GM Rotation, The COREageous Crew

Game Master Pete H.

Maybe .... I have to admit though, who would be the first to do it, a halfling or a half elf?. I've seen some rather fool hardy halflings.

Maybe .... I have to admit though, who would be the first to do it, a halfling or a half elf?. I've seen some rather fool hardy halflings.

"It was set too high for halflings to reach easily, which narrowed down the choices a bit. Let's go--strike while the iron's hot, as they say."

Nal still has the opportunity to prove the tall jerks wrong, it isn’t that far out of reach. :D

The group wanders forwards. At the top of the Pilgrim Passage sits an ornate spiral stair leading up. The murals here depict Malebolge, where the pilgrim has been reborn as a fiery warrior clad in black armor and standing in a paradise of water and palm trees (though hints of darker skies and fiery storms can be seen in the distance). Along the walls, choirs of fire creatures sing in celebration, and a frieze on the ceiling shows the golden idol of Moloch smiling over his hordes.

Head up the stairs?

There is a glint of flames in Cashel's eyes as he looks over the friezes.

Knowledge(Religion): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17.

"That would be a cultist's ideal of Moloch and his domain of Malebolge — the truth is far darker and much more sinister..."

I'll be back quickly. Nal quietly climbs the stairs, carefully listening and peering.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (9) + 11 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

This is what Nal sees at the top of the stairs, of which there were 30ft (half speed to move up them).

The staircase opens onto a grand hall of polished obsidian and red marble. The walls are decorated with reliefs of a gleaming brass city, a massive sandstorm scouring a desert, and a horde of fire elementals descending on a city full of terrified humans. Rivers of slowly bubbling lava crisscross the floor, all streaming out of an elaborate altar at the far side of the room. Atop the altar sits a squat golden idol, 3 feet tall, of a bull-headed man, its arms raised and its hands holding a large thorned sword and a huge battleaxe. The idol’s eyes glow a deep crimson. Lava flows impossibly fast out of the bull-headed idol’s open mouth and down its torso, fanning out from there into rivers on the floor. Behind the altar, an obsidian relief of geometric forms stretches from floor to ceiling. Smoky forms flit across the relief’s surface, their fiery eyes staring out at the room.

He also sees a woman standing in front of the idol, intently watching the stairs. But he is pretty quiet, does she notice him peeking into the room?

Perception - Range: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (19) + 5 - 2 = 22

She does!

Initiative Nal: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7
Initiative Enemy: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

Unfortunately I can’t get a map up and take her action right now, I just got home from work and gotta get to bed. Busy day today. Anyway, I will try to get it done in about 9-10 hrs.

The woman eyes Nal with hate and screeches, "LITTLE THIEVES DIE IN FLAMES!"

She pulls out a whip and her free hand blasts a bolt of fire at the halfling.

Fire Bolt - Cover v Touch/FF: 1d20 + 6 - 4 ⇒ (11) + 6 - 4 = 13 for Fire: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

Pretty sure the combo of FF and Touch negates almost all your AC (Dex and Wis bonuses for sure) so that should hit. I really hope Nal is full HP when this hits and not at 6/9 like his tagline says.

The flame washes over the sneaky little halfling, scorching him painfully!

Nal is up.

____________________________

A couple things could happen here with initiative depending on what Nal choses to do next, so I am leaving his actions to him and will manage things afterwards. The map is up!

Regarding the Map. The lava channels are incredibly dangerous (they could kill anyone in the group). BUT you can move across them (difficult terrain). The only way they could harm you is if someone STOPPED in the lava square or was pushed/shoved/moved/tossed into them.

My FF touch AC is exactly 13. And that's right, there was no reason to stay in incomplete HP, especially when I have a CLW wand.

You shouldn't do that. One of my slightly burnt friends even accepted below all the initiations to the cultists... GUYS, GET UP! With these words, Nal goes to her and punches her painfully in the solar plexus.

Stunning Fist: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 221d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 - DC 12 Fort

Jack moves up the stairs to back up Nal.

Everyone Else’s Initiative
Jack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
Paloma: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Paul: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
Cashel: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 2 = 13
Cortina: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24

Ah good, everyone else gets to go before the two up top go again.

Nal strides across the lava channel and punches the woman in the gut!

Fort: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12

She is not amused.

Round 2: Final Boss Probably Unless Someone Falls Into Hell and Fights an Archdevil
Buffs: NA
Jack (ran up the stairs, double move)
Cortina
Paul
Paloma
Cashel
Enemy Lady (-5 HP]
Nal

Bold may go. Most of you are down below and need to go up thirty feet of stairs. Barring a rare feat or ability, going upstairs takes twice as much movement.

Regarding the Map. The lava channels are incredibly dangerous (they could kill anyone in the group). BUT you can move across them (difficult terrain). The only way they could harm you is if someone STOPPED in the lava square or was pushed/shoved/moved/tossed into them.

Paul scrambles across the lava channels and up the stairs as far as he can.

Cashel hustles up the stairs.

Double move.

Cortina follows Jack and the half-elves, still wielding her longspear.

Deciding that a crowd clustered at the top of the stairs might be too tempting a target, she takes a single step in the direction of the battlefield and loses her longstrider spell to summon nature's ally.

Summoning an Eagle.

Three pathfinders bolt up the stairs, the last stays back and starts to summon an eagle to help.

Seeing the reinforcements, the lady eyes them and curses, "Not just a *&^*ing thief, assassins too? Alright then, no quarter." She pulls out a light mace and swings it at Nal, trying to take him out.

MWK Light Mace: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 = 24 for B: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

The monk drops to the ground, unconscious and bleeding! The lady steps forward with an evil grin, "Who is next?"

Rounds 2 & 3: Final Boss Probably Unless Someone Falls Into Hell and Fights an Archdevil
Buffs: NA

Round 3
Jack
Cortina
Paul (-4 HP)
Paloma & Cheeper & Eagle
Cashel (-4 HP)
Enemy Lady (-5 HP]

Round 2
Nal (-10 HP, Stabilization Needed)

Bold may go. Paloma, Cheeper and the Eagle are down below and need to go up thirty feet of stairs. Barring a rare feat or ability (flight would apply), going upstairs takes twice as much movement.

Regarding the Map. The lava channels are incredibly dangerous (they could kill anyone in the group). BUT you can move across them (difficult terrain). The only way they could harm you is if someone STOPPED in the lava square or was pushed/shoved/moved/tossed into them.

I got everyone who double moved placed on the map upstairs.

"Guys, please make this a quick fight. Here, Jack, this should help!"

Cortina extends a hand to Jack and provides the Fighter with a bit of (Desna's) luck. She then drops her longspear and moves to the space northwest of the 'lady' while drawing her battleaxe to provide a tactical advantage for the party. (especially Paul)

Bit of Luck: For 1 round roll each D20 twice and take the better result.

Cashel fires a bolt of force directly into the woman's face.

Force Bolt: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2.

Jack calls out NAL's DOWN!

He then moves towards the lady.

I guess I am ma'am he says politely

and swings.
greatsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11 damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (1, 5) + 4 = 10
a bit of luck: 1d20 ⇒ 4

Hits AC 12

Not funny Ms Desna

Paloma completes her summon and moves up the stairs as much as she can and directs her feathered friend to attack the bad woman who hurt Nal!

A golden plumed celestial eagle flies easily to the top of the stairs and gives an angry screech as it heads straight for the cultist. Unfortunately, it's having about as much luck as Jack.

Bite plus Smite: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 3 + 1 = 6 B,P&S Damage: 1d4 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 2 + 1 = 4

Cheeper surges up the stairs, her greater speed conveying her quickly while Paloma plods more slowly.

Double moves, Cheeper will reach the top, but given her speed is 20', Paloma won't quite make it.

Paul leaps forward to flank the enemy with Cortina, stabbing at her to no avail.

Rapier attack, flanking: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 = 12

Stabilization: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 1 = 16

The woman snorts as EVERYONE MISSES HORRIBLY, "Oho, not just assassins, but incompetent ones."

She steps back, drops her whip and attempts to carefully cast a spell (burning hands).

Conc Check DC 17 Def Cast: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

But the dwarf standing at her shoulder is JUST BARELY too much of a distraction.

Rounds 3 & 4: Final Boss Probably Unless Someone Falls Into Hell and Fights an Archdevil
Buffs: NA

Round 4
Jack
Cortina
Paul (-4 HP)
Paloma (10 ft down stairs) & Cheeper & Eagle
Cashel (-4 HP)
Enemy Lady (-5 HP]

Round 3
Nal (-10 HP, Stabilized, Prone, Unconscious)

Bold may go.

Regarding the Map. The lava channels are incredibly dangerous (they could kill anyone in the group). BUT you can move across them (difficult terrain). The only way they could harm you is if someone STOPPED in the lava square or was pushed/shoved/moved/tossed into them.

Cortina wildly swings her weapon at the woman...

cold iron Battleaxe: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 :-(
Slashing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

...but misses horribly, too.

It seems Desna is angry with me for some reason... :-/

Did my Force Bolt really miss?

Cashel dodges away, and fires another bolt of force, just in case.

Force Bolt: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Force damage.

My bad Cashel!

Cashel blasts two force bolts directly into the stupid evil woman's face. Ouchies, those bruises are gonna be around for a while.

Cortina misses her wild swing.

Rounds 3 & 4: Final Boss Probably Unless Someone Falls Into Hell and Fights an Archdevil
Buffs: NA

Round 4
Cashel (-4 HP)
Cortina
Jack
Paul (-4 HP)
Paloma (10 ft down stairs) & Cheeper & Eagle
Enemy Lady (-9 HP]

Round 3
Nal (-10 HP, Stabilized, Prone, Unconscious)

Bold may go.

Regarding the Map. The lava channels are incredibly dangerous (they could kill anyone in the group). BUT you can move across them (difficult terrain). The only way they could harm you is if someone STOPPED in the lava square or was pushed/shoved/moved/tossed into them.

Paul follows, leaving room for Jack to advance over Nal's body.

Rapier attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18
Damage, if applicable: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

Jack steps to stand over Nal's body and swings.

greatsword: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (5, 1) + 4 = 10

With a wordless stab and slash, the pathfinders strike down their foe. She lays there bleeding. No more taunts for her!

Combat over

Paloma finally makes it up the stairs to see that the bad cultist lady has fallen. Her golden plumed eagle seems to shrug it's wings briefly before poofing back to it's native plane.

Paul wipes his blade clean on the woman's cloak before resheathing it, then claps Jack on the shoulder. "Well struck! Now what are we supposed to do with that thing? I don't recall old Hamshanks telling us to bring it back, do you?"

Cashel strides over, and tries to wake Nal up.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3.

"He told us to find the idol... which somewhat implies bringing it back. If you wanted it destroyed, wouldn't you say that?"

He then unceremoniously moves to check the downed woman's belongings.

Jack stares at the obsidian, frowning.

You want some too? he mutters.