Circle of Life's Red Hand of Doom OOC Thread [Archive] - Page 2

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-17, 01:09 AM

Roni's Nature check identifies that the creature is indeed a hydra, it's not a baby, and it's hungry.

Razzinfrazzin, I was hoping that Roni could roll some checks before our one-legged lawman hobbled over to the wagon. Oh well, que sera sera. If a Knowledge: Nature check isn't right for this creature, take your pick--Roni's modifier is the same for all Knowledge skills.

yeah I was thinking the same thing...wait for everyone to post/roll before ambushing us!

As per the module, the hydra notices the PCs coming and "clambers out of its pool and attacks" as soon as food comes within reach. Even if someone had noticed the hydra and warned Faien back before he got too close, it would have charged out anyway. I mean, if you wanted the battle to take place closer to the causeway so everyone is within its reach (http://tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/InstantDeathRadius), I suppose we could move things around a bit....

TekHed

2012-10-17, 02:03 AM

As always, bad form posting a link to TVTropes...fortunately I resisted the urge to dig deeper. :smalltongue:

Hmm...between this and the module, I think yours is actually more interesting. Also, avoids TPK of our NPCs.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-17, 02:11 AM

TekHed

2012-10-17, 02:56 AM

No, I meant it could have been an NPC TPK if the Hydra had charged the bride...

One thing I did just realize though, is that it was able to full-attack the party in it's surprise round. Isn't it usually just a standard action only in a surprise round?

I'd thought Bors was in the negatives and would bleed out if not stabilized. If it seems like he isn't going to immediately bleed out, Auran will ready his mace instead.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-17, 04:03 AM

One thing I did just realize though, is that it was able to full-attack the party in it's surprise round. Isn't it usually just a standard action only in a surprise round?

Hydras get to make all their attacks when they're be entitled to a single attack--standard action, Spring Attack, AoO....

I'd thought Bors was in the negatives and would bleed out if not stabilized. If it seems like he isn't going to immediately bleed out, Auran will ready his mace instead.

He is unconscious, sorry, I meant that he has 3 HP left in the sense that he's at -7.

TekHed

2012-10-17, 05:05 AM

Hydras get to make all their attacks when they're be entitled to a single attack--standard action, Spring Attack, AoO.... Wow...hydras are crazy.:smalleek: Never fought one before. Guess this is why they say wizards can pwn in melee eh? Polymorph.

He is unconscious, sorry, I meant that he has 3 HP left in the sense that he's at -7.

Er...right. Out with the wand it is then...

Paladins: "Service with a Smile."

:smallsmile:

So yeah...you didn't put Bors on the map, but if he is in a square adjacent to Auran, I'll use my standard action to zap him with a lesser vigor. Hopefully Zeke and Bors can get out of there in time. Are they wearing no armor?

TekHed

2012-10-17, 03:08 PM

So...shall we NPC a ranged spell from Vaeri then?

TekHed

2012-10-17, 05:42 PM

OR....hmmm...looking at Fireheart's sheet...perhaps Benign Transpositioning Bors with the Captain while Zeke withraws?

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-18, 10:49 PM

Darn copy-paste. Screwed up the DFI damage rolls, rerolling:

Soranna: [roll0]
Militia 1: [roll1]
Militia 2: [roll2]

TekHed

2012-10-19, 02:23 AM

Ah, I had hoped to be next to Faien, so as to 5 foot step into where Soranna is now, that was my intent anyways.

Also, looks like two threats against Faien...confirm?

+5 AC is only to adjacent? With Auran's sacred bonus that brings to +8...

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-19, 05:04 AM

Ah, I had hoped to be next to Faien, so as to 5 foot step into where Soranna is now, that was my intent anyways.

Sorry, I forgot to answer your IC question: the square to the right of Faien is indeed in the hydra's reach. Reach weapons don't threaten in the approximation-of-a-circle pattern that AoEs and movement use, they reach all the way along the diagonals:

Note: Small and Medium creatures wielding reach weapons threaten all squares 10 feet (2 squares) away, even diagonally. (This is an exception to the rule that 2 squares of diagonal distance is measured as 15 feet.)

So I put you a square down where you were actually out of reach.

TekHed

2012-10-19, 05:09 AM

Well then, looks like I'll be taking 3 AoOs instead of two...can't be helped. At least my AC is buffed... didn't realize Soranna was so handy!

TekHed

2012-10-19, 02:06 PM

Not that I want Faien to take more damage, but don't Hydras still roll to confirm on nat 20s?

As for AoOs Sal, I didn't realize it was 1/move, though I'm pretty sure Hydras get more than one AoO.

Lastly, if Faien is 5-foot stepping, he shouldn't provoke one...

Fireheart

2012-10-19, 02:12 PM

That worked! Thanks. Unfortunately, I can't see the map at the moment but life is a little less crazy.

(Family Dr's visits, etc) so I should be able to get online tonight and post for Vaeri.

If you need her to do something before I get online, feel free. She'd probably aim for a ranged cold spell on the Hydra.

Thanks for patience all. I'm trying to get back.

~Fireheart

Sallera

2012-10-19, 03:13 PM

Can't 5ft step, since we're in difficult terrain.

Edit: Also, on reach, I'm pretty sure that's a specific exception for Small and Medium creatures. Think Large+ creatures use normal distances to determine reach.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-19, 03:59 PM

Not that I want Faien to take more damage, but don't Hydras still roll to confirm on nat 20s?

Whoops. I'm too used to my houserules, I guess--to make large groups of mooks less of a swingy threat, my group rules that you can't crit if you can only hit on a natural 20, which is currently the case with the hydra. Sorry about that.

But since you insist: [roll0] [roll1]

As for AoOs Sal, I didn't realize it was 1/move, though I'm pretty sure Hydras get more than one AoO.

Yeah, you can only provoke 1 AoO per action, and "moving your speed" is a single action. You provoke the first time you move out of someone's threatened square and that's it.

And again, hydras take all of their attacks on an AoO. You don't want to provoke an AoO from one. :smalleek:

Edit: Also, on reach, I'm pretty sure that's a specific exception for Small and Medium creatures. Think Large+ creatures use normal distances to determine reach.

It's actually a general exception for 10-foot radius reach, but the SRD doesn't have the DMG explanatory text. I can't find the picture online, but you can check DMG p.308 for the reach templates: Everything with a 10-foot reach (Small/Medium with reach weapon, Large [Tall] natural reach, and Huge [Long] natural reach) threatens the corners, and you don't start using the normal approximation-of-a-circle grid math until 15+ foot reach.

Sallera

2012-10-19, 04:29 PM

Ah, got it. And yeah, I know they take all their attacks. Faien's built to survive things like that, and he's got no other way of getting in range to swing. (Unless you'd allow the rule that you can ready an action to sunder a head from out of range to also apply to ordinary attacks...)

TekHed

2012-10-19, 06:09 PM

All? Yikes! Well as Sal said, there's no other way to close in (I suppose I could use Auran's longspear...but would have to drop my shield...), so it must be done. Hopefully our AC is high enough to keep those bites at bay. I'd thought about sundering heads, but that provokes an AoO without Improved Sunder as well, and we've established that's no good.

Good to know about the crit-houserule.

TekHed

2012-10-20, 03:42 AM

I just noticed...surprise round Hydra attacks. First round auran moves and heals, second round is now and Auran and Faien are moving to attack (and probably missing). Roni's first round action was to DFI us, while Vaeri's was a transposition...yet Sal did not post an action for the first round...or perhaps delayed until after Roni's DFI went off...so I think Faien is entitled to another attack for this second round. So far the monster has only done it's surprise and first round attacks, and will go after Auran.

Sal, did you not take an action on purpose or am I reading the rounds wrong?

Sallera

2012-10-20, 11:36 PM

You're doing that round-by-round thing again, instead of the enemies-party-enemies sequence we always use after initiative is resolved. What I posted was Faien's first-round action, since he acts after the hydra.

TekHed

2012-10-21, 12:07 AM

Yeah that always throws me...

Out of curiosity, what is Faein's AC right now? :smallsmile:

Sallera

2012-10-21, 12:24 AM

Hm, 35, I guess? Or 30 once Soranna's buff expires.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-21, 04:24 AM

Hm, 35, I guess? Or 30 once Soranna's buff expires.

It's not a buff, it's Combat Expertise, shared via the Allied Defense feat. As long as you're next to her, you're protected.

Sallera

2012-10-21, 11:01 PM

Ah, convenient.

OMG PONIES

2012-10-22, 07:49 PM

Roni's Nature check identifies that the creature is indeed a hydra, it's not a baby, and it's hungry.

Might his check also reveal anything about the best way to kill it (and perhaps its ridiculous fast healing)?

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-22, 08:06 PM

Might his check also reveal anything about the best way to kill it (and perhaps its ridiculous fast healing)?

You beat the base DC by 6, so you can learn one piece of useful information about it; Roni either knows about the fast healing or the regrowing heads, but not both.

TekHed

2012-10-22, 08:29 PM

Who's turn is it next? Vaeri's or the hydra's?

OMG PONIES

2012-10-22, 08:34 PM

You beat the base DC by 6, so you can learn one piece of useful information about it; Roni either knows about the fast healing or the regrowing heads, but not both.

Hmm, I feel as though one of those are more crucial to killing the creature than the other, and don't want my OOC knowledge providing an unfair advantage. I was thinking of Roni knowing about the regrowing heads with his Knowledge check--is that okay?

TekHed

2012-10-22, 08:39 PM

Sundering is probably still a bad idea though, since we take 6 AoOs every time we try it...

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-22, 09:23 PM

Hmm, I feel as though one of those are more crucial to killing the creature than the other, and don't want my OOC knowledge providing an unfair advantage. I was thinking of Roni knowing about the regrowing heads with his Knowledge check--is that okay?

That's fine.

Sundering is probably still a bad idea though, since we take 6 AoOs every time we try it...

It can only do that twice per round, though; I'm sure you guys can survive that. :smallwink:

TekHed

2012-10-22, 09:34 PM

Hmmm...okay. And Roni's fire will keep it from regrowing.

Who's turn is it now? I swear I have dyslexia when it comes to DnDn combat order...

Sallera

2012-10-23, 09:46 AM

That's because you insist on overcomplicating it. :3 It's Vaeri's turn.

Also, hydras are Int 2 animals, so evil isn't really an option. If it gets blinded, though, that'll at least make the sundering risk-free. Unless its heads get blinded individually, anyway...

Fireheart

2012-10-23, 10:05 AM

Crap...and Vaeri's sheet is blocked from work.

Okay, I can post tonight when I get home tonight so I'll do that unless someone can see her sheet. In which case, she'll shoot a spell of something at the hydra.

(Dang, I knew I forgot to do something last night. Will definitely download sheets to the thumb drive.)

~Fireheart

OMG PONIES

2012-10-23, 10:48 AM

If it gets blinded, though, that'll at least make the sundering risk-free. Unless its heads get blinded individually, anyway...

That's the plan; Roni's counting on keeping his teammates alive by turning out the hydra's lights.

TekHed

2012-10-23, 02:13 PM

Hmm, yes lopping off it's heads is looking better...and doing so makes it's full attack less and less potent. We have 5 moe rounds of DFI...let's make them count!

TekHed

2012-10-25, 01:22 AM

we haven't been rolling so great so far...hopefully we can turn it around this next round.

Who's next???

TekHed

2012-10-25, 03:40 AM

Ouch! A couple of lucky 20's for the hydra.

Are we or are we not using your house rule about not confirming crits if it can only hit on a 20?

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-10-25, 04:01 AM

Ouch! A couple of lucky 20's for the hydra.

Are we or are we not using your house rule about not confirming crits if it can only hit on a 20?

We are not; that's the reason I forgot to roll critical confirmation the first time around, but we're playing this one by the books.

TekHed

2012-10-28, 05:27 AM

All right wonder twins...your turn...:smallcool:

I suggest we save our magic, unless we really need to. Random beastie is dangerous, but probably not as much as our classed encounters. I can have Auran ask if anyone can loan him a slashing weapon. A notable oversight in my weapon selection.

TekHed

2012-11-02, 03:55 AM

A bit confused how it has cover if it moved 2 squares diagonally NE...unless the map is turned...looks like you cut off the direction key from the image Dice.

Sallera

2012-11-02, 09:19 AM

It went northwest, so back into the river behind the wagon.

TekHed

2012-11-02, 01:56 PM

Ah yes, I misread. Bad news if we fall in the water. It can do this all day...nip at us then retreat and heal. We need a way to draw it out.

Sallera

2012-11-02, 02:01 PM

Well, all we really need to do is stop rolling low single digits on our sunder attempts. If it wants to play hit and run until it loses all its heads, it's welcome to. The problem would really be if it chose to retreat, since we'd have no way of pursuing and making sure it's taken care of (well, Faien could emergency shape some water walking, but he'd still have trouble catching it).

TekHed

2012-11-02, 02:22 PM

What if we cut off it's heads, and it retreats until it grows two new ones...? :smalleek:

Sallera

2012-11-02, 02:32 PM

We've got DFI up, and the chances 3d6 will roll less than 5 aren't great. But that's getting a little too meta to affect strategy, especially since Roni's the only one who knows how they work IC.

TekHed

2012-11-02, 02:38 PM

Except that currently we are out of range right? Meaning this round the best we can do it shift position (to be adjacent to Soranna) and ready a sunder attempt (correct?).

Also, I think we only have another 4 rounds of DFI since Roni stopped singing to cast glitterdust.

OMG PONIES

2012-11-02, 04:49 PM

Rules question: can the hydra still make AoOs w/ a miss chance while blinded? I thought you couldn't make AoOs against creatures with total concealment.

Well, all we really need to do is stop rolling low single digits on our sunder attempts. If it wants to play hit and run until it loses all its heads, it's welcome to. The problem would really be if it chose to retreat, since we'd have no way of pursuing and making sure it's taken care of (well, Faien could emergency shape some water walking, but he'd still have trouble catching it).

Alterselfsayswhat? ...though no aquatic sundering forms spring to mind.

Also, I think we only have another 4 rounds of DFI since Roni stopped singing to cast glitterdust.

I've still got two uses left for the day. I'm trying to conserve them, but if I need to pop up another when this one runs out and just keep playing, that works too.

Sallera

2012-11-02, 05:26 PM

Yeah, I don't think Roni wants to solo the hydra once Glitterdust wears off, does he?

And no, it doesn't AoO us while blinded, thankfully.

TekHed

2012-11-02, 05:30 PM

Speaking of AoOs, do we get any for the hydra moving out of threatened squares?

Also, are we allowed to move and ready an action on the same turn?

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-11-03, 03:58 PM

Speaking of AoOs, do we get any for the hydra moving out of threatened squares?

Yes you do; I was thinking "no AoOs" because the hydra was blinded and left yours out.

We'll resolve Soranna's and Faien's readied sunder attempts as their AoOs. Soranna's Sunder is successful, and she readies another one.

Faien's 11 is opposed by the hydra's [roll0]. I assume Faien is readying another sunder attempt.

Tek, decide whether you want Auran to sunder or attack normally for his AoO and roll it here. I'll edit the IC after that to reflect the AoOs.

Also, are we allowed to move and ready an action on the same turn?

Yes, as long as you ready your action after moving.

TekHed

2012-11-03, 07:03 PM

Roni tossed Auran a longsword...I know dropping his warstar is a free action, but does it take an action to catch/take the sword?

Sallera

2012-11-03, 07:22 PM

Move action, I believe. And yes, Faien will ready another sunder.

TekHed

2012-11-03, 07:41 PM

I don't think I took a move action last round so I can say that after he attack, he free action dropped his mace and caught the sword...will put that into my next post.

So, this round, I can move up, ready action, sunder.

TekHed

2012-11-03, 09:37 PM

So I'll spend a free action with sunder attempt to use my 1/day Justiciar ability to count a neutral creature as evil for holy strike/smite.

AoO Sunder: [roll0]
Damage: [roll1]+[roll2] fire.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-11-04, 02:58 AM

Miss chance due to concealment for Vaeri's orb of cold (20 or lower is a miss): [roll0]

EDIT: Edited the IC post. Two heads down, four to go, and it's not looking too happy.

TekHed

2012-11-04, 04:19 AM

So it's action was to further withdraw, and it's our turn again? But, if we move closer we end up submerged. And it has cover. And concealment. I say we move on if we can. Were faster than it.

TekHed

2012-11-04, 02:50 PM

Would be nice if we can defeat it, so as to investigate the cart. There might be loot, or information inside!

TekHed

2012-11-04, 04:13 PM

P.S. photobucket seems fine on my end.

TekHed

2012-11-04, 06:03 PM

@Fireheart, you need to make a DC 15 balance check to run across the slippery bridge or fall prone.

Sallera

2012-11-04, 06:12 PM

Tek, you generally can't take 10 in combat.

TekHed

2012-11-04, 09:04 PM

Currently not threatened though. The hydra withdrew, out of attack range, blinded, ducked behind a cart, and cowering under water...

Sallera

2012-11-04, 11:29 PM

Distractions or threats (such as combat) make it impossible for a character to take 10.
It's not just 'threatened' in the mechanical, AoO-provoking sense.

TekHed

2012-11-05, 12:39 AM

Quote the whole thing:

Taking 10
When your character is not being threatened or distracted, you may choose to take 10. Instead of rolling 1d20 for the skill check, calculate your result as if you had rolled a 10. For many routine tasks, taking 10 makes them automatically successful. Distractions or threats (such as combat) make it impossible for a character to take 10. In most cases, taking 10 is purely a safety measure —you know (or expect) that an average roll will succeed but fear that a poor roll might fail, so you elect to settle for the average roll (a 10). Taking 10 is especially useful in situations where a particularly high roll wouldn’t help.

When your character is not being threatened or distracted. I thik it's safe to say that with the hydra's withdrawal and failure to act this round that Auran could have enough wherewithal and lack of distraction to make a couple of jumps, away from the source of danger, which is currently cowering. I take it to mean that if someone is currently trying to bash your skull in that would be combat and distracting, but if nothing is actively attacking, it should be possible.

Sallera

2012-11-05, 10:16 AM

Perhaps if one were entirely unconcerned about the fact that there's a nearby hydra that wants to eat them, and may or may not be bluffing. At that point, though, it's really a DM call.

TekHed

2012-11-05, 04:10 PM

ok. will change if Dice wants me to.

@OMGP, remember DC 10 balance check to move full speed, DC 15 to run...

Fireheart

2012-11-05, 05:05 PM

(Just a quick note, forgot thumb drive w/ character sheet) I'll post the balance check as soon as I get home and get a breather!

~Fireheart

OMG PONIES

2012-11-05, 07:38 PM

Did we collapse Balance into an Acrobatics skill for this game, a la Pathfinder? Because I have that on my sheet.

[roll0]

TekHed

2012-11-05, 08:49 PM

yep. acrobatics

Fireheart

2012-11-06, 07:02 AM

Acrobatics roll

[roll0]

Sweet! The closest thing to a non-combatant in this group actually manages to run across the bridge. :)

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-11-06, 07:14 PM

Regarding taking 10 in combat: It's fairly straightforward, as long as the combat music is playing, you can't take 10. Flavor-wise, it's still distracting even if you're not directly threatened this round, as you're still in a combat situation and the hydra could charge and attack again at any moment.

IC post coming up soon.

TekHed

2012-11-06, 07:49 PM

Well...technically it can't charge over difficult terrain but whatever. Is it possible, rather that define a jump distance ahead of time and possibly fail, to just make some jump checks and see how far he gets with each one (since jumping takes no action but just counts for movement)...?

That would let me keep the fluff of my post without risking falling on my face for a failed DC (though could still faceplant on a 1).

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-11-06, 09:22 PM

Well...technically it can't charge over difficult terrain but whatever.

"Charge" in the colloquial rather than mechanical sense.

Is it possible, rather that define a jump distance ahead of time and possibly fail, to just make some jump checks and see how far he gets with each one (since jumping takes no action but just counts for movement)...?

That would let me keep the fluff of my post without risking falling on my face for a failed DC (though could still faceplant on a 1).

You may.

TekHed

2012-11-06, 10:08 PM

Okay, I need to cover 20 feet to get to the base of the bridge and haul myself up. DC 20 gets me 10 feet. Hitting 10 lets me go 5 feet. Actually I auto succeed on a DC 10, so I could take 4 hops and do it without rolling, but let's roll anyways for fun.

I'll make 4 checks for good measure. In order:

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]

So looks like his first jump gets him 13 feet or so, and the second 7 or so, so it looks like I can do it in two hops as planned.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-11-13, 02:55 AM

Sorry about the delay, folks, I haven't been able to post at work like I normally do (no lunch breaks for the past week, too busy :smallfrown:) so I've fallen a bit behind with my PbPs.

Rolling the NPCs' Acrobatics:

Woodsman 1: [roll0]
Woodsman 2: [roll1]
Bors: [roll2] EDIT: Whoops, he's still unconscious, no roll for him.
Zeke: [roll3]
Soranna: [roll4]

TekHed

2012-11-13, 04:19 AM

welcome back!

Where is the F for Faien?

TekHed

2012-11-13, 05:13 AM

Edit: forgot to add, ready sunder.

If triggered:
longsword:[roll0]
Damage: [roll1]+[roll2] fire.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-11-17, 11:07 PM

Hello again, folks. I already ranted about PbP delays in another thread of mine that TekHed's in and I'd hate to bore him, so suffice to say work sucks when incompetent people are in charge of your company's servers and deployment. :smallsigh: But I'm back, and should (*crosses fingers*) be back on a normal posting schedule.

@OMG PONIES: Before I do the next IC post, is Roni taking any actions this round? I wasn't sure if you mixed up the initiative or Roni is just delaying for now.

welcome back!

Where is the F for Faien?

Er, floating off in my computer's memory somewhere, most likely. Working with fancy maps in paint was perhaps not my brightest idea. :smallredface: I'll be sure to add him back in on the next map

OMG PONIES

2012-11-18, 10:15 PM

Sorry, forgot about that...I'll be posting IC tomorrow.

TekHed

2012-11-26, 11:43 PM

Dice be up next.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-11-27, 12:18 AM

Dice be recently returned from Thanksgiving vacation, and Dice be working his way through his games and should be posting tomorrow.

TekHed

2012-11-27, 12:28 AM

I know. T'was merely a friendly *nudge.*

TekHed

2012-12-02, 03:59 PM

Sal, does Faien need a lesser vigor?

Sallera

2012-12-02, 11:26 PM

Probably, yeah. He's not using the Mage's Spectacles today, so chances of activating his own wand are slim.

TekHed

2012-12-03, 01:26 AM

How many HPs are you down?

Sallera

2012-12-03, 01:40 AM

12, as the sheet says, so one's fine.

Fireheart

2012-12-06, 09:28 PM

Hey, Apologies. I have flu. Will try to post but wanted to give heads up in the OOC's.

~Fireheart

OMG PONIES

2012-12-10, 07:37 PM

Fireheart, Roni is asking if you have Alter Self among your spells known. Sorry, I couldn't think of a better IC way to phrase it.

TekHed

2012-12-10, 08:34 PM

Something tells me this is not the "king of the hill" part of the module; yet anyways...

TekHed

2012-12-11, 12:28 AM

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-12-11, 03:29 AM

Dice, is Faein's assessment correct? Are the outriders so distant that it would be impossible for us to catch up? Trying to assault a tower of Bahamut knows how many of what kinds of enemies just doesn't seem like a smart idea with what we have to work with. We need to get a better grasp of what we are dealing with here...

You could catch up if you ran the whole way, but you'd be sacrificing subtlety to do it.

Also, is the tower made of stone, or wood? Is their a wall, or a moat? Visible siege engines? Things (boulders, flaming logs, etc.) to roll down the hill, or any similar fortifications, like sharpened tree-steaks, or archer-trenches around the hill?

As mentioned already, it's just a tower and outbuildings, with nothing else around that you can see; the tower is stone, the outbuildings (sheds, basically) are made of wood. If there are any traps in the ground or stuff like that, they're not visible from this distance.

I wish there was a map of the area in the module that I could mark up to make things clearer, but I guess we'll have to fall back on my utter lack of artistic skill:

http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb176/psychictheurge10/VraathKeepSketch.png

The black circles are the Dragon's Crown, the gray is the tower, the brown is the outbuildings, the green and brown blotchy border is the edge of the forest, the olive streak is the road you've been following, the blue P is the party, and the red G is the group of goblins heading away.

From the party to the tower is roughly half a mile (5 minutes' walk at a brisk pace), same for the goblin group to the tower, and it's about 3/4 mile between you and the goblin group and growing, so as I said you'd need to run to catch them.

Does that help?

TekHed

2012-12-14, 04:38 AM

I posted to keep us moving but...are we really going to split the party? I thought you're never supposed to split the party... :smalleek:

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-12-14, 06:28 AM

Repeat after me: Dice is a kind, generous DM. Nothing bad can possibly come from splitting the party.

If you'd like to reconsider.... :smallamused:

Sallera

2012-12-14, 10:28 AM

Dice is a kind, generous DM. Nothing boring can possibly come from splitting the party.

Wait, I think I got a word wrong somewhere in there...

OMG PONIES

2012-12-14, 12:56 PM

Dice is a kinda generous DM when it comes to handing out death. Nothing safe can possibly come from anything the party does.

Looks right to me :smalltongue:.

TekHed

2012-12-14, 02:52 PM

Nothing bad can possibly come from splitting the party.

...said no one ever.

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-12-14, 04:36 PM

Oh, lots of people have said it, it's just that the group of "people who have actually said that" and the group of "people who survived the next three rounds" have no members in common. :smallwink:

Since you foolish people have decided not to change your plans for whatever reason, I'll massacre the party horribly have the next IC post up in a few hours.

TekHed

2012-12-14, 05:40 PM

Yeah, I'm not sure what Sal/Faien is thinking. I've been working but was considering edting my IC post to reflect some sensible objection...

Sallera

2012-12-14, 05:57 PM

If you have logical objections, Faien will listen IC. However, such objections can't include metagame considerations like 'don't split the party.' :smalltongue:

(Personally, I've always felt that one to be a bit silly. It can work just fine, if you, y'know, assign characters tasks they're actually suited for, as opposed to being split by an outside force.)

TekHed

2012-12-14, 06:50 PM

Edited. Logical in game reasoning (I think).

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-12-18, 11:29 PM

Is there anything anyone wants to do to help with hiding, arrange an ambush, etc.? Speak now or forever hold your peace; if no one is making any special preparations we'll roll stealth and perception and go from there.

TekHed

2012-12-19, 05:26 AM

Stealth. Yeah. Ha, good one. Auran can hardly be called subtle. Maybe Roni or Vaeri have some magics that can aid us though...

Fireheart

2012-12-19, 08:58 AM

Vaeri doesn't have anything. Sorry!

~Fireheart

Sallera

2012-12-19, 10:09 AM

Faien doesn't have much he can add, having already used his one Rapid Meldshaping for the day on hydra-chasing. I've already posted his plan for helping his group hide, but that's about it.

TekHed

2012-12-23, 05:07 AM

Is Auran getting an evil-ish vibe from these Gobbos?

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-12-23, 03:55 PM

Is Auran getting an evil-ish vibe from these Gobbos?

They're not within range of his Evil-dar yet, but that would be a very good assumption to make.

TekHed

2012-12-23, 08:20 PM

Ok, I'll buff up a bit in that case...

OMG PONIES

2012-12-24, 06:19 AM

How far away are the gobbos and the other group, respectively?

PairO'Dice Lost

2012-12-25, 04:27 AM

The other group is about 1/10 mile away, either 4 rounds away at a dead run where you have a chance of being discovered or 8 rounds at a stealthy double-move pace. The goblins are 2 rounds away from the other group at a sedate walking pace, so you can assume roughly 60 feet past them.

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-01-08, 12:42 AM

Aaaaand we're back! Gotta love Steam-induced computer problems; thank Aureon I back things up religiously.

TekHed

2013-01-09, 05:05 AM

Actual physical hot water vapor, or the service from Valve? O_o

Fireheart

2013-01-24, 10:18 AM

Nudge?

But mainly I wanted to let folks know that I will be traveling from 1/25- 2/4 so posting may be spotty at times.

~Fireheart

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-01-31, 01:49 PM

So, I was going through my threads the morning and thought to myself, "Gee, my RHoD game hasn't shown up in my subscriptions in a while, I wonder why no one has posted?"

*click on link*

*check post dates*

"Gee, my RHoD game hasn't shown up in my subscriptions in a while, I wonder why I didn't manually check earlier than this?"

Sorry 'bout that, folks. :smallredface: I need to check the RHoD PDF to respond to Vaeri's point, I should have a post up in a few hours.

OMG PONIES

2013-01-31, 02:06 PM

No sweat, I'm just glad this is still kicking!

TekHed

2013-01-31, 07:09 PM

Yep, when no one has posted, that usually means its your turn...:smalltongue:

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-02-01, 03:50 AM

Yep, when no one has posted, that usually means its your turn...:smalltongue:

When someone posts in one of my games, I either reply immediately or leave the thread open in a tab until I can get to it--no tab open, no player posts since my last post. This isn't the first time my subscriptions have screwed up, and I doubt it will be the last; I'd put up a thread in Board Issues if I could reproduce it reliably.

TekHed

2013-02-01, 05:09 AM

Are the siblings both blue-scaled?

OMG PONIES

2013-02-01, 12:55 PM

Roni's a redscale, through and through.

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-02-01, 02:15 PM

Huh, I thought Vaeri prestidigitated Roni blue as well; guess I misread that. I'll edit their reasoning.

Also, Tek, Auran's sheet doesn't say he speaks Goblin and I'm not seeing a comprehend languages effect on there. If he does speak Goblin you should note that on the sheet, if he doesn't speak Goblin you shouldn't be reading Goblin spoilers.

OMG PONIES

2013-02-01, 03:53 PM

:smalltongue: Oh, I claim no knowledge of any magic my sister cast upon me.

TekHed

2013-02-01, 06:29 PM

I was confused because Roni's sheet says blue hair and blue eyes...

And...:smallredface: Sorry, I'm in a habit of reading story spoilers (I just like knowing what is going on). I'm in another game here where spoilers are used and we are allowed to read them so long as we don't metagame. The DM there basically said it it was REALLY private, it would be in a PM or we would use MW or another forum with Private tag support.

Again, so sorry, bad habit. It did let me catch an error in your post/imagining, though! If Vaeri is Blue and Roni is Red it makes the Goblin's argument invalid. :smalltongue:

I won't read anymore spoilers if you insist. As a small child I had a compulsion to always look in cupboards and drawers, out of pure curiosity, but I would get in trouble for getting into people's stuff. I meant no harm honest!

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-02-01, 06:48 PM

I was confused because Roni's sheet says blue hair and blue eyes...

Ah, that's probably where I got the impression he had some blue that was being prestidigitated. Mea culpa.

If a spoiler has a label, only that PC (or PCs who speak that language, or PCs in that area, or whatever) should know the information in it. By now I suppose I can trust you not to metagame, so don't worry about it, I'm just used to players staying out of spoilers until the scene is over and keeping things separate doesn't matter anymore.

Fireheart

2013-02-04, 07:37 PM

Okay, I just want to say I had no idea that would actually work! :) Coolness.

We just got back from vacation so I may need a day or two to compose an appropriate response. I'll try to post something tonight/tomorrow.

~Fireheart

OMG PONIES

2013-02-04, 09:50 PM

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-02-05, 12:42 AM

I savor any opportunity where Roni's tactic is completely ignored while Vaeri succeeds. I think more things like this will really help the arc I'm envisioning for our two characters in my head: the overprotective older brother who finally realizes his kid sister can school him.

Roni's tactic wasn't entirely ignored--they did decide to seek asylum, after all--but they assumed Vaeri is more important than he is because and so are talking to her as if she's in charge. I can start having NPCs pretend Roni doesn't exist if it would help, though. :smallwink:

Roni[spoiler]Koth...Koth...mmm, no, doesn't sound familiar to you. "Kulkor Zhul" does, however: the People of the Dragon, a hobgoblin tribe of great size and strength whose territory encompasses the Seawall Mountains between Sterngate and New Cyre.

TekHed

2013-02-12, 01:25 AM

Auran actually has a decent Diplomacy (Gather Information) skill check, but since we are using the revised Diplomacy rules and he has little to offer these Hobbos that they would want I figure best to stay out of the other's way.

Let me know if you have any thoughts on how he might help things along.

OMG PONIES

2013-02-12, 05:49 PM

Hmm, we'll see if the old "Wookiee Prisoner" trick is good enough to get our entire party into the base :smallbiggrin:. Also, just in case Roni needs a check to keep up his false accent [roll0].

Sallera

2013-02-12, 06:01 PM

OMG PONIES

2013-02-12, 06:16 PM

Not to belittle your bluff, but I think we've been fairly obviously working with the Ferryfolk, and Vaeri and Faien have been implying that we're not particularly happy with Koth at the moment. I don't know about switching tack mid-deception.

I was thinking the same thing, but didn't know if they'd go for it all being part of our original guise before we "revealed" that we were servants of Tiamat. Dice, if you feel it's far-fetched I'd ask for a recon to ignore the post, as I don't think Roni would go for a blatantly awful bluff. Your call, though.

TekHed

2013-02-12, 06:34 PM

Or...you could just edit it before he sees it. :smalltongue:

Should be fine what with having made an ooc mistake...and the current scene has been dragging along since the holidays...

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-02-12, 06:42 PM

Or...you could just edit it before he sees it. :smalltongue:

Too late. :smallamused:

I'd say the bluff is a bit too unbelievable, what with the Drellin's Ferry folk obviously helping out in the ambush, not being manacled, etc., so you can go ahead and retcon that if you'd like.

TekHed

2013-02-13, 12:07 AM

Yeah that's what I meant. With the pace of pbp we all make little goofs we wouldn't have from time to time...

OMG PONIES

2013-02-13, 07:45 AM

Retconned. Hoping "these folks decided to work for the winning team" is a more believable line than "these folks are actually our prisoners all of a sudden." If it's still ridiculous, just let me know--that's the problem with playing a character who's more devious and cunning than his player.

Fireheart

2013-02-15, 04:03 PM

Hey all, just a note, I'm slammed at work today and need some time to write up a post IC so I'll try for this weekend.

~T

OMG PONIES

2013-02-22, 09:07 AM

Sallera, are you saying Faien has the ability to walk through walls?

Sallera

2013-02-22, 11:12 AM

Not quite, but close. I can get 50ft of Dimension Door per day if I change my melds up a little. Unfortunately only CL5, so it would take me three trips to bring everyone the main party inside, and then I'd be out. (Alternately, take one person right to the top room of the tower and have an escape left, but that's pretty risky unless we're going for the bluff. We can discuss the rest IC, anyway.)

Sallera

2013-02-26, 04:58 PM

Bother. Just realized it was my other Incarnate who carried around a bird token...

TekHed

2013-02-28, 05:42 PM

I'm being more quiet because Auran would only get in the way of out current tack. He's pretty much watching and listening so I'm not going to post between each DM update unless something calls me too. Just saying I'm still totally here.

TekHed

2013-03-02, 08:13 PM

So what ARE we doing exactly? This scene has gone on for so long and become so convoluted I'm not sure what we need to do next...

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-03-02, 08:31 PM

So what ARE we doing exactly? This scene has gone on for so long and become so convoluted I'm not sure what we need to do next...

A quick summary of what you know or can piece together, in case it helps:

The bad guys are building up forces in the area for reasons unknown; you've discovered that they're the vanguard of a larger force.
Said larger force plans to attack Drellin's Ferry for reasons unknown; the marauders have covered a fairly large area, so Drellin's Ferry is likely just one part of a larger assault.
The buildup of forces is led by someone named Koth, whose allies include fiends and other evil creatures and who has built his fortifications on a site with strong evil occult significance.
If you want to stop whatever assault is coming, you need to do something to delay/impede Koth's plans and find out more about the larger assault from him/his allies/his battle plans/his personal diary/whatever.
Your captives think Vaeri is a priestess of Tiamat and are spilling their guts to her. They seem willing to become double agents, but there are other forces around that could cause problems.

At this point, you've considered several choices:
Assault the keep directly. Risky, as you don't know the extent of their forces
Kill all the bad guys as Koth sends them out. Risky, as this gives him time to adapt and reinforce.
Send your captives in as double agents. Risky, as they're not really trustworthy.
Slip in and take the keep. Risky, as this gives the bad guys home ground advantage.
Wait for Koth to assault Drellin's Ferry and ambush them. Risky, as their forces could prove too numerous and powerful.

So you're essentially trying to get information from the captives to determine which if your bad and risky choices is the least bad and risky. I will say, OOC, that your captives don't really have any other useful information to give you, and the clock is a-ticking, so I'd suggest it's time to make a decision one way or another.

Sallera

2013-03-02, 11:53 PM

I do love this extended bluff scene. Very fun to play with. ^^

OOC, I like option 4, either in diplomatic bluff form, split-party assault/distraction and inflitration/assassination form or full-party tactical insertion form, but it requires us to wait until morning and see what Koth does. IC, Faien's just trying to play tutor/advisor to Vaeri, both because he thinks it's a good experience for her and because it fits the bluff neatly. If she could make the call IC on whether or not to go after the second patrol as they return based on the information we have, I think we could proceed with discussing our plans for afterward.

Edit: Also, I'm away from March 17th to April 13th, so hopefully we can get this scene and our planning finished before I leave. Combat's easier to NPC.

Fireheart

2013-03-03, 08:08 AM

Sorry, work has blocked everything now and it's a con weekend so I'm catching up.

I'll post somthing IC quickly. I'm thinking #4 is a start or if I can over hear Auran, that's a good suggestion as well.

~T

TekHed

2013-03-03, 01:38 PM

OMG PONIES

2013-03-03, 06:20 PM

I almost think #3 could be the best, assuming Vaeri has these hobs sufficiently in her thrall. Make Koth think the way is clear, then set a bunch of traps and be waiting for him. I guess that is a combo of 3 and 5. I just...find it hard to believe it would be so easy just to enter the keep and succeed at assassinating the enemy leader at the very start of the module, so it has me wary...

Unless he's not the leader of all, but just the Middle Management of Evil. I prefer Option 4, as it seems like we've got more info on the keep than they have on us at this point. Roni will weigh in IC tomorrow.

TekHed

2013-03-03, 06:41 PM

Good point...we didn't get a map for nothing and they won't expect it. We shoul use our new recruits to get their guard down/diversion. Might not be bad to send a couple of our scouts back to warn the town and have them start preparing though...

Sallera

2013-03-03, 06:59 PM

Given what we know, middle management is almost guaranteed - Koth is just the leader of the vanguard. The hobs wouldn't be willing to betray their direct leader and not whoever leads "the rest of [them]" unless the latter had greater status. But if we can find out who Koth's getting his orders from, that'll give us something to work with going forward.

OMG PONIES

2013-03-03, 09:41 PM

But if we can find out who Koth's getting his orders from, that'll give us something to work with going forward.

Hmm, true--perhaps popping directly into his quarters can allow us to run a blitzkreig offensive and surprise him before he can call for his reinforcements? Even if he can cry out for them, we've got one door to keep barricaded. Even more so, if Faien wants to pop in from the wall Roni can Alter Self into something with wings and swoop in from above to cut off a possible exit. I don't know if Auran's wings are flight-ready or just for gliding, but we could possibly bring two in through the wall and two in from above. Naturally, Roni can mention this IC if we decide to go that route.

TekHed

2013-03-03, 11:55 PM

Auran gets flight next level. Vaeri can fly though. Maybe Roni can shape shift into a form with wings and he and Vaeri can fly to the top of the tower. Faien takes Auran and then we go from their. Soranna and her team can head back to prepare the village while Vaeri's new lackeys can make a show of entering the normal way to distract any lookouts from the siblings flight. Would be even better if you two could go invisible.

Sallera

2013-03-04, 01:00 AM

Don't think Vaeri can fly any better than Auran.

TekHed

2013-03-04, 01:03 AM

I think the feats give it a level before the race does...

Otherwise could Roni carry her?

Sallera

2013-03-04, 01:41 AM

It actually takes a second feat to fly with those wings, which still requires 6th level. Carrying is... unlikely, since I'm pretty sure you can't fly with more than a light load without special dispensation.

OMG PONIES

2013-03-06, 09:15 AM

Nothing to see here folks, just family business.

@Fireheart:
I figured we can start building some more meat on the bones of the Quickwing family. I'd like to run with the idea of "Trouble in Camelot," as our family seems perfectly fine from the outside but has its own inner dysfunctions. I'm sure our old magical pop had some nefarious habit, whether it be drink, women, consorting with Elder Evils, or some such. You think that's a side story worth building together? We could hash it out in PMs or simply build as we go (which I always think is more fun, kind of like collaborative improv).

TekHed

2013-03-06, 12:45 PM

Ellie is up OMG

OMG PONIES

2013-03-06, 12:48 PM

Ellie is up OMG

I'll pop over to that game and take a look, thanks.

Fireheart

2013-03-06, 02:38 PM

Nothing to see here folks, just family business.

stuff

@OMG Ponies:
No objections here. I'm okay with lecherous old man. Perhaps one who had a number of affairs but tried to hide them from mother. Perhaps while she is traveling singing. (Wasn't she the bard?) But didn't hide as well from you and I. You probably saw more than me. Vaeri probably saw it happening but didn't quite realize what it was. We can move to PM or just play it out w/in game.

OMG PONIES

2013-03-07, 01:45 PM

Dumb question, but I'm trying to get a sense of where we're camped. Are we close enough to the Keep that we're trying to be stealthy, or far enough away that a bard absentmindedly plucking his lute wouldn't rouse suspicion?

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-03-07, 02:35 PM

Are we close enough to the Keep that we're trying to be stealthy, or far enough away that a bard absentmindedly plucking his lute wouldn't rouse suspicion?

Yes. :smallcool:

Recall that there's a sizable gap between the forest and the hill where there's no cover, so wherever you're hiding (somewhere to the southeast) your lute couldn't be heard from the keep even if you're close to the edge of the forest.

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-03-09, 08:12 PM

All right, random encounter time:

Random encounter! [roll0]
Chance that the returning goblinoids comes near you! [roll1]
Time that the random encounter (if any) occurs! [roll2]
Time that the goblinoids (if any) run into you! [roll3]

:smallbiggrin:

Sallera

2013-03-09, 09:04 PM

Well, assuming that's a roll-high table, we're a lot less lucky than the group I'm running Return for. (Seriously, I've rolled 10+ times for them, and every single one has been 60- for no encounter. <<;;)

TekHed

2013-03-09, 10:22 PM

Well in that case it's good that we saved some of our daily resources. The 1 and 2 probably mean earlier in the night so we still can possibly have a chance to rest and recover before the morning (since I'm assuming we all turned in fairly early).

TekHed

2013-03-10, 12:23 AM

I will have cast Endure Elements before retiring so that leaves me with one less 1st level spell for the current day/night cycle.

Question for Dice before I post: Is Auran getting an evil vibe emanating from the direction of the creature nearest him? Need to know so I can have him respond appropriately.

I'm getting kind of a Dire-Bear vibe from the description...

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-03-10, 12:39 AM

Question for Dice before I post: Is Auran getting an evil vibe emanating from the direction of the creature nearest him? Need to know so I can have him respond appropriately.

Yes, a faint one.

TekHed

2013-03-13, 01:25 AM

You're up to post Sal...

Would you prefer we NPC Faien while you are away for this fight, or wait until your return? You know we're a patient lot...

Sallera

2013-03-13, 11:01 AM

Erm, not really, no, since Faien doesn't act before the enemies. I suppose I can put something placeholdery in if it makes you feel better.

I'm fine with Dice taking control of Faien for combat. I intend to leave a list of which soulmelds he'll shape in the morning before I go, so I don't hold things up too much while I'm gone.

TekHed

2013-03-15, 10:46 PM

So if I'm not mistaken we've all posted actions and now the trolls get to act?

Who wants to bet there are more than two hiding out in the dark? (Please note Aura of Auran's Light spell centered on his long spear tip...)

Sallera

2013-03-16, 04:21 PM

Alright, updated Faien's sheet with the soulmelds he'll be shaping tomorrow, assuming we get to enact our plan. And with that, I'm off; see you in a month.

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-03-16, 06:52 PM

Bors's attack, which I forgot to roll IC: [roll0] for [roll1] plus [roll2] fire

Who wants to bet there are more than two hiding out in the dark? (Please note Aura of Auran's Light spell centered on his long spear tip...)

Duly noted.

Alright, updated Faien's sheet with the soulmelds he'll be shaping tomorrow, assuming we get to enact our plan. And with that, I'm off; see you in a month.

Have fun! I'll try not to beat Faien up too much while you're gone!

...

Er, I'll try not to kill Faien while you're gone!

...

Uh, no guarantees! Bye!

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-03-16, 07:00 PM

Also forgot to roll AoOs against Faien and Soranna. :smallsigh: Not my day today.

Claw vs. Soranna: [roll0]; Damage: [roll1]
Claw vs. Faien: [roll2]; Damage: [roll3]

TekHed

2013-03-17, 04:50 AM

Yikes! Those improved grapple rolls are deadly...time to buff AC!

OMG PONIES

2013-03-19, 12:25 PM

"The mountain troll's a beast of old,
Consumed with carnivorous desire.
If you want to stay fresh and keep mosta your flesh,
Set the bastards on fire!"

This was my attempt to be creative in saying "Roni has identified these creatures as mountain trolls, which have a weakness to fire." Sorry if the song confused things.

Fireheart

2013-03-19, 02:49 PM

::Headwall::

Vaeri (and her player) are feeling dumb. I actually thought OOC that IC Vaeri didn't know if Fire hurt the things.

Of course, her being cold based, means most of her spell are absolutely useless at the moment. :( Need to pick up a Rod of Energy Substitution!

~Fireheart

OMG PONIES

2013-04-01, 08:05 PM

Did Roni's Knowledge (nature) roll to identify the Mountain Trolls also cue his Knowledge Devotion? If so, can we retcon that I would have used Collector of Stories on it (since you rolled for me) for a total of 28...which translates to a +3? If not, I'll stay with my 23 (which is a +2).

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-04-06, 01:50 PM

A moment of silence for Baden, please. :smallfrown:

Did Roni's Knowledge (nature) roll to identify the Mountain Trolls also cue his Knowledge Devotion? If so, can we retcon that I would have used Collector of Stories on it (since you rolled for me) for a total of 28...which translates to a +3? If not, I'll stay with my 23 (which is a +2).

We can do that.

TekHed

2013-04-06, 11:21 PM

Nooooooooooooo! (http://nooooooooooooooo.com)

:smalleek:

TekHed

2013-04-15, 07:13 PM

Second jump check since I still have some movement left. No running start this time: [roll0]

TekHed

2013-04-18, 02:15 AM

How close is Auran to troll as of my last turn? Will it wake up before Auran gets there or can he auto-hit it with his flaming morningstar?

TekHed

2013-04-18, 03:23 PM

Just need to verify that the troll is within a moving-jump action for Auran and if I can attack, and if it will still be unconscious (helpless) when I do so or if I still need to roll.

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-04-21, 01:23 PM

Yes it is within range, and yes it will still be unconscious, since it won't regenerate until its turn and Auran acts before it does.

Sallera

2013-04-21, 06:33 PM

Although you still need to roll against a helpless target unless you can take a full-round action to CdG.

TekHed

2013-04-21, 08:23 PM

I see. [roll0]

OMG PONIES

2013-04-29, 06:11 AM

I like how seriously we're taking the loss of a minor NPC after a random encounter. It actually feels like someone has died.

TekHed

2013-04-29, 11:57 AM

...aaaand we're back! Yay!

I have a proper post coming from Auran later today so please be patient for me. On a related note, I have to drive past Baden street every day on my way to the gym... :smallfrown:

Sallera

2013-04-29, 12:33 PM

Oh, good. Faien probably can't even approximate a Flamite service.

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-04-29, 02:59 PM

I like how seriously we're taking the loss of a minor NPC after a random encounter. It actually feels like someone has died.

Hey! Minor random NPCs are people too! :smallwink:

Apparently I'm good at bringing minor NPCs to life like that; there's a quote in my sig from another PbPer who had the same reaction when a bunch of commoners in my zombie apocalypse campaign died. Or maybe my monsters just find characters with NPC classes to be particularly tasty, who knows.

On a related note, I have to drive past Baden street every day on my way to the gym... :smallfrown:

I guess I should avoid naming the next few NPCs Congo or Foerster so you don't have to drive past three depressing streets, then. :smallamused:

OMG PONIES

2013-04-29, 07:13 PM

TekHed

2013-04-29, 08:18 PM

Those streets are not on my route...:smallconfused:

Still won't be home for another four hours or so...

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-04-29, 08:30 PM

Those streets are not on my route...:smallconfused:

Darn, I forgot Baden crosses 280, I'm guessing you take that route? Well, if you do, you pass those streets even if you don't notice it, so I'll name some really really sneaky NPCs after them. :smalltongue:

TekHed

2013-04-29, 09:49 PM

Nope, still wrong. Don't take 280 either...

TekHed

2013-04-30, 05:35 AM

Sorry I didn't get to my post today. Got busier than I expected and need to crash now. Tomorrow afternoon though I promise.

TekHed

2013-05-03, 03:26 AM

Huh. I failed to list any rations on my sheet...strange considering I haver plenty of gold left. Am I recalling correctly that the village sent us with some basic provisions?

Fireheart

2013-05-03, 10:13 AM

Okay, help the poor girl who can't remember anything.

Plan - send the goblins in to report to Koth that the city was too well defended for them to do more than scout.

While they are distracting Koth, Roni makes entrance announcing me. Faien and i come in and attempt to take control...if Koth resists, Kill him.

At the same time, Auran & the Drellin's ferry's folks come in as back up from a different direction.

Do I have everything?

~Fireheart

Sallera

2013-05-03, 10:49 AM

Fireheart

2013-05-03, 04:52 PM

Ah, good. thanks for the clarification there!

~Fireheart

TekHed

2013-05-08, 02:32 AM

I don't recall...did we get xp for the goblins or the trolls yet?

TekHed

2013-05-08, 06:54 AM

Roni Quickwing

Roni chuckles, but it is a thin and hollow laugh. Though Auran's words are meant to bring comfort, they instead bring only angst. Could I ever be worthy of either honor? Auran Roni asks himself. He thinks back over his past--even his reactions to the present--and is ashamed to say that Dolurrh seemed like what he deserved. Even so, he says, "Thanks, Auran. I just don't know if I can ever...well, you had to give up so much and...Thanks. Hey, can I ask you something? How'd you do it--how'd you become so good?"

Meditating on Bahamut (asking Auran about his conversion as today's meditation)

Typo up there...

OMG PONIES

2013-05-08, 08:08 AM

Typo up there...

How about that. I'll update.

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-05-08, 12:22 PM

I don't recall...did we get xp for the goblins or the trolls yet?

Not yet, I was waiting until we finished with all the encounters. I'll post that tonight once I'm back to my books.

TekHed

2013-05-09, 09:46 PM

Sort of.

As I understood it, we send the hobs around to the front. Approach at walking pace, give them time to draw the eye. We don't want them to reach Koth, just draw attention from those on watch. Us four approach from the other side of the monoliths, Faien teleports Auran into the ground floor, comes back out, teleports Vaeri to the top floor. Roni flies to the top, only does the sparkly explosions act if he's noticed. The Ferryfolk stay in the forest as backup if we need to retreat.

Um...so is Auran supposed to tango with the manticore and/or minotaur and/or however many troops are in the keep by himself, while Faien and Vaeri take out Koth? That might be problematic...I can hold out but not sure for how long.

How is Roni flying in again? Some means of locomotion I'm unaware of?

Also, is anyone else concerned that it seems like Dice rolled high enough for us to encounter the returning patrol...only we didn't? The logical leap to make is that they saw us but we didn't see them, which might make our be plan tits-up already...

Sallera

2013-05-09, 10:27 PM

I think the logical conclusion is 'enough with the paranoid metagaming.' :smalltongue:

And no, Auran's getting to the ground floor of the tower. Just has to hold the door, or run up the stairs. Either's good.

Roni's Alter Selfing in somehow.

TekHed

2013-05-09, 11:24 PM

I think the logical conclusion is 'enough with the paranoid metagaming.' :smalltongue:

Heee. :smallbiggrin:

And no, Auran's getting to the ground floor of the tower. Just has to hold the door, or run up the stairs. Either's good.

Roni's Alter Selfing in somehow.

Aha. Thank you for clearing that up. Too bad I don't have anything to increase my size. Getting bullrushed by the minotaur or possibly grappled are Auran's weak points. I realized in that Troll fight pretty quick that I needed to up my touch AC pretty dearly, and that Auran lacks the strength or other means to escape from a grapple (Shard for example has FoM and D-Hopping).

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-05-10, 02:09 AM

Also, is anyone else concerned that it seems like Dice rolled high enough for us to encounter the returning patrol...only we didn't? The logical leap to make is that they saw us but we didn't see them, which might make our be plan tits-up already...

Note that when rolling on a random encounter table a high d% roll means bad things happen to the PCs, but when rolling to determine the chance of something happening a low d% roll means that it happens.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled paranoia. :smallamused:

OMG PONIES

2013-05-10, 05:17 AM

How is Roni flying in again? Some means of locomotion I'm unaware of?

Roni's Alter Selfing in somehow.

By casting Alter Self.

TekHed

2013-05-10, 06:15 AM

Are you going to cast Alter Self? :smallsmile:

Fireheart

2013-05-15, 01:52 PM

Ok, hope that works and doesn't give away too much. :)

~Fireheart

OMG PONIES

2013-05-17, 11:48 AM

Sorry for my absence, work's been a bit crazy as I prepare for vacation. Drumming up an IC post for Roni (and a response to Vaeri), should have it ready today or tomorrow.

Fireheart

2013-05-18, 08:52 AM

Sounds good.

OOC: I must admit that I had to laugh out loud at the two hobgoblins beating each other up. :)

The visual of that scene was incredible.

~Fireheart

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-05-18, 10:00 PM

I must admit that I had to laugh out loud at the two hobgoblins beating each other up. :)

The visual of that scene was incredible.

Glad you liked it. I aim to please. :smallbiggrin:

TekHed

2013-05-18, 10:27 PM

I'd say it's a good point for you to advance the scene Dicey. Also for Dark Sun. And Masters of Nine :smallbiggrin:

(Yes I know I'm up in Song of the Seren. That one always gets pushed down to the bottom of my queue, because there's less people waiting on me, and I'm trying to integrate like 4 new things into my life currently. It sits there in it's constantly open tab, taunting me to post...).

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-05-18, 10:50 PM

I'd say it's a good point for you to advance the scene Dicey. Also for Dark Sun. And Masters of Nine :smallbiggrin:

I know, I know. I'll be updating everything this weekend.

TekHed

2013-05-20, 02:41 AM

*cough*

:smalltongue:

(I'm only being a nag because we are at such exciting points in all three games and well...I'm excited!)

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-06-02, 01:15 PM

A thousand pardons for the delays, everyone. After a busy time at work and some issues with my other games, the Vraath Keep assault is back on track.

Stealth checks for the party to get to the monoliths:
Vaeri: [roll0]
Roni: [roll1]
Auran: [roll2]
Faien: [roll3]

Perception checks for the guards on the monolith side of the Keep, adjusted for distance:
Guard 1: [roll4]
Guard 2: [roll5]

Percentage chance of teleporting into an occupied area if and when you get that far:
Auran: [roll6]
Vaeri: [roll7]

Mumble mumble Taluk Dosh mumble mumble Koth:
[roll8]
[roll9]
[roll10]
[roll11]
[roll12]
[roll13]

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-06-02, 01:52 PM

Initiative:

Auran: [roll0]
Faien: [roll1]
Goblins: [roll2]

Sallera

2013-06-02, 10:13 PM

Erm, why did we end up in that room? We were aiming for the ground floor of the tower, and since Dimension Door is a set distance (10ft, in this case), it would be simple to estimate the distance to the centre of the tower from its curvature. Is the tower dimensionally warded in some fashion?

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-06-02, 10:20 PM

Sorry, I missed your clarification in post 460. I'll edit my post.

TekHed

2013-06-03, 04:39 AM

Oh man, I was out for most of the day, and the scene changed. Here I was all thinking I'd get to do a little speech and make some untrained Bluff checks... :smalltongue:

OMG PONIES

2013-06-19, 07:40 PM

Seated at the desk, can Vaeri be seen from the doorway? I don't want Koth getting spooked and running before he even enters his office.

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-06-20, 12:05 AM

Seated at the desk, can Vaeri be seen from the doorway? I don't want Koth getting spooked and running before he even enters his office.

Yes, she can be. If you're standing in the doorway facing into the room, the stairs are to your left, then the comfy chair to the right of that, then the desk, and then the bed to your right.

TekHed

2013-06-20, 01:09 AM

Maybe she can be waiting on the bed, and Koth will think she is a present... :smallbiggrin:

Sallera

2013-06-20, 11:04 AM

Talk about a counterproductive strategy... -.-

Fireheart

2013-06-20, 12:50 PM

:) Thanks. I was trying to figure out how to point that out...

:smallwink:

~Fireheart

TekHed

2013-06-20, 12:57 PM

A present...of doom!

Seriously though, I can see Tiamat as being a temptress kind of figure, kind of like Melisandre in Game of Thrones.

Sallera

2013-06-20, 01:10 PM

Be that as it may, this is a bluff that attempts to quickly establish a dominant position. Starting it from a submissive one is not going to help in the slightest.

TekHed

2013-06-20, 02:08 PM

I was only teasing, jeez!

Desk is better, preferrably with her blue scaly feet up on it.

Also, given she has been impersonating a priestess with nothing to hided it makes more sense she would be in her dress.

Can Roni cast a Glibness on her?

Sallera

2013-06-20, 03:04 PM

Nah, it's Personal.

TekHed

2013-06-20, 03:55 PM

That's too bad...need to get potions then!

OMG PONIES

2013-06-20, 04:15 PM

Nah, it's Personal.

And a third-level spell. Even without my factotum dip, it's going to take a few levels to get those. If Vaeri wants to play the strong, silent type I can function as her mouthpiece. "The Priestess says X, The Priestess says Y." Amping up the mystery to add the illusion of dominance...plus giving me something to do w/ my +15 Bluff. :smallcool:

Sallera

2013-06-20, 04:15 PM

That would work, if it were possible to make a Personal spell into a potion. Working around it requires more shenanigans than something that simple. :smalltongue:

TekHed

2013-06-20, 07:17 PM

Since when can you not make a personal spell into a potion? AFAIK you can make other personal spells into potions, such as Shield.

What gave me the notion was one of the Order of the Stick comics where Haley or Elan (I can't recall) drinks a potion of Glibness.

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-06-20, 07:52 PM

Since when can you not make a personal spell into a potion?

Since 3e came out (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/magicItems/creatingMagicItems.htm#creatingPotions):

Spells with a range of personal cannot be made into potions.

Have you guys basically settled on a plan for your ambush, or is there more you want to discuss?

TekHed

2013-06-20, 08:06 PM

Huh. And here I thought Burlew was fairly slavish with adherence to 3rd editions mechanics behind the scenes of the comedy.

Sallera

2013-06-20, 09:24 PM

What gave me the notion was one of the Order of the Stick comics where Haley or Elan (I can't recall) drinks a potion of Glibness.

I'm fuzzy on the details, but I think that was an edition callback, with 'Philter' being crossed out and 'Potion' written in its place or something.

TekHed

2013-06-20, 09:36 PM

I think we all have our positions figured out and our roles to play. Of course you know what they say about best laid plans. So...update away Dicey!

TekHed

2013-06-21, 03:34 AM

Double Post...

I checked but may have missed it...did you do XP for the fight with the gobbos and the trolls yet Dice?

PairO'Dice Lost

2013-06-22, 11:52 PM

I think we all have our positions figured out and our roles to play. Of course you know what they say about best laid plans. So...update away Dicey!

"Dicey"? The only thing here that's "dicey" is your plan. :smallamused:

Double Post...

I checked but may have missed it...did you do XP for the fight with the gobbos and the trolls yet Dice?

I thought I had, but I must not have gotten to it before the big work rush.

Everyone receives 2,000 XP total for those fights. You're now more than halfway to level 6, congratulations. You're gonna need it....

TekHed

2013-06-23, 02:38 AM

Wow, that's quite a bit more than I'd expected (but I'm not complaining!).

Edit: You're up Fireheart!

I must say I'm really enjoying our party dynamic, and would never have guessed we would be pulling the ploy we are now. The character development for the twins in particular is really exceptional. Auran and Faien are a bit more set in their ways I think but I hope they also continue to grow.

For Auran's part, he has a lot of anger I think, and as is often the case with angry people, the person he is really angry at is himself. For his past failures, and doesn't feel truly worthy of the second chance he's been given (Even though fluff wise I have him as formerly an Elf, mechanically he started as a Hellbred, one of the racial features they posses is a curse that if they ever die, their soul goes down to the Demon who owns their soul (in this case Tiamat of course) and they can only be brought back with Resurrection spells. However, Dragonborn conveniently removes that feature, a nice merging of fluff and mechanics as even outside of Eberron, Dragonborn are chosen of Bahamat).

Because of this I've been trying to show him as a more hot headed, brash, and brutal Paladin than the stereotypical goody goody Paladin cliche. Paladins are always a challenge RP wise, in the same way that Jedi are. They are just so good. However they are still people, prone to the whole range of emotions, etc.

Even as Roni learns to be more responsible and committed, and Vaeri learns to be more worldly and cunning, Auran's journey will be to strengthen his faith, not in his god, but in himself. Eventually, his rage and self-loathing will become tempered into acceptance of his forgiveness, which will lead to him becoming a much more centered and zen-like being. My hope is that, if the game goes on long enough, I will be able to qualify for the Saint template down the road, but only after he has achieved than transcendence into peace.

I'm looking forward to seeing how our Magistrate changes as well, given his very pure and dogmatic devotion to Law.

As for the long term, I've spoken with Dice and Ponies about ideas for some pretty cool story pitches after the module that could take us into epic if we wanted.

Lastly, going back to the awesomeness of the current scene...I think this is an example of just 'why' Red Hand of Doom is such an amazing module. What we've done by having the greater storyline of the relic and Tiamat and Bahamut's unique spin in Eberron mythology (being that Tiamat is one of the few 'gods' actually incarnate on the planet, and Bahamut being just another of the distant gods making up the constellations, which does I admit make Auran more of a special snowflake, given that Dragonborn don't otherwise exist in 3.5 Edition Eberron. Actually that would be neat if now that Auran has come, he eventually meets others. I've never like the notion of Dragonborn as a race (as they are presented in 4E Eberron), because their focus is so narrow and they come from other races) and having a real draconic focus for our characters, not only synergizes so well with the module, but I bet no other group has tried what we are going for. Vaeri and Roni are the perfect types to pull of this bluff, and Auran kinda clinches the illusion.

Damn. Sorry for the long rambling post and the parentheses. I probably could have made that all more concise. In any case, I'm really enjoying the game, and feel such gratitude to have found such a dedicated group. Have I told you guys that Sallera is running an Eberron Eyes of the Lich Queen (another of the best rated 3.5 modules ever) that has been going on for 3 years as of this October, where we are 10 pages in to our second IC thread (mods ask we limit threads to only 50 pages), and a few pages away from having to open a third OOC thread?

Yeah. Awesome group we have. :smallbiggrin:

Edit 2: Put that long-ass parentheses into a spoiler to make the sentence and paragraph easier to read.