Underdark, Terror of Lowerdark [3.5e FR, providing the lore]

[BavetteOfAgony]

Since I don't know how to make 'spoiler' barrs (and I'd love for someone to teach me) I will post the 16 first.
It can answer almost any question. I will edit this part later to harbor the sheets (after I get a hand on this tool) and links to Forgotten lore.

I can update any books, so don't worry if you are short on material. Most of times, a human/fighter can cause more havoc than anything else.


1. What game system are you running (D&D, Call of Cthulu, Palladium, GURPS, etc.), and if applicable what edition (Original, Classic, Revised, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 10th, etc.)?
D&D 3.5e

2. What 'type' or variant of game will it be (i.e. "Shadow Chasers" or "Agents of Psi" for d20 Modern)? What is the setting for the game (eg. historic period, published or homebrewed campaign setting, alternate reality, modern world, etc.)?
- Forgotten Realms, 1372 DR *Year of the Wild Magic*
More Horror and Nightmare with a little Hopelessness. Everything to make rewards more... rewarding.

3. How many Players are you looking for? Will you be taking alternates, and if so, how many?
I believe I did this set for 4 to 6 players. Any extra will be... used in time, on alternate paths, if I see the need to. Also, there is a chance I would be accepting vilains, trying to KILL the party. PM for anything you find atractive.

Otherwise, just join bellow. I consider chaos very fulfilling.

4. What's the gaming medium (OOTS, chat, e-mail etc.)?
The exactly thread I am posting this.

5. What is the characters' starting status (i.e. experience level)?
Level 16. If I see fit of background and power I will lower or highten that level (as I explain on question 14).

No epic progression will happen, don't get hopes so high.


6. How much gold or other starting funds will the characters begin with?
Either choose 2 any Medium Magical items they can buy, or either roll 7 random Medium Magical items from the Random Magical Items table on DMG.
Normal items are free. Buy whatever you feel like. Masterwork are costly, however. +500gp, not +100gp.
Special materials count as *5 the price as well. Adamantine would be +5000gp for example.
Also, read the SPECIAL ITEM section I will be posting bellow with the hooks.

7. Are there any particular character classes, professions, orders, etc. that you want... or do not
want? What are your rules on 'prestige' and/or homebrewed classes?
No homebrew. I gave thousands of classes, races and strange things for anyone imagination to run free for years. Choose one, be happy.
I have no request. Do what you want to do. Try to not fight your way with the other players, but a little cannibalism is allowed for all that I care.


8. What races, subraces, species, etc. are allowed for your game? Will you allow homebrewed races or species? 'Prestige' races or species?
Again, no homebrew. I put no trust in those. Also, thousands of races... blah blah blah, pick one and be happy.
No request for race either. Ghost, Illithid, Lich, Beholder, Dragon, Goblin, Demon, Devil, ShadowStuff people, Elven obscure subrace, undead obscure template... All okay with a good background to fortify the reasons and ideas.


9. By what method should Players generate their attributes/ability scores and Hit Points?
Ability arrangement, as follow the builds bellow. Chose one and arrange at the stat you are more likely to be using;
18–17–13–11–9–8 or 18–15–14–14–9–9 or 17–16–15–13–10–9 or 15–15–15–14–13–10

Other builds will be presented on the campaign settings, as I am tired of math now. Remember that a 16 level character gets a 4 ability points to distribute at his whim.
Hit points are rolled, all dices. Bellow 50%, roll again. This will be hardcore, buddies.
Also, Con and Wis IS important, take that in mind min/maxers.

10. Does your game use alignment? What are your restrictions, if so?
The entire adventure is about survival of the strong. If you believe good and hope can save the day, go for it. If you believe that you are better killing everyone to steal their boots, die in a fire. The game is about who survives, not who can kill each other, so always bear that a lone prey is an easy prey. Try to do whatever you want without steeping on someones toes too much. You have enough enemies as it is.

It's for the whole party to follow up and create personal relationship, too. Hatred, love, distrust, friendship, whatever... try to get close to each other, to know each other better. Try to care, beyond alignment or faith or whatever.
After all, you are in hell. Hold your partner tight and bull rush the devil.

11. Do you allow multi-classing, or have any particular rules in regards to it?
Level 16 of a single class would kill anyone but a monk or druid. Even fighters and wizards have no hope alone against the perils ahead.
If you want to multi-class or take prestige classes, do so. I would like people powered up to face something dread and weak enough to need the help of his companions.
No penalty, tho. It kills my braincells.

12. Will you be doing all of the die rolling during the course of the game? Will die rolls be altered, or left to the honor system? If players can make die rolls, which ones do they make, how should they make the rolls, and how should they report them?
The most important thing about rolls is; My word is law. If you score 20 I can say you missed, if you score 1 I can ignore it and say you'd hit.
I will try to use this as scarcely as I can. I will not help nor hamper the party, but sometimes I would like things to run smooth.
I use the wizards dice roller. Just CtrlC, CtrlV it and I will be happy.


http://www.wizards.com/dnd/dice/dice.htm

(Understanding: I know some of you will cheat. I expect you do. You need to use all your resources to survive and I will weep no save-or-die death. Bear in mind that I will cheat too. If I think you must take some serious damage, I will score critical hits, make spells unsavable and kill without mercy. Try to not avert my gaze too much; the less I look to a player, the less I will interfere with GM power - which stands for GOD MODE. Also is good to know that cheating often attracts my death gaze more often.)


13. Are there any homebrewed or optional/variant rules that your Players should know about? If so, list and explain them, or provide relevant links to learn about these new rules.
Everything 'OPTIONAL' will be listed on books like Complete [Etcetera] or other sources.
To gain my favor on any grounds, try to always write good backstory and flavor/feeling material. I will be more inclined to bear with homebrew when it is completely reasonable.

14. Is a character background required? If so, how big? Are you looking for anything in particular (i.e. the backgrounds all ending up with the characters in the same city)?
Try to not put your feet on the Underdark, one way or another, or at least very far from the east. Go pest the wizards that live by the coast, or something. I have enough hooks to pull the moon as a valid character.

Background is always requires and welcomed. I would very much like to know HOW did you get so powerful (level 16) and how did you manage to survive enemies, plagues, hordes and random encounters. If I find appropriate, I may change a character level at a blink; example: "Your backstory is the one of a powerful wizard, you be level 17 now, to get 9th level spells. Do not disappoint me, Fredo." or "You be fairly powerful leader. Get leadership for free. I will let you chose a cohort and 2 creeps to follow you. They will die, you will miss them, you can make a scene, and life goes on. You can even get another followers on the adventure."

The contrary can also occur; "You grew up in your mom's basement. You do not deserve level 16. Go back 2 levels. Retain feats and stats, take out HD, skills and gold." Which don't need to be bad, as you can grow faster and with more options.

The important part is, however, the ROLEPLAY. Everyone will do it, everyone have to do it. You are a powerful wizard? Act like one. You are Roseta, the Barbarian bitch? Act like one. Try to not piss off too many players, find allies within your boundaries, use excuses as "I like her hair" or "He doesn't smell of guano" and try to get along IN character.


15. Does your game involve a lot of hack & slash, puzzle solving, roleplaying, or a combination of the above?
As noted before, many times, Roleplay. Puzzle and Hack'n'slash will also be fairly frequent. I would say everyone would Roleplay while Hack'n'slashing their way to victory, but that would sound silly.

16. Are your Players restricted to particular rulebooks and supplements, or will you be allowing access to non-standard material? What sources can Players use for their characters?
Here goes Da List:

1 – All core books (PHB1 and 2, DMG 1 and 2, and all MM you can find. Psionics are... special. PM me.)

2 – Complete [etcetera] series (Complete Mage, Complete Arcana, Complete Adventurer, Complete Warrior, Complete Scoundrel, Complete Champion, Complete Divine and Complete Psionics. Again, special. PM. I forgot abou Unhearted Arcana. It is in, people. Sorry.)

3 – All Forgotten Realms material (All books you can put your hands, or megabits, on. Be it core or not, Forgotten Realms are free)

4 – And ONE any book per player (I will let the players select a number of books equals to them, from where they can get feats, spells, classes and etc. Don't make me regret this decision, please.)

5 – Homebrew and Custom (I would prefer not. But you can always roll Diplomacy, if you want.)

6 - If someone does not have any FR core book or oficial addom, you can get any 4 books of your choice. Again, sorry for I coming to my senses now.

Ahhh much better, isn't it?

EDIT2: Aparentely, I forgot that not everyone is as a poor sod as I am and don't see fit to acquire oficial things... unoficially. I beg my pardon and I will refrain from proposing that again. My apologies.

If someone has GitP homebrew that I can see and check it is also valid. Any book that I know about is also, too. But bear that this is an EXCEPTION. Guys like Rigatoni and Lasagna have enough material to fill a library and I am not inclined to let them use it. As I did in the past...

Besides that, I will be acepting any wish in the sake of a good character.
Players should read the above. Otherwise, skip it.


EDIT1: To clarify one or two things:

The rules are convenient to me, yes, but that means it will be for the players. I really am tired of players arguing about the need for rolls on many things, automatic success/failure and the famous "I rolled 1 on a climb check that can kill me. Can I roll again?"

That is why. That and because I want the game to run. For the love of god, if I have to create one sidequest for every time someone got himself dead or completely useless because of a 1 this would lead to nowhere, right? (lets take the example of a mage who rolled one on a burn save. That means your belongings burn. That means your spellbook burns. Not so fair, huh?)

I answer questions on the roll, so please ask me.

We will have one or two weeks to get this rolling. No more than 14 days, thought.



Players
Ark7 as __________Julius, Spectral Paladin of Amaunator. LG
DJDizzy as _______ Al'Hralirr, Illithid. LE
Hyperion as ______ Khazar, Red Wizard of Thay.CN
Rettu Skcollob as __Sereld, the Beguiler. NE
VileLasagna as_____Halblion, Spectral highpriest of Amaunator. LN


Awaiting for Aproval (and sheet)
Avaregedog - Sheet.

[Each character will have his own SPACE, but in time this will sufice]
[Note: Try not to read the Illithids name. That way lies madness]


Music Every part of the adventure will have a music of it's own. Use them for flavor and feeling.

Still to come.

[BavetteOfAgony]

...

... Wow, that was huge. Beware for it has a 9feet threat area.

The core of the campaing will be posted here. From below and on only the campaing will matter. It will be the life and air we hold:

Thousands of years ago. In a time the might of Netheril floating cities was not even a dream. A time where elves had began to fathom magic and art. The Dragon races had leaved the spot for the new humanoid races. The powerful creatures of alien origin had began to understand this world. Fey was still a word of whispers and meaning beyond grasp.
And yet, the Underdark was there. The times before all this, when the powerful God-Mother Tiamat created all 5 primal dragon kind. Once a time Asmodeus, the unquestioned Lord Devil of Hell, was still young. A time were Mystra was Mystril, and magic was wild and powerful. A time when Shar, Shauntea and Selûne were the 'authority'. That time the Underdark was there still.

Today, it moved not even an inch. It shifted, it arranged itself, placed power here and there, but had not changed.

The Underdark is the most fearsome place of the entire Toril and even planes beyond. People who come from Sigil, Abyss and Hell find it a place even more alien, a place even their kind of people would not dare live. And yet, there is who lives there. Who could be so utterly insane, alien and twisted to actually chose this life?

There is no answer for that question, for living in the Underdark is not living. It is survival of the strongest, the fittest. Few can say they would acept even to travel its dark pits, but there are the insane and foolish brave.

However might be the reason for you to find this place remotely atractive, there is no such thing as rest. No thing as free will or hope. The darkness eat everything. Your emotions, your faith, your light, even yourself. Come closer, for you are warned: There is no soul on the stone, there is no light on the world Below, there is no air for you to breath, no food to eat and no water to drink. There is nothing. A vast amount of nothingness that want to digest you all. That you can't defeat, you can't harm, a vast darkness that was here before you and will be here thousands of years after.

You. Are. Warned.

*All players will start on a crossroad of the Lowerdark. I expect you are prepared to face things worse than your nightmares. You can use any hook bellow as you please, as they are a HELP guide, not a MUST BE requisite. Rules exist to be... broken. PM me anything you want for your character.*


Hooks bellow(I want the player to choose 1 fitting hook it can think about, or any variation. On your background history try to explore this hook and you will gain bonus benefits from equipment, contacts and allies. Or just enter the dark pits if you think you are prepared)

1 - The Treasure Hunters; You killed dragons. You destroyed powerful mages. You created havoc on cities beyond imagination. You are a paragon adventurer; the ultimate explorer and treasure hunter.
"We, from the Shadowmasters, want dearly you to find an artifact for us. I don't need to say that the reward will be... well, I don't get that much on my paycheck" the yellow-eyed stranger talks to you with a charmingly simpaty. He offers you whatever you need to follow the path to the Lowerdark in search of his quest and is willing to land help here and there.
"We will inform you of your target. Seek our contact on the city Sphur Upra, there you will head for your true quest, my friend" he smiles to you, a friendly one "And be careful, I want you to come back in one piece, yeah?" he appears to be really concerned.
"Here is the scroll-portal you will need. After teleportating inside, you can't get out. The scroll is warded with special magic, so think about it ok?"
[The scroll is a minor artifact of the Underdark. The players who choose this hook will be abble to complete the side-quests; Madness, and The Hunt. Also, be creative, this is not a 'must be this way' hook. Use your wit.]

2 - The Overmind; You were contacted by a powerful entity known as the Overmind, a group of psionic powers you don't understand. They want you to go to the lowerdark trought a tunel revealed to your mind, close to the plateau of the easter land Thay.
"Slave-mind Drows will take you to the meeting. Be not late, we are not patient." they say altogether, driving your mind apart with the sound of thousands of voices.
"If you fail, or try to trick us, we will destroy all for what you care with a simple tought. If you help us and do as we say, we will shower you in gold and treasure beyond febble imagination" they stop. You are again in the control of your mind. Now you have two choices, and it is clear what you should follow. [Who accept this hook is under a Geas/Quest spell and will receive commands from time to time. "Do not disapoint us"]

3 - Red Wizards; Szass Tam, the powerful lich Necromancer, zulkier of Thay, one of the oldest human yet alive, even unliving. You are a Red Wizard or an afiliate of the powerful Thayan mages. The zulkier of Necromancy himself requested your services, and there is no greater honor, or choice.
"You will be going trought the Drow city on this map. Do not be seen, slavers will gladly take you" the voice was cold but civilized.
Szass Tam looks not even a little a Lich at all. His face is the one of a human, even a young one. "You can get any number of slavs, but keep it small. Atention can be your doom" he hands you a magic pouch full of gold (50.000gp) "This is a fraction of what you will get. Do not disapoint me, mortal" The last word evoked an image of a walking corpse, powerful. Wrathful. The air itself became cold ice around it and the words sounded once more on your head; "DO NOT DISAPOINT ME, MAGELING." fear crawling its way to your stomach.
[Wizards of the Red Wizard class and mercenaries should at least try this hook. The rewards would be an easy way to grow in power, Thayan or not. Szass Tam will also employ a number of epic spells to help the party, but his patient is limited]

4 - Servant of a Dead God; It is known in Faerun that the carcass of dead deities of the material plane are forgotten on the forbidden pits of the Lowerdark. And that is your mission.
Amaunator, the former god of Sun and Light, should be somewhere on the Lowerdark. If you are a follower of Lathander, the new god of dawn, or any god of the Tryade (Tyr, the paladin god, Helm, god of law and protection, or Torm, god of duty) you would be sent by your divine menssenger to "Seek Amaunator, the sunset is a time of darkness" the menssenger also tells grimly "You are needed there. Dark forces aproach".
But, if you want to follow one of the dark gods, enemy of Amaunator: Cyric, god of lies and murder, Velsharon, god of Necromancy and Undead, or Bane, god of tirany, you would be sent by an unholly power to DESTROY Amaunator's body and leech the rest of its divine power and give it to your patron lord, or ascend to demigod yourself! Muahahaha
[Clearly, the villain hook or the 'Good guy' hook. Try to twist it as you please, this one is very maleable]

5 - Custom; Send in your idea of a hook. Why are you on the Lowerdark?






YEAH! Braimstorm time, people. Send in requests, say what you think, want and let's get this going. I want to see IC as soon as possible.

[Vile Lasagna]

Okay, so to make it official, here goes background info on me and Rigatoni

Books added to pool:
Magic of Incarnum and Tome of Battle
(Also: You forgot Unearthed Arcana)
(Also also: Could one of the next players pick Book of Exalted Deeds? Kthx)

Lasagna: Confessor Halblion -> Spectral Priest of Amaunator
Rigatoni: Julius Aurimani -> Spectral Paladin of Amaunator


We're both members of the church of Amaunator from before the time of his fall. As of his death, we, along with many others, could not reach the afterlife and actually became anchored in the prime material by a vestigial remain of Amaunator. Our bodies perished and our souls were dragged to the lowerdark, to this godly essence. We DO know our god has fallen, but we do not know of Lathander. We believe Amaunator was mortally wounded and had to flee for his life, falling into a deep slumber while he recovers. During this time of his absence, Shar watches over the world which has now fallen into darkness and, though she does what she can, the time of bounty and balance will not return while Amaunator is not brought back. Our spirits are bound to Amaunator in this sacred task and while it is not fulfilled there can be no rest, for we are the very last shard of light in the darkness of the world.

There's probably not much Toril below us anymore and at that point probably the Plane of Shadow already starts mixing with the Lowerdark, so that it's much more like a series of arid deserts and canyons drowned in eternal night than the endless tunnels and caves of the Underdark far above. We live in a small town built around a temple underneath which lies sleeping Amaunator, healing from his wounds. As with all its inhabitants, the most of the city is not really physical and actually comprised of semi-solid buildings and objects, made up of soulstuff and ectoplasm. Because of the temple, there is actually day and night in the town, with the sun fading regularly in and out, always directly above the temple, but the skies are usually filled with dark clouds and nights are starless.

This fades less than a kilometer away from the borders of the city, with light giving way to twilight and eventually the smothering blackness. The members of the church are undying and zealous. They regularly conduct small crusades with parties of paladins and priests braving the darkness attempting to spread light and faith back into the world, the only way through which Amaunator can rise again and balance return. These crusades, albeit utterly futile, have varying degrees of success. The powers of Amaunator are terrible against the beings of darkness and as such most small creatures and groups that face a crusading party of specters stands little chance against the light and fire of the sun god. But crusaders as they are, it is their duty to take the battle to the ultimate challenge and such parties often find their demise at the hands and claws of nearly god-like creatures of the lower dark they repeatedly challenge such as guardian avatars of evil gods and primordial dragons that lie sleeping in the darkness.

Due to their inability to cross over, those that fall in combat once again manifest,eventually, on the temple's "medical wing", their zeal unabated and their will unwavered, always readying themselves for the next brave incursion into the mad darkness.

[Averagedog]

wow, I will have to think carefully on what I would like to do. I'm no FR expert and my knowledge is generally limited to books written by R.A. Salvatore, a few other novels by some other authors, and of course the game, Neverwinter Nights. I will have to consult with the other members of the super awesome fan club for this one. But no matter what I come up with I will write an appropriate backstory that makes sense.

EDIT:

how long do we have until decision time?

you can spoiler things by typing in [spoiiler] [/spoiler] with what you want hidden in between and of course without that extra i :P

edit edit: Lasagna is two people????? also I don't think you unlock books for everyone else. just one per person.

edit edit edit: are we using errata for classes and items?

edit edit edit edit: whats your stance on the monk's belt giving the ability to get wis to AC if you are unarmored?

[Vile Lasagna]

Neverwinter Fights = NO, man... just... no....


Rigatoni was having a test and we decided on our char together, he'll show up soon enough, I'm just giving an advance on what we have since it's pretty much the same.

As for the books, yes once a player chooses a book it goes into a pool and it's "unlocked" for all the players, this was confirmed by Bavette via MSN.

Errata is good for you, Bavette has the final word, of course but yeah, since errata is meant to remove ****, I'd say it's fairly safe to assume them (but do make note of what you're using and blah)

[Edwin]

First of all, my name is exactly what you think it is. And calling yourself Irenicus would be cheesy man. :smallsmile:

Second, I'm probably not going to submit a character. Seems like a fine game and all, but some of the things you ruled on is just a bit too meh for me.

The part about rolls, for example.

Good luck to you guys.

[Rettu Skcollob]

It's currently very late (11:30 PM) here, so I will probably not get much done tonight. Anything I decide on before I get some sleep I will edit in. The stuff you've said in the opening post is a little... Well, unconventional, for me, so I'm not sure if I'll submit a character at all. Well, I'll sleep on it, if I don't decide.

Edit: Also; Tome of Battle? Bleugh.

[Averagedog]

Neverwinter Fights = NO, man... just... no....


what? do you think all my dnd experience stems from there? for shame sir for shame!!!! :P.

I have 4 years of dnd under my belt and I've hung around with some super awesome optimizers for the past 3 years. Some of their optimization skills rubbed off on me, but I'm not that good at doing so...

As for the die roller and its diclaimer I fullly accept and support everything you said. DMs reserve the right to fudge rolls for dramatic tension and possible epicness. The fact that it is possible to cheat with his die roller is a given, but there is always a certain amount of trust that goes into these games. The book selection is just though I kind of wish some things from different books of eberron was allowed, but I will work with what I have and most likely reserve the book unlockyness for either dragon magic, or unearthed arcana so I can do some level adjustment buyoff or maybe races of the wild for some catfolk racial bonus awesomeness. I'm not too familiar with the books of exalted deeds save for vow of poverty (which is a trap).

[Vile Lasagna]

No, no. It's just that NWN is one of those things you just don't talk about. Kinda like that party when you were really drunk and woke up at the police station dressed in women's clothing... you just don't go talking about those things, y'know...

AS for UA, I need to wait until he get's back from Dragon Age but I'm fairly sure that the fact it's missing from the standard books is just a typo....

[Hyperion]

going to take me a little while probably will post everything tomorrow, today it's my real life dnd session and we tend to play all day long:

Khazar (http://www.coyotecode.net/profiler/view.php?id=7568)
This is just the basic, still need to choose spells, assign skills...yeah tomorrow definitely.

Background: Underconstruction

going with the red wizard Hook of course.

2 medium magic items hmmm have to choose carefully.

[Averagedog]

for starting equipment do we only have the 2 or 7 medium magical items? Or do we have wealth by level and the mentioned magical items?

[Hyperion]

from what is written you can:
a) choose 2 medium magical items (basically make whatever you want)
b) ROLL randomly 7 medium magical items (following the guidelines in the dungeon master guide), sure you get more of them but you might end up having items that you can't use or don't need.

[Averagedog]

looks like I need to wait for clarification.

[ark7]

I am Rigatoni, pleased to meet ye all, handsome Sirs and Madams.



Edit: Also; Tome of Battle? Bleugh.

I was the one who picked Tome of Battle. I find that book to be quite acceptable if you keep your maneuvers under level 6. I myself will not pick any above level 4, they're just accessories for me. (And almost all of my party-helping abilities come from maneuvers, in case it makes a difference.)



for starting equipment do we only have the 2 or 7 medium magical items? Or do we have wealth by level and the mentioned magical items?

I hate magical items with a passion, at least the way they're presented in DnD 3.X. I told Bavette to choose for me and he just told me to roll randomly, but unfortunately I didn't get the specifics at the time.

Also: Yes, Unearthed Arcana is among the books allowed, or so he had said via MSN, but I don't think gestalt is incuded (again, you can TRY rolling Diplomacy on this one, but I wouldn't risk it).

[BavetteOfAgony]

I ask my pardon for letting this go. I really should put a clock on my Dargon Age time. The adventure is getting to me... not good...

Well, to important matter now:

1: Items and wealth. I should had clarified it more... I was under preasure of breakdown. Sleeping going not so well since I became addicted to reading some novels. Anyway... here goes how it will be done.
You can buy anything with your level wealth, just anything. EXCEPT for magical aparatus. Thus follow the rule 2 Medium at your will or roll 7 Medium on random tabble.
Of course, you can always convince me to use magical item creation feats without the XP cost or that some magical equipment IS a necessity, like bag of holding for a 9 str thief. Aside from that, magical equipment will be plenty on the ongoing game, so you don't need to worry a little about not getting your hands on a +5 sword... because you will.


2: To people that is not versed on FR and don't really have any material about it I will let you pick any 4 books you want. This rule will be canon soon, so don't worry. However, I don't want any warforged, Changeling or special material from another world. This is Forgotten Realms and I would like to keep up the flavor.


3: Errata is okay, but not needed. If you find (per example) a mass teleport spell (best teleportation ever) on Magic of Faerun saying it is Transmutation, it can be a keeper. ALSO if you want the Conjuration version (not so good) you can have it.
I do this because the game will have many cheesy unchecked things, like Illithids Planarshift ability to drag a grown up man with them (75 kg, I think) and even his Etherealness special ability (go figure, right?).
Creatures never seen with powers unknown will also be present; some are updates from 2.0 (the horror...) some are interwebs material. I like to be picky. Hehe


4: About the belt on monks. Go for it if you believe in it. Try not bring a naked 60 CA battletank with 2d20+45 damage, but the rest is cool with me.


5: Tome of Weaboo Fightan Magic (Aka Tome of Battle) is NOT allowed. First, because its cheesy; second, because he does not conect with forgotten realms the way I would have it, denying me the power to use it on the campaign.
Rigatoni's hold of it is... hard to bear, but a Nescessity. You guys could always kill a player while he is asleep if things leads to worse. I am not saying you should or would but you could, and that is the important thing. It is not a happy giggly game... there are hardness on life.


6: I am sorry, I should had said. UA is a must. I will update it asap.


7: Stop refering to me on third person, as if I was a ghost. I am not dead. Please, seriously. It creeps me.
I should not be saying this... but you can cheat on me whenever you feel like it. It is PART of the game as it is and helps get what you want on a game that means you will have few things to hold for. There is no chance that I would refuse a build, for as crazy as it can get, if I hear a good history about it and it gets no trouble going on (yeah, no tiamat avatar, thank you).
Hehe. Who is smart to figure it out on his own is smart enough to deal with whatever I have on my sleeves.

[Averagedog]

so that is.... all mundane equipment is scott free but we cannot have any magical items/weapons/armor EXCEPT for the 2 medium magical items.

[BavetteOfAgony]

so that is.... all mundane equipment is scott free but we cannot have any magical items/weapons/armor EXCEPT for the 2 medium magical items.

Yeah, yeah, I know. It is kinda... brrrr.

But you guys WILL be finding plenty of enchanted objects along the way and i don't want anyone playing with a Rod of Anihilation, know what I mean?

[ark7]

5: Tome of Weaboo Fightan Magic (Aka Tome of Battle) is NOT allowed. First, because its cheesy; second, because he does not conect with forgotten realms the way I would have it, denying me the power to use it on the campaign.
Rigatoni's hold of it is... hard to bear, but a Nescessity.

If ToB is disallowed because it's "cheesy", then no spellcasting of any kind should be allowed, period. If ToB is not allowed for others, it should not be allowed for me either. And if it's allowed for me, it should be allowed for everyone. In my opinion, it's a matter of the player submitting his maneuver list to the Game Master for approval before the game starts - as should be done with spell lists and everything else.

But on the other hand, I don't feel very comfortable when people read "Tome of Battle" and think about maneuvers from the desert wind, devoted spirit and shadow hand disciplines. Those three disciplines have a lot of supernatural material alright, but over 70% of maneuvers are actually "you pick your weapon and strike your target", plus an additional effect like disarming, ignoring damage reduction, dealing a little strength damage etc. I think someone who compares martial maneuvers to magic is completely DISRESPECTING the power of magic. It's like a mighty Phoenix getting envious of mere fish.

[BavetteOfAgony]

I am not saying others cannot use it.

I will REPEAT MYSELF then... You can cheat me. Do it. Choose the book, do a fightan mage. I am not god, not your father. I deserve respect as a GM but that is all. I am also mature, you will not offend me working on my back if that will be good for the game.
Anyone should do what they hadve to do. Please, be smart. It is not a rule, you don't need to, but you would want to.

Also, people. This game is horror and nightmare. It is designed to be chalenging and very exhaustive, full of twists and surprises, also the good HnS.
I like to spoil, so... There is going to be a fairly known vilain. Try to guess who and gain a candy.

[ark7]

Then I will follow your own advice. Here is my list of maneuvers and stances:

Level 1:
Vanguard Strike (s)
Crusader's Strike (s)
Charging Minotaur (s)
Bolstering Voice (sn)

Level 2:
Tactical Strike (s)
Mountain Hammer (s)

Level 3:
White Raven Tactics (b)
Roots of the Mountain (sn)

Also: Disarming Strike, Wall of Blades and Mithral Tornado (yes, I took the Martial Study feat 3 times).

[DJDizzy]

Hmm... I will pick lords of madness, simply because I can. And mindflayers ftw.

[Vile Lasagna]

I will pick lords of madness.

DO NOT TEMPT ME, FRODO!!!!!

[Rettu Skcollob]

Hmm... I spent a little while last night thinking up a character concept, and the idea I finally settled on was

A Beguiler; a woman who as advisor, diplomat and consort had ruthlessly manipulated scores of powerful people in order to advance the cause of whatever lord or lady that was her patron at the time. As of recently, however, (as occasionally happens when under the command of the more renowned evil employers she has known) a band of good-hearted adventurers while in the Underdark stormed her masters tower, having heard tale of his malicious exploits.

It didn't bother her too much, since she supposed she could find a new master or mistress who had need of her talents easily enough. However, this time was different, in that she was in an inhospitable environment, and her talents were quite ill-suited to survival in such a place. A solution was easy enough, of course: Manipulate the very party that killed her former master into 'rescuing' her and taking her back above ground.

However; one member of the party, Kiras, the Bard, took something of a shine to her, even more than she was counting on. Cold-hearted as she was, while the party travelled up, dutifully delivering their passenger to the surface, he began to... Well, get to her. She found himself less cold to his honeyed words, less resistant to his advances. He began to fascinate her; as he shared much the same gifts as she, but was pure and innocent where she was tainted and ruthless. Though she would never admit it, she supposed she began to love him. That they would lie together before their journey was through was somewhat an inevitability.

In the morning, however, he was gone, along with his companions, to return to the Underdark. She had learned on the way that their toppling of her powerful patron was merely a diversion; that they truly sought to go to one of the most dangerous places on the material plane: The Lowerdark. Of what they sought, they refused to tell, perhaps because they believed her to be merely a girl, not guessing at her talents, or perhaps they simply dared not speak of it.

She went back to her old trade, of course, but for the first time in her life, she found herself... Longing. After a month, she could take it no longer, and resolved to follow him, soon finding herself at a crossroads in the most frightening place she had ever been. And, the consequences of her tryst may be more than she knows...


How'zat? That should cover some backstory and my plot hook, I'll edit in some more stuff later, probably.

HP (1d6+1): 5,5,7,5,4,5,5,7,6,5,5,7,6
Rerolling three that were under average
4,7
Rerolling 1 more
6

That makes 89 HP.

[BavetteOfAgony]

Rettu, you are a genius, my friend!

It is beautiful and, as far as I am concerned, everything is quite peachy. You can bring a sheet as soon as you feel like it.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Rettu, you are a genius, my friend!

It is beautiful and, as far as I am concerned, everything is quite peachy. You can bring a sheet as soon as you feel like it.

Really? I'm glad you like it. :smallsmile: It should give me a lot of fun RP opportunities, and you a lot of potential plot to work with. I'm working on the sheet as I type.

[Averagedog]

So far I want to do something with Kensai, though I don't know how the signature weapon would work with our current magical item restrictions.

edit
are there multiclassing XP penalties?
]
edit edit
current tentative build, hexblade 3, fighter 2, kensai 10.
race: probably human, I might go with something more exotic.
plot hook: I will most likely go for the artifact one.
background: I'll have to think carefuly about it to make some sense of why a hexblade would become a kensai without sounding like a cheesey rip-off of different fantasy heroes.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Got a good chunk of the sheet (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=166754) done

[Rettu Skcollob]

Also I'm something of a gambling man, so I'm going to take the 7 random medium items. Generating from the DMG 1 random magic item chart. It's easy to fluff as to how she got any that aren't very useful, I can just say she nicked them while on the way out of her former master's place.

Form of item

1 [roll0] Scroll
2 [roll1] Weapon
3 [roll2] Ring
4 [roll3] Potion
5 [roll4] Wondrous Item
6 [roll5] Potion
7 [roll6] Ring


Item itself


1 [roll7] Level 3 Scroll, caster level 5
2 [roll8] +3 Weapon
3 [roll9] Ring of Major Energy Resistance
4 [roll10] Potion of Owl's Wisdom
5 [roll11] Bracers of Armour +3
6 [roll12] Potion of Reduce Person
7 [roll13] Ring of Protection +2


Now, do you want me to roll again to determine what specific weapon or scroll I get?

[Rettu Skcollob]

Now, do you want me to roll again to determine what specific weapon or scroll I get?

If so

Weapon
[roll0] Uncommon Weapon
[roll1] Dwarven Urgrosh (OH LAWDY)

Scroll
[roll2] Divine Scroll
[roll3] of Prayer

[Averagedog]

wait... if we do roll randomly are we using the forum roller or the roller BavetteOfAgony wants for the game?

[Rettu Skcollob]

wait... if we do roll randomly are we using the forum roller or the roller BavetteOfAgony wants for the game?

Ah, right, we were going to be using the Wizards roller. Sorry, my bad. That'll teach me to think during the morning. Well, I can re-roll them if that's necessary.

[Vile Lasagna]

Avergaedog, might sound like I'm just making propaganda of a book I want to use but take a look at the feat "Ancestral Relic" from BoED. Might help

also: Oh yeah, I'm liking your char as well Skcollob

Also also @Bavette:

I don't understand your main post edits, what do you mean, anyone can use any books freely but me and Rigatoni are restricted? I'm confused now

[ark7]

Rettu, I love ye man! Awesome character concept, really.

Since I can't contain myself and I don't want such a good character to die, I'll suggest you also pick the skill tricks that improve feinting, they can give you a small edge at surviving, without messing up with the character concept.

Just add me at msn if you wanna chat any time: yuko_arker (at) hotmail (dot) com. This also applies to others who wanna chat =P

(Edit: I can give tips and maybe suggest a class or some feats, but I don't make builds for people anymore, don't add me at msn for that purpose, though asking for advice is OK.)

[Rettu Skcollob]

I'm glad everyone seems to like my character concept. :D It should be fun to role-play her with you guys, I'm hoping.

As for surviving, you're right Ark, this game sounds like it's going to be a bit deadly. I took Submissive Demeanour, which would protect her against spellcasters, but if she ever gets into melee combat things could turn bad. So I'll drop SF: Illusion to get True Submissive. (I figure that she's not actually like that, but she's willing to appear that way to keep herself out of combat) I lose the benefits whenever I cast a spell or make a similarly threatening action, but since I have Conceal Spellcasting... I'd still probably be depending on you guys if we get into combat, though. Just nudge me when it's diplomancing time. :P

Also you may have by now figured out what book I chose. I'm not a pervert, I PROMISE, lol. And it's not a large part of her character, either. And yes, I asked the DM 'specially for permission :P

Also, sidenote: I hope we get to pick up some armour soon after we start, her AC is critically low, though that ring of protection/bracers of armour will help if I'm keeping them.

[ark7]

True Submissive? Is it just my sleepy eyes or did you pick BoEF? I find I like you more and more XD


I'd still probably be depending on you guys if we get into combat, though. Just nudge me when it's diplomancing time. :P
Oh my, could it be we have a party? It gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling inside :3

(Edit: I, on the other hand, AM a pervert, although this time my character isn't anything remotely close to that =P)

[Rettu Skcollob]

(Edit: I, on the other hand, AM a pervert, although this time my character isn't anything remotely close to that =P)

Well it's a fun roleplaying opportunity either way. :smalltongue: Just kidding

I figure that sex is just one more way to manipulate people for her, (particularly with some of the more interesting spells from the BoEF, which I've been okayed to add to the list. Awesomeface.jpg) but I'll try and keep it as quickly fading to black as possible for NPC's, and to avoid it with PC's, unless I have explicit permission, and know how far you want to take it (Please don't let anything she does freak you out, I was pretty hesitant to take the BoEF for that reason). Her emotions are going to be one of the most interesting things to roleplay, and she's never been in the emotional state she's in now before.

[ark7]

Let's just role-play and see where it goes =P

Later today I'll probably add my character's personal part to mine and Lasagna's joint prelude :3

[Rettu Skcollob]

Let's just role-play and see where it goes =P

Later today I'll probably add my character's personal part to mine and Lasagna's joint prelude :3

Haha, no worries. I'll be interested to see your guys' crunch/fluff when you post a link to your sheets.

[BavetteOfAgony]

Lasagna, try to not take it personaly. I wanted everyone to make characters that would be FR friendly. That is why I restricted the books.

I know you and Rigatoni have the same amount of source that I have and you guys clearly misuse it. Rigatoni and you don't even know how to use a Mantle or a Spell Wardrobe, or what the benefits are to use Craft Scepter or even what Tattoo Magic do.

You guys just try to get something nice and graft it on a world full of wonder. I try to make everyone understand the wonder that is already there, and that is why whoever have the books to use FR material WILL use them. Who doesn't can't* use any book, since this people obviously do not know FR trough the RPG books, what is exactly what I am presenting here.

Made myself clear?

[BavetteOfAgony]

Also, happy to see everyone doing fine together, even with character/alignment diferencies. :smallbiggrin:
That is what I wanted from the begining.

Rettu and Avaregedog... Sheets were accepted. When done, send it in, I will save it on faves.

And the magical itens are okay Rettu. :smallsmile: Loved the fact you cast Cheat, a level 1 spell.
You will use the wizards roll, yes, inside the game. For deciding magical items and random stuff on the begining I will not be picky.


EDIT: Don't worry Avaregedog, there is no XP penalty for multiclassing. And I liked the fact you chose Kensai, I was trying to make a character with this class myself. Not so many oportunities, however.

I should tell you, you can be any race you wish, but you should PM me for details. For rage reasons.

EDIT EDIT: About the signature weapon, it is EXTRA. You can have it outside of your range, but you still need to pay for it. It can be any masterwork item you would had when you where a young Would-be Kensai. The price for Masterwork items, however, went to +500gp, so there.

[Averagedog]

BavetteofAgony, the stats you listed do not match with each other point buy wise. was there a particular point buy you wanted us to start with?

the lowest one is at 37 PB while the highest is at 39.

Magical Item Rolls Categories:

Roll(1d100)+0: Wondrous Item
91,+0
Total:91

Roll(1d100)+0: Staff
66,+0
Total:66

Roll(1d100)+0: Wondrous Item
90,+0
Total:90

Roll(1d100)+0: Weapon
20,+0
Total:20

Roll(1d100)+0: Ring
40,+0
Total:40

Roll(1d100)+0: Wondrous Item
84,+0
Total:84

Roll(1d100)+0: Armor & Shields
2,+0
Total:2


Results Rolls Assuming everything is rolled:

Armor & Shield:

Armor Or Shield:
Roll(1d100)+0:
78,+0
Total:78
-Special ability and roll again

Roll(1d100)+0: Special Ability Roll
90,+0
Total:90
-Moderate Fortification

Roll(1d100)+0: Armor Roll
42,+0
Total:42
- +3 Armor

Roll(1d100)+0: Armor Type Roll
49,+0
Total:49
- Breastplate

Weapon:
Roll(1d100)+0:
13,+0
Total:13
- + 2 weapon

Roll(1d100)+0: weapon type
79,+0
Total:79
-Sword, bastard

Ring:
Roll(1d100)+0:
8,+0
Total:8
-ring of mind shielding

Staff:
Roll(1d100)+0:
47,+0
Total:47
-healing

Woundrous Items(3):
Roll(1d100)+0:
42,+0
Total:42
-cloak of Arachnida

Roll(1d100)+0:
49,+0
Total:49
-Amulet of health +4

Roll(1d100)+0:
53,+0
Total:53
Cloak of Charisma +4

[BavetteOfAgony]

No, it's right. I didn't set point buy wise stats. But I am bringing in any stats from 37 to 39 points buy anyone want to offer me.

The reason to set the players stats is that you already got 4 points as a 16 level character, and many EXTRA bonuses I will give you guys on the run. Nothing like tome of [stats] +6 but some things as a Belt of Giant Strength will be included.

Don't worry about stats so much on the begining. Try to chose one of the 4 I indicated or make one from 37-39 point buy and show me for aproval.

[Averagedog]

ok, I made a PB at 38

18/15/14/14/10/8

i also rolled magical items and editted that into my last post.


Roll(14d10)+0:
1,9,9,10,6,8,6,3,7,3,3,4,1,4,+0
Total:74

rerolling less than average...

Roll(7d10)+0:
9,1,3,10,10,9,8,+0
Total:50

rerolling the 1 and 3.....
Roll(2d10)+0:
10,9,+0
Total:19

total:120 hp

[BavetteOfAgony]

Stats Accepted.

The Amulet of Health, Cloack of Charisma and Staff of healing, however, were not so lucky. Roll everything again for those 3 and the rest is okay. I am reluctant about the Ring of Mind Shielding, but you can keep it. Without rolling cheat this time and my gaze will be averted.
EDIT: HP accepted.

[Averagedog]

will do, I wille dit the results in this post.

Roll(3d100)+0:
99,92,84,+0
Total:275

Tome of leadership and influence +1
Helm of telepathy
Cloak of resistance +5

I'm gonna go out on a limb here and think that you do NOT want the helm of telepathy or cloak of resist + 5 :P

edit: I rolled my HP n that last post.

[BavetteOfAgony]

Nothing against the helmet...... I will regret saying this. :smallsigh:
The tome makes me chill, but +1 is ACEPTABLE.
Also, the cloack +5 is not so evil, but if you want to keep it, reroll the armor properties.

[Averagedog]

I can't pass up a + 5 cloak :P


...Roll(1d100)+0:
85,+0
Total:85
- moderate fortification again....

I took the liberty of rolling again.

Roll(1d100)+0:
4,+0
Total:4
-glamered

sweet, I could look like I'm walking around and fighting in a tux.

[BavetteOfAgony]

Hahahahahaha Glamered is acceptable. Liked it.
Use it with caution, however. It could be a card on your sleeve. The card.

Everything was accepted, Avarege, welcome aboard.

[ark7]

Lasagna, try to not take it personaly. I wanted everyone to make characters that would be FR friendly. That is why I restricted the books.
No problem with the restriction. But what do you call "FR friendly"?


I know you and Rigatoni have the same amount of source that I have and you guys clearly misuse it.
Don't lob me in on that one. I thougt we had already talked about this. Yes, I made my mistakes, but I have learned my lessons. I feel very bad when you bring up this sort of thing publicly. Everyone has something they're ashamed of, and you're no exception. Don't make other people judge me based on your personal views. And I'll not warn you twice.


Rigatoni and you don't even know how to use a Mantle or a Spell Wardrobe, or what the benefits are to use Craft Scepter or even what Tattoo Magic do.
Naturally. Because if I ever feel like making a character that uses those things, I can just go and check the mechanics. As I have told you before: First, I make the character, then I check the mechanics, NOT the other way around. Don't bull**** me, Fredo, you're making a clown of yourself.


Made myself clear?
Ass, I mean, Yes. I shall hereby remove Crusader from my character sheet and erase all traces of Tome of Battle with flames, if it will appease your fickle ego, Oh My Abyssal Lord.

[Vile Lasagna]

Actually, suddenly I AM offended, and severely at that. I won't say I'm instantly ragequitting but yeah, I'm close to that. Things from here on, RIGHT NOW have three possible outcomes as I see it:
1-> kthxbai
2-> knock-lock; gg;
3-> What's that? Quintessential Chaos Mage, you say? Oh, I see...


So.. yeah... u.u

Also: Rigatoni may play the diplomatic one but I will not admit to material misuse, and I'm not sure I tolerate this kind of talk once more, actually

[BavetteOfAgony]

Wasn't expecting the 2 overlords to jump into rage SO soon... Let me apologize, as my life is in danger.

1: I want to say I am sorry, Lasagna and Rigatoni. I didn't wanted to expose you too much, it was a mistake of mine. Sorry again.

2: FR friendly, what it is?
There is something created over the round of years, by a man Ed, who also wrote thousands of books. This guy made a game, using only the core material for D&D and updating 'little things' here and there to create huge wonders. That is Forgotten Realms.
Ed, however, didn't foresaw the creation of books as ToB and Magic of Incarnum, neither he saw the upcoming of Tome of Magic or any other of this kind of New Suplemental Rules. Those things, sometimes CAN be used. True Name for example is very well known in Faerun and is fairly ACCEPTABLE.

Tome of Battle, however... Well, first, it has its OWN history. That I find charming, but it does not, in any way possible, fit in FR background. Neither does things as magic of Incarnum. Those things are adaptated to fit and it takes unworthy work.

@Lasagna:
If you wanted to make a Chaos Mage I would totally allow you to. Really. Chaos Magic is something fairly explored in Faerun, as is Shadow Magic and even BINDING! For gods sakes, the strangiest thing ever.

@Rigatoni:
I am sorry to put you in that. I didn't meant offense, I was only generalizing. I am sorry, shouldn't had done that.

Incarnum and Fightan Magic are more complicated and that's why the both of you are exceptions. Don't make it personal, I told you.
Also, drop the rage. I am not changing my view toward FR flavor only for the both of you create characters.
I can accept Psionics, True Namers, Binders, Shadow Mages, Chaos Mages, Bloodied Shamans, and any variant of spell and supernatural existence... You could even do a freaking Nethereze Arcanist that it would be okay. Don't come to me with rage because I am being unfair. You chose your character, deal with it the best way I can, you only write one sheet to play, I write thousands of those and have to modify more than half everytime something exceptional shows up.

Once more: Drop the subject. If you want to complain, do it on PM, e-mail or msn. I want this place clean.


EDIT: I am sorry everyone have to see this. Really. Will not happen again.

[Hyperion]

Khazar- (http://www.coyotecode.net/profiler/view.php?id=7568)


Khazar was born like many of the Thayan nobility among the red wizards hierarchy. Of course, he wasn't born with magical secrets, the horror of sorcerers in Thay is something most children would never want to experience. Like many children, Khazar went through the rigorous training of the wizards, in Thay, learning to use magic was essential. You couldn't hope to be more than slaves or skilled worker if you didn't hold the power.

Khazar early on, knew that he would have to do anything to survive. As a young wizard, Khazar understood what had to be done, when for example his slave stole some bread. He was the one to put him to death, any infractions wouldn't do and showing how ruthless you were, was the only way to be left alone by other red wizards.

For many years, after entering the rank of Red Wizards, Khazar followed his master orders, knowing that he wasn't powerful to scheme against him. Our young mage even entered the infamous griffon red wizard squad, flying on the back of those magical beasts and providing assistance.

One day his master attempted to cross another more powerful red wizard, Khazar took advantage of this occasion to form a new alliance with the more powerful one. Selling his master plans and making sure that everything was set up in a way that wouldn't incriminate him. It didn't take longs for higher powers to notice him.

His missions grew more and more important, sending him around Thay with the merchants. The trade of magical goods was essential for Red Wizards to hold power and reign other every little nations in quest of the quick power up.

From time to time, they would encounter group of heroes, who claimed to be here to stop their schemes. Khazar often played the role of the fragile man for awhile, until he had them where he wanted and transformed into hydras and shred them to pieces one by one.

When he was call back to Thay and summoned to Thaymount, Khazar was even more surprised. With all the years out there, he had grown in power significantly fought his way through schemes of his own people and do gooders thinking every red wizards was evil.

The summon came from the most powerful Zulkir of Necromancy, the undead leader of Thay. All the undead legions were under his control, his powers couldn't be measured by mere mortals.

Szass tam commented Khazar on his cleverness and sharp instincts, he had seen better over the years but still, this young great leader had proven, that his ambitions pushed him beyond just the average mage out there and maybe he could count on him.

Khazar was to take a couple of slaves and head to through the underdark. Was it a test or just some other red wizards merely trying to get rid of him? The wizard couldn't tell, taking the pouch, Khazar went to the market and gathered a group of slaves, 4 of them. He needed to keep the group small yet essential for some services.

He headed to the Underdark, as soon as he gathered his gears, now the adventures began.


By the way, I was writing it down then just realized, what does Szass Tam want me to do exactly down there?
I still need to put down spells and skills, which I will start right now.

[Averagedog]

On a non ragey note, is there a part of FR that can accommodate catfolk? I want to make sure that a character I make will not be too out of place if you guys know what i mean...

Well the basic skeleton of my character's background is thus and will most likely become at least 5 times longer by the time I'm finished:

Duke Brawsenhower, the Catfolk was born in a rather eccentric family. During the day they would pretend to be traveling entertainers, but were in fact practitioners of the more "sleazy" types of magic. His mother a Beguiler, and his father, a darker shaman. His parents taught him some of their magic even though he showed a much greater interest in fighting with the blade.

Fast fowarding to adolescence then adult hood, he became a fully trained hexblade and sought out his own fortunes in the world. It was then, while he was alone with his dark companion, he realized that he did not want to follow the darker paths anymore. He became a mercenary for hire and through his adventures, he met one of the most remarkable of lords and served him.

Only his lord was a dragon. His lord, a Gold dragon of great standing, waged war against the chromatic dragons of Tiamat and her spawn. he felt a calling to this fight then and devoted his life fully to it. His lord was pleased and offered to elect Duke to join his elite forces, the Dragonborn. He was warned he would lose almost everything that made him who he was in body, but his soul would remain the same in service of the Dragon Lord.

Duke went through the rites of the Dragonborn and as a Dragonborn fought his enemies with conviction in service of his lord. Duke faithful dark companion was a constant reminder of who he used to be even though he was no longer that person. His abilities to curse his enemies grew weaker as time went on, but never disappeared.

One day, the Dragonlord sent him on a mission to uncover an ancient artifact hidden deep within the bowels of the world by Tiamat's followers and was ordered to find and bring the item back to his lord. He was warned profusely of the dangers of the underworld, but Duke took the job willingly without remorse.... (plot hook 1)


If it wasn't clear, his name is Duke Brawsenhower, he isn't actually a Duke.

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Hyperion: Magical menssages will be delivered to you, with some other bonuses... I will send each and everyone personally to you (trough PM, mostly).

Because of your background, you have to get at least 1 rank in Ride (Griffon) skill. I know... but it is a requirement for the prestige position...
[You could change it to Ride (magical beast) if you wish]

The rest I will send you as PM.


@Avaregedog: There is the infamous Werecat of Sharess, Goddess of Cats and Seduction (... yeah). The Catfolk of the great Shaar, hunting people of strange heritage (some believe they were cursed on the prime of the world, others that they are some kind of bizarre experiment of Nethereze wizards). There are plenty of in-between of those and many more 'strange' things (as the Weenka, a half-lion half-elf people :smalleek:).

If you are inerested in anything in special, say it.

[Averagedog]

if you can point me to somewhere where I can read the lore, I can probably make it work for me. By the feeling i get from what you said, most of it comes from morally ambiguous origins :P, which is what I was going for for his heritage. I guess its another one of those Darkness to Light Gray characters.

as for dragonborn I know they were adapted for 4th edition but the third edition one which is from races of the dragon I'm not so sure.... Catfolk, mechanically are from races of the wild and are probably one of the best LA1 classes you can actually take I'm not going to lie.

I will be back in roughly 8 hours. time for some Actual pen and paper gaming :P

edit: in that game I'm playing This (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?t=111792) :P. Goliath Tatooed Monk. Fun times draconic feats are.

[BavetteOfAgony]

Well...
About the dragonborn guys: Dump it. The history is not even close to 4th edition and I want the wizards that live by the coast who created it to die in a fire. Really.
Want to consort with dragons I will show you the Cult of The Dragons and the Purple Knights.

If you want a catfolk, you can have one. Link its history to the goddess sharess and a Mulhorandi (egiptian) origin. I will find all the lore one could trace on this subject, but go for something like that and you are on the right way. If things get to worse, make a common character, a generic one (take a look on Rettu's character. He mentioned no names, no parantage, nothing. And yet it is prime material).

I would scrap a character like that (catfolks, dragonborns and hexblade.... simplely don't mix that well) but I am inclined to allow you to fix it in any way you can.


EDIT: Forgotten Realms Lore (http://forgottenrealms.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page) (Who didn't saw this one coming?) Everything you need is there. Search out the following key words:
Sharess
Cult of the Dragon
Purple Knight
Mulhorandi

This should sufice, but walk a little here and there if you want. Read something you might want to, search for things such as Kensais and curses, see what you can do about flavor.

[ark7]

@Bavette: Apology accepted. But I'll still remove Tome of Battle from my character, and the loss will be much bigger for the party than for myself.

@Everyone: Here, my personal part, as promised. I took this chance to also expand a bit of the history as well. A lot of this material was created by me and Lasagna, filling the gaps found in official lore after much research. Incarnum has been systematized (or grafted, if you prefer). The decision to make any of this history "official" for the campaign belongs to Bavette, otherwise it's just the way my character's church sees things.


Julius Aurimani was one of the last Azurin to be born, the children who carried a fraction of Amaunator's holy essence. Much like the Goddess of Magic would one day infuse her essence into mortals, so too did the Sun God centuries before. Although his special children held nothing close to the power of Mystra's Chosen, the Azurin were far more numerous and had the power to tap into the essence of their God to forge special arms and armor, seemingly on a day's whim, with which to fight the predations of those who would disrupt the balance of Light and Dark.

As an Azurin, Julius was inducted into the Holy Order and learned the dogmas of Amaunator from a small age. He was taught that Day and Night represented two essential facets of reality - there was no "right" or "wrong", each had it's purpose in the great cycle, and the servants of the Sun God had the duty of protecting the bright side of that balance. Still, Julius always felt himself drawn towards the virtues of the brighter side, rather than the duty of protecting the balance, so he decided to follow the path of the Paladin, a paragon who strives to uphold those virtues and set forth an example for other followers of the bright side.

However, shortly before the years of Netheril's fall, the holy cities of the surface, where Amaunator's major temples were located, far below the heights of that wizardrous kingdom, started suffering attacks by a cryptical outsider entity who came to be called the "Shade Lord", in the absence of a proper name. Before striking openly, that entity slowly perverted Amaunator's followers like a poison and turned them against each other, weakening the order from inside. When Netheril started to fall, the time was ripe, and the Shade Lord struck at Amaunator himself, who was denied access to the Weave. The Sun God sacrificed most of his power to banish and seal the alien entity, but he was mortally wounded and had to enter a trance, exiling himself somewhere in the lowerdark.

The final resistance at Amaunator's main temple was wiped soon after their God fell from power, but Amaunator gave his children a final boon, saving their spirits from the corruption of the Shade Lord. The souls of his faithful were dragged to the lowerdark, albeit a different location, and turned into immortal sun specters. The holy faithful erected a new temple, a final beacon of hope and light in a world dominated by endless darkness. From that base, those faithful set forth crusades against the unnatural darkness, believing that it was their duty to restore balance one day.

Julius was one of those who fought in the final resistance. As a newly-risen sun specter, he fought with the same vigor as before, and his war exploits against the dark legions of the lowerdark were many. However, after a few centuries, the weight of realizations slowly started to take its toll. He started to question his own ideals, because there were no followers or youngsters for him to set an example for - only immortal ghosts like himself, or terrible creatures who would quench all light if given the chance. Following the blows to his faith, came solitude, for neither his partner, nor his old friends or family were there to offer him comfort. Many centuries have passed, and Julius Aurimani stands on a crossroad of faith, sustained only by a stubborn hope (you could call it optimism) and his innate virtue.

Despite being a proud Paladin, Julius is humble and unassuming, maybe even a little innocent at times. He believes in goodness simply because he likes to see others smile, and is less concerned with law than other followers of Amaunator, although maybe that's the precise reason of his doubts in the first place. He hasn't abandoned Amaunator, nor does he have any inclination to do so, he is proud of his duty. But sometimes he catches himself thinking where did things go wrong.
Feedback, anyone? I'd like to hear it even if it's criticism.

[DJDizzy]

Character sheet made and PMed, just need to work on my background now... *groan*

[BavetteOfAgony]

Dizzy, something went wrong...
I received no sheet yet. O_O

EDIT: Yeah, my eyes are wrong. :smalltongue:

I found it DJdizzy. Don't worry. There are some holes, like HDs and some properties. When you get the prime thing send me again. :smallsmile:

Accepted. Dizzy is in da house.

Note: DJdizzy is so silent and quiet. I am kinda enjoying him more and more, god... Until now he is my favorite. XD hahahahahaah (Joke people. I don't have a favorite.........)

[Hyperion]

@ark7: I like it, mixing with the lore of the dead god actually makes sense with few people to spread around those teachings, only the few who learned it before are the teachers now.

Just some rolls.

let see hp rolls=
from wizard dice roller
Roll(15d4)+36:
4,1,2,1,3,3,4,4,1,1,1,1,4,3,1,+36
Total:70
70 out of a possible 96 hp, good enough more than average.
32 from con, and 4 from max hd at level 1.

[BavetteOfAgony]

Hype, reroll any dice bellow 50%, man. :smallredface:
Rules... You would die with a Power Word Death. :smalleek:


Edit: hummm Still not high enough. I will do something about it with GM power (that stands for Godly Meddling).
Everything else is peachy. Finish the familiar later and bring a separate sheet to me.

Question: Why do you use that sheet generator and not the Myth-Weavers?

[Hyperion]

I prepare Mind Blank everyday for such cases, one cast last 24 hours and immunity to mind affecting effects, of course I'll be screwed if the opponent finds a way to suppress the effect but well can't be ready for everything.

let see rerolled then:

Roll(1d4)+0:
3,+0
Total:3

Roll(7d4)+0:
4,2,1,4,2,3,4,+0
Total:20

rerolled the one from the reroll, so 85 hp total instead of 70.

edit: the coyote one? Dunno, it seems more convenient.

[Averagedog]

ok, Dragonborn has been scrapped, I will now work on what has survived.

This is going to be such an awesome game.


I'm using coyotecode as well....with the same reason of it being more convenient since it is the one I'm most used to. It also shows how much weight is being carried in a convenient box. Do you want it standard with everyone or something?

[Rettu Skcollob]

This is going to be such an awesome game.




I concur. :smallbiggrin:

I only have the latter part of Sereld's background done, I'll have to expand that a little, later today, to have her origins and such.

@ark7 : I'm liking it as well, sounds like quite an interesting background.

[ark7]

Glad you guys liked it =D

@Rettu :3

[Rettu Skcollob]

Okay, I finished the background, pending approval. I'll do description/personality shortly.

[BavetteOfAgony]

You know that you actually have to show it to me, right? :smalltongue:

Waiting for the sheet as well.


EDIT: Damn you, Drawmji's Instant Summoning, damn you to hell.


EDIT EDIT: Skcollob's Sereld Accepted. 'Elcome 'boarde, mang.

Note: Trying to keep small posts together. :smallcool:

[Rettu Skcollob]

Got a good chunk of the sheet (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=166754) done

:P It's on the sheet.

Edit: I think I'm done with Contingent spells as well, loaded up on a few of them, since we can't have magical items. I'd get a Wish or two, but can't get magical spells above ninth. My favourite one is that if she dies, the body will turn invisible, and she'll be resurrected 10 minutes after that, with 5 minutes to spare, so that should get her out of any tight situation. I was tempted to make a contingent spell so that she'd get teleported somewhere safe if things go down, but I decided against it, since I don't know how it would work in the lowerdark, or whether it would go against DM plans.

[ark7]

Here's my character sheet (http://www.myth-weavers.com/sheetview.php?sheetid=166901). The feats marked with "substitution" were taken in place of class features, as a pay-off since I had to remove crusader and didn't really have any other book I wanted to take. Anyone want access to an extra book in specific, like "The Complete Guide to the Fey" or something? =P

Here's the template Lasagna and I arranged. We picked Ghost (level adjustment +4), made some adaptations and stripped it of the cheesy stuff. Bavette had suggested level adjustment +1 then, but since I thought that's a bit too low, I've added some irrelevant stuff to make it +2, but I'm still not sure it's balanced (the physical immunities part bothers me, but you can't be incorporeal and not have them, it doesn't make sense). Opinions?

SUN SPECTER TEMPLATE
* Creature type changes to Construct(incorporeal), retaining other subtypes. Spells, feats and abilities that work better or exclusively against undead have no effect on a sun specter besides the effect it would normally have against a construct.
* No Constitution score. Replace all hit dice (current and future) with d12. You have immunity to effects that require a Fortitude save, except for effects that also work on immaterial objects (such as a transdimensional disintegrate) and harmless effects. You use your Wisdom score in place of your Constitution score for abilities and feats that are based on Consitution, but not for calculating hit points.
* Physical immunities: poison, sleep effects, paralysis, stunning, disease, critical hits, sneak attacks, being flanked, nonlethal damage, fatigue, exhaustion and ability damage or drain to physical ability scores. Sun specters also do not breathe, eat or sleep.
* Fueled by positive energy: Sun specters are healed by positive energy and harmed by negative energy. They cannot gain negative levels or suffer level drain, but they take 2d8 damage per negative level when subjected to an effect that would cause such a loss otherwise (Fortitude save for half damage).
* Etherealness: A sun specter can become ethereal at will (a full-round action), as if using the Ethereal Jaunt spell. When ethereal, the specter has a fly speed of 30 feet with perfect maneuverability (unless hin natural fly speed is higher) and gains a natural armor bonus equal to her Charisma modifier, but he loses this bonus when he choses to manifest physically (a move-equivalent action). When manifested, the specter does not gain the usual 50% concealment-like bonus that other incorporeal creatures normally receive.
* Ghost touch: Any item picked up while the sun specter is manifested acquires the ghost touch property. The item loses this property as soon as it's dropped or otherwise leaves the specter's possession.
* Restless: When a sun specter is slain or otherwise destroyed, he returns to life in 10 + 5d4 days. A sun specter cannot be raised back to mortal life by any means, but a resurrection or true resurrection spell can restore the specter to their ghostly state immediately. Sun specters are bound to the material plane by the vestigial essence of Amaunator, and they have been charged with the duty of bringing about the rise of that God. The only way do fully destroy a sun specter is to raise Amaunator first.
* Light at will (Sp);
* Resist Fire 15 (Ex);
* Low-light vision and Darkvision 60 feet (Ex);
* Level Adjustment +2.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Don't ask me for advice on rules brah, I haven't really got a head for balance and such. :S The only thing that worries me is the consequence-less resurrection.

[Vile Lasagna]

Coming back doesn't save us from suicidal missions we need to complete to achieve a seemingly unreachable goal. It's all about whether you can achieve your objectives or not, death is usually not much of a hindrance for any mid-high D&D party anyway. Except in extreme cases like Unname or full on party-wipes in weird planes and such.

Edit: Also, hoping to complete my sheet at last today after several setbacks of varied nature ¬¬

[Rettu Skcollob]

Also; I went looking for some character portraits. Unfortunately about half of them that suit are explicit, (some bordering on pornographic :S) so I picked some of the tamer ones. I'm not sure which one to choose, tell me what you think.



"One, two, I'm distracting you. Three, four. STAB HIM NOW"
http://i38.tinypic.com/5xl83m.png


"I better be getting paid for this, this pose is ridiculous.
http://i37.tinypic.com/2mot2ix.jpg


"Oh, yay. Adventurers. I'm rescued."
http://i34.tinypic.com/30lck28.jpg


Rawr.
http://i36.tinypic.com/e8jza8.jpg


"What? I told you I was going to go caress my balls, what did you think I was doing?"
http://i37.tinypic.com/141mqfp.png


\:|
http://i38.tinypic.com/inhll4.jpg


No comment. (Be glad I cropped it)
http://i37.tinypic.com/280tsoo.jpg

[Vile Lasagna]

Obviously from the 3 of them, the last one is the best XD

But yeah, I'd totally go with the completely harmless look&feel for you character. Didn't get to really look at your sheet, did you get any discreet casting feat? The less you actually "do" the best for you character I think. Ideally we'd go through the largest portion of the campaign without really being sure of which role you actually play in the party, besides doing some talking ("Oh, please! Have mercy on me and my friends! We are just weary travelers, seeking escape from this world of madness...."). Probably at some point we'd figure you as some sort of con-artist later on, but as a beguiler, if you can "hide" the fact that you actually cast spells, that'd be ideal =P

[Rettu Skcollob]

Obviously from the 3 of them, the last one is the best XD

But yeah, I'd totally go with the completely harmless look&feel for you character. Didn't get to really look at your sheet, did you get any discreet casting feat? The less you actually "do" the best for you character I think. Ideally we'd go through the largest portion of the campaign without really being sure of which role you actually play in the party, besides doing some talking ("Oh, please! Have mercy on me and my friends! We are just weary travelers, seeking escape from this world of madness...."). Probably at some point we'd figure you as some sort of con-artist later on, but as a beguiler, if you can "hide" the fact that you actually cast spells, that'd be ideal =P

Added a few more portraits. What's Discreet Casting from? I got the Conceal Spellcasting skill trick, which should be helpful as hell.

[Vile Lasagna]

I'm really talking about the kind of thing, really. There are quite a few options with feats and skill tricks and such. I'm fairly sure Ultimate Feats has something in those lines and.. Complete Mage has something like that as well, if I'm not mistaken.

Also: I'm still with number 3, and is 6 a trap or something?

[Rettu Skcollob]

I'm really talking about the kind of thing, really. There are quite a few options with feats and skill tricks and such. I'm fairly sure Ultimate Feats has something in those lines and.. Complete Mage has something like that as well, if I'm not mistaken.

Also: I'm still with number 3, and is 6 a trap or something?

Yeah, I think I like number 3 as well, actually.

Had a look in Complete Mage/Arcane, couldn't see any feat along those lines. Ultimate Feats isn't okayed by the DM, though. :P

As for being a trap... Alter Gender is a hilarious, hilarious spell.

[Vile Lasagna]

Aaluran = http://i621.photobucket.com/albums/tt291/VileLasagna/Awesome/awbig.gif

[ark7]

The only thing that worries me is the consequence-less resurrection.
The thing about the restless part is that, unless someone has resurrection (level 8 spell), it takes from 15 to 30 days for us to resurrect, that's a lot of time in a single adventure, which may cause us to lose the objective (aka "Time Out - Quest Failed!")

I vote for portraits #6 and #4. Number 3 I find a bit too childish, I picture your character with a more mature look. Oh, and I don't mind stuff "bordering on the p0rn", you can upload them to photobucket of something and send us the links XD

Also, I'm curious: Are you picking beguiler from level 1 to 15?

[Rettu Skcollob]

The thing about the restless part is that, unless someone has resurrection (level 8 spell), it takes from 15 to 30 days for us to resurrect, that's a lot of time in a single adventure, which may cause us to lose the objective (aka "Time Out - Quest Failed!")

I vote for portraits #6 and #4. Number 3 I find a bit too childish, I picture your character with a more mature look. Oh, and I don't mind stuff "bordering on the p0rn", you can upload them to photobucket of something and send us the links XD

Also, I'm curious: Are you picking beguiler from level 1 to 15?

Portraits... I can't decide now. I think maybe I'll just go the cop-out route, and say that they're just her at different times. :P Edit: I think I'll say she looks like #4 at the current moment now.

You mean 1-16, right? And yes, straight beguiler. Never really had a head for builds and such.

As for the pictures... Well, here's one, for reference.


NSFW

Conceal Spellcasting: Spell: Hypnotism
"Are you sure you want to attack me?"
http://i35.tinypic.com/2i1o23d.jpg

[Hyperion]

last one is pretty neat but then again you are a beguiler, so not like you couldn't switch your look anytime you feel like it.
#3 and #2 are fun.

[ark7]

You mean 1-16, right?

Yes, 16, sorry XD
I had '15' in my head because my character's gonna start at 15 due to paying off the level adjustment.

[Averagedog]

hmmmm, well my latest idea involved a factotum with knowledge devotion, but it appears we need a cleric or at least several scrolls of revivify, not that we will find any.

[Rettu Skcollob]

(I think) that after being okayed to add all the spells from my chosen book to my list that the Kiss of Life might be a valid option if resurrection is necessary...

(As Raise Dead, only can be cast on a creature that has been dead for 16 rounds or less, and I have to make a fort save (With a bonus/penalty depending on how well I know the target, from complete stranger to sexual pardner/lover) or take a negative level.)

I believe VL's rolling a Cleric, though.

[ark7]

I'm not sure he's the healing type (more like the smiting type), but any DnD cleric of some repute will have heal and a raise dead or similar spell ready.

[BavetteOfAgony]

As for the pictures... Well, here's one, for reference.


NSFW

Conceal Spellcasting: Spell: Hypnotism
"Are you sure you want to attack me?"
http://i35.tinypic.com/2i1o23d.jpg



Well... I am sure the name of that spell would be FLASH, as per see where her hands are going.
But the effect would be the same, so...


EDIT: I kinda liked the 3rd picture too. This last one, however, is win as only Rojo can be...

If you want it to be official, link a cropped version on your sheet and I will oblige every NPC to see you that way, if no illusion is applied (In that case, a description of the new appearance would be handy, pictures are also a good bet).

[ark7]

I'm just about finished, so now I'm free to help with flavour advice and small build tips. Just don't ask me to make your build for you and everything should be fine =P

PM me if you guys need anything, or just for friendly chatting =D

Edit: Yay, wrote some backstories for my items! (this is called idleness)
"Quenchvow" Bastard Sword (Ancestral Relic)
Base Item: +2 Bastard Sword
Background: This sword once belonged to Ghervest, one of the Shade Lord's strongest blackguards. As the main temple of Amaunator was under siege and the Sun God fell from power, the paladin Julius Aurimani challenged the blackguard to a final duel. Even if the paladin had had his full powers at the time, the blackguard was still much stronger, so Julius was eventually defeated. However, as the blackguard's sword trespassed the paladin's heart, the blade tore a fraction of Julius' divine essence and was purified by his blood, being forever linked to his corageous sacrifice. The sword rejected its former master and destroyed him in the ensuing burst of divine energy. After the death of the paladin's mortal body, the sword was dragged with his soul to the lowerdark.
Properties: Quenchvow is normally a +2 bastard sword if wielded by anyone other than Julius Aurimani, but when in the paladin's possession, the blade weights and feels like a long sword (but still deals damage like a bastard sword) and acquires the 'Metalline' [Und], 'Sure Striking' [PGF] and 'Greater Dispelling' [PGF] properties. Moreover, the paladin can subtract a number from the sword's enhancement bonus to add that same amount to his essentia pool, similarly to the 'Defending' property (although the sword must always retain a minimum magical bonus of +1).

"The Empyreal" Heavy Adamantine Shield
Base Item: +2 Heavy Shield
Background: This hallowed shield was given to Julius Aurimani as a reward by an astral deva called Laerliiran, who had been imprisoned inside a magical device for over a thousand years. The paladin's crusading party of sun specters slayed the beholders who were in charge of the device and freed the deva, who in turn rewarded Julius with her shield and teleported herself back to Celestia immediately thereafter.
Properties: 'Empyreal' , 'Resist Lightning 10' [DMG], Adamantine.

[B]"Death's Bastard" Adamantine Full Plate
Base Item: +3 Full Plate
Background: This full plate was previously the possession of a Shadow Dragon called Xss'ilv'szallyia. After discovering the existence of this beast, the sun specters set about vanquishing it, however Xss'ilv'szallyia was too strong for the large (and inexperienced) group of attackers, and they were easily wiped. After two centuries of endless crusades, a specially prepared party led by Confessor Halblion managed to surprise and utterly crush the dragon, and Death's Bastard was found in its lair along with many other riches. A few centuries later, the armor was awarded to Julius Aurimani for valor in battle.
Properties: 'Death Ward' [CArc], Adamantine.

Everything within Bavette's rules =D
Did you guys like the backstories I made for the items? Or are they too arrogant or something (for a 15th-16th level character)?

[Averagedog]

Bavette of Agony, what is your stance on Item Familiars? I just realized that my current character has no means of seeing in the dark unless if he casts light from arcane dillettente and since we will be in an area below the underdark well.... I was hoping that I can have my familiar cast light or daylight using its abilities somehow.

[BavetteOfAgony]

I have no problem with Item Familiars, and sight is the first problem to face on a sunless land, so you are on the right direction.

If you want, you can even have the item cast sunlight, open a magical window to the surface and showering the darkness with sulight and/or moonlight or glow when a specified kind of monster aproaches (like Frodo's sword).

It is your call, and criativity earn extra points.

[DJDizzy]

Darkvision, the solution to all vision troubles.

[Averagedog]

Truth, but I've played way too many dwarves in my career as a dnd player. :P.

I will work on that item familiar then. It will be my armor.... not really a conventional choice if you think about it.

Goblin 1: Hey, do you see that light in the huge cavern
goblin 2: yea, it looks like a person. What's that that's glowing is that his armor?
Goblin 1: yea, what a moron. Lets go shank him.
Goblin 2: Sounds like fun. Lets go tell the Deugar, they hate light with a passion.

[Rettu Skcollob]

(this is called idleness)


Heresy GROWS from idleness.

[Hyperion]

@ark: for a level 15-16? nah, the good reference point that I like is the legend lore spell= any character 11th level is "legendary" which frankly I would say it's true. A level 11 character is strong enough to go through a caves of orcs or goblins and come back with barely any scratch or take down an ogre which you must compare to the commoner in dnd who has at most 3 hp or 2 hp and 10 in a stat at most...you are superman to them.

[ark7]

Heresy GROWS from idleness.
CHAOS is the only true answer...

@Hyperion: Thanks =D

[Rettu Skcollob]

O.O I just realised I get a +53 bonus on my Bluff skill when I use Glibness, and it lasts for over 6 hours if I Extend it.

I am looking forward to this campaign more and more, hurry up with those sheets, you two! :smalltongue:

[BavetteOfAgony]

Since I don't want anyone waiting for the juice, I am inclined to start the first part of the campaign; "The Dark Obelisk and The Artificer", which is primarely a set of choices, skill uses, decisions and one quick battle on the end. (I am also excited to start this up, but it wouldn't be fair to bullrush the players)

By the time the decisive battle starts (in a two post per day basis it would be no less than 3 weeks), everyone would be already done, so it will be basically skill rolls, decisions and some minor uses of powers before the rest can get on track.

Ark already told me his opinion, and I want to hear everyone's else now. It is just fair.

EDIT:
[Note: Since I did it for Skcollob I will do it for everyone. Anyone who comes up with a nice avatar and crop it on the sheet image will receive an item to make that image more credible and fitting. It is not an overwhelming item, but it will be a custom and unique special from me, so it will be handy. I will surprise, so don't come with Gandalf and spect to receive a staff.]You can end up with a hat.

Anyone who wants to settle little things such as personal crafts, from Craft (Poison) or (Alchemy) for an example, PM me and we will find a nice way to empower your abilities with such skills. Other customs, such as personal spells (like Zz'drits 2nd edition Flight spell, for an example) or anything else that you would find apropriate (improved thunderstones, acidic essences, tattoos of power, magical inks, etcetera) don't shy to PM me. You have the right to be unique.

Anything else you find that would help other players, or that might hold our interest, please post here.

[Averagedog]

I am a very busy person at the moment. Feel free to start things off :P and besides I think it could be plausible that a mere factotum who dabbles in the arts could possibly accidentally mishap on his teleport and somehow end up near the party.

It's simply the grim truth of the matter unfortunately no matter how badly I want to be in this game RIGHT NOW.

If I need something very concrete (like a character sheet complete with a background that is 80 percent done) by a certain date to be considered into the main party then I will have no choice but to attempt to make that deadline.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Ooh, awesome! Looking forward to it, whenever you decide to start. ^_^

Edit: And AD, I'm sure if you make the crunch it should only take you about half an hour, and you can provide the basic outline of background before you flesh it out. If you're having trouble thinking of anything, I'd be happy to discuss background links over MSN or something. :]

[Hyperion]

sound good to me to do this little intro quest.

[Averagedog]

Alright, I finally have an idea I fully understand in context with the lore of the Forgotten Realms.

Name Azwaith Aritzel
Race: Human
Home: Everlund
Deity: Selune

Occupation:Warlock I couldn't find anything useful from the 4th edition version of the warlock lore considering we are doing 3.5. So in 3.5 forgotten realms, to whom does a warlock sell his soul to that isn't inherently eeeevil? :P

[Hyperion]

frankly in 3.5 warlocks varies from the fey bloodlines to the fiendish ones, so for a good character, a fey trickery seems more likely. Should be noted that fey boths are good and evil, so really up to you how you want it to happen or you could simply be the classical good aligned warlock with fiendish heritage fighting evil knowing the darkness in your soul (yeah very typical but it works.)

[Averagedog]

fey sounds interesting, it gives the DM possible plot hook of possible conflict with the fey masters. There is one thing that I am confused about the good warlock cliche, if the warlock gave his soul to the Demon for power and fights evil that would eventually bring him in conflict with said demon, then why doesn't the demon just devour the warlock's soul at the first sign of disobedience?

[Hyperion]

because most of the time in 3.5, it's a heritage thing, the curse is still there but essentially most warlocks are like sorcerers it's because somebody in their family did it but they have no relations with the current demon.

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Avaregedog: Dear chairman, do you truly believe that evil is a happy-club? Do you believe they sing together and go do 'evil' things with smile on their face?
There are plenty of demons, devils and things... unthinkable out there. They are not friends, they don't like each other, if they could create an entire legion of paladins they would! Why? Simplely to see the other powers fall while they climb to higher ground.

Think about Demogorgon; he is twisted, have two independent minds that fight for only one body. What could be worse; One deafeating another or the both of them working together? The same happens to all evil, from the abyss to hell, from the Shadow Plane to the nightmare Far Realm.
They want each other DEAD. More than a reason to unleashe a do-gooder power on the middle of another domain.


EDIT: Evil, good... What is important is to take decisions, hold your ideas, create a personality and be who you are, be that a peasant or a king.

[Vile Lasagna]

Also, you seem to be particularly obsessed about having sold your soul and receiving your powers as part of a bounty granted by an evil overlord who will screw you at the end. That's a cleric of Cyric, not necessarily a warlock. If you take a good look, a warlock essentially is not very different from a sorcerer, kinda like Hyperion said. A person that has, for some reason, a rudimentary control over a very raw form of magical energy, kinda like the silverflame, in a way (but thank god nowhere as ZOMG). Then what happens is that Warlocks eventually manage to work this energy into some more complex processes and tricks, which are the invocations, but although having "unrestricted channeling", they end up having a very limited repertoire. What you have to ask yourself, if mechanically you want to go for warlock is:
"Okay, so why does my character wields magical power in such a raw and 'unpolished' way, as opposed to casting spells?"

(also: Although I'm not sure why it came to that I'm agreeing with Bavette. Chances are that, if you're evil, you'd make much better use of a good-aligned weapon (if you could use one), than an evil-aligned one. Every villain of some respect has had to topple at least 2 or 3 equally evil contenders for every silly paladin he had to deal with. Good guys usually don't have too much of a reason to fight with each other, bad guys do all the time)

[ark7]

waiting for the juice [awesomeface]


@Avaregedog: Dear chairman, do you truly believe that evil is a happy-club? Do you believe they sing together and go do 'evil' things with smile on their face? It's so fun when it happens =D
Pity it doesn't normally last very long. To tell the truth, I'm tired of that "evil fighting evil" cliché. But then again, it's a true cliché most of the time.


EDIT: Evil, good... What is important is to take decisions, hold your ideas, create a personality and be who you are, be that a peasant or a king. "Who cares about good or evil? What really matters is if they're 'friend', 'enemy' or 'food'."


@Averagedog: I agree with what Lasagna and Bavette said. Your character doesn't need to have sold his soul, but then again, what's the problem if he has? Or if someone in your family has sold his soul and you've "accidentally" inherited the hazards of the contract (together with the benefits)? Or maybe you're a warlock just because you have it in your blood and you don't even care to know why. My point is: What kind of background do you want to role-play? Decide what you want and then pick one of the back options so graciously provided by the other players, or make your own if you prefer =P

[Rettu Skcollob]

Yay, last exam finished. Now I'm really really looking forward to when we start. :smalltongue:

[Vile Lasagna]

Whew, my sheet's finished (at least finished enough). I'll upload it to Bavette as soon as I meet him or, if he prefers, upload it here. It's not like I'm keeping secrets as to what I do... well, not THIS time XD

Also: Seems I might be healy enough. I'll start with spells up to sixth circle and there's not much smiting before that. Except on Book of Exalted Deeds. That book failed so hard at being the "book of goody two shoes" that it's not even funny most of the time. It's 100% the Sisters of Battle kind of good....

[Rettu Skcollob]

Whew, my sheet's finished (at least finished enough). I'll upload it to Bavette as soon as I meet him or, if he prefers, upload it here. It's not like I'm keeping secrets as to what I do... well, not THIS time XD

Also: Seems I might be healy enough. I'll start with spells up to sixth circle and there's not much smiting before that. Except on Book of Exalted Deeds. That book failed so hard at being the "book of goody two shoes" that it's not even funny most of the time. It's 100% the Sisters of Battle kind of good....

CLEANSE PURGE KILL

You're a Cleric, aren't you? Could you not just prepare whatever you like and use your spontaneous healing to cast whenever we need it? Or do you channel negative energy instead?

[Vile Lasagna]

I still need to know what kind of spells I have available, there are more sophisticated healing spells that cannot be converted spontaneously and I'm actually not going to convert spells from level 5 and above at all.
(also all kinds of utility like healing ability damage, protection... blahblah)

[Dr. Nick Rivier]

Hi, everybody!

I've been invited by ARK7 to play this campaign, can I join you?

(Max here :smallwink:)

[BavetteOfAgony]

Gaaaah! MAX! Don't you fright me like that, you sneaky you!

You can play yes, my friend. Just hurry with a sheet and a character, everyone is almost done. Try to read the rules, they will guide you padawan.

[Vile Lasagna]

Sorry mate, it's all about Amaunator this time, no place for silly frolicking teenagers like that Lathander fellow 'round 'ere

[Rettu Skcollob]

Cool, more peoples, that's awesome. If you're writing your character background, feel free to hit me up on MSN if you want to discuss any character links or anything like that. :)

[BavetteOfAgony]

Starting DATE.

I am facing some family business right now, so I will be unable to post prior to November 22. That in mind, I see half players are ready and I am delaying the startup quite a bit here. I don't feel that it would be right.
And I won't do it anymore.


Start the gears of roleplay, my friends. Feed your mind with steam and prepare to get ready.

November 23 will be our starting date. Period. Finish everything you have to, PM me every detail where I can help.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Starting DATE.

I am facing some family business right now, so I will be unable to post prior to November 22. That in mind, I see half players are ready and I am delaying the startup quite a bit here. I don't feel that it would be right.
And I won't do it anymore.


Start the gears of roleplay, my friends. Feed your mind with steam and prepare to get ready.

November 23 will be our starting date. Period. Finish everything you have to, PM me every detail where I can help.

Alright, hearing you loud and clear boss-man. Looking forward to it. I'm free pretty much all the time, save on the 25th where I'll be extremely drunk, and 26th, when I'll be nursing a hangover and disentangling myself from the naked bodies of every male and female under 35 within 200 meters.

[ark7]

Hi, everybody!
I've been invited by ARK7 to play this campaign, can I join you?
The DM is involved in a grim family business of sorts (seeing his gramma). But please, feel free to read the thread to get familiar with the other characters and the DM's rules, and by all means DO start making your character. Me and the other players will provide flavour help and clarifications in Bavette's absence.

Edit: 11 11 11 11 11 14 14 14 14

[BavetteOfAgony]

Tomorrow is the day, people. I will post the opening and from that time on, this will be IC only. All OOC talk will be posted on another thread I will create.

Lasagna, try to give me a Myth-buster or another made sheet at that time or I will consider you will be lat for the opening. By that I will consider you arrived at the same time as Avaregedog and Max.

Avaregedog and Max will probably be late and will start when they are ready, no matter the party present location. This will put them both at a separate party that can, or not, track the others down and meet/reunite. The details will be released as needed at the time and posted here.


Talkin: Chose one color for your voice but use any combination of box to post your actions. There are just two details.

1: All rolls and mechanical information must be posted within [ ] regardless of success or failure. Example; [Sword Melee Attack 1d20+16 = 28 Damage 1d8+11 = 17] or [Fireball DC 18 10d6 = 34 damage].
Any sort of information to speed up the game, such as the consecutive damage rolls of an acid arrow, must be wrote on the post. If it is a secret, bear with it.

Note: Only a successful roll of spellcraft/psicraft [15+spell/power level] can identify a spell/power and its effects on the cast (otherwise, a knowledge-Arcana DC 20+caster level can be made), so don't try to use mechanical knowledge you don't have in-character. I will provide the knowledge via PM in any special case.

2: Use the [/spoil] tool to write anything that shouldn't be read but can be read (Such as a sneak movement or concealed spellcasting). Anything that is only for my eyes must be sent by PM. Or wrote with wit.

That's all folks. Thanks and tomorrow don't be late.

[Hyperion]

sweet, let's get this started.

[ark7]

I'll take indigo.


Avaregedog and Max will probably be late and will start when they are ready, no matter the party present location. This will put them both at a separate party that can, or not, track the others down and meet/reunite.
Hmm. You mean there will be two separate parties forever?

Edit:[Elminster casts fireball. Rolling 10d6: 6 5 5 6 6 6 6 6 5 6 = 57 damage.]

[Vile Lasagna]

THE PINKIE IS MIIIINNEE!!!!!!!!!

[Rettu Skcollob]

Dark red~..

[BavetteOfAgony]

First of all, here is the OOC (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?p=7367346#post7367346).




[First Chapter, The Dark Obelisk and The Artificer]


Terror of the Lowerdark.

Nothing can say madness, terror, horror and darkness convincing enough as the Lowerdark can. Spawning shadow pockets, asphyxiating air, toxic water, almost no food, uncertain tunnels, caves, caverns and halls, rivers of molten rock and acidic substances, lakes so deep that could pierce the prime material, pits truly unending, dreaded connections to Far Away places... Even death itself would do a wise move to watch his back while in this place. Most wise would be to never venture so deep, but the Lowerdark rarely speaks of 'wise'.

-You travel for days, trough narrow paths, ice cold rivers and giant mushrooms gardens. There is nothing on the right place; Water and food are not what they seem to be, light is an ever absent resource and the rarity of pure air is alarming. Sometimes you find in terror that the path ends abruptly on a pit edge. Sometimes the pit is the path. There is no telling to what terrors did you face to come all this way to this hellish place.
-But it is not the end of your journey.
-It is the dark beginning.



******


The Crossroad of Meetings

On the end of your tunnel, there is a dark obelisk. A mark of crossroads that unite hundreds of paths, you can hardly fathom how all this halls came together in one such place, a simple cave no higher than 30 feet and wide enough to fit an army. The obelisk was the only important landmark; Pure with ebony perfection, an sculpture so masterfully crafted that no artificer, no mater the skill, could copy it's work.
In fact, it is so beautiful and simple, so plain and honest, reflecting your image even without proper light that staring at it would lure your thoughts to regard it, to love it and praise it.
While your eyes flirt with the perfectly black surface you notice, almost by accident, an inscription that reads:


Thou back you shall watch, but avert not the eyes from the road. Prepare for there will be dangers untold.
There would be no hope. Thou shall know for ten times unfold; your death will wait on hold.
Those who think will go mad, those who fight will turn pale, those who believe will utterly fail.
There is no turning back, the way thou came down is the only way to go now. But brace yourself, I can save you all.
Disappointment and feelings of sorrow I can cast out, thus is the only sacrifice thou need to find peace at least.
Kill yourself now and write your name down, I will take care of your soul forever on mold.

-Crossroad of Meetings.



******


There are several names written, each in a different manner, on the obelisk's base. You feel a deep urge of sadness and despair as if everything was completely hopeless, all struggle had no meaning. Them you start reading the names and a feeling of peace fuel your soul. Some have messages for parents, friends and even travelers, others are plain and simple, and all of them appear legitimate somehow.
Some of the names are:

Korus. I will miss you, my love. Kiss them for me.
Debratham.
Ghonordorus. It is everything. Hold to it.
Pelta On'Howardir. Take everything, give nothing.
Mel'Tzarch Nitirilith. Be proud of you.
Ghervest. Fight the hardest.
Belaloth. A last round is worth thousand years.
Aramat.
Isaruh. There is no turning back. Jump.
Liriel and Fyodor. There are those who dream, and those who think.
Julian. I love you.
Loe. Me too.
Morugananom. Don't dare to fail.
Moran.
La'Doriam. For you, father.
Mina, Nerva and Olivia. We did not forget.
Elminster.

And there are many others, but your eyes are now dragged to a more important part of the text. Right bellow the list of names there is another writing, one that seems to represent the will of all names up there.


“We, who wrote our names, did not because we were defeated. We, who wrote our names, did so to defy this place, to defy destiny. We will strive on the darkest hours and fight to the end, and you will not claim us, dark obelisk. We are free and you are powerless to say otherwise.”

Even encouraging as the passage was, you are yet not sure if you should write your name down, this could be a trick of the Obelisk itself and a way to surge your soul. You are faced with this first crossroad, one that made you meet hundreds of people trough their names, advices, bravado and phrases; but one that can be your last.


The first decision is the toughest.
[All characters are compelled to decide; write your name or don't. A player character can convince another character to write his name down, but the decision must ultimately fall to the one in question. This would tell much about you, and this decision should not be taken lightly.]

[I am considering that everyone will present himself down here in any way he had chosen to come. It is up to you to what happened before you arrived at the Crossroads but you should take in account that everyone will meet here.]

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sereld, leaning on her gender-altered simulacrum for support, stumbles first through the end of her tunnel, reaching the chamber which holds the obelisk. She wears clothing that keeps her more or less warm while still designed to display her femininity, while her simulacrum is dressed in much more covering attire, complete with cowl. A ragged wound shows on her leg, dripping blood down her calf.

She extricates herself from the simulacrum's support, and walks towards the obelisk, examining it more closely. She reaches up and undoes a piece of thick cloth that obscures her face, her breath fogging in the air and mingling with the strands of mist coiling about her feet from the hot ground touching the cool air. She reaches out to the obelisk, about to touch it...

[Hyperion]

The man with his red robe was accompanied by various figures, the man had a hood on top of his head but this didn't make it any less obvious this person was representing the colors of Thay. Right next to him, were four humanoid figures, all cloaked in dark for the occasion and one floating figure not too far from him. The floating figure figure, was his familiar Gan, a spectator, someone he could have a conversation with.

They had to encounter a few creatures on their ways down but nothing that they couldn't handle. The Obelisk standing in front of him had various names, all kind of words.

He has a rod in his right hand and ponders about the words written in stone.

A challenge to the Obelisk? Interesting concept.

"Well, well..this should prove worth my time. Let see first what we are up against."

Like any wizards, proceeding with caution was always the key and he casts a spell.


---------------Buffs cast each day right after preparing spells---------
--Always cast Mnemonic Enhancer to get +3 spell slots. Used for 2 more 8th slots and 1 more level 7 slot
--Mind Blank: Immunity to mind affecting effects and divination for 24 hours.
--Extended Darkvision: lasts 42 hours (CL 21 for transmutation spells)
-------------spell just cast----------
Detect Magic if magic is detected, will hold it for 3 rounds to see what's up if nothing special about the obelisk, will stop concentrating on the detect magic action after one round.

[ark7]

At first faint and diminute, a speck of radiance is percceived in the distance. Slowly and steadily it gorws brighter and bigger. Soon, eyes that had given up on light almost entirely find themselves gifted with such a bounty of it that they are overwhelmed. As the light keeps growing, almost searing the blackness as it closes in, there is little choice except to cover one's sights, almost as if cowering in awe. In time, those standing by the obelisk fnd themselves embraced by that light. Almost inquisitive, it seems not to really emanate from a single point and rather, it's as if the shadows simply gave way. Eventually it seems at is softly dims as the eyes start to adapt and, within the platinum brilliance, a shape seems to form. Not quite a silhouette, but more like a piece of colored glass, it seems to be not bathed by light, and rather part of the light in itself.

Standing across the surfacers, there is a tall human-like figure clad in full battle gear, except for a missing helm. Were it truly human, the shining figure would seem very out of place in such a darkness-drenched realm, but the parts of its body that are not covered by armor denounce the creature's golden, somewhat indistinct and semi-translucent "flesh", if it can be called that. Indeed, it does look like a human, or at least how one would expect a human ghost to look like. It's body seems muscular, and the figure has a handsome man's face with strong lines. It's long unruly brass hair is darker than its "flesh" and less transparent too. The figure's copper-colored eyes widen as they behold the party, then the ghost turns its head and starts looking back and forth, in a mix of awe and consfusion. [This is me.]

[This is VL:]Slowly, another figure begins to appear from behind him. Much like the first one, it looks like a golden ghost, this one older. He wields a golden torch, burning with a bright flame, and wears a white robe, from under which pieces of silvery armour with golden details can be seen. His eyes glow golden and his head is encircled by a golden, unearthly radiance that shines even amidst the flooding light. He has short silvery hair and his stern but clearly surprised face is topped by a glass crown, with rays spreading outwards, through which the light seems to flow. Slowly he extends his free hand, as if wanting to touch the surfacers. It is engulfed in smooth flames, as if in cinders. Maybe because of that he stays and allows a smile to open across his face. He slowly opens his arms in disbelief, and with a deep voice, breaks the uneasy silence:

"I've dreamed and believed, for what seemed like an eternity... and the gods know my faith has faultered in the face of such despair. But on this day, dawn comes once more to my heart and I can see that the children of the light still live despite the madness of this darkness. Tell me, oh children of the light, what are you doing alone in the blackness? Has tragedy befallen your sanctuary, or do you also venture forth seeking to brave it?"

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Sereld: Your eyes meet the dark stone, your hands touch it. Cold and plain, you could swear it is the best craft of the entire world. While your mind drift you don't notice the bright light or the two small groups of outsiders entering the crossroads.
The quasi-soulless Simulacrum lean to your ears and speak in a whisper: "Mistress, we are not alone."

The sight of a small hooded party bearing the colors of the famed (or infamous) Red Wizards approach from north, or what you would call north [Survival DC 30 - can't use, Knowledge Arcana 20 - rolled 18].
That hardly is your last concern as for in no time two bright lights resembling twin suns descend from another tunnel. They walk and one asks to both you and the new found red wizards; "Tell me, oh children of the light, what are you doing alone in the blackness? Has tragedy befallen your sanctuary, or do you also venture forth seeking to brave it?"

Arcane Sight: An aura of evocation, transmutation and conjuration overwhelms you when you look at both ghosts. The wizard, behind the obelisk, also is full of magic, the same kind of yours. The slender figure behind him appears to also be a Simulacrum.



*****

@Khazar: Your sight reveals a bright aura, faint with both magic and power, but not from the obelisk's surface. Leaning back you notice two beautiful females so close that thus was a wonder you didn't noticed both at all.
One of the hooded companions of the red wizard perceived his lack of insight and overflowed with joy. The other three stood motionless, much broader and larger than the amused first.

The fifth companion was the strangest; a hoovering drooling orb, a lesser beholder with one eye and four stalks, each harboring another minor eye.
The bright light made the beholder hoover away and shelter in his master's shadow, cursing in an alien tongue [Beholder]: "Light in the Underdark? Had the world gone mad."

All his eyes closed, he had a desire to protect it from the searing harm the light could bring if he gazed directly at it.

Your slender companion would also do well to fear the light, but years and years on the surface made her completely immune to the searing pain. That alone let it glare the full power of that light.
The four broader beasts where not so lucky and coiled in disgust, protecting their hooded faces and cursing in a strange tongue.
Who speaks Gnoll -"Rrragh de sscorchin' brright 'urtss. Mak't sstop!"

The scorching ghost also speaks to your group, disregarding you as its leader: "Tell me, oh children of the light, what are you doing alone in the blackness? Has tragedy befallen your sanctuary, or do you also venture forth seeking to brave it?"

Detect Magic effects: This round you notice the magic about the two females, thin but present, and the magic about the two searing specters. Their magic is ever-bright as are them. No magic is present on the obelisk.
Concentration: Second round you will notice the overwhelming aura around the speaking ghost, the one with scorching skin.
Concentration: Third round you will notice the aura of illusion around one of the two females, the hooded one. An aura of evocation, transmutation and conjuration overwhelms you when you look at both ghosts.



*****

@Julius: You notice the larger group of hooded characters at one side of the dark monument and the small duo of beautiful females at the other side. One of the females appears to be hurt and the other seems to be tending to her.

The larger party is somewhat more threatening; [Spot] You recognized the form of a coiled beholder and the the vests of some kind of powerful mage of a wealthy house [Knowledge Nobility and Royalty DC 23 - rolled 18]. The hooded creatures are yet a mystery, but one of four appears to fear not the light but something is very amiss in her slender figure.
Halblion speaks for you, and as your confessor and priest you accept that.

Detect Evil effects If activated you will notice that the hurt female is somewhat evil, but not corrupt.
All five hooded humanoids have not one single trace of evil.
Halblion, surprisingly, looks utterly vile but you ignore that effect.


*****

@Halblion: While you speak and greet the groups of travelers you notice a hidden creature [Spot]. A beholder lurking behind the shadow of what seems a wizard of some prestige. You do not recognize his insignias and symbols but the feeling of magic surrounds it as light surrounds the sun[Knowledge Arcana DC 20 - rolled 8].

The second party, a group of two slim females appear somewhat innocent and helpless, one is injured but not in risk loosing blood. Magic also has something to do with the second female, but you cannot grasp what exactly.



*****

[Anyone is allowed to ask for a skill roll, spell use or power in the form of PM, OOC or just typing it inside [ ] or using spoiler tool. Any skill roll I find you would ask anyway I will roll for you. Powers of activation at will and always active I will also mention in the form of spoiler tool. With concentration powers; I will give a DC, if any, that you will have to roll, and the subsequent rounds effects and DCs, if any, as follow the example of Khazar's Detect Magic.]


[To everyone that is and will be present. The time is now passing; every action will be held preciously and one can take up to one full round action per post. One cannot post again before the GM (me) post, and for the sake of continuity I will consider some forfeited their actions in case of delay.
Sometimes I will act for an absent player, but I will always act toward neutrality (more of a zombie-like behavior) and only in rare occasions.
I will always interpret summonings, NPCs and perceptions (you act, I say what happens. Even if it is obvious) in my posting. Notice that I will inform (or not) when a spot/listen was made but not the DC or the roll of the dice.
I will also not inform you of your result, since I will mostly use modifiers that sometimes are not of your knowledge. You can do math yourself and notice any critical modifier presence, however.
Thank you, Bavette]

[Hyperion]

The red wizard among the group of cloaked figures look at the gnolls seeing them excited and the luminous ghosts were hard to not notice. As Khazar stepped forward to make his presence known and clear as the leader and put his rod right in front of one the larger figure to indicate him to calm down. Putting down his hood to show a human face with tattoos all over his bald head.

"I m surely not coming here for the wonderful sights of the underdark. You can call me Khazar and this is Gan."

The red wizard pointed at the Beholder hiding in his master shadow apparently taken by surprise by the light. His drooling was getting over his robe but frankly, Khazar had gotten use to it. Not like the smell of the Gnolls was any better.

"For the rest of them, knowing their names would do you no good. I am afraid that they only answer to me. Enchanted to meet you ladies."

As the Thayan turned around and bowed down at the women on the other side of the obelisk.

They didn't seem aggressive for the moment so far, he would give them the benefit of the doubt.

[Vile Lasagna]

Gone are the times of cats and dogs, I see. I am Confessor Halblion, harbinger of the dawn, faithful servant of Amaunator, vowed to bring light and hope to the madness of this world of darkness we have fallen into. This is Justiciar Aurimani, Bastion of Twilight, my faithful companion of many many years. It is a pleasure to meet you, oh weaver, however, if you excuse, it appears this lady has come to harm...
After making a small reverence to the mage, and seemingly paying little to no attention to his company, turned and approached the woman, kneeling beside her. His calm smile was reinforced by a warm and gentle glow that seemed to emanate around him now, as he slowly and softly spoke to her
Are you alright, child? That looks like a nasty wound. Would you let me have a look at it?

[DJDizzy]

In the distance you can see a hooded silhoutte slowly coming into view, it has a slender figure and walks a determined walk with an almost unnatural grace. Under the hood you can see a pair of clear white almond shaped eyes, looking as if all life had left them. As the thing gets closer, you can make out 4 writhing tentacles and various trinkets and skulls adorned to its clothing.
You get the feeling of fear as the thing nears you. As it gets closer you can make out its clothing and weapons. It is dressed in a slender dark red robe with various pouches and scroll cases attached to it, it carries a staff with a perfectly round sphere inserted.

"Well Well... What do we have here? Adventurers in the underdark? Foolhardy or just plain dumb? One can not know, and one does not want to know. However, I find that fact amusing that by pure coincidence we meet here, at this obelisk."

The thing snarls in a obscene dialect of common.

"Whatever you wish from me, Obelisk, I hold not what you seek, I am a inhabitant of these dark depths and the darker depths still"

The thing communicates telepathically to the obelisk as he circles around it staring at it intently

"However, lets not dwell on idle acquaintances while more dangerous things lurk these depths, this place is evil, my people knows of it, but knows not its purpose. My true name would be unpronouncable in your limited language, but you may call me Al'Hralirr, I am an Illithid or as you surfacedwellers would prefer to call me, a Mindflayer"

[ark7]

Following right behind the Confessor, Julius draws closer to the lady, but halts a few steps away, staring with a seemingly unreadable expression at the woman.

Onlookers can make a Sense Motive check: DC 28 - he is feeling aprehension; DC 38 - he is feeling pain; DC 48 - he is feeling longing. Sereld has a +10 bonus on this check since Julius is meeting her gaze.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Flattening herself to the stone as the others approach, Sereld's simulacrum stands protectively in front of her. They are both silent for a few moments, but as the new arrivals seem to be non-threatening, the simulacrum, altered to be male in appearance, steps away from it's mistress, as the luminescent man approaches. Sereld immediately takes control of her features: It would do no good to leave a bad impression on this group; particularly as it seemed to be entirely male.

She smiles at the Cleric, demurely, and speaks in a velvety tone. "Why, thank you, kind sir... It is most uncommon to find such selflessness at all, let alone here..." She draws up that slightly tattered material on her smooth leg, revealing the wound in it's entirety. She feels almost... Guilty, to be in the presence of one so overwhelmingly good, and cannot suppress the faintest of blushes. She chasitises herself, inwardly. Are you going soft? Stop occupying yourself with useless thoughts and feelings.

As the other scintillating humanoid figure draws closer to her, she returns his gaze, quietly. [Roll Sense Motive: Roll(1d20)+20: 12,+33 (21 mod +10 misc mod + 2 Male) Total:45] "Well met, warrior... There was something in his eyes...

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Khazar: This appears a circus of wonders. Surprisingly enough, a creature speaking in the most ruthless form of common had appeared from the darkness. You recognize it as a mind-flayer from books and previous encounters with the slaver race. It appears alone, what does not seems to drive the threat it might represent.
Gan hoovers quite disturbed. Turning away from the light to face the Illithid's and catch it in his magic sight, he communicates trough your link.
"Human, be careful. This one's thoughts are clouded to me."

The four hooded slaves regard the Illithid with fear, if nothing else. The slender figure tries to hide it behind a proud stance, but fails to hold her trembling feet.

One, the female, speaks in Undercommon to the beast of madness: "You, loathsome of the darkness. What is your business here, and try none of your tricks should you be executed on sight."
[Spot]You notice her hands shift, but can't define if it is a spell or just a signal.



*****

@Halblion: As much of flesh and blood anatomy is strange to your old eyes, you seem to understand the function of healing quite well; it is as a book you've came to read years ago, the memory is dusty and old but it holds together and with faith you can invoke the healing of faith.

Detect Chaos Effects When the beholder turns to look away, and face a line of sight beyond your own, hidden by the hulk obelisk in front of you, you notice the chaos corruption inside the wizard. It is not strong, however.

You hear a commotion on the other side of the Obelisk, but see nothing, as the black surface embalms your sight. You feel somewhat tempted to touch and search its surface... there is duty to attend now, however. Maybe latter...
[Post your healing as soon as possible]



*****

@Al'Hralirr: You perceive the eye stalker looking at you, and suddenly your supernatural senses detect a disturbance around you. Magic and power is... twisted in your direction. You can't detect or touch anyone minds and that is disturbing. Perhaps, talking to the eye orb would do you well.

There is also a strong presence nearby, you do not understand what it is or what it want with you, but it is trying to contact your mind. You can allow it to probe your thoughts or shield against it, casting it out. However, the amount of power it is using to contact you is not the entire it posses...
[Will save DC 16, you can choose to fail]



*****

@Julius: You notice a shifting glance of understanding on the woman's eye. Her hooded and slender companion seems strange, however.[Spot] Now, close to it you notice it is in fact, male, what is quite strange considering his slim proportions.
You also feel a dark presence nearby, a clouded one, ultimately shielding your ability to detect its heart.
Detect Evil: No Answer from the newcomer. The wizard reads as no answer as well, now, strangely. Behind him, behind the obelisk, you feel four vile presences, one stronger and three lesser one. You can't place them, you can't see them, but that was not what you received the last time you checked.If you have Int plus Wis modifier bigger than +6 you can understand something had shifted your ability to detect the hearts weight.

The sight of this newcomer is clouded as well, as the commotion is set on the other side of the obelisk, what hinders your line of sight.



*****

@Sereld: The ghostly paladin appears to... suffer? Is that right? You can't place it but it is something towards you. Bright understanding and yet a mist of doubt or uncertainty melt together in his golden eyes. He stares at you shamelessly and doesn't seems to be shy, a contradiction to his actions so far.
You also hear something, a commotion beyond the obelisk, but your Simulacrum seems not disturbed with it. It should be safe for now...



*****

[Dizzy, try to say less on Al'Hralirr behalfs. His nature is to be mistrustful and mysterious. Also, the color pains my eyes, but I see no problem when used with moderation. The same goes to Halblion, but since he is a preacher, I can only eat my own feet. :smallconfused:]

[Rettu Skcollob]

I should do the same thing as the wizard
Permanent Spells: Darkvision, Resistance, See Invisibility, Tongues

Casts the following spells every day in the morning
Mind Blank [8th] (24 hours)
Undetectable Alignment [1st] (24 hours)
Mage Armour [1st] (16 hours)
Nondetection [3rd] (16 hours)
Beauty's Caress [4th] (16 Hours ) +5d4 charisma enhancement =[Roll(5d4)+0:
4,2,2,3,4,+0
Total:15]
Hedonist's Delight [5th] (16 Hours) All cure spells cast on her are maximised, +2 on craft checks
Invigorate [8th] (16 hours) +4 Con and the Endurance Feat
Pheremones [5th] (16 hours) +5 on Bluff, Diplomacy, Handle Animal, creatures with Scent must make a will save to scent her when within range
Pleasant Dreams [2nd] (24 hours) Just gives pleasant dreams, protecting from effects that target them.
Extended Reverse Gender [3rd] (On the simalucrum.) (32 hours)
Crown of Veils [2nd] (16 hours) Gain +2 on Disguise and Hide checks, or +8 on a single check of either kind.
Just made the relevant additions to the sheet. Sorry, should've thought of this earlier...


"It is good to meet you all. Long have I wandered through the darkness, it is a great comfort to encounter friendly faces." Beholder? Red Wizard? And... Oh no, that really is a mind flayer... This is an opportunity, though... Perhaps I can convince this motley bunch to let them accompany me...

[Hyperion]

Khazar speaks with the beholder looking at the mindflayer thought their link.


"keep an eye on him. I don't like surprises."

His eyes look left and right and then speak with the slender figure among the cloaked ones by pointing his rod toward her.

"It's not necessary to do anything at the moment. A mindflayer, I would have said that I was surprised but mostly not, your kin is no stranger to those tunnels."

The red wizard must admit that he was a bit relieved to see some intelligent lifeforms beside his company.

The lady started talking finally and the red wizard turned around.
"It's always good indeed to see something beside stuffs that want to skin you."

[DJDizzy]

"You, loathsome of the darkness. What is your business here, and try none of your tricks should you be executed on sight."


"Do you think that you can even try to execute me? Your kind are to become slaves of us, We already have your kind as slaves, I see no record of you keeping Illithid slaves. But please try, it would be amusing at least" Al'Hralirr growls in a more refined version of undercommon


******



There is also a strong presence nearby, you do not understand what it is or what it want with you, but it is trying to contact your mind. You can allow it to probe your thoughts or shield against it, casting it out. However, the amount of power it is using to contact you is not the entire it posses...
[Will save DC 16, you can choose to fail]



Willsave: Roll(1d20)+16: 8,+16 Total:24

Mind Blank, Personal 13 pp spent



@Al'Hralirr: You perceive the eye stalker looking at you, and suddenly your supernatural senses detect a disturbance around you. Magic and power is... twisted in your direction. You can't detect or touch anyone minds and that is disturbing. Perhaps, talking to the eye orb would do you well.

"So, I see that you are interested in me? Perhaps to what do I owe it? Are you of use to me?" Al'Hralirr speaks telepathically to the eye orb

[ark7]

"Well met, warrior... Julius merely greets the lady with a nod, but before he can say anything his attention shifts to regard the newcomer and the... stranger group. "This doesn't look very good," the paladin thinks warily. The centuries had taught him that those who try to shield their hearts with sorcery are the least trustworthy. Julius takes a few steps ahead and positions himself facing the illithid and the spell-hurler, eyeing both suspiciously, but his sword remains sheathed.

"I would hear what business this retinue has here, if you people wouldn't mind telling me."

[Vile Lasagna]

Convert Faith Healing to Cure LightWounds [1D8 = 6+5 HP = 11] Unless [Heal 1D20 = 14 + 4 = 18] it is obviously not enough, in that case Find Traps -> Moderate Wounds [2D8 = (7+4)11+10 = 21]


After tending to the immediate distress of the lady, Halblion gets up. The light he emanates starts to burn brightly for a few seconds, suddenly blinding all once again. It quickly subsides once more.


Detect Chaos. Need to know who this Illithid-person-thing is


"Enough. Your kind is know for many things, deep one. Stupidity is not one of them, so I trust that by coming here alone you have some kind of parlay. I shall warn you that you will not feast on the children of the light while I stand watch over them. But so far I see no reason why we cannot be civil"

The despise Halblion once felt for the Illithids greatly subsided over the centuries. The truth is that there were no humans threatened by them, and large portions of the order were largely immune to their dreaded mind control. Though it was known that they feasted on and waged furious wars against the drown, those were beings that shunned the light and embraced the darkness, such that this was a world they chose for themselves and he couldn't blame the Illithids for eating them, more than he could blame a desert for killing an eremite of thirst.

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Sereld: [The spells will be added when you rest, for the rest of this day I will consider you with: Mage Armor, Altered Gender(simulacrum), Pleasant Dreams and Crown of Veils.]
You suddenly feel better; the ghost spells cured your injuries and healed your leg closed. A feeling that there are still things to attend to don't leave you, however. [Sense Motive rolled 11] The obelisk reflection is somewhat demanding... but you can't place your mind to stare at it now, with all that commotion unsettling you and your simulacrum.

"Mistress..." It tries to speak..



*****

@Khazar: Gan stalks and central eye are facing the mind-flayer with rigorous discipline, a duty he intends to care on. At the mental command of his master he nods briefly.

Gan appears to be communicating with the mind-reaper. You are not sure what to make of it.

The slender hooded figure seems insulted by the lone spawn of madness, she takes out her cowl to reveal the face of a noble drow priestess. How the wizard had put his hands on one is yet to be known. Although she wears the same vestment as the other slaves she doesn't seem as humble; with a prideful stance, only to be put down with the command of Khazar himself. She mutters a scornful phrase in an elven language: Elven drow
"There will be a day when the necromancer's silver fingers will steal your breath, surfacer..." [Knowledge Religion DC 30 (45 to surfacers and outdated study)]

The gnolls, all the three of them, are rather calm at the presence of this new threat. It seems their former masters lied to you about the creatures origins. [Int modifier of +3 or higher]They were mind-slaves of an illithid hive, only that could explain this calm approach.

You have not the time to amuse the idea since a bright light scorches the cavern from your back, and as sudden as it came, it dissolves in a faint brightness.

"Enough." Speaks one of the harbinger of light, obviously referring to the dark creature on Gan's gaze. The other question you for your motivations as well. He appears suspicious of your lot.



*****

@Al'Hralirr: The beholder's magical eyesight is still fixated in you, but it accept your invite to parlay.

Telepathy "How dare you judge my intellect? The bounds with this mage had granted me insight larger than any of my species could hope to attain. Do not take me for a simple beast, or I will drain your life and sunder your defenses, abomination. But, if you want to negotiate, I am open to listen to you."

You also hears a faint calling, something that you were sure you'd blocked out of your mind. It is... disturbing. Like thousands of voices as one alone trying to say something to you, however you are not sure what to make of it. Probably it is so powerful that it could digest your thoughts, to had pierced your defenses so masterfully, but there is no sign of aggression on its side.

Al'Hralirr thoughts drift to another direction when a sudden bright source of light take its attention elsewhere. Both ghosts of light are facing you, weary of your behavior, and question you for your motives. Suddenly, the illithid feels outnumbered.



*****

@Julius: Both the wizard and its gang and the illithid appears to be engaged in a sort of aggressive negotiation. They intend to pay no attention for now, but your request remains in the air to be answered.

There is something about that lady that will not let your mind settle for peace and concentrate. It is disturbing that this memory came to haunt you now, but there is nothing you can do but to feel the wounds opening... you realize that hope... hope is irrelevant. [Sense Motive rolled 7] You turn to the dark obelisk and feels its darkness sucking you in. Your face does not reflect in its surface, but the light reveals scriptures that tempt you to read.



*****

@Halblion: Detect Chaos readings You feel nothing. Apparently, nor there is chaos in the illithid as there are not on the 3 broader creatures. The wizard seems to had blocked your readings and the revealed drow is chaotic and corrupt to the core. Beyond salvation.

The ladies leg is healed, and you feel a warmth that you forgot you could feel. The feeling of healing a creature of life and mortality. It had been years, generations even, since your last display of generosity. There is something, however, unsettling you. The dark plain surface at your side, you notice it does not reflect your light. [Sense Motive rolled 1] Although not supernatural it is... perfect. You understand not the patters of stone but you desire the craft for yourself.

The Obelisk somewhat calls to your attention and you can read something scripted in it, none that you can read facing the commotion of the newcomer.

[Hyperion]

The red wizard responds to her in Drow.

"While I know the circumstances aren't the best ones at the moment but you should know by now that it is better to work for me than being the highly prized toy of the men in Thay. Wouldn't you agree? I don't suppose you enjoyed those times parading naked for all to see. Be grateful that I didn't give you a silent order and use your words more carefully from now on."


The light came back as strong as ever. Halbion and Julius wanted to have an interview with the new comer apparently.

"Well go ahead. Gan, let sir Julius and Halbion take care of the matter. Beside this, where are you all headed? I need to venture deeper and could use the company. My entourage isn't exactly the most talkative. "

[ark7]

Since the illithid and the beholder's party seem entretained with each other, I turn my gaze to the obelisk, eyeing it warily. It's my first time seeing this strange object. It's beautiful and masterfully crafted, but perhaps too perfect.

"Whoever layed this stone here, did it with a purpose in mind," I mutter under my breath-[Listen check DC 23 anyone interested]. "And it's stationed too conveniently, in a crossroad linking hundreds of pathways. For someone coming from above through that cave, it's almost impossible not to stumble upon this obelisk," I think, suspicious.


"Well go ahead. Gan, let sir Julius and Halbion take care of the matter. Beside this, where are you all headed? I need to venture deeper and could use the company. My entourage isn't exactly the most talkative. "

Distracted from the obelisk by the wizard's interjection, I reply: "We live down those tunnels, and our purpose is to vanquish the darkness that has overtaken the Land. And you, respectable mage, why do you wish to venture down the depths of darkness?"

[DJDizzy]

"Now, now surface dwellers, I mean you no harm, you may of yet be of use, as may I be of use in these dark tunnels" Al'Hralirr speaks in a crude version of common before turning his attention to the eye stalker


"Tell me, what do you think of these mentally inferior persons? I suggest that we form an alliance, temporary at the moment. Because surely none of these mortals are worth your time"

Al'Hralirr communicates telepathically to the beholder before mumbling something in Terran

Perhaps I can gain control of some of them, they may yet prove useful to me, although that beholder is a powerful entity and an alliance must be formed

[Vile Lasagna]

I shift 4 essentia from my Planar Ward to my Mage's Spectacles (+8 on Spellcraft, Use Magical Device and Decipher Script (sheet changed to reflect these changes))

"I am glad to see we are all again in peace. Tell me, oh children of the sun, what brings you out here in the darkness away from your haven? I must confess I had almost lost hope of ever finding survivors."

Halblion sees they speak the language of slaves (common), and wonders where they are from, and in what kind of fortress where they holed up in, maybe more important is why have they left it, the thought of the forces of darkness engulfing it before they could come and help troubles his mind. With the Illithid backing up to a more diplomatic state, he now gives a quick look at the obelisk, which has been troubling him for a while. He also sharpens up his eyes for any sign of treachery or witchcraft from the mage or the drow. Curiously enough, the mind devourer is possibly the least of his worries.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Cure light wounds is fine.


Sereld turns to her simulacrum, unsettled. "What? What troubles you?" With almost a visible start, she realises she might be in danger; and with the distraction of being wounded, she had forgotten to cast her usual protective spells: Not even her true nature was safe! She narrowed her eyes, reaching up to surreptitiously smooth down an errant hair - onlookers might notice, if their eyes were very sharp, (Spot DC = [Roll(1d20)+20: 15,+20 Total:] 35) her fingers twitching ever so slightly, a remarkably constrained set of somatic components.


Casting Undetectable Alignment

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Khazar: Now, the bright harbinger who speaks is the warrior. He gives you a wide and uncertain direction showing the tunnels they had come from, but his interest lies ultimately on the dark monument that mark this piece of the Underdark. The second to approach, the cleric, asks you a question most peculiar... innocent even. You dare to assume he does not understand what is a Red Wizard.

Gan is still eying the Mind-flayer, but his eye stalks turn to face you, Halblion's approach and a curious lady, half-hidden on the other side[Spot]. He tells you trough your link.
"Be careful, master, the small one... she is up to something."

Kez is completely displeased, her face went from a cold scornful expression to a red wrathful undignified semblance. She turns away to face the darkness and walk down one tunnel, trough her magical lash you understand she will be back because it is your will.

One of the broader figures start licking his fingers; you really don't want to know why.

Gan is now talking telepathically to the Illithid, he lets you know that.
"Okay, fiend of the darkness, what is your proposition? And tell me, why should I indulge with you when my master presents me with a magical hoard to envy the most wealthy of my kind?"



*****

@Julius: After giving the directions of your pathway, you seem to notice the young lady in distress[Spot]. She appears fine, but troubled, and her companion is very agitated, he seems... desperate.

You feel two dark presences gathering, both overwhelming evil, gathering around. You can't see them, but you can feel their grasps here. After you notice their existence, both disappear.



*****

@Al'Hrallir: In your mind the beholder seems troubled but still amused, and anyone here, any mongrel or mammal, speaks the Terran or have the gift to talk in your patterns. It would be easy to convince them to turn on each other trough deceit, but your feelings are being dragged elsewhere.

The beholder's answer hold not your attention more than the surface of the dark sculpture that holds ground behind the red wizard's party. You are... curious, a strange sentiment indeed, and can't help but wonder what the black obelisk is at all. This is much like a compulsion but no magical or psicrafted, something more natural and yet bizarre.

Both ghosts of nether are 'talking' to you. You see no reason to pay attention to the bright scourges but they look threatening.

You feel two overwhelming minds extend their grasp around everyone, but suddenly letting go as if your notice of them had made both retreat.



*****

@Halblion: Your eyes drift more than once to the obelisks surface, what is quite disturbing alone. With your will you shift your nether energy trough your soul, but that takes you the time and attention that you would have used to read the black surface's scriptures.

Both wizard's companions and mind-flayer are more entertaining each other than nothing else. Apparently, a discussion between him and the drow female had led her to roam aimlessly, fury clinging to her face. You feel no pity for the dark embracer.



*****

@Sereld: The Simulacrum eyes you suspicious, and than turn his head to the obelisk. He appears... hopeless, desperate, in anguish. He asks, in a shy whisper, out of the blue: "Mistress... C-can I die? Please? Let me die." The last part was louder than you'd have liked, and his behavior is bizarre, to the least.

Never, one of your soul constructs had asked the same question and you feel disturbed by the thought. The casting, apparently, went well and you feel the magical protections, but there is no spell in your knowledge that could shift his behavior to that. The more unsettling paradigm is that it has a shard of your soul and copy your persona... that means...

Driving those thoughts out, you notice that while you were troubling yourself with this commotion he was reading the dark surface, but you feel no arcana emanating from it, oddly.



*****

[The illithid and Halblion where facing another direction and were not allowed to take spots to perceive Sereld's 'sneak'. But everyone heard the simulacrums last prhase, what let everyone... striken, to be blunt.]

[Also, don't hunt ghosts in the machine.]

[Vile Lasagna]

After a split second of surprise, almost panic, Halblion gathers himself and once more his light sears the darkness, except this time it does not recede. Those who look at him now see truly a spectre, He is but a golden glow amidst the bright light. He speaks and his voice sounds loud and deep, almost resonating in the chests of the living.

No children of the sun shall lose to despair this day, for the holy light of Amaunator shall be our shield from the darkness, and our hearth in the cold! Stand brave, my sons! Stand brave and fast against the precipice of sorrow!"

As he speaks, a golden light seems to shine over Sereld's companion, and even the wretched and the aberrant can feel somewhat drawn to it, as if secretly wishing it was upon them, for it feels overwhelmingly warm and enrapturing.


I cast Ray of Hope.

[Hyperion]

Khazar looked at Kez walking away, the pride of those elves was quite annoying but it was necessary to not engage in any argument at the moment.

"The reasons that are sending me deeper into the lowerdark are promises of riches and prestige. I have already cut a path through the few inhabitants of the underdark and count on doing more of it."

His eyes turned around looking at the lady now and a bit concerned after hearing the last sentence of her companion. Halbion proceeded to help the companion apparently, Khazar was impressed by his devotion to aid even the ones in the dearest circumstances.

"I noticed many of you appeared to be intrigued by this obelisk and now with her companion asking to be killed...suppose there is more than meet the eyes with this thing."

He attempted to deduct a logical explanation of what just happened.


Trying a spellcraft check to understand an unique or never before seen magical effect from the Obelisk.
Spellcraft:
Roll(1d20)+31:
18,+31
Total:49

[ark7]

Julius' expression settles in stone-hard determination.

"Something evil is afoot here, two presences of vile intent, though they seem to have fled, at least for now. 'Tis not wise to linger any longer in this den! Those who wish, follow me, and we will discuss our situation as we walk!"

Julius turns and starts going back towards the pathway he and the Confessor had arrived from. The radiance around him increases and starts pulsating softly and slowly, washing those around with waves of comfortable warmth.

[Rettu Skcollob]

The Beguiler stands in awe of the sudden radiance for a few moments, before gathering herself. Sereld pulls her simulacrum away from the obelisk, deciding instantly to follow behind the trusting priest. She grasps him and pulls him close, hissing into his ear. "What force draws such inanity from your lips, fool?

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Halblion: "No children of the sun shall lose to despair this day, for the holy light of Amaunator shall be our shield from the darkness, and our hearth in the cold! Stand brave, my sons! Stand brave and fast against the precipice of sorrow!"

You feel the warmth deliver its touch, but no effect, apparent or somewhat comes from it. A feeling of hopelessness fills you as well, even if for a brief moment, and dissipates.

Spellcraft DC 19 (21 to arcane spellcasters) Ray of Hope: The magic counters the magical effects of sorrow and boost the persona of the target, giving a +2 bonus to morale in attacks, skills and checks.



*****

@Khazar: You study it and try and decipher it. Nothing appears to spring in your mind. Maybe it is an effect far from magic, maybe the Art doesn't even have a grasp in its existence... you can't tell nothing. It's, as you find yourself thinking, hopeless. No effect, nothing...

Gan, steping in your mind, talks to you. "Don't go there, you fool, its a mind trap. It is made to makes us realize how pettit and insignificant we truly are. A memento of Him." The last thought came crawling, as if it was difficult to enunciate. "The Artificer." [Knowledge: The Planes rolled 20]



*****

@Julius: You stop. You forgot what tunnel you had come from, all them look alike. Looking at the stone itself you can't but feel they were made to create this effect and this increases a feeling inside your heart... you shun it aside and start to think.

[Survive rolled 13] Nothing comes to your head, you are lost. In the middle of a cavern, and yet lost. It's useless... that same distressing thought came back at you.



*****

@Sereld: "It is TRUE!" It screams to you, defiant, releasing from your grasps. "What it says... is true." and once more became desperate, somewhat lost in thought. "We have no hope here, we can only die a quick death. We... will die anyway, we will not. At least the obelisk..." He pauses, looking to the monument. "It can save me..." It speaks more to itself, looking pleased and hollow. An image you feel sorry to presence. Sad even.

Once more the thought of how a Simulacrum functions came back to you. It is stressful to think about it. You feel nauseated and bile crawls on your throat.



*****

[When posting a spellcasting, with Serelds exception, use its full description, or at least page and book it is located. :smallcool: Thank you, the DM. NOTE: Al'Hralirr was left out, but is included in the next note when, if, he comes back.]

[Everyone can sense the same deep feeling of loss and regret, but it is NOT magical and has no fluctuation in any arcane paradigm, nor divine, nor psychic, nor incarnate. Any attempt to divine will fail. Its that hopeless.]

[ark7]

Julius stops on his tracks. "I... I can no longer tell where we came from." The paladin looks about hopelessly. Everyone's actions seem odd and misplaced, not someting one would do in their normal state of mind. "Something's not right, something must be clouding our judgement." Instinctively, he turns to look at the obelisk behind him. Where had he felt this sensation before? This this detached despair, this elusive... intent...

Pushing these ponderations aside and gathering his wits, Julius stares firmly at the party: "I can feel madness enveloping us with its tendrils, and the only source I can see is this obelisk. Whatever we do, we must do it now, before our hearts are twisted and disaster befalls us. Any hostilities are only going to fuel this... dread. I ask you people: what should we do: get away from here, or try to solve this stone's puzzle?"

"I say we leave immediately."

[Hyperion]

"Let's get going, I don't have time to deal with this thing."
Khazar moved forward, not even wanting to dwell more on those mystery, as frankly feeling of dread was the last thing that he needed at the moment. The red wizard marched forward following the advice of Gan and Halbion. Now focus on the mission, feeling depressed strangely but like usual trying to keep his composure.

[DJDizzy]

"Okay, fiend of the darkness, what is your proposition? And tell me, why should I indulge with you when my master presents me with a magical hoard to envy the most wealthy of my kind?"


"You and I both know, that one day the Illithids will rule Faerun and all of Toril. What is a few magical items compared to the dominion of a whole nation?" Al'Hralirr speaks telepathically



"I can feel madness enveloping us with its tendrils, and the only source I can see is this obelisk. Whatever we do, we must do it now, before our hearts are twisted and disaster befalls us. Any hostilities are only going to fuel this... dread. I ask you people: what should we do: get away from here, or try to solve this stone's puzzle?"

"Oh yes, we should certainly get away, this obelisk's origins is unknown even to us Illithids and Beholders alike." Al'Hralirr speaks while looking at the mindflayer as if avoiding the shining light of the 2 ghosts

He turns around to stare at the obelisk as if trying to gain some knowledge about it.


Knowledge Arcana Roll(1d20)+26:20,+26 Total:46
Knowledge Psionics Roll(1d20)+26:18,+26 Total:44

[Vile Lasagna]

Indeed, let us leave this place and take shelter in the blessed light of Amaunator. The deep one and the darkling may accompany us if they wish to do so, but they must know that ours is a path of light and, as such, they must behave accordingly unless it is their wish to retreat back into the abyss of everlasting night. Should you choose to bask in the holy light, know that Amaunator blesses and protects all those that stand in it"

Worried that the situation might get even worse, Halblion quickly takes his holy compass out of his pocket, waiting for it to point the way for the sacred temple.

[Rettu Skcollob]

A great ember of anger burns in Sereld, but her face reveals none of it. She knows little of the theory of magic, finding such esoteric facts dull and largely useless: But a Simulacrum was merely a construct of snow with one of her hairs, given a false life: This kind of emotional ability, let alone free thought enough to challenge her such was simply impossible! Utterly impossible! She felt a sudden regret she even created this useless thing, nothing but a liability in this state.

She would have to return it later to some of those learned wizards, she idly thought. If they could discover what she had done in her creating the construct to not only give it what looked like emotions: But what seemed to be independent thought! Enough to question her orders, rather than obeying them without question... Well, if it was of her doing or merely an effect of this place that caused this, it would remain to be seen.

"Speak no more of this. Remain silent until I instruct you further." She said, curtly.

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Julius: You feel defeated. The Dark obelisk had won against all your power, all years of hope and struggle against the darkness were for naught. You could die now or another thousand suns lifespam but you are defeated. You can even see your god turning his gaze away from you, in disaproval.

It is just a feeling, more self bestowed than something else, but you are utterly ashamed of yourself. "I say we leave immediately." The words sting you more than you thought they would.

You had felt something alike that. When she... She is not your concern anymore, its roughly 1700 years now and you don't want to think about it. You hide the regret and pain inside your heart and lock it inside. It is killing you, inside out, but that is such burden... or is that right? you doubt.



*****

@Khazar: "Let's get going, I don't have time to deal with this thing." After you spoke those words a feeling of loss fills you. Not just because you refused to fight what was in front of you but because you sense Gan... shunning your action. He speaks nothing and you see he is still loyal to you.

If you try to contact him trough the mind link he hold his thoughts, speaking nothing.



*****

@Al'Hralirr: You had never seen or heard about something like this, but [Kowledge Psionic] you remember a natural effect that lingers in the planes of will like the Shadow Plane or the Limbo. You can't place where it enters in effect here, but the effect was that a thought would create a world of meanings. Maybe the answer is in reading the scripting in the obelisk itself? You can't tell.

You were thinking about it when you feel a probing answer in your mind. Sorrow and regret are there somewhere but the minds of madness are not to be classified; "...I ...accept. We will discuss this later. Now let me be..."



*****

@Halblion: You feel defeated. The Dark obelisk had won against all your power, all years of hope and struggle against the darkness were for naught. You could die now or another thousand suns lifespan but you are defeated. You can even see your god turning his gaze away from you, in disapproval.

You are surprised to even think about it and quickly shun the thought away. You have nothing to do with this place, but you can't shake the feeling of something you lost. The compass reveal nothing. Again, the effects of the Underdark Radiation that cripple magical divination and travel. Not the first this happened. You can easily remember the last one... still heavy in your dusted memory.

When men under your command had perished, not dead, but lost none the less. That mission was a great failure and this was quickly escalating to the same results. Amaunator, what should I do? you asked silently. Or you would, if allowed your heart to be open like that. You were a high born, a holy beacon, you didn't had space or time to find strength on others. You were their strength. You were their hope... but what was yours? you thought, without wishing to.



*****

@Sereld: Your reflection, the illusion of snow and soul, turned his gaze to you, eager and desperate but remained silent. He spoke nothing. [Spot]You notice his eyes shifting toward the scriptions on the obelisk.

Maybe reading it would be the first step. Or maybe that was the real trap. You could only doubt and doubt. You were doubting about your abilities, your magic, your own construct and your decision, even doubting about your doubts. What of those were daemons you had grown with and what was bestowed upon you was heard to tell. There was nothing besides exhaustion and hardship in this dark place to keep your mind busy and you could only start to think about the big questions. It was driving you fairly insane. But it was also somewhat protecting a part of you, a major part, you thought, the human part.

What was you thinking to yourself you had no idea. This gibberish had to stop, now.



*****

[Everyone is up to one chance now, one action and this page will turn. Do it wisely or at least as much as you can.]

[Vile Lasagna]

Before turning away I go to the obelisk and give it a quick look. Read the inscriptions, check for foul sorcery. I do not waste my time writing my name on it. I focus my strength in trying to guess a route home. Regardless of whether I manage to have some idea or not, it is imperative that I save the humans from this growing doom so that even if it turns out I have no idea whatsoever, I pick a random direction and shine my light bright leading the way. The compass' failure could very well be a result of whatever thing infests this place and I can only hope it'll work properly as soon as we're far enough away from it so we can properly trace a path home.


Knowledge[Arcana](13+11 = 24), Use Magic Device(9+16 = 25), to check if anything in the obelisk rings a bell. Also: Due to my mage's spectacles I'm permanently under the effects of read magic(That and, just in case Decipher Script(6+14=20)) . After the obelisk I shift back 4 essentia from my spectacles (losing +12 insight on Decipher Script, Spellcraft and UMD) to my Planar Ward (+4 on saves against outsiders).
Also: Since cleric requires you to have a bajillion skills but gives you none, I don't have Knowledge Local or Survival(probably wouldn't have this one regardless, I guess). So my attempt to guess a direction is either an ability check for which I rolled 9+4 = 13, or really 100% random (except maybe, if I can tell where we came from, I'd go the other way)

[Rettu Skcollob]

For the first time in many, many years; Sereld felt unsure. Even almost frightened. She shook her head, visibly unsettled. She had a sudden desire to sleep, someplace warm and safe. Anywhere but here. Even her errand was foolish. Would she lose anything if she simply turned back? It would be easy enough to get back into her old life, nothing lost... She shook her head. She'd started this, and she would finish it, and to hell with these useless feelings.

[ark7]

@Julius: When she... She is not your concern anymore, its roughly 1700 years now and you don't want to think about it.
[@Bavette: Wtf?! õ_o]

Julius closes his eyes for a moment to refocus. If he had endured 1700 years, he could easily endure a few centuries more. Besides, "fighting to achieve something" is foolish pride Julius had cast aside a long time ago. The battle was there, and that was enough. Slowly, the paladin opens his eyes and contemplates those around him.

His purpose was clear. Julius walks toward Sereld and extends a hand, giving her a gentle smile. "Lady, you seem somewhat distressed. Would you like me to escort you as we go?" His eyes and voice are calm, and his radiance sends waves of comfortable warmth to wash over the surrounding area.

As I extend my hand towards Sereld, who is right beside the obelisk, I turn my eyes to gaze at the stone, my mind now clear of doubt.

Investing 3 essentia into Cerulean Will for +3 to Will saves and swithcing +2 enhancement bonus from my shield to a +2 bonus on all saves. This is my standard stance now (should have always been since I can do those things as 1 immediate + 1 free action when I'm about to fail a save if people actually told me I was making one).

[DJDizzy]

Al"Hralirr scrutinizes the scripture on the obelisk, making mental notes as he reads it, trying the glean information about this "thing". I dont write my name on it.

As Al'Hralirr finishes reading the text he turns around toward the 2 ghosts "I say that we leave as soon as possible. After you my spectral acquaintance" Al'hralirr says suggestively with his eyes fixed upon the ground

[Hyperion]

Khazar looks around for a moment. There could have been a reason for the people writing down their names on the Obelisk but somehow while the feeling of loss was taking over him. He said the only thing that had always been true.

"In Thay, we believe that the gods send luck to the strong and resolute. March forward and stop looking at the Obelisk."

He advanced forward not thinking much more about this thing. Have his soul molded into a Obelisk and then take his life? last thing he needed surely.

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Everyone; [This will be a hug post. Everyone will be answered the same thing.] There are few things that could bend a will, make someone work for someone else. Races like the Mindflayers, Beholders and Drow try but they lack the use of something more powerful.

While everyone turn their backs to the dread monument, defeated by it, you all hear the sound of a blowing wind filling a void. Looking over your shoulders, you gaze at a portal made of black stuff. Inside it was a realm so strange and alien you could not even begin to fathom. From it came a creature, human body and the head of a owl, dressed in dark robes, so black you couldn't tell it apart from a shadow. It was big, huge really, and meet your gaze with frustration.

"How dare you mock my art like this?" he asks. "Did I not something perfect enough for you, or were you so selfish that you couldn't even present me with a name?"
The realization came crawling from the back of everyone's mind. The creator of the Dark Obelisk.

He waves his hands furiously, revealing a shimmering purple disk he held. "Woe is me, woe is me, for cowardice and pompous pride is what I have left!" you see another four arms inside his dark mantle, but he makes no effort to hide them.
"I had known the dread and the fool, the smart and the impetuous, but never in my entire existence had I seen someone that would dare crawl this tunnels without taking a single risk." He turns to his creation, the monument was almost of his size. Almost.

"The bravado of those who had past conquered to these tunnels were not enough for you? Do you ignore 20 thousand years of history?" it hides its enormous owl face in both hands.
"I... I am sorry." it reveals a semblance full of piety. "I truly am. If you survive, I will try to make things right for you all. That I promise, little ones. Prove your matter with fire and death, fight with valor." holding the portal with his bare hands, he enters it once more, leaving the place. Ignoring you all full of questions, the gate disappears.

But that was not the last concern of your lot. You see something shifting inside the dark surface. A dent appears, and then another. A deafening sound of shattering glass, the dark monument exploding, turning into dust... from the commotion of sparkling clouds, you gaze at a nightmare. It stands were was the former dark obelisk, a tower of flames and shadows, a monster without form and without eyes, but you knew he was looking at you.



*****

It was 20 feet tall, a screaming mass of fire and darkness. Its vision alone evoked fear and his body shifted to assume the form of a beast. Humanoid but with the head of a bull, wings of a demon a the tail of whip. In each hand he holds a sword, each sword exploding with unholy fire and so sharp that could cut trough steel as easy as flesh.

[Will save DC 22, if fails make another at DC 18 (one for frightened condition, another for shaken, save the first and you are under no effect) fail both and you can't act for 1 round].

The thing screams once more, releasing flames as they were the sound of his voice. "WHO DARES STARE AT DARKNESS OF I! DON'T LOOK AT ME! ARRRRGH! ALL SHALL PAY!" Flame sprout from the stone itself, vapors of acidic matter breaks the ground and the place is surrounded by a corrosive mist.

[Everyone will take 1d6 of acid damage each turn. Fort DC 14 for half. Touching the monster deals 3d6 of fire damage, no save]

[Don't roll initiative, I consider you will play first. The rounds of posting will also change, I will left out no one, no matter how much time ones get to post, as this battle became critical.]



*****


[The idea of this first part was to defy me. In every way you could. You didn't. You let me tell what you felt, let me manipulate the feelings only you had access to, and even thought I said no magic was involved you kept afraid of the shadow of the Obelisk. That was the trap and anyone tried to disarm it.
I am sad, never had I seen this game crawl in this direction. I will make do with what I have, however, and in case everyone survives the battle I will consider you succeeded at defeating the crossroads and the madness I instilled in everyone.]

[If anyone is thinking "But.. thats cheating!" or "Its unfair!" I will mention that I told everyone that the rules would/should be broken and cheating WAS a weapon everyone had. We are all mature enough here and life has never being fair. Life in a dark place with connections to hell and dimensions of horror? Make a guess.
The madness I used for this was far greater than the one I had to endure once I played this module, for that I regret myself... Sorry.
But keep an eye out, next time. I will always tell what you don't want to hear in this game, that means nothing. If I say "You remember that time, with a girl" you could say "Yes, she was a nice prostitute, a shame she died of hunger" and that will be the end of it. Trying to make everything I tell you into an important plot exposition will lead to madness. Ignoring what I tell, however, is madness incarnate.
Find a balance and try not to fall prey of my traps anymore. That is what the game is about; twisting my plans to your favor and defeating the horror I spill in your heads with WIT.]

[DJDizzy]

Will save: Roll(1d20)+16:11,+16 Total:27

Damage: Roll(1d6)+0:1,+0 Total:1
Reflex: Roll(1d20)+8:2,+8 Total:10


Al"Hralirr Activates Skin of Ectoplasmic armor and uses a Psionic Disintegrate +2 PP


Ranged Touch attack: Roll(1d20)+14:
20,+14
Total:34

Roll(26d6)+0:
5,5,3,6,3,5,2,3,5,5,3,4,3,5,6,5,2,5,5,5,3,6,4,2,3, 4,+0
Total:107

Fortitude save DC 26 for 5d6 damage: Roll(5d6)+0:
5,1,1,5,3,+0
Total:15

[Hyperion]

Will save: Roll(1d20)+15:9,+15 Total:24
Khazar uses his metamagic of quicken rod to cast Improved Blink as a free action. (Unapproachable East p. 51, CL 21, I believe the spell is also in spell compendium if easier for you.)
He uses a standard action to cast Haste (CL 21 so lasts 21 round, 1 creature per level so it should affect everybody provided they aren't 30 ft of each other).



Khazar doesn't say much but uses his metamagic rod, and chants a spell. He appears to be flickering in and out of existence. [spellcraft dc 20]

Then proceeds right to cast another one, as everybody feels changed by the last spell and those who have experienced Haste before, would know of it. [spellcraft dc 18 to identify]

[ark7]

I draw my sword and steadfastly take a few steps forward, positioning myself between the balor and Sereld while keeping her a reasonable distance behind. I rise my shield and blade in preparation, pointing the sword at the enemy, and shout: "FACE ME, PATHETIC FIEND!!"

Saves passed. 1d6/2 = 2 acid damage.
Using Master of Mockery. The Balor must make a successful Will save (DC = [roll0]) or he will be forced to focus all attacks/etc on me for the rest of the encounter.
I invest 3 essentia into Incandescent Aura for 3d6 damage per round to adjacent enemies, activate Law Devotion (+7 sacred bonus to AC) and enter total defense (+4 dodge bonus to AC). AC bonuses already included in the character sheet, including protection from chaos cast by VL.
Sword's current material: Adamantine.

[Has the balor stepped down from the portal already? How far is he from me and the rest?]

[Vile Lasagna]

I use protection from Chaos (+2 deflection, +2 on saves) on Julius

also: with 8 and 4 I pass on both saves and take 2/2 = 1 acid damage

[BavetteOfAgony]

[Chose this moment to play the creatures initiative. Theme song (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7yfrQlbAXEM) for this battle. Will add it later.]


*****

The gigantic form of flames screams in pain when the illithids green bolt strikes it in the middle of his torso. He shrugs off the effect, however. [saved, 15 damage]

When it steps forward to deliver the death of all, Julius set itself between him and Sereld, taunting the beast. A grim smile cross its face and it speaks. "SO BE IT, SON." mockery in its voice.

It strikes with both swords, two swings that could cut a tree in half. [Attack rolled 14 and 11, missed] Both strikes at Julius shield with a thundering roar. The paladin was being surrounded by a searing aura, retributive. A shinning light struck at the monsters face but he shrugs it off easily [9 damage].

It screams with anger and fury. Its body shift once more, his tail become big and spiked, swinging around.



*****

[The creature is chaotic and will act by its own rights. It is bound to fight Julius, however, and will prefer to attack him. But its actions are unpredictable, at the best.]

[Hyperion]

Khazar keeps chanting again and using his high arcana ability to shape the next spell being cast. Evrard's Black tentacle as he cast a bit further away so the creature would get grappled by the tentacles without putting the others in danger.


--Most likely would use mastery of shaping to give room to Julius and Halbion so they can move back if needed to retreat).
--Black tentacles count as large, grapple check of +24 (16 from cl and 8 from strength modifier and size)
so let see:
Melee touch attack to grapple the creature and then grapple check:
Roll(1d20)+24:
2,+24
Total:26

Roll(1d20)+24:
15,+24
Total:39
if grapple successful: Bludgeoning damage
Roll(1d6)+4:
1,+4
Total:5

[Rettu Skcollob]

Will Saves: 19 (Failed), 22 (Passed). I guess that means she is shaken.


Sereld stumbles backwards, almost falling to the floor. Seeing the Paladin step in front of her, she flicks her fingers surreptitiously, eyes locked on his back. If he and the others were able to defeat the creature, they would need all the help they could get. Otherwise, she would need to run, and she did not look forward to that possibility. She turns to her Simulacrum. "Protect him, then see that you are unseen" she whispers.


The Simulacrum will cast Displacement on the Paladin, while Sereld casts Greater Invisibility on herself, using Conceal Spellcasting to hide it.

Displacement: He has 50% concealment (Total Concealment) though he can be targeted normally. This is an illusory effect.


Julius feels a tingle as an illusory double steps out from him and begins to emulate his every action, as his charge behind him winks into invisibility. She steps away, within what she hopes is a safe distance. (10 feet aside, 20 feet back)

[ark7]

Unexpectedly dropping his defense, Julius channels Amaunator's divine energy on his blade and delivers a series of powerful slashes and thrusts against the Balor.
Investing 2 essentia into Incandescent Strike for +2 damage per attack.
Defensive Strike: Since the bolor missed 2 attacks while I was in total defense, I now gain two free attacks against him at a +4.
Full attack action: +18/+18/+18/+13/+8. [roll0], [roll1], [roll2], [roll3], [roll4].
Damage (if hits): [roll5], [roll6], [roll7], [roll8], [roll9]. Considered good/lawful to pierce DR.
If any of my attacks hits, my combat form feats kick in: +4 Will saves, fast healing 4, +8 vs. disarm, grapple, bull rush, overrun, trip and sunder (total +12 because of Shield Ward feat). Duration: 13 rounds.
No total defense this round (AC updated in the character sheet).

[ark7]

[Edit: The first attack was a natural critical, rolling damage again: [roll0].]

[BavetteOfAgony]

[New day, new post.]


*****

Black matter sprout from the ground, tentacles of the size of a man start swirling around and try to grapple and constrict everything they can touch. Two of them touch the deamons leg, and one had successfully hit it but there is no effect visible as the beasts flammable skin is too tough. [Struck and grappled, but no damage]

The beast screams as Juliu had cut one of its horns with both powerful swings [hit first and second strike, Julius take 11 and 8 points of fire damage]. The sound itself was enough to make tremble the tunnels below and above, all around. Fire sprout from the ground too close from Khazar and Gan, who was absently looking everything.
The flames began to form humanoid resemblance, shifting in its unmentioned head you can gaze two unblinking black eyes. [Prepared action of Gan.] The monster try to hit Khazar, but one of Gan's eye rays strikes at it and destroys it completely. [Attack rolled 12, damage rolled 27.] All that remained from the black flame elemental was a pile of black cinders.
Gan speaks in common to his master: "I am sorry, master."

RAAAAGH the beast screams once more, its hands flash an arc around Juliu's direction. One, two, three times. [Attack rolled 9, 5, 15] The first strike broke your defense and pierced a slice of his soul, even trough the illusion. The second struck at the image, but the third sliced a bit of Juliu's arm. [20, 19 damage. Plus 10 and 8 of fire damage. Plus 2 and 2 of vile damage]

The fiend long tail, spiked and swift, shift around and whip at Sereld's companion direction. [Attack rolled 18, spikes rolled 19 and 20] The spikes pierce its body with a loud sound of hissing and dripping water while the tail constrict it. In one moment a dark red fire engulf the victim and it disappears, leaving only ashes of its former self. [Damage 15 tail, 14 spike, 12 spike. Fire damage 10. Vile damage 2. Combustion damage 20. Reflex save rolled 4.]

It laughs in contempt, dark and vile. Again, its body shift and fangs of the size of swords grow in its mouth, dripping acidic venom.



*****

[Sorry, Sereld, it was the only target at range of attack besides Julius, but it is not dead. Also, the tail is one of its deadliest weapons because of the combustion effect, it was a good thing that another target was at range. Beware the fangs, however.]

[Knowledge The Planes and Knowledge Arcana DC 35 can reveal the effects the creature are using. DC 28 for the same skills to reveal what was the dark-fire elemental.]

[Vile Lasagna]

I shift 3 Essentia out of my Crystal Helm (-3 Deflection AC) and cast Incarnum Weapon, investing that Essentia on it. A huge golden sword appears flying beside Julius, striking at the demon.

I also spend a use of my Channel Incarnum Ability (A free action), putting 3 essentia on my Crystal Helmet (throwing my deflection back to +4) and the last one on my Bluesteel Bracers (+1 on damage rolls which won't matter since it'll only last until next turn)


The sword has +17/+12 attacks, it only makes one attack this round, and full attacks on the others. It deals 2D6+3 17-20/X2. Each successful attack drains 1 Wisdom [Will DC 19 to negate it].

Sword Attack = Roll(1d20)+17 :20,+17 Total:37, Confirming roll = Roll(1d20)+17: 16,+17 Total:33. Damage = Roll(2d6)+3: 4,5,+3 Total:12, If critical Roll(2d6)+3:5,6,+3 Total:14, 14+16 = 30 damage.
The sword strikes as a [lawful] magic spell for purposes of DR and such.



Acid Damage = X+17, I pass the save 5/2 = 2 points of Acid Damage.



Finally, if needed I move a little so I can have a clear line between me and the beast.

[ark7]

Despite being seriously battered, Julius roars defiantly at the enemy and takes a defensive position behind his shield.

Damn, 54 damage hurts! Taking a total defense and shifting everything back to defense - AC rises to 41.
Uninvesting all essentia from Incandescent strike and putting it into Fast Healing 3.
I recover 7 hp with fast healing this round.
The bolor takes 3d6 typeless damage from Incandescent Aura: [roll0]
Tracking durations:
...Fast healing 4 (Combat Vigor): 12 rounds remaining
...Fast healing 3 (Incandescent Champion): 8 rounds remaining
...Law devotion: 9 rounds remaining
...Protection from chaos: ???
...Displacement: ???

[Hyperion]

"No worries Gan, we have to get rid of this thing." Khazar is relieved to see the creatures that just sprouted in front of him destroyed. The Black flames creature was held captive by the black tentacles for the moment at least.

He shoots his disintegrating ray at the beast.


A whole lot of rolls:

Black tentacle grapple check if creature is trying to break the grapple:
Roll(1d20)+24:
13,+24
Total:37

I don't roll bludgeoning damage as I suspect this thing has higher DR than the damage it can do.

Side note from Improved Blink always take half damage from Area of Effects so no need for me to roll saves on the acid vapor.

Acid damage:
Roll(1d6)+0:
2,+0
Total:2
So 1 damage.

Ranged touch attack for disintegrate:
Roll(1d20)+9:
20,+9
Total:29


roll to confirm critical: [reminder if he is grappled, he is denied his dex]
Roll(1d20)+9:
6,+9
Total:15

Fort save of DC 24: [22+2 for being a transmutation spell and cl effective 21)
Roll(40d6)+0:
6,6,2,3,2,2,4,1,4,5,6,3,5,2,4,6,4,4,6,6,3,4,2,1,6, 1,2,1,4,6,4,4,6,6,3,3,3,1,6,2,+0
Total:149

if crit confirmed: 298 dmg

If fort save successful only take 5d6:
Roll(5d6)+0:
3,1,2,1,2,+0
Total:9

Ah nearly forgot spell resistance allowed by disintegrate in case of:
Roll(1d20)+21:
14,+21
Total:35

edit: wrong math on the fort save, its 24 not 26.

[DJDizzy]

Closing his eyes and gathering focus, Al'Hralirr expends energy in the form of a psionic blast

Mindblast DC 17

Stunned for [roll0] rounds

[Rettu Skcollob]

Whelp, I've wracked my brain, and I only have a few spells I can think would be of any use. Here goes nothing.


Sereld's voice rings out across the tumult, loud and clear. "Begone, foul creature, lest I pluck you from this plane of existance!" She frantically draws upon her magic, hoping that the spell would be just as effective on this beast as it was on the numerous others she had used it against. As an afterthought as she twitched her hand in the gestures needed to cast the spell, she muttered the words for another under her breath. If the first failed, maybe the second would not.


First spell cast is Hold Monster, [Save DC = 24, or 26 if it's denied it's dex bonus to AC since I'm invisible.]
[Roll to overcome SR : Roll(1d20)+16:
13,+16
Total:29]
Or 31 if it's denied it's dex bonus.

Casting Hesitate on the creature as an Immediate action. If it fails it's will save [DC = 22, +2 if being invisible denies it's dexterity bonus to AC or Hold Monster worked (I'm unsure)] then it can only take a move action on it's next turn, and for 16 rounds afterwards, or when it saves. Also if it's denied it's dex bonus I get +2 on the roll to overcome it's SR.
[SR = Roll(1d20)+16:
16,+16
Total:32]

[BavetteOfAgony]

[Good to go.]


*****

The creature screams and twist around, swords striking at his body, rays of magical disintegration undoing his being and spells cast to hamper its rage.
[Failed all saves. In order; rolled 3, rolled 4, rolled 1, rolled 11 and rolled 5. The grapple check succeeded. The disintegrating ray hit and caused half its matter to disintegrate into ashes. The psi-blast destroyed its will. Sereld's magic made it hesitant (the hold had no effect)]

The monster was helpless and all the damage had weakened it enough for the flying magical sword of Confessor Halblion to strike through in its head. The image of blood spilled for the first time since the begging of the battle revealed the end of it. The creature felt on its knees and cried a sound between the gurgle of blood dripping from its mouth. "AND I SHALL DIE AGAIN..."

When it fall, the black tentacles hold to it, pulling him in, constricting it. An unholy vortex on the ground is open as the creature is slowly carried towards it, destroying rock and its body alike. If it was not folded by the efforts of Al'Hralirr mind it would probably had dragged one of you with it to whatever might be its fate. Hablion sword, incapable of releasing itself dissipates before being sent to the nether places, together with all the acidic fumes that were released during the battle.

Suddenly, the only source of light is now Julius and Halblion again. You all notice that by working together the beast was defeated. The alternative would be at least unthinkable to whoever was dragged with the creature's death.

There is nothing else left. The magical vortex had left a crater were the beast, and the obelisk, once stood. Even the black tentacles that Khazar conjured had disappeared as if entombed within the earth itself.



*****

[The creature took an UNHOLY amount of damage, that I care not to describe, and Halblions attack was a coup de grace to boot.]

[I will leave this round for you all to rest, enjoy the victory and heal a little. But we are moving as soon as we feel you can. To everyone that didn't took acid damage because they forgot, I took the liberty to roll some:
5 damage
3 damage
6 damage
3 damage
Those are damage for all the 3 rounds of combat divided by 2 (I decided anyone rolled less than 3 on a Ref save). Who forgot to apply the acid damage to sheet, do it now. It is important.]

[The rules about one post are forfeit, I have no need of them anymore. Post as much as you'd like, I will answer whenever I feel the need to.]

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sereld breathes a sigh of relief, stepping forwards to beside Julius, still invisible. "Well he was a jerk, huh?" She said, her voice quaking ever so slightly. She was a manipulator, not a demon-slayer. She scanned the surroundings, sighing. "Well, there goes my bodyguard..." She said, more in disappointment than sadness.

[ark7]

I uninvest all essentia from Fast Healing, disabling it for now.
Julius slowly, cautiously sheathes his sword and looks around. "Is everyone alright?"

"And where's the brave woman who threatened the fiend?" He asks a bit confused.

[Vile Lasagna]

Essentia Shift, Mages Spectacles get 4 essentia again, taken from the dispelled sword and and the Mantle of Flame.


After assuring myself that Julius is not in danger, I quickly turn to Sereld's companion, at first in disbelief but then, [Spellcraft 9+23 = 31] in relief to realise he was actually a magical decoy. If the obelisk is still standing I'll smite it so that it never again shall threaten anyone. (Searing Light) If it's not (as I suppose), I check my compass for bearings again. It is urgent I take these people to a safe haven, lest we need to face another challenge like this

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sereld mischeviously sneaks up behind Julius, and leans in towards his ear. "Right here, of course..."


=3

[Hyperion]

Khazar adjusts his robe after looking at the hole created from their combined assault. The Red wizard looks at his gnolls and now wonder where Kez went.

"That was unexpected. I could use some healing. The threats of the lowerdark appears to be a bit too much for any of us alone. So what about it? traveling together to the depths of the lowerdark until we all find what we came here for."

He looks at the other man destroyed, like I thought, this was just a simulacrum. Holding his rod in hand and walking forward toward the glowing ghosts all gathered around the lady.

[ark7]

Julius looks behind a little startled, before letting out a joyous chuckle. He had dealt with invisibility many times, but now had been so concentrated on the balor that he had failed to notice very much of what had happened around him.

@Sereld: "It was a bold threat ye swore just now. I've seen only powerful spellcasters being able to exconjure a fiend of that rank. Perhaps there is more to you than meets the eyes?" He asks tauntingly at the invisible woman behind him.

@Khazar: "You speak wise words, mage. Do you have a course of action in mind?"

[Rettu Skcollob]

"Oh, no, only a magical trinket I acquired has let me walk unseen... And it was no action of mine that banished that cursed creature... Only the great and powerful sorcery of our Red Wizard friend. I am but a simple woman, how could I master such strange magic? The threat was more desperation than anything..." Sereld hastily covers for herself, cursing her pride. [Bluff: Roll(1d20)+28: 19,+28 Total:47] She turns to the wizard, though since she has not dispelled her invisibility, it matters little. "Yes, I agree. It will be safer if we travel as a group... I will feel ever so much more at ease."

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Halblion: You gaze the crater where the black monument was, now not even the shattered glass remained, for everything had been sucked at time of the creatures death. The compass is still misguided. Perhaps this is one of those radiation zones, very common on the Underdark.

On the right side of said crater you see a horn, black and shimmering on its own.


@Khazar, you notice that both remaining Gnolls were frightened but regaining the control over their actions. Something was very amiss, one of your Gnolls was missing and the cleric would've heard the battle from afar, why did she not attend to it?

Gan looks up at you and you feel his trust growing. It speaks in common. "I will search some arcana to eat, if you don't mind master."


@Sereld: [Damn cute... Also, anyone is able to roll against that bluff. There is no real proof of her spellcasting. It was silent, invisible and concealed. So, there, for all that matter the only effect described are OOC.]

[Hyperion]

"Go ahead Gan. Well I just have a basic idea of where I am going and what I am doing here. One thing for certain, dangers will be ever present. If you'll excuse me for a moment, need to find that drow."

Khazar moves forward in the tunnel, thinking she couldn't have gone very far and possibly would find his other gnoll. That would be shame if she had gotten capture by a monster while they were fighting.

[ark7]

@Khazar: "Very well, call us if you need anything. And I don't suggest venturing too far on your own."

@Sereld: "Haha, yes, of course. Are you injured anywhere, miss..." Julius lets his words trail off suggestively.

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Khazar: You spot a light ahead, the bright brilliance of metal reflecting the bright radiance of Halblion and Julius [Spot, rolled 20], you can even identify it as the chain-shirt you brought Kez when you were still in Thay.

Walking towards it, you see rags scattered and a weapon laid on the soil. Bathed in blood. A short sword, however.

[Intelligence and Wisdom mod +7 or higher] The sword was a personal belonging of the gnoll, Thayan made. A trail of blood leads to a next tunnel, not far (45 feet, maybe less) from where you are. [Listen] You can hear the sound of a voice, but it is hard to identify it.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sereld drops her spell, reappearing once more. She is relatively unscathed, though still flushed, and having made an effort to look weak, rather unsettled. You can see some of her clothing has been burned away by the acid, and the flesh underneath scorched slightly. "Ah, only a little..."

[ark7]

"A wound cannot go untended, no matter how small..." Julius kneels before Sereld and lays a hand over the burns, uttering an orison to his God. "Let the pure light of the Sun wash over this wound and mend it..." [Listen DC 20.] Afterward, the paladin takes Sereld's hand and kisses it, then, still kneeling, looks up at her with a smile on his lips. "I'm afraid I still don't know your name, lady. 'twould be a balm to my heart to know how to adress such beauty."

[Rettu Skcollob]

This guy's really piling it on, huh... Well, I could always use more thralls, especially since that Simulacrum didn't work out. I'll play along for now, since some muscle by my side wouldn't hurt. Sereld coloured slightly, looking embarrassed. She had a feeling playing the weakling would be best here. It usually had good results on such types. "Oh noble sir, you do flatter me... Please; call me Sereld."

[ark7]

Julius rises from his kneeling position, inadvertly imposing his taller height on the woman. "Sereld... A strong name for such a delicate lady," he says in a slightly amused tone, then his expression turns grim and he adds in a darker note: "These halls have claimed many lives, I wouldn't wish to see another one lost to this place.. I shall take responsibility as best my abilities allow, but it does my conscience no good to know that you'll be defenseless should I perish, an occurrence not unlikely in the near future."

[Hyperion]

Khazar heads toward the tunnel, after seeing the shirt on the ground covered of blood. He wonders what is going on and possibly the Gnolls and the elves might have a skirmish or worst.

His steps lead him toward the voice but like usual always suspecting the worst. Talking to his familiar via their link.

Gan I have a bad feeling about the drow and the missing gnoll. be ready to come back him up.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Aww, isn't that sweet. Sucker. "That's very kind of you to say... Thank you."

[ark7]

"Well then, call me if you need anything. I shall be examinig this place." Julius turns unceremoneously and starts looking at the mess around.

[Vile Lasagna]

Though it seems to him silly and unnecessarily distracting from their quest, Halblion can't avoid feeling happy for the mere possibility of Julius' folly to even exist in these dark times. He sees the wizard seems drawn to something else and quickly warns him

"Stray you not from the light, child, for the darkness is rife with abominations just waiting to snuff it"

He'd go and fetch the mage himself, but something else caught his attention and he felt it was even less safe to move without taking a closer look than to give the mage a room to breathe. As for Sereld, after the simulacrum and now invisibility, it was fairly clear there was more to her than met the eye, but Halblion's imagination would not provide any initial insight as to exactly what would that be and it wouldn't do well to dwell on such insinuations for long.

Halblion moves, shining bright his light, closely examining the object he saw near the pit.



Die roll: 14. Pick your favourite (more adequate as elucidated by taking a close look at the object in question) between:
Ancient History +11
Ancient Religion +20
Arcana +11
Use Magic Device +17
Craft (artisanship) + 11

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Halblion: It was a dark horn. You remember it from when Julius had pried it out of the demons head with a powerful blow, but its surprising that it remained here while the beast had banished to wherever black fate. You pick it up and sense no evil in it, completely dead. There is a small faint aura of chaos around it, but no harm will come, you can tell.

Probably a spell or a more precise identification method will be required to pry its origin, but you are sure you never saw something like this. Be hell or abyss, this is no fiend body part.



@Khazar: You turn your head to see the end of the blood trail and horror strikes at you. Right in front of you, your drow was unconscious but breathing. The Gnoll was no more than a bloody mess of a carcass. What terrorized your senses, however, is what was bathing in the monster's blood; a baby-like form, with bulbous head and empty sockets where should have been his eyes. The little creature's mouth was full of layers and layers of teeth, all dripping blood and chewed flesh. It was sheltered inside of the Gnolls ribcage, chewing it lightly, while bathing in his guts.

It looks up at you and cry a baby scream. Suddenly the blood carcass of what was the gnoll exploded. Bone, sinew and flesh jumps to the air. You cover your face to protect from the gore shower and when you look again it had disappeared.

There is no explanation to what happened to Kez, however. She is intact, bathed in blood all over her body and hair, but completely clothless, besides the silver rings on her left hand. Bloodied fingermarks reveal the little aberration infant tried to pry them out without cutting out her hand, what was a lesson in futility. The rings were impossible to remove, you knew that.


@Everyone: You hear a baby cry, frightening and alien on this place and them a sudden explosion. [Halblion and Al'Harlirr can see the blood and bone flying from a tunnel nearby] An ethereal creature walks between everyone. Prying.

[Rettu Skcollob]

"Asmodeus' hoofs, what was that?" Sereld says, startled. She forced down the urge to turn herself invisible once more, with slight difficulty.

[Hyperion]

Khazar crouches down and looks at Kez for a moment and the carcass of the gnoll. He takes a finger of the gnoll, this could come in handy when he casts polymorph any object. He looks around for either the cloak or he would go back to get the piece of armor on the ground to cover her with it.

He lift her with his arms and walk back toward the glowing ghosts, they might be able to check her status.

What was that thing? he had no idea. He paid no mind to the gnoll, they die all the time.

[Vile Lasagna]

Halblion takes the horn and stuffs it in his backpack, proper examination will have to wait, but it is too curious a trophy to leave behind. He is startled by the scream and rushes to the scene. The imminence of danger curses his mind, they are wasting too much time. The bestial companion is obviously gone beyond any hope he might have, and the dark one... she worries him and although he wishes he could abandon her, he can't.

"What happened?

Though he makes an effort to remain calm and focused, the anger is easily felt in his voice. He blames himself and the mage. Before asking for explanation Halblion checks her body for physical wounds and for magical interference. Halblion quickly crouches over her body and his light, combined with his voice, has a defiant property that makes the others refrain from approaching.

He takes off his shining mantle and covering her. As he takes it off, it loses much of its radiance, but still, on her it is white and shimmers golden in the darkness, looking remarkably strange on her.


Detect Magic

[ark7]

Despite carrying a serious expression on his face, Julius approaches the group calmly, after all somebody had to stay on edge and ready to react at the least sign of danger. "What befalls?" He asks the Confessor.
Detect evil around.

[Vile Lasagna]

"That, brother, is the question I, myself, ask here. Some tragedy befell the dark one and another of our friend's companions who is beyond my saving. I believe we should not dwell on this place. The smell of blood travels fast in the darkness. But DO tell us, friend, what fate befell your servants, who you let stray from the light?"

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Halblion: Her body is in perfect state, she is just asleep. There is also a faint aura of magic on her, but nothing that should be a concern. No ill effect, if someone could bring a little water she will be just fine.

@Everyone: As you all gather to see the dark elf, you notice the fingermarks all around her ebony skin. Little prints of a human-like hand, smaller however, more like of a children hand. Her hair is all bathed in blood and shine dark red bright in the faint light of both pristine ghosts.

you all hear a scream of pain that was too alike to a bark of a dog. One of both remaining Gnolls started to convulse and puke, blood spilling at his feet together with bits of something solid that could only be raw meat together with his last diner. He cried out loud "YAaaaaaaarrrgh" and felt to the ground, blood running high from his mouth and eyes. He was, apparently, breathing.

His companion stared at it, confused and terrified just before bolting his way to the opposite direction. He run as if carrying a heavy burden. [Khazar: the geas, he cannot disobey you or will die]

You can hear the small and distant inconvenient sound of a baby crying.[Listen] It was coming from the newly injured Gnoll.

[Hyperion]

"Gnoll stays right here! that's enough of servants dying for no reasons. Can't get decent help nowadays. I have no idea what happened to her. All I know there was this strange thing right next to her and the gnoll. Some kind of a creature. There is probably something lurking around here and trying to intercept us. I found her naked whatever monster attacked them, was strong enough to put her down and the gnoll as well."

He put her down for a moment as the baby cries come again.

"Guess this strange creature is coming back again. It was small and dark with pointy teeth. I don't think that I had ever seen anything like that."

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sereld bites her lip anxiously, deathly curious about what was happening over where the group was gathering, but still wanting to keep a façade of weakness. "What is going on?" Thinking of what the cry coming from the Gnoll meant... Was too horrifying to consider.

[DJDizzy]

Being silent until know, Al'Hralirr speaks "I say we dispose of it. It would only slow us down and that is not desirable in these parts of the lowerdark" Al'Hralirr speaks as he looks at the gnoll

"There lurk more evil things down here than what you can possibly fathom" He states in a grim voice as he retrieves some water from a wooden box. "If anyone needs something to drink, feel free" Al'Hralirr speaks as he passes the water around.

[ark7]

Julius glares at the illithid reproachfully, even though he couldn't deny that a part of him felt the same way about the gnoll. Still, the paladin easily mustered enough conviction and spite to intervene: "I hope you are ready to accept the same fate should you too become a burden, mind flayer." The last two words carried a pronounced hint of scorn.

@Halblion: "Confessor, can you do anything for the gnoll?"

[DJDizzy]

"Is that a threat surfacedweller? Do not think for a second that I will let my guard down" Al'Hralirr says scornfully of the ghost "I hold more than enough power to extinguish your feeble mind" Al'hralirr adds

[Vile Lasagna]

@DM:
Can I? I lack Remove Disease/Curse, but I DO have heal. Though I would hate to throw it away like this if it'd save him from his... whatever it is, I'd do it. Otherwise I can freely heal him up until he's above 50% and have some minor stuff later, however I do think he has a chestburster (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alien_(Alien_franchise)#Chestburster) on him so I'm personally inclined to think I'd need remove disease or something similar.... And actually, I had the suspect from before but decided to put it aside, with the other Gnoll falling, I'll actually check by touch the chest and belly of the dark one, looking for some unusual volume beneath her flesh. If I DO find something, so sorry little gnoll, she's humanoid, takes precedence.


"Enough. Both of you. Everyone get ready to move out. We must make haste and leave this place. We will guide you to a safe place, probably the very last safe place in this world of darkness"


After all this talk and assuming that I will not have anything else to do regarding the gnoll and the drow, I take the priestess in my arms, which should put me in medium load or something but being tireless I can force march to keep up ith the others just fine. I speak to Julius in ancient Loross
"My compass is not working and I have little idea from exactly where we came from, probably there. Lead the way and see if you can get a decent bearing. I believe this place is interfering with it, we'll check later soon enough if we fail to reach familiar grounds"

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Khazar: The gnoll obeys your command and stops, falling to his knees. A river of vomit fall from his mouth, only his dinner, there was no sign of blood.

@Halblion: The wounded Gnoll is, as a matter of fact, dead. Besides the fact he appears to breath and blood runs from all orifices of his face you can not guess what kind of dark illness had befallen him.


@Everyone: The dog-like body of the fallen Gnoll start to grow, bloat in fact. A little strain of blood releases a small baby-like hand that somehow crawled her way trough the hard hide of the hyena beast. You hear the sound of another baby-like scream, the small hand trying to open its way trough flesh and bone out of the Gnoll's belly. It is greenish gray and have dark little nails as sharp as any dagger.

Besides its pettit size, the small fingers keep trying to open wider the hole it clawed first. With a loud SPLOUT, you can see the other hand crawling open another hole to enlarger the first. The horror has no precedent when a plump baby head shows up, with empty sockets where should be the creature's eyes and a mouth with hundreds of thousands of teeth. It eats the Gnoll inside out, crying when its mouth is not full of flesh and playing with the beast's guts whenever its hands are free.

It appears to be blind, however, and had not noticed the startled party.
[A gift to whoever can guess what is this thing]


*****

[Sorry for the late, I will update again today. Appropriate theme music here (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i5S0dkLZoTg).]

[Vile Lasagna]

A golden-orange gout of flame appears for a split second floating above the creature, and suddenly a wave of heat and light assaults the onlookers as a raging column of red and golden flames furiously twists and expands, engulfing the creature


Empowered Flame Strike, 15D6 + 50% = Roll(15d6)+0:
6,5,4,6,2,4,1,6,1,4,3,4,6,2,1,+0
Total:55 + 55/2(27) = 82, 3/4 of that damage is actually HOLY fire damage, 82/4 = 20.5*3 = 61 holy damage + 21 Fire Damage.
He IS entitled a DC 19 Reflex save to try and halve that, assuming he actually has any room to move. Regardless he has to make another reflex save DC 96/45 (depending on whether he passed the first save or not) to avoid catching holy fire, that will deal 1D6+1 holy damage per round unless it is put out

[Hyperion]

Khazar looks at the creature that just busted out of his servant chest and sighted. Look like those gnolls weren't surprise free.

Halbion just shot a column of fire and He is curious to see what is left of the creature after such a fiery assault for the creature. The column of fire was impressive. A flame strike apparently.

"Well now what?"


Ready action to shoot a fireball if the creature is still alive of course will use mastery of shaping to not hurt anybody close to the gnoll. By default can it just be assumed that I will always use mastery of shaping to not hurt my teammates? that's the main reason for me getting this ability anyway.

[BavetteOfAgony]

[I accept it Khazar. I will always consider your area spells to not affect the same squares as you and your allies. But you will have to specify in case of neutral people and enemies too, in the end your word will be the ultimate resource on this.]


*****


@Everyone: After the cleansing fire of Halblion turned the body to no more than a black carcass of ashes there is no sign left of the monster. It completely disappeared. The Gnoll's guts are all burnt, a smell of flesh and putrid rot fills the air as do a strange acrid aroma of boiling flowers, sweet and delicate but good overall. If not by the stink of the Gnoll's carcass this fragrance would be quite enjoyable.

The sound of a screaming baby resonates once more, from no discernible location this time.

At this time can see the drow waking up and clinging to Halblions mantle with disgust. Her face becomes pale once she hears the creature crying once more and starts to scream in Elven Drow; "Go away! What d'you want from me! Go away! I hate you!"

Between both screams you can't decided which causes more stress to your ears, for the infant voice is quite irritating but the drows cries are full of pain and regret, so pure and concentrated that the air itself freezes in a sluggish motion every time she screams, figuratively speaking.

[Roll Sense Motive DC 25, if someone doesn't roll I will consider you forfeited the action and failed.]

[Hyperion]

Khazar hears Kez scream and simply says.
"No worries just let her calm down a bit. I would suggest to let her down for the moment."

He talks to her in drow.
"Calm down and tell me what happened with those creatures?"


Well not too bad for no ranks in sense motive lol
sense motive:
Roll(1d20)+2:
18,+2
Total:20

[Vile Lasagna]

With no ranks in sense motive I am unable to pass regardless so, yeah


Halblion, speaks to Kez softly but sternly in undercommon
"Calm down, dark one. While we were fighting the risen fiend a while back, you and the furred ones vanished. We arrived only to find you fallen and two of them dead, killed by the very same creatures you just heard. Know this, dark one: I do not hold any sympathy for your kind which shunned the light ages before the coming of darkness, but I shall not let this same darkness snuff the light of the living, even yours. Tell me, dark one, what happened to you and your companions?"

If she seems able to stand, I gently put her down

[ark7]

[Rolling Sense Motive: [roll0] ] Julius approaches the drow and speaks in undercommon, with clear suspicion on his voice: "Something's odd, I think there's more than meets the eye here. Tell us what you know, drow." His tone is stern and sharp, unlike the comforting words of the cleric and the wizard.

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Everyone: You see the Confessor put the drow female on her own two feet. She is shaking, but besides from the apparent weakness, she is as adamant as ever with her scornful appearance. She speaks in crude accented version of Common: "No. She is dead and there is nothing to be done about it. I will speak of this no more, male, let me be. If you have need I will bring the Gnolls back to a resemblance of life, but otherwise I will do no more."

Khazar can feel her magical collar struggling against her will, she is as determined as ever to reveal nothing of this. She directs a scornful look at the red wizard, a meaningful one. Khazar can see this subject touches deeply on her, but cannot understand why.

@Julius: You see a flickering of light, and from it two empty sockets and a third bulbous eye. Your mind sorts out your senses before you start recognize what that was.
Sense Motive: The creature is ethereal, it is traveling around you. The flash was the magic it uses to do so, faint but yet perceptible. It is stalking, but yet not attacking.

[ark7]

Julius' gaze shifts uneasy and he immediately turns his head towards the eyes, shortly before they disappear. "Confessor, something in the mists!" The paladin draws his sword as his ghostly body starts to melt into the Ethereal plane, becoming gradually invisible to those in the material plane.
Essentia investments:
...Incandescent aura: 3 essentia
...Lay on hands: 3 essentia
...Cerulean will: 3 essentia

[Vile Lasagna]

Halblion quickly follows, his light melding into the darkness as he becomes more and more translucid, fading out of view


I also shift my essentia from the spectacles to the Mantle of Flame. Attacking me in meelee results in 5D6 fire damage now (ref DC 18 for half)

[Hyperion]

"I see, we won't talk about it for now. So what do we have here now?"
Khazar waits to see what Halbion and Julius had uncovered this time. Something stalking us in the dark? that wouldn't be a surprise.

[ark7]

Before vanishing completely, Julis manages to intercalate: "Wizard, to the Ethereal plane if you're able, or take care of things on this side! We'll be back quickly if we can!"

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Halblion and Julius: There is a phantom presence, something that should not be here and belongs to anything else. Once Ethereal you cannot see where it is, but you feel it. It is definitely present around. Again, stalking.

@Everyone: You see another black gate. This one, smaller, about the size of a human. It opens from the same unimaginable universe from before and the figurehead, the creator of the dark monument, appears from it. He is now using less clothing, and is clearly waving all his arms as if they were a part of him. Another detail, and the most important, he is about a medium size, no bigger than a tall man, but far from 6 feet high.

In one of his hands is a shimmering disk that sparks with magic. It speaks in a thunderous version of common. "You actually did it. Perhaps the daemon was not meant to be that powerful, perhaps I was too fearful. No shall know. I will wait for the holy men to come back. We shall speak them." His expression is adamant and he appears as solid as rock and iron, spiced with something else; a faint aura that you cannot fathom the meaning.



*****

[Note that on the Ethereal realms one can see and hear all that happens on the material. Think Frodo with The Ring on LoTR and you are on the right path, but instead of solid matter, the Ethereal plane is kinda... surreal. If Halblion and Julius want any real description I can provide.]

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sereld looks away with disgust at the gory events, and a flicker of very real fear crosses her face when the Paladin mentions that there was something watching them from the ethereal plane. That creature frankly terrified her, and the ethereal plane was one of her main methods of escape if things went awry. She silently hoped that they would be able to deal with it, whatever it was.

Her heart once more nigh skipped a beat as the strange creature - supposedly the creator of the strange monolithic obelisk, returned, and she almost looked prepared to flee, fearing he would summon another demon into their midst. As he made no aggressive action, however, she calmed down, and sat herself on the floor, feeling lost and alone, letting her emotions overwhelm her again.

[ark7]

Detect evil while I'm in the Ethereal planeFrustrated for not being able to grasp any clue about the ethereal foe, Julius sighs and returns to the material plane, eyeing the owl-creature warily.
Detect evil after I go back to the prime material

[Vile Lasagna]

Halblion fades into view once more, this time perilously close to the creature. As he does his radiance extends to full once more and he straights his arm taking his mace up so that its flames very nearly lick the creatures face.

"Thou shall know not mercy here, fiend. Begone lest I smite thee into oblivion!"

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Julius: Detect Evil You can detect an utterly evil core inside the Artificer, but somehow it is... deeper than you can gap.

@Halblion: The owl-man takes to your taunt with an immutable expression. With one of its bare hands he touches your very flames and light, extinguishing both. With another he touches your forehead and you are thrown 9 feet back by a powerful invisible force, only to stop at Julius' feet. "Here. You have power to command nothing, Halblion. Sit and listen, youngster."


The Artificer:http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_datQezp-dSQ/SxrYbEfSOBI/AAAAAAAAADk/YDrYmA3Mjnc/s1600/untitled.bmp

@Everyone: The mysterious Artificer rose once more to speak now that both ghosts where back at their corporeal incarnations. "I am glad you are all here. I true am." You notice even when it speaks, its beak do not move, turning his face into a motionless statue of an expression.

"But you should be not. Travelers eventually ended here one day or another, and even if this place is my own domain, I was powerless to guide them outside, for that terrible creature had feasted on their souls and life for generations. I built the Dark Obelisk around him, but was not by none of my hands that it was written there what there was. I apologize, but I could not warn you what to do."

"Now, you destroyed it, you killed the only thing that had power. Here. Besides me. Now, I am 'it' and 'all'. Now, I am grateful. But I suspect you have questions. I answer them, to my limits. So ask. Yes?" Its eyes are hard, black disks of stone, you notice when it stares into the lot of you. All six hands are crossed on the chest, waiting; a patient display that everyone is allowed to take their toll on time.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sereld, still sitting, moves her feet out of the way just in time as the Confessor comes hurtling towards her. She leaps up, ignoring the thrown priest. She speaks with some difficulty, despite her usual way with words. "Do you know if... Has... Has Kiras passed this way?


Skim the backstory again if you can't remember who Kiras is =P

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Sereld: "I am sorry, young one. I know not of them one you speak off." His stone eyes reveal sadness, but hope. "However. I do have something for you. Here. Take it back." The Artificer wave a hand and a black hooded figure appears from another portal, a smaller one, which closes right behind it. When the newcomer removes its cowl you see your male Simulacrum, smiling as if he'd saw an old and longed friend. "Mistress..." it search for words without success, he than settle for a joyful grin.

@Everyone: "You have more questions. Yes? Ask."

[ark7]

Julius steps forward boldly. "Aye, I have one, enigmatic sculptor. You spoke of an entity around which ye built the obelisk, to imprison it, I take. What was this entity, and what has happened to it now that the obelisk is no more?"

[Rettu Skcollob]

Damn. She hadn't held out much hope, but it was worth a try. She considered describing him, but that probably wouldn't help. Still, she brightened slightly on seeing her Simulacrum once more. She'd put some serious effort into researching the spell to construct that, along with the cost needed to bring it to life. "Welcome back", she said, simply. She made a mental note to ask what had happened to it after it disappeared.

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Julius: The owl-man answer "It was a spawn of hatred and wrath, things that I myself know not. When it had came, around 8 thousand years ago, it got lost on my maze and devoured it of all life. Thus why you see it barren. Years had passed and creatures started to lost their tracks on my domain as well. I was incapable to help them, for I knew not the beast that lingered. Thus why I built the dark monument you saw. It was meant to catalog the mortal names on it for I to use my power on them. The creature tried and corrupted it, foolishly losing its soul inside my work." He stops to ponder on something and starts again.

"When you didn't sign, your disrespect to me, misguided or not, released the demon's will. Enough to break it and shower anger once again in this plane. You, however, defeated it. It is gone. Forever. For I trapped its soul and you numbed its will and body. It will remains there until I craft a way to kill it. There. Your answer is."


@Everyone: "More questions. Yes? Ask."

[Hyperion]

"Interesting, do you know the position of the cities in this part? I don't feel like walking around aimlessly or without knowing possible place to take a break." Khazar joins the conversation after seeing his companions ask a bunch of questions.

[Vile Lasagna]

"Ha, and to what trap do you desire to take us now, spawn of darkness? Begone, we follow the holy light of Amaunator, and it shall show us the way and purge the shadows before us"


Also, if he touched me, he took 5D6 fire damage and actually might be on fire

[DJDizzy]

"You do not seem a creature of the lowerdark, from where, or more importantly, when do you hail?" Al'Hralirr asks eyeing the creature suspiciously. "And furthermore, what are you? or who are you, whichever might be more appropriate" A'hralirr adds some scorn noticable in his voice.

[BavetteOfAgony]

@Khazar: "I do not. I do only know of my domain. Outside of it, you are on your own, but I can show you the safe way out." The Artificer is still adamant in his posture.


@Halblion: "I told you. Already. Confessor. Here. You have no power. Demand nothing that I do not offer you." Its avian beak shines as it opens in a menacing taunt.
[Read the post #226 again.]


@Al'Hralirr: "You are smart, dark dweller. I am from thousands of years before even your people. Before even the Dragons. I am The Artificer, it is everything. You should know." It pauses to ponder on something far away. "The living. Once. Called me Architect. I helped The Law Incarnated build his Nirvana. Many other structures had received my touch. As well." Than again it pauses. "If that was. Your question."



*****

@Everyone: "One. More question. I am busy, and you should go. Ask. Now." The ever patient creature show no signs it's in hurry, but it had been honest.

[Vile Lasagna]

"The light can never truly fade, fiend. As the setting sun, it merely goes elsewhere. Darkness only exists in the space light so mercifully share. I am light, fiend, and I can never fade. Make no mistake, for it is my nature to sear the darkness, and those that embrace it, cannot escape such fate, for they chose it themselves."

[ark7]

Julius takes a few steps towards Halblion and places his hand on his superior's shouler reassuringly, then whispers to his ear: "Confessor, I understand the peril we're in, but you must remember your position and gather your composure. Right now, your wisdom is needed to guide us to safety, not the holy ministrations. If not you, who else can parlay with the creature on an equal standing?" [Listen DC 25 for the curious eavesdroppers]

[BavetteOfAgony]

[I know, I know. 8 days is a long run. Probably going to be one of some few last posts before the holidays so try and bear with me, people. Sorry for everything and thank you.
Whoever is going away on the holidays, tell me on the OOC or here, no problem really. Just to organize my agenda.]


*****

@Everyone; The artificer drops his shoulders in a sign that shows his disappointment with the holy man blind-sighted determination. "Very well." it says after a long pause "I will depart from you now. You should go that way." one of his slender fingers points toward a tunnel, much like another of the multitude of passageways on this cavern.

"I will see you safe on the realms. Also. Tell the first traveler that cross your path to walk away from his. He should follow you. I had been disturbed enough for an eon." The last part was meant only for the himself, but he cared not if someone else heard it.

With a weave of one of his hands, the six-armed creature dismiss you but do nothing to move, nor it appears to acknowledge the presence of you all.


@Khazar; Kez is no more trembling and her scorn is ever-present while she clings to Halblion's cape. Your familiar seems as uneasy and speaks to you trough your shared link; We should leave, master. I don't think I want to stay here any longer.


@Halblion; You feel the feeling of magic returning to you, your flames and light reascend.

@Sereld; The Simulacrum clings to your vests, holding tight to it. "Let's go mistress... We will speak outside."

[DJDizzy]

"Thank you old one" Al'Hralirr says as he makes a gracious bow before turning to his newly found "comrades" "We should get going, the lowerdark is not a place where you linger in one place too long"

[ark7]

"Agreed." Julius starts walking towards the pointed tunnel.

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sorry, been neglecting my games lately.


"Very well. Stay close." Sereld says, simply.

[Rettu Skcollob]

[So, is this still alive? I would assume most everyone has finished up with their holiday obligations and such by now. I hope so, I was rather enjoying it.]

[ark7]

[I'm good to go =P]

[BavetteOfAgony]

End of Prologue; The Crossroads.

Everyone will receive 1.750xp and a permanent bonus of +1 to will. A permanent bonus of +3 to Hit Points.

Al'Hralirr: You receive 4.575xp (because you are more powerful than the rest).
Halblion, Julius, Khazar and Sereld: You receive 6.200xp.
Kez and [Last-Gnoll-Alive]: You receive 7.350xp (because they are less powerful than the rest).

[Last-Gnoll-Alive] made a level. He took Barbarian as his level.



*****

[Part 1 will come right away. Just wanted to reward everyone first.]
EDIT: [Update your sheets people, some things out there make it worth knowing how much xp you got].

[BavetteOfAgony]

Part 1; The Dark Below, Below.

There is, somewhere, a fair world where the weak is protected from the evil by the strong. A world when one can live accordingly to his desires and dreams. That world is not this, not right here, not right now. This world is a world of darkness, of lifeless and cold rock, of death without recognition, of endings. Don't be mad at me. You wouldn't kill the messenger, would you?
You would.

As that thought is not of anyone that travels with the party through Earthroot, the thought itself remains somewhere beyond the laws of possibilities and things that 'should-not-be', like our old Artificer. It's just an annoyance that no ones perceive and is stupidly easy to ignore.

Let's forget that and give a little jump to the left. Through the time warp, let's go forward and meet with our party as they make camp in the middle of a dark place... That being a place as good as anywhere else.

Knowledge (Underdark) DC 25 There is no wind, seasons, night/day, or whatever method one could use to tell time rather than divination magic, and even that is a bit 'off'.


*****

The party, seeing no other option after walking for a long, long time, decided to make camp and re-evaluate their options. This part of the Underdark was unknown to both Confessor Halblion and the Ghost Paladin Julius, as it was to the Illithid and the Drow companion of the Red Wizard. Gan, the beholder, decided that his hoard wasn't getting any bigger and shut himself from everyone besides Khazar, any attempt to communicate with the thing led to frustration.

With the camp all set you notice, besides Halblion and Julius, a thin hunger fills your empty bellies. To most of you its not a problem, but both Al'Hralirr and the carnivore Gnoll are getting somewhat restless around the party...



*****

[Ghreiz, a new character, will join shortly after the resolution of the feeding problem. Be ready Ghreiz. And the others, work something between you...]

[DJDizzy]

After hours of silence Al'Hralirr speaks "I need to find a source of food soon, or else I will be crippled for a long time. Whose gnoll servant is it?" Al'Hralirr asks as he looks over at the gnoll with a certain look in his cold white eyes

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sereld rummages through her bag, finally producing a small rectangular object, wrapped in thin paper. Opening it in one swift movement with a nail, she reveals a tightly packed biscuit-like object, reminiscient of hard tack. Her Simulacrum, not needing to eat, carried an identical package of the tasteless, but filling objects on it's person. She silently began to eat the small bar, giving the plight of the carnivorous members of the group a look of polite interest.


Apologies for delay, since my computer's power source stuffed up, I haven't been able to access my email, and hence game updates.

[BavetteOfAgony]

[No need to hurry, I know how vacations are. I am having a hard time with updates myself.]

@Al'Hralirr: The Gnoll cower in fear as your ethereal voice carries the feeling of hunger to his very heart, chilling his spine. With a bark the creature looks baffled and go hide behind the Drow Kez.

The cold hearted gaze of disapproval she bestowed on him had shown her total disapproval toward his attitude. "You worthless and weak beast" she says, and turn her scorn back at your blank eyes. "You will not touch the beast, monster. He's a property that don't belong to you."



*****

@Sereld: Your companion appears different from before. His actions alone can tell something is amiss, but you can't place it. [Sense Motive, Roll 18]

It appears eager to tell you what transpired in the tomb of the black obelisk.

[DJDizzy]

"Haha, you drow are all so predictable, did you not know that property does not exist in the lowerdark? Are you completely ignorant of the laws of nature? How do you intend to stop me if I were to devour both you and your servant? It is certainly not within your power to stop me. Pitiful as you are, your race rest in the cradle of arrogance, arrogant enough to think that you can stop the Illithids from taking over, but oh how wrong you are, we are destined to rule the world and I can show you thing that would leave you broken and cry for your misstress little drow, but if you wish to challenge me, feel free. I will accept knowing it will be your doom, for you cant stop the Illithid, noone can. Dark Elf scum" Al'Hralirr bellows at the drow

[Rettu Skcollob]

Sereld merely raises an eyebrow to the shouting Illithid. It appears men are the same even amongst the mind-flayers. Typical. Well; if they even have men. Ignoring the two under-dark dwellers, Sereld turns to her Simulacrum. "Well... I am curious. Tell me what happened, earlier."