Seth has Dimension Door; does he have enough knowledge of the layout to successfully teleport to locations within it?
Yes, Katria can give you precise instructions to use dimension door.
Sorry, I've had a busy few days. I'll try to update tomorrow morning!
Amelia is up. I'll bot her tomorrow morning if she hasn't posted by then. :)
Sorry, the last two days have been full of madness here.
No worries. I can sympathize!
Seth is up still.
Working late tonight, will post up later.
A Manual of Gainful Exercise huh? I'll be rounding my Strength off next level anyway, but an extra +1 might make sense if this reaches 16th.
Liam's level-up!
+1 Str
+7 HP (new total 87)
+1 BAB, Fort/Ref/Will
+6 Skill Points (Sense Motive, Diplomacy, Bluff, Knowledge-Local, Disguise, Perception)
+2 Background Skills (Perform-Oratory, Knowledge-Nobility)
+2 rounds sermonic performance
+1 5th-level and 6th-level spell per day
Debating burning the Candle of Invocation before we take on Abadar's Pillar.
But maybe we want to first scout out the place or do some investigation to see what we will be up against.
Communal Spell Immunity (Order's Wrath, Bestow Curse, 1 other) might be a good option if this place is full of Abadar clerics. I guess Magic Missile is always good for the one other in case they have some mages.
I will update my character ASAP, but I assume we can do our usual plan and send my invisible eye in to check things out. (I do feel like that's cheating a bit, since it's such a useful tactic for us, so let me know if you'd like to tone that back somewhat, Brainiac...)
Yes, likewise on Liam always having the buffs up and running. Let me know if I should dial it back or mix it up with different tactics.
Oh, I also get my first boon from Deific Obedience.
I think I will take Magic Vestment 1/day. It's a spell I want to use anyway, and its long duration means that there is no action economy problem in using it.
Just remember that Pythareus is known to have a powerful diviner on his side, so your scrying attempts might be detected this time!
Oh, thanks for the reminder. What do we think everyone? Risk it, or go in blind?
I need some time to catch up. What are we doing with the Manual of Gainful Exercise? My Strength will hit 20 this Level.
I would like to fish for some information before we go in, considering we have a viable ally with us right at the moment, let's learn whatever we can.
Question about Level 11's Quarry ability, do I know if they correspond to one of my Favored Enemy (Nation) types or do I have to spend the action and guess or is there a Nobility check or...
Level Up!
HP +8
All Saves +1
Strength +1
BAB +1 (Power Attack, Deadly Aim level)
Skills +7 (+2 Background)
1 extra 2nd level spell/day
1 extra 1st, 2nd, 3rd known!
1st
2nd
3rd
Camouflage: Can always hide in Urban settings or parties!
If I could use the Manual, then I could put my +1 from level-up into Cha instead of Str. I had put it into Str because I have some interest in Liam becoming at least a marginally competent backup fighter, since we are only 4 PCs now.
But feel free for Amelia to use it in anticipation of reaching level 16 someday.
@Katria, I think Amelia has a good idea - use mundane information-gathering. Then maybe we go in the way the AP expects us to instead of teleporting to the boss.
We won't have time to read it now anyway, so we can hold onto it and decide after.
Also if anyone can think of some utility spells for me to pick up, please let me know . I don't really cast all that often but when we need it I would like to have something useful prepared.
You'll know if they qualify for your favored enemy without having to make a check, Amelia.
@Amelia - if you want spell ideas, I would say that Feather Fall, Alter Self, and See Invisibility are three great utility spells of the ones you have listed.
Jester's Jaunt and Tactical Acumen might have more utility in a campaign that makes greater use of maps and positional tactics, but perhaps they could work.
Disguise Other is a Brd2 spell that could be useful.
Disrupt Silence is occasionally useful, but Liam could prepare that.
Gallant Inspiration might not work in a social situation, but could be really good for Disable Device, UMD, Acrobatics, or Climb.
Terrible Remorse staggers even on a successful save, which is cool.
Amelia having at least one Cure spell might be good.
I'm fine with Liam taking the manual if that's what you both would prefer. Katria doesn't need it. She might be interested in reading it because she likes reading, but definitely doesn't need the Strength boost. I think Liam's points are good. I would downplay disrupt silence, just because we're not casting in combat as often except for Katria, and she doesn't use vocal components (I guess she does for her wands, but she has other options).
Katria, Level 12!
+7 hp
+1 BAB, +1 to all saves
+1 2nd-, 4th-level spell/day
+binding circles (can trap living creatures, which could be really useful)
+1 outside contact
+1 Int (to 24, so will boost all my DCs, and add a 3rd-level spell/day, plus bump skills)
+a whole lot of skill ranks (boosted all my Knowledge, Spellcraft, UMD for some reason -- someone remind me that +30 is enough and I can stop, Perception +1, and more)
+1 FCB: 1/6 focus power
--
Note that I'm changing up my usual loadout of mental focus for this mission; cutting down on divination since we know the place is warded and boosting transmutation (giving me more hp) and enchantment.
I'll let Amelia have the Manual for later use, and just put my level-up point into Str.
Edit: should we sell items and gear up before tackling this place?
Level-up stuff (sorry, busy week. Two tests and a programming project due over the weekend):
Numbers! Probably. Honestly, using an automated spreadsheet has made me lazy.
New Spells: Stoneskin, Phantasmal Killer (seemed on-brand for the Pharasmin)
New Arcana: Accurate Strike
Any suggestions on our tactics?
I am waiting for the GM to let us know about Persona, and if we have any operations we can do that might be relevant.
Sorry I ran out of time this morning, I’ll post some stuff for you tomorrow.
I think we wait to hear the rumours and how they succeed, then sneak in from the old entrance.
Answers: Yes, you can take a round of persona actions to help with your infiltration of the fortress. (Honestly, I forgot about the subsystem. Sorry!) Amelia's rumormonger ability can also help.
Going to take the Feather Fall, Alter Self, Glibness package. Considering we are infiltrating more and more, I feel like it will give us some unparalleled utility (besides I don't really have time to cast spells in battle).
Okay, everybody good with this?
We use Amelia's rumors to lower the soldiers' morale, and Liam's Persona action to throw off Pythareus's judgment. (done)
The day before we hit the keep, Liam will cast Waterproof and Extended Water Breathing on everybody around 9 pm. The Water Breathing will last until 9 am the next day, and won't count against his spell slots. Waterproof lasts 24 hours and will protect our disguises (and we won't be sopping wet in the courtyard).
He may as well also do a couple of Extended Magic Vestment spells at this time if anybody needs +3 armor. Liam gets Magic Vestment as an SLA every day as well (which he uses on his own armor).
At dawn, Liam will burn the Candle of Invocation during his spell preparation, for the 7th-level spells. These will last for 4 hours.
We apply disguises (Amelia has Alter Self, Liam and Katria have decent Disguise, Seth can get a scroll of Alter Self, and Liam will use Insightful Advice to help everyone's Disguise skill). Then we sneak in through the moat. Katria unlocks the grate, and then we will make our way into the courtyard.
But once inside, what is our plan?
We could try to Bluff that we are allies from another city in need of an urgent audience with... the High Strategos? The majordomo? The diviner? It might be good to tell these latter two the truth about Milon Jeroth and the Immaculate Circle and try to sway them to our side. Since we will be inside the courtyard, people should assume that we belong there and that the sentries already checked our credentials. With Amelia having Glibness, we should do very well in that regard.
Find the Path is divination but not scrying. It might work inside the keep, if we find out there is a particular place we need to go. I will prepare it.
And if we have to fight, we do the best we can to eliminate the rank-and-file non-lethally.
Gear to get:
Elixir of Swimming, as Katria said - 4 (1000 GP)
Scroll of Alter Self for Seth, as Katria said (150 GP)
Disguise Kit (50 GP)
We'll make sure we are subtle in buying these things.
Ohhhhh! It's like a heist movie!
With Disguise Self and Alter Self, I can push a +23 in Disguise so that should be fine. Glibness will give us a massive edge once we're in , and with it's duration we can silver tongue our way through most of the rank and file.
I think we aim to speak to the majordomo and the diviner before heading off to the High Strategos. Worst case we eliminate a threat, best case we gain an ally.
I also have Invisibility Sphere in case we need to reposition, though with a Diviner on the enemy crew there is a chance that this might not be viable.
I like the plan as presented. I think going for the majordomo and diviner makes sense to start (maybe diviner first?), with the hopes of recruiting them or at the least eliminating threats.
Seems fine to me. Sorry for the absence, I had a really busy week. I should hopefully be back now though.
So with Glibness I can push a +42 here which can easily offset the -20 from Unbelievable Lie. I'll wait on the results of that Perception check, but I'm thinking of just talking our way past the keep and maybe getting them out of the way somehow.
Also I'm unsure how Camouflage is meant to work. I can hide without Cover or Concealment... But not when I'm Observed (need HiPS for that). So as long as I hide before engaging with anyone it should work correct?
Didn't have time to post here this morning. I'll be able to do so tomrrow.
Try this link for the monster image: tophet.
Aw. They're cute. :)
Oops, looks like we cross-posted, Liam!
I deleted my post and re-posted it so it's after yours now.
I will be out of town on a camping trip from 4/10 through 4/17. I will be unable to post until the following Monday.
Have fun!
Cool! Have a good trip.
I hope your trip is bear-free. We've been having very adventurous bears recently around us.
We did see one bear while we were driving! Fortunately, it ran back into the woods. :D
I'm back now. So, where to next? Breaking into the locked room?
Welcome back!
Yes, I believe that was the plan.
Agreed, on both counts.
I'm going to give our other players a chance to weigh in before pushing on.
Yes, good call. This is a pretty momentous turn of events.
I was going to do a quick post to catch up during my break but after reading that I'll need a bit more time to formulate something of value.
That was... Wow.
I will absolutely get something up later, that was a huge burst of posts!
Seth is up!
Oops, sorry. I wasn't seeing new notifications for some reason.
No worries. It's been a busy week for me. I'll try to get a post up tomorrow morning.