|
Arrus learns a bit of info about Gruasha, but his crossbow attack doesn't hit
Lydia steps up and attacks Gruasha with twin swords and connects with her second attack. Gruasha cries out from the fire and ice, as well as the slash.
Astrid moves up and lets Stormstriker do the talking. Her attack hits and Gruasha gets a shock. She also appears nervous, having never faced such opposition before.
Gruasha roars in pain and hurls her spiked chain at Lydia, before trying to punch Astrid.
for
for
She then takes a step back.
|
|
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 5-6
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (1 rd; ends at the start of Rex's turn)
Before your Turn:
After your Turn:
DC 15 Flat Check vs Persistent Bleed: Rex, Lydia
DC 30 Fortitude vs Pall of Shadow: Lydia
------------------
Those with ** may go
-6-
**Arrus Lionus - AC 33 176/176
Black Gruasha (-30; 32 < AC <= 34; F1; E1; Dazzled Rd 1/2)
-5-
**Lydia - AC 30 (32 Nimble Dodge) 41/129 (1d6 Persistent Bleed)
**Astrid Gertasdottir - AC 34 (36 w/shield) 164/176 (AC 36; Shield - H13, 104/104; Resist - 4Pi, 1Co/El/Vo; Paragon's Guard; Moderate Dread Rune)
**Quinoline Silicate - AC 30 (32 w/shield) 105/140 (AC 32; Shield - H10, 58/80)
**Rex - AC 31 126/164 (1d6 Persistent Bleed)
--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------
* Radius of all light from light sources and the areas of light spells are halved.
* Penumbra’s power affects the area within a mile of her castle, enhancing shadow magic while impeding light magic for the rest of the encounters you face in this adventure.
* Spells with the shadow trait gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their spell DC or spell attack roll with that spell.
* Spells with a Light trait need to succeed at a DC 6 flat check or the spell or activation is disrupted.
CS/S: unaffected
F: Drained 1; -1 penalty to Perc involving sight as long as they are drained.
CF: as F but Drained can only be removed with magic
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Arrus reloads on the run, moving up to Lydia. He shoots Gruasha and slaps a battle dressing on Lydia. The bolt slams into Gruasha's shoulder, causing her to wince.
Quin gets an angle on Gruasha and shocks her silly with a lightning bomb.
Gruasha's hair stands on end and her moves become jerky. Astrid forewarns Gruasha, then steps and carves into the giant with Stormstriker, doing massive damage.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 5-6
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (1 rd; ends at the start of Rex's turn)
Before your Turn:
After your Turn:
DC 15 Flat Check vs Persistent Bleed: Rex, Lydia
------------------
Those with ** may go
-6-
Arrus Lionus - AC 33 176/176
Black Gruasha (-140; AC 33; F1; E1; OG; Dazzled Rd 1/2)
-5-
**Lydia - AC 30 (32 Nimble Dodge) 58/129[118] (1d6 Persistent Bleed; Drained 1; -1 Perc[Sight])
Astrid Gertasdottir - AC 34 (36 w/shield) 164/176 (AC 36; Shield - H13, 104/104; Resist - 4Pi, 1Co/El/Vo; Paragon's Guard; Moderate Dread Rune)
Quinoline Silicate - AC 30 (32 w/shield) 105/140 (AC 32; Shield - H10, 58/80)
**Rex - AC 31 126/164 (1d6 Persistent Bleed)
--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------
* Radius of all light from light sources and the areas of light spells are halved.
* Penumbra’s power affects the area within a mile of her castle, enhancing shadow magic while impeding light magic for the rest of the encounters you face in this adventure.
* Spells with the shadow trait gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their spell DC or spell attack roll with that spell.
* Spells with a Light trait need to succeed at a DC 6 flat check or the spell or activation is disrupted.
|
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Rex encourages the party again and shoots Gruasha in her meaty thigh with his crossbow. "You will regret that, small one!" she snarls. Lydia moves in, takes a futile swipe at Gruasha before stepping back out of reach.
With Astrid in her face and within reach, Gruasha strikes at the shieldmaiden.
for plus Pall of Shadow
for plus Pall of Shadow
for plus Pall of Shadow
Her fists make Astrid's shield ring like a bell...
With her expenditure of nervous energy, Gruasha feels calmer.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 6-7
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (1 rd; ends at the start of Rex's turn)
Before your Turn:
After your Turn:
DC 15 Flat Check vs Persistent Bleed: Rex, Lydia
------------------
Those with ** may go
-7-
**Arrus Lionus - AC 33 176/176
Black Gruasha (-140; AC 33; E1; OG; Dazzled Rd 2/2)
-6-
**Lydia - AC 30 (32 Nimble Dodge) 58/129[118] (1d6 Persistent Bleed; Drained 1; -1 Perc[Sight])
**Astrid Gertasdottir - AC 34 (36 w/shield) 164/176 (AC 36; Shield - H13, 104/104; Resist - 4Pi, 1Co/El/Vo; Paragon's Guard; Moderate Dread Rune)
**Quinoline Silicate - AC 30 (32 w/shield) 105/140 (AC 32; Shield - H10, 58/80)
**Rex - AC 31 123/164 (1d6 Persistent Bleed)
--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------
* Radius of all light from light sources and the areas of light spells are halved.
* Penumbra’s power affects the area within a mile of her castle, enhancing shadow magic while impeding light magic for the rest of the encounters you face in this adventure.
* Spells with the shadow trait gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their spell DC or spell attack roll with that spell.
* Spells with a Light trait need to succeed at a DC 6 flat check or the spell or activation is disrupted.
|
Lydia takes a step and then strikes three times in rapid succession.
| | |
| | |
Effect: You apply one of the following debilitations, which lasts until the end of your next turn. When the creature is affected by a new debilitation, any previous one it was affected by ends.
- Debilitation The target takes a –10-foot status penalty to its Speeds.
- Debilitation The target becomes enfeebled 1.
- Debilitation The target can’t use reactions.
- Debilitation The target can’t flank or contribute to allies’ flanking.
|
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After attacks from various Pathfinders, Gruasha ends up in a dirt nap.
The giants all close in and treat your wounds and revive those who were knocked out. Before heading back to the herd Barney takes the time to give you the stink-eye ;)
Gruasha goes up to each of you. "You all fight well. You have earned my respect" she says admirably.
"My clan and I are are nomadic dinosaur herders familiar with this region. A fortress has existed up at the top of the hill for as long as their stories can remember—at least several centuries. Up until a few years ago, it was the home of a group of kayal scavengers, who hid in the fortress behind a group of domesticated giant spiders that served as their guards. A few years ago, something terrible happened in the Universe, and undead started coming through to this region in much greater numbers. Around that time, a band of humans and other Universe-dwelling ancestries crossed over and joined the kayals in the fortress. Together, these newcomers and the scavengers sent out raiding parties to hunt undead. When we last came this way, around a year ago, the fortress’s inhabitants seemed to be surviving well enough."
"Recently, however, we came across an unusual undead—a shadow with its own separate shadow. They had no trouble defeating the undead, but when they did, its unusual shadow flew off. Pursuing the shadow led them back here, we found the fortress hidden behind a shadow barrier. Our initial search of the barrier found it to be made of powerful arcane magic with ties to the Void. Our efforts to break it down failed, as it regenerated faster than they could damage it and proved highly resistant to our magic. If you decide you want to cross the barrier, I would caution you against it, but I will help you take the barrier down."
|
|
At the top of the barren hill, a deep chasm encircles a roiling dome of shadows. Along the chasm’s edge, conical structures made of fine white threads rise from the ground, each around 10 feet tall. A single stone bridge crosses the rift, its end disappearing into the black void.
Most of the webs contain dead giant insects or other animals, but a few were used to store larger prey. In particular, the spiders here once hunted undead on behalf of the kayal who claimed the fortress until recently, though they saved their rotten flesh for when other food sources weren’t abundant.
You notice that several of them contain the tattered remains of corpses.
If you reach into one of the webs to pull out its contents
DC 15 Religion to examine one of the bodies
DC 22 Medicine
DC 22 Nature
|
|
The barrier appears to be a hemisphere, but its true shape is a full sphere, extending beneath the ground to prevent burrowing creatures from breaching the fortress. To anyone who touches it, it feels smooth and unyielding, as if made from polished stone. The barrier blocks mundane senses like sight and hearing, in addition to magical senses like effects with the scrying trait. It also blocks teleportation effects from crossing from one side to the other.
|
|
vs DC 26
"The bridge’s stability suggests that the barrier passing through it hasn’t damaged its structural integrity in any way. But, I still recommend that Astrid go first, anyway."
---
"I might be able to rig something like an explosive."
vs DC 28
vs DC 28
vs DC 28
Quinoline proudly holds up a small Christmas tree, where the ornaments are alchemical bombs and all the leaves are also alchemical bombs.
|
|
The barrier drops instantly as Arrus, Quin and Astrid go to work on it. You cross to enter the fortress’s stony courtyard. The courtyard is filled is with more of the same large conical spider webs that you saw on the other side of the bridge. Additionally, it is decorated with several 60-foot-tall stone pillars covered in sticky webbing. As you cross over, a pair of ginormous spiders drop from the towers. Their shadows are particularly prominent compared to the ones cast by you.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Special Conditions:
* Shadowpacts (see spoiler below)
* Sever the Shadowpact (see additional spoiler below; 1 action)
Terrain:
* Entire Map is difficult terrain
* Pink circles are 60' towers covered in sticky webbing (DC 30 Reflex or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* If you enter a square full of webbing (the conical structures), you need to make a DC 30 Reflex save or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* The spiders are immune (of course)
------------------
Those with ** may go
**Arrus Lionus - AC 33 176/176
**Quinoline Silicate - AC 30 (32 w/shield) 140/140 (AC 32; Shield - H10, 80/80)
**Lydia - AC 30 (32 Nimble Dodge) 129/129
Blue
Astrid Gertasdottir - AC 34 (36 w/shield) 164/176 (AC 36; Shield - H13, 104/104; Resist - 4Pi, 1Co/El/Vo; Paragon's Guard; Moderate Dread Rune)
Rex - AC 31 164/164
Red
--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------
* Radius of all light from light sources and the areas of light spells are halved.
* Penumbra’s power affects the area within a mile of her castle, enhancing shadow magic while impeding light magic for the rest of the encounters you face in this adventure.
* Spells with the shadow trait gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their spell DC or spell attack roll with that spell.
* Spells with a Light trait need to succeed at a DC 6 flat check or the spell or activation is disrupted.
With a new source of mythic power at her disposal, Penumbra has been developing a means of strengthening her allies. Nonsapient creatures and willing sapient creatures can enter into a shadowpact with her, swearing loyal service in exchange for a fragment of her mythic essence. Other than Penumbra herself, all of the creatures the PCs fight within the fortress or its courtyard are under a shadowpact, which manifests in the form of an unusually dark shadow that animates to assist them in performing a newly granted ability.
But these creatures aren’t the only ones benefitting from borrowed mythic power. Thanks to their own mythic infusion from the mystical berries at the beginning of the adventure, the PCs can interface with these altered shadows. In so doing, they can sever a creature’s connection to Penumbra while simultaneously freeing it from the obligation to fight until slain or destroyed on her behalf.
Gruasha’s account of the fleeing shadow allow you to automatically recognize how to use Sever the Shadowpact when you come across the shadowpact creatures
* Must be Mythic and within 30' of a shadowpact creature
* Within 30 feet of the creature: DC 28 Occultism/Religion to metaphysically cut the shadowy link
* Adjacent of the creature:
-- DC 30 Athletics to wrestle the shadow away
-- DC 32 Thievery to steal the shadow
* Success: the creature permanently loses the ability granted from its shadowpact
|
|
With the shadows so close, Quinoline immediately tries to sever it from Blue.
vs DC 28
vs DC 28
If Quinoline used a Hero Point, she would raise her shield as her second action.
"Without your shadow, you're not so powerful."
plus 11 splash electricity plus off-guard (1 round) plus DC 31 vs dazzled (1 round)
|
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Lydia rushes towards blue and tries to steal the creature's shadow
"Leave, or die!" she commands as she begins her assault
|
|
|
Lydia moves up to Blue, severs its shadowpact and slices it with her sword.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Special Conditions:
* Shadowpacts (see spoiler below)
* Sever the Shadowpact (see additional spoiler below; 1 action)
Terrain:
* Entire Map is difficult terrain
* Pink circles are 60' towers covered in sticky webbing (DC 30 Reflex or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* If you enter a square full of webbing (the conical structures), you need to make a DC 30 Reflex save or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* The spiders are immune (of course)
------------------
Those with ** may go
**Arrus Lionus - AC 33 176/176
**Quinoline Silicate - AC 31 (33 w/shield) 140/140 (AC 33; Shield - H10, 80/80) **adjustment pending?
Lydia - AC 30 (32 Nimble Dodge) 129/129
Blue (-12; Severed; AC <=32)
Astrid Gertasdottir - AC 34 (36 w/shield) 164/176 (AC 36; Shield - H13, 104/104; Resist - 4Pi, 1Co/El/Vo; Paragon's Guard; Moderate Dread Rune)
Rex - AC 31 164/164
Red
--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------
* Radius of all light from light sources and the areas of light spells are halved.
* Penumbra’s power affects the area within a mile of her castle, enhancing shadow magic while impeding light magic for the rest of the encounters you face in this adventure.
* Spells with the shadow trait gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their spell DC or spell attack roll with that spell.
* Spells with a Light trait need to succeed at a DC 6 flat check or the spell or activation is disrupted.
|
|
They're not very strong willed. They are very resilient and nimble though. When they had their shadowpact, they will fight to the death. They would also be immune to any effects hazards will have in their lair
Arrus shoots Red with a bolt that buries itself in the spider's eye, causing to explode with ichor. The bolt also causes the wound to bleed and smolder...
Quin moves up to where Astrid is and manages to sever the shadow link between Red and the shadow.
Blue attempts to shoot a web at
Unable to catch her, it tries to bite her anyway...
for
for
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Terrain:
* Entire Map past the bridge is difficult terrain
* Pink circles are 60' towers covered in sticky webbing (DC 30 Reflex or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* If you enter a square full of webbing (the conical structures), you need to make a DC 30 Reflex save or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* The spiders are immune (of course)
------------------
Those with ** may go
Arrus Lionus - AC 33 176/176
Quinoline Silicate - AC 31 (33 w/shield) 140/140 (AC 33; Shield - H10, 80/80)
Lydia - AC 30 (32 Nimble Dodge) 129/129
Blue (-12; Severed; AC <=32)
**Astrid Gertasdottir - AC 34 (36 w/shield) 164/176 (AC 36; Shield - H13, 104/104; Resist - 4Pi, 1Co/El/Vo; Paragon's Guard; Moderate Dread Rune)
**Rex - AC 31 164/164
Red (-80; Severed; AC <=32; d10 Persistent Fire; d8 Persistent Bleed)
--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------
* Radius of all light from light sources and the areas of light spells are halved.
* Penumbra’s power affects the area within a mile of her castle, enhancing shadow magic while impeding light magic for the rest of the encounters you face in this adventure.
* Spells with the shadow trait gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their spell DC or spell attack roll with that spell.
* Spells with a Light trait need to succeed at a DC 6 flat check or the spell or activation is disrupted.
|
Rex attempts to inspire everyone.
◇ Lingering Composition
◆ Courageous Anthem
◆◆ Cast a Spell Vision of Death (Rank 5) at Red
DC 31 Will
Critical Success The target is unaffected.
Success The target takes half damage and is frightened 1.
Failure The target takes full damage and is frightened 2.
Critical Failure The target takes double damage, is frightened 4, and is fleeing for as long as it's frightened.
|
|
Rex inspires the party then sends a powerful image to the spider of it being squashed by a singing purple T-Rex. Red shudders but manages to tough it out. Astrid charges Blue and slashes it across its abdomen with her sword, injuring it.
Red attempts to bite Arrus.
for
for
It then backs off.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 1
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (Rd 1/1; ends at the start of Rex's turn 2, though Astrid will get the benefit even if Rex acts first)
Terrain:
* Entire Map past the bridge is difficult terrain
* Pink circles are 60' towers covered in sticky webbing (DC 30 Reflex or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* If you enter a square full of webbing (the conical structures), you need to make a DC 30 Reflex save or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* The spiders are immune (of course)
Before your Turn:
DC 30 Fortitude vs Poison: Arrus
------------------
Those with ** may go
**Arrus Lionus - AC 33 157/176
**Quinoline Silicate - AC 31 (33 w/shield) 140/140 (AC 33; Shield - H10, 80/80)
**Lydia - AC 30 (32 Nimble Dodge) 129/129
Blue (-121; Severed; AC <=32; d10 Persistent Fire; d8 Persistent Bleed)
Astrid Gertasdottir - AC 34 (36 w/shield) 164/176 (AC 36; Shield - H13, 104/104; Resist - 4Pi, 1Co/El/Vo; Paragon's Guard; Moderate Dread Rune)
Rex - AC 31 164/164
Red (-16; Severed; AC <=32)
--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------
* Radius of all light from light sources and the areas of light spells are halved.
* Penumbra’s power affects the area within a mile of her castle, enhancing shadow magic while impeding light magic for the rest of the encounters you face in this adventure.
* Spells with the shadow trait gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their spell DC or spell attack roll with that spell.
* Spells with a Light trait need to succeed at a DC 6 flat check or the spell or activation is disrupted.
Duration: 6 rds
S1: 3d6 Poison, Slowed 1 (1 rd)
S2: 3d8 Poison, Slowed 2 (1 rd)
S3: 3d10 Poison, Paralyzed for 2d4 hours
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With Astrid by her side, Lydia gangs up on the (blue) spider and beings slicing and dicing.
| | |
| | |
| | |
Effect: You apply one of the following debilitations, which lasts until the end of your next turn. When the creature is affected by a new debilitation, any previous one it was affected by ends.
- Debilitation The target takes a –10-foot status penalty to its Speeds.
- Debilitation The target becomes enfeebled 1.
- Debilitation The target can’t use reactions.
- Debilitation The target can’t flank or contribute to allies’ flanking.
|
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| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Quinoline glances over and sees whether Astrid's Ego is blocking the guargantuan creature.
◆
Only partially.
◆
plus 11 splash electricity plus off-guard (1 round) plus DC 31 Fortitude vs dazzled (1 round)
Quinoline begins ◆ Striding towards Arrus in case he needs some help with poison. She's got a big jar of urine that she can use. Oh, wait, that's for jellyfish stings. Never mind, but she can whip up an antidote.
The antidote is not urine-based.
|
|
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (Rd 1/1; ends at the start of Rex's turn 2, though Astrid will get the benefit even if Rex acts first)
Terrain:
* Entire Map past the bridge is difficult terrain
* Pink circles are 60' towers covered in sticky webbing (DC 30 Reflex or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* If you enter a square full of webbing (the conical structures), you need to make a DC 30 Reflex save or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* The spiders are immune (of course)
After your Turn:
DC 30 Fortitude vs Poison: Arrus
------------------
Those with ** may go
**Arrus Lionus - AC 33 149/176 (Slowed 1)
Quinoline Silicate - AC 31 (33 w/shield) 140/140 (AC 33; Shield - H10, 80/80)
Lydia - AC 30 (32 Nimble Dodge) 129/129
Blue (-195; Severed; AC <=32; d10 Persistent Fire; d8 Persistent Bleed; OG; Dazzled)
Astrid Gertasdottir - AC 34 (36 w/shield) 164/176 (AC 36; Shield - H13, 104/104; Resist - 4Pi, 1Co/El/Vo; Paragon's Guard; Moderate Dread Rune)
Rex - AC 31 164/164
Red (-16; Severed; AC <=32)
--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------
* Radius of all light from light sources and the areas of light spells are halved.
* Penumbra’s power affects the area within a mile of her castle, enhancing shadow magic while impeding light magic for the rest of the encounters you face in this adventure.
* Spells with the shadow trait gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their spell DC or spell attack roll with that spell.
* Spells with a Light trait need to succeed at a DC 6 flat check or the spell or activation is disrupted.
Duration: 6 rds
S1: 3d6 Poison, Slowed 1 (1 rd)
S2: 3d8 Poison, Slowed 2 (1 rd)
S3: 3d10 Poison, Paralyzed for 2d4 hours
|
|
Arrus shoots his bolt at one of the web columns, likely testing to see if it's vulnerable to arrows. He then shakes off the poison from the spider.
Fortunately for Astrid the floaties in Blue causes it to miss. It starts retreating away from the fight, having had enough punishment.
------------------
COMBAT TRACKER
Round: 2
Tactical Map
Active Conditions: Courageous Anthem (Rd 1/1; ends at the start of Rex's turn 2, though Astrid will get the benefit even if Rex acts first)
Terrain:
* Entire Map past the bridge is difficult terrain
* Pink circles are 60' towers covered in sticky webbing (DC 30 Reflex or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* If you enter a square full of webbing (the conical structures), you need to make a DC 30 Reflex save or get stuck, same DC to escape)
* The spiders are immune (of course)
After your Turn:
DC 30 Fortitude vs Poison:
------------------
Those with ** may go
Arrus Lionus - AC 33 149/176 (Slowed 1)
Quinoline Silicate - AC 31 (33 w/shield) 140/140 (AC 33; Shield - H10, 80/80)
Lydia - AC 30 (32 Nimble Dodge) 129/129
Blue (-203; Severed; AC <=32; d10 Persistent Fire; d8 Persistent Bleed; OG; Dazzled)
**Astrid Gertasdottir - AC 34 (36 w/shield) 164/176 (AC 36; Shield - H13, 104/104; Resist - 4Pi, 1Co/El/Vo; Paragon's Guard; Moderate Dread Rune)
**Rex - AC 31 164/164
Red (-16; Severed; AC <=32)
--------------------------------
CONDITIONS AND EFFECTS REFERENCE
--------------------------------
* Radius of all light from light sources and the areas of light spells are halved.
* Penumbra’s power affects the area within a mile of her castle, enhancing shadow magic while impeding light magic for the rest of the encounters you face in this adventure.
* Spells with the shadow trait gain a +1 circumstance bonus to their spell DC or spell attack roll with that spell.
* Spells with a Light trait need to succeed at a DC 6 flat check or the spell or activation is disrupted.