I am excited to start my search for two new players. Half of my group left due to moving and career/interest changes. Thankfully, we completed our last campaign so the search for new players is easier. This is not an online game. We play in the San Gabriel area in California twice monthly on Saturdays, usually from 11:00 am to 5:00 pm.
We prefer Pathfinder 1st edition, mostly because it’s a fully fleshed out system and we own most of it. Our play style is deeply character based and we would like our new players to share this interest. We occasionally do voices at the table, but most importantly, we do our best to adopt personalities that fit our characters. We write backstories and do journal entries between sessions detailing our own characters perspectives on what occurred, which are read before the following session, if completed. This, of course, is optional, but adds a lot to the game.
We do a mix of home brew and Adventure Paths. We use AP’s as a loose guide and make changes based on the development of the characters. Sometimes the stories parallel and sometimes we abandon the AP entirely to pursue a more interesting story. Our games are wholly unique since the characters at the table are unique. With detailed characters, our NPC and story interactions are equally engaging, and battles are amazing because of it. Everyone at the table is extremely versed in the rules, so this allows complex environments with elevations, lighting, terrain and obstacles that flow seamlessly.
We currently play at my house in my garage located in the San Gabriel area. It is both heated and air cooled. We have hundreds of minis, maps and terrain. There is coffee, water, tea as well as alcohol, if that’s your thing. Everyone is very courteous, and we keep the game relaxed. We do prefer an older experienced player, but we do not shy away from younger players either. Although we do require a level of maturity. We have two players in their early 40’s and one in their late 20’s. Everyone is amazing.
If you are looking for a new group, please post and we can discuss.
I am trying to learn to navigate it, but I cannot figure it out.
For example, I want to purchase Planar Adventures. Where do you go to do this? I eventually did a search and found it under sales/scratch and dent. Seems like a strange place to go.
When I select Pathfinder, I can click on Pathfinder Roleplaying game, which takes me to a page with links to the Core Rule Book and bestiary. None of the core book lines.
If I want the campaign setting line... I have to go through so many slow links that I cannot imagine this site to be optomized for sales.
If I want to purchase Planar Advantures... how do I do this using the links?
Is Friday morning the earliest we can pick up our badges?
I am asking because if the event opens at 7:00, and the first games are at 8:00, then I am expecting a pretty serious rush for everyone to try to get their badges and event tickets to not be late for their first game.
And regarding registrations for organized play events... do we really get tickets or passes to prove our registration at a table? I am guessing from something I read earlier, and possibly misremembering.
It is my understanding I am allowed to purchase before, during and after an adventure. Before and after is easy, as long as what I am purchasing is an approved item. During the adventure is subject to the GM... or something. I am not clear on these rules yet, but it has not been an issue in the three games I have played.
My question is how do I properly record my purchases?
After my second game, I acquired enough gold to upgrade my weapon and armor. I added my purchases of a masterwork weapon, masterwork armor and some alchemical items, all valued at over 25 gp and wrote it on my inventory tracking sheet to show my GM.
It is my understand that I should have my GM write these purchases, or I write these purchases on the chronicle sheet, and have the GM initial. Then write the chonicle number on the sheet showing what sheet authorizes these purchases.
Then I record how much gold I spent on that chronicle sheet to come up with my total.
However, at the game, in the beginning of the game I told him I purchased some items, armor and weapon upgrades to mastework, and he said it didn’t matter. I was told it only matter if it was unusual items.
I am guessing this is a difference in what you are “supposed to do” and what “really happens”, is that right?
Should I always mention my purchases and only have them record it if they care? I am still going to record the gold spent on my #3 chronicle sheet, but should I write what I purchased as well, even though there is no signature?
I have a couple questions about filling out the chronicle sheets and doing some character maintenance. I am player and not the GM.
1. When we are filling out the gold section, the starting GP, is this an accumulated number of all gold you have collected in PFS?
2. In the gold spent section, is that the gold you have spend during the course of the adventure or an accumulated amount of gold you have spent in your career?
2.b If you spend 15 gold bribing NPC's, would you record this information here?
3. Do you have to spend prestige points at the end of the game and have that spend amount recorded here or can I spend it anytime before the next session?
3.b Can I spend it at the beginning of a session and have that amount recorded on the chronicle sheet?
4. To clarify the inventory sheet, I only enter items with a value equal to or higher than 25 gold? So that means most standard equipment would not be entered on the sheet, correct?
5. For items found during the adventure, are we allowed to purchase them only once or as many times as we would like, for example a potion of bull's strength?
We are all getting ready for PaizoCon 2018 and we want to try our characters out before the convention.
Our local store only runs games on the first Saturday of each month, which does not work well with our schedules. We would like to run a few society games at our house, but I am not sure how to do this?
We have enough players and we are all very experienced with the game. The three people that are attending PaizoCon (me and two others) want to try a game this Saturday. A fourth member of our group is willing to run the game. He is experienced with the rules, but does not have a Society number. He is willing to get one of course.
What are the steps to turn this dream into a reality? Do we have to have the event sanctioned? Can we run the game at home or do we need to go to a local gaming store?
We only have three players, but page 11 of the PFS Guide says we could have the GM play an NPC (which we would rather not do).
The Guide also says we should work with a local coordinator to schedule are game, but since we are doing this with our group, is this necessary?
The Guide explains how to fill out the chronicle sheets, so we can all do that together after the game, right?
We are hoping to get in at least one game before PaizoCon with our characters, but hopefully two.
In addition, I was going to buy #8-16 for our GM to run. It has a 5 star rating and I was hoping by picking an earlier scenario it would not interfere with games running at PaizoCon. Is this a good one for three 1st level characters?
Lycanthropy Question: I have been tracking down all the rules on this since one of my players recently got bitten. The primary rules are scattered between the CRB and the bestiary, but there are hints to other sources: Blood of the Moon and Classic Horrors Revisited: I have all of these books. Can you guys check my understanding:
Bit by a natural werewolf: DC15 Fort or contract the affliction
On a failed save, the PC has one hour to consume belladonna. The bestiary specifically calls out wolfsbane, referencing CRB pg 560, but I am uncertain if this is an error. I am doubtful they would reference wolfsbane in the bestiary and then belladonna in the CRB. My ruling for the purposes of my question is that the writers meant belladonna and not wolfsbane, even though the bestiary was printed after the CRB and would normally supersede the information printed.
BELLADONNA:
Type poison, ingested; Save Fortitude DC 14
Onset 10 minutes; Frequency 1/minute for 6 minutes
Effect 1d2 Str damage, target can attempt one save to cure a lycanthropy affliction contracted in the past hour; Cure 1 save
If the belladonna does not work, we are left with two options:
A remove disease or heal spell cast by a 12th level cleric (or arguably any divine caster) cast within 3 days of exposure
Remove curse or break enchantment cast during a full moon (according to Classic Horrors Revisited)
According to the curse in the CRB, anytime the afflicted is injured or on every full moon, the target transforms.
WEREWOLF LYCANTHROPY:
Type curse, injury; Save Fortitude DC 15 negates, Will DC 15 to avoid effects
Onset the next full moon; Frequency on the night of every full moon or whenever the target is injured
Effect target transforms into a wolf under the GM’s control until the next morning
My questions:
If you save vs the belladonna, does this still allow another save or does the poison need to affect you to allow a save?
When injured, does the player need to make a DC15 Will save to resist the change anytime they take damage? Is this only lethal damage or non-lethal damage as well?
If they are forced to change from damage, can they choose hybrid form or are they forced into animal form like on a full moon?
When forced to change from damage, do they lose their identity like a full moon’s transformation or must they make a DC 20 will save?
Do they change only a single night of the full moon or the three-day period?
Are they required to make a DC 20 Will save to retain their identity on the first full moon they experience or every full moon?
If they choose to change on the full moon, DC 10 for animal/hybrid, will that allow the afflicted to avoid the Will save to lose their identity?
I am 8 sessions into the Wrath, once again after my game folded two years ago due to player complications and mythic rules complications. After learning from my previous mistakes we are trying it again.
My changes have been:
* No mythic
* 25 Point buy
* Free cohort
* 5 hero points
* Mythic removed from most NPC's
In addition, we are using some unchained rules to spice things up:
* Automatic Bonus Progression
* Poisons and Disease
* Background Skills
* Skill unlocks open to everyone without a feat, or if you have the Signature Skill feat, you get all unlocks 5 levels earlier.
So far, the game has run very well. The odd thing, was I am in the very few that thought the campaign was too hard, instead of too easy. My players were getting hammered at all points, even with mythic. I think it's a lot to do with how I run the games, I use a lot of environmental effects (wind, darkness, etc) and that tends to reduce power a lot. I do believe that continuing with mythic on the previous game would have eventually caught us, since we ended the campaign at the end of the 3rd book. From what I read, it's that point people started to really feel the problems.
For now, what I have been doing mostlyi homebrew in the world running parallel to the story they have already played. So they can see their actions while focusing on different aspects. For example, we are going to Raliscrad to face Minagho now that she is depowered (this never happened in the AP, but her story was hinted at).
What I am wondering is with all the changes I have made, is this campaign viable to the finish? The books talk about how we should end at the end of book 5, given they could never face Deskari, but I am uncertain. The legendary abilities of automatic bonus progression give a huge boost at highter levels. It might still be possible.
I was also thinking about giving an extra feat at every 5 levels to beef of up their power a bit, I am sure in the long run, this is less useful. Maybe a +1 bonus to saving throws every 5 levels would help a lot more than a few feats. The magic items they get in the game will also help. I mean, man, look at all the artifacts that populate this AP!!!
Any ideas on how to make their characters poweful enough to face Demon lords, but not too powerful?
You are able to leap from hiding and strike great fear in your opponents.
Benefit(s): As a free action, you can attempt an Intimidate check to demoralize a flat-footed opponent you attack.
Taunt wrote:
You may be small, but your remarks cut others down to size.
Benefit: You can demoralize opponents using Bluff rather than Intimidate (see the Intimidate skill description for details) and take no skill check penalty for being smaller than your target.
I have a player interested in playing a wizard that focuses on scrolls. This player plans on taking levels in both the cyphermage and pathfinder savant prestige classes to build on this idea. In getting the character ready for play, we ran into a few questions that are to our knowledge unanswered. All of these questions are primarily focused on using scrolls in combat:
The rules state: The sheet is reinforced at the top and bottom with strips of leather slightly longer than the sheet is wide. Scrolls that hold three or more spells are usually fitted with reinforcing rods at each end rather than simple strips of leather. To protect it from wrinkling or tearing, a scroll is rolled up from both ends to form a double cylinder.
The rules further state a normal scroll is about 11 inches long, with each additional spell contained adding a foot to the overall length.
Is there a limit to how many spells can be on a scroll? According to the rules, although never explicitly stated, the limitation is only space as you could technically have 100 spells on a single scroll: a 100 foot long scroll.
Retrieving a scroll from a bag is a move action and reading a scroll is either a standard action or the time it would take to normally cast a spell. Is this time lengthened if the scroll contains a set number of spells? For example, I can see a scroll with three spells not hindered by this, but what if the scroll has 10 spells on it?
Part of the action economy of scrolls is explained: move action to retrieve and open, standard action to cast (for standard action spells), another move action to store and a second move action to retrieve a second scroll, if the character so choose. At this rate you are only releasing one spell every two rounds, equivalent to a heavy crossbow. Granted, you would cast a spell normally and then grab a scroll. Next round cast and then put away. Third round retrieve and caste, and finally fourth round store and cast a memorized spell to really maximize your round economy… but what if all of your scrolls are 10 feet in length? Can you really unroll and roll up these items so fast, while casting and storing and pulling and casting?
I was thinking about house ruling that you could only do this if the scroll has three spells or less, meaning the rods affixed are too cumbersome to manipulate easily in combat, but I also do not like to place unnecessary restrictions on my players.
Another question was how many scrolls could a wizard reasonably carry on her person? I do not mean stored in a bag of holding or handy haversack, but on their person. These scrolls are 8 ½ inches wide, but the leather straps or reinforcing rods are wider. Can you have two on your person before it would hinder movement? Five? Ten? Does it matter?
I am sure we have more questions, but I thought this would be a good start. Thank you in advance.
Can I get clarification on the RAI for the following:
For numerous lores in the Cyphermage Prestige Class, the text reads: ... this ability a number of times per day equal to 1/3 his cyphermage level (minimum 1).
Does this mean the cypher mage can use this ability once at levels 1-5 and twice at level 6, and therefore three times at level 9?
Or was the intent that you could use this ability once at levels 1-3, twice at levels 4-6 and thrice at levels 7-9?
I think the RAW is the former, but it seems strange that the increase in use would scale as such.
Somebody please help me with this spell. For some reason I confused myself .
How do you work the caster level and the AC bonus? You get the special at fifth level, which is castor level five. The spell says for every four caster levels you receive a plus one to AC. Does this spell start at fourth level? What is your AC bonus at 10 level?
I always thought when the spell mention caster level, your caster level was calculated as your character level as long as you only had one class. So, for example, a seventh level Cleric has A caster level of seven.
This spell seems to start at 4th level, gives you another bonus at 8th, then 12th, 16th and finally 20th. The math works out but it seems odd to me since usually when I see a spell reference a change bases on caster level I calculate from caster level one and then move forward. Originally, I thought this particular spell gave a +2 at 5th level since the wording is for every for caster levels and 5th level should be in the second tier: 1-4 = +1, 5-8 = +2, but is completely wrong.
Automatic bonus progression. I like this idea, but one of my players thinks to modify it into groups. So, for example, at 3rd level, instead of getting resistance, you could select resistance, deflection, armor, etc... You have to eventually select all of this first group before selecting the second group, but it allows a little more customization.
You guys see any potential power issues with this?
A stone giant is on cliff 40' up from the player characters. He is standing behind wall/embankment tall enough to conceal half his body.
While he is standing, he has cover against the players, but the players do not have cover relative to him.
I would like the Stone Giant to be able to bend down to grant him improved cover between turns. Not quite taking a knee, but just bending down. My rules questions is this?
Would bending down a little be a free action, a move action or a swift action? Can he use his 5' step?
I am the GM, so I can rule it either way, but I want to make sure this holds up against the rules. If questioned, I could rule that he uses his move equivalent action to stand back up, and a standard action to throw the rock. Then either a free action or a 5' to bend back down to give improved cover (I want him to still watch the battlefield).
Does this sound like it holds up? I want the players to be able to use this tactic as well with ranged weapons if they are in a similar situation. I plan on teaching them this tactic early on so when they see the stone giant scaling a wall high up for protection they know he will have a strong defensive advantage once in place and give gravity to trying to stop smart positioning.
In an attempt to learn how to do this, I thought throwing up a few scenarios would be fun. At each stage, I am curious how you would interpret the cards through the choosing and the spread. I will bold a line where I would like to know what you, as our harrower, would say to the individual wanting their fortune.
Bragg is competing in a dual to the death tomorrow and he is nervous.
Question: Will I survive against my encounter?
Now, I am still unsure if this is a reasonable question to ask, but this seems like something I would want to know if I was Bragg.
This sounds like a Strength related question, so I have Bragg pull a Strength card.
Role Card:The Uprising (Neutral Evil)
Reading:
Spread: Past
Queen Mother (Neutral good - Wisdom - partial match)
Winged Serpent (Lawful good - Wisdom - partial match)
The Rabbit Prince (Neutral Evil - Dexterity - no match)
Reading:
Spread: Present
The Teamster (True Neutral - Constitution - partial match)
The Theater (Lawful Neutral - Charisma - partial match)
The Tangled Briar (Lawful evil - Constitution - partial match)
Reading:
Spread: Future
The Rakshasa (Lawful evil - Knowledge - opposite match)
The Bear (True neutral - Strength - partial match)
The Paladin (Lawful good - Strength - opposite match)
To recap, you are always supposed to interpret true matches, opposite matches and role cards.
In the past, we have two cards we can interpret, but only need to do one. This is highly subjective on the reader.
In the present, we have three partial matches, as above, this is highly subjective.
The future is interesting, we have two opposite matches and we must interpret those, the third card is option.
I am making a character that uses the Harrow Deck and I am hoping to learn how to use this deck at the same time my character does.
It is a pretty steep learning curve that takes a lot of intuition and creativity.
I have some pretty basic questions, and for those who are just as confused as me, I feel having us all work this out in the same threat to be helpful.
1. What kind of questions can be asked?
In the sample at the end of the book, the question is something akin to is my mother getting remarried a good idea. The way the cards fall in the story make great sense from an experienced Harrower, but I need more. Do the questions have to be vague? Can you ask, "Are we going to survive if we charge the castle?" or "Am I going to die today?"
2. How much detail do you give about the role card in the choosing?
The example just says this is your relation to the question, but didn't really explain what that card was. Are they supposed to look at that card and get the meaning on their own? Or is this just a way to get a role card and then use it if it appears in the spread?
3. Who do the cards in the spread represent?
If you are asking "Will I be wealthy?" and you get the betrayal card in the true position, does this mean you will betray someone, someone will betray you or just that somewhere soon you will be witness to a betrayal?
Trying to learn all of these cards is daunting, but I am enjoying myself. I hope you guys find a way to answer my questions politely and then add your own. I think the Harrow deck is a pretty exciting addition to our game and I would like to learn how to do this justice.
Sorry if this has been answered before... I'm sure it has, but can't find it.
If I lose my special sword, how do I find it?
If an NPC takes it, I know I can scry on them, but what if they sold the item?
The scry spell specifically calls out creatures, but not objects.
Locate object will point me in the right direction, but what if it is guarded by who-knows-what? I would like to also be prepared.
I was wondering if you are facing a burrowing creature and he lifts his body only partway out of the ground, does he have partial cover ?
I ask this because in the environmental section of the CRB, we have this rule for water combat:
Attacks from Land: Characters swimming, floating, or treading water on the surface, or wading in water at least chest deep, have improved cover (+8 bonus to AC, +4 bonus on Reflex saves) from opponents on land. Land-bound opponents who have freedom of movement effects ignore this cover when making melee attacks against targets in the water. A completely submerged creature has total cover against opponents on land unless those opponents have freedom of movement effects. Magical effects are unaffected except for those that require attack rolls (which are treated like any other effects) and fire effects.
If you cast acid cloud, the spell says, "Each round on your turn, starting when you cast the spell, the fog deals 2d6 points of acid damage to each creature and object within it.
I highlighted the part I am concerned with. Does this mean the character takes damage as well as all their gear, or just unattended objects?
I had the last encounter start to burn all of their clothes and whatnot, but that was mostly for fluff. Then I started thinking, what if my wizard player enters and his component pouch gets destroyed. That does not seem like a lot of fun.
It does make the spell dangerous, and seems to make sense that everything would take damage, but could really alter an encounter quickly.
The entire spell is listed below:
Spoiler:
Acid Fog
School conjuration (creation) [acid]; Level magus 6, sorcerer/wizard 6
CASTING
Casting Time 1 standard action
Components V, S, M (powdered peas and an animal hoof)
EFFECT
Range medium (100 ft. + 10 ft./level)
Effect fog spreads in 20-ft. radius, 20 ft. high
Duration 1 round/level
Saving Throw none; Spell Resistance no
DESCRIPTION
Acid fog creates a billowing mass of misty vapors like the solid fog spell. In addition to slowing down creatures and obscuring sight, this spell's vapors are highly acidic. Each round on your turn, starting when you cast the spell, the fog deals 2d6 points of acid damage to each creature and object within it.
For a measly 50 gp worth of powered ruby, or something, cast by a divine caster (3rd level) it blocks the effects of every darkness spell in the game.
Yes, there is heighten deeper darkness, but that really never gets cast. I am running a wrath of the righteous game and a lot of creatures have deeper darkness at-will. I like to use these tactics to create more difficult encounters, but sadly by RAW (unless I am wrong, I am wrong often) all they have to do is pull out there little continual flame rock and bang, no more darkness spell. FOREVER.
Yes, I could cast dispel magic... but they know that and carry multiple. I tried thinking about having the two effects counter and another casting of deeper darkness would then work normally, but they pull out another one. Arg... this shouldn't be an arms race.
What I am trying to figure out is how to make this spell functional, but not something that can take out stronger spells. My houserule that I want to use is treat continual flame as a mundane spell that lasts until dispelled. Then even darkness would cancel out the light effects like it would a torch. I feel this to be more balancing.
Can anyone either validate this probably terrible houserule or offer suggestion one what they do?
Blood Sanctuary (Su): At 3rd level, due to the power of his blood, a bloodrager can stand confidently amid the effects of spells cast by himself or his allies. He gains a +2 bonus on saving throws against spells that he or an ally casts.
Why do you need a saving throw vs you cast yourself? Why saving throw bonuses against allies?
Starting at 1st level, the synthesist forms a close bond with his eidolon. Whenever the temporary hit points from his eidolon would be reduced to 0, the summoner can, as a free action, sacrifice any number of his own hit points. Each hit point sacrificed this way prevents 1 point of damage done to the eidolon (thus preventing the loss of the summoner’s temporary hit points), preventing the eidolon from being killed and sent back to its home plane.
This ability replaces life link.
Free actions says:
Spoiler:
Free actions don't take any time at all, though there may be limits to the number of free actions you can perform in a turn. Free actions rarely incur attacks of opportunity. Some common free actions are described below.
Cease Concentration on Spell
You can stop concentrating on a spell as a free action.
Drop an Item
Dropping an item in your space or into an adjacent square is a free action.
Drop Prone
Dropping to a prone position in your space is a free action.
Speak
In general, speaking is a free action that you can perform even when it isn't your turn. Speaking more than a few sentences is generally beyond the limit of a free action.
Does this mean the summoner can only move hit points from herself to her eidolon during her turn?
Shouldn't this be a "no action" or an immediate action?
Jerribeth wants Xanthir dead so she can take a promotion.
Grillixbee wants Jerribeth dead since he/she believes Xanthir is the more powerful out of the two, but he/she is truly only loyal to Areelu
Xanthir is just a powerful force.
The way the players are supposed to come in is through Q1 and fight 6 basilisks, a cake walk and then a few fiendish minotaurs in area Q2 through an illusionary wall the PC already know about. This is all straight forward.
The problem that I have is with the general "dungeon crawl" feeling of this. This is what I am trying to figure out, if the PC start to fight the minotaurs in area Q2, through the gate or not (everyone has access to teleportation or dimension door at this level), how is it that the ENTIRE complex is not aware of what is going on?
I was looking at the perception skill and it says hearing a combat is a DC -10. Modifiers are +1 for every 10 feet, +5 for a closed door and +10 for every foot of wall. Jerribeth has a perception check of +26. That means her reactive perception is +36. That means in her room in area Q5, the DC for her to hear a battle in Q2 is about a DC 5: about 50 feet away (DC +5), through a 1 foot wall (DC +10) in combat (DC -10). She is 100% going to know.
Xanthir sitting in his room counting his worms has about a DC 22 using similar calculations (70 feet, one closed door and 2 one foot walls). His perception is +23, so he will hear this too. It's not a big complex after all.
What is to stop the entire complex from coming down on the PC's? They are the heroes of Kenebres that killed Stauton, saved the heretic succubus, rescued Drezen and pretty much have caused problems for the forces of evil. Are they really going to just sit in their rooms and wait for the PC's to open each and every door?
Take the demons in Q9, I have no idea why they are not engaging against the PC's during the Q2 battle.. I mean they are only 80 feet away and they have line of sight. They are either going to attack or not, but the telepathy 100 feet thing is pretty much going to also alert the entire complex that the heroes have arrived.
I have trouble with this, and am working on a different solution and am very curious to what you have to say. I think when the PC's begin their simple battle with the minotaurs, Jerribeth is going to pop her cute little face around the corner and say hi to the PC's. She will give her little speech in private about how she really want Xanthir dead and hope the PC's don't just kill her outright.
If they run into Grillixbee, he/she can try to sway the PC's to not listen to Jerribeth and send them back to kill her, but either way Xanthir is going to know what is going on and scrying the entire time to prepare.
There is no way Grillixbee is going to let the PC's get a hold of documents just laying out on the table... this doesn't make any sense at all. The documents will be in Xanthir's room for save keeping well before the PC's reach the room.
All the wondering creatures are either going to hold back and do a full assault with whomever they are more allied with, or they are going to head for the hills.
I see this going down as two or three battles, with the other rooms either fleeing the scene or simple mop up that doesn't even deserve exposition.
The final battle will be with Xanthir, with maybe some of the demons assisting. I think having the Q9 demons and maybe some of the blackfire adepts helping.
Battle one or two will either be with Jerribeth with the remaining minotaurs helping, or with Grillixbee and the blackfire adepts.
Xanthir is smart and pretty wise as well. I am sure he knows Jerribeth is plotting against him and will wait to strike at the right time during the battle to finish off the PC's. Why would he wait for the PC's to recharge fully? Plus, he gets rid of the plotting Jerribeth at the same time.
So, another problem then pops up, there is no way the PC's can survive this assault.
I could have the PC's fight either Jerribeth or Grillixbee, which gives Xanthir time to get prepared, and send summons out to cause problems, but again, it gets too hard for the PC's.
I read the thread about how this AP was too easy and the mythic levels allowed them to tear though all the encounters, but this does not happen at my table. We have lost a number of characters and they complain the AP is a little too hard. We had another character death just last week against the annis hag. That was getting close to a TPK.
This post might be a little scattered, so I apologize. I hope my point is clear and I look forward to getting feedback and suggestions.
Can someone explain this one to me? Why in the world would you ever take mythic furious focus when mythic power attack is far and away better?
With mythic furious focus, you can spend a point to negate power attacks penalties for all attacks for one round. Pretty decent.
With power attack, not only does your bonus damage get doubled on a crit before the multiplier, but you get the furious focus power for an entire minute instead of one round.
Really? Am I reading this wrong?
I am prepared for the developers to chime in and say, "well, it's mythic", but come on. This is just poor design or planning.
Furious Focus (Mythic)
Your attacks create a rhythmic barrage that doesn't sacrifice precision for force.
Prerequisite(s): Furious Focus.
Benefit: When you are using Furious Focus, you don't take Power Attack's penalty on attack rolls that are made as attacks of opportunity. As a free action, you can expend one use of mythic power to negate Power Attack's penalty on all melee attacks you make for 1 round while using this feat.
Power Attack (Mythic)
Your attacks are truly devastating.
Prerequisite(s): Power Attack.
Benefit: When you use Power Attack, you gain a +3 bonus on melee damage rolls instead of +2. When your base attack bonus reaches +4 and every 4 points thereafter, the amount of bonus damage increases by +3 instead of +2.
In addition, the bonus damage from this feat is doubled on a critical hit, before it's multiplied by the weapon's critical multiplier.
You can expend one use of mythic power when you activate Power Attack to ignore the penalties on melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks for 1 minute.
I am starting book 3 and I am reviewing the mythic trial schedule.
There are 5 trials scheduled for this book. 2 trials will get them to 4th tier and the other 3 for 5th tier by books end.
There are 4 parts to this book and this is the trial breakdown:
Trial 1: Defeat the woundwyrm.
Trial 2: Rescue and ally with Arueshalae.
Trial 3: Complete personal mystery.
Trial 4: Shut down the Ivory Sanctum.
Trial 5: Defeat Xanthir Vang.
Part 1: No Trials
Part 2: 1 Trial (The Woundwyrm’s Lair)
Part 3: 1 Trial (Arueshalae’s Redoubt)
Part 4: 2 or 3 Trials, two happen when you defeat Xanthir Vang. 1 trial for his defeat and the other for shutting down the Ivory Labyrinth. The third possible trial is if you do not use the personal mystery (campaign traits), then defeating Jerribeth counts.
I am not really using the personal mysteries yet, my players have created characters part way through this and are not feeling the connection yet. Anything pressed now will be a bit forced and I cannot play that off correctly. I am perfectly fine with using Jerribeth as a mythic trial, she did play a pivotal role in the fall of Drezen. Vang is also a perfect trial. But... I am having more difficulty with the "shut down the Ivory Sanctum" trial. That happened when you take out Vang. Two trials completed at the same time?
the AP says this:
Quote:
The final two mythic trials the PCs can complete in “Demon’s Heresy” are closely linked. Defeating Xanthir Vang is one such trial. The second trial requires the PCs to disrupt the Templars of the Ivory Labyrinth—this can be accomplished if the PCs defeat Jerribeth and Xanthir Vang in addition to recovering as much intelligence as possible from the Ivory Sanctum, but other combinations of accomplishments can suffice as you see fit.
This feels forced. How did your players feel when you gave them two trials at once? Did you come up with something better?
Is everyone running this as is, or are you modifying it heavily? Sorry for this long and possibly very confusing post...
These are the questions I am asking, posted here and at the end (because I feel like being a student today). I am curious to know what you guys are doing and what your players have done.
Have your players wanted to go to each and every location listed?
Have you removed some of the encounters in the sections to allocate for random encounters?
Let me explain:
I am doing my planning for this book and have calculated all the XP needed for my 4 person party. Part 1 is downtime and loot cashing in… no XP here. All the PC’s are at the beginning of 9th level and have just gotten 3rd tier. We had a higher level group start at the end of book 1 and run through a modified book 2. At the end, we made sure everyone was all together equal and ready to run book 3 as is.
So, part one: no XP no encounters: easy.
Part two. This is a sandbox element that allows the PC to choose where they want to go based on news they find interesting. There are 15 hexes on the map that contain points of note. The PC’s can explore any unlabeled hex possibly attracting random encounters, but truth be told, this is not a wise course; you will see why below.
Of the hexes, areas A, B, and C are either where you are or where you were. These are optional revisits depending on if the PC’s skipped something (mine skipped nearly all of it) or you want to pad the adventure with more XP. The story/combat hexes (D, F, G, H, J, K, L, and M) give a total of 212,800 XP (53,200 each 4 players). The other named hexes are fluff/random encounters or foreshadowing for the next two parts.
The experience curve for this book says you should hit 10th level halfway through this part. At 53,200 XP for going to each area, you should hit 10th level pretty easy, only needing 30,000: very good. My issue is how part 2 and part 3 interact.
Part 3 is really just one big encounter. 8 areas with multiple encounters will challenge the party greatly. Finishing this part the PC’s are scheduled to hit their 4th tier and 11th level. The total XP for this section is 91,200, or 22,800 per player (again, 4 person party). With the overflow from part 2, that leaves the party with a deficit of 16,000, or 4,000 each. No problem, this is what random encounters are for. I can add a little to part 2 without complicating part 3 making sure the PC’s land right where they need to at the end of part 4.
But… the beginning of part 2 has an encounter that I didn’t include in my above calculation: the incubus and its mount. That is supposed to start off this entire thing. If we add this, we have our deficit. But…, to push the PC’s into action, we are supposed to run a few encounters that attack the citadel, either inside or outside. These XP points are sure to push us over the top. And then what about the random encounters? Any of those are going to push us way over the top. The worldwound is supposed to be a dangerous place, there are sure to be encounters while moving from hex to hex.
Part four gives us a combined XP total of 375,000 XP (93,750 per player). We are supposed to hit 11th level before we face the big baddie and 5th tier at the conclusion of this story. The XP gap between 10th and 11th is 65,000 and the final battle is worth 76,800: we are good here. That allows the PC’s to start with the appropriate amount of XP that the next writing I am sure allocated for.
If we play this as written there is no space for random encounters. If we remove a few of the locales, we do have some room for random encounters, but the players miss a little flavor. So, as I posted above, I am curious to know what you guys are doing and what your players have done. Have your players wanted to go to each and every location listed? Have you removed some of the encounters in the sections to allocate for these random encounters?
I am sure many of you just throw out the XP system, which really solve this problem. I usually ad hoc my XP anyway, only telling my players when it is time to level, but I want to try and follow it as written. I have run games for years… decades even, but rarely have I run written adventures. I purchased this AP to learn more about how the professionals do it. I am eager to hear your thoughts.
How many people are aware of this rule found in the forest environment section of the CRB:
Trees: The most important terrain element in a forest is the trees, obviously. A creature standing in the same square as a tree gains partial cover, which grants a +2 bonus to Armor Class and a +1 bonus on Reflex saves. The presence of a tree doesn't otherwise affect a creature's fighting space, because it's assumed that the creature is using the tree to its advantage when it can.
Well... I made a ruling last session, or it could have been two sessions ago, that this applied to walls too. My thinking is that if you are next to a well/sharing the space, I don't see how a tree and a wall would be any different. At least that is what I told myself. I couldn't remember the exact rule, all I remembered is the part of having your back against something solid how it could help.
I just looked it back up again and now I am questioning my rule. Is this a corner case? This hard to find rule isn't mentioned anywhere else, so I am thinking it is really not something anyone ever uses.
It does give reason to have your back against the wall, tactically, although it doesn't make a whole ton of sense the deeper I think about it (fighter against the ropes).
Maybe I should have put this in the advice or the house rule section, but I am first more interested in the reasoning behind the rule.
I am not sure how you can even share the same space as a tree, although I see the fluff in using the branches as a point of defense.
One of my players brought this to my attention, and given he is a better writer than me, I am going to post his question instead of me writing it:
Normally, applying an oil takes a standard action and provokes.
Since the Alchemist abilities at 3rd and 6th level applying poisons as move and then swift actions are Ex abilities do they follow the rule of not provoking or does the application of poison, no matter how fast, still provoke?:
Here's the Alchemist text:
Swift Alchemy (Ex): At 3rd level, an alchemist can create alchemical items with astounding speed. It takes an alchemist half the normal amount of time to create alchemical items, and he can apply poison to a weapon as a move action.
And here's the text on actions in combat:
Extraordinary Abilities (Ex): Using an extraordinary ability is usually not an action because most extraordinary abilities automatically happen in a reactive fashion. Those extraordinary abilities that are actions are usually standard actions that cannot be disrupted, do not require concentration, and do not provoke attacks of opportunity.
I have a home brew I've run for a bit and due to work constraints I would like to move them into this AP to save my sanity.
I purchase the first 3 AP and have read the first two. I would like to lead them into the AP and make it make story sense. I would rather not let them know I am using this AP at the beginning to not break realism in the game.
I was thinking about having them come in at the beginning do the third book, but that seems to be too high. My thoughts are to have them come in to take the citidal, having been recruited after the "original" heroes dying at the hands of the chimera.
Since they just got their 2nd tier, this would place them right about where they need to be. The group is pretty savvy, with AC's in the upper 20's, mid 30's when buffed and doing their thing.
They even have a long standing relationship with a Succubus, they all have the profane gift. This lady tortures them routinely by screwing their plans and forcing them to do things they do not like. They hate her. :)
They came to the worldwound on a mission from here to get a mcguffin, doesn't matter. They have a side mission to want to develop a poison that can hurt demons. They rogue/wizard/alchemist is all about poisons.
How would you guys blend this correctly? They know a group of crusaders that could give them the news and ask for help. I would have to tie in NPC's after the fact, which is less work in the long run than continuing the home brew.
I'm also not sure how to grant mythic ranks to the ninja/monk.
He is thinking about taking power attack to amplify his damage. He qualifies for power attack, with a STR of 15.
I believe it should work, allowing him to trade a -1 to hit for a +2 to damage, but I am unsure about the additional 50% text.
Since the text calls out he only gets a 50% increase to his STR modifier, would he get the +2 but not the +3? That seems to be a strict reading of the rule.
Right now, he has a BAB of +5. So, if I am correct, he would take a -2 penalty on attack, but only receive a +4 to damage, even though he is using a two handed weapon.
To clarify, he should normally get a +6 to damage with a BAB of greater than +4, but since he only has a STR modifier of +1, there is no increase to damage.
This seems wonky... I never thought of the 50% increase of damage to be a component of your STR modifier, but of the additional power attack damage.
Help me get this straight in my head...
Power Attack:
Prerequisites: Str 13, base attack bonus +1.
Benefit: You can choose to take a –1 penalty on all melee attack rolls and combat maneuver checks to gain a +2 bonus on all melee damage rolls. This bonus to damage is increased by half (+50%) if you are making an attack with a two-handed weapon, a one handed weapon using two hands, or a primary natural weapon that adds 1-1/2 times your Strength modifier on damage rolls. This bonus to damage is halved (–50%) if you are making an attack with an off-hand weapon or secondary natural weapon.
What happens when you retrain a class with less skills? Do you loose the points? Do you loose all the points and are allowed to reallocate all the new skills?
I always have trouble with taking away skill points. I would have the same problem with loosing your hit points and forcing a reroll on a smaller die. Although, I can see getting less hearty, but less knowledgeable from training?
That doesn't sit well. Retraining one skill point takes almost as long as retraining a class level, but instead of one skill, you can select either a bunch more (if you think you loose and can reallocate) or you just loose a few...
Could you house rule that on your next level you just do not gain the full allotment, but instead gain the difference? Seems like an easy oversight, but since I have a player asking me right now, it's an issue.
When you hit a creature with an attack that has a bleed effect, does the target immediately take the damage and then take damage on their turn, similar to how poison works?
Or do you just announce the target takes bleed and they start taking damage on their turn?
So, for example, my character has IUA and belier's bite. I do 1d6+8+1d4 bleed. Do I roll this entire damage and then on the targets turn they take an addition 1d4?
Or, secondly, do I do 1d6+8 and them on the targets turn they take 1d4 bleed?
The first way is how I always thought it worked. My new GM does it the second way (which is ok), but I'm trying to straighten the rule in my mind.
Edit: fixed some typing errors
Race
Dhampir
Classes/Levels
Magus (Bladebound Kensai) / 3 | AC 18 T 17 F 11 | HP 15/18 | F +3 R +4 W +3 | Init +3 | Perc +2 | 4 / 4 Arcane Pool
Height: 5'6"
Weight: 105 LB
Eyes: Dark Brown with slightly too large pupils.
Hair Color & Length: Waist length coal black. A solitary braid is woven behind her right ear, but the rest is loose.
Skin Color: Almost the color of porcelain.
Other Features: Partially elongated canines that are just slighly too prominent when she smiles, the slightest of pointedness to her ears.
Skills:
Athletics (Bonus = 8)
Craft: Weapons (Bonus = 10 / 11 on magic or masterwork weapons)
Intimidate (Bonus = 7)
Knowledge: Arcana (Bonus = 11)
Knowledge: Dungeoneering (Bonus = 10)
Knowledge: History (Bonus = 11)
Linguistics (Bonus = 10)
Spellcraft (Bonus = 10)
Use Magic Device (Bonus = 7)
Feats:
Weapon and Armor Proficiencies: A kensai magus is proficient with all simple weapons and in a single martial or exotic melee weapon of her choice (falcata). A kensai magus is not proficient with armor or shields and suffers the normal arcane spell failure chance when casting magus spells while armored.
Canny Defense (Ex): When wearing light or no armor and not using a shield, a kensai magus adds 1 point of INT bonus (if any) per class level to her DEX bonus to modify AC while wielding her chosen weapon. If caught flat-footed, or otherwise denied DEX bonus, this bonus is lost as well.
Weapon Focus - Falcata: You gain a +1 bonus on all attack rolls you make while wielding the chosen weapon.
Eschew Materials: You may cast any spell that has a material component costing 1 GP or less without needing that component. Casting still provokes attacks of opportunity as normal. If the material component cost is more than 1 GP you must have it on hand as normal.
Dodge: You gain a +1 dodge bonus to your AC. This bonus increases to +4 against attacks of opportunity caused when you move out of or within a threatened tile. A condition that makes you lose your Dex bonus to AC also makes you lose the benefits of this feat.
Alertness* You often notice things that others might miss.
Benefit: You get a +2 bonus on Perception and Sense Motive skill checks. If you have 10 or more ranks in one of these skills, the bonus increases to +4 for that skill. (*Only while carrying/wielding black blade.)
Traits:
Bladed Magic: You have an innate talent for using magical weaponry and those weapons capable of becoming magical. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Craft checks made to craft magic or masterwork weapons. In addition, when you use your arcane pool class ability to grant a weapon an enhancement bonus, that bonus lasts for 2 minutes instead of 1.
Scholar of the Ancients: Growing up with your nose in books, you’ve had a great interest in past cultures and ancient history. Furthermore, having grown up in Varisia, you know the monuments dotting the landscape belong to an ancient civilization known as Thassilon. From your life of study and dogged research, you’ve pieced together the language and partial history of this once-great empire. You gain a +1 trait bonus on Knowledge (arcana) and Knowledge (history) checks, and begin play able to speak and read Thassilonian.
Class Specific:
Diminished Spellcasting: A kensai magus may cast one fewer spell of each level than a normal magus. If this reduces the number to 0, she may only cast spells of that level if her INT modifier allows bonus spells of that level.
Spells: A magus casts arcane spells drawn from the magus spell list. A magus must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time.
To learn, prepare, or cast a spell, the magus must have an Intelligence score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against a magus's spell is 10 + the spell level + the magus's Intelligence modifier.
A magus can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on the table above. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Intelligence score (see the Ability Modifiers and Bonus Spells Table).
A magus may know any number of spells. He must choose and prepare his spells ahead of time by getting 8 hours of sleep and spending 1 hour studying his spellbook. While studying, the magus decides which spells to prepare.
Spellbooks: A magus must study his spellbook each day to prepare his spells. He cannot prepare any spell not recorded in his spellbook except for read magic, which all magi can prepare from memory. A magus begins play with a spellbook containing all 0-level magus spells plus three 1st-level magus spells of his choice. The magus also selects a number of additional 1st-level magus spells equal to his Intelligence modifier to add to his spellbook. At each new magus level, he gains two new magus spells of any spell level or levels that he can cast (based on his new magus level) for his spellbook. At any time, a magus can also add spells found in other spellbooks to his own (see Arcane Spells).
A magus can learn spells from a wizard's spellbook, just as a wizard can from a magus's spellbook. The spells learned must be on the magus spell list, as normal. An alchemist (see the Alchemist description) can learn formulae from a magus's spellbook, if the spells are also on the alchemist spell list. A magus cannot learn spells from an alchemist.
Arcane Pool (Su): At 1st level, the magus gains a reservoir of mystical arcane energy that he can draw upon to fuel his powers and enhance his weapon. This arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/2(1/3) his magus level (minimum 1) + his Intelligence modifier. The pool refreshes once per day when the magus prepares his spells.
At 1st level, a magus can expend 1 point from his arcane pool as a swift action to grant any weapon he is holding a +1 enhancement bonus for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, the weapon gains another +1 enhancement bonus, to a maximum of +5 at 17th level. These bonuses can be added to the weapon, stacking with existing weapon enhancement to a maximum of +5. Multiple uses of this ability do not stack with themselves.
At 5th level, these bonuses can be used to add any of the following weapon properties: dancing, flaming, flaming burst, frost, icy burst, keen, shock, shocking burst, speed, or vorpal. Adding these properties consumes an amount of bonus equal to the property's base price modifier (see the Magic Weapon Special Ability Descriptions). These properties are added to any the weapon already has, but duplicates do not stack. If the weapon is not magical, at least a +1 enhancement bonus must be added before any other properties can be added. These bonuses and properties are decided when the arcane pool point is spent and cannot be changed until the next time the magus uses this ability. These bonuses do not function if the weapon is wielded by anyone other than the magus.
A magus can only enhance one weapon in this way at one time. If he uses this ability again, the first use immediately ends.
Cantrips: A magus can prepare a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, each day, as noted in the table above under “Spells per Day.” These spells are cast like any other spell, but they are not expended when cast and may be used again.
Spell Combat (Ex): At 1st level, a magus learns to cast spells and wield his weapons at the same time. This functions much like two-weapon fighting, but the off-hand weapon is a spell that is being cast. To use this ability, the magus must have one hand free (even if the spell being cast does not have somatic components), while wielding a light or one-handed melee weapon in the other hand. As a full-round action, he can make all of his attacks with his melee weapon at a –2 penalty and can also cast any spell from the magus spell list with a casting time of 1 standard action (any attack roll made as part of this spell also takes this penalty). If he casts this spell defensively, he can decide to take an additional penalty on his attack rolls, up to his Intelligence bonus, and add the same amount as a circumstance bonus on his concentration check. If the check fails, the spell is wasted, but the attacks still take the penalty. A magus can choose to cast the spell first or make the weapon attacks first, but if he has more than one attack, he cannot cast the spell between weapon attacks.
Canny Defense (Ex): At 1st level, when a kensai magus is wielding her chosen weapon she gains the canny defense ability. This is identical to the dualist prestige class ability of the same name, except that her weapon may be of any type.
Weapon Focus (Ex): At 1st level, a kensai magus gains Weapon Focus with her chosen weapon as a bonus feat.
Spellstrike (Su): At 2nd level, whenever a magus casts a spell with a range of “touch” from the magus spell list, she can deliver the spell through any weapon she is wielding as part of a melee attack. Instead of the free melee touch attack normally allowed to deliver the spell, a magus can make one free melee attack with her weapon (at her highest base attack bonus) as part of casting this spell. If successful, this melee attack deals its normal damage as well as the effects of the spell. If the magus makes this attack in concert with spell combat, this melee attack takes all the penalties accrued by spell combat melee attacks. This attack uses the weapon's critical range (20, 19–20, or 18–20 and modified by the keen weapon property or similar effects), but the spell effect only deals ×2 damage on a successful critical hit, while the weapon damage uses its own critical modifier.
Black Blade (Ex): At 3rd level, the bladebound magus' gains a powerful sentient weapon called a black blade, whose weapon type is chosen by the magus. A magus with this class feature cannot take the familiar magus arcana, and cannot have a familiar of any kind, even from another class.
Instead of the normal arcane pool amount, the bladebound magus's arcane pool has a number of points equal to 1/3 his level (minimum 1) plus his Intelligence bonus. This ability changes the Arcane Pool class feature and replaces the magus arcana gained at 3rd level.
Race Specific:
+2 DEX; +2 CHA; -2 CON: Dhampirs are fast and seductive, but their racial bond to the undead impedes their mortal vigor.
Dhampir: Dhampirs are humanoids with the dhampir subtype.
Medium: Dhampirs are Medium creatures and have no bonuses or penalties due to their size.
Normal Speed: Dhampirs have a base speed of 30 feet.
Senses: Low-light vision and darkvision 60 feet.
Manipulative: +2 racial bonus on Bluff and Perception.
Undead Resistance: Dhampirs gain a +2 racial bonus on saving throws against disease and mind-affecting effects.
Negative Energy Affinity: Though a living creature, a dhampir reacts to positive and negative energy as if it were undead—positive energy harms it, while negative energy heals it.
Resist Level Drain (Ex): A dhampir takes no penalties from energy drain effects, though he can still be killed if he accrues more negative levels then he has Hit Dice. After 24 hours, any negative levels a dhampir takes are removed without the need for an additional saving throw.
Dayborn: A few fortunate dhampirs were born during the day under the blessings of priests, and their blood has weaker ties to their undead bloodline than others of their kind. Such dhampirs are unhindered by daylight and lose the light sensitivity racial trait. This racial trait replaces the spell-like ability racial trait.
Languages: Dhampirs begin play speaking Common. Those with high Intelligence scores can choose any language it wants (except secret languages, such as Druidic).
Black Blade:
INT: 11
WIS/CHA: 7
Ego: 5
Enhancement Bonus: +1
Languages: Common
Arcane Pool: 1
Special Abilities: Alertness (Ex): While a magus is wielding his black blade, he gains the Alertness feat.
Black Blade Strike (Sp): As a free action, the magus can spend a point from the black blade's arcane pool to grant the black blade a +1 bonus on damage rolls for 1 minute. For every four levels beyond 1st, this ability gives the black blade another +1 on damage rolls.
Telepathy (Su): While a magus is wielding or carrying his black blade, he can communicate telepathically with the blade in a language that the magus and the black blade share.
Unbreakable (Ex): As long as it has at least 1 point in its arcane pool, a black blade is immune to the broken condition. If broken, the black blade is unconscious and powerless until repaired. If destroyed, the black blade can be reforged 1 week later through a special ritual that costs 200 gp per magus level. The ritual takes 24 hours to complete.
Random Crunch:
Hit Points: 15/18
Hit Dice: 3d8
Armor Class: 18
Touch Armor Class: 17
Flat-Footed Armor Class: 11
Saving Throws: Fortitude: 3
Reflex: 4
Will: 3
Initiative Bonus: 3
Base Attack Bonus: 2
Melee Attack Bonus: 4
Ranged Attack Bonus: 5
CMB: 4
CMD: 17
Arcane Pool: 4/4
Spell Resistance: Speed: Base Speed: 30
Armored Speed: 20
Lift/Push: Light Load: 66 lbs or less
Medium Load: 67 lb - 133 lb
Heavy Load: 134 lb - 200 lb
Lift Over Head: 200 lb or less
Lift Off Ground: 400 lb or less
Drag or Push: 1000 lb or less
Spells Per Day: Level 0: 3
Level 1: 3
Experience Points: 0
Hero Points: 0
Armor Silken Ceremonial: AC: +1; Max DEX: unlimited; Armor Check Penalty: 0; Arcane Spell Failure Chance: 0%; Max Speed: 30 FT
Weapon Falcata: DMG: 1d8; Crit: 19-20/x3; Type: S
Falcata (Black Blade): DMG: 1d8+1; Crit: 19-20/x3; Type: S; Enhance Bonus: +1; Special: In others hands, treat as MWK item.
10 Minute Background:
Five Details of History:
1) Asa’s birth parents were both Minkai traveling merchants, roving the lands with a rather mixed caravan. Both died well before she got the chance to meet them. Her mother died in childbirth to Asa, despite the ministrations of the caravan’s druid healer (though these blessings did remove some of the more common ailments of being born dhampir), whereas her father died when she was two from wounds sustained slaying the vampire he believed was responsible for his wife’s death. Since that time she has been raised by two elves who were caravan mates of her parents.
2) From the young age of twenty, Asa has been gifted with languages, picking up several local languages just from the caravan’s travels through the northern lands. By the time she was 45 she was the caravan’s de facto translator when dealing with everything from Shoanti tribes to the occasional lone orc scout.
3) Asa has always been able to see the potential for meshing magic into weapons. In part this has fueled her studies of Thallasian history from the ruins and remaining texts that survived Starfall.
4) Asa didn't find out about her true nature (or the true circumstances of her parents' deaths) until she was 90. An undead hunting inquisitor of Pharasma tracked down the caravan hunting her vampire progenitor, forcing her adoptive parents to finally tell her the truth. Until then they had raised her under the impression that both of her birth parents had died when she was two to an actual plague that hit one of the towns the caravan normally went to, though in actuality they had avoided the town deliberately that year on account of said plague.
5) Asa took the last name Norowareta (or "cursed" in Minkai) at the age of 95 in place of her adopted parents name. Feeling somehow responsible for both of her parents' deaths, she dedicated herself to tracking down and slaying vampiric "mother" (the so-called Viscountess de Corentyn, Varyia Wrenth) and any of her allies. Knowing that her foe was ancient and powerful, she practiced both her innate magical ability and her skills with the falcata.
Two Goals to Accomplish:
1) Asa knows she is not currently powerful enough to face Viscountess Wrenth. She is searching for some means of bridging the gap of power, though she is not entirely sure what form such a bridge would take or what cost it would have. (This will be achieved at level 3 when she gains her black blade from her archetype, but she does not know this and I have no real thoughts on the specifics of this acquisition.)
2) Viscountess Wrenth has quite the power base of associates and servants (living, undead, and planar). Beyond simply slaying her, Asa wants to dismantle this structure from the bottom up... preferably while Varyia is still alive to seethe at its destruction.
Two Secrets Kept:
1) Apart from her adoptive family and the Pharasman inquisitor, most people have no idea what her too pale skin and slightly elongated canines indicate. Asa does her best to keep her heritage a secret, and only admits to it when directly confronted (and even then only to people she has reason to trust).
2) Unknown to most, the attack on her birth mother by Varyia Wrenth was neither random nor simply opportune, though it was crafted to look that way. The Viscountess has been attacking pregnant women with magical ability for centuries, attempting to bolster her army with magical dhampir "offspring". The vampire her father died slaying had been sent to collect her for that purpose, hence his belief that he was the one who attacked his wife. Three Noteworthy NPCs:
1) Fontane Moonswithe - Elven "Brother". The biological son of Asa's adoptive elven parents, Fontane was only three when Asa was born, and as such had no memories of either the ill circumstances of her birth or even her original birth parents. As such, Fontane viewed his younger sister Asa as an equal part of their family despite the fact that she wasn't elven. Though he was surprised by the revelations about the true nature of her heritage, and hurt when she renounced their family name, Fontane still views Asa as every bit his little sister to this day. Should she ever require help he would willingly provide what aid he could with few questions asked, though he is by no means wealthy or very compitent in combat.
2) Leha Sallant - Pharasma's Undead Slayer. When she first met Asa, Leha was in her twenties, full of holy fire and wrath, hunting down the Viscountess de Corentyn. It was through Leha's actions that Asa's adoptive parents were forced to admit to her the truth of her very nature. A part of Asa will never quite forgive the inquisitor for this, despite the fact that she is glad she knows the truth. Now retired and in her fifties, Leha serves as a lay cleric in Magnimar, helping ensure the dying have their passage to judgment uninterrupted by necromancy or outside influence. Though the two have not spoken in years, and Asa would be loathe to admit needing her help, Leha would likely give her some minor assistance if it would aid in the destruction of the Viscountess or her minions.
3) Varyia Wrenth - Vampiric "Mother". The so-called Viscountess de Corentyn has been alive since before the decline of the Cheliaxian empire. Little is known of Varyia before or after undeath claimed her, but two things are known for certain. The first is that her title dates back before the rise of modern Cheliax (and thus is not recognized by anyone there still living, and even most of the dead). The second is that she seeks enough power to break the house of Thrune and restore her homeland to what she views as its' former glory. To this end, Varyia has traveled the northern reaches of the Inner Sea, hunting for powerful artifacts, allies, or potential recruits. Asa has no idea what her "undead progenitor" looks like beyond the fact that she has a scar on her left hand suspiciously shaped like Aroden's former holy symbol.
Three Most Vivid Memories:
1) Above all, perhaps because it was the most recent on this list, is the memory of her adopted parents begrudgingly telling Asa the truth about her parent's deaths, as well as the truth about her own nature. The initial anger at having been lied to was quickly eclipsed by the horror of realizing that she was a monster by virtue of being born. Both subsided by the cold determination to avenge her parents and prevent further tragedies from occurring, no matter what the cost. Asa Moonswithe died that day... Asa Norowareta was born.
2) Further back by a mere decade, Asa remembers the first time she held a blacksmith's hammer in her hands. It was a gift from a dwarf that happened to travel with their caravan from Lastwall to Nirmathas. During the journey, Asa had taken every opportunity to watch the dwarf at the forge whenever the opportunity presented itself, fascinated by the way metal bended and flowed like so much hot wax. Since that time she has relished the opportunity to work on weaponry, and it is one of the few pleasures from her old life she still maintains.
3) While any number of journeys with the caravan could be considered memorable, the one that sticks out most to Asa is the time they stumbled across ancient Thassilonian ruins while attempting to shelter from a sudden summer storm in Varisia. Though ancient, the stones themselves seemed to scream with power. Dark, faded power, but surprisingly loud for its age. Perhaps this is why she now seeks an equalizer here, on the outskirts of proper civilization, rather than elsewhere.
