GM Bardez's page

At this time, I would like to point out that at no point during this adventure did Niles cast any psychic magic, and relied entirely on the crossbow. Not a fan of the class?

Please publicly roll any day job rolls you may have. Thanks for being a great group of players!

Chronicle Sheet links:

Chronicle Sheet
Occult Adventures Playtest Boon

Let me know if you feel that there are any errors or omissions in the chronicle sheets.

Also, feel free to offer any feedback on this PbP experience; (constructive) criticism can only help!

Boon Rolls:
GM Bardez: 1d20 ⇒ 8
Celeb's Boon: 1d20 ⇒ 1
Dolgrin's Boon: 1d20 ⇒ 17
Garret's Boon: 1d20 ⇒ 11
Morād's Boon: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Nikolai's Boon: 1d20 ⇒ 9
Nile's Boon: 1d20 ⇒ 4
Ob's Boon: 1d20 ⇒ 14

Boon of players choice on a natural roll of 1 or 20
**Re-Rolls not allowed on boons**

Per the PbP gameday 3 notes, it looks like Celeb will get his choice of a boon!

Three days later, the three Masters (Kreighton Shaine, Aram Zey, and Marcos Farabellus) attend a small ceremony for the group of initiates, confirming each as a full Pathfinder Society field agent. As part of the ceremony, the Masters gift a personalized wayfinder to each of the initiates, reminding him that this is not only the symbol of the Pathfinder's trade but also a reminder of the three principle duties: explore, report, and cooperate.

After Janira is convinced that the party is satisfied with their Confirmation survey, she leads the group back to Absolom to submit their reports. Once safely back in the Grand Lodge, Master of Scrolls Kreighton Shaine inquires excitedly about what the PCs found and asks tosee their notes. He compliments Ob for being certain to write down ideas and observations while the thoughts are fresh. He observes "It's difficult enough to remember what one had for breakfast the day before as it is to recall exactly what one was thinking while studying an inscription or relief. Yours is a job well done, indeed!" As the initiates are now the foremost authorities on that cave and what it contains, Shaine also invites them to come up with its name.

Shaine also compliments Janira for her guidance and assistance, much to the halfling's delight.

Sorry about that. My Christmas got a bit rushed and over the weekend my wife got ill, so I'm only getting to them tonight. I will post a link within the day.

I should also point out that I do not have everybody's PFS numbers, used for reporting. Would you all be so kind as to post your numbers for me?

You've hit both the primary and secondary success conditions at this point, and I've not seen any reason to dock any PC of gold earned; do we just want to wrap the RP up and to issue chronicle sheets? I think a nice chronicle sheet for Christmas would be a nice stocking stuffer.

I can either e-mail/PM you the chronicle sheet (plus the 'keep playing' boon for those occult playtest players) or provide you a direct link to a signed sheet here on the page. How do you guys prefer chronicle distribution?

Celeb is able to activate the wand and restores Janira to health with the assistance of Niles' potion.

As she slowly comes to, Janira coughs, spitting out some blood from wounds she had incurred. After a few moments, she is able to speak. "By the gods, I thought that bull was going to be the end of me! Your efforts are a fine example of cooperation, indeed! I had thought that breaking the beast's weapon would have demoralized it, but it only yielded a deeper fury."

Flustered by the failure of her assumptions about engaging a minotaur single-handedly, Janira continues: "But enough of that; what did you find? You've obviously emerged a distance from where you entered. Were there any gillmen? Mention of the aboleth? Ancient Azlant?"

As the sting from Celeb's arrow again hits the minotaur, the minotaur falls purposefully into the river, allowing itself to be carried away by the current.

End of combat, unless you guys purposefully wish to murder the minotaur.

Janira is lying on the opposite side of the river, motionless.

Garret lobs a fist-sized chunk of earth at the minotaur, beaming it near one of its horns.

Dolgrin beings casting a spell, taking a few seconds for completion.

Janira is unconscious.

Ob takes the opportunity of the minotaur being in the water to attempt to slip him up (I like this setup, so I'll give the DC an extra +2 for DC 17); he concentrates on casting without giving the minotaur an opportunity, and coalesces a slick below the minotaur.
Minotaur's reflex save 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (13) + 5 = 18

Unfortunately, the minotaur's footing within the stream bank is too sturdy, and the attempt fails.

Morād fires an arrow at the minotaur, but misses his target as the movement proves too complex to visually track.

I haven't seen a post from Morād about changed plans yet, but he rolled the attack and missed so I will leave the attack in there. I don't think modifiers would have helped him much were is a melee attack. I won't commit the move across the stream/river, though, unless that gets confirmed. Feel free to start in on the next round.

I had figured as much. It looks like I accidentally didn't fill out that pending action.

Updated Dolgrin's pending action

Minotaur is large; map now reflects this.

As Niles rushes to the river bank, he aims at the minotaur and looses a shot that strikes the beast squarely in the chest. It lets out a ferocious howl, as the bolt pierces a lung.

Torag's Fist cross the log above the river, moving foward to engage the minotaur.

The Minotaur, refocusing its anger, rushes across the river, moving to engage both Niles and the adjacent Ob.
Minotaur's strength check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22; success

Celeb lands a hit against the minotaur, now engaging his allies.

At this point, the Minotaur's actions may affect what Garret and Dolgrin had intended, so the initiative will rest with Garret to give time to adjust actions.

The current is rough, and a DC 15 swim check. Crossing the log at half speed requires a DC 7 acrobatics check, but you are flat-footed while crossing.

As Ob moves closer into the bettlefield, Morād attacks the minotaur from a safe distance, hitting the creature with a second arrow.

End round 1

Nikolai attempts to blast the minotaur with a electrically charged blast, but amidst the hustle of combat and after his hurried positioning, misses the target altogether.

As Nikopai, Niles, and Dolgrin's phantom position themselves for the battle, the minotaur engaging Janira presses his attack. He lightly steps forward (5' step to G22) and makes a powerful attack.
Minotaur's axe first iterative: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (11) + 7 = 18 (hit)
Minotaur's axe attack damage: 2d6 + 4 ⇒ (6, 3) + 4 = 13

As the minotaur slams its axe into Janira's leg, knocking her prone and bleeding, it notices the group of Pathfinders exiting the cave.

An arrow from Celeb's bow pierces the minotaur's thick hide, and the minotaur focuses its sight on the first thing to catch its attention, the taunting gnome, and begins eying it furiously as it is distracted from its kill.

Garrent and Dolgrin also move into position to engage the minotaur threatening Janira's life.

Janira's *lingering performance* allows for BP bonuses for next round, still, since the first round was also a lingering performance.

Indeed, it is time for initiative. The new map is up.

Niles, before reaching the mouth of the cave, utilizes his scroll of mage armor.

Janira's bardic performance remains in effect.

As the group of confirming Pathfinders presses forward, they notice a faint reflected moonlight at the end of the tunnel. The sound of Janira's oration is close and clear. "And it was Selmius Foster's race against a marid and efreeti on the isle of Jalmeray, which taught us that nothing is truly impossible and every situation can end in victory."

The light of the surface world above provides a welcome reprieve from the blue and green fungus of the caverns below, and light illuminates a stream whose water is hastened by runoff from a recent storm further up the mountains. A ledge to the west rises up to the nearby forest canopy.

The full moon casts dim light over the entire area, bright enough to illuminate even the shaded leaf litter beneath the trees. These patches of woodland are also filled with underbrush that behaves as light undergrowth, creating difficult terrain and concealment.

Nearly 100 feet from the cave's entrance/exit, Janira Gavix is locked in combat with her relentless minotaur foe in a clearing on the southern bank of the nearby stream, and Janira is seen to be seriously wounded. "You vile beast! I know not what drives your black heart, but I shall not fail in my duty. I shall see you driven from this forest, back to the hills from whence you came!"

Works for me. Ob made the re-save, no acid damage or condition applied.

As Morād and Celeb make their attacks to free the engulfed companion, the gelatinous thing begins to froth and dissipate. As it froths, the form loses cohesion, and a slimy much slops on the floor, releasing Dolgrin in the process.

End combat

Nikolai, I do not think so. There would be cavern wall in the way between your optimal corner of A3/B4 and its most defended corner of C3/D4, granting it cover. You could target the B2/C3 intersection, for splash damage, however.

Ob, where does the additional re-roll +4 come from?

Garret's blast hits the blob squarely.

Dolgrin didn't have the movement speed to get to where TF ended up; I wouldn't worry too much about it, since the encounter is nearing its end.

The wording of the engulf ability is vague enough that I read it that the engulf ability is a standard action that allows a move, and since it is not a full-round action that grants a single-move speed, the below should be legitimate. So it should be able to move once, then engulf, per the blow:

Finally, the jelly moves forward with a rumble (moves to C3; does Morād threaten?) to engulf the line of the largest group of potential meals.
Celeb's Reflex save: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 3 = 18; save, pushed back to D2
Dolgrin's Reflex save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8; fail, engulfed, grappled, pinned
Ob's Reflex save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6; fail, engulfed, grappled, pinned

As the blob consumes two of the three in front of it, an anesthetizing slime coats the engulfed Pathfinder initiates:
Dolgrin's paralysis save: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10; fail, paralyzed
Ob's paralysis save: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9; fail, paralyzed
Acid damage to Dolgrin: 1d4 ⇒ 2
Acid damage to Ob: 1d4 ⇒ 2

I'm pretty sure that will disrupt Dolgrin's spell, but maybe not.

End Round 1

The middle path that the most of the group is on is not a squeeze; the surrounding area is.

Niles throws his drawn flask, but falls short of hitting the blob. Range increment of 10', throwing 80' for a -6, throwing through allies to give soft cover for -4, plus bardic performance for +1, totaling a roll of 4, which misses.

Alchemist's fire miss roll: 1d8 ⇒ 1; the flask lands at H2; 1 fire damage to the blob.

Nikolai maneuvers forward (to B4; 15' move with gear, so could not make it to G4) with his spear at the ready.

Morād throws his alkali flask at the blob (suffering a -2 range penalty, but with plenty left to hit), and an alchemical reaction to the flask is visibly observed. Double damage, so I'll take your 9 total.

Dolgrin begins casting summon monster I. Does Dolgrin move or was that post intended to cover the phantom instead? Map shows that the phantom moved, but Dolgrin didn't.

Garret holds off action, waiting for the actions of others to dictate his next move.

Celeb stays put, attempting to detect an evil aura on the cube-like creature.

Ob lobs another cold blast at the creature, who appears to recoil from the blast as it lands solidly in its mass.

Torag's Fist appears to take another route, towards the sneaking Morād.

Begin round 1

Niles removes a flask from his pack. Niles did not act in the surprise round; was there an intended action to be readied?

Nikolai looses an electric blast at the cube-like blob, which dissipates throughout its body as the jolt hits it.

Morād pulls out his recently purchased alkali flask.

Ob flings a freezing blast at the blob, which appears to have frozen a corner of it for a brief moment.

The cube wobbles forward 5 feet (to I2).

End surprise round

Again, as a reminder, you guys are affected by bardic performance.

Map is up. Sorry it's a bit late; my office had a Christmas party last night and then I discovered that the original Paizo map's grid was not straight, so I had to re-do the grid a bit. I tried to set people up somewhat according to the last encounter, with Morād scouting in the lead off to the side. Please note that most of this terrain requires squeezing through.

I am going to have this as a surprise round for the 4 that can act, and then regular initiative.

Morād, Ob, and Nikolai notice something up ahead.

I will put a map up for this encounter late tonight.

The route leads through a maze of tight passages that include steep ascents and short climbs as these wind from west to east. As the group of initiates travel, the sounds of a distant battle is heard echoing through the caves. Combat and a familiar woman's voice can be heard, half-shouting and half-reciting: "As the legendary Gregaro Voth successfully battled the wild beasts in the deepest reaches of the Mwangi Expanse, so shall I defeat you, foul servant of Lamashtu!" The raging fight between Janira and the minotaur obviously continues. (Janira's words are sufficiently audible to grant the PCs the benefits of her inspire courage class ability).

The tight tunnels here range from 2 to 5 feet in width and average about 9 feet in height. The floors are slick and possess a steady incline from west to east (this increases the DC of all Acrobatics checks by 4).

The note is more of an excerpt for later entry into a journal.

As the Pathfinders mull around the cave looking over the bodies, Dolgrin, Ob and Nikolai notice a concealed passage in the northern wall; it appears to be an upward traveling tunnel.

Does the group wish to press forward or double back to the main cavern?

Among the fallen bodies, the Pathfinders find a note written by the dead corpse (at J3) that details plans to start an army of undead made from the "fish people" who have been frequenting this cave. In addition, two of the undead bodies hold items of interest: a light crossbow, and a quiver containing 20 arrows.

As the group attacks the last standing zombie, kinetic blasts miss their target. The rest of the group prepares for the zombie's final attack.

End Round 3

Garret is up next, but Morād's readied attack will kill the zombie.

As Garret considers his attack options, the last remaining zombie approaches. As it closes, Dolgrin attempts -yet fails- to trip it. As the Zombie moves even closer, Morād makes an arcing slash that slices the zombie's near hand, far forearm, and legs off of its body, effectively quartering the foul thing.

As Garret and Niles hold back their maneuvers, waiting to see what enemies do first, the prone zombie stands.

Summoned celestial eagle's AoO: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (18) + 3 = 21
Damage: 1d4 ⇒ 2

The other zombie moves forward (to D5), advancing on the group. As it does so, Dolgrin attempts to trip the creature, but fails (failed by 9, so no falling prone); Nikolai releases an electric blast, which meets the undead's face with a sizzling pop. An eyeball bursts and its face blackens. Simultaneously, Garret lobs a chunk of earth at the zombie's feet, crushing its skull inward. Its body falls to the cave floor with a loud, squishy thud.

I'm looking at the cover rules, and aside from the gut center->center evaluation, the C5/D6 corner to the F5/E6 corner might be cover. Is Dolgrin expecting to get ranged AoOs against the zombies?

It doesn't matter all that much, since they will drop shortly enough as it is, but just curious.

Morād retreats and Nikoali readies an electric blast for the first enemy to approach.

End Round 2

As the phantom retreats further into the caves, Celeb looses his arrow toward the standing zombie, missing the shot.

A celestial eagle appears behind the zombies, attacking one of them (not specified which; assuming Zombie #2) with a series of talon slashes and bites. Dolgrin readies his spear to trip the first zombie to near him.

Ob lets the water/ice slick fade, instead launching a freezing blast at the standing zombie (Zombie #1), hitting it squarely in the chest with a lucky shot.

Niles readies his crossbow, anticipating that the prone zombie will rise again.

Another undead stumbles into view.
Zombie 2's reflex: 1d20 ⇒ 6
It stumbles on the water slick, falling downward.

The remaining zombie rises, prophetically, but the readied shot Niles prepared is not as steady as hoped, and misses its target.

Morād seizes the opportunity to attack the rising undead, slicing its head off in the middle of the neck.

As the zombie falls, dead, gills can be seen at the site of the cut, bloated and sealed.

Begin Round 2

As Garret faithfully retreats to open a better position, he lugs earth at the nearest fallen zombie. Despite the creature being prone, the rock strikes the creature squarely in its shoulder.

As the rock hits the zombie, it begins to rise from the water, providing and attack opening for Morād.

Sorry, I obviously misinterpreted what Niles was saying.

Dolgrin begins concentrating as emotions surge through his mind, coalescing them into an expression of inner will.

As Ob concentrates, water pools from the cave, dripping from the ceiling and rising from the ground.
Zombie 1's refex save: 1d20 ⇒ 10
Zombie 3's refex save: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Both zombies fall prone from the pooling water.

Morād moves up and attacks the prone zombie, slicing a chunk from its legs.

Nikolai scurries among the tightly packed Pathfinders, and fires off a charged blast, missing the creatures due to the tight shot.

End Round 1

I think we are sufficiently through far enough for credit, so I plan on giving the single-line sheet to continue playing the characters, if there are no objections.

Since it seems that some people are having trouble keeping track of the initiative, please feel free to offer some suggestions. If you would like me to provide a summary of round actions, I can start adding something like what Niles offered at the end of my posts in spoilers.

Niles has the initiative correct, except there was no surprise round. You guys smelled death, and no one was stealthing, so the party was heard; no surprise round, so full turns are in play.

The phantom of Torag's Fist withdraws safely away from the undead creature (to C3, is that appropriate?).

Celeb looses an arrow as soon as he is able, missing due to distraction from the withdrawing phantom. He is, however, able to identify the creatures.

Dolgrin, Ob and Morād have remaining actions in this round; Nikolai continues to delay.

Again, the undead (apparently intact) body appears not to notice the damage Niles dealt to it.

With the sound of undead creatures in the nearby tunnel, Garret prepares his kinetic blast. Suddenly, the animated creature comes into view, and Garret looses the blast, hitting the beast squarely in the face, though the beast seems unfazed by the blast.

(I believe that the following is correct about the Spiritualist's manifested phantom, but if incorrect, the following will apply to Garret instead.)

The creature closes on the manifested spirit of Torag's Fist, and makes a lunging slam attack.

#3's slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15 (hit)
Slam damage: 1d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Following this, Niles loads a bolt into his crossbow. (Would that not be a shot against the visible undead?)

Additional movement can be heard within the cave (#2 to H4).

Nikolai delays until there is a clear attack.

More movement can be heard within the cave (#1 to H6).

I'm not certain whether or not Torag's Fist applies as "less squishy", but I'll await Nikolai's action post to see what he wants.

Please correct me if I am wrong, but the phantom can be either incorporeal and not attack or ectoplasmic and corporeal and be attacked, right? And I see back on page 2 that it was just summoned, with no mention of the incorporeal state, so I am going with the corporeal state.

If something seems incorrect about that, let me know and I'll retcon that attack back to the next creature in line (Garret).

Garret gets to make the first move.