GM Cody Season of Ghosts

Game Master Codanous

Xu Jiang looks out on the downtown area, seeing what he can see, regarding the Governor's Manor, there is no clear indication that the house was dragged or destroyed, the dirt is still recessed as if there was a great weight resting here but the whole house is just gone. From where he is at, he can see some Gremlins on the public stage, they appear to be dressed in costumes and are rolling around rough housing with each other on the stage.

Yuranosuke, stealthily slides down the small embankment toward the nearby houses and Imperial Guardhouse forward, sticking to the shadows, Ayane joins him, rolling down the hill, her pots and pangs clanging and clunking as they attempt to sneak alongside the elf.

Creeping up to the nearby house, you find it empty, whatever residents are missing, though signs of a fight took place, there are no bodies left.

Downtown Willowshore

Kwan stands in shock for a long while. The mansion is just gone? What is happening to Willowshore? Is this a dream?

He is stirred from his far-fetched thoughts when he notices Xu Jiang standing near where the Governor's Manor used to be. Seeing no immediate threat near by, Kwan heads that way as well, checking the building just to the east of the manor for signs of life or worse.

Yuranosuke rolls his eyes upon hearing Ayane's clattering, turns around and raises a finger to his lips.

"Shhhhh!" he chides.

There'd be time to ponder whatever supernatural force could uproot an entire house later. For now, they needed to scout for more immediate danger.

"sorry!" she whispers trying to be quiet. She continues forward on exaggerated tip toes trying to keep her pots and pans from clanking too much.

Xu Jiang watches without following, observing all that he can of his companions' progress.

Phang creeps on what was likely an outbuilding for the Governor's manor, likely housed some guard staff or servants, looking inside though, there are no survivor's to be found, signs of a battle but no bodies remain.

Yuranosuke and Ayane continue there creeping, approaching closer to the Imperial Guardhouse, hiding in some bushes, you can see the training yard and the stables. Even from here, the stables reek of death and carrion. The smell of offal and rotten meat stagnates though its hard to see what may be inside without getting any closer.

"There's been more death here...poor horses...such noble creatures would have even less comprehension of the horrors attacking them than we would," Yuranosuke mutters. He creeps closer to the stables, to see the extent of the assumed carnage.

Should I be making another Stealth check here?

Kwan makes his way over to Xu Jiang, seeing the enemies at the stage area. "What do you think? Should we head straight to the stage since those gremlins are a clear target? Or, carefully investigate the buildings to the south first? I'm not sure there is a foolproof option."

Kwan turns to see Ayane and Yuranosuke quite a distance away. "I do know that I think we should stick closer together as a group. Hmm, perhaps we should have the other come this way first and use the bridge to approach the stage first."

Kwan looks to Xu Jiang and waits for his opinion.

Yuranosuke creeps up closer to the stables and his hunch is correct, inside lay a dozen horses. Most died with their eyes wide open, sharing
the pain of their last moments. The horses were savaged and cut and lacerated many times.

Standing there staring at them, the bodies roil and ungulate, as from the corpses eviscerated cavities begin to pour out thousands of ravenous cockroaches seeking the new fresh meat that have arrived.

Round 1 - Who put cockroaches in my Horses?
Yuranosuke
Ayane
Cockroach Swarm

What's everyone else doing? with how fast paced combat tends to be, it would take a couple rounds for you guys to run over there. The rest of the group is 170 feet apart. You guys have direct line of sight so you'll all see them react to something quickly enough

Shandari would run, 1 round of running gets me into firing range of the roaches

Kwan would definitely immediately hustle over to Ayane and Yuranosuke assuming he can see or hear the commotion. Keeping in mind that each square is 10ft, I think it'll take Kwan at least two rounds to get in melee range. But, he'd head that way anyways.

How dangerous of a drop divides the governor's manor area from the B2-B6 buildings?

I think they are actually large ditches, because there is a bridge that crosses across it by the stage and another bridge by where Yuranosuke and Ayane were exploring, which makes me think its a ditch, even though it looks like an embankment. Either way I'd say its difficult terrain.

I forgot Air blasts have 60 feet reach, which in this case would be 6 squares. It is closer than I thought so I'm going to roll initiative for y'all and add y'all in

Willowshore Downtown Map
Round 1 - Who Put Cockroaches in my Horses?
Xu Jiang ☘️ -
Yuranosuke ☘️ -
Ayane ☘️ -
Kwan ☘️ -
Shandari ☘️ -
Cockroach Swarm -

"Ah! what nasty bugs! YUCK!

Ayane starts to sing a little song. "The itsy bitsy nasties are gonna meet their doom! Up comes my rock to SMASH!" She magically throws a rock toward the swarm of cockroaches.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 8 + 1 = 14
Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 1) + 1 = 3

>Courageous Anthem - yall get +1 to attack and damage and saves vs fear
>> Telekinetic Projectile

Do I understand the map correctly? There is a cliff between the two groups of PCs and for the northern group to reach the southern without scaling the cliff we'd have to go right past the gremlins?

How hard to scale does that cliff look?

A bow of air and thundering clouds forms in her hands, as she pulls back an arrow of electricity forms, she then fires it at the closest enemy to her engaged friends, then closes the distance some more

shoot, move (but not closer than 30ft)

Zap: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Bzzz: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

at first look I thought it was a cliff or an embankment/slope but I'm starting to think its actually a ditch since the map depicts bridges crossing over it

I meant the one I have now circled in red.

Ah I see, my bad, apologies to be confusing, the bridges could also be stairs the more I look at it. Either way, we'll say whatever it is, ditch or slope, it's easy enough to navigate without making checks, but crossing through those squares is difficult terrain.

Great. Final question - do we have any idea that Yuranosuke and Ayane are in a fight? They're indoors and we're outside at a distance.

They aren't quite indoors, they are outside in a training yard, standing in front of stables which house a dozen dead hours, I think Phang was actively watching them so, he likely saw them react to the swarm of Cockroaches that piled out, 150 feet isn't too far, like half a football field, so I think it'd be obvious something hostile is threatening them. Might not be obvious from that far away what exactly is threatening them but you'd be able see their stance and demeanor change, and likely see Ayane cast her spell

Noticing that something isn't right over in the stable yard, Kwan springs into action and runs in that direction. "Something is after Ayane and Yuranosuke. We must hurry."

◆◆◆ Stride

Jiang follows Kwan at a hustle.

already posted my action. Though a sad looking miss

Xu jiang, Shandari and Phang see a commotion is afoot in the stables with Ayane and Yuranosuke, they rush to investigate.

Shandari tries to launch a a wind blast but isn't quite sure what she is aiming at and misses.

Ayane throws a rock, but it tumbles through the cockroaches without causing any significant damage.

Yuranosuke draws his Shuan Ji and tries to slice through the cockroaches.

attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14
damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (1) + 4 = 5

attack: 1d20 + 7 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 7 - 5 + 1 = 19
damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

Yuranosuke's second attack connects with the swarm but his slashing weapon seems to have little effect.

The cockroach swarm moves to envelop Ayane and Yuranosuke in thousands of spindly legs and biting pinchers.

need reflex saves DC 18 from Ayane and Yuranosuke

damage on failed reflex save: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Willowshore Downtown Map
Round 2 - Who Put Cockroaches in my Horses?
Xu Jiang ☘️ -
Yuranosuke ☘️ -
Ayane ☘️ -
Kwan ☘️ -
Shandari ☘️ -
Cockroach Swarm - 2 damage

Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"AH! get off of me you nasty bugs!" she yells in an almost sing song.

Trying again she magically throws a rock at the swarm, while continuing her song.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 12
Damage: 2d6 + 1 ⇒ (1, 6) + 1 = 8

>Courageous anthem dont forget your +1 to attack and damage!
>>Telekinetic Projectile
oof! my dice are working against me this round!

Hearing her friends' cries, she once again tries to hit the creatures attacking them

Zap Shot: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 8 + 1 = 22
Bzzt: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 4 + 1 = 9

Kwan continues his sprint towards his allies, the sloping embankment slowing him down slightly.

◆◆◆ Stride

I think I've been fairly accurate at calculating distances on this map. It's surprisingly difficult to count by 10's and factor in difficult terrain.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 14

Yuranosuke makes a disgusted noise as he shakes and shuffles to try and toss the swarming insects off him.

Then he tries to focus his attention and tries to lash out at the vermin.

◆ Hunt Prey
◆ Strike

Attack: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (16) + 7 = 23
Damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

◆ Strike

Attack: 1d20 + 7 - 5 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 7 - 5 + 1 = 17
Damage: 1d6 + 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 + 1 = 7

It is, I rather dislike the 10ft square maps when the appear in published materials. I think it complicates thing, though I see the other side of making maps that scale like a downtown area.

Breathing hard, Xu Jiang hustles up the rough slope just behind Phang Kwan.

Stridex3

paizo website wasn't working for me for like an hour tonight, was worried I wouldn't get a post off before going to bed

Ayane and Yuranosuke are covered in biting cockroaches, they are unable to shake off the swarm initially. Ayane tries to throw another rock but can't find her aim with cockroaches all over her. Yuranosuke is able to sweep his shuan ji threw the cockroaches, slicing a number of them in half.

Shandari, I thought maybe you had something that let you exceed the elemental blasts range of 60 feet but I'm not seeing anything, or is treated like range increments? Right now they are still about 80 feet away from y'all

Xu jiang, Phang and Shandari continue hustling through the area, likely regretting that the group got so split up.

The cockroaches go to absolute town, devouring Ayane and Yuranosuke.

gonna need 3 reflex saves as the cockroaches feast

Swarm attack 1 DC 18 Reflex save: 1d8 ⇒ 8

Swarm attack 2 DC 18 Reflex save: 1d8 ⇒ 7

Swarm attack 3 DC 18 Reflex save: 1d8 ⇒ 1

Willowshore Downtown Map
Round 3 - Who Put Cockroaches in my Horses?
Xu Jiang ☘️ -
Yuranosuke ☘️ - 1 damage
Ayane ☘️ - 1 damage
Kwan ☘️ -
Shandari ☘️ -
Cockroach Swarm - 6 damage

Cursing under his breath, the woodcutter/priest runs as fast as he can.

Stride x3

weapon infusion. So she's treating her attack as a longbow

Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 5 = 14

Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (18) + 5 = 23

Screaming as the cockroaches start to eat and bit her she finally manages to swat some away.

She tries to move out of the bug swarm and tries to throw a rock at it again.

Attack: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 6) = 10

>Stride out of bugs
>>Telekinetic projectile

Gotcha thank you, my bad! looks like weapon infusion makes the damage piercing to match the longbow shape. I'll add in 4 more damage to the swarm for your attack that hit earlier.

Kwan continues to keep pace with Xu Jiang, nearly making it to the stable yard.

Gotcha thank you, my bad! looks like weapon infusion makes the damage piercing to match the longbow shape. I'll add in 4 more damage to the swarm for your attack that hit earlier.

no worries, thanks. And not really. I can choose to do. For cases where the enemy may be immune to electricity (in Shandari case

Yup, I missed the "you can choose" So I'll add the full 9 damage for it being electric!

Ayane strides out of the bugs before launching a rock that pummels through the remaining swarm, finishing it off!

A few moments later, Kwan, Shandari and Xu Jiang arrive, taking in the horrifying scene at the stables here. You're fight was on the louder side, and from the nearby building which Phang and the others know as the Downtown Imperial Guardhouse and prison, a beaten, bruised and ragged face strains to see out the window, even with half his face swollen and purple, Phang you recognize him as the Watch Officer, Zheng Peng, as loudly as he can whisper to you all, "Help, the surviving guards are locked up, we've been without food or water since the attack, the monsters are gone for now,"

Jiang moves quickly to render aid to the guardsmen, portioning out his food and water. "Give them what you have," he says to his compaions. "We'll get more shortly."

Once he's passed in the food and water, he asks his companions "Can someone break them out of there? I can begin tending their wounds once they're out."

Yuranosuke breathes a sigh of relief as the swarm is broken.

"Good work, Ayane," he says as he brushes a few dead cockroaches off his robes.

When Zheng Peng reveals himself and Jiang instructs them to share their supplies, Yuranosuke nods and follows suit.

The immediate threat of the guards starving or dying of thirst mitigated, he makes a brief loop around the building, looking to see what ways in or out he could make for them.

Perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 7 = 11

The bar windows offer little in the way of providing escape, though you are able to pass through some rations and waterskins. There is a backdoor here, but inspecting the lock, you determine it would be beyond anyone in the groups current skill. 5 succesful DC 30 checks.

Yuranosuke circles around, as he nears the front, he finds a large outdoor Bamboo Cage serving as a holding cell for a number of villages, they are also badly hurtall are fatigued and 1 hp but alive. Yuranosuke you recognize them as Hana Koyama, a quiet seamstress. Daichi Morita, a fisherman that lost his leg in an accident, Suzu Abarai, a bright-eyed teenage girl and Lantern Festival dancer and Genzo Takahari an elderly carpenter.

Genzo gripped the bamboo bars with calloused fingers, his voice a rough whisper like wind through dry reeds.

“Don’t just stand there starin’—ya gotta get us outta here, and quick!” he hissed. “Them jinkin devils’ll be back afore long, and they ain’t never kind when they’re bored. If yer here to help, then break us out fast—please. We ain't got much time, and this place... it ain't safe, not with what else is lurkin’ ‘round the square.”

Just around the corner, is the entrance to the Imperial Guard house as well, the doors stand roughly ajar, and around the courtyard is a number of jinkin and other guard bodies that fell in the fighting.

"Break them out and keep watch," is all the priest says before he sets to healing the wounded, at first through the bamboo bars until they are freed.

Hana Koyama - Battle Medicine w/ Medic (DC 15): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 242d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 5) + 5 = 12
Success. Heal up to 12 hp.

Daichi Morita - Battle Medicine w/ Medic (DC 15): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 112d8 + 5 ⇒ (8, 3) + 5 = 16
Failure

Suzu Abarai - Battle Medicine w/ Medic (DC 15): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 162d8 + 5 ⇒ (4, 3) + 5 = 12
Success. Heal up to 12 hp.

Genzo Takahari - Battle Medicine w/ Medic (DC 15): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (13) + 10 = 232d8 + 5 ⇒ (2, 4) + 5 = 11
Success. Heal up to 11 hp.

...............

Using Medic Dedication, Xu Jiang continues to work on Daichi Morita's wounds. Medic Dedication - Once per day, you can use Battle Medicine on a creature that’s temporarily immune due to having already been treated with Battle Medicine.

Daichi Morita - Battle Medicine w/ Medic (DC 15): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (16) + 10 = 264d8 + 5 ⇒ (7, 6, 1, 6) + 5 = 25
Critical Success. Heal up to 25 hp.

................

Having thus helped the prisoners, Xu Jiang stands in solemn thanks to the Lady of Graves for not taking these four or the guardsmen to the River of Souls today.

is there a DC to break the bamboo bars? Or is it that same 5 successful ones?

With the swarm of cockroaches quelled, Kwan quickly rushes over to Zheng Peng. "Thanks to Shizuru that you are still alive. We'll get you out of there soon. Do you know if one of the doors is unlocked?" As he talks, Kwan reaches a hand out to Zheng and grants him Shizuru's blessing and healing. Lay on Hands

I'm having trouble following 1) which door is locked and 2) which door is the open entrance to the guard house?

all good, there is a back door(B6) immediately to the north of where you guys are talking to the Zheng Peng through the prison window, that door is locked with a really high quality lock. The doors at the front, to the west(B2) doors which are the main entrance doors are ajar post some sort of battle with the imperial guards and jinkins which appears to have never been cleaned up.

Yuranosuke and Ayane and Xu Jiang are quickly able to create enough space in the bamboo bars to break the villagers out, Xu Jiang renders critical life saving care to them, though they still remain fatigued, they aren't in immediate danger of dying.

Genzo stretches slowly, joints popping, and gave the others a steadying glance before turning to the party. “Thank you… bless you for this,” he said, voice rough with wear but steady. “We thought we were gonna rot in there."

Phang continues talking to Zheng Peng, the imperial guard officer, "Ah Phang its good to see you survived, it looks like the Jinkins never bothered to lock the doors inside, but they have us locked in these cells, there's something bigger too leading the Jinkins though we haven't seen it since it smashed through our lines and locked us in here that first night. I'd hurry inside if you can, free us and we can figure out a plan of counter attack,"

"Did you hear them mention goals?" Jiang interrupts. "Or why they're all here?"

Shandari thanks them with a curtsy as she almost wafts into the safety of the building

"Glad we could help" she chimes in with a smile

"Okay, we freed the villagers from the other cage. We'll get you out next. We may have to deal with jinkins that are by the stage first though."

Kwan quickly reassures the villagers that they are safe, relatively. "Hana, Daichi, Suzu, Genzo, come over here by Zheng, and stay out of sight. We need to free Zheng next."

Kwan inspects the cage that Zheng is in and attempts to free him like they did for the other villagers.

If not does not work, Kwan suggests that the villagers stay here, and the party first clears the public stage and then figures out how to free Zheng. "I doubt we can sneak around to the open door at the front of the guardhouse without drawing the attention of the jinkins at the stage. So, I think we need to handle them first before coming back here to free Zheng."

Also, I can't remember if I stated what creature type Kwan chose for Oath of the Defender, and searching didn't turn up anything. @GM Cody, if it's cool with you, I'll go with undead for today.

Yuranosuke remains silent as he moves to aid the imprisoned townsfolk and usher them into shelter.

At the discussion of the jinkins and whatever is leading them, he just nods.

"This town will be freed, one home at a time."