[PaizoCon 2023] PFS2 4-09: Killer in the Golden Mask (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

shrooms!: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Isaku wants to devise a strategy and shoot the mushroom, but he feels like he is suffocating and does nothing but hold his breath.

Fortitude:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Fortitude, reroll:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

The ranger fires on the red.

Eldritch shot:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (19) + 16 = 35

Damage, gouging claw, gravity weapon:2d6 + 1 + 2 + 4 + 3d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 6) + 1 + 2 + 4 + (1, 6, 2) + 2 = 27

Deadly:1d10 ⇒ 1

Great! it should be down like this

Fort:1d20 + 13 ⇒ (18) + 13 = 31

The goblin tries the same spell again as it seemed to work properly on the fungus.

Gouging claw:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (20) + 15 = 35

Damage:4d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 5, 6, 3) + 4 = 21

Then he steps back.

The world around Marigold becomes a swirl of colors, as everything seems to grow and loom over her. Saplings become trees, birds become rocs, and the mushroom creature before her is now a fungal behemoth.

”Ahhhhhhh!”, she cries out, in a voice that seems much tinier to her. ”Don’t step on me!”

But the fight continues, and though she may be a swirly speck, she is still a fierce speck. She swings at her opponent, hoping to at least distract it.

To the rest of you, this isn’t just a wild trip. Marigold actually shrinks to about 4” tall.

Strike

Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Marigold stabs the seemingly gigantic mushroom to little effect. A pair of gouging claws from Fin-thir and Okh, however, are enough to rip it apart.

With no harm beyond the hallucinations, the Pathfinders can wait for the effects of the spores to wear off and carefully weave through the field of shriekers to reach the cave entrance without setting them off (unless you want to try to disable them?).

>Slide 7<

The rough walls of the cave lead into a much older structure. The ancient walls have no lighting, and their weathered surfaces hold no identifying iconography. Here and there, walls have collapsed and rubble is scattered about. The cool air carries the slight tinge of a metallic smell.

The ranger casts light on his bow and he's waiting for Marigold to move.

The goblin moves forward to look into the passage and the big room with his darkvision.

”Ha! I did it!”, Marigold cries, as the shrooman topples over. Soon afterward, the world returns to its normal size.

Inside the cave, she takes out her bow, and scouts ahead a bit. Low light

Stealth: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (8) + 13 = 21

Isaku lights his Wayfinder. He keeps his pistol out in case more nasties greet them.

The passage to the north eventually opens into a room in the east, and the passage east eventually opens into a room to the north, which may be the same room. Further west, there is a passage that appears to have been worked.

Isaku gets Marigold's attention by tossing a pebble at her. As she turns back, Isaku whispers in her ear.

The goblin moves stealthily through the passage.

Stealth +14

The ranger moves with his bow in his hands.

Everyone did terrible at that, but the NPCs did less terrible.

A voice booms through the caverns from the northeast. “So you actually decided to come, foolish Pathfinders! Confronting the immortal hand of Tar-Baphon himself!” The vampire laughs darkly behind his golden mask. “You really have chosen the most ignoble of deaths. But worry not! Your bodies shall serve my vengeance in unlife just like the rest of your fellows.”

Round 1 - bolded may go

Fin-thir
Okh
Vampire
Isaku
Marigold
Green
Yellow
Blue
Red

The ranger delays after the Vampire.

Feeling his companion's agreement the goblin moves forward to cast a fire spell involving fast all the opponents.

Fireball height +1, Blood magic or Dangerous sorcery: 8d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 1, 1, 1, 5, 6, 1, 6) + 4 = 29

Reflex DC 25

Okh has never met a problem that fire couldn't fix.

Reflex Save, Red: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (18) + 11 = 29
Reflex Save, Yellow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
Reflex Save, Green: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (17) + 13 = 30
Reflex Save, Vampire: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (16) + 16 = 32

Seems like they were expecting that. Still, they burn.

The vampire cackles. "Once you are defeated, I will destroy the Exalted Lodge and danc eon Narsen's grave!" He then moves toward Okh and stares into his eyes. doinate, DC 24

Round 1 - bolded may go

Okh (Will save)
Vampire (-14 HP)
Fin-thir (delay)
Isaku
Marigold
Green (-14 HP)
Yellow (-29 HP)
Blue
Red (-14 HP)

Isaku moves forward, and adds some fiery destruction of his own. He removes a small bead from the necklace around his neck and hurls it into the middle of Yellow, Green and Red. The bead explodes into a massive fireball.

Fireball, DC 21 Reflex: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 1) = 8

◆ Stride
◆ Interact to Activate
◆ Hurl hand grenade at the baddies

The ranger moves and hunt prey the Vampire.

Then he fires on the Vampire. (hunted shot)

+1 striking comp. shortbow:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (8) + 16 = 24

Damage:2d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2) + 1 + 2 = 9

+1 striking comp. shortbow:1d20 + 16 - 3 ⇒ (4) + 16 - 3 = 17

Damage:2d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (1, 6) + 1 + 2 = 10

Marigold spots the most wounded minion, and draws her bowstring. A blue arrow with a crystalline head appears in the nock, and she fires at them. Then she grabs an arrow from her quiver, and follows it up.

”Why would you do that? He seems like such a nice guy!”, she retorts.

Cast ray of frost (using Surprise Attack and Magical Trickster to Sneak Attack), Strike vs Yellow

Attack: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (6) + 11 = 17
Damage: 3d4 + 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 4, 2) + (3, 5) + 4 = 20C

Attack: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (3, 2) = 5P

Will: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (18) + 12 = 30

Okh is not a very controllable goblin in the best of circumstances.

Fin-thir fires a pair of arrows at the vampire, but neither finds its mark.

Isaku decides that if one fireball is good, then two must be better.

Reflex Save, Red: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Reflex Save, Yellow: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (1) + 13 = 14
Reflex Save, Green: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (9) + 13 = 22

Once again, the minion in yellow gets the full blast in its face.

Marigold tries to make that one's unlife a bit more miserable, but it seems to have learned its lesson.

The spawn clad in red rushes toward the dangerous-looking goblin.

The one in yellow tries to get revenge on Marigold for targeting it.

Claw: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

The minion in blue would also like its allies to stop being fireballed.

Claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (5) + 12 = 17
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 plus Grab

Claw, second attack if Grab not used: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 4 = 27
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

The creature in green tries to end Isaku's grenading days.

Claw: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Round 2 - bolded may go

Okh (-10 HP)
Vampire (-14 HP)
Fin-thir
Isaku (-14 HP)
Marigold (-11 HP)
Green (-18 HP)
Yellow (-37 HP)
Blue
Red (-18 HP)

The goblin concludes: Well I assume it means you don't surrender, right?

He continues with a blast of fire rays.

Scorching ray height +1, vampire: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

Damage, Dangerous sorcery: 8d6 + 4 ⇒ (4, 2, 3, 4, 2, 1, 6, 5) + 4 = 31

Scorching ray height +1, Blue: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32

Damage, Dangerous sorcery: 8d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 5, 4, 5, 4, 2, 6, 6) + 4 = 42

Scorching ray height +1, Red: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (13) + 15 = 28

Damage, Dangerous sorcery: 8d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 6, 4, 1, 1, 4, 4, 1) + 4 = 30

So: surrender or get fried?

Just to keep us moving since my turn will probably roll around when I'm asleep

Isaku takes a step back out of Green's reach. He games the angles and tries to figure out the best way solve the problem of Yellow.

Devise vs Yellow: 1d20 ⇒ 19
Hits AC 32

Sure of his target, he fires at Yellow.

Concussive, Precision: 3d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 4) = 12

Concussive, Precision, if Crit: 2d10 + 2d6 ⇒ (1, 2) + (3, 3) = 9 Doubled to 18
Fatal: 1d10 ⇒ 10

12 Damage if not a crit, 28 if a crit

"Finish him, Marigold!" Yellow will be FF to Marigold, assuming it survives

He reloads.

◆ Step
◇ Devise
◆ Bang!
◆ Reload

Okh's question remains unanswered, as the barrage of fiery beams knock it to the ground. The goblin is ready to celebrate when it rises and turns its gaze upon Fin-thir.

Isaku backs off and fires a shot through the minion in Yellow right through the heart.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Okh (-10 HP)
Vampire (?? HP, wounded 1)
Fin-thir (Will save)
Isaku (-14 HP)
Marigold (-11 HP)
Green (-18 HP)
Yellow (-65 HP)
Blue
Red (-18 HP)

”On it!”, Marigold replies to Isaku. She draws her shortsword, and stabs at the one he shot.

Interact, Strike Yellow (Sneak Attack), Strike (Yellow if still up, else Green)

Attack: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Damage: 3d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 6) + 4 = 13

Attack: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

I think blue is at -42

And red should be at -48. I think you considered all damage on the vampire. But the spell doesn’t allow to attack three times the same one.

Ah! Fire for everyone!

The vampire decides not to fall down, and instead backs away. The minion in yellow, however, does drop under Marigold's barrage.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Okh (-10 HP)
Vampire (-45 HP)
Fin-thir (Will save)
Isaku (-14 HP)
Marigold (-11 HP)
Green (-26 HP)
Yellow (-70 HP, prone, dying 1)
Blue (-32 HP)
Red (-48 HP)

Euh blue should be at -42 instead of -32.

Will:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (6) + 12 = 18

Will, reroll:1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25

The ranger hunt prey the blue. He fires on the blue. (hunted shot)

+1 striking comp. shortbow:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (18) + 16 = 34

Damage:2d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (3, 3) + 1 + 3 = 10

if crit, Deadly:1d10 ⇒ 3

+1 striking comp. shortbow:1d20 + 16 - 3 ⇒ (14) + 16 - 3 = 27

Damage:2d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (6, 2) + 1 + 3 = 12

Then he fires on the red.

+1 striking comp. shortbow:1d20 + 16 - 6 ⇒ (3) + 16 - 6 = 13

Damage:2d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (6, 2) + 1 + 3 = 12

Fin-thir nocks his arrows and briefly aims at Okh before knocking downBlue and Red.

The three spawn who fell get up from the ground, clearly hurt but not ready to die (again) just yet.

Blue and Red provoke reactions from Okh, and Yellow does so from Marigold.

The spawn in Green steps toward Isaku and continues its attack.

Claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 plus Grab

Claw, second attack if Grab not used: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 12 - 4 = 10
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

The one in Yellow can attack Marigold as soon as it is on its feet.

Claw: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (19) + 14 = 33
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 plus Grab

Claw, second attack if Grab not used: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (20) + 14 - 4 = 30
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

The minion in Blue goes after Fin-thir.

Claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

The enemy wearing Red completes the set by clawing at Okh.

Claw: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 25
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 plus Grab

Claw, second attack if Grab not used: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 12 - 4 = 12
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

Round 3 - bolded may go

Okh (-17 HP, Reaction, grabbed)
Vampire (-45 HP)
Fin-thir (-12 HP)
Isaku (-14 HP)
Marigold (-37 HP, Reaction, grabbed)
Green (-26 HP)
Yellow (-?? HP, wounded 1)
Blue (-?? HP, wounded 1)
Red (-?? HP, wounded 1)

The goblin doesn't appreciate the familiarity used with him.

Gouging claw:1d20 + 15 ⇒ (19) + 15 = 34

Damage:4d6 + 4 ⇒ (2, 2, 3, 2) + 4 = 13

Flat:1d20 ⇒ 16

Wait for the last action to see what happens with the spell

Red doesn't appreciate Okh stealing her trick and falls to the ground.

Round 3 - bolded may go

Okh (-17 HP, 1 action)
Vampire (-45 HP)
Fin-thir (-12 HP)
Isaku (-14 HP)
Marigold (-37 HP, Reaction, grabbed)
Green (-26 HP)
Yellow (-?? HP, wounded 1)
Blue (-?? HP, wounded 1)
Red (-?? HP, rpone, dying 2)

Can I pull out the anti-vampire material and stick a stake into its heart?

Yes, but one action is only enough to draw a stake, not use it.

Do we all have stakes and such?

The goblin draws a stake, ready to use it.

To Isaku: yes we have got a package at the beginning of the game.

Okh prepares to stake a vampire spawn.

The vampire calls out, "Slay your former allies if you wish. I will keep turning more of you, until there are no more Pathfinders!"

He then moves toward Marigold and takes advantage of his minion's grab to attack her.

Rapier: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (12) + 19 = 31
Piercing Damage: 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (6, 2) + 11 = 19
Deadly: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Claw: 1d20 + 19 - 4 ⇒ (5) + 19 - 4 = 20
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

His blade cuts deeply into the gnome, and she falls to the ground. The vampire circles around Isaku.

Round 3 - bolded may go

Okh (-17 HP)
Marigold (-53 HP, Reaction, grabbed, prone, dying 2)
Vampire (-45 HP)
Fin-thir (-12 HP)
Isaku (-14 HP)
Green (-26 HP)
Yellow (-?? HP, wounded 1)
Blue (-?? HP, wounded 1)
Red (-?? HP, prone, dying 2)

Hoping these don't have AoOs

Isaku runs around Green and gets to Yellow. He pulls a stake from the kit he received and jams it in Yellow's chest. Do I need to make an attack roll?

What needs to be done to remove his head? Can I just chop it with an axe? It's helpless, basically...

The ranger fire on the blue. (hunted shot)

+1 striking comp. shortbow:1d20 + 16 ⇒ (5) + 16 = 21

Damage:2d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 1 + 2 = 10

+1 striking comp. shortbow:1d20 + 16 - 3 ⇒ (3) + 16 - 3 = 16

Damage:2d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6) + 1 + 2 = 14

If the blue is on the ground after his first arrow, he takes out a stake and plants it into the blue.

+1 striking comp. shortbow:1d20 + 16 - 6 ⇒ (8) + 16 - 6 = 18

Damage:2d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (4, 1) + 1 + 2 = 8

+1 striking comp. shortbow:1d20 + 16 - 9 ⇒ (16) + 16 - 9 = 23

Damage:2d6 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5, 2) + 1 + 2 = 10

Fin-thir engages in a flurry of misses worthy of a 1e monk.

Isaku, do you want to change your action after the explanation of staking in discussion?

23 doesn't hit neither?

Yes, I'll retcon my actions.

Still hoping the head honcho has no AoO

Isaku withdraws to a safe distance and determines how best to deal with the Vampire.

Devise: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Abandoning the lousy idea, he turns his attention to one of the minions. Seeing that Yellow is a more serious threat to Marigold, he shoots it instead.

+1 Striking Dueling Pistol vs Yellow, FF: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (7) + 13 = 20
Concussive: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10

He reloads.

◆ Stride
◇ Devise (and beg the GM to spare their lives)
◆ Bang?
◆ Reload

Isaku drops the Yellow-clad span once more.

It doesn't stay dropped. It rises, grabs Marigold, and begins feeding on her.

The golden-masked vampire calls out, "Leave her. I shall have time enough to make her join us once the other Pathfinders are dead."

A reminder to Marigold about the two shiny hero points you have, and that stabilizing takes you to wounded 1, not 3.

The spawn in green moves in on Isaku.

Claw: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 plus Grab

Claw, second attack if Grab not used: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (14) + 14 - 4 = 24
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11

The red and blue spawns have targets conveniently nearby. The one in red needs to stand first.

Claw vs. Okh: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 plus Grab

Claw, second attack vs. Okh if Grab not used: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

Claw vs. Fin-thir: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (20) + 12 = 32
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 plus Grab

Claw, second attack vs. Fin-thir if Grab not used: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (4) + 12 = 16
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9 plus Grab

Claw, potential third attack vs. Fin-thir: 1d20 + 12 - 8 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 8 = 14[/s]
Slashing Damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6[/s]

Fin-thir also gets bitten. No matter what you may have read in the novels, it is not pleasant.

Round 4 - bolded may go

Okh (-23 HP, grabbed)
Marigold (-53 HP, grabbed, prone, dying 3, drained 1)
Vampire (-45 HP)
Fin-thir (-43 HP, grabbed, drained 1)
Isaku (-24 HP, grabbed)
Green (-26 HP)
Yellow (-?? HP, wounded 2)
Blue (-?? HP, wounded 1)
Red (-?? HP, wounded 2)

Marigold stirs, her brow furrowing slightly, though her eyes remain closed.

”Eww, gross”, she murmurs faintly.

Thanks! Spending one of those Hero Points

If Marigold was dropped by Yellow, shouldn't she be moved to before Yellow in initiative order?

Marigold - to stabilize, you need to burn all your hero points.