JollyRoger's page

My head is on the lay-off chopping block. Please cancel all of my subscriptions.

My head is on the lay-off chopping block. Please cancel all of my subscriptions.

Bought the PDF. LOVE it. I cannot wait to get off work so I can go home and start drawing maps and creating characters. (Yes, it's been a ridiculously unproductive day at the office.)

Warning: One you start flipping through this, you will need a big chunk of time and a well conditioned wrist, because you will not be able to write down your ideas fast enough.

Well, I had a nice vacation, and some time to think about play-by-post gaming. I just don't think I'm cut out for it and I'm not holding the players' interests. I apologize for letting you down, and I really appreciate you giving me a chance. I'll stick around the forums for a while and see if I can pick up on the skills from some of the other games. Some of the threads seem to be quite successful.

Anyway, sorry again. I have enjoyed all of your cleverness and role-playing.

Oh, and if you're curious about where the Phon Quartermain path was going:

Could we get a map, or a detailed description of who is standing where currently? I'm having trouble envisioning what's going on.

Gang, I am going on vacation for a little more than a week. When I get back, we'll decide if we want to jump in right where we left off, or fast-forward to the next plot element.

This spiders, while a nuisance, are so far not posing much of a threat. They're just running around looking creepy and being disgusting.

Just as our heroes start to relax however...a mass of bulbous, black eyes peers from outside the opening. A long, black, hairy appendage, as thick as a man's arm, reaches out of the hole. Soon, several more black legs follow. A spider, easily the size of Tusker's dog creeps out of the opening and several smaller spiders crawl off of it's back.

Not sure how many there are, but...

Tusker draws his scimitar to slash at one, while the dog snaps at another.

Tusker's scimitar attack (1d20+3=23, damage 1d6+3=7)
Crit confirm (1d20+3=5, damage 1d6+3=7)

Tusker's dog's bite attack (1d20+3=17, damage 1d6+1=3)

Tusker slices one in half, while his mastiff grabs one in his mouth and shakes it, leaving nothing but splattering goo.

Gallows wrote:

Trusting Lothian's grace (and his chainmail) to protect him from the spider's bite, Gallows reaches out to grab the spider from Brother Zilroy's head.
Initiative: 1d20(+3)=9, Grapple: 1d20+4=24
I believe the spider gets an attack of opportunity; if someone else grabs it before me, he'll just swipe at one with his sword.

Depending on the spider's size - i.e., if it is Tiny or smaller - it might not threaten you, and thus wouldn't be allowed the AoO.

Rynia lets out a startled, and disgusted, expression as the spiders come into the room. She'll target one of them (not on Zilroy) with a blast of cold.

elemental ray rgd touch (1d20+3=23, 1d6+1=2)

crit confirm (1d20+3=15, 1d6+1=3)

Hmm ... nice to see a crit, but almost minimum damage all the way around...

Trusting Lothian's grace (and his chainmail) to protect him from the spider's bite, Gallows reaches out to grab the spider from Brother Zilroy's head.
Initiative: 1d20(+3)=9, Grapple: 1d20+4=24
I believe the spider gets an attack of opportunity; if someone else grabs it before me, he'll just swipe at one with his sword.

Edited: Tusker is right, tiny creatures don't get AoOs

JollyRoger wrote:

There is a huge, black, hairy spider on his head. Several more spiders crawl out of the opening now that the dinner bell has been rung.

"Hey! Be more careful!" Standing a ways back from Zilroy, Miasshirra pulls out her whip and strikes one of the spiders that is headed his way.

invisiblecastle is down, so you can roll my attack. 15foot reach. +3 for 1d3+2 nonlethal damage

No problem, we're on the honor system here. Use whichever form of dice rolling is most convenient.

Zilroy cries out "Aaaagh! Something bit me, and it was no goblin!!"

1d20+4=24

Individual spiders or a spider swarm?

Zilroy casts an eye about and then heads through the hole in the wall.

Zilroy, take 2hp damage and please roll a fortitude save vs. poison

Honestly, is ping-pong really a sport?

It lives!

The goblins clearly came from the opening on the right-hand wall. The dog seems to be concerned about the hole in the wall on the left side of the room.

Where do you begin investigating?

Tusker climbs through the hole, glancing back at his dog who has been here all along, apparently to persuade it to join him. The hound whines a little at the smell, but clambers over the rubble easily enough, its tail drooping as it hurries to stand by the half-orc's side.

"Looks like the goblin problem might keep going," Tusker murmurs, pointing at the tracks that lead through the other exit.

There is a great article over at Aint it cool.com.

For those that are not familiar, Aint It Cool is a VERY popular site - everyone needs to pop over and read it ... and post a response if you are so inclined!

"And that’s why I couldn’t find it (at GenCon) – D&D wasn’t called D&D anymore, it was called Pathfinder."

LINK

I'm still reading the tome myself, so you can all take your time. Also, it's been difficult to get on the boards for the last week. Hopefully that will clear up soon.

Miasshirra wrote:

"It looks like it keeps going... I'll check it out." Miasshirra takes a moment to light one of her own torches then hops down into the next room. Once there, she looks more closely for signs of recent goblin passage.

"Right behind you."
Gallows follows Miasshirra into the next room.
Ditto, the paladin hasn't changed much beyond how lay on hands and smite evil function.

Aside from dust and gravel, this room appears empty. However, you detect an unpleasant odor, not unlike the smell of raw sewage. It's relatively faint at this point.

Folks,

...interesting stuff...

Showing my appreciation is simple. I'll keep buying Paizo products. I think that's the best way to say it.

Also, I'll be running a Pathfinder game at Dragoncon, under the 3E category. Hopefully, I'll get a chance to introduce some new people to the game. Or maybe, everyone there will already know about the glory that is Pathfinder.

Hopefully, we will all get our Pathfinder books soon. We'll convert over as soon as we can. Let me know when you've had a chance to go through some of the book and update your character sheets. You may rebuild from the ground up if you wish to incorporate any new goodness

Zilroy smiles uneasily. "Uh...perhaps we can let this dead man rest in peace, for the moment and move on."

He utters a brief prayer over the corpse, trying not to betray his squeamishness.

JollyRoger wrote:

Miashirra looks more closely at the repulsive bundle. Time and decay have not masked the signs of violence. This man's throat was cut.

"Looks like this fellow's been dead for a while... and it wasn't an accident, either. I don't think it was the goblins, though, it seems too old for that."

Standing back up, Miasshirra sticks her head through the opening on the other side of the room.

** spoiler omitted **

Zilroy asks Lothian to reveal any enchantments in the area.

detect magic

Just bringing this out of archive.

Rynia wrote:

Rynia gasps as she sees the body. "Oh dear ... Miasshirra, can you tell who that might be? Is there anything that would identify that person?"

"Looks like there's a signet ring..." Miasshirra removes the ring, cleans the worst of the gunk off, and tosses it to Rynia.

Is there anything else of value on this person? Is it at all possible to tell how they died?

Miashirra looks more closely at the repulsive bundle. Time and decay have not masked the signs of violence. This man's throat was cut.

"Hello, what's this?" Miasshirra wonders out loud as she tip-toes over the fungi to the body. She takes a deep breath of "clean" air before she crouches down and starts poking at the mound with her dagger.

Miasshirra clambers in, making room for the others. "Pass me a light." Scanning the room, she tries to figure out where the goblins came from - perhaps a hole in the other end of the chamber?

Do I recognize those large mushrooms as anything special?
Knowledge (nature) (1d20+3=21)

Our heroes enter from the south side of the chamber. It appears there is a second opening on the east wall, also the result of some type of damage. The worst of the rotting smell comes from the northwest corner. There is a large heap, covered in the carpeting fungus. However, it appears that a rotting hand is sticking out from the side of the heap. A glint of metal catches your eye.

Miasshirra wrote:

Miasshirra sticks her head through the hole and looks around, ignoring the potential dangers of the precarious looking rubble pile she is climbing on.

Miasshirra scrambles to the top of the pile of rubble. Just as she reaches the top, a chunk of stone slips out from under her foot.

Please roll a balance check

Poking her head in, she sees that she is near the floor of a stone chamber, the floor a little higher than the floor of the cellar. This chamber is clearly not part of the town home. It is covered with thick layers of fungus, and large mushrooms appear to be growing to along the opposite wall. The fungus is disturbed near the opening, as if something came through and stirred it up.

For reasons I can't technically discuss, I'm going to be a lot quieter on the boards for the next week or so. I will try to keep in touch with what's happening here, though.

Very sorry to hear that and I completely understand. Thanks, it's been a lot of fun.

Guess I'm asking myself a question then, eh? ;)

Tusker - and, after a lot of throat clearing, the dire rat - head down into the cellar as well. Not needing light, the half-orc peers into the hole as the others begin to enter it.

I have had a miserable day at this job that I hate. (I know, I'm lucky I have a job.) So, I'm going to take it out on all of you. There will be five red dragons in the next room...hungry ones...with bottles of BBQ sauce...OK, just kidding

Miasshirra sticks her head through the hole and looks around, ignoring the potential dangers of the precarious looking rubble pile she is climbing on.

Please roll a balance check

Rynia wrinkles her nose a bit. "We really need to go down there, do we? Not exactly my idea of a good time ... I'll bet it smells even worse than here, too."

She quietly speaks a few words, and a strong scent of lilac can be smelled. "This should help a bit, I think." Casts prestidigitation to strengthen her perfume a bit, to keep the odors at bay.

You proceed down a rickety ladder into the cellar below. Everything is covered in a thick layer of dust, making goblin footprints through the center of the room obvious. A little light clearly shows the following:

There is a medium-sized hole in the north wall, clearly the result of a collapse in support. The hole is about 3-feet off the ground, but there is enough rubble that one could use to climb up to the hole (however, judging by the rubble's stability, it may not be safe to do so.)

From the dust tracks, it is apparent that the goblins came through this hole in the wall, walked through the center of the room, and went up the ladder to get into the house.

On the surface, it appears nothing else was disturbed, except for an aging wine rack in the southwest corner. However, the goblins did leave a couple of dusty bottles of wine.

The cellar appears cluttered, and full of junk, but is actually a refreshing change from the kitchen above. It is filled with old, broken, and rotting wooden items, but there is no sign of decaying food or other refuse.

"When searching the rat's world, it might be best to have a native guide," Tusker murmurs to himself. He spends a brief moment making a few quiet chittering noises, and then smiles as a rat the size of a small dog pushes into the kitchen. "Welcome, friend," he tells the animal. "We might need your help for this, if you'll give it." He gestures around the room. "There's food to be had, in thanks."

Using summon companion to call a dire rat before we go down.

Zilroy Specterbane wrote:

"I don't suppose someone could check for booby traps, could they? I'd do it myself, but I wouldn't know a booby trap from a booby prize..."

Miasshirra (who has been quite a bit happier with Fabitor's gold in her purse) steps forward to investigate. "I really doubt those goblins were smart enough to put a booby trap on this thing. It probably took all their collective smarts just to cover it up in the first place. :)"

Perception (1d20+6=18)
Disable Device (1d20+7=15)

Our heroes return to the "haunted home".

As you approach the home, you see several of the neighbors poke their heads out of their windows, or pull their curtains aside to get a glimpse of the new activity. Some young men are still wandering about the street. One mutters, "See, they're back. I told you the place was haunted."

You enter dilapidated townhome, once more assaulted by the smell of refuse and filth. You begin a second, thorough search of the house. It doesn't take long to discover a trap door in the kitchen. You would have noticed it earlier, but it is covered in junk, rags, and various other garbage. You have the unhappy task of pushing side the rotted food and half eaten, dead rats before you can open the door to the cellar.

Rynia wrote:

JR, remind me, how are we doing hit points?

Other than this quibble, Tusker is ready for level 2 as well.

Tusker nods and prepares himself to return to the "haunted" house.

"Aye, it wouldn't be proper to leave the house unexamined. No telling what new menace could move into the vacancy."
Gallows goes through his portion, counts out 25 gold coins and returns them to Father Fabitor.
"Lothian gets a quarter and since I don't see him around to collect, maybe you should hold this for him, eh?"
I believe Fabitor has said each of us would get 100 gold.

"You are a paragon of virtue and generosity my brother," says Fabitor with complete sincerity.

JollyRoger wrote:

"Anyway, here is your promised reward, 100 gold thrones. You've certainly earned it, and without shedding a drop of blood. Most impressive..." Fabitor notices the uncomfortable sounds coming from Miasshirra.

"My dear little sister, is something the matter?"

Her eyes darting back to Fabitor from the gold pieces, Miasshirra visibly brightens. "No problems at all! We'd love to try and find an entrance into the Labyrinth, too, wouldn't we?"

I'm unclear how many ways the gold is being split at the moment. Aside from that my character sheet is updated. Ledge Walker for my rogue talent.

"You are all too kind," says Father Fabitor, "I've imposed upon you too much already, but it would set my mind at ease if you could determine there are no entrances from Ghul's Labyrinth in that neighborhood of fine people.

"Anyway, here is your promised reward, 100 gold thrones. You've certainly earned it, and without shedding a drop of blood. Most impressive..." Fabitor notices the uncomfortable sounds coming from Miasshirra.

"My dear little sister, is something the matter?"

Solving the entire problem without bloodshed is worth lots of bonus xp. 1,000 for everyone for the entire encounter. That should push everyone to level 2. Please adjust your character sheets accordingly.

Rynia's face scruches up a bit, a little grossed out by Gallows picking at whatever's under his eyepatch. "Yeah, maybe we should go back and give that house a thorough search."

"Please, let's come back afterwards. The sooner we get rid of these munchkins, the better!"

Father Fabitor, while initially surprised, is actually quite amused. "I shouldn't be laughing, but I suppose no one was hurt. Yes, I will take care of the goblins and see that they do not come to harm."

...or is a fanatic anybody who does not immediately abase himself before you and your every proclamation? Because I have generally operated under precisely the opposite definition.

Rynia wrote:

She turns to Tusker, "So, you think they're telling the truth?"

"I don't think they're smart enough to lie," Tusker replies wryly, "and it fits with what we've seen here, doesn't it?"

Sense Motive check, GM, just to be sure:
Untrained Sense Motive (1d20+2=11)
Hunh. Well, I hope they're as dumb as I think they are...

JollyRoger wrote:

The goblins look pleadingly at Tusker.

** spoiler omitted **

Another one of the goblins has become distracted and is reaching out for Rynia's shoelaces. A third is poking at Zilroy's armor with his finger.

To the others:
** spoiler omitted ** (sharply)

The goblins look pleadingly at Tusker.

Another one of the goblins has become distracted and is reaching out for Rynia's shoelaces. A third is poking at Zilroy's armor with his finger.

" 'The righteous man wages war with a just blade and a merciful heart', so sayeth Lothian and so we praise him with our deeds."
Gallows touches the ankh of Lothian to his eyepatch in supplication.

"Though I suppose I'll have to do some measure of penance for the one that caught on fire... Anyhow, let's take a look around at what they may have been doing up here."
Gallows will search the area as best he can.
1d20+1=10