[PFS2, GDXIV] 6-01: Year of Immortal Influence, Introduction (Inactive)

Game Master Blake's Tiger

"Does anyone know why these bugs have demon skull tattoos on their backs?"

Highwire parkours around to the other side of the red bug fighting Maneki and attacks it.

◆ Stride
◆ Flurry of Blows
Unarmed strike 1 w/ anthem vs flanked/off-guard red circle bug: 1d20 + 10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 10 + 1 = 21
Unarmed strike damage (bludgeoning, magic): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7

Unarmed strike 1 w/ anthem & MAP vs flanked/off-guard red circle bug: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (17) + 10 + 1 - 4 = 24
Unarmed strike damage (bludgeoning, magic): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 6) + 2 = 13

If red circle bug is dead ◆ Stride over to flank red square, but if red circle bug is alive ◆ Strike
Unarmed strike 1 w/ anthem & MAP vs flanked/off-guard red circle bug: 1d20 + 10 + 1 - 8 ⇒ (11) + 10 + 1 - 8 = 14
Unarmed strike damage (bludgeoning, magic): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (4, 6) + 2 = 12

Bramblespine's forcebolts prove more effective than the lightning but not quite enough to destroy the bug. Sanja moves around and finishes it off before assisting Perian.

An Unexpected Course! Round 3. Bold may act.

Battle Map

Environment: Furniture is difficult terrain. Lava is greater difficult terrain.

Blue Circle (-11 hp)
+1 status bonus to attack and damage and saves vs. fear
Maneki (-16 hp)
Perian (-8 hp) (Fortitude DC 19 vs. poison)
Bramble Spine (-5 hp)
--song--
J’ndar (-13 hp)
Sanja (-15 hp)
Goupour Dune (-6 hp) (Fortitude DC 19 vs. poison)
Red Square

J'ndar will continue the Anthem, and will send Needle Darts at the Blue Circle: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 7 + 1 = 28for: 3d4 + 1 + 3d4 + 1 ⇒ (3, 3, 4) + 1 + (4, 3, 1) + 1 = 20 piercing damage and 1 persistent bleed damage.

Maneki steps up to Red Square, smacks it twice before stepping back.

Crane Wing Attack (Agile, Finesse): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (17) + 9 = 26 for Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 Critical Hit: Double Damage
Crane Wing Attack, MAP: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13 for Bludgeoning Damage: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4 Critical Hit: Double Damage

◆ Step
◆ Flurry
◆ Step

Fortitude: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (8) + 7 = 15
Poison: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 1) = 5
Slowed 2, Stupified 1

"Gerrie, let's get out of here..."
Perian drawls to his mount.

Command (Stride, Stride)

fort: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 seriously, I rolled a 1 last post. I almost thought the last one didn't go through. poison: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 4) = 5 Yeah I don't have enough actions, I move out of the way.

J'ndar's conjured needles punch through the dry, white carapaces. Milky ichor oozes from the wounds. Maneki strikes the weaker bug with a blow that nearly-but-not-quite crumples it. Her following strike glances off the side of its abdomen. The bug continues to limp along with malevolent intent.

Perian and Goupour suffer the mind-altering effects of the bugs' poisonous dust.

The bleeding bug flutters after Sanja to take advantage of its remaining companion's distracting presence. The first strike just makes it past their defenses. The stab wound burns just a little. Sanja nimbly ducks out of the way of the next bite.

The crumpled bug says in Perian's voice, "Get out. Get out." Then it tries to bite Sanja. It manages a lucky stab with its proboscis. This bite does not burn like the other.

An Unexpected Course! Round 4. Bold may act.

Battle Map

Environment: Furniture is difficult terrain. Lava is greater difficult terrain.

Blue Circle (-34 hp; bloodied) (bleed 1)
+1 status bonus to attack and damage and saves vs. fear
Maneki (-16 hp)
Perian (-13 hp) (slow 2, stupefied 1) (Fortitude DC 19 vs. poison)
Bramble Spine (-5 hp)
--song--
J’ndar (-13 hp)
Sanja (-31 hp)
Goupour Dune (-11 hp) (slowed 2, stupefied 1) (Fortitude DC 19 vs. poison)
Red Square (-12 hp; bloodied)

Fortitude Save Results Override Listed Conditions for this turn.
For example, if you Save and are not Stupefied, then you are not Stupefied for this current turn.

Maneki switches into a different combat stance and moves to flank Blue Circle before lashing out at it twice.

Flashing Spark; 1st Attack, OG: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13
Flashing Spark; 1st Attack Damage, Slashing: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9
Flashing Spark; 2nd Attack, OG: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 1 = 13
Flashing Spark; 2nd Attack Damage, Slashing: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

In the off chance that a 13 hits, add 1 to the damage of the second strike due to the forceful trait

Looks like Paizo forgot to fix the dice bot!!

◆ Stoked Flame Stance
◆ Stride
◆ Flurry of Whiffs
◇ Kicks the Dice Bot

Highwire begins punching at the two bugs. If either dies, just re-direct it toward the other one.

◆ Flurry of Blows

Unarmed attack vs red square: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (10) + 10 = 20
Unarmed damage (bludgeoning, magic): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 2) + 2 = 7

Unarmed attack vs flanked blue circle w/ MAP: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (12) + 10 - 4 = 18
Unarmed damage (bludgeoning, magic): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (6, 3) + 2 = 11

◆ Strike
Unarmed attack vs flanked blue circle w/ MAP: 1d20 + 10 - 8 ⇒ (2) + 10 - 8 = 4
Unarmed damage (bludgeoning, magic): 2d6 + 2 ⇒ (2, 3) + 2 = 7

◆ Cast a Spell: shield
Again, Highwire's innate First World magic manifests in a glowing and glittering protective shell of energy.

Continue Anthem.

Needle Darts at the closest foe: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 7 + 1 = 20for: 3d4 + 1 ⇒ (4, 2, 2) + 1 = 9

Brief update: J'ndar's needles kill off the last bug.

Fortitude (Poison): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17
Poison: 2d6 ⇒ (6, 5) = 11

Perian continues to reel from the poison.

In the off chance that a 13 hits, add 1 to the damage of the second strike due to the forceful trait

Forceful only requires multiple attacks, not multiple hits.

With the bugs down, is there anything else horrible happening?

Perian is poisoned

Maneki has trouble making contact with the bleeding bug. However, she provides a distraction that allows Sanja to obliterate the thing. They turn to deal with the weaker bug but move too quickly and miss by a fair bit. J'ndar takes care of that problem by shredding the remaining bug with a bevy of needles.

Perian gets woozy in the aftermath but manages to keep his wits about him. Goupour, unfortunately, slumps to the ground. He manages to survive the poison, though (he has 1 hero point left, which is sufficient to stabilize).

The guests are impressed by your quick thinking and swift resolution of the assault. Those who were still somewhat cold toward you after Lady Emberspitter's accusations are noticeably less so.

Ulthun provides you with a carriage and armed escort back to the Grand Lodge. "You have my thanks for your many timely interventions," he gives you a grim smile. "I hope you rest well after this."

Once you arrive at the Grand Lodge, Csilla meets you. She has stayed up waiting for you, it seems. "Ulthun sent word that there had been an incident," she says as she assesses your state. "You have been through the fire. Let me tend to those wounds." The Decimvirate moves quickly to begin tending to each of your wounds and to restore the vigor lost to the poisonous cicadas.

"I apologize for sending you to such a difficult event. Please, tell me what happened."

This is the official end. Feel free to respond to Csilla as you like.

Highwire looks around. "Well, there were demons ... and a cultist trying to kill someone ... for some reason ... and a mean lady trying to blame us ... then bugs. Honestly, I'm a little confused about what the plot was at this party. Dark things are afoot!"

"A demonic plot! Some cultist of Deskari was trying to commit a murder and blame it on us," Perian remarks. "Pathfinders don't skult in the dark like that. If someone needs killing, we stab them in the front."

Maneki heads to Perian with a poultice...

Medicine(E), Treat Poison: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (19) + 11 = 30

... and is stunned at how well it works...