PFS1 #9-09: Beyond the Halflight Path (GM Mike...R) [PaizoCon 2024] (Inactive)

Game Master Mike...R

Renart will try to pin him.

pin: 1d20 + 16 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 16 + 5 = 26
strangle: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

This is the last round of rage but with him, hopefully, pinned he shouldn't be able to keep casting and the rest of you can take care of him.

touch: 1d20 + 9 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 9 + 1 = 27Dmg: 1d12 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 10 + 1 = 16Images: 1d6 ⇒ 5
Arxoias start works her way through the mirror images with her musket shots, 6gp at a time.

For maintaining a grapple with your eyes shut I'd use the rule mentioned under the grappled condition for what happens if an opponent goes invisible during the grapple, i.e. the opponent gets a +2 circumstance bonus on their CMD and no other benefit.

Renart manages to pin down the lightning hurling halfling while Arxoias takes a shot and removes one of the mirror images.

ROUND 6/7:

Renart -30 (grappled)
Mr. Badger -34
Pink -6 (4 images, pined)
Arxoias
Rani -27
Orenjii -16

(Bold may act)

Rani starts helping to ping off images.
crossbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (14) + 9 = 23 piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 4 image: 1d5 ⇒ 5 1=real.

Orenjii moves back to heal the badger.

Rani's shot removes another one of the halflings images, while Orenjii goes to heal Mr. Badger.

The pinned halfling, who still has the use of his voice, attempts to cast another spell to aid his escape from the current predicament...

...However he is unable to gain the proper focus and what should have been a powerful yell comes out as a pained gasp. As this happens the writhing mass of tentacles in the middle of the cavern begin to recede back into the floor from where they came.

ROUND 7/8:

Renart -30 (grappled)
Mr. Badger -34
Pink -6 (3 images, pined)
Arxoias
Rani -27
Orenjii -16

(Bold may act)

touch: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 7 + 1 = 11 Dmg: 1d12 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 = 22 Mirror Img if hit: 1d4 ⇒ 3
touch: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 + 1 = 22 Dmg: 1d12 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 10 + 1 = 13 Images: 1d4 ⇒ 31d3 ⇒ 3
"Got any more of those fancy images?" Arxoias comments as she reloads more alchemical cartridges.

Rani also goes for an image
crossbow: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (16) + 9 = 25 piercing: 1d6 ⇒ 3 image: 1d3 ⇒ 1 1=real.

Oooh. I think I found him

One of the shots from Arxoias hits the halfling removing another one of his images, while the shot from Rani strikes the halfling himself, but he does not appear to take any damage from it.

Given that the halfling is now pinned and has no more realistic ways of escaping from his current situation, I'll assume that he continues to struggle, but Renart is able to tie him up an render him helpless.

Feel free to decide what to do with you defeated foes, both are tied up and helpless. If not stabilised the robed human will die after 3 more rounds, while the halfling has only taken 6 hit points and has 2 remaining mirror images.

With their two assailants now defeated the party are able to search both them and the cave to the south from which they emerged. The southern cave is accessed via a set of natural steps which lead gently up to the cave itself. Water swiftly rushes past the southern end of the cave five feet below the level of the floor. Sparkling crystals emerge from the stone and a rudimentary campsite appears to have been set up in one corner. Unlike the sections of the underground stream that the party encountered earlier, the water which flows past this section of cave appears to be perfectly normal, it does not have the thick gloopy consistency encountered below the waterfall and does not glow like the water encountered elsewhere in this cave system.

On the parties two defeated foes they find the following items (as you have high enough skill bonuses and access to read magic you should be able to work out what all of the items do, so no need for spellcraft/perception rolls)...

On the robed human: Potion of fly, Scroll of invisibility purge, Wand of bless (10 charges), +1 chain shirt, +1 warhammer, light crossbow with 20 bolts, cloak of resistance +1, silver unholy symbol of Azathoth, spell component pouch, 126 gp.

On the halfling: Pearl of power (1st level), Potion of cure moderate wounds, Potion of lesser restoration, Scroll of black tentacles, Scrolls of invisibility (2), Scrolls of lightning bolt (2), Scrolls of mirror image (2), Scroll of protection from energy, Dagger, Quarterstaff, Cloak of resistance +1, Ring of protection +1, Spellbook, 186 gp.

Hidden at the campsite they also find an eight-pointed star symbol carved from dark stone. Based on the knowledge (religion) check from earlier Orenjii thinks that this is likely to be the symbol of Azathoth removed from the damaged shrine the party found to the north of here and that the haunt the party encountered could be destroyed by destroying this symbol.

What does everyone want to do now?

CURRENT STATUS:

Renart -30
Mr. Badger -34
Arxoias
Rani -27
Orenjii -16

Arxoias will suggests putting the symbol back in the shrine to see what happens.

Returning to the the cave containing the shattered statue of Azathoth it is clear that the damage done to the statue removing the symbol means that it is not possible to reinstate it. There is no obvious impact of bringing the symbol back into the cave.

If that is the case, Rani will want to destroy it to dissipate the haunt.

She'll also check the captives bonds just to see how well they were tied.

Rani takes the dark stone symbol and places it on the floor of the cave. Picking up the biggest chunk of the destroyed statue that she can lift she then drops in onto the symbol, which cracks right along its middle. As it does the cavern is filled with a discordant wail which fades into silence.

Having destroyed the holy symbol and also hopefully the haunt, the party believe they have now dealt with all of the dangers lurking in this vault and should probably return to Regnald Ardoc to report on what they have found.

Heading back up the Halflight Path the party re-emerge into Kaer Maga and head to the Ardoc's base of operations in the Bis district, where they once again find Regnald Ardoc working away in his personal workshop. As the party arrive he puts down his tools. "So what did you find?" he enquires.

"Besides goblins and trolls? Cultists of Azathoth doing some shady things in the cave there. We destroyed their little evil shrine and hand them over to the Duskwarden."

Rani nods in agreement with Arxoaias.

There was a Haunt too that made one go nuts but we took care of that. Oh, and don't go swimming in there, the water isn't very nice - but upstream may be okay. The caverns are full of pretty crystals too.

Regnald listens to the Pathfinders report. “The influence of the Dark Tapestry is a force of chaos, nonsense, and unmaking. It disgusts me to think that these people would throw their lives into spreading its corruption, and that they would murder in its name.” he says shaking his head.

After a brief pause he's countenance brightens somewhat. “It seems the Pathfinders do indeed live up to their reputation. I look forward to working with you and your organization in the future. I will be sending an appraisal of your performance on to Sheila Heidmarch so that you may be commended for your work here today.”. With that he dismisses the party and continues on with his work.