So... there is a ritual that Dervak would really like to have successfully cast on him.
It's got a high Heal DC; Mara would be best at that.
It's got a high Planes DC; Theophilus would be best at that.
It might be a few levels until we have a good enough chance to risk it. There are various spells, items, and feats that can help further. The basic casting-stat booster items would work. Heroism at CL6 or higher would work (Mara gets that spell at 6th).
I would request that Mara and Theophilus look towards getting those skills high enough to someday help Dervak.
At level 6, they might have 6 ranks +3 class skill +5 stat (with a stat-boosting item) = +14. Not great vs DC 28. But then they would have +2 from caster level, +1 to +3 from secondary 'casters' (PCs and NPCs), +2 from Heroism, that's +19 to +21. Maybe there's a Ley Line around? Tears to Wine can give a +2 to the check.
I would like to get it done sooner rather than later, but I don't want to fail. Probably should be patient.
It's also possible this is not the only occult ritual we will encounter in this AP.
OK, in that case Mara will put 3 ranks into Heal instead of Knowledge Planes. She has her own reasons to want to be able to cast that ritual.
Edit: There's also Healer's Gloves (+5 competence bonus to heal checks), although I don't know if they would help with a ritual or not.
Took Bewildered as my Debilitating Injury to make things a bit easier to hit when I can get in some sneak attack damage. Also grabbed Quick Disable as my Rogue Talent.
Amusing side thought: Ellery won't recharge the shirt, not only because he has no idea what the command word is but that whole speaking the word. Unless of the wearer doesn't need to be the one speaking the command word.
I'll get an in-character post on this, but Dervak is going to wonder what's wrong with Ellery, and who mutilated him so horribly, and how he can be healed.
I don't want you to feel slighted as a player if your concept of the character is partly "guy with his lips stitched shut" and that's what he should always be - but in-character, if Ellery doesn't want to be healed, Dervak is going to have a lot of questions about why that is. If he is looking for a cure to his condition, Dervak will be more than glad to help him.
I had three days off and go to back to work today to see I am way behind here...lol.
I will catch up tonight.
I don't mind, I know exactly why his mouth is sewn shut. And it has nothing to do with the demon that lives in his mouth....which is a joke....or is it...dun dun duh
Theo should take Zandalus' summoning book (chaotic book of extended summoning). The only way Mara can get summon monster spells is by using the half-orc favored class bonus to get spells from the cleric list (one level below her highest spell level). The shaman list doesn't have those spells.
Edit: Does Theo want the wand of command? If not, Mara would just want to sell it. She has action economy issues with wands, and the DC is low for that wand.
I have a question about the Extra Hex feat, which I was planning on taking next level.
Benefit: You gain one additional hex. You must meet the prerequisites for this hex. If you are a shaman, it must be a hex granted by your spirit rather than one from a wandering spirit.RAW, this would seem to suggest that you can only use the feat to gain spirit hexes, and not general shaman hexes. I was planning on using it to gain the Chant hex next lvl (for extending my Fortune Hex).
DM_Delmoth, what is your interpretation?
RAW, you can only choose from the list of hexes your spirit provides. I think RAW is wrong in this case so go ahead and take chant with that extra hex.
OK, sounds good. That will be my 5th level feat.
DC wands are terrible; agreed, sell it.
I will level up tomorrow after work.
Apparently I took 2 ranks in linguistics, but never picked languages for them. I’m going to take sign language as one, but I’m going to play it like I’m gradually learning it.
Are people okay with me taking the bracers?
Apparently I took 2 ranks in linguistics, but never picked languages for them. I’m going to take sign language as one, but I’m going to play it like I’m gradually learning it.
Are people okay with me taking the bracers?
You do you.
I think everyone wants you to have the bracers. Everyone else gets an armor bonus from somewhere else so they're not terribly useful to them.
Did some moving around of the stuff on the treasure sheet, generally along the lines I'm seeing. Mara now has the cloak of resistance +1. Ellery has gained a potion of invisibility and the amulet of natural armor +1, Dervak already has one. Ellery is also taking the masterwork thieves tools that's on the party sheet. Theo now has the Book of Extended summoning, chaotic and the scroll of fox's cunning. Rowan now has the bracers of armor +2 and he's getting the alchemist's kindness and the extra soothe syrup because he'll need them more than anyone. Mara's taking the healer's kit since she has the best heal skill. There were enough antitoxins for everyone to have one so you all got one.
Things that should still be assigned to characters but aren't:
Potions of cure light wounds x2
Potion of cure moderate wounds
Oil of magic weapon (maybe this is a sell item)
Ring of protection +1
Light mace +1
Silversheen x2
Alchemists fire x4 (probably everyone but Theo should have 1)
Talisman of Warrior's courage should go to someone with a low will save
Talisman of Beneficial winds should go to someone with a low ref save
Mara will take:
1 x potion of CLW
Light Mace +1 - The fact that it can be wielded one-handed means that she doesn't have to drop her wand when she wants to attack in melee. Still, it's not THAT much better than her greataxe, so someone else could have it if they wanted.
1 x alchemist's fire
I already have 1 cure light, so we should spread those out to other party members.
I would take a potion of Silversheen and alchemists Fire.
The ring of protection should go to Dervak, if he can benefit from it, otherwise Ellery.
The Mace is good for Mara, and would simplify combat a bit.
Someone else should take the talismans, since my lowest save is +7. However, if no one else can wear them (are they necklaces?), I would take one.
Talisman of Warrior's courage should go to someone with a low will save
I suggest Ellery.
Talisman of Beneficial winds should go to someone with a low ref save
Dervak has the lowest Reflex, but does it conflict with his amulet?
FWIW, Mara will often be able to give out Barkskin spells, but not always.
Yep neck slot. Probably more important to have AC than the one use items occupying that. These probably are vendor trash then.
Dervak is happy with his natural armor amulet for now. (Though if we happen to find a way to get a Swarmbane Clasp, that could be an even better neck slot item.)
As to the Tatterman's Ring of Protection, is it cursed like the war razor is? Dervak might be a little leery about taking it, but then again it is a trophy from a memorable moment in his life.
The Talisman of Warrior's Courage could potentially be brought out for a major fight, when the wearer would be buffed with Barkskin.
Mara and Theo are also not likely to have a amulet of natural armor for a while.
The Talisman of Beneficial Winds was listed as Greater, so that one is once/day.
Mind you, cash is always good for buying other equipment, so I'm good either way.
If its cursed it hasn't been detected as such.
Theo is not item dependent, so he is fine with the current spread.
The Summoning thingy feels interestly appealing....lol.
With the Amulet of Natural Armor, the talisman would conflict with that as well, I assume it stacks with the amulet. Ellery would have little issue taking the ring however. He will also grab one of the potions of clw and alchemist fire.
Added points of interest to the map of Thrushmoor. It's just a duplicate of what is in the player's guide.
4th level!
Fortune Hex and Con 14!
Burning question, are you resting at the asylum? Or waiting to get a room at Thrushmoor. Winter has a lot she can be doing at the asylum so she can justify staying for another day and it will take some time to move all the patients across the Danver river.
Mara would want to help Winter get the patients safely to Thrushmoor.
Theo is willing to stay and help.
Dervak will stay for now and is okay resting here tonight. He's willing to be the last one out, so that no stragglers are killed by ghouls that we missed.
No qualms about staying from me, and not just because that means I have protection from two half-orcs and a mad hatter!
A very minor point, but we might as well sell the scroll of sanctuary. I really can't think of a situation where I would want to use it — the spell only lasts one round!
Dervak is clearly miserable. He is a bit lazy about any physical labor requested of him, but is quiet and sits still for Mara's examination.
"I don't know how you came to get the Bette Davis knees, but worst of all young man, you've got Industrial Disease!"
-Dire Straits, Industrial Disease.
I was one level away from being immune!
Immune to leveling? That sounds bad! :D
Also that is probably why Delmoth worked his magic to make you sick while he could.
Traveling today i had hoped to post this morning but events conspired against me. Itll be a few more hours yet before i am able to post
Thrushmoors base value is 2,000 and its purchase limit is 10,000. With your current reputation you buy and sell things with a 10% penalty
Wees hates da bagginses!
We should consider buying a wand of CLW, either partially of fully charged.
That's a good idea. Although if Dervak get a breastplate, his AC will be up to 18 (22 when he casts Shield); he'll still get hit, but hopefully much less often than he did in the first few levels.
Agreed on both points.
After we secure lodging, Mara will try to find a partially charged wand of CLW. She's looking to trade in the wand of Command and the scroll of sanctuary. How much else we would have to sell would depend on how many charges are on the wand of CLW.
After that, depending on the cash situation, she may buy a light crossbow.
Shes going to wait until after our boat excursion to upgrade her armor.
So I have everything straight.
Mara: Selling Wand of Command and Scroll of Sanctuary gain 238gp, buy Wand of CLW (50 charges) 825gp (-587)
Theo: Buying gaudy suit (courtier’s outfit with Jewelry 88gp), Pearl of Power (1100gp), (-1188)
Dervak: Selling War Razor +1 (thanks for giving me ideas) for 924gp, pearls 60gp, buying MW Breastplate, 385gp (+599)
640+599-587-1188=-536
Party would have to come up with 536 more gold to go through with this as stated. Which is within the realm of possibility.
I presume that it may prove difficult to get a reasonable amount for Zandalus' drawings, or the various books, in Thrushmoor. Ditto for the Argus Eye.
There's the Candle of Spirit Protection and the Incense of Open Thoughts, although I'm worried they might be needed at some point (they could also just be something that the writer thought would be cool to throw in).
I suppose we could put off the wand of CLW for now.
Hold the Pearl and definitely get the Wand...lol.
I updated the treasure sheet, minus the pearl of power you're at net positive 69 gold which is also on the sheet.
Either Mara or Theo could use the wand. Any preference, Theo? It doesn't matter to me which one of us carries it.
With your Heavens Leap Hex, you can place as needed, so me.
@Theo: Sounds good, you take the wand.
@All: I think we want to be on our best behavior in Thrushmoor. I'd rather not get into fights if we can help it.
Oh, Dervak has no intention of starting a fight or letting anybody else do so. He just thinks Theophilus's unique way of seeing the world might resonate more with this individual than Mara's politeness.
Ellery has no like or trust for any of the people of Thrushmoor. If you don't want him to stab Mr. Doom, you may want to say something to him. I think he has been pretty clear about his intentions thus far...
I don't want to resolve things like that in-character, because that leads to PvP, IMHO.
The townsfolk already don't trust us, and think we're bad people. If we attack them, that could end the campaign. Let's not go there.