DM Harpwizard’s Heroes of Elsir Vale (Inactive)

Game Master GM Harpwizard

Please let me get this right. The phylactery was placed in the folding boat, it was folded up and then held onto by Bofus. This sounds like an extra dimensional space. Were you using it like a portable hole or a bag of holding?

Technically, according to the description anything in the boat ends up in side the box that the boat folds into. So, realistically, the phylactery is in its small chest (I assume this is essentially a jewelry box), which is in the box the folding boat turns into (not an extra-dimensional space), which was most likely put into Bofus' Handy Haversack as I doubt he has been carrying a 12 inch box around in his hands for the past few days.

Yes, I'd purchase the crossbow.

Tirion is correct on all counts.

I am delighted that I can count on the two of you to keep me straight! :-)

Keep you straight? We just both know that if we agree on anything, you will believe it. Oh, by the way, Bofus, what did you do with that +5 Agile Keen Vorpal Rapier you got from the dragon's loot?

Edvard is waiting for some others to chime in before he risks alienating every person we meet :P

Keep you straight? We just both know that if we agree on anything, you will believe it. Oh, by the way, Bofus, what did you do with that +5 Agile Keen Vorpal Rapier you got from the dragon's loot?

Which one, the one in the blue scabbard, or the red?

Just remember: The pellet with the poison's in the vessel with the pestle; the chalice from the palace has the brew that is true!

... unless there's been a change and they broke the chalice from the palace and replaced it with a flagon with a dragon...

The chalice from the palace holds the brew that is blue. Er, um, TROO, troo. (I love that bit)

Sigh - Danny Kaye was a true master.

Still get goosebumps with his duet with Satchmo

Hey Folks, I am leaving for Thanksgiving to my inlaws on Wednesday and we will be returning on Friday. Internet will be questionable for the next few days, but I'll post if I can.

Hey - what gives!

Bofus deleted a post that I replied to. Edvard was having fun getting offended at being told his opinion was worthless :P

i got ninja'ed by the paladin. I decided to delete it because of that.

For the record, Edvard overreacts. :-)

Happens when you take the wild animal out of the jungle and expect him to play nice with the city cats :P

duly noted. ;-)

I am still at my inlaws, but managed to steal a few minutes to make a post. I will be home tomorrow night and will post some more then. I hope you are all having a wonderful thanksgiving!

Did you guys all have a nice weekend? You all sound rather busy. I am giving you time to respond to Bofus' question, but if there is anything that I can do to help move your adventure along, please let me know.

If all goes as planned, I might be able to play in a RL game with DMHW and/or Bofus at some point. Right now it is 1000 miles which is a bit far.

Hey Bofus an Tirion, we should think about going to Gen Con or a convention this summer. If we plan ahead, maybe we could make it happen.

Will consider it, I think that my summer may be very busy though if all goes as planned.

I've got a friend who goes to Gen Con every year. He always tries to get groups, and I'm thinking 2013 may be my next trip. I'm going to try to get Chip out there (I"m sure you remember Chip, HW, right??).

As my buddy Chris kicks off plans (typically in February), I'll keep you informed. He's got connections and experience to allow a GenCon trip *on the cheap* so stay tuned!!

There are already a few things planned for our summer, but if you know the dates, I will pencil them onto the calendar.

Since I may be moving, I think that the summer may be a little busy. Will try to keep it open.

I am at conferences all week, so I am sure that the level of my day time posting will be curtailed.

So Tirion, are you coming back to NH? Do you have any prospective jobs?

Bofus, are we still on for Sunday? The tea finishes around 3:30 pm, but by the time I get packed up it is usually around 4 pm. Do you guys want to meet me at the Inn?

you becherarse we would. I'll make sure we're there!! We'll either plan to go out, ro stay in, for dinner!

Working on it. Already sent my papers off to get admitted to the NH Bar, now it is just a waiting game on that. Will be sending off some letters to people this week. Late next summer is the target date.

Well, GenCon is always in early August (I believe it's the first full weekend in August, not 100% certain). You're going to need a break from the stress of moving, so you should certainly go.

So, Tirion and Thordak, do either of you have a response for Bofus? What else do you folks want to do before I move you onward?

You are welcome to role-play this discussion with the wizard further, but the conversation is taking longer than I anticipated. I like to keep things moving along, but it is important that you answer these questions as a group so I do not need to retcon things later.

1) Please post your response and let the Harpwizard know how many of the dragon eye gems you plan to give him as well as which ones?

2) Have you reached a consensus on what to do with the phylactery?

3) Are there any other questions you wish to ask Deitrovica Manturiel before you leave his office?

Bofus and Mantooth both fell in with Edvard's plan - but Tirion's a hold-out. Thordak I think was reticent against the idea, but not wholesale against it - so I think he's an abstention.

As to the eyes - Edvard doesn't have an issue surrendering the two black ones. I can put that in thread after Tirion's response to Edvard's respectful dialogue :P

No other questions for Deitrovica from Edvard - he's ready to move on. I'm assuming that the initial answer of the Thornwastes is sufficient for us to move out and attempt to track down the lair?

I could use a couple things, among them a better crossbow and an armor upgrade. Anybody have any suggestions?

The question at the front of Thordak's mind though is how long we have to go talk to the Ghostlord before the horde shows up and destroys Brindol...?

When I looked back over Jarmaath's initial comments I got the impression of a week or so before he expected horde contact - but I may have read wrong.

I think the Ghostlord is actually past the Dwarf hold. Thordak, you could probably get good armor there.

Edvard is finished with the argument - so it's up to the rest of you which way you decide to go. Either with the phylactery and therefore with Edvard, or without him and let Edvard go back to the Witchwood.

Essence of Edvard's position:
"We do not go to bargain with the lich... we go to present an offering and beseech a favor. To hell with the subtlety and camouflage... it is of little use. All we need do is place the phylactery at the Ghostlord's feet - state that we offer it freely and have no quarrel with him... and remind him of who has wronged him. Threats will have little meaning to such a being, and he will not look upon us as equals."

The problem is that based upon what we found in Saarvith's camp, this lich does respond to threats and was assisting the horde solely under a threat.

Also, so far, I do not think that any of us have made a Knowledge(religion) roll to really know what we are up against.

The note explicitly says:
Saarvith -
Take great care with the enclosed phylactery. I need not explain to you what the Ghostlord would do if he knew where I had sent his little bauble for safekeeping. Hide it somewhere safe - perhaps it could be trusted to your dragon friend's keeping? Keep it hidden until Brindol is taken. Should it fall into the hands of someone who could return it to its owner, the consequences for our effort could be dire indeed.
- Ulwai

I bolded the important bit.

Tirion - did you read what Edvard proposed? - it doesn't seem so with this comment: And I also think that you will need my tongue as I doubt that bullying will work well on a powerful undead spellcaster.

All Edvard wants to do is hand the phylactery back to the Ghostlord, he's never stated that he intended to bully or threaten the lich... unlike Tirion has.

Just want to understand if you're willfully misinterpreting? or missed it. (note both are fine in character, just would like to know).

Na, I know from what the note says that you intend to give him his soul as a peace offer. Tirion has seen enough evil at this point that he expects to get backstabbed each time.

Also from and IC, but not rolled, point, Tirion is looking at it from his +12 Diplomacy versus Edvard's +0. While this was done entirely through verbal interaction, we can all add in how a 10 Cha with no ranks of diplomacy said things versus a 21 Cha with lots of Diplomacy ranks.

I am glad you brought up exactly what the note had said. I had misread, or perhaps just misinterpreted what it said. I can see where your argument came from which is why Tirion has dropped his objection - albeit grudgingly. After all, he does not like to admit being wrong, even when he might be.

How much would a +2 crossbow run me?
Or would it be better to have my breastplate enchanted to +1 or +2?

weapons are (bonus squared X 2000 gp) so a +2 xbow is 8000 gp (plus base weapon cost plus masterwork)

armor is half that, so +2 armor = 4000 gp (plus base + masterwork)

you can typically get enchantments added for the delta. So boosting a +1 weapon to +2 would run you 6000 gp, plus the time to enchant (6 days)

The disparity in Diplomacy depends on exactly how DMHW views Diplo. I dislike the RAW implications that Edvard should say nothing just because he doesn't have a positive Diplo modifier... or that anything he does say is irrelevant because everything rides on a d20.

I don't like the sliver of an implication in the:
Also from and IC, but not rolled, point, Tirion is looking at it from his +12 Diplomacy versus Edvard's +0. While this was done entirely through verbal interaction, we can all add in how a 10 Cha with no ranks of diplomacy said things versus a 21 Cha with lots of Diplomacy ranks.

It seems to suggest that you think the PCs should have listened more to Tirion purely because of his Diplo mod... which is a very slippery slope when you start allowing social skills to be used between PCs. I can accept that Tirion and Bofus are going to find twisting NPCs around their little fingers easier... but I'd hope we all expect PCs to be allowed to make up their own minds.

I'm with Ed on at least one particular point: social skills are NOT used between players (I believe that is RAW). A player can't use Diplomancy or Intimidate, for example, on another player. And it's for exactly the reasons he states. :-)

I think you misunderstand me. When interacting with each other, the diplomacy should have no effect. However, when considered in the course of the game, Edvard's tactic was "my way or the highway" which would be one of two things - high Intimidate (threatening) or low Charisma (unaware or does not care how he presents the argument).

In this case, Edvard was right, but presented the argument not necessarily in the most eloquent manner - which is fitting with his stats. I guess think of it like the class nerd, he is smart and right, but frequently rubs people the wrong way because of his manners.

In other words, Tirion thought he was right, but was shown to have been mistaken when Edvard recited what was on the note. But, then, rather than working things out IC, Edvard stormed off which rather annoyed Tirion.

Anyway, I did not mean to offend anyone and apologize if I did. I was just trying to play Tirion as he is - a smart gnome with a lot of personality who does not like to be wrong.

Now then, we have a Ghostlord to find and do something with - kill, pacify, be killed by, etc.

I certainly agree that diplomacy and intimidate should not be used with each other. However, I don't think a high diplomacy roll should mean that you get your own way. I think it can be used to help change attitude, but that is not the same as the spell Suggestion. Mostly I want you guys to have fun playing the characters that you have made up and that you make decision in that character. My hope is that you will actually enjoy the differences that you all bring to this game.

Edvard's tactic was "my way or the highway" which would be one of two things - high Intimidate (threatening) or low Charisma (unaware or does not care how he presents the argument).

I'd prefer to think that Edvard's tactic was just to speak his mind in line with his personality, rather than being explicitly tied to his stats or the mechanical crunch of the game.

And then that your character's reacted to his words in line with your own character's thoughts and desires.

There isn't any offense, just wanted to be sure of implications.

I'm on my fourth and final day of conferences. I will be glad to get home soon or at least back to school next week. I have had fun, but I have not had any internet which has made posting difficult. Last night I drove home in a snow storm and it took me about two and a half hours when it should have only taken an hour and a half. I have a moment with internet access and I am delighted to be able to scan the boards.

Sigh, the mention of snow makes me jealous... it was 31 degrees (C), humid and it rained again today in Malaysia... just like yesterday, and the day before that, and...

I've got a gig today followed by a meeting with Bofus. I will not be home until late tonight. Have a great day!

and DMHW will finally get his hands on a Genesis anthology! We'll get an electric harp and drum ensemble cooking someday my friend.

Don't get DMHW started on drums, just had another character use acid splash to destroy DMHW's dwarf's drum in another campaign. It was done in the name of "maintaining the peace". Of course then his character switched to poetry which moved the Vogon poetry back to 4th place in the worst poetry in the world.

Ok, Boys! I just got approval from my wife to attend Gen Con 2013. The dates are August 15th - 18th. We will be at the Indiana Convention Center in Indianapolis, Indiana. Please mark your calendars. This is now an official plan!