PF2E Stolen Fate

Game Master andreww

As the group chat with the creatures the cold continues to seep into your bones.

Everyone takes 6d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 3, 6, 6) = 21 cold damage. This takes about a minute to affect you but given Billy's diplomatic efforts it has been at least that long.

The massive spiders eagerly hang on to Billy's every word. Why Billy...you break...our hearts. We are...enchanted...with your...performance. We want...you to...stay with...us...and enjoy...such pain...and...pleasure, the likes...of...which...mortals...cannot begin...to...comprehend. In fact...we...must...INSIST!

At which point they attack!

Initiative
Slick : 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32
Slick Battle Cry: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (6) + 24 = 30 fail
Billy : 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (9) + 23 = 32, +2 item visual, +2 circ scout
Pinebrush: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (8) + 26 = 34, stealth, Perception +22, +1 circ if visual, +2 circ scout
Sigourney: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (12) + 20 = 32, +2 circ scout

Red Spider: 1d20 ⇒ 3
Blue Spider: 1d20 ⇒ 15

Blue initiates hostilities. Your friends will not be allowed to interfere with our love for you Billy. We will keep you...forever!

It launches a magical assault on Slicks mind!

Slick fails the save, I am going to pause here to see if he wants to use a reroll. It is a spell with the Emotion and Mental traits in case that matters.

While Billy tries to befriend the evil spiders from the nightmarish realm of Leng, Slick shivers once more as he feels the warmth of his body slowly ebbing away. He expected that the spiders would soon run out of patience, so when they eventually resort to violence to achieve their ends, Slick is not surprised. "Doesn't look like they want t-t-to be frrriends, Billy. I guess it's t-t-time for a more physical forrrrm of diplomacy." His breath condenses and freezes as soon as it leaves his body and he decides not to waste any more of it with talk.

Suddenly he feels like his mind is being put through a blender. "Arghh!" He squeezes his eyes shut and tries to fight against the effects of whatever evil spell the spiders had cast against him. Feeling his mind slipping away, he redoubles his efforts...

Yes. I will definitely reroll the Will save. Fortunately, Slick has a +4 Will save from Billy's last Harrow reading, so here goes.

Will Save with +4 Harrow Reroll vs DC ??: 1d20 + 22 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 22 + 4 = 35

Slick just manages to hold himself together in the face of the psychic assault.

The massive spider sends a mass of webbing straight at Billy. It wraps around his knees and sends him tumbling to the ground.

Billy is quite used to being loved. But maybe not quite so fiercely. "Tis a shame it's come to th ... oof!" Billy gets taken to the ground from the webs.

Undeterred from his prone position, Billy tries a new spell to quicken his friends in battle. He concentrates to allow the spell to reach farther, and sings:

♫"These spiders who visit from Leng.
I tried to talk nice and use reason.
But they prefer web and their fang.
Let's murder them quick, cuz I'm freezin'!"♫

Cast: Haste heightened to 7th level targeting the good guys.
Pinebrush, Sigourney, Slick, and Billy are hasted for 1 minute.

◆ Reach Spell, ◆◆ Haste

"Yeah, we could all do with a little more warmth. I can help you with that!" says Pine with a smile as he draws his weapon and darts forward. "Not.. not you Billy. This guy."

Since Spicy Toothpick was a brand-new weapon, and he'd never used it against the giants since they were warned in advance to cut them, he's never actually tried it before. He jabs the weapon one way, and it bursts into flame along the blade. So cool! Actually, not cool at all. Which is the point.

For a moment he seems distracted by the flame, and his attack goes quite awry--but it is a ruse, and he turns the weapon over for a more decisive jab in the other direction.

◆ Draw weapon
◆ Stride
◆ Feint Deception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (16) + 23 = 39. Thanks to Scoundrel Racket, it's Off-Guard to Pine's attacks for an entire round on a success, and to everyone's attacks on a critical success. Thanks to Distracting Feint, it also takes a -2 penalty to Reflex and Perception while Off-Guard.
◆ Strike Red Rapier: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (3) + 26 = 29 for piercing damage: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (5, 5, 5) + 3 = 18 and fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5 and Sneak Attack?: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 1) = 6. Add deadly damage: 2d8 ⇒ (7, 8) = 15 on a crit.
Using critical Hammers Harrow re-roll: rapier: 1d20 + 26 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 26 + 4 = 33. (Pfft. At least it got the +4?)
◇ If attack hit Off-Guard target, Debilitating Strike deals 3d6 persistent bleed.
⟳ Sidestep (triggered if an attack roll against Pine fails or critically fails): Reroll the attack against a new target adjacent to Pine and within reach of the attack. Presumably Red, since Blue probably won't be adjacent.

Sigourney shivers even more profusely as she feels the cold bite into her further. She shouts in alarm as she sees the Leng Spiders cast a spell that she recognises.

"S-s-slick, they're c-c-confusing your mind! S-s-snap out of it!" She manages to say in the nick of time.

Knowing that Slick could be still be a little confused and not wanting to be in the frontlines, she ◆ Strides away from Slick and the Spiders such that the Spiders are 25-30 feet away from her.

She assesses the situation and realises that not only is the party bloodied, but the Spiders have spellcasting abilities that she did not know about. Trying to turn things around, she ◆◆ Casts 6th rank Slow in order to debilitate both Spiders in one move.

"S-s-stop casting. Now!" She says in a stern teacher's voice.

With little time left to act, she Casts ◆ 7th rank Life Boost on Slick so that the scary man with a big sword can soak up more hits.
Fast healing 14 to Slick at the start of his turn for 4 turns.

"C-c-come on, Silence in Snow, G-g-give us some help!" She says through clattering teeth.

Billy speeds up the group while sprawled on the freezing cold stone floor. Pinebrush ducks into the nearest enemy, distratcing it and stabbing it in one of its massive legs. Strange green ichor spouts from the wound.

That's a successful feint and a hit with the reroll for 29 damage and 3d6 bleed.

Sigourney grants some healing to Slick and then backs off, weaving magic around the spiders. Red pauses for a moment but Blue seems unaffected.

Please remember to include your spell DC. Red saves and is slowed 1 for a round, Blue critically passes and is unaffected. You had to life boost first or Slick would have become out of range.

Slick, confused, becomes hyper focused on the little Sprite and rushes over to put an end to what is clearly the gravest threat in the room! He also heals a little from the life boost.

Still confused from the spider's spell, Slick spots what he believes to be his nemesis and rushes over with sword held high. He's about to bring his weapon down on the creature when his mind clears and he sees that it is in fact Pinebrush he's about to decapitate. He pauses a moment to clear his vision before noticing the far graver threat to his immediate right.

Too bad the first Stride is a separate action or I could have used Scout's Charge to pick up an extra action.

Suddenly feeling a little better from the cold, he feints left then lashes out twice at the evil creature next to him before slamming it against the wall with his shoulder.

Action 2 (◆): Feint with Ventriloquist's Ring (Greater) vs Red Spider

Deception (Feint): 1d20 + 19 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 19 + 2 = 26 vs Spider Perception DC

Action 3 (◆): Strike (+2 Greater Striking Grievous Greatsword) vs Red Spider.

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 23 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 23 + 2 = 43
Greatsword Damage: 3d12 + 8 ⇒ (5, 10, 6) + 8 = 29 slashing damage

Action 4 (◆): Brutish Shove with Powerful Shove
- Action: Strike (+2 Greater Striking Grievous Greatsword) with MAP1 vs Red Spider.
- Action: Shove with Powerful Shove vs Red Spider

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 23 + 2 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 23 + 2 - 5 = 39
Greatsword Damage: 3d12 + 8 ⇒ (8, 4, 3) + 8 = 23 slashing damage

The Shove uses the same success criteria as the Strike

The spider is up against the wall, so I assume that it will take the Shove damage and won't move. If it does get Shoved somewhere, Slick will follow it.

Slick crashes into the spider, delivering two swift and devastating blows.

With the new attack modifier and being flat footed by Gang Up both of those attacks critically hit. The spider takes 111 damage and is flat footed until the end of Slicks next turn but Gang Up probably makes that irrelevant

The spider unleashes a hideous shriek of pain and rage. It lunges at Slick as you see its wounds begin to heal. Sinking its fangs into Slicks shoulder he feels venom begin to pump into his bloodstream but is able to shrug it off.

Slick takes 32 damage

Blue, enraged, takes aim at Slick given the horrendous amount of damage he dealt to his ally. It finds some chinks in his armour and now even more venom is coursing through Slicks veins but he is holding himself together, for now.

That's another 59 damage to Slick I have applied his round 2 fast healing.

Billy is very relieved that the spiders decided to focus their attention on Slick. He muses aloud, "No doubt they want to keep me alive to perform for them back home. Fame -- it's a blessing. And a cur... actually, it's mostly a blessing!" Realizing it's time to inspire the troops, he stands up and sings,

♫"Spiders! They're trying to kill us.
And poison, and bite us, and chill us.
.....Our speed is more rapid.
.....To fight each arachnid.
To finish them off, it would thrill us!"♫

Lingering Performance +VirtPerf +Mask +Music, DC 31: 1d20 + 24 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 24 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 47
Crit Success: Courageous Anthem duration 4 rounds. Cost: 1 focus point.

He then turns to provide some healing for Slick, castiing unusually quickly.
♫"The spiders are far from appealing.
And Slick is in need of some healing."♫

Soothe (4th rank): 4d10 + 16 ⇒ (8, 7, 3, 1) + 16 = 35
Quickened Casting: 1/day. If your next action is to cast a cantrip or a spell that is at least 2 levels lower than the highest level spell slot you have, reduce the number of actions to cast it by 1.
Slick regains 35 hp.

◆ Stand, ◆ Courageous Anthem, ◇ Lingering Composition, ◇ Quickened Casting, ◆ Soothe (via Quickened Casting)

Slick shrugs off the spiders' poison like it's nothing, but the puncture wounds are another matter. He's not sure exactly how he got sandwiched between his arachnid adversaries (his memory of the move being somewhat vague), but he decides that perhaps it isn't such a great place to remain. As he sends a quick prayer to Gorum for some healing, he hears Billy's sweet music boosting his courage to ever greater heights and feels his wounds beginning to close. Slick then slides to one side and keeps whacking away at the already bloodied spider.

Action (◇): Delay: Until the end of Billy and Sigourney's turns.

Action 1 (◆): Stride with Haste (45 feet)

Action 2 (◆): Cast a Spell: Lay on Hands [L7] on Slick

Slick recovers 42 hit points.

Action 3 (◆): Strike (+2 Greater Striking Grievous Greatsword) with Inspire Courage vs Flat-Footed Red Spider.

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 26 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 26 + 2 + 1 = 49 vs Flat-Footed
Greatsword Damage: 3d12 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (11, 4, 4) + 9 + 1 = 29 slashing damage

Action 4 (◆): Brutish Shove with Powerful Shove
- Action: Strike (+2 Greater Striking Grievous Greatsword) with Inspire Courage and MAP1 vs Flat-Footed Red Spider.
- Action: Shove with Powerful Shove vs Red Spider.

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 26 + 2 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 26 + 2 + 1 - 5 = 28 vs Flat-Footed
Greatsword Damage: 3d12 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (1, 7, 11) + 9 + 1 = 29 slashing damage

The Shove uses the same success criteria as the Strike

Assuming Red is still up...

"Hey!" shouts Pine as he sees Billy get hit repeatedly, "Pay attention to me!" He didn't want to get bitten by a giant spider, but it was a little insulting they weren't even bothering to try!

He'd hoped their apparent preference for cold climates would come with a hatred for fire. Clearly not, but he plucks a red bead from his necklace all the same and hurls it towards the second spider.

Easily avoiding the blast himself, he takes flight just enough to circle the spider's head and stab at its neck from an unexpected angle.
Unable to maintain his magical wings, he alights against without really traveling anywhere.

◆ Activate necklace of fireballs to pluck 10d6 bead. (Better do this first in case it goes bad.)
◆ Hurl bead. Hits both spiders and Pinebrush. DC 30 basic Reflex against fire damage: 10d6 ⇒ (6, 2, 4, 3, 2, 5, 4, 1, 5, 5) = 37. Red takes a -2 circumstance penalty from my Distracting Feint last round.
Pine Reflex: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (11) + 27 = 38 Greater Rogue Reflexes makes that a critical success
◆ Feint Deception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (13) + 23 = 36. It's already Off-Guard, so use Overextending Feint to change the benefit on success to a circumstance penalty to attack Pine.
◆ Strike Rapier: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (13) + 26 = 39 for piercing damage: 3d6 + 3 ⇒ (2, 5, 4) + 3 = 14, fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4, and Sneak Attack: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 1) = 9. If crit, add deadly: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7 after doubling.
◇ If attack hit Off-Guard target, Debilitating Strike adds Enfeebled 1.
⟳ Sidestep (triggered if an attack roll against Pine fails or critically fails): Reroll the attack against a new target adjacent to Pine and within reach of the attack. Preferably Red, if both are possible.

If Slick finished Red, I'll take an entirely different turn:

◆ Draw Staff of Healing (Major) in right hand.
◆◆ Cast Curse of Death (DC 32, heightened 7th rank) on Red Spider.

If Success/Failure, Stage 1 damage (Void): 6d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 6, 1, 4) = 21 and fatigued for 1 round.

If Critical Failure, Stage 2 damage (Void): 10d6 ⇒ (3, 5, 1, 3, 6, 2, 6, 4, 3, 6) = 39 and fatigued for 1 round.

Safely outside the freezing room, Sigourney readies an emergency healing tool in her hand. She then implores an unknown force to curse the weakened Red Spider, and it starts to feel a cold hand wrap around whatever passes for a heart in its eldritch form.

"Life and death are within my grasp. Suffer and die." She exclaims in a frosty voice.

Billy jumps to his feet and inspires the group while also bringing some relief to Slick.

Billy, you have a haste action to stride or strike left if you want to take it.

In general I resolve actions in post order unless people specify otherwise.

Pinebrush detonates a fireball point blank on himself and both spiders. Red flattens itself to the floor, avoiding the blast entirely while it rolls over the toughened hide of Blue who chitters in annoyance. He then stabs Red in one of its knees?

Crit pass and a pass against the fireball, Blue takes 18 fire. The strike hits red for 27 and enfeebled 1. The feint succeeds.

Sigourney curses Red who shudders in pain but avoids the worst of it.

Pass, 21 damage and fatigued. Sigourney also has a haste action left if she wants to use one.

Slick repositions himself and recovers a little before delivering a single, powerful blue against Red. It shudders and crashes to the ground!

Critical hit for 58 damage kills it. Slick has an action remaining.
I dont know if you have a way of attacking blue from range but it will miss.

Previously on the last turn...

Sigourney spends her hasted action (◆) to Stride into a corner of the previous room where she has cover to the Spider, otherwise to where line of sight is broken.

Realizing he has a little extra time on his hands, Billy boldly moves too the north, placing Slick between himself and harm's way. "You're doing great, Slick." He helpfully offers some battlefield strategy -- not his strong suit. "Just don't move too much from your current position."

Billy is still within 60' of Sigourney. BTW, I believe the +1 from Courageous Aura should have been added to the Curse of Death damage, yes?

◆ Stride (using extra Haste action)

Billy is still within 60' of Sigourney. BTW, I believe the +1 from Courageous Aura should have been added to the Curse of Death damage, yes?

Yes, Red is now slightly more dead.

Feeling itself pressed in on by the group the spider skitters upwards, out of reach. Slick slashes a bright cut across its abdomen for its trouble.

Lashing out with a flail wrapped in webbing it smacks Slick across the side of his head.

Slicks takes 23 damage, I have applied his fast healing.

After having finished off the first spider with a mighty blow, Slick then closed with the remaining spider...

Action 4 - Previous Turn (◆): Stride (45 feet)

...which proceeds to try and escape into the ceiling, but not too fast for Slick to nick it on the way up. For his troubles, Slick gets smacked upside the head as it passes, but it's nothing serious. "Oh ho! You think you can escape me that easily Mr Spider? I don't think so."

Action (◇): Delay: Until the end of Pinebrush, Billy and Sigourney's turns.

The following cast of Enlarge depends on whether the spider is still 15' up in the air and out of Slick's normal reach at the start of his turn. If someone else manages to put the spider within reach of Slick by the start of his turn, then I will do something other than cast Enlarge (probably cast Shield and Lay on Hands on himself).

Slick stomps his foot and says, "Time to put on my big boy pants." Suddenly, he grows to twice his size, with a reach to match.

Action 1 & 2 (◆◆): Cast a Spell: Enlarge on Slick

Slick is now 10x10x10ft with a 10ft reach. He can now reach creatures within 4 squares of the ground, which it appears, includes the spider.

Now close enough to reach the spider's nice soft underbelly, Slick cuts twice with his sword and, if circumstances allow, proceeds to headbutt it against the ceiling for good measure.

I'm assuming here that Pinebrush can get within Melee reach of the spider, presumably by flying there, and that this makes the spider flat-footed to Slick. If not, then ignore the flat-footed comments.

Action 3 (◆): Strike (+2 Greater Striking Grievous Greatsword) with Enlarge, Inspire Courage and Haste vs Flat-Footed? Blue Spider.

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 26 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 26 + 2 + 1 = 43 vs Flat-Footed?
Greatsword Damage: 3d12 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6, 4, 11) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 33 slashing damage

Slick will only try the Brutish Shove if the spider is bumping up against the ceiling and will suffer damage (as well as not be pushed back). If not, or he cannot tell where the ceiling is, then he'll just do a regular Strike and skip the Shove.

Action 4 (◆): Brutish Shove with Powerful Shove
- Action: Strike (+2 Greater Striking Grievous Greatsword) with Enlarge, Inspire Courage and MAP1 vs Flat-Footed? Blue Spider.
- Action: Shove with Powerful Shove vs Blue Spider.

Greatsword Attack: 1d20 + 26 + 2 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (11) + 26 + 2 + 1 - 5 = 35 vs Flat-Footed?
Greatsword Damage: 3d12 + 9 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4, 5, 9) + 9 + 2 + 1 = 30 slashing damage

Ignore the following unless the spider was shoved against the ceiling (see above).

Sigourney Strides (◆) or (◆◆) depending on how far she has to move until she can see the spider and casts (◆◆) Curse of Death (DC 32, heightened 7th rank) on Blue Spider.

"We are not the easy prey you thought we were. Die!"

Success/Failure: 6d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 2, 1, 4, 4) = 23 Void and Fatigued for 1 round
Critical Failure: 10d6 ⇒ (5, 4, 2, 6, 3, 2, 3, 2, 4, 1) = 32 Void and Fatigued for 1 round

Billy looks up and sees the remaining spider hanging directly above him -- like a nightmarish 8-armed chandelier. He cringes and mutters, "Umm, no thank you." He moves to a saf... strategic position, and sings,

♫"The spider spun some webbing.
From Leng. It's not abyssal.
But I'm attention-getting.
Eat this! A magic missile."♫

Magic Missile (3-action, 5th rank) + Dangerous Sorcery: 9d4 + 9 + 5 ⇒ (3, 3, 3, 1, 1, 1, 4, 3, 2) + 9 + 5 = 35

◆ Stride (via Haste), ◆◆◆ Magic Missile

It's way too high up!
Pine could energize his--no, he did that too recently and his wings haven't recharged.
Oh! He could--no, he's used his climbing magic already too.

Well. As a person who mostly lives in a world made for creatures much larger than himself, but Pine knows there are advantages to being small. Nobody expects it. It's so easy to hide! And cakes are more appropriately-sized.
But he's also clearly seen that there are advantages to being larger, and that's why his clothing is enchanted to serve that need when it's required.

"You little BUG!" he shouts, and it's clear he's exaggerating. The spider is obviously much larger than he is, but not as much as it was a moment ago.

He thrusts his sword in several directions. Who can keep up? Not the spider, hopefully.

◆ Activate size-changing rune to cast enlarge on self. Large size, +10-foot reach, Clumsy 1, +2 status to melee damage.
◆ Feint Deception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (19) + 23 = 42. Oh! If that's a crit, it's Off-Guard to all melee attacks before the end of my next turn. Plus -2 to Reflex and Perception.
◆ Strike Rapier (ca, clumsy): 1d20 + 26 + 1 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 26 + 1 - 1 = 42 for piercing damage: 3d6 + 5 ⇒ (1, 2, 6) + 5 = 14, fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 6, and Sneak Attack: 3d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 3) = 12. On crit add deadly: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 8) = 13 and 1d10 persistent fire. Total of 32, or 77 on crit.
◇ If attack hit Off-Guard target, Debilitating Strike adds persistent bleed 3d6.
◆ Strike Rapier (ca, clumsy, MAP): 1d20 + 26 + 1 - 1 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 26 + 1 - 1 - 5 = 30 for piercing damage: 3d6 + 5 ⇒ (2, 5, 3) + 5 = 15, fire damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4, and Sneak Attack: 3d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 6) = 14. On crit add deadly: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 6) = 7 and 1d10 persistent fire. Total of 33, or 73 on crit (it's not a crit).
◇ If attack hit Off-Guard target, Debilitating Strike adds persistent bleed 3d6, or Enfeebled 1 if already bleeding from first attack.
⟳ Sidestep (triggered if an attack roll against Pine fails or critically fails): Reroll the attack against an enemy adjacent to Pine and within reach of the attack. (likely won't work, since I think it's too high to be considered adjacent)

Sigourney rushes up to the entrance of the room and curses our poor spider. It shudders under the magical assault!

Thats a fail for 23 damage and fatigued for 1 round. You have an action left so I have just moved you back out of the room, away from danger.

Billy's magic missiles then slam into its massive body and it groans. Pinebrush grows to a prodigious stature and feints out the monster. He stabs it in a particularly sensitive area but his second blows deflects off its carapace.

Thats a success on the feint, a crit and a miss. It deals 73 damage, 1d10 persistent fire and 6d6 persistent bleed as well as flat footing it but that doesnt much matter given Gang Up

Slick also grows in size and delivers a massive slash across its abdomen, spraying himself and Pinebrush with disgusting green ichor and entrails. Somehow its still moving but a second blow into the massive hole in the thing finishes it off. It slumps down, hanging grotesquely in the air above you like some demented pinata.

COMBAT OVER

As the battle subsides the temperature in the room returns to normal. The stench of spider ichor and entrails is, however, rather overpowering.

Combat status

Slick 181/203, fast healing 14 (4/4)
Billy 108/149
Pinebrush 121/162
Sigourney 97/138

Billy double-checks that he's not standing directly beneath the horrid creature ... just in case Slick's sword happens to cut down the web that's keeping it aloft. The bard then retrieves a small mirror to ensure he still looks his best. If anyone notices, he explains simply, "You never know when you'll meet someone new. First impressions and all that!"

When the room starts warming up, Billy calls out, "Over here, everyone. Pine and Sigourney, our new friends first." He unpacks his healer's tools and sets to work, humming a soothing tune.
With Continual Recovery (every 10 mins) and Ward Medic (heal 2 at a time)

[First 10 minutes: Pinebrush and Sigourney]
Treat Wounds (expert) DC 20: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (11) + 22 = 33
Damage Healed +Medic: 2d8 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (5, 4) + 10 + 5 = 24
Crit Damage Healed: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 3) = 11
Pinebrush and Sigourney regain 35 hp

[Second 10 minutes: Slick and Billy]
Treat Wounds (expert) DC 20: 1d20 + 22 ⇒ (11) + 22 = 33
Damage Healed +Medic: 2d8 + 10 + 5 ⇒ (6, 3) + 10 + 5 = 24
Crit Damage Healed: 2d8 ⇒ (5, 5) = 10
Billy and Slick regain 34 hp

After 20 minutes of healing, Billy still notices a few scratches on everyone and turns to Sigourney, "Maybe a group heal to finish us off?" He quickly adds, "Oh, I can use the Staff of Final Rest if you wish to save your spells."

Billy is happy to let Sigourney help with the healing, but otherwise, he'll use the Staff.
Staff of Final Rest (Heal, 1st level, 3 actions): 1d8 ⇒ 6

Finally, while the group starts to search the area, Billy spends 10 min quietly playing his lute to refocus.
Billy regains 1 focus point.

"I can do it!" says Pinebrush. He cleans and sheaths his rapier before getting some salves and needles from his medical bag. He.. makes sure not to sit under the levitating spider.

Returning to normal size before he really gets started, he flits between Billy and Slick to apply a warming salve even as Billy is treating him. "Some of that frostbitten skin might need a little, um, might sting!"

Also Continual Recovery and Ward Medic (and Risky Surgery!)
First 10 minutes: Billy and Slick
Slashing damage: 1d8 ⇒ 6 Medicine (Master Risky Surgery, DC 30): 1d20 + 22 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 22 + 2 = 41 Critical success for Healing: 4d8 + 30 ⇒ (7, 4, 2, 6) + 30 = 49
Total 43 healed.

Second 10 minutes: Sigourney and Pine
Slashing damage: 1d8 ⇒ 7 Medicine (Master Risky Surgery, DC 30): 1d20 + 22 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 22 + 2 = 33 Success, Risky Surgery bumps to critical success for Healing: 4d8 + 30 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 6) + 30 = 43
Total 36 healed.

(I did the math. Pine's odds of success are high enough for the Trained and Expert DCs that Risky Surgery brings his average healing down--he's too good at it, so the damage is a bigger factor than the slightly improved odds. But Risky Surgery + Master is the best.)

Slick lowers his weapon as he shrinks back to his normal size. Sickly smelling viscous spider ichor coats his greatsword and armor. His exposed head was not spared, and the vile liquid drips off his hair and into his armor. He glances down at the mess. "Looks like Baines has his work cut out for him and we've only barely gotten started. I don't suppose any of you have a spell handy that could clean all this up?" He turns to Billy. "Can't that fancy hat of yours clean things up a little? I'd hate for this truly atrocious smell to prematurely reveal our presence to the next batch of bad guys."

Once everyone is healed and cleaned up, Slick does a cursory search of the spider bodies to confirm that they didn't bring anything of value with them from Leng. He then looks at this companions and says, "Shall we carry on?"

Assuming there's no reason to linger, Slick marches over to the eastern door and without further ado, slams his shoulder against it.

Action: Force Open with Lifting Belt and Crowbar - Master in Athletics

Athletics (Force Open) vs DC ??: 1d20 + 24 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 24 + 1 = 45

With Pinebrush so proficient in healing, Billy saves the charge on the Staff.

Billy, who has remained relatively ichor-free this fight, rolls his eyes at Slick. "A permanent gust of wind might be more effective, but let's give it a try." The bard chants,

♫"Baines will be doing some yelling.
If Slick returns home and he's smelling."♫

Standing the maximum 10' away to avoid the stench, Billy adjusts his cyan fedora and casts Prestidigitation to tidy Slick's armor.
Billy sustains the spell for at least 4 minutes (1 min/bulk, full-plate is 4 bulk)

He then looks around, specifically at the doors in the murals through which the spiders entered.
Perception: 1d20 + 25 ⇒ (10) + 25 = 35

20-30 min to heal, refocus, 5-10 to clean off, and another 10-20 to search the room? Okay if we call it 1 hour? If not, no worries. But if so, with Incredible Luck, Billy's Halfling Luck resets.

I'm ok with taking 1 hour to do stuff in the rooms. This way, the fly cooldown for Pine and your luck cooldown can complete. If we do take 1 hour, Sigourney will take time to identify magic in the room, specifically any magical items or images like the ones in the last two rooms.

Sigourney Prestidigitations herself off. She is very thankful she didn't have to get her hands dirty with spider guts and viscera.

"Well, good job everyone! That was quick and efficient, but I do have some ideas for optimisation..."

Sigourney starts writing in her notebook the events of the past few hours. Reginald immediately comes out of her sleeve, dividing her attention between writing in the book and explaining to Reginald what exactly happened to the party. She gets so focused that she tunes out everything that happened to her in the next 30 minutes, including healing and dialogue.

Sigourney spends 30 minutes refocusing by communing with her patron through Reginald.

When the party is ready, Sigourney moves to behind Slick as he breaks down the door.

I assume you take the hour to let various abilities recharge. You are not currently under any time pressure that you are aware of.

The groups sits down to start sorting out healing and latching themselves up. Several minutes later, with a groan and a crash, the body of the spider hanging in the air crashes down to the floor. It was clearly not held up by webbing, instead its continual air walk spell just expired...

Fortunately no-one is harmed in the crash. Checking the room there is nothing really here. In particular, there are no trapdoors in the walls, despite what you saw.

Some exploration and magic detection instead reveals that the chamber is magically close to the nightmare dimension of Leng. It seems the planar boundary between Golarion and Leng is particularly thin. It seems likely that this was intentional, several of you recall that Runelord Karzoug entered into various different alliances with different entities from Leng.

Sadly, the Spiders had no treasure of any kind.

The stone door in the room is the same as the one into here and is similarly protected by an ancient Lock spell. However, it cannot stand up to the force of Slicks shoulder barge and it crashes open! The chamber beyond is fantastical

The room is huge, circular and with a domed ceiling that rises easily 50' in the air. The dimensions are difficult to determine as the walls and ceiling are covered in arm length crystalline growths which flicker with a pale white light. In the centre of the room a cluster of taller crystals sprout from the floor, arching outward like tusks or ribs and each tipped with a glowing crystal. In the middle of the mass sits a perfect globe of crystal.

This, however, is not the strangest sight. As you open the door bright yellow light spills out all around you. It takes a moment to realise that this light radiates from three glowing figures who lounge amongst the crystalline growths twenty feet up on the walls. To Sigourney's enhanced vision they blaze with near blinding radiance. As the door crashes open each smoothly rises to their feet amongst the crystals and cries out in unison...

They then move to attack!

Initiative
Slick : 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (14) + 23 = 37
Slick Battle Cry: 1d20 + 24 ⇒ (17) + 24 = 41 - none in range
Billy : 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (3) + 23 = 26, +2 item visual, +2 circ scout
Pinebrush: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (5) + 26 = 31, stealth, Perception +22, +1 circ if visual, +2 circ scout
Sigourney: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (3) + 20 = 23, +2 circ scout

Blue: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Red: 1d20 ⇒ 20
Green: 1d20 ⇒ 10

One of the entities floats forwards and gestures. A fraction of a section later you are all engulfed in burning, searing flames and intensely bright light.

Sigourney and Slick pass, Pinebrush and Billy fail. I am going to pause and see if anyone wants to reroll. Sigourney recongises the spell as Sunburst and can warn people before they decide on rerolls.

One of the crystals is just in the way. Easy to do. Pinebrush is very small.

I'll use my Crown of Chaos background ability to reroll.
Harrow (Crowns 6): 1d6 ⇒ 2 and Chaotic Destiny: 1d20 + 27 ⇒ (14) + 27 = 41
Critical success with Greater Rogue Reflexes/Improved Evasion?

When the strange creatures call out in Aklo, Billy translates, "They are upset we're not the architect." He calls out in Aklo, "How do you know we are not the architect? Give us a chan..." Alas, the searing flames rudely interrupt his conversation.

Using his recently recharged Halfling Luck...
Reflex: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (16) + 21 = 37

Blinding flames engulf the group. Pinebrush avoids them entirely will some well times twist of fate but the rest of you are burned.

Everyone now saves taking 19 fire damage. Let me know if you have any resist and I will amend

The second creature then also drops from its perch and flies forward, sending out the same blinding flames into all of you.

Again, pausing briefly to see if anyone has any rerolls.

Not rerolling - hit me with the damage. Also, if I get hit by a reflex save again, using my reaction Interposing Earth.

Sigourney shields her eyes from the blinding light - and thus heat - that emanates from the enemies. As she moves to the side to avert her gaze, she barely dodges the first beam of light...which she recognises as sunburst.

"It's Sunburst! Don't get caught in it or you'll be permanently blind!" She yells.

Unfortunately, she gets caught in the second blast and burns!

"By Nethys' broken halves, stop them from casting spells!" She hisses through pained gasps.

Slick's shoulder slam is so effective that he almost falls through the door as it gives way. "Such shabby construction. They don't build these doors like they used to." A glance into the room makes it obvious that there are new enemies to deal with. He nods in approval. "At least we're not going to be dealing with a lot of stinky blood and guts this time."

He then gets blasted with bright burning flames as the creatures move in and attack. Slick's armor protects him from most of the blast damage, but his exposed face now looks like he's been looking at the sun a little too long. "Well now, that wasn't very friendly. Someone needs to be taught some manners." But no sooner do the words leave his mouth that he is once again blasted with flames. "Oh, come on now. This is getting old." His eyebrows appear to have vanished in the conflagration.

Slick has resistance 13 to fire damage from his The Brass Dwarf Harrow card, so the 19hp of the initial blast drops to 6hp of damage.

Looks like the DC of the save is in the 30-33 range, which means that Slick would need to roll at least an 11-14 to make the save on a reroll for half damage, while rolling a 1-3 would be a crit fail for double damage and permanent blindness. Given his resistance 13 to fire damage, I'm thinking the difference in expected damage and the risk of blindness isn't worth wasting a precious reroll. I'll take the full damage, once again reduced by the 13 resistance.

Slick and Sigourney burn in the intense flames while Billy's hair gets signed!

55 damage to Sigourney, 42 to Slick, 27 to Billy

Sigourney screams in pain. Her hair is no longer properly Prestidigitated and sticks out in frazzled lumps. She smells of burnt flesh. She yells out to nobody in particular:

"Close the darned door already!"

Wow! Impressive damage roll. two 9s and four 8s out of 8d10 rolls. Let's see if I get as lucky.

Seeing that the creatures are out of melee range, Slick mentally reaches for The Trumpet harrow card and triggers its powers sending a blast of sound through the room before slamming the door closed.

Pretty sure that a 60ft cone from the door will include all three bad guys in the blast.

Action 1 & 2 (◆◆): Activate an Item: The Trumpet - Sonic Blast [L13]; 60ft cone; 16d6 sonic damage; Basic Fortitude Save vs DC 32 or deafened 1 round or 1 minute on crit fail

Sonic Blast Damage: 16d6 ⇒ (4, 1, 3, 5, 1, 4, 2, 5, 3, 5, 4, 1, 3, 2, 5, 2) = 50

5.5 points below average and not a single 6 out of sixteen d6 rolls :(

Action 3 (◆): Interact - Close the door

Not sure what happens now. Do we drop out of encounter mode and start up the whole thing with new initiatives when the door is reopened? I guess we can buff ourselves a little now that we know what's waiting for us. Slick can use his last Fly to reach the bad guys, though I suspect that flying will come in very handy when we run into the harpies.

We absolutely stay in initiative. The enemy certainly will continue to act. Also, I missed that Slick needs a fort save at the start of his turn as these things radiate blinding light. I have rolled it and you pass.

Slick shields his eyes at the blinding light radiating from these creatures. Unleashing the massive blast of sound the creatures seem to be affected only a little. The effect on the mass of crystals in the room is however quite different. Shattered crystals scatter across the room as they explode under the wave of noise.

I am going to treat the whole floor in the room as difficult terrain. Red and Green take 25 damage.

Slick promptly slams the door closed. Inside, Green does...something.

Flustered and in a state of panic, Sigourney spends a heal on herself while also thinking desperately about what monstrosities just came at the party.

"Wha-Bwuh-Aghh...What the heck was that?

◆◆ 4th rank Heal (4th rank, 2 action, Major Staff of Healing): 4d8 + 32 + 3 ⇒ (7, 3, 5, 8) + 32 + 3 = 58
◆ Recall Knowledge on the creepy light things. Question - what's their best known trait?

First, Delay for Sigourney and Pinebrush...
With the door hopefully protecting the group from the fire bursts, Billy waits for Sigourney and Pinebrush to act first. He then sings out some inspiration:

♫"We're facing three beings of light.
Whose fire burns hot and so bright.
.....We bravely retreated.
.....Stay calm! Remain seated!
And wait to kick a$$ in this fight!"♫

Lingering Performance +VirtPerf +Mask +Music, DC 31: 1d20 + 24 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 24 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 46
Crit Success: Courageous Anthem duration 4 rounds
Everyone: +1 attack/damage

Assuming Sigourney succeeds on recall knowledge... (if not, see Spoiler below)
After Sigourney enlightens the group with information about the enemy, Billy sings a healing hymn for himself.

♫"Healing I am needing. I'm tired of this fire.
If we're to be succeeding, It's soothing I require."♫

Soothe (3rd rank): 3d10 + 12 ⇒ (7, 10, 8) + 12 = 37

◇ Delay, ◇ Lingering Comp, ◆ Courageous Anthem, ◆◆ Soothe

"Wait, you got hurt? How? Oh really, the fire... first frostburn and now regular burn. They were pretty immediately hostile..."

Pine unfurls his wings, but he fades from sight completely before they've fully manifested.

"'Kay."

◆ Energize Wings. Fly speed for 1 minute.
◆◆ Cast invisibility at rank 4. Invisible for 1 minute.

Sigourney soothes her wounds. She recognises these things as Shining Children. They are strange creatures from the Astral Plane.

The only trait they have is Astral

Billy inspires his companions and brings some much needed relief to himself as well.

Meanwhile, Pinebrush fades from view.

Inside the room the creatures do...something.

Slick waits until the rest of the group is ready.

Action (◇): Delay: Until end of Green turn.

That should put us all together in the initiative and speed things up from hereon out.

He then opens the door and lets the spellcasters unload into the room before slamming the door closed again.

Action 1 (◆): Interact - Open the door

Action 2 & 3 (◆◆): Ready - Trigger Billy, Pinebrush and Sigourney finish their turns.
- Readied Action (◆): Interact - Close the door.

Slick opens the door and finds that he can no longer see any of the enemies!

Flying and turning invisible? That's cheating! Who does tha--oh. Right.

Pine plucks another bead off of his necklace and hurls it into the room. As it bursts, he touches his wayfinder to activate its shield.

◆ Activate necklace of fireballs
◆ Hurl bead into the center of the room to the right. DC 30 basic Reflex, fire damage: 8d6 ⇒ (5, 5, 4, 5, 5, 2, 6, 4) = 36
◆ Shield

Peeking into the room from his current position, Billy frowns when the creatures have disappeared. He chants another hymn to see the invisible.

♫"It's time again to croon. These monsters disappeared.
I hope I see them soon, before I grow a beard!"♫
Billy casts See Invisibility Duration: 10 mins.

If he sees them...
The halfling quickly points out the creatures. "There they are."

If he doesn't see them...
The halfling sighs, "Even though I can see the invisible, the room is empty." He shrugs and retrieves his Staff of Final Rest.

Finally, he activates The Vision card to recall further information about these creatures of light.
Envision 1/day. Recall Knowledge as Master using the most appropriate Lore possible. Lore (master) +22.
If successful, may I ask the GM to pick something interesting to share with the group?

◆◆ See Invis, ◆ Point Out or Interact (retrieve staff), ◇ Recall Knowledge

I just read the GM's earlier post where he said that the things radiate blinding light. I don't think my summon will pass the fort save, so Im not going to summon a creature. I think I had better just seek and be sure the enemies are there.

Sigourney has no idea where the enemies have gone and decides to make sure for herself that they are still in the room.

"Not only do they fly but they also disappear? This is very annoying."

Stride up to door next to Slick and Billy; Seek for Shining Children in 30 foot cone;

If I see the Shining Children and one is within 30 feet of me:

Sigourney hexes them to feel the bite of cold ice, baiting them to come in.

"We can keep throwing this at you all day." She says to the creatures in Aklo.

Clinging Ice (DC 32 Reflex Save).
Cold Damage: 7d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 2, 3, 2, 4, 2) = 21

If I don't see the Shining Children within the Cone:

Sigourney strains her neck to view the top of the room, hoping that her infrared vision can help her detect them if they are on the ceiling.
Seek for Shining Children in 15 foot burst centered on the middle of the ceiling;

◆ Stride, ◆ Seek, ◆ Clinging Ice or Seek

If I fail/critfail the fort save, I will reroll with a harrow reroll which gives me +4 to the save.

Pinebrush hurls his explosive fireball into the room. There does not appear to be any effect, at least there are no cries of pain.

Billy enhances his senses but it reveals nothing new however his view of the room is fairly limited from where he is.

Your RK is successful, let me know what you want to know. I will resolve Sigourneys turn after Billys RK.

After thinking about the creatures, Billy confirms what Sigourney knows about the Shining Children. He considers what he knows about their magic and shares with the group.

First choice for RK: What kind of magic allows them to disappear/teleport/hide, etc? (basically, any info that might lead to locating them).
If that's too oddly specific, let's go for the generic immunities/resistances.