Tomb raiding can be tricky business.
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Ha!
Just on the topic of it being a small world, the two characters in that short story (Xaven and Rhokon) went on to later join an adventuring party with the evoker-assassin Sceptre, an NPC who has made a few cameos in this adventure.
Donkor's backstory also implies that he would have met or come across Xaven and Rhokon as well, though such details have not been developed (thankfully!).
Perhaps Khymrasa should hire this Xaven and Rhokon to find her Pactstone. . .
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Wasn't that like a year ago? Time to move on, I say.Didn't Halstadt drop a holy word on the Mithral Scarab just to confirm her good-alignment?
Maybe I need to do some soul searching as to why my players engender such mistrust. Hey, Mr. Exciting you'll vouch for me right? Right?
You know, I'll tell you what, just this once I'll throw you guys a bone, but keep this strictly OOC:
Her name's not really Lydia.
Hal may have dropped a Holy Word on her or she may have just been in range. Hal can neither confirm nor deny that he is smarter than he looks.
She'll always be Lydia to me!
Maybe I need to do some soul searching as to why my players engender such mistrust. Hey, Mr. Exciting you'll vouch for me right? Right?
Of course I will. You've never had an ally turn bad in any of our games - NOT! (Shard comes to mind.)
I also think "Beetle" has like an Ian Flemming thing going - beautiful woman are disproportionately evil. Watch them especially. What's Lydia's charisma score?
She'll always be Lydia to me!
LOL!
You know, fighting within all this silence would be a pretty freaking cool movie bit. It reminds me a bit of Aliens...
"In space, no one can hear you scream."
From the realm of personal updates, I am getting married on Saturday, then leaving immediately for a honeymoon to San Francisco. As a gift to my new wife, I'll be attempting to stay away from my internet vices, which include this game. That makes me incommunicando from 8/11 - 8/20. Feel free to make me into one of those really cool puppets that survives.
Congrats flamethrower, gave a good time!
On a related but less cool note, I am off camping again today for a couple of weeks. I think I'll have better service here than at the last campsite, so hopefully I will be able to update fairly regularly.
Big congrats, my barbarian friend! Welcome to the fun club of holy matrimony.
Congrats Flamethrower! Show her a good time.
I'd be happy to bust out a Karek avatar.
I think that'll make 2 engagements and 2 weddings so far while this game has gone on (that I know of). Maybe there's something in the water.
Enjoy San Fran,
...and the marriage thing too!
Congratulations, Flamethrower!
So....two-thirds of the Dune Squad together again (including Bunky, I presume).
Will our brave distraction team join them in time, I wonder, or will another cowardly assailant intercept them before they can join their friends.
Du..du..duuuuun....
Stay tuned for another exciting episode of....The Pact Stone Pyramid!
Same Dune time, Same Dune Channel...
Ooh, fun! Personal ads for the Dune Squad!
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I had been meaning to do this for Flamethrower ever since he suggested it, but I had forgotten. His impending nuptials this weekend has reminded me. And so, although I hope he’s not reading this, nevertheless in honour of this esteemed occasion. . .
Semi-optimized BBEG seeks eclectic band of adventurers for climatic battle. Enjoys martial arts, life draining, and jumping inordinately high. Must be capable of defeating my minions and looking past my keloidal scars to see my inner ki beauty.
Misunderstood desert druid seeks party who will appreciate her talents for intricate deception and setting things on fire. I’m the reason they put a comeliness score in Unearthed Arcana so if you are not wealthy or hunky, you need not apply. Absolutely no dwarves!!!
I was pretty interested in the Thalia personal ad as we seem to share a great appreciation for fire. BUT with no DWARVES I have to wonder how she will ever find anyone who could be described as "hunky". It is well known that dwarves are the "hunkiest" of races due to our stout builds. It is no loss though the relationship would have burned out very quickly once I realized she could not grow a full length beard!
Youthful Pathfinder spy seeks *punctual* adventurers to save fate of Osirion nation. Prefers independent souls capable of subtlety. Turn-offs include high-level dungeon delving and Shrine of Horns monks. Apply quickly – giving up hope. P.S. Willing to walk barefoot in the sand a definite plus.
Oh, I'm reading, but not for much longer. I've been meaning to put up a personal ad for Karek, m'self, but... you know. Busy.
Hey! Get out of here! You've got a new template to pick up (married). Go practice your vows or something. Your PC is not doing anything interesting apart from picking up tiny bits of nonlethal damage, which will be wiped out as soon as he joins the part of the party which actually has clerics.
Alright, alright. I'm a gettin'.
Learned something today that I thought I'd share: You can name your dice rolls the same way you name a spoiler tag.
Like this:
[ dice= Attack roll - longsword (power attack) ]1d20+6[ /dice ]
[ dice= Damage - longsword (power attack) ]1d8+4[ /dice ]
Looks like this:
Hey! Nice tip.
Might take some getting used to - I like the blue. But that's a lot more efficient.
Hey Mr. Exciting, any chance I could talk you into using the "ooc" tags in the gameplay thread when you're not speaking for your pc? It'd make it a bit easier to discern who's speaking. No biggie if you'd rather not, just thought I'd ask.
This forced desert march is taking both a physical and mental toll. Moonpate's emotions constantly vacillate between concern for himself and his companions (though he marvels at the fortitude and stoicism of Karek and Hurgah), and sheer outrage at the discomforts he has been forced to endure since arriving at the Examplar's camp. Mixed into this emotional turmoil are occasional pangs of longing and regret when he clutches his empty wineskin as if, by some miracle, he will find it full once more. Between muttered curses at the sky, Moonpate talks longingly to his wineskin, hoping the fruhgen Schmoosh might somehow hear his pleadings from across the void between planes and take pity upon his mortal friend.
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This awesome post in the game play thread reminded me of Schmoosh. I am glad to hear Moonpate remembers Schmoosh fondly. Moonpate wasn't there when he revealed this to the Dune Squad in the doomed aquatic city of A'Viss, but while he can still make minor cross-dimensional appearances through water receptacles, he is bound by Horasith and must remain in A'Viss for a time.
Also, while it wasn't your doing, more importantly, Karek totally burned him and never revealed the answer to his 'whale and a tale' riddle, which he dangled to secure the fruhgen's help. Schmoosh is still stewing over that. He actually went to Moonpate for help with that, but Moonpate put him off on account of being distracted by much more pressing matters such as the Dune Squad's imminent death. As such, Schmoosh is unlikely to return, at least not without major diplomacy and an answer to the long outstanding whale and a tale riddle.
A thousand curses for loose ends. . .
Hey Mr. Exciting, any chance I could talk you into using the "ooc" tags in the gameplay thread when you're not speaking for your pc? It'd make it a bit easier to discern who's speaking. No biggie if you'd rather not, just thought I'd ask.
My bad! Just a PBP newb is all. I'll pick it up.
Also, I don't know who Schmoosh is but I'll just assume Xerissa wouldn't know anyways.
"All this sneaking and skulking has gotten us nowhere. We are no closer to getting into the pyramid than we were when we arrived. Enough now, I say. Even if we survive the pyramid, we will still have to face the Exemplar and her pet monks once we emerge. Let us strike at them now, then. . .
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I am sensing this might be an opportunity to discuss what the group wants to do here. I recall Phrip was also in favor of assaulting the entire camp or at least forcing their way into the pyramid, and I believe he made Moonpate's spell selection based on such a plan. But that was before Krenshar ostensibly presented another option, so I shouldn't presume.
I hasten to add that the last two times this was attempted it resulted in full flight, but you did not have the advantage of a full party with full commitment. You have a fair amount of intel on the camp's resources and they often say the third times the charm.
But I may have misread and Jace was just talking in character and wants to be talked out of this?
Also, I don't know who Schmoosh is but I'll just assume Xerissa wouldn't know anyways.
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Correct - Xerissa has never met Schmoosh. Schmoosh, an NPC, is a mini-genie type creature. There have been a couple of these guys so far. They tie-in to Moonpate's sub-plot in his goal of becoming a Daivrat (a genie-caller prestige class). If you click on the character's tab you can see him and read his posts - but it's unnecessary for Xerissa.
I think the Sand Sage has shown himself to be a big enough threat that I would not want to battle all of the guards, all of the monks, and him.
But I may have misread and Jace was just talking in character and wants to be talked out of this?
I was indeed talking in character, as befits a half-orc berserker spoiling for a fight. But I also just wanted to float an idea to the group. I'm not particular about which path we pick, as long as we try to keep ourselves as one group this time around.
I am totally down for bringing out the hammer. Let's depopulate! Mike did make me read the recruitment FAQ thing and I saw that it says the first part of the adventure is supposed to require Stealth/Skill and Savvy, so I think we can take that to mean the odds would be against us with the 'full frontal'. But dudes, don't we got double-cleric in this party? We can take a punch. Plus, I got a PC who can blow things up!
I am totally down for bringing out the hammer. Let's depopulate! Mike did make me read the recruitment FAQ thing and I saw that it says the first part of the adventure is supposed to require Stealth/Skill and Savvy, so I think we can take that to mean the odds would be against us with the 'full frontal'. But dudes, don't we got double-cleric in this party? We can take a punch. Plus, I got a PC who can blow things up!
I admit there is a very strong urge to completely assault the camp, and as the Beetle points out, my spell load out is geared towards the expectation of fighting our way into the pyramid. It would be fun and interesting to see how successful we might be. Is it prudent, wise, or necessary; especially given a potential sneaky alternative? And I wonder about our chances of the sneak. What is the nature of this disguise and would it hold up under spell scrutiny? I'm thinking in particular of the Sandwich's floating eyes--heck, he will probably be present in the whole to see Khymrasa's "volunteers" enter the pyramid. If he makes us for intruders, will he sound the alarm. Given his previous comments, I think there is a good chance he won't.
So, we should probably give the sneak method of chance, but be prepared for all out war.
I am cool with that. Xerissa should be in favor of implementing her boss' plan after all. I just didn't want you guys to think that the newb was chicken.
Breach is 100% all in for kicking butt and taking names. But if sneaking is the way the majority want to go, he'll oblige. He won't like it though. :)
Just checked the game thread... Thanks, Pact! I COMPLETELY forgot about my "regular" damage! Duhhh. Man, I'm glad you saw that.
Breach is 100% all in for kicking butt and taking names. But if sneaking is the way the majority want to go, he'll oblige. He won't like it though. :)
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Well we never quite get quorum these days, but I think that's a majority in favor of attempting the slave-substitution plan. I've advanced things accordingly in the game play thread, but it's not too late if people want a war. . .
Back from rainy San Fransisco, and I feel great. The wedding was great fun, I think my wife is mostly happy with things. (And hey, I'll hear about it if she's not!)
However, in relation to this game, I feel a bit like this guy. I've read all the posts, I'm all caught up, I'm just habin' drubble vindin' Karek's boice for ebryding dad habbened. I'll ged somedin' lader doday.
Oh, and Karek supports the stealth option, for once, but he's more or less ready for a fight. Or a nap.
It is good to have you back Flamethrower! I hope you had fun.
Perfect link! If only all our subplots were truly resolved. . .
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It was awesome to see that again. In the old Mayfair SW gaming materials I used to use back in the day Han was always depicted as having uber “Con” stats (As in running a con, not Constitution). He doesn’t look so slick there. I guess we all have a bad roll every now and then.
Well, what are people doing with their new level?
I, for one, am taking Spell Sunder.
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You guys are probably on this too, but the two clerics will want to take note that level 8 is often significant for clerics - several of the domain powers have new abilities at level 8, though many don't. Worth checking.
Well, what are people doing with their new level?
I, for one, am taking Spell Sunder.
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He hits so hard he knocks the spells right off of you.That raises a good detail, I missed. While character creation was supposed to be limited to Core and APG and the Osirion companion, for the purposes of advancement we'll say any Paizo source is available. But no third-party. I love third party material (almost as good as fourth and fifth party material), but we gotta put a boundary somewhere.
Not sure how to go about that. I disbelieve and try to spellcraft the blocks? Perhaps some of our dwarfs would be able to sense the illusory nature, if such is the case?
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Saving Throws and Illusions (Disbelief)
Creatures encountering an illusion usually do not receive saving throws to recognize it as illusory until they study it carefully or interact with it in some fashion.
A successful saving throw against an illusion reveals it to be false, but a figment or phantasm remains as a translucent outline.
A failed saving throw indicates that a character fails to notice something is amiss. a character faced with proof that an illusion isn't real needs no saving throw. If any viewer successfully disbelieves an illusion and communicates this fact to others, each such viewer gains a saving throw with a +4 bonus.
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So Donkor (and arguably Moonpate) has already done what is necessary. I roll Will save's to disbelieve off-screen as when the answer comes back "you see no illusion" you won't know if the roll was poor or the item before you is genuine.Spellcraft is handy for this if you actually catch an illusionist casting an illusion - otherwise, no.
I don't think we need it just yet, but at some point it would be helpful to establish a standard marching order that the Dune Squad defaults to. Maybe give that some thought and let me know how you envision it.
(For this corridor at least you are looking at single-file or two abreast unless you incorporate smaller sizes or crowding).
Karek will be honored to lead the party. With any luck, his stonecunning, darkvision, and Perception will come in handy. Not to mention, Karek's rather spoiling for a fight.
We might want one of the trap people up here, too.
Gandel will be up front with Karek, checking for traps. Gandel has a +12 Perception, which will likely increase when he levels-up.