GM Lari's Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts (Core) (Inactive)

Game Master Dhenn

Dio was the first celebrity death to hit me in the feels. I saw him 8 times, twice with Black Sabbath. I sympathize, it was a sight to behold.

I came late to the Maiden game. Somewhere in Time was my first album, but the X Factor was my first tour.

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This is a great time to be busy, as we're done with the combat portion of the scenario, thanks to your brutally beatdown of the ratfolk.

That said, there is some important plot to be found in the other rooms, so we're not 100% done yet. If anyone needs their characters free ASAP I can issue chronicles now. Thorn, I believe you're already familiar with this scenario, so if necessary I'll roll skill checks the party needs for you while you're off in NYC.

As always, I'm open to continuing on to another scenario with anyone who wishes to, either with this or another character. If the party balance stays similar to what we already have, the logical choice for a next scenario seems to be #7-19 Labyrinth of Hungry Ghosts, as it's new, in the 3-7 range, and a direct follow-up to Hall of the Flesh Eaters, which most of you were here for.

The new one does sound intriguing, from a followup perspective... but that first one kicked our asses!

I do know the story. It's SO tempting to continue on. I built in some wiggle room. Yeah, I'm in. Solid party and solid GMing is worth sticking to it. No rush on the chronicle.

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I'll eventually need to address Dunkel's 14AC if he's going to run ahead into melee ahead of Doubtful. :)

Jair will be 4th, so ready to continue too with you :)

At least Dunkel's got lots of hit points! =)

I think Jair, Dunkel, Imrana, and Wyatt will all be leveling up after we finish this, yes?

Dunkel, my core Dragon Disciple has the same problem.

If everyone's staying in, and Doubtful's right about the leveling-up, it looks like we'll have the following. Averages to 4.66, which would end up with 4-player adjusted high tier, I believe.

Wyatt: 4 Unless any pregen credit bumps you up higher
Imrana: 4
Jair: 4
Dunkel: 5
Doubtful: 5
Thorn: 6

Dunkel will indeed be 5th level. Some scribing will happen after this scenario wraps up based on our findings, too.

(I imagine Wyatt and Imrana have identical scribing to do)

New to spellbook:
darkness
darkvision
invisibility
fire breath (APG)

40gp x4 = 160gp

Does Thorn have a PC in the 3-4 subtier? Not sure about playing in the 6-7 subtier when only a single player is of that level. :)

I can also switch to a different 3rd level core PC to keep the APL in the 3-4 subtier (one 5th switching to a 3rd means 4.33 APL vs 4.66 APL).

Sadly, I don't have anything available in CORE. I can also step out of this one and join in the next. I really don't mind.

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Oh, and don't forget there were 3 scrolls too you guys can scribe if you're missing those spells (identify, obscuring mist, and invisibility) outside of the spellbook

As to what comes next...

Given the asskicking we got in the prior visit (I'm sure Jair still has some leech-nightmares ... and Doubtful's still sure he has some sort of ghast disease incubating!) I'm a little worried about high tier too...

Though wouldn't suggest going to a different character ... half the fun will be the continuity of going back again. If the scenario description is correct, they sent in a team after our success... and they didn't report back. Seems only appropriate they'd turn to some of those who succeeded the first time!

Hey, we could survive four player high tier, right?

*crickets*

Guys?

;-)

I am an optimist by nature, but I also recently had to push through two season 7 3-7s in normal campaign with 4.6 APLs in both (To Judge a Soul 1 and 2, if you're curious), and I'm REALLY not looking forward to doing that again any time soon.

Download issues prevented me from getting a look at the scenario last night, but I skimmed through it today, and high tier would definitely be rough, though not necessarily a death sentence.

But in any case, with the party at the levels we currently have, there are a few options for next steps. We're at an awkward level for 3-7s, so unless people wanted to play pregens who could bump us either into solidly high or solidly low that might be best avoided.

Tier 4-6 modules are an option. At this point, the only ones I'd be up for running would be Dawn of the Scarlet Sun (1 XP), City of Golden Death (3 XP), and Empty Graves (3 XP, Book #2 of Mummy's Mask). Aside from Scarlet Sun, the other two would be a major time commitment.

The last option would be to play the Aspis special, Serpent's Rise. I'm very close to my 4th star, which would qualify me to run that. At the latest it should be 4/17, potentially up to a week earlier. That'd give you a chance to play these characters in other games if you wish. It sounds like Jair has already played that in Core, though, and some of you have played it in standard.

I'll put chronicles together tomorrow, though there's still a bit you can do.

If you want, as I've already played Serpent's Rise, I could run it for you.
But you need a level six character to apply the chronicle.

@GM do you think we will have finish the game on sunday ? I hope to play Jair at this time.

Of course its not a death sentence....
It's an UNdeath sentence!

(ba-dum-dum)

Have always wanted to run through the FRPG module from 2012 (aka Dawn of the Scarlet Sun).

Haven't managed that in Core or regular.

Jair, we can definitely call it done by then. There's just a bit of interesting background that's good for you to pick up on that I didn't want you to miss. I can compile much of what's left later tonight or tomorrow.

I haven't played Serpent's rise in core actually. I'll defer to the group in it's entirety. I also haven't vanished from the game play thread. I happen to know all of this part, and would prefer to let people discover it as they go.

The only issue with that, will be that no-one will be able to apply it to their PC (at least for a while!), apart from Thorn ;-)

I have yet to see the Dawn of the Scarlet Sun module in normal or core, so that's an option.

I suppose the other option would be if Thorn wanted to play a pre-gen for Labyritnth, we'd end up rounding down.

I think the smart play would be for me to skip one. I've got 16 active games right now, and I REALLY want to have 8-10. This is definitely one I would come back to, but if I focus on the others while you play Labyrinth, I should be ready to go. GM can ping me in Iron Gods to let me know when you wrap up that one. It also helps get Thorn closer in level to the party.

Thorn, that makes sense. I'll start to look for a temporary replacement, as long as everyone else is ready to brave the Gloomspires again.

This is reported for everyone except Wyatt, as I needed to confirm which character number.

Chronicles are here, with everything except day jobs. I'll add those in as I receive them, but I wanted to get these out ASAP for those who might want to use your characters this weekend.

Librarian: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (18) + 10 = 28

Thanks GM !

Thank you!

Day Job (Profession (miner)): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

Any of the information we're locating work towards the Sovereign Court faction journal checkbox for recovering blackmail and/or incriminating evidence regarding nobles/diplomats/vip-types, et al?

Day Job - Craft(Alchemy): 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (12) + 7 = 19 = 10gp.

PM Sent.

1d20 + 8 ⇒ (15) + 8 = 23

Since he hasn't done it yet, Dunkel will try to purchase a merchant's license in Goka which is DC15+(his level)=DC19...

Appraise DC19: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13

And since he hasn't used it, he'll burn his re-roll.

Appraise DC19 (folio!): 1d20 + 6 + 4 ⇒ (17) + 6 + 4 = 27

I believe that's a success! There'll be diggin' contracts in Goka's future as Clan Diggerson widens the tunnels we just explored!

@GM Lari: I can just write the day job in, no need to expend extra effort to edit the chronicle on my behalf.

Day Job: Craft (bookbinding): 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (17) + 8 = 25

I can write the day job check in on mine as well, if it would make things simpler for you, GM

EDIT: Oh, damn! 5 charge wand of heroism with no buy limit at high tier?! Goddamn. Also, unlocking antiplague and smelling salts in CORE is nice :)

EDIT EDIT: Imrana's stats are updated for leveling. She picked up Scorching Ray and Glitterdust from leveling, if our two other wizards want to copy them down.

Yeah, I'm guessing the lack of limit was an oversight. Of course, this wouldn't have been a great one to be just barely up in either.

Chronicles have been updated, with a DJ added to the name for those of you with day job checks. I trust you to write it in on your own if you've already printed and want to save a tree, though.

Doubtful, I'd say yes to the checkbox.

As for Labyrinth, I was looking to get started early next week. So far we've had the following expressions of interest. I'm open to suggestions as to what the party might need.

Where are all the melee beatsticks? =)

Though one wonders what a necromancer might get up to in this place...

Melee beatsticks? Isn't that what we have Doubtful for? ;-)

A Necromancer could be amusing, and I am never against additional opportunities to scribe things :-P

I vote for ranger/rogue or cleric.

And the necromancer is a dwarf!

I'd pick the player that looks like they make the most well-thought out posts.

we lack a little bit of healing as Jair is clearly not build this way.

But we also lack abilities to deal with traps as Thorn is gone.

I will prefer the cleric or the ranger/rogue

Are the spell book contains at least 9 level of spells for my Faction cards ?

Yes, Jair. Plenty of spells in Makino's book.

Doubtful was right to point out that Dunkel, Thorn, and Jair were exposed to Bubonic Plague by the Kirrix, and we should resolve that.

I've reached out to one of the prospective players, based partially on your feedback, partially on poking through their posts. Assuming they're in, we can get started soon. I'll reach out to one of the others if we don't hear back.

Because the next scenario begins on the Grinning Pixie, any purchases over 2500 gp (excluding always available items) should happen before the briefing. I trust you to handle IC/OOC separation maturely if need be.

oops...

Great Shades of Nethys! I hear yer in need of a stout dwarven fellow to make an expedition? I may be that dwarf!

Necromancer! Should be interesting.
Though our group is now 4 arcane casters, one divine, and a monk =)
Have never seen that many wizards in one place! Everyone's spellbooks bloat a little more!

GM, is our intention to use the same thread again?

Doubtful should be good to go, did a little chronicle shopping mostly.
Purchased some smelling salts and an antiplague off this last chronicle.
A 5 charge wand of protection from evil off the one before that, and an 11 charge wand of knock off his very first chronicle (cause no more Thorn!)

He's pretty sure he just threw his money away. (Have to stop buying stuff from Abdul's Discount Wand Emporium (tm)!)

Not sure what to do if there actually are hungry ghosts though... incorporeal stuff sucks!

If you guys do end up using the same thread for this one, do you mind unchecking me? I'll keep an eye out in GM's Iron Gods thread for when it's time to return.

Good luck!

How was the concert, man?!

Incredible! Bruce's lyrics were clear and strong. He never stopped running around on stage. Good mix for a set list. A lot of the new album. (After 20 maiden shows I love hearing new stuff since I've heard some of the classics a dozen times.)

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What's the crunch to fight off it?

I imagine we do longterm care and obvious things to boost our saves. Here's 10 from Dunkel to see if he beats it with whatever obvious help we partake of. If he gets extremely sick, obviously he'd go spend some PP before he dies. :)

Doubtful can try to provide some medical services! (has a decent wisdom score at least!)

Heal Check to Treat Disease: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24
Heal Check to Treat Disease: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (19) + 4 = 23
Heal Check to Treat Disease: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

edit: well, was looking great til that last one... bah.

We've also a single potion of Remove Disease we found that someone can use (though its not guaranteed) and the antiplagues.

For the sake of expediency, Dunkel used one of the antiplagues after his first save. With Doubtful's help, that gets him through it.

It's actually rather nasty compared to most of the diseases you might encounter. DC 17, 1d4 Con damaged, 1 Cha damage, and fatigue. Two consecutive saves.

It sounds like Doubtful, Ragnar, and Imrana are definitely ready to go. As soon as I hear from at least one more of you we'll start the briefing.

Thorn, consider yourself unchecked.

I'm ready to go too :)
Just need to change my spell list as the last time we went inside, there was plenty of undead creatures :P

Dunkel's all leveled up. I think at this stage he's just saving up gold.

Then off we go!

I just realized we added another wizard to the group (dwarven to boot)!

Assuming Ragnar doesn't object, Dunkel will scribe these (for 130gp) from him on the journey to the Gloomspires:

1 - detect undead, 2 - ghoul touch, scorching ray, spectral hand

Not sure what "dragon breath" is in your 2nd level slot?

@Ragnar: Dunkel's spellbook is all yours. Also your summary line is in need of updating, it still says you have 17hp. :)

Doh! It's supposed to be fire breath. Sorry, forgot to update the tagline. I should be good now. I'll definitely look over your spell and you are welcome to look over mine!

EDIT:

I scribed:
2nd (40 gp x number of spells)= 160 gp … blindness/deafness, cat's grace, false life, see invisiblity
1st (10 gp x number of spells) = 70 gp … burning hands, corrosive touch, endure elements, feather fall, identify, monkey fish, true strike
0th (5 gp x number of spells) = 15 gp… Scrivener's Chant, Spark, Haunted Fey Aspect