Zero's #7-01: Enough is Enough (Intro to the Year of Battle's Spark) (Inactive)

Game Master Super Zero

As weasels go, Raijyu really is one of the more diplomatic. The spirits' hold falters, and the Bumblebrashers begin stirring as color returns to them.

Wizel and Melenia also make considerable progress breaking down the summoning circle.
Success to help the Bumblebrashers. They don't need any additional help, so you can focus on the circle.
Wizel crits and Melenia succeeds, earning 3 points.

Raijyu, Wizel, and Meleni have one action remaining.
Everyone else has two.

Athletics: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (1) + 12 = 13

Athletics, hero point: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (14) + 12 = 26

And again.

Melenia will just have her shield raised just in case trouble comes.

Satisfied that the spirits have calmed a little, Raijyu turns his attention to the circle, doodling on it with one of his claws.

Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (3) + 9 = 12.
Nature, HP: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (11) + 9 = 20.

Arcana (T) w/ Bump w/ Pursue a Lead (+1): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 1 = 26
Arcana (T) w/ Bump w/ Pursue a Lead (+1): 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (11) + 8 + 1 = 20

Veracruz takes a moment to study the pattern, analyzing and classifying it, then lays a rhythmic iteration of his own using chalk and lighting some incense, tracing the smoke as if wiping a chalkboard clean, and iterates once more, this time having introduced a single monosyllabic change to the mystic mantra encoded by diffuse symbols.

Glinda goes to shut it down with Occultism
occultism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (19) + 12 = 31
occultism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (17) + 12 = 29

Come on, Jeeves! Show those Hellknights what a first-rate valet can do ;-)

Jeeves looks around at everyone's efforts. Still a bit wary from his previous battle, he looks around for a lever and starts to dig up the stones from under the circle.

athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (13) + 8 = 21
athletics: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Alas, while he starts strong... he quickly tires.

I cropped the map a little so I could make it bigger on the Slide. If it matters, the long rooms you're in both extend down quite a bit further.

The broken circle crackles with uncontrolled magic. The scarred face of a Hellknight projects through a mist of blood droplets. “The magic fails, but how... intruders! You shall not escape Hell’s justice for this sabotage.” Rips in the floor tear open into toothy maws, disgorging shapeless masses of quivering flesh that pull themselves up with pain-filled moans. “Destroy the invaders!”

A rift to Hell crackles with unstable energy from the broken summoning circle as a squirming mass of fiends struggles to emerge. The Pathfinders have been very effective and efficient in breaking the circle, and the first fiends to emerge look sluggish and disoriented.
You earned a total of 12 points, which is double the number of PCs and just enough to hit the highest threshold--the summoning circle is broken with no backlash, and the monsters are Slowed 1 for the first round.

"Kill the dwarf," the shade's voice commands, "He looks tough."
The toothy summoning circle slashes at each of the adjacent Pathfinders.
Glinda, Jeeves, Veracruz, Wizel, and Raijyu each take slashing damage: 1d10 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12, with a DC 18 basic Reflex save.

Melenia, Wizel, Veracruz, Raijyu, and Glinda's turns.
Initiative:
Bubbling Pile of Orts
Melenia AC 18, 33/33 HP
Wizel AC 21, 70/70 HP (DC 18 Ref vs 12 slashing)
Veracruz AC 18, 27/27 HP (DC 18 Ref vs 12 slashing)
Raijyu AC 16, 38/38 HP (DC 18 Ref vs 12 slashing)
Bumblebrashers
Glinda AC 19, 40/40 HP (DC 18 Ref vs 12 slashing)
Green Ort (Slowed 1)
Blue Ort (Slowed 1)
Jeeves AC 20, 30/30 HP (DC 18 Ref vs 12 slashing)
Orange Ort (Slowed 1)
Yellow Ort (Slowed 1)
Red Ort (Slowed 1)

ref: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19

Glinda moves away and casts Bless

Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12.
I'm assuming the 'Bubbling Pile' is a Hazard? What checks are required to ID it?

It is. Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion.

"Ow!"

Raijyu, sliced up by grasping claws, tries to work out how to make the pool 'go away'.

Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22.

Raijyu realizes that the infernal throng is resistant to physical attack, though silver would cut through it. It is, of course, vulnerable to holy power. He also sees the potential to damage it by reversing the portal.
You can Disable the Pile of Orts, which takes two actions, from anywhere within 15 feet by making an Arcana, Nature, Occultism, or Religion check. Successfully Disabling this hazard will deal holy damage to it.
EDIT: Y'know what, I was thinking this was a pretty generous result for an RK, but some of this is actually pretty obvious so I'll give you one more thing: As this hazard represents a mass of fiends, it also has the standard weakness for that kind of thing, a weakness to splash and area damage.

Raijyu spends his remaining actions attempting to defuse the Pile of Orts with the power of Nature!

Nature: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (8) + 9 = 17.
Nature, HP: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29.

While Glinda enhances the party's attacks, Raijyu focuses on unmaking the portal. This is injurious to the squabbling, half-emerged fiends as holy power courses through them.
holy damage: 3d4 ⇒ (2, 4, 3) = 9

Melenia, Wizel, and Veracruz's turns.
Initiative:
Bubbling Pile of Orts (14 damage)
Melenia AC 18, 33/33 HP
Wizel AC 21, 70/70 HP (DC 18 Ref vs 12 slashing)
Veracruz AC 18, 27/27 HP (DC 18 Ref vs 12 slashing)
Raijyu AC 16, 26/38 HP
Bumblebrashers
Glinda AC 19, 34/40 HP (Bless 15 ft)
Green Ort (Slowed 1)
Blue Ort (Slowed 1)
Jeeves AC 20, 30/30 HP (DC 18 Ref vs 12 slashing)
Orange Ort (Slowed 1)
Yellow Ort (Slowed 1)
Red Ort (Slowed 1)

ref DC18: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (7) + 9 = 16
The servant still slow from his earlier wounds, has a hard time dodging the fiendish assault.

Melenia assists Raijyu in disabling the pile of Orts. Raising her shield in defense.

Nature: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Basic Reflex vs 12 slashing (DC 18): 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (10) + 9 = 19 @ 6 damage

Devise a Stratagem vs Emerging Fiend: 1d20 ⇒ 7

Veracruz focuses his eye against the center of the masses, trying to "redouble" the efforts of Raijyu!

Arcana (T) w/ Bump w/ Skill Stratagem: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 8 + 1 = 27

◆◆) Disable
◆) Draw silver dagger

Reflex: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26

The dwarf tries to disable the Pile of orts as well.

Religion: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28

Then he strikes the yellow one.

+1 striking cold iron Long hammer: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (17) + 11 = 28

Damage: 2d8 + 4 ⇒ (4, 4) + 4 = 12

Melenia doesn't seem to have any effect on the portal, but Veracruz and Wizel do. After their efforts, it begins to seal over like a healing wound. The image of the Hellknight in the mist disperses, and left by themselves the lumpy devils seem to slump.
They're still hostile, but they seem less threatening--and less motivated.
Two successes for holy damage: 3d4 + 3d4 ⇒ (3, 4, 1) + (2, 2, 3) = 15, plus weakness. That defeats the hazard.
28 crits an ort, and 24 damage also takes it out.
In addition to its own attack (and potentially spawning more orts), it was giving a bonus to the orts' attacks and adding damage. The Hellknight could also command them to focus fire, granting an additional bonus to attack rolls against that target. All gone before any of them got a turn, very sad.

The Bumblebrashers still look weak, and they don't approach. But they do back up the Pathfinders from where they are, hurling rocks, shoes, and whatever else they can get their hands on. One of the fiends takes a big rock and a heavy book the face and slumps even more, melting into an unpleasant, but harmless, puddle.
bludgeoning damage: 2d6 ⇒ (4, 4) = 8
Red Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 Success, 4 damage
Blue Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 Critical failure, 16 damage defeats it

Any intent the creatures had to follow the Hellknight's order to focus on Wizel seems to have vanished with the image. Unfortunately for Raijyu, that means the one standing next to him is content to lash out at him instead. It slashes him with its claws.
◆ Strike Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (16) + 8 = 24 hit for slashing damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
◆ Strike Claw: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 4 = 6 critical failure

Jeeves's turn.
Initiative:
Bubbling Pile of Orts (14 damage)
Melenia AC 18, 33/33 HP
Wizel AC 21, 64/70 HP
Veracruz AC 18, 21/27 HP
Raijyu AC 16, 20/38 HP
Bumblebrashers
Glinda AC 19, 34/40 HP (Bless 15 ft)
Green Ort (Slowed 1)
Jeeves AC 20, 18/30 HP
Orange Ort (Slowed 1)
Yellow Ort (Slowed 1)
Red Ort (4 damage, Slowed 1)

Jeeves stumbles up to the closest fiend and pummels it.
◆ Stumbling Stance
◆ Stride (since there's no flanking position, I'll do my best to honor the bot instructions by moving him to reach multiple enemies to enable flanks)
◆ Flurry of Blows Orange Stumbling Swing: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (6) + 10 = 16 for bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6 and precision damage: 1 = 1, and Stumbling Swing: 1d20 + 10 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 10 - 4 = 25 for bludgeoning damage: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 and precision damage: 1 = 1

The first swing is a decent wallop. Its spongy body somewhat absorbs the blow, but the second still smashes the devil to the ground.
Whops, realized I forgot to mention that it did have resistance against Wizel's attack, that it isn't enough to save it.
Jeeves's first attack is a hit and the second is a crit. It resists the damage, but is still destroyed.

The fiend next to Jeeves lashes out with its claws, successfully hitting him once.
◆ Strike Jeeves Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20 hit for slashing damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4
◆ Strike Jeeves Claw: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (9) + 8 - 4 = 13 miss

Veracruz has much the same experience.
Uh, looking at my previous post... I not only neglected their resistance, I think I was looking at their AC instead of their HP. The Bumblebrashers bloodied Blue, but they didn't destroy it. So I'll just move it down the Initiative order a bit and pop it back in, sorry about that.
◆ Strike Veracruz Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (18) + 8 = 26 Hit for slashing damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5
◆ Strike Veracruz Claw: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 4 = 6 Critical failure

Melenia, Wizel, Veracruz, and Raijyu's turns.
Initiative:
Melenia AC 18, 33/33 HP
Wizel AC 21, 64/70 HP
Veracruz AC 18, 16/27 HP
Raijyu AC 16, 20/38 HP
Bumblebrashers
Glinda AC 19, 34/40 HP (Bless 15 ft)
Green Ort
Jeeves AC 20, 14/30 HP
Red Ort (1 damage, off-guard to Jeeves)
Blue Ort (13 damage, bloodied)

The dwarf rages and strikes the red one.

+1 striking cold iron Long hammer: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (16) + 11 = 27

Damage, Electricity: 2d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (8, 5) + 4 + 4 = 21

And again.

+1 striking cold iron Long hammer: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (5) + 11 - 5 = 11

Damage, Electricity: 2d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (3, 4) + 4 + 4 = 15

Wizel crushes it. Literally.
27 is a crit. It resists the bludgeoning damage, but that still definitely kills it. With the resistance it is not quite death by massive damage.
There isn't another enemy in your reach for me to redirect that second attack to, so you have another action left.

Melenia, Veracruz, and Raijyu's turns.
Initiative:
Melenia AC 18, 33/33 HP
Wizel AC 21, 64/70 HP (one action)
Veracruz AC 18, 16/27 HP
Raijyu AC 16, 20/38 HP
Bumblebrashers
Glinda AC 19, 34/40 HP (Bless 15 ft)
Green Ort (AC 7-15)
Jeeves AC 20, 14/30 HP
Blue Ort (13 damage, bloodied)

Wizel steps to offer a flank position on the blue one to Veracruz.

Bestruck and bedraggled by sharp objects, Veracruz's fragile life flashes before his concentrating eyes!

Devise a Stratagem vs Blue Fiend: 1d20 ⇒ 6

Considering retaliation, instead, our hero makes a darting motion, cutting the other sideways, hit and run!

♥️ 16/27
◇) Devise a Stratagem vs Blue
◆) Stride
◆) Strike vs Green
◆) Stride

Silver Dagger w/ Bump vs Green Fiend: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (8) + 6 = 141d4 ⇒ 2

The dagger hits. It's a glancing blow, but the silver seems to cut through it okay.
A hit. It has no resistance against that attack.

Melenia and Raijyu's turns.
Initiative:
Melenia AC 18, 33/33 HP
Wizel AC 21, 64/70 HP (one action)
Veracruz AC 18, 16/27 HP
Raijyu AC 16, 20/38 HP
Bumblebrashers
Glinda AC 19, 34/40 HP (Bless 15 ft)
Green Ort (AC 7-14)
Jeeves AC 20, 14/30 HP
Blue Ort (15 damage, bloodied)

Raijyu Steps back, and then blasts the two remaining Orts with electricity!

Electric Arc: 3d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 4) = 10 Electricity damage, DC 20 Reflex.

They are not fast, and the electricity destroys another one. The last one is not looking so great, either. Though it doesn't seem to particularly care.
Green Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Failure, it's bloodied
Blue Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (12) + 6 = 18 Failure, and now it's down

Melenia and Glinda's turns.
Initiative:
Melenia AC 18, 33/33 HP
Wizel AC 21, 64/70 HP (one action)
Veracruz AC 18, 16/27 HP
Raijyu AC 16, 20/38 HP
Glinda AC 19, 34/40 HP (Bless 15 ft)
Bumblebrashers
Green Ort (AC 7-14, 10 damage, bloodied)
Jeeves AC 20, 14/30 HP

Glinda attempts to defuse the portal, after expanding the Bless

occultism: 1d20 + 12 ⇒ (8) + 12 = 20

The portal has been defeated.

Melenia snaps her fingers and flames engulf the remaining Ort in sight.

Ignition: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (19) + 9 = 28
Fire Damage: 3d4 ⇒ (4, 4, 1) = 9 Double damage and 2d4 persistent fire damage on a crit

It's a perfectly timed and aimed blast, engulfing the fiend in fire. To no apparent effect.
A crit. But they are immune to fire.

The Bumblebrashers continue to pelt the remaining fiend with debris. They must be tiring, or running out of ammunition, as this has little visible effect.
Bludgeoning damage: 2d6 ⇒ (1, 1) = 2
Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23 Success for 1 damage, which its resistance negates entirely (good, kind of an anticlimax if NPCs finish off the encounter, right?)

It squirms up to Glinda and Raijyu, heedless of the destruction of its associates. It claws at Glinda, who evades the attack, and at Raijyu, who does not.
◆ Step up to M/J/G/R/V/W: 1d6 ⇒ 3
◆ Strike Glinda Claw: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16 miss
◆ Strike Riajyu, since he's also in reach Claw: 1d20 + 8 - 4 ⇒ (16) + 8 - 4 = 20 hit for slashing damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

All PCs' turns.
Initiative:
Melenia AC 18, 33/33 HP
Wizel AC 21, 64/70 HP (one action)
Veracruz AC 18, 16/27 HP
Raijyu AC 16, 15/38 HP
Glinda AC 19, 34/40 HP (Bless 25 ft)
Bumblebrashers
Green Ort (AC 7-14, 10 damage, bloodied)
Jeeves AC 20, 14/30 HP

Melenia tries a different approach and sends currents of electricity at the Ort. She then raises her shield.

Electricity Damage: 3d4 ⇒ (1, 3, 2) = 6 DC 19 Basic Reflex Save

◈◈Electric Arc, ◈Raise Shield

Glinda makes the Bless bigger then blasts the Ort with Cold Iron Needle Darts

sa: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (12) + 10 = 22 piercing: 4d4 ⇒ (2, 1, 1, 4) = 8

Raijyu Steps, and then pummels the ort with silver needles.

Needle Darts (AC): 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (4) + 10 = 14, for 4d4 ⇒ (3, 3, 2, 1) = 9 Silver Piercing damage.

Devise a Stratagem vs Final Ort: 1d20 ⇒ 11

Our Palatine hero makes another calculated, dashing attack!

♥️ 16/27
◇) Devise a Stratagem
◆) Stride
◆) Strike
◆) Stride

Silver Dagger w/ Bump w/ Strategy (1d6 precision) vs Final Ort: 11 + 8 = 191d4 + 1d6 ⇒ (2) + (5) = 7

The dwarf moves to flank the last opponent and strikes it.

+1 striking cold iron Long hammer vs off-guard: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (13) + 11 = 24

Damage, Electricity: 2d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (5, 6) + 4 + 4 = 19

And again.

+1 striking cold iron Long hammer vs off-guard: 1d20 + 11 - 5 ⇒ (18) + 11 - 5 = 24

Damage, Electricity: 2d8 + 4 + 4 ⇒ (2, 3) + 4 + 4 = 13

The final devil remains oblivious to its surroundings as the Pathfinders' attacks rain down on it.
Reflex: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9 Failure for 6 damage.
Glinda, I think you forgot to add your own bless bonus. That makes that a crit.
Raijyu hits.
Veracruz hits.
Wizel crits twice.
Any one of the crits, or any two of the others, would have been enough.

With the goblins rescued and the summoning thwarted, the Pathfinders and Bumblebrashers are able to return to Breachill through the tunnel. Fighting in the city has largely concluded, with some Eagle Knights holding prisoners in detention while others work to get fires under control and help the citizens of Breachill recover their belongings from ruined homes. Thanks to the Pathfinders' success in guiding civilians to safety, the noncombatant casualties were thankfully few. Reaching Monument Circle, Warbal Bumblebrasher enthusiastically greets Chief Helba and the other goblins.

A concerned Venture-Captain Brackett greets the Pathfinders. “I was worried we’d lost you all with how long you took to get back. Thankfully the battle has gone well. The Hellknights were waiting for something, reinforcements perhaps, and that gave us an opportunity. What have you been doing?” Hearing about the summoning circle and the near encounter with the Hellknight commanders, Brackett rubs his hand across his face to gather his thoughts. “Well, my instructions to not put yourselves in danger weren’t heeded, so we’ll have to talk about that. But well done, Pathfinders. You saved many lives and may have saved our chance at victory here.

“This talk of spies and schemes though. I need to get word back to the Grand Lodge. This plot is far bigger than we’d ever thought to fear. This battle could engulf the entire Inner Sea before it ends.”

Sorry about not following instructions Venture Captain sir. Glinda smiled ruefully. But as you well know, sometimes, in the field, things happen that sort of sidelines the mission. Getting that information is the icing on the cake as well as the strawberries on top. Speaking of which ....

Glinda goes looking for cake - and tea.

"Glad I am that we managed to help so many people!"