LG Male Shabti Paladin 2/Medium 4 | HP 6/55 | AC 22 (26) T 12 (16) FF 20 (24) | F +13 R +8 W +14 (+2 vs. fear) | CMD/B 20/+8 | Init +2 | Per +5 (dark vision 60 ft) SM +4 | Speed 20 ft | Seance Invocation 5/11 | Influence 1| Smite 1/1 | LOH 5/5 | WC 5/5 | Shirt Re-Roll 0/1 | Active Conditions: endure elements (hot), spell drinker (available), Champion, Smite Evil (Michiko), Legacy of the Princess
Zithembe removes a maple wand from his belt--one in which he is proficient--and activates the magic so that he may at least understand the spirit's words.
"Sleeping Sword," Zithembe nods and says, "Please ask the spirit if he desires to be set free or to remain as he is."
M Dhampir (Ancient Born) Monk (Qinggong Hungry Ghost) 6 / cleric (crusader) 1 | AC 17 T 17 FF 15 | HP 58/58 | F +9 R +8 W +12 | CMD 28 | Init +2 | Perc +14 darkvision 60', lowlight vision | ki 7/7 | kick 6/6 | rest 7/7
Sleeping Sword accepts Zithembe's advice and adds still in Tien
"The Empress of Heaven has given us the power to release you and Lady Michiko. There is in this place a source of corruption - I sense it, you must also. We can purge the corruption at its source and free you both. Or will you choose to remain as you are?"
Greater Shadows are obviously undead and clearly (heh) incorporeal. They can resist channeled energy and have all the standard immunities of Undead. It can fly well and can easily attack while flying. It can’t actually harm one’s health, but instead it saps the Strength of anyone it touches.
This is a negative energy effect, and the target dies if the total Strength damage dealt equals or exceeds its actual Strength score.
Oh, and if you die from having all your strength drained away, you come back as a shadow under its control in a matter of seconds (1d4 rounds).
====End Spoiler====
The ghostly spirit looks at Zithembe when the jade man speaks.
"I speak ... tongue of this land," it says in halting and broken Taldane before switching back to Tien to address Sleeping Sword. "But I have not used it in ... too many years. I appreciate that you speak the language of our motherland and would like to continue this way."
It floats a bit, silently considering Zithembe's and Sleeping Sword's offer as it stares at the found holy symbol that Sleeping Sword holds.
"I would go to the embrace of the Empress of Heaven if it were up to me. But I cannot abandon Lady Michiko." He again looks down the corridor to the south. "And she will not go willingly," he finishes sadly.
"As you say, there is a corruption here. We came here to fight things like this. She and her sisters at the vanguard of our great and committed army. I was their Sōchō…” He pauses. ”Have I been this way for so long that I have lost all honor?” he asks rhetorically. ”I am - or was - Sōchō Sumidagawa Ito,” the Sergeant Major says with a deep bow of his translucent body to Sleeping Sword followed by a second slightly less deep bow to the rest of you.
There’s a Very Hard skill check called for here: either Intimidate, Knowledge (Religion) or Diplomacy. Sleeping Sword has a special bonuses as a cleric of Shizuru but in the end he just doesn’t have the skill set to get to the DC, so it might make sense for someone else to try and let him Aid. Hep’s speech counts as an Aid already. Maria rolled Aid earlier, but obviously she can’t Aid herself (though TBH, she using Religion or Zith using Diplo have the only real chances of success even with bonuses and Aids).
Pronunciation Note: When used in Japanese transliteration, a line above a character - such as the ō in Nitō-Gunsō - means that the letter is pronounced distinctly twice. So this would be “Nee-toh-oh Gun-soh-oh.”
Sergeant Major Sumidagawa is speaking Tien. Since half of the party speak Tien also, I’ll assume they are translating for the rest of you rather than doing spoilers. If Sleeping Sword, Maria, or Hepsubia do address him directly, please specify if you are speaking in Tien or not as bonuses apply. Please and Thank you.
LG Male Shabti Paladin 2/Medium 4 | HP 6/55 | AC 22 (26) T 12 (16) FF 20 (24) | F +13 R +8 W +14 (+2 vs. fear) | CMD/B 20/+8 | Init +2 | Per +5 (dark vision 60 ft) SM +4 | Speed 20 ft | Seance Invocation 5/11 | Influence 1| Smite 1/1 | LOH 5/5 | WC 5/5 | Shirt Re-Roll 0/1 | Active Conditions: endure elements (hot), spell drinker (available), Champion, Smite Evil (Michiko), Legacy of the Princess
"I respect your commitment to the Lady Michiko," Zithembe says. His eyes transform into opals as the residual noble spirits in the stones of the tombs join him. "If she will not go willingly to the next stage because of the corruption in this tomb or her years spent suffering, then her resistance is not truly a choice. Please allow us to set both of you free."
If 30 + any Aid bonus + possible 2 more if Ito is good-aligned fails, then Spirit Surge for +7 more. And let me know because it will affect stats for the rest of the scenario. :)
HP 46 (-0, +5 to stabilize) | Mods: NA | LN Elf Zen Empiricist 7 | AC/Tch/FF 19/14/15 (+1 vs. Traps) | CMD 18 (talisman?)| F/R/W +7/+13/+10 (mods in profile) | Speed 30ft | Inspiration Pool 8/8, 2 Star Reroll 1/1, Perfect Strike: 3/3, Enduring Scholar 1/1 | Init +6 | Perc: 15+1d6 (+1 vs. traps), SM: 15+1d6
Maria, as usual, just keeps translating and lets Zithembe do the talking. Sure, she could write a novel or give a long boring academic lecture about the related religion, but the Shabti generally just has a better handle on a convincing argument.
Even before that roll/result I was planning on putting my effort into an Aid for Zithembe (just using her initial one if ok). And his modifiers are a lot higher than Maria's own religion mods (amazing as they may be :D) so it makes more sense to have him go.
M Dhampir (Ancient Born) Monk (Qinggong Hungry Ghost) 6 / cleric (crusader) 1 | AC 17 T 17 FF 15 | HP 58/58 | F +9 R +8 W +12 | CMD 28 | Init +2 | Perc +14 darkvision 60', lowlight vision | ki 7/7 | kick 6/6 | rest 7/7
The old monk feels intense discomfort at the experience of an undead spirit - an embodiment of evil that he is sworn to cleanse from the world and a reminder of his own accursed origin - addressing him with sincerity and honour. Sleeping Sword pushes the knowledge that the Sōchō's own curse may be the result of his loyalty to his mistress to one side, and meditates upon his training. His eyelids droop down...
"「眠れる剣の道」には、「忠誠ほど高貴で尊いものはない」と書かれています。"
Tien:
"The Way of the Sleeping Sword says: nothing is more noble, nothing more venerable, than loyalty."
HP: 45/45 l AC: 18, T 13, FF 16 l CMD 15 l F +8, R +8, W +7 l Seedpods (6/12), Wings (10 min/day), L1: 5/5, L2: 4/4 l Init +6 l Senses: Perception +12, Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision I Female NG Vine Leshy Alchemist (Herbalist) 6 l Active Conditions:
Soddy remains quiet during most of the conversation, having a vague sense - perhaps a remnant of a past life - that sometimes the best thing to do is simply listen rather than talk. But as Sumidagawa's distress at his position becomes more obvious, she finally has something to say.
"Some spirits live on, or take new forms, and that's okay if it's their choice. But your vessels returned to the earth and your spirits got stuck here instead of going where they were meant to go. You never got a choice and neither did Lady Michiko and that wasn't fair. But do you think she would have really wanted herself or you or anyone else she cared about to stay here and become like you are now?"
Diplomacy (Aid Another):1d20 + 11 ⇒ (3) + 11 = 14
Her thoughts expressed, she pauses and then tugs on the sleeve of whichever party interpreter is standing closest. "Tell him that's what I say, okay?" she whispers.
The shadowy Sōchō listens to each of your wise words. He nods in agreement at the Grandfrogger’s advise. He hears Soddy speaking, and though he catches the jist of it in his nearly forgotten Taldane, he waits patiently and politely for the translation. He bows to the little leshy in thanks before turning to Sleeping Sword. The monk’s words don’t seem to help much, but the simple fact that he is a priest of Shizuru who wishes him to “do the right thing” is enough to sway him a little more.
When Zithembe finishes, Sōchō Sumidagawa pauses as he considers the shabti’s words and the spiritual force behind them. ”You are … correct. She is … bound here … by the evil,” he begins in Common as a sign of respect before switching back to Tien. ”My apologies, I lack the skill to continue in your tongue. Yes, as you say, it is no longer a free and fair choice - for her or us her troops. It is time. I am sure you understand that I cannot assist you against her directly. That would truly be a dishonor.”
The Sergeant Major begins to slowly move out of the room into the corridor to the south. ”Follow me, though, please,” he says as he quickly ducks around the corner into a room off to the side. Piles of bones, generally sorted by type, litter this chamber. A tibia sharpened to a point lies near a circle scratched on the ground. Sumidagawa points to a pile of jawbones and tells you to look underneath. There you find a small cache ot items that he hopes will help you to cleanse this place.
One searing arrow, an aegis of recovery, and an immovable rod lie within. He tells you that he doesn’t think the arrow will work well against Michiko. ”The corruption has changed her. She seems aligned more closely to Fumeiyoshi than Our Empress,” he tells Sleeping Sword with sadness in his words.
”There are two others who attend her. Both were Ittō-Hei and served as couriers on the battlefield. They will fight to the death to protect her.” He pauses. ”As I would have once before.”
The spirit of the once-loyal soldier floats out of the room. ”The source of the corruption is in the south of the Hall. You will feel it - you especially so,” he says to Sleeping Sword. ”I will await you at the fortress entrance. Send my General to the Empress of Heaven, and I will follow her willingly.”
Spirit Surge not needed. With everyone in the party succeeding on their Aid plus other scenario bonuses, you beat the DC by 10. Crit Success! Oh, wait, wrong system.
Trivial Knowledge of Religion for this Party: Fumeiyoshi, the Lord of Envy, is an evil deity and god of dishonor. Originally the god of night and brother of the moon god Tsukiyo, Fumeiyoshi grew jealous of Shizuru’s love for Tsukiyo and slew his brother in a fit of rage. When Shizuru returned Tsukiyo to life, she stripped Fumeiyoshi of his position and banished him to her brother’s grave, decreeing that he would always envy his betters, as the restless dead do the living. Fumeiyoshi is considered the patron of oni and the undead, and of those paladins and samurai who have been dishonored or have fallen from grace.
You find yourselves in the ossuary just one room north of where Sōchō Sumidagawa says you will find Lady Michiko.
The current map, rotated to fit on the slide better. North is to the Left.
M Dhampir (Ancient Born) Monk (Qinggong Hungry Ghost) 6 / cleric (crusader) 1 | AC 17 T 17 FF 15 | HP 58/58 | F +9 R +8 W +12 | CMD 28 | Init +2 | Perc +14 darkvision 60', lowlight vision | ki 7/7 | kick 6/6 | rest 7/7
"Thank you, noble Zithembe, and all of you" Sleeping Sword says as the lost sergeant-major retreats. "My words have never been as sharp as my blade."
"It is time to grant the final sleep to Lady Michiko and her attendants. Zithembe, have you any sense of how long the ritual we have been given will take to enact?"
Sleeping Sword will certainly refresh his Shield of Faith before venturing into Lady Michiko's chamber, and he will also cast Deathwatch.
Grandfrogger, you may use Sleeping Sword's wand of Bless whenever you see fit, it has plenty of charges left (43).
HP: 45/45 l AC: 18, T 13, FF 16 l CMD 15 l F +8, R +8, W +7 l Seedpods (6/12), Wings (10 min/day), L1: 5/5, L2: 4/4 l Init +6 l Senses: Perception +12, Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision I Female NG Vine Leshy Alchemist (Herbalist) 6 l Active Conditions:
"That went as well as could be expected, didn't it?"
Soddy muses for a moment and then begins rattling around in her bag of extracts. "I have some things that might help if anyone wants one," she remarks, pulling out two small vials and holding them up.
______________
Soddy's got one infusion each of Barkskin and Blur available~
GM, how much time since the start of the last fight?
Sorry, I should have answered this earlier. Umm, more than rounds obviously, but less than 1 hour, I think. You did chat with the Sergeant Major and spend time identifying the loot and buffing and healing.
Zithembe leads the way down the dark hallway with Sleeping Sword and the others close behind him. As he enters, he first notes that carved on the walls are hundreds of names from dozens of cultures and races. However, at some point some malicious creature scratched away many of the names, leaving large claw-marks. The next thing he notes are the three forms clustered in the far end of the hall. Two are without heads and wearing full plate armor over their otherwise corporeal bodies with Avistani-style longswords at their hips.
The other is an elven woman also in heavy steel armor. She bears three blades: the traditional samurai’s daishō of katana and wakizashi along with a larger naginata polearm. Her armor is blackened as if blasted by fire and the original holy symbol of Shizuru that adorned it has cracked and mostly fallen off, leaving a misshapen blast mark reminiscent of Fumeiyoshi’s unholy symbol. A slight orange glow seeps from the seams of the armor, as if the woman inside were on fire.
The three appear huddled around something near the corner, but it’s unclear what it is at this distance. At your entrance, the woman turns and languidly says in Tien, of course,”Who are you? Where is my Sōchō?” She doesn’t wait for an answer, but just calls out louder, ”Sumidagawa! Attend us! We have visitors who wish to join the service of Fumeiyoshi.”
The last thing that most of the party notices as they enter is the palpable sense of evil and death in the room.
Everyone except Soddy Daisy and Grandfrogger may make a Knowledge (Arcana) check if able. Sleeping Sword gets a +2 on this cause it feels different to him - in a stangely tingley way. The two that can’t are simply not in the aua. Yet.
Arcana DC 22:
There is a sacriligeous aura here, acting exactly as the spell desecrate to empower the undead. The source is unclear, but it certainly seems to fill nearly the entire room.
Knowledge (Religion) DC 17 to ID the minions.:
They are dullahans, lawful evil undead. Legends speak of their ability to curse their enemies. Those whose names the dullahan knows and speaks as they cast their curse have a harder time resisting the curse. Ask what else you want to know for each 5 over the DC.
Knowledge (Religion) DC 18 re: Lady Michiko:
She is an elf graveknight anitpaladin, also undead. Antipaladins are known for having powers nearly opposite of paladins. For instance, almost all have an aura of cowardice that can cancel out a good paladin’s aura of bravery and make others even more suseptible to fear. Ask what else you want to know for each 5 over the DC.
M Dhampir (Ancient Born) Monk (Qinggong Hungry Ghost) 6 / cleric (crusader) 1 | AC 17 T 17 FF 15 | HP 58/58 | F +9 R +8 W +12 | CMD 28 | Init +2 | Perc +14 darkvision 60', lowlight vision | ki 7/7 | kick 6/6 | rest 7/7
"Yohanatotsu Michiko" Sleeping Sword addresses the graveknight in Tien, "I come at the bidding of the Empress of Heaven to return you to Her light; to grant you and your soldiers the Sleep that you have been wrongly denied."
"Find the strength in your soul to cast off the curse of the Lord of Envy."
The old priest raises his skymetal katana in salute...
The Hunger is strong here, as if it dwells here as a thing in itself. Master it!
HP: 45/45 l AC: 18, T 13, FF 16 l CMD 15 l F +8, R +8, W +7 l Seedpods (6/12), Wings (10 min/day), L1: 5/5, L2: 4/4 l Init +6 l Senses: Perception +12, Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision I Female NG Vine Leshy Alchemist (Herbalist) 6 l Active Conditions:
With no one having taken her up on it earlier, Soddy quickly chugs one of her infusions, causing her form to become oddly blurry around the edges.
"They can do that?" Soddy stares at the two dullahans, clearly surprised by this information. "Hm...maybe I should change my name more often..."
The leshy holds her position, not wanting to get in the way of her taller companions who need room to maneuver and fight.
______________
Maria has likely read about dullahans before, as she quickly recalls that they resist both channeled positive energy and magic. On top of that they have no weaknesses. Their blades summon the cold of the grave itself, and they also have an aura related to fear though it operates differently than the graveknight’s.
Channel resistance, plus SR 18. Please go ahead and roll your Caster Level check if targeting them with spells that are subject to SR. Their longswords are treated as Keen and Frost. They have the Frightful Presence universal monster ability in a 30 foot aura that they must activate as a free action when attacking.
As she considers the undead graveknight, she recalls that they usually also resist channeled energy, and they also resist magic. Legends say that only magical weapons can affect a graveknight, and the hellish power of the armor makes her immune to sleep, cold, electricity, and fire effects. She’s also clearly undead, so she’d be immune to all the things a normal undead would be, too. Oh, and the armor can rejuvenate her once she is slain.
SR 19, so please roll your CL checks for targeting her also. DR 10/magic (yes, I copied that correctly this time.)
The lady listens to Sleeping Sword’s plea that she give up her un-life. She sneers at first, then spots the twin holy symbols he wears. ”That’s MINE! Grave robber! Thief! I will have the gift of my sisters returned!” she screams at the dhampir in Tien. Then she turns to the dullahans and says in Common, ”Kill the priest of the Slut of Heaven first. Whichever of you returns my symbol to me will be promoted to Sōchō, as it appears he has abandoned us.” The dullahans turn their … well, not their eyes, since they have no heads … but clearly turn their attention to the monk.
I would presume that Soddy Daisy could have chugged her potion as soon as she knew no one else was going to use it, and could thus ready an action instead if she doesn’t want to get up in the front.
For all the magics imbued in the arrow, it merely pings off the Tien-style lamelar steel armor from Hell and falls to the floor. The target of said arrow simply raises a single eyebrow scornfully at the elven archer.
I would presume that Soddy Daisy could have chugged her potion as soon as she knew no one else was going to use it, and could thus ready an action instead if she doesn’t want to get up in the front.
LG Male Shabti Paladin 2/Medium 4 | HP 6/55 | AC 22 (26) T 12 (16) FF 20 (24) | F +13 R +8 W +14 (+2 vs. fear) | CMD/B 20/+8 | Init +2 | Per +5 (dark vision 60 ft) SM +4 | Speed 20 ft | Seance Invocation 5/11 | Influence 1| Smite 1/1 | LOH 5/5 | WC 5/5 | Shirt Re-Roll 0/1 | Active Conditions: endure elements (hot), spell drinker (available), Champion, Smite Evil (Michiko), Legacy of the Princess
Zithembe opens his mind to the remnant spirits not wholly lost to the evil of the place, and his copper eyes transform into polished rubies. He brandishes his sword toward Michiko as he strides into the middle of the room. "Lady Michiko, we have come to set your spirit free of its torture."
He raises his shield in defense of himself and his allies.
Swift: Spiritual Invocation (Champion) Free: Smite Evil vs. Michiko Move: 20 ft Standard: Total Defense
AC 26 (30 vs. Michiko)/T 16 (20 vs. Michiko)/FF 20 (24 vs. Michiko)
HP: 45/45 l AC: 18, T 13, FF 16 l CMD 15 l F +8, R +8, W +7 l Seedpods (6/12), Wings (10 min/day), L1: 5/5, L2: 4/4 l Init +6 l Senses: Perception +12, Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision I Female NG Vine Leshy Alchemist (Herbalist) 6 l Active Conditions:
D'oh! Yes, that works for me, GM.
Having already made use of her infusion, Soddy simply readies to throw a seedpod - though she's not entirely sure how effective it'll be against undead such as these.
Readied Action:
Soddy throws at the first enemy to get within her PBS range.
Female Elf Rogue/Alchemist/Skald/Bloodrager/ Occultist (2/1/1/1/1) Init +4 (+5) HP 42 (48) AC 19 (20) T 14 (15)FF 15 (16)Fort+3 (+4)Ref +8 (+9)Will +3 Per +6 Spd 30 (40)
Hey, aren't we supposed fo fight sober? Oh yes, it would be wiser, and we don't do wise things here.
says Hepsubia as she looks at Soddy gulping something
well, cheers! time to take our vitamins and says your prayers, Brother!
The elf drinks a liquid of her own concoction, and her slight frame piles on muscles. She points a finger at the group of undeads, and takes a pose. She seems to grow a blonde mustache, while her hair recedes.
Whatchagonnado, brother, when the 35 inches cobras of Hepsumania will run wild on you?
Takes a Mutagen +4 Str/-2 Int,+2 AC.
Then she starts to sing and your weapons glow all yellow and red, fuelled by the power of Hepsumania!
Zithembe strides forwards in challenge to the undead while calling on the support of other, more benign spirits. Soddy Daisy readies her seed pod, and Hep flexes and sings.*
Michiko-sama looks at Zithembe and says to her attendants, ”Mine,” with an evil laugh as she steps forward and unsheathes a katana similar in shape to Sleeping Sword’s but clearly unlike it in constuction. Her’s seems to suck the light and life from the very air around it. She then slashes it downward at the paladin.
The nearest dullahan moves slowly in its heavy armor around and past the paladin clearly wanting to claim the prize she offers by killing the dhampir monk. It draws the longsword from its sheath as it moves, and it too seems to suck what little warth there is in this crypt from the room. Double move
As it closes in, Soddy throws her seed pod and nails the shot!***
Roll vs Soddy’s bomb effect:1d20 ⇒ 6
Round 1 Bold May Act
Map: The Lady and the Troops
Conditions: None
Buffs: bless, Weapon Song**, Seance damage
Maria
Zithembe (-24, Can take AO vs Green)
Soddy Daisy
Hepsubia
Lady Michiko
Green (-12 plus crit damage, and seedpod effect)
Sleeping Sword
Grandfrogger
Blue
*Technically drinking a mutagen and starting weapon song are both standard actions. I’m going to allow it, since you flavored the mutagen as something you did in response to Soddy’s own potion drinking which I allowed to happen in the Buffing round. So all good, but just a reminder for next time in case you thought you could do both of those in the same round.
***@Soddy Daisy: Your crit does indeed confirm, but you didn’t roll damage and didn’t include the PBS +1 damage. Also, you can apply either Deafened, reduced vision, or entangled every time you use one. I rolled a d20 above for either the Fort save or Strength check depending on which effect you chose. But either way, he fails.
If the unarmed strike hits, trigger Domain Strike: Gentle Rest. (Swift action). The undead dullahan is Staggered for 4 rounds (no save). If the unarmed strike does not hit, spend 1 ki on an additional katana flurry attack.
Zithembe lashes out at the first dullahan to move past him, his sword just barely finding a gap in the armor. Just then he also notices something touch him from behind and feels warmly insulated against further cold-based attacks.
Sleeping Sword makes a little room for his allies to step out and then unleashes Holy Hell on the dullahan. The first punch staggers it and the katana slash bites extra deeply through its armor. It’s not looking very good at this point.
The other dullahan sees what’s been done and lumbers around Zithembe also. Upon reaching his fellow Ittō-Hei, he says,
Sylvan:
”Return to the font for healing; I will take your place here and also aid our Lady.”
Double move. Zithembe doesn’t appear to have Combat Reflexes.
Round Bold May Act
Map: The Lady and the Troops
Conditions: None
Buffs: bless, Weapon Song**, Seance damage
Maria
Zithembe (-24, Resist Cold 10)
Soddy Daisy
Hepsubia
Lady Michiko
Green (-67 plus crit damage, Staggered, and entangled?)
Sleeping Sword
Grandfrogger
Blue
**Weapon Song options: Basic +1 enhancement, Defending, Flaming, Frost, Ghost touch, Keen, Mighty Cleaving, Shock, or Seeking.
***@Soddy Daisy: Your crit does indeed confirm, but you didn’t roll damage and didn’t include the PBS +1 damage. Also, you can apply either Deafened, reduced vision, or entangled every time you use one. I rolled a d20 above for either the Fort save or Strength check depending on which effect you chose. But either way, he fails.
In order to simplify things, I’ll assume that Soddy Daisy did put entangled on it. Deafened doesn’t do much good, and limiting their vision wouldn’t help either. But entangled….
The dullahan stumbles on the sticky vines from Soddy Daisy’s seed pod as it tries to avoid Wasp’s shot. But that stumble is just enough to let her arrow find its mark, killing the first of the two couriers.
”Perhaps I’ve underestimated you all,” the former general says, reevaluating the battle at the fall of one of her attendants. She smiles coldly at Zithembe. ”I will not make that mistake with you now.”
Round 2 Bold May Act
Map: The Lady and the Troops
Conditions: None
Buffs: bless, Weapon Song**, Seance damage
Maria Zithembe (-24, Resist Cold 10)
Soddy Daisy
Hepsubia
Lady Michiko Green (-67 plus crit damage, Staggered, and entangled?)
Sleeping Sword
Grandfrogger
Blue
**Weapon Song options: Basic +1 enhancement, Defending, Flaming, Frost, Ghost touch, Keen, Mighty Cleaving, Shock, or Seeking.
Of course, while she was threatening Zith, Lady Michiko wasn't expecting the Duchess of Awesomeness, who is even less expected than the Chellish Inquisition.
Being, like, totawly caught in her own Hepsumania fantasy, and even moar totawler inconscious of the danger she puts herself in, Lil" Hep points at the leader of undead,waves a big NO with her fingers, and dashes, rushes, sprints and jumps into action, unleashing the full power of her fabled 35 inches cobras in an undeath defying move.
LG Male Shabti Paladin 2/Medium 4 | HP 6/55 | AC 22 (26) T 12 (16) FF 20 (24) | F +13 R +8 W +14 (+2 vs. fear) | CMD/B 20/+8 | Init +2 | Per +5 (dark vision 60 ft) SM +4 | Speed 20 ft | Seance Invocation 5/11 | Influence 1| Smite 1/1 | LOH 5/5 | WC 5/5 | Shirt Re-Roll 0/1 | Active Conditions: endure elements (hot), spell drinker (available), Champion, Smite Evil (Michiko), Legacy of the Princess
Zithembe calls upon a familiar spirit--the last Imperial Princess of Lung Wa, Song Rui--as he battles the corrupted knight. He strikes out with the phantom's protection and then steps back to offer Sleeping Sword an advantage.
Swift: Legacy of the Princess (8-16 boon) Standard: Attack 5-foot Step
HP: 45/45 l AC: 18, T 13, FF 16 l CMD 15 l F +8, R +8, W +7 l Seedpods (6/12), Wings (10 min/day), L1: 5/5, L2: 4/4 l Init +6 l Senses: Perception +12, Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision I Female NG Vine Leshy Alchemist (Herbalist) 6 l Active Conditions:
Having a clean line of sight to the other dullahan, Soddy takes aim once again...
Hep rushes forward into the ring the fight (Is that music playing in the background, and fireworks going off, too?). She slashes at Lady Michiko’s face and though it hits, the fire seems ineffective. She snarls at the elf’s audacity.
Hit, but No Crit. Maria told you she’s immune to Fire. And Electricity and Cold, too, in case you all forgot.
Zithembe calls upon another spirit and smites the graveknight. No Surge needed
Soddy lobs a seedpod at the other courier and easily hits.
As the spirit manifests around Zithembe, Michiko scoffs. ”Pah. Song Rui? We met at the Lung Wa Embassay in Kasai. You’ve changed and not for the better it seems. But no matter, you cannot save this one, nor any of them. They will all die and be reborn into my service.”
She steps away from the wall and calls for Fumeiyoshi to help her destroy the paladin.
The first strike hits, but the Last Princess of Lung Wa intercepts the second. Michiko screams in rage as Song Rui winks at her.
5 foor step, Smite Zithembe, Full attack. Rolling the cold separate in case it comes up > 10. And yes, I know that’s not how the boon works, just using it as flavor for the Nat 1.
Round 2 Bold May Act
Map: The Lady and the Troops
Conditions: None
Buffs: bless, Weapon Song**, Seance damage
Maria
Zithembe (-49, Resist Cold 10, Smiting v Michiko, Boon)
Soddy Daisy
Hepsubia
Lady Michiko (-30, Smite Zith)
Sleeping Sword
Grandfrogger
Blue (-16, entangled)
**Weapon Song options: Basic +1 enhancement, Defending, Flaming, Frost, Ghost touch, Keen, Mighty Cleaving, Shock, or Seeking.
M Dhampir (Ancient Born) Monk (Qinggong Hungry Ghost) 6 / cleric (crusader) 1 | AC 17 T 17 FF 15 | HP 58/58 | F +9 R +8 W +12 | CMD 28 | Init +2 | Perc +14 darkvision 60', lowlight vision | ki 7/7 | kick 6/6 | rest 7/7
Don't know what you have in mind this round Grandfrogger, but Escape Route would let Sleeping Sword engage Michiko this round. Otherwise happy to flanking full attack Blue :)
HP 46 (-0, +5 to stabilize) | Mods: NA | LN Elf Zen Empiricist 7 | AC/Tch/FF 19/14/15 (+1 vs. Traps) | CMD 18 (talisman?)| F/R/W +7/+13/+10 (mods in profile) | Speed 30ft | Inspiration Pool 8/8, 2 Star Reroll 1/1, Perfect Strike: 3/3, Enduring Scholar 1/1 | Init +6 | Perc: 15+1d6 (+1 vs. traps), SM: 15+1d6
Maria is going to use up her Zepha’s Blessing boon on Sleeping Sword. Kick (or punch or slash) some undead bootay!
Boon:
Zepha’s Blessing: The purification ritual that you helped perform impressed the archon Zepha, and he has given you his blessing. You can cross this boon off your Chronicle sheet to grant an ally that you can see a +2 sacred bonus on any d20 roll before she rolls it.
Perfect - I wasn’t certain what would be most helpful this round.
The Grandfrogger surveys the room with red eyes and understands what his colleague of the Sleeping Sword has in mind. "Your lessons, remember," he croaks solemnly. "Cooperate!"
Using Tribal Cooperation to give everyone the effects of Escape Route for 6 rounds.
M Dhampir (Ancient Born) Monk (Qinggong Hungry Ghost) 6 / cleric (crusader) 1 | AC 17 T 17 FF 15 | HP 58/58 | F +9 R +8 W +12 | CMD 28 | Init +2 | Perc +14 darkvision 60', lowlight vision | ki 7/7 | kick 6/6 | rest 7/7
Thanks Maria!
The Hunger is strongest in Michiko - use it!
Seeing the corrupted general savagely attack his comrade Zithembe, Sleeping Sword sways rhythymically, evading the dullahan and dodging past Michiko to outflank the graveknight.
"Two constants." He raises his skymetal katana, and is filled with the blessing of Heaven's warriors.
"The Sun and the Moon." He feints with his sword, and strikes with his foot...
Assuming that hits, trigger Gentle Rest domain strike as a swift action. Michiko is Staggered for 4 rounds, no save. Also she must make a DC16 Fort save or fall prone due to Punishing Kick.
Maria calls for the help of an archon who answers even here in this accursed place. Grandfrogger reminds everyone to work together and cover for each others’ movements across the battlefield. Sleeping Sword takes immediate advantage of Hep’s positioning and slides around to flank the anti-paladin. However, as soon as he gets close to the back of the room, he senses something Dark. A small fissure in the fabric of reality rests about 1 meter off the floor. Dark energy seeps from the fissure, filling the dhampir with a feeling of “warmth” in his inverse physiology. It’s clear to him that this is the source of the corruption they’ve been seeking, and why the Sergeant Major said that he would notice it more than the others.
But the monk doesn’t let the discovery distract him, and he snap kicks the General in the knee hoping to make her fall.
Fort save DC 16:1d20 + 17 ⇒ (6) + 17 = 23
She takes the full force of the kick but twists her hips just enough to avoid being tripped. But something in the way he punched her does seem to slow her down, and she snarls in frustration as she gets a better look at the Crusader of Shizuru. ”I will kill the jade one, and then you will join my army. You hide behind the Slut’s symbols, but in truth you are just like us, born to rule over the living. We can turn all of them,” she says with a nod toward the rest of the party, ”then ride forth into the world and fulfill our destiny.”
The remaining dullahan evaluates the rapidly changing battlefield and applies the tactics he knows from his past. Archers can be deadly, and the Lady can handle those three. He moves (slowwwwlllyyy) towards the rear lines of the enemy and strikes at the lightly armored archer.
The blade just catches Maria’s belly and a numbing chill accompanies the slashing wound.
HELP: I’m in mainland China, so I can see the slides on my phone, but can’t edit them. Could someone move Blue 2 squares Left, please.
Round 2 Bold May Act
Map: The Lady and the Troops
Conditions: None
Buffs: bless, Weapon Song**, Seance damage, Escape Route
Maria (-14)
Zithembe (-49, Resist Cold 10, Smiting v Michiko, Boon)
Soddy Daisy
Hepsubia
Lady Michiko (-41, Staggered 4, Smite Zith)
Sleeping Sword (Zepha’s Blessing)
Grandfrogger
Blue (-16, entangled)
**Weapon Song options: Basic +1 enhancement, Defending, Flaming, Frost, Ghost touch, Keen, Mighty Cleaving, Shock, or Seeking.
My reasoning for going after Maria: Lady Michiko said Zithembe was Hers, so he’s not going to steal that kill. He won’t step into flank, and he’s entangled so only a 10 foot speed. Chasing down Sleeping Sword would require a double move and trigger AOs. GF has only done advice stuff, so doesn’t seem like much of a threat. Archers on a battlefield can be super dangerous, as evidenced by her striking the killing blow on his fellow.
HP 46 (-0, +5 to stabilize) | Mods: NA | LN Elf Zen Empiricist 7 | AC/Tch/FF 19/14/15 (+1 vs. Traps) | CMD 18 (talisman?)| F/R/W +7/+13/+10 (mods in profile) | Speed 30ft | Inspiration Pool 8/8, 2 Star Reroll 1/1, Perfect Strike: 3/3, Enduring Scholar 1/1 | Init +6 | Perc: 15+1d6 (+1 vs. traps), SM: 15+1d6
Logic seems sound. Moved blue. Does Zith get an AoO? Maria started down 2 HP so should be -16.
The elf understands her role, keep this one occupied so her allies can surround the real foe. She steps back and fires another arrow, then studies her target for weaknesses.
Step, Shoot last holy arrow, Study Blue. Study does nothing now unless she engages in melee, which may soon happen.
Zithembe sweeps his blade into the dullahan as it moves away from him. He quickly turns his attention back to the fallen Lady Michiko. Taking more care this time as he feels the weight of his wounds, he strikes again and then steps back.
HP: 45/45 l AC: 18, T 13, FF 16 l CMD 15 l F +8, R +8, W +7 l Seedpods (6/12), Wings (10 min/day), L1: 5/5, L2: 4/4 l Init +6 l Senses: Perception +12, Darkvision 60 ft., Low-Light Vision I Female NG Vine Leshy Alchemist (Herbalist) 6 l Active Conditions:
Hoping to take some of the attention off Maria, Soddy winds up with yet another seedpod and flings it at Blue!
About the time the seedpod leaves her fingertips it occurs to her that she's let herself become somewhat separated from the rest of the group and that that's probably not a good thing.
Heh, I posted that “Bold may act,” but didn’t bold anyone in the tracker. Thanks for knowing who was up, anyway.
Zithembe reflexively lashes out at the dullahan and takes a chunk out of its back as it moves away from him. Just in time for Wasp to fire her arrow and sadly miss by a hair. Zithembe turns his attention back to the far greater threat, attacks (with a little help from the gods of chance) and connects with her also, before he too retreats a bit.
Correct, Spirit Surge not required.
Soddy draws the attention of the dullahan with a direct hit. If it had a face, it would be glaring at the little leshy, but instead it just points its sword at her as if to say, “You’re next.”
Round 3 Hepsubia May Act
Map: The Lady and the Troops
Conditions: None
Buffs: bless, Weapon Song**, Seance damage, Escape Route
Maria (-16)
Zithembe (-49, Resist Cold 10, Smiting v Michiko, Boon)
Soddy Daisy Hepsubia
Lady Michiko (-57, Staggered 4, Smite Zith)
Sleeping Sword (Zepha’s Blessing)
Grandfrogger
Blue (-42, entangled)
**Weapon Song options: Basic +1 enhancement, Defending, Flaming, Frost, Ghost touch, Keen, Mighty Cleaving, Shock, or Seeking.
Tracker accounting correction: The wounds on the dullahan seem to close slightly. Fast Healing 5 that I forgot to adjust his damage for on his previous turn.
Hepsubia gets distracted by a fly buzzing past her ear, and her strike against Lady Michiko misses completely.
I presume you don’t have anything you could do with your remaining Move action.
So focused on Zithembe is the Lady that she doesn’t even notice Hepsubia. I mean, they are in a Smite Off, after all. But the monk hobbled her, so she stumbles inelegantly toward the hallway opening and slashes just once at the paladin.
Attack, Anti-Smite:1d20 + 16 + 5 ⇒ (9) + 16 + 5 = 30 Damage, Smite:1d8 + 10 + 7 ⇒ (4) + 10 + 7 = 21 and cold?:2d6 ⇒ (5, 2) = 7 A 5-foot step is a “non-action” and thus not affected by Staggered. Then single attack as her only actual action.
Michiko’s katana slits open Zithembe’s belly like a samurai committing seppuku. She grins in triumph as he falls, but then her expression turns sour as she senses something strange about his imminent death. ”You cannot be turned,” she says to the dying shabti laying crumpled at her feet. ”A pity, you’d have made a fine addition to my army.” Dismissing him without another thought, she turns her attention back to Sleeping Sword. ”You, however, you will join me.”
”Haruguchi, finish those others. I will deal with this one now,”
Round 3 BOLD May Act
Map: The Lady and the Troops
Conditions: None
Buffs: bless, Weapon Song**, Seance damage?*, Escape Route
Maria (-16)
Soddy Daisy
Hepsubia
Zithembe (Dying at -15 HP (18 CON), Resist Cold 10, Smiting v Michiko, Boon)
Lady Michiko (-57, Staggered 3, Smite Zith)
Sleeping Sword
Grandfrogger
Blue (aka Haruguchi) (-42, entangled)
**Weapon Song options: Basic +1 enhancement, Defending, Flaming, Frost, Ghost touch, Keen, Mighty Cleaving, Shock, or Seeking.
I thought I gave you all this info, but it looks like I left this out. It’s a separate effect tacked onto the desecration aura. The aura of desecration that exudes from the graveknight hinders the channeling of positive energy. Any creature that attempts to summon positive energy in this area—such as through a cleric’s channel energy ability, a paladin’s lay on hands, or any spell with the healing subtype—must make a DC 18 Concentration check.
?* Does the seance damage bonus continue while Zithembe is unconscious? I know his Smite will stay in effect.
Some rapid-fire copypasta of relevant posts from the other discussion thread:
GM Ladile wrote:
Something that I've been noodling around a bit since some discussion with some of the players on Hangouts *and* spurred by Lazarus making mention of going to Irrisen - it's a ways off but I would be willing to continue to run scenarios/modules for this group once we finish this trilogy, if enough people are interested.
The biggest issue would of course be trying to find scenarios that everyone can play, especially since I know GM Red (Brayden) is doing this very thing for a different group whose members overlap somewhat with this group. The level disparity between some of you might be another issue on down the line, but one that could probably be worked around with some care. Of course we could also do something like a 'restart' and start a long-term group with everyone playing characters that are a little closer together in level (not necessarily 'start a brand new PC' but 'bring a 1st or 2nd level PC').
Feel free to think it over (no rush) and let me know what you think, either here or privately. And it won't hurt my feelings if people prefer to go their separate ways after we finish the trilogy :)
GM Ladile wrote:
Wow guys, thanks for the support and enthusiasm! That's five of you for certain so we'll definitely work on making this a more permanent thing, then. It never hurts to do some planning ahead so in case you don't already make use of it, it'd help immensely for everyone to track what they've played (and GMed) using the handy-dandy:
PFS Tracker
This will help make it easier to figure out what scenarios and/or modules everyone can play and get credit for. Dalen (should you wish to stick around too), I know you're basically good to play almost anything except for Portent's Peril but it's not a bad idea to track your played scenarios if you think doing Organized Play will be something you'd want to keep dabbling in :)
And I'm also happy to take requests if there are any particular scenarios/modules people would like to play *or* if there's a country/region you'd like to visit (some countries are the setting for way more scenarios than others, just a warning) - I can't promise anything but I'll do my best to be as accommodating as the group logistics allows me to be!
*cough* And on that note, I must head out to work. Updates later~~
GM Ladile wrote:
As far as a regular group goes it looks like everyone is interested, so let's do it! While it would of course be fun to keep with the same characters the entire time, I also understand that it might work better for some, such as Lazarus, if we allow character-swapping. Maybe it's not so much that the same specific individuals always get called upon (such as with GM Red's Red Arm of Absalom group), but that there's a pool of several qualified agents that some of the Venture-Captains have started pulling from when forming a team. This is because I want people to play the characters they want to play and I'm not going to discourage a bit of character swapping if we happen to play a specific scenario that you really want to play Character B for instead of the Character A that you've largely been playing.
Another bit of business - another player that some of us know, Eric Swanson, has also expressed interest in getting in on this after we finish the Faithless & Forgotten trilogy. This would put us at 7 players. While I personally don't mind running for a table of 7 (because I know & trust you guys), I know that some players really prefer to stick to groups of 6 at the most. What say you?
(I made the joke that I could always form a separate, static CORE group since Eric seems to prefer more simplistic/old school gameplay but that's probably a terrible idea for my sanity, someone please talk me out of it.)
Meredith - thanks for the likes & dislikes, that does help! We can certainly add some fey/nature scenarios to the mix; I'm currently playing Down the Verdant Path and so far it seems like it'd be right up Meredith's alley. Any other themes anyone in particular would like to see? Or avoid? For example, I actually enjoy some horror in some of my gaming/GMing but it's not everyone's cup of tea.
Okay, so! Word has gotten around a little bit and I've got enough potential players interested in playing that instead of having one big table (of 7) we can split it into two tables. If we end up going with two tables I'll take enough people to make two full groups of 6 and no more. Now we don't *have* to run with two groups of 6; running with two groups of 4 can be quite easily done. However, I'm sure there are other great players out there that we could invite to play - perhaps some I might know and others I might not. But if there's space, I'd like to fill it if everyone is amenable to it :)
The next question that comes when running two tables is the question of whether both should be Standard or one Standard and one Core table. If there's enough desire and interest for a Core table I'm happy to oblige but if people would prefer to go with two Standard tables then that will work just fine as well. If we end up doing one Standard and one Core and you *really* want to do both and can't choose between the two, I might allow for one or two of you to play at both tables if you so desire.
*edit* Nate, if you're reading this, the difference between Core and Standard is that Core is restricted down to just the Core Rulebook in regards to sources you can use for your characters while Standard allows you to utilize basically any Pathfinder product that has approved material.
Since we've got a range of players that spans from Larry, who has played quite a few things, to at least one potential player who's never done a Society game before, one table should probably start out at 1st/2nd level and the other can be a little more flexible and possibly continue rolling with characters that are slightly higher in level.
As I mentioned over in the F&F thread, I won't be looking to start this until those scenarios are finished. Though I'm trying to pick up the pace on that a bit, it'll likely be the middle/later part of summer before I'll really be ready to go. Hopefully this won't pose any issues for anyone; I'm aware that summer can be really busy for people so be sure to let me know if that tentative scheduling will be an issue for you.
So...here's where we talk shop and people figure out what table they might want to play at, figure out what character(s) they might want to play, suggest ideas/scenarios/modules/other stuff, etc. If there are any questions or concerns about any of this, please feel free to let me know either here or via PM!
Oh, it just occurred to me that a valid question that some of you might have for me would be:
Isn't this a pretty big commitment, even if it's not an AP? Especially with two tables? How will that work?
Definitely a fair question! I will definitely need to adjust my juggling of other games and other GM duties a bit if I'm going to take on two long-term tables. Mainly, it means I'll likely not offer to GM anything through the Flaxseed Lodge like I might otherwise do. When it comes to PbP conventions like PbP Gameday and OutPost, I might run *a* table for those in addition to the two steady tables but that'd be about it. And it means I'll probably be doing fewer games as a player, but that's okay because I've been lucky enough to get to play a lot in the past :)
Ranger-3, Warpriest-3 of Gozreh HP 58, Init +4, Perception +10 (AC 22, touch 12, flat-footed 20) HP 50: Fort +9, Ref +6, Will +8 Languages Common, Draconic, Skald
I am the aforementioned player with zero PFS experience, although I started playing a TT pathfinder game during the playtest and have been doing PbP here for a few years now. I’d probably be more interested in a standard game than a core one, and I’ll need some guidance on, like, registering a character or however that works. I haven’t had a chance to play something LL’s run yet, but I’ve played with her in a couple games (and am running one she’s in) and would really like to try one of her games.
Nate - To register a character for Organized Play, I think you'll need to do the following (since the site layout has changed since I did this for myself):
(1) Click on 'Organized Play' up at the top of the page
(2) Click 'Create a Character' - which will prompt a sign-in to the website
I *think* that doing this for the first time will give you your own unique PFS ID# which is used for reporting purposes when you play games. The FAQ also has answers to a lot of common questions about registering characters, how wealth in PFS works, etc.
Another resource that is useful in helping determine if something is PFS legal or not is the Archives of Nethys. If you see a little symbol next to something that's meant to indicate that it's legal for use in PFS. *NOTE* - The website owner does his best to keep up with legality but occasionally stuff might be missed or it may take awhile for the website to be updated. So while AoN is a good starting point, when in doubt about the legality of something, you'll want to check the Additional Resources (which you'll find a link to by clicking on Organized Play).
Some other not-PFS links that I think make for good reading nonetheless:
Unchained Rogue/Mouser 4/2 | HP 41/41 | AC 24, T 17, FF 24 Uncanny Dodge| Fort +3, Ref +13 +2 vs Traps, Evasion, Will +1 (+2 vs Fear) | Init +5 | Perc +15 (+2 vs Traps/Surprise)Trapspotter | Luck: 3/3 | Panache: 4/4 | Charmed Life: 3/3 |Effects:
As much as a long term Core game intrigues me, Frankie here would love to continue his exploration of the known world with Meredith and Denair.
IF for some reason you were keeping the core and normal games different and wanted a cranky old Dwarven fighter to go along with others, Ironshanks (LvL 3) would love to guide some young pups.
Definitely in. I'm unsure of which character it'll be but I'll probably rotate every few games. I only have one Core PC and haven't played him in 2 years, I'd really prefer Standard :)
Looking forward to it!
Male Probably human Computer Scientist 1/ Character Synthesizer 20/ Crazy 99
Core sounds interesting. I wouldn't mind playing there, but I can also play in a standard game with Dalen if I need to.
If I did core, I'd have to start a new character. I'll wait and see what else we have before really committing to a concept, though. As much as I would love to play the Barbarian I mentioned in the other thread, I am up for playing something else if there's a hole.
I have no PFS characters (nor GM credits) so I’d have to start at 1st... if people have higher level characters they want to continue playing I certainly won’t be offended, but if there’s a table starting over that’s the one I’d be looking to join.
Question- can I register a name/alias that I already have on the boards or do I have to start a new one?
Alas, yes, making a new Organized Play character means creating a new alias. You can see the difference if, for example, you were to click on my profile and look at all my aliases - Organized Play characters always show up first, at the top, and their names are colored in green when they post, like Meredith's is.
________
Tentatively it looks like we've got the following expressions of interest:
Massee - Standard (sticking w/Frankie) or Core
chadius - Standard (sticking w/Meredith) or Core
Nate - Standard (brand new player)
Eric - Standard (but has expressed some interest in Core)
GM Red - Standard
Adam - Standard (w/Dalen or a new PC) or Core (new PC)
Larry is busy at PaizoCon and Jan hasn't specified but I'm going to assume for now that both of them will prefer to play Standard and would also prefer to stick to the same table as they (I believe) know each other IRL.
With everyone amenable to playing Standard but only a few expressing some interest in Core, it may be easiest to just do two Standard tables as I mentioned earlier - one for new/1st/2nd level PCs and the other for a group that's (overall) slightly higher in level. Assuming my above assumptions and assessments are correct, we currently have something that looks like this:
Group A (Established)
Massee
chadius
Larry
Jan
GM Red
Group B (Fresh Start)
Nate
With Eric and Adam's positions being a little more variable. Eric, you've got a PC that's almost 2nd, one that's 4th, and one that's 5th - you could fit in fairly well at either table. Adam, you could keep Dalen in the established group, play Dalen in the 'Fresh Start' group, or make a new PC for the 'Fresh Start' group. I'd rather not add too many new 1st level characters to Group A because even with the higher-level characters slow-tracking for people to catch up, we're likely to end up in a situation with 1st and 2nd level PCs having to play in the 4-5 subtier which can be dangerous.
Since it also looks like I'll need to see about inviting a couple more players to help round things out no matter which tables Eric and Adam decide to go with, does anyone have any suggestions for good, reliable players that I should ask? These are long-haul games so I want people at the table(s) that are fun to play with, can write decently, and actually act like they want to be at the table in the first place and show a little enthusiasm. I can think of a few but I also want to hear your suggestions as well!
If I’m the only reason you’re running a second table I can bow out... I’d like to play one of your games (and I am curious about society play), but you really don’t need to do a second table just for me!
Nope. Too late. You're in this for the long haul now.
...
....
.....
Seriously though, it's fine! While you *can* fit 7 players at a PFS table (which is what we would have if you decide to bow out) and it still be legal, it's not really the ideal as it adds more for the GM to keep up with and can also trivialize parts of scenarios - especially if multiple players have critter companions or someone wants to do summoning or the like. Most GMs and players usually prefer a 6-person table. I don't say that to make anyone feel like they're causing me an inconvenience - it's just usually how things tend to operate in Society play, as far as I've seen.
That being said, I'm super flattered and happy that my current players want to keep playing and other people want to give my GMing a try and want to give Society play a try and I want to accommodate as many of you all as I can reasonably commit to. There are always people looking for PFS games over in the Flaxseed Lodge and so it won't be much of a problem at all to find people to round out a second group - I'm just being a little more picky since everyone will (hopefully) be playing together for awhile and I want to avoid personality and expectation mismatches.
So...if you're sure about bowing out, that's perfectly fine but if you're curious about Society play and want to give my GMing a try then please, stay. It'll all come together with a little time and effort. And the nice thing about Society play is that most scenarios are little self-contained one-shots so if you play a couple and decide that Society play isn't for you, you can bow out without any issue and another player can be invited to fill the seat with much less hassle than it would be to replace a player in something like an AP :)
And Eric has expressed interest in sitting at the higher-level table so that just leaves filling a few more spots for Fresh Start! Does anyone (asking everyone not just the FS players) have any suggestions on people to hit up? Or know anyone that hasn't tried PFS/PbP/PFS PbP but would like to?
Also Adam & Nate - Arsith from our Shattered Star game has been consistently checking with me every so often to see if I'm running anything; shall I see if they're interested too? :)
I’m not sure I know any other society players. I have one friend who I know is interested in finding a game but if I’m being completely honest he doesn’t have the best track record with posting regularly.
I've played exactly three PFS games (and one SFS game), all at PaizoCon last weekend.
My experienced character is a human unchained rogue (L2), designed around feinting in combat. I also have three unplayed L1 characters that are registered: a Shoanti barbarian (going for Thunder and Fang), a Mwangi wizard (transmuter), and a Varisian cleric of Desna. I would be happy run the wizard or cleric in Core if people want to, but I'd prefer standard.
*psst* Adam...Fresh Start will also be a Standard table. There was definitely some interest in Core but nearly everyone is game for Standard - and alas, I've yet to win the lottery so I can't quit my job just yet to run all the games for all the people or I'd do a third Core group!
I never have a shortage of character ideas, so I’m also willing to wait and see what other players want to do and then develop a character to fill gaps. Or, if there’s a lot of tentativeness I’ll just pick something to help others find a niche.
MUWAHAHAHAHA! I HAVE FOUND YOU AGAIN SHIELD BUG! Oh, and the rest of you I suppose :P I have arrived and now you will never get ride of me <3 I think at this rate, I'm in more games with the buginator than without!
I have several level 1-2 characters I could bring and am willing to just make a new one if they don't fit.
Male Probably human Computer Scientist 1/ Character Synthesizer 20/ Crazy 99
GM Ladile wrote:
*psst* Adam...Fresh Start will also be a Standard table. There was definitely some interest in Core but nearly everyone is game for Standard - and alas, I've yet to win the lottery so I can't quit my job just yet to run all the games for all the people or I'd do a third Core group!
Above, you mentioned geographic locations. I'd love to venture into the mwangi expanse and the world wound as often as possible. I'll second the naturey stuff in general too, especially if I am playing my druid :D
As far as planning what we play, I have a couple of replays floating around. Aren't our stars recharged annually as well?
I...think so? I've only recently gotten my first star so I'm still a little unclear on how recharging them works - guess I need to go read up on it!
And your suggestions/requests are noted, Gummy. I'll try my best to select things that would be appealing to as much of the group as possible based on faction choices, class, etc. And if you have multiple characters and really want to play Character B for a particular scenario instead of Character A, you can do that! I'd rather each of you play what *you* want to play instead of feeling forced to stick with the same PC for the sake of continuity - though I do hope that we'll eventually get to a point where the same general group of faces are quite used to working with each other :)
For those of you who have several scenarios under your belt already, I would greatly appreciate it if you could list them using this awesome:
If you already use it, please make sure your reporting information is up to date. It's got the functionality to let me form a group of players and then filter out all the scenarios that each person has played in order to narrow things down to what everyone can still play together :)
OMG I have a stalker!!! Hehe, howdy Gummy Bear. :)
My PFS Session Tracker is all up to date, and it tells me I've only played 24 out of the huge number available, so I should be good to play most games. Oh, and I should get my first star in a few months, so that'll help too. I haven't got any specific requests for themes or locations, except maybe the world wound if I play my Paladin.
I have three characters in range, and can always make a fresh one should it be needed:
Halfling Chosen One Paladin 1.1 who's pretty fun to play, and my top choice.
Leshy Plant Master Hunter 1.1 with a focus on feeding his pet Slithering Sundew.
Human Warpriest 1.2 who has a fun habit of using his bow as a club more than as a ranged weapon.
Here's a list of scenarios that I have played but would definitely spend a replay to play:
Season 9
9-06 Shores of Heaven [Outer Planes] (I have been dying to spend a replay on this with a good GM. The one I played this with did his best...)
9-08 Birthright Betrayed [Taldor]
Season 8
8-01 Portent's Peril [Varisia] (Though I just started playing that with Ladile and she's doing a super job, she might not want to run it again and again)
8-05 Ungrounded but Unbroken [Outer Planes]
8-08 Tyranny of the Winds, Part I [Orsiron]
8-10 Tyranny of the Winds, Part II [Outer Planes]
8-14 To Seal the Shadow [Tian/Minata]
Season 5
5-11 Library of the Lion
There's more on that list than I have replays for, but basically, if it's on the list above, you don't need to ask me if I'm OK replaying it. :)
Hehe... I've played 87. Tracker info should be up to date. Like I said, I'll use whatever stars and replays I have to make it all work out. Especially if I'm the one holding us back on a desired scenario!
That's everyone checked in! We are full, closed, no vacancies remaining!
(Apologies for those hoping for more Core...I can't commit to a third long-term table but I'll try to offer more individual Core games in the future as bandwidth permits.)
So it looks like Blake will be playing a Medium for sure but otherwise it seems the sky's the limit on what everyone else wants to play :)
@Blake - I'd say we can definitely fit Shores of Heaven in there for sure. Truth be told I'd actually love to play it myself (haven't played or GMed it yet) with a good GM. Portent's Peril is one of my favorites (so far) but alas, Adam's already played that one - I know, because I was the GM for it heh. And speaking of Library of the Lion, didn't we play that one together for PbP Gameday last fall?
As far as characters go, it sounds like tentatively we've got the following so far:
Blake - Medium
ShieldBug - Prefer paladin
Gummy Bear - Prefer druid or wizard
If Adam decides to stick with Dalen that'll also give you guys a ranger.
I’d prefer not to play a skill monkey, I think (I already have an investigator I’ve been playing for a while). I wouldn’t mind a full-caster... Maybe if Gummy does a Wizard I’ll do a divine caster and if does the Druid I’ll make an arcane caster?
My Medium is going to be a Riventhun Spirit Channeler (or Spirit Dancer if I chicken out), which is a gimped Spirit Dancer with status removal abilities added in exchange. That means no continuous shared seance boon--only when I've activated my spirit in rounds/day increments.
Lol- it’s not just up to me, but you playing a Druid is fine with me! I have a couple different ideas for arcane casters but I’ll have to do some research on what’s PFS legal. I’m out of town right now for work, so I’ll have wait til I get home to find and download the society-approved list.
Glad to see you guys starting to hammer stuff out! And Blake, thanks for the additional information; I'm not very familiar with the Medium as a class so I'll have to do some research to get a better feel for how it works.
And for PFS it's not really 100% necessary to have a perfectly balanced group. There are times when it definitely helps but is still possible to complete the mission - you just might have to get creative and/or be a little more careful than other groups. But with 7 players I think you guys will be good to more or less play what you want and still have everything essential be covered :)
So, while I wait for the other lady to deliver so my wife can start pushing...
The base Medium can change his role on a daily basis. He isn’t especially good at any one thing except as a Striker.
The Spirit Dancer/Riventhun increases the versatility by allowing the spirit to change on the fly but at the cost of duration. The 24 hour bonus of the base Medium becomes N rounds per day.
As for my role, I see him as a back-up Striker with the ability to whip out a skill or spell on the fly as needed. Riventhun would allow me to be a status condition healer. I would probably also max UMD.
