Agents of Cheliax Abroad (Inactive)

Game Master Molech

Hmmm.

I assume now that The Bogeyman has exited in the dark Parego Dospera, that in a few minutes Lucius Difax, known sympathizer of anti-Chelaxian ideals, will show up?

If it suits the story, absolutely!

However, my understanding was not that Winnow was necessarily anti-Chelaxian. Did I misunderstand?

You don't know, but Winnow is not likely anti-Chelaxian. He's made tentative arrangements with the Bastard Kylian Phandros, at least. Kylian Phandros is Chelaxian through and through.

Winnow is likely what he seems at least a bit -- an agent of Pangolais in 'allied' Cheliax.

That's why I figure The Bogeyman – rather than Lucius – is the better fit for the scene...?

Hold on... We're not in Dospera... Sort of changes things... I am simply not sure how Lucius could interact, if at all. Maybe I'll just let the others deal with the dialogue and take the guise of a nameless passerby so I can be nearby in case things go awry!

Todd Stewart, who I think invented Zon-Kuthon, or at least Dou-Bral, has his own Homebrew of how Dou-Bral fell and became The Midnight Lord. And I really like it (after gaming with him in The Maelstrom a bit). And if you guys get into this line later down the road, I'll use it. But for now I'd just check out the basic entry on the Wiki linked to earlier.

Just for the record, I did not create Zon-Kuthon or Dou-Bral. Outside of some early work on ZK's domain in the Shadow Plane I've not done much published stuff with him.

My PaizoCon game just happened to delve into the backstory there in a wildly non-canonical capacity, linking Dou-Bral's corruption to Tegresin the Laughing Fiend.

"I saw something of beauty in Dou-Bral, a godling so wide-eyed with innocent wonder at the things the cosmos held, and I broke him. In my prison, held in this miserable cosmology, I can and will gleefully tug upon your strings and burn this reality down around us all because I will survive to grind another cosmos between my teeth like so many, many before, and simply because it amuses me to do so..." - Tegresin the Laughing Fiend

Yes, but I enjoyed Tegresin so much -- and don't share Paizo's problems with various Yugoloth intellectual property -- that I've adopted The Laughing Fiend for my own games.

Yes, but I enjoyed Tegresin so much -- and don't share Paizo's problems with various Yugoloth intellectual property -- that I've adopted The Laughing Fiend for my own games.

Yeah, in my home game I'm capable of crossing the streams, so Tegresin is a straight up baernaloth. In print he's an ancient, imprisoned, essentially god-like fiend of (intentionally) unknown type and motivation, and keeping that mystery intact I think adds to his usability in folks' campaigns and to the atmosphere I tried to inculcate about him over the course of a few books where he shows up directly or in allusion.

And I really makes me happy to see anything -legit anything- that I've worked on used by other folks. If you have a chance to PM me, I'd love to know how you're using him! :D

Would it help for y’all to suggest in Discussion a few gambits, or even what kind of information you want to get from Winnow? What your goals with this encounter may be? I remember there was a question about this earlier. Or might you just want to try to follow ‘him’?

This be Yaos scene. She's the initial connect to Winnow. Magnius will just follow her lead for right now.

Knowledge Arcane may get you an idea -- but it was far away.

If anyone's Knowledge: Arcane check gets above 25 that PC can explain what he or she understands to the rest of the group and PCs can then attempt a Spellcraft check to interpret some specifics.

So,.... Knowledge Arcane DC 26 for some info and, if that is achieved, someone can attempt a Spellcraft DC 20 (and up) for more.

I'll post for Winnow later today -- confident I will have some time.

Azlain made both rolls, yay for people with high intelligence. So we should know what you posted earlier today GM Ray.

The next step was we plan to follow Winnow. The Bogeyman made a roll and the rest of us will follow much further back.

Yaos asked Azlain if he had the spell detect thoughts and everyone if they had speak with dead. Both could turn up additional information if someone has them.

You can also attempt Knowledge: Local to recognize Winnow's Class abilities. I'm pretty sure Magnius will get this even without the roll; his modifier is so high. But it's always good to do it anyway (in case you bump into a CR 18 or so NPC where the DC is higher).

Having jolly disturbed fun looking at Google images of Witches Bridles

I ended up taking out 1 point from each of Cosmology, Society, Linguistics, Stealth and Survival to put them into Local, for a +12 to that skill.

Is that fair Ray?

Huzzah

Sneaking up to the house, say, to peak in the cracks or another hole, would require a Stealth check. Currently only The Bogeyman is doing that — and he can back up and relay what he’s seeing. So Magnius can Stealth up to the House for a good look in order to roll, or wait for The Bogeyman’s report.

But based on what the Bogeyman has seen he can certainly drop back and, either through segue (to avoid being redundant) or through roleplay (if it sounds like fun) can say the little girl has familial features of House Oberith.

Once a PC sees her that PC can attempt Knowledge: Society to see if they recognize her specifically.

. . . .

Trying to get a useful link for you — assuming you’re less familiar with ‘New Paths Compendium.’

If you scroll way down you get to the one-paragraph descriptions of the Classes — including PRIEST. (A Cleric that doesn’t have weapon/armor proficiencies and slower Channel, but a Divine Gift SU that balances it out with a touch more Divine magic.

We can roll with it. And The Bogeyman is more than ready! Question: is there any way for any of you to lock him down if/when The Bogeyman terrorizes him?

Looks like everyone, except Magnius who is yet to express an opinion, has decided Winnow needs some killing.

I must say DM Ray has done an excellent job of portraying him as utterly loathsome. Yaos is evil with a habit of blood eagling anyone who seriously gets up her nose, but the player if not the character wants to do the same to Winnow.

What I would like to happen, is someone with massive skills, cough Magniuscough to identify what class Winnow is and who the girl is and tell the rest of us. I think he has made one roll of the 2 needed.

Then we can decide to rescue the girl, we curb stomp Winnow, I rip his lungs out his back and we return the girl to her house for a reward or them to owe us.

As for locking Winnow down, I can conjure creatures to engage him in melee, if that is what you mean.

Having jolly disturbed fun looking at Google images of Witches Bridles

I had a look at those too. Interesting to contemplate but you really would not like to live when such things were used.

I recently read some books on middle east politics and conflicts. It is amazing how the governments and organisations like the PLO and Hezbollah all use murder and torture as ways to pursue their aims. Regularly, all of them.

We are all fortunate to live when and where we do. My opinion anyway.

Sorry, still recovering from minor ear surgery on Mon. My posting in general has been sporadic at best. Also decided to finally start Castlevania on Netflix tonight :)

Will get up a post shortly.

Never had ear surgery, but it sounds like something that could get up your nose. Hope UR recovering well.

GM, diring this fight can you please roll Spellcraft for me every time Winnow attempts to cast a spell. I expect to be tossing around a lot of counterspells, and I need to know what spells he's casting in order to decide which way to counter it. If you roll to recognize the spells for me that will speed things up quite a bit.

Azlain's Spellcraft bonus is +20

Or if you prefer I can just Take 10 and auto-identify anything but the truly weird or absurdly powerful

We gotta lure Winnow away from the kids. Preferably outside. We don't want him to use them against us, plus Bogey might scare them to death.

A point.
I don't think the Bogeyman will literally frighten them to death. Metaphorically perhaps, but that is the least of their problems at the moment.
I can go over invisibly to the kids and dimension door them away early in matters. I don't think that the kids being attached to Winnow will prevent that but I am not sure.

A bit of irrelevance, some words from Nick Cave that could have been written about combat against Yaos.

"Death comes leaping out of every doorway
Wasting you for your money, for your clothes
And for your nothing
Entire towns being washed away
Favelas exploding on inflammable spillways
Lynch-mobs, death squads, babies being born without brains
The mad heat and the relentless rains
And if you stick your arm into that hole
It comes out sheared off to the bone
And with her kisses bubbling on my lips
I swiped the rain and nearly missed"

Hey Bogeyman-

Are we messing with your character concept?

You got called Boogieman IC, not for the first time, a few posts back and Yaos has asked if we can call you "The".

I have been roleplaying Yaos as conceived. Yaos will admit to be scared of nothing short of a greater demon or devil, if that. She certainly won't admit to being scared of The Bogeyman, even though she is a bit anyway. Or more correctly, especially given she is a bit scared of him.

Yaos also considers herself the party's monster. Easily the most cruel thing done by a PC in game, at least that I can remember, is what Yaos did to the Bellflower Agents earlier today.

Which is all good character development. But I/we might be spoiling your character idea, and if it is a problem I will cut it out or at least tone it down.

Spellcraft +20 is sufficient to get any spell Winnow can cast, even if all you get is a 21 total.

The kids won’t die of fright via Intimidation.

My ears hurt just thinking about that chirurgery. I picture Magnius reading the description of Winnow handling the Halfling’s ears at The Pleatra the day he went into the ear doctor. Yikes. Get well.

The kids are not attached to Winnow, just each other.

Knowledge: Local has been rolled for Winnow and the results are in Gameplay.

It was a good thirty seconds or so of dialog from Winnow to the two kids. Plenty of time for you to have gotten in position, made your plans, Conjured monsters to prevent Winnow’s escape, cast prep spells such as Invisibility, or whatever else.

And if you want, Yaos can Dimenson Door in to grab the kids as Winnow casts his spell to do a second test, or The Bogeyman can burst in the door and terrorize Winnow as Yaos’ creatures cut off exits, or Azlain can stealth up, look in a window or door to Spellcraft Winnow’s spell and counter it, or whatever.

Absolutely you can prep as suggested. You’ve had a few rounds of The Bogeyman relaying what Winnow is saying to decide tactics and get ready.

Winnow is human.

If Azlain approaches (with Stealth) and sees Winnow inside he can attempt a Spellcraft to determine what spell Winnow is casting as part of this ‘second’ test to determine whether the two children he has are “worthy” of The Midnight Lord, and becoming pupils in Pangolais.

I’d like to wait another day or two before we begin (though rolling Initiative now is wise) because of the weekend, give everyone a chance to catch up on Gameplay and throw in their voice before the dice start flying.

....I’m not sure what resources you have left after your (easy) fight with the Bellflower Network; please continue to keep track of your PC.

If anyone has questions about the Priest Class (of which Winnow is Gestalted with Synthesist Summoner), check out the link I posted earlier. New Paths Compendium is a remarkably good book for Classes (the Feats & Spells are a bit too powerful) and I highly recommend it.

Heads up: I'll be putting in 14-hour days this week and next weekend, and I'll be AFK most of the time, so I may not get much of a chance to post. So feel free to terrorize Winnow for me, when comes the time! I'll be properly back online on Tuesday the 20th...

I was going over my spell loadout in preparation for this fight and I realized I still had the same loadout from when Azlain met the party and then we tackled the halfling tree.

At the time, Azlain was concerned he might have to fight the party, so I loaded him for bear with anti-crowd and anti-caster stuff.

So I'm accidentally still set up with a damn near perfect spell list for taking on Winnow.

I know Summoners can Dimension Door, so I wish I had Dimensional Anchor prepped, but beyond that, what I'm currently using would be the list I'd go with if I'd known in advance we were going into this fight.

This is going to be fun. :)

And I just saw that everyone has posted over the weekend -- totally caught off guard by that. I know I can almost never post on weekends; this one was unusual.

So The Bogeyman aside, I think we're ready.
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With the exception of The Bogeyman, why don't we have the group roll a Stealth vs Winnow's Perception as you guys, fully prepped and with Leopards, Hastily move into position with line-of-sight or line-of-effect or what have you, to see who else -- in addition to The Bogeyman -- can act in the Surprise Round. (I think that, with The Bogeyman quietly, hurriedly relating what's been happening in the room, everyone still needs to move in closer so they can see for themselves -- thus Stealth for Surprise Rd. Remember, those of you who are Invisible, that your bonus to Stealth is +20 while moving.

Here is Winnow's Perception to see if he hears anyone coming up.
Winnow's Perception: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (5) + 26 = 31
Shadow's Perception: 1d20 + 26 ⇒ (19) + 26 = 45

And here is Initiative.
Winnow's Initiative: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (9) + 10 = 19
Shadow's Initiative: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (20) + 14 = 34

So, I'm pretty confident this is correct, check my work:

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The Bogeyman spies on Winnow and relates what's going on to the other PCs. Y'all decide to attack my cute & cuddly little NPC and thus prep for a fight.

When everyone is ready, they Stealth up into place, according to your planned tactics, all Hasted and Invisible and with Conjured Leopards, etc.

Upon Moving forward to gain line-of-sight / line-of-effect and whatnot, an NPC creature with Winnow notices The Bogeyman at least and takes its Surprise Round Action. It's Perception of, gaaaah, 45, will likely notice other PCs approaching as well.

Winnow, who's Perception is 31 -- lower than The Bogeyman's 36 Stealth -- is Flat Footed during the Surprise Round and casting a spell (and sitting).

So everyone has moved to where they wanted to move -- including the leopards -- and if you beat Winnow's 31 Perception, you can act in the Surprise Round.

Then we'll start normal Initiative.

Sound correct?

It certainly sounds right to me. But I don't claim to be a Pathfinder rules expert.

However, I have come up with an excellent way to complicate your life. :P

Yoas is moving up invisibly. But she has each hand on a leopard and those are quite visible.

I think what Yaos should do is roll stealth for herself at +20 and the 2 leopards she is holding on to at their normal stealth of +11. And if they all succeed then the group gets a surprise round. That isn't very player friendly but that is the way I would have it go if I were GM.

And the other 4 leopards get to roll stealth at the normal +11.

Mostly that's what I think Yaos.

You get your +20 Stealth for Invisibility and the Leopards are visible, thus getting their normal Stealth.

Most likely, now that you're at the front door (or wherever Yaos & cats are moving) Yaos can achieve that DC 31 Stealth and take her Move or Standard in Surprise.

But the Leopards will likely have to go in regular Initiative Rd 1. ....So go ahead and roll your and your cats' Stealth.

I assume Yaos will invisibly Move Action to the kids and on her Initiative in Rd 1 will Dimension Door the kids out.

That is certainly the plan DM Ray.

I will put the rolls up early tomorrow. I must try to sleep now. But judging from the last few nights I will be up again soon.

While invisible, the Bogeyman’s total stealth roll is 56...?

Even more than that -- 76 -- because The Bogeyman is not moving as are the other PCs; he's already by the window, yes?

However,....

When Yaos (for example) goes up to touch The Bogeyman with Invisibility (with her Leopards) that makes a noise the the shadow creature would notice.

And when The Bogeyman gets Protection from Evil (and it seems like there was another buff cast upon the Vigilante, I'll have to check gameplay -- maybe Haste -- well, that required movement up to the house by Magnius and/or Azlain. (And having The Bogeyman roll Stealth three or four times for walking back and forth to the window seems ridiculous.)

It's moot anyway -- The Bogeyman gets to act in the Surprise Round either way.

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(In general, I'm of the thought it's probably easier to figure these out with a wave of the hand rather than count the rounds this PC walked up-and-back, and that PC cast this-or-that, and Winnow talked to the kids for x number of rounds giving you x number of rounds to discuss tactical options and cast Summon Monster, Haste, Invisibility, Protection from Evil, whatever that was (I forget) that bumped Magnius' AC to (I think) 24, etc. ....Seems better to say you get your tactics discussed, cast your pre-buffs, and go forward -- and we start a Surprise Round. I HOPE this is okay. Seems reasonably fair and is much faster.)

I think, however, that with Bogeyman's stealth being way higher than the Shadow's, it never sees him.

I'm not sure how that affects things, though. Does that mean it never bothers to try and spot the rest of us?

DM Ray- yes, The Bogeyman was Hasted by Yaos.

Going to bed right now so am putting off managing the Surprise Rd but,—

Y’all are gonna want someone at least to roll Arcana or Cosmology to see if you recognize just what that incorporeal extraplanar Shadow is that just detached itself from Winnow.

I was leaving the rolls to someone with better skills. Not for the first time, I have 3 skill points/level. And we have some excellent skill monkeys in the party.

As for taking Winnow prisoner... The leopards are going to rip him to shreds. I am not sure how fine my control is. And he is a high level gestalt, very dangerous. Can't see us getting in trouble since he has a noble house's kid and is torturing them. So taking him prisoner is not a bad idea but its not very practical imho.

If you do manage to take him prisoner you will have to restrain Yaos from tearing his lungs out. I am fine with you not letting her, but that is Yaos for you.

The unique Nightwalker Cenobite is less than the typical Nightwalker, only Medium size, and has lost some of its individualism undergoing its transformation into a Cenobite.

But it's still a Nightshade.

Azlain beat its Knowledge DC by two, that's pretty much all he knows.

I need Azlain's Initiative so we can determine order during Surprise Rd -- assuming the Standard or Move Actions from Yaos & Magnius & The Bogeyman may differ if Azlain goes first and successfully banishes the more powerful adversary.

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Yaos, Magnius & The Bogeyman can act in Surprise.

None of Yaos' Leopards were stealthy enough to surprise Winnow so they may act in Rd 1 like Winnow will.

If Pale Wing wishes to fly into a fight against a caster and a Nightshade it may, or if you'd rather Pale Wing be a good 100 feet away from the combat that's okay too, just let me know.

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With The Bogeyman struggling to get to the Boards this week, I think we can be both a little patient just-in-case, yet also willing to work as a group to decide his Move or Standard Action during Surprise if we don't hear from him in another day or so.

Give him some time but, if he's too busy, you other three can decide if he wants to do as originally planned and attempt to disrupt Winnow's spell (that he's doing 'to' the children), or if he wants to do something else with his Move or Standard.

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Good luck in this combat, guys! I have no clue what is going to happen here but it ought to be intense.

If only we could make an artistic representation of little Mendacius fluttering around the Nightshade twirling her precious little wand. That's adorable. Like Tinkerbell vs Darth Vader.

1If Pale Wing wishes to fly into a fight against a caster and a Nightshade it may, or if you'd rather Pale Wing be a good 100 feet away from the combat that's okay too, just let me know.

2 With The Bogeyman struggling to get to the Boards this week, I think we can be both a little patient just-in-case, yet also willing to work as a group to decide his Move or Standard Action during Surprise if we don't hear from him in another day or so.

3Good luck in this combat, guys! I have no clue what is going to happen here but it ought to be intense.

1 Pale Wing will stop above the door to the building.

2 I thought he was going to belt Winnow. But now I realise that needs a move and standard action. Drat. :( Or does Haste change that?

3 I have resisted the temptation to look up the Nightshade. But Azlain sending it away cannot hurt our cause.

I hope everyone had as great a Thanksgiving as mine!

And I hope we're all ready to get back on track. I jumped over the rest of the Surprise Round -- The Bogeyman was unavailable to post until after the 20th and then was Thanksgiving (not sure about Magnius).

But hopefully we're all still here, ready finish the fight against Winnow, the Synthesist Summoner/ Inquisitor of The Midnight Lord.

I think it's reasonable to say The Bogeyman used the Surprise Round to stealthily Move to Winnow and will attack on Rd 1 -- we'll see if that 21 AC is good enough for Winnow's Flat Footed AC.

Which also means you can get your Full Attack, having Moved during Surprise.

But Winnow will take his action in Rd prior to The Bogeyman -- but not before Magnius takes his turn.

So if Magnius can somehow reduce Winnow's AC...

Flanking? Is +2 enough for ya?