DM Carbide's Godsmouth Heresy [PFS1e-CORE, Table 1]

[Erica 'Bobbie' Zufan]

"Nice home decor. Anything else to see, or can we look for a place to rest?" Erica inquires, not one to be particularly versed in sculptures or read Thassilonian fluently.

[DM Carbide]

The floor is a bit dusty here, but a bit of time would make it habitable. Incidentally, if you haven't gotten completely lost, the entrance area is on the other side of the door that Nala was unable to open.

[Vulf Sorgrim]

Knowledge (Religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10

"This all seems quite unlike anything I have ever come across before." notes Vulf scanning the room and its contents. He continues casting detect magic.

He considers the door to see what may be barring it.
Perception: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (5) + 4 = 9

[Desynthia Medzen]

Maybe that place is as safe as any here...But I would feel better if we go elsewhere, I'll admit

[Keynala Smith]

Nala agrees, ”Let’s go back to the entrance if we need to rest. Set up watches and get some sleep. But first, a few notes to take about this room.”

She traces the writing and does a quick sketch of the statue.

Once back in the first room, assuming nothing happens on the way back, she offers to take first watch.

[DM Carbide]

The rest period passes uneventfully, and you wake as refreshed as you can be under the circumstances.

Where to now?

[Keynala Smith]

Nala sleeps fitfully, nerves tense from all of the exertion and injuries. All these battles just take a toll on a being.

She wakes, runs her hand through her hair and pulls it back behind her ears, "Alright, let's get this cleared. I say pick up where we left off, just keep going left and we'll eventually get everything checked."

The half-elf munches on a trail ration as the group prepares for the new 'day'. Finally all are ready and she leads them to an area they glanced at the day prior.

[Erica 'Bobbie' Zufan]

"Good idea," Erica gets ready to take the lead, stretching and wincing slightly as she feels cramps in her shoulders, arms and legs. Spending several hours in a heavy armour, bringing down a hammer on undeads and other monstrosities was starting to take its toll.

[Vulf Sorgrim]

Vulf finds that he is able to rest, as evidenced by his loud snoring. When he wakes, he methodically and ritually prepares a meal. He then partakes.

Only then, does he methodically and ritually conducts his prepares.

"Back the way we came, then." he declares as he finally concludes his efforts.

[DM Carbide]

The party assembles on the stairs, looking down at the reeking heap of decaying body parts on the landing.

What do you do?

[Erica 'Bobbie' Zufan]

"An absolute joy."

Erica takes the lead, keeping an eye out for anything moving amongst the pile.

Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 1 = 9

[Keynala Smith]

Nala follows Bobbie onto the landing, looking all around for dangers.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (8) + 8 = 16

[Azrail Kamau]

Making his way across to the doors, Azrail checks them over quickly.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (19) + 8 = 27 +1 for traps

"I dun know bout yall...but I'm about dun with dis place."

[Vulf Sorgrim]

DM Carbide wrote:

The party assembles on the stairs, looking down at the reeking heap of decaying body parts on the landing.

What do you do?

"I suppose, it wouldn't hurt to take a few minutes and administer proper rites to the vessels of poor souls." Vulf remarks.

Knowledge (religion): 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

The cleric offers a few quick prayers and makes a quick effort to pay respects. He then finishes the remnants of a biscuit that he found within his pack. When he sees his allies on alert, he draws his hammer and follows.

[DM Carbide]

Bother--just had a post eaten.

Azrial does not reach the doors. Following Erica and Nala through the pile, he suddenly notices movement. Three severed hands scuttle out at the three of them!

Surprise Round:

Initiative order
Azrial
Hands

Azrial can take a single action!

Dice rolls:

Stealth check: 1d20 ⇒ 9

Vulf Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (11) + 3 = 14
Azrail Initiative: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11
Desynthia Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15
Erica Initiative: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (16) + 3 = 19
Keynala Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 2 = 11

Enemy Initiative: 1d20 ⇒ 1

Hands: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken-Red: Yellow: Blue:

[Azrail Kamau]

Stopping short, Azrail curses under his breath.

Hopping away from the disembodied hand, he draws his bow again.

5 ft step and draw bow

[DM Carbide]

The three hands grab at the nearest party members. All three connect (Erica, Azrial, and Nala each take 3 HP), and the disembodied appendages manage to get a good grip on Nala and Azrial.

Nala and Azrial, the hands have taken you each by the throat. You are unable to talk, and likewise unable to breathe--you're treated as holding your breath as long as the hand maintains the grapple.

Round 1:

Initiative order
Erica
Desynthia
Vulf
Azrial
Nala
Hands

Everyone can act!

Dice rolls:

Attack Erica vs. FF: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (20) + 5 + 1 = 26
Attack Nala vs. FF: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 5 + 1 = 21
Attack Azrial: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 5 + 1 = 24

Confirm vs. Erica: 1d20 + 5 + 1 ⇒ (8) + 5 + 1 = 14

Grab Erica vs. FF CMD: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (4) + 1 = 5
Grab Nala vs. FF CMD: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14
Grab Azrial: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

Hands: AC ? T ? FF ? HP taken-Red: Yellow: Blue:

[Keynala Smith]

Nala tries to yell out a warning, but only a gurgle emerges as she claws at the hand around her throat. Thinking quickly, she brings up her trident and tries to spear the thing like a scallop at a buffet.

Trident vs. Hand - Grappled: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (3) + 5 - 2 = 6 for Piercing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

[DM Carbide]

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Erica
Desynthia
Vulf
Azrial
Nala-acted
Hands

Nala can't quite hit the hand, as her reluctance to stab something that close to her throat robs her blow of accuracy.

Hands: AC 14 T 14 FF 14 HP taken-Red: Yellow: Blue:

[Desynthia Medzen]

Disrupt undead vs touch AC: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (8) + 3 = 11
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 5

Desynthia aims at the hand chocking Azrail, and sends a dart of pure positive energy at the dessicated appendage

This way I won't hurt Azrail if I miss..

[Erica 'Bobbie' Zufan]

Erica attempts to crush the hand that just cut her cheek under her hammer, but sadly misses.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (7) + 3 = 10

[DM Carbide]

Round 1 (ongoing):

Initiative order
Erica-acted
Desynthia-acted
Vulf
Azrial
Nala-acted
Hands

Neither the sorceress nor the fighter can damage the deadly digits.

Vulf and Azrial to go!

[Keynala Smith]

Nala gurgles... you think she might be trying to say 'help!'

[Vulf Sorgrim]

"By Torag's Braided Beard," Vulf shouts as he channels a font of divine energy, "UNHAND THEM!"

Channel positive energy: 1d6 ⇒ 3

[DM Carbide]

Holy power burns through all three of the hands, leaving them scorched but still active.

Azrial?

Dice rolls:

Will saves, ybr: 3d20 ⇒ (8, 2, 9) = 19

[Keynala Smith]

He's been having some rough IRL stuff going on. If you don't mind I'll go ahead and bot him.

Azrail tries to weasel his way free from the tight grip of the hand.

Escape Artist: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (8) + 8 - 1 = 15

If he escapes he will move back to the other side of Vulf.

Acrobatics to Avoid an AoO?: 1d20 + 8 - 1 ⇒ (12) + 8 - 1 = 19

[DM Carbide]

Not a problem.

Azrial manages to slip the grip of the dead hand, retreating away from it.

The hand grasping Nala's neck tightens inexorably even as it smolders. Nala, take another 3 HP. The other two go after Erica and Vulf, to no avail.

Round 2:

Initiative order
Erica
Desynthia
Vulf
Azrial
Nala-
Hands

Everyone can act!

Dice rolls:

Grabs vs. Erica & Vulf: 2d20 ⇒ (14, 6) = 20

Hands: AC 14 T 14 FF 14 HP taken-Red: 3 Yellow: 3 Blue: 3

[Erica 'Bobbie' Zufan]

Erica keeps her shield as up as possible, trying to keep the monstrosity away from her neck. She once again brings her warhammer down on the hand that is threatening her, but seeing Nala struggling to breathe breaks her focus and she misses.

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

[Desynthia Medzen]

Disrupt undead: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (13) + 3 = 16
Dmg: 1d6 ⇒ 2

Putting her fingers in a triangle, and incanting strange, arcane words, Desynthia aims more precisely, and a bolt of energy strikes true on the hand strangling Nala

Pew! Pew! Pew!

[Keynala Smith]

Nala struggles, poorly.

Trident vs. Hand - Grappled: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (2) + 5 - 2 = 5 for Piercing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

[Vulf Sorgrim]

"You shall be defeated," Vulf declares as he channels more divine energy towards the undead. "HANDS DOWN!"

Channel positive energy: 1d6 ⇒ 3

[Azrail Kamau]

Seeing Nala struggle, Azrail takes aim and fires. Just as he releases the arrow an image of it piercing his companions throat flits through his mind. The half-elf jerks the bow sideways and shots it into the wall instead.

Short Bow, Combat, PBS: 1d20 + 4 - 4 + 1 ⇒ (2) + 4 - 4 + 1 = 3 for Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (5) + 1 = 6 x3 Crit; 60ft Range

[DM Carbide]

Desynthia's burst of positive energy hits the hand on Nala, which also takes the worst of Vulf's channel. The other two manage to resist most of Vulf's power. All of the other party members, though, miss their tiny targets.

The hand on Nala, clinging to animation by a thread, squeezes the ranger again for another 3 HP. The other two scrabble ineffectually at their targets.

Round 3:

Initiative order
Erica
Desynthia
Vulf
Azrial
Nala-
Hands

Party up!

Dice rolls:

Hand saves, ybr: 3d20 ⇒ (12, 2, 10) = 24

Attacks, yr: 2d20 ⇒ (11, 10) = 21

Hands: AC 14 T 14 FF 14 HP taken-Red: 4 Yellow: 4 Blue: 8

[Desynthia Medzen]

Ray of Undead potential Destruction: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (17) + 3 = 20
positive damage: 1d6 ⇒ 4

Pew! Pew! Pew!

Once again, Desynthia aims at the undead hand strangling Nala, focusing on the triangle her fingers form, and unleashing the power of her spell with strange arcane words

[Erica 'Bobbie' Zufan]

Once again, Erica fails to hit the hand in front of her.

"WILL YOU STOP MOVING?!"

Attack: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (5) + 5 = 10
Damage: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (5) + 3 = 8

[Desynthia Medzen]

@Bobbie: "The Curse of the third hand, in the dark hours of the night"..Sorry but not sorry, I CANNOT not do that joke :

Do you need a hand, Bobby?

[Keynala Smith]

Nala continues struggling with the hand, her vision tunneling and her focus intensifying.

Get this thing off me!

Trident vs. Hand - Grappled: 1d20 + 5 - 2 ⇒ (13) + 5 - 2 = 16 for Piercing: 1d8 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5

[Azrail Kamau]

Taking aim, Azrail fires off another shot. With a squeal he watches it fly true.

Blue if it's still up. Otherwise targetting yellow

Short Bow, PBS, Combat: 1d20 + 4 + 1 - 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 + 1 - 4 = 20 for Piercing: 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (1) + 1 = 2 x3 Crit; 60ft Range

[Vulf Sorgrim]

Uncertain of his ability to wield his warhammer with sufficient precision to avoid hitting his allies, Vulf brings his blunt instrument to bear against the one caught alone (and red-handed?)

Warhammer, masterwork v red hand (of doom?): 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10
Damage (B): 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

[DM Carbide]

Desynthia's ray of positive energy finally stops the hand strangling Nala. Freed of its unnatural grasp, the ranger stabs the one on Erica. Impaled on her trident, it twitches once then grows still. Azrial puts an arrow into the last one...not quite enough to put it down, though.

The last one goes after Vulf, but misses.

It has 1 HP left, so I'm going to assume that the party can take it down easily before it can attack again. Out of combat!

One of the hands bears on its back a tattoo showing a stylized owl.

DC 15 Knowledge (Local):

The symbol was used by a group of sages and wizards known as the Council of Truth, who disappeared from Kaer Maga years ago.

Attack on Vulf: 1d20 ⇒ 4

[Keynala Smith]

Nala stabs through the last squirming hand, "Stupid undead creatures. Never know when to give up. And gross too."

She massages her throat, coming away with a bit of blood. Pulling out her wand she heals up the damage and asks if anyone else got hurt.

CLW Wand: 2d8 + 2 ⇒ (3, 3) + 2 = 8

Close Enough, 1 HP down.

CLW for Azrail if he wants it: 1d8 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

She sketches a quick note about the tattooed symbol and looks around for the next place to go.

[DM Carbide]

The stairs continue down to the west, ending in a set of double doors.

[DM Carbide]

Looking up from the landing, there's a 10'x10' opening in the ceiling. It appears to open onto a dimly-lit 10'-wide corridor running north-south.

[Vulf Sorgrim]

Vulf looks over at the double doors, then up to the opening in the ceiling, and then back at the doors. He scratches his head.

"Can't say that I much fancy the idea of something dropping down upon us--or behind us." comments the cleric. "But, then, I'm not much of a climber."

He turns to his allies and points upwards. "One of you should probably head upon into there and check it out."

[Azrail Kamau]

"Thanks Nala."

Eyeing the hole in the ceiling, he fumbles through his pack. Tugging a length of rope free, he frowns. "I didn't seem ter pack me a hook...Dun suppose one of yall got one?"

[Keynala Smith]

Nala pulls out a grappling hook and ties it off to the rope, then goes about knotting the rope and tosses the grappling hook up until it is secured.

"That should work. Pop on up and I'll follow if you don't immediately get eaten... though I wouldn't be surprised given what we've faced so far. Good luck."

Take 10 climb after Azrail gets up: 10 + 5 = 15

[DM Carbide]

Are you going up the north side, or the south?

[Keynala Smith]

1-N 2-S: 1d2 ⇒ 2

Nala wisely chooses the South Side for Azrail to sneak up first.

[Azrail Kamau]

"Ah, good on ya, Nala!"

Take 10 Climb: 10 + 4 - 1 = 13

Turning to the south, he begins to scout ahead.

Stealth: 1d20 + 11 - 1 ⇒ (10) + 11 - 1 = 20
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (11) + 8 = 19 (+1 for traps)

[DM Carbide]

Azrial notices that even as the stench of decaying flesh dies away, the acrid undertones grow stronger. The hall leads south some twenty-five feet before opening into a well-lit room. The rogue slowly and stealthily advances. He can hear muttering from the room up ahead, and it sounds like a male voice talking in Common. From fifteen feet away, Azrial can see several tables in the room, on which are a bewildering array of glassware holding brightly colored liquids (some of which are boiling). A stooped man comes into view, holding a sheaf of papers and examining some of the glassware, cursing under his breath. Suddenly he looks up and at you. "Who's there? Is that you, Esme?"

Dice rolls:

Random die roll: 1d20 ⇒ 12
Other random die roll: 1d10 ⇒ 9