Tiefling continues to attack Kyomi but fails.

shortsword : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 91d6 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Richelle steps forward and shoots another arrow at Alyyra but misses.

Longbow @Alyyra: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (10) + 3 = 13
Longbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 2

Tolwin is intimidated but slashes with his longsword and attacks Tolwin but the dwarf can block.

“You … see the monster in the cave soon. No!! Go now!“ he shouts.

Longsword : 1d20 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (7) - 2 + 2 = 7
Longbow damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

~

Initiative

Tuke
Torgen, -3
Alyyra
Kyomi, -13, staggered

Richelle, -5
Tolwin, -12 nl
Tiefling

Bold is up.

Kyomi is in no position to fight, and she knows it. Still, she readies her sword, in case the worst comes. (full round defensive action)

Tuke spends and action to reload. Then moves.

Glad to see you standin' Kyomi. I knew you could take a jab in a fight and keep on movin'. No, it's my turn to drop this fool in front of me.
A fool that can't actually put understandable words together.
A fool, that IF there was a monster in the cave, he'd have used sense and *combined forces* instead of ambush'in.

Torgen uses his fighting prowess to out duel Tolwin.
Sap attack: 1d20 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 - 1 = 18 damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 2 + 1 = 5 Non lethal, Bardic.

Warhammer: 1d20 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 - 1 = 11 damage: 1d8 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 1 = 7 LETHAL!

Using the threat of the warhammer, he makes Tolwin overcommit to one side in his defense, and that gives a wide open spot for the sap to "gong" against the side of his head.

Free Action talking.

Alyrra, you speak dwarven?

Alyyra quickly recognizes she doesn't stand much of a chance against the two in front of her, but she's not about to abandon Kyomi. She strides up to Richelle, drawing her sword. [i]Hopefully I appear threatening enough to draw their attention...

I'd like to sustain my bardic performance, but that requires keeping playing my flute. The rules don't say anything about needing to keep the instrument it's using equipped, so... not sure about that? Would like a ruling. If I can sustain it, we're at round 4 of 7.

The sap now can knock out Tolwin.

The Tiefling continues to attack Kyomi and the blade sinks deeply into her abdomen… she’s almost dead!!

shortsword : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (19) + 3 = 221d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Richelle steps back and shoots another arrow at Alyyra but misses.

Longbow @Alyyra: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
Longbow damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6

You can continue to inspire.

~

Initiative

Tuke
Torgen, -3
Alyyra
Kyomi, -19, staggered

Richelle, -5
Tolwin, disabled
Tiefling

Bold is up.

I'm coming to you'z! Get behind me Kyomi! Let me put an indent-a-tion in this Tiefling's skull.

Hey Richelle! Your buddy Tolwin is knocked out over here and my Pathfinder Friend Tuke's got a loud banger at his lulli-bye, sleepy, dreamy head. You want to surrender now that you've missed 8 times with your bow-- showing us you don't have the skill to be fightin' us!

Double move with my short legs. 20 foot move each, so 40 feet. He drops the sap and pulls out his other weapon in his main hand.

"Not again, damnit! Why are you trying to kill us? We just came to talk! Fine, if you won't listen.." Alyyra never wanted to actually hurt anybody and has delayed the inevitable as long as she can. She barely knows how to use the sword, but she's desperate. She doesn't understand the brutality of the tiefling, and tries, desperately to end things with the only tool she has left. So she takes a step to follow Richelle, and swings her sword.

Shortsword against Richelle: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14 Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Inspire round 5 of 7

Kyomi, bloodied, kneels over, barely able to hold herself up with her own sword.

”It can’t end this way….” she says, tears beginning to form….

She struggles her way over to behind Torgen, and prepares for the worst.

Kyomi, bloodied, kneels over, barely able to hold herself up with her own sword.

”It can’t end this way….” she says, tears beginning to form….

She struggles her way over to behind Torgen, and prepares for the worst.

Kyomi, just take the withdraw action and move away. YOu are stable and safe this way with another point spent.

I forgot about the withdraw action. I think I’ll take it, then.

Moves closer to fire at red hit: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9 vs touch does not have precise shot dmg: 1d8 ⇒ 7 piercing and blunt

The Tiefling now targets Torgen and the blade sinks deeply into his chest!!

shortsword : 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 181d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

“Come over here to flank Richelle!! We kill him!!“ the tiefling shouts.

Richelle drops her bow, draws her longsword and steps toward Torgen to attack with her blade but misses.

Longsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
damage: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

~

Initiative

Tuke
Torgen, -3
Alyyra
Kyomi, -19, staggered

Richelle, -5
Tolwin, disabled
Tiefling

Bold is up.

Torgen takes the blow, and grits his teeth. 3/13 HP
s . This combat is his weight to withstand. better him than the others.

If you think I'm gonna let you get around me to flank, you have been doing your weapon training at some toddler fighting school! Come on Richelle, I taunt you. I dare you. I double dare you to move around me, this here hammer has a long reach and it's gonna crack your skull if you make a bone-headed move like that you novice. You nube! You rookie! You don't have the fighting sense the good Desna handed out.

Torgen is trying to confuse the young girl, instill doubt in her brain. She's been coddled far too long in this town. She might not react well to taunts and biting verbal lashes.

Torgen delays just a bit to see if Alyrra moves forward to help him flank the Tiefling.

attack: 1d20 + 0 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 0 + 1 = 10 damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 3 + 1 = 9 Warhammer Tiefling Target. Inspired

attack: 1d20 + 0 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 0 + 1 = 15 damage: 1d8 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 3 + 1 = 8 Axe. Tiefling Target. Inspired
Please add +2 to the rolls if Alyrra moves to flank the Tiefling

Worried, Kyomi begins to withdraw herself from combat.

The tiefling is heavily wounded now.

Indeed, flanking! Hope this jerk likes karma :)

Alyyra sees an opportunity and seizes it. Again, she doesn't want to fight, but the tiefling is not giving her any other option. She steps up and attempts to run him through with her sword. It's not the most agile maneuver, and she struggles to recall her combat training as a Pathfinder... maybe it's enough?

Shortsword: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 3 = 15 Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Inspire round 6 of 7

The bard cuts into the tiefling’s back and he immediately drops!!

Richelle drops her weapon and starts crying.

“Oh. .. I’m so sorry!! Oh no!!!“

Not in a happy mood. The dwarf starts with a commanding voice.
Richelle, you better put your hands behind your back, because you are getting tied up. Your shenanigans got serious and I ALREADY gave you multiple attempts to surrender and knock this b&#!*$+% off. Your cry'-yin and sorry-sorries are fallin' on deaf ears.

Torgen gets out rope to tie the tiefling and then Richelle and then Tolwin.
Alyrra, or anyone - you got any skill with stopping wounds? If so, get an eye on Kyomi. Tuke, Come over here and check this tiefling for possessions. Hopefully there's something of interest on his body.

Torgen tries for efficiency, because there's still a danger about the caves. They aren't out of the woods just yet.

You search the bodies.

Tiefling Combat Gear: potion of cure light wounds; Gear padded armor, light crossbow with 10 crossbow bolts, short sword, thieves’ tools.

Richelle and Tolwing each (so 2x): Combat Gear potion of cure light wounds, mwk arrows (5), tanglefoot bag (2), thunderstone (2); leather armor, longbow with 20 arrows, longsword, 48 gp.

She does not resist.

”Who ... who are you people!? We ... we can still ... help you?! she says and it is clear that she lacks the morale to really continue to fight.

Alyyra immediately takes the potion from the tiefling and gives it to Kyomi. "Here, drink this. Easy, now." She looks at Torgen and Richelle and sighs. She walks over to the woman, kneels down. "Look. Torgen has a point. You took up arms against Pathfinders. I said several times that I didn't want to hurt you. And I still don't. But we need to know what's going on, all right?"

Diplomacy, if required: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (17) + 10 = 27

Torgen is very happy to hear that there are a total of three amazing potions of cure light wounds.
This is timely. Hey Kyomi, down that first flask, and uncork this one to put down your throat. Your wounds need you to be double fisting the drinks. Since I'm hurtin' also, I'm going to see how this red juice tastes.

Torgen downs the remaining CLW.
CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

new HP's 9/13

He also takes a few moments to inspect the weapons. Looking for his familiy's maker's mark on the items. Especially the crossbow.
Hmmm... What's I'm looking for is on the butt of the stock.

No matter his findings, he pulls out a cigar from his belt pouch and places it - unlit- into his mouth. Moving it from the left side of his mouth to the right then back and forth until it seems to "plunk" into the right spot.

Richelle looks at you and starts crying.

"You ... you are Pathfinders? We .. we had a letter from our father! The only piece that connected us to him. But ... we ... we do not have the letter anymore! Feran and his mother Gilda made us ... made us burn everything that tied us to our roots. I ... I do not know how we did what we did! Oh ... we have to wake up!" she says between sobs.

Kyomi coughs, but stands back up, despite still being a little woozy.

”DON’T ever do that again!”, shouts Kyomi, as she lightly bops the back of Richelle’s head with the pommel of her katana. ”Otherwise? Let’s just say that, should we get help from you, that I’ll be watching from behind you, waiting for a chance at revenge!”

Kyomi then walks away, to go lie down, a headache from the blood loss kicking in, finally.

Alyyra rests a gentle hand on Richelle's face. "Breathe, breathe. Gilda! She's the person we were sent here to investigate! What happened?" Then, to her companions, "Someone please check on Tolwin. Make sure he's okay. And the ... tiefling fellow." This last with a bit of disgust, but she still doesn't want him to die. Back to Richelle, "What did the letter say? Why did Gilda make you burn it? We want to help but, well, we weren't given a lot of information. Just 'go here and investigate' and 'there's a cult moving against Aurelliax' and 'it's ridiculously, criminally cold'." She hopes showing concern for her companion and the joke about the weather helps Richelle relax.

Richelle looks at the unconscious Tolwin and she clearly is uncertain how to take these comments and questions.

"Look, I can’t share everything but I... I want us build our own path, ok! But ... but where should we go? We have nothing except of this here and now ... now we can never go back to Highdelve." she says and it is obvious that he seeks a solution quite desperately.

"We ... only know that the tiefling and his mother wanted to conduct a ritual and unleash something on the jubilee to distract the townsfolk so that he could do something ... we do not know what. And we also do not know where his mother is ... she has been in the cave for ages now with this amulet we stole. Please ... we just stay here and wait for you, ok?" she pleads.

"You have to get the monster. They said it is getting stronger every minute. Just be careful ... in the cave - it's a giant! For sure! I've only read about them before. Feran and his mother said they are preparing it in that cave. It looks weird, though. Two heads, and these mangled limbs. It smells horrible. But the cave was so dark, we couldn't really see it well. I was the one who got up close to it. Be careful!" she says.

Dwarves know that he is talking about an Ettin. If any of you want to roll knowledge(local) please do so.

Richelle then moves to the hut with you.

She examines the wall.

“He hid something here!! I saw it!!“

You find a small bundle containing a journal, a scroll, and four potions.

What are those potions? DC 16 Perception or detect magic and DC 16 Spellcraft?

What is that scroll? DC 22 Spellcraft to decipher?

What does the journal say??

[/spoiler]

You forgot the DC to decipher the journal; is it in common?

Curious, Kyomi tries to make out what the potions are….

Perception DC16: 1d20 ⇒ 14

She knows she’s seen these potions before, but doesn’t risk harming herself again, and decides not to fight for memory of them.

I've got Detect Magic. I also have Read Magic, so that tells me what the scroll is automatically without a roll.

Potions spellcraft: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13
Potion Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

"It's okay, it's okay. Breathe, Richelle. We can clear your names in Highdelve. It's obvious to anyone who knows the full story that you were tricked and coerced with threats of and actual violence. They're good people, you know that better than we do. We tell them the whole story and they'll take you back in. But even if they don't, you can come back with us, okay? We'll take the potions and the scroll and we can do this. We'll take care of the monster and then everything will be fine."

As he gums the pristine cigar, he listens to the names being given.
Yeah, this Gilda is a part of some cult to Kostcytckie. Her son is obviously also a worshiper.
So, they have made a totem to hurt the dragon. We've got to stop that. It also sounds like we've got to stop it now.

He thinks things over.
If Alyyra and the others are comfortable with letting the thugs take the tiefling to town with the journal, I'm good with us going into the cave and taking on the Ettin. Oh yeah, the thing in there is almost certainly an Ettin. It might also not be alive. Sounds almost undead.

knowledge local: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

No DC. It’s written in common.

You all suddenly hear a roar from the cave.

Richelle nods.

“Yes, yes. I’ll come with you. But also Tolwin has to agree!! I … I will wait for you!!“

Without knowing whether the potions are good or bad, Torgen picks one up. He smells it to make certain it's not alchemists fire or acid, and then takes a large gulp.

Nothing like experimenting before heading into a cave with an Ettin!
This is livin'!

@gm- please advise the effects for good or bad.

Assuming Torgen survives whatever he ingested, he pulls out the cigar from his mouth, places it in a water tight sack, and carefully wraps the bag up and stows his prized possession. He then pulls out and grips both weapons in his hands.

Ready. I'll take the lead.
He moves towards the cave.

Alyyra starts as she hears the roar from the cave. "So you're staying here, Richelle? Probably for the best. We've got to take care of the ettin in the cave first. You make sure the tiefling survives, yeah? That way he can give a confession."

Seeing Torgen drink an unidentified potion (unwise on the best of days), she reaches a hand out to stop him. "But we don't--!" And she sighs, shakes her head, rests her palm on her lap.

You are totally going in my backpack if you drank a potion of reduce humanoid. Or polymorph. Just so you won't cause any more trouble.

cure light wounds. :-)

Richelle nods. “Yes. I’ll cover everything here!!“

Are you going into the cave?

Seeing Torgen not explode or transform into a puppy or disappear, Alyyra eagerly follows into the cave. "You were lucky this time, but don't ever do that again! You had no idea what it was and it could've killed you! I am not going to have someone die on my first mission!" There's clearly agitation and frustration in her voice, but what Torgen doesn't see as he rushes off ahead is the smile on her face, the relief, both because he's okay and because he actually needed the healing. She follows behind, despite being able to outpace him. "We've got a scorching ray scroll. Is anyone able to use it? I can try, but I'm not the best with magic like this. I'd rather someone have it who's competent with it. Kyomi, Tuke?"

”Don’t look at me! I can’t read magic! I spent the first 16 years of my life as a slave; only reason I even KNOW how to read is because my family stole blank journals and taught my siblings & me, at night, while the slavers were asleep.”

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6
@ Gm, is Tolwin awake? If so, Torgen does the following. If not, ignore the below. also, new HP's: 13/13.
********
Well Tolwin, if you are going to stand watch outside the cave, I guess I need to return some of your gear to you. Here is a tanglefoot bag, a thunder stone, your long bow, and your leather armor. Oh, here's an arrow you carelessly discarded.

With that, he takes one of the masterwork arrows and gripping it with his hand - drives the arrowhead into Tolwin's leg at around the same spot Tolwin got him.
THAT is a life lesson. Don't shoot arrows or wield long swords unless you are fully prepared for the ramifications! Now, if we leave the cave alive and with an extra potion that fixes wounds, I'll give it to you later. If we don't make it out of the cave- you've got bigger problems than gouging out an arrowhead from your thigh!

He turns to Alyrra and apologizes for being stupid.
Sorry Ms. Ravenheart. You got the right brains for this outfit. I shouldn't have done something so reckless. I'z just been chastizin' Tolwin for stupid crap. You are right to be agitated with me for equally stupid. Stupid is as stupid does. And drinking strange potions is in line for a quick death or transportin' in a woman's purse. I won't be doing either, because I won't be drinking the jungle juice again.

Torgen again moves into the caves. Taking the lead. Anticipating Kyomi second, the gunslinger third and Alyrra last.

Oops! Forgot a Healing check, for the Potion of Cure Light Wounds!

Potion of Cure Light Wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Kyomi should still be at -6 HP.

”I’m still in no condition to fight. Here’s hoping it isn’t anything too serious, in there.”, states Kyomi.

Kyomi decides not to leave things to chance. Without asking, she downs 2 of the remaining potions, to see how well she can recover.

CLW 1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

CLW 2: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Kyomi worries that her team will get mad at her, for not asking for permission, but hopes having another able-bodied teammate will help.

Kyomi’s HP is now 05/10

Tolwin wakes up and after a while of discussion with Richelle and the speech from Torgen, he nods. [b]"Yes, of course. I ... I am sorry!" he says.

~

You all move to the cave entrance.

This rock face towers nearly 30 feet and is punctuated in the middle with the dark opening of a cave mouth.

As you enter, the dank scent of moss hangs heavy in the air as the gloom in the cave thickens. Some daylight filters in to the mouth of the cave (the entryway is in low-light), but the caverns receding deeper in on either side are completely dark.

How do you want to deal with light, and what is your marching order/algorithm as you proceed into this cave?

---

These cramped corridors smell like fungus and rot.

Ridges on the map represent sloping passages downward. Squares that are sloped are difficult terrain. Are you taking your time and exploring the area, or moving quickly to find the creature?

I'd like to use the A* algorithm for locating the ettin and Gilda; it seems to be optimized for these conditions (hopefully the cave isn't so large that we'll be memory-constrained!). More seriously, I'm going to be toward the back, as I'm entirely mostly useless in melee.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10 boo! Oh well, I'll at least be moderately wealthy if we survive.

Alyyra sees how dark it is in the cave, and picks up the smallest loose stone she can find. She casts light on the stone and follows her companions into the cave. "I'm afraid I don't have the ability to see without light. But if we need to be sneaky, I can hide this stone easily enough. We have no idea where we're going or what's in here; I suggest taking a more careful approach." Even through her hushed tones, her voice wavers. She draws her bow and holds the stone in her other hand.