Shadow's Last Stand, Part 2 [PFS] by GM Chrios (Inactive)

Game Master Torilgrey

That's quite an interesting spell. But I would favor a simpler way of traveling over the seas. A boat has done the trick for me before, why should we change things for the sake of changing?

"In my opinion, it's slow, loud, and they'll shoot us out of the water. The bridge method allows for a quick arrival and perhaps added stealth if some of you can cloak us with illusions or invisibility. I'm also not sure about putting Winnie on a barge or boat. But Master Dwarf: it was merely a suggestion. If you prefer a boat, I'll pray the gods so that Winnie and me have a better swimming, and both of us will follow nearby by way of water..."

"No way!" says Jilla to Eredur. "Lilypad hopping's loads better than a stupid boring old boat! And-- she fishes for a reason, "they'll never expect it, and everyone knows the element of surprise is the key to victory!"

Hearing the enthousiasm of Jilla, and seeing her trepidation, the dwarf gives up with an amused sigh

Good. Let's try your plan, but at one condition.

He turns to the druidess

Please dont call me "Master dwarf", Eredur will do. Pride is my weakness, sometimes, so don't entertain it.

Spell selection:
L1: Burning hands*2; Grease, Color spray
L2: Scorching Ray, Invisibility, Spontaneous Immolation
L3: Fireball, Lightning bolt

Garsita can't think of any special magic that would be helpful, so prepares her usual spells.

"Alright then, Eredur. I'll go pickup that cart, then settle for a long supper at the inn. Later in the evening I'll meditate for my spells and then rest before our mission. See you all in an hour. Anyone wanna come cart shopping with me. I've been known... yell at merchants..."

Spell selection:
4th-air walk
3rd-lily pad stride, magic fang (greater), water breathing
2nd-barkskin(2), bull's strength(2)
1st-cure light wounds(DC 14), longstrider(2), touch of the sea(2)
0th-create water, detect magic, know direction, light

Jilla will happily accompany Zeldana to watch her yell at merchants.

Cart acquired, the Pathfinders settle in for a nap. Awakening feeling refreshed, and mentally prepared for magic preparation, they tuck in for dinner, gather their belongings, and head to the docks, cart in tow. Arriving at the docks you find the briny sea air of Almas' wooden docks is less bustling now that the sun is setting. More sailors are gathered around the grog shops, and the mercantile bustle of earlier in the day has died down.

One ship in particular still has lanterns hanging from its gangway, a shoddy wooden plank connecting the sleek ship to the wooden dock. Red letters scrawled on the side of the ship read "Sailswift, and several cloaked sailors move to and fro on the ship's deck with uncanny grace, shifting boxes of cargo about and going belowdecks occasionally.

The sailors busy themselves with their tasks, and seem not to be paying you any mind while you are on the dock.

See map, slide 4. Please place your icons

Zeldana goes over the plan with the group and fits the wagon's harness unto Winnie's shoulders. She greases the wheels of the cart thoroughly with some of her armor ointment (using a good amount on her armor also). She nods as Eredur and Piotr volunteer to offer themselves as distraction on the docks to the south while some of the party will arrive by wagon and lily pads from the north. Whoever wants in on the lily pad train can place their tokens in the wagon; those who prefer the docks can join Eredur and Piotr. The choice is yours! ;)

On the way to the docks Zeldana barkskins, antitoxins and longstriders both Winnie and herself, and then applies feather step, greater magic fang and lily pad stride enchantments on the owlbear. Just as they are about to step onto the docks, she remains a brief moment behind the corner of a building to add bull's strength to both Winnie and herself, completing the magical preparations. Hopping unto Winnie's saddle, she heads down to the water, instructing Winnie to sneak up to the ship from below, using the north docks as cover to hide the approach, and then rounding the end of the docks to the east to return westward north of the Sailswift, using the ship's freeboard to hide their approach from the crew.

Free action to instruct Winnie to Sneak vs. DC 15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

Zeldana awaits the distraction by Eredur and Piotr, keeping the owlbear's head low and motioning for the wagon passengers to do the same. She slowly and quietly unbuckles Winnie's wagon harness...

Stealth, Armor Ointment: 1d20 + 12 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 12 + 1 = 19

Winnie sneaks the best she can, keeping her owly head low...

Winnie Stealth, Improved Cover: 1d20 + 2 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 10 = 22

Improved Cover if ship deck is high above waterline; disregard if it isn't...

Barely-contained cries of "Whee!" sound over the waves as Jilla jumps gleefully from lily pad to lily pad. This is what being a Pathfinder's all about!

Igor decides that the best way around the madness infecting the party is to join in and dash through it as quickly as possible. That being said he takes all the necessary precautions. First off he stores all of his water sensitive equipment in waterproof (or resistant) containers, boxes and bottles. He then casts Prestidigitation on himself to whisk away any possible wetness that might touch his person. He casts a litany of spells to protect himself and his familiar from harm.

Unencumbered and unarmoured Igor can easily balance on the lily pads outside of combat. Tiny Pebble is not as agile and he rides shotgun in the owl drawn wagon. Igor turns invisible as they approach not wishing to make himself a target.

Igor is invisible

Alright people this is insane. ;)

Tiny Pebble goes on his first horsey owlbear ride. While not naturally attuned to travel by lily pad it is a novel experience for the earth elemental.

Garsita knows she won't be any good at leaping between lilypads, so she climbs in the vehicle.

Using a wand to cast protective spells on himself and his familiar Wand of Magic armor, CL1, 2 charges used, Eredur climbs on the cart, not trusting enough his balance to try to jump from lilypad to lilypad

Igor wonders how this situation has morphed from being silly to being absurd with half the party attempting to jam themselves into the cart pulled by Winnie.

It would seem like the law of inertia applies equally (if not more) to inane ideas. Once they begin to roll they seem to snowball completely out of control. :)

So everyone except Piotr is in the cart or on a lillypad? Just confirming. Can we have stealth checks for the lillypad crew?

Know local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

The ship must truly come from Katapesh, but it's not in a good shape, in my humble opinion. I wouldn't trust it for a long travel on rough seas

"I'd feel much safer in the cart rather than hopping from lily pad to lily pad. With my heavy armor, I'd sink like a stone if I fell."

Piotr climbs into the cart and clings nervously to the guard rail.

"Go slow, now."

Igor is not naturally sneaky but at least he is invisible so he cannot be spotted directly.

Stealth,Invisible and moving: 1d20 + 1 + 20 ⇒ (19) + 1 + 20 = 40

Alright that was a pretty good roll. :)

Jilla's little legs carry her from lily pad to lily pad!

Acrobatics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (12) + 9 = 21
Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (9) + 9 = 18

Winnie pulls the wagon across the lillypad bridge, and the Pathfinders either ride on the wagon, or as Jilla finds, hop from lilly pad to lilly pad. And despite all this, somehow, they remain undetected at the side of the Sailswift. The deck of the Katepeshi schooner is about eight feet overhead, and the sailors above can be heard conversing in low tones as they move cargo on the deck.

What does the party do?

Zeldana slowly crawls unto the ship, trying to avoid detection, and motioning for Winnie to follow.

Climb, BS: 1d20 + 11 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 2 = 32
Stealth: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (16) + 12 = 28

She approaches the nearest worker and tries to do a silent take down with a quick strike of her scimitar's blunt hilt to the back of the head.

+1 keen scimitar 15-20/x2, power attack, two-handed, nonlethal takedown via Jaguar's Grace slayer talent, ST, BS: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 + 2 = 32 vs. FF AC
magic nonlethal dmg, two-handed, power attack, sneak attack, studied target: 1d6 + 7 + 6 + 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 6 + (6, 3) + 2 = 25

==========================================

CONFIRM CRIT: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 + 2 = 32
additional nonlethal dmg if crit successful: 1d6 + 7 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 6 + 2 = 18

If green falls unconscious, she immediately pushes him down towards the party so they can catch him

Winnie tries to do the same, although the planks creak under her weight as climbs aboard...

Climb, BS: 1d20 + 10 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 2 = 16
Stealth: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Going for green if he is not unconscious; if he is, she heads for blue

Following Zeldana's "hugs" signal, she tries to grapple the target down to the ground until he stops moving.

Tricks, Free Action
Maneuver Grapple, Handle Animal DC 15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24
Subdue, Handle Animal DC 15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

claw, GMF, BS, Subdue: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (7) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 15 vs. FF AC, plus Grab if it hits (see Grab attempt below)
magic nonlethal dmg, BS: 1d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14
Grab, GMF, BS: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 15 + 1 + 2 = 29 vs. CMD

Jilla follows Zeldana up the side of the Sailswift, giggling a little as she sees the Varisian conk one of the bad guys on the back of the head! She then pulls out her rolling pin, softly shushing it as it begins to wimper, and moves to hide between the rowboat and the mast.

Move action to high jump and pull myself on deck and continue on to the mast, drawing my "weapon" as I go. Then readying an action to attack the first bad guy who gets adjacent.

Acrobatics (high jump): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27
Stealth: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10

With the waves lapping at the side of the ship and rocking the wagon atop the lily pad, Piotr begins to feel a bit ill due to seasickness and tries to keep his dinner from coming up.

He watches as Zeldana, Winnie, and Jilla climb or hop aboard to take the crew by surprise.
"Drop a rope or a ladder, or even a rope ladder, if you can." he says quietly as they climb aboard.

Do we get a surprise round and then initiative will be rolled? (I love the lily pads on the map, btw!)

Garsita gives herself a bit of luck on her attempt to climb.

climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
BoL climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

stealth: 1d20 - 2 ⇒ (16) - 2 = 14

considering that stealth roll, I'll wait to hear results from the GM before posting more.

Zeldana stealthily sneaks onto the deck, quickly subduing the sailor and dropping him to the lillypads, with no one the wiser. However the appearance of Winnie shocks and spurs the entire ship into action. Winnie grabs the blue-shirted sailor as Jilla and Garista clamber up onto the deck.

Let's call this the surprise round!

Round 1 After Suprise
Igor/Pebble
Crew (-14/-0/-0)
Zeldana/Winnie
Piotr
Jilla
Rouvarn
Eredur
Garista

Tiny Pebble attempts to climb on to the deck of the ship and strike a defensive position.

Climb: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (13) + 7 = 20

Move action and Total Defence action is taken.

Igor attempts to bring in some help. Summon Monster IV is being cast.

Igor is invisible.

Pebble climbs aboard the ship, taking up a defensive stance. While the guard grappled by Winnie attempts to break free of her clutches, but is unable to gain any advantage over the hug administered by the owlbear. While the one with the orange scarf closes with Jilla, ducking under her rolling pin swing, and stabs at her with his rapier 5 damage nicking her arm in the process. While the purple hatted sailor closes with Garista (AoO from reach), stabbing at her with his rapier, but misses being offbalanced by the appearance of an owl bear on deck.

Zeldana/Winnie
Piotr
Jilla (-5 hp)
Rouvarn
Eredur
Garista [AoO on Purple]
Igor/Pebble
Crew (-14/-0/-0)
???? 59

I hope it's OK if I take the AoO now, rather than waiting for my turn

AoO attack, glaive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Opting not to wait for a rope, Piotr steps onto the edge of the cart and stretches upward, gripping the ship's rail to pull himself onto the deck.
Climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3
Ugh. For reals!?!

His foot scrapes on the slippery, barnacle-encrusted side of the ship, hindering his efforts to pull himself up. Undeterred, Piotr grunts and attempts to hoist himself onto the deck once more...
Climb: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 2 = 16

Vaulting over the rail onto the deck, Piotr quickly glances around, absorbing the chaos of the battle unfolding before him. He unleashes a menacing snarl at the sailor attacking Garsita.

Zeldana draws her quickdraw shield and goes over to assist Jilla with her assailant, rotating her weapon grip and trying to club him across the left shoulder with a strong swipe using the back of her scimitar.

+1 keen scimitar 15-20/x2, power attack, one-handed, nonlethal takedown via Jaguar's Grace slayer talent, BS: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 9 + 2 = 30
magic nonlethal dmg, one-handed, power attack, BS: 1d6 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 = 13

=================================

CONFIRM CRIT: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 9 + 2 = 12 Does not confirm
Additional nonlethal dmg if crit confirmed: 1d6 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 9 + 2 = 13

Winnie tries to maintain her grapple, 'hugging' for all she's worth...

maintain grapple, GMF, BS, Subdue: 1d20 + 15 + 5 + 1 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 15 + 5 + 1 + 2 - 4 = 20 vs. CMD --> natural 1 = fails to maintain grapple
if grapple maintained, magic nonlethal dmg, BS: 1d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14

Tricks, Free Action
Flank, Handle Animal DC 15: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Winnie takes a 5-ft steps south to flank orange-shirt-man with her mistress!

"Ow!" shouts Jilla as the guard stabs her in the armpit. "You're in big trouble, buster!". She shakes her finger at him like a cross schoolteacher.

We'll try an Intimidate (demoralize) on Orange.

Intimidate (demoralize) vs Orange: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Might as well use my Eternal Hope to reroll that nat 1.

Intimidate reroll: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24

Garista's glaive swipe is easily sidestepped by the sailor as he closes with her, but he still misses with his feeble thrust of the rapier. Behind her, Piotr scrambles onto the deck - it takes him a couple tries, but he eventually gets there. Winnie breaks off her grapple on the blue shirted sailor and spins to confront the incoming attacker with Zeldana; who's scimitar blade cracks the man across the shoulders, causing him to stumble a bit as Jilla ferociously intimidates the man they are facing.

The captain of the ship, draws a crossbow, snapping a single shot off at Zeldana who is the closest target to him.

But his shot is errant, slamming into the mast by Zeldana's head and he curses in Osiriani softly, dropping the crossbow to the deck by his feet.

Eredur
Garista
ROUND 2
Igor/Pebble - summoning completes
Crew (-14/-0/-13 NL - shaken)
Zeldana/Winnie
Piotr
Jilla (-5 hp)
Rouvarn
???? 59

As Igor's spell reaches completion a divinely inspired hound appears on the battlefield. The archon howls a deadly challenge to his opponents and his presence can be felt by all.

All four of the sailors are within the archon's Aura of Menace and must make a Will DC 16 saving throw or take -2 on ac, attacks and saves.

His goodly presence can be appreciated by his allies within ten feet of his person (Magic Circe vs Evil provides a +2 deflection bonus to ac and a +2 resistance bonus to saving throw vs evil opponents).

The canine warrior reaches out and touches Jilla fortifying for the battle ahead.

"Be of good cheer, little warrior. Today is our day and this battle is ours. I guarantee it."

Aid spell cast on Jilla.

Aid (temporary hit points), CL 6: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

Jilla now has 13 temporary hit points as well as +1 morale bonus to hit and to saves vs fear

The hound then steps to provide as much protection as he can to all of the characters (with the exception of Igor, Eredur and Winnie). He then draws a formidable sword.

Igor now has two capable minions at work and does not wish to act like a Prima Donna. The modest and rather bland wizard simply smiles and draws forth a pearl of power. With a single word of power a magical incantation is now recalled (Vanish spell is now restored).

Igor is invisible

Tiny Pebble steps forward and plows into pink.

Slam, Power Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 - 1 = 15

Slam, Power Attack: 1d6 + 4 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 3 = 9

Climb: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Eredur tries to climb up the ship, muttering in his beard

I should have foreseen that, coming by sea. A flying spell would have come handy.

I'll give Garista until later today before botting and keeping this going.

Zeldana/Winnie
Piotr
Jilla (-5 hp)
Rouvarn
Eredur
Garista (-4)
ROUND 3
Igor/Pebble - summoning completes
Crew (-14/-0/-13 NL - shaken)

Winnie tries to batter down blue with some love taps, so that she can hug him more easily...

Bite, GMF, BS, Subdue: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (1) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 9
magic nonlethal dmg, BS: 1d8 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 7 + 2 = 15

claw, GMF, BS, Subdue: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (13) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 21
magic nonlethal dmg, BS: 1d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 7 + 2 = 14

claw, GMF, BS, Subdue: 1d20 + 10 + 2 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 10 + 2 - 4 = 23 plus Grab attempt
magic nonlethal dmg, BS: 1d6 + 7 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 2 = 12
Grab, GMF, BS: 1d20 + 15 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 15 + 1 + 2 = 38 vs. CMD

Zeldana works in tandem with Winnie to take down the orange-shirted sailor, trying to bruise his sword arm with quick repeated strike, using sheer strength and forcing him to block her hammering blows...

+1 keen scimitar 15-20/x2, power attack, one-handed, nonlethal takedown via Jaguar's Grace slayer talent, ST, BS, Flanking: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 30
magic nonlethal dmg, one-handed, power attack, ST, BS, sneak attack: 1d6 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2d6 ⇒ (3) + 9 + 2 + 2 + (1, 5) = 22

================================

CONFIRM CRIT: 1d20 + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 + 2 + 2 + 2 = 30
additional dmg if crit succeeds: 1d6 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 9 + 2 + 2 = 17

Trying to ignore the gentle rocking of the ship and focus on battle, Piotr darts around Tiny Pebble while drawing his polearm. He turns to the side and uses the momentum of his run to slam the weapon's hammer head into the sailor's side...
Mwk Bec de Corbin & PA: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20
Bludgeon: 1d10 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11

Piotr has 10' reach w/polearm. Which square is purple in? He's right on the line between 2 squares. The horizontal lines of the squares are a bit difficult to see with the lines of the planking.

"Ooh, you guys stay here--if I knock out the captain, that makes me the new captain!" Jilla ducks away from the fight and heads aft.

Doing a Withdraw to avoid an AoO from Orange and moving to the stairs.

Eredur scrambles aboard the ship, using the wheel of the wagon as a starting point to scramble over the top of the rail. Sorry missed that last night on my post!

Winnie grabs the sailor, smothering him into unconsciousness, and maintains a hold on the sailor. Zeldana, meanwhile, cracks the sailor with the back end of the scimitar a bit too hard, and sends him to the ground - unconscious and bleeding from the scalp. Jilla ducks away from the sailor as he falls, and heads toward the stern of the ship, where the captain awaits.

The captain, seeing his companions fall, adjusts his jaunty bicorne and crosses to the stair, slashing down at Jilla with a scimitar appearing in his hands. But he misses, misjudging the height of the gnome, and holds his scimitar before him, suddenly uncertain of his next move...

Eredur
Garista (-4)
ROUND 4
Igor/Pebble/Hound
Crew (KO /-11/KO ALL MENACED by the Aura)
Zeldana/Winnie
Piotr
Jilla (-5 hp)
Rouvarn

Sorry it took a minute to get a post up today! Holiday shopping was a chore! Adjusted the position of the last sailor to put him into a square where Piotr could have hit him.

Was Piotr's attack successful? I adjusted his location (still a 20' move from last position) to be able to strike with polearm from 10'.

I'm fine with you & everyone taking their time to post. It is a big holiday weekend after all. Happy Holidays, everyone!!!

Sorry been a long day!

Poitr strikes the sailor with his hammer and everyone can hear an audible crunch as the unarmored man is struck!