Zero's Q15: In the Footsteps of Horror (Inactive)

Game Master Super Zero

"Pests!" Swix swats.

Missing, he aims his cane and KAPLOWIE!!!

Esoteric Lore (Expert) vs Cyan Arisen Shadow Pixie: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (11) + 10 = 21

◆) Exploit Vulnerability
◆) Strike
◆) Reload
↺) Empathetic Plea

Cane Pistol of Potency (Concussive, 30-ft) vs Cyan Arisen Shadow Pixie: 1d20 + 7 - 2 ⇒ (10) + 7 - 2 = 151d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4 plus Mortal Weakness or Personal Antithesis (3)

Swix is more successful than the arisen pixie. He determines that while this creature is undead, it is still most vulnerable to what most fey are--cold iron. His actual attack is just slightly off, nicking the ladder between him and his target and deflecting off-course.
Cold Iron weakness 3. Attack misses due to cover.

The next one moves up around the corner. The darkness around it melts away as it approaches within Swix's lantern light. For a moment it only looks surprised, and then lashes out in rage. It takes no notice of his plea as it stabs him with its rapier rather badly; he avoids the claw, though.
Its aura can counteract light effects, but only those of its level or lower. Swix's lantern is level 3--too high! Empathic Plea is a critical failure.
* Stride, * Strike rapier: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 for 2x(slashing damage: 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (6) - 1 = 5 and 3 cold damage) plus deadly: 1d8 ⇒ 3 (total of 19 damage, * Strike Claw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (12) + 5 = 17

Macondi's turn.
Initiative:
Cyan Arisen Shadow Pixie
Swix (20/39)
Yellow Arisen Shadow Pixie
Macondi (26/26)
Magenta Elite Shadow Pixie
Basag (34/34)
>- Salagubang (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy (17/17)

"Kinda close quarters in here for fighting a bunch of things," Macondi comments in a conversational tone. He lobs a glob of energy past Basag and Swix to that same Pixie that Swix shot.

Positive damage Basic Fortitude DC 17: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

He also looks curiously at these pixies trying to remember or figure out anything strange that they may do. He speaks a few quick words to invoke some magical assistance while doing so.

Scholarly Recollection (fortune effect), Recall Knowledge Religion/Occultism/Arcana +5 (with Dubious Knowledge if that still fails). Special attacks?

◆◆ Disrupt Undead, ↺ Scholarly Recollection, ◆ Recall Knowledge

Fortitude: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 Critical failure

Macondi's spell seems to be extremely effective. This exact combination of fey magic and undeath seems rare at best, but he's still able to extrapolate some from what he knows and has observed so far. Just as the shadowy auras around them seem to impose darkness, they drain warmth and oppose cold. Their attacks freeze as much as they physically damage, and they can hurl coldness to attack from range.
Adding cold damage to their melee strikes, and having a ranged strike that deals cold, is the only thing special about their attacks.

The third fairy, wearing a dress that may have been pink or purple before the color was drained from it, moves into the room. It hurls motes of cold at both Macondi and Strix. Or at least in their general directions.
* Stride, * Strike Macondi shadow spark: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14, * Strike Strix shadow spark (MAP): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

Basag, Pennypockets, and Mandy's turns.
Initiative:
Cyan Arisen Shadow Pixie (-12, Enfeebled 1)
Swix (20/39)
Yellow Arisen Shadow Pixie
Macondi (26/26)
Magenta Elite Shadow Pixie
Basag (34/34)
>- Salagubang (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy (17/17)

"Cold and cold," Macondi says as he processes the information that he gained. "If anyone can no-cold, no-cold is good."

Penny starts chanting again as he ducks forward, crossbow in hand.

"Go away,
Nasty Fey,
We don't like you anyway.
We will fight,
We will bite,
Send you to the long goodnight.
You will cry,
You will die,
You will end up in a pie!"

Then tries shooting on in the face.

Attack Cyan.
Crossbow, Inspire.
Attack 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 7 + 1 = 19
Damage 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

◆ Inspire Courage (+1 to hit and damage)
◆ Move
◆ Attack - Crossbow.

This time the shot hits, and the pixie screeches as a thick, dark liquid seeps from its wound.
A hit, and it's bloodied.

Basag and Mandy's turns.
Initiative:
Cyan Arisen Shadow Pixie (-21, bloodied, Enfeebled 1)
Swix (20/39)
Yellow Arisen Shadow Pixie
Macondi (26/26)
Magenta Elite Shadow Pixie
Basag (34/34)
>- Salagubang (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy (17/17)

Mandy plants her sling staff on the floor and fires a bullet at Cyan, trying to thread the needle by sending the bullet between the ladder rungs.

Halfling Sling Staff, 80' range, reload 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26 for Bludgeoning Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Doubled on Crit

She whoops in delight as her bullet whacks it right in the face. She reloads and fires again.

Halfling Sling Staff, 80' range, reload 1, MAP: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 1 = 12 for Bludgeoning Damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9 Doubled on Crit

This time her bullet glances off one of the rungs and misses Swix's nose by inches.

◆ Strike
◆ Reload
◆ Whiff

A crit, which drops it, and a miss.

With a *twhack* the fallen fey falls once more, and begins to melt away into shadow.

Basag and Swix's turns.
Initiative:
Swix (20/39)
Yellow Arisen Shadow Pixie
Macondi (26/26)
Magenta Elite Shadow Pixie
Basag (34/34)
>- Salagubang (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy (17/17)

Swix blows the the smoking barrel of his cane, steps forward, and shanks Pink!

"You, Pest, I swat" he says to Pink, but to Yellow "Don't you fly by me!"

◆) Step
◆) Exploit Vulnerability vs Pink
◆) Strike
↺) Empathetic Plea vs Yellow

Cane Pistol of Potency (Blunt, Critical Fusion) vs Pink Pixie: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 181d6 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10 plus Mortal Weakness or Personal Antithesis (3)

Cane Pistol of Potency (1h) +9/+4 @ 1d6+5 B; Thrown (10-ft), Critical Fusion (+2 or Stun w/ Fort)

Esoteric Lore: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (19) + 10 = 29

Swix learns that the arisen pixie has the immunities one might expect of undead, and weaknesses common to both undead and fey.
Immunities death effects, disease,
mental, paralyzed, poison, unconscious; Weaknesses cold
iron 3, good holy 2

And he also stabs it!

Basag advances and hacks Yellow with his axe!
Dwarven War Axe Attack, IC vs Yellow: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 1 = 13
Damage, IC: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11 slashing damage

He then raises his shield

◆ Stride
◆ Strike
◆ Raise a Shield
↺ Attack of Opportunity Reactive Strike or ↺ Shield Block

The pixie obeys Swix's command and stays close to him, standing its ground. It lashes out first with its rapier and then its wicked claw. It takes no notice of any pleas, empathic or otherwise, but all the same its attacks don't quite manage to pierce his defenses. Hissing, it follows up with a swipe at Macondi--but it's clearly an afterthought and almost insulting for its low effort.

* Strike Macondi/Swix: 1d2 ⇒ 2 Rapier: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17, * Strike Macondi/Swix: 1d2 ⇒ 2 Claw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (14) + 5 = 19, * Strike Macondi/Swix: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Claw: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

Macondi's turn.
Initiative:
Swix (20/39)
Yellow Arisen Shadow Pixie
Macondi (26/26)
Magenta Elite Shadow Pixie (-13)
Basag (34/34)
>- Salagubang (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy (17/17)

"Nice shot, Mandy. Do that again." Macondi casts Guidance on Mandy with one hand and throws another blast of energy at one of the sprites with the other.

◆ Guidance, ◆◆ Disrupt Undead (Magenta)

Disrupt Undead Positive damage (+inspire) DC 17 basic Fortitude: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 4 + 1 = 6

Guidance: +1 status bonus to one attack roll, Perception check, saving throw, or skill check.

Fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

The stronger pixie resists the spell well. It steps up to strike at Swix from behind!
* Step, * Strike Rapier (Off-Guard: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (14) + 11 = 25 for piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 and cold damage: 3 = 3, * Strike Claw (MAP, Off-Guard): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26 for slashing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 and cold damage: 3 = 3

Basag, Pennypockets, Mandy, and Swix's turns.
Initiative:
Swix (5/39)
Yellow Arisen Shadow Pixie
Macondi (26/26)
Magenta Elite Shadow Pixie (-16)
Basag (34/34)
>- Salagubang (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy (17/17)

The goblin wails with glee as the opponents get close, his eyes ablaze with goblin wickedness as he chants his goblin song - so close they can feel the heat of his breath, the breath smelling uncharacteristically (for a goblin) like fresh mint.

"Now you're so close I can stab
Smash you like a busted crab
Take my sword and stab your eye
rip your wings so you can't fly
Break your bones because it's funny
Then I'll steal your pocket money!"

The goblin draws his sword and takes a stab!

Attack Magenta
Shortsword, Inspire.
Attack 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 7 + 1 = 25
Damage 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

◆ Inspire Courage (+1 to hit and damage)
◆ Draw
◆ Strike - Sword

Mandy charges forward, reloads her sling staff and fires at Magenta.

Halfling Sling Staff, 80' range, reload 1, Guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 1 = 24 for Bludgeoning Damage, CA: 1d10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 + 1 = 5 Doubled on Crit

Assuming that hit...

Mandy whoops in delight as her bullet smacks Magenta center-mass.

◆ Stride
◆ Reload
◆ Strike

"Come back where you came from!" Basag exclaims and slices at Yellow with his axe twice!
Dwarven War Axe Attack, IC vs Yellow: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 1 = 15
Damage, IC: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 4 + 1 = 8 slashing damage

Dwarven War Axe Attack, IC, MAP vs Yellow: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 1 - 5 = 10
Damage, IC: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 1 = 10 slashing damage

He then raises his shield again.

◆ Strike
◆ Strike
◆ Raise a Steel Shield (AC 21)
↺ Reactive Strike or ↺ Shield Block

Pennypockets hits and bloodies Magenta. Mandy also hits. Basag's first attack hits, though the second misses.

Penny stabs the undead fey, and draws a stream of thick, tarlike blood. Mandy also lands a shot against it. Meanwhile, Basag slashes at the other one with mixed results.

Swix's turn.
Initiative:
Swix (5/39)
Yellow Arisen Shadow Pixie (-8)
Macondi (26/26)
Magenta Elite Shadow Pixie (-25, bloodied)
Basag (34/34)
>- Salagubang (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy (17/17)

"Shoo Shoo" Shank Shank!

◆) Step
◆) Strike
◆) Strike
↺) Final Spite

Cane Pistol of Potency (Blunt, Critical Fusion) vs Pink Pixie (Flanked): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 101d6 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11 plus Mortal Weakness or Personal Antithesis (3)
Cane Pistol of Potency (Blunt, Critical Fusion) w/ MAP (-5) vs Pink Pixie (Flanked): 1d20 + 9 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 9 - 5 = 91d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8 plus Mortal Weakness or Personal Antithesis (3)

The leader of the pixies has found its stride, baring its sharp teeth as it blocks Swix's attacks.

The other giggles as it steps a bit farther from Swix and his light. The shadows around it are unusually deep.
It attacks Basag, but after a terribly clumsy thrust with its blade its claws scrape harmlessly against his shield.
* Step (into dim light, and concealed against anyone without Low-Light or Darkvision), * Strike Rapier: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10, * Strike Claw: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Macondi's turn.
Initiative:
Swix (5/39)
Yellow Arisen Shadow Pixie (-8)
Macondi (26/26)
Magenta Elite Shadow Pixie (-25, bloodied)
Basag (34/34)
>- Salagubang (26/26)
Pennypockets (26/26)
Mandy (17/17)

"Good I kept this. Here." Macondi casts Heal on Swix. Then hides behind his shield again.

Heal: 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

◆◆ Heal, ◆Raise Shield

>Shines his light on Macondi<

"Fool! I am preparing to Die!"

Thank you!

"Aren't we all?"

Of course ;)

The shadow pixie stabs at Swix and fails, before whirling and raking Penny with its claws. They bite into his skin, and he feels the bite of cold as well.
The fairy that whirls back the other way, out of its dangerous pinned position.
* Strike Swix/Pennypockets: 1d2 ⇒ 1 Rapier: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13, * Strike Claw: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 for slashing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 and cold damage: 3 = 3, * Step

Basag, Pennypockets, Mandy, and Swix's turns.
Initiative:
Swix (18/39)
Yellow Arisen Shadow Pixie (-8)
Macondi (26/26)
Magenta Elite Shadow Pixie (-25, bloodied)
Basag (34/34)
>- Salagubang (26/26)
Pennypockets (20/26)
Mandy (17/17)

"Hey, come back here!" Basag Steps into position as to avoid hitting the corner. He then slashes Yellow with his axe!
Dwarven War Axe Attack, IC vs Yellow: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 10 + 1 = 25
Damage, IC: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11 slashing damage

And one more time! Or to Pink if Yellow is eliminated from the first Strike
Dwarven War Axe Attack, IC, MAP vs Yellow: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 10 + 1 - 5 = 26
Damage, IC: 1d8 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 4 + 1 = 13 slashing damage

◆ Step
◆ Strike
◆ Strike
↺ Reactive Strike or ↺ Reactive Shield

Penny looks surprised at being stabbed, but it seems to have the effect of making him look even more vicious.

"You will get a nasty shock,
Bash your head in with a rock,
Goblins taunt and goblins mock,
You will be a laughing stock!"

With that, a rock flies with force at the Magenta pixie!

Telekinetic projectile, IC
Attack 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 + 1 = 21
Damage 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 4 + 1 = 11

◆ Inspire Courage (+1 to hit and damage)
◆◆ Spell - TK Projectile

Mandy steps forward, reloads her sling staff and shoots Magenta again.

Halfling Sling Staff, 80' range, reload 1, CA: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 6 + 1 = 14 for Bludgeoning Damage, CA: 1d10 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 + 1 = 4 Doubled on Crit

Unfortunately, her haste causes her bullet to go wide.

◆ Step
◆ Reload
◆ Whiff

With a pair of absolutely brutal attacks, Basag finishes off both pixies. Now that the unquiet dead laid to a final rest, there's little else of interest down here. A single key on a necklace hangs from a stray rung jutting out from the broken ladder, just out of reach of a typical human and a bit more out of reach of this shorter-than-average team.

One Pathfinder could lift a second to reach it, or someone could try to jump high enough--but given that Salagubang broke open the locked door upstairs, it may not be necessary.

Macondi peeks around his shield. "Dead, and dead, and dead, and not dead yet. Good." He notices the key, but doesn't show much interest in it. Instead Macondi rambles a bit more while looking around the area. "Cat rubbing. No, not like a cat. With paper."

Perception: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7 Looking for any more artifacts to collect.

Mandy mischievously rubs Macondi's hair.

"Rubbing, like that?" she says, giggling...

"Easy peasy." Basag exclaims while stowing his weapon and shield. "Looks like the key to the room we entered before we get here. Have we searched every corner of these ruins? I wonder where is the exit. Maybe we can trace our path back to the entrance and try our luck."

"Rubbing, like that?" she says, giggling...

Macondi stops and thinks about that for several seconds. "No, that doesn't seem right either." Then he shakes his head vigorously to settle his hair back in place.

Even if the ladder were in a fit shape to safely climb, the entrance to the room above looks to be blocked off by the rubble. The Pathfinders don't find anything else of interest in the basement.

There's nowhere left to look besides the other way out of the ritual chamber where the group encountered Alystair. They pass unhindered through the room from where the skeletons emerged. This room bears the signs of a burial chamber, the family crest of a dagger across a lush and growing field adorning each of the 6 plots. The caskets have been pulled from their slots in the walls and tossed haphazardly to the ground.

Beyond that is a chamber whose north wall has entirely collapsed. Covered in dust, the room looks to have seen little use, unlike the rest of the citadel; however, the way back from the Netherworld is gleaming like a bright tear in space.

"A way out!" Penny exclaims excitedly, "Have we captured all the things we need to capture?"

"Hope so. Ready to go. Report. Cooperate. ... Something else too. And maybe not in that order."

The Pathfinders need only touch the tear in space to be deposited at the top step of the walk down into the ruins of the original citadel they were to explore, their mounts patiently grazing nearby.

They can explore the citadel ruins in this Universe, and it’s now as safe—as originally anticipated. In fact, the path inward actually feels inviting. They can take whatever rubbings from within that they wish without any further difficulty or challenge. As the party returns to the Pathfinder Society with the rubbings and the tales of their encounter with Alystair Caskwater, Ambrus Valsin takes their report and looks upon them with pride. As they made all Netherworld rubbings, some Universe rubbings, and found the three journal fragments, he is almost beside himself with joy.

"The mission has finally ended,
You people I have befriended,
You liked all my singing,
your ears are still ringing,
But we all got along splendid!"

The Goblin waves goodbye, and hits the road to seek out another aventure.

Thanks GM, that was fun! Well run!
Thanks Playeraudience, you were patient!

Mandy looks a bit stunned as, just like that, her first adventure since leaving the circus is at an end.

"So, er, Macondi, you mentioned that you have some friends you'd like me to meet?"

"Barak should be back at the lodge again by now. Some others too. Don't remember where they would be though."