BobJones Scars of the ThirdCrusade (Inactive)

Game Master TheBobJones

Ok so there are going to be a lot of 'rules' for interacting with the locals. I will get that together and throw it up as soon as can.

Thanks ahead of time for GM'ing this!

No problem, can't GM if you guys don't want to play. Let me know when you are updated, you will have time to buy whatever you need in Nerosyan before departing for Dawntown.

So once you start the investigation there are a lot of moving pieces, so you have a few option. I can put the rumors you hear on the Campaign Tab, in a google doc, or do it in character and one of you can take the reigns of keeping a journal when you meet up and debrief. Totally up to you.

After finishing my read, reread, and rereread, I would never in a billion years run this Face to Face. It will work in PbP with this group, as you are all superior role players.

So I figured I can maybe tap you guys for some knowledge. What I really want for Pooka (instead of a donkey/beast of burden) is a chariot and a team of dogs to pull it...

It wouldn't be a war chariot (which is all I can find info for) just basically a wagon that I would have all my heavy gear loaded on. Anyone know of anything in the gear section like that?

Though I suppose a regular wagon with a draft/pulling team would be just as effective.

I can't have Luna carrying all my heavy stuff for me, especially when I eventually do get to full plate. That is one bummer thing about the halfling cavalier... that -2 to strength is a real kick in the pants...

Aaaaaaaand just realized I haven't updated Pooka's stats to level 3. Sorry, totally slipped my mind. I did it in hero lab, just forgot to transfer it. I will get that done tonight!

I am a dufus... I knew I had Hero Lab open for a reason tonight. Now its too late... I copied the BBcode to a file in my dropbox, so I can update the profile tomorrow. Otherwise I am ready to go. So sorry for the delay!

I suppose that is the drawback for being in so many games.... I'm always paranoid about what I did/didn't update and what still needs to be done. I'll get it together eventually...

No worries, it will take a few days before the story really starts.

Rules for Investigation:

Days - you arrive in Dawntown on the evening of the 4th day. You have the evening, and 3 more days. Each day is broken into 3 units, so you have essentially 10 investigation slots. Like more rural places, the town essentially shuts down at night - they are your own.

Places to go. There are 5 places officially you can go, but it is your game - you can go anywhere. Map posted and should be editable.

Who investigates - you are encouraged to split up. I 100% promise you will not be attacked when you split the party unless you start it.

Getting rumors - Once in a location, you will get some boxed text, and then some superior roleplaying from me. I will recommend skills to use at each location, but if you have a creative use for a different skill I will sub that in.

Rumors - Some are true, some are false. I will roll off screen. If you bomb the skill check, you totally know it is a false rumor.

Town Sentiment - the town is not happy about the influx of hangers (my new name for people coming to see the Pathfinders hanged). The more you investigate, the more you advance. You will have an opportunity each day to reduce it a bit, but regardless the town will eventually recognize you are here. The goal is to get as much evidence (true rumors) under your belt before fit hits the shan.

So once you start the investigation there are a lot of moving pieces, so you have a few option. I can put the rumors you hear on the Campaign Tab, in a google doc, or do it in character and one of you can take the reigns of keeping a journal when you meet up and debrief. Totally up to you.

So... back to this. I think a Google Doc works well. That way we can add our own "journal notes" to it. Want me to get one started?

I have one put together. I will throw it up tonight, and yes, please feel free to help out.

Ok, have the journal set to go. Feel free to make it your own!

Invesitgation Journal

Cool! Started editing it. Thanks!

So random thoughts - If I was told I had to guess what the hook was here, I would say the pathfinders are being set up because some people have gotten together and like the business that these hangings brings in to town, the pathfinders were in the wrong place at the wrong time.

By that logic, I am already suspicious of the shopkeeper, innkeeper, and all the other business people who profit off of the huge influx of people who come into town for the 'event'.

Not sure how the farmer is involved, but at first blush the rumor about him being a demon worshipper feels off... but the proximity to the worldwound means that is still worth trying to find out whether or not that rumor is true.

Just some thoughts I wanted to get out there.

I <3 you guys! I am very much looking forward to your discussions here. Almost as much as I was looking forward to kicking Xull's jack-ass. ::sigh:: plenty of time for that later.

Xûll has low AC and high HP - his arse was made for kicking!

Pooka, those would be my suspicions too, if it wasn't so close the plot of the Skinsaw Murders (RotRL book 2). Peeled hobo and all. I don't think even Paizo reuses that much source material. Can't wait to check the farm out!

Oh, and for the record, I ass-hat you too, John.

So, we have a rumor of an inquisitor posing as a demon, and a farmer who worships demons. Perhaps we could try to see if there is a connection there? Obviously still unsure if either of those is actually true...

Really loving this adventure and the way it is unveiling. I think we owe it to ourselves to discuss these things in-game! So much fun.

Let me remind you Sun and Augustus still have a go, and this is the first of 9 more possible investigation slots. I will eat my laptop if you get all 10 in, based upon the mechanics - pretty impossible.

How horrible would this be to run Face to Face, over PbP much better.

Holy smokes! I am soo sorry for missing yesterday. Life decided to rear its ugly head and demand attention. I didn't forget about you guys, I promise!

I've said it before, I'll say it again:

RL > PbP (just)

Hope all is well, and splitting the party works just fine for your real life's ugly head!

Aye, true story.

And yes, there is a distinct RotRL feel to this town. I am currently doing the live table game of that book right now. Chris L purchased it as a house gift for Christmas a couple years ago and we are finally getting around to playing through it. We (steve chris and I are part of the group have completed book one and in a bit of a lull for me to prepare book two.

@ Sun No worries. This adventure will move at a speed of YOU, meaning the PCs. Based upon your roles and rolls, we are doing great.

@ Everyone My interest is fully peaked in Rise of the Runelords now. I have been actively searching for a Wrath of the Righteous campaign, and actually own the print edition of the Worldwound sourcebook. Thematically I love the Crusades and attacking the Worldwound, which is why I am so stoked about running Season 5. Really wish I would have gotten my assimar paladin anchor baby in.

I know for pacing this is quite sporadic, but I thought the deeper role play experience would be better than "You go to the beer garden; roll a bluff, diplomacy, or perform. This is what you learn:"

No worries from me about pacing. We have so much going on between all of our games, I wouldn't hardly know if it was fast or slow. I am digging it, enjoying the role.

Very happy with the pacing and the roleplaying! I far prefer this to "roll bluff, etc". Obviously we need to roll something at some point to make it PFS legal, but otherwise, lay on McDuff! Loving it.

For RotRL, from what I gather and keep hearing, it is one of the more gritty and dark campaign settings, esp for the time frame it was released. I don't have a lot of knowledge about the other campaigns however, so i cannot really vouch for how true it is. It is also apparently really easy to wipe out the party in it, so be careful about what you throw at the party!

Definitely dark and gritty. Mind you, Carrion Crown is dark and dark. Love how "adult" the Pathfinder series tend to be. Kingmaker is probably the most high fantasy of all of them, and horrible stuff still happens.

@ TheBobJones:Sorry, posted to the wrong page!

I tried to Lockwood it, didn't work.

Sorry about that!

Great, now I need to come up with something also as awesome as that, on top of the ire going to be directed towards my poor character? :-p I shall wait to see how she retorts before I post for my character, mainly because my character also does not have any bluff or intimidate ranks !

Sun, Agustus, Xull, Pooka, please feel free to make any parting shots, just don't piss of poor Hopnar.

And then we move on to the Morning of Day 5, please describe your next actions.

Map Updated, So I have Sun at the store, Xull at the Farm, Pooka at the Sheriff's house, and Augustus tailing the Inquisitor?

Sounds good to me. Sorry, I won't be able to post until the early afternoon because of training at work.

Yup. happy to go with those positions. When you're ready to describe the farm, Xûll will be ready to leap in and murder the farmer. That was the plan, right?

Your game ;)

@ Augustus I have not been ignoring you, just trying to figure out the mechanics of this.

So you take the potion in the Tap Room, and then head out to be stealthy.

Being Observed If people are observing you using any of their senses (but typically sight), you can't use Stealth. Against most creatures, finding cover or concealment allows you to use Stealth. If your observers are momentarily distracted (such as by a Bluff check), you can attempt to use Stealth. While the others turn their attention from you, you can attempt a Stealth check if you can get to an unobserved place of some kind. This check, however, is made at a –10 penalty because you have to move fast.

Distance to the source, object, or creature +1/10 feet; favorable conditions -2 You are in a small town in the open, in full daylight, on the street;

Notice a visible creature DC 0

So if you follow at 50 feet, your stealth is +16 -10 -2 -2 = +2 (Daylight + Open Street)

If you follow her, you can make 1 check per 5 minutes.

Discussion?

That all makes sense, and I'll go with whatever mechanics you think is best. I do just want to ask, does the above example assume I am trying to stealth from everyone in the town?

I picture August following the inquisitor like would be depicted in a movie where a detective is tailing a suspect. In this case, August is not trying to hide from the others towns people, or anyone else really, only the inquisitor. He will be using the surrounding buildings, streets, and even people/crowds interposed between himself and the inquisitor in order to stay hidden.

That is the mental image I had too, but in those movies you are in a big city.

Dawnton is little more than the crossroads of a highway and a navigable river, and its population barely exceeds 100 during most of the year. Because of this crossroads, though, as many as 3,000 people converge on the settlement just after the harvest to transfer crops from wagons to barges. In the off season, more than half the village’s buildings lie empty, awaiting their seasonal tenants’ return. At the peak of harvest season, a tent city forms in the fields east of town to house and support the surplus population. It is not harvest season, but Dawnton is crowded with visitors who have come to witness the executions.

and

Orug’s General Store One of two permanent businesses in town.

Yikes this town is small. I'm cool with however you want to run it, but knowing the mechanics now, August will probably realize how exposed he is and give up the pursuit rather than drawing more attention to the pathfinders.

Plus, we could wait one more level and Xull will be able to take on everyone in the entire town :)

Why wait? I can take 'em now! Raaaaaaaarrrrrrrr.....

Sic 'em, Xull :)

We at least we would not be murdering hobos, but rather rampaging-destroyers-of-towns-but-never-hobos in the vain of Xull :-p

Since I nerfed the Augustus trail vignette, keep the elixir of hiding for another time.

Will do. Thanks!

I swear, August was going to pay you back for that!

You are all doing tremendously well, I might fast forward a bit in the next day or two.

Sure. I'm just waiting for midday so Xûll can finish working on the farm and come back to the action! Can't wait to check out Ekira's buttons. Mmmm.

Sorry for the delay everyone...

-Posted with Wayfinder

You should be sorry for these pancakes! Blech! *Pushes his plate forwards in disgust*