I believe we had all slowed down as EVERYONE was very busy. I was just checking up if everyone here had gotten less busy or not.
I'll chase up Curnach to see if he's ready and then we can start on swinging and posting again!
Especially as this part is the most interesting part of the AP for me, besides the 6th part which is also quite interesting.
I'd suggest you guys read back through the game thread to remind yourself of things I have hinted towards as many of the things inside Kazavon's fortress are not to be laughed at or underestimated.
Currently the weeks for me has been up and down. Had a lot of fun going down to the Goth hangout we have here in Southampton called "The Dungeon" where they play some awesome heavy music and there's a moshpit there to rock it out!
However, after such a good few days I've also had a lot of crap thrown my way, concerns over my job and some other personal stuff.
I'm also currently building a PC thanks to Pcpartpicker.com. Here's the build so far.
ahh here we go. Appears that you're all meant ot be 12th and so far Jerin and Curnach appear to need to level.
Also in the gameplay thread, no one replied to Sial.
Also, he mentions that he sees you as allies as it is the only way for him to obtain the crown as those in the castle are no longer loyal to Kazavon and are just as likely to attack them as you. He will aid you with spells and abilities as well as any knowledge that he may have.
Also I'll be doing things slightly different from before as I've found it effective.
I'll be using google drawings to put up maps and your icons, matching them to the size so you can all move your characters and not wait for me like before. Also this will make uploading maps far easier for you to access and me to upload.
This sadly reminds me The Gamers: Dorkness Rising where the group are waiting in the game world for the other players to arrive, including the antagonist.
I'm going to give out a beep to everyone. If you're all interested in continuing this campaign, holla! I may also decide to message you all in case you are interested. If so, we can get back to the skeletons of Scarwall. If not, I may consider restarting the pbp.
So far for the group we have (going to list it as player names)
Krenn
Jerin
Llyra (Uncertain)
Alex (unable)
So it's only two confirmed for the moment, chances are we'll be looking for one, but just have to wait to see.
K, just let us know! Welcome back.
How has the character building been going guys? You been getting anywhere?
I need some details on rebuilding Krenn. I cannot find the original criteria. Was it a 20 point buy? Anything unusual? I think we were over WBL when we stopped, but should I equip him at WBL? I do recall that he was reincarnated as a half-orc, so that part is easy. :) We dropped off at 12th level, right?
Oh yeah I completely forgot about his half-orc reincarnation. Reminds me of what happened when in my IRL campaign someone was brought back as a dwarf, but since the GM has such a hard on for divine characters, he changes back later. No one else got that kinda treatment, btw, besides divine users.
Just beeing double checking and I believe it was 20 point buy, two traits (I believe Krenn was with us for the very begining so one being a campaign trait and another being whatever you choose.)
This adventure people should be at 13th so yeah just finished 12th after a surprise attack in Magnimar since, I did warn you going anywhere near Korvosa you'd be attacked, but if I remember you won with little problem and the help of Shadowcount Sial, who has been VERY generous to everyone :)
About the cashflow...hmm...maybe instead of WBL we go for a little higher, since everyone had well inexcess of that. Perhaps WBL + 30%? 50%? Depends how over it we were, if we were insanely over, then I'll go for the closest boost.
Once I know how much I will begin the recruitment thread. Anyone have any clue how far over WBL we were?
I am on vacation until the middle of next week. I still have my old character so I can move pretty quickly once I get back in town.
I don't need to do too much, but was planning to add a few spells and items to counter undead. I know we were above wbl but maybe we stay with 30%?
I am on vacation until the middle of next week. I still have my old character so I can move pretty quickly once I get back in town.
I don't need to do too much, but was planning to add a few spells and items to counter undead. I know we were above wbl but maybe we stay with 30%?
I'll do that then. I'll advertise for two spots, say what we have and say WBL +30%
Got far more responses than I was expecting. will be difficult to choose. I think I might shut it down on Monday...
Good, I will get Jerin ready to go over the weekend.
Hey guys! Thanks for choosing me. :) Please feel free to let me know if I have to adjust anything.
Cheers
Looking forward to it.
This is my first attempt at an occultist. Feels like the class can do a little of everything.
Heylo.
I believe I was origonally waiting on the group to decide if they bring along Sial. For those new, he's an unapologetically evil character who fallows the dark prince, however, he has never attacked the party and assisted them numerous times.
He claims that there is a area within the castle that requires a ritual, which is why he needs to come along with you. Whatever you think, he has been open to what he wants (the teeth the queen's crown is made from) and like I said, hasn't attacked the party and even assisted them. He's no friend to the queen and is more than wiling to assist the group in taking down the queen.
Silas won't mind. He will judge him based on his actions.
Silas does deal with infernal contacts to barter for information after all.
If Sial does something evil that he can prevent, he will probably interfere.
'Lil is somewhat whimsical with moralistic matters. Though, he is quite pacifistic unless absolutely necessary.
Hi all, Jerin the party mage here, welcome!
About Sial. It is true he has helped us to some degree. Though we haven't said as much, he won't be getting the teeth. At this point we are using each other for our own ends. He is fine with him coming along. His knowledge might be useful.
Akatsu is good (lawful good, in fact) and an evangelist of a Lawful Good god (Erastil). He isn't, however, any kind of paladin or someone following some kind of strict code. He doesn't have a way to know someone is evil besides witnessing their acts, and in the past associated with people with different morale. Unless Sial commits an evil act or shows his true colors too blatantly, I don't think it'd be a problem for my character.
Akatsu is good (lawful good, in fact) and an evangelist of a Lawful Good god (Erastil). He isn't, however, any kind of paladin or someone following some kind of strict code. He doesn't have a way to know someone is evil besides witnessing their acts, and in the past associated with people with different morale. Unless Sial commits an evil act or shows his true colors too blatantly, I don't think it'd be a problem for my character.
Well he does have a Kyton following him around...
Ugh! Maybe my character isn't the ideal for this party, then? :/
My assumption is that the party met Silas while looking for sources of information to prepare for the mission to Scarwall.
Silas's contacts would include:
Counselor Imp for Outside Contact will provide information as per a Divination spell.
Commune spell to ask a representative of Cayden Cailean questions about Scarwall.
Bind Sage to summon a caulborn to question it about the history and lore concerning Scarwall.
I am predicting that one or more of the answers provides Silas with sufficient reason to offer to accompany them on the trip.
Ugh! Maybe my character isn't the ideal for this party, then? :/
Works just fine really, afterall the bigger threat is the queen and the power she wields with that crown. As long as she sits in possession of the artifact, Varisia and potentially the entire inner sea is in danger. It's the far lesser of two evils.
Just updated the gameplay to give people a option to introduce themselves to the group before the journey to Scarwall which, thanks to both Jerin's Teleportation and Sial's Shadow Walk, will be shorter than most.
The location itself you can't travel to directly due to the energies the pulse from that impenetrable fortress. You'll need to travel to the Kodor mountains and walk to Scarwall's Bridge and cross it.
I also mentioned the new members will get an option for what boon you wish to choose. (because it's fair that way) tell me which boon you select, what weapon you want it on and I'll keep a note of it, or if you choose the Infuse Soul choice.
not familiar with the boons
My assumption is that the party met Silas while looking for sources of information to prepare for the mission to Scarwall.
Silas's contacts would include:
Counselor Imp for Outside Contact will provide information as per a Divination spell.
Commune spell to ask a representative of Cayden Cailean questions about Scarwall.
Bind Sage to summon a caulborn to question it about the history and lore concerning Scarwall.
I am predicting that one or more of the answers provides Silas with sufficient reason to offer to accompany them on the trip.
I'll leave this open to the party, but you can determine what information your character shares with the party, but I'm leaving it open as I'm assuming your character is likely to share it.
Counselor Imp:
According to the ability, you'll have to roll a Diplomacy or Intimidate check of DC 11, which I assume you auto-succeed on with diplomacy as you have +18.
Ontop of that, what questions?
Commune:
Again, what questions exactly? According to the spell you get 13 and in a yes and no format.
Bind Sage:
(Mis-read that one so took me a while to find it. Interesting.)
As your spell is a success you manage to summon the grotesque, but also knowledgable and ancient Caulborn. At first it appears irritated that it was captured, assuming you were to ask it stupid or uninteresting history, but this particular creature smirks at your mention of Scarwall.
"Ah yes, a tragic story that one. A story that holds great significance for you and the rest of the party." it takes a moment, as if calling upon deep pockets of great information. "As you may know, Ustalav shares a boarder with the Hold of Belkzen and over 800 years ago, they were low on resources after the battle with the Whispering Tyrant. A noble family was tasked with defending Ustalav from the invading Orc hordes, each generation a natural born stratigist was able to repel their advancement with limited resources. A gift, if you will, for combat strategy. Sadly, their most recent family member was not. He was not only a dissappointment to his father, but once he took control, the Orc horde crushed through every line of defence he set up. One of my kind witnessed this, it was like attempting to battle a group of wolves with a butter knife."
He laments a moment, tapping into some knowledge before nodding back.
"Count Andachi grew desperate. His pleas to the government were mired in bureaucracy and the pleas to Desna fell on deaf ears. As he grew more desperate, he decided to call upon his family's one past patron, Zon-Kuthon. Not sooner had he finished his prayer and offered the lord of darkness everything were his prayers answered by a mysterious and powerful mercenary named Kazavon. He never said where he came from, but the count did not care since as soon as he was put in charge of his men, they were whipped into shape and the Orcs fell upon their blades like the tides of water smashes upon the stoney shores. This was not the end, however. Soon Kazavon and his army marched against the Orcs, retaking stronghold after stronghold and then into the heart of Belkzen to build a mighty and impregnable fortress."
"The goals of what he had done reached Lastwall, who sent over diplomats to congratulate him on his victory, however, this is when his true colours were shown. Kazavon flayed the diplomats alive, then had their skins stretched over frames; he painted these skins with his new coat of arms: a fanged skull. The skinless dead were then animated and sent back south into Lastwall beneath these grisly banners with a demand to fall under Kazavon’s heel or be butchered."
"Horrified by this account, the Count found his courage, gathered his remaining soldiers under his banner and went out to destroy the madman he had summoned. He laid seige to the castle, but by the next day, Kazavon personally dragged the Count inside to be publically tortured, degraded and then finally executed. For over a decade he ruled a nation of slaves, victims and horrors. Tales spread throughout the neighboring regions of fields of people impaled for the general’s amusement, of mass executions, of Shoanti hunted like wild animals and then forced to slay their own lovers and children in carnivals of terror. Whispers of cannibal feasts and vampiric orgies trickled out of Castle Scarwall. More than once, the forces of virtuous nations marched on Scarwall, yet no army could face Kazavon’s strength."
"That said, a small cabal of holy warriors would succeed where thousands failed. A group under the Esoteric Order of the Palatine Eye were led by a Paladin named Mandraivus who had a contact inside Scarwall, a cowardly traitor named Kleestad who was Kazavon's Chamberlain. He lowered the defenses that allowed the Paladin and his holy order enter, but he did not get away with it. Kazavon was in the process of torturing Kleestad, breaking his ankles, but was interrupted by the Paladin before he could finish what he was doing." the creature gave out an audible sigh "What happened inside is unknown, I've heard hearsay, but no proof. Claims as wild as saying Kazavon was secretly the prince of darkness himself. What is know, however, after the battle the Orcs attempted to claim Scarwall for themselves, but the dead did not rest, the castle became a beacon of negative energy, reanimating many of it's inhabitants bringing out ghosts along with numerous undead. One Orc survived, his skin turned pale white from what he witnessed and now the Orcs consider the site taboo. That said, they still guard it. Though no one has entered to tell of what happened in the final moments, some members of the Palatine Eye were seen fleeing the fortress before the Orcs attacked, but their whereabouts it unknown. Mandraivus never left and his sword, Serithtial, was never seen again. It's likely to still be within it's walls and any who hold the blade will know it's power. It was a weapon forged by the once-mortal God Iomedae. It transforms to best suit the user's weapon skills, is holy and considered the bane to all who follow Zon-Kuthon. It is said to glow like a magical flame and even though it is made of steel, it can cut through any who resist such materials, but are weak to more exotic metals like devils, demons and even fey. I would love to see this weapon for myself and hear what you have found out there. For now, that is all I know. One thing, however. The orcs who watch over Scarwall are half-mad and will likely attack without provocation. They guard the area, afraid of the undead army within to march on the Orcs once more."
With that, the creature gives, what you assume to be a bow, somewhat enjoying it's output that it's given to you. From the information it's difficult to guess what Sial wants there, besides the link to Zon-Kuthon and the holy weapon that he couldn't possibly wield.
not familiar with the boons
I've re-posted them in the gameplay thread. I'm reading from the anniversary edition which is slightly different, since ghosts are treated differently in PF than 3.5.
It's a choice of having undead bane on your weapon, ghost touch on your armor of shield or Infused Soul where if you fail a death effect, you don't die, but you are stunned for a round, which only works the once.
These effects only last for as long as you are at Scarwall, they won't follow you beyond that area.
Jerin took soul infused.
BTW 90% done with jerin. It had been a while since I created a higher level character so it is taking me a little longer to finalize my spells. Still be ready in the next day or so.
Lil will take the ghost touch.
Hey guys! Sorry I’m a little slow this week. I have intense activities at work until Thursday so it’s affecting my posting capabilities. I’ll normalize soon! Thanks for the understanding ;)
As for Lil's intro, I'd love for it to be a stumbling upon.
Hey guys! Sorry I’m a little slow this week. I have intense activities at work until Thursday so it’s affecting my posting capabilities. I’ll normalize soon! Thanks for the understanding ;)
It's ok, but I'm glad we're starting to get the campaign back off the ground :)
Before entering Scarwall, can everyone please sound off in the gameplay thread that they're ready for the journey?
Also Krenn and Jerin. Which one of you wants the deck of Harrow Cards that contain Zellara? There's no benefit from having it, I just need to know for future reference.
Silas will take the ghost touch armor.
Jerin is ready to go. He would be fine holding onto Zellara unless Krenn wants to hold onto her?
So far here's what I have for boons:
CotCT Boons:
Akatsu:
Bane Undead Boon
Jerin:
Soul Infused
Silas Kaine:
Ghost Touch Armour
Fun fact:
Sial's class has changed quite a bit.
For simplicity, he's a Summoner in the Anniversery version that I'm using now (mostly because the encounters later on are now far less of a cakewalk, especially if you have channel energy) but in the past he was part cleric, part some obscure prestiege class that gave you a devil to follow you and Asyra herself was a Kyton with several levels of Fighter. :p This version is better for simplicity as I really don't want to attempt converting that random and weird prestige class.
Hey all - I did not even realize that this game had been added. I am down to 1 game at present, from over 20 at one point several years ago.
If you are still looking for one more, I could probably update Llyra. Is there anything in particular that we are looking for?
As a warning, I try to check the boards every day, but am nowhere near as consistent as I used to be.
Also, for anyone going, I will be at GenCon next weekend, so don't expect too much in the next week - I am running 8 session at GenCon. - If you are playing, I will be running 10-03 six times, as well as the two specials.
Hey all - I did not even realize that this game had been added. I am down to 1 game at present, from over 20 at one point several years ago.
If you are still looking for one more, I could probably update Llyra. Is there anything in particular that we are looking for?
As a warning, I try to check the boards every day, but am nowhere near as consistent as I used to be.
Also, for anyone going, I will be at GenCon next weekend, so don't expect too much in the next week - I am running 8 session at GenCon. - If you are playing, I will be running 10-03 six times, as well as the two specials.
We have a group of 5 now, perhaps if something happens I'll consider it, but for now I think we're pretty full.
My apologies to all for my tardiness. GenCon took more of my time than anticipated. I will be able to post very regularly starting now.
Is it safe to assume that, because you gave them a surprise round that they all have acted and are not flat-footed?
Is it safe to assume that, because you gave them a surprise round that they all have acted and are not flat-footed?
Yep, they've all acted, but you have some backup in the form of your comrades and a Kyton.