Return to New Ganthar - OOC

[ilinares]

Link to related IC thread: here. (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?657347-Return-to-New-Ganthar-IC-thread)

This thread is to start discussing characters for my upcoming game.

Please could you each reserve a post straight after this one for your final character concept. I'll reserve this post for updated setting information as we go along.

As always, I'll adapt the setting as needed to fit your characters' backstories, so don't feel constrained. New, previously unmentioned country of origin, organisation, deity, whatever - you name it, you can have it. (I mean, don't go totally nuts, and I reserve the right to take your ideas and run with them in ways I think will be interesting. )

I will also shape the plot around the hooks you build into your backstories - and of course the decisions you make in game as PCs.

Character building rules: D&D 3.5, any WotC published sources allowed (no homebrew or third party), start at 5th level. Standard starting gold. Point buy (36 points).


20 Years On:
Key changes in New Ganthar

This list is intended to cover some key points that are common knowledge - essentially what anyone living in New Ganthar would know.

That's not to say nothing else has changed - a lot has. But this is what your characters will know automatically without a Knowledge skill check or asking around.


At the end of the last campaign, there were gaping holes in the sky through which demons were pouring into the land.

After Maltur was defeated, the invasion ended and, instead, there followed years of periodic incursions by lower level demons, individually or in small numbers. That was terrifying enough for most people; and the average person doesn't question why matters weren't worse.

Five years ago, a group of mages managed to close up the majority of the rifts; and although the largest still persists, a jagged emerald rip in the sky, it is visibly patched by a lattice of purple energy. This feat has made the group - the Order of Mattheus - a household name. Their members, who generally eschew traditional robes but are distinguished by the emblem of a silver raven, are now well respected and prominent in society. If some citizens still harbour anti-mage prejudices largely viewed as anachronistic, they generally have the wisdom to keep those prejudices to themselves.




18 years ago, the now King Amdel led what he described as a crusade to reclaim Old Ganthar. It was a rallying call that captured the imagination of the masses, particularly with New Ganthar now being plagued by demons. A sizeable chunk of the population joined the crusade - particularly among the faithful of Relath, but the call appealed to many different groups.

Amdel never returned, and the fate of the Crusade is unknown.




With King Amdel gone, and no heir to the throne, the office of Chancellor was revived for a time; but it has now given way to an elected government - although the exact ins and outs of who can vote seem murky to most people.

The executive body is the Ministry, headed up by the First Minister - currently a woman called Helina. Rumours are rife of power struggles and bitter politics within the Ministry, however.

The Lords and Temples in Parliament Assembled are now a functioning legislature.




The temples have largely been in decline for the last two decades. The Schism (as it us called) in the temple of Charis, between those who follow Father Niall and the Sentinel and those who follow Theo's example and the Shield of the Righteous, led to bloody, emotive, and protracted conflict. Niall formed an Inquisition to hunt down "heretics;" those who followed Theo's example, who call themselves the Disciples of the True Charis but are normally referred to (disparagingly) as Redeemers, lacked the numbers and infrastructure to defend themselves alone and appealed to the Temple of Relath for aid. Gradually, most major temples got embroiled in the conflict, putting them at odds with the government (which sought to clamp down hard on violent infighting) and indeed the common people. With their resources focused on a conflict most people just didn't understand, they were much less visible than they might have been in protecting people from demons and other real threats.

One exception is the Temple of Yara. Despite their patron's past association with Theo, the new Temple refused to be drawn into the Schism and focused instead on hunting demons and on ministering to those seeking to transform broken lives - with a thriving ministry for instance among addicts and prisoners. From small beginnings, the Temple of Yara has become one of the most prominent forces of good in New Ganthar; but it has done so at the cost of its ties with other faiths.

There is a growing movement in New Ganthar of antitheism. Regarding the gods as irrelevant at best and actively harmful at worst, these people are increasingly suspicious of or hostile to all faiths and all representatives of established religion.



Historically, the so-called "monstrous humanoids" have been treated with suspicion and hostility. While at the time of the last campaign goblinoids and orcs, for instance, were able to live in the city without being chased by adventurers or howling mobs, they were generally constrained to live in the Poor Quarter and often wound up involved in lives of crime.

Recently, trade and diplomatic relations have started up between New Ganthar and a state called the Free Nations. While little is known about the Free Nations, at least to the average citizen of New Ganthar, their trading ships have remarkably diverse crews for eyes accustomed to human-majority New Ganthar, and the same is true of their envoys - led by Ambassador Gregthark, an ogre mage.

This has lifted an uncomfortable mirror to the people of Ganthar, and prompted much public discussion about ingrained racism in the nation. The lot of nonhumans has somewhat improved as a result, although still falling far short of full equality.

Also editing in a link to the setting quick reference guide. (https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Lb87ceYphKEM_CQDeN6RTZP71tnSZDF_ClN1mIoCrKA/edit?usp=drivesdk)

[gallagher]

-Reserved, and dibs on blue for speech

Work in Progress, Dora Character Sheet (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1nXI2QW5_b1X6B-qbRaz9ITK4EpflauELFF0Fl0JllIs/edit?usp=sharing)
Work in Progress, Dora Character Background (https://docs.google.com/document/d/10iYuC-Xd-DFK3hS0SgD-mRvpLToRYBmp4VgCVyLZwHY/edit)



From birth to ten years ago - Dora was born to an elven woman who simply raised herbs and vegetables at the periphery of a small village named Atmeia that mainly raised potatoes to sell in Petravale, some 30 miles to the east. She ages like a human, for the most part, but in so many ways, is treated as an outsider by the other children and with suspicion by the adults who always perceive her as older than she really is. It doesn't help that she grows like a weed, and is stronger than the boys, and has eyes that have been described as hauntingly blue.

As an eight year old, Dora’s mother dies of sickness. With a dead mother and an unknown father, she turns to an orphanage established by Abigel Starhaven in honor of the fallen Champion of Charis, Theodore Roost. Dora had already been sick of this hero’s tale; everyone that she knew had at least two people in their family named after a recent fable cooked up in a faraway city. Hells, even she was named after this man who is worshiped as a saint for deeds nobody witnessed.

Eventually she breaks an old preacher’s front teeth for doting on her similarity to that stupid hero. She is kicked out of the orphanage and loses her welcome in Petravale. She returns to her home village of Atmeia, and tries to find a family to fit in with, but over the next two years she loses her welcome there, too. A traveling paladin named Orlett sees her walking along a rocky road, barefoot, with nowhere in mind, and decides to take her in as a squire. In return, she takes up the man’s faith nominally (more out of respect than devotion) and would pray to Relath every morning before her first meal. These prayers would never be answered.

From ten years ago, to two years ago - Nobody had heard of a female squire of elven descent traveling with a paladin to Relath. She was used to not fitting in, but in this new life, Dora felt like a traveling circus act. Everywhere they went, amused eyes followed. And of course, every so often, a rude gesture or poorly-considered comment would lead to some poor bastard losing a tooth. Never Dora though.

Eight years of this grew tiresome, and Dora soon came to the conclusion that it was time for her to go on and find her own path. Sir Orlett was honored that she came to this herself, and insisted that she be knighted by his blade before she found her path. Dora accepted the gesture from the man who saw to her care for nearly half of her life, but in her heart, she felt as though this would be yet another token to mark her as different from those who should see her as a peer. She never uses a title of knighthood.

She couldn't have been more wrong. Dora soon came across a troupe of orcs and half-orcs, who saw her distinctly for the outsider she was born to be, and treated her with a common respect, helped heal her wounds, and praised her for her raw strength. Dora traveled to cities and found several people were similarly marked as different merely for their mixed parentage and strange heritage. Maybe she towered over everyone (but for many orcs and a few human knights) but her skills with a blade were respected for what they were and how she learned it. She met a few organizations who promoted women in their ranks as mercenary soldiers.

And yet… Everyone still marveled at her, commented on how she must be part orc for her size, or commented on what her children will be like. Elves she came across somehow were a foot shorter than her and found a way to look down on her for her human heritage. Someone got fresh with their right hand, and for it, that hand was forfeit as far as Dora was concerned. This led her to lose her welcome, once again, for being a victim of her own circumstances.

And so she left for a place where she would be so much larger than everyone that nobody would dare lay a careless hand around her waist, stand in her way to keep her from leaving, or whisper disgusting tales into her ear. A place where hopefully nobody was named Theodore and wouldn’t care of some recent legend, half made up on a pitiful island she had never been to. She left for Karheim.


From two years ago, to four months ago - Karheim was no home to Dora either, and to be honest, being underground doesnt exactly suit such a tall person. So Dora would live at the surface and make occasion to travel to dwarven caves and other homes. It just so happened that while at the surface one day, a temporary rift opened in her presence and out walked a devil that she did not recognize (not that she spent much time learning about them). It held a crafty spear that denied Dora the ability to close the gap and slay the foe. Thankfully, some dwarf named Bellephoron wandered by and cast spells to halt the devil in it's tracks, allowing Dora to destroy it. Strangely enough, all that remained after the devil turned to extraplanar evil goop was this exotic spear. While thanking Bellephoron, they shared stories over a quick lunch, and discovered that they had some quest in common - While Dora sought information on Theodore Roost, Bellephoron sought one of the "hero's" companions. She kept the true cause of her mission to herself, and asked the dwarf if he was intending to travel out for this information. Bellephoron accepted the invitation, Dora picked up the devil's spear, and they made their way out of town together as adventurers.

[Timble]

Here's my spot, and Red again

Thespia: Priestess of Yara
Psychic Rogue 1 / Psion (Egoist) 4
Character Sheet (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2804284)

Backstory:
This chain of islands and its mainland colonies had led by the powerful dragon Feronax since, according to them, the beginning of time. Ever since he hatched himself from nothing and tamed the wild spirits of their homeland, he has guided them with great wisdom as a ‘god’ of knowledge and magic.
Feronax was of course using this faith for his own ends, creating a powerful nation that followed his word blindly as he sought the power of a god. He mastered the magical arts, but found himself incapable of developing psionic talent within himself. To this end he reshaped the isles, bringing in psionic races and practitioners to the point of stifling all other forms of magical development.
Eventually he discovered a solution. A pact with demons to take on the essence of the dead god Dalvar would grant Feronax the godhood and psionics he desired. This would require a mortal subject be bound with a demon and used to absorb the dead god’s energy. Then the mortal would be sacrificed to transfer that energy into Feronax. For this purpose, he had his head priest father and raise Yara while promoting the myth of the Dragon Bride in the Feronaxian Faith to add to his legend.
Unfortunately Yara developed the ability to walk up walls and developed the desire to see the world, so one day she just left. And we all played through the results of that.


At the end of the last game, the Feronaxian Isles were in a lot of trouble. Their failed invasion of New Ganthar led to the destruction of much of their army and the death of their god.
Yara utilised this to her advantage, corresponding with her father to rewrite the Feronaxian Legend to make her the new head. From the perspective of a devout Feronaxian, their god had worked to raise on of their own to godhood as his Dragon Bride. However his lust for power corrupted him and he tried to take his bride’s power and land for himself. Now the Widow of Feronax rules the isles with a kinder and less restrictive hand.
However the new goddess had a lot on her plate. She had a faith to set up, planar rifts to close, a city to clean up, demon cults to destroy, the Archive in Old Ganthar to reclaim (RIP Amdel sorry not sorry), a weird portal to investigate and the violent schism to manage. As such while the Feronaxian faith reformed around the basic principles that Yara had set up, she didn’t have the time to manage it. As such the faith has drifted a bit, forming its own ideas on how the world works.


As part of his research into the development of psionic powers, Feronax developed the process of infusing mortals with psionic power. This research proved useless in fulfilling the dragon’s dreams, but the resulting creations would prove useful.
The elans were raised to be Feronax’s elite agents, using their psionic abilities in his name. Thespia was part of the most recent batch. Like the rest she was indoctrinated in Feronax’s teachings. However, she was judged defective. She was physically weak and her martial and psionic development was lacking even if she showed promise as an infiltrator. However, before the decision was made to dispose of her, Feronax died.
A new goddess now ruled the isles, and she wasn’t looking to use its people the way Feronax had. Experiments like Thespia were released to be proper citizens. She repaid her new goddess by entering her service. Since then, Thespia has worked as a community leader and healer. When it came time for the latest batch of missionaries to go out into the world, Thespia volunteered. She would travel the lands and end her journey on a pilgrimage to New Ganthar. The kind people of the New Ganthar Yarian Church even provided a book on how to behave outside the Isles.

[esorscher]

Reserved, you guys took my two go-to colors so I will try teal.

Bellerophon Ironshield (https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1g7ZXKfQ_fhb6vA3YRYLPqSZeG8TnK9wxUOs5eCu_16k/edit)
Backstory ( https://docs.google.com/document/d/1-U_cfEPK2uyjFBA7kdlRotMnl1SBfv8WEZ-BHmULq6c/edit)

[dantiesilva]

Reserved dibs for orange/gold.

Baldar was a strange child born to Clan Oathkeeper who stated he was able to hear the ancestors speaking to him. And it was through his ancestors and his clan he learned the arts of crafting arms and armor of exceptional quality. Nothing ever seemed to difficult to him however, and the Runewardens noticed as he grew older that things that should have been a bit more difficult then they were came almost naturally to him, as if by magic. Baldar at first didn't fully understand he was using magic, for he would simply be humming chants he had heard from the ghosts of the ancestors around him, or simply repeating words he had heard his clan say thousands of times to the honored ancestors.

After almost 3 decades of training to become a Runewarden he was given his first task, travel to New Ganther with the rest of the diplomatic envoy, and find a way to close the rifts in the sky. And while he was at it he would also keep an eye on the conflict that "Theo" had brought on them since the schism. As such he made plans to integrate himself into their churches offering his smithing services to those worth his talent within the temple. Baldar rarely socializes with others in New Ganther, they are strangers, and not of his clan. He is not overly rude to them, however he finds human customs difficult to understand and plans on seeking out dwarves in New Ganther, for at least they would be in some form civilized.

Baldar Mardward (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2804404)


Glowing purple symbol gently illuminating: Assumed to be made by the Order of Mattheus, these symbols have a moderate aura (OOC 4-6th level) Enchantment school of magic.


The effect does not match a spell known to you; it appears to be a bespoke spell effect that makes chaotic-aligned creatures uncomfortable in proximity to it. It may have the opposite effect on some lawful-aligned creatures - perhaps explaining Brent's behaviour.

You surmise that the marker posts collectively create pockets of the city where one is less likely to encounter demons and similar beings, by subconsciously encouraging them to go elsewhere. In one sense it is less effective than a magic circle against evil or the like - it does not create a barrier as such - but it may have other advantages.

Order of Mattheus An up and coming collection of wizards in opposition to the Fellowship, who claim to have solved the rifts in the sky. Velhim, a member of the Fellowship, suggests that what the Order did didn't actually do anything, that what we precieve as rifts are actually evidence of a planar convergence

Sect of the Temple of Charis: Said to hide in the shadow, unknown who there leader is or where they call home. But it is known that the temple of Realth has ways to contact them and that meeting with the Arbiter may prove helpful in this endeavor.

List of names that of people who were there to witness the opening of the rifts (20 years ago)
Lord Thomas of Knightsfane
Pran Deathwalker
Arbiter Lothrain
High Inquisitor Niall

Current leader of the temple of Charis, said to be forthright, honorable man and impeccably courteous.
Said to be able to get into contact with the Sect of Charis that has broken off from the main branch.

[ilinares]

Thanks guys.

I've updated the first post with some basic information on the more obvious changes locally over the 20 years since the last game ended.

[gallagher]

Updated my post, above, with the work in progress links for character sheet an bio.

Can Dora have a hair clip that are actually a hidden weapon/brass knuckles? backup melee weapon to make her punches particularly painful, and for the necessary RP for breaking teeth.

[ilinares]

Updated my post, above, with the work in progress links for character sheet an bio.

Can Dora have a hair clip that are actually a hidden weapon/brass knuckles? backup melee weapon to make her punches particularly painful, and for the necessary RP for breaking teeth.

Sure, sounds fun :smallsmile:

Just find an item that does the job mechanically and reflavour it accordingly.

[gallagher]

Quite likely something in complete scoundrel pathfinder (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/weapons/weapon-descriptions/brass-knuckles/)does the trick. I can probably have some cool battle braid that uses them to hold an exotic shape. With exotic weapon proficiency for another weapon, I would be able to retrain to use them well using the Warblade ability. More importantly, this is for STYLE.

As I recall, we roll for HP, and get an option to reroll but must take the second? In that case, I will roll once now, and wait for the option when you weigh in.

Lvl 1: Warblade [12]
Lvl 2: Warblade [roll0]
Lvl 3: Warblade [roll1]
Lvl 4: Warblade [roll2]
Lvl 5: Crusader [roll3]

[dantiesilva]

HP rolls

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]
[roll3]
[roll4]

Domain options
Dwarf
Metal
Storm
Earth
Force

This (https://www.myth-weavers.com/sheet.html#id=2804404) is what I have at the moment however, it is not much, but its a start so you can all have a rough idea.

[ilinares]

Quite likely something in complete scoundrel pathfinder (https://www.d20pfsrd.com/equipment/weapons/weapon-descriptions/brass-knuckles/)does the trick. I can probably have some cool battle braid that uses them to hold an exotic shape. With exotic weapon proficiency for another weapon, I would be able to retrain to use them well using the Warblade ability. More importantly, this is for STYLE.

Style is very important, after all! Yes, this looks good to me.


As I recall, we roll for HP, and get an option to reroll but must take the second? In that case, I will roll once now, and wait for the option when you weigh in.

Yes, that's right.

[gallagher]

Rerolling

Lvl 2: [roll0]
Lvl 4: [roll1]

[esorscher]

[roll0] hp rolls

[esorscher]

[roll0] hp rerolls

[dantiesilva]

Hp rerolls

[roll0]
[roll1]

[gallagher]

So right now, a +1 Mithral Chainshirt might be the most cost-effective armor that minimizes my ACP. Tumble, Jump, Balance and Climb are kind of my main skills here.

[dantiesilva]

So right now, a +1 Mithral Chainshirt might be the most cost-effective armor that minimizes my ACP. Tumble, Jump, Balance and Climb are kind of my main skills here.

Eventually I plan on making my mechanus gear armor Mithral as with being a dwarf no movement penalty and the most AC for your buck. I have 1,338gp left. More then likely going to just keep that so I can start squirling away some money for all the expanses.

Does anyone have any comments on my options for domains? Metal and Storm I think are the two in the lead for me, but I want to hear what you all think as well.

[Timble]

Hp stuff for the current build idea:

1: Psychic Rogue: 6 as First LVL
2: Psion [roll0]
3: Psion [roll1]
4: Psion [roll2]
5: Psion [roll3]

[Timble]

Rerolling all 2's and below

[roll0]
[roll1]
[roll2]

[gallagher]

Eventually I plan on making my mechanus gear armor Mithral as with being a dwarf no movement penalty and the most AC for your buck. I have 1,338gp left. More then likely going to just keep that so I can start squirling away some money for all the expanses.

Does anyone have any comments on my options for domains? Metal and Storm I think are the two in the lead for me, but I want to hear what you all think as well.

You know I favor Spell domain for Anyspell, WRT your runes. That is really the big one, I think, but Storm domain is excellent variety and probably has a good fit for entering an island nation

[gallagher]

Just moving some of the OOC conversation away from discord and into the OOC thread for the specific game!

It looks like we have 2 characters seeking information on Theo with different but non-conflicting directions, one seeking info on Perseus that is linked closely, and one linked closely to Yara's story. I am intrigued to see the backstory that Timble comes up with; our chars don't necessarily all have to know each other before the start of the story, I only planned mine to have been travelling with esorscher's character for at least one side quest before the game starts.

[dantiesilva]

Dwarves knowing at least of each other isn't far fetched, especially a smith runewarden in new ganther

[gallagher]

True; at the very least you would be aware of each other's clan names, I presume. Maybe I am being bigoted against dwarves in this assumption.

[dantiesilva]

Baldar was a strange child born to Clan Oathkeeper who stated he was able to hear the ancestors speaking to him. And it was through his ancestors and his clan he learned the arts of crafting arms and armor of exceptional quality. Nothing ever seemed to difficult to him however, and the Runewardens noticed as he grew older that things that should have been a bit more difficult then they were came almost naturally to him, as if by magic. Baldar at first didn't fully understand he was using magic, for he would simply be humming chants he had heard from the ghosts of the ancestors around him, or simply repeating words he had heard his clan say thousands of times to the honored ancestors.

After almost 3 decades of training to become a Runewarden he was given his first task, travel to New Ganther with the rest of the diplomatic envoy, and find a way to close the rifts in the sky. And while he was at it he would also keep an eye on the conflict that "Theo" had brought on them since the schism. As such he made plans to integrate himself into their churches offering his smithing services to those worth his talent within the temple. Baldar rarely socializes with others in New Ganther, they are strangers, and not of his clan. He is not overly rude to them, however he finds human customs difficult to understand and plans on seeking out dwarves in New Ganther, for at least they would be in some form civilized.

[ilinares]

Thanks guys for your character builds and backgrounds. As always, it's fantastic to see your creativity and enthusiasm.

I think people are more or less there, just with a few extra details to add (e.g. Gallagher and Esorscher on their characters' shared backgrounds)?

When you're all ready, I'll start the IC thread, probably inviting you to do a prologue post each after a short introduction from me to set the scene.

[dantiesilva]

I believe I am ready.

[gallagher]

I am ready but for buying basic mundane adventuring gear. Havent really sat down and itemized survival stuff in a minute so I just havent gotten around to it. I will be ready to start to the extent that everyone understands that Dora is buying things like rope and torches before the opening scene.

[dantiesilva]

I figured depending on where we started we bought what we needed before going.

[esorscher]

I’m ready. We can wrap up the other game fairly quickly, and I don’t mind them running concurrently for a bit.

[ilinares]

I’m ready. We can wrap up the other game fairly quickly, and I don’t mind them running concurrently for a bit.

That was my thinking too :smallsmile:

[Timble]

I'm pretty much done other than maybe some basic equipment and the hardest to decide part, a name. I'll work on the description section and maybe come up with something.

[ilinares]

IC thread is up. (https://forums.giantitp.com/showthread.php?657347-Return-to-New-Ganthar-IC-thread&p=25807020#post25807020)

[dantiesilva]

Just to be clear before I post, are we just getting off the boat, or already in the city?

[ilinares]

Just to be clear before I post, are we just getting off the boat, or already in the city?

Up to you. I just wanted to do a mood piece by way of introduction; you tell me what your characters have been up to and where they are at the start of the game.

[dantiesilva]

I don't believe this was ever answered so I will post it again. Does the feat Shield Dwarf Warder add the mentioned spells to the characters list of spells able to be cast?

[gallagher]

Maneuvers Readied from Warblade: Emerald Razor, Action before Thought, Wall of Blades. Dora defaults to Absolute Steel Stance unless I would mention otherwise.

[ilinares]

I don't believe this was ever answered so I will post it again. Does the feat Shield Dwarf Warder add the mentioned spells to the characters list of spells able to be cast?

It's not the most clearly worded feat is it! Let's say yes.

[dantiesilva]

It's not the most clearly worded feat is it! Let's say yes.


Exactly, that's why I asked as it hints at it, but doesn't explicitly state it. I mean the chances of me using mage armor for example are small, but never 0 lol.

[dantiesilva]

[roll0] listen check to see if I hear the others mention the rifts before leaving.

[dantiesilva]

Sense Motives [roll0]

[gallagher]

Dora's intent with her question to Brent is to understand who - individual or group - are the main malicious actors in the area. the current gang activity would be of itnerest to Dora, as her future employment might require her to beat a few mobsters up.

Dora's intent with asking about significant people and buildings are also intended to help her understand where she could find a job.

Ultimately, she has little tolerance for joining a gang and could easily find herself employed by a group opposing gangs, or with the temple of Relath.

[dantiesilva]

Dwarf, touching bad, clanless bad, he not very happy and until he learns the difference between clanless and poor he may not see this poor kid as anything but a clanless.

[gallagher]

Dora will first look for employment with the Fellowship, in the event that they need someone with martial skill for any purpose.

Right now, she wouldnt be interested in signing up to hunt demons. She could be swayed with the Temple of Relath, as she pays him nominal observance. However, if the Fellowship doesnt offer her something that would be up her alley, I really think that Dora's direction is taking her to the temple district for the reason outlined in my post.

[esorscher]

Did we make it to Fellowship HQ?

[ilinares]

If you're finished with the conversation there, then yes. I didn't want to move you on prematurely!

I'll edit it in.

[ilinares]

Dantie, do you want to roll a spellcraft check to support your Detect Magic?

[dantiesilva]

[roll0] spellcraft check for detect magic

[ilinares]

Dantie, can you edit links to Baldar's backstory and character sheet into your first post on this thread please?

[dantiesilva]

I will not be able to post until Friday as I have a funeral to attend and friend to help during his loss.

[ilinares]

Sorry to hear about the funeral. Thanks for letting us know.

[dantiesilva]

I will be posting tomorrow morning everyone.

[ilinares]

No worries. Looking forward to reading it.

[esorscher]

I am, perhaps, the humblest person in the Isles

10/10 filling up space

[gallagher]

I'm on vacation for another day, out of pocket, poor reception. Please presume Dora is patiently and quietly guarding B.

Dora will also mention in passing that she wishes to pay a small visit to the temple of Relath. She nominally observes that faith, but at a distance. She wants to use the opportunity to find out more about clerics kidnapping people in the street.

[gallagher]

Attempting a diplomacy check to aid with the conversation. Aim is to get a list of people that were interviewed included in the research notes that Bellephoron requested. Dora would conclude that anyone who saw Maltur must have known Theo.

[roll0] Diplomacy

[dantiesilva]

Just got home I'll be posting tomorrow.

Also Pran Deathwalker, oh the Mother has blessed him it seems since Rosalind is no longer a counter balance lol. Just saying I so want to be there to meet Pran.

[ilinares]

Just got home I'll be posting tomorrow.

Also Pran Deathwalker, oh the Mother has blessed him it seems since Rosalind is no longer a counter balance lol. Just saying I so want to be there to meet Pran.

I'm glad you liked it!

Look forward to your post when you're ready. No rush.

[gallagher]

@E

Dora is going to split off after this mage's tower. Haven't yet figured out where to start, and unless the muses take me somewhere, I will just start at the top of the list.

[gallagher]

RE the OOC spoiler'd note in the IC post - Dora is splitting off, with the intent of getting to the temple district quickly, but once there she will take a moment to "take it all in"

[ilinares]

RE the OOC spoiler'd note in the IC post - Dora is splitting off, with the intent of getting to the temple district quickly, but once there she will take a moment to "take it all in"

Thanks. I've updated my latest IC post for Dora.

Run out of time for now Esorscher; but I'm thinking Bellerophon probably arrives at the docks about the same time as Baldar and can get drawn into events unfolding there.

[esorscher]

Thanks. I've updated my latest IC post for Dora.

Run out of time for now Esorscher; but I'm thinking Bellerophon probably arrives at the docks about the same time as Baldar and can get drawn into events unfolding there.

Sounds good.

[gallagher]

I forgot to roll for diplomacy. Dora is a tactful speaker and not a bluffer.

[roll0]

[esorscher]

Initiative: [roll0]

Nerveskitter as an immediate action to give Baldar +5 to his roll.

The "cloudy conjuration + caltrops" combo is one I plan to use early and often.

[dantiesilva]

[roll0] initiative

[gallagher]

I think the direction that I have already started to take Dora, which I did not expect, is going to have me invest skill points in knowledge (history). I think her "cover story" is that she is writing a history book.

[ilinares]

Well, in a story-heavy game there's a lot to be said for the knowledge skills.

[gallagher]

Perfectly true! I was only saying that I have firm beliefs of showing the training of certain skills through narration.

[dantiesilva]

Might have to have a magic item made that allows me to cast fist of stone on myself all day long lol This way I can just punch people to sleep that are not worthy of my mighty hammer. No in all seriousness not playing another Rosalind, just legit got told to treat them like children, and well a child charges you with a knife your not going to wack them with a warhammer, well at least not right away.

[ilinares]

Well, I think a guy who just confessed to killing cops and came at you with a knife is probably fair game, but I see your point. Maybe as your character speaks to human locals he might get a different perspective to the ambassador's!

[dantiesilva]

Well, I think a guy who just confessed to killing cops and came at you with a knife is probably fair game, but I see your point. Maybe as your character speaks to human locals he might get a different perspective to the ambassador's!

I agree, after all he is not Rosalind. He will throw hammers and shoot lighting lol

[gallagher]

Oh man, in the game I run IRL for my college friends, I am about to throw two thundercats at them. Do you guys have ANY IDEA how EXCITED I AM for this?

Pair of Leonals after dark in the fog, roll20 tokens for them are Leon-o and Tygra. The four players have to find three statues in the misty forest in Elysium, and light a candle in them to be able to lift the fog and be allowed out. The two thundercats are hunters in the dark, and Snarf is actually a noncombative musteval who slowly travels around to put out candles. Map is 350x350 feet, the forest is dense with a path that doesnt actually lead to any of the statues, and one of the statues is in a stone building with hallways to give them a bit of a horror movie vibe.

The players have some practice at how to beat this, because I sent a weakened version of this (one leonal who didnt use his roar) with just a regular musteval instead of Snarf running around to protect the forest from fires. Had two of the four show up, so I sent this powered down version on a different, smaller map in a "dream sequence" with no buildings and plenty of path. It let me get a dry run at how I wanted to do hit-and-run tactics using spring attack, and the practice was well-spent because I found that I could attack fairly freely, and get around thick trees or big rocks to spoil the charging-pouncing barbarian. It was honestly the first time I used the feat - never invested in it for a character of my own! Now the party will have to figure out how to defeat this tactic as a unit with twice the leonals, and on different terrain.

And I did all of this because I wanted to use thundercats for Roll20 tokens :smallcool::smallcool::smallcool:

[ilinares]

Thundercats! Now that's a blast from the past. Used to love that show as a child.

That encounter sounds amazing :smallbiggrin:

[gallagher]

I can report that the Thundercats got incrementally wrecked. Part is because my beliefs of DMing are to give the party epic treasure and epic stats to take on epic monsters (they were underleveled for the challenge) and the other part is that if I want to throw a cool monster that is too strong, I will take my foot off the accelerator. Here, I changed the Leonal's Holy Word to a blinding breath weapon (Fort DC 20 to match sonic damage). The party is a gnomish druid with a giant eagle animal companion, a human barbarian/warblade, a dwarven cleric/stormlord, and a dragonblooded human bard. There is a hatchling green dragon that is a "party companion" that gets an additional loot drop, so anyone in the party can try to trade with the dragon's growing hoard if they dont like their random loot drop. This team swings 2 CR above expected on average, so at level 6-7, they can situationally handle CR12 monsters (it makes it my task to have a well-managed action economy to make strong monsters able to play up to their rating).

Against one Leonal, the monster thought that he had an opening to put someone in the ground before a quick escape, and instead of committing to the hit and run tactic, made the call to go in for pounce (Claw+Claw+Bite+Grapple[Rake]) The bite missed, the bard who was the target hit his concentration check to do Hideous Laughter without AoO, and the Leonal failed his save. They then bullied up on Tygra and turned it into a much more survivable encounter. They split into factions of with the hatchling and cleric peeling off, who them came across Leon-o but thanks to well-thought-out preparation, had balor nimbus going to keep the foe from being encouraged to stay on him. Snarf ended up coming across him, and got imploded with a critical hit from a heavy mace. Oops.

The final leonal found the other portion of the party split off. he put the bard into the dirt, blinded the eagle, put the bard and druid into negative hitpoints and rolling to stabilize, and the barbarian had to put his average of 65 damage per turn to his best use.

And thus the thundercats were defeated in the spooky, misty forest and sent back to Elysium as the party was able to traverse the liminal space between the two planes. I genuinely only DM in person games, but should the opportunity arise, you will see that I reverse engineer a fairly inventive encounter based on ideas that truly represent a momentary lapse in reason.

[ilinares]

Sounds like a good time was had though. Making memorable combat encounters is one part of DMing I struggle with.

[esorscher]

Crit damage: [roll0]

[gallagher]

Sounds like a good time was had though. Making memorable combat encounters is one part of DMing I struggle with.

In person, the struggle is in challenging every player enough to keep the game gripping.

Online, the struggle is in the narration.

I have sympathy for both. Have I ever told you of the time one of my players got the vorpal blade of a balor, then confirmed a nat-20 with a nat-20, thereby ending the big end fight of a multi-session battle? It was the biggest thrill killer for a DM and it continues to be that player's highpoint of his dnd career.

[ilinares]

You hadn't told that story, but I can completely see how that would be annoying.

I remember DMing Red Hand of Doom. The climactic encounter sees the BBEG summon an avatar of Tiamat. Supposed to be this climactic, party-threatening battle.

They brought it down in one round with ectoplasmic cocoon, coup de grace, and some other strategies I don't remember now.

The player who played the psion was delighted. I was not!

[gallagher]

I see you there. The biggest challenge in DnD is coming up with the right challenges! Lesson learned, that entire set of sessions I referenced above, I was throwing all the demons in all the books at their fortified base. Of everything, what gave the party the most alarm was dancing Vrocks.

I haven't played red hand of doom, but out of courtesy, I would elect to wait a few rounds to coup de grace.

[dantiesilva]

My hours have switched once again, (6am-2pm so have to be up at 5am) so I haven't really been awake enough to post much or respond. I have been staying up to date though.

@gallagher that encounter sounds amazing and really well thought out. I am happy your party had a good time with it.

@ilinares I have never once played RHoD but have heard so many good things about it. Its sad that your party destroyed that fight so quickly. I do feel that prewritten adventures suffer from not giving the BBEG any minions to help with its action economy as the heroes can easily team up vs one monster, but two or say eleven, they now have to manage their resource. I have found that adding minions at half their normal health for the said creature, makes it enough of a challenge for the party while not overbearing enough where they overshadow the BBEG. For example with the tiamat fight (again I have never played) your telling me there are no priests that survived/are around to help their god? No kobolds, or goblins (I think its goblinds in RHoD) that could just be their as an annoyance. Sure they might not be able to do much vs the party, but they could help Tiamat. Your God fights for instance have pushed our characters to their limits and their has never been a way we could one shot an actual boss. (Nightwalker and boneyard withstanding, but they were not bosses).

[Timble]

You hadn't told that story, but I can completely see how that would be annoying.

I remember DMing Red Hand of Doom. The climactic encounter sees the BBEG summon an avatar of Tiamat. Supposed to be this climactic, party-threatening battle.

They brought it down in one round with ectoplasmic cocoon, coup de grace, and some other strategies I don't remember now.

The player who played the psion was delighted. I was not!

How did they coup de grace through an ectoplasmic cocoon? It needs to be destroyed before physical attacks can hit the being inside and it blocks ethereal effects.

Also sorry about the low post rate, uni has started again and my terrible sleep pattern has me too tired throughout the day to be in a posting mood.

[ilinares]

I don't remember all the details, but you may well be right Timble. It could well have been my less than perfect grasp of the rules that allowed them to get away with it!

Don't worry about being too tired to post. You're not holding up other players or anything right now. Hope things feel easier soon.

As for minions, if I remember rightly, the party has time to interrupt the summoning ritual and clear the minions before the avatar arrives. The writers probably thought it was such an overpowered monster for their level that it wouldn't need minions. Generally speaking, players in real life are far more capable than designers give them credit for.

The other story from that group - which was very memorable but probably not the way it should have gone by rules as written - was the player who stocked his character up on alchemists fire and equivalents. Like, stupid numbers of the things. He had this image I think of walking around with the fantasy equivalent of a bandolier of grenades to use at will. Anyway, something detonated one of them while he was carrying it (shatter spell maybe?) and I ruled there was a chance the rest got triggered by the damage.

A series of disastrous rolls later, the party got wiped out in the blast radius. Thankfully everyone saw it as hilarious and didn't much mind the TPK!

[gallagher]

I don't remember all the details

The curse every DM suffers for - needing to keep all details and rules in their head at the same times.

I cannot tell you how many times I just get tired of remembering the rules for some things, lose patience for rule books and just make something up. Grappling in my game has become an entirely new monster just to make it all simpler (win a grapple check to be able to do a wrestling move, then a standalone strength/dex check to perform the wrestling move. I am talking like on TV - power bombs, piledrivers, really weird things that only look cool on tv, the whole enchilada :D)

[esorscher]

The curse every DM suffers for - needing to keep all details and rules in their head at the same times.

I cannot tell you how many times I just get tired of remembering the rules for some things, lose patience for rule books and just make something up. Grappling in my game has become an entirely new monster just to make it all simpler (win a grapple check to be able to do a wrestling move, then a standalone strength/dex check to perform the wrestling move. I am talking like on TV - power bombs, piledrivers, really weird things that only look cool on tv, the whole enchilada :D)

As much as I miss the intricacies of 5e when it comes to character building, I do like DMing 5e more than 3.5 for this reason. Much simpler and "ehh... advantage" is a very viable response to most creative things the party comes up with.

[gallagher]

I have three reasons to stick with 3.5:


My friends from college and I stick together by playing DnD on saturdays. We are in three different time zones, and two of us have kids. Learning anything new is often an unwelcome task at this juncture of our lives (which is why I am relishing the time I get to set aside for my other hobbies; being single has a lot of advantages in that way! As a consequence, I am choosing not to learn new RP game rules)

My game is an E8 game (like E6 I guess, but I bumped it up two levels for in universe reasons) with a lot of cool loot that lets them challenge monsters well above their weight class. 5e just doesnt accommodate the world I run, and there are a lot of quests to do before the party satisfies the gods of magic and allow mortals to exceed 8th level once again.

I genuinely do not like the company, so when my party accomplishes the above task, I will buy new material for pathfinder instead of Dungeons and Dragons.

[esorscher]

I have three reasons to stick with 3.5:



I genuinely do not like the company, so when my party accomplishes the above task, I will buy new material for pathfinder instead of Dungeons and Dragons.


I am pushing my group to shift to Pathfinder as well, once WotC stops supporting 5e.

[dantiesilva]

As for minions, if I remember rightly, the party has time to interrupt the summoning ritual and clear the minions before the avatar arrives. The writers probably thought it was such an overpowered monster for their level that it wouldn't need minions. Generally speaking, players in real life are far more capable than designers give them credit for.

This is why I have a love hate relationship with prewritten adventures. My friend ran Curse of Strahd for us, and by the time I we left death house and the first town I had already found the Sun Sword because via the tarrot deck it was in the gypsy encampment. A level 2-3 aasimar paladin with the sun sword in curse of strahd makes even the difficult encounters really easy. I think we were level 9 when we took on Strahd in his castle who was a level 15 wizard or something and we killed him with ease. Mind you my friend loves 5e as a 3.5 level 15 wizard would curb stomp a party of level 9s but still. We are at the moment on a break (we were on act 2-3) from Rime of the Frostmaiden, and while it is okay and I am sure experienced DM's could easily work with it, if its not on the script my friend cannot adapt with the rules how they are written (which is funny as he loves Matt Mercher who adapts all the time for the rule of cool). Maybe its just me, I have always found a homemade game more enjoyable then a prewritten one, even when I have had bad DM's their story was always amazing.


The other story from that group - which was very memorable but probably not the way it should have gone by rules as written - was the player who stocked his character up on alchemists fire and equivalents. Like, stupid numbers of the things. He had this image I think of walking around with the fantasy equivalent of a bandolier of grenades to use at will. Anyway, something detonated one of them while he was carrying it (shatter spell maybe?) and I ruled there was a chance the rest got triggered by the damage.

This right here was a bomb waiting to go off, and I love that your players were responsible enough to understand that and not get upset over the TPK. I had a DM through a dry lich and his salt mummies at my party once, I was a level 9 cleric. Well all water counts as holy water to those creatures, well when I cast create water over them lets just say the DM was not to happy about my clever way of dealing with the monsters and punished us later by having us attacked in the middle of our sleep when we had no spells. Lost half our loot because of it.


I cannot tell you how many times I just get tired of remembering the rules for some things, lose patience for rule books and just make something up. Grappling in my game has become an entirely new monster just to make it all simpler (win a grapple check to be able to do a wrestling move, then a standalone strength/dex check to perform the wrestling move. I am talking like on TV - power bombs, piledrivers, really weird things that only look cool on tv, the whole enchilada :D)

The main rules I forget deal with grappling (as I never played a grappler before) and I never fully understood to this day wildshape (thus I avoid playing druids even though I love them). There is way to many rules for one person to remember thats why back when I was first learning I would borrow all my DM's books and read through every one of them. The only things that stuck with me, Arrow Volley rules from Heroes of Battle. It has only come up one single time in a game I have played in (with the bad DM, but damn he could make a scene and story), and one test of armies I competed in (basically had archers surrounded by commoners with bows being guided by a bard using inspire courage so the warriors with their tower shields acted as a spartan Phalanx around the archers, the bard inspired the archers and himself before rolling an attack roll. Due to volley rules, and the fact that with a bow you can hit someone 300+ ft away (only need to hit a 10 using a volley unless its a directed volley which then allows a reflex save) my group of 100 was able to kill every other group before they could get within range of my army.


As much as I miss the intricacies of 5e when it comes to character building, I do like DMing 5e more than 3.5 for this reason. Much simpler and "ehh... advantage" is a very viable response to most creative things the party comes up with.

I find 5e very limiting, almost all spells are damage which makes wizards do what the fighters should better then they do (as they always have), and the very few spells that are not straight damage are far weaker than I have seen in any previous edition. I look at it as a great spot to learn the game, and for kids, but I have a hard time getting into it as I do 3.5. There is very little difference between Rogue 1,2, and 3 unless you have different books, and even then its still not that much of a difference. Maybe that's just me though.


I have three reasons to stick with 3.5:

My friends from college and I stick together by playing DnD on saturdays. We are in three different time zones, and two of us have kids. Learning anything new is often an unwelcome task at this juncture of our lives (which is why I am relishing the time I get to set aside for my other hobbies; being single has a lot of advantages in that way! As a consequence, I am choosing not to learn new RP game rules)
My game is an E8 game (like E6 I guess, but I bumped it up two levels for in universe reasons) with a lot of cool loot that lets them challenge monsters well above their weight class. 5e just doesnt accommodate the world I run, and there are a lot of quests to do before the party satisfies the gods of magic and allow mortals to exceed 8th level once again.
I genuinely do not like the company, so when my party accomplishes the above task, I will buy new material for pathfinder instead of Dungeons and Dragons.

Never played an E6 game I have heard of them, just never understood them enough to waste the time trying to learn on GitP knowing that most games just end out of nowhere.


As for Pathfinder talk, I bought a few of the pathfinder 1e books (mostly regarding Chelix as I have Hell's Vengance Adventure path) and from what I have seen it is exactly like 3.5, just the broken things are fixed, and the things that don't make sense are trimmed. Example is Stealth vs Hide and Move Silently. Perception vs Spot, Listen, Search. That one switch saves a party so many skill points.

[gallagher]

Oh the E6 stuff is easy. Level cap keeps most of the monster manuals in play; after your level cap, every so often with enouhg experience points you get another feat.

The rest of the differences are so minute that you dont have to worry about it until you find a game youd want to participate in

[dantiesilva]

@Esorscher love your post and would have replied today if not for kidney stone. I'll post sometime tomorrow, honestly I'm not 100% sure how Baldar will reply as I don't think he fully understands why he stepped in.

[gallagher]

I am on vacation in Maine with few opportunities to have Phoenix signal. As such, my post could have been better, but I wanted to give the essence so as to not hold any part of the game back. I have a couple more days out here before I return to my normal life, so please forgive a delay in response.

Here is a diplomacy roll. I tried to be careful in the wording of my post so that Diplomacy applied instead of bluff.

[roll0]

Please let me know if I owe you a bluff roll. If I take too long to respond, let the DM secret roll for me - I have +0 to bluff.

[gallagher]

OOC note. Dora heard the Executor mention that it is a devils weapon, but she at present is of no mind to pay attention to the differences between demons and devils. Out of game information that I know has a lot of lore about their allegiances that Dora has yet to discover

[ilinares]

So we've got Dora on her way to meet up with Baldar and Bellerophon. Her posts are 8 hours ahead of theirs, though. Can we assume Baldar and Bellerophon turn in for the night (although by all means continue their conversation, perhaps in spoilers) then meet up with Dora in the morning?

Thespia is currently in a different part of the city, the White Stag in the Temple District. (Confusingly I called the inn where Baldar and Bellerophon are the White Fox. Maybe I need to go to more pubs and get some better ideas for pub names!) There is the possibility of her and Dora meeting, though, as that's the same inn Dora just had recommended to her. She's on the same time zone as Dora but probably needs a bit longer to explore the quest hook she's looking into before you meet up.

[dantiesilva]

Yeah that's fine, sorry about my post rate. With my new hours my normal post time is when I'm asleep now. I'll have a post up today or tomorrow though

[gallagher]

No excuses!

Haha just kidding. The reason that Dora would link up with her known associates is because she spent the night elsewhere, and so she wants her friend to know that she is okay. She also plans to try Gunn next, as he has a link to Bellephoron's relative, which is a connection key to why they are travelling together.

She is avoiding the inquisitors until after she has a chance to talk with the Arbiter, since Lothrain will probably hate finding out that she went to Niall for information. It also sets up a good rhythm for Dora's intended character direction.

Just keeping all that in the open for the DM's ease. Also, pub names arent hard if you are willing to accept bad names. Look at a weird feature that is out of place on anything, and it is now a name of a tavern. Three Rusted Nails, Seven-Barrels, The Hole in the Roof, Wagon-hitch, Witchslumber, Foulwater (which is why they sell beer!)

[dantiesilva]

If needed I can have my character talk to Niall as he was told that the Inquisitor was an honorable and such person and would be able to help with any information about the rifts. So my character has two reasons to speak with him. Rifts in sky, and rifts in their faith that may cause issues for the dearves

[esorscher]

Since our conversation is mostly just comparing notes, we can talk about it OOC? And I'm good to move on to the next day. Bellerophon will try to meet up with Dora before trying to talk to Gunn.

[dantiesilva]

Since our conversation is mostly just comparing notes, we can talk about it OOC? And I'm good to move on to the next day. Bellerophon will try to meet up with Dora before trying to talk to Gunn.

Niall was told to be honorable, forthright, and courteous while the other half of the temple of Charis seems to hide in the shadows, its only connection being the temple of Realth.

Book mentioned in the IC, that Baldar will read a passage from that night before bed when he is safe in his room.

No physical violence in response to words.

Enchantment spell seems to protect the streets to a small extent.

[gallagher]

@dantie - I mean the stuff that Dora would go after when talking to Niall is related to the conflict between temples. I am not sure how your character would go about that.

I mean you can talk to him about rifts, sure. That isnt my foray. But your character doesnt really know the intent or backstory of mine, and I do not know the extent that your character is interested in how the legacy of Theo affects the current situation of Dora.

[dantiesilva]

Would Niall speak to her after she was seen entering the temple of realth though? Plus baldar has a small amount invested in the whole divide between religions.

[gallagher]

To be frank, that is part of the character conflict that Dora represents in the story, so I am not afraid of hostility. It isnt that your char doesnt have an avenue to provide to the conflict between religions, but to let you know how heavily invested I am in a very specific storyline that spans two related PCs.

Either Niall is interested in giving the tale of Theo to Dora from his perspective to run counter to the accounts given by Lothrain, Gunn and Pran, or he is going to be hostile to someone asking questions about what happened in the time that Theo was around. I still have to figure out how Dora would go to Pran, but I expect to use that to further increase the Inquisition's interest in what Dora is asking after. These are things that were considered when I was building my character.

Either way, I do not expect Niall to be nice. I am prepared to be kidnapped by the Inquisition, and I am fairly certain that Dora's insolence will rankle Niall in ways that increase hostility. The story I am creating through Dora has a lot of linear progress that harkens back to the Theo story. So I am not trying to block you out, I in fact would love to involve the whole party in that story itself. But I dont see part of Dora's action being to send Baldar to talk to Niall on her behalf or to introduce the two. She has specific actions intended to take, and doesnt know anything about Baldar. Bellephoron knows what Dora intends to do, and she wouldnt ask Bellephoron to talk to Niall on her behalf.

Sorry if this comes across as gruff. Just wanted to let you know that Dora has character direction that resembles the direction yours takes towards solving the problem of the rifts, and that our characters have not interacted in a way that evolves our IC involvement yet.

[dantiesilva]

To be frank, that is part of the character conflict that Dora represents in the story, so I am not afraid of hostility. It isnt that your char doesnt have an avenue to provide to the conflict between religions, but to let you know how heavily invested I am in a very specific storyline that spans two related PCs.

Either Niall is interested in giving the tale of Theo to Dora from his perspective to run counter to the accounts given by Lothrain, Gunn and Pran, or he is going to be hostile to someone asking questions about what happened in the time that Theo was around. I still have to figure out how Dora would go to Pran, but I expect to use that to further increase the Inquisition's interest in what Dora is asking after. These are things that were considered when I was building my character.

Either way, I do not expect Niall to be nice. I am prepared to be kidnapped by the Inquisition, and I am fairly certain that Dora's insolence will rankle Niall in ways that increase hostility. The story I am creating through Dora has a lot of linear progress that harkens back to the Theo story. So I am not trying to block you out, I in fact would love to involve the whole party in that story itself. But I dont see part of Dora's action being to send Baldar to talk to Niall on her behalf or to introduce the two. She has specific actions intended to take, and doesnt know anything about Baldar. Bellephoron knows what Dora intends to do, and she wouldnt ask Bellephoron to talk to Niall on her behalf.

Sorry if this comes across as gruff. Just wanted to let you know that Dora has character direction that resembles the direction yours takes towards solving the problem of the rifts, and that our characters have not interacted in a way that evolves our IC involvement yet.

We been playing long enough together where it doesn't come across the wrong way. Just my character has two, possibly three leads right now on the rifts until he can fly up there for himself. One is Niall who he was told may be able to help him, the other being those said to have fixed it. He has been told the book may help him, and he intends to explore that option, however besides that Baldar really doesn't have much to go on at this moment. When he is done trading information with Bellephoron he will have a few more options and come the morning when we all possibly meet up he may explore those options, but as is, he has two options at this moment he is aware of. And trust me I will try to hold off on going to Niall as long as I can to ask about the rifts, as once I do I feel it will cut off a lot of stuff from other groups and vise versa. Dwarves not super religious so his first stop will probably be this rogue new magic group that is "legal" due to getting the job done. But for all I know a demon may fall out of the sky and attack us which could lead Baldar in a different direction. Trust me not trying to take away from Dora and her and Niall's meeting. Baldar's main motive for meeting Niall would be the rifts and if he will be a threat to Kharheim and the dwarves in New Ganther. Besides that Baldar has no interactions really with that storyline at the moment if that makes sense. For instance sure he cares about the infighting, but in the sense is it going to be an issue for my people, if not we are good, do your thing.

I will hold off on Niall though as long as possible out of respect for you.

[gallagher]

Eh, no need to hold off forever. Just wanted to make sure that my intent with the direction I intend to explore with the Theo story is known. If I dont say so out loud, I dont expect you to be able to anticipate it, and that is where things go awry. There is a careful balance we all take when developing an IC post with respect to OOC knowledge and the intended directions we have in mind. Just want you to know so that we have a natural course to go.

[esorscher]

Can Bellerophon use prestidigitation + time to make two copies of the dissertation? One for Kharheim, one for Baldar.

[dantiesilva]

There is a 0 level cleric spell that can do it I believe, will have to crack open my doc to double check.

Also I think that's a good cutting point for us to catch up to the others.

[esorscher]

Amaneunsis, which I don't have--but I'll pay for a scroll, copy it to my spellbook, and then cast it. Maybe there's a 24/7 scroll shop open nearby?

[ilinares]

For the moment, I'd like you to roleplay interactions like trying to buy scrolls and other magical items. You're just starting to make contact with the magical institutions of the city after all.

Once you've established a bit more of a connection to one or more groups, I'm happy to relax that and assume you go back to sources you've visited before. But we're not there yet. :smallsmile:

[Timble]

Sense Motive: [roll0]
Not going to use Inquisitor as this isn't me actively probing

[dantiesilva]

Wisdom DC 12 [roll0]

[dantiesilva]

Mason, my son, is going in for eye surgery today. It's a very minor surgery but I wanted to let you all know as I may not post for a day or two. Baldar will go with Bellerophon as it's his best choice for speaking with mages, once he gets his breakfast that is. He will make a sandwich out of it.

[ilinares]

Mason, my son, is going in for eye surgery today. It's a very minor surgery but I wanted to let you all know as I may not post for a day or two. Baldar will go with Bellerophon as it's his best choice for speaking with mages, once he gets his breakfast that is. He will make a sandwich out of it.

I hope everything went smoothly for him and that it wasn't too anxious a wait for you. Wishing him a speedy recovery.

[dantiesilva]

Everything went well with the surgery now it's just recovery to deal with. As the pain was explained as having something in your eye that you can't get out and you can't itch it or put your hand near it

[esorscher]

Glad to hear it!

[dantiesilva]

I will be making a post later tonight

[dantiesilva]

Sorry about the ghosting the last week or so, my computer died, we thought it may have been something simple like the power strip/adapter thing (yeah I super know about computers, good thing I live with two people who work in IP), it sadly wasn't so had to buy a whole new tower (as I won't invest thousands into building a good one even though it would save me more money in the long run, I know). I lost a few key websites I had saved, but besides that was able to thankfully save almost everything. Going to post now.

[Timble]

Its been a while, so checking to see if you missed my IC post.

[ilinares]

Sorry I haven't posted in a while guys. Life's been busy! Hopefully I'll get a chance soon.

[esorscher]

No worries, thanks for checking in. Life is busy here as well.

[gallagher]

yeah I am up to my eyeballs with extra work right now and I am happy to cool my jets and wait on the DM :smallbiggrin:

[ilinares]

Post up for Thespia.

Have the others finished their conversation? If so, what are your next steps?

[gallagher]

Dora wants to go to a magic item shop to ask about things that will make her bigger, stronger, faster, healthier, and an all-around badass.

She will then go back to the inn where she reserved rooms, and enjoy the ambiance while waiting for trouble to happen. She will also try to reach out to Thespia using the crystal, and then give it to the priest that she knows to be in association with Thespia

[dantiesilva]

I mean we are outside a magic item shop. As for Baldar he's not going to wait around all day for something to happen. If you are not going to go to the flying beast now he will go off to do his own things including investigating the rift, trying to find a nice high vantage point close to it, talk to people to get a map of the places that there have been attacks of demonic or other outsiders. Basically he will be trying to see where it is weakest.

[gallagher]

Point of waiting is that it gives our characters the opportunity to set our things down, buy supplies that we might need, and give Thespia an opportunity to party up if it works out.

By all means do some rifting. My character may try to head to the temples and get a better look during the daylight.

[esorscher]

Bellerophon will go back with Dora and copy one scroll of amaneusnsis into his spellbook, and use the other to make copies of the book for himself and for Kharheim. Once he has the copies he will send one to Kharheim.

[gallagher]

I noticed that my character did not say IC where she would be going next, and thought it would be proper to include an IC post to reflect what we mentioned OoC for our remaining things for the in-game-day.

No rush anyone. my schedule genuinely just cleared up this past friday and I bet I am the first one of us to get some free time. I hope everyone is well and getting ready to relax into the autumn.

[ilinares]

Just noting here that I've updated my last IC post with a reply to yours Gallagher.

Esorscher, Dantie, do you want to post your characters' next steps IC?

[dantiesilva]

I will try to post tonight.

[ilinares]

Post is up guys :smallsmile:

[esorscher]

Is it safe to say Bellerophon is able to handle the mailing task without needing to roleplay it? I don't mind taking a backseat until we reunite. But if there is anything you want to happen to him while he's at the embassy or at Velhim's, happy to do that too.

[Timble]

Just handed in my last assignment for the semester. Also, its 12:57 here and only a few hours ago I found out it was due at 1:00.
I'll be posting probably tomorrow, now that I finally have free time.

[gallagher]

I'll be back to post over the weekend!

[gallagher]

Should a Gather Information roll be required, here it is - [roll0]

[Timble]

Just posting to say I'm still around. Haven't felt well for a bit and haven't had any inspiration for what to post. Still thinking of how to solve the temple problem and what Thespia should do in the current encounter.

[gallagher]

Just posting to say I'm still around. Haven't felt well for a bit and haven't had any inspiration for what to post. Still thinking of how to solve the temple problem and what Thespia should do in the current encounter.

That is all fine! Thinking out what a character would do in a PbP post is a unique experience and we have time that an IRL game does not permit for. If you are in need of someone to bounce ideas on, everyone here has a lot of background knowledge on this setting and could help you realize how your character would react in this environment.

All the same, please take your time and get better and find inspiration!

[dantiesilva]

Just popping in

[esorscher]

Still here. Happy december everybody

[esorscher]

Merry Christmas to those who celebrate!

[gallagher]

And a Happy New Year!

[dantiesilva]

Happy holidays to everyone

[Timble]

Hope everyone has a good year ahead