City of Strangers: The Godsmouth Heresy

Game Master James Keegan


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Liberty's Edge

Male Mothman Expert 5

I'm here. I had a sort of self imposed computer quarantine for a week while I tried to get a few projects at home completed and spend some quality time with the kids before getting back to work. Sorry, should have let you guys know in advance, it just stretched out longer than I expected.


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10

Did not know about the Free willed undead thing.. oops. haha.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Yeah, it hasn't come up really. There isn't a big sign post up saying so- don't worry too much about it, I'm not going to punish you for something you were ignorant of (despite what the priestess says).


Female Human (Varisian) Paladin 1

Neither did I. Oh well, it's a crazy city anyway...

Dark Archive

male human

Me neither. And I read the Kaer Maga book. D'oh!

Liberty's Edge

Male Mothman Expert 5

Heh, so did I, and it totally didn't occur to me. Oh well, I figure Detressa has been quite cloistered and doesn't actually know very much at all about the city outside her cathedral, so it probably makes sense that she didn't make use of this argument - she actually didn't know.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Technically, Esme is kind of an exception or just on the border- she is a free-willed undead, but as far as any of you know she can't kill someone and turn them into another undead or otherwise make more of her kind. She could spread disease, being a walking corpse, but Ankar-Te is full of those. It comes down to outlook- if you're lawfully inclined, she breaks one of the few laws in the city, if you're chaotic or neutral in outlook it seems like she may be an exception.

Business contracts in Kaer Maga are the only thing that are truly sacred to the whole city, which is why Abadar and Asmodeus do so well in such a chaotic place. Undead creep out most of the city's residents, but, hey, it's not in their neighborhood so who cares? It may not always be the best idea to leave your neighborhood and the contacts you've cultivated to watch your back to go to another area, but it's your right to do so. Only Widdershins and Highside Stacks actively prevent other citizens from entering their ward without special permission and their residents are looked down upon for it. Plenty of factions don't get along- Freemen, slavers and the merchant consortiums that support them, for instance. The Freemen had to scale back their aggressive abolitionism after a point, for example, since it became clear that the rest of the city would be fighting them if they stayed as militant. For the most part, conflicts are solved through negotiations- for the most part. But people get mugged or robbed all the time and most people that live here just take it as part of the natural order of things- that's why it's important to make friends and watch where you're going and what you're doing, in their minds.

Liberty's Edge

Male Mothman Expert 5

James, can Detressa buy some clerical scrolls from the cathedral? If so, will they be available at standard prices?

Liberty's Edge

Male Mothman Expert 5

I imagine that the Pharasmins would see it differently though - not so much because giving Esme her freedom violates the rules of the city, but due to their opinion on undead.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5
Mothman wrote:
I imagine that the Pharasmins would see it differently though - not so much because giving Esme her freedom violates the rules of the city, but due to their opinion on undead.

Definitely, I was just talking about the city at large. Most people find it distasteful, but as long as it's just in Ankar-Te they don't think about it.

And yes, you can buy clerical scrolls at standard rates at the Cathedral.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

You guys still want to go back down into the dungeon? Second thoughts, too busy? Am I not prodding things along enough?

Dark Archive

male human

Yep, still want to go a-dungeon crawling. Yang just didn't have time to scribe any spells or anything, which is why he plopped down in place. He's just waiting for the others return. Although on a side note, I will be heading back to Italy for a week starting Saturday. As they charge for internet, and my company won't pay, and I'm a cheap-a$$, my internet will be very limited. Please DMPC me as needed.


Female Human (Varisian) Paladin 1

Sorry, been really busy on this end. But definitely up for more dungeon exploration!

Liberty's Edge

Male Mothman Expert 5

Guys, I am going to drop out of this game. I’m sorry that I have been dragging in my posting rate lately ... this is a decision I had pretty much arrived at about a week back (and probably should have arrived at earlier) but was delaying because I hate to leave a game. It hasn’t been fair to you all that I haven’t been posting as much as I should.

I am just finding it hard to keep up with my pbp games lately (particularly the ones I am GMing) and this seems to be the one that keeps getting left until last (or left behind). While I have enjoyed playing with you all I have just never really been able to get into my character and am not a huge fan of dungeon crawl games. This is not a reflection on James’ GMing – I have thoroughly enjoyed the other games that he has run. This is more to do with my character choice coupled with real life pressures. While I did consider asking if I could retire Detressa and start a new character, I don’t think that would really solve my time issues.

Good luck to you all and I hope this does not leave you in the lurch. Feel free to retire Detressa or drag her along as an NPC for a while as circumstances demand.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Sorry to hear that, Mothman, but I understand.


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10

Bummer, sad to see you go Mothman. Hopefully you can jump back in sometime in the future?

Liberty's Edge

Male Mothman Expert 5

If I can strike a good balance where I can keep on top of the games I am running, work quietens down a bit and I can find a better way to post from home ... it could happen.

Actually, I think if / when I can afford to buy a new home computer things would be a bit better for me ... we shall see.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

On another note- after this, I haven't got a published thing slotted to run yet. A few ideas, nothing I'm definite on- though I do want to use more of the city rather than another big dungeon. Let me know if your characters have specific goals (for example, I know Yang will want to research his bloatmage magic, Kua will want to advance with the Duskwardens, Uwais kicks it with the Freemen, etc.) that we can work with. A couple of immediate goals and a long term goal or two would be very helpful in the coming weeks while we finish going through the Ossuary.

I'll also roll through the game thread this weekend, check over the treasure gained so far and make a full listing. Without Detressa, there may be a greater need for healing items so we can retcon in any liquidations and purchases.


Male Halfling Wolf Shaman Druid 2

Uwais has been a difficult character to 'get in his head' - I'll read through how I've been playing him and see if any character motivations come through to me.

He may be interested in the Duskwardens after seeing Kua in action - I can imagine that knowledge of the caverns under the city would be especially tempting to a freedom fighter.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Slavery is also alive and well in the rest of the city and slavers from Urglin commonly make the journey across the Storval Rise to sell their sentient wares in the market. While the Freemen's previously militant abolitionism almost destroyed them when the rest of the city grew tired of their actions, no such protection extends to caravans on their way to Kaer Maga...


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Identified loot and who I think has it:
Tripe- 2 Blue Potions (Potions of Cure Light Wounds)
1 Orange Potion (Potion of Enlarge Person)
2 Acid flasks
2 Alchemist's Fire flasks
2 Smokesticks
2 Thunderstones
1 Tanglefoot Bag
Bone Wand- Wand of Command Undead 13 charges
Masterwork Studded Leather Armor
+1 spear
Masterwork Embalming Tools
Recipe Book- contains Alchemist extract recipes

Tripe's Lab:
Full Alchemist's Lab - Yang
Set of Tomes and Notes: Secrets of the Chymists of Life in Death - Yang

Chime of Opening w/four charges, relinquished by Detressa

Tablets- Shatter and Remove Disease- Kua
Scrolls of Delay Poison x 2 (Detressa?)

Bracers of Armor +1 (from preserved Thassilonian corpse)- Yang
Sihedron Medallion- A silver disc on a leather cord inscribed with a seven pointed star. While worn, grants its wearer a +1 bonus on all saving throws. Once per day, it may be commanded to bestow the effects of false life on the wearer- these effects end if the medallion is removed. When placed on a dead body, the Sihedron Medallion preserves the corpse indefinitely with gentle repose.- Yang?


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10

Kua also has a cloak of resistance.

Dark Archive

male human

I don't remember claiming the bracers or medallion, but that doesn't mean I didn't. My memory has been lousy lately. If no one else wants it, I'll take the medallion. As for the bracers, they can be sold and the money split, actually, as mage armor is superior and I still have a scroll or two of that.

Grand Lodge

Hey gang, my posting is going to be spotty at best for the next week and a half - losing my lunch break check-in time during school vacation. I'll be back in the regular swing of things the first Wednesday of March.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

I thought I would ask before any future combats come up: how open are you guys to experimenting a little with the way we run fights here?

Max has been good enough to take care of mapping duties for me (which is awesome of him) since I'm not really a big fan of putting a grid together round by round. I picked up the One Ring game recently which has an interesting grid-less combat system that I was considering adapting to our game- it would be a bit less tactical and more loose and open, so there is a sacrifice involved for the sake of a quicker flow.

Basically the idea goes that you have three close-combat stances: forward, open and defensive.

In Forward stance, you're just going straight at the enemy, not really thinking about defense as much. I would determine this to be a +2 on attack rolls for PCs and for opponents vs. PCs (basically replacing flanking and charging with this stance).

Open is going on the offensive but paying at least some attention to defense- this is the default with no bonuses or penalties.

Defensive basically encompasses the full defense or fighting defensively actions (-4 attack, +2 defense)

Rearward is the ranged attack stance. In order to have a character in Rearward and out of close-combat, at least 2 PCs have to be in close-combat and if you're out-numbered 2 to 1 or surrounded then no one can take rearward.

Changing stances would be a move action.

Right now it's a basic idea and the way magic works would be the big hole in the idea that we have to work around; it also minimizes terrain considerations a bit. But it's something I can work on if you think it's something you would want to try as a method of keeping combat moving faster.


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10

Neat. I love trying stuff like that. Count me in.

Would this get rid of attacks of opportunity?


Male Human (Cheliax) Order of the Cockatrice Cavalier (Hound Master) 2

We could always give it a trial run and how it goes from there. I don't mind giving it a go.


Male Halfling Wolf Shaman Druid 2

I'll try anything once - let's do it!

Dark Archive

male human

Sure, why not?


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10

So, are we doing separate initiatives now?


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Hey guys- I'm in a really good homebrew game that Shadowborn in running and we're looking for a player to replace our missing halfling bard. Here's the recruitment thread if you're into it.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5
Jam412 wrote:
So, are we doing separate initiatives now?

Did we decide on that? Sorry, I just tend to roll with whatever everyone else starts doing so if you post separate initiatives, I'll just go with it.


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10
James Keegan wrote:
Hey guys- I'm in a really good homebrew game that Shadowborn in running and we're looking for a player to replace our missing halfling bard. Here's the recruitment thread if you're into it.

Sounds awesome. I wish there were a couple more hours in the day that I could use to post, ha ha.


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10
James Keegan wrote:
Let me know if your characters have specific goals (for example, I know Yang will want to research his bloatmage magic, Kua will want to advance with the Duskwardens, Uwais kicks it with the Freemen, etc.) that we can work with. A couple of immediate goals and a long term goal or two would be very helpful in the coming weeks while we finish going through the Ossuary.

Other than normal Duskwarden business, Kua will definitely be keeping an ear to the ground regarding Esme. Their final encounter left a bitter taste in his mouth. The idea of the undercity is also intriguing to him, not sure where to go with that, but it's something.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Just going to let you guys know that Spring (especially May/early June) is my busiest time of year at work. I'm not exactly posting up a storm, I know, but it may slow even more for a little while.

Dark Archive

male human

Once again, I will be out of town on business, beginning Saturday afternoon. I'll be back the following Saturday. This time it's to Shanghai and then to Seoul (a new city for me, for a change). Feel free to DMPC me to keep the action moving.


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10

Social situations make me miss Detressa.


Female Human (Varisian) Paladin 1

Yeah, Mara can Intimidate but Diplomacy is not her strong suit.


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10
James Keegan wrote:


I'll also roll through the game thread this weekend, check over the treasure gained so far and make a full listing. Without Detressa, there may be a greater need for healing items so we can retcon in any liquidations and purchases.

While we've got a break, anyone else interested in taking advantage of this? It would probably be worth our while to see if we can afford a wand of cure minor wounds (if one is available for purchase).


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Sorry (again) for the hold up. I will get our interactions rolling with this new group tonight after work if you're all still with me.


Female Human (Varisian) Paladin 1

I'm here!

Just a heads-up, though: I will be on vacation from Saturday, June 23 through Sunday, July 1. The place we're going supposedly has NO internet access, so please feel free to 'bot Sister Mara during that time accordingly. Thanks!


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Hey, sorry about my terrible posting habits and generally lackadaisical DMing. I'm hoping to have the adventure wrapped up shortly so we can bring the Ossuary to a conclusion. From there, I'm not sure about where to go- I don't know if I will be able to write a next chapter for the game myself since I'm writing my own RL campaign and I don't want to burn out. Also considering (depending on if I like it) starting Shattered Star if I have time. So, yeah.


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10

I'm up for anything really. If you want to go straight from the ossuary to an AP or some other adventure, I'm game. Hopefully, I'll get to keep playing Kua. I've really come to enjoy him.


Female Human (Varisian) Paladin 1

I wouldn't say no to transitioning from the Ossuary to Shattered Star < hint, hint...>


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10
Sister Mara wrote:
I wouldn't say no to transitioning from the Ossuary to Shattered Star < hint, hint...>

I would like to second this hint..


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10

Wow, Kua might actually succeed on this bluff check!

So, does Wasp's portion of the map look like it fills out the ossuary?


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Sorry, missed this before and I want to respond with my Kaer Maga book in front of me as to how to contact them again. His map fills out the southwestern portion that you haven't been to yet; that only leaves a few more secret passages in the Cathedral that (you can assume) are behind the rest of the statues.


Female Human (Varisian) Paladin 1

Should we take a roll-call to see who's still with us? We haven't heard anything out of Auron and Uwais in a while.


Male(s) 27 Ducks in a James suit Duck 27/ Expert 5

Yeah, I was just thinking I should message them.


Mutated Animal Turtle Smasher 10

Just a quick once over to figure out who all of this stuff will make sense for. This is just to get us started on dividing things up so that we can account for all of this stuff and possibly make some use of it.

1 Blue Potions (Potions of Cure Light Wounds) -Probably someone in the middle of our formation. Sister Mara or Uwais maybe?

1 Orange Potion (Potion of Enlarge Person) - I'm thinking Kua or Auron

2 Acid flasks - Ranged combatant Sister Mara, Uwais or Yang?

2 Alchemist's Fire flasks - Same as Acid flasks

2 Smokesticks - This could be anyone. I don't see Kua using them though.

2 Thunderstones - Same as smoke sticks.

1 Tanglefoot Bag - These things are super useful. Someone should have this on them in case we fight a flyer. Kua will take it, but I think it would be better suited for a ranged person.

Bone Wand- Wand of Command Undead 13 charges -Yang?

Masterwork Studded Leather Armor - I don't think anyone uses studded leather. Sell pile.

+1 spear - Auron?

Masterwork Embalming Tools - Yang?

Recipe Book- contains Alchemist extract recipes - Yang?

Scrolls of Delay Poison x 2 - Not sure who can use these. Yang, Sister Mara or Uwais.

What do you all think?

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