GM AbyssDancer's 'Ire of the Storm'

Game Master AbyssDancer

Congrats Iradyiel on hitting post #900 - nearly there for the big 1000 !

I wasn't aware that Vedic played Yu-Gi-Oh...

I think that might be the shortest combat I've ever been a part of.

…bends and roughly cuts the branded flesh free before stuffing it in a pouch.

Pious just got weirder…

/bows

I aim to please. Gotta have reference haven't we, now we can compare when we find another symbol!

I do have an ogres head rotting in a bucket when we get back to Pridon...

Standing at the edge of the bridge, Iradyiel points to the trap he sees. "It's a Trap."

...but at least this trap does not feature a DC100 save vs the dark side or death by Death Star.

I would suggest that we just send Francis across, but I suspect everyone would be way sadder if he died/got hurt than if Chest Thumper did.

I mean, not to play favorites or anything, but also Francis has been Most Valuable Party Member since day 1. Too bad we don't have any summon spells or anything... I just have a lot of paranoia about the trap triggering some kind of explosion on the bridge. I think I've just seen too many fantasy movies where the bridge breaks...

Oh! I can sacrifice a spell slot to cast Summon Nature's Ally 1.

I guess if nothing else works, I'll send a pony across the bridge (poor pony.)

I'm used to be in a game where the summoning rules have been tweaked so when you summon a particular creature it's the same creature every time. Summoned creatures remember what happened last time. It was an interesting bit of world-building that allowed summoners to develop a report with the things they summon.

Mostly summoned creatures didn't care that they get used as disposable soldiers since they are compelled by the summoning and know they can't really die. Some of them think it's fun.

There was this one poor Lemure we used as trap fodder for like 9 levels. It became an ongoing joke. We called him Trap-Bait. That little demon hated us. Eventually it even became a plot point. These demon-cult assassins started showing up and trying to kill us, we tracked them up their hierarchy, found the name of the demon they served, called it up, managed to force the reason it was trying to kill us out of it.

"Wait... Trap-Bait put a hit out on us?"

"...I'm not even mad. We deserve that."

"I feel like we should do something nice for him."

Fast-forward, we buy a whole bunch of soul gems that used to be demons, throw Trap-bait a surprise party and apologize. He eats the gems and "levels up" into an Imp.

He ended up taking class levels in Rogue. The GM let us use higher level summon monster spells to keep summoning him.

That's awesome! I've seen rules for summoning the same creatures before. I think back when Paizo was running Dragon magazine. I always liked the idea but never plated a summoning character before.

Wild empathy and Diplomacy

Hey CT: my understanding of wild empathy is that even with a better roll (16 would be a fail even under different conditions) you’re not going to get any return from your efforts at all quickly. RAW=’To use wild empathy, the druid and the animal must be able to study each other... Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1 minute but...’ Not only are you not facing each other (the saurus is focusing on the lizardfolk) but the duration of 1 minute means 10 rounds under normal conditions, and this beast is maddened with pain.

Similarly, Aza, I interpreted your diplomacy roll as a 'make request' ie stop fighting, with a duration of 1 round or more. If you intended to change attitude, this would have taken 1 minute minimum as well.

Can either of you use any variant of Channel Energy? Authoritative Vestments would let you make Diplomacy checks as a swift action.

Not that it helps us right now.

Yup, that's my understanding of the rule, too. For some reason, I thought the lizardfolk was knocked out and I had time to influence the dino...I also suspected that roll wasn't good enough.

Quick note! I just noticed you're rolling Aza with a +4 for init, which doesn't reflect her taking improved initiative this level! She should be getting +8 to it.

Quick note! I just noticed you're rolling Aza with a +4 for init, which doesn't reflect her taking improved initiative this level! She should be getting +8 to it.

Good spot - now corrected.

Might be an idea for you all to check the blocks in the campaign tab to make sure I have the right init and perception stats for your characters.

Vedic - unfortunately tanglefoot bags don't work on targets of size 'huge' or larger...

CT - please can you unpack for me Francis' AC, with and without the magic boost? Thanks.

Crud. Well, I guess I know that now.

CT - please can you unpack for me Francis' AC, with and without the magic boost? Thanks.

Yup. Sorry, forgot to do it and it looks like I had it miscalculated, anyway. I think I added the bonus for improved natural armor when I was taking that feat then forgot to remove it...or maybe I changed it the last time I cast Barkskin and forgot to change it back...I'll update the profile tomorrow -

Francis AC (Unmodified)20 (+4Dex, +1 natural, +5 armor (+1 Magical Chain Shirt.))

Francis AC (Barkskin)22 (+4Dex, +3 natural, +5 armor (+1 Magical Chain Shirt.))

Good work guys. Take a look at the Ankylosaurus stat block - that's what you were fighting, only with the sickened condition plus reduced health (60 HP) due to the brainworms. It dished out over 100 HP damage in total.

Reach, scent, an early hit on Vedic: that could have gone badly for you. It's first hit on Achahut would have taken down anyone bar Iradyiel, and killed three of you outright.

Mental note: have more huge dinosaurs in my games...

Sorry guys - real life intervening. Will post tomorrow am UK time.

In other news, I'll be operating on US time for a week from Sunday, in Birmingham AL. My work takes me to all the most glamorous places...

At least it'll be warm. I think it snowed this week up North.

Sorry guys - I tried to post yesterday but it's not here - I'll repost now.

Sorry about the delay, I worked late today and haven't slept, I will post in the morning.

Well guys - whilst you are not at the Sky Temple yet, you can at least nearly see the end of this open-sandbox jungle trek. I find the pacing of this wilderness exploration a little tricky, especially in this PBP format. I hope it has not gone too slow for you. I suspect that from here events will start to accelerate, wherever you head next...

AS an aside, have any of you guys been following the Glass Cannon pathfinder podcast ? I was recommended it, and have found myself hooked. They've been playing through Paizo's Giantslayer once a week for the last two years (they're on episode 140+ right now). I couldn't recommend it enough.

(just checked my link and the website's temporarily down as I write this, but don't let that put you off)

I'm always looking for new podcasts to make the work day go faster.

And if anyone has any interest in history or Texas, I write scripts for Come and Take It!

http://brainstaple.com/comeandtakeit

Also, how was your visit to the States? Or Colonies as you guys call them?

And before I go crazy in what is Druid Gear Heaven, let me ask some questions.

Is it following the rules from Ultimate Combat, meaning only light and one handed weapons or could I make a Greataxe?

Technically the rules say Druids can only use wooden shields. Could Chest Thumper use a bone one?

Anyone else looking for new gear? I assume Iradyiel will stick with his father's weapon but would he want an ankylosaur breastplate? Can Aza wear armor?

I'm good on gear. While you're crafting new armor I'll be cooking.

@ Chest Thumper, at one bone weapon and one armor it sounds like you should build yourself some gear. Iradyiel can use regular stuff. I think a greataxe with a head/blade made out of dinosaur bones would be a cool weapon for you. Or, how about a Falchion made from a jawbone?

Are we going to the tower, temple or town?

Also, how was your visit to the States? Or Colonies as you guys call them?

My visit was productive, tiring and full of deep fried food, thanks for asking. I needed a booster-injection of green vegetables when I got back, just to recover.

Are we going to the tower, temple or town?

You don't yet know the exact route to the temple, only its general whereabouts. The tower is where you will learn the paths to take to the temple.

...accompany us to where? To the ruins to interpret the map or to 'Pridon's Hearth.'?

Achahut will accompany you to the ruins if you are happy for her to do so, and with a little coaxing, she might welcome the opportunity (under your protection) to sate her curiosity and see Pridon.

Is it following the rules from Ultimate Combat, meaning only light and one handed weapons or could I make a Greataxe?

As per Ultimate Combat, please.

Technically the rules say Druids can only use wooden shields. Could Chest Thumper use a bone one?

Yeah, I'll allow that.

Finally, and sorry to take us off-track, but I noticed what I hope was a typo in Iradyiel's last post:

Iradyiel Madras wrote:

Chest Humper

Ewww. Is a 'chest humper' something from the Aliens films, like a 'chest-burster' but much much worse?

LOL, Opps,

*looks around sheepishly*

Why yes, yes it is....

That's what I get for working to much, sleeping to long and trying to post too fast...

Hey, you can get green vegetables in the south! Fried okra... Fried green tomatoes...

I have had meals made by my grandmother that were literally all cooked in skillets. Fried pork chops. Fried okra. Home fries and skillet cornbread.

There is a history of heart disease in my family.

And I know what I'm going to dig out of the tar pits. Chest Thumper is going to change loadouts.

I will forego commenting on "Chest Humping" as this is a family show...

Aza can wear armor but doesn't out of wizard solidarity :P Plus her wind armor keeps pace pretty well with some enchanted light armor, since I don't want her to lose move speed.

However, if at some point Aza decides to take a little dabble into necromancy, a bone quarterstaff wouldn't be unthematic... The -2 on damage rolls hurts, though. Just kidding, Aza is definitely not a necromancer.

I hope you enjoyed that fried food here, we are certainly the best at it... although there's much less of it up here in the Pacific Northwest.

I've heard of Glass Cannon, but haven't made the decision to dive in... I'm just on the border of having too many podcasts at the moment, since I usually only listen to them on my walk to and from work. I will toss out a recommendation for the Film Reroll, though, if people haven't heard of that podcast, which is basically "Let's convert movies into RPGs and see what antics we can get into!" It's a bit irregular, but the episodic nature of it makes it really easy to just pick a fun movie and jump in! Their Home Alone episode was inspired.

I've heard of Glass Cannon, but haven't made the decision to dive in... I'm just on the border of having too many podcasts at the moment, since I usually only listen to them on my walk to and from work. I will toss out a recommendation for the Film Reroll, though, if people haven't heard of that podcast, which is basically "Let's convert movies into RPGs and see what antics we can get into!" It's a bit irregular, but the episodic nature of it makes it really easy to just pick a fun movie and jump in! Their Home Alone episode was inspired.

I just listened to the first episode of the Glass Cannon and got a strange look from my work neighbor because I laughed convulsively for several minutes straight. Excellent recommendation.

If you're looking for Movies Converted to RPGs, have you seen Darths&Droids?

It's a webcomic whose premise is that Star Wars only exists as a homebrew Sci-Fi RPG. They've been going movie by movie starting with the prequels and they're all the way up to Rogue 1 (having done the originals before Rogue 1 came out.)

I don't want to take post 1000 to day "Yes, what the GM said." But yes, what the GM said!

Go for it Vedic! Make 1000 a good one.

Post 1000, about 11 months from when we started! This might be turning into the longest-running game I've been a player in... At least in the past 6 years or so.

Are we counting meatspace?

I ran a 3.5 campaign that went 8 years once.

Counting meatspace, I've definitely run longer games, but I'm a forever GM so being a player long enough to get past level 2 is pretty rare for me.

I tend to run campaigns pretty quickly, but my longest one is still on-going (Strange Aeons, we're right around 1.5 years and are just at the end of the 3rd book).

Oh...yeah...same here. I've been in more campaigns as a player that never got over level 5 than I can count.

damn, yesterday's post is yet another I lost to hitting preview, then assuming I pressed save and exiting the screen...

What I wanted to say yesterday was CONGRATULATIONS everyone in getting to 1000 posts ! Although actually we are way ahead of that really, since we started with that unusual format way back on the Kaava Cutter.

Thank you so much for the time and dedication you all have put into weaving this shared story. We've enjoyed surprising twists, intriguing characters, and dramatic moments, and its all down to the work we put in together.

Thank you also for tolerating my amateur prose style, my desperate attempts to kill you all, the unending 'difficult terrain', strong winds, tar pits and tree roots I use to make you fall over, and of course the thousand variations of 'its raining' and 'there's a storm coming'.

Who can forget:

Pious' typical tact, as demonstrated by an intentional natural 1 on a diplomacy check at Jheri's plantation
Aza's unceasing courtesy, and terrible lack of confidence in her own growing abilities and potency;
CT's naming of the party, and Francis' fuzzy fur by the fire;
Iradyiel's urge follow his parents by founding a Pathfinder lodge in Pridon;
Vedic purging himself of leaches with two vials of alchemist's fire!

and of course:

The explosive defeat of Rezsavass at the Pridon waterfront!

Let's also spare a thought for Jit, Jamba, and Nadia who have fallen by the wayside during this journey. I'll never forget Jit's drunken boasting of the Papaya Knights' heroics in the Stone Hall in the midst of the Pridon hurricane!

What are your favourite moments / characters so far? Are we hitting the right mix of RP vs combat? Do you want more ankylosauruses? leaches? grey oozes? a grey oozing ankylo-leach?

Here's to many more exciting moments yet to come, as the Papaya Knights make their way towards a dramatic showdown at the Sky Temple !

AD

Thanks everyone who has stuck around for sticking around. We've had a rotating cast of characters but I think the ones who have been together from the beginning make a great core group and I wouldn't trade any of the folks who have come and gone. I'm still half hoping that Jit and Jamba will show up at some point to finish off the quest with us. Each character is distinct and interesting without being overwhelming, and I enjoy everyone's writing style.

And I have to say, Vedic is a welcome addition. With his methodical, logical style he's a sharp contrast to all the other characters who generally go with their guts.

I'm going to go back to the beginning for my favorite moment. I think when we stormed the fort and almost got massacred by a single Grippli and realized we had NO RANGED attackers is going to stick out for me.

And, of course the whole time when the hurricane was over the town was compelling to me since it was occurring when there was an actual hurricane here in Texas.

I think we've got a good mix of RP and combat and I appreciate everyone tossing a little of the former into the latter. It's always more entertaining to have some description and motivation in those posts instead of the "I swing my sword at him [dice=..." that happens sometimes in other games.

Thanks everyone for all the great posts and what has been and I expect will be a great ride.

CT & F

Thanks to all for continuing to play! This group has been super exciting, the characters are fun, and the situations tense and memorable.

I especially want to say I am super happy with the length of posts. Sometimes we post shorter ones, of course (and that's definitely a necessary option), but I feel like everyone gives their posts and characters space to breathe - like CT said, it's not just "I hit it with my sword" or "we go here", the party just feels so textured. It's great.

On a bit of a personal note, I also have to say that I've never played a character like Aza before - usually I play pretty chaotic neutral fare, and pure good characters (even paladins) are difficult for me - but since coming down from a few issues in my own life and working on more personal reflection to become a better person, Aza has been a great outlet to move forward and visualize some of those changes I want to make. And also she can breathe lightning, which is pretty cool, too.

I may have to go with Pious's voluntary natural 1 on diplomacy, it made me burst into laughter when I saw it. That and the entirety of the hurricane encounter was certainly one of the most dramaticool game events I've been a part of.

It's been a blast, and I can't wait to see what happens next!

AB

Pious hit a nerve with Vedic just then. Two of them, really.

Please note that the anger is entirely in character. As a player I'm not mad and I think Pious is fun.

These guys are about to get dunked on.

I'm guessing that these are followers of Norgorber, given the verbal slip up and their dark guise. They don't seem like followers of Desna either.

Is this something that Pious would know/can make a roll to know/notice GM? Given his religious bent?

Edit: Aroden and Norgorber had beef so Pious would have read of him.

Yeah, that'd be my meta guess, but I don't think Aza's heard of Norgorber. Still, kind of crappy followers with that slip-up, part of me feels like they deserve to be caught :P

Hey Folks. I'm headed out of town on a gaming retreat tomorrow. I should have internet access but I'll be accessing it from my phone (and I'll be busy with about 15 hours of gaming per day) so my posting may be slow and brief.

Feel free to bot/skip me, if needed.

Hey Folks. I'm headed out of town on a gaming retreat tomorrow. I should have internet access but I'll be accessing it from my phone (and I'll be busy with about 15 hours of gaming per day) so my posting may be slow and brief. Feel free to bot/skip me, if needed.

Thanks for letting us know. 15 hours of gaming per day? I'm envious.

Everyone else: now's our chance to kill CT and Francis...

I'm guessing that these are followers of Norgorber, given the verbal slip up and their dark guise. They don't seem like followers of Desna either. Is this something that Pious would know/can make a roll to know/notice GM? Given his religious bent?

Sorry for missing your question.

I am playing that Norgorber is well known as a god of thieves (less so as his other aspects) and that his name might well be used as an oath by certain folk, rather as would Desna by a traveler or Pharasma by a mourner.

I included this as indicative of an accidental verbal slip by Rogar. I think Pious can safely assume a) Rogar's the sort of person who is aligned with / inclined towards a God of Thieves, and b) he's not the sharpest knife in the gang for letting this out. The fact that he didn't radiate an aura when Pious used 'detect evil' says something about his level and class.