[Gameday XII] Zero's #1-03: Escaping the Grave (Inactive)

Game Master Super Zero

Oof, that makes a big difference. First hit destroys Orange even with Shield Block. Red blocks the service hit but still takes 6 damage.

The skeleton tries to block with its shield, but Barak's mace smashes the shield right through its ribcage and it crumbles into dust.

He sweeps his mace over towards the other one. It partially blocks the blow, but it's still a heavy hit that damages both shield and wielder.

Good-News-Bee, Aztryx, and Quadennillia's turns.

Initiative:
Good-News-Bee (20/20, Shield Raised)
Aztryx (11/13, shield)
Larraz (20/24, buckler raised)
Heather (28/32)
>- Scout (17/18)
Quadennillia (38/46, unaffected by bane, DC 21 Fort vs 4 negative damage)
Red Skeleton (-6, Shield 14/20, Shield Raised, Reaction used)
Macondi (15/17)
Barak (23/30, affected by bane)

Heather growls almost as loudly as Scout as she watches her bolt skip off the skeleton's shield.

Fortitude Save: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (2) + 10 = 12

Qen is not enjoying being adjacent to the skeleton. She backs up and tosses a bottle at it.

◆ Step

◆ Interact to draw moderate crystal shards

◆ Strike vs. Red

Bomb: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23
Piercing Damage: 2d4 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 plus 4 splash.

Hopefully it will give me the space to do something actually useful soon.

As a creature made primarily of empty space, many of the shards pass harmless through the skeleton. But there are a lot of them, and it also ends up with jagged crystals embedded in its bones.
Resistance to piercing blocks some, but that still deals damage.

Good-News-Bee and Aztryx's turns.

Initiative:
Good-News-Bee (20/20, Shield Raised)
Aztryx (11/13, shield)
Larraz (20/24, buckler raised)
Heather (28/32)
>- Scout (17/18)
Quadennillia (38/46, unaffected by bane, DC 21 Fort vs 4 negative damage)
Red Skeleton (-10, Shield 14/20, Shield Raised, Reaction used)
Macondi (15/17)
Barak (23/30, affected by bane)

With Orange destroyed, Bee takes a step towards the one remaining skeleton and attempts to bring her sword to bear against it...

Strike vs. Red (Scimitar): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18
Damage (S): 1d6 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

...before raising her shield.
______________

◆ Step
◆ Strike
◆ Raise Shield

Aztryx clutches his Maiden Staff tightly and draws forth power he'd stored in it. With it, he casts his spell "Telum Magia!"

◇Drain Bonded Item
◆◆◆Magic Missile: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (1, 3, 1) + 3 = 8

Bee isn't quite able to land a clean hit on the skeleton. Aztryx's unerring magic is, however, unerring.

This one, too, is starting to look weaker an wobblier.

But it's not yet down, and has taken no notice that its master has fallen or that it is alone and increasingly surrounded. Luckily, Bee gets her shield between them in time to avoid the worst of its attack.
* Raise Shield, * Strike longsword: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28 for slashing damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7, * Strike longsword (MAP): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
Raised Shield prevents that from being a crit. Presumably you also Shield Block?

All PCs' turns.

Initiative:
Good-News-Bee (18/20, Shield 18/20, Shield Raised)
Aztryx (11/13, shield)
Larraz (20/24, buckler raised)
Heather (28/32)
>- Scout (17/18)
Quadennillia (34/46, unaffected by bane)
Red Skeleton (-18, bloodied, Shield 14/20, Shield Raised)
Macondi (15/17)
Barak (23/30, affected by bane)

"No. No. Down."

Macondi throws a burst of innate magic at the skeleton.

Disrupt Undead: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9

"Blah," Macondi grumbles as his throw goes astray. "You try." He casts Guidance on Heather. +1 status bonus to one attack roll, Perception check, saving throw, or skill check of your choice.

◆◆ Disrupt Undead, ◆ Guidance

Fortitude: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
Shouldn't that be positive damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7?

Macondi's spell isn't quite as effective as he might have hoped, but it's certainly making progress.

Barak, Good-News-Bee, Aztryx, Heather, and Quadennillia's turns.

Initiative:
Good-News-Bee (18/20, Shield 18/20, Shield Raised)
Aztryx (11/13, shield)
Larraz (20/24, buckler raised)
Heather (28/32, guidance)
>- Scout (17/18)
Quadennillia (34/46, unaffected by bane)
Red Skeleton (-21, bloodied, Shield 14/20, Shield Raised)
Macondi (15/17)
Barak (23/30, affected by bane)

Shouldn't that be positive damage?

*checks*

Barak moves up and bashes the skeleton!

◈ Stride

◈ Striking Gnome Flickmace (reach, sweep): 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 1 = 25
Bludgeoning Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (3, 3) + 4 = 10

◈ Striking Gnome Flickmace 2 (reach, sweep): 1d20 + 10 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 - 5 + 1 = 17
Bludgeoning Damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

Assuming Red is still up after Barak smashes it

Heather raises her crossbow at Red and shoots at it, before reloading and firing again.

Crossbow vs Red, Guidance: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

She growls again as the bolt skips off its shield, causing Scout to look at her quizzically, before reloading and firing again.

Crossbow vs Red, MAP: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Piercing, Precision?: 1d10 + 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (10) + (4) + 2 = 16

◆ Whiff
◆ Reload
◆ Strike?

"Rowr? Rowr?"

Are you becoming a tiger like me too? Are we trying to see who can growl the loudest now?

Scout looks at Heather, not understanding...

"That's it. I'm out. Don't know if this will work... but, I will try... Radius Pruinae!" Aztryx fires a ray of frost, then casts a defensive magical shield to protect himself.

◆◆Spell Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 Cold: 1d4 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6
◆Shield

Yep, Bee would have Shield Blocked for that last hit. Assuming it's not dead already...

Bee does the truffle-shuffle and maneuvers back into a flanking position with Barak, eager to finish the skeleton for good. Having noticed that the gnome's flickmace seems to be especially effective compared to the rest of the party's weaponry, she attempts to bash the skeleton in the face with her shield...

Strike (Shield Bash; Flanking): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22
Damage (B): 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

...and then raises it.
______________

◆ Stride
◆ Strike
◆ Raise Shield
↺ Glimpse of Redemption

The skeleton manages to get its shield between itself and Barak's mace, but the weapon smashes through the damaged shield. Even without its shield, it manages to parry the second attack.
It Shield blocks, which breaks its shield after hardness. Second attack just misses even flanking and without shield.

It barely avoids Aztryx's spell, the beam frosting the armor over its shoulder.
Near miss.

It isn't as lucky against Heather's shot. It raises its arm to block, but with its shield so badly damaged the bolt whizzes by and strikes the exposed spine of its neck. Its skull tumbles to the ground--with its other bones quickly following.
With its shield broken, that's a hit! It resists piercing, as I know I've already mentioned, but that's a high damage roll. Bee's attack would also hit, but isn't needed.

Outside the windows, the approaching army of undead with its gargantuan army looms near. Are they faster than anticipated, or did the Pathfinders misjudge the distance? Their arrival is immanent; there isn't much time!

"We should leave. I don't think we'll be able to take on an army that size!!"

The fear in Heather's voice is apparent.

"Um. Yes. It's time to go," Bee agrees after taking a moment to look out the window. "If we can manage the statue wonderful, but it isn't worth having our names added to the list of the fallen!"

The Pathfinders have enough time to finish the tasks they had already started--carrying out the statue and the body--but should then make haste to leave if they want to avoid the chance of being spotted by the army's vanguard.

"You said you hooked up your wagon to my horse?" Larraz asks, looking pale, "He'll listen to me, so that's perfect. I'll go get him ready!"

He dashes towards the door and the waiting wagon outside, pausing only to heal Quadennillia.
Healing: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

"We should leave. I don't think we'll be able to take on an army that size!!"

Macondi looks out the window briefly. "Guy maybe told them we are here. We need to not be here, then."

He hurries over to the statue. "I have these gloves left is all. For healing." He looks over the statue to see if it is damaged. "Not for the statue though. Won't heal that."

Aztryx looks at the window and sees his fears realised. He helps with the remaining tasks as best he can. He does not utter a word, but instead moves quickly.

Qen hurriedly gets onto the wagon and preps the materials for one more ghost charge in case she needs to mix one and hurl it at the pursuing undead.

Heather moves quickly as well.

"Scouty, jump into the wagon please. I know you'd rather run alongside but just this once my friend."

Assuming, of course, that the wagon can hold us all

"You don't have to tell me twice!" Barak tosses up anyone who needs help clambering in the wagon, and then gets in himself.

Bee also wastes no time in helping to get what they can loaded into the wagon and ready to go, though she also tries to keep an eye out for any advance troops that might already be reaching the town.

Scout gently picks up Bee in his jaws and hops up onto the cart. He sets her down in a corner and sits beside her like a big teddy cat.

It doesn't take a lot of urging for Desert Wind to start moving away from the town and the approaching undead. The wagon is a little crowded with the statue and the corpses, but it can hold those who prefer to ride.

The return trip to Caliphas is surprisingly mundane. The Pathfinders don’t have any tasks other than to get home in one piece, so they can carefully maneuver the Gravelands to avoid both challenging terrain as well as any lingering patrols, taking the time they need with any cargo they have.

When the field agents arrive back at the Vodavani Lodge, they see Venture-Captain Evni Zongnoss casting healing spells on and fussing over a few Pathfinders whom she and her team extracted during their mission into the Gravelands. She greets the teamm, solemnly listens to their debriefing of the slain Pathfinders they encountered, and eagerly welcomes any discoveries they uncovered. She asks that the Pathfinders return any belongings of the Pathfinders they found so they could be delivered to the fallen’s families—notably the Pathfinders’ wayfinders.

The documents and texts the Pathfinders return are all of great use to the Society, but the statue in particular amazes Evni, to the point that she wonders out loud the effort required to transport such a thing across the Gravelands.

When she meets Larraz, Evni also offers to either return him back home to Katapesh or to look for more peaceful locations to reassign him. Larraz politely declines the invitation for further adventures, at least for now, wishing only to return home to his family and take a long break.

Other Pathfinder agents representing the Envoys’ Alliance faction will later return the remains of the fallen Pathfinders to their families across the world. This team has earned some downtime, and Evni happily assigns that responsibility to others.