Just me! I will post in the morning when I go to work and have access to a real computer.
Okay. No problem, just wondering.
How detailed are our maps? I'm trying to get a handle on how difficult navigation would be without a guide.
You have pretty detailed maps. There won't be a chance of getting lost, but hiring Kisegar will reduce your chance of random encounters along the way.
I'm used to playing with a GM who likes to kill of pack animals, hence my paranoia. :)
I'll be out of town from Friday afternoon through Tuesday night. Wi-fi access might be spotty, so I might not be able to post much until I return.
I think we're ready to move on. Let me know if anyone needs healing.
Wulfram would like to buy another wand of CLW and 4 antitoxins.
We might as well sell as much of the duergar and drow equipment as Novvi is interested in buying.
How many days do we think we are from Kraggodan? Wulfram might temporarily switch his belt for the Belt of Dwarvenkind for diplomacy purposes.
It should take you another 4-5 days to reach Kraggodan.
Wulfram would like to buy another wand of CLW and 4 antitoxins.
Are these available?
Yes, you can find those.
I think it's Eustoma's turn to act.
Yes, Eustoma is up.
Sorry I've been sick since Christmas. Just getting caught up.
Oh hey! I know that feeling. Sometimes I really wish I had Rogar’s Fortitide modifier in real life.
But anyway, take care of yourself. Getting sick is no fun, especially this time of year.
Just remembered to add a Quickened Burning Hands into my attack.
Did we find anything regarding the Ironfang Legions plans towards Kraggodan? I thought we did, but I'm not finding anything when I look back through the Gameplay. It's too bad that the forun search function is so weak.
The naga Zanathura lead the Ironfang's general, Azaersi, to Kraggodan a few years ago in search of something called the Onyx Key. Her notes indicated that the "Stone Road" the hobgoblins use to swiftly travel is somehow connected to Kraggodan as well.
I finally found the post about Zanathura's journal, no thanks to the Search function!
Wulfram will be looking for another Aegis of Recovery. He should really buy a value pack!
So, who wants to go first? I'm not good at any of those skills, really. Speaking Dwarven helps off put that a bit, but not a ton.
Perhaps will put on the Belt of Dwarvenkind in advance of the synod (unless someone else wants to wear it).
@DM Brainiac: When would we make the Sense Motive checks?
@Rogar: Perhaps you could use acrobatics recount the battle with the dragon (you did roll around in the ball of water!).
You can make the Sense Motive check as the story is being told.
Maybe I could? Except Acrobatics isn't one of the skills that can be used to influence the Synod.
Might it have been possible for us to prepare beforehand, knowing we're about to present our case?
Tears to Wine, for example, is a 1st-level Shaman spell that would grant us all +5 to Int and Wis-based checks, that could be very useful if Wulfram would want to cast it.
I could also wear the extra Headband of Charisma we have- I don't have a Headband item yet, and the extra +1 to Intimidate might be useful.
If nobody else wants to do it, I can try to use Intimidate to start the story off- hopefully, this being the first check would make it the lowest DC, and with a lucky roll plus bonuses for speaking Dwarven I might make it.
Yes, you can have prepared for the meeting accordingly.
Okay. So, when making the checks, can we essentially never use the same skill twice? So, if I use Intimidate now, will the DC increase by 5 for all future uses of Intimidate? If so, it seems like we'll be on some pretty insane DCs by the end of this depending on how many checks there are.
If we know about the presentation ahead of time, Wulfram would inquire about the physical layout of the synod, and what magical effect are OK. For instance, he could cast Wall of Fire for the retelling of the fight with the dragon, but is that going to cause damage to the surroundings?
Correct. That's why there are so many different skills to choose from.
Wulfram plans to drink a potion of Heroism to help with all the Sense Motive checks.
Various spell ideas:
Wulfram can cast Adjustable Polymorph on himself for one portion of the presentation.
He can also cast Tongues on Eustoma and Karla, so they can speak Dwarven.
Various Summon Nature's Ally spells could be used in conjunction with Handle Animal.
As, Rogar mentioned, Tears to Wine can buff everyone (note that it's an enhancement bonus, so it doesn't stack with headbands).
Karla should certainly cast Veil during the account of the journey through the Underdark.
Regarding Tears to Wine, I think it does stack, as the headbands provide a bonus to the ability score, whereas TtW applies the bonus directly to the check. It's sort of like how magic weapons gain both bonuses from belts of Strength (to attack and damage thanks to ability modifiers) and to attacks and damage directly (from the enhancement bonus to the weapon). It's a bit odd, yes, but I do think it should work.
Well, with Karla so thoroughly covering Intimidate, all I can really bring is +6 to Knowledge(dungeoneering, engineering), which would bump up to +11 after Tears to Wine. It’s a pity Profession skills can’t be used, but it’s not the end of the world. Also, I can always try to Aid Another when needed.
In terms of strategy, should we try to save Karla towards more of the end, where her bonuses would probably have the biggest impact? Having a strong opening should also help though.
*shrug* or we could just have each person use the skill that makes the most sense for each situation. So, if Karla wants to Perform a song about the horrors of the Ironfang Leigon invasion, that would work quite well.
I've got a +8 to Handle Animal, and can use Wild Empathy.
I've got summon natures ally up to IV no problem.
+15 to Spellcraft
I've also got a +13 to Ride if we want to act out one of the battles with Sia and Nikko or use the Bronze Dragon Figurine. We could use this during the attack on Longshadow portion of the story
We could use the Bronze Dragon Figurine during the freeing of the Rangers portion of the evening. Use it as the "dragon" we defeated.
I can aid, but that's about all I can bring to the table for story telling and such. Though reenacting the Napoleon speech from Longshadow would be a lot of fun. :)
My sense motive is +7.
We should definitely use the figurine to enhance the story!
Eudoma's sense motive is one better than Wulfram's; perhaps she should drink the Heroism potion.
I think Rotar might be best suited, from an in-story perspective, telling the final chapter in reviving the Rangers. Otherwise, looks good. And it may change based on Sense Motive too, should one skill grant a bonus or something like that.
Just to let you know, the final skill check involves beseeching the Synod's aid directly. Only Bluff, Diplomacy, Intimidate or Knowledge (history) may be used for that one.
Special Effects Ideas
Fall of Phaendar
Scene 1 - Wulfram uses Alter Self to play a hobgoblin
Scene 2 - Eustoma's Summon Natures Ally for a forest creature
Scene 3 - (Do we show the trogs, or skip to the battle with the hobgoblin fort?) Wulfram uses Alter Self to play an enemy.
Rescuing the Chernasardo Rangers
Scene 1 - Wulfram uses Adjustable Polymorph to play various fey.
Scene 2 - Karla's Minor Image for the Troll
Scene 3 - Wulfram casts Wall of Fire. Resist fire on Rogar so he can tumble through the flames. Either the Bronze Dragon Figure, or Karla's Minor image for the dragon.
Defending Longshadow
Scene 1 - ??
Scene 2 - ?? Perhaps a wall of stone for Rogar to make into battlements.
Scene 3 - Eustoma rides the Bronze Dragon, if there's room. Karla's Minor Image for the Minotaur General.
To Kraggodan
Scene 1 - ??
Scene 2 - Karla's Veil for our disguise.
Scene 3 - I think this is the appeal to the Synod, so nothing here.
I mean.... we’re not putting on a play. Maybe that’s getting a bit carried away with the special effects?
Though now I’m wondering if there’s a group of level 20 wizards putting on plays somewhere in the multiverse. Those must have some awesome special effects.
I can sew a traveling show where everyone has to enter a pocket universe to see the amazing special effects put on by the group. It would be like a Virtual Reality show.
I like the special effects idea. Hopefully we would wow them.
We should show our fight when we first got down in the Darklands. I can't remember the creature's name. The one that turned on us when we opened the door to the naga?
I think we're ready enough to move ahead. Karla, it sounds like you're going first!
Wulfram is giving his potion of Heroism to Eustoma to use for the Synod (for all those Sense Motive checks), and is buying a another one to use himself.
For the first tale, scene 2 would include finding the troglodytes and clearing out the cave. Scene 3 would be the fight against Scarvinious.
For the second tale, scene 1 involves exploring the forest. Scene 2 is Fort Ristin and the fight against the fey, while scene 3 is the seizing of Fort Trevalay and the fight against the black dragon.
For the third tale, scene 1 involves uniting your ragtag followers and and exploring towns like Radya’s Hollow, wiped out by the Ironfang Legion. Scene 2 is the exploration of the Hollow Hills and weakening the enemy forces. Scene 3 is rallying Longshadow and fighting off the siege.
You got the ones for the fourth tale right. :)
Oof. I'm not sure how good of an idea it is to save my +6 for the final checks, but sure.