Dance of Light and Shadow (Group One)

Game Master MorganFreeman

High level variant of the Way of the Wicked Campaign, started by GM Lightbearer.


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I still need more time to finish building Branderscar.

In the meantime, please build an appropriate treasure list for what your character would have been in possession of at the time of their capture and post it in a spoiler either here or in your profile.

62,000 GP, no more than 31,000 spent on a single item.


CN Female dhampir magus 2 [CURRENTLY 1 WIS DAMAGE] | hp 10/15 | AC 14, T 11, FF 13 | Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2 | Necro pool 4/5 | Init +1 | Percep +1

So much gold to spend! Aaaahhh!! LOL.

To be realistic, Ulmah would probably have had some of her gold tied up in animated creatures when she was captured, so I'm going to arbitrarily drop a few thousand on costs associated with them (costs to actually raise them, equip them, etc.)

So I'm going to actually start Ulmah with 58K, just so you're aware. :)

EDIT: Question for you, GM: Do you want me to keep track of specific onyx gems that I will eventually use to raise creatures, or can I simply say "2000 gp worth of onyx gems"?

EDIT AGAIN: Wish list is at the bottom of my profile.


Female Kitsune Sorceress/Mesmerist(10) | 110 / 110 HP (0 Temp) | F-6 R-8 W-20 | Init +7 | Perception +15

Moneyyyyyyyyy


Karactus is kind of an odd case regarding treasure and getting the party together.

Barring GM alteration, Karactus' current story has him trapped inside the mind of someone else. If he is freed, he should manifest with all the gear he had when he was imprisoned. I recognize that this has the potential to seriously change the dynamics of the opening sequence. (one guy having all their gear can make things not a lot of fun for the folks without theirs)

The other potential issue is that Karactus probably won't be imprisoned in the same area as the rest of the party, so I'll be waiting for everyone else to find him before joining the game. A potential way around this would be for Tiadora to release Karactus first and send him to jail-break the rest of the group. This would certainly get the group together the fastest, but might mess with the way the GM wanted the starting sequence to go. I'm totally fine with waiting if the GM wants to handle it that way.


Since we're all supposed to be fairly legendary figures, I'd love to start a "what other people might know about me" dialogue.

My suggestion is to do commonly known information (if there is any) in standard text, and then put more specific text in a spoiler for people with the appropriate background or knowledges.

Something like this-

Karactus has the same kind of notoriety and name recognition in Talengard that Demon Lords do. Most people have heard his name, and know that he wages an ancient war against the followers of Mitra. He is depicted as a savage huntsman in a horned helm who dwells in untamed forests and invades the dreaming mind of the unfaithful.

Anyone with Knowledge History or Religion:

Karactus is very old. He's mentioned in the earliest Mitran holy texts by name as an ancient adversary. He has been defeated many times, but somehow keeps coming back.

He is currently worshiped as a kind of demigod/ancestor spirit by the savage tribes of the north. Orcs, bugbears and hobgoblins in particular pay him homage.

His true nature is disputed by scholars, but most consider him a particularly powerful and malicious fey spirit.


Indeed Karactus is an anomaly, I'd like to discuss your background more and go further into detail with it. I'll send you a PM shortly. I will still need a full equipment list from you, covering what Karactus had during his battle with the Victor, before his mental imprisonment.


Female Kitsune Sorceress/Mesmerist(10) | 110 / 110 HP (0 Temp) | F-6 R-8 W-20 | Init +7 | Perception +15

Nuandis is a slave-lord, found guilty of running the largest slave trade that Talingarde has ever seen.

Anyone with Knowledge Local or anyone from a major city (Matharyn, Ghastenhall, Daveryn):
She's more commonly referred to as "The Belle of Daveryn," or the "Gem of Goldenhall," because of her physical beauty, but her true fame lies in her dominance of the Daveryn economy. She managed an establishment that sold rare magic items to adventurers from all reaches of Talingarde, hosted (or attended) monthly galas that most of the nobility couldn't even find their way into, helped negotiate favorable trade deals with the Yutak, and was praised for her philanthropy.


CN Female dhampir magus 2 [CURRENTLY 1 WIS DAMAGE] | hp 10/15 | AC 14, T 11, FF 13 | Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2 | Necro pool 4/5 | Init +1 | Percep +1

Kn.Local:

Ulmah was a well-known figure in Galt a few years ago, but left there after her lover, a vampire lord, upset her so badly that she used the power given to her by Urgathoa to command him to walk out into the sunlight and destroy himself. His minions revolted against their new leader, and though she may have been able to stop and destroy all of them, she recognized that the leadership of Galt would not look favorably on the tantrum that caused her lover's final death. She fled West with a small gaggle of undead minions, but wished to expand her army. As she was passing through Talingarde, she decided to raid a large graveyard, creating undead from all the corpses in town. Unfortunately, a self-loving Paladin of the detestable goddess Iomedae stopped her plans and threw her into jail.


Half-Fiend Fiendish Vessel 10/Infiltrator 8 | HP 169/200 | AC 28 T 16 FF 23 | F +15 R +7 W +17 | CMB +16 CMD 30 | Init +12 | Perc +26

Sethirom has terrorised many small towns and villages of Talinguarde. His own village he completely destroyed and massacred to fulfill a vile ritual giving him his fiendish powers and binding his imp familiar to him. He would be known by his penchant for preying on the weak and sewing terror.

items!:
+1 guided heavy adamantine spiked shield 7030gp
+1 guided adamantine heavy mace 11012gp
+1 mithral breastplate 5200gp
+2 headband of Wisdom 4000gp
+2 belly of physical might(dex/con) 10000gp
+1 ring of protection 2000gp
+1 amulet of natural armour 2000gp
+1 cloak of resistance 1000gp
Ring of sustenance 2500gp
Jingasa of the fortunate soldier 5000gp
Dusty rose prism ioun stone 5000gp
Western star ioun stone 4000gp
Wand of silent image 750gp
Bag of holding type I 2500gp
61992gp spent


Nuandis and Ulmah, are the things your characters are known for go back further than 70 years from the game's start date?

If it's recent history, I don't want to open those spoilers. If your characters activities go back further than that, I definitely want to read about them.

GM, Equipment list is mostly finished, currently listed under "wishlist." All that's missing is his more mundane equipment.


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Female Kitsune Sorceress/Mesmerist(10) | 110 / 110 HP (0 Temp) | F-6 R-8 W-20 | Init +7 | Perception +15

Nuandis is barely out of her teenage years, is Karactus is 70 years behind on gossip, he'd know nothing of her.


CN Female dhampir magus 2 [CURRENTLY 1 WIS DAMAGE] | hp 10/15 | AC 14, T 11, FF 13 | Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2 | Necro pool 4/5 | Init +1 | Percep +1

Ulmah's history is all within the last 70 years... given that she was only born 25 years ago. :)


All you youngsters. ;)


Female Kitsune Sorceress/Mesmerist(10) | 110 / 110 HP (0 Temp) | F-6 R-8 W-20 | Init +7 | Perception +15

Karactus should enjoy working with a fresh generation as committed to wickedness as he is. It's like finding a teenager who likes Led Zeppelin instead of Taylor Swift, and you know there is still hope for the world.


You kids will have to put up with grandpa not knowing any of the new lingo.


CN Female dhampir magus 2 [CURRENTLY 1 WIS DAMAGE] | hp 10/15 | AC 14, T 11, FF 13 | Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2 | Necro pool 4/5 | Init +1 | Percep +1

Our lingo will be on fleek.

*shudder*


Ladies, if she says that word again, eat her.


Got it.


Active Effects: Shadow Blend

Got it.


Active Effects:

Can we just eat her anyway? On principal?


Male Vampire Dwarf | HP: 170/170, AC 23 T 19 FF 17 | Rage: 24/31 | Ki Pool 7/7 | Grapple CMD: 40
Karactus, the Dream Stalker wrote:

Nuandis and Ulmah, are the things your characters are known for go back further than 70 years from the game's start date?

If it's recent history, I don't want to open those spoilers. If your characters activities go back further than that, I definitely want to read about them.

Bognus's activities have been quiet for about the last twelve years - first as the stay-at-home Champion of his clan for a decade, then as a mindless spawn-servant to the master vampire Vesher Idan and his wife Sofiana for about two years.

Before that, though, he was an adventuring hero for nearly a century. I haven't detailed any of his exploits yet, but a 9th or 10th level gestalt barbarian/monk definitely makes a name for himself. He's wrestled young dragons to the ground, choked the life from would-be dictators, and broken innumerable bandit bones along the way. I can probably work up a draft of a few of his specific adventures, if you like.

Additionally, Bognus has been traveling, pursuing various interests, and telling tales in bars across the world for this entire time - he has a passing interest and some experience in almost every discipline (Breadth of Experience), and his newly-enhanced vampire intellect lets him make better use of all those scraps of knowledge. So, if your characters are renowned at all, chances are good he's heard something of you.

And on that note, it wouldn't be terribly surprising if anyone has heard of him, or even met him at some point in his travels. The Bognus from back then, though, is a very different animal from the Bognus of today. Once, he was a thrill-seeker and do-gooder, but becoming a vampire has stripped him of his ability to feel compassion or empathy, and taken away his adrenaline glands to boot. This means not only does he not care about helping anyone else out anymore, but now he can only feel the same rush he used to in one of two ways (that I know of) - his still-potent battle rage, and devouring the blood of mortals. This combination is not likely to end well, for a lot of people.

Karactus, the Dream Stalker wrote:
All you youngsters. ;)

We'll show these whippersnappers what's what.


Male Vampire Dwarf | HP: 170/170, AC 23 T 19 FF 17 | Rage: 24/31 | Ki Pool 7/7 | Grapple CMD: 40

A few mechanical thoughts for the group, while I work up my item list.

At the moment, I have Bognus down as taking the Beast Totem series of Rage Powers. These are totally viable; he gets Pounce out of the last one, and as a full Barbarian, he hits like a truck with a two-handed axe swing. That said, his main shtick is really grappling, so I'm considering not bothering - I could instead pick up a different Totem and maybe some increased DR (for when the vampiric 10/magic and silver isn't cutting it). Should I do so, I would then probably spend a little less on my axe and pick up some more items to grapple better as well; for instance, I might drop the Furious enchanment on my axe and add it to my Amulet of Mighty Fists instead. There are some dangers to that, though - If I neglect the axe route, I get a bit more vulnerable to things that just will not be grappled (oozes, swarms, etc.). Alternately, I could focus a little less on grappling than I am currently and hit harder. What do you folks think?


Kraken totem and an Anaconda's Coils belt could be a lot of fun, and Body Bludgeon is the awesomest rage power in the game.


My mistake. Kraken is a combat style, not a totem.


Half-Fiend Fiendish Vessel 10/Infiltrator 8 | HP 169/200 | AC 28 T 16 FF 23 | F +15 R +7 W +17 | CMB +16 CMD 30 | Init +12 | Perc +26

Seth's evil streak has only been going for a few years. I'm pretty much thinking the full slide into evil he did when killing his entire village and completing the ancient ritual gave him almost all of his current power. So he is a relatively new villain to Talinguarde and the reason he was caught is because he still hadn't gained proper mastery of his powers and wasn't the smartest in using them.

I actually think he wouldn't know any of you except maybe a story or two of Karactus. He has ZERO trained knowledge skills. It will be fun getting to know other powerful villains that he may decide to learn a few tricks from while perfecting his own power. I think his joy of not being alone in a fight but also having someone to use to aid him fits his inquisitor teamwork feats perfectly.

I'm keen to see how TWFing with mace and shield goes. Can I make my Mace my unholy symbol?


Male Vampire Dwarf | HP: 170/170, AC 23 T 19 FF 17 | Rage: 24/31 | Ki Pool 7/7 | Grapple CMD: 40

Oh, and a question for our new GM. When I was working up this character originally, I was concerned about exploding in the sunlight, and so I asked our original GM about the possibility of acquiring an item with Protective Penumbra in it to some degree or other - specifically, the cloak mentioned in my backstory that caused the vampires to come after us in the first place. As a courtesy to me and the other players around me, he reduced my sunlight weakness to a point where my vampire abilities fall away and I take a penalty to activity (instead of exploding into dust), which makes my life much easier. In the story in my head, I'm assuming this is what happens to vampires spawned by a true master vampire - reduced abilities, at least for a while, but reduced vulnerabilities as well.

Still, even with my weakness greatly reduced, it's still a problem I'd like to try and fix with money. So, is that item a thing I could purchase now? I know personalized items get a bit weird, so here's the breakdown in costs as laid out in the rules.
Protective Penumbra, a 2nd-level spell cast by a 3rd-level wizard, would cost the following for items:
Use-activated = (2 x 3 x 2,000), 12000 gp.
3/day = ((5/3) x 12000), 7200 gp.

If you wanted to rule I could only get one particular version of this item, make such an item cost a little more due to its extreme usefulness for me, or just say I can't have it, all of these options would make sense to me. I just wanted to ask about the possibility.


Male Vampire Dwarf | HP: 170/170, AC 23 T 19 FF 17 | Rage: 24/31 | Ki Pool 7/7 | Grapple CMD: 40
Karactus, the Dream Stalker wrote:
... Body Bludgeon is the awesomest rage power in the game.

I know, right? It's my favorite. It's also...well, kinda lame, mechanically speaking. In order to use it effectively at all, I'd need to get the Titanic enchantment on my bracers of armor, and damn is that expensive. Still, it's on my list due to sheer awesome factor.


Male Vampire Dwarf | HP: 170/170, AC 23 T 19 FF 17 | Rage: 24/31 | Ki Pool 7/7 | Grapple CMD: 40
Sethirom wrote:

I actually think he wouldn't know any of you except maybe a story or two of Karactus. He has ZERO trained knowledge skills. It will be fun getting to know other powerful villains that he may decide to learn a few tricks from while perfecting his own power. I think his joy of not being alone in a fight but also having someone to use to aid him fits his inquisitor teamwork feats perfectly.

I don't know if you actually have any, Seth, but I love the idea of an Inquisitor using the Betrayal teamwork feats (like Wild Flanking) in a Way of the Wicked game. Usually, those feats imply at least some level of cooperation on the part of the person getting betrayed (since they took the feat in the first place), but it's so much cooler if you don't bother asking for permission. It had never occurred to me that Inquisitors could do this until now, and it is awesome.

On a related note, if you did get Wild Flanking, you could do it at Bognus all day long and he wouldn't really care - his DR is high enough the damage wouldn't do squat to him.


Half-Fiend Fiendish Vessel 10/Infiltrator 8 | HP 169/200 | AC 28 T 16 FF 23 | F +15 R +7 W +17 | CMB +16 CMD 30 | Init +12 | Perc +26

Awesome. Betrayal feats is something i was definitely considering using, with care so as not to piss people off too much. Though i think it would be perfect if someone does a bunch of summoning to use them on them.


Half-Fiend Fiendish Vessel 10/Infiltrator 8 | HP 169/200 | AC 28 T 16 FF 23 | F +15 R +7 W +17 | CMB +16 CMD 30 | Init +12 | Perc +26

Using ally shield on summoned minions or other ally minions will also be hilarious.


Body Bludgeon just got me thinking. What if a willing target allowed themselves to be used as an improvised weapon? A pin check as part of a grapple wouldn't be required. I posit we would still use the 'Body Bludgeon' rules as an example to state that the willing subject would still take the same damage from the swing. And by willing subject, I mean a Witch with the Retribution hex on the target 'he' is being swung at. Shenanigans, I say!

Bognus, I had assumed lightbearer had worked out a watered down version of the vampire for you to use? Was anything removed from the traditional vampire template? Part of the issue we have here is that starting in Branderscar = No possessions. Some of them may have made it to storage within the prison, but it's unlikely they'd want to keep something there that would help facilitate your escape were you to acquire it. I will still consider the item, but before we proceed, I'd like to approach it in terms of give and take. Lose something for your template, gain the ability to not have sunlight ruin your life. I promise not to make you sparkle.

Sethirom, I haven't looked too much into Betrayal feats, but I think they still require both parties to have the feat.


Female Kitsune Sorceress/Mesmerist(10) | 110 / 110 HP (0 Temp) | F-6 R-8 W-20 | Init +7 | Perception +15

Mechanically, Nuandis is a control caster focused on throwing out will saves that could make even minor deities cry. Expect all the great perks that come with mesmerist tricks. I've got a few feats floating too, in case anyone is interested, but don't ever expect me to get in melee :)


CN Female dhampir magus 2 [CURRENTLY 1 WIS DAMAGE] | hp 10/15 | AC 14, T 11, FF 13 | Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2 | Necro pool 4/5 | Init +1 | Percep +1

I'd be happy to create Body Bludgeon-fodder undead for someone if they wanted to go that route. They can be willing if I want them to be. :)


Male Vampire Dwarf | HP: 170/170, AC 23 T 19 FF 17 | Rage: 24/31 | Ki Pool 7/7 | Grapple CMD: 40
MorganFreeman wrote:
Bognus, I had assumed lightbearer had worked out a watered down version of the vampire for you to use? Was anything removed from the traditional vampire template? Part of the issue we have here is that starting in Branderscar = No possessions. Some of them may have made it to storage within the prison, but it's unlikely they'd want to keep something there that would help facilitate your escape were you to acquire it. I will still consider the item, but before we proceed, I'd like to approach it in terms of give and take. Lose something for your template, gain the ability to not have sunlight ruin your life. I promise not to make you sparkle.

Oh, I lost a bunch from the original template. To quote the original DM:

"Vampire template changes: First, you lose dominate and energy drain. Your AC bonus is reduced to +2 and your ability score bonuses are cut in half. You are not harmed by sunlight by you can't you any of your vampiric powers within it and take a -1 to all rolls while exposed to it."

So, there's no real problem with all our possessions being taken at first - it's not like I'll blow up, I'll just have less special abilities if we end up in literal sunlight. Heck, our wardens probably have a sunlight generator or something rigged up wherever Bognus is imprisoned - otherwise he's likely to turn into a bat and scarper.

And as for the Betrayal feat bit for Seth - Betrayal feats totally do require both parties *normally*, but Inquisitors cheat. They get to treat all allies as if they had the teamwork feats they have, and since Betrayal feats are a subset of teamwork feats...


Male Vampire Dwarf | HP: 170/170, AC 23 T 19 FF 17 | Rage: 24/31 | Ki Pool 7/7 | Grapple CMD: 40
Ulmah Corpsil wrote:
I'd be happy to create Body Bludgeon-fodder undead for someone if they wanted to go that route. They can be willing if I want them to be. :)

Hah! Hilarious. Unnecessary (most of the charm in Body Bludgeon is in doing damage to both your target and your unwilling weapon), but hilarious nonetheless. Such fodder will totally come in handy for Seth if he does start taking Betrayal feats, though.


Half-Fiend Fiendish Vessel 10/Infiltrator 8 | HP 169/200 | AC 28 T 16 FF 23 | F +15 R +7 W +17 | CMB +16 CMD 30 | Init +12 | Perc +26

Yea the thing about Solo Tactics is i treat people as having the feat already. It doesn't work for some things like say amplified rage where the target still needs to be raging but they don't have a rage ability. But for feats such as wild flanking where the conditions are only flanking with an ally, i can definitely use them. Ally shield also just requires them to be next to me. Ally shield and Wild Flanking are the two i would get.


Completely forgot about the inquis. Clever.

Everything is coming along, hopefully I will have the first post up this weekend. I've already finished the new map for Branderscar, and I'm wrapping up populating it. Lightbearer set the bar quite high with the first prison guard. More than likely what I will do to alleviate some of the "Oh, all this guys items are good-aligned" cheese, is give most of the NPCs automatic bonus progression.

If everyone has completed their list of equipment prior to capture, please review the list and put an asterisk beside their most prized possessions.


I'm still not entirely sure how my character's gear is going to work beyond the shadow-lash thing.

Any suggestions, GM? Should I just make a list of things I'd like to scavenge whenever I wake up?


Excellent idea.


Half-Fiend Fiendish Vessel 10/Infiltrator 8 | HP 169/200 | AC 28 T 16 FF 23 | F +15 R +7 W +17 | CMB +16 CMD 30 | Init +12 | Perc +26

Ok I have put asterisks besides my heavy mace, shield and armour being the prized possessions.


Karactus' Wishlist:

Belt of Giant Strength +4
Headband of Charisma +2
Amulet of Natural Armor +2
Ring of Protection +2

That's about it really. Karactus is pretty self sufficient.


Male Vampire Dwarf | HP: 170/170, AC 23 T 19 FF 17 | Rage: 24/31 | Ki Pool 7/7 | Grapple CMD: 40

Hokay, I've still got a little massaging to do with my last bits - did you want a full rundown of everything mundane we might also have had, or would "1000 gp of adventuring gear" suffice?

That said, everything else is more or less in place - Bognus's axe and his Anaconada's Coils belt are definitely his prize possessions at the moment.


Great, now the fangdwarf is massaging his bits...


CN Female dhampir magus 2 [CURRENTLY 1 WIS DAMAGE] | hp 10/15 | AC 14, T 11, FF 13 | Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2 | Necro pool 4/5 | Init +1 | Percep +1

Ulmah will not likely be massaging anyone's bits, so he'll have to handle that all on his own. Though he IS undead... hmm. What's our stance on PvP? If Ulmah was to decide that Bognus needs to do what she says for a bit and command him, how would we be handling that?


In game- totally within the rules.

Out of game- bad form unless the player agrees on it ahead of time.


CN Female dhampir magus 2 [CURRENTLY 1 WIS DAMAGE] | hp 10/15 | AC 14, T 11, FF 13 | Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2 | Necro pool 4/5 | Init +1 | Percep +1

Oh I totally agree, I was asking both the GM and Bognus what THEY think in this specific, evil-aligned game. :)


Quote:
...or would "1000 gp of adventuring gear" suffice?

I wouldn't worry too much about mundane gear, that is what you are least likely to reclaim within the prison.

Quote:
What's our stance on PvP?

I'm unsure how familiar you are with this particular AP, but part of it involves signing an infernal contract fairly early in the game that binds you in loyalty to the party. This will alleviate a great deal of inter-party conflict that may occur. Until then, it might not be in Bognus's best interest to piss of Ulmah, or for any of you to agitate Nuandis for that matter (unless you have a ring of delayed doom!). Karactus is also correct, in general it is in bad form, but I will allow it. My best advice is, if you plan on doing something of that nature, contact the player and discuss it with them first privately. (Y'know...just repeating Karactus).

Happy Easter everyone.


Female Kitsune Sorceress/Mesmerist(10) | 110 / 110 HP (0 Temp) | F-6 R-8 W-20 | Init +7 | Perception +15

Huh? What'd I do?

Happy Easter as well. I had a death in the family today, so I won't be around a whole lot until next Sundays. Doomed Hero's idea of him starting alone is sounding ever better to me.


CN Female dhampir magus 2 [CURRENTLY 1 WIS DAMAGE] | hp 10/15 | AC 14, T 11, FF 13 | Fort +4, Ref +1, Will +2 | Necro pool 4/5 | Init +1 | Percep +1
Nuandis Nevralis wrote:
Huh? What'd I do?

I think the GM was just referring to you being a high-level Mesmerist, meaning you can make any of us do pretty much whatever you want. :)


Female Kitsune Sorceress/Mesmerist(10) | 110 / 110 HP (0 Temp) | F-6 R-8 W-20 | Init +7 | Perception +15
Ulmah Corpsil wrote:
Nuandis Nevralis wrote:
Huh? What'd I do?
I think the GM was just referring to you being a high-level Mesmerist, meaning you can make any of us do pretty much whatever you want. :)

Crap, there goes my ability to act innocent.

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