GM Jhaeman's PFS1 Module: "City of Golden Death" (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

Quickly gathering for a final push into the very heart of the City of Golden Death, the Pathfinders open the door to reveal a chamber with high, vaulted ceilings, a simple stone floor, and unadorned granite walls. The room is almost unbearably hot and entering is much like walking into a furnace.

A large, 15’-square raised dais occupies the center of the room. In the middle of the dais rests a gray stone block with a grasping hand carved from the same stone rising from the center of the block; the hand is currently empty.

Holding a bejeweled, rune-carved scepter with a fist-sized ruby on the tip is a determined-looking woman dressed in the distinctive clothing of a high-ranking member of the Church of Razmir. “The Jewel of Everlasting Gold is mine! You were foolhardy to follow me here!” She begins casting a spell!

We will proceed to Initiative. A picture of this cultist is on the side of the slide.

Initiative (Round 1)

Rogarch+Rawk
Iramine
Goran
Ting
Candledark

Bold should go!

Stepping onto the dais is treated like a square of difficult movement. Creatures on the other side of the dais have partial cover.

@Rogarch: I'm assuming you're casting and discharging heightened awareness before entering the room.

Prior to the final combat Rogarch sheathes her long sword and retrieves her wand of Blade Lash and places it in her spring loaded wrist sheath. She asks Goran to heal Rawk-N-Role with her wand of Cure Light Wounds. She attempts to activate her wand of Heightened Awareness, casts Protection from Evil on herself from a scroll and then renews her Shield spell from a wand.

Cure Light Wounds on Rawk-N-Role, CL1: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Heightened Awareness, UMD DC 20: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26

====
(And now ...)

Rogarch is able to get the drop on the boss cultist. With a flick of the wrist a scroll of Haste comes sliding out of her spring loaded wrist sheath. She reads the words of power and the enchantment takes hold on the entire party. She attempts to identify the spell being cast by the cultist before getting mad. Rogarch flies into a rage and begins to glow with a golden protective color. She moves forwards now less afraid of the scalding heat of the room while she draws her Lucerne Hammer now threatening the cultist.

Spellcraft to identify spell: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Arcane Bloodrage: Resist Fire 10

Haste is up on the party. Everyone will get +30 feet of movement, +1 to hit, +1 ac, +1 to reflex saves and an extra attack on a full attack

The plucky elemental tries to identify the spell as it is being cast.

Spellcraft to identify a spell: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

The now speedier Rawk-N-Role glides through the wall and moves with a new found speed attempting to pummel Iramine before she can complete her spell.

Slam attack, Haste, Earth Mastery: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 9 + 1 + 1 = 24

Bludgeoning, Earth Mastery: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Not great at Spellcraft but better at punching. ;)

spellcraft: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

Despite the cultist's shimmering outline, Rawk's rocky fist connects! Undeterred, she conjures a many-layered mass of sticky-strands in the chamber!

Rawk's attack hits.

On her turn, the cultist (Iramine) tries to cast web defensively, requiring a Concentration check. Result: Success. Rawk, Rogarch, and Ting, please made a DC 15 Reflex save to avoid being caught in the web and considered grappled (see below). If someone good with AoO templates could place a 20' radius on the the slides centered near the dais, I'd be grateful.

Initiative (Round 1)

Rogarch+Rawk (save vs Web)
Iramine
Goran
Ting + save vs Web
Candledark

Bold should go!

Stepping onto the dais is treated like a square of difficult movement. Creatures on the other side of the dais have partial cover.

There is now web in the chamber. Please see the post above for the effects of trying to move through it.

@GM Jhaeman - Alright I drew out the Web spell. It is ugly but it should be accurate. Stay clear of the black strands or risk becoming grappled by the spell. :)

Rawk-N-Role attempts to dodge the sticky webs but moves directly into the web itself.

Reflex Save DC 15, Haste: 1d20 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 1 = 3

Rawk-N-Role is now grappled by the Web spell. His statistics in his tagline has been updated.

Rogarch tries not to be stuck in the Web spell. She manages to steer clear of the stickier strands with a bit of luck (and a shirt re-roll).

Reflex save DC 15, Haste, Protection from Evil (net bonus): 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 14

@GM Jhaeman - Rogarch is wearing Alchemical Grease. This may at the GM's discretion provide a circumstance bonus to the save. If this is the case then the re-roll will not be needed.

Shirt Re-Roll:

Reflex save DC 15, Haste, Protection from Evil (net bonus): 1d20 + 6 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 1 + 1 = 20

Haste is up on the party. Everyone will get +30 feet of movement, +1 to hit, +1 ac, +1 to reflex saves and an extra attack on a full attack.

DC 15 Reflex: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 = 22

Seeing the large ruby, ting practically gasps, "Well' at's a wroight beeeeutiful shiny." Feeling the effects of Rogarch's spell wash over him, he wants to rush in and grab the stone. Crestfallen when the servant of Razmir casts her web, ting furrows his brow and begins to slowly manoever through and out of the webbing. As he moves closer to the priestess, he lifts the exotic bastard sword, shifting his feet, he slashes at the woman.

Haste +30 feet of movement, +1 to hit, +1 ac, +1 to reflex saves and an extra attack on a full attack AC 23 Move action Counted webbing as difficult terrain so 30 ft, another 30 ft outside of the webbing. Attack; + 1 exotic bastard sword two handed, PA, FF,
attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 1 = 21 for damage: 1d10 + 1 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 1 + 6 + 6 = 18

@Ting - You will have to make a CMB or Escape Artist check vs DC 15 to move through the Web spell as part of your move action. If you fail you are grappled by the nasty, nasty Web spell. :)

@GM Jhaeman - Can Rogarch and Rawk-N-Role take their top of turn 2 actions now? We are up against your travel deadline and your Web spell just made life more difficult. ;)

I assumed the first reflex save was enough to move through it since the first line is "If this save succeeds, the creature is inside the web but is otherwise unaffected." his save succeeded so shouldn't he be able to move through it and out? I thought the cmb or escape was required for someone entering. Anyway no sweat either way.

cmb: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

@Ting - The text of the Web spell says that you have to make a CMB or Escape Artist check if you wish to move through webbed squares. The initial saving throw is only to see if you are grappled by the spell when it is cast. A moot point now with your successful CMB roll. :)

well, my surprise can't be done now...plan b then...and going on an assumption if i stand in the doorway, the web doesn't affect me...if not, ill move back one square...

Goran sees the others move up and tries to take advantage of their opponent's divided attention. He shoots a ray of blinding light at her.

Feel Sarenrae's touch!

touch: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 5 + 1 = 133d8 ⇒ (1, 6, 1) = 8

@Goran - I moved your character out of the area of effect of the Web spell. The doorway is engulfed with webs (black line). Your character does not have line of effect to the enemy caster due to the Web spell so you can ask the GM if you can redo your action (or not). :)

I feel like I am overstepping as a player (it is the GM's job to control the battlefield and remind players about which rolls to make) but I am trying to speed up play so we can wrap the game up on time. :)

The round before entering:

Candledark pulls his vanishing act again...

Stealth, if possible: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (9) + 15 = 24

...more than normal, in fact; if you can see him at all, it becomes apparent he's 'not all there', even then!

Entering Blurred Form the round before combat starts.

___

Candledark does not seem too bothered by being blocked out of the final chamber - he gives the "priestess" a wicked stare, and like so many before her, she goes up like a candle!

spontaneous immolation, DC 18: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 4, 3) = 13

no that's fine...wasn't sure if the web stopped at the doorway or stuck out...ill revise my action...just gonna shoot a ball of fire at the web so I can get in the doorway...should i bother with a to hit roll? just going for the square the doorway is in...and then move into for an action next round...

Although her companion gets wrapped up by the thick webbing, Rogarch manages to slip free thanks to her grease-coated body! Ting ducks in and under, his magically-hastened body moving fast enough he gets close enough to attack, but his blade bounces off semi-transparent magical shield that protects her!

Meanwhile, Goran sets part of the webbing alight to pave the way for Candledark to use a fire spell of his own!

Rawk fails the save and is grappled. I think a +2 circumstance bonus to the save from alchemical grease is perfectly reasonable, and so Rogarch will make the save on the first roll.

Ting made the save and the check to move through the webbing, but his attack missed.

Candledark's spell is saved against for half damage.

@Everyone: Thanks for your help! I've altered the web visual to a series of little block splotches on each square that is affected so that it will be easily to reflect which 5' squares have been burned away. Goran, I've removed the webbing in the square just to the south of the doorway to reflect your fire attack (and assumed Candledark stepped into that square to get range for his spell).

Initiative (Round 2)

Rogarch+Rawk
Iramine
Goran
Ting + save vs Web
Candledark

Bold should go!

Stepping onto the dais is treated like a square of difficult movement. Creatures on the other side of the dais have partial cover.

There is now web in the chamber. Please see the post above for the effects of trying to move through it. (and sorry for the extra trouble--I probably wouldn't use the spell but it's part of her tactics and I try to stay faithful to them!)

Rawk-N-Role is stuck in the web but fortunately Iramine is still in his reach. He tries to lay an old fashioned one-two combination on the the cult leader.

Slam,Earth Mastery, Haste, Grappled: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (6) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 15

Bludgeoning, Earth Mastery: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

Haste Attack, Slam, Earth Mastery, Haste, Grappled: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (11) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 20

Bludgeoning, Earth Mastery: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Well, not with those rolls. :(

Rogarch continues to rage. The warrior stays within the Web spell and attempts to stab Iramine through a hole in the webbing with the pointy end of her Lucerne Hammer.

5 feet of Web counts as cover.

Lucerne Hammer MW, Rage, Haste: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 28

Piercing,Rage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 6 + 3 = 12

Haste Attack, MW weapon, Rage, Haste: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 30

Piercing,Rage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 6 + 3 = 18

Arcane Bloodrage: Resist Fire 10

Haste is up on the party. Everyone will get +30 feet of movement, +1 to hit, +1 ac, +1 to reflex saves and an extra attack on a full attack.

Rogarch manages to land one powerful blow on Iramine, but then the cultist's blurred outline makes a second attack chip into the stone wall behind her! Unfortunately, Rogarch's elemental companion can't pierce Iramine's defenses!

Suddenly, an elven curved blade appears in Iramine's hand as she slashes down with the deadly weapon at Rawk!

All of Rawk's attacks miss.

Even with cover, both of Rogarch's attacks would have hit, but the second one misses due to what you can now reasonably surmise is blur.

Iramine draws a weapon and then tries a vital strike on Rawk. Result: The attack roll is a 22, which I think *just* hits Rawk's AC (once grappled + haste are factored in); if the tagline AC of 23 is already adjusted for these factors, then the attack will miss. (The damage is 14 points.) She then does a 5' step to the east.

Initiative (Round 2)

Rogarch+Rawk
Iramine
Goran
Ting
Candledark

Bold should go!

Stepping onto the dais is treated like a square of difficult movement. Creatures on the other side of the dais have partial cover.

There is now web in the chamber. Please see the post above for the effects of trying to move through it.

Escape Artist, Shadow Speaker: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (2) + 15 = 17

Candledark makes his way through the webbing - you could almost swear, literally, as though he were navigating it by a route that shouldn't even exist - but still does his best to keep a low profile; what Iramine sees enter the chamber, is something much worse...!

Make a DC 18 Will save versus oneiric horror!

Candledark succeeds in slipping a psychic seed of terror into Iramine's mind!

Iramine failed the Will save vs oneiric horror.

Goran & Ting are up.

Goran, frustrated with the web, fires a jet of fire at it, trying to get in and help the others.

cast burning hands to clear the stupid web...then will move in.

Rawk-N-Role is just able to barely dodge Iramine's blow due to his new found magical speed.

Rawk's AC is now 23 with the Haste spell and the Grapple condition combined. His tagline properly reflects his current AC. :)

As the cultist moves away from him, ting begins to follow. Seeing her pull out a large sword and attack the little rock guy, ting voices, "Oy, noice bloody sword, too bad it's not floggin' gonna save you's, wroight." He then swings the exotic bastard sword at her, repeatedly...

Haste +30 feet of movement, +1 to hit, +1 ac, +1 to reflex saves and an extra attack on a full attack AC 23 5 ft step, full Attack; + 1 exotic bastard sword two handed, PA, FF,
attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 = 26 for damage: 1d10 + 1 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 1 + 6 + 6 = 14
attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 6 + 1 = 22 for damage: 1d10 + 1 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 1 + 6 + 6 = 17
Haste attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 11 + 1 = 17 for damage: 1d10 + 1 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 6 + 6 = 15

Goran's fiery spell burns the webbing covering the entryway and dais! Meanwhile, Ting blade cuts deep into Iramine's shoulder, eliciting a cry of pain and anger. "You will burn for this!" she promises.

Ting's first attack hits.

Initiative (Round 3)

Rogarch+Rawk
Iramine
Goran
Ting
Candledark

Bold should go!

Stepping onto the dais is treated like a square of difficult movement. Creatures on the other side of the dais have partial cover.

There is now web in the chamber. Please see the post above for the effects of trying to move through it.

Rawk-N-Role strikes out twice at Iramine.

Slam,Earth Mastery, Haste, Grappled: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 14

Bludgeoning, Earth Mastery: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10

Haste Attack, Slam,Earth Mastery, Haste, Grappled: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 11

Bludgeoning, Earth Mastery: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8

Such sad, sad rolling!

Rogarch sighs as Rawk-N-Role flails away to no avail. Her rage continues and she attempts to skewer the cultist with her reach weapon.

Cover bonus will still apply. :)

MW Weapon,Rage,Haste: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 29

Piercing, Rage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 6 + 3 = 11

Haste Attack,MW Weapon,Rage,Haste: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 21

Piercing, Rage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 6 + 3 = 14

Arcane Bloodrage: Resist Fire 10

Haste is up on the party. Everyone will get +30 feet of movement, +1 to hit, +1 ac, +1 to reflex saves and an extra attack on a full attack.

Rogarch manages to land another blow, nearly knocking Iramine to the ground! But the cultist of Razmir pays no attention, as her gaze is fixated on something in the air that only she can see! She slashes at it with grim determination . . .

Rogarch's first attack hit.

Iramine spends her turn doing a full attack against her nightmare as per oneiric horror. At the end of her turn, she gets a new save vs the spell. Result: She *just* fails!

Initiative (Round 3)

Rogarch+Rawk
Iramine (oneiric horror)
Goran
Ting
Candledark

Bold should go!

Stepping onto the dais is treated like a square of difficult movement. Creatures on the other side of the dais have partial cover.

There is now web in the chamber. Please see the post above for the effects of trying to move through it.

Confused by the cultists actions, ting, turning his head nearly around, looks over his shoulder. Shaking his beak, he mumbles, "I's 'as no idears what yer bloody well lookin' at." Shrugging his shoulders he attacks the distracted woman repeatedly with his exotic bastard sword.

Haste +30 feet of movement, +1 to hit, +1 ac, +1 to reflex saves and an extra attack on a full attack AC 23 5 ft step, full Attack; + 1 exotic bastard sword two handed, PA, FF,
attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 11 + 1 = 20 for damage: 1d10 + 1 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 6 + 6 = 16
attack: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 6 + 1 = 13 for damage: 1d10 + 1 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 6 + 6 = 16
Haste attack: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 1 = 32 for damage: 1d10 + 1 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 1 + 6 + 6 = 21
Haste attack: confirm crit: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 1 = 18 for damage: 1d10 + 1 + 6 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 1 + 6 + 6 = 20

Finally...blasted web... Goran says frustratedly as he shoots a ray of light at the cultist.

touch: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 5 + 1 = 103d8 ⇒ (3, 8, 8) = 19

i give up...lol

Candledark says nothing, but his tin-colored eyes dance with wicked mirth as Iramine once again explodes in unnaturally-hued flames!

spontaneous immolation, DC 18: 3d6 ⇒ (6, 6, 1) = 13

Ting's hasted blade is aimed perfectly at Iramine's heart--but then her form blurs at the last second at the strike goes awry! Goran can't connect with his ray spell, but Candledark follows up his nightmare attack with a fiery one!

Ting's natural 20 was foiled by blur. Sometimes the bad guys get lucky!

Goran's attack missed.

Iramine makes the save and takes half damage from Candledark's spell.

Initiative (Round 4)

Rogarch+Rawk
Iramine (oneiric horror)
Goran
Ting
Candledark

Bold should go!

Stepping onto the dais is treated like a square of difficult movement. Creatures on the other side of the dais have partial cover.

There is now web in the chamber. Please see the post above for the effects of trying to move through it.

Rawk-N-Role lashes out with two punches at Iramine.

Slam,Earth Mastery,Haste,Grappled: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 24

Bludgeoning,Earth Mastery: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

Haste Attack,Slam,Earth Mastery,Haste,Grappled: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 ⇒ (9) + 9 + 1 + 1 - 2 = 18

Bludgeoning,Earth Mastery: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

Rogarch continues her rage pulling the last remnants of arcane magic from her blood. She stabs at the cultist twice with her lucerne hammer.

Cover bonus will apply. :)

MW Weapon,Rage,Haste: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 23

Piercing,Rage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (12) + 6 + 3 = 21

Haste Attack,MW Weapon,Rage,Haste: 1d20 + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 1 + 2 + 1 = 28

Piercing,Rage: 1d12 + 6 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 6 + 3 = 17

Arcane Bloodrage: Resist Fire 10

Haste is up on the party. Everyone will get +30 feet of movement, +1 to hit, +1 ac, +1 to reflex saves and an extra attack on a full attack.

Sometimes the smallest among us can deliver the most powerful blow! As Iramine duels with her phantom attacker, Rawk slips in a jaw-breaking uppercut! Iramine flies back and hits the wall with back-crunching force before slowly sliding down and toppling over, bleeding and unconscious!

Rawk's attack hit (I believe Tremorsense ignores visual illusions like blur) and drops Iramine!

We are off Initiative. Well done! With the oneiric horror, she never even got to do her cool trick of turning into a fire elemental.
I'm not sure why adventure writers think solo bosses (especially spellcasters or gishes) are a good idea, but you overcame a ton of encounters in a single day to get to this point, and that's quite an accomplishment. Substantively, that's a wrap, though I'll post a formal epilogue tonight along with the Chronicles.

Rawk-N-Role does his happy dance as the evil cultist hits the wall.

I agree that casters should have flunkies. They could have combined the last two combats together and it would have been (much) easier than fighting the skeleton of the Gold Dragon. The CR system is not an exact science. ;)

As he approaches to take the artifact she'd been so keen on, Candledark's eyes momentarily go wide with shock, then askew with bewilderment, then narrow with satisfaction, as he perceives a fleeting telepathic glimpse of just what the dying, deluded mage's final sight was.

I'll never tell.

Shifting his feet, ready to attack the cultists again, ting watches as the little stone fellow knocks the cultist out. Nodding his beak, in lulls his tongue in a tengu smile, squawking, "Bloody well done, wroight."

Seeing Candledark moving towards the gem, ting resist the urge to snatch it up and instead sheathes his exotic bastard swords, picking up the elvish blade. Clucking, "She's won't be needin' 'is any longer's wroight."

Resting his new blade on his shoulder, he nods back the way they came asking. "So's 'ow much of 'is Floggin' gold is you'ls supposin' we's can carry?"

With Iramine defeated, retrieving the amulet she used to enter the City of Golden Death is easy. Alas, it seems that all of her efforts to fund the Church of Razmir would have been for naught anyway, as any gold removed from the city disappears the instance it passes through the gates! Truly, Tar-Baphon left every contingency in place to ensure his treasury remained intact until he came to claim it.

Many battles are left to fight and many dangers are overcome as you labor to escape the Isle of Terror, but Captain Walren is as good as his word and the Black Mist is waiting to whisk you to safety. Once back in Tamran, Reginar accompanies you to Kassen where you are welcomed as great heroes! Indeed, the entire town turns out for a feast in your honor as the amulet is returned to the Crypt of the Everflame and the spirits of Kassen and Asar returned to rest.

With an unforgettable adventure complete, you have each earned a well-deserved rest. For few have entered the City of Golden Death and lived to tell the tale!

Well done, guys...that web was a pain. No wounds...wait...is she still alive? Goran asks as he goes to check for a pulse. if we can take her prisoner thats cool...makes us seem kess like murderhobos...lol

Candledark's mask somehow twists into an oversized grin.

"I'm going to need more rope...!"