GM Giuseppe's Council of Thieves

Game Master Giuseppe Capriati

OK guys, now it's time to work on the document. Let me know when you're ready!

Then should we roll acting already to know if we are acting good or bad since that affects the doc?

Then should we roll acting already to know if we are acting good or bad since that affects the doc?

You can roll your Perform (act) checks for Act IV here in the Discussion Thread ;)

Oh, also, although it doesn't show up in the structure, Act IV is up on the document (I think we should thank Catina for that!)

Perform act 4: 1d20 - 1 + 4 ⇒ (9) - 1 + 4 = 12

Giuseppe, could I ask you to add some of Calseinica's behavior to the Google Doc, to go along with Ilsandra's lines? That would give me something to work off of. :)

No problem ;)

Also, Catina, are you applying the circlet's bonuses?

Catina Bon Durati wrote:

1. Entering the Beast

It says only one person can clamber and slide in, per round. And we can only try to escape once all of us are in. Does that mean that the first person to enter must automatically endure 4 rounds of acid, the second to go in 3 rounds of acid, andsofort?

2. Escaping the beast
As I gather, one person per round can try to escape. This is either by Climb, of by forming a tower. Correct?
- If the person chooses Climb, he has to hit Climb DC 20. Is one check enough to make it out? Also, all others still in the belly can aid by making DC 10 Clmb checks?
- Alternatively, building a tower. How does this work? How many people do we have to stack to allow the top person to escape? Also, if I read it correctly, everyone needs to make a DC 15 Acrobatics and a DC 10 Strength check, to avoid the tower collapsing and ruining the 'escape' check for that round?

1. Precisely.

2. Correct. You can climb your way out of the beast, or try to form a tower. In both cases, only one character per round can escape the beast. One Climb check is enough to make it out, and the others still in the belly can aid the climber by making DC 10 Climb checks. Building a tower requires only two PCs. Both the PCs of the tower must then make a DC 15 Acrobatics check to maintain the balance. The character at the base of the tower must also make a DC 10 Strenght check.

Hope that helps, but if there are any doubts left, please feel free to ask.

I was just re-reading the text, and as I understand it, this is all correct. But there are also a couple nuances.

It looks like we can occupy the beast's belly (room for all of us) - there can also be one person in the throat and one person in the mouth. The person in the mouth can also assist with climb checks, but if someone moves from the throat to the mouth, the person in the mouth has to either get out onto the stage or drop back down into the belly. My only question is: does the person in the mouth also have to make the Reflex and Fortitude saves against the acid and the fumes if they stay there for a round to help instead of just getting out?

Here's my perform roll:
Perform (act) IV: 1d20 + 2 + 4 + 2 ⇒ (7) + 2 + 4 + 2 = 15

My only question is: does the person in the mouth also have to make the Reflex and Fortitude saves against the acid and the fumes if they stay there for a round to help instead of just getting out?

I would say no, Faustinia. No saves for the person in the mouth.

Giuseppe, could I ask you to add some of Calseinica's behavior to the Google Doc, to go along with Ilsandra's lines? That would give me something to work off of. :)

Did it!

Did it!

Thanks. I'll work on my post tonight. Also, I had dropped the bonus from the Circlet on purpose, because I thought we had to do this act without any equipment.

Perform: 1d20 + 1 + 2 ⇒ (9) + 1 + 2 = 12

perform(act) 4: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 = 20

Perform: 1d20 + 4 + 2 + 4 ⇒ (16) + 4 + 2 + 4 = 26

I wasn't feeling too confident about this challenge, but between Petals' Inspire Competence and my Bit of Luck, I hope we have a shot of getting everyone out in time. It seems fitting as well, that all our characters need some time to get there bearing, before they find solutions. :)

Alessandro, I thought Calseinica's aid was only for acting tests? But I was wrong!!! Awesome!

A few clarifications guys.

Calseinica's boon As pointed out by Alessandro, the bonus granted by Calseinica's friendship applies to all checks made during the performance, not only to Perform (act) checks.

Inspire courage Inspire courage only grants a +1 morale bonus on saving throws against charm and fear effects.

For some reason I thought inspire courage helped skills too. I guess that's a different bard ability.

Yes, that's Inspire Competence. Unfortunately, that's only available starting at level 3.

For this round, I'd suggest that Faustinia try to climb out, while Catina channels to heal and bring Calseinica back to consciousness. That way, she can try again next turn. I'll make a gameplay post suggesting this, after dinner.

Sorry Giuseppe, got ahead of myself, basically I should never stop reading mid sentence.

Sorry Giuseppe, got ahead of myself, basically I should never stop reading mid sentence.

Don't worry Petals, it happens ;)

Things are going a little slower than expected in this act, so if possible, I would ask you to post as frequently as possible, even at the cost of having less quality in your post. Catina is dying once again.

Please, try and make clear whether you're helping others to climb or are you making a tower, since those actions require very different checks. Also, there's no way to protect the others from the acid. As long as you'll stay in the belly, you'll take the damage from it at each round.

I think our best bet is for Alessandro and his nifty acrobatics check to make a tower.

Also... something I realize. Can we take 10 on our checks?

How do we do this tower thing? Also I'm going to suggest trying to make a role in the gameplay. Let me know if that is a viable option as well.

Unfortunately, Alessandro's idea can't work for this one, since it would take too long. Also, the process on how to make a tower is detailed in one of my previous posts in the Gameplay Thread.

I strongly encourage you to discuss common tactics here in the Discussion Thread so that you can act as a group. I've noticed you've been acting individually, and that's not good.

I'm sorry. Maybe I'm blind but I can't find any post describing how to make a tower.

Also, even discussing tactics, I don't see a way out of this without thinking outside the box. The DCs are just too high. We've done everything we can to get Calseinica out and she can't do it. Unless I'm missing something.

The rules are here. However, I think that option isn't worth trying. It involves an Acrobatics check for the person getting out, and for the others people in the tower. Besides, the other people in the tower have to make a Strength check. If any of those checks fails, the entire attempt is wasted. That's too much chance to fail. I think we should focus on Climb checks.

Here's my proposed plan of action:
- This round, Catina heals again. Let's hope for a high roll. Someone gets Calseinica to sit still for this round, while Catina get her to drink a healing potion. She should not attempt the climb check unaided! This gives up the time to set up next round to get her out. This round, Faustinia could try the climb check, aided by Alessandro, Petals and Varius.
- Next round, Catina gives Calseinica the reroll and three people can attempt the Aid Another. That should hopefully work. Last time when we tried the reroll, I think she went unconscious from the acid before she even got to attempt the Climb check. Just unlucky. Healing her up this round with channel + potion should give her a bit of a hit point buffer and will prevent that, hopefully.

Finally, a request for Giuseppe: Could we get at least 24 hours for each round of actions? Last round you had Faustinia delay, which might have cost her an attempt to climb out. I know you're pushing for speed, but we're in quite a dire situation and if you expect all of us to come up with a joint strategy and make a combat post, we're going to have to give everyone a fair amount of time to check in.
Edit: Maybe it would help to give a deadline with each gameplay update? You've done that before in 'combat' situations and I felt it worked pretty well in those cases. It gives everyone a clear goal to post before that time.

You're right. I didn't realize the tower was too difficult - my was was to hoist her out. All we can really do here is spam climb checks.

Varius can also look backstage for a blunt instrument to break the side as Alessandro suggested, which could have separate consequences, heh.

The other option is we could have Faustina and Caleisinca both try to climb out at once. One will inevitably fail, but then we're hedging our bets. Catina, Alessandro, and Varius can then aid another. Once Varius gets knocked out he can look for useful kit.

You're right. I didn't realize the tower was too difficult - my hope was was to hoist her out. All we can really do here is spam climb checks.

Varius can also look backstage for a blunt instrument to break the side as Alessandro suggested, which could have separate consequences, heh.

The other option is we could have Faustina and Caleisinca both try to climb out at once. One will inevitably fail, but then we're hedging our bets. Catina, Alessandro, and Varius can then aid another. Once Varius gets knocked out he can look for useful kit.

Good plan Catina. Petals will aid Faustina this round and Calseinica next.

Hey all, that sounds like a good plan! Faustinia should be able to make the Climb check with the help of her rehearsal boons and some aid another checks, if she rolls high enough. The tower thing has lower DC's, but it is risky in requiring multiple checks.

Also, sorry for no post yesterday. I came home and fell asleep way earlier than planned (and before my usual after-work posting time). I'll get a post for this round up soon!

Could Calseinica hold on to Alessandro's neck as he climbs?

We did it! Should we do Faustinia's turn next to try to climb out?

Yes, definitely. Catina will give you a bit of luck as well, for two dice on any d20 roll.

YAAAY! We're rolling above 10!

Finally making some progress. Petals next?

Sounds good!

Boy am I glad that Faustinia befriended the director...

For a little bit I was thinking neither of us were going to make any friends Faustinia. And Catina, bit of luck is amazing!!!!

Yes, it's really paying off in this situation, where it's one person each round where has to make an important check.

Hey Giuseppe, is it possible to use aid another with Acrobatics for the people dropping out of the mouth by trying to catch them as they fall?

WE DID IT!!!

We did! That was harrowing. @.@

We did it!

Also, guys, please note that as soon as Act 4 ends, you're no longer sickened.

Woot! Has everyone updated their health total? I might use my last channel between the acts, if enough people need healing. Giuseppe, how is Calseinica? (Take 10 on Heal check for 16, if needed).

Edit: Text for Act 5 is up on the Google doc.

I believe Petals health is correct. Failed a lot there at the end. Might not have time to do a proper post this morning but will after work.

Calseinica has 3 points of damage on her.

My health is up to date. Some healing between acts would be quite welcome.

And thanks for putting up the text, Catina! I've already made my edits for Faustinia (not a lot of Dentris lines). Should we continue rolling our Perform (act) checks in the Discussion thread?

My hp are up to date. I'll work on the act text now.

So, combat at last...

I'll be out of town this weekend on a gaming convention. Since Catina is sickened that shouldn't be a problem. I'll check in occasionally on my smartphone, but posting length might be a bit less than normal.