[AP] Curse of the Crimson Throne by GMs Rutseg, Zek and Snowheart (Inactive)

Game Master Balacertar

I'll be traveling next week. I'll be able to post, but won't be able to use maps.

Lvl 15!!!!!

BaB: +1
Hp: 154 + 1d10 + 3 + 1 ⇒ 154 + (3) + 3 + 1 = 161
Saves: +1 Ref, +1 Will
Bloodline Feat: Intimidating Prowess (+7 Intimidate!)
Lvl 15 Feat: Cornugon Smash (When you damage an opponent with a Power Attack, you may make an immediate Intimidate check as a free action to attempt to demoralize your opponent.)
Skills: +2 Sense Motive, +2 Perception

Spells: +1 lvl 3
Spells Known: +1 lvl 1, 2, 3, 4
Lvl 1: Endure Elements
Lvl 2: Glitterdust
Lvl 3: Haste
Lvl 4: Horrific Doubles

----

So now +27 Bluff, +27 Intimidate, +20 Diplomacy. Not sure if cornugon smash is the right feat choice, but it should work our regardless. Figure that lvl 17 take dazzling display and lvl 19 take shatter defenses. A nice capstone for a high Cha character.

Wow! What a crazy weapon. +4 holy Kuthite-bane bastard sword at the very least, and then a whole bunch more effects on top of it.

And also end of Book 5! Amazing that we're getting into the final stretch. Thanks Rutseg for keeping us blazing through this book. There were so many rooms and potential encounters that we could have easily gotten bogged down. Instead we hit what felt like the highlights - and a number of really interesting encounters besides.

I'll get myself leveled up this weekend. We've got a heck of a lot of treasure to itemize out, but I managed to mostly keep on top of it as we were going. I'll give it another check this weekend as well, but people should look through and make their claims both this weekend and early next week. I'll try to do all the sales (and calculate gold income) by mid next week so people can choose their purchases.

Wow! Many thanks for seeing this through for us, Rutseg!

When we lost our second GM, I thought we were done for. Now we're one book away from finishing or dying trying!

I've never played this high a level, and after having a lot of PbP campaigns die, I'm amazed to see this through!

Loot log is updated, but I still need to get that level sorted out.

Go ahead and pick out the things you want. Looks like we'll have about 100k ea of liquid gold after sales, so you can start thinking in that direction too.

Level Up - Paladin 15

HP Up: 1d10 ⇒ 6 +1 CON + 1 favored class bonus = +8 total HP
BAB +1
Reflex +1
Feat: Staggering Critical
Skills: +1 to KN Religion, Perception, Diplomacy and Spellcraft
Additional Mercy: Blinded

1x extra 3rd level spell per day

With about 28416,gold then, I think that I’ll do this:

For Breastplate
+3->+4 (7000)
Glamered (2700)
For Weapon
Glamered (4000)
Keen (14k)

28416 - 7000 - 2700 - 4000 - 14000 = 716

Zamanda Arcane Archer 7:

BAB+1
HP: 1d10 + 1 ⇒ (10) + 1 = 11
+1 Fort
+1 Ref

--Enhance arrow, elemental burst: changes from flaming, frost, or shock to flaming burst, icy burst, or shocking burst (translates for a longbow as an extra 2d10 damage, on a critical only)

+1 level of Bard Spellcasting:

One 5th level spell per day.

+1 3rd level spell known: See Invisibility
+2 5th level spells known: Compelling Rant, Bard's Escape

Feat:
Still thinking... this one is interesting, but might be, uh, painful. https://aonprd.com/FeatDisplay.aspx?ItemName=Friendly%20Fire
Maybe just manyshot, but let me think a bit more. I'll post feat and skills in a different post.

Hey DM... what sort of things can we buy in Kaer Maga? Limits? The only thing I am specifically wondering right now is whether I can hire someone to cast "permanency" on me to always see invisibility, for instance, but also would like to know if there are limitations on what is available there, magic item wise.

@Zamanda: sounds like we'll be able to buy stuff in Korvosa too, based on Rutseg's last comment.

@Everyone: Last opportunity to claim things on the loot list. It looks like only Zamanda and I have gone through it.

Loose ends otherwise:
- I think we're taking the longer way back to Korvosa via magic carriage (as I *think* we did at the start of book 4), in order to have the necessary week of downtime needed to recovery from the negative levels.
- We're stopping at Kaer maga on the way back for purchases, and to get materials for the two remaining restoration casts. I've already added that cost into the loot log.
- I'm guessing Cinnabar is leaving us at Kaer Maga then? Do we want to roleplay that out?
- What are we doing about Laori? Is she coming back with us to Korvosa?

I looked over the list and can’t see anything worth grabbing for Kalem. So just gold.

As for Laori…while IC Kalem wants her around, OOC it more work for the GM. I’d like to hear from him on that front.

Skills (+7):
Bluff, Diplomacy, Disable Device, Fly (3), Perception

Feat:
Manyshot

Sounds good Kalem. Soon as I get the A-OK from Ilsa, I'll run the final numbers.

Unless the demilich eyes and teeth do something I don't know about, all the items I might be interested in are called for (that's totally fine).

I'll just take gold.

FYI for everyone, I will be on a trip to Colorado from 8/20 to 8/26, so definitely won't be posting those days, and perhaps a day on either side, depending on how busy things are with preparations, or what time we leave... if we get delayed and stop somewhere on the way back for instance.

If we're in the middle of something at that time feel free to bot me (all the shooting stats for my bow and all the spells I have access to are listed in my profile), but totally understand if you have me twist my ankle and leave me home instead. I think my only pertinent goals are hunting down the queen, which is something we all share.

... Along those lines, should we all get something like a hat of disguise? I'm guessing we're going to have to go into the castle to get her.

Hat of disguise sounds really smart.

Alright, sales have been tallied. In interest of fairness, I've applied a nominal gold value to Serithial (even though it doesn't have a listed sale price in its stat block) since its equivalent to a +6 weapon. Here are the new gold values:

Oh! Wow. That’s *alot* of gold! As always, thanks for putting it all together

Yeah, its a huge amount of gold. There were some incredible hoards in there that we picked up. Especially the staves.

Gold: 8416 + 138911 = 147327!

+2 Furious Scythe -> +3 Keen Furious Glamered Scythe (36k)
+3 Breastplate -> +5 Glamered Comfort Breastplate (23,700)
+2 Ring of Protection -> +4 Ring (24k)
+3 Amulet of natural armor -> +4 (14k)
+3 Cloak of Resistance -> +5 (16k)
Circlet of Persuasion (4500)
Headband of Fortune’s Favor (7700)

Gold: 147327 - 36000 - 23700 - 42000 - 14000 - 16000 - 4500 - 7500 = 3627

Will double check the math later, but would like to ask if this is approved.

That's a lot of gold!

I'll get my purchases figured out. Shopping time!

Still mulling over my last couple of items. This might be our last chance to buy stuff before the end... depending on the events of this next book!

Pretty sure I want these if they are available:

Highwayman's Cape (32,500)
Headband of Mental Prowess (40,000)

But still pondering the rest.

I am back!

Thanks a lot for your words Bashiel and Ilsa, it is really appreciated. When you invest so much time on something for so long it helps a lot to feel the work is being appreciated and enjoyed. It is a mutual success though, you are a consistent group and make things easy :)

Zamanda, only limit is within Paizo material and the number of coins you have. You can find casters at the standard costs, but in the case of "see invisibility" that will not work because you can only make that spell permanent "in regard to yourself". Thanks for the heads up, we will see some days of warm up for the 6th book, enjoy your trip!

A keen scythe Kalem? I foresee we soon could dub that one as Guillotine :)

As about Laori, I am fine keeping her around. I am getting fun from RPing her and we would probably need to add some other kind of cleric otherwise if she leaves.

Welcome back!

For purchases, so far I've gone with:
Upgrading armor to +5
Upgrading shield to +4
Upgrading cloak to +4
Silver smite bracelet

That leaves me with about 23k. I could bump a few more numbers up, but I'm kind of feeling compelled to go with some weird item for the last chunk. Still brainstorming.

Right now Bashiel has a headband of wisdom +2. A headband of charisma +6 is 36k. Haven't done the math, but if you don't upgrade the armor and cloak, sell the headband of wisdom...you could get the +6 charisma and a dusty rose prism ioun stone. Instead of +1 AC and +1 saves, you get +1 AC, +3 saves and better paladin abilities. And an easier time getting a date.

Okay, I'm leveled and now working on purchases.

Level 15:
Class Taken: Mesmerist
Class Feature Gained: bold stare
Hit points Gained: 1d8, +3 Con, +1 favored
Skill Points (5+1): diplomacy (1), intimidate (1), perception (1), stealth (1), spellcraft (1), use magic device (1)
Feat: undead master

I picked up psychic surgery spell to heal any Int, Wis, or Cha damage since we're missing a cleric now.

My hypnotic stare target also now has -3 damage. Undead master feat.

So remaining items:

Hat of Disguise (1.8k)
Lesser Talisman of Life's Breath (3.5 k)
Lesser Ankh Talisman (1.25k)
Lesser Talisman of Freedom (0.9k)
Quick Runner's Shirt (1k)
Ghost Needle (3.6k)

For a total of 12.05k, so I'll have some gold left over for emergency expenses.

Commanding self-destructive behaviour to Risibeth would break the command spell, which will probably end into a combat, unless you just let her be. She approached you peacefully anyway so, she probably would avoid combat unless forced to.

RE #5 ... didn't we already have proof of the relationship between the queen and the assassins? I feel like there was some connection we found when we were hunting down the stupid plague doctors that ended up being assassins. Wishful thinking on my part?

As for everything else, totally good with doing outside-the-castle stuff first, but I also think we should try sneaking in there and talking to a few people to find stuff out maybe. I mean, if we get found out then we slaughter everyone, but better if there is another way.

... DM, regarding see invisibility, can I purchase a scroll with permanency on it in order to cast it on myself, or does that not work either?

@Zamanda: I don't remember about an explicit link between the Queen and red mantis. I think it was just inferred? Not sure. Maybe someone else remembers.

Sure, casting from a scroll using UMD is a smart solution to get that permanency working! :)
At this level though, you might wish to just cast the spell and enjoy its length. I think some of you went all through Scarwall with just a couple of castings of the spell.

As about the proofs. Well, I do not know exactly what you got, but this tasks are a Revolt subsystem. Each task brings the revolt against the Queen closer to success. Once certain amount of points is obtained, the revolt just happens. You do not need to take and succeed in all the tasks.

All,

I'll be on a trip through next Monday. Please bot me, as necessary.

Enjoy! :)

Thanks for the heads up Ilsa!

Okay, giving up on the see invisibility. Instead, I bumped the enchantment on my amulet of natural armor and my ring of protection so maybe I won't be at near death so often. Also buying a portable hole and a ring of invisibility.

If there is some personal stuff you want to do, as Zamanda for example, please just go ahead with it.

I think we can devote a few days to do stuff around Korvosa. If things extend more than that, we will resolve whatever is remaining within personalized spoilers while the group moves on over the main plot.

I went ahead with the song because I didn't think that Zamanda knew about the information that Ilsa got yet, but if the group we're looking for is down at the docks, we should probably head that way.

Kalem, Vision of Hell goes very well with my spellcasting. Do that! :)

Yup, it’s a good combo! Should it be an opening or follow?

Zamanda is always going to choose the mesmerist "Mental Fallback" option so that if her mind falls under foreign control, it will be Ilsa's control and not someone else's. She's had some scares there, and though she doesn't want *anyone* controlling her, she obviously trusts Ilsa far more than she would some rando, especially since she kept her word and let Cinnabar go.

Zamanda is always going to choose the mesmerist "Mental Fallback" option so that if her mind falls under foreign control, it will be Ilsa's control and not someone else's. She's had some scares there, and though she doesn't want *anyone* controlling her, she obviously trusts Ilsa far more than she would some rando, especially since she kept her word and let Cinnabar go.

I'll go with this one as well. It's the kind of fallback option that can save us from Kalem taking a scythe to the party.

Probably good choices. Kalem could one-shot anyone with a crit.

Also that spell is a good opener for me because it makes my fear spells land better.

I was reading about catching on fire, but I think I was reading the wrong entry because it was talking about a saving throw and stuff, so not sure how long it takes to put yourself out. If I can do it with a spell or a standard action, then I will and also start singing. If it takes a whole round and dropping down to roll around, she will (but won't like it).

Leaving for Vegas now, won't be back till tomorrow night, so please just have her do what it takes to put herself out, and then sing and shoot people (bad guys, not innocent bystanders) the rest of the time. Hopefully I'll be back before too many turns go by. :)

The burn of alchemist fire only lasts 1 round, but you can put it off following the catch on fire rules you seem to have found already ;)

About casting though, take into account, that burning counts as continuous damage and thus require Concentration rolls. Although with that 1 point of damage the DC would be 10 + damage/2 + spell level, so Zamanda will actually auto-succeed with almost any spell she might want to cast!

Enjoy that trip to Las Vegas, do not lose too much! :D

Perhaps we should discuss how to proceed at this point.

Should we accept the challenge and have someone duel? If so, who would be the best duelist? I could potentially gain mental control.

Or do we just gang up and have it out?

I'm still not sure what is happening to Kalem or how to get him back.

Given the circumstances and the spoilers, I'm guessing Kalem got zapped away somewhere and is on his way back.

I went ahead with calling for the duel since its a very Bashiel thing to do, but please feel free to contradict me and refuse it in character if you'd like. Thats perfectly fine.

Alright--I know a duel is Bashiel's thing. We have had him offer before.

But Ilsa wants a crack at this one, too. I think she'd be well-suited for it.

Go for it Ilsa :)

I know it is too late, but a duel could be a bad idea... he's just getting the people on his side, and it's way too honorable for him. We should have slaughtered him... and the people he hired rather than agreed to his conditions.

That said... GO ILSA!

Auditing my character sheet, I realized I forgot to add new hp for my belt of physical might. I should actually have 161 hp. Might come in handy if I get owned by that flaming sword this round.

Any actual dialogue you want to add to your spell Zamanda? It might spice up the event and give Trifaccia some cool opportunity to answer in-voice :)

Ilsa, I do not think the caster is preserved from the effects of their own mind fog.

It is ok for you to exit through there, but in that case, please roll Will save!