Clebsch's Reign of Winter

Game Master Clebsch RoW

I need to catch up on a few things. It's been busy at work. I haven't really had a chance to put together my intended spell book.

Base Stats
Str 14 = Base 14 (5 pt)
Dex 16 = Base 14 (5 pt) + 2 (Belt of Incredible Dexterity +2)
Con 14 = Base 14 (5 pt)
Int 20 = Base 15 (7 pt) + 2 (Human) + 2 (Headband of Vast Intelligence +2) +1 (Level 4 Boost)
Wis 12 = Base 12 (2 pt)
Cha 7 = Base 7 (-4 pt)

5 + 5 + 5 + 7 + 2 - 4 = 20

I will also likely put the mantle boost into Dexterity, though it's certainly tempting to rocket my Int sky high.

I should have the header updated shortly.

Overall I like the idea that the three of us have been traveling together rather than all being newcomers unknown to each other. Hadda and Ozella have both been actively looking for Baba Yaga. Hadda has also traveled many places despite being originally from Iobaria, so she could have joined up anywhere. With her background, Galt would also make a lot of sense as a place she would have been going.

I just use whatever pronouns a person tells me they prefer to use. Hadda uses she/her/hers. I as a player use he/him/his pronouns. I am familiar with ze/zir/zirs and a few other pronouns, so no worries from me in understanding/following.

Keep in mind that "he or she" is also incorrect because it excludes people who are nonbinary.

The English language does not have a good solution yet, hence why there are so many experiments with variant pronouns.

Yeah, I used to use "he or she" in many situations to try to be more inclusive than the general "he" too often used in academia or the cumbersome "one". But Rurik is absolutely right: they is still exclusionary. And while I understand that the use of "they" can lead to uncertainty with reference when there are multiple people that could be referred to, I focus first on ensuring that the people I am writing with/for are comfortable, and second on communicating effectively.

I love the evolution of language ^_^

Crasius and I use he/his/him. I am familiar with chosen pronoun use so I don't believe there will be any confusion on my end.

He/him for me, she/her for Ozella. If you use she/her while referring to me because of Ozella, no worries!

And it looks like we have our togetherness solved. I would pitch Andoran as where we came from, only Cheliax doesn't fit Ozella, I feel. How does that sound to my fellow newcomers?

Apologies for the double post. Crasius and Hadda, how do you feel about starting off the journey somewhere in Andoran? Perhaps even Almas.

@DM

Is this the point you wanted us to enter?

I need to catch up on a few things. It's been busy at work. I haven't really had a chance to put together my intended spell book.

Base Stats
Str 14 = Base 14 (5 pt)
Dex 16 = Base 14 (5 pt) + 2 (Belt of Incredible Dexterity +2)
Con 14 = Base 14 (5 pt)
Int 20 = Base 15 (7 pt) + 2 (Human) + 2 (Headband of Vast Intelligence +2) +1 (Level 4 Boost)
Wis 12 = Base 12 (2 pt)
Cha 7 = Base 7 (-4 pt)

5 + 5 + 5 + 7 + 2 - 4 = 20

You have Dex 18 on your profile sheet. That is why I calculated 25 for the stat buy.

Keep in mind that "he or she" is also incorrect because it excludes people who are nonbinary.

The English language does not have a good solution yet, hence why there are so many experiments with variant pronouns.

Until recently, "he or she" would be considered correct grammar, but now that "he or she" does not exhaust the possibilities, it is not the best solution. Beyond that, it's awkward.

It is my understanding that one of the meanings of Ze/Zir/Zirs is to maintain the singular connotation while not assuming anything about the preferred pronoun of the antecedent.

I just upped it to 18 to account for the Mantle of the Rider. It was 16 prior to that.

The stage is set in the Gameplay thread for introductions. Have fun.

For the new players, maps in current use can be accessed by clicking on one of the links in the GM header. I use Google Drawings so people can move icons around and add notes, figures, etc. as need be.

Since we're now entering the story, what else could you tell us about the Mantle? Does it apply to all of us or whoever wears it? What type of bonus is it?

If it everyone and it's not an Enhancement bonus then Ozella will pump Int.

I'll update her header soon, but Ozella would have Ant Haul (14 hours) and Mage Armor (7 hours) active, and cast Heightened Awareness (70 minutes) upon coming near the hut.

The Mantle has no mechanical benefits. It is something like a magical ID that gives access to the Dancing Hut. At least that is all that has been revealed about it so far. It also provides a way that a GM could motivate PCs to keep on track. If anyone with the Mantle spends too much time (in the GM's subjective opinion) pursing side adventures, the characters begin to suffer unspecified negative effects until they return to the task of locating Baba Yaga.

I forgot to add this: each PC who receives the mantle gains a boon of being able to add 2 points to her/his ability scores.

This bonus was more what I was referring to.

You each get to add 2pts to one ability score of your choosing.

Roger that. Thank you. Ozella will have it allocated to Int, and I'll adjust her stats tonight when I'm back from work.

For the new players, I roll most things for the PCs where I can. I put the rolls behind spoilers.

Those marked "On the Table" can be viewed if you are interested in seeing what the rolls were that the GM made.

Those marked "Behind the Screen" should not be looked at by players until after the current scene is over. These are rolls the GM might make behind a screen at a table game but without revealing what the rolls were or what they were for.

In the case of Monster Lore, I make the knowledge checks and then reveal who knows what the creature is, general information mainly. Then each PC who had successes can look at a certain number of spoilers. This saves time by not having to go back and forth with the players each rolling and then asking for certain types of information.

The NPC Zorka does not look like the image associated with the profile. For a more accurate image, see the map at the right. If you have the Paizo Chrome extension, you can replace the profile pictures with the one on the map.

Made boost earlier but looks line it for eaten. Will post again in a few hours

I'm waiting on Ozella to post.

Sorry, I thought I posted but I guess that didn't actually happen. It's done now.

I'll have a post Wednesday afternoon.

Let me try to address some of the questions that were just posed in OOC comments in the gameplay thread.

Since two characters have spellbooks, I'll have to work on a system for cost and availability of materials for scribing scrolls and researching spells for the spellbook. The cost will likely be reduced but not zero. Maybe items of value are placed in the cauldron while concentrating on or requesting certain materials. The items in the cauldron get replaced by the materials needed.

I may research the settlement rules and designate the hut as a certain sized settlement for the purposes of locating scrolls and spellcasting services.

I'm working on clarifying what happened to Erland. I want to keep open the possibility of his return if his player wants to rejoin the game.

Hey folks! Sorry for the prolonged absence. Hoping that will be the last one for a while.

He/him/his is good for me and Dom.

*Edit* - Do we all get to advance to Level 7? I am sure Ingrit in particular would appreciate it!

Soon. I'd like to resolve the current issue with figuring out what happened to Erland. There is also the issue of how to make the hut travel and where to make it travel to locate Baba Yaga. After that, folks can level up for the start of book 3.

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!

Will get a post up sometime tonight/early next morning.

Thanks. The wife and I had a pleasant day at home. We don't have family near enough to visit and no kids, so it's a day for a good meal and some TV. I'm available to post all weekend, if anyone gets time and posts.

I'm confused. Speak with Animals is a personal spell. The person who casts it is the one who can speak with animals. What am I missing?

I don't think you're missing anything--I believe we're assuming that Hadda will do the actual talking. The rest of us are "talking" to Erland's pet like normal humans do, i.e., ineffectively.

Yeah, Hadda is translating.

Exactly

OK. That's assuming Fisk can understand common, which is not necessarily the case, even if he has a higher intelligence than a normal cat. Erland and Fisk could communicate with each other, but I don't think that means that they communicated in common. I think that's more like a speak with animals spell that only works between them.

In another game I have a paladin with a mount that has increased intelligence, and used a skill rank to learn Linguistics and take Common. :)

familiars gain the skills of the master. So if he had Linguistics then the cat may understand more languages then anyone else in the party.

Erland does not have any ranks in linguistics and he does not list any languages for Fiske. So I'm going to assume it does not understand human languages.

This reminds me of a short story I read where a member of English nobility invites a number of friends and acquaintances to his estate and demonstrates what he expects will be judged a great achievement. He demonstrates that he has taught his house cat to speak and understand English. It does not go as planned however, because the cat begins to disclose all manner of secrets he overheard or trysts observed. Everyone is mortified and chase after the cat, planning to do it in. I don't remember how it ended, but it might give one pause before giving a familiar the ability to understand human speech.

It would make for a great spy, however.

That's amazing. I want to read that story!

I'll see if I can search for the author/title on the Internet.

Going to be afk for a few days. My wife and I just moved into a new place (Huzzah!) but we have a lot to unpack and a lot to just... straight get rid of so we don't have so much clutter.

Feel free to bot Ozella in the mean time.

Congrats on the move. I hope it turns out awesome for you.

Woohoo! Congrats on the new place! I highly endorse getting rid of crap you don't need. If it's still useful and you're not sure, it'll probably be better used in someone else's home.

Yeah awesome! Congrats on the move. My wife and I moved back in July. It was a long process!

Contrats on the move. Hope all goes well.

I'll post the results of the scrying as soon as I can but this will be a busy week, so it's catch as catch can for a bit. This is a good time for those who are sixth level to level up. After Erland's disposition is settled, it will be learning how to move the hut (Zorka will explain it) and that will transition to the new book.

Congratulation on the move.

Level up
1d10 (6)
+1 BAB
6 skills (Climb, Heal, Knowledge Nature, Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth, Survival)
2 background skills (Handle Animal, Craft (Bowyer))
New Hunter's trick (Defensive Bow Stance): Swift action. Ranged attacks do not provoke AoO until next turn.
Feat: Manyshot

Wapiti
+1 BAB
+1 Feat
Attack gore (2d6), 2 hooves (1d4)
+8 Str -2 Dex +4 Con
Powerful Charge (2d6)

Swashbuckler 5 / Ulfen Guard 2
+9HP (10 with belt)
+1 Ref
Guarded Thoughts
Feat: Iron Will
Skills: Escape Artist, Intimidate, K. Nobility, Perception, Sense Motive, Sleight of Hand

Cleric 7

+7 hit points
+1 BAB

Skills: +1 each of: Heal, Knowledge (religion), Perception, Spellcraft, Stealth; Knowledge (history), Profession (herbalist)

Channeling improves to 4d6

4th-level spells gained

New feat: Shielded Mage

Thus begins book 3. Once everyone has leveled up and the keys are placed in the igni... er, the cauldron, the hut will move and ... well that will be where we begin.

I've added a set of house rules to deal with the rules regarding the overlap of light spells and darkness spells. While there is a detailed discussion from a Paizo game designer regarding how the RAW are supposed to work, I find these inadequate to provide a consistent and coherent set of rules to determine what happens when a spell producing light overlaps on an area affected by magical darkness or vice versa.

See the campaign tab for both a rationale of why I consider the rules broken and the actual house rules.

Please look these over and let me know if you have any concerns. It might be a good time to review the other house rules listed under a separate spoiler. I've tried to keep house rules to a minimum, but these few areas provide rules that I think are more consistent and reasonable.

Woohoo! Book 3!

Next level I should put a skill point into Language and take Sylvan

If you wanted to do that retroactive to the last level up, that would be okay with me. I am envisioning Wapeti walking along with an owl perched in its antler rack. :)