GM Phntm888's Way of the Wicked Campaign (Inactive)

Game Master Phntm888

Something I forgot regarding Timeon: As his current class is Aristocrat, I will allow him to multiclass into ONE heroic class, as an exception to the Squire feat rule. All other rules for the Squire feat apply.

Something else to make clear: Timeon and Grumblejack are NOT part of the Nessian Knot. They are the Knot's servants, not Cardinal Thorn's. As such, they are not bound by the Pact of Thorns, as you are. This will be the case for any other NPCs you happen to recruit (and there are several you will have the opportunity to do so with).

Worth remembering!

Edit:

I just noticed that I made a slight error in calculating Lutor's new initiative. I've corrected it to +14.

Dex +4
Ability +2
Feat +4
Familiar +4
=
+14

Wow. I won't hit +14 until level 16. Damn, you're a twitchy elf mage, aren't ya?

Thanks for clarification, Phantom -- I get where you're coming from, so those languages are more akin to 'secret society' languages, where even if you use the skill point, you still have to be a member -- find an instructor, in this case, though at that point it's kind of more efficient (per se) to use the 'language (re)training' use of the retraining rules.

In which case, with permission Hel will acquire 'Lipreading' as a language (talked about at the bottom of the Linguistics skill page).

In regards to running Grumblejack, I am willing to do it, but I would honestly somewhat prefer that Wesh do so -- in part because I think the two of them will have a much greater synergy in combat considering Wesh's nature-slash-secondary-class, and in part because I think I'd use him too tactically for my own benefit. :/

Yeah, I may have gone a little far in that direction! But I'll stick with it.

I have to agree that Wesh is probably the best suited to control Grumblejack. It makes sense narratively as well, I think. Unless someone else really wants to, I'll control him.

That makes sense to me, Wesh.

Thank you, Wesh. Having you guys make the rolls in combat for some allied NPCs will make some of the combats drag on less, and help keep me from dreading the round-by-round posts.

Something I forgot regarding Timeon: As his current class is Aristocrat, I will allow him to multiclass into ONE heroic class, as an exception to the Squire feat rule. All other rules for the Squire feat apply.

Something else to make clear: Timeon and Grumblejack are NOT part of the Nessian Knot. They are the Knot's servants, not Cardinal Thorn's. As such, they are not bound by the Pact of Thorns, as you are. This will be the case for any other NPCs you happen to recruit (and there are several you will have the opportunity to do so with).

Part of the reason liked the idea of using squire, Timeon will be a cohort so should be more reliable than NPCs like Grumblejack... though RP wise obviously for the moment we will probably have more faith in Grumblejack...

Aristocrat is a npc class with some useful skills and a good will save so that's a plus. If he is Gallen's cohort under the squire feat now do you want to share stats with me or just build him as a human aristocrat?

His stat block is on the previous page. I've reposted here for ease of reference.

Definitely need to get Timeon some basic gear; is Jarvis Enbarran still about, so that we can maybe exchange Demlin's nobles' outfits for them? (They are, after all, made for the deceased Warden Richter.) Hm. They were worth 375 gp total ... we'll get half that, so right about 187.

Standard anti/paladin's kit, 11gp. He already has chain mail, so he's good there; add on a heavy steel shield (20gp) and scimitar (15gp), maybe a spear (2gp), a short bow (30gp) and 40 arrows (2 gp), and he's pretty much ready to go, for only 80gp.

Not being LE, though, we're going to have to keep working on his conversion to that alignment; once that's done, we'd actually be able to retrain him into an antipaladin, if that's what you wanted, Gallen. (You worshiper of Abadar, you.)

Now that Wesh is level 3 and can wear medium armor without a movement penalty, can he trade in his Banded Mail for Lamellar (steel)? Half price plus 25 gp. Wesh has just over 25 gp, so he can afford the remainder. Would the Cardinal have access to that armor? I figure -1 AC for +10 ft of movement is a fair trade. I can switch back to heavy when I hit level 7.

Yes i agree, let's get Timeon equipped and start training him. I'm sure each of us could contribute to his lessons too. His stats make him an acceptable frontliner type. To be an anti-paladin he would really have to embrace asmodeus completely.

His charisma isn't super high but he could pull it off... lets see if he lives long enough to get another level before worrying too much about the heroic class. Fighter or Antipaladin would be best. Obviously he'd be the same archetype as Gallen, we will have made a terrible mistake if we turned him CE along the way.

@Hel: Jarvis is indeed still about. As the Cardinal's accountant and secretary, he is on hand whenever the Cardinal needs him. Just remember to fill out the requisite paperwork for all transactions. Incidentally, he has chain SHIRT, not chainmail, if you want to upgrade his armor.

@Wesh: Yes, that is an acceptable exchange.

We could theoretically save on cash if we give Timeon the sword and shield of his ex-Master, but I don't think that'll work, so we can sell those. Gallen has the (1500gp!) armor ... going by the mathematics, Cole would be best served by the +1 cloak. And while working with mithril to make y'all some armor would be good (though I can't manage to spot the rules for it -- it may just simply take longer, due to the expense-based nature of crafting ...) I'm not sure we're up to it any time soon.

So -- the mithral, longsword, heavy steel shield, and the holy symbol of Mithra. Sell the longsword and shield, buy new ones? Hold onto the holy symbol, for use in later deception, and onto the mithral for crafting? Or sell them as well?

@Wesh: Yes, that is an acceptable exchange.

Alright, then I'll sell Wesh's Banded Mail and pick up Lamellar (steel). Thank you!

I say we first confirm if mithril will be time-consuming to work with.

Gallen has his old banded mail. Timeon could make use of that.

We are using standard crafting rules, as inefficient as they are. So, if you want to know how time consuming mithral will be to work with, calculate according to the crafting rules. I'm going to use the example of a mithral rapier, because none of you has Craft (armor).

TL;DR for those of you who want the gist: Yes, crafting with mithral is time consuming.

Of course, as your skills go up, it will be much less time consuming, and in the future of the AP, you will have down time which allows for crafting, so there may be some benefit in holding onto the mithral.

The choice is yours, of course.

Hmm. While I appeciate the use of it in lightweight armor, the fact that we don’t have anyone who can make it rather recommends against it. Plus, well — we need a way to conceal Grumblejack, and a Hat of Disguise costs 1800gp.

Hat of disguise sounds more useful tbh.

Remember, a hat of disguise functions as the disguise self spell. It can make him appear at most 1 foot shorter, and he still counts as a Large creature. Given that a typical adult ogre is 10 feet tall and weighs 650 pounds, you might want to find an alternate solution.

Unless there’s a variant of the cap of human guise that’ll turn Large types into Medium, I think we’re a bit screwed. The Greater Hat of Disguise costs something like 10k. Or are you thinking of something in particular? I figured he could be a ‘giant’ idiot sort of thing, but if that’s not liable to work...

Oh, I didn't say it wouldn't work, and I wasn't thinking of anything in particular in its place. I just said that a hat of disguise alone won't do it.

Now, a hat of disguise coupled with a good Bluff check...

I'm trying to say don't rely solely on magic. I think Pathfinder and D&D in general encourages a heavy reliance on magic to solve all problems when it either isn't the best solution or isn't always necessary. Making Grumblejack look more human with magic and then successfully bluffing that he's just a giant idiot is far more effective than the magic alone.

Yeah, that's what I was figuring too. :) Not sure how good he is at bluffing, but ... with some assistance from the others (because let's face it, I suck) he will hopefully be able to pull through. Especially if we let it be known that screwing with him is a good way to get killed, but we can keep him under control. (Which is ... maybe yes so far. ;) )

That sounds doable. We have some talented liars in the team.

I have to admit, I really should take Bluff. Because her telling you facts, but limited ones ... is but one way of lying/Bluffing. It isn't whether you sense she's not telling the truth, it's whether you sense she's not telling the whole truth.

Anyhow. Votes for 'sell mithril, get Grumblejack hat of disguise, be prepared to Bluff to people?'

Aye!

I thought Grumblejack got a circlet, but guess not as he's not part of the knot. The disguise skill lets you change size at a -10, using magical aid gives a +10. He may just need to be in the background keeping watch over Tim once we get to Balentyne.

He did not, no. Gallen? Wesh? Demlin?

And we'd best use the +10 bonus for changing his race. ;) We say he has some ogre blood in him -- just not that it's ALL ogre blood. ;)

When we get to the Fire-Axe, why not let him stay there till the Balentyne business is done.

Not to be difficult, but I wonder if it wouldn't just be simpler to sell the mithral and split the proceeds for our own use. With the ship's crew, I don't think Grumblejack's presence will be a big deal, since they're stuck with us and already a rough-and-tumble sort of bunch. In a city, it'll be more difficult, and probably involve us receiving multiple Sense Motive checks if we're in a crowd or talking to more than one person. He's also still large sized regardless of how much we disguise him, which can present its own set of problems in tight quarters.

As such, it might behoove us to simply leave Grumblejack outside of major settlements or areas he wouldn't generally be accepted. But, if more people prefer going the disguise route, that's fine.

That is ... not a bad idea at all. Actually, it's a really good one. I vote for that one -- leave him with Fire-Axe, and keep him outside towns.

I'm all for selling the mithril and leaving Grublejack for now with the Fire-Axe

I suspect he'll enjoy going with Fire-Axe. Selling the mithril is fine with me.

Demlin’s post raises a point I’d like clarified, though I did presume (in the Nine Leasons) that it worked a certain way. Is the disguise put in place by the iron crowns sustained while we sleep, i.e. active until we change it, or does it have a limited duration, whether that’s a specific length of time, or until we fall asleep?

Also, I’m away from my computer at the moment, but I’ll figure and distribute proceeds when I get home. I propose half shares for Sir Gallen (for the armor) and Cole (for the cloak) until we catch up. Also, I propose a half- or full-share for group expenses, including things for the sidekicks.

The disguise is sustained while you sleep - it does not have a limited duration. You are wanted criminals, after all, and you can't play your part in the Cardinal's plan if you get caught because some guard decided to sneak into your room and saw you were one of the Forsaken.

I've swung to Wesh's plan. Gets my vote.

So if mithril split, how much does that leave us each?

Oh awesome ok, just figured it was use activated at CL1 disguise self. Makes sense we get special items though.

I've always interpreted it the way the GM has here, that it's active until it's taken off or you deliberately change it; otherwise it'd be good for what, 10m, since it's cast at 1st level? Anyhow.

I have our loot over on Google Docs; that link is comment-only, but if y'all want to PM me your emails, I can add/invite you to edit. Going by my suggested 'half share until we catch up' (because it sucks not getting ANYTHING because you might be far ahead), plus the 'half share for group expenses, including sidekicks', either Cole or Demlin gets the cloak of resistance +1 and 200gp, Sir Gallen gets Balin's full plate and 200gp, the Knot Pool gets 201gp (out of which Sir Gallen needs to state what is spent for Timeon -- sword, shield, spear, shortbow and arrows, whatever, and if you're going to upgrade the chain shirt, just take the difference), and each of the rest of us get 401gp.

Remaining are the potion of cure light wounds (suggest that Demlin, Lutor, or Cole carry that), the sapphire (engagement) ring from one of the guards in Branderscar, the fake silver-and-blue-stone dragon pendant, the silver-and-sapphire holy symbol of Mitra from Sir Balin, and the fine whiskey (also from Branderscar) -- all for disguise, bribery, or whatever.

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Regarding the use of Bonded Mind for conversations, I will confess that though the crunch of the feat ('These function as the message spell') functionally means that anything can be relayed, I always felt the spirit of the feat was more along the lines of 'we've talked about stuff so often, I know what those microexpressions mean' -- which would preclude esoteric things, most names except those often discussed or in close contact (in our case that would probably mean each other, Grumblejack, Timeon, the Cardinal, Tiadora, Captain Odenkirk, his crew in general, and at this point possibly Sakkarot Fire-Axe; and a few such locations, like Branderscar, the manor house, the Frosthamar, and maybe Balentyne and/or the Watch Wall), and stuff that really is esoteric, such as Lutor's 'spell study' ability.

Now, while I won't even faintly try to stop everyone from using it that way, I don't intend on doing so myself; it's just the way I think about it. (My Complication and I would have this, so I have kind of a point of reference.) Anyhow.

I've been thinking of it as a strange mental bond brought on by our intense training together mixed with the contract we all signed in our blood.

I intend to use it as the message spell like the text says, otherwise i don't think it's a feat worth taking. If we are limited in what we 'talk' about i don't think i see much benefit.

I can see that interpretation. Something ... unholy ... ;)

Great overview, Hel!

And I also like that interpretation Demlin.

Forgot to post, but I am traveling for the holidays. Updates to come Monday.

Waiting to see what Demlin does with the spoiler.

Me too. :P

Same.

Christmas and new years was crazy for me. sorry for holding things up!

Is that last from Demlin in our private 'conversation', or just her thought?

Also, will Hel have been able to do any arrow crafting?

Yes, Hel will have been able to do 7 days' worth of arrow crafting.