No pressure either way. I was just curious where everyone stood.
Yahirma:
Blessing of Fervor is amazing. You won't hear any complaints from me on that one.
Semenya will probably be taking the following spells:
6th: Fireball. It's thematic, if, ah, less than useful against fireproof foes. Plus, does nearly 50% more damage with her combination of bonuses for those handful of foes it does work on.
7th: Haste, Acid Arrow.I could be persuaded to swap Haste and Fireball. We aren't seeing a lot of "fights against mooks" where Fireball would be useful...and Haste is ALWAYS useful. :)
Speaking for me only, I prefer Haste to Fireball, but understand if you want to keep that order for thematic reasons.
In general, all your fire spells seems to be somewhat nerfed in this AP and they aren't as effective as they would be in a 'normal' campaign.
That said, I encourage Semenya to play up her fiery heritage and I'll roleplay along with whatever she chooses.
The next magic item I intend to get is a Rod of Piercing Spell. For those days when you absolutely positively need to scream about the fickleness of the die roller on SR checks...
(I swear, the next caster I make is going to be an elf and the first three feats will be Spell Penetration, Greater Spell Penetration and Piercing Spell...)
In general, I'm trying to flesh out Semenya's spell list with spammable utility casts and debuffs, like vanish and glitterdust. Very few people actually seem to need more than a minute of invisibility in my experience...and when I can use a metamagic version of a lower level spell, I'll use that rather than add Yet Another Damage Spell at that spell level. (Which is why Semenya doesn't have Scorching Ray...Acid Arrow can be turned into a single target ranged touch spell that does about 88 points of damage with no saving throw with her bonuses and metamagic feats. And even if it's immune to fire, she can at least make it easy for other people to see...)
Mechanically, I'm better off picking any kind of damage spell OTHER than fire, because I can switch the type to fire damage for +1 spell level at the time of casting. This, coupled with the number of critters immune to fire in this AP...well, it's tempting to pick up Haste at 6th, lightning bolt at 7th (since electricity is the only thing devils don't have resistance or immunity to...), and use Metamagic Flaming Lightning Bolt as a 4th level spell as my "range versus multiple opponents" spell.
Sounds good to me.
I am catching a bus to Chicago in an hour and will have about 24-36 hours before I can post again.
Thanks for the notice. Have a safe trip.
Once Derek finishes with his intervention and his bloodsport-guy info gathering I think we'll be in a good spot to sync up again.
Maddok is chomping at the bit to get out there and do something!
So, Maddok and I are chatting about all our leads/possible things to do. Anything we missed?
1) Delvehaven (the biggie)
2) Finding the missing Pathfinder remains:
a) Coriana Heavenscape: Sister/Assassins have the ashes.
b) Venture-Captain Aiger Ghaelfin: The Luccas noble house might have his petrified remains. Rance Lucca is the only remaining member of the family. He's a middle-aged man who runs a semi-legal gladiator arena, called the Devildrome, just beyond the ruin wall in the northern sector of Westcrown.
c) Loremaster Liriam: The Poem? Get it decoded. Remains probably in Delvehaven.
d) Ilnerik Sivanshin: Bisby’s chronicler, a half-elf, Sivanshin fled Westcrown a week before Aroden’s Fall. Evidence suggests he fled north, toward Nidal, and with a stolen relic.
e) Donatalus Bisby: Body probably sealed inside one of Delvehaven’s lower vaults.
3) Negotiate for expired bank notes with Ailyn Ghontasavos (Appario meant to do this earlier, but was sidetracked by neon flashing lights and other diversions in LV).
4) Kill a shadowbeast and leave it on a doorstep
5) The Mhartis family's villa is said to be cursed. Several guards and servants have vanished from the manor without a trace, yet nothing of value has been taken. (Investigate.)
6) Recent weeks have seen the bodies of several suspected thugs, bandits, and thieves surface in back alleys and washing up on shore. (Investigate.)
Appario's Shopping List:
1) Silversheen *2
2) Antitoxin *2 (in case the sisters/assassins aren't friendly)
3) MW Disguise Kit
I can only think of minutiae to add.
1) Wave Khazrae at Delvehaven and see what she detects/remembers.
2) I don't know if Appario ever got a chance to look through all of the papers from the Crux. If there's anyone in the party Yahirma trusts to understand detailed paperwork, it's him.
4) Yahirma has no objections to trouncing a shadowbeast or three in the name of publicizing the presence of a masked team of superheroes who value justice and the redemption of a fallen city. I think it helps that she has never seen a shadowbeast. She also wonders if their pelts could be incorporated into Semenya's stealth slippers.
5) I think I need to reread that part (just after we got out of the demiplane, I trust?).
6) Perhaps we could manage a bit of this alongside acquiring a shadowbeast.
7) Yahirma seeks more infernals to befriend. She now feels slightly guilty about not redeeming/recruiting the barbazu who had the evil glaive.
Maddok's #1 priority is getting into Delvehaven and saving/redeeming his lost love, thus anything that moves the party closer to that is good by him.
7) Yahirma seeks more infernals to befriend. She now feels slightly guilty about not redeeming/recruiting the barbazu who had the evil glaive.
Hmmm.
Appario may not ever share your desire to befriend more evil outsiders. He worries for Livia, but is willing to take the chance because she might help us defeat a greater evil, but does not wish to befriend all manner of evil.
I thought you might like that one :)
I'm going to develop another option, too. It will be based on the clone spell, but specifically for regrowing bodyparts of a still-living creature, and thus lower level (around 5th or 6th). I just need to figure out how to do it and keep it somewhat balanced; I'm going to assume that Yahirma keeps researching this subject post-Delvehaven :)
5) I think I need to reread that part (just after we got out of the demiplane, I trust?).
That was part of a list of news and rumors you'd come upon during the past two months, but it was in the middle of everything else that happened (such as the Crux-opening), so it would be easy to overlook; see this post :)
Appario may not ever share your desire to befriend more evil outsiders. He worries for Livia, but is willing to take the chance because she might help us defeat a greater evil, but does not wish to befriend all manner of evil.
Completely reasonable, especially given Appario's code is a little different than that of Yahirma. It's one reason she tries to make deals with darker beings in their own darker languages that Appario hopefully doesn't hear too much about. No need for the changeling's pursuits to interfere with the paladin's, particularly when they overlap in most regards.
Still, I can foresee a few actions by Yahirma that she'll need to pursue off-stage for Appario's peace of mind.
Still, I can foresee a few actions by Yahirma that she'll need to pursue off-stage for Appario's peace of mind.
And maybe you wondered why Appario checked out when you were talking to the head?
What he doesn't know won't bother him. :)
That has been my assumption, too :)
Essentially, all of the equipment you've purchased and/or commissioned should be ready.
The appearances can be altered, should there be a particular look you desire. I imagine Maddok's mask looking a bit like the one on the "iconic" assassin from the Core Rulebook.
It wasn't what I had in mind, but I actually like what you did way better.
Thanks for putting the descriptions I did for the armors to shame. =P
Thanks for putting the descriptions I did for the armors to shame. =P
Truly.
Another great post, Yahirma.
"I trust you - both of you - will find these to your liking. They are fitted for either and both, for both are trusted and welcome alongside us."
Also, I don't know if that comment was meant as a symbolic thing or if I didn't describe quite it well enough but when the Beast is manifested he exists as a huge shape of shadowy/smoky spirit stuff but he exists 'on top' of Maddok's body.
That is Maddok can still be seen within the Beast's form (although in a comatose/dazed state). Maddok doesn't literally turn into into him.
Something like this but a bit more opaque, smoky, and dark.
In any event, thanks for the awesome crafting-RP.
Actually, Yahirma does realize that the Beast manifests on top of Maddok, but she also believes the Beast needs ways to touch the material plane and feel welcome without manifesting completely. I would compare it to a few East Asian skyscrapers that have holes in them so as not to disrupt the nearby mountain spirits' view of the ocean.
Than you are even awesomer than I previously stated.
Speaking of awesomeness: I've noticed that in another PBP you (Caepio) is using four or five different languages for IC-speech (I noticed Dutch, Turkish, Afrikaans and Norwegian in the posts I saw, but I think there were more!).
Do you know all of them, or do you use some kind of translation program? If the latter, which language are you using for Yahirma's Infernal speech? It obviously adds to immersion, so I'd like to use the same one :)
We use online translation programs, though my heavy reliance upon the Camthi language (Dutch in that game) has gradually educated me in the language. I use this.
The Infernal was actually made up as I typed it, but I tried to make it an extremely exact language with single word conjugation and a wealth of declinations of nouns and prepositions depending upon the intentions and social status of the speaker and interlocutor. I think I could recreate a few of the rules I came up with, but it's just as simple to choose a language from the program and use that.
I finally got a chance to look over the upgraded character sheets.
- The monocles of appraising aren't listed, although the bonus seems to have been applied :)
- flat-footed AC should be 17
- hp should be 46 (Derek had 37; +7 roll and +2 CON is +9 total)
- Did you not put a STR-bonus into the composite shortbow? If you did, damage should be 1d6+1.
- Derek should have one additional feat; I'm guessing Skill Focus (knowledge planes) based on the skill list.
- speed should be 40 ft
- Maddok gains shielded meld rather than shield ally
- What is a kilted breastplate? If it doesn't provide a +1 armor bonus or enhancement bonus, Maddok would lose 1 point of AC.
- Shadowbinder isn't listed anywhere. Which weapon-type did you end up making it?
- furious amulet of mighty fists is pretty neat! I like it :)
- shield is also a potential Extend-option :)
- It seems like some magical items are missing; I'm guessing Yahirma should at least have a headband of alluring charisma +2, based on the rest of her statistics.
- For a spontaneous caster, Yahirma certainly isn't lacking in the "spells known" department :)
I finally got a chance to look over the upgraded character sheets.
- The monocles of appraising aren't listed, although the bonus seems to have been applied :)
Totally agree. I've added it now, but didn't create an item in Herolab for the sweet monocles, but included the bonus.
A couple of quick thoughts:
I believe Maddok is using the armored kilt from the Campaign Setting book, which increases his AC and decreases his speed.
The joy of the Haunted curse would be the expanded spell list. Just think of how lovely a spell list Yahirma might have if she were human and took the favored class feature.
Armored kilt fits, so that's probably it. Thanks :)
I'll wait for Semenya to agree to the revised plan before continuing with the second night of shadowbeast-hunting. In the mean time, other things can be done (such as attempting to identify the last few unidentified items [two scrolls, a wand, and the candles]).
What she said.
Pants are out kilts are in! Hence his 30ft move speed and AC.
Shadowbinder is a bastard sword. Maddok can wield it in two hands and if needed handed it off to Appario. I added it to his character sheet.
Shielded Meld is in The Beast's character sheet.
Catching up with posts now.
While Extended Shield is an option, I'm not sure there's many circumstances where having it for 10 minutes makes a substantial difference over having it for 5; once Shield gets past 2nd level, the duration doesn't matter that much - it lasts for one combat, but usually not long enough for two.
Hehe. Kilt and Mask. Maddok would be a strange sight :)
By the way, I decided to upgrade the shadowsteel properties a tiny bit: It functions as a magical weapon at full damage also against corporeal creatures with strong ties to Shadow (primarily; creatures with "Shadow" in their name).
Very nice. I need to find something appropriately anti-shadowy to further enchant it with when Maddok gets Craft Magic Arms and Armor.
After pursuing the SRD I think I found a good fit.
Would it be alright if I enchanted Shadowbinder as a Sunblade? I thought I should ask since it's not a typical enchantment as more of a specific item. The anti-evil outsider gimmick and sunlight power seem very thematically appropriate.
Also, due to the enchantment's hefty pricetag would it be alright to do the enchantment piecemeal? That is pay a chunk of the cost at each interval and get the powers one at a time.
I'll be okay with that, and with the piecemeal creation (to a point).
Remember that Shadowbinder only deals half damage to non-shadow corporeal creatures though; it might be better to create a Sunblade as an accompanying weapon. But I agree it would be flavorful :)
Thanks.
I haven't forgotten about the shadowsteel's downside. It's just too cool to not take advantage of.
At least this has taught me that the upcoming encounter with 2 Shadow Mastiffs needs to be replaced :)
(and that panicked is pretty horrible in PBP)
It is quite horrible. How high is the wall Semenya is clinging to? Can she run away going up?
It's a building of, say, two stories in height. She could run away going up, but would then have to continue running away along the roof and eventually down the other end of the building.
Life sure has its...up's and downs.
Well it took longer than I had expected but I've got that gift I mentioned all setup. To facilitate distribution I need everyone's email addresses.
Contact me at feralascendant at gmail.com if you don't like the idea of posting your email address on the boards.
I have Appario and Are already.
Edit: I suppose I could explain it.
I arranged for everyone to get a character portrait sketch from AvatarArt.com. I've gotten work done through them before and they have always done an amazing job. Unfortunately, it's just a sketch. If you want a fancy background or want to up the detail you'll have to take care of the difference in cost.
http://www.avatarart.com/CustomCharacterPortraits/
Once everyone gets me their email addresses I'll send them in so that the guy that organizes everything knows who is already paid.
Cool :)
By the way, I think this encounter will take a lot less than a week to finish after all; the Mastiff only has 6 hit points left (so the sound burst will kill it if Yahirma is able to cast it) :)
Cool :)
By the way, I think this encounter will take a lot less than a week to finish after all; the Mastiff only has 6 hit points left (so the sound burst will kill it if Yahirma is able to cast it) :)
Or maybe I'll kill it when I hit again...figure another 4 swings or so.
:)
Yeah you guys really stepped up the posting and powered through the rounds.
I can't wait to hear about what Derek may have signed us up for.
I only wonder how long Maddok will tolerate not running down the doors of Delvehaven in search of his Vahnwynne :)
Every day is a struggle. =/
Are, you are included in the commission credit. You can get a piece done for one of this campaign's more featured NPCs or maybe one of your own characters in another game.
Either option is cool by me!
Edit: Uh, oh. Random percentage rolls. That's not ominous or anything.
Edit: Uh, oh. Random percentage rolls. That's no ominous or anything.
Nothing to worry about; check the IC thread :)
Hmm. I'll have to consider what to have sketched. I don't have any characters, but there are a lot of NPCs around in this AP that would be interesting to have a sketch of (although in at least one case it could be a big spoiler!). A sketch of my avatar wouldn't be bad either; I quite like it :)
"Ho there master statue, quite an unusual place for a picnic is it not? And you did not even bring a blanket to sit upon, what table manners you have."
It is a battle for the ages; two titans lined up against each other with everything on the line. In this corner, Derek - a Southpaw with the skills to stand toe to toe with any contender, a small town scrapper whose ability to annoy and aggravate is his best weapon of defense.
In the other corner is "The Greedy Gargoyle", 1400lbs of flying rock, carved from the stones of the 6th lair of Hell itself. Mean as nails and with skin that requires adamantine to pierce, the Gargoyle is fueled by pent up rage, a hungry fighter looking for a meal.
* * *
Appario sits and enjoys his popcorn, offers some to Maddok & Yahirma.
"I got the Gargolye to take it in the 4th round." Appario says holding up a betting slip. "You?"
Yahirma grabs some popcorn, and the few pieces she drops skitter away underneath the seats.
"You assume it is a gargoyle. I say the 'gargoyle' in the 3rd round, and that includes six seconds of opening repartee."
I'll have a map up for Derek later; I really didn't expect to have to make one :)
A map doesn't seem necessary for two combatants standing toe to toe slugging it out. =P
Yahirma grabs some popcorn, and the few pieces she drops skitter away underneath the seats.
"You assume it is a gargoyle. I say the 'gargoyle' in the 3rd round, and that includes six seconds of opening repartee."
"Hey Yahirma. Yahirma, knock knock?"
'Who's there?', she says.
"Gargoyle."
'Gargoyle who?', she says.
"Gargoyle after every meal for fresh breath."
Yeah, I don't get it either.
* * * *
The Gargoyle flies at top speed towards Derek, attempting to ram into him with its horns.
Appario stands up in his seat and tosses a handful of popcorn in the ring, expressing his displeasure with the referee.
"C'mon ref! No goring!! BOO!"
Yahirma looks behind the bleachers to watch the two hapless adventurers fighting a black hound.
"Look on the bright side. At least he's faring better than those two."