Just a reminder that I am out of town this week and will be doing limited to no posting
Tunny has let me know that due to real life neither he and Aurelion will be able to continue in the game.
I will continue to run it with the three of you remaining, though am open to adding a few players back in if you have friends who would be interested in joining.
If a player vs player battle occurs with the three of you I will (where it makes sense) throw in some NPC city watchmen to keep any such fights more fair. Depending on circumstances this could be a large number of level 1 guards (mostly fighters, with a couple of clerics/wizards/sorcerers) or a smaller number of higher level guards (between levels 3-5).
i could ask a friend of mine if he wants to join, if you want. not sure what he would say.
Ouch, down half the group already! Glad to hear they'll at least finish out the combat with us.
Unrelated: I'm on vacation this week, posting may be spotty
Is Akane still with us or has that player also abandoned us?
I am game to keep going, though I am uncertain how effective we will be with just three. Especially since at least two of the other groups are somewhat designed to be antagonistic toward the Mageocracy.
Yea, Akane left about the time the fight against the demons started.
Go ahead and ask your friend Tavrus. If he/she wants to join great, if not then you are no worse off in any case.
I mentioned the possibility of joining this game to a friend of mine as well (Crellan), not sure if he'll be able to join or not.
I believe my friend RinValak has contacted you GM
Yes. He is working on a character concept now.
Tomlin's friend Crellan would put us back to 5 (which would be perfect, most of the groups have lost 1 player each).
Hey, I just wanted to jump on here and personally apologize for needing to quit. I actually feel really terrible about this. I've never had to quit from something like this and I know from the other end that it always sucks when other people do quit, so I hate to be that person. I just have so much going on (some bad some good) that I'm just not able to post consistently enough. Add to that the fact that Aurelion already had to quit because of his circumstances so I've been trying to post for him too, and I feel like I'm just making the experience worse for the rest of you. I hope your replacements will work out better, and I wish you guys the best with the adventure. Hope everything works out OK with your game, GM. Thanks for the fun times!
Tomlin, Why did you abandon Valdr to deal with the dretches? The main demon isn't finished yet and now it might get away. I've only got two NPC's backing me up and not much health left?
GM, do you know by chance how much health valdr has? If not, I can go back and track it again.
It is 36 HP. I went back and checked.
Tavrus is alone at the bottom (save NPC Akane) but he is mostly fine. He isnt doing much damage but is managing not to be grievously injured. We had more enemies down here but they were far less difficult than whatever you have up there, i imagine.
@Valdr: Actually two reasons, one RP and one strategic. The RP side deals with vantage-point. The last of three demons left on the upper level is wounded and has to deal with the combined might of Aurelion, Tunny and Valdr. Tomlin doesn't see Tunny or Aurelion as NPC's, but rather two capable combatants. In fact, so far Tomlin feels that Valdr and Aurelion are the two best warriors in the party. Similiarly, Tomlin doesn't know how the combat is going on the ground level, but knows that it still goes on and that a nasty cloud came from there. Maybe getting the jump on folks below could turn the tide.
The strategic reason is more straightforward: without the possibility to sneak attack, Tomlin is not very effective in combat. With sneak attack he is potent, but is otherwise more of a "face"/skill-monkey PC. My appraisal of the upper room fight, with the demon moving upwards, is that few more sneak attacks are to be had.
If in-character Valdr would see it as abandonment, then that could make good RP'ing, but OOC know that Tomlin had little more to offer in the upper room fight.
Hello :] I'm Tenro's friend, so if I do poorly, blame him. But if I do well I get all the credit, k?
hahaha
@Valdr, I show you at 22 HP remaining.
Good news, everyone advance to level 6.
In doing so if you could please include a spoiler in your profile that contains significant changes for your level 6 advancement. Things like any new feats or abilities gained, new spells selected, etc. Stats like increases to HP, BAB, and skill increases do not need to be explicitly listed.
And welcome Ian. I expect maybe a couple days at most (real time) to finish exploring the tower, then Akane, Aurelion, and Tunny will depart and Ian will join the group.
Tavrus would like to get these bodies (not the dretches but the guys upstairs) to his lab for examination and possible later reanimation.
Greetings Ian! Welcome to the Mageocracry. And thanks for filling a need with a fighter too!
Now here is hoping that the other player makes a spellcaster. We've lost a lot of our Arcane spellcasting capabilities (which is assuming considering our faction)
Anyone have any thoughts on the feat I should take at this level? At the moment I am leaning toward Extra Arcana, but maybe item creation or something I have not even realized could be of use.
Hey Crellan, go ahead and create a character based on the info in the recruitment thread with the following changes.
Start at level 6 instead of 5. Start with 13k gold instead of 10k gold (slightly behind WBL currently).
sumary of Tavrus's level-up:
+8 hp
+1 bab
+1 all saves
+1 2nd lv spell/day
+1 3rd lv spell/day
*Bluff +1
*Diplomacy +1
*Know: Religion +1
*Sense Motive +1
*Spellcraft +1
@GM: Tomlin's profile is now updated to Lv 6. Just before his description, I include a list of changes for Lv 6. Let me know if you want me to post these like Tavrus did as well.
Crellan's submission of a character to join the party.
All information should be in the profile, but happy to answer any questions.
I typically post multiple times a day, but as an FYI will be out of town and limited Thurs-Sat this week.
In the profile like you have it is fine Tomlin.
Will do an audit on your toon in a day or two here Serelina. Glad to have you join us.
Sounds good. PM me when you are ready to have me get involved as I don't have a dot to update me in the game thread.
Level updates: HP's increased by +12 (8+1+3)
+1 BAB, +6 skills, +1 Ref, +1 Will, +1 Fort,
Arcane pool increased, 2 new spells learned(Windy escape and Pilfering hand), Can cast 1 additional 0th level and 1 additional 2nd level spell per day.
Empowered magic Arcana selected.
Would I be able to set up traps at and around the tower? I could take 20 on my craft traps +8. I am thinking camoflauged pit trap (one or 2) and a swinging scythe trap or falling block trap at the entranceway.
Also, could we use the clothing (and maybe even the skin, eww) of the demons and stand them up on the top layer, to appear as hidden sentries? I'd only want them to be seen on a high perception check, nothing obvious as any guards here would need to keep hidden.
The pits would take quite a bit of time to dig (a half a day each if everyone is helping - assuming 10' deep holes and if you have shovels to dig with) unless you've magic to accelerate it. Shallow ~1 foot deep stumbling holes would take maybe 30 minutes per 5' square.
The skins will rot, but the clothing can be used to set up 'people' standing on top.
A falling block/swinging blade trap over the entryway is doable.
@Serelina, assuming your human +2 stat bonus and level 4 +1 stat bonus go to int, you've only spent 18 points on stats.
Str 8 (-2)
Dex 12 (2)
Con 14 (5)
Int 17 (13)
Wis/Cha 10 (0)
Bluff skill should be +10 max (6 ranks, +3 class skill, +1 fast talker trait).
16 skill points unspent. (or 6 more hp and 10 skill points unspent).
You have 6 hexes listed but should have 7. Gained at levels 1, 2, 4, 6 + 3 extra hex feats.
You only have 4 1st level spells selected for the day. You have 5 available.
Heads up, I will be going out of town tomorrow and will be returning around the 10th of July. I am uncertain how much access I will have to post, but I will try to do so. If I cannot, please feel free to NPC me until I return.
@Serelina, assuming your human +2 stat bonus and level 4 +1 stat bonus go to int, you've only spent 18 points on stats.
Str 8 (-2)
Dex 12 (2)
Con 14 (5)
Int 17 (13)
Wis/Cha 10 (0)Bluff skill should be +10 max (6 ranks, +3 class skill, +1 fast talker trait).
16 skill points unspent. (or 6 more hp and 10 skill points unspent).
You have 6 hexes listed but should have 7. Gained at levels 1, 2, 4, 6 + 3 extra hex feats.
You only have 4 1st level spells selected for the day. You have 5 available.
Thanks for the audit. I used Heroforge which usually catches issues like this. I will take a look this evening.
@Serelina, assuming your human +2 stat bonus and level 4 +1 stat bonus go to int, you've only spent 18 points on stats.
Str 8 (-2)
Dex 12 (2)
Con 14 (5)
Int 17 (13)
Wis/Cha 10 (0)Bluff skill should be +10 max (6 ranks, +3 class skill, +1 fast talker trait).
16 skill points unspent. (or 6 more hp and 10 skill points unspent).
You have 6 hexes listed but should have 7. Gained at levels 1, 2, 4, 6 + 3 extra hex feats.
You only have 4 1st level spells selected for the day. You have 5 available.
I fixed ability scores (12 Cha now).
Ear Piercing Scream is (x2) so that makes 5.
Flight wasn't listed under hexes, but was incorporated in some places.
I took the Silver Tongued Alternate Racial Trait and didn't include it in my stat block. That is the extra +2 to bluff.
10 skill points missing come from lack of being skilled due to Silver Tongued but I corrected the rest (adding +6 to knowledge local). I also have +6 to Sense Motive that come from my Circlet of Intelligence.
For the record I took +1 Spell alternative racial modifier, not skill point (see above regarding circlet). That way if I switch out familiars (may get an Imp), I keep all the spells she currently has. Haven't bought and taught at all yet.
Should be all set now!
Some minor details for Serelina and Ian to add to their back stories.
The mage who questioned you and brought you in to serve the interests of the tower is Adian Veray, first seat of the mage council. A man in his early 40's, quite young to hold the first seat. He is not often seen in Coran itself. Those outside the council (and maybe even those in it) are not privvy to his day to day activities. Rumors include both that he spends a great deal of time locked up in private study in the tower and that he spend a good deal of time abroad.
Upon approaching the tower to further your own ends and receive training from the arts practiced there you were introduced to Master Brel Banock, 6th seat of the council. A warlock in his early sixties. A cat his constant companion and familiar. The man does have the ambition and drive you yourself posses, but it well learned and has a large repertoire of spells that he and his familiar have learned over the years.
Trevor holds one of the higher ranking seats on the merchant's guild. 10th of the 30 or so members of the merchant's council.
Thanks! Does Ian know this information?
Thanks! Does Ian know this information?
yes.
Back from Vacation / Sister's wedding. It may take a little time to get back in the swing of things, but I should be good by EoW.
i am unclear as to the purpose of this meeting and with whom we are meeting.
i must have missed that somewhere.
The upcoming meeting is a public meeting, generally the public (and largely the merchants) complain about things. Its not something the group is required to go to, but something the Master Torenest suggested you might find interesting.
ah, thanks for the clarification/reminder
Did the tower identify the magical item for us?
Did the decipher the writings?
When we witnessed the divination linked to the black feathers and saw a handsome man whistling while he walked away from the warehouse district, is this the same person?
The description sounds very similar.
This does not look like the same individual.
There is however a detail I failed to convey that the merchants would have informed you of. This is the man that was impersonating Tunny.
While I am hesitant to bring Mr. Jumai into this, I do believe we have another individual or two who can identify this prisoner.
Would the DM be able to NPC Tunny and have him determine if he has seen this man before? It makes sense that he would have had to have seen Tunny at some point to properly impersonate him.
Also, we could bring the drow in and have him identify the individual, though maybe we want to question them seperately?
EDIT: Regarding laws, how much authority do we have?
What is the typical penalty for impersonating someone like tunny?
Do we actually need evidence or is our decisions law? Do we need to have a trial? What is the typical penalty for other crimes?
Torture to get information/confession out of a (suspected) criminal is not unheard of that somewhat frowned upon. It would be glossed over more the more evidence leading to the arrest of the individual there is.
Save outright killing him you have pretty broad powers/authority. (Note if he'd been resisting arrest and you killed him as a result that wouldn't be an issue).
Theft results in losing a hand. Extortion of Jumai would be in this category.
Many crimes result in prison time. Impersonation of Tunny would fall here - with a pretty long sentence as Tunny represents the tower authority.
Tax evasion would result in a indentured servitude to the state for a duration (not quite slavery, though the conditions aren't much better, save there is a known end).
Not many crimes would result in execution, but murder, or proving a traitor to the kingdom would.
Many crimes will also result in fines on top of the other punishments.
Technically there will be a trial, but its not something I expect to role-play. Statements from both the mages and merchants groups would be enough to pretty much seal it (assuming some supporting evidence such as the crow feathers).
I can bring in Tunny as an NPC if you'd like.
@Valdr, having read your latest game post as well, a plea bargain is an option you have authority to extend.
Plea bargin is what I was thinking. I am guessing this is maybe a PC of the Rebellion or Thief group? Were they the ones working against us? Anyway, why not extend the offer, though this criminal is clearly lying through his team.
Please assume I am using sense motive during the RP, on both the prisoner and the merchant reps. I have +4, plus an additional +2 via the alertness by bladebound weapon grants me for a total +6.
Serelina has a +10 sense motive as well.
Tomlin as well as a +10 Sense Motive. I was under the impression the GM would automatically make these checks in secret for us and that as a skill it is "always on".