This is a non-Campaign to Test Stuff

Game Master Tacticslion

Don't mind me, but to me you sound a little bit like your house is burning down and the firemen are trying to rescue people and you're hindering the rescue efforts by running into the burning building trying to look for your credit card and passport.

Thus, perhaps the irritation that might be showing.

On a separate note the answer to your question "How do we escape here" was the "keystone" so that we can control the place. Do we have to destroy the plane? Can you not reclaim it, close the evil door and wipe out the evil fungus?

I am trying to keep the character in character.

The first thing that matters: Then my second task, my Dear Su- er, Usawoti-" she says, "is simply this. Should you desire, I want you to return to me, return for me, and, once you have the ability to leave this realm...

he interpreted it this way ”I do not know what life I have, but it is yours. I will return to you with the key, we shall be each other’s and see what like may bring together or I will die trying.”

His first priority was his and Inarus' lives, then returning to Yeye. He believed bringer her the 'keystone' would enable them to open a door, apparently he was mistaken.

He has worked at protecting lives and making a commitment to any who would join he and Inarus. When it was he and Inarus After the claiming of power he thought Inarus had succumbed to the dragon/devil nature and that his friend Inarus was gone. After some time he started to believe that he may have been mistaken, that some of Inarus may still be there.

As for the 'house fire' reference it would be more like a building is on fire and the front door is locked. So his first priority is to find the key to unlock the door so he, his loved ones and the others can escape.

Remember in game the characters or at least Usawoti may not know the nature of the key, that's why I asked TL the questions I did.

@ GM TL, was the location of the coven a separate dimension? Can they go anyplace other than this dimension from there?

The way I look at it, I can throw you out of the burning house. There is a possibility that the Coven could use the key, again perhaps not. That also adds uncertainty to the equation. Which I would rather not risk...

Thereafter, the entire plane outside of the tower will be... "cleansed"... by lots and lots of terrible power. You may be able to shield some of the people from the worst of it, but you're not going to be able to know for sure who you save, and you're going to want to seal that portal for ~500 years so the destructive energies don't take everything.

No - the plane is self destructing. It's who we can get out of it...

I also have reason to believe the Coven's knowledge is incomplete. Perhaps they believed that the keystone would be an end to all problems, but after what I have seen - I believe that it's just...how to make the best out of a crappy situation.

"What, precisely, is possible with the keystones is... unknown, I'm afraid. We know what we do only because both of my own sacrifices and those of the Coven - especially Maiden."

You've seen how well the tower is warded. The secrets thereof are warded as strongly as its exterior, if not more. Maiden nearly died.

I believe more in what I have seen then what someone has told me from back ages ago - since they never told me about what we would be facing nor that I would end up what I am now. They told us to get the keystone without telling us what we'd face. Admittedly they probably didn't know any better either, so it's not entirely their fault.

Inarus would be able to understand Usawoti wanting to be with Yeye - that is probably the only reason why he does not choose to directly banish Usawoti to Golarion - that'd mean his responsibility to Usawoti has come to an end.

To leave a key that could save countless lives - in the hands of people with incomplete information of the whole situation...may not be the best of ideas.

Take those, go to the door, use the keys, and control the place. Sounds easier than it is, due to the fungus.

We received this as part of the mission briefing - it can be read to we are supposed to do what is necessary down here.

To leave a key that could save countless lives - in the hands of people with incomplete information of the whole situation...may not be the best of ideas.

You wouldn't be leaving it in 'peoples' hands, you would be leaving it in Usawoti's hands... we did start as a team remember?

Yeah. But you're giving it to people who may/may not know how to use it - and once I throw you out, there's no stepping back to where I currently am.

Questionable if the key needs to be activated in time or place either/do I need to be physically present to activate it.

The telepathy may stretch across planes - or it may not function once you're out of the tower so essentially its a case of lost contact.

So all of this is fun but not definitive. The first question we need answered is: Will this plane be 'cleansed/most life killed' no matter what we do, if we open portholes.

If almost everyone on the plane will be dead after we open even one porthole then we need to rescue as many as we can.

If we can close the 'evil rift' and the giants can keep living here, well then, that's a different story.

Too many questions not clear...

I also have reason to believe the Coven's knowledge is incomplete.

This is the first entirely correct statement either of you have said this whole time.

(Well, that and Usawoti's thing about him and Yeye.) :)

This seems to be the source of your contention: the coven sent you under what they believed were true or correct goals, but, obviously, something was... off.

And on that end, this is all super awesome, but... I'm sick. I like... super sick. I spent the night up and down and shivering and more. I'm dehydrated and exhausted and still a bit shivery. Makes it hard to type.

My mind is not really where it needs to be. I'm sorry, you two - I literally am not able to focus enough to handle all your awesome questions/thought processes.

That said...

So all of this is fun but not definitive. The first question we need answered is: Will this plane be 'cleansed/most life killed' no matter what we do, if we open portholes.

At this point, no matter what you do, the destructive energies will flood the place. The plane will still exist, and Inarus will be able to "shield" (some people, somewhat, maybe) that are still here from said destructive energies, but it seems to have been a kind of trap that this place activates automatically - not a trap for whoever was here (as anyone in this tower is more or less safe from the "automatic" destructive energies) but for anyone else the destructive energies will "wipe clean" the plane itself.

Also:

1) You can give keys to anyone connected by gem (that's Iya-iya, Usawoti, and Inarus, at present)

2) So long as anyone of those people has a key, anyone else with that gem/connection can as well

SEALING PORTALS

With 1 key (or more, but you only need one) you can open or close or seal or unseal "official" portals of which there are two. One is where you entered (if you look back, you think it opens somewhere in the Varisian wilderness - lower mountains near a set of standing stones). The other is unknown - you know nothing about it, and it's kind of in a separate demiplane and is inconvenient (to the point of needless and not viable for your purposes) anyway.

Each key may create or destroy a single unofficial portal. There is one currently existing (you plan on squashing that). You will have three keys, so that's one, and you can open two others. I'd recommend Inarus opening these to the Varisian mountains that he knows "well enough" to do so (based on your wanderer back story).

So: Inarus can send them off with anyone else (i.e. Usawoti or Iya-iya) and still use them (so long as Inarus is in this room).

GM TL wrote:

Usawoti has this basic idea. He can give it to the three girls/his jewelry without trying..

GM TL What does that mean?

That the jewelry can learn the basics without trying. That's all. Just that they're informed, even though no discussion is happening.

@ GM TL if Inarus doesn't make Usawoti aware of his plan to not share a key is there a sense motive roll or something we can do to figure it out so Usawoti is not left in the dark?

@ GM TL can Usawoti do anything to attempt to acquire a key for himself or is he entirely here as Inarus' sacrifice?

1) If it was conscious, yes.

2) No, as I've noted, you have agency. Any conflict, however, may result in opposed rolls and/or some degree of randomness.

I'm going to go collapse now.

Sorry - probably not going to be back today.

Tell you what - since this is going to take a long time, you go get well first, then attend to this later.

ok, so Usawoti can explain to the coven that it didn't work like they thought it would.

@ GM TL, does each 'key' have the ability to open and shut a portal, or do we only get to open or shut a porthole with each key? I'm trying to understand 'how much' can be done with each key.

@ GM TL, does Inarus have to use a 'keys' sole use to 'expel/sacrifice' everyone he wants from the tower? When he does that can he expel them wherever he wants?

@ GM TL, when does the '21 minutes' start, when the first 'rift' is closed or when the first 'porthole' is opened. Does expelling/sacrificing anyone start the clock ticking? Can we go to the giants and get them ready and organized for when the 21 minutes start?

Inarus, assuming we have to use one key to seal the 'rift' where the evil things are coming in and we can expel your people out into the plane wherever you want. What do you think about expelling Usawoti, Iya-Iya and Yalagach to the giants where the coven was, expelling your people there also. That way we can open two portholes from there so both your people, the giants, the coven, the Mephits, Iya-Iya, Usawoti and Yeye. Can go to Golarion together and head to the mountains (or wherever) to live.

The reason both porthole at the giants is so when your people are done crossing over the giants can use the porthole for anytime left. Unless of course there are so many of 'your people' they will need the entire 21 minutes to go through.

I'm happy with the idea of you opening a porthole so giants, coven, Usawoti and Yeye can go through. Usawoti will tell them that it was the only option.

ok, so Usawoti can explain to the coven that it didn't work like they thought it would.

Correct!

Because of the gems that bound you together (and to the coven) the keys no longer need to be together or in this room, so long as one of you is here. So long as any of you have one key, all of you that are so-bound have keys.

@ GM TL, does each 'key' have the ability to open and shut a portal, or do we only get to open or shut a porthole with each key? I'm trying to understand 'how much' can be done with each key.

All keys have the ability to freely open/shut "official" portals.

Each key has the ability to open/shut a single "unofficial" portal.
(There is currently only one - to the Abyss.)

@ GM TL, does Inarus have to use a 'keys' sole use to 'expel/sacrifice' everyone he wants from the tower? When he does that can he expel them wherever he wants?

You or he (or Iya-iya) may more-or-less distribute them more or less where he wants. The exceptions have been laid out, prior: not to the coven's place, not to the abyssal fungus' place.

From this room, either of you may banish to the tower, to the plane, or to Golarion. From the tower, you can banish to the plane. You cannot banish from the plane.

@ GM TL, when does the '21 minutes' start, when the first 'rift' is closed or when the first 'porthole' is opened. Does expelling/sacrificing anyone start the clock ticking? Can we go to the giants and get them ready and organized for when the 21 minutes start?

Now. As in right now, at this exact moment in character. For clarity, each of the keys allows a delay of seven minutes. You have three keys, hence 21 minutes.

Inarus, assuming we have to use one key to seal the 'rift' where the evil things are coming in and we can expel your people out into the plane wherever you want. What do you think about expelling Usawoti, Iya-Iya and Yalagach to the giants where the coven was, expelling your people there also. That way we can open two portholes from there so both your people, the giants, the coven, the Mephits, Iya-Iya, Usawoti and Yeye. Can go to Golarion together and head to the mountains (or wherever) to live.

This is a really good plan, however, you need to realize - there's no way that all those people can push through two portals in 21 minutes. I'd recommend most of Inarus' people at the "main" portal, and everyone else following your plan.

The reason both porthole at the giants is so when your people are done crossing over the giants can use the porthole for anytime left. Unless of course there are so many of 'your people' they will need the entire 21 minutes to go through.

This. That's why I was recommending the original/entry point.

I'm happy with the idea of you opening a porthole so giants, coven, Usawoti and Yeye can go through. Usawoti will tell them that it was the only option.

Sounds good!

EDIT: ugh, putting on my correct alias

Also: not well, but doing much, much better!

No longer shivering helplessly in bed or aching everywhere or suffering from hot and cold at the same time.

So, that's nice!

(Drop down so it looks nice)

...

...

...

Maybe this fake/incomplete stat block (and some meta information that you don't have but oh, well) will help explain:

This is a key devoted to the control of the demiplane of sin and virtue (not it's actual name)

To function at full power, a key's bearer must be within the central most "inner plane" ("the key room") for a full and continuous week (7 days) for each key possessed (that's 3 weeks or 21 days or 504 hours for Inarus). Thereafter, the bearer may leave and retain some of the key's power (how much is unclear).

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This magic item is an ancient and powerful device with many half-truths and outright lies about its nature. Its actual abilities are both boon and bane. Originally created as a fail-safe/ultimate prize by conflicting forces, it quickly became apparent that in their attempts to prevent others from gaining it, the creators associated the key with a host of magical traps in accordance with a given school's weakness. What's more, even though the key (and associated tower) is impossibly powerful, the people who created it were overly ambitious and reached well beyond their personal power to create something none of them could truly hope to control - a monstrous device that would never live up to the potential they wanted from it, despite being greater than they originally sought in many ways.

================================

When activated (by using an exceptionally powerful magical ability associated with one or more schools of sin/virtue magic) it grants relatively strong temporal power over the tower, and some influence over the plane beyond. Acquiring one, however, in addition to the sacrifices required, also purges the plane beyond with destructive energies of every single kind.

A key has a host of abilities, which are not actions to activate, and may be used simultaneously without expending actions. Three of those "universal" abilities - abilities common to all keys - are described below. A key may have additional abilities based on its sin, and there may be other abilities universal to all keys. The keys are functionally worthless outside of the tower.

Certain powerful entities (such as demigods or demon lords) or powerful groups (such as a high-level mage's cult or druid circle) may be able to band their power together to equal or exceed the power of a key-bearer, though no one can reverse a key-bearer's decision to close or seal a given portal.

=================================

POWER ONE
(continuous): the bearer of a key is always aware of the state of any portal in the realm; this may be delayed or hard to notice if you get too used to it, though.
That is, just in case I miss telling you about something, it's a subtle thing - even though you can sense it, I may make a mistake, and end up being wrong about something. That will carry through in-character, 'cause this is an iffy thing, anyway.

POWER TWO
(at will): Open, close, seal, or unseal any officially created portal in the realm. There is no limit to the use of this ability.
There are two, but there is only one that is in a spot that will be useful for you to send your people through; the other is already sealed.

POWER THREE
(at will): The key bearer may choose a single portal or gate or other transition method anywhere in the realm that exists or does not exist. If the portal exists, the key-bearer may affect the one portal as if it were an officially created portal, save that a key-bearer can only choose one portal to affect this way per key owned. If the portal does not exist, the key bearer can create one and then treat it as an "official" portal, save that a key-bearer can only choose one portal to affect this way per key owned. (So a bearer of two keys can affect two portals, and a bearer of three keys can affect three portals). This does not count against the limit of POWER TWO (as that power has no limit). If a key-bearer maintains a portal for 7 years, it becomes a new official portal and no longer counts against the limit of portals maintained. The portals opened by a key-bearer may go from (or to) the demiplane of sin and virtue to (or from) anywhere the key-bearer knows exists.
You've three keys; you can create or destroy - but not both - up to three unofficial portals.

POWER FOUR
(7 minute per key per year): The key-bearer may temporarily delay or quell the eradication energies unleashed on the plane.
You've three keys. You can delay for 21 minutes.

POWER FIVE
(???/???): the key-bearer may be able to mitigate some of the destructive energies on those who are inside. Maybe.

And, for clarity, a set of definitions:

- Open: the portal is open; a 40 ft. diameter sphere causes all creatures within to transition to or from the demiplane of sin and virtue to a specified alternate plane of existence. For both official portals this is (probably) Golarion, and this destination cannot be changed. The process is disorienting and requires 1d4 rounds, though multiple groups or crowds of people can transition at the same time (during the same 1d4 rounds; for example, if a packed, forty-foot circle of people passed into a portal, as soon as their 1d4 ⇒ 4 rounds began their transition, a second packed 40-ft. circle group of people could enter, and the round after that second group's 1d4 ⇒ 3 began, a third group could begin, even though the first two groups were still traveling. The second group, traveling (3) rounds would arrive before the first group, traveling (4) rounds, but all would be able to travel. If there is not room, people get pushed to the nearest open space that can support them - including the air, if they can fly - on the other side of the portal and become immune for 24 hours to the transitioning effect.) The opening of a portal may be made continuous (working at all moments), intermittent (for example: only on nights of the full moon in Golarion in Varisia), or dependent on variables specified by the key maker (example: only with the head of a demon cut off during the light of a full moon in Varisia, Golarion). While the portal is open, creatures, energies, and objects are be transferred freely.

- Close: The portal is no longer active and will not transport individuals.

- Sealed: The portal will not open. It is possible to set up a "contingent" seal, so that a portal has a very specific opening requirement and will open under specific conditions. This mechanism must be clarified at the time of creation (such as: the portal may only come unsealed if the previously-mentioned demon-head is brought to the portal and a lengthy ritual praising Inarus is enacted.

- Unsealed: The portal is no longer sealed and may be opened or closed normally (though a keybearer may override someone else's ability to open or close the portal).

All of these "rules" and "definitions" are conversational and filled with implication; these are not iron-hard absolute-wording rules or rulings. The gist is given, rather than the specifics (even though I go into lots of specifics, because that might help). That means, if you're picking apart words and sentence groups to find what I mean, we've already miscommunicated.

Hope that helps!

A'aight! Goin' back to fever-land! Laters!

TL - the boards are a tad unstable now. Please remember to save your posts before posting.

Certain powerful entities (such as demigods or demon lords) or powerful groups (such as a high-level mage's cult or druid circle) may be able to band their power together to equal or exceed the power of a key-bearer, though no one can reverse a key-bearer's decision to close or seal a given portal.

I'm going to assume this is the covens intent...

@ Mort, speculate for me where the coven's dimension enters into this and if you think they will leave it for Golarion.

So open a porthole for your people to Golarion. If you can send Iya - Iya to them to lead them that would be wonderful, unless she wants to stay with you...

If you would send Usawoti to where we entered the covens dimension and open a porthole near there that goes to Golarion.

@ GM TL if the coven stay in their dimension would they be safe there?

Weighing if I want to banish Iya-iya to Golarion now as part of the activation process. You and the three sisters get banished to the plane. So you can go and find the Coven and tell them about it.

Part of me does, to keep her safe and ensure she gets out, but my people will need a guide.. And I don't know who to trust. You're a little shifty.

I will boot Iya Iya out of the tower because bad things happen if she stays. Whether she wants it or not. Think Spiderman telling MJ not to get involved with his superhero business.

I can only open portal at giants and not Coven.

What the Coven does is their problem. They must be warned to leave. If they choose to stay after the warning it's their choice.

I would hope you could go to Golarion with yeye, but if you wish to stay here, it's your choice as well.

So open a porthole for your people to Golarion. If you can send Iya - Iya to them to lead them that would be wonderful, unless she wants to stay with you...

I'd recommend sending most of Inarus' people to the entry gate. Remember, there's no limit on that, you have three keys, and it's a looooooot of people you're trying to evacuate, so if two portals are used elsewhere, this will maximize lives saved.

(Think of it like water through a water hose. You can pump a certain amount of water through one hose, but you can pump more through more hoses. The difference is, he'll probably want a charismatic so-and-so or several - Aid Another, yo - to persuade the giants to exit, now.)

If you would send Usawoti to where we entered the covens dimension and open a porthole near there that goes to Golarion.

The nearest viable place is the bridge leading to the storm giants' place and the coven. Probably the border, near the giants. Though the portal fits on the bridge, the question is if you want the giants absorbing all that sin before being unleashed into Golarion.

@ GM TL if the coven stay in their dimension would they be safe there?

It is entirely impossible to say.

I am happy to proceed the way TL described then. If I can I would bear the burden of neg levels and ability score drain on myself, if not - allocation as stated.
Iya-iya will be banished to the entrance with most of my people, telling them to use the gate, then get the remainder out at giants gate. Usawoti will be banished out of the tower on giants island.

Portal will be at Giants island border.

But maybe you might want to wait a while for me to compose my farewell to Iya-iya. I might never see her again after all. It's going to be a lonely 10,000 years...

I was ninja'd by Mort

.. And I don't know who to trust. You're a little shifty.

Wow

shift·y

[ˈSHiftē]

ADJECTIVE
shiftier (comparative adjective) · shiftiest (superlative adjective)

(of a person or their manner) appearing deceitful or evasive:
"a shifty, fast-talking lawyer"
synonyms: devious · evasive · slippery · duplicitous · false · deceitful · underhanded · untrustworthy · dishonest · shady · wily · crafty · tricky · sneaky · treacherous · artful · sly · scheming · snide · hinky
antonyms: honest

Really?

The nearest viable place is the bridge leading to the storm giants' place and the coven. Probably the border, near the giants. Though the portal fits on the bridge, the question is if you want the giants absorbing all that sin before being unleashed into Golarion.

I didn't think of that,

I was hoping Usawoti could go near the giants and tell them to leave, as he was explaining to the Yeye and the coven.

OK, we may as well finish it. Inarus, or should I say “Luu Chötgör, Mös ba tachaalyn Burkhan” go ahead and open some portholes

I am happy to proceed the way TL described then. If I can I would bear the burden of neg levels and ability score drain on myself, if not - allocation as stated.

Iya-iya will be banished to the entrance with most of my people, telling them to use the gate, then get the remainder out at giants gate. Usawoti will be banished out of the tower on giants island.

Portal will be at Giants island border.

But maybe you might want to wait a while for me to compose my farewell to Iya-iya. I might never see her again after all. It's going to be a lonely 10,000 years...

You'll want to give the farewell after you banish her, I'm afraid. You won't really have time, otherwise.

so we are still have our 'telepathic' connection and we can still talk?

I know the 'eternal seed is hiding in usawoti's armor, I assume they are still with him in the 'giant armor' since he left all magical items behind as 'sacrifice'

Ok if I understand right, Uawoti has been 'banished' to the storm giants island and from there he can enter/speak with the coven.

I'm not entirely sure about what 'portals' have been open. Was Inarus' people 'banished to the 'standing stones' portal and it's been opened? does that count as one of the 'three'? one (or two) portals opened for the Giants, coven (if the wish) Usawati and Yeye will it/they lead to the 'standing stone' portal that is opened or will it be a separate portal going straight to Golarion? If it is a different (or two different) portals, will they open the same place as the 'standing stone' portals.

GM TL we are still concerned about Erevel: Can Inarus (now the demi-god of this plane hint hint, wink wink, nidge nudge make a telepathic service announcement to Erevel for him to get to the 'standing stones' or the 'giant' portal in the next twenty minutes or face final destruction?

Also shouldn't Inarus be able to tell where he is?

After a little more information I will post in game. TL if you want to give a little information about where Usawoti lands I will RP that as well as my good-byes to Inarus.

AS a totally separate question. If the elves could open the porthole to this world. Why can't Usawoti demand as payment the ability to open the 'standing stone' porthole so he can come visit Inarus?

edit: May Yalagch travel with Usawoti, the three ladys and the eternal seed, well and Shuuvu and Mope?

so we are still have our 'telepathic' connection and we can still talk?

Yes!

I know the 'eternal seed is hiding in usawoti's armor, I assume they are still with him in the 'giant armor' since he left all magical items behind as 'sacrifice'

Uh... I am a good GM who definitely didn't forget that. Yes.

As an aside, I discovered why my notes were haphazard; I'd had a second hard-drive prior to the storm - it appears the majority of my stuff was on that. I'll need to see about getting back to that.

Ok if I understand right, Uawoti has been 'banished' to the storm giants island and from there he can enter/speak with the coven.

Yes, he can cross the sin/virtue-bridge and go talk to them - hypothetically.

I'm not entirely sure about what 'portals' have been open. Was Inarus' people 'banished to the 'standing stones' portal and it's been opened? does that count as one of the 'three'? one (or two) portals opened for the Giants, coven (if the wish) Usawati and Yeye will it/they lead to the 'standing stone' portal that is opened or will it be a separate portal going straight to Golarion? If it is a different (or two different) portals, will they open the same place as the 'standing stone' portals.

From what I can tell from the conversation above: main entrance, one near you, one "near the giants" - that's at least three islands, though I suppose I'd recommend it be on the edge of Stone Giant island (near Cloud giant island) - seems the best way to maximize the survival of those you know/care about.

GM TL we are still concerned about Erevel: Can Inarus (now the demi-god of this plane hint hint, wink wink, nidge nudge make a telepathic service announcement to Erevel for him to get to the 'standing stones' or the 'giant' portal in the next twenty minutes or face final destruction?

Not in the key description, I'm afraid.

Though... he can try. As can you!

Who knows if it'll work?

(It definitely works inside the tower, on his three layers, at least.)

Also shouldn't Inarus be able to tell where he is?

Not in the "key" description, I'm afraid. Inarus can tell the state of portals, not people.

That said, he can "look around" at the demiplane. He can't interact with it or do anything, but he can put his senses somewhere and almost seem like he's there (except he's not - he's in the room seeing an accurate illusion). I think this was supposed to be a power limited to the Pride key, but, eh, the ghost dragon's gonna be in a room for 504 sets of 24 hours (12,096 hours) - I'm a cruel and heartless GM, but I'll let it slide.

After a little more information I will post in game. TL if you want to give a little information about where Usawoti lands I will RP that as well as my good-byes to Inarus.

Let's say the edge of the lightning "fortress" where the storm giants were (remember the electric tunnels that disappeared behind you?)

AS a totally separate question. If the elves could open the porthole to this world. Why can't Usawoti demand as payment the ability to open the 'standing stone' porthole so he can come visit Inarus?

Well... they knew where the entrance was... at least it seems that way. Erevel seems to have "woken up" at the same time you all did when unceremoniously dropped into this plane. Doesn't seem like it was intentional on his part, so much as an affect of an intermittent (but open) portal. You may certainly make that demand of them, however.

... that said, you know the destructive scouring's going to last 500 years, right? It's... pretty brutal. And thorough. And looooooooong.

edit: May Yalagch travel with Usawoti, the three ladys and the eternal seed, well and Shuuvu and Mope?

Yes. Usawoti can make that happen.

I am not concerned about Erevel. For not telling us the whole story, he can rot for all I care. You're still mostly human, while I got the short end of the stick, trapped here for...something pretty much short of eternity.

Yeah I would put the portal for the giants where it would not contaminate them by sin and most of them could get out.

I'm sorry GM, but it's better you do the placement with me giving the rough idea since you know the map better then I.

Anyway, I'm in a slightly irritable mood. If I project it, I apologize since my shielding has never been very good.

Inarus: for real, please PM me if there is anything you need to talk about - in this game or out of it.

I just did =)

Usawoti also heard my whine =)

yeah, not sure why Vincent is having trouble understanding how stairs work...

TL, once we've sorted out where everyone is, place Usawoti wherever he is going to be and he will start talking to people...

That too yes. I really cannot imagine how you get past the person on the stair without you know, trying to push past him?

Edit: I hope the game wasn't waiting on me!

@ TJ, I've been thinking about responses from Usawoti, I was going to wait until he was 'teleported' somewhere. is that ok, or should he start acting like he knows what's going to happen?

he Tl what do you think of the archetype Sable Company Marine?

Also one of my favorite character names just came open, so I may change characters for RotR :-)

It's great! Go for it!

Sorry - though I had I had at first thought to wait for you, your previous post made it clear that it's me we are waiting on, and I was aware of this: I didn't have time yesterday (though I was mentally finalizing everyone's place!); I hope to get to this today!

Catching up on past discussion posts:

Re: Kingdom-building in Kingmaker:

I unabashedly admit to having crunched the numbers using the 'expanded' kingdom-building rules, and came to the conclusion that the most effective way to kick your kingdom into an expansion overdrive was to make it full of brothels, prisons, and apiaries... as well as to have 24 public holidays per year.

All of which is a little sad, and slightly cringe-worthy...

Re: Ravenloft:

I love Ravenloft! I used to submit third-party stuff back in the day, to the 'official' third-party organ.

It is the only campaign where I can honestly say that I died, was brought back as kind-of ghoul/mummy hybrid (retaining my class levels), and then later was restored to life by a mad scientist who gave me a gastrointestinal tract transplant ;-)

To the best of my knowledge, there was *one* non-evil Demilord... which was the trapped Angel.

You see, TL. I know I am smarter and cheesier then the average pathfinder. Luke has more midiclorians cheese then I do, but that's not the point. You know the saying from Spiderman, "With great power comes great responsibility."

I approve of this message.

;-)

*blushes at Luke for gossiping behind his back*

You know I can't crunch numbers for the ultimate cheese since I need to count my claws most of the time to do maths?

Oh if it ever goes to Kingmaker - I will leave all the kingdom building to you. Maths eats the thoughts out of my head.

Ravenloft is a tad too dark for my taste :(

Being undead...eh I like lichdom, frankly. Though the means to achieve it...yuck, I have no interest in doing it.

Being a ghost might be cool too. The issues is do you still count as having a hand for somantic components? How do you take spell components out of your spell component pouch if you're incorporeal. I mean granted there's this.

At the end of the day I'd like to be a happy fluffball...my opinion is that enough crap happens in RL already.

I was in a Ravenloft game using the d20 Modern rules, we got to the 'tavern' in town before the GM called it on lack of players... yeah, that's all I got.

BTW I'm taking a mostly PBP off day. Got my friends wedding to attend.

Will get my undead army moving in path of exile. What can I say? I like to hide behind things.

Did someone say that they needed a hand (or a claw)...?

Regarding Ravenloft, it doesn't have to be all 'Call of Cthulhu' - yes, there is darkness, but it is also about struggling against the impenetrable night, reaching for that glimmer of light, and trying to protect the souls of the innocent, without sullying yourself too much in the process... for if you do, the Dark Powers certainly are watching, and will reserve a permanent place for you.

Honestly, the only successful true 'Ravenloft Campaign' that I have been in (apart from one-shot modules) involved a party from Krynn who ended up stepping through a portal to Sithicus, and the rest of the campaign revolved around trying to get back out of Ravenloft again, whilst frantically trying to survive everything that the demiplane threw at them ;-)

I think I just epic failed at protecting the souls of the innocent >.<

Larryn is getting freaked out by ravenloft and even shot at a kid ghost...granted that kid ghost lured the entire party into a ghoul ambush. Not that he was good to begin with...so it was a case of shoot first, think later.

And Luke you have absolutely horrible taste throwing crawling hands at people. Anyway - off to my friends wedding! Maybe going to get drunk too!

Hey, Gabriel can be perfectly pleasant, provided that he doesn't think you would make an interesting addition to his collection of 'children' ;-)

I didn't build him to be creepy *at all*, although I did manage to freak out a ghost once, who was not expecting to be able to be caressed by the severed hand...

Ok, I must confess, I'm a little weirded out by Gabriel Helminth... I am curious as to the game you applying for to need such a character...

Edit: oh an Undead campaign, well never mind then...

Let's just say that he was the right hand man of one of the Blood Lords of Geb ;-)

His DPS wasn't actually that amazing, but he was still a reasonable combatant (he throttled his way through a wide variety of interesting bipedal opponents), and by the end of it, I had made him more difficult to permanently kill than a lich :-D

LOL, I went back and read the recruitment and then some of the thread, great Idea for a character, reminds me of a 'Solomon Kane' short story I read many years ago. Of course not the raven part :)

Yes, well, I needed some way for him to communicate with the occasional non-undead that he encountered...

The idea of having the raven help him 'parachute' into hostile territory also amused me ;-)

a very unique and interesting character! very well thought out.

Of course, no surprise there :-)

it's funny, I've been rehashing my build, trying to finalize it and I found this quote that, along with the original PM we received, I copy and pasted into my Excel Document:

(Exclusively for the purpose of disclosure, I am of the opinion that there is a Caster/Martial-Disparity, and I understand it; I tend to think of casters' abilities as a feature, not a bug, and I understand the simplicity of the martials being a draw to many (though I would also enjoy there being powerful martial options). This is not meant as a convincing argument, but instead is meant to explain how I tend to view things.)

And all I could think was "Caster/Martial-Disparity" He didn't know you two very well, did he...

But I must confess, I find the "simplicity of the martials" as the draw he was concerned about :-)

Right hand man... So punny =) points for that, I enjoy puns. Even if throwing hands is like uhhh what?!

But yah I suppose once in game I'm fine.. Freedom of expression afterall.

If you think you are a sandwich, I won't convince you otherwise, if you want to throw hands - go ahead too...

Hey I finally found that photograph of Crummock-i-Phail and Geist That we took.