GM Jhaeman's Dawn of Flame, Chapter Five: "Solar Strike"

Game Master Jhaeman

Another Run. 120' closer.

This round: haste (swift) and double move (+100 ft); next round - run (+200 ft).

He should be at the entrance now .)

With the battle having moved inside, so will Theodore's allies!

Theodore is up (with save needed).

Will: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Theodore spasms, grits his teeth, and manages to keep his hold on the wall. But he quickly sends mentally to any and all friends in range Healing needed. Can't keep this up forever. For any who aren't in range of his telepathy, his roar of pain hopefully communicates the same message less eloquently. Nevertheless, he keeps climbing, and thinking quickly, tries to dislodge the giant from the ceiling.

Attack, Trip with Claw: 1d20 + 15 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 15 - 1 = 33

As Theodore gets closer, the radiant giant slugs him in the snout! But the ursine traveler from a distant star manages to knock the giant off-balance!

Theodore provokes an AoO for getting within the giant's 15' reach. Result: Hit. Theodore, you take 25 B.

Theodore's trip attempt hits the giant's KAC+8. Although it has spider climb and doesn't fall to the floor, we'll still treat it as "prone" against the ceiling.

@Theodore: After the mind thrust and this hit, you're going to be pretty deep into HP--just FYI for tagline purposes.

Initiative (Round 7)

Amhesha (220' from door)
Theodore (in shrine) (FF, dazzled))
Zharis (in shrine) (dazzled)
Tulgram (in shrine)
Blue Azer (Total Defense) (dazzled)
Xylian (in shrine)
Giant (prone)

Bold should go!

Every sighted creature within 60' of the giant has the Dazzled condition (-1 attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks).

The green blobs represent difficult terrain squares. (and remember that these squares are 10' each).

Xylian comes to the rescue of the bear! Too bad they didn't have more of those blasting charges, they could bring the whole structure down...

I'm not sure if Xylian can see the lady from where he is, it looks like there may be some kind of wall or partition in the way? If he can see her, he will use a move action to use Miracle Worker on his cannon, then overcharge and shoot the roofgiant. If he can't see her, he'll move up to where he can as a move action, then overcharge and shoot.
Hailcannon vs KAC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28
P + C Damage: 4d8 + 2d6 + 9 ⇒ (5, 6, 4, 7) + (1, 6) + 9 = 38
Add 2 to attack and damage if Miracle Worker is up.

As Theodore gets closer, the radiant giant slugs him in the snout! But the ursine traveler from a distant star manages to knock the giant off-balance!

Theodore provokes an AoO for getting within the giant's 15' reach. Result: Hit. Theodore, you take 25 B.

Theodore's trip attempt hits the giant's KAC+8. Although it has spider climb and doesn't fall to the floor, we'll still treat it as "prone" against the ceiling.

@Theodore: After the mind thrust and this hit, you're going to be pretty deep into HP--just FYI for tagline purposes.

** spoiler omitted **

Yes, thanks for the reminder. Also: Drat, I was hoping I'd knock her off the ceiling. That's not possible when Spider Climb is running? (Not that I'd do anything different.)

Xylian suddenly appears in the doorway, casually looks up to see the giant on the ceiling, and blasts away with his hailcannon! As the ultracold particles strike her, she gazes at the damai with a rage more fearsome than the terrible colossi of his homeland!

Xylian's attack hits but does a little less damage than expected--there's obviously some sort of DR or resistance at play.

As a reaction, the giant spends 1 RP to use Share Pain. Xylian, you need to make a DC 18 Will save vs a mind-affecting pain effect or 7 points of the damage you inflicted on her is transferred to you.

@Xylian: I did have to move you to the doorway to get a shot.

@Theodore: Admittedly, it's a judgement call. I couldn't find any guidance on how to rule the effect (it's an unusual situation, after all), so I went with the idea that the trip maneuver would gain you some benefit (she's "prone" and very vulnerable) but hasn't actually fallen from the ceiling because of her adhesive skin.

The giant turns her attention back to Theodore. "Touch me with your filthy paws?! Know your betters, beast!"

The giant "stands up" from prone as a move action and uses a supernatural ability, Sow Doubt as a standard action. Theodore, you need to attempt a DC 18 Will save vs a mind-affecting effect. If you fail the save, you are plagued with uncertainty and are off-target for 3 rounds. If you make the save, you are only off-target for 1 round.

Initiative (Round 8)

Amhesha (220' from door)
Theodore (FF, dazzled, off-target) (needs save vs Sow Doubt)
Zharis (dazzled)
Tulgram
Xylian (dazzled)
Giant
Blue Azer (Total Defense) (dazzled)

Bold should go!

Every sighted creature within 60' of the giant has the Dazzled condition (-1 attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks).

The green blobs represent difficult terrain squares. (and remember that these squares are 10' each).

As Blue Azer is likely going to be doing Total Defense each round (cowering in a corner), I've treated him as delaying until the end of the round so all the PCs can go in a block.

Assuming she can't reach the annoying ceiling-giant, she'll full-action run again. 100' from the door. Let me know if the giant's targettable though anywhere along the line, though. Sniper will sninpe as often as possible, it's honestly been fun being on this side of shenanigans.

@Amhesha: Sniping giveth and sniping taketh away :) (being on the ceiling is her listed tactic until a particular trigger)

Zharis makes sure her thermal capacitor is on, instructs her camera to follow her movements, and then uses her Falcon Boots to walk 30 feet up the wall, like the wall is the floor and it is no big deal. Fist two are just a glance to doublecheck and a word to the camera to follow her--meant to be narrative fluff, not actual actions.

She then takes a shot at the giant.

Attack (Frostbite Class Zero Pistol): 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 - 1 = 25 (dazzled)
Cold Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

Tulgram goes inside. Get aff there, ye piece o' solar s@#$, an' fight me like a warrior right now! A small pistol teleports into Tulgram's hand and he shoots the giant. Be this really a fight? let's check tha strength o' your hands, ye coward on tha ceiling.

Called Gnome Scout Gun: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 221d4 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 (COLD vs EAC)

Haste Circuit OFF

As Amhesha races closer to the Protector Shrine, inside Zharis and Tulgram hit giant center-mass with their freeze rays--only to find they have absolutely no effect! The giant laughs mockingly. "You have no idea what pain you've brought down on yourselves!"

At this point, you can intuit that unlike most of the foes you've fought on Kahlannal, this giant is either resistant or immune to Cold.

Xylian (+save vs Share Pain) and Theodore (+save vs Sow Doubt) are up.

Xylian winces at the mental assault, but his scientist brain is highly resilient. He double-overcharges his cannon and shoots another blast of jagged ice at the climbing giant lady. The cannon makes a chirping sound, alerting Xylian to its low battery, but Xylian already knows because of his important scientist brain.

Move Action to use Miracle Worker on Weapon. Standard Action to Overcharge and Shoot lady. That's the last of this battery. Xylian will have to reload next round.
Will Save: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Cannon vs KAC (+2 Enhancement Bonus): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (18) + 14 = 32
P + C Damage (+2 Enhancement Bonus): 4d8 + 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 3) + (2, 2) + 11 = 26
Pretty sad damage rolls.

Amhesha never has to reload :3 Her damage rolls are going to be worse unless you can turn off infusion, and she might be switching to the attached hailcannon for this fight. On that note: can weapon fusions be disabled???

Double-overcharging drains the battery quickly, but in this case it leads to a shot that packs enough punch to elicit another scowl from the giant!

Xylian's attack hit (with reduced damage for the cold bit).

@Amhesha: Fusions can only be "turned on and off" if the description of the fusion states that (e.g., glamered). Removing a weapon fusion is possible--but it takes some skill and about 10 minutes (see spoilered bit below).

Theodore (w/ save) is up.

Aw man. Well, in that case, hailcannon it is once she gets there.

With the claws of one paw piercing deep into the soft metal of the ceiling, Theodore uses the claws of his other to swipe at the haughty giant!

But the giant only laughs mockingly as the claws fail to penetrate the hardened exterior of her battle suit. "I'll show you what will pierce armor!" she says, drawing a gleaming spear and thrusting it into Theodore's ribcage!

Botting Theodore's Will save vs Sow Doubt. Result: Success! Theodore is only off-target for 1 round.

Botting Theodore as doing a claw attack. Result: Miss.

The giant does a move action to draw her spear and a standard action to attack Theodore. Result: Hit. Theodore, you take 22 P (but when you then apply your DR, you're still conscious!). The spear has the Block property, so the giant has a +1 to AC against Theodore for 1 round.

Initiative (Round 9)

Amhesha (100' from door)
Theodore (FF, dazzled)
Zharis (dazzled)
Tulgram (dazzled)
Xylian (dazzled)
Giant (block vs Theodore)
Blue Azer (Total Defense) (dazzled)

Bold should go!

Every sighted creature within 60' of the giant has the Dazzled condition (-1 attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks).

The green blobs represent difficult terrain squares. (and remember that these squares are 10' each).

Barely conscious, Theo sways a bit, but stays on his feet. just. Tulgram, I could use some healing here! he sends telepathically, then launches into a renewed attack, hoping to take the giant with him, at least.

Attack, Claws: 1d20 + 15 - 4 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (14) + 15 - 4 - 1 - 2 = 22
Damage, Magical Slashing: 2d6 + 25 ⇒ (3, 3) + 25 = 31

Attack, Claws: 1d20 + 15 - 4 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (18) + 15 - 4 - 1 - 2 = 26
Damage, Magical Slashing: 2d6 + 25 ⇒ (5, 4) + 25 = 34

If both of those hit, she takes an additional 4 damage, plus Bleed: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

Last full action run, unless of course I can fire. I THINK I can fire after this? Will probably have cover though.

Amhesha runs into the building, preparing to fire her hailcannon since the thing can provide a bit more damage. She aims it up at the Sun Giant, ready to fire at it.

Xylian reloads and fires again, but it seems the battery is not seated properly and the icy blast appears anemic...

Move Action to Reload. Standard Action to Overcharge and Shoot.
Cannon vs KAC (+2 Enhancement Bonus): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (15) + 14 = 29
P + C Damage (+2 Enhancement Bonus): 4d8 + 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (4, 1, 2, 1) + (1, 1) + 11 = 21
What a terrible day to be able to read dice.

Zharis gets to the ceiling and starts walking on it instead of the wall, strolling along in her falcon boots and making sure the camera gets a good shot of the whole situation. The battle perspectives were going to be epic.

As she walks, she draws another gun from her holster, and then shoots the giant with that one instead.

Attack (Screamer Decoupler / disintegrator): 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 1 = 27 (dazzled)
Acid Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 4 = 13

The giant howls in agony as Theodore finds a weak spot in her armor and tears open a jagged wound! She instinctively lashes out psychically, overloading the uplifted bear's mind and body such that Theodore loses his grip on the ceiling and falls a full forty feet to the floor, landing hard with a thud!

"Who's next?!" shouts the giant just as Xylian and Zharis blast her with freezing projectiles and sprays of acid!

Theodore's first attack missed because of the Block property on her spear (first time I've ever seen that happen!) but the second attack hits. As a reaction, she spends 1 RP to activate her Share Pain to try to psychically send 7 points of the damage back at Theodore (who only has 5 hp left). I'm going to go ahead and roll Theodore's Will save to keep us moving. Result: Failure. Theodore is now at 0 SP and 0 HP, and will lose 1 RP immediately from the falling damage (even max falling damage would not be enough to equal his maximum hit points and kill him outright). He now has the Dying condition.

Xylian's attack hits (though the Cold portion is reduced).

Zharis' attack hits and does full damage. You folks are definitely wearing her down.

Tulgram is up.

The body of a huge intelligent bear falls right in front of Tulgram. Funny. Tulgram raises his injection pistol and shoots at Theo. Get up, buddy, it's nae time ta rest yet. There's a pissy cowardly piece o' s!%+ on tha ceiling an' ye just have ta take her adam's apple as a trophy!

MK2 Serum: 3d8 ⇒ (4, 2, 3) = 9 HP 2 Theo

Theodore jolts awake as Tulgram's dart pumps adrenaline and blood clotting chemicals into his veins!

But the sun giant on the ceiling isn't impressed by the duergar's actions. "I'll pull your foul tongue out of your throat, dwarf! But first . . . pain!"

Theodore now has 9 hp and the prone condition.

On her turn, the giant uses mind thrust on Tulgram. Tulgram, you can attempt a DC 20 Will save vs a mind-affecting effect to halve 44 damage.

@Tulgram: Just the usual reminder to deduct the serum from inventory if you haven't already.

Initiative (Round 10)

Amhesha (dazzled)
Theodore (prone, dazzled)
Zharis (dazzled)
Tulgram + Will save vs mind thrust (dazzled)
Xylian (dazzled)
Giant
Blue Azer (Total Defense) (dazzled)

Bold should go!

Every sighted creature within 60' of the giant has the Dazzled condition (-1 attack rolls and sight-based Perception checks).

The green blobs represent difficult terrain squares. (and remember that these squares are 10' each).

Zharis walks on the ceiling over near the blue opponent. She says I know you are scared. We'll let you walk away if you vow not to fight us again. We don't want to be solving problems with violence. We'll forgive you for trying to kill us and turning the natives into zombies. You get to live, and walk out of here alive... you don't even have to join us. Just get out and stay out of our way. It's a lot to forgive, so this is your one chance. Don't risk it by firing on us again.

Once she has her fine speech on camera, she shoots the giant again.

Attack (Screamer Decoupler / disintegrator): 1d20 + 9 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 9 - 1 = 27 (dazzled)
Acid Damage: 1d10 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8

"ONLY THE ADAM'S APPLE?!" Amhesha laughs as her exocortex targets the giant as Amhesha's eyes flare to life as she directs the AI to target the creature's vitals. Theodore is in danger, so it's time to take some stupid gambles

I am going to regret this

Attack, Dazzled, DA v. KAC: 1d20 + 12 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 12 - 1 - 2 = 28
Damage (P+C): 1d10 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (9) + 8 + 4 = 21

Or not! I think that's like... oof. 11 damage. Kind of pitiful numbers.

Shw then fires her armor mounted hailcannon against the giant. "YOU AREN'T THINKING BIG ENOUGH!"

Will: 1d20 + 9 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 9 + 2 = 19 darn! ))

I'm nae a dwarf, ye ignorant fool!

Tulgram winces from the intense pain in his head. He then drops the pistol to the floor, only for another one to teleport into his hand. He immediately shoots at the giant. Let's see how ye like this one.

Called Caustoject: 1d20 + 9 - 1 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 9 - 1 - 2 = 211d4 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11 (acid vs EAC)

Basic Inhibitor: You reduce the target’s resistance to one type of energy (your choice) by 10. | I choose COLD

Xylian gets his combat tracking up on the giant and finally has everything lined up, but why is everyone shouting?

Move Action to Combat Tracking. Standard Action to Overcharge and Shoot.
Cannon vs KAC (+2 Enhancement Bonus): 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29
P + C Damage (+2 Enhancement Bonus): 4d8 + 2d6 + 11 ⇒ (5, 4, 8, 6) + (2, 2) + 11 = 38

Shouting because Adrenaline and seeing a literal bear nearly die, probably.. Also: FROST PROJECTOR, I was getting Xylian and Amhesha's weapon confused like an idiot. I'm going to reroll her damage as if she fired her rifle, pardon my idiocy, because frost projector is cold only. The correct course of action should be: Activate Combat Tracking (Move). Standard: Fire Horizon Striker.

Damage, DA, (P+C): 3d4 + 8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 1, 3) + 8 + 4 = 18

Theodore picks himself up, then looks up at the giant on the ceiling, his brow furrowing. Probably best not to make that climb again. Having noticed the giant's apparent resistance to cold, Theo draws his other weapon, a Salvation-Sequence Cinder Rifle, and fires. Then he breaks for any available cover, being keenly aware that he's barely standing.

Attack, Cinder Rifle: 1d20 + 12 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 12 - 1 = 29
Damage, Piercing: 2d8 + 8 ⇒ (3, 7) + 8 = 18

Although using magic to cling to the ceiling gave her an initial advantage, it also made the sun giant an easy target as energy ray after energy ray from below strikes home! With a roar of pain and defiance, the giant finally succumbs to the overwhelming force and falls to the ground with a building-shaking rumble!

Zharis' attack hits the giant for full damage.

Amhesha's attack hits and (after the re-rolled damage and applying cold resistance) knocks the giant to single digit HP!

Tulgram's attack hits exactly and drops the giant, who loses another RP from hitting the ground hard. She is alive with the Dying condition.

@Xylian and Theodore: Do you want to apply your attacks to the unconscious giant?

Blue will follow Zharis' suggestion and bolt for the exit.

We can go off Initiative, but I will keep rough track of time as you have exactly 8 minutes until reinforcements arrive.

"I say we hightail it out of here; I'm not going to the Maelstrom yet if I can help it."

Zharis strolls back down to the ground, moving over to the anassanoi corpse. Link to room description: https://paizo.com/campaigns/v5748p75iw830/gameplay&page=17#832

When Amhesha mentions leaving, Zharis replies Good idea, but let's take a couple of minutes to see if we can finish the mission first.

They were sent here to retrieve sacred items, and a specific chariot. Perhaps it is here in this dome and this is Protector Jheghal that died defending it? She remembers that they are supposed to use the telepathic concept of peace Link to mission post: https://paizo.com/campaigns/v5748p75iw830/gameplay&page=14#652.

She casts telepathic message and broadcasts the key-word concept "peace" at the dome, wondering if that will work (and making sure to overexaggerate her efforts slightly, so that the viewers will understand what is going on).

Amhesha broadcasts peace with her circlet as well. "Yeah, after the mission, I meant."

With the corpse of Protector Jheghal touching it and the telepathic key-word sent, the dome bisects neatly, its two halves sliding into the floor as a 10-foot-diameter sphere of mercury-like metal rises up to float gently in the air before quickly reconfiguring itself into a sleek vessel of some kind!

I've added a picture of this to the bottom of Slide # 2.

Let's search the giant and the other deaders and see if they have anything valuable. This might be our ride home. Amhesha, can you see if it will open the door, or if you can give it further instructions?

GM, not sure how much time searching takes, but don't want to leave all the loot, if any, on the table. Any hints about what size force the reinforcements are, or about how long a search would take? ... I'd pretend to be the giant and send them away, except Disguise Self only allows a one foot difference in height, so I'm afraid I would come up short. :)

[ooc]When they do leave, Zarine wants to take the body of the protector with them so that he can be buried (or whatever their death ritual is).

Amhesha need only think it and the Protector Chariot complies, opening all the doors of the Protector Shrine and floating slowly toward the exit!

Meanwhile, Zharis quickly searches the dead azers and the sun giant, whose wounds seem to have left her in critical condition--but still alive.

The Chariot will respond to certain basic telepathic commands like to unlock the shrine doors and follow you to resistance HQ. You won't be able to give it more complex commands (as would be required to actually pilot or fight with it) unless you have a deeper telepathic bond.

@Zharis: You didn't overhear any information on what the reinforcements will consist of. Searching a body or a 10x10 area is a full-round action.

@Everyone: I owe you XP, and should get to that in Discussion in the next day or so.

@Xylian and Theodore: Do you want to apply your attacks to the unconscious giant?

Yes.

Zharis quickly searches the bodies and finds several disintegrator rifles, several high-capacity batteries, mauls, grenades, jewelry, and some huge-sized items. (Adding to loot sheet)

After gathering up the loot, Zharis picks up the body of Protector Jhegal to head back. She relies on Amhesha and Xylian, with more consistent telepathic abilities, to guide the chariot.