GM Arkwright's Curse of the Trimmed Sky

Game Master Arkwright

A last night of rest before the rising mountain road, the sign of the Red Gear offers a few tables for the bigger folks amid its archipelgo of gnomish-sized tables and clientele. The wine burns hot, the music is cool and satisfying as it wafts through the tavern air. Four friends toast.

Great to have everyone here. Get ready to play, do me a favour and stick your HP and init and saves in your alias, and sort out any final backstory issues.

Two problems we should deal with when we start play. Firstly, need a quick line about the party, and how you've all worked together in the past. Secondly- a key weakness of this module is that the aim is for you to decode a Manual of Physical Perfection +2, an item which can only benefit a single person, thus being a lightning rod for backstabbing and sneakiness. Do we want to leave it as is, or set up something before time where you agree to sell it and split the profits or mutually agree to give it to someone else? Note that I am willing to invent plot reasons for why it should be sold or bestowed on somebody else.

Senna delighted to be signing in!

FWIW - I'll clean up my sheet and create links to the spells, etc. for easy reference.

No need to link all the spells for my benefit, I have the keystrokes for looking things up on d20pfsrd burnt into my brain by now.

I'll still do it... I'm just weird that way. :)

I'm a team player so I don't backstab within the group, regardless of my character alignment. I'm fine with one of the warrior types getting the book. As long as the in-campaign loot gets spread around a bit so no one is armed with just a pointy stick while everyone else has a +5 Dancing Holy Vorpal Defender of Wounding... I'm happy.

Aye. It's not like I'm saying you're all backstabbers, just that I wouldn't blame anyone for ill-feeling that they didn't get the cool magic book of +2 bodily awesome after all their work this adventure.

Tathlan Larethaerith reporting for duty ;)

A couple of things.

1) I'm not familiar with this module. I just skimmed the first few pages in order to work in a reason for Tathlan to be part of the group. I know that we have the Book of the Titan and we need to find a Cloud Giant wizard to use it.

2) Tathlan's not so much interested in the Book itself so much as he is in its connection to his parents, who sought it and failed for some unknown reason, before retiring to Molthune. If we have already found it, nothing was probably revealed about his parents, so he'll stick with the group out of loyalty. He's fine if someone else gains its benefits.

3) I've lurked on Paizo's forums on and off for a few years... but I never realized they hosted PbP games. So I'm not sure how to add all of that neat info as a header to my posts. Any instructions would be appreciated as my Google-fu is failing me.

4) I'm on my phone at work at the moment and unfortunately won't be home until 12 AM US eastern (I'm the DM for a Mummy's Mask AP at my local game store, it's tonight :) ). When I get back and have access to my files & a real keyboard I will get everything into Tathlan's profile.

Basically, go to your profile, create it, and under 'class' put instead 'Init+X, HPXX/XX, Fort X|Ref X|Will X etc.

It's PBP, no rush as long as we all manage a post a day.

In terms of working together... as a slightly squishy caster, Senna realises that there are times when she can't go solo. So it would be totally in-character for her to work with other adventurers to serve a cause she finds worthwhile. She isn't 'good' per se but she is generally benign and has a quixotic streak so she could join in missions to thwart an evil, save a village, end a monster on a rampage, or recover a lost flock of sheep, or track down a thief who lifted an old lady's keepsake. If the people involved are likable, she will help out. Given that, she could have worked with one or more of the other characters on one or more past missions.

I'll make all the adjustments to my alias ASAP, I just wanted to check in here. I assumed that Authion has heard of the book and its link to giantkin, so he is only really in it to gather knowledge. He'd gladly accept the enchantment it bestows, but he'd be fine to sell it and split the profits if that's what everyone else agrees to. He is more interested in the adventure itself, and the opportunity to be 'heroic'.

Authion has been around for a century and a half, and he did travel a lot so he's flexible in fitting in with other character histories. Has anyone been to Trollheim, or the Land of the Linnorm Kings?

Senna was recently in the Ironbound Isles, at Battlewall, dealing with a pesky Necromancer and a small bevy of wights.

Tathlan has recently been located in Molthune due to his job. He likely would have joined the party when it became known that they were looking for the Book of the Titan.

Is there an adventure that deals with getting it? It might be safe to assume that we met each other in that scenario.

There is no such adventure, to the best of my knowledge.

There is no such adventure, to the best of my knowledge.

In that case, Tathlan would have sought out the rest of the party when it became known that they were seeking the Book of Titan; or, on the other hand, if the party wasn't seeking it and it was just incidental treasure that they found, he would have come looking for them once it became known that they had it.

If the latter is the case, he may be a "newcomer" to the group.

That sounds reasonable to me; Authion , Senna and our paladin friend could have been working together to battle this necromancer. The time could have been a part of his hoard, and I guess they would have asked around with regards to activating the magic. Enter Tathlan , joining in maybe with some information regarding where to travel to further investigate the ritual. What do you guys think?

I'm good with that.

Sounds good to me

Question, Ark, are we likely to be going up a level (or two) during this adventure or is it small enough that leveling up won't happen?

FYI - I plan to keep Mage Armor up 24/7, so I'll cast it every morning when I get up and then refresh it as needed. I'll track all that in a status spoiler I'll post with every combat post, like so:

I still need to add stats for my animal companion and spells prepared as well, otherwise I'm ready to rumble

I tweaked my build a tiny bit (shuffling a couple fav class HPs to Skill Points) but nothing major. I'm noodling with the idea of tweaking my magic items a bit as well.

Question, Ark... is it OK to have a magic item worth over 1/2 our starting GP value? You didn't make any mention of that in the recruiting post but that seems to be a pretty typical 'rule' among some DMs. Let me know.

Just to recap our backstory:

Sir Haldern, Senna, and Authion met in order to put an end to a necromancer and his wight minions on the Ironbound Isles. One of the items they recovered from his hoard was the Book of the the Titan. They returned to the mainland portion of the Land of the Linnorm kings, where they put out feelers looking for information regarding how to make use of the Book. Tathlan heard about them this way, and presented himself to the group. They allowed him to accompany them in his search for answers about his parents, as they prepare to speak with the Cloud Giant wizard named Zoarth.

Anything wrong with this picture?

Tathlan is ready to go IC when our DM is.

Senna- I'm not anticipating the adventure being long enough and large enouch IC to merit a levelup, may change as we go on, and definitely one by the end if we as a group decide to continue. And no issue with having an item worth over half.

Tathlan- group backstory looks great.

Readiness
Tathlan- ready
Senna- final fiddling
Haldern- probably ready
Authion- final fiddling

I'm good with that backstory, Tathlan.

Ark, my fiddling can be ended as soon as you are ready for us to jump into the game thread. Really, I'm just knocking back and forth between building Senna up in general (boosting some stats a bit more as well as AC, HP, and survivability) OR (going with my original loot build) giving her an absolutely crushing alpha-strike and relying on the team to shield me a bit more.

Guys, any opinions on those choices?

Invest in Shield Other rings.

LOL! It isn't quite that bad... unless that's a DM hint about the severity of the enemy we face. :D

I'm ready. @Senna - up to you really. But I'd cast a mild vote for the non alpha strike option. We're at a level where that can backfire a bit.

Thanks for the answer. I should make it clear that the alpha strike option won't make me a glass cannon. What we're talking about is whether I should take a standard Maximize Metamagic Rod (up to 6th level spells) which will let me max the damage on some nasty upper level spells OR pay substantially less and take a Lesser Max Metamagic Rod (up to 3rd level spells) and spend the 40,000 GP difference on other goodies. If the game continues on, having the standard rod will definitely pay dividends because above 3rd level beat the 10d max on damage.

Would that change your opinion any?

Alright we seem pretty much done (assuming no combat for a few more days); I'll start it up soon.

Outstanding!

Thanks for the answer. I should make it clear that the alpha strike option won't make me a glass cannon. What we're talking about is whether I should take a standard Maximize Metamagic Rod (up to 6th level spells) which will let me max the damage on some nasty upper level spells OR pay substantially less and take a Lesser Max Metamagic Rod (up to 3rd level spells) and spend the 40,000 GP difference on other goodies. If the game continues on, having the standard rod will definitely pay dividends because above 3rd level beat the 10d max on damage.

Would that change your opinion any?

I will admit that I'm not sure how much damage Tathlan can do, and I admit to not being that great at discerning the combat effectiveness of builds, but If I had to guess I'd say that Tathlan and Aurion are pretty well suited to ranged damage. My vote for you is greater utility, though in no way to I want to dissuade you from playing Senna from how you want to play her.

Thanks for weighing in!

My opinion remains fairly mild but I still think the alpha strike option the worse one. A Blasty character can get TOO good, essentially ending all encounters when their initiative cones up.

Fair enough. Given we've got two votes for 'non-Alpha' and I'm personally on the fence, I'll go with the Lesser Rod and throw the rest of the cash into other goodies. Thanks for the help, guys.

Gear bought... just got to transfer the info to my character sheet which will happen today.

OK. Senna is totally updated and ready to be spattered in demon blood... or whatever nasties populate this adventure.

Spells and animal companion stats added, Authion is 100% ready for action

I'd say we should probably buy horses, but would horses be willing to travel with Sir Haldern's mount?

My mount is my animal companion, he's a large wolf.... he doesn't bite though :)

Get combat trained ones and it'll be fine.

Combat Horsey purchased.

I don't suppose Senna would mind doubling up? Tathlan can't afford his own horse (A combat trained light warhorse is 110 gold, Tathlan has 43 to spare).

Sure, we can double up! Honestly, I was trying to figure out a way to get recurrent access to Phantom Steed without losing any of my valuable spell slots but the items that would let me do it are too costly and I'd have to swap out magic items again - which I don't want to do.

Alternatively, I could lend you the cash for your own horse and gear, if you prefer. Your choice. I'm happy either way.

If you would be willing to lend Tathlan the money, that would be great. Minus what he can pay himself, a combat-ready light riding horse and a riding kit would be an 83 gp loan.

Done.

If you want to get into extended tactics discussions, I'd suggest doing it here in discussion. In my experience, talking in character really really slows down and complicates exhaustive planning.

I doubt the Giants are open to parley, so,I say we sweep up behind and surprise them. Dwin can disrupt the ogres and keep them busy, my favoured enemy is giant so I'll probably try and down the leader with full attacks (rapid shot +deadly aim) as quickly as possible. What do you guys think? If possible, I'd like to try to cast abundant ammunition on my quiver just before we engage

Do we have a distance between us and the group? Are they all bunched up on the bridge?

Let's hit them hard and fast - no parley, no prisoners. If you guys can wait a second, I'm happy to hit our group (including animal companions) with Haste and then I can soften the baddies up with a Fireball along with our bowmen before our meleers engage.

Yes to distance, not enormously bunched up but all within 10-15 feet of eachother.

That's consensus/majority, I'll whip up a battlemap.

I'll have to see initiative order before I make any big decisions. Tathlan works best when he readies actions, as he will then add his DEX bonus to his crossbow attacks. Likely he'll ready to finish off any remaining giants.

Init should be up there on the post.

Quick note, you can only ready a standard action.