[Outpost VIII] GM Jhaeman's PFS1 # 2-16: 'The Flesh Collector' (Inactive)

Game Master Jhaeman

"There is only one way to find out. Lorian said as he motioned for the group to head into the compound. "Do you have any titles by chance? he added to Nikita.

"OOO! OO! OO!" Pai practically explodes with exuberance. "If you don't, we can make them up! What about 'Grand Poobah'? That has a nice ring to it. 'Grand Poobah du...something. Something like that. Whaddya think?"

Having reached their destination, the Pathfinder field agents discuss the surprising revelation that one member has apparently achieved some fame--or notoriety . . .

@Lorian: Just to clarify re your post about heading into the compound, the monastery's wooden gates are currently tightly sealed.

@Everyone: I've put a map of the monastery on Slide # 2. Please go ahead and add your tokens outside the main gates.

Got it
"Sorry, Pai. It is not a good idea to make up a title. Nobility tend to get rather "vengeful" if you give yourself a title that you have not earned. Lorian said, making his way to the locked gate.

"Good day Brothers of the Monastery of the Unremitting Tide. May we enter in order to speak with the head of your order? he stated in a clear voice that could be heard over the din of battle.

Well I am working on 'Arch Magus' but I do not think I am anywhere near there yet'.

"There is only one way to find out. Lorian said as he motioned for the group to head into the compound. "Do you have any titles by chance? he added to Nikita.

Nikita Sergeyevich Volkov, captain of zeye second rifle company of zeye zeerteenth cavalry battalion of zeye Workers' and Peasants' Red Army... Retired, I guess - I haven't been in zeye unit for a long time and I don't knov how to gyet zere... If yoah'rye talking aboaht titles of nobility, I don't have one and I von't have one, because noble-bourgeois dictatorship mahst be overthrown as unfairly oppressing proletarian class.

Nikita then stands with his arms folded and waits for an answer from behind the door. Indeed, knocking and asking to be let in in an honest way is the best solution in this situation.

The sounds of fighting suddenly cease as Lorian's loud, clear voice rings out across the small island that houses the monastery. Some seconds later, a heavy latch can be heard being unlocked. The gates are pulled slightly inward to reveal a young man with a shaved head. Wearing the distinctive loose-fitting attire of a martial artist in training, his eyes widen with surprise when he sees you. "May I be of assistance?" he inquires meekly.

Greetings! I am Nikita Volkov, Pazefeendyer, Paladin of Ragathiel and a retired soldier. Zeyesye are my comrades, also Pazefeendyers, zeyey veell introduce zeemselves. Vee are here on zee case of zeft of important arteefact. Tracks led us to gate of yoahr monastery. Could yoah take ahs to abbot or any ozeyer official in charge of zees place, comrade monk? Nikita communicates with the gatekeeper politely and affably, but at the same time with an exaggerated restraint and a soldier's bearing.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (15) + 16 = 31

"...zeyey veell introduce zeemselves."

"Hi! I'm Pai!" Pai interjects, waving vigorously from her vantage point above everyone's heads.

Nikita Sergeyevich Volkov, captain of zeye second rifle company of zeye zeerteenth cavalry battalion of zeye Workers' and Peasants' Red Army... Retired, I guess - I haven't been in zeye unit for a long time and I don't knov how to gyet zere... If yoah'rye talking aboaht titles of nobility, I don't have one and I von't have one, because noble-bourgeois dictatorship mahst be overthrown as unfairly oppressing proletarian class.

"You and I can spend weeks talking about the failings of nobility. Some of them have morals that would make the fiends from the lowest layer of the Abyss turn pale." Lorian said before the gate opened a crack. He kept an eye on the brother at the gate to see what kind of reaction he has seeing Nikita, before introducing himself.

"Greeting's, I am Lorian, Lorian the Peacemaker."

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

With eyes downcast, the student says in a quiet voice "Please be welcome to the monastery. I will take you to the master." He pulls the gates open wide and motions for you to enter into a large quadrangle.

Two towering edifices face each other across this meadow, one reverently decorated as a temple, the other austere as a library. Overgrown wildflowers choke former pathways between the buildings. At the center lies a sunken pool teeming with lotus flowers. An elegant tiger statue crouches, preparing to pounce, beside the pool. Several doors line the courtyard--one on the south side is slightly ajar.

And just as Pai said, an alcove on the western side contains a plinth holding a wooden bust unmistakably depicting Nikita! A word is written in Vudrani underneath it.

In the northeast corner, steel glints from two weapon racks. An aged, white-haired man sits on a chair beside the weapon racks, his back upright. His eyes focus on you as you approach. He says gruffly, in accented Common. "Few strangers come to the Monastery of Unremitting Tide. What is your business here?"

Map updated. Please throw your tokens on the map (in the quadrangle) if you haven't done so already.

If any of you speak Vudrani, please let me know.

The scenario contains surprisingly little artwork, so I googled "Vudrani monk" and Sajan, the Iconic, comes up :) I've used his picture on the slide to give you a sense of how these young fighters-in-training might be dressed and have assigned them Yellow and Blue tokens. The art for the aged, white-haired monk is just from random googling.

Getting a closer look at the writing on the statue of Nikita, Lorian tried to translate it.
Linguistics: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Spica also tries to work out what the writing says.
linguistics: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (15) + 10 = 25

Spica Capella she says softly after bowing. Just a humble wizard

"Ooooo! Preeetty! Love the flowers! So yeah, like Nikita told this guy," Pai jerks a thumb in the direction of the young guy who answered the door. "We're looking for a manuscript that was stolen. A spell tracked its location to here, so here we are to find it! It's entirely possible that someone used a spell to hide it here without your knowledge." She may be flighty, but Pai knows it's usually best to start off a conversation by giving the new folks the benefit of the doubt, at least on the surface. They tend to be nicer that way, and nicer means less stabby-stabby-murder attempts.

"You are mistaken," the old master says flatly. "What you seek is not here. Leave now."

The Rock takes to the air in his Air Elemental form. His trusty companion is by his side.

Ginger can sense already that these monks are not acting friendly. She looks to her master to see if he will allow her to use one of them as a chew doll.

Spica frowns. Could it be here without you knowing?

Lorian saw the writing on the statue and did his best to keep his face passive as he passed along a message to warn Nikita.

"Congratulations Nikita, they think you are a noble. he muttered.

Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Sense Motive DC 15: 1d20 + 2 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 2 + 5 = 17

Pai's green eyes go wide. Why would they think that?!

Besides that, though, is the curt dismissal from the older man. "Are you for real?! Like, you're not even gonna let us check? Dude! You know that's--" She clamps her mouth shut. Oops! Let the smooth talkers do their talking. "Sorry! I'll shut up now."

The master is silent for a moment, seeming to ponder Spica's and Pai's words. Then, suddenly and without warning, he shouts in flawless Taldane: "The book-thieves have returned!" He and the the two students in the quadrangle instantly assume a fighting stance!

We will move to Initiative.

Initiative (Round 1)

Students
The Rock
Tull
Master
Pai
Nikita
Lorian
Spica

Bold should go!

The students leap to follow their master's shout, one trying to get Nikita in an arm-bar and the other a leg-lock on Tull![/ooc]

Yellow tries to grapple (with improved grapple) a flat-footed Nikita (and spends a point of ki to improve their AC & CMD). Result: Fails by a smidge.

Blue tries to grapple (with improved grapple) a flat-footed Tull (also spending a point of ki to improve their AC & CMD). Result: Succeeds. Tull now has the grappled condition.

Initiative (Round 1)

Students (Blue grappling*)
The Rock
Tull (grappled*)
Master
Pai
Nikita
Lorian
Spica

Bold should go!

Nikita looks at the monk in surprise and takes a half step back at the moment when he jumps onto the armbar, from which the young novice falls to the floor but immediately jumps up. (as a first degree black belt in BJJ, I assure you this is how it usually happens, huh... well, with the correction that in reality no one will let you get up... but Nikita FF now on the other hand)

Nikita has enough sense motive to understand Larian's hidden message automatically.

'Something strange is happening here. Why did they attack? Are they really evil? Or are they subject to evil will?'

Earlier...

Sense Motive DC 15: 1d20 + 8 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 5 = 28

Tull frowns with concern.

Now...

Tull doesn't take kindly to being attacked. In fact, it makes him quite angry! Free action to enter bloodrage (round 1 of 16)

"By Desna's Demand, you shall pay for your insolence!"

Quickly, Tull slips from the acolyte's grasp, steps 5' away, and draws his butchering axe.

Swift action to use one use of Blessings (1 of 7) to use Liberation to give himself Freedom of Movement for 1 round. Standard action to free himself from the grapple (contrary to common practice, Freedom of Movement doesn't automatically remove the Grappled condition, it just ensures an auto-success at the attempt to break the Grapple). Move action to draw weapon (I assume that we entered the monastery diplomatically without weapons drawn). Free to take a 5' step. Note: for the purposes of Dutiful Strike, Blue is Tull's most recent attacker.

The Rock tosses a ball of ice and snow at Yellow before ascending another 20 feet straight up into the air.

Snowball vs Touch AC: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (5) + 11 = 16

Intensified Snowball, Cold: 10d6 ⇒ (3, 1, 3, 4, 6, 6, 5, 6, 2, 2) = 38

Ginger advances at her master's command and attempts to bite down hard on Yellow.

Bite vs Yellow: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (13) + 16 = 29

Bite Damage (Magic) vs Yellow: 3d6 + 18 ⇒ (4, 3, 5) + 18 = 30

Grapple vs Yellow on a hit: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (18) + 19 = 37

Would Weapon Focus(Bite) add to a Grapple check with said bite?
It is probably not relevant here but it might become relevant soon.

Pai dances in the air, pointing at the elderly master. "OOO! OOO! OOO! The old guy's being controlled! Something's making him a puppet!"

Spoiler from this post is open.

She goes starry-eyed at Ginger's ferocious chomping. "Oooo! I love her!"

Let me try and Dispel it then

An arm-bar and a leg-lock are met with a butchering axe, lethal spells, and the teeth of a tyrannosaurus rex as the Pathfinders live up to their reputation for extreme violence! In an instant, one of the students flops around, bleeding and unconscious, in Ginger's gore-soaked mouth.

But focused on the intruders, the master springs into the air with incredible leg muscles and tries to bring down Pai!

The Rock's and Ginger's attacks all hit, knocking Yellow into negatives (and of course, the grapple succeeds).

The master tries to jump 5' (diagonally) straight up in order to get within reach of Pai for one stunning fist attack. Base DC is 20, and with high jump class feature, this isn't doubled for not having a running start. Success on the jump is automatic. Result of stunning fist: Hit.
Pai, you take 11 damage and need to make a DC 17 Fortitude save or be stunned for 1 round.

Initiative (Round 1)

Students (Yellow dying & grappled)
The Rock
Tull
Master
Pai (need save vs stun first)
Nikita
Lorian
Spica

Bold should go!

Spica attempts to Dispel the effect on the Master.

clc: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

How did Pai get way over there? She was close to the entrance last I saw her token. Oh, well. Let's roll with it. No retcon needed this time.

DC 17 Fortitude: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (16) + 15 = 31

"Ooo, so ouchy!" Pai taunts the old master, or rather: the old master's puppetmaster. She decides to back off and make it harder for the old guy to whack her, flying up to a 30 foot height. (Provokes AOO) "Get out of him, whoever you are!" Pai shouts at the possessor as she blasts him with a deluge of sparkling, electrified water. "Dang! Honestly, I hurt myself more than you hurt me!"

Charged Water Blast vs. AC, Point Blank Shot: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 15 + 1 = 36
Confirm Crit?: 1d20 + 15 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 15 + 1 = 22
50% Bludgeoning and 50% Electrical damage, Point Blank Shot: 10d6 + 17 + 1 ⇒ (4, 6, 5, 3, 1, 6, 4, 1, 3, 2) + 17 + 1 = 53 (If the Crit confirms, 53 x 2 = 106 damage.)
Charged Water Blast costs 2 Burn, so Pai takes 18 NL damage.

Lorian, watching the blast of water smash into monk, got ready to see the master come crashing to the ground.

I have one full First Aid glove with 5 gems. Will try to use Breath of Life on him to keep the Master from dying.

Pai blasts the old master with electrified water, hurtling him into a nearby weapon rack. When the deluge finally stops, the man is unmoving . . . and barely breathing.

@Spica: You don't think your dispel magic worked.

Pai's attack hits and the crit is confirmed, dropping the master deep into negative hp with the Dying condition.

Nikita and Lorian are up.

Seeing the master prone on the ground barely breathing, Lorian gave him a tap of a wand to help keep him from dying. " Pai, I am so glad that you did not do that in the library!" he said.

CLW: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

@Lorian: You need to get adjacent for that.

It didn't work. Keep him alive. I'll try the scroll

"Oh man! I didn't mean to hurt him that bad! I'm so sorry! It's not even his fault!" Genuine concern is etched on Pai's features. I've *got* to not get carried away!

Sorry, forgot to move him. My move is 40 (Boots of striding and springing.) Path of travel added

Nikita makes a hand gesture and with a click, a healing wand appears in his palm. He takes a step towards the wounded monk and casts healing. Let's not kill zeem. Zeere's some kind of evil manipulation here... However, he's still pulling out his revolver.

Spring-loaded Wrist Sheath: swift action to draw the wand; 5ft step; standard action to cast CLW for 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5 on yellow; move action to draw the revolver.

Lorian springs across the quadrangle and reaches the elderly monk with healing magic just in the nick of time to save his life! Meanwhile, Nikita heals the student being chewed on by The Rock's dinosaur ally.

But intending to follow his master's last orders even in the face of overwhelming odds, the other student continues his attacks on Tull!

Near the northeast side of the quadrangle, a door opens and two more students rush out intent on defending the monastery!

The elderly monk is now at -6 hp and stable.

Yellow is bumped up to exactly 0 hp and has the Disabled condition.

Blue spends another ki point to boost his AC and then does a flurry of blows against Tull using nonlethal unarmed attacks, with the first one being a stunning fist. Result: The first attack hits for 8 nonlethal damage. Tull, please attempt a DC 14 Fortitude save to avoid being stunned. The second attack hits for 9 nonlethal damage. The last attack misses.

Everyone: For this battle, please remember that nonlethal damage "counts up" (whereas regular hp "counts down"), and if nonlethal damage ever matches current hp, then unconsciousness is the result.

I've now added tokens for Black and for White.

Initiative (Round 2)

Students (Yellow disabled & grappled)
The Rock
Tull (need save vs stun first)
Master (unconscious, stable)
Pai
Nikita
Lorian
Spica

Bold should go!

Fort vs Stunned: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

Somewhere in his anger, Tull dimly realizes that his comrades are helping the enemy! "What are you doing?!? By the Blasted Butterfly, how will they learn to FEAR when you coddle them like this!?!" But, realizing that his companions may wish to leave their foes alive to interrogate them he sighs... "fine. but the next thing I get to kill..."

Maintain bloodrage (round 2 of 16)

+3 dragon-bane furious butchering axe, attacking non-lethally, power attack, vital strike, dutiful strike: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (8) + 15 = 23
non-lethal dmg, PA, dutiful strike, vital strike: 6d8 + 21 ⇒ (4, 2, 1, 3, 2, 6) + 21 = 39

If this drops Blue, Tull will move over to the old man, preparing to cast Protection from Evil on him next round in hopes of alleviating whatever enchantment bedevils him.

Tull whaps the student with the flat of his axe!

Tull's attack hit Blue, but Blue is still up.

I'll give The Rock another 12 hours or so and then pull out my mighty mighty bot-hammer.

I forgot, Tull also gets a free action Intimidate to Demoralize after hitting with Power Attack from Cornugon Smash.

Intimidate: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (10) + 17 = 27

Seeing that Blue is still standing, Tull will step 5' to the northeast and use 1 point of fervor (1 of 9) to activate his sacred weapon (1 round of 9) (Holy) and sacred armor (1 minute of 9) (light fortification) abilities.

The Rock flies over and tosses a snowball at the closest student.

Snowball vs Touch (vs White): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Cold Damage, Intensified Rod: 10d6 ⇒ (1, 3, 2, 4, 5, 2, 3, 2, 1, 4) = 27

Ginger runs after her master and attacks White as well.

Bite vs White: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (17) + 16 = 33

Bite Damage (Magic): 3d6 + 18 ⇒ (3, 6, 3) + 18 = 30

Grapple attempt (on a hit) vs White: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (15) + 19 = 34

One of the newly-arrived students is pummeled by a magical ball of ice and then toss around like a ragdoll by tyrannosaurus rex!

Tull's intimidation gives Blue the shaken condition for two rounds.

The Rock's snowball hits White.

Ginger's attack hits White and succeeds on the grapple attempt.