DM Mathpro's advanced Rise of the Runelords campaign group 2 (Inactive)

Game Master mathpro18

Welcome Zarion, Emissary, Ithalil, Siobhan, and Wabbit! Lets get the discussion started. We have a lot to discuss so to get things started I will pose the following questions to the group and you guys can come to a consensus on them:

1) What events have solidified you guys as an unbreakable team? Or has no such event happened(working together because it "works" for now but if something better comes along so be it)?

2) Who would have been the target of Alderns advances and how would the party have reacted/intervened? I see the events of book 2 to be a great opportunity for the party to have bonded together(depending on the answer to question one that is).

3) Any other events that have happened that have bonded the party together beyond what happened in the first 3 books? Relationships with each other, intimate moments, family crisis, ect.

4)Are you all pretty familiar with the AP or do you need me to post up summaries of all 3 books as to what major events have happened?

Any questions for me can be posted here.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE try to get along with your fellow players. Another group I am running this for got into a rather nasty fight and it ruined the game for me(almost quit running them). This is meant to be a time where you guys can cooperate on your shared backgrounds since you guys have been saving the world together for the last 7 months or so.

Hi guys! I'm glad to be here with all of you.

I must apologize because I didn't submit a full character concept but rather some guidelines, and between my finals and the dreaded flu I've been a bit off.

But as some of you may remember I'll be your resident healer and divine bro.

I have to flesh out my character yet but I imagine him (His name is Malcolm) to be a good friend and the party cheerleader. If some or all of you decide it, I can see him leaving the temple to adventure with his friend.

I'll wait for the input from the other members before suggesting exact deeds, but Malcolm is the kind of guy to run accross a battlefield eating blows just to heal his friends. Maybe one defining moment was some of you talking him through a crisis of faith and back to action, or someone healing the healer for extra irony points!

I'm excited to start killing things with all of you, Emissary off.

*EDIT* I have the RotR pdfs but have no familiarity with the AP (was reserving myself to play it) so a good overview would be much appreciated, Mr DM

Wargrym your Reach Magus reporting for duty.

I'd like to wait to answer questions 1-3 til after everyone has posted their aliases here. I'll have a better idea once I see them.

I have no knowledge of the AP. Summaries of what has transpired so far will help answering the questions as well as help me to visualize Wargrym in the context of this AP and team.

Looking forward to saving the world with you all!

1)Id say probably the Misgivings and the Gruul Farm would be the bonding agents - if a team can go through those and come out the other side then they are going to be stronger for it.

2) Since Siobhan is the only female (i think) that makes her the obvious target for Aldern - if the others agree. She's not experienced in that regard so she would have turned to the other PC's for advice and support. Her Charisma is also through the roof so I imagine that might have attracted Aldern...

3)I'll work on background tonight but the most likely one would be if Siobhan and another PC had struck up a relationship - she probably wouldn't have met any of you before, although I could make it work if people like. :) Siobhan has a lot of healing so that could have built our bridges Malcolm?

4) I'm plenty familiar with the AP (have the anniversary edition) so no problems there. :)

Couple of questions:
1) @GM, can I get a ruling on Glimpse Beyond? Have I been able to complete it or not? I'd think the Lamia in book 2 or possibly Aldern would be good places for that. Maybe the rest of the party could force Grogius into paying for a resurrection?
2) @the party: I have a couple of open feats atm. Would it be useful/worthwhile me taking some crafting feats and if so which? I was thinking Wonderous Item or Wand.

Yes you have completed the Glimpse Beyond requirements. Since two of you have posted that you don't have much experience I will be posting summaries and more information sometime before 4 today. I started working on it like 45 min ago and saw that Siobhan posted so I figured I would respond real quick.

@Siobhan My vote would be Craft Wondrous. So versatile and everyone in the party benefits from it. Of course that depends on whether there is any time for crafting?

You guys have had about 2 weeks in game to craft while traveling back to Sandpoint from your last mission.

1) I was thinking the events through the first three books would have solidified us.

2)Not familiar with this. I only played the first book and that was when it first came out for 3.5

3)I am thinking we should work together with this after we get......

4) Yes a summary please as stated before I am unfamiliar with the other books. I know book two involves a murderer of some sort. but that's it

So here are VERY brief descriptions of the events from each book. Once I get more ambition I will list out all notable NPC's you guys have interacted with, more information on the towns you have been to, and a list of all villins you guys have come across because some may still be alive depending on if you fell any are worth saving/redeeming.

Hey guys! Zarion Draseit here, your resident dancer/tattooist/conjuration specialized sorcerer.

Fun fact! I can inscribe magic items as tattoos, but it doubles their cost and they take up tattoo slots. Every slot except headband, eye, armor, and shield has a corresponding tattoo slot, and they stack. So, instead of paying half price, pay market price, but I can craft items that can only be removed very deliberately. Also they looks cool. Bonus; if it's a spell that Zarion knows, I can do spell tats of it, which work like scrolls. Head, Back, and Feet don't typically work well for them, because you have to see it and touch it, but might be nice to have in a pinch. Market value is 4x scroll, so crafting cost is 2x scroll.

1) Honestly, between the series of murders in Book 2 and the Hook Mountain climb, Zarion is going to trust everyone. When you go through that much strife, not to mention the hostile environment of a mountain full of ogres and a giant, it gets hard to be suspicious.

2) I'm leaning towards one of the two charisma casters in the party. Charisma is force of personality, so Siobhan and I are likely candidates for an obsession to form. If it's romantic in nature, then my vote goes to Siobhan wholeheartedly. If not, I'm still leaning towards her, because oracles have the whole aura of mystery going on.

3) I think the kind of singular events that might have inspired someone else to trust Zarion might be having a spell tattoo come through in a pinch, him summoning something impressive to put itself between a party member and danger, a well-timed feather fall, stuff like that. He's a team player, and there's all kinds of things he can do with magic to prove it. Conjuration and Evocation are the two showiest branches of magic, after all. Stone Discus can be a very dramatic spell if timed properly.

4) I have neither played nor read Runelords. I've been busy building up my collection of sourcebooks, scenarios, and modules for PFS.

So things to deal with:

Book 1: Who did Shayliss try and seduce? She'll have picked the 'hunk' and tried to have her wicked way with you before her father arrived. Any volunteers? ;)

Book 2: Given Mathpro's summary would everyone be ok if Siobhan was the target of Aldern's obsession and was kidnapped? By the time the rest of you managed to rescue her she had been driven mad and nearly killed more than once as Aldern cycled between love and rage at her. This would be a good time to fulfill Glimpse Beyond as well. As I recall Zarion the obsession favors beautiful women first, then handsome and heroic men.

Book 3: nothing much to tie up - we try and get back ASAP! :)

I'm going to take Craft Wonderous so if people have any requests for something I can do/get started on as we return to Sandpoint, let me know!

Zarion - Siobhan will likely have approached you about getting one (or more) tattoos, not necessarily magical, just personally significant. That would probably be a bond for us?

I could be the target of Shayliss' "affection".
I also might be interested in a tattoo. Something for the eye slot that would mitigate my light sensitivity.

You having been captured by Aldern is cool with me Siobhan.

I said not the eye slot, Ithalil. You can't tattoo eyes in PF. Not sure if you can do it IRL. Pretty sure it wouldn't work out too well. But if you can find an item that does it, or we could make one. There's a spell called Protective Penumbra. I don't have it, but that's just a penalty on the craft check. 2nd level spell, so the item would have to be CL3, and then the cost of a constant item... what do you think of a tattoo to mitigate light sensitivity, GM Mathpro?

Also if Zarion was the target of her seduction it could lead into more "Those damn Varisians!" moments. Because, much like the gypsies, everyone blames the Varisians. Damn Sczarni.

I was thinking like face tattoo, glasses tattoo, not so much eyelids tattoo
I have the penumbra spell. Hoping to eventually replace it.

Oh, good. Makes the crafting check easier if someone has access to the spell. And that's a plan for a tattoo :)

SWEET!

"You having been captured by Aldern is cool with me Siobhan." Sounds good to me as well.

My brain is spinning with cool ideas for tatoos. Wargrym looks just like his Alias. So a Black Tatoo around his eyes would make so much sense. Too bad the eye slot is not viable. Will have to think of other ideas.

Wargrym is not Charismatic enough to be the target of Shayliss' "affection"

That's all I have for right now. Going to be a difficult day at work tomorrow. Will check in as soon as I get a chance.

I mean, you can have a tattoo on your face, you just don't get an eye slot for tattoos. It'd take up your head tattoo slot, which is different from your head wondrous item slot.

So looks like Zarion is busy tatooing the party lol. I know what you guys did on your off time in the first couple of books :P.

So question for the group because one of the other groups decided to take the ball and run with it, how far did Ithalil get with Shayless? Are we expecting a special delivery soon? If so does he know or is she going to have one heck of a surprise for him when they get back to sandpoint? Its only about 7 months along so she wouldn't have a kid but she would be showing rather heavily by now. And its been about 2-3 months since you've been "home" so a nasty surprise is possible.

I vote ignorance.

And fatherhood? Because that would make for some very interesting dynamics when returning to sandpoint...Her father won't be very happy with you...Not that you couldn't handle him...I smell shotgun wedding lol.

Siobhan could talk him round... maybe...

Also - DM, if I pay 8k can I take the snakeskin shirt from Xanesha, subject to party agreement? Since it was legitimate loot I'm assuming I just cough up the 8k. :)

The Snakeskin shirt is a +1 armour, +2 dex, +2 vs poison item. I'm guessing all of you guys will wear something better but if anyone else would like it too just shout! :)

Yeah help yourself to it.

Either way doesn't bother me. Just don't want to know in advance. Surprise me.

Wargrym is quite fascinated by magic in all it's forms...so the fact that everyone in this group wields magic will be delightful to him. His tribe had one shaman who could talk with spirits and that was it. The tatoo magic will particularly interest him.

He'll have more in common with Ithalil as they are both focused on incorporating magic into their fighting styles rather than blowing away opponents with fireballs or summoning creatures.

Tattoo idea...Casting a permanent Enlarge Person costs 2500gp. Could that effect be made into a tatoo that switches on and off as a full round action by tapping on it and concentrating? Rather than always being large.

I'd say we're looking reasonably good from story at the moment. I've updated Siobhans backstory and should have everything else done tonight, I'll do a full character post then.

Is it worth doing some roleplaying on the way back to Sandpoint just to work out the kinks and get everyone in character?

College has been bullying me (nasty institutions!) so I'll post with Malcolm's alias when I finish him today.

I'm okay with the suggestions made, they give lots of RP potential that I'm eager to wxplore. Only one requisite: if there's a child coming, Malcolm wants to be his loving godfather!

And tattoos... is there any way to tattoo a holy symbol? Because I'm totally down for that.

P.s. Seconding roleplaying a bit back to Sandpoint.

And here he is, the healing hero!

Please, check his statblock if you will and read the backstory if you aren't afraid of holy boredom. I've tried to keep it brief because I supposed backstory shouldn't extend too much "past level 1" .

Oh, and only thing left to do is rolling hit points

Looks like you got yourselves a tanky healer with a golden heart!

P.S. If we end not RPing the travel back to Sandpoint, at least we could go through a brainstorm to interweave our backstories and adventures

Not only is there a way to tattoo holy symbols,Zarion has one.100gp for a basic black tattoo, plus 100 more per color, cut into 1/3 if Zarion does it, but I don't think most deities want their faithful getting holy tattoos from other deities' worshippers. There's a ritual involved in the process. Come to the Desnan side...

we can roleplay the trip back to sandpoint and if you guys are ready(seems like you are) I can throw up the gameplay thread later today.

I've thought about being a Paladin of Desna but I don't know how could work a LG paladin of a CG god.

Unless the DM can help me or allows a CG Paladin of Good and Freedom I'll have to eemain a Sarenrite.

I mean, I don't have to make it. It's only 100gp. That's dirt cheap. It's starting gear for my divine casters in PFS.

Also, I am prepared! Let's do this thing. LEEROYYYYYYYYY JEEEEENKIIIIINS

Gameplay thread is up guys. And Malcolm I'd all you to serve a CG god.

I'm about to leave the optometrist and go home, but when I get there I know what I'm doing.

Mount spells.

5 of us, and I have more than enough 1st level slots to pull it off. Anyone have humanoid companions that need a horse? Possibly have their own horse?

I'll buy myself one trusty horse, I left spare money for this stuff!

And I'll be updating Malcolm so he is the Paladin of Freedom, Music and Travelling. Yay!

And here he is, the healing hero!

Please, check his statblock if you will and read the backstory if you aren't afraid of holy boredom. I've tried to keep it brief because I supposed backstory shouldn't extend too much "past level 1" .

Oh, and only thing left to do is rolling hit points

** spoiler omitted **

Looks like you got yourselves a tanky healer with a golden heart!

P.S. If we end not RPing the travel back to Sandpoint, at least we could go through a brainstorm to interweave our backstories and adventures

Malcolm...thanks for posting your rolls. It reminded me to double check mine. here's what I found:

hp: 9d8 + 2d12 ⇒ (6, 3, 3, 2, 1, 4, 8, 7, 2) + (9, 5) = 50

I had forgotten to increase the hp rolls below avg to avg. So my new total is (6, 4, 4, 4, 4, 4, 8, 7, 4) + (9, 6) =60

I just found 10 more hp thanks to YOU

I'll buy myself one trusty horse, I left spare money for this stuff!

And I'll be updating Malcolm so he is the Paladin of Freedom, Music and Travelling. Yay!

... If I get the money to pay for an INT+2 tattoo for you, will you put the skill points into a musical perform skill?

I'll put it. I have the money hehe

Can it be a lute with a butterflee? You know what? I'll let you choose whatever design you feel, the artist always knows better!

Link me to the nice tattoo image when you find it

And what happened in the gameplay thread is the confirmation: the Dice Gods are pleased by the music idea.

Praise be the Dice!

Hmm... I can do that. Gimme a little bit to put GIMP on my desktop, which I've been meaning to do anyway, and I'll throw something simple together.

@Mathpro would it be acceptable if I exchanged my ring of protection +1 2,000gp

For a rod metamagic Piercing lesser 3,000gp

I have the funds remaining to make up the difference.

With my reduced CL I'm going to need it to have any chance against SR

-Posted with Wayfinder

Sure thats fine

Can I switch out mage armor for shield? I picked my spells before I picked my items and I just realized that I didn't know Shield and Mage Armor was going to be completely worthless.

Just so we don't spam too much premarch in Gameplay, everybody ready to start the march?

All set.

Yeah - Siobhan and Lexie can go anytime. :)

oh yeah... good to go

Hey guys a little bit of a stupid question as, being the fan of paizo that I am I feel I should know, but have there been other crafting systems released other than the one in the core rule book? You had asked about crafting and I'd be more than willing to use another system then the long drawn out one in the crb if there is one.

Oh and I posted in game play...hope you enjoy.

To be honest my group and I almost always handwave crafting as we feel appropiate. It seemed to us that a fricking year to craft a full plate was too much.

And on't get me started with traps. I once played a paranoid fighter with a love of trapping everything around just in case in 3.5 (almost the same crafting system). Despite a huge modifier to craft(traps) at lvl 8 we looked at the times to just dig a spiked hole... let's just say 2 weeks aren't alright.

We usually houserule make a check for the DC and its DM discretion as to the time it takes.