Valkur's Rise of the Runelords

Game Master Valkur

26. General Store (Bel'Tanis knows this place well :))

!!!

*blinks* There's an entire store devoted to monk items? I had no idea.

Anyways, Scoria will want to buy two potions of CLW, get another 5 regular shuriken, one 50' length of silk rope, and a smoke pellet. Total cost should be about 136gp, before any marking up or down.

Also, if I could learn a bit more about this House of Blue Stones, that would be super. <.<

Thaddeus will not do any shopping, but he will try to make a quick stop to see Amele and give her the 117gp he has for her (39x3)

He will then stop by the cathedral and give 100gp of the money he earned from the initial raid. Telling Father Zantus that it is to assist those that have suffered loss during the raid.

Between Notick, Bel'Tanis, Thaddeus and Khrondak, I reckon we'll be a poor but loved party. :)

You all have some time to buy additional equipment before either going to the Glassworks or the Manor.

Looks like Midori and Scoria are the only ones buying anything.

The House of Blue Stones is run by a monk named Sabyl Sorn of Irori. It is a place where one can come to meditate. If befriended she could offer some items for sale.

Notick is meant to be a mix of Diran Bastiaan (You get high-fives if you get the name reference) and robin hood.

Plus, he has a lot of sins he feels he needs to atone for.

Hey guys, I'm currently away and won't be able to post till probably wednesday. Please bot my character and have a good game!

I'm sorry, but I'm not seeing where everyone considers it an obvious trap/ambush, or that Ameiko is in danger. Let's look at purely the facts we have in the order we got them.

There was a Goblin raid.
There was a priest's body gone missing (of which we still have no clue as to why)
The tracks led to a goblin lair
Lonjiku argued with Ameiko to give up the inn and leave with him.
In the morning Ameiko was gone, and a note from her half-brother Tsuto accused Lonjiku of being involved in the raid.
Tsuto's note asked her to meet him at the Glassworks, Lonjiku's business, at midnight.
Lonjiku was not at home, said to have gone to work before leaving town.
The business is not operating, but then again the owner is leaving town.

So, from the clues as I see them, there are a few more likely scenarios:
Tsuto and Ameiko have Lonjiku hostage (or dead)
Lonjiku has Tsuto and Ameiko hostage (or Tsuto dead)
Neither Lonjiku nor Tsuto seem likely to hurt Ameiko (The father wanted her to come with him, and the brother wanted to confide his suspicions to her. She's the only one that treated him like family).
OR The brother and sister have retreated into hiding from Lonjiku, and he has already left.

We've seen no violence. There have been no signs of bloodshed. There are no sounds of combat or cries for help. The business is not open today, but the owner is leaving town, so I don't think that's all that suspicious.

Now I've run this module before, and I know what's going on, but Thaddeus has seen no signs that point to trap/ambush/someone in immediate danger. If someone can point any of these signs out to him that he's missed, that may change his mind. Until then, he's going to continue to assume they are trying to find a man attempting to leave town, that has had a serious accusation leveled against him.

Oh, I totally get why Thaddeus is reacting the way he is. Bel'Tanis on the other hand, woke up to find that the person who's been his closest friend and supporter since he arrived in Sandpoint to be uncharacteristically absent. That worries him. The note the group found just fans his fears even more, to the point where he's being brash.

I have no idea what's going on, other than Bel'Tanis is worried for his friend and he's afraid the note might be true. That's enough to spur him into action.

Character motivations aside, I, as the player, find it highly suspicious this place is shut down. Even if the owner were leaving, that shouldn't be reason to shut down a whole factory. No idea what's through the doors though. I suspect I won't like it though =\

I'm with Thaddeus here. Of course as players we KNOW we're going to face lots of battles, but as characters I think it's just unrealistic assuming everything is a trap or a big menace simply because we have OOC knowledge and are aware of being in a game world. If your character can explain his actions and motivations like Bel'Tanis did, that's fine, though.

Just wanted to say that, as I'm not a big fan of metagaming.

On a side note, am I the only one who hasn't played this module? :)

I've not played it either. All of this is brand new to me!

It's new to me too!

But I will say you are all doing a good job of not metagaming. Which is hard not to do if you have been playing D&D for long time. :)

Happy Thanksgiving to all.

I haven't played it, but I am running it.

And trying very hard not to let it affect my play.

;)

I also have not played it.

XP for the battle in the Glass Factory.

Challenge Rating 3
8 Goblins
135XP per person.
Cumulative XP Total:1165

Gold Piece total if everything is sold: 72GP

Gold Piece total if everything is sold: 72GP

Presuming we find Ameiko and save her so she can keep selling stuff for us! =P

Regarding Bel'Tanis' heritage, you guys did see light starting to shine and spill from his eyes during the initial goblin raid when the whip-wielding goblin went after the little girl. Not sure what conclusions you'd draw from that, but at the least I imagine he might have seemed something other than "just" human at that point.

If you want to have pieced it together on your own, that's cool. If you want to just think something's different and not know, that's cool. Also, he did just mention that he can see in the dark. Feel free to ask how that's possible if you think it'd be a good opportunity for rp =)

And as I think about it some more, I suppose it's also possible his heritage is already common knowledge in town. We've heard that Nualia (Tobyn's daughter, the priest whose grave was robbed) was an aasimar as well, and she was seemingly something of a minor celebrity. Bel'Tanis would certainly hope that isn't the case with him (because he hates being singled out on account of it), but that's really up to our intrepid DM to decide. I do think that's a potentially fun development for Bel'Tanis down the line though. As our recognition grows in Sandpoint, it's likely that he'll always be compared to Nualia as knowledge of his heritage becomes more and more apparent. And when his skin becomes the color of burnished steel at level 3, it should be pretty plain at that point, I'd think. =P

XP for Tusto.

Challenge Rating 3
Tusto
135XP per person.

Cumulative XP Total:1300

Grats your 2nd level!

How are we determining hp gains?
Roll?
Take half (so a d10 would be 5hp, a d6 would be 3)?
Take half plus 1 (so a d10 would be 6, a d6 would be 4)?

Some other method?

Level 2!
+1 BAB
+1 Fort Save
+2 Skill Points: Climb, Knowledge(local)
Fighter Bonus Feat: Weapon Focus(scimitar) (will retrain this at a later level to falchion)

Level 2!
+1 BAB
+1 Fort Save
+1 Reflex Save
+1 Will Save
+4 Skill Points: Acrobatics, Knowledge (Religion), Perception, Stealth
Monk Bonus Feats: Toughness, Deflect Arrows
+1 Natural Armor

Monk of the Sacred Mountain gets tougher, finally.

Leveled up and ready to go. I'm ok with going straight to the tunnels (unless someone wants to roleplay Tsuto's imprisonment).

Level 2!
+1 BAB
+1 Fort
+1 Will
+6 Skill points (with human bonus): Diplomacy (x2), Intimidate, Knowledge: Arcana, Spellcraft, Use Magic Device
1 more 0th and 1st level spell/day
2 new spells known: Enlarge Person, Ray of Enfeeblement

When we hear back about HP, he will add his favored class +1 to them.

I'm fine with glossing the imprisonment. We will remove his gear, and ask Ameiko if anything he had in his possession belonged to her or her father.

Level 2!
+1 BAB
+1 Fort
+1 Will
+5 Skill Points (Added to: Bluff, Knowledges, and Spellcraft)
+1 0 and 1st level spells per-day
2 new spells known (Frostbite & Vanish)

Same as everyone else on HP stuffs.

Level 2
+1 BaB
+1 Ref
+1 Will

Versatile Performance
Well-Versed

+1 first level spell/day

added 2 0th: [fc bonus] Prestidigitation, Sift
added 1 1st: Saving Finale

Skills: added Perform (sing) and Stealth
The skills with an * are required for Pathfinder Chronicler.

If Ameiko claims all of Tsuto's possessions, the 72 gold from goblin gear is split as 10 gp each. 12 gp to party pool.

Tsuto's Items...

Silver Ring (Magical)
Potion (Magical)
Composite Shortbow
20 Arrows
masterwork thieves' tools
Silver Earings
6 Pouches of Gold dust
8 Pouches of Silver dust
10pp

Oh and I forgot the story award for rescuing Ameiko.

1200xp/6

200XP Each

Cumulative XP Total:1500

Just wanted to point out that Perception checks cannot, by RAW, locate and follow tracks. Instead, this is covered in the Survival skill:

Follow Tracks: To find tracks or to follow them for 1 mile requires a successful Survival check.

Unless we're house ruling it, in which case all is well. :)

Just wanted to point out that Perception checks cannot, by RAW, locate and follow tracks. Instead, this is covered in the Survival skill:

Quote:

Follow Tracks: To find tracks or to follow them for 1 mile requires a successful Survival check.

Unless we're house ruling it, in which case all is well. :)

Sigh...

Have we gotten word of how we are doing HP/level? Just need to know so we can update our sheets.

If it's half, I'm at 16 HP
If it's half+1 then I'm at 17 HP
If it's a roll, then I'm at... 1d8 ⇒ 8
yay! 20 HP

(I hope it's rolled)

Sorry, for some reason I missed the HP question. I'm a fan of rolling:).

Re-roll ones. Those hurt.

1d8 + 1 ⇒ (7) + 1 = 8

Yes!

HP: 1d8 + 2 ⇒ (6) + 2 = 8

Adding +3 to that from Toughness gives a total hp gain of 11. Quite nice.

Level 2 HP's: 1d10 + 3 ⇒ (6) + 3 = 9

HP ROLL: 1d8 ⇒ 6

Can't I take the average (half+1)? I dread rolling HP, my rolls always suck. Yeah, I'm not much of a gambler either. :P

@Khrondak, have faith in the dice roller! :)

Everybody else did really well!

1d8 ⇒ 2

Crap. That's why I always take the other option.

I'd really rather take the average every level. Statistically, if you roll every time, that's what you'll get in the end, with the exception that you won't be weaker or stronger in certain levels (right now this roll leaves me far behind the rest of the party).

For instance:

1st level = 8
2nd level 1d8 ⇒ 2
3rd level 1d8 ⇒ 4
4th level 1d8 ⇒ 2
5th level 1d8 ⇒ 1
6th level 1d8 ⇒ 4
7th level 1d8 ⇒ 7
8th level 1d8 ⇒ 8
9th level 1d8 ⇒ 1
10th level 1d8 ⇒ 4
11th level 1d8 ⇒ 7
12th level 1d8 ⇒ 1
13th level 1d8 ⇒ 6
14th level 1d8 ⇒ 3
15th level 1d8 ⇒ 1
16th level 1d8 ⇒ 5
17th level 1d8 ⇒ 1
18th level 1d8 ⇒ 7
19th level 1d8 ⇒ 8
20th level 1d8 ⇒ 7

Re-rolling ones:
1d8 ⇒ 8
1d8 ⇒ 5
1d8 ⇒ 1
1d8 ⇒ 6
1d8 ⇒ 7

Re-rolling ones again:
1d8 ⇒ 8

These rolls amount to 108 HP from hit dice at 20th level. Taking the average would leave me with 103, which is roughly the same, but with the added benefit that I wouldn't have to be weaker in the levels in which I'd rolled below average - specially if they are consecutive levels, which leaves the character behind in the HP curve. In this example, for instance, I'd only start catching up with the average HP for a level in the 5th level.

lol - as soon as Valkur said "everyone else did really well!" I thought, "oh crud, he just ensured Khrondak will roll a 1 or 2"

Ahhh, the fickle dicebot. I'm convinced it knows when to tank a roll!

Sorry Khrondak, damn dice roller...

I don't know why, but I am still really finding the idea of an emancipated ghoul absolutely hysterical. Maybe this is what Nualia is really up to? She's smuggling ghouls to freedom through underground tunnels like Harriet Tubman =P

Once, in 2E, I was playing a goblin thief. We had been given max at first, and then for the next five levels I rolled a '1' every single time. I had a whopping 11 HP as a 6th level character.

So, we were about to level, and my DM says "If you roll another '1', it will automatically be a '6'". So, I rolled, and got the only expected result... a '2'.

My DM decided that my dice did it on purpose just because of what he said, so he gave me a '6' anyways.

-----------------

In another 2E game, I was a dwarf fighter with an 18 Con (DM gave us crazy stat roll method). For levels 2 and 3, I rolled a '1' for HP (we started at 3rd). I was so excited when we got level 4 that I would be able to have more HP as the tank, only to roll a '2'.

HP rolls hate me, but for some reason when given the option I will choose rolling over any other method of gaining HP.

Sometimes, it messes with your plans, but there something about the way the character evolves based on what they roll for HP (becoming more or less cautious, choosing different feat paths, taking different magic items). To me it gives them a certain breath of life to see them from what happens over what I was planning to do with them.

Sorry, not sure of my point, I just habitually roll low for HP, but it's still my favorite method. Especially for a game where your every success is at the whim of the dice.

RE: Rolling for HPs

I always have my players roll when I'm GM, and I never let them roll until I'm standing next to them, looming over head like a terrible giant. The pressure and anticipation are a hoot.

And I can definitely remember, back when wizards and sorcerers got d4's, one of my players pegging a one, looking up at me with big, sad puppy dog eyes and then sighing like Eeyore while mumbling, "Well... I guess I'm taking Toughness". It became one of the group catch phrases for whenever the dice betrayed us. =)

I can totally understand preferring predictable patterns to more random results, but I'm the kind of player who'd rather do 2 damage one round and 98 the next rather than 50 on both.

I also loom ominously, heavy breathing and all, as they roll that one fateful die that will set their tone for the entire next level.

Though, for my players, I allow either half or roll. They must decide BEFORE they roll, and must stand by the result. I have some players that wouldn't have it any other way than rolling, and some that just like the safety of knowing what they get.

One of the players in my ftf game had an grey elf wizard in 2e that rolled horrible for hit points. And to make matters worse he had died several times in the line of duty. I think he had an 8 con and about 40hp and the end of the campaign. To this day when another PC gets semi-bad HP rolls we refer to the elven wizard named Raistlin! That is what you get for naming your character out of a book. :)

Hey folks, I've been selected for RPG Superstar 2013, so I'll be taking a break for a few days as I work on my submissions for the following rounds. I'll try to post when I can, but I'm afraid I won't have too much time.

@DM-Valkur - could you bot Khrondak for a little while? You know the drill: charge and attack with eathbreaker, channel energy to heal allies. Pretty straightforward. :)

Dude! That's awesome! Well done!! =D

Cool! And it was one of the ones I liked, as well. ;)

I admit it started as a Shoanti riding item inspired by this PbP, but it grew apart from that as I tweaked it. Thanks for the inspiration, guys! ;)