The Harrow GM's page

Hey guys, I have some sad news for you.

A lot has been going on in my life lately that make it very difficult to have the time or inclination or energy to spend much time writing out posts on a computer. I seem to have been drawn out of the digital world into the real world to deal with a lot of stuff.

To be short, I've started a new job, I'm moving soon, my mother is getting divorced, I'm starting a new relationship, and I'm trying to find time for artistic pursuits in addition to my 2-hour commute. It's simply too exhausting for me to even consider doing this anymore. Not to mention the fact that it's been years and, frankly, it just doesn't satisfy me in the way that it used to.

I've come to the conclusion that it's time for me to quit Paizo.

I want to thank you guys for sticking this out with me for this long, even though I haven't been the most responsive DM. I appreciate it.

I will not. I will specifically say when a troll has died, but it's up to you to pay attention and figure out what a good amount of damage is.

Yeah, precision isn't as possible with no grid. The size of a single medium-size character's square is 5ft.

Red Troll Claw v. Lyon (Critical): 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (4) + 8 - 3 = 9
Red Troll Claw v. Lyon (Critical): 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (19) + 8 - 3 = 24 Damage: 1d6 + 5 ⇒ (3) + 5 = 8
Red Troll Bite v. Lyon (Critical): 1d20 + 8 - 3 ⇒ (17) + 8 - 3 = 22 Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6

Lyon unloads a pair of shells into the troll in between Kaussek, Aisha and Marcus, causing it to fall to one knee and groan with what could even be interpreted as fear. Its healing slows and then totally stops, and it struggles to maintain consciousness despite the several mounting wounds. It roars and steps towards Lyon, unleashing a savage attack against her. It catches her with a claw and then a light grazing with one of its tusks, drawing bleeding wounds that could be much worse.

Meanwhile, the captured halfling tries to wriggle away from the trolls, though he can't go far because he's totally tied up. "Help me! Someone cut me free!" he cries.

Melira lays a hand on Aisha, showing her potential future outcomes to her next actions, allowing her the opportunity to self-correct and avoid mistakes.

Lyon deals 33 damage to the red troll, who is critically-wounded now with no regeneration. The red troll deals 14 damage to Lyon, who is grazed. Melira uses diviner's fortune on Aisha, giving her a +2 to attack rolls, skill checks, ability checks, and saving throws. The rest of the party is up. On its turn the pink troll will heal 5, though it is still unconscious.

Ishana: Feel free to refer to the map and move your own token when it's your turn, or give me more descriptive guidance regarding where you'd like to be.

Kaussek: I'm assuming that the +2 you wrote in to hit comes from invisibility, but next time, please write it something like: Attack (Invisibility) 1d20+8+2. Clarity can only help me!

As Ishana closes in on the battle from behind, Kaussek appears from invisibility on the other side of one of the trolls and swings his hammer at it. Despite the fact it has no idea he is there, his attack is clumsy and the troll simply accidentally bashes his attack aside with a wild flail of one of its overly-long, freaky stretchy arms.

Aisha and Marcus team up against the same troll as Kaussek, with a one-two blow of thrown magical starknife and scimitar slice. The troll bellows as multiple new wounds open up along its body, even as they heal. Its eyes wildly flip between combatants, trying to decide which of them to try and eat first.

Roaring, the troll that Ishana blinded swings its claws and teeth at... the space where Marcus was a moment ago, meaning that it only strikes empty air. Frustrated and following its nose, it takes tentative steps towards Kaussek. As it slowly walks, the burn wounds created by Ishana's holy spell fade away.

Aisha and Marcus deal 22 damage to the Red troll, it is wounded. Lyon is up.

Picking up the halfling is a move action. He and his gear weigh 40 pounds. After you have picked him up (it takes up a hand) you can do whatever you like.

Walthus Acrobatics (Escape Artist) (grazed): 1d20 + 5 - 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 - 1 = 19
Red Troll Claw v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (1) + 8 = 9
Red Troll Claw v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (7) + 8 = 15
Red Troll Bite v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 Damage: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (6) + 5 = 11

Lyon turns her shotgun on the already-wounded troll and shoots him, causing it to topple heavily to the ground with a loud groan. It seems to still be alive (if barely) though it will be some time before it gets back up again, especially given that Lyon's shotgun can shut down its regenerative powers.

Another one of the trolls continues to lash out at Marcus with its claws and teeth, while on the ground below the halfling tries to wriggle out of his bindings... to no avail, for the moment.

The troll attacking Marcus swipes its claws at him, and he deflects its hands with his sword, but is caught off-guard by its jaw, which it clamps tightly around him for a moment before he wrestles himself free.

Meanwhile, Melira continues to run, her short dwarfish legs pedaling quickly to catch up to the rest of the group.

Lyon knocks the pink troll unconscious. Marcus takes 11 damage from a troll. Walthus fails to escape. Melira double-moves. Ishana is up.

Pink Fort (Grazed): 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (19) + 11 - 1 = 29
Blue v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14
Blue v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11
Blue v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17

Kaussek turns himself invisible and moves towards the battle, hefting his hammer in anticipation of being engaged in combat with one of those monstrosities. Then Aisha hurls a starknife at one of the creatures that is already injured. Her blade strikes true, but the hardy beast manages to resist her magical energy that threatens to disable it. Marcus steps up and slashes into the hide of a second troll, spilling its blood liberally. However, trolls are not like men. They live despite stab wounds.

A troll, blind but following its nose, strikes out at Marcus, but the doctor is able to evade or endure all three of its attacks without much difficulty.

Aisha deals 10 damage to the pink troll. It is wounded, but not staggered. Marcus deals 15 damage to the red troll. The blue troll attacks Marcus but misses. Kaussek is invisible. Lyon is up.

I forgot the K. Local check, but Ishana knows all about trolls with that check and can freely reference the statblock.

I forgot Lyon's attack dealt fire damage, so pink troll is not regenerating.

This was a much easier post than I figured, sorry, I should have done it much sooner.

Pink Reflex (grazed): 1d20 + 4 - 1 ⇒ (18) + 4 - 1 = 21
Blue Reflex: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10 Duration: 1d4 ⇒ 4

The nauseated troll manages to shield its eyes from Ishana's blast of light, even as her holy magic burns into their flesh as easily (but not as deadly) as fire. The nauseated troll retreats from combat as it recovers from the blow dealt to it by Aisha, while the blinded troll rubs uselessly at its eyes.

Kaussek, Marcus, and Aisha are up.

Pink Troll v. Nauseated: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 Pink Troll is nauseated!

Lyon launches an attack against one of the trolls, and it is forced a step back by her powerful shotgun blast. Trolls' toughness is the stuff of legends, and it is already healing even a moment later.

Another troll steps closer to Aisha and unleashes a flurry of attacks against... nothing, as she vanishes and re-appears a little bit farther back. The troll roars with frustration as its claws and teeth find purchase in nothing.

Meanwhile, Melira hustles up from behind, going as fast as she can to get within range of her own magic.

Ishana is up, and Kaussek can take his turn as long as a move action from the pink troll wouldn't affect his turn.

Marcus and Aisha leap into combat, Marcus rushing forward to protect the halfling and Aisha firing a bullet that seems like a drop in the ocean, trying to wound one of the trolls. In response, one of the trolls steps up against Marcus and lunges mouth-first at him, trying to take a chunk out of the doctor.

Blue Troll Bite v. Marcus: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (4) + 8 = 12

Marcus is able to fend off the troll's lunge easily, and the creature recoils with a snarl.

Aisha deals 1 damage to the Pink troll. Lyon is up.

It is a normal combat round. I will try to mention explicitly when it is a surprise round.

Sorry Lyon, threatening trolls with violence isn't an effective deterrent.

The troll who speaks Common smiles widely. "She want put self in mouth! Yummy tiny human girl!" He then barks something to the other two trolls, who also grin. The three trolls begin advancing on the two women, drooling grins and fingers splayed out wide.

Battlemap is updated. Aisha and Marcus win initiative.

It is up for you to decide and justify if you want to be in any given scene.

The giant translates for his friends again, and they quibble amongst themselves once more. Then the Common-speaking one turns to Aisha and says, "You give good point-way to meat. We take look. You go up mountain. You come back down same way, we eat you too. Sound good like deal? You get go up mountain. We get eat big spider meal, get eat little half-man, and we get eat two pretty lady."

The trolls are ahead of you, but not directly intercepting the path, they're more on a little glade on a particularly wide landing. The trolls are about 50' away and the halfling is in the middle of them.

The speaking troll looks at the others, translates into Giant and then they laugh. "This'n food walk right into hand. You have fresh meat you want put right into hand?"

The halfling on the ground tries to wriggle over and look at Lyon and Aisha. As he does, he cries out, "Please save me!"

OK, Kaussek and Marcus are 60' down the hill from the other pair.

So, I only got a response from Lyon and Aisha, which means I'm assuming the others are not trying to get closer.

Lyon and Aisha creep forward up onto the next ridge, trying to be quiet enough to avoid attracting attention. As the path flattens out, a set of figures comes into view. Three hideous trolls stand around a tall, blazing campfire. Resting above the campfire is a massive, iron pot, and trussed on the ground beside the campfire is a little blonde halfling man, sweating with proximity to the fire. He is desperate to get away from the trolls, and he is the one repeating "Please no!"

The trolls are singing a guttural little tune in Giant as they spice and prepare the bubbling brew within the iron pot. As Aisha and Lyon crest the rise, one of the trolls' heads pops up and spots them. He points a long, spindly finger at the pair of women and rumbles in guttural Common, "Ye no need interruptin' our dinner. Go back tha' way."

If that's the case, to what point is each group approaching?

So, who is actually approaching, in what order? I see Lyon has rolled Stealth and others have not. Does that mean she is approaching quietly by herself?

When the group stops, Melira looks with concern at Lyon. "What's going on? Why did we stop?"

Having decided, the group decides to climb the mountain leaving only a short distsance between Aisha, their point-guard, and the main bulk of the group. Advancing on the foot of the hill, the group enters the archway and begins to climb the stairs. The staircase is uneven, poorly maintained, occasionally disrupted by landslides or rubble or broken by battles and other such things.

For an hour, the group climbs through the slightly rainy spring morning. The mountain bursts with life, both flora and fauna. Many of the plants here seem slightly out-of-place. You get the impression as you climb that there were once many manicured gardens here, but they have since become wild and overgrown. Rose bushes that once must have been carefully trimmed now overflow onto the path, necessitating a detour around the brambled obstruction. Plants that are definitely not local rest in groups, interspersed with more natural plants. Here and there you can see a fence or what remains of a planter or pot buried halfway in the dirt.

Coming to the end of a switchback, Aisha can hear something from above on the path... through the trees, echoing off of the stone of the mountainside: the deep chuckling of large-lunged giants, the crackling of a fire, and in Common, the pleading of a reedy-voiced humanoid repeating, "Oh Gods, please no, please please please no, please, please no,"

So, do you want to have a scout/point guard? Who wants to do it? What distance would you like to scout at?

Kaussek suggests ~1 round of movement as the distance, and suggests Aisha as front-man. For Aisha that's 100', but for everyone else to reach Aisha that's 60' or 40'.

There is a path, made of stairs, which you have only really seen the bottom of. The centaurs referred to it as Seven Thousand Stairs, so you can assume the foot-path reaches to the top.

You are in the same area, but the people have left.

It looks like it'll take several hours of climbing to reach the temple area. It's a mountain, and you need to climb to the very peak.

The pistol is martial under commonplace guns, but I believe Aisha plans to take a gunslinger dip anyway.

Lyon already has a haversack. So does Ishana.

So Aisha is taking the revolver and the bullets - the revolver is undamaged. If no one wants the armor or the haversack, I suppose Lyon will be hauling them around or they will be left behind.

"So, we're going to prepare for a fight before we even do the climb?" asks Melira. She holds out a hand in offer. "I can do that, if you want. I've got two heroisms, too. And I've got that protection from chaos that kept the wasps off of Lyon. That spell is a chaos-aligned summoning spell, so my protection spell serves to counter it."

Healing v. Melira: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (3) + 3 = 6

Aisha climbs to the top of one of the trees using her super-claws and peers for a closer look at the battle site... She doesn't see anything waiting to ambush them or any traps or monsters that she didn't see previously.

Lu Healing Hex v. Marcus: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8
Lu Healing Hex v. Kaussek: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

With the extra healing, Marcus is at 45/48 and Kaussek is at 47/48.

Melira shakes her head. "No, I have it twice today. It should last five minutes, but it'll drop off as soon as you attack someone."

"Are we still going for that 'invisible people kill their vulnerable targets first' plan? If that's the case, we'll probably need an effective scout, quite a bit ahead of us, so that we know where they are before they know we are here."

After a night's rest, everyone heals 4 hit points. Marcus is at 32/48, and is grazed. Kaussek is at 42/48 and is healthy. Melira is at 36/42 and is healthy. Everyone else is at full health.

Pharast 24, 1:00pm.

Having concluded their business and dealt with the remaining foes, the seven adventurers return to the camps around the fort and make their beds. They're welcomed back among the people there, and given places to sleep.

The morning comes with no fanfare. Lu elects to stay behind. His people have seen conflict recently, and he wishes to take those who can fight out and protect the people around the area actively. After some morning preparations, the group decides to head out. Like the previous day, Melira accompanies the group. She is still looking for her father, just like she was before. Just like the previous day, the group follows Lyon's lead down the mountain into the valley and towards the nearby "Mount Eden". It's a few hours before they reach the foot of the mountain with the arch that leads to the stairs up the side of the mountain. This time, Varn and his two compatriots are not waiting for the group at the foot of the mountain.

Today's weather is overcast and chilly, a day of 40 F (4 C), but is otherwise mild. Occasional sprinkles of rain fall, but nothing is consistent.

Melira, crouched in the undergrowth some distance from the foot of the mountain, turns to the rest of the group. "So, slow and careful does the climb?" she asks. "Doesn't seem like they're right there, but they're here somewhere. And it's a long climb. Probably lots of stuff on the way from here to the top."

I'll post a time-advancement this evening, folks.

You should respond in-character, because unfortunately it did happen multiple times, even after being asked, which means it should be played off as an in-character mistake.

Still writing the next scene. Unless I am stopped I will skip forward to arriving at the mountain after traveling there.

The hobgoblin's backpack is magical, as is his armor. The revolver and the flail are made masterfully and expensively.

So, Lyon is taking the flail, the longsword, the backpack, the climbing harness, grappling hook, and rope. She is hoping someone else might take the revolver and its 12 bullets.

OK, if there's nothing you wish to accomplish left, I will skip forward to tomorrow morning after you have rolled this Spellcraft check.

Apparently those Linguistics and Wisdom checks are meant to be made by me, but no harm done.

Kaussek crushes the skull of the last ogrekin, making sure they wouldn't rise again.

Is there anything else you wish to accomplish?

There is a body in one of the cells on the top floor - a fit young man, locked away. It seems that he had died of thirst, and the space around both the door and windows are gouged with scraping marks. To match, his fingernails are a bloody, ruined mess.

Other than that, it doesn't seem like the hobgoblin and ogrekin really set up shop or anything, other than to break their way in and hide up here. Camping supplies aren't set up or anything.

The ogrekin is carrying a greatclub with nails hammered into the end, a set of tribal-looking fetishes, a flail (taken from the body of one of the other ogrekin that the group had killed earlier), and is wearing a hide shirt.

The hobgoblin is carrying a revolver, a longsword, a leather backpack, 12 bullets for the revolver, a climbing harness, grappling hook, and rope, and is wearing leather lamellar armor. He also has a belt pouch, and you find a note tucked into it. Unfortunately it is written in Giant.

Faluhann kicks over the body of the ogrekin just as Aisha's spectral starknife vanishes from the wound it made in her. "Bah," he says. "It shows the strength of our group, you are right."

Kaussek and Aisha unleash attacks on the ogrekin shamaness, and since she is already wounded, she staggers back from Kaussek's magic missiles and then topples to the ground due to Aisha's starknife. She is still breathing, heavily, but she has fallen unconscious.

Combat over! What to do now?

Lyon and Ishana both blast ranged attacks towards the remainder of the ogrekin family - the hobgoblin cries out, falling in a spray of splinters and blood as Lyon's shotgun blast kills him. Meanwhile, the last one alive, the ogrekin shaman, is forced step after step back from Ishana's magic missiles and Faluhann's fists.

The hobgoblin is killed. The shaman is wounded. Marcus, Aisha, and Kaussek are up.

Ok! We're getting going again.

Hopefully, that won't happen again. Sorry it was a whole week.

OK! Getting going again.

Unarmed Strike (Rage, PA): 1d20 + 8 + 2 - 1 ⇒ (17) + 8 + 2 - 1 = 26
Damage (Rage, PA): 1d6 + 5 + 2 + 2 ⇒ (5) + 5 + 2 + 2 = 14
Ogrekin v. Faluhann (PA): 1d20 + 10 - 1 ⇒ (16) + 10 - 1 = 25
Damage (PA): 2d8 + 7 + 3 ⇒ (7, 5) + 7 + 3 = 22

Shouting a Kellid battle-cry, Faluhann charges up the stairs, fists balled, swinging at the ogrekin shaman before him. They had killed his people! He clocks her right across the face, and she growls and, clutching a huge club in two hands, slams him in the belly with it.

Outside, Alana waits impatiently, almost seeming to hope that someone will come bursting out of there. At least it would be exciting!

Faluhann rages and then power attacks the shaman. He deals 14 damage to the shaman, grazing her. The shaman power attacks him back, dealing 22 damage (8 of which is absorbed by rage temp hp), grazing him back.

Lyon and Ishana are up!

OK, so - the scene has lost momentum due to a player absence.

Before I simply begin botting him, I'd like to check in that everyone is still here, and ask if you'd like to try and quickly finish off the combat, or whether you'd like to be skipped ahead to something slightly more engaging.

It's the sort of thing that is a little bit cheat-y, but serves to get the ball rolling quickly again.

Thanks for saying so!

Hey, another post from me.

I'm sorry for not botting Faluhann, but I've had a busy couple of days so I haven't had the energy to really push the game. I'm now waiting for a straight answer on whether he wants to continue with the game.

I will push us forward soon, but this weekend I have had frightfully little time or energy for PBP. We shall resume soon.

Lyon drops to the floor in a smooth dodge, sliding out of the way of the hobgoblin's attacks, remaining un-wounded.

Hobgoblin Sanguine Barrier (wounded, competence): 1d20 + 10 - 2 + 2 ⇒ (18) + 10 - 2 + 2 = 28

The hobgoblin atop the balcony is caught by surprise by Aisha's ability to climb so efficiently, but he is an extremely focused combatant. His gaze stays right on Aisha's eyes until the moment of her attempted strike, and then he sidesteps in exactly the right direction to avoid her attack. Kaussek's magic missiles, however, blast him in the chest, and he staggers back, teeth gritted and bleeding.

Hobgob dodges Aisha's attack with a counter, but takes 9 damage from Kaussek. He is critical.

Faluhann is up.

Ishana is about 55' away from the hobgoblin. There is a map, if you didn't know.

Ishana readies herself to interrupt the ogrekin if she was to cast any kind of magic, while Lyon moves into the room, taking aim at the goblin above on the balcony. She fires at him, and while she catches him in the shoulder with a slug (spattering the wall behind him with blood) he barely manages to twist out of the way of the accompanying light, shielding his eyes.

Snarling, he leans back over the railing and levels his revolver at Lyon, firing two slugs of his own at her.

Lyon sidesteps one, but is caught in the leg by the second. The small red hole it creates begins to seep blood.

Hobgoblin Gunslinger v. Lyon (Wounded, Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (1) + 10 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 5
Hobgoblin Gunslinger v. Lyon (Wounded, Deadly Aim, Rapid Shot): 1d20 + 10 - 2 - 2 - 2 ⇒ (12) + 10 - 2 - 2 - 2 = 16 Damage (Deadly Aim): 1d8 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 2 + 4 = 14

Marcus, Aisha, and Kaussek are up.

It has been 2 days. I am botting Faluhann.

Flexing his muscles and grinning in preparation for a brawl, Faluhann moves into the jail, heavy footfalls pounding on the wood floor as he scurries over and partially up the staircase.

Above, at the top of the staircase, the ogrekin shaman raises her fire-wielding hand up high, and, with a shriek, hurls a bolt of fire at Faluhann. The Kellid chieftain doesn't even need to sidestep, as the ogrekin suddenly gets a horrible cramp in her arm and is unable to finish her throw. Her flame sputters out to nothing.

Outside, Alana calls once again on her magic. She touches Marcus, shuddering with empathy and revulsion as she seals shut some of his seeping wounds. "Old Deadeye's t#*#, Marcus! What happened to you?"

Produce Flame v. Lu: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5
CLW v. Marcus: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

Ishana and Lyon are up!

Marcus' HP updated in the tab: 19 + 4 for treat deadly wounds + 5 for Alana's cure light wounds. Marcus is at 28/48, and is grazed.

OK, so there's no grid. Do your best to approximate distances. Stairs are difficult terrain. The spot on the right is the second floor. The square in the center of the second floor is an open balcony that allows sight of the first floor.

The party enters the jail, Aisha, Kaussek and Lu leading the way. They come into an open entryway with what seems like a reception desk, a fireplace, filing cabinets for paperwork, a small yard for recreation and a warden's bedroom. In the far left corner, a staircase leads up to a balconied second floor where the cells - ten of them - are. The click of a revolver hammer being pushed back alerts the party to the hobgoblin, revolver pointed straight down at them, leaning over the balcony railing.

Meanwhile, the ogrekin shaman stands at the top of the staircase. She holds a club in one hand and a flickering fire in the other hand. Both goblin and ogrekin have furious, unyielding facial expressions on.

Faluhann wins initiative. He is up first.

Map should be in place. Treat the area of a single character as a 5' square.

Hey, sorry for the recent pace. I just moved internationally, and I'm basically trying to rebuild my life.

I should be able to post fairly regularly now :) Thanks for your patience.

It seems like you have a plan figured out. Just give me some time to put a map together and then I'll move forward.

So, Marcus is going around the back, and the rest of you are going into the front to look for these villains. What is your marching order?

Alana speaks up again. "I'm going with Marcus," she says. "Someone's got to keep an eye on him."

Aisha does not find any other ways in or out. There isn't even roof access, and all of the windows all the way around the building are barred, as it is a prison. Marcus does not find traps on the back door, and finds that it opens outwards (fire code compliant!). Lucky for him, that's easier to bar.

It's clear from the tracks that two creatures are hiding within the jail: the hobgoblin male, and his one remaining ogrekin child.

The jail is made out of rough-hewn wood, and as long as people were standing by to help put out any danger zones, there wouldn't be much risk of it spreading. Of course, bad things can always happen with fire, when left to chance.

Alana whispers: "Why would they come out of hiding if it would be easy for us to kill them after they did?"

There are two doors: One main front door, and a service door in the back, probably for employees to hide on the side of from their manager while they take a smoke break or something like that.

Point of order: Ishana is no longer injured. Ven healed her to full 15 posts ago.

Alana comes with the group, quietly creeping along behind Marcus as he stalks further into the town, looking for the hobgoblin. It seems, as they follow the trail, he is hiding within the jail.