A Game of Kingmaker

Game Master Wandering Wastrel

I'm pretty sure that casting a spell from a scroll takes the same amount of time - so your summoning spell will take a full round of casting time, Nariel.

Yup that is correct, I haven't placed them yet as I could be interrupted if attacked or something along those lines (requiring concentration), but otherwise they creatures come in ready to fight at the beginning of next round.

Speaking of which, any thoughts in how I should divvy up the dogs between the targets? I could sic all three on either the henchmen or the Stag Lord as a distraction, or split them and attempt to throw off both. Also use them to create flanking opportunities.

Also, loved the light beer comment Raquel... made me laugh, and for some reason I thought of the Mackenzie Brothers from SCTV, a Canadian comedy skit from way back when.

I'm back! Sorry I didn't post last night, I was basically a zombie at the end of the second day.

Working on something now.

I'm going to be spotty over the next 48 hours, I know great timing but I'll be in a plane for 8 hours over the next two days. I'll jump in as I can.

Thanks for the heads up, and don't worry - real life always takes precedence.

I'm at work for the next 12 hours or so but I'll get a post up this evening

Still at work - it's entirely possible that the update may not happen until tomorrow.

Dang, that's a long day. What do you do? When not mauling Aivar, I mean.

I work in biotech - not the researchy bit, the sciencey/legal bit. I have long conversations with the USPTO and the FDA, for my sins.

When they're not shut down, anyway.

We might want to spend a VP to turn that hit against Arianna into a miss.

Also Wastrel, adoration is an immediate action, so I can only use it once per round--usually against the first attack against me.

Nariel, don't forget to have your dogs smite evil--+1 damage! :D

That +1 damage is nothing to wuff at.

And I agree, let's burn a VP to prevent those 21 points of damage.

Agreed.

Agreed, burn one; if not now, when?

Nariel, don't forget to have your dogs smite evil--+1 damage! :D

Right, I did forget!

I think everybody has posted! Ball's in your court, GM. :)

Yeah, I need to get home so I can post the next round, but that won't be for a while :-(

Back now, over to you guys again :)

I was actually just about to ask you about that, Wastrel. Post was made in haste before a meeting and I didn't have time to look carefully. I don't see any entrance onto the battlements - is there one? Can Tristan climb up there?

Red arrow pointing to the stairs nearest you. Whether you have the speed or not, I don't know - if you can move 30 ft/round, probably yes. If only 20 ft/round, probably not :)

Is it possible to burn a VP point to confirm Sasha's crit? If yes, I vote we do so.

Sure thing!

Sure, confirm away.

Also, roger that Wastrel. I was reading the map wrong - I thought those stairs led upwards to towers that were higher than the walls around them.

From his starting position, Tristan definitely had enough move to read the outer archer. Post stands as-is!

Great - just waiting on Arianna

Tristan: they should. But that means there's no way up to the battlements, so I re-purposed them.

Well done, good fight! Still some bad guys out there but this one's basically a wrap.

(and yes, I could have burned some VPs to prolong things but they'd only have delayed the inevitable. You guys are getting powerful...)

Was going to give Aivar time to post, but he's out of commission for now due to RL issues.

So, let's add up Victory Points: you started the last round with 6, they had 2. The Stag Lord is worth 3, and his two minions are worth 1 each, so that's a total of 11 vs 2, for a difference of 9. Not bad.

On the downside, you burned 1 VP (Sasha got her crit via aid another so you ended up not needing to burn a second one).

OK.

Quick note on Raise Dead (and other such) btw: I hate it. I'm ok with PCs being raised if the player doesn't want to roll up a new character for whatever reason, but NPCs are off-limits. That works in your favour, too: nobody will be rezzing the Stag Lord, for example.

Pharasma might occasionally let a mighty hero (i.e. a PC) return from the Boneyard if it's not their time. But for the vast, vast majority of travellers who go to that distant shore, there is no return.

Valar Morghulis.

Still flatlined by a pounding headache and social duties, but hey, the first signs of a throat infection joined the party today so what could go wrong? Will post IC later when I get back home, but I got something Tristan and Aivar can sing in honor of Whiteleaf and the battle just fought.

I can empathize Aivar, just getting over a bout of strep throat myself. It definitely put me out of commission for a few days.

Hi Aivar, sorry to hear that. Get well soon!

EDIT: also, I'm formally abandoning my calendar system. I'm going (with gritted teeth) to use the Golarion one, but I'll use Roman numerals so you know what month it's referring to.

I'll give Aivar and Sasha a chance to post if they want to, but I'll move us on this evening.

What's your next move?

Get drunk, make love to somebody*, sleep.

*Optional, only if somebody is willing ;)

Quit stealing my stereotype!

Well, we could just make love to one another! That seems like the most efficient thing to do. ;)

OK, just got in. I'll post some more in a bit.

On the loot:
-Masterwork spear with a magical Frost seal
-Masterwork breastplate with a magical +1 enhancement seal
-Ring of Protection +1
-Amulet of Natural Armour +1
-Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds x4
-Masterwork Greatclub
-Suit of Scale Mail
-Potions of Bull's Strength x2
-Pearl of Power (2nd level)

Are there any takers for any of the items? Distributing loot seems to be a time-consuming affair in PbP games so it's best to get this over with ASAP in my opinion ;)

Aivar could use the +1 NA amulet. Smite gives a Deflection bonus, so while the ring would be nice, it isn't exactly an optimal pick.

IMO the frost seal should go to someone with (relatively) low damage but a decent to hit. We can give Aivar and Arianna the Bulls STR potions. Sasha, Tristan, Arianna and perhaps Nariel can take a CMW potion each. My reasoning is that Aivar and Raquel got other means of healing available to them and this way we can cover each other. The MW breastplate is a great item. We can always transfer the +1 enhancement seal to a more dedicated melee combatant if needed.

I take it the MW greatclub, MW spear and scale mail will end up on the heap of items we'll end up selling :)

Besides Aivar, I think Raquel is the only one who is proficient in medium armor. I could use the breastplate, but I'm torn between wanting higher AC and having greater speed with light armor to get to those who need healing. Thoughts?

A mithral breastplate is the ideal solution, though that's too expensive for me to afford right now.

Can confirm mithral breastplates rock :)

soooo... shiiiiny....

EDIT: I've updated the Calendar above to the Golarion months. It's not a perfect fit, but it works. It should make things much more straightforward as we move on.

Sorry, got caught up with stuff over the weekend.

Sasha will take the masterwork greatclub, naturally.

I thought barbarians were the clubbing type of people, but it makes sense that rogues love to party hard as well.

I'd like to lay claim to the Pearl of Power if that's okay; spellcasting is really Nariel's only jam, and an extra 2nd level spell would be super helpful.

Also, loot sheet updated.

I'm in meetings and conferences for the next two days. Posting will be intermittent at best.

There's nothing in this pile of stuff that's particularly suited to Tristan. Maybe some of the potions, as Tristan makes for a decent backline medic when Raquel's busy with other things. The Ring of Protection is probably better off with one of the main frontliners.

Okay, I think I'm gonna have Raquel claim the breastplate. I'll just prepare expeditious retreat instead of charm person as my domain spell most days, so I can get a burst of speed to get to people to heal them if it's a big battlefield.

Does no one want the frost seal?

I'll take the frost seal. Can that work with unarmed strikes? I suppose, can it behave like an Amulet of Mighty Fists, applying to all unarmed strikes?

The only reason I didn't suggest it is because I'm afraid it won't. But if it does work, you're definitely the best fit!

You can apply the seal to a handwrap

Apologies for lack of posting today. I've only just got back home. I have meetings again most of tomorrow but will be free in the evening.

Before trekking out again, do we have time enough for Nariel to write up a few new scrolls?

Sorry all - had an emergency at work. Heading home now for some sleep but will post later today.

EDIT: Yes you can spend some time scribing scrolls before you head out. I'll post on that basis.

Great. Going to scribe the following scrolls:

(2) Summon Monster II (Total 150g)
(1) Web (75g)
(2) Protection from Evil (25g)

OK gang, it's Decision Time.

As you know, I originally asked everyone to list the kingdom role they wanted, but ended up just picking the characters I liked (a decision I have precisely zero regrets about).

However it does now mean that I need one of you to step forward (or be nominated by the others) to be ruler - and, eventually, King/Queen of your own realm (although that's a looooong way off).

My vote is for Nariel or Tristan for monarch!

Raquel might be willing to do it if you twist her arm. Like, all the way out of its socket. :P