Ravvek and Krissina get the boat moving again once everyone gets back on board. The group head onward getting ever closer to the centre of the swamp as Rakish navigates. After a time of rowing through a maze of tall reeds in the dark, the rain pouring down but now easing into a steady drizzle, you hear a spat of drums that seem quite close, ahead and to your left a little...
Heading in that direction you finally come to the edge of the reed maze and in the distance through a thick stand of old trees that grow on a muddy island you see several humanoid shapes, most likely lizardfolk, guiding a long raft lit by torches. The raft appears to carry more humanoids that are sitting on the raft's surface, but it is difficult to make out who or what they might be. The guides are waist deep in water in front, behind, and next to the raft. They don't appear to have noticed you.
Female Fire Genasi | Wizard 3 | Spell Slots: 1st: 1/4, 2nd: 0/2 | Spell DC 13 | HP 13/20 | AC 15 (Mage Armour) | Saves S-1, D2, C2, I5, W3, Ch0 | Pass Perc 11 | Status: Normal | Hit Dice: 3/3d6 | Insp: Y
"A mágikus rakéták repülnek!"" The orange energy continues to swirl around Ember's arm and gather into balls of fiery energy before shooting out to strike Thessaly!
Magic Missile:3d4 + 3 ⇒ (4, 4, 4) + 3 = 15 M m m m Max Damage!! XD
So my idea of a plan is:
Blacksap takes out the gate camera, Deacon, Cav, Blacksap and I, head in to the gates.
I'll jack directly into the elevator controls and hack it, recalling the elevator to the ground level hopefully before Sweeper gets to the bottom...
If we get sweeper then we'll head through to the secret elevator in the Greek/Rome section, rendezvous with Secretary, hack the secret elevator and head down as one team!
If we can't recover Sweeper from the gate house elevator then we send part of the team down that elevator to assist Sweeper and the other half the team will head in to rendezvous with Secretary and go down the secret elevator.
Beta just nods at O'Rilley's parting comment
I never would...
GM :
Not sure if now would be a good time for an addiction test as News of Cammy would probably be a trigger?
LOGIC 6 + Willpower 5, threshold 2 :11d6 ⇒ (1, 4, 3, 6, 6, 2, 2, 6, 3, 5, 3) = 41 ok so as I understand the rules I manage to compose myself and not use.
" Ahem " Beta clears his throat and looks about the room awkwardly, " Er, if you all could forget the name Thomson... that would be ace... Welcome to the team Cav. " Beta says before excusing himself and heading into the bathroom, emerging about 10-15 minutes later looking a little more composed.
" Right, so what's the plan. I'm gonna have a little search on the Matrix for Mr EVO drekhead, then pick up Deacon's gear and then head over to the facility to do some meatspace recon? I'd like to have a go at actually hacking the host and grabbing a floor plan so we don't have to stumble around looking for the underground lab entrance once we're inside... "
More Matrix searching! I'll do a search on Hanes and see what I can turn up, same as before 15 minute intervals with an overall threshold of 3 for limited interest/not publicised info. Com 5 + Int 4 + HS 2 - RS 2:9d6 ⇒ (5, 3, 4, 2, 5, 6, 3, 2, 5) = 354 hits
Deck Settings, Sony CIY-720:
Currently running silent Matrix damage: 0/10
Attribute Array: 7 6 5 4
Attack: 4,
Data Processing: 6,
Firewall: 7,
Sleaze: 6 (+1 from Stealth),
Matrix Initiative: 9
Matrix DR : 13d6 (12d6 vs. Black IC) Modifications: Sim Module, Modified for Hot Sim
Current Programs (6/6):
Armor, Baby Monitor, Exploit, Browse, Stealth, Virtual Machine.
Other programs:
Biofeedback Filter , Signal Scrub, Hammer, Wrapper.
Currently protecting comlinks: Beta-Axe, Deacon, Secretary, Blacksap, Sweeper.
Beta-Axe stares at Sweeper like he's green and has antenna... " Woh, hold on. Here take these too for now, these will let you see any ARO's or texts the party sends out... they've also got some sweet mods like Flare comp and Low light. " The dwarf says passing a pair of shades to Sweeper.
" We should stop by a stuffer shack and get you some trodes and a micro transceiver before you guys go scouting, they're cheap as chips, anybody else without a micro tranceiver? "
Checked Herolab and yep I've got a crappy old apartment in The Rox. I just hadn't updated the link in my profile :/
"Hoi, It's the right place if you're looking for work and you're more able than appearances suggest."
Is the Evo corp building literally across the street or very close by, if so Beta-Axe would want to try and hack the host and try and snatch a fire escape plan or something so we can get an idea of the layout, entrances and exits of the main building (not the underground lab)
Once back in his van Beta boots up his deck and drops into the Matrix (Hot Sim) He looks over the EVO corps host to see what kind of challenge it would present for his skills.
I'm assuming/hoping that the main business building has an online host... and it's only the underground lab that has it's host offline.
Matrix Perception action is on pg241, you get one piece of Info per Net hit.
If I get any Net Hits I'd like to get the following pieces of information.
I love putting up my Christmas tree early. The lights cheer me up when my depression is heavy. The only lights I had that worked this year were purple and orange, so it's a fairly unusual looking tree, but like I said it makes me smile.
We just had our last birthday of the year so our tree will be going up soon :)
While I don't foam at the mouth when I think of a certain drow, I don't mind FR. It was the first campaign setting I ever played in (before that we just made homebrew settings.)
I'm looking forward to the new monsters mainly (being the GM), but the extra playable races could be a bonus...
Halloween isn't that big in Australia (with a lot of people seeming to believe it's 'unaustralian' to celebrate it)
Still it's on the rise and we at the Kip84 household thoroughly enjoy it.
Here's the kids ready to go trick or treating :)
My (autistic) son has insisted on going as Dracula for the last three years. We bought him a new costume this year but it didn't have a red shirt, so he wouldn't wear it.
(Not pictured: my eldest who unfortunately had to work.)
Halloween isn't that big in Australia (with a lot of people seeming to believe it's 'unaustralian' to celebrate it)
Still it's on the rise and we at the Kip84 household thoroughly enjoy it.
Here's the kids ready to go trick or treating :)
My (autistic) son has insisted on going as Dracula for the last three years. We bought him a new costume this year but it didn't have a red shirt, so he wouldn't wear it.
(Not pictured: my eldest who unfortunately had to work.)
Jango the Halfling Bard is Exuberant, Witty and Curious
Jango would vote for the wall.
Jango climbs up onto a chair, to be more easily seen, and addresses the town meeting.
" Surely, a wall would better serve the community. The keep is intriguing and I'd love to explore it myself, but in times of trouble it would be difficult to move the sick and elderly to the keep and everything we work so hard for here in the town would be left undefended. "
Lucky: When you roll a 1 on an attack roll, ability check, or saving throw, you can reroll the die and must use the new roll.
Brave: You have advantage on saving throws against being frightened.
Halfling Nimbleness: You can move through the space of any creature that is of a size larger than yours.
Naturally Stealthy: Can attempt to hide when obscured only by a creature that is at least one size larger than you.
Class Features:
Bard:
Spellcasting: (Spell Attack: +5, Spell Save DC: 13)
-Spell Slots: 1st: 3
-Ritual Casting: You can cast spells you know as a Ritual if they have the Ritual tag.
-Spell Casting Focus: You can use a musical instrument as a spell casting focus.
-Cantrips known (2): Mending, Minor Illusion.
-Spells known (5): Cure Wounds, Tasha's Hideous Laughter, Comprehend Languages, Faerie Fire, Detect Magic.
Bardic Inspiration: As a bonus action on my turn, choose one creature within 60ft. That Creature gains a 1d6 Bardic Inspiration die that can be used in the next ten minutes to add to one ability, attack or save roll. It can be used after the roll is made but before the gm says the roll was successful or not.
Jack of all Trades: Add half proficiency bonus to non proficient ability checks.
Song of Rest: self and allies regain extra d6 Hp after short rest if they can hear/see my performance.
Background:
Jango has made his living in Wood Creek as an entertainer for quite some time now. He probably did your 5th name day party and maybe your father's as well...
When he's not entertaining he can often be found in the town square, busking or mending some child's toy.
He can also often be found at the towns Inn in the evenings, playing a tune or telling a tale. Jango is friendly with the Ferdinand the proprietor there and has pretty much had a permanent room there since his small house burnt down some 17 years past...
Jango rolled into Wood creek around 53 years back, a young halfling ready to settle down after a mysterious past in the big city and some intervening years adventuring. Now with some laughter lines on his face and flecks of grey hair in his sandy brown hair, he feels he's done splendidly. He loves the small town, though he still ventures out for a wander every few years to gather more tales, jokes and tunes.
With the coming expansion and talk of strengthening the defences Jango has it in his head that he'd like to lend a bit more of a practical hand. Just you try and stop him! Young whippersnapper!
It is a dark time in the galaxy. The evil Galactic Empire has spread from the Deep Core to the Outer Rim, and everywhere the Empire’s tyranny can be felt.
Fleeing from the oppression of the Emperor’s minions, agents of Senator Bail Organa have run to a remote space station above Brentaal. Known to be a vocal opponent of the Empire, Organa may be the last hope of freedom in the galaxy.
In the hopes of stopping these dissidents before they can reach the Senator, the Empire has alerted its forces on Sel Zonn Station, where the struggle for liberty rages on, and the first sparks of rebellion have begun to burn. . .
The Dawn of Defiance campaign opens some months after the rise of the Empire, with the Clone Wars a very recent and vivid memory for most beings in the galaxy. The Empire has begun tightening its grip on star systems throughout the galaxy, and Darth Vader stands at the newly declared Emperor’s right hand, crushing any opposition and hunting down the last remnants of the Jedi Order.
In these short months since the fall of the Republic, many have joined the Empire willingly, including the Core Worlds whose Human nobles stand to benefit a great deal from its tyranny. Similarly, many others have begun rebelling against Imperial oppression, finding themselves driven out of their homes (or worse) and forced to live in a galaxy that tolerates no opposition to the Empire.
I am looking to recruit 3-4 PCs for this game. I have one player already who started this module with me under a different gm earlier in the year.
Character Creation rules:
-4d6, drop the lowest for ability scores (You may do a complete reroll if you are unhappy with your first set. (Keep the best set)
-No Ewoks, races from other sourcebooks are allowed as long as they are appropriate for the time period.
-All classes available
-Max starting credits for your class
-Please roll (and pay) for Weapon licences as per pg 118-119 of the core rules if you want to be able to tote your weapons about on imperial controlled worlds.
-A short backstory showing your characters motivation to fight against the Empire and a reason to be on / heading to Sel Zonn Station would be appreciated.
You may have simply come to the station for the same reason as many to rest, relax, refuel, and prepare for the next leg of your journey OR you might be a criminal escaping justice on Brentaal, a fugitive Jedi on the run from the Empire, legitimate traders or businesspeople passing through, or nobles who have traveled to investigate their financial interests.
" Ha! Look who's all high and mighty! Been in Razmir's fold 5 minutes... You won't have to worry about leaving for days. All you have to worry about right now is doing as Krant says. You'll get to the fun stuff later. Now scram. "
" Agh! We're losing him! Losing him! " Bolts yells as he opens one of the droids covers and starts frantically fiddling with wires. Then Nyla starts working and Bolts calms down. " Oh excellent. Thanks Princess. "
" I'd like to know more about them, a good count of thier number, what thier plans for the future are. Any hard evidence that could discredit them in the eyes of the town something that would force the guard to act. I'd be very grateful if you could meet back with me here after a week to go over any information you've found on the inside. "
He chews a few mouthfuls of deer and then wipes his mouth.
i grumble under my breath and look away as Jelly raids the caskets, then I say a few prayers over the skeletons. After that's done I'll follow Jelly into the next room bringing the prisoner with us.
" Did you or your men use these areas? Nod for yes or shake for no. "
Hey guys I'm getting a little frustrated using all my spell slots for cure spells. Did Sahil really need healing that badly? I'm on 11 hp and am in the front line Sahil stays at the back using his crossbows.
I'd love to be able to bust out some of my cooler spells like Guiding Bolt for example. 4d6 damage and the next person to attack the target gets advantage.
I'd love to be more than a hammer swinging bandaid.
All my spell slots are now used for the day. Jelly could have spent both his hit [/dice] at the shortest we took. Has Sahil used his second wind ability yet? It replenishes after a short rest right?
In the end I'm happy to be the healer. I did make a cleric after all. I just think we could be using our resources better.
Bolts let's go off its blaster, the compartment snaps shut with a hiss. " It wasn't my fault. I'm a great mechanic. " the droid says glancing at the smoking engine. " We're going to save a princess. " Bolts strikes a pose straightening his hat.
" Master, there appears to be a defect with your speeder... " Bolts says raising its hand to its vocabulator " Cough... " It looks away to avoid Zoo Lom's eyes.
EDIT: To be clear the droid actually says cough instead of making a cough noise.
Skipping ahead to Faunra's meeting with the Commander but feel free to continue rping from the end of the party.
Commander Wisslow's office is neat with not one mark of personality. The walls are bare, the plain wooden desk has one straight stack of parchment in the corner and is flanked by identical plain functional chairs. As Faunra enters Wisslow stands up and offers her a seat " Well. What a turn of events with this business at the crypt Hmm? " he says making a bad attempt at small talk. " Ahem, well. The mayor has asked me to look into these masked bandits and seeing that you and Brayken have seen all the evidence and ah, walking dead first hand and at the scene, well, I'll be assigning you to this case. Now I know you'll be worried about your responsibilities here but I promise you I'll make sure everything is looked after... So it will be up to you to work out where these bandits went and what they took. I know you won't let Mayor Uptal down. " he pauses and picks up a piece of parchment from the top of his pile.
Perception Dc 12:
with quick upside down glance you see that this is a formal statement from Colbin Vetnar (the head of the woodcutters guild) concerning a robbery. Asina Silvers (the daughter of the inn keeper and the towns biggest gossip) is marked down as the only witness and in the paragraph with her statement you notice the name Quinn Garside.
" Now I have another matter I wanted your opinion on... What do you think of the Quinn fellow that helped out at the crypt? He's new in town and well, there have been some claims levelled against him. You know how the some townsfolk can get about outsiders... "
After the speeder is loaded and while Zoo Lom is inside doing something "Meatbaggy" and uninteresting Bolts waits next to the speeder. After a couple of minutes standing absolutely still the droid starts tapping one foot, then after a minute of doing that tools suddenly sprout form its forearm compartments and it starts making an odd kind of music with them Ting, Ting, Woorp, Woosh... Ting Ting Tang, Woorp woorp, Woosh, Zzzzt. using all sorts of tools to get the different sounds. (Sonic welder, Fushion cutter, and his electroshock probe etc) This goes on for a couple of minutes, then after snooping at Zoo Lom's door he moves over to the engine compartment of the speeder and pops the hood. " HMmmmmmmmmmmm " It drones as it looks the engine over. Then it goes to work making some "improvements"...
I tried so hard to come up with a savvy ninja quip to come back at ya but I couldn't. You win. Also, kids are great, so you have some points already.
I mean to have the outline of the backstory in concise narrative form within 24 hours of posting this, if chosen for the campaign I can expound on it if desired.
I also think the idea of a soulbound servant dude would be cool, and that playing it well could add to roleplay a bit. WE SHALL SEEE.
Question: What is the pacing like in your campaign as it's going right now? Let's say for like the past month, how has it been/felt going through it?
The last month was pretty good. It did take us awhile to get back into the swing of things after Christmas. I've just gone and counted and I made roughly 30 posts in February and that's with a week off where I was unable to post due to being on vacation.
During a lul in the harvest feast while the mayor is off mingling with some other townsfolk, a man dressed in dark greys and browns approaches the head table. " Good evening, honoured heroes. I am Cygar, a member of the Pathfinders. I've been speaking with the Mayor this afternoon and well he's told me about the bandits you found that had raided the Crypt. I'm a little concerned that they only seemed to be after these amulets but left everything else intact. That kind of thing always stinks of some powerful artefact... I think these Bandits need to be tracked down and I'm hoping you will help me. If your interested meet me at the docks in three days time. " he nods and then melts back into the crowd.
The journey back to Kassen is somber and uneventful. Roldare is thrilled to see Dimira again and seems to regain most (but not all) of his sanity.
Mayor Uptal greets you all at the town gate it looks like he's been waiting out here for some time and there is quite a crowd of townsfolk as well. " Thank the gods you are back! " he turns to address the townsfolk. " We will celebrate these heroes at the harvest feast tonight. " he watches as the townsfolk disperse and then turns back to the party. " Come and refresh yourselves. Faunra, I'll need you to write up a report for the town reco... Wait what happened to Nadab? "
Quinn leaps down off the stairs then swings his club at the skeletons weak L5 vertebrae :D smashing the skeleton in half with his femur club. The two halves of the skeleton crumble to the ground.
As I've looked into the game in more depth (by virtue of finally having a PHB in my hands for an extended amount of time), I see that the 4E mechanics of "daily power" and "encounter power" are effectively still around; the key difference is in their presentation ("requires a long rest"/"requires a short rest"). Although mechanically very similar, the 5E version sounds like a natural consequence of activity (i.e., you're weary and need a rest) while the 4E version sounded like an artificial construct (you have a category X power that resets).
Similarly, by not couching everything in the same "daily power"/"encounter power"/"at-will power" terms, you mitigate a lot of the "every class feels the same" problem of 4E. Even if a lot of class features CAN effectively be described in terms of when they reset, focusing on how the feature works thematically for your class, rather than forcing it into a mechanical slot, feels a lot more organic and less (to use the common complaint) "video-gamey." And, I would think, leads to less staring at your character sheet thinking "What power should I use for this?" Or worse, "Sigh, I'm all out of powers, guess I'll use my at-will ability, even though it's pretty weak."
-The Gneech
I like that the short rest is an hour long now as apposed to five minutes. I find that party's really feel like they can't waste an hour taking a rest. In 4e my players would rest after each encounter now I find that they keep going as long as they possibly can.
Reflex:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (18) + 4 = 22 Reflex:1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18 Yeah! I have conquered the evil bluff!
Grifo runs head long up the hill and dashes straight into the brambles trusting mostly to his armour and a weird spinning, falling, rolling run. He makes it through the other side with a thorny branch sticking out of his hair.
" It is a bit weird to find a magic ring on the side of the road... But we don't have time to wonder. Maybe one of these beasts dropped it. "
Grifo shrugs gesturing to the tracks on the ground.
" We should hurry, I'd like to know what they are and what they're doing in the shire! "
- Categorizing humans into 9 ethnic groups (most likely taken from Pathfinder)...
The ethnic groups are pulled from the Forgotten Realms campaign setting (At least I recognise most of the names to be from there). It's been around a little longer than Pathfinder.
Lasair Alant
Iakhovas
Lazeril
Fasch
Agravaine al'Gaheris
Memory of Dreams
Cordelia Perseis
