Aardvark's "Bring Out Your Dead's Valuables" MM Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Troy Malovich

"Greedy thug? Bah! You haven't even begun to see my greedy side. And if I wanted you dead, I wouldn't wait for some flying head to do the job. I have have plenty of means and opportunity. Now, either shut your yap and let me get on with my job, or walk on out of here. And pardon me, but it's your face that offends me, not your words."

Brennan set down the chest and stood, knives sliding into each hand as he moved into a fighting crouch.

"Ah. Maybe if those devilish heads had jabbed at your fragile ego you might have drawn your blades sooner. You can put them, and your petty little insults, away, Brennan." He waves his hand dismissively, "Please, continue doing what you do. Pay heed to those around you only when you need them and chase whatever lucre sparkles in the dark confines of that box."

"In case you weren't paying attention, I killed one of the devilish heads, after you failed to do so. I was hired for a specific job, and I do my job well. I'm not even sure why you are here. I don't remember putting a request out for a useless windbag who can't see past the end of his nose."

"Maybe we can carry on this discussion after we have left the Necropolis? While one of those creatures was removed from this plane of existence, two remain. My resources for healing are waning and I am not sure how much more there is to this estate, or if I am willing to spend another night within, or even if those creatures will return to torment us again."

Ignoring Chephren's attempt to soothe things for the moment, Omen laughs heartily, the sound booming in the small room. "Why does it not surprise me that you would claim credit when most of the work had already been done for you? Were it not for Gabriel and myself you would have been that creature's first meal. But no, no, by all means, exalt yourself in your own eyes as you must, Brennan." He shakes his head, still chuckling deeply. "And my purpose here is as mystery to me as it is to yourself. Though, as it was you who wakened me, you have none to blame for my being here but yourself."

He then turns to the priest, and a chuckle still echoes in his voice, "Brennan was so skilled at dispatching one of those creatures, Chephren - perhaps he is confident enough to hunt the pair that remain?"

"Why does it not surprise me that you would claim to have done most of the work, after accusing me of wanting you dead? I could have let them continue gnawing on you, but I felt bad for Chephren. And if your being here is purely up to my whim, I can fix that particular situation right now."

Brennan lifted a dagger and started forward, stopping only when Chephren interjected himself.

"Fine, Cheph. Come on Suru, let's finish this place off and go get an ale. And Cheph? Keep him away from me, or we'll be looking for yet another partner in this venture. Got me?"

Brennan turned, sliding his daggers back to their hidden places. He and Surubi moved towards the nearest doors that had not been opened yet, checking them over before opening them.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (6) + 6 = 12
disable device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (20) + 9 = 29

Can't see the map as it keeps crashing, but head for whatever doors are yet unexplored. To the NE, if I remember correctly?

Surubi, still at a loss for how best to stop the fight, makes a little bow to Omenhotep and looks pleadingly at Chephren, her eyes moving sharply twice before running after Brennan. "On my way Mister Darkblade!" she calls after him as she rushes to catch up.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 +1 more if this is desert in addition to indoors.

Bluff to pass secret message: 1d20 + 0 ⇒ (5) + 0 = 5

Omen mirrors Surubi's bow as she turns to rush off after Brennan, the gesture genuine and respectful. He shakes his head ruefully as she departs, and mutters quietly to no one in particular, "Wasted effort, I fear, chasing after a toothless jackal."

Surubi sees that Brennan has the lock well in hand, and takes a minute to look for any recoverable arrows before returning to see if he has completed unlocking it.
Arrow recovery 1, high finds: 1d100 ⇒ 98
Arrow recovery 2, high finds: 1d100 ⇒ 60
Arrow recovery 3, high finds: 1d100 ⇒ 16

Sorry for the delay, this whole last week has been pretty busy.

The room is more alive now during the heated arguments than it was during the fight where more than half the group was paralyzed. As Brennan and Omen go at it, Chephren spreads healing all around to the group. Oddly, neither of Brennan's injuries accept the healing. As he looks everyone over for any remaining effects from the bites, he discovers that the creatures' bite wounds are tinged with a poisonous effect preventing them from closing with healing.

Chephren, Caster level check 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6
Chephren, Caster level check 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 2 = 3

Everyone should be healed, but Brennan still has 6 damage.

As the argument rages on, Brennan easily feels the click of the tumblers, considering he is unable to hear them during the heated words. The box opens to reveal a notable amount of currency. There are twenty small gold ingots, each bearing a seal.

Brennan and Surubi head for the next door, eager to either be away or finished or both is undetermined. The door is actually a double set, within an alcove south of the open balcony over the inner courtyard. They are neither trapped nor locked, and open easy enough. A large lacquered desk, now in poor condition, sits in the center of this room. Bookcases stand along the eastern and southwestern walls, sagging as if ready to collapse at any moment. Their shelves have fallen out, and the piles of dust at their bases are all that remains of books and scrolls that failed to survive the long years. The lacquered wooden frames of what might once have been divans stretch along the north and south walls, but their upholstery has disintegrated. The door you entered in the western wall is the room’s only exit.

Omen waves for Chephren to follow when he hears the double doors down the hall creak open at Brennan and Surubi's touch. "Come, it would not do well for that creature to return and find our members separated and more vulnerable." As the pair arrive, he shakes his head slowly as the extent of the decay and erosion settles. "Anything of note?" His question isn't directed at anyone in particular and his gaze wanders across the shattered shelves and room.

Perception: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (12) + 2 = 14

As the rest of the group moves over to where the others have gone, leaving the heavy chest of gold ingots where it lay for the moment, Gabriel focuses his attentions on looking every possible direction for signs of evil. He is quiet and determined, but he also looks as equally crestfallen.

Casually looking over the contents of the room, Brennan lets his irritation at Omen cloud his efforts. He is eager to declare the room as done, just to get more space between himself and the man. Omen also finds nothing of note in the room.

Rolling a Perception for Brennan 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Surubi looks around the room with Omen. "Did you get whatever was in that box? It might make Mister Darkblade a little less moody." she whispers to him as they search.
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20 +1 more if this is Desert in addition to indoors or whatever.

Omen shakes his head. "Whatever those creatures were, one remains at large. Irritable as your companion is, I did not care to expose our backs to that strange winged beast as we plucked gold from a box. At least, not when it was only the two of us. Until we're sure the devil has gone or it's dead, we should move as a group. We can retrieve the ingots as we depart this place."

Surubi remains focused on the reason for even coming to the buildings in the Necropolis in the first place, and gives a more thorough search of the rooms contents. As Brennan moves on to begin his inspection of a different room that does not contain Omen, Surubi manages to turn up nothing in the room, except for a single brass key stuck in the back of one of the desk's drawers.

Omen regards the key as Surubi produces it, "I am tempted to wager that key fits the lock Brennan was so focused up while we were all beset by flying devils." Something in the timbre of his voice suggests that, somewhere behind the mask, a rueful smirk plays across his face.

"Shh! Mister Omen, even if that is true, there is no certainty we would have found it. But let us at least check." Surubi takes the key back to the prior room and checks whether it fits the chest, after which she empties the contents of the chest into one of her sacks.

Surubi easily learns that the key does in fact unlock the box that contains the ingots. She also finds that quickly grabbing the ingots is no small endeavor, given that there are twenty of them, weighing in at almost a half pound a piece.

"Look, in my experience, the key is laying about unattended about a third of the time. The rest, you have to do it the hard way. So this time was the hard way. Next time, you can try. Let's split those gold bars up to make it easier to carry about. Everyone take a couple. After this fiasco, I want to make sure we get paid."

He carefully didn't say anything about the trap he had been disarming. It had turned out not to be an explosive one, but you could never tell. At least not until the room was filled with fire and smoke and yelling. Besides, if that conversation started back up again, he was certain he would be putting a dagger through someone's eye.

Once the gold had been distributed, Brennan motioned Surubi to the next set of doors, and then checked them over himself. Once he was satisfied that all was well, he opened the rightmost one, preparing to dodge away if something nasty was on the other side.

perception: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (19) + 7 = 26
disable device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (5) + 9 = 14

Chephren brings up the rear of the group as before, but as he watches Brennan examine the doors, he casts detect poison to ensure that toxin has run its course.

"Okay. Here you go." Surubi hands out ingots to everyone, splitting them up evenly before assisting Brennan with the door.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7, +1 more if this is desert etc.
Disable device: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14

Not much of a search is required for the next set of doors, as one of them is left open, but it could be for the best considering Surubi was paying more attention to handing out ingots than looking over Brennan's shoulder. Either way, the door doesn't appear to be trapped, and most of the contents of the room beyond have fallen apart or otherwise been reduced to dust from the dry desert air anyways. A foul, cloying smell fills the room, most likely left behind from the flying head that exited it.

Despite appearances, Brennan took his time looking over the room beyond. There was, as Omen continually harped on, still an enemy about. Plus, you never knew what treasures might be hidden in this mess.

perception 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (16) + 6 = 22

Omen shakes his head at the odor in the room, "Perhaps this served as the den for one of our winged adversaries. It reeks of rot and death."

Surubi quietly assists Brennan in searching the room.

Stealth: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25
Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (4) + 6 = 10 +1 more if this is desert etc.

Brennan's search turns up not much more than a small rusted dagger, a handful of marbles, and a small lacquered box with several small carved stone pieces within.

appraise: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (6) + 4 = 10

"Meh, junk. Although I did find Omen's lost marbles. Heh. There is this box, though, and it's got to be worth something, though I couldn't tell you what. Collectibles like this aren't my usual fare. Still, I think we can safely say that we explored this room. Let's finish off the next set of door and then get out of here."

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16
disable device: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (13) + 9 = 22

"Yes, Mister Darkblade!" Surubi rushes to the doors and helps Brennan search them.

Perception assist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (1) + 6 = 7 +1 more if this is desert etc.
Disable Device assist: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

"Lost marbles?" Omen glances from Brennan to Chephren, then to Surubi, then back to Brennan. Then, there's a sound that comes from behind his mask, something in between a snicker and chortle. "Brennan! And here I was beginning to think your tongue and wit were no sharper than a wooden spoon." He chuckles freely then, obviously grinning beneath the old, gilded mask. "Good! Good!" He waves the marbles off, gesturing for Brennan to keep them. "No, please hold to them. I'm sure I'd only lose them." He waves Brennan and Surubi forward, a light chuckle still playing on his lips.

Despite his doubts, Brennan guesses that the box and pieces could probably still fetch a decent fifty gold to a collector of antiquities, if for no other reason than it being both old and Osiriani.

Moving on to the next room, the door here is also not likely trapped, as it too lies open from the exit of the other flying head. Dust blankets the room beyond. The walls, once brightly painted to depict life in ancient Wati, are now faded. A smaller room or alcove takes up the northeast section of the room; it was once closed off by a wooden door that since has rotted away, leaving only its hinges in the doorframe. A strong, cloying odor of decay pervades the room.

"Something dead here. Be careful." Cautiously, Brennan moved into the room to check it out, looking for both the source of the smell and for any valuables.

perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15

Perception assist: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (13) + 6 = 19 +1 more if this is desert etc.
Surubi scans the room with Brennan. She moves quickly but misses nothing.

"I believe that lingering odor is from one of the winged devils that attacked us; we have found its den. The stench is similar to what still clung to everything in the room we found the key."

The debris in the room reveals little of worth among it, but Brennan and Surubi manage to discover a large darkwood box buried beneath the larger portion. The rubble is likely what remains of a once posh bed.

I just want to confirm something I am not certain of--this area of the city is a burial ground; does it seem strange to Surubi that there would be beds here?

Surubi carefully looks over the box before checking its contents.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16 +1 more if this is desert etc.

The Necropolis (Old Wati), was an actual city until it was destroyed in the Plague of Madness that was spread by cultist of Lamashtu. The church of Pharasma setup a temple outside of Old Wati, which grew over time to a much larger city. So beds and households are appropriate for the Necropolis.

Sure, but having the burial tomb under the house seems a little strange to me... I guess that came later.

Surubi, it is fairly common for aristocrats to have the family mausoleum on the property, especially in a region like Osirion that has such a strong connection to their dead.

Looking over the box itself, Surubi finds no sign of any danger, and opens it to examine the contents. The most prominent of the contents is a white silk Osirian wedding robe, that looks to be fragile with age. The chest also contains several pieces of jewelry, among which is a fairly nice string of pearls. There is a small sealed tube, about the size of a dwarf's thumb, and a scroll tube.

Perception: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (9) + 6 = 15 +1 more if this is desert etc.
Barely breathing, Surubi slowly closes the lid on the box. "I do not know if it has value, but the contents of this bos are extremely fragile. We should find someone who can preserve them properly. Mister Chephren or Mister Omenhotep, can you check for magic on the pearls, and the two tubes without disturbing the rest?"

Omen shakes his head, "I'm afraid not, Surubi."

Gabriel speaks up suddenly, "Oh, um, sorry, I've been distracted looking for where the flyers went. I can check them for magic, but I will have to drop my detecting evil." He looks around pensive, "Which may no longer be useful, as I have found no sign of them since the fight." Defeated by his own statement of not finding them, he decides to cast detect magic on the box. After a few seconds of concentration, he declares, "The small tube, and the contents of the scroll tube are both magical."

"Thank you Mister Gabriel." Surubi carefully removes the two items identified as magical and closes the box back up before putting it into one of the sacks. "Have we missed any rooms, or should we head back into town? Maybe we can find out whether that Sigrun lady got to go to 'The Erudite Eye'"

"I think this was it. Let's get out of here."

"Other than providing a proper burial for the household of Pentheru, I have no problem leaving this estate one that is completed."

Sigrun Firehair was the fairly friendly one, Velriana was the one trying to buy that specific tomb off groups. Recap around HERE

Chephren, how and where do you plan to perform/provide the burial?

Surubi almost put the box into one of her sacks, but then thinks better of it and carries it in her hands, handling it carefully.

We also have the ring we found here we can follow up on

Omen nods, "So be it then. Let us perform your rites, Chephren, then put this den of evil behind us."

The most logical place in Chephren's mind is to bury the remains of the household in the area just outside of the Pentheru family tomb. With is skills in embalming, he will wrap the remains as best he can and prepare them for entirnment in the tomb complex. Then saying a few prayers to Anubis for their safe guard and continue support in guarding the tomb of Pentheru.

Where we fought the undead cat swarm.
Spirit Sleuth, Gate area, guidance: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 8 + 1 = 12
Spirit Sleuth, Entry way in house, guidance: 1d20 + 8 + 1 ⇒ (15) + 8 + 1 = 24

Prof Embalmer, guidance: 1d20 + 7 + 1 ⇒ (9) + 7 + 1 = 17
Kn Religion, guidance: 1d20 + 6 + 1 ⇒ (19) + 6 + 1 = 26

Not sure if that is high enough for the gate.

Chephren is able to gather the bodies, and wrap them for internment as best he can given what few materials still remain at the site itself. His knowledge of the rites of Anubis allow him to treat them as best he can as servants of the Pentheru household, ensuring they are not interred under better conditions than the namesake of the family itself.

Brennan waited impatiently for Chephren to finish his business so that they could be off. He had no burning desire to bury dead bodies. the dead were dead. But, Chephren had kept him alive through some pretty hairy business, so he kept his mouth shut.

Here is the discussion thread for my Mummy's Mask Campaign. Feel free to chit-chat, work on linking backstories, and how you came together as a group to decide to searh the buildings of the Wati Necroplois.

Also, agree on a team name.

The Grim Prospectors seems a good choice.

In my backstory I assumed that I knew Gus and Z'ael. My assumption was that we met in Wati (kinda down the pub) and have some shared interests that formed into friendship. Sturn is effectively a sort of post-grad student in matters Pharasmic, and is here mainly to research into undead (and how to make then dead again). Sturm isn't so massively interested in treasure for its own sake as he is in knowledge and experience and furthering the interests of his goddess. Plus he's been a bit of a wallflower and Gus and Z'ael help him come out of his shell a tad, hence the decision to join them on an adventure.

OK... DM: as I understand it, we're already a group that has done some stuff together (hence additional the lump sum you mentioned) - background is written on that basis.

Gus has been in Wati for some time now, on the order of his Patron, the Empyreal Lord Ragathiel. So far, nothing significant has come to light but he is sure that whatever he has been sent here for will come to light eventually; in the meantime he waits and explores the area.

He met Z'ael when the gnome literally bumped into him (Gus is still wondering how this happened: at 6 ft. 4 inches and 280 pounds or so, he's not exactly inconspicuous). He is drawn to Z'ael's happy-go-lucky and open nature, but is aware bad things can often happen to such unsuspicious types. Gus intends to ensure that bad things do not happen to his new friend. He also appreciates the fact that Z'ael's reaction on bumping into him was to chatter away, rather than recoil or run off.

As a half-orc, particularly in Osirion, Gus is aware that he has a perpetual 'outsider' status ('a half-orc from an outlaw tribe who claims to be a Paladin - come on, who does he think he's kidding!'); he is therefore more aware of those on the margins. Perhaps that's how he came to the attention of Morana and Sturm: the half-elf orphan waif and the dwarf in exile from his homeland as he tries to follow a deity who is foreign to his own people. Or maybe he came to their attention: those on the margins of society can often be drawn to one another.

Brennan - I'm assuming your character will be as discussed As for Brennan, well - it's a cliché to say that "opposites attract" and in this case it would be palpably untrue. Perhaps Gus sees something of how he used to be in the human knife-master? If so, he's not telling. Or maybe by staying close to the rogue he hopes to minimise the damage inflicted on others. Again, if so, he won't be saying.

Lacking any local knowledge, or an understanding of the hot desert conditions, Gus was relieved when one of the guides offered their services; although he was bemused by their manner of speaking. " 'This one?' What, as opposed to 'that one?' Wouldn't it be easier to jus' y'know, use your name? Call me Gus. What's yours?"

Surubi - not sure whether at this stage you're still disguising as a boy?

I'm happy with pretty much any of the names suggested (although Grim Prospectors is a bit, well, grim, and I don't know how many of the group are actually in it for the money!) - I have one more to offer(going back to my suggestion of slightly derogatory names):

Sturm likes the implied death motif in the Grim Prospectors - i.e. a grim prospect, rather than prospecting, so the profit motive is more ambiguous in the title for him. A title with multiple levels of meaning suits him just fine.

To a gnome, 6'4" @ 280lbs puts you squarely in the realm of support structures like columns and walls. Finding a friendly ear and seemingly willing protector in the half-orc, Z'ael would have stuck close to Gus and met Sturm and the others as a matter of course. I think the group concept is pretty well established.

I'm not crazy about "Grim Prospectors", but I can live with it. It really does not describe Z'ael's motivations or personality in the least. He is here to drink in the "lost" engineering/architecture technology of the ancient Osirians.

I do like Gus's idea of how we might have become labeled misbegotten by the people of Wati and then chose to embrace the monicker when asked for a team name. I could even imagine someone in line supplying our name as a snide remark when we were registering for the "competition".

Architects of Doom? Only less doomy?

Architects of Fate? A happier spin?

To a gnome, 6' 4" @ 280 lbs puts you squarely in the realm of support structures like columns and walls.

That made me chuckle - my other half just gave me an odd look

... implied death motif in the Grim Prospectors - i.e. a grim prospect, rather than prospecting

I hadn't thought of that, it's a good spot. Gus doesn't like to think of himself as grim, but he's aware he can look pretty intimidating so the name wouldn't put his nose (snout?) too out of joint.

Architects of Fate? A happier spin?

I like it!

Architects of Fate works for me.

Hey all, your resident little girl melee tank here. Personally, I really like the Misbegots idea for a name.

Also, still need to buy equipment, but it's not gonna be anything terribly interesting. Maybe a longspear, maybe some leather armor, maybe some Pathfinder gear (like an Adventurers' Sash).

As for motivation, Morana's just in it for funsies. She's had a near-death experience, and she just wants to LIVE now, as much as she can.

I still need to re-stat Brennan (bad llama!), but I'll try and have that done tonight.

I'm not in it for your cause, and I'm not in it for you, princess! I'm in it for the money, and I expect to be well paid.

Names: I'm partial to Architects of Fate, but have no argument with Grim Prospecters.

As to Gus' question: Surubi still disguises as a boy; this stems from several things--habit, that's the style of clothes she has, and when in town it's still (probably?) necessary to do so to prevent being found by her family.

Since the group has been together for some time, Surubi has almost certainly been outed as a female--I imagine the first night she changes clothes in the dark assuming nobody can see, not knowing that half-orcs have darkvision was a dead giveaway; though whether Gus says anything about it is another story... but the first heal check when she goes unconscious, or "Why don't you just pee standing up in the desert like the rest of us?" and so on would eventually lead to the story coming out.

This also suggests that the group at least has some idea that Surubi is on the run from an arranged marriage that she didn't want. Whether they're willing to back her up if a situation arises because of it is up to each character. The issue is certainly still unresolved.

When Gus asked her name (the first time) in town she introduced herself as "Suru-... Uh, just Suru." but, as with her being female, she has given her full name to the party members.

That said, I wouldn't mind role-playing those happenings in the discussion thread; or even agreeing that such things haven't happened yet so that we can role-play them out when they do happen.

Brennan - do you have any thoughts on how your character came to be with this group and we came to be with you? Also - any thoughts on a group name?

Suru(bi) - happy to role-play it out; either in the discussion thread or agree that they haven't happened and will crop up in game. Obviously depends on how long the group has been together before our adventure starts.

"Suru, huh? Nice an' easy to remember. Much better than 'this one' - let's agree to use your name, ok?" Gus smiles at the lad. "Have you met the rest of us yet? This is Z'ael *whispers* he'll walk into you from time to time, but don't pay it no mind, it ain't personal. So, are you a local to this town? Or are you one o' them dune wand'rers?"

Surubi, I like the idea that her gender is unknown, it allows for some odd statements that may not seem to fit. I will leave it up to you when and how you want to reveal yourself to the rest of them. I will not make it happen, either with injury or the like until you want it to happen. Given that both dwarves and half-orcs are so common in the world, even if not as common in Osirion, it's safe to say that their ability to see in the dark is a well-known one.

As for Brennan, given his personality/nature, he seems the most likely to have been hired for a particular skillset. That said, how many people took the trapfinder trait?

Also, those with ancient Osirion from any source outside the trait, how did you come by it, as it is an old (near-dead) language more often learned from study.

I do like Architects of Fate for a name.

I could see both Z'ael and Sturm having become friends either before the trip to Osirion or along the way. Both are here to study the region, one for it's ancient buildings, the other for it's ancient dead. The bump into Gus was fortuitous, and just worked itself out, since he already had an eager hanger-on to guide him around the region. The connection to Morana seems a little vague, unless Surubi knew her from wherever two family-less locals may congregate. They may also have previously known Brennan from those same circles, and like I said given his focus on being rewarded, he could be an addition due to having a skill they need. The question is what that would be.

So it looks like Brennan is still configured for the previous campaign. Assuming very little change to his skills, I can see the group hiring Brennan as consultant to provide environmental awareness and early warning capabilities.

"This one- ehm, Suru was born here in Wati, but has since become a wanderer of the desert. Suru helps people get along in the sands; Suru watches out for dangers. Suru will help you enter old tombs, and protect you from the angry dead; Suru can read the old writing. Suru can stand by you in a fight," the 'boy' gestures to the morningstar and bastard sword--this last hanging uncomfortably from 'his' belt--obviously too large to be there, "or, better yet, stand behind you," 'he' finishes, smiling at Gus and pointing to the longbow slung comfortably on 'his' back.

"This one will keep the over-eager archeologist" 'he' nods in the direction of Za'el, "from bumping into things, as one protects an overcurious little brother from his curiousity." 'He' smiles down at Z'ael, resisting the urge to ruffle his hair.

"Suru will gladly serve the learned servant of the Lady of the Tombs, 'he' says as he turns and bows to Sturm.

Surubi has the Trapfinder trait. She also speaks (and reads) Ancient Osirioni via linguistics--picked up from watching her father and brother do the same (and then using the skill to the best of her ability while working in the same capacity on her own).

I could very well see Surubi knowing Morana and possibly even Brennan from prior jobs; that said, she probably wouldn't volunteer their existence unless there was a specific reason (like the lottery requires groups of 6 or something) or at least that Gus and the others asked specifically for more people.

If she does know and trust Brennan, it might have been that he was hired by the client for a previous job, and there was trouble with bandits out in the desert. The client (and maybe also Surubi) were taken captive, and Brennan (wanting to get paid by the client) snuck in and freed them. Morana would likely be known because she was hired as a guard or something along those lines.

Morana will have learned the Ancient Osiriani language on her own, through study, in the months that she's been in Wati. She knows that many of the people in the Necropolis might have spoken it, and if she wants to get in there, it could certainly be helpful to know. Not only that, but just knowing as much as one can is usually pretty helpful.

Morana could have helped one of you out of a sticky situation. Maybe you were getting bullied by a local tough and all of a sudden there's this big metal man lifting him away from you. This works best for Z'ael, I think, or maybe Sturm. Maybe you think I'm scary, and then I'm just this charming little girl!

I have the trapfinder trait. No languages other than Common, Orc and Gnoll.

So... Z'ael and Sturm got to know each other on the journey to Osirion; Z'ael bumped into Gus, who was here a while before and had acquired the services of 'Suru' as a guide. The idea of Brennan taking paid service as a bodyguard to one of Suru's clients makes sense, maybe they've formed a working relationship. Morana - it depends on how soon you want us to know about your abilities, but it strikes me that Z'ael could easily get overcurious and find trouble in an isolated ruin; Morana is there reading the Ancient Osiriani glyphs and helps him out.

I think if we've been working together prior to the start of the adventure, it makes sense that you'd know about Morana's abilities - they're her primary contribution (along with her summon monster spell-like ability) to any adventuring group.

Okay, since it was mentioned and I had almost forgot, as a group you get a total of 200 extra gp to split amongst yourselves as you see fit.

I was going to make it a number evenly split by 6, but decided this way it will allow for the possibility of setting the tone for uneven intra-party loot distribution and begin that conversation early.

I think we should split the 200gp evenly as it's easy and fungible. When magic stuff comes along as loot, we should allocate it to where it would go best, again like you suggest. Hopefully it should be reasonably apparent if people are getting short-changed and we can allocate to even things up as and when.

I was hoping to spend some money on a few 1st lvl scrolls. DM - I have the Scribe Scroll feat - can I get the scrolls at creation proce or do I have to pay ordinary market price?

Loot I would prefer an even split. For future gains, we determine the value of an item, if someone wants an item, they "buy" it from the group.

E.g. We find a +1 short sword. If Surubi wants it, she can buy it from the group. If she can't afford it, I have no problem with her renting-to-own, with some level of down payment provided. I'm willing to track the party loot in a spoiler on my character's profile page.

I would like to treat potions as group equipment, divvying it up according to who wants to carry it.

This doesn't prevent any one character from extending whatever generosity they wish to.

Brennan is completely re-statted now. I didn't have time to write up the background, but I should have that by tonight.

Brennan is geared up to be the front man, sneaking ahead and scouting, then returning to the group to offer fairly brutal (for a rogue) combat skills. His philosophy is typically "stab first, stab again, and if it's still moving stab some more. when you get tired of stabbing, then ask questions." He rarely tires of stabbing.

Perfectly happy to go with Surubi's story. The "waiting to get paid" part would definitely be a motive for Brennan, though he's not a complete mercenary. He isn't the easiest person to make friends with, but that just means his few friends are held very deeply.

In general, I'm okay with loot going to the person who needs it most - Morana's gonna be wanting any reach weapons we get and maybe some magical gear. Then again, this tends to create dissatisfaction, so I've recently implemented a buyout system in my Legacy of Fire campaign - it seems to work fairly well but takes a bit of time and math.

As for what you might know about her, I had the following kind of thing in mind:

"'Scuse me. 'Scuse me." mutters Gus as he shoulders his way through the crowds. He's been looking for Z'ael for near an hour now - he had lost the inquisitive little gnome a while ago while he was buying himself a bit of lunch. Turned around and the little man had just been gone! "Little man just gotta go runnin' off... Righ' when I was gonna enjoy a nice skewer." he mutters, right when he hears a panicked yell from an alley a few blocks down - the tone matches Z'ael's voice. "I'm a-comin' for ya, little guy!" says Gus as he speeds up, shoving people out of the way. When he gets there, however, he doesn't find his vertically-challenged friend in danger as he might have thought. Instead, Z'ael's merely standing near a tall (near 7ft!) and gleaming chrome humanoid figure. The figure holds a spear in its big hands and turns to see Gus, its face ominously and completely featureless. Z'ael exclaims, "Are you seeing this, Gus? Fascinating!", paying absolutely no attention to the pair of unconscious toughs on the ground around them.

Even as he speaks, though, the figure begins to shrink. Tough armor plates crinkle and implode towards the center of the thing, and its featureless face melts like it's been exposed to some intense heat. Mere moments later, where once stood an imposing steel man, now there's just a waif of a little half-elven girl. "Hi!" she says, her voice cheery and bright. "Hope I didn't impose or anything, but those guys didn't look like your friends. I'm Morana!" she extends a hand towards Z'ael and her other hand towards Gus, crossing them across her chest.

Did everyone remember to add 1 free skill point to a craft, perform, or profession. Also, taking weapon finesse for free?

Sturm, are you a cloistered cleric, or did you decide against it? If so, could you include it in your stat bar.

Z'ael, Surubi, and Sturm, would you each put a stat bar in your profile in the 'Class/Levels' box? Ideally it should have HP, AC(s), Saves, CMD, Init, and Perception/Vision. You can add more if it will fit, but I use those when describing and adjudicating so I don't have to open the profile. If I need to GMPC you due to absence I will be in your profile anyways to try and play you at your best, so anything like that isn't necessary for me in the status bar.

Also, keeping the status bar updated is vital. Most importantly based on any damage or effects changes (or you could include current status in your posts). So I am hitting the correct AC (raised or lowered by effects) or describing the results of taking a hit based off the relative value.

I'm not a cloistered cleric - I liked the basic concept but the loss of spell potency was too much for a couple of extra skill points.

I realized that I had under-spent skill points. Added skill points to Know (local) and Know (planes).

Also I finally bought equipment.

Have we agreed to split the 200gp equally? And can I scribe my own scrolls or do I need to pay market price for them?

Oh, sorry, forgot about the scrolls. You can pay market price, or scribe them, but the house rules may cause concern (posted in the OP of the recruitment).

Specifically, no taking 10/20, skills getting -10/+10 on a nat 1 or 20, and the rules on cursed/intelligent items.

Brennan's background is done (for now). Morana, congratulations! You and your living armor have found a (rather deadly) friend. Just don't take any of his crap, okay?

Loot: If someone else is willing to track the math (i.e. Z'ael) then I'm fine with "even split" and "buy from group" etc. That said, I also think having a "group fund" (say, with 2gp to start and maybe 1 share of loot?) is useful for stuff we all need (like the first wand of cure light wounds or whatever).

It's official, the first post for the game is up. Make sure you have time, it's a long read. Feel free to post.

Ok let me see if I understand. If I make an item it has a 5% chance of being cursed. Is it the same chance if I buy one?

Loot: If Z'ael is fine with keeping track, that works for me. My only worry is that Sturm ends up using his own gold to pay for scrolls that are used on the rest of us - first level spells are ok, but if we end up needing Restoration/Cure disease it could get expensive fast. Do we want to set up a fund for party scrolls?

Ok let me see if I understand. If I make an item it has a 5% chance of being cursed. Is it the same chance if I buy one?

That's the short and sweet of it, the difference being if you make it, it's a 1 on a d20, but if you buy it it's a 96-00 on percentile. Now that you put it that way, I guess if the chance is the same there's no sense in buying them if it's still cheaper to make them.

Every magic item will be rolled against for cursed/intelligent (if it's capable).

EDIT: Also, I put a lot of info in the campaign tab, like the house rules, non-combat maps, and NPC pics. I try to keep it as a useable reference.

Oops, I forgot you asked us to random roll gold. Here we go (fingers crossed)

gold: 4d6 ⇒ (3, 6, 5, 4) = 18 x 10 = 180g

Aubrey the Malformed wrote:

Ok let me see if I understand. If I make an item it has a 5% chance of being cursed. Is it the same chance if I buy one?

That's the short and sweet of it, the difference being if you make it, it's a 1 on a d20, but if you buy it it's a 96-00 on percentile. Now that you put it that way, I guess if the chance is the same there's no sense in buying them if it's still cheaper to make them.

Every magic item will be rolled against for cursed/intelligent (if it's capable).

EDIT: Also, I put a lot of info in the campaign tab, like the house rules, non-combat maps, and NPC pics. I try to keep it as a useable reference.

OK, although it begs the question that if a do-it-yourself item creator cannot tell if an item is cursed or not, why can an item seller? And it's a significant discouragement to item creation, quite frankly, especially single-use stuff like scrolls, although that might be intended. But on the other hand it allows me to recycle my Scribe Scroll feat into Toughness.

A cursed item is detected by beating the spellcraft by 10 or more. I personally wouldn't say 'significant discouragement'. I mean, so there's a 5% chance to make a cursed item, and a 95% chance not to. If I were playing the odds here, the 95% seems pretty significant.

Not to mention, that now there's only 1 feat for item creation.

It's really all about the idea that almost nothing is a sure thing, including trying to control magic to create something of worth. They put rules for cursed items in the book, but the only chance of that happening, even by a near amateur, is almost impossible. Unless they decide to make something with so many requirements they don't meet, which is more likely even out of their range in the expected WBL.

Well, if you are making a sword, which you will probably make once and use again and again, a 95% chance of it being OK is reasonable. On the other hand, if you are making scrolls, of which you will probably make a large number over time and which you will use only once, it is inevitable you will create a cursed one. That's a pretty significant discouragement, especially at lower level where access to the magics to get rid of a curse is harder, and penalises people who can make scrolls (and potions and other types of one-shot disposable magic items). I understand that nothing in life is certain but it just seems a bit sucky to foist a significant chance of getting cursed for basically playing your character as he is intended to be played (i.e. able to write scrolls, especially when the game is predicated on characters having access to magic items of this sort). This isn't just a mechanical issue but also an RP thing since Sturm is a bookish type who would probably be keen on scrolls (writing and reading).

Also, your house rules don't mention a feat for creating magic items, they just say you need the appropriate level, or did I miss something? I appreciate there is a trade-off as the feat requirements for creating magic items are, either way, much reduced. But for certain types of magic item the flat chance of getting a curse makes some options worse than others.

I would argue for a change in the cursed item house-rule, to prevent consumable items from being cursed.
Reasonable? Prevents complaints and removes the most-sucky aspects of the houserule while keeping the basic idea?

Yeah - I don't mind the chance of things being cursed, I just mind it being higher (effectively) for certain items. A 1% or 2% chance for consumables would seem reasonable.

I'm not sure which side I fall on this issue. Magic in PF is a kin to science, in that certain results can be expected by focusing your mind, waving your hands, using odd materials and speaking special words.

So, how is making a scroll any different from making a sword, obvious differences aside. Does a smith have to roll against a 5% chance of introducing a flaw into a blade? If so, then I don't see a problem with potentially introducing a curse into the creation of a magical item/scroll/potion, etc... Is there a similar mechanic for alchemists and potions?

An addendum to the rule might be a mastery mechanic. E.g. If the base spell in question is 2 levels less than your caster level, then no roll is needed.

... On the other hand, if you are making scrolls, of which you will probably make a large number over time and which you will use only once, it is inevitable you will create a cursed one.

Yep, even master chefs screw up eggs once in a blue moon. This wouldn't be a big problem if the cost of spell materials was lower. However, I think the PF designers use high prices to limit memorized caster types influence on the game.

Again, if every piece of weaponry/ammo/armor had a 5% chance of being flawed, then I think the scales would be balanced. As the rules are now, I think arcane craftsmen are being unduly penalized.

Just my $.02

I would argue for a change in the cursed item house-rule, to prevent consumable items from being cursed.

Reasonable? Prevents complaints and removes the most-sucky aspects of the houserule while keeping the basic idea?

Don't consumables also have a chance of being intelligent? If you get rid of the 5% curse, you would necessarily need to get rid of the 5% intelligent rating.

By 5% he means rolling a 1 on the d20, not just a blanket 5% that it comes out cursed when you make it. Consumables can't be intelligent, but then again Intelligent is harder to come by because it almost triples to quintuples the price of any item that has it. Plus, if you look at the cursed items section, they are pretty benign.

Oddly enough, crafting non-magical items takes much more time, effort, and more chances at messing up.

A long sword, for example is a DC 15 craft check (compared to the DC 6 of a 1st lvl scroll)

You have to pay 1/3 a non-magic items price, then determine a week's worth of work by your roll x the DC. If it's high enough you finish, if 5 less you lose half the craft cost (and have to pay it again).

With a DC 15, and 5 gp, you could make a long sword in a little over a day. Failing by 5 or more, you lose 2.5 gp

With a DC 6, and 12.5 gp, you could make a 1st level scroll in 2 hrs, and if you fail by 5 or more it is cursed.

TL;DR: I think curses (even on a 1 (5%) and fail by >5) are fine if the curses on low-level consumables are in line with the power of the item (i.e. weak and/or not gonna kill characters).

I think at this stage I'll forget about scribing scrolls and take the Toughness feat instead.

By 5% he means rolling a 1 on the d20, not just a blanket 5% that it comes out cursed when you make it. Consumables can't be intelligent, but then again Intelligent is harder to come by because it almost triples to quintuples the price of any item that has it. Plus, if you look at the cursed items section, they are pretty benign.

OK, as an example, if I create a 50 charge wand of cure light wounds it'll cost me about 375gp and has a 5% chance of being cursed. I presume I roll once (or someone rolls) and once it is clear (assuming it isn't cursed) I have 50 stress-free castings of Cure Light Wounds.

On the other hand, I create fifty scrolls of Cure Light Wounds. Each one of these has an individual 5% chance of harbouring a curse, and at a 5% chance it's highly likely I'd cop a curse a curse at some point while using them (50 individual chances of 1-in-20). And it's cost me 50 x 12.5gp or 625gp too. So it's more expensive and (much) more likely to curse me. Of course, there are other factors like creator level, but they go away at a fairly low level. This makes consumables seem so poor, why would I ever create scrolls or other consumables?

Now, if you feel that leaning on scroll production to augment a caster is something you don't want to see in your game then that's fine in that context. The only scrolls that people would want to create would be their most powerful, and occasionally, rather than churning out utilities, and as a play style incentive I think that's fine (although the "a purchased item is a non-cursed item" rule ironincally pushes us into Ye Olde Magick Shoppe to get our items instead). But if that isn't your intention, then you might want to consider amending this rule for consumables.

But like I say, I'm taking Toughness at 1st level so it's a bit moot.

I'm taking 1/6 of the 200gp and adding it to my cash pile to buy additional items. Y'know, maybe a scroll.