"Horrors of the Red Cathexus!" Pathfinder Bodysnatcher campaign!

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One nodded and would begin to start weaving the silk together in an attempt to make pouches for the party... that is when he felt a strange urge. Perhaps it was a message from the Cathexus... or a warning. But, he had an urge to go west towards the goblin encampment. He felt like something was going on over there. He looked over to the Fleshless and the newcomer to see if he wasn't alone in this sensation. "It appears we are being called elsewhere right now instead of making pouches. We should see what happened to our two... heroes." He then dropped his work to come back to later and began to head west.

 

[Demonsoul]

In common tongue the spider spoke at Pigot, "Stay or be consumed." It then faced back towards the west and in Elder Tongue it stated blankly, "Let's hurry." The Fleshless attached itself to the ceiling of the tunnel and began traveling westward, towards the comrades in danger. But it did not rush, it took its time and went slowly in order to keep itself hidden. This was getting in the way of the Fleshless's careful plans, rushing causes problems, and problems must be eliminated. What ever was threatening the other body snatchers was going to die, painfully.

(Stealth: 7+any modifiers from being on the ceiling)

 

[Seraph Darkfire]

The hobgoblin observed the others heading off in a certain direction, a direction in which his memories informed him that Goblins were located. Interesting. Then he felt it, a sense of danger passing through the Cathexus. He looked around spotted a few preserved crab spider bodies. He looked thoughtful as he observed them. After a moment he picked one that looked the most useful and tucked it away in his bag. If anything it could be used as a get away body. He preferred living bodies they didn't degrade as quickly but a backup that was preserved was useful.

Then he headed off to aid his compatriots, dropping into a stealthy position to prevent him from being notice by unwanted eyes.

(Perception to find the best Crab Spider body: 14. Stealth: 28)

 

[Beckoncall]

The hobgoblin gathered up a serviceable corpse of a crab spider and proceeded after his compatriots.

Meanwhile the devourer and choir goblin seemed at the mercy of the dogs!

Travelling along the sandy shallow waterway numerous caves were seen, one of which smelled horrible about halfway to the goblin barricades.

A longsword was found by one of the bodies of a long-dead orc, if somebody decided to grab it... somehow it had eluded rusting.

It would take time to reach the barricades of the goblins -- perhaps more time than help had to arrive...

 

[SpiralErrant]

Not good! Leaving its distracted, long-term, thinking in the dust the scout focussed purely on saving its current skin. That was looking impossible right now but maybe if it got lucky it could buy a chance to escape in its true body or find a fresh host.

(Take full defence action)

 

[Beckoncall]

With the choir goblin covering up for maximum defense, the devourer was able to make a comeback against his dog. The seeming relenting of the choir scout goblin's attack was enough to get both dogs against him, and the devourer capitalized on this. One of the dogs was slain, then the other... it was at this time that the rest of the party arrived -- the guard goblin now on the ramparts of their low wall with a bunch of goblins (about eight) getting ready to set up with their shortbows.

This was a time for an assualt, or a time to make a hasty retreat!

 

[Demonsoul]

The Fleshless unseen by the goblins stalked along the ceiling. Upon arriving behind the goblins, the bloody spider began drawing out a web and dropped it on the goblins. This would only be enough to ensnare 3 of the eight goblins, but these goblins would have a severe drop in combat potential from being entangled. And the confusion that would stem from this would throw the remainder in disarray.
(Fusion of web's first and second ability, Touch attacks vs 3 different goblins, goblins are flatfooted so AC should be 10, Attack roll is +5 to hit, DC to break free of web is 12 but those in the web take a -4 on the strength check.
Goblins who are entangled: The character is ensnared. Being entangled impedes movement, but does not entirely prevent it unless the bonds are anchored to an immobile object or tethered by an opposing force. An entangled creature moves at half speed, cannot run or charge, and takes a –2 penalty on all attack rolls and a –4 penalty to Dexterity. An entangled character who attempts to cast a spell must make a concentration check (DC 15 + spell level) or lose the spell.)

 

[Beckoncall]

Two of the goblins are completely ensnared, with one diving out of the way almost preternaturally. The sudden attack by the giant spider from behind sends the goblins into disarray -- giving the party a surprise round!

It is a DC 10 climb check to scamble up the rubble wall, but the goblins behind the rubble are considered to be in cover from the front.

 

[Demonsoul]

The spider now throwing the goblins in disarray and announcing its presence it dropped down on the goblin who managed to avoid the webbing, Using the velocity of the fall it bared its large sharp fangs and plunged them towards the poor goblin. Venom dripped from these fangs and although it wasn't the Fleshless's preferred type of venom it would weaken the goblin.

(Attack +4 to hit, 1d6+4 piercing damage+Poison, Poison- injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/round for 4 rounds; effect1d2 Strength damage; cure 1 save.

 

[Seraph Darkfire]

After climbing the barricade quietly and with ease, the Hobgoblin appeared out of the darkness and struck at one of the goblins, his sword flashing with ferociousness. He wouldn't abide his allies being bullied. Given that they were caught by surprise, he managed to get the advantage on them, strengthening the effect of his sneak attack.

((Longsword Attack: 1d20+4+2=19, Damage: 1d8+3=5
Sneak Attack Damage: 1d6=4
Total Damage: 9))

 

[Beckoncall]

The fleshless fell of the spry goblin and injected it so full of poison it turned black and hemorrhaged from every oriface, terrifying the rest of the goblins. At almost the same instance, The Philomathic Hobgoblin leaped from stealth and impaled another goblin from behind, hoisting him from the ground to slide off of his blade and over the barricade...

(surprise round still in effect, 2 goblins webbed, 2 dead, 4 still up)

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One simply approached the ramparts by burrowing in the sand and digging its way to the goblins. It had no interest in being shot with arrows. However, the walls themselves seemed rather unstable themselves as they appeared to be made out of sand and rock packed together. Thus, the Gluttonous One began to investigate the base of the wall to see if he could collapse a part of the wall and crush at least some of the goblins.

Dungeoneering Check:
1d20 (7)+7= 14

 

[Beckoncall]

With the water rushing through the sand and rock, undermining the barricade WAS possible -- but it would take some time (2 full round actions) if not desired, the mandragora can burst out of the top of the barricade and make a normal attack.

 

[Beckoncall]

The devourer goblin and choir goblin fired arrows over the wall— miraculously, one arrow struck true, knocking a goblin on its back.

 

[Beckoncall]

New round starts, will make an initiative ladder but you are free to declare actions. Six goblins remain, quickly dropping their bows to draw short swords.

 

[Heyitsjiwon]

The Gluttonous One continued to dig at the foundation of the rampart. He could hear the clatter of the goblins dropping their bows, and switching to their swords. However, he was confident that his... cohort were able to handle the Goblins for a little bit longer. At least long enough to make the very ground below the goblins to collapse. He thought about perhaps using his two last explosives to facilitate the job... but they were precious and currently their only real weapon against a swarm. Still, the discovery of these explosives gave the Gluttonous One some hope that among the goblins was some sort of alchemist or chemist who was proficient at making explosives or at least somewhat skilled and educated. That goblin would be very valuable for the group.

 

[SpiralErrant]

Whatever the opposite of divine intervention was Soprano seemed to be experiencing it. Pushing the lesser piece of life it was now using to its limit of dexterity and reaction times as only a link in an abyssal hive mind could. Ignoring the pain and sweat that coated the goblin's body it weaved and parried, keeping the dogs at bay until its loud spoken ally had the chance to cut them down and help arrived in the form of their motley band.

Now the battle was properly joined and it seemed they were going to have to try and take this goblin tribe by force or else feed their souls and flesh to the forces that sustained them here. Either way it could do little damage from where it was. The scout would have close the distance and make use of this shell before it was forced to find a new one. holding its ragged flesh together, Soprano used the distraction of the diving spider and sprinted to reach the barricade.

(Use actions to move to the barricade and CLIMB)

 

[Demonsoul]

The blood red spider looked at how vicious its poison had effected a goblin and used this chance to attempt to bite the goblin. It then spoke in a rough common, "Lay down your arms if you wish to live, and be ready to turn your backs to your tribe." The Spider looked at the remaining goblins who would surely fall apart in fear, but this battle must end soon if the horrors are to save their own. One of the spider's eyes stared at the dog that was still fighting.

(Powerattack +3 to hit, 1d6+4 damage+ poison, Intimidate +5)

 

[Beckoncall]

The clacking broken common was wasted on these goblins, who probably didn't even know but a few words of common. The one the fleshless snapped at parried the attack barely and prepared to retaliate, meanwhile the choir scout goblin scaled the wall and onto the barricade.

 

[Beckoncall]

Initiative:
Goblin 23 (shaken)
Goblin 23 (shaken)
Devourer 22
22 Phil
20 Choir
wounded goblin (2) 17
webbed goblin 17
webbed goblin 16 (shaken)
13 Glutton
goblin 9 (shaken)
Fleshless 8

 

[Seraph Darkfire]

The ring realized that it was the only one who spoke their language at the moment after the failed attempt of its compatriots "Submit and you will be given great power" Phil said, speaking in the Goblin tongue as he stood before the remaining goblins "Resist and you all will die" he wondered if the Cathexus would bestow gifts upon those that followed them. It would save him his eggs if that were to be the case. Everyone enjoyed decent rewards and these small weak goblins would enjoy the rush of strength the Cathexus gave them. They needed followers and subordinates if they were going to take control of everything and live out their own personal desires.

He pointed his blade towards the goblins "Choose" he commanded.

(Intimidate: 18)

 

[Beckoncall]

In response to the intimidation of the ring/hobgoblin, the goblins laid down their arms... for the time being, perhaps an hour at least, these prisoners would cooperate.

They quickly explained the situation to their would-be captors that they were the main force of defenders for the tribe while their chieftain and his lieutenants were with "Shiny orcs" fighting in some battle nearby.

The Cathexus didn't bestow them with any power, but innately the horrors knew it craved for their submission or their demise, permanently... that they had chosen to cooperate for now was not sufficient to the cathexus to empower it, or for it to empower.

They explained that besides a handful of warriors left in the goblin camp beyond, and the kennels of goblin dogs (10 dogs remaining apparently) the other half of the goblin force was away from the camp and they would mostly find non-combantants if they proceeded west into the lair of the goblins.

Then, everyone fled to safer ground as the gluttonous one undermined the barricade...

the webbed goblins were washed away with the rising tide that came from behind the rock-wall, which apparently was blocking some giant sewer-pipe of some kind. the water level in the channel below rapidly began to rise, flooding the beach on the far side of the river and leaving only a narrow path of sand on their own side of the river where there used to be a beach.

The bones of countless orcs were swept down towards the cistern, and the rising of the water level brought strange new sounds to the area -- giant toads croaked in the darkness, and the clacking of great grabs seemed to echo in the cavern. Beyond that, it became apparent that some sharks too have swam upstream from beyond the cistern of skulls -- perhaps these threats would make it more dangerous to go back the way they came.

"We surrender! Want power! No wash us away!" the remaining four goblins mewled.

"Take you into the gobbo lair? We lead you to sergeant and thinker and priest! Powerful ones follow?"

 

[Demonsoul]

The spider couldn't understand the goblin speech but the franticness of their voices and the fact they threw down their weapons told it that they have surrendered. The Fleshless avoided the water by going back on the ceiling. Now that combat was over the spider crawled back down the tunnel to reach the sword they saw on their way. Ignoring the threats in the water by staying on the ceiling, the spider would make quick travel. If the sword was rushed down by water The Fleshless would head down stream searching for it. Upon finding the sword it would fish it up using webs.

(Stealth +7 to avoid detection of creatures in the water. Perception to find the sword.)

 

[Beckoncall]

It was almost a fools errand to find the sword -- but find it the fleshless did, washed into the bottom of the sandy river a few hundred yards from where it was seen.... the clear water betrayed its presence, but the blade was now under more than 20 feet of water. The fleshless hadn't been noticed, but swimming near the area, perhaps attracted by a glint of lichen off of the metal, or perhaps a glow from the weapon itself, was a full-sized river shark... circling.

 

[Demonsoul]

Being too high up for the shark to leap and take down the spider, The Fleshless cast its web like a net into the water in hopes of catching the sword and drawing it up. The spider still had 3 uses left of its web ability, so it had 3 chances to try to get the sword. Little droplets of red dipped onto the surface of the water and vanished, luckily this false blood lacked a scent so it wouldn't trigger the instincts of the shark lying below.

(Web attack +5 to hit.) (Sword touch AC=10+8 (from tiny size)-5 (for 0 dex)=13 + any modifiers due to the water)