GM Not Espi's Evergreens (Standard)

[GM NotEspi]

Retcon: Unfortunately, Ophelia didn't manage to get past the undead, so she's in a bad position on the map. She's supposed to be in current Kaa's square. Kaa, you can re-do your move based on this information. Hey, at least you don't need to take the 2 into account. Moving Ophelia's token to the right place. Not sure where you were standing, though. That's my bad. I didn't edit the map after posting. Did so now.

[Ophelia Feshal]

Ophelia will try again to tumble past the zombie to flank with Kaa or whoever moves up to her current position.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (10) + 7 = 17

Better, but still not sure if it works.

Once again, she'll either attack immediately if she failed to get past it, or ready to sneak attack if someone else moves up.

Dagger to hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
sneak damage: 1d8 ⇒ 8

And again, add +2 to the attack roll if I have a flank.

[GM NotEspi]

Ophelia tries again, but the zombie seems surprisingly quick and stops her advance.

And that's 2 move actions, so you won't be able to attack - unfortunately. No AoO this time, since it already made one on this turn.

[Feza Savard]

The Calistrian is a bit awed by how amazing the whip worked, and it allayed some of her fears in using such an unlikely weapon. Unfortunately, she can't do anything else at the moment due to the 'traffic jam'.

Feza back on delay.

[Eldak Blackbeak]

Eldak moves up a square to stack behind Senma.

[GM NotEspi]

Turn 3 (so that it's on this page)

Zombies - miss / can't move
Eldak - Move
Feza - Delay
Senma - Blast
Ophelia - Double Failed Acrobatics
Kaa - Go (Retcon)

[Feza Savard]

Feza will remain on delay into next round, as there is no way for her to interact with the party now doing the 'Conga-line-of-Death' attack pattern.

[Senma Set-en-et]

I think I'm up since you said everyone but the current one you just posted has my action last round, so I dunno. I'll post anyway.

Senma sends a blast of electricity arcing through the tunnel to blast the injured undead. "That hurt!" he says.

Electric Blast: 1d20 + 5 - 4 ⇒ (4) + 5 - 4 = 5
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

The blast careens into a wall and rocks shower down on the undead instead.

[Kaa Slith]

Kaa tries to slip his way past the zombies.

Acrobatics, threatened square: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Acrobatics, thru zombie square: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (15) + 5 = 20

Well if the CMB is 15 or less, Kaa should be just past the first zombie.

[GM NotEspi]

With Kaa between the zombies, the one in the back takes a swing at him.

Slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 121d6 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

The creature in the front continues wailing at Ophelia.

Slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 181d6 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Kaa evades, but Ophelia receives a mean wound.

Turn 4

Zombies - Miss / Hit ( Ophelia -7 HP )
Rest of you can go
Eldak
Feza
Senma
Ophelia
Kaa

[Ophelia Feshal]

So that means Kaa got past the zombie and is flanking with me, right?

Ophelia goes for two knife stabs on the zombie that she and Kaa are flanking.

+2 for flanking is canceled by -2 for two weapon fighting
Dagger to hit: 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 - 2 = 20
damage: 1d4 + 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (2) + (3) + 2 = 7

Dagger to hit: 1d20 + 4 + 2 - 2 ⇒ (5) + 4 + 2 - 2 = 9
damage: 1d4 + 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (4) + (8) + 2 = 14

[GM NotEspi]

You flank it, yes. Moved Kaa's token on the map.

From the two attempts, Ophelia manages to stab the zombie once. The knife goes in and out like through butter, but the creature doesn't seem to mind the wound too much.

GM:

brown -2 HP

[Ophelia Feshal]

Remember that daggers count as both piercing and slashing. My PC doesn't know that, but I suspect out of character that overcomes the zombie's DR.

[GM NotEspi]

Ophelia Feshal wrote:

Remember that daggers count as both piercing and slashing. My PC doesn't know that, but I suspect out of character that overcomes the zombie's DR.

The motion you described was a 2 x stab. Not to nitpick, but that is piercing damage. If you'd say you cut (or similar) the zombie twice, I would rule it as slashing and it would have done full damage. If the character has a decent WIS/INT score, she could realise that the zombie didn't really mind the wound and try a different approach. That's why I mentioned that it doesn't seem overly concerned with the attack.

[Senma Set-en-et]

To note: daggers are piercing or slashing, not piercing and slashing.

Senma launched another blast at the wounded creature.

Electric Blast: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (17) + 5 = 22
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

-Posted with Wayfinder

[Eldak Blackbeak]

Ophelia, you are wounded, take a step back, rear, get behind me!

Eldak is wishing to step into the square that Ophelia is currently occupying. If she agrees and it happens he will move and then attack.

elven long sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (13) + 4 = 17
damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 1 = 10

[Ophelia Feshal]

My mistake. I didn't realize it was piercing OR slashing, instead of piercing AND slashing. This is my first time playing a dagger focused PC. And I just used the word "stab" as random fluff, not realizing it would matter. She's smart enough to try something different next time.

If it's not too late to add a 5 ft step on this round, Ophelia will obey Eldak to back up 5 ft after making her full attack.

[Kaa Slith]

Kaa spins around to take advantage of the flanking, and swings his blade at the zombie pummeling Ophelia.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 + 2 ⇒ (11) + 5 + 2 = 18
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10

[GM NotEspi]

Turn 4

Zombies - Miss / Hit ( Ophelia -7 HP )
Eldak - Hit
Feza - Go
Senma - Hit
Ophelia - Flanking Hit and 5ft step
Kaa - Hit from flank

The combined effort of the aspirants brings one of the zombies down. Only one creature remains on it's feet.

[Feza Savard]

The tengu moves up to the natural alcove next to Senma and keeps her whip out and ready to lash out at something should Eldak fall to a zombie attack.

Readied Action if Eldak gets taken down and zombie moves up:

Whip(Trip): 1d20 ⇒ 13

[GM NotEspi]

Turn 5

The last standing undead lashes out in Kaa's direction, but he dodges the blow.

Slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (12) + 4 = 161d6 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 6

Zombies - Miss
Rest of you can go
Eldak
Feza
Senma
Ophelia
Kaa

[Ophelia Feshal]

Ophelia will try to acrobatics through the zombies space to get a flank with Kaa and still be able to attack this round.

Yes, I considered safer options, but not caring about her own safety is very much in character for Ophelia.

acrobatics: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (7) + 7 = 14

And that's three in a row that I've failed. You'd think +7 acrobatics would get it done at this level, but not when I keep rolling single digits on the die.

Being stopped before moving into the zombie's space, Ophelia provokes an attack of opportunity. Assuming she's still standing afterward, she'll try slashing at the creature with one of her daggers, since stabbing didn't help much last time.

Dagger to hit: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8
damage: 1d4 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6

[GM NotEspi]

Someties the dice just hate people. Particularly Ophelia and me. The undead succeeded with 1 attack as far as I am aware.

Ophelia tries to shave through the zombie's reach, but she just can't make it today. The zombie notices and attempts to punish her behaviour.

AoO Slam: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (2) + 4 = 61d6 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

But the zombie just can't hit her.

1 more move action, Ophelia

[Eldak Blackbeak]

Eldak slides around Ophelia and Kaa to attack the second zombie.

elven long sword: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18
damage: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5

[Ophelia Feshal]

Ophelia already moved 10 feet and attacked, so that's it for her turn.

[Senma Set-en-et]

Senma seems to get the hang of controlling his electrical discharges! "Here comes another blast! Watch out!" he bellows as he fires off another charge.

EB: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (11) + 5 = 16
Damage: 1d6 + 2 ⇒ (3) + 2 = 5

[GM NotEspi]

Ophelia misses by quite a bit, Senma (barely) hits, but Eldak slices the undead seemingly without effort.

The zombie's wounds are starting to overwhelm it, but it continues to fight on.

Turn 5

Zombie - Miss

Eldak - Hit
Feza - Readied Action
Senma - Hit
Ophelia - Miss
Kaa - Go

GM:

Colourless -8 HP

[Kaa Slith]

Kaa spins back around and tries to dismember the last zombie.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Damage: 1d8 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12

[GM NotEspi]

And so he does. Kaa makes a few rapid movements with his naginata, and the last zombie is on the ground, motionless.

In this room, you notice a small desk with a few books and broken alchemical vials. Next to the table, you notice a pale creature lying on the ground, face down. It seems that the zombies were turning it's back into their lunch. There are bitemarks on most of it's surface, and parts of the skin are torn, revealing the tissue beneath.

[Eldak Blackbeak]

Eldak calls out, Is he deceased, expired, dead?

He then starts out doing what a rogue is supposed to do and search the room for traps.

perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (3) + 8 = 11

[Ophelia Feshal]

Ophelia cautiously approaches the dead body, daggers still drawn, as if worried that it might get up and attack like the other walking corpses around here.

She pokes it gently, then examines it more closely to see what she can discover at the poor dead soul.

[Senma Set-en-et]

Senma looks at the creature that is writhing in pain and is pocked with teeth marks. "Wha... what should we do? Do we put it out of its misery so it doesn't become undead? This... is new to me." he says, uncertain of how to act.

[GM NotEspi]

While Ophelia checks the body, Eldak searches for traps in the room, but doesn't find any. He does, however, find a possibly relevant log book on the table.

Log:

The entries in the book indicate it is some sort of research log combined with a dairy. The last few entries describe how the writer was attempting to create his own little army of the undead by using "fish people" who - conveniently - often come into the cave.

Poking the body doesn't generate any reaction. The body is not breathing or moving at all. On top of everything, it's quite cold and stiff. The back and neck are pale as snow, besides from the parts that got ravaged by the undead, but the bottom part of the body seems purple.

Heal / Knowledge Nature 10:

The paleness of this creature was not caused by death. White hair, unusually large pupils, partially extended eye-teeth. It's physical features are those of a young male dhampir.

[Ophelia Feshal]

Heal, untrained: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15

"I think he was a dhampir. Probably killed when he lost control of his undead. It's the fate he deserved."

"We should probably burn the body, and the ones outside, just to make sure they never rise as undead. But perhaps we should bring Uori to identify the gillman victims first, so he can tell their families when he returns home."

[Eldak Blackbeak]

Necromancy. Never made much sense to me. Good thinking Ophelia, let's do it.

[Kaa Slith]

"Yesss... maybe gillman will tell usss of their cussstomsss in thisss event?"

[Feza Savard]

Feza watches the discussion break out and considers.

"That is a very good idea, let's do that. It also lets us go check that other passage that branched out of that chamber when we're done learning about gillfolk and how they handle their dead."

Sorry for delay in posting!

[GM NotEspi]

Waiting for you to make a move, really. I've been watching the thread.

[Ophelia Feshal]

I'm assuming we go back to Uori and tell him the bad news. Ophelia will stand guard over the hallway we haven't explored yet, while the others converse with the gillman.

[Eldak Blackbeak]

Eldak cautiously walks into the room I am going to regret this aren't I? to look for Uori and sees.....

[GM NotEspi]

Upon returning to the "sanctuary", Eldak ( and possibly others in the party ) finds Uori on his sleeping bag, dozed off.

[Eldak Blackbeak]

Eldak approaches Uori and nudges him awake.

Uori, wake up, now is not the time for sleep, nap, snooze. We have something disturbing to show you.

[GM NotEspi]

Talking at Uori does nothing, but nudges make him wake up - to an extent. He looks at you, or through you. You are not sure at this point. He's apparently still sleepy. The 40 minutes of rest you allowed him to have were clearly not enough.

In any case, he looks at you, as if expecting something.

[Feza Savard]

Feza writes a note and holds it up for Uori.

Found evil. Defeated evil. Your people's remains in chamber. Would you like to identify them so you can let their kin know they have fallen? The culprit is deceased, but if you wish further research or vengeance upon his line, the Savored Sting supports your efforts!

After we're done with the exploration of this place, we can stand watch over you so you can get a proper rest?

[GM NotEspi]

The gillman takes the note into his hand, and still a bit shaky from lack of sleep, reads. Then turns towards you:

"I am sure that would be a wasted effort. Gillmen from all around Avistan and Garund... maybe even Casmaron - run pigrimages to this place. I honestly doubt I would know any. Although - I'll rest and try to make sure they depart from this world as a gillman should, even if with a bit of a delayed."

[Kaa Slith]

"Very well! Let usss finish our notesss and go exsssplore the cavesss."

[Eldak Blackbeak]

Oh geez I forgot he was deaf. I'm loosing my mind.

[GM NotEspi]

Uori, while sad for his kin, is satisfied that the pale creature has been destroyed. As promised, he decides to answer any questions you might have about the shrine.

If you wish to ask specifics, go ahead. I'll set up the way out in the meantime.

After the aspirants are done with gathering and cataloging information, Uori explains that the tunnel to the east leads to the surface. Unless, of course, you wish to return the way you came in.

So which way is it going to be, Pathfinders?

[Kaa Slith]

Kaa asks some questions about using gills to breath under water, thinking that seems like a useful trait. Getting frustrated by his lack of ability to communicate with the man, though, he finally gives up. He shrugs and says, "East then?" and then leads the way.

[Feza Savard]

Feza writes down Kaa's questions, seeing that he's frustrated a bit.

My companion is curious as to how your gills work versus breathing, and what the transition from breathing water to breathing air is like.

I'm more curious now that you mentioned that this place is a site of holy pilgrimage across the Inner Sea -- How long have your people come to this place?

Have you ever seen any non-gillmen aspirants to the shrine?

What makes the shrine so important to your people?

She'll agree to go along with the party and make sure that Uori gets some rest.