☠ Season of Ghosts w/ DM rainzax ☠

Game Master rainzax

Blue Acolyte bends down and chants a short verse, breaking repetition of the chorus of chanting, and the Altar of Blood continues to glow with deathly palor.

Blue Acolyte
◆) Sustain Ritual
◆◆) Steal Face (30 feet)

He turns around and points at Sigurd "You shall help me to See!"

Sigurd to Fortitude Save (DC ??) vs lower level [curse] [incapacitation] [polymorph] effect!

Red Acolyte breaks from the ritual and drawing his staff, points it at Auntie Wu - dark energy coils forth to consume her "Soon, you shall join them!" he points to the Wall of Ghosts!

Red Acolyte
◆) Interact to Draw
◆◆) Cast a Spell

Auntie Wu to Fortitude Save (DC ??) vs [void] effect!

...it appears that Kazuki's mom is slumbering...

...Sustained by one Acolyte, the Altar of Blood appears to be quietly dormant for now...

One "ghost" seems to leap from the Wall of Ghosts and approach Auntie Wu or Sigurd?: 1d4 ⇒ 4 Sigurd!

Sigurd to make a DC 30 Will save vs [emotion] [fear] [psychic]!

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Interrupting the Ritual of Sacrificial Appeasement

Reactions: Ready
Lighting: Bright Light
Terrain: Trees and Stumps are Obstacles, Fallen Logs are Difficult Terrain and can provide Take Cover
Monster ID (Acolytes): Occultism or Society (DC 15)
Monster ID (Zoudou): Occultism, Religion, or Society (DC ??)
Getting Kazuki's mom's attention (◆): You may attempt a skill check of some sort to rouse her
Ritual Disable (◆◆): Occultism or Religion (DC ???) from Adjacent to Altar of Blood
Ritual Statistics: Failed Sustainments (none), Disable Threshold (???)
Ritual ID (◆): Occultism or Religion
Wall of Mists: All creatures inside are Undetected

Kazuki
Lan
Auntie Wu @ 1x Fortitude pending!
Zoudou w/ Sacrificial Dagger
Green Acolyte (AC 15) w/ Staff
Black Acolyte (AC 15) @ Fleeing ?!
Sigurd @ 1x Fortitude, 1x Will pending!
Vekka
Blue Acolyte (AC 15) @ -17 scorch
Red Acolyte (AC 15) w/ Staff
Kazuki's mom
Ritual
Wall of Ghosts

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Kazuki, Lan, and Auntie Wu are Up!

Sigurd's thoughts focus on the ritual. It must be stopped, but how does it work?

I'll take the first question from each bullet point (the in universe-wise question.) If it's too vague, use the second question for the game mechanics I'm trying to get.
- Roughly, how long would it take to complete the ritual? How many successes would it take?
- Is it easier to disable with Religion or Occultism? What is the DC?

The ghost face in the Blue cloak faces Sigurd and for a moment it feels like Sigurd is looking at a mirror. Is that his face? What's happening?

Fort: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19
"Bah! I have no time for your parlor tricks, ghost!" Sigurd tries to steady his breath.

The crimson wall reaches out and touches his very mind.
Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (15) + 9 = 24

He steels himself to the best of his ability, but it is horrifying.
Failure, Frightened 1

Even from far away, the Eternal Lantern somehow shines upon the party!

Don't forget to incorporate the item bonus to skill checks in your character sheets and macros!

"Ah, it must be tiring to sustain this ritual for days and nights. You would have completed it tonight had we not intervened." Sigurd struggles to maintain his bravery against the wall of wailing ghosts.

"Kill the one in Blue first. If no one sustains the ritual it weakens. If you are knowledgeable in Religion or Occultism, you can also try to disable it. Both skills are equally useful here."

Feel free to open the Ritual's spoiler.

Kazuki hears Sigurd call out to take out the cultist in blue. He moves forward and hops up on the fallen tree trunk to get a bit of high ground to fire off shots from his bow. He looks for weak points in the blue cultist's armor, marking him as his prey.
He then fires off two shots from his bow flowing with gravitational power...

Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 1st increment, deadly d10) vs Target: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 231d8 ⇒ 11d10 ⇒ 8
Gravity Weapon (status bonus first damage roll): 2 = 2
Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, ignore 1st increment, deadly d10) w/ MAP (-3) vs Target: 1d20 + 10 - 3 ⇒ (4) + 10 - 3 = 111d8 ⇒ 51d10 ⇒ 6

"Don't worry, mom! We'll have you out of there soon!" he shouts.
Worried about his mother, he calls out to Sigurd and Auntie at the front lines, who may be able to see his mom.
"Is my mother okay!?! Auntie and Sigurd!!! Can you see my mother!?! How is she!?!"

◆ stride
◆ hunt prey
◆ hunted shot.

Blue goes down to Kazuki's arrow!

Lan and Auntie Wu!

Flames continue swirling about Lan.

◆◆◆ Scorching Ray

Scorching Ray vs Red: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18
Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 5, 2) = 9

Scorching Ray vs Zoudou, no MAP: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 4, 3) = 11

Scorching Ray vs Green, no MAP: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25
Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (1, 2, 4, 2) = 9

Fortitude Save (DC ??) vs void effect: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Auntie Wu blanches as Zoudou gives orders to take her alive, but she does not flee. I'll be better able to resist it than she is. And maybe switching us out will buy us some time! That does complicate her plan to get to the altar to counteract their ritual, though. Then it occurs to her: she has no idea what Zoudou is truly capable of. She gives the cult leader a closer look.

Religion to ID Zoudou: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 26
Includes Item bonus from Eternal Lantern

"Is my mother okay!?! Auntie and Sigurd!!! Can you see my mother!?! How is she!?!"

"I see her, Kazuki! She looks unconscious!" She shouts back to him.

◆ Recall Knowledge, and saving my other two actions in case learning about Zoudou would affect her choices.

Auntie Wu - success earns you one question!

What special abilities does Zoudou have?

Lan's bolts toast all three targets - who all remain standing!

"This one seems to be a problem too" Zoudou indicates to the sorcerer "You, kill him" she commands Green "You, grab the sacrifice!" she commands to Red.

Auntie Wu (w/ ◆◆) is Up!

"This one seems to be a problem too" Zoudou indicates to the sorcerer "You, kill him" she commands Green

Lan smiles to himself. Next to striking the ritualists dead, pulling them away is certainly the second best option.

On an unrelated note, his pants do feel a little wet. He must have splashed himself with water on the way here.

Well, if they want me, they'll have to grab me first! Desperate to survive this fight, Auntie Wu casts Grease on her armor in the hopes that they won't be able to hold onto her. She immediately wishes she'd thought to cast it on Kazuki's mother instead, but second (third?) guesses herself, because that would've made it hard to carry her to safety.

◆◆ Cast a spell

Green Acolyte, heeding his master's order, heads towards Lan, and send a mental jolt at him!

Green Acolyte
◆) Stride
◆◆) Cast a Spell

Lan to Will Save (DC 16) vs [illusion] [mental] effect!

Basic Will Save (2d4 mental): 2d4 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5

Black Acolyte, meanwhile, turns sudden tail, and runs [url=https://paizo.com/campaigns/v5748p75ivn2u/gameplay&page=29#1443]back into the Wall of Ghosts - disappearing once more!

Black Acolyte
◆◆◆) Stride... Poof!

Zoudou points her dagger at the Altar of Blood - sustaining the ritual herself - before whirling on Auntie Wu "If I can't have your eyes, neither can you!" pointing her dagger at the druid, she making two carvng motions in their air, and utters a foul incantation!

Zoudou
◆) Sustain Ritual
◆◆) Cast a Spell

Auntie Wu to Fortitude Save (DC ??) vs a higher level [incapacitation] effect!

Auntie Wu gets greasy and Lan gets wet.

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Interrupting the Ritual of Sacrificial Appeasement

Lighting: Bright Light
Terrain: Trees and Stumps are Obstacles, Fallen Logs are Difficult Terrain and can provide Take Cover
Monster ID (Acolytes): Occultism or Society (DC 15)
Monster ID (Zoudou): Occultism, Religion, or Society (DC ??)
Getting Kazuki's mom's attention (◆): You may attempt a skill check of some sort to rouse her
Ritual Disable (◆◆): Occultism or Religion (DC ???) from Adjacent to Altar of Blood
Ritual Statistics: Failed Sustainments (none), Disable Threshold (???)
Ritual ID (◆): Occultism or Religion
Wall of Mists: All creatures inside are Undetected

Kazuki
Lan @ 1x Will pending!
Auntie Wu w/ Greasy armor @ 1x Fortitude pending!
Zoudou w/ Sacrificial Dagger @ -11 scorch
Green Acolyte (AC 15) w/ Staff @ -9 scorch
Black Acolyte (AC 15) @ Fleeing ?! @ Disappeared into Wall of Ghosts (again)
Sigurd
Vekka
Red Acolyte (AC 15) w/ Staff @ -9 scorch @ Commanded to grab Kazuki's mom
Kazuki's mom
Ritual
Wall of Ghosts

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Sigurd and Vekka are Up!

Will: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (14) + 7 = 21

Lan resists whatever foul magic was cast on him, but he persists!

The leader Zoudou is within his grasp. He steps forward and raises his katana.

An >Potency Crystal< burns away as he swings...

Katana: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 20
Slashing: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (6, 1) + 3 = 10

Katana: 1d20 + 8 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 8 - 5 + 1 = 18
Slashing: 2d6 + 3 ⇒ (3, 2) + 3 = 8

◆ Step
◇ Activate Potency Crystal
◆ Strike
◆ Strike

Vekka rushes up behind the creature antagonizing Auntie Wu and attempts to strike from behind.

◆ Stride
◆ Stride
I believe that gets him through the difficult terrain and a little further.

As he gets closer he begins to hold his breath, hoping he can catch his target in the fog of war.
Not really sneaking, just flavor for the intention of his approach from behind.

Without a second thought he slashes down at it.

◆ Strike: +1 katana attack GREEN (flanking), slashing damage (one-handed, runic weapon): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 182d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 6) + 4 = 16
deadly damage IFF crit: 1d8 ⇒ 4

After he exhales and shouts at Auntie Wu

Don't let yourself get caught between them. Draw them this way!

Vekka cuts down green - a no face head lands at his side…

…But Zoudiu merely laughs at Sigurd, parrying his attacks with her sacrificial dagger ”A little fight in this one - I shall deal with him myself!” narrating as if being watched by a ”Great Spirit - I have given you my toil” looks at her fallen acolytes ”And I have given you blood” she swells with pride ”I am ready for my final test, to prove I am worthy of passing through The Wall!”

Oops, I forgot I was Frightened 1. I missed a lot so it wouldn't have mattered this turn.

The woman parries his attacks. Sigurd has to admire her swordplay, compared to the others.

There is a merit to her zeal, as well. The "Great Spirit" reminds him of his joy of the sun. Shizuru's might shines upon him.

Is she doing all of this to seek passage beyond the ghastly wall? "So much blood, just to exit? What is so important about this Wall? What will your Great Spirit do with those caught behind the wall?"

Mad with zealous ambition, Zoudou seizes the opportunity to prostheletize ”Fool! Can you not see that this Thin Facsimile is but Transitory? Beyond The Wall, the Worthy may finally Wake into the Real World! Alas, the Great Spirit shall only permit such Worthy to Pass. Blood of the Unworthy is a small price to pay, and besides, it matters not!” her words begin to permeate Sigurd’s entire sense of self - could the mad woman’s words be true?! - she reiterates ”Only what Comes Next matters!”

Fortitude Save (DC ??) vs a higher level [incapacitation: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (6) + 9 = 15
Hero Point reroll: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
Sigh. It was meant to be.

Red Acolyte moves towards Kazuki's mom, opening the cage...

"Kill her - we'll take this one in her stead!" Zoudou points to Auntie Wu laughing as the druid's eyes go completely black!

Auntie Wu is Blinded!

He strikes her with his staff, a sharp blunt to the head, and she begins to bleed out!

◆) Stride
◆) Interact
◆) Strike

Kazuki's mom is Dying 1!

...asleep, and now with significant head trauma, the old woman doesn't appear to be long for this world...

Moving initiative to just before Red Acolyte

...Sustained by one Zoudou herself, the Altar of Blood appears to be quietly dormant for now...

The Wall of Ghosts lashes out once more!

This time, an apparition seems to head straight for Auntie Wu, Sigurd, or Vekka?: 1d6 ⇒ 2 Auntie Wu sending a chill up her spine and turning one of her hairs stark white!

Auntie Wu - please make the Will save described HERE with a bonus for Averting your Gaze!

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Interrupting the Ritual of Sacrificial Appeasement

Lighting: Bright Light
Terrain: Trees and Stumps are Obstacles, Fallen Logs are Difficult Terrain and can provide Take Cover
Monster ID (Acolytes): Occultism or Society (DC 15)
Monster ID (Zoudou): Occultism, Religion, or Society (DC ??)
Getting Kazuki's mom's attention (◆): You may attempt a skill check of some sort to rouse her
Ritual Disable (◆◆): Occultism or Religion (DC ???) from Adjacent to Altar of Blood
Ritual Statistics: Failed Sustainments (none), Disable Threshold (???)
Ritual ID (◆): Occultism or Religion
Wall of Mists: All creatures inside are Undetected
Cage: Unlocked / Open

Kazuki
Lan @ -2 mindpain
Auntie Wu w/ Greasy armor @ Blinded @ Will save pending!
Zoudou w/ Sacrificial Dagger @ -11 scorch
Green Acolyte (AC 15) w/ Staff @ -9 scorch
Black Acolyte (AC 15) @ Fleeing ?! @ Disappeared into Wall of Ghosts (again)
Sigurd
Vekka
Kazuki's mom @ Dying 1
Red Acolyte (AC 15) w/ Staff @ -9 scorch
Ritual
Wall of Ghosts

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Kazuki, Lan, and Auntie Wu are Up!

Lan fights the urge to turn tail and run. Instead, he moves forward!

And blasts out his final rays of fire for the day.

Scorching Ray vs Red: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (20) + 10 = 30
Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (2, 6, 1, 4) = 13

Scorching Ray vs Zoudou, no MAP: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
Fire: 4d6 ⇒ (4, 4, 3, 6) = 17
It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. But Lan can't end his flamefest with a nat 1.

Scorching Ray vs Zoudou, Hero Point Reroll: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

"Kazuki! I can almost reach your mom!"

A gout of flame engulfs Red, leaving behind only ash…

…Zoudou remains unscathed!

”May have to deal with you next…”

Vekka's heart races as he watches Kazuki's mother be struck down, and then Auntie Wu's eyes go black.

This is not going well! It's time to focus on disrupting the ritual...

Looks like Sound Body gives a chance to counteract Blindness. Restoration doesn't affect it. Pity.

Will DC 30 vs. Wall of Ghosts, gaze averted, Gutsy: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 2 = 33
WAHOO!! Immunity for a day!

"Thanks, Zoudou!" Auntie Wu taunts. Unable to see, she can't tell how badly Kazuki's mom is hurt, but she heard the order and the sickening thud of blunt force trauma to what sounded like a skull, followed by heart-rending silence. She's in range! I can heal her! She sends healing power to the spot where Kazuki's mom was lying, then casts Guidance on herself.

The Heal spell doesn't say you need to be able to see the target to heal them. If you rule that she can't target Kazuki's mom while blind, she'll use a 3 action heal instead, despite the risk of healing the baddies, and not cast Guidance.

Healing for Kazuki's mom, level 1: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

◆◆ Cast a spell, ◆ Cast a spell

Sadly, Sigurd has Cleanse Affliction and Cleanse Mind, but NOT Sound Body.

Sigurd watches Auntie Wu lose focus, and how she's focusing on her hearing. Kazuki's mother is injured, badly. So many to help. And Zoudou must be stopped!

"Kazuki! I can almost reach your mom!"

"Just this last one to take out and we can rescue her!" he calls back.

He glares at Zoudou, then calls out to her,
"How dare you kidnap an old woman. You hurt my mother. You will die!"
He designates the leader of the cultists as his prey and takes careful aim. He fires an arrow past Sigurd's left ear.

Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, deadly d10) vs Zoudou & Hunter's Aim: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 = 161d8 ⇒ 61d10 ⇒ 8
Gravity Weapon (status bonus first damage roll): 2 = 2

Hero Point...
Potent Longbow (P, 100-ft, deadly d10) vs Zoudou & Hunter's Aim: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 = 131d8 ⇒ 21d10 ⇒ 2
Gravity Weapon (status bonus first damage roll): 2 = 2
Pfft. Lame.

◆ hunt prey (Zoudou)
◆◆ Hunter's aim

Kazuki's arrows misses by a longshot - his emotions perhaps unable to steady his hand.

The lone cultist replies to him "I intend to!" Zoudou snarks the ranger "Your mother, did you say?" her whole chest inflated with malicious excitement "How DELIGHTFUL!" she looks down as the dying woman "I'll tell you what: Let's make a deal! Your life, son, for hers. What do you say?" she clarifies "Tell your friends to leave, I will bind you, then I will set your mother free, and take your blood in her stead" she looks at the party "If you try to deceive me, I will know it!"

Her offer seems serious!

Critical Success!

Staring into the Wall of Ghosts with her mind's eye, Auntie Wu glimpses...

Per GM's strong hints in Discussion, Auntie Wu will use a 3 action Heal, which targets all living and undead creatures within 30 feet of her. I had originally intended to use the previous roll for that, subtracting the 8 extra healing points. If that's not acceptable, here's the reroll:

Blind, Auntie Wu opens a field of vital energy, bathing everyone - including Zoudou and the Wall of Ghosts! - in it, and stablizing Kazuki's mom as she lay in bad shape upon the ground.

+4 HPs everyone!

Could the mad woman's words be true!?

Zoudou, having planted a seed of doubt into Sigurd's mind, nurses it with subtle magicks...

"Could the mad woman's words be true!?..."
"Is everything I believe a lie!?..."
"Am I real!?..."

Sigurd, please make a Will save (DC ??) vs a [mental] effect!

6d8 ⇒ (2, 3, 8, 8, 4, 2) = 27

Will: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Are they truly damned? Am... I lost?

Sigurd's thoughts shatter as the ghost's rants dig into him. It isn't long until his doubt turns into pure pain!

The pain is metaphysical - but no less Real!

Sigurd has a full blown Crisis of Faith! (Fail, 27 damage)

Seizing the distraction, Zoudou capitalizes by shanking him with her wickedly barbed dagger!

◆◆) Cast a Spell
◆) Strike

Fiend's Hunger the Silver Sacrificial Dagger vs Sigurd (AC 20): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 222d4 + 4 ⇒ (1, 3) + 4 = 8

Sigurd Dying 1

Cutting him down where he stands, she prays!

“I offer thee my name, oh Great Kugaptee! Unbind me from those whom I called friends"
“I offer thee my blood, oh Great Kugaptee! Unbind me from those whom I called family"
“I offer thee my flesh, oh Great Kugaptee! Unbind me from my own mortal body"
“Lastly, I offer thee my soul, oh Great Kugaptee! Unbind me from that which was my fate”

The Altar of Blood, at her words, begins to swirl as ethereal wisps from the Wall of Ghosts gather into a gentle twister of crackling electrical spiritual energy, and move towards Sigurd's fallen form like grasping tendrils of malevolence!

Black Acolyte emerges again from the Wall of Ghosts - and seeing Lan, once again freezes in place!

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Interrupting the Ritual of Sacrificial Appeasement

Lighting: Bright Light
Terrain: Trees and Stumps are Obstacles, Fallen Logs are Difficult Terrain and can provide Take Cover
Monster ID (Acolytes): Occultism or Society (DC 15)
Monster ID (Zoudou): Occultism, Religion, or Society (DC ??)
Ritual Disable (◆◆): Occultism or Religion (DC ???) from Adjacent to Altar of Blood
Ritual Statistics: Failed Sustainments (none), Disable Threshold (???)
Ritual ID (◆): Occultism or Religion
Wall of Mists: All creatures inside are Undetected
Cage: Unlocked / Open

Kazuki
Lan @ -2 mindpain, +4 heal (full)
Auntie Wu w/ Greasy armor @ Blinded
Sigurd @ Stupified 1 (1-rnd) @ Dying 1, Dropped, Prone, Unconscious - Faithless!?
Zoudou w/ Sacrificial Dagger @ -11 scorch, +4 heal
Black Acolyte (AC 15) @ Fleeing !?
Vekka
Kazuki's mom @ Wounded 1, Stable @ +4
Ritual @ Energized!? Towards Sigurd!?
Wall of Ghosts @ Energized!? Towards Sigurd!?

☠☠☠ ☠☠☠ ☠☠☠

Vekka is Up!

Botting Vekka (wish me luck...)

Chilled that Sigurd was cut down so easily, Vekka advances on Zoudou and channels cold fury through his blade as it arcs toward her torso.

+1 katana attack GREEN (flanking): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 23
Slashing damage (one-handed, runic weapon): 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 6) + 4 = 11
deadly damage IFF crit: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Then he casts Shield in the hopes that he won't share Sigurd's fate.

◆ Stride, ◆ Strike, ◆ Cast a spell

Zoudou reels from the blow, suddenly exposing her gathered fatigue at casting a multi-day spell, but resolves herself to repeat the chant, hoping to complete the ritual before her demise!

“I offer thee my name, oh Great Kugaptee! Unbind me from those whom I called friends"
“I offer thee my blood, oh Great Kugaptee! Unbind me from those whom I called family"
“I offer thee my flesh, oh Great Kugaptee! Unbind me from my own mortal body"
“Lastly, I offer thee my soul, oh Great Kugaptee! Unbind me from that which was my fate”

The Altar of Blood, drawing closer to Sigurd, stalls a moment here, it's primary (and incidentally: last) caster stretching her attention too thin despite her chanting. It's energy dwindles slightly, like a bonfire receding in grandeur into a mere campfire, waiting to be stoked with more fuel...

Zoudou's lapse in Sustaining "counts" as a single Success to Disable!