And Then a Skeleton Popped Out: subSPUF Carrion Crown

Game Master Rynjin

You could say you just got...

*dons sunglasses*

Burned.

Assuming everyone is ready, we head out after a full night's rest.

I'm ready.

Sure you don't wanna bicker some more? It was fun to read. =)

The next morning, assuming you don't want to see her again, you receive an envelope from Daramid.

Inside is an invitation that will get you into Ascanor Lodge (signed Count Alpon Caromarc), and a letter.

Some details I was not able to get to you last night due to certain events. First, the Lodge is open by invitation only, but Caromarc was kind enough to provide you with one, so I didn't have to pull any strings with my "associates". Simply present it to Estovion Lozarov, and it should get you in the door.

Second, I suggest you take a look at the Lodge's library. It contains some remarkably old books, and researching in it may give you some clues as to what the Whispering Way wants in the Shudderwood, assuming the Lodge staff have not heard they're there, or where they've gone. Even if they do, this could give you clues as to what their long term plan is.

Again, I am grateful for all your help.

~Judge Embreth Daramid

Sure you don't wanna bicker some more? It was fun to read. =)

All in good time.

Jones pockets the invitation.

"Well then, let's be off."

The group heads off, leaving behind the mushy lands of Vieland's Dippelmere Swamp. You tromp along for almost a week, eventually crossing the Troll's Trail River into the neighboring Palatinate of Lozeri.

As you travel a bit farther, a shadow looms on the horizon, becoming visible as a dark forest of towering conifers. You have arrived at the Shudderwood.

Standing at the edge of the Shudderwood is almost like staring into another world. The enormous, almost black-barked pine trees blot out the sunlight, allowing only occasional splinters of light to pierce through.

Within this dimness, broken branches and occasional shrubs grow up through fallen trees to create shadowy illusions both wondrous and haunting. Apart from pallid lichens, colorful fungi, feathermoss, and wintergreen, little else grows in the forest. The Shudderwood possesses an eerie stillness only occasionally lifted by the sounds of passing birds and small animals scurrying across the dry pine needles littering the forest floor.

This is the entrance to the Silent Path, likely the safest, and least frightening path through the Shudderwood. It is marked in places by odd bone fetishes, and winds through the Shudderwood for hundreds of miles, crossing two rivers (the Beustral and Calscroix), passing by Ascanor Lodge, and finally ending at the town of Chastel on Lozeri's southeastern border. You will currently be crossing half this distance to the posh, exclusive Ascanor Lodge.

Any final preparations before we enter the woods proper?

"Silent Path... When you're trying to be silent, you whisper. And another word for 'path' is 'way."

"Just sayin'."

As he says all this, Sledge readies all of his gear.

He sets a tight loop of ten feet of rope on his bandoleer, as well as his flasks of acid, his antitoxin, his antiplague, two wooden stakes, four daggers, and some garlic.

He sets a weapon loop around his spear, fills his miner's lamp, and sets a candle on his hat.

Still haven't decided on my +1 yet but I'll have it down tonight.

"Wow."

"That kind of deductive reasoning is frightening, for all the wrong reasons."

Z will also reach into her sack and pull out a small glowing stone, setting it atop her head where it begins to circle lazily, and granting her light like a torch.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Jones drinks a Dex mutagen and Barkskin extract, and stays close to anyone with a light source.

Aren't we going to be traveling still for several hours?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Probably, yes.

Hmm, never mind then.

Ah yes, a day or two prior I would have put Bestow Curse into Darius' whip.

50%

-Posted with Wayfinder

Can Jones make an Enlarge person infusion for Sledge to carry, and would it fit in a spring-loaded wrist sheath?

Yes you can carry my infusion around. Since it's smaller than a dagger, I don't see why it wouldn't fit in a wrist sheath.

Jones hands Sledge an Enlarge Person infusion.

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sledge sticks it in his wrist-sheath.

Sledge will have Darius take point (Sledge can charge uninhibited through allied squares) and will bring up the rear himself, keeping Zin and Jones sandwiched safely in the middle.

He will make sure everyone takes their time, stopping periodically to listen closely.

With Jones and and Darius aiding guaranteed, 34 every time on take 10.

It decided to rndomly not inform me of new posts. -.-

Ah yes, a day or two prior I would have put Bestow Curse into Darius' whip.

50%

-Posted with Wayfinder

How, exactly?

After a bit of traveling The forest around the path thins, and a brisk crosswind scatters concealing drifts of pine needles across the trail. If not for the shallow grooves left behind by the wheels of traveling wagons, following the path would be nearly impossible.

Everybody but Zin notices four pairs of eyes lurking in the darkness off the side of the trail ahead.

Darius' whip is spell-storing.

Decided I also wanted spell-storing armor. Which I will also fill with a Bestow Curse from the day prior.

Quick clarification on Spell Storing armor: I am not of the opinion that it grants an automatic hit to anyone striking you. You can take the Free action to make a touch attack when someone does so and if it misses, hold the charge.

If you're okay with that, proceed.

But then what about situations where I'm already holding a spell.

I would suggest you not use your Spell Storing armor in those situations, as it would work just like casting another Touch spell while already holding a charge: You dissipate the previous.

Uh-huh, and if I'm struck with reach?

Then you're out of luck.

This is by far the better alternative to fun things like "I hit you for 15 damage!" "Yes well, I hit YOU with Vampiric Touch for 6d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 6, 4, 5, 2) = 19, and got back that many HP! Suck it!", or even nastier save-less freebies.

I'm not a fan of this armor property. Besides my annoyance at the way it's a "gotcha" ability, it's written incredibly poorly (per RAW it may actually give the enemy another attack to hit YOU with or simply do nothing at all...you don't cast Bestow Curse or other touch spells directly on a target, you cast it and then deliver it).

And if a two-handed fighter were to get spell-storing, how would it work for him? Would he suddenly be casting the spell?

This seems pretty arbitrary considering all a weapon has to do is hit the target, all the spell-storing armor says is get hit, no mention of touch attack. And it gets really fringe really quickly when you try to make it so.

This is by far the better alternative to fun things like "I hit you for 15 damage!" "Yes well, I hit YOU with Vampiric Touch for 6d6 ⇒ (1, 1, 6, 4, 5, 2) = 19, and got back that many HP! Suck it!", or even nastier save-less freebies.

Ok so same scenario, you hit me for 15. I attack you with a spell-storing weapon and vampiric touch you. Same effect. Odd why you only have a problem with the armor.

Because the weapon already A.) Requires you to hit (against normal AC, not touch) and B.) Uses your Standard/Attack action to do so.

It's not a gimme. A Spell Storing weapon doesn't let you, as a Swift, instantly hit someone with your Intensified Empowered Shocking Grasp. Spell Storing Armor will likewise not let you do so as an Immediate.

This works both ways. You're not going to run into enemies who hit you with no-save, no attack roll, instant damage with other effects when you hit them either.

I ran this discussion into the ground over in Rules Questions already several months ago. I don't want a re-tread in this PbP.

Because the weapon already A.) Requires you to hit (against normal AC, not touch) and B.) Uses your Standard/Attack action to do so. (Which you were already going to do, so.....?)

It's not a gimme. A Spell Storing weapon doesn't let you, as a Swift, instantly hit someone with your Intensified Empowered Shocking Grasp. (You're right, it's a free action.)

I'm not a fan of this armor property.

A lot of people weren't a fan of Crane Wing.....

I ran this discussion into the ground over in Rules Questions already several months ago. I don't want a re-tread in this PbP.

I will state my opinion as such that if you DO change the effect it 1) Does not require the character to use their hands and 2) just stays in the armor otherwise. The enchant is meant to be a retributive act much like Panther Style, Crane Riposte (When it was good), Come and Get Me etc. You dont sacrifice any action economy with a weapon attack.. you are already attacking it simply becomes a.. no save no touch rider effect on the attack. This is all I will say on this

In fact, far more has to be sacrificed to use the armor, because it uses an immediate action, which denies my swift action on the turn following. So if I need to fly suddenly, I cannot. If I were Darius, I couldn't Judgement or Bane. Etc. But the weapon? Swing away all day, no action economy penalty at all, it's all gravy, free damage. The same no save nastiness you're against. Yet it's easier to apply, because I can just hit something.

In fact, far more has to be sacrificed to use the armor, because it uses an immediate action, which denies my swift action on the turn following. So if I need to fly suddenly, I cannot. If I were Darius, I couldn't Judgement or Bane. Etc. But the weapon? Swing away all day, no action economy penalty at all, it's all gravy, free damage. The same no save nastiness you're against. Yet it's easier to apply, because I can just hit something.

Yes, that would be the usual penalty for using your Immediate action.

I will state my opinion as such that if you DO change the effect it 1) Does not require the character to use their hands and 2) just stays in the armor otherwise. The enchant is meant to be a retributive act much like Panther Style, Crane Riposte (When it was good), Come and Get Me etc. You dont sacrifice any action economy with a weapon attack.. you are already attacking it simply becomes a.. no save no touch rider effect on the attack. This is all I will say on this

This sounds like a reasonable compromise.

I'm fine with the deal on touch attack, but you can't suddenly make reach attacks against me not kosher when specifically the armor says Any Melee Attack.

If I always get the roll, and it stays in the armor. We're good.

Hm...sure. It's not a great big deal on that front in any case.

Anywho...4 things watching you in the spooky scary woods.

Or maybe a creature with four heads.

Sledge moves to the front of the group, kung-fu and spear at the ready. Threatening 10 and 5 feet. Spear attacks are made at a -1 penalty because of the buckler.

"Who goes there?!"

Jones draws his rapier and takes out a Shield extract.

Does low-light vision help at all?

Yeah, you can see them clearly enough to make a Kn. Dungeoneering check.

Waiting on Darius and Zin before they do anything.

Kn. Dungeoneering: 1d20 + 9 + 1d6 + 1 ⇒ (3) + 9 + (3) + 1 = 16

:C

Well I don't see them right? So I can't do anything.

-Posted with Wayfinder

These are Ettercaps, spider-like humanoid shaped aberrations. They can shoot webs, but Jones doesn't know much else.

This is one of the creatures the Promethean was made of, by the by.

Zin can see their eyes glowing in the dark, so she knows they're around. Only people with low-light or Darkvision can actually see them clearly, though.

Nuke 'em.

Do they know we see them?

-Posted with Wayfinder

Know Dungeoneering (Monster Lore): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (12) + 13 = 25

Darius sighs and places his hand up in a sign to Zin

" Spiderbeasts... purge them for us Zin.. that would be swell. "

Darius unfurls his whip.

Yes, they know you see them.

Ettercaps are also poisonous, Darius notes. They can also diplomacize spiders, and are incrediby crafty and adept at making traps with their webs.

Fireball it is.

Fireball DC20: 10d6 ⇒ (2, 5, 4, 4, 6, 2, 3, 5, 6, 6) = 43

Burning: 1d4 ⇒ 3

"It didn't take long for us to be noticed I see. "

-Posted with Wayfinder

4d20 ⇒ (13, 18, 11, 5) = 47

Three of the Ettercaps are crispy fried.

The fourth flees.

"Let's keep moving. We don't want to stop here."

That poor creature is going to die tired.. sad

Darius laughs as the creatures come down as burnt husks, " Well then that was enjoyable.. but I believe we have more traveling to do, yes? " Darius looks along the road and then continues if there is nothing else important.

Perception: 1d20 + 16 ⇒ (7) + 16 = 23

We are currently in the middle of book 2 (Trial of the Beast). As the Cleric just died to a ravenous ghoul, and a layer had to drop out to to real life intruding on our fun times it's a good time to be bringing in a new character.

One important, VERY important criteria must be met. You must have initiative, be willing to investigate or post furthering the story at least once per day. More if you're conversing with an NPC.

The Cleric's death has made me painfully aware of the lack of initiative on the parts of two of the players, causing things to move at a snail's pace when the Cleric's player isn't able to post for whatever reason.

If you're interested, I'm posting charop rules below.

Current party composition:

-Tiefling Barbarian (wields an oversized Earthbreaker)
-Duergar Aegis
-Half-Elf Investigator

What roles do the other party members play, obviously the barbarian is in melee, but what about the others? From what I know, the Aegis is probably melee as well, does the Investigator focus on ranged attacks, skill monkeying(i doubt that's really a word), melee, etc.?

I'd like to build an early-entry Mystic Theurge, does that sound good okay to you?

The Aegis is a Reach weapon user (with a Dorn-Dergar), and the Investigator is, I believe, Rapier based (he's not quite done with his character yet), and a skill monkey (he's taking that Favored Class to add +1/4 to Inspiration, and he's an Empiricist).

Awesome, then it sounds like we have quite a bit of melee focus. I'll put together a buffing-based mystic theurge to submit.

Sounds good. I don't have any objection to early entry stuff via SLAs, by the by. Qualification with certain options is iffy to me however (ones that don't directly correspond to an existing spell, for instance). Most should work, like the usual Conjuration (Teleportation) Wizard and Aasimar combo, just give me some specific before you get too far in.

I've got a Dhampir paladin. But he's melee built. Not sure if it's what you're looking for(or if a Dhampir is even allowed) considering the level of melee you apparently already have, but, here he is:

Morbury

And just for clarification, I actually did not build him at 6th level for this specifically. Funny enough, that was where the last CC game he was in died. I think I came in on that one at 4th level, maybe 5th. But I can't remember. Just an fyi.

Totally understand if it's overkill(another melee character that is). No worries.

Dhampir is fine, as is any other race.

I'm thinking about the Fate Inquisition on the divine side coupled with the Drow Magic characteristic of half-elves to get in on the divine side, is that fine?

Sounds good to me. Cleric/Wizard? What god?

Cleric/Wizard, Nethys. To avoid all the hassle of picking out spells and whatnot, would you mind if I just did basic stats and backstory, only dealing with the rest if I'm selected?

Go for it.

By the by, I'd allow you to use the Rune Domain's Blast Rune thingy to qualify if you want that instead of the Fate Inquisition.

Ironically enough, the Rune domain is my other domain, so that works out perfectly. In that case, I'll switch from the Fate Inquisition to the Protection domain.

Here's my backstory:
Yezed grew up in Odranto, taught from a young age that if he would not fight, that he ought to aid those who would. As a skinny young man, he realized that he would do more harm than good in combat, and devoted himself to the priesthood of Nethys, working to aid the mages and soldiers who defended their homes.
When he was perhaps twenty, a priest of Nethys came to their city on a pilgrimage to their shrine of Nethys. While there, he caught sight of the young Yezed and immediately saw an untapped potential in him. He came to Yezed, asking him if he would travel with him and learn how to reach the power that lay within him. Naturally, the young man agreed, eager to match Nethys himself by casting both divine and arcane spells.
Since then, Yezed has long left the priest's company, surpassing even him in skill, and now he travels alone, seeking magical anomalies to study and observe. His most recent inquiry has come from a report that a flesh golem has been caught in Lepidstadt, and he has headed there to see if the whispers are true.

I'm interested in playing a Psion, as i recently purchased Psionics unleashed.

Dragonflyer, how quickly do you think you can finish that Theurge?

And what's your posting rate like (I need this info from everyone)?

I need at least one post per day, preferably more. I hope to pick up the pace again once I'm done moving.

Hrmm You are only picking up one person correct? To which case pretty much the person who creates a character might have to be the Cleric/Fullcaster to balance out the party.. and also get them through this game.

One, maybe two. I can run 5 through CC.

I'm not super concerned with them having a balanced party since they haven't had one since the start, and haven't been concerned with it.

They started out as Barbarian, Zen Archer, Bard, Magus, and Wizard. Wizard got murdelized by skeletons after the Piper paralyzed him, and the Magus' player dropped out. Wizard came back as Cleric (player has a bad run with paralyze effects and the subsequent consequences), and Bard got wrecked by Father Charlatan, and became the Aegis.

So the party's shifted a lot up to now, and I foresee more shifting in the future.

I play CC a bit more ruthless than my other games since, well, it's a horror game.

Oh before I forget, and since this may be considered a "houserule" or may turn off some people:

I generally roll some things for players for expediency. Including but not (necessarily, though generally) limited to:

-Passive Perception and Sense Motive checks.

-Saves.

-Initiative.

So if that's a bee in your bonnet, there it is up front.

In that description both times they had a fullcaster which in that case makes a certain difference because the availability of certain spells... especially in CC.. Like Death Ward. Anyway the bee was the amount of players. For if I wanted to apply It would less likely be for a Fullcaster which they need but more likely around the inquisitor area. I also wouldnt want to shunt out Dragonflyer because he seems mostly done. Another question, is occult Adventures.. on the table?

I'm going to say no for two main reasons: I could not have cared less about ANY of the other playtest classes, so I never even really read them, and the Kineticist is barely going to look like itself (hopefully) by the time it actually comes out, or I'm going to homebrew my own to make it not suck, so either way once the final product came out you'd have to rebuild a ton.

And what's your posting rate like (I need this info from everyone)?

I can post daily. But my posting is typically done after 6:30 or so CST, Monday through Friday. Weekends are far less of an issue but as we all know, the boards are usually slow.

My job is not one to where I can post during the day like a lot of folks on these boards are able.

That's fine, evenings and early morning are better for me too. I'm in EST.

I wouldnt mind rebuilding but I doubt it'd be a ton. Ad as you know, such things are trivial for me. The main issue is your lack of knowing what the other classes do, which is legitimate. Anyway I had an Idea for a Kintecist/Medium that used Fire/Aether eventually but barring that I could bring my Inquisitor/ Alchemist Whip user to the fray.

And my post rate is pretty much.. anywhere from 1-5 times a day, dependant on when I work which is 10P-6 A EST.. though there are days like today where I am off.

Rynjin, I can do Yezed's crunch if necessary, but as I said, mystic theurges are pretty complicated, so if you don't need the whole thing, then I'm fine with submitting what I've already posted. If you want more, please let me know.

In terms of posting rate, I always check multiple times per day and do my best to post that often, and you can look at some of the campaigns that I'm in to see that. I'm on pacific time, and I usually check in the morning, sometimes in the afternoon and almost always at night.

Go for it if that's what you want. Though we DO already have an Investigator so "spell" overlap will be somewhat of a thing.

Though since Inquisitors and Alchemists BOTH have excellent spell lists, that's not necessarily a bad thing.

TBH I feel no need to really beat around the bush any more. I know (and like) Endoralis, and know his posting rate and playstyle and whatnot and Dragonflyer both seems to be the only other player with a solid idea of what he wants to play and who has posted multiple times, so I'm just going to end Recruitment there before there's too many feelings to hurt from people left out. Sorry to Javell.

Post your characters here so I can look over them, and I'll figure a way to work you into the game based on your respective backstories.

The Investigator is already coming in as an "outside contractor" to investigate the Beast case (and more likely, the claims about Vorkstag and Grine), so if you want to be part of some nebulous investigatory group that was Teleported to Lepidstadt from the fabulous land of Elsweyr to investigate, that could work as a simple/easy thing.

But that's just a quick and easy idea, I'll work with whatever you've got.

...both seems to be the only other player with a solid idea of what he wants to play...

Strictly for clarity sake, I did put up a link to Morbury in my initial post.

But no worries, bud. It's all good. I appreciate the honesty.

@Dragonflyer: Ran in a game a couple years ago on these boards with a player who ran a Mystic Theurge. It was an 18th level game. That dude could do EVERYTHING. It was crazy cool. And I tell you, just thinking about the massive amount of spells to choose from makes my head hurt. :)

Have fun, folks.

Sweet, whelp here comes a Belmont..

If we need another one for some reason (who knows, with PBPs, you know?), you'll be first on the shortlist Javell. Good luck with Morbury, he did seem cool (I'm sorry I forgot him). =)

Javell, that's what I imagine. It seems like I'm giving up a little bit of power for a ton of versatility, and this will be a great way to test it out!

If we need another one for some reason (who knows, with PBPs, you know?), you'll be first on the shortlist Javell. Good luck with Morbury, he did seem cool (I'm sorry I forgot him). =)

lol! Sounds good. :)

Did I forget to mention he has Initiative.. Like a +8?

Good Luck Javell

Also a piece of advice to the Investigator possibly.. If he wants to go that route, Perhaps consider one level of Inspired Blade Swashbuckler. He'd get Deeds, panache and a Bab as well as two free feats.. meaning his character would gain back two feats for other uses.

Two questions as I'm building Yezed. First, how are you doing hit points? In addition, as I was reading through the Protection Domain, it gives a bonus to saves that increases 'by 1 for every 5 levels you possess'.
Does that mean cleric levels or character levels, in your interpretation?

1.) Average +1 (d6 4, d8 5, d10 6, d12 7).

2.) Not really an interpretation. Per the rules ALL class abilities, unless they specifically say "character level" key off of class level only.

Thats cleric levels no matter what... As all domains that have anything level based is based on class level, often cleric level unless otherwise said. Classes that can get Domains tend to replace cleric levels with their class instead.

Just a note are we 5th level with 6th level char gold?

Great, thanks!

All right, Yezed's statted up and ready to go!

i unfortuatly cannot join but i wanted to take a sec to point out that both a tiefling and a duergar in ustalave must be getting alot of unwanted aggression from those xenophobic people, sounds like good times

My bad. 5th level, 5th WBL. It's my Shackles game that's at 6th.

And yeah, it's been fun. I mostly limit it to overt bigotry against them, though. No getting attacked by mobs with pitchforks or anything.

See that changes a few thing.. like Max weapon purchases and whatnot. Let me Adjust Garen then.

Whoops, let me adjust him then.

Okay, now I'm good to go.

Mostly done adding up equipment and picking spells

Pretty much my body.. is ready
I might have a whole bunch of Alchemical items but I need to see if I have overkill.. most of which I can craft for a third the cost.

Also my HP is the answer to the universe.

I forgot one detail from 1st level, you get 1.5 HD at 1st instead of max.

I'll try and work you guys in soon, as soon as I have Darius' fluff.

Yezed, if you could do me a big favor I'd be grateful: Make a Myth-weavers sheet with your character on it, please. The Hero Lab sheet is so very, very dense and hard to read, and is also very, very prone to mistakes.

Also, your gear looks way off. You should have a total of 10, 500 gp worth or equipment.

What you have:

1 Bonded Ring (0 gp)
1 +1 Ring of Protection (2k)
1 +1 Amulet of Natural Armor (2k)
1 +2 Headband of Intelligence (4k)
1 +1 Pearl of Power (1k)
1 Quick Runners Shirt (1k)
1 Handy Haversack (2k)
1 Belt Pouch
1 Blanket
1 Wayfinder/Dusty Rose Ioun Stone (5.5k)
1 Universal Solvent (50 gp)
2 Potions of Cure Moderate Wounds (600 gp)
1,423.5 gold

Total: ~19.5k

You're WAY over budget. Did you take Craft Feats I can't see? They're not listed on your sheet.

If you did the gear is fine, but I'll warn you they'll gather QUITE a bit of dust in this campaign. There is little to no downtime coming up, or throughout the majority of the AP, and by the time you have access to magic that makes the time constraint meaningless we'll probably be coming in the home stretch.

Is path of war playtest material available (The Harbinger and Zealot)?

Unfortunately Viluki, Recruitment is closed. But Playtest material would not be allowed anyway, for similar reasons to what we discussed in PMs.

Sorry, I was up late doing that and I don't know what happened. Part of it is from the Ioun Stone, I think I meant to write cracked ioun stone, and forgot. I don't know how I got that far over though, I'll look over it and fix it.

By the by, don't sweat it if you're over budget by a few hundred gp or so for incidentals like the Universal Solvent, and cheap mundane gear. Between the "lost" 1st level average gold and the fact that being at exactly WBL is mostly impossible unless you're coming straight in like you are, it's not worth quibbling over "Yeah, your magic armor's masterwork cost puts you 150 gp over limit. Sorry bud".

Thanks, and good call on the Myth Weavers! I've never used this site before, but I really like it.