[PFS2] 1-13 Devil At The Crossroads (GM Watery Soup, Table 2) (Inactive)

Game Master Watery Soup

For a dwarf, Hancock can more pretty fast. Before you know it he has crossed the distance and started swinging all over again. His slouch is completely gone and there is a wide eyed grin on his face, replacing his usual sour and sullen look. His swings are a bit haphazard though. Almost as if he wants the battle to go on.

to hit maul: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (4) + 11 = 15
Using a hero point to reroll
to hit maul: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19
damage maul; bludgeoning damage: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (2, 5) + 4 = 11
4 additional damage with electrical, arcane, and evocation traits on a hit
-
to hit maul, iterative1: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 11 - 5 = 14
damage maul; bludgeoning damage: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (12, 12) + 4 = 28
4 additional damage with electrical, arcane, and evocation traits on a hit

**sudden charge (2 moves and an attack for two actions)
*attack

Retributive Strike

1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

2d12 + 4 ⇒ (11, 5) + 4 = 20 slashing

Retcon: Kidron successfully slashes the Ascendant before they disappear.

The Carnelian Signet smashes a bottle of Holy Water in the Ascendant's face, burning them, although it provides a cool, refreshing splash to her and Corona.

Fingo heals himself. Sure, I'll roll Recall about the environment in general.

Fingo understands that the hellscape that the Pathfinders find themselves in is a metastable landscape, a temporary morphing of the inn to suit the wisher's needs. However, it is not permanent, and in a few rounds, the magical forces holding this all together will inevitably collapse. There's a time limit to this encounter, although it's possible you will defeat them outright before then. The dais is a normal part of the hellscape, a perch on which the Ascendant can retreat and a tower which they can defend. That they haven't retreated there suggests they are still comfortable about their chances of defeating their foes.

Hancock speeds to the Ascendant's new location, but he can't land a blow. Hancock, I don't see your icon moved, although I'm having trouble refreshing the map, so maybe I'm just on a cached version.

Kidron, you still have your actions from this turn.

--Round 4
Cal (52/52)
Kidron (50/60)
Corona (38/38, bless 10')
The Carnelian Signet (38/38)
Red Zombie (-49 hp, positive x1)
Yellow Zombie (-32 hp, positive x2)
Green Zombie (-46 hp, positive x1, slashing x1)
Blue Zombie (-26 hp, positive x2, slashing x1)
Magenta Zombie (-26 hp, positive x2, slashing x1)
Hancock (70/70, temp HP 2/7, diseased)
Fingo (27/44)
--Round 5
The Ascendant (-96 hp, bludgeoning x2, slashing x2, piercing x1, good x2, Recall: Religion)

The paladin moves up, determined to bring this devil down for the honor and glory of Ragatheil, casts weapon surge as he advances

IMP, we would have words with thee, words with this blade, the sacred symbol of Ragathiel! FOR HONOR! FOR VENGENCE! FOR RAGATHIEL!
1d20 + 11 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 11 + 1 + 1 = 27 +1 bless and +1 for weapon surge

3d12 + 4 ⇒ (9, 11, 9) + 4 = 33 Slashing

Hancock speeds to the Ascendant's new location, but he can't land a blow. Hancock, I don't see your icon moved, although I'm having trouble refreshing the map, so maybe I'm just on a cached version.

[ooc]If I did forget to move him, someone else did and right the spot I intended.

Kidron casually strides up and makes a massive hit on the Ascendant. They look gravely wounded, but still defiant.

--Round 4
Cal (52/52)
Kidron (50/60)
Corona (38/38, bless 10')
The Carnelian Signet (38/38)
Red Zombie (-49 hp, positive x1)
Yellow Zombie (-32 hp, positive x2)
Green Zombie (-46 hp, positive x1, slashing x1)
Blue Zombie (-26 hp, positive x2, slashing x1)
Magenta Zombie (-26 hp, positive x2, slashing x1)
Hancock (70/70, temp HP 2/7, diseased)
Fingo (27/44)
--Round 5
The Ascendant (-129 hp, bludgeoning x2, slashing x3, piercing x1, good x2, Recall: Religion)

Though she doesn't appreciate having danger so close, Corona holds her ground and further extends the range of her blessing. She then focuses her magic and attempts to drive a lance of spiritual energy into the Ascendant!

Divine Lance (Bless): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 + 1 = 17
Damage (Spirit): 3d4 ⇒ (3, 2, 3) = 8
______________

◆ Concentrate to expand Bless
◆◆ Cast Divine Lance

Corona stands firm, blessing even more people around her. Unfortunately, her divine lance misses.

Botting Cal.

◆◆ Stride, Stride
◆ Strike

Bastard Sword: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (3) + 13 = 16
Slashing, 2-handed: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 6) + 4 = 12

Cal misses as well, and the Ascendant, very badly injured, dimension-doors out. But not before swinging a parting shot at 1d5 ⇒ 3 poor Corona.

Flaming Mace: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
Bludgeoning: 1d6 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 plus Fire: 1d6 ⇒ 6 plus Evil: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Again, assuming Kidron uses his reaction, he gets a swing, and Corona will take 6 less bludgeoning (16 goes through), 6 less fire (6 goes through), and 6 less evil (4 goes through).

Unless Kidron's Retributive Strike knocks it out, the Ascendant reappears on the dais.

--Round 5
Cal (52/52)
Kidron (50/60, Retributive Strike from Round 4)
Corona (12/38, bless 15')
The Carnelian Signet (38/38)
Red Zombie (-49 hp, positive x1)
Yellow Zombie (-32 hp, positive x2)
Green Zombie (-46 hp, positive x1, slashing x1)
Blue Zombie (-26 hp, positive x2, slashing x1)
Magenta Zombie (-26 hp, positive x2, slashing x1)
Hancock (70/70, temp HP 2/7, diseased)
Fingo (27/44)
--Round 6
The Ascendant (-129 hp, bludgeoning x2, slashing x3, piercing x1, good x2, Recall: Religion)

Corona uses her magic to heal Corona.

Heal: 2d8 + 16 ⇒ (4, 4) + 16 = 24

"You took the hit like a champ, dear."

Then she Strides towards the dais. "Your mountain of power is looking more like an anthill, dear!"

Hancock spins on a silver and before you know it he has joined the creature up on the dais (barring protective measures). And once again he setlles into his traditional back and forth swings. Only this time he means business and smacks the thing with gusto.

to hit maul: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (20) + 11 = 31 CRIT!
damage maul; bludgeoning damage: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (6, 3) + 4 = 13
4 additional damage with electrical, arcane, and evocation traits on a hit
-
to hit maul, iterative1: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 11 - 5 = 14
damage maul; bludgeoning damage: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (11, 6) + 4 = 21
4 additional damage with electrical, arcane, and evocation traits on a hit

**sudden charge (2 moves and an attack for two actions)
*attack

"Ah, the Ascendant's 20 feet up... you'll have to climb up there first." The Carnelian Signet watches Hancock rush off.

Retributibe Stirike
1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 11 + 1 = 25
2d12 + 4 ⇒ (5, 6) + 4 = 15 slashing

In the event that Kidron's strike isn't enough to finish it off...

"Oww..."

Corona scowls up at the Ascendant. "That wasn't very nice!"

She continues to expand the range of her blessing and tries once more to strike the thing with a lance of spiritual energy...

Divine Lance (Bless): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 = 27
Damage (Spirit): 3d4 ⇒ (1, 1, 3) = 5
______________

◆ Concentrate to expand Bless
◆◆ Cast Divine Lance

The retribution of Ragathiel is swift and mighty, and as the Ascendant Strikes Corona, Kidron slices them in half.

--End of Combat

Linneus’s essence diffuses back into the trading post, spent but not destroyed. The massive hellscape slowly morphs back to the familiar trading post. Any other effects created by the ascendant immediately dissipate, and the Pathfinders find themselves back in the basement.

Annavinia extinguishes the black flames of the candle with her blood, and the whole house falls eeriely silent. Suddenly, the house begins shaking violently, and begins collapsing. The Pathfinders rush outside and see the final acts of implosion.

Zirzip appears and says, "It was a pleasure doing business with you," and vanishes in a puff of red smoke.

As the sun rises over the ruins of Devil’s Rest, the survivors gather to take stock of their injuries and mourn their losses. Maeri, who passed the night in the stable tending her faithful horses, surveys the destruction with a stoic expression and remarks, “I reckon we’d best head back to Nerosyan.”

If the Pathfinders invite any of the survivors to share their return journey, the NPCs accept enthusiastically, and Maeri grumbles about overworking her animals.

In Nerosyan, the Pathfinders reunite with Venture-Captain Jorsal of Lauterbury to report their findings. Jorsal solemnly listens to the report and commends them for their resourcefulnes.

"The purification of the site will undoubtedly impress the Farheaven Clan, but also members of the Vigilant Seal faction, and other groups dedicated to eradicating corruption across Golarion," he explains.

As word spreads, the Pathfinders’ success is certain to inspire new alliances and cow potential enemies.

--End of scenario!

Feel free to continue roleplaying, but that's the official end of the scenario.

As the Pathfinders take to the road, Fingo looks at the collapsed Inn disappearing in the distance, lost in thoughts.

Do you think that she came here for this artifact? Dehliana, I mean. Or did she just take the opportunity to try and avoid the consequences of her actions? It is such a... drastic choice to make. Though maybe she did not know how the artifact would twist her wish...
Fingo sighs wistfully.
Maybe she just wanted divine magic? Silly to hope for a consequence-free boon from Chelaxian artifacts though...

Hancock just shakes his head thinking if I was one of the criminals he would be slipping away to parts unknown.

"Another deluded fool, that Dehliana. Playing tricks is fine but taking lives is another story. Now her soul is lost to the Forges of Hell." She gives a swift eulogy, but she's not in the mood.

"Annavinia, come with us back to Nerosyan. I have many stories to tell of those from Cheliax who are trying to figure out their heritage. My employer would love to hear more from you, if you are able."

She turns to Fingo. "When you are willing to take lives like that, logic has already left the building. The only question was if she knew about this already, or was she tempted once we entered..."

The paladin will offer to escort anyone who would like to return with them back to their destination.

"Do you think that she came here for this artifact? Dehliana, I mean."

"The only question was if she knew about this already, or was she tempted once we entered..."

Piecing together Kellvan's investigation would produce no evidence that Dehliana knew about the artifact before she arrived. She was being pursued for relatively petty thefts, and swindling old ladies level scandals.

Annavinia would confirm that the very existence of the artifact was difficult to piece together - if not for her family heritage, she wouldn't have had the tenacity to pursue it. She argues that Dehliana was just at the wrong place at the wrong time.

As I've alluded to before, the characters here almost certainly had way more backstory and motivation in the author's mind than made it to the page. I agree it seems like a drastic measure - in fact, it seems (to me) far more in character for Annavinia to be the one to seize the opportunity.

Yeah, I misinterpreted the start of the encounter and thought Annavinia was going to abuse the artifact, only for Dehliana to beat her initiative.

"Then she was tempted. Ziprip made out like a bandit today." The Carnelian Signet grumbles.

"My employer, Issil Telfae. Her grandmother was part of the Tannessen family, minor nobles in Cheliax. In her youth she was quite the firestarter, and was kicked out of her home for being too unmotivated. She saw the folly of bargains with devils, and left. She joined the Silver Ravens, another group of rambunctious troublemakers, and made her mark."

"Grandmother eventually settled down, for a certain definition of settled. Issil loved hearing her many stories, as well as a reminder to be confident in your own strength. Free power is quite expensive- are you willing to pay the price?"

"No, I suppose not," mourns Annavinia. "I suppose magical artifacts aren't all fun and games, like we read about in the books."