GM Erich's #6-99 Under The Eye Of The Mantis (7-8) for Gameday XIV (Inactive)

Game Master Thereus, Silver Crusader

Okay...if we have time for a second challenge after this one, I've formed an opinion.

On the long table, a detailed map of the settlement marks not only the inn, but a dockside tavern, a nondescript building, and hospital on the outskirts with the names Thidos, Chirper, and Blacklevy. There are also many pouches of coins and a small chest.

With the illusion of Sotroz fading away and the remaining undead scrambling to flee but getting decimated, you are left in the nearly empty inn. As you rest, restock, and recuperate... several of the Pathfinder leaders gather around to pitch their missions.

Depot Mission 1: Hospital Hustle Skill Challenge
Depot Mission 2: Monkeying Around Roleplay/Skill Challenge
Depot Mission 3: Gone but not Forgotten Skill Challenge/Hazard
Depot Mission 4: Dispatching the Dispatch Combat Encounter
Depot Mission 5: Etched in Wood and Metal Hazard

Which one first, Pathfinders?

If we know which of these matches up with Chirper, I'm curious about who the new prisoner is.

Thanks for the HP!

I will be unavailable Tuesday and Wednesday.

Nagaikaze's Athletics is a pretty strong skill, but I'm happy to assist rather than lead if someone else wants it. It feels like I have been rolling a lot of 5s and 6s.

I went ahead and took the lead on the first check.

Haa ha. “I’m Batman!” moment.

I will be unavailable again Tuesday and Wednesday.

Yay! You were able to complete all the missions in Act 3. So now we wait for the transition to Act 4. Should be fairly soon.

Here are the Act 4 choices. I'll go numerical (combat) tonight unless I hear a couple of you want to try other ones first.

Underground Mission 1: Press the Advantage --- Combat Encounter
Underground Mission 2: Literal Pathfinding --- Skill Challenge
Underground Mission 3: Shut it Down! --- Chase Encounter
Underground Mission 4: House of Mirrors --- Roleplay/Combat Encounter

I always prefer numerical order. As a GM, it means less skipping around the scenario

Sounds good.

Hmm. Nagaikaze usually holds back a lot so that was a normal attack against an enemy for him.
I suppose if he were to go all out then it would not be nonlethal and it could have been a Ki Strike. With the numbers as they are it would mean an extra 1d6 of Force damage.

Hmm 2. Having just re read confused maybe my focus ought not have been trying to hit hard, and more just pushing attacks, in which case there would be no stance and I’d have acted 1) move, 2) flurry, 3) strike a third time. Not really sure what the focus of the confusion would be.

Yes, it really should be move, flurry, strike...

But before that, since Emdi moved up and slapped you with his two actions, you get a DC 11 flat check to end it before all the violence.

Seems like Paizo have postponed the forums outage (for a week?)

Looks like we are back on (for a while)

Reminder of conditions in effect for the rest of adventure:

Gabbing Gossip: When the Gabbing Gossip condition is in effect, the PCs gain a +2 circumstance bonus on all attempts to use Deception, Diplomacy, Intimidation, and Stealth skill actions against members of the Red Mantis Dispatch until the end of the adventure due to being given copious amounts of information regarding their insecurities.

Stool Pigeon: When the Stool Pigeon condition is in effect, the PCs gain a +1 circumstance bonus to Armor Class and Saving Throws against members of the Red Mantis Dispatch until the end of the adventure thanks to intelligence regarding their tactics.

Crimson Blessing: When the Crimson Blessing condition is in effect, the PCs gain the ability to, once before the end of the adventure, reroll their damage on a successful (or critical) Strike or a success (or critical success) using a spell with the attack trait as a free action.

Are the Gabbing Gossip and Stool Pigeon circumstance bonuses valid against all these enemies?

@Nagaikaze Yes, they are valid. Even the other undead creatures are "Dispatch". Sotroz' bodyguards, if you will.

Good Grief.
I hope the site reboot improves my dice rolls.

We seem to be back now, I'll give a day or so for everyone to realize. Please post here to show me you know we have started once again. Of course, Emdi you can post in the gameplay as it is actually your turn.

Here

Wave his hand

Here and a quick question. The wall conceals the other side. What about the people IN the fire. Are they concealed to both or neither or something else?

Based on the stated 5 foot width of the wall and "Everything on each side of the wall is concealed from creatures on the opposite side", I would say there is concealment for anyone inside the wall, and anyone on the outside is concealed for them. "Line of sight" has to pass through a "side" of the wall in each case.

Note that this applies to targeted spells as well.

Looks like there is a Raccoon cage, a Pig cage, and a Doe cage visible now.
We've discovered what the Skunk cage is doing.
Any speculation on the others?
The damage from Dran'Tilt is not visible...is that a cage effect?

Nope, just an error. Sotroz has the full 53 damage from the attack.

As far as the cages go, you are not entirely sure of their actual purpose, but the ghoul has been maneuvering toward them somewhat purposefully.

When this condition is in effect, disable Sotroz’s Ritual Sacrifice ability (animals are saved!).

Is this the same as freeing them from the cages?

It is preventing him from killing them to cast powerful magic against you, so effectively freeing them.

Toxic cloud is potentially up - pending the reactive strike result...

Ahh okay. I’d assumed the sickening cloud around him that Yakuthiel discovered when he moved up to him was a passive ability he was getting from having the skunk in a cage.

Trying to run the numbers while I should be working…Is my Fire resistance included in that?

I added wrong, you have 5 more hp

Apologies for getting nit picky here, but are we getting the Stool Pigeon circumstance bonus to ac?
I know it won’t stack with Mountain Stronghold when I have that up, and I don’t know if anyone else benefits from circumstance bonuses to ac already, but I noticed the Reactive Strike against Song Jun-Mei hit her listed ac of 25 exactly.

As mentioned in my original post in the discussion, I am simply going by the numbers listed in your header (or in your latest post if things change like yours with the stances). I really only modify for cover or off-guard as needed.

So everybody, feel free to change those if you want any specific circumstance bonuses to apply.

Looks like the adventure will be wrapping up soon...

Please fill out the following RPG Chronicles so I can provide the chronicles.

Oh I thought that was one of those situational modifiers like cover, off-guard etc. I figured Sotroz was Red Mantis but I didn't realize that the Horsemen were as well. Should I just add a blanket +1 to AC and Saves in my header?

Yes, any that apply. That ended up being a constant bonus for the rest of the adventure. I'll make the last attack against you miss when I update.

Check through the spoilers for all the conditions granted to date and see if there are others you all might want to use up before the scenario wraps up.

So, a little quicker than I thought (figured we had the weekend to wrap up, but I guess not).

Please fill out the chronicle link a few posts above and I'll get those out ot everyone. Thanks for playing and keeping things moving. Best of luck everyone in your next adventures!

Thank you for the game !

Chronicles are available to download Here.

Let me know if there are any issues and thanks again for playing!

Thank you everyone for the game. Thank you GM Erich for the adventure and trying to kill me. Thank you everyone else for the camaraderie and not letting me die.

Thanks for running the game.

Looks good. Thanks for running this for us GM Erich.

@Nagaikaze You kept telling me about your high AC, what else was I supposed to do!

Closing up this campaign. Take care everyone.