GM Arkwright's Enduring Rise of the Runelords (Inactive)

Game Master Arkwright

Information from the knowledge checks about the Lamia Queen. Anything about the lamia queen, I suppose, including attacks, spells, and defenses?

Is it about this lamia specifically, or about lamia in general?

I assumed it was about Lamia Queens in general. It was a nature check and not a local/nobility one, if I remember correctly.

Gotcha.

Ok, here are my questions-

1) What abilities or tactics are Lamia Queens known for?

2) Do Lamia Queens have any notable weaknesses?

The queens of a race consumed by bitterness and predatory instinct, lamia matriarchs mastermind all manner of foul plots in hopes of breaking the bestial curse that afflicts their race. They move with shocking ease from silken-tongued temptresses to dervishes, striking with all the deadly precision of vipers. Quick to covet, enslave, and overindulge, lamia matriarchs luxuriate in gory feasts, violent trysts, and bloody entertainments, reveling until their playthings are broken or until they tire and move on.

Each often diving into spellcasting classes, they tend to focus on buffs, then charge in with their physical abilities.

Lowest save is often Fortitude, their competitive nature means they frequently fight solo.

How pleasant. She sounds like she will be lovely.

... I did not even consider that an option. So who wants to go grab some potions? Because this guy does.

Every ruling I've seen has said blindsense trumps invisibility within it's range.

Is there some other ability at play here? Or am I misinterpreting something about how these abilities interact?

Probably something else. Might have teleported away or a dimensional thing? I don't think Isme saw enough to make an Arcana check to identify what happened.

I'm quite sure it's correct. An easy Arcana check will tell you she cast Invisibility.

FYI I'll be away from the 2nd to the 9th because I'll be at GenCon. Feel free to bot me as needed.

GM, I'm completely willing to go with your ruling, but I need to know what your house rules are regarding Blindsense.

Normally, a creature with Blindsense can pinpoint the square of an invisible creature within their range, but still has a 50% miss chance against them.

How do you work it?

It's been awhile, I'll trust you not to metagame from this.

"provided that it has line of effect to that creature."

She has her own climb speed, she went invisible and dropped down to cling to the wall on the far side of the roof, so even with the dragons' high angle, they have no line of effect, and thus can't pinpoint her.

Have fun there, Kejal! :D

Gotcha. From your wording, I thought you were saying that the ability didn't work the way I thought it did. Thanks for clarifying.

A few notes about Spectrum's new build that are worth bringing up.

Spectrum has Alchemical Allocation, which is an extract that basically allows him to gain the benefit of a potion without consuming it. Strangely enough, he can make potions and infusions of Alchemical Allocation, which means that after a while, that's the only 2nd level extract he's going to prepare, and he'll be able to hand them out to the party. That way, by drinking a 2nd level infusion, we can then drink a 3rd or 4th level potion, and get the benefit and keep the potion.

To take advantage of this, Spectrum will be carrying around some higher level potions. I just haven't taken the time to write out his full shopping list. (He really should have them now, but I haven't had time to spend all the money Spectrum is carrying around, and I figured it would be poor form to say "oh, yeah, I totally have Potions of Heal. I just forgot to mention it before now")

With the rework, Glimmer also got some changes. She now has the Pilferer archetype, and is wearing a little vest covered in pouches and pockets, as well as little spring loaded wrist sheathes. She's carrying a fair number of potions, as well as a wand of Magic Missile and a wand of Ill Omen and some other consumables.

Array is currently in mechanics-limbo, which is why he hasn't seen much play time. He's around still, but as an NPC until next level, when I'll have the option to take him as a familiar or cohort again.

As a reminder, don't forget that there is a limitation on how powerful potions can be, that being the bit where they stop at 3rd level spells.

Your extracts are where Alchemists truly shine.

So, the Lamia jumped out away from the tower?

I'm flying, laterally, out away from the tower and her.

She cast a fly spell after she ran around the other side of the tower.

Gotcha.

Wow, the dice are really against us right now.

True but the Lamia also swung poorly last round too, she just has larger numbers than we do.

Er, so I'm just catching up on return from my vacation, and it appears as though I've died? That's... not great. It was fun while it lasted.

Welcome back, Kejal! No worries. WE'LL HAVE YOU RAISED. AND THEN YOU CAN GRAPPLE WITH YOUR MORTALITY AND EXISTENCE.

Though to be honest, wow, that really sucked. I'll be glad to still have you around though!

What Isme said, at this level Raise Dead is a pretty accessible option.

Sorry you died. Luck of the dice meant you got taken down to +1hp which meant you could cop another attack, and then luck of the dice also meant that attack was a confirmed crit.

Would like to keep you with us.

Oh right, I forgot that that was a thing that just happened with Chase. I love the idea of grappling with mortality and existence!

Glad this means you're not leaving the game. Although, at the rate things seem to be going with this boss fight, we may have bitten off more than we could chew. I suppose that if things continue to go poorly and Wyam ends up dying too, escape is an option if Isme and Spectrum decide to split up and escape through the city in opposite directions.

That would be an interesting twist. But certainly not the outcome we would want.

Yep, I was keeping track of the fire damage.

Yep, I was keeping track of the fire damage.

That's good, because I'd completely forgotten about it. :)

Is the Lamia's Sihidron pendant the same s the one we already found? False Life or Gentle Repose once a day?

Yep. Plus +1 resistance bonus to saves.

Handy. The down side is that it's a symbol of ancient tyranny, but I'm a pragmatist about these things. :)

Well now, that's a nice pile of gear to pick up.

I'm thinking the snakeskin vest goes to Spectrum. Since Fort saves are your low stat and the increase in your Ac and initiative will be good.

Don't think I want to hold onto the Impaler of Thorns. Wyam's not really a spear wielder.

The Medusa's mask is certainly a cool item but it's also worth a pretty significant amount of gold, of which we have an Ally to revive.

Awesome work, everyone! I don't feel like I did a lot, but I'll just work on that. Medusa's Mask is cool but doesn't really have a useful effect (gaze attacks are somewhat rare and the petrification DC is a little low) and it takes up a slot that could be used, but I won't object if anyone wants it instead of selling it.

I also hope we can get some cash from the authorities for revealing such a huge plot.

Anyway, GM, I'd like to grab a vial of Xanesha's blood to do Blood Transcription with so I can copy spells down. Or multiple vials, maybe a lot. I just noticed Blood Transcription doesn't seem to specify a limit to how many spells I can grab from a single dead spellcaster, just have to drink a heck lot of its blood. I'll leave it up to you on how you'll rule that.

We'll immediately raise Kejal, of course, followed by restorations (though apparently you can only dispel a permanent negative level a week). Spectrum can even do a Gentle Repose using that pendant if we don't have enough immediate cash. And Chaise and Kejal now have something to bond over!

Lots to do. Isme also has to speak with Bartimaeus and then explain that to the party, and then she has to take care of Chaise who she still hasn't spoken with. Kejal would have been optimal to take care of handing the information we have to the authorities.

Also, that scarecrow golem! C-can we keep it? Can we do anything with it? Sell it? I WANT TO CLAIM IT AS SPOILS.

I have no problem selling the mask.

Selling the Mask and the Impaler comes to 4,750gp each, not including the resurrection cost.

Hadn't considered the town giving you a reward but that does seem logical; I'll do a quick comparison betwen your actual and recommended WBL.

Isme yep a fair bit still to do before we move on to the next book (and the book recommends a coming vent to start the transition), so feel free to get onto it.

I suppose there's no reason why you couldn't keep the scarecrow golem; a few thousand for some reprogramming and it should be yours. Note that I don't believe you can augment golems so it should quickly get left behind as you level, but should still have its uses.

Kejal, hope you're still with us. Sorry your character died but after doing some research it seems that you guys came off very lightly for how this encounter normally goes; Xanesha is quite a fearsome foe. It was some very unlucky dice that brought you down, both the crit and that the previous blow left you on 1hp; and I'd already used Bart to save you from falling.

Kejal, hope you're still with us. Sorry your character died but after doing some research it seems that you guys came off very lightly for how this encounter normally goes; Xanesha is quite a fearsome foe. It was some very unlucky dice that brought you down, both the crit and that the previous blow left you on 1hp; and I'd already used Bart to save you from falling.

I am! I'm sort of unaccustomed to games that are this high level and it didn't occur to me that resurrection would be a thing. It was also kind of a shock to come back to, haha. But I'm definitely interested in the roleplaying opportunities of coming back from the dead!

Is the Blood Transcription idea okay?

I don't think we can take Leadership and the management for that would be immense anyway, but Chaise will hopefully still be in the background as a contact or somesuch, depending on where we go next.

How much would it cost to reprogram the scarecrow golem? Might be a project Chaise can take up. It'd be useful for him as a bodyguard at least.

Also, I'll use my loremaster take 20 skill on immediately identifying the scarecrow golem for its traits and properties and such.

Knowledge (arcana) {take 20}: 20 + 10 + 2 + 2 = 34

That's pre-level up, but there'll be more opportunities to study it anyway. Just want to know what I'm dealing with and if it'll be worth it. I suppose it'd fetch a fair price if we decide to sell it.

What do you guys think about the golem? It's some back-up muscle but we might need the cash and equipment more.

Updated my gold and stuff since my last purchase. Level up to come. I apparently forgot to. Also realized I hadn't actually learned the spells I meant to from the scrolls I bought. At least we have the downtime now.

Also, GM, found this table on what magic item slots animals have. Shall I follow it for Isme as Avians? Important because I bought Muleback Cords and that's a shoulder slot, which avians don't have. I'll have to mess with my weight and items if I can't wear that one, but I hope you'll let me sell it back at full price (as if Isme didn't buy it in the first place) if Isme can't use it.

One last thing (sorry for all the micromanagement), what skill does my Headband of Charisma and Intelligence +2 give skill ranks in? As Headband of Vast Intelligence: These skills are chosen when the headband is created. If no skill is listed, the headband is assumed to grant skill ranks in randomly determined Knowledge skills.

...By the way, who paid for the Spellcasting Services we used to get up the tower? Just distribute it among us? There's also a potion of Mirror Image for both Wyam and Kejal purchased but wasn't used, apparently, unless we retcon ever buying those.

Oops. Never mind on the headband. I was checking on old posts and saw this Houserule on it.

I'll pick what skill it applies to later.

GM, is Leadership off the table? I'd planned on taking it so that I could have Array as a cohort.

If that isn't an option, I'll have to do it by taking Tumor Familiar and Improved Familiar, which means Array won't be around until 8th level.

Blood Transcription is fine; apparently normal human max blood donation capacity is ten pints, but as a lamia let's stretch it to 15.

Reprogramming, let's say 8,000gp. As it has a construction cost of at least 20.5k, seems fair.

Isme and Spectrum identify the golem as one of unique make up; a Lifespark Elite Flesh Golem blessed with an actual mind, if a simplistic one.

AC 20, HP 79, DR 5/Adamantium, +1 Scythe +14/+9 2d6+11, magic immunity, vulnerable to mind-affecting.

Since you're a PC, take whatever slots you want.

Split the spellcasting costs evenly.

I'm not fussed about people taking Leadership. Seems a nice way to illustrate you guys' growing importance up these levels.

Alright, I think Spectrum is all leveled up. Dragons will be done tonight.

I picked up Heroism and Channel Vigor as Extracts, and Black Tentacles and Greater Invisibility as wizard spells.

Leadership is my 7th level feat. Array will be the Cohort. I'm not sure how followers will manifest themselves. GM, any suggestions?

I suppose it depends on what sort of followers you want them to be, class-wise. Friends from Sandpoint? Magnimarians who feel inclined to follow you/be assigned to you?

It's only been touched on a bit in the game, but Spectrum's main concept is that he's an archaeologist/historian. He'd been living out in Sandpoint picking up antiquities from caravans and financing small expeditions to sites that adventurers and explorers uncover. Anything he finds he researches and sends the information back to the Pathfinders here in Magnamar. If it's something they want, they pay him for it and he ships it out to them. He's been doing it for about 20 years, so the local Lodge knows who he is, (at least by reputation as a reliable researcher). His primary focus is ancient Thassilon, which is why he's stayed with the group as this situation has unfolded.

He is, essentially, an independent contractor working for the Pathfinder Society on jobs near Sandpoint that were too small for their direct action.

Given how broad in scope this situation has become, it might be time for Spectrum to join the Pathfinders as a full-fledged member and get some support from the local Pathfinder Lodge. Having some low-level Pathfinder initiates helping us with gathering information, doing research, shopping for supplies and running messages around would be pretty handy.

Ah, interesting. I'd probably suggest against becoming a full member since that would involve going on missions. But the Society, in its quest to control the world, has shown great enthusiasm for acquiring and encouraging friends to act as assets for them. By this point they would definitely be willing to offer you some Society resources; you could ask Ameiko to liaise if you wanted.

That sounds like a good option. I'll go with it.

Side note- How long has it been since all this started? Has it been enough time that it would be reasonable to remove the Young template from Glimmer and Array? How fast do very young Pseudodragons grow?

I'd say it's been a month or two. Sure, remove the template.

Ok, the new improved Glimmer is done.

Doing skills for a familiar is more complex than I remembered it being.

Spectrum still has an 18 Dex from back when I had him as a Finesse Magus.

Would you mind if I lowered his dex to 16, and put the attribute points into Charisma? His leadership score is currently pretty atrocious and I'd like to boost it.

After some thought I decided that I wanted Glimmer to be the Cohort and Array to be the familiar, so I'm switching their stats.

This decision is based on their respective personalities. I'd originally had Glimmer as a Pilferer Familiar and Array as a Skald Cohort.

Turns out Urban Skalds get the ability to insult people into a frenzy. I figured it would be a lot more funny to have Glimmer doing that than Array. Since Array's the quiet, predatory one he fits the Pilferer well.

After looking at the Skald, I realized a Faerie Dragon would be a lot better a fit due to the higher Charisma, so with the two little dragons "growing up" and losing the Young template, Glimmer is going to molt and end up with rainbow wings. Glimmer will molt and get darker in coloration, looking something like an oil slick (dark with rainbow highlights).

I'm looking forward to future encounters with these two. They both just became a lot more capable and a lot more funny.