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

Game Master Jhaeman

Rogarch thinks that tea (or any heated liquid really) would be great.

"That would be fantastic Goran."

She nods at Ting.

"You got it."

Your first night on the Isle of Terror is a long one. Huge, roiling, black clouds move in from the center of the island, crackling with energy that occasionally spears down from above to blast trees into ash. But this is no mere lightning, as the bolts are black and barely visible against the bizarre, flat-planed clouds above them.

Fortunately, the clouds don't drift over your campsite and morning arrives, as it must.

Okay, beginning of Day Two on the Isle of Terror. Please mark off a ration each, regain hit points equal to your level, and restore daily-use abilities.

@GM Jhaeman - I would hope that all of the snake meat we brought with us would last for a couple of days at least. :)

Rogarch rises to a new day with boundless energy. She makes one more attempt at deciphering the last remaining scroll.

Rawk-N-Role, Aid to Spellcraft DC 10: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Rogarch, Spellcraft DC 21: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19

Failing again she puts the scroll away and gets back to her life as an adventurer.

"Ting, ready to follow the trail again?"

@GM Jhaeman - I would hope that all of the snake meat we brought with us would last for a couple of days at least. :)

Will remove rations after this is sorted

Packing his gear after the fine breakfast of snake, Ting nods his beak at Rogarch's question. "bloody well wroight!"

Moving with the half orc towards the trail, he follows the prints; looking much like a crow hopping along a path hunting for goodies.

taking 10(22) on perception to find the trail again, taking 10(18) on survival to follow it.

Okay, beginning of Day Two on the Isle of Terror. Please mark off a ration each, regain hit points equal to your level, and restore daily-use abilities.

OH BOY, we actually get to EAT RATIONS this adventure!?!

Candledark shakes his head in annoyance at his diurnal companions; they just had to stop JUST as it was getting good...!

Still, what with the unnatural black lightning overhead he can hardly help but be in a good mood. He delves deeply into his Haversack and pulls out precisely four loaves of fluffy warm bread bundled in gaily-colored cloth that Candledark almost certainly was not the one to provide.

"A few years ago," he explains, "I was sent on an visit to dour old Isger, and while I was a tad skeptical of the journey at first, I suppose I ultimately found the company and our surroundings to my satisfaction. Anyways, on our way we rescued some baker's apprentice, and the sot's been regularly sending me more bread than I know what to do with ever since! I always bring the latest batch with me when there's an adventure to be had, and since I foresee there will only be more to come, well..." He shrugs, holds one unwieldy-sized loaf in his claw-like hands, and the other three find their way eerily floating toward the others.

5 silver saved is 5 silver earned; tonight's on me, if the rest of you like.

Following the trail gets a little harder as the ground gets gradually softer, but Ting's keen eyes are able to discern a footprint here and a broken blade of grass there to keep the Pathfinders moving.

In the mid-morning, as you stop briefly for a sip of water, emerging from the nearby brush with his arms raised high and bearing no obvious weapons is a human man, about six feet tall, with a tangle of long, dirty red hair and a long red beard, wearing tattered, hole-ridden clothes soaked through with mud and stained black in many places.

Even before he gets close, his stench precedes him--it’s not only as though he hasn’t bathed in years, but that he seems to have actually gone out of his way to over himself in the most horrible smells the Isle of Terror has to offer: a blend of rotten eggs, human waste, and decaying organic matter.

An arrow is lodged in the back of his right leg, but seems to cause him no pain as strides in the group's direction.

Suddenly he stops, his eyes go wide, and he loudly exclaims “I found you!”

I'll put a pic of this fellow on Slide # 5.

Another couple of hours' march covers 3 more miles, taking you to approximately 11 miles from where you landed.

@Everyone: Ha, okay. I'll give you one day's good eating from whatever poorly-preserved snake is left after the crew had their fill. Tomorrow though, I expect to see rations ticked off, magical solutions, or moving slowly with Survival to try to find food on the island.

Rogarch is no prissy princess having spent her youth among orc savages. Yet this man's personal hygiene (if he is actually a man) is beyond the pale.

"By all that is holy. Goran, Xanac is it possible to use some magic to clean up this man?"

She looks at the man. While not hostile she is on her guard suspecting that this man might not actually be alive as he moves easily with an arrow sticking right out of him. She looks to confirms that he is alive (breathing, blinking etc.).

24 Perception on a take 10.

"Exactly who are you?"

@Xanac/GM Jhaeman - I think that Xanac has four days of rations (preserved hearty bread products) that he was offering up. That should keep us covered for today as well. We have water covered as well due to Goran's Create Water spell.

Rawk-N-Role stands with his mistress and is ready to protect her if necessary. The elemental is fortunate to not have to breathe in the stench of this strange man.

He is probably just another strange looking, bad smelling NPC but we do not know that yet. :)

Candledark, it is true, has a knack for easily cleaning most things - but seeing as not only is he not a launderer, but to do this trick would demand he get even closer to the wretch, he opts instead simply to gain a little more distance, and tries to hide before he is noticed...

Stealth: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (10) + 15 = 25

...after which he attempts to see if the man's mind is anywhere near as filthy as his body....

Detect thoughts, Will DC 18.

Perhaps with some divine intervention....maybe.. Goran says as he sees and then smells the man's aroma. Seeing the arrow, he asks

How long have you had that in your leg? That's likely infected...might lose the leg...unless I can save it... he goes to look at the leg.

let me guess...initiative right? lol and as for food, i can memorize create food and water tomorrow...and just sacrifice it for healing if needed...

The man replies to Rogarch's question. "I am Dusan Dremlock, Pathfinder and explorer!" Suddenly the man starts to cry and blubber, his exclamations mixed with rage. He tears out chunks of his hair and shakes them in your direction, accusatorily! When Goran asks about the arrow--and the wound that is pus and blood, he continues to blubber and mumbles something about "men in masks" who attacked him.

The man is in such an agitated state, it'll be hard to get much sense out of him unless he's calmed down in some way.

Seeing himself as more of a 'trap guy' ting is pleased to be able to follow the trail for his fellow pathfinders. As they take a break he notices the very odd looking human approaching. Getting a smell of the man, his eyes start to water. Squinting, as theothers ask he moves away fanning his beak, "You's don't smells 'at every floggin' day, wroight."

As the man answers Rogarch's question, tings eyes widen as the fellow rips his own hair out. Pleased that Goran had asked about the arrow, ting had wondered about that as well, listening carefully to the comment about 'men in masks.' Turning to Roarch he asks, "Didn't tha rocky fellow say them's bodies 'e found had Iron masks?"

Rogarch nods vigorously at Ting. He addresses Ting but his speech is directed at the new comer as well in an attempt to calm him down.

"Yes, they wore masks and it follows that the ones that we are following do as well. They might be behind this mess or simply working for those that are in charge here. That I do not know."

"Who are these strange mask wearers? Does anyone know?"

She addresses Dusan. She tries to put him at ease but knows that the cleric should probably take the lead in matters of healing (and diplomacy).

"We are pathfinders as well and we were sent to set straight the evil brewing on this island. You are among colleagues so try to relax and let Goran take a look at your wounds."

Diplomacy, Aid DC 10: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18

Goran approaches slowly, his hands empty.

I'm a priest...let me look at that...please.. he pleads, pointing to his holy symbol, hoping a sign of Sarenrae might put the man at ease.

diplo: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15

The wild-eyed intruder nods slowly as Goran approaches. He turns to a small boulder and starts addressing it in what becomes an unstoppable torrent of words!

“Venture-Captain Tree Roots said we should come to . . . island to island and then we left the city and swam north, keeping abreast of each other to fend off fish and then we swam the swam and we swam for years and came here to the island and we went inside the island and saw its heart and it was black and we knew it was black and we came out and we were black and then the blackness consumed them, ate them alive, ate me alive, and then we were all dead all dead all dead and I was dead and they were dead, and they were dead and I wasn’t dead--do you see? I was alive! I was alive and they were dead and then I lived here and I lived in a tree and a cave and in the ruins and I saw, I saw, I saw things, and then the men in masks came and they fought the lizards and many died on both sides, many died, oh yes, many died and they died not get back up they were not dead like me and they headed to the doors, to the many doors by the river, the many doors where I slept once when the storms reached down and grabbed me. They are there now, they try to open the doors come with me, yes, come come come with me. I can show you where they are.”

Once he’s finished the story, the man smiles, revealing several missing teeth. He then points east and starts staggering off in that direction.

Rogarch shrugs but moves to follow the crazed man with Rawk-N-Role in tow.

"A lead is a lead. He is as mad as a hatter but maybe he knows something."

"Ting do me a favour and have a look at the tracks as we go. Hopefully he is taking us roughly in the right direction."

Although he sometimes rushes off and disappears into the undergrowth, the strange man reappears frequently, waving his arm for the group to hurry up. Ting verifies that the tracks of the large group head in the same direction the man is leading--along the edge of a swamp! The enormous, tangled swamp to the south is filled with cypress, mangroves, thick brambles, and ankle-deep, murky black water. The thick canopy lets in little light even during the day, but fortunately the trail never heads into it. To the north, stark white cliffs mark higher ground.

After about two hours' march, you find yourselves on the swampy southern shores of a lake, the waters of which look disturbingly thick and black. A campsite is here, and it was obviously recently the site of a large, bloody battle. Several bodies of robed humans and other common species are here, and some have obviously been gnawed upon by scavengers. Scattered about those bodies are the corpses of at least three dozen black-scaled, reptilian humanoids with morningstars and heavy wooden shields.

After two more hours of marching, it is now midday and you are now approximately 14 miles east of the landing site.

Should have got my post up earlier

Nodding his beak in agreement with Rogarch, ting blurts out, "You's read me floggin' mind." As the odd smelling man began to lead the group away ting double checked to make sure they were still following the tracks.

---------------------------------
Confident that they are following the tracks, ting gives Rogarch an affirming nod. Enjoying the hike through the cypress and mangroves, the murky water helping to cool ting's feet.

Coming on the camp, ting looks around. Having a gift for stating the obvious he adds, "Smells loike 'are was fight. Probably where's all 'eas bodies came from's, wroight."

As he talked he begins searching the bodies for any trinkets clues.

taking 10(22) on perception

Rogarch nods at Ting.

"Good idea. Let us have a quick look around here and then move on."

Rawk-N-Role tries to help his master do a speedy search of the area. They speak in their funny sounding made up language.

Rawk-N-Role, aid to Perception DC 10: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (10) + 8 = 18

26 Perception on a take 10 (with Rawk-N-Role's help).

I don't want to spend hours here so people please no Take 20s on your perception rolls. :)

Ting examines the bodies while Rogarch and Rawk-N-Role search the area, and together they find a veritable armory of weapons, armor, and other gear!

Gathering the loose items into a pile, ting (figuring you can't have too many thieves' tools, slips them in his pocket) turns and asks ["Oy can any of you's blokes tell if any o' this bloody stuff is magicky?"

Rogarch nods at Ting's suggestion.

"Good point. Goran?"

The Bloodrager wonders why she is unable to manifest such simple magics herself.

The lack of Read Magic and Detect Magic from the Bloodrager's spell list is a bit of a pet peeve. There are workarounds of course but it is still annoying. :)

The lack of Read Magic and Detect Magic from the Bloodrager's spell list is a bit of a pet peeve. There are workarounds of course but it is still annoying. :)

Are you familiar with Symbol Strikers? They solve the half of that problem that wouldn't happen to be of use in this instance....

Candledark creeps forward and looks around (I can detect magic! Assuming I find nothing else of that nature in doing so...); upon finding the potions, he studies them more carefully:

Spellcraft on yellows: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17
Spellcraft on ochre: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (4) + 14 = 18

sc yellow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19
sc orange: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 4 = 14

Hard to tell actually...maybe..

Assuming that the potions detect as magic (as determined by the other casters) then Rogarch will sip each one to determine their properties.

24 Perception on at take 10 for all potions.

The DC to identify potions by taste is generally lower then using Spellcraft (15+spell Level) and taking 10 on these rolls is always an option. :)

@Xanac - The easiest and cheapest solution is to purchase scrolls of Detect and Read Magic which my character can then UMD. If I really want to get fancy I could pick up a wand (or even purchase a custom Wayfinder to Detect Magic at will). :)

Stacking things of like nature in piles (none can say ting is nothing if not organized) ting starts to irreverently pull some of the more valuable armor off of the dead bodies. As Rogarch begins drinking out of all of the small containers, the tengu makes a funny face, secretly glad he doesn't have lips but instead will dump a potion in his open beak.

As the Pathfinders start to scavenge valuables from the battlefield, hisses and shrieks suddenly pierce the air as a group of black lizard-like humanoids burst from the nearby trees, waving morningstars and javelins!

This encounter is on the new Slide # 2. We will proceed to a Surprise Round (everyone but Rawk-N-Role made the fixed Perception check DC).

Initiative (Surprise Round)

Chief (Readied)
Rogarch
Goran
Ting
Hunters
Candledark

Bold should go!

During a surprise round, you are limited to one move or one standard action,

A picture of these creatures is to the left on Slide # 2. The three in front is each holding a shield and a javelin. The fourth one is holding two morningstars. The creatures resemble some of the bodies you've found. You can attempt to learn something about them with a Knowledge (local) check.

Visible obstacles on the map will be treated as difficult terrain and provide a +2 cover bonus versus ranged/reach attacks.

sadly ting does not have local knowledge :(

Looking up from his location, ting realized several lizard type folks, very similar to the dead ones they'd found, were headed down the road towards his fellow pathfinders. Seeing Goran nearest them, he quickly headed southeast, towards the cleric. Calling out, "Oy Goran watch yer'self, wroight!"

surprise round, 30 ft move

Rogarch moves forward while drawing her wand of Magic Missile from a handy pocket into her left hand. Before flying into a rage she calls out to Goran.

"Throw another Fireball and cook them all."

Instead of blurring with her rage another magical effect pops into effect providing protection from ranged weapons.

Protection from Arrows: (DR 10/Magic vs ranged weapons, up to 50 points of damage)

@GM Jhaeman - Using wands do not require concentration and Magic Missile is on Rogarch's spell list so UMD is not required. This wand should be usable during a rage. :)

@DM: Was not expecting that!:

Spellcraft on studded leather #1: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
If a separate check is necessary:
Spellcraft on studded leather #2: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

As Ting moves toward the hostile attackers, Rogarch brings up a shimmering magical defense!

Goran is up.

My thoughts exactly... Goran says as he moves up and flings a blob of fire at the creatures.

fireball, dc 16: 6d6 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 6, 4, 1) = 26

can someone move me beside Rogarch please? ty...on phone...

Goran only has a 5 foot step remaining in his surprise round. I have moved him 5 feet away from the lizard people.

A massive explosion rocks the swamp, incinerating three of the attackers instantly!

All targets failed their saves; Yellow, Blue, and Red are destroyed.

Initiative (Surprise Round)

Chief (Readied)
Rogarch
Goran
Ting
Hunters
Candledark

Bold should go!

During a surprise round, you are limited to one move or one standard action.

my bad...i should have clarified my earlier post...i meant move as in place me...not move as in a move action...sorry

Impressed at the spectacle, Candledark doesn't even bother wasting his powers on the wretched remainder - he doesn't carry his expensive, cumbersome crossbow around for nothing!

darkwood heavy crossbow: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Candledark sends bolt flying through the swamp, but the reptilian foe manages to duck behind a tree just in time!

Bellowing a war cry, the fearless foe charges straight for the human that incinerated his war band: Goran! The lizard chief's morningstar smashes right into Goran's arm. His blackened skin crackling with energy, the lizardman bellows again in a frightening display!

The cover bonus from terrain in the way unfortunately makes Candledark's attack a miss.

The chief does a charge action and attacks Goran. The attack hits exactly. Goran, you take 9 damage and need to attempt a DC 16 Fortitude save vs poison.

As a free action, the lizardman radiates a fear effect. Everyone within 20' (Ting, Goran, and the mad Pathfinder) need to attempt a DC 12 Will save vs a mind-affecting fear effect. If you make the save, you are shaken for 1 round. If you fail the save, you are panicked for 4 rounds.

Initiative (Round 1)

Chief (Charged)
Rogarch
Goran (need Fort save vs poison and Will save vs fear)
Ting (need Will save vs fear)
Candledark

Bold should go!

Visible obstacles on the map will be treated as difficult terrain and provide a +2 cover bonus versus ranged/reach attacks.

Camping weekend! Back in 48.

Wayang are not in the habit of grumbling (why make a sound when silence would be at least as useful?), but were it otherwise, Candledark might be as he spends a moment reloading his crossbow.

Such a good roll, otherwise, too! I don't suppose you'd let me keep the damage roll (technically, it never happened)?

bolt retrievable? low says yes: 1d100 ⇒ 51 >_<

DC 12 Will: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 Crap I misread the directions and thought he was shaken, but he's panicked instead. Guess I'll need to retype

Hearing the half orc call out an idea to the cleric, Ting turns just in time to see Goran burn the first three attackers. Lulling his tongue in a tengu smile he blurts out, "Bloody well done, wroight." His eyes widen as the last lizard bellows a war cry. Seing the lizard moving towards him, some kind of avian self-preservation goes off in his hind brain. "Squawk!" letting out a wordless squawk, ting drops his exotic bastard sword, turning tail and runs.

fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
will: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22

Watch this one...he's different...has an aura about him... Goran says, fighting off the effects of the poison and the fear.

...and might need a bit of help, too... he adds as he lashes out with his own weapon.

attack, adamantine slash: 1d20 + 6 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 6 - 2 = 91d6 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

Rogarch hears Goran's warning and sees Ting lose his nerve and run. She decides to fall out of her rage and use her magical abilities at range instead.

Breathing heavily she calls out to Goran.

"Don't worry we have your back."

She speaks a word of power and three magical bolts speed out of her wand and toward the chief.

Magic Missile CL 5: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 4, 2) + 3 = 10

A bloodrager might not be a full on gish but having some magical ranged abilities is nice. :)

Rawk-N-Role moves adjacent to his master for now.

As Ting runs off in panic, Goran engages the lizard chief in hand-to-hand combat! Rogarch's magical bolts of force almost bring the reptilian to his knees, but sheer battle-rage keeps him standing!

The mighty warband leader swings both his morningstars at Goran and then tries to bite him for good measure!

@Xanac: Ha, nope. No player ever asks me if they can keep the damage roll if it's a 1, so I also can't let them keep it if it's an 8.

Goran's attack misses.

Rogarch's spell does full damage, and this guy only has a handful of hp left.

The chief does a full attack vs Goran. The second morningstar hits. Goran, you take 9 damage and need to attempt a DC 16 Fort save vs poison (this one's poisoned too!)

Initiative (Round 2)

Chief
Rogarch
Goran (need Fort save vs poison)
Ting (panicked 3 rounds)
Candledark

Bold should go!

Visible obstacles on the map will be treated as difficult terrain and provide a +2 cover bonus versus ranged/reach attacks.

@Everyone: Usual reminder about updating taglines if you take damage.

Rogarch shifts her wand of Magic Missile to her gauntleted hand (as a free action). She moves forward and climbs over the small log blocking her way to stand next to the crazed stranger. She pulls forth arcane energy summoning all the cold she can into her left hand. Rogarch then hurls a great ball of ice and snow at the tribal leader.

Snowball to hit touch AC, In-Combat(she does not have precise shot): 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 6 - 4 = 21

Cold Damage: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 5, 5, 2, 1) = 17

Rogarch yells out to her opponent.

"IN YOUR FACE!"

While it is technically legal for a bloodrager to cast an arcane spell with a spiked gauntlet on it just seems thematically wrong to me to use that hand for the casting. :)

Ting continues running like a chicken being chased by a fox.