Kronug the Merciless's page

we came to this tomb to take valuable stuff, and to change our minds at this point would be counterproductive.

We were given permission by his descendants to use his possessions.

"My suspicion, Roshelle, is that these objects were interred for sentimental value.
Who would have collected 400 copper coins in a sack to bury alongside far more valuable goods such as magical armor? Maybe a collection taken up by the children of a village that he saved.
I offer to compensate any who support taking and selling the grave goods with what would have been their share of the proceeds. Probably I'll owe Jarrek a hundred gold or so. Fine by me."

"As to this door, I think we need Haftor to call upon the blessings of Torag."
Crafter's Wrath sounds like the way to go.

How many of us can Aid Another at once on a crowbar?

Kronug will try to help Jarrek.
Strength: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

He can't get good leverage on the crowbar in the cramped conditions.

"what say you, Haftor? Does Torag approve of taking and selling all of the grave goods that were interred with this Dwarven hero?
I accept the necessity of us personally using his weapons against giants. I would hope that Steelhand would recognize the honor in that.
But stealing everything else to peddle? As if we are scavengers picking over the scraps of his life?

Let us figure out what the value of these goods might be. I will personally pay you out of my future shares from legitimate spoils of war. Otherwise, I should feel compelled to buy these goods back once you sell them, then make a trip here to return them to their resting place. That would be unnecessarily burdensome. Your wealth is no different if I compensate you."

How much do you think the mundane stuff is worth? Kronug will pay the party out of his own shares of future gold if you are really worried about being too far behind WBL. I'm just not seeing how we are entitled to claim this stuff. Our initial conversation on the approach was using the weapons to fight giants. Looting grave goods from a hero's tomb to sell is a far cry from that.

My guess is it comes out to a couple of hundred gold per PC. Take it out of Kronug's future shares of legitimate gains.

"As I said before - to use the weapons of Steelhand to fight the giants is acceptable to me; to loot and sell them to collectors is not. We are not grave robbers.

As to the other grave goods, I see no reason to take them, and no right of claim. They were interred with Steelhand as a sign of respect."

I guess Kronug is fine where he is. He has no skill at identifying or appraising items and so would probably not be investigating the carpet.

Haftor seems pensive for a moment, then comments, "If we seek gear to fight the giants, then we should take everything of value, right? I already wear armor more suitable than this, though, and so I lay no claim to it. I hesitate to strip this hero of his armor to sell it for coin, so I propose: If no one wishes to claim it for their own use, we reseal the lid and allow Steelhand to return to his rest."

"I agree. To use the weapons of Steelhand to fight the giants is acceptable to me; to loot and sell them to collectors is not."

Kronug salutes the dwarf and makes a "bring it" motion.

"I am sure that either Seamus can get us out, or we can break the door down.
I guess this Lokmorr is bored after all these years in the crypt and is playing games."

"I'd rather find Lokmorr first and deal with him, then examine the sarcophagus at our leisure.
But we can investigate the crypt now if you want."

Kronug moves into the room - just a step.
Can he see into the alcoves north and south?

"We know - or strongly suspect - that there is an enemy stalking about this place. How should we proceed?"

Kronug opens the door.

Kronug will take up position behind Seamus. He would like an empty square behind him for Seamus to retreat to.

I don't mind either taking the Trapper Ranger level or adding a 5th PC as an Arcane Trickster (or Eldritch Scoundrel, Archaeologist Bard, Investigator, etc. - casty rogue).

My worry about adding a full arcane caster is that they could trivialize the AP. Not Trienne - she was great. But my old Kingmaker game had a recruitment for a wizard at 5th level, and we got so many OP Glitterdust specialist submissions. Persistent at DC 20 or something. Which would make every encounter "The party heroically hacks the blinded foes to death." And that wasn't even a campaign focused on poor-Will enemies.

Wizards can be built to target giants' weak spots very, very easily. It's to Trienne's credit that she did not go that route.

When it comes to our door procedure, I'm going to repost this from before since I think it might have been missed.

Trianne doesn't normally prepare Open/Close, but I see that Jarrek has only picked 5 of his 6 cantrips known. Might he consider that as his last one? It is super useful. Because PF has been known to do things like "You open the door and are immediately within range of 3 overlapping DC 20 Confusion auras."

I will open doors if needed, but if there is a smarter way of doing it then I am all for that.

It's also nice to not let the enemy get a surprise round with you in line of sight. Open/Close can be used from an oblique angle.

Kronug will start cleaning off the plaque under the final panel.

I was thinking that the stride length would be the giveaway that it is a dwarf...

"Lokmorr is still here, I think."

Kronug looks at the damage to the panels.
"We know that the traitor Lokmorr was 'caged him alive in Steelhand's tomb, to spend his final hours in the presence of the hero he betrayed.' I don't know a lot about stonecraft, but how long would have taken to chisel out the eyes in every panel and do that much damage?
I think he may have lived more than a few final hours."

Seeing Jarrek's examination of the footprints, he takes a closer look himself. He's guessing that is just one set of dwarf-sized tracks, the same being walking around here quite a lot.

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26

"Works for me."

Do we have nobody with Open/Close anymore?

"Haftor, you are a 'son' of Torag, are you not?
Then perhaps you should touch upon the runes corresponding to the blessings.
It couldn't hurt to also say the name of the son and their virtue at the same time. In Dwarven, of course."

"My other thought is that the stone disk might turn by itself, like a clock. And so resting here as Jarrek suggests could be the right thing, and in time the runes would line up."

I don't mind riddles and I'll happily take a few more guesses.

"Perhaps the stone disk rotates, so that the runes on the face of the disk line up with corresponding runes in the circle surrounding it."

Kronug has a suspicion about the mummified dwarves, but it is so grotesque that he says nothing.

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 = 9

The runes mean nothing to him.

Kronug is at 20 damage taken, so 50/70. It's not urgent that he be at 100% - I think it unlikely that we will encounter giants in this crypt - but he'll take healing if someone has it to spare or is Channeling or whatever.

Fort DC 16, Shake it Off +2, Lastwall Phalanx +2: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (15) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 26

Kronug resists the poison.

Kronug hefts his greatsword high and tries to finish off Stilgrit.

Attack, PA -2, IC +2: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 13 - 2 + 2 = 23
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (3, 3) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 22

Iterative: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 10
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 19

Kronug swings Gorum's Thorn at Stilgrit, hitting once.

Attack, PA -2, IC +2: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 13 - 2 + 2 = 19

Iterative: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 25
Confirm?: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 2 + 2 = 16 Nope
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (1, 2) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 19

With 1 ally adjacent, Kronug has +2 sacred bonus to AC and saves vs evil foes (for AC 28), and +2 untyped to all saves.

Kronug slashes at the creature next to him (Blue). If he drops it with his first swing, then he will take his iterative at the webs entangling him.

Attack, PA -2, IC +2, Entangled: 1d20 + 13 - 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (15) + 13 - 2 + 2 - 2 = 26
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 4) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 25

Iterative: 1d20 + 8 - 2 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 8 - 2 + 2 - 2 = 9
Damage: 2d6 + 8 + 6 + 2 ⇒ (5, 5) + 8 + 6 + 2 = 26

Looks like 1 ally adjacent for my teamwork feats. With Auspicious Birth, that is +2 untyped from Shake it Off, and +2 sacred from Lastwall Phalanx (if the foe is evil).

Fort, Shake it Off +2, Lastwall Phalanx +2: 1d20 + 7 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 7 + 2 + 2 = 12

Can't do much about a Nat 1. Entangled.

Kronug readies to strike with his sword if the creature comes within reach.

Sounds good to me. Seamus needs to be in front for traps, and Kronug has the best AC.

Besides Seamus in front, what's your single-file marching order, and what are you using for light?

Roshelle cast Light on her glaive and indicated she wanted to be near the middle.

Kronug is behind Seamus.
"Let's not pack in as tightly as possible, but rather leave a space behind me so that Seamus can fall back if he needs to."

I always found PFS to be quite fond of the 'clogged pipe' formation where everybody is so packed in that nobody can move. I tend to find it not a great idea.

Knowledge (Nature) untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

Kronug isn't sure about the spiders.

"So this traitor was caged alive in Steelhand's tomb? What do you think the odds are that we will find him as an undead or something?"

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

Kronug scrapes away the lichen with his dagger so the inscriptions can be seen.

Kronug will try to cut himself free of the webs.

Attack vs Web, Entangled: 1d20 + 13 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 13 - 2 = 12
His first swing isn't effective.

Iterative: 1d20 + 8 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 8 - 2 = 19
Damage: 2d6 + 8 ⇒ (1, 3) + 8 = 12

He cuts himself free and steps up next to Jarrek.

My turn as posted was not to cut myself free, but to ready to attack the first creature within reach. There is a roll in the post. I may try to cut myself free next round.

I will keep my turn as posted.

Entangled isn't that bad, and the standard action to escape makes the attempt of dubious value.

Kronug will ready to attack the first creature within reach.

Can we also try to escape by slashing at the webs? Kronug has an iterative attack, so that might be better than expending a standard action to escape. Like, slash at webs, 5' step, take iterative attack on an enemy. Next round if needed.

"May as well also poke at the webs. Some spiders respond to the vibrations."

Kronug takes a small stick and tosses it lightly at the webs.

"Can any of you read the runes on the obelisk?"

Kronug waits, sword drawn, while the scholars do their work.

Kronug follows along behind the gnome, ready for battle.
Didn't have a lot to add, just wanted to make it clear that I was still around.

I could dip a level into Trapper Ranger at our next level-up.
Taking a full-BAB class other than fighter has a nice perk; lets Kronug take Coordinated Charge for his Greater Tactician feat at Ftr9.

No prize for guessing what I would pick for Favored Enemy.

"We will put the weapons of Nargrym Steelhand to use again, and give honor to his name and ours as we battle the giants, if Gorum so wills it."

Kronug is ready to go.

"I'm not saying that you're rough and ugly, by the way."

"Eh. Rough would be accurate." Kronug shrugs and takes no offense. He isn't repulsive or anything, and he makes some effort to keep his gear and clothing clean, but he's neither handsome nor charming, even among Kellids. He's educated and even multilingual, but where he really excels is killing things.

Kronug will likewise buy trail rations (21 days for 10.5 gp, leaving him 3,787 gold). He is ready to go.

"Enjoy yourself, Jarrek," he says with a shake of his head. Doesn't sound like the best way to start a long march to me, but it might be an orc custom.

Kronug, as a follower of Gorum, is a bit surprised by the new recruit.

"Ah, how should I say this?
Hmm.
From what I know, Shelynites have a reputation for peace. This is war. We kill the orcs and giants that threaten Trunau and Lastwall. We did not seek out this war, but we will win it.
I don't wish to offend your beliefs or sensibilities, but I must tell you, there will be blood. Hopefully more of theirs than ours.
Now, maybe some Shelynites are more comfortable with that than others."

The Kellid waits to see how she responds.

Haftor will claim the Speak with Dead scrolls. He could also use the Javelin of Lightning, if nobody else wants it.

Haftor doesn't want the headband, and can't use the wand.

Who wants to carry the potion of CMW?

Haftor has the Castellan's chain of office from Redlake Fort. Do any of the Lastwall officials want it?

Finally, Haftor claimed some scrolls earlier and I'm realizing he can't use them. Can anyone use these?
scroll barkskin
scroll call lightning
scroll summon nature's ally IV

Why can't Haftor use the wand? Summon Monster III is on the Cleric list, and wands are not designated as specifically arcane or divine, nor does Haftor need to be of a sufficient level to cast the spell, only have it on his spell list. Summon Monster III has some good options like the Lantern Archon (damage that bypasses all DR).

Kronug can carry the potion of CSW. He can't heal himself, and the rest of you can heal yourselves I think.

The scrolls could be useful with UMD checks; both Seamus and Jarrek have +13. Either one would need a UMD check of 23-27 to emulate the casting of a Druid of the appropriate level, and a separate UMD check of 27-29 to emulate the Wis required. So it could be done more easily by stacking bonuses like Inspire Competence, Eagle's Splendor, Heroism, and (from our new cleric) Bit of Luck.

Kronug has just under 4,000 GP now. No purchases at this time.

DM Carbide wrote:

Is there anything you want to buy while you're in Lastwall?

Can Jarrek get his falchion enchanted to +1 and add Giant Strength +2 to the Heavyload Belt?

A Belt of Giant Strength +2 normally costs 4,000; it would be 6,000 (50% more) if added on as a secondary enchantment to an item that has other functions. I was looking at Belt of Giant Strength +2 myself but it is out of my price range even without the 50% increase.

Kronug will of course present Dame Blix with the ring.
"Your family's heraldry."

What are we waiting on? Somebody to track loot and do a division?