[PaizoCon 2025] PFS1 9-25: Betrayal in the Bones (Inactive)

Game Master cmlobue

There is nothing else to find in the corridor the Pathfinders are currently in.

She sees Beidou finish the last minotaur off. She doesn't mind either immediately escorting the dwarves back to the entrance or focusing on continuing the journey first, but the latter has ultimately been decided.

But she wouldn't feel great without helping the dwarves to wait for their comeback. She requests them to regroup and then channels positive energy to heal them. As they are reaching a narrower corridor, she doesn't really want to have a nasty surprise either, seeing how her teammates are reacting on their own. If nothing else, she waits for the melees to move first, but she will follow seconds after.

Channel healing the dwarves: 7d6 ⇒ (1, 5, 6, 2, 5, 5, 4) = 28
Perception on slide 5: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (2) + 20 = 22

if out of combat Beidou will walk over to the hole n look down to see who is inside ? 4 dwarves ? she wonder to herself where the other 3 ?

Thargash's perception is high enough that he would automatically make the DC 15 check.

Before departing the site of the battle Thargash helps himself to one of the magic greataxes and recasts heightened awareness on himself. He later casts echolocation once it looks like the party are about to exit the labyrinth.

He can also put barkskin on two further members of the party if anyone wants it (I'm guessing it would be useful for Beidou and the tiger?).

"Agreed." rumbles Thargash in response to his companions suggestions regarding potential combat and he proceeded to throw up some further magical protections and enhancements on himself and the party...

He will cast bulls strength on himself and communal air walk on the party. Once it looks like everyone if ready to exit the corridor he will also use his wands to cast lead blades, long arm and then shield on himself as a precaution right before the party head into the cavern.

Once everyone is ready he heads out of the corridor to see what he can see beyond, sword at the ready.

perception: 1d20 + 31 ⇒ (11) + 31 = 42

Seeing that what she casted on her tiger likely is gone then bar the Magic Vestment, she renews these spells. She didn't expect Thargash to be able to help her companion, but she will certainly not say no to that.

recasting Aspect of the Wolf and Shield of Faith, Shield Other should still be there, the tiger accepts the barkskin.

Beidou would very much like Barkskin.
redo heighten awareness. Any1 talk to the dwarves yet ?
do they know what lies further ahead ?
how did they end up here ?

Pyros moves up into the air about 20 feet with double move to get a better view and allow melee to be underneath him if needed. (no idea how to do height on slides)

The dwarves have little other information. They were captured long before reaching the ossuary.

To the east, an enormous, animate mass of armed and armored corpses undulates forth, like a siege tower of steel-girded flesh.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Jannaria
Pyros
Thargash
Beidou
Red
Redgar

I assume it would be a knowledge (religion) check to know what it is?

Jannaria uses an efficient if unimaginative strategy which is to open up with the same thing all the time. She brings out another scroll out of her spring-loaded wrist sheath and tries to use a scroll of Haste. Her attempt at activating it is successful so targets the same targets like last time. With that acceleration, the tiger barely has enough speed to move towards the big target and try to attack once. She's not sure it's actually a hit, but if it's the case, the tiger will try to munch with glee considering being actually trained to attack anything.

Beidou, Tiger, Thargash, Pyros, Redgar again get haste. With that spell the AC of the animal companion goes temporarily to 44. With haste the attack roll should be at +19, it will be reflected in future attacks for this combat

Use Magic Device: 1d20 + 39 ⇒ (18) + 39 = 57
Tiger, bite attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (15) + 18 = 33
Tiger, bite damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16

I assume it would be a knowledge (religion) check to know what it is?

Correct

kn religion: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (9) + 7 = 16

Thank you for Haste Jannaira
with increase movement 40ft .
Beidou Rage and double move (80ft total) right up to it
Does it have combat reflex to AOO beidou as she close the gap?
She will Ready to Parry n Repo if it attacks her.

Thargash advances towards the mass of corpses, rising slightly higher into the air as he does. Flying into a rage he lashes out at the foe with his sword...

Furious, raging attack + PA(FF) + haste + heroes' feast + bull's strength: 1d20 + 27 - 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 27 - 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 48
slashing, +6 magic, adamantine damage + PA + vital strike + lead blades + bull's strength + destructive smite: 8d6 + 22 + 9 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (4, 6, 6, 1, 6, 3, 4, 6) + 22 + 9 + 2 + 6 = 75

Rolling to confirm the crit...
attack crit confirm: 1d20 + 27 - 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 27 - 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 = 32
slashing, +6 magic, adamantine damage + PA + lead blades + bull's strength + destructive smite: 4d6 + 22 + 9 + 2 + 6 ⇒ (1, 1, 6, 4) + 22 + 9 + 2 + 6 = 51

Pyros has no idea what he's looking at.

Jannaria once again speeds her allies. The tiger approaches the enemy, taking advantage of its momentary hesitation to sink its jaws in.

Thargash floats over to the creature and takes a swing at it. It barely hits a weak point, but the creature seems to resist some of the damage.

The creature does not attack Beidou as she approaches.

Round 1 - bolded may go

Jannaria
Pyros
Thargash
Beidou
Red (-132 HP)
Redgar

Pyros airwalks 30 and pulls out his maximize lesser meta rod. If I can do it as part of a move action, I will fireball. If not that will end the turn, targeting the back squares of the creature hoping to get stuff behind that I cannot see if there are more.

15d6max is 90+15x2, +7d6+7x2=90+30+14+7d6? static is draconic/orc

ht emp max fireball: 134 + 7d6 ⇒ 134 + (1, 6, 6, 3, 5, 5, 3) = 163

Yep, that is weapon-like enough.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (6) + 15 = 21

Pyros explodes the creature.

Technically Redgar has an action before anything happens, but I am going to put him on delay briefly since there is no apparent target.

Two giant, four-armed creatures appear at either end of the tunnel.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Redgar
Jannaria
Pyros
Thargash
Green
Beidou
Red
Blue

Planes to identify

Jannaria moves a bit closer to the monster in the north to have a clear line of sight. After that, she doesn't think she needs to throw anything too big, she might regret it as an oversight later, but she can't know the abilities for sure.

Casting Terrible Remorse on Blue if it works, Blue needs to make Will save DC 24 for partial effect. Link to the spell below, copy pasting the paragraph following suit :

https://aonprd.com/SpellDisplay.aspx?ItemName=terrible%20remorse

You fill a target with such profound remorse that it begins to harm itself. Each round, the target must save or deal 1d8 points of damage + its Strength modifier to itself using an item held in its hand or with unarmed attacks. If the creature saves, it is staggered for 1 round and takes a -2 penalty to Armor Class, after which the spell ends.

SR check: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (19) + 13 = 32

Regardless of these circumstances, the tiger pounces on the same target assuming the monster in front has been deleted. If not, will try to finish Red. She doesn't expect her tiger to do a lot of damage, but every bit counts.

If charging on Blue, the tiger suffers -2 penalty on AC until the start of my next turn. If red still there, remove -2 on the attack rolls, said penalty and the rakes from the rolls that count.

bite attack 1: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (14) + 21 = 35
bite attack haste: 1d20 + 21 ⇒ (15) + 21 = 36
claw 1: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (9) + 20 = 29
claw 2: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (14) + 20 = 34
rake 1: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (5) + 20 = 25
rake 2: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (13) + 20 = 33

bite damage 1: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
bite damage haste: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
claw damage 1: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
claw damage 2: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (1) + 10 = 11
rake damage 1: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13
rake damage 2: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (3) + 10 = 13

Pyros unleashes another fireball at green, hoping to soften it up for the melee.

max emp int fball: 134 + 7d6 ⇒ 134 + (1, 6, 5, 6, 4, 3, 4) = 163
SR if needed: 1d20 + 17 ⇒ (14) + 17 = 31
add 2 damage if hunters blessing applies

As Thargash can reach and attack either of the two foes and I'm not sure if Redgar can, he will decide exactly which foe to attack once Redgar's actions have been resolved. If green is still up at that point he will move and attack green if not he will move and attack blue. Either way he will move and attack one of them! I'll move my token once its clear which one he is attacking.

Thargash launches himself at one of the two newcomers, bringing his sword down in a powerful arc aimed at the creature's head...

Furious, raging attack + PA(FF) + haste + heroes' feast + bull's strength + hunter's blessing: 1d20 + 27 - 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (14) + 27 - 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 46
slashing, +6 magic, adamantine damage + PA + vital strike + lead blades + bull's strength + destructive smite + hunter's blessing: 8d6 + 22 + 9 + 2 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 4, 1, 2, 2, 4, 3, 3) + 22 + 9 + 2 + 6 + 2 = 65

I'm guessing these are evil outsiders so the above include the +2 bonus to attack and damage that everyone gets from hunter's blessing.

Filled with magical speed, Redgar moves up to try and finish off Blue...

1d20 + 26 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 26 + 1 = 34

If it hits 2d6 + 32 ⇒ (4, 1) + 32 = 37 damage

Move and a Standard

Redgar approaches the blue creature and takes a swing at it. The blow lands, but does not seem to do as much damage as he expected.

Jannaria casts a spell at the same foe.

Will Save: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18

It seems to be questioning its life's choices. The tiger takes advantage to strike many times, but it barely does any damage to the creature.

Pyros continues to live up to his name.

Reflex Save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

The enemy resists the flames as well, but not enough to protect it significantly.

Thargash moves in to follow up against the greenish enemy. Despite the creature's resistance, a single powerful blow is enough to vanquish it.

Round 2 - bolded may go

Redgar
Jannaria
Pyros
Thargash
Green
Beidou
Red
Blue (-41 HP, remorse 13 rounds)

the tiger seems not in proper square previously
its large right. so i adjusted it on grid.
i dont see a space i can get int to take a swing at it.
im currently dont have reach

unless im allowed
5ft, beside tiger,
as part of move, mount on tiger
standard - 1 attack ?

or is there a space i can fit ? squeezing square below Redgar?
n take -4 penalty to attack n AC ?

Beidou continue raging n swing her great sword, Improved Vital Strike, PA
+1/Keen/Shock/Shocking,Burst Greatsword (Answering/Furious)
17-20 crit, +4 to confirm

If i can mount attack normal, If not squeeze -4 to the attack
attack,Vital strike: 1d20 + 23 ⇒ (18) + 23 = 416d6 + 30 ⇒ (2, 1, 2, 4, 5, 5) + 30 = 49
acid: 1d6 ⇒ 5
electric: 1d6 ⇒ 4

weapon + Imp Vital
2d6+30 + 4d6
1d6 Acid
1d6 Electric

Wait Pendant of the Blood Scarab
Auto Confirm

+1/Keen/Shock/Shocking,Burst Greatsword (Answering/Furious)
17-20 crit, +4 to confirm, +2 Hunter Blessing

crit addition dmg: 2d6 + 30 ⇒ (1, 1) + 30 = 32

Shocking Burst 1d10 Electric
electric: 1d10 ⇒ 7

Staggering Critical
target needs a Fort save 24 or get stagger for 1d4+1 round
stagger round: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 1 = 3

Beidou takes 1d6 dmg from Pendant
dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 3

Beidou swing n crit
Slashing 49+32
Acid 6 gloves
Electric 4 shocking
Electric 7 shocking burst

total 98. if have resis just void the element dmg
Beidou neck bleeds a bit take 3 dmg from pendant

Else I could try airwalk over Redgar n make my Vital strike

How do you have both shock and shocking burst on your weapon? My impression was that shocking burst was shock plus an extra effect and did not stack.

Beidou quickly considers all the options before deciding to hack at the remaining enemy. It resists every type of damage she can throw at it, but still takes a serious hit.

Remorse Damage: 1d8 + 12 ⇒ (3) + 12 = 15

It pinches itself in shame.

Round 3 - bolded may go

Redgar
Jannaria
Pyros
Thargash
Green
Beidou
Red
Blue (-127 HP, remorse 12 rounds)

Did it make a Fort save DC 24 or get Stagger from the stagger crit ?
1d4+1 = 3 rounds ?

I thought the first instance of Terrible Resolve was already resolved so that's why I rolled myself the second Will saving throw so as to accelerate that part. But then I saw the damage due to the failed first saving throw wasn't done yet, so I chose to delete. Rolled a 14 on the d20 dice just in case of

Jannaria elects to do nothing this turn and let her tiger do the homework, as she already contributed quite a bit, and further doesn't seem necessary. Without other instructions, the tiger then continues to try to claw the monster little by little.

Tiger bite attack: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (14) + 19 = 33
Tiger bite attack haste: 1d20 + 19 ⇒ (1) + 19 = 20
Tiger claw attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (18) + 18 = 36
Tiger claw attack: 1d20 + 18 ⇒ (2) + 18 = 20
Tiger bite damage: 1d8 + 10 ⇒ (7) + 10 = 17
Tiger claw damage: 1d6 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14

I only rolled the damage for the attacks above 30, because that's those which have a decent chance to hit. Tiger not in charge so attack rolls and AC reverted to normal

Thargash advances through the air towards the remaining foe, aiming another powerful strike at the creature's body...

Furious, raging attack + PA(FF) + haste + heroes' feast + bull's strength + hunter's blessing: 1d20 + 27 - 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 27 - 0 + 1 + 1 + 1 + 2 = 34
slashing, +6 magic, adamantine damage + PA + vital strike + lead blades + bull's strength + hunter's blessing: 8d6 + 22 + 9 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (4, 2, 2, 4, 6, 4, 5, 6) + 22 + 9 + 2 + 2 = 68

As Thargash's sword counts as a +6 weapon when he rages, it should go through all DRs up to and including epic (i.e. magic, cold iron, silver, adamantine, alignment and epic).

@Everyone: Remember you all have hunter's blessing which will give the whole party +2 sacred bonus on attack and damage rolls against evil outsiders.

Stagger won't affect it because of the other debuffs it has right now - notably that it will only attack itself for the rest of its life.

The tiger gets in a pair of decent attacks, which are resisted as expected.

Thargash lands only one blow, but it is extremely impressive.

Round 3 - bolded may go

Redgar
Jannaria
Pyros
Thargash
Green
Beidou
Red
Blue (-206 HP, remorse 12 rounds)

Pyros delays.
"You guys got this!"

Redgar is impressed by this creature's fortitude, as he tries to finish it off with a series of repeated chops...

Atk 1 1d20 + 26 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 26 + 1 + 2 = 41
Atk 1 dmgif it hits, damage: 2d6 + 32 + 2 ⇒ (1, 4) + 32 + 2 = 39

Haste 1d20 + 26 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 26 + 1 + 2 = 38
Haste dmg if it hits, damage: 2d6 + 32 + 2 ⇒ (4, 5) + 32 + 2 = 43

Atk 2 1d20 + 17 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 17 + 1 + 2 = 38
Atk 2 crit confirmCrit confirm1d20 + 17 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (19) + 17 + 1 + 2 = 39
Atk 2 normal damageif it hits, damage: 2d6 + 32 + 2 ⇒ (5, 4) + 32 + 2 = 43
Atk 2 crit damage if it crits, extra damage: 2d6 + 32 + 2 ⇒ (2, 2) + 32 + 2 = 38

Atk 3 1d20 + 12 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 12 + 1 + 2 = 20
Atk 3 damage if it hits, damage: 2d6 + 32 + 2 ⇒ (1, 6) + 32 + 2 = 41

Redgar may be impressed, but by the time he is done, the creature's fortitude is exhausted.

Highly optimized characters say what?

The creatures mostly relied on their own physical abilities to, but the Pathfinders do find an adamantine breastplate, a dwarfbond hammer and a tempest shield among the remains.

Thargash can automatically make the perception DC.

Thargash picks up the skull with the mithral plate (and tries really hard not to quote Hamlet).

"I think I've found Borsaget's skull." he rumbles. "Any preference on who should address her? I'm certainly happy to if needed.".

I'm not the most skilled in persuading with my words.

Jannaria sounds the best placed to do it, from what's around the group. Hopefully she doesn't make any social error when she adresses what looks like the Skull of Borsaget like this, initially in Common, and then in Dwarven if the former doesn't work :

" Wake up, Borsaget ! Some of your still living colleagues have asked us to clean up the ossuary, or otherwise need you right now. Any pointers about what we should do ? "

Matter-of-factly but polite, she will only adjust for the better or worse once this initial contact is made.

As Jannaria speaks to the skull, it slowly begins to animate. "Ah, many thanks for the rescue!" it says in a dry but cheerful voice. "That f*#@ing worm got the best of me, but I see you got the best of it! Tough to protect this place without my gods-damned axe. So, what do you aspiring heroes have planned?"

Borgaset is specifically described as 'swear[ing] like a Shackles pirate, but the boards filter the naughty words...

" Stop monstrosities from leaving the maze, avenge fallen dwarves, not necessarily in that order, and possibly other stuff that slips my mind"

The skull looks like one could talk some of the crudest language as long it's in good nature, that allows her to do some little counter-ribbing initially :

" Oh we were just intending to do a little tomb robbing. My organization, the Pathfinder Society, has a a very nice reputations when it comes to looting, ya know ... ! "

She then goes more seriously :

" We have been instructed by representatives of our leadership, the Decemvirate, to come there because two of our worst enemies have taken refuge inside, following some campaign of misinformation from us. They apparently sealed themselves and the priest of Magrim, Kolm Durrendar, requested our help in flushing them out, and that's what we intend to do.

Any information that can help us navigate this dwarven architecture ? "

She indicates that she's probably one of the worst trackers of all time.

The skull definitely gives Jannaria the dirtiest look as it can manage after her 'joke' - and you all learn a new Dwarven word. However, once it is clear that you intend to clear out the enemies in the ossuary, he is willing to tell you more.

He can give directions through the remainder of the ossuary, which will save time reaching the bottom. He also identifies a trap within. "There's a whole-a@# lake of lava down there. No surprise, since it's a f*@^ing volcano. Anyway, the bridges that cross it will drop out from anyone other than a dwarf - though the bloke who made them was dimmer than a used candle, so if you just look like one of us, it'll let you go."

" Sounds like we can probably fly over it, or I can disable the trap and save the spell. "

Jannaria tries to think about how to disguise herself as a dwarf, but after some thinking she comes to the realization that her disguise isn't good enough, nor that she memorized the adequate spell for it.

" Flying it is then. "

Hopefully, the Life Bubble spell will allow them to withstand the hyper heat that the geyser releases, but it's not a guarantee. Otherwise, although Jannaria fancies the nice teaching Borsaget is throwing, she doesn't think that she will bring that in any social event without incuring not so good consequences.

" At least there's something I can say when I feel the need to cuss with nobody around. You would be almost at home in the social balls, ceremonies and else that are organized almost daily in Taldor. How dirty people might be there, ha. "

"Shall we get going?" suggests Thargash "Once we get close to the lava lake I can give everyone some resistance to fire which should help with any heat related threats.".

Once the party get moving and it looks like we are approaching the lava lake Thargash will cast communal resist energy (fire) on everyone, he will also re-cast bull's strength and heightened awareness (from a wand), along with communal airwalk if that spells 20 minute duration has expired or will expire soon.

Thank you for your help - we will help drive out these defilers of these tombs

The Pathfinders move on to a large, ovular cavern descends into a 40-foot-deep recess by means of a 10-foot-wide spiraling ramp. In the center is a 10-foot-diameter stone plinth with a rounded top.

There are a bunch of skill checks that at least one person in the party cannot fail, and then...

The group finds a trap door within the plinth. They push it aside, revealing a set of spiral stairs that descend around an open, 10-foot-wide shaft.

Wedged behind a limestone formation in the middle of the west wall is a masterwork backpack which contains a full waterskin, 5 days of trail rations, and a small silver locket containing the illusory image of a smiling Keleshite woman in her early 20s. Inside is a tiny inscription that reads, “Remember: no night so dark that Sarenrae cannot fill it with light.”

Additionally a runeplate is hidden in this pack.

Jannaria tries to identify the properties of the runeplate. Might not be a major artifact compared to their own abilities, but for her, any benefit is good to take.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 20 ⇒ (15) + 20 = 35

She managed to identify its properties, but what focuses her mind is on the picture inside the locket, she has kind of a guess of who she might be, but will only have a definite opinion when they'll reach Mulhia Al-Jakri. More immediate pressing point is to climb down the stair.

"Looks like we're on the right track." observes the troll, nodding in the direction of the locket.

Once everyone is ready he leads the party down the stairs.