GM Kiora's Wrath of the Righteous

Game Master Kiora Atua

So... a typical tuesday!

Seems about right. And seems to be about a standard level of audacity for our usual plans.

Oh, unrelated to level-ups and this game, but more related to Xander's game:

I've been watching a game called Blades in the Dark. It's a newer system that focuses on criminal elements in a kinda-post-apocalyptic city. Like, they swapped from using whale oil to using demonic leviathan blood to power their city, just as an example.

Less on the background of the game, and more to the point: It has this really nice system for organizations and 'between the scenes' rolls for complications and stuff. I'm thinking about stealing that for Hell's Rebels as a whole once I get it back up and going (assuming the group is interested; it just seems a better system to use). It could also be used at least in part for your organizations in your Rappan Athukamajig.

Basically, in addition to your characters, your Crew has a character sheet that has relationships with other crews and has advancements you can take to bolster certain types of actions, improve certain types of training, etc. Since it's a D6 system it doesn't translate over perfectly, but it's an amazing system to look at if you want to hack together your own concepts, and it shouldn't be too hard to change things over. Since most of it is a d6 system that's self-enclosed for complications and the like, that can remain the same, it's just the bonuses and such. Of course, it might be more ideal to simply not have the additional complications at all and just use it as a jumping-off-point for designing a more streamlined 'base building system' if your group is interested in that.

Since when are we b+!+#%~$ting them? We really did kill their leader, and we really do deserve to be in charge for it. We are the strongest!

@ Ary - While I do like great systems and all, I was hoping for it to be relatively complication-free if I ran Rappan. Here's what kind of thing I was thinking:

- - - - -

The Illuminati - 4th-level organization [to denote character made from the Illuminati start at level 4]

Goals to Next Level: 2 threats [boss-level monsters that the party would have to defeat]

Boons: - Members of the Illuminati get one potion or scroll available to them for free each week. [As the org gains levels, members who are part of the org get different boons]

Store Available: 1st-level potions, 2nd-level scrolls (max. CL 1st and 3rd) [the illuminati is where you get your magic consumables from, and the level of spell available is dependent on the level of the org]

Classes Available: Bard, Paladin, Inquisitor, Monk, Arcanist, Investigator [some classes are exclusive to the different organizations]

That makes sense! :)

This system, overall, is more built to boost up intrigue-style stuff, so it's not a great fit overall. But it seems almost ideal for Hell's Rebels.

Also, we're BSing them into thinking we control their god. Maybe. Also, they may not respect Ugmitok as strong without their god having her back, so if we don't control him, they may not be interested in following us and instead default to big bad scary bro, or just go nuts on each other and fall apart. So we sorta need the 'Hey, this is ours, now.' Which it totally isn't ours. The wendigo, not the castle. Xanderghul can claim the creepy-keep all he likes.

Ehren: In regards to spells, you might consider ditching slowing mud in general. It is a really weak slow spell that can be shut down by spending a round, still allows a save, is negated entirely by water and doesn't gain the benefits of normal conjuration spells (still checks SR) for a fourth level slot.

You might consider something like air walk or echolocation as a replacement. Both provide something which is invaluable in situations where they are necessary. Grove of Respite is another one that's pretty good, although more for when we are traveling long distances. ball lightning is a decent choice for damage as you can deal 3d6x3/round with it.

thorny entanglement is an interesting spell for mass combat, especially combined with spike stones in situations where we can use both.

For the most part, though, your spell selections have been quite well rounded. You might also consider leaving a couple lower level slots empty. While in a situation like this one we might have been down a bit of power coming into the boss fight because of it, the flexibility of having empty slots is really valuable.

Xanderghul: Sounds like it makes most sense to leave it to Val and Anevia. Picking up swift scroll lets you lean more heavily on scrolls for utility on short notice and in tight situations, which is pretty nice.

Yeah, Swift Scrolls seems like the sort of thing that once you've had it it sort of ruins you for playing without it. If you've ever had to choose between positioning properly and casting a scroll, or drawing a scroll to start the FRA to cast a specific spell, then you can totally see how awesome it would be to not have to do that. It's particularly good in this game due to the scroll mechanics changes.

I agree with Isilme regarding Ehren's spells, but I'm gonna go through the list and pick out a few that I think might be worth preparing.

You have, in general, used all of your spells during days that we need to, so that at least means that you're not preparing niche spells.

1st - For the same reason you used it during this combat, produce flame seems worth its bang, as you can use it several times and it deals semi-okay damage. Seems like a good way to mitigate resource use. Liberating command is pretty solid utility, when we're up against grapplers. Burning disarm is a classic suck-or-suck.
2nd - Wood shape is a pretty good situational spell, and can turn all sorts of wooden objects into other sorts of wooden objects. Flame blade might be worth preparing, for those times you want to mix it up in melee combat.
3rd - Wind wall, during the circumstance we need it, can be critically helpful. sleet storm is helpful in that it does what it does without any saves.
4th - ironically, ice storm is powerful and seems to match Ehren well enough. River of wind is a pretty powerful offensive spell too. Animal ambassador seems like a fun spell, especially during times of downtime.

As much as I hate saying it, it might be worthy to prepare one or two higher-level cure spells each day. It might save us on money in the long run, and your higher-potency heals could be of use.

It's worth noting that I picked up a swift-action 2d6+2 heal for Ary. She has to hit an enemy to trigger it, but then can get it back with a bit of focus (standard action) or a lot of protecting her friends (full round action).

I chose it over a +4d6 strike that grants an equal amount of healing, because the strike can miss when we need it, and I get to use the boost as a response to any melee hit. The delta and action economy seems worth the lesser healing and lack of damage boost.

I kinda feel like Ary's choices are making her pretty Archon-like...

Cool! Infinite in-combat healing :D

How does everyone feel about my own spell selection and preparation? Any tips? Spells I should learn? Spells I should prepare more?

I'm especially interested in which illusion spells you think I should prepare twice in my Thassilonian slot.

One option that could be useful for Xan to pick up could be shadow enchantment. It doesn't let you cast a lot of higher level stuff, but it has access to the psychic spell list as well as the wizard/sorcerer list and it gives you access to spells that are normally barred to you by letting you fake them with illusions. And there are some useful shut down spells like hold person (if Kiora lets you use the psychic level instead of wizard, though that might be cheesy), hideous laughter, and oppressive boredom in the enchantment school if you're interested in more control type stuff.

I'll try to look into suggestions tonight, but I have a lot to do!

Which prestige are you taking again, Daisy?

Sooo.... I am still not sure what I should do. Right now would be the moment for me to take Ascetic style to finally be able to use shuriken well enough. However, I'm wondering if that will really be useful. What do you guys think, can we soon have flight/flight wand/flight potion, so that Hinagiku can go fight or trip flying or creatures or should I indeed go into the shuriken way... especially considering that I won't ever be able to increase their range?

Also, I was wondering what you guys though of [url=http://www.d20pfsrd.com/mythic/mythic-heroes/mythic-paths---paizo-inc/champion]Aerial assault[/b] is the mythic point only spent to jump? If so, a simple charge in the air would be enough to force a creature to land? Also, Kiora, you said I could take it... do you mean that it can be considered part of the Guardian mythic power list for me?

Sorry for the time its taking, I don't want to make a crappy level choice. Especially since, if I am not taking the shuriken path, I'll finally be entering my prestige class!

Personally, I think that you should enter your prestige class (which, Ary, is the Champion of Irori monk/paladin class) because I can learn fly now and will at our earliest opportunity to learn new spells. Ehren can prepare air walk as well. I think we're alright long-term with flying enemies.

Sounds good!

Sorry for the silence, I've had a busier day than predicted. I'll try to find some suggestion (for Ehren and Xanderghul's spell list and others) but you shouldn't wait for me. I still have to level up and catch up with the gameplay thread.

Thanks for the feedback on the shuriken/flyin! Also, here goes:

Level 8: Champion of Irori 1
+1 wisdom
Class Features
+1 bab
+0.5 all saves
Detect chaos
Martial artist
Smite chaos
+10hp ( +2 con).
Feat

Skills (2 backgrounds, 4 class, -1 int)
+ 1 know. History, artistry, acrobatics,
+2 Perception
Automatic Bonus Progression
Resistance +2
Toughtening +1

EDIT: I forgot a +3 hp thanks to Iomedae's boon.

Here it is finally, any opinions?

I got some questions, actually, regarding this level!

Since Valaria has trapfinding now, can we aid each other on disabling rune-based traps, even though we're using different skills to do so?

Could I perhaps switch out glyph finder for, perhaps, swift scroll or analyze scroll, if the consensus is that glyph finder is now irrelevant?

Yes and yes

My only question about the Irori code is how do the second point of Discipline and the third of Understanding interact?

Follow-ups:

Xanderghul - Attuning your dagger.... but beyond that you're good to go, thanks!

Valaria - Gotcha, jotted down your maneuvers/stance. You should decide how/if you want to automate Sun Dips Low. Thanks for specifying what is in your bag and what isn't. You can keep a potion in the spring-loaded sheath.

I'll load my CMW potion in the sheath then, so I can get at it quickly. Not sure about automating yet. It's easier to regain maneuvers than panache sometimes, so maybe have it as the same rules as Parry and Riposte, but use it first since I can usually get it back within a round or two if I stay mobile. It helps that I don't have a lot of things to spend Swift Actions on, so I can Gambit a lot.

Audit: Hinagiku

• On the code of conduct - that's fantastic! I'm really happy with it.
  
• Will you be attuning anything?
  
• Your touch AC is 22 (10 + 1 deflection + 4 dex + 1 enhancement + 1 monk + 5 wisdom)
  
• The DC for your Redirection ability has gone up to 17 because your WIS has gone up
  
• Your character sheet incorrectly notes your HP as 127 when it is 130.
  

Follow-Up: Ehren

Gotcha on you attuning Slam. Works for me :)

Audit: Ary

• Update your automate responses regarding Silver Crane Stance, thanks :)
  
• Radiance already functions as a +1 weapon innately. Will you attune something else?
  
• You have 1 less skill point to spend this level... you only have 1 skill point from Int, not 2, is why. What are you giving up?
  
• Since you haven't updated your Paizo profile, I audited your Mythweavers sheet instead.
  
• Your adamantine lucerne hammer actually is +13/+8 - adamantine confers a +1 enhancement bonus to attack rolls.
  
• I'm not sure if you rely on your Mythweavers sheet or on the Loot Google Doc to track your inventory. If you rely on the former, it is in serious need of reconciling with your actual inventory. However, the google doc is up-to-date, I just finished auditing your gear.
  

Your new stance, armiger's mark & maneuvers will become available to you after a full night's rest.

Audit: Anevia

• You can retrain her rogue talent if you pick up expert sniper as a feat, yes
  
• The disguise thing is hilarious, yeah. Technically the original disguise was made for her, though, by a priestess of Desna. :) But you'd think she'd have needed to update it as she grew up...ha.
  
• Anevia isn't a PC, so she doesn't get background skill ranks. But you also forgot the 1 skill rank she gets from being human.... so you've only overspent by 1. What are you giving up?
  
• Her Will Save is a +2 (+1 rogue, -1 wisdom, +1 resistance)
  
• Her Initiative is a +8 (+4 dex, +4 improved initiative)
  
• Anevia speaks Common, Shadowtongue (starter language), Varisian (starter language), Goblin, Orc, and Hallit (3 ranks of Linguistics)
  

Follow-up: Isilme

• Thanks for updating your resources for me, and for transferring your stuff on the loot list to Ary for me.
  
• I will deduct a charge from your wand of Haste instead, then.
  
• I think you have used Inspired, yeah
  
• I wasn't charging you for the chime of opening, but you are now within a light load again, so no biggie.
  
• Because your new performance takes the place of a new spell. Had you taken a new spell instead, you would have not had access to it until after a full night's rest... so you don't get access to this, either.
  

Ary:
Attuning the Longbow Variska has, then, unless she's keeping it tomorrow. If so, I'll attune the Lucerne Hammer.
-1 Spellcraft.
I'll update Paizo when I can! That includes updating the Tactics section.
Fixed!
I mostly rely on the loot document. I try to keep 'major' things on my sheet, but tend to neglect consumables pretty solidly, since they'll be there and gone and there and gone again.

Anevia:
She doesn't get a background? :O She's so sad! She thought she had a great background...
+1-1+1=1! Not 2!
Will update her initiative to not be a derp.
I'll drop her Disguise. That was her old life. Back when she had a background... :P
I added Goblin and Varisian to her list.
I'll also not add bluff and instead just rank up diplomacy.

Alrighty, gotcha down, Ary!

Whoops its +2-1+1 D: typo'd. Anevia's will save is totally +2.

@Valaria: In this case teaching is broader: like teaching about the cycle of reincarnation and Irori's teachings rather than the exact path which Hinagiku has set for herself. Actually, even teaching another religion would be okay for Hinagiku if its required. And, of course, teaching here is not a long term thing. But you're right, the wording does feel contradictory. I'll remove teaching from discipline and replace it with indoctrinate.

It probably goes without saying, but Valaria should take the lead with Intimidate. The wikkawaks understand Common, and she is technically the one who killed Ugmitok, so it'd make sense. Most of us have a decent chance at succeeding on an aid another check, and we will hopefully have some circumstantial bonuses with Ugmitok's head and any other trickery we decide that we need.

If worse comes to worst, we can haul ass back the way we came, shut the spiked gate behind us, and try our luck with the polar bear cave - Ehren can cast hide from animals on everyone. If that leads to a dead end, then we pray for a miracle. :P

I agree, and actually with a bit of perception and sense motive we can pick out any wikkawaks who would challenge val and single them out. If we call them out before they can try to get the wikkawaks to attack, we might be able to have Val just kill them outright, further solidifying her lead. For added effect, Xanderghul can translate to goblin, and Isilme can translate to Aklo.

Considering what Kiora described, we might be facing the return of the whole army (well, the survivors). And since she gave us a lot of leeway, I say we use it to get someone to scout, just to get a general idea of how many. If its the army, I am not sure we stand as much of a chance... originally, the plan was to take the caste, and from this position of strenght, send the army back to attack. But, if they're already inside, it might prove difficult.

I don't know. Maybe we are better off if it is the whole army, because then there would be no questioning who the new boss is since they are all here. Assuming this works, I mean. :P

Done with corrections of Hinagiku's profile.

Well... if their generals are there, I think it might make thinks more iffy.

Re: Code: It's worth noting that all the best dogmas (real and false) have contradicting lines. In particular, a lot of Ary's insecurities are caused by her following one by ignoring another. :)

Interpretation tends to be key in good religious stuff. :P

Ary's profile has been painlessly updated. :) I think.

I am a bit confused about the enchantment of weapons with the unchained rules. In the book, it says thatany magic item's special ability counts against the attunement of a character... but that seems pretty weird... and it doesn't fit with the fact that Xanderghul has a bane +1 crossbow... So, how does it work exactly?

Today was very, very long. @_@;

But I really enjoyed reading your posts on my way home. I don't want to write something half-assed due to how exhausted I am, so I will post tomorrow morning. Thanks, guys! :)

I didn't realize how much of a gap not having Intimidate anywhere in the party was until right now.

Especially with the party's penchant for manipulation and infiltration.

Hey, I found something interesting in the new Adventurer's Guide. Well, I found a lot of interesting things in the Adventurer's Guide, but specifically I found one that might give some new combat options to Isilme so she's less bored in battle. There's a series of Style Feats called Diva Style. The first feat lets you use Perform to feint instead of Bluff, the second lets you add your Charisma to damage on your first melee attack against a foe who's flat-footed, and the third lets you feint from up to 30 feet away and never take AoO from enemies you feint again.

Might not be your style, but it's pretty explicitly built for bards so it might pay to take a look at. Kind of annoying pre-reqs though.

Yeah, Intimidate really was a huge gap in our ability to infiltrate . Not all cultists and such respond to diplomacy after all, and it is not like we really care about permanent hits to reputation when infiltrating ;)

Val: That's definitely an interesting setup, will have to look at that! I am toy with the idea of picking up the Desna fighting style that lets you use Cha for hit/dam, and eventually lets you make a random number of attacks (1d4) for a full round action. The nice thing about the pre-reqs for it is that you can skip them as a bard if you spend a versatile performance.

Re: Aklo

Instead of random cthunian nonsense for Aklo, why not use Risus with cthunian garbage for the input? I used the above text to translate to Aklo and it does a good job of keeping the feel even with the crazy input. I admit that it would be nice if it kept apostrophes, though.

Hinagiku:

On the attunement thing, I believe you're right - Xanderghul shouldn't get an enhancement bonus to his crossbow without at least a +2 investment. Thanks for bringing that up!

Isilme:

I kind of like that Aklo makes no sense and isn't reproducible. I'd like the Risus monkey thing, though, if it were able to handle the apostrophes. :(

Using the link I provided requires you to uncheck the "fixed first sentence"... of course, otherwise the first phrase is always the iconic in his house at R'lyeh dead Cthulhu waits dreaming.

Alright, so this was an awesome plan.

Anyway, here's what I think we should do next.

1. Tell the wikkawaks to rest and sharpen their teeth, and that we'll be descending the mountain on the morrow to hunt.

2. Ehren turns into a bird, flies to our army.

3. We rest the night here, hopefully with somebody under keep watch.

4. In the morning, we march down the mountain and we take the wikkawaks to the pass into the Worldwound. Meanwhile, the Crusader army hunts after Jorsal.

5. We keep someone (Hinagiku and Ary, perhaps, for their survival and healing skills) behind for a little bit to free prisoners after the wikkawak army leaves and escort them down the mountain to our army.

There's some Xanderghul on your face, Lein. :P "My plan was great!"

3: I didn't prepare Keep Watch today; I prioritized not freezing and being able to maneuver more reliably. :(

5: I support utilizing channel to mend the least of their wounds and then bringing them down to our army as soon as that's viable. But without Isilme's Triple Time we'll fall quite a lot behind you guys.

You have an entire bag full of longstrider potions! That's worth a day's worth of triple time!

I agree that we should get them going, at some point we are going to have to send them on without Val. I think we should send them off in that direction without actually escorting them all the way though. I suspect we will all be needed to help deal with Jorsal's army when we finally engage them, as he likely still has most of his hybrids.

;)

Well, unfortunately I can't even mythic power into keep watch, as I can't cast enchantment spells anymore.

My main point is that we have several things to do, so we probably need to split up for a bit in order to accomplish those things. However, I support us all gathering together to take down Jorsal.

We do know that he also took heavy casualties, though. And also that our summoner homie will likely be showing up by tomorrow.

And also, also, that said summoner buddy (she's totally on our side, right?), was Dominated by something and that that is not a druid spell. So there's still something up, there.

That is a good point Ary. Summoner is an unresolved thread, something (whatever dominated her) around here really wanted shadow demons dead. It's clear now that it must have been unrelated to the Wendigo/Wikkawaks issue.

I suspect that maybe that thing was hanging around Jorsal's army and saw an opportunity to dominate the summoner, instead of having been living up in Icerift.

Yay! Now Valaria has some cohorts she can take with Leadership! :P