Motteditor's Strange Aeons PBP

Game Master motteditor

Sorry for the continued slowness on my part. I didn't have any great ideas about how to proceed, but I did have one thought that might bear looking into.

Maybe it's just my old-school/antiquated beliefs rearing their ugly head, but...is gnoll society patriarchal or matriarchal? Since Knowledge (local) isn't a class skill for inquisitors, Starflit has no ranks in it.

Long story short, I was wondering: Could Princess Njano and Biting Lash be the same person?

Ahhh, that would be messy in some ways, but cleaner in others.

I hadn't thought of that. Now I'm very curious.

Sorry, all, will post ASAP. Between work and trying to buy a house, my free time is all spoken for.

Good luck on the house purchase! That's always a crazy/stressful time.

Yeah, best of luck on the new house.

I'm still (slowly) updating Starflit for 12th level.

Down to 3 choices for her new 4th-level spell; maybe the other players can chime in to help me decide.

It's down to cure critical wounds, protection from energy, communal, and divination. Maybe mott can chime in if he doesn't want to deal with the extra work from divination.

Feel free to ignore my opines:

Is the answer not Litany of Escape, which could be an issue for Al or Kyffin?

'Flit's freedom's call domain ability has that covered (when I remember to use it).

Protection from energy, communal.

I do like some CCW but it's hard not to want some communal protection from a big bad fireball.

Tough call between those two.

Not really a fan of Divination personally. It's mainly because it doesn't really do anything but get us a few answers.

Albert pulls his attention away from the horror of the slaver market just in time to see the HORROR of Lothan talking to the slavers. Quickly Al interjects himself in the conversation.

LOL! Oh man I love it. Just greatness. :)

STARFLIT LEVEL 12 UPDATES
Level 12 inquisitor

BAB: +1
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +1, Will +1
hp: 87 (added 7; 5 + 2 Con)
Spell Slots: 2nd--+1; 4th--+1
New Spells Known: 4th (protection from energy, communal)

New Class Features: greater bane, teamwork feat
+1 round to liberation, freedom’s call, discern lies, and bane abilities
+1 to stern gaze bonus (now +6), track (now +6)

New Teamwork Feat: TBD

New Skill Ranks: 9 total: (6 + 1 Int + 1 skilled + 1 FC)
Acrobatics +1
Diplomacy +1
Knowledge (arcana) +1
Knowledge (dungeoneering) +1
Knowledge (nature) +1
Knowledge (planes) +1
Knowledge (religion) +1
Perception +1
Stealth +1
(+1 bumps to Intimidate, Sense Motive, and Survival from level gain)

Purchases: Blue Book (Okeno) ??? (50 gp)

Just GREAT! Another illiterate. Tristain glances at Lothan. These two should get along just great.

He doesn't bonk just yet, but pauses and keeps his eyes open. He will bonk later when it's safer. He will just let Al handle things, but just *knows* that Al should have mentioned that he's a totally normal human, and then they wouldn't be in this mess.

Lol! Between: "These two should get along..." and "Al should've mentioned he is a totally normal human"... so dang funny. :D

Totally blaming Al. He's just not forthcoming enough. ;)

The "Rude Illiterates Book Club". Lol!!!

And Tristain's constant pestering of Al is just so dang funny. Boy ol' Tristain won't be denied! He is persistent! Next thing you know he'll be asking: "Are we there yet? Are we there yet? Are we there yet?" Lol! :D

I'm closing on the house today, and then out of town Friday-Monday, so not sure how often I'll be posting. I should be back to normal on Tuesday.

Question: I need to know if Lothan does or does not see Al in his "natural" state. I'm not sure how to play this so that's why I ask.

Question: I need to know if Lothan does or does not see Al in his "natural" state. I'm not sure how to play this so that's why I ask.

::headbonking intensifies::

I will leave that up to Al, since it would be based on how quickly he transformed (immediately after the fight ended or not).

I will leave that up to Al, since it would be based on how quickly he transformed (immediately after the fight ended or not).

And I think Al’s last post answers that. Nicely done.

Okay, one sec. Meant to have something yesterday but got sidetracked. Sorry.

I'll be out of the country (and with limited access to the forums/ability to post) tomorrow through Aug. 28, after which I'll be moving Aug. 29 to a new place.

I may get another post or two in before I leave and maybe a post Aug. 28 when I return, but I probably won't have regular posting again until Aug. 30 or 31.

Sorry for the silence. Mott's post in mid-August had 4 NPCs, all of whose names were 5 letters long; it broke my brain. I've finally gotten around to re-reading all the game posts since the party arrived in Okeno and made some notes, which I'll post below in case anyone else is having troubles recalling who's who (like Al, who's been calling Fazar 'Faraz' for a while now):

BITING LASH: Lowls planned to meet with a gnoll flesh trader by the name of Biting Lash in order to outfit himself for the journey to Neruzavin; the gnoll has a fortress with a small, but well-drilled, private army; he can be an implacable foe -- if you cross her and try to flee, she will come after you -- but she is also in the end a merchant, and may always be open to new deals or alliances.

SALIR: Owner of Salir’s Fine Leathers, a well-known tannery that attracts merchants from all around; allegedly in Katapesh visiting family (spur-of-the moment); allegedly Fazar’s cousin

FAZAR: Dahab’s new lover, who works in the Tanner's Quarter; he has recently been wearing a number of fine leather clothes colored a uniquely vivid shade of ocher is running “the operation” for Salir; allegedly Salir’s cousin; showed up the day Salir left town

ABREN: Human female worker at Salir’s Fine Leathers; faints impressively

DAHAB: Kidnapped friend of Njano; ear was sent to the Hyena-Princess; other parts will follow unless the princess meets the kidnapper at a place called the Shipwreck at dawn, though the day is not specified; acted as one of her spies and information brokers; had contacts around and about Okeno, in particular at the Black Circus where he knew a beast tamer called Rahmir; frequented the domed temple of Gozreh, where he knew a builder called Azeem recently took a new lover named Fazar.

NJANO (HYENA-PRINCESS): One of the most successful and civilized gnoll traders in Okeno; a lady of great intelligence and influence; so powerful that she operates openly at the Laughing Fleshfair; knows every powerful gnoll in the city.

KISETZ & HAKOOR: Incredibly loyal bodyguards for the Hyena-Princess

CLUES

Ransom Note to the Hyena-Princess for Dahab: “Esteemed Princess, greetings from the unworthy. I am honored to bring your beloved serf to bosom as my guest, but his appetite is so great that unless I act, he’ll eat everything I have. I therefore return him to you piece by piece, part by part, unless you wish to discuss his fate at the Shipwreck at dawn." The grammar used in the note is peculiar -- it is highly likely the writer primarily communicates in Infernal.

Al’s Gather Information Results….
It takes a few days, but Al eventually is able to get a lot of information. At first, the information he gleans seems to be more about the city -- and then the slave trade and gnolls in general -- but finally he manages to get some word about Biting Lash.

The fleshfairs of Okeno—as the slave markets are known—are the largest in the Inner Sea region, and at any given time almost half of the population of the pirate city is made up of slavers and their merchandise.

Far from being outcasts, gnoll slavers are welcome and are considered to be the most professional of their ilk. They even have their own slave market known as the Laughing Fleshfair—on account of the way the bidding is done with laughing cries and barks—where, at least in theory, gnolls are the only traders allowed.

Although openly welcome in the city, the gnoll slavers are despised by many other humanoids that work the trade. This is often a case of simple professional jealousy, but it’s sometimes from a sense of loathing at how they treat their merchandise. The gnolls are paranoid about security, and operate in a web of deceit. Many take pseudonyms, and keep their slave pits veiled in mystery. Many of the gnoll slavers keep their merchandise in different locations, and keep their most prized possessions in fortified structures away from the fleshfairs.

One of the most successful and civilized gnoll traders is Hyena Princess Njano, a lady of great intelligence and influence. She is so powerful that she operates openly at the Laughing Fleshfair, and she knows every powerful gnoll in the city.

Finally, it turns out Biting Lash is a pseudonym, nothing more. Biting Lash primarily deals with people she already knows, eschewing the fleshfairs when it comes to selling her own slaves. She is highly paranoid about betrayal, and goes to great lengths to keep the details of her inventory a secret. She is known to use subordinates and spies to purchase new slaves at the fleshfairs instead of going in person. Like most gnoll traders, she likes anonymity, and even changes her appearance regularly.

Great summary, thanks!

I'm back in the country, and fully moved to the new job (though lots of unpacking still to do!). I'm hoping to post today, but more likely tomorrow.

I'll be out of town again this weekend, back late Monday. I think this is my last trip for a while, however.

@Tristain/Starflit/Kyffin: I just died on y'all's reactions! Oh man, that was so dang funny. :)

And Big Al steps in and saves the day! You can always count on Al as the voice of reason. And not the voice of insanity like a certain half-elf. Not naming any names though. :P

Should we have Starflit chip a piece off the fortress wall and do another casting of ears of the city to try to pinpoint the location of Biting Lash and maybe probe for other traps, troops, or defenses?

Honestly, I'm starting to hate that spell--it seems horribly overpowered to me and potentially could ruin the fun of in-game surprises.

Naw, let's press on. At least that's Kyffin's vote. He's a bull-headed guy though. :)

I agree, it's an overpowered spell. I recently had it in one of my campaigns and considered limiting it or removing it. We should use it only occasionally.

Personally, I’m okay with the spell, but I’m not a GM or a power gamer. If I was worried about broken things, then I’d stare more closely at so many other things, but also, it all works out. Others, especially the GM should have the most say. I’m just here to beat my head against the wall.

It hasn't been a bother to me so far -- it's useful to make sure I've gotten all the exposition out, in fact. :) If I start to feel differently, though, I'll let you know!

Lothan, I don’t think you are counted as a flanker with a ranged weapon. You get sneak/precision damage if the target is flatfooted within 30’, but unless you threaten with your bow (and there are feats that let you do that (link)) I don’t think you are a flanker.

This is from Sneak Attack:

Ranged attacks can count as sneak attacks only if the target is within 30 feet.

So that's why I thought what I thought. But now that I read it again, this must strictly have to do with surprise attacks only or flat-footed bad guys. Or, if I was in melee with them using my bow.

Makes sense.

Okay, mott, just ignore my sneak attack damage then. Honestly though, with how crappy I rolled, I don't think it matters anyway. I'd be surprised if I hit with any of those pathetic attacks.

@mott: Okay, I screwed up the map. I tried to move Lothan next to Kyffin and when I did, his pic vanished! It went under the map I think. Not entirely sure.

And then, when I tried to move him back - the cursor was still around the invisible pic - I moved the entire map! Ugh.

I'm quite ignorant when it comes to map type stuff. Apologies for the trouble.

I'm afraid that's it for Lothan, then. If he falls under the map, he's crushed by the tower and dead. No save.

(Seriously, no worries. Easy fix.)

LOL!

@Tristain: You forgot the touch attack roll. :)

How dare you be correct?!

Lol!

Hey all, sorry for the delay. Butt kicked and attention stolen by the election, and then I have SkalCon coming up this weekend. I'll try to sneak a post in, but may not be until Monday.

Tristain has been wracked for damage that is probably all the fault of people who should be preventing that.

Kyffin tracks the wands and treasure... he has it all! It's mine, it's all mine! Mwuahahah!

A weary and battered Starflit tries not to bleed all over Tristan as the head-bonking hero adds 'wand-hogging' to his resume. (With great effort, she refrains from tapping her foot.)

LOL! I just rolled on all these! :D ('Wand-hogging'. What a great term.) :)

Sorry, all. This is first on my list of priorities tomorrow. Should have a post by noon.

Tristain worries about the loud squawk coming from behind him, worried that it might be an even bigger turkey than Lothan.

LOL! Oh my gosh, I just died on this. :D

Just a heads up, this time of the year is brutal for me at work. Got home way too late tonight so will get a post in tomorrow for sure.

But it'll be towards the evening because I'm working Saturdays now until Christmas. Still going to try and keep up as best I can but there might be a day here or there that I'm silent.

Apologies for the delay.

Just a heads up, this time of the year is brutal for me at work. Got home way too late tonight so will get a post in tomorrow for sure.

True dat. Not sure what industry you're in, but mine (fundraising) is always busiest now through mid January. Thanks for the heads up. Take care of the important stuff.

I am THE UPS man. ;) And I'm getting the snot beat out of me. And we've still got 3 more weeks to go. Ugh. Three weeks really isn't that long. But when your body is screaming at you in pain due to an increased workload that it's not used to, three weeks starts to feel like FOR-EV-OR.

Dude, I always try to leave the lights on for you. Thanks for doing that job. I hope you work in a sunny, normal climate and can enjoy wearing jorts or whatever during this holiday time...but probably not.

You're one of my favorite people to play with.

Crit confirm:+2 adaptive composite longbow: 1d20 + 16 + 3 + 2 ⇒ (10) + 16 + 3 + 2 = 31

Damage: 2d8 + 30 ⇒ (8, 3) + 30 = 41

Lol. Man, do *NOT* scorn this guy. I cannot emphasize this enough.

Lol! Hey, thanks! We DEFINITELY appreciate the lights this time of the year due to it getting dark early, let me tell you. Very appreciative of that. Christmas lights are a huge boon.

Yeah, I live in Texas so it's pretty much warm here all the time. We've had our low to mid 40's here and there, but for the most part, it's mid 50's+ temperature-wise. Pretty much wearing shorts the whole time with the exception of a couple of days or three.

And thanks! I appreciate it! I gotta say, Tristain has me rolling all the freaking time. Lol! :D Especially with all the "unspoken" digs at Lothan. Lol! So dang funny. :)

And I love how the rest of you do everything in your power not to beat the crap out of *clears throat* to find a way to tolerate Lothan. ;D

Oh man, this is such a good group. Very solid chemistry in this one. A ton of fun. :D