Giuseppe: Can we make the checks on all of the NPC's introduced, or only the one that we select to talk to at this moment? I stuck with the conservative approach for now. Will make the extra rolls if we can try all of them.
Since those are Knowledge checks, and Knowledge checks are free actions, yes, you can attempt them all together in the same post.
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Hey all, just a heads up: I noticed a small formatting error with Chammady Drovenge's spoilers and there's actually more information under there.
Happily, I managed to make the higher DC on that nobility check, so the fact that it wasn't hidden from me works out. There's also a DC 25 Sense Motive check in there, too, though. I didn't roll because I can't get a high enough result on it anyway, but if anyone would like to give it a try, know that it's there!
Added my extra skill checks, they did yield some useful information.
Also, I just noticed that I forgot the bonus from my circlet in the Bluff check against the Majordomo. It would up the result to 16.
Oh boy, there is a lot to read through.
Giuseppe, does the majordomo walking away mean that Catina is 'done' with this opportunity to mingle, because of failing the influence check? Or do I get the opportunity to talk with someone else?
Wasn't quite sure of the mechanics for this part of the adventure.
Everyone only got a single chance to interact. I'm going to post again details on the first course, then you'll be allowed to attempt another check to learn some information about Aberian's Folly.
Hey guys, I'm sorry for the delay. I'm working on my post now. It's just that it takes a very long time to follow five different scenes. If you wouldn't take it as a too hard restrictions, I would appreciate if, in the future interactions, you could stick together as to form two/three groups. That would make my life a lot easier. Thanks!
As you can see in the Gameplay Thread, I made my first post. Anyway, while working on it, that I've been probably asking myself too much in attempting to make all of the five posts needed in order to advance the scene together and just in one day. For all intents and purposes, I'll need to make 5 long, detailed posts, one for each of you, and then post again to advance the scene. That is pretty impossible for me to accomplish in just one day. I'll work on each post separately throughout the weekend, and I'm confident I'll be able to have answered to everyone withing Sunday morning. Within Sunday even I hope to be able to move the scene to after the second course, so that you can resume posting on Monday morning.
These remarks make even more important the request I've made in my previous post. I'd like you to stick together and form two group, ideally. You should all roll your Diplomacy checks separately. I'll consider whoever gets the higher result as the main speaker, and I'll count the others as though they were trying to aid another.
Is it fine for you?
Sure, that sounds perfectly reasonable. Nothing is gained if you burn out over an encounter structure like this.
Happy to do so sir.
Good idea! And no worries on the posts, I absolutely understand. Also, long weekend. Posting rates are going to be low anyways.
Sure. We can decide together who we want to talk to next.
Hey Alessandro, as soon as you have the chance to read my post, would you mind to let me know your chioces here in the Discussion Thread? It would be useful to me, because that would allow me to understand how things are going and grant XP rewards, if necessary.
I'll skip meeting up with the Irises but will allow her to accompany me to talk to the Majordomo.
Very well Alessandro, thanks. I'm thus pleased to announce that since Alessandro managed to learn a gossip from Crosael, each member of the group gains 150 XP!
Also guys, I was thinking that it may be a good idea to create a scene in which you all share the information you managed to gather with each other. We can do so at the end of the next course, if you're fine with it.
Looks like group two is Faustinia, Alessandro, and Varius. A meet up after the next course makes sense since Petals and Catina are already off for more information.
Nah, just insert the meet-up on the walk to the halls, like I did. We can all walk together and share information. That's what I was thinking, at least.
So, folks, what's the plan now? I think it could be useful to tell you that you already managed to gather all the information you could at the Cornucopia.
Since we are here, and you know everything you could possibly know, there's no point in keeping you waiting.
As such, I'd like to know how would you like me to handle the following courses. We've got two options.
Skip forward: If you plan to stick to the plan, you should wait until the end of the last course and then try to sneak away from the Banquet Hall.
Play all the single courses: If you wish to do something before the end of the last course, such as exploring certain parts of Aberian's Folly undetected, we shouldn't be skipping the scene forward.
Please let me know what do you think about it either here or through in-character discussion in the Gameplay Thread.
As a side note, a map of Aberian's Folly is now available at the link provided at the top of the campaign's page.
Well, that was quite unexpected, that we already learned everything. But, if that's the case, I would advocate skipping ahead. No use playing everything out course by course if there's not much to be gained.
About the map, Giuseppe: Could you maybe add some labels, to indicate things we already learned about? Where is the secret door in the garden, for instance?
Skipping ahead makes the most sense to me. Sneaking around is best done when the vast majority of them are too wasted to notice.
I don't think it is a good idea to take Calseinica along but I don't know if I can convince her otherwise. She is super clingy. Plus my Diplomacy is only +4. I can't roll a 25.
Maybe we could just get her wasted and leave her safely a sleep on a couch somewhere.
Haha. You got us into this mess, Alessandro, and now you're asking us to rescue you? :P There's a Dutch proverb here, but I don't think it translates really well...
Edit, for some OOC discussion. Since there could be repercussion, I think it should be a group decision. Catina had a +7 Diplomacy modifier. With an aid or two, it could work, but there's definitely risk involved to blow her off. Should I go for it?
I say go for it. Varius will chip in if he can make the roll.
Also in favour of skipping ahead.
I'm starting to do some serious prep work for the upcoming events folks, and I'd also like to know what's the group feeling about a stealth infiltration type of approach. The way I see it, if you would enjoy that, including the exploration of Aberian's Folly, I'll be happy to run it for you, but be aware that on account of the nature of PbP it could last for as long as two weeks.
The other option is to simply skip the infiltration part through a mere description of it. Since I place players' fun first, my decision will be entirely based on your opinion.
In hindsight, it was probably smarter to let Petals make the attempt. She has the better Diplomacy modifier, after all. I just wanted to make sure I made a meaningful post before heading to bed. But that's the benefit of hindsight, and I can live with the negative consequences, if Giuseppe decides that way.
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On the topic of stealth infiltration; I'm not sure it would add a lot to the story to play this out. It might get monotonous as well, if we have to check room by room and find mostly nothing. I'm in favor of doing it in the form of a recap. If we can one or two days to each make a big post about it, that would cover the essence, I believe.
Glad we got rid of Calseinica. I'm down for trying stealth but also willing to go with group decision either way.
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Alessandro and Petals are the two of our party who are most mechanically devoted to an infiltration style approach, so I'm inclined to defer to their decisions. I don't want to ask them to give up that kind of spotlight time if they're interested in pursuing it. So keep that in mind as I weigh in on my preference in the next paragraph.
If, as Catina suggests, there would be a lot of dead ends and slow hint gathering, then I would be in favor of eliding the section. We don't necessarily have to skip over it entirely, but perhaps it would be better to run through a simplified version, or play through what are meant to be the high points of the investigation. As long as that sort of modification wouldn't be a lot of extra work for our dear GM! :)
We seem to be going for infiltration style anyways, so it makes sense to move with that. I guess I'll leave it to everyone's discretion about how much detail we go through. Faustinia's idea about investigation-light makes sense to me.
I'm perfectly good with abbreviating it. I'd rather us all be enjoying the story and not just leave a few hogging the rolls.
The order sounds great Faustinia. Should you detect magic as well?
Hey sir, is Catina with us now?
Yes
Hey guys, I'm at an international meeting in Spain. I'll try to have a post up tonight, but I can't assure it. In the worst of cases, I'll be back tomorrow with at least one post.
Feel better Faustinia! And good luck Giuseppe!
Hey guys, just here to tell you that with trains and flight I will be back only on Saturday. I'm very sorry about it. I'll be back soon anyway!
No worries Giuseppe, real life gets us all on occasion.
That's okay! I'll just sit back and imagine I'm in Spain rather than dealing with my SECOND 30cm or so dump of snow in late April.
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Hi friends, I've added the body's loot to our tracking sheet. I looked up those scrolls, and since those spells are all exclusively on the wizard list I've claimed them for Faustinia (unless you have any of those on your lists for some reason - let me know).
I'm hesitant to claim anything else at the moment after grabbing all those scrolls, even though this all screams "dead wizard with cool wizard loot." :P For the pearl of power II, Catina and I can certainly share that as needed (handing it off to whoever needs it most that day). And for the handy haversack, I would recommend Faustinia at least carry it for now since she has the lowest strength and a good number of combat consumables in the form of spells. But if anyone else would rather claim that or has a better use for it, I'm happy leaving it for someone else!
The sack helps all of us no matter who carries it, so all good with me.
It's probably natural for Catina to make the next post. Didn't get a chance yesterday, but I'll get to it when I get home from work today.
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Hey, Alessandro, don't forget your sneak attack and flanking from the summoned eagle!
Also, Giuseppe: I'm glad we agreed that I would only summon one creature at a time. This is already complex. :P
Since the eagle moved a little bit and is now the only thing in attacking range for the red howler, I added its relevant defensive stats in a spoiler at the end of my latest post.
Hey, Alessandro, don't forget your sneak attack and flanking from the summoned eagle!
Also, Giuseppe: I'm glad we agreed that I would only summon one creature at a time. This is already complex. :P
Since the eagle moved a little bit and is now the only thing in attacking range for the red howler, I added its relevant defensive stats in a spoiler at the end of my latest post.
Hey Faustinia, to be honest I didn't remmber about our agreement. Anyway, in the future please feel free to summon more than one creature at a time. I know it can be complex, but you might need it. It would be no problem for me!
For some strange reason I thought that since the howler's attacks count as chaotic, they would have overcome Catina's DR. Sorry for the mistake, I'll add the missing hp in my next post. In any case, my recaps are just for ease of reference. Please everyone, if you notice some mistake, do as Catina and signal it to me so that I can correct it.
OK guys, the fight is over, and you gain 600 XP each.
You should use your next post to heal, but keep in mind that the sickened condition will persist unless someone makes a DC 20 Heal check for each sickened PC.
Also, it's worth reminding that you have not explored this room yet, since you were attacked by the howlers as soon as you entered it.