Aurelia Crimson's page

Thanks for running GM Zer0DarkFire. Was a fun game. Too bad Aurelia died, but at least it was doing something extra.

Thanks for running @GM Zer0darkfire. Was a fun game.

Fort: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (3) + 15 = 18

Fort reroll with stars and mythic surge: 1d20 + 15 + 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (10) + 15 + (6) + 4 = 35

Might make it with the second roll.

Other option I considered is sending Daosvaria at you with a claw. You auto-wake up on taking damage, and she doesn't do too much.

Isn't that going to make the summoned tigers disappear, and stop all of Rinaldo's current buffs?

Will actually just suppress them. Seems a worthwhile trade-off to me, her spells are much more powerful than anything else we have. Though keep in mind that I won't actually be able to do anything at all to her at that point.

Blue tiger will take a 5ft step, so they can flank Baba Yaga, then the Tigers will both full attack.

Aurelia will cast Dispel Magic, then expend Mythic power for Arcane Surge Dispel Magic, both targeting Baba Yaga, and spending an arcane pool point on each for +2 to her caster level.

Caster Level check for Dispel Magic: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 16 + 2 = 35
Caster Level check for Dispel Magic: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 2 = 19

well, one might work if she didn't take the ability that adds her mythic tier to her caster level vs dispel.

[ooc]I realized I forgot to select a path ability for her - she will take Flexible Counterspell. If Baba Yaga attempts to Maze anyone else or cast any save or die spells, Aurelia will expend the immediate action, mythic power and spell slot and attempt to counter.

Gaius bows politely to the Great Crone, then casts Particulate Form upon the party, followed by Quickened Blessing of Fervor upon the party.

Cleric Haste, I can at least provide ;-)

I did already cast Haste on my turn if you want to do some other quickened spell

If I've got a mythic tier, then so should Daosvaria as my Familiar. She's got my hit dice/levels, so then she's only shaken on the fail against the Mythic Presence, not panicked, and her attempt to level drain Baba Yaga should go off as normal.

@Tuwo, Aurelia cast Haste on the party on her first turn.

Just curious on what they expect us to do with a Black Robe of the Archmagi? seems a silly thing to put on a PFS Chronicle...

I assume that any tools available to our character in PFS are also available here. I'm going to use my Moment of Greatness boon, so for the next 3 rounds, I have mythic rank 1 (Archmage Path, Arcane Surge Arcana, Mythic Augment Summoning, 5 total mythic power).

Will save to start Will: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 14 + 2 = 33

Aurelia will expend one use of Mythic Power to cast Summon Monster VII as a swift action (Arcane Surge). This will create 1d3 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 Mythic Celestial Dire Tigers who will appear next to the tiger companion. The tigers are mythic creatures for purposes of damage and DR, but don't actually have any mythic ranks.
Aurelia will then cast Haste on the party, including the summoned Tigers, and fly off to the side a bit and up 10ft.

The tigers will both smite Baba Yaga and attack (Pounce).

Blue:
Bite+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 44 for 2d6 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (4, 5) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 33
Haste Bite+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 26 for 2d6 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (1, 6) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 31
Claw+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 37 for 2d4 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 29
Claw+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 34 for 2d4 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (3, 2) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 29
Rake:
Claw+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 26 for 2d4 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (4, 3) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 31
Claw+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 27 for 2d4 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (4, 3) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 31

Crit Confirmation on first Bite+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 31 for 2d6 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (2, 1) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 27

Yellow:
Bite+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 27 for 2d6 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (5, 2) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 31
Haste Bite+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 37 for 2d6 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (6, 6) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 36
Claw+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (16) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 41 for 2d4 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (4, 4) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 32
Claw+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 37 for 2d4 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (1, 4) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 29
Rake:
Claw+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 28 for 2d4 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (2, 2) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 28
Claw+Augment+Charge+Haste: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 20 + 2 + 2 + 1 = 43 for 2d4 + 8 + 2 + 14 ⇒ (1, 3) + 8 + 2 + 14 = 28

Thanks so much for running Zer0darkfire! Was a fun game.

I'll take 10 on Craft(Alchemy) with Crafter's Fortune for a 45 for my day job.

Battle Royale! Win Initiative and win it all!

It's also got a dimensional anchor up, so Plane Shift won't work either. Can we leave through the portal with the Torc?

Or Disintegrate, apparently.

After the fight is done, Aurelia recasts Heightened Awareness and uses one of her three daily uses of Comprehend Languages SLA.
Is there some magical effect here? Says on the throne Pain is Knowledge. Any ideas? Anyone see a trap here?
Aurelia will also cast Detect Magic and inspect the statue and surrounds, including the Torc.
Perception: 1d20 + 20 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 20 + 2 + 2 = 41

I'm good staying as a Dhampir, thanks!

Reflex: 1d20 + 14 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 14 + 2 = 29

If it must be this way...

Aurelia casts Quickened Haste on the party, followed by Disintegrate at the witch, expending an Arcane Pool point to raise her caster level by 2.

SR Check + Arcane Pool: 1d20 + 16 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 16 + 2 = 19
Spell attack vs Touch AC: 1d20 + 12 + 2 + 1 ⇒ (12) + 12 + 2 + 1 = 27

Assuming all that goes through, she needs to make a Fort Save or take

Renewing my Heightened Awareness, then ready to go.

By all means.

Will Daosvaria need to complete the ritual as well, or does she count as part of me as a familiar?

We need to follow the ritual to go through. The rhyme indicates time is frozen wherever the guardian is, so perhaps a pocket dimension with a vastly different rate of time? It also indicates that the current guardian is the queen who rebelled against Baba Yaga. I don't know the specifics of the curse, but I would bet that breaking a curse laid down by Baba Yaga herself would be a very small step down from trying to break a curse laid down by a god. She looks thoughtful. Do also consider whether you would be willing to take on such a task. I'll be honest, it seems much less appealing than the last similar offer I had, being stuck in the Abyss, bad generally, but becoming a demon lord, probably has it's perks.

My take 10 on Linguistics is a 37 with Heroism.

If I am reading this correctly, Baba Yaga's daughter - the rebellious one - is frozen in time inside the clock. She is wearing the Torc.
To go forward, a doll needs to be placed inside the ring by each person wanting to go - animals need to do this as well if they are coming with us.
Someone will need to stay behind to act as the guardian - one must always exist. Whether we can come to a deal with the existing guardian or one of us must make the sacrifice is unclear.

Doing a deep-dive on the thread...

Gaius looks thoughtful.

"In reviewing that poem, and cross-referencing what we have uncovered thus far, I find it curious that one of the porcelain dolls was missing, as was one of the 27-link chains from the throne.

Given the reference to 'Ringed in steel, three loops times nine / Prized from the luckless seat / Supplicants kneel, of porcelain fine / The banished queen to meet.', I think those items might be keys to access the next 'tier' of this place? Although whether one pair for the party, or whether we each need one, is open to interpretation. I think we should err on the side of caution, and have a pair each. We probably then need to touch them to that clock, I suppose...?"

That's my best guess, at least...

We can try that. I'm also wondering if we should be taking a spot that is vacated by one of the caryatid columns when they attack, that will make the three loops times 9 - 28 figures, 2 animate leaving 26 figures, one of us takes the spot making 27 or 3x9?

TBH, I'm generally pretty bad at riddles, but happy to try things out.

Sorry - my work has been totally crazy the last week or two, so my time to think about things has been very limited.

My work has been hella crazy this week as well and looks like it will continue for at least the next week, possibly two, so please bot me as appropriate.

I think we are dealing with the pudding as there is some expectation that we might not be coming back here afterward from wherever the clock tower sends us.

Aurelia nods at the Dragon's words and addresses her again.

Assuming that the dragon answers in kind, Aurelia will bow acknowledgement of her words and turn to the party.

Perhaps it has something to do with the poem inscribed.
A stitch in time saves nine,
But what loop will the witch queen heed?
In pointless slaughter
The Old Crone’s daughter
A hapless mob did lead.
Now she sits in tomb that’s frozen,
The traitors’ blood all spilled
Upon the path that she had chosen,
Enthroned with collar gild.
Ringed in steel, three loops times nine
Prized from the luckless seat,
Supplicants kneel, of porcelain fine,
The banished queen to meet.
It matters not who’s dared to come
The demon’s soul to claim,
The weak shall die, the strongest live
And forever more remain

Aurelia considers for a moment after reciting. Perhaps we should head back up to the clock tower and examine it more thoroughly. Are there any levels further below that we should also investigate before moving on?

By this being the only way to get it, do you mean there is a doorway or other method of access, say to a personal dimension, like a hut perhaps, only accessible from here, or something else?

Lmao, sure. Same deal, arcane pool point and Dismissal. DC28 will save.

Sure, that seems fine to me.

Out of curiosity, how did the author seem to have envisioned us tackling this, just killing the dragon because it's evil?

Assuming the dragon agrees to the plan and Gaius casts Particulate Form on both himself and Aurelia, they will travel down to the dragon's stomach and try to dismiss the elemental.

@GM Zer0darkfire How will this work? Unless there is SR, Dismissal is a will save for the target. Aurelia will spend an Arcane Pool point to increase the save DC for Dismissal to DC28.

I do have a Dismissal prepared, which might prove useful against an extra-planar creature trapped here on this plane. Particulate Form is multiple targets, no? That way you would not be alone inside the dragon, and I can ensure we have a means of escape. Aurelia looks at Gaius quizzically.

If Tuwo describes the fetishes, can I make a knowledge check of some kind to know what they are?

Tell me, why should we experience them ourselves? Is there knowledge to be gleaned within them?

That's the thing though. Other than the spellbook, all the caster's expenses are to help him/her be better at their job, not required to do it at all. The math means the melee character requires them to do it at all. That extra +1 or +2 is the 5-10% additional chance to hit that makes the difference between being effective or not.

As a 12th level Arcanist/Wizard, all I need to be able to contribute/do my job is my Spellbook and a +6 headband, costing a total of about 45-50k gold, compared with my expected WBL at 12th level of 108k.

Compare that with a 12th level fighter or barbarian. Realistically, they need a +5 equivalent armor (25k), a stat belt(36k), and +4 equivalent weapon(32k), so a baseline to function at all of 93k.

There's very little slack to deal with the resource loss of multiple deaths and still be functional as a melee.

It's an unfortunate effect of the system that was inherited from 3.5. I don't know how much it's been mitigated in PF2, but it's a real disparity in 3.5/PF.

Anecdotal evidence of course, but of my 5 seekers, the Sorcerer and the Magus are the ones who have died most (twice). My Bloodrager/Oracle, Bard and Arcanist not at all.

I'd say it's more that the non-casters are the most dependent on magic items and wealth to compete at higher levels. Other than her headband and spellbook, Aurelia can be totally effective without any other gear. Take away the fighter's sword and armor, and he's much less effective.

Dimensional Steps is the Conjuration school ability at 8th level.

Dimensional Steps (Sp): At 8th level, you can use this ability to teleport up to 30 feet per wizard level per day as a standard action. This teleportation must be used in 5-foot increments and such movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity. You can bring other willing creatures with you, but you must expend an equal amount of distance for each additional creature brought with you.

That's the extent of the language, with no reference to indicate it should act like Teleport or Greater Teleport or Dimension Door. Compare that to the language from Shift, in the Teleportation sub-school:

Shift (Su): At 1st level, you can teleport to a nearby space as a swift action as if using dimension door. This movement does not provoke an attack of opportunity. You must be able to see the space that you are moving into. You cannot take other creatures with you when you use this ability (except for familiars). You can move 5 feet for every two wizard levels you possess (minimum 5 feet). You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Intelligence modifier.

As a GM, I've generally ruled it acts like Dimension Door.

Aurelia takes a quick break from her rounds of self-doubt to cast Greater Invisibility on Flint.

What the hell is wrong with me that I can't get through this wall. I know it's an Illusion. There has to be a better way.

After casting on Flint, she will walk into the previous room and try to use her Dimensional Steps to teleport into the room. My understanding was that the pillar room is the one warded by Dimensional Anchor. If that is wrong, she will just keep trying and failing to get through the wall.

If anyone wants to interrupt Aurelia's banging her head against this wall, I'd be happy to throw up a Greater Invisibility or two.

If someone wants to come out to me, I can hand out a greater invisibility or two between banging my head against this wall.

What round did everyone get in? Are we basically each going through and coming back until everyone can get through the door or are we going to be fighting these things with half or less of the party?

Aurelia will try a few more times to get through, still invisible.

I'm assuming that I'm effectively out of this fight given the number of attempts it took for Aurelia to get through the wall...

Seems ok to me. If you do want me to, I can summon a highly charismatic outsider who might be able to penetrate this.

I can summon a Succubus with SM VI, has 27 Cha

I can go through invisibly as well if that seems reasonable. If it's a melee party on the other side, I'll just need to survive the first onslaught, but after than I can take care of myself. We could also send a summoned creature through first.

I'll defer to GM Zer0DarkFire - The damage needed from my knowledge check was 60 and the statues don't get saves, so I think thats sufficient, but on the GM to say for sure.

All these little details that get ya. The dimensional lock makes the DD plan more complicated as we would need to hope the next chamber is not under the same spell. Seems like the channel plan is best all around. We can always rest if the casters get too low. I don't think there was any within the next day deadline, right?

It's going to take a fair amount of magic to get through this either way. If Messa can get to the center of the room and expend her channels, it will take 2 or 3 of them to clear all the pillars unless she is very unlucky.

It's 60 points of positive energy to destroy a statue (they get no save), and Messa's channel is 8d6, so average output of 28. She should be able to get all the statues within a single 30ft radius burst. The alternative is we Dim Door to the other side using up 2 4th level spells or a chunk of Aurelia's Dimensional Step. I think a combination of the Death Warded PCs walking through and teleportation magic of some kind for the rest is probably best.

+32 to Kn(Arcana), so not bothering to roll
Lots of negative energy in this room, arcing between all these statues. Won't hurt me, or anyone with Death Ward up, but I'm guessing the rest of you won't feel the same about it.

Aurelia studies the statues for a moment more.

We could only disable the trap by destroying all 35 of them. Unfortunately, it would take a large amount of positive energy to damage them. Mundane means will not suffice.

She continues examining into the statues to confirm her conclusions, then turns back to the group.

So, shall we have those of us who can't be harmed by negative energy walk through and open the door so the others can use dimensional magic to get there without popping into the unknown? Or does someone have a large quantity of positive energy or a portal to the positive energy plane available?

I think GM Zer0darkfire just doesn't want to have to rule on a wall holding a wraith being disintegrated...

I was thinking of the bardic ability that adds sonic damage to every attack.

Too bad Shocking Burst doesn't work in Silence... I'll dispel it next round if someone else doesn't get to it sooner, but I figured most of the martials don't actually care about the silence, so I would get them more attacks and moving faster first. Shift used her swift, so no quickened spell this round.