GM TOP #10-14: Debt to the Quah (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Pete H.

”It was nice meeting you, Hearth Keeper. May your spirit guide you!"

Corba points across the room to the eastern door. "Shall we try this door next? According to Lumketul’s notes there should be a water area behind it. There we must return four magical(?) wood weapons..."

I vote for going down (=east).

Lini nods in agreement with Corba.

"Sure why not."

Salvio packs away the stone, distracted, before focusing on Corba. "Oh! Yes, let's start there and proceed in order. That's what Gest advised in his second Chronicle!"

Lini steps up and opens the door (she was closest). Inside is a small hallway into an open room.

A recess in the floor seems to have once contained water but is now empty. A plaque sits on a stone shrine to the south, with two shallow indents flanking it on either side, carved out of the stone. At each of the four corners of this room are steles depicting Shoanti warriors in battle stances.

Who all goes in? Scouting group? All moving in? Any other prep?

Salvio murmurs a cantrip and concentrates, attempting to sense magical auras in the room ahead.

Bobbie cracks a rare happy smile when the Shoanti warrior is sent to her eternal rest.

After Salvio checks for magical auras, and assuming he doesn't find anything dangerous, she cautiously steps into the room, suspicious of traps. For some reason, those steles look like they could come alive... Or maybe she's just being paranoid.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11

Corba guides Rocky into the room.

"Interesting. I guess each of the four wooden weapons need to be placed by or on a stele..."

Who has the objects?

Iladora warily enters the room and scans its contents. "Maybe the plaque will tell us." She approaches the plaque without stepping in the dry recess, just in case.

Looking for writing or anything that might be on the plaque.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

Salvio detects no magical auras in the room, at least in the areas he can see. Seems totally safe!

Iladora, Erica, Corba and Rocky move on in. They see a plaque with words in an unknown language. The steles in the corners of the room depict four different Shoanti warriors with four different weapons. Bow in the northwest, bolas in the northeast, earth breaker in the southeast, and klar in the southwest.

Suddenly the room fills with ghostly, faceless soldiers screaming and streaming toward any targets while bearing the flag and insignia of Cheliax. Four ghostly warriors arise next to the pathfinders, but are quickly cut down by the attackers weapons. They turn towards the group and their weapons feel way too real!

Attack Bobbie: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Attack Corba: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11
Attack Rocky: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10
Attack Iladora: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Catching the two front liners off guard, the blades slam into them hard. Corba and Rocky somehow manage to duck.

But it seems the haunt is not done (that was the surprise round, now you all get to act!)

Initiative
Bobbie: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9
Salvio: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Iladora: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8
Desynthia: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 2 = 21
Corba: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (20) + 2 = 22
Lini: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Enemy: 10 = 10

In addition to the screaming warriors, those in the room feel their legs dragging, like they just can’t move very fast.

Round One: We ain’t scared of no ghosts
Buffs: NA
Salvio
Des
Corba/Rocky
Haunt
Bobbie (-5 HP)
Iladora (-9 HP)
Lini

Bold may act. All can surmise this is a Haunt, which is manifesting something that both attacks the group and slows their movement (everything in the room is difficult terrain). Haunts are usually defeated by completing a certain condition or overwhelming it with positive energy. The condition for this one is hinted at through all the information already given, but there is a knowledge religion check related to the haunt you could roll as well.

Knowledge (Religion) check: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20

Salvio blanches and stops himself as he was about to draw the wand of disrupt undead. "This spirit isn't affected by positive energy! I think we'll have to return the weapons!"

What kinds of weapons were included in the loot?

I don’t think anyone ever actually looked in the bag yet, even back at the briefing or when you got them back after the council meeting. The bag is currently in Corba’s saddlebags. The notes or copy of the chronicle may also provide assistance.

I won’t be a jerk though and require a bunch of effort to just find out what ya got. Corba has the four weapons that match the four warriors’s steles. Move action to get one out, move action to place it properly. Obviously you also have to be in the correct corner too, so may be move actions (with difficult terrain) to get there.

Uses the Shoanti weapons against the ghosts! I guess!

Desynthia steps back so the warrior can do their stuff.

She keeps an eye on Bobbie, ready to act if she is injured

Steps back and readies Bobbie's CLW wand

"No! Return the weapons to the right monument! Corba, come out here and I'll start getting them out!" Salvio waits for Corba to retreat from the room, and if she gets close enough he'll pull two weapons out of the saddlebags.

"On my way, Salvio! Rocky, get us out of here!"

Corba guides her riding dog to Salvio... double move (Rocky)

Ride - ACP: 1d20 + 3 - 0 ⇒ (9) + 3 - 0 = 12 vs. DC 5

Over there she pulls two weapons out of the saddlebags (2x move action), ready to hand one over to any party member. (that are not Salvio)

Salvio does likewise.

Desynthia prepares to attempt to heal Bobbie if she comes back out of the room. She also confidently advises to use the relic weapons to attack the ghosts.

Salvio disagrees, suggesting they should be put back instead.

Corba seems to agree with Salvio it seems and rushes out of the room to bring the weapons.

The ghosts don’t care about the preparations, happy to still have two targets to chop down.

Attack Bobbie FF: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3
Attack Iladora FF: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12

One blade finds its target.

Round One: We ain’t scared of no ghosts
Buffs: NA
Salvio (holding earthbreaker and klar)
Des
Corba/Rocky (holding bow and bola)
Haunt
Bobbie (-8 HP)
Iladora (-9 HP)
Lini

Bold may act. All can surmise this is a Haunt, which is manifesting something that both attacks the group and slows their movement (everything in the room is difficult terrain). Will roll over to top of round two after most get a chance to act at bottom of round one.

With the disagreement on how to move forward, Iladora thinks it best to just get away from the danger. "So what do we do?" she asks aloud, backing out of the room. When everyone is in charge, no one is.

Double move to get out of the difficult terrain.

Grimacing in pain, Bobbie makes her way towards Corba to grab the Shoanti weapons. Double move

"You heard them," she replies to Iladora. "Get back in and place the weapons where they belong."

Iladora and Bobbie fall back out of the room. Des looks sad as Bobbie is juuuust a hair too far for Des’s readied to trigger, but hey, now she can do whatever she wants!

Round One/Two: We ain’t scared of no ghosts
Buffs: NA

Round 2
Salvio (holding earthbreaker and klar)
Des
Corba/Rocky (holding bow and bola)
Haunt
Bobbie (-8 HP)
Iladora (-9 HP)

Round 1
Lini and Droo

Bold may act. All can surmise this is a Haunt, which is manifesting something that both attacks the group and slows their movement (everything in the room is difficult terrain). Will roll over to top of round two after most get a chance to act at bottom of round one.

Iladora and Bobbie fall back out of the room. Des looks sad as Bobbie is juuuust a hair too far for Des’s readied to trigger, but hey, now she can do whatever she wants!

Round One/Two: We ain’t scared of no ghosts
Buffs: NA

Round 2
Salvio (holding earthbreaker and klar)
Des
Corba/Rocky (holding bow and bola)
Haunt
Bobbie (-8 HP)
Iladora (-9 HP)

Round 1
Lini and Droo

Bold may act. All can surmise this is a Haunt, which is manifesting something that both attacks the group and slows their movement (everything in the room is difficult terrain).

Bump

Giving Lini and Droo a chance to act.

"Alright Droo, let us get out of the way. The others will make sure that the weapons are put back properly."

The druid signals her companion and Lini and Droo move to the corner of the (first) room.

Go ahead Salvio. :)

- bow in the northwest
- bolas in the northeast
- earth breaker in the southeast
- klar in the southwest

Reminder: North is Right on the map.

Also, I am not sure it is wise to send the wizard into the ghost room to be attacked...

"Now back to that room, Rocky! Go!"

Corba guides her riding dog back into the ghost room in the northwestern corner. double move (Rocky)

Ride - ACP: 1d20 + 3 - 0 ⇒ (4) + 3 - 0 = 7 vs. DC 5

Over there she puts the bow back, trying to place it properly. move action
She then tries to dodge any incoming attackfrom the ghosts. Total defense, standard action

Current AC: 22 (T 17 FF 16)

"Auuuuuh!"

Rocky is keen to follow the orders of his rider. He rushes into the northwestern corner of the room, only guided by Corba's knees.

Rocky's stats include the mage armor spell on him.

Lini and Droo move out of the way. Corba rushes back in on the quick footed Rocky, gently setting the bow down in front of a stele. She feels good about this plan!

Rounds One/Two: We ain’t scared of no ghosts
Buffs: NA

Round 2
Salvio (holding earthbreaker and klar)
Des
Corba/Rocky (holding bola)
Haunt
Bobbie (-8 HP)
Iladora (-9 HP)

Round 1
Lini and Droo

Bold may act. All can surmise this is a Haunt, which is manifesting something that both attacks the group and slows their movement (everything in the room is difficult terrain).

Not being as mobile as the riding dog, Salvio moves up to the doorway and prepares to hand off one of the weapons to anyone going by.

Fine. Give me that.

Desynthia takes the klar out of Savio's hands and rushes into the room

Move 30 and take object

Salvio moves into the room and holds out his two weapons. Des darts in too, grabbing one of them.

The chelaxian ghosts rise up again to strike everyone down, but this time one of the Shoanti warriors has a weapon! He rushes atop a bridge and attempts to hold the invaders there.

His battle is vicious and violent, but all too short. Then the ghosts swarm in, kill the other three warriors and turn towards the pathfinders.

I missed last round that Iladora was still in the room, but now I have tons of targets!

At Corba: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (5) + 7 = 12
At Rocky: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8
At Iladora: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4
At Salvio: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
At Des: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Many spectral blades find their marks, screams of ghostly pain mix with yells and yelps of mortal pain.

Rounds Two/Three: We ain’t scared of no ghosts?
Buffs: NA

Round 3
Salvio (-5 HP, holding earthbreaker)
Des (-3 HP, holding klar)
Corba (Holding Bola) & Rocky (-8 HP)
Haunt
Round 2
Bobbie (-8 HP)
Iladora (-13 HP)
Lini and Droo

Bold may act. All can surmise this is a Haunt, which is manifesting something that both attacks the group and slows their movement (everything in the room is difficult terrain).

Bobbie sheathes her sword, and rushes to Salvio, taking the earthbreaker out of his hand. "I'll do it. Get yourself somewhere safe!" She holds her shield in front of her defensively. Double move

Lini stays put for now. She knows that everyone does not have to be in the room to return the weapons to their rightful place.

Droogami stands watch over his mistress (for all the good that would do against a haunt if it came looking for them).

Salvio's intent was not to enter the area obviously affected by the haunt--hence the "moves up to the doorway" direction in my post.

If anyone was actually in major danger here I would consider retconning to save the five HP damage, but would then have to retcon another attack against Iladora too. I figure making it a wash is a fair outcome. Bobbie, sheathing a weapon is a move. You could drop it instead though as a free and still do your turn as posted. You all are close, keep plugging away with your plan.

OK, I'm good with that. (Although if I knew I was going to be affected, I would have double-moved to get closer to one of the plinths.)

"Hey! That's outrageous! Leave my dog alone, he's just a dog!", the halfling shouts at the ghosts. "Poor Rocky, you'll get lots of treats later. Now quickly go there!"

Corba guides her riding dog back towards the northeastern corner. move action (Rocky)

Ride - ACP: 1d20 + 3 - 0 ⇒ (3) + 3 - 0 = 6 vs. DC 5

Unfortunately, Rocky doesn’t have the option of Total Defense (as far as I know). If I am mistaken, he will of course try to dodge the ghosts!

With her free hand she draws a wand (move action), taps Rocky and activates it. (standard action)

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Good boy! Feeling better?"

With all three remaining weapons in the hands of other Pathfinders and with no other way to damage the haunt, Iladora can only back out of the room to keep herself from succumbing to her wounds.

Lini and I are the moral support right now lol.

Bobbie drops her weapon, moves in and grabs the Earthbreaker from Salvio. She watches carefully, hoping to be able to duck any incoming ghostly attacks. Salvio steps back out of danger.

Iladora, Lini and Droo wait patiently for the pathfinders to resolve the haunt.

Corba moves Rocky into a position to deposit another weapon, but sees to his injuries instead of doing so. A wise action. Rocky gives a whine of approval.

Des is up!

Rounds Two/Three: We ain’t scared of no ghosts?
Buffs: NA

Round 3
Salvio (-5 HP)
Des (-3 HP, holding klar)
Corba (holding bola) & Rocky (-3 HP)
Haunt
Round 2
Bobbie (-8 HP, holding earthbreaker)
Iladora (-13 HP)
Lini and Droo

Bold may act. All can surmise this is a Haunt, which is manifesting something that both attacks the group and slows their movement (everything in the room is difficult terrain).

C/P what Corba posted earlier, if anyone needs a reminder.

- bow in the northwest
- bolas in the northeast
- earth breaker in the southeast
- klar in the southwest
North is Right on the map.

I made some assumptions based on prior actions and perceived intentions to try to move things along. I'll give Des most of the day to post.

Double move

Desynthia moves toward the southwest part of the room, and put the klar in place

That's what I call a klar-ification!

The changing color hair lady moves down to the Southeast corner of the room (Double Move to get that far so no Klar placement yet).

The Haunt screeches into existence again, this time easily cutting down the lone armed Shoanti warrior. The soldiers gleefully spread out and attack the paffies.

At Corba: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
At Rocky: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16
At Bobbie: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
At Des: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6

Corba Crit?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Corba is more worried about Rocky than herself and takes a blade to the back. Rocky juuuust barely manages to duck the attack going at him. Bobbie has no issues parrying the spear with her shield. And Des just gets stabbed, straight up.

Rounds Three/Four: We sorta scared of da ghosts?
Buffs: NA

Round 4
Salvio (-5 HP)
Des (-9 HP, holding klar)
Corba (-9 HP, holding bola) & Rocky (-3 HP)
Haunt

Round 3
Bobbie (-8 HP, holding earthbreaker)
Iladora (-13 HP)
Lini and Droo

Bold may act. All can surmise this is a Haunt, which is manifesting something that both attacks the group and slows their movement (everything in the room is difficult terrain).

C/P what Corba posted earlier, if anyone needs a reminder.

- bow in the northwest
- bolas in the northeast
- earth breaker in the southeast
- klar in the southwest
North is Right on the map.

Bobbie moves quickly, paying no attention to the translucent blades, her gaze affixed on the receptable for the earthbreaker.

Double move; not sure where the southeast corner of the room is supposed to be? I think it's where Desynthia is, but she's holding the klar which is supposed to go in the southwest.

@all: North = Right. In the upper right corner of the map one can find the cardinal directions.

This means that Desynthia is currently standing in the wrong corner. The klar is to be put back in the upper left, the earth breaker in the lower left. I also put possible movement for Bobbie and Desynthia on the map, Des is able to put back the klar this round.

"Ouch! Let me rephrase that: Leave my dog AND ME alone!"

Corba is hurt, but she puts the bolas back nontheless. move action
She then activates the wand and taps herself. standard action

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7 (Corba)

"Come on, Rocky, let's get out of here!"

Ride - ACP: 1d20 + 3 - 0 ⇒ (12) + 3 - 0 = 15 vs. DC 5

The halfling manages to guide her riding dog back outside. double move (Rocky)

"Good boy! You'll get lots of treats!"

Lini and Droo stay put for now. The druid stands on the ready should someone in the party drop from their wounds but so far the party has only suffered scratches from the ghostly haunt challenge.

Iladora draws out a wand to mend some of her many accumulated wounds.

Cure light wounds: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Corba deposits her last weapon in front of the stele and then kicks Rocky into gear. Well, she doesn't actually 'kick' him, that would be mean. But she urges him to run out of the room. He does so and Corba rewards him by healing herself.

Iladora remembers she has a nice wand and starts healing her own wounds.

Bobbie heads down to the correct spot, probably.

Rounds Three/Four: We sorta scared of da ghosts?
Buffs: NA

Round 4
Salvio (-5 HP)
Des (-9 HP, holding klar)
Corba (-2 HP) & Rocky (-3 HP)
Haunt

Round 3
Bobbie (-8 HP, holding earthbreaker)
Iladora (-9 HP)
Lini and Droo

Bold may act. All can surmise this is a Haunt, which is manifesting something that both attacks the group and slows their movement (everything in the room is difficult terrain).

C/P what Corba posted earlier, if anyone needs a reminder.

- bow in the northwest
- bolas in the northeast
- earth breaker in the southeast
- klar in the southwest
North is Right on the map.

Staring raptly into the room, Salvio starts when Iladora heals herself. Oh, yeah. I have one of those. He draws his own cure wand and tries to trick it into thinking that he's a cleric.

UMD check: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

Alas, the wand is not fooled.

Des?

Lini walks up to Illadora while she draws her wand. She taps her on the back healing some of her wounds.

"Well, if you are out here I might as well lend a hand."

Cure Light Wounds, Illadora: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Droogami simply waits as ghostly opponents are no fun to stalk.

Blushing as she realises her mistake-even her hair change colors and "blush, or at least look blueish-Desynthia moves to the right corner and put the klar at the right place

Moves to the right corner

Salvio feels his wand is starting to figure out his tricks. He isn’t a cleric at all!

Lini helps out Iladora a bit though, healing half her wounds.

Des moves over and places her weapon.

The spirits rise up once more! But this time, three Shoanti stand ready for them, weapons in hand. The mighty warriors make a strong stand atop a bridge over cool flowing water. The battle is pitched, back and forth as the numerically superior foes assail the Shoanti defenders. In the end though, the warriors all fall and the ghosts wearily slash at Des and Bobbie.

At Des: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 1 = 17 for Force: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
At Bobbie: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13

And then Bobbie sets the last weapon in place. It feels as though this is what the haunt was waiting for, a blast of fresh cool wind clears the cobwebs from the room. It smells of clean summer air, open prairies and VICTORY! Another scene plays out for those inside. This time, four Shoanti warriors rise to face the Cheliaxian horde. They make a brilliant tactical stand on a small bridge, mowing down enemy after enemy until… there are none left! The warriors yell victoriously and celebrate before fading happily into the mist. Cool clean water fills the reservoir, it looks tasty!

Haunt Defeated!

Current Status
Salvio (-5 HP)
Des (-9 HP)
Corba (-2 HP) & Rocky (-3 HP)
Bobbie (-13 HP)
Iladora (-5 HP)

"I've read stories about this sort of thing!" Salvio reenters the room and scoops some of the water up with a cupped hand, then takes a drink.