Adventure Path Reign of Winter

Game Master Almonihah

Sorry Emmjay, Bulvi has done all he can for Yu.

Does aid another work on heal checks to stabilize someone? It would be a lower DC for Alexia to assist than to try to do it herself.

Only Quasit goes after Alexia before Yu's next turn and if he doesn't get stabilized before or on his turn it's a dirt nap for him.

It'll probably provoke an attack of opportunity either way, if Sakitu takes out the red zombie then you can consider making that choice. If both are up... two attacks of opportunity might not work out well.

Well, I am not going to roll for my fate until the GM posts for round 3. Until then, well, damn.

So, it looks like I will probably be playing my Alchemist (http://paizo.com/people/LomarKenomic), unless you guys want me to make a Skald? Up to you.

it would work on a skill check, so would need a dc 15 still but you get an additional +2 on the heal check, as a standard action of course, Alexia do you have any ranks in Heal by chance?

and Bulvi, the zombie isn't that smart he won't bother with the thing under the carriage

No, no ranks in heal, and no wisdom modifier. Also, I'm at 1 HP, so if I get hit on an AoO, Yu gets no help from me.

Withdraw action... no point two characters dying.

So, I'm dead. Guys, thanks for the attempt to save my life. S~#@ happens.

So, here is what I can offer the group in terms of another character:

Ibona Perharice. Female Investigator. Her strengths really don't shine until level 2 (when she can use her +5 int bonus to various other skills), but she has tons of KNOW skills, and other great "helper" skills. No "socials" though...... And yes, she can heal.

Lomar Kenomic An Alchemist, his fire bombs will do good things for the group, especially as we have several other ranged characters. A lot more "meh" on the skills.

Thoughts, Ideas?

Whatever you feel like, I appreciate you making someone who can do a bit of healing. Hopefully no one else will be rolling up a new character by the end of the encounter. I suspect Yu's demise may grimly galvanize the group against the bad guys or possibly lead to divisions.

I'm a fan of people playing whatever they like. I once had a party of 3 level 1 druids attempt Dragon's Demand. They ended up TPK not too far into it but they loved playing as a trio of druids.

If you like Ibona more than Lomar, then go with Ibona. Otherwise, go with Lomar. :-)

I know. Really helpful...

Ok a twenty to hit and ten for damage hopefully we will have the last zombie down and get out of this encounter without any more deaths.

I'm thinking so too...stabilizing Alexi this turn and Quasit the next...

I'm a fan of people playing whatever they like. I once had a party of 3 level 1 druids attempt Dragon's Demand. They ended up TPK not too far into it but they loved playing as a trio of druids.

If you like Ibona more than Lomar, then go with Ibona. Otherwise, go with Lomar. :-)

I know. Really helpful...

Well, both can use CLW, so that is covered (and both can create CLW potions). The question really becomes what would help the party more, a huge knowledge based character (who becomes REALLY good starting at level 2 as she can use her INT bonus for other skills that don't use it like Disable Device, Perception, Sense Motive, Use Magic Device. Also for Diplomacy checks to gather information), or someone who can throw bombs for fire and explosions. Considering we already have enough ranged characters, having a KNOW based character might be a better choice for the group.

Grats everyone on the combat, messy though it may be. Now its up to the GM on how I am to be introduced to the group........

Sonic damage, weak fort save... I suspect Bulvi is going to have some hearing problems.

I hope everyone is OK with the fact that I'm assuming my fire sorcerer would know any icy creature is likely to be vulnerable to fire.

It seems logical... although on a similar line of logic they often make icy creatures resistant or immune to fire attacks.

I hope everyone is OK with the fact that I'm assuming my fire sorcerer would know any icy creature is likely to be vulnerable to fire.

Oh of course. If I was being attacked by a snow creature, melting it would be the first thing I'd try. Especially if I had the power to shoot fire out of my hands.

So yeah... this adventure path doesn't pull any punches does it?

I know, right.

This AP is a bit notorious for the first book being brutal.

GM, may I start to build a new character?

I'm thinking I'll build a full divine caster. It's a type of character I enjoy, and seems to fit the niche our party is very weak on. Ibona, Findurel, you won't feel like I'm stepping on your toes if I do so, will you?

Sounds good to me, no worries at all on my part...

I cringed when I saw the 20 damage...if it'd been just one less, I was gonna dash down and use the wand on Alexia...first session I've seen one PC killed, much less two...and think there's been a couple others knocked unconscious...pretty brutal indeed...

I don't have an issue if you want to build a divine caster, and if they succeed at killing these things off I know how I'd put you in.

and just so you know Yu and Alexia are the only ones I have every actually killed in any PFS run

and just so you know Yu and Alexia are the only ones I have every actually killed in any PFS run

So far...this fight ain't over yet... :)

I aam getting worried about Bulvis likelyhood of surviving. He has few hit points left and trying to kill other party members doesn't generally encourage people to heal you. The group needs a solid roadblock so I will likely play something in a similar vein... though had been considering cleric of pharasma previously.

As for introducing new PCs perhaps there are a few prisoners in the cellar.

Someone has to survive to introduce new characters....

If Bulvi can get back up the stairs, I can heal with the wand if needed...and fire arrows other rounds if not...but if the cleric can keep casting that spell, the point may be moot...

I'm thinking a long-sword wielding cleric of Iomedea. I'm trying to get out of my rut of all my divine characters following Sarenrae/Shelyn and being softies for redemption. We could use the healing, and we could use a bit of sword-muscle, too, considering how lethal this AP is.

this fight should go rather quickly after the cleric dies

Did Quasit just die, too?

I think Quasit and Sakitu are bleeding out, though not flat dead

If I calculated correctly, Quasit is at -3 with a 12 CON and Sakitu is at -1 with a 14 CON...hopefully they roll good on their stabilizing checks...if not, Bulvi and Fin have 7 or 8 rounds to kill enough zombies that I can get to Quasit in time...

Ah, I misread one of the attacks. Still, one dead, three unconscious... I really hope this is the 'big bad guy' of this part.

Yeah, me too...we obviously took the wrong fork in the road in what now seems a long while back...

they both lead to the same place, the fork just determines what fight you get along the way

Still, one dead, three unconscious

...and Bulvi's down 12 hp and Fin's down 4...if we make it, it's gonna be tight...hopefully we can bottleneck 'em at the stairs...hopefully Bulvi's not hit this round but I'll be healing him either way during my turn...

The guys who are hitting through the side of the stairs, I was assuming that it had a bannister but I may be jumping to conclusions, is there a certain point up the stairs where cover would start coming into play.

I missed that...didn't know they were hitting thru the stairs...could be an issue...hope you don't get hit till I can heal you...

there is a solid wall one step to the right of Findurel

If Bulvi and I both step back 5', perhaps we'll have our bottleneck...I'll be protected by the wall yet can still fire downstairs while Bulvi may be too high to be struck from the side...

Seems good, Bulvi can attack before moving back, then he'll just have to fight them one at a time on the stairs and hope he kills them in time for us to get to the others.

Since they are zombies it would buy a round to get off a heal with the wand of cure light wounds too on Bulvi.

I'm planning to heal you with my next action...

I know, despite my reservations ganking the evil cleric succeeded thankfully.

Here's the new character. The mechanics are done, I'm still working on her background. She's built to be reasonably good at melee, spells, and channeling, including selective channeling to hopefully save us next time most of us start to go down.

@ Carianna Want some feedback/mind some light inquiries? On a mechanical level I mean.

Probably a good idea, considering how lethal this is...

Are you aiming for heavy armor proficiency at some point? With a dex of twelve and being a cleric of a war got I suspect it's possible. The stats would work well with full plate though just aiming for mithril breastplate or something similar for good protection without damaging speed is a good option.

Either a heavy shield (wooden for 7gp is a steal on a budget) or a buckler (5gp), if you are planning to wield the longsword two handed for the extra damage or just because you think it's cool I get that but you could always drop a heavy shield as a free action or with a buckler just start swinging two handed and lost he benefit. More AC would be a good idea.

Ease of faith is a cool trait but you already get diplomacy as a class skill. You can always keep the notion for background but mechanically take something more beneficial.

I'm not sure about the heavy armor proficiency. After I put as much as needed into other stats, that's what was left. I wasn't even sure whether to raise dex or con above 10. str and wis are the characters most important stats, and cha had to be 13+ to qualify for selective channeling. In terms of a shield, I don't have the cash, and I've never put one on any of my characters.

In looking over the traits, I wasn't finding much that fit with the character and was more beneficial. Any suggestions?

Exalted of Society if they are a member IC of the pathfinder society gives an extra channel energy a day, it's a faith trait. It'll go well with your build.

Seeker is a good all rounder and flexible enough to fit into a lot of backgrounds. It's social, perception is always nice.

Mithril Breastplate longterm would be amazing, no speed reduction, you will get a solid bonus to AC and the ACP is only a -1 for one.

You can always ditch a scroll of cure light wounds, it's a small increase to armor check penalty and longterm a mithril (or darkwood?) heavy shield would have no penalty. Even a masterwork buckler will give no ACP but thats long term. If an ordinary shield crops up in loot give it a try.

If you really don't want a shield at least make a note to remember you can use your longsword two handed for +1 damage currently, it might make the difference.

...I tend to make a lot of close combat (often heavily armoured) clerics. Iomedae gives a nice proficiency. Never made a cleric of her.

Bulvi, you want to start fighting defensively? If I heal you this round and don't max out, with +4 damage he's likely to take you out on a hit any way...fighting defensively, it'd take 19's to hit you...or, since we're not in a hurry, you could go total defense and only be hit on a 20 and I could slowly pick 'em off...it'd take a while, but you're not likely to be hit...or you could go total defense and I could just heal you until you're maxed out...might take 3 rounds though depending on my rolls...