Since it's actually never come up before, can we get a description of the Saker's Expanse?
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Already chuckling.
So, for potential replacement characters we need to think about what we need. We're losing stealth and Melee DPS. Martin: Tank, minor healing
It's a pretty balanced party. My instinct is to do something tanky, since I feel Pygrado often ended up really being needed in melee, and his stealth really didn't get much use. Some characters / character ideas I've got lying around:
I've also got ideas for ranged DPS, and can whip up any other archetype you guys feel the party needs, including some skillmonkey-ness to replace Pygrado and Caladrius, if you guys think we need that.
DM:
I thought it ended at the end of this turn. It's four rounds, not three, when I only make myself invisible. Either way, Leto's fog works in my advantage. Sense Motive
Pygrado's voice, from the south now, is carries a knife edge you've never heard in it before. All trace of his usual buoyant affability is gone, replaced with ice. That is precisely what I mean to finish. Perhaps not now, not today, not this week. But I'll be coming for you, and I will find you. Best sleep lightly, or you'll wake up in hell surrounded by the anguished ghosts of the children you murdered. DM or Perception DC 37 (only for those outside the fog or who disbelieved it):
Stealth Pygrado doublemoves south, further into the woods. DM:
Barring pursuit or other interruptions, Pygrado will continue to head south, taking care to stay hidden from aerial observation and to hide his tracks. He'll double back a few times, and generally confuse his trail, possibly climb a tree at some point to check for pursuit.
Stealth Survival Once he's confident he's avoided pursuit (1.5-3 hours), he'll turn West and forced march all the way to Carron. When he arrives (probably nearly dead from exhaustion) he'll go right away and report, leaving out his own potential culpability. He'll make sure to mention that he has a feeling she's part of a larger game afoot. The mantis makes a furious aerial charge at Milea. Attack Damage Grab It will continue attacking her for the rest of its duration. When the fog dissipates, Pygrado is no where to be found.
SM From the woods: You're lying, witch. You weren't on that ship for a pleasure cruise. A pause, then from closer to the party. I will finish what they started, and you'll rot in the deepest hell for what you've done. DM or Perception 41: Pygrado is now in M20.
DM or Perception DC 35:
So yeah as soon as Leto starts casting Pygrado dismounts and jogs to I24.
Stealth
The Mantis (which had delayed) takes to the air, flying up and counterclockwise to ~H27. Sense Motive DC 10: It's retreating.
From the East comes Pygrado's voice. Vincenzo? Did Vincenzo ask you to kill all those people? Perception DC 15:
Pygrado is probably mounted on the mantis. DM: Ready an action to get off the mantis and head into the bushes on the north side of the road if anyone approaches the mantis, points a ranged weapon in my direction, or starts casting a spell while looking in my direction.
The mantis was hit by the scorching ray, and badly burned. It withdraws to MN23-24. DM or Perception DC 34: Pygrado double moves to his mantis and mounts it.
Stealth
DM: Not taking AoO vs Martin, obviously. How can she acrobatics away from me when she doesn't know where I am?
It doesn't work. The mantis, as a vermin, is immune to all mind-affecting abilities.
The mantis banks sharply to the right and descends. Pygrado slides off around N15, landing in a nimble shoulder roll. He taps once at the brooch of his cloak, and his eyes glaze over momentarily with concentration before he vanishes from sight again. The mantis alights in MN 16-17 and lashes out at the new appearance of Milea. Attack
DM or Perception DC 35: Pygrado tiptoes to L15. Stealth
Also ML, you only get six seconds to talk so unless Leto was a debator or an auctioneer in his previous career, that's quite the impressive rant. Sense Motive
Will Save DM: If the mantis can't charge, does that mean it can't attack and therefore can't fumble?
Sense Motives
DM:
The mantis charges, covering the ground to her and then lashing out with a claw.
Attack vs. flat-footed
Pygrado then attacks with both blades.
Attack vs AC
Pygrado is still nowhere to be seen. DM: Pygrado removes the RMA helmet from his hand haversack and puts it on his head. He then unsheathes his swords.
DM: Also, as regards the riding, I'll avoid taking off until the round I intend to attack her, then, so my helmet-donning and weapon drawing will take place on the ground. The ride check, in advance:
DM: Man, how disappointing will it be if my epic reveal is ruined by falling off my mantis. But okay.
Also, are you sure about that sneak attack rule? As very weak counter-evidence, I'd offer this, but I've assumed that invisibility/flat-footedness ends at the end of the attack action, not the attack, and since a full attack is one action that both attacks get the benefits.
Perception Sense Motive Pygrado vanishes. DM: Pygrado activates his Vanisher Cloak, spending two charges on him and his mantis. He then climbs onto the mantis.
The mantis takes to the air, circling lazily towards the woman.
Perception
Pygrado does not respond.
Pygrado dashes past the party, into the trees (~I18). Perception DC 18 (DC 24 for the woman):
You hear Pygrado whisper the command word for his amulet of vermin summoning. Perception DC 24 (30 for the woman) (+2 if you made the previous check): Pygrado summons his mantis into the undergrowth, intentionally trying to shield it's appearance from the eyes of the party or the woman.
Roll to conceal it
Proposed Watch Order: 1) Leto and Pygrado
I'm not sure... we're not here to investigate everything we run across; we're here to get to Carron. We're in the middle of a war zone, surrounded by monsters and Achaekek only knows what other hazards. If this is the road we're looking for, it's the fastest way to Carron and that's what we want.
I just don't like this at all, not one bit. This monster here, and those birds; this woman, the halflings, the dragon... The sooner we reach Carron, the happier I'll be. There's not enough space to work, out here. I'm a city boy, I guess.
Survival
Pygrado tenses his fingers and asks in a tense whisper, Are these things natural, or did she summon them? Delay. I'll come back in as soon as someone else moves to engage the birds.
Pygrado is nervous the whole time, constantly looking around. He paces the perimeter of the camp a few dozen times before settling in for the night, and he sleeps in his armor with his swords laid out on either side of him. He brushes away any questions distractedly, and follows the party.
I assure you, this woman doesn't need our saving. She needs stopping.
But given the havoc she reaped on that boat, she's likely beyond our skills. We should get to Carron, and quickly.
Survival Pygrado waves away Leto's questions distractedly. No, no, you're right. We should get to Carron and see where we stand first.
Previously: After looking around a bit, Pygado warily sheathes his swords and follows the rest out of the boat. As they walk, he asks Leto A woman, you say? Did you notice anything odd about her? As we rejoin our heroes: Wordcasting, you say? Eliri was a wordcaster, and a bookish and severe one at that, but she wasn't blond. Let me see that document. He takes it from Leto, glances at it, then shrugs. Well, I can't make heads or tails of this. Damn, this connection to Eliri makes no sense at all. There can't be that many wordcasters around, can there? Eliri said it was really rare. But this woman is dangerous. You saw what she did on the ship. Are all wordcasters summoners like Eliri? That'd explain how she managed to fight them all while inside that cage... He frowns and shakes his head. Maybe you're right; maybe our first priority should be getting to Carron.
You didn't see what this individual did inside the boat or, I imagine, before. We can't let it keep killing. SM DC 25: You suspect Pygrado is not merely imagining what the escaped prisoner might be capable of.
I... I think we need to find whoever was in these manacles. Can your dog follow the tracks?
retcon--what has it got in its haversack, precious:
MW Backpack 50 Feet String 1 Sunrod (purchased two, used one) Theives Tools Saw 2 pieces chalk 5 tindertwigs (purchased six, used one) Carpentry tools Butterfly Net Caltrops x2 Candle x2 Flasks x3 10 ft chain Crowbar Drill Flint and Steel Two grappling hooks Hammer Ink (1oz) Invisible Ink (Simple, 3 pgs worth) Iron Spike Normal Manacles Marbles Small steel mirror 150ft hemp rope (100+50) Shovel Signal Whistle 10.71gp
Knowledge(Local) After Martin yells that they might have company inside the boat, Pygrado dashes into the boat. Just as the rest of you are about to leave, he comes hurtling into the room, breathless and swords drawn. He takes in the scene. Gods, what happened here? SM DC 15 (in the boat): Though he's clearly upset by the blood pools (more than you'd expect from him), you think he was expecting worse.
Pygrado seems a bit nervous about going onto the ship. Wait, Martin, you said they went into the sea; did I get that right? Whoever's boat this was, after being injured, walked into the ocean and didn't come back out?
Survival
There's a war on, on this island, isn't there? We should head for Carron as quickly as we can, and avoid running into it. I've had enough of warzones for a while now.
Oh s@$&, did the little guy not make it? JAMROS? JAMROS? DAMNIT! A dragon? Did we just get attacked by a thrice-accursed dragon?
DM: In that case, I better find another alley.
While burning the paper in the other alley, he keeps a sharp eye out for anyone trying to sneak up on him.
DM: Pygrado walks out reading his note. He promptly goes to an academical shop, buys a half-dozen tindertwigs, and, with uncharacteristic discretion goes into a back alley before using one to burn the note.
Magic missile, if you can get a wand with a caster level higher than your own. Color spray and ray of enfeeblement aren't quite blasting, but are good offensive options for level 1. But really the best blasting spells are at higher levels. Scorching ray, for instance.
And you need to... to... well, something. He sputters for a bit, then departs angrily. -----------------
DM:
After making his purchase, and picking up a few other items (see list below) Pygrado goes to the Bloated Man. He waves to the barkeep. Nothing for me, thanks, but I believe you have a message for me. He walks over to the billiards table, apologizing to anyone currently playing there, and ducks under to see what's there. List:
MW Backpack 50 Feet Silk Rope 1x Quieting Needles 50 Feet String 2 Sunrods Spring Loaded Wrist Sheath for the +1 dagger Theives Tools Saw 2 pieces chalk -----------------
Pygrado catches up to Gareth and grabs his arm. You're right about one thing. In the tunnels I wasn't like them; I was weak. It was the fist time I'd seen one of my order since my induction, and for half a moment I thought they might forswear their sacred contracts. But they acted in accordance with our ways, and died by them. He pauses, and his tone becomes angry. Better ways to help the city, huh? You think I failed to do my part, these last days? You want to count the scars, and tell me in which ways my career got in the way, do you? And as for other things to do with my life, what do you suggest? A carpenter? There's no transcendence in that, just work. A guard, slogging out my rounds each day? This is what I was meant to do.
Shopping List (edited):
In that case, I'll just get the cloak. The wonderful, delicious cloak. Well, you're right that it's not the money, although I do only kill whe I have a contract, or like this in service of something I believe in. So... It's hard to describe. The first time I saw someone assassinated, it was like "That. That's my calling, right there." There's something about assassination, as a career, that really speaks to me. It's incredibly challenging, mentally and physically, and you have the respect of everyone. You need focus, and it gives you that focus--a straightforward goal with a thousand ways to get there... When you take a life, he pantomimes stabbing you know exactly what you are doing. It's like the world snaps into sharper focus. It's not the same when you're fighting someone, so frantic, so hurried. You can take your time if they're asleep, or drugged, or distracted. You can truly take in the moment. Does... does that make any sense?
Well, I'm willing to do any more work that the King would require of us. I love this city and I'll die for her. But outside that, I'm not a mercenary. I'm an assassin and we work alone.
Shopping List: I'll be selling the +1 shortsword. (+1157.5) I'm going to get a Vanisher Cloak (MIC-145) (-2500) and an Amber Amulet of Vermin (Giant Praying Mantis) (MIC-68) (-700). After receiving the 1000gp bounty, he'll be at about 500. He'll chip in 150 for the wand, and spend the rest on mundane equipment.
DM:
He'll go to the walls and look out and survey the scene before returning. Pygrado returns. We did it, friends. Goldcrest's forces have retreated, and sent a rider under a banner of truce. The war is over and we can return to our careers. He grabs a chunk of bread, grinning.
Pygrado wakes quite early, feeling unusually refreshed. His morning calisthenics might wake light sleepers in adjacent rooms. He grabs a sausage and begins chewing on it, but heads out into the city to get a sense of how the siege has progressed overnight. Barring solo adventures, he returns just as the rest of you are breaking your fast with his report.
Reserve feats are doubleplusfun, but less useful on a spontaneous caster than on a prepared caster. Also not sure what spontaneous healer would do for you. Expanded Arcana is good for any spontaneous caster. And I'll second improved initiative as never being a bad choice. Lucky Start (CS) is about as good and more flavorful, I feel. Healer's Luck or Magical Fortune(CS) also fits the flavorfulness and would be useful for you. Elemental Focus is flavorful and useful. A few other thoughts:
Also: Your current feats are both oriented towards ranged combat, but none of your spells require a ranged touch attack and I haven't seen you running around with a big ol' crossbow or anything. What's the logic behind these feats? BEST OF ALL: (imho) Glorious Heat
So we're waiting on Leto, Jamros, and Caladrius to level up, right? Is CvH coming back, or is this a convenient time to retire Caladrius?
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