GM Jhaeman's PFS1 Module: "Curse of the Riven Sky"

Game Master Jhaeman

Farrokh looks at the walkway as the party are preparing to ascend it and then up at the castle above them "One thing which does occur to me is that once we start heading up that walkway, those of us who can't fly are rather stuck if anything happens during our ascent. Given I'm already flying it may be worth me flying up to get a better view of the route ahead of us just to be on the safe side."

If there are no major objections to the idea (and if it seems like something that it would be viable to do), Farrokh will try to make use of his flight to fly up and get a better view of the sections of the walkway further up and the castle itself. He will try to keep his distance so as not to draw undue attention to himself or appear to be a threat. He will try to spot any potential issues for the party and also see if the new perspective sheds any light on what is causing the walkway to occasionally shudder.

Perception: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (20) + 23 = 43

Leaving the others behind, Farrokh flies up to scout the walkway from a higher angle. It doesn't take long for him to realise the source of the tremors. Coming down the brass ramp is a giant in black leather armor haphazardly studded with bolts and bits of metal. His face is swollen and misshapen as if he has been battered and bruised regularly and often, and his features have never truly had time to heal. Scars cover his face and bald head, and his narrow eyes glare darkly. His hands appear to be giant metal hammer heads and he clangs them together as he moves down!

I would normally put us on Initiative, but with hammers for hands, the giant can't threaten a flying creature, so Farrokh, you can bypass this encounter if you choose. (I'm away from my files, but I'll see if the module has a picture of the giant and/or a visual representation of the walkway when I get home in about 24 hours or so)

A few quick questions before Farrokh decides what to do.

Given the mention of initiative, does the giant appear to be hostile when he sees Farrokh or does it look like the giant would be open to having a conversation? Is there any indication of what the giant is doing on the walkway and his relationship to the castle (e.g. does the giant look to be a guard)?.

If Farrokh flew past the giant to check the rest of the walkway and the castle, would he have time to get back to the party to let them know that the giant is coming down the walkway after checking? Or is the giant sufficiently close to the bottom of the walkway that there wouldn't be time to both check the rest of the walkway and get back to the party before the giant reached them?

Farrokh squints at the massive giant, trying to get a hunch for whether he would amenable to conversation . . .

@Farrokh: We'll treat the first question as a Sense Motive check, which I'll roll secretly in the spoiler below and then provide your intuition in the spoiler above. As for the second question, the giant is about 3/4 of the way up the ramp and coming down; you would have time to fly up and back down before he reaches the bottom.

Determining that he has enough time to check the full length of the walkway and get back to his allies in order to let them know about the approaching giant, Farrokh continues upwards to investigate the upper reaches of the brass ramp and the castle it leads to.

Xilt smiles at Farrokh's report.

"I do speak Giant if you want to parley."

Just to double check (as Farrokh is continuing up towards the castle after spotting the giant rather than heading back down) would he have been able to communicate back to the party via the message spell from where he is to keep them updated, or would that not be a viable option?

Soaring with the winds, Farrokh rises above the armored giant and the brass ramp to investigate the castle itself.

The structure is built of white stone blocks reinforced with glistening bands of brass and adorned with inset panels of dark, etched wood. The main gate is sealed up tight with doors made of brass inlaid with panels of etched mahogany. But at one point along the brass ramp, before it reaches the main gate, a massive hole appears in the side of the castle! The backs of massive hill giants can be seen pushing into the breach, and the clanging and smashing of a terrible battle echoes out of it!

Thanks for your patience--an exterior shot of Zoarth's Castle is now on Slide # 5, showing the ramp, the breach, and the main entrance described above.

@Farrokh: Yes, it looks like the max range of message at your level is 200' and as the entrance to the castle is 150' above the mountaintop, you can stay in communication.

"Oh" exclaims Farrokh upon discovering the breach in the wall, before utilising the message spell once again to update the rest of the party on the new development...

"Looks like things may be a little more complex than we'd anticipated... The castle has a big hole smashed through it's outer wall and there seems to be a bunch of hill giants pushing through it along with the sound of battle coming from inside... It seems Zoarth's castle is under attack!"

"Unless you want me to check out anything else, I'll head back down to where you are, so I can get back before that giant coming down the ramp reaches the bottom. I'm guessing Zoarth might appreciate our assistance with resolving the current situation."

Unless there are any objections Farrokh will head back down to where the rest of the party are and plan to cast a few spells on himself ready for when the giant with the hammer hands arrives.

Having returned with news of what's happening overhead, Farrokh quickly rejoins the group.

@Everyone: If the plan is to buff a bit and wait for the hammer-handed giant to appear, let's assume you have three rounds of prep time before he comes around a bend in the brass ramp.

Whoa! Zoarth's Castle is cool!

"Once more into the breach, Anthys?" asks Berato with a twinkle in his eyes, before beginning the telltale war prayers to Torag.

T minus 3: casting bear's endurance on Anthys with lesser extend metamagic rod (duration: 20 minutes)

T minus 2: casting bless on the party as a SLA from the Golden Epaulets

T minus 3: casting divine favor on Berato

"Very well, Berato. Let us go to the aid of this Zoarth."

Anthys has some buffing options (like Barroom Brawler or Tactician), but nothing he uses at present.

"Remember, I am strongest amidst allies, but if there is cause for me to charge in, I can quickly follow any summoned creatures."

He has both Coordinated Charge and Fighter's Tactics, so can charge as an immediate action when any ally charges an enemy within 30' (or within 60' if we get Haste).

Knowledge (local) + Monster Lore: 1d20 + 7 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 4 = 31
Nice!

"Hill giants aren't very bright, but they'll throw an entire boulder at you without breaking a sweat." Adeah throws her gloved hand out to the side and barks out a single word in a language long forgotten. From thin air, her signature weapon shimmers into being: a musket. With her gloved hand she grabs the barrel, then shoves the butt stock up against her shoulder and lays a finger of her other hand on the trigger mechanism. "Lead the way."

Retrieving a stored item is a free action, don't really have anything else to do until an enemy approaches. If this counts as being in combat, I'll spend a swift action to activate Judgment (Destruction).

As it may have an impact on which spells he casts during his three rounds prep time, does Farrokh have a rough idea about how long it would take the party to get up the walkway to the breach from their current location once they have dealt with the approaching giant (e.g. would it only be a couple of minutes, nearer 10 minutes etc...)?

With the sudden change of the party's situation from a diplomatic mission into a potential violent encounter, Farrokh realises that he doesn't have time to throw up his full set of combat spells, so upon arrival back at the bottom of the walkway prioritizes a the essentials...

Farrokh will spend his three rounds casting: extended barkskin, shield and either extended clay skin or mirror image depending on his estimate of the time to the breach.

Finally, as a few of the spells that Farrokh cast right before he slept last night have a 20 hour duration would those still be active at the current time or would they have reached the end of their duration?

The brass walkway shakes visibly and the clanging of hammer on hammer can be heard. The Pathfinders ready themselves for danger!

@Adeah: We're not in combat quite yet.

@Farrokh: My best guess from the distances on the map (accounting for the brass walkway spiraling) is that at a walking speed of 30', you'd make it to the breach in just under a minute of game time. As to your second question, it is presently late afternoon, so just within a 20-hour window from the 10 p.m. bedtime I assume adventurers have unless told otherwise).

@Xilt: Any prep for you before we move on to Initiative when the giant comes into view?

@Farrokh: My best guess from the distances on the map (accounting for the brass walkway spiraling) is that at a walking speed of 30', you'd make it to the breach in just under a minute of game time. As to your second question, it is presently late afternoon, so just within a 20-hour window from the 10 p.m. bedtime I assume adventurers have unless told otherwise).

Fantastic, thanks. In that case Farrokh would go with mirror image as his third spell...

mirror images: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (4) + 3 = 7

@Xilt: As it was rather buried away in one of my previous posts, so I suspect you may have not spotted it, would you have been open to the suggestion of a bit of spellbook spell swapping on the journey here (I'm mainly checking now as it may become relevant now we are in combat).

Initiative (Round 1)

Xilt
Adeah
Giant
Anthys
Farrokh
Berato

Bold should go!

This encounter will take place on Slide # 6.

@Xilt: I included the Initiative bonus from heightened awareness, which will exhaust the spell.

When the giant comes into view, he's still much too far out of range for Adeah's musket. She moves forward and keeps the barrel trained on the giant.

Double move. Swift action to activate Judgment (Destruction) for +2 to damage rolls.

Farrok gives a discerning glance towards the approaching giant.

"Thinking about possible tactics here, as this giant doesn't appear to have any ranged options, I'm guessing we could initially keep it at range and let it come to us? I know I'd certainly benefit from any additional time to fully ready myself for potential combat with a few more spells."

"Agreed Farrokh. Stay in formation it is. CLOSE UP AND LISTEN TO ANTHYS, PATHFINDERS!!"

Adeah keeps her rifle aimed at the huge giant, ready to fire when the time is right!

Xilt is up.

The plucky mephit draws forth a newly expended wand and speaks a word of power with conviction.

umd dc 20 to activate: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (5) + 17 = 22

Three missiles speed forth at the giant.

Magic Missile cl 5: 3d4 + 3 ⇒ (3, 1, 3) + 3 = 10

Xilt surrounds himself with copies of himself before combat begins.

Mirror Image. Cl 11: 1d4 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

The wizard attempts to drown the giant in a vat of acid.

Acid Pit. Reflex DC 26 or fall in the pit. DC30 to climb.

Acid Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (5, 6) = 11

falling damage: 5d6 ⇒ (3, 2, 3, 2, 5) = 15

After being struck by magic missiles, the giant falls into a pit of magically-conjured acid! But roaring with pain and rage, it starts the laborious climb back up!

The giant fails the Reflex save. On its turn, it stands up from prone as a move action and attempts a Climb check to get out of the 5' deep pool of acid (because the pit is 10' wide and the giant is Large size, it'll be able to brace against opposite walls to reduce the DC). Result: Success. The giant is now 5' off the ground of the 50'-deep pit.

The red square represents the pit.

Initiative (Round 1)

Xilt
Adeah
Giant (climbing/FF)
Anthys
Farrokh
Berato

Bold should go!

This encounter will take place on Slide # 6.

"I guess that's it, then?"
Seeing neither reason nor ability to do anything, Anthys delays.

With the battle potentially over before it even began, Anthys bides his time.

Farrokh and Berato are up.

"I suppose it depends on how good the big guy is at climbing, or surviving in the pit until the spell ends? How long do we have?"

Farrokh mutters another incantation and his already tough skin appears to strengthen further.

He casts extended clay skin on himself with the aid of a metamagic rod.

"I can't hit him down in the pit. Guess I'm waiting."

Anthys comes out of delay; he sheathes his sword and draws a javelin.

The pit will last 12 rounds. Typically I prepare it as a fleeting spell but I forgot this time. :(

"No need to make our foe suffer a horrible death. One of our fliers should make haste to the edge of the pit and put him out of his misery from above. If one of you can read minds, it wouldn't hurt to confirm whether this giant was hostile towards us or not. I will transit to within twenty paces of the pit's edge if you need my help," declares Berato, before hustling towards the pit.

Berato double moves [60'] or runs [120'] (whichever the GM will allow) towards the pit and stop within 20' of it. @GM: Please move my token accordingly. My current placement assumed running for 120' was feasible. Thanks!

Party Buffs: bless

As Anthys readies a javelin and Farrokh magically hardens his skin, Berato sprints toward the pit!

@Berato: Yep, 120' should be fine--it's a straight line until the later curve.

Initiative (Round 2)

Xilt
Adeah
Giant (climbing/FF)
Farrokh
Anthys
Berato

Bold should go!

This encounter will take place on Slide # 6.

Adeah moves to close most of the distance between herself and the pit, keeping her musket pointed forward. "Well if he wasn't hostile before, he certainly is now," she says wryly.

Triple move.

Adeah sprints past Berato, getting to within a stone's throw of the magical pit.

Xilt is up.

Xilt and his familiar wait to see if their foe has been polished off with a single spell. But meanwhile, unbeknownst to them, their foe is slowly scaling the pit walls!

Botting Xilt as doing Total Defense as he waits to see if the pit spell does the trick.

The giant will attempt to do a double-move of climbing to ascend 15 more feet. Result: Success. The giant has now climbed 20' in total.

Initiative (Round 2)

Xilt (total defense)
Adeah
Giant (climbing/FF)
Farrokh
Anthys
Berato

Bold should go!

This encounter will take place on Slide # 6.

"Although I can fly, my ranged options are not the best." Farrokh notes, prodding at his clearly rarely used crossbow. "That said, once I've got myself sorted out I can certainly fly over and take a look at what is going on down there."

The wizard casts another spell on himself, puts away his metamagic rod and takes a step forward.

Farrokh will cast extended heroism on himself, stow his metamagic rod and take a 5 foot step forward.

Anthys, having no idea what the plan is, simply delays.

Berato looks back to the team and sighs under his breath. "I guess we're in this together, Ms. Silversong. My thanks for providing this old priest with some kind of armed escort. You will not disagree I bring in a small slice of heavenly help to look out for us I hope?" says Berato, pulling out of a rope. Holding up his Torag-consecrated hammer, he utters a string of holy words.

A large hound-faced humanoid appears by the edge of the pit, greatsword at the ready. Berato says, "Dear warrior from the Heavens, can you please look down the pit and judge if evil resides within the large hammer-for-hands giant bathing in acid? then please step back and tell me what you divine, lest you fall down to join him..."

Move action to pull out a rope; Standard action to cast Summon Monster IV via Sacred Summons feat; 5-ft steps fwd (free).

The hound archon nods, looks down the pit for a moment, and steps back. He then says, "[GM TO PROVIDE REPORT ON GIANT BEING EVIL OR NOT]"

detect evil (constant): 1st round result provided automatically (free); steps back 5-ft step (free); seeing the rope held out by Berato, readies an action to receive it if thrown (standard)

As Anthys waits for something to happen, Farrokh empowers himself with yet more magic. Meanwhile, Berato summons an extraplanar ally to serve as a scout. The hound archon's report: the giant is indeed evil, and is nearly halfway up the pit!

Initiative (Round 3)

Xilt + Tzleztor
Adeah
Giant (climbing/FF)
Farrokh
Anthys
Berato + Hound Archon

Bold should go!

"What's our current plan?" asks Farrokh, noticing a few ideas taking shape within the party. "I know I'd ideally like time to cast another couple of spells on myself, but wasn't sure how that fitted with others."

"Well that makes it easy then. The plan is to take it down before it can reach us." Adeah moves closer to the pit without wanting to risk its sloped edges.

From a safe distance (more than 5' away from the edge of the pit), can we see the giant? Enough for me to take a shot at it?

@Silversong: hound archon has 10' magic circle vs. Evil that includes you.

Adeah gets a little closer to the pit, but is understandably wary of getting too close!

@Adeah: The giant is still about 30' down the pit, so I don't think you'll be able to see it unless you actually stand at the edge.

Xilt is up.

In that case I'll just wait.

@Berato: Good to know!

Xilt and Tzleztor strike a defensive pose for now as the giant attempts to climb out of the pit.

Total Defence action.

The implacable foe continues trying to extricate himself from the conjured pit!

The giant continues trying to climb as a double-move. Result: Success. The giant is now 35' from the bottom.