Ahem.
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He's got a lot of homework to do.
Devil is a reach-weapon combatant, at least at the start (of the game, and of the fight).
Since the servers were down a few days, recruitment is extended for 2 more days! Finalize your characters and await the selections! Thanks for that. Apparently they had to do some restore, also; changes I made to this profile were lost. I'll post again when it's presentable. But, honestly? I'd chose six of the others before I'd get to Devil. Major competition.
The Black Devil is from a failed CoT. His original backstory is below. He became a sort of poetic chronicler of the nonsense we got up to in that run, but I can't post samples because of course they're all spoilers. (They're in his post history, if you want to dig) If my having played some of CoT is not a problem, please let me know; I would build Devil to your spec for consideration. Backstory:
Westcrown is a dark and dour place. Everything and everyone is what and who they should be, or they regret it. Sooner, or later. Or that's what they tell you. It's what they told me. So I was good. Well, I was dutiful. I was also good, but that wasn't what they had meant. Where was I? Oh yes, dutiful. I was dutiful. I had dutifully stood and glowered, unreadable, unthreatening, but obviously armed, and ready, in the brothel where I lived. Where I was raised, perhaps born. You don't ask questions, when they aren't answered. You just do your job. Mine was to glower, to watch, and if there was trouble, to get there first. And I was good at it. Until I wasn't. It was the dutiful thing, you see. When a helmeted Hellknight says you're to come answer questions, you go. Maybe not if you're expecting trouble, but the sun was still rising, there would be no business, let alone trouble, for hours. So I went, dutifully. And when the Hellknight found some other infraction on the way there, and sent me ahead to the garrison, I went. And when I got there, well, for Hellknights, you wait. Eventually, they get tired of scowling at you, and somebody asks. And you wait some more, until the Hellknight doesn't show, and they suggest you leave. Go home, they said. So I went. Home, I guess. I guess it was home. No, it was. It was definitely home. And now it's gone. They were all gone. Not missing, but dead. Fast. It was fast. Like they didn't... It was fast. And the dog was there, leashed still behind the desk out front, like nothing happened. Oh, he knows something happened, he knows we're not there anymore, I can tell he misses them... So, anyway, Westcrown is a different kind of place, now. Not everyone is doing what they should be. I don't know who they are. I don't know, if it's the helmeted Hellknight, or the Shelynite with his little carvings, or... I don't know. But I will. And they'll regret it. Sooner, or later. More Backstory: By the Waters
----- "By-y-y-y, the wa-a-aters, the wa-a-aters...", the tiefling sang* softly, mournfully, as he worked. The black hound followed, and occasionally matched a broken note with a woeful whine. The only other sounds in the Westcrown predawn were the tiefling's steps, and the occasional whine, sharper than the dog's, from the springs of the cart, with each new burden the tiefling added. * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTnspbSjKVc ----- "We lay down and we-ept, and we-ept...", the tiefling sang softly, dutifully, as he dug the graves. The black hound lay nearby, softly whining, perhaps to match the tiefling's song, or the cart's infrequent springsong, punctuating each lessening of its load. ----- "We remember thee, remember thee, remember thee...", the tiefling sang tiredly, his voice rough with his labors and the repeated song. The shovel's clatter into the cart had roused the hound, and it now stood next to him, while he sang, his voice growing rougher, without the balancing burden of the work to be done. "By the waters, the waters, the waters
At the end, the voice was just a growl; it could have come from man or beast. Except the beast was whining.
What about a refugee from another CoT game? This guy could be reset to 1st level. His intro to that game:
Westcrown is a dark and dour place. Everything and everyone is what and who they should be, or they regret it. Sooner, or later.
Or that's what they tell you. It's what they told me. So I was good. Well, I was dutiful. I was also good, but that wasn't what they had meant. Where was I? Oh yes, dutiful. I was dutiful. I had dutifully stood and glowered, unreadable, unthreatening, but obviously armed, and ready, in the brothel where I lived. Where I was raised, perhaps born. You don't ask questions, when they aren't answered. You just do your job. Mine was to glower, to watch, and if there was trouble, to get there first. And I was good at it. Until I wasn't. It was the dutiful thing, you see. When a helmeted Hellknight says you're to come answer questions, you go. Maybe not if you're expecting trouble, but the sun was still rising, there would be no business, let alone trouble, for hours. So I went, dutifully. And when the Hellknight found some other infraction on the way there, and sent me ahead to the garrison, I went. And when I got there, well, for Hellknights, you wait. Eventually, they get tired of scowling at you, and somebody asks. And you wait some more, until the Hellknight doesn't show, and they suggest you leave. Go home, they said. So I went. Home, I guess. I guess it was home. No, it was. It was definitely home. And now it's gone. They were all gone. Not missing, but dead. Fast. It was fast. Like they didn't... It was fast. And the dog was there, leashed still behind the desk out front, like nothing happened. Oh, he knows something happened, he knows we're not there anymore, I can tell he misses them... So, anyway, Westcrown is a different kind of place, now. Not everyone is doing what they should be. I don't know who they are. I don't know, if it's the helmeted Hellknight, or the Shelynite with his little carvings, or... I don't know. But I will. And they'll regret it. Sooner, or later. Intro Part II: By the Waters
Can a hound mourn? Can a devil? ----- "By-y-y-y, the wa-a-aters, the wa-a-aters...", the tiefling sang* softly, mournfully, as he worked. The black hound followed, and occasionally matched a broken note with a woeful whine. The only other sounds in the Westcrown predawn were the tiefling's steps, and the occasional whine, sharper than the dog's, from the springs of the cart, with each new burden the tiefling added. ----- "We lay down and we-ept, and we-ept...", the tiefling sang softly, dutifully, as he dug the graves. The black hound lay nearby, softly whining, perhaps to match the tiefling's song, or the cart's infrequent springsong, punctuating each lessening of its load. ----- "We remember thee, remember thee, remember thee...", the tiefling sang tiredly, his voice rough with his labors and the repeated song. The shovel's clatter into the cart had roused the hound, and it now stood next to him, while he sang, his voice growing rougher, without the balancing burden of the work to be done. "By the waters, the waters, the waters
At the end, the voice was just a growl; it could have come from man or beast. Except the beast was whining. * http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uTnspbSjKVc
I again stand corrected. My flawed understanding led me to conclusions which were incorrect. More to the point, I did not charitably reason in good faith that because my understanding led to unhappy conclusions, it must be wrong. I'm not sure I'm going to ever be the guy that can do that. I think that's the guy that's needed here, and I'm not that guy.
From a Skype with JCS: Black Devil: I apparently missed the statement that this time the ranks would not do what they usually do. But I can wrap my head around it. Sian wants to hit BD, who's closest to the demon, but so many guys between them... So she turns around and shoots the other way! Only -4 for the demon, and rolls a 20. OR not, my bad for missing the statement that this normal weirdness or the room was not part of the magical weirdness of the room, and would in any case trump the rules weirdness we'd all just been discussing. I'll post that to the list, I owe you that apology. Summary: the -24 to hit did not apply owing to the roundness of the room. So it was not 'kill BD at all costs' or 'roll a 20 and see where it hurts most'. And suggesting either was wrong of me. Suspecting both is part of how my mind works. I may be a poor fit for a ruleset that is in flux, explained after the fact, and intended to streamline by cutting corners. I'm considering that point.
First, I'm not giving you a choice. :) Sorry. You declared an action, and I've already posted based on that action. And, by my own admission above, it was a perfectly valid action you took given the rules governing our Pbp. Valid, but questioned. If you are going to offer a charge of my being unfair to the rules, expect defense and counter-charge. It's not unreasonable for one of us to be able to read Beppo's crap roll as a foot slip, and step into the gap. It's not unreasonable for Devil, who has _always_ claimed he's best for the front rank, and always taken hits when he can, and has a trait to do just that, to get in front of Beppo when the blinky shredy demon suddenly appears in front of us. I say suddenly because the first guy in the room did not see him, it was only when we were all here that he was described.
Meta would be Beppo rolls a 20 and I don't do what I always do anyway. Beppo rolls a 2 and I do what I always do anyway? That's Meta? Just like this dungeon, far enough East puts you West. It fits that Beppo stands ready, rather than charges(because, hey, probably more Grease on the floor ahead, right?). And it fits that BD step in front.
Not a plea for pity, just reason. If you tell a PC they have -24 to hit the guy in front of the demon, they don't hope for a 20. They shoot somebody else. If the same rules apply. I'm pointing out her actions make no sense, given the rules we've been using. Talk about meta, it looks like she rolled, and then figured out what she could do with it. If you must know (as meta as it is), she attacked you because you were in front. She saw an opportunity to weaken the person who might be the first logical victim of the demon's attacks. She was pretty sure, after her first shot being so easily blocked, that she would have little to no change killing any one of you in just one shot. She wants you dead (obviously). And it's a lot easier for that to occur if she helps the devil along on his road to destruction (via a quick death) rather than spread the pain out where a healer can easily undo what she's done. So, the -24 did not apply, and she chose wisely. Brava. We will also all have unobstructed fields of fire on her, then? When our saved actions for her appearance bear fruit? Or will she sense those saved actions, and change her play? And if she can do that, why can Devil not play around Beppo's roils? And here is where you say he can, and you let him do just that. And here is where I say, Yes, but you rightly sniffed for cheese. And I agree, I too smell cheese. BTW, Switching styles is a swift action, so I think you have to do it on your turn...and she's attacking from a position of stealth. So, unless you have another feat I'm not taking into consideration, it may not help since you may not be aware of the attack anyway. Devil doesn't have to switch, he can run all his styles flat out, and he does so. I know that with you I would lose any claim to keeping them running without obvious enemies around, so I haven't even made that claim, and I start them up every fight. Be aware, the option exists to Fight Defensively while attacking 'that invisible guy right there', and so enter FD posture without waiting for an enemy to approach. So he could Swift(Crane), Standard>Swift(Snake), and still move.
Devil falls into the darkness of the pit.Huh?? Explain. Why? Why:
Why not? He's facing 4 claws and two kukri, and facing away from the 60-foot-range precision damage sniper, and he's the preferred target, apparently, since he's selected even through 6 ranks of enemy (at -24 to hit...). So, remaining where he is, is a bad move. He cannot move through the enemy demon, he cannot sense Sian unless she's attacking someone, and she disappears again by the end of her turn, even though she might be on fire (Good move, Tessai).
So he's using the loopy physics to loop. He drops into the darkness. He saves his action in the hope of attacking Sian when she appears. He's got good Acrobatics and even Fly. And it's time Sian had something unexpected happen to her. This is his best play. A bad play? Sure. But again, it's his very best bad plan.
Devil falls into the darkness of the pit.
I withdraw BD's action. BD will honor Beppo's held action and potential to do damage, and remain behind Beppo, using BD's actions instead to Arcane Pool, Crane, and Snake Styles, FD (attacking the enemy when they come into range to satisfy FD). It does seem that the method continues to shave value from us. edit: gah, ninja'd. Not really, but can't keep up todayt, and came to discuss before Gameplay. Anyway, Snake Style would let Devil use a Sense Motive against that crossbow bolt as his AC, but he cant' get an AC high enough to beat a natural 20. The natural 20 will even beat the 5 ranks of enemies at -4 per rank... She's a daring girl, this Sian. She goes for the guy she has -20 to hit, who is doomed anyway by contract, double-cursed, triple-drained, and does little damage in any case.
Devil moves in front of Beppo, filling his longspear with Arcane forces.
Keep Devil in the middle, adjacent to as many of us as possible, because once/day I can just make myself the target of an attack that's about to kill somebody. (And I can make my AC better than most, and possibly Crane and Snake my way out of getting hit). What I can't do is win fights. You lot have to provide the damage. :)
sorry for absence, been at court. Will catch up by lunch.
"Remember the imprisoned devil has a weapon the seeress-imp said we may need. We might want to retrace our steps in any case."
Devil will translate. But he continues to compare the handwritings, ink, chalk, whatever. CSI:Westcrown.
Regarding the Bluelight: This is the first couple sections of the list. Later sections all cost more. These are the usual prices. Bandages of rapid recovery 200 gp
Quick Runner's Shirt, extra move action once a day, for 700? Good deal. Sipping Jacket is like Alchemist holy grail.
Devil translates, "If you take the East exit, only take the staircase on the right. If you go left up one floor, you will activate a deadly trap. Is what is says. So, do we trust it?" Devil compares the handwriting, ink, pen, etc to other samples we've found, including the V-list and scrolls.
Have everybody stand away, and Mage Hand that one out.
Mithril doesn't have the loss of damage. And it's not 'silvered steel', so at least in some realities, it's not rustmonster-fodder. But yes, it can get expensive. I'm curious. Was my making the second reflex save to the gameplay thread not enough to establish I was the second? Or were we waiting for somebody to fail the save for plot purposes? Or did we need somebody who would take damage from the fall? I'm feeling rather abused, both for myself and on behalf of Beppo.
Devil does not pick up the note, not even with Mage HAnd, but he does translate it. "Room to the North has invaders from above. Protect your veins and arteries at all costs. So, perhaps more stirges? Or other blood-sucking fliers?"
Advantage depends on the setting. I would guess silver here in Devil Central. Mithril counts as silver, and does not lose damage for being soft. (But that's not a big deal for a precision-damage fighter like you. A point off your weapon damage isn't really a big deal for most people. Still, Mithril seems a win. And with a lot of us thinking and doing that, some Cold Iron is a good plan. Enchanting CI is costly, though, which makes it SOooo tempting to use that oil on a CI longspear. Why longspear? It's a simple weapon, literally any of us can use it. It's a two-handed weapon, all the Big Strong Power Attackers are already built to use it WELL. And it has reach. But I'm digressing. I would say you want a Mithril Rapier. And you might find Silver and Cold Iron daggers a good stop along the way.
I agree, Beppo, or actually his Greatsword, should have that oil. I hope he emails to that effect. I'm going to email JCS that Devil takes everything. And that Devil will yield it to the others. Just to prevent the automatic cash-out on Monday. The cash WILL NOT save our lives in here. The items might. If we had time to be what Devil thinks is 'sane' about this, the +1 would go on a special materials weapon. But I suppose it's not unreasonable that we all feel stressed by our circumstances.
Isn't a +2 light shield a +3 to AC? Is there something special about this shield? Will the longbow need repair? Will Aemon need more STR+ to use it? It still seems obvious it is 'his'. The vial of Mwk>to>+1-ness, Beppo, check. I want to point out, using it on armor 'wastes' the difference in cost between +1 armor and +1 weapon. Bag of cash, Brandon requesting consideration of his unique natural weapons, which seems reasonable to me. So my share of that bag, I'm sending to Brandon, which is all I feel I have the authority to do. I'm in support of all the above. Holy symbol creeps me out. Is Kyle willing to carry in in the Haversack's extra-dimensional cootie-proof space? :) I'll be adding this to the QM report: .Kp Wand of Cure Moderate (21 charges)
You all have to send JCS email to take these things. I'll be sending him this: Devil passes his share of that 3287 gold to Brandon.
"While I doubt the putrid protector permanently purged, we seem to have respite while he reforms. Oldman, how long until this blinding sickness affects us?" Devil will indeed act as Mage Hand taxi between the islands, and for the safe examination of objects by the Magi...
Devil will Mage Hand the 'wish scroll' back from the stair where he put it to 'stay dry'. He handles it with genuine care.
"I could reach through the muck magically, if I could see..." Devil casts Mage Hand, and tries the Gloves of Reconnaisance against the muck, fetching whatever seems most worthy, quickly, if that works. If the Gloves do work, he'll cast Unseen Servant, and hopefully in one more round of use of the Gloves, command the servant to fetch whatever's within the range of the spell.
"Those with defenses, prepare them. Those with senses and sight, use them.", Devil suggests, readying to brace his bill vs charge. "We are a good team. We might still have an enemy out there. And what was that laughing as we fell?"
finishing the specification of Devil's turn:
"Edmond! Catch", Devil calls from the West island, glancing behind him to check that no one will be hurt as he throws his longspear [haft-first] across to Edmond.
"If you're going to draw his ire, be sure you continue to draw breath.", Devil cautions Kyle.
In reviewing the Magus rules, it's a full-round action to cast a spell and attack at -2. So sure, another Standard to make a lasso. Spend the HP.
BD uses Move action to pull rope out. Standard to tie Corellon. Corellon moves/swims into muck (move action) and grabs Kyle. Another party member on that side of land pulls you both out (standard action).
"Get ready to pull this rope.", Devil says to Beppo. Having drawn on the rope when it seemed Kyle might have grasped it, he had enough of it in hand, he hoped. No, he reasoned. Tying a clumsy big loop in the end of the rope, he opened his mind, and saw every potential of the casting of the loop, in the casting of a spell.
"NOW, Beppo!", Devil calls as the clumsy loop falls around the struggling priest.
I did not prepare my 1d3 acid attack cantrip this morning, reducing our magical damage pool to Kyle's limited 1d6 lightning. If we can get Kyle to land, he can use that. Hopefully the 'lake' is about to join all of Edmond's other victims on the 'What the Heck was THAT?' bench in Hade's foyer. Yeah, Tess, we need a wizard. Closest we have is a Magus. Buy me a wand. :)
Devil pulls a rope from gunspace and shouts to Kyle, before he throws the end of it past the priest.
Devil makes for the nearer, smaller island, thinking to yield his space if crowded. Above, the mage hand sets the Wishing Scroll safely on a step.
Next....
Finally...
Devil casts Mage Hand, lifting the flat-rolled scroll with the runecurse inside from inside his armor, up toward the stairs. "Keep the Wish scroll dry! Keep it dry!", he pleads.
"I am trebly drained, and doubly cursed, and bear the death warrant of a power we cannot defeat. You must all agree not to battle when the warrant is served; that is my wish. Meantime, I'll go first, and draw whatever fire comes. And if I die before the warrant, leave me or loot me, the cape and gloves are the greatest value, but let the small book and the folded scrolls alone."
just went with the question re: motivations of the iunknown intelligence
Devil sighs, and nods. "What would cause the intelligence ahead to aid or guide us?", he asks the imp.
Brandon's suggestion gives the imp all our names, and would not inform us if, say, Thesing were suspected. "What names do the authorities associate with the group commonly known as Shades of Grey?" Tha tmight serve us better?
Devil asks, "What is the path to the deformed child of the mayor, if such a thing exists in this house?"
Devil turns to his companions. "We have a single question left. I frame this as a command. If you my allies still believe a hidden child's location the most important question we can ask, raise a hand." If a single hand is raised, Devil asks, "What is the path to the deformed child of the mayor, if such a thing exists in this house?"
Devil presses on. "Can we the party together defeat the being contracted by the RuneCurse we encountered?"
Devil turns to Brandon, "A name on a scrap of paper somewhere might count. I have a birth registry. The question was poorly formed; the answer is no cause for panic."
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