KC's Age of Worms

Game Master Kobold Catgirl

That’s true. I suppose you can always change your ruling when the book finally comes out. =P

I don’t know what Diamond Lake’s economy is like. Where would Tanith be able to pick up a Meditation Crystal?

Keep in mind that around 68% of your questions about the town end up being answered by me scanning the Player's Guide. :P

Could you clarify to me what a meditation crystal is? I'm not sure if it's magic or alchemical right now.

Heh. Only 68%?

I linked it in my post on the previous page. Meditation Crystals are basically special holy symbols. The text isn't specific but it stands to reason that they'd be more magical than alchemical. Personally I think they're neither.

Holy symbols (and unholy symbols) represent a covenant between the mortal and the divine. They allow the most pious to call forth the power of the gods themselves. Whether used to smite enemies of the devout or to offer succor to the faithful, holy symbols erase all doubt that the gods have a plan for their mortal children. A channel focus is a garment or other object that incorporates a holy or unholy symbol, and has a special power when a member of that symbol’s religion channels energy through it.

Activating a focus is identical to channeling energy, but instead of directing the power outward, the cleric (or other appropriate character) directs it into the focus, expending one use of channel energy. This triggers the item’s ability; the channel does not have any of its normal effects (for example, a cleric channeling positive energy through her focus would not heal living creatures or harm undead in the area). The cleric must wear or hold the focus, as appropriate. She can still use channel energy in the normal way, even while wearing or holding a channel focus. An activated channel focus radiates faint conjuration (positive energy) or necromancy magic (negative energy). An unactivated focus is completely nonmagical — it is a channel for the magical positive or negative energy, but has no magic of its own.

Because a focus includes the holy symbol of a specific religion, in most cases a cleric cannot activate the focus of another faith (though your GM may rule that a member of an allied church can activate another religion’s focus). A cleric whose deity allows positive or negative channeling may use either type to activate a focus, though some foci may have different effects depending on what kind of energy activates them. The cleric can use the focus as a holy symbol (whether activated or not), though if it is a worn item rather than a held item she must touch the item with a free hand.

Though this focus is usually a hand-sized crystal, the exact form (such as a wooden idol, an iron disk, and so on) may vary for some religions. A monk or paladin of the cleric’s faith may concentrate upon an activated meditation crystal, taking no actions for 1 minute, and regain 1 ki point or one use of lay on hands. Once activated, the crystal retains its energy until a monk or paladin uses it for this purpose or 24 hours pass.

Of course this also raises the question of if Olidammara would be or could be considered an allied faith to Kord. They have compatible alignments at least and they both live on Ysgard.

Edit: Derp. It says in the text - they're nonmagical.

Well, I derped on noticing the link, so I guess that makes us even. ;P

Anyways, the only place you'd get something like that would be a church of Kord, I'd think. It's not like there are shady alley dealers peddling in dubiously acquired holy symbols and crystals of random deities.

Maybe it’s just a matter of some prayer and dedication. I mean, where do normal holy symbols come from? It’s not like the Diamond Lake 7-11 has a turnstile of specific holy symbols.

The text mentions that channel foci are often unique for the deity. For Kord’s I was thinking it could be some big iron bands meant to be worn around the biceps.

Like three weeks ago KC and I had an argument about whether Olidammara was friends with Kord or not. He thinks Olidammara is like a lame acquaintance of Kord's who wants to be Kord's friend but is repeatedly rebuffed.

That's not a problem for Fharlanghn, though. Those two get along fine.

Some of Olidammara's portfolios include revels and wine. Kord loves revels and wine! They live on the same plane and have similar alignments. I can't believe they wouldn't have some kind of friendship going even if Kord thinks of the Laughing Rogue as a fun if cowardly wimp and Olidammara looks at Kord as his dumb friendly jock buddy.

Like three weeks ago KC and I had an argument about whether Olidammara was friends with Kord or not. He thinks Olidammara is like a lame acquaintance of Kord's who wants to be Kord's friend but is repeatedly rebuffed.

I did tell you I was joking, Gark.

Should I assume Tanith is able to get his gear and regroup?

Also, was it okay for Tanith to get that focus or maybe a DIY kit? =)

Hey, I was just relaying the joke.

Oh, hey, 2,000 posts.

Also, was it okay for Tanith to get that focus or maybe a DIY kit? =)

*poke*

2001 now.

"KC? Just what do you think you are doing, KC?"

What's DIY stand for?

I'm gonna say no about the crystal. It's 100 gp, which implies it has to be specially made, and there aren't any churches of a friendly god to Kord in town. If Tanith wants to have the General Store order one from the Free City, though, he certainly can. It'll just take a week.

What's DIY stand for?

Do It Yourself.

Hrm. I suppose there’d be similar restrictions on getting any new holy symbols? Let’s hope I never need a replacement in short order.

I guess we can assume Tanith ordered the one he has now a long time ago.

DIY means Do it Yourself. Maybe for 100g Tanith can get iron bands he has to bend into shape and some consecrated protein powder.

Hrm. I suppose there’d be similar restrictions on getting any new holy symbols? Let’s hope I never need a replacement in short order.

Eh, holy symbols are a bit simpler since you can whittle one yourself easily enough.

Wouldn't a priest of the proper faith need to bless it or something like that in order for it to be considered a holy symbol?

Probably not, but I'd like to know.

Ah, I knew it sounded familiar.

Yeah, Holy Symbols aren't that hard to make yourself. I read one particularly interesting campaign journal where a captive craftsman used gemcutting to make a symbol for his cleric friend.

I'd be willing to let Tanith make that, particularly since making him bend a solid iron rod seems fitting for Kord. I might let him just make a Strength check each day for it, instead of any sort of Crafting.

Even if it did...he IS a priest of the proper faith.

Edit: Sounds good. We'll assume Tanith picked up the materials

Fair enough.

I suspect the encounter will be over one way or another before those 40 rounds are up. Cuetzpalli, when can you get on? It'd be best if we could pound this out in one sitting.

Uhh...

At different times? I don't work until Sunday so I should be on a fair amount until then. I don't have anything resembling a regular schedule.

Math: 562.5 lbs for Spiny and Cuetzpalli, 170 lbs for Carina, 32+indeterminate for Tanith, and 257 for Astraden (1021.5+indeterminate, total). Unless Tanith weighs more than half a ton, we should be down 150 feet before the fog dissipates (and unless Tanith keeps his light going, they shouldn't be able to see us).

I mean yeah we could all just fight them but taking more than half the party out of combat would majorly suck.

The million dollar question is, has Carina gone to bed?

Apparently Robin won't be up for another couple more hours, either.

I'm back!

THERE'S your trailer shot!

I'm going to be busy for most of the day. Assume Tanith continues with the heavy lifting.

Would I provoke an AoO if I dragged Astraden's unconscious body away from the skeletons?

Doing so does provoke, yes.

But she's not unconscious—see the edits. Copycat barely saved her, and she has 3 HP left.

EDIT: Dangit. I remembered she had nonlethal the first two edits, but the third, the edit in which it matters...

They won't take AOOs, though (?)

Also, I think Astraden still has a potion of CLW in her bag, in case anyone's interested in that sort of thing.

I think Astraden's the only one who'd be okay with—oh, you meant to heal her. Yeah, I thought you meant something else.

I wonder if the skeletons will listen to me if I command them to stand down...

The guards did say "Kill all non-tieflings!"

I'm a tiefling...

I'm having people over so I'm going to be away for the day. =(

Assume Tanith continues cranking until he's 10 feet off the ground and then he hops down.

Also, for Cuetzpalli.

Google is now working again! I'll let you know if it goes out again. Thanks though :)

Is Tanith the one who has to expend an action point? (The only one who can, that is?)

Oh boy...

The anticipation is driving me crazy. I really don't want Astraden to die, and I have no idea how she's going to get out of this.

Actually... there is one skeleton on the map who is standing under the elevator, pounding on Astraden. I wonder if the elevator crashing down would be enough to crush it?

Well, I had no idea I was going to inspire so many people to leap off the elevator.

I'm around now. I was busy dealing with cleanup and a hungover roommate.

Guys, I think we need to have "the talk".

Casting Defensively is a wonderful thing.

It will save your life, and still allow you to do your thing. Yes, your spell fizzles if you fail, but it's much better than getting hit twice, taking damage, and THEN having your spell fizzle if you fail one of several concentration checks, usually at a higher DC.

Considering we already lost ONE party member to this, and another just got slammed a minute ago, I thought it was time for this talk.

I love you guys but you all seem to have a death wish, for real.

*shrug*

I like the fact that people make poor decisions at times. I feel like it balances us out.

Poor decisions is one thing. Jumping from a 20 foot height into a horde of enemies to save your friend is a poor decision (albeit a heroic one).

Not taking basic defensive precautions that don't hinder your ability to help them (and in fact help it) is quite another thing. It makes it seem like the characters don't know what they're doing, which is odd when they're very competent at other times.

That being said, I'm going to just hand you guys a little quote and let you make what you will of it.

The Whispering Cairn- 154
The Three Faces of Evil- 185
Installment 3- 34
Installment 4- 89
Installment 5- 78
Installment 6- 27
Installment 7- 84
Installment 8- 8
Installment 9- 37
Installment 10- 11
Installment 11- 17
Installment 12- 10

Oh boy...

So we really can't afford to start blundering around blindly down here is what you're saying here.

Oh good we get a little breather in book 3 I guess. =p

I'm just saying it doesn't bother me. I'd very much rather have the well intentioned player that occasionally makes poor decisions than the opposite. I thought this encounter was great.