Strength of Thousands (PF2 AP) by DM DoctorEvil

Game Master DM DoctorEvil

Now is my turn, I feel it.

M'baba continues chugging rocks and reloading.

Shoot, reload, shoot.

Shoot 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Shoot 2, MAP: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (6) + 6 - 5 = 7
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Who needs unluck anyway?

Once more, Iovia fires off magic at the creature and then closes the gap.

Actions 1 and 2. Daze. DC 17 Will Save for 1d6 ⇒ 6 Mental, nonlethal, damage. Action 3 Stride. If it crit fails the save, it is Stunned 1.

Will Save vs. unluck: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19

Ikto grunts at the fortunately minor hit, and releases another boiling bolt of flame

We just need to hit a BIT more often!

Ignition spell to hit:1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Dmg: 2d4 ⇒ (4, 2) = 6
That's two actions

Then raises his shield
One action

Za Minyahil repeats their actions, trying to wear the enemy down.

◆◆ Cast a Spell: Live Wire

Live Wire: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage(Slashing/Electricity): 1d4 ⇒ 11d4 ⇒ 1

◆ Cast a Spell: Shield

"Be reasonable! Your friend is dead! You are outnumbered! You are going to run out of arrows eventually! Do you REALLY want to die today?! Is your grief THAT great?!" they cry, exasperated.

Not making a check here or anything, just roleplaying.

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 8 - concluded

30 Kurshkin (6hp dmg, 2hp NL)
22 Iovia (12/18hp remain)
16 Za Minyahil (7/19hp remain)
8 M'Baba
16 Ikto

M'Baba fires the loaded sling but misses, then reloads and fires again, but with no better outcome. As he looks, he sees there are just 5 sling bullets left in the pouch, so better start making shots count.

Iovia completes her wide flanking maneuver and then tries to stun the pugwampi once again. The mental willpower of the gremlin overcomes the worst effects, but it still pains it greatly.

Ikto sends a bolt of fire at Kurshkin, and since she is distracted by the mental pain, the flames hit, burning patches of the dog-like fur pugwampis wear. Ikto raises his shield to counter the inevitable arrows.

Lashing out with their electrical spell again, Za Minyahil is not terribly surprised when it misses. The wounded ghoran returns the magical shield as warding also.

Some damage dealt to Kurshkin that time,. both normal and non-lethal. Keep it up! On to round 9

Kurshkin DC17 Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 success, so 3NL

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 9

30 Kurshkin (12hp dmg, 5hp NL)
22 Iovia (12/18hp remain)
16 Za Minyahil (7/19hp remain)
8 M'Baba
16 Ikto

Kurshkin calls back, "I don't mourn, I hate. He told me it was all your fault, so you must pay!" The pugwampi's supply of arrows is almost spent, but it fires two more, both at M'baba. The first flies wide, but the second hits, if only a scratch against the shifty rogue.

M'baba is hit for 1hp dmg, and is at 16/17 now. All the party is up once again.

Kurshkin shortbow vs M'Baba: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (2) + 12 = 14 miss
Kurshkin shortbow vs M'Baba, MAP: 1d20 + 12 - 4 ⇒ (10) + 12 - 4 = 18 hit
Piercing Dmg vs M'Baba: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Iovia closes in on Kurshkin and then tries to grab her!

Action 1: Step. Action 2: Grapple. I need to roll Athletics vs her Fort DC.

Grabbing: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20

My pose will assume a 20 is good enough!

Iovia wraps her arms around the smaller fey creature. "He lied to you, whoever he is. Stand down, or we will have to kill you, and we do not want to do that."

Kurshkin is immobilized and off guard, and if she tries to Escape, her DC is 13.

Iovia enters the unluck aura and isn't yet immune to it (I believe), so she will need to make two DC20 Will saves and take the worse result. If she fails, then she will need to apply unluck against her Grapple attempt as well. I will roll them if I get to updating again before you post next

Za Minyahil watches as Iovia moves to seize the gremlin, branches limber and ready to act should the cleric fail. They keep their magic shield up.

◆ Cast a Spell: Shield

"Come on...I know you are angry, but you have to know your options are rapidly running out. Perhaps if you calm down a bit, and let us hear your grievances, we'll be able to figure out an alternative method of payment. There has been too much death today. Please," they state, sheathing their sword and speaking calmly, letting their scent waft across the breeze.

◆ Interact: Sheathe Sword

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 3 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 3 + 1 = 10

I made the Will Save two of my posts ago. I got a 19, which I'd assume would have made it; 20 is crazy high for level 1.

grapple: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16

M'baba waits a bit to see the result of Iovia's entanglement with the gremlin.

As does Ikto

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 9 - continued

30 Kurshkin (12hp dmg, 5hp NL)
22 Iovia (12/18hp remain)
16 Za Minyahil (7/19hp remain)
8 M'Baba
16 Ikto

Iovia lunges at the gremlin, and thinks she has it in her grasp, but the powerful aura of bad luck that surrounds her intervenes, and a loose board from the platform gives way, and Iovia loses her footing just enough to let the pugwampi slip through her arms.

Sorry, I did not see the original roll...Yes, its a DC20 Will save at disadvantage if sucked into the unluck aura.

Trying another tactic, Za Minyahil puts away his weapons of war, and tries to rationalize with the arrow-firing Kurshkin. "Don't waste my time with honeyed words," she cries, clearly not interested in bargaining or talking it out.

Pending Ikto and M'Baba this round still

Seeing Iovia suffering the same misfortune he knows very well, M'baba decides to keep shooting. He thinks "I'll show you honeyed words."

Reload, shoot, reload

Shoot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Ikto respects the effort, but when M'Baba fires, so does he. With actual fire as again he fires and raises shield "Can't say we didn't try."

To hit with ignition 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
Dmg: 2d4 ⇒ (3, 1) = 4

"On the contrary!" Za Minyahil retorts. "It is YOU who wastes OUR time with persisting in a fight you have already lost!"

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 9 - concluded

Neither sling bullet tossed by M'baba or fiery spell cast by Ikto hits the slippery gremlin, who escapes the round with no damage dealt.

End of Round 9

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 10

30 Kurshkin (12hp dmg, 5hp NL)
22 Iovia (12/18hp remain, unluck)
16 Za Minyahil (7/19hp remain)
8 M'Baba
16 Ikto

Kurshkin draws out two more arrows and fires at Ikto and M'Baba while stepping away from Iovia by about 20'. Ikto is able to save himself with his raised shield again, avoiding a center mass shot. M'baba leaps to the side and the arrow whizzes past harmlessly. Kurshkin curses and is visibly angry about continuing to miss.

The party is up one more time.

Kurshkin shortbow vs Ikto: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26 hit
Kurshkin shortbow vs M'Baba, MAP: 1d20 + 12 - 5 ⇒ (8) + 12 - 5 = 15 miss
Piercing dmg vs Ikto: 1d6 ⇒ 4 shield block

M'baba says "Ha! That's easy to dodge. Now it's my turn!" Don't know why M'baba is suddenly overconfident."

Shoot, reload, shoot

Shoot 1: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Shoot 2, MAP: 1d20 + 6 - 5 ⇒ (9) + 6 - 5 = 10
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Ammo: 2

Guess the confidence paid off. Headshot!

If Kurshkin is still up.

Iovia moves to keep pace with Kurshkin and then, once more, sends a jolt of magic at her.

Stride to set up flanking for Za Minyahil, then Daze

DC 17 Will save against 1d6 ⇒ 4 nonlethal Mental damage. On a crit fail, Kurshkin will be Stunned 1.

Thank goodness for this shield. He raises it again, wondering how long it will last, and fires once more.

As before, Raise shield and fire with cantrip 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (6) + 7 = 13

Dmg if that hits: 2d4 ⇒ (2, 1) = 3

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 10 - continued

30 Kurshkin (12hp dmg, 5hp NL)
22 Iovia (12/18hp remain, unluck)
16 Za Minyahil (7/19hp remain)
8 M'Baba
16 Ikto

Iovia keeps step with the moving pugwampi, spinning up another mental-affecting spell intended to damage and or stun the gremlin. It does have a small effect on Kurskin who shakes her head trying to clear the pain.

Just as she shakes off the Daze, M'Baba's well-aimed sling stone bounces off the head of the gremlins as well, and this time she yips with pain sounding almost like the dog she resembles. The other shot from M'Baba misses. The rogue looks in the pouch of sling bullets and realizes that he just has TWO remaining...

Ikto's fiery spell once again looks impressive, but fails to land any damage at all.

Some good damage done that round! Kurshkin has taken 22hp/7NL so far. Pending ZM's action with a flank available. Recall that ZM is immune to unluck as well.

Kurshkin DC17 Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21 success, half damage

Za Minyahil steps up to the gremlin and glares down at her.

◆ Stride

"Last chance," they declare matter-of-factly as they draw their sword anew.

◆ Interact: draw shortsword

They reconjure their shield to make sure the little nipper doesn't have an easy shot at them.

◆ Cast a Spell: Shield

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 10 - concluded

Za Minyahil steps up to the pugwampi, draw their shortsword once again, and then spinning up the magical shield to intercept any more arrows fired their way.

End of Round 10

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 11

30 Kurshkin (22hp dmg, 7hp NL)
22 Iovia (12/18hp remain, unluck)
16 Za Minyahil (7/19hp remain)
8 M'Baba
16 Ikto

Finally run out of arrows, Kurshkin drops her bow and quiver, and draws out a shortsword of her own. She strikes once at Iovia who is adjacent, then rushes towards the east end of the platform. The sword wound enters the abdomen of the priestess, and she slumps to the ground, unconscious and bleeding out.

"I'll be back for you all when you least expect it, mark my words," shouts the gremlin who appears to be fleeing.

16hp dmg to Iovia makes it her turn to be Dying 2 (due to crit). She will move to the end of the initiative order and then must make DC12 flat check to stabilize. Rest of the group is up.

Kurshkin shortsword vs Iovia: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (15) + 12 = 27 critical
Piercing Dmg vs Iovia: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 16 total dmg

M'baba is sorry that the gremlin is still running. He reloads the sling, shoots it then reloads the last bullet.

Shoot: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19
Damage: 1d6 ⇒ 1

Ikto would love to fry the little monster, it scares him how much he resents her, but Iovia needs help, and she's helped them! And he would rather have a living friend than a dead enemy. He moves towards Iovia, unluck be damned, and projects his healing power upon Iovia.

Stride, then Heal spell, at two action level. 1d8 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15

Za Minyahil, on the other hand, has no such compunctions at the moment and points their sword at the retreating pugwampi. Again the wire coils around it and shoots out, humming with power.

◆◆ Cast a Spell: Live Wire

Attack: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage (Slashing/Electricity): 1d4 ⇒ 41d4 ⇒ 4

Then they focus their power back into the sword.

◆ Recharge Spellstrike

Iovia is as unrattled by her own going down than she was when any of the others did. Before she even stands up she fires off magic at Kurskin.

Same as before. Daze for 1d6 ⇒ 6 nonlethal. DC 17 Will save.

She then rises to her feet with a sigh. "This was a new dress, and it already needs repairs. Also, thank you, Mr. Banashee.

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 11 - concluded

Ikto steps towards the fallen Iovia and casts a spell that returns her to life, and heals most of her wounds.

Iovia stands and casts one more dazing spell on the retreating Kurshkin. The groan of pain is somewhat satisfying, but the gremlin is not dazed.

Neither the stone thrown by M'Baba or the spellstrike cast by Za Minyahil impede or damage the target at all.

End of Round 11

Iovia restores HP and is not at 15/18. One more round before the gremlin is out of range completely.

Kurshkin DC17 Will: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 success for half dmg

Ambush at the Ceremony - Round 12

30 Kurshkin (22hp dmg, 10hp NL)
22 Iovia (15/18hp remain, unluck)
16 Za Minyahil (7/19hp remain)
8 M'Baba
16 Ikto

Leaping from the elevated stage, the small gremlin rushes off at top speed, moving away from the initiates rather quickly.

No actions from Kurshkin except to move away at top speed which puts her about 90-100' away from anyone. LMK if you wish to pursue or tyr some long range action. All the party is up.

Pretty sure we can't catch that Ikto says "You're welcome, Iovia. I fear we'll see her again but I don't see how we can catch her. Ideas?"

This was a very tense combat, where two of us falling from damage. Against only 2 gremlins!

M'baba swings his arm getting ready to shoot the last bullet as he tenses up. But the gremlin has left. Slowly, he relaxes his arm. He answers Ikto "We can't. We'll actually just have to wait for her to reappear. Right now, I think we only need to go through the ceremony."

What bothers the young man more is the fact that he doesn't really understand why the gremlins are attacking this particular group. He voices his concern "Does anyone know what we did to annoy them?"

If a Stride puts me within 60' of her, I'll go for one more Daze

1d6 ⇒ 6 nonlethal Mental damage with a DC 17 Will save.

As far as being a tense combat, I'd call it more sloppy than anything else. We did not play well as a group, which is reasonable given that it's only our second real combat, and we've lost two players since the first real one. We'll get better with time!

"From what she said, someone told her that we had killed gremlins. What is much more troubling is the lack of any reaction from the faculty. Someone should have been here by now."

Looking down at her torn dress, she adds "I also know what they have done to annoy me."

Za Minyahil gives an aggravated cry as the gremlin escapes.

"AGAIN THESE SMALL WRETCHES HUMILIATE US! HUMILIATE ME! IS MY TIME AT THE MAGAAMBYA JUST GOING TO BE EMBARRASSMENT AFTER EMBARRASSMENT AFTER EMBARRASSMENT?!"

They spin on their heel and kick the fragments of their broken shield.

As the rest of the group stands down, Iovia strides after the gremlin casting one more mental attack spell. From a distance she hears a satisfying groan of pain, but the small figure doesn't stop moving, darting into bushes at the edge of the school grounds.

End of Combat

Will have a Post-combat Summary up in Discussion soon.

It is not long after the fight with Kurshkin ends, that you hear Takulu Ot call out to you, waving as he walks quickly towards the platform. "Hullo initiates, sorry to be delayed, but..." Then the teacher stops, seeing your condition up close, and noticing the corpse of the fallen insect-like gremlin. "What happened here? Were you in a fight? Tell me what has befallen you!"

You recount this as you like, even just summing up is fine.

"We were attacked by gremlins. They seem to have thought that we had killed other gremlins, which we did not. However, they were after us, specifically. One, as you can see, fell. One, a pugwampi, escaped, though she was wounded. They emerged from under the platform as we arrived."

Iovia takes a little breath and lets out a sigh as she once more looks over her damaged dress. "Fortunately, given the absolute lack of response to an early morning battle on a quiet campus, they were gremlins and not something dangerous like Charu-ka or Chelaxians. Still, it is clear that there are tunnels crisscrossing the school that militant gremlins are using for theft, and in this case, attempted murder. That should be looked into."

Iovia is not angry. She is annoyed that the gremlin got away and that her dress was damaged. Her tone, when she relays information, is academic. She is not emotional, and is just passing along details as asked.

Za Minyahil gives an aggravated cry as the gremlin escapes.

"AGAIN THESE SMALL WRETCHES HUMILIATE US! HUMILIATE ME! IS MY TIME AT THE MAGAAMBYA JUST GOING TO BE EMBARRASSMENT AFTER EMBARRASSMENT AFTER EMBARRASSMENT?!"

They spin on their heel and kick the fragments of their broken shield.

"I am sorry, Za Minyahil, I am," Ikto says "Like you I am very angry. Someone has poisoned her mind against the school, I don't know who but she is not listening to us, who IS she listening to? That unluck makes any of us look bad and it IS frustrating." Ikto is himself furious, "I am so angry I could..."

Then...

It is not long after the fight with Kurshkin ends, that you hear Takulu Ot call out to you, waving as he walks quickly towards the platform. "Hullo initiates, sorry to be delayed, but..." Then the teacher stops, seeing your condition up close, and noticing the corpse of the fallen insect-like gremlin. "What happened here? Were you in a fight? Tell me what has befallen you!"

Ikto looks over at Teacher Ot,and hears Iovia's assessment, and adds his own "The lead gremlin was deadly. Every second or third shot dead on, more than one of us went down and nearly died, a great credit to Iovia and her god that one of us did not die for certain. The unluck robbed us of every chance we seemed to have to strike for precious agonizing moments. While I called for help, no teacher was in ear shot. At least this time we were allowed to fight back without an arm tied behind our back, but you would be proud even now we tried to reason with her, at least some of us did... no mercy from the gremlin, only unthinking hatred and I am sure someone filled her heart with lies. Only range and perseverance seemed to have any effect in this battle and now we have an enemy who WILL try to kill us again loose." Ikto is not as calm as Iovia. He is angry, and rightly so, but he is not directing that rage at anyone, or at least trying not to, "I am sorry, Professor, I am angry right now. ANd I am in danger of poisoning my heart against this gremlin. I know that is not the school's way so I will try to purge it. I like this school, I like the people here, but I don't feel safe here right now."

And he sighs, "Pardon, I needed to vent."

Za Minyahil wheels about, ready to rant at Teacher Ot before Ikto's no less angry but much more measured response takes the wind out of their sails and they start to slow their breathing.

"Yes...Ikto speaks the truth, clear-eyed and plain. I am very, VERY angry; both at these gremlins and at myself. For one who prides themselves on being a student of Nexian battlemagic, my prowess as a warrior seems to be lacking, if I am continually floundering against foes as unserious and easily cowed as gremlins."

Teacher Ot looks surprised at the news of gremlin attacks, but he listens to you all explain the situation before speaking. Then he mutters a few words of incantation and talks aloud for a moment before returning his attention to you. "I have alerted those who will keep an eye out for this fleeing gremlin or any sign of associates. It is fortunate you are not more seriously hurt. Gremlins look small and unimposing, but to underestimate them can be very dangerous, especially when motivated for true harm rather than just cruel mischief. If you are hurt, the infirmary is expecting you."

As Za Minyahil express his frustration, Ot replies: "Despite your background, mastery of the magical arts is what we teach here, and you are but initiates, even if you have completed your perquisite week. I expect that over time, the gremlins will become no match for you. Study hard, and channel your energy into your work as you progress."

"For now," Takulu Ot continues, "I have cancelled the introduction ceremony due to the potential danger of a repeat attack. Take good care, return to your dorms or the infirmary, and be ready for classes to begin. You have done very well, and I am proud of you. We need to get to the bottom of the motivation behind this ambush..." He goes back to speaking magically to others, and dismisses you with a smile and a wave.

This is the end of Chapter 1 of Book 1. We will move on to Chapter 2: First of Many directly. Each player is awarded an additional Hero Point at the start of each chapter, so take one now. We will start Chapter 2 at Level 2, but that won't always be the progression.

After listening to Ot, Iovia speaks with that same calm tone of voice. "While I cannot speak for any of the others, I would like the Ceremony, and today is the best day for it, if your concerns are for another attack when it is held. It is highly unlikely that the pugwampi will attack alone. As for us, we are fine. Mr. Banashee's magic, and my own, handled that quite well."

She takes a breath and continues. "We already know the why, Teacher Ot. Someone told the gremlins that we killed gremlins. Which, before today, we had not. The pugwampi even used 'he' to relay that information. So, while we do not know who, we do know the why. A male, who was somehow aware that we had tangled with gremlins, told them that."

Another breath. "However, I want to be clear that I do not believe that anyone from the school did that. I suspect that it was one of the two gremlins that escaped us in the storeroom, telling a tale to save face at their defeat. But, that brings up another question: what happened to the ones that we released?"

After they are dismissed, Iovia returns to her room, cleans up any blood still on her, and then spends time repairing her dress before emerging in less formal attire. She will answer questions from students and teachers if asked.