GM Chadius presents: 2-23 An Agent's Obligation (Inactive)

Game Master chadius

Hancock waits to see what the others want to do. Sneaking is fine with him.

My vote's to sneak. But I'm also fine with whatever the group decides.

Martin weighs in on what their next possible steps would be. "Shall we sneak past them? Or confront them head on?"

"We don't know if it's bad guys," Shimmer points out, "We probably shouldn't attack them without taking a look first... though it does sound like it."

Sounds like the team will try to sneak by.

Roark: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (1) + 11 = 12
Shimmer: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Martin: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 4 = 21
Hancock: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (16) + 2 = 18
Kargoth: 1d20 ⇒ 7

"Hey! What are doin' here!" The woman wearing Green greaves points. "You three! Yeah I'm talk to you imp! And the dwarf! And... that cute birdman!"

The woman with Blue boots woman sighs. "You're not supposed to compliment them!They match the descriptions. Come on!"

The Red Robed woman has different plans. "I saw what they did outside Snake Tails... I'm outta here!" She flees.
I misread the scenario and put too many enemies on the field. Red shouldn't be here.

They prepare to rush the bridge. They don't seem to have noticed Martin, Mavenee or Hancock yet.

The woman in Blue preps her shortsword and hustles to the bridge. "No one's getting past me!" She stands at the ready, anticipating your every move...

Round 1
Blue
Martin and Mavenee
Hancock
Green
Roark
Green
Shimmer
Kargoth

>Bath House<

"Everyone, clear the bridge!" Martin cautions as Mavenee charges into battle. The eidolon runs past the group and rams Blue with her horn. Martin amplifies Mavenee's defenses.

Horn: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 14 + 1 = 26
Piercing: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (7, 4) + 4 = 15

◈◈Act Together (◈◈Beast's Charge, ◈Protect Companion), ◈Reinforce Eidolon. Mavenee AC: 25, resist one to all damage

Hancock freezes for a moment, thinking she is talking about him (the dwarf) but realizes that Kargoth is far more noticable.

But since they have seen some of them, they might as well get a glimpse of all of them. In a blaze of movement he rushes around the lead opponent up to the second opponent and swings away.

*rage (9 temp HP)
**sudden charge (60' movement and strike)

to hit maul, on green: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
damage maul; bludgeoning, cold iron, ghost touch: 2d12 + 4 ⇒ (3, 10) + 4 = 17
4 additional damage with electrical, arcane, and evocation traits on a hit

@GM chadius
I can add the 4 damage into the roll for the rest of the battle if they are not resistant or anything like that - to reduce the math you have to do.

Mavenee dashes past the bridge and the woman in Blue quickly reacts to his attack, trying to dodge to the side. But she's not quick enough.

Hancock roars and rushes out of the crowd, catching the woman off guard. Feel free to add the extra damage, Hancock.

She draws her shortsword and cuts him twice before taking a defensive position.
Green shortsword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Slashing: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Green shortsword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Slashing: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Round 1
Blue (15 damage)
Martin and Mavenee
Hancock (9 damage, RAGE)
Green (21 damage)
Roark
Shimmer
Kargoth

>Bath House<

A description? "It's bad guys!"

Shimmer obediently falls back, light tracing dragonfly wings behind her that carry her from the bridge to solid ground (though, really, she could have just gone around). She focuses on the thug in front of her, watching how she moves.

She pauses as she raises her jezail. Something off about the--"Who are you guys, anyway?" The impassive, casual tone and the suddenness of the question carefully timed to get her to blurt out an answer. And to throw her off as she catches herself doing so.

Shimmer exploits the distraction with a shot.

◇ Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 7 vs Blue; not great, but might work if I can make her Off-Guard, so I'm going to make that an attack strategy. Also realize that I forgot Shimmer's Known Weaknesses last time--she gets a free RK against the target (Society +11). I'll ask about her greatest weakness, though as a human thug there probably isn't much to know... if the RK is a crit, though, Shimmer also spots an opening and everyone gets a +1 circumstance bonus to their next attack roll as she points it out.
◆ Fly (triggers RS from Blue, if applicable)
◆ Pointed Question Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29 vs Blue's Will DC. Okay then! She must give a direct answer, though it doesn't have to be true. Shimmer gets a +4 to her Perception DC to detect a lie, though. And, of more immediate importance, she's also Off-Guard against this attack:
◆ Strike Jezail: 7 + 10 = 17 vs Blue for concussive piercing: 1d8 ⇒ 3 and precision damage: 1d6 ⇒ 3

With the blue lady right in his face, Roark winks at her and beaks her twice before raising his buckler.

Beak: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (11) + 14 = 25 for Piercing Damage, Precision: 2d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (4, 5) + 1 + 3 = 13
Critical Hit: Double Damage, DC 21 Fort or Slowed 1 until the end of Roark's next turn
Beak, MAP,: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (2) + 9 = 11 for Piercing Damage, Precision: 2d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (5, 5) + 1 + 3 = 14
Critical Hit: Double Damage, DC 21 Fort or Slowed 1 until the end of Roark's next turn

If precision doesn't apply, subtract 3 from the damage

◈ Beak
◈ Whiff
◈ Raise Buckler (+2 AC)

Shimmer points her firearm at the woman and blurts out a question that cuts straight through her stream of consciousness. "The Daughters of Cocytus. Wait, what? Are you charming me or something? Get out of my head, imp!"

Shimmer is positive the woman isn't lying, so she opens fire. The woman reacts and quickly dodges the attack.

Roark tries a different type of charm and is able to peck the woman's Blue gloves once.

Round 1
Blue (28 damage, Dodged)
Martin and Mavenee
Hancock (9 damage, RAGE)
Green (21 damage)
Roark (Buckler raised)
Shimmer
Kargoth

>Bath House<

Mavenee dashes past the bridge and the woman in Blue quickly reacts to his attack, trying to dodge to the side. But she's not quick enough.

Hancock roars and rushes out of the crowd, catching the woman off guard. Feel free to add the extra damage, Hancock.
Green shortsword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Slashing: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Green shortsword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (7) + 14 = 21
Slashing: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

I just found out that a Barbarian no longer takes an AC hit when raging with the remaster, so that second attack would have missed, right?

Good point, Hancock. I'm too used to older edition Barbarians.

Round 1
Blue (28 damage, Dodged)
Martin and Mavenee
Hancock (RAGE)
Green (21 damage)
Roark (Buckler raised)
Shimmer
Kargoth

>Bath House<

Kargoth delays.

The woman in Blue swings twice and retreats into the alleyway. "Man, they're tough!"
Even is Roark: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Shortsword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (6) + 14 = 20
Shortsword: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 4 = 29
Slashing: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
"Sorry birdie. Nothing personal."

Round 2
Blue (28 damage)
Martin and Mavenee
Hancock (RAGE)
Kargoth
Green (21 damage)
Roark (Buckler raised, 7 incoming damage)
Shimmer

>Bath House<

Martin and Mavenee give chase to the fleeing woman. Mavenee charges once more as Martin reinforces her.

Horn: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 14 + 1 = 20
Piercing: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (8, 1) + 4 = 13

◈◈Act Together (◈◈Beast Charge, ◈Stride), ◈Reinforce Eidolon. Mavenee AC: 24, resist 1

Kargoth casts Guidance on Roark, Martin, and raises a shield.

Back. Sorry had trouble with paizo forums on my ipad.

◆ Cast Guidanc eon Roark
◆ Cast Guidance on Martin
◆ raise shield

"What have we got here.."

"Yeow! That hurts!" Roark yelps. He begins to dance, flipping his tail feathers to distract the lady in Blue.

Performance, Virtuosic Performer(E), Dancing Scarf: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34
That definitely gets panache!

"Nothing personal either, Blue lady!" Roark snaps back, sending lightning at both women.

Electric Arc; Electricity Damage, DC 21 Reflex for half: 4d4 ⇒ (1, 2, 1, 1) = 5

◈ Dance
◈◈ Electric Arc

Hancock delays. Kargoth asks the deities to direct Martin and Roark's future actions. The woman in Blue twists away from Mavenee.

The other woman kicks her Green greaves and swings at Hancock before following her teammate.
Shortsword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28
Slashing: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (5) + 6 = 11
"We gotta funnel them in, come on!"

Roark meanwhile is full of panache. He unleashes thunder on the two women, shocking the Green greaves.

Blue Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (9) + 12 = 21
Green Reflex: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14

Round 2
Blue (30 damage)
Martin and Mavenee (Mavenee Shielded, Martin Guidance)
Kargoth
Green (26 damage)
Roark (Panache, 7 damage, Guidance)
Shimmer
Hancock (RAGE)

>Bath House<

Pivotting, Hancock makes his way to the fighting going on to the south, slipping around the defenders daring them to hit him.

Shimmer reloads her gun as she moves. She sizes up the closer thug, looking for an opening. Seeing none, she changes her approach a little.

"What's wrong lady, running scared? Ha! ...you should be."

Sometimes that kind of thing doesn't work because bigfolk underestimate her. But the smart ones know how dangerous fey (or devils, apparently) can really be.

◆ Stride
◆ Reload
◇ Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 1 vs Blue; let's make that a skill stratagem
◆ Demoralize Blue Intimidation: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 7 + 1 = 26

Hancock gives chase and swats his prey once.

Shimmer moves up and realizes her weapon may jam with this angle, so she decides to rattle her foe instead. Looks like you were attempting an Attack Stratagem and decided to make a skill check instead.

"Get that imp away from me! She already drilled into my head!" The woman tugs onto her Blue robe and slips in front of Hancock.

Shortsword: 1d20 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (6) + 14 - 1 = 19
Shortsword: 1d20 + 14 - 4 - 1 ⇒ (20) + 14 - 4 - 1 = 29
Slashing: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (2) + 6 = 8

The first swing is nothing more than an annoyance, but the follow up cuts deep.

Round 3 [/b]
Blue (30 damage, Demoralized)
Martin and Mavenee (Mavenee Shielded, Martin Guidance)
Kargoth
Green (38 damage)
Roark (Panache, 7 damage, Guidance)
Shimmer
Hancock (RAGE, 27 damage)

>Bath House<

Hancock looks pleased that she was able to hit.

Kargoth pushes forward and raises his mug at the barb.

"Keep that anger!" Kargoth says.

◆ Stride
◆◆ Cast Heal at Hancock Heal: 2d10 + 16 ⇒ (6, 7) + 16 = 29

Martin continues to support Mavenee as the eidolon unleashes a flurry of horn attacks at green.

Horn: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (9) + 14 = 23
Piercing: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (2, 8) + 4 = 14

Horn: 1d20 + 14 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 14 - 5 = 17
Piercing: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (1, 4) + 4 = 9

◈Act Together (◈Protect Companion, ◈Strike), ◈Strike, ◈Reinforce Eidolon. Mavenee AC: 25, resist 1 all damage.

Mavenee's first head butt impales the woman in Green, she's definitely tiring out. She sidesteps the follow up.

Kargoth raises a mug to Hancock and his wounds feel like nothing. Well, for Hancock he usually doesn't pay attention to the wounds in the first place.

Unable to flank them, the woman in Green grunts and decides to stand side by side with her teammate.

Even is Mavenee: 1d2 ⇒ 1
Shortsword: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (1) + 14 = 15
Shortsword: 1d20 + 14 - 4 ⇒ (15) + 14 - 4 = 25
Slashing: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7

Hancock gets another cut. Another battle trophy.

Round 3
Blue Robe (30 damage, Demoralized)
Martin and Mavenee (Mavenee Reinforced, Martin Guidance)
Kargoth
Green Greaves(52 damage)
Roark (Panache, 7 damage, Guidance)
Shimmer
Hancock (RAGE, 7 damage)

>Bath House<

With a roar of joy, Hancock starts his usual 1-2-3 combo, starting with green.

Hancock's second swing devastates the woman and knocks her flat on her Green greaves. She doesn't stand up. He turns to the woman with the Blue Robe but is unable to get a good grip to push her around.

Round 3
Blue Robe (30 damage, Frightened 1)
Martin and Mavenee (Mavenee Reinforced, Martin Guidance)
Kargoth
Roark (Panache, 7 damage, Guidance)
Shimmer
Hancock (RAGE, 7 damage)

>Bath House<

Roark charges forward and slams his beak into Blue.

Beak: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (2) + 14 = 16 for Piercing Damage, Precision: 2d6 + 1 + 3 ⇒ (1, 6) + 1 + 3 = 11
Critical Hit: Double Damage, DC 21 Fort or Slowed 1 until the end of Roark's next turn
Confident Finisher: 3d6 ⇒ (2, 1, 4) = 7 Half if a miss (but not a critical miss)

Beak, HP, Vestments: 1d20 + 14 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 14 + 1 = 18

He raises his buckler in defense.

◈ Stride
◈ Beak
◈ Raise Buckler (+2 AC)
↺ Opportune Riposte

Hm. With everyone in the way... but then she does have a low angle--there, perfect opening!

If Shimmer can just get her to hesitate--"Why were you looking for us anyway?"
And then she takes the shot before reloading again.

◇ Devise a Stratagem: 1d20 ⇒ 17
◆ Pointed Question Diplomacy: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28. If that's a success against Blue's Will DC, she must give a direct answer. It doesn't have to be a true answer, but Shimmer gets +2 to Perception DC to detect falsehood (or +4 if it's a crit). If it's a failure (I hope not...) she can ignore the question as normal.
◆ Strike Jezail: 17 + 10 = 27 for concussive piercing: 1d8 ⇒ 4 and precision damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1. On a crit base damage is instead fatal damage: 1d12 ⇒ 8 and add additional fatal damage: 1d12 ⇒ 3 after doubling.
◆ Reload

The woman with the Blue Robes dodges Roark's beak, but his style is enough to scratch her anyway.

"Huh? The boss said people were asking around Snake Tails, you fit the descript- dammit!" As she tries to close her mouth, Shimmer blasts her and reloads.

She swings her shortsword twice more before taking a Step back.

Even is Roark: 1d2 ⇒ 2
Shortsword: 1d20 + 14 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 14 - 1 = 32
Piercing: 1d6 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

Shortsword: 1d20 + 14 - 1 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 14 - 1 - 4 = 13

Her swings are incredible, but wildly inconsistent. Roark sees an excellent chance to counter her poor swordsplay.

Round 4
Blue Robe (38 damage, Frightened 1)
Martin and Mavenee (Mavenee Reinforced, Martin Guidance)
Kargoth
Roark (Panache, 7 damage, Guidance, Opportune Riposte vs Blue)
Shimmer
Hancock (RAGE, 7 damage)

>Bath House<

Only one left. What a sad thing. Oh well, might as well finish her off.

Battle ends as Hancock decides to hurry things up. One swing is all he needs.

Combat Over
Roark (27 damage)
Hancock (7 damage)

>Bath House<

The team takes a moment to recover. These guards were posted outside the bath house.

"Let me look at that..." Kargoth says. He treats Roark's wounds, raising a mug to the crow being.

Medicine: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26 Heal: 2d8 ⇒ (6, 4) = 10

Additional healing from crit: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 5) = 6

Hancock heals his own wounds.

Treat Wounds, assurance: 2d8 ⇒ (1, 2) = 3

He makes a mess of things though trying to apply a bandage to his back.

"Thanks Kargoth! I think you and Stitch will get along really well! Though you might want to hold your nose when you meet Meat Wagon!"

Roark also has a Pearly White Spindle Aeon stone so the rest of his wounds should heal in short order

"That wasn't... ideal. We learned something, but it raises further questions."

If the others seem to have their medical needs in hand, Shimmer will turn to checking the bodies for anything interesting or informative.

And will make "Who are the Daughters of Cocytus?" her next lead. Although I suspect it will be redundant--having an adventure revolving around a mystery made the first one pretty broadly applicable.

Both thugs carried: climbing kit, composite shortbow (10 arrows), lesser darkvision elixir, leather armor, sap and some thieves’ tools.

With the team's injuries tended to (mostly in Hancock's case) they make their way to the bath house.

It has been several years since this building was used for its intended purpose—as a bathhouse—and it shows. The furnishings are moldy, the doors hang from their hinges, and the scent of sewage and brine is heavy.

A blue skinned, draconic creature lies in one of the pools. A second draconic creature with an orange hue lies in the pool opposite him.

How will you approach? Does anyone speak Draconic? You may be able to talk to him and make diplomatic gestures if you wake him up.

"I don't speak Dragon tongue, but just looks like two dudes having a sauna. Maybe they'd like to relax with a mug of beer.." Kargoth says.

Prefer diplomatic options.

"Me either, and neither does Hancock, though you would think that as a barbarian with a bonze dragon instinct he would!"

No Mek Mek here either

Martin stands back being vigilant to the creatures in the area.

Not versed in Draconic Language as well.

Shimmer takes a darkvision elixir, and distributes the others to Martin and Roark (the dwarves probably don't need them).

"I speak seven languages," she whispers a little defensively, "Fourteen if you count sign languages. Fifteen if you include Pathfinder sign! But not that one, no."

The team debates what to do, as the drakes slumber. You can tell they are emaciated and starving. Whatever you need to do lies further within the bath house, past them. You also notice a single chain loops around their necks, bolted on a single panel on the ground.

- A non-verbal diplomatic parley may be possible.
- Or maybe you could sneak past them.
- Would unlocking the chain help- or hurt?

But would your risk waking them up?

What kind of lore shills can we use to identify them?

Shimmer made a >critical discovery< about the drakes. They are types of dragons and any kind of Arcane analysis would identify more.