Aubrey's Eberron campaign. (Inactive)

Game Master Aubrey the Malformed

"Can anyone see invisible? (during the three days' journey) maybe somebody could have a look about; I bet those Angels could do a bit of that by way of reconaissance."

"Can anyone see invisible? (during the three days' journey) maybe somebody could have a look about; I bet those Angels could do a bit of that by way of reconaissance."

"Yes, I can." You are wanting periodic scans of the skies around the ship for invisible baddies?

Couldn't hoit.
I just want to know if they're stalking us like that; or how the eff they know our whereabouts.
I might just be grasping at straws.
Also, if you can, cast it below decks so they can't see you, then stroll around nonchalantly looking for invisible spies....
even better; maybe somebody can make a b.s. course correction; make sure they're interested in what we're doing; flush them out.
I'll let Marrius in on my little plan.

"D'ya really think the undead are stalking us? Don't they burn up once the sun comes up?"

were those angels undead? shoot. IDK.

(looks to see if Rolund's around)....
"I might just be blowing smoke up my own arse."

"That is an unusual skill."

"Some divinations may serve us well," agrees Lightbringer, looking to Rodergo and Ezreal.

"In the meantime, it may be wise to fly out of sight of any large settlements as we approach."

"Alright," says Marrius slowly, "So, shall we wait until you have done the divinations?"

What do you guys want to know?
It's 4th level so;
I guess I'll ask
1)how are the Vampiress' forces spying on us? (roll 54%)

anybody else? I'm thinking.

"Find out what kind of creatures are guarding the cairn... and find out if the spirit of Galadaes has a particular weakness we can use."

2)What creatures guard the cairn? 26%

new day:

1)Does the (EDIT)SPIRIT GALADAES have a weakness that can be exploited? 44%

How long we want to do the Oracle at Delphi thing?

Can't you Google it? I'd say you have a day or two.

Right on; ergo one more question.

After the battle Ezreal stumbled out of the cabin and called Janosz over, "Help me find one of your arrows that hit that witch! The blood has a kind of power and I may be able to track her if she survived."

While they search he mutters, "Did I just see the 'forged break a dragon's jaw with a punch? I never understood the price they fetched during the war, but I think I'm starting to."

Starting the next morning, Ezreal begins the day with a ritual to open his eyes to anyone who might be scrying on the ship from afar.

When Marrius asks about plans, the mage mentions what he has learned and proposes scrying for Lady Orlaith to learn if she survived.

"Additionally, when we get closer to the drop point I will bond with Kadesh and send him out as a scout. I will be able to follow along with him for around eight hours though I can only communicate directly to give commands for about an hour and a half. That should give us a fair range of recon."

"Cassandra, do you think you could dominate a lesser warforged? I saved a powerfully built one from a run in we had some time back with the intention of repairing him for use if I could figure out a way to control it. I never got around to it, but it occurs to me that you might have enough finesse to pull it off."

Kn Arcana: 20+17 = 37 (for Rolund's freakout.

Casting detect scrying each morning during the rest of our transit. Duration 24 hours, 40' radius centered on Ezreal. Ez will be especially attentive after dark. If he finds one he will pretend not to notice and move at least 20' away so as to be out of it's perception and casually observe who it is following.

Scrying vs Lady Orlaith DC 20
Current day
Knowledge: (have met her) +0 to her Will save
Connection: (Arrow that pierced her throat = blood) -10
I will also do this in the daytime. If she lives she'll be in her coffin and I'll probably be able to figure out how far away and in which direction it is. Also- I don't know but a vampire might take a will save penalty during the day. Worth a shot anyways.
Subject to both SR and the Will Save.

Not the Vampiress Heathy, Galadaes the spirit Runzyl has to fight. We know the vampire has a weakness to sunlight which is what that is going to tell you.

Before we head in to the Vol temple, I wonder if its worth getting some extra help? Heath could cast Lesser Planar Ally to try to secure the help of a Hound Archon. He’d be relatively bad-ass in combat (giving Heath a heavy hitter to run while Rod does healing and support) and would also make a decent scout (with good stealth skills, darkvision and the ability to teleport).

Only problem is, its quite expensive, but being a lawful good critter tasked to help stop a powerful and evil vampire spirit associated with an evil religion return to the world … well, perhaps he could be convinced to waive his fee.

What do you think?

Ez:

Ez, if your caster check (see above spoiler) is greater than 22:

OK, so do we have a list of four questions for Rod's Divination spells?

On the archon thing, not a bad idea (though that is one of Rod's highest level spells gone too) but you will need a serious diplomacy check to get its services for free. I mean serious - you are asking it to set aside its holy mission to smite evil in the planes to off some undead guy he's never heard of. Just to warn you, you might want the cash available too.

On the warforged front, they are succeptible to Charm and Domination as usual - in fact, they often have lousy Will saves. This one isn't much different. And they are also notorious for having maleable loyalties anyway - they are designed to follow orders (low WIS/CHA). You might just be able to persuade it and bring it in as a henchforged.

CL check: 2+8 = 10 Booo! No AP can save that.

Hound Archon might not be the best thing to call. They have 33 hp and their DR/evil will be shredded by anything we fight. If we end up paying 1/2 price that will be 500 + 3000 gp for a walking companion and maybe a couple rounds of extra muscle.

If Aubrey would allow it, I would suggest a Movanic Deva from Fiend Folio. They are ridiculous with the spell like abilities and have a +1 flaming great sword. Also 6 HD with only 39 hp, but their abilities are unreal. Can deflect arrows, rays, or single target spells that might hit it once a round as a free action, SR 19, AT will: Death Ward, polymorph self, protection from arrows, discern lies, & others. 3/day: cure serious wounds, all the "removes", plane shift, daylight, hallow & others, 1/day: raise dead or commune.
They are also immune to negative energy plane traits which will be really handy.
I realized at the end that Fiend Folio must be a 3.0 book, because the DR is 10/+1 which probably should have become 10/evil in 3.5 Anyways. It's the first badass thing I saw when I flipped through a book. Maybe someone else has other ideas.

Edit: also they can have Fly 90' (good). These are celestial infantry btw, meant to fight on the positive energy plan, negative energy plane, and material world.

Well, before we get ahead of ourselves, do we have the money to pay the planar ally? Even at half price? Rolund has 400 gp he can add to the payment (if the planar ally accepts Kundarak letter of credits), reluctantly since its Rod who's going to cast the spell. Because otherwise, this entire discussion is academic.

I will have scribed less in the way of scrolls and we would be paying some of the money we owe to Marrius though.

Runzyl has... um... 27gp. That doesn't help much...

Which makes him wealthy compared to Janosz. However, I have a +1 longsword I can give away.

Then lets concentrate our efforts on the warforged juggernaut for now...except he may be immune to mind-affecting effects. :(

Can I take it, then, that it's a no on the planar ally?

In the meantime, can I have a definitive list of questions for Rod? Also, can you work out (possibly after the divinations) what your plan is out of character, rather that each player coming up with a different plan in character so that Marrius (AKA the DM) can't actually work out what, as a group, you want to do?

I've already offered two plans in my posts above.

The first is landing some distance away, the group walks to the destination, and at the right time Marrius distracts the guards with a flyby while we sneak in.

The second is arrive during the day with a surprise drop.

If anyone has a better plan or idea to add, I'll listen.

First order of business: 3 questions to the magic 8-ball:
1)how are the Vampiress' forces spying on us? (roll 54%)
2)What creatures guard the cairn? 26%

new day:

3)Does the (EDIT)SPIRIT GALADAES have a weakness that can be exploited? 44%

I'll go with these three, holding my last divination for if the answer to these raises another question.

Plan A: insertion of a recon/SAD:
the main "con" I can see is that our forces are divided, and our time to game seems long enough that the enemy could send 4 angels (at least) to harrass whomever is left aboard the ship, pelting them with arrows until they lose, then send in the Vampiress at night to mop them up, and come back to deal with our stranded asses at their leisure. At this point I think they know what we're up to; waiting for the answer to that divination for sure.

Plan B: air assault drop:
the main "con" is.....us dropping in by rope. I think they can hit us pretty hard while we dangle like boogers, though I don't know if they could hit us fast enough...again the spying thing. Can the ship sort of land and we jump out over the side like vikings on a beach, or do we Air Assault like the 101st out of a Blackhawk?
How much flight capability do we have here in our group? If they want to take down our ship while we drop, can we get back enough of us back up there quick enough to make a difference? Or maybe....leave a heavy hitter up there to quash their flight-able forces?
I'm thinking Runzyl (with a circle of prot. from evil on him) while bringing LB down as well as me; I'm not that useful in a standup fight until 3.P now I'm at least an artillery piece against undead m%$++#~@+$+~s.
I think I like plan B. I think Runzyl can hold the ship with all those guys up there while we hit the ground forces during insertion.

First order of business: 3 questions to the magic 8-ball:

1)how are the Vampiress' forces spying on us? (roll 54%)
2)What creatures guard the cairn? 26%
3)Does the (EDIT)SPIRIT GALADAES have a weakness that can be exploited? 44%

Rod:

Plan B: air assault drop:
the main "con" is.....us dropping in by rope. I think they can hit us pretty hard while we dangle like boogers, though I don't know if they could hit us fast enough...again the spying thing. Can the ship sort of land and we jump out over the side like vikings on a beach, or do we Air Assault like the 101st out of a Blackhawk?
How much flight capability do we have here in our group? If they want to take down our ship while we drop, can we get back enough of us back up there quick enough to make a difference? Or maybe....leave a heavy hitter up there to quash their flight-able forces?
I'm thinking Runzyl (with a circle of prot. from evil on him) while bringing LB down as well as me; I'm not that useful in a standup fight until 3.P now I'm at least an artillery piece against undead motherf#&~ers.

Perhaps Marrius has a few more of those Feather fall tokens? Those would serve admirably as parachutes. Also, Janosz can cover the air assault quite competently.

Rod comes out of his trancings;

"The undead spawn of Vol lies defeated and in shame, plans shattered and future uncertain."

the flame spoke thus to me. I....don't think she spies on us. Though I still believe her angels such as they are, might....this I infer.

he asks his second query; then; comes back to the now.

"Both living and dead hold the tombs of the giant lords. The scion of the Emerald Claw guards the approaches, to deter both those that would enter, and those that would leave. Within, shattered minds relive triumphs and defeats long past, and the ancient heritors slumber still below."

the flame spoke thus to me. We face the Emerald claw first it would seem.
Perhaps an insertion would bypass them somewhat? But then, put us against these shattered minds(?)

on his third query;

"Galadaes is of both this world and the next, dwelling half in each. But the one he seeks can follow him from the world of flesh to the spirit realm."
the flame spoke thus to me.
Runzyl....the one he seeks? Can follow him into the spirit realm? Is that right?

Does any of this make any of you think of one more question???

The elemental fire ring prevents the ship from landing unless we decide to crash it. ;P We’re looking at a 70 foot drop from the main deck to the ground, I believe. That’s 7d6 damage if we slip; 1d6 nonlethal and 6d6 lethal if we deliberately jump; or 1d6 nonlethal and 5d6 lethal with a DC 15 Acrobatics check.

As for climbing down with a knotted rope, that’s ten DC 5 Climb checks (fourteen checks for Lightbringer and myself, seven for Runzyl) or a minute of climbing. If the Captain will allow and has to spare, we may purchase feather fall tokens from him for those who don’t wish to jump or climb. They’re 50 gp a piece and we’ll need 8 at least (9 if we include the warforged juggernaut). I can foot the bill for the tokens if someone can’t afford them.

Also between Lightbringer, Janosz, and Rolund, we have 3 flasks of alchemist’s fire, 2 flasks of acid, and 3 flasks of oil that we may combine to form a bomb that we can drop from the ship on any massed opponents or a large opponent.

"The undead spawn of Vol lies defeated and in shame, plans shattered and future uncertain."

I think they were relying on Orlaith for their spying and with her destruction(?), they can no longer continue doing so.

"Both living and dead hold the tombs of the giant lords. The scion of the Emerald Claw guards the approaches, to deter both those that would enter, and those that would leave. Within, shattered minds relive triumphs and defeats long past, and the ancient heritors slumber still below."

I have an idea of what Aubrey is talking about here but let me make a Knowledge (religion) roll before posting any spoilers.

Knowledge (religion): r16+7+4 (AP)=27

"Galadaes is of both this world and the next, dwelling half in each. But the one he seeks can follow him from the world of flesh to the spirit realm."

I think you’re right about Runzyl.

Above all else, we should make our attack during the day when any undead spawn of Vol may be hampered.

Of course, knowing Aubrey, the Mabar manifest zone may negate any such weaknesses.

EDIT: Undead are no longer immune to criticals, correct? Because if so, it makes using the bless weapon spell much more attractive.

I'm liking an assault drop more and more.
I can afford the featherfall token for myself, and 5 more if we're going to split the bill, if that many are available.
I like featherfall better. 60 feet per round fall rate doesn't hurt as much. We're down in 2 rounds, and we're not hurt. That's worth 50 g.p. to me....

Does any of this make any of you think of one more question???

"Didn't the ghoulish elven loremaster say something about a dragon being present at Galades' last battle? Perhaps you could ask if the beast is still there?"

Janosz climbs like a spider monkey. He'll scoot down on a rope.

Rodergo Xativa wrote:

Does any of this make any of you think of one more question???

"Didn't the ghoulish elven loremaster say something about a dragon being present at Galades' last battle? Perhaps you could ask if the beast is still there?"

Mmmmmmaybe I won't ask about that....

Sounds good.....

FINAL QUESTION.....
4. "Is the dragon from Galades' last battle still there?"

You're going to get the same answer as your second question. Read it carefully and you'll know why. It's what my Knowledge (religion) roll was all about.

Gotcha......;)

Sorry I've been off-line so much. Gil can cast Fly post-conversion now, so she will take care of herself and her pet war-forged, an idea she's very keen on, btw. How many henchforged are we looking at, again?

Aerial insertion makes a lot of sense to me. Walking through a jungle that they've been possibly preparing defensively for 2000 years, not so much.

Knowledge (religion): r16+7+4 (AP)=27

OK, good roll. What's the question?

Re: Warforged They are not immune to mind affecting spells or effects. Charm Person isn't going to cut it since they aren't humanoids, but Charm Monster, Dominate, Suggestion (I think) and as Aubrey suggested Diplomacy may all fit the bill.

Ezreal shakes his head, "Defeated, yes, but Orlaith is not destroyed. I took a peek at her yesterday while she slept. I got the impression that she is somehow back at the Gray House. But if she isn't scrying on us, why don't you ask who is- because someone is still watching us daily."

I personally have enough money to fund the Planar Ally if you want to try it. We will have to recoup some of the money we owe Marrius if we end up paying 1/2, but this isn't necessarily a problem. But it has to be something more durable than a Hound Archon to make it worthwhile. The Movanic Deva (Fiend Folio) is one option. A Justice Archon (MMIV) is another. Justice Archon is also 6 HD, but has 63 hp, continuous magic circle against evil, teleport at will, and the ability to hit an opponent with the opponents own melee attacks and effects.

EDIT: I already have my own feather fall token from back in sharn.

Sir Rolund ir'Kraal wrote:

Knowledge (religion): r16+7+4 (AP)=27

OK, good roll. What's the question?

The scion of the Emerald Claw.

The other part of the divination doesn’t provide enough information for Rolund to hazard a guess as to the nature of “shattered minds reliving triumphs and defeats long past and ancient heritors slumbering below.” Although I have an idea about it, I still may be way off on my guess.

The scion of the Emerald Claw.

As in "Who is....?" The term is vague and not one that is used generally. The name of the Order of the Emerald Claw is a reference to Vol's draconic nature.

Hmmm. Not quite the answer I expected but then you can’t have everything.

Now then, is the daylight surprise drop the plan we’re proceeding with? If so, lets wait until Ez and Gil have scryed, clairaudienced/clairvoyanced, and scouted (with Kadesh) the area to decide the drop point and given us intel on enemy formations.

Does Captain Marrius have feather fall tokens to sell/give out?

Is the warforged charger fixed and ready to join us? It’ll probably be up to Gil to convince it to help us with some Diplomacy. Rod, LB, and Rolund can provide aid to her roll.

diplo; aid another r15+14skilz=29

So we are running with aerial insertion?

Also to confirm, you are continuing with reviving the warforged charger?