Golthwur Strath's page

Thank you all for your understanding with my absence (and again for saving Golthwur). Unfortunately, my mother did pass away.

No Day Job for Golthwur.

Needless to say, I am looking to re-engage in some "healthy escapism". I suspect that I will be stretched a bit thin over the next few weeks as I work through grief and various estate issues. However, I am happy to start prep on a scenario for this group in the not-too-distant future. Any particular adventures that folks have in mind?

The old man blinks his eyes open and then nearly nearly dies again from the disgusting gore covering him. "I'm alive! I'm Alive!"

"Not, technically of course," Golthwur promptly corrects himself in light of his undead form. "Yet, figuratively, Golthwur lives and, in actuality, I have not been destroyed!" Slowly rising to his shaky feet, he manages to stand firm enough to give the remains of the worm a swift kick, though he seems to stub a boney toe in the process.

"It would seem that this vile creature learned the hard way that I, Golthwur Strath, am not one who is easily stomached!"

Perhaps, the sound of his words having reached his ears and their unintending meaning becoming clear to the old man, Golthwur promptly begins busying himself with casting of prestidigitation to make himself presentable. As he does so, he seems to be careful so not to make contact with his fellow Pathfinders, likely in an effort to avoid any acknowledgment from them as to his most recently uttered declaration.

When later offered a draught from the Chalice of Undeath, Golthwur pauses, receiving the receptacle with obvious reluctance. He releases a undeathly sigh along with, perhaps, his dreams of lichdom, then slowly sips, before taking a mouthful.

Golthwur gasps.
Con check to Stabilize: 1d20 + 1 - 5 ⇒ (15) + 1 - 5 = 11

"Well, this situation is unacceptable," Golthwur mutters from inside the worm. With a turn of his arcane bonded ring and an arcane phrase, he attempts again to assume a gaseous form.

Concentration check to cast while grabbed: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (19) + 5 + 5 = 29
Vs. DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + 3 (spell level)

"No worm holds Golthwur Strath, Master of Mists and Viceroy of Vapor!" With his declaration, the wizard attempts to assume a gaseous form.
Concentration check to cast while grabbed: 1d20 + 5 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 + 5 = 20
Vs. DC 10 + grappler’s CMB + 3 (spell level)

Fort: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

The wizard will not be wormfood....yet.

"Aaaahhh!" cries Golthwur, clearly startled.

He examines the nematodal nemesis.
Knowledge (arcana)?: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (5) + 13 = 18
Subtract 3 from result for (nature) or 4 if (dungeoneering)
Golthwur wants to know: 1) will it burn and 2) does it have reach?

Unless he discerns a solid "no" to 1...
He unleashes a fireball!
Fire damage: 5d6 ⇒ (5, 1, 6, 2, 1) = 15

Otherwise, he retrieves his wand of magic missiles.

If he discerns a "yes" to the other, he only takes a five-foot step. Otherwise, he moves away from it as far and as fast as he can.

Finding the potion, Golthwur imbibes it quickly allowing the negative energy to knit his undead form.
ISW: 3d8 + 5 ⇒ (1, 8, 3) + 5 = 17

He then casts false life!
Assuming Caster level 3 for the scroll?: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

If there is enough time... Golthwur casts mage armor upon himself in advance of the coming of his purported "doom".

Golthwur mutters a curse as he casts away the mundane staff. He eyes the scroll of false life, shifts his gaze to his undead wounds, and then eyes the scroll again.

"Surely, the necromantic energy of this spell will provide more unlife to my undead form," he considers not inaudibly.

It does not appear the spell has any positive energy component, so false life should bolster Golthwur's temp HP if cast. He has no form of healing, so he is inclined to use the scroll on himself, if no one objects.

Of course, what Golthwur thinks best for Golthwur is seldom, if ever, in the best interests of the party, so feel free to stop the old coot if you think the scroll better cast on another.

Undead Golthwur's flesh looks like it is about to fall off in places, but the wizard fails to ask for any form of "healing".
Though, I suspect, he wouldn't turn it down...

Instead, he is too focused on the magic items recovered. He greedily reaches for the staff, then for once of the scrolls, but pauses to cast [i]detect magic[i] before grabbing at a scroll.

Round Two+
He takes hold of one of the scrolls, but maintains his focus on the staff, trying to identify it.
Spellcraft to Identify Staff: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

If given time, he will grab both scrolls, then move onto the potion...
Spellcraft to decipher scroll: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (10) + 14 = 24
Spellcraft to decipher 2nd scroll: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (13) + 14 = 27
Spellcraft to Identify potion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (17) + 14 = 31

Either way. I am fine with staying to fight and I am also fine with allowing Angela to heal.

Golthwur tries "sticking" to his foe again.
Hand of the apprentice (quarterstaff): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19
Damage (B): 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (1) - 1 = 0

The result is less satisfying than the last time.

"At times, to kill a worm, one simply needs to squash it with a stick," declares Golthwur as he moves into a position to hurl his staff with magical might.
Hand of the apprentice (quarterstaff): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27
Damage (B): 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4
Confirm Crit?: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
Crit Damage (B): 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (5) - 1 = 4

A smug smiles forms beneath the wizard's beard demonstrating that the old coot is quite pleased with himself.

"Come old man, embrace death!" Yet, somehow the old wizard is also too nimble for him. The worms to seem to teem and multiply, effectively healing some of Heth's wounds.

"Vile Vermin!" indignantly cries the elderly wizard as he recoils back (5 ft. step), "I, Golthwur Strath, Incapacitator of Invertebrates and Anihilator of Annelids, embrace NO ONE!"

Nor does anyone give Golthwur hugs (That explains so much about the sad, old man).

Using his wand of burning hands, Golthwur sends another bout of flame toward his writhing foe.
Damage (F): 1d4 ⇒ 3

With a flick of his wand of burning hands, Golthwur sends a a bout of flame shooting forth toward the worm.
Damage (F): 1d4 ⇒ 3

With the foe on the robes, Gulthwur begins to display some bravado. "Step aside," he demands as he approaches the foe and reaches for a wand of burning hands, "I, Golthwur Strath, Expert of Extermination and Potentate of Pest Control, shall dispatch this nematodal nemesis!"
Double move

"Not only do you refuse to move, but you risk paralysis?!"[b] scoffs Golthwur. [b]"Fear not, I shall save you! Feel my magical might!"

With a flick of the wrist, the wizards sends a bolt of force into another one of the former agents.
MM v green: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2

"Alas, when you all congregate around our opponents, you prevent me from creating fireballs that would terminate the existence of these former Pathfinders as well as you present members!"[b] laments Golthwur.

[b]"Limited as I may be by such constraints--for the Society has already deemed it necessary, one more than one occasion, to request I do so--I, Golthwur Strath, Exterminator of Ex-Pathfinders and Defeated of Defectors, am far from powerless!" With his declaration, the wizard retrieves his wand and sends a bolt of force into one of the nearest former agents.
MM v red: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Missing from the grave, eh?" Golthwur observes. "This undead id un-hole-y, indeed!"

Recalling the mention of Urgothoa, the wizard strokes his beard in thought.
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (15) + 11 = 26

"Honestly, one would think a Pathfinder should be more accepting of the prospect of death--whatever its manner--and just move along," mutters unliving Golthwur.

Then, recalling the party's briefing, the undead wizard gets a bit more lively, "Any sign of the Testament?"

He casts detect magic and eagerly surveys the scene.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9

Fort (DC 16): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 2 = 19
Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (11) + 11 = 22

"What the devil?!" cries Golthwur as his undead body is wracked with horrid vitality.

“Ahh, everything is very dead. Ok, let’s see … “ the purple haired gnome says and approaches the stone.

"Of course. We are in Geb, after all," Golthwur mutters.

The wizard casts detect magic, slowing scanning the area of auras as he joins the others.

To boon or not to boon?: 1d20 ⇒ 10

Golthwur wags his wand, still eager to phinish the Pharasmins. However, he holds his fire and his tongue--but only for a moment.

"Our presence here is of no concern to these zealots," he quietly huffs. "We owe them no more explanation that of sending a few more magical bolts into their bones."

Golthwur wags his wand, still eager to phinish the Pharasmins. However, he holds his fire and his tongue--for now.

Golthwur, Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

The wizard winces and waves his wand at the nearest Pharasmin.
MM v blue: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 1 = 4

Golthwur retrieves a wand and sends a magic missile into the nearest Pharasmin.
MM v blue: 1d4 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

"Oh, the follies of the living, am I right?" sighs Golthwur. The presently undead wizard casts a spell covering two of the Pharasmins in a smattering of golden particles.

Cast glitterdust on green and red; Will (DC 17) to negate blinded

"Given the clear abundance of necromantic energies within this country and the severity of the man's plight, if he's sick enough to expire, this young woman may very well turn out to be an unfulfilling meal for him, rather than the other way around as she has suggested," Golthwur ponders aloud without regard as to who may hear his analysis or the impact it may have. "Of course, if these 'Masters' persistently permit such conditions, which are likely to result in the spontaneous creation of undead, to go unabated, it would have a profoundly adverse impact on the nation's food stock as the newly-spawned undead would ravage the living stocks quickly, penned up as they are, whilst they seek to satisfy their new-found, undead hunger. Therefore, one would think that such necromancers have some sort of measures in place to prevent such diminishment of their food stocks."

"The typical preventative measure would involve some infusion of positive energy." The wizard continues his vocal assessment in a scholarly tone. "Yet, such must almost certainly be discouraged, if not outright banned, within this nation due to the obvious detriment that it would pose to the nation's undead population. Quite, a fascinating conundrum, really."

I will be traveling over the next four days and may only have limited or no access to post. Please feel free to bot me as necessary.

"Ehh ... just so I know ... what is a proto-lich?"

"An apt question from a protozoan," mutters Golthwur smugly under his breath. Whether his conceit comes simply from his attempt at an insult or from possessing gnowledge that the gnome does gnot is ungnown.

Khorshid is almost surprised as Golthwur made him feel a little uneasy with his powerful appearance and behavior.

"Ahh, I thought that this would be 'mundane' as well?? But now you show that you can follow commands!!" he says with a shocked face.

"Take gnote gnome! I, Golthwur Strath, Notable Among Necromancers, Upright Among Undead, and Greatest Among Ghouls, neither obeys ordinary orders nor kowtows to common commands!" The wizard tries to show, raising his voice as usual, but finds the effort rather difficult in the absence of working lungs. As the others begin walking away, he decides to forego another attempt and to quietly try to keep pace behind them.

That's supposed to read, "...or are you just some mindless troublemakers roaming about?"

Actually, I had assumed "windless" was just a rather clever way for the undead to refer to other, non-breathing creatures.

Now...

"Behold! For, we are indeed undead. Surely, you would not expect a band of breathers bandying about these badlands! Why, if there were any inhalers in our midst they would be ingested instantly, I assure you," interjects the wizard, hoping he sounds convincing.

"Yet, though we are recent arrivals to this land, treat us not as if we were some poor, newly-deads hoping to partake is some necromantic get-away," he continues needlessly. "Far from it! For my death was not the result of some simple accident or misbegotten turn of fate. Nay, I am deceased by design. I've passed on purpose. Mine was an excogitated expiration! As such, my mastery of magic has made me more lich-like than most of the lifeless, more potently-powered than most of the perished, and more certainly sorcerical than most slain."

"Yes, certainly. Why not?" shrugs the now ghoulish Golthwur before he follows the gnow gnon-living gnome gnorthward.

Earlier

"Hmmm, not quite what I expected," notes Golthwur as he partakes of the chalice. As he changes, he looks for a reflective surface in which to admire his new form.

"I had assumed that immortality would be... more satisfying. Not to mention warmer."

Present

"Ugh, I never liked teleportation. Always feel like I'm going to come out with a piece of me missing." getting a feel for his surroundings Lancyn takes a look around and listens for anything more than the rustling going on.

"Understandable. Magic is best left for those with the capability to wield it, while the mundane should simply stick with using their feet." opines the wizard.

"Is it really going to be so hard to find our friend? I mean this area is huge! So what is the plan team? We need a plan!" Khorshid says.

"More mundane thinking!" decries Golthwur. "We are among the undead, now. Our forms are nigh eternal. We have years, nay, centuries, perhaps millenia, in which to find the missing. No longer are we hindered by the restraints of fatigue, backpains, or arthritis!"

"Undeath has freed us from the chains of time! There is no need for us to rush about for we can cover the expanse of this nation many times over, study entire libraries of magical tomes, conduct interplanar experiments to our lifeless hearts content, and still have an eternity before us!"

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (8) + 11 = 19

"Geb , of course, is a nation ruled by the undead," Golthwur instructs the gnome, impatiently. "There, intelligent undead have the same rights as the living. Perhaps, even more. No doubt due to their expendability, the kingdom uses other undead for labor and as renewable source of soldiers in the country’s armies. Alas, because of the nation’s dependence and promotion of undeath, the faithful of Pharasma, goddess of death, often conduct raids into the country in an attempt to destabilize it, to destroy unholy sites, and eliminate the undead that call Geb home."

An elderly wizard dressed in the traditional robes of his chosen pursuit, complete with pointed hat, bursts into his room. A frown is evident on his face even from beneath his flowing white beard.

"What manner of meeting could be so material? What designated discussion so dire? What critical conclave so compelling that it would require I, Golthwur Strath, Master of Magic, Composer of Conjurations, Auteur of the Arcane, to be summoned from his studies and drawn from his deliberations?" he demands as he brushes past the assembled Pathfinders and makes his way towards Valsin's office.

”We need you to undergo the same process of disguise, infiltrate Geb, and learn the whereabouts of Joktan, his team, and most of all, the Testament. Pathfinders, time is of the essence. If that book falls into the wrong hands, it could destabilize the entire Inner Sea region. We need that book and we have the utmost faith that you’ll do what’s necessary to make sure we get it.”

“Any questions?”

Golthwur looks quite pleased. "An investigation in intrigue, eh?" he ponders as he strokes his beard. "Well, of course, a magical disguise would be required to deceive the deceased and pass by the passed. I must know more of this process? How did you come to learn of it? It is reversible, I assume--should we choose not to loiter as liches? Though, we could, if we so chose, no? Can the process be repeated? Could those wielding this process manipulate negative energy in other ways?"

The wizard's eyes almost glaze over as he seems to consider the possibilities of such power. Suddenly, a look of concern over takes him. "But, is it wise to trust such mystical methods with mundanes?" He look at the remainder of the party with skepticism.

Player: Lysle
Character: Golthwur Strath
Pathfinder Society Number: 90900-9
Level: 5
Faction: Dark Archives
Slow Track or Normal: Normal
Day Job Roll: Not applicable

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19

"A simple...*phshtt*... dimension door*shptt*... spell," sputters Golthwur as he tries to blow out the flames closest to his mouth as he speaks. "She can't...*chptt*...be too far...*phshtt*, *fsht*."

With the flames finally extinguished, Golthwur casts prestidigitation in an effort to clean his clothing and make portions of his beard grow back. The wizard cannot, however, heal his burns, making his face now look like a ridiculous, painful blend of fresh, white hair and charred, red and blackened flesh.

Nevertheless, the wizard straightens his robes and acts like the result is exactly what was intended.

Trying to ignore any stares or giggles, he scans the room.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13

More intent on avoiding gazes, than actually finding anything.

"I have had it with these Maelphtra snakes on this Material plane!" shouts Golthwur. As he speaks the words, he can feel his lips burning.

Although the old man realizes that he may have a better chance of snuffing the flames if he were to stop, drop, and roll, the wizard hesitates as he does not want to be caught literally lying down with snakes slithering about.

More so, he doesn't want to have to extinguish the flames in the same manner that a mundane being would--not to mention, he always has an ache in his knee whenever he tries to stand up.

Instead, he covers himself in a protective glow.
Casting mage armor

Reflex v. fire: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (9) + 3 = 12

He hopes, at least, that the fire within his beard makes him look somewhat bad@$$.

Fort save (DC 19) v. burning: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14
Fort save (DC 19) v. stunned: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 2 = 20

Golthwur looks visually pleased as the outsider singes. However, he is soon alarmed when his beard bursts into flames.

Like a spiteful child, he lashes back, calling upon his arcane bond to send a second fireball at the flamestress!

Fire damage, Reflex DC 18 for half: 5d6 ⇒ (6, 1, 5, 4, 1) = 17

His beard continues to wick.
Fire: 1d4 ⇒ 4

Knowledge (planes) to identify Maephtra: 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (2) + 13 = 15
Golthwur wants to know, if he fireballs her, will she burn. If he cannot tell or, if the answer is "yes":

Golthwur casts fireball, sending a small bead of fire to explode near the foot of the bed, hoping to catch Maephtra, but not his allies in instant conflagration.
Fire damage, Reflex DC 18 for half: 5d6 ⇒ (4, 2, 5, 2, 2) = 15

"Say, I could cast one or more of the spells on those scrolls we have found," realizes Golthwur. "Being that you mundane beings are likely able to do little against a magical foe without some sort of arcane assistance."

The wizard retrieves one of the scrolls. [b]"Of course, as the one makes you appear about two feet from your true location, it would be prudent to cast the other first to ensure that the second does not get misplaced."[b]

Preparing to cast keen edge on Tath from scroll.

Golthwur was previously healed by Hayden, but don't expect a "thank you" from the old curmudgeon.

Golthwur casts detect magic and then starts rummaging beneath the beds.

Perception to Search, if necessary: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23
Spellcraft to Identify item largest item, if necessary: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (8) + 14 = 22
Spellcraft to Identify item next largest item, if necessary: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (5) + 14 = 19
Spellcraft to Identify item smaller item, if necessary: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (14) + 14 = 28

"Has she any magical items here? If so, what are they?" asks Golthwur.

"What the deuce is that thing?!" Muy Tath yells as the creature shape shifts.

"Obviously, these were darndest rakshasa, a lesser form of rakshasa with the ability to read minds and cast clairvoyance spells, as one could plainly see," lectures Golthwur as he expounds upon the deceptive nature of the deceptive shape-shifters' less visible abilities.

He’s stopped attacking, what would you like to do?

In light of the messy results from the swipe of the naginata, Golthwur releases a breathy sigh through nearly pursed lips. Not without some difficult, he barely mumbles ancient words, keeping his mouth as still as possible so not to get any bits in his mouth.

Casting prestidigitation.

In an instant, his beard is back to its nearly pristine white with hints of silvery gray.

"There are cleaner ways of dealing with opposition," he mutters as he presently does nothing more to advance the mission.

Golthwur recalls that the things don't have an special weaknesses, but they do have a resistance to everything but good aligned weapons or piercing their skin. Which I meant to apply to the damage they took, but forgot to, oops. He also knows that they have a special ability to detect thoughts at will, are proficient with attacking prime spots like a rogue and have a nasty bite that can leave people bleeding.

The wizard bonks his staff on the yellow ribboned one but it only seems slightly painful.

"Ahem. Clearly something more effective than bonking is needed!"

; P

He sends his staff flying at the closer ‘halfling’ bonking it over the head as he realizes that these halflings have the teeth and claws of a dandasuka rakshasa, a lesser form of rakshasa with the ability to read minds and cast clairvoyance spells.

You can get two pieces of information about these things.

Vulnerabilities? Special attacks?

"Clearly more bonking is needed," declares Golthwur as he hurls his staff again.

Hand of the apprentice (quarterstaff) w/bless/IC: 1d20 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 3 = 25
Damage (B) w/IC: 1d6 - 1 + 2 ⇒ (6) - 1 + 2 = 7

There are two potions, both also marked with the Property of Josiah labels DC 17 to identify, a vacumn sealed scroll case, and about 200 gp in a pouch.

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (3) + 14 = 17

There's a signature at the bottom from Mistress Marta.

"We have a name for our inhuman mistress, it would seem," notes Golthwur.

When the halfling's attack, Golthwur instinctively recoils.
Five foot step

He then unleashes his staff from afar.
HHand of the apprentice (quarterstaff): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (15) + 7 = 22
Damage (B): 1d6 - 1 ⇒ (4) - 1 = 3

Only then, does the wizard pause to try and ascertain the nature of his target.
Knowledge (planes): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25