[Gameday XIII] GM Tarondor's #3-08: Foundation's Price (Inactive)

Game Master Tarondor

Okay! Deerslicer delays!

With a snarling roar, Captain Tadrun tries to behead Deerslicer and ends up cutting a bloody red weal across the goblin's chest. His backswing misses and Tadrun takes cover behind the table once again.

Tadrun greataxe v. Deerslicer: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (13) + 12 = 251d12 + 8 + 1d8 ⇒ (11) + 8 + (4) = 23
Tadrun greataxe v. Gracie: 1d20 + 12 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 12 - 5 + 1 = 91d12 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Initiative - Bold may go now.
Endra - 42/50 hp
Deerslicer - 31/58 hp
Alanossë - 30/39 hp
Purrlock - 8/17 hp
Hallow - 21/28 hp
Captain Tadrun (RED) - 59 damage Taking cover

Everyone, go!

Purrlock tries to get an angle on the captain.

Devise: 1d20 ⇒ 9 Hits AC 15

Unsure whether it's enough, he gambles anyway, pulling a throwing knife out of his vest and hurling it at the captain.

1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3 plus Precision: 1d6 ⇒ 3

◆ Devise
◆ Interact
◆ Strike

Endra gives the surrounded captain a sad look.

You know you could surrender. Otherwise this is definitely the end for you.

◆ Strike RED: +1 striking longbow attack, piercing damage, deadly damage IFF crit: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (11) + 13 = 242d8 ⇒ (5, 1) = 61d10 ⇒ 5
(magical, volley 30, range increment 100 feet, reload 0)

◆ Strike RED: +1 striking longbow attack, piercing damage, deadly damage IFF crit: 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 13 - 5 = 162d8 ⇒ (7, 7) = 141d10 ⇒ 10
(magical, volley 30, range increment 100 feet, reload 0)

She pauses her assault, wondering if he really thinks he'll make it out.

◆ Cast shield

Alanossë will fire thrice (◆ ◆ ◆) at the captain from the bed, hoping to drop him this time…

To hit: Base+DEX, Magic
Damage: Base, PBS, STR

Magic Shortbow: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 11 + 1 = 21
Magic/Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

Magic Shortbow: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 11 + 1 - 5 = 13
Magic/Piercing Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 = 9

Magic Shortbow: 1d20 + 11 + 1 - 10 ⇒ (19) + 11 + 1 - 10 = 21
Magic/Piercing/Critical Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 2 + 1 = 7

Hallow takes a couple of swings at the Captain.

◆ Warhammer: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (3) + 7 = 10, 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 3 + 2 = 13
◆ Warhammer: 1d20 + 7 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 7 - 5 = 17, 1d8 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 2 = 11
◆ Raise Shield
Hero Point: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
↺ Shield Block

With a flurry of knives, arrows and hammers, the team ends the life of the villainous hobgoblin slaver captain.

Shortly thereafter, they row ashore with the freed slaves, their job almost done.

Huzzah!
____________________________________________________________________

Having now done the bidding of the genie's master, you must now decide what to do with the bottle, stopper and chain you assembled. What do you do?

Endra exhales and slings her bow back over her shoulder.

Well... he had a choicel. Let's see to it that the former captives are safely seen off.

After, when it comes time to discuss the assembled apparatus:

If it can be used to bind another genie, I'm inclined to see it destroyed. However, I do not know how. Maybe we should get the advice of the genie before speaking with the master. Though, when we first met they seemed not able to speak entirely freely...

Purrlock pulls out a healer kit and tries to patch himself up.

Medicine, Treat Wounds: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
Healing: 2d8 ⇒ (8, 6) = 14

22/27

Alanossë nods in agreement with Endra. ”Aye, let’s talk with the genie first…”

Deerslicer tilts his head at the items. "Can we trap da master in it? Turn him into genie? Or we have to find another genie to trap?"

"We'd have to make sure that they free the other Pathfinders first, ideally... would there be some way we could damage them just enough that they'd seem functional, but couldn't be used? Maybe a series of hairline fractures that would cause the bottle to fall apart under any pressure?"

Status
Endra - 42/50 hp
Deerslicer - 31/58 hp
Alanossë - 30/39 hp
Purrlock - 22/28 hp
Hallow - 21/28 hp

So what's the plan, Pathfinders?

I see two votes to talk to the genie and a couple of other plans. Would you like rule of 3?

I'd -like- a consensus, but at this point I'm willing to take the first plan where someone says "We do this!"

"Brow... Let's talk to the genie then." Purrlock says.

I'm going to take that as my marching orders, then.

You return in triumph to the Pathfinder Lodge, all tasks accomplished. Safa nods at you in congratulations.

"“It is time for he who has bound me to speak with you.”

With a flick of the djinni’s wrist, the room echoes with the harsh grinding and cracking of stone as a grotesque maw opens in the floor. A deep voice filled with vitriol echoes in the abandoned lodge.

“Pathfinders! Disgusting. Always ready to show up where you are least wanted. You are nothing but fastidious meddlers, but this time, your actions will bring you nothing but ruin. This city is mine, mine! And it will never belong to anyone else!”

The maw rumbles with a mocking laugh. “Genie, I command you to attack the Pathfinders, as you should have when they first arrived in my city! Defeating them should require nothing more than a fraction of your power, so be quick about it and return to me. There is much to be done!”

The room again fills with the grinding sound of stone as the
maw disappears. Safa frowns.

“You have heard the genie binder’s wishes. I must attack you.” The djinni’s frown slowly turns into a sly smile. “We shall fight as if you had just arrived in Sedeq, and I shall use nothing more than a fraction of my power.”

Safa laughs jovially, weaving restorative magic through the air. Suddenly, the room shifts as the bare walls of the abandoned lodge are replaced by the slender and elegant marbles of the djinni’s extraplanar home.

Capricious winds dance amongst the clouds as Safa disappears.

Each PC returns to their usual maximum Hit Points, and gains the benefit of a full rest and daily preparations, returning to the same state they were in at the beginning of the adventure. However, any consumable items are not returned (except those created during daily preparations as part of a class ability, such as batches of items from an alchemist’s advanced alchemy), and the PCs still possess any new items they have acquired since the beginning of the adventure.

I'll finish up with the setup in a few. I've got a baby to bathe right now!

You appear in a fortress in the clouds! Hovering not far away are two cloud-like forms in the rough shape of birds of prey. They screech and move to the attack!

See Slide #9.
Yes, the holes in the floor drop away into the clouds far below...

Initiative Rolls
Alanossë: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20
Deerslicer: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (11) + 12 = 23
Endra: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29
Hallow: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20
Purrlock: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20
Blue Hawk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (18) + 7 = 25
Red Hawk: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27

Initiative Order
Bold may go now.

Endra
RED Hawk - 20' up
BLUE Hawk - 20' up
Deerslicer
Alanossë
Hallow
Purrlock

Endra, go!

Aaaarg! Endra shouts in frustration.

Who has the binding device? Suddenly it seems it's going to be useful.

She begins methodically firing arrows at the hawks.

◆ Interact: draw longbow

◆ Strike BLUE: +1 striking longbow attack, piercing damage, deadly damage IFF crit: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (20) + 13 = 332d8 ⇒ (2, 8) = 101d10 ⇒ 9
(magical, volley 30, range increment 100 feet, reload 0)

◆ Strike YELLOW: +1 striking longbow attack, piercing damage, deadly damage IFF crit: 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (19) + 13 - 5 = 272d8 ⇒ (2, 7) = 91d10 ⇒ 6
(magical, volley 30, range increment 100 feet, reload 0)

That could be a good start...

Endra unleashes a highly accurate volley, damaging the elemental birds, but not dispersing them.

The hawks dive, in striking swiftly at Endra, Purrlock, Deerslicer and Gracie. Endra and Deerslicer dodge the deadly wings of wind, but Purrlock and Gracie are each cut deeply before the airy hawks flit back up to the parapets and take cover.

1 & 2: Circling Attack
3. Take Cover

Yellow Hawk Wing Strike v. Endra: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 191d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7
Yellow Hawk Wing Strike v. Purrlock: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 271d8 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Blue Hawk Wing Strike v. Deerslicer: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 141d8 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5
Blue Hawk Wing Strike v. Gracie: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 241d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12

Initiative Order
Bold may go now.

Endra
YELLOW Hawk - 20' up - 6 damage, Take Cover
BLUE Hawk - 20' up - 18 damage, Take Cover
Deerslicer
...Gracie - 28/40 hp
Alanossë
Hallow
Purrlock - 16/27 hp

Alanossë will move (◆), get in a PBS stance (◆), and fires at the blue hawk (◆) …

To hit: Base+DEX, Magic
Damage: Base, PBS, STR

Magic Shortbow: 1d20 + 11 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 11 + 1 = 32
Magic/Piercing/Critical Damage: 1d6 + 2 + 1 + 1d10 ⇒ (6) + 2 + 1 + (4) = 13

With precise aim, Alanossë skewers the BLUE hawk, dispersing it upon the winds!

Initiative Order
Bold may go now.

Endra
YELLOW Hawk - 20' up - 6 damage, Take Cover
Deerslicer
...Gracie - 28/40 hp
Alanossë
Hallow
Purrlock - 16/27 hp

Purrlock pulls out a throwing knife and tries to get an angle on the Yellow hawk.

Devise: 1d20 ⇒ 5

Not liking the strategem, he instead prepares to attack the Blue Hawk whenever it tries to dive bomb them again.

Throwing Knife vs Blue Hawk, Readied: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12 for Piercing: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

◇ Devise
◆ Interact to Draw
◆◆ Readied Attack

Purrlock: The Blue Hawk is dead. You still have three actions.

Upon arriving, Deerslicer eyes up Safa as his prey.

Hunt Prey and then I get a free Recall Knowledge as part of the action. I believe Nature can be used for Genies, so I'll go with that. Knowing that she is on our side, I'm specifically looking for any ways to neutralize or banish her without permanently killing her.

Recall Knowledge (Nature) w/ Outwit bonus vs. Prey: 1d20 + 8 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 8 + 2 = 29

Transported to the fortress in the clouds, and fighting aerial enemies, Deerslicer darts up the stairs to get the advantage of the high ground himself.

◆ Stride
◆ Stride
◆ Interact: Draw hunter's bow

As he reaches the upper level and moves around the tower, Deerslicer pulls his bow to be ready for an attack.

I'm clearly not communicating well. Please read my comment in the OOC tab.

Purrlock and Hallow, go!

Deerslicer calls out, "Hey, genie lady, where you be hidin' da o'ter Pathfinders? D'ey up here in d'is cloud fortress wit' us?"

Hallow messes with a few switches on their armor.

They turn to look at the remaining hawk. "Time to test this out." They hold up their arm and their gauntlet opens up at the palm, firing a dark blue blast at the bird.

◆ Overdrive, DC 15: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (14) + 8 = 22
◆◆ Frostbite, Amped vs Yellow, DC 18, Cold: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 3, 1) = 8

Purrlock moves back and provides some much needed aid to Gracie.

Medicine: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13

Purrlock hisses in irritation as the bandage falls off.

I would have needed to use the Devise on the Yellow hawk, which would have missed, which is why I did a readied attack on Blue. Overlooked that it was gone.

◇ Devise
◆ Interact to Draw
◆ Stride
◆ Battle Med on Gracie

Zephyr Hawk Reflex save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15

Despite being highly nimble, the Zephyr Hawk flies straight into Hallow's blast, freezing its cloudy wings.

Purrlock tries to heal Gracie, but the scene is too chaotic and he can't help the bear much.

Initiative Order
Bold may go now.

Endra
YELLOW Hawk - 20' up - 14 damage, Take Cover
Deerslicer
...Gracie - 28/40 hp
Alanossë
Hallow
Purrlock - 16/27 hp

Endra, go!

Endra frowns, seeing that the last hawk has taken ample cover. She tries an arrow anyway...

◆ Strike YELLOW: +1 striking longbow attack, piercing damage, deadly damage IFF crit: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 322d8 ⇒ (7, 6) = 131d10 ⇒ 8
(magical, volley 30, range increment 100 feet, reload 0)

She gets the arrow to arc just right up over the ledge of the castle wall. Gaining confidence, and thinking she's found a technique, she tries again...

◆ Strike YELLOW: +1 striking longbow attack, piercing damage, deadly damage IFF crit: 1d20 + 13 - 5 ⇒ (20) + 13 - 5 = 282d8 ⇒ (4, 4) = 81d10 ⇒ 7
(magical, volley 30, range increment 100 feet, reload 0)

!!!!!!!

We're on a roll now...

◆ Strike YELLOW: +1 striking longbow attack, piercing damage, deadly damage IFF crit: 1d20 + 13 - 10 ⇒ (6) + 13 - 10 = 92d8 ⇒ (4, 7) = 111d10 ⇒ 7
(magical, volley 30, range increment 100 feet, reload 0)

It had to run out at some point.

Endra blasts the Zephyr Hawk out of the sky!

A familiar hateful voice roars over an angry wind. “How dare you defy me, servant?! You are nothing, and I will make you regret your insubordination. I’ll carve a reminder of your disobedience on your soul, Safa! Return at once!”

The elegant fortress is replaced by the decrepit walls of the lodge. Safa bows, the clinking of her thin golden chains clearly audible in the silent lodge.

“You have done everything and so much more, Pathfinders. I must do his bidding. I have only one gift that is mine to give.”

A whirlwind forms in the genie’s hands before being released across the building, lifting dust and causing heavy, moth-eaten curtains to flap wildly. The wind subsides as abruptly as it arose, but there’s no trace of the djinni. The surrounding lodge appears transformed, gleaming as if untouched by the ravages of time. A small pile of riches lies a few feet away.

The sleeping figures of the original group of Pathfinders lie nearby, and they start to move as they stir from their torpor. They open their eyes, looking around in confusion. A middle-aged Pathfinder with long gray hair stands up, ordering his colleagues around as they awaken one by one. “Get up! We have to prepare the lodge for the opening ceremony! Vishka, did you...” he stops abruptly, realizing they are not alone in the room.

“Wait, who are you? What’s going on?”

THE END!

EPILOGUE

The freed Pathfinders have no recollection of their captivity and seem to have suffered no ill effect for the extended sleep aside from stiff limbs.

In fact, their minds are set on only one thing—they’re supposed to prepare the lodge for a grand opening ceremony with several prominent Qadiran citizens, and they haven’t even started yet!